A/N: So this is an idea that popped into my head. I'm not sure why but it did.

This is slightly AU. Everything is essentially the same with the exception that Lucy's father stays alive and continues to run his business and continues to live in that giant mansion and continues to generally be part of the upper crust. I hope you enjoy.

This will also be a bit different in that it's not about a specific relationship, but more about mages in general.

Chronologically, this would logically take place after the Grand Magic Games, considering Fairy Tail was popular at that time, but I suppose it doesn't really matter. Although I support NaLu, this timing makes the pairing hard to put into the story, so it won't really appear.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

Speculation About Mages

Lucy's heart sank as she read the letter again. Somehow, she couldn't believe it. Although she had somewhat made up with her father, she didn't think he'd do this.

Mages were generally viewed as a reality show or another paid service to Fiore's Upper Crust, and now she was one of them. They were thought of as uneducated at best. The many magazines featuring cheesecake spreads and scandalous gossip about mages served as proof of this, even if those magazines were readily consumed for entertainment by the wealthy of Fiore. Teens like Lucy had once been dreamed of a relationship with one of the hot male mages or of fighting against dark guilds alongside Crime Sorciere. (The independent guild was surprisingly popular among the upper crust, probably because they took care of many of the dark guilds who hurt their profits. Jellal and Meredy's good looks didn't hurt.).

So now that Lucy was one of these "uncouth drunkards" to her father's friends, she was surprised to hear that he had planned a party for her social debut. He was risking his reputation. Then again, she had become popular because of the Grand Magic Games win, so perhaps he was using that as an excuse to hold the long-delayed party.

Perhaps the most troubling part of the invitation was that her father expected her to bring a few friends to accompany her. He had made the guest list already, but thought it necessary to say he hadn't invited any mages so she was free to do so. If she was alone, this would be easier. She couldn't possibly bring her guild as a whole. They were every bad stereotype her father's friends had of mages: loud, heavy drinking, violent, and with few manners to show. She had made a very short list of who she could bring.

Traditionally, she would also be expected to choose a male date. She wished she could bring Natsu to fill that role, but knew it could only end in disaster. Not even Gray could carry that role out well: stripping in the middle of a ball would just be embarrassing. And what would Juvia say when (not if) she found out. Secretly she wished she could have Jellal escort her. She didn't want to steal him from Erza, but he was the only mage she knew that could go through the ceremony without ruining anything. Unfortunately, he was a wanted criminal, which automatically disqualified him. She decided to go non-traditional and skip the date aspect. Thankfully, she'd heard that route was gaining popularity as arranged marriages became a thing of the past.

Now it was time to invite the few mages in Fairy Tail she thought were closest to ready for society.

"Erza?" Lucy asked the next day at the baths. She had barely survived a morning run with Erza for a chance at having the baths to just the two of them.

"What is it Lucy?" The scarlet-haired mage asked her teammate.

"My father is arranging a party for me. I was wondering if you'd come," Lucy asked shyly.

"Of course," Erza said. "I wouldn't let my friend down. Is the rest of the team going?"

Lucy blushed and shook her head. "I don't want them to destroy my father's house in front of his business partners."

"That's logical," Erza deduced. "Tell me the time we're leaving and I'll be ready."

Being raised as a slave, Erza probably had no idea how far ahead these things were planned, so she probably had no idea that the event wasn't for another month. Lucy would have to remind her.

Lucy tracked down Levy in the library reading some text on powerful magic weapons at the disposal of the magic council and their uses.

"Lucy!" Levy greeted. "Is something up? I rarely see you here."

"Since you're my best friend in the guild," Lucy paused. "Would you mind coming to my social debut?"

"I wouldn't miss it," Levy smiled, hugging her friend from the chair she sat on. Lucy assumed that Levy had never been to such an event, but that the girl had extensive knowledge of what would happen. Levy probably knew more than Lucy did.

Two down, one last acceptable guild member to go.

Lucy knocked on the wooden door. It opened, but she couldn't see anyone behind the door. When she looked down she saw Carla holding the door.

"It's Lucy," Carla announced to Wendy, who Lucy could hear bounding to her door.

"Hello Lucy," Wendy greeted.

"One month from today my father's having a party for me," Lucy explained. "Would you like to come?"

Wendy looked to Carla for guidance. Carla nodded to tell Wendy it was okay.

"She can go as long as I come with," Carla said.

"That would be okay," Lucy smiled.

"Then we'll see you at the train station next month," Carla said, closing the door to Wendy's room.

One month later, Lucy was at the train station waiting for the arrival of Erza, Levy, and Wendy. For the occasion, her father had booked the girls a private cabin on a train car. Lucy wondered how she should broach the topic of what the culture she was raised into thought of mages. She still hadn't found a good way to explain it without potentially offending them. Surely Levy and Wendy would be reasonable (although Wendy didn't need to hear the more risqué beliefs), but Lucy doubted Erza would take it well. Erza would try to prove them wrong, but her attempts would only prove them right.

By the time they had sat down on the train, Lucy had given up. Carla was trying to get Wendy to sleep so she wouldn't feel her newly developed motion sickness on the ride and wouldn't use up her magic. Levy was nose-deep in a book she bothered to read at a normal pace. Erza was going through the index of her requip space, which Lucy observed was now filled with various dresses and ball gowns alongside a smaller than usual selection of armor and weapons. Apparently she still hadn't decided on the perfect gown to wear.

Lucy fell into a light sleep until she felt herself being violently awoken. She opened her eyes to see Erza's face.

"Oh, Lucy, you're awake," the scarlet-haired mage assessed. "I need your opinion on something."

Lucy rubbed her eyes and looked to see what Erza could possibly be waking her up about. Upon seeing Erza requipping through various combinations of earrings and necklaces, she determined Erza must be wondering about how to accessorize herself to fit the atmosphere. It shouldn't be weird to broach the subject of what she was wearing, then.

"So, what dress will you be wearing then?" Lucy asked her.

Erza requipped into a daring dress. It was slinky and navy blue with a deep v-neck, a slit showing quite a bit of leg, cut outs on the sides, and an open back. Lucy knew that was Erza's style, but knew it wouldn't be appropriate for her social debut. Social debuts were not sexy. If anything, they were conservative.

"Perhaps you should wear a ball gown? They're in style right now," Lucy commented, hoping it would sway Erza.

Erza put on the dress she had worn to the celebration at the palace after the Grand Magic Games. "I just wore this, though," Erza reminded Lucy.

"Do you have something else?" Lucy asked. "I thought you just went shopping."

Erza contemplated this, then requipped into a ball gown that matched her guild mark. Though strapless, it was floor length. The top was covered in tastefully patterned silver lace appliques. Gold threads were entwined in the lace, and when the light hit it just right the top appeared to glitter like the night sky. Lucy knew who Erza had bought it for, but couldn't think of a situation it would be appropriate for. It wasn't like Jellal was going to any balls any time soon.

"I didn't bring jewelry for this dress," Erza warned Lucy.

"I'm sure I have some gold and sapphire jewelry around at my father's home," Lucy offered. "You could borrow it."

Erza accepted her offer, but looked a bit ashamed to do so. Lucy wondered why, but she supposed she should ask. It probably was another one of the many quirks Erza had from her time as a slave in the Tower of Heaven. That meant that Lucy wouldn't ask about it.

Arriving at her father's mansion, Lucy was surprised how far from home she felt. She'd never entirely liked the suffocating lifestyle she had led inside its walls, but she never realized how little she would miss it once she had joined a guild.

Her guests, however, were firmly impressed.

"I knew you were rich, Lucy, but I didn't realize you were this rich," Erza said in barely contained awe. She looked around at the interior of the building and marveled at its rich interior. Lucy wondered if Erza knew people were watching – when she did, Erza would act much calmer.

"Lu-chan," Levy said excitably. "You have to let me check out all the libraries and studies! Maybe there will be some books I'll need to take back to the guild." Lucy wouldn't doubt that there were a few useful books about celestial spirit magic that she could use hiding in the building. Hopefully Levy would have time to help her look.

Wendy was overwhelmed, and even Carla didn't have an answer for her. Both remained polite as they watched the older girls take in their environment.

Servants had already taken the mages' bags up to their rooms, which Lucy was determined to show them to. It had been long enough, though, that she didn't remember where the guest rooms were. Even then, she had no idea who would be placed in each room. She let the family's new butler lead them up the staircase.

While Wendy and Levy were easily settled into their rooms, Lucy found that Erza was having slightly larger problems. The maids went through her luggage looking for clothes to put away or a dress to hang up. All they found in Erza's mountain of luggage was food.

"Mistress Lucy, Miss Erza?" one asked. "May I ask where your clothes are?"

Erza almost looked offended, though a sweet smile appeared on her face. She was about to explain what was going on when Lucy stepped in for her.

"Erza's magic allows her to change her clothes at will, so she doesn't need any clothes unpacked," Lucy explained. Erza nodded. The maids politely left the room, but Lucy could tell they were embarrassed by the whole situation. Before Erza went out to clear things up, Lucy stopped her from leaving the room. "Why don't you rest up and get a nice bath. I believe there's a private tub in the room?"

With that, Erza perked up, ran into the room, and left Lucy to greet her father. She walked to his office and waited to be called in. It took nearly fifteen minutes before her father asked her to come in. Despite their reconciliation (well, something of one), the atmosphere was still chilly. She hoped he would approve of her guest choices. He had invited far more of his own guests.

"So who did you invite? Some of the better-behaved guild members?" Lucy's father asked sternly.

Lucy gulped. "I only brought three guests as I said in my letter. They should be proper guests."

"I would assume so. I have not heard of this Levy, but I did see Wendy at the Grand Magic Games. She seems like a nice young woman," he praised her.

"Ah, yes. Wendy is wonderful," Lucy replied. "She also has her exceed, Carla, with her. Carla has taught her very good manners. As for Levy, she is a very skilled solid script mage. I'm sure she's read many texts on manners." Honestly, Lucy knew that Levy and Wendy's manners were probably better than her own. That had never been Lucy's forte.

"That is good then. Will Titania be well-behaved?"

"She has never attended an event like this before," Lucy admitted, "but from what I've seen she fits in naturally here."

"I've heard she has a tendency to be rather… destructive," he suggested. "Are there any merit to those rumors?"

Lucy didn't know what her father wanted to hear, so she had to come up with an answer that would be neutral on the issue. "I believe that is related to jobs she takes, which often require more force."

"I see," he nodded. "But it won't be an issue."

"No," Lucy replied, trying to show confidence. She could trust Erza not to destroy her father's house. Well, she could trust Erza not to destroy her father's house if nothing unexpected happened, like Natsu showing up. Luckily for her, Erza had made sure to send Natsu on a job that was to take place on the opposite side of Fiore. "Nothing will happen." Nothing should happen would be more accurate.

The event was set to begin at 6pm with dinner. Once Erza had ensured that Lucy was being helped by Virgo to dress and picked up the borrowed jewelry, she went to fix herself up. Lucy was separated from her fellow mages due to the proceedings of the debut, so they walked down to the ballroom promptly at 6pm.

They were all shocked to see the tables filled. Even more oddly, nearly everyone in the room had hair that was a shade of brown or blonde. When you always stayed around mages, it was hard to remember that few without magic had abnormal hair colors. A butler led them to a table on the edge of the dance floor, already occupied by a pair of sneering girls who were Lucy's age, one teenage boy, and their parents.

"No one told you the time?" One girl asked. Her mother didn't seem to see anything wrong with her statement.

Erza didn't pick up on her attitude and simply sat down, as did Levy and Wendy. Carla sat on Wendy's lap. The family also seemed unhappy with that. Carla was holding back her desire to tell that that she was not, indeed, a cat.

"We were told the time was six," Erza declared. "So we are on time."

"No one told you that on time is late?" The younger of the two girls asked.

Erza ignored her and reached to pour herself a glass of wine. Levy had to whisper to inform her that the wine would be poured later by a waiter. Erza grumbled. "No."

Levy looked to the boy, hoping he was friendlier. Once she noticed him ogling Erza's breasts, she knew he wouldn't be open to conversation. The parents seemed to side with their daughters: curious, but wholly unimpressed with their manners.

She hoped Erza would be able to fake manners well enough. After all, being raised as a slave and going on missions almost constantly did not give her a good chance to learn manners. Suddenly, a communication lacrima began to glow. Erza took it out of her small handbag and checked who was trying to call – it was her team. Much to Levy's relief, she put the lacrima back in her bag and sighed.

"Natsu's calling," Erza told Wendy. "He's probably looking for Lucy."

"Well, we may want to find out where he is so that he won't show up," Carla replied. The family looked shocked to hear the voice coming out of the cat, and began to listen more closely. "Despite Happy insisting that Lucy has a crush on him, I was happy that she did not invite him. That would have ended badly." Erza and Levy nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, a horn sounded through the hall and everyone went quiet. The butler who had escorted them in earlier announced the arrival of Lucy as formally as possible. She was escorted to the dance floor where she demonstrated various dances and formal greetings to various family friends. Levy tried to explain what was going on to Erza and Wendy, but even books couldn't accurately describe the tedious ceremony to mark Lucy's social debut. Heck, Levy doubted Lucy even cared about or remembered half the things required of her.

Before the seemingly endless rituals associated with food, a waiter finally poured the wine and brought soups and salads to the table for consumption. Thankfully, all Lucy had to do was recite a short blessing and begin to eat before the guests could dig in. Once the meal was served, the mages began to eat and did not talk to one another. That was probably due to their lack of breakfast or lunch causing them to down their food quickly. Instead they were left to listen to those around them.

"I hear that she's dated a few guys now," one well-dressed man said.

"No way she's a virgin – no mages anywhere near adulthood are virgins," a younger man replied. "So she's even less eligible to be a bride. Then again, as a mage she was never that eligible."

"Well, she's developed well, and as a mage she's probably gotten good experience in the bedroom," another young man suggested. "I think I'll make a move on her."

"I suppose now that she's debuted, she's up for offers," the first man reminded them. "Although I don't think she'll be taking any. The life of a mage is too wild."

"I would assume that the only ones who want to marry her anyway are the ones who want the fortune," the second man who spoke said.

"I wouldn't engage you to her even for the money," the first man said. "As a mage, she's not an appropriate partner for you no matter how much money her family has."

Erza didn't flinch at their words – she was too focused on her food and the fine wine she would never buy on her own. Carla was trying to distract Wendy away from the lewd conversations. Levy, however, was listening. It was just another way to gather important information. She turned her attention to another table.

"That's Erza Scarlet, isn't it?" One teenage boy said to another boy Levy assumed was his friend. His friend turned to look at their table.

"Just as hot in person as she was on lacrima vision," the friend said. "Wanna see if we can score on her?"

"Not really," the boy replied to his friend. "She might be open to it, but who knows if she'd skewer us for asking or not? You saw how scary she was."

"But cool," the friend sighed.

"Just don't let your mom hear that," the boy scolded him. "You know how she feels about mages."

Levy gathered that this meant mages were generally looked down upon. It wasn't like she didn't have an idea – she did know that mages were never invited to the palace until recently. She assumed that they, like the Grand Magic Games, were some sort of reality show when they weren't doing jobs for non-mages. It was no wonder that that Lucy didn't invite more people from their guild.

The family they were sitting with caught Levy's attention suddenly.

"So, is it true that Fairy Tail's parties are as epic as they say?" One of the daughters asked. Levy noticed that both parents had gotten up between courses to go socialize with a couple at another table. The son was nowhere to be seen.

"They are too wild," Erza declared, suddenly paying attention. "Natsu and Gajeel always end up fighting."

"Natsu and Gajeel?" The other daughter, whom Levy knew as Ophelia from her name card, asked. Her sister whispered in her ear and she nodded. "They're very attractive, aren't they? Do they have girlfriends or are they open to relationships?"

Levy blushed.

"I thought your kind didn't like mages or premarital sex," Erza said as eloquently as possible. Unfortunately her bluntness and lack of practice in using delicate language betrayed any attempts at sounding polite.

Both girls looked shocked at her rough language, but Ophelia quickly collected herself.

"We- Well," Ophelia's sister said.

"Although the adults dislike mages, those in my generation are more willing to… socialize with them," Ophelia suggested. "And as long as no one outside your family finds out, relationships are fine."

"Well, Natsu and Gajeel aren't the most eligible," Erza stated. "They're not very refined." Or else they'd be here, Levy thought.

"Who would you suggest then?" Ophelia asked.

"Literally anyone from Blue Pegasus," Erza informed them. "But I would assume they have STDs."

"Who would you suggest? They're all attractive," Ophelia asked. Levy felt gross about this whole conversation, and was grateful that Carla had begun to bring Wendy away to 'see Lucy' when the girls started asking questions.

"None of them," Erza said.

"So you haven't had sex with them?" Ophelia's sister, who Levy had identified by her place card as Phoebe, asked.

Erza almost spat out her wine, but swallowed it back into her throat. "No. It's not like that," she calmly stated, hiding any embarrassment she felt (if any).

"Really?" Ophelia asked. "But we were always told that sex made mages stronger, so we assumed…" Levy wondered if she'd ever get to try out that theory with Gajeel. No one had written about it, so the effect couldn't have been big enough for mages to try, but she could wonder.

"Well, what you've been told is wrong," Erza scolded them. The girls looked apologetic. "I don't think any of the girls in my guild that are younger than me have had sex. I certainly haven't."

The girls looked shocked. "But you're so sexy," Phoebe said.

Erza thanked them and blushed slightly, but maintained a cool face.

"What have you heard about mages?" Levy asked. Erza leaned in, curious to hear what they had to say.

"Well," Ophelia's sister said delicately. "Just that- are you sure you would be okay hearing this? You may be offended by it."

"Of course, I'm sure we've heard worse," Levy said in a joking tone.

Ophelia looked around, making sure her parents and brother hadn't returned. "Well, what we were mistaken on earlier. But also that you all drink a lot."

Levy laughed. "That's not wrong."

"So you get drunk a lot? Even when you're young?" Phoebe questioned.

"And you don't?" Erza asked, swirling her wine in her glass as she went.

"Well, if our parents are away and no one is there to see," Phoebe admitted. "Which isn't often."

"That's too bad. Honestly, even outside of parties most of the guild members drink beer like it's water," Levy told her.

"Really?" Ophelia asked.

"Yeah," Levy replied. "It's what we serve at the guild. Even Wendy gets to drink sometimes, although it's probably not a good thing."

Ophelia and Phoebe looked at them with wide eyes, wondering if she wasn't too young to be drinking.

"Is that why your parties are so… wild?" Phoebe questioned.

"No," Erza replied. "They're just not like this. This is a boring party with rules and traditions."

"Would we ever be able to see a party with mages?" Ophelia requested.

"Probably not," Erza said. "With the parties Fairy Tail holds, it would be dangerous for someone without magic to be present, so we don't allow any non-mages into the guildhall for them."

"Dangerous? How?"

"Well, when you have dangerous magic, getting drunk can lead you to use that magic in interesting ways," Levy tried to explain.

"Or they always end up fighting like idiots," Erza said. Levy didn't point out that Erza could get equally as aggressive or intense when drunk.

"Is… Is it true that some parties… or that the alcohol… or something," Phoebe began, trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to ask. She looked at her sister for help.

Ophelia leaned forward, trying to be even quieter than before. "Is it true that some parties become like… you know… risqué?"

Levy tilted her head, trying to figure out what they were asking. Just as it clicked, Erza spoke up.

"No, we don't have orgies, if that's what you're asking," she said. "Guilds are like families, so everyone is like a brother or sister to me."

"Ah, I see then," Phoebe asked.

"Why do you sound so disappointed at that?" A voice asked her.

"Lucy!" Levy said as she turned around and saw her friend. She hugged Lucy to congratulate her on the ceremony, although she was entirely unsure what this meant.

"How have you two been enjoying this?" Lucy asked.

"We've been finding out about what your father's guests think of us," Erza told Lucy, sipping her wine as if the conversation hadn't become dirty and offensive to mages.

"I see," Lucy said, nervous about what they'd heard.

"One wonders why they even hire mages considering what they think," Levy said almost solemnly.

"Ah, uh," Lucy said, suddenly remembering her concern. "Wendy said that Natsu called and that he might be lost. Any chance he's nearby?"

"If he is, that would be a problem. His job is on the other side of Fiore," Erza explained. Lucy had no doubt that Erza would be furious.

"Would you call him and make sure?" Lucy asked.

"Of course," Levy replied, pulling out her communication lacrima. "And if he is, we'll take care of it. Why don't you greet the rest of the guests? They all seem rather anxious."

Erza nodded and Lucy began to talk to Ophelia and Phoebe. The girls had attended some sort of class with Lucy when she was younger, so they had something to go off of.

Natsu answered his lacrima. "LUCY?!"

"No, it's Levy," she replied in a neutral tone. "Where are you?"

"I'm on the way to that job you guys picked out for me," Natsu explained.

"Erza was wondering if you needed anything since she was unable to pick up earlier," Levy told Natsu.

"Ah, well, I ran into Jellal. He asked if he could tell her something via my lacrima since none of Crime Sorciere had one," Natsu (calm for once in his life) articulated.

"Do you want to talk to her then?" Levy asked.

"Nah, he said he'd be near Magnolia soon anyways, so he'd talk to her then."

"I'll tell her that," Levy assured him. "I have to go."

"Wait! Where are you anyways? It's really loud, like a party," Natsu asked. "I feel like Lucy's hiding something from me about this job she's on."

"Maybe Lucy will tell you when she gets back," Levy said.

"If it's a girls weekend of some kind, you can just tell me," Natsu pleaded.

"Sorry, but I promised. She's safe and Erza's here as well if she needs help. Bye, Natsu," Levy said before hanging up. Before she could tell Erza about Natsu's message, Erza had disappeared.

Levy looked around only to find Erza talking to the teenage boys that had seemed overly interested in her. While they were trying to flirt by asking about her weapons, they grew horrified looks as she actually began to summon weapons to talk show them off. Levy had long since concluded that Erza, despite her ability to shamelessly flirt and seduce with most men, was oblivious to the flirtations of others.

Figuring that Erza was content to chat and dance with the partygoers, and seeing that Wendy was caught up in a conversation with the younger attendees, Levy decided that it was time to sneak off and see what she could find in the Heartfilia's extensive library. They could survive the party without her.

The next morning, as the four mages prepared to leave the Heartfilia mansion, they found themselves watching various couples still dressed in their party attire leaving the house. Some looked mussed up and low on sleep, as if they had been having sex all night; others looked severely hungover. One or two were stealing swigs of wine bottles they had taken from the party. Levy even swore she saw Ophelia leaving out a back hallway with one of the teenaged boys who was flirting with Erza.

Somehow Levy wondered if the stereotypes the richer residents of Fiore had about mages actually applied more to them. Levy hoped she wouldn't have to attend another one of these parties and find out.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed! Please R&R