Ah yes, The Lullaby arc. Not one of the best arcs in anime, but VERY needed for Bambietta. Im sure some of you know why. If not...Well, you'll see soon enough.

I dont own Bleach of fairy tail. Those belong respectively too Tite Kubo and Shounen jump and Hiro Mashima and Weekly shounen magazine. This is just for fun!

Also, I have a poll on my profile regarding the pairing for our favorite quincy. Vote now and give your answer. The pairing will be decided by the end of February. It is entirly possilbe that we may not go for the one with the most votes, but do know it WILL be one of the characters on the poll.


Bambietta Basterbine eyes were focused, her breathing steady and controlled. Her heart was beating fast, as if threatening to tear free from her chest. The Quincy was at a crossroads, a decision years upon years in the making directly before her. For the better part of her unnaturally extended life she had been tempted to divert from the path she had been forced to take, Yhwach's control and rule absolute the entirety of her time in the Vandenreich.

Now, however, Fairy Tail had offered her the chance to make up for past mistakes. It would be simple, yes, to take the plunge and become a changed person. All she had to do was reach out and take the opportunity that lay before her. Yet was it truly that simple? Could she simply work past decades of an indoctrinated life? Bambietta did not know. All the Quincy could do was simply stare ahead, her body trembling ever so slightly as she pondered the dilemna before her.

"Oh come on, live a little! Screw fear, drink beer!"

Cana Alberona was irritated now, watching Bambietta simply stare with hesitation at the mug containing alcohol that was on the table before her. The Quincy had approached her, at least that was what Cana remembered, her drunken state potentially betraying her short term memory, and in response Cana had offered her a drink.

Bambietta, to her credit, really did want to take up the Fairy Tail wizard's offer. She had been curious to try an alcoholic beverage for the longest time, yet His Majesty had all but forbid such luxuries within the grounds of Silver Cross Fortress. Despite his best efforts, however, His Majesty's will had only gone so far upon the subject of prohibition. Bambietta remembered it well, the night that had been whispered among the Stern Ritter for years after.

Bier Alptraum.

Bambietta could not help but cringe at the memory. Stern Ritter V, Gremmy Thoumeaux, had been inspired one night and conjured in his room untold amounts of alcoholic beverages. Worse, however, was the fact that the potentially underage Quincy had consumed the beer. That had become an evening from hell then, even for Yhwach. Gremmy's intoxicated imagination had taken many forms that evening. Imaginary friends coming to life, none of them going away and eventually becoming official Stern Ritter. That, however, had only been the beginning.

The Quincy had faced many a horror that evening, Gremmy tugging at their own hidden fears. Monsters hidden in the shadows, sights and sounds that could not be unseen. Still had that been simply child's play. Even Yhwach himself had found himself incredibly busy that night, His Majesty forced to fend off meteor after meteor that the drunken Stern Ritter V had summoned from the skies above.

In the end the Vandenreich had survived yet had been damaged for several years. Gremmy's madness had all but postponed the start of the Quincy's blood sworn war against the Soul Society. In response Yhwach had double downed on his imposed prohibition, placing one restriction on the power that he had granted Stern Ritter V. Never again would he become drunk and would live sober just as the other Stern Ritter were forced to.

One could imagine then Bambietta's hesitation. She no longer had the Explode at her fingertips, yet still was she hesitant to find out what kind of drunk she would become. Would she be happy? Or would she descend further into a state of what she liked to call hilariously violent?

"Darn it." Bambietta put her worries and indoctrinated beliefs behind her and reached out. She gripped down on the mug tightly and dragged it back to her, lifting up to her face. The Quincy hesitantly glanced at the mug, then downed its contents in one gulp.

Cana, meanwhile, simply watched as Bambietta's cheeks puffed out, the beer apparently never being swallowed. "You okay?"

The Quincy could feel it, the alcohol burning the inside of her mouth, the taste strangely unbearable. Was this what she had been curious about for so long?She had to swallow it, Bambietta knew that much. It would be rude to do otherwise, to refuse Cana's offer. Yet she just could not do it.

Bambietta nearly coughed then, spitting out the alcohol back into the mug from whence it came. She stared down at the drink, unwilling to look at Cana. "Nope, just nope."

Cana was quite disappointed, the wizard sighing as she poured herself another glass. It was the tenth of the day for her, or perhaps the twentieth. Cana had either long since lost count or never been able to keep it straight in the first place. Nonetheless she was still judgmental to a fault. "Oh, I guess you're just one hundred years too early to even hope to keep up with me."

Bambietta scowled then, realizing that the wizard had her clearly outclassed as far as drinking habits went. It was a shame, as she had been considering asking Cana to joined the Bambi Force, but the Quincy was beginning to wonder how well that would work in the long run. This woman could put away more alcohol than what she imagined was humanly possible. Was that what she wanted as a part of her representation in Fairy Tail?

Yet despite her reservations, Bambietta could sense something with Cana, something that had led her to think of them perhaps as kindred spirits. A sense of abandonment pervading her soul. It was not something the Quincy wanted to address verbally however, not unless they had grown closer, but she could see it now that a mug of beer that could not be drunk would forever remain between them; an insurmountable wall she may never be able to conquer.

"Yeah, yeah, I guess so," Bambietta said with a sigh as she pushed the mug closer to Cana and sat up from the chair. "Well it was nice talking with you."

"Yeah." Then Cana simply began to down another shot of beer, leaving Bambietta completely mystified as she walked away.

The Quincy began to make her way towards the job request board, taking notice of Lucy staring intently at it. Bambietta had to wonder what she was so worried about. She knew well enough from Lucy's descriptions that the mission involving the Duke of Everlue had led to no actual reward but it should not have mattered. Bambietta had alone made the remainder of jewel needed for the rent, not to mention it had to have been almost a month away regardless. Time was on their side.

"Lucy, is something wrong?"

Lucy took notice of the Quincy approaching her and the Celestial wizard knew it was time to be more honest. "Yeah, I was really looking forward to that reward money. I should have told you sooner, Bambi, but the rent is due in a week."

"What?" Bambietta had not been expecting that. "It costs that much per week? Oh forget that! We could afford Fairy Hills' monthly rent and them some at this rate!"

"No, no, that's not it!" Lucy protested. Then did the Celestial wizard turn to face Bambietta, fidgeting nervously as she looked in her eyes. "I kind of had to work out a deal with my landlady for the first month's rent."

Bambietta folded her arms across her chest, staring at Lucy with a smirk that she could not restrain. "Oh?"

"Well, I gave her a down payment which pretty much wiped out the rest of the jewel I had on hand, so I was kind of hoping to make up the rest due in a week. Or-"

"Or find a roommate that could help," Bambietta finished, raising an eyebrow as she finished the sentence.

"It's not like that," Lucy said softly. "Bambi, I-"

"Oh, I'm just playing with you!" Bambietta said, allowing herself to smile. "Relax! What was it you said the other day? That we newcomers to Fairy Tail should look out for each other?"

"So you're not mad?" Lucy asked, still a little worried.

"Oh please." Bambietta waved an index finger in front of Lucy. "About that? Heck no. The only thing I'm a little miffed about is that you didn't tell me you needed some extra help. But don't worry about it. I made some good capital while you were away."

"But that's not fair," Lucy replied. "You shouldn't have to cover almost all of it."

"Again," Bambietta began to say, "we've got to look out for- almost all of it?"

"Well," Lucy continued to say, once looking down, "I could only put down ten thousand jewel when I moved in."

"Okay," Bambietta said, almost sighing. "That's going to take a big cut out of what I've made recently, especially after buying myself a bed and some much needed clothes. Oh well. Let's go check out today's missions."

Lucy and Bambietta began to do just that, their eyes scanning over all that was offered. Some were better than others, but one in particular got hold of the Quincy's attention. Bambietta began to smile very nearly from ear to ear, the woman becoming ecstatic enough that even Lucy took notice.

"Oh, you found one?" Lucy began to glance over then, feeling her heart all but drop in her body out of a sense of dread. "Slay the volcano demon?"

Bambietta began to reach for the paper then, the Quincy all but cackling underneath her breath. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun. Let's get dangerous!"

Then did Lucy reach out and clasp a hand upon Bambietta's wrist, stopping her fingers mere inches from the board. "Hey now, if we're going to work as a team, could we at least pick a job that sounds a little less crazy?"

Bambietta glanced over towards Lucy then, feeling a little dejected. She knew full well that she could handle the mission on her own if need be, but the Quincy also understood that she would much rather work in a group if she could. "All right, fine. I leave the choice up to you."

It was then that Mirajane wandered over, taking note of the two women's interest in finding work. "Just to let you know, Master Makarov is out on business today, so I'm acting in his place. If you find any missions you want to take just give me a heads up, okay?"

"Wait, where'd he go?" Bambietta asked, looking towards Mirajane. "Don't tell me he has to speak with the city council about damages again? That building collapse over in Oak was totally not my fault! Just ask Levy. How was I supposed to know the pillars were so shoddy in their construction while I was throwing around that monster inside?"

"Oh, it's nothing like that," Mirajane said as she quietly moved towards the nearby counter and scribbled something down.

"What're you doing?" Bambietta asked, the Quincy's eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"I'm just jotting down a memo for the master," Mirajane replied. "Nothing you have to worry about."

"Sure," Bambietta replied with a huff, folding her arms across her chest in a mild attempt at venting her frustration.

"Master Makarov is just meeting up with the guild masters of Fiore, that's all," Mirajane continued, completely oblivious or intentionally ignoring Bambietta's irritation. "It's kind of like the Magic Council, but not exactly."

Mirajane placed one of her index fingers to her chin and turned to face another Fairy Tail wizard.

"Reedus, could you be a sweetie and let me borrow one of your Light Pens?"

"Oui," was all the rotund wizard known as Reedus Jonah replied as he turned from a painting he was working on to hand Mirajane exactly what she had asked for.

"The Magic Council works underneath the government of Fiore, instructing the guild masters," Mirajane said as she began to etch out a magical diagram in the space in front of Lucy and Bambietta. "They hand down the edicts to the masters who in turn are responsible for providing those very rules to those in their care."

"And yet the master said we should disregard the council," Bambietta replied with a smile as she moved close to the visual depiction that Mirajane had created. The Quincy eyed it then, noting the lines that drew down from the Magic Council to the various guild names. She reached out then, swiping an index finger through the top line, separating the Magic Council from the rest. "Something I quite appreciate."

"Bambi?" Lucy was quite surprised by the flagrant disregard for the acting body of the government.

"Oh, you mean what the master said yesterday?" Mirajane asked sweetly. "I think you may have misunderstood what he was getting at, Bambi."

"Smells like blueberry," Bambietta whispered to herself as she smelled her gloved hand, catching the scent left behind by the Light Pen's magical markings. She then looked towards Mirajane. "What do you mean I misunderstood?"

"The founding master of Fairy Tail believed that magic should not be restrained as long as it brings happiness to the world," Mirajane answered. "It's a lesson that was passed down from the first to the second and then to Master Makarov himself. That is why he feels that so long as Fairy Tail does good for itself and others we shouldn't fret ourselves silly about the Magic Council."

"Oh." Bambietta was content with that answer. "Well that I can-"

"But," Mirajane continued to say, "no master of Fairy Tail would permit that anyone within our guild use their magic to bring happiness to only themselves at the expense of others. To pervert the Fairy Tail name, to hurt those who are your friends and family within the guild, that would be completely unacceptable."

That was when it happened. Bambietta could only see the sweet, innocent smile that Mirajane wore, yet there was something terribly unnerving about it. The Quincy could not quite put her finger on it but she could sense something within the woman's very being, something that was at the edge of her words, as if granting Bambietta a warning.

"You think I'd do something like that?" the Quincy asked, forcing her own unnatural concern away. "I'm hurt."

"No, silly," Mirajane continued as Bambietta noted the strange aura within her fading. "Even though you're new here, I can already tell you're Fairy Tail through and through."

"Yeah," Bambietta replied, unsure of what exactly had just happened. Yet still did she suddenly feel the need to prove herself for one reason or another. To that end the Quincy took off her left glove and raised the hand before her face, showing off her light blue emblem mark. "That's me, a fairy to the core! I eat, sleep and breath Fairy Tail!"

Lucy, meanwhile, was unaware of what Bambietta had seemingly grown so nervous about. "I never knew all the guilds were so connected. I just thought they were all on their own."

"Oh no, then the whole system would fail apart," Mirajane began to explain. "We'd be stepping all over each other s toes on missions, you name it. Though it does seems to happen from time to time still. Especially with the Phantom Lord guild."

"Phantom Lord?" Bambietta asked. "Kind of a creepy name. Sounds more like a bunch of bad guys if you ask me."

"Oh, they're not a dark guild," Mirajane replied. "Now those are the ones you have to avoid for your own sake."

Then did a voice whisper in a creepy tone a threat that Bambietta heard from the space behind her. "Otherwise the men in dark robes will come after you!"

Lucy screamed then and there. The Quincy, however, simply turned around in a flash, throwing a Blut Arterie empowered fist in the direction of whomever had spoken in such a disturbing fashion behind Lucy and herself. The fist connected and Bambietta was witness then to the sight of Natsu Dragneel flying backwards, his body stopping only when the Fire Dragon Slayer hit the far wall.

Lucy saw the what Bambietta had done to Natsu clearly, yet the Celestial wizard was more concerned with how the young man had frightened her out of her wits. "What the heck are you trying to do? Scare me to death?"

"Well I guess I did deserve that," Natsu said as she pulled himself away from the wall and dusted himself off.

"Aye, sir!" Happy exclaimed as he walked over.

"Way to take my side, little buddy," Natsu retorted as he glanced at his friend before walking towards Lucy, Bambietta and Mirajane. "But yeah, I almost forgot that Bambi said any time, any place for a rematch! And I know I've got a fire in my belly!"

"Really?" Bambietta replied, raising an eyebrow as she began to weigh her options. "Now?"

"Well at least if it happens here my landlord won't get upset," Lucy mused, trying to look at the positive side of things.

"No, no, no fighting," Mirajane interjected as she moved between Bambietta and Natsu. "I won't permit it."

"Okay, fine," Bambietta and Natsu said simultaneously, the both of them folding their arms across each other s chest as they turned away.

Lucy simply stared on in amazement. "Wow, they're really two peas in a pod. Scary..."

"Anyway," Mirajane said with a sigh, a crisis averted, "Natsu may have been kidding around but dark guilds are no laughing matter. They're the type who don't play by any rules and do whatever they want."

"Yeah, I've heard of them," Bambietta said, remembering well what Porlyusica had told her. "They treat everyone like dirt, even their own."

"Some only involve themselves with magical crime," Mirajane continued, "but others will go so far as to take assassination requests if it pleases them."

Lucy quivered slightly then. "That's just-"

"Horrible, yeah," Bambietta said, finishing what she had expected her roommate to say. "Yeah, killing for the fun of it makes someone the lowest kind of life."

The Quincy bit her lower lip then, knowing full well who she was describing; the person she had once been. It was in that moment she had to wonder what her new friends would think of her if they knew the truth of her past. Makarov had taken it all with the grace of a veritable saint, yet still issuing her stern warnings, but how would someone like Lucy or even Natsu react to such information?

"Like Fairy Tail has to worry about anything like that," Natsu exclaimed. "We're the best in world! There's nothing we can't handle. Now come on, Lucy, why don't you pick us a job?"

"What?" the Celestial wizard suddenly protested. "Oh no! The last time you just wanted me because I was blonde! And it didn't even pay us a cent in the long run!"

"That's not true!" the Dragon Slayer replied. "We may not have been paid in jewel but didn't the smile on Kaby's face when you showed him the book make up for all of it?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Lucy said in return, the Celestial wizard recalling the moment the older gentleman had learned of the loving secret his father had hidden in the magical tome.

"And besides, hair color or not," Natsu said as she smiled broadly, Happy doing the same as he flew by, "we just like your company."

Bambietta was about to say something then, to once more remind the Dragon Slayer that Lucy was a member of the Bambi Force, when someone else interjected.

"I wouldn't hang around that loser too much longer," Gray Fullbuster said as he approached, the young man's shirt lying on the floor behind him. "I'm sure there's plenty of other teams that would want you on them."

"Ah-hem," Bambietta offered up, puffing out her chest as she tried to draw some measure of attention to herself. "The leader of the Bambi Force, which Lucy is a part of, is right here!"

Bambietta could see it clearly, however, that Natsu and Gray were now too focused on each other. The two wizards stared at each other, their power radiating around them.

"Why don't you butt out of it, you half-naked jerk?"

"And why don't you just cool yourself off, hothead?"

Bambietta watched on as the two exchanged pitiful insults, wondering when the nonsense would stop, but then she heard the sound of a familiar voice nearby.

"Why don't you join up with me, Lucy? Later tonight, just the two of us?"

The Quincy whirled around then, catching sight of Loke with his arm over Lucy's shoulders. "You," the Quincy whispered, knowing this man well.

"Oh my," Loke continued, not budging an inch from Lucy, "I just have to keep my shades on when I'm around you. Otherwise I'd simply be dazzled by your incandescent beauty."

Lucy was simply unimpressed. "Are you trying to tell me that girls are really won over by that?"

Bambietta had to admit, if only to herself, that it was a line she liked. Still that did not stop her from getting irritated at the lecherous man getting close to her roommate. She was about to say something then, only to be caught off guard by Loke's next action.

"Those keys!" Loke suddenly backed away from Lucy then, trying to put as much distance between them both. "You're a Celestial wizard?"

"Aye, sir!" Happy exclaimed, the cat appearing as if from nowhere and standing beside Lucy. "She's got cows and even crabs!"

Loke went into a complete panic at that moment, clutching at his face as he screamed as if towards the heavens. "Falling in love with a Celestial wizard, not that! No! Why has destiny conspired against me so tragically?"

Loke began to turn and ran then, moving right past Bambietta. Yet then did he stop and back towards her. He looked at her then with eyes wide with shock.

"Somebody call a doctor! Quick!"

"What the hell?" Bambietta could not understand what had come over this wizard now.

"No! Don't talk!" Loke replied, his voice still frantic. "Are you all right! Do you remember your name?"

"Okay," Bambietta said in response, "what are you going on about?"

"It's just," Loke began to say, "you've clearly suffered a nasty fall."

"Say what now?" Bambietta furrowed her brow in confusion. "What the heck gives you that idea?"

"Because," Loke began to answer as he moved his face closer to Bambietta's own, his eyes locking with hers, "I'm pretty sure you fell straight out of heaven, angel."

Bambietta did not know what to say in response. Then did she laugh a little, understanding that Loke had no idea of whom he was speaking such a forced line to. "Oh, sweet and smooth," Bambietta replied, trying to keep a straight face. "And do you know what happens to angels that fall from heaven?"

"What's that?"

"They become devils!" Bambietta allowed Blut Arterie to flow through her body and she grabbed Loke by the scruff of his shirt. With one quick motion she lifted the man off from the floor, his feet losing contact with the wooden boards. She looked up at him then, the Quincy smirking. "But I'll say this much... A for effort. Though in my case that shades line might have worked better for you. I'm no angel."

"A devil, huh?" Loke replied as he looked down at Bambietta. "Well, I'm game if you're up to living in sin tonight."

Bambietta screamed then, letting Loke go as she covered her ears. "I'm not hearing this!"

Loke took the opportunity presented to him to put some distance between himself and the offended Quincy before things got any worse and headed for the door. "You know, I think I'm just going to bid a hasty retreat. Bye!"

Then Loke was gone, running out of the guild hall at top speed.

"Okay," Lucy began to say, "I can understand why he's scared of Bambi but why me?"

Mirajane was quick to offer yet another explanation. "Loke once said he's always had bad luck with Celestial wizards. He probably dated one that ended in tragedy."

"Well," Lucy began to say, "I can't say I'm sur-"

Then was Lucy surprised, Natsu crashing right into her, the both of them falling to the floor.

"That looked like it hurt," Mirajane said simply in response. She looked over then, taking note of Gray holding an arm up in victory.

"Okay, so you stopped me and Natsu from having it out," Bambietta said as she moved close to the acting master and watched as Natsu stood up and began to argue with Gray once more, trading verbal barbs back and forth. "So what's a guild master to do about this, huh?"

"Oh, they're not fighting," Mirajane said softly. "This is just the way they are."

"Yeah, okay, sure." Bambietta rolled her eyes and continued to watch as Natsu and Gray let their powers build around them once more, the two arguing. The Quincy could see it then, everyone in attendance watching the wizards go at it, clearly finding the spectacle amusing. Even Lucy was giggling a little bit despite having been caught in the crossfire.

Then it hit Bambietta. The Quincy could feel it in the air, the sensation pervading all the reality around her. Something was fast approaching.

"What is that?"

Bambietta began to produce a cold sweat slightly then, feeling as if her body was standing against the running waters of a river, the pressure swarming her body. The Quincy had to wonder then if this was how Lucy and Levy had felt when she had flexed her power upon the bandits from the other day. The Quincy's skin was crawling in response, a shiver running up and down her spine as if in anticipation of the overbearing power moving far and away.

Yet it never did. It simply continued to come closer with each passing second, leaving the Quincy's body to tremble ever so slightly. It was not a malevolent force, no, but it still unnerved Bambietta nonetheless. The Quincy coul not help herself, standing in awe of that which she could not see. Yet while Bambietta continued to sense the inspiring power, the others continued their antics, unaware of what was coming. That, however, was about to end.

"We've got horrible news!" Loke was in the doorway once more, his face in a panic that dwarfed how he had reacted to both Lucy and Bambietta only minutes earlier. Everyone in the guild hall turned to face him then. "It's Erza! She's coming back! And if she sees us like this, if we don't all straighten up immediately, it will be the end of all of us!"

Bambietta watched as all those around her in the guild began to panic, as if the end was coming for them. All save Cana, the woman continuing to stare at her keg of beer with lust in her eyes. She rubbed the temples of her head slightly, however, as if she was now experiencing a headache. "Hey, Loke, how about a little warning the next time you do that? Some of us are trying to enjoy a hangover with a good beer."

"Just mention Erza and everyone goes crazy," Lucy said, watching as the others went in a panic. "She must be pretty scary."

"This Erza is what I'm feeling?"

Bambietta's hands were shaking then, the power still making her feel as if she were a simple child. Then it grew only worse, the Quincy noticing something that only added to her dread. Natsu and Gray were no longer arguing, the two young men simply carrying worried expressions as well.

"This cannot be good," was all Bambietta could say then.

"Oh, you two shouldn't be scared in the least," Mirajane said as she moved behind both Bambietta and Lucy, placing a gentle hand on a shoulder for each of them. "She's the strongest female wizard in Fairy Tail but don't let that worry you. She's a good person deep down, though I guess she is more than a little intimidating."

"A little?" Bambietta struggled to catch her breath then, the Quincy hoping that Mirajane was speaking the truth with what she had just said. Yet she had felt something unnerving within this chipper young lady as well, leaving her to wonder if this Erza would be any better.

Then did it go from bad to worse. Bambietta could still see the abject looks of fear on those around her, all save Cana. She could still feel the ever-present power pressing down on her. Yet then did the Quincy beginning to hear something as well.

Heavy footsteps, ones that were closer than Bambietta would have liked.

"That must be her," Laki Olietta whispered. "Erza Scarlet."

"You feel that? Even the air has gone completely still." Macao Conbolt began to move slowly away from the guild hall's entrance.

"You'd think from reactions like this that Erza was a demon," Lucy said, the young lady shivering slightly.

"No, not a demon," Bambietta said softly, trying to contain her shaking. "But she has... power."

Then did it happen. A figure came through the doorway, its features obscured by the sunlight that was pouring in. Yet Bambietta could see something large atop this Erza's shoulders.

Then did the figure move closer and come into full view. It was a woman with scarlet hair and armor plating across her upper body, a blue skirt hanging from her waist. That, however, was not what truly took hold of the attention of Bambietta, Lucy or anyone else. No, it was the ebony object the woman was easily holding above her shoulders with one hand; an object that dwarfed her own size several times over.

Then did this Erza Scarlet drop the large object to the floor, causing the guild hall to shake underneath its immense weight.

"I have returned," the woman said simply, as if nothing was out of the ordinary about her extraordinary reputation or feat. "Would anyone care to tell me where Master Makarov is?"

"Wow," Lucy said under her breath. "She's rather pretty."

"Oh I'd say that's the understatement of the century," Bambietta offered up in agreement.

"Welcome back!" Mirajane said cheerfully as she approached Erza, the one wizard in the guild who was unafraid of the armored mage while not being intoxicated as Cana was. "As for the master, he had to attend a conference with the other guilds."

"I see," was all Erza offered in return, her voice never showing the slightest waver in its brusque tone.

"So, Erza," a rather brave mage asked from a distance. "What's up with that thing you brought in?"

The armored wizard never missed a beat, answering the query as if what she was about to say was just a routine occurrence that happened to her on a regular basis. "This is the horn of a monster I was requested to slay. The locals were so happy that they decorated it and then gave it to me as a souvenir."

Then did Erza's expression harden and she spoke once more.

"Is there a problem with it?"

"No, ma'am!" the no longer brave wizard replied, backing away at a rapid pace.

Then did Erza shift her gaze, her eyes running across all those in the guild hall. "Now all you, listen! While I was away I heard several things that displeased me. The word is that Fairy Tail has been causing the local towns nothing but trouble as of late."

Bambietta mentally shrugged at that, knowing not to worry. Master Makarov had started his speech the other day exactly as Erza had just now, only to back pedal and speak against worrying about the Magic Council's opinion so much. No doubt Erza would be the same.

"Master Makarov may be lenient but I assure I do not approve of what has transpired."

Bambietta's shoulders sunk then, the Quincy's head falling forward. She began to whisper to herself as well. "Oh, I hope she didn't hear about what happened in the town of Oak."

Bambietta listened well as Erza began to verbally run down all those present, starting with Cana and her drinking habit and eventually ending with Macao, a man that Erza had no idea where to even begin with.

"So she's a little bit bossy," Lucy mused under her breath. "I still don't see why everyone is so freaked out about her."

Bambietta said nothing, understanding full well that Lucy could not sense the power that was radiating from this woman. It was both a blessing and a curse to the Quincy, yet she was slowly beginning to acclimate to the strength's presence and pressure.

"Oh yes," Erza suddenly said, "I almost forgot about the matter in Oak Town."

"Crud." Bambietta felt her blood run cold then, the Quincy taking notice of Erza looking her way. "Well it's been nice knowing you all."

Bambietta watched as Erza began to walk over to her then, the armored mage carrying a stern expression that left the Quincy trembling more than the woman's apparent power had.

"You and Levy were the ones who responded to the job requesting that the monster terrorizing Oak Town be dealt with," Erza began to say, her voice never losing its edge. "A Fairy Tail wizard dressed in white and identifying herself as something called a Quincy."

Bambietta gulped deeply then, her worry reaching its peak. "That was me, yes. Bambietta Basterbine at your service. And I just want to say that Levy was not responsible for any of the destru-"

An armored glove firmly grasped one of Bambietta's shoulders, cutting the Quincy's words off completely.

"Good work," Erza said simply as she looked the Quincy in the eyes, "Bambietta Basterbine."

The Quincy blinked once, twice, three times over. That had hardly been what she had expected to hear. She opened her mouth in an attempt to respond but all that came out was a slight squeak. It was unbecoming of a former member of the Vandenreich and in turn did Bambietta try to utter something again, yet once more did it happen, another high pitched squeak issuing forth. Her shock was simply too great to allow words to form.

"Erza, you're not mad?" Levy asked as she approached, her own nervous reaction to the strict mage lessened. "I mean, the building-"

"Hey, wait a minute!" a gruff voice suddenly shouted, cutting of Levy completely. Erza turned to face it and could see Elfman fast approaching. "When I fought a manly battle against a monster in the center of Hargeon, you berated me for months on end!"

A hard expression became apparent on Erza's face, one that forced Bambietta to gasp in surprise despite it not being directed at her. "And the result of your 'manly' battle was the destruction of several streets, homes and even the local chapel! If I recall right, you only summoned up nerves of 'manly' steel and ended the threat properly when the monster threatened an innocent family at the town's railroad station."

Elfman was about to protest then, raising a hand in defiance only to stop himself before he got in any more trouble. His shoulders slumped as he backed away. "I'm sorry, Erza."

Bambietta watched then as Erza turned back to face her. The harsh expression was gone, yet still was the armored wizard still serious to a fault. "Now you," she began to say once more, "I heard that you brought the fight away from innocent civilians and kept it contained within an abandoned building. That's commendable."

"Well, you know," Bambietta began to reply, completely flustered. She moved a hand behind her head and ran gloved fingers through her hair nervously in response to it all, the Quincy unable to process just how to handle the praise. "That was honestly Levi's suggestion and all. I just thought it made too much sense to do anything else and ran with it."

"We were there to save the townspeople after all," Levy added.

"Yeah, that!" Bambietta continued. "Totally that!" And then I just figured 'Hey, if I bring this condemned building down on the monster's head it'd probably be knocked out in no time flat!' So a little creative throwing into pillars and it was a done deal!"

"That's just what I hoped to hear." Erza nodded her head then, content with what she had listened to. Then did she turn her gaze sharply to the side, her focus shifting away from the Quincy. "Natsu! Gray!"

Bambietta all but cringed then, wondering how this Erza, serious to a fault as she was, would take to the young men continuing to argue and give life to their apparent rivalry. Imagine the Quincy's surprise then when she took notice of Natsu and Gray trying to play it cool. They both had an arm draped across each other s shoulders, their other hands clasped together. It was forced, Bambietta could tell that much from one quick glance. The nervous expressions that were etched upon both faces of the young men were a dead giveaway that they were trying and failing to put on a show for Erza.

"Oh hey, Erza," Gray answered sheepishly. "We're just, you know, hanging out like good friends should!"

"Aye, sir!" Natsu added, his voice cracking.

Bambietta could not believe what she was seeing or hearing. She knew that Erza was strong, having felt her power as she had, yet to see these two act so terrified in their own way only added to the Quincy's fear. The fact that Natsu was all but acting like Happy spoke volumes. Yet it was so very forced. Bambietta knew in her heart that one such as Erza Scarlet would not fall for such poorly acted theatrics.

Erza, meanwhile, simply nodded her head in approval. "I'm quite pleased to see the two of you getting along so well."

Bambietta simply went slack jawed then. She spoke with a low whisper, one that gave life to her disbelief. "You... you really think they're all buddy-buddy?"

"However," Erza continued, "it's only natural for even the best of friends to lock horns with each other every now and then."

"Oh," Gray nervously chuckled, wondering if Erza was giving him and Natsu permission to actually battle, "I wouldn't exactly call us the best of friends you know."

Natsu could only repeat what he had said earlier, his fear palpable. "Aye, sir."

"What's gotten into them both?" Lucy asked, just as surprised as Bambietta, though for different reasons. "Even Natsu is acting stranger than usual."

"He picked a fight with Erza a couple of years ago," Mirajane offered up. "She kind of beat him up pretty bad when it was all said and done."

"Well, that explains it," Bambietta glanced from the Dragon Slayer as he still acted under a false pretext, then back to Erza. "So Natsu defeated me, she totally trounced him... Yeah, I've got a long road ahead of me."

"That's not all though," Macao Conbolt said from his seat at the nearby table. "After that little brawl she found Gray walking around oblivious to his lack of clothes and he got beat up pretty good to."

"And let's not forget Loke," Cana added as she leaned forward on the counter, trying to reign in her drunken hiccups. "The poor jerk tried to hit on Erza and she kind of hit back. Literally. He totally had it coming though."

"Yeah, well," Lucy began to stammer, "I can't say I'd hold that against her."

"Okay," Bambietta replied with a smirk, "that I can totally understand. Maybe she and I have more in common than I thought. Thanks, Loke. I think."

Then did the mood grow serious once more, Erza still looking towards Natsu and Gray. "I know that I am about to ask a lot of you, yes, but I have a request for you both."

The fire and ice mages flinched then, neither having ever expected Erza to ask of them a favor.

"While I was travelling I heard something that has me quite concerned," Erza continued. "Something much more worrisome than simply Fairy Tail's standing within popular opinion. I was hoping to speak with the master in regards to this but I cannot wait for him to return before I am to act. The situation is too grave."

Erza took a breath then, leaving Bambietta and all the others to feel a slight sense of dread. The Quincy understood at least a little what power this woman possessed, yet she was clearly concerned about something out in the world. Bambietta could only imagine what terrible forces had her so concerned.

"Natsu, Gray," Erza began to say once more, "you two are the most powerful wizards within this guild that I can trust wholeheartedly. I would appreciate your assistance in dealing with this matter."

Yes, then was Bambietta truly worried. If a wizard of this caliber wished to possess backup against whatever threat she was about to face it could only mean that it was something truly awe inspiring in terms of its destructive potential. The Quincy felt a slight hint of fear, her skin roiling under the sensation, yet she knew what she had to do.

Bambietta understood well the importance of going into battle with trusted comrades by her side. It was something she had made very clear to her new friends, to both Levy and Lucy. Yet there was more. While she had only just met this Erza Scarlet, she could not help but be impressed by the strength she so clearly possessed. Yet if the possessor of that strength felt that it was not enough for the task at hand, however, that meant there something out there that was demanding Bambietta's attention.

"Wait," Bambietta whispered to herself.

Looking at Erza, something about the wizard just screamed for realization from the Quincy. A foggy memory began to claw at her thoughts but it was gone as fast as it had come. Clarity was something that she could not grasp. Bambietta's attention was then diverted to the present once more, the Quincy watching as Natsu and Gray simply stared at each other.

Bambietta could hear it, the members of the guild speaking in hushed murmurs, as if they were shocked that Erza asked for help. Yet still were the Dragon Slayer and Ice-Make wizard simply glaring at each other, as if they could not put past any petty rivalry to help one of their own. That got underneath Bambietta's skin. Bracing herself for whatever may come of it, she stepped forward then. "I may not be the strongest in this guild and I don't know if you can place as much trust in me as those two," she began to say, "but I want in."

"Your offer is appreciated," Erza replied, the wizard staring towards Bambietta then. "Though may I ask why you wish to involve yourself in a matter you have yet to learn the exact details of?"

Bambietta metaphorically stopped in her tracks then. The Quincy was unsure of just what had come over her in all actuality, having acted without truly thinking. To some it was perhaps a foolhardy trait of hers but Bambietta always tried to play it off as one of her adorable little quirks. Yet now she was beginning to wonder what had possessed her to step up to the plate as she had. However that lapse of thought was brief and nothing more. She was a proud warrior of the Vandenreich, one of the respected Stern Ritter. Thus was the motivation behind her resolve a simple matter that Bambietta understood with all her heart.

"Well it just sounds like you've got quite the fight on your hands," Bambietta offered up as an explanation, a smile creeping across her face, "and there's nothing I enjoy more than a good scrap every now and then."

It was as simple as that as far as Bambietta was concerned. This was a golden opportunity for her. She knew Natsu was strong, yes, but he was clearly not the top of the food chain within Fairy Tail, let alone this kingdom of Fiore. If she were to tag along then Bambietta could see what this Erza Scarlet, one of Fairy Tail's strongest, could do. Not only that, she could see what else this world had to offer.

That was what Bambietta had on her mind, her main motivation to see what threats and power lay both within and beyond Fairy Tail, yet perhaps Erza was not so readily convinced. "So you say."

A hush fell upon the guild hall then. The silence hung over the members of Fairy Tail for several tense moments and Bambietta glanced towards Erza and could see it. The armored mage was staring directly towards her as if her eyes could peer into the Quincy's soul. Bambietta could swear then that she could all but hear the gears turning in Erza's head, as if the wizard was weighing all her options.

Yet there was something else there, as if Erza was most curious about Bambietta in general. The Quincy was slightly unnerved then, wondering just what was going on. Despite her momentary flash of memory, of a clear vision lost in the fog of time, she could not recall having ever met this woman. Not in this life or the one before. So why then was Erza paying so much attention to her? That was a question that was leaving Bambietta confused to no end.

"All right then," Erza at last said, nodded her head as she placed her armored gauntlets against her hips. "I accept your generous offer, Bambietta" Then did Erza glance back towards Natsu and Gray, the two men still staring each other down in silence. "Then it's settled . Tomorrow morning we shall all meet at the train station."

Erza began to move away then, the armored mage retrieving the decorated horn that had been bequeathed to her by a grateful village. With a round of thunderous steps did she depart from the guild hall, leaving a several stunned individuals in her wake.

"Wow," Mirajane said, the silver haired acting guild master blinking several times over. "Erza, Natsu and Gray? This may be the strongest Fairy Tail team ever assembled."

"Hey!" Bambietta interjected. "I think you're forgetting someone!"

"Oh, right." Mirajane turned to Lucy then, eyeing the Celestial wizard. "You know, Natsu and Gray are probably going to be practically tearing at each other's threats whenever Erza isn't around, so maybe you could tag along and break it up when it happens."

Lucy panicked then, the wizard's eyes going wide. She glanced over to Natsu and Gray, the two young men radiating power once more, before returning back to the smiling Mirajane. "Wait. Me?"

"Hello, I'm right here next to you both." Bambietta moved in close, draping an arm over Lucy's shoulders. "I should feel miffed but worry not, roommate! I've got your back!"

Lucy knew she should have been happy with that but there was another worry now. She gave voice to it, though only under her breath. "Yeah, but what's to stop you and Natsu from fighting?"

Bambietta glanced down to Lucy then. "Huh?"

"Oh nothing!"


Time moved on and both Lucy and Bambietta found themselves back at their apartment. They knew they had time to prepare for the road ahead of them, one night to relax before they'd set out in the morning with Erza and the others.

"I wonder what kind of damn fool idealistic crusade we've gotten ourselves into," Bambietta said as she hung her hat and cloak on the coat rack by the door.

"We?" Lucy complained as she watched the Quincy all but drop down on her new bed. "Who was it that said 'I just love a good scrap?' I don't! Now I've got to keep Natsu and Gray from going at each other when Erza's not looking. Not to mention yo-"

Lucy stopped them, covering her mouth with both hands.

Bambietta playfully kicked off her boots and looked over to Lucy. "You're going to watch over me too, huh?"

The Celestial mage sighed as she moved further into the apartment and sat down on her own bed directly across the room from Bambietta's own. "It's not like that. I'm just worried you're going to keep picking fights with Natsu until you finally win."

"Well yeah," Bambietta replied. "But I'm not so dumb as to fight him when the things haven't quite changed in my favor. I'll really worry about him when I'm back to my old self." Then did Bambietta's face and voice take on a sour note. "If I'm ever myself again."

"Bambi?"

The Quincy looked back towards Lucy then, smirking as she did so. Whatever moment of sorrow that had infected her had passed already. "But not to worry! I'm already a couple of steps closer to being as cool as I used to be!"

Bambietta sat up then and moved toward the dresser by her bed. She began to rummage through the drawer, then turned to face Lucy again.

"Check these baby's out!" The Quincy said as she showcased a handful of silver canisters within the palm of her right hand.

Lucy strained to get a better look at the items, recognizing them for common magical vials that could be bought at any dime a dozen magic shop. "I thought you said you couldn't use magic like everyone else."

"Oh so true!" Bambietta exclaimed. "But I've been a busy little bee while you were away playing Cops, Robbers and Maids or whatever! Now you see, we Quincy can't perform spells quite like you can, so we have to adapt."

"Adapt?"

"Well, I've been dumping traces of my own spiritual energy, borrowed from the magic around me, into these little capsules. It took a little while, since sitting still and meditating is so not my style-"

Lucy giggled. "Somehow I'm not surprised."

"I heard that." Bambietta stared sharply at her roommate for a second before returning back to her lecture. "So anyway, once the power is contained I can use a little chant, a little prayer and boom! The power stored away in these capsules can let me perform some Quincy spells!"

"Like what?" Lucy asked, legitimately interested.

"Well, minor healing for one," Bambietta continued. "White mage in a bottle. Never leave home without it. However, I kind of like the more offensive spells they offer."

"That figures," Lucy sighed. "Well I'm glad to hear you were keeping busy. I kind of got a bonus while I was away too. Natsu and I didn't get a reward but at least I did get-"

"And that's not all!" Bambietta turned around to dig through her drawer once more. Then did she face Lucy again, holding in her hands a pair of black tights. "A necessity for the lifestyle of a skirt wearing Quincy who loves to fight on the front lines!"

Lucy could not help herself, giggling a little bit at the recollection of what had occurred back in the cavern of King McGuffin the Fourth.

"No laughing!" Bambietta shouted as she pointed at Lucy. "We agreed the story of that incident would not leave the cave! Besides, you wear skirts too!"

"But I don't have to get into the thick of things thanks to my Celestial Spirits," Lucy retorted, "so nobody is ever going to see my underwear by accident."

Bambietta scowled a little, stopping only when she recalled something rather confusing she had seen a few days earlier. "Speaking of that," the Quincy began, "was that strange creature I saw you, Natsu and Happy hanging out with before you left for the maid job one of those spirits?"

"Oh that's right!" Lucy began to rummage around for her Celestial Keys, pulling a silver one forth. "You were sleeping like a baby when I showed Natsu and Happy how I make a contract! But wasn't Plue the most adorable little scamp?"

"Contract?" Bambietta was confused then and there, unsure of what Lucy was talking about. "What, you have to offer them something in return?" Then did the Quincy's eyes open wide. "I don't even want to know what that horny bull accepted for payment."

Lucy narrowed her eyes in response. "You're thinking of something dirty, aren't you?"

Bambietta visibly cringed, shaking her head as she did so. "Afraid so. So much for ever closing my eyes again. Stupid imagination."

"I'll have you know Taurus and I made a sweet and innocent pact back in the day!" Lucy exclaimed. "He said he'd always protect me and... my body... Okay, so he's a little bit of a perv still. But he's cool, seriously!"

"Anyway..." Bambietta pleaded, the Quincy still trying to save herself from the mental images dancing across her mind. "You were trying to say earlier that you got something from that job with Natsu after all?"

"Indeed I did!" Lucy pulled forth a gold key then and stood up from her bed. "There was no financial reward but I did get a new Celestial Key. You want to see how a contract works?"

"May as well," Bambietta exclaimed as she sat back down on her bed. "I showed you my new power, so let's see yours."

"Okay then," Lucy replied. "But just be ready. She's kind of a big girl, you know?"

"I'm not one to judge," Bambietta said with a sly smirk on her face. "Let's see her."

Lucy brought the key forth, energy swirling around it. Then did she speak, uttering the command spell to put her power to good use. "Open the Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"

The energy coalesced then, giving form to something that did not live up the expectations that Bambietta had formed in her mind. Between and Lucy know stood a lithe young lady with pink hair and dressed in a maid's uniform.

"Hello," the Celestial Spirit said calmly.

"Oh, Lucy," Bambietta said with a shake of her head. "Now look who's being judgmental. This is what you call chubby? Good grief."

"Hey!" Lucy stammered, unsure of what she was seeing as well. "Virgo was definitely of the big and tall variety back at the Everlue mansion!"

"I'm ever so sorry," Virgo suddenly said. "That was the form my previous master found most preferable. If you wish, I could return to that altered state."

"No, no. That's quite all ri-"

"No need. I belie-"

Neither Lucy or Bambietta were able to complete their sentences, Virgo acting of her own accord without hesitation. Her body was consumed in a puff of smoke, yet when it vanished she had transformed. Now did the pink haired maid tower over Bambietta and Lucy both, possessing an overweight body as well as a rather chiseled face.

"His Majesty!" Bambietta exclaimed, unable to contain herself as she scurried back across her bed until her back hit the wall. "This is madness!"

"Madness?" Virgo asked. "This was Everlue's desire."

Lucy could feel it then, the floorboards of the room beginning to creak underneath the newfound strain. "And I think my desire as your new summoner is for you to stay as you please."

"Very well." Another blast of smoke, much larger than the last, consumed Virgo's body. Once it faded she was once more the demure young lady that Bambietta had first been introduced to. "If it would not be too bold, can I suggest you punish me for my recent transgression of taking a form that did not please you?"

Lucy was concerned by that question, as was Bambietta. The Quincy then noticed the broken chains strapped to Virgo's rests. "Oh, what the hell? Lucy?"

"Hey!" the blonde shouted. "I'm not into that kind of thing, you hear?"

"Pervie bull, kinky maid, whatever that Plue thing was," Bambietta began to shake her head slightly. "Are any of these spirits a little more normal? Still, I suppose having a maid around could be helpful."

"Anyway," Lucy said as she approached Virgo. The wizard gently held the spirit's hand then, looking her in the eyes. "Happy said that you were looking for a new master?"

"Yes," Virgo answered. "With the Duke of Everlue imprisoned I wished to employ my services elsewhere and you seemed quite caring towards your own Celestial Spirits. If a may be so bold I wish to form a contract with you."

"Well okay!" Lucy exclaimed. "Well I'm pretty easy going, but if there's any stipulations that you-"

"I will be allowed to refer to you as princess," Virgo interjected, not giving Lucy time to continue. "Also, if I ever do anything to displease you or if you simply feel the need, I ask that you punish me as harshly as you see fit. Those are the terms of my contract."

Lucy could not help herself, blinking several times over as she tried to comprehend what she had just heard. "Well," she began to say, "I guess I'm okay with you calling me princess if you really want to. As for the whole punishment thing, torture really isn't my thing."

"Yet I saw you brandish a whip quite skillfully back at the Everlue mansion while confronting my previous master."

Bambietta's eyes could only widen in response to that statement. She looked over towards Lucy. "Seriously, what the heck went on over there?"

"It's not what you think!" Lucy exclaimed. "You've got your bows, arrows and your sword. Me? I've got a whip. It's the same thing."

"Yeah, except I've never run into a guy who felt that bows and arrows were good for a kinky romp. Well, okay, so there was Gerard, but he was really, really big on weapons, you know?"

"Too much information." Lucy simply stared blankly in return, forcing herself to turn her attentions back to Virgo. "Look, I really can't be mean to you, Virgo."

"The greatest punishment of all," the Celestial Spirit replied. "You truly are a cruel mistress. I pledge myself to you then, princess. Call on me as you see fit."

Then was Virgo gone, the spirit returning to the Celestial World and leaving behind two very confused women.

"So, princess, that was the forming of a contract?" Bambietta teased. "What's next? A cheerleader spirit with a love of extreme tickling?"

"Oh very funny," Lucy retorted. "Well I suppose we should pack light for this trip."

"Yeah, that Erza is one serious piece of work," Bambietta replied. "Something tells me she's going to be pretty ticked off if we show up with too much luggage."


"Holy crap!"

Within the confines of Magnolia Station could Bambietta Basterbine only stare in utter awe of that which could be seen. Before her stood Erza Scarlet, the armored warrior dragging behind her a wooden palette which carried over a dozen large suitcases of many shapes and sizes. The lot of them were tied down with rope and stacked so high that it completely eclipsed the monster's horn from the previous day.

"I guess we could have packed a little more thoroughly," Lucy Heartfilia sighed as she looked towards the massive conglomerate of luggage.

"That's Erza for you!" Happy exclaimed as he flew by the young ladies and towards Natsu and Gray.

Bambietta sighed then as she looked at the duo, taking note of how quickly they had changed once more. They had been arguing ever since they had arrived at the train station, yet now that Erza was nearby they were singing a very different note.

"It's time to go, good buddy!"

"Aye, sir!"

"It brings a smile to my heart to see you two getting along so well." Erza looked stern for a moment then. "My apologies for being so late, however. I had... much difficulty in cutting my supplies in half."

Bambietta glanced at the massive pile of luggage once more. "Half?"

"Oh yes," Erza suddenly said, her gaze turning toward Bambietta's roommate. "I believe I saw you at the guild hall yesterday."

"Oh, my name's Lucy and I just joined Fairy Tail in the last week actually. Mirajane asked that I come along so that I could learn from the very best."

Bambietta let them talk, turning her gaze towards Natsu and Gray. Sure enough they were literally butting heads once more. Yet the moment Erza glanced their way did both young men put on fake smiles . Then, when she turned back, did they return to scowls. Over and over did it continue, the armored mage stealing glances towards her selected allies and being greated with deception while she continued to speak with Lucy.

The Quincy could not help but chuckle a little bit. Yet then, much to her surprise, did Natsu suddenly move towards Erza.

"You know, Gray and I didn't get much choice on coming along on this mission," the Fire Dragon Slayer began to say, "but I've got one condition I'd like fulfilled when this is all said and done."

"I'm all ears," Erza replied as she turned to face her comrade.

"I want a rematch when we get back to Fairy Tail!"

Bambietta, Lucy and Gray were visibly stunned then, while Happy the cat simply shrugged.

"I'm way stronger than last time!" Natsu proclaimed. "So I know I'm going to win!"

"Yes, I knew you would always improve," Erza replied simply. "Yet whether you can defeat me, I suppose that is a question that we will have to wait and see the answer to. I gladly accept your challenge, Natsu."

"Oh yeah!" Natsu shouted, flames suddenly whipping around him. "I'm all fired up now!"

Bambietta had not been expecting this, not in the least. She had heard well enough from Mirajane how badly Natsu had been defeated by Erza before. Yet the Quincy had to admire his tenacity. "You've got guts, Dragon Slayer. I just hope I don't see them spilled out on the ground when this is all said and done."


"Curse you, Natsu!"

It was still up in the air if Bambietta was going to see Natsu's guts spilled later, yet now was the Quincy personally getting to inspect the contents of the Fire Dragon Slayer's stomach. Much to her surprise had Bambietta learned the hard way that Natsu was unable to handling moving vehicles, motion sickness leaving him capable of doing nothing.

Nothing, that was, save for his ability to expel from his mouth what had once been his breakfast directly upon the Quincy's boots.

Bambietta glared across from her seat across the cabin towards the Dragon Slayer. He was still showing signs of his motion sickness despite what had just happened a few seconds ago, Natsu's face a shade of blue that all but matched Happy's fur. Then did she glance down at her boots, the vomit upon them still irritating her. The Quincy hissed then, her rage boiling over. Bambietta reach toward the sickened Natsu, grabbing hold of his vest. She began to shake him then, her irritation at its limit.

"What are you going to do, huh? What are you doing to do? How are you going to fix this?"

Bambietta knew she could not expect an answer from the ill Dragon Slayer but her temper would not allow herself to accept that on a deeper level. Yet it was then that her anger only caused more problems.

"Can't..." Natsu gasped, his cheeks puffing up. "Can't... take any... more!"

Then it happened once more, the violent shaking causing the Dragon Slayer to bring up the remaining portions of his breakfast upon Bambietta's boots a second time. Bambietta let go then, allowing Natsu to curl back into his seat. He glanced at her then, his face remaining just as blue as before.

"Sorry..."

The Quincy simply folded her arms across her chest, annoyed to no end. Yet she knew deep down that she was as much to blame as Natsu for the second experience, perhaps more so. "It's... fine. I just hope that was the last of your breakfast."

"Man, you're pathetic," Gray mused as he looked out the window of the train. "One minute you're acting all big and cool and picking a fight with Erza, the next you're a motion sick moron."

"It must be rough for him travelling around for missions," Lucy commented, hugging the summoned spirit Plue tightly.

"And for anyone who has the misfortune of sitting across from him," Bambietta hissed. The Quincy still understood the second incident was more her fault, yes, but that did not mean she would not expect the Dragon Slayer to make up for it. "Hey, Natsu, give me your scarf. I need something to clean up this mess you made."

"Oh... no..." the young man replied. Despite his motion sickness he still managed to bring an arm up, clasping down tightly on his white scarf with one hand. The Fire Dragon Slayer knew he would normally be much more fired up to protect that which was most precious to him but he was in no state to verbally go beyond anything more than a weak declaration. "No... you don't..."

Bambietta raised an eyebrow at that. "Come on, man, it's just a scarf!"

"Do not press the issue, Bambietta," Erza said quietly from the seat positioned directly behind her. "That scarf is the last remaining gift Natsu has to remember Igneel by. However, if you need something to clean your boots I can provide it."

Bambietta heard it then, slight movement and shuffling around behind her. Then did Erza peak around the wooden frame of the train's seating, something blue gripped tightly in the armored gauntlet that covered her left hand. Bambietta's eyes went wide at the sight of it, as did Lucy and the others. Even Natsu, despite his sickness, was still able to express his surprise.

"You do realize that's your skirt, right?" Bambietta asked, completely thrown off by the brazen action that had been committed by Erza. The Quincy could see a few men, as well as some women, who were sharing the train car with Fairy Tail glancing towards the armored wizard then and there, leaving her to wonder if Erza even understood what she had done.

Yet her face was calm and impassive, as if there was nothing particular strange about her actions. It was then that Bambietta had to rethink her original assessment. Fairy Tail was full of many eccentric and eclectic personalities, hers no exception, but she had initially felt that Erza was the sanest veteran member she had met since Levy. Now, however, was Bambietta beginning to reconsider that notion. Little did she know that the other newcomer to the guild, Lucy, was thinking the exact same thing.

"It's a simple skirt," Erza answer as Bambietta hesitantly took the offered article of clothing. "It's easily replaced."

"Yeah, okay," Bambietta replied as she watched Erza slip back into her seat and out of sight. Then did the Quincy mumble under her breath. "If you don't mind everyone staring at your underwear until we get to a clothing store in the next town."

Then did the Quincy notice a strange light suddenly emit from the seating behind her, leaving Bambietta to wonder just what was going on back there. She felt a strange burst of magical energy across her senses, then it was gone as was the light. The Quincy then saw the other passengers who had been gawking at Erza suddenly lose interest and look away, leaving her even more confused.

"Now then," Erza said as she stood up to her full height and came fully into view as she stood in the train car's aisle, "as to the crisis at hand..."

Bambietta stared at Erza in confusion then, taking note of the blue skirt that was adorning her lower body. The Quincy glanced down to the discarded piece of clothing in her hands before looking back towards the armored mage. Then did Bambietta's thoughts return to the strange flash of light that had just occurred. "Huh. Magic skirts are really a thing in this world. Neat."

Erza either did not hear or did not have any interest in Bambietta's random assessment, instead continuing to talk and take command of the situation at hand. She began to speak then, giving those around her hope that they were at last going to find out what exactly the crisis so dire that it required three of Fairy Tail's top wizards to contend was. Yet they were all about to be disappointed. "I believe I can relieve Natsu of his current predicament, though it will require restructuring of our seating arrangement."

A brief spontaneity of chaos occurred then and there, with Erza Scarlet directed her comrades in their seating arrangements. In the end did Erza sit beside the sick Natsu, while Gray, Happy and Lucy sat together. Bambietta, meanwhile, found herself alone in the seating directly behind Lucy. She did not mind, however, as it kept her footwear out of the range of any other projectile 'attacks' from the Dragon Slayer. Using the provided article of clothing, the Quincy cleaned her boots. Then did she turn around and kneel on the train's seat, peaking over the top of the wooden backing so that she could see her fellow Fairy Tail allies.

Bambietta glanced across the seating then, watching as Erza gently held the motion sick Natsu close to her. He did appear to be stabilizing a little then, leaving the Quincy surprised by Erza's gentle touch. It was a far cry from the commanding tone and awe inspiring power she seemed to possess.

"Now just relax," Erza said softly. Then, quite suddenly, did she slam an armored fist directly into Natsu's stomach. The Dragon Slayer gasped and fell forward, the side of his head landing atop Erza's lap. She gently placed a hand on the unconscious man's shoulder then. "There, that should make the trip a little easier for him."

Bambietta's mouth fell open in response, the Quincy at a loss for words. All she knew for certain was that she really was beginning to wonder what kind of crazy she had gotten herself involved with by joining Fairy Tail. Then did she correct herself, recalling well how offbeat and crazy some of the Stern Ritter had been, herself included. The Quincy knew she was in no position to judge on the merits of madness. Besides, there was part of her deep down that could only find the sheer strange nature of Fairy Tail and its members rather comforting. There was no place like home, it was true, but this would simply have to do for now.

"Erza," Gray suddenly said, cutting the moment directly to the bone with his tone, "I think we've all been rather patient up to this point. So what exactly got you so spooked you wanted me and Natsu to tag along?"

"And don't forget me!" Bambietta exclaimed. Then did she glance away for a moment, bringing an index finger up to her chin. "Oh, wait. I just wanted to tag along to see what all the fuss was about. Never mind!"

Whether Erza noticed or simply ignored Bambietta's outburst was another matter altogether. The wizard simply began to speak then and there, willing to answer Gray's question. "I have reason to believe that the dark guild Eisenwald is plotting something that involves a magical artifact as Lullaby."

Bambietta watched as Lucy turned to Gray then, the Celestial Wizard clearly worried about something herself now. "Wait, wasn't that the thing those jerks from before were talking about?"

Erza took note of it as well. "I see. So you ran into the Eisenwald guild already?"

"Well I didn't know they were from that guild at the time," Lucy stammered, clearly nervous around Erza.

"I ran into Lucy and Natsu while we were all coming back from some job requests," Gray began to say, not showing nearly as much hesitation, "and then some losers from Eisenwald showed up."

Happy piped in then. "I was almost eaten by a giant chicken that had a mohawk!"

Bambietta furrowed her brow in response. "Seriously, Lucy, someday you're going to have to tell me just what the hell went on during this whole Everlue quest."

"Anyway," Gray said, the ice mage getting clearly annoyed with the conversation, "the Eisenwald gang tried to use Happy as a meal... and yes, one of them was a chicken monster with a mohawk,. Don't ask. So me, Lucy and that loser napping on your lap knocked some sense into them. They started to brag about something called Lullaby but then they were pulled away by somebody who was clearly using shadow magic. I'm guessing it was somebody from Eisenwald looking out for them."

"Or perhaps they were members who left Eisenwald due to disagreeing with whatever the guild intends to use Lullaby for," Erza interjected, "and someone from the guild was after them to make sure the plan was not revealed to anyone. It's only a hypothesis, I'll admit, but this whole situation has me quite worried."

"It should if you're right," Gray replied. "If this thing is bad enough to make members of a dark guild afraid, we all should be."

"So what do you think they've got planned?" Bambietta asked, finally dragging herself into the conversation.

"Perhaps it would be for the best if I started at the beginning," Erza said, closing her eyes for a moment. "While on my journey back to Fairy Tail after completing my job request I stopped at a pub. While there I overheard several Eisenwald wizards speaking about this Lullaby. The one who was referred to as Kageyama said that he had found a way to unseal the spell around Lullaby and would bring it to Erigor in three days time."

"Lullaby?" Gray questioned. "It doesn't sound like a very dangerous artifact. I mean, that's just something you sing to a kid to get them to go to sleep."

"Yeah, well," Bambietta began to say, "I wouldn't judge a power by its title. Believe me. You wouldn't think the Love sounds all that threatening but believe me, it was a twisted power in the wrong hands."

Lucy, meanwhile, simply whispered to herself, as if she was beginning to remember something. "Lullaby..."

"Not only that," Erza continued, "but it was sealed away for a reason. The fact that a dark guild is interested in whatever Lullaby can do is proof enough that it is dangerous."

"Are you sure the guys at the pub were involved with Eisenwald?" Gray asked.

"Unfortunately yes," Erza answered. "I was such a fool that day. They had spoken of a man named Erigor, yet at the time I did not recognize his name."

Lucy spoke up then. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Erza. I've spent maybe way too much time looking up stuff on magical guilds and I've never heard of him."

"It's a dark guild for one," Gray interjected, "but I'll admit, I don't know about any Erigor either."

"It's not surprising in the least," Erza said. "He operates only through shadows, keeping his presence undetected by most. Yet he is known well through the dark underbelly of the Fiore. He has few qualms, yet very specific requirements for any jobs he takes."

Bambietta listened well then, her curiosity piqued. "And what's that?"

"He only ever takes job requests that require the assassination of one target or sometimes several," Erza answered, her voice falling to a low tone. "That is why he is known as the Erigor the Reaper."

"You mean," Lucy all but gasped, "Eisenwald kills for profit?"

Bambietta all but shrugged to herself, the Quincy far from horrified by the thought of murder. She had done it plenty of times in her past, sometimes for reasons much more deplorable than simply searching for more money. Yet her indifference wavered slightly, Bambietta hearing the horror present in Lucy's voice. It tore at the Quincy for a moment, making her wonder just how her roommate and new friend would take to learning the truth behind the life she had led in her own dimension.

"The Magic Council forbid the allowance for assassination requests long ago," Erza continued to say, drawing hold of Bambietta's diverted attention, "but Eisenwald felt that money was far more important than any rulings or morality. As a result they were forced out of the wizard league they had been a part of nearly six years ago. Yet they continued doing as they pleased and in turn were marked as a dark guild."

Lucy began to shiver then, her skin crawling in response to all that Erza had said. "You know, I think I really should be going home right about now."

"Oh, don't sweat it," Bambietta said as she leaned over the seating and placed a hand on Lucy's quivering shoulder. "I've got your back. Just leave all the fun fighting against these jerks to me, okay?"

Erza suddenly snapped then, catching Bambietta and the others off guard. The wizard brought an armored fist down hard, acting on instinct, and unknowingly slammed the unconscious Natsu on the side of the face with a loud smack. Bambietta was about to give voice and object but she stopped, realizing that it would not do to get on Erza's bad side by telling her what she had just down to one of her own teammates.

"How could I have been so utterly careless?" Erza rasped, the wizard continuing to act as her own worst critic. "If I had only recognized that fiend Erigor's name on that day I could have took care of them that very instant! I could have forced those Eisenwald members to reveal just what they were plotting!"

"So if I've got it straight," Gray said, once more looking out at the passing scenery, "you're positive that Eisenwald is up to something terrible with this Lullaby and you want to stop them here and now."

"That s exactly right," Erza answered, her hand once more gently rested on the shoulder of the knocked out Natsu. "But I am not so foolish to think I could take down an entire magical guild on my own. That's why I asked for help from you and Natsu."

"Hey!"

"And why I accepted the aide of Bambietta as well as Lucy. We're going to storm the Eisenwald guild and do what the Magic Council should have years ago. We're going to put a stop to them once and for all."

"Sounds like fun to me," Gray replied, the ice mage nodding his head in approval.

"Aye, sir!" Happy exclaimed before taking another bite of the fish in his paws.

"I just want to go home," Lucy pleaded, nervous sweat pouring down her body.

Bambietta, meanwhile, simply grinned. "Oh yes, this sounds like it's going to be a blast."

Then did Erza suddenly stare towards Bambietta. Yet the armored mage said nothing, leaving the Quincy to wonder just what her deal was.


Time passed, distance was travelled and soon did the members of Fairy Tail find themselves at Onibus Station. The group had their plans set then, the invasion of whatever \veritable hole Eisenwald had set up shop in an inevitability. To that end they continued to move forward, Bambietta watching in awe as Erza continued to move her massive amounts of luggage with veritable ease. Still did she try her best to act natural.

"So, Erza," she began to ask, moving up closer to the wizard, "I've been meaning to ask. What can your magic do?"

"Erza's magic is super pretty and stuff," Happy suddenly shouted. "She makes her enemies bleed!"

"I don't know if I'd call that pretty," Lucy replied with a shudder.

"Really? It sounds pretty awe-" Bambietta stopped herself then, the Quincy realizing in an instant that showcasing how much of a thrill she got out of overt violence was probably not the best route to take. "- Icky to me. Yeah. Gross."

"It's a simple magic I suppose," Erza began to explain. "I just-"

"Hey! Where's Natsu?"

The sound of Happy's confusion drawing their attention, the Quincy and the wizards began to look around then. Sure enough there was no sign of the pink haired Dragon Slayer anywhere.

Then they all heard it, the sound of the train beginning to resume its journey. Bambietta glanced towards the steam powered behemoth. "Oh no."

The train departed then, leaving the group in its wake. Happy simply stared at it. "There he goes."

Erza's voice cracked ever so slightly in response. "We were all so busy conversing that I completely forgot about Natsu!"

"Forgot about him?" Bambietta whispered under her breath. "He was practically napping on your lap after you knocked him out."

Erza simply continued then, her track record of being her own worst critic rearing its ugly head once more. "I'm such a witless fool! Natsu despises all forms of transportation with every fiber of his being! This is my fault!"

Erza turned towards Bambietta, Lucy, Gray and Happy, leaving them visibly shaking.

"I need one of you," Erza began to say, "to hit me. My just reward for leaving behind a comrade."

Gray and Happy simply backed away, leaving Lucy and Bambietta to stand before Erza. The blonde was quite concerned in response then. "Really? That sounds like a bit much."

"It must be done," was all Erza would say in response. "My penance must be fulfilled."

Bambietta glanced back and forth then, the Quincy unsure what to make of this debacle she had found herself in. She knew catching up with that train and retrieving the motion sick Natsu was of the highest priority but she also could tell just from the conflicted look on Erza's face that talking the armored warrior out of her despair was simply not a possibility.

"Okay," Bambietta said with trace amounts of hesitation, "let me get this straight. You want someone here to hit you. And there will be no repercussions?"

Erza shook her head. "That is correct."

"Uh-huh." Bambietta nodded in return, trying to summon up her resolve. She took one step forward then, trying to forget the power from Erza she had sensed yesterday. Then she took another, trying to forget Happy's description of the woman's magic. One more step then, the Quincy trying to forget how Erza had casually knocked out Natsu with a simple strike. "Well then..."

Bambietta took a deep breath and pulled her right arm back. Her fingers began to close into a fist, the Quincy bracing herself for whatever hell would await her for what she was about to do.

"You asked for it!"

Bambietta threw her fist forward then, her gloved knuckles targeting Erza's face. The armored wizard watched in return, her eyes withdrawn from her own irritation with herself. Then the fist struck, gently nudging Erza's cheek as Bambietta pulled back on the attack with all her might.

"What?" Erza glanced down the side of her face, looking at Bambietta's fist before allowing her gaze to travel to the Quincy's face.

"There," the Quincy said simply. "You've been punished, so let's go catch up with that motion sick goofball! Time's a wasting!"

"It seems I was still being quite foolish," Erza replied as Bambietta pulled her fist away. "The time for punishment can wait until after we have retrieved Natsu. Thank you, Bambietta."

Then Erza began to walk away with a purpose, leaving Bambietta to breathe a sigh of utter relief. "Yeah, that's why I completely pulled my punch. It had nothing to do with how scary you can be. Nope. Not at all."

Bambietta tried to calm her scattered nerves then but the Quincy was soon to find out it was not going to be that easy when dealing with Erza Scarlet.

"What the devil do you think you're doing, lady? You don't have permission to pull the train's emergency lever whenever you damn well please!"

Bambietta turned her gaze then and could see Lucy, Happy and Gray staring in complete shock. A little further did she look and she could see a railway attendant yelling at Erza, who just so happened to have her armored hand firmly gripping down on a lever.

Bambietta could only blink in astonishment. "Oh no she didn't."

"Please understand," Erza said simply, thinking nothing wrong with what she had just done. "We need to catch up with our friend and this is simply the most expedient way to meet up with that train as soon as possible."

Bambietta continued to stare in astonishment, the Quincy beginning to wonder just what kind of woman she was working under now. However, much to her surprise, the situation only got more interesting.

"Now then," Erza continued, her stern expression never veering away from the railway attendant, "I would greatly appreciate if you were to bring my party's luggage to the nearest hotel."

The man was simply not thrilled to hear that. "Are you freaking kidding me? I'm not a bellhop, young lady!"

"I'm starting to think all the wizards in Fairy Tail are a little crazy," Lucy said as she simply watched the spectacle continue.

"Oh, I'm not that crazy," Bambietta argued as she moved in close, smirking as usual. "Well, maybe just a little bit."

"Well not all of us are crazy."

Lucy and Bambietta began to turn in response to the sound of Gray's voice, yet were greeted by the sight of the now shirtless wizard, his long white coat on the ground.

"Just... darn it, Gray," Bambietta sighed, trying to resist the urge to sucker punch him as she had upon their first meeting. To resist that impulse, Bambietta turned back to Erza and took note of the armored warrior still making polite demands of the railway attendant. Whether or not he could fulfill those demands, however, was another matter altogether.

"My friends and I also require the usage of a rental magicmobile from a local dealership."

"Just because you make the request, it doesn't mean he can do what you want." Bambietta sighed then. "You can't get blood from a stone, Erza."


Only minutes later did Bambietta find herself in the backseat of a dark green magicmobile, the vehicle driving by the side of the train tracks. The luggage, meanwhile, was no doubt dutifully being brought to the local hotel of the small town they had just left behind.

"Okay," Bambietta grumbled to herself, "maybe she can get blood from a stone. She's Erza after all."

Lucy was already glancing out the right side window of the vehicle and Bambietta was intent on doing the same. She lowered the window to her left and stuck her head out. The Quincy glanced up then, shaking her head as she took notice once more of Gray hanging on the roof for dear life.

"Is that really necessary?" she shouted, trying to be heard over the roar of the vehicle.

"No," Gray retorted, "just fun!"

"How come he gets all the fun?" Bambietta shook her head then, wondering what the devil had just possessed her. She began to shout forward then, towards Erza. "Is that really such a good idea for you to be driving this thing?"

Bambietta recalled well the explanation that Erza had given her before. Magicmobiles relied upon the conversion of the driver's own internal magical energy to give the vehicle motion, yet the faster and harder it was pushed, the more power it took from the one making the sacrifice.

"It will be fine!" Erza called back, magical power continuing to flow from her body's reverses and through the SE-plug wrapped around her left arm. "I can handle a little exertion! And I'll have you all as backup when we confront Eisenwald!"

Erza turned her attentions forward then. Much to the surprise of both herself and her travelling companions, something suddenly went quite wrong with the train. An explosion of flame suddenly burst forth from one of its section, piercing up through the roof.

"Was that the cart we were in earlier?" Lucy asked, her eyes wide.

"I guess Natsu really doesn't like being abandoned by his friends," Bambietta mused, her expression souring. "I can relate."

"Something must be going terribly wrong!" Erza suddenly shouted, the mage forcing the vehicle to move faster. "We cannot afford to waste any more time! No doubt the man at the train station will unlatch the emergency lever sooner rather than later! We must close the distance now!"

Then, as if irony was inspired by Erza's words, the train began to move once more.

"Curses!" the armored wizard shouted. "That man clearly was more upset with me than I ever imagined!"

"I can only imagine why," Bambietta whispered to herself. "Okay, new plan! You get us closer to the cart we were in and match the speed!"

"And?" Erza asked.

"She's going to say something crazy, isn't she?" Lucy groaned. "What have I gotten myself into?"

"Then I'll..." Bambietta stumbled on her words for a moment, trying to determine how best to explain her ability to use Hirenkyaku to the uninitiated. She shrugged and gave up for the moment, knowing that she had to be quick to action. "Then I'll teleport in, grab Natsu, and teleport back out here with him!"

"You can teleport?" Erza asked. "Impressive."

"Yeah, that's just how I roll!" Bambietta shouted back. "Little Miss Awesome!" Then did her voice grow to a slight whimper. "I just hope the Dragon Slayer can handle Hirenkyaku better than a train. I so don't need him puking all over me."

"All right then," Erza said, the mage expending more power to propel the magicmobile at a faster clip. "Brace yourselves!"

Bambietta gripped down tightly on her hat and began to prepare herself for what she had to do. Magical energy began to swarm towards her, her command absolute, and it began to empower her own spiritual needs.

Yet then did she hear Lucy scream. "Natsu!"

The Quincy looked forward then, suddenly seeing the Dragon Slayer come flying out of the train, screaming like a madman as he did so. Yet there was something else the Quincy could see, some form of strange shadows moving about within the train cart. Was that some form of magic unknown to her? Bambietta did not know, the Quincy more inclined to do what she needed to in the here and now. Natsu was free from the train, yes, but the Quincy had said she would use her speed to rescue him if need be.

"Guess I'm still up at the plate." Bambietta moved fast then, disappearing from view. Then did she appear before Natsu, matching his trajectory. She tried to catch the Dragon Slayer, ready for his weight and the velocity that it would have no doubt created. Yet it was then that Bambietta took notice of something she had not been prepared for. The Dragon Slayer had his luggage strapped to his back. "Seriously?"

Natsu and Bambietta collided then, the Quincy unexpectedly knocked for a loop by the added and unexpected weight. She tumbled through the air then alongside Natsu. Then it was Gray's turn, the ice mage realizing what was hurtling his way. "Seriously?"

Then did Bambietta and Natsu collide with him, dislodging Gray's fingers from the roof of the magicmobile. The trio of Fairy tail wizards then fell to the ground, their bodies rolling several times before coming to a stop at last.

"Seriously?" Erza forced the magicmobile to go into a spin, then a stop. She quickly undid the SE-plug and ran to her comrades. "Natsu, Gray, Bambietta; are you alright?"

They lay there then, eyes white as snow and staring towards the heavens. Caught in shock, the three could only whimper in response.

"Oh no," Lucy whispered as she moved in close, her face belaying her worry.

"Oh, don't worry!" Happy exclaimed. "Natsu and Gray have bounced back from much worse! They've ticked off Erza in the past after all!"

"What about Bambi?"

Happy shrugged.

"I live!" Bambietta shouted, raising an hand towards the sky, hoping to catch some measure of dramatic effect despite the aches and pains she was experiencing. Then did the Quincy force herself to stand up, dusting herself off as she did so. She glanced as Natsu and Gray did the same, the two of them getting angry.

"What were you thinking, you idiot?" Gray shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Bambietta.

"Me?" Bambietta retorted in a huff before pointing towards Natsu. "He's the only idiot here!"

Natsu did not agree or disagree, instead finding another topic to vent about. "Why the heck did you guys leave me alone on the train?"

"This mission was born from my impetus," Erza said suddenly, "so I take full responsibility. I'm sorry, Natsu."

Erza suddenly reached out with her left arm, wrapping it around Natsu's head. Before the Fire Dragon Slayer could resist or protest he was pulled in close, the side of his head slamming into Erza's metal breastplate with such force that his eyes shut as a loud thud echoed out across the landscape.

Bambietta flinched then, the Quincy suddenly feeling a moment of remembrance. She clutched at the side of her own head, as if feeling the same pain as Natsu was. It was familiar, yet still did she not know why.

"No need to apologize," Natsu gasped as he pulled away from Erza and shook his head. "Besides, we've got more important things to worry about. Some creep attacked me on the train and-

"Those shadow... hands I saw?" Bambietta suddenly interjected.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's the jerk who dragged away those guys who tried to eat Happy," Natsu continued. "Said he was from some guild called Eisenwald."

Then did Erza suddenly snap. A hand lashed out then, slapping the Dragon Slayer across the face and toppling him to the ground. "You fool!"

Bambietta, Lucy, Gray and Happy simply stared with wide eyes of shock. They could only count Natsu fortunate that Erza had used the arm that had been providing power to the magicmobile's SE-plug, the armored gauntlet not upon it. "Hey, Erza," the Quincy began to say, realizing that she may well be overstepping any bounds.

"Eisenwald is the exact reason we are on this mission!" the red haired wizard shouted as she firmly planted her hands on her hips and stared down at the dazed Natsu. "So why did you let him push you around and get away?"

"Eisenwald? This is the first you've mentioned it!"

Bambietta tried once more to get the armored mage's attention. She coughed into a closed palm and spoke once more. "Erza? Hello?"

"I specifically told all of you about Eisenwald and Lullaby on the train, Natsu! I suggest you begin to listen when people are speaking to you!"

"Did she already forget she knocked him out before she told us?" Lucy whimpered. "This woman is just unbelievable."

"That's Erza for you," Happy said, popping into view as he was prone to do.

That just would not do. Bambietta knew she was playing with fire, yet still she had to push forward. The Quincy gulped hard then, trying to compose herself. "Erza, don't you remember that you knocked that doofus out on the train before you actually told us anything about Eisenwald and Lullaby?"

Erza began to turn slowly towards Bambietta then, giving the Quincy reason. Yet she saw it then, a moment of clear shock on the woman's face.

"You're right," she said softly. "I did, didn't I?"

"Well I do remember a fist ramming into my stomach," Natsu began to say. "It's a good thing all that puking left enough room in my stomach for it to practically lodge in there."

"My apologies, Natsu." Erza nodded then, once more reaching out and grasping Natsu by the head. The Dragon Slayer cried out as his head was slammed against her armor for the second time in as many minutes, leaving him dizzy once more. Then did she glance towards the Quincy who had spoken up. "And once more must I thank you, Bambietta, for bringing to my attention something I had let slip past me."

"Oh, no problem at all," Bambietta replied, all but laughing nervously as she waved both hands in front of her. Once more could she see it, a strange look in Erza's eyes, as if the wizard was watching her and her alone closely. She was desperate to try and change the subject then. "So, Natsu, what was this Eisenwald guy like exactly?"

"Well he didn't seem all that special, which is kind of a drag since I had to fight him and all," Natsu began to answer, "but he did seem really protective of some butt ugly flute he dropped during our fight. That freaky thing looked like it had a three eyed skull at the end of it. Gave me the creeps!"

Lucy's breathing seized up for a minute, the Celestial wizard gripping one arm tightly with her other hand. "A three eyed skull?"

"Is something wrong, Lucy?" Happy asked, the cat remaining cheerful despite what they were talking about.

"It's just that I've heard about that flute before," she answered softly. "Lullaby, the cursed song."

Bambietta heard it then, a true twinge of fear pervading Lucy's voice. She was such a happy and cheerful young lady from what the Quincy could tell, so hearing such a tone from her left even Bambietta shaken. "What kind of curse are we talking about here?"

"It's," Lucy began to say, her voice showing more fear little by little, "death magic."

Bambietta felt it then, the fear that was evident in Lucy now swarming her. The Quincy's heart was seized in a panic, memories of her past, jumbled as some of them may have been, swirling in her thoughts. Yet still did she try to put on a brave face, disguising any fear with her best defense. Attitude. "Death magic? Oh no, this better not be some zombie hocus pocus or I'm going to pitch such a fit that Eisenwald's next generation is-"

"That's enough." Bambietta felt it then, a hand touching down on her shoulder. She turned then and could see that it was Erza, the red haired woman looking at her with eyes that did not seem to give an inch. The Quincy felt her breath catch in her throat then, still unsure what to make of this individual. It was oddly comforting the way she had spoken just now, yet the expression Erza wore was something else entirely. Why did it feel as if she were trying to peer into Bambietta's soul each and every time she looked her way? The Quincy did not know, yet she was quite certain that it unnerved her nonetheless.

"So what are we talking about?" Gray asked. "Does this Lullaby use some kind of incantation, Lucy?"

"I only know what I've read about it in books," the Celestial wizard replied. "Frankly, it wasn't all that much. If only Levy were here; I'm sure she'd have studied up on it in full. All I know is that it was said to be a deadly spell that was forbidden to ever be used."

"That's correct," Erza began to say, her tone and choice of words leaving Bambietta to noticeably cringe. "There are terrible magics in this world. Cursed dark spells that will kill those whom they are cast upon. Yet if Lullaby was sealed away, it may well be even worse than that."

Bambietta suddenly felt Erza's fingers dig into her shoulder, leaving the Quincy flinching even despite the fact that the wizard was not wearing a metal gauntlet upon her hand. "Erza?"

"This is madness!" Erza all but hissed. "Storming Eisenwald will have to wait. For now we must take possession of the Lullaby flute on that train!"

"Oh yeah!" Natsu suddenly shouted, slamming his fists together. "If somebody gets that shadow jerk off the train, I can finally go all out against him! I'm all fired up!"

Bambietta gasped then as she felt Erza finally let go of her shoulder, the wizard no doubt moving towards the vehicle. The Quincy rubbed her shoulder then, once more trying to put on a brave face. "Quickly, to the magicmobile! And I call shotgun!"

"I'll take the rooftop again," Gray interjected, all the while moving closer to the vehicle.

"Oh right, because it's fun," Bambietta muttered. Then did she quickly move, hoping up on the roof of the vehicle. "Dibs!"

"Hey, new girl, I already called it," Gray said as he glared up at Bambietta. "What's your deal?"

"Awww, don't be so greedy, Gray," Bambietta replied, playfully kicking her legs a little. "A girl's got to have a little fun. Besides," Bambietta glanced down and watched as Natsu placed his luggage in the back of the vehicle and then got in the passenger compartment, "I'm not too inclined to be thrown up on again."

Gray sighed then and began to enter the magicmobile. "What a pain."

Bambietta watched then as Lucy began to slip into the vehicle, Happy scampering by her side. "Hey, roomie?"

Lucy looked up then, surprised when she suddenly had a white hat tossed her way quite casually. She fumbled to catch it but managed nonetheless.

"I'd hate to have that blown off my pretty little head," the Quincy said, "so hold it tight for me, okay?"

"You can count on me!" Lucy exclaimed before she and Happy got into the magicmobile.

Bambietta smirked then, content that she had a friend she could trust along for this ride. It was a fact that seemed to possess a calming effect, something the Quincy needed desperately now. The thought of confronting death magic was leaving Bambietta feeling nervous, something she did not care to admit. The thoughts of her past, of one she used to know, were weighing heavily upon her mind.

"Screw it," the Quincy whispered to herself, trying to talk herself out of her trepidation. "Whatever happens, happens."

The Quincy shifted around then, laying atop the roof of the vehicle and digging her fingers into a fold in the frame towards the front. She knew it would be a rough ride and was beginning to already regret her decision now. Yet the look of disappointment on Gray's face had been worth it, right?

"At least I don't have to worry about my hat flying off." Bambietta's eyes suddenly went wide with a newfound worry. "Hey, Lucy!"

"What's wrong, Bambi?" the Celestial wizard called out from within the vehicle.

"Hold on to my hat with everything you've got, okay? I so don't want to find out later that Natsu used it to throw up in!"

Then did Bambietta feel the hum of the magicmobile's engine, the vehicle coming to life as it took from Erza her own power. Yet there was no slow start, no gradual increase of speed. No, the magicmobile took off as if it was a rocket, Bambietta's eyes going wide as she watched the world fly by her instant by instant. She held on to the vehicle with all her might, her cape and hair whipping through the air as the velocity took hold. Bambietta all but screamed then, her fingers tightening to keep her grip on the vehicle stable. She could only hope that those seated in the vehicle beneath her could not hear her moment of terror over the vehicle's engine itself.

Erza, however, most certainly did not. The armored mage was intent on one thing only. To stop Erigor and Eisenwald, to put an end to the threat Lullaby presented, that was her only goal. "Curse them!"

"Erza, slow down!" Bambietta shouted. "I can practically feel my brains going into my feet! Besides, you can't waste all your magic energy like this!"

"It doesn't matter if I do!" the wizard shouted in return. "You and the others will simply have to take up the fight if I cannot see it through! And even then I will fight Eisenwald to my last breath with a broken stick if I must! Erigor cannot be allowed to possess death magic of this magnitude!"

"You make it sound like you know exactly what it is!" Bambietta cried out, still holding on for dear life.

"Curse myself! Curse myself! I should have remembered!"

Bambietta could hear it, the wizard clearly tearing into herself terribly so. "Erza?"

"Lucy mentioned Levy and that jogged my memory!" the wizard continued to yell, her anger overriding the sound of the magicmobile. "Levy mentioned reading about Lullaby years ago! That it was once was a mere flute capable of curses! That legend spoke of it falling into the hands of the dark wizard Zeref hundreds of years ago! That he had made it into a demon flute then! One that call kill all those who hear even one note played upon it!"

"Demon flute? Zeref?"

Bambietta's imagination took hold then, inspired by the hushed tone that Erza has spoken through. A fabled dark wizard that made even Fairy Tail's S-class humble, it left Bambietta to bring to life within her thoughts an image of power. All the Quincy could picture was a dark man possessing a dark purpose; a twisted shell of flesh that could barely be called human, one that was wrapped in a cloak of shadows that gave unto him power. Yet the Quincy knew she had no reason to worry about or be impressed by such things. This Zeref that Erza had spoken of was no doubt long since dead, hundreds of years before her time. Besides, the Quincy told herself, the reality of the legend probably would not match up to the awe inspiring and terrifying image she had just built up in her head.

"Curse them all!" Erza continued to shout, drawing Bambietta's attention once more. "What is it they hope to accomplish? To use mass murder death magic would simply be unforgivable!"

Bambietta felt her body s energy drain slightly then. Once more did the Quincy begin to wonder how those in Fairy Tail would every accept her if they knew the truth. She had told Makarov enough, that she had been a part of what he would consider a dark guild, and Porlyusica had all but understood that thanks to her inclinations. Bambietta had in turn heard what they had both said, Porlyusica speaking harshly while Makarov had been more than willing to give her a second chance. Yet now was Bambietta beginning to understand the depths of the comparison that had been drawn between the Vandenreich and these dark guilds.

She had killed before, both in the heat of battle and to alleviate her own stress. Enemy or ally, she had taken lives if it suited her own needs. The power granted to her by her own personal savior and deity, Yhwach, had given her the means to those ends. Yet now she was different, weaker, and she had to surround herself with those who quite clearly valued friendship and morality.

Erza and the others, they were on a mission to no doubt save lives. Even Lucy, despite her fears, was clearly a good person who was willing to do what was right. Bambietta understood that well enough already, the mere fact that the young lady had allowed her into her home that fateful night. Yet the Quincy knew it well enough. It was something she had understood since the day she had been found worthy of being a Stern Ritter.

She was not a good person.

She was here for nothing more than the thrill of battle, yes. She wanted to see what the S-class of this world as capable of through Erza, she wanted to see what the dark guilds of Fiore were like; that was all and it was enough. Yet now there was a dark thought working its way through Bambietta. This Lullaby, this death magic, it was clearly power that frightened even the best and brightest in this world. It was not the strength she had lost in the process of becoming a zombie, of crossing over to a new world and having her life returned to her. No, it was not that strength but it could still be a worthy substitute.

Bambietta reminded herself then and there that she was indeed not a good person. Yet it clawed at her thoughts, the memory of Makarov giving her a second chance. It tore at her mind, memories of speaking with Lucy and Levy. She had only known them for a short time, yet still she had laughed with them, she had found some sense of joy in their presence. Then she remembered well when she had lost a battle in his new world. A happy face smiling down upon her. Yet it had not possessed malice or a threatening countenance. No, it had simply belonged to a young man who wanted to help Bambietta back up to her feet.

Bambietta told herself once more that she was not a good person. Yet she could not deny that she had surrounded herself with good people nonetheless.

"Is something the matter?"

"No."

Not even giving it a moment's hesitation, Bambietta had lied in response to Erza's query. Then did she force her thoughts past any confliction, allowing herself to speak with both confidence and bluster.

"Let's go show this Erigor creep and all of Eisenwald what Fairy Tail is made of!"


That you will Bambi, that you will. I do hope you've enjoyed her moments with Erza. I know I sure did. Its always fun to see two female characters you like interacting with one another. Some of you may be asking why she hasnt told Bambietta she's the one who saved her. Rest assured, she has her reasons.

Also, for those who have thought Bambietta has been shown as weak thus far...Next chapter is going to be a treat for you.

Please feel free to leave a review and give us your thoughts. Its appreciated be it positive or negative.