SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 22 out, this is Chapter 23 of this fic. And for those of you waiting for the Senshi's appearance, wait no longer, they're in this arc. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.

Chapter 23: Allied Forces, Assemble!

"Well then, great work everyone." Yajima greeted the team after their shift. "Kids these days sure do work hard. Come back any time."

"Yes, I learned a lot today." Erza nodded.

"She's into the outfit." Happy muttered.

"I think I can understand better how Mira must feel." Gray mused.

"By the way, Yajima-san," Ulyo turned to the former council member. "What has happened to the Council?"

"Well I've already retired." Yajima admitted.

"The Council?" Natsu and Gray gaped.

"What, you didn't know?" Lucy blinked. "Yajima-san used to be a member of the Council."

"Zuuku…" Yajima trailed. "Or was it Zullal?"

"Jellal." Ulyo sighed.

"Ah yes, that's right." Yajima recalled. "The betrayal of Jellal and Ultear was quite the blunder of the Council. Now should be the time to establish a fresh, new Magic Council, and the groundwork for it seems to be being laid in all quarters. It caused you all quite a lot of grief, it did. I am really sorry about it."

"No," Erza corrected. "I've heard that you were set against firing 'Aetherion' the entire time. And you even retired out of shame for the actions of the Council."

"I'm not fit for governing." Yajima admitted. "By the way, Natsu, Gray." He reminded the two. "There will be a new Council now. I won't be there any longer. That means that no one will be there to speak up for Fairy Tail. Be sure to behave in a way that keeps that in mind.""

"We'll behave." Both elemental mages nodded.

"What's this?" Lucy wondered, Mira having pulled out a holographic map after the team returned to the Guild.

"It's an organization chart of the Dark Guilds." Mira explained.

"When you look at it overall, there are quite a few of them." Erza admitted.

"Why?" Lucy asked.

"Because lately it seems like their activity has increased." Mira replied. "We have to strengthen the bonds between Guilds."

"What's the large oval?" Gray thought to ask.

"Juvia knows." Juvia piped up. "It is the Baram Alliance. The Baram Alliance is the most powerful force of Dark Guilds, combining the three Guilds of Oracion Seis, Tartaros, and Grimoire Heart. Each of them have a number of associated Guilds, and they control the world of Dark Guilds. Then there's the Guild that acts independently of the rest, Raven Tail."

"Eisenwald?" Lucy sweatdropped.

"That's the Guild that Erigor was in." Erza confirmed.

"About that Oracion Seis…" Makarov entered the conversation.

"We're going to attack them." Ulyo finished.

"Welcome back, Master, Ulyo." Mira beamed. "How was the meeting?"

"Master, what are you talking about?" Erza asked.

"At the regular meeting the other day, we discussed the recent activity by Oracion Seis." Makarov replied. "As it is not something we can ignore, we decided that some Guild has to fight them."

"You pulled the short straw again, Gramps?" Gray realized.

"And Fairy Tail will take on that role?" Juvia inquired.

"No, the enemy this time is too powerful." Makarov corrected. "If it were only us, then afterwards the Baram Alliance would retaliate only here."

"And that's why we have formed an alliance ourselves." Ulyo added. "Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, Caitshelter; these four Guilds will each send out members to strike these guys down, along with the Guild Guardians."

"But we can handle it ourselves, no problem." Natsu remarked. "Or actually, I could even handle it myself."

"Naïve fool!" Erza snapped. "The Master was thinking of the consequences afterwards."

"Cease this!" Jura roared, slamming his staff on the ground to silence the Alliance's bickering. "We are making an alliance to defeat Oracion Seis. This is not the time to be fighting amongst ourselves, especially in front of the Guild Guardians."

"Ara, did you have to spoil our fun, Jura?" Reiana whined, the four Guild Guardians looking on in amusement on the second storey of the hall.

"Jura?" Erza echoed.

"He's the ace of Lamia Scale, Rockiron Jura." Litana smirked, her 'Lamia Scale' tattoo flashing on her arm.

"Who?" Natsu wondered.

"He's one of the 10 Great Wizard Saints." Happy supplied.

"Even I've heard of his name before." Lucy breathed.

"With this, three of the four Guilds have gathered." Ditea went into leader mode.

"Captain Ditea is right." Ulyo agreed. "All that is left are the people from Caitshelter."

"Ow…" Wendy moaned, tripping over her feet as she ran in. "Um…" she dusted herself off. "I'm sorry I'm late. I'm Wendy, from Caitshelter."

"Wendy?" Natsu blinked.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.