"And don't you ever forget to look for kindness in everyone's hearts, Natsu dear." Little Natsu pouted when the white-haired woman patted him gently on his head, but he nevertheless latched onto the woman, soft giggles escaping his mouth as he nodded his head innocently, glad that she wasn't mad over his petty, one-sided fight with her younger ward, Wendy.

"What nonsense are you spouting off to my son now, Grandeeney?" a voice roared, and an annoyed Igneel barged into the room, steam literally pouring out his nose. The woman gently pried Natsu from her person before meeting Igneel head on, all signs of the soft-spoken woman seconds ago gone.

"Nonsense?" Grandeeney snapped back, the air around them slightly turning heavy as her anger mounted. "Igneel, I wouldn't call a little optimism nonsense!"

Igneel's jaw dropped in surprise, and his entire countenance relaxed. "Oh," he said. He glanced down at his adopted son sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Nat."

Natsu looked up at his father cluelessly. "What'd ya think she said, Dad?"

Grandeeney smirked, cocking her hips as she drilled into Igneel's soul with her eyes. "What did you think I said, Igneel?"

Igneel huffed. "The war," he replied gruffly, and Grandeeney's arms fell.

Natsu frowned, looking between the two adults he looked up to the most. "War?" he repeated, his lips forming a cute pout only a child would be able to pull off. "There's a war?" He paused for a few seconds before innocently adding,"What's a war?"

Grandeeney exchanged quick glances with Igneel, kneeling down to meet Natsu eye-level. "Natsu," she said gently. "Your father and I need to talk quickly. Do you want to play with Happy and Zeref while you wait?"

Natsu brightened immediately at the mention of his best friend and older brother. "Okay!" he said happily and skipped out the door, the cautious stares of the two adults left unknown to the small child.

Natsu opened his eyes to a dark room, the image of his father and aunt melting back into a cloudy memory. He sighed, shifting away from Gray's cold-as-fuck body, who had gotten way too close to him sometime over the night. Natsu glanced outside. The moon still hung high on the sky, its silvery light passing through the slivers of the curtains and windows.

It was so late that it was too early to be awake.

Natsu groaned quietly, his mind drifting back to Grandeeney's words. Kindness was a trait Natsu had a hard time showing in such trying times, especially to strangers who more or less rubbed him the wrong way. His eyes trailed to the lump in the corner; Lucy had insisted that Erza take her bed as it was the "proper way, after all." It was a kind gesture, but damn it, kindness was an easy characteristic to replicate, to fool others into trusting a person. That and something about Lucy was grating his nerves, but he had no idea what. It was confusing his brain, and his head hurt too much to think. Natsu groaned again, flipping over to his stomach. 'Dammit,' he thought. 'Grandeeney would be so disappointed in me.'

"Nazu?" a sleepy voice mumbled and he felt Happy stirring on his head. "Waz zat?" The cat sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Fish?" he mumbled, sniffing the air.

Natsu chuckled and gathered Happy in his hands. "None right now."

"You okay?" Happy frowned up at him. Natsu didn't reply, his eyes focusing on the Lucy-shaped lump. Happy's eyes followed his, and when he released a high-pitched chuckle, Natsu jumped. "Oh-ho-ho-ho, Natsuuuu, do you liiiiike her?"

"No!" Natsu snapped, glaring at his friend. "I… there's just something off about her."

"Off?" Happy repeated, his tiny eyebrows clustering together. "What do you mean?"

"She's too nice! She could be faking it, you know?"

"Ya know, I think you're rubbing off of Erza way too much—"

"Happy?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up, will you?"

Happy huffed, crossing his arms. "Fine! But really, I think you should give her the benefit of the doubt." He peered down to meet his friend's eyes. "When she was talking about her mom's death last night… Natsu, she looked so sad. It's hard for someone to fake pain of that intensity, especially since it seemed that she was hiding it, Nat. You can't fake the pain of losing a loved parent like that, especially since you know how it feels." Natsu only sighed in response, running his hands through his hair as his version of petty revenge. Happy yelped, flying off of his hair to avoid being knocked over.

"I know," Natsu said. "She really did love and admire her mom. But there was something… she smelled weird, Happy. Her scent was changing and everything. I can't tell if she's lying, or if she's really just that distressed."

"Then she's probably not," Happy said. The girl in question released a quiet sigh, shifting from her spot in the corner.

"She's waking up," Natsu said, and right on cue, the Lucy-shaped lump sat up, groaning and stretching like a cat. The girl blearily rubbed her eyes, looking around as she gained more bearing of her surroundings.

Blinking, her eyes landed on Natsu and Happy, who were looking at her curiously. "You're awake," she said and scrambled up quickly. "Hungry? I'll cook something up for you guys."

"Lucy." The girl paused and turned to Fiore's number one fugitive.

"Yes, Natsu?" Natsu didn't reply; instead he stood, slowly, and walked in her direction.

Perhaps he could do Grandeeney proud, Natsu thought as he stared her down. Perhaps he could begin by giving the girl who had shown him and his friends kindness during an unfair war trust, however so little it may be. He owed that much to Grandeeney.

He owed that much to his father.

Natsu exhaled, mustering determination from the absence of air in his chest, and he slowly raised his hand towards her, their eyes connecting before Lucy's eyes travelled to the proffered hand questioningly. "Join us," he said, and her eyes snapped back to his. "Join Fairy Tail."

When Lucy had told her fabricated story to the legendary faces of Fairy Tail, she had noted with a sinking heart Dragneel's unimpressed, almost suspicious countenance, and she wondered if she had already failed the first part of her mission. The story she told was sad, but not so much dripping with tragedy— though if she was honest, tragedy was synonymous with her life— that one couldn't help but feel if it were fake; surely Dragneel hadn't pierced through the painful shroud of her manipulative words intended to turn them to her favor and seen the truth— or, rather, deceit— behind them.

So she was surprised and relieved at his offer, even genuinely smiling back at his attempt of a smile. "Okay," she said, taking his hand and sealing her mission.

Not soon after, Erza and Gray awoke to her plating their breakfast and Natsu already scarfing his down. Barely glancing up from his food, Natsu said, thankfully not with a full mouth, "Hurry up, guys. We're gonna go to Gramps ASAP."

Erza took in Lucy's attire, clean face, and washed hair, and her eyes widened. She turned to Natsu, her eyes shocked. "We're taking her?" Gray choked on his food, his eyes widening comically as he stared at Natsu.

Natsu nodded calmly, handing Happy the rest of his fish. "Of course," he said, and both Gray and Erza couldn't find anything else to say after his succinct answer. The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence, leaving Lucy enough time to plan her next course of action and, more specifically, her story?

What idiosyncrasies set apart Lucy Ashley, aspiring Celestial Spirit mage, from Lucy Heartfilia, prominent enigma of the Fiore government?

Lucy mulled over Lucy Ashley's story, using her banal history to form her character. Close with her mother, Ashley would no doubt hold the same ideals and characteristics as any other Celestial Spirit mages of the past: upholding integrity, hardworking, and endless kindness.

Lucy Ashley had lost her mother at the age of seven, with her father an unwilling participant in her life, much like Lucy Heartfilia. Lucy Ashley knew the streets of Crocus and cities of Fiore like the back of her hand, just like Lucy Heartfilia. Lucy Ashley fought tooth and nail to survive in an unforgiving world for the sake of living, just like Lucy Heartfilia. Lucy Ashley had been lucky enough to find anchors in her life that drove her to a path of goodness and integrity. Lucy Heartfilia had none.

With a chill, Lucy realized that Lucy Ashley could've been her, and Lucy Heartfilia could've been Lucy Ashley.

Still, the affable expression remained in her face, betraying nothing of her inner thoughts and realization. Her eyes remained on the dishes she was currently washing, but her ears were open and alert, zeroing in on the soft murmurs of the infamous trio as Happy happily fluttered above her, occasionally chattering and obviously attempting to distract her in case she— Lucy Ashley— accidentally overheard what they were saying. With the skills and focus gained from her intensive training and experiences of serving within the Fiore government and war, Lucy was able to pick out part of their conversation, regardless of the mindless chattering of the exuberant cat.

She gently arranged wet dishes in her dishwasher and cupboards, pondering over who 'Gramps'— as Natsu and Gray so affectionately called him— was and now aware that Gurney had sent his men to the pub, most likely as a ruse to see whether or not she had completed the first part of her mission, that distrustful cad. She understood that they had just returned from a long mission of six weeks, and that they had been worried sick of the possibility of getting caught— though realistically, such a thing wouldn't happen until Gurney somehow gained more damning evidence (specifically their identities and existence) of the underground guild to present to the rest of the Council.

Lucy quickly wiped her hands on the soft towel hanging above her sink when she noticed the three separate, determined looks on their faces. Erza turned to her, her face wiped clean of all emotions. "Miss Lucy," she said. "Let's go."

Half an hour later, Lucy found herself standing in front of the building from the photo Gurney had said was Fairy Tail's headquarters. It seemed to be in better shape, and the building emitted a warm aura that was impossible to be captured in a photograph. She found herself liking it, having only experienced the warmth one would associate with homes in six short years of her life, half of which she hadn't even remembered.

Natsu slammed open the beaten doors of the Dragon's Head, and Lucy couldn't help but wince as the jambs quivered dangerously from the force Natsu had used. "We're back, dumbasses!" Natsu roared, ripping off his hood dramatically and spreading his arms wide like the wings of a dragon.

The patrons of the pub jumped, several of whom immediately settled into fighting stances before relaxing once they saw who, exactly, had surprised them so loudly. Lucy watched as the pretty bartender from behind the bar slowly stood, a dark expression on her gentle face. "Natsu," she said lowly— so lowly, in fact, that it surprised Lucy that her voice even managed to reach them from across the room. "We just repaired that a few weeks ago."

Natsu grinned, undeterred— or perhaps more plausible, not registering— the dark aura the silver-haired girl was emitting. Others between the two, however, noticed and were slowly inching away from the terrifying girl and oblivious mage, no doubt sensing the impending eruption. "It's all good. Laki can just make another one." At that, a bespectacled girl with hair the shade of a bouquet of lilacs emitted a cry of indignation, but Natsu went on, "Where's Gramps?" He grinned widely and pulled out a sizable pouch from his large cloak and swung it in a tantalizing manner. "We've got some money!"

The bartender strode forward and snatched the pouch from his hands. "Good. You're paying for that door." She pointedly ignored Natsu's gobsmacked face and looked over his shoulder, eyes widening when she finally noticed Lucy.

Lucy shifted on her feet, allowing a tiny bit of unease to show as everyone stared at her. 'Lucy Ashley, I'm Lucy Ashley,' she thought, the words becoming a mantra as seconds passed. "Hello," she said softly, a half-smile twitching her lips, and she held up a hand in greeting.

The white-haired beauty stepped closer to her, her eyes narrowed as she perused the blonde. "Hello," she replied carefully before giving a questioning look to Erza, who nodded briefly to Natsu. She focused again on Lucy and smiled, her entire countenance relaxing. "My name's Mirajane, but I prefer being called Mira." She paused. "I'm assuming you're here because you've heard about us?"

Lucy nodded, her head feeling a bit light. "Yes. I—"

Mira grabbed her hand and pulled her along as murmurs rose around the guild. "Good. You're coming with me." Mira called over her shoulder, "Warren! Come on, we've got a new member to initiate."

Lucy slammed shields around her thoughts almost immediately when a slim man with straight black hair silently moved towards the pair. Warren Rocko. Used his telepathy as a form of communication with other Fairy Tail members across the country. Escaped prison and damn-near driving the prison guards insane with his telepathy. His telepathy, Lucy knew, was a huge asset for the guild, and what better way to trust potential members than to literally see if what they said was true?

Inside the deep recesses of her robes, Lucy fingered the cool glass vial of the liquid Gurney had given her. She had already drunk a vial after breakfast, and she hoped with all she had that the serum would work. It would be suspicious if Warren wouldn't be able to read her thoughts, but even more so if he found out that what she said was fake.

"Master?" Mira knocked upon a worn, wooden door, her voice soft but carrying over the soft murmurs behind it. "Natsu brought a new recruit."

The talking stopped, and Lucy couldn't help but wince when the doors slammed open to reveal a short woman with long, flowing pale hair. Damn, did everyone in the guild have to slam doors open every time they had news?

"A new recruit?" the woman cried excitedly. "Oh, goodness, Makarov, this is wonderful!"

Mirajane gave out a small gasp before bowing deeply in respect, Warren following her actions. "Madame Mavis! I- I was not aware that—"

"Mirajane, my dear, it's quite alright. Makarov and I were done anyways, and besides…" Her green eyes slid over to the lone, standing figure. "...we have much more important matters to discuss, I believe." Lucy lowered her eyes, staring instead at Mavis' small feet, refusing to meet the woman's eyes.

Lucy Ashley, she is Lucy Ashley.

A gentle hand grabbed her own, and Lucy jerked her head up in surprise. "My dear, why don't you come in?" Mavis asked gently, widening the door and gesturing for them to enter. "And do not be scared. We are all a family here, and considering that Natsu himself thought you fit to join us, you are— will be— as well."

"Th-thank you, ma'am." Lucy hesitantly looked up. The office was large and spacious, papers lining the walls in a seemingly-haphazard manner, and upon closer inspection, Lucy found that she was unable to read its contents. A rectangular table sat on one corner of the room, a blank sheet on it being held down by a large crystall ball. A lacrima, Lucy realized, and her heart skipped a beat.

Originally widespread across the nation, the lacrima became near-obsolete ever since the war, after Gurney and his men ravaged the land to rid the nation of any magical trace. Of course, they didn't fully succeed, as a few underground magical guilds still thrived to this day, Fairy Tail being the largest and most obnoxiously successful. Their campaign, however, had left Fiore bereft of most magic, lacrimas included. Considering their communicative properties and inconspicuous nature, however, it honestly should not have been surprising to see that some might have survived.

'That must be how Fairy Tail kept tabs on Gurney,' Lucy realized, and her heart sank. Surely that meant they saw her...?

She briefly glanced at Warren, Mavis, and the old man behind the desk, and, detecting no changes in expression, allowed herself to relax just a fraction. 'If that were the case,' Lucy thought, 'then they would've recognized and killed me on the spot.'

Mavis set a porcelain cup before Lucy, steam wisping over the hot, amber liquid inside. "Tea?"

"No thank you, ma'am."

"Just Mavis is fine, dear. Ma'am just makes me feel old."

"But my dear, you're older than I am!" The old man chortled, slapping his desk in mirth.

Mavis cleared her throat and shot the elderly man behind the desk a dark look. "Makarov…"

The old man grinned back before hopping from his seat. Lucy's mouth dropped when his head and entire body disappeared, and her wide eyes followed him in disbelief as he made his way towards her. "Nice to meet you," he said pleasantly. "First off, I would like to apologize on behalf of Natsu and his stupidity."

"He's not that stupid, Master," Mirajane interjected, rolling her eyes. Lucy's eyes nearly bulged from her sockets. Master? Master as in, head of the guild, leader of the infamous Fairy Tail? Him? That little shorty?

Warren coughed an odd, strangled sort of cough.

"Yes well," Makarov said flippantly. "If he himself recruited you, that means that you made quite an impression on his tiny, tiny brain. Truly an impressive feat." Mirajane sighed softly as Mavis sent Makarov yet another withering glare. "What's your name, child?"

"Lu-lucy," Lucy stuttered, feeling oddly scrutinized under Makarov's gaze.

"Well, Lucy, you are aware of what Fairy Tail is, yes? We may be a family, but we are a dangerous one, especially in a society where magic is frowned upon. Are you willing to bear our crux and our mission?"

"Of course," Lucy whispered. "I've always wanted to be part of a family."

Makarov stood back, a pensive look in his eyes as he studied the blonde. "Very well," he said pleasantly. "Warren, Mirajane, you both may leave." Mirajane bowed briefly, quietly shutting the door behind her.

"But Master!" Warren said, refusing to leave. "We need to know if she's trustworthy enough!"

"Mavis can do it, my child," Makarov said. "You need to rest. Heaven knows how many jobs you've taken on these past days." Warren wilted before nodding and exiting the room, coolly shouldering past Lucy. As his footsteps receded, Makarov turned to Lucy, his face firm. "Miss Lucy, first off, Mavis and I want to thank you for risking your life by taking Natsu and the others in. It takes an incredible amount of courage to brave danger and take well-known fugitives into your house and providing them food and shelter." He paused. "However, it is because of that danger we are reluctant to immediately allow anyone into our guild. Though you have shown incredible kindness and courage, we have yet to establish a trustful relationship."

"I would do anything," Lucy said, "to prove to you that you can trust me."

Mavis smiled at the blonde. "Very well," she said. "Master Makarov, I've received word from Sabertooth that three of their members carrying out a mission are missing, and they want Team Natsu to find them before Gurney and his men would. It's a covert mission this time; no attention to either guilds whatsoever."

Mavis pinned Lucy with a look. "I don't know your abilities, my child, if you even have any. I know that Erza said that you had no proper training and that you had lost your keys necessary for your magic, but know that I still trust you nevertheless." She raised her eyebrows at Makarov, who had given a small cry of indignation. "If you help Team Natsu and succeed, you will be inducted to Fairy Tail and become a part of the team. And should you fail… well, I'm afraid that means you're out."