After Sho, Wally, and Millianna left, we departed the next day. We'd had enough of la-la land. As we arrived back in Magnolia, we marveled over the new guild, whose construction had been finished in our absence. As we marched into the entry hall of the guild hall, we wondered at how large it had become.
"I could get used to this." Erza remarked, as we observed where everything was now located.
"Hell yeah, this rocks!" I whistled low, amazed at all the sights. Levy ran up and began to explain all the new features of the guild, and how now as long as an S-class wizard accompanied the group, wizards could now take S-class requests.
"Nice to see you dunderheads made it back safely." we heard Master called out and we turned to greet him.
"I'd like you to meet Fairy Tail's newest member, Juvia." Master said, as our attention as drawn to the friendly rain woman.
"I can't wait to work you!" She smiled and curtsied.
Gray laughed and I strode up to her. "None of that now, we're friends aren't we? Glad you persuaded Master to let you join!" I said cheerfully as I clasped my arms around her shoulders.
"Yay! I haven't really met you, but you seem nice!" Stella chirped as she fluttered around Juvia, who gave a small smile.
"Thanks so much for helping us at Akane." Erza said graciously to Juvia, who shook her head with a smile.
"No, I should be thanking you, thanks to you all, I got a new guild!" Juvia said with a large grin.
"We've also added another member to the guild." Master added, as I giggled while Lucy fended off a jealous Juvia. Juvia needed to get over her little crush, Gray was NOT that much a catch. "Someone, you might recognize." Master finished as we turned to see Black Steel Gajeel sitting in a corner.
"What?! Him?! Are you kidding me?!" Gray yelled as Lucy gasped. I growled at the sight of him and stepped in front of Lucy.
"Gajeel!" Natsu roared as he and Gray dropped into fighting stances.
"Why'd you let him in here Gramps?!" Gray yelled as Juvia ran forward.
"Calm down! I asked him to come along with me!" Juvia pleaded as she got in between the boys and Gajeel.
"I don't mind Juvia, but he's the one responsible for destroying our guild hall." Erza stated with ice in her tone.
"Not to mention what he did to Levy, Jet, and Droy." I hissed at Gramps who remained entirely unruffled.
"Now, now, remember what I've taught you. Yesterday's enemy can be today's friend, right?" Master said in a placating tone.
"Yeah, if I'm okay with him here, you guys should be too." Levy whispered from behind a table. I noticed out the corner of my eye that Jet and Droy were glaring at Gajeel. No matter how Levy felt, the same could not be said for her teammates.
"There ain't no way! I can't work with somebody I can't trust!" Natsu yelled as he slammed his fist on Gajeel's table.
"Well, it's not like I want to be your buddy." Gajeel smirked at Natsu, pissing him off even further. "The only reason I'm here is to get work. I hate this stupid guild and everyone in it but times are tough so I had no choice but to join." Gajeel growled as he rose to face Natsu.
"If you hate it so much, why didn't you go to Lamia Scale or one of the other guilds?!" I demanded to know as I stood in front of Lucy, guarding her. Gajeel merely snorted in my direction and ignored my question.
As the two of them got into each other's faces even more, Juvia was losing it next to Gray. "Sorry but Gajeel was having a hard time finding work and I couldn't just turn my back on him. But I don't want you to think I have a crush on him or anything!" Juvia wailed from next to Gray.
"Now, I know you kids don't like it, but as the master of this guild, it's my duty to help those who've gone astray find the right path." Master stated. "Give him a shot, you might find he's a nice guy." Master stated them mumbled under his breath.
"While I may not agree with you, I will respect your decision." Erza said to master, then returned her gaze to Gajeel, "but I warn you, I'm going to keep a very close eye on him."
"And you can sure as hell bet that I'll be watching him." I growled as I reluctantly returned to a normal stance."
"Fine." Master stated as he gazed at Natsu and Gajeel, who were currently engaged in a pissing contest. I rolled my eyes at their childishness and walked over to Cana who merely grinned and slid me a tankard of beer.
"Miss me?" I grinned at her before chugging down the proffered drink. Cana merely winked and lifted her barrel in a toast as the lights went out. I raised an eyebrow and turned towards the stage as Mira appeared, holding her guitar.
"I'd like to dedicate this song to Fairy Tail's strongest team and congratulate them on their safe return." Mira said with a smile as she began to play. The crowd went wild as she began to sing. I smiled at her song, and raised a drink at her. This wasn't a bad way to return to the guild. Stella sighed in contentment as she settled on my lap.
As the song ended the crowd went wild, and I cheered right along with them. However, we ended rather abruptly when we saw who had taken the stage. Gajeel had taken a seat and was the subject of much mocking and jeering. I clasped my hands over my ears as he began to sing. It ended, thankfully, once Natsu insulted him, thus beginning a guild brawl.
I laughed as they began to fight in earnest, then cut-off when I say what Gray had done. As he had risen to yell at Natsu, he had bumped Erza's arm. I watched as her cake fell off her plate to the floor, which it was then crushed by Elfman.
I yanked Stella by tail and leapt behind the bar. It was about to get ugly, and I wanted my cat nowhere near it. "Now, stay here until I come get you, okay? Erza is about to destroy all the boys, so just stay put, okay?" I said forcefully as my cat nodded. Then I stood up only to get a chair in the face.
"THAT'S IT! WHO THREW THAT?!" I yelled as I leapt back over the bar and into the fray. I sent a hail of icicles at Natsu who retaliated with a fireball that I ducked and instead hit Gajeel. I laughed myself hoarse, until Erza tossed me into a support beam, thinking I was laughing at the destruction of her cake. I iced my arms over and nailed her with one to the jaw with a grin on my face. Master was sobbing in the corner as his brand new guild hall was broken in with a good-old fashioned brawl.
I grinned as the fight began to die down, all of us were beaten all to hell. I loved my guild and the way it was, may it never change.