Fairy Tail: Master of Deceit

AN: Here's the bonus.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the quiet halls of the hospital. Outside the window, the afternoon sunlight bathed Magnolia in a golden hue, but the peaceful scene was lost on Mirajane. She sat by the window, her gaze distant, shoulders tense as though she were waiting for something—dreading something. Across the room, Aurelius leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyes shut, his usual detached demeanor in place. Despite his calm exterior, his sharp mind was already dissecting the day's events, as it always did.

The door slammed open, jolting them both.

Laki burst into the room, her face pale and chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. "Mira! Aurelius!" she gasped, her voice trembling. "You need to come right now! The guild—it's bad. It's really bad!"

Mirajane was on her feet in an instant, her heart pounding as dread settled over her. "What happened?" she asked, her voice a mixture of alarm and urgency.

Laki hesitated, her hands wringing together. "The raid…" She looked between them, swallowing hard. "It failed. Master—he's—" Her words caught in her throat as though saying them would make it worse. "He's unconscious. He looks terrible. We brought him back, but…" Her voice cracked, and she shook her head. "It's bad."

Mirajane's knees felt weak, and she gripped the edge of the chair for support. "Master…" she whispered, the word barely audible. Her hand flew to her mouth, her usual calm shattering as fear took hold.

Aurelius opened his eyes, his piercing gaze locking onto Laki. "Explain," he demanded, his voice as cold and sharp as a blade.

"Something went wrong..." Laki stammered, her eyes wide with panic. "One of the Element 4... he used some kind of spell on Master. It drained his magic completely. Without the Master, we wouldn't be able to hold ground. Erza ordered a retreat. Now everyone's at the guild hall, but…" Her voice faltered, and she looked away. "Everyone's panicking. The guild—it's falling apart."

The weight of her words hit like a hammer. Mirajane's mind raced, her chest tightening as she imagined the scene—the Master lying motionless, the others shaken and uncertain. The strong, unshakable presence that had always guided them was now gone, and the thought terrified her.

"We need to go," she said, her voice trembling but firm as she grabbed her coat. "Now."

Aurelius straightened, his face unreadable, but the cold fire in his eyes betrayed his thoughts. "Let's go," he said curtly, his voice steady and authoritative. Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed his cloak and moved toward the door.

Laki nodded quickly, turning on her heel and leading the way out of the hospital. The three of them moved through the streets with purpose, their footsteps hurried and echoing against the cobblestone. The late afternoon air felt heavier, as though the city itself was holding its breath.

As they approached the guild hall, the damage was apparent even from a distance. The front doors hung open, one of them barely attached to its hinges, while the usual warm glow of the interior was replaced with an unsettling dimness. Shouts and hurried voices spilled out into the street, mixing with the sound of footsteps and the clatter of furniture being moved.

Mirajane slowed, her breath catching as the broken structure came into full view. Her heart ached at the sight. The place that had always been a beacon of strength and unity now felt… fragile. Vulnerable.

Aurelius stopped beside her, his expression hard as stone. His sharp eyes scanned the scene, calculating. There was no hesitation in his voice when he spoke. "Let's go."

Mirajane nodded, steeling herself, and together they stepped inside, bracing for the storm waiting within.

The guild hall was in utter chaos. As Aurelius and Mirajane stepped inside, the scene before them was harrowing. Erza stood near the center, cradling the unconscious form of Makarov in her arms. His face was pale and tinged with an unnatural green, his body eerily still—a sight that sent a wave of unease through both of them.

Nearby, Macao leaned against a broken table, a deep gash on his arm hastily wrapped in blood-soaked cloth. Nab sat on the floor, his arm twisted at an unnatural angle, his face contorted in pain. Cana, her usual confident demeanor stripped away, sat slumped against a pillar, her face bruised and dirt-streaked. Across the room, Gray was crouched beside a guild member, trying to stabilize them, his hands covered in blood and his expression tense.

Loke, normally suave and self-assured, stood in the corner, his gaze unfocused and lost, as if unsure of what to do. All around them, the rest of the guild members bore various injuries—cuts, bruises, bandages hastily applied. The once vibrant and lively guild now felt suffocated by despair and confusion.

The moment Aurelius and Mirajane entered, heads turned. The noise, the chaos, the despair—all of it coalesced into a storm of voices.

"Mira! Aurelius!"

"Master is—what do we—"

"Aurelius, what do we do?!"

"Mira, help us!"

The clamor grew louder, desperate voices overlapping and filling the air. Guild members surged toward them, their fear and panic spilling over. Questions, demands, and cries for help came from every direction. The weight of their despair pressed down on the room, threatening to crush it entirely.

Aurelius' eyes darted around, taking in the chaos. His usually calm expression darkened, his jaw tightening as the gravity of the situation settled in. Then, without warning, he stepped forward, his voice booming across the hall.

"SHUT UP!"

His words cut through the noise like a blade. The room fell silent, the unexpected force of Aurelius' voice stunning everyone into stillness. All eyes were on him, the usually quiet mage now commanding the room with an authority none of them had ever seen before.

The weight of his gaze swept over the crowd, and for the first time, the guild seemed to collectively hold its breath.

After Aurelius' thunderous shout, most of the guild members stood frozen in place, their faces etched with a mix of fear and shock. The usual quiet and composed mage had taken command, and the sheer authority in his voice made them hesitate to even breathe too loudly.

Aurelius wasted no time. His sharp eyes immediately landed on Makarov, his condition grim. "Reedus!" he barked, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Make a carriage and transport the master to Porlyusica. Bisca, Alzack, you're going with him. Make sure nothing happens on the way."

The three sprang into action without hesitation. Reedus, though still shaky, quickly began to draw the outline of a carriage with his magic, his hands moving as fast as he could. Bisca and Alzack exchanged glances, nodding resolutely as they hurried to prepare themselves for the journey. None of them dared to linger under Aurelius' piercing gaze.

Satisfied with their swift response, Aurelius turned his attention to the rest of the guild. His expression was severe, his eyes scanning the battered and bruised members around him. "If you're not too injured, help those who are!" he commanded. "Get them stabilized. Now!"

Some of the less injured members snapped out of their daze, immediately moving to assist their comrades. Aurelius' tone left no room for disobedience, and the guild began to shuffle into motion, though the tension in the air remained thick.

"Cana!" Aurelius' voice cut through again, drawing the attention of the brunette who was still leaning against a pillar. She straightened herself, wincing slightly but attentive. "Try and locate every Fairy Tail member who's outside of Magnolia. We need to gather everyone we can."

Cana nodded, her usual nonchalant attitude replaced with a grim determination as she prepared to do as instructed.

Aurelius then turned to Mirajane, his expression softening slightly but his tone still firm. "Mira, call Laxus. Tell him the guild needs him now."

Mirajane hesitated for a brief moment, her emotions conflicted, but the severity in Aurelius' gaze spurred her into action. She nodded and hurried off to make the call.

As the guild began to move, Aurelius' eyes swept the room once more. "Natsu!" he shouted, his voice carrying across the hall. "Fetch Lucy! She's been out for too long now!"

The room grew still again as they waited for Natsu's response, but no reply came. A tense silence stretched out, broken only by the muffled groans of the injured.

Aurelius' frown deepened, and a spark of anger lit his eyes. He shouted again, louder this time, "Natsu!"

Still, no answer.

A hushed murmur rippled through the guild as realization dawned. One of the members cautiously stepped forward, their voice trembling. "Natsu and Happy... they're not here."

Aurelius' jaw clenched tightly, his frustration palpable. His hands balled into fists as his anger simmered just beneath the surface. "Those idiots," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and cold. The tension in the room spiked as everyone waited for his next move.

Without hesitation, ten identical thought projections of Aurelius materialized around the room, their presence sharp and commanding. They wasted no time, each projection disappearing in a blur of movement as they scattered to search for Lucy. The speed and precision of their actions left the remaining guild members momentarily stunned, a stark reminder of the sheer depth of Aurelius' abilities.

As the last projection vanished, Aurelius turned back to the guild. His voice was steady but firm. "I need a map," he demanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

A member quickly scrambled to provide one, unfolding it and handing it to him with trembling hands. Aurelius took it without a word, spreading it across the nearest flat surface. His eyes narrowed as he examined it, his mind racing. He traced the positions of the Fairy Tail guild hall and Phantom Lord's headquarters, his thoughts weaving strategies and possible scenarios at a rapid pace.

As he was absorbed in his work, Erza approached him. Her usual composure was gone, replaced by a rare vulnerability. Tears streamed down her face as she stammered, "Aurelius... I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. The master... the raid... Natsu and Happy... I should have done more. I failed."

Aurelius glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable. "It's not your fault," he said, his voice calm but firm. "You can't afford to think like that right now. Snap out of it."

Erza flinched at his words, but he continued, his tone sharpening. "There's no time for comfort or self-blame, Erza. We have bigger problems to deal with. The guild needs us. Lucy is missing. Natsu and Happy are gone. Wallowing won't solve anything."

His words struck deep, leaving Erza silent as she fought to regain her composure. Aurelius, however, didn't linger on her reaction. He turned his attention back to the map, his focus unwavering. The room was tense, the air thick with a mix of urgency and uncertainty, as the guild waited for their next command.

...

High above in Phantom Lord's headquarters, on its highest floor, Lucy sat tied to a worn chair. The ropes bit into her wrists, the roughness scraping her skin with every slight movement. Her golden hair was disheveled, and her eyes darted around the dimly lit room, searching for any chance of escape. The stone walls were cold, the faint sound of dripping water echoing eerily. Across from her, Jose Porla, the master of Phantom Lord, stood with a smug expression, his piercing gaze locked on her.

"Miss Lucy," Jose began, his voice smooth yet chilling. "I must apologize for the... accommodations." He gestured broadly to the dreary surroundings, the cracked walls, and the flickering torches barely providing light. "I assure you, this isn't personal. It's simply how we treat prisoners."

Lucy's heart raced as the weight of his words sank in. She clenched her fists, anger bubbling to the surface. "Prisoner? You... you're the one attacking Fairy Tail!" she shouted, her voice trembling but resolute. "Why? What do you want with us?"

Jose's smirk deepened as he clasped his hands behind his back, his towering figure stepping closer. "Fairy Tail?" he repeated, almost mockingly. "No, Miss Lucy, you're mistaken. This isn't about Fairy Tail. It's about you."

Lucy's breath hitched. "What... what are you talking about?"

Jose chuckled darkly, the sound echoing through the room. "You've been quite the enigma, haven't you? A Fairy Tail mage... but also the daughter of the Heartfilia family." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Yes, I know exactly who you are. Lucy Heartfilia, heir to the Heartfilia Konzern."

Lucy's eyes widened in shock. Her mind reeled, memories of her past rushing back—her father's cold indifference, the stifling rules, and the suffocating expectations that had driven her to leave. "How do you know that?" she demanded, her voice sharper now, though fear still laced her tone.

Jose straightened, his grin unwavering. "Your father was quite forthcoming, actually. He's the one who commissioned Phantom Lord to retrieve his wayward daughter." He let the words sink in before continuing, relishing the look of betrayal on her face. "Oh, yes. He wants you back. Though, to be honest, I doubt it's out of love. From what I understand, he's more concerned about the family's reputation. How very business-like, wouldn't you agree?"

Lucy froze, her heart hammering in her chest. Her father had done this? He'd gone so far as to hire a rival guild to drag her back to him? Her vision blurred as anger and despair battled within her.

Jose's mocking tone continued, each word a dagger to Lucy's resolve. "You should be flattered, really. I even sent three of my Element 4 to prepare for a fight. After all, I assumed Fairy Tail would put up more of a resistance. But it seems that your dear Aurelius..." He paused, watching her reaction carefully, "...chose not to intervene. Perhaps you're not as important to him as we thought."

Lucy bit her lip, refusing to let him see the tears welling in her eyes. "Stop this or Fairy tail will crush you and your guild!" she shouted, her voice cracking.

Jose chuckled again, his tone dripping with mock pity. "Shout as much as you want, my dear. But the fact remains... you're here, and Fairy Tail is scrambling like lost children without their master. This... is the beginning of the end for them."

Lucy's heart sank as Jose's words echoed in the cold room, leaving her with only her racing thoughts and the tightening grip of fear.

...

The Fairy Tail guild hall remained tense as the members worked to carry out Aurelius' orders. Injured mages were being tended to, the sound of soft groans and hurried footsteps filling the air. The weight of Makarov's collapse hung heavy, and Aurelius, standing near the center of the chaos, was a pillar of focus. However, his expression, already grim, darkened further.

Nearby, Elfman, bandaging a cut on his arm, noticed the sudden shift. His brow furrowed with concern as he cautiously approached Aurelius. "Aurelius, is... something wrong? You don't look manly...." he asked, his voice low but steady.

Aurelius didn't respond immediately. His eyes, sharp and calculating, seemed to pierce through the world itself. Finally, he spoke, his tone colder than usual. "My thought projections..." He paused, his jaw tightening. "They can't find Lucy."

Elfman's eyes widened, his expression a mix of shock and worry. "W-what do you mean? Didn't you send them out to look for her? How can they not—"

Aurelius cut him off with a sharp glare, silencing him. "I don't know," he admitted, his frustration evident despite his composed demeanor. "I've scoured every place. The streets, the outskirts of Magnolia... everywhere within range. And yet, there's nothing. It's as if she's vanished."

The guild members nearby, overhearing the conversation, froze. The unease in the room deepened as whispers spread like wildfire. If even Aurelius couldn't locate Lucy, the situation was more dire than they had imagined.

Elfman clenched his fists, his voice rising. "Then we just need to search harder! Lucy wouldn't just disappear! She's part of the family—"

"She's probably been taken," Aurelius interrupted, his voice like ice. The room fell silent as his words was heard.

The weight of his words crushed any lingering hope that Lucy had merely wandered off. 

Bonus Chapter: 

24/100 power stones

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Chapter Titles:

27: Shadows of War

28: March of Destruction

29: A Guild's Resolve