(A few days later)
The floor and walls were marble, adorned with paintings worth millions of Jewels. The furniture was carved from ancient wood, and an exotic animal's fur rug lay in the center. This was the lavish office of Jude Heartfilia, owner of the Heartfilia Conglomerate and one of the wealthiest men in the country. His status was such that even without being nobility, several nobles still bowed their heads before him.
Lucy had described her father to be a cold and distant man—someone who, after her mother's death, never cared about her again. A man driven solely by his wealth and an obsession with controlling others.
"Damn it!" Jude slammed his desk after reading the news that Phantom Lord had been disbanded by the Magic Council and that Jose Porla was now missing. "How could a Saint Wizard be so damn useless?!"
"Harsh, don't you think?"
"…!" Jude looked up and was shocked to see a young man with white hair sitting calmly on the couch, accompanied by a strange golden creature.
"How did you get in here?!"
Jude's eyes sharpened as he remained composed. He slid his hand toward a drawer and grabbed a magical ring from his desk. Although he wasn't a mage himself, he had enough money to purchase anything for sale. Allen noticed this but didn't stop him.
"I'm here to beat some sense into you for Lucy…" Allen said seriously, which widened Jude's eyes at the mention of his runaway daughter—but even more at the young man's audacity.
"Who are you, kid?! Are you with Fairy Tail?!" Jude scowled. "Don't think I can't make your life miserable!!!"
Allen vanished and reappeared in front of Jude, grabbing him by the collar, "Shut up..." Allen pulled him out of his comfortable desk chair and slammed him against the coffee table.
"Ugh!" Jude, being an ordinary man, groaned in pain as he hit the floor. He knew he couldn't compete against a wizard, so, he aimed the magical ring at Allen—but it didn't activate.
"What?!"
Allen glanced around Jude's office. "This place reeks of money... is that all you care about?"
"You won't get away with this! This is a clear violation of magical law! You'll rot in a dungeon for this!"
But Jude's angry words didn't faze Allen. His attention was instead drawn to a portrait of Layla, Lucy's mother. A beautiful woman who looked much like Lucy—only more mature, graceful, and gentle.
"I don't understand how a woman like her, who gave birth to someone like Lucy, could've married a heartless bastard like you…"
"…?!"
Jude had been planning to stall until his guards or the Rune Knights arrived, but Allen's words froze him.
"What did you just say?!"
Memories of Layla's smile, her laughter, her voice—her natural kindness—flooded Jude's mind. He was a business monster, always composed, but there was one thing he couldn't tolerate: anyone mentioning his wife.
"You bastard!" Jude, overcome by rage, lunged at Allen and threw a punch that landed squarely on his face. "What do you know about her?! About me?! I loved her more than anything! More than anyone!"
He swung again, but Allen caught his fist and headbutted him, breaking his nose. Then, Allen kneed him in the stomach, dropping him to the floor.
Allen wiped the blood from his mouth and glared down at Jude.
"Don't lie to me! A soulless man who ignored his daughter, locked her up, and controlled her until she had to run away?! You have no heart!"
"Ahhh!" Jude, ignoring the pain, screamed and lunged at Allen again. The man had no skill, no technique—but he knew how to throw a punch. He landed two more blows.
"Everything I did was to protect her! She was safe! She had everything she could ever want!"
Allen grabbed Jude's wrist and threw him into the desk, which shattered under the impact. Allen spat blood on the floor and marched toward him.
"Everything?! You dare say that, you bastard?!"
He knelt and punched Jude on the ground.
"She had no mother! No father! No freedom! Why can't you understand?! She didn't want a golden cage full of jewels! She just wanted her dumbass father to be there for her!"
"I LOST MY WIFE!" Jude punched Allen in the nose, but he couldn't push him away, and Allen kept hitting him.
"Don't play the victim, old man. You lost a wife but she lost her mother when she was a little girl!
Jude bit Allen's hand and managed to kick him away. He grabbed a wooden chair and smashed it against Allen.
"You little brat! You don't understand the cruelty of the business world! The moment you show the slightest weakness, others try to destroy you! If I had broken, if I had backed down, Layla's legacy would've been lost! Lucy and I would be begging on the street!"
Allen stood, blood dripping from his head, then charged at Jude and slammed him against the wall. He kneed him, then struck his stomach. Jude managed a headbutt, pushing him back again.
Allen grabbed him by the neck. "Layla's legacy?! You think she valued buildings and piles of gold?!"
"Let go of me!"
Allen dragged Jude toward Layla's portrait. "Listen, you piece of shit. Look at that face and tell me she'd be proud of what you've become!"
"That's not true…"
"Would the Celestial Mage who loved spirits really be happy knowing you pushed her beloved daughter to this point?!" Jude stared at Layla's image in astonishment. No, she definitely wouldn't be happy.
"No…"
Allen stood up and made him look him in the eyes. "WHEN YOU DIE AND FACE HER AGAIN, WHAT WILL YOU SAY? 'SORRY, HONEY, I SOLD OFF OUR DAUGHTER TO SOME OLD FAT MAN FOR A BAG OF GOLD?' DON'T MESS WITH ME!"
"...?!!!"
He slammed Jude to the floor. This time, the man didn't respond with anger—but with a blank, pale stare. He began crawling toward Layla's portrait.
"Layla..."
"Stop pretending to be some tough guy. You used 'protect your wife's legacy' as an excuse to avoid facing your grief. And in the process, you forgot how to be a father. I never knew Layla, but if she was even half as good as Lucy, she'd be ashamed of you."
Jude curled up on the floor, clutching the photo and trembling. "I… I'm sorry, Layla…"
"She's not the one you need to apologize to", said Allen.
*Steps*
Jude looked up and saw Lucy standing in a red, elegant dress. Her noble beauty was the spitting image of Layla. But in her eyes, there was no kindness—no hatred either. Only pity.
"Lucy…"
"Father, I won't be your daughter again. I've found a place where I belong, and I don't care what you say. But more than anything—I won't forgive you if you try to destroy it."
Jude had no response. But his face said it all. Lucy, standing before him, was Layla's reflection. That look she gave him hurt more than all of Allen's punches combined.
"Let's go," Lucy turned to Allen. Seeing him bruised and bleeding, her stern expression cracked and she nearly cried. She reached out and gently touched his face.
Lying on the floor, Jude finally understood who this young man was—the one who came to beat some sense into him and pull him back from the edge. Allen was himself, decades ago, when he was still willing to face the world for Layla.
'What have I done…'
Lucy gave a bittersweet smile. "You didn't need to go this far…"
"I got carried away," Allen smiled back, and Lucy bit her lip in frustration. He raised her chin gently, "Don't worry, Lucy. These aren't even real injuries…"
Allen had reduced all his abilities to the level of an ordinary person. "Something that perhaps only men understand. In these situations—you need to be on the same level to speak man to man, with your fists."
"You're silly," Lucy smiled softly.
"..." Jude watched this interaction, feeling intense pain in his head. He was willing to take all of that away from Lucy for money.
Lucy took Allen's hand and led him toward the exit. This would be the last time she ever set foot in that house. Perhaps the last time she'd ever see Jude.
"Lucy…" Jude called out weakly, but she didn't stop—though the hand holding Allen's tightened.
"You don't have to forgive me… You don't have to call me your father again… you don't have to do anything… Just live a happy life!"
Lucy trembled and paused for a moment, then kept walking. She muttered, "I will—with or without your blessing…"
"..." Allen walked silently beside her.
Jude knew Lucy wouldn't turn back—and he accepted it. It was all his fault. He had lost his daughter shortly after losing his wife.
"Young man…"
Allen turned around just in time to see Jude bow and slam his head to the floor—something unthinkable for a man at the top of the world.
"Please… I don't deserve it, but I beg you… Do what I failed to do. Take care of her."
Allen looked at Lucy and smiled.
"I planned to."
Jude exhaled a breath of relief as he watched them leave.
...
The pair left the Heartfilia mansion—but not before stopping by Lucy's room. It was filled with grimoires, books, and novels, which was only natural for someone like Lucy, who dreamed of publishing her own novel someday. She paid little attention to the expensive furniture, extravagant decorations, jewelry, or designer dresses and shoes that cost hundreds of thousands. What truly stood out were the stuffed animals on her bed and a collection of fairy tales about princesses, heroes, and princes.
Lucy panicked—she had completely forgotten she'd left behind the equivalent of her search history wide open. Allen laughed and teased Lucy a little before putting everything away in his inventory.
Allen bowed like a gentleman, offering his hand. "Well, shall we go, princess?"
"Shut up!" Lucy shouted, embarrassed, but then she smiled and took Allen's hand.
...
Allen used Apparition to return to Magnolia Town. The sky was blue and the weather was nice.
"Well, we should hurry back before Juvia has a full-blown panic attack," Allen laughed. Juvia might have seemed like a well-mannered girl at first, but she'd turned out to have stalker and yandere tendencies.
"Allen."
Lucy's voice was soft, tinged with melancholy—but also peace and quiet happiness.
"What is it, Lucy?"
"Can we take a walk?"
They went to the park and sat on a bench while the wind carried away the leaves from the trees. In the distance, a few families were having picnics.
"Sorry, Lucy… I think I got too involved in your personal matters."
Jude Heartfilia wasn't a subject either of them could just ignore. He was, after all, one of the key reasons Phantom Lord attacked Fairy Tail. Allen couldn't even imagine how much money it would take to hire a Saint Wizard, but considering Jude's wealth, he was probably one of the few who could afford it. Even so, perhaps Lucy could have resolved all this on her own.
Lucy blinked at Allen's words, then smiled with a faint blush on her cheeks, "Don't worry about it. Honestly, I was only planning to tear my dress in a rebellious tantrum—but the beating you gave him was much more satisfying~"
Allen wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. He knew Lucy was carrying a heavy emotional burden after facing her father. Still, she tried to smile and act fine so as not to burden him further.
"It's not fair…" Lucy muttered as she gripped Allen's shirt. "If this keeps up… I'll end up relying on you too much…"
"I don't mind. I'm really good at being someone's support," Allen teased, pretending not to catch what she truly meant.
Lucy pouted in frustration, then laughed. A little while later, she looked up at the sky, feeling like she didn't need to run anymore. No, she wouldn't run ever again. She had finally joined the guild she admired, was slowly making her way toward becoming a novelist, and also…
Lucy lifted her face from Allen's chest to look at him. She blushed, then began fidgeting with her fingers and stared at the ground.
"Allen…"
"Hm?" Allen glanced at her.
"I-it's about what you told my father…" Lucy stammered nervously.
Allen blinked. "I told him a lot of things…"
Lucy turned as red as a boiled tomato, practically steaming, but still managed to look at him from the corner of her eye.
"About… taking care of me… did you mean it?"
Though it hadn't been said directly, Jude had essentially asked Allen to look after Lucy for the rest of her life. Lucy had understood that, and the fact that Allen agreed had nearly made her head explode. Wasn't that basically a marriage proposal?!
Allen remained silent for a moment as Lucy looked like she was about to collapse. Then he finally spoke:
"I've been doing that since the day I met you."
"Huh?!"
Lucy froze. All her memories came rushing back, and she realized—Allen had indeed been protecting her all this time. Wait… did he not mean "take care of her" in a romantic sense, but more like watching over her well-being?
Her face went pale, and she buried it in her hands, wanting the earth to swallow her whole. But it was only for a moment—then a tear slid down her cheek.
'Stupid Lucy… He doesn't see you as a woman. Just as some little girl who always needs help…'
"Lucy…"
Hearing his voice, she looked up and forced a smile through her tears, thinking she had just been rejected. But before she could say anything, her lips were suddenly stolen. Her eyes widened in shock, unable to process it at first. The kiss didn't stop—Allen's arms pulled her close.
It took Lucy a few seconds to register what was happening, but by then, her mouth had already been claimed—and she simply melted into him.
'T-this bastard… h-he was just teasing me all along…'
---
Gwen – What a bastard. He just loves doing this!
MJ – Honestly, Allen has a gift. No matter who he gets involved with, you just can't stay mad at him.
Felicia – Seriously! After seeing this, how are we supposed to ask him to turn Lucy-chan down?!
---
The walk home was peaceful. Lucy wore a huge smile as they walked. In an instant, the spiritually and emotionally draining day had become the best day of her life—and for good reason. In her eyes, she had just found her prince charming.
"So… what are we now?" Lucy asked. Were they dating? Lovers? Engaged?
Before Allen could answer, Erza and Juvia landed in front of them. Lucy took a small step back. She had forgotten about Erza… and not just her, but all the girls who were interested in Allen.
Now what?
Lucy already knew—there was no way not to know that Allen had kissed Erza during the war. It was in all the newspapers and magazines. At that time, Lucy had felt like the sky was falling on her, wondering if she ever had a chance against someone like Erza. But now, for the first time, she felt like she was standing on equal ground. So she stepped forward.
"You've got a good look on your face, Lucy…" Erza said with a half-smile.
"Erza-san… no, Erza… I don't plan on backing down," Lucy said—not with hostility, but holding her hand out in friendship.
"I know. I won't either," Erza replied, smiling as she shook it.
Just as the two girls turned, they saw Juvia clinging to Allen with her heart practically bursting out of her head.
"Allen-sama! I'm so glad you're okay! ❤️~"
Taking advantage of the fact that Lucy and Erza had basically declared emotional war on each other, Juvia latched onto Allen and even began sniffing him. Lucy and Erza exchanged glances, and in a moment of unspoken understanding, they put aside their rivalry and yanked Juvia away from him.
"Ah! Nooo! Allen-samaaa!~"
[Host, did you plan this?]
'If I'm being honest… not really.'
Allen scratched the back of his head and walked behind the three girls. As long as they didn't end up fighting or hating each other, he'd be happy.
"Let the future Allen deal with all that mess…"
---
(The next day)
The guild had returned to normal. Everyone was taking on jobs again, and there was even a small celebration to welcome Juvia to the guild. The blue-haired girl had been surprised she wasn't rejected for being part of Phantom Lord—but it made sense. After all, only Lucy and Mirajane had been hurt, and since both of them forgave her, no one else complained.
Juvia was deeply moved and genuinely happy to have joined this guild.
"Hold it right there, Fairy Tail!"
The guild doors burst open, and Lahar entered with the Rune Knights. It was obvious this would happen. A war between guilds wasn't something the Council could overlook—no matter who started it.
Makarov jumped from his seat and walked toward the exit.
"I'll take care of this, brats. You all keep working on your missions…"
Some were a bit worried, but most trusted that things would be okay—after all, Fairy Tail had only defended itself from Phantom Lord.