Lucy stared at the wedding dress that Mira was holding in front of her. She didn't have the heart to tell the white-haired mage that the dress was a monstrosity. There was no way that she was going to wear it. Thankfully, Erza arrived just then and glared at the dress.

"I will not allow Lucy to wear such an ugly dress on her wedding day," Erza announced, glaring at Mira before pulling out a dress that Lucy would have loved if it hadn't been over-the-top.

She shook her head at the two girls.

"I want a simple dress, remember? Something beautiful, elegant, and simple. I don't want over-the-top," Lucy reminded them as Levy came out from an aisle, carrying so many dresses that they could barely see the little bluenette behind them.

"Simple, elegant and beautiful," Levy announced as Erza took the dresses from her, hanging them on the rack they had commandeered from the front counter receptionist.

Lucy eyed each dress critically before nodding her approval, thankful that Levy had insisted on coming along on the trip. She needed someone with a cool head and sense enough to know that Lucy couldn't wear a huge dress to her outdoor wedding. Each dress that Levy had selected was beautiful but nothing so huge or long that Lucy would never be able to wear it. She smiled gratefully at the bluenette before the four girls each picked their top three choices.

Lucy was surprised when all four of them agreed on two of the dresses, though each girl seemed to have a different opinion on the third. It did, however, eliminate over half of the rack. Lucy sighed in relief, thankful that she wasn't going to be trying on every dress that Levy had picked out.

Two hours later the three were leaving the shop with Erza reverently carrying the wedding dress. Lucy grinned at her friend, still amazed at how easy it had been to pick out bridesmaid dresses for the four girls who would be in her wedding. Levy, Erza, Evergreen, and Mira. She grinned at the thought of Mira and Freed walking together, knowing that Bickslow had asked Laxus as his best man, which meant that he would be walking with Levy down the aisle. She wasn't sure who the other two men were going to be, but Lucy was sure that whoever they were they would be a good match.

"Lucy-chan!"

Lucy turned to see a short purple-haired girl running toward her, grinning brightly.

"Ilene!" Lucy hugged the girl close to her as the other three watched on in confusion. "I didn't know that you were in Magnolia."

The girl nodded, her purple curls bouncing. "I joined Lamia Scale after Master Heartphilia died. Lyon and Chelia have been taking care of me. They told me that you joined Fairy Tail and I was on my way to see you, actually."

Lucy grinned, before turning and introducing her to the girls that were around her.

"Walk with us?" Lucy asked.

The girl nodded, "I heard that you were getting married."

Lucy blushed, "Yes, his name is Bickslow. He, also, belongs to Fairy Tail as well."

Ilene smiled, "I can't wait to meet him."

The four girls starting laughing, imagining Bickslow meeting this tiny girl. Ilene looked at them in confusion as they reached the doors to Fairy Tail, Erza hurrying off to put up the dress as Lucy opened the doors.

"You might regret that," Lucy warned as she swung the doors open.

Bickslow jumped up the minute his bride-to-be entered the guild. He hurried over to her, stopping short when he saw the little purple haired girl with her. She had to be Lucy's age, but she didn't look to be much taller than Wendy, being even shorter than Levy. He looked between Lucy and the girl in confusion as Lucy smiled up at him with a warning in her eyes that Bickslow immediately recognized as her 'be nice' face.

"I'm Bickslow," He said, grinning at the girl.

She smiled back, "I'm Ilene. I grew up with Lucy at the Heartphilia mansion."

Bickslow's grin widened, "I suppose you know who I am."

Ilene nodded.

Lucy looked between the two in concern.

"I'm going to show Ilene around a bit," She told Bickslow. "Will you be okay without me?"

"No, need, Luce, I can show her around," Gray interrupted from his seat. "I'd like to know more about who you were before you were Lucy of Fairy Tail after all. And if I don't find out, Natsu will."

Lucy shivered before looking at her friend, "This is Gray. Will you be alright with him?"

The girl stared up at him with something akin to awe on her face, nodding.

Lucy watched the two walk away with amusement on her face. Ilene was sweet and a gentle soul, she exchanged looks with Mira, knowing that she was thinking the same thing.

Could Ilene be the one to help heal Gray's heart?

"So I heard that you belong to Lamia Scale," Gray said, as he led the girl outside, both of them forgetting that he was supposed to be showing her around the guild.

She nodded, "That's right."

"So you know that jerk, Lyon."

She giggled, "Yeah, he's told me all about you, too. Lyon isn't all that bad, though I think he cares about you more than he lets on."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Gray yelled, which caused Ilene to laugh even harder.

"I mean, he looks at you like a brother, though he would never admit it. He views you like I view Lucy, as a goofy little sibling we have to look out for."

Gray looked at her in confusion, "You're older than Lucy?"

Ilene blushed, "I'm actually three months older than her."

"But, but you're so little," Gray blurted, blushing as he realized what he'd said.

She nodded, "I know. I have a rare genetic condition that makes me this small. A lot of people were mean about it, but Lucy always treated me like I was just another normal kid. When she left home I followed soon after and ended up at Lamia Scale soon after the Grand Magic Games. Lyon's sort of taken to me like a big brother since then, even if I am older than him."

"So what kind of magic can you use?" Gray asked as they walked, looking down at the mass of purple curls that seemed to bounce with each step.

He swallowed as he watched her, amazed at how easily talking to her seemed and how much he already cared about this diminutive girl.

She smiled, blushing lightly, "It's really nothing special."

Gray stared at her, folding his arms across his chest, "If Lyon's taken an interest then it must be at least a little special."

Ilene sighed and knelt down, stepping away when a group of flowers bloomed in a spot that had been bare before. Gray looked down in amazement.

"What kind of magic is that?"

She blushed, "It's called Earth Make Magic - it's a lot like you're Ice Make Magic, only I can create earth instead of ice."

Gray couldn't say anything, he just stared at her in amazement.