Disclaimer: We do not own Fairy Tail
...
"So, you're the person that Jason called us about," said the small elderly man that Lucy had come to learn was the master of the guild. While his stature was small, Lucy knew that it was not easy to become the master of a guild so undoubtedly this person - despite their age - still had a considerable amount of strength in their body. Considering she had managed to call Jura a nobody only the previous day she knew that she had to take nothing on face value alone, especially in regards to the mages of Fairy Tail.
"Jason called?" said Lucy unaware that the magazine writer had contacted the guild about her upcoming arrival.
"Indeed," said Makarov with a nod of the head. "Due to some... complications... in regards to some people joining and then immediately throwing in the towel it gave our guild a lot of bad reputation. Thus the location of our guild isn't secret as such but it isn't something you'll hear about on the streets."
'So that's what Gray meant about the other people who tried to join the guild,' thought Lucy.
"I recommend you spend the day getting to know the guild members and perhaps pick up an easy mission tomorrow," said Makarov with a smile. "All the missions have to go through me anyways so you'll be in no danger. Just to be safe though, I'll make sure to pair you up with someone who's been around the for a while so you can learn from them."
"That'd be great," said Lucy, excited for her first mission, even though it was likely going to be something on a smaller scale but there was no denying it.
She was now a part of the guild.
"Now if you'll excuse me there are matters I must attend to," stated Makarov as he hopped off of the table he had been sitting upon, walking towards where Mirajane stood behind the guild bar polishing glasses. Sitting opposite her was a woman who looked only a couple of years older than the celestial wizard but was undoubtedly much more of a heavyweight in the drinking department if all the empty glasses on the bar were anything to go by. Lucy knew that if she even tried to ingest half of what this woman had consumed she would soon be hunched over in a corner somewhere with her guts marking the flooring.
Shuddering slightly she made her way further into the surroundings with the full knowledge that, with the guild stamp now embedded onto her fist, this was her home and family. Her first impressions of her new family could have been better, however, as a puff of smoke was blown into her face, causing her to cough and sputter.
"My apologies, I didn't see you there," said an elderly man as he requested forgiveness.
"You're such an idiot Wakaba," stated another man with a chuckle before turning his attention to Lucy. "Ignore my friend, despite being married for years he can't help himself when an attractive young thing like yourself steps in front of him."
"Umm, thanks… I guess," said Lucy mildly pleased with the fact that her looks seemed to have regained their spark after the dismal attempt to get the salesman back in Hargeon to drop the price on the Nicola key. "Are you two part of the guild as well?"
"Yea but this foggy's way past his prime," said the purple haired man wearing the white coat, sending a thumb towards his drinking companion.
"Foggy! Listen here bub, last I checked I made twice as much as you did last month," shouted Wakaba, Lucy deciding that this was the opportunistic time to make herself sparse before she got caught up in the men's argument. Finding a spare spot that was free of guild members, Lucy took a seat so that she could mull over the information that Makarov had given her. He had relieved many of her fears but there was one thing still bothering her and she was certain that it was the same thing which had caused so many potential guild members to stay after joining.
The teenage boy with one leg.
The pink-haired teen was currently sitting with a talking blue cat. If it wasn't for the incident with the dark guild, Mal Noche, it would probably have freaked her out. Still, she really wanted to know that boy's story but clearly it was something she simply couldn't go and outright ask. Lucy had seen the reactions of the guild members when he had fallen over earlier so she assumed that it was something that happened often and each time they feared for something to be worse. If he was driving potential guild members away, however, why was it that the guild itself kept him?
Lucy was brought out of her musings by the sound of the chair across from her being pulled out. A petite woman plopped down into it quickly shadowed by two men who flanked her like bodyguards.
"Heya," the woman greeted, holding a hand to shake. "I'm Levy, nice to meet you!"
"Lucy," the celestial spirit mage answered, shaking the outstretched limb. "It's nice to meet you too."
Levy's smile grew a fraction wider and she pointed to the two men who stood behind her. "These two lugheads are Jet and Droy and together we're Team Shadow Gear!"
The one wearing the ridiculous hat nodded at her. "I'm Jet," he said, "nice to meet'cha."
The one with the ridiculous hair extended his index finger towards his chest. "I'm Droy."
In Lucy's opinion it was hard to determine who was more ridiculous.
Lucy smiled at the two men, "So what kind of magic do you guys specialise in?"
"I use High Speed magic!" Jet beamed.
"Plant magic," Droy announced, "and don't be fooled by Jet, Lucy. His real name is Sarusuke."
"Oi!"
"I use Solid Script magic," Levy explained, ignoring her teammates banter. "And you?"
"I'm a Celestial Spirit Mage," Lucy grinned, "it's really interesting."
Levy's smile turned into a full blown grin. "I've only read about them!" She exclaimed, "do you have any of the twelve Zodiac keys?
Lucy opened her mouth to answer when she heard a clattering sound and instantly a deadly silence fell across the room.
The one-legged teen had fallen.
"Natsu!" the cat screeched in alarm, diving down to help his friend get up.
The teenager began to cough, great heaving gaps that swept through the man's entire body. He struggled to rise to his feet at the same time.
Suddenly, Jet was putting his arm around the teenager's neck and carefully helping him to his feet. "You okay?" Jet murmured quietly.
The pink-haired teenager shoved the other mage and promptly fell back on the floor, blood spurting from his mouth.
Lucy put a hand to her mouth in horror as the teen got to his foot on his own, glaring daggers at anyone who tried to approach him as he regained his balance, fresh blood still dripping from the corners of his mouth. For just a second, their eyes locked: concerned hazel met demented obsidian.
The teenager, Natsu left the guild hall. After a few seconds, conversations slowly started back up.
Lucy turned to look at Levy in horror. "What happened to him?
Levy's face was unnaturally solemn, her eyes betraying no emotions. "A mission gone wrong."
Lucy swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat at the answer. She couldn't help but be worried that something similar could happen to her on a mission but clearly the boy had leaped into something that he was unable to handle. He was a teenager though and after hearing what Makarov had said earlier about how all missions have to be approved by the Guild Master before beginning... Lucy couldn't help but wonder why he had been allowed to go on something so dangerous? Or maybe it had been something which had appeared to be simple but in actuality it was far more dangerous?
"Natsu's a good person though," said Levy as if reminiscing about olden days. "He always had a fighting spirit and still does to this day. Whenever Gray or Erza come back from a mission he wants to scuffle with them like they did when they were children. What he wants to do and what he can do however… well you know."
"Yeah," said Lucy softly feeling that she understood the boy more now. "I think I do."
...
Natsu struggled to even breath as he stumbled down the street, the very air he lived on his enemy. Happy flew to a stop beside him and, not for the first time, Natsu envied Happy's power to fly.
"Natsu," the small magical creature spoke, "are you okay?"
Natsu glared at his companion. "Just peachy." The sarcasm rolled off his tongue like a wave.
Happy flinched. "Sorry Natsu."
Natsu cursed as a pebble hit his crutch and nearly sent him sprawling to the ground. He regained his balance at the last second, his lungs burning like hellfire.
The Dragon Slayer glared at the offending object before continueing to limp forward.
"Oi, Natsu!"
Natsu slowly maneuvered around to face the newcomer. "What is it Popsicle? Here to fight me?"
Irritation flashed briefly in Gray Fullbuster's dark blue eyes before disappearing. "Me? Fight you? That's ridiculous."
That stung more than Natsu would've liked to admit. "What then?" He snapped.
"Why'd you refuse Jet's help?" Gray growled, "you just hurt yourself more."
"I don't need anyone's help!"
"Cut the crap," Gray said cooly, "you're a mess."
Natsu clenched his fist so tight his nails drew blood. "Mess or not, I can still kick your ass."
Gray cocked an eyebrow. "Don't tell me that you honestly expect me to attack you because you insulted me?"
Flames licked their way up Natsu's right arm. "No, but I betcha can't help yaself once my fist is flying towards your face!"
Happy tugged on Natsu's left arm. "Please don't do this."
Natsu cracked his neck. "I'm sick of everyone's pity!"
Gray watched as Natsu's right forearm became completely engulfed in flames. "Every single person looks at me with those pity-filled eyes… I'm sick of it!"
Gray took a step back, the fist nearly hitting his nose. "We haven't fought since we were children," Gray snapped, "the old man banned anyone fighting you when you came back from the mission!"
"I never asked him to do that," Natsu screamed, "I just wanted everything to go back to normal!"
"It can't Natsu." Gray was reaching the end of his tether as Natsu staggered towards him again. "It just can't go back to the way it was."
Tears prickled in the corners of Natsu's black eyes. "Fight me like you mean it!" He howled in anguish.
"Ice Make: Floor."
Natsu cursed and slipped, struggling back to his knee, he growled. "Lucky shot."
Gray rolled his eyes and leaped into the air. "Ice Make: Prison." The black-haired teen landed on the roof of the intricate cell. "I'll let you out when you calm down."
Happy landed on Gray's shoulder. "Thank you, Gray," the cat said sincerely.
Natsu leaned heavily on his crutch, one hand gripping the prison bars, as he rose to his feet. "I'm still able to fight." The Dragon Slayer took a deep breath.
Gray flipped to the ground to check what what he other teenager was doing and, instantly, fear seized his heart. "Stop!"
"Roar..."
Gray dissolved the cell with a frantic click.
"Of..."
Gray dashed forward as flames began to form in the back of Natsu's throat.
"The.."
Natsu opened his mouth fully as Gray became a blur.
"Fir-"
Gray's fist snaked its way deep into Natsu's gut and sent him flying back into a nearby wall. The flames disappeared from the pink-haired boy's mouth.
Gray fell to his knees in relief. "You could've killed yourself, idiot."
Happy landed on Natsu's chest and began to shake lightly. "Natsu?"
Gray got to his feet, his eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?"
Happy turned his tear-stricken face to look at the Ice Mage.
...
For Lucy, the introductions had been going well for her in a way that she hadn't anticipated. Everyone here seemed to be willing to treat her like a part of the family that was Fairy Tail and she couldn't be happier. Of course like every family there had been a couple of people she couldn't quite get a grasp on or that she felt hadn't truly opened up as of yet but she figured that this was something that would happen with time.
An arm draped it's way over her shoulders and Lucy had to do her best to prevent herself from gagging from the intense smell of alcohol that assaulted her sense of smell. "Considering that you'll be doing your first mission tomorrow, what say you 'nd me team up and do something fun?" asked Cana almost pressing her breasts off of Lucy's shoulder.
Before the celestial wizard could answer the lewd woman, the doors to the hall slammed open, revealing Gray standing there with the unconscious form of Natsu cradled upon his back. "We need help now!"
...
Hope you enjoyed.