As they stood in front of the Fairy Tail guild hall, Ben couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. It reminded him of his first day at the Heartfilia manor - that same mix of worry and excitement bubbling in his chest.
He glanced down at himself, grateful that at least this time he wasn't showing up looking like he'd just rolled out of a haystack. His outfit was pretty much the same as always - heavy work boots, pants with deep pockets, and a plain long-sleeve shirt. But these were newer, less threadbare versions of his usual getup.
The only things that hadn't changed since his Heartfilia days were his old brown jacket and the canvas rucksack slung over his shoulder. Both had seen better days, but Ben wouldn't trade them for anything.
"Whoa," Ben breathed, taking in the sight of the impressive building. It towered over them like some kind of magical castle.
Lucy, though? She was on a whole other level of excited. Her eyes were practically sparkling, and her jaw had dropped so low Ben worried it might hit the ground.
"I can't believe I'm really here," she whispered, her voice shaky with awe.
Ben couldn't help but smile at her reaction. It was like watching a kid in a candy store for the first time.
Natsu, on the other hand, strolled up to the massive wooden doors like he was walking into his own living room. He didn't even bat an eye at the grand facade of the guild hall.
"Come on, you two!" Natsu called over his shoulder, a grin plastered on his face. "The real fun's inside!"
With a casual push, Natsu swung the doors open. They creaked loudly, the sound echoing through the air.
Ben glanced at Lucy, who looked like she might faint from excitement. "Ready?" he asked, offering her a reassuring smile.
Lucy nodded, taking a deep breath. "As I'll ever be," she replied, her voice a mix of nerves and anticipation.
As they stepped inside, Natsu's casual demeanor vanished. His eyes narrowed, scanning the room until they locked onto a particular guild member.
"You!" Natsu shouted, pointing an accusing finger. "You gave me bad info about Salamander!"
Without warning, Natsu launched himself across the room, fists flying.
Ben's jaw dropped as he watched the scene unfold. Natsu's fist connected with the guild mate's face, sending him stumbling backward into a table.
"Hey, I was just passing on a rumor!" the guy protested, rubbing his jaw.
Lucy grabbed Ben's arm, pulling him out of the way as the table toppled over, spilling drinks everywhere.
"Watch out!" she yelped.
The falling table knocked into a group nearby, sending them sprawling. One of them, a guy with spiky black hair, jumped to his feet.
"Who did that?" he growled, looking around wildly.
Before anyone could answer, he launched himself at the nearest person, tackling them to the ground. Like dominoes, more and more guild members got pulled into the fray. All around them, the guild erupted into a free for-all. Laughter and shouts filled the air, along with the occasional crash of breaking furniture.
"Should we... do something?" Ben asked, unsure whether to join in or run away.
Lucy shook her head, a mix of shock and excitement on her face. "I think we'd better just stay out of the way for now!"
"Is this... normal?" Ben asked, ducking to avoid a stray mug
As they watched the mayhem unfold, Ben couldn't help but think, "What have we gotten ourselves into?"
Just then, a melodic voice cut through the chaos. "Don't worry, it's always like this around here."
Ben and Lucy turned to see a beautiful white-haired woman gracefully weaving between tables, serving drinks with a smile. She had long, wavy hair that curled slightly at the ends, with two bangs framing her face. A short, upward ponytail added a playful touch to her look. Lucy's eyes went wide, and she grabbed Ben's arm, squeezing it tight.
"Oh my gosh, Ben! That's Mirajane Strauss!" Lucy whispered, her voice shaking with excitement. She was practically vibrating with energy, her eyes never leaving the famous mage. "I can't believe it's really her! She's even more beautiful in person!"
Ben chuckled, amused by Lucy's reaction. "Hey, if you ask nicely, maybe she'll sign that centerfold of hers for you."
Lucy's elbow connected with his gut, making him grunt. But she never took her eyes off Mirajane, completely starstruck.
"I can't believe it's really her," Lucy mumbled, still clutching Ben's arm.
Mirajane noticed them and waved, her smile warm and inviting. "Welcome to Fairy Tail! You two must be new here. Give me just a moment!"
She finished serving a nearby table and made her way over to them, her movements fluid despite the chaos around her. Ben couldn't help but notice her sleeveless, ankle-length maroon dress with a pleated skirt. It was a far cry from the bikinis he'd seen her wearing in Lucy's magazines, but somehow, she looked even more stunning.
"Hi there! I'm Mirajane. What brings you to our little slice of mayhem?" she asked, her blue eyes twinkling.
Lucy nodded enthusiastically, words failing her for once. Ben grinned, shaking his head at his friend's stunned silence.
"I'm Ben, and this is Lucy," he said, gently nudging Lucy forward. "She's actually a huge fan of yours."
Mirajane's eyes lit up. "Oh, really? That's so sweet!" She turned to Lucy, who was now blushing furiously. "It's always wonderful to meet a fan. What brings you two to Fairy Tail?"
Lucy finally found her voice, though it came out as more of a squeak. "We're actually here to join!"
Mirajane's eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands together. "Oh, how exciting! New family members!"
Just then, a chair whizzed past Ben's ear. He ducked instinctively, but Mirajane didn't even blink. She just leaned to the side, letting it sail by.
"So," she chirped, "what kind of magic do you two—" She paused to dodge a flying mug. "—use?"
Ben chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the chaos. Natsu was in the thick of it, trading punches with a guy who... was only wearing boxers? Weird.
Suddenly, a booming voice cut through the noise. "Real men settle things with their fists!"
Ben's head whipped around to see a massive tan guy with spiky white hair stomping towards Natsu and his half-naked opponent. The newcomer's muscles bulged as he raised his arms, shouting something about "Men!" that Ben couldn't quite catch over the din.
Before Ben could process what was happening, Natsu and Boxers Guy turned in perfect sync. Their fists connected with the newcomer's jaw, sending him flying like a human cannonball.
"Oh crap," Ben muttered, his eyes widening as he realized the trajectory. The muscular man was hurtling straight towards them.
"Watch out!" Ben shouted, his heart racing.
He didn't have time to think. In a flash, he lunged forward, wrapping one arm around Lucy's waist and the other around Mirajane's. He yanked them down, probably a bit too rough in his panic.
They hit the floor with a thud. Lucy let out a surprised "Oomph!" as the air was knocked from her lungs. Mirajane's forehead bounced off his shoulder, and he winced, feeling guilty.
The massive white-haired man soared over their heads, crashing into a nearby table with a thunderous crack. Splinters of wood rained down around them.
"Geez, are you guys okay?" Ben asked, scrambling to his feet. His heart was still racing from the sudden burst of adrenaline. He offered a hand to each of the girls, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry about that. I kinda panicked."
Lucy grabbed his hand, wincing slightly as she stood. She rotated her shoulder, grimacing a bit. "Ow... thanks for the save, Ben, but maybe try to be a little gentler next time? I think I might have a bruise or two."
Ben's face fell, guilt washing over him. "I'm so sorry, Lucy. I saw that guy flying at you and just... reacted. Are you sure you're alright?"
Lucy managed a small smile, despite her discomfort. "I'll live. Better than being flattened by a human projectile, that's for sure."
Mirajane took Ben's other hand, rising with surprising grace given the chaotic dive she'd just experienced. Her blue eyes twinkled with amusement as she brushed some dust off her dress. "My, my! That was quite exciting, wasn't it? You've got excellent reflexes, Ben."
Ben rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks still tinged pink. "Thanks, Mira. I just wish I hadn't been so rough about it. Are you okay too?"
Mirajane waved her hand dismissively, still smiling. "Oh, don't worry about me! I've been through much worse in this guild hall. That was actually quite refreshing!"
Lucy raised an eyebrow at Mirajane's cheerful attitude. "Refreshing? Really?"
Mirajane giggled, her voice light and airy. "Oh yes! It's been a while since someone's shown such quick thinking in one of our little... disagreements. It's good to see our newest members jumping right into the Fairy Tail spirit!"
Ben couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. "I'm not sure tackling guild mates is quite the spirit I was aiming for, but I'm glad you're not upset."
Lucy glanced around the still-chaotic guild hall, where the brawl seemed to be dying down. "So, uh... who exactly was our flying friend, anyway?"
Mirajane's eyes lit up. "Oh, that was just my little brother, Elfman. He tends to get a bit carried away during these scuffles. !"
Ben and Lucy exchanged a look, both torn between amusement and disbelief at the casual way Mirajane discussed her brother being hurled across the room.
Ben and Lucy's jaws dropped in unison. They both turned to stare at the massive, muscle-bound man sprawled across the shattered remains of a table.
" 'Little' brother?" Lucy squeaked, her eyes wide as saucers.
Ben blinked rapidly, trying to process this information. "Uh, Mirajane? I don't mean to be rude, but... your brother's like, three times your size."
Mirajane beamed, seemingly oblivious to their shock. "Oh, I know! He's just a big teddy bear, really."
Ben's gaze shifted back to Elfman, who still hadn't moved. "Um, speaking of big... is he gonna be okay? He kinda went through that table like it was made of paper."
Lucy nodded, her face etched with concern. "Yeah, shouldn't we check on him or something?"
Mirajane waved a hand dismissively, her smile never faltering. "Oh, don't you worry about Elfman. This happens all the time! He'll be up and shouting about being a 'real man' before you know it."
As if on cue, a groan emanated from the pile of splintered wood. Elfman's massive form began to stir.
"See?" Mirajane chirped. "He's fine! Now, where were we? Oh yes, you two wanted to join Fairy Tail, right?"
Lucy gaped at Mirajane. "But... but he almost hit us! And now he's just... getting up like nothing happened?"
Mirajane's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Oh, this? It's just another Tuesday at Fairy Tail. Isn't it fun?"
Ben and Lucy exchanged looks. Fun wasn't exactly the word Ben would've used, but he had to admit, there was something exhilarating about it they tried to process the chaos around them, a woman's voice cut through the noise.
"This is exactly why I can't date around here," she sighed dramatically. "These men have no class whatsoever."
Ben turned to see a woman with long brown hair sitting at the bar. She wore a blue bikini top and capri pants, looking completely at ease despite the mayhem.
"Uh, I don't think class is the biggest issue right now," Ben muttered, ducking as a chair flew overhead.
The woman rolled her eyes and reached for something behind the bar. To Ben's shock, she hefted a massive barrel easily as big as she was.
"Well, if you can't beat 'em, drink 'em under the table," she declared, tilting the barrel back and drinking straight from it.
Ben's jaw dropped. He turned to Lucy, who looked equally stunned.
"Is she... is that even possible?" he whispered.
"That's Cana Alberona," Mirajane explained, gesturing to the woman still chugging from the barrel. "She holds the record for heaviest drinker in Fairy Tail."
"I... I didn't even know that was a record people kept," Ben said, his eyes wide.
Cana finally lowered the barrel, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She caught Ben and Lucy staring and winked.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail, newbies," she called out. "Hope you can hold your liquor!"
She lifted the barrel, ready to toast. But before she could, a chair came flying out of nowhere. It smashed right into the barrel, knocking it from her hands. Wood splintered, and booze went everywhere.
For a second, Cana just stood there, dripping wet and stunned. Then her eyes narrowed.
"Oh, you did not just waste perfectly good booze," she growled.
Quick as a flash, she whipped out a card from her purse. It started glowing with a weird, magical light.
The other brawlers noticed. They stopped mid-fight, magic crackling at their fingertips.
Ben tensed up. This wasn't looking good. He raised his hands, ready to throw up a wooden shield. In no way did he want the three of them getting caught in some magical crossfire.
But before anyone could make a move, the ground shook. Something massive dropped down from above. Ben's jaw dropped. It was a giant, almost as tall as the ceiling! And it was... kinda spooky-looking. All shadowy and intimidating.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" the giant boomed. Its voice was so loud, Ben felt it in his chest.
Everyone froze. You could've heard a pin drop.
Well, almost everyone.
"Ha! I win!" Natsu's voice cut through the silence like a knife. He pumped his fist in the air, grinning from ear to ear. "You're all a bunch of chickens, stopping just because—"
STOMP!
The giant's foot came down hard, cutting Natsu off mid-gloat. One second he was there, the next... pancake city.
Lucy let out a little shriek, jumping back. Her eyes were as wide as dinner plates. "Did... did he just...?"
Ben, on the other hand, couldn't help but laugh. It started as a snort, then turned into full-blown chuckles. "Oh man, that's priceless! Guess even Natsu has an off switch."
When the giant lifted its foot, there was Natsu, spread out like a starfish on the floor. His eyes were spinning, and he let out a weak, "Owie..."
"Oh my," Mirajane giggled, looking about as worried as if someone had spilled a drink."Master, we have some newcomers!"
Lucy's face went pale. "M-Master?" she squeaked, inching closer to Ben. "That giant is your master?" Lucy's eyes darted nervously between Ben and the looming giant. She tugged on Ben's sleeve, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if he decides to squash us next?"
Ben couldn't help but want to ease Lucy's fear. "Relax, Luce. If he does, I'll just give him one heck of a splinter for his trouble."
Lucy's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ben! This isn't funny! We could be—"
But before she could finish her scolding, something bizarre happened. The giant started to shrink, deflating like a massive balloon. Its shadowy form melted away, revealing...
"Is that... a tiny old man?" Ben blinked, rubbing his eyes.
Where the giant had stood moments before, a diminutive figure now beamed up at them. He barely reached Ben's waist, sporting a bright orange outfit that made him look like a cheery jack-o'-lantern come to life.
Lucy's jaw dropped. "I... what... how?"
The little man chuckled, his mustache twitching with amusement. "Well, well! New faces, eh?" His voice was warm and jovial, a far cry from the booming giant's. "Welcome to Fairy Tail, kids! I'm Makarov, the guild master."
Lucy's mouth opened and closed a few times, no sound coming out. Ben knew exactly how she felt. This day just kept getting weirder and weirder.
Before either of them could respond, Makarov suddenly sprang into action. Without another word, he launched himself into a backflip. The old man spun through the air like a caffeinated gymnast, aiming for the second-floor balcony.
Ben's eyes went wide. "Is he seriously—"
Twenty feet up he went, twirling end over end. For a second, it looked like he might actually stick the landing. But then...
THWACK!
Makarov smacked face-first into the banister, his legs dangling over the edge.
Lucy gasped covering her mouth in shock.
The guild members, however, barely batted an eye. It was as if their master pulling stunts like this was just another Tuesday for them.
Makarov, to his credit, recovered quickly. He pulled himself up, clearing his throat like nothing had happened. His face was a bit red, though whether from embarrassment or impact, Ben couldn't tell.
"Right then!" Makarov called out, fishing a stack of papers from his pocket. How they weren't crumpled after all that, Ben had no idea. "Now, onto business!"
The old man's expression turned serious, his eyebrows furrowing as he looked down at the documents. "It seems our guild has racked up quite the list of complaints from the Magic Council."
A collective groan rose from the guild members. Ben and Lucy exchanged looks, but while Ben seemed confused, Lucy's expression was more resigned.
"Magic Council," Lucy muttered, her tone a mix of awe and exasperation. "They're the governing body for all magical affairs in Fiore. Looks like Fairy Tail's been causing them some headaches."
Makarov cleared his throat again, louder this time. "Ahem! If I may continue?" He held up the first paper, his eyes scanning the complaints with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Let's see... Smuggling operation busted in Oshibana... along with half the street and a historical building?"
Natsu's head snapped up, his pink hair bouncing as he grinned sheepishly. "Hey, those smugglers were tough! And that building was already falling apart anyway."
Makarov continued, each complaint more outrageous than the last. "A mountain face destroyed in a dispute with Vulcans..." He paused, raising an eyebrow at a group of wizards who suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.
"They started it," someone mumbled from the back.
"Half a forest set ablaze during a simple escort mission..." Makarov's gaze fell on a sheepish-looking wizard with purple hair.
"It was a really big bandit group," the wizard offered weakly, tugging at his collar.
Makarov squinted at the next paper. "And—did someone really flood an entire village while trying to catch a fish?"
A Purple-haired girl raised her hand hesitantly, her cheeks turning pink. "Um, the fish was really big?" she squeaked, shrinking under Makarov's stare. "And slippery. Very slippery."
As Makarov finished listing off the guild's misadventures, a heavy silence fell over the hall. The wizards shuffled their feet, exchanged guilty glances, and generally looked like a bunch of kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
Then, without warning, Makarov's serious expression melted away. He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well now," he said, holding up the stack of complaints. "What do you suppose we should do about all this?"
Before anyone could answer, Makarov's hand burst into flames. The papers crackled and curled, quickly turning to ash. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed the burning remnants towards Natsu.
The pink-haired wizard's eyes lit up. He lunged forward, mouth open wide, and swallowed the flames in one gulp.
Makarov's grin widened. "Listen up, you troublemakers!" he bellowed, his voice filled with pride rather than anger. "Magic isn't some tool for following rules or tiptoeing around regulations. It's alive! It's the very essence of freedom!"
The guild members perked up, their guilty expressions giving way to grins and nods of agreement.
"To stifle that freedom," Makarov continued, "would be to clip the wings of my children before they've even learned to fly. And that, my dears, is what makes Fairy Tail great!"
A cheer erupted from the wizards below, fists pumping in the air and magic sparking from fingertips in celebration.
Ben turned to Lucy, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, Luce? Still want to join this crazy bunch?"
Lucy's eyes were shining, her smile as bright as the stars she loved. "Are you kidding? Now more than ever!"
Ben strolled beside the canal coming back from the market, grocery bags in hand, enjoying the beautiful weather. He glanced at his forearm, where the forest green Fairy Tail emblem now proudly stood out against his skin. A smile tugged at his lips as he remembered the day they'd gotten their guild marks.
After the dust had settled from the brawl, Master Makarov had pulled him and Lucy aside. There was paperwork to fill out - mostly guild fees and responsibilities, promises to try not level too many buildings on jobs. Then came the exciting part: getting their guild marks.
Lucy had been practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. "Pink! On my hand!" she'd declared, beaming as Mirajane pressed the magical stamp to her skin. When it was Ben's turn, he'd chosen his forearm and a deep green that reminded him of the plants he loved.
She'd been so happy, grabbing his arm and squealing, "We did it, Ben! We're really Fairy Tail wizards now!"
After that came the apartment hunt. Ben and Lucy were clueless about where to start, so they asked Mirajane for help. Lucky for them, Mira knew just the place.
"There's this building on Canal Street," she'd said with a wink. "Decent prices, and I hear they've got some openings."
So off they went, meandering through Magnolia's bustling streets. It didn't take long to find the place Mira mentioned. Nothing fancy, but it had a certain charm to it.
They lucked out big time. The landlady was a sweet old lady who took an instant liking to Lucy. Before they knew it, they were both signing leases.
Ben snagged a spot on the first floor. Basic stuff, just a bed and some shelves, Lucy though? She fell head over heels for a place on the third floor. Ben could barely keep up as she darted from room to room, gushing about every little detail.
"Ben, come here!" she called, waving him over to the window. "You've gotta see this view!"
He joined her, chuckling at her excitement. Lucy pressed her face against the glass, her eyes wide with wonder.
"I can see the whole canal from here!" she squealed, her breath fogging up the window. "It's perfect!"
the memory made Ben smile as he put away his groceries. then he heard it. A scream that made his blood run cold. Lucy's scream.
Without thinking, he bolted out of his apartment. His heart pounded as he raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time. What could've happened? Was she hurt? Under attack?
He skidded to a stop in front of Lucy's door, ready to break it down if he had to. "Lucy!" he shouted, pounding on the wood. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
More shouting came from inside. Ben didn't wait another second. He burst through the door, fists raised and ready for a fight.
What he saw made him freeze in his tracks.
Lucy stood there, face red with anger ... and wrapped in nothing but a towel. Her blonde hair was dripping wet, like she'd just jumped out of the shower.
And there, lounging on her bed like they owned the place, were Natsu and Happy.
"Yo, Ben!" Natsu grinned, waving casually. "Nice of you to join the party!"
"Aye!" Happy chimed in, munching on what looked suspiciously like Lucy's secret stash of fancy tuna.
Lucy whirled on Ben, her eyes flashing. "Can you believe these two?! I get out of the bath and find them going through my stuff!"
Ben blinked, trying to process the scene. "I... uh..." He quickly averted his eyes, his cheeks turning pink.
Lucy followed his gaze, suddenly realizing she was still in just a towel. Her face went from angry red to embarrassed pink in a heartbeat. "Oh! I, uh... I should probably get dressed," she stammered, clutching the towel tighter.
"Yeah, that might be a good idea," Ben chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
Lucy pointed at Natsu and Happy, who were still lounging on her bed. "You two! Off my bed, now! I better not find you here when I get back."
As Lucy scurried off to change, Ben turned to Natsu with an exasperated sigh. "Seriously, man? Why'd you break into Lucy's place?"
Natsu grinned, completely unfazed. "We didn't break in! The window was open."
"That's... not how it works," Ben groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Happy piped up, mouth full of tuna. "We just wanted to check out Lucy's new digs! And maybe raid her fridge."
"Of course you did," Ben muttered, shaking his head.
Natsu suddenly perked up, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Oh yeah! We also came to see if you guys wanted to go on a mission with us!"
Just then, Lucy emerged from her room, dressed in a simple blue tank top and shorts. She had a hair tie between her teeth as she wrestled with her damp blonde locks.
"Mission?" she asked, her voice muffled by the hair tie. She quickly pulled her hair into a messy ponytail and fixed Natsu with a glare. "What does a mission have to do with you breaking into my apartment?"
Natsu grinned, seemingly oblivious to Lucy's irritation. "Come on, Luce! It'll be fun! We found this great job posting on the board."
Lucy crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently. "That still doesn't explain why you're in my room."
Happy's feathery white wings poofed into existence and he floated over, brandishing a crumpled job flyer. "We wanted to surprise you!" he chirped, doing a little backflip in the air.
Ben couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. "You know, most people just knock on the door."
Natsu shrugged, his smile never wavering. "Where's the fun in that?"
Lucy snatched the flyer from Happy, her eyebrow raised skeptically. "Let me see that." Her eyes scanned the paper, widening slightly. "Wait, is this for real?"
Ben peered over her shoulder, curious. "What's it say?"
Lucy's eyes widened as she read the flyer. "Wait, the reward is... 200,000 Jewel? For stealing a book?"
Natsu grinned, his sharp canines glinting. "Yep! Easy money, right?"
Lucy bit her lip, clearly torn. "It is a lot of money, but..."
Ben raised an eyebrow. "Robbing someone doesn't sound very... legal."
Natsu waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, don't worry about it! The client's probably the rightful owner anyway."
"But why us?" Lucy asked, gesturing between herself and Ben, slight suspicion in her voice.
Natsu's grin softened into a genuine smile. "Why not? You guys are cool! And that plan you cooked up in Hargeon worked great!"
Lucy blushed at the compliment, a warm feeling spreading in her chest. She glanced at Ben, who shrugged with a small smile.
"Could be fun," Ben offered. "And hey, we did work pretty well together, right?"
Lucy couldn't help but smile back. "I guess we did, didn't we?"
Happy piped up, his tail swishing excitedly. "So, are we going on an adventure or what?"
Lucy looked at the eager faces around her and sighed, but there was no real annoyance behind it. "Oh, alright. Let's do it!"
Natsu whooped, pumping his fist in the air. "Awesome! Team Natsu is born!"
"Team Natsu?" Ben raised an eyebrow, looking confused.
Lucy tilted her head. "Yeah, what's that about?"
Happy fluttered over, landing on Natsu's shoulder. "Oh, you guys don't know?" he chirped. "When guild members get along really well or work great together, they sometimes form teams!"
"Yeah!" Natsu chimed in, grinning from ear to ear. "It's like, you take on jobs that might be too tough for just one wizard. Plus, it's way more fun!"
Ben nodded slowly, a smile spreading across his face. "That... actually sounds pretty cool."
Lucy's eyes lit up, a mischievous glint appearing in them. "So we'd be like, an official team? Taking on bigger jobs together?"
"You bet!" Natsu laughed. "We'll be the most awesome team Fairy Tail's ever seen!"
Lucy glanced at Ben, excitement bubbling up inside her. "What do you think? Should we do it?"
Ben grinned back at her, noticing the gleam in her eyes. "Why not? Sounds like a blast to me."
Lucy's expression shifted, a determined look taking over. She clenched her fist, holding the flyer up high. "Alright then, Team Natsu it is!" Her voice rang out, filling the small apartment. "Watch out, Duke Everlue. That book is as good as ours. We're coming for it, and nothing's going to stop us!"
Ben chuckled, watching Lucy's eyes sparkle at the thought of the big payout. He knew that look all too well by now. "Whoa there, Lucy. I can practically see the Jewel signs in your eyes."
Lucy blushed, lowering the flyer. "I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled, but the grin on her face said otherwise.
"Sure, sure," Ben teased, shaking his head with a smile. He glanced around at their newly formed team. "So, uh, are we really sold on 'Team Natsu'? I mean, it's catchy and all, but..."
Natsu puffed out his chest. "Of course! It's perfect!"
Happy nodded vigorously. "Aye, sir!"
Lucy rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. "Well, I guess that settles it then."
Ben threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, Team Natsu it is. Let's just hope our team name doesn't go to someone's head."
They all laughed, the sound of their mirth echoing through the apartment. As it died down, a comfortable silence settled over them, filled with the promise of adventure and the warmth of newfound friendship.