...
A bright new rise in a fairly, tended-to apartment, Luke rose up from his bed, pushing the blue duvet off his body, his strong chest heaved as he took in a deep breath, and began stretching his arms as he let out a large sigh.
"I wonder what adventures I'll have today," He said with a smile printed on his face as he stood up and ran his hand through his blonde hair, his pearly-brown eyes glanced at the mirror and he slightly admired his form for a brief minute before getting ready for the day.
30 minutes later...
Luke waltzed out of the bathroom, a blue towel wrapped tightly around his waist, steam emanated off his body, as water fell from his shoulders and hair.
Luke rested his hands on his waist, standing bold as he let out a brief sigh, "Nothing but a relaxing bath to start up the day..."
"And what time do you call this exactly?" A certain Dragon Slayer said in a stern tone.
Luke jumped back and his head darted in the direction where Natsumi and Happy sat with their legs and arms folded. They shook their heads in disappointment, wearing a red safety vest, and black shades.
"N-Natsumi! Happy! What are you two doing in my apartment?!" Luke yelled, a blush forming on his face from ear to ear as he was half naked, standing in the presence of two.
Not like this was a new thing, the pinkette had always found ways to barge into his private space, and to this day it still surprises him.
"We are on Nakama duty," Natsumi stood up and pulled out a poorly made badge which was just a clothing pin with an odd drawing of a cartoonised Natsumi and Happy on the front of it, "And you have been chosen by the Nakama Safety Board's Chairman as our new member,"
Luke raised a brow, "Why does this sound like a new thing you've just pulled out of nowhere?"
"It's not! The Nakama Safety Board has been in place for several years now," Happy exclaimed excitedly.
"Several? We were in a bubble for seven years, Happy," Luke raised his brow.
"Before the incident on Tenrou, you know what I meant," Happy flew above Luke's head and tauntingly patted his head, "Trying to get a 1-up on me, Lukey~. Better luck next time,"
"And for evidence of it all, we've got signage from the Chairman himself," Natsumi thrust a colourful page of paper into Luke's face, and the blonde took it and began to read.
He held up the crumpled piece of light-blue paper that was stained with chicken sauce, and riddled with ridiculous drawings that were probably done by Natsumi and Happy.
"Nakama Day is an annual checkup that is..." Luke stopped and made a puzzled expression as he looked up at Natsumi, "... contradicted? Don't you mean conducted?"
"Just keep reading," Natsumi pouted, not wanting to delve into the spelling mistakes with an aspiring writer.
"By the Nakama Safety Board. I, Natsumi Dragneel, as the Head-Chief-General-Master-Captain of the Nakama Safety Board, will make sure that everyone treats their Nakama as they should, if not, then they are lay able...? Okay... hold on... liable to be charged and sentenced to corner time in the Fairy Tail Guild," Luke finished reading and looked at the signage that was done with cursive neat writing.
"... As the Chairman of the Nakama Safety Board, I... wait... Mira signed this?!" Luke said surprised as Natsumi snatched back the 'document' from Luke and shoved the safety vest into his arms.
"Yes Sir! Mira is the Chairman of the Nakama Safety Board, and he said we should recruit you," Happy pointed at the blonde, then pointed at her badge, "He also made all of our awesome badges,"
Luke's eyebrow twitched with slight annoyance, he thought to himself, "Mira is a man of all talents, he definitely didn't make the badges..."
If it isn't Natsumi or Happy, then trust Mira to put Luke on the never-ending rollercoaster of nonsense.
"Why me specifically? Is Kane or even Julian on the team?" Luke slightly whined.
"Nope, they were not qualified," Happy shook her head.
Natsumi stood up, arms crossed over her chest with a ginormous grin on her face, "They couldn't keep up with the Nakama Safety Board's, Head-Chief-General-Master-Captain,"
"Now, be ready, we have to get back to doing our daily patrol," Happy floated above the two.
"There's a patrol?" Luke grimaced.
"Yep!" Happy explained further, "Now chop, chop, we have a job to do,"
Natsumi and Happy immediately went to the kitchen and began to rummage through Luke's fridge, and after giving them a long stare, he glanced down at the uniform and let out a sigh.
"Guess this is an adventure..."
10 minutes later...
"Wow, Fairy Tail Mages!" A young teen passed the mages with his friends. One of the friends peered around with a strong brow raise and his mouth gaped open.
"They're alive?! Didn't they go missing seven years ago?"
"They did… the Salamander still looks young,"
"Look, Mama! It's The Salamander," A young child pointed up at Natsumi who walked alongside Luke with a bright smile on her face.
"Happy! Hey!"
"Who's the guy next to her? Some sort of cheerleader?"
So many comments were flying around the Fairy Tail Mages but as always, Natsumi and Happy paid no mind, and as for Luke, well, he just had to endure the endless chatter.
"A cheerleader…? Is that what I look like?" Luke thought as he trudged down the road with his arms sunken.
Happy sat upon Natsumi's head, folding her arms as she looked ahead whilst Natsumi walked.
She turned to Luke and began to explain the rules and the ways to be a great member of the Nakama Safety Board.
"To be an enforcer of the NSB, you must understand what our mission is and how to properly enforce it. Anyone who doesn't treat their Nakama properly will be sent to the Hold,"
"Sounds easy," Luke commented as he glanced around, he felt Natsumi smack his back and skip ahead.
"Now you're up to speed, let's find someone to arrest!" Natsumi ran ahead with Happy on her head.
Luke sighed, and reluctantly tried to catch up, "You shouldn't aim to just be arresting people, you know,"
At the Fairy Tail Guild...
The Fairy Tail Guild, stood high and mighty as its bustling crowd of members filled its innards with laughter and booze... lots and lots of it.
"Alright, who is ready to lose all of their money?!" Kane Alberona cackled with laughter as he stood on the table and the female members around him raised their jugs of beer and cheered.
"Can you be any more indecent, Kane?" A middle-aged, dark blue-haired woman shook her head at the shirtless brunette mage.
The brunette mage, Kane, clicked his tongue and grinned at the middle-aged woman, "Maka, come on, theres no need for you to be uptight anymore? Those suckers at Twilight Ogre met their match when Granny, Mira and Eric got to them, so let's celebrate even more! Haha! And when did you care about decency, ya old hag,"
A vein popped on Maka's head, and she proceeded to grab two bottles in front of her and jump on the table in front of Kane, "I am not old! I'm only in my forties, you little punk,"
"Still old, Maka," Wakama, the close-friend of Maka sighed, removing her pipe from her mouth to puff out the smoke she had inhaled. She wore a light-colored jacket with dark fur trimmings on its edges and dark cuffs. Beneath that was a simple red shirt, her collarbone was visible from its open collar. She wore light pants matching her jacket, combined with simple dark shoes.
Juliet gave the same look to the woman above them, "Aunt Wakama is right, Mom. Just give it a rest,"
But Maka simply clashed her forehead against Kane's and glared into his soul with her teeth gritted whilst Kane simply just chuckled in her face.
"I challenge you to a drinking game, Kane!" Maka declared.
Kane rested his fists on his hips as he stood on the table and continued making eye contact with Maka.
"Guess you're going home broke today, old hag," Kane grinned. Maka didn't break eye contact with the young man and just glared into his cocky eyes.
"Looks like Kane is starting another game," Mira said calmly as he wiped a few glass jugs. The yellow-haired mage made a gruff tone on the other side of him.
She wore red pants, that were held up by a leather-black, golden-buckled belt. Her body was firm with toned muscle, but she still had a busty figure to boot, she wore a tight blue tank top whilst a dark blue, grey-furred overcoat rested on her strong shoulders.
What was most striking was the thunderbolt that ran down her right eye, her small eyes glared at the bumbling crowd, and she knew that if a certain Dragon Slayer walked in here, then it would be ten times worse.
"Good golly, he's just as annoying as his mother," The blonde mage folded her legs and arms, letting out a slight huff, "Don't you think?"
"Gildana? Annoying? I'm not quite sure, Laura," Mira commented with a hum on his lips.
"You can't possibly be siding with that smug bitch, Mira," Laura clicked her tongue.
"Language, Laura," Mira turned to put a glass jug away before turning to another one.
"Yeah, language, Laura," Elf-Lady sat one stool away from Laura, between them, Wren Marvell sat in that space.
Wren was a Dragon Slayer like Natsumi, but much younger. He was around Juliet's age.
He wore a green shirt with subtle blue stripes on it along with green shorts, patterned with scales. He had short, spikey blue hair, and bright brown eyes.
"Hi, Laura! Hi Mira!" Wren greeted the two.
"Here we go..." Laura grumbled at Elf-Lady and Wren's appearance at the bar. "Shouldn't you be off somewhere marrying Evergreen?"
"Ugh, we are not a couple," Elf-Lady glanced at the Lightning Dragon Slayer with an annoyed expression.
"Aww, really?" Mira teased with a convincing chuckle, "I was really hoping the wedding confession was true,"
Elf-Lady retorted, "He's older than me, you know!"
"So? You're both still in the same age group," Laura tutted, picking up the jug of beer in front of her and taking a sip.
"A REAL woman doesn't need a man, I have my brother!" Elf-Lady pointed to Mira who just smiled.
"I'll always be here for you, sis. But one day, you'll have to leave the nest. Besides, Laura needs me," Mira said, with that same calm smile on his face.
Laura's ears perked up at the mention of her name. She grumbled and looked away from the two, "What do you mean by that...?"
"To serve your drinks," Mira responded on beat, "Were you thinking of something else?"
Laura growled, completely turning away from him, and muttering, "Smug bastard,"
"Now, Wren and my dear sister. What can I get for you?" Mira smiled at Wren and Elf-Lady, his sea-blue eyes peering into their own as they thought about what they could drink.
"Can I please have a soda?" Wren held a finger up.
"I would love the strongest drink you can make, big bro!" ElfLady slammed her fists on the bar top. Her excitement brought a smile to the Takeover Mage's face as he turned around to prepare the 'best' drink for his sister and a soda for Wren.
Elf-Lady's expression soon turned to one of worry, "And can you be quick with it today, bro?"
"What's the rush?" Laura grunted, glancing over her shoulder as she raised a brow at the large woman, "I was under the impression that you couldn't take solo jobs because you're always holding your brother's hand,"
"I'm a REAL woman, I can go on jobs by myself, tell her Mira?" Elf-Lady pouted, but Mira simply chuckled, turned around and placed the jug of liquid in front of his sister.
Elf-Lady straightened herself up again on the stool, holding the handle of the jug, her face darkened, "Well, it's Nakama Day..."
Laura appeared confused and tilted her head to the side, "What?"
"I've never heard of that before, is it a Fairy Tail tradition?" Wren asked.
"Not a tradition I've heard of," Laura was used to Fairy Tail having odd traditions, and automatically deciding on and putting it into place whenever she is away from the guild.
"It's pretty much a day where Natsumi gets to terrorise everyone," The master of the Guild, Makara, said confidently.
Even she was dreading the day.
She was the grandmother of Laura and the self-proclaimed mother of all those in the guild. She walked up to the bar and sat on the bar top, a jug in her hand, as she took a glance at her granddaughter.
"Gets to? And who exactly is the numbskull who allowed that?" Laura growled in annoyance, "Was it you, Granny?"
"How shameful of you, to assume that your dear old grandmother is the one who decided such a thing..." Makara shook her head, disappointed, and took a swig from the jug.
It's already annoying to Laura that Natsumi starts random brawls and technically harasses people for a fight, but the ability to randomly terrorise and harass without consequence is quite ridiculous in Laura's eyes.
"Alright, well if you didn't put it into place then who did?" Laura tapped the bar top with her fingers with an annoyed tone accompanied by it.
Makara and Elf-Lady looked up at Mira who calmly smiled at Laura and returned to preparing the drinks.
"Ah, have I been caught?" Mira said calmly, forming a shocked expression.
"You've got to be kidding me, but I shouldn't be surprised. You're always the first to be enabling Natsumi to do whatever she bloody wants, Mira," Laura slammed her fist on the bar top, "She's the sole reason why we always have to rebuild this place,"
Mira's smile returned to his face as he placed a soda-filled cup down in front of a young boy, "Here you go, Wren,"
"Thank you, Mira!" The blue-haired young boy said as he received the cup and brought it to his lips.
"Natsumi is simply having fun, besides, I believe it's a great idea to keep your Nakama in check, or else..." Mira closed his eyes and gently glanced at Laura with a cold frown, "We will end up with another Fairy Tail battle royale situation, and I would hate for my siblings to be involved in any of that..."
Laura felt a shiver run down her spine as she turned away from the He-Devil mage and settled herself, "Fair point, wouldn't want menaces like that roaming around..."
"Hm, where is our little Leonardo nowadays, Mira? I haven't seen him in the guild for days now," Makara glanced at the Takeover mage.
Mira simply responded with a smile, "He's still out on the search looking for the Cosmic Nine-Tailed Fox that he wants to add to his Transformation collection,"
"Is that what he's been up to?" ElfLady raised a brow, "You mean he really took Natsumi's clue to heart?"
"To be fair, it sounded quite convincing," Mira tapped his chin and slightly looked up.
Elsewhere in Earthland…
Leo looked up at the two junctions ahead of him, then back at the squiggly-lined map that he received from Natsumi.
Both junctions had signs facing opposite each other and pointing in the directions of the paths ahead of him.
Leo looked back up at the paths and remained still for a moment.
He read the sign on the left, "Cosmic Tailed thingy this way… Right Path…"
Then he read the sign on the right, "Forest of Deaf… this way… Left Path…"
Leo sighed, "Why does it feel like I'm being played right now...?"
Back at the Guild…
"I'm sure he's finding his way safely," Makara drank more from her jug.
"At least he doesn't have to deal with this Nakama day crap," Laura grumbled.
"If it's Natsumi conducting this then I don't want to get caught up in any of it, so I'll be going now. I have to meet up with Carl for our job anyways," Wren dropped down from the stool and waved at Mira.
"Return safely, please," Mira waved at the young boy.
"I will!" Wren shouted back, quickly making his way through the bumbling crowd.
Once he reached the giant doors, the doors flew into him and threw him to the wayside, "Gah!"
Natsumi stood with her chest heaved, and her arms folded as she stood with her legs apart.
The whole guild went silent as the sound of dust and wind passed through the building.
Natsumi and Happy wore crude expressions whilst Luke stood right behind them with a slouched-over form and a hesitant smile. Himself and the two Nakama enforcers were covered in dirt and scratches, after chasing a few delinquents that Natsumi would just not let up on.
"Why do I have to be here...?" Luke thought to himself.
Natsumi deepened her tone and spoke, "This is the Nakama Safety Board, and the Fairy Tail guild is under induction. Please remain calm as we do our duty!"
Luke leaned in towards Natsumi and whispered in her ear, "You mean inspection, right?"
Natsumi spun around to Luke, removing her shades. A pout formed on her lips as she blushed with embarrassment, "Stop! You're embarrassing me!"
"Okay, okay," Luke put his hands up and took a step back.
Natsumi placed her shades back and let out a sigh before turning back around, and marching into the guild with Happy and Luke (reluctantly) in tow. Her black shades covered her onyx eyes as each step she took was heavy for the people around her.
The guild knew what this day was about, and they'd rather pick a fight with the Dragon Slayer when it's NOT Nakama Day, as the chance of dying is quite high this time around.
Natsumi marched up to Maka and Kane's table and glared up at the two, "Are you sharing those bottles, Maka?"
Maka looked down at the bottles then back down at Natsumi, "Oh these? Hehe, of course, I was going to shake it up with Wakama and Juliet-."
"But she wasn't going to shake it up with me, Natsumi," Kane faked a whining tone.
Alerts rang in Maka's head as her mouth gaped in an unexpected twist as she stared at Kane.
Kane covered his face, "I asked her to pour me a cup, but *sniffle*, but she told me to get my own."
"Wait! What?!" Maka gasped.
"Oh wow," Wakama shook her head whilst Juliet snickered.
"Maka." Natsumi lifted her shades up and glared at the middle-aged woman, "Is this true?"
"N-No, it very much isn't!? I'd be happy to share with Kane, if he wants-."
"Also, those bottles are for 18 and older, but Juliet is only 13," Kane faked a gasp along with his fake crying.
Everyone gasped, only to elevate the issue to see Natsumi "arrest" somebody.
"Giving alcohol to a minor goes against all things that the Nakama Safety Board stands for, Maka," Natsumi slams her hand on the table that Maka stood on, which in turn made Maka lose her standing a bit.
"Wait, Natsumi! He's lying-." But Maka didn't get to finish as she felt the Dragon Slayer's hands around her ankles and she was yanked off the table.
Natsumi slammed her foot to the ground and locked Maka into a whirlwind throw, "As the Head-Chief-General-Master-Captain of the Nakama Safety Board, I sentence you to 1,440 minutes in the corner!"
Natsumi suddenly let go of Maka who went flying straight into a cage in the corner of the guild. Maka rubbed her head as she looked towards the entrance of the steel-block cage which was the only entrance with an actual opening to see out into the guild. The cage door was then locked by Happy who gave Natsumi a thumbs up.
"Criminal secured," Happy exclaimed.
"Justice is served," Natsumi sighed.
"Thank you, Natsumi," Kane grinned at the Dragon Slayer, whose frown quickly curved into a cunning smile.
Being appreciated for good work is always the best thing to receive from others.
Wakama and Juliet shook their heads at Kane who quickly sat back down with his legs kicked up on the table, eyes closed with a giant smug grin on his face.
"You should be ashamed of yourself, for treating your elders like that," Wakama took her pipe from her mouth and let out the smoke within her mouth.
"Hey, she started it first," Kane relaxed further into his seat.
Luke looked at the cage and then back at Natsumi, he sighed and put a hand to his forehead, hesitantly walking into the guild and making his way to the bar, "Gosh, this is much,"
Natsumi quickly walked up to the bar and saluted to Mira, "Morning, Chairman!"
"Head-Chief-General-Master-Captain, Natsumi. I trust you are well. Nice work with your display of justice," Mira smiled calmly as he greeted the Dragon Slayer who strengthened her saluting form.
"You remembered all of that?" Luke thought as he twitched his eyebrows at Mira.
"Your words humble us! But nothing but a good day's work," Happy flew over to the bar and saluted alongside Natsumi, "What is our mission today, Chairman?"
"I thought it was just a patrol?!" Luke barked at Natsumi and Happy, but his words fell on deaf ears.
"Ah yes, your mission, it's a very special one that only the Head-Chief-General-Master-Captain can complete..." Mira fished for something behind the bar.
"Quit calling her that, she's just a menace..." Laura, Luke, and Elf-Lady thought in unison.
"Here it is." Mira raised the paper, "Bullies at the park. We need to make sure people in Magnolia know that the Nakama Police is around, so please take care of it, Head-Chief-General-Master-Captain."
"You've got it, Chairman!" Natsumi and Happy saluted.
"Good luck," Luke sighed and sat on a stool by the bar.
"What do you think you are doing? You're coming with us, recruit!" Natsumi grabbed Luke by the collar and ran with him in tow.
"Gah! Okay, okay, I can walk myself, Natsumi!" Luke shouted back at the pinkette as the group scrambled out of the guild.
Makara placed her cup on the countertop beside her and glanced over at Mira, "There was nothing on that paper, was there?"
Mira showed Makara the paper and smiled happily, "Not at all, Master,"
"Ugh, are you serious, Mira? So, why the hell do you have her doing whatever she wants?" Laura growled at the Satan Takeover Mage.
Mira glances at the entrance of the guild, still watching Natsumi scamper off with Luke in her clutches, "I just enjoy those two getting up to things with each other. You could say it's a personal experiment of mine,"
"Ugh, for goodness sake," Laura folded her leg over the other and stared up at the ceiling.
But Mira paid no mind to her reaction.
As of now, he was looking forward to how close the Dragon Slayer and Celestial Mage will get.
...