Why did these kinds of things always happen to Lucy?

She had never asked for any of this. All she wanted to do was crawl into an apartment and write in her journal. Maybe once in a while, she'd check on her Spirits. Other than that, she needed nothing!

And then the flood happened. She had almost drowned until the pink haired man- Natsu- and his flying cat rescued her. Lucy had blacked out for most of the time and only came to in a guild hall.

Which wasn't good. Lucy recognized the guild hall in one second- Fairy Tail.

That was when she blacked out again.

"A real man would never put a lady in danger!" someone crowed.

Lucy opened her eyes and then squeezed them shut. Why was there so many people standing above her? Oh, well. It was better to get this over with. She couldn't keep playing dead for the rest of her life.

Or could she? Maybe then she would be left alone.

"She's awake!" somebody else whispered. Too late.

Lucy sat up and rubbed her eyes. She was in some kind of infirmary. The somebody else was a kind-looking white haired woman, and the first person who spoke was now poking Natsu in the shoulder. Great. More weirdos- just what she needed.

"I'm Mirajane, Lucy," the woman murmured, smiling.

Mirajane Strauss? She didn't look very powerful just sitting there. But she was Lucy's favorite wizard, and she couldn't act like a baka des in front of her. "Hi," Lucy answered, trying to sound happy. "I'm-"

Hm? How did Mirajane know her name? Was Lucy really that popular that even Fairy Tail members knew her?

"I already told Mira your name," Natsu interrupted.

Oh, well. In the future she would become more well known. And it was kind of soothing to know she had her privacy.

"I'm Elfman! Because I am a man, I would've taken care of you!" the white haired man shouted. Natsu rolled his eyes.

"You get used to Elfman," Mirajane said, still smiling. "He's my younger brother."

"Oh, so you're Lucy. Natsu wouldn't shut up talking about you, so I had to make him. I'm Gray." Lucy turned around and nearly jumped out of the bed. Yet another weirdo, this one half naked, was talking to her.

"Um, hello..."

"A real man wears clothes!" Elfman grunted, and promptly left the room. Whew. Lucy could almost feel the infirmary get back half its size.

Then Natsu stood up. "Okay, Lucy! Are you gonna?"

"Gonna what?" Lucy asked, suspicious.

"Gonna join Fairy Tail! Makarov said it's the least we could do."

Lucy's cheeks burned. This was not how she wanted to join Fairy Tail. Out of pity? Her mother would be ashamed to see her now. Maybe she should just grab the chance while she could.

Or should she? Maybe she could use this to her advantage...

"I want to go on a mission first! To prove myself!" Lucy declared.

Why was there such a big silence after she said that? Lucy was not that weak-looking... was she?

"By yourself?" Mirajane finally said. "No, no- it's too dangerous, Lucy. You might hurt yourself when you aren't even in the guild." Seeing Lucy's hurt look, she quickly added, "Yet."

Gray laughed. "Heh-heh... she can be teamed with flame brain over here. I heard there's a medium level quest to find these magic crystals under the sea. Makarov will have to approve it, though."

"I'll make sure he does!" Natsu leapt up and grabbed Lucy's hand. "Come on, Luce!"

"Wait..." Lucy hesitated, and then let herself get dragged away. "I didn't mean that kind of mission..." Another mess? And she'd put herself in it? When would Lucy's life ever get back to normal?

Mirajane watched them with a sad look. Lisanna would be heartbroken...

Heehee! I love torturing Lisanna... I know, I know! I'm sorry, Mirajane! *gets hit in the head repeatedly* Okay, okay, I'll try to be nicer in the next chapter...

So far, Gray-sama (oh, hello, Juvia!) is my spirit animal. We both have the same OTP! Heehee... he's a real man! I've said enough, I can hear Juvia saying, rival, rival... *hides in a hole* :0) And next chapter the action will come, winkity wink! Many kisses to you!