Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. I just own my OCs and plot.

Chapter 1: Newcomers

It was a unusually quiet day at Fairy Tail with most of the more rowdy members out on missions. Today, only Mirajane, Lucy, Wendy, Carla, Natsu, Happy and Gray were there (along with several nameless others who were enjoying the rare peace). Erza was off on an S-class mission. Natsu decided that he didn't want to anger Lucy by starting a fight with Gray. He hoped Levy would hurry up and come back from her mission with Shadowgear already so that Lucy would stop being so moody. Just when he was beginning to become veeery bored, so bored that he would risk angering Lucy just so he could have something to do, he suddenly smelled strangers at the door. He was about to open his mouth to say something about the incoming strangers when...

BAM! The guild doors burst open. Nobody (except Natsu who had swiveled around, eyes narrowed dangerously at the strangers) turned around, to them, this was normal. However, an unfamiliar voice shouting "I wanna join this guild! " soon had their attention. ( A/N: haha, Natsu already knew~) As heads turned to check out the loud newcomer (Natsu realized they didn't pose a threat and relaxed), a girl about six foot tall with short brown hair cut in a stylish bob wearing boyish clothing, the guild heard another, slightly softer sound (Natsu, being a dragonslayer with sharp hearing, heard someone mutter "stupid") before said stranger was smacked harshly on the head by a leggy girl about five foot three with glasses and dark black hair. (A/N: Henceforth, Glasses girl will be called "Megane", which is japanese for "glasses" until she is named.) She must have been hit the loud girl pretty hard, considering said girl immediately hurtled towards the ground and collapsed in a heap.

The taller girl rubbed her now sore head (and newly formed bump) vigorously and got up, all while glaring at her attacker. "What was that for?! " she yelled.

But before Megane could respond, another girl (this time a short, petite redhead) retorted, rolling her eyes, " 'Cause you were being stupid, duh."

"I agree Ki-chan, it's reckless, not to mention embarrassing, when you do that in public. Did you really have to do that?" A honey blonde quipped, stepping through the now open doorway and into the guild's view.

Crossing her arms against her ample chest, she arched an eyebrow at the girl she called Ki-chan, who was currently scratching her head with a sheepish look. The girl was tall like the rest of the group (with the obvious exception of the redhead who was clearly the smallest of them, not to mention the most sarcastic). Like Ki-chan, she wore clothes that were boyish and looked a bit big on her, along with combat boots. Judging from the way she stood, she looked to be a fighter, with a real fiery temper to match. Her small companion didn't look any less intimidating either. In fact, despite her totally non-threatening height, the redhead seemed to be the most aggressive of them all. Ki-chan looked like she would be more mature, but as previously displayed, she was a little bit of an impulsive, destructive, loudmouth. Megane seemed to be the calmest. She looked like she was the weakest of the group but who would think so, after witnessing her earlier violent tendencies and super strength? Though to be totally honest, she didn't seem as scary as the rest of her friends. In fact, the way she dressed, (pretty conservative by Fairy Tail standards, but still feminine) and acted gave her a friendly and generally harmless, girl-next-door image.

All the guild members were stunned by the sudden spectacle. They remained silent for a while, absorbing the scene before them, before roaring with laughter. Then, a small cough, barely audible was heard by Mira, who was standing next to Master at the bar. Nobody else noticed the little old man getting more angry with each passing second he was ignored. Bracing herself, Mira cautiously, and wisely, stepped back a few steps, giving Master the space she knew he would need when he reached his breaking point and turned giant-sized. She stepped back not a moment too late. A few seconds later, Master blew up. Becoming a giant, he angrily slammed his gigantic fist down, crushing a noisy Natsu and Gray combo as well as other members, yelling "SHUT UP YOU DAMN NOISY CHILDREN!". Only Wendy, the girls at the door, and some lucky ones escaped Master's wrath. Wendy, being smart, had simply stepped out of the way when she noticed Master growing. The others, besides our girls who are far away from the bar, were merely lucky they weren't in the vicinity of Master's fist.

Not surprisingly, the entire guild fell silent, though there were still a few here and there that fidgeted restlessly. However, the guild was quiet enough, in fact, it was so uncharacteristically silent, that even Lucy, who up till then was still zoned out, snapped to attention. She swung her head around wildly, trying to locate the source of the silence. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped as she noticed her friends standing in the guild's doorway. As her mind processed the fact that her friends were here at the guild, she felt everyone's eyes shift to her.

Lucy POV

I was just daydreaming about all the fun things the girls and I could do now that they're here. Yup, just alternating between happiness and depression as I switched from basking in the bliss of having my childhood friends stay with me to agonizing over how to pay my rent and (temporarily) support so many people, when I noticed that overwhelming silence in the guild. Curious by this un-Fairy Tail-like display, I took a quick glance around in an attempt to figure out the cause. My wandering gaze found Arumi's surprised ones. I guess whatever managed to shush the guild had shocked her. I smiled reassuringly at her. Her eyes widened as she (finally) noticed me. Her face broke into a smile. I involuntarily shiver and brace myself.

Oops. Not good, I think she just saw me, which means... Ah well. I guess it's ok as long as she's not looking at me with those scared eyes again. Speaking of which, what happened just now anywa- SLAM! BANG! Before I could even finish my thought, I felt something collide into me. Though I had initially braced myself for the impending attack, I had slightly lowered my guard when my attention drifted off.

Curses. That hurt."Oww..." I groaned. As I automatically moved to rub my aching head, I realized that I couldn't. There was something holding my arms down. Frantically, I opened my eyes and looked down at my midriff. There, hugging me like there was no tomorrow was the projectile that hit me, Arumi.

"Sheesh." I muttered. "What a way to thank me." Sighing in defeat, I awkwardly lifted my hands and prodded the unmoving girl. Did she hit her head or something? She seems to be unconscious. After checking that she was fine, I gently poked her in the ribs. She groaned in pain. Satisfied with my "revenge", I proceeded to look around me. I noted that I was now on the floor with the rest of the girls surrounding me while my guildmates looked on, some in amusement while others in worry.

Arumi POV

That little old man's transformation scared me so much! I definitely don't want to make him mad. Why'd everyone laugh so hard anyway? Are we that funny? I don't think so... Ahhhh...What am I gonna do? I think I'm starting to freak out!

Just when I was about to sink into panic mode, my eyes met Lu-chan's chocolate brown eyes. She smiled. Her smile felt so reassuring, I felt all my shock and fear melt away. I saw her unconsciously brace herself when I smiled back. I frowned. Are my smiles that scary? I shook my head of negative thoughts. Never mind, I'll find out why later.

Using the Air Amulet Merodi gave me for my birthday, I ran as fast as I could towards Lu-chan. I must have moved too fast because the next thing I know, "Owwww!" I whined from the floor, oblivious to all around us as pain swept through my body. I slowly opened my eyes. Realizing what position I put Lu-chan in, I quickly unwrapped my arms from around her waist and got up. Once up on my feet, I reached down and helped Lu-chan up. "Sorry." I mumble. "Didn't mean to hug you that hard. I was just so excited."

General POV

Meanwhile, the rest of the girls had stayed where they were. They didn't seem to be as frightened by Master's sudden transformation as Megane. In fact, Shortie, seemingly unintimidated by Master's sudden display of power, whispered in Blondie's ear. "Wow, somebody sure is eye-catching."

Nodding her agreement, Blondie whispered back. "Yeah! I know right?

Next to her, Ki-chan silently nodded. She'd sobered up once Master did his thing and grew. Ever since then, she was on guard. Her face bore an expression so serious, the two girls next to her couldn't help but become serious as well.

Satisfied with the guild's obedience, Master returned to his original size. Clearing his throat, Master said sternly," If you would like to join our guild, please come in and introduce yourself. Tell us why you wish to join Fairy Tail."