A/N: Thank you everyone for reading/following/favoriting/reviewing! It makes me so happy!:)

Disclaimer: I am not awesome enough to own an anime/manga while doing school work. I only have enough time for school and fanfiction.

FAIRY TAIL

Inside the building, a fight was brewing. Shyly, Lucy edged around the side of the room towards the bar. It was different, coming into the chaos alone. The atmosphere of the room was odd, putting her on edge and making her want to relax at the same time. Fists were flying, shouts were heard and some magic was being used.

Lucy shook her head at the insanity of it all, and decided to play it cool, casually heading as if she saw this kind of thing every day to where Mirajane was serving alcohol. She sat down.

"Hey Mirajane!" Lucy called.

"Oh! " Mirajane was startled. "Hello, Your Highness, I'm sorry I didn't see you there. Do you want anything to drink?"

Sighing, the princess said, "No thanks, I'm good for now. And just call me Lucy. I'm no one special at the moment."

Mirajane raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "So what brings you here, Lucy? I thought Levy said you only come to town on Wednesdays."

"That was true, but things have changed. And actually, I'd like to talk to Levy. Is she around, Mirajane?" The princess turned her head, scanning the room for any sign of the blue-haired mage.

"Yes, she was just here a few minutes ago. I believe she went out to return a book to the library. She'll probably be back soon." Mirajane smiled sweetly. "And if we're being casual, call me Mira."

Someone else called for Mira, requesting a drink. When she returned to where Lucy was sitting, Lucy thanked her, saying, "It wasn't really urgent, I was just in the area and was wondering if Levy could tell me more about magic."

Mira nodded and said it was no problem.

"Oh, and Mira?" Lucy inquired, shifting uncomfortably. "Do you know of any good places hiring around here? I'm kind of, uh… looking for a job." Lucy averted her eyes, not sure how to explain this.

"There's not many places hiring in this area of town, that I know of," Mira began. "But, if you don't mind me asking, why do you need a job?"

Lucy bit her lip. "I, um, don't live at the castle anymore. But please, keep my identity a secret and call me Melanie when we're around other people. I'd rather my father didn't find me."

Mira leaned forward on the bar, curious. She loved hearing new gossip and drama stories, even if she couldn't share them. "What happened?"

Not in the mood to explain right then, Lucy simply stated, "I left." Mira was about to press for more information, but someone called her over for a drink refill. When the Mirajane brought out a barrel for the girl, Lucy recognized her as Cana Alberona from when Levy was pointing people out to her on Wednesday.

Lucy sat around a bit longer, watching the turmoil of the place. That's right… she'd seen the sign outside. When Mira was behind the bar again, Lucy called her over again.

"Sorry to bother you, but I'm curious. I'm pretty sure that sign out front wasn't there Wednesday. What's Fairy Tail?"

Mira began to giggle. "Oh, that. That's our name. Makarov, our adopted gramps, said in passing that we should have a name. Then Erza, the one that chased Natsu out last time you were here, she got quite serious about it. She called a meeting and declared we must decide on a name. Some inappropriate ones were tossed about by the guys, and a fight almost broke out – it would have been the third one that day, if I remember correctly." Mira chuckled at this, the continued.

"Erza really put them in their place. A few more serious suggestions were offered after that, especially after Erza threatened to impale anyone who left before a name was decided upon. The general consensus became that we wanted a name that would represent not only our family bonds, but we do for the community. That is, the magical services we provide. Then Natsu said something about how our adventures will last forever, and Levy's eyes lit up. She caught Erza's attention, and told us about a legend she had read, called 'A Fairy's Tail'. According to the legend, many years ago a young fairy left Fiore to embark on an adventure. He traveled all over, helping people out and experiencing all types of culture and learning about the places he went. From the mountains the dragons inhabit to Extalia, to the few outlying communities of various peoples in the east.

"Eventually, he encountered an elderly half-dragon half-fairy in one of those small civilizations. The traveler asked to spend the night, and all the elderly half-dragon said was, 'you've had quite the adventure. I will not be around much longer, so I'm afraid you cannot stay with me, but worry not. My last gift to give I will give to you. You will have a never-ending tale to tell, as you adventures will last until the end of time. Enjoy everything this world has to offer, youngling.' At this, the fairy felt a tingling feeling at his back, and craned his neck around to see that he'd grown a tail! Levy said when he looked back up; the elderly half-dragon was gone, never to be seen again. According to Levy, the legends wraps up there, only saying that it is not known if the fairy ever died, and as far as anyone knows, his adventures continue in the east. When she finished telling the story, the room was lost in thought. Erza nodded, once and proclaimed, 'It is decided then. We will be Fairy Tail, in honor of the legend. It seems to fit all of our requirements. Any objections?' Gray – you know, the ice mage – grumbled something about it having nothing to do with nakama, but Erza glared at him, and he corrected, 'Uh, no objections!' And so that is now our name."

Lucy was grinning wider and wider as the story was told, flat out laughing at some parts. She was beginning to love the townspeople, or at least the ones on this place, Fairy Tail. When Mira concluded the explanation, Lucy inquired, "What are you guys exactly? I remember you saying you're kind of an orphanage last time, nut you seem more like a mix of an orphanage and a guild."

"A guild? Now that you mention it, I heard Levy mention it to Makarov when Erza and Levy went to get the name approved. I don't really know what a guild is though."

"It's like an association, usually among people with the same occupation, where the people work together and support each other," the princess defined. "They used to be popular, but that was before the peace between the countries, and guild wars were a bit of a problem. So they kind of died away when the Triple Treaties were signed. I had to learn about them in my studies of our country's history."

"Hmm, that makes more sense now," Mirajane replied. "Levy asked Makarov if we were a guild, but he said not quite yet. I suppose we're still a little young for that."

"It's not that you're too young." Both the girls jumped, so caught up in their conversation that they had not noticed the little man approach them. "I'm Makarov, by the way. You are Lucy, correct, child?"

He had a kind look in his eyes, and Lucy couldn't help but feel at home, even though he knew who she was. "Yes, but please, don't tell anyone, and call me Melanie. I'd rather not be found."

Makarov nodded, and continued, "You have my word. As for the matter of being a guild, there are old laws governing the topic. As I said, it is not that you're too young, there aren't age restrictions. There hasn't been an official guild in years, but I had been considering applying to be one. You see, a new guild must obtain permission from the council that is in control of their part in the economy. For us that would be the Magic Council –"

"There's a Magic Council?!" Lucy blurted. "I'm sorry. Please continue."

"And there are rules they must follow. The guild must have a master, a point man, so to speak, that is in control of the guild and if the representative of the guild to the Council. The guild as a whole, and ultimately the guild master, is held accountable for various things, and must pay an annual tax. Last week I picked up the paperwork to apply from the Magic Council and have been filling it out. I'm going to call a meeting here soon and we're going to vote on whether or not to become a guild. If the vote is for, all I have to do is sign the last page and turn the paperwork into the Council." Lucy blinked, trying to digest all the information.

"That sounds wonderful!" Mira squealed. "I vote yes already! If we became a guild, could Luc—I mean, Melanie, join? She mentioned she was looking for a job."

The princess was a taken back by this; she'd forgotten she'd told Mira that. Lucy was touched to know that not only had Mira remembered, she practically asked if Lucy could join their family. Makarov raised an eyebrow. "I don't see why not. The only risk would be that we would be a news item for awhile, and if someone recognized you…" he trailed off and Lucy nodded. There would be a risk; that was certain. Yet the princess found herself not caring. There was a risk staying in the city anyway, right?

Makarov looked Lucy in the eye. "If you joined, though, you'd be a part of our family. We'd expect you to treat as such, as we would treat you."

"I understand." The idea of having a family again thrilled Lucy. Her father was family, in the literal sense of the word, but she hadn't felt like family sense before her mother died. The possibility that she could have a true family again, even if not by blood, was amazing.

The white-haired man hopped down from the bar stool he had been sitting on. "Now then," was all he said.

Mirajane and Lucy watched as Makarov flew up to the second floor balcony that overlooked the dining hall. "CHILDREN," his voice boomed. As if by magic, the quarreling and discussion slowed to a stop and everyone's heads turned to their gramps. "I have some VERY important things to discuss with you, so go gather your brothers and sisters that are in town, and meet back here in half an hour."

Some fairies rose and headed out the main doors, and others turned back to their conversations. But the fight did not start back up, and the overall atmosphere of the grand room was more serious and subdued.

At about the fifteen-minute mark, the fairies that had left began to return, bringing with them their fellow fairies of Fairy Tail. Lucy watched this happen, finding herself becoming more and more attached to this family as time went on.

Soon enough, the princess spotted a familiar bluenette come through the doors with a taller, studded fairy. Lucy's face lit up, and she practically ran to Levy.

"Levy!" she exclaimed, stopping in front of the mage. Levy smiled, "Hey! How's it going?" She turned to the tall, dark fairy beside her and said, "Gajeel! This is Lucy, you remember me telling you about her?"

"Uh, call me Melanie," Lucy broke in, kind of awkwardly. Levy shot her a weird look. "I'll explain later." Was the only explanation Levy got. Gajeel looked down at Levy, "Shrimp, didn't you say she's the princess?" Levy nodded, but elbowed him. "She said she'd explain later. For now she's Melanie."

Lucy let out a breath, relieved. Levy was a good friend. Wait… friend? Lucy couldn't help smiling, for that's what she was. The princess hadn't known Levy very long, however she already considered her a friend. She hadn't made a friend so quick before. In fact, she hadn't even had a true friend in a long time. It then occurred to her that she also already considered Mira a friend. The princess couldn't remember ever being so happy.

"So what brings you here, Mel—" Levy was interrupted by the door bursting open behind her, the gust of air knocking her down.

"WE'RE HERE!" Came the excited yell of a certain salmon-haired fairy and the blue Exceed that accompanied him.

"Watch it," growled Gajeel. "You can't just barge in and knock people down." He gestured to Levy, who was standing back up, eyes wide, as he said this.

"It wasn't my fault you guys were standing in the way," Natsu said, narrowing his eyes a little.

Happy flew over to Levy and Lucy, "Aye sir!" he began, agreeing with whatever his friend had just said. Then he noticed the girl with the black and blue hair standing next to Levy.

"Who's this, Levy? She new?"

Levy giggled. "You don't remember her?"

The blue Exceed shook his head. "Cats have a very short memory," he pouted a little.

"You just saw me on Wednesday!" Lucy exclaimed. "It's Lucy, remember, Happy? Call her Melanie now, though." Levy explained to him, trying to jog his memory, but only succeeding in confusing him more.

Meanwhile, Natsu and Gajeel were glowering at each other, exchanging insults and about to exchange blows. Then the door opened again. Gajeel saw who it was and immediately fell silent. Natsu, however, had his back to the door, and didn't see the armored fairy enter. "Problem, boys?" Natsu whirled, finding himself face-to-face with Erza Scarlet.

"No ma'am!" He quickly changed his tone of voice from challenging to complaint. Erza looked at him and Gajeel real good, nodded once, put a hand on her hip and commanded, "Now get out of the doorway. You're blocking the flow of traffic."

Gajeel and Natsu quickly turned and made their way further into the building, Lucy, Levy and Happy close behind them.

More fairies and Exceeds came into the place, flying up to perch in the rafters, sitting down at the tables, or standing off to the side looking at where Makarov still stood on the second floor.

When the half hour was up, Makarov quieted the chatter with a wave of his hands and addressed the children gathered below.

"First, off, I'm going to say I'm disappointed in you. There have been too many 'accidents' lately resulting in the destruction of property. Natsu! Two houses this week! TWO. HOUSES. Gray! That soup shop in Hargeon. You were supposed to guard it, not freeze everything! Laki! You can't torture a dog when you're taking care of it, even if it's misbehaving!" He shook his head. "There's more of you, you know who you are, but I'll leave it at that for now." Everyone he was indicating looked away in shame.

"These damages come out of our pocket money, and this behavior can't continue if we're to become a guild!" Everyone, except Lucy and Mira looked Makarov in confusion and shock.

"I'm sure some of you know what a guild is, but for those who don't, it's a group that works together at the same job, supporting each other and helping each other out with jobs. If we were to become a guild, the Magic Council would hold us, all of us, accountable for the property damage that occurs when we take jobs. As I would be the master, I would have lots of paperwork if you guys don't change your habits! We are Fairy Tail, newly named, but ancient in bonds! Our name indicates an everlasting adventure, so let us live it out! Minimal damage would be nice, but who needs to worry about things when you've got nakama?!" He raised his hand, thumb and forefinger extended, and the whole room cheered with their gramps.

"Now," Makarov began, smiling, once the cheering had died down. "A vote needs to be taken today. We can, as a family, become a guild, or we can remain the same. If we were to become a guild, I would the master, in charge and Fairy Tail's representative to the Magic Council. We would pay a yearly tax, but we would be more official, and, if they approved of us as a guild, we would be the first guild in nearly a century! That would gain us publicity and we could become a more integrated part of Magnolia! If you have questions, ask them now, else let us proceed to the vote!" Pausing briefly here, he looked around the throng of fairies to see if anyone had a question.

"Very well then. All in favor of becoming the wizard guild Fairy Tail, say AYE!"

The mass of fairies and Exceeds responded with a resounding, "AYE!"

"It is decided then!" Makarov quickly scrawled something a paper he was holding, and held it up for all to see. "I have signed the last piece of paperwork and will submit it to the Council this very day! As soon as they approve it, we shall be an official guild from that point onward! Let's celebrate, children!"

A reverberating cry went up, and the chant of "FAIRY TAIL! FAIRY TAIL! FAIRY TAIL!" began, deafeningly loud.

Princess Lucy grinned. She would be a part of this family guild Fairy Tail, and she was exultant.

A/N: Finished with chapter 7! What'd you think? Please let me know, good or bad! Reviews for me are like fish for Happy! Thanks for reading

~C. R. Watters