Ending a War

***With Erza and Jose***

Chunks of the ceiling fell to the ground around the fighters. Erza, clad in her Black Wing Armor, panted heavily as Jose stood practically uninjured. "What an unruly dragon you have." Jose said about Natsu.

"He maybe unruly, but he's also an extremely capable wizard." Erza said back. "In fact, I'd say his power is equal if not greater than mine."

"Quit the modesty, Titania." Jose replied. "Your magics are equally impressive. In fact, you're the first to last this long against me in a while. Truth be told, we'd be on more equal footing if you hadn't blocked that shot from Jupiter earlier today." Erza glared at the master as he spoke. "I just can't stand the fact that there are so many wizards like you in Makarov's guild." He flicked his finger and Erza was slammed into the wall by pure magic power.

"Since I can't tempt you to join Phantom Lord there's only one way to deal with you." Dark energy charged on his fingertips before it launched at the wall, kicking up dust. Erza leaped up from the cloud into the air and Jose sent another wave of magic. "Kill you!" He shouted as Erza dodged the wave. She landed before sprinting away from more blasts.

"That should send the fossil into a deep despair." He explained with a sick smile. "Imagine how he'll feel to find his guild hall destroyed and his 'children' dead and gone. He'd be lost, completely consumed by sorrow..." The dust settled, revealing Erza still standing, sword at the ready. "In that miserable state, I can swoop in and kill him. But first I'll make him suffer. I'll torture him until he withers and dies."

Erza had heard enough. She charged forward and slashed her sword, only to find she had missed. "For as long as I have been master, Phantom Lord has always been on top." Jose reappeared behind her. "Everything we had was the best. Our wizards, our spells. We had the most capital, and more members than any other guild. But in the span of a few years, Fairy Tail came to power and our place at the top was threatened."

"The names of Erza, Mystogan, and Laxus became widely known. And stories of a Salamander and the Green Woman working together swept through the land like a wild fire." Jose continued with disdain in his voice. "Before I knew it, our two guilds came to represent this kingdom. It sickens me. I refuse to be equated with such a feeble guild!"

"Silence!" Erza shouted as she charged again, only to have Jose reappear on some ruble behind her. "So this whole war was because you had a fit of jealousy!?" She asked pointing her sword at him.

"Jealousy?" Jose asked back. "That's absurd. We just wished to make it clear who the true superior is here."

"How could you? And for such a pathetic reason." Erza charged again and swung her blade a hundred times, and Jose dodged them all. He knocked the sword out of her hand before he summoned a seal and three purple beams headed by skulls wrapped around her, making her cry in pain.

"You've been getting on my nerves for a long time, but that didn't trigger this war." Jose confessed. "We were hired by the patriarch of the Heartfilia family to find his missing daughter."

"Lucy?" Erza asked in pain.

"The daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom is now in Fairy Tail." Jose spoke as the shade wrapped tighter around Erza. "So Makarov's trying to buy his way to the top, is he?!" Erza cried in pain again. "Now that you have free access to the Heartfilia fortune, it's only a matter of time before that happens. Unless we wipe you out first!" Erza cried in pain again as the shaded constricted her body. Jose smiled at the tortured woman before he noticed the smile on her face.

"It's pathetic how heated you are about who's the best, but what's laughable is how misinformed you are about Lucy." Erza declared.

"What?" Jose asked enraged.

"She came to us as a runaway." Erza explained, shocking Jose. "She doesn't have access to her family's fortune. She rents a place for 70,000 jewels a month, and she works hard to keep it. She fights with us, she laughs with us and she cries with us. She's no different than any other member, and she's the reason for all this!?"

"She might be the daughter of the Heartphilia family, but just as flowers can't choose where they bloom, children don't get to choose their parents! You don't know anything about Lucy or the tears she's shed!" She shouted as Jose stared at her.

"Well I'll find out soon enough." Jose smirked, making Erza grow wide eyed. "I never planned on just giving her back. I'm wasn't just doing to give her back without reaping some sort of proper benefit. I'll keep her until they have no money left. I'm going to get my hands on the entire Heartfilia fortune!"

"Damn you!" Erza shouted before trying to break free.

"I wouldn't struggle if I were you." Jose warned as two more shades appeared. "It'll just make it hurt even more." The shades appeared before her and started to remove her soul. "You're not feeling well, are you dear? Well suck it up, because it's almost time. I want you to make an appearance in front of your guild mates. Once they see their beloved Erza like this, they'll be sure to surrender."

"You're the scum of the earth!" Erza shouted through her pain.

"Now, now, there's no need to be rude." Jose laughed.

'I'd rather die than cause my guild mates to surrender.' Erza thought as she looked at her sword. 'Natsu, Laki, I leave the rest to you.' She closed her eyes and floated her sword to her back. Inches from piercing her, a clap of thunder snapped her eyes open. A bright light covered as her armor was repaired and the shades faded. "How?" She asked as she was slowly lowered to the ground. Jose looked up as Makarov floated into the room.

"You have shed the blood of our children..." Makarov spoke. "And that is unforgivable. They have been made to suffer for their parent's incompetence. We are both to blame Jose." Erza wiped a tear from her eye as she looked at her master. "This war has gone on long enough. Let's end this, here and now."

Jose closed his eyes before opening them, revealing pure blackness. "If we fight we were to fight, it would be a catastrophe."

Makarov focused a ball of light onto his finger. "If it is necessary for my guild, I'll gladly risk it."

***Eastern Forest***

'I can feel their fear.' Porlyusica thought. 'The earth, the trees, the air. This is exactly why...' "I hate humans!" She swung her broom at the boxes of stuff around her. "They're so stupid they can't think of anything other than their fists to solve problems! You're a nitwit, Makarov! I tried to warn you, but of course you never listen to me!"

An apple rolled along a tree's roots before it was stopped by a foot. A hand reached down for it as the healer looked over to find a robed wizard holding a staff. "Mystogan..." Porlyusica mumbled.

"Mind if I have this?" He asked, holding up the apple.

"I wondered how that old geezer could recover so quickly." The healer mumbled. "Now it makes sense. When Makarov was hit with that spell, you gathered his magic energy." Mystogan took a bite of the apple. "Did you hear me say you could have it!?"

"This war will end soon." He said looking at the apple.

"I don't care about humans or their wars." Porlyusica said back. "But aren't you one of Makarov children? Shouldn't you be out there with them?" A wind blew throught the forest and kicked up hundreds of flags, all branded with the Phantom Lord emblem. 'Phantom flags... He must have overthrown every single branch in the kingdom.'

Mystogan jumped down and walked towards the healer. "May I take another apple for the road?"

"First you're going to clean up this mess." She answered. "Truly, I'll never understand you humans. They thirst for power, and when they find themselves at war, they forget all the pain and sorrow it can bring. The only thing that matters is their victory."

"I believe there is a way to save them from their pain and sorrow." He said, looking up at the sky. "It's a sacred light, which guides us all. In fact, it guiding two together, right now."

***The Giant***

"What the..." Gray asked as he opened his eyes. "This light reminds me of the master..." He looked up to see Makarov and Jose squaring off.

Jose launched shades at the redhead nearby, but Makarov countered with defensive seals that blocked the attack as he jumped down. "You kids need to get out of here while you can." The master ordered.

"No way!" Gray shouted back.

"Well stay with you!" Elfman added.

"No, we have to do what he says." Erza turned before sprinting over to the others. "Let's go!"

"Erza!" Gray protested.

"Can you stand?" Elfman asked his sister.

"Now that you're here before me, I have no interest in those weaklings you call children." Jose said to the older master. "I'll exterminate them all after I'm done with you!"

"If we stay here, well just split his attention." Erza explained as Elfman helped Mira out of the giant. "He can handle this. I have faith." Gray begrudgingly nodded and the two ran after the siblings.

"It's been six long years since we last stood face to face." Jose said. "Back then, Phantom Lord was at the top of the magic world, and no one knew how strong Fairy Tail would become. And now it's been reduced to rubble."

"That was nothing but a building." Makarov said, as he drew with the light on his finger. "The real guild lies in its members!"

"I must admit, I'm glad we could face off like this." Jose confessed. "I don't care what the council thinks, I've always wanted to see who is the superior Wizard Saint." Both bodies erupted magic energy around them; Makarov's light while Jose's dark.

"I thank you for all your efforts, my children." Makarov said. "You have all done well. Take pride in being part of Fairy Tail!" Lightning crackled across the sky and the land shook, scaring every none Shade. The Saints clashed their magics against one another, trying to gain the upper hand.

**"Dead Wave!"** Jose launched a beam of darkness that flew towards Makarov, who held his hand out. He tore the beam apart, creating a shockwave, and unleashed his own beam of light, creating another.

***With Natsu and Laki***

"Whoa!" Natsu and Laki cried as they were blasted to a lower platform, with Laki landing besides Natsu.

"You guys okay?" Lucy asked, still flying with Happy.

"What's happening in there?" Happy asked, as Natsu and Laki shared a smirk.

"Pretty sure that gramps is getting even in there." Natsu said with a smile.

***With Makarov***

"Very impressive." Makarov praised the other master. "You've so much power at your command. I can see why the council named you one of the Saints. However, you abuse this power for your own gain. You could have been a role model for the younger generation, but instead you've become a lesson in what not to do."

"What, are you preaching to me?" Jose mocked.

"I've a rule that seems to work well with my children." Makarov spoke again. "I'll give you to a count of three to do exactly what I say." Jose looked at the other master with disgust. "Kneel."

"What?" Jose asked.

"One..." Makarov started the count.

"So you want me concede defeat and kneel to you?" Jose asked. "No way in hell!"

"Two..." Makarov brought his hands together and created a ball of light.

"Why would the top guild's master ever kneel to you?!" Jose shouted as shades rolled off his hand. "Our titles might be equal, but my ability to be heartless means I'm stronger than you!"

"Three..." Makarov shifted his hands one last time.

"You should be kneeling before me!" Jose shouted. "Now, you and your precious children will die!"

"Times up." Makarov slammed his hands together.

"This is your end!" Jose unleashed his magic at the older man, only to have it burned away by a blinding light. Beams of light erupted around him as he looked at Makarov.

"I invoke **Fairy Law."** Makarov said as a seal with the Fairy Tail symbol flew towards the sky.

***With Fairy Tail***

An explosion of light blinded all who looked at the Giant. "What is this light?" Alzack asked.

"It's so bright." Bisca added as the shades started fading. "They're disappearing. What's happening?"

"The light must be killing them." Alzack guessed. "But we're fine."

"It must be someone on our side." Bisca added.

"It's Fairy Law..." Erza muttered from the shore.

"Fairy Law?" Gray asked.

"A spell that destroyed darkness with sacred light..." Erza explained. "It only affects those the caster sees as their enemy. It's one of the most legendary spells in existence."

***Inside the Giant***

The light died down and Jose stood, trembling in fear and a deathly pale. "You will never bother us again, understand?" Makarov asked before turning around. "I'm sure the council will be after us because of all the damage we've caused. Be on your best behavior from now on. I know I will." He walked away, seemingly unaware that Aria was behind him.

'Our master has fallen... How sad.' The wind wizard thought. 'He's left himself open again. This is my chance to-' His thoughts were cut short as Makarov sent him flying into a slab of stone with a rubbery back fist.

"This war is over..." Makarov said as the green hat fell to the ground. "There's no reason to fight anymore. If you still wish to fight, I'll leave nothing left of you." He turned to Aria who was now unconscious. "Now be good children and leave, and take Jose with you."

***With Fairy Tail***

"We beat Phantom!" The whole guild shouted at once. Makarov climbed onto one of the Giants arms and looked at his guild members.

"We are victorious!" He spoke to the mob. "But I had little to do with it. This victory belongs to you, my children!"

***With Natsu and Laki***

"Hey, Gajeel, can you hear us?" Natsu asked.

"No, I can't hear either of you..." The other Slayer responded.

"I just wanna know where you learned your Dragon Slayer magic." Natsu said rolling onto his stomach.

"I said I can't hear anything..." Gajeel said back.

"You're the only person besides Natsu who knows that magic." Laki spoke up. "If the roles were reversed, you'd be just as curious."

"Shut up..." The Phantom wizard said.

"You are so crass!" Laki shouted.

"Metalicana..." The other slayer huffed. "The Iron Dragon..."

"No way!" Natsu stood up, only to fall down to Gajeel's platform. "So you did learn it from a dragon!?" He asked, sitting up after his fall.

"What, you were too?" Gajeel asked.

"Where's Metalicana now?" Natsu asked, ignoring the previous question.

"Don't know." Gajeel answered, looking at the sky.

"Tell me where he is!" Natsu shouted.

"I said I don't know!" The other slayer shouted, butting heads with Natsu before they both pulled back in pain. "I'm starting to think your stupidity is contagious."

"What was that?" Natsu asked.

"He disappeared." Gajeel confessed, looking up at the sky with back towards Natsu. "I trained with Metalicana, and then one day he just disappears on me, without so much as a good bye. What a selfish jerk."

"Hold on. He didn't disappear on July 7th seven years ago, did he?" Natsu asked.

"Wait, are you saying you know where Metalicana is?" Gajeel asked turning around.

"Not a clue." Natsu answered. "But I'm looking for a fire dragon. His name is Igneel. Last time I saw him was July seventh seven years ago."

"So both dragons disappeared seven years ago?" Gajeel asked, trying to put the puzzle together. "Year X777. On the seventh day of the seventh month?"

"What's with all the sevens?" Natsu asked slamming his face into Gajeel's.

"How should I know." Gajeel said pushing back before they both pulled away from each other in pain. "Now it's my turn to ask you a question. Why the hell does the Green Woman smell like a dragon?"

"Uh... What are you talking about?" Natsu asked rubbing the back of his head as Laki climbed down to the two.

"Don't play dumb with me, Salamander." Gajeel said back. "We both know there's no fooling a dragon's slayers nose."

Both Natsu and Laki looked at each other before looking back at Gajeel. "Can you keep a secret?" Laki asked.

"Maybe. What is it?" Gajeel asked. Laki took a deep breath before she explained everything to the Iron Dragon Slayer. "Whoa, that's big. Who was your dragon?"

"Drusta." Laki answered. "And she disappeared on the same day as yours."

"Well, it's got nothing to do with me." Gajeel huffed.

"Just get out of here already." Natsu said, making Gajeel turn around.

"You two are trespassing on our guild!" He snapped.

"You don't have to be rude." Laki said as she helped Natsu up.

"Hey, let us know if you hear anything about Igneel or Drusta." Natsu requested.

"Gimme one reason why I should?" Gajeel shouted.

"Because the three of us are all Dragon Slayers." Natsu said with a smile.

"Screw you both!" Gajeel shouted back. "If I ever see either one of you again, I'll kill you! You hear me!?"

"No need to be so brutal." Natsu said. "I was thinking about a truce, but now I don't know."

"I'm brutal!? You just totaled our guild hall!" Gajeel shouted back.

"To be fair, you destroyed ours first." Laki said back.

***Sunset***

***Fairy Tail Remains***

Makarov sighed as he looked at the pile of rubble that was once the guild hall. "It's in ruins. They really did a number on it, huh?"

"Master..." Lucy spoke as she walked forward. "I'm so sorry..."

"You've been through a lot but don't let it get you down." Makarov said.

"Come on, Lucy. Don't look like that." Laki's voice made the blonde turn to her, standing next to Team Shadow Gear and Reedus.

"Laki!" Lucy said, surprised.

"We beat Phantom, so you can smile now." Levy spoke up.

"They might have wrecked our guild hall..." Droy started.

"But we're gonna make it bigger and better than before." Jet finished.

"I'm sorry for making you worry about us, Lucy." Levy apologized.

"No, this is all my fault." Lucy said, shaking her head.

"I told them everything, and just like everyone else, no one thinks it's your fault." Laki said back. "If anything, me and Reedus owe you one for not being strong enough to protect you."

"Oui..." Reedus nodded

"Lucy..." The blonde turned her head to the master. "Though we may not be able to share our feelings of happiness and and sadness entirely, we do share them as much as we can. That's what happens in a guild. One person's happiness becomes everyone's happiness. One person's anger becomes everyone's anger. And one person's tears become everyone's tears. There's no reason for you to feel guilty, so don't cry. You know how much everyone here cares for you."

Lucy covered her eyes as soft sobs escaped her. "Raise your head high, my child. You are a proud member of the Fairy Tail family." Lucy lowered her hands and cried for all to see. 'Maybe I showed off too much...' Makarov thought looking at the rubble. 'No doubt the council will be furious at me. I might even be looking at prison time...' The thought of jail caused the master to burst into tears as well.

***One Week Later***

***Lucy's Apartment***

Much had happen after the defeat of Phantom. The Rune Knights showed up and interrogated everyone from Fairy Tail, trying to get an explanation as to what happened. Thousands of interviews and eyewitness reports later, the council said they would make their decision on a later date. Finally, the guild could begin rebuilding their hall.

Lucy sat at her desk, writing to her mom before wincing in pain. She lifted up her shirt, revealing a massive bruise on the side. "This won't leave a mark, will it?" She looked out the as a mother bird gave its chick a worm before looking back at her letter

'You know, mom, I can't help but wonder if dad really was behind all this. You don't think he'd go that far, do you?' She asked and wrote at the same time. 'Now that I think about it, he would. Without a second thought. I just don't understand why he wants me to come home all of a sudden. It's not like he cared when I was there. He'd do it again, use his money to try and force me back? No, I won't let him.'

***Fairy Tail***

"Ready, Laki?" Natsu asked.

"One, two, three!" Laki counted before they lifted 9 rows of wood up and walked.

"Figures Natsu would need help." Gray said as he walked by with one piece on his shoulder.

"What was that!?" Natsu shouted.

"Natsu, focus!" Laki said, trying to match Natsu strength.

"Right, sorry." Natsu said. "Besides, we carry more than him on our own."

"Wanna bet!?" Gray said as the boys butted heads.

Behind a wall of bricks, Juvia swooned at the sight of her love. 'That's right, my love. Resist that other woman's charms.'

A beam of wood slammed onto Grays head and buried him in the ground. "Gray, knock it off!" Erza, now in a construction outfit ordered. "Natsu, think about your partner before you start fighting!"

"Yes ma'am." Both boys nodded in fear.

"Where'd she get that outfit?" Jet asked from the side.

"Looks like everyone's at work, even the master." Levy said, as a giant Makarov locked wood in place.

"In a giant way." The boys added.

"Boss, where do want Natsu and Laki to put their lumber?" Erza asked.

"Over there." The master pointed behind him and the partners walked over with the wood before putting it down.

"What's with the 'boss'?" Jet and Droy asked.

"That hurt, Erza..." Gray said as he pulled himself out of the ground.

"Am I the only one who thinks it's too big?" Macao asked looking at the frames.

"I was thinking the same thing..." Wakaba said.

"We figured this would be a good time to expand." Mirajane explained from behind before holding up a piece of paper. "Look, the plans are right here."

"Really?" Macao asked.

"I wanna see..." Wakaba said.

"I liked it just how it was." Natsu said as he walked over next to Laki.

"Might as well see how much wood we'll need." Laki said.

"So what's the new look?" Gray asked. All five looked at what appeared to be a children's drawing of a building.

"Wha?..." Macao asked.

"Wow, that looks, great." Wakaba lied.

"So, which way is up?" Natsu asked.

"How wide is this thing?" Laki asked.

"These are the worst plans ever." Gray blatantly said, leaning in. "Who's the idiot who drew this thing?" Mira burst into tears and Gray tried to calm her down. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know it was you."

"You made her cry..." The others said, glaring at Gray.

"That's Gray." Happy added.

'My darling Gray is so cold to other women, yet so warm to me.' Juvia wickedly thought.

***Hours Later***

"I am beat." Gray complained.

"What are you complaining about?" Laki asked the other maker mage. "You're not the one who's using their magic to make the logs."

"When's our lunch break?" Natsu asked.

"Got you covered, Natsu." Laki pulled out a bag, but a stream of water pulled it away.

"What the heck was that?" Natsu asked, soaking wet.

"Where'd my bag go!?" Laki asked. "It had my lunch too!"

"Look, a lunch box!" Happy pointed to Gray, now holding a pink box.

"Where'd it come from?" Gray opened the box, and found his own face made from food.

"Whoa, that looks, super tasty." Natsu said as Gray stood flabbergasted.

"More like... Seriously messed up." Laki said, looking at the tentacles on the second layer.

'Of course you would say that, rival!' Juvia shouted in her head. 'I bet you spiked this with a love potion or something!" She dropped Laki's bag and began smashing it.

"I can't eat this!" Gray said. "It's too weird, and something is oozing out of the side."

'I slaved for three days to make that...' Juvia thought, sulking.

"Who said you could have lunch!?" Erza asked before looking at the box. "Wait, is that your face made out of veggies?" She grabbed a fork and stabbed it in the eye, scaring Gray before she ate it. "This is good. I could eat the whole thing."

"Guess I should try it." Gray said. Juvia watched this and her mind traveled to Gray shirtless on his knees.

"You guys mind doing me a favor?" The guild wizards looked over to see Loke holding a key ring with the guild's emblem on it. "When I was in town, I found Lucy's Gate Keys. Think you could give them to her?"

"Hey man. We were wondering where you went." Gray said as he walked over with Natsu and Laki.

"Trying to score some points with Lucy?" Laki asked.

"Are you okay?" Happy asked as he looked at Loke's face. "You're like extra pale."

"I'm okay." Loke said back. "Just tired. Being a gentleman is pretty exhausting."

"We haven't seen her in a while." Happy confessed. "She's probably still too sore to help us."

"We should check on her." Laki suggested before turning to Loke. "Wanna come with us?"

"I'll pass." He declined. "You know how I am around Celestial wizards." He turned and walked away.

"Come on, this is Lucy were talking about." Natsu complained.

"Let him be, Natsu." Erza said. "Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Just leave him alone."

***Lucy's Apartment***

"Lucy!" Happy shouted as he hovered by the window.

"How ya feeling?" Natsu asked next to the cat.

"Don't come in through the window." Gray said as he crawled down the fireplace.

"Hasn't anyone ever taught you two to use a door?" Erza asked, sipping a cup of tea.

"Like you're one to talk." Both boys said back.

"Natsu, can you please open the door?" Laki asked from the outside. Natsu walked over and opened the door for the girl. "Thank you."

"Where is she?" Natsu complained.

"Shouldn't she be screaming for us to get out?" Gray asked.

"Where could she be?" Erza asked.

"The bathroom?" Gray asked. "Laki, can you check?"

"Fine." Laki begrudgingly pulled the curtain to the side. "Lucy!?"

"Nope, just me." Natsu said.

"Why are you in her bath!?" The maker mages shouted.

"Seems as if she's not home." Erza surmised.

"Way to state the obvious." Gray said.

"It's just doesn't feel the same without her." Erza said as the group reentered the main room.

"Lucy, you in here?" Happy asked opening a dresser drawer before going slack jawed.

"Is she in there?" Natsu asked before matching Happy's look.

"Like she would fit in a drawer." Gray said before copying the other two.

"It's not nice to go through a girl's-" Laki started before she and Erza stared in the drawer as well. "Where do you buy underwear like this?!"

"That's underwear!?" Gray asked.

"I've never seen anything like it." Erza confessed. "Where would you even wear it?"

"Family gathering?" Natsu suggested.

"Definitely not." The others shook their heads.

"Please close the drawer already." Laki said before closing it herself.

"Lucy, where are you?" Happy asked as he flew up to a cupboard. He opened it up and was sent to the ground by a stream of letters.

"That's a lot of letters." Erza said impressed.

"And they're still sealed?" Gray asked.

"'Dear Mom, today is a special day. I finally got into Fairy Tail'." Natsu read.

"Natsu, you can't just read a woman's private thoughts." Laki said.

"'I meet the most beautiful woman named Erza, who's actually really nice and cool'." Natsu countinued, making the read head blush at the blondes words. "'She's always yelling at Natsu, Gray and Laki'."

"Are all these letters for her mom?" Laki asked.

"Sure looks that way." Happy said.

"Why didn't she mail any of them?" Natsu asked.

"I found a note." The others turned to Erza standing in front of Lucy's desk. "Evidently, she left it for us. It says she's going home."

"No way!" The others shouted in disbelief.

***Heartfilia Estate***

Lucy walked down a dirt road that turned into cobblestone that led her to a giant mansion. In front, an old maid was sweeping the path. She twirled around with her broom as Lucy walked forward. "Miss. Supetto." The maid started bawling tears before the entire staff of the mansion burst out and surrounded her, welcoming her back.

"Miss. Lucy." A young maid spoke up. "Your father would like you to come to his study."

'Figures...' Lucy thought, looking up at the mansion. 'I've come back after a year and it's still 'meet me in the study'. Dad never changes.'

***Heartfilia Study***

Lucy, now clothed in a fancy dress, walked in to see her father staring out the window. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left without speaking to you."

"I'm glad you came to your senses and left that retched place." Jude said. "A lady as important as you shouldn't be associated with those ruffians. I certainly wasn't looking forward to spending anymore money having it eradicated. You forced me to go to those extremes." He turned and finally looked at his daughter. "If you weren't being so selfish, I wouldn't have done it. You're the one who brought trouble to your friends."

"It's better that you don't associate with them anyway." He continued. "You're a member of the Heartfilia family. You're above those peasants. You're simply from a different world than them. Which brings me to why I wanted you home so badly. It's about our family. I've arranged for you to marry Duke Sawalu, the Julenelle heir." He turned back to the window.

"Yes, I suspected that might be the reason." Lucy said.

"You must think of this as an investment for your future." Jude said, not turning around. "Once you're married to him, we'll have access to the Julenelle's vast lands in the south, allowing us to expand our railways and bring in millions."

"I see." Lucy said.

"And I expect you to give birth to a baby boy." He ordered. "We need a Heartfilia heir. That is all for now. Return to your room."

"I'm sorry, father. But none of that will happen." Lucy said, making Jude turn around. "I didn't come here to make amends. I came here to say my final goodbyes. I realize it was wrong of me to just leave without saying anything. It's no different than running away. So, I came back to tell you exactly how I feel before I leave for good."

"Lucy..." Jude growled.

"All the money in the world won't buy you happiness!" She shouted. "I figured that out when I was a child. For the first time, I'm truly happy, and I won't let you ruin it for me! I'm warning you, you'd better not mess with Fairy Tail ever again." She grabbed the edge of her dress and ripped it off. "It doesn't matter that you're my father! If you threaten us, we will crush you like any other enemy!"

"It didn't have to be this way. You and I could have sat down and talked things out. But now, I can't trust you. Because you've hurt to many people I care about. I don't need pretty clothes, a big house and money to be happy. I just want to be accepted for who I am! And there's no more 'Lucky' Lucy Heartfilia. It's Lucy of Fairy Tail." She turned and walked towards the door, flashing him her emblem. "They treat me like family, something you've never done."

"It was hard for me to leave this house, only because I had so many fond memories of living here with mom." She continued as she turned around. "I care so much for the people here, so it was hard to leave them behind. But, it's time I moved on. If mom was still alive, I'm sure she'd tell me to do whatever makes me happy, so this is good bye dad." She turned around and went out the door.

***Sunset***

***Gravesite***

Lucy looked up at the angel statue watching over the grave. Inscribed in the stone was 'Layla Heartfilia X748 - X777'.

"Lucy!" The blonde turned to see the rest of her team running over to her, panic in their eyes. As they listened to Lucy explain her actions, Jude stared out the window in his study at them.

"Sorry to make you worry." Lucy apologized at the group walked away from the house.

"Don't be." Erza said. "We're the ones who jumped to conclusions."

"Happy here wouldn't stop crying." Natsu said.

"You were too, Natsu." Laki teased.

"I was not! I was sweating out of my eyes!" Natsu shouted.

"Gotta say, I'm digging your home town." Gray said.

"Yes, it's a quaint little place." Erza agreed.

"No, this is just part of our garden." Lucy confessed. "My family owns all the land up to those mountains." Her teammates stared in shock at her words. "What's wrong, guys?"

"HOLY CRAP! SHE'S LOADED!" Gray shouted.

"AND SHE ACTS LIKE IT'S NOTHING!" Natsu screamed as Laki fainted behind him.

"Erza, Natsu and Gray have gone crazy!" Happy said as the men started dancing together.

"The sky..." Erza whispered. "It's so blue..."

"Erza's gone crazy!" Happy shouted.

"Hoppa!" Laki shouted sitting up. Lucy started laughing as she led her stunned friends back to Fairy Tail.