Fairy Tail: Master of Deceit

AN: Bonus chapter for reaching 10 reviews. Enjoy!

Aurelius stepped back into the guild hall. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with a mixture of worry and anger. The guild members were scattered, some tending to the injured while others prepared for the inevitable clash.

Erza approached him, her usually sharp eyes clouded with weariness. "I'll just... shower," she said, her voice uncharacteristically soft. It was clear to Aurelius that this was her way of avoiding the overwhelming emotions threatening to break through. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away.

Aurelius made his way to an empty seat near the center of the hall, sitting down as he tried to steady his swirling thoughts. His mind raced, replaying the events that had unfolded and the challenges yet to come. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together, his eyes fixed on the floor.

A soft voice broke through the murmurs of the guild. "Aurelius?"

He looked up to see Lucy standing hesitantly a few steps away. Her hands were clenched together tightly, and her face was pale, a mixture of fear and guilt evident in her expression.

"What is it?" Aurelius asked, his tone neutral but carrying an edge of curiosity.

Lucy took a deep breath, her gaze darting nervously to the other guild members who had begun to take notice. "I think there's something you... something everyone should know."

The guild hall grew quiet as all eyes turned toward her. Aurelius straightened in his seat, his intense gaze locked on Lucy as he repeated his words. "What is it?"

Lucy hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "The reason Phantom Lord is attacking... it's because of me." Her voice wavered, but she pressed on. "I... I never told anyone before, but my full name is Lucy Heartfilia."

The name hung in the air like a thunderclap. Whispers broke out among the guild members, but Lucy raised her voice, pushing through her fear. "My father... my father commissioned Phantom Lord to bring me back to him. That's why they're doing all of this."

She lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I never wanted to bring trouble to Fairy Tail. I just... I wanted to escape from him. From that life."

Her voice cracked as she finished, her shoulders trembling with suppressed sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

The room was silent, the weight of Lucy's revelation sinking in. Some looked shocked, others angry, and a few cast sympathetic glances her way. All the while, Aurelius sat unmoving, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information.

Aurelius leaned forward in his seat, his gaze steady as he asked the question that cut through the tense silence in the guild hall.

"Lucy," he began, his voice calm but sharp, "do you want to stay here?"

Lucy froze, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out. She looked around, her eyes darting nervously before she lowered her head. Taking a shaky breath, she answered, her voice soft and uncertain.

"I... I love everything about the guild. The people, the laughter, the warmth—it's more than I could have ever dreamed of."

She paused, her shoulders trembling, as if the weight of the situation pressed down on her.

"But that's not what I asked," Aurelius interjected firmly, cutting through her hesitation. His sharp tone made her flinch, and the rest of the guild watched, holding their breath.

"Do you want to stay?" he repeated, his eyes piercing into hers.

Lucy looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes as her lips quivered. She didn't answer. Instead, her body shook, and the tears she tried so hard to hold back began to stream down her cheeks.

Aurelius exhaled quietly, leaning back slightly as he continued, his tone unwavering. "Fairy Tail is a family. We can go to war for our family. We can stand against anything to protect the people we care about."

His words hung in the air for a moment, heavy and deliberate. Then his expression darkened ever so slightly, his voice lowering.

"But that only matters if the family we're protecting wants to be protected. If they want to stay."

Lucy's sobs grew louder, her hands covering her face as the guilt and pressure weighed on her even more. The room remained silent for a beat longer, until a new voice broke through.

"Lucy," Cana said, stepping forward with her arms crossed, her usual laid-back demeanor replaced by something serious. "Do you want to stay here? Do you want to be part of Fairy Tail?"

Lucy looked up at her, her tears blurring her vision. Before she could respond, Natsu's voice chimed in, loud and confident.

"Yeah, Lucy! Just say it! We're your friends, aren't we?" Happy, perched on Natsu's shoulder, nodded vigorously.

"Aye, Lucy! You're family too!"

More voices followed, one after another.

"Come on, Lucy," Macao said, his tone softer than usual. "Just tell us."

Wakaba nodded, puffing out a small cloud of smoke. "You don't have to go back to that life if you don't want to."

Even Gray, his arms crossed, added quietly, "You're one of us. That's what matters."

One by one, they all spoke, their words overlapping as the entire guild joined in. Voices of encouragement and support filled the hall, breaking the tension and enveloping Lucy in a wave of warmth and belonging.

Lucy's tears fell harder, but this time, they weren't just tears of sadness. Her body shook as she sobbed uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the love and acceptance of her guildmates.

Finally, she took a deep, trembling breath, wiping at her eyes as she looked up at them, her face flushed but determined.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Then louder, with more conviction, "Yes! I want to stay!"

The room erupted into cheers, the tension replaced by a surge of energy and morale. Natsu let out a loud whoop, punching the air, while Happy flew in circles, chanting, "She's staying! Aye, sir!"

Cana smirked, clapping Lucy on the back. "That's the spirit."

Gray gave a small nod, his lips twitching into the faintest of smiles.

Even Macao and Wakaba grinned, sharing a look before raising their mugs in celebration.

Aurelius, watching the scene unfold, remained silent. His sharp eyes softened as he saw the renewed determination in Lucy's expression and the guild's unified energy. For a moment, he allowed himself to lean back in his chair, the faintest hint of satisfaction crossing his features.

Fairy Tail's fight wasn't just for survival anymore. It was for family.

Aurelius rose from his seat, the faint creak of wood under his feet silencing the murmurs in the guild. He cast a sweeping gaze over everyone, his sharp eyes locking with those of his guildmates. The atmosphere, already tense, grew still as his commanding presence took center stage.

"Listen up," he began, his voice steady and firm, carrying an undeniable weight. "As i said earlier, Phantom Lord isn't done. They're going to attack us most likely here, in Magnolia. And we're not going to just sit around and wait for them to bring the fight to us."

The room was silent, every pair of eyes fixed on him. Aurelius took a deep breath, his expression darkening as his voice gained intensity.

"This guild—this family—has been through hell today. Our master is down, many of our friends are injured, and we've been backed into a corner. But do you know what happens when you back Fairy Tail into a corner?"

A grin tugged at his lips, sharp and defiant, as he pointed to the guild emblem on his shoulder.

"We fight. We fight for our family, for our pride, and for revenge—revenge for those who have been hurt, especially Master. This isn't just a guild—it's our home. And if Phantom Lord thinks they can take that from us, they're in for the fight of their lives."

The guild roared in agreement, their spirits rising as cheers and shouts echoed through the hall. The once somber atmosphere transformed into one of fiery determination, their morale surging to new heights.

As the cheers settled, the doors swung open, and Reedus, Alzack, and Bisca entered, their faces tired but relieved.

"The master is recovering," Reedus announced, his voice carrying a note of hope.

Aurelius nodded, the slightest smile breaking his usual stoic expression. "Good work. Thank you."

He turned back to the guild, his expression sharpening as he transitioned into a commanding tone. "Alright. It's time to get organized. Remember your roles."

Walking to the center of the room, Aurelius began assigning roles. His focus landed on Mirajane first. "Mira, you're in charge of tending to the injured. Make sure everyone who can't fight is safe and stable."

Mirajane nodded firmly. "Got it."

Aurelius turned to Natsu and Gray. "Natsu, Gray—"

Before he could finish, his words faltered. His eyes widened slightly, a rare crack in his usual composure. His gaze shifted toward the entrance, his hand instinctively brushing the hilt of his sword.

The guild fell silent, their attention snapping to him.

"What's wrong?" Macao asked, his brow furrowed.

Aurelius' lips tightened for a moment before he uttered two chilling words.

"They're here."

The words hung in the air like a storm cloud, their weight sending a shiver through the room. Before anyone could respond, the floor beneath their feet trembled, a deep rumble shaking the foundation of the guild.

The sound of heavy impacts echoed in the distance, growing louder with each passing second. The guild hall itself seemed to pulse with the vibrations, as if bracing for what was to come.

Aurelius' hand gripped his sword tightly, his expression hard as stone. "This is it. Phantom Lord has come to finish what they started."

The guild erupted into action, their fear replaced by the resolve to defend their home. This was their battleground.

As the tremors grew stronger, Aurelius wasted no time. "Everyone, outside—now!" he commanded, his tone sharp and unwavering. The guild members hurriedly exited the hall, their expressions a mixture of determination and unease.

When they stepped outside and made their way behind the guild, they froze in collective shock. Towering over the horizon was the massive, spider-like form of Phantom Lord's mobile headquarters. The colossal structure marched steadily toward them, supported by multiple mechanical legs that pounded the ground with each step, causing the earth to tremble beneath their feet.

Gasps and murmurs spread through the group as they struggled to process the sight before them.

"What the hell is that?!" Macao exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"It's their guild hall," Bisca muttered, her hand instinctively resting on her holstered gun. "They've turned the whole thing into a fortress!"

Gray clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "This is insane. They're bringing the fight to us in that?"

"Of all the ways to attack, they choose this?" Cana scoffed, though her usual confidence wavered slightly. "Talk about overkill…"

Aurelius, standing slightly ahead of the group, stared at the approaching monstrosity, his usual composure faltering for a moment. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword as he muttered under his breath, "You've got to be kidding me… I didn't expect they'd attack like this."

His words drew the attention of the others, who turned to him for direction. Despite his shock, Aurelius quickly straightened, his mind racing as he assessed the situation. The sheer scale of the moving guild hall was overwhelming, but retreat wasn't an option.

"It doesn't matter how big it is," Natsu growled, flames already licking at his fists. "We'll take it down!"

"Calm down, Natsu," Erza said, her tone commanding yet steady. She stepped forward in a bath towel. "We need a strategy. Charging in blindly will only get us killed."

"Then what do we do?" Wakaba asked, his cigarette trembling slightly between his fingers.

Aurelius took a deep breath, his sharp gaze focusing on the approaching fortress. "We hold our ground. This is our home, and we're not letting Phantom Lord take another step closer. Everyone, prepare yourselves. This fight is going to be unlike anything we've faced before."

The guild members exchanged determined looks, their initial shock fading as resolve took its place. They weren't just Fairy Tail—they were a family, and this was their stand.

Bonus chapter:

2 more power stones for a bonus chapter. 2 MORE!!!

Chapter Titles:

29: A Guild's Resolve

30: Through Shadows and Storms 

31: Confronting the Source