Previously...

"In this case, Juvia's life force is returning back to her."

#

"Another drink?"

"Nah, Mira. Just water."

Water.

Another day has passed, but following the revelations back in Lumen Histoire, Gray, to his utmost ability, decided he needed to be sober for any immediate action the guild may implement regarding their new acquired knowledge about Ethernano. About Juvia.

It was raining the time they met, and, her shennanigans aside, she was hell bent in fulfilling her part. She was emotionally driven, perhaps, he once thought, due to the circumstances she was born with. Juvia was avoided, and after getting dumped by Bora of Prominence, Jose Porla came to the rescue. A man masquerading himself as someone willing to stretch a hand and provide not just shelter, but a family for those stuck and struck with such conditions and circumstances. Jose offered her a home, a guild, and it was enough for Juvia to pledge her loyalty to him, to do his biddings without saying anything. She became merciless towards her master's enemys, destroying guild after guild with Gajeel. She was the Rain Woman.

It took all ounce of his battered sanity to let all information and logical explanations sink inside his head. It was not a secret of Juvia being a former foundation of Phantom Lord's fortress, and one of the strongests. It was also public knowledge that due to vulnerability, she was used by Jose Porla, but the knowledge of his hidden plot to sacrifice his members for his own glory made Gray's stomach turn upside down. He has taken hold of the perfect mages without spilling a bean and successfuly avoiding the council's eye, and established their name: Element Four. All for the purpose of doing his biddings in exchange for a fake family and acceptance the mages so longed for.

"Casting Abyss Break was really the elite's feat, but that's only the top of the icing. Casting Abyss Break via Super Mage Giant Phantom MK II, unknown to the Element Four, was just practice to enhance their magic. Continious firing would burn an immense amount of magic, and if they could not successfully fire Abyss Break, then what is the success rate that they will be of use to Jose in using Jupiter?" Jellal explained

"You should still eat something, Gray." A stool from beside him was pulled and Natsu's lazy body plopped itself down, pulling Gray out of his reverie. "Man, you know, starving yourself won't speed up our recovering of her, or make that Jose dude show his ass in here so you can beat his face to oblivion. And Mira, I want meat!"

"Meat it is, Natsu." Mira chirped, pulling a huge plate below her counter table and busying herself in preparing the dragon slayer's fill of the day.

"Nats..." Slightly, Gray shifted, cocking his head to his left and checking in his surrounding, hand idly playing with his half-empty glass of water. "Back then," he lowered his gaze back to his glass, finding the little amount of liquid interesting to the eye, as he gritted his teeth in silence, but within knowledge that it can be easily heard by the dim-witted dragon slayer. "Back then, down there..."

"You know, Gray, as stupid as I look, I already understand. So, stop fidgetting like a teenage girl. Doesn't suit you."

"Yeah, flame brain?" He replied sarcastically, veins popping in his head. "The hell..."

"Save it, dumbass," Natsu cut him, planting his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his palm. "Really, I'm dead bored."

"You can always go on a job, idiot," Gray replied, emptying his glass.

"There are no interesting jobs nowadays, unless you want to cool a village and you're able to make it snow. Otherwise, I won't be able to pay my rent, and its's due."

"Man, that sucks. How about shifting careers?"

"And becoming a nudists? Thanks, pal, but one is enough in Fiore. Hey, Mira, not yet?"

"Just a couple of minutes," Mira's voice rang from the kitchen.

"Man, is it just me noticing that Mira's getting a little slow?" Natsu said, patting his growling, empty stomach.

"Oh?" Gray raised a brow. "You noticed things like that?"

"I may be slow at picking up things as Luce said, but it's my stomach we're talking about, and when it says it's slow, then it's slow," the dragon slayer snapped, his stomach growling louder. "She should get help in here."

"Come to think of it, I'm not seeing Kinana as of late," Gray said, looking around for the woman. "Did she went for a job?"

"Nah, Cobra just fetched her the other day. Said they're going on a misson. Now that she's remembered who she really is, no one's stopping her in going out for missoins with him."

"A mission, huh. I've never been in a real mission for a long time."

"Says the guy who's in demand," Natsu snickered, head now resting on top of the table.

"You've got to be kidding me. Being a portable cooler is not cool, honestly. Though the jewels are good. Listen, I can lend you some, just pay me up when you got a job."

"I'll take the offer, man, thanks. But it'll be a long time that I'd be paying you. Laxus and First and Erza banned me from taking jobs since yesterday."

"Banned? Isn't more like you're in detention?" Gray mused, clearly intrigued as to why his guildmate was banned from making a living. "That'll explain why you'd rather wait for food even though your stomach is in rampage. So, just what did you do this time?"

"It's not just Natsu. You're included, Gray," a feminine voice came from behind him. "And the hell, they included me."

"Cana," Gray said, acknowledging the card mage's presence with a nod while watching her pull a stool by his side and settling in. "Me included? He asked, raising a brow.

"You really should avoid listening to Natsu, especially when he's hungry. He tends to exaggerate things. We're not banned, more like on stand by. Mira, another barrel!"

"Mira really is slow. And I'm not exaggerating. I just didn't explain it."

"Sounds the same, flame brain," Gray snorted, twirling his glass that was empty ages ago.
"So, why are we on 'stand by' mode? And why am I not informed about this?"

Cana sighed, resting her chin in her palm, mimicking Natsu's earlier position. "We are waiting for orders. For a special mission."

#

"So, this is the place where she was buried?"

"Good day to you, too, Jellal."

Adjusting the last stem of flower she was laying on the epitaph, Erza closed her eyes and sighed. "I wasn't there when it all happened, and Gray would not tell us up to this day what exactly happened back there. I mean, we were by ourselves, but that doesn't justify her death. I should've been there. I should've protected her and Gray. If I was just strong enough, maybe I, not all of the casualties, but some, or maybe much more would've been prevented. If only..."

"Don't put all the blame on your shoulder, Erza. You gave your all. Everyone did. And don't you think Gray just let her went down without a fight. You should know your guild well, Titania. "

HIs words were met with silence, and a few seconds later, Jellal Fernandez heard the last thing he wanted to hear - Erza's sobs.

#

"Oh, are they the cutest couple we've seen, Ultear-sama? What do you think? Will Jellal kiss her...Ultear-sama!"

The glass orb lacrima Meredy was holding suddenly vanished out of nowhere, and a light chuckle was heard from behind the table in front of her, where a high chair was placed and was facing the opposite direction. "Give it back, Ultear-sama."

"You're prying, Meredy, and as far as I can remember, I never taught you that." Turning the chair to the table, Ultear faced her apprentice with a grim face. "Let them take their time, for no one knows what tomorrow have in store for us."

"You...you sounded as if this will be their last time together, Ultear-sama," Meredy sadly said. "Jellal and Erza suffered much already. Don't you think that it's time that the two of them to open up their feelings once and for all?"

"You really are still young, Meredy." Looking out of the window where the rich forest of Oak Town could be seen, the older mage closed her eyes and rubbed the sides of her head, willing the unwanted feeling creeping up on herto go away . "This is not the right time for them, and even if you use Maguility link to connect those two dense creatures , you'll just end up disappointed. Erza's prioritizing her guild condition, and Jellal...well..he already have a fiancee."

"He's such bad liar, and I just hope he doesn't end up like Gray," Meredy softly said as she began rummaging the dusty shelf covered with webs. "I really liked Juvia, and I know that Gray also have feelings for her. And seeing how how he's turned out, I just hope that...that...that she will come back to us. To Fairy Tail. To him."

"She will come back." It was said with such conviction that Meredy couldn't help but look at her teacher, who was still facing the window. "If the plan goes smoothly, she will come back. So no need to get too emotional and start working."

"I understand. But I really don't know why we need to search in Jose Porla's things again, Ultear-sama. It's just old books and clippings."

"Just look, Meredy." I know it's still here, and we need to find it before he does. And what is this unwanted feeling? It's as if there's something I've overlooked. Minerva, we're counting on you.

#

'For a long time, I haven't been in my skin. My body that used to contain me is no more. I have been spilling out over and over, like a rough wave on the shore. Today, I can't keep myself from thinking that I haven't been a real friend to my guild, to my family, and no matter how I try, I always end up lying on the floor. Wasted. Defeated. My sins, my ghosts, they are waiting to devour me, to lure me to eternal sleep without peace. Was it ,like this, Zeref? We're you this frustrated at things that you just wanted to disappear through eternity? Did you hoped, only to see that it was hopeless? We're you this lonely, Zeref?'

"Uhm...First?" She was clearly talking to herself, Lucy thought. At first, she thought that Mavis was talking to someone when she was going dow the stair to the First room, but upon reaching the bottom landing, Lucy Heartfilia saw no master but a child crying in a corner, with her little body shaking and her arms craddling herself. "First, what happened?" She was the founder of their guild, but she was still a friend, and Lucy knew that she needed someone who will listen and stay with her until she gets back her bearings. Settling beside Mavis, she gently began to pat her head. "You know you can tell us anything, First."

"She said she's having that 'time' of the month," a lazy voice drawled, making the celestial mage jumped to her heels.

"Laxus! I mean...Master!" Lucy stammered, hand clutching her wildy, beating heart as she spun on her heel. "Don't you do that! You almost g...gave me a heart attack!"

Laxus was lazily perched in a corner where a large crystal was protruding from the floor. "Didn't it came to you that someday you will have to baby sit her?"

"I...I'm not a child! You don't need to baby sit me!" Mavis said in between sobs, and Laxus snorted as he saw her body quiver.

"And I can clearly say that she doesn't have that 'time' of the month." Lucy deadpanned, settling herself once again on the floor beside Mavis. "So, why was I called here? I'm pretty sure it's not for a baby sitting job." She cringed a little when Mavis looked at her with a pout and a pair of swollen, red eyes, and after a while the latter just lowered her head and started fiddling with the hem of her dress. Realizing that Mavis wouldn't be talking for a while, Lucy turned to the other occupant of the room just to find that Laxus was staring at her intently. "Err, yes?"

She do get along quite well with her guildmates, but at that time, in front of Laxus' scrutinizing eyes, Lucy felt quite intimidated. Maybe it was because of her lingering dislike for him in the way he approach some guild problems, or his arrogant attitude or his happy, go lucky way of living, or so?

"Relax, I don't really bite." He drawled, sticking his pinky in his ear, a look of disinterest in his scarred face. "I hate to admit it, but Ultear and Jellal believed you are the sanest, well, second and last choice is that iron dumbass' whimp, and we're not risking anything."

Sanest? Levy? "Wait, I don't understand a single thing! Just what are you..wait..you don't mean..." She was still seated on the cold, marbled floor, but her mind was beginning to race out of the room of Lumen Histoire. He mentioned Jellal and Ultear, and First is here, and him..could this be another plot? Or another loop? Another part of the story that they have intentionally kept hidden from the guild ? But why?

She was pulled out of her own world by Laxus' laugh. "Damn, you caught up pretty good, Lucy."

Lucy. It was the first time Laxus said her name, and she felt her pride swell. She had managed to impress him, and it made her happy knowing that at last, Laxus Dreyar, Fairy Tail's current guild master, acknowledge her ability. She will not be just blondie in his eyes, but Lucy Heartfilia.

"Listen, blondie,"

Or not.

"You already know of Ethernano, and as of now, First is formulating a plan for the retrieval of Juvia Lockser. Of course, right now, we need to find her location."

She nodded, all thoughs of 'blondie' gone on her reeling mind. "You mean, Fairy Tail is going out for a mission? But why me?"

Yes, why her? She couldn't help but ask. She was not as strong as Erza, or as fearful as Mirajane, nor as bold and fierce like Cana. She was also not as powerful as Juvia.

"You really are not listening, don't you?" Laxus snapped, pulling his pinky out of his ear and blowing on it, while the other hand he used to scratch the back of his head. "I just said the more thinking minds the better..."

"But Levy..."

"ZEREF DON'T PLAY BY THE RULES, DAMMIT!" The lightning dragon slayer roared, silencing her, and making Mavis lift her head. He then got on his feet, sparks of lightning erupting from his hands and out of the corners of his eyes, and approached the now quivering ceelstial mage. "It's either we play his game or we sit patiently and wait on who he gets next."

"But..but you told us that Ethernano..."

"Is of natural existence, yes, Lucy," Mavis cut her, getting on her heels and putting herself in between the two blonde mages, facing Lucy. "But we cannot exclude him at all. That is why we need you."

"But I don't understand a single thing!" She bursted out, hands fisted in her sides.

"And they said you were smart," Laxus smirked, tearing his eyes from the two mages and turning his back on them. "I've wasted enought time in here, First. Make sure you tell her the plans, or as she demanded, everything. I hate going on circles."

"Where are you going?" Mavis quietly asked, eyes fixed on the celestial mage.

"Oak Town."

Her next words got stuck in her throat when Laxus vanished in a streak of lightning, making them cover their eyes for a few seconds until the blinding lights subsided. "He really is such a busy man."

"Yeah, a busy, cocky, supercilious man," Lucy sarcastically seconded. "And there was no need to raise his voice on me."

"I apologize for his actions, Lucy," Mavis explained, returning to her earlier position, seating back on the marbled floor. "It's just that it's taking its toll in him, and he wanted everyone at the guild to feel safe."

"Well..." she answered, carefully picking her words, "it's not that I dislike him or any, "she lied, "but he should also learn to disclose such guild concerns to us, to everyone, if he do trust us, that is."

"I know, and I want to thank you for understanding. You see, Laxus is doing everything he can, and the least we can do is to do our part the best way we can. All for the sake of the guild."

All for the sake of the guild. She has heard that line one too many times that she has already lost count. Not that the meaning got lost as time went by, but that it has etched its way deep in everyone's soul that in any circumstances that may arise, it will be their top reason and priority in living and in fighting. No words ever needed.

"And Laxus lied to you, Lucy."

"Huh? He lied to me?" She was slightly puzzled. Was there a reason to lie if they were going to work together?

"Probably because he can't tell you the truth." Mavis was once again, looking at the floor, fingers lazily fiddling with her hem, and Lucy thought that she liked doing that. Old habits die hard. Or in her case, never dies.

"Okay," Lucy shrugged, closed her eyes for a few seconds, then, to Mavis surprised, squatted on the floor, right in front of her. Se then looked at the Fairy Tactician, housed in an ethereal body of a little girl, directly in the eye, not blinking, not taking her eyes off even if it got teary, and after a moment, closed them, as if preparing her mind to the onslaught it was going to take. "Tell me my role, First. Why am I summoned back at Lumen Histoire?"

"I am very sorry, Lucy. If I could only do something,"

"Oh, don't worry, First. I've seen worse."

"Worse than giving up all your gold keys?"

#

To all the Graduates, congratulations!

My apologies for the late update. Schedules' getting hectic, especially now that Winter's finally on its last leg, so hibernation, goodbye! This chapter came out of the blue. It was supposed to be _, but I realised that I also need to provide development for the other characters to further explain the details of the story. So, Prelude to The Storm was born. The little Jerza scene was my favorite though, it only took me a couple of minutes. And Meredy ships them, too! So, they are investigating Jose Porla's place again? Why? And Laxus is heading there, too! And what does Mavis meant about 'giving up all your gold keys?' Is there a connection to Ethernano and Zeref?

The answers on the next chapter: Operation Fairy Storm!

Next chapter teaser:

"What were you saying about Juvia's scent?" Gray asked, adjusting his backpack.

"What about her scent?" Natsu asked, scratching his cheek while the other hand patted his stomach. "Man, that was good steak."

"You were saying something was funny about her scent, dumbass," Gray impatiently replied.

"If Erza didn't allow me to fly with Happy and instead ride the train, I would've toast your freezing ass for calling me dumbass, Gray," Natsu growled, looking at his friend in disdain. "But, since you asked nicely, I'll tell you. When I smelled her back at Amefurashi Village, there was also another scent within her."

"Zeref?" Gray darkly asked.

"I wonder," Natsu said with a smug face. "And Lucy said I was an idiot."