Fiore. A land of magic, adventure, and wonder.

This land is home is many wonderful places. One of which is in the town of Magnolia. In this hamlet resides a particular guild hall.

Come in at any time of the day and you will be greeted with smiling faces and open arms. Then flying punches, feet in people's faces, a large keg of ale, a young fortune teller who's drinking the entire said keg, a large muscular man preaching masculine things, two gun-wielding parents entertaining their daughter with a toy gun, a stern armor-clad woman eating her strawberry cheesecake, and a young bluenette who is literally melting into a puddle at the sight of the man of her dreams, an ice-mage who is sans clothes, brawl with an ill-tempered fire-breather.

Enter Fiore's highest ranked guild, Fairy Tail.

Every day, nay, every moment in this guild is filled with excitement.

"Ahhh…," Makarov pleasantly hummed as he downed his ale. It tastes much better today than it normally does. Then again anything tastes better when you add a dash of pride to the mix. Pride in being master to the greatest guild in the country.

Kissing the rim of his mug, Makarov gleefully felt his pride-seasoned liquor trickle down his throat. It made him feel so glorious, and his cheeks warm. He has so much to be thankful for. Huffing out another satisfied sigh, Makarov stopped kissing his inanimate lover and lowered it to gaze upon his guild. His family.

Just seeing their young faces made him smile. All of them are the reasons he is so thankful. Even watching his two rambunctious ones engage in their daily dose of rough-housing started to make his face feel warmer. The old guild master told himself that it was just the effects of the ale.

"Reminiscing on your glory days, Makarov?"

Makarov looked to his side to see Gildarts with a smug smile. "Don't be ridiculous, Gildarts," the master said turning his face and quickly wiping an increasingly wet eye. "Today's brew is just stronger than it normally is."

Gildarts snickered, "And since when has that ever moved you to tears?"

Makarov was about to retort but his tongue was caught short by the effects of the alcohol and began laughing. "Oh dammit all you fool," Makarov managed to say in between his drunken laughs, "you're going to make me spill my drink."

Gildarts joined the master in his laughing fit before reaching for a mug and pouring a fresh round for himself. "How many drinks have you had so far, master?"

"I lost count after two," the master said holding up four fingers. Gildarts laughed at that.

"'Two' drinks and you're already tearing up? Your age is showing, Makarov."

Makarov nearly choked on his drink, "Oh bah! Who are you calling old, you old fool!"

Gildarts scoffed at that as he downed his liquor, "I'm still in my prime."

Makarov gave Gildarts an annoyed look. "That gray hair on your scalp says otherwise," he said taking another sip of his drink.

Gildarts spat out a stream of ale, "What? Where?" he said using his index finger to scout his hair.

"Fufufu…" Makarov childishly sang, making the mighty Gildarts turn a shade pink.

"Don't do that you old fool," Gildarts said trying to keep face but ended up joining in the master's laugh, again.

"Oh Gildarts," Makarov gleamed, "as much as I hate to admit it, you're right. We're just a couple of old fools."

"'We?' Who's saying we? I only count one old fool, master."

"Oh just give it up while you're ahead Clive. Trust me, age is something no one can outrun."

"I think I still have a pretty good lead on age right now, and I don't see it catching up to me anytime soon."

"Think what you want, it'll happen and when it happens it'll come when you least expect it. Besides I'm getting too old for this anyways."

"Too old for what? Fairy Tail?"

"Oh heavens no. I'm getting too old to be its guild master."

"Don't be ridiculous. You still have a good century or two before that happens."

"I'm serious Gildarts. Being in charge of this guild is becoming too much for me. Our guild keeps getting bigger and bigger."

"Where's that coming from? We haven't had any new members join recently, did we?"

"Not exactly, give it several months."

"What are you….Oh. Oh! Who is it?"

"I'm not telling you, they deserve to announce it when they are ready."

"Fair enough, but you can't be fussing over something as small as that. Besides it is their responsibility anyway."

"When you're a guild master Gildarts everyone is your responsibility. Everyone is your family. As much as I am honored to have the title I also feel cursed for having it."

"Cursed?"

"Yeah, I just can't seem to get rid of it. No matter what happens or what I do, I always seem to end up as the guild master for Fairy Tail. To be honest, I should've retired some time ago."

"Oh that's right, you've been guild master twice now right?"

"Thrice!" Makarov corrected. "And I almost had the luxury of not having this burden in the first place, if not for you!" Makarov yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Gildarts.

Gildarts put on a fake, innocent smile and held his hands up, "Hey as honored as I was for being chosen it is too much responsibility for me."

Makarov grumbled at Gildarts and harked down the rest of his ale. "'Too much responsibility', ha! If you're not careful you leave huge holes in walls without even touching them. Our whole town has to literally adjust itself when you're home. You've been with countless women. And you've gone through parenthood without having to go through parenthood. Maybe responsibility will do you some good!"

"Now you're just being mean, master."

"Well, I can't think of any other better candidates so there!"

"I hear Erza did a splendid job as guild master. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to take up the mantle again."

"Oh I know Erza would; she is too proud to refuse something like this. Erza has the will and wits, but lacks the patience for our more….," Makarov's gaze moved to Natsu and Gray, still shoving their fists in each other's faces, "...rowdy members. She'll just keep having to put her foot down on someone and we both know how serious she can be. The stress alone will probably knock down several years off her life. Plus she is still young and full of ambition. I can't put all this responsibility on her, not when she still has so much of life to experience."

"Didn't Macao act as guild master when we were gone for seven years? Why not him?"

"Macao has the mindset of a parent and the heart of a Fairy Tail wizard, but he doesn't command respect. When we were gone for that time the Twilight Ogre guild took over by force and overpowered not only Macao but all of our guild members. I need someone who is either as powerful as his reputation is famous, if not more so. A weak guild master can only get you so far until someone more powerful comes along. Even most of the youngsters can beat him."

"How about Laxus? He wanted it all his life."

Makarov breathed a heavy sigh, "I have thought about nominating Laxus. Ever since he was born, I've been nominating him as the next guild master. And as much as it pains me to say this, now I am not so sure. After the stunt he pulled with this guild, do you really think our members will follow him, let alone trust him? Even if I did make him my successor, what kind of message will that send to our guild? To everyone? Are we that forgiving of a guild member who tries to take the mantle by force that anyone can try it and get away with it, or even achieve it, without any consequence? If you weren't so forgiving and let him back into the guild, one of the few things you did as the fifth guild master for thirty seconds," Makarov narrowed his eyes at Gildarts, "I am not sure even I would have let him back in."

Gildarts returned the serious expression in Makarov's face, "You've really thought about this haven't you?"

"Yes, and frankly I am sick of you dodging this. I need someone who is wise as well as patient and tempered, puts the needs of the guild before himself, and so powerful that everyone second guesses challenging him and his demands at the mere thought of him. I know no one else in this guild, or anywhere else for that matter, that is a better fit than you, Gildarts Clive."

Gildarts' eyes wandered aimlessly as he tapped his prosthetic fingers on the table. His eyes wandered all around the guild. He tried to find someone that'll stand out when suddenly…

A big gleaming smile grew on Gildarts' face, "Hey, I know someone who may be up for the task."

"Someone who's better suited than you?"

"Sort of," Gildarts then gestured with his face to the person in the crowd. Makarov followed Gildarts' direction only to be lost in a sea of faces.

"I'm going to need you to be less cryptic Gildarts."

"He is known across the country at this point."

"Everyone knows who Mirajane is. She's a model you baka and I don't think her talents are suited for a guild master."

"Oh come on, master, you know who I am talking about," Gildarts continued to jest, with that big smile on his face.

"No, I do not. Are you going to tell me or are you going to wait until I do kick the bucket and nominate this nameless person?"

"Sure ya' do. He's is strong, famous, determined, puts others before himself, always has the guild's best interest at heart, and you can pick him out from a crowd easily. I mean have you ever seen anyone else who's a natural pink?"

"A natural wha-," Makarov's eyes widened, finally piecing together who Gildarts was talking about.

"This is for ruining my lunch you stupid hot head!" screamed Gray.

"It is not my fault you chose to eat shaved ice when it is raining you icy pervert! And put your clothes on!"

"Cold food is meant to be eaten during the summer, you moron! Yet when I go near you it always melts!" Gray swung an icy punch towards Natsu.

"I didn't melt your stupid snow cone or go near it, and this is not summer weather! Stop blaming me for things I didn't do!" Natsu retorted swinging back at Gray with a fist full of flames.

The fists met sending both mages flying across the guild hall and knocking into several guild members.

"Gray! You bastard, you made me spill my drink," Cana screamed, already reaching for her cards.

"Dammit, Natsu! You've ruined my precious strawberry cheesecake!" Erza roared at the cake-covered dragonslayer.

"If you're going to fight, then fight like real men!"

"Mommy! Daddy!" Asuka chirped to her parents. "Everyone is getting angry again."

"Oh don't worry darlin'."

"Yeah, it is all in good fun." Both parents calmly said wielding large firearms.

Makarov's eye twitched. He felt a vein enlarge at the corner of his forehead. "You must be joking Gildarts. I just told you I wanted someone who is old, wise, doesn't put his interests before others, and above all else patient. You just picked someone who is the exact opposite of all those things!"

"Oh don't be too hard on the boy. He's done things for this guild neither of us could ever hope to achieve."

"He is young, brash, and easy to enrage."

"Really? Cause last time I checked Natsu is over four hundred years old, he constantly puts his life at risk for the safety of his nakama, he is the younger brother of the infamous Zeref, a dragon slayer, he defeated Acnologia, and as far as his temper goes…"

"I'M GONNA SHOVE MY FOOT SO FAR UP YOUR-!"

"Natsu, language!" Lucy yelled, covering Asuka's ears.

"...okay fine, he has some anger issues. But no one is perfect."

"No one except you Gildarts. If Natsu became the guild master, the entire building would burn down within a week, and that's a best-case scenario."

"Oh come on, give the kid a chance. He's the reason we won the Grand Magic Games."

"No, he's not the reason we won the games. We had to resort to a very risky battle strategy concocted by the first master. We won by the skin of our teeth! So we didn't so much as win the games, we got through them and fought dragons. We could've won, no problem, if someone didn't abandon us right after he became the guild master."

"Well, he won a different one, all by himself."

"Because the competing guilds we faced back then did not register."

"Can you at least acknowledge that he defeated Acnologia? Not even I could do that, I nearly died when I tried."

"He didn't defeat Acnologia alone, he had the help of Gajeel, Wendy, Sting and Rogue, Laxus, and that one poison dragon slayer. What was his name again? Anyway, he's not even an S-Class mage."

"He still did something even I couldn't do and I did pass him during S-Class exam on Tenrou."

"Oh yeah! He did, didn't he?"

"See? He still has a lot of potential. In fact, I say we cut the middleman and make him an S-Class right now."

"Actually, I don't see why not. I mean he must've done something pretty spectacular to defeat you."

"...Well, he didn't actually beat me per se."

"Wait, what? What does that mean?"

"I did pass him so…"

"So he did beat you?"

"Well, he did show a lot of promise and-"

"Gildarts. Did he or did he not beat you in combat?"

"Well technically…..no."

"He didn't beat you?"

Gildarts didn't answer and refilled his mug to the brim with alcohol.

"You defeated him and you allowed him to pass? Why would you do that?"

Gildarts slurped down his drink.

"You were going to just hand the title of S-Class Mage to him?"

"I didn't just hand it over to him, Makarov. I put up a fight."

"Was he even close to beating you?"

"Well I mean I was going easy on him until the end and I showed him how powerful I am and he…."

"He what?" Makarov saw Gildarts about to take another drink but grabbed the mug before it could reach his lips, "Do NOT dodge this question! What happened after Natsu saw how strong you are?"

"He….collapsed."

"Collapsed? Oh for goodness sakes Gildarts."

"Master you are being too hard on the boy. I mean the Council barely holds a candle to me. Besides, we are not supposed to go full out during the combat trials. You told me that yourself."

"That may be true, but Gildarts there is a reason so few people become S-Class. If it were so easy then there would be less life-threatening things in this world and we'd be out of a job. The last thing anyone expects an S-Class Mage to do is breakdown in the presence of an opponent."

"How can you be so crass, master? He is much more powerful than he was back then."

"Great, then he is more than ready when the next S-Class Trials begin and when I can find a more suitable location for such a test. Preferably one without any dark guilds, ancient evil wizards, or dark dragons. Or has the potential to send my entire guild through time for seven years!"

"One thing at a time, master."

"Then you'll be more than happy to help me clear the first thing on my long to-do list. Take the damn mantle!"

"But Natsu-."

"No! Until he has truly proven himself otherwise, the answer is no; and you are still the top candidate."

Just then Bickslow came flying between the two men and crashed into the wall.

Makarov exhaled an annoyed sigh and put his drink down, "If you excuse me I have to clean up the mess of our 'up-and-coming leader.'"

Makarov hoped out of his chair and onto the railing. He cleared his throat before jumping off the railing. In one motion he somersaulted in mid-air and instantly enlarging his entire body to that of a giant. Both of his massive feet planting firmly onto the guild floor.

"THAT'S ENOUGH OUT OF ALL OF YOU!"

Everyone in the guild stopped what they were doing and froze in place. Everyone except Natsu.

"Haha, cowards! That means I win!" But Natsu's victory was cut short by a giant hand slamming down on him.

"I AM IN NO MOOD TO DEAL WITH YOU!" The entire guild jumped in shock. They are used to the master asserting his discipline onto Natsu, but not like this. Did he have to leave a dent in the floor that deep?

"Ooooh."

"That's a deep hole."

"Natsu must've really ticked off the master this time."

Shrinking all but the fist pushing down on Natsu, Makarov stood before his guild. "How many times must I tell you not to destroy my guild, boy?"

Natsu managed to pop his head out from under the crushing fist, with a massive lump atop his head. "Gray's the one that started it!"

"No, I did not! You melted my-."

"Enough out of the both of you! I don't care who did what, or who was first, this ends NOW!"

The entire guild was dead silent. Today their master was obviously out of patience for Natsu's and Gray's tomfoolery.

Makarov closed his eyes, took in a deep breath through his nostrils, counted to ten in his head, and exhaled through his mouth. His fist was lifted off of Natsu and shrank back down to normal size.

"You've been inciting riots in these halls since the day you first joined. You are almost an adult, yet you still act like a child."

"You hear that hot head! You're the one who is immature!"

"You both are immature!" Makarov corrected, kicking the metaphorical soapbox from under Gray's exposed feet. "I don't know how much more of this I can take. Now everyone, clean up this mess you all made."

The guildhall was then filled with the music of annoyed groans.

"None of that! You all knew this would happen when you started fighting. You all know this is what happens whenever you guys start fighting. Now go and grab a broom, mop, or bucket and get to cleaning."

With that, all of Fairy Tail begrudgingly moved to the supply closet full of cleaning supplies they have become so familiar with. They have so many mops and brooms that it might as well be listed under surplus, but for them, it was an ideal supply.

Makarov sighed once more before hopping back up to the second floor to converse with Gildarts.

"You see what I mean? These kids keep me on edge every waking minute." Makarov vented to Gildarts, helping himself to another round of ale.

"Well, I think you handled that rather well, master," Gildarts answered with a smile.

"I mean it, Gildarts." Makarov downed a hefty amount of his drink. "If my old age doesn't do me in, these youngsters will. I can barely think straight anymore."

Gildarts sipped his own round of ale, "Well I can see how drinking more will help with that last problem."

"Don't start with me! Now, you will be the next guild master and you will be inaugurated soon."

The smile left Gildarts' face. "You're really serious about this aren't you?" his tone nonchalant. Makarov didn't say anything, he just downed whatever was left of his ale and let the sound of his chugs fill the awkward silence. "I still say I am not the one for the job."

"And I say you are! So help me, I'll make sure you're the next master of this guild even if it kills me."

"Then you'll die trying, master." Gildarts finished his drink and stood up, "Well I'm off."

"Don't you dare go on another mission! I will not allow it."

Gildarts turned his head back to Makarov and smiled, "Oh don't you worry. I just have some things I need to take care of."

Makarov sighed, "Fine, but they better not be the kinds of errands that involve nearly getting ripped in two by a dragon."

"Haha! No, just a couple errands. Plus," his face then melted into one Makarov could only describe as a literal goofball with a pulse, "I wanna spend some quality time with my precious baby girl."

Makarov's eye twitched. He then chuckled at Gildarts, "Oh very well."

"Thank you, master. Oh, and one more thing."

"Mmm?"

"If not Natsu, then at least reconsider Laxus. I think it could do just as good for the guild as it would for himself."

Makarov's smile went away, he looked down into the empty abyss of his mug. He was about to say something but then lost the words he was going to say.

"I...I just don't know Gildarts. After what he did, after what he did to the guild. To our family."

"No one is perfect, Makarov. And every family has its secrets. Every family."

"Yeah…" Secrets. Makarov swallowed what tasted like excess saliva, almost as if he forgot that he ran out of booze to drink. His family was full of secrets. Secrets he was far from proud of. Secrets he, himself, wishes he didn't have to keep.

"I really do think he would be a decent master. Now I'm off."

"Wait, are you really leaving now? In this weather?"

"A little rain never bothered me. Besides," Gildarts flipped the hood of his cloak on his head, "this weather is messing with an S-Mage of Fairy Tail. The clouds better clear up right now if they know what's good for them."

Makarov couldn't help but smile at that. Both men gestured goodbye to each other and Gildarts made his way down the stairs and out the door. The roar of the storm and the trampling of the heavy rain filled the guild hall. Gildarts then mumbled something under his breath and marched into the storm, the sound of the weather being silence when the doors shut.

Left with no one but the company of himself, Makarov lost his thoughts to the mystery of this storm. It was rather weird how they were having weather like during summer time. Then again, summer just started a week ago. Oh well, who can truly predict how the weather behaves?

Makarov shrugged his shoulders and filled up another round for himself. It wasn't until mid-sip that the aging guild master came to another conclusion. It dumbfounded him.

Gildarts just weaseled his way out of cleaning the guild hall.

A/N: Like the last chapter, any criticism and/or reviews are appreciated.