Hey guys? How's it going? Anyway, thanks for all of the support. Anyway, I want to know, do you want longer chapters? I can do that, so yeah. Anyway, on with the chapter!

It didn't take long for the two to get back to the guild and in typical Natsu fashion, Natsu began to ask about food. As soon as Natsu had gotten off the train he'd pestered Mira about eating and as such, the two found themselves in the guild eating a rather large meal. Erza and Gray both stopped by with the two asking how Mira's first job back had gone. Erza had a strange tone and Natsu had noticed a glint in Mira's eyes. Was that something he should be concerned about? Gray was far more amicable. The four of them had gotten back at relatively similar times and chatted idly about their jobs. Both Natsu and Gray noticed the slight tension between their female friends though decided not to bring it up. Probably best to avoid that for as long as possible. Eventually, guild members began to trickle out as it grew later until only a few were left. Gray had gone home and Erza was speaking with the master about something or other. That essentially left Natsu and Mira at the bar doing their own thing. Eventually, the comfortable silence was broken though.

"Hey Natsu?"

"What's up?"

"I wanted to know if you could help me get stronger," Mira said somewhat timidly. Natsu smiled.

"Of course I can," Natsu said, "Maybe I can get you to kick Gray's ass while we're at it. That might be fun!"

"Wait really?"

"Yeah really? Why wouldn't I?" Natsu asked.

"It's a lot of trouble that you don't have to go through?"

"Not really? Plus it's not trouble and even if it was, I'd do just about anything for you guys," Natsu said, cracking a wide grin before whispering, "Plus, Gray gets his ass beat!"

Mira shrugged as she finished polishing a glass. Leave it to Natsu to mix in a brawl as training, "What made you ask me?"

"Other than handing Erza her own ass, just watching you fight," Mira said easily, "Like when you fought Levy and her team earlier."

Jet and Droy had paled ever so slightly when Levy had challenged Natsu earlier that day. Mira smiled as she recalled it. It had been an absolute stomp with Natsu coming out on top. Jet's speed was useless and Natsu's fire just burned away Droy's plants (including the ones that he had said were fireproof. Natsu suspected they hadn't been tested against dragon flames). Levy had tried but she wasn't anywhere as strong as Erza and found herself being quickly overwhelmed. Naturally, Levy had questions after.

"Why didn't you just eat all of my magic?" Levy asked as she poked at her food.

"Dragons can only eat their own element but we can't eat our own. It'd be like eating our own scales or something," Natsu said, "But as a fire dragon, I have a neat trick I can use. I can exude heat which means I can light things on fire without any fire!"

"Wait really?" Levy asked interestedly, "Eating your own magic makes sense but how can you even eat magic?"

"Our bodies tend to be strong inside and out because out magic is pretty rough," Natsu said offhandedly before smiling devilishly, "Watch closely."

Natsu focused a bit of magic and Levy watched as Jet's hat slowly started to smoke. He didn't notice and Droy either wasn't paying attention or simply wanted to see his friend struggle and soon enough, it was on fire. Levy smacked him and told him to put it out between laughs. Natsu cackled as he watch Jet look around to see why it was suddenly so hot. Jet, not realizing his hat was one fire, looked around and found nothing. It wasn't until he smelt burning fabric and realized he was on fire (or something he was wearing was). Jet then proceeded to dash his hat on the floor and stamp out the flames. Natsu cackled and as soon as Jet looked over, they found the pinkette mysteriously missing missing.

Natsu found himself inside, hiding behind Erza's seat. Erza, not knowing what to make of it, had stared at him in confusion. It was when she saw (or rather heard) Jet run in with a charred hat that she realized what had happened. She turned back to look at him and he grinned sheepishly. Erza would have reprimanded him, but she did have to admit it was rather funny. Natsu silently begged her and she sighed. Oh well. Erza silently beckoned Mira over who was watching the debacle with great interest. Seconds later, Natsu was hiding behind a bar, having used Mira as a way of blocking Jet's vision. He really didn't need to be hiding but it was fun. Natsu snickered to himself as he watched Jet look around for him. This was the life.

After Jet had thoroughly exhausted himself searching for Natsu, Natsu decided to come out. Mirajane had walked behind the counter and snuck him a bit of food. Erza turned to the counter and watched Natsu's head poke out. Mirajane, having been right next to him, had laughed at the pinkette's antics. Natsu hopped over the counter and relaxed as he sat down at a table joined by Erza and later Gray. Mirajane walked back and forth from the bar and and their table. They held amiable conversations and generally just relaxed on a slower guild day. Natsu asked about various jobs and almost jumped up when Erza said something about a Century Quest. At that, however, Gildarts had strolled over from the bar where he'd been sitting peacefully.

Mirajane smiled a bit as she thought about her excitable friend and his actions earlier in the day. It really was infectious. Her thoughts wandered back to their chat with Gildarts earlier and as such, didn't notice her friend's antics. Despite the guild being relatively void of people, the same could not be said about highly flammable furniture such as the table Natsu had began gnawing on after lighting it ablaze. Later, she would snap out of her thoughts at the sound of Erza shouting at Natsu. At the moment though, she was thinking about their earlier conversation. She really was curious how strong Natsu was and Gildarts' story definitely wasn't helping.


"You really don't want to do one of those," he said as he sat down next to Gray.

"Heya Gildarts!" Natsu said happily, "So, when's our next match?"

"I'm not as young as you are, Natsu," he said good naturedly.

"Sounds like an excuse to me," Natsu shot back, "How long are you going to be in town for?"

"Well, that quest put me off a bit. I might just relax for a while, sleep in my own bed and all that," Gildarts said as he waved his hand. Somebody brought him a drink and then tripped as a bit of his magic crumbled the floor around him.

"What exactly happened on your quest, Gildarts?" Erza asked, voicing the question that Mira and Gray were also wondering.

"Well, the quest was to go to some country or other and take care of these five dragons that had been giving the people trouble. Now, what I didn't realize was that you need dragon slayer magic. Anyway," Gildarts paused and took a sip of his drink, "I was near Mt. Zonia and I ran across a different dragon. Chances are, I would have died had Natsu not been around. I had no chance. Even if I had slayer magic, I probably wouldn't have been able to stop it."

The group took that rather uneasily as the strongest member of the guild was so completely outclassed. The Ace was probably stronger than their master and to think that either of them would lose so easily was an unsettling thought.

"What happened when Natsu showed up?" Gray asked.

"He fought it to a stalemate," Gildarts mused, "After that, he and I set up camp so he could heal. We talked a bit and I told him about Fairy Tail and he told me a bit about dragons."

"At some point, I was strong enough to start training again and Gildarts and I had a couple of fights," Natsu said before deflating a bit, "He won three times to my twice."

"Hell yeah I won," Gildarts grinned, clapping Gray on the back, causing a nearby table to explode.

"Hey! I was injured. I took like three days and I almost beat your ass, I just had to stop," Natsu said indignantly, "I'll beat you this time!"

"Will you?"

"Hell yeah!" Natsu shouted, "I'm all fired up!"

"Well, before I leave, we can fight," Gildarts said before smirking, "Then you'll be even with me."

Natsu grumbled a bit before sighing and taking a sip of his drink. Mirajane brought her hand to her chin in a thinking pose, "So how strong are you Natsu?"

"Strong enough to beat Gildarts's ass," Natsu rumbled before leaning back in his seat. He smiled happily at the thought of their promised fight.

"Prove it then," Gray snickered, "Apparently, you're losing."

"Shut up Ice Queen!" Natsu yelled, butting heads with the other man.

"Like hell Flame Brain! Let's take this outside!"

Natsu's eyes lit up, "Gladly!"


Mirajane glanced up at the scene in front of her, having been snapped out of her thoughts by the antics of her two friends. Erza was busy trying to stop Natsu from eating guild property and Natsu was trying to swat her away as he sucked up a bit more fire. She laughed a bit and both of them turned to her. Natsu whined as Erza dragged him over to the bar. Mira smiled at her two friends and quickly got to work on something for Natsu to nibble on. She figured Erza and the Master would appreciate it since Natsu apparently took to eating furniture when he was hungry.

Natsu on the other hand was wondering if steamed or fried fish was better. Typically, he just ate it roasted or charred since he had no real cooking knowledge. It worked fine for him but ever since trying the new human food, he'd began branching out. Mira had made him both but he'd never had them side by side so he didn't know which he preferred. He became acutely aware of the stare that Erza was sending him. He glanced up and suppressed a shudder at the almost murderous look on her face. Maybe he should refrain from eating tables. Of course, all of those thoughts went out the window as the platinum blonde barmaid placed a heaping plate of food in front of him.

It'd been a good day.