Alright, so I'm hoping that since I've received a few update alerts this morning that the glitch in the system is finally fixed. Guess we'll have to see.

On to other news:

Last week y'all got to see double updates for here. One on Wednesday and the second on Friday to round out the week of updates. Well, this time around and from now on you'll be getting both updates on Wednesday. The first of the updates will only have a partial A/N. Why? Because it's weird and that's just how I wanna do it. *shrugs* I'm weird, sue me.

Anyway, go read the chapter and I'll see you later.

Chapter 20

Kuma P.O.V.

A knock at the door wakes me up and I roll over, licking my chops as I take in the sight of my room.

My room.

It has been awhile since I've had something to call my own besides the bag on my back, but it makes me all the more grateful that Master had it in mind before he even knew me.

I lay my head on my paws and my ears flick forward, easily picking up the sound of calm, steady breathing and shuffling feet on the other side of the door. When they knock again; I sigh and rise to my feet.

Reaching the door, I shift and open it to see Mira standing there wearing her usual smile.

"Evening, Kuma."

I blink and yawn before replying. "Evening, Mira, what's up?"

"Well, I thought that you might want to get something to eat before I close up for the night."

I think for a second, but my stomach makes the decision for me and I follow her down the steps. Looking over the railing, I'm surprised to find that almost no one is still there besides Cana, who looks like she's about to leave as well.

As I sit down at the bar, Mira walks behind it and disappears into the kitchen and I can hear her humming as she works.

When she lays the plates down in front of me, I start eating while listening as she speaks.

"So, normally I close up about 2:00 A.M., depending on how late the parties run, then I open back up at 8:00 A.M. I know Master didn't explain this to you, but not only do you not have to pay rent, you also get free food; though don't tell Natsu that. He'll try to get in on it." She giggles and a chuckle escapes me.

"Basically, I'm on guard dog duty when you close up shop and I can sleep when you unlock the doors in the morning."

It's a rhetorical question, but she nods anyway and when I finish eating, she takes the plates in the back, and then shuts off all the lights.

The last I see of her is her smile as she shuts the door and I hear the locks click. I count the clicks and can make out four locks, each one bigger then the last.

I take a deep breath and can pick up nothing out of the ordinary so I shift and climb the beam to walk the rafters.

A couple hours of me scratching up every rafter from one side of the guild to the other and I'm about to burn something out of boredom. At least that's the idea until I remember what Elder Mitsuki has said.

"Elder Ember, are you there?" I ask hesitantly, not really expecting a reply, so when I get one I almost jump out of my pelt.

"Yes, Kuma, I am. What is it you need?"

Lying down, I dig my claws into the wood as I decide on my question.

"What was it like in your pack?"

I get a vision of her sitting down with her legs off to one side, as if settling down.

"What, exactly, would you like to know?"

A soft growl escapes as I ponder her question, until an idea strikes me.

"Did you have a mate and cubs?"

I get the sense of her shaking her head.

"Sadly, I was killed before I had the chance, though there was a male that I had my eye on."

I start coughing and I can see her grin.

"What's the matter, Kuma, still too embarrassed about the matter?"

"No, it's just upsetting I will never find my own."

Her amusement is tinged with sadness as she remembers how we ended up in this situation.

"Yes, it is upsetting that you may not be able to find your mate, but remember what you do you have. You have blood pumping through your veins. Not just any blood, Kuma. What are you?"

I frown. "I am a draco shifter."

"And what does that entail?" she asks, in a tone that reminds me of my own mother.

"We are descended from the dragons, but because we could not control an element like our kin; we instead chose to develop our shifting abilities, going from just three to every animal in the world, eventually even the dragon itself."

The words having been memorised since I was little, sitting in front of our pack elders.

"But did you know that there is something more to that? More than the power, the feeling of freedom that we achieve from our shifts."

I look over the rafter to the floor below as I take in her words.

"Our power comes not just from what our shifts allow us to achieve, but also from the family ties we keep. That is why, throughout history, shifters have stayed in packs—because our family ties, though often not blood, were strong enough to see us through the hardest of times. That, Kuma, is why you don't need a mate to be strong, because look around you. Your family, this guild, Fairy Tail, makes you stronger then you know."

A huff of air escapes me and I feel Ember fading back to her gem as the sky outside lightens and the sun rises.

It's a couple more hours before I hear the doors unlock, but as I think over Ember's words they make more and more sense. Because where would I be without this crazy guild?

When the door is pushed open I lift my head and watch as Mira, Elfman, and Lisanna walk in.

Mira looks up at me and smiles. "Good morning, Kuma. How was your night?"

Lisanna and Elfman spin around and freeze when they see me before a look of recognition passes over their faces and they smile.

"Kuma, you sure are manly for scaring us like that!"

I roll my eyes at the overly-muscled man and watch as Mira walks behind the counter.

"Would you like breakfast before you go to sleep?"

I huff loud enough for her to hear and she disappears into the kitchen as Lisanna walks closer to the beam.

"Kuma, what do say we train together today?"

Tilting my head at her I watch as her form glows before settling into a cat costume.

"My take-over magic is animal soul, so I was hoping we could train together some?"

I nod and her cat costume disappears, leaving her in the tank top and shorts she was in before.

Soon, sweet smells are drifting through the guild hall just as the first of the other members start walking through the doors.

I watch the doors as they start walking in until I hear Mira call out to me. "Kuma, it's ready."

I stretch as I stand, then drop to the floor, shifting into my human form as I walk so that I can sit at the stool and eat before fire breather can get here and steal it. I swear, if he isn't stealing from Lucy's plate,then he's stealing from mine, and the worst part is I can never prove it's him.

After my plate is empty I stand and look around for Lisanna, but being unable to find her I turn back to Mira.

"Mira, if I'm not up by one o'clock can you wake me up so I can get some training in with Lisanna?"

She nods and I walk up the steps to my room.

*cackles* Okay, so I may have a small bone I wanna pick with Lisanna. Next chapter you'll get to see what exactly their training consists of.