Chapter 2

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

"I still say I'm stronger than you." Gray told Natsu, who was sitting with his family.

"Gray, could you grow up a little?" The fourth Master chuckled. "Besides, nows not really the time." He placed the newspaper on the table, letting the ice wizard see a burned down church.

"Wait, another church has been burned down?" Lucy asked, holding her own paper. "Wait, isn't that the guy who took Jellal into jail?"

"Yeah, Lahar hasn't changed much while you were gone." Kageyama said. "I remember when he found out I joined Fairy Tail. He still thinks I'm trying to trick you guys."

"How does this keep you from fighting me?" Gray asked.

"Did you forget about the big church in the center of town?" Natsu asked, making Jouki laugh at the 'ice dummy'. "Odds are that the people behind this might try to attack us."

"What I don't get is why anyone would burn down a church..." Wendy mumbled.

"Lucy, you have a visitor." Romeo called out. Everyone turned to see a teen in a pink dress holding a case. "She's the blonde with pigtails."

"Thank you, young man." The woman said.

"Who... is that?" Juvia asked.

"Dunno, but she smells funny." Jouki said holding his nose.

"Um, are you Lucy Heartfillia?" The girl asked.

"Yes, but who are you?" The blonde asked standing up.

The woman in pink began tearing up before they flowed out of her eyes. "How could you forget about your best friend!?" She cried out, scaring everyone.

"I think she cries more than Jouki did." Juvia said remembering all the times their child flooded their house.

"I'm sorry... I guess I shouldnt have expected you to remember." The girl replied. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Michelle Lobster of the Lobster family. It's nice to see you agian, big sister."

"Big sister!?" Everyone shouted in shock.

"Well, we aren't actually sisters." Michelle chuckled. "More like cousins."

"That actually makes more sense." Wendy said.

"Sorry, but would you mind explaining why you came here?" Lucy asked.

"Oh, right... I was supposed to give you this." Michelle cried before tackling Lucy to the ground in a hug.

The case flew through the air and Kageyama caught it, only for his knees to buckle. "What's in this thing, bricks?" He asked as Elfman and Talon grabbed the ends, helping him put it on a table.

"I'm not sure, all I know is that your father wanted you to have it." Michelle explained, shocking the blonde. "I was his assistant until he passed on. This is my last errand for him. He never stopped believing that you were alive. That's why he paid for your apartment. That's why he asked me to hand this memento to you."

Lucy hung her head and glanced at the case. "So what's inside?"

"I don't know. I was told to bring it to you, so I never looked inside." The girl in pink explained.

Lucy stared at the box before she walked over and opened it, finding only a strange item wrapped in cloth. "What is it?" Lucy asked, picking it up. She pulled the fabric off only to find... something. "What is this, Michelle?"

"Something Mr. Jude was very fond of." Michelle answered. "That's all I know."

"I've never seen this before." Lucy said before a growl filled the guild.

"Sorry..." Michelle said. "I just haven't eaten in three days."

"Well, let's get you something to eat." Lucy said before pulling her out of the building.

Days Later

"Giddy up, horsey." Asuka said, pulling on Makarov mustache. "Its outlaw Lucy."

"Come on, Asuka! Its my turn!" Jouki complained as he jumped up.

"Oh, no! Its a pair of bounty hunters!" She teased as she and Michelle entered the guildhall.

"You know, Gray looking for you." Bisca told the blonde.

"Something about hunting bandits." Alzack added, 'exciting' Lucy.

"May I come along?" Michelle asked as Lucy studied the job flyer. "I'd love to see how wizards work up close." Everyone else agreed, making Lucy turn to Natsu for hope.

"I don't have a problem with it." He said, helping Juvia out of the bathroom.

Lucy just sighed and agreed as the group left. He set Juvia down before picking up his son. "I hope he wasn't too much trouble during the sleepover." He told Bisca and Alzack.

"Nah, just a little rambunctious when he got hungry." Bisca said.

"He was funny!" Asuka added. "He was so scared of the-"

"I want a turn!" Jouki complained, cutting off the girl.

"Please... no more..." Makarov said as she pulled on his mustache.

Hours passed when Laki entered the guild hall. "You got the info?" Natsu asked, making the girl nod. "Sorry for making you do this again, Laki."

"Its fine." The girl said, opening up the file. "According to Wakaba's contact, the Lobsters were a wealthy family with a lot of land in the Zentopia region."

"Seems like we were worried for nothing." Macao said.

"Not quite. What do you mean by 'were' a wealthy family?" Natsu asked.

"Its rough stuff." Laki said. "The rest of the family was lost in a tragic accident. I guess that makes Michelle the last survivor."

"That's rough..." Natsu mumbled.

The old team returned and Lucy asked natsu about something. "Sure, someone has to know something about this thing. I'll have Kinana whip up a request in no time."

Lucy walked back over to Michelle as Makarov, now free from Asuka, walked over to the bar. "Seems like fate that those two should meet." He said before turning to Natsu. "I'm impressed. I never expected you to run a background check on anyone."

"Well, this wasn't the first time." Natsu confessed. "When Talon joined, he tried to hide his identity. But once we figured out who he was, we confronted him and he told us everything. And look at him now. Besides, a little paranoia never hurt anyone."

Michelle tripped and the item slid along the floor before it started spinning and pointing upwards. "I'm seriously freaked out right now." Lucy said as the memento started glowing and stange words appeared on it.

"Is that some kind of script?" Gray asked.

"We're gonna have to wait then." Natsu said. "Levy just took a job with Shadow Gear across Fiore. And Freed is working with the Thunder Legion on a different job."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Makarov asked. "I think its best to let sleeping dogs lie."

"No way!" The blonde replied. "I have to figure it out!" Lucy just stared a item with determination as Michelle looked up at her.

Days Later

Lucy just sighed as she placed a book on the table. "Nothing."

"Don't worry, Lucy." Michelle said. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"Well it won't be easy." She chuckled back.

Erza and Kageyama walked over to Natsu and Jouki. "We're taking a new job request." Natsu looked at the flyer and nodded.

"I know, its weird to see us on the same side too." Kageyama chuckled before the two turned and left the hall.

Gray walked over and punched Natsu in the back of the head. "What do you want, Gray?"

"Really, nothing?" The ice wizard asked. "No anger, no insults, nothing?"

"You grow up real fast when you have to run a guild." The pinkette replied.

"I don't care. I'm going to get you." Gray said.

"Look, I've had enough of this." Natsu said back. "If you really wanna fight that badly, then I'll be more than happy to do it."

"Fine with me." Gray smirked, cracking his knuckles. "I'll be glad to wipe that smirk off your face."

"Sounds like a fun time." Gajeel added. "I call next shot."

"Okay, let's get started." Gray said, placing his hands together.

"No!" Jouki jumped off his seat and stood between them. "Everyone needs to see this! We need a big crowd!"

"That's actually not a bad idea." Macao mumbled.

"Big time fights are so manly!" Elfman shouted. "This'll be the best one ever!"

"You sure this is a good idea?" Lisanna asked.

"Yeah, this new Natsu isn't someone I'd want to fight." Mirajane added.

"We'll throw a festival for this!" Macao said. "Turn this into something for everyone!"

"As master of this guild, I approve." Natsu said with a smile. "An invitational challenge for any one and everyone." Everyone cheered while Gray and Gajeel smirked.

The Next Day

The sun had reached its peak and the entire town had gathered in the park. "I didn't expect this many people to show up." Gray said, looking around.

"You challenged the master of the guild to a fight. What did you expect to happen?" Talon asked walking over with Lucy and Michelle.

"I'm having so much fun. And all the food is super yummy!" Michelle said before taking a bite.

"Does she have a hollow leg?" Lucy asked, looking around. "Well, after failing all day with the inscription I really need this."

Natsu and his family walked around before bumping into the Strauss sisters. "Sorry... Wait, weren't you supposed to be singing right now, Mira?

"Well, my throats a little sore... so I gave it to someone else." She chuckled before a screeching noise started. Everyone turned to see Gajeel singing and playing a guitar.

"Man, this horrible." Levy said before Lucy started talking to her.

"Never imagined we'd have something this big." Natsu chuckled.

Gajeel stepped forward, making the crowd go wild as Gray and Elfman did the same. "You want in on this, Elfman?" Gray asked.

"A real man never backs down from a challenge!" He declared.

"Okay, who's first?" Natsu asked as his son cheered from the side.

Gray stepped forward, having thrown his shirt off before placing his hands together. "I ain't holding back so don't even try being soft!" With a roar he summoned a swarm of weapons of ice and sent them flying at the master.

Natsu melted the swarm of ice before appearing behind Gray. A burning fist collided with the back of the Ice Wizards head and sent him to the ground, knocked out cold. "Next." Natsu said.

"My turn!" Elfman shouted before throwing a punch. Natsu dodged the fist and climbed onto the exposed back. He wrapped his arms around the brutes neck before applying pressure. Elfman slammed his back into the tree, making Natsu gasp but not lose his grip. The pressure tightened and Elfman tired to get him off before dropping to his knees.

Natsu kept the grip before elfman fell over from lack of oxygen. "Okay, now that leaves-" The pinkette turned to Gajeel only to find empty air.

"You mean that coward ran away!?" Wakaba shouted.

"Let's track him down!" Macao shouted before the whole group broke up and began searching for him.

Juvia walked over to her husband as Jouki pointed at Gray and laughed. "Don't you think you were a bit hard on them?"

"They'll be fine." He said before turning to his son. "Jouki, we don't do that."

"Yes, daddy..." The boy replied before he was picked up and tossed into air. He laughed before Natsu put him on his shoulders and lead them back to their home.

Hours Later

The sun had long since set as the sound of footsteps caught the attention of the Exceeds inside the hall. "I think i can hear Gajeel outside." Pantherlily said before they raced outside. "You have some nerve showing up!" The black cat shouted before they gasped at the three people walking forward. "It can't be..." In front of them was Coco, Hughes, and Sugarboy. "Coco? But that's impossible."

"You don't think they've come to this world, do you?" Carla asked. "And she doesn't look that much older now than she did."

"Why are you here?" The black cat asked.

"Quit talking like you know me, pussycat." The girl demanded. "I've never meet any of you before so shut up."

The cats gasped before the three turned around as the guild walked towards their hall. "You just got lucky, fire breath." Gray complained as Natsu carried his son.

"Gray, just let it go." Romeo said. "Natsu has seven years on you. You just can't beat him."

"A real man knows when to admit defeat." Elfman said.

"Hold on, we have guests." Juvia said, noticing the trio.

"Wait, isn't that girl from Edolas?" Wendy asked, pointing at Coco.

"Impossible. The anima closed seven hears ago." Natsu said back.

"Coco?" Lucy asked as she, Levy and Michelle walked over. "How'd you get from Earthland from Edolas?"

"Is it just me, or do these chumps think we like, know each other?" 'Hughes' asked.

"That sounds like their problem, Mary Hughes." Sugarboy said.

"Mary Hughes? Sugarboy?" Lucy repeated, thinking back to the Edolas fight.

"Look, I don't know why you look like them and I don't care." Natsu said, setting his son down. "If you're not here to request help, then you can leave. I'd rather not make a mess of our guild hall."

"We don't orders from lowly guild wizarda." Sugarboy said.

"Now, I'm only going to say this once; I demand you give me Lucy Heartfillia now." Hughes said. "Don't bother trying to hide her. We know the little brat is a member of this guild."

"Make it easy on everyone and just come on out." Sugarboy said.

"Why are these people looking for you?" Michelle asked.

"I wish I knew." The blonde answered.

"I don't think I've made this clear enough." Natsu said as Talon stepped next to him. "We're not handing over a member of our guild to three strangers. As the master of this guild, I deny your request and demand you leave; NOW."

"You really think were gonna run this circus of a guild?" Mary asked. "Now hand over Lucy before we get nasty."

"I think its too late for that." Sugarboy said. "Now get 'em!" Green slime crawled out of his suit and flew at the group.

"Talon, take Jouki and keep him safe." Natsu ordered before igniting himself. Talon grabbed the guildmasters son and ran to the back of the mob with Juvia following them.

The slime reached Natsu and began bubbling before it faded into nothingness. "Looks like we don't have a choice." Natsu said before Elfman raced forward and punched the slime. His fist became trapped before it swallowed him and his siblings.

"Don't let it touch you!" Carla shouted, pulling Wendy into the air.

"Yo, guildmaster!" Coco shouted from behind. "Unless you want them to get hurt, I suggest you hand over Lucy." She threw a kick that Natsu caught before throwing a fist. It hit Coco and sent her sliding back before she jumped up and landed on the guildhall.

"Nimble little minx, isn't she?" Wakaba asked, readying his cigar.

"Don't act so impressed." Macao said.

"Romeo!" Natsu grabbed the teen by his arm and threw him up. Romeo threw a purple inflamed punch that the girl, who dodged and a chunk of the guild hall was destroyed. The slime grabbed the two old men before Romeo slammed his fists into a stream if fire that bubbled the slime into mist.

"Guild wizards are pathetic. I don't see the appeal." Coco said.

'This can't be Coco.' Pantherlily thought from afar the field. 'She despised violence of any kind. The mere of hurting someon made her ill.'

The slime receded and the ones trapped inside were released. "Ready to give up?"

"You threaten our friends, you attack our home, you hurt our family." Natsu said. "Giving up isn't an option anymore. Right, Talon?"

The vernette flew up from behind and grabbed Coco, taking her into the air. "Thundering Body!" Lightning sparked off him and Coco cried out. "Heavy Rain!" He fired off a large bolt of a lightning aimed at the other two. Before it could hit them Mary waved a creepy wand and redirected the lightning towards Juvia and her son.

"No!" Natsu raced over and took the attack, sending him to a knee.

"Now hand over Lucy, or we'll make it much worse." Mary teased before two rocks hit her. She glanced over to see Jouki and Kinana holding rocks.

"Leave my family alone!" Jouki shouted, throwing another rock.

"Little brat." Mary growled.

"Mary, behind you!" Coco shouted before she and Talon crashed into her.

Talon quickly jumped back and waved his arms. "Spark Storm!" A disk of electricity flew over and hit the three, making them cry in pain. "Lucy, get out of here! I'll hold-" Green slime reappeared and swallowed him.

"Just give us lucy, now." Mary demanded.

The blonde stood up but before she could say anything- "I am the Lucy Heartfillia you're looking for!" Michelle declared, shocking the blonde. "I think there's been enought violence for today. Now what do you want with me?"

"She does look the part." Coco said, studying the girl.

"I was expecting her to be some kind of ditz." Mary said, annoying Lucy.

"Stop this, I'm the real Lucy!" The blonde shouted, confusing the three.

"You okay, Lucy?" Natsu groaned as he stood up. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

"Me too, mama Lucy!" Jouki said to Juvia.

"Wait, what!?" Coco asked in shock. "She's Lucy too!?"

"Ready for another round, Lucy?" Max asked Laki.

"Can you stand up, Lucy?" Macao asked Levy.

"You okay, Lucy?" Romeo asked as he helped Wendy stand.

"There's another three!?" Coco asked getting annoyed. "I can't tell who's real! What are we gonna do?!"

"This is so stupid..." Mary growled out.

"Is your magic recovered, Lucy?" Talon asked, helping Mirajane up.

"I'm fine. Don't forget to check on Lucy." She said.

"Screw it. Let's just capture the lot of them and sort it out later." Mary said.

"Fine with me." Sugarboy said before summoning more slime.

"You won't be taking anyone!" Natsu shouted as he jumped up. "Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!" He slammed his two fireballs at them, creating an explosion. A tendril of slime shot out and grabbed the master. "Lucy, get out of here!"

Michelle grabbed the blonde as the others began charging their magics. "Let's go. We can slip away unnoticed." Lucy hung her head and turned to follow her cousin.

"We got runners. Fetch 'em, Coco." Mary said. Coco raced at the two before jumping out of the way of a quartet blast of magic. She landed on the side of the guildhall and stood up before running straight up.

"You're mine!" Talon flew at the girl... only to crash into Macao, Wakaba and Romeo.

Max and Laki fired off a pair of spells at Sugarboy, whose slime swallowed it. It then slithered over and grabbed the two before blocking a swing from Pantherlily's sword. Before the cat could do anything, Natsu punched him in the head. "Sorry."

Mary waved her wand and Elfman punched Talon in the face. "You are seriously pissing me off, lady." He growled out before being forced to create an explosion. The dust settled and the guild looked around for the two only to find empty air.

With Lucy

Lucy panted heavily in the woods next to Michelle. "I don't think they're following us." The cousin said. "But maybe we should keep running to be safe.

"Good idea... but first what was all crazy stuff was about?" She asked. "Look I can protect myself as a wizard. But if you got caught, what would you do?" Michelle started crying a little before Lucy calmed her down. "Still, thanks for covering me. I owe you one. Now, what do these creeps want?"

"Do you think their the ones behind the church fires?" Michelle asked.

"I finally caught up with you." Coco said, hanging upside down from a branch. "You won't get away this time."

She landed and Lucy started passing her cousin off as herself. Michelle played along and did the same, confusing Coco even more. Virgo popped up and joined in, sending Coco into a brain spasm that let them run away.

Hours Later

The sun had long since set as Carla carried Wendy through the air next to Pantherlily. "Lucy, where are you!?" The bluenette asked.

"Can you smell anything, Wendy?" Pantherlily asked.

"Sorry, I can't smell anything." She replied.

The black cats glanced down and could only watch as Coco raced up the cliff and kicked them in the face. "This isn't a game, Coco!" Pantherlily shouted, having caught the fallen Wendy. "You could have killed her!"

"I've lost track of Lucy, so tell me where she is!" She demanded. "Oh and one more thing; I hate cats! So stop talking like were friends." She started running around the three on the cliffs wall.

"What do we do?" Wendy asked.

Pantherlily stared at his paws before triggering his transformation. "We have to defeat her. Even though she's the spitting image of Coco, she's not the same girl from Edolas. I'll handle this."

"Spill it!" Coco shouted before jumping over a punch from Lily. "Tell me where I can find her!" Wendy pulled her head back and unleashed a sky roar, only for Coco to out run it.

With Natsu and Talon

Just a mile away, Natsu and Talon were flying though the air. "Natsu, are you sure you don't want to be with your family?" Talon asked, flying next to his master.

"They have the guild behind them. Right now we need to deal with these three." He replied.

"Natsu, can't you smell them?" Happy asked.

"Whatever that clock is its throwing up a strange scent. I can't find them." He answered before a pillar of slime shot up. "Not this guy again."

A huge mass crashed next to them, scaring the Fairy Tail trio. "Sugarboy, stop playing with these two and focus on the mission."

"What is that thing?" Talon asked.

"Don't worry. She'll be ours in a moment, Lord Byro." Sugarboy told the creature.

"Byro!?" Natsu asked in shock. "The little troll that drained me and Wendy of our magic!?" He looked up and stared at the man on top of the cephalopod. "What the heck!?"

The slime rose at the two, who both launched their respective elements at it. Byro waved his hand and they both faded away. "Nullification magic?" Talon asked before looking up. "Master!" He pushed Natsu to the side before the slime slammed him into a rock wall.

"Deal with these two and then return to the mission." Byro said as the octopus turned around.

"Hold it!" Natsu shouted. "As the master of the guild you're attacking, I wanna know what this is all about!"

The older man ignored him as the cephalopod crawled away. Natsu jumped back from another slimy punch before pulling his fist back. "Fine, let's roast you alive." He enveloped his hand his flames and punched forward. The slime burst into flames, only to slam down on him repeatedly.

"Talon... I have an idea." Natsu mumbled. "Pick me up and carry me high."

"Yes, master." Talon said before picking up the pinkette only to find the slime following them. "Okay, now what?"

"Drop me, now." Natsu ordered.

"What are you- oh, I get it." Talon smirked before dropping his master. The red goo swallowed Natsu and began draining his magic before it exploded. "He unleashed enough magic power to overload that thing. Let's see what he can do now."

Natsu dived at the blonde before he threw a punch. Sugarboy did the same only to find their fists stuck by a blob of slime. "Not so tough without your slime, are ya?" Natsu chuckled before throwing a kick. "This is what you get for messing with Fairy Tail."

"I ain't done yet." Sugarboy punched back before a stream of ice shot out of the woods. The slime froze snd broke, letting the two fall apart.

"Its about time you woke up, Gray." Natsu chuckled.

"Well maybe if you hadn't gotten lucky, I'd be here sonner." Gray replied.

With Byro

The octopus suddenly began jumping through the forest. "You found something, haven't you?" Byro asked before the creature landed. "You're the one I sensed. I must admit you hold an impressive amount of magic power."

"You don't say." Gildarts replied as Byro stood up.

"I know who you are." The church member said. "You're the ace of the Fairy Tail guild. Gildarts Clive."

"Well, I don't know who you are. But you must have a death wish to mess with our guild." Gildarts replied. "Now... who to take out first; you or the Octopus."

"Continue to threaten me, and I'll be forced to eliminate you." Byro said before Gildarts charged him. The ace threw a punch with his magic and the trees behind Byro turned into cubes. The two continued the process completely destroying the surrounding foliage. "I won't ask again. Stand down."

"Only if you can make me." Gildarts replied as the two stared at each other before they started throwing more punches. "Start talking. What do you want with the Fairy Tail Guild?"

"That's none of your concern." Byro said back.

"Really?" Gildarts asked, unleashing his magic. "Well seeing that I'm a member of that guild, it's very much my concern. Im not that worried about the others since Fairy Tail can handle themselves. But I'm not taking any chances, because one of those members is my daughter."

"Don't worry, we don't intend to harm your daughter." Byro said back. "We want Lucy Heartfilia."

"Why her?" Gildarts asked.

"Because it is a task given to us by the archbishop." The man said. "And this holy war will change everything." The two continued to throw punches before a spear pierced the octopus.

The beast cried in pain before it threw Gildsrts off. Erza landed next to him in her giants armor as the beast flailed around. "Its rare to see you struggle like this."

"Yeah, well its not every day I'm faced with a giant octopus." Gildarts chuckled back.

"If this man and his pet are responsible for the attack on our guild hall, then justice must be delivered." Erza said.

With Lucy

"Sorry, Virgo. I think I broke it." Lucy said, handing the spirit the whip.

"I'm sure it was just affected by the magic that sealed you away." The maid said. "I'll see what I can do with it." She returned to her world as Mary stood over them.

"Just like how Samuel calculated." She chuckled before waving her wand. Michelle started walking towards the cliff as Lucy pulled her back. "Pretty sure you two bimbos will be much easier to take back if your injured." She chuckled as Michelle walked off the cliff, carrying Lucy with her.

The blonde acted quickly and pull out a key. "Open, Gate of the Ram - Aries!" The spirit appeared and summoned cloud of pink cotton, cushioning the two blondes. "That was perfect timing. Thank you."

Both looked up to see Mary Hughes jump down to them. Lucy quickly summoned another one of her spirits, Taurus, who perved out on her. "Less gawking, more fighting!" She shouted, making him swing his axe at the other girl. "I knew it! Her magic can only control humans. It has no effect on Celestial Spirits."

Taurus swung his axe and Mary dodged before the cow spirit froze... drooling at the enemies body. "Go AWAY!" Lucy shouted, closing his gate.

"Do all your Celestial Spirits have... unique personalities?" Michelle asked. Lucy sighed before pulled out another key, summoning Scorpio. "Yep, unique it is." The spirit fired off a blast of sand at Mary, who dodged and used her wand to move Lucy. Scorpio moved his tail and ended up hitting Michelle. Scorpio quickly faded as Lucy landed on the ground.

'Unlike the cursing magic kain uses, she doesn't need the hair of the person.' Lucy thought to herself. 'She can only control one person at a time, and they need to be within a range. So I'm safe as long as I stay away.'

The clock piece glowed a little bit, catching Mary Hughes' attention. "Found you!" Mary waved her wand and took control of Lucy, making her walk forward. "Gotcha now. Keep moving." Lucy's arms began to move, ready to hand over the clock piece. Mary took it and laughed before kicking Lucy away.

She tossed up a flare and laughed even more at Lucy "Knuckle Shadow!" Black fists shot out of the ground and knocked Mary back. "I come back from a job hoping to relax, and I find this?" A shadow rose out of the ground and turned into Kageyama, who caught the falling clock piece. "Still, if these guys messed with us, I can wait a little longer."

You guys asked for this to return, and here it is. I'll try to make this a bit interesting and fun. Hope this is a great to the continuation of my first one-shot. See ya next time.

Beta read by JballinR12.