The Calm Before the Storm

This was going to be a nightmare.

Mirajane?

She was absolutely loving it.

Yukari exhaled sharply, running a hand through her already-messy hair while trying to mentally prepare for what awaited them in Magnolia. The teasing was going to be relentless, and Mirajane, in all her smug glory, was going to be at the center of it.

She was doomed.

Yet, for all the amusement dancing in Mirajane's blue eyes, she still moved behind Yukari, fingers lightly brushing against her shoulders before trailing up to her neck. The touch was careful, almost apologetic, even if the reason for the marks was anything but.

"Hold still~" Mirajane hummed, voice as sweet as ever, though there was a glint of satisfaction she wasn't bothering to hide.

Yukari sighed, letting her do whatever she was planning, because at this point, what choice did she have?

Mirajane's fingers traced lightly over the reddish marks, and within seconds, a soft glow surrounded them. It wasn't magic meant for healing it was concealment, a subtle but effective trick to temporarily hide the evidence of her handiwork.

Yukari rolled her shoulders as the warmth faded, checking her reflection in the mirror across the room. The marks were still there, but barely noticeable, hidden just enough that only someone looking very closely would see them.

Mirajane stepped back, satisfied. "There~ Now you don't have to worry about the entire town staring at you~"

Yukari gave her a flat look, arms crossed. "Oh, so now you're being considerate?"

Mirajane smiled, innocence perfected. "Of course~ I'm a very caring girlfriend, you know."

Yukari scoffed, grabbing their bags. "Yeah, sure you are."

Mirajane giggled, following her out the door.

The train station wasn't far from the inn, and by the time they reached it, the sun had fully risen, the streets already bustling with merchants setting up their stalls and travelers preparing for departures. The train ride itself was uneventful, long hours stretching on as the familiar countryside rolled past the windows. Yukari rested her head against the back of the seat, arms crossed, eyes slipping shut occasionally, though Mirajane kept herself entertained by quietly observing the other passengers most of whom still stole glances at them.

Yukari chose to ignore it all.

By the time Magnolia came into view, the weight of exhaustion had settled into her limbs, but there was a sense of relief too. Home was home, no matter what kind of chaos awaited them inside.

Or so she thought.

The moment they stepped off the train and into the city, something felt off.

Yukari noticed it first in the way people whispered as they passed. Conversations halted when they walked by, hushed tones picking up as soon as they moved on. Normally, this wouldn't have been anything new after all, Fairy Tail had a reputation, and their names weren't exactly unknown.

But this felt different.

Mirajane noticed it too, her usual playful expression dimming as her gaze swept over the murmuring townsfolk. Something about the atmosphere was wrong.

Yukari frowned. "You're feeling it too?"

Mirajane nodded slowly, voice quieter than before. "Yes… something happened while we were gone."

Yukari's stomach twisted, but she didn't say anything, forcing herself to move faster. The sooner they reached the guild, the sooner they would figure out what was going on.

As they rounded the final street, the sight that greeted them made them stop in their tracks.

The Fairy Tail guildhall stood damaged, defiled its grand structure pierced by massive iron rods, thick, metallic beams impaling the very heart of their home. The once-vibrant building looked like it had been attacked from the inside out, its sturdy walls cracked, parts of the second floor collapsed inward from the destruction.

Yukari's hands fisted at her sides.

Mirajane, beside her, had gone eerily still.

A cold fury rose in Yukari's chest, her body tense with barely contained rage. There was no need to ask who was responsible.

Phantom Lord.

There was only one guild reckless enough, bold enough, and stupid enough to pull something like this.

A sharp breath left her lips, fists clenching tighter, flames threatening to flicker to life. "They did this while we were gone," she muttered, voice low, deadly.

Mirajane exhaled slowly, placing a hand on her arm, a silent reminder to stay calm. "Yukari…"

But how could she be calm?

This wasn't just a simple attack this was a declaration of war.

The sound of hurried footsteps snapped them out of it, and they turned just as several Fairy Tail members rushed toward them.

Cana was first, worry etched into her face. "You guys are back," she said, relief and frustration mixing in her voice. "Good. You need to hear what happened."

Levy and Jet stood behind her, looking uneasy.

Yukari didn't wait for explanations. "Phantom Lord." Her voice dripped with certainty. "They did this."

Cana's expression hardened. "Yeah. They attacked during the night. No one was inside, but they made a damn statement."

Mirajane's fingers tightened slightly against Yukari's sleeve, but her voice remained controlled. "And Makarov?"

Before Cana could answer, the guild doors creaked open, and the master himself stepped outside.

Makarov looked weary, his usually strong frame burdened by something heavier than just the guild's destruction. His sharp eyes landed on Yukari and Mirajane, but there was no anger, no demand for action.

Only resolve.

"You two are back," he stated, his tone heavy.

Yukari's fists were still clenched, the fire itching to escape her fingertips. "Master," she started, barely restraining her fury, "when are we hitting them back?"

Makarov's gaze hardened, though his next words were not what she wanted to hear.

"We're not."

Yukari's rage faltered, replaced by sheer disbelief. "What?"

Makarov sighed, rubbing his temple. "Not yet," he clarified. "They attacked when no one was here. That means they wanted to provoke us. If we go storming into their guild now, it'll just escalate the situation into something worse."

Yukari's anger boiled over. "They defiled our home!" she snapped. "You expect us to just stand here and take it?"

Makarov's voice was firm, the weight of leadership settling in every syllable. "I expect you to trust me. I won't let this go unanswered. But we decide when to strike. Not them."

Yukari's jaw tensed, frustration rolling through her, but she forced herself to breathe, knowing despite how much she hated it that Makarov was right.

This wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.

Mirajane, beside her, remained silent, but Yukari could feel the way her energy shifted. She was just as furious, just as unwilling to let this insult slide.

Makarov turned, walking back into the guild. "We wait," he said one last time.

Yukari exhaled slowly, trying to push down the flames licking at her throat.

Waiting was never her strong suit.

But when the time came?

She would make sure Phantom Lord paid for this.