What Big Sisters Do:

Farrah Lee-Dreyar: 11

Nashi Dragneel: 8

Storm Fullbuster: 8

Cato Dreyar: 8

Roman Fernandez: 7

Persephone and Koree Redfox: 7

Bianca Fullbuster: 6

Lorelle Strauss: 5

Eva, Minette, and Von Fernandez: 4

Layla Dragneel: 4

Igneel Dragneel: 3

Meeko Fullbuster: 3

"Hey, Luce, can you hand me more of that plaster?" Natsu asked, holding his tray out as he spackled the last of his plaster onto the float he and Lucy were currently working on. The Harvest Festival was coming up, with meant the Fantasia Parade was coming up, hence why Natsu and practically all of Fairy Tail were busily working away making new floats.

"Sure," Lucy said brightly as she set her paint can and brush down from where she'd been putting a coat on the plaster that had already dried. She reached for the bucket of plaster, opened it, and then frowned.

"Erm...looks like we're all out," she said.

"What? No way!" Natsu exclaimed, setting his spatula and tray down to walk to his wife's side. "That was a brand new bucket!" He took it from her and looked inside to see that it was, indeed, empty.

"Well, what do you know?"

"I guess we've gotten more done than we thought," Lucy said, looking over the flat they had been working on. It was a circular platform with a crescent moon sitting in the center of it. Eventually there would be stars stuck on poles surrounding it. This float was for Lucy and her spirits. Lucy was considering letting Layla come along, too.

Traditionally young children didn't participate in the parade, but that rule had been bent a little bit to allow the Birthday Gang to participate this year. Maybe she could slip Layla in too. However, this was going to be Nashi's first year in the parade, so maybe she should just let Nashi have her moment. Besides, if they were going to include the girls they'd have to include Igneel. It wouldn't be fair for him to sit on the sidelines while his sisters got to join in the fun. Problem was, of course, Lucy had no clue where she'd stick him.

"Well, guess we're gonna have to go buy some more," Natsu shrugged.

Crash!

"AUGH! IGNEEL, YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!"

"DID NOT!"

Natsu and Lucy turned to find Igneel standing on a table, having knocked a cup of unused paintbrushed onto Meeko who had been playing with his stuffed penguin under the table.

"Yeah, you did you meanie!" Meeko shouted.

"I'm not a meanie, and it was an accident!" Igneel yelled back.

"Hey, guys, don't fight," Von said, but too late. Igneel leaped down from the table and tackled Meeko, sending both boys rolling around in the floor.

"Hey, Lorelle! We were playing here first!" Natsu and Lucy turned again as Layla's voice rang out from the table next to the two arguing boys. She, Bianca, Minette, and Eva had all been playing with their dools around a table before Lorelle showed up, brushed their dolls aside, and took over the entire table with her new fashion princess playset.

"But your dolls are all old and stinky!" Lorelle insisted. "Don't you want to play with my new toys?"

"But you never share!" Layla shouted. "Besides, I like playing with Molly-Dolly."

"Molly-Dolly?" Lorelle scoffed. "What kind of stupid name is that?"

"At least it's not as stupid as your face," Bianca muttered.

"You're being mean again," Eva sighed.

"She was mean first," Bianca grumbled.

"Bi's gotta point," Minette shrugged.

"We were here first so you gotta wait your turn!" Layla shouted, hugging her doll closer to her chest as she shoved a finger in Lorelle's face.

"You're not the boss of me!" Lorelle crossed her arms.

"Roman, you cheated!" Natsu and Lucy turned yet again as Nashi's voice rang out from yet another table where the Birthday Gang was playing cards.

"No I didn't, you're just bad at war," Roman insisted.

"Am not!" Nashi shouted.

"Okay, you lost, my turn," Storm reached for Nashi's cards, but she snatched them away.

"Nuh-uh! I wanna rematch!"

"You already had three rematches!" Storm groaned.

"Yeah, stop hogging it," Persephone grumbled. "Just admit Roman's better at playing war than you and let someone else have a turn."

"Uh-uh! I'm winning a hand against you if it's the last thing I do, you cheating grape-head you!"

Roman sighed and rolled his eyes. "I'm starting to get bored playing againt you. Let me play Storm, he's better."

"No he's not!"

Lucy let out an exasperated sigh. "I think it's time we got those three out of the Guild Hall for a little while. I think they've started going stir crazy."

"They're definately getting cranky," Natsu nodded as he set the bucket down and cupped his hands to his mouth. "Hey, Dragneel kids, c'mere!"

In unision all three of the children stopped in their brawls and fell in line in front of their father.

"Yes, Daddy?" they all asked at once.

Lucy couldn't help but chuckle. In their own strange way her children were well-behaved. Oh, they were wild and mischivous, no doubt about it! But they at least minded what she and Natsu told them…

...most of the time.

"Mommy and I are headed to get store to get some more plaster. You kids wanna tag along and pick out a snack while we're there?"

"Yeah!" they all eagerly shouted.

"Can I come?" Fin asked as he flew and sat on top of Nashi's head.

"If that's alright with your mom and dad," Natsu said, turning to where Happy and Carla had been working on their own, small, exceed sized float.

"As long as you bring something back for your siblings, it's fine with me," Carla said.

"And your dad, too!" Happy chimed in.

Carla rolled her eyes. "Well, you might as well grab me something to while you're at it, then."

"Aye!" Fin cheered happily as Nashi reached up and high-fived him.

"What about Birdie?" Layla asked.

"If you call him here," Lucy said.

"Okay," Layla dug through her pockets for her keys. "Open, gate of the little dog, Birdie!"

The yellow cannis minora appeared in front of Layla, waving and smiling at her as she giggled.

"Alright, let's go," Natsu said, motioning towards the door.

"Daddy, up!" Igneel cheered, pulling on his pants leg. Natsu chuckled, picked his son up, and set him on his shoulders. He held onto Igneel's leg with one hand, and then intertwined the fingers of his other hands with Lucy's. Lucy smiled as she held his hand with one of hers, and Layla's with the other.

"Stay close, Nashi," she said as they began walking out of the Guild Hall.

"I will," Nashi promised, skipping alongside her parents and Fin flew next to her.

It didn't take the Dragneel family long to reach the small general store where they'd gotten the first pucket of plaster. Natsu led his family to the snack section at the front of the store before taking Igneel of his shoulders and setting him on the ground.

"Alright, you kiddos pick out what you want. Mommy and I are going to find the plaster. We'll only be a in that aisle there," he pointed to said aisle three down from the rack of snacks. "If anything happens you come get us, but other than that do not leave from here, alright?"

"Yes, Daddy," the three children nodded.

"Aye, Uncle Natsu, Sir!" Fin saluted.

"Alright," Natsu smiled and nodded. "We'll be right back."

As the two adults left, the children looked back at the wall of snacks.

"So much to choose from!" Fin cheered, his mouth watering.

"I can't see what's at the top!" Igneel whined.

"Want me to take you up there so you can see?" Nashi asked.

"Uh-huh!" Igneel nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay, c'mere," Nashi held her arms open and Igneel practically jumped into them.

"Eos," Nashi said, spreading her wings and flying her brother to the top shelf so he could see what snacks were up there.

"You wanna go up there too, Layla?" Fin asked.

"Ummm…" Layla scanned the snacks along the bottom of the rack, and then picked out a pack of two lemon cookies in the shape of stars with gold sugar decrating the tops. "No thanks! I'll just take this one!"

She turned to her spirit, "What about you, Birdie?"

"Eh?" the yellow creature asked as it drew close to the rack.

"Out of the way, pip squeak!" a voice called as a rough hand pushed Layla aside.

"Oof!" Layla fell onto her rump as a group of about six children who looked to be about a year older than Nashi trudged to the rack.

"Hey!" Layla shouted as she stood back up.

The girl who had pushed Layla aside turned with a scummy smirk on her face. "Whattaya want, small fry?"

"That was rude!" Layla crossed her arms. "You could have at least said, 'scuse me!"

All of the older kids laughed.

"Aw, did the little girl get her feelings hurt?" a boy mocked her.

"Look at her! Still small enough to play with dolls," another girl said, scoffing as she pointed to Molly-Dolly tucked under Layla's arm.

"What's wrogn with dolls?" Layla asked, genuinely curious as she looked down at her favorite toy.

"They're for babies!" the same girl who'd pointed the doll out answered.

"I'm not a baby!" Layla stamped her foot.

"You sure act like one," the first girl, who appeared to be the leader, stated. "Get your feeling hurt real easy, plays with dolls, you even picked out a baby snack!"

She pointed to the cookies in Layla's hand.

"Who eats that little kid junk?"

"But it tastes good," Layla said, very confused. How could there be such a thing as little kid food? Food was food, right? That's what Daddy always said.

"Pfft," the leader girl said. "Your so lame, get outta our way so we can get some grub."

She shoved Layla away again, knocking her back on her rump, this time knocking her keys out of her pocket.

"You okay, Layla?" Fin asked as he flew to her side.

"Yeah, I think so," Layla nodded.

"Oh, no way!" the first girl said as she reached down and picked up Layla's key ring. "Gate keys!"

"Hey, those are mine, give them back!" Layla said, standing back to her feet and racing towards the bully.

The leader just held her hand out, setting it against Layla's face to keep her at arms legnth.

"I've never seen keys like this before. Where'd you get 'em, pipsqueak?"

"My Mommy gave them to me! They're mine! Give 'em back!" Layla shouted, reaching to the ring with her short arms.

"Heh," the bully girl scoffed, reaching into her pocket. "Well, I happen to be a celestial wizard myself, and I've been needing some new spirits, so, no thanks. I think I'll just keep these."

She pushed against Layla's head, knocking her back farther than the last two times and into a case of umbrellas, knocking the whole thing over. Umbrella's popped open all around Layla, making her scream in fear as they smacked her in the face. She could hear the group of bullies laughing at her.

"What a whimp," one of the boys said, spitting a mouthful of gum out at her, sticking it against her shirt.

"Ew!" Layla groaned, trying to pull it off, but only getting it stuck on her hands. "Gross, it's on me!"

The bullies laughed again. Layla frowned, feeling tears stinging her eyes.

"You guys are mean! Gimmee my keys back!"

"Not my fault your too pathetic to even put up a fight," the leader shrugged, putting Layla's keys into her pocket.

Layla began crying.

"Aw, now the little baby's gonna cry," one of the boys said in a mocking tone. "Why don't you go home and cry to your Mommy?"

"How about her big sister?"

Layla gasped as a familiar voice came from above her head. "Nashi!"

Nashi dropped down in front of her, Igneel still in her arms. Igneel was carrying an armful of snacks, but he dropped them as Nashi set him down. He ran to Layla's side.

"You okay, Layla?" he asked as Nashi extiguished her wings, then turned to face the group of bullies.

"Give my little sister back her keys and tell her your sorry. Now," Nashi said, crossing her arms.

"Or what?" the leader asked, a cocky smirk on her face as she sauntered towards Nashi. "What are you going to do about it, Bird Girl?"

All the bullies cackled like the insult was the best thing they'd ever heard. Nashi, however, was unimpressed. She arched an eyebrow and began cracking her knuckles.

"Ooh, kuckle cracking. Look out guys, we've got a tough one!" the other girl in the group of bullies said in a mocking tone.

Nashi opened her mouth to say, but was cut off by a yell of anger, and a flash of orange hair as Igneel all but jumped out from behind her, and then took a high leap onto the leader of the group. He tackled her head, knocking her off balance and to the ground, where he began slapping her face.

"MEANIE!" he shouted. "YOU MADE MY SISTER CRY!"

"Ow-wha-hey-wha-ouch-ouch-ow! Someone get this cra-OW-this crays kid off me!" the leader of the bullies shouted as Nashi could only watch on in surprise.

"Hey, cut it out, punk!" one of the boys shouted as he grabbed Igneel by the scruff of his shirt and threw him into the air.

"Igneel!" Nashi screeched, reaching for her brother.

"I got him!" Fin shouted as he flew into the air and caught the boy before he could hit the ground.

"You okay, Igneel?" Fin asked.

"She made Layla cry!" Igneel shouted, pointing at the leader of the bullies. "Lemme at her!"

"Ergh," the leader groaned as she stood back to her feet. "You guys are getting on my nerves."

"Well, you're all making me mad," Nashi growled. "Last chance. Give my sister back her keys and apologize to her and my brother or else."

"Or else, what?" the leader sneered.

The corner of Nashi's mouth curled up into a wicked smile. "Or else I'll try out a new spell I've learned."

"Oooh," the leader gave a mocking shudder. "So she's a wizard. Alright, punk, let's see what you've got."

Nashi grinned wider and closed her eyes, as placed her palms together in front of her.

"Titan Fire Secret Arts."

A pink flame rose over her, Layla, Igneel, and Fin.

"Titaness of Protection," Nashi began the incantation. "See the harm inflicted onto my dear ones and allow your flame to deal out justice until the wrongs have been put right."

"Um...guys, I don't like this," one of the bullies squeaked as Nashi held her palms out to them. The flames that had been covering her, Layla, Igneel, and Fin sputtered throught the air and began spinning in her hands.

"Uh…" all the bullies began backing away, but too late. Nashi's eyes popped open, shimmering with a smug sense of accomplishment as she shouted:

"Wrath of Rhea!"

The flames shot towards the bullies. As soon as it hit them the bullies began shouting and writhing in pain.

"Ouch!"

"Oh! It burns!"

"What did she do to us!?"

"Make it stop!"

"It won't stop until you give back the keys and apologize," Nashi said in a sing-song voice.

"Alright! Alright!" the leader screamed, reaching into her pockets. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Here! Here are your stupid keys!"

The leader threw the keys into the air and Nashi caught them.

"Thank you kindly," Nashi smiled as the spell ended.

"This chick is nuts!" one of the bully boys screamed as she jumped to his feet.

"Let's get out of here!" another boy said as the bullies all ran out of th store, watching Nashi with wide, scared eyes.

Nashi glared at them until they'd left, then turned to Layla, knealt in front of her, and held the key ring out.

"Here you go, sissy," Nashi said softly.

Layla smiled as she took the keys from her sister and hugged them to her chest. "Thank you, Nashi!"

"No problem," Nashi smiled as she ruffled Layla's head. "Just doing what big sisters do."

"Aw," Igneel whined as Fin set him down on the ground. "You didn't let me help you beat them up."

"Igneel, they were about as big as three of you," Nashi sighed.

"So?" Igneel asked.

Nashi just sighed and face-palmed.

"Kids?" Natsu's voice called out.

"Uh-oh," Nashi's eyes grew wide. "Erm...maybe don't tell Mommy and Daddy what I just did…"

"Okay," Layla nodded.

"Aye," Fin agreed.

Igneel pretended to zip his motuh shut, lock it, and throw the key away.

Natsu and Lucy reappeared, two buckets of plaster between them.

"We got what we need, you kids pick your snacks out yet?"

"Um…" Nashi shuffled uneasily.

"Not yet," Layla said brightly. "Fin's trying to figure out what his brothers, sisters, Mommy, and Daddy would like."

"Aye!" Fin nodded.

"Well, let's see what they got," Lucy said, setting her bucket of plaster down as she and Natsu drew close to the snack rack to help Fin make a decision. Nashi let out a sigh of relief at the face that her parents hadn't caught her.

Little did she know that Natsu and Lucy had been peaking around the corner watching her the whole time and were incredibly proud of her. They wouldn't say anything to her, though. Not while in public where she could get embarrassed. They'd wait until the right moment when they were at home to discuss the incident with her.

Maybe.

She didn't really need them to tell her she did the right thing, she already knew it.

Like she had said, she was just doing what big sisters do.