Hello my lovies! I spent most of yesterday night and this morning perfecting my Nalu cover art. It's in, it's up and... IT LOOKS FUZZY! T.T It's not fuzzy to me! And I'll be happy to email the proof to anyone who DARE question my definition of the word. The whole time I was drawing, coloring and editing, ideas for the story were brimming over the top and I just HAD to lay out another chapter to my precious followers. EIGHT! I have eight of you now, and I just love and desire to lick every single one of you!

Btw, I get the feeling this story will have many chapters, so please just bear with me. Good things come to those who wait. ...like candy. I'd totally be the stranger that gives you candy. *innocent grin inserted here*

Rated M.

M is for MATURE people.

If I can pretend to be, then you can too.

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! *sob* However sometimes I wonder if Mashima-sama used to follow me around and take character ideas from my friends and I.

At least let a girl dream!

Wouldn't it be great if kittens could grow wings? Eeeeee! We'd all get our own lil exceed!

Chapter 4

Free Will be Damned

Natsu woke at the crack of dawn with a huge grin on his face. He raced out of his room and swung from the bottom of Happy's hammock, "Rise and shine Happy! Let's go fishing!"

Happy yelped and plummeted to the ground, the poor kitty's face suddenly much flatter. "Ugh... Natsu. We were up so late last night, I'm still tired."

"Are you kidding? I got here after you and I'm ready to go!" The dragon slayer pumped his fist. "If we go now, I just know I'll be able to catch you a HUGE fish!"

"Aye sir!" All sleepiness set aside. He'll more than likely squeeze in a catnap while Natsu's fishing anyway.

The walk to their fishing spot was accompanied by the sweet sound of birds and a rising sun. Happy sat down and tossed his line out into the water. Natsu however, kicked off his sandals and waded into the water until about waist deep. There he stood perfectly still in a wide legged stance.

"Natsuuuu! You almost NEVER catch anything like that and you promised me a huge fish!" Happy whined.

"Aye," Natsu replied softly never looking away from the water, "but today is my lucky day! You'll see!"

This made the blue cat rather curious, but he didn't speak on it. Natsu claimed the fish could hear you when you were in the water like he was, so the kitty kitty just sighed, closed his eyes, and relaxed.

I'm gonna catch Happy a fish. I'm gonna catch it with my bare hands and brag about it to Ice Breath. I wonder if Happy will let me get it to the guild first so I can show it off...? He doesn't really care if Mira cooks it or not. I guess it just depends on how hungry he is. I can't believe I'M not hungry yet. I'm always hungry in the morning.

A FISH!

Nah. Too small.

Natsu stifled a chuckle, it tickles!

A few hours like this passed. Happy had caught two, Natsu, none. The young exceed contentedly munched on one of his prey while Natsu was still staring at the water—a tad annoyed—but still prepared to wait. Natsu's ears twitched as he heard footsteps approaching. He sniffed the air and discerned that it was Erza.

Sure enough, soon the redhead walked past the tree line and stopped when she saw her two guild mates. "There you are-"

"Shhhhhhh!" Both the other mages responded instantly.

A sweatdrop came upon Erza's head. She watched them for a moment, then walked over to Happy and bent over to be more level with the cat's face. "Mind if I join you for a second?" she whispered.

Happy looked up at her, smiled and nodded.

Erza smiled back and sat next to the cat, looking towards Natsu who was still staring at the water intently, though his eyebrow was twitching by now from aggravation. "How long has he been at this?"

"Since dawn." Happy's attitude still reflecting his namesake, "he promised me a big one!"

Erza nodded with a cocked eyebrow. "Oy! Natsu! I-"

"AHA!" Natsu leapt down into the water. All his friends could see were splashes and kicking feet, then he burst out of the waist deep water hugging a fish about the size of an exceed! The fish was squirming and he was clearly having a hard time holding on to it.

Happy got CRAZY happy when he saw the treasure Natsu was fighting for. He stood up and started cheering him on. Erza had gotten slashed and looked very unhappy about that fact.

"Dumb fish!" Natsu growled, "I caught you already, give it up!"

"Erza!"

Shit.

Lucy came running up and stopped when she broke through the treeline.

"Lucy?!" Natsu, being very surprised that he hadn't noticed her approach sooner—which suddenly turned him a bit fidgety for some CRAZY reason * XD * —and he ever so slightly loosened his grip on his prize. ….And Happy's mega fish jumped right out of his arms, causing Natsu to fall face first back into the river.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Happy was on his knees, so very, very sad.

"REQUIP!" Erza yelled, a javelin appearing in hand, she quickly threw it out into the river.

Natsu about had a heart attack as the weapon whipped past his head that had just popped back out of the water, causing him to lose his footing, tumbling back into the water again! Again! He knew he heard Lucy giggling at him. When he rose out of the water again (again...), he faced a rolling on the floor laughing *ROFL hehe* Lucy, a frozen Happy from inconsolable sadness, and a pissed off Erza standing there with her arms folded, eyebrow twitching, damp from previous splashes.

"What the hell was that for Erza?! You could have shish kebabed me!" The fire wizard yelled out to her, right and pissed off.

Erza opened her eyes and glared at him, freezing him in his tracks. She spoke clear and strong. "Fairytail wizards never break promises. Now bring me my spear."

Natsu turned around and saw it a little ways off sticking up out of the water. He pulled it out of the water muttering to himself.

"OH ERZA! YOU'RE MY HERO!" Happy squealed excitedly.

Natsu looked at him confused, "What," then glanced at the end of the spear—his fish was speared clean through. "Aww Erza! COME ON!"

"Rest assured Happy," Erza closed her eyes and spoke under a smile. "Natsu promised to catch you a big one and he did. I just helped him keep it."

Lucy started laughing all over again.

The dragon slayer stalked out of the water and slammed Erza's javelin into the ground pointy side up and started approaching Lucy with that same determined look he gave her twice yesterday.

Happy flew past him without caring about anything but that magnificent fish piked up in the air for all to see and bow down to. Erza stayed where she was, eyebrow raised as she watched the pink hothead go right past her in a beeline straight to the Celestial blonde.

Tiny flames were emitting from the mage as he stormed up to her in feigned intimidation. "You DARE laugh at the MIGHTY SALAMANDER?!"

Still giggling on the ground, Lucy wiped her eyes and looked up at Natsu. Yea, that's right about the time she did a mental 'EEP' and made an attempt to crawl/dash away from him; it was a terribly unsuccessful effort though, since he plucked her up without so much as loosing a breath.

He stomped slowly toward the river with Lucy hiked up on his shoulder, "We'll see who laughs last!"

"No Natsu!," the girl tried very hard to make her voice sound serious. She truly did not want whatever Natsu was offering, but the situation was funny and she still had a case of the giggles. "No, no, no! I'm sorry! Putmedown!"

"Too late for remorse mortal!" He made his voice low and menacing, "off into the abyss!" He tossed her into a part of the river he knew was deep enough for her to avoid injury from his rough treatment.

Lucy screamed as she was thrown and glared back at him (giggles gone), "Damnit Natsu! Now I'm going to have to go back to the guild all wet!"

Erza mumbled something in agreement.

Natsu grinned innocently and jumped into the river next to his partner, "The water's great Luce!"

"Natsu, Happy." Erza projected her voice. "I came here to tell you that Mirajane has called a meeting regarding this month's activities. We need to get to the guild."

"Yea Natsu!" Lucy pushed him, causing him to fall underwater for a moment. "Now we're gonna have to mop up the floor when we get there!"

"Oh come on! Erza's BARELY wet-" his motioning towards the armor clad maiden was pointless... it seems she already left. "... ... ..."

He turned back to Lucy, "Don't worry Luce," he gave her a great big Natsu grin and produced a flame at the tip of his finger. The fire mage then used his other arm to wrap around her shoulders, ushering her to shore. "I'll help you dry as we head there."

"I," Lucy blushed, recalling their final encounter last night in full detail. The weight of his back on her's, how warm he was... "I-"

"What's wrong Happy?" Natsu noticed his furry friend was once again on his knees beside the abandoned javelin, a look of supreme sadness on his face.

Lucy excepted Natsu's proffered hand and was pulled out of the river while Happy was stammering bits of gibberish that made no sense.

"Speak up Cat!" hollered a soaking wet spirit summoner.

"My, my..."

"Yeeeeeees?" Both the wet wizards spoke in unison.

"MY FISH TASTES HORRIBLE! WAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

^.^

"Alright! That looks like just about everyone!" Mirajane smiled sweetly at her beloved guildmates.

"Aye!" Cana spoke up impatiently. "Can we get on with it already?! No one's paying attention to empty mugs around here!"

That remark was met with 'ayes' from all around the Hall.

Lucy sat at a table between Natsu and Levy, Happy sat in her lap all tuckered out from his recent broken heart. Natsu had entered the guild claiming absolute starvation (he's presently scarfing down several plates of food) in a complete character overhaul from the one had just held her close the entire way there, sharing his magic with her to help dry off. As he should have! He's the one that caused it! I hope his magic energy is COMPLETELY depleted. She sighed inwardly, not likely though.

"As you know, October is the month Fairytail does Magnolia's All Hallow's Eve Sacred Rite." A few groans were heard throughout the guild and Mirajane sweatdropped, "now guys! You know that it is an hon-or," she punctuated that word for emphasis. "And if it isn't done, there are several possible outcomes that could happen from issues being left unresolved." More murmurs were heard such as "Yea, yea," and, "I guess." Or, my personal favorite: "It's usually so boring though!"

"And often it can be quite sad as well." Mira looked on at her guildmates with an expression of disapproval, acquiring the desired affect of a hush falling around the guild. She found herself remembering when she'd thought Lisanna dead, and her sister's spirit's absence the following October.

"In light of many of us viewing this as a umm, downer, I have spoken with Master about throwing a few other festivities into the month that will surely get all of us excited this month! I thought it would be wonderful if first we-"

"Hey," a hushed Levy elbowed Lucy as Mirajane continued. "Do you know why Gajeel isn't here?"

The Celestial mage rested her head in hand, elbow on table. "I heard that Master sent him and Juvia on another one of those 'secret' missions early this morning." She peeked open an eye at Levy, who was trying to keep a frown from her face and added, "I'm sure they'll be back in a day or two. Don't worry Levy!"

"It's not like that Lucy!"

"She liiiiiiikes him," Happy murmured, I suppose he isn't sleeping then.

Levy spit her tongue out at the exceed and looked back to Mirajane.

"So volunteers would be very much appreciated to help." Mirajane winked, "After all, if I don't get enough volunteers, Master will enjoy assigning some of us to do the tasks." She clasped her hands in front of her red dress with that pleasant smile on her face. "Don't you think that'd be fun Master?"

Makarov was sitting on the bar counter top as usual, both legs and arms criss-crossed with his head down and eyes closed. "Aye."

A bit of nervous sounds (be it from laughing to gasping) were echoing from the guild at Makarov's simple response.

"Now. I know I have already mentioned the Gypsies and Thieves Ball to many of you, but I wanted to bring it up here to add a little twist to it. Freed, would you mind joining me please?"

The green haired Thunder God Tribe team member cleared his throat, and walked up to the stage to stand beside Mirajane. She smiled at him and said, "If you please?"

Nodding to her, he pulled out his sword, and magical runes appeared all throughout the guild hall. Protests and curses raised to a dull roar. Mirajane just stood there, waiting for her guildmates to quiet back down.

Natsu, having finally finished every last bit of his food, looked up and sniffed the air. "Smells different in here," he turned to his partner, "Hey Luce-?"

The blonde fwacked him over the the head, "OF COURSE IT DOES! Pay attention Natsu!"

Once the initial shock died down, Mirajane and that ever sweet smile continued. "Freed just set the rules for our Ball." The She-devil in all her glory looked around at the confused faces watching her.

"Rule number One. We must come dressed as a gypsy or a thief. Use your imagination guys, this should be fun!" She giggled.

"Rule number Two. The Ball is Lady's choice."

And that caused many of the men to stand up in protest. The loudest voice was her brother's. Yes, Elfman yelled out how that's no way for a MAN to be going to a dance.

"Rule number Three." She waited a moment for the crowd to quiet down again. "A couple will not be able to enter the guildhall the day of the Ball without their partner." Mirajane quickly hurried onto the next before she had to wait on all of Fairytail again.

"And last, rule number Four. Ladies, be sure of who you ask, because if a girl asks a boy to accompany her to the ball, that boy canNOT refuse."

Cana was not the only one to spit out her drink when she heard that.

MWAHAHAHA! Free will be damned! There's a demon on the loose, and she goes by the name Mirajane!

I would kill to hear some reviews on this chapter guys! Lemme have it! XD

Much love,

naughty things,

and lots and lots of candy.

Seri!