The Heir Of The Exiled Chapter 16: The Consequences, a fairy tail fanfic

Good morning people (or good time of the day, whichever you have now)! I'm here with my new chapter. Finally, there was a new Fairy Tail chapter released last week so I can complain about it. Really, chapter 347 left aside Natsu and Erza!? Instead we again got some kindergarten-style fight…

Anyway, here's a new chapter for my story, as scheduled xD

Thanks everyone who left the review, I'm glad to know readers' opinion.

Answers for the reviewers:

Silent Reader 6100, Meow, Mira-san: Thanks people! This is why I decided to make an almost complete repackage for ToH arc, I'm going to pack it with action at full!

DragonSlayer96: I decided that as we already have seen Natsu vs Gajeel, so… Yep, this story is action/humor, and in terms of humor 'theater' episode was one of the best, so I just couldn't throw it away =)

DraXXter: Thanks for the detailed review! And I can promise that there will be no one-sided battles in this story (well, main battles). I'll keep my characters in line, none of them will become OP, that's for sure.

FairyHunter: Thanks for high praise. Yes, Erza's source of power is starlight, sun or any other star will suffice. As for the moonlight, well, it's reflected sunlight, so she can eat it, but it will be like three days old hamburger. But in any case, she needs direct light, light, diffused by clouds, won't do.

PianoNL: Many thanks, here it is – new chapter.

FanFictionHunter: Thanks! Yeah, perhaps they'll do, they both have something attractively bitchy in them =)

Now, let's proceed. This is the largest chapter I ever wrote – more than 19 000 words. There's two reasons for it to be so huge. First – I wanted to tie up all the loose ends here so I could start ToH arc in next chapter. And second reason – this story is going on a short break, probably one or two weeks long, I want to finish the rework of Blessing of the Scarlet Dragon so I could continue that story, also I want to update Fairy Tail rEvolution.

Anyway, good reading!

Chapter updated 8/12/2016

Chapter XVI – The Consequences

…

August 28, X784, 9:45, inside Phantom Lord's guild ruins.

"Phew… That was close…" Sin said to himself as he carried the unconscious Lucy away from the crumbling guild. He thought about Natsu, who was still inside, "Okay, I think that damn psycho will be fine, he can get out of there himself…." In the end, Sin's order was to 'watch over Lucy'.

On the shore, Fairy Tail members were still shocked by the revelation about Erza and her battle against Gajeel, yet now they were yelling cheerfully, celebrating the destruction of the enemy guild.

'In the art of destruction, he's incomparable…' Erza thought with a proud and dreamy smile, eyeing the ruins of the enemy's former pride.

(With Mirajane and Jose)

"Oh my…" Jose said, retaining his smile, despite the fact that his guild hall was almost destroyed and that all of his mages were defeated. "…It seems that his reputation really was well deserved," He commented on Natsu's habit to destroy everything.

Gray and Elfman was lying nearby, still out cold, but Mirajane continued her struggle against Phantom's master. It was one-sided battle though; extremely exhausted Mira barely touched Jose, while she herself was covered with burns, bruises and her own blood. She barely stood on her feet, panting, and supporting her Take Over spell with her sheer will alone.

"It appears that this time you were the one who underestimated us…" Mirajane said, breathing heavily, "… especially Natsu and that red-haired bitch of his…. Compared to them – I'm a mere girl…"

"Hmmm… Aren't we the modest one, Devil Mirajane?" Jose sneered, "You are indeed proficient in the arts of magic. No other mage has ever managed to last this long against me. I'll go as far as to say that, if you'd came to me fresh and clean, I may have had to break a sweat." Jose looked at Mirajane and raised his right arm. "However, this is the actual reason for my fury – that such a skillful mage is a member of Makarov's guild!" Jose shouted, firing a lighting-like ray of magic energy in Mirajane, electrocuting her.

"GYYAAAHH!" Mira screamed, as Jose's spell smashed her into the floor.

"Shall I share with you my reason for allowing that geezer to live?" Jose asked, waving his hand and making pillars of dark energy to shoot from the floor under Mira's feet, making her to run and jump across the whole room to avoid damage. "Despair…" Jose said, "I want him to experience the very depths of despair. How would he react to seeing his beloved guild and his beloved children on the brink of total annihilation? Ahh… I'd imagine it would be a burden too great to bear…"

Jose extended his arms forward and started to shoot dark charges toward Mira in rapid succession as the she-devil was forced to continue running and jumping to dodge the evil magic. "Once he's hit rock bottom… Then and only then will I free him from his pathetic existence!" Phantom Lord's master yelled maniacally, "Simply ending his life will not do! I want him to be filled with torment, resignation and anguish!"

"You, sadistic…" Mira tried to say something but Jose interrupted her as he suddenly stopped his attacks, giving her an opening. It seemed that he really wanted to say these words for a quite long time… "Phantom Lord has always been superior…" Mira dashed toward him but Jose stood still, continuing to talk. "Throughout this land, our magic was unsurpassed, our members' skills were unsurpassed, and our resources were unsurpassed! Then, out of nowhere, in a matter of years, Fairy Tail came to the forefront…"

Mira tried to hit him with her demonic claws but Jose easily avoided her attacks, continuing to speak, "Gildarts, Laxus, Erza, Mystogan… People in our territory began to utter your names… That Crimson Cardinal… words about his exploits spreads like a wildfire… And you… I've already tired from seeing your slutty ass in magazines…" Jose spoke, easily avoiding Mira's attacks. "Right before my eyes, Fairy Tail was allowed to share the spotlight with Phantom Lord! That was unacceptable! How could a sorry excuse for a guild be seen as our peer?!"

"Can you even imagine how hard our people have worked to deserve their reputation?!" Mira yelled, still trying to hit Jose, without success. "Yet you instigated all this because of envy?!"

"Envy? You misunderstand…" Jose replied calmly, still avoiding her attacks, "I simply wanted to put your guild back in its place and remind you who the superior guild is!"

"You! You would go this far for something so pity?! Gyyaaah!" Mira screamed as she was entrapped in a ring of dark magic.

"I admit, all the attention your guild began to receive has been rather irksome to me… But the catalyst for this confrontation was a trivial matter…" Jose explained, holding Mirajane clamped inside the magical ring. "We received a request to recover the young heiress of the Heartfilia family."

"Ugh… So this is why you're after Lucy?!" Mira exclaimed.

"The daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the country had joined Fairy Tail?! You had already stolen most of our thunder… and now this?!" Jose bellowed in angr. "If you were given free access to the Heartfilia funds… Your guild would be recognized as the cream of the top! There's no way I could sit idly by and let that happen!" Jose clenched his fist, tightening the ring of dark magic around Mirajane, causing her to scream in pain.

But suddenly she smiled, despite she just spat bloody saliva, making Jose clench his teeth in anger. "I don't know what's more pathetic – you losing your composure over something so trivial, or your incompetent intel…"

"What… did you say…" Jose growled angrily. It seemed that his speech has not achieved the desired effect.

"Lucy… She's a runaway… Do you truly think her family would really… give us access… to their resources?" Mirajane asked, retaining her well-recognized smile. "She lives in a modest apartment… paying 70,000 jewels in rent. She's got to scratch and claw… like the rest of us… just to get by…" It was hard to talk due to pressure from the dark magic ring, yet Mira continued to speak. "She fights with us… laughs with us… and cries with us… She is… one of us… And now you're telling me that she was the trigger of this war? Because she's the heiress of the Heartfilia fortune? Like the most of us – she's an orphan – a child can't choose the parents for themselves! You don't know the first thing about Lucy!" Mirajane screamed as loud as she could.

"I'll just have to change that, won't I?" Jose snickered, "Besides, do you think I'll simply hand her over to her father? I plan to milk her family for all they're worth! Then I'll have the entire Heartfilia fortune in the palm of my hands!"

"You son of a bitch!" Mira yelled in anger, trying to break out from Jose's spell, only hurting herself more as blood sprinkled from her wounds and mouth.

"Oh, I wouldn't struggle if I were you… You'll just make it worse…" Jose clenched his fist, making his magic ring to burn Mira's body.

"YYYAAHHHH!" Mira let out a heart-rending scream of pain… but suddenly Jose's magic disappeared as his spell was broken and Mirajane fell to the floor.

"That spell! Who's there?!" Jose asked in rage as a silhouette appeared in the dust of the crumbling guild building.

"You've spilt too much blood… The blood of my children… Thanks to some sorry excuse for a parent, a child has suffered and shed many tears…" Both Jose and Mira's eyes widened as they recognized the voice. "That goes for all of her siblings as well… Jose, your reign of terror will end by my hands!" The dust cloud dissipated and master Makarov appeared, ready for battle as he ever been.

"Master!" Mira cried joyfully.

"You're sure about this? Do you want to be the one responsible for Armageddon?" Jose asked with a dark smile.

"For my guild… I'll render this whole planet asunder…" Makarov replied with dark determination.

(With Natsu and Nelliel)

The dream dragon slayer was lying defeated upon the rubble of a shield generator's lacrima. Natsu was sitting nearby; he was also very tired from the battle. However, when Nelliel moved, he forced himself to stand up and approached her with Gladius Terminus in his left hand. She felt the cold edge of his blade on her throat and slowly opened her eyes. A few seconds passed before she realized the situation.

"No… please… don't kill me…" She pleaded as tears quickly swelled in her eyes. "Please, I'm begging you… I cannot die…"

Natsu looked at her indifferently, his glowing crimson eyes were completely devoid of mercy. "You should know… there are punishments even worse than death. In normal circumstances, I'd destroy your Mahōsui [Magic Sleep], thus putting a thick cross on your career as a mage." Nelliel gulped as tears continued to flow from her large hazel eyes. "However…" Glow in Natsu's eyes faded "…there are already too many miserable kids in this country, I won't add another one. I don't want your child to starve and cry… How old is he? Or she?" The god slayer asked.

"Huh?" Nelliel's eyes widened, "H… how?"

"This bra of yours… it's much more revealing than you think…" Natsu moved his blade from her throat and touched her breasts with its edge. "It was used to feed a baby, not too long ago, I'd say three years, give or take…"

Nelliel sighed, obviously it was useless to deny the truth now. "She hit three… just a few weeks ago…"

"According to your behavior, can I assume that her father disappeared?" Natsu asked.

"He was a fool and a coward… and I was young and foolish as well… I don't care about him…" Nelliel replied with scorn. "He can be well dead by now…"

"According to Fiore's laws, he's also a criminal, considering your own age…" Natsu said as he hid his blade "…but that's none of my business. I noticed that you are actually much more sane than you're trying to look. The child could be a weak spot, you're hiding her from others. But no one is going to ask some half-sane lunatic about unexplainable absence when you need to care for your daughter…"

"It seems those rumors were truthful… It's impossible to hide anything from you…" Nelliel sighed again.

"Anyway, considering your situation, and since you were just a mere soldier, acting on your guild's behalf, I see no further need to pursue the matter of your personal guilt. I'll leave you as you are now. Besides, though indirectly, you helped the she-devil to regain her magical powers, consider this uncharacteristic mercy of me as my thanks. But you owe me now, don't you forget…" Natsu turned around and started to walk away; he felt a familiar magic nearby.

"I have to go – I think he is going to use that spell that I definitely have to see…" Natsu added, "Try to invent a good excuse about your bruises and wounds for your daughter as those definitely won't heal quickly." The god slayer looked back one last time, "And teach her to never mess with Fairy Tai." Natsu said nothing more and walked away, leaving Nelliel all by herself.

Far away in the forest, near Porlyusica's treehouse.

The old woman stood silently, watching into the restless sky. 'The trees… the air… the Earth itself… they are trembling…' She thought, closing her eyes. "This is why… I hate humans!" The old woman yelled in a sudden outburst of anger. "A race of simpletons who see fighting as the only way to accomplish anything!" She shouted, swinging her broom around and crushing crates of her own stuff. "Makarov, you moron! If you're so eager to die, be my guest!" One of her apples rolled aside and someone picked it up. "Huh?" Porlyusica turned around, only to see Mystogan, sitting on a large tree root.

"Do you mind?" He asked permission to eat that apple.

"I see… I thought it was rather odd that Makarov recovered so quickly…" The old woman realized the situation. "So, you're the one responsible for accelerating his recovery… You collected his magical power?" Mystogan took a bite from the apple, causing Porlyusica to scream angrily. "I don't remember giving you a permission to eat that!"

"Gargantuan set the wheels into motion… This bloodbath will soon reach its conclusion," The Fairy Tail S-class mage said calmly.

"Normally I don't endorse physical confrontation amongst you humans… but, from what I could gather, you're one of Makarov's nakama. Instead of loitering here, shouldn't you be assisting them on the field of battle?" The old woman asked, pointing toward Magnolia.

As an answer, Mystogan threw in the air several dozens of phantom's banners.

'Phantom's emblems?!' Porlyusica thought in shock, 'Don't tell me… he singlehandedly destroyed all of Phantom's branches!?'

"May I help myself to another apple?" Mystogan asked, taking an apple without permission.

"I don't remember giving you permission to litter!" Old lady shouted angrily in answer.

"Honestly… You're a hard woman to please…" He noted.

"The greater the power… the greater the repentance…" Porlyusica said sadly, looking at a gathering storm. "Anger can cause even the wisest of us to lost perspective and get caught in the current of misfortune…"

"The darkness wrought by misfortune is intertwined with the light wrought by hope…" Mystogan shared his own philosophy, "For better or for worse, both exist to help shape the world we live in…"

August 28, X784, 10:00, inside Phantom Lord's guild ruins.

While Makarov and Jose stood, staring at each other, Gray and Elfman regained consciousness. "Huh? What's with this warm, fuzzy feeling? This sensation… it kinda feels nostalgic…" Gray asked, trying to raise himself as Elfman perplexedly looked around.

"Leave here, now," Makarov said sternly, leaving no room for arguing.

"Master?!" Gray asked in surprise.

"Why are you here!?" Elfman joined the question.

"Just do as he says!" Mira shouted, running by Jose and giving him one last hateful look as her Take Over spell wore off.

"Hmpf," Jose snorted, simply ignoring Mirajane.

"Let's go!" Mira said, helping Gray to stand up.

"But… but what about…" Gray mumbled.

"If we stay here, we'll just get in the master's way…" Mirajane said, as she, Elfman and Gray ran toward the hole in the wall, "All we can do is put our faith in him!"

Jose didn't try to prevent the three from leaving the battlefield. "Now, when you finally decided to show your face, there's no need for me to amuse myself with your peons…." Jose explained his inactivity, "But rest assured, they'll be following you to the afterlife shortly."

"You're still the same yap as always, Jose..." Makarov noted.

"Can you believe it's been six long years since we last stood face to face like this?" Jose continued to speak, ignoring Makarov's lack of enthusiasm to listen. "Who could have imagined that Fairy Tail would blossom in such a brief period of time? But, in an even shorter amount of time, it has withered away…"

"The guild is not a building or emblems – it's the bond, shared by its members!" Makarov replied, drawing several stars, connected with a shining line.

"Regardless, I couldn't have asked for much more. Here we are – two of the Ten Wizards Saints, finally able to settle our score. Your squirts give it your all," Jose said, raising his arms.

"I couldn't have asked for anything more as well," Makarov replied, "What pride all my kids showed in being a part of Fairy Tail!"

'Okay, I think I'll be able to take a good look from here,' Natsu thought as he found Makarov and hid behind the guild's outer wall.

"Sin?! Where's Natsu?!" Erza asked as she noticed the little boney dragon that brought an unconscious Lucy, dressed in Natsu's coat, back to the shore. She was worried about her beloved, looking at the gathering storm clouds.

"No idea," Sin replied, "I barely made it out when he obliterated that giant. But, he had a good meal recently, so I'm sure he'll be fine."

'Natsu… please be safe…' Erza thought worriedly.

Storm clouds began to form a vortex above the Phantom's guild ruins – obviously Makarov and Jose were fighting, using their abilities to the maximum, making the Nature itself to suffer. The ground was shaking as lightning and thunder were striking rapidly.

Makarov struck first by sending a beam of light through Jose's shoulder, but Jose retaliated by cutting Makarov's.

Jose quickly recomposed himself, gathering ghosts in his hand, "Deddo Vēvu!" [Dead Wave] He sent a wave of ghosts rushing towards the enemy, splitting anything in its path, including the very ground itself. However, Makarov quickly raised a defensive seal in front of himself, which neutralized Jose's spell, producing a massive magic shockwave that shot beams of magic energy in different directions, which were visible from outside of the crumbling giant, and caused a tidal wave.

"Hikari Sōfū!" [Light Blast] Makarov summoned three magic seals, forming a broad beam of sparkling light, which he shot toward Jose, forcing him to summon multiple ghosts to protect himself. Makarov's beam hit the target, causing a nova-like blast to spread out around the Phantom's ruins.

Natsu was watching the battle from behind the half-crumbled wall, silently.

"Not too shabby…" Makarov commented on Jose's strength as he saw him withstanding his Light Blast. "To have achieved such strength at such an early age… They were right to induct you into the circle of Ten Wizards Saints. Had you chosen to walk the lawful path, I have no doubts your successors would have looked up to you as their role model. The world of mages would have benefited greatly."

"Are you lecturing me, old man?" Jose asked as he listened to Makarov without enthusiasm.

"In accordance with Fairy Tail's code of conduct, I shall count to three before rendering Judgment upon you," Makarov announced, using his 'Titan' magic to increase his own size. "On your knees!" Fairy Tail's master demanded.

"Ha!" Jose smirked.

"One…" Makarov counted.

"Please… I waited for your 'words of wisdom' and this is the crap I get?" Jose looked at Makarov as if at madman, "Me? On my knees?!"

"Two…" Fairy Tail's master counted, bringing his palms together and forming a sphere of light between them.

"You expect the number one guild in the country to bow down to you?!" Jose growled, gathering his ghostly magic around himself, "Don't kid yourself! I'm fighting toe-to-toe with you! No, I won't hold back any longer, so I'm actually much more powerful!"

"Three…" Makarov finished counting, continuing to conjure the sphere of the brightest light.

"Who the fuck do you think I am!" Jose bellowed, "I'm the man who will be known for having erased you and your sorry ass guild from the face of the planet! Be gone, Fairy Tail!" Jose shot his ghosts toward Makarov.

"Time's up…" Makarov announced and squeezed the sphere of light that he made, eliciting bright light that instantly wiped out all of Jose's ghosts, "Yōsei no Hōritsu!" [Fairy Law]

A huge magic seal appeared above the ruins of Phantom's guild hall and then an extremely bright light started to shine from it, wiping out all the 'corpses' of Jose's defeated shades and forcing most of Fairy Tail's members to shield their eyes… Natsu, however, was not among them.

"I can't see a thing!"

"What a hell is this light?!"

"What is this?!" Bisca asked, looking at the beautiful light show.

"It's Fairy Law," Erza answered with smile. "Master's magic. It destroys only that which the caster believes is the enemy… It's a super powerful magic, now counted as a legend."

When Fairy Law's shine faded away, Jose appeared defeated, old, emaciated and trembling in fear.

"Just try glancing in Fairy Tail's direction again and…" Makarov didn't say it but it was obvious what would happen then. "Your brashness got the better of you… Rest assured, the council will hand down more than a simple slap on the wrists… You should watch out for your own ass for a while… and the same goes for me…" Makarov turned around and walked away.

Suddenly, Aria appeared behind him with a gluttonous look on his face. 'It's Déjà vu! I've, once again, got the element of surprise! History shall repeat itself, old man!' The airspace mage thought, following Makarov, silently hovering above the floor. But when he raised his arms to cast a spell… "GAAAH!" He screamed as blade-like torrent of dark blue energy pierced his chest and airspace mage immediately lost consciousness due to severe shock as his Mahōsui was destroyed. He will not be able to use magic ever again.

"Too bad…" Natsu noted indifferently. "He was the one who helped Mirajane to reawake her magic," God slayer said as Gladius Terminus was sucked into his left hand, "But some people simply don't know where to quit…"

"You're merciless as always…" Makarov said to the god slayer. Of course, this time he noticed Aria himself, yet he was glad that Natsu was on guard. "However, Natsu, tell me, why are you still here?"

"Oh, you know master, there's always something you can learn, observing seniors…" Natsu replied emotionlessly as Makarov froze on place. He just realized that he used the Fairy Law in front of the eyes of a magic deconstructor.

"Don't… don't tell me… you actually…" Makarov stuttered, staring at Natsu.

"Yes, I do," Natsu replied, "One of the greatest disappointments I've experienced within last few years…"

"What?!" Makarov couldn't expect such a reaction.

"Sorry master, I didn't mean to offend you, but this spell is complex, expensive and unreliable. This count to three… It actually has nothing to do with our code of conduct, right? You need at least 12 seconds to conjure this spell, this count is need to distract the enemy, the sequence can be easily interrupted… am I right?" Natsu explained his opinion.

'Damn…' Makarov frowned. 'I can't be careless with this one around.' Yet, Makarov was proud of the power of Natsu's mind. "And what are you going to do with this knowledge?" Makarov inquired.

"Nothing," Natsu replied as he made shorty to sit on his shoulder to transfer him across the gulf, "I can't reconstruct this spell using my God slayer magic – Fairy Law was designed to distinguish between friends and foes, but my magic is designed to obliterate everything. I already have a spell for total annihilation. And my secondary power… Well, I don't have enough of it…" Natsu sighed with disappointment. "Besides, I can't explain it properly, but to me it seemed like this spell actually is already a modified version of another spell – and making a copy of a copy isn't the best option… Ah, too bad, I've already invented the name for my version of this spell beforehand – Tōkeihaiki no Hōritsu [Law of the Frozen Wastelands], but it seems that all of my efforts were in vain…"

'It's good that the creator of Fairy Law couldn't hear that name…' Makarov shook his head, 'But still… this is the power of heavenly eyes?...'

Master didn't ask Natsu to keep his new knowledge in secret, Natsu had already sworn to keep the guild's secrets as an S-class mage, and his vow of honor is unbreakable.

On the shore, Fairy Tail members were celebrating their victory, cheering, dancing and throwing in the air their hats, magical stuff and everything else they got.

"Hey, look, there they are!" Sin pointed to the sea and Erza turned around to see Makarov riding on the god slayer's shoulder, as Natsu was walking over the gulf, freezing water beneath his feet.

"Phew…" She-dragon let out a sigh of relief, of course she was worried. But suddenly, she found herself surrounded by Fairy Tail mages. "Oh, yea, I think I can spare a little explanation…" She sighed as Cana raised an eyebrow.

Lucy slowly opened her eyes and looked around, perplexed. "Huh?" She asked, "Where am I?" She felt a strange emptiness in her soul, as if her emotions suddenly vanished all together.

"Gajeel crashed into you and you passed out," Sin replied, sparing some details, "But everything is all right now – Natsu defeated Nelliel and Master returned and dealt with Jose, we are victorious!" Sin tried to cheer her up.

"I see…" Lucy replied, she felt some faint sadness. "Then I missed everything…" However, she was sad because of different reason.

"Thanks for the ride," Makarov said, hopping down from Natsu's shoulder as he headed to examine the damage done to the guild building.

Erza quickly replaced him, jumping on Natsu and wrapping her limbs around him. "We made it, Natsu! We made it!" She exclaimed joyfully, consuming him into a passionate kiss. And she was so glad that she had someone with whom she could share her great joy.

"Thanks to you…" Natsu whispered when she released his lips. "I was on the edge of defeat when you delivered a meal for me…" Erza looked at him questioningly so he explained. "When you defeated Gajeel, he crashed into the room where I fought with Nelliel. I consumed his aggression and won, so thank you."

Suddenly, Erza's face lit up with understanding and she giggled.

"What?" Natsu smiled.

"No, nothing," She replied and kissed him again. Maybe when Morrigan helped her to defeat Gajeel (yep, Erza really did think that it was her), she also adjusted the trajectory of Gajeel body's flight, to the room where Natsu fought against Nelliel. Erza thought that Natsu's mother actually is still watching over him and helps him, though indirectly… or maybe he's just very lucky, who knows… "Oh, you're looking so manly without your coat…" She moaned, pressing herself to Natsu.

"Man… it's not just crumbled… there's almost nothing left…" Makarov mumbled as he looked over the place where the guild hall once was with some sense of unreality about what he's seeing – there were no ruins and only few small piles of smoldering debris. It seemed almost like as if guild actually was never here. Even basement was almost destroyed and covered with dirt and sand.

"Well… to be honest…" Macao said uncertainly, "It wasn't that bad until Erza's fight against Gajeel. She literally evaporated all that remained of the guildhall, and this is her doings as well…" He pointed at a deep crater that now was filled with water from the gulf. This was a guild's backyard just an hour ago "…but, she had no choice, trust me master, she saved us all!"

Makarov sighed; as he was afraid – after she built up her relationship with the god slayer and learned dragon slayer magic – Erza became as destructive as Natsu himself. 'At least she didn't damage the Lumen Histore, or it could be a catastrophe…' The passage to the underground was covered over with smoldering earth, but chamber itself probably was still intact. Master looked at the dragon slayer, she still was hanging on Natsu. 'Youngsters…' He again examined the place. "Actually, I had plans for some renovations a while ago… but this…"

"Umm… master…" Lucy said in apologetic tone as she came closer to Makarov. It's good that Natsu let her wear his coat by now so no one could see what Nelliel has done to her skin.

"Hmm?" Makarov turned around, "Looks like they put you through the ringer as well…" Lucy looked down, trying to find some words, but suddenly she heard cheering voices from behind.

"Don't give us that face, Lu-chan!" Levy's voice said.

"Huh?" Lucy turned around.

"We're back!" Levy announced cheerfully, giving Lucy a wink.

"Actually, this is what I'd call the 'mediocre mages'…" Natsu noted, looking at team Shadow Gear, forcing Erza to kiss him again, just to shut him up.

"Levy?" Lucy asked, she had to be surprised… but she couldn't feel it.

"Everyone worked together to defeat the enemy…" Levy said.

"Aha, except for you and your fatuous friends-losers…" Natsu mumbled, gaining another 'be silent' kiss.

"Although the guild hall was destroyed…" Droy said.

"But we all just need to rebuild it," Jet added.

"You can start right now…" – Another comment.

"Natsu, stop it or I'll bite off your tongue, I swear!" Erza was already breathless from kisses. 'How big the capacity of your lungs is?!'

"Sorry for making you worry, Lu-chan," Levy apologized.

"No, this is all my fa…" Lucy tried to reply.

"Everyone here knows the score. There's no need to beat yourself up over it. It's all good, Lu-chan…" Levy again tried to cheer up Lucy.

"On the other hand…" Reedus said, scratching his head. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."

"No, no, it's not…" Lucy said.

"Lucy," Master called for her. "Every time you laugh, every time you grieve… Pieces of those moments… become ours as well… That's what it means to be a member of our guild. When a member is on cloud nine – we're all floating. When a member is outraged – we all clench our teeth. When a member weeps – we all wipe our eyes…"

"Oh, cut it out already, Ojii-san, as if someone actually believes in that muck for mugs… ouch!" Erza bit Natsu's nose for this comment.

As Lucy listened to master's speech, she was looking at him with emptied eyes, unable to feel anything. That was a side effect as Natsu consumed almost all of her emotions.

"…so you have no reasons to be riddled with guilt… because no one here holds you responsible…" Master continued to speak, "…and why would they? You are, after all, a member of our family, a member of Fairy Tail."

"I… I understand… thank you, master…" Lucy replied emotionlessly, making several guild members to look at her worriedly as her lack of emotions seemed strange.

Erza, however, got a good guess. "Natsu, don't you wanna tell me anything?" She asked, looking at her fiancé with suspicious.

"Hmm…" Natsu feigned a deep thoughtfulness, "…No," He decided, smiling innocently to his fiancée. Erza could only growl in powerless frustration.

"Although… We went a bit overboard…" Makarov mumbled to himself, "This is going to seriously anger the Council…" Master started to sweat all over. "Or wait, if it goes poorly, may be even imprisonment… Waaaaahhhh!" Makarov suddenly started to sob, shocking everyone.

September 1, X784, 15:00, Kardia Cathedral.

Natsu and Mirajane came to visit Lisanna's grave.

"I'm sorry, Lisanna," Mirajane said sorrowfully, "I'm sure you saw it yourself – I've done everything I could. I've tried to make things your way, but… it did not work," Mirajane let out a deep sight. "I have to walk my own path," She added, placing a bouquet of flowers on her sister's tombstone as tears swelled in her eyes.

"I know, I know, you want to scold me for defiling your sister's soul," Natsu said in a falsely defensive tone, causing Mira to smile a bit, through her tears. Not that he actually believed that Lisanna could hear him, he was doing it just to cheer up Mirajane. "But this is our reality… You tried to stop the beast with a smile and paid for it… this world just doesn't deserve smiles…" Natsu whispered silently before speaking loud again. "But now we'll be all right, don't worry," He said almost cheerfully, touching the tombstone as if it was Lisanna's shoulder, again, for Mira's sake.

"Rest in peace, my beloved sister," Mirajane said as she and Natsu headed towards the graveyard's exit. "Okay, Natsu, do you have some free time?" Mirajane asked, wiping away her tears, as they left the graveyard.

"Hmm? Yes, I think I do – I'm done with my business for today and Erza is with Lucy – some wedding stuff, so I think I'm free for a few hours," He replied.

"Good, you can help me with some shopping then, I need to refresh my wardrobe," Mira informed, heading toward Magnolia's central streets.

Actually, Natsu was like an older brother to Mirajane, despite that, in point of fact, he was younger than she. To be honest, after Lisanna's death, Mira thought about romantic relationships with Natsu. However, no matter how deep and how much she thought about him, she just couldn't see Natsu as a romantic interest. Initially, she was very worried about it – she thought that there was something wrong with her. Natsu was strong, handsome, rich, brilliant-minded young man and… she sees him only as a good friend?!

But once Mira asked Cana about her interest in Natsu, and found out that Cana too has no romantic interest in him, which she too can't explain. Moreover, not long after she joined, Lucy too said that she has no interest in him, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he's already taken – she just can't think of him in romantic way. All three girls were confused because of it, but in the end, it turned out to be a good thing – their hearts couldn't be hurt since Natsu was already engaged.

However, this situation made Natsu the perfect helpmate for clothes shopping – he can express a man's point of view about clothing without making a girl to feel herself embarrassed. Besides, he possesses really good dress sense – for example, the clothes that he recently bought for Erza were not vulgar, not at all, yet they made many men nose-bleed…

"Oh… All right..." Natsu rolled his eyes, "But don't you dare to tell Erza about it. If she'll find out that I was around a dressing room with you inside of it, she may become upset, and you really don't want to see her yandere mode in full swing, trust me…"

Actually, the fact that Natsu's best friend was a woman was irritating by itself, but the fact that this woman is Mirajane quadrupled her irritation. Titania knew perfectly that she, Erza, was Natsu's one and only romantic interest now and forever – it's sealed in the soul of this world, yet other women around him… their presence were undesirable, to put it mildly.

Few hours later…

"You run from one extreme to another..." Natsu shook his head when he was walking Mirajane out to her home. It seemed Mira decided to revel for three years of 'abstinence'.

Firstly, when they came to the shop, Mira took off her pink dress, right in front of the shop doors, in front of everyone's eyes, and threw it into a dumpster. "Everyone saw me in my underwear," She shrugged in response to Natsu's questioning sight. Well, she is a magazine model, after all, so… okay, she was right.

Secondly, it was a gothic fashion store, no more no less. When they came out of the shop, Mira was dressed in the following set of clothes:

On top she wore a black cotton shirt, sleeveless with fishnet covering her bust and back, torn holes and drawstring detail on both sides. It had no sleeves, but the holes for her arms and neck were detailed with metal rivets. The back was made completely of light thread fishnet fabric, so actually her back was almost exposed.

Below that she wore a gothic skirt with a removable pocket-belt, layered with lace. The skirt was three layers, cotton with black lace. The removable belt had pressure buttons closure, zipper detail, and pouch-pockets on the sides. The skirt was so short that each time Mira bends over… Well, it's good that her underwear is always clean.

Also, she wore pair of black stretchy cotton gloves. Detailed with flat cone rivets, they were designed with thumb holes, no fingers, decorated with shiny metal rivets and had open holes on both sides of the wrist.

On Mira's neck was a black bondage style leather choker ornate with short killer spikes, and a bondage ring.

In addition, she now wore black, leather, thigh-high platform boots. Thanks to these four-inches platforms Mira was now almost of the same height as Erza. [A/N: Again, according to Mashima's blog, Mira is a relatively low girl – her height is 5' 2" (159 cm). Her sister is a bit taller – 5' 4" (162cm). Lucy is 5' 5' (165 cm)]

Also, Mira disposed of her signature, short, upward ponytail – now her fringe fell over her forehead as her head was adorned by a black silky band with two large ribbons on it.

However, the most distinctive feature that Mirajane had now was a tattoo on her back (just temporary, to be honest, Mira hasn't decided yet that it's what she actually wants). A black demonic backbone along her spine with a red snake wrapped around it. It was clearly visible through the back of Mirajane's new shirt made of light fishnet.

"I could never imagine that you had such a sadistic nature, Jane," Natsu said as they walked along Magnolia's streets (it was a lie, though – he knew it all along). "Some people may die from a nose-bleed…"

"Considering that you chose these clothing for me, and the tattoo was your idea, I don't want to hear such things from you!" Mira exclaimed.

"I just said a 'tattoo could supplement your new looks', and you've approved all of my ideas," He shrugged. Well, Natsu's sadistic nature was well-known, actually.

September 4, X784, 9:00, Lucy's house.

Lucy was sitting at her desk, writing a letter to her mother.

'A week has passed since we finished our battle with Phantom, and it looks like we're finally back to some semblance of normality.

Well, actually, right after our battle has ended, things got more than a little out of hand though… We were paid a little visit by a Council's lapdogs…'

Flashback.

"Nobody move a muscle! We are the personal constable of the council – the rune knights!" The Rune Knights' captain announced as they rounded up Fairy Tail.

"Oh, crap!" Gray exclaimed.

"Looks like they finally got a wind of what went down…" Cana developed a sweatdrop.

"Hmm… I think I know this guy…" Nats's eyes blinked as he looked at the Rune Knights' captain.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Mirajane looked at Natsu suspiciously.

"Go back to the hospital already," He replied.

"Hey!" She exclaimed resentfully.

"Waaahhhh!" Makarov continued to sob.

"Master! Pull yourself together!" Erza was shocked by the master's behavior.

Flashback end.

'We were all escorted to their garrison for questioning… Well, everyone, except Natsu and Erza, who were allowed to return home, they only had to come for questionings, but after that they were free to leave… I think Natsu bribed the chief investigator…

Well, others were held in camp and we had to endure daily interrogations. It took them three days to get whatever it was they were after…

They're mulling over punishment options for Fairy Tail… And it appears as though the decision will be handed down at a later date…

But there's no need to worry about me, mother! I doubt they'll come on us with too severe penalty… After all, we have evidence and eyewitnesses' reports pointing toward Phantom Lord being the catalyst behind the chain of events…

"Ouch…" It was hard to write, the wound that Nelliel made on Lucy's right palm still hurt. "I hope this doesn't leave a scar or anything…"

The last four days we've spent resting, but Master said that we're going to start rebuilding our guildhall today. It's good news, despite Erza's panicking because now she needs to 're-plan the banquette according to the new guildhall layout' and as her maid of honor I must help her…'

Lucy accidentally touched her abdomen without thinking. "Jeez…" She looked at the large bruise there. "It still hurts as well…" However, bruises were not her biggest problem. "Damn! These things don't go away!" The drawings that Nelliel made on Lucy's skin, they turned into scars and were still there… "I need to find a way to get rid of these damn pictures, or no one is gonna marry me!" Lucy cried in slight panic, scaring away some birds as her sight fell on their nest… She remembered something…

'Hey, mom… Please, tell me this wasn't another one of his harebrained schemes?! I know he can be deranged at times but… this was a bit too much, even for him… However…' Lucy remembered some unpleasant episode from her eleventh birthday, when father yelled at her.

'Actually… the more I think about it… the more I realize that he's more than capable of such a thing… Does that mean my friends were right? Does he really want to use me for some deal?! To make me marry someone?!

Mom, this is just the beginning then? He'll use his almost unlimited resources and try as many times as it takes… But me, I'll never…

As Lucy looked into the window, Natsu's words popped up in her mind: 'Lucy, I think I need to talk to your old man. Someone has to tell him that he's just a pathetic human, who stepped into the world to which he definitely doesn't belong. Being ejected from there may hurt a lot…'

"No!" Lucy exclaimed, talking to herself, "I have to deal with it myself!"

September 4, X784, 12:05, Fairy Tail construction site.

"Hey you!" Erza shouted as she saw Max sitting on the stockpile of girders, "Stop slacking and get back to work!" She was dressed in construction garb and now was carrying a large wooden girder.

"But Erza! I just sat down a moment ago, let me rest at least a minute!" Max pleaded with her.

"Oh, sorry… Do you need anything else? A pillow? Or maybe a blanket?" Erza asked, glaring at him as only Erza could glare.

"No ma'am! I have to work, ma'am!" Max hopped down from the stockpile, grabbed one girder and ran away.

Since the Rune Knights' departure, Natsu began to regularly disappear, each day for several hours, refusing to tell Erza what was he doing and instead telling her that it is a surprise. If everything will go as planned, she'd be very proud of him.

Erza, however, don't like surprises and since Natsu held his ground, refusing to tell her what he wants to do, she was constantly wrought-up. However, there was another reason for Erza's bad mood, and it was…

"Mira-chan! Let's take a break and go on a date?!" Wakaba asked, sending her hearts made of smoke.

Boom! Gaining a hard kick by leather platform boot, Wakaba was sent crashing into Macao and they both smashed into a wooden figure that Laki just created with her magic, to decorate the new guildhall. "You already have a wife, you would-be Casanova!" The goth girl said with narrowed eyes. "Damn… I dreamed of it for three years…"

"She completely reverted to her old self…" Elfman gulped.

Not everyone had adapted to the fact that cute, caring Mira was no more and the she-devil Mirajane has returned. Right now, the goth girl was walking around the construction site with salver, working out her last day as a barmaid. Starting tomorrow, she is going to take on missions again, as a mage.

"Damn, what are we gonna do without a barmaid?" Max scratched his head.

"It is better to engage in self-service than have someone like her as a waitress!" Wakaba exclaimed indignantly, rubbing his butt.

On the other side of the construction site, Erza and Gray were unloading the freight wagon with girders that just arrived. "Erza, where's Natsu? I think we could use some help…" Gray said, picking up another girder.

"I don't know…" Erza grunted resentfully. "But this mysteriousness, he shrouded himself with, is getting on my nerves…"

"Please, sweetie, be patient," Natsu's voice sounded from behind as the God slayer appeared from the construction site entrance. "You will know in two days, I swear, you'll be the first to know," He said, taking off his coat, preparing for work.

"I don't like surprises…" Erza mumbled as her sight became chained to Natsu's muscular chest; as usual, Natsu didn't wear a shirt so now he was naked to the waist.

"I'm sure you will like this one, I worked a lot to arrange it," Natsu replied as he hung his coat on sticking girder. "Okay, what you need my help with?" He asked, stretching his limbs.

"This wagon with girders just arrived, we need to unload it," Gray pointed at the freight wagon.

"Alright, stay back," Natsu extended his arms and used his telekinetic power to lift all the girders at once. The weight was big so Natsu's muscles were strained, his back become a bit wet…

"Erza!" A scornful voice returned her to the ground. "He's at your disposal every night, so can you please stop drooling and get back to work?" Mirajane asked with an insolent smile.

"Fuck you!" Erza replied, wiping away her saliva.

Few minutes later…

"By the way, isn't it kind of big?" Warren asked, observing the scaffoldings.

"While we're at it, we're expanding! It'll be a manly guild from now on!" Elfman stated proudly. "See? Here's what it'll look like when it's finished," He added, showing the 'blueprints'.

"Really?" Max asked.

"Let's have a look," Warren too looked at the piece of paper.

"Do we really have to change anything?" Erza mumbled, also looking at the drawings. With her banquette already planned for the old layout, she'd prefer to leave it as it was.

"I was always telling Ojii-san that we need a more modern design," Natsu too decided to take a look.

"What kind of guild is it going to be like?" Gray also came to look at it.

All five were staring at a weird conglomeration of pointers, stairs, rooms… and bats.

"And how the hell should I understand this?" Erza asked, she didn't get at least where the top and the bottom of the 'layout' was…

"And they call me an avant-garde lover?" Natsu scratched his head. He also didn't understand anything.

"But man, this is really crappy. Which idiot drew this?" Gray blurted out, staring at the drawing, "…KYA!" The ice mage yelped and jumped up as he suddenly got a very harsh slap on his butt. "Who the fu…?!" Gray yelled angrily, turning around, only to see Mirajane, engulfed with a dark aura.

"That's for calling me an idiot," She said with narrowed eyes.

Max and Warren disappeared. Erza and Natsu were still there, staring at this weird scene. 'Did he just yelped?' Erza thought.

"Mira-san?! It was you?!" Gray exclaimed, rubbing his ass, "Ouch… couldn't you at least just kick me, like you did with the others?!"

"No," she replied flatly. "Oh!" Mirajane 'accidentally' dropped the pen so she turned around and leaned down to pick it up.

Blood sprinkled from Gray's nose as steam busted out from his ears and there's no ice cold enough in this world to cool Gray down right now.

"Purple elephants?" Erza asked, to Mira's mishap Gray wasn't the only one who saw this little demonstration. "Who could imagine that goth girl's wearing white panties with purple elephants…" Erza laughed at her rival. Seemingly, Mirajane hasn't bought new lingerie yet, which would match her new gothic style.

"Look who's talking…" Natsu gently embraced his fiancée, "Shall I remind you about your socks?"

"Hey! I never tried to look like a goth queen so I am not shy of that!" Erza exclaimed, blushing a little at her lie.

Flashback. Natsu and Erza's second date.

Natsu was telling Erza about one of his crazy adventures from the past. The enamored girl was fascinated with Natsu's ability to turn any ordinary adventure into a crazy one. She kept her eyes on Natsu as they walked, not looking where she was going, so finally she stumbled at a drainage grate. Natsu managed to catch her, preventing her from falling, but her boot remained clamped between grate and pavement.

"Pink socks…" Natsu smiled, "How cute…" He was looking at pink socks with white teddy bears. "Who could imagine that Titania Erza wore pink socks, so girlish…"

"Hey! I am a girlie!" She replied, smiling and flushing heavily, as she urgently put her boot back on her foot. Actually, her girlish side was well hidden…

"I know…" Natsu smiled, as he kissed the tip of her head and took her hand. Long before this date he knew that, despite her spikes, this scarlet rose was very vulnerable and inside she was a girl and she too likes jewelry and other girlish stuff…

Flashback end.

"I love you…" Erza whispered, releasing Natsu's lips.

"I know," Natsu smiled, pressing her to himself.

September 4, X784, 14:00, Fairy Tail construction site.

"People, don't you think it's time for a launch?" Erza asked. She could be called a workaholic sometimes, but dragon slayers possessed a very healthy dragon appetite.

"Hmm… Now that you mentioned it… I could use a bite to eat as well…" Gray noted, not noticing Juvia, who was hiding behind the stockpile of false panels for about an hour, stalking him. "Ffsshhuuhh!" Someone dashed beside Gray with whistle, leaving a launch box in his hands and freaking him out, "HUH?!"

"Did you hear it?!" Erza asked, turning around. "We're under attack?!" Streams of plasma started to swirl around dragon slayer.

"What happened?" Natsu appeared as if from nowhere as he saw his fiancée being alerted for some reason. Due to general commotion, and quite a lot of hired additional personal (carriage drivers, forwarders, etc…), even for experienced bounty hunter it wasn't easy to spot an unauthorized person, especially the one who didn't have any evil intentions.

"Calm down you two!" Sin exclaimed, he was sitting on Mirajane's shoulder, who was heading their way. The retiring waitress brought some food to Natsu's team. "You guys are becoming paranoid…" Sin shook his boney skull.

"Hmm, I think this is a bentō… [Roughly: Lunchbox]" Natsu concluded, eyeing the box in Gray's hands. "Where did it come from?"

"No idea…" Gray scratched his head, "I didn't really understand what happened…"

"What? Man, something appearing from nothing and without anyone taken actions is just against the laws of nature," Natsu noted.

"Natsu, please not now," Erza intervened, "C'mon Gray, what are you waiting for? Unpack it and let's eat."

"No can do! I can't eat something if I don't know where it came from!" Gray retorted.

Behind the stockpile of false panels, Juvia became upset and cried, because Gray did not want to eat the bentō that she made for him, 'Juvia feels dejected… Juvia got up so early just to make it for him…'

"Well, but I can eat it!" Erza announced as she snatched the bentō from Gray's hands. Titania sniffed it, "It's fine," The dragon slayer concluded, "Do you want some?" She asked her fiancé.

"Well, seems fine," Natsu had no reasons to doubt Erza's sense of smell, so they tore it in half and devoured with one bite.

"Take this one Gray, it's from our field kitchen," Mira handed over a served food portion. "So, you two don't need you portions?" She asked, turning to slayers.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Dragon slayer exclaimed in reply.

"Jane, don't joke about food," Natsu noted as both slayers grabbed the dishes.

"You two are not bad at eating…" Gray shook his head.

"Hmm… It's my imagination or his portion served better than others?" Sin asked, pointing at Gray.

"It's your imagination," Mira replied, heading back to the kitchen and pushing the little boney creature off her shoulder.

"I don't believe you," Sin said, as he sat on her other shoulder.

"Sin, go find yourself something to do…" Mira snorted.

"Hey guys…" Loki's voice called from entrance. "Hey… Do you mind passing this on to Lucy for me?" He looked bad, as if he was very, very tired…

"Lucy's keys?" Natsu asked, "Oh, right, she lost them again…"

"Where've you been all this time?!" Gray asked as he remembered that he didn't see Loki since their battle against phantom. "Wait… Don't tell me… You've been searching for these things this entire time?!"

"Uh… Well… What can I say… being a gentleman isn't as easy as it looks…" Loki replied nervously.

"Loki, are you okay?" Erza asked, "You look bad and smell weird… more weird than usual I mean…"

"I'm fine, thanks for asking…" He replied. "Just tired…"

"That time draws near, does it?" Natsu asked with his common emotionless tone.

"Ugh… What do you mean?..." Loki asked nervously but suddenly Natsu decided to change subject:

"By the way, where's that weepie?" The god slayer inquired, looking around.

"Still at home I think, she was injured during the battle," Gray replied.

"We all were injured, but we're here while she's the only one at home…" Natsu said indifferently, "I think it's time to check on the actual state of her 'wounds'."

"You wanna visit her?" Erza asked.

"No, I want an additional pair of hands on the construction yard," Natsu replied, putting on his coat, "Wanna go with me, Loki?"

"Need I remind you about my syndrome of hypersensitiveness to stellar spirit mages?" Loki asked.

"Need I remind you that such a thing does not exist? In Fiore we call this syndrome a 'cowardice'…" Natsu replied with still the same indifferent voice.

"Natsu, enough. We've already been through it," Erza scolded him, however, she didn't understand what he actually meant.

"Sorry, sweetheart, I was a bit carried away," Natsu smiled, embracing his beloved. "Okay, I'm off to Lucy's place."

"We are off to Lucy's place, you wanted to say," Erza corrected him.

"Hmm? You want to go too?" Natsu wondered.

"Of course I do, she's my maid of honor, after all. Besides, knowing your attitude toward women's dignity, I'd better make sure that you won't go too far with her and don't try to drag her here by force just because she doesn't look sick enough…" Erza replied before adding, looking somewhere aside, "…on the other hand, if she's actually healthy…" Her eyes flashed with white light.

"Hey, please go on easy on her…" Loki seemed a bit uncertain.

"We'll take care of that," Erza waved him off, "By the way, where's Gray?" The dragon slayer noticed that Gray was nowhere to be found.

"Took the keys and left," Loki replied, "I think he went to visit Lucy."

September 4, X784, 14:55, Lucy's house.

"Hmm… Nobody's here…" Gray said as he and Sin climbed into Lucy's house through a window. The rooms were neat and clean, the bed was made up and tableware been washed. "Hmm… looks like she's not at home… Natsu won't like it."

'Clank' A door lock tinkled. "Speak of the devil…" Sin mumbled. A moment later Erza barged into the room and Natsu followed her. However, before any of them could open their mouth, the boney creature said, "Sorry, but I had to leave you behind – you two were too busy deciding the better way to mutilate Lucy – physically or mentally." It seemed Sin heard the talk and picked up Gray to carry him here.

"Wait until I lay my hands on you!" Erza replied and headed toward the boney creature as Natsu was indifferently looking around.

"Erza, calm down please, Lucy's not here anyway," Gray said. He and Sin already checked the entire house, even bath.

"She must've stepped out for a bit…" Erza guessed as Sin tried to work himself out from her grip. Suddenly she released him, he flew off, collapsed into ambry, and second later the boney creature was pressed to the floor by dozens of thick letters.

"Wow, she has an active correspondence…" Gray noted.

"Not really, they are all outgoing," Sin said as he quickly unpacked one of the letters and read aloud. "Mom, I've finally managed to accomplish my life-long dream of becoming a member of Fairy Tail…"

"Life-long dream?" Natsu asked with some hidden sarcasm, "We were that hard to find so she needed me to show her the way to the guild?"

"Hey, why don't you try to respect her privacy?" Gray asked as Sin continued to read.

"Mom, today I met this girl, Erza! She's unbelievably pretty and as crazy as Natsu…" Erza let out a grunt "…I never saw anything like that! They moved in perfect unison, never saw people who fit each other so perfectly…"

"Sin, enough," Natsu ordered but skeletal creature already stopped, as he examined the titles of others letters. "Dear mom… Dear mom… Dear mom…"

"These letters… They're all addressed to her mother?" Gray wondered, "I wonder why she's never sent 'em?"

"I guess it's because she knew that they won't be delivered anyway," Natsu noted, "It's hard to deliver something to the afterlife. Not impossible, but…"

"What?!" Three voices asked simultaneously.

"Isn't it obvious?" Natsu asked, waving his arm around the room, "There are many photos of her mother – she really loved her – but they all are more than seven years old, look at the dates. Besides, she never mentioned her, even casually, unlike father. Moreover, she behaves a bit awkwardly when dealing with the opposite gender – the clear sign of a girl who remained in care of her father before puberty."

"And you call that obvious?!" Gray asked indignantly.

"Poor thing…" Erza sighed with pity, "It was hard for her, I guess…"

"Oh, so for you it was easy?" Natsu looked at his soon-to-be-wife.

"Of course!" Erza replied proudly, "I always could take care of myself!"

"Really? Come on then, tell us about your solo maturing. Tell us how you handled your first menses, for example…" Natsu asked as if it was nothing special, "Though, I can guess how it was…"

"Don't you dare!" Fearless Erza paled from horror as she dashed to Natsu to shut his mouth while he started to run away from her.

"Gah! I don't need to hear it!" Gray exclaimed, closing his ears.

"Considering your habit to get to idiotic situations, it probably happened in the middle of the day, most likely during mission, in some public place…" Natsu spoke, running around the room, and his indifferent tone was making this story three times more embarrassing.

"Natsu shut up or I'll cancel our wedding!" Erza still chased him.

'I can't understand it… the more he teases her…the hotter her passion toward him…' Sin scratched his skull, thinking that Erza is actually a hardcore masochist…

"Guys!" Gray yelled loudly, stopping the love game. "Lucy left behind a note…" He said with a strangely mournful voice, showing Lucy's note to the others. The note says 'I will go home…'

"What?! Why?!" Sin exclaimed.

"Don't tell me she decided to return home and sacrifice her future to protect us from her father?!" Erza exclaimed indignantly. Her opinion about self-sacrificing changed drastically during the last few years.

"Yeah, she went home and left behind her underwear to decorate our guild," Natsu said as he opened the dresser drawer, full of kinky underwear. "It's not the kind of stuff you can leave to a carrier, don't jump to conclusions."

"Yep, her novel is still here," Sin looked inside the desk.

"She's writing a novel?" Erza wondered.

"Oops…" Sin gulped.

"It doesn't matter now, cara mea, I think our cute blonde got some guts and decided to kick her father's ass herself," Natsu guessed. "Brave decision Lucy, I give you that… Well, if so, then let's go back to construction site, there's still a lot of work."

"What are you saying?!" Gray exclaimed, "We have to go after her and back her up!"

"Why?" Natsu asked skeptically. "She's a grown-up girl, who owns five gold-ranked celestial spirits, I'm sure she can handle an old fool who isn't even a mage…"

"You mean these celestial spirits?" Sin asked with irony, showing Lucy's keyset.

"Oh, you can't be serious…" Natsu sighed.

"Enough, we're going after her," Erza decided to stop this pointless discussion, "Come on!"

September 4, X784, 20:19, Heartfilia's manor.

Lucy stood in front of her mother's grave with the bouquet of flowers. Surprisingly, but neither Natsu nor Erza were right about the Lucy's decision – there was no fighting and no self-sacrificing. Lucy just talked to her father, it was not a friendly talk, however. She expressed her opinion about his intention to marry her off to some fat goof from the south and warned him about consequences if he won't stop his assaults on Fairy Tail.

"Okay mom…" Lucy smiled to the tombstone, "I have to go home, I don't want to make the others worry about me…"

"Lucy!" Several voices called for her from behind, freaking her out as she saw Natsu, Erza, Gary and Sin approaching her.

"Wha…Why?!" She yelped in shock.

"Oh, Lucy, there you are," Natsu asked with his signature indifferent voice, he alone seemed not worried, even bored. "Is he done for? You need a clean-up crew?"

"You're sure that you took out all of his body guards?!" Erza inquired, she already ex-quipped her combat outfit.

"Do you need any help?!" Gray exclaimed.

With her natural smile, Lucy explained that she came here just to dot all the 'i's and cross all the 't's, and to visit her mom's grave.

"So… I was… wrong…?" Natsu seemed discouraged somehow.

"Don't tell me I endured that four-hour torment in train just for that?!" Erza exclaimed indignantly.

Gray just stood, silently shocked.

"I just passed your words to him…" Lucy explained with a smile. "That each one should walk his own path…" Lucy nodded to Erza, "…that Fairy Tail's sorceresses marry only for love…" She looked at Gray, "…and that he's stepped into the world to which he doesn't belong…"

"Natsu!" Erza scolded her boyfriend.

Lucy gave her friends a quick tour around her family's manor, said goodbye to the home staff, which she likes, and all five headed toward the train station.

"Sorry to worry you guys!" Lucy exclaimed in an apologizing tone.

"Sheesh, I got all anxious over nothing!" Gray shook his head.

"I told you people – everything will be alright and we shouldn't interfere," Natsu reminded.

"Yes, you did, and yet, while we were in train, during the whole trip you were choosing a 'proper' Senmei Saikō [Sure-kill Shot] to end her father's life," Sin noted sarcastically.

"Really Natsu, you're too agitated today…" Erza shook her head.

"…And you were out cold completely since we boarded the train," Sin said to Erza, evading her fist.

"Man…" Gray said, looking around, "Gotta say this city is huge…"

"Ah… Well… actually, this is just our garden…" Lucy said casually, smiling, "My family owns all the land up to those mountains!" Lucy pointed at the mountain that were about fifteen miles away. "Huh? What's wrong?" She asked as her team froze.

"At your service, Ojō-sama!" Sin saluted to Lucy.

"It is an honor to know someone so humble, Ojō-sama!" Gray saluted as well.

"The skies… they are so blue…" Erza mumbled, looking at the roof of heaven.

"Lucy," Natsu placed his hand on her shoulder, "I think we should go back and talk to your father one more time, just to make sure he fully realized the error of his ways. You are, by the way, his only heiress, right?"

"Natsu, stop it already!" Erza scolded him again.

"Oh, right, I didn't finish my tale about your first period," He remembered, as he again began to run away from his fiancée.

"Natsu!" She rushed to chase him.

"What a crazy pair…" Gray shook his head.

"Gray, your clothes…" Sin noted as Gray suddenly appeared only in his boxers.

"Guah! How!?" Gray yelped in panic.

'Mom…' Lucy thought, shedding tears of joy, '…these people are absolutely crazy… but I can't imagine my future without them…'

September 6, X784, 10:12, National Council Fiore Branch

The trial of Fairy Tail started early this morning and took about four hours. Makarov had a good sleep during the process, irritating almost every councilor with his behavior. Yet, everything turned out very fortunate for Fairy Tail.

Makarov was sitting at a bench with councilor Yajima.

"Phantom Lord has been disbanded, and Jose has been stripped of his place among the Ten Wizards Saints…" Makarov said, talking to his old friend, "…So far, that's as I expected. But to judge Fairy Tail as completely 'Innocent?' I wouldn't have expected that…"

"You should be grateful, Macky my lad," Yajima noted, "I argued on your behalf, you know…"

"I'm in your debt, Yaji-san." Makarov nodded, "When the guild's fixed up, come over for a visit. I'll treat you to some ramen."

"Fairy Ramen is it?" Yajima asked, "I'll thank you to put twelve slices of meat on top then."

"Isn't 12 slices a bit much?" Makarov raised an eyebrow.

"Remember, you violated the ban on inter-guild conflict in Paragraph Four!" Yajima reminded Makarov about the case.

"Fine! I'll give 20 or even 30 slices if you want!" Makarov exclaimed, frustrated about that he has been blackmailed.

"Twelve slices will do just fine, thank you very much," Yajima replied. "And I want Natsu-kun to cook it for me."

"What?! Natsu? Why?" Makarov asked in surprise.

"Because he's an excellent chef," Yajima replied as it was quite obvious.

"Really?!" Makarov almost fell from the bench.

"Macky… You don't know what your own mages are capable of?" Yajima asked.

"With this sneaky, cunning… Oh, okay. I'll pass your request to him. You really dug me out of a hole this time…" Makarov sighed, wondering where and when Yajima had a chance to taste Natsu's cooking, anyway.

"Macky, my lad, don't go overboard again…" Yajima said calmly. "Lately, many people are of the opinion that Fairy Tail is debauching far too much and way too often. Just between you and me, Michello and Org filled a guild disbandment request. If you carry on at this rate, they'll levy you with massive sanctions." Yajima let out a deep sight, "Macky, we are no longer young. You should just hurry up and retire. How much more are you willing to put that body of yours through…?"

His old friend's speech put Makarov into deep thoughtfulness.

September 6, X784, 10:30, Fairy Tail construction site.

"All right, listen up people! Starting today, we've resumed accepting work requests! It's only a temporal request board, but hell, it makes no difference, so put your sorry asses into it, now!" The voice of snow-haired goth girl sounded throughout the construction site.

As crowd of Fairy Tail mages rushed to request board, filled with enthusiasm (or with fear of she-devil's wrath), Lucy turned around to see Mirajane, a bit surprised by her choice of words. "Mira…SAN!?" Lucy yelped and fell from her stool.

"Careful, Lucy, you just recovered," The goth girl said, grabbing Lucy by her collar and placing her back on the stool, singlehandedly. "What's the matter?"

"M…Mira-san?!" Lucy exclaimed, looking at her idol with saucer-wide eyes. Today was the first day Lucy came to the guild after the battle, and it was her first time seeing Mirajane's new appearance. "What happened to you?!"

"Ah, yea, I probably should have told you earlier," Sin said as he landed on the counter near Lucy. "Actually, this is the real Mirajane, once known as a 'Devil'," Sin explained.

"I'll regain my right on this nickname soon enough, Sin, trust me," She pointed at Sin as if challenging him.

"Ok… okay…" Lucy was still in shock, "Okay…but, well… Can I have a tea?" She asked, she had to drink something to calm down a bit.

"Why not?" The silver-haired goth girl shrugged, "Everything you need is there somewhere," She waved toward the bar counter.

"Huh?" Lucy's eyes widened even more.

"Lucy, I'm no longer a barmaid, wipe your eyes already!" Mirajane snorted.

"Ok… okay…" Lucy stuttered, heading to the bar counter, she was a bit entranced. "But… but which tea I should use? The one that always could calm me down?"

"Anyone, with whiskey," Mirajane replied simply.

"Huh?" Lucy wondered.

"I constantly was mixing whiskey into your tea to make it 'calming', as you called it," The goth girl explained, making Lucy pale as Mira sat on the bar counter.

"I take it back Mira, you had never lost your right on your nickname – even without magic you were a demon," Sin noted as he raised his claw and Mira gave him a high-five.

"You… you wanna say…" Lucy stuttered, "That warm feeling I usually got after that tea… because I was… drunk?!"

"Don't be silly Lucy, it was to warm you up, just a little, no one can become drunk after 50 grams of whiskey… well, except for Erza, of course," Sin waved Lucy off as Mira gave him another high-five.

Lucy slammed her head onto the bar. 'Oh, for god's sake… Is it a requirement to be a crazy perverted bitch or a crazy psycho to become an S-class mage of this guild?!' The image of her idol, of the perfect Mira-san, had been utterly shattered, defiled, burnt down and sent to oblivion. "Sin…" Lucy asked with her forehead still on the bar counter, mostly to not look at the goth girl, "Do you know where Loki is?"

"Oh, Lucy, don't tell me you too fell for the pseudo-charms of that sorry womanizer…" Mira narrowed her eyes.

"That's not it!" Lucy retorted resentfully, "I just heard that he found my keys, so I wanted to thank him," Lucy showed the bunch of keys.

"Well, just hang around here a little, I'm sure he'll show up sooner or later…" Mirajane yawned. "Oh, by the way, I hope you received a proper punishment from your spirits for losing their keys?"

"Oh, it wasn't anything enough for them to get that mad about…" Lucy let out a nervous laugh as she remembered her last interaction with Aquarius:

"I thought I told you, NOT to lose them again, little girl…" The water bearer shouted angrily, rising up the cane, "…Didn't I!?"

"Just remembering that makes my butt sting…" Lucy moaned, slamming her head onto the bar again.

"Want me to cool it down for you?" Gray asked from behind, building his ice magic.

"I don't need innuendo-style sexual harassment," Lucy replied with closed eyes.

"I think it needs to be checked out, Lucy, let me take a look at your bright red ass," Sin sneered.

"And no overt sexual harassment either!" Lucy was freaked out a bit.

"Hmm, I'm wondering, if I add a few more strokes, what would your screams will sound like?" Mirajane asked with a malicious smile.

"And you truly are a devil!" Lucy yelped in shock.

Boom! A wooden barrel struck Mirajane, knocking her off from the bar, where she was sitting legs crossed. "Who the fuck…!" The she-devil growled, standing up.

"You try to say that one more time!" Erza's angry voice drew everyone's attention.

"Erza?" Lucy wondered. The dragon slayer stood with her combat outfit equipped and a dark aura around her. She was glaring at Laxus.

"I'll spell it out for you just once," Laxus replied with an insolent smile, "We don't need weaklings in this guild!"

"Bastard…" Erza growled. Yes, she knew that Natsu's opinion was actually somehow similar to Laxus', but the god slayer kept it to himself, he didn't insult anyone. Besides, Natsu's idea was to force guild members to train harder ang get stronger, not to kick them all out of the guild.

"Being looked down on by the likes of Phantom… I'm so ashamed that I can't show my face on the street!" Laxus continued to expatiate.

"Laxus… Mindless brute…" Mira growled, completely forgetting about the barrel.

"That asshole starts shooting his mouth off as soon as he gets back…" Gray grunted.

"S-class Laxus…" Lucy whispered.

"You guys are the problem! Yeah, I'm talking to you!" Laxus pointed at the team Shadow Gear. "I heard Gajeel smacked you guys around pretty easily, am I wrong?" Because of Laxus' harsh words, the team Shadow Gear's faces became gloomy. "Come to think of it, I don't even know your names. Who the hell are you?! You're pathetic!"

"Enough, Laxus, no one here is interested in your opinion," Natsu decided to intervene. He chose neutral words however, and spoke in his usual indifferent manner, the god slayer thought that slight shake up could help some lazy guild members to become more active.

"Oh, look who's talking…" Laxus smiled evilly, "Tell me, god of war, do you know their names?"

Natsu blinked, the blonde guy hit a sore spot. "Um, well…" Natsu tried to remain emotionless as he became the center of attention, "…all right, the girl's name is Levy," God slayer pointed at bookworm, however, Levy was the only one whose name Natsu knew. Both Erza and Mira face-palmed as faces of Levy's team members became even gloomier.

"AHAHAHA!" Laxus laughed, "Levy? You're sure? Maybe she also has a last name?" Laxus just couldn't settle down, and he got the point – of course Levy's last name was far beyond Natsu's knowledge. "It's hard to express some idea if you actually do not believe in it yourself, right, Natsu?!"

"Can't you just shut your fucking mouth, Laxus!?" Mara growled angrily.

"Uhh… Look who grew out some teeth again …" Laxus again smiled maliciously as he stood up from his bench. "When I take over this guild, I'll crush all the weaklings!" Laxus again laughed, "And I'll kick out of here all who stand against me, so I suggest you to choose your words carefully, all three of you!" He turned around and headed towards the exit. "I'll make the ultimate guild! The strongest guild in history that no one can look down upon!" With a loud laugh, Laxus vanished from sight.

"No help from you…" Erza smiled, burying her face in Natsu's chest, she knew it wasn't his fault; he really is terrible with names. Natsu's face was still emotionless but he stood clenching his left fist. Laxus won this round…

"I hate him…" Mirajane growled as she returned to the bar counter.

"'Take over the guild'? What nonsense was he spouting?..." Lucy asked as everything calmed down a bit.

"It's not as crazy as it sounds…" Sin replied.

"Hmm?" Lucy wondered.

"Laxus is actually the master's grandson…" Mirajane explained.

"WHAAAT?!" Lucy was freaked out again.

"There's a good chance that Laxus is going to be the one calling the shots here once our current master decides to call it quits…" The goth girl added.

"No… way…" Lucy stuttered. "But… I don't think that's right… for a guy who thinks so little of his comrades to become a master, I mean…"

"Rumor has it, that's why the master has been putting off his retirement…" Sin noted.

"Because he's waiting for the guy to clean up his act?" Lucy asked.

"It's just rumors floating around. The fact is, master himself hasn't uttered a single word to us about his successor," The silver-haired girl replied. "Oh, never mind that, Lucy. I'm going on a mission, would you mind keeping me company?"

"Ieeeh!?" Lucy yelped.

"Elfman went to Hargeon, he's escorting construction materials for our guild, but I still wouldn't mind some company during my first mission," The she-devil said as she turned to the Ice wizard, "Gray, do you wanna join us?"

"Who?! Me?!" Gray jumped from surprise.

"Do you see any other Gray here?" Mira asked acidly. "I heard you two getting along well, so it should be piece of cake, let's go!" The goth girl announced, dragging Lucy and Gray along, despite them never actually agreeing to go with her, "Master is counting on us!"

"Shall we save them?" Erza asked, watching as her rival 'enslaved' Gray and Lucy. Gray can say whatever he wants but it's hard for him to say 'no' to a woman, to the one he's afraid of, at least. And for Lucy it's hard to say 'no'… well, to anyone.

"Nah, she needs a bit of help to quickly jump back to the saddle," Natsu replied. "These two will do just fine, they're reliable and work well together."

"How about you then? Up for some work?" Erza smiled at her beloved.

"Of course, our guild needs money, Shinryō no Setsuma shouldn't just sit here doing nothing while other teams are working to get funds for reconstruction," Natsu agreed as he kissed Erza's forehead. "Have something on your mind?"

"Yep," She pulled out a request list, "We're going to fight the secret religious sect of mages in the castle town of Lupinus."

"Hmm… Secret sect… my favorite…" Natsu smiled. "I love you…"

"I know," She replied, pressing herself to his chest. She chose this mission for him, no doubt. "C'mon Sin, we got a job."

"Yes ma'am!" Sin replied. He too was tired of sitting there.

September 6, X784, 22:45, Fairy Tail construction site.

The moon has already risen as Master Makarov was sitting upon the guild wall currently under construction. Drinking booze and looking at the construction site, he was thinking about the future.

'Retirement, huh? The guild has gotten a new start, I guess it would be fitting for a new master to lead them into the next generation…' Makarov started to think of candidates.

'Laxus… His heart isn't in the right place…'

'Mystogan… That guy is the walking definition of lack of communication…'

'Gildarts… Well, it's hard to call him the one who belongs to a new generation…'

'Mirajane… She's a bit unstable, besides, her tastes…' Makarov imagined a guild building shaped like 'Castle "Gray Skull"', '… No, definitely not.'

'And if that's the case… I have Natsu and Erza… Natsu's a bit too young, but that sneaky, cunning scoundrel is clever, he already has good connections to higher-ups, so he can keep council fools away from the guild, and he's definitely capable of taking care of finances… But no one can say what he has on his mind…

But there's Erza… She's very smart too and she can keep Natsu from ruffling the guild's traditions too much. She's a bit straightforward and naïve, but he can compensate that… Together they won't get lost…

Hmm… If I decide to retire… This may actually work… But which one of the two I should chose then?...'

"I'm sorry, Makarov-san?" Someone called for him from below.

"Hmm?" Makarov looked down to see a frog-like council messenger with a stack of papers and his innards grew cold.

"Sorry to disturb you, but there was an incident in castle town of Lupinus," The frog said as Makarov became pale. "The town was completely demolished. The witnesses described the culprits as 'a young man and woman, capable of breathing magic from their mouths; they had strange glowing tattoos on man's shoulder and woman's shoulder blade;' also, according to witnesses, both were wearing Fairy Tail guild crests. The council has requested you toprepare a written explanation immediately…" Makarov's body turned into white dust that was blown away by the wind. "Makarov-san, are you okay?"

"AS IF I CAN ACTUALLY ENTRUST ANYTHING TO THOSE TWO!" Makarov shouted into the night as his body was restored. "RETIRE?! NO FREAKING WAY!"

September 6, X784, 23:00, Natsu and Erza's house.

Erza came to the window and looked at the stars, taking a deep breath of fresh night air, filled with starlight. Natsu came closer and embraced her from behind, eliciting a sweet moan from the dragon slayer. "I'm happy, Natsu…" She said silently.

"I'm happy to hear it," He whispered in response.

"No, I mean… We destroyed an entire city, got no money for the job and tomorrow master is gonna skin us alive… but I have no grief because of it, I feel myself absolutely carefree…" She explained herself, turning around, "What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing's wrong with you… Well, I mean, everything is wrong with you, but that is why I love you so much…" Natsu lifted her up by armpits, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist. "We are the same, you too like to destroy everything left and right, and finally you've stopped fighting with it…"

"Master is gonna kill us one day…" Erza smiled.

"Then we're gonna chase him as ghosts, to the end of his days…" Natsu replied, causing her to laugh happily.

September 7, X784, 9:15, Same place.

"Erza, my love, wake up…" Natsu said softly, leaning over his bride.

"Mmmm…" She moaned sweetly, "…it's too early… come back… let's sleep a bit more…" She mumbled sleepily and tried to drag Natsu back into bed.

"Open your eyes, honey…" Natsu asked softly, "…the messenger just left, he brought the documents and the 'thing' I want to show you… The surprise…"

"All right…" She sighed, slowly opening her eyes and looking at Natsu. He was dressed in his usual clothes, with one little addition. It was a medium-sized, about three inches in diameter, pendant made of pure gold. It was decorated with a platinum cross that lay upon two circles with four heart-like figures and some ornament, everything made of platinum. It was very expensive custom work, but no doubt, that pendant means that its owner is the one of the Ten Wizards Saints.

Erza's still sleeping mind required some time to process the information while she was staring at the pendant, clapping her hands over her eyes.

"So? Does it suit me?" God slayer asked with soft smile.

"When? How? I mean, what is it?!" The just-awake girl mumbled.

"Jose was stripped of his title, so his position became free. That position had to be mine eleven months ago, but that azure-haired bastard made them to choose him! Damn, I was so infuriated – I was in magazines more times than he was! But he used the chairman's absence and his position in council to make the other councilors to agree that 'my behavior was inappropriate for such an honorable position,' can you believe it?! Besides that, a few years ago, they chose that downer Jura Neekis from Lamia Scale, despite the fact that he's too modest to be a Wizard Saint! I'm so much cooler than him! He was in a magazine only twice and never on the centerfold! Anyway, this time I used all my connections to make sure they didn't listen to that worm Sieg and judged me considering only my powers and fame, not some insignificant incidents with my involvement," Natsu explained with passion. By the way, Erza was the only being in the universe for whom Natsu could express his feelings so sincerely.

While Natsu was speaking, Erza was moving her sight from his face to the pendant and back, entranced. She tried to understand what it meant for her. For Natsu it was just another way of showing off, but for Erza that means that the council itself recognized Natsu's power as comparable to the power of that hateful azure-haired man. And that means that if she and Natsu were to be against him together, his number goes up for sure! 'Moreover,' Erza smiled to herself, 'Sieg was 18 when he became a Wizard Saint, but Natsu was still 17!' But then she remembered something else, as her smile faded a little. 'And I'm already 19…' Their age difference was a bit of a sore spot. 'Erza, you foolish girl, stop seeking the bad side, who cares about your age difference?!' She mentally shouted at herself, before looking at Natsu lustfully.

"Take these clothes off!" She demanded, dragging Natsu in bed, "Leave only the pendant. I'm going to have some fun with one of the Ten Wizards Saints! Lots of fun!" Her eyes had a very hungry expression…

September 7, X784, 12:50, Fairy Tail construction site.

News about Natsu being installed as one of the Ten Wizards Saints spread through the guild like a wildfire, mostly because he wore his pendant over the coat, so everyone could see it. Yes, they knew that Natsu wasn't the only candidate for this title, even in Fairy Tail there were other mages worthy of this position – Gildarts was definitely stronger, for example… but, who knows where he is? Also, Laxus and Mystogan were both worthy of this title, but Laxus was a well-known asshole, who probably doesn't care about titles, and Mystogan was a masked guy unknown to everyone – no one needed such people among the ranks of the Wizard Saints. Then there's Erza, of course, but it seemed she preferred other ways of show off. Mira was just back from retirement. So, after some thinking, Natsu appeared to be the only viable candidate as his ascendance to the ranks started to look quite logical. In the end, it was only natural that one of strongest mages of the strongest guild became a Wizard Saint.

"How was your job, Lucy?" Natsu asked as the blonde sat near him, staring into space. "Lucy? Are you listening to me?" Natsu slightly raised his voice. He tried to talk with Lucy whilst Erza was arguing with Mirajane about something, like in the old days.

"Um? Oh, sorry, I'm just thinking…" She replied. "It was quite fine, actually. Mira and Gray got along well, so… no problems…" Lucy said absentmindedly. Actually, that pendant, which Natsu was wearing now, shook her world slightly. Okay, she knew that he was strong, but one of strongest ten?! He's only nine months older than her, and he's one of the Ten Wizards Saints while she is… no one…

"Lucy," Natsu called for her again, "What's wrong?"

"No, it's all right, it's just…" She tried to find the words that wouldn't make her look like a silly little girl, but Natsu already figured out what's the matter on his own.

"Lucy, what kind of gifts did your parents present to you at your fourth birthday?" Natsu asked, but continued without waiting for an answer. "Okay, you probably do not remember. Well, I do remember mine. At my fourth birthday Okā-sama presented me magical boots, among some other stuff. These boots, by the way," Natsu pointed at his feet. "They're magicforged – made of basilisk skin, always fresh and new, they always fit my legs perfectly, they can even change fashion according to my preferences, no idea who she forced to make them for me… Ah, no matter. However, it was not inside the colored box with ribbon, which I could just untie and take the gift. It was in a cave, guarded by a demon, which I had to subdue to take my gift... well, not a demon, actually a mere imp, but... No, Okā-sama embraced me warmly and kissed me of course… after I proved myself worthy by defeating the demon…"

Lucy listened to this story with saucer-wide eyes 'Demon?! For a four years-old kid?! Okay, this explains a lot… Yet, he loves his mother… Okay, as it says: a stranger's heart is a deep well – it's too dark there to see well…' The point of this story was clear – do not compare yourself with the one who defeated his first demon when he was four years old (and maybe it wasn't his first…)

'And, by the way, you wouldn't feel yourself down so much if you'd stopped using so unfitting magic,' God slayer thought, Looking at Lucy. However, he didn't say anything aloud, it was too early. He actually wanted her desperation about her weakness to build up to a certain point and then, together with Erza, Sin and Mirajane, attack her with the proposition to switch for another magic school. Quite a vile plan, but that was for Lucy's own good.

"But still…" Natsu said, looking at the construction site.

"What's up, Wizard Saint?" Mirajane asked as she sat on the bar counter with her legs crossed.

"We still need money to rebuild our guild," Natsu replied, "We need some mission where we won't get carried away like yesterday…"

"Hmm… I think I have just what you need," Mirajane said, pulling out a request list from between her breasts.

"Why do you need that pocket-belt?" Natsu wondered.

"For bigger stuff," She replied as it was obvious. "Actually, I've intended to go on this mission with Lucy and Gray, but I can take you along, since all reward goes to the guild's reconstruction, anyway."

"Jane, I think you realize that by saying "me" you mean "us"?" Natsu asked, looking at Mirajane with evaluating sight. Then he shot a glance at Erza, she was nearby, scolding Macao for something.

"If you insist…" Mirajane replied with deadpan. For the sake of her and Natsu's friendship, she tried to be less aggressive toward Erza while he was nearby. "You two can put on a nice lightshow so we probably can earn more…"

"What's the job?" Natsu asked.

September 8, X784, 11:35, Onibas train station.

The town of Onibas was larger than Magnolia, with more thriving business. Natsu and Co. arrived to Onibas with an early train.

"I see… So, with our magic we'll be lending a hand to a theater of client's, who live in this neck of the woods…" Gray smirked, "Interesting kind of mission indeed."

"Yeah, looks like fun, right?" Lucy replied with a joyful smile.

"And what did he see in her?" Mirajane mumbled to herself, walking beside Gray. "She's completely pathetic…" The she-devil added, looking back at Natsu, who carried Erza in his arms bride-style. She was out cold after their five-hours-long ride on the train. No, as it was said, Mira wasn't romantically interested in Natsu even a bit, she just could not come to terms with the fact that Erza is getting married soon while she, Mira, didn't at least has a boyfriend.

"But Lucy, you have no scenic experience…" Sin noted.

"It's unnecessary Sin, we'll be working completely behind the scenes," The snow-haired girl explained. "If we would have to be on the stage, I'd never have allowed her to be here." She pointed back, at Erza, "I don't wanna die from shame…"

"Ok, I got it. You need these two for light effects, Gray for molding magic, etc…" Sin guessed.

"Exactly, also I'm gonna sing in a duet with Lucy's spirit Lyra," Mira added. "Our reward is the percentage from the tickets sales, so we have to put a really good performance."

"Hmm…" Suddenly stars appeared in Lucy's eyes, "And if I write a novel, I could adapt it into a play one day! Yeah! It won't hurt to do some research on productions now!"

"Do some research about magic…" Sin murmured in Mira's ear and the she-devil nodded.

September 8, X784, 11:55, town of Onibas, Scheherazade Theater

"No… more… trains…" Erza moaned when she finally woke up.

"Now, this is a really big theater!" Lucy whistled as they came closer to the client's theater.

As the Fairy Tail mages came closer to the theater's doors, a little man with purplish hair, dressed in a red-orange suit and dark green pants appeared from beside one of the theater's columns. "Excuse me, would you happen to be the people from Fairy Tail?" He asked. "Thank you so much for accepting my request…"

"Yes!" Lucy replied with an enthusiastic smile, "Leave the production to us!"

"Ah, about that… We've got a bit of a problem with it…" Rabian said nervously. He escorted his guests to the makeup room end explained the situation with his actors.

"Whaaat?! All of your actors have run away?!" Lucy asked in shock.

"Yes, thank you so much…" Rabian confirmed.

"Thank us for what?" Mira asked acidly.

"Public performances have a bad reputation, really bad…" Rabian continued his tale. "Before long the actors became too embarrassed to appear in my plays…"

"Unsurprisingly, since this scenario is just pathetic…" Natsu noted as he flipped through the scenarios for Rabian's last theatricals.

"I gave up my daily job and dived headfirst into that path 30 years ago… My wife stopped loving me for chasing my dream like that, and she left me…" Rabian continued his tearful tale.

"Pathetic woman…" Erza commented, clenching Natsu's mutilated arm.

"This is the only path left for me! Thank you so much!" Rabian cried.

"You really shouldn't be thanking us now…" Gray commented.

"So, that's why, even though you went through the trouble to come here, the play had to be discontinued. Thank you very much," Rabian finished his tale.

"Heh… So that's how it is…" Erza said and Natsu immediately got a bad feeling because of her sudden enthusiasm. "If you're looking for an actor, you have one standing right before you!" Erza announced with stars shining around her…

"Wwhhhaaaaatt!" Lucy yelled in shock.

"She's shining!" Gray was freaked out.

'Okā-sama… lend me your aid…' Natsu closed his eyes. When Erza becomes like this, it's very hard to handle her…

"Natsu, can you help me?" Mira asked, extending her arms and exposing her wrists, as if asking Natsu to cut open her veins.

"You want to try your hand at acting?" Sin asked. He has managed to remain calm, unlike the others.

"You…" Rabian mumbled.

"Hmm… Actually, she's right, it might be kinda fun…" Lucy smiled, warming up her hands.

"She's right, we won't let your dream die here…" Gray agreed.

"Natsu, hurry up and kill me," Mira said still smiling.

"No, Jane, wait a moment, actually it might work…" Natsu noted, "We still need money, remember?"

"Eh… I guess I'll just leave it in your hands then…" Rabian said surprisingly passionlessly, "Rank amateurs…"

"You're not going to say 'thank you' here…" Gray asked with a sweatdrop.

"Alright, jin-san [man], we're taking the job," Natsu stepped forward and clapped Rabian's shoulder, "Now, get out of here."

"What?" The little guy asked in surprise.

"Just as you said – you're gonna leave it in our hands," Natsu replied, "We're still gonna split the margin 50:50, as we agreed before, but this is my show from now on, get out."

"But… my scenario…" Rabian tried to say something but Natsu pushed him out of the room and closed the door behind him. "Thank you so much…"

"Natsu, are you sure about this?" Mira asked, eyeing Erza who now was busy with enunciation practice. "This scenario is a horsefeathers…"

"I know," Natsu said, snatching the scenario from Mira's hands and throwing it into a wastebasket. "This is why I said that it's my show from now on. I have a really epic scenario on my mind, also this show will be a Metal Opera."

"Metal opera?!" Erza, Lucy and Gray asked in slight shock.

"Now this is a great idea, Natsu!" Mira quickly perked up and stuck out her tongue at Erza, making her to growl. Music was one of many common themes between best friends – Mira likes alternative and gothic metal as Natsu likes epic power, so… On the other hand, Erza didn't find it appealing for herself, she simply doesn't like heavy music. Natsu was completely okay with it; if he and his wife were too similar it wouldn't be fun. But Erza… well, she's too impressionable.

One hour later…

"Alright, people, I've ordered everything we need. We have five days, so let's get started," Natsu announced.

"What's on your mind?" The goth girl asked. Since Natsu declared that the performance would be in the form of metal opera, she was full of enthusiasm.

"Well, I remembered one old legend. It's about a god of war and destruction and a goddess of justice and courage. They were in mutual feud and constantly fought against each other, but during twilight of gods they had to join their forces to defeat the god of lies and his terrible beast. It's an old epic legend with lots of action and a bit of romance," Natsu described his conception.

"Wow… I never thought you were such an artist…" Lucy admitted. She liked Natsu's idea, especially when he said there would be a romantic part. 'And there goes another secret… How many of them do you still have, Natsu?' The blonde thought.

"I need two singers, others will be actors," Natsu announced.

"Me and Lucy will be the singers!" Mirajane announced.

"Me?! Singer?! Wait, I can't sing!" Lucy exclaimed in shock.

"Surely you can, Lucy. You have a very nice voice, you just need a little practice, c'mon, I'll help you!" The goth girl said, dragging Lucy into another makeup room.

"No! I can call Lyra to sing, why do you need me?!" Lucy cried.

"Me and Gray will be the bad guys!" Sin announced after a brief consultation with Gray. They probably decided to choose these roles because they were relatively small and they can slack a little. However, Natsu anticipated it and Sin was perfect for the beast's role.

"Which leaves me with the role of goddesses of justice and courage…" Erza smiled to Natsu, "Are you sure about it?"

"Erza, no one can fit this role better than you. You're the bravest girl in this world, trust the one who can look into humans' souls," Natsu pulled her to his arms, holding her tightly. "You agreed to live under the same roof with me, isn't it the best confirmation of your courage? And justice… this goes even without speaking."

"You're my cute little fool," Erza giggled at Natsu's comment, "I love you so much…"

Two days later…

Everyone was busy with complex rehearsing. Natsu and Erza were practicing their fight scenes, trying not to harm each other and keep the building intact. Lucy and Mira were practicing their singing, Lucy was doing good progress. Sin and Gray were having fun in Onibas since their roles were relatively small and they had a lot of free time.

Announcements about the performance were spread throughout the country. Natsu made sure that three girls were on the forefront of the poster, dressed 'properly,' so no one actually cared what's the name of the spectacle. All tickets for the debut performance were sold on the day of the start of sales.

September 13, X784, 11:55, town of Onibas, Scheherazade Theater

The day of the debut performance had come. Everyone and everything were ready. The hall was crowded with people chattering amongst themselves. Rabian was one of them. "Oooohhh! My theater never had a crowd of this size! Thank you very much!"

Behind the scenes, team Natsu was preparing for their performance. Lucy was very nervous about singing on stage, so Mira made a tea with spearmint for her.

Erza took the cup and headed to Lucy's makeup room, while Natsu was talking with Mira, Gray and Sin. "Natsu, her singing is very nice, but she's all nerves…" Mira said worriedly.

"Don't worry, I added a few drops of brandy into her tea, soon she'll calm down a little," Natsu admitted, pointing at the bottle of X.O. Grape brandy (55%), one of the best samples from his collection.

"No!" Mira whispered loudly.

"What choice did I have? Besides, you did it many times," Natsu replied.

"No! I mean I just did it again!" Mirajane pointed at a bottle of whiskey.

"Um… guys…" Sin called, pointing at bottle of rum in Gray's hands, it seemed they too were worried about Lucy's nervousness.

Usually completely calm Natsu seemed a bit puzzled, "Oka-a-ay… How much did she drink then?" After a quick calculation, it appeared that it wasn't even a tea, that was more like a cocktail, where tea has 50/50 ratio with strong alcohol (and with spearmint, which suppressed alcohol's taste). Lucy's weight is about 45 kg, so with that amount of alcohol…

"Where did you get all that alcohol anyway?!" Sin exclaimed.

"Okay, this isn't good, but we have no choice – 7 minutes left… Mira, keep an eye on her during the show. And no word about it to Erza…" Natsu said.

Lucy and Erza appeared from Lucy and Mira's makeup room. Natsu looked at the blonde – her cheeks were already becoming a bit pink and sometimes she was giggling without noticeable reason. "Okay Natsu, I think we're ready," Erza announced, placing a hand on Lucy's shoulder. It seems that, thanks to the large amount of spearmint, even the dragon's nose didn't notice the true content of Lucy's cup, it wasn't a dangerous poison, after all.

"Ready as I've ever been!" Lucy announced with a joyful smile. For the performance, she was dressed exactly like Mirajane, who now wore her new goth clothes, as usual. "By the way, don't you think it's a bit too hot in here?" Blonde asked.

"Okay, it's time people, let's do it," Natsu announced. He removed his glove and turned Sin into a frost wyrm, no one is gonna get suspicious in the theater.

Natsu, Erza, Mirajane and Lucy came out onto the stage, accompanied by the applause of the auditorium. Natsu and Erza were dressed like an ancient god and goddess. Natsu noticed master Makarov, Master Bob, Master Goldmine and Councilor Yujima on the balcony.

"Natsu-kun, ma boy, show them how it's done!" Yajima waved to the god slayer.

"Erza, looking good!" Goldmine noted.

"Mira, Lucy – your looks are compelling!" Makarov cheered for his girls with hearts in his eyes.

Erza used her ex-quip magic. A scarlet magic seal appeared, and she made two guitars, one bass guitar and drums to appear on the stage from her magic space.

"Oooo!" The crowd gasped. "How did she do that?"

Natsu raised his arms and made all four instruments play the music via his telekinetic powers.

"Uuuuu! Look! He's playing on all of the instruments at once!"

While Mira and Lucy were preparing to sing, Erza turned to Natsu, "N-nats-su… I d-did n-not exp-pect-t s-such a h-huge c-crowd-d…" She stuttered.

"What?!" Natsu was shocked, which was extremely difficult thing to achieve, "Don't tell me that you have a stage fright?!"

Mira and Lucy started to sing and dance under fast heavy music. Lucy danced especially famously. Trying to match her pace, Mira was forced to copy her movements to make it look synchronized at least a bit. At one moment Lucy dropped the microphone and leaned to pick it up, her back was facing the auditory. Mira made the same move.

"OOOOOOOOOOOO!" The male part of the audience shouted with hearts in their eyes. Many thanks to short skirts.

The singers became silent as the music continued to play, it was time for Natsu and Erza's scene.

"Your efforts are in vain!" Natsu declared, covering himself in crimson light. "Look, even this crimson horizon is on my side today!" He turned toward the audience and waved his arm, enveloping the audience with crimson mist.

"UUUUUUUUUUU!" The audience shouted. It was hard to say – was it because of the nice trick with crimson mist, or because Lucy and Mira continued to dance, and Lucy jumped, spreading her legs wide…

"I'll… crush… your… mag-gic, you… selfi… self… sel… se…" Erza was so nervous that she could barely breathe. "Se… se… se… Seiryū no Hōkō!" [Star Dragon's Roar] Erza let out a concentrated blast of plasma. Erza's breath incinerated Natsu's mist and made a hole in the theater's rear wall.

"YYYYYAAAAA!" The audience yelped.

"You're risking your life just watching this show…" Yajima said to Makarov, who was freaked out.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Natsu whispered in shock.

"N-no! Ev-vil w-will n-not-t p-prev-vail!" Erza was so nervous that she could barely understand where she is and what is she doing.

Mira and Lucy resumed singing.

"OOOOOOOOOOO!" The audience yelped. It's good that the show was rated 16+ and kids were not allowed here, because Lucy just took off her tank top, leaving herself only in a kinky leather bra.

"Lucy, stop it!" Mira shouted at her.

"Sorry, but it's too hot in here!" Lucy replied, continuing to dance, letting her short skirt to do its job.

"Natsu!" Mira whispered to the god slayer, coming closer to him, "I'm not going to strip with her! I'm not a shy girl but I didn't sign for that!"

But Natsu was busy with his own problem – it seemed that Erza's brain turned off and now she was acting only on instincts. She couldn't recognize Natsu but, judging by his scent, she knew that it was someone she should protect at all costs. Also she sensed Mira's scent… "No! Evil witch! I won't let you touch my Lord!" Erza vowed.

The audience was confused:

"Evil witch?! What kind of twist is this?"

"So, the singers are the actors too? Nice!"

"Why didn't she strip like the other girl?!"

"Her Lord?! What's she talking about?! He's her enemy!"

"Sin! Get here!" Natsu called for the frost wyrm, "We have to remove her from the stage!"

"Get away from my beloved Lord, demon!" Erza was completely deranged, she rushed toward Mira and started to attack her in melee. Her eyes were pupilless… that wasn't a good sign.

"Leave me alone, you, stupid bitch!" Mira yelled, jumping and doing somersaults to avoid Erza's attacks, brandishing her underwear, "You'll pay for this!"

"Natsu, what's going on?!" Sin entered the stage.

"OOOOOO!"

"Look at this beast!"

"Never saw such cool special effects!"

"Quickly, grab Erza and get her out of here!" Natsu ordered.

But before Sin could do anything, Lucy suddenly dashed toward him. "Cold! It's too hot in here! Sin, I need cold!" She jumped on the frost wyrm and started to try to get inside of his skeletal belly.

"Lucy! Are you insane! Stop it!" Sin started to do somersaults in mid-air, trying to shake Lucy off. "Gray, help me! Cool her down a little!"

"Okay!" Gray took his casting stance "Aisu Meiku…"

"Mooo!" Suddenly, Taurus appeared behind Gray and gave him a kick, sending him crashing into rear decorations. "Lucy-san! Let me cool your body down a little! Your body is the best!"

"THE BEST!" The audience shouted as Lucy took off her skirt, leaving herself in kinky leather lingerie only, she definitely lost it to alcohol.

"Your guild attracts perverts, Macky," Bob noted, closing his eyes, as Makarov tried to stop nose bleeding.

"My show…" Natsu could barely keep his composure, watching at his great idea being utterly ruined.

"That's it, bitch! Satan Sōru!" Mira was tired of Erza's assaults on her and performed her Take Over, eliciting a powerful magic blast.

"Get away from my Lord or I'll incinerate you!" Still being deranged, Erza entered her yandere mode. The two girls started to fight using magic.

"Stop it!" Natsu demanded as he rushed in to stop Mira and Erza, "Or you both fired!"

"Somebody, help me!" Sin yelled, still trying to shake off Lucy, destroying decorations and sending frost balls toward the audience.

"You stupid brute!" Gray was mad at Taurus, "I'll kick your ass!"

"Senjin no…" [War God's…]

"Seiryū no…" [Star Dragon's…]

"Dākunesu…" [Darkness…]

"Aisu Meiku…" [Ice Make…]

"Moooo!"

"So hot in here!"

"Get off me, you, crazy bitch!"

BOOM! CRASH! SMASH! Their powerful magic was shaking the entire building, making holes in its walls. Finally, the stage's half of the theater crumbled, as the Fairy Tail mages continued to fight each other, still with the accompaniment of heavy music.

"Why'd it turned out like this?!" Makarov asked, crawling out from beneath the rubble.

"Macky, hurry up and retire!" Yajima said.

"OOOOOOOOOOOO!" Hearing the audience's shouts, Natsu turned around, and, to his surprise, he saw that the public was in complete rapture.

"Bravo!"

"Best show I ever saw!"

"Stripping girl is the best!"

"Awesome! It was great!"

Natsu quickly recomposed himself and bowed to the audience, pretending that everything went according to plan, as his teammates continued to wreak havoc.

Five hours later.

"I'm so sorry, Natsu…" Erza continued to apologize. She was doing it since when she came back to her senses. She fell on her knees in front of her fiancé, still being greatly ashamed with her behavior during the show.

"You're my oddity in feathers…" Natsu sighed, lifting her by armpits, and embracing her tightly. "So, I'm your beloved Lord?" He asked, smiling.

"Yep…" Erza replied, blushing. She's so adorable…

In the women's restroom, Lucy stood on all fours, embracing the toilet bowl. "Somebody… kill me…" She moaned in aguish. Her head was aching like hell and she was periodically vomiting, let alone a severe dehydration.

"You didn't deserve an easy death," Sin growled, he was watching over her.

"Oh! Sin… quieter, please…" Lucy moaned. "Where are my clothes? What happened to me? Why I'm almost naked?" She was still in her special goth underwear.

In Mirajane's makeup room, Gray tried to cheer her up. "Chin up, Mira," Gray said. "The show had phenomenal success! We've earned a huge pile of money!"

"I know," The she-devil replied, "But we have four more performances planned, and all tickets were already sold out. What are we gonna do? The theater has been destroyed, and I doubt that we can make Lucy that drunk again… How do we get out of this situation?"

"Let Natsu think about it," Gray replied. "He said that it was his show, after all."

Outside, Makarov stood observing the half-destroyed theater, "Retire!? No possible way!"

… And with that, it looks like Fairy Tail will be staying the same for a while yet…

Footnotes:

Deddo Vēvu – Dead Wave

Hikari Sōfū – Light Blast

Yōsei no Hōritsu – Fairy Law (Lit. – Law of Fairy)

Senjin no Saiken – War God's Crushing Fist

Hōritsu no Tōkeihaiki – Law of the Frozen Wastelands

Senmei Saikō – Sure-kill Shot

Seiryū no Hōkō – Star Dragon's Roar

Satan Sōru – Satan Soul

Bentō – Japanese homemade lunchbox.

Well, this is it people. Chapter sixteen has been completed. I hope it was enjoyable. Do not forget to leave a REVIEW! Lots of reviews will encourage me to work faster! Next – the ToH arc. See you in the next chapter – Game without rules.