Joining Fairy Tail
They made it to Magnolia as their run from the previous night lead them to the train station, were Natsu was once again tortured with his motion sickness.
Though Happy had offered that Lucy knock him out, which led to the Celestial mage to ask why, would she hurt someone she considered a friend.
The cats answer was scary red haired monster, not really an answer to Lucy's question.
They made it there by morning as the two pointed shops and other things that interest them as this was her first time here.
And eventually led her to the guild, it was more amazing than she could imagine! As she followed the two, but was surprised when Natsu punched the doors opened.
Several people were inside as they looked their way with Natsu cheerfully exclaiming" Were back!" as they were greeted by everyone.
Lucy could only smile wider, there were so many people and the place was so lively.
Though she wasn't expecting to be noticed so soon as she was hiding behind Happy and Natsu a little nervous to be in the guild of her dreams.
"So who's the blond Natsu?" asked a random member of the guild as those who hadn't noticed her turned to see the shorter teen behind Natsu as she held Happy in front of her face.
The cat didn't mind as he figured she was nervous, well who wouldn't be around so many new faces.
Not like he could talk he hatched in this guild and he couldn't remember how many people were there.
Taking a deep breath Lucy donned the confidence she only gained when she was about to play some poor sucker.
"I'm Lucy, it nice to meet everyone" she said confidently a smile on her cute face as the silence turned into loud talk again as some welcomed her while passing comments.
"Think she's going to join?"
"I don't see why she wouldn't"
"She's so cute!" was the last comment of a female guild member who said it as if Lucy was a puppy, as she sweatdropped.
Yeah, this was going to be interesting.
"So you actually brought something back for once flame brain" Lucy turned towards the voice as a guy around Natsu's age maybe a little older was walking towards them.
Though it wasn't his dark haired and eyes that she noticed first it was the fact that he was in nothing but his boxers.
"Uh, why are you half naked?" Lucy asked the guy who looked at her confused before looking down.
"Aw crap!" he shouted in annoyance as if he didn't know.
The blond sweatdropped at that 'how did he not notice?' she wondered.
"Still a pervert as always, that's Gray for you" Lucy heard Natsu say as some of the guild members laughed at the situation.
"Are you trying to pick a fight with me!" the guy known as Gray challenge as Natsu gave him a bored look.
"I would but put some clothes on first you damn ice princess" he countered as before Lucy knew what was happening Gray had thrown a nearby chair as it broke on impact with the dragon slayers head.
Lucy took a moment to register what just happened as pretty soon Natsu wasn't next to her anymore as he punched Gray into the bar across the hall.
"Bring it on frosty! I'm fired up now!" Natsu smirked as some guild members cheered while others groaned watching the two teens fight and soon more people began to get involved.
"To be fair they lasted two weeks, pay up Wakaba" a random guild member said to a smoking man with his hair in a pompadour style.
"I thought you said three weeks" muttered Wakaba as he gave up the jewel.
"Is it always like this?" Lucy asked Happy as the brawl started to attract more members mostly the males.
"Aye" was the only answer she got.
Lucy followed Happy who was guiding her to the bar as she noticed a tall tan man with spiky white hair and a scar under one of his eyes.
"It's only noon and you guys are already starting fights" said the tall man as Lucy took a seat at the bar.
The guy lifted an arm as he shouted" I'm a real man! Want me to prove it to you!" he shouted at the fighting guild member's.
"Shut up!" yelled Gray as he knocked Elfman away with one attack startling Lucy.
"Just one punch, how strong are these guys" she wondered as Happy flew over having gotten involved in the fight by accident.
"You don't wanna know and the crazy people aren't even here yet" he groaned falling onto the bar table.
"What did I say about picking on Elfman!" was a shout from Natsu as he and Gray who had gotten caught up in fighting other people began to battle again.
"Geez, it's so noisy around here" Lucy turned in her seat as she saw the guy who'd spoken.
Unlike the others he wasn't fighting instead having two girls attached to his sides as Lucy recognized him from Sorcery Weekly as one of the most eligible wizards bachelor's list.
Though before Lucy could even think of meeting with Loke, he was soon hit by an object from the brawl as he stood looking at the girls.
"I'm gonna go fight, only to protect you two ladies" he smiled charmingly causing the girls to swoon, as he soon got into the brawl as well.
Lucy just laughed at the sight of everything being so lively" just you guys wait! Soon I'll be joining in to" Lucy spoke confidently as she wasn't ready for a guild brawl yet, but soon she knew she'd get involved one way or another.
"I see you're already planning, you'll fit right in" spoke a sweet voice from behind Lucy as she turned and gasped.
The woman behind of her had pale skin, blue eyes and long white hair. Her cleavage was rather on the large side as she wore a magenta dress.
"You're Mirajane! I've always wanted to meet you!" Lucy couldn't hold in her excitement as Mira smiled and giggled.
"It's nice to meet a fan, you're new around here" she spoke in her sweet and gentle voice as Lucy laughed nervously.
"How can you tell?" even though it was obvious.
Mira just smiled" because I haven't seen you around, I'm sure you'll like Fairy Tail" she said to Lucy who just became more excited by the minute.
"Yeah! But don't you think this fights getting a little to hectic?" she asked the waitress as the fight hadn't even slowed down.
Mira looked at the giant dust cloud with a grin "it's always like this around here, it's actually strange when they're not fighting" giggled Mira as Lucy was beginning to understand.
This place was so lively and it seemed these fights were just ways of expressing themselves, though their were less painful ways to do that.
Before she could speak again she saw Mira get knocked into a table by the tall white haired man from before, she guessed they were related since they were the only ones with white hair.
"I'm fine" Mira groaned out as a little Mira ghost came out of her.
"Don't die Mira!" Lucy yelled overreacting as she tried to wake up the woman only to have someone knock into her.
When she noticed who and their current appearance she gave a battle cry and kick Gray into one of the pillars.
"If you're going to crash into me at least wear something!" the blond yelled as a few were impressed by the girl's powerful kick.
"Give him back his underwear Natsu!" Lucy yelled trying not to blush, that had been horrid.
Natsu just laughed as she noticed how much more laid back he seemed.
"If the ice prick wants them then he has to fight!" Natsu challenge causing Lucy to sweatdropped as she suddenly felt herself be picked up.
As she looked up she saw it was Loke as he was giving a devilish smirk" these guys are so insensitive" he spoke as before Lucy could reply Elfman punched them both away.
"You didn't have to hit Lucy, Elfman!" Natsu said to the man as he noticed the new girl on the ground.
"Oops" he said before the two went back into the fight.
But as Lucy stood up she noticed a brown haired woman raising a card filled with magic as she warned them to stop fighting, this just encourage them though.
All of them began to activate their magic, Gray being Ice, Elfman turned his arm to stone, Loke activated his rings, Natsu and his flame's and Lucy took out Taurus key.
"Don't count me out!" she offered her own two cents as some looked at her wondering why she was holding a key.
Only Natsu and Happy knew that beings were summoned as they had seen Aquarius.
But before anyone could attack a large foot stamped down as they all gaped at a large looming shadow, Lucy almost dropped her key as she kept her composer.
"That's a really big person" was all she could manage to mutter.
"Will you fool's stop bickering like children!" he shouted as everyone froze, you could hear a pin drop from the silence.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were still here master" Mira seemed to have recovered as she spoke to the giant without any fear at all.
The shadowed giant soon turned towards Lucy as she tried not to show her fear, despite the obvious shaking.
"Seems we have a new recruit" looking over at where the blond stood next to Mira.
"Yes sir!" she couldn't help but be intimidated.
Which only worsened when the giant began to activate some sort of power, only to start shrinking as soon a short old man was standing in front of her causing Lucy's jaw to drop.
That was magic she hadn't seen before.
"Nice ta meet ya" was the greeting from the old man.
"He's the master! But he's so tiny?" she asked as Mira giggled at her reaction.
"Of course, let me introduce the Fairy Tail guild master Makarov" answered the older girl still with a sweet smile.
Makarov turned away jumping up to the second floor only to mess up and land on his back as he soon straighten himself out.
Everyone seemed to calm down and even seemed a little nervous as Makarov began to berate them.
"You've gone and done it again you bunch of clowns! Just look at how much paperwork the magic council sent me, this is the biggest pile of complaints yet!" he exclaimed holding several papers in one of his hands.
With how many their were and what Lucy had witness yesterday, it just reassured her theory's about people here being crazy strong.
"Have you lost your minds! All you kids are good for is getting the higher ups mad at me!" making Lucy sweat a bit, he was really going down on them.
"how ever" his tone soon changed" I say to heck with the magic council" the papers soon caught on fire as he threw them down, Natsu pretty much caught the flames and began to eat them.
"Now listen up, any power that surpasses reason still comes from reason right" he began a small speech "magic isn't some kind of miraculous power, it is the talent that only works when the flow of energy inside of us and the flow of energy in the natural world are in perfect synchronization" he paused before continuing.
"To perform magic one must have a strong mind and the ability to focus, it should take over your being and come pouring out of your soul! If all we do is worry about following rule's then our magic will never progress, don't let those blowhards on the council scare you follow the path you believe in!" at this point even Lucy couldn't help but get into the speech as she had never heard someone speak about magic like this.
"Cause that's what makes the Fairy Tail guild, number one!" he shouted doing a sign with his hand as everyone who had been fighting now cheered and did the same as Lucy couldn't help being pulled in by the loud atmosphere.
After that everything calmed down even if those who begun the fights had to help clean up.
"Now how about we get you that guild mark" offered Mira as Lucy smiled.
"Sure!" she grinned following the waitress as she pulled out several stamps.
"Which color?" she asked as Lucy knew exactly what color and were she wanted it.
"Pink, on my left hand" she lifted her hand as Mira smiled, placing the magic stamp down.
"Their, now you're an official member of the Fairy Tail guild" Mira smiled as Lucy looked at her hand.
She always hoped this moment would come as she touched the mark with her right hand, the sense of pride and joy coursing through her.
She looked around seeing Natsu and Happy in front of a board with sever papers, the words 'Request Board' written above.
"Hey Natsu, Happy look I got the official guild mark on my hand!" she grinned at the two.
"Huh? Oh that's great Lucy welcome to the guild" though Natsu wasn't paying much attention as he was looking at the request board.
"Aye" was all Happy said as the blond sweatdropped.
"Talk about being in your own world" she muttered going back towards the bar and sitting on a chair.
She watched people interact as Makarov was drinking when a small blue haired boy began questioning him about his father, and how he's been gone longer than expected.
It soon turned into a small argument as the situation got to the point where Makarov ended up getting punched by the kid who ran off, while Lucy frowned a bit.
"That was kinda harsh" she muttered as she didn't know Mira had heard her.
"I know it does sound like the master doesn't care, but he really is worried" explained Mira when the sound of wood breaking made her and several others look.
Watching as Natsu and Happy began to leave the guild hall.
"This doesn't look good master, you know how he can be I bet he's going up to Mount Hakabe to save Macao" explained a tan skinned man who had also been at the request board.
Makarov sighed; the dragon slayer hadn't changed much over the years at all when it came to helping his family.
"Remember Nab, we can't choose another's path just leave him be" was all Master said as the subject was dropped.
Lucy couldn't help but worry a bit" why did Natsu get so upset?" she asked out loud.
"Probably because he and Romeo have a lot in common" the blond turned around as Mira had her back turned to her but was obviously answering her question.
"I think he sees himself in Romeo" she began to explain as Lucy gave her a confused look.
"What do you mean?" Mira looked at her an almost forlorn look in her eye.
"Just because were members of Fairy Tail, it doesn't mean we don't have our own personal issues" the white haired woman explained" we've all had our fair share of suffering and lost" at that a strange emotion flashed through her blue eyes.
-Line Break-
"So why'd you tag along?" asked a motion sick Natsu the next day.
After hearing Mira's explanation she decided the join Natsu and Happy, not wanting to be left behind after what she learned.
"I thought I might be able to help" and it was the truth, if there was any fighting Taurus could handle it.
She decided to change the subject watching how sick the guy was; she had heard about motion sickness but had never met someone who had it so bad they couldn't move.
"Your motion sickness really is severer" she pointed out as Happy gave her an 'Aye' in agreement.
'It's just another reason to feel sorry for him' she thought to herself thinking back to what Mira had told her.
(Flashback)
Lucy had still been thinking about what Mira meant when she began speaking again.
"Many years ago Natsu's father left and never came back" she looked up snapped from her own thoughts hearing that.
"Well technically it wasn't his real father but the one who raised him" she turned to look at Lucy" he was actually a dragon" she smiled as if what she said was the most normal thing in the world.
"Wait! You mean Igneel really was a dragon and he was Natsu's dad!" she hadn't known Igneel was also his foster parent; Lucy could only gape at Mira.
The woman nodded" when he was a little boy a dragon found him wandering the forest, it took him in and taught him all about language, culture and magic" she spoke giving Lucy a moment to process this" but one day the dragon disappeared and never returned" and Lucy couldn't help but wonder why.
Why raise someone and care for them only to leave them one day, she shook her head keeping her own issues out of her thoughts.
"And Natsu lives for the day he'll see Igneel again, it's kinda cute really" Mira admitted.
Lucy couldn't help but agree but it was also a bit sad, what if Natsu never does find him again?
(Flashback End)
She was brought out of her thoughts when the carriage stopped, instantly Natsu stood up.
"I'm Alive!" he cheered as the driver told them this was as far as he could take them.
Grabbing the coat she brought along but wasn't wearing currently, they opened the door as Mira had told her how cold the mountain was.
'She wasn't kidding about the cold!' thought Lucy as even with the coat she was still shivering, maybe she should have worn pants instead of a skirt.
"Come on let's go!" said Natsu as the three began to walk, Lucy following behind as the wind and snow made it hard to walk.
After awhile the storm just seemed to get worse" why is there a blizzard here! Its summer it shouldn't be snowing like this?" she asked over the raging storm.
"It always storm's here on Mount Hakabe! No matter the season!" yelled Happy as Lucy looked at the cat.
"Seriously!" what kind of crazy mountain was this?
"At least you brought a coat" Natsu pointed out as she looked at him raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but it's still cold, how aren't you cold, fire magic can't be that strong can it?" she asked him.
"Actually mine is anymore questions" Natsu answered almost irritably and that ended the conversation.
She settled for glaring at the back of his head, sneezing as she rubbed her nose.
Lucy sighed, wishing she had a fire spirit and she thought about summoning Horologium but she'd be stuck in the same situation as he wasn't a heater.
'I wonder if I should try to find the silver key for Draco, it's the dragon consolation maybe it use's fire' she was only thinking that because she was cold, but she had to tough it out.
If she wanted to go on jobs there'd be worse things than a blizzard, like Bora and his grunt's from yesterday.
"So why did Macao take a job out here of all places?" she decided to ask as the silence of just the storm was awkward.
"It was an extermination job, he came out here to slay a Vulcan" Natsu explained as Lucy nearly tripped.
"You mean those giant monkey monsters!" she yelled over the storm as they kept going, was bad she actually found that kinda impressive.
They had begun to call out for Macao once they reached a certain point, what they didn't expect was a large mountain Vulcan to show up.
Its white fur indicating it was a native species to Mount Hakabe, unlike the green Vulcan's that prefer the warmer climates.
"That's a big Vulcan!" shouted Happy as Lucy couldn't help but agree, it began to sniff around as it looked at her with a creepy grin.
"Guys, why's it looking at me like that?" she asked backing away as it took a run at her.
"Me like human woman!" it proclaimed as it didn't get very far getting punched by Natsu.
"So it can talk" he seemed a bit intrigued as the Vulcan charged again this time succeeding in grabbing Lucy as she struggled.
"Hey! Let me go you stupid monkey!" if only she could reach her keys.
"Hey let her go!" yelled Happy but the wind started to blow harder letting the Vulcan get ahead.
"Come on Happy" the two followed after the vanishing footprints, hopeful their blond haired friend would be able to handle herself until then.
-Line Break-
"You are so dead when I get free!" Lucy shouted at the crazy Vulcan who just kept chanting woman with her in one of his fist.
'Oh that's it!' thought Lucy angrily as the Vulcan lifted her up again letting her get a good kick to its face, causing it to drop her.
"Now you're in for it you stupid monkey!" though before she could reach for a key, two familiar voice's reached her ears as she saw Natsu and Happy.
"Took you two long enough!" she yelled, not really mad at them but at the Vulcan.
"We got here as fast as we could! You try running in a blizzard!" countered Natsu, not really thinking at the moment.
"I just walked in a blizzard! You're the one who let that Vulcan get the drop on us!" she countered back.
Happy looked at the two sweat dropping at their pointless argument" umm guys, the Vulcan's looking at us" Happy pointed out as it had recovered from the hit and didn't seem happy.
"Hey instead of arguing with me we should ask that thing where your friend is!" Lucy pointed out making Natsu turn towards the monster.
"You really think the thing's smart enough to tell us?" Natsu gave her a deadpanned look as the two jumped away as the Vulcan tried to punch Natsu.
"My woman!" it yelled obviously not liking males.
They all deadpanned at the monkey as the sooner they got it out of the way, the sooner they could find Macao.
"Okay that it! That monkey's going down!" yelled Lucy as her two companions watched her take out one of her keys.
"Open! Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!" there was a golden light and the chime of a bell as a large bull wielding a giant battle axe appeared.
Both Natsu and Happy gawked at the giant bull, not having expected Lucy to have something like that.
"Wow that's awesome! Too bad he isn't a fish" Happy started out strong only to end weird.
"Cow?" asked the Vulcan completely confused at the new addition.
"You're in for it now you creep! Taurus is my most powerful celestial spirit!" she said determinedly only for Taurus to ruin the moment.
"Wow Miss Lucy I almost forgot what a nice figure you have, how about you give me a shooooch" the two humans and cat fell over at that as Lucy laughed nervously.
"Oh yeah I forgot, Taurus is as big a pervert as the monkey" she admitted standing back up.
"Oh, so he's just a weirdo" muttered Happy.
"Just as long as he can fight its fine by me!" Natsu smirked, wanting to get this over with fast.
Though the Vulcan didn't take Taurus comments very well as it growled.
"Don't touch my woman" and of course Taurus didn't take that comment well either.
"Your woman! Them's fighting words" it seemed that was the trigger for the fight to start as Taurus swung his battle axe towards the Vulcan who agilely dodged it, only to receive a flamed first from Natsu.
It was a strange sight a pink haired dragon slayer, a Vulcan and a bull all fighting as a sudden punch knocked away Taurus axe along with Taurus who slammed head first into the icy wall's.
"Taurus!" Lucy ran over to her friend.
"That's it for me, mooo" said a dazed Taurus not really all there from the hit.
"Lucy, we have a problem!" Happy's shouting made her turn as she gasped seeing the Vulcan grab the forgotten battle axe.
"Lucy! Do something about the axe!" Natsu shouted over to her as he dodged a swipe from the large weapon.
"I'm trying! Taurus come on, you have to let me close your gate!" she shook the bull's head trying to wake him up.
Meanwhile the fight kept at it as the Vulcan was a lot stronger than it looked" Fire Dragon Roar!" the flames washed over the monster as Natsu kept them going, before long the battle axe began to burn red causing the Vulcan to drop the weapon and save its own skin.
The weapon was melted in some places as Happy kept cheering Natsu on while Lucy looked at it in shock" he actually melted the axe!" that had been the first time it happened.
"Let's finish this you stupid Vulcan!" yelled Natsu to a singed and smoking Vulcan jumping towards him with a fire covered fist" Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" the Vulcan was sent flying into the opposite wall knocking it out.
"Aright!" cheered Happy and Lucy, Taurus beginning to return to the spirit world and faded in a golden mist.
"Now that that's over with, I guess we should try looking for your friend" spoke Lucy
"If the Vulcan was here he has to be around here somewhere" she offered as they were about to leave when.
The Vulcan began to glow as it shape grew smaller until it revealed a human man, Lucy didn't recognize him but Natsu and Happy did.
"Macao!" the two shouted in surprise.
"Wait! You mean that perverted monkey was your friend this entire time?!" she exclaimed as Natsu slapped his forehead.
"Oh yeah, I forgot that Vulcan's can use Take Over magic on people" he scratched the back of his head as Lucy sighed, how had he forgotten that important detail.
They could have accidently killed the guy not knowing it was him.
"As for perverts all Vulcan's are like that, but Macao's like that normally to" Happy deadpanned sitting on Lucy's shoulder.
The girl sweatdropped, but soon moved to help Natsu set the guy down on his back as it turned out the dragon slayer had a first aid kit with him.
Lucy helped apply the bandages as all they could do was wait for the man to wake up.
"Looks like he put up a good fight before that Vulcan got him" spoke Lucy softly.
"Don't you dare die on us Macao! You think we're going to let you leave Romeo alone!" Natsu spoke almost desperately as he hoped the older man would wake up.
To their surprise he began to wake up causing them to smile in relief.
"Natsu?" Macao asked recognizing the dragon slayer.
"Your okay!" cheered Happy as Macao remembered what happened.
"I'm so pathetic, I took down nineteen of those brutes but the twentieth got me" he explained tiredly" I'm so angry with myself, I'm embarrassed with myself to go home and face Romeo" he admitted.
"Don't be like that, after all you beat nineteen of those guy's" Natsu once again shifted to his friendlier personality as Lucy took in the full implication.
'Wait nineteen, he fought that many on his own!?' they had trouble with just the one that was possessing Macao!
"Now let's go home, your little boy's been waiting for you" smiled Natsu as he helped the man stand.
'to think, they came all this way for their friend' thought Lucy watching them' is that what it means to be in a guild?' she just grinned as they began to make their way back, taking it slow as Macao couldn't walk very fast.
-Line Break-
By the time they got back to Magnolia it was already sunset as Natsu was the one to track down Romeo, the kid looked like he was crying.
"Hey Romeo!" the kid looked up at Natsu voice as Lucy couldn't help but smile at the young kid who ran up to them tackling his father to the ground.
Lucy had to hold back a tear at the touching scene, hearing how Macao told Romeo that if he was bullied how his dad defeated nineteen monsters and if their own father's could do that.
At that her face took on a forlorn expression once again, she wondered what it felt to receive that kind of warmth.
She snapped out of it as Natsu turned a smile on his face as she and Happy followed, she wondered if something like this gave him hope that someday he'd see his own father again.
"Hey Natsu! Happy! Thanks for your help!" shouted Romeo to the three as Natsu waved without looking back.
"No problem kiddo!" he called back.
"Aye!" was Happy's trade mark response.
"And Lucy! Thanks for helping to bring my daddy back for me!" Lucy couldn't help but look back and laugh as she waved to them.
The three of them heading towards the guild as she couldn't help but sigh, looking at the setting sky and began to think of everything that lead up to this day.
It certainly hadn't been easy but in the end Natsu had been right, she should have just gone and joined the guild she wanted.
The people were a little crazy and loved to fight, but then again she enjoyed how energetic and happy the whole place seemed.
She was still new but already she felt like she was part of something like a family.
Her first job wouldn't go the way she planned, but it would be the beginning of a close friendship with people.
