Readers both old and faithful and New and amused! If you have read my previous work on this story you will see that it is of course vastly unrefined and in dire need of a spelling and grammatical facelift. Which of course I will be doing as I work on pushing out as many chapters as humanly possible! So please be patient a little longer my kids have grown to seven and five now and this process started then and will continue until it's perfect for you my readers! Without further adue.

Chapter 21

Morning found the Dragon Slayer and Little Celestial Mesmer at the Guild. Lucy had come in strong and ready to get this war started. Natsu was practically chewing nails, his face was planted firmly on the bar his head wrapped around a tall strong something Mira carefully placed in his hand when he had sat down. Something in his demeanor said something hadn't gone quite to plan be night before, she only hoped he'd talk a bit about it before they had to replace the bar...again.

"Come on Natsu what's going are you okay?" the white haired mage asked kindly. He really looked down. The look Natsu shot her was pure menace. The night before had completely sucked and he proceeded to tell her so. When he was done Mira stared at him wide eyed and concerned.

"How is she taking it all?" Mira asked coming around the bar and dropping a large platter of food with Makarov, Laxus, and Macao. The older men tuned in and turned to Natsu.

"Lucy looks ready for blood today that's all I'll say about it." Macao said stuffing his face with a bit of bread. Laxus nodded.

"It's about time, she's more than ready and if she's not we've got her back, and her front." He agreed. Natsu glared confusedly at the man half thankful half pissed off about the comment. Before he could decide on whether or not to pick a fight with the man Makarov stepped in.

"We shall proceed with caution. As I understand thing they have a rough plan. Infiltrate and conquer." he paused and looked to Erza who was standing with a fierce looking Lucy by her side. In the background the rest of the guild were packing up and heading outside.

"Master it's time. Will you remain here? Or come with us?" Erza asked changing to her standby armour in a brief flash. Lucy cinched her belt tighter to her body and secured the belts on her coat and sleeves. Rewinding the scarf around her neck. She was readying herself. Makarov looked to Macao.

"Boy you're going to have to look after things a bit longer it seems. My children need me. I'm old but I have my uses. And if that creature still stands when we return it will be because I failed, no one else will take the blame. But you must be here planning a backup plan and a return party just incase alright?" Macao's face got hard but a hand settled on his shoulder.

"Not going to lie Pap's if you go with us we would worry about the guild the whole time." Romaeo told his dad giving him a tight hug. With reluctance Macao agreed.

"Natsu could you and happy run and get out packs from the house? We need to be ready to go soon I'll explain the plan to everyone on the flying ship." Lucy asked. Natsu nodded and ran to do as asked. Mira looked Lucy over.

"Master, I believe I'm going to go along on this one as well." she stated. This was going to be hard on everyone, their need to protect their friend would keep them from doing what needed to be done to heal and Mira intended to make sure that wouldn't be an issue. It didn't hurt that she had a few demon's souls who were very good and tying special knots and restraints. She only hoped she got to try them out. The older man nodded his head and they all dispersed to get ready while Lucy asked Laxus for help only he could give her…

"Laxus, I'm really sorry about everything. And I know I've been a pain but I need a bit more help from you before we do this if you would." she pleaded. Laxus raised a brow skeptical about anything that involved an apology and admissions of guilt.

"And what help could I be to you Blondie?" he asked not unkindly. He had an idea of what she was asking but he was hesitant to go through with it. The consequences may not be worth it. And he already knew she had waited for fireboy to be out of the guild before she decided to talk to him. They had been there most of the morning after all.

"I need you to condition me, during the ride there and the time until then. I can't afford any weakness and I can't be a burden on anyone." Laxus smiled. He had actually already figured that part out. He had intended to give her his gift in person as there was an explanation that went with it. He waived Freed over to them and the other man seeing who he was with smiled and began fishing in his pockets. He and Laxus had worked rather hard on this little project of theirs and they had every confidence that it would work.

"You know Blondie you have a thing for punishing yourself. And I can respect that. Hell I've done it a time or two myself. But when there is a way to do things without hurting yourself I've learned to take it. Life gives you very few short cuts." Freed passed him a wide bangle of bronze metal. "The Thunder Legion decided that you had suffered enough over the years and we have figured out a way to lighten at least this load. Ever and Bigslow created the bangle. Don't ask me how i'm not asking them, and you shouldn't either. Just know it's damned unbreakable and can only be taken off by you." he rotated the cuff and showed her the thumb nail sized shard of crystal embedded in the center of Freed's rune signs. "This here is a piece of the lacrama that my dad put in my face when I was a kid. Seemed kind of fitting that I should share a bit of it with you. And at any rate it will absorb far more electricity than that man can dish out, you won't even feel it. The current will be pulled directly to the negative charge in the lacrima a lot like a lightning rod. As an added bonus Bickslow and Freed tampered with Bickslow's soul trap spell and they programed his babies to alert us when ever the bracelet senses anyone trying to do you actual harm, or remove it that is not you." he explained. Lucy's eyes welled with tears at the bashfulness the blond man was showing. He almost seemed a little embarrassed that he had been so thoughtful, but Lucy knew he wanted what was best for everyone in the guild. They were his family, and he would have to lead them one day too she knew.

"Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me. Don't get me wrong I still need to face my Demons but at least I won't have to do it until after I face the devil himself." she said smiling. She attempted to place the band on her arm but it was too loose. Laxus cursed a bit and Freed made a noise of frustration.

"We didn't think to check your wrist size." Bickslow added grinning. "We just compared it to Ever's. I guess she's a bit thicker boned then you." Laxus made a choking noise and Freed only smiled as the angry fairy queen came up behind Lucy. She gently plucked the bangle from Lucy's hand and leaned down to fasten it around Lucy's ankle.

"It also wasn't measured on my wrist prat. It was measured on my ankle. I thought it would be better to keep it closer to the ground." she explained elbowing her partner in the ribs none to gently. She was a delicate freaking flower dammit and they'd learn or they'd be punished.

Lucy leaned in and suprised the older woman with a swift hug. "Thank you Evergreen I couldn't ask for a better Big Sister." Lucy quickly looked around. "Erza's not in here is she?" she whispered ducking behind Laxus.

They were chuckling amongst themselves when Natsu and Happy came back. Natsu eyed the anklet and smiled. Laxus had mentioned what he suspected Lucy would ask him for and had told him he had already planned a course of action in kind. He has glad that everyone was being so supportive of her. She needed it.

Before long all of the crates of food, all the luggage and all of the members of the guild that were on the away team were loaded except the Master and Lucy who stood before the group of people staying behind. It had been decided that a group would stay and cast the illusion of Lucy and everyone still being at the guild. The hope would be to buy a bit more time to surprise him.

Lucy knew they ones who stayed risked so much more as the strongest amongst them was going to the fight. If her uncle retaliated only her protection spell would keep him at bay.

"Thank you all so much for this." she said sincerely. Looking to Lisanna who had worked day and night to learn to take Lucy's form and would be posing as her while she was gone she embraced the small woman tightly. "I need you to know I don't blame you. I never will. And I'm so grateful to have you at my back in this. I love you very much." Lucy told her honestly. Lisanna smiled and nodded to choked up to speak.

Makarov smiled. So proud of his children, they were so strong. He knew without a doubt they would all be returning from this adventure. He knew in his bones their journey would not end here. They would all be changed by this experience. He knew this with a certainty, but they would be closer, their injuries would heal. And they would be a stronger family having faced this foe together.