A/N: What's up!

Back with another chapter for the story!

Been reading the reviews and I want to sincerely thank all my new readers and my old ones. I'm glad you guys are getting a kick out of this story. Things are building up of course, seeing how we're still in a pivotal moment in the Fairy Tail story.

To recap, Bardock's pissed, Makarov's pissed, Natsu's pissed, Lucy's upset and Phantom Lord has some new blood who will be going Toe to Toe with Bardock in this chapter and the next one. This upcoming fight will be serving as the appetizer to the four fights you guys will see in the next chapter. Two additional fights remain as they are in Canon and you will only see one for a brief moment. Here's a hint/spoiler… don't piss off Erza.

Also…

As a sports fan it's difficult not being able to see your favorite teams out on the field or on the court right now with COVID-19 happening. That said, I'm a little upset that I haven't been able to watch episodes of what is arguably one of the best Sports Documentaries ever produced. I grew up always wanting to be like Michael Jordan since basketball was a sport I grew up playing. My favorite movie from childhood outside of the Disney movies and the original Star Wars Trilogy, was Space Jam.

'The Last Dance' is a fitting tribute and celebration of the legacy of one of the greatest dynasties of all-time. Even better that it is raw and uncut, because 80's and 90's basketball was truly a wonderful time to be in.

Enough with the sports talk though lol…

Progress and updates on 'Slayers of Kuoh' and 'Dragon Hero's Fury' are slow due work these last few weeks and writer's block. Luckily, research has helped me out and due to some circumstances, I want to see how much of all three stories I can crank out since I have some time off. I hate that I fell behind on updating the other two stories but hopefully that will be rectified. I appreciate your patience regardless.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or Dragon Ball Z. All rights, characters, and media belong to their respective owners.

Cover Art credit goes to Deviantart artist hsvhrt.

Oak Town, Kingdom of Fiore

Morning/Noon

Oak Town…

Long ago, the place had served to a wise ruler who had been able to provide for all his people. It was during these times, housing was built so that the ruler could be close to his people. Then came war…

Following the war, Oak Town had suffered damage but the people and its ruler came out victorious. Currently though Oak Town was home to two things: denizens of the town who also doubled as citizens of Fiore… and the second best guild in the kingdom, Phantom Lord.

Well… that's both true and false. True because Phantom Lord did in fact have a strong presence in the town. False due to the fact Phantom Lord's HQ was due north of the town.

High in the sky, a certain alien warrior watched and waited as a certain, rowdy bunch of fruitcakes were making their way through the town. He was also waiting for said bunch to get close to Phantom Lord's building so he could politely 'knock' before entering.

After a few more minutes, the warrior flew closer to Phantom Lord's building before halting. He turned his body to the side and extended his right hand, forming a blue orb of raw power.

"Time to see who's home."

Phantom Lord Building

It was a party like atmosphere for the scum that called themselves a Light Guild. Phantom Lord guild members were as rowdy as they come and as shady as they come like their boss. Though the Magic Council could never prove it, Phantom Lord members had been notorious for acts of criminal mischief such as stealing, extortion and even the smuggling of illegal items. In truth, Phantom Lord was a Dark Guild in disguise due to its members having strayed from the path of a true Light Guild. If someone were to be blamed it would be the guild master who was currently in charge.

"Oh my god man! You should have seen it! Ha ha ha ha!"

"Fairy scum's days are numbered!"

"Apparently some little bitch tried running her mouth against Gajeel. Guess he showed her."

"Their little play palace was in shambles! I wish I could've seen their faces!"

The party more or less resembled the assembly of scum at a shady bar. Earlier, the entire urban branch of Phantom Lord had assembled at the request of their guild master. They were informed of the sanctioned actions against Fairy Tail and the reaction was immediate. They were all thrilled that their guild master decided to take it to their rivals in the best way possible.

"Look at the time! I gotta go! I got me a client and I can't leave her sexy ass hangin'!"

The Phantom Lord members nearby roared and cheered their fellow guild member as he was heading out on his job. It was no secret that Phantom Lord members, with almost 100% of them being male, liked to sexually harass anyone of the opposite sex so long they seemed attractive. It didn't matter who they were or what their occupation was, women were susceptible to harassment and possibly assault if they were near a member of Phantom Lord.

Just as the Phantom Lord member neared the set of doors that served as an entrance, an explosion destroyed the entrance and the unfortunate SOB near it was caught up in the blast. The mage's smoking and charred form tumbled and rolled to a stop before his comrades who had all gotten to their feet in a frenzy.

"What the hell?!"

"The doors exploded!"

"Who the hell did that?!"

Right where the entrance used to be, smoke now obscured it. But the smoke soon started to dissipate and after it did, the reveal of who was standing at the building entrance shocked and enraged the Phantom Lord mages.

"What?!"

"No way!"

"It's them!"

It was Fairy Tail in all their righteous glory. At the forefront was an angry Natsu Dragneel, foot perched atop a large piece of rubble. Behind him were the others: Makarov, Gray, Erza, Cana, Macao, Elfman, Loke and several others.

"Fairy Tail has come a callin'!" Makarov announced.

The Phantom Lord mages didn't need to hear another word. Without warning they shot forward in a massive wave. Natsu, wanting to truly let loose for once raced forward to meet the crowd head on. He was on his own the first few seconds because his speed outclassed most everyone else present. The only ones who could keep up with him or even come close to it were Gray, Erza and a certain alien warrior.

Natsu led with a kick to some poor mage's sternum before landing on his feet and going into a frenzy of punches and kicks that sent Phantom members every which way. Not wanting to be left out, Gray and Erza dashed in at high speeds like their teammate and started to decimate Phantom Lord members left and right. The trio was going to hold back on their magic output since they were facing grunts. The other members of Fairy Tail didn't share that mindset. They were all out for payback.

Elfman had transformed his arm and slammed his magic powered fist into the ground, sending four Phantom members flying off.

Macao and Wakaba had tag teamed to keep some Phantom Lord mages on their heels. Macao used his Fire magic to destroy weapons and inflict some punishing burns. Wakaba used his Smoke magic to distract or blind the enemy while simultaneously setting them up for other Fairy Tail members to get their shots in.

Cana had paired up with Loke, knocking back several mages and easily holding their own.

Bardock, the one who had essentially blown up Phantom Lord's entrance, floated down and landed right where there was a massive pile of debris. He walked inside before stopping next to Makarov.

The Saiyan Rebel crossed his arms and took in the chaos. Fairy Tail's best were here while the rest remained back to watch over Team Shadow Gear and Magnolia. Onyx eyes scanned left before scanning right. Bardock then looked in the middle to see the trio of Natsu, Gray and Erza go to town against dozens of Phantom Lord mages. From what Bardock learned, Oak Town had the strongest presence for Phantom Lord. The Saiyan didn't understand how big the guild was in terms of numbers until Makarov filled him in and said they had multiple branches throughout the kingdom. However, these branches were kept within reasonable travel of Phantom's HQ.

Bardock snapped out of his thoughts as he saw Natsu dodge a slash only to repay the offender with an uppercut. The Dragon Slayer turned around before performing a roundhouse kick to some poor mage's head. After landing yet again, Natsu ran into the nearest group of opponents before leaping up and headbutting the lead mage. The Dragon Slayer then propelled himself off the fallen mage, heading high into the air. Natsu then empowered his elbow and fist before coming down hard, sending debris and bodies every which way.

Taking his burning fist out of the floor, Natsu slowly stood up, glaring at the next group of enemy mages. He looked around for a moment before getting into a fighting stance.

"You bastards want some? Come get some! I'm all fired up and ready to go!" He challenged.

Not willing to give his opponents a response, Natsu waited as one of the mages rushed him. The Dragon Slayer leaped up and gave a vicious superman punch, sending the mage face first into the floor. Natsu then turned around and ran full charge in the opposite direction before spearing another mage hard. Natsu rolled off and shot to his feet before catching the weapons of two other mages.

"Just how strong is he?!"

"Salamander was never supposed to be this good!"

Natsu ignored their comments before forcing their weapons away and punching them in the face. The force of his punches not only knocked them unconscious but broke their noses. Ignoring the carnage, Natsu raced forward, teeth bared as he leapt into a now hesitant and terrified group of Phantom Lord mages.

Meanwhile, Gray was back to back with Erza. Both teens had swords in hand as they were surrounded by two dozen or so Phantom Lord members.

"Two of us versus all of them… I like those odds." Gray remarked with a smirk.

"Focus Gray. Don't you let up for a second." Erza lightly chided with a smirk of her own.

Gray just nodded and shifted his stance. The flash of light behind Gray notified him that Erza was going to let loose a little. She had decided to go with her Black Wing Armor and shifted her stance like Gray had a moment earlier. One mage from the crowd disengaged from his buddies and ran in with his axe raised high. Another mage ran in with magic flowing in his hands, hoping to do some damage.

Once the pair of mages were close, Gray ducked and shifted his feet while Erza planted her free hand on Gray's back. Both Fairy Tail members had now switched places while in the midst of their tactic. Erza's foot found its mark on the opposing mage's face while Gray had punched the other mage hard in the gut. He then froze him in place before shoving him back. The other enemy mages rushed in and both members of Fairy Tail's strongest team separated to fight their own fight.

Gray raced forward and took down several Phantom mages with well-placed slashes. The raven haired teen then dismissed his swords before grabbing some Phantom Lord members by the hair, smashed their heads together and then spun around before tossing them off. Erza made quick work of her opponents with quick slashes and coordinated strikes as opposed to Gray's slower approach.

Bardock hummed in approval. The trio was quickly knocking out and incapacitating Phantom Lord members left right and they weren't using much magic while doing so. Even when Gray and Erza broke the mold a little, the negation to their power was miniscule. He knew that they knew, there was bigger fish to fry.

"They've made great progress in only a month under you. You have my thanks."

Bardock gave the old master next to him a slight glance. Makarov was still fuming but he kept a calm composure on the outside. The Saiyan had to give the man credit because if Bardock had it his way there would be a trail of bodies left in a very violent wake.

"I did what I had to. It would just be wasted potential otherwise." Bardock easily dismissed.

Some Phantom Lord member tried to get the drop on Bardock, running forth and brandishing a weapon. Not even glancing in the mage's direction, Bardock's right arm left his chest and his fist sent the poor mage off into a wall. Bardock went back to observing the chaos and having his arms crossed over his chest.

"Still, if not for your suggestion this battle would not be going so well." Makarov said.

A group of Phantom Lord members recognized Makarov and disregarded Bardock. Said saiyan rolled his eyes as Makarov's face darkened a bit before the Wizard Saint stepped forward.

"Excuse me. I think it's high time I join my children in this melee."

Light shone from Makarov's eyes as he grew into his giant form. He slammed his hand open palm on the ground, trapping and wounding almost a dozen Phantom Lord members.

"What the hell is he?!"

"The fuck! He's some sort of monster!"

The many opposing mages screamed as Makarov's eyes landed on them, a shadow covering the top half of his face. Bardock simply quirked a brow at the intimidation tactics. He drowned out the next moment of Makarov calling for Jose and Erza calling out Gajeel and the Elemental 4. The Saiyan Rebel let his senses feel for stronger energies in the area.

("Let's see… there's one in the rafters, one in a higher part of the building…")

Bardock uncrossed his arms and turned to look out of the destroyed entrance. The scarred warrior narrowed his eyes as he continued his observations.

("There's a strong presence not too far from here… and two new energies just showed up in Magnolia…")

Bardock could wager a guess that the strong presence to the north was Jose. After all, the man's power was comparable to Makarov's, given Jose was a Wizard Saint and all. But the two mystery energies in Magnolia baffled the Saiyan a bit. Something was off.

"Just what the hell are they up to?" Bardock asked aloud.

Meanwhile

Magnolia Hospital

Lucy was making her way out of the building with a saddened and worried expression. To think, everything was fine just a few days ago. Lucy on her part, couldn't help but think where it all went wrong. The Celestial mage stopped and took a glance over her shoulder. She eyed the floor that Shadow Gear was currently recovering on and let out a sigh.

Lucy turned around and started walking down the street again before she began to feel the telltale signs of droplets from the sky.

"Huh?"

Lucy lifted her hands to feel rain fall from the sky, which baffled the blonde since it was sunny only moments ago. The clouds had darkened, the steady sprinkle now turning into a downpour.

"Aw man!" The blonde whined.

Just her luck! An unexpected shift in the weather caught her without a rain jacket or even an umbrella. Through the rain, Lucy heard audible footsteps approaching her. Lucy blinked a few times as a young lady around her age appeared. The lady in question had long azure colored hair that was curled at the end. The hair of course went well with her azure colored eyes and pale complexion. But Lucy of course had to question why the young woman before her wore a dark colored outfit that was more suitable for winter than for late summer/early fall.

("Not judging her or anything but a pink parasol?")

The blonde shrugged her shoulders while quickly deciding she wanted to talk the lady that was probably the same age as she was.

"Um excuse me?"

The blue haired teen looked up with a blank expression yet her eyes showed a little more emotion. Lucy had a sheepish expression on her as she covered her head with her hands.

"I know I'm a complete stranger and all but you think you could help me out? It started raining unexpectedly and I don't have an umbrella on me." Lucy quickly informed her.

Although the blue haired lady was on a mission, her eyes widened a bit before she tilted her head.

"You would like Juvia's help?"

Lucy blinked at the young woman's use of her name in third person. The blonde quickly dismissed the oddity of it and nodded her head. The now identified Juvia straightened her posture before closing her eyes and giving a bow.

"Juvia can offer her assistance as best she can miss…"

"Lucy. It's nice to meet you Juvia." Lucy said with a bright smile.

Juvia hummed as she took a moment to allow Lucy to join her under her parasol. The duo walked in companionable silence for a bit, as Lucy guided them through the streets of Magnolia. Juvia took a moment to look at her new acquaintance. The blonde was wearing a white dress shirt beneath a yellow sweater vest. Additionally she wore a blue skirt, brown boots and sported her usual side ponytail, this time tied by a red ribbon. It was while they were walking Juvia realized who she was walking alongside when she noticed the Fairy Tail on Lucy's hand.

"Pardon Juvia for asking, but are you by some chance a mage?" Juvia queried.

Lucy looked over and blinked a few times. The blonde then gave a bright smile, despite the dreary conditions surrounding the two young ladies.

"Yes I am. I just so happen to be a member of Fairy Tail. But I'm still kind of new since I joined 2 months ago." Lucy happily answered.

"Really? Juvia is also a mage." Juvia informed her.

Lucy gasped and her eyes brightened. That was the thing she missed. Lucy was still getting used to trying feel out magic and magic signatures given she wasn't exactly an experienced mage other than doing missions with the team. But she's been practicing thanks to Mira, Erza and Levy. With a golden opportunity Lucy felt Juvia's magic and she was amazed at how high it was. It seemed Juvia's magic signature was higher than most at the guild. Hell, she could even say Juvia and herself were within a similar range on the power scale.

"No way! That's amazing! Have you found a guild? Are you interested in joining one by any chance?" Lucy rattled off.

Juvia was a bit surprised and taken aback by the blonde's bubbly mood. Even though Juvia knew Lucy was the target, Juvia found herself taking a liking to the blonde. It almost made her regret what she was about to do next. Not too far behind them, a head pops up from the ground. This mystery individual is quite ready to intervene on the situation once Juvia drops the bomb.

Phantom Lord Building

The others had bulldozed their way through a majority of Phantom Lord's forces, bringing the battle to a short standstill. Makarov had informed Erza that he would be taking off to the top of the building to deal with Jose. Bardock continued to watch the proceedings calmly while making sure to note that Lucy's energy had decreased somewhat. It wasn't life threatening at all but if it had anything to do with those powers he felt earlier…

The Saiyan Rebel hummed when his senses alerted him to one of the stronger powers belonging to Phantom performed a hard landing after leaving the rafters. It was during the landing, this individual decided to knock Warren and Nab out of the way. Not only that, several Phantom members were taken out too. Bardock watched as the dust settled to reveal a young man wearing dark clothing and had an assortment of piercings on his body. Bardock snorted, thinking the youth had some sort of fetish involving metal.

("Given what I've been exposed to in this world I wouldn't be surprised…")

"Gee hee! Feel the wrath of Phantom's Iron Dragon Slayer Fairy trash!" Gajeel exclaimed with a mad grin.

"He took out his own people?!" Wakaba cried out.

"So that's 'Black Steel' Gajeel?" Alzack asked in slight fear.

Bardock's eyes darted to the side as he saw movement. Elfman managed to transform his arm and try to smash Gajeel. But their powers were different. Gajeel was hiding much more power than Elfman and could easily overpower the Take-Over mage at any given point. That said, Elfman probably wouldn't go down without a decent fight.

Elfman came in with a transformed arm, attempting a punch only for it to be blocked. Not deterred, Elfman avoided a counterattack in the form of an iron pillar only to be taken off guard by a kick. Elfman slid back and quickly caught a large iron pillar that formed from Gajeel's leg.

"Hey now! You ain't half bad!" Gajeel complimented.

"A man who fights for his friends is always strong! I'm just getting started!"Elfman told him.

"If that's the case…"

Multiple bulges and dents appeared on Gajeel's leg, prompting Bardock to raise an eyebrow at what was going on. The Saiyan felt a shift in Gajeel's power, meaning an attack of some form was coming.

"Dodge this!"

Multiple iron pillars struck out from the leg, hurting anyone and everyone in the vicinity of Elfman and Gajeel's brawl. Since the attack hurt Phantom members, Elfman got distracted.

"Oi! They were on your side!"

This distraction would cost him. Gajeel retracted his leg and crouched before shooting an iron pillar from his arm.

"You should never take your eyes off your opponent!" Gajeel warned.

The iron pillar struck Elfman in the head, knocking the big guy off his feet. Bardock then looked over to see Natsu rush in, using Elfman as a spring board… then promptly punching Gajeel hard across the face. Gajeel went flying back into the wall hard enough to be embedded in it.

Natsu slipped into a stance, flames starting to lick at his hands, torso and legs.

"Gajeel… you're fighting me now." Natsu stated loud enough.

Given Gajeel was a Dragon Slayer he heard Natsu's statement to him loud and clear. He fell off the wall, landing on his feet and shaking his head to get the cobwebs out. Gajeel growled a little before spotting the other Dragon Slayer. He then grinned and flexed his palm as he took a step forward.

"Salamander…"

Natsu shifted in his stance. Suddenly, the Fire breather crossed his arms and blocked an attack by Gajeel. The iron pillar pushed Natsu back several meters but it barely did the damage it was expected to. What happened next surprised the Phantom members as Natsu twisted his body out of the pillar's path and then grasped it. With a mighty heave, Natsu threw Gajeel into the rafters on high, the Iron Dragon Slayer grunting as he found himself flying through the air.

"That little…!" Gajeel snarled.

Gajeel rectified his flight path, grabbing a hold of a wooden beam. He managed to get into a crouch, ready to spew insults… only for Natsu to give him a magic powered headbutt. Natsu then brought his legs into his body before violently lashing them out onto Gajeel's chest in the form of a dropkick. Natsu landed on the beam and quickly got back into a stance. Gajeel flew into a nearby by beam and spun before planting his feet and leaping to a higher vantage point. Channeling magic into his feet, Gajeel anchored himself upside down as he glared at his opponent. The Iron Dragon Slayer wiped a mix of saliva and blood from his mouth before crossing his arms. Natsu ignited some fire in both fists as he stared down Gajeel who was now grinning.

"You ain't half bad Salamander. But is that all you got?" Gajeel mocked.

"Tch. You kidding me? I haven't even properly warmed up yet." Natsu shot back.

Bardock hummed in approval as he watched the two Dragon Slayers clash and size each other up. Without warning though, the building started to shake and tremble. The Saiyan Rebel instantly knew who this energy belonged to.

("Damn. Even though it isn't anywhere near my caliber it's still impressive.") Bardock mused.

"Oh great. The old man's pissed." Gray commented with a smirk.

A majority of the Fairy Tail members present were sweating a bit but obviously excited. Those who had been around Makarov long enough knew of his awesome power. The Phantom Lord members on the other hand were freaking out.

"Whoa! The whole building is shaking!"

"J-Just what is this?!"

"An earthquake?! Here?!"

Erza lowered her sword and smiled. She looked around at ally and foe alike confirming their worst fears or best dreams.

"Let this be a lesson Phantom Lord. What you feel right now is our Master's rage! This is the wrath of a goliath and no one man can stop it now!" She passionately declared.

Bardock's eyebrow twitched at that statement. Although the team had come leaps and bounds in just one month of training, they obviously needed to learn not to be overconfident. Pride and overconfidence can take down anyone no matter how strong they are.

Hushed murmurs and whispers were amongst the battered members of Phantom Lord.

"He's that powerful?!"

"He'll bring the building down on top of us!"

"We're doomed!"

"Game over man!"

Elfman stepped up and grinned evilly at the Phantom members.

"Our master is a real man! Best be saying your prayers because with him on our side we can't lose!" Elfman chimed in.

It was at that moment Bardock placed a hand on his hip before using the other to pinch the bridge of his nose. That was… insulting. He wasn't as prideful as any Saiyan, don't misunderstand him. That said, Bardock was way beyond the power scope of anyone on the planet at the moment. He survived an attack that could destroy worlds, fought stronger opponents and trained his ass off. Bardock took immense pride in his hard work and his skills. It was one of the reasons why no other Low Class Saiyans could compete with him. So to say no one could take on Makarov was downright disrespect. Just because Bardock just so happened to be a part of the same guild doesn't mean he shouldn't be discounted out of the discussion of who's the strongest.

"For the love of…" Bardock muttered beneath his breath.

Bardock decided to rein in his irritation and focus on the task at hand. Now was not the time to correct the rest of the guild on their mindset.

The building stopped shaking and a few explosions and impacts echoed from above. A few minutes passed before Bardock felt something…

("What happened to the old man's power? It just went from a high output to something pitiful in a matter of seconds!")

Bardock let his arms go to his sides, hands clenched into fists. The Saiyan's once relaxed features now turned into a scowl as he eyed the rafters. Suddenly an object, no, person fell from on high. Once the dust settled everyone minus Bardock gasped… it was Makarov lying face down on the floor. His clothes had survived whatever scuffle he was in but the old man had a cut an inch or two above his left eyebrow, letting blood flow down his face.

Bardock remembered an old saying about making the invincible bleed and people to stop believing in said person. This situation was a prime example of not betting all your cards in a fight on one person.

("But then again we Saiyans fought solo so isn't that pot calling kettle black or some shit?")

"Old man?" Gray whispered.

Makarov's breathing was heavy as he crawled out from a table that somewhat broke his fall. Erza watched in shock and slight horror as her mentor and father figure struggled to move. Natsu had cursed beneath his breath as he eyed the master over his shoulder. The Fire Dragon Slayer was tense and quickly turned his eyes back to Gajeel, who watched the proceedings with a mocking grin.

Bardock quickly phased out from his spot and reappeared right in front of Makarov. The elderly mage strained himself to look up and see Bardock's scowl. The Saiyan Rebel crossed his arms and looked down on the now depowered Wizard Saint.

"B…Ngh… Bardock…" Makarov gasped out.

"The one and only. Just what the hell happened to you? You look like you got your ass handed to you." Bardock immediately answered.

"Master!"

Bardock looked over to see Erza fall to her knees and quickly pull Makarov in her arms. To Bardock's growing disgust, the redhead had tears in her eyes. Bardock let off a low growl at Erza's overreaction. The old man wasn't going to die. That said, he was going to be weakened for the foreseeable future, putting Fairy Tail at a slight disadvantage…

…

Wrong.

("Looks like I might have to step in and save the goddamn day again. Great.")

Makarov was on the thin line between staying awake and going unconscious. Erza frantically told Makarov to hold on until they could get him help. Bardock silently scolded her for not focusing on what was in front of them.

How in the hell did Makarov lose all his power in such a short period of time?

Bardock started putting together theories but those thoughts were interrupted when the chatter picked up.

"Their master is down! Now's our chance!"

"He ain't got no power left!"

"He's weak and so are they! Let's get 'em!"

Gray snapped out of his stupor and easily dodged a punch before leveling a Phantom mage with his knee to their chin. Gray immediately leapt out of the way of a slash attempt. Once Gray's feet hit, the raven haired teen slammed his hands together before bringing them down on the floor.

"Ice-Make Lance!"

A wave of ice made weapons slammed into the group of Phantom mages who could do nothing but cry in pain and agony as they were knocked out of the fight. Gray immediately cursed before summoning an ice made cutlass. He narrowed his eyes before rushing into the crowd.

Gray's little sequence was only a microcosm of the chaos that ensued after Makarov was essentially out of the fight. Bardock didn't even blink when he unconsciously backhanded a Phantom member off to the side. Erza struggled with her tears for a bit before she quickly wiped them off. Knowing how much morale must have been affected, she was left with one choice that made her stomach churn. With as much strength she could emotionally muster, Erza stood straight up, letting Makarov rest on the ground for a moment.

"Retreat! Everyone will fall back and regroup at the guild! Time is of the essence!" Erza boomed.

Gray clicked his tongue in annoyance as he kept fighting. Yeah, right. No way the Ice Mage was running away from this fight. Natsu was of the same mindset as he continued to glare at Gajeel, this time the magic extinguished from his hands. The Iron Dragon Slayer didn't even bother making a move. Both mages knew this part of the battle was over now that Makarov had lost.

"Erza I can keep going…" said a winded Macao.

"Come on hun! We got this! We can't give up!" Bisca pleaded.

"Without the Master we can't beat Jose! We have to leave!" Erza countered.

Gray just let another curse fly before he took out another Phantom member. The teen then joined Elfman as they ran over to join Erza. Natsu for his part narrowed his eyes and pointed straight at Gajeel.

"Just so you know, this isn't over." Natsu told him.

"Gee hee! Whatever Salamander! We'll finish this some other time! Go run home crying with the rest of your guild of weaklings!" Gajeel cackled.

Natsu clicked his tongue before using his agility to guide himself to the floor. Once he landed he was reunited with Happy. While the duo had an impromptu discussion, Bardock grabbed Erza by the arm. Immediately the two had an intense stare down.

"Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Bardock coldly asked.

Erza flinched a bit before looking away. A moment passed and while Bardock maintained a grip on Erza's arm, Elfman and Gray reached them. Elfman cradled Makarov in his arms while Gray stood by, minding the chaos and what he already knew was a heated disagreement.

"Well?" Bardock pressed.

Erza let more tears slip, her composure falling apart. Snarling, Bardock shoved Erza into Gray's arms. The ice mage was surprised before he looked to Bardock for answers. The Saiyan Rebel looked at the trio with slightly angered eyes.

"Get her the hell out of my sight and get the old man a damn medic. I'll keep the scum busy while you guys take off." Bardock told them.

While Elfman balked a little bit, Gray quickly agreed to it. Gray knew Erza was hurting and he was going to help his sister out. Before they moved, Natsu ran over with Happy in tow with a slightly enraged expression.

"Those bastards kidnapped Luce!"

Bardock cursed while Erza, Elfman and Gray looked shocked. This little bit of news confirmed one of Bardock's theories. At first he thought that some rogue element related to Phantom Lord attacked the Fairy Tail members left behind in Magnolia, as it would make sense. A majority of the forces take off leaving an entire base of operations vulnerable for attack. That can be applied here with Fairy Tail one hundred percent. But kidnapping? This was unexpected.

"A-Are you sure?" Erza stuttered out.

Nastu nodded before glancing back over in the direction of the rafters where Gajeel was with Aria. The others followed his gaze and all eyes fell upon Gajeel.

"Gajeel was talking with the weird guy with a blindfold. They took Luce to their HQ but I'm going to get her back." Natsu told them determinedly.

"Then you have your mission kid, get to it." Bardock ordered with a nod.

Natsu nodded before taking off towards the exit, Happy hot on his heels.

"Come on Happy! We're gonna go rescue Luce from those Phantom bastards!"

"Aye sir!"

While on his way out, Natsu managed to snag a Phantom mage by his collar, dragging him along. Bardock gave a snort at Natsu's impulsiveness and quick thinking.

The chaos continued for a moment as the Fairy Tail mages kept the opposition back while covering their hasty exit. But as Natsu neared the door and as Fairy Tail was edging closer to the exit, everyone suddenly heard a voice projected from on high.

"I don't suppose you could stay a little longer could you?"

Natsu stopped in his tracks, grip tightening on the collar of some random enemy mage he picked up. Happy landed, dispersing his Aera for a bit while he looked around. Bardock raised a curious eyebrow while the rest of the Fairy Tail members were baffled at whose voice was sounding off. Erza on the other hand was shocked and surprised. She had only met the man twice while Makarov was on official business while dealing with other guild masters. There was no way in hell she could ever forget his voice.

"I-It can't be…" Erza uttered with a slight tremble.

Bardock heard her and his eyes narrowed. He had the striking suspicion of just who was talking. He heard enough stories to know how big the man's ego was. He also heard enough stories about how powerful he was and how the man ran his guild. And judging by Erza's reaction, Bardock surmised she must have met him at some point.

"Poor Makarov has fallen like the proverbial eggman on the horse. Or was it eggman on a wall? But alas, all the pieces are in Aria's hands. A shame really Makarov…"

But then the voice started to let out a low chuckle before it became full blown laughter. The air around Natsu increased to a point where the Phantom mage being held captive whimpered as his skin started to burn. All the other Fairy Tail mages were angered, despite a majority of them being winded or hurt as a result of the fighting.

"Your guild's days were numbered from the start. If it's any consolation, Lucy Heartfillia won't be harmed while in my care."

This very well confirmed what Bardock, Erza, Gray and Elfman heard from Natsu. Lucy was now Phantom's prisoner. And it was highly likely that she was in Jose's clutches.

"What does he mean by that?!" Cana cried out.

"They took one of our own? And Lucy of all people? Why?" Macao questioned with growing anger.

"As I said little Fairies, she will not be harmed while under my care. But I did not make this house call to bask in this victory."

Bardock tensed up a bit as his senses picked up abnormally high energies moving about in the rafters. Gajeel's smirk dropped as he saw four figures move about into his general area. He really didn't see why these four newbies were such a big deal. They literally came out of nowhere with a message for his boss and not too long after they were hired. It irked Gajeel to know that four rookies were about to usurp him and the Elemental 4, not that he cared for any of them except Juvia. Juiva was like the little sister that he always wanted. That said…

("Boss better know what he's doing. I don't trust these guys one bit.") Gajeel remarked.

"Amongst your merry little band of do-gooders is someone who has piqued the interest of the Magic Council and the Wizard Saints. It has even been rumored that this individual is strong enough to top a Wizard Saint without having to go full power."

Bardock watched as four mysterious figures landed several meters in front of him. The Saiyan Rebel stepped in front of the stunned Fairy Tail members and took the moment to observe opponents obviously meant for him.

The one in front was a human female with long brown hair. Her exposed eye was colored grey. The female warrior's outfit consisted of jade colored armor similar to what Frieza's forces wore, minus the pads protecting the hips and shoulders. In the female's hands were katanas.

The one behind the female was massive. Bardock narrowed his eyes as the male wore the same colored armor as the female. The difference? There was a furry belt wrapped around his waist. This could only mean one thing…

("A Saiyan.")

Bardock then took note of the human male standing off to the side with a bo staff in his hands. He wore the same armor as his other two comrades and in the same color scheme.

The Saiyan Rebel looked over to the final member of the team and nearly did a double take. Wearing a white shawl, dark colored vest and white pants was a being that nearly matched the height of the large Saiyan in the group. When Bardock spotted the pointy ears, he knew exactly what he was dealing with.

("A Namekian too? Just who the hell are these guys?")

The ones in armor wore half masks to obscure their faces. The human male and Saiyan male both hid their hair as well as to not give anything away, only exposing their onyx colored eyes. The Namekian didn't even bother hiding who he was. Everyone minus Bardock and possibly Natsu were on edge at these newcomers. Phantom members, due to the fact that these newcomers were new and extremely dangerous (and powerful to boot). And Fairy Tail because four strange warriors, they assumed to be mages, had a villainous vibe that sent shivers down their spine.

Loke was shaking and pale alongside Cana, the card mage holding up a wounded Macao.

"Whoa… just who are they supposed to be?" Cana asked aloud.

Gray, who was frozen in shock, easily recognized the larger of the quartet. He leaned over to Erza while maintaining a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey… that guy has a-"

"A tail I know. Which means he's just like Bardock." Erza cutoff.

"But how is more of his kind here though?" Gray queried.

Erza frowned and shook her head indicating she didn't know. Bardock was not from their world or their universe. The team had long accepted Bardock's warning that a mysterious threat would send warriors of various races after him. It was also no surprise that Bardock assumed there would be casualties caught in the crossfire of his one man war against whoever was plotting against him.

"I suspect whoever holds grievances against him possibly swayed survivors into their ranks. After all, Bardock's people weren't exactly innocent before their destruction." Erza theorized.

Gray nodded at that. Although not sharp, the wheels in Gray's mind began to turn. He, as well as the rest of Fairy Alpha knew that Bardock was one of the last survivors of his race. That said, Bardock never fully disclosed how his people damn near went extinct. It was something he would ask at a later date if possible.

"Allow me to introduce you to my newest team: The Black Hand. These four are quite unique in their skillset and should present a worthy challenge to you. Should you survive, I expect to see you soon so we can have a proper meeting. Until then…"

As the voice trailed off, the sword wielding female roared as she shot straight at Bardock. The Saiyan Rebel levitated off the ground before weaving left and right, dodging various slashes effortlessly. Bardock then darted right as the sword user continued to slash at him. Although the leader/sword user was stronger than the Phantom mages, she and the rest of her team were no match for Bardock.

("But then again that remains to be seen. Just like with that one guy from Garlic Jr.'s group, they could be hiding a massive power and try to trick me into letting my guard down.") Bardock thought as he dodged another slash.

Bardock dodged another slash and narrowed his eyes.

("Especially when I need to figure out just what the hell is really going on.")

Bardock glided to a stop and so did his opponent. However, the leader of the Black Hand pressed her attack with several slashes too fast for anyone to keep up with. Natsu and Gajeel eyed the fight with great interest but the former had other things to do. The Fire Dragon Slayer shook from his stupor before calling out to Happy it was time for them to go. Both boy, cat and their prisoner left the building while the other members (outside of Fairy Alpha) of Fairy Tail watched Bardock fight for the first time.

Bardock moved at high speeds, making it seem his feet never left the same spot he was in as he dodged several slashes. After allowing the attack to continue for so long, Bardock decided he had enough. In a flash of movement, Bardock's hands seized the swordswoman's wrists, gripping them hard. The leader of the Black Hand struggled in Bardock's grip trying to escape his hold while also wanting to no longer have pain. The Saiyan Rebel reared his head back and gave a vicious headbutt to the woman, making her stumble back.

The woman quickly shook off the hit and growled at her opponent while Bardock just looked somewhere between bored and unimpressed. The leader, now dubbed 'Sword', flew into the air as her Namekian companion (now dubbed 'Warrior') stretched out his arm. For a moment Bardock's eyes widened a bit, forgetting for a moment that one of the capabilities of Namekian's was stretching their limbs, whether it be an arm or a leg. Bardock schooled his expression into a scowl and easily dodged the limb by flying up into the air.

Once Bardock found himself in the air, he took off for the rafters in hopes of drawing his opponents to him. He wasn't disappointed as the other human of the group (dubbed 'Staff'), came at him swinging his bo staff around. Bardock chose to either dodge or deflect the blows as he gauged his opponent's fighting style, scanning for strengths and weaknesses.

Below, the large Saiyan (dubbed 'Brute'), powered up and reared his head back. 'Warrior' stepped away as 'Brute' fired a Ki empowered beam from his mouth. 'Staff' sensed what his teammate did and phased out. Unfortunately for the entire team, Bardock phased out as well effortlessly avoiding the attack.

The Saiyan Rebel landed on a nearby beam, staring straight ahead as he sensed the Black Hand phase into existence on surrounding beams. The Saiyan Rebel scowled as he took the time to address his opponents.

"Look, I don't know who you are but right now you're in my way."

'Sword' tightened her grip on the blades in her hands while 'Brute' took the time to crack his knuckles.

"The way I see it you fuckers have two options. One: you tell me who you're working for and I can make your deaths painless."

'Warrior' fell into a stance while 'Staff' readied himself for combat.

"Or Two: I take my time in whooping your sorry asses to kingdom come before killing you. Either way I win." Bardock finished.

'Sword' and 'Brute' slipped into stances like their teammates. Looks like Bardock got his answer. The Saiyan Rebel formed a smirk before letting out a dark chuckle.

"Option two it is."

All members of the Black Hand phased out of existence the moment those words fell from Bardock's mouth. The Saiyan Rebel phased out and in the span of seconds everyone in the building heard the telltale signs of shockwaves being produced. Both sides were baffled as the Black Hand took on Bardock high in the rafters.

"Just what is going on up there?" Cana asked in slight frustration.

No one dared move from there spot as shockwaves sounded throughout the building. The next thing that occurred was holes opening up in places on the wall. Gajeel had a clue as to what was happening and it pissed him off to no end. Not only were these newcomers fast but they seemed strong too. The Iron Dragon Slayer couldn't even keep up with any of their movements because they were too fast for him to follow.

("Then there's that spikey haired bastard! There's no way he's as strong as the boss says!")

Gajeel didn't really believe that Fairy Tail's recent addition was as strong as the public or as the Magic Council said he was. He had heard of how strong Salamander and his team was. Hell, he witnessed their growing strength firsthand while on his way home from a job. Luckily Salamander was busy and none the wiser, otherwise they would have fought that day.

Anyways, Gajeel never witnessed the power of 'Bardock' first hand. Until the spikey haired man could beat him in a fight, Gajeel wasn't going to give Bardock his due.

Meanwhile, the fight between the Black Hand and Bardock became nothing more than speed mixed with a tangle of limbs. Bardock's time in the Gravity Chamber had paid off tremendously. The Saiyan Rebel was now exuding effort of the perfect combination of speed and strength. He was making this fight look easy, dodging blows while also blocking them with little effort. Four vs one may not have been good odds… but to a veteran Saiyan warrior? Please!

At one point 'Brute' attempted to pummel him with a double ax handle to the head, only for Bardock to attack with an elbow to the face before 'Brute' could execute his move. 'Sword' rushed in for a slash only for Bardock to dodge right, grab her by a wrist and spin her right into 'Brute' harshly enough to send both combatants back.

Bardock flew from the rafters to ground level and was immediately sought by 'Staff' and 'Warrior'. Bardock glided across the floor, weaving his way through the crowd of Phantom mages. The Saiyan Rebel didn't care much for Phantom Lord. Before he left this place he was going to inflict the hurt in worse ways than one. But Bardock did care somewhat about Fairy Tail. They were his allies. Hell, they were starting to grow on him to a point. So right now he couldn't afford for them to be any more wounded than they already are.

After expertly dodging the combined strikes of 'Staff' and 'Warrior', Bardock stopped his movement as he blocked the bo staff with his left forearm and the offending, green limb with his right hand.

"Is that all? I'm getting bored here." Bardock commented.

Bardock pushed both combatants off of him before lashing out with a punch on the human and a kick on the Namekian, sending them off to the side. Bardock wasn't allowed a moment to recover as he was shoulder tackled by the team's lone Saiyan. The impact had sent Bardock bouncing off the wall before landing in a crouch. Bardock looked up, not even shaken by the blow. 'Brute' came in with a jab which Bardock dodged by leaning right and staying in a low crouch.

Baring his teeth in a vicious snarl, Bardock plowed his fist into the other Saiyan's gut, making the larger Saiyan male gasp in pain while also coughing up spittle. Bardock jumped and kicked the larger Saiyan hard on the side of the face using his right leg. Just as Bardock landed on his feet, the Saiyan Rebel phased out of place to avoid a Ki volley from 'Warrior'.

Bardock phased back into existence, positioning himself in front of the Fairy Tail members who had now reached the entrance after staving off Phantom's attempts to beat them. The Black Hand had phased in, lining up shoulder to shoulder in front of the Phantom mages, who had seen more than their fair share of fighting for the day. As for Bardock, the man had clearly had enough.

"As much as I would like to sit around and chat, my allies here have to get back to Magnolia." He informed the opposing crowd.

Bardock took a few steps forward and stopped. The scarred Saiyan shifted his feet and bent his arms, face contorting in intense concentration.

"But before they go, let me show you a new trick I picked up…"

Bardock's voice began in a low growl before it picked up into a dull roar. Winds picked up within the building, blowing everyone back and damn near off their feet. The foundation started to quake and it felt way worse than what Makarov had done before. This time the quake was not just centered on the building but had spread out beyond the borders of Oak Town. Bardock's hair stood straight up as his roar echoed throughout Phantom's building. A navy, fiery aura consumed Bardock's form as his power continued to skyrocket.

The Black Hand was more or less stunned by the revelation of their foe's power. Surely their master didn't want them to face off against that?

The Phantom mages were scared stiff to a point where all they could do was watch helplessly. They all thought that with Makarov out of the way they could steamroll to an easy victory. All Phantom mages had Gajeel, The Elemental 4, The Black Hand and Jose to back them. Even though this spikey haired warrior was just one man, there was the collective and nagging thought he could defy any odds set against him.

Gajeel and Aria were both shocked as they witnessed the scene from the rafters. The Iron Dragon Slayer frantically looked around, seeing damaged and undamaged parts of the building crack. Gajeel turned and looked at Bardock wide-eyed. This was not magic power. This was something else entirely.

("Just who the hell is this guy?!") Gajeel yelled in his head.

The Fairy Tail members were stupefied. They were all on the cusp of retreating but now found themselves transfixed by the spectacle that Bardock was displaying. There was the ever growing suspicion and rumor that Bardock was much stronger than he let on. Natsu and his team had only told snippets, not wanting to upset the balance of the guild with the knowledge that some new member out of nowhere was stronger than their ace and/or their master. Now they were beginning to get the idea of why Bardock kept his strength hidden. And they were now seeing why Jose proclaimed that Bardock could top a Wizard Saint with ease.

Bardock's roar continued while his aura, which had been nothing but brilliant for the last minute or so began to flicker in and out. The flickering of Bardock's aura continued until it suddenly cutoff along with Bardock's roaring. Everything stilled and all the people present held their collective breathe, waiting to see something amazing.

Gritting his teeth, Bardock glared ahead as his muscles bulged, veins popping up on various places on his body.

"Kaioken!" He roared.

A brilliant maroon aura flashed about Bardock's form, engulfing him. The Saiyan Rebel's hair started to swish around violently, choosing to either stand up or stay in its normal form. Bardock stood up from his power up position and let his arms fall to his sides. Once his breathing was normal he never bothered to look over his shoulder as he directed his next words to Erza and Gray.

"Get going already. I got this covered." Bardock said, assuring them.

Both the Knight and the Ice mage nodded numbly before rallying the troops and leaving. Cana hung back a little longer, casting a worried glance Bardock's way before taking off after the others. The Saiyan Rebel continued to stand tall and glare daggers at the Phantom mages and the Black Hand.

No one dared move a muscle but the Black Hand members were already calculating their next move. The leader looked to her subordinates, giving a not so subtle nod before looking at Bardock. Frustration clear on her features, her and the other members charged up blasts… only to shoot them at their feet.

Bardock immediately knew what they were trying to do. But the scarred Saiyan let them retreat. He wanted them to feel fear. He wanted them to run away. After all, he was a Saiyan through and through, the man needed a proper challenge.

The Phantom Lord members couldn't keep up with how fast the Black Hand seemingly disappeared. Gajeel meanwhile clicked his tongue in annoyance before signaling to Aria he was ready to leave. Screw these poor saps! They were going to be sacrificial lambs to what the Iron Dragon Slayer knew was going to be a slaughter.

As Aria and Gajeel vanished, Bardock cracked his knuckles as his aura, now enhanced by Kaioken flared. He really had to hand it to the Kai who trained Kakarot in preparation for Vegeta and Nappa. This technique had its uses. Sure, prolonged usage meant the chance of muscles exploding and bones snapping from the strain but Bardock didn't care. He would master that technique like all the others he'd seen.

Letting his hands fall to the side, Bardock took in the fear of the few dozen or so mages that were still standing.

"So… who's first?" He queried.

A moment of silence passed over the building, no one daring to make a move. Suddenly, one of the members screamed, sanity broken as he rushed forward armed with a club. Bardock didn't even blink and before anyone knew it, the mage was resting harshly on the broken floor with a split skull. To those who could keep up, Bardock essentially used his speed while utilizing Kaioken to attack without the worry of a counterattack.

Knife hand still hovering over the fallen mage, Bardock glared down at him, watching as the blood flowed from the mage's head onto the ground. Bardock let his hand fall to his side before looking up.

"Who's next?" The Saiyan Rebel asked.

It wasn't long before Bardock got his answer. They came at him from every side. The Phantom Lord mages honestly thought he was trapped in this building with them. In reality it was the other way around.

Bardock watched all the mages move at a snail's pace. His fists clenched a bit tighter and his senses sharpened. What was supposed to be a test of power… was about to turn into a slaughter.

Meanwhile

Phantom Lord HQ, North of Oak Town

Lucy awoke with a dull ache in her head. She glanced around her surroundings, finding herself in a makeshift bedroom of sorts.

"Eh?" she squeaked.

But what threw her off were the prison bars on her window. No normal bedroom has prison bars on the windows. As the blonde stood up, she also realized in comical shock that her wrists were bound by rope.

"What the-"

"Ah. I see you're awake."

Lucy stopped and blinked a few times. As she sat on the ground, she slowly turned and gasped at who had entered the room. Standing there with makeup, a pointy hat, a dark cloak and fake batwings was none other than Jose Porla, Wizard Saint and master of Phantom Lord.

"H-Hang on... who are you?" Lucy asked with a slight quiver in her voice.

The man himself chuckled before giving a gracious bow.

"I am Jose Porla, guild master of Phantom Lord. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He greeted.

Lucy recoiled in shock and slight fear. She was in the presence of a Wizard Saint. Even worse it was the same one that attacked her guild. On top of that, he sent his goons to hurt Levy and Shadow Gear. Plus they kidnapped her! Suddenly, a righteous anger built up in the blonde as she glared at the man.

"I do apologize in advance for the accommodations. We were operating under the impression you might be a bit resistant in coming with us quietly." He informed her with a shrug of mock sympathy.

Growling, Lucy repositioned herself to on the ground so she could face Jose directly.

"Who do you think you are buster?! First you attack us for no reason, hurt my friends and then kidnap me? I swear if you don't let me out of these ropes I'll…"

Jose waved his finger while making a sound of disapproval.

"My young lady, you really should change your attitude. As of now you are my guest. I can show you greater hospitality if you so desire." Jose offered.

Before Lucy could speak, the blonde felt something crawling on her leg, more specifically her left thigh. Shakily she peered down to see a centipede working its way up her skirt.

"Eyaaaa!"

Jose winced a little as Lucy was able to shake off the pesky intruder. The man composed himself and smiled his usual shady smile.

"Unhappy with the conditions? I can fix that just so long as you cooperate. Makes it easier on both of us believe."

Lucy regained her wits and once again glared at Jose.

"Why are you doing this? What did Fairy Tail do to provoke you like this?" she questioned.

Jose chuckled in a way that seemed condescending. Instead of giving a direct answer the Wizard Saint offered pieces to the puzzle in forms of a query.

"Lady Lucy, tell me… what reasons would I have to act now?" He asked right back.

Lucy didn't expect the answer in the form of a question, which irritated her. Nevertheless, the blonde took her time to process Jose's question while theorizing an answer.

("Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord have been rivals for a long time now. Although Phantom Lord had the numbers, Fairy Tail countered it with overwhelming strength. Not only that, Master held an edge over Jose for years. But a duel between them would be disastrous putting it mildly…")

"I can see the wheels are turning in your head. Unfortunately for you, whatever you think is the answer will have to wait."

Lucy looked up at Jose questioningly. The man simply narrowed his eyes as his smile stretched into a sickly grin.

"You see, Fairy Tail's destruction at the hands of my guild was pure icing on the cake. However, my primary objective was to secure the one person who had joined their ranks."

Jose then pointed a finger at Lucy, whose eyes widened in surprise.

"Phantom Lord's mission was to secure you… Lucy Heartfillia, heiress of the Heartfillia family."

Lucy slightly narrowed her eyes and looked away from Jose with a scoff. Apparently the cat was out of the bag. Squirming on the ground, Lucy turned her chocolate orbs onto Jose as he continued to grin his sickly grin.

"Hmph. So you know about me huh? Who put you up to this anyways?" Lucy asked irritably.

Jose let silence reign for a moment before he began to chuckle. There was something about that chuckle that made Lucy's stomach churn with trepidation. It was bad enough that he knew who she was. That was possibly why she got kidnapped in the first place.

"Why my dear, any father would be concerned when his daughter joins a band of hooligans."

Lucy's heart stopped and the world around her seemed to cool a bit. It couldn't be him.

"When he came to me he offered me a blank check. He has my respect as he was very clever in seeing what I was going to do regarding your 'rescue'."

Lucy's brows furrowed and she closed her eyes. The blonde was hit with many memories of home, mainly the recent ones which didn't provide a positive spark in her heart. The once, warm and kind man that was her father grew bitter and colder after a pivotal moment for both of them.

"You're wrong…" she whispered.

"Hoh?"

Lucy looked up and glared defiantly, her chocolate orbs swimming with emotion. Jose simply raised an eyebrow, somewhat impressed with Lucy's resolve. She was definitely a firecracker through and through. Just like those rowdy mages of Fairy Tail.

"Whatever or whoever he is, that's not the man I called my Papa! He wouldn't give a damn about me being missing then a few months ago and he sure as hell wouldn't now!" She yelled.

"You honestly should rein that temper of yours Miss Heartfillia. Your health won't last long if you don't." Jose quipped offhandedly.

Lucy huffed a breath before concocting a quick plan. She needed to get out of here. For one she didn't have her keys and that brought a throbbing ache to her chest. Her spirits, her friends mattered more to her than anything. And second…

("Natsu has to know by now. He hasn't let me down yet and he won't let me down now.") She thought.

Lucy played the good actress and made herself blush. Her eyes darted to the side before looking up at Jose pleadingly.

"Um… Mr. Porla, I have to use the bathroom." She said meekly.

Lucy inwardly winced at how pathetic she sounded but her acting skills needed to at least get Jose to drop his guard. Jose let out one of the few hearty laughs he could ever let out. The Celestial Mage thought to herself at that moment that Jose wasn't entirely evil. Petty? Yes. Evil? Meh.

"My dear girl, you honestly don't believe that I would fall for the oldest trick in the book would you?" Jose questioned.

This was going to be tougher than she thought. With a little more squirming, she let out a whimper.

"But I have to go! I really need to go so bad!" She whined.

"There's a bucket in the corner." Jose said, pointing towards said bucket.

Lucy looked comically astonished at his audacity. A majority of the pretenses of being a proper lady were thrown out the window when she found Fairy Tail. But even she wouldn't dare use the bathroom in front of people, whether it be a grown man or a small child. Sure she did her business out in the wilderness before but she was still a bit skittish at the idea. Inwardly sighing in defeat, Lucy staked her gamble of freedom on this last little act.

Jose turned around, arms crossed as he reveled with a smug satisfaction no one would dare do something so bold. The Wizard Saint heard the pattering of footsteps and turned around. Jose's face blanched and went into comical shock at the sight. A blushing Lucy, looking very shy, had reached into her skirt ready to proceed on with her business right in front of him.

"W-Well… I might as well since I'm here…" She said.

"Why I have never been so appalled in all my life! Have you no shame?" Jose scolded.

The man turned around and crossed his arms, looking visibly affronted by what nearly occurred.

"But I am a gentleman! A lady deserves her privacy even when acting improper." He harrumphed.

Lucy stopped and grinned victoriously, gaining a glint in her eyes. Sneakily she got right behind Jose before putting her leg back.

"Lucy…"

Jose hummed before the world crumbled in the next moment. Searing hot pain shot from his groin and into his abdominal section. All the Wizard Saint could do was squeak as Lucy's leg…

"Kick!"

…Was planted beneath his legs and damn near destroying his family jewels. If Jose could, he'd compliment Lucy on the fact she caught him with his guard down. Not only that, she was physically stronger than some of the mid-level mages who worked for him.

Lucy was about to move before the wall behind her exploded. Nearly thrown off her feet, Lucy looked behind her and gaped at the sight. Freedom was finally at hand! Lucy smiled and gave a parting wink to the downed form of Jose, who was still writhing around on the floor.

"It's been fun Mr. Porla but a girl's gotta skedaddle! Smell ya never!~" She said in a sing song voice.

Lucy rushed over and hopped up on the makeshift ledge. She was happy to have a chance to escape only for her hopes to die. A soft gasp escaped plump lips as the blonde looked out at the sight before her. Just south she could see smoke coming from the vicinity of Oak Town while everything else in between was nothing but trees. Lucy knew her takedown of Jose wouldn't last long. She glanced over at the Wizard Saint before looking back down. They were pretty high up and her magic was not useful for this situation, especially without her keys. Swallowing back a bit of fear, Lucy leaped over the edge and fell fast, winds hitting her from every direction. Summoning every bit of energy, the Celestial mage channeled it to her voice.

("Oh… please hear me…") She thought with a silent plea.

"NATSUUUUUU!"

As if on cue, the Fire Dragon Slayer appeared, running along the large tower. Natsu knew if he lost the momentum he gained he would never make it in time. Face scrunched up in determination, teeth bared, Natsu timed a perfect jump and leaped off just as Lucy fell right into his grasp.

"I got ya! Hang on tight!" He told her.

Not waiting for a response, Natsu positioned Lucy so she was held in one arm while the other was pointed at the incoming ground.

("Hope this works!")

Channeling a decent amount of magic into his palm, Natsu's flames shot out from his hand and helped slow his descent. This continued for a bit longer before Natsu's flames ceased and his feet hit the dirt. The Dragon Slayer came down to kneel while setting Lucy down.

"Phew."

"Natsu!"

Natsu ripped off Lucy's bonds before looking behind him to see Happy emerge from the nearby forest. Lucy on the other hand smiled. She was rubbed her wrists in relief of no longer having them bound while being thankful Natsu came to her aid. The Salmon haired teen smiled as his partner dispersed and Aera and ran up to him.

"Hey buddy! I got her! Mission Accomplished!" Natsu beamed with a thumbs up.

"Natsu…"

Both boy and cat duo looked to Lucy before looking to each other. They shrugged and then put their attention to Lucy, the blonde having a tight smile on her face.

"Glad you're ok but first things first…" Natsu began with a wide smile.

Natsu gently grasped Lucy by the shoulders, the blonde confused as to why Natsu would do so. Natsu's face shifted from happy to stern and slightly angry, startling Lucy. Her expression fell when he started to yell at her. Happy also noticed this and he looked upset at Natsu's behavior.

"Just what in the hell were you thinking?! You could've gotten yourself killed! Do you have any idea how stupid that was? Huh?" He scolded harshly.

As his fingers sunk into Lucy's shirt, Natsu felt Lucy tremble a bit. The blonde bit her bottom lip as she let loose a whimper, eyes glistening as she was more than ready to cry.

"A stupid stunt like that could have killed you Luce! So why the hell did you jump?!"

Natsu was then shocked once he saw Lucy's face. Her eyes were now squinting as her vision had been blurred by the tears. The blonde continued to tremble as she was doing her best to sob quietly but it wasn't working. Natsu then immediately felt guilty and like a giant ass at the moment. He didn't mean to be so harsh with her. He was just trying to get his point across to not take unnecessary risks.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry I-I didn't mean…" She weakly managed to get out.

Natsu's face twisted into a pained expression. He really never wanted to hurt her. He never wanted to make her cry. With a somber expression, Natsu wrapped his arms around Lucy's back while her hands came to his chest. She stilled for a moment, tears still flowing as one of Natsu's hands stroked her hair soothingly.

"Dammit Lucy… Don't do that again. If me or Bardock didn't get here in time-"

"I knew you would catch me… I just knew…" she whispered back.

Lucy closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Natsu's neck. The Celestial mage happily let herself be consumed by his everlasting warmth. It wasn't just Natsu's magic at work in keeping her warm. It was the fact Natsu was such a good person that made that warmth feel so… right.

Natsu for his part never wanted to let go of her. He nuzzled into her neck a bit, closing his eyes and basking in the moment. The fact Lucy knew he would be there was more than enough for him. She had so much faith in him. Of course everyone did, he was Natsu Dragneel, the Salamander of Fairy Tail. He had taken on dark mages, runaway criminals, bandits, monsters and everything else under the sun for the protection of the people and the pride of his guild. People, whether they were strangers or comrades in arms, knew Natsu was a dependable. But it meant a hell of a lot more when it was Lucy being the one depending on him. To trust her life in his hands… made his heart flutter. Whatever feelings he got for the blonde still needed to be put into proper context later. But he liked the feeling regardless. And Natsu knew that Lucy liked that feeling too.

"It could have been anyone Luce." He tried to deny.

"But it was you." She immediately affirmed.

They held each other for several more moments before Natsu reluctantly pulled back. Natsu looked at Lucy with a longing and a bit of concern. Still feeling guilty over his outburst earlier, Natsu moved his hands to her face, using the pads of his thumbs to wipe away her tears. Chocolatey, doe eyes looked up at Onyx ones as Natsu let his hands linger on Lucy's face. He had always thought she was beautiful. He had loved seeing her smile every day. He even enjoyed listening to her go on and on about the books she read, even though reading wasn't his thing. Of course they spent enough time together to where Natsu got a bit hooked. She had shown him some worthwhile stories of adventure and battle that had him giddy like a little kid.

Right now though, Natsu managed a small smile hoping to get one in return. Lucy's eyes widened a bit before they went back to normal. A dusting of pink coated her cheeks as she smiled and then looked away feeling a bit shy.

"We gotta get moving. Happy fly on ahead, I got her." Natsu informed his partner.

"Aye." Happy answered somberly.

Both mages took note of the cat's dreary mood. They shared a glance, silently telling each other they would make it up to him when this whole mess was over. Lucy dried her tears and looked over to Natsu for something when all she got was his back. He looked over his shoulder expectantly and it took Lucy a minute to figure out what he wanted her to do. She nodded her head and slowly got on Natsu's back. While Lucy's hands settled on Natsu's shoulders, Natsu's hands found themselves on Lucy's thighs. Not wanting dirty thoughts to betray his intentions, Natsu stood up and forged on ahead, hoping to catch up with the others. If not, he would more than happily run all the way back to Magnolia with Lucy in his care.

As warmth seeped into Lucy, she positioned herself to wear her head was perched on Natsu's shoulder while her arms were wrapped around his neck loosely. As they continued to walk away from Phantom's HQ, Lucy remembered something important.

"Natsu… there's something you need to know."

"Hm?" He hummed with a raised brow.

Biting the bullet, Lucy swallowed hard and gathered her thoughts. She really didn't want to tell him. It still hurt that he had yelled at her like that earlier. But that was just him being concerned for her safety. She knew how much they cared. Two months together made it feel like they'd known each other for years.

However, what she was about to tell him might change everything. Fairy Tail was Natsu's family when he had none left. The guild was the Dragon Slayer's home. Lucy had bonded with many in the guild up to this point. Everyone knew her as Fairy Tail's resident Celestial Mage. And everyone knew her as Natsu's partner and other best friend besides a talking cat.

"I… I know why Phantom attacked us."

Natsu for his part didn't respond. He silently urged her to continue. Part of him knew that the rivalry had caused this. That should have been the sole reason for the aggression and ruthlessness displayed these last few days. But maybe Lucy found out something else. Something the others didn't know.

"They're after me."

Natsu tensed up a bit as he kept walking. What reason did they have to be after Lucy?

"But I don't want to leave Fairy Tail… it's my home." She said, voice cracking a bit.

"Enough Luce."

Lucy bit her lip, keeping herself from crying again. Natsu knew she was hurting. Phantom wanted her for some reason and whatever that reason was Lucy would explain. He didn't care about the why at all though. Phantom Lord destroyed the guild hall, hurt his friends and worst of all kidnapped his partner. He would make them pay. First he'd beat as many of the grunts he could find before finally having a chance to go toe to toe with Gajeel. There was room for only one dragon in the skies.

"They won't be taking you from us, whatever the reason." He assured.

Natsu squeezed Lucy's thighs reassuringly. Lucy sagged onto Natsu's body with relief at his words, her face now calm.

"And they sure as hell won't be taking you away from me." He lowly growled.

Part of him didn't want to say it out loud. Another part of him wanted her to know. They were stuck with each other, as they usually joked while together. Meeting Lucy changed Natsu a bit. He didn't mind the change at all. He liked having Lucy around. He more than enjoyed having her watch his back and vice versa. And he liked her. Hell, if they spend any more time together Natsu might actually come to…

The Dragon Slayer smiled a soft smile when he felt the blonde imprint her lips on his cheek. It damn near took everything he had not to buckle from how sweet it felt. Lucy for her part had closed her eyes and smiled, a blush present on her face. Though he didn't say much, Natsu had said enough to make her feel better.

"It'll be over soon Luce, I promise. Let's get back." He said softly.

And with that, the two trekked back, following their favorite mascot and cat as they went home. Although Round 1 had been a draw between the guilds. Round 2 was on the horizon.

The guild war between Fairies and Phantoms wasn't over…

A/N: And cut!

So who exactly is the Blakc Hand? The Black Hand is a team of OCs from Dragon Ball's universe based on The Fearsome Hand of Four from the DC Animated Movie Under The Red Hood. Surprise!

OCs will appear every now and then but won't have too much of an impact on the story.

Story stuck to the majority of Canon minus certain interactions and of course certain characters are much stronger at this point in the story. Plus, one scene got cut from the chapter and that scene will get a mention in the next one.

Also I got an announcement… Surprise, Surprise!

Another project has been added to my to-do list. We don't get enough Charlie Nash stories on the site so I decided to do something creative. You'll be awfully surprised as to what I do with him.

Anyways as always, thanks for the continued support and I send out positive vibes to all of you! I hope you are staying healthy and staying safe during these trying times in the world!

Read, review (comment, flames, compliments, snide remarks, etc.) and favorite/follow.

See ya later!