Back at the castle, Mirajane was still weeping on her new bed when she heard a knock at the door, followed by a voice, "Hello?"

Wiping her tears away, Mirajane looked up and asked, "Who is it?"

"Erza Scarlet, dear," a kind female voice echoed from the door. "May I come in?" Getting up, Mirajane opened the door expecting to see someone outside, but was caught by surprise to see a round teapot with long scarlet hair followed by two small teacups and a footstool. "Hello there, kind miss. Sorry if we're interrupting, but I heard you crying from your room. I thought you could use some cheering up. And of course, nothing makes the world brighter than a nice warm cup of tea."

Backing away from the teapot, Mirajane stammered, "But you… you're… you're a…" She then bumped into a wardrobe which suddenly gave a small jump.

"Ouch!" Mirajane turned around, and was surprised once again to see that the large wardrobe standing next to the bed with long light blue hair could also talk... and had a face! "Whoops, careful."

"This can't be real…" Mirajane exclaimed softly, sitting on the bed.

The wardrobe leaned against the bed, causing it to sink down. She smiled, "Real life furniture and kitchen utensils, talking and moving like magic, you ask? It's the craziest thing anyone can ever hear of. Absolute madness, isn't it?" She then giggled, "Oh, don't worry, sweetie. I'm sure you'll get used to us. I'm Juvia Lockser, by the way. I'm the head of Fairy Tail Castle's dressing department."

"Fairy Tail Castle?" Mirajane asked curiously. "That's the name of this place?"

"Named after a legendary fairy with a tail," the teapot Erza smiled. "The question about fairies having tails is debatable: The question itself represents eternal mystery… a never ending adventure! Oh, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Erza Scarlet, executive administrator of Fairy Tail Castle. It's very nice to meet you."

"My name is Wendy Marvell," the little teacup Wendy introduced herself.

"And my name's Romeo Conbolt," the second teacup Romeo introduced himself as well. "Wendy and I are Miss Erza's assistants, but mostly we bring tea for Master Laxus."

"It's nice to meet you all, too," Mirajane smiled. "I'm Mirajane Strauss. But my friends call me Mira. I'm from a village somewhere far from here."

Wendy asked Erza, "I told you she was pretty, didn't I? Just like that girl we met the other day." She turned to Romeo, "Almost as pretty as my blueberry hair."

Romeo laughed playfully, "Yeah!"

"Alright, that'll do," Erza said, pouring some tea into Romeo with sugar and cream added. "Be careful now, Romeo. Don't spill."

Romeo then slowly hopped over to Mirajane, who gently picked him up. She said, "Don't mind if I do. I'm getting a bit parched." She took a sip of tea, "Mmm, this is delicious."

"Hey, you wanna see me do a trick?" Romeo asked as Mirajane finished sipping. Taking a deep breath, Romeo started blowing large bubbles out of his head, which made Wendy giggle.

Erza scolded, "Romeo! Where are your manners?"

Romeo smiled sheepishly, "Oops. Sorry."

Mirajane asked, "So, if you don't mind me asking… How is it you're all able to walk, talk, and move? I always thought objects were supposed to be inanimate."

"Well, we're not really objects—" Wendy began, but Juvia, Romeo, and Erza shushed her. Mirajane curiously stared at them, but they merely smiled back. Wendy giggled in embarrassment.

"Oh, don't concern yourself about that, my dear," Erza smiled at Mirajane. "We heard so much about what you did for your brother and sister. That was very brave."

Juvia agreed, "We all think so. Definitely one of the bravest."

Mirajane tried her best to smile again, though it deflated into a sad expression. "But I lost Lisanna, Elfman, my dreams… everything," she sniffled. "I miss my brother and sister."

"Cheer up, sweetie," Erza assured comfortingly. "I know things seem hopeless and bleak for you, but it'll turn out alright in the end. You'll see."

"And you have us here to help you anytime," Wendy added.

"You should count yourself lucky on that part," Romeo added.

Erza exclaimed with a chuckle, "Oh, goodness! I've been babbling on when there's supper to get on the table. Come, Wendy, Romeo."

"On it!" Romeo compiled.

"It's nice to meet you, Mirajane," Wendy smiled, and she followed Romeo and Erza out of the room as they left. "Bye!"

"Alright now, what should we dress you in for dinner? Let's see what I've got in my drawers," Juvia suggested. She opened up her doors, and a swarm of moths fluttered out, before she quickly shut the doors and blushed embarrassingly, "Oh! How embarrassing." She opened one of her doors, and her other door served as an arm to search through a few dresses inside. She pulled a pink dress out, and said, "Ah, here we are! You'll look ravishing in this one!"

"That's very kind of you, but…" Mirajane said. "I'm not going to dinner."

"What do you mean, 'You're not going?'" Juvia asked skeptically. "Of course you are. You heard what Master Laxus said. You must come to dinner!"

"Yeah, well, Laxus can dine all by himself tonight, because there's no way I'm leaving this room," Mirajane said stubbornly, crossing her arms and sitting on the bed. "He may be your master, but he isn't mine."

Juvia tried to reason with Mirajane, "Master Laxus has a bad temper, you know! He gets mad easily! I remember seven years ago, when I gave Laxus the clothes with the wrong color, I was thrown into the dungeon and spent three whole days." She then shrugged, "I still have the nightmares. You know what Laxus could do if he snaps? He might come after you—"

"Let him come," Mirajane still crossed her arms stubbornly. "I'll take him on. He can yell and punch and tear down the whole room, but there's no way I'm having dinner with a bully like him. Not after what he did to my brother and sister…"

Before Mirajane could continue, the door opened with Gray scuttling inside. Clearing his throat, he announced, "Dinner is served." He bowed and gave a smile in front of Mirajane.

Suddenly, upon seeing Gray, Juvia's eyes exploded with hearts. She screamed joyfully, "My beloved Gray! You don't know how happy I am to see you! Our bodies may have changed because of the spell, but my love for you never dies! It is stronger than any spell in the world!" With a gleeful cry, Juvia pounced on a screaming Gray and fell on top of him, squeezing the clock with the wardrobe's large weight.

"Can't… breathe…" Gray wheezed. "Need… air…"

On the room's mirror closet, the perfume Alzack Connell, and his wife, the hair comb Bisca Connell, looked on with sarcastic smiles. They are accompanied by their daughter, the hair clip Asuka Connell.

"Happy to see your girlfriend again, Gray?" Alzack asked.

"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!" Gray protested.

Down in the dining room, Laxus was impatiently pacing about while Natsu, Lucy, and Erza watched from the mantelpiece.

"What's taking her so long?" Laxus growled. Every time he threw a glance between the door and the clock every five minutes, his impatience worsened. "I told her to come down." He turned to the others on the mantelpiece and screamed, "Why isn't she here yet?!"

Lucy sighed, "Don't fret about that, sir. It's normal for women to take anywhere from 15 minutes to 4 hours to get ready for dinner."

Erza agreed, "Just try to be patient, Master Laxus. Mirajane has lost her brother, her sister, and her freedom all in one day."

"I could care less about that!" Laxus scoffed stubbornly. "She asked for this! If she hadn't come here, her pathetic brother and sister would be rotting in the dungeon right now."

Natsu rolled his eyes, "That would be hard on anyone."

"It doesn't matter!" Laxus snapped. "I told her to come down to dinner, and she has to do what I say!"

Natsu interrupted, "If I have to ask you, Boss, are you positive this Mirajane girl could be the one to break the spell?"

"Well, duh!" Laxus shouted at Natsu. "Of course I know! I know she's the one for me. I'm not that dumb."

"That's good to hear," Natsu said cheerfully, "All you have to do is share a good meal with the leading lady." The candlestick on his left was lit, "You fall in love with her…" The candlestick on his right was lit, "She falls in love with you…" Then he blew the flames out, "And POOF! The spell is broken. We'll be human again by midnight!"

Erza shook her head, "I'm afraid it won't be that easy, Natsu. These things take time."

Natsu pointed out, "But the rose has already begun to wilt."

Lucy agreed, "Erza's right, Natsu. People don't fall in love just like that."

Sitting down at the floor, Laxus sighed in frustration, "It's no use. She's not gonna fall for me. She's so beautiful, and I'm… I'm… well, look at me!" He gestured to himself with a loud growl.

Lucy whispered to Natsu, "He does have a point." Natsu shushed her.

Erza smiled comfortingly at Laxus, "Oh, Master… You just have to help her see past all that."

"I don't know how," Laxus groaned.

"Well, you can start by making yourself more presentable," Erza said adamantly, and she hopped from the mantelpiece to the table, with Natsu and Lucy following her. "Straighten up. Try to act like a gentleman."

Laxus obeyed, straightening himself very formally.

Natsu added, "And when she comes in, give her a dashing, debonair smile. C'mon, Boss. Show me the smile."

Laxus gave a toothy grin, full of razor sharp teeth. It was a scary, yet funny grin.

Natsu rubbed his chin, "Okay, we'll work on that later."

"But don't frighten the girl," Erza reminded him.

"Impress her with your humor and wit," Natsu said.

"Talk with her every now and then," Lucy added.

"But be gentle," Erza added, as Laxus leaned back and forth between Natsu, Erza, and Lucy.

"Shower her with compliments," Natsu dictated.

"But be sincere," Lucy tackled on.

Laxus was starting to get a headache, as Natsu added, "And above all…"

All three shouted together, "You must control your temper!"

Suddenly, the door started to open. Natsu cried, "There she is!"

Standing up, Laxus waited anxiously for Mirajane to come inside, but was disappointed to see that it was only Gray.

"Uh, good evening," Gray said nervously.

Laxus frowned, "Well, where is she?"

"Who? Oh, you mean, the girl?" Gray shivered. "Yes, the girl. Well, actually, she's in the process of um... circumstances being what they are…" He then gulped, "She's not coming."

The room was dead silent for a moment, before Laxus screamed loud enough to break everyone's eardrums, "WHHHHHAAAAAATTTTT?!"

In a burst of lightning, Laxus blew through the doors and flew towards the East Wing all the way to Mirajane's room at breakneck speed with Natsu, Gray, Erza, and Lucy following close behind on foot. Gray yelled frantically, "Your Grace! Your Eminence! LET'S NOT BE TOO HASTY!"

Within moments, Laxus was in front of the door to Mirajane's room and banged loudly on it three times. He roared, "I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO COME DOWN TO DINNER!"

"I'm not hungry," Mirajane angrily replied through the door.

Laxus growled, "I'm the master of this castle, and I'm telling you to come down to dinner! Right now!"

"And I'm telling you I'm not hungry," Mirajane retorted.

"You're hungry if I say you're hungry!" Laxus shouted.

Mirajane scoffed, "That's just stupid!"

"What did you say?" Laxus said angrily, his nostrils emitting a large amount of smoke and his lightning raging further.

"You can't go around ordering people to be hungry!" Mirajane snapped. "It doesn't work like that!" Laxus was about to say something, but Mirajane cut him off by adding in a matter-of-fact tone, "And besides, it's rude!"

"Oh, yeah?! IS THAT RUDE?!" Laxus bellowed, his lightning raging to higher levels. "YOU'LL COME OUT, OR I'LL… I'LL… I'LL BREAK DOWN THE DOOR!"

Natsu quickly intervened, "Um, Boss? I could be wrong, but I don't think that's the best way to win her affections."

Lucy agreed, "Shouting and breaking down the door won't help anything."

"Please," Gray pleaded. "Attempt to be a gentleman!"

"But she is being so difficult!" Laxus glared, pointing angrily at the door. He said to Mirajane, "Why are you being so difficult?"

"And why are you being such a bully?" Mirajane retorted.

Laxus was getting frustrated, "Because I want you to come down to dinner!"

"Oh," Mirajane said sarcastically. "So you admit you're being a bully."

Losing the last bit of his patience, Laxus was about to break down the door and storm into the room, but Erza stopped him and calmed him down, "Now, Master. Calm down. Just stop for a moment and take a deep breath."

Shaking with rage, Laxus stepped back, took a deep breath, and allowed himself to slightly calm down.

Erza began, "Now, then. Try asking her again. But this time, gently."

Facing the door, Laxus tried to stay calm as possible. He asked, "Will you come down to dinner?"

"No," Mirajane replied simply. Laxus turned to his servants and angrily pointed at the door, but was quickly hushed before he could say anything.

"Suave, genteel," Gray advised.

Growling in frustration, Laxus tried to act formal by bowing at the door, and he talked politely through gritting teeth, "It would give me great pleasure if you would join me for dinner."

"Uh, we say, please?" Lucy mentioned through a cough.

Laxus concluded with as much politeness he could muster, "Please?"

"No, thank you!" Mirajane replied simply with a loud voice.

"YOU CAN'T STAY IN THERE FOREVER!" Laxus bellowed.

"Oh, yes, I can!" Mirajane snapped.

"Fine! THEN GO AHEAD AND STAAAAAARRRVVVEE!" Laxus roared at the top of his lungs, and it was loud enough to make Natsu and the others cringe. Laxus turned to his servants, "If she doesn't eat with me, then she doesn't eat at all!"

With that, he ran down the hallway and violently slammed the door leading out of the East Wing, the vibration causing a piece of debris to fall on Natsu's head.

"Well, that didn't go well at all, did it?" Erza asked.

Lucy shook her head in disbelief, "So much for a dinner for two. Like I said, people don't fall in love just like that."

Once Natsu had recovered, he suggested, "You guys go on ahead. I'll stand watch at the door and inform you guys at once if there is the slightest change. You can count on me." He saluted and took up a guard position at the door.

"Okay, whatever you say," Gray shrugged. He turned to Erza and Lucy as they began making their way out, "I guess we better go downstairs and start cleaning up."

Up in the West Wing, Laxus bursts through the door to his chambers and angrily flung a chair aside. He argued to himself, "I ask nicely, but she refuses! I even said please! Wh-wh-what does she want me to do? BEG?!" He snatched the silver magic lacrima which sat on the table next to the enchanted rose encased in a bell jar. He demanded, "Show me the girl!"

The mirror glowed and revealed a vision image of Mirajane still crossing her arms next to an anxious Juvia.

Juvia smiled, "I know Master Laxus can be foul-tempered, but underneath all the thunder and lightning around him, he's not such a bad guy. Why don't you just give him a chance?"

"Why should I?" Mirajane retorted. "Did he gave my brother and sister a chance?"

"Well, no…" Juvia admitted. "But once you get to know him—"

"I don't want to get to know him," Mirajane angrily interrupted her. "I don't want to have anything to do with him!"

As the vision ended, Laxus sighed sadly and set the magic lacrima down on the table, "I'm just fooling myself. To think someone like her could love me. She'll never see me as anything… but a monster."

Guilt and shame gnawed at Laxus's heart. Though he hadn't cried since the passing of his grandfather Makarov, Laxus felt his eyes ache as if tears could fall down from his eyes. Despairingly, he held his head with his hands. "It's hopeless."

Just then, something caught Laxus's eyes. A petal fell from the rose and landed on the table, much to his horror. "No! Not now! Think, Laxus, think! What did they say?" He paced around the room, recalling the advice his servants gave him, "'Shower her with compliments.' 'Impress her with your wit.' 'Act like a gentleman.'" Then Laxus got it, "Act like a gentleman. Act like a gentleman!"

Casting one last glance at the rose, Laxus ran out of his lair. He had hoped this new idea could make amends with Mirajane.