The day went by slowly Freed stayed by the bar and eagerly chatted with his guild mates as they entered the guild, he saw a lack of the newer members, Fuyuko and Samael being the only new ones in the hall from what he saw. Amber usually came in and gave him a hug real early but she never showed up, it worried him, what Laxus said really hurt her upon impact but after the second day? She usually forgot about fights or negative things after a few hours, she had told him there was no use in holding onto the negative feelings so she let them free like a butterfly stuck in a jar.

Around 11 Laxus and Evergreen came into the guild with an incredibly hungover Bickslow in tow, they sat down at their usual table beckoning Freed to some sit with them. Freed trotted over holding Margaret in his makeshift baby holder thing with a smile.

"There's gonna be a fight today from what I hear, Gajeel wanting to apparently see what Chiyo is made of, honestly I think it's stupid that he'd want to beat on a little girl." Evergreen huffed.

"Chiyo is an adult, same with Amber, they're just on the younger side, lack of food in their adolescence is why they're still fragile and small." Freed commented.

"I'm surprised it isn't Natsu who challenging Zephyr or The Dragon Knight." Laxus added.

"The dragon knight is barely around, he lives in the lake at the park." Bickslow mumbled rubbing his head.

"IN the lake?" Freed questioned.

"Don't understand it myself, man." Bickslow groaned.

Mirajane eventually came over with her special breakfast to help Bickslow overcome his hangover giving Freed a supportive wink as she left.

"Oh yeah- uh I wanted to extend an invite on a special training thing I'm going on to you three." Freed stumbling over his words.

"Ooooh! Where is it? A spa of some kind?" Evergreen eagerly asked.

"Uh- it's probably not as comfortable as that but we'd get away from everything. For awhile." Freed anxiously added.

"Is this about that book you got?" Laxus asked leaning forward to look at Freed's eyes better.

"Yeah- I have somebody who knows the location of it and- it's been my dream for ages to expand my knowledge on runes and- I've pretty much exhausted all other options. I-I know I'm taking Margaret with me and I've already decided that I'm going if you come or not." Freed stuttered out.

"Got nothing better to do." Bickslow said eating a piece of bacon.

Evergreen was thinking really hard about this, "How long will this be for? Because I have ahem- other things going on."

"C-could be years, my sponsor for this trip is unsure himself." Freed rubbed his shoulder.

"Doesn't change my decision. I go where Freed goes." Bickslow said shoving more food in his mouth.

Laxus and Evergreen looked at Freed conflicted, "Freed, you know Gramps is older, I don't not wanna be here when the time comes." Laxus replied.

"I know, I know, I expected that response from you. Family is important."

"I mean I technically could but I'd be leaving-"

Bickslow cut off Evergreen, "Elfman, yeah yeah yeah, just invite him along and say it's a sex retreat."

"Bickslow!" Evergreen spat

Laxus snorted at Bickslow's blunt response and spoke again, "We can talk more about this later Freed, I know any chance to get stronger I'll take, when we go home we can discuss it over dinner or something the only big concern for me is the length of this trip."

Freed nodded, he was feeling better that he at least brought it up to his friends and they didn't immediately shut down the idea, in fact he already had Bickslow coming with him and that made him feel all the more better about his choice.

The guild doors swung open and Natsu stormed in, he looked pissed off, "Why does Gajeel get to fight one of the newbies and not me?!"

Lucy ran in behind him panting, "I tried to hold him off! But he's insisting he brawl with somebody."

"What about you?" Natsu directed his attention at Fuyuko who was silently enjoying her card game and cup of tea.

"Hm? Oh no, I don't fight for fun." Fuyuko held her tea up to her lips.

"What about you, snake face?" Natsu pointed at Samael.

"Snake face?" Fuyuko questioned before sipping her tea.

"Maybe someday, not today." Samael said while whittling a piece of wood into a shape with a pocket knife.

Natsu's shoulders drooped sadly, Lucy came up behind him placing a supportive hand on one of them, "He said someday, wasn't a no forever."

Natsu nodded, "You're right. Instead, LAXUS FIGHT ME!" Natsu shouted his energy reinvigorated.

"Got better things to do." Laxus said gruffly.

"Man, you all are wimps." Natsu crossed his arms.

The guild hall doors swung open again, this time Chiyo stepped through the door with Amber. The two were always holding hands and touching each other in wholesome supportive way's, Chiyo explained it helped Amber in situations where she felt anxious or unsure in. Amber explained it also helped Chiyo ready herself for anything, just knowing somebody had her back helped her.

"Chiyo, Gajeel is out back already waiting for you. Please be careful I don't know why he chose to pick on someone smaller than him but I'm sure the experience will be amazing for both of you." Mirajane said smiling.

Chiyo nodded letting go of Amber's hand, "Find somewhere to watch without getting into the fray, Ambi."

"Okay Chi-Chi" Amber trotted behind Chiyo as they stepped out the back door.

The guild began filing into the training area to watch the two brawl, nobody from Fairy Tail aside from the Thunder Legion had seen any of the new members in action, it was exciting.

Gajeel stood on the left most side of the field watching Chiyo and every little move she made, her steps, the way her hair swayed when she made the slightest movement, eventually Chiyo reached the right most side.

"Okay, this is a standard training brawl, don't try to hurt each other too badly." Mirajane shouted from the sidelines.

Chiyo nodded and Gajeel did the same, the two faced each other, Chiyo bowing to Gajeel as a sign of respect.

Her sense of honor bothered Gajeel the most, she was uptight and formal to an unbearable degree, he hated people like that, it's like she couldn't relax. She actually fucking slept with her eyes open!

The whistle blew and Gajeel sprinted towards her, his metal arm up to block any attacks she may send his way. She didn't move at all, he charged at her metal fist first and she quickly dodged by sliding under his legs. She was small and quick, she could be easily broken but speed was no doubt her strength.

She quietly and quickly unsheathed her blade from its scabbard. She pointed it out as a showing of strength and dominance and slowly stepped around him similar to how a cat hunts its prey.

"Iron Dragon's roar!" Gajeel shouted blowing out a gust of iron in Chiyo's direction.

Chiyo's blade swiftly cut through the magic leaving her in a cloud of dust as a result, Gajeel charged at Chiyo once again "Iron Dragon's club!" he extended his arm to sock her in the face but then something he didn't account for happened.

She grabbed the club before it could hit with her palm. It was soft and gentle as if it were Levy touching his arm to get him to calm down.

"What the-" Gajeel narrowed his eyes re-focusing on the target.

"Iron God spikes!" the area around Chiyo erupted with long pointed sharp iron spikes.

Gajeel's eyes widened in surprise at the spell she just used, the whole of Fairy Tail present audibly gasped when she used the spell and murmurs filled the area.

"Go Chi-Chi!" Amber shouted her wings eagerly flapping.

"An Iron God Slayer?!" Gajeel's eyes widened stepping back, "That's why you smelled off..."

"Iron God Scythe!" Chiyo shouted charging at Gajeel hitting him, pushing him back about 2 feet.

"Gajeel!" Panther Lily and Levy shouted in unison.

Fuyuko and Samael sat in silence watching, the back door swung open again, Zephyr carrying Cia step out to watch the fight. Freeds attention turns away from the fight to stare at the two. He never saw Zephyr fight and Cia couldn't fight in the state she was in, her small cursed stature wasn't intimidating in the slightest but knowing the truth... definitely made her more terrifying. In her uncursed form could she beat even Gildarts? And what could Zephyr do? So many questions left unanswered...

"Iron dragon fist!" Gajeel shouted.

"Iron God piercing blade!" Chiyo shouted.

They charged at each other a cloud of dust erupted around them. When the dust settled, both still stood. The spells canceled each others out.

"I think Gajeel finally found another rival." Panther Lily said with a smirk.

Gajeel panted glaring at Chiyo who kept her formal straight posture.

"It's a stalemate!" Mirajane shouted clapping for them.

Chiyo once again bowed to Gajeel and left the training field back to Amber's embrace.