Ch. 47: Anywhere, Everywhere (Part 3)

Day: 47

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail!

Genre: Humor

Summary: Lucy, Gildarts, and Natsu reach Fairy Tail.

"Wow..." Lucy stared up at the massive building, brown eyes wide with apprehension. Even just the doors were at least four times as big as her!

"Wow is right, kiddo." Next to the blonde, Gildarts was practically glowing with pride. It was his guild that had the child so impressed, after all.

"Pshhhh, it's not that big." Natsu flapped his hand dismissively.

Gildarts raised an eyebrow. "Alright, then how about we go on in."

Lucy nodded enthusiastically. "Yes please!" She exclaimed, ignoring Natsu's betrayed gasp at her words.

The older Mage pushed the doors open, and the pink-haired boy's jaw dropped.

If possible, the guild hall seemed even bigger on the inside. The young Celestial Mage sprinted in, spinning as to drink in as much of her surroundings as possible. The walls were lined with countless tables, and each table was crammed full with mages of every kind. The sound of all of the guild members was nearly deafening, but Lucy didn't care.

"Wow..." She breathed again, and this time Natsu nodded in agreement.

"Gildarts! Fight me!" Someone shouted, and a white-haired blur launched at the elder man.

Gildarts simply laughed and thrust out a hand. The blur rammed head-first into his hand and crumpled to the floor.

"Oowww..." The challenger moaned piteously. Now that she was not in motion, Lucy could get a better look at her. Her silvery hair was waist-length, tied back tightly but for a single strand that hung over her ear. As for her attire... Well, let's just leave it at the fact that if was a bit scanty for a girl of her age.

"Nice to see you too, Mirajane." Gildarts said good-naturedly. The girl, Mirajane, just groaned in response, picking herself up off the floor.

"Big sis!" A smaller girl whined, sprinting to Mirajane's side. She looked up at Gildarts apologetically. "Sorry! I told her not to!"

Gildarts grinned. "It's fine, kid."

Lucy shot a glance at Natsu, scaling his reaction to the brief scuffle. To her ever-mounting horror, he looked to be preparing to throw himself at the older (and obviously more skilled) Mage.

"Nope!" Lucy exclaimed, latching onto Natsu's arm.

"What the-"

"Nope!" Lucy shouted, a bit louder than she had originally intended. All eyes in the room turned to her. Her cheeks reddened at the attention, but she didn't let go of Natsu's arm. "Hi?" She said sheepishly, giving a little wave to the staring mages.

"Oh, that's right! I picked up these squirts along the way!" Gildarts put his hands on the two kids' shoulders, grinning widely.

"You're turning this place into an orphanage, Gildarts!" One voice called from the crowd.

At the same time, a blonde teen leaning against one of the pillars lining the room scoffed. Just what we need - another pair of useless brats." He muttered, just loud enough that Natsu's ears pricked up at the noise.

The dragon slayer bristled under Lucy's hand, and she tightened her grip.

"They have some strong magic," Gildarts reasoned.

"Let's see it then!" Another man cried, and most of the room's occupants shouted out their agreement. Mirajane looked a bit angry, but when she opened her mouth to say something she was silenced by a hand on her shoulder.

The owner of that hand was a small old man with more wrinkles then a tortoise left out in the sun for a year. Still, he practically glowed with health.

The room fell into silence as the old man raised a hand. "What do you think we are, Gildarts?" He asked calmly.

"Master, you can't be seri-"

"I said, 'What do you think we are, Gildarts?'"

Gildarts looked the Master straight in the eyes. "I think we are a guild that never turns away a person in need."

There was a heavy silence that felt almost tangible in the air for a few moments. When the old man nodded his approval, Lucy let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.

The master's face broke into a smile. "Good. Now, let's welcome our newest guild mates... WITH A PARTY!"