Chapter 27, aka another episode of someone (usually herself) emotionally threatening Lucy, and Fairy Tail immediately pulling out a metaphorical knife. Aka I'm back on my bullshit.

Warning: some mentions of dealing with trauma (poorly), an uncomfortable glossing of the hypersexualisation of women, and me dunking on misogyny every chance I can get (I knew that Gender Studies major would come in handy one day). Enjoy the soft love that a woman can only give another woman before some violence when I finally get to the actual arc in the next chapter.

There is a long gap of free time following the defeat of Naked Mummy, and Lucy feels nauseous just thinking of what was to come. The extended amount of downtime exacerbates her paranoia, and missions with the team only do so much to distance Lucy from her emotions.

In turn, her focus extends out to her other responsibilities – money slowly becoming less of a problem as she learns to balance the bills around an adult, two young Slayers and an Exceed (as well as the adult Slayer and Exceed duo that seem to live over permanently). The king-sized bed finally arrives and while it is a squeeze to fit it in the room with the double bed and living room furniture already there, Lucy manages somehow.

Meanwhile, despite reservations about her boys getting injured, Lucy hands them completely over to Natsu to train. While training days had previously been somewhat light-hearted as the boys struggled to control the well of power within them – not helped by Natsu's inability to focus on anything for long periods of time – Lucy's expression as she instructed Natsu to train them well sobered the male up quickly. He knew that when Lucy's eyelids became hooded and her eyes fathomlessly dark, things were serious.

Sometimes the long hours of training would creep into the night-time. With the stars shining brightly above, Natsu and Happy opened their doors for once to Lucy and her wards. The clutter of memories within the house was almost overwhelming initially, but some elbow-grease – a few performed less willingly than others – went a long way to make the collage of keepsakes more organised.

The maid dress Lucy once wore to secure Daybreak; beaded necklaces from Galuna Island; glasses stolen and cleaned for repurpose, obtained from the restaurant Lucy first encountered Natsu and Happy. The trio's past was spread out in a dizzying array that Lucy fell asleep to on several nights. There was no king-sized bed like her house, but Natsu had been swift to pull out two extra hammocks for Lucy, as well as Sting, Ryos and Lector to take respectively.

The soft snores from Natsu were a familiar lullaby for Lucy, but without the Slayers' warmth surrounding her sleep did not come. In the dead of the night, Lucy managed to stealthily take down and retie her hammock so it hung right beside Natsu and Happy's own. When she climbed into the musty fabric, her momentum swung her hips gently in a rhythm against Natsu's side.

Almost instinctively, Natsu snuffled in his sleep and rolled over to face Lucy, cradling Happy against his chest. His right arm flopped across to rest against Lucy's stomach, pulling her in tight with a soft sway. The arm formed a tensile-strong bridge that kept Lucy close to his heat and familiar snores for the rest of the night. Her sleep was undisturbed.

For the most part, the mornings followed this pattern; Happy making sure to tease Natsu and Lucy for still needing each other so desperately. Waking up and making a sleepy breakfast together was a pattern formed from the endless stretch of nights spent at Lucy's house. However, some nights Natsu's presence was not enough, and Lucy disappeared into the woods before the sun had even risen. The boys missed her every time, but she ignored their disappointed faces. She had a mission.

With just her and Crux in the wilderness, Lucy attempted to beat Urano Metria into her head. She had procrastinated somewhat on learning the spell, wanting to instead revel in the home life she was slowly building. The warm nights spent sleeping beside Natsu and her boys had made her comfortable in her own skin.

Had made her complacent.

When her attempts at learning the spell ended in spluttering light, Lucy's frustrations mounted. Only then would she summon Cancer, taking out her butterfly knives and leaning into the emotions that festered her gut; fear, rage and desperation. The mere thought of the incoming slippery slope of unfortunate events drove Lucy into a frenzy.

These days, the knives did not go away with Cancer back into the Spirit Realm. Instead, Lucy slid them carefully into the sheaths hidden inside her armbands. She tried not to think of hazy memories of sleeping with one eye open on the cold streets, struggling to gather her apathy to cope with a life dictated by emotionally and physically absent parents. Only the thought of her sister being able to drag her back through their doors.

The weight of the knives was memorable and comforting in their strength, but Lucy felt guilty every time Erza, in the guild or on missions, stared at her hands fiddling with the edges of the armband; like she knew what it was like to want to hold a blade close. To desire the security that came from knowing that, even backed into a corner, there was a way to fight.

Lucy tried not to make it obvious she was avoiding Erza and the way she could see straight through her. Past the pretty face and summery hair into the gross debris of a past life that clogged up her lungs and made it hard to breathe. Neither Gray nor Juvia commented when she ghosted around their table on rare breaks at the guild, but their shared looks of understanding in turn chased her off to the sullen silence permanently bracketing Gajeel.

Lucy was becoming a ghost in this life too. But then again, had she ever really learned how to stop? Sliding into the background had been the way she had survived the empty halls of her old life – blood and steel in the streets the only reprieve. It was simply harder to hide when she had so many people tied to her now.

There was comfort found in the absence of physicality that Sherry's letters offered. No pressure to hold a mask of a well-adjusted adult in front of anyone. Without fail, the violently pink delights in amongst bills would appear every few days in Lucy's letterbox, never failing to delight Lucy. The simple script of platitudes and ice-breaking questions were easy to fall into. Lucy found escape in answering back Sherry's loopy script with her own and grew to look forward to talking to the bubbly woman. Her struggles to approach Lyon were as funny as they were tragic, and Lucy did her best to support the other woman.

When Sherry pried at Lucy's own prospective partners the blonde could only offer back with her own confusion. Romance was never something Lucy had understood. Platonic love was a concept she was still struggling to approach, and the thought of romantic love was a vague notion of marriage and kissing. Lucy had never felt any semblance of sexual attraction to another and was not counting on it happening any time soon. Sherry was kind in her acceptance and even sent back some words that Lucy had never heard of but was happy to mull over. Apparently, there was more than just the sexual attraction two people of similar sex could feel to another, or the heteronormativity society often enforced. Who knew.

The two even begun to open up to the possibility of meeting in person soon. Of course, Lucy knew she would be seeing Sherry before then, but there was something soothing in creating something for the future. To ink something to look forwards to.

Permanence was still terrifying though.

Every night, Lucy fell into bed and tried to separate herself from the worn façade she pulled on with the armguards during the day. It refused to peel off. Instead, Tia writhed under her skin and made her lungs rattle with repressed paranoia. The stress of her father's stalking still lingered, only encouraging the terror, and she breathed in the ash lingering in Natsu's hair to chase away the sensation of a ghost locked inside her.

When the scent of fires got too close to other memories – smouldering under the scar across her hip and accompanying laughter scraping at her ears – Lucy turned to press her face to Sting and Ryos' tiny frames.

Ryos' hair was long enough to be pulled back and his dark eyes were sharper with every passing day. White streaks smudged Lucy's periphery of him and she had to remind herself that Ryos was not Rogue; was not a man with Lucy's blood on his hands. That Sting was still by his side, loud as ever but finally growing into the wild tangle of hair on his head. His smile was sweet and hands gentle as he played with Lector. There were only the hints of a bitter teen stuck in a toxic guild in his snark, but the moments passed too fast to stick.

Lucy clamped onto these slow changes with all her might and wrestled with balancing the skills Tia still offered with the blank apathy the woman brought. She was splitting into two but did her best to stitch together the fraying edges of her identities.

After all, Oración Seis would be coming.

Ex-councilman, Yajima, reaches out to Lucy and her team to help with his growing restaurant business. Thinking back to the man's cautious gaze as Lucy balanced between obligations to the old Council and Fairy Tail, the blonde figures it is best to accept. The elder was close to Makarov and suspicious of Lucy's loyalty. It was the least she could do to show her support for his retirement. Also, to slip him the suspected pieces of the trail Ultear had left in her hasty retreat from the Council. In actuality, it was a thin veil over the notion that Ultear was involved with the dark guild, Grimoire Heart. Yajima was someone Lucy could trust to do good with that information, particularly since he had also distrusted Crawford while he was in the Chairman seat. He was attentive without being overtly paranoid. An honest man, which was hard to come by.

The job is mildly distressing as 8-Island is crowded with regulars and tourists alike. The latter looking to enjoy the novelty of food prepared by magic. Lucy refuses the revealing female outfit, feeling the first shred of disdain for the owner. Yajima's claim that it brought in more customers was met with a cold wall and Gray is quick to offer Lucy his own clothes while he found spares. The man had known Lucy long enough to notice the dead look to her eyes that signalled a how close she was to a cliff she would struggle to climb back from.

The shirt is too broad, even with Lucy's biceps and shoulders sculpted from months of sword practice. The boxy look it brings, however, soothes Lucy's building anxiety. The ordeal of rolling up the slacks and shirt cuffs does not diminish the comfort that androgyny brings her. It is an old set of armour, but only vaguely familiar on a frame taller and curvier than the last.

It used to be easier to hide from other's gazes. Not for the first time, Lucy longs for Tia's remarkable lack of height and her stocky build.

Her evident discomfort sparks a conversation with Erza in the changing rooms provided. Tensions that have been building bubble over, barely framed by an uncomfortable conversation about body exposure. The redhead is more than comfortable with showing skin, aware that no man who dares to leer could ever harm her. There is security in her swords and her fists. She cannot relate to Lucy, powerful and deadly with her armguards still on, and the way she shies from men.

"They cannot harm you," Erza says. "If you're uncomfortable at all you can just knock them out."

"That doesn't matter," Lucy replies shortly. The early frigidness of their friendships is rearing its head once more. Both are pulling on the stern facades of their respective titles, and Titania and the Celestial Maiden can only stare at each other across the gulf of their shared unfamiliarity.

"I shouldn't have to tell men to not look at me, with their eyes full of their disgusting sexual fantasies." Lucy's lips are pressed into a thin line, arms crossed over the crisp uniform shirt. "Women already have to live life as dictated by the male fantasy, but I'm not going to make it easier for them to force me into the role they want."

Hidden by the folds of her arm, Lucy scrapes at the soft curve of her hips, trying to dig for the sharp jut of bone. "Men already determine who I am by the colour of my hair and the shape of my body; a stupid and shallow distinction. I can at least make it harder for them to judge."

In the soft material of corset and tights, Erza cannot fathom how the starch of Lucy's outfit could be more comfortable. "I understand that men can be truly awful, I truly do, but you shouldn't allow their opinions to dictate who you are. You are a woman, Lucy, and you should be proud of it – regardless of what some slavering men think."

Lucy's right hand moves to rub at the other wrist. The rolled-up cuffs jostle, flashing patchy pale skin surrounding each wrist at Erza. The ghost of Jose rises up between the two, undeniable and unwanted at the same time.

"There's been more than enough men who have dictated how I should live my life." Lucy's eyes are darkened by apathy rather than her usual anger. Erza cannot help but be reminded of the mirrors she avoided in her youth; one eye covered, but the other drained of anything but terrible exhaustion.

It is hard for a woman like Erza to give ground, but despite her pride she could sense a losing battle. While Erza may have found strength in baring her vulnerable pieces, knowing she could defend them with ease, not all women could do the same. Aside from a few instances of brash exposure to prove a point, Lucy mostly kept herself covered. Her clothes were her own armour and Erza had to respect that.

Expression softening, Erza raised a hand to hover over Lucy's shoulder. Waiting for permission to touch.

The relief that brightened Lucy's eyes told Erza she had made the right decision. When the blonde nodded, Erza gently squeezed her shoulder in support. "I'm sorry, Lucy, for pushing. I must respect your boundaries and desires for privacy. My own conceptions of feminism clouded my ability to understand that everyone shows their pride and comfort in other ways. I hope you can forgive me."

With a small smile, Lucy placed her hand over Erza's. "I'm sorry as well. You're allowed to freely express yourself, both through your actions and your dress. It isn't fair of me to attempt to restrict your sense of self just because I don't express myself the same way you do. I…" Here, the tip of Lucy's ears glowed a soft pink. "I think you look…pret—great the way you do…I admire your ability to dress so proudly."

There was almost a pointed way that Lucy only looked at Erza's face or her own feet. Not once did she look towards the rest of Erza's barely-clothed body. It was an unexpectedly shy action of the usually blunt girl. Erza felt her own face heat up in response, not entirely sure why.

"T-Thank you," Erza said. Her smile felt a little wobbly. "I-I like how you…also dress. As well!"

Luckily for the two, Gray stuck his head through the door to interrupt. He had already lost his shirt. Only the bowtie remained. "Oi, you two done in here? We're dying out here with the customers!" Despite his harsh words, there was nervous tremble to his voice as he hounded them, eyes not daring to look directly at Erza lest her inadvertently anger her. Instead he gazed at Lucy, trying to figure out through just eye contact if she was alright. Apparently, what he saw was okay because he offered the blonde a small smile of support.

Lucy awkwardly returned the smile as she took a swift step away from Erza, the action mirrored by the redhead. Heat still lingered in both of their faces, making their tanned skin darken considerably.

"Ah, yes," Erza eventually coughed out. She snatched up a drinks tray from nearby, trying to keep her hands busy. "Apologies, Gray. Tell the others we will be out shortly."

Gray nodded before disappearing back out the door. The loud ruckus of the dining floor grew muffled once more behind the closed door, creating an intimate atmosphere once more.

"I guess we should go," Lucy muttered. She was twisting her own bowtie between her fingers, avoiding eye contact with Erza. "Lest Natsu start setting things on fire, or whatever disaster that usually happens finally starts up."

"Do…" Erza started before Lucy could leave. "Do you need a hand with your tie…?" The question quavered in the air. Erza hated that she struggled to find her usual practiced grasp on words.

Finally, Lucy made eye contact, brown eyes boring into Erza's own. She was poised on the balls of her feet, a figure always in motion. Erza almost thought she would leave without another word, too uncomfortable stewing in leftover emotions. Surprisingly, Lucy settled down on her heels. Her fingers were rough with callouses when she handed the fabric to Erza, but they matched the ones on Erza's own.

Having Lucy bare her throat to Erza raised a swell of unidentifiable emotions. After placing down the tray, Erza carefully popped Lucy's collar and slid the tie around her neck. The redhead could barely recognise the giddy sensation of hope. It was mired down with wariness and leftover confusion at the woman in front of her. Regardless, Erza's fingers were steady as she deftly tied the fabric. Her fingers brushed the warmth of Lucy's neck, feeling her pulse flutter against her knuckles.

"Done…" Erza rocked back when she finished, biting her lip as she groped for what to say next.

Lucy simply brushed her fingers lightly against the bowtie before folding her collar down neatly. "Thank you, Erza." Her eyes flicked up to meet Erza's before just as quickly looking away. "Really." Lucy then moved to pick up her own tray. As she left the room, she trailed warm fingers down Erza's bare arm. Goosebumps raised in her wake and Erza was left alone feeling distinctly off-kilter.

This was perhaps not the most conventional way to build a friendship, but Erza had never easily connected with other women. Her own aggressive attitude had scared off most of her quieter guildmates and left her butting heads with the outspoken ones like Mirajane since her youth. Trying to build something with Lucy was obviously going to be tough, but for the first time since meeting the blonde, Erza felt like there actually was a chance.

The conversation with Erza had made Lucy feel too big for her own skin. The weeks of building anxiety accumulated into a crawling sensation under her skin, which then pulled it tight against her moving joints. It was only by orbiting around the familiar warmth of Natsu – defending it as watching over the destructive male to a knowing Happy – that Lucy managed to keep herself from tearing apart at the seams.

In turn, the quiet and blank expression plastered across Lucy's face while she interacted with customers was a red flag for Natsu, and the male ensured he was all but plastered to her side. His loud personality drew customers' attention to him and allowed Lucy to coast by. Despite the Slayer's tendency to brag and parade around, not once did he mention to Lucy the reasoning behind his actions. It would only embarrass her.

It was only at the end of the shift that Lucy finally peeled away from Natsu to find Yajima. The rest of the team undressed – male and females separate at Gray's request and Juvia's disappointment – and waited for the blonde to exit Yajima's personal office. When Lucy and the restaurant owner finally emerged, both had troubled expression on their faces. Yajima slipped something that looked like a map with notes, scrawled in Lucy's familiar slant, in his pocket but did not offer any information about it.

Rather, the old man informed the gathered mages about the dissolution of the Magic Council in the wake of the Etherion scandal. Lucy's face was carefully blank, but her lips twitched when Yajima mentioned Crawford's retreat to the countryside.

"That is…unfortunate," Erza said at the end. It was hard to express any sort of grief at a group of people who had mostly harassed their family and tried to kill them with a magic cannon.

"Truly unfortunate," Lucy intoned.

Natsu grinned with sharp teeth at her lack of sympathy. "I thought the council adored you, Luce? What happened with your old bosses?" He was looking to get a rise out of the blonde after having heard so much about her old work with the Council.

Lucy slid him a bored look instead. "Many of them were unfortunately incompetent. Letting not only one, but two traitors into their mix shows how lax their security was." Not to mention the third one that had led the whole damn thing – but that was a thought Lucy kept to herself, as hilariously ironic as it was.

There was a minute flinch that rattled Erza's frame at the mention of Jellal, but she managed to keep her expression mostly calm. "Yes, they did have their own major faults. I'm glad they are looking to build from the foundations, stronger than ever."

"Hopefully they don't hound us so much," muses Gray as he unbuttoned his shirt. "I know Master is tired of dealing with their constant letters of complaint." By his side, Juvia quietly grabbed his shirt before it dropped to the floor, folding it fastidiously and trying to catch a whiff of Gray's scent as she did so. No one else commented, having grown used to the action after Juvia's constant hovering at Gray's side the past few weeks. Soon enough Gray would freak out about his lost shirt and Juvia would gift it back, happy she was helping her love.

"I wouldn't count on it," Lucy said pessimistically before bowing at Yajima. "Thank you for allowing us to have this experience, Yajima-sama. I hope the business goes well."

"Nonsense!" The older man waved a hand dismissively as the other thrust a sack of jewels at the group. "My restaurant managed to run smoothly today thanks to your help. With most of my staff out sick it was greatly appreciated! All I ask from you youngling's is that you stay safe out there." One of Yajima's bushy eyebrows raised to reveal beady eyes sharp with intent. "I can sense a storm brewing."

A while later…Far across the land of Fiore, deep in the airship that was her guild's home, Ultear reported to her Master, Hades.

Oración Seis, part of their Baram Alliance, was moving. Their goal was the dark magic of Nirvana, and Ultear was almost certain that Fairy Tail and other disgustingly light guilds would move to stop them.

Unconcerned with the actions of their hesitant allies, Hades waved Ultear off. He had bigger concerns than a bunch of teens running after a simple artefact. Much bigger concerns.

At the same time, Fairy Tail learnt about a proposed alliance of their own to stop the same dark guild that Ultear's guild discussed, Oración Seis. It was a tall ask to destroy a guild that controlled numerous other dark guilds, and Makarov would only allow a select few that would be equipped for the task.

Lucy swallowed past an uncomfortable lump in her throat, unsure if she had enough time to prepare.

The day comes quickly and abruptly.

Lucy struggles to talk Ryos, Lector and Sting into staying. She was aware that they were roughly the same age as Wendy now and just as capable; they could control their roars and hold their own in a fight. But they were her boys. Lucy could not send them into a battle that could not guarantee their safety. Not at all. Ergo, they had to stay.

Mirajane and Elfman closed rank around the boys and the luggage that held the essentials for the length of time the mission was proposed to be. Their smiles and platitudes drowned out Sting and Ryos' loud protests, while utilising their tall frames to cover up the children's scared eyes as they looked at their sister walk away again. Luckily, Levy was right nearby, ready to help take care of them for as long as it took. She would help the siblings soothe away the childish fears and bandage over the barely healed abandonment issues – Lucy could not be another one in a line of guardians who have left them alone.

On the edge hovers Gajeel. Since the battle against Laxus he had slowly been tightening his orbit around Levy, lured in by her soft words and gentle encouragements. Not even Jet and Droy, still nursing a hatred that expanded from the epicentre of his assault on their guild and themselves, could fully deter the man from slowly reaching back.

The sight of Gajeel close by her boys, face set in his permanent scowl, settled Lucy's nerves. As Team Natsu left – Juvia now a permanent fixture and loving every second – Lucy locked onto Gajeel's blood red eyes. The man, so similar in the ways that hurt, recognised the ugly glint to her eyes. His face split into a nasty smile, incisors jagged from old fights. "Give them hell, Maiden."

An answering smile full of the fury of her own ghost ripped at Lucy's lips. Before she could do much else, Natsu fell into step beside her, blocking Gajeel from her sight. The male shot a look at his fellow dragon slayer, warning Gajeel away from his friend once more.

Gajeel just continued smiling his dreadful smile. Regardless of how Salamander tried to shelter the Maiden away from the world, soon he would see just how similar she was to a man like Gajeel. The bloodthirsty gleam in the Maiden's eyes and the guns hidden at her hips promised it in the future.

Gajeel could not wait for the story of blood and pain that would return to the guild's doors.

The Blue Pegasus guild hall was an exercise of opulence.

Almost immediately Lucy was on edge. The gleaming stairs and marble pillars radiated the same cold beauty that her mother had favoured in their family home in England. For a moment, the red and black checked tiles swam before her eyes and bled together into a stern grey. While the rest of the team entered with barely hidden excitement – to team up with other powerful guilds was unprecedented and definitely would have been shot down by the recently disbanded Magic Council – Lucy paused in the doorway to catch her breath.

In the restraints of her memory Tia shrieked in fear and told her to run. Nothing good came from allowing the heavy wooden doors to close behind her; never-ending silence only broken up by cruel words and the few precious moments stolen with her sister. The wailing child within made her legs tremble as Lucy fought that urge to run.

"Hey." Gray's hand was refreshingly cool when he gently tapped her temple.

Without realising it Lucy had let herself sag against the doorway, hands gripping the frame for support. The touch at her temple prompted her to straighten up and Lucy swallowed against the taste of dust and abandonment. "Hey yourself."

There was no pity in Gray's eyes as he waited for Lucy to pull herself together. He did not speak either. Most of their time together was spent in silence. It was comforting to find someone else who found solace in the absence of words; the absence of people. Gray had spent most of his childhood with only two other people around. He knew the importance of being able to ground himself in the natural ambience of rooms, rather than be overwhelmed by other's voices. His understanding, in turn, tethered Lucy back to reality.

"Sorry," Lucy said to Gray, and to Juvia who lingered in his shadow. "Just…bad memories."

The beautiful and empty grounds of the Heartifilia mansion flickered in Gray's eyes. He smiled like he knew the memories Lucy was thinking of.

Lucy felt ill at the misconception of identity.

Lucy eventually recovered and gathered with the others in the lounge, Juvia and Gray bracketing her. Their cool temperature soothed the panic scorching her innards. She ignored how Natsu looks at her with something terribly close to hurt – he was meant to be the one keeping Lucy smiling and carefree damnit – and shied away from Erza's questioning glance. They were piecing together her past, but half of the picture was stolen and the other was long-since rotten.

The arrival of the Trimens, the beautiful men of Blue Pegasus, was almost a godsend.
Almost.

The three younger men are as obnoxious as they are objectively attractive. Their soft skin and healthy locks would attract well-received attention from any other women. Erza simply looks at them and judges their model-thin limbs as weakness. Lucy looks and wonders how much time they waste in front of a mirror. Juvia has Gray.

They introduce themselves as Hibiki Lates, Eve Tearm and Ren Akatsuki. Lucy immediately forgets who is who, but cannot scrub away the introduction of their leader, Ichiya. There is too much glitter to forget.

The four men, finally gathered, greet Gray and Natsu with polite indifference before turning to the women. Their second introduction plays out like a tropey high school host club as they each claim their unique form of 'handsomeness'. Unfortunately for them, they were hamming it up to the wrong women.

With cool indifference, mirroring the Trimens own approach to her male friends, Erza shortly introduces herself.

Juvia's own words are just as terse. Her shut-off posture is similar to her days as Phantom's Rain Woman and Gray brushes a hand behind Lucy's back to touch Juvia's elbow. The cold digits seem to sap the tension from Juvia's posture, causing her to lean comfortably into Lucy's side.

Rounding out the trio, Lucy merely blinks at the men kneeling before her in an attempt of old-school courtship. "Lucy." She then turns to exchange a thinly veiled look of frustration with Erza; their conversation at 8-Island is at the forefront of both their minds, but both are finally and firmly on the same side of the argument.

When the Trimen attempt to enforce the women into playing host to the gathering, Lucy loses her patience. The building was already bringing up painful memories and the misogynistic dismissal of the men in front of her was the final straw.

None of the other Fairy Tail members flinch as Lucy swiftly draws her sword and lines it up with the men's bared throats. Gray and Natsu had been raised beside S-class powerhouses like Erza and Mirajane – they knew not to look down on the power and authority women wielded. They were just as deserving as them to be members of the guild and successfully recognised mages. Clearly the emphasis Blue Pegasus placed on their members being attractive had detracted their male's ability to recognise the worth of their female members beyond superficial concepts like traditional femininity. Women were more than their perceived sexual image – Lucy would ensure that the Trimen were aware of that.

"Do not address us like we are tools made to serve you." Lucy's voice is gravelly with barely repressed rage, but the blade is steady in her hands. When the youngest blond – Eve – gulps, his Adam's apple brushes against the well-kept blade, drawing a prick of blood. The other men stay perfectly still otherwise, sensing the killing intent rising off the blonde in front of them.

"If you're stupid enough to address your female members like this it's a wonder you haven't been killed already." Lucy's eyes are indifferent, but her lips are trembling with repressed desire. "Consider this your only warning; every time you talk to a woman like that in my presence, I'll remove a limb. Try anything overtly sexual to another woman here and I'll straight up take off your dick." The blade whistles cleanly when Lucy whips it away to sheathe it. The Trimen are still too scared to do more than breathe and look up the dark eyes judging them.

"Everyone is here to represent their guild. Each one of us are powerful and capable in their own right. Respect that or I'll make you." Lucy's mouth finally loses its battle. The smile that stretches across her face is cruel and almost painful in its vastness. The apathy in her eyes informs the Trimen that she would not hesitate to fulfil her promise.

Erza carefully steps in to soothe over the situation. She apologises for Lucy's brutality but sternly enforces her underlying statement that misogyny would not be tolerated. Behind her, Lucy folds back into the calming bubble of Juvia and Gray, fingers pulling at her smile like she could physically pry it off. The former smirks at her with some of the meanness the Phantom Lord had instilled into her.

It takes time, but Lucy manages to finally remove her own grin without drawing blood, drawing security from the fathomless depths of Juvia's own eyes. It was nice to know that there were people who would not reject her rotten parts.

Natsu presses into her back, another anchor in Lucy's turbulent emotions. When Happy settles onto her head, for once not vocalising his honest opinions, Lucy can pull her previous apathy firmly into place.

Just in time for Lamia Scale to arrive.

Lyon bursts in with loud bravado. However, the sight of his Blue Pegasus allies wan and far away from the Fairy Tail mages in the limited lounge space gives him pause. A quick assess of the room affirms that the situation has been settled. He tries to smooth over the jittery atmosphere by antagonising Gray, and the latter recognises the lifeline for what it is. Their bickering draws Natsu in, but Fairy Tail's reluctance to break formation instead pulls Lamia Scale into the quickly crowding lounge.

It also brings Sherry to Lucy.

The reunion is shy but earnest. Sherry is still in her pigtails and Lucy carefully gives one a tug, watching it bounce back into its natural curl. She had mentioned in a letter how she had liked the hairstyle on Sherry. Lucy had not thought Sherry would keep it just for her.

Their hug is gentle when Lucy wriggles free of her guildmates. The plump curves Sherry covers with a dusty pink dress almost welcome Lucy into her embrace. Sherry smells like the strawberry perfume she sometimes put on her letters and Lucy hides her smile against the other woman's neck where the scent is strongest. Sherry giggles at the tickle of Lucy's own ponytail against her bare collarbones and breaks the embrace to firmly link elbows.

Behind her comes the final member of their group. The trump card that was Jura Neekis, a member of the Ten Wizard Saints.

Jura and Lucy know each in passing due to her dealings with the Council. While their interactions have been brief and courteous, Lucy has always discreetly admired the stoic poise Jura brings to the table. (That admiration may also be described as a little hero crush.) Meeting him again makes Lucy visibly perk up against Sherry's side and squeak out "Jura-sama!"

When Jura rumbles out a polite "Lucy-kun" in return, the blonde tries to pretend this is a simple greeting between co-workers from the Council. However, Gray is quick to notice her rigid posture and barely covers a laugh with a fake cough. His smirk is visible behind his palm.

Lucy kicks his ankle. Her large boots hurt. Sherry also giggles, but Lucy finds it easy to forgive her when Sherry's blue eyes crinkle like so.

Time passes, mainly filled with bickering between Lamia Scale and Fairy Tail – namely Lyon trying to hit on Juvia and the woman rebuffing him intensely as she tried to cling to Gray. Beside Lucy, Sherry watches Lyon's attempts with woeful eyes. Her failed advances are reflected in reverse with Juvia rejecting Lyon and there is a bitter taste in her mouth.

Sensing this, Lucy nudges her with an elbow and starts a conversation on how her magic has advanced – Sherry had mentioned she could control more dolls than ever, right? The apology in Lucy's brown eyes makes the bitterness taste more bittersweet, and Sherry presses a kiss to her cheek in thanks before launching into a story. All the while, she smiles at the blush across Lucy's face; how was it someone so strong and capable could get so flustered?

At the same time, the Trimens do all they can to avoid the women present, muttering amongst themselves. Only once does Ren try to smile at Sherry, hoping to see at least one woman blush at him. Instead, he received a fierce glare from Lucy as she simultaneously wrapped an arm around the woman's waist. Sherry was the one to blush this time at the blonde's forwardness, which Lucy swiftly picked up and got equally as embarrassed about. The two stammered around each other until Sherry also wrapped her arm around Lucy's waist and put her head on the slightly taller woman's shoulder.

Finally, though, Cait Shelter's only mage arrives.

Wendy is so skinny that it almost concerns Lucy. She is petite and so anxiously shy that she is unable to manage any eye contact as she rushes in. The carpet trips her up just as it was supposed to.

Almost as if magic, Carla appears in the doorway to hurry in and scold her. Happy is totally gone on her almost as soon as he sees her. His besotted expression is hilarious to Lucy, but merely a nuisance to Carla. She awkwardly deters his blunt advances even as she helps Wendy to her feet, aided by a fast-moving Juvia who speaks softly to Wendy who has become an even bigger nervous wreck.

The ruckus draws everyone's attention. Lucy takes the opportunity to covertly look at Natsu. The man is staring at Wendy as if he has seen a ghost, his brow creased in confusion; like there is a memory struggling its way to the surface, dragging up refuse of complicated emotions as it goes.

Lucy suddenly feels overwhelming loss at the childhood that had been stolen from the dragon slayers. Despite being raised as close as siblings for years, they had all of their history erased in mere moments. They were essentially strangers now. It was a fate that Lucy would not wish on anyone. She could not imagine ever forgetting about her own sister. Maya had been one of the only things that had kept Tia going in the end.

It is unspoken, but everyone present is uncertain about having a young girl join them in a task as dangerous as taking down one of the top dark guilds in Fiore. It takes some persistent arguing on Carla's part, who is firm in saying Wendy has what it takes, for the gathered guild members to relax. The pep talk mostly seems directed at Wendy, who struggles to look up from her shoes as she huddles near Juvia. Knowing what she does about Wendy's past, the truth about her guild, Lucy is quick to join Carla in defending the girl and formally asks her to stay at their side.

(The other Fairies shake their heads in exasperation, used to Lucy's habit of all but adopting every young orphan she comes along)

With everyone accounted for, Jura and Ichiya lead the debriefing on Oración Seis. Nirvana is a horrifying concept to everyone present; a power that can turn light guilds to dark would mean the country would be almost immediately overrun by dark mages. Even without there being an official Wizard Council anymore, Jura is quick to emphasise the swift and organised manner in which the guilds were expected to dismantle the dark guild.

However, the apparent close proximity of the dark guild to Blue Pegasus' building was too enticing for many of the males present, and they began to rush for the doors to deal with the threat – led by Natsu and trailed by Gray and Lyon whose chain of rivalries would not allow them to be left behind.

"Erza!"

Lucy's commanding tone immediately spurred Erza into action. Her armour clanked as she slammed a foot into the ground. "Stop right there!"

Natsu and Gray stopped just shy of the door, years of conditioning causing them to do whatever Erza asked without hesitation. Lyon was not far behind, fearful of the woman who had such command over his oldest friend – the memories of Erza absolutely destroying his underlings during the 'rough patch' of his life also contributing to that fear.

Erza is harsh in her reprimand of them for rushing off without a plan, her scolding even turned towards the Trimens who had looked like they were close to following the other men out. It was only the women and Jura who had stood firmly in the longue area.

There was no way Lucy was allowing this mission to go astray. They had to plan.

After all, the enemy was already here.

"Team huddle," Lucy barks out. Everyone present swiftly links arms and puts their heads together. Wendy is cocooned between Juvia and Lucy, the top of her head barely reaching the older women's stomachs. She still looks nervous, but after being greeted by such a personable lot of people her nervousness has been channelled into meek determination. She would help any way she could for her guild. At her feet, Happy stops attempting to get Carla's attention as the two are also drawn into the tactical planning.

"Alright," Lucy begins when everyone is settled, "Jura-sama and Ichiya-san made a succinct summary on the power we are facing in Nirvana, but I have more information about the members Oracion Seis itself."

"Information network?" Erza asked, long-since weary of Lucy's apparent ability to pull up information from nowhere.

The blonde shrugs casually in return. "The Council guards I saw after the whole 'Love & Lucky' incident were very forthcoming with information when I asked about any issues on the horizon. All of the Oracion members have been in a jail cell for some misdemeanour or another in the past – the Council is pretty quick to write up a summary when they suspect people of potentially being involved with dark guilds then or in the future."

The lie rolls off her tongue with ease. There is a mild concern that Jura, far more involved with Council matters than Lucy ever was, will call her out but his stoic face remains unchanged. "The guards were always so besotted with you, Lucy-kun," Jura rumbles out. "It's a wonder you don't know everything about their personal lives." He nods like it is a good thing.

"Ha ha," Lucy says nervously, slightly overwhelmed by the fact that Jura had paid attention to her during her days with the Council. "You know me, always one to chat…to others…Being friendly and all…"

"Nailed it," Gray hisses under his breath.

"I'll fucking kill you," Lucy spits back.

Erza clears her throat pointedly until Lucy and Gray stop glaring at each other. "Anyways. Lucy, what information do you have?"

"Well…" Lucy starts before launching into an overview on each member and their respective magic. It is slightly overwhelming to hear the extent of each members' power. Some, like Racer, have simplistic magics that numerous mages across the country hold. However, their strength comes in the form of having honed such simple magics like Speed into deadly capacity.

"We should form teams that can directly combat each members' weaknesses," Hibiki inputs. His Archive magic is working overtime as he notates and files the new information Lucy offers into neat folders. At the same time, he whizzes through calculations to place each asset of their side into where they are best suited. "We have plenty of magics that can mesh on this side, which means that we can pair together some interesting combos."

Everyone nods in response, already going over who they would like to be with in order to best elevate their abilities to the highest degree.

"I'd like to go after Angel with your help, Hibiki-san," Lucy suddenly offers into the group. Her voice commands no arguments but is slightly softened by the earnest way she looks into Hibiki's eyes.

Said mage pauses in his calculations, surprised by this offer of partnership by the woman who threatened cut off important pieces of himself in their first meeting. "W-Wait, me?" The screens formed by his Archive magic is pushed to the side for the time being, so he can look back into her eyes. "Why me? And why Angel?"

"Yeah Luce," Natsu says with a frown as he leans through the circle towards the two. "Why are you teaming up with that guy when you and me can work together like usual? We're the best duo for the job!"

Lucy smiles gently at Natsu's enthusiasm, feeling warm at the certainty he expresses in their partnership. "I'd love to, Natsu, but your abilities are best used to fight Cobra, just like I'm best to match up against Angel – our magics are the same as our opponents and I'm certain that we can overcome them. After all, Cobra is not a true Dragon Slayer and I've heard tales of how Angel treats her spirits." Here, Lucy's face darkens with barely-veiled disgust. "It would be a fucking embarrassment if I was defeated by such a Celestial Mage."

In response to her dark emotions, Natsu tilts his head to the side, face uncharacteristically blank as he thinks over her proposal. His instincts scream for him to stand by Lucy's side as she faces down someone who would put such an expression on her face. However, he knows the woman well enough that demanding to be with her would be an insult to her ability as a mage and an independent woman. Lucy was strong enough to face anyone and come out of it standing. Natsu had to trust in that.

"Alright," Natsu eventually says, "you got it, Luce. I'll kick this fakes' ass while you defeat this Angie or whatever; there's no way we can lose! But—" Here Natsu turns with a sharp glare to Hibiki, who gulps in response at having the man's slitted pupils bore into him. "This loser better not fail you! Right, bud?"

"R-Right!" Hibiki squeaks back, sweat making his hands clammy as he waves his screens back in front to protect himself from Natsu's gaze. "I'm sure I'll be helpful in providing Lucy-san with tactical support during her battle against Angel."

"Much obliged," Lucy says, ignoring the hostility between Natsu and Hibiki with the ease of having dealt with Natsu for months now. "As for everyone else…"

Jura makes his presence known with an easy wave of a huge hand. "I believe I should take on this 'Hoteye' individual. It sounds like our magic are well-matched and with Sherry's support I believe I can overcome them."

Next to Lucy, Sherry jolts slightly under the group's sudden acknowledgement. "A-Are you sure, Jura-san? We've only practiced together a few times."

"With your living dolls I will be able to get plenty of reprieve in the battle as I know you have been working on their durability." Jura's hands disappear into his billowing sleeves as he assesses Sherry with shrewd eyes. "I believe that you are more than capable of giving me distance to perform some of my more time-taxing moves, which will be highly beneficial."

The surety of his words boosts Sherry's confidence. She stands taller, pigtails bouncing with the force of her changed posture. "You can count on me!"

"U-Um!"

The sharp pitch of a child draws everyone's attention to Wendy, whose previously open mouths snaps shut with an audible 'clack!' There is an awkward pause as everyone waits for the girl to continue, but Wendy simply turns redder as her eyes slide back down to her winged shoes.

"Honestly," Carla finally says, tone sharp with frustration, "spit it out Wendy!" The Exceed softens her words with a gentle pat of her paw to Wendy's bare leg.

The touch seems to push Wendy into action. Her eyes do not raise, but she manages to mumble out her desired words. "I—um, I want to offer to go with J-Jura-sama!" Taking from Lucy's cue, the young girl uses deferential honorifics to refer to the behemoth of a man that seemed to be in charge. She was so unsure of what she had to offer such a confident group of individuals, but she knew she could at least go with the seemingly most powerful mage to ease Carla's worries for her as well as help support him alongside Sherry.

Jura recovered quicker than most of the group by the sudden offer. He lowered himself with a stifled groan to be level with Wendy across the circle. His eyes were soft when he finally managed to make eye-contact with Wendy. "And what is it you would like to offer, little one? What magic made your guild push you to be their representative?"

"I can…Um," Wendy mumbled, "I can heal you when you're hurt and boost your abilities with my support magic. I think I can help Sherry-san in your fight if you'll take me."

One of Jura's heavy eyebrows raised in mild surprise. "Healing magic is quite rare, as well as direct support magics. What do you call your magic as a whole, Wendy-chan?"

"Oh," Wendy said like she had forgotten the information. "I'm a Dragon Slayer, Jura-Sama."

At her words the entire group went ballistic. Natsu in particular.

"YOU'RE A SLAYER LIKE ME?" Natsu was all but vibrating with sheer joy. He bounded towards Wendy like he was going to grab her and shake all of his excitement into her. Luckily for a cringing Wendy, Natsu suddenly stopped in place. "Wait," he said as a thought crossed his mind. "Are you a fake one like Laxus and this Cobra-dude, or a for real one like me?"

"M-My dragon's name was Grandine?" Wendy offered uncertainly.

"A REAL ONE!" Natsu bellowed before lunging forwards to pick Wendy up in a hug. "OH MY STARS, YOU HAVE TO MEET RYOS AND STING! THEY'D LOVE TO MEET YOU!" In his excitement Natsu ignored Wendy's flustered protests, swinging the girl in a circle that made everyone else hurriedly step back, lest they get hit by her flying legs. "I can't believe I've met another one!"

Before Wendy could pass out from embarrassment – or Carla pass out from a stress- and rage-induced aneurysm – Juvia was quick to step in and stop the whirling pair of Slayers. "That's quite enough, Natsu-san." With a move as fluid as the water she controlled, Juvia managed to pluck Wendy from Natsu's arms and set her safely to her side.

In response, the girl huddled close, looking like she might faint from dizziness. Carla was swift to try and soothe her, sending sharp glares at Natsu and batting away Happy's attempts at helping simultaneously. "Really, Wendy, you have to learn when to say 'no'!"

"And you have to learn when it's polite to touch others," Lucy chided Natsu, who looked forlorn at having his new friend taken away. "Wendy-chan was clearly uncomfortable with being handled in such a rough way, Natsu. Remember what we've said about respecting others' space."

"But another Slayer!" whined Natsu, an arm flung piteously at Wendy.

"Sometimes I feel embarrassed that your team was the one to defeat me," Lyon muttered to Gray as he watched the group try to come to order once more.

"I'd be embarrassed for you as well if it wasn't for the fact those are my idiots," Gray sighed.

A sharp clap from Ichiya finally disrupted the chaos and pulled everyone's attention back to the matter at hand. "Stay focused! We need to continue to assign everyone to a team – anyone have any other offers, men?"

There was a pause as everyone turned to Hibiki and the calculations his magic was still running.

"Well our biggest concern aside from their Master, who we have almost no information on, is this Midnight guy." Hibiki flicked through a few screens, youthful face furrowed in concentration. "I suggest Erza-san be the main point of attack against him. Since Lucy-san suggests he is based in long-distance and hallucinogenic magics, Erza's ability to press the advantage close-range and protect herself with her fake eye seems like the best choice."

Erza nods at the command, pounding a gauntled fist against her breastplate with a sharp sound. "I'll endeavour to best my opponent swiftly and with honour!"

"I'll go with you, men," Ichiya offers. "My own magic does well in clouding others' senses and my control is fine enough for you not to get caught up in it. May as well use our opponents' own strengths against him, men."

"You support is my honour to accept," Erza responds.

"What about someone helping Natsu against Cobra?" Eve's voice is still slightly pitched, the remnants of a puberty still barely-passed. His tangled fingers are the only indication of his nerves.

"If it is poison Cobra uses, Juvia would work there." Juvia's eyes are dark as she contemplates her own abilities. "Juvia could capture and redirect the poisonous clouds Cobra releases so Natsu-san and Happy-san do not have to worry about it. It would mean less distractions and I could try and use his own magic against him – just because he uses poison does not ensure he is immune."

"Genius, Juvia!" Gray says, stretching across the circle to pat Juvia on the shoulder. The woman nearly swoons, but experience has Erza nudging her upright before she can complete the motion.

Seeing Gray and Juvia interact, Lyon is quick to throw in his own opinions. "Then I can assist Juvia since ice and water go so well together?" He winks at Juvia, who barely manages to contain her irritation into a mere wrinkle of her pert nose.

Gray releases Juvia from his grip so he can then clap the hand down onto Lyon's shoulder. His hand is less supportive and more aggressive as it squeezes the bulk of muscle beneath it. "I think you and I should work together." Gray's teeth are grit into an insincere smile. "After all, Ur did teach us to be two of the fastest Ice makers in Fiore, right? We should be able to take out this Racer guy by ourselves."

Flinching under the freezing hand on his shoulder, Lyon manages an equally insincere smile in response. "I'm sure you can handle it on your own. Juvia could use my assistance more."

"Juvia is an independent woman who does not need a man's help."

"Well any help is always welcome when it's actually useful."

"You think that but I know Juvia—"

"We literally got shut down for being 'misogynistic' earlier," Eve suddenly inputs, "and now you guys are blatantly doing much worse in front of us?"

"I agree," Erza says, arms crossed sternly. "Juvia is more than capable of aiding Natsu by herself. You two," she glares at Lyon and Gray, "can handle Racer."

Her stare manages to shut down any protests, thus allowing Eve to speak up once more. "While you guys focus on each member, Ren and I could provide some support from above. After all, I think it's best if we get into Christina and search directly for Nirvana. There's no point in fighting each member unless we know where Nirvana is and prepare to stop it."

Next to him, Ren nods silently in agreement. Out of all of the Trimen he was perhaps the best in flying the massive construct, and Eve's eyes, sharpened from having to peer through his own Snow magic, would be essentially in the search.

"Everyone has their assignment then," Jura says with finality. "Now we can head out and finally stop these monsters from activating Nirvana and causing the collapse of our society as we know it."

"Aye, sir!" Everyone shouts in return. Their hands are thrust into the circle, the weight of their collective responsibility settling onto their shoulders. None of them falter, however. Even young Wendy looks determined as she drifts to stand by Jura's side, looking tiny in his looming shadow.

"Let's go!" Jura bellows, setting off the beginning of one of the biggest guild alliances to date. The battle ahead would be difficult, but they would sacrifice their lives to ensure that they would succeed in completing their mission.

In the chaos of everyone's departure, Ichiya urges Erza to go ahead as he quickly departs to the bathroom. He was certain that he would be able to catch up after tagging Erza with a pheromone that he would be able to follow for kilometres.

Seeing this, Lucy quickly darts outside to summon Vulp as stealthily as possible before joining Hibiki. Her spirit gives her a wink and a short kiss on the mouth before turning invisible. She then sneaks into the bathroom behind Ichiya, waiting for Gemini to appear whilst simultaneously ignoring the man taking care of his private business.

When the enemy spirit, disguised as Ichiya, shows up to knock-out the original, Vulp strikes.

Despite not being a combat-orientated spirit, Vulp's nails are sharp as she latches onto Ichiya-Gemini's arms. Her tail snakes out to wrap around the other spirit's throat hard enough to choke them.

"Yield," Vulp hisses out, pupils barely-visible slits in her violet iris'. Her tail tightens warningly.

The original Ichiya, who had fallen back on his ass by the urinals when surprised by his doppelgänger, struggles to understand the situation. "What is going on, men? Who are you?" His last question is spat at Vulp, who snaps her elongated incisors.

"I'm one of Lucy-chan's spirits, idiot. This one here," her tail shakes the fake Ichiya, "is the enemies' spirit."

"Please let go of me, fair maiden," Ichiya-Gemini says in an approximation of the original's soothing drawl. "The one at my feet is the fake."

"I ain't starting this shit," Vulp snarls. "Origi-Ichiya, hurry up and spray this fake."

For all of his ridiculous antics, Ichiya was not one of the strongest members of his guild without reason. Before Ichiya-Gemini could begin to use his own abilities against him, Ichiya grabbed onto the spirit's legs and aided Vulp in pinning them to the ground. His wrist slammed against the enemies' face and he released a carefully controlled burst of a stunning perfume. The smoke of the potent pheromones barely spread from Ichiya-Gemini's nostrils, showing how effective Ichiya's control was, but the effect was immediate. In Vulp's arms the spirit went limp, eyes rolled into the back of their skull.

Ichiya took a moment to gaze upon his own likeness, feeling slightly ill at how he was very nearly taken out of the game before it had truly started. He knew how strong his own magic could be and, if the enemy had wanted to, they could have used some of his deadlier abilities against him and he would have been clueless to their approach.

"Thank you," Ichiya said to Vulp, "for saving me. But how did Lucy-ch—" He licked his lips nervously, remembering the fury in the blonde's eyes at he and his colleagues' earlier attempts at wooing her. "Lucy-san know that I was going to be attacked?"

Vulp shrugged disarmingly even as she began to pull long silk scarfs out of seemingly nowhere to tie up Gemini, who still looked like Ichiya. "It would be kind of pathetic if a Celestial Spirit mage could not sense her own type of magic being used. Her paranoia comes in handy at times."

"Clearly, men," Ichiya said under his breath. He took one last look at his mirror image before clambering off the bathroom floor. "Now," he addressed Vulp once more, "what should we do with this spirit?"

"Not much we can do," Vulp honestly replied. "Their own summoner, that Angel chick, will dispel them once they realise they've failed their mission. It's better to not send them back to the Spirit Realm or else their summoner will know they've failed far sooner. We can at least stay ahead of them for now."

"Alright," Ichiya said. "We will leave them here and head on to the others, men." He headed for the exit, his near-defeat encouraging his years of battle experience into sharp focus. This time he would be more than ready for the enemy.

Vulp waved him off when Ichiya paused in the doorway to wait for her. "Don't worry about me, old man. Lucy-chan is going to dispel me as soon as she sees you coming her way. After all, she'll be needing far more powerful spirits to help her win the battle ahead." The long red tails of Vulp's hair were flicked over her shoulder in clear dismissal of Ichiya. "Now, hurry up."

Before he left, Ichiya bowed deeply to the foxy spirit. "I cannot thank you enough for your assistance, young spirit. I will do my best to ensure your aid will not go to waste."

As he disappeared through the door, Vulp managed one last (only mildly) sardonic salute before her posture slumped with exhaustion. "Really, Lucy-chan," she muttered as she stared down at Gemini, "I hope you know what you're doing."

Take a shot every time I destroy Mashima's misogynistic attempts at humour.

Lucy sinking back into old habits when faced with stress is Big Mood for anyone else in the crowd who suffers with that sweet Anxiety. Get yourself an extroverted friend like Natsu who you can hide behind so you don't have to make eye contact with strangers 'cause that's the worst. Streets Smarts!

Also, I really meant for the 8-Island scene to be quick, but I knew I had to address everyone's concerns of Lucy/Erza's relationship. It mostly was me holding back from ranting about the age-old discussion in feminism about body autonomy and the hypersexualisation of women, but I wanted the two to start to actually build a sense of comradery. Mostly because when they finally work together…Ah yes, it will suck to be their opponent when that day comes :)

Moreover, who doesn't love the uncomfortably charged sensation of trying to connect to another woman 'cause you've never been emotionally intimate with one before and you're not sure if you've always been scared of them or scared of feeling things about them? Hahaha not me, that's for sure.

Additionally, a tally of how each person on the team sees Lucy based on the trauma they've uncovered:

Erza – Lucy is a young woman who has been mistreated by powerful men her whole life and it has made her untrusting and resentful. While I was initially wary of how she preached for Fairy Tail to become more self-aware, now I know it comes from a desire for tragedy to stop plaguing her life. Now I need to know how to do female things with her since we've bonded over men treating us as lesser beings just because of our gender. Maybe we can paint each other's nails?

Gray – I was able to overcome my childhood trauma thanks to Lucy, which means she is one of the few people I sincerely respect. She is incredibly naïve in some aspects of life, but also bitter to the point that she is self-destructive. I need to help her sort out her own shit just like she helped me; it's what nakama do.

Juvia – I've watched Lucy literally behead someone in front of me. There is no part of Lucy that is fragile, she is just struggling to become a better person, just like me. I would rather die than cross paths with her cause she may as well kill me anyways in a far more horrible way. But I trust her because she vouched for me to join Fairy Tail and is helping me with my love life. She has given me a home and I can repay that by providing her with safety.

Gajeel – This chick is a murderer and can take a beating from me and still get up – that is instant respect. The Maiden is just like me and I will lose my shit when this pansy guild finally realises it. I would follow her into any battle just because I want to see how many heads roll. She did also get me a second chance at life, so I guess I should honour that or something. But mostly I'm still here for the murder.

Happy – Sure, Lucy is a mess of a person, but she also makes sure I'm fed and allows me to sleep in her bed. I just wish she would get more self-aware of her feelings because she is inadvertently romancing half of the people she meets, and she doESN'T EVEN KNOW IT. Maybe I should trick her into kissing some people and see if the whole issue resolves itself.

Natsu – LUCY IS MY BESTEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD (aside from Happy) AND I WILL DESTROY ANYONE WHO MAKES HER CRY. I like to hold her and comfort her so she sleeps through the night. I also kind of weirdly struggle to sleep by myself nowadays without her breathing beside me, but that's just cause I miss her bed when I'm away. I wanna go on adventures with her forever and make her rely on only me but HAHAHA THAT'S JUST HOW BEST FRIENDS ARE.