The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

"Finally back!!"

Natsu and Happy shouted in unison as the airship landed in Magnolia. The long, harrowing mission was behind them. They had faced demons, braved impossible odds, and even fought a dragon. But for now, the thought of being home brought a rare sense of relief.

As the group approached the guild, however, that relief was short-lived. From the sky, they had already spotted the devastation—huge iron pillars smashed into the guild, leaving it in ruins.

"What's going on?" Gray asked, his voice sharp.

"Has someone attacked Fairy Tail?" Erza added, her tone seething with anger.

Of all of them, Natsu was the most furious. His fists clenched tightly, flames flickering faintly around his hands. If Erza hadn't stopped him, he would have jumped off the airship to charge directly into the chaos. "Who did this?!" he roared. "I'll make them pay!!"

Kira, standing at the back, surveyed the scene with a calculating look. He had an idea of what was happening. Judging by the iron pillars and the timing, it seemed the Phantom Lord guild was responsible. According to the original events, Natsu's return from Karna Island coincided with Phantom Lord's assault on Fairy Tail. Despite the minor changes in their timeline, it appeared fate had aligned once more.

"I guess Gajeel didn't get the memo to stay in his lane," Kira muttered, his tone dark.

"Let's go inside," Erza said firmly, leading the group toward the ruined guild.

Inside the guild's basement, the mood was somber. Markov sat alone at the bar, nursing a drink. He looked up as the group entered, his face lighting up momentarily before his eyes returned to the weight of their current predicament.

"You're back!" someone shouted, and the guild erupted in murmurs of relief and frustration.

"It's Kira, Erza, Natsu, and Gray! They're back!"

"Thank goodness! We were so worried!"

"Woo-hoo! You guys need to get revenge for us! Look at what they've done!"

As soon as he stepped into the room, Natsu's anger boiled over. "Who did this?!" he demanded, his voice echoing off the walls.

Mira, always the voice of reason, stepped forward. "It was Phantom Lord," she said softly.

Natsu's rage threatened to explode, but Kira moved quickly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down. We'll deal with it. But charging in blind isn't the way to do it."

Natsu looked at him, fire still burning in his eyes, but reluctantly held back.

While Mira explained the situation to the group, Kira walked straight to Markov. The old man looked up, a tired smile crossing his face. "You're back," he said. "How was the mission? Did you embarrass the guild? And more importantly, who won your bet?"

"Haha, Erza won," Kira replied with a grin. "The enemy we fought this time was tough—really tough. I almost didn't make it."

"Really?" Markov chuckled. "Looks like Natsu still has some growing up to do!"

Kira leaned in, lowering his voice. "We also ran into Gildarts during the mission."

Markov's eyes widened. "Gildarts? Is he okay?"

Kira nodded. "He's fine, but he didn't come back with us. He said he had to report to the client after failing his mission."

Markov sighed in relief. "As long as he's alive... that's all that matters."

"And..." Kira paused for effect, "we encountered Acnologia."

Markov froze, the drink slipping from his hand and spilling onto the counter. "You're joking," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kira shook his head. "If Gildarts hadn't been there..."

The president closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "You're lucky to have survived," he said finally. "Very lucky."

Their conversation was interrupted by Natsu, who stormed over, shouting at Markov. "How can you just sit here and drink?! The guild is in ruins!"

Markov looked at Natsu, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. But before he could respond, Kira stepped in.

"Natsu, enough!" Kira snapped. "You should try understanding the president's position for once. He's not ignoring the problem—he's carrying the weight of it on his shoulders."

Natsu fell silent, but his anger didn't fade.

Seeing Markov's expression, Kira continued, "Don't worry, President. I know you're bound by the guild's agreement not to escalate conflicts recklessly. Leave the dirty work to us."

Markov blinked, his surprise evident. "Kira..."

That night, Kira made his intentions clear to the rest of the guild. "We're not going to let this slide," he told them. "But we need to be smart about it. Whoever did this is still nearby, trying to provoke us. Stay together and stay alert—don't give them the chance to pick us off one by one."

His words proved prescient. The next morning, news spread that Levi's team had been attacked.

Though Erza had intervened in time to save them, the attack only fueled the guild's fury.

"That's it!" Markov bellowed, his voice shaking the walls. "We're declaring war on Phantom Lord!"

Cheers erupted from the guild, the members rallying behind their leader.

Before they left, Kira handed Markov a small item—a glowing crystal encased in a protective shell.

"What's this?" Markov asked.

"A magic source," Kira explained. "It's enchanted to counter extraction magic. I suspect they might try to target you directly, so keep it on you."

Markov's expression softened. "You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

"I just don't want to lose another family member," Kira replied.

Markov nodded, his resolve hardening. "Let's go," he said, addressing the guild. "It's time to fight for our family!"

That night, while the rest of Fairy Tail prepared for battle, an explosion rocked the Phantom Lord guild. Its once-mighty structure lay in ruins, the iron pillars now scattered across the ground.

When Kira returned to Fairy Tail the next morning, he wore a look of satisfaction.

"Did you...?" Gray asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Who, me?" Kira replied innocently. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Though his words were unconvincing, no one pressed further.

As the guild prepared to march on Phantom Lord, the air buzzed with anticipation. This wasn't just a fight—it was a declaration of their unity, their strength, and their unwavering bond as a family.

And as they stepped into the dawn, ready to face whatever lay ahead, Kira couldn't help but smile.

"Let's go show them what it means to mess with Fairy Tail," he said.

The guild roared in agreement, their spirits unbreakable.

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