I woke up back in the guild building. I was in the infirmary, covered in blankets. No one was in the room. I sat up, shaking my head to clear it of the fogginess of sleep. Slowly, I stood and looked around for the door. I found one quickly and went through it. When I stepped into the main room of the guild Natsu, Gajeel, the red haired girl, blond girl, shirtless boy, and the Master of the guild were all sitting at a nearby table. I walked over.
"I trust that I have proved myself." I said.
All six turned to face me. Gajeel smiled.
"Yeah, but we never finished our fight." He said.
I looked at him coldly, "I have no intention of finishing our fight. I am just as strong as my brother, and he has already defeated you. Fighting you would serve no purpose."
Gajeel looked shocked, and angry. He started to reply, but was cut off by Natsu.
"Who's your brother? Did Igneel have another student?"
"No. He, Igneel I mean, is our father. That makes us brothers." I replied, shocked that he hadn't figured it out for himself already.
"Really!" Natsu exclaimed. "Do you know where he is?"
"What about the other dragons?" Gajeel cut in.
A young girl ran over. "You know where the dragons are?" She asked.
"Before I answer, who is everyone?"
Gajeel stepped forward threateningly. "You mean you came here without knowing who we are? Man you've got guts." He growled.
"Gajeel, if he was traveling the wild searching for dragons, how could he have known who we are?" The young girl chided. "Sorry mister, my name is Wendy. I'm a Sky Dragon Slayer."
"And I'm Gajeel. Iron Dragon Slayer."
"What's your name?" Interjected Natsu.
"I am Zhu. And no, I do not know where the dragons are. I was hoping you would."
I watched as Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy hung their heads, undoubtedly thinking of the last time they had seen their dragon. I thought too, thinking hard. This was my last, best chance of finding Igneel. I wouldn't let it slip away. Suddenly, I remembered.
"Wait! Before I left, Igneel mentioned something funny. I don't think he meant for me to hear, but he said something about a Dragon King."
"A Dragon...King?" Erza and Gray asked.
Natsu and the others all looked at each other and shrugged. Then they turned back to me, eyes expectant.
"I don't know anything else," I said, answering their unasked question, "but I did notice that northern cities and towns have more legends about dragons than any other part of Fiore. I wasn't able to find anything, but with all of us, we might have more luck."
Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy all looked excited. I noticed that Gray and Erza looked intrigued as well.
For the first time the Master spoke. "This sounds interesting. If you w t ant, Zhu, I can put together a party to go with you on your quest to find the dragons. Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy are our family, and we would do anything to help them find the dragons we've heard so much about."
Taken aback I started to reply, but the Master cut me off. "And if you ever feel in need of a home, you're always welcome here."
I was stunned. No one had ever offered me anything. I was always received as a stranger, no matter where I stayed. Sometimes people were nice, sometimes not, but no one ever offered me a home.
"I...I think I'd like that." I said, somewhat cautiously.
"It's settled then, welcome to Fairy Tail Zhu!"
"Wait, Wha-!" I shouted. But it was too late. A wizard had already put the mark on my right shoulder. For an instant I felt rage boil up inside me. How dare these people dictate my life. I felt flames rise within me. But then I looked at the smiling faces before me. It had been a while since I had had a family. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
"Right. It's decided. Tomorrow we set out!" Gray shouted, standing on the table.
Almost instantly a blue haired girl was beside him.
"Juvia wants to come too. Juvia wants to go everywhere with Gray." She said, staring at the rest of the group, daring them to protest.
Gray spoke first. "Uhh, sure. Of course you can come Juvia."
I watched, fascinated, as Juvia continued to fawn over Gray as the blond and red haired girls consulted with the Master.
"When do you think we should leave, Erza?" The blond asked.
"Tomorrow. Early in the morning, so we don't cause a ruckus. Lucy, go keep Natsu and Gajeel quiet please."
"Right." Lucy replied, walking over to where Natsu was talking with Gajeel.
I stepped forward. "Erza, what are we going to do until we leave?"
"Isn't it obvious," The Master replied, "We celebrate the arrival of a new member." He turned to face the crowded hall. "Everyone, this man, Zhu, has just joined our guild. What say you we show him how Fairy Tail wizards throw a welcome party!?"
A massive cheer rose from the room. For some reason, I felt nervous.
Later that afternoon I was standing in one corner of the building, holding a mug.
"What do you think of the guild?" Erza asked, walking up to stand next to me.
"It's an interesting group. I've met Cana, Macao, Elfman and everyone else. They all seem so different. What ties them together?"
"You can't tell?" Natsu asked, walking over with Gray.
"Everyone here needed a family." Gray said. "Everyone here has lost someone important to them. We all used to be alone. That's why we all stay together. We're family."
"Yeah," Lucy said, emerging from the center of the room, closely followed by Juvia, "and now you are too."
"Whether you like it or not," Gajeel continued, stepping our from one of the nearby tables, "you've got family now."
I looked at the seven people around me, saw their smiling faces. I could clearly see in them the open happiness that I saw in Wendy's face before. For an moment I wanted to accept their friendship completely. But I had been betrayed too many times by people who called themselves my friend to let that happen.
"I suppose I am, for now." I replied. I allowed them to drag me back into the festivities, only paying half attention to what was going on around me.
It was getting late, but the party was still going strong. I was at the counter, talking to Mirajane, when people started shouting behind me. I turned to look and saw Natsu and Gray arguing heatedly. I turned back to Mirajane, the question on my lips.
"Don't worry, this happens all the time." She said.
"What'd you say, slanty eyes?" Natsu roared, capturing the attention of everyone in the room.
"You heard me, fire head! And your eyes are just as slanty as mine." Gray shouted back.
"You wanna fight, ice boy?" Natsu roared, igniting flames around his hands.
"Anytime. I can take you." Gray said, ice crystallizing on his palms.
"Hey guys, wait a minute..." Lucy said, stepping between them.
It was too late though. I watched as Natsu and Gray leapt at each other, ignoring Lucy between them. Elfman jumped in to defend her. Within minutes the whole guild was embroiled in the fight, trampling tables, platters, cups, and cutlery. I turned to face Mirajane, expecting her to be angry. Instead she was laughing, a loud, clear laugh, full of mirth.
She saw my confused look and started to explain, still smiling. "They're always like this when they're happy. It's a sign that everyone is friends, and has enough. Doesn't that make you smile?"
I looked back at the guild, everyone fighting everyone else. On the outside they were fighting, but everyone was smiling. Despite myself, I could feel the corners of my mouth twitch upwards. It had been a while since I had smiled. Maybe joining the guild wouldn't be that bad after all.
I fell asleep well before everyone else. I slept in the infirmary behind the main part of the guild building. I figured it was the only place they would not fight.
I awoke early the next day. For once, it seemed that the guild was quiet. I walked silently into the main room. Everyone was asleep, sprawling over tables or just collapsed on the ground. These guys took "party 'till you drop" literally. Except for Mirajane. She was behind the counter, cleaning glasses and mugs.
"Good morning Zhu. Did you sleep well?" She asked.
"Good morning. Did you sleep at all?" I replied.
"Yes. I just don't need much sleep." Mirajane said, laughing. "These guys will be asleep for a while. You probably won't get to leave before noon. Why don't you take a walk in the woods. It'll be a good way to pass the time." Mirajane said.
"Thanks." I replied, and turned for the door. I hesitated. "W-would you like to come with me?" I asked, silently hoping she would refuse.
"Yeah, that'd be fun." Mirajane said, smiling.