"Kritanta! Fight me you son-of-a—!" Grey was quickly silenced as the doors of the guild slammed open, revealing a strapping young lady in an armor chest plate, though wearing a skirt. Her scarlet hair blowing in the... random breeze that seemed to only effect her for some reason.

Her eyes narrowed, their deep brown staring into Kritanta's green, poinsonous ones, both wordlessly nodding to each other in respect. Though, maybe Kritanta because it was what humans did.

She seemed to inspect the guild, a disapproving gaze brushed over anyone and anything in the guild hall, irritation creasing her brow.

"This place is an absolute mess." Her clear, deep voice, tinged with disappointment, rung in the guild hall. She dragged in her a humongous horn, most likely belonging to the long passed monster she had slain.

"Cana, stop drinking and get yourself together!" With her command, the heavy drinker immediately stopped, grabbing for ginger ale instead. "You too, master." Makarov, the small, old man also stopped, though he still held the ale of beer in his hand.

"Grey," She sighed, her brow creasing more, "put some clothes on, please." The raven haired male immediately looked down and yelped, apologising while asking around for his clothes location.

She continued to order people to do this and that, but she never even glanced at Kritanta except for when she first arrived. She didn't glance at Lucy either, but she was getting to her.

"I take my eyes off this guild for two seconds and you all turn into a mess." The terrifying woman continued her rounds around the guild, finally stopping at the bar, speaking briefly with Mirajane, who was smiling as she poured some more ginger ale for Cana.

"Yes, when Lucy arrived here, she tried to speak with Kritanta, but he just acted as though she wasn't even there!" Mirajane giggled to herself, continuing to ramble, "she even got in his face, making these funny faces, and he didn't even bat an eye!"

"That must've been entertaining for the guild, and entertainment that wasn't a good fight." The scarlet haired woman smiled as she thought of the many times when she had to break up a fight between Grey and... Natsu.

Noticing the down look in her eyes, Mirajane was quick to recover help her recover herself, "don't worry Erza! We'll fish the Natsu that we all miss out of that cold machine! We've still got twenty-eight more years, don't we?" She flashed a small smile, though she still looked a bit... guilty.

"Now, before you ruin everybody's mood with your sour thoughts, why don't you go and greet our newest guild member!" Mirajane motioned for Erza to go, shooing her away like she was a troublesome child.

Erza put on her best welcoming smile when she walked up to Lucy, chuckling a bit when she nearly jumped out of her own skin. "Oh! You scared me!" Lucy laughed awkwardly, flushing out of embarrassment.

Erza just placed her hand on Lucy's shoulder, giving her a warm smile. "Welcome to Fairy Tail! Don't mind Kritanta. I'm surprised you couldn't tell that he wasn't much of a socialist."

"Yeah, right. I must be still a bit dazed. I mean—I'm a part of a guild, and not just any guild, Fairy Tail! The number one guild in all of Fiorre!" Lucy started to squeal a little, stars shining in her eyes as she computed that she was actually talking to Titania herself.

"Well, in my opinion, though not a popular one, we wouldn't be number one without our Black Death." Erza let her gaze travel to Kritanta, sitting at a table in the darkest corner of the guild, though his vibrant green eyes seemed to glow in the shadows.

The exact green eyes that Erza was admiring looked up, making eye contact with her sharp brown ones.

She quickly snapped away her gaze, feeling a blush creeping up her neck. Lucy didn't seem to notice the exchange, still dazed by the fact that she was speaking to the Erza Scarlett.

"Kritanta's that powerful of a wizard?" Lucy inquired.

"Yes, he's inredibly powerful. He was able to beat me in a fight, he still hasn't fought Laxus or Guildarts yet." Lucy stared in wonder, becoming unaware of her surroundings.

Erza removed herself from her place at the bar, moving to the mission board, looking for another long one to distract her from the fact that Natsu, the real Natsu, wasn't around anymore. She just couldn't handle the truth yet. She just couldn't accept it.

"Hi Erza. Heading out on a mission?" Grey walked up to Erza, fully clothed, (for once) a small, sympathetic smile on his face.

She nodded once and that was all the confirmation that Grey needed. "Mira said we should take the Newbie with us and Kritanta, just in case." Erza's gaze snapped to Grey, her eyes burning with anger.

"No."

"But, Kritanta agreed and Lucy's super excited to be going on her first mission. Mira's not gonna take 'no' for an answer," Grey sighed, "And you know the only reason Kritanta agreed is because he feels bad for you, and because he has a soft spot for Mira."

Erza just glared, then returned to picking a mission.

"I'll take that as a yes then."

Grey turned to go grab Lucy and Kritanta, roughly nudging his shoulder instead of properly telling him to get ready. He grunted like a rabid animal, then made his way over to Lucy, an indifferent look on his face as he told her to get ready for the mission.

The small smile on his face as he turned while Lucy began to squeal was, for lack of a better phrase, fucking adorable.