Chapter 113

Back Together

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

1 Year Later

Crocus, Domus Flau

Lucy sighed in disappointment as she stared out over the Grand Magic Games finale. The last year hadn't been kind to her since Fairy Tail disbanded. She managed to find a job with Sorcerer Weekly, but it was more for skin than her writing ability. The blonde barely managed to make it to editor position for the magazine, and this was her first real assignment.

"These games just don't have the same boom as the one we were in." She huffed. "I guess without Fairy Tail, none of the other big guilds wanted to join in." The blonde covered her mark on her hand as she looked out over the field. "Besides, it's obvious Skull Millone's members are hiding their real power.

"They probably held back to increase the odds for gambling." Like she said, the 'underdogs' dominated the fight instantly. The crowd cheered at what seemed like the comeback victory. "If these guys are Fiore's number one… I'm disappointed."

A heat wave suddenly hit the arena, scaring everyone. The winners suddenly noticed a cloaked figure enter the arena. Then to everyone's surprise, a second cloaked figure entered from the other side. In a panic, Lucy quickly rushed to a nearby guard. "Get everyone out of here, now!"

The security personal nodded and started leading people out as fast as they could. A wave of fire suddenly ripped off the figure, melting the stone and the clothing of anyone stupid or unfortunate enough to stay behind. Sharpened wood suddenly popped out at the edge of the high wall.

"So you're the number one guild, huh?" The figure asked.

"And who the hell are you two?"

"I'm a challenger." The man threw out a punch and blasted the five backwards. An explosion ripped through the arena, blasting the victors out of the coliseum.

Wood caught the falling stone before it was thrown at the fire user. "What is with this heat!?" Lucy shouted as the cloaks finally blew back, revealing their faces. One was a male with mop of pink hair, the other a girl with long lavender hair. "Natsu!? Laki!"

From behind the girl, a two blobs of color popped up, flying in the air. "Hey, Lucy! How ya been!?"

"Happy and Rose, too?" The blonde asked. "What's going on?"

"Well, Natsu heard about the finale and figured it would be a good test for his training." Happy explained. "But I guess he's stronger than he thought."

"Laki figured out Natsu would be here, so we came to stop him from destroying everything around him." Rose added. "Guess we were a bit slow, however.

Others came out and tried to fight him, but he blasted them back. In fear, they ran for their lives as the stone melted around him. "Come on, Laki! Let's go!" Natsu declared.

"How are you not burning up?" Lucy questioned the two cats next to her.

"Eh, you get used to it after a year of training with him." Happy declared. "But he REALLY needs to work on holding back."

The Dragon Slayers stopped mid fight looked up and noticed his friends. "Yo, been a long time, Lucy!"

The blonde looked at the four around her and smiled in nostalgia. "How have you been?"

The Next Day

Mercurius Castle

"Acquittal?" A guard questioned in shock. "As innocent? Released? Free to go?"

"Yep." King Toma nodded as Hisui chuckled.

"But… they ruined the Grand Magic Games. They destroyed part of the Domus Flau!"

"Let's just chalk it up to youthful exuberance." The king chuckled, annoying the guard.

"And don't come back!"

Outside the castle, the guards screamed as the Dragon Slayer couple and their Exceeds walked out towards Lucy. "Seems like you both got acquitted." The blonde chuckled.

"Guess so." Laki replied.

"Why isn't the rest of Fairy Tail with you?" Happy asked.

"That's right… you don't know, do you?" Lucy mumbled, confusing the quartet.

In park at the center of the city, the four trainees were stunned at the revelation. "Fairy Tail… broke up!?" Natsu repeated.

"Why…?" Happy asked.

"It happened the day after you guys left." Lucy explained.

"But why did they break up?" Laki asked.

"I still don't understand it myself." The blonde replied.

"Where can I find Gramps?" Natsu asked, anger in his eyes. "I'm gonna bash his brains in! Better yet, pluck out what's left of his hair!"

"Save his mustache for me!" Laki added.

"The master is missing." Lucy replied.

"What about everyone else!?" Rose asked. "Erza!? Gray?! And the others!?"

"Everyone just went their own separate ways." Lucy explained.

"I... can't believe this…" Natsu stuttered out. "Everyone… was okay with the guild… just breaking up like that?" Anger over took him as he gritted his teeth. "How else could it have happened!? Even if Gramps told them to break up, they could have refused! Laxus could have taken over!"

"Do either of you have the right to say that?" Lucy asked, confusing the four. "After all, you didn't ever think of the guild, did you? Neither of you discussed it with anyone when you two left."

The four stared at her in shock before she suddenly chuckled. "I'm sorry. I guess you two had a lot on your mind. I'm sure things were the same for Master and everyone else."

Lucy's Apartment

"Whoa! This is your crib, Lucy!?" Natsu shouted impressed.

"So you've been living in Crocus?" Laki asked.

"It's close to my workplace, so yeah." The blonde replied. "Neither of you probably have a place to stay… so I'll let you two crash here."

"Thank you so much!" Natsu and Happy bowed at her feet.

"Don't you dare damage anything here!" She warned them. "That means no fire, no scratching the wall, and you two do NOT set foot in my room. GOT IT!?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Happy nodded, Rose pulling him away from a wall.

"Natsu, you want a haircut?" Lucy asked, grabbing the key for Cancer.

"I don't know… I kinda like it." Laki said.

"The hair stays!" Natsu declared, standing up. It was then he noticed the small black chain wrapped around her neck. Hanging from it was the ring Natsu gave her hanging there. "I was wondering where that went." Natsu chuckled.

"We stopped by Sun Village to get the new ring, but they said someone else took it." Happy explained.

The five spent the rest of the night chatting about the year they spent apart. Night had fall as the two men slept in the living room. "Happy…" Natsu mumbled, waking the cat up. "Is the guild really gone?"

"I can't believe it is…" Happy mumbled.

"Only one thing to do…" Natsu said, pushing himself up. "Let's go draw on Lucy's face!"

"Natsu…" Laki pushed open the door to the blonde's room, catching the two by surprise. "You guys need to see this…" She kept the door open as they walked in. All over the wall were lines and paper, connecting Fairy Tail members. "It's like anything that had to do with a member, she kept…"

"Lucy…" Natsu mumbled, staring at the sleeping blonde. The couple shared a nod, knowing what they had to do.

The Next Morning

Lucy stared at the window in shock of the mass of guards outside her apartment. "Guess they didn't take kindly to it." Natsu said.

"I thought we'd get away with it." Laki added, fully dressed. Laki was now in a short purple dress skirt with red stockings and black heels. Her hair had been cut into a small bob as an armband covered her left arm.

"Get away with what!?" The blonde shouted before being pulled out the window.

"GET THEM!"

The couple ran down the street as the Exceeds flew next to them. "Let me down!" Lucy shouted before following the running pair. "What did you two do!?"

"Just set a little beacon that let everyone know Fairy Tail is coming back!" Natsu shouted.

Laki pointed up at a chunk of wood burning in the distance, reading 'Fairy Tail'. "We're gonna bring everyone back together and get the guild up and running again!"

Lucy stared at the two and smiled as tears build up and the five raced out of the city.

The Next Day

Outside Tuly Village

Looking out over the village, Lucy smiled as she compared it to the map. "Let's stop here for today…" She declared.

Natsu stared out blankly, catching Laki's attention. "Something wrong?" She followed his eyes and stared at the broken clock tower. "Oh yeah, remember when we destroyed this clock tower?"

"Yeah, it's great that they fixed it." He replied. "It's got a weird boundary line, though… Maybe I should-"

"No." Laki cut him off.

"There's nothing to do!" He shouted back. "After all the training we did… How the hell did those people win the Grand Magic Games!? It's a joke! So much for crushing Gray and challenging Laxus and Erza and Gildarts when we get back together! Someone fight me now!"

"Save it for later." Lucy snapped back. "You can fight all you want once the guild is back together. Right now, we need to find them first."

Natsu froze up and blocked Lucy's path, scaring her. In a split second, he turned and fired off a breath attack between her legs. "What the heck was that!?"

"Don't worry about it." He chuckled. "Now, how about that fight?"

"N-no…" She replied. "Let's get going if we want get to Lamia Scale before the sun sets."

"Oh, Lyon and Jura are in there!" Natsu cheered. "Perfect! I can fight them!"

"So who made it into Lamia Scale?" Rose asked Lucy.

"I'll let you see for your selves." The blonde chuckled.

Margret Town

The entire town stared at a stage as the members of Lamia Scale performed for them. "And now, the one you've all been waiting for…" Yuka declared as the curtain lifted up. "Our guild's very own angels. The Sky Sisters: Wendy and Chelia!" The curtain was raised up and the pair started singing in angel themed costumes.

The four year long travelers stared in shock as Lucy smirked. "Wendy was already a good friend with Chelia." She explained.

"What the hell is she doing?" Natsu questioned.

"Why is she dancing for these creeps?" Laki added.

"Its something similar to what Fairy Tail used to do for Magnolia." The blonde answered. "Something to show that the guild appreciates the town."

"…we gotta save Wendy from this!" The Dragon Slayers declared.

"Hold on a second, where's Carla?" Rose asked, looking around.

"I was wondering when you would show up." The five turned around to see a young girl around Wendy's age walking up. Coming out of her skirt was a white tail with a red ribbon and has shoulder length hair with cat ears on top. "Natsu, Lucy, Laki, Rose and tomcat… I mean, Happy."

"…Huh?"

Hours Later

"I've never been so embarrassed in my life!" Wendy declared with a blush on her face.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about." Chelia said from behind. "You were super cute out there and everyone loved you."

"You have some visitors, Wendy." Lyon spoke up, catching her attention.

The girl looked up to see her five former guildmates wave at her as Rose flew in and tackled her in a hug patted her head. "Missed you so much!" She cried out as Rose flew apart from her. "Did you get bigger?"

"Not really. Guess I'm still a shrimp." She chuckled.

"I see…" Natsu smirked before putting her over his shoulder. "We're going home, okay?"

"Hey!" Lyon shouted.

As the commotion settled, Wendy was sat down with a cup of tea in front of her and Rose in her lap. "You're traveling around trying to track down everyone so you can restart Fairy Tail?"

"That's the idea…" Lucy nodded. "The Master's been missing over the last year, I'm sure it's got something to do with the disbandment."

"The council's concerned as well." Lyon added. "They've been trying to pinpoint him, but to no avail…"

"When'd they make a new council?" Laki asked in surprise.

"Right, I forgot you guys were out of range." The blonde remembered. "The Ten Wizard Saints decided they'd make a new council around last year. Jura left to be a part of it, but Makarov vanished before he could be invited."

"Sounds like it's annoying" Natsu suggested. "I'd disappear too." Turning to Wendy, he flashed a smile. "Well, the old man aside, come with us, Wendy."

Wendy hung her head in thought before glancing at Chelia. With a smile, she looked up. "I'm a member of Lamia Scale now. I can't just walk away with you."

The room was stunned by her answer before Lyon spoke up. "You don't have to stay here for us. We knew from the start this time would come."

"This is her decision." Carla spoke from the side. "Can you stop being so forceful with her?"

"Guess I'm gonna be the one to ask; when did you learn Transformation Magic?" Rose asked just as confused as the others.

"About six months ago." Carla said with a smirk. "It also helps me strengthen my magic and my clairvoyance." She leaned on the table right in front of Happy. "What do you think, Happy?"

"I've been training too!" Happy shouted back.

A puff of smoke turned her back into her Exceed form as she landed on the table. "Are you sure that's what you want, Wendy?" The girl nodded, stunning the group.

Night

Viper Inn

The five were in a stunned stupor as they stood around the room. Natsu and Laki picked up their respective Exceeds and tickled Lucy's foot with their tails. She laughed a bit before punching the cats out of his hand. "What the hell are you guys doing!?"

"Leave us alone, we're in shock." Laki stated.

"I know what you mean… makes you wonder if everyone else feels like Wendy…" Lucy added.

"We can't give up! I'll kidnap her if I have to!" Natsu declared.

"Stop it!" Lucy snapped back.

"Hey, Wendy, about this afternoon…" Chelia spoke up from her bed.

"I promise I'm not going anywhere." The Dragon Slayer said with a smile. "Sherry moved out when she got married and left you behind, didn't she? If I left, you'd be all alone."

"Not anll alone…" Chelia declared. "I still have other the members at Lamia Scale. A friend shouldn't makes the other stay out of pity…" A loud boom caught everyone's attention as people started running away.

"The hell is going on!?" Natsu shouted as he and the others rushed to Lyon. A large monster burst through the building behind him only to get frozen by Lyon. "Where'd these monsters come from?"

"Must be our old rivals." Lyon mumbled. "Orochi Fin has been trying to take us down for years."

"And since Jura isn't here now, they're attack without our strongest member." Wendy added as the trio hit the street.

"Lyon, we have a problem!" Yuka shouted. "This is only the first wave. We got a hundred thousand monsters coming in from the east!"

"We don't stand a chance against a force like that. We need to take out their monster tamer." Lyon cursed before turning to the travelers. "I hate to ask this, but can you lend us a hand in this battle?"

"Like you even need to ask." Natsu chuckled. "Let's go, Happy!" He jumped onto the air only to get kicked in the face by Chelia.

"Sorry, Natsu!" She shouted as the Carla and Happy flew the Sky Sisters into the battle.

"That little girl just catnapped Happy…" Natsu groaned with a boot print on his face.

Beta read by General Feng Xiang