Author's Note (IMPORTANT): First off, if anyone here is good at drawing or knows anyone that is, I'm open to accepting new Fanart (for this Fanfiction's cover) that depict's Natsu's new outfit described in this chapter. I'll be sure to give the person credit in whatever form as long as it's reasonable. I was just looking for something that can represent this Fanfiction to its fullest potential. Feel free to add any details to the Fanart that you wish as long as it follows the general description provided.

Second, do you guys think that everything is moving at an acceptable pace? This is honestly what I think is the major problem right now. I feel like things are moving much more slower than I intended to. I mean, 60K words in and we're about to begin the next arc in Chapter 10 (hopefully). If that's an issue, remember, I read ALL reviews and try to respond to as many of them as possible. NOTIFY ME.

Anyways, the first MAJOR timeskip will come directly after the Magic Coalition. I'm not going to say how long it'll be, but more of that will be provided come time. I realize that there's not much action happening in terms of how the plot is progressing (part of the reason I'm worried), but I actually wanted to ask you guys about that right now! What would you guys like the arc after the Magic Coalition to be? I was actually thinking about something on the lines of "Fairy Tail Vs. a new Dark Guild." Who knows? I might even bring back the Magical Alliance apart of the Oracion Seis arc if enough of you are interested.

That being said, let me know what you guys think and feel free to drop suggestions. On with the Fanfiction!


During Those 7 Years

Chapter eight: A New Look

"Hey Bisca, Did Master Natsu tell you when he was going to come back?"

"Sorry Alzack, all he said was that he was running up to his house to grab some Jewels before we left to go shopping."

Kinana promptly joined the conversation at the bar while she hung up her apron. "His house is only a 10 minute walk away. He should be back any minute now. In the meantime, we should decide where we're going to shop at."

Alzack chuckled at Kinana's response. "C'mon Kinana. You know the Magnolia Outlets are the only place around here worth shopping at. Even I know that and I don't even shop!"

"Hey! I just wanted to check that we weren't going to take a train and shop outside of Magnolia Town." Kinana pouted.

"And risk Master Natsu throwing up on my lap? No, thank you. Magnolia Outlets it is." Bisca laughed in response. Before she could continue, the guild's doors were pushed open as the silhouette of a person walked out of the blinding noon light into the lively guild hall.

"Sorry for the wait guys! I wanted to make sure my house was locked up properly just in case I decide to spend another late night in my office. Did you guys already decide where we're going to shop for the day?" The person called out.

"Hey Master Natsu! Don't worry about being late. We were just starting to wonder where you were. Since you rarely go shopping, we're going to head up to the Magnolia Outlets at the entrance of the town. They have EVERYTHING we're looking for up there." Bisca smiled as she got up from her barstool.

"I'm fine with that. I guess that means we can all get our shopping done at the same place. How would you say we schedule the rest of the day?" Natsu questioned seeing as Bisca knew more about shopping than he did.

"We should first start walking towards the Magnolia Outlets, so we can have as much time to shop. I can tell you what I have planned on the way over there." Bisca suggested.

"Sounds fine with me." Natsu shrugged before Bisca led the group towards the guild's entrance. Once they began to open the wooden doors, Natsu turned around and diverted his attention to the other guild members that were scattered around the guild. "Alright guys! I'm going to head out to shop with Alzack, Bisca, and Kinana. If we're not back by the time the guild is supposed to close, just make sure you shut the front doors behind you so I can lock up. Remember, we're not going to meet up inside the guild hall tomorrow before our training session. Just make your way to the rear of the guild so we can get started as soon as possible. I'll see you later, my Nakama." Natsu sincerely smiled.

"BYE MASTER NATSU!" The guild members smiled back to him exiting the guild hall.


The group began to walk through the cobblestone streets of Magnolia while Natsu once again questioned what Bisca recommended they do. "Now what is it you have planned for the rest of the day?"

Bisca briskly responded. "Thanks for reminding me! So here's what I was thinking; first, we should go shopping for new clothing. Have you ever heard of the fashion label called Heart Kreuz?"

Natsu responded after a few moments of thinking. "I think so. Erza's breastplate was branded by them. Isn't that for girls though?" He asked skeptically.

"You're right on the money. The thing is, the counterpart to Heart Kreuz is a label called Men and Mages. It's an extremely popular fashion brand among guys, and it just so happens there's a store by the Magnolia Outlets that sells their complete inventory. The reason we're going there first is because if you plan to order something custom, it'll usually take the rest of the day to be made. We can stop back there at the end of the day to pick up a custom order if you chose to place one."

"I have no problems with that." Natsu shrugged before directing his attention towards Alzack. "What about you?"

"I've always wanted to check that place out. Let's do it." Alzack agreed.

"The best thing about this particular Men and Mages is that it's directly connected to a Heart Kreuz store. That way, we don't need to split into two different groups to visit each individual store. I guess the both retailers wanted to save money because they share the same workshop used to fill custom orders." Bisca stated in response.

"So what do we do once we're done there?" Natsu asked.

Bisca peered over her shoulders to make sure no strangers were listening to her plans before continuing. "We'll probably be feeling hungry again. That'll be the perfect time to stop by the food court, get something to eat, and discuss possible plans for the Magic Coalition."

"Why are we whispering?" Kinana murmured as she leaned into the group.

Natsu was the first to respond in an equally soft tone. "No one else knows about the Magic Coalition yet. It's not going to be announced until next week's Sorcerer Magazine is released. We probably don't want to attract any unwanted attention right now. If anyone else finds out about the true purpose of the Magic Coalition, I can kiss being Guild Master goodbye."

"What he said." Alzack whispered.

"That reminds me, let's stop by the bookstore to preorder next week's Sorcerer Magazine issue. I'll have it delivered to the guild." Natsu added.

"Good idea Natsu." Bisca whispered before returning to her original tone. "Anyways, once we're done eating, that's when we can stop by the bookstore. We can then pick up some office supplies for Master Natsu and have those shipped out to the guild hall the same day our magazines are delivered. And of course, if you decide to place a custom order at Men and Mages, we'll stop there last to pick it up for purchase."

"Is that it?" Natsu asked.

"That's it." Bisca smiled towards him. "We're almost at the outlets. There's probably a ton of traffic up there since they're right by Magnolia Town's enterance. It's just on the other side of Kardia Cathedral." She finished with a smile as she gazed up at the massive, Gothic structure looming in front of them.

Once the group rounded the church, they could visibly see the straight cobblestone path that led to Magnolia Forest. On the sides of the path were large stores that caught the attention of many of the travelers visiting the town.

Bisca put a hand on Kinana's shoulder before pointing towards one of the department stores diagonal to them. "There it is!"

Above the entrance to the department store was a sign that read "Men and Mages" which caught the attention of the group. Directly connected to the building was a smaller section that met another large department store. Right above the entrance to the adjacent building was a sign that read "Heart Kreuz."

"Alright then. It's time for a fresh start!" Natsu exclaimed while Bisca led the group to the entrance of Men and Mages.

A man inside the building with a sharp suit and black earpiece opened the door to allow the group to enter. "Welcome to Men and Mages." The man greeted. "We have multiple image consultants positioned around our store at desks to help guide you through our extensive inventory. We hope that you enjoy your visit."

"Thank you!" Bisca thanked the man as she gestured for the group to find a consultant. The store was extremely easy to navigate and nothing over the top. Each section was dedicated to a different form of clothing that someone could wear. The group began to walk on the marble pathway that led around the interior.

Alzack was so mesmerized by how professional everything was that he could barely speak to Bisca. "They can afford free image consultants?!" He managed to stutter.

"Yes, they can." Bisca simple stated proudly as the group approached an available desk located at the rear of the store.

There was a beautiful woman behind it with brown hair who was ready to greet them. "Welcome to Men and Mages. My name is Jasmine, and I would be more than happy to be your consultant during your visit. Is there anything in specific I can help you with?" She stood up to shake each person's hand. Bisca and Kinana simply stepped out of the way to give Natsu and Alzack some room to speak.

Alzack was the first to respond as his request was much simpler than the Dragon Slayer's. "I'm not looking for anything over the top. Would you happen to have anything that complements my Western look?"

"Yes, sir! Personally, I would recommend you try on one of our brown fedoras as they complement the traditional 'cowboy' image along with the beige khakis you're wearing. They're located to the left of where I'm sitting." She paused to gesture towards the assortment of hats at the far corner of the store. "You can finish off your outfit with a pair of cowboy boots which are found on the opposite end of the store." The woman smiled towards her customer.

"Thank you for helping me." Alzack bowed before stepping off to the side with Bisca and Kinana.

Before Natsu could begin speaking to Jasmine, he quickly diverted his attention to the rest of his group standing off to the side. "You guys go on and find what Alzack is looking for. We can meet up in the workshop because I plan on placing a custom order and want to take my time with it." He paused before directing his attention to his image consultant. "Only if Jasmine doesn't mind."

She responded without hesitation. "Not at all! Please, take all the time you need. I'm here to help aid whatever you can vision yourself wearing"

This was enough for Bisca to respond. "Alright Natsu. Don't forget about us! We'll meet you in the workshop when you're done." She smiled before leaving with Alzack and Kinana to give Natsu some privacy.

Jasmine was the first to speak once the group left. "You're welcome to take a seat." She offered as Natsu pulled the chair out from under the desk. She continued to pull out a piece of paper and a pen inside her desk's drawer to jot down whatever her customer told her. "Just to confirm, you're interested in placing a custom order?"

"Yup!"

"Perfect. Just let your thoughts run free and I'll do my best to match your description."

"I'm pretty sure it's obvious, but I seriously need a new outfit." Natsu gestured towards his worn and wrinkled in clothes which caused Jasmine to smile. "The only thing I plan on keeping is the scarf I have on right now. I was thinking of something along the lines of a red cloak with black trim that reaches down to my knees and can't be buttoned. Underneath the cloak would be a black T-Shirt which leads into a pair of charcoal pants: maybe even jeans if you can picture that on me. The outfit would be finished with a pair of combat boots." He finished.

Jasmine began to scribble down the final requests from Natsu before pressing on. "This is a perfect baseline to begin off of. If you don't mind, would you mind telling me what you plan on using it for?"

"I'm currently a mage so I was hoping my outfit would be able to handle basic spells without tearing or ripping."

"A mage? Are you apart of a guild?" Jasmine stirred up small talk that could benefit her consultation.

"Yeah, have you ever heard of Fairy Tail?"

"Considering my daughter absolutely adores one of your mages, I would say yes." Jasmine chuckled towards the Dragon Slayer.

"No kidding? Which member does your daughter look up to?"

"She keeps talking about someone named Natsu Dragneel and how he uses Fire Dragon Slayer Magic. You wouldn't happen to know who that is?"

Natsu chuckled before responding. "Know him? You're looking at him!" He then revealed his guild mark beneath his scarf's tip.

This caused Jasmine to widen her eyes in disbelief. "You're joking."

Natsu continued by holding out his right hand and formed a red magic circle in his palm. In the center of the magic circle was the outline of a red Dragon.

Jasmine immediately apologized to Natsu. "I'm so sorry for not knowing sooner. I've never seen you before. My daughter just mentions you a ton around the house." The woman grew slightly red in embarrassment.

"Don't worry about it." Natsu flashed her a toothy grin. "I was just hoping that you could use what I said to make me a new outfit that complements my magic."

"Say no more! In fact, If I could make a suggestion, would you be inclined to swap out the black undershirt you described with a piece of light armor?"

Natsu hesitated before frowning. "I've never preferred using armor. It usually takes away from my movement and flexibility during battles."

"That's understandable, but it would be very minor and almost unnoticeable. In all honesty, it would probably be more for aesthetics. At the end of the day, yes, it still is armor considering it will protect you from knives and basic spells."

"As long as it doesn't interfere with my mobility, I'll be opened to seeing how it would look on me."

"That's great to hear! So what are you hoping to achieve with your new look?"

Natsu paused before responding. "Sorry if I sound rude, but I want the outfit to be on the badass end. Not nearly to the point where it's intimidating, but something that's able to present itself without attracting too much attention."

"Uh-huh... Interseting." Jasmine finished writing her notes down before looking back up at Natsu. "Perfect. We're nearly done here." She stated while passing Natsu her pen. "Would you mind holding my pen in your hand and clicking the tip twice? This specific pen takes your measurements, so we don't need to waste time determining all your dimensions."

Natsu clicked the pen is hands which caused a bright aura to encase his body briefly before dissipating. "Did it work?" He asked while handing Jasmine her pen back.

"Yes sir! I've just buzzed in another image consultant to take my place while I can take you to our workshop. We can head there and submit your order for you to come pick up later."

"Sounds great." Natsu responded as Jasmine got up from the desk and led him to the door to the right of the department store. This connected directly to the workshop that his group was going to meet him at.


15 minutes had passed since Natsu began his consultation. Jasmine held the door open for Natsu so they could step into the small workshop. Once they both entered, Natsu noticed that Alzack, Bisca, and Kinana were standing beside the front entrance waiting for him to arrive. All of them had bags in their hands. He then gestured for them to come his way right as Jasmine began to speak. "There's one other person ahead of you in line who needs her order tended to. I need to help her before we're able to confirm your order, but you're welcome to stand behind her in the meantime." The group overheard once they arrived.

"No problem." Natsu flashed Jasmine his signature toothy grin before she went behind the counter to help her customer. He then diverted his attention to his group. "So, Alzack, did you find everything you were looking for?"

"Easily! Everything is so organized here that we even had time to stop by Heart Kreuz next door so Bisca and Kinana could do their shopping." He responded. Everyone held up their bags as proof that they had finished their shopping for the day.

"That's great! Now we have more time to eat at the food court."

"Guess what else?" Kinana chipped in.

"Tell me."

"Alzack even had time to quickly run to the bookstore across the street and place an order for next week's Sorcerer Magazine issue."

Natsu looked up to Alzack before speaking. "You did that?"

"Yup! The thing is, I was kind of out of money, so the bill is going to come be mailed with the box of magazines." He said while rubbing his head sheepishly.

"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad that you remembered! I'll charge it to Fairy Tail's revenue… Or the little we have of it." Natsu frowned in disappointment.

Bisca was the first to respond to his disappointment. "Master Natsu, we actually wanted to talk to you about that at the food court later on. Right now, we should wait behind that girl for our turn. I think Jasmine's just about to help her out."

"C'mon then." The Dragon Slayer gestured towards the girl that Jasmine was just about to help.

"You guys stay here in the meantime. Me and Kinana can head to the food court and save us a table!" Alzack suggested before he was about to leave with the purple haired girl.

"Good idea." Bisca said while she approached the counter with Natsu. "We'll see you guys there in a few minutes." She finished before diverting her attention back to Jasmine and her customer. The sound of the door chime was followed by Alzack and Kinana heading back out into the streets.

A few seconds of silence fell between the Natsu and Bisca before Jasmine diverted her attention from the workshop's computer to the girl in front of them. Natsu's enhanced hearing allowed him to tune into the conversation that began to unfold. "Hello ma'am, how may I help you?"

The girl responded with a startlingly calm tone. "Yes, I placed a custom order a week ago from Heart Kreuz and wanted to know the status of it."

"May I have the order number?" Jasmine responded.

"45166295." The girl slowly read out in an even tone.

Jasmine then began to type the girl's order number on the computer next to her. The next couple of moments turned to silence while Jasmine continued to confirm the status of the order placed. Natsu, on the other hand, was absolutely transfixed with the girl standing in front of them. He scanned her entire body as he was left completely dumbstruck as to how her voice was able to remain so calm yet void of emotion.

His actions didn't go unnoticed by Bisca who overlooked that Natsu was able to pick up on the girl's conversation with his enhanced hearing. She began to think to herself. "Now why's Master Natsu so interested in this girl all of a sudden? He's looking at her the same way Master Makarov would look at Mira. Could it be…" Bisca cut off her thoughts as a dirty smirk washed over her face in realization.

Before Bisca could pull Natsu to the side to discuss his actions, Jasmine began to speak to the girl again. "Did you happen to order a custom sword?"

"Yes." The girl stoically responded.

"Then your order is nearly complete. It will be ready by the end of the day once our blacksmiths put the finishing touches you requested on it. Please stop by before we close so you can complete your purchase."

"Thank you." The girl bowed before turning around and accidentally bumping into Natsu who was standing right behind her.

"Uh- I'm… Excuse me." Natsu stuttered as he stared into the woman's hazel eyes.

"Yes, pardon me also." The girl responded before she walked away without another word. Natsu turned around to view her rear as he still couldn't sense any emotion from her. The girl triggered the door chime, walked out the door, and began to travel into the streets of Magnolia.

Natsu's stares once again failed to go unnoticed by Bisca. Jasmine interrupted her thoughts again before she was given another opportunity to talk to the Dragon Slayer. "Natsu? Please just give me a minute to process your order number with the craftsman. After that, you'll be all set!" She said before walking into the room behind the counter.

"Perfect." Bisca smiled to herself as she now had some privacy with her Guild Master. "I see what you're doing Master Natsu." She jokingly nudged the boy's "perverted" actions.

"See what?" Natsu asked completely oblivious to the fact that Bisca thought he was ogling the young girl.

Bisca instead continued to jokingly agree with his actions. "There's nothing to be ashamed of Master Natsu, she was a very beautiful girl. I'll give you that much for having a sharp eye."

"What are you actually talking about?" Natsu deadpanned. "Sure, she was pretty, but something about her personality threw me off. It's almost like she has no emotion." Natsu shivered slightly. Unlike what Bisca was suggesting, Natsu only turned around to see if he could sense the girl's personality.

"Suuurrrreeeee. Whatever you say. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

"What is she going on about?" Natsu thought to himself in complete innocence.

Before Bisca could continue her teasing, Jasmine returned from room behind the counter and began to speak to the Dragon Slayer. "Your order was successfully confirmed! Are you able to read this?" She said whilst handing him a slip of paper.

"Yup! It says 45178596."

"That's everything you need then. Your order will be finished by the end of the day. Just stop by before we close so you can complete your purchase."

Natsu held out his hand to Jasmine who shook it before he responded. "Thanks so much for taking the time to help me create a new outfit. I can't wait to see how it looks on me. Tell your daughter to stop by the guild hall whenever she wants to! We're always looking for more members to join our family." He finished by flashing her a toothy grin.

"No, thank you for choosing to shop here. Just wait until my daughter hears I met her role model at work. She'll definitely end up joining once she's older." Jasmine smiled before releasing her grip. After Natsu said his goodbyes, he then started to follow Bisca towards the entrance of the workshop and entered the streets of Magnolia with her.

"You feeling hungry?" Bisca asked.

"What do you think the answer to that question is?"


The food court was the first attraction that observers had when entering Magnolia Town. It was an assortment of different restaurants that lined the street with tables outside for customers to sit at. The restaurant closest to the entrance was a pizza parlor. Alzack and Kinana were currently sitting outside the restaurant with a large box of cheese pizza at the center of their table. Natsu and Bisca approached them and began to sat down. All the while, Natsu began to drool as his enhanced hearing picked up the aroma from their table.

"How'd it do?" Alzack asked the duo that began to sit down.

Natsu was barely able to respond. "Great. I got my order number and Jasmine said my outfit will be done by the end of the day."

"That's good news. Now we'll definitely be able to finish all of our shopping today." Alzack paused because he noticed Natsu's distant stare. "I hope you didn't mind, but me and Kinana already purchased some pizza. We figured that Master Natsu would be hungry by the time he got here so we didn't want him to suffer waiting. Help yourselves out!"

This served as enough of a reason for Natsu and Bisca to grab slices of pizza and slowly nibble away. While Bisca indulged in her pizza, she began to bring up what she wanted to talk to him about at the workshop. "Master Natsu? Do you remember how you brought up our guild's revenue when Alzack said he placed the order for next week's Sorcerer Magazine issue?

"Yeah, you said that you wanted to talk about that more in depth once we got our food. What's on your mind?"

"You know how Master Makarov nominated you for the S-Class exams?"

"Don't remind me." Natsu teased.

"Well, I think it would be good if you tried going on some S-Class quests. I'm not saying you should be a full time S-Class mage, but you should really consider it. We're not going to be able to pay off expenses and support our guild hall unless we find a way to reel in money." Bisca seriously suggested.

"I was actually thinking about that in the office last night before I fell asleep. You know? The future for our guild hall. I remember the argument I gave to Gran Doma during our meeting was that he had no reason to appoint me as Guild Master since our strongest mages are gone. We no longer have revenue to support ourselves now since no one is going on those S-Class quests to earn extra Jewels. That's why I wanted to give some serious attention to you guys in terms of training. We're going to need more people then just me going on these S-Class quests."

"The thing is, how long will that take?" Kinana asked worriedly.

"That's the problem though. Even Erza, the youngest S-Class mage in Fairy Tail, took four years until she was nominated for the S-Class exams. Four years." Natsu stressed again. "The fact is… I don't even think Fairy Tail has four years. I can support us for two years at most with the money I get from normal quests and the occasional S-Class quest I might take. But by that time, we're going to need more mages. If not, we'll be filling for bankruptcy even if we don't destroy anything." Natsu frowned.

Bisca was the first to respond to this. "So part of the reason you're training us is so we're better equipped to support our guild?"

"That's exactly part of the reason. The fact is, Macao was right. I can't do this all on my own. We need each other more than ever."

"Master Natsu, what do you need from us?"

Natsu surveyed the area to ensue no one was listening in on their conversation before continuing in a low voice. "I need you all to take what Macao said seriously. We can't revert back to our original reckless behavior. Starting this morning, the first three hours of our day will be dedicated to training. I know this sounds brutal and impossible, but I plan on halving the time it took Erza to get promoted to S-Class. The three hour block every morning will have a five mile run, arranging into groups for sparring, followed up with water aerobics which we'll use the lake for. The Magic Coalition will be the beginning of this transgression. I said it before, but I know training like the back of my hand. If you listen to what I say, who knows? You might even surpass Erza in a couple of years. Everything applies to me also… I'll be training with you every step of the way."

The members at the table all fully agreed with their Guild Master. This was the only way to support Fairy Tail.

"Master Natsu, what you said to Gran Doma kind of makes sense now. I mean, the whole purpose for you training us is proof for the Magic Coalition that giving attention to mages will ensure that no other guild is placed in the same situation as we are. If our power as a guild was spread out more evenly, we wouldn't need to be struggling to take on quests that demand higher levels of magical potential. That way, we would actually be able to afford to pay off expenses. I guess the same is with the Magic Council actually interfering with guild affairs since the citizens of Fiore have realized the lack of that and begun to doubt their effectiveness because of how rowdy we could be in the past."

"Don't worry, they don't have to care about that anymore." Alzack scoffed. "We can't afford to file for bankruptcy if we destroy property. Then, the Magic Council would have reason to disband us. They win either way since if Master Natsu's title is revoked, our guild will automatically be disbanded."

"Yup, that's why training for the Magic Coalition is so important. We need to prove to them that we can benefit the guilds around Fiore if they all follow in our footsteps and divert their attention to their individual guildmates. If that's the case, they would be able to support themselves during a time of disaster. And the Magic Council? If the Magic Coalition doesn't like what I have to say, the Magic Council will get to remove me as Guild Master in a month from now and keep stability by diverting attention to other guilds, like we have to our Nakama, as a way to provide comfort in hopes no more destruction is caused. If everything somehow manages to play out and I stay Guild Master, they lose nothing considering I still have to behave from now on. I made a promise to them not to destroy anything else. Alzack is spot on." Natsu finished with a mutter.

"It's alright to be mad at them Master Natsu. They shouldn't have tricked us like that when they knew we're trying our hardest to support ourselves." Kinana encouraged.

"Honestly, that's the least of my concerns now. The thing is, Bisca made me realize that our problem extends much further than it already does."

"What do you mean?" Bisca responded.

"The problem here is that once we're done proving to the Magic Council that providing attention to individual guild mates is beneficial, we need to worry about ourselves. What will happen two years from now if we still don't have a way to pay off taxes and other expenses? Everything I'll have to say a month from now would be wrong if we still can't support our future. I mean, I can't just say that 'My Nakama trained really hard for the past month. If you do the same, you can send your guildmates on S-Class quests by themselves.' This is something that's obviously going to take time."

"But what about the Magic Coalition? Doesn't that matter most?"

"I was getting to that. Don't get me wrong, even though the Magic Council played us during the meeting, consider the Magic Coalition as a time to relax, meet other guilds, and interact with new people. Whatever we present there isn't going to be the final product. That will be accomplished over years of dedication to improve the state of Fairy Tail. Just know the future we have ahead of us. And if we meet people on the way ready to support ourselves during our journey together, we can welcome them to our family. But for the next few years, until we can stabilize our guild, everything is going according to how Gran Doma planned." Natsu spat the last part.

"It seems like Gran Doma is one step ahead of us…" Alzack sighed. "Now that it all makes sense, how are we going to convince the Magic Coalition that Natsu's system is better than the one that's been in place for 400 years?"

"Isn't that what we were doing all this morning? We've been training as proof that we can better our guild for the better if Guild Master's payed more attention to their guildmates." Bisca added.

Natsu simply leaned back in his chair, wiped the pizza sauce on his mouth, and responded. "Bingo. It all starts from that. I mean, starting this morning, we've been working on changing our guild's structure if it meant that we kept our family together. No surprise there, but that's the future we need to make sure happens. This isn't something I plan on doing for a day, then taking a week's break, and then maybe continue it in another week. We're doing this for all the reasons that lead us up to where we are right now starting from when I messed up my leg. Why should other guilds fight against that? Gran Doma might be Chariman of the Magic Council, but we have something that he doesn't: a family. We understand how to improve each other's flaws over time which could benefit Fiore if everyone else follows."

As the atmosphere began to lose its intensity, Bisca made another suggestion to Natsu as they diverted to another topic. "Master Natsu, please don't take this the wrong way, but Macao was the one to suggest that it was in our best interest to begin training for the Magic Coalition. You know? So we have proof that diverting attention to your guildmates can improve our state over time. That led to you realizing that even after the Magic Coalition, we still have to keep this up for the next two years in order to avoid any consequences that follow not being able to pay off taxes and expenses."

"What's so wrong about that?"

"Well, I was hoping that you would consider Macao as your advisor. He's been alive longer then you have, and he knows some things about magic that none of us have experienced yet. He would essentially be your second in command. He would be in charge of the guild when you had to tend to formal business outside the guild hall, he'd be the one in charge of training once we've gotten a grip on it, and he'd be there to give you advice. He's practically like your second father."

"Macao was the one to tell me that being Guild Master doesn't mean I have to work by myself. I'll bring it up with him, but he's the one with the final word." Natsu compromised.

This time, Alzack decided to respond. "Honestly, that could even serve as proof to the Magic Coalition to consider a new guild system. Guilds shouldn't just give more attention to all their mages, but should constantly be improving their futures together. That way, Guild Masters don't have to worry about the state of the guild when they're away. I mean, look what happened when Master Makarov vanished with the rest of the Tenrou Group. We were arguing so much over who would be the next Guild Master, I thought we would be forced to disband for not choosing someone! If it weren't for Master Natsu, I don't know where we'd be..."

Natsu began to process everything again before responded. He hoped to lighten the somber mood that Alzack introduced. "Great thinking guys. We'll definitely bring up everything we've learned with the Magic Coalition. Not only that, but I'm feeling pretty good about the next couple of years until I'll need to choose more S-Class mages. Just remember that both these things start with training. Now we just have to hope that the Magic Coalition agrees with us and doesn't think this is all farfetched."

"Just remember Master Natsu, you won't be choosing for long. Me and Alzack will be your S-Class mages. You can count on it!" Bisca joked with a wink.

"We'll see." Natsu smirked in response.

The group had long finished the pizza that they purchased. Bisca stood up to throw the box away before gesturing for the group to follow her. "You guys finished yet? We've still got to get Master Natsu a new desk. Then we can check back at Men and Mages to see if his outfit is done."

Kinana simply nodded before Alzack and Natsu shrugged. "Sounds good to me." They responded while standing up.

"The office store isn't too far from where the pizza place was. It's actually a couple stores down from where the department stores are." Bisca stated as the group began to walk through the streets of Magnolia again. This time, back towards Kardia Catherdal.

"Will they have something to make my office look less simple? There's going to be a lot of work to catch up on." Natsu frowned.

"They've bound to. The place we're visiting is called Home and Office and their craftsman handcrafts everything there. Actually, you can see the store right over there." Bisca pointed out as the group passed by the department stores.

The Home and Office store was connected to a couple small business grocery stores and was closest to Kardia Cathedral. The exterior was very simple only having a front entrance with a small staircase leading up to it. Next to the entrance was a wooden sign that read "Home and Office" welcoming those to enter. Bisca led the group up the staircase and into the store where they were welcomed by an elderly man who was polishing the front counter.

"Welcome to Home and Office. Is there anything you're looking for in particular?" The elderly man asked as he dusted off his apron.

Natsu stepped forward from the group to respond. "Hey, I'm looking for a new desk for my office along with some supplies. My old desk in there was too simple and wouldn't be able to keep up with my new work load."

"Ah! So, you're looking for some of everything I see. Our office supplies are right here in the front of the store. Most people who come in here generally shop for basic items like pens, parchment, and small office accessories which are easily at this end. As you move towards the rear of the store, you'll find more larger objects such as desks. The most expensive and elaborate desks line the back of the store. All of our desks are handmade by our master wood craftsman. Please feel free to call me if you need any assistance." The elderly man smiled before returning to behind the counter off to the right.

"Thanks for your help." Natsu returned the smile before making a beeline to the rear of the store. The rest of his group trailed behind him and admired the handwork that was for sale before coming to the back wall lined with wooden desks. Natsu's eyes darted towards a large desk at the mid rear end of the store that had its own raised platform. An English Cabinet Partners' Desk was atop it. The desk had a sign off to the side which read the details.

"Legal and Letter Hanging Folders.

Serpentine leather top.

Three drawers above.

Three further drawers to each pedestal.

Lockable side cabinets.

Adjustable shelf.

Collection: The English Cabinet Maker.

Style: Regency.

Materials: Flame Walnut, Rosewood Veneer, Leather."

Natsu simply admired it from different angles before speaking. "It's perfect!"

Alzack responded as he also began to observe the masterpiece. "It is a pretty neat desk… But there isn't a price tag."

This went unnoticed by the elderly man who made his way to the group. "I assume you've found something that caught your interest?"

Natsu immediately turned around to face him. "You bet! How much for the one on that platform?"

The old man instantly became flustered. "I'm so sorry! But that desk is merely for display! We've never had someone willing to purchase it."

"How bad can it be? Just tell me the price and I'm sure we can work something out."

"Well, that's the reason no one wants to purchase it. It's valued at 100,000 Jewels." The man blatantly stated. Kinana's Jaw went completely slack upon hearing this.

What Natsu said next nearly caused the elderly man to pass out. "Done deal! I'll pay in cash right after I head to the front of the store to pick out some other supplies."

Instead of objecting, the elderly man simply removed the sign off to the side and went back to the front of the store to remove the item from their inventory. He didn't want the Dragon Slayer to change his mind. Natsu and his group then made their way to the front of the store again to check out what other supplies they had.

Alzack, who was still to stunned by the amount of money Natsu was willing to spend, began to speak. "Wh- What other stuff are you going to purchase?"

"Just some pens, envelopes, and paper. I'll order shipments of those also and have them sent to the guild next week when we get my desk and issues of Sorcerer Magazine." He finished before gesturing for them to follow him to the front counter.

"Master Natsu, don't forget that you also have to pay for your outfit you purchased from Men and Mages." Bisca warned.

"Don't worry about that. I have tons of money still left over. It's all from my quests I went on with Team Natsu. I never had a reason to spend any of it since I always wore the same outfit. Plus, I only had to pay for food and property expenses." Natsu stated before turning his attention to the elderly man. "So I'll be purchasing the desk, and an order of pens, envelopes, and paper."

"Will- Will that be all?" The man stuttered.

"Aye sir! Please make the entire shipment out to the Fairy Tail Guild hall."

"The total will be 100,750 Jewels." The man said as he began to process the order. Natsu took out a stack of bills from his pocket and began to shell them onto the counter.

The elderly man confirmed he was payed the correct amount before responding. "Thu- Thank you for your business. Your shipment will arrive next week once we're able to transfer your purchase." He stated while handing Natsu his receipt.

"Thanks for helping us!" Natsu replied before the group followed him out of the store.

The sun was beginning to set over the horizon of Magnolia Town. Bisca began to lead Natsu, Alzack, and Kinana back to Men and Mages in order to finish their shopping for the day. She looked over her shoulder to speak to the group behind her. "We're going to finish just in time! Now all we have to do is pick up Master Natsu's outfit and we can call it a day."

"Good thing to. All of us are going to need as much rest as we can get for tomorrow morning." Natsu stated while leaning his head back into his folded arms.

"Umm… Master Natsu?"

"What's up Kinana?" He replied.

"Does the training apply to Romeo and me?" She worriedly asked.

Natsu unfolded his arms so he could put a comforting grip on her shoulder. "Are you afraid that it's going to be too much for you to handle?"

"Mhhhmmm. We really want to help Fairy Tail, but we can't even use magic in the first place. What if we can't handle the training?"

"Kinana, don't you say that. The training sounds difficult, and it is. I'm not going to lie to you. For the first week, just worry on completing everything I tell you to. It doesn't matter if you take more than an hour to complete the five mile run. It doesn't matter if you can't use magic to spar. Hell, maybe you could be the worst swimmer here. But isn't that why we're training in the first place? We're trying to improve on that! One day, you'll learn to use magic. And you know what? All the training will pay off since you won't have to catch up!" Natsu smiled down at her before looking back up to Alzack and Bisca who were paying attention to him. "That includes all of us. The first week, just worry on trying your best. What I'm trying to say is don't be inconsistent. Keep your pace for the entire five mile run instead of sprinting, stopping, sprinting, and repeating the process. By the time we get more information on the Magic Coalition, I'll expect improvements from you guys." He finished before placing his arms behind his head again.

Bisca joked as the group began to approach the entrance to the workshop. "Thanks for the clarification Master Natsu. I feel a lot better knowing you're not here to ruin our lives. Anyways, are you ready to go inside?"

"Let's do it! Time to see how my new outfit looks on me!" Natsu declared as the group entered.

Since it was the end of the day, the workshop war nearly empty aside from a handful of last minute shoppers purchasing their items. Natsu and his friends approached a clerk who was behind the counter ready to help them.

"Hey, I'm here to pick up an order that I placed this morning from Men and Mages. The person who helped me was Jasmine… Is she still here?" Natsu looked around hoping he could find the woman that assisted him this morning.

"I'm sorry, but she left an hour ago. If you could give me your order number, I'd be happy to get it for you."

"Sure thing." Natsu replied while pulling out the slip of paper Jasmine gave him and handed it to the clerk. "Here it is."

"Thank you. Let me see if it's ready for pickup." The woman replied before kneeling down. She scanned the shelve below the counter for an item with the order number that Natsu handed her. She then reached out to grab a large grey bag with a note on it before rising back up to hand it to Natsu. "Mister Dragneel?" She questioned out loud.

"That's me!"

"Jasmine told me that she added some properties to your outfit in specific. They're all on this note here. I'll notify you of what they are if you are satisfied with your order. Everything you requested is this bag. You can try your outfit on in the changing room off to the right side." The woman smiled while tearing off the note with the properties listed. She then handed the bag to Natsu who made his was to the changing rooms off to the side.

Bisca called out to him as she made her way with Alzack and Kinana to the side. "We'll be right here when you're finished!" She called out. Natsu simply held up his hand in response before he entered the isolated rooms.


A couple of minutes had passed since Natsu entered the changing room. His wrinkled clothes were off to the side and he was currently standing in front of a body mirror while wearing his new outfit. Everything about what he ordered matched the description he gave perfectly.

His charcoal jeans were loose enough to provide him with mobility, but they fit snug around him.

Even though Jasmine recommended he swapped out the black T-Shirt that he suggested with a piece of chainmail armor for his chest, she still included it as an undershirt. And just like she promised, the piece of chainmail kept him completely mobile while providing him with a sense of security.

The centerpiece to his outfit was by far the most impressive item. It was a red cloak with black trim that separated into five pieces just below his knees. Two of the pieces were next to his sides while the other three surrounded his back half of his body. The cloak tightened slightly at his waist before parting a small amount towards shoulders. The cloak was able to be fastened around his neck by the lapels to hold it in place. The most interesting feature to the outfit, however, was a hawklike creature with bright red, orange, and yellow plumage sewed onto the upper right part of the cloak's chest. Natsu still had no idea what it resembled.

Lastly, Jasmine was kind enough to provide him with a pair of black, silk socks that accompanied his black combat boots. Everything was made of extremely comfortable, fine, yet durable material. The Dragon Slayer tossed his old clothes into the grey bag before returning to the main workshop.

When Natsu exited the changing rooms, he was swarmed by his group who wanted to admire his new outfit. Alzack whistled out loud as he examined the Dragon Slayer. "Whew! Jasmine sure knew what she was doing! You look like a total badass! I sure wouldn't want to mess with you."

Bisca added to Alzack's comment. "He's right. That outfit matches you perfectly! That's just what you needed to fit your new title as Guild Master."

Kinana shyly spoke from besides them. "It looks really cool Master Natsu. Romeo is going to freak out when he sees it." She blushed.

"Aww, thanks guys." Natsu stated while ruffling Kinana's hair. "Now it's time to see how much I have to pay." He finished while leading the group to the woman who gave him his outfit to try on.

As he approached the counter, Natsu noticed that the clerk was already helping another girl who arrived while he was in the changing room. Bisca immediately recognized the girl and leaned in to whisper to him. "Well, Well, Well. Look who it is Master Natsu." She joked while gesturing to the girl standing in front of the counter.

Standing in front of the group was the same girl that Natsu bumped into this afternoon while confirming his order with Jasmine. The clerk momentarily diverted her attention from the girl to address Natsu. "Please give me a few moments. I'm just going to fetch this customer's order from the workshop." She said before entering the back room.

The group was now left alone behind the girl in line. Natsu separated from Bisca's side without a word and left her and the rest of the group. He then approached the girl from the side and noticed her figure. She was slim yet had a bust that was sizeable and still developing. All the while Natsu still couldn't identify any sort of emotion coming from her.

Another smirk began to plaster across Bisca's face. "Master Natsu, you could have just asked for some privacy. Don't worry though, I understand." She thought to herself before speaking out loud. "Hey Alzack and Kinana? We should probably move off to the side and let Natsu stand in line by himself. The workshop is going to close soon so we should probably make room for other people to move around more easily."

Natsu noticed that his Nakama were moving off to the side. "Why'd Bisca leave me here by myself? I swear, she acts really weird when I'm around this girl for some reason." He then began to speak once he knew for sure that the girl knew he was beside her. "'Hey… Aren't you that girl I bumped into earlier?"

The girl responded after a moment. "I suppose." She calmly replied while staring ahead.

"The woman that helped us earlier this afternoon said that you ordered a sword, eh?"

"Yes. I specialize in swordsmanship."

"That's cool. Yah know, a friend of mine used to be considered the greatest mage of Sword Magic in Fiore."

This intrigued the girl standing next to him. "Who might that be?" She said while turning to face him.

"Have you heard of Erza Titania Scarlet before?"

"I have. An acquaintance of mine told me about her not too long ago."

"Yup. That's her! Now that I think of it, you remind me a bit of her considering you practice swordsmanship."

"Yes. We are both mages and we both practice swordsmanship. However, unlike Titania, I do not use Sword Magic. The sword that I have ordered is rather an item that I have invested much of my magical potential into."

"That's cool! So what's the reason for you getting a new sword? Did Erza inspire you?"

Instead of Natsu receiving another emotionless response as expected, he was given one with bitterness. "That is none of your concern." The girl snapped.

This caused Natsu to flinch. "I'm- I'm sorry if something I said made you angry. I just thought that since you heard about Erza recently, she was the reason for you-"

"In no way was she the reason for me ordering a new sword. Your accusations are short minded, and you obviously are still pressing the subject. I suggest you leave before you make your situation worse for yourself." The girl interrupted with hostility.

Bisca overheard the change in mood of Natsu's conversation. Just as she was about to intervene and defend her Guild Master, the clerk came back with the girl's order. "Excuse me? Here's your sword just as promised! Now it's just a matter of payment." The woman said as she glanced at the computer next to her after handing the girl her order. "The total will be 500,000 Jewels."

"Of course." The girl responded while taking out her purse for payment. As she began to shell the Jewels out on the counter, Natsu was taken back by the second change in emotion that he expected not to exist within the girl standing beside him: slight fear as her eyes widened. "I am afraid that I am 10,000 Jewels short. May I please pay with the 400,000 Jewels in my possession along with a 100,000 Jewel note?"

"I'm sorry young lady, but my policies forbid notes over 50,000 Jewels. If you are unable to pay for the sword, I'm afraid I must put it up for sale, since our workshop will be closing in a couple of minutes." She insisted while reaching out for the sword in the girl's hands.

The girl clutched it towards her chest before responding with a quivering voice. "Would you mind reserving it for me until tomorrow morning? I'll be able to bring proper change tomorrow." She begged as she couldn't bare losing her most valued possession.

Natsu overheard the girl's conversation and took a 10,000 Jewel note from his pocket before the atmosphere could escalate. He then placed it beside the stack of money that the girl already shelled out on the counter before speaking. "Now that her sword is payed for, could I please purchase my outfit."

The woman hesitated before responding. When she realized that Natsu was paying for the remainder of the sword, she spoke out loud. "Yes sir!" The woman stated in relief as she diverted her attention to the money on the counter and put it into the cash register. She was thankful for the Dragon slayer diffusing the situation before she had to deal with a tearful customer. The girl, on the other hand, was too shocked from Natsu's actions to respond considering the way she treated him before. All she could do was listen to the conversation that began to unfold. The woman behind the counter began to tend to Natsu. "Is everything to your liking?"

"Absolutely."

"Then here are the properties that Jasmine added. First off, your outfit is resistant to magic, so you don't have to worry about ripping it. Second, she noted that your Guild Mark is on your upper right shoulder. If you concentrate your magic to that location on your clothing, it will go transparent allowing your guild mark to be visible as proof of membership. It keeps you from looking unprofessional by needing to roll up your sleeve as proof of your guild's membership."

"Wuh-Wow… That's some real neat stuff. I have one question though. Did she say what this weird bird thing on the chest is?"

"OH! Yes, Jasmine said that's a Firebird."

"A Firebird?"

"Yes… Did she tell you how her daughter is a really big fan of your guild?"

"Yup."

"Well, Jasmine found her daughter crying in her room around a week ago. I'm sorry for bringing this up, but when Jasmine asked her daughter why she was crying, it was because some of her favorite Fairy Tail members had passed away in a tragic accident."

Natsu went slightly somber upon hearing this. "Yeah… That's what happened."

"But that's the reason Jasmine added that bird on your right chest! It's said that the Firebird is a mythical creature with feathers that never stop glowing. Even when it loses one, the feather is able to light up a house for eternity. When Jasmine saw energetic and happy you were after you stated you were a Fairy Tail member, she assumed you were getting over the loss of your friends: in the case of the feathers, you continue to glow brightly."

"Wow… That's deep." Natsu dumbly replied in awe.

"She hoped you would like the small addition. Unfortunately, it's almost closing time. Is there anything else you need?"

"That'll be all."

"Then your payment adds to 80,000 Jewels. I could tack on an extra 2,000 Jewels if you would you like an extra shipment of your outfit to be mailed too your address next week." She offered.

"That'll be perfect."

"Then your total comes to 82,000 Jewels."

Natsu shelled out the correct bill before the woman behind the counter printed out his receipt to hand to him. Natsu thanked the woman for her time before leaving the store with his group in order to call it a day. After all, he still needed to clean out Master Makarov's office of his old possessions.

The woman then redirected her attention towards the girl once Natsu's group left the workshop. "My apologies for the wait with your sword. Our blacksmiths nearly forgot to forge that metallic chain you wanted attached to the hilt."

"That is quite alright. Thank you for your time..." The girl stated with an ever so slight frown. Even though she managed to compose her exterior, she felt a tinge of guilt from lashing out at the person who was the reason her most valued possession now belonged to her. Not only that, but she also was slightly fascinated by him. "He's apart of the Fairy Tail guild...? I... I didn't even get to know his name. According to this woman, his closest friends passed away and yet he's so compassionate and selfless." The girl began to lower her head as even more embarrassment washed over her.

She regained the last of her composure then ran out into the streets of Magnolia to see if he was still wandering around the area: but to no avail. The man and his group were no longer in sight. Instead, the beautiful girl sighed and held up her sheathed sword to the setting sun behind Kardia Cathedral. The rays of the sun shone on the metallic chain that was attached to sword's handguard wrapped in bandages. She then read the one word engraved into the chain out loud to herself. "Archenemy."


Thank you for your time!

Author's Note: Surprise, surprise, surprise. I just didn't want you guys thinking that I forgot about her. When will she come back? Stick around to find out.

There's nothing much that really needs to be restated. The only thing you should take away is that Bisca made Natsu realize that the whole situation with the Magic Council extends further than what they'll face at the Magic Coalition: so much to the point where she recommended that Macao be Natsu's advisor over the guild hall.

That being said, I might even stop the second Author's Note at the end until we get to the next arc seeing as they're getting shorter and shorter. With that out of the way, I hope to see you all soon!