The next morning everyone gathered just outside the village. They had agreed on a plan and were about ready to execute it.
"Hey, Mira?" Grey asked as he was leaving for his post, "do you think this is a good idea?"
Mira smiled and placed her hands on her hips, "Of course not, but this is the best thing we can do now."
Grey accepted the answer and made his way to his post.
Natsu stood tall on the tallest building in the village and squinted his eyes to see the farthest side of the valley.
"I wonder who will be coming today," he hummed to himself as he waited for an "all clear" from below.
Juvia's post was halfway up the mountain and Lyon was at the base. Wendy was just at the edge of the village. Mira was at the other edge. Grey was to go to the front of the line. Once everyone was at their post they gave Natsu his signal.
Natsu took a deep breath and began to melt everything in sight. The deep snow and ice disappeared all around him and the village. As he worked he saw the mountain of the Spirits begin to grow darker. He smiled as he knew they would be getting a visitor soon.
The ground began to quake and a small girl with pink hair appeared out of the freshly thawed ground. She glared evilly at Natsu as he wiped saliva from his chin.
"Looks like we got Lucy," he said with a smile.
"The Princess is not anywhere near here," the woman said blankly, "she is still on the mountain."
Natsu frowned and cracked his knuckles, "Then bring her here," he growled, "I need to talk to her."
The woman blinked once, "Very well." And with that, she disappeared into the ground. A minute later she returned with Lucy flung over her shoulder, shouting.
"What the HELL Virgo? Why the HELL did you bring me here? You know I'm no match for Natsu!"
"Hey, Lucy!" Natsu waved as he placed his hands on his hips.
"Take Natsu out!" Lucy screamed as she was let back on her feet.
"He has something he needs to ask you, Princess," Virgo said innocently.
"Don't want to hear it," Lucy hissed as she backed away from the two.
"Too bad," Natsu said running up and landing a single blow on Virgo, causing her to collapse. He then lifted Lucy up and flung her over his shoulder. "We need to get you fixed."
"Eh?" Lucy shrieked as Natsu began to walk up toward the mountain, "Put me down you crazy—"
"Yo," Grey said waving a hand as he made his way from behind the two, "did you catch her?"
"Yup," Natsu said pointing at the figure over his shoulder.
"Welcome back, Lucy," Mirajane smiled as she turned to join Natsu in his trek up the mountain.
"You damn idiot," Lucy thrashed and hit Natsu, "Put me down!"
"Not a chance," Natsu said quickening his pace, "let's go."
The group ran through the village toward the base of the mountain.
"Need a lift to the top?" Wendy smiled brightly as they arrived at the base of the mountain.
"Sure thing," Natsu said wobbling slightly as Lucy continued to hit him.
"Hold on," Wendy instructed as she gathered the winds from the mountain, "this is going to be a little rough."
"Have a nice trip," Lyon said from a short distance away.
Wendy lifted the group off the ground with her wind and sent them flying at a fast pace up the mountainside. When they reached halfway Juvia created a wave and caught their momentum to send them the rest of the way without slowing.
The group reached the Hot Spring and threw Lucy in headfirst. The fairies all gathered around her and began to do their work as Lucy fought just to keep her head above water level.
Soon everyone was by the waterside watching as Lucy's angry cries turned into confused ones. She finally stepped out of the pool rubbing her head.
"What happened to me?" she asked looking at the group.
"You were under the control of Winter," Natsu explained.
"Eh?!" she cried placing her hands on her face, "That freak who always stares at me funny?!"
Juvia nodded in understanding, "Yeah, he stared at me a lot too." She shivered just thinking about it.
"That bastard is gonna pay," Grey blurted feeling his chest tightening.
"Huh?" Lucy said looking at Grey with a confused look, "Who are you?"
"I'm Grey," Grey said hitting his chest with his fist, "and I'm going to help Juvia and all of you get back the mountain."
"Everyone together?" Lucy questioned as the group began to make its way back to Makarov's place.
"That's right," Mirajane said smiling, "We're gathering people up and forming a resistance."
"Yeah," Natsu yelled with his arm around Lucy's shoulder, "Let's nab another one!"
The group laughed as Natsu melted more ice and snow around them.
Juvia stopped to look up at the sky. It was growing darker as snow began to fall, hard. Winter was going to counter this attack. Before they would know it the ground will be worse than they could ever imagine.
Makarov sighed as he looked out the window the next morning. "Looks like Natsu has quite the job ahead of him if he is going to be making a difference with this snow."
"Hey, Gramps," Natsu said with his mouth full of warm food, "don't underestimate me."
"You are a Spirit," Lucy scolded, "You don't need food!"
"But its so goooooooooooood," Natsu ogled as he put another roll in his mouth.
The group continued to laugh and eat their breakfast preparing for their second strike.
" By the way," Mira said picking up some of the plates, "I think our little group needs an official name."
Makarov nodded, "I agree. And I think that we should name it something meaningful to everyone here."
Juvia smiled to herself. Maybe it is best if some things never change.
"What about: Fire Keepers," Natsu said picturing a huge sign with the name on it, "since we're melting the ice and snow."
"That's stupid," Grey growled back, "We should be called: Ice Masters!"
"I don't think that applies to anyone but you and Lyon, Grey," Wendy said waving her hands in an attempt to calm them down.
"Fairy Tail," Juvia said at last.
Everyone stopped and stared at her.
"We all were able to be this powerful because of the power of the fairies. And Makarov reminded me of the age-old myth of whether or not fairies have tails. In the same way, we will always hunt to find the answer and go on journeys and adventures along the way," She smiled brightly, "Fairy Tail."
A giant smile spread across Makarov's face, "couldn't have put it better myself."
Juvia smiled and joined the group, who had stood up and placed arms around one another.
"For Fairy Tail," Mira said with her arms around Wendy and Lucy.
"For Fairy Tail," Lucy repeated wrapping an arm around Natsu.
"I'm all fired up now," Natsu smiled as he placed his arm around Lyon.
"I'm with you guys," Lyon said grabbing Grey and pulling him into the group.
"Fairy Tail, my family," Grey said reaching a hand out to Juvia.
Juvia's eyes began to water, "My wonderful new family, Fairy Tail," Juvia reached out and stood with Grey, his arm around her waist.
"My precious children," Makarov said taking Wendy and Juvia's hands, "I will protect you all no matter what."
