"Welcome back, Alex," Gran Doma said when the group walked into the council room. "I see you brought an audience."

Alex nodded and grinned. "The other Masters wanted to show Fairy Tail their support." She looked at the Council. "Did you all come to a decision?"

"We did," Gran Doma said. He turned to Doranbolt. "Thank you for coming in today."

Doranbolt nodded. "Of course. What did you need me for?"

"Yesterday, young Alex came across two members of Grimoire Heart. And instead of arresting them, she wants to let them join a sort of rehabilitation program in Fairy Tail," Michello said. He sneered at the Fairy Tail Master. "I think it's a foolish endeavor, and they should all get thrown in jail where they belong."

"Luckily for Alex," Gran Doma said, "this wasn't just Michello's decision. And we agreed that with a member of the Rune Knights keeping watch should anything go wrong." He gave Alex a stern glare. "The former dark guild members will form a team that works for the Council. We will send them on jobs to take down dark guilds of our choosing. If they refuse, we will be placing them in prison, where they belong. Is that understood?"

Alex grinned and nodded. "Of course, Grand Doma. Thank you for the opportunity. We won't put this opportunity to waste."

Gran Doma nodded and turned to Doranbolt. "Alex suggested you for the Rune Knight to watch over her little team of miscreants. Would you be willing to help the Council with this?"

Doranbolt nodded. "Of course, Gran Doma. It would be an honor to assist the Council."

Gran Doma nodded and faced Alex. "It's decided then. For the next five years, the past Oracion Seis will take jobs given by the Council under the supervision of Rune Knight Doranbolt. He will provide us with the details of each job they take and alert us if they even think of going rogue."

Alex could feel Hotaru rolling her eyes at the Council, but she merely smiled at them. "Of course, Gran Doma. I have no doubt my guild members will behave for your Rune Knight." She tilted her head. "They will, of course, be taking other jobs as well, correct? After all, how can they be in a wizard's guild if they aren't getting paid? They will need to eat."

Gran Doma nodded. "Of course they will. They won't be eligible for S-Class promotions until the five years are up." He waved his hand at the door. "You all may go now."

Alex bowed and walked to the door. She grinned at the Masters as they left. "I can't believe they agreed," She told Master Bob. "With the way they were talking yesterday, I was sure they were going to take some of my guild members away."

Master Bob frowned thoughtfully. "You should be careful when it comes to the council," He warned. "They're counting on you to fail right now."

Alex nodded as the group walked to the train station. "Yeah. I just hope I can get my team to understand the importance of having a babysitter watching them for a while."

Master Goldmine chuckled and patted Alex on the back. "Good luck with that, kid. Fairy Tail has never been fond of the idea of someone babysitting them."

Alex snorted and rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it." She climbed on the train with the silent Doranbolt and waved to the other Masters. "Thank you again for coming to support me. It means a lot."

Alex say down on the train and looked at Doranbolt when he sat across from her. "We have a few hours before we reach Magnolia. Do you have any questions about your charges?"

For the duration of the train ride, Doranbolt asked about the Oracion Seis and their personalities. He also asked about Fairy Tail and where he would be staying for the next five years. Alex did her best to answer all his questions and promised him he would have room to stay in once she got Laki to expand the house some more.

"That house looks like a nightmare," Hotaru muttered to Alex. "And that's saying something coming from me."

Alex looked out the window as they entered Magnolia station. "There's nothing we can do about it," She retorted. "I bought the house when it was just supposed to be me. And I can't afford another one without dipping into my emergency guild money."

"This seems like the kind of guild emergency that would require you to spend some of that money," The demon snorted. "But if you want to stay in that shack you call a house, fine."

Alex snorted and rolled her eyes. She shook her head at the curious look Doranbolt gave and walked out of the train with the Rune Knight following her. "We'll stop at the guild first. I need to introduce my roommates and the guild members to our new guest."

When the duo entered the guild, Kinana walked over to Alex and smiled. "Welcome back, Master. How was the Council?"

Alex smiled at her in greeting. "Have you seen the Oracion Seis?" She asked. "I need to talk to them."

Macao tapped his chin thoughtfully. "They said something about taking those two girls shopping for things for the house?" He grinned at the young Master. "Getting new housemates, are you?"

Alex sighed and scratched her head. "I guess." She looked at Laki. "Can you have them come to my office when you get back?" When Laki nodded, she smiled gratefully. "Thank you. And while I'm thinking of it, I need a few more rooms added to my house. Would you mind doing that for me?"

Laki smiled. "I'd be happy to." She tilted her head in concern. "Are you staying here another night, Master?"

Kinana shook her head before Alex could answer. "Erik said one of them is going to make sure she goes home today." She looked at Alex, her face stern. "You've been working yourself too hard, Master."

Alex snorted and raised an eyebrow. "Maybe if you all stopped insisting on calling me Master, I'd stop taking the job as seriously." She shook her head. "Don't worry. I've finished the paperwork Master Makarov 'accidentally' forgot to finish. I fully plan on getting home tonight." She started walking up the stairs. "Come find me when the rooms are done, Laki." She entered her office after hearing a faint, 'yes, Master.'

Alex leaned against her door and sighed. "What a mess," she muttered to herself. She walked over to the window and looked down at some of the guild members. For the most part, the guild was somber, still reeling from the loss of some of their louder and more powerful members. "Would this be something you'd approve of, Master?" She asked, staring outside. "You never did like the Council, but I don't think I could have pulled off adding more people with criminal records without their permission. I have to work with them to make this all work."

"Master Makarov had complete faith in you," Hotaru said. "To doubt yourself is to doubt him. It doesn't matter if this is the way he would do things or not. He would have approved of whatever you did to keep this guild running and helping people who needed it." Alex nodded thoughtfully. "These people you want in Fairy Tail. Are you sure they have Fairy Tail's best interest at heart?"

Alex nodded with a grin. "I know they'll be the best for Fairy Tail in the end."

"Then you have your answer," Hotaru nodded. "Makarov would be proud."

Alex smiled and relaxed into her chair. "Thank you, Hotaru. You usually know exactly what to say." She snorted. "That's the benefit of having a Demon residing in your soul."

When the Oracion Sies came into the office with Meredy and Ultear, it was to a napping Alex. "She looks so peaceful," Sorano said, crossing her arms. "Are you sure we should wake her up?"

"She has been having a hard time sleeping," Jellal admitted. "I can only imagine the amount of pressure she's been feeling as the new Master of Fairy Tail."

Erik shook his head and walked closer to the Master. "The sooner we get this over with, the sooner she can go sleep in her actual bed." He shook Alex's shoulder. "Hey, Boss. You wanted to talk to us?"

Alex lifted her head and rubbed her eyes. "I'm up." She looked at the people in her office and smiled. "Hey, guys. How was the shopping?" She waved for them to come further into the office so Doranbolt could close the door behind them.

"It was alright," Sawyer shrugged. "What did you want to talk to us about?"

"Is it about us joining Fairy Tail?" Ultear asked, cautious.

Alex nodded and crossed her arms. "You can join Fairy Tail," She began. "But it's all conditional." She looked at the Oracion Seis. "The Council doesn't trust us. They never have. And now that Master Makarov is indisposed, they don't believe I can keep you from causing mass destruction when my back is turned." She frowned. "They wanted to throw you all in jail."

"You managed to talk them out of that, though," Erik assumed. "Seeing as we're still here and not in jail right now."

Alex nodded. 'We managed to agree to a compromise." She waved her hand at Doranbolt. "You all are to go on jobs to defeat dark guilds for the Council. This man will be reporting every action on those jobs to the Council members and the Rune Knights."

Angel scoffed and crossed her arms. "That doesn't sound any better than being in prison if you ask me. Why should we even agree to this?"

"It's either this or prison," Alex retorted. "This was the best I could get them to agree to, and even then, they spent most of the night making me wait for that." She leaned back into her chair. "We can't afford to get on the Council's bad side. Not now when our guild is struggling as it is."

"It's an impossible situation the Council is putting you in," Jellal said. The other members looked at him. "I remember how much the Council hated Fairy Tail when I was a Wizard Saint. They want you to fail, don't they?"

Alex nodded. Erik sighed and closed his eyes. "Then we'll do whatever we can to make sure you don't." Alex looked at him curiously. "The other day, when you went to the Council, I said we would stand by your decisions. If this is what that is, we stand by it. Besides," He crossed his arms. "It's not like we have to do this forever, is it?"

Alex nodded. "It's only for five years." She smiled gratefully at her housemates when they finally nodded in acceptance. "Thank you, everyone." Laki opened the door, knocking softly. "Yes, Laki?"

"The rooms you requested are done, Master," Laki reported.

"Thank you," Alex nodded. "I'll pay you for them before I leave, alright?" Laki nodded and headed back downstairs. Alex looked back at the people in her office. "Why don't you show Doranbolt to the house and help him pick a room? I'll take Ultear and Meredy up there later." She looked at the future members. "We still need to talk about where you want your guild mark after all."

Erik nodded and grinned, his fang showing. "Of course!" He wrapped an arm around the suddenly nervous Doranbolt. "We'll treat him just like family."

Alex sighed as they walked out of the room. "Please don't hurt him! The last thing I need is to have to tell the Council we hurt their little knight." She slumped in her chair when Erik and Sawyer started cackling. Jellal smiled as the rest followed. "Don't worry, Master. I'll make sure they don't cause any problems before you get there." He walked out and shut the door.

Alex rubbed her forehead. "Those boys will be the death of me one day," She swore. She grinned and looked at the girls left behind. "So, have you put any thought on where you want your guild marks? The Oracion Sies decided to put it where their old marks were, but you can pick anywhere you want."

After much thought and debate, the two girls walked away with dark blue Fairy Tail marks on their backs. Alex smiled and led the two down the stairs to the rest of the guild. Many members were still around. "Hang on a second, girls," Alex said, walking over to the bar. "I have to make an announcement."

Alex stood up on the bar and looked at the guild members."Attention, everyone!" She shouted. The members looked at her curiously. "We have some new members today." She waved her hand to Meredy and Ultear. "I trust you'll welcome them with open arms." Fairy Tail gave a small cheer for the introduction. "In other news, I've decided that as a whole, Fairy Tail needs to be stronger. So starting next week, I'll be hosting a training day once a week to go along with my kickboxing class. Those interested in getting stronger are encouraged to join." She looked sternly at Jet and Droy. "I haven't forgotten our arrangement from a few months ago, boys. So don't think these are optional for you two."

Jet smiled sheepishly while Droy groaned in disappointment. "Of course not, Master. We'll be sure to be there."

Alex nodded, satisfied. "Alright then." She hopped down from the bar and smiled. "Take care, everyone. I have some new guild members to take to my house." The trio walked out the door as the guild members waved goodbye.

Meredy smiled as they walked. "You haven't been Master for very long, yet you seem to keep everyone's attention rather well."

Alex rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "I think that's because I scared them for a while when I first showed up." She lowered her arm and smiled at the ground. "It's also probably because Master Makarov put so much faith in me. They believe in me because he did. He's the one who put me in charge, you know?"

The rest of the walk home was silent until they heard a loud crash from Alex's house. "Oh no," Alex groaned. "What did they do now?" She ran the rest of the way with the other two close behind.

When she opened the door, Sorano and Macbeth were staring at the floor where Sawyer tried to fix the broken vase beside him. Alex turned to see Erik not-so-discreetly point at Doranbolt. "Clumsy here doesn't know how to catch things very well," he said, smirking. "You may need to work on his reflexes."

Ultear rolled her eyes and raised her hands at the vase. Using her magic, she turned the vase's time back to before it was thrown.

Alex grinned and patted her shoulder. "I'm beginning to like you here already." She turned to the girls. "Hope you can get used to the chaos, girls. It's going to get loud." She walked into the kitchen and looked at the calendar. "Only six years and eleven months to go," She muttered, crossing off a few more days. "Hopefully, the guild won't be in shambles before your return."

Hey, everyone. I'm sorry I haven't been updating. I've been going through some things. It's not too important, but it stopped me from doing things I enjoyed, like posting chapters. I'll try to do better, but I have to ask that you'll be patient with me. Thank you so much for being as patient as you have been. I'll make sure to post the next chapter soon. Definitely before the month is up. Until then, see you next time!