Chapter 23: There's Brave and Then There's Just Plain Stupid

"Wait, these are your parents?" Natsu asked in disbelief. Beth nodded as she removed the sunglasses and bandanas. Her parents didn't object.

"You still wear the same perfume, Mom," Beth said as she snuggled further into their arms. Her mom could only nod, tears in her eyes. Her father had a similar expression as he kissed his daughter's head. All of Fairy Tail was silent at the sudden turn of good fortune, some even starting to cry.

Beth stood rapidly, dragging her parents up with her. "Guys, these are my parents. Katie and Seth."

"WHAT!?" sounded from the back of the guild, startling everyone. They turned to see Ken as he sprinted up and made his way up front, pausing when he saw the two newcomers. He walked up to Katie and placed his hands on her shoulders. They stared at each other for a second before they embraced tightly.

"I thought I would never see you again. I thought you had-" Ken couldn't make himself finish the sentence. Katie sobbed quietly.

"Ken" was all she could say through her overwhelming joy. The siblings hugged for a bit more before Ken turned to Seth.

"Seth I'm so glad you're alright," Ken said as they embraced.

"You too," Seth replied. They pulled apart as Makarov stepped forward.

"Well, I hate to break up this reunion," Makarov started, "but there is still the matter that Vineghoul is after Beth." Katie nodded as she pulled her daughter close to her side, Beth leaning in.

"I do suppose you are right."

"And you are?" Seth asked.

"Makarov Dreyar, master of the Fairy Tail guild. Which as you know your daughter is a part of." Beth raised her hand at this a little to show her parents her guild mark.

"We can talk inside, come on," Beth said as she pulled her parents inside the guild hall. They followed Beth to a table in the back while the rest of Fairy Tail took other tables.

Makarov, Aaron, and Team Natsu joined the table with the family.

"So how did you guys escape from Vineghoul?" Natsu asked.

"They have a really lax security there, if you didn't notice. All we had to do was leave unnoticed and we were fine," Katie said.

"They really don't care what their members do as long as they do their jobs," Seth added.

"We've noticed," Beth said chuckling.

"Do you know who's leading them?" Erza asked.

"No, they keep that information secret for some reason," Katie said.

"What about who hired them?" Gray tried.

"Sorry, apparently not even the Vineghoul boss knew that," Seth said. "We asked."

"So you guys were basically grunts," Aaron said more than questioned.

"Yep."

"So no new information," Lucy murmured to herself.

"Sorry," they said. Beth pulled them closer to her.

"It's quite alright," Makarov said. "We'll just have to keep our eyes open and wait for this to blow over then." No one showed pleasure at this idea, even Makarov himself. "We can't just rush into battle blindly and tell them to leave us alone, Natsu." The pink-ette looked a little put out, as that was what exactly he had in mind.

However, he didn't have to pout for long as an explosion shook the building, sending everyone to clutch to something or fall over. Siprix ran over to the group, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.

"What happened?" he asked, glancing around the table. His eyes lingered on Seth and Katie a moment longer than the rest, but didn't ask any questions.

"That's what we're trying to figure out," Beth said standing. The rest of the guild had gotten into ready stances, some going to peek out the door and windows.

"Vineghoul wizards!"

"They've surrounded the building!"

"Now what do they want?"

"Fairy Tail!" a voice rang in everyone's minds. "You have something that we want. Hand over the girl and we will leave without incident. Otherwise we will have to use force." Everyone looked to Beth, waiting for her response.

"There's a fine line between brave and stupid. I think we both know you crossed it a long time ago." The others gave silent approval to the girl before they heard a growl sound. Not a second later, Vineghoul wizards forced their way into to hall through the doors and windows, even coming from the second floor.

"Beth get out of here!" Natsu said. "We'll take care of them." He lit his fist as they started dodging spells sent towards them.

"And leave you guys here? Not a chance," Beth said, doing the same with her Forest magic. She glanced at her parents, who were sending attacks back at the other Vineghoul wizards. Ken had summoned his Deneb spirit, which he told to not attack. The spirit did the exact opposite.

Seeing that her family was able to defend themselves, she glanced at Siprix. He was fighting back to back with Aaron, sending out jets of air and water.

"Beth look out!" She jumped out of the way of an energy beam.

"Thanks Gray!" She turned to the opponents flooding the guild hall.

"Forest Dragon's Forest's Storm!" Beth put her hands out in front of her as a seal appeared. Razor sharp leaves, wood chunks, and pointy seeds flew towards her opponents, who got hit. They recovered quickly as Beth readied another spell. "Forest Dragon's Pineapple Grenade!" She chucked the fruit at the wizards and it exploded against them, lodging the barbs into their clothes and skin. They hissed as they moved in on Beth. "Forest Dragon's Wing Attack!" Her fist hit the wizards, sending them flying into their allies.

Beth turned as a yell sounded behind her. "Forest Dragon's Leaf Swords!" She sliced a spell coming from behind and blocked a sword from another. She turned a quick circle and noticed she was cut off from her friends and surrounded by Vineghoul wizards. Crud, now what do I do? she thought. I've only fought this many enemies at once, once! She noticed them closing in or charging spells. Well, here goes nothing. She jumped up and flipped in the air, behind one of the sword- wielding wizards. She sliced down as she fell, cutting the man down his back. Charging a Forest Dragon's Claw, she roundhouse kicked him into another wizard across the circle. She blocked another attack when she landed. She dodged as a magic attack cam her way, another Vineghoul wizard getting hit instead. She ran across the circle and started swiping at another swordsman, before getting hit in the side with a kick. She rolled to a stop as a spell hit her from behind, sending her crashing into the floor. She got up as a kick connected to her face, sending her flying backwards once again. She quickly raised her blades as a spell was about to hit her again, before jumping up and dodging another kick. She bumped into someone and turned, about to attack them. Natsu grabbed her arms before she could and pulled her down, a spell just missing their heads.

"Thanks!" She jumped over him as another Vineghoul wizard sent a spell their way. She sliced it down before it could harm either of one.

"No problem!" Natsu responded as he sent an enemy wizard flying across the hall. Beth quickly engaged another group of wizards. They had their backs turned to her as she swept their legs out from under them, disarming them with her leaves as the fell. They were quickly swept away by a water jet from Siprix.

"You okay?" Beth asked as she deflected another attack.

"Yeah, but what happened to you?! You're bleeding!" Siprix touched where Beth's skin had split on her chin, blood running down her neck in a tiny stream. She hissed at the contact.

"Got a kick to the face, didn't even notice I was bleeding until you touched it," she said.

"Watch out!" Aaron yelled as he directed a wind current towards the two, forcing them to jump apart. It hit a Vineghoul wizard who was charging at them, sending him crashing into one of his allies instead. Aaron came over. "Are you two okay?"

"Fine," they answered.

They turned as more Vineghoul wizards charged at them. Beth broke away and started sword fighting another wizard. She sliced at the wizard who blocked and parried every attack with ease. Beth backed off and raised her hands, unleashing a Forest's Storm. She hit the wizard dead on, sending him across the room. She yelped as an attack hit her side again, sending her tumbling to the ground. Aaron sent a wind jet at her attacker, allowing her to get up. She immediately got hit with the flat side of a sword. She grimaced as she blocked another hit, and ran around to his other side. Deciding to switch tactics, she pointed her leaves at her opponent and snapped her fingers. They flew off her wrists towards her opponent, hitting him dead on. They sliced his sides as Beth rushed forwards, hitting him again with a Forest Dragon's Claw. Her opponent flew across the room and crashed into one of the other Vineghoul wizards about to attack Gray. She aimed a Forest's Storm at another Vineghoul wizard before chucking a Firecracker Pepper at another. Lucy yelled a warning to Beth, who jumped out of the way of another spell aimed at her. Jumping to dodge another sword strike, Beth charged a Roar attack and unleashed it at more opponents.

It occurred to her that her that she hadn't seen her family, and looked around frantically. Seth and Katie were fighting back to back, and holding off enemies very well. Ken was yelling at Alexander, who was causing mass chaos to all the Vineghoul forces. Satisfied that they weren't in serious danger, she looked for her fiends. Natsu and Gray were easy to find and sounded like they were enjoying the fight. Beth also say Lucy and Erza fighting back to back, Cancer assisting the fight with Tauros. Happy was flying overhead, sending out warnings to the others. Beth didn't get the chance to spot anyone else due to Siprix ramming into her side. They fell to the ground. A spell sent them up into the air. Beth yelped again as she felt a sword bite into her side, slicing her skin. She heard Siprix follow suit as he was hit as well. They got back up as Beth threw a Pineapple Grenade, sending their opponent backwards. She used a Roar attack as Siprix created a water tornado around the two, catching the Roar and integrating it into the water. The resulting attack was a water tornado filled with razor sharp leaves hitting anyone who got close. Siprix shot the water outwards a short distance, pushing back anyone close by. The Vineghoul wizards finally got the message and left the guild hall, screaming and yelling about dropping the job. Fairy Tail cheered as they ran, victory secured. Siprix and Aaron came up to the Beth.

"Are you okay?" Siprix asked, panting. Beth nodded, catching her breath.

"Yeah, I am. You? Aaron?" She winced. Spirix nodded as he winced as well.

"I'm fine," Aaron said panting. "That was tough."

"Beth!" Natsu said, running up to the trio. "Are you okay?" Beth nodded as she winced again.

"Must've gotten hit harder than I thought," she said as a wave of pain washed over her. Natsu gasped.

"You're side!" Beth paled when she saw cuts in her sides, and pressed her hands to the wounds.

"They're not that bad," she said as she held back a grimace. Natsu didn't get the chance to respond.

"Siprix!" Aaron said. The two turned to just in time to see the water mage collapse into Aaron's arms. Beth thought for a second before holding out her hand.

"Forest Dragon's Forest's Breath!" A seal appeared slightly above her hand, and lime green and white sparkles surrounded Siprix, healing his wounds where they touched him.

"You can do that?" Natsu asked.

"I never mastered the spell, so I didn't use it before. The situation called for it though," she said before collapsing herself. The last thing she heard was Natsu yelling.

-XxXxX-

"Well, did you get the girl?" a man asked, the same one that met with the cartographer. A man in his early twenties shook as he faced his boss' turned back.

"N-n-no, s-sir," he stuttered. In a flash, the boss' hand was around the man's throat, holding him off the ground.

"You are to get her as soon as possible," the boss said as he glared into the man's eyes, his yellow irises flashing. "I do not want that dragon coming here and ruining our plans before they are ready."

"y-y-y-yes, m-m-m-m-master," the man stuttered out before the boss dropped him unceremoniously on the ground. He picked himself up and scampered out of the room. The boss sat down and leaned back in his chair as he pulled out a necklace from around his neck. The charm at the bottom was a pair of two blood red wings with white outlines. A gemstone that shone with all the colors of the rainbow, from red to green and white to black, was mounted in between them.

So hey y'all, I'm back with another update for ya! I am so sorry, I couldn't get this out sooner, my life has been as adventurous as Fairy Tail itself. I have also gone back and edited the previous chapters. I have fixed most of the spelling errors, and I have also cleared up some confusion about Beth's character and magic set. I also tweaked Aaron's magic a little as well. And I also fixed the misposted Chapter Sixteen. I am so sorry I didn't have the right one up sooner. The full explanation is in the AN for that chapter. But you don't have to reread the chapters, but if you want to then just read chapter three, and maybe two. Now, onto Review Replies!

Earth Dragon Arnighte: Yes, she does control plantlife. The stink bomb was a magical plant she grew when she used the spell. She also eats plants to restore her energy. If you want to read what she explained to Team Natsu, then reread chapter three.

And shout out to The Fur1an. Thanks for the follow and fav!

Well, that's all I have for now. I will try to get the next chapter out ASAP. But for now, have a good week and Merry Christmas! Go get' em tigers!

-ThinMintE