Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to all those people who favorited and followed this story! And as always, a special thanks to my reviewers!

FireShifter - You've raised a very good point. I guess I didn't make it very clear in my previous chapter (the mess in my head just doesn't get translated to paper really well at times) but Lucy has already talked to her friends about Fairy Tail and raised that point about her being a human without magic. And her friends have already told her that that's okay! Because the Master ;-) is awesome, and he doesn't judge anyone based on whether they have magic or not - they are welcome as long as they are ready to be friends with the rest of the people in the group! This isn't a guild per se, more like a 'secret society' of sorts that anyone can be a part of as long as they are pro-magic!

SisterShoOk - Don't worry! Things are going to be light and fun for the next few chapters! But after that… insert evil cackle here (But nothing toooo dark, I'm not aiming for tragedy - more like a lot of angst and drama)

valerioux - Yesss! Pantherlily is safe and Gajeel found his very own cat! :-D

GothBanshee - You won't have to wait long :-D

Minsie - Thank you! Hope you enjoy the rest!

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The walk was not very long, but to Lucy, it could have been decades and she still would have felt that it was far too short. The odd troupe of friends soon halted, gazing upon a battered and worn sign proudly proclaiming their destination's title - The Pig Tail. Lucy took in the sign, along with the ramshackle and dilapidated hut it dangled in front of, with growing disgust and trepidation.

"Natsu," She whispered urgently to the fire dragon who had been waltzing along beside her, whistling a merry tune. "Is this one of your and Happy's pranks? Please tell me it is so…"

Natsu snorted, locking his hands casually behind his head, throwing Lucy a smirk in the process.

"Oh, ye human of little faith! This is Fairy Tail! Stop worrying so much, you're going to give yourself more wrinkles!"

"Seriously?" Lucy queried, her voice rising a little and dripping with disbelief. "This is the place… Wait, did you say MORE wrinkles?"

As Lucy advanced menacingly upon the fire dragon and his cackling cat, Gray and Erza continued to pour over a written epistle in Erza's hand. With a frustrated sigh, Erza finally turned around to glance at Lucy. The young maiden had somehow managed to place her unrepentant dragon friend in a headlock, threatening more painful punishment unless he apologized for his impudence. The hapless dragon boy squirmed and pleaded, far more flustered about being squeezed so close to Lucy's bosom than suffering any pain she thought she was inducing on him. Erza took in the scene with a raised brow, the hint of a smile threatening her lips.

"Lucy. If you wish to embrace Natsu so intimately, perhaps it would be best to find a more secluded place?"

Lucy gawked, releasing Natsu instantly and shoving him away unceremoniously.

"W-what? I would never! Wi-with that idiot! The very idea…" She sputtered and fumed, her blush growing deeper by the second.

Gray finally turned around, oblivious to the scene that had just transpired. He ran a hand through his black, disheveled locks, his handsome face twisted into a slight grimace. "This complicates things. We should've read Gramp's instructions before heading off, especially since it looks like we only have one chance to get this right."

"There is no use lamenting over past mistakes." Erza intoned solemnly. "We must make do with the information we possess."

"But this spell seems too complex for either of us to perform…"

Natsu perked up at his words, casting a baiting leer in Gray's direction. "So you admit your magic is inferior? Maybe I should give this spell a try."

"You can't," Erza responded before Gray could get out his furious retort. "Only a human mage can perform this spell, and as Gray has just pointed out, it is equally as complex for me. Are you implying your magic is superior to mine as well?"

Natsu paled, shaking his head furiously in negation. "O-of course not Erza! If you can't get it, no one can!"

"Errr…" Lucy interrupted softly. "Could someone please explain this situation to me? Because I am quite lost." She paused, pouting at the dingy shack before them. "And are we really here to visit this… err… establishment, given the… umm… less than stellar condition it seems to be in?"

Erza followed her gaze to the shack, breaking into a light chuckle that was mirrored by Natsu, Happy and Gray. "I forget that to those without the mark this place takes on quite a different appearance. Could you describe what you see, Lucy?"

Lucy blinked, thrown off by Erza's statement. She hesitantly studied the hut before her, her pout deepening into a frown. "I see a dilapidated hovel with a sign that reads 'The Pig Tail'."

Natsu, Gray, and Happy roared with laughter, as even Erza endeavored to stifle her snickers.

"Then your disappointment is quite understandable, Milady Lucy." Erza continued kindly. "But in truth, what you see is not what is truly here. A powerful and complex camouflage enchantment hides what really stands in this spot. The Master has written down the anti-spell that will allow us to lift this enchantment for a moment to allow you entry into the building, however…" Erza sighed, glancing at the paper in her hand once more. "Neither Gray nor I feel we will have enough magic power to perform this spell without it failing. And if we were to fail, the enchantment would suspect a sabotage attempt and add a stronger blockade to its already complex protection, rendering it nearly impossible to try to lift it again."

Lucy nodded solemnly. "It does sound daunting. Would it not be best if the Master himself performed the anti-spell? Or another powerful human mage of Fairy Tail?"

Erza hesitated. "Nay. The Master has explained that he has tailored this anti-spell for us and therefore no other human mage can perform it, including the Master himself. This precaution is just to ensure that were this parchment to fall into the wrong hands, Fairy Tail's defenses would still be intact."

Lucy sucked in a breath. "That is… amazing. And quite clever. The Master sounds like quite a powerful mage."

"Aye," Erza chuckled. "That he is. He specializes in gargantuan strength magic - although he can perform many other types of magic as well. He is in truth a wizard, although he resolutely refuses to accept that title."

"Gramps is the one who cast this protection spell in the first place." Gray added as he observed the dragon and his exceed still rolling on the ground in mirth.

Lucy cast a worried glance at the younglings around her. "But is so much protection really necessary? Is not Fairy Tail a place just for magical beings of all walks of life to relax and mingle?"

Erza gave Lucy a gentle, affectionate smile. "You will soon find out Lucy, that Fairy Tail is exactly that… But also much much more."

Lucy tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Erza, you said that the Master has tailored that spell for you and Gray?"

"Yes."

"But neither of you alone think you have enough power to perform it?"

"Correct."

"Why can't you perform it together then?"

"..."

Natsu and Happy, who had finally recovered from their laughing fit, descended into hearty guffaws once more. Gray gawked, exchanging a glance with an equally embarrassed Erza.

"Oh. Err… true. That would… Yes, that would work. Gray, come here."

With a glare at the still chortling fire dragon, Gray trudged up to Erza and Lucy, coming to stand on Lucy's free side. With a nod at Erza, he took Lucy's right hand in his left, holding it gently. Erza grasped Lucy's left hand in a similar fashion, both mages angling to face the run-down shack in front of them. As one they began to chant an incantation, a breeze around them growing steadily until it turned into a tornado of which the three of them stood in the eye. Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, her grip on both of her friend's hands tightening, both mages giving her solacing squeezes in return. Just a few moments later, the pair abruptly stopped their chant, and Lucy could hear the roaring wind around her slowly subside.

"You may open your eyes now, Milady."

Lucy hesitantly peeked an eye open before gasping and opening both her eyes wide - taking in the sight of the majestic building that now towered over her. Where the hovel had previously stood, a tall structure resembling a fortress now stood before her, a sign in fancy letters pronouncing it to be 'Fairy Tail'. The huge, intricately carved wooden doors at its entrance were shut, but the sounds of laughter and revelry within the establishment could still be faintly heard. Erza smiled at Lucy's slack-jawed expression, releasing her friend's hand to take a few confident steps forward to push open the huge doors with ease. A red and blue blur whizzed past Lucy as Natsu and Happy sped inside before them with a loud pronouncement.

"WE'RE BACK!"

Quite a few laughs and friendly greetings issued from the patrons of the place, as the dragon and cat zoomed around the huge hall, shouting out individual greetings to many of its members. Throughout their commotion, Lucy still stood at the entrance, absorbing the magnificent building and its even more interesting occupants. She felt a gentle tug on her hand and looked down to see it still firmly clasped in Gray's.

"Would you like to go in?" He queried gently, a soft smile brightening his usually cautious eyes. Lucy beamed back at him. "Yes! Lead the way, good sir!" With a laugh, Gray pulled her forward grasping her hand more firmly in his.

The moment she stepped foot in the building, she was assailed with the mingled scent of delicious food and heady alcohol. She gazed around the hall in awe, absorbing the sights. The place was arranged in the manner of a casual restaurant, tables haphazardly occupying the floor while a hostess stood behind the long bar lining the entire left side of the hall. A staircase was visible at the end of the bar, leading to the second-floor balcony which was more sparsely decorated with tables. Below the balcony was a grand stage, that looked a little worse for wear. Almost all the tables of both floors were occupied, the sounds of laughter and talk permeating the air.

"Hello, who have we here?" A gentle and musical voice interrupted Lucy's ogling of the hall, her gaze snapping back to land on one of the most beautiful females she had ever seen in her life. The young being in front of her, who was around Erza and Cana's age in Lucy's estimation, had long silvery blonde locks and a curvy, buxom figure to rival a full-grown woman's. The only feature that betrayed her non-human heritage were her slightly sharpened ears, which meant that she probably was…

"You're an elf!" Lucy squealed, mouth agape as she took in the beauty in front of her.

The young elf-maiden laughed, the sound as lovely as the chiming of bells. She, in turn, studied the human girl before her, her evaluating gaze noting the girl's hand still firmly clasped by that of the raven-haired boy's.

"You are quite right, my dear. My name is Mirajane - and I am an elf maiden from the Northern Mountains."

Lucy sighed happily. "Ohhh… I've read so much about your kind! Your customs and culture are entrancing! I have also heard that you have the most beautiful voices in all of Fiore! Could you… Would you be kind enough to sing for me once?"

Gray interrupted with a smirk, also noting with happiness that Lucy had not yet withdrawn her hand from his. "Of course she will! Mirajane is the hostess here, and she and her siblings - Lisanna and Elfman, those two right over there - run this restaurant whenever Gramps is out of town. They perform shows on a regular basis."

Lucy's eyes widened in wonder. "You run this restaurant by yourselves?"

Mirajane smiled back, delighting in the open and sweet expression on the lovely human girl's face. "We have been helping the Master conduct affairs in Fairy Tail ever since he adopted us four years before. According to him, we have become proficient enough in its administration to handle the responsibility on our own… So yes, in a fashion my siblings and I run Fairy Tail when he is not around. And that includes conducting a song night once a week, where my siblings and I do take the stage occasionally."

Lucy squealed in delight. A sharp 'Hey!' from the opposite end of the hall interrupted her glee as a red blur suddenly barrelled past her, knocking into Gray and wrenching him away from Lucy.

"What do you think you're doing, you pervy popsicle!?"

"What the hell are you talking about, you burning pile of dung?!"

Their fight quickly dissolved into hurled insults and numerous blows as the two started a scuffle on the spot. Lucy inched away from the warring pair, shrugging her shoulders helplessly.

"Should we try to stop them?"

Mirajane laughed, slipping her arm around the girl's and tugging her along. "Nay, those two are always fighting in here. As long as they stay away from the tables, it would be best to allow them to blow off steam."

"Luucccyyy!" Another excited squeal momentarily distracted Lucy as a few other very familiar voices called out her name.

"LEVY! Oh, Jet and Droy too! I didn't think I'd meet you here!"

Levy grinned, hopping up and down in her excitement. "Natsu sent word that you might be coming to meet the master today and we just had to be here the first time you saw this place! What do you think so far, Lucy-dear?"

Lucy squealed again, causing the pixie boys behind Levy to chuckle and roll their eyes, turning back to the food on their table after a casual 'hello' to their human friend.

"This place is AMAZING! Look, I've just met Mirajane, and she's an elf from the Northern Mountains! And then here you all are, and are those two rainbow fire-dragons at that table? And he must be a smoke mage, judging by the way the smoke from his pipe takes on those different forms. And the last person sitting at their table… Isn't that…"

"About time ya showed up, missy! Things jus ain't as fun without ya!"

"CANA!" Lucy shrieked, waving her hand vigorously at yet another friend, as the young woman in question laughingly excused herself from her current table to saunter over leisurely to Levy, Lucy, and Mirajane. She slung a tipsy arm over Lucy's shoulder, taking a swig from the beer mug in her hand.

"Is that beer, Cana?" Lucy gawked. "We are not old enough to partake in such strong refreshments, don't you think?"

Cana just threw her head back, chortling. "I've been drinkin since I was five, honey. Kinda hard not ta when yer old man fills yer water bottle with the stuff."

Lucy gasped in horror. "How could he? What sort of parent…"

"Nay," Cana interrupted, amused. "He didn do it on purpose… but yea. He is a bit of a shitty father. An he knows it too. Doesn stop the old fart from makin stupid mistakes, but he's tryin. He's tha reason I'm here, wanted me along for 'moral support' when he came to meet the ol Master of Fairy Tail." Cana pouted. "Then tha bastard left me down here while he went up there to coddle with the old codger. See what I mean? Shitty dad."

Lucy shook her head, not entirely convinced. "Surely your mother has reprimanded him?"

Cana smiled, her eyes softening. "She sure would've, had she been alive, little un."

"Oh! I'm so sorry Cana, I didn't think… I didn't know…"

Cana chortled again, stepping back to slap Lucy affectionately on the back. "Doncha worry 'bout it! Happened when I was a wee lass, don even remember it!"

"It's interesting," Levy interjected thoughtfully, "But a lot of us who gather here in Fairy Tail have lost one or both of our parents. I lost mine soon after I was born, and even Mira and her siblings here lost theirs in a demon attack six years ago."

"I lost my mother too," Lucy added softly. "It was when I was two years old. At least, that is what most of my servants and courtiers have told me."

Mira and Levy raised questioning brows. "Your courtiers?" Levy queried curiously. "I know you are a maiden of the Pergrande court, but does that mean you would be the superior of courtiers as well?"

"I'mma lot more curious why lil Lucy here hadda learn bout her mother from otha folk, and not her own father." Cana smoothly deflected, earning a grateful look from Lucy.

"Errr… He and I are not on good terms. I rarely see him, in fact, as he is far too busy fighting in the Alvarez war. And on the rare occasions that we have met, the event has been far from pleasant."

Mirajane frowned. "Family can have their quarrels, heaven knows I do at times with my siblings, darling angels though they be. But that does not mean he can block you out of his life entirely! Surely he has tried to make amends when he comes to visit."

"The last time he came to visit me was when I was five. Since then, he has come to Pergrande, but he has never come to see me." Lucy said wearily. "In a way, I am relieved. That last visit was… painful. He expressed his anger at my slow progress in my studies, even though I was just a babe of five. I tried to assure him that I would improve, but nothing I could say convinced him. He… He took to his fists to assuage his anger. After Err… Disciplining me, he raged on about how I was a disappointment from the day I was born - and wished I had never come into existence. Honestly, after that incident, I would rather receive his cold shoulder than his direct fury."

The other three girls gazed in horror upon their friend, even more saddened by her matter-of-fact tone. Levy gently took Lucy's hand as Mirajane reached out to soothingly stroke Lucy's hair. Cana crossed her arms against her buxom chest, her barely suppressed anger visible by the thin press of her lips.

"Hmph… My old fart is a miserable mess but even he sounds betta than tha monster you've gotta put up with. I can't believe I'm sayin this, but I guess my ol man ain't that bad afta all."

"Did my lil sweet angel baby jus give me a compliment?"

Lucy jumped a little, whirling around to come face to face with a giant of a man with a huge, friendly smile adorning his face.

"GILDARTS!"

Natsu halted his altercation (which had progressed into a full-out brawl during the girls conversation) to saunter over to where Lucy and the others stood with the man he had called Gildarts.

"Are you coming over to Alagesia? Father would be thrilled to see you!"

Gildarts gave a big booming laugh, affectionately ruffling the salmon locks of the eager looking dragon boy.

"Aye, I'll drop by later this week! Gotta spend some quality time with ma lil gurl first though!" The giant man threw a loving glance at Cana, who responded with a venomous glare.

"I don wantcha around, ya ol bag o' bones! If ya wanna go to Alagesia, tha sooner tha betta!"

"Awww… don be like tha ma honey dew sweetums! Yer ol man had so many plans, jus tha two of us!"

"Don wanna, ya ol perv!"

"Yer so mean ta me, jus like yer beautiful n spirited mother…"

"Doncha think for a minute tha'll get me to soften up, ya can't blackmail me with nice words bout ma mother!"

"I jus said she was mean ta me!"

"And tha jus proves she was a smart woman!"

Lucy coughed politely, unable to remain silent any longer as the bizarre conversation progressed. Gildarts turned to the little girl, doing a slight double-take and throwing a surreptitious confirming glance at his shrewd daughter. His daughter threw him a warning glare in return, silently confirming that the girl he was speaking too was indeed the princess and that he should hold his tongue if he knew what was good for him. The father-daughter duo excelled at eye-to-eye conversations.

"I beg your pardon, but are you by any chance the same Gildarts of legend? The powerful crash magic mage?"

The giant man gave Lucy an easy grin and a raunchy wink. "Tha I am lil un. And who might you be, ma lil beauty?"

"Oh," Lucy replied softly, a light blush arising under his intense yet kind gaze. "My name is Lucy. I was fortunate enough to make your daughter's acquaintance a while ago, and it truly is an honor to meet you, sir. Your exploits are well known even in Pergrande, and the many lives you have saved only prove your compassion and valor. It is a shame that our archaic laws still label you an outcast, and the loss is entirely ours. On behalf of all the other simple, non-magical humans of Pergrande, I wholeheartedly thank you for making our lives that much safer, even though we are unable to show our appreciation in any better way or form."

Gildarts blinked, taken aback by her little speech and the warmth and passion with which she spoke. He slowly lowered himself onto one knee, bringing himself to eye level with the little girl, taking her soft little hand in his large and calloused one.

"Thank ye, lil maiden. I don know exactly wha you've heard, but I don feel like I quite deserve tha high praise you've jus showered upon me. But if I've managed ta make any being's life betta in any small way or form, then that is appreciation enuf for me." Gildarts released Lucy's hand, rising to his full height once more, giving the little girl an affectionate smile.

"Although, if ya truly wanna show yer appreciation..." He continued, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes, "Once ya grow inta the full formed n beautiful young woman yer sure to be, maybe ya could gift this ol bag o' bones one lil dance? Ain't no betta way to thank a man than ta grant him the conversation and smiles of a beauty like you."

"Back off you old perv!" Natsu interjected, throwing an arm around Lucy's shoulders and glaring at Gildarts. "First the popsicle assaults her hand, and now you try to book a dance with her! When are you thick-headed males going to get it into your heads that she is a part of my hoard and is off-limits."

Lucy gasped, her intense embarrassment at Gildart's words forgotten. "Since when did I become a part of your hoard?!"

"Oh. Err. You weren't supposed to know that."

"I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT A FIRE-BREATHING DRAGON HAS CLAIMED ME AS A PART OF HIS HOARD?!"

"Don't start shouting Lucy!" Natsu whined, cowering in front of the girl's fury. "It's no big deal! It's just a form of protection, I swear! I'm not going to lock you up in a tower or something, it's just to make sure that no magical being can ever do you harm. I figured if we were going to bring you to Fairy Tail which is crawling with magical creeps like this guy over here…" Natsu threw Gildarts a dirty look as the older man tried hard to stifle his snickers, "...It would be better if you had extra protection. It's just a little spell that should let other beings able to detect magic know that if they lay one finger on you, a dragon will be on their back! But apparently, some jerks choose to ignore the spell and try stuff on you anyway!"

"I jus talked to her kid, tha ain't no crime!"

"Being a pervert is a crime! I demand that you fight me for it, Gildarts!"

Gildarts grinned. "Hmmm, I've got time ta kill. Why not? Come on short stuff, let's take this outside." He grabbed the fuming dragon boy by the scruff of his collar. He threw a last raunchy wink at the group of girls as he dragged the recalcitrant dragon, kicking and wriggling, out of the hall. Gray and a few others followed the pair, hooting and jeering at the increasingly rageful dragon.

As Lucy and the rest of the females watched the raucous assembly of boys and men leave, hard, firm footsteps clattered against the tiles of the floor, alerting them to the armoured presence behind them.

"I see you have met Sir Gildarts, Milady." Erza addressed Lucy solemnly. "He has just finished speaking with the Master. The Master is now ready to meet you."

Lucy gulped, suddenly very nervous. She threw a panicked glance at the rest of her friends as they, in turn, shot her encouraging smiles. Drawing courage from them, she took a deep breath and fell into step behind Erza, as the maiden led her away from the center of the hall and up the stairs to the second floor. They entered a short corridor, at the end of which Erza halted in front of a tall wooden door.

"This is the Master's office." Erza said turning around to face Lucy, a gentle smile upon her face. "He has requested to meet you alone. I will be waiting in the room opposite, however, if you should need me."

Lucy nodded in assent as Erza curtsied and entered the door opposite the one she stood in front of. Once Erza's door had clicked shut, Lucy turned again to the office entrance, her trembling hand hesitantly grasping the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, she turned it, pushing open the door and stepping inside resolutely.

The light inside the room was a little dimmer than the bright natural sunlight streaming through the windows of the hall downstairs. It took a moment for Lucy's eyes to adjust to the abrupt change, her eyes watering slightly as she took in the silhouette of a short figure seated behind a rather large desk.

"Well, Lucy my dear." A gentle, warm and extremely familiar voice said. "Welcome to Fairy Tail."

Lucy gasped, her eyes widening impossibly as she finally registered the presence of the man seated behind the impressive mahogany desk.

"Grandpapa Makarov?!"