This chapter features the "Wizard I'd Want to Date" list, a Sorcerer Weekly edition in canon Fairy Tail. I haven't changed it since Mashima actually did a decent job with writing it (yes, Hibiki and Jenny take the top spot, but I think it's reasonable considering their popularity in the universe.) In canon, Jellal was featured on all that list as Siegrain.

As always, I appreciate all the reviews and support! Thank you all so much! :)

Façade

Chapter 15: New Recruits

After the mages got paid for their play, Jellal returned to the Magic Council to complete the final documents for Fairy Tail's new guildhall. The new hall was much bigger, and required more licences since there was a pool, and additional facilities added to the bar. The expansions also had to be approved by the government.

Jellal noticed that many things changed in the Magic Council. The councillors started suspecting each other for giving out confidential information. Conflicts spiralled on occasional meetings, only to be ceased by Chairman Crawford.

Of course, nobody had expected Crawford to be the one affiliated with Jose, since he made the final decision very strictly to sentence him for a decade. Jellal was determined to prove to the Magic Council that Crawford was the traitor, and he would succeed in doing so.

But for that, he would need to cooperate with Jose. And just like Erza had cautioned, he might not comply if things didn't go well. In fact, Jellal could be accused of plotting against the chairman, which would land him in prison.

He grabbed a torch from the walls of the prison, venturing deep into the heavily guarded cells in Era. The Rune Knights did not question him, not even when Jellal requested privacy when he confronted Jose, sulking in his cell with no sense of time. There were no windows to tell what time of the day it was. He almost pitied Jose for having to spend so much time in this dingy place. He might have as well died instead of living without purpose.

"Jose," Jellal called out, bringing to torch forward to get a better view of the wizard's face.

The older man scowled upon hearing Jellal's voice echo throughout his cell. Sighing, the man grabbed a wooden chair and sat in front of the bars, heeding the Wizard Saint's call. "I'm surprised. I expected a visit or two from Gajeel and the others, but all I've gotten is the man who landed me in jail."

"...I did not expect you to plead guilty. I'm not sure whether that's a relief, or part of a larger scheme. The purpose of my visit is to get answers."

"I don't have the brains to plan a revenge, boy. If I did, I wouldn't have pleaded guilty. I suppose that saved you, though, since I did not acquire the information I sought."

Jellal studied his head hung down, and asked, "What was your reason for wanting access to the Magic Council archives?"

"Information that would force the Magic Council to disband Fairy Tail for good."

He decided the conversation would get nowhere if they continued bickering about Fairy Tail's dark history. Jellal thought of it as such, especially since he had seen the works of a former member, Hades. He deduced that person was formerly part of the guild and left to join a dark guild.

Jose was right, information like that could disband Fairy Tail, because they would be considered a dark guild. It was a plausible explanation why Makarov did not allow any books from the archives to leave the guildhall.

"Jose, I know Chairman Crawford gave you that information. Despite that, you did not bail him out."

He raised an eyebrow, "What about it?"

"The council members suspect each other to be the ones who handed information to you. I would like you to convince the Magic Council that Chairman Crawford is the traitor."

Jose laughed, "Do you really think I would assist you like that? If the Magic Council destroys their hierarchy by blaming each other, so be it. That will increase my chances of escape."

"What if I told you that your assistance would come with a reward?"

Jose gave a low hum in response, processing the information before asking, "What, exactly, would be my reward, if I may ask?"

"For revealing everything you know, your sentence will be halved. I suppose I'll offer you information you want on...Hades. If that's what you seek."

At this, the prisoner grinned. "That is a tempting deal. But how do I know you'll keep your end of the bargain?"

"If you fulfill my request, I will see to it that your sentence is five years. That will be approved, so long as you prove Crawford guilty. As for the information you seek, I will consult with the other members before giving you anything related to the Magic Council."

"There is one thing in particular I would like."

Jellal didn't know whether or not to regret his decision by bribing Jose, but was prepared to fulfill his request. Seeing that Jose captured Jellal's attention, he mused, "I've heard about magic called the Devil's Eye, and I would like information on it."

Recognizing the name, Jellal knew it was forbidden magic, and such books were found in Fiore's largest archives, gone untouched for decades. Finding no harm in giving a book to a powerless prisoner, he conceded. "I'll see to it you get the book."

Jose smiled in content, suddenly pleased about the information. "Then I'll schedule you for a court appearance. Though, I still do not trust you. How will I know you'll help me, instead of defend Crawford?"

"Jellal, you don't think I would defend the man who threw me in prison, do you? He used me to gain information about the Black Wizard, Zeref. In return, I was promised information that would disband Fairy Tail."

"I suppose you're right. However, I'll still be taking precautions." Jellal had learned from a young age how trust resulted in the endangerment of many people in Fairy Tail through the job requests. No matter what lies Jose told him, he would not buy his act.

"But of course," Jose concurred, bowing his head down in mock respect. "It's in my best interest to get rid of Crawford as well."

Jellal observed his movements, trying to find anything to deem Jose a liar. To find empty promises in his words. He did not give away anything.

And with that, Jellal left with uncertainty in the deal he made with Jose. Strictly business.

Strictly criminal to make a deal with the devil himself.

Upon exiting the Magic Council building, Jellal had been ready to call it a day. The budgeting business with Fairy Tail had kept his hands full, and none of the councillors had bothered helping, knowing he was the scapegoat for Fairy Tail and would suffer the consequences for their actions.

The recent meetings had brought up discussions on disbanding Fairy Tail, much to Yajima, Org, and Belno's fury. They had argued against it because they were constantly active in tracking down dark guilds. Jellal had no say in the matter and was not interested in offering his input. He understood the trouble his guild presented to the Magic Council, and it could get the government in trouble. Moreover, all the blame would fall into his lap, which was the last thing he wanted.

After contemplating the decisions made by the Magic Council, Jellal decided he needed a breather from the guildhall and planned on returning to his villa, which was by no means something he wanted to do. There was nothing pleasant about his home.

Fate had other plans for him, it seemed, when he found Juvia waiting in anticipation for his presence. There had been Rune Knights standing by her side, wary about her presence especially with the recent incident with Phantom Lord.

The one to her right spoke, "Sir, this woman requested to speak to you about the recent matters with Phantom Lord."

Jellal studied Juvia's right arm, which trailed behind her and kept a tight grip on Gajeel's coat.

"You are dismissed, I will settle this matter by myself." Jellal informed the Rune Knights, who bowed their heads and took their leave for more important tasks for the Magic Council.

The Water Mage sighed in relief and bowed down momentarily, forcing Gajeel into a non-committal obeisance. "My name is Juvia, and I am a former member of the Element 4," she explained, expecting Jellal to not have knowledge about her or the man beside her. "Gajeel and I have come to make amends with the Fairy Tail guild, which is why we stand here before you."

Jellal sighed, "There's no need for the formalities. The issue is finally resolved regarding the aftermath of the war, so there's no need to stress over it. However, Jose could use a visit or two from his former guild mates."

Juvia hesitantly glanced at Gajeel for an answer. He simply scoffed at the mention of his old guild master. "The old man's rotting in a cell and almost dragged me into a hellhole. If ya ask me, he deserved it."

"Gajeel's right," Juvia concurred, "Master Jose did many horrible things and deserves his punishment. I'm ashamed to admit he was my guild master. Besides, we did not come here regarding the aftermath of the war. We know the matter is settled, and the Magic Council disbanded our guild...which is exactly why we came to see you.

"We have no place to take job requests, nor do we have connections with people outside to fulfill our needs. If it's not too much to ask, would Gajeel and I be able to join Fairy Tail? Just until we find a means to earn money."

The councillor was surprised upon hearing a contractual proposition for joining a guild. And they chose the very guild they fought because Juvia and Gajeel had nobody else to turn to. That part did not come as a shock, since Phantom Lord's heinous reputation distanced themselves from the numerous guild leagues. "Master Makarov does not allow for a guild contract that requires you to serve a term. As you know, being in a guild comes with confidential information, which is why there's a commitment that comes with joining our guild. I do not doubt your intentions, Juvia, but I am still wary of Gajeel."

The Dragon Slayer clenched his jaw, "That's fine with me, I don't want in on your stupid guild."

Juvia dragged him back, shooting a glare in his direction which demanded him to change his stubborn attitude. She turned back to Jellal almost pleadingly. "Would you be able to allow Gajeel into Fairy Tail, please? It's my request entirely, because he needs a place for guild work."

"Hey, Juvia!" Gajeel barked, slightly embarrassed at the situation they'd gotten themselves into. Both of them shared a history others in Fairy Tail did not, and it reminded Jellal of the comfort he shared to have experienced a past with the friends he made before joining Fairy Tail. "Nothin' I want with those Fairies. You're probably lookin' for an excuse to thrash me."

Gajeel backed up and held his arms out. "Go ahead, make me suffer for what I did for the guild."

The Rain Woman seemed horrified by his implication. Gajeel had been ready to die since the war, finding no purpose in what he did or an opportunity for repentance. "Gajeel! You have to make things right with those you've harmed. Death is no way to atone for your sins."

"After all the people I've hurt, do you really think I deserve to be forgiven, Juvia? I've made many people suffer for the fun of it."

"That's not-"

"Don't you try n' change the truth. Truth hurts, and there's no way this guild's gonna forgive me for what I did."

Juvia's voice broke down into a whisper, "Then I shouldn't join Fairy Tail, either. I hurt him, too."

"Nah," Gajeel reassured, "your deeds aren't nearly half as bad as mine. You're better off with them...I'll figure somethin' out."

Their actions had not been a result of their judgement entirely, Jellal had come to realize. Jose manipulated the members of his guild to turn against each other, creating mistrust and a violent environment. A guild known and criticized for its horrendous treatment.

As unforgiving as Jellal was with Gajeel's actions and the way he took pleasure in hurting other people, Jellal went against Gajeel's points. Valid they were, he wanted the Dragon Slayer to know he was able to redeem himself as time would go by.

Jellal forced Gajeel to look him squarely in the eye and said, "Juvia's right, there's something left to save. You're going to join Fairy Tail, whether or not the others like it."

Whether or not Gajeel liked the idea, too. Because he certainly did not want to join the guild he tormented days ago. After seeing what his former enemies were capable of, the last thing he wanted to do was be in their presence.

"You sure about this?" Gajeel asked skeptically for the tenth time, Jellal counted. The Wizard Saint continued dragging him along while Juvia smiled, grateful for his generosity.

"How many times must I give an answer to convince you?"

The Dragon Slayer's smile could be heard through his voice, "This time, I'll believe you."

"That's what you've been saying for the past half hour." Jellal frowned.

Upon reaching the guildhall, Jellal could sense the unsteady silence of the ex-Phantom Lord mages. They were unsure of this, and Jellal wondered how on Earth Land Gajeel went from torturing people to wanting a death wish. Paying it no mind, Jellal would do his best to forgive the past, which was not as easy as it sounded.

They stepped foot into the guildhall, being met with rowdy noises as the guild was still getting used to the new utilities. Many people had gone swimming, browsing the souvenir shop, or relaxing in the cafe. The once crowded bar was now only occupied by Mirajane Strauss, as many people preferred the cafe's menu. Not that she minded, but Natsu never stopped buying his meals from the bar.

Mirajane smiled upon finding Jellal come inside, knowing the trouble he went through to finalize the aftermath of the war. Erza, usually having a word to offer about their recklessness, said nothing. "Welcome back, Jellal."

"Thank you, Mirajane. I don't suppose you know where Makarov and Erza are?"

"Erza's gone to Fairy Hills, she's catching some violators. Master's on the second floor in the infirmary room." She cocked her head to the side to get a clear view of Gajeel. "What brings him here?"

"He's going to join Fairy Tail."

Everyone in the guildhall gasped dramatically, backing away from Gajeel. Mirajane stood there for a long moment, contemplating Jellal's statement. He of all people was unwilling to overlook their actions. In her mind, Gajeel must have been a miracle worker for Jellal to forgive him.

"Rest assured, he's not here to ruin the guildhall. If he does, he'll be facing the same fate as Jose." Jellal eyed Gajeel, who grunted in response. The last place Gajeel wanted to end up was in prison with Jose, giving it another thought. He took the Dragon Slayer to the second floor, to which many people protested.

Natsu raced to the staircase, blocking the pathway. It caught everyone's attention, assuming Natsu would challenge the Wizard Saint to a fight. "Hey Jellal! If I can't go to the second floor, why can he?"

"He's in trouble, Natsu. Would you like to accompany me to the second floor for this unpleasant visit?"

"Never mind," he muttered under his breath.

Lucy smacked him on the head with a rolled up newspaper. "Geez Natsu, pipe down, will ya?"

Natsu rubbed his skull and shouted at the Celestial Mage for her audacity, "What was that for, Luce!? And why don't you tell Gray to stop runnin' around like a psychopath?"

Jellal turned to witness Juvia chasing after the so-called love of her life. He had not known of her infatuation with Gray. Just moments ago, she was level-headed and ready to pay her penance. Jellal rubbed his temple, gesturing Gajeel to go upstairs while he dealt with Juvia.

Gray blindly ran in every possible direction, trying to avoid Juvia's merciless grasp. The action resulted in him bumping into Nab, who toppled over Reedus. His paintbrush flew across Cana's face in the portrait, causing him to grit his teeth angrily.

Reedus stood up, punching Nab in the face. "What's your deal?"

"It wasn't me, Gray bumped into me! He was probably fighting Natsu again."

"I wasn't fighting that idiot!" retorted the Ice Mage.

It was impossible to leave out Natsu if Gray got into trouble. "That's it! Who wants a piece of me!?" declared Natsu.

"Is this even normal?" Juvia mumbled, mildly horrified by the commotion she caused because of a selfish whim.

The three men attacked Natsu, and somehow Elfman was dragged into the fray. "A real man doesn't ask for a fight, they use their manly fists!"

Natsu was sent to the other side of the guildhall by a right hook from Elfman. Even without Take-Over, Natsu had to admit his big frame gave him an advantage in physical fights.

Gray created a hammer and used it to hit Nab, who crashed down into the floorboards. Jellal cringed at the sight.

Two days. Two days since the completion of the new guildhall and it was utterly destroyed.

Juvia put her hands to her face and jumped up and down excitedly. "Gray looks so handsome when he fights!"

Jellal approached her without a moment's notice and pointed to the second floor. "Juvia, Master Makarov is waiting upstairs for you. We should get go-"

Everyone's attention turned to the dramatic entrance at the front of the guildhall. The wizard defeated all the bruised men one by one until there was silence. There stood Erza, with a sword in hand. Elfman, Nab, and Reedus were all squished between each other. "What's going on?"

"Hello Erza," acknowledged Mirajane oh so casually.

"Who started this?" demanded Erza. Nab and Reedus pointed at Gray, while Elfman and Gray pointed at Natsu. The finger-pointing narrowed it down to two people always responsible for creating a ruckus.

"I see, so you decided it'd be a good idea to wreak havoc in the guildhall, huh? Think again!" she knocked Natsu and Gray unconscious, dragging them to a corner and dumping them carelessly. She turned to Millianna with a sweet smile on her face. "Millianna, if you'd be so kind to look after them."

She nodded her head enthusiastically.

"Uh-" Juvia had tried to unsee Gray's easy defeat. She couldn't believe the Requip Mage knocked them out with her bare fists. Having heard the rumours about her demonic strength in town, Juvia backed away from the scene with her heart pounding in her ears. Granted, violence was nothing new in the guildhall, but strength like Erza's had been incomparable.

And to top that...Jellal was known as the strongest human wizard among the Ten Wizard Saints.

"Juvia, let's get going," called Jellal from afar, albeit gently.

She followed him upstairs obediently, understanding why Fairy Tail had challengers come across them very few times. Master Jose was by no means significantly weaker in comparison to Makarov or even Jellal, but it had been a mistake to challenge them with so many powerhouses.

Erza's eye caught one particular person, and upon registering his face, her countenance contorted into an unforgiving scowl.

"What is he doing here?" she leaped to the railing of the second floor and held a sword to Gajeel's neck in mere seconds, wasting no time.

"Erza! What do you think you're doing?" Jellal secured her by the waist and forced her off Gajeel. It took him a good ounce of his strength to pull her away. The two mages landed on each other, groaning in pain. Jellal lifted his head to hers and said, "I brought him here."

"I don't mind Juvia, but he was the one responsible for the destruction of our guildhall as well as hurting our friends!" yelled Erza, trying to escape Jellal's grasp. If it'd not been for his iron grip, Erza would've made her way to the Dragon Slayer by now. "Need I remind you what he did to our guild, Jellal?"

"I'm well aware, Erza. I'll explain the situation, just give me some time."

She stopped struggling and sat up. Jellal reached for the door handle of the infirmary weakly and led the two mages inside. Gajeel now understood why many people feared Erza. For a moment, he thought she was going to kill him. Never in his life had he felt so threatened.

"Master, I have some new recruits." He stepped aside to reveal Gajeel and Juvia. The Dragon Slayer had an unsettling look in his eyes while Juvia looked more than delighted to be in Fairy Tail.

"So, you've finally made your decision?" he asked, directing his question to Gajeel. The young man looked away, arms crossed.

"I don't care which guild I join, I just need a place to take jobs. If you can't already tell, I don't like the idea of spending my time in this guildhall."

The guild master nodded, "Fair enough. What about you, Juvia?"

"I've been wanting to become a Fairy Tail wizard ever since I met that Gray Fullbuster. He's so handsome and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!" she squealed.

"Love on the brain," concluded Makarov.

Jellal had not expected that to be her reason for joining the guild. Strong she was as a mage, her resolve had been crushed with a fanatical goal. "I suppose there's not a lot to say for Juvia. You're free to get your stamp from Mirajane."

Juvia merrily skipped away, surprised to find Erza escorting her downstairs. The S-Class wizard considered lurking around to see the outcome of Makarov's decision on Gajeel, but decided against it.

Makarov shook his head in contempt, not knowing where to begin for him. "We just have some things to discuss, Gajeel. Although we welcome members with open arms, there are a few things you need to be debriefed upon. I hate to say it, but, I don't trust you entirely."

"No hard feelings. It makes sense, after everything I've done," Gajeel sighed.

Jellal concurred with the guild master, he explained all the conditions of joining Fairy Tail. "Firstly, you owe the Shadow Gear and Lucy an apology. As you can see, nobody's on board with having you join Fairy Tail."

"I'll bet," he murmured. Although Gajeel did not understand what the Shadow Gear was, he had a hunch about who he owed an apology to.

"Being in a guild also means you cannot reveal any confidential information. You cannot sell guild information to any contacts or for your own personal gain. We're not asking you to disclose any information about Phantom Lord's operations to gain your trust. But we ask you to refrain from speaking about the inner workings of the guild to other people."

Makarov nodded his head, "It's also required by law, my boy. You'd be wise to choose your company well from here on out. However, I could offer you infiltration missions if you prove yourself worthy."

At this, Gajeel raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What kind of infiltration mission?"

"Ah ah ah, there is no such thing until I say so myself." Makarov grinned, much to the Dragon Slayer's annoyance.

Gajeel exasperatedly held his arms out, "Gee, are we done here? I think I get the point. No need to rub it in."

"Makarov, I think we should introduce a probationary period to him." Jellal suggested, much to Gajeel and the guild master's surprise.

The old man gave Gajeel a hard look, "Nah, he doesn't need more on his plate."

"I'm only saying this to take precautions." He clarified.

"I know, and I appreciate the concern. However, we're pretty good at keeping our secrets. I won't have to worry about him meddling into our affairs."

Makarov jumped off his chair and made his way down to the second floor.

Gajeel snorted, "What's that supposed to mean?"

The Dragon Slayer and Wizard Saint continued following him. "Exactly what I said. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some work to do."

"He makes no sense!"

"It's a common trait in Fairy Tail members. You'll come to realize all of this is normal," Jellal explained casually, leading him towards the bar where Mirajane waited with the guild's Magic Stamp.

"I really hope I don't normalize this chaos. Can't there be one sane person in this guild besides you? Even Juvia's gone nuts over that Ice Wizard!"

Contrary to what Gajeel expected, Jellal surveyed the guildhall with a small smile. "It's good to see she's already started to fit in. But her infatuation with Gray is a bit...concerning. She has potential to become a great wizard."

"That chick?" he breathlessly laughed.

With a shrug, Jellal gestured to Mirajane. She allowed Gajeel to choose the colour of his guild mark, which he did so wordlessly. "Where would you like your stamp?"

"My arm." This was where Mirajane decided to mess with him.

"Which arm?"

"Left."

"Where?"

"I just told you, my left arm!"

"Location?"

"What do you mean, location?" Gajeel was losing brain cells with each passing minute, while Mirajane composed herself. She found it hilarious that he was so thick-headed.

"Are you that dense? There's the forearm, elbow, and all the parts of an arm," she replied in a sick yet honey-like tone. To baby him, Mirajane pointed to the said anatomical parts of an arm.

"The upper part of my arm! Geez, none of you are normal."

"Welcome to Fairy Tail," implied Jellal.

"You're now an official member of the Fairy Tail guild. Welcome," chimed Mirajane. After getting his stamp, he trudged towards Jellal and followed him to a table of three very familiar faces. Levy's book slipped out of her hand as she watched Gajeel uncertainly. Jet and Droy balled their hands into fists.

"Levy, Jet, Droy."

"Jellal," the three welcomed simultaneously, confused as to why Gajeel was behind him.

"This is Gajeel, I know you both are well acquainted with each other. However, I ask that you all make amends. He's a fellow Fairy Tail wizard, and it'd be in everyone's best interest if we accept him. I know it's hard, but he's changed for the better."

"So, what do you want us to do?" asked Jet, with a threat laced in his voice.

"I thought the best way to settle things would be by giving him a personal tour."

Levy nervously gathered all the cards together, piling them neatly into one stack. She exchanged glances with Jet and Droy. "I don't really mind, as long as you two are okay with it."

Jet and Droy stared at her in disbelief. They gave each other unsettling looks before nodding, unafraid of the ex-Phantom Lord wizard.

"Perfect, thank you all for cooperating." Jellal grinned at Gajeel before leaving him to the three mages. He noted Levy was okay having him around, but that was expected of a girl like her. She forgave people very easily.

Gajeel dared not make a comment or complain about the people surrounding him. From the looks of it, they had been replaying their crucifixion in their minds.

On the way to a cake shop, Jellal explained the entire situation to his fellow guild mate, which made Erza almost pity for the Iron Dragon Slayer.

"I guess he's not a bad person after all." Commented Erza. "He seems to be loyal, seeing how he fought for Phantom Lord, despite getting nothing out of the war."

Jellal nodded, "I think he's a good addition to our guild. Though, I suggested a probationary period in case he tries anything."

"I'm assuming Master disagreed. I agree with him, Jellal. You're the person who brought him into Fairy Tail, I'm surprised you would suggest such a thing."

"Nothing about this should be brushed off. Perhaps I'm being precarious, but not doing so will land me in danger."

Erza nodded at his words, before asking, "By the way, did you get the chance to negotiate with Jose?"

"I have," he spoke quietly, recalling their conversation in deep thought. "He said he would do it, on the condition of getting him a book of his choice and halving his prison sentence."

"A book?"

"It sounds ridiculous, but that's what he asked of me. I suppose it's the least I can do, considering he's helping in defecting Crawford."

"See, now we can get rid of him, and it's all because of you." She smiled.

"No Erza, it's because of you I was able to stand against Crawford. Truth be told, I wouldn't have succeeded in an effort to get rid of him."

Erza had hung onto every word of Jellal's. Her sense of justice had influenced his decisions, and it was a notable trait she possessed. "Of course, Jellal. Anything for my friends."

They were at the door of the cake shop in Magnolia. It was tiny, but business ran well since many people loved the cakes. The two mages stepped in, only to be delightfully greeted by the owner. "Miss Erza! So good to see you here. And oh-"

It took him a while to recognize Jellal, but once he did, the owner immediately bowed. "Good day, Wizard Saint."

"And a good day to you too, sir."

"What brings you here?"

Erza gave a curt smile as she stared at the desserts in delight. "We have new recruits in the guild. Naturally it's tradition to bring a cake for them." The owner nodded. "So, will fifty cakes do?"

His eyes widened in disbelief, "You have fifty new recruits?"

"No, only two. The rest of them are for me," replied Erza with humour. Jellal was not in the least surprised. He expected that from Erza.

Erza also handpicked a few desserts and got them packaged neatly, paying the amount for it before leaving the tiny cake shop with Jellal. They both waved at the owner, who delightfully thanked them over and over.

"Is that for someone?" he asked, watching Erza's eyes sparkle with astonishment.

"That's right, I forgot to tell you."

"Hm?" they walked through the festive streets, watching as everyone started preparing for the annual Harvest Festival.

"We're going to visit Kagura today. We're throwing her a farewell party before she leaves to join a guild."

"Makes sense she would join a guild. She's been practicing her swordsmanship intensely. I think she wants to surpass you."

"I'm happy for her, she's growing up to be a strong warrior." Erza's desire to be an older sister was no secret. She treated Millianna and Kagura with more affection than the other girls in the guild because they were younger, and she'd known them longer. It was fun to have younger sisters, but she didn't spend as much with them as she'd like. "Guild life sure is fun."

"I think the more correct word would be interesting."

"That I can agree upon," Erza grinned. They passed the guildhall on their way and dropped off the cakes, before rushing away with excuses. Noticing the other members of their group had been absent as well, Makarov deduced they gathered for a get-together.

"Do you think we'll see her anymore?" she asked, sighing at the thought of barely seeing the young mage. There was a certain comfort knowing she was with Simon, and Erza had faith he was able to take care of his younger sister.

More than anyone, he must have been the most apprehensive one about their departure.

"Not as often, Mermaid Heel is pretty far. But I'm sure she'll come to visit Simon."

"My little sister is going so far away, I'm just worried, that's all."

"You're really serious about this, aren't you?"

"Of course I am! Who in their right mind wouldn't care about their family member going away? She's so adorable, just like Millianna." She wiped away a non-existent tear.

"I see..." Erza was on the verge of shedding tears, smiling like a fool. "Erza, I don't think this is something to be crying about."

"Why do you always embarrass me?" she tackled him to the ground, which caught him off-guard. He grabbed her armoured hand and dragged her along with him. The box slipped from Erza, and he wished he hadn't dragged her to get his revenge.

"The dessert!" yelled Erza, outstretching her arm to reach for it. She climbed over Jellal, and even then, she didn't catch the cake. The suffocating councillor caught it in his left hand, upright. Her breastplate squished his face, and he could barely see anything.

"Erza..."

She stood up unharmed and stole the box from him. She realized yet again; he was probably still recovering from the injury she gave him.

"Your wound! Did I open up the stitches?" out of panic, she set the box on the ground, and on the side of the street, she snaked her hands under his coat.

"Erza, what are you doing? We're in public!" he felt her hands around his stomach, carefully placing her fingers where he once had a hideous gash. He felt each finger slowly inch towards his abdomen, and he would've groaned if he hadn't been careful in keeping his mouth shut.

"I don't feel any bandages, and your stomach feels smooth." In context, she'd meant that there was no sign of an injury in the first place, but it came off the wrong way.

"...pardon?"

She furiously clarified, "I'm trying to help! I...I didn't mean to say it like that."

He smiled, "What exactly do you mean by 'that'?"

Erza blushed at his insinuation. "Forget I said anything. Sorry, I made things awkward."

"It's fine, you were just trying to help."

She nodded, brushing off the dust from her skirt before picking up the box of desserts. "It's amazing that you healed so fast, how did you do it?"

"Porlyusica's to thank for that. And besides, you're one to talk. You didn't have to wear the bandages a day after Porlyusica treated you. Now that's impressive."

"They were minor injuries, yours were...severe." Her voice gave out as she recalled the less than pleasant memory.

He shot her a look of concern before saying, "Erza, that's not your fault. We've been through this so many times. It was my decision to intervene in your fight. But still, you have to promise me you'll never do something like that again. If it were you who took the blow, you wouldn't be alive today." He stared up at the sky, "I can't imagine a world without you."

"I won't, I promise." She held out her hand to assist him in getting up. "Let's go give Kagura her farewell party."

Her pained face had not gone unnoticed by him; guilt lingering from the war.

"What took you so long? Kagura's train leaves in an hour!" yelled Millianna. The two S-Class wizards felt sorry for not coming sooner.

"We got some new recruits in the guild, we were busy settling matters with them. As you can tell, every Fairy Tail wizard is a handful to deal with." Erza explained, unamused.

"I'll say," Kagura covered her mouth, muffling her laughter. Erza placed the desserts on the kitchen counter of the house and squeezed Simon's younger sister into an embrace.

"I'm happy that you've found a guild to call home. Although, I'll barely see you anymore."

"T-thanks!" she choked out, causing the Requip Mage to release her almost immediately.

"I don't think this occasion is exactly worth crying over," deadpanned Jellal. Simon nodded in agreement, raising an eyebrow at Erza's affectionate behaviour.

Erza chose to ignore the statement, knowing he was trying to provoke her into crying over Kagura's departure. Jellal had assumed she would be in tears when they left, while Erza insisted she would not tear up over someone leaving. "So, you're joining Mermaid Heel, right?" asked Erza, eyes twinkling in wonder.

"Yes, it's an all girls guild."

Millianna's eyes lit up, "I would join if I wasn't in Fairy Tail! Do they own cute itty bitty kitties?"

Kagura's lips curved into a wide smile, "No, but I'm sure they attract a lot of cat lovers. At least, that's what I've heard, which is partly why I'm going."

"Gee, if I wasn't in Fairy Tail, I'd go with you, Kagura!" Millianna whistled. "But I have Happy to keep me company."

"A girls-only guild sounds like fun, never heard of one." Commented Sho.

Erza swung Kagura around and danced with the younger girl all around the floor. "And she'll take the title as one of Fiore's strongest swordsman. You take a lot after me!"

Kagura's lips curved up out of curiosity, "Well, I've always wanted to clash swords with you, Erza. What do you say?"

"That sounds like a great idea."

Jellal intervened on a serious note, "If you're going to fight, do it away from any town. Somehow I feel like this fight will cause destruction to any nearby structures."

"Still in the role of a council member, huh?" Kagura raised a brow.

He returned the snarky remark with a grin. "Fairy Tail's reputation has hit an all-time low with the Magic Council. They don't need to find another reason to disband Fairy Tail."

Simon crossed his arms, "As if Gray and Natsu aren't a handful."

"I wouldn't count the doll out too," pointed out Wally. "Erza's had her fair share of appearances before the council."

"I would have to agree with Wally." Concurred Millianna. The two mages using Erza as a scapegoat knew Simon made no comment about Erza's destructive behaviour because he had been obsessed with her since their childhood. He never found fault in anything she did.

Erza grimaced, "I favour Simon's statement, I'm hardly the cause for any destruction."

Kagura sighed, "So this is what you mean when you say Erza's the strongest female wizard, huh Big Brother?"

"Afraid so, but she's much nicer to the girls in Fairy Tail."

Millianna nodded in agreement, "Unless it's Mirajane, those two have had a rivalry for some time."

"But that was a long time ago," added Erza, sipping on herbal tea made by Kagura. "She changed a lot after Lisanna's death."

"Isn't Mirajane on a top wizard list?"

Simon sighed contemptibly, "Don't tell me you read that?"

"No harm in doing so. Besides, I bought the edition for my own reference because Mermaid Heel was featured in this volume. You know I'm hardly interested in wasting my time with magazines, Simon."

Erza's eyes shot up to the page Kagura held in her hand. She peeked at it from behind her shoulder, having never read Sorcerer Weekly. "Is that the official list?"

"Yes, it seems like a number of Fairy Tail wizards are on that list. Six, if I remember correctly."

Everyone gathered around her to look at the list. "Look Jellal, you're second." Noticed Millianna.

"Makes sense why he'd be on the Perfect Boyfriend List," commented Sho, linking the two Sorcerer Weekly editions together.

"For the girls, Mirajane's second, and Erza's third. Erzy, you went up!" she squealed.

"Freed is on that list?" gawked Wally, noticing how he placed tenth now.

"So is Loke," Jellal studied the page, noticing arrows beside each mage's name. It indicated where they had been placed compared to the last edition.

Erza found the list to be unjustifiable. Most of it was based on Sorcerer Weekly's choice. They typically favoured Blue Pegasus and Fairy Tail, which explained why half the list consisted of the two guilds combined. "I wouldn't pay any mind to the editions if I were you."

Kagura gave a small nod, "I don't think you'd be saying that if it were concerning Fairy Tail. It'll be a way to find out what trouble you're up to."

"Especially if they're about Fairy Tail destroying an entire port." Pointed out Millianna with a teasing smile.

"Right. I'll definitely make sure to read up about you guys when I'm at Mermaid Heel." She glanced at the clock adjacent to Simon. Erza followed her gaze and frowned.

She sniffled, "It's time for you to go, huh?"

The room went silent until Kagura spoke, "I'll always come by to visit, don't worry Erza."

"My little sister is going so far away, of course I'm worried!" she took her by surprise and wrapped her arms tightly around the younger one, causing her to wheeze.

"Don't worry—I'll...be...fine."

"Erza, I believe she's in the midst of suffocating," noted Jellal.

Erza didn't turn to him, not wanting Jellal to notice the single tear that escaped her eye. She released her moments later, and said, "Stay safe, okay?"

"I will," Kagura started slowly, before noting Erza's crestfallen expression. "Erza, you shouldn't cry. I'll come visit regularly, promise."

"I'm not crying," Erza weakly protested. Jellal peeked at her for a good measure and sighed. Nobody complained that anyone had been crying, especially when Millianna and Erza shared a group hug with Kagura.

Erza waited out the door as everyone said their goodbyes. Simon stayed back to help her carry her stuff to the Magnolia Train Station.

"Bye, Kagura!" yelled everyone as they left.

Jellal noticed Erza was looking away, "Erza?"

"Yes?"

She seemed hurt, wronged, ashamed. It was nothing like saying goodbye to a loved one. There was something else lingering with her thoughts along with Kagura's departure.

Jellal wrapped an arm around Erza's back to comfort her. She welcomed the touch, tucking her face into his shoulder. His amusement soon turned into concern, but he did not know what made her upset. Kagura going away was upsetting to some extent, but it wasn't something that Erza was guilt-ridden with.

Kagura's unsettling look had not gone unnoticed by the Wizard Saint as they continued their way away from the house.

She watched every interaction between the two, looking out the window with her arms crossed.

Simon smiled whole-heartedly, "She was really worried about you."

"Yeah, I guess so," she peeled her eyes off the window and turned to him. "You still haven't told her, haven't you?"

Simon hummed, "About what?"

"You know what I'm referring to." Kagura said, her tone slightly on edge.

Simon raised an eyebrow at her. "You might as well stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point."

"Why didn't you tell Erza how you feel about her?"

He heaved a breath, "Now's not the right time to talk about this, we'll be late."

"Contrary to what you think, now is the perfect time to have this discussion. I've told you over and over again to confess to her, she seems to like you."

"As a friend." Simon emphasized. "She's like that with everyone in the guild."

"That can change once you tell her everything. You're not doing anyone good by hiding your feelings."

"I think I've made it obvious enough, Kagura. I want to respect her privacy."

"There's no such thing as disrespecting someone's privacy when you've been hurting yourself all these years. Simon, it's now or never."

Simon remained silent for a minute, before continuing to pack her things. "Never, then."

His younger sister clenched her teeth, "Why not?"

"Because she likes Jellal." Her eyes widened, and she went quiet. Simon took her silence as realization and grabbed her luggage. His lips curved into something sad, and sometimes he wished he was oblivious to the truth. "I'm fine, I knew she liked him since the Tower of Heaven, it's always been this way."

"But-"

"We should get going, your train departs in less than an hour." He had been carrying her baggage, literally and metaphorically. And her efforts to comfort him were all in vain.

"Oh Simon, how much more selfless can you get?" she mumbled, before following him outside.

And she finally understood why Erza had felt guilty. She knew about Simon's feelings towards her, and she had no idea how to go about it. So all of them pretended to not know.

Jellal, having used his Telepathy to read the situation, finally understood everything. "Erza."

"...sorry, I didn't think saying goodbye would be so painful."

He smiled, if she was delusional to think he hadn't caught on to the reason behind her sadness, then he would be content with not speaking the words he had wanted to say.

Jellal would pretend as well.

The guildhall was dimly lit by the time the mages returned. Mirajane was on the stage in the midst of performing a beautiful ballad for the Fairy Tail members. They all watched dreamily as she sang on stage as a way to welcome Juvia and Gajeel.

Jellal made his way to Makarov while the other four took a seat in the corner of the guildhall with Lucy and Gray.

"So, did Crawford approve everything?" asked the guild master.

"It seems so, he's agreed to all the expansions. But concerning Jose...do you think he'll seek revenge once he's out of jail?"

"I think he's had enough battles against Fairy Tail for a lifetime. He'd be wise to stay away from us."

"Perhaps," he chose his words carefully. Jellal had no intention of informing Makarov about his plans for Crawford.

Makarov watched the new member enjoy herself with Macao, Cana, and Elfman. It was one of the few times she wasn't all over Gray, which Makarov hoped wouldn't be a problem in the future. "Although Juvia seems to like it here, it's never easy to part with a guild you used to be with."

"That's true, but it seems like she regrets her time there, if anything."

Makarov chugged down his drink, "You'd know better than me. Regardless, you did a job well done bringing those two here." He patted Jellal on the shoulder. "However, the council's going to be all over you once they find out we registered Black Steel Gajeel as a member of Fairy Tail."

"They could learn a thing or two about forgiveness," Jellal said, hiding his pending smile.

"I see, your hatred towards the Magic Council is no secret."

The councillor gave a knowing look, "I'm only there on an infiltration mission, nothing more. Besides, you never know what kind of people are working there."

The old man stopped in his movements, staring at the younger mage suspiciously. "Are you trying to tell me there are bad eggs that wormed their way into the council?"

"Who knows? I'm just being vigilant like any other person, that's all."

Makarov eyed him before sighing in defeat, "You're a strange boy."

"I've been told."

The guild master hummed in agreement, finding Jellal to be a mystery. "Anyway, the S-Class Trial will commence in a month's time. I was hoping to get them done before, but Phantom Lord had been stirring trouble lately. So, now that the war is out of the way, we can start planning."

Jellal studied him in mild interest, "You're doing it so late in the year. So you've decided the trial will take place in December?"

"Mhm, and this year I want the advice of all the S-Class wizards. I'll be holding a meeting so we can discuss this year's trial. We have some promising candidates. This should prove quite the show."

"Gildarts hasn't returned for three years."

"Which job did he take again?"

Jellal attempted to recall the quest Gildarts took, "He took the century quest, and it was located in the northern continent of Ishgar, Guiltina."

"You shouldn't be too worried, boy. The job's meant to take a hundred years. Cut him some slack."

"I suppose you're right. Where are you planning this year's S-Class Trial?"

"Tenrou Island."

Jellal took a glass of water from the tray Laki was carrying and slid it across the table to Makarov. "I've been told ahead of time that the Custody Enforcement Unit will be surveying the island in December."

"And why's that?"

"The Magic Council inspects all of Ishgar every decade. But seeing Tenrou Island is our property, I'm sure it's been past ten years."

The guild master gave a guilty grin. "No comment."

"You should be careful, Master. That doesn't look good on a guild. The Custody Unit becomes wary of guilds like Fairy Tail because they suspect there's illegal activity going on inside."

"Yes, yes, I won't forget. How inconvenient. Guess we'll have to do the trial while they watch us."

"Always stubborn, aren't you, Makarov?"

"I'll always have that fire in my belly. Now off you go, I'm sure you'll enjoy the next performance."

Jellal left the bar stools and joined the rest of his friends, noticing how everyone was in bliss after Mirajane's singing.

Erza rested her head against the table, "Some peace in the guild."

"I'll say," he replied, until Gajeel showed up on the stage. He donned a white tuxedo and a purple tie with a white fedora. "On second thought, maybe not." Jellal retracted his statement and foresaw chaos.

"What!?" Natsu yelled in disbelief as he witnessed Gajeel hold a guitar.

The new Fairy Tail mage spoke into the floating microphone enthusiastically, "Wrote a tune I call 'Best Friend', would you like to hear?"

"Get off, I ain't listening to you!" retorted the audience, throwing all sorts of food at him.

"Okay, here it goes." He ignored the majority of discouraging comments and wrung his fingers to play the guitar. "Sparkling, colourful, shooby do bap! You caught my eye like a shiny piece of metal!"

The majority of people had their mouths gaped, but Jellal stifled a laugh. Upon seeing him enjoy the performance, Erza sighed in relief. "Not bad," she quietly spoke.

"Seconded." Jellal did not allow the heartfelt performance let his guard down. He didn't know to what extent Jose and Gajeel were able to deceive him, and did not want to find out before it was too late.

She turned to the rest of the guildhall, where Elfman and Mirajane encouraged the mage to continue. "Y'know, he's kinda good! In a manly way!"

"Get em' Gajeel!" cheered Juvia as everyone held their cake slices the commemorate the arrival of Gajeel and Juvia.

"Screaming my name," he continued singing.

Natsu, on the other hand, was more than petrified. He covered his ears, "Man, this has got to be the worst song I've ever heard."

No later than he said that, Gajeel threw his guitar at Natsu's face, who collapsed from the impact. He responded to Natsu's insult by playing a harmonica-like instrument.

"You want a piece of me!?" challenged the Fire Dragon Slayer.

"Shooby do bap!" announced Gajeel, as the two clashed.

They fought in the centre of the new guildhall, and everyone watched the mess go down, including Erza.

Jellal gestured to the audience and fighters, "You're not going to do anything about it, Erza?"

"I think I've had enough for the day. Tonight, I'll simply watch." Erza responded in kind.

Natsu hollered while he pulled at Gajeel's hat, "That's it! I had enough shee-bo-de-bap!"

"It's shooby do bap!" corrected the singer, to which Natsu retaliated with harder hits. Soon, almost everyone had joined the fight, and laughter resounded the building.

Barely outside the gates of the guildhall, chaotic ideas had been brewing in a certain S-Class mage's mind. Laxus growled upon discovering the recent additions to Fairy Tail. The one that bothered him the most was Gajeel, and he wondered what on Earth Land Makarov was thinking. "I'm about to change the guild very soon. We'll be number one again, after I get rid of those weaklings."

And because they were Fairy Tail, tranquility never lasted for long.

I want to point out that many of the reactions we have seen from the characters are probably not canon-compliant. People may argue that conditioning Gajeel into joining Fairy Tail is strict of Makarov and Jellal, but we have to understand what it's like to accept the very man who tortured the Shadow and Lucy for his entertainment, and he did so on his own free will. And I don't really think Juvia would be thinking about Gray when considering joining Fairy Tail. Her guilt consumed her, but I think that's the beauty about her personality. She has a strong resolve provided she's not swooning over Gray all the time.