"WE'RE BAAAACK!" Natsu yelled, bursting through the guild doors with the rest of the crew, minus Musica's gang buddies who were off getting the supplies and fixing up the ship, which was partially destroyed by Natsu himself.
"Welcome back!" Mira told them with her usual kind smile. "Done collecting Rave already?" Makarov asked, sitting on a stool and smoking a pipe. "Only got 1 more so far..Passing by to get to Symphonia and decided to drop in." Haru answered. "Oh..That's still pretty good." Makarov complimented.
"Perfect place to get some supplies and rest too..Not to mention the ladies.." Musica grinned. "You'll never change, will you?" Cana asked, drinking from a barrel as usual. "What do you think?" He mocked.
"As long as you don't touch nee-chan..Because I'll make you regret it.." Elfman warned. "Relax big guy..And we both know I'd make a great brother in law for you..Not to mention the best wing-man." Musica patted his back.
"But I'm still not sure if you're a real man or not yet.." Elfman turned around to look at Musica but saw he was gone..And had an arm around Mira, walking away with her. "GRRR HEY!" Elfman roared. "GET BACK HERE, SILVER CLAIMING WOMANIZER!"
"So Haru, how was the journey for that Rave Stone?" Makarov asked. "Oh..Man, a lot of stuff happened.." Haru said, sitting down. "Go on and explain." Makarov said, curious like the other listening guild members.
"I'll get Erza to tell you her part of the story later but as for me..I met up with my old man.." Haru explained, inhaling some air. "Your old man?" Makarov inquired. "Gale Glory." Haru stated. "GAAALE!? YOUR FATHER IS GALE GLORY!? How could I not have seen the resemblance.." Makarov realized.
"You know my dad?" Haru asked. "Yes..Very well, in fact. We used to be good ol' gambling buddies before he went and created DC..He even wanted me to join..In fact, we had a bet on a coin toss. Heads, I'd go with him into DC, and tails, he'd erase my debt to him. Lost lots of money to that lucky bastard..Needless to say, I won..And used that money to rebuild the guild."
"Haha..That so?" Haru asked, with slight sorrow in his voice. "How's he doing? How come he never came with you here? Still having better luck than me probably!" Makarov laughed. "He died." Haru stated bluntly. "..But he was so strong.." Makarov gasped. "Oh Haru..I'm so sorry.." Makarov apologized.
"It's alright. He gave his life to protect me and died with a smile on his face." Haru said with a smile, looking at Elie who was happily talking to the other guild members and cheerfully laughing along side Lucy and Erza. "She pulled me through it..She's the reason I'm not sitting here crying while remembering him..She really is amazing.." Haru sighed.
"All of you are." Makarov said with a smile, proud of all his children. "We faced DC's leader..Who actually wasn't so much of a bad guy..He just lost sight of what was right…That overdrive that happened last month..He used it to destroy DC headquarters before he died as well." Haru explained King's actions. "So that's what happened.." Makarov took in all the info.
"That's pretty much it..Oh yeah..We got a new comrade." Haru remembered. "Oh? Where is he?" Makarov asked, looking around. "Right here." Let answered as a piece of camouflage fell from in front of him, revealing the dragonoid leaning against the wall. "WOAH!" Makarov jumped out of his seat.
"So this is the guild Natsu was talking about..It is rather..Lively." Let noticed, looking around at all the sights. Cana drinking, Elfman chasing Musica, Gray being yelled at for stripping, and Erza scaring people. Only thing missing was Natsu's violent outbursts for a fight, but he was still too sick from the trip here, as well as eating Etherion. He was resting his head against a table, not touching his food.
"What happened to Natsu?" Mira asked. "Food poisoning." Haru told her. "And now that you mention it Let..It's a bit louder here than usual, with Natsu out at least.." Haru noticed. "We are preparing for the Harvest Festival." Makarov answered. "Harvest Festival?" Let asked.
"Annual festival we hold here..Fantasia Parade where our guild takes part.." Makarov answered. "I see..Sounds boring.." Let concluded. "Not at all..Be sure to watch it so you'll know you're wrong." Makarov told Let, who shrugged.
"So Haru," Wakaba began as he gave Haru a light nudge. "How's it going with Elie?" He asked. "Good…" Haru answered. "You get to the fun part yet?" Macao asked, joining in on the fun. "What do you mean?" Haru asked, oblivious.
"Oh you know..The intimate baby making~" Wakaba told him with a smile. "B-Baby making?" Haru stuttered, turning red. The surrounding guild members laughed. "You'd better hurry up and get to it, Romeo needs a play mate." Macao winked.
"S-Shut up!" Haru yelled, flustered. "Ahahaha!" The guild members laughed loudly, enjoying Haru's shyness. "What's so funny everyone?" Elie asked, walking towards Haru, who gulped. "Oh nothing, we were just talking to Haru about your-"
"ABOUT OUR ADVENTURE!" Haru yelled in panic, making Elie wince. "Why are you yelling so loud?" She asked. "NO REASON! NO REASON AT ALL! NOW, WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE FAST!" Haru quickly grabbed her by the hand and prepared to run away, not wanting to get her involved with this topic.
"Why are you acting so weird?" Elie asked, staying put where she was as Haru sighed, noticing everyone else's perverted grins. They were going to do the exact same thing. Can't really blame them though, making Haru and Elie nervous about each other was one of the guild's favorite jokes, always making for a good laugh.
"So Elie," Wakaba began but was interrupted by Let. "Haru, something's not right." He declared, getting their attention. "What's wrong?" Elie asked. "I smell blood." Let told them, sniffing.
-A Little Bit Away From the Guild, Some Time Later—
"Come on, that can't be your limit!" Jet yelled at Gajeel as he got up, rubbing his cheek. "Yeah, you destroyed our guild and attacked us!" Droy yelled as well. "We're not done beating you yet!" They both yelled. "Stop it guys..I'm over that.." Levi pleaded. "And you still have the balls to join our guild and take our jobs.." They asked as Gajeel did not answer. Gajeel was covered in minor scratches and bruises, clearly having taken a little bit of a beating.
"Being picked on?" A voice called from behind as Laxus walked forward with an angry look on his face. "So you're the little punk who messed up the guild in my absence..And the old fart let you join for some lame reason?" Laxus asked, clearly pissed off. Jet and Droy backed up, afraid.
"It's because of you we're looked down on now..IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" Laxus roared as he waved his arm and a bolt of lightning stuck Gajeel as he grunted. "DAMNIT IT!" Laxus roared again, blasting Gajeel once more.
"Stop Laxus, you're going too far!" Levi shouted. "Against Laxus, he has to fight or he'll die!" Droy yelled. "So why isn't he..Could it be.." The duo gasped. "He wanted us to recognize him as nakama so he's not fighting back and accepting the attacks.." Levi stated.
"Why don't you just die!? I'll kill anyone who goes against Fairy Tail!" Laxus screamed, kicking Gajeel in the stomach with lightning infused kicks. "THAT'S ENOUGH, LAXUS! GAJEEL'S ONE OF US NOW!" Levi yelled. "SHUT UP! LITTLE NOBODIES SHOULD JUST BE QUIET!" Laxus shouted as he turned around, firing some lightning towards Levi.
"GAH!" Gajeel grunted, leaping in front of Levi and taking the blast to his gut, coughing up some blood but standing his ground, having shielded Levi. "Gajeel.." She said in awe. "He.." Jet trailed off. "Protected Levi.." Droy finished.
"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" Laxus yelled as he fired an even bigger shot of lightning aimed at Gajeel. "HAH!" Haru jumped in the way and cut the blast with Rune Save, absorbing it as he landed on one knee. "You were right, Let.." He commented, getting up. "My nose never lies." Let nodded.
"You again.." Laxus growled at Haru, remembering their last encounter. "Always bullying people, aren't you?" Haru asked, on guard. "Brats should stay out of grown up business." Laxus sneered. "You aren't as high and mighty as you think!" Elie mocked.
"The mouthy little weakling as well.." Laxus said, annoyed. "The real weak ones are those who try to attack the defenseless." Musica shot back. "Then how about I attack you instead?" Laxus popped his knuckles.
"If it's battle you want, I'd be more than happy to oblige." Let offered. "Another newbie? What is this, a day care for weaklings now?" Laxus asked as Let took a step forward, but was stopped by Haru who just stared at Laxus in silence for a moment. "Hmph.." Laxus turned around and began walking. "I don't have time to waste on you pieces of trash."
He kept walking, now out of view. 'Useless…Fairy Tail..This isn't the guild I want..FAIRY TAIL IS MINE!' He screamed, in his mind.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way now. Got a job to do." Gajeel said as he grabbed his bag and began walking. "But you-" Levi began but Gajeel cut her off. "I'm fine."
"Tough guy, isn't he?" Musica laughed. "More than you know.." Haru said with a little bit of fear on his face as he nodded to his Rune Save, which was smoking. "Even my Rune Save was barely able to absorb that attack.." He said as they all gulped.
"Who cares, he's gone now..Onto more urgent matters.." Musica put arm around Levi. "Let's go get something to eat.." He said as they began walking away, receiving death threats by Jet and Droy and sighs from the others.
-Later, Lucy's Apartment—
"Ahh, I needed that." Lucy stretched as she walked out of the shower and into the main room, wearing nothing but a towel. "Nice outfit." Musica complimented. "Thank yo-WHAAAT!?" She screamed, looking to see almost the entire crew sitting there, minus Natsu who was sleeping in her bed, still sick.
"WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING HERE!?" She shouted. "We heard you were in the shower, so we just let ourselves in." Haru told her, bluntly. "YOU CAN'T JUST BREAK IN LIKE THAT!" Lucy screamed. "THAT'S TRESSPASSING!"
"You're out of milk, by the way." Gray told her, finishing up a bottle of milk, wearing just his underwear. "WHY DO YOU ALWAYSS BREAK IN AND RAIDE MY FRIDGE! AND WHILE STRIPPED DOWN TOO!" Lucy shouted, grabbing some clothes and quickly changing in the other room.
"This has happened before?" Let asked, his camouflage cloth falling from the wall, as he leaned on it, behind Lucy, as she screamed in fear. "4 times." Erza answered. "Aye!" Happy added. "DON'T SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT!" Lucy shouted, attempting to smack let.
Let simply flipped over her, out of the way as she hit her hand against the wall. "OUCH!"
"My my..What do we have here.." Musica lifted up some of Lucy's skimpy underwear from her drawer. "Quite fancy.." He complimented, being kicked in the head and sent flying by Lucy. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?"
"You have a nice place though." Elie laughed, as Lucy sighed. "Is there any real reason you guys came here?" She asked. "This." Happy answered, reaching into his tiny bag and pulling out a poster of sorts, handing it to Lucy.
"Miss Fairy Tail..Beauty pageant..WINNER GETS 500,000!" She exclaimed. "Me and Erza are both entering!" Elie cheered, as Lucy instantly became depressed. "Going up against you two.." She sobbed.
"But you aren't part of the guild, Elie.." Musica realized as Lucy's frown became a smile. "That's what you think!" Elie showed them her arm that had Fairy Tail's sign right under her 'Elie' tattoo. Lucy's smile became a frown again.
"When did this happen?" Haru asked. "When Mira told me about the contest! I thought it'd be fun if we all competed together!" She smiled. "Yeah..Fun.." Lucy sighed.
"If I win, you can have the money." Elie patted her back. "..All of it?" Lucy asked, looking up with perked ears. "Well..Most of it..I'll probably buy some clothes with it first.." Elie giggled. "You could probably make that much with one hour at a casino anyway." Haru chuckled.
"Hour? I was guessing 30 minutes." Gray said. "An hour with Haru slowing her down with his stupidity." Musica told him as they both laughed. "Shut up!" Haru growled.
"But we should get going now." Erza stood up. "See you at the contest, Lucy." The gang stood up and began walking away, Let carrying Natsu. "Musica." Lucy called, as Musica turned around. "Yeah?" He asked innocently. "Underwear." Lucy demanded, raising her hand.
"..Tch, thought you wouldn't notice. Good eye.." Musica sighed, handing her back the underwear. "Make sure to wear those at the contest tomorrow!" Musica gave her a wink before running away, shutting the door behind him, but still hearing Lucy yelling from behind it as he laughed.
-The Next Day, At the Contest—
"Come on Let, we're late!" Haru shouted at his new comrade. "I don't want to go. I'd rather train." Let responded. "It'll be fun! And we have to cheer on Elie!" Haru argued. "Tch..Better not take very long..Where is Musica?" Let asked.
"Probably already there. Wouldn't surprise me if he camped out all night just to get a good spot." Haru laughed as they came onto the scene. "We're pretty late…" Haru realized as he looked around, trying to find Musica. "Don't expect me to watch." Let declared, facing away from the stage stubbornly.
"NOW! CONTESTANT NUMBER 6! THE STRONGEST WOMAN IN FAIRY TAIL…ERZA SCARLET!" Max announced as Erza stepped onto the stage with a smirk. "I'll let you witness a special exquip I keep in reserve.." Erza said as she equipped herself into a Goth loli outfit, receiving applaud and cheers.
Let coughed uncomfortably, having snuck a peek. "Maybe this isn't as boring as I thought it'd be.." He admitted, facing the stage now, letting his male nature take over. "Whoa..That's…Really out of character for Erza.." Haru muttered, blushing a bit, but then shook his head quickly. "No! I have to support Elie!"
"You're both perverts!" Happy laughed as he flew above them. "Isn't everyone here? Especially the judg-.." Haru trailed off, looking at the judges. "Nice touch with trying to match Lucy's underwear..Still not as skimpy though.." Musica complimented.
"HE'S A JUDGE!?" Haru screamed in shock as Musica turned around and waved at him with a wink. "Wouldn't this give Elie an advantage?" Let asked. "No..She's taken by me so no doubt Musica will try impressing one of the single ones.." Haru answered with a sigh. "It's actually a disadvantage."
"Contestant number 7! She may be the newest edition, but she's definitely a beauty! Here's Elie!" Max announced. "COME ON ELIE!" Haru cheered, like Fairy Tail, as she walked onto the stage, and his jaw instantly dropped. She was wearing a police woman outfit with a short leather skirt and a tight blouse, which had the top two buttons open. She adjusted the hat on her head, before drawing her Tonfa Blasters.
She fired some shots with into the air and then blew the smoke off of her blasters before kissing one of the tips seductively. "Make sure to follow the law, or I'll have to punish you~" She moaned with a wink, before putting the blasters back into her holsters. "Okay?" She asked with a giggle.
"OOOOHHHH!" The crowd cheered loudly, as they all clapped as hard as they could. "REEDUSSSS! DRAW IIT!" Makarov ordered the artist. "O-Oiu.." He answered, trying to draw what they had just seen.
"That was..Surprising.." Let remarked, trying to hide his blush. "Right?" He asked Haru, who did not respond. "Haru?" He asked, turning to look at Haru, who still didn't respond. "You okay?" He asked as foam began falling from Haru's mouth as his eyes became swirls and his entire body turned red, smoke rising from it as he staggered, dizzy and light headed.
"I think he's broken." Gray laughed. "Aye sir!" Happy agreed. "A..sqon...dua...fhjahd..." Haru muttered, unable to even say a legible word. "His purity and lust seem to be clashing, and this is the result." Let deducted.
"Next contestant..The member who joined just before Elie..Can she top that performance!? LUCY HE-" Max began but was cut off as Lucy ran onto the stage. "NOOO DON'T SAY MY LAST NAME!" She shouted as the audience laughed. "Come on..Please be wearing those panties.." Musica prayed under his breath.
Lucy waved to the stage, dressed in a cheerleader outfit with a nervous grin. Musica was focused solely on trying to see up her skirt. "I'm gonna do a cheer with my celestial spirits.." Lucy told the audience, but was interrupted by someone else coming to the stage. "Number 9." She announced cockily.
"Eh? But I haven't even started yet.." Lucy argued as she turned around to face the intruder. She was Evergreen, the only female of the three person Raijinshuu. The crowd suddenly grew uneasy. "If you talk about fairy then it's me. If you talk about beauty, then it's me. That's right, it's all me!" She boasted arrogantly.
"The champion will definitely be me, so let's just end this boring contest right here!" Evergreen declared. "Hey! This contest concerns my living!" Lucy shouted. "DON'T LOOK INTO HER EYES!" Elfman yelled, but it was too late.
Lucy had already looked into Evergreen's eyes and just as suddenly turned into a stone statue, completely immobile. "GET AWAY EVERYBODY!" Max screamed into the microphone, as almost all of the audience quickly made a run for it.
"TURN HER BACK!" Musica shouted in anger. "IF ONLY JUST FOR A SECOND..I JUST NEED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF UNDERWEAR SHE'S WEARING.."
"Doesn't every festival have a main show?" Evergreen asked, ignoring Musica as she ripped off the curtains to the backstage, revealing all the other contestants as stone statues as well. "Haaaaahhhhh…." Haru muttered, still in his swirly eyed daze, having no idea of what was going on.
"You fool! Turn them back to norma-" Makarov ordered, but was cut off by a lightning bolt striking the stage, as Laxus appeared, accompanied by Freed and Bixlow, the other two members of the Raijinshuu. "How about we play a little game, old man?" Laxus asked.
"WAH!" Haru gasped, snapping out of his trance due to the strike of lightning. "Did I black out..? I don't remember a thing.." Haru rubbed his head, and then looked to the stage in horror. "WOAH! HOW LONG WAS I OUT FOR!? WHAT'S GOING ON!?"
"Don't worry geezer..We can still see fantasia if you hurry up.." Laxus grinned and raised his hand to the sky and brought it down, as a lightning bolt came down, directed towards Elie.
"ELIE!" Haru screamed and jumped forward, but was stopped by Let as the lightning bolt struck the ground beside her, leaving her unharmed. "Oho..So you could read the path of the lightning.." Laxus grinned.
"I'm taking these girls as hostages." Laxus declared, putting one of his arms around the stone Elie. "GET YOUR ARM OFF OF HER!" Haru growled as Laxus laughed boastfully.
"You got it." Laxus removed his arm and smirked. "But I'll be doing much worse than just touching them if you break the rules of this game."
"Game?" Musica asked, standing up. "What's your twisted mind thinking?" He asked as Laxus chuckled. "Very simple..Every member of Fairy Tail will fight in a battle royal, and the last one standing wins! The battle field is the entire city!" Laxus announced.
"HA!" Natsu burst up as he punched the table that he was napping under, sending it sky high. "Sounds good to me..I'm pumped up!" He grinned.
"I'm not done yet." Laxus said, mocking Natsu by ignoring him as Natsu scowled in anger. "The time limit is 3 hours. If all of you manage to defeat the 4 of us, Evergreen'll turn the girls back to normal. If you can't, then they will be destroyed."
"Why are you doing this!?" Makarov roared at his grandson. "Because there's an alternative to all this." Laxus smirked. "Retire as master and hand Fairy Tail over to me, and I'll stop."
"That's what all this is about!?" Gray yelled. "All so you can steal the spot of Master!?" Elfman shouted. Makarov clenched his fist, glaring at Laxus with anger.
"I'm not a little brat anymore, old man. You can't scare me with that look now. Oh, and I'll repeat myself..EVERY MEMBER OF FAIRY TAIL WILL FIGHT!" Laxus raised his voice, looking right at Haru, Musica, and Let with a smile.
"Scared?" Musica barked back. "It seems he knows he can't beat us." Let taunted. "Don't flatter yourselves. There's no point in wasting our time with you guys when you're just pathetic little free loaders." Laxus responded.
"That so.." Haru replied. "Jii-san..I know Mira's usually in charge of this stuff but.." Haru took a step forward, looking right into Laxus' eyes with a wide grin. Musica and Let stood behind him, also grinning, knowing what Haru was going to say.
"Give us the guild stamp." They said together in unison.