**A/N: hello all! i am very sorry for yet another lengthy delay. It was very difficult for me to keep up with my classes as my health has not been so good lately. I am finally finished with summer school, however, and I somehow feel much better with that weight off my shoulders. In case you are wondering...I condensed the first two chapters since the first three were written together anyway but I did not do any additions until chapter three so I just squished together the first two. I did not change anything, I just did more proofing since for some reason the chapters were not coming up properly. I realized that I completely forgot to transition between two parts so I had to write that, and I apologize for the lazy way that this was accomplished, but I was trying to be as quick as possible because I felt it was a little lengthy. Thank you so much as always for following my story and I hope that you continue to do so! I am always so happy when new people come along and to learn that my readers are enjoying my work. On to the story!**

Book One: Lucy's Slumber

Chapter 5: Problem Solved

Layla was standing nervously in front of her bedroom, anxious to speak with her husband concerning her mother's visit. It had been nearly a month since the queen had come to speak with her, and Layla had yet to discuss this with Jude, whom she knew must have also had a conversation with her mother. However, he had not said a word concerning Mavis or Lucy and it was making Layla very anxious as she did not want to be the first one to mention it. Too much time had passed, much to Layla's discomfort, and she decided it was time to take action.

Taking a deep breath to settle her thoughts, Layla slowly opened the door which revealed an anteroom with an empty desk save for a large white candle and a short, fat inkwell ; one smaller bookshelf with Layla's books, notes and diaries; a larger bookshelf storing Jude's many ledgers and books for his business matters; and a large armoire taking up an entire wall that held all of Jude's clothing and other items Jude needed for work. Layla's clothing and other belongings were kept in another small room that was attached to their bedroom.

Layla looked around the darkened room surprised to not see her husband writing furiously with stacks of notebooks around him. She grew even more nervous as she realized that he had anticipated her actions. Layla nearly lost her nerve and left the room, when an impatient voice called out to her.

"Layla, I know you want to talk so hurry along with it." Jude paused for a moment as she did not respond. "Can't resist that, can you? Your husband asking you, no, begging you, to share your thoughts with him…come now, Layla, I know you're there."

Layla was amused in spite of herself at Jude's taunting. Nevertheless, she made her way into the room and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I thought you did not have a sense of humor, my love," she teased back.

Jude just rolled his eyes and invited her to slip beneath the covers before prodding her again. "So, what is it? How much is it going to cost me?"

Layla crossed her arms and sniffed, "Why is it always about money with you?"

"Well, it's rather simple really; it's because you are a woman and you are my wife."

Layla sat there annoyed with his speech, but she knew that in his own way he was playfully trying to warm her up into talking to him. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let out the thought that had been bothering her.

"Did you speak with my mother when she came to visit? What did she say?"

Jude seemed taken aback as if not expecting Layla's questioning. He cleared his throat and thought of how to answer her.

Of course she knows I've spoken to her. I am sure everyone on the estate spoke to her whether they wanted to or not. I am not supposed to say anything about the conversation, but Layla is too perceptive, she will know I am hiding something. Think like a poker man, Jude, even you can fool your wife just this once.

"I did speak with her for a little while. It was not really anything special."

Layla was not falling for it. Her mother was incredibly special; her saying "good day" was something to marvel at.

"Well, what did you talk about?"

Jude kept his composure, trying to desperately not to cave under the pressure. "She told me that she knows of some hermit who can cure Lucy, but we have to figure out how to get the hermit and Lucy together. Naturally, Lucy cannot be cured instantly and then thrust out into the world. So we have two problems: first, the hermit will not come to Lucy and Lucy cannot go to the hermit; second, what to do once Lucy is cured if no one knows she exists." There that ought to keep her occupied long enough until I leave for my trip.

"Oh! I had not even thought of that! Oh my goodness! Darling, what do we do? It would be very unfair and unkind to Lucy to keep her locked up here if she is well again. It is bad enough that she lives the way she does." Jude cringed at this as it was his idea, but then he had not expected his daughter to live nor did he think he was the only one who felt this way. "My love, we must think of something immediately. Lucy has been growing worse; she stays in her room moping and I do not know why! I bet it was that boy…"

"Boy!" Jude thundered. "What boy?"

Layla gasped and then laughed it off saying, "I was going to say boysenberries. She wanted to grow some in the garden but we could not find any in time. And really, random berries in a garden of flowers is rather strange, don't you think so, darling?" Layla looked over at him, batting her eyes innocently. Jude looked at her but just shrugged and motioned for her to continue. "Anyway, there must be some way to convince this healer to come here. What do you think, my love?"

Jude had been thinking about this "boy" as he had heard some whispers that his daughter was associating herself with some child from the village and it bothered him to hear it from his wife. He tried to remind himself about what she had said so that he could respond appropriately. He put a hand under his chin, to pretend to be thinking of an answer. "Perhaps someone in the guild will have heard of this hermit, or maybe one of the many doctors we have dealt with. Next time I travel I will make an inquiry and go from there."

Layla pounded a fist into the bed, slightly startling Jude. "That would take too long! You are not leaving again until spring! That's not for months!"

Jude sighed, slightly annoyed that for every step forward he made he had to take three back. "I could write to everyone, if you wish!"

"That's too long!" Layla cried.

"Well then, my dear, what would you have me do?" he said exasperated.

"Be a father!" Layla huffed. She turned over onto her side, snuggled beneath the blankets, and rested her head on the pillow. She was too annoyed to have this conversation anymore. Besides, he was obviously keeping something from her and was trying to keep it hidden from her. Mother and her ridiculous games! she thought angrily to herself.

"Well—"

"No! Too long…" she whispered harshly without letting him finish.

How does she do that? Jude wondered before going to sleep himself.

"Lady Heartfilia, I think I have found a way to solve our issues," said Mirajane.

Layla looked up from her notes to regard Mirajane. A few days after her argument with Jude, Layla had confided in Mirajane, who had already been informed of the situation by none other than the trickster herself. Mirajane had already been trying to think of a solution, convinced that it was the only way to fix the Lucy and Natsu problem, as well. Of course, she still considered all of these issues to be separate problems with separate solutions.

"And which problem would that be?" she asked.

Mirajane shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

"Is something wrong, Mira?" Layla inquired studying the girl. Then she blushed as she realized what the issue was. "Oh, do relax, Mira. You have been in my private rooms before and we are both women so there is no need for modesty." Layla gestured with her brown eyes at her plain white gown that resembled a sleeping gown, but was rather form fitting and Mirajane could easily make out the woman's curves.

Mirajane blushed. "Oh, yes, of course!" Despite having said this, Mirajane remained uncomfortable and kept her eyes focused on the walls.

"It is just more comfortable to be this way when going through all these documents," she said gesturing absently with a hand at the neat piles of paper before her. "Now, what is it you wished to speak about?"

"Well, do you remember that academy I talked to you about that my brother likes?"

"Oh, yes, of course!" Layla said brightening at the thought of Mirajane's brother. Layla took care to keep tabs on the children living on her estate and cared for them deeply. She greatly admired Mirajane's efforts to care for both her brother and for Lucy, and at such a young age. "How could I forget? I hear he has been training himself tirelessly for admission. I take it his hard work has paid off?"

"Sort of. For some reason, he brought some muffins with him for his trial. The letter actually asked if he would not consider going the culinary route instead."

Layla laughed heartily at this news. "How interesting! I hear he is quite skilled, and I have been trying to sample it for myself. Is he going to be a baker, then?"

"No," Mira said shaking her head, "he can study combat, but he has to complete a rigorous training program to catch up. I think the master here has been given a book or something to help him before the term starts."

"I am happy that he has finally been accepted! And before you ask, I can assure you that I had nothing to do with it," she said. Although Layla suspected that Jude had sent a letter to the school telling them of the boy's culinary talents, likely due to a combination of annoyance and recognition. "I believe everyone should earn their place, don't you? He will look dashing in the academy's uniform!" Layla gushed.

"Oh, right! The academy," Mirajane said as she realized she had gotten herself sidetracked. "Why not apply Lucy there for admission? It would be the perfect cover for Lucy's treatment! Plus, since my brother will be attending, I could also attend as well. What do you think?"

Layla was shocked at the idea. "Jude would never accept it," she said firmly.

"I am sure you could think of something around that."

True. "Lucy does not have an area of expertise! What department would she apply to?"

"She could apply for any department! She could study writing, literature, or she could study gardening. Even healing would be an excellent way to put her knowledge of herbs to use. If anything, she would likely be accepted given her name."

All true. Still, Layla shook her head and rose from her seat. "If she were to leave the estate, people could not know her true identity. You know that, Mira."

"I am sure that you could easily work something out. I could do it for you! I can say she is a cousin who had come to live with me on the estate, but you recognized her talents and immediately put in an application. Simple!"

Mirajane was too good at this; or perhaps Layla knew there was truly no good reason why Lucy could not attend. "You have clearly spent a great deal of time thinking about this plan of yours. Still, I am not certain about it. What if something happens to her?"

Mirajane finally stopped her wandering gaze and focused her eyes on Layla. "I know you are worried. I will be there to look out for her, and I am sure my brother would, too. You said the healer would not come here, and the location of the academy would be perfect. The city is far away and no one would suspect that anything is happening when a few children leave the estate to attend the school. There are many families who have their workers' children educated, so it would not be farfetched. The school itself is fairly isolated so I am sure the healer will find some place to stay, or we could arrange something." Annoyed with Layla's reluctance, Mirajane decided to pull a nasty string. "If you are confident that this healer knows what she is doing, then Lucy will get well. Do you not think she would love to be in an environment where she could start a new life, make friends, and be a normal girl?"

As expected, Layla's heart leapt at the idea of her daughter being a normal girl. Even Jude could not possibly argue over true happiness in life for his little girl. At a school in a city where no one knew her, it would be the perfect opportunity for Lucy to start over and live a true life.

"The only real question," Mirajane continued, "is how much information you plan to share with the staff there? Or if you plan to share anything at all?"

Layla started, horrified with Mirajane's suggestion.

"But," Mirajane said sensing the change in Layla's feelings, "I do know someone there who would be only too happy to help someone in this kind of predicament. I truly believe, Layla, that this is the best course of action." Mirajane blushed a little before adding, "Um…that woman…she said that there would be someone there, at least, that could help us."

Layla was slightly irritated at the mention of her mother (is there nothing she does not poke her fingers into!) but she was moved by how much Mirajane clearly cared for her daughter and at Mirajane's use of her name ; she was sure it was the first time in all her years of service. She trusted Mirajane greatly and Layla knew the girl only ever had the best intentions.

"I trust your judgment, Mira," she said enveloping the girl in a hug. "I am sure that we can come up with the perfect plan, and Lucy will be overjoyed. I just hope that it is enough to convince the hermit, Porlyusica."

Lucy stretched out in her seat, her tiny figure illuminated by the moonlight shining through the window. Lucy was sitting at her small Maplewood desk writing vigorously. For the past few months, she spent most of her time alternating between reading and writing. When she wrote, she wrote mostly lengthy adventure stories but she also wrote poems, ballads, and short narratives. When she read, she read books about plants and children's stories to distract her from the nature of her writing. She was not sure why, but lately she had felt the urge to write things down as if it was her own story but she was glad to have something to do.

Lucy had not seen Natsu since the day he came to visit her when she had been sick. She could not remember much about the day, and had only been told that she had fainted and had been brought to her home. She wondered if she had scared Natsu away, but the maids had reassured her that he had really wanted to visit with her. Virgo and Aries had said Natsu stayed with her while she was sleeping late into the night. Lucy was incredibly confused by this information and could make no sense of it. Maybe he had grown tired of her and decided he would rather be friends with more normal children.

Lucy shook her head to rid herself of the painful thoughts, and got up from her little desk. She walked over to the window, all the while denying that she was trying to spot him among the other children. She never saw him there either. She blamed it on her eyesight which was not nearly as strong as it had been.

"Where did you go?" she whispered.

"I told you I was meeting with Aries to get some clothes for the children," a voice said. "Did I take so long you thought I left?"

Lucy turned to Mirajane and smiled. I am so glad Mira is here. She frowned for a moment as she thought Mirajane would leave her, too, if she had the chance. Lucy shook her head furiously. "No, not at all," she responded to her question.

Mirajane gave her an odd look as she set her bundle on the floor. "Okay… What do you write about anyway?" she asked looking over at Lucy's papers.

"Nothing!" Lucy answered running over to gather her papers and put them out of sight of Mirajane's eyes. "Just stuff, you know."

Mirajane chuckled. "Okay, okay."

"Um… Mira… I know I ask you a lot but um…" Lucy mumbled.

Mirajane let out a pained sigh, and knelt down to look into Lucy's big brown eyes. "Lucy, Igneel and Natsu have left. I can only guess that maybe something urgent came up. Maybe Natsu had to be sent somewhere else for his training. I just do not know, little one."

Lucy sniffed. "But… but…he didn't even say goodbye!" she cried.

"I know, Lucy. I am sure Natsu had good reason." Mirajane pulled Lucy's crying figure into her arms.

A few weeks later…

"You wished to speak with me, mama?" Lucy said announcing her arrival.

Layla immediately put away her work, save for one very thick envelope. She stood up from her desk to embrace her daughter before settling herself and Lucy on the loveseat Layla had in her room.

"There is something that I would like to discuss with you, Lucy."

Lucy looked around the room nervously taking in her surroundings. She did not often go into her mother's private chambers so she was both excited and nervous.

"Yes, mama?"

"Lucy, how would you like to go to academy?"

"Academy?" Lucy asked confused.

Layla nodded. "It is one of the most respected academies in Fiore. In fact, it is one of the best in the word!" Layla studied Lucy noticing that she was not as excited as she had hoped. "I thought that you might like to venture out a bit," she tried.

Lucy was deep in thought. "To go to an academy, don't you have to be really gifted? I don't have any gifts."

Layla laughed softly. "Come now, you are probably the most knowledgeable person on this estate when it comes to herbs and flowers. You know so much!"

"I don't know that much."

"Well, you could learn, my love. You can learn all there is to know about every type of plant and learn how to use them for healing purposes."

Layla was slightly alarmed by Lucy's unexpected disinterest, but Layla was determined to set the plan into motion. She and Mirajane had worked tirelessly to work out everything as perfectly as possible; making all of the necessary arrangements, speaking to the contact at the academy, and of course, figuring out how to keep Jude out of it but interested enough to consent. Layla figured the plan would be successful when she received an anonymous note most likely from the queen regarding a few details of Layla's plan. Now, however, she was not so certain about the plan and began to have doubts.

"Healing…" Lucy mumbled with dissatisfaction dripping in her tone.

Layla smacked herself inwardly. "Actually, my star, there is something more to it."

"Something more to healing or plants? I can't say I have much interest in healing…"

"I understand, but, Lucy, I have found someone. After all this time, I have finally found someone who can make you better. You can be a normal girl."

Lucy's eyes began to fill with tears as her mother's words reminded her of Natsu's absence. "You don't think I'm normal?" she sniffed.

Layla gasped in horrified shock. "Of course you are normal! That's not how I meant it, honest."

Lucy knew what her mother meant but for some reason she still felt stung.

Layla then realized what her daughter had been thinking about. "The academy is in Magnolia City, but I am sure you figured that out."

"How could I possibly know that mother?" Lucy interrupted.

"Oh, didn't I say? It's called Magnolia Academy. I thought I mentioned it…"

That's when it hit her. "I can't go!" Lucy shouted. If she left the estate to go to another city and Natsu came back to find her gone, what would he think? She might miss what little chance there was of seeing him again. She could not possibly leave.

This is it, Layla thought to herself. "Lucy, I know what you're thinking and I am so sorry about your friend. I know you might not like this, but you could start over in Magnolia. You could make new friends and learn new things. I think you would like it very much. And… you can be well again. I am certain that this healer can cure you, my love," Layla said gently.

Lucy was still crying softly, the thought of "new" friends not very comforting. She wanted her best friend back; besides, they would leave her just like he did. "Mama…"

"Lucy, I know. Believe me I know," Layla said hugging her tight. "At least go for the treatment, and if you do not like it there, we will bring you home. Fair?" Layla asked releasing Lucy.

"How long would I have to stay?" Lucy asked.

"I am not sure, just a season perhaps. It depends on how long it takes for the treatment to make you well again."

"What if I don't get better?"

"You will, I promise!" Layla reassured her. She didn't know why she was having such a hard time convincing her daughter. Her skills of persuasion were clearly lacking when it came to her daughter. Layla tried hard to think of something to say that would win Lucy over, but she could not of a thing. I guess it's up to the true master of "persuasion," she decided. "Manipulative" might be a better word for her.

"Listen, why not take this envelope upstairs and talk about it with Mirajane. Then, tomorrow you can let me know of your decision. Deal?"

Lucy silently nodded, and took the envelope her mother offered. Before Layla could say anything more, Lucy had gotten up and walked out of the room.

Layla sank into the cushions and cried.

Late March…

"Oh!" Mirajane squealed, "I am so happy you decided to go to the academy, Lucy. It's going to be so much fun! The three of us together having an adventure!" she exclaimed.

Lucy rolled her eyes and laughed a little as Mirajane had expressed this sentiment several times during the three day trip to Magnolia. Even her younger brother, Elfman, seemed a little bothered by his sister's behavior.

"I know, I know," Lucy said. "I am actually getting kind of nervous." This was true. They were in a carriage, which was making its way up a steep hill to the gates of the Magnolia Academy. She was both excited and nervous about the start of her new life and the treatment she would be receiving. Most of all, however, she was deeply sad about leaving her home behind – about leaving Natsu behind.

"Don't worry, Lucy, if anyone gives you any trouble, you just let me know. I will protect you," Elman said seriously.

Lucy had to smile at Elfman's kindness. She had taken to him immediately and he had to taken to her just as fast. She thought that perhaps her mother had not been wrong and making new friends would be a good change for her.

"Thank you, Elfman," Lucy said sincerely.

"It's just a shame that we will all be in different classes. Basic classes are by age, and the skills' courses will be based on level. We have nothing in common there," Mirajane pouted.

"I am sure we will see each a lot, sister. I am glad that I get to be with you more often," Elfman said with love and respect to his older sister.

Mirajane smiled, secretly overwhelmed with joy to be with her brother and Lucy all the time. She no longer had to divide her time.

Lucy thought of something. "Mira, what are you studying anyway?"

Mirajane blushed but her answer was interrupted, thankfully, by the coachman.

"Here we are, children, the entrance to Magnolia Academy. After a long journey, we have safely arrived at our destination." Lucy laughed to herself and wondered if the coachman was also growing tired of Mirajane's repetitive speech.

Lucy and Elfman practically fell out of their seats to take a look around, while Mirajane prepared to remove the few belongings they had brought with them. The other items were sent ahead of them so they would have a lighter load. Elfman admired the sight for just a moment then realized his sister was about to unload, and he immediately went by her side to help carry the heavy trunks. Mirajane was about to thank him when suddenly they heard voices, and one was very angry.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? You worthless, good for nothing –" yelled a voice.

"Forgive me, sir, it was an accident!" interrupted a frightened, muffled voice.

Lucy, Elfman and Mirajane looked up the road to see what the commotion was about. At the sight of it, Lucy boiled with anger. A well-dressed man, a wealthy noble, they guessed, was yelling at a man likely his servant, who was lying on the ground frightened. The nobleman raised his hand and slapped the man hard across his face. The man curled up into a ball, tears in his eyes and an angry red mark on his left cheek.

"I should you have arrested, you scum. You have any idea how much these products cost? I ought to have you pay for the damages, I should." The man reached a hand to his side to pull out a whip he had attached to his belt. "Perhaps a good whipping will help you learn your lesson."

"No, please, sir, I am terribly sorry. Please, forgive me, sir."

"How dare you! Don't address me you filthy pig," the man said taking his whip and striking the man. "What? You think are worthy of speaking to me?" he yelled angrily striking him again.

Lucy watched the scene with her anger rising, her cheeks burned with hatred for this cruel man and tears of rage burned at her eyes.

"Please, sir…" the man weakly tried again.

"You filthy fool! What did I say!" he raised his whip up high into the air and struck the man with such force to emphasize each of his words, "Pig – don't – you—dare— "; each pause was a strike against the man's skin.

"Stop!" a small voice said with fury.

The man paused before his last strike to search for the source of the voice. He spotted Lucy trembling in anger and gave her a dark smile. He turned his attention back to the beaten man and raised his whip again to strike him.

Lucy sprinted towards him and caught the whip midway with her bare hands and skillfully twisted it around her hands and tugged, effectively releasing the whip from the man's hands. She kept running a little past him until she was a few feet away. "I said no! How dare you strike this innocent man!" she shouted at him.

The man laughed a loud cruel laugh that came from deep within him. He stopped and stared at Lucy again. "Keep out of this, little girl. You'll end up hurting yourself," he warned.

The man pulled a knife from his pocket, and turned once more to the man, whose skin was heavily bruised, angry red, black and blue marks forming on his body through his torn clothing. He made to slice at the man, but Lucy expertly caught his hand with the whip causing the knife to fall and slice the man's leg.

"Leave him alone or you will end up hurting yourself." Lucy noted the blood starting to protrude from the man's injury. "Oh, I think you already did."

The man grimaced angrily and grabbed onto his injured leg. "Why you little…" he snarled at her. "Get her!" he yelled. Out of his own carriage, two bodyguards came out and walked slowly towards the girl, disinterested in the situation.

"Oh!" Lucy gasped and tried to think of what to do.

"Lucy, no!" Elfman and Mirajane yelled, too astounded to react quickly enough.

Suddenly a shadow landed in front of Lucy.

"Oh ho! You would pick on an innocent and defenseless young girl?"

The two men stopped and looked at each other. "She's got a whip," one of them said stupidly. They shrugged and continued making their way towards the pair.

The figure in front of Lucy laughed at their shamelessness. "Two against one?"

"There's two of you now."

The figure whipped out a pair of dual blades out of nowhere as soon as the bodyguards were within range and ran through them making a sweeping pass at them with the swords. The two looked surprised at her speed before noticing that their pants had fallen to the floor.

"I was talking about me," the mysterious stranger said.

Lucy looked at her savior with amazement. It was a gorgeous girl with thick, dark red hair tied back into ponytail that hung halfway down her back. Her eyes seemed to dance with the excitement of the swift encounter. She was slim with peach skin and seemed to be about Lucy's age.

"Are you okay?" the girl asked.

Lucy nodded.

"Argh! Don't just stand there you idiots, do something!" the noble said.

The guards quickly picked up their pants and split up, one going for Lucy and the other going for the red haired girl.

"You have no chance," the girl said calmly. "I will not harm you, if you surrender now." The man made no moves to stop, his face just showed his irritation at being shown up by a young girl. "You made the choice," the girl said almost laughingly, "don't forget it."

Lucy watched for a moment as the girl prepared to fight with her opponent who had pulled out a pair of daggers to fight her blades. Then she remembered she had her own problem. She glanced at the beaten up man and found her strength again. She readied the whip and made to strike at the man, who easily dodged her attack. Annoyed Lucy tried again, this time aiming for his ankle, and she caused the man to stumble slightly and fall to one knee. She smiled at him.

Elfman was finally brought out of his stupor as he watched his new friend fighting a man more than twice her size. He dropped the trunks onto the ground and ran quickly towards Lucy, who was carefully avoiding her attacker with her whip and backward steps, and her opponent.

She didn't know how, but at some point, the whip Lucy held had been cut up and she was left without a weapon. Suddenly, she saw the man being grabbed by Elfman who punched him squarely in the jaw.

"You would hurt a woman!" he yelled. "You are not a man!"

The pair fought fist to dagger and Lucy slipped away out of harm. She started to make her way to the man she had been trying to protect, only to be met with the cruel man who had started this whole thing.

"I've got you know, you little brat!"

Lucy stared at the man wide eyed, unsure of what to do. The man picked up his knife and dragged himself over to Lucy. Lucy was terrified, her courage and her strength gone.

"Lucy!" Mirajane yelled. She ran faster than Lucy's eyes could keep up, and did a spin kick right to the back of the man's head.

The man fell forward but quickly recovered, his anger driving him. A hard punch knocked the wind out of him and the man clutched his stomach before sinking to the ground.

"You… you dare hurt my Lucy!" a voice growled angrily.

"Natsu!" Lucy gasped in shock, certain that the strawberry colored hair could only belong to one person, before fainting to the ground.

"Lucy!" Natsu shouted seeing her fall.

"Okay, I think that's enough now," a deep voice boomed.

"Agreed," came the voice of the red haired girl and Elfman who had finally managed to subdue their opponents. The girl had been having too much fun then noticed Lucy in trouble and ended the fight. Elfman's opponent simply refused to be knocked down until Elfman did just that.

"Oh! Gildarts! Thank goodness you're here!"

"Mirajane, what happened here?"

She frowned, "I am not sure, actually."

Gildarts coaxed the story out of the nobleman, and it turned out he was just as big a jerk as they had all suspected. The noble, whose real occupation was that of a merchant, was riding in his carriage making his way to a side entrance to trade and deliver his goods to the Academy. The man, who turned out to be a worker of the academy and former servant of the red haired girl, had accidentally crashed into the other man's carriage with a large cart of supplies whose wheel had popped off. When the girl realized who the man was, she punched the man in the face and Natsu swung around at the same time to land a punch of his own when Lucy did not wake up right away.

"You had no right to attack this innocent man," Gildarts said ignoring the children's behavior. "You will have to beg this man's forgiveness."

"Me? Apologize to such scum! Never!"

The girl made to punch at him, but Gildarts stopped her. She lowered her fist and decided to speak instead. "Who did you say you were?"

The man, who sat in a crumpled heap with swollen cheeks and a black eye, mustered what little pride he had left and said, "I am the Duke of Everlue. I am sure you have heard of me."

The red haired girl smirked. "I see. I am Erza, the only daughter of the House of Scarlet."

Everyone save for Gildarts and Mirajane stared at her in shock. Who had not heard of the formidable, respectable house of Scarlet? The man suddenly cowered in fear.

"Did you say you are the daughter of the Dark Knight and the White Knight Scarlet?"

"Ah, so you know my name. This man that you have decided is no better than swine and deserving of your cruelty, is a former servant of my family. In fact, he used to be my personal servant. I feel that I should inform you now that you have just made a great enemy of myself and my family."

Gildarts just shook his head at the girl's bravado not unlike the bold commanding presence of her mother.

"Okay, Erza I think –"

"What's going on here?"

Everyone turned to the source of the voice, which had an elderly tone to it but was deep and powerful.

"Ah, Makarov. It's about time you showed up."

"Humph, I've been watching you all," he grumbled.

"You were watching and you didn't interfere?" Gildarts asked in disbelief. He should have known. "Guess you were bored with the lack of action," he grumbled.

"Headmaster, this merchant beat an innocent man without asking any information. We should get him to the nurse. He tried to hurt an innocent girl as well, the blonde there with that boy."

Makarov surveyed the group for a moment. He closed his eyes, "The term has not even officially started and my students are already causing trouble for me."

"Hmm, seems like another one of those years, Makarov," Gildarts chuckled.

"Mirajane, Elfman, leave your items here. I will send someone to pick them up. Gildarts, same to you and escort the merchant and his friends there to my office; I will be there shortly. Natsu, Erza, you two go with Mirajane and Elfman to take Lucy and Ben to the infirmary. Porlyusica should be there. We will all meet first thing in the morning for a little talk, understood?"

"How did you know their names?" asked Mirajane softly.

"Understood?" he said again.

"Yes!" the group said and set off about their tasks.

**A/N: Is it pretty obvious what the next chapter will be? Yes, it is most mostly fluff but there will be some plot development, at least I think so anyway. There will definitely be more development on Lucy's part. My papa in law is coming to visit this week but hopefully he and my hubby will be out so I can get the next chapter out for you guys. Only two more chapter remain for part one, so bear with me! I hope I am not pushing your patience too much and I really appreciate those who choose to read my story! In the next chapter we meet some more Fairy Tail members and gain some slight insight into what Mavis is up to.

Thank you!