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By Any Means: Heart of Shadows

Chapter 3: Fight Your Friends! The Fairy Civil War!

Opening: Heart of Sword by T.M. Revolution

0o0o0 Fairy Tail Guild Hall 0o0o0

"Let the Battle of Fairy Tale begin!"

Laxus' parting shout echoed throughout the guild, angering everyone present.

"Those bastards! I can't believe this!" Macao and Wakaba looked at each other grimly.

"Taking hostages and running away isn't manly at all! I'm gonna beat them up and save you, sis!" Elfman cried out, his large frame subtly bulking up even further as his magic surged.

Hearing the shouts of their fellow guildmates, almost everyone turned and began to run for the doors before another voice cut through the hubbub.

"I can't believe filth like you was allowed into the guild!"

The sheer venom in the voice caused everyone's eyes to be drawn to a purple haired mage with glasses and a red bow tying up her hair. She was currently standing defiantly in front of Kakashi and Sasuke, a finger angrily pointing at them, before swinging to Sakura and Tenten.

"You shinobi are worthless pieces of trash who'll do anything for money! And you don't even care who gets in your way!"

"Laki-" Sakura tried to get a word in edgewise, but the girl in purple kept right on going, tears beginning to fall.

"It wasn't enough that the train we were riding on got robbed, but you bastards had to go and kill people just because you didn't like the way they looked at you! My parents didn't do anything wrong!" The girl was shouting now, her small body heaving in anger.

Slap!

Laki's head jerked to the side, eyes wide as she stared at the brown eyed purple haired woman in front of her.

"Had enough of the pity party yet?"

"Wha-"

"Listen, Laki. Your life got fucked up when you were young for no good reason. Shit happens." Anko waved a hand at the other guild members who were standing around, watching. "How many other people in the guild here do you think had it bad? I'll give you a hint: most of them."

Laki took a step back, eyes darting away from the woman's gaze."But-"

Anko laid her hands on the girl's shoulders, preventing her from backing away further. "But just because something bad happened to you, doesn't mean you can blame anyone you want." She nodded her head in Sasuke, Sakura, and Tenten's direction. "They're the same age as you. There's no way they were involved in whatever happened. Trying to blame them is like me blaming you for what a dark guild did."

The girl struggled briefly before her eyes welled with tears again, her body sagging. "...But, I…"

"I know. It sucks." Anko pulled the limp girl into a hug, shoving Laki's face into her bosom. "But that's what the guild's for. Don't forget that."

"Laki, it matters not where we come from, all of our roads have lead us here," Makarov said as he approached the two. "No matter what Laxus may think, Fairy Tail is a place that transcends the titles that society places on us. Our bonds are stronger than that! We all have a past, but it is what we choose to do now that defines us!" He sighed, shaking his head. "My errant grandson thinks that having shinobi lineage is what makes them strong? Bah! What makes them strong is their belief in this guild! This guild has always been filled by the broken. It has only ever been together that we're strong! It's time that he learn the lesson and remember that Fairy Tail is not just a guild… IT IS A FAMILY!"

The guild hall erupted with cheers, determined looks adorning their faces as they turned back to the exit. "For Fairy Tail!" they cried out as they charged out into the streets, ready to show Laxus what Fairy Tail was really about.

"Kakashi, you can let him up. We'll need every fighter we can get if we want to catch them in time," Makarov stated as the silver haired man let Sasuke up.

"I could've ended it there and then if you hadn't stopped me," Sasuke spat out, glaring at the older man.

"No. At best you would have gotten yourself killed, at worst you would have killed Laxus and Evergreen would shatter all of their hostages. Not to mention what Yugito would've done in retaliation..." Kakashi trailed off as the implications of a jinchuuriki working under Laxus meant plagued his mind.

"You seem to know this girl that has allied herself with my grandson. Who is she?" Makarov asked, grimacing at the thought of a shinobi manipulating Laxus.

"Someone we may not be able to beat. She's-"

"WHAT THE HELL?! WHY CAN'T I GET OUT!?"

The yell drew all of their attention over to the entrance of the guild where they could see a struggling Natsu pushing against nothing…

Makarov and Sasuke immediately ran over, while Kakashi looked toward his wife who was still holding onto a distraught Laki.

"Go. I'll make sure they don't come back and mess with the girls while everyone else is fighting. Besides it's time for Kamui and Rinko's nap." The mother of two pulled Laki along with her to help care for the tired twins.

Nodding, Kakashi strolled over to see what the newest problem was.

Natsu was still pushing up against nothing, while Sasuke was walking back and forth through the entryway with no issues.

"What do you think Kakashi?" Makarov asked, noticing Kakashi's head tilted slightly up. Following the taller man's gaze, he saw a series of floating runes. "Ah, Freed's Rune Magic. Let's see… Hmph, so they never intended to let us fight it seems." Makarov glared at the innocuous runes floating in the air.

"What does it say?" Sasuke asked as he looked up at floating Runes.

"It's a restriction spell. It prevents anyone turned into a stone statue, over the age of 80, and anyone that has killed to pass through it. Which means neither the master, nor Anko and I can get out until the restriction is removed," Kakashi stated with annoyance.

"Then why can't I get out!? I haven't killed anyone! And I'm only 17!" Natsu complained as he once again tried charging the entryway, only to be knocked back.

"This is truly an annoyance. It appears I will not be able to seek vengeance for my mistress so long as this barrier is in the way." They all turned to look behind them to see Haku, Sakura, and Tenten standing there.

"It seems Laxus is afraid of you old man," Tenten giggled as she jabbed at Kakashi's age before her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Which is fine. I don't want you getting in my way when I clip off that wannabe's wings. I can't have sex with a statue. And you don't get in the way of me having sex-"

"We get it Ten," interrupted Sakura. "It seems Laxus is doing whatever he can to tip the favors in his odds. If they set a trap here, then they must've set more all over the city. He did say he wanted this to be a battle royale after all." She began to roll up her sleeves, kicking debris off to the side. "Tch, that asshole, I'm going to have to heal everyone after this is all over aren't I!?"

"Sakura," Makarov called out, waiting for the girl to calm down and look toward him.

"Ah, sorry Master." Sakura apologized.

"I would like it if you stayed here and prepared for the worst case scenario. Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe are powerful enough on their own...but that woman has me concerned. Not only that, we need to see if we can set the hostages free. Perhaps some of what councilwoman Tsunade taught you can undo Evergreen's spell?" Makarov suggested.

"Most of what I know is for flesh and blood. And if the spell is broken in the wrong way it could still shatter them, and I'm not the best at dispelling magic," Sakura noted as she ran through ways she could help the stone hostages.

"I can help with that," Kakashi volunteered. "Learning how to dispel magic was a staple we needed to know back then."

Makarov nodded, not needing the former shinobi to explain. "Right that leaves-"

"Fire Dragon's Fist!" the entire guild hall shook as flames crashed against the invisible barrier, threatening to set the building ablaze.

"Natsu-san, allow me to assist you. First, I shall freeze it and then you-" Haku was cut off by Makarov.

"Natsu! What do you think you're doing? You could've set the whole guild on fire!" the diminutive guildmaster yelled.

"But gramps, I can't just sit here and do nothing." Natsu stomped his foot, flames flickering around him. "Everyone's out there fighting when it should be me! And Lucy got turned into a statue! I can't let that be! I gotta go make Evergreen turn her back!"

"I know how you feel Natsu, but setting the guild on fire isn't going to solve anything. In fact, that's literally the exact opposite of solving anything," Sakura reprimanded. "For whatever reason you can't get out, and you have to accept that… for Lucy's sake. Right now all you can do is trust in everyone."

"But I…" Natsu looked down as he thought about what Sakura said, heading further back into the guild hall.

"Geez, is it always this crazy here? I thought Naruto was kidding when he said you fight each other all the time," a voice from behind the bar spoke up, a red-head with glasses standing up, brushing the dust from her clothes..

"Ah… who are you?" Makarov asked not recognizing the girl.

"That would be Naruto-sama's cousin, Uzumaki Karin, Makarov-dono," Haku supplied. "She came to support Erza-sama in the Miss Fairy Tail contest."

"Oh, you're the girl Porlyusica has been training." Makarov paused as a thought popped into his head. "Porlyusica! She should be able to undo Evergreen's spell. Reedus," Makarov turned to the artistic mage that had been hiding behind a column.

"Oui," the orange haired mage called out peeking out from the column.

"I need you to get Porlyusica and bring her here." Makarov then turned back to Karin. "I hate to ask this of someone that is not a part of the guild but would you be willing to go with him? Time is of the essence and I'm afraid there may be traps for anyone trying to leave the city."

"I'm not much of a fighter, but if you need someone to babysit him I can do that. Just don't expect me to jeopardize my looks for any of you. I'm still looking for a man after all." Karin spun on her heel and began to head out. "Come on… whatever your name is. It's a long run."

"Oui!" Reedus quickly said, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he went to catch up with the now running red-head.

"Now that that's settled, Sasuke, Tenten you two should get… huh? Where are they?" Makarov asked as he looked around the guild for them.

"Oh, they left when you first started talking to Sakura," Kakashi spoke up, sitting next to Anko.

"Then I suppose the Battle of Fairy Tail has begun. Hm?" Makarov's attention turned to the runes as they suddenly began to shift. "Fairy Tail's Inside Fight Speed Report? What the hell is this?"

Jet vs Droy vs Alzack: Winner: Alzack

Combatants Remaining: 83

0o0o0 45 Minutes Later 0o0o0

Evergreen vs Elfman: Winner: Evergreen

Combatants Remaining: 41

Gray vs Bickslow: In Progress

"Damnit! I can't believe Elfman lost!" Natsu groaned, shoving his head against the rune wall. "I wanna go and fight!"

"So, the Thunder God Tribe are making their move," Makarov said nervously, fists clenched at his side, staring up at the report.

"This isn't looking good, Natsu," Happy said, floating along next to the dragonslayer.

Reedus vs Freed: In Progress

"GAH! Now Freed and Reedus are fighting! Not fair!"

"Natsu, is fighting all you can think about?!" Happy zoomed around the pink haired mage's head. "Reedus was supposed to be escorting Karin out of the city to get Porlyusica to undo the petrification!"

"Oh, so that's where those bugs were going? You know I can't have anyone breaking the rules, don't you?" Laxus' voice echoed cruelly from behind them.

"Laxus!"

As they spun around, an image of Laxus snapped into view, only to immediately distort as several ice senbon passed through his head. After a second, the thought projection restabilized, and the lightning mage turned his head to look at the glaring culprit, a smirk on his face.

"Huh, I guess some of the new hires might be worth recruiting after all. What do you say? Want to join the Thunder God Tribe under me?"

Haku's glare intensified, to the point the temperature around her dropped so far, frost began to appear on the ground.

"I serve one master, and you are not him!" she hissed vehemently.

Throwing his head back, Laxus laughed as he turned back to Makarov and Natsu. "I like her. Maybe I'll just take her after this is all over with. Now, where were we… Oh, yes..."

Reedus vs Freed: Winner: Freed

"This game is mandatory. No one can just run away." He crossed his arms, looking smugly at his grandfather. "So how does it feel watching those brats of yours beating the shit out of each other, old man? Ready to give up?"

Makarov ground his teeth. "I wouldn't underestimate your fellow guild members, Laxus."

"That's right!" Happy chimed in. "Gray's fighting Bickslow. He's just as strong as Natsu, so he won't lose!"

"Hey, I'm way stronger than him!" Natsu complained.

A "ding" sounded out from the report, causing Laxus' smirk to widen.

Gray vs Bickslow: Winner: Bickslow

Combatants Remaining: 28

Makarov stared long and hard at the announcement, as Laxus laughed behind him.

"See! One by one your precious children are falling to my Thunder God Tribe!"

"It seems you're forgetting about a few people, Laxus!" Sakura called out as she and Kakashi came forward. "Sasuke and Tenten are still out there. And you better pray that nothing happens to those girls or Sage help me I will happily rip out your spine and choke you to death with it. Not to mention whatever he's going to do to you," Sakura thumbed towards Kakashi, who merely glared at the thought projection.

"Laxus, end this now, before anyone gets seriously hurt. There's no need for any of this senseless violence," Kakashi remarked, folding his arms.

"No need? Of course there's a need! Fairy Tail is supposed to be the strongest guild in all of Fiore! How can we let weaklings join the strongest?" Laxus raised his hands before clenching them into fists.

"Those losers out there can't even make my Thunder God Tribe sweat! Kakashi, there's no need to side with them! Yugito has told me all about the second coming of the White Fang! Join me and you'll be back on top once again. There'll be no reason to hide away ever again. The world will fear our stre-" the thought projection was cut off as several snakes ripped through it, destroying it.

"You can take that as a "no." Makky you really need to discipline that boy," Anko stated as the snakes retreated back into her trench coat, Laki's eyes wide from where she sat next to the older woman.

"It seems his time with his father did more damage than I feared. Laxus, this isn't who you're supposed to be," Makarov lamented, witnessing just how demented his grandson had become.

"Oh come on! Now Sasuke is fighting too?!" Natsu yelled in frustration.

Everyone turned toward the entrance to see the update.

Yugito vs Tenten & Sasuke: In Progress

Combatants Remaining: 5

"Oh no/shit." Kakashi and Anko stated together, briefly glancing at one another in worry.

"Is that girl truly one to worry about Kakashi?" Makarov asked noticing the worry on the masked man's face.

"Nii Yugito. One of the nine jinchuuriki chosen to house the nine bijuu. That reason alone made her a flee on sight target. She's a former Jounin of Kumogakure, one of the 5 hidden villages of Shadow Heart. Known for being a master of fire and lightning jutsu, she had a mission completion rate of 99%. I'd say she truly is one to worry about master," Haku recited from the various debriefings she'd received from her time with Zabuza and Kyosho no Issan.

"Wait. Are you trying to tell me the jinchuuriki are real? I thought they were just a myth to scare little kids into behaving," Sakura asked, blanching at the other girl.

"I'm afraid they're very real Sakura," Kakashi answered. "Master that girl is essentially a walking, talking Etherion. If this fight goes on too long the entire city could be leveled. Depending on what Laxus has ordered her to do, everyone in Magnolia is in danger."

"Ordered? What do you mean Kakashi?" Makarov asked, face pale.

"Kumogakure was always under scrutiny for how it trained it's shinobi. They aimed to make them into the perfect killing machines, despite the other villages forbidding it. The same goes for Kirigakure." Kakashi shot a brief, unnoticed glance at Haku. "If Yugito has sworn herself to Laxus, it's likely she'll follow any order he gives to the letter."

"Laxus, what have you brought upon us…"

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Ending: Silhouette - LeeandLie cover

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Review Responses:

Zero-Tails317: We know the focus has shifted off from what Naruto is doing. That's what has to happen though, so that we can try to build up some of the other characters before going back to Naruto. We've got plans within plans, man, but he's just one piece of it. Also while it may seem like Naruto and Erza's relationship has moved very fast, it hasn't really. We are stretching out the timeline here. There's about a 2-4 month difference in time from Fairy Tail canon and the BAM universe. So Erza and Naruto have known each other for quite some time. The Fairy Tail canon, as it's displayed in both the Anime and Manga has very short turnarounds between arcs (like a week or less sometimes). For our purposes that doesn't work. It's why we display weeks and months in our jumps between scenes when necessary. As for Sakura, well, she's honestly the only healer Fairy Tail has until Wendy shows up. So there is some dependence on her. But for that scene, and some others, it's mainly a gag/comedy. And hopefully our grammar is better this time around. Two people writing this sometimes has what we want to say clashing, so you get bits and pieces of each of us all spread out as we try to make it work.

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