Author's Note 1: Hello, hello, hello my fellow Fairy Tail fans! And welcome to the sequel to Fairy Tail: A New Day! It's time for a fresh start! With new enemies, new stories and new magic! Let's begin!
Chapter 1: Homecoming
Magnolia…
"Home, sweet home." An exhausted Zeke said as Team Morningstar returned to their hometown. And after nearly a month of trekking through forests, a mountain range and an emotionally and physically draining detour, walking through the familiar streets was like a godsend. However, Lucy did notice that a few of the stores had flower-themed decorations in their windows.
"What's up with the stores?" Lucy asked. The other four looked around and realized what was going on.
"They're just setting up for the Harvest Festival." Alyssa explained.
"Oh. You know, I've never been to a Harvest Festival." The Celestial Wizard stated.
"It's super fun!" Natsu said with excitement. "There's exotic food booths, a parade and all kinds of cool stuff."
"Aye!" Happy said in agreement.
Hearing this made Zeke ponder something for a bit until his face contorted in disappointment. "Oh no."
"What is it?" Lucy asked, catching her team leader's gloomy mood.
"Mister Fairy Tail." He grumbled. "Every year, the guild rotates between male and female beauty pageants. And this year it's the guy's turn."
"He's just grumpy because he never wins." Alyssa whispered to Lucy. Eventually, the five wizards made it to the front steps of the guild hall. And much to their surprise and delight, the construction of the new building had finally finished. The new facility looked much more like a castle in its design, even including a gate in front of the building.
Zeke opened the gate and saw a bunch of his fellow wizards chilling, eating and drinking on some tables on either side of the pathway.
"Look who's back!" Gray cheered as he was enjoying lunch with the rest of Team Maelstrom.
"You guys sure took your sweet time with that mission." Elfman said as stood up and held his fist up. Zeke bumped it and just sighed.
"Things got...complicated." The archer explained.
"Now there's a surprise." Erza said sarcastically as she chowed down on some strawberry cheesecake.
"Good to see ya too, tin can." Alyssa greeted her rival with a smile.
"We have a cafe now?" Natsu asked as he drooled over the food he saw.
"Yup. And it serves boozes!" Cana cheered with a half-empty mug in her hand.
Lucy looked around and saw that near the cafe was a stand with various gifts and knick knacks with the Fairy Tail mark on them. Manning the shop was a young man with a bowl cut of light brown hair and black eyes.
"Do we really need a gift shop?" She asked.
"Hey there!" The man greeted with a smile. "Glad you guys made it back okay. What's new?"
"They got you working the gift shop, Max?" Happy asked as he flew towards the counter. "It's been awhile since we've seen you around the guild."
"Well, Master Makarov made me you go back to school 'because he wanted me to take some business classes." Max said. And as he spoke, Lucy finally remembered what he looked.
"You're Max Alors! I've read all about you in Sorcerer Weekly!" The blonde fangirled while Natsu, Alyssa, and Zeke bumped fists with the aforementioned wizard.
"Yes, ma'am. That'd be me. And I've heard a lot about you, Ms. Lucy." Max said with a cheeky smile, which made Lucy worry about what kind of crazy stuff he heard about her.
"So what kind of merch do you sell here?" Alyssa asked.
"We've got t-shirts, wristbands, mugs, towels, and of course, there's our most popular items." Max explained before pointing to a display that held figurines of Fairy Tail's most famous wizards. From Laxus, Team Maelstrom and even Lucy, the stand had figurines of all of them. Except for one noticeable absence.
"Where's my figurine?" Zeke asked as his teammates inspected their own dolls (Lucy in particular freaking out at her figurine's poseability and removable clothes).
"Some blue-haired lady bought all of them. In fact, she bought all of your merchandise." Max said, smiling as he thought about the large transaction.
"Oh, gee. I wonder who that could be." Natsu taunted while Zeke just coughed with a blush on his face. Afterward, the team went inside and saw that the inside of the guild had also be fixed. They even added a stage near the back.
"Pretty." Happy said in awe of the new guild hall. But as his fellow teammates were in awe, Natsu just had his head in his scarf and his arms crossed.
"Natsu?" Alyssa asked in concern.
"I'm not good with change." He grumbled with a hint of sadness in his voice. And as soon he said that Alyssa immediately understood what was wrong with her boyfriend. Not only was he still processing a lot of hurtful revelations from their last mission, but now the place that had been pretty much home to him was completely changed. So with a calming smile, Alyssa pulled her boyfriend into a one-armed hug.
"Don't worry. You still got me." She said. And hearing that was enough to make Natsu smile under his scarf.
"Zeke! Lu! It's so good to have you back." Levy said as she waved at the team.
"Hey, Levy." Zeke greeted his ex before looking around the hall. "You guys went all out with the reconstruction, didn't ya?"
"I know. Isn't this awesome?!" The bookworm said with excitement. "Guess what. Now we have swimming pool behind the bar and a game room down in the basement!"
"Oh cool!" Happy said in excitement.
"But the biggest change is upstairs because now everyone's allowed to go up to the second floor." Levy explained, motioning to the second level. The team looked up and saw Nab looking over the job request board, still as indecisive as ever while Ur waved at them from the second floor. "The new master let's more of us go on S-Class quests. But only if an S-Class wizard agrees to go along."
"Woah, that's pretty...wait, new master?!" Zeke asked in shock.
"Oh, Mavis! Please don't say Laxus is the new guild master!" Alyssa asked in horror.
"Well, I'm glad you dunderheads made it back safely." The six turned and saw Makarov, Lyle and Juvia walking towards them.
"Makarov, who's the new master?!" Natsu asked quickly.
"You're looking at him." Lyle said as he pointed his thumb at himself.
"When did this happen?!" Lucy asked.
"Technically, I appointed Lyle as our new guild master a month ago. But we figured we'd save the official announcement until the new guild hall was finished."
"So you finally retired, huh gramps?" Natsu said with smirk since Makarov couldn't boss him around anymore.
"Yes, but don't that means I won't smack your butts when you make fools of yourselves," Makarov said with a smirk that terrified Natsu and Lucy.
"Way to go, Dad!" Zeke said as he and his father shook hands. "Does Mom know about this?"
"Yup. Oh and by the way, son." Lyle said as his glasses gave off a sinister glint. "You and I are going to have a serious talk about collateral damage. Understood?"
"Y-yes sir." The young archer had stuttered before his eyes laid on a familiar rain woman. Juvia had gotten a new blue and white dress that showed off her shoulders, a necklace with a blue version of the Fairy Tail mark on it, and a new blue & white hat with a water swirl on it. But what stood out the most to the archer was the fact that Juvia had apparently cut her hair to a shorter and more manageable size. It was no longer in curls but short and straight, just reaching the end of her neck.
"Welcome back, Zeke." Juvia greeted with a smile and courtesy with her dress. The brunette looked at her, and a bright blush came over his cheeks.
"Wow. Juvia, you look...wow." The archer stuttered out, in turn making the water wizard take on a light blush of her own.
"I figured that since I've joined a new guild, I might as well try a new look." She explained while twirling some hair on her finger. "Do you like it?"
"Ya...um, I mean yes." Zeke stuttered while scratching his cheek and looking away.
"Geez, get a room you two." Alyssa taunted, making the two blush even more.
"They looooove each other!" Happy said with his usual smirk.
"We've also added three more new members while you guys were away." Lyle stated to ease his son's embarrassment. "In fact, you guys might recognize them."
"I wonder who it is?" Happy asked as the five looked around. They did this until their eyes found three people that were shocked to see. Lucy gasped as Zeke yelled out, "You got be f*&king kidding me!"
Indeed, the three new members of Fairy Tail were none other than Gajeel Redfox, Robin Valalanca, and Natalie Sabre. Otherwise known as Phantom Lord's Unholy Trinity.
"Gajeel!" Natsu yelled out with a growl as he held his fists out.
"What the hell are these freaks doing here?!" Alyssa asked as she got into a fighting stance.
"Calm down!" Juvia pleaded, standing in between the two groups. "I asked them to come along with me."
"Besides, you c(&ksuckers owe us." Natalie said as she polished off one of her rings.
"We owe you? You guys wrecked our guild hall and crucified three of our friends!" Zeke said as he prepared to summon his bow while Lucy placed her hand on her Celestial Arm's hilt.
"Ya and you guys destroyed our guild, got our master arrested and put us out of a job." Robin said with a glare. "So all of us screwed up."
"You started it!" Natsu and Alyssa yelled.
Makarov was about to say something before Lyle spoke up. "Look, it's true that we were once enemies. But they had nowhere else to go. No other guild would take them, and I wasn't about let them starve on the street. Beside, Juvia vouched for them."
Zeke looked at his crush and asked, "Is that right?"
Juvia nodded before answering. "They were the only friends I had in Phantom Lord, so I couldn't just turn my back on them."
"Besides, if I'm okay with them here, then you guys should be too." Levy said, growing a bit nervous from all the tension and unaware of the dirty looks Jet and Droy were giving the Trinity from afar.
"Listen up, ya losers." Gajeel grumbled as he stood up and glared at the five. "The only reason we're here is to get work. I can't speak for my friends, but I hate this stupid guild and everyone in it. But times are tough, so we had no choice but to take the old stone up on his offer."
"Please stop calling me that." Lyle grumbled.
"Look," Robin said as she stood up and walked towards Team Morningstar. The group tensed until she held out her hand to Alyssa. "I know we've had...problems in the past. But I'd rather we be allies then enemies. Or at the very least be able to tolerate each other."
Alyssa looked at her once enemy's hand for a moment before sighing and shaking her hand. "Don't think this makes us friends."
"I'm not asking to be friends." The fedora-wearing woman replied. "Although…."
In a flash, Robin unbuttoned the first few buttons of her top (showing that her guild mark on her left breasts) and gave Alyssa a seductive smile. "I wouldn't find being f*&kbuddies."
The Fairy Tail wizards all turned white at this declaration (although Natsu had a bit of a nosebleed) until Robin was covered in chains and pulled back by Natalie.
"Not helping, Robin. Seriously." The green-haired girl grumbled.
"Ya damn pervert." Gajeel said with a face palm.
"You guys never let me have any fun." Robin said with a pout.
"I need a freakin' drink." Zeke said in exacerbation before heading to the bar, Juvia following him.
"You're not mad, are you?" The water wizard asked worryingly.
"A little bit." The archer replied. "But...if they're your friends, then I guess can't be that bad."
The two reached the bar and sat down before ordering their drinks. "One rum and Coke."
"I'll take a strawberry daiquiri." Juvia ordered.
"Coming right up." Much to Zeke's surprise, it was Reginald wiping beer mugs behind the counter instead of Mirajane.
"Reggie? You're a bartender now?" The brunette asked.
"Well, Mira wanted some time off, and I figured I'd earn some extra cash in between jobs." The dirty blond stated as he pulled out a bottle of rum from underneath the counter.
"Wait, Mira asked for time off?" Zeke queried in confusion. This was odd, since whenever Mirajane wasn't modeling for Sorcerer Weekly, she would usually work as a barmaid.
"I know. Shocking isn't it." Reginald agreed as he continued to prepare the drinks.
Back with the rest of Team Morningstar, they were sitting at a table and contemplating all the new information. But suddenly, the lights of the hall went out, and curtains of the stage opened. Two spotlights turned on and showed Mirajane and Alexander on the stage with the Star Liberators behind them. Mira was wearing a yellow dress and holding a guitar in her hands while Alexander was dressed in a black tuxedo and sitting in front of a piano. Marianne and the rest of the Star Liberators also had a variety of instruments on them.
"Mira! Hey!" Alyssa said as she waved to her best friend.
"You guys made it back." Mira said into a floating mike with a smile.
"Good on ya!" Alexander cheered for teammates before addressing the other guild wizards. "Now, I'd like to dedicate this next song to a very special girl in heart."
Mira just giggled as the song started up.
(Music Que: Hikaru Nara English Cover by S.B.R.M.P.N.Y)
As the melody became louder, Mira started to sing the song lyrics.
Mira: Just like a rainbow bright and warm after a hazy summer storm
Flowers blooming fresh with drops of dew
Alexander: Watching you stare into the sky in the crimson sunlight
That's when I fell in love with you.
Mira: Each moment in a picture frame
I'm holding on no single shot will ever fade
Alexander and Mirajane: The movie of this love every part deep within my heart
You are the spark my light in the dark
Brilliant and bold through the night
Bright as the sun no matter what comes
We can be stars if we shine
Don't ever hide those feelings inside
Whenever you're sad or you're blue
When you can't cope don't ever lose hope
The stars shine their light over you
Every wish we've made has brought us here together
Til forever
Underneath the stars and moon and sun we look to the future as one
(Music End)
After the song had finished, the two wizards and their band were greeted with a roaring applause. After taking a bow, the group moved backstage and started to put away their instruments.
"You were phenomenal out there, angel." Alexander said as he wrapped his arms around Mirajane's waist. The white-haired barmaid just gave a bashful blush and tapped his chest.
"Oh stop. I wouldn't have sounded as good without you backing me up." The barmaid said as the two looked into each other's eyes and put their noses together, Eskimo kiss style.
"So…" The two embracing wizards turned and saw Alyssa standing her hands on her hips and a smirk on her face. "When did this happen?"
"About a week after you guys went on your mission." Alexander answered.
"Okay, you've got to tell me everything." The amazon said with a smile towards her best friend while in her mind she was saying, 'It's about time you got yourself a good man, Mira.'
Meanwhile, the stage was being cleared for the next performance. As this was going on, Natsu noticed that Gajeel was missing from the Trinity's table and the two ladies were placing plugs into their ears, confusing the salmon-haired wizard.
The spotlight turned on once more, and much to everyone's shock, the performer on stage was Gajeel wearing a dapper white suit, a matching hat, sharp shades and was holding a metallic guitar in his hands.
"What?" Zeke asked flatly as he took a sip of his rum.
"Wrote a tune I call 'Best Friend.' Would you like to hear it?" Gajeel said, attempting to sound smooth. "Well, here it goes."
And even before he started playing, various Fairy Tail members begun to boo and throw stuff at him. And then he started 'singing.'
"You're sparkling and colorful, Shooby Doo Bop! Ya caught my eye like a shining piece of metal so cold!"
"He's not half bad." Elfman said, seeming to be one of the few people enjoying the song.
"Show them what you can do, Gajeel!" Juvia cheered in support for her friend while Reginald held two beer mugs to his ears to prevent himself from hearing the song.
As Gajeel continued to sing and throw in random 'Shooby Doo Bops,' Natsu covered both of his ears in agony. "Man, this has the worst song I've ever heard!"
In retaliation for that, Gajeel threw his guitar and hit Natsu square in the face. "YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?!" The fire dragon-slayer yelled out as he got back up.
The two dragon slayers then leaped into the air, their kicks colliding as Gajeel yelled, "Shooby Doo Bop!"
"I've had enough shebodeba!" Natsu exclaimed as the continued to fight.
"It's Shooby Doo Bop, ya moron!" The pierced man yelled back.
The continued to fight until Natalie threw a beer mug that hit Natsu's cheek. "Which one of you wise guys threw that, huh?!"
"I did. You want to do something about it, Pinkie?!" The tracksuit-wearing woman said as she slipped on a few rings.
"Bring it on, mosshead!" Natsu yelled as his head lit on fire.
"Natsu!" Gray shouted as he stood up, accidentally making Erza drop the piece of cake she was eating. "Would ya quit screwing around?!"
"Here we go." Zeke said as he and Reginald took cover behind the bar.
"He made me drop my strawberry cake." Erza cried out, only to be horrified as Elfman stepped on it.
"Now listen up! If you were real men, you'd take this outside!"
"Watch it, you oaf!" Erza yelled out as kicked Elfman into the air.
And just like that, a massive fight once more erupted in the Fairy Tail Guild Hall with various spells, weapons, and attacks flying all over the place.
"Not again!" Makarov and Lyle cried out.
"Does this usually happen?" Juvia asked in fear as she peaked out from behind the bar.
"Unfortunately yes." Reginald and Zeke replied as a spear barely missed their heads.
But as the chaos continued, Natsu looked around the brawl (even spotting Alyssa and Erza grappling with each other) and smiled. "Now it's starting to feel like home."
"Quit smiling!" Gajeel yelled as he socked Natsu in the face with an Iron Club.
And then…
"Good night, guys." Zeke said to his teammates as they headed to their homes. After hours of fighting, cleaning up and catching up with their friends, the guild hall had finally closed, and the wizards of Fairy Tail were retiring for the night.
"See you tomorrow." Lucy said with a wave as Happy walked by her.
"Ya, see ya." Natsu said as he and Alyssa left holding hands. Earlier, the talking cat had mentioned to Lucy that with all that had happened, Natsu and Alyssa could use some alone time together. As such, the blonde Celestial Wizard had agreed to let Happy stay the night at her place.
Eventually, the dragon-slayer and speed wizard arrived at the man's cabin and started getting reading for the night. As they were changing, Natsu turned to Alyssa.
"Alyssa?"
"Ya?"
"...Do you still love me?"
The amazonian woman said nothing before going up to Natsu and pinching his cheek. "What kind of dumb question is that? Of course I love you."
"Even knowing about...you know?" Natsu asked as he held his head down, his eyes becoming sullen as he thought of his recovered memories. However, he then felt Alyssa wrap her arms around his shoulders, and he looked up into her purple eyes.
"What happened in the past doesn't matter. You're still the same kind, goofy, caring fireball I fell for." The orange-haired woman said with a sincere smile. In return, Natsu gave his own. Not a smirk like he usually had, but a genuine smile.
"I'm the luckiest wizard in the world." He said as he leaned up, placing his lips on hers. The two closed their eyes as their kiss became more heated.
As for what happened next, let's just say it involved clothes coming off and lots of loud noises. And in the afterglow of said events, the two lovers slept silently and contently with Natsu's head resting on Alyssa's bosom.
In another part of Magnolia, a young woman was checking into a local hotel. Her outfit consisted of a dark red t-shirt, a pair of jeans that covered her left leg but was cut off on her right leg, black combat boots, matching orange wristbands on her wrists, and a dark brown cabbie hat on her head.
She had spiky burgundy hair that stopped above her waist, golden eyes, slightly tan skin, and a cut running horizontally across her nose & cheek. The only luggage she had on her person was a single large duffel bag strapped over her shoulder.
"You in town for the festival?" The front desk clerk asked as the woman signed in.
"Actually, I'm here to see family."
"Ah, I get ya. My brother's got a fish mart in Hargeon. It's a bit of a hassle to visit, but it's worth it."
"Well, let's hope all goes for me. I haven't seen my brother in...forever." The woman said with a long look on her face as she finished filling out the paperwork.
"Trust me; he'll just be happy you made the trip." The helpful clerk said as he gave her the keys to her room. "I hope you enjoy your stay!"
"Thank you." She replied with a warm smile as she headed for her room. As she left, the clerk started to look over the paperwork and read the woman's name;
Hoshi Katagiri.
To be continued…
Author's Note 2: And the saga of Team Morningstar continues! And as you guys can plainly tell, a lot has changed. Natsu has gained a bit of angst but has his loved ones to help him through it. Fairy Tail has a new hall, new members, and a new master. And relationships are starting to advance!
Don't worry, the tale of how Mirajane and Alexander got together will be explained in due time.
But as for next time, we begin the Fighting Festival Arc with: The Battle of Fairy Tail! Be sure to read, favorite, review and support this story by editing the TV Tropes page! See ya later!