A/N: I skipped the Starry Heavens Arc because Xandria didn't really have a reason to be involved. I mean she could've played a role, but I felt like it would've been pretty rough for her considering that she just got finished dealing with Grimiore Heart. The poor girl needs a break, if I do say so myself.

Also, I added a rather sizeable poriton the this chapter on 12/28/15 (Evergreen visiting Xandria and the both of them having a rather pleasant chat). I enjoyed writing it very much and I think it adds a very sweet and comfortable element to this chapter (it also helps to lay the foundation for the blossoming friendship between the two girls.

Enjoy the chapter!

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."

The girl left the hostel three nights later, just like she promised. And, in an attempt to keep with another promise, she went to visit her blond friend later that day. But Lucy was out on a job along with the rest of Team Natsu, so on an impromptu whim, she decided to use the free time to go ahead and purchase a new place of residence.

After all, the girl didn't have anywhere to stay for the time being, so when better to buy a house than the present?

She had never owned a home before. She had never even considered it. But by the end of the day she had her own little cottage nestled in the East Forest on the edge of Magnolia. The down payment had been cheap considering it was for a house, just barely a million jewel, which was practically the rest of her money. The house itself would take her about ten years to pay off, and that was only if she managed to find decent work—which wasn't really looking too optimistic in her current situation.

But she bought it anyway, the overall charm of the little cottage appealing to her. With its cute little kitchen, (that she would probably never use for fear of burning down the house) two cozy bedrooms (one of which she would be converting into a study sometime soon), and comfortable living room complete with a fireplace, she simply couldn't pass up the offer. Plus it came fully furnished, and she didn't really want to go through the whole tedious process of purchasing furniture.

It was even nicer on the outside. The old stone of the building was covered in an array of multicolored flowers and green vines that had crept up the rugged surface, giving it a rather quaint appearance. The scalloped roof sloped inwards slightly, and many windows peered out from behind the plants, allowing light into all areas of the house in the natural way that only windows could. Vegetation surrounded the little cottage, adding the tranquil effect that the forest gave off. It even came complete with a little garden. And what better hobby to try than gardening?

~Xandria's POV~

"Don't you just love it Evergreen?" I blurted, a broad grin stealing across my face. The Fairy laughed good-naturedly, giving me a nod.

"It's certainly very charming." She remarked.

"I know it still needs some landscaping work here and there and the inside of the house could certainly use a bit of touching up…" I trailed off. "I'm thinking of installing some more windows as well. It's already got quite a few, but a few more couldn't hurt. Here, let's go inside. You've got to see the interior.

I dragged her along the cobblestone path and through the sloping wooden door. We entered the large main room, complete with the lovely kitchen, a small living room, and a small table. I turned to her, beginning to launch into my tour of the house.

"I have this darling brick wall in my bedroom, oh—and there's another one over there behind and to the right of the fireplace. Exposed brick just has a special place in my heart, you know? I'm thinking of the rest of the walls white too. It makes everything seem simple, don't you think? It'd really pop against the wooden floor too, although it's a little worn… I think it adds character to the house though. And I really want to have a lot of potted plants indoors—it just suits the whole natural aspect of everything. I'm getting into gardening, you know? I've never really had a hobby, but I think now is as good a time as ever. I tried picking up painting the other day too… but it didn't really work out so well. It seems as though I'm not much of an artist. I just really want to make this place cozy—and to make it mine, you know? I'm ready for a home of my own. Oh! And I really like the whole rustic style of the place too. It just really-"

"Xandria," Evergreen cut me off with a laugh, "as much as I love hearing you tell me about your plans for your house, I need to know where to put these."

I glanced down at the boxed tea set she carried in her hands, and an understanding grin spreading across my face.

"Oh yeah. Just put it over here, with the other ones."

She dutifully placed the box on the table beside the housewarming gifts that Lucy, Levy, Erza, and surprisingly enough—Gajeel—had brought over earlier. (Admittedly Gajeel had brought me a twisted and utterly indistinguishable iron sculpture, but it was the thought that counts.)

"I must admit, I quite enjoy listening to you so enthusiastic about this." Evergreen said with a smile, and I laughed.

"It's weird for me to be so excited," I agreed. "But I don't know… there's just something about finally having your own place. And aside from that, I'm turning over a new leaf. This is where the story of my life really begins, I guess. What happened before was kind of just a prologue."

"What a wonderful way to view things," Evergreen remarked. "I've never viewed you as a terribly optimistic person, but I have to say I really like this new version of Xandria."

"Oh believe me when I say that I'll still be the crotchety old asshole that I've always been. I'm turning over a new leaf, Evergreen, not performing some miracle."

We both laughed, and a comfortable pause passed between us.

Evergreen was the one who spoke first. "So you said that you were going to start gardening."

"I'm going to try."

"Well, I just so happen to have a rather prolific green-thumb, if I do say so myself."

"Really?"

"My name is Evergreen, Xandria, what did you expected?" She asked, chuckling. "I'll have to come over some time—help you work on your garden."

"That'd be absolutely wonderful." I insisted. "Evergreen, I'm just so delighted that you decided to stop by today. We've never had the opportunity to bond like this, and I have to say that I love talking to you."

"Ditto. It's good to have a girl to talk to sometimes. It gets a little bothersome being surrounded by Freed and Bickslow all the time, and now that Laxus is back, things are only going to get even worse."

"Agreed. We'll have to do this more often." I said, and she nodded.

And that was how Evergreen and I started having gardening Thursdays and Tea Tuesdays together. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, if I do say so myself.

"What's all the fuss about?" I inquired, crossing my arms as I approached the Thunder God Tribe. Magnolia's park was filled with people, all of them buzzing about between the stands that had been set up for some kind of impromptu festival.

The three of them turned to me, Freed with a blank stare, Evergreen with a smile, and Bickslow with a quick once over.

"Didn't you hear?" Evergreen prompted, but I shook my head.

"Hear what?"

"About the fight that's going down today. Between Laxus and Natsu, and Laxus and Gajeel." She explained.

I groaned. "You're serious? A fight?"

"Yes, a fight! I'm just so proud of our Laxus!" Freed blurted, and I glanced at him, an uncomfortable look of confusion flickering over my features before I turned back to Evergreen, shaking my head.

"So they're throwing a festival in honor of that?"

"It would seem that way."

"Everyone loved Laxus." Bickslow added. "It's not surprising that they're celebrating his return to Magnolia like this."

"I don't' see it," I said with a shrug. "Besides, before he got kicked out the last time wasn't it because of threats he made not just to the entire guild, but to the town as well?"

"He was going through a rough time then (he'd just quit smoking as well, Xandria). But he's changed." Evergreen reassured me. "Besides, the people here probably wanted to celebrate the return of most of Fairy Tail as well. It wouldn't really hurt to-"

"What's all this commotion about?"

Speak of the devil.

I turned my head at the sound of the voice, noticing the blond man appear from seemingly out of nowhere as he strode over to where I stood talking to his closest friends. They seemed to brighten up at Laxus' appearance.

"It's not just every day you have a showdown, Laxus, so everyone's been making a big to-do about it since last night." Bickslow explained with a grin.

"They're probably happy about getting the chance to see you again after so long." Evergreen added, and Laxus simply shook his head.

"They're fools as always…" He muttered, and yet, I could see the ghost of a grin appear on his face.

"But that's Fairy Tail. You know that more than anyone, Laxus!" Freed exclaimed passionately, causing Laxus to pull away awkwardly.

"Well, you guys have fun." I said, scratching the back of my head in awkwardness. "I'll just-"

"What are you doing?" Evergreen asked me, giving me a frown. I paused, grinning stiffly.

"I was going to join the crowd and leave you to get ready for his fight. I don't know. I just figured I wasn't welcome here."

"Well you're already over here anyways. You might as well stay and help cheer Laxus on." She said with a smile.

"Why would I cheer Blondie on?" I said with a laugh. Laxus feigned hurt.

"What will I ever do? I just lost a cheerleader—my heart!" The lightning boy cut in;I rolled my eyes.

"Just stay over here anyway, Xandria. We need to ask you something about tomorrow." Evergreen stated.

"What?"

"Well, we were wondering if you'd like to accompany us on a job." Bickslow explained, exchanging glances with his female companion. "It's pretty far, in clover town, so we'll be gone for a couple days. But we figured it'd be good for you to get some experience on a strong team—you'd be the makeshift member of the Thunder God Tribe."

"You're taking someone in?" Laxus blurted in surprise, disregarding anything he had ever learned about tact. Evergreen snorted.

"Have you seen her? Of course we're going to adopt her at least this one time. She's not on a team, and we could use the extra hand on this job, especially without you around to help us." She announced, and I couldn't help but allow a proud grin to grow across my face.

"Not my fault you had to go and get expelled, after all, Sparky." I added cheekily, earning a withering look from Laxus and a laugh from Bickslow.

"Watch your mouth." Laxus warned, and I laughed slightly.

"Ooh, I'm so scared. What're you going to do? Glare me to death?" I inquired, and a moment passed while a dark look still filled his face. I rolled my eyes. "Oh come on, don't be such a baby."

"Whatever."

I was struck suddenly by how quiet he was, and I shrank back slightly, feeling as if I had done something wrong.

"Oi Laxus, the fight's about to start!" Freed blurted, dragging us all back into reality.

It was over within seconds.

Laxus had won the fight in one punch. It had been pitiful. Both boys had started charging up magic power, the entire atmosphere around them shaking with tension. It had been rather extraordinary, watching two formidable mages stare each other down like that. At least, it had been awe worthy until Natsu had launched himself at the blond man, waving his fists as he went flying through the air. Laxus just sighed and punched the pink haired boy in the face, knocking him out with one hit. It was pathetic—especially when Gajeel turned tail and ran as fast as he could away from Laxus.

Maybe we would have celebrated afterwards. Maybe, if Laxus would have had more of a fight. Maybe if he had been a bit more prideful. Maybe if Makarov hadn't have showed up. But the situation just didn't seem right to have a party. It didn't seem right to have a festival for the silly little fight between the dragon slayer and lightning mage. And so Laxus simply left, clinging to what little he had of his honor left. Or maybe he just didn't want to cause his grandfather anymore pain. Or maybe he just wanted a drink. Who really knew?

The job had gone well, very well in fact—even though I only had 75,000 jewel to show for it.

It had been award, of course; that was to be expected from a newbie like me. Because that was what I was to their group—a newbie, not a recovering dark mage, not a formidable wizard, not even an annoying amateur. I was just the new kid on the block. Someone that they didn't really know yet, but someone they'd have to see if they'd like being around.

Bickslow already liked me. That was a plus, at least. (And yet, in some ways, it also seemed to be a minus.) Occasionally he liked me a little too much. But it didn't bother me. Evergreen even found his inclination to pester me as the perfect conversation starter. She'd tease him about it, he'd get annoyed, I would laugh, and somehow, I began to feel included.

Evergreen was a doll. There were no other words to describe the woman. She was adorable, and witty, with a sense of humor sharper than even my own. I couldn't believe myself for thinking her vain at first. Sure, she cared about looks a bit more than most people, but that wasn't necessarily a bad quality. She certainly wasn't egotistical like Laxus seemed to be.

And because of her affinity to make others laugh, she and I became fast friends (we already were in a way, after she visited my new home), something that surprised me. Levy, my first friend at Fairy Tail was sweet, innocent; she could be tough if she needed too, but she was no Gajeel. Lucy, another one of my close friends possessed the same element of kindness and compassion, although she happened to be quite superficial at times, and was slightly wild. Both of them could make me laugh, but neither contained the amount of sarcasm that Evergreen did. And it was that brilliant sarcasm that drew me to her, allowing me to use my own arsenal of sarcastic remarks and create a witty banter between us.

Freed was just… Freed. There was no other word to describe the calm, well-mannered man, who always carried himself with such poise and grace… Until the subject of Laxus came along. The change in his personality became very evident the one time we spoke about the blond man. As soon as someone mentioned the brute's name, Freed's eyes would tear up, and it was all he could do to go on and on about how amazing Laxus was. Laxus this, Laxus that, Laxus is the only thing we need. After a while his constant drivel finally got to me, and I told him that Laxus wasn't all that great. He had been—according to most of the members of the guild—a power hungry, arrogant jerk. And even if he had changed, that wouldn't alter the fact that he had tried to wipe out the entire city of Magnolia.

Freed, of course, flipped when I said that. I really should have expected him to go off as soon as mentioned Laxus' former sins. All the green haired man could do was spout even more insanities about how amazing Laxus was, and point out that I, a former dark mage, was not such a saint myself. I shrugged it off, finally saying to Freed that Laxus was 'ok, I suppose.'

It seemed like Freed and I would never reconcile, however the next morning the events from the day before were long forgotten, and we eventually struck up a new conversation. He started mentioning books, and I recognized many of the titles he said (as I had read them during my stay with Lucy). Needless to say we hit it off after that (not nearly as well as Evergreen and I, but still rather well considering).

It took a little over a day for the Thunder God Tribe (don't even get me started on that ridiculous name) and I to subdue the dark mage's that were harassing the Aida family over some long unpaid bills. After we arrived back in Magnolia, I decided to go back to my house instead of accompanying the Raijinshu to the guild. I was feeling a bit odd, and my torso had started bothering me again after using magic again for the first time in a little over a week.

Little did I know what I was missing out on.

Apparently it had been a huge ordeal. And apparently they could have used my help. Lucy had already expressed her feelings to me earlier that day when I arrived at the guild after my two day absence, shouting at me for not being there when she needed me.

But whatever had been going on with Michelle, my replacement, (lmao bye bitch, no one can replace me) and some strange clock, was over with now. And I didn't have to concern myself with even trying to fathom the strange events.

"And so!"

I blinked, my eyes focusing on the master as his demanding voice pulled me back into the present. That's right, I reminded myself, we're in the middle of an announcement.

"I've decided to retire. I'm going to introduce the next master to you now." He paused, inhaling slowly as he looked at us, his children. "The fifth Fairy Tail master… Gildarts Clive!"

He waved his hand with a flourish in the direction of our supposed fifth guild master. But instead of a bulky man standing in the spot beside him, the only person there was the elegant Mirajane, who smiled awkwardly at all of as we looked at her blankly.

"Where's Gildarts?" Makarov hissed, earning another one of Mira's trademark smiles.

"He left a letter." She said, gently handing over the slip of paper to the elderly man, who snatched it up quickly from her hands. His greedy eyes scanned over it, narrowing in places as he began to read it out loud.

"Master, as well as everyone else in the guild, sorry but I'm not cut out to be a master." He quoted, earning laughs from many of the members of the guild. "Well… I will take the opportunity to give two new orders as the fifth master." We all quieted down, anxious to hear what they were. "The first: accept Laxus as a member of Fairy Tail." We all turned to him, and the master paused, a look of irritation crossing his wrinkled face. "That's taking liberties!" Evergreen glomped Laxus in a hug—a look of pure joy crossed Bickslow's face.

"Isn't that great Laxus?!"

"Now the Thunder God Tribe is complete again!"

Freed burst into tears.

"If that's what the fifth master rules, then we have no choice but to obey." The elderly man said, shaking his head and beginning to read from the letter again, but I could see his smile. "The second order: I appoint Mr. Makarov Dreyar as the sixth master of Fairy Tail." His face blanched. "Me again?!"

The entire guild started laughing at his outrage. "That Jackass," Makarov shouted. "Since it's come to this, I'm not gonna let anyone else become master! I'll be master till the day I die! Booze, bring out the booze!"

We all laughed at the master as he began drinking heavily, trying to drown away his sorrows as a result of becoming the 'new' guildmaster.

All of a sudden, I felt my hand being grabbed, and I spun around, Evergreen almost pulling me into her. I blinked in surprise.

"Gah! What?" I exclaimed, earning a laugh from the fairy.

"Come on, I'd like to introduce you to the newest, reinstated member of our group, seeing as how you've temporarily joined the Thunder God Tribe." She announced, tugging on my arm. I didn't budge.

"I've already met him."

"Don't be such a stick in the mud Xandria. Honestly."

"Ok, fine."

She pulled me in the direction of the table that the rest of the Thunderheads had set themselves up at, with Freed clinging to Laxus like glue. Evergreen smiled at everyone, sitting me down strategically in between her and Laxus—across from Bickslow.

"Look whose decided to join us." Laxus remarked, and I narrowed my eyes slightly, hearing the scorn in his tone.

"Play nice Laxus. She's one of us now."

"Since when did we go around recruiting people?"

"Since when were you so difficult?" Evergreen snapped. "Stop being so grumpy."

"I thought you might actually be happy for a change." I added. "I mean, you're back into the guild after all."

"He's never happy, Xandria. You'll see." Bickslow cut in with a smirk, and I laughed.

"At least I'm not annoying, like you," Laxus retorted, motioning to Bickslow's prized clay dolls that were currently, and constantly hovering around his head.

"You are pretty annoying, actually. At least as far as I've known you." I stated, glancing down nonchalantly to examine my hands, all the while trying to hide the smirk from my face. Evergreen and Bickslow started laughing.

"Well as far as I've known you, hotel girl, you've been pretty irritating yourself." He said.

"Hotel girl?" Evergreen inquired with a snigger, and I noticed Freed move away from Laxus, a shocked look of disgust filling his face.

My cheeks turned a light shade of pink from momentary embarrassment.

"I met him once before I joined the guild at a small hotel on the edge of Magnolia. But it wasn't like that. We didn't hook-up," I blurted. "We just talked is all. Well, more like argued with each other. He kind of stumbled into me while he was trying to bust the door to my room open." Bickslow and Laxus both burst into laughter.

"Hmph." Was all Freed could muster. I scratched my head in embarrassment, feeling ridiculous.

"Who would've expected the calm and collected Xandria to get all flustered like that." Bickslow remarked.

"I'm not flustered."

"You're doing an awful job at lying, you know?" Laxus added, and I turned on him, my burning cheeks now becoming red out of irritation, as opposed to the embarrassment that I still contained.

"Shut it, Blondie!"

Freed harruphmed again.

"We're gonna be in it! We're gonna! We're gonna! We're gonna!"

"No we're not! We're not! We're not! We're not! I refuse to give permission! We're never gonna take part in that again!"

I watched on as the father and son duo of Macao and Romeo argued over some unintelligible event that the father clearly did not want to be participating in any time soon. And, although I didn't particularly want to admit it, their childish banter began to pique my interest.

"We're home!" A sudden cheerful voice exclaimed, and I turned my head, noticing Natsu and the rest of his team, minus Gray's shirt and Erza, walk in.

"Oh, you're back already huh? Did you get good medicine?" Max asked them, and I frowned. What did he mean by medicine?

"Nope. Just Wendy." Lucy said with a smile, earning a light laugh from the small girl. I shook my head, deciding not to ask. It would only earn me another long lecture from the blond girl about how I was abandoning her and my promise to not forget about her. In truth I wasn't, I constantly thought about Lucy and the rest of my friends. But I knew that I would not be welcome on her little team. At least, not as welcome as I had become with Evergreen and company.

Maybe I should just form my own team with someone. Mickey was funny—our personalities seemed similar enough. Or maybe Cana. Did Mira work with her siblings—did she even go on jobs anymore? If only Gildarts hadn't left…

Maybe forming my own team wasn't such a good idea. Flying solo seemed like a much better option than anything else.

"You don't have the right to decide that anymore dad! You're not the master!"

"I'm speaking as a member of the guild!" Macao blurted, and I turned my attention back to the dispute between the father and son. "Who all doesn't want to participate?" He raised his hand. "Me."

All of the other members that had endured the seven years without us, minus Romeo, raised their hands, droning out the word in agreement.

"That's the one thing I don't want to do again." Alzack stated with a sigh.

"It'll just expose us to ridicule…" His wife muttered.

"But now we've got the Tenrou group!" Romeo exclaimed, pumping his fists. "We've got Natsu and Erza! How could Fairy Tail lose?!"

"But the Tenrou group's got a seven year blank."

"What's this about bein' in or not?" Natsu cut in, earning an excited look from the little boy.

"Natsu, while you guys were gone, a festival started up to decide the number one guild in Fiore!" Romeo continued breathlessly, looking up to his idol in anticipation.

"That sounds like fun!"

"All the guilds in Fiore gather and compete with each other with their magic! It's called the Grand Magic Games!"

"Grand Magic Games?" Lucy echoed.

"That sounds like a real festival!" Gray added with a nod.

"I see… Right now the number one guild in Fiore is said to be Sabertooth, right?" Erza inquired, earning an energetic nod from the young boy.

"That's right! If we beat Sabertooth and win the games, we'll become Fiore's number one guild!"

"But…" The master interjected, his wise voice calling us all back to reality. "I don't know if you guys are strong enough to pull that off right now…"

"That's right! Exactly!" Macao blurted.

"If we win, the guild gets 30 million jewel as a reward!"

"We're in it!" Makarov exclaimed, and I shook my head, not trying at all to hide the smile that grew on my face.

"Master!"

"It's impossible, between Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale…"

"Sabertooth isn't our only enemy!"

"Incidentally, in past festivals, we were always in last place."

The members of the guild that had had to participate in it before shot off rapid fire remarks at Makarov, but he simply ignored them.

"Then we'll take that crummy record and destroy it!" The master shouted.

"When is the tournament?" Nastu pressed, and Romeo grinned.

"Three months from now."

"Plenty of time!" The fire dragon slayer announced, pounding his fist into the palm of his hand. "By then we'll be lean and mean, and Fairy Tail will become Fiore's number one guild again!"

"Sounds good."

"Yeah, if everyone joins their power as one…" Lucy began.

"There's nothing we can't do." I finished with a grin.

"It looks like we'll be able to achieve Gildart's wish earlier than expected, huh?" Cana asked.

"Seriously?"

"Are we really gonna participate?"

"Sure, why not give it a shot?" Levy offered, but Alzack shook his head.

"I really don't think we should go through with it."

"It's a little different than the battle festival you're thinking of, Natsu." Bisca stated, earning a pointed look from the pink haired boy.

"It's hell." Warren snapped.

"I've already decided we're gonna do it, so there's no point in complaining!" The master announced with a broad grin. "Let's aim for the 30 million—I mean—aim for Fiore's number one! Team Fairy Tail is going to win the Grand Magic Games!"