Hey, guys, It's me Jess again. So I have no clue if you guys reviewed or if you even read my newest updates, but as the theater says ," The show must go on."

I am very sorry about not updating, I honestly thought I did, but in my haste I just turned it in. Things are getting hectic again unfortunately, but I will try to update in the near future.

Disclaimer - If any songs or any literature I put in this story are not mine, I will give the artist proper credit. The plot, characters, and storyline, I believe are not mine. Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima, and Maximum Ride belongs to James Patterson.

So now onto the next chapter, if I happen to mess up on my grammar/spelling, please correct me. Hopefully you'll enjoy the story xD. See you at the End *smirks*. Gotta love puns xD.

The End

Chapter Three

Recap of Confusion

Max's P.O.V.

Silence ringed in my head. Of course the Voice couldn't have even told me how I got here, just my fucking luck. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO.

Of course though, my main mission is to the world. But now… which world?

All of the people around me looked at me confused, as if I was supposed to answer something, but my thoughts quickened in my brain as I tried to make sense of what The Voice had told me. So, I'm not in America, or Earth for that matter. And apparently, this is where my mission is.

Fucking love The Voice, don't you guys?

I sighed, looking up to the people in front of me, obviously waiting for an explanation.

I felt it before it happened and I braced myself. I haven't had one of these things happen to me for a year now and while it is unexpected, I should have expected it.

A brain attack surged through my head, the last thing I heard was people screaming my name as I lost myself to the fast pace images passing through my mind.

The last thing I saw was black.

End of Recap

Natsu's P.O.V

As the girl fell before our eyes, my fight between Gray and I quickly ended. We all went fast into action to catch the poor girl. Gray caught her and slowly, gently laying her on the grass floor of the forest. We were reminded that she was in agony as another scream escaped her lips.

The scream was filled with hurt and agony, and all we could do was look at eachother and her. She rolled herself into a fetal position, her hands pulling and scratching her head. There was nothing we could do and we didn't even have Wendy here to see if she could do something.

We looked at her worriedly, wondering what happened to the girl who could seemingly rival Erza. Gray sat beside her and I soon did the same, trying to think of a solution to help our newest comer but still coming up empty.

Erza came down on her knees beside Max's right side, while Gray and I occupied her left. Lucy then settled beside Erza, obviously thinking about what we should do, planning things in her mind, just trying to make sense of the situation that is now in front of her. Just like all of us, I thought as Erza too began looking around for an immediate threat, that could have put Max in this type of state.

I sniffed the air, and couldn't smell another scent other than ours. Lucy called out Plue to help keep her mind calm, worrying that what happened to Max, could happen to the rest of us too. Erza sat, worry in her eyes, and probably feeling helpless.

We were all still trying to figure out what happened, but Lucy seemed to be the most determined. She looked worried though, as her eyes fluttered around her.

I don't blame her, we were just asking her a question, when her eyes glazed over and just as they became focused again, she looked confused, then she looked at us... and then fell to the floor, screaming. Leading us here.

Her brown, doe-like eyes looked around the forest floor, looking for something. Anything, to grasp her mind on. To help Max.

There was nothing to help her, nor us, as we tried to calm our minds to figure out a solution.

We were all used to fighting our enemies, fighting physical beings that could harm. But with no-one in sight to fight, and no immediate threat, we all felt… weird.

As my gaze returned to the sight of Gray, passing Erza looking down worried at our ... Well I don't know what she is to us. Our acquaintance, I guess.

Gray was holding her, trying to ease the pain away. It seemed like it was helping her so we left it to him to help her, trying our best to ignore the screaming.

My eyes scanned the forest floor as I looked for something to put my attention on. My gaze caught on something that was below/behind Max's back.

My eyes narrowed as I saw a feather, or feathers, behind Max's back. I quickly returned my onyx eyes back to Gray, not giving a damn if I ruined his train of thoughts. This might or might not be important.

"Gray.", My voice was carried across seemingly loud in the silence of the empty forest. He looked at me, eyes once again calm and cool, surprise passing through, probably from me not insulting him and instead saying his name.

Why can't he just let us in his emotions? Like at Galuna Island, I thought we passed this whole "I help myself, I don't need anyone" attitude.

My attention was turned back to Ice Princess, as the thoughts left my mind.

"What, Flame-Brain?", His tone filled with annoyance, looking at me with those damn emotionless eyes of his.

No time for him to be miss brick wall, I rolled my eyes at his obvious emotions.

"Turn her around, Popsicle Stick. I need to check something. " I said anger in my tone, trying and failing to ignore the stupid Freezer Brain. Damn, Popsicle, always getting me fired up.

Erza immediately went to sit between us in case something went down, already feeling the tension between me and Gray.

I once again felt irritated, but quickly demolished that emotion as Erza's mission of keeping Gray and I out of fighting changed, as she gazed at the feathers I, too, spotted.

"Gray, quickly, turn the girl over, will you?"She asked, her voice not asking, but demanding he do it. Unless the dude has a death wish, of course. He quickly complied, though much to my dismay.

Would have been an amusing sight to see the Stripper get mauled by Erza.

Might have snickered at the thought, if not for the fact that Erza, Lucy, Gray, and I saw two seemingly bird-like wings on what had to be about a 14 or 15-year-old.

All of us gasped at the sight, and quickly got up from our spots and took a receding step back as Max let out another scream for help as her pain seemed to increase. No wonder she was so weary of us. Real or not, those had to be painful, I mean you can't grow wings overnight. I think.

I looked up and saw clouds forming quickly, thundering and raining. I thought it was sunny just a minute ago?

Lightning struck and as it hit the ground, Max caught fire. It was surprisingly warm and I would have been impressed if Erza hadn't started to freak out.

Erza quickly hit me and proceeded to beat me, as she saw the flames burst to life.

"PUT IT OUT, NATSU!PUT IT OUT. YOU'RE GOING TO BURN HER ALIVE...", Erza kept yammering on, until I decided I had enough of it.

"LOOK, ERZA!," I took a breath to calm myself, as I realized that this was Erza I was talking to," I didn't do it. I may have put buildings on fire, but never a stranger unless they are our enemies.", my gaze turning from Gray to Lucy to Erza. Gray was laughing, Lucy looked worried and Erza looked confused.

"What do you mean, you didn't do this? That you didn't accidentally burn Max with your flames?", Erza asked incredulously, while Gray snickered, muttering some dumb snarky comment.

"I didn't. I swear, but Max smelled like smoke. That's why I tracked her. I thought she was Igneel. But apparently she is a mage from the looks of it." I said, for once not sounding like a complete idiot.

Erzas' personality quickly changed and she started to apologize for jumping to conclusions. I sighed and thought, "At least some things never change even in this situation".

I took a quick glance at Lucy, wondering what has bothered her to keep her quiet for so long.

Lucy's P.O.V.

I looked at Max, my thoughts trying and failing to access the situation. The most reasonable thing that I could come up with was how her situation was so much like Edo Jellal, Mystogan's situation. My thoughts were interrupted by none other than the pink, haired idiot.

I smiled at my memories of him and our team. My thoughts were cut short when he and the rest of the team started bugging me with worry, and questions. They were cut off by Max's scream, but the pain she felt must be dying down, as the shout of pain seemed to have less agony than before.

I told my team my connection between our old companion and our newest arrival.

"Erza, is it weird that Max's situation is pretty similar to Mystogans'? Especially since we just came back from the portal." I suggested, and Erza agreed, humming her approval.

"But what was she doing in Edolas? And last I remembered, there was no America in Edolas," Gray cut in, looking at me for answers. I sighed as another situation came up, but almost came up with a solution for his response.

"Well we can ask Lisanna, I mean she has been there for a while now so she must know the place pretty well. We can ask her when we get back, just to make sure." I suggested, trying to make sense of the information at hand. It was the best that I could come up with, quickly.

We looked at Max, as she screamed in agony, and I flinched. For someone who seemed to be as strong as her, I wonder what kind of pain she must be in.

My worry for her was gone as Natsu came over and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder and said, "She seems strong, Luce. I'm sure she'll be fine, alright?."

He turned his attention to Erza," We can take her back to Fairy Tail in the meantime though, right? I mean it's not like she has anywhere else to go, she's in pain, and she's lost. We're Fairy Tail, we're meant to help others." His voice spoke with pride to be a part of the number one guild, and his eyes shined. That was a good plan, maybe Master has seen something like this before.

I agreed to his plan, nodding and looking around to see everyone else's reaction to his, surprisingly, smart idea.

Erza seemed to be debating that decision, as Gray reluctantly agreed with Natsu. As Erza came up with a decision though, our guest seemed to have awakened, her face looking at us and quickly stood with her back away from us, as she took in the situation.

We all looked at her, worry sketched on our faces.

Erza's P.O.V.

As Max got up, we all moved back to give her some space. Not just for her, but for us as well, we looked at her guarded back again. Her eyes caught mine and realization passed her dark brown eyes. I looked away, feeling guilty for some reason.

Gray and Lucy caught on the feeling as well, it seemed as they turned their head away from Max. Natsu, that dense idiot, looked her head on, and began questioning her.

I shook my head with a sigh as I heard the interrogation begin. Of course, he can't notice the tense situation.

"Hey, I have a question for you. Why do you have wings on your back? Are you a human version of an Exceed?", Natsu asked, his eyes and voice filled with passion and joy, as Max's eyes dulled and a fiercer glare turned to him.

I slightly narrowed my eyes at what might be a possible threat. Max noticed and her stance became more feral. Her glare was narrowed at me and I felt a slight shiver pass through me and fear crossed my heart. I narrowed my gaze more, in hopes that it would help me regain my nerves.

Her glare became more intense and Lucy took a step back in fear. Max had a slight smirk, before her face became blank of emotion, her eyes only telling. Natsu became 'fired up' and tried to ask his previous question again.

Notice the word 'tried'.

"Max, look-", Natsu tries and fails to remind her of his question. Max gazes at him, her brown eyes becoming glazed over once again.

Team Natsu looked at each other wondering what was happening with our new acquaintance. I took initiative and took a step closer to Max, before taking a step or two back as her eyes became their natural color again.

She looked at us, uncertain and took a sigh before straightening her back and taking a step closer to us, as a sign of trust. Everyone's eyes became lighter at the perspective of having a new, not necessarily our friend and neither our acquaintance anymore, but something in the middle.

Max now had an authoritative aura around her and I had some new-found respect for the sun-streaked brunette. She stood taller, and a slight smirk came on her face as she took a glance at the two boys on our team, who are now not arguing and now looking at Max, full attention towards her.

I smiled at how she managed to grab the usual rowdy boys' attention and turned my gaze back to her, taking notice of how she became more civil after her eyes glazed. I narrowed my eyes in thought but thought better of it and decided that if she became more friendly towards us, I would ask her.

In the meantime, she seemed ready to answer some of our questions and kill our curiosity by a bit.

Max's P.O.V

After my conversation, ahem one-sided advice, with The Voice, I decided to take it and I reluctantly decided to put some of my trust in them. I stood at my full height after hesitantly getting out of my defensive position. I smirked, noticing Natsu's and Gray's attention now towards me instead of their usual bickering.

Just like Iggy and Gazzy, I thought, my smirk vanishing at the prospect of my old family. I sighed as I turned my gaze back at their curious gazes and knew I would have to answer some questions before I got anywhere.

It seemed like a fair trade, and looking at the loveable bunch, they seemed to have good hearts and wouldn't ask anything deceitful. I inwardly scoffed thinking about how wrong I've been when it came to peoples' innocence and their outward appearances.

If anything though, I can easily Up and Away if they decide to do something I don't agree with. I won the war with myself and began to answer Natsu's previous question, after a breath escaped my lips.

How do I get myself into these types of situations?

"So before I answer your question, Natsu and whatever questions you all might have for me, I need to explain something. I'm not from this world, originally, as it would seem. You probably gathered this much but I come from somewhere called 'Earth' where magic doesn't exist but our humanity there has invented somethings that are cool, things that are useful, and things that are anything else but those. I am an invention of this . Scientists have made me and 5 others in a lab called The School, and used us as guinea pigs to test out theories. As far as I know, we are the only ones who have survived this long and due to their tests on us, we grew wings and have abilities. I am -er- was the Leader of the other 5, and am the most powerful. My abilities sometimes evolve, or I gain new ones." I took a deep breath looking at their faces, not knowing and not trusting them enough to continue off.

Erza looked at me, her brown eyes showing hints of sadness and understanding. Gray seemed to not show any emotion but a flash of pity in his eyes made me scowl and his eyes widened in surprise. I took a glance at the remaining two and noticed Natsus' eyes swirling with emotion and Lucy's not far off.

Erza took a step forward and began her questioning. "So how did you attain your wings, if I may ask, Max?", I sighed before answering her.

"My DNA, or my blood, is 98% Human, and the other 2% is a type of bird. The Whitecoats, or scientists, gave us certain types of bird DNA. This gave us our powers and our wings.", I said, looking at her. She nodded in understanding as Gray finally opened his mouth to speak, the first time in a while.

"So what are your powers?", he asked, his eyes showing his curiosity. As I was about to reply, "Curiosity killed the cat", my mind thought back to Fang and our snarky remarks and conversations. I closed my eyes briefly to chase the unwanted thoughts away before composing myself enough to answer the question.

"As far as I know right now, I have super speed," just as I was about to finish, a certain Voice came to mind. "You gained new powers, Max," Oh my god, finally not a new riddle and straight to the point. Praise the Lord, I thought sarcastically.

A sharp pain crossed my temple as The Voice said something else that got me thinking," Your Max Card might become handy here, Max. And yes that is straight to the point, don't make me go back to the damn riddles. Your poor brain couldn't handle them." The Voice said snarkily. I widened my eyes at the emotions in the Voice, but sighed afterwards.

Of course. My attitude finally got a reaction from The Voice. And right when it starts to get straight to the point, I go and make it mad. Good job, Max.

As I looked around again, my conversation with The Voice finished, the group was staring at me and I thought maybe I should tell them about the voice inside my head. I inwardly winced at the thought, but decided what the hell. My eyes straightened towards the odd group, hope filling my heart but banished the thoughts soon after. I sighed as the Voices' other instructions to trust them filled my head.

Maybe. But in the meantime, I'll just keep answering their questions.

Grays P.O.V.

Max. Maximum Ride. Her sharp, untrusting yet dull eyes caught mine for a brief second and I was once again forced back into my thoughts about the strange girl.

Send me to some almost magicless world? I can handle it. Trying to revive my adopted mothers killer? Hit me. But send some teenage girl with a sad backstory to me, and my facade breaks.

I sighed at my over-dramatic thoughts and looked at Max, trying to keep the pity out of my eyes. As she answered the questions of Natsu and Erza, I decided that I should let my voice be heard and asked a question, " So what are your powers?".

As she opened her mouth to retort, her eyes glinted the same mischievous way Natsu's does when he came up with a smart ass comment. Before her voice could pass her already open lips though, the same strange thing happened to her as before. Her eyes glazed over, and a slight look of pain crossed her face, leaving as quickly as it came.

Team Natsu looked at eachother again, uncertain once again of what this meant for our new acquaintance. Max's eyes widened again, her face contorting to a look of surprise, before we heard a sigh. Her eyes became un-glazed once again, but her attention was obviously not on us. Natsu narrowed his Onyx eyes as we saw her flinch at what was undeniably a thought of hers.

As she came to what, we understood, a decision, her eyes glanced at us and a sigh escaped her lips. We all looked to Erza, then Natsu, Lucy, and then me. We all nodded at the unspoken decision, looking at Max. My heart clenched painfully as I thought of the poor girls' back story.

Come on, Gray, you guys are helping her. Didn't you hate it when people pitied you.

Right, we're just being Fairy Tail wizards and are lending a helping hand. This is not pity.

I sighed, in what I hoped was relief. A quick glance towards Natsu told me it was obvious.

Despite my thoughts and whatever that was, I haven't missed any conversation between our group and Max. We looked at Natsu, hoping he can convince her to join us for now.

Max looked at us, her eyes fluttering between sadness, understanding, and uncertainty.

Natsu stepped towards her cautiously, even as he was filled with potential energy. As he took one step closer towards the sun streaked girl, he gave her his smile full of warmth, trust, and friendship and asked her with his straightforwardness, the question we decided on.

"Max, will you come back to Fairy Tail with us?"Natsu asked in his voice, promising multiple things, but the clearest was the promise of not being alone. Fairy Tail is a family that won't let you be alone, and will fight tooth and nail for you. We were a family, I thought contentedly looking at my weird and mixed Team.

Max looked surprised at the offer, and she looked as if she was actually thinking about our proposal. Her gaze caught each of us, and soon she came up with a conclusion.

"Why the hell not?"

Le gasp, Max said YESSS. Ahem anyways. Thanks for reading, and I know I might have messed up grammar or spelling especially in this chapter, and while I will fix it later on, please bear with me.

But anyways, other than my mistakes, How was the chapter? xD

Oh and Who should our dear Maxy be paired with? Fang, Gray, Natsu, etc? Ideas are welcome, as well is criticism. Please review and give me some feedback, because as much as I love this story, I want it to be at least a bit enjoyable for you as well.

I will try to update this story as soon as I can, and I am terribly sorry about the wait.

Until next time,

~xXAmissisMeo.14Xx