S e v e n t e e n

LUCY

We all ran out of the guild's back exit to see a giant crawling towards the guild across the water. (Y/n) stood in front of us all, staring down the giant.

"What is that thing?" Natsu exclaimed with wide eyes.

As the shadow got closer we could make out what it was. It was the guildhall of Phantom Lord, being supported by six spider-like metal legs. It slowly lurked towards us, a giant splash of water exploding from wherever the leg landed in the lake.

"It's a walking guildhall!" Happy observed with wide eyes.

"Is it Phantom?" Loke added with an edge of fear in his voice.

We all stood with our mouths agape, unsure how to react.

"I did not anticipate this. I never thought they'd go to such extremes to attack us!" Erza shook with dread.

"How do we fight that thing?!"

"W-What do we do?"

We all went silent as the front wall off the guildhall retracted and a cannon prodded out slowly.

Then the cannon began to power up, an evil dark mass of magic accumulating at its snout.

(Y/n) whipped around to face us. "Run! Get out of here now!" She cried out with terror in her eyes. Then she shot forward and sprinted towards the cannon with determination.

"(Y/n)!" Erza yelled and outstretched her hand.

"What are you doing?" Mira's bright blue eyes widened.

"Don't be stupid!" Macao hollered worriedly.

(Y/n) ignored everyone's worried cries and continued to sprint as a brilliant lavender light engulfed her.

"She's using her magic!" Cana yelled.

"She's gonna get hurt!" Loke shook as he realized what his guildmate was planning to do.

(Y/n) stood tall facing the cannon. "I won't let you destroy the guild!" She raised her arms and her magic followed, a huge energy ball accumulated above her head in her palms.

"That's a lot of magic!" Happy shouted.

"Don't tell me she's gonna try and block the cannon's shot herself..." Bisca took a step forward.

"Not even her power could block a blast that strong." Alzack exclaimed.

"Stop (y/n)! You're risking your life, this is ridiculous!" Wakaba called out to (y/n).

"STAY BACK!" (Y/n) demanded, continuing to ignore everyone. Mostly everyone, including me, obeyed her command and took a couple steps back.

Except Natsu, of course, who had looked up to (y/n) as a mentor and more specifically a big sister since they were little; at least that's what I could gather from stories Mirajane told me about the guild when they were young.

"(Y/nnnn)!" Natsu wailed as he tried to run and protect (y/n) but was being held back by Gray and Erza. I swear I could see tears stinging the corners of his eyes.

"You can't stop her now you just gotta have faith!" Gray growled.

"(Y/n) will be okay, she can handle this." Erza added, though it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than Natsu.

I watched the scene unfold before me with my mouth open and eyes wide. I tentatively too a step forward towards (y/n) but I felt someone grab me. I looked back to see Erza's armored palm gripped around my forearm. There was a solemn shadow across her eyes as she watched her best friend risk her life for the guild.

Then, the cannon fired. (Y/n) reacted immediately and moved her palms in front of her and the ball of energy created a giant lilac magic circle in front of her at least the size of the entire Fairy Tail guild hall. "Cosmic Barrier: Rho Aias!"

As the black ray hit (Y/n)'s magic circle, (y/n)'s magenta shield flowered out and the barrier solidified.

The force of the ray pushed (y/n) back but she stayed standing and pushed back against the cannon's power. However, her shield began to crack little by little.

Natsu continued to yell out for (y/n) and we all took cover, terrified of what would happen if her shield shattered.

She gritted her teeth with a 'tch' as she continued to hold her magic shield steady. Her hair whipped around her violently with the winds created by the two forces. Her magic shield kept cracking little by little. Even though of the strain she was put under, I couldn't help but notice how elegant and powerful she looked when using her magic.

And just as the ray dissipated her magic fell through and the barrier shattered. Whatever was left of the ray hit (y/n) head on and she was thrown up into the air and couple yards back. She cried out in pain midair and grunted loudly when she hit the ground and rolled back on the dirt like a ragdoll.

The dust settled and we all stared in awe at what we had just witnessed.

"I-I don't believe this, she actually managed to stop it." Macao whispered.

"We're saved... she's really something else." Elfman admired.

"Yeah, but look at her." Cana pointed out.

(Y/n) laid on the ground motionless with her eyes shut panting heavily. If her chest weren't rising up and down I would've thought her dead.

"(Y/n), are you alright? Say something!" Natsu shouted worriedly as he ran towards her.

"Makarov has been defeated, and now your beloved sunshine (Y/n) can no longer stand." Jose's voice suddenly explained, obviously amplified by speakers from the walking guildhall. We all looked up at the guild, thinking this nightmare had ended, but we were wrong. It had just begun.

"Any chance of victory has slipped through your fingers. Surrender Lucy Heartfilia this instant, unless you want more fairies to fall."

"No way that's gonna happen!"

"Like any guild would just hand over one of their own to a monster like you!"

"Lucy's stayin' here, she's one of us!"

Everyone began to cheer and rally, all for my sake.

An unfathomable wave of guilt washed over me as I heard the cheers around me. None of this would've happened if I didn't run away. I'm such a coward. I'm sorry Fairy Tail.

I began to cry at everyone's words.

"Never, Lucy is part of Fairy Tail!" Gray exclaimed.

"We would rather die than betray one of our own!" (Y/n) roared as she shakily sat herself up.

"You can stop askin' now cuz our answer isn't gonna change! We would rather be killed than give Lucy up! We're gonna take you down!" Natsu's body set on fire with his anger.

"Yeah!" Everyone raised their fists, all ready to fight and risk their lives for me.

At this point I was bawling. I covered my mouth with my hands as everyone around me rallied for my protection. Tears streamed down my cheeks like rivers at the thought of Fairy Tail fighting for me.

"In that case, I'll give you an even bigger taste of the Jupiter cannon!" Jose's voice thundered. "You've got fifteen minutes to decide before it strikes again!"

Everyone went silent at that and became hopeless.

"He's gonna fire it again?" Loke murmured.

"What do we do?" Cana questioned.

And with that (Y/n) fainted and hit the ground with a thump.

"(Y/n)!" Mira crouched down next to her.

"Oh no, she's out! Even (y/n) was barely able to withstand one blast from it." Gray looked down at (y/n) worriedly.

And just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, dozens of Phantom Lord warriors suddenly flew from the guild's windows towards us wizards.

"Prepare to witness hell Fairy Tail." Jose laughed maliciously. "You've only got two choices left. Either my troops will tear you apart, or you'll be eradicated by Jupiter!"

"Are you kidding me? If he fires at us he'll kill his own men!" Macao growled.

"He's gotta be bluffing, who'd do something like that?" Wakaba laughed, though he was obviously just trying to make himself feel better.

"No, he's gonna do it." Cana deadpanned. Macao and Wakaba stared at her with their mouths agape. "Those Phantom soldiers were created by Jose's Shade Magic. They're not human so it won't matter to him if they're destroyed."

"Ghosts?!" Bisca and Alzack screeched in sync.

"We've gotta do something to take out that Jupiter cannon." Cana decided.

"I'm gonna smash that thing to pieces. Fifteen minutes to get it done, right?" Natsu questioned. Cana gave him a curt nod.

"C'mon Happy!" Natsu called out to his cat.

"Aye sir!" Happy picked Natsu up and they flew towards the walking guild.

Then Gray and Erza joined in storming Jupiter, and soon every mage was either running to destroy Jupiter or guarding the guildhall by fighting shadow monsters.

"Lucy!" Mirajane came up beside me. "Come with me." She pulled me away and I looked back to notice Loke watching me. I furrowed my eyebrows and brought my attention back to Mira.

"We have a hideout, I want you to stay there until this is all over." Mira explained.

"No!" I ripped my hand from hers. "It's all my fault we're in this mess, I can't abandon everyone while they're out there fighting for me!" I held my fist to my heart.

"It's not your fault, Lucy. I don't see it that way and neither does anyone else. We're not just fighting for you, this is for our injured friends and the honor of our guild." The image of Levy and her team chained to the tree flashed in my mind, as well as the one of (y/n) lying defeated on the cold ground.

"We're proud to fight this battle. Each and every one of us." Mira vowed declaratively.

I looked down at my Fairy Tail mark sadly as memories of everything the guild had done for me washed over me.

"Please, just do as I say." I looked up at Mira shocked as I felt her using magic on me, then my eyelids felt heavy. I fought it but inevitably I felt my limbs fall underneath me as everything went black.

Sorry you had to wait so long for this update minna-san! I was performing in my high school's musical then my 16th birthday snuck up on me as well as Thanksgiving. Sorry guys! Hope you enjoy this chapter, Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers!! <3