"Karin, fight me!" Natsu urged me once more. "Natsu, let her rest." Lucy sighed. It's only been a day since I returned and Natsu managed to pester me with challenges every time our eyes met. "But we haven't fought in weeks! Come one, you wanna battle too, right?" he pumped his fist in the air. "If it'll get you to leave me alone, then fine. I'll fight you." I gave up.

"Let's make this quick, Natsu. I've got some stuff to do." I crossed my arms impatiently- perhaps I was overdoing the confident act? "Here I go!" Natsu launched himself from where he stood- his fist wrapped in flames "Karyuu no Tekken!" he swung at me. Instead of dodging as I usually did, I brought my left hand up close to my face and blocked his attack. Behind me, I could hear surprised cries from my guild mates.

Natsu didn't give up. He unleashed a flurry of attacks, a few of which hit me. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he grit his teeth. "Haaaaaaa-! Raienryu no-" the others behind me gasped "Hokkou!" lightning and flames burst forth from his mouth, completely enveloping me. "Karin-san!" Wendy cried out.

"Nice one, Natsu." I emerged from the charred forest "How did-" he began, looking shocked that I was still standing after his attack "Although it's much too destructive." I decided to take it seriously, seeing that his last attack weakened him. "Water nebula!" I drew water from the air and shot them at Natsu, finally bringing him down. "That's Juvia's-" Juvia's eyes grew wide. I made a peace sign at her "Sorry, I kinda had a hard time naming this move." She laughed at my apologetic look.

"Amazing... Natsu still hasn't been able to beat her." Macao scratched his beard. "Looks like we've got another S-class mage on our hand." Wakaba put his hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Well, I wouldn't expect any less from Fairy Tail!" Makarov laughed loudly.

"So, what went on while I was away?" I cozied up by the fireplace with my friends. The wind blew colder, giving us the impression that winter was coming early this year. "You're talking as if you just went on a vacation!" Lucy pouted "Sorry, sorry." I laughed at her expression. "Well, not much. It's just been really quiet while you were gone. How long has it been? About a month or so?" Gray lost his train of thought and stared out the window. "Looks like snow..." he smiled, looking nostalgic.

We followed his gaze; outside, the snow was fluttering down gently, quickly blanketing the ground outside in a layer of white. It wasn't my first time seeing snow, but somehow as I sat there by the fireplace with my friends, it felt like I was seeing it in an entirely different way.

The nights grew longer as winter moved in for sure. Every morning I would either find someone shovelling and salting the streets through my window or, when the snow got too heavy, someone from Fairy Tail (sometimes it was me) spitting fire at the snow to melt it away. We got a lot of job offers and were jumping at each one just as energetically as ever. Except for Nab, who would stand in front of the request board for hours and hours, just ogling the papers.

"Looks like there's gonna be a Christmas party at midnight. Are you dressing up for it, Karin?" Lucy asked as she, Erza and Wendy sipped their tea. It was early evening and the snow was falling lightly again. I was glad my house had internal heating. "Dressing up? Maybe. If you will, cosplay-queen." I grinned at her as she pulled her eyebrows together "I don't even know who gave me that nickname!" she threw a pillow at my head. I let it hit me so she'd feel better. "Come on now, it's Christmas eve! Let's all be happy and forgive each other for the crappy nicknames the give us and whatever!" I put my arm around her neck playfully.

She laughed at my attempt to cheer her up. "Well, I'm sure Virgo can whip up a little something." She said as she took out her key. "Sounds like fun!" Wendy smiled excitedly.

In just a few minutes, we were dressed in the most Christmasy- and not to mention showy for the older girls- clothes we could ever dream of wearing. "This is amazing! Thanks, Virgo!" Lucy turned to her celestial spirit "Is it time for punishment?" she asked. "Uh no..." Lucy waved her statement off.

In the distance, the bell tower tolled in its low, booming voice. "Hey guys, it's time to go." I said as I shut off the lights in my room and met up with them in the living room.

When we reached the guild, we noticed that it was much more crowded that usual. "Master, I didn't know that Blue Pegasus was celebrating with us." Erza said warily. "It was a surprise!" Makarov laughed drunkenly. "My honey!" a voice rang out at made Erza stiffen up "Your parfum is as lovely as ever!" A strange-looking man followed by 3 boys practically floated toward her. "Stay away from me!" Erza sent the man flying to the other side of the room.

"My, my. Looks like Erza still hasn't gotten used to him." The tall brown-haired guy shrugged and turned his attention to us. "Erza..." he knelt down and offered her a rose with his hand on his chest "As beautiful as a blooming rose..."

"I- it's not like I got this especially for you or anything." The dark- skinned on offered Lucy an identical rose. "Not even a whole garden of roses could compare to your beauty, Wendy." Wendy seemed really nervous and flustered when Eve offered her his rose. "Help me, Karin-san!" she whimpered.

"Uhh. Look, Wendy! There's something I have to show you. 'Scuse me." I nodded at Eve before dragging the little girl away. She probably never had any experience with men before. Especially this type. "Thank you." She bowed again and again "No problem. Go find Carla, she's probably with the other kitties."

I was at the second floor gazing down at the ruckus happening down below. Juvia was stalking Gray again, Erza tried her best to avoid Ichiya, as they called him, some poor fool challenging Cana to a drinking contest, Mirajane and Lisana doing their best to serve each rowdy member, and Natsu and Gajeel tearing up the dance floor in some kind of contest. Amidst the clamor and ruckus radiating from every single partying member, I felt oddly calm and peaceful.

"You seem to fit in just fine." A familiar, childlike voice reached my ears. "Oh, First master. You came to join the party I see." I was happy to see Mavis standing beside me, barely reaching the railing to lean on it. "Fairy Tail has become such a wonderful guild." She had a gentle expression on her face as she watched the helter-skelter below. "By the way, do you have anyone you like?" she turned to me, the expression on her face quickly turning into one of mischief.

I almost spit out my beer "What? Where did that come from?" I wiped the corner of my mouth with my sleeve. "I'm seeing lots of couples around here and you don't seem to have any boys near you." She quickly scanned the crowd "You should find the one you love!" she suddenly turned into a match-maker.

"Wait- wait! I've never even thought of something like that!" I tried to stop Mavis but she was already at the bottom of the stairs, looking for a suitable bachelor. "Ah, Karin. Just the person I needed to see." Makarov, amazingly, had made it up the stairs despite his drunkenness. "A call came from one of those fancy- schmancy masions. They're havin a party, see *hic* and they need an entertainer. So I told them I'd send one along. You go, kay?" he passed out right after the last word. "I see... oh well. If the master says so, then I'll go do it. Mira should know where to go..." mumbled to myself as I lay the sleeping master on a bench and smiled down at the old man.

Karin: Okayyy! So that was part 1 of the Christmas chapter! I wonder if I'll ever find love...

Natsu: Dammit, Gajeel! I'll beat you at dancing, I swear!

Gajeel: Whatever, Salamander, I beat you at singing!

Erza: Keep Ichiya away from me...

Lucy: Ren keeps following me around!

Wendy: Carla, where are you?

Gray: I get the feeling someone's following me again.

Karin: And this party's just getting started!