Erza had to get out of the guild and fast. She needed a distraction and a long one at that. Which was why she took it upon herself to take an S-Class mission that would take her a week or so to accomplish. It hurt her to see Natsu with Lucy, which in turn would cause her to get frustrated with herself. She knew that he was going to pick Lucy and yet her trust in him still strained. Seeing him, on instinct, choosing Lucy's life over her own just killed her. The worst part of it all was that stupid voice in her head. From time to time it would reappear in her mind, repeating what it had told her when she was locked up for those few days.
I only speak the truth my dear Erza...
She shook her head in frustration. She needed to get that voice out of her mind. Before she could continue on to her mission, she had to do a personal mission of her own first. In a city a few hours away from Magnolia, resides a little bar joint called The Fallen Star, where four very talented wizards worked. Wizards that Erza has been trying to get to join Fairy Tail for a few years now. This time she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
As she entered The Fallen Star she catches at the end of a song performed by a beautiful tall blonde, dressed in a short, skin tight sequenced blue strapless dress with black ankle boots. Her hair was pulled back in a ballerina bun with some loose strands of hair framing her face. In Erza's opinion this woman was one of the most beautiful women she had ever met, her face was fit for a princess, slender, graceful and radiant. And yet, her olive complexion was covered with some scars, one that was very prominent was a large faded scar on the back of her neck. As the singer finished her song, her hazel eyes connected with Erza's brown ones. She smiled, waved then walked off the stage.
"Erza Scarlet, what a pleasant surprise!" the woman said as she hugged her tightly.
"Hello Adeline, it is very nice to see you again." Erza said as she returned the action.
Adeline showed her over to a table and ordered two waters.
"I do not see your cousin or the others around. Are they in the back?" Erza said as she looks around the bar for her other friends.
"Jericho is out on the streets getting some money, while Odette and Cedric are out shopping."
"Cedric shopping? How did Odette convince him to do that?" Erza said with a chuckle.
The waitress hands them both a glass of water.
Adeline smiled brightly at the question, "Maybe it's because they're shopping for their wedding day."
Erza shoots out of her chair, causing the table to flip and the water to spill all over the floor.
"They are getting married?" Erza shouted in joy.
Adeline laughs and nods vigorously. Erza was extremely happy for her two friends, they deserved each other.
"Yes, the only problem is that we don't have enough money to host a great wedding. I mean Joe is a great guy to let us work at his bar, but the pay still isn't enough to be financially secure." Adeline said as she puts the table back up, "That's one of the reasons as to why Jericho is out on the streets right now."
"Well all of you could always join us in Fairy Tail. The missions will give all of you a good pay. Especially, if you do not cause any collateral damage." Erza said as she helps Adeline with the table.
They sit back down.
"And we now enter into our never ending cycle. Erza as I've said before and will continue to tell you, we are very grateful for your offer, but we don't want to dive into the field of wizardry again. "
"Times have changed Adeline. I do believe that you and everyone else will not regret joining us."
This startles Adeline. Erza was never one to push someone to join Fairy Tail, especially not to her. Yes, every visit she has made, she would offer her and her friends a place in Fairy Tail, but she usually would drop it the moment Adeline would decline. Something was wrong. She stares into Erza's eyes, analyzing them and can see a slight falter.
"Erza, what's wrong?" She asked
Erza shakes her head, "No, there is nothing wrong Adeline," she now has her sight on the floor.
"You are having doubts, " Adeline said very quietly.
Erza doesn't respond. She hears a heavy sigh.
"Ok. I will talk to everyone to see if they would like to join Fairy Tail."
Erza looks up at her friend and sees sympathy in her eyes. It made her feel slightly relived and hurt at the same time.
"Thank you." She said.
A week. One whole week has passed and on a mission that should have finished five days max. Natsu was going nuts.
"Where is she? Where could she be?" Natsu would mutter to himself as he walks around in circles. Natsu and Happy had taken a mission close to Erza's own, but he wasn't able to see the Scarlet wizard at all. This of course, worried him more.
Mirajane had tried to calm him down by telling him that a few days was nothing to panic about. As for the rest of team Natsu they just sat there watching their pink haired friend stress out. Lucy didn't have the chance to talk to Erza before she left on her mission so she wasn't able to ask her anything about that strange voice. Luckily, Gray was the only one of their group who has been with Erza through the time of her healing. He tried to talk to her about what had happened, but Erza reassured him that everything was fine and that was all he could really hope for.
The doors open widely with a bang and in comes Erza with four other people behind her. What Erza did not expect was everyone's reaction to the people behind her. The entire guild practically swarms around the group in a frenzy. Erza takes that as an opportunity to go over to Mirajane and Lisanna.
"Why, it looks like you brought some very famous people here Erza." Mirajane said with a giggle.
"Yes, they were actually the reason as to why I returned later than I had anticipated. They are here to join Fairy Tail."
"What?!" The entire guild screamed with a new found sense of glee.
Lucy walks up to the Strauss sisters and Erza, with Wendy and Carla in tow.
"Erza, do you know who these people are?" She said as she stares at the poor group of members being rampaged by her guild, her sight focuses more on the beautiful singer Adeline.
"Yes. Why would I not know who they are if I was the one who invited them?" Erza replied, not understanding the question.
"Oh my gosh! How long have you known the best female dancer in all Fiore? And why haven't you told us?" Wendy said jumping up and down.
"Oh geez, I didn't know people thought of me like that. That's so flattering." A woman said as she struts into the conversation. Wendy gasps with both hands over her mouth.
Odette Atlas: a beautiful woman with long lilac colored hair fully braided to the side and bright jade eyes. At that moment the beautiful dancer wore a white skater skirt with a tight black tank top under a white vest, with white ballet flats. The fact that people considered her one of the greatest dancers, is not an understatement. Anyone could tell just by the look of her how athletic and strong Odette was. Her body was petite, but lean and with every movement she made one could see how defined her muscles really were. What many do not know is that she is in fact Adeline's cousin, but once it is mentioned, they can't help but notice the similarities between the two, especially in their faces. Their cheeks, their noses and most importantly their smiles.
"Oh but it's true! Carla and I have seen you dance before, when we were on our way to a mission. You were dancing with someone else at that time and it was so beautiful I almost cried!" Wendy said remembering the nice moment.
Odette smiles at the young dragon slayer.
"Tell ya what, how about I do a little dance lesson for you whenever you like cool?"
"Oh wow! Really?" Wendy exclaims in pure joy and all the dancer did was smile brightly.
Not to long after Cana pushes Odette to the side while dragging one of the new guys by the arm. The man she was dragging, was quite the handsome fellow. Tall, notably muscular, especially in the arms. His face was square with a defined jaw line. He had long shaggy reddish hair that is covered with a baseball cap backwards causing his bangs to go through the hat. He wore khaki brown shorts with a maroon muscle shirt with athletic shoes.
"Screw the dancer!" Cana slurs, "This beautiful man right here is the greatest bartender in all of Fiore!"
"Hi, the name is Cedric, " the man said as he scratches the back of his head nervously with his free hand.
Cana places a finger on his lips.
"Shh, don't speak. Go make me a drink."
Erza places her hands on her hip in annoyance.
"Cana, be respectful for our newest member please."
"Oh no, it's chill! I'm totally fine with making some drinks. Just show me where the bar is." Cedric said excitedly.
Mirajane smiles sweetly at the bartender, "Oh well, here then, let me show you."
Cana follows them and Erza sighs.
"Odette, how are you alright with seeing an attractive woman act like that towards your fiancé?"
"Woah! You guys are getting married?" Lucy exclaimed
Odette places her hand on her cheek as a dash of red sweeps across her face. The ring on her finger flashes radiantly. She was very happy at the thought of her fiancé.
"Oh no, don't let her start talking about her love for Cedric. It will just drag on and on and I am not physically prepared to be sick to my stomach," another young man enters into the conversation.
This young man wore a bright big and cheerful smile. His skin tone a bit darker than the rest of the newcomers. He wore black pants and a bright red t-shirt along with a black leather jacket and biker boots. He did not look as muscular as Cedric, but he did look fit. His face was more thin and narrow, by the way his brown hair framed his face in an unkempt manner and his eyes were big and brown. His entire face gives off the embodiment of the word joyful. Adeline steps by the man's side and playfully shoves him.
"Don't listen to Jericho," she said as she laughs, " he just loves to bully Odette."
"What kind of magic do you guys do, if you don't mind me asking, " Gray said.
Jericho does a double take on the ice maker.
"Dude, weren't you just wearing pants?"
The gang laughs. "But, if you would like to know. I wouldn't mind facing you off one of these days. I heard you're one of the strongest mages in the guild." Jericho said as he offers his hand to Gray.
The ice mage smirks at the new comer and takes his hand, "I'd be up for that. Welcome to Fairy Tail, you guys will fit in just fine."
"Thanks man! And just to let you know, I am a tarot card reader, so if you need me to look for anything I'm your man." Jericho said with a smile.
"Juvia would like to know her future!" Juiva said as she instantly pops in between to two men, "Will my beloved Gray be mine in the nearest future?"
"Don't be asking those questions in front of me!" Gray yells, causing the gang around them to laugh.
"Well, I don't know about you guys specifically but I did have a reading for myself saying that I was going to meet a pair of lovers," Jericho said in a jeering way.
This causes Gray's face to grow red and Juvia to burst in happiness. The gang laughs harder. It was then that Natsu and Happy come over to the group out of curiosity for the new people. Lucy was the first to spot the dragon slayer and grabs on to his sleeve pulling him in front of Adeline.
"Natsu, do you remember her? We stopped by at her bar to get something to drink and she was singing on stage so beautifully!" Lucy exclaimed
Natsu leaned close to her and studied her face for a moment or two. His eyes widen.
"Oh yeah! You're adding a circle, right?"
Lucy smacked him up side his head.
"Her name is Ad-e-line!" She yelled
Everyone around them laughed, they even earned a slight chuckle form Erza.
"Erza told me that you two are really close, but I must say I feel as if that is an understatement," Adeline said as she glances at her friend.
Everyone fell silent at her words. Both Natsu and Lucy looked away from each other, even giving themselves some distance from each other. Adeline began to analyze and connect the dots. Slowly, but surely, she started to understand what happened to her friend. She then catches something she believed to be important. Natsu giving a quick glance at Erza, looking for a reaction. Her face was of stone at the moment.
"So!" Lucy said, trying to distract her friends from the subject, "How do you guys know Erza?"
"Oh well, you see we actually met Erza when we were about 14 or so," Odette jumps in instantly.
"Yes, I was off on a mission, when I decided to take a break In the middle of the forest. It was then that I met Adeline. Both she and I were not in the best terms with each other at that moment." Erza adds on
"I was not in the best of moods when I ran into Erza and so we basically got into a fight. In the end, we ended the fight with a tie and Erza offered me and the rest of us to join Fairy Tail." Adeline said
"But wait, if Erza offered you guys to join Fairy Tail, why didn't you guys join at that time?" Wendy said.
She started to imagine what things would have been like if these four were in the guild before she ever entered in the picture. If Adeline ended up in a tie with Erza, then maybe Adeline might have been in the team that were going to defeat the Oracion Seis. Would it have ended faster? Easier? Then again, she has no clue what kind of magic the singer possessed. How strong is she really?
"Why yes, Wendy does have a point. Why are you just entering the guild after a good ten year after the offer?" Carla said
"Well to answer your question Wendy, we were trying to make a life for ourselves without having us depend on our magic and joining Fairy Tail would have been doing just the opposite." Adeline said
"Plus, we just started to make ourselves a bit known in the Fallen Star. We didn't really have a need to leave." Jericho said, placing a hand on Adeline's shoulder.
"So then, I ask again. Why now?" Carla repeats herself.
Everyone stood still for a second. Both Odette and Jericho looked at Adeline for the answer. Adeline gives Carla a closed smile and walked over to Erza. She looks at her straight in the eyes. For a split second, it seemed as if Erza was afraid at what her friend was going to respond.
"Erza would visit us as much as she could, and when she did she would always offer it to us. But this time I saw something different in Erza's eyes that couldn't allow me to decline this time."
