How many chapters have I edited and updated? 3 or 4? Man, I'm on a roll!

Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is not mine, but Elaina and the newly introduced character in this chapter are.

"Hey, Mira, can we get three beers over here, please?" someone called out to the white-haired bar maid.

"Be right with you," Mira said with a smile.

"So when are you and I gonna go on a date, Mira?" Wakaba asked.

"Would you leave her alone?" Laki said.

"Wakaba, there's one small problem," Mira said. Then she transformed her face into that of Wakaba's wife. "You already have a wife."

"I hate it when you do that!" Wakaba cried. "It's so creepy."

"I wish I could drink in peace for once," Cana said before taking a sip.

"Well, if you didn't drink all day..." Macao trailed off.

"I guess we should probably try to find another job," Natsu said.

"Aye, we're running out of food money," Happy said as he munched on a fish.

"Yeah, and my rent's due next week," Elaina said as she sat next to Natsu. "So I should find a job too." She got up and went to the request board. She looked at all the different jobs that were available. "Man, I didn't realize just how many jobs varied."

"Well, let me know if you find one you're interested in taking on," Mira said. "The master's away at conference, so I'm covering for him."

"A conference?" Elaina asked. "What kinda conference?"

"One for Guild Masters. Every once in a while, they all get together to talk about the state of things. It's like the Magic Council, but not."

Oh, right, Elaina thought. This is when Natsu and Gray pair up with Erza to create Fairy Tail's strongest team.

"Excuse me, Reedus?" Mira said, turning to the wizard. "Could I borrow a light pen?"

"Oui," Reedus said, pulling out the light pen and giving it to Mira.

"The Council, Era, is the most powerful organization in the magical world," Mira explained as she wrote in the air with the light pen. "It's only one step below the government. It has ten members and it's their job to uphold all magical rules and regulations. And if a wizard breaks magical law, they would be tried by the Council. Then there's the different Guild Master Leagues, which are local groups who work together. Then the individual Masters. It's their job to pass on the decrees of the Council. They also communicate with other Guild Masters on a regular basis. I guess you could say they're the glue that holds all of us together. Which is a pretty stressful job."

"When you put it like that, yeah, it does sound pretty stressful," Elaina said. "Not to mention how connected all the different guilds are, that's amazing."

"It's important that we cooperate with one another, otherwise our system would fall apart."

"And then the guys in black would show up," Natsu said with this creepy look on his face, a flame on the tip of his finger. Elaina jumped, letting out a squeak of fright. Natsu laughed. "That was almost too easy."

"Don't scare me like that, Natsu," Elaina said. "You nearly had me jumping out of my skin."

"But seriously, the guys Natsu's talking about exist," Mira said as she continued writing in the air with the light pen. "They're the dark guilds. They've chosen not to join any of the leagues. They're the bad apples and most of them are involved in magical crime."

"Oh, wow." Not sure how I feel about going toe-to-toe with Eisenwald, Elaina thought.

"Would you just go and pick us a job already?" Natsu asked Elaina.

"Huh? You really meant it when you said you wanted me on your team?" she asked.

"Yeah, I meant it. Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, to be honest, I kinda thought you were using me because of my hair color."

"Don't be ridiculous. That's not the only reason we chose you. We picked you 'cause you're so nice." Elaina blushed at the compliment, a small smile gracing her lips.

"Hey, Elaina, I wouldn't stay with those losers if I were you," Gray said from his seat next to Cana. "You'll get plenty of offers from other teams."

"Your clothes, Gray," Cana said.

"Ah!"

"Jerk!" Natsu said. This caused Gray to stop freaking out over his missing clothes and butt heads with Natsu, literally.

"Did you just call me a jerk, Dragon Boy?"

"And what if I did? What're you gonna do about it?"

"You mouth-breather!"

"At least I'm not a coward."

"You're a spineless wimp."

"You're a freak!"

"Looks like they're at it again," Happy said.

"Why don't you join the team of love with me, Elaina?" Loke asked, arm around the brunette girl. "Later tonight, just the two of us?"

"Huh?"

"You're just so stunningly gorgeous. I have to keep my shades on when I look at you. Or I'll be blinded by your dazzling beauty."

"Uh..." Elaina shifted from one foot to the other, her keys catching the light. Loke took note of this and started to freak out.

"You're not a celestial wizard, are you?!"

"Yeah, she's got cows and crabs and stuff," Happy said, munching on a fish.

"Ah! Curse you, fate! Why must you toy with me so?! I'm sorry, but you and I can't be together, my dear!" Then Loke high-tailed it out of the guild.

Elaina knew of Loke's history with celestial wizards, but seeing it in person, she personally thought he was overacting greatly.

"Uh..." she said, having no words for Loke's actions.

"Loke has a bad history with celestial wizards," Mira said. "Rumor has it he dated one and it didn't end up very well."

"Can't honestly say it's sur—" Elaina was cut off by Natsu being pushed into her, the two falling to the floor.

"That looked painful."

Elaina groaned as her head ached from crashing to the floor. Then she looked up and blushed heavily. Somehow, Natsu managed to twist his body and landed on top of her, his hands on either side of her head. Natsu, however, didn't seem fazed by this.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked, noticing Elaina's red face. "Your face is all red."

"Y-yeah," she squeaked. "I'm fine. It's just...do you two mind knocking it off with the fighting?"

"Natsu started it," Gray said. "I'm just following through."

"Where are your clothes?" Cana asked.

"Ah!" Natsu got off of Elaina, leaving the girl on the floor as she tried to calm herself.

"You're the one who was provoking me," the pink haired boy said, a red flaming aura surrounding him. "You dirty slimeball."

"Oh, yeah?" An ice blue aura surrounded Gray. "And what exactly did I do to provoke you? You fire clown."

"You pervy flasher!"

"Pink haired punk." Everyone was laughing at Natsu and Gray's bickering.

"I've got bad news!" Loke said, busting into the guildhall. Everyone went silent and looked at him. "It's Erza—she's on her way here." Everyone adopted a look of horror and fear.

"Is Erza really that scary for the entire guild to freak out?" Elaina asked.

"Well, she is the strongest female wizard we've got in Fairy Tail, and more than a bit intimidating," Mira said. Heavy footsteps approached the guildhall.

"That's gotta be her," Laki said.

"Those sound like her footsteps," said Wakaba.

"Even the air's gotten completely still," Macao said.

That's when Erza came in, in her red hair and armor glory. She put down the large horn, or claw, that was decorated on the floor.

"I have returned," Erza said. Her voice carried power in it as she spoke. "Where is Master Makarov?"

Man, Erza's even prettier in person, Elaina thought.

"Welcome back, Erza," Mira greeted the two. "The Master's at a conference right now."

"I see."

"So, um, what's that humongous thing you got there?" a wizard asked.

"It's the horn of a monster that I defeated," Erza said. "The locals were so thankful, they decorated it and gave it to us as a souvenir. Do you have a problem with it?"

"No, not at all!" the wizard and the one next to him said, their hands held up in surrender.

"I bet she's heard about what happened at Mount Hakobe," Cana said, drinking from her barrel of alcohol.

"You think so?" Macao asked. "Aw, man, I'm a goner."

"She's nothing I've imagined her to be," Elaina said with a slight smile on her face. If anything, Erza was scarier and prettier in person, and Elaina was more than okay with that.

"Now, listen up," Erza said in her loud and commanding voice. "While we were on the road, I heard a few things. Word is Fairy Tail is causing nothing but trouble as of late. Master Makarov may not care, but I most certainly do. Cana, you need to start controlling your drinking. Vijeeter, please take the dancing outside. Wakaba, get rid of that filthy habit. Nab, I suspected I would find you dawdling in front of the request board. Just pick a job! Macao..." The man cringed as Erza turned to him. Erza sighed. "I don't even know where to begin with you. You cause so much trouble. I've almost given up."

"She's really letting everyone have it," Elaina whispered.

"That's Erza for ya," Happy said.

"Are Jude, Natsu, and Gray here?" Erza asked.

"Aye!"

"What's up, Erza?" Jude, the dark-haired guy that Elaina saw the other day, but hadn't recognized, said.

"Oh, hey there, Erza," Gray said. He and Natsu were sweating bullets, arms around each other like they were the best of friends. "We're just hanging out like good friends tend to do."

"Aye!" Natsu said, sounding like Happy.

"That's great," Erza said, completely buying their act. Elaina couldn't believe how oblivious Erza was. "I'm quite pleased to see the two of you getting along so well. However, it's only natural for even the best of friends to lock horns every now and again."

"I don't know if we're the best of friends," Gray said.

"Aye..." Natsu said.

"Did Erza brake Natsu or something?" Elaina asked, keeping up the act that she didn't know why Natsu was acting the way he was.

"He's scared," Mira said. "A few years ago, he challenged Erza to a fight, and she beat him up pretty bad."

"That wasn't exactly bright on Natsu's part."

"After that, she found Gray walking around naked, so she decided to beat him up too," Macao said.

"And let's not forget, she also beat up Loke for trying to hit on her," Cana added. "He totally deserved it, though."

"To be honest, I can't blame her," Elaina said, knowing Loke and his flirtatious behavior.

"Jude, Natsu, Gray...I need you to do me a favor," Erza said. The two separated from one another. "While traveling, I overheard something that has me worried. Normally, I would consult with the Master before acting, but he's not here and this is a matter of utmost urgency. Natsu, Gray, the two of you are the strongest wizards here and Jude, your healing magic is certainly on par with your father's. I could really use your help." The two boys looked at each other while many murmured amongst themselves. "We'll meet at the train station tomorrow morning."

"Erza, Natsu, Gray, and Jude working together?" Mira said. "I never saw that one coming. This could be the most powerful team Fairy Tail's ever seen."

You have no idea, Mira.

The next morning, Elaina sat on a bench at the train station, wearing her jean capris, long purple shirt, and purple sneakers. Her suitcase was to her left and Happy was sitting to her right, munching on a fish.

"Ah!" Natsu exclaimed. "I hate this! Teaming up with you was the worst idea ever!"

"Yeah, tell me about it," Gray said. "Erza made a huge mistake asking a loser like you to come along."

"Fine then, why don't you just take care of it yourself? I don't wanna go anyway."

"Sounds like a plan to me. Then I'll get to watch her beat you senseless."

Elaina sighed as she watched the two of them go at each other.

"So what made you decide to come with us?" Happy asked with a mouth full of fish.

"Mira asked me to come along with you guys," she replied. "She's kinda hoping that I'd stop Natsu and Gray from going at each other."

"You aren't doing a very good job."

"Yeah, I know. I doubt anything I'd try to do would stop them anyway."

"Sorry we're late," Erza said as she and Jude were walking toward them. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Not really." Elaina looked and her eyes widened at the sight of Erza's luggage. The series wasn't lying about her over packing. Jude only had a black backpack for his things.

"It's time to go, good buddy," Gray said, his arm around Natsu and vice versa.

"Aye," the pink haired boy said. "Ha-ha!"

"Good, I really love to see the two of you getting along," Erza said. Then she looked at Elaina. "And what was your name? I believe I saw you at the guild yesterday."

"My name's Elaina," the brunette introduced herself. "I just recently joined Fairy Tail. Mira asked me to come along so that I could learn a thing or two. I hope that's okay with you."

"The more the merrier. I'm Erza."

"And I'm Jude," the dark-haired male said with a smile. "We didn't properly introduce ourselves when you first got to the guild."

"Wait, you're the girl I heard about." Erza quickly glanced back at Natsu and Gray, causing them to stop glaring at each other briefly before continuing once her back was turned to them. "I was told you defeated a mercenary gorilla using only your pinky finger. It'll be great to have a wizard like you on board. Thanks for your help."

"No, really, my pleasure," Elaina said, sweat-dropping.

"You can relax," Jude said. "That rumor is completely exaggerated. People just like a good story. I wouldn't worry about it."

"Hey, Erza, I'll come with you, but only under one condition," Natsu said. He had stopped fighting with Gray.

"Shut up," Gray hissed.

"Oh?" Erza said. "Well, then let's hear it."

"'Kay, I wanna rematch when we get back to Fairy Tail," Natsu said, his fist held up and clenched tightly.

"What's wrong with you?" Gray questioned in a low whisper. "Got some kind of a death wish?"

"I'm a lot stronger than I was last time. This time will be way different. 'Cause I'm gonna beat you."

"Yes, I can tell you've improved," Erza said. "As to whether or not you can beat me, I suppose we'll have to see. I accept your challenge."

"Oh, yeah! I'm fired up!" Elaina had to giggle softly as Natsu's head caught on fire. She knew how the match was gonna end.

"I swear, you're totally pathetic, Natsu," Gray said, looking out the window, yet making mention of Natsu's sickly figure. "One minute you're picking a fight, the next, you're like this."

"You could be a little nicer, Gray," Jude said from his seat in between the two other boys, Happy sitting on his lap. "It's not like he can help it."

"I'm only stating a fact."

"Don't worry," Erza said. "He'll be fine. Come here and sit with me."

"Guess I'll move, then," Elaina said, switching seats with Natsu.

"Now just relax." Then Erza punched him in the gut, rendering him unconscious in her lap. "There, that should make the trip a little easier on him."

"Erza, I think it's about time you started filling us in," Gray said. "I mean, what kind of mission are we going on here?"

"Of course. I have reason to believe the dark guild Eisenwald is planning something big. I'm not sure what exactly, but it has to do with a magic item called Lullaby."

"Lullaby?" Gray and Happy questioned at the same time.

"That word..." Elaina said. "We've heard that before."

"Huh?" Jude said, looking between Gray and Elaina. "How?" Gray then went into an explanation about what happened after he met up with Elaina, Happy, and Natsu on his way back from his mission.

"I see," Erza said. "So you've run into the Eisenwald Guild before?"

"Well, I'm not positive they were part of Eisenwald," Gray said. "But they did mention Lullaby."

"It sounds like they were members who dropped out of the guild and gone into hiding. Perhaps they wanted no part of whatever it is that's coming."

"So this thing is so bad it even scares dark wizards?"

"I'm only hypothesizing. But whoever you saw dragging off Happy's kidnappers that day, must have been from Eisenwald. It's obvious that they didn't want their plans getting out."

"What do you think they're gonna try to do?" Elaina asked.

"Let me start from the beginning," Erza said. "Just the other day, I was heading home after completing a job. I stopped by a pub in Onibas that I knew was a gathering spot for local wizards." Then she went on to explain the conversation they had overhead between wizards they were sure were from Eisenwald and how they were talking about Lullaby.

"Lullaby..." Elaina said. "That's what you sing your kids to sleep with." She remembered from when she was quite young that her mother would sing lullabies to her to help her fall asleep at night.

"Yes. And the fact that it had been sealed away means that it must be very powerful magic."

"You sure the guys you saw at the pub are with Eisenwald?" Gray asked.

"Yes. I can't believe I was such a fool that day. I didn't recognize his name. Erigor, the ace of Eisenwald. He only accepts assassination requests, which is why he's earned the name 'Erigor the Reaper.'" Elaina shivered.

"Killing for money, seriously?" she said, biting her lip at the horrible thought.

"When the Council outlawed assassination requests, Eisenwald decided that money was more important than the Council's rules. As a result, they were kicked out of their wizard league six years ago. But that didn't stop them. They've disobeyed orders and remained active to this day." There was a pause. Elaina bit her lip, but kept quiet. Then Erza slammed her fist on Natsu's head. "How could I have been so careless? If only I had recognized Erigor's name that day, I could have pulverized them. I could have forced them to reveal their scheme to me."

"So if I got this, Eisenwald's planning to do something with this Lullaby, and you wanna stop them," Gray said, looking out the window before looking at Erza. "Because after what you overheard, you're sure that it's gonna be something bad."

"That's correct," Erza said. "And I'm not foolish enough to believe that I can take on an entire magical guild all by myself. That's why I asked you and Natsu for your help. We're storming the Eisenwald Guild."

"Sounds like fun to me."

"And I'm the first aid guy," Jude said with a pout. "Gee, thanks."

"Aye!" Happy agreed. Elaina took a deep breath, clenching her hands into fists in her lap.

"Everything okay, Elaina?" Jude asked her quietly, taking note of the brunette's actions.

"To be honest, taking on a whole dark guild is making me nervous," Elaina admitted. "I haven't had much experience fighting like you guys have had. If anything, I'm just gonna get in your way."

"I'm sure you'll be fine. Just remember that if something goes wrong, we all have your back." Elaina gave Jude a smile.

"Thanks."

It came around lunch time when a snack cart came by. Elaina spent what little pocket money she had on sandwiches for her and the others. Erza had unsurprisingly gotten cake.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, Erza, but what sort of magic do you use?" Elaina asked, keeping up her act of not knowing anything.

"That's a good question," Erza said.

"Erza's magic is really pretty," Happy said. "She makes her enemies bleed a lot."

"Not sure I'd call that pretty, Happy," Elaina said, chuckling softly at Happy's smiling face.

"Personally, I think Gray's magic is much more beautiful than mine," Erza said, taking a bite out of her cake.

"Oh, like this?" Gray said, putting his two hands together. A blue magic circle appeared in front of him before he opened his hand. There sat a replica of the guild's emblem made of ice. "I use ice magic."

"Oh, wow," Elaina said. "So I guess that's why you and Natsu don't get along. He's fire and you're ice. Total polar opposites."

"When you think about it that way..." Jude said with a laugh.

"Nah, I just hate his guts," Gray said. Elaina giggled before turning to the other male beside her.

"So what's your magic, Jude?" she asked.

"I use healing magic," Jude answered.

"Healing magic?" Like Wendy's?

"Yep. I've never crossed anyone else who can use it, so as far as I know, only my family can."

"Oh, wow. That's cool." Wait until he meets Wendy.

"You think the Eisenwald guys are still gonna be in this town?" Gray asked when they had gotten off the train at Onibas Station.

"I have no idea," Erza said. "That's what we're here to find out."

"Hold on, where's Natsu?" Happy asked, stopping everyone in their tracks. Happy looked as the train left the station. "Uh-oh, there he goes." He waved goodbye at the parting train.

"We were so busy talking, I forgot about him," Erza said. "I am such a fool. Natsu hates all forms of transportation. This is all my fault. I need one of you to come and hit me for my penance."

"There's really no need for that, Erza," Jude said. "Let's just try to find a way to stop the train and go get Natsu."

"Right."

They searched for a way to stop the train and came across an emergency break, which Erza pulled.

"What do you think you're doing, lady?" one of the workers asked. "You can't pull the emergency lever without permission."

"It's for our comrade," Erza responded. "Please understand."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Now, I would like you to take our luggage to the hotel."

"Do I look like a bellhop?"

"You know, pretty much all the wizards in the Fairy Tail Guild have a couple of screws loose," Elaina said, watching the scene before her.

"Well, not all of us," Gray said.

"Then how come you're just in your boxers?" Elaina now looked at him unfazed. She was starting to get used to Gray and his stripping habit. Jude laughed as Gray searched from his clothes.

Elaina stuck her head out of the magic mobile they had acquired as Erza sped towards the train that was now moving. Jude and Happy were inside with her while Gray was hanging onto the roof.

"Natsu!" Elaina yelled as Natsu jumped out of the train and flew into Gray, knocking him off the roof of the magic mobile.

"Natsu, are you all right?" Erza asked.

"Aye," Natsu said in pain as he and Gray were on the ground, both holding expressions of pain.

"Come on, you two," Jude said, helping Gray up.

"Here," Elaina said to Natsu, helping him up as well.

"That hurt, you idiot!" Gray said.

"Shut up, you icy freak," Natsu retorted. "How come you guys left me on the train?"

"I'm just thankful you weren't badly injured," Erza said. "I apologize, Natsu." Then she pulled him into a hug, meaning she smacked his head against her breast plate. Natsu grunted in pain.

"It's okay." Natsu straightened himself out. "Well, I'm shaken up pretty bad. I got attacked by a weirdo on the train."

"Really?" Elaina said.

"I think it's the dude that dragged away the guys who were gonna eat Happy. Said he was with Eisenwald." Then Natsu got smacked in the face by Erza.

"You fool!" the red head said. "That is exactly who we're chasing after on this mission. Why did you let him get away?!"

"What the— This is the first I heard about it." Natsu had this clueless look on his face.

"I explained everything on the train. You should listen when people talk to you."

"She totally forgot that she knocked him out," Elaina said. "Geez."

"Yep," Gray agreed.

"That's Erza for ya," Happy said, well, happily.

"So he was on the same train that we were on," Erza said, having finally calm down and strapping herself into the magic mobile. "Let's find him."

"But what was this guy like?" Gray asked Natsu.

"He didn't look like somebody from a dark guild," the pink haired boy answered. "But he did have this strange flute thing. It looked like a skull, except it had three eyes."

"A three-eyed skull?" Elaina asked. I guess this is where I share a little of what I know, she thought.

"That's creepy," Gray said.

"Is there something wrong, Elaina?" Happy asked, noticing the look on the girl's face.

"It's just...I've heard about that flute before," Elaina said. "Lullaby... Cursed song... It's death magic."

"What?" Erza said.

"A cursed song?" Gray said. "Like an incantation?"

"I've only ever read about them, but there are some really deadly spells that wizards are forbidden to use," Elaina said.

"That's right," Erza agreed. "There are cursed black magic spells that will kill the person they're used on."

"If I'm right... Lullaby's worse than that."

"Then let's not stand around talking about it," Jude said. "We need to stop Eisenwald before they use that flute."

"Hey, slow down, Erza," Gray said, once again from the roof of the magic mobile, as Erza quickly drove in the direction the train went. "You're using up too much of your own power driving this thing."

"I have no choice but to press onward," Erza called back. "We're running out of time. If Erigor gets his hands on this death magic, trust me, lives will be lost."

And that's chapter 5! I hope you guys enjoyed. Let me know what you think!