"I invoke Fairy Law."

The light and warmth spread through Dealana's body as she closed her eyes and embraced the sensation of protection and love. She stood next to Gray, Elfman, Mira, and Erza who had stepped off the cloud and were back with the rest of Fairy Tail. The Phantom soliders withered away in the bright light.

"Where's that light coming from?" Alzack wondered.

"It's so bright." Bisca remarked shielding her face with her hand, "They're disappearing." she noticed realized seeing the disappearing shades. "What's happen'en?"

"I think the light's killin' 'em." Alzack guessed before he noticed something, "But we're all still okay."

Bisca's eyes widened and she looked to Alzack, "You're right. It must be somebody on our side."

"This is Fairy Law." Erza stated looking into the light-engulfed fortress in awe.

"What is that?" Gray questioned, while Dealana stood beside them both.

"A spell that vanquishes darkness with sacred light. It only affects those who the caster sees as their enemy. Incredible, isn't it?" Erza revealed. Dealana smiled, "It's one of the most legendary spells in existence."

"Gramps is amazing!" she let her mask fall in the presence of those closest to her and gave a closed-eyed grin, still basking in the light that made the pain of her injuries fade. She was going to feel them later for sure, so the sky blunette was going to take full advantage of Makarov's magic.

They continued to watch as the light faded, leaving a gaping perfect circle in the clouds. A small wave of pain began to creep up on Dealana but she would endure it for now.

the cheers of Fairy Tail rang out in the air and Dealana's grin widened as she looked at the glorious sight of Makarov at the top of Phantom's destroyed fortress.

"We are victorious." He told them all, his voice reaching them clearly, "But I had little to do with it. This victory is yours, my children."

➵

"Hey, Gajeel. Can you hear me?" Natsu asked the iron dragon slayer as they both lay splayed out, exhausted from going head to head.

"Nah," came his reply, "I can't hear nothin'."

"I just want to know where you learned Dragon Slayer magic." Natsu told him, moving to peer over the edge of the elevated rubble he was perched on.

"I told ya, I can't hear ya!"

"You're the second wizard I've ever met who uses the same kind of magic I do. Come on, man, tell me where you learned it!"

"Shut up." Gajeel groaned turning his head away.

Aw, don't be like that! You're like Dealana, not wanting to talk about your magic!" Natsu shouted at him.

"Metalicana."

"Huh?" Natsu asked when he heard the faint reply.

"The Iron Dragon." Gajeel elaborated.

"No way!" Natsu exclaimed in disbelief before he fell off the rubble perch and landed smack on the ground with a yelp. He didn't seemed phased though, as he got right back up, "I thought you might've been taught by a dragon!"

"Why? Were you?" Gajeel asked having pulled himself into a cross-legged sitting position.

"Where's Metalicana now?"

"I don't know."

Natsu grumbled annoyed before shouting, "Tell me where he is!"

"I said I don't know!" Gajeel shot back as they began to butt heads again. The fell back groaning as their bodies were still in bad shape from their fight. "Man, I feel like I'm startin' to lose brain cells just talkin' to you."

"Watch it, buddy."

"He just disappeared." Gajeel said in response to Natsu's previous inquiry.

"Huh?"

"Yeah. I'd been training with Metalicana, but then one day he just up and left without even sayin' a single word to me." Gajeel scoffed, "Talk about a selfish jerk."

"Ah...wait a minute, he didn't happen to disappear on the seventh of July, seven years ago, did he?" Natsu asked recalling how according to Dealana, Arashi had disappeared just like Igneel.

"Yeah. Are you sayin' you know where Metalicana is?" Gajeel snapped his gaze to look at the salmon-pink haired pyro.

"Don't have a clue, but I've been lookin' for a Fire Dragon. His name is Igneel. The last time I saw him was July 7th, seven years ago. It's the same story for Dealana. She's lookin' for Arashi, the Storm Dragon."

"So all the dragons vanished seven years ago." Gajeel put the pieces together, "Year 7-7-7. On the seventh day of the seventh month?"

"Aaargh!" Natsu hollared head-butting Gajeel, "What's with all the sevens, huh?"

"How should I know?!" Gajeel shouted back with equal force before they were both groaning and holding their steaming heads again. Gajeel recovered first and scoffed, "I don't care what happened to him."

"Just get the heck out of here already." Natsu told him.

"You're on our turf, punk!" Gajeel practically screamed at him with a very evident tick mark on his head, "If anyone's gonna leave, it's you!"

"Geez, you don't have to be so rude about it."

"Scram before I hurt ya."

Natsu began taking his leave but not before calling over his shoulder to the Iron Dragon slayer, "Well, let me know if you hear anything about Igneel, okay? Arashi too for that matter."

"Are you kiddin' me? Why would I ever do you or that little runt any favors?" Gajeel scoffed.

"'Cause you, me, and Dealana are fellow Dragon Slayers." Natsu said with a grin.

"Aw, screw you! Next time I get my hands on you, you're dead meat. You'll be beggin' for mercy!"

"There's no need to be so brutal. I was thinkin' about callin' a truce, but after that outburst, I don't know."

"I'm brutal? Gimme a break! You just totaled our guild hall."

"Yeah, but only after you guys demolished ours first. Oh, just forget it! I'm never callin' a truce with you!" Natsu exclaimed before his tone grew uncharacteristically serious, "But you should watch out." he warned.

"Huh? What are you talkin' about now?" Gajeel shouted.

"You got lucky when you attacked Dealana." Natsu told him, which confused Gajeel for a moment as Natsu continued, "The next time you face her, you'll face the wrath of her storm, especially now that she's back in action with her magic." He finished his warning with a large grin. Knowing that Dealana was beginning to move forward and use her magic again, the scarf-wearer couldn't wait to fight her again and see how strong she was.

➵

Dealana stared with the rest of Fairy Tail at the ruined guild hall, Lucy had stepped forward and apologized. However Makarov had a different opinion on the matter.

"Ah, child, you've been through a lot lately, but don't let it get you down." he told Lucy, who only bowed her head slightly in shame.

"Yeah, let's see a smile, Lucy!" Dealana's dual-colored gaze snapped to the new voice. Levy.

"Levy?"

"Yep, we're back!" she winked.

"You're alright!" Lucy exclaimed.

"We beat Phantom, so there's no reason for you to be sad." Levy continued while Droy, who stood on one side with a crutch under his arm and bandages on his head and foot added in,

"Sure, they might've destroyed our guild hall."

"But we're gonna rebuild it even bigger and better!" Jet finished.

"I'm sorry that we had you so worried, Lucy." the blunette apologized.

"No," Lucy immediately answered, "it was all my fault!"

"We heard about your secret. But there's not a single person in the guild who thinks you're to blame." Levy told her. Reedis added on and it wasn't long before Lucy was in happy tears, especially not after Makarov gave a heartfelt mini-speech about being apart of the guild and how they all share emotions and feelings.

"Hold your head high, my dear, because you are a proud member of the Fairy Tail family." It was a happy moment before Dealana looked down at her attire. She still wore her torn and dirtied cream shirt that had been further sliced to bandage her stomach and arms. Her shorts were pretty much fine, but the heterochromiac knew she was in desperate need of a shower and wardrobe change. Her hair was no longer kept in braids and it reached down past her lower back in rippling waves. She looked to Erza with a sigh,

"Hey, Erza? Do you think we could go shopping soon?" she questioned. Erza chuckled and nodded. Dealana didn't like shopping or things like quality time with other people, so she wasn't about to let this opportunity pass her by. The redhead looked to Mira and the two shared a nod, that Dealana took note of.

"Don't make me regret this!" she grumbled to the two young women who only laughed further. She was about to make another comment when a hand landed on her head, ruffling her already messy hair.

"You did good, Dealana." It was Gray. She looked at the ice mage with a small smile before it dropped when Gray wore a more serious expression, "Don't think you're getting away with using your magic energy like that." he warned. Mira laughed,

"I think going shopping with Erza will serve as punishment enough, don't you think, Gray?" she asked and they all looked to the scarlet haired mage whose eyes were hidden by her hair before they caught a glimpse of the evil glint in her eyes.

Dealana gulped, and Gray winced, "Well, good luck, Dealana...it was nice knowing you."

"Aye..." Happy shivered.

➵

About a week following the defeat of Phantom, everyone in Fairy Tail were rebuilding, and everything was getting back to normal again. They had been confronted by the Rune Knights, and there was extensive questioning that followed. Daily interrogations while station at a Military outpost, Fairy Tail couldn't catch a break. They literally questioned Dealana as she was still being treated for her injuries and the side effects of over using her magic.

Luckily, the Council was leaning toward ruling in Fairy Tail's favor seeing as the whole ordeal was Phantom's fault.

Dealana watched with a smirk as Erza smashed Gray and Natsu, who had been arguing, with a wooden beam.

"Cut it out! Get back to work. Now! We've got a lot to do, so no more lollygagging." she told them.

"Aye." the two boys groaned in unison.

"I wouldn't want to work for Erza." Droy commented from where he, the rest of Team Shadowgear, and Dealana were watching the progress.

"Did she requip into that outfit?" Jet asked with a sweatdrop.

"Even Master Makarov's hard at work!" Levy commented on the fact that Makarov utilized his Giant magic to build the base structure.

"Yeah, in a big way." the boys said in unison. Levy turned to Dealana who in turn looked to Levy with a quizzical expression.

"Hmm?" she asked waving her hand without taking her attention off of Levy. A cloud formed nearby and began to transport a load of lumber across the construction site with ease.

"I never got the chance to thank you, Dealana." said girl paused and furrowed her brows.

"Thank me? What for?"

"You did your best to protect us, didn't you?" Jet asked, getting to what Levy was talking about. Dealana looked down, slightly ashamed.

"Not really. I wasn't able to even protect you in the slightest."

"Dealana...you still tried, plus! I heard you used your magic again!" Levy cheered before moving her face closer to Dealana so the boys wouldn't hear, "From one blue-haired girl to another, I'm glad you avenged us." Dealana's eyes widened and she took in Levy's growing smile with immediate denial.

"I don't know what you're talking about." she huffed crossing her arms and turning away from the now laughing Team Shadowgear.

➵

And thus, we're at the closing point of Phantom and jump right into Loke's arc. I don't have any plans to do much with Loke's arc, Maybe I'll just write some drabble-like moments of what Dealana's up to during that time. But after that, we get straight into the Battle of Fairy Tail. I'm not sure if I want to make the chapters longer for this arc, or keep them at the average length they're at right now. What do y'al think?

Dealana's also growing a bit closer with her guildmates, and even showing more expression. Too bad Laxus has to kind of ruin it again.