A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter!

Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy Tail, I only own my OC.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!

The Magic Council has a court meeting regarding the Fairy Tail-Phantom Lord incident where they decide that Jose will be stripped from his status as one of the Ten Wizard Saints and that Phantom Lord will be disbanded. Fairy Tail, on the other hand, has been found totally innocent. This is most likely because of elder Yajima, a member of the Council and an old friend of Master Makarov's, had spoken on Fairy Tail's behalf. Later, Yajima advises Master Makarov to retire for the guild.

Back at the guild...

"Everyone! We're taking job requests again starting today!" Mira announced. "This reception counter is only temporary, but let's do lots and lots of work!" Everyone cheers that they hear that they can take on missions.

"What's the deal? Everyone usually sits around doing nothing..." Lucy said. Mira giggles at her. "Come to think of it, is Loke here?"

"Oh, have you finally fallen into Loke's clutches too?" Mira teases her.

"It's not like that! It sounds like he found my keys for me, so I wanted to thank him." Lucy takes out her keys.

"Sure, I'll tell him if I see him." Mira said. "Did the celestial spirits get mad at you for dropping their keys, though?"

Lucy chuckles at her. "'Mad' doesn't begin to describe it..." She remembers about Aquarius' reaction.

"I told you not to drop me, girl!" Aquarius holds a whip, threatening Lucy as she yelps in fear.

"My butt stings just thinking about it..." Lucy holds her butt, resting her head on the table.

Aira uses his Water Magic from his hand. "Want me to cool it for you?"

"That's casual sexual harassment." Lucy commented.

"Lemme see your red butt, Lucy!" Happy asked.

"That's unadulterated sexual harassment!" Lucy freaks out more.

Natsu lights his hand on fire. "I wonder what she'd give if I made it sting even more!"

"What are you, the devil?!" Lucy asked.

Out of nowhere, a barrel gets thrown at Aira, knocking him down. "Try saying that again!" Erza threatened. They look at Erza who is glaring at someone angrily.

"Since I'm here, let me make things nice and clear." Laxus evilly grins at her. "Weaklings don't belong in the guild!" He turns to look at Jet and Droy. "Man, you guys are pathetic, letting Phantom make a mockery of you. Actually, I don't even know your names." He then looks at Lucy. "And you, rich celestial wizard girl. You were the main culprit. It was your fault that-"

"Laxus!" Mira interrupts him. "It's all over now. No one's playing the blame game! The master says we're not even allowed to blame you for refusing to help us!"

"Well, of course you're not! It was none of my business! You wouldn't have any trouble if I'd been there, though." Laxus said.

"Why, you...!" Erza snapped.

"All right! That's it!" Aira charges at Laxus, but he disappears. He appears behind Aira. "Laxus! Fight me, you heartless bastard!"

Laxus laughs at Aira. "How do you expect to fight me if you can't even catch me?" He asked. "Once I inherit the guild, I'm kicking every last wimp out. And everyone who tried to stand up to me! I'm going to create the most powerful guild! The most powerful guild in history! No one will be able to mock it!" Laxus laughs as he vanishes.

Lucy sits back down in her seat. "Inherit? What kind of crazy talk is that?"

"Actually, it isn't crazy..." Mira muttered. "Laxus is our master's grandson, you see."

"Wha...?!" Lucy's surprised to hear that.

"So it's very likely Laxus will be the next master when he retires." Mira added.

"Y-You can't be serious... But I don't like the idea of someone being our master when he treats his fellow guild members that way..." Lucy stated.

"They say that's why our master is having a hard time retiring..." Mira said.

"That jerk!" Natsu clenches his fist.

"That's enough. You'll only tore yourself out dealing with him." Erza said. "Anyway, what do you say? Feel up to a job? With Aira and Lucy, too, of course."

"Huh?" Aira muttered when he heard his name.

"It feels like we've always been together since the Eisenwald incident." Erza added.

"Feels like it"? She noticed only now?!" Wakaba asked.

"It was obvious to pretty much anyone." Macao commented. "Was she not paying attention?"

"That's Erza for you!" Cana added.

"What do you say we form an actual team?" Erza asked. "It'll be the four of us... Oh, six, counting Happy and Cain!"

Lucy gasps in joy, but then she feels bad later on. "But are you sure you want someone like me?"

"Not "like" you!" Natsu said. "We want you specifically!"

"Aye!" Happy jumps in excitement.

"It just wouldn't be the same without you, you know?" Natsu gives her a toothy grin. Lucy blushes a bit, smiling back.

"Then its official. Say hello to the strongest team in Fairy Tail." Cana said.

"This is great!" Macao said.

"But is Lucy actually that tough?" Wakaba asked, smiling at them.

"I don't think I'd stand a chance if she summoned Aquarius on me!" Alzack admitted.

"She's got a sharp mouth, too!" Droy added.

"She's the best in many different ways..." Jet said.

"Me, teamed with him...?!" The Dragon Slayers glare at each other.

"Have a problem with that?" Erza glares at them with a scary face.

"No! We're ecstatic!" They both yell in excitement.

"I have a job already lined up! We're going to defeat a magic cult secretly operating in the town of Lupinas! Let's go!" Erza and the team agrees, determined to take on the job.

Nighttime...

Master Makarov drinks his booze and meditates upon his options for the next Guild Master. Laxus, Mystogan, and Erza all cross his mind, but he finds something in all of them that would make the job a problem for them and for the others. Mira then comes and informs him that Erza's team has gone and destroyed half a city and that the Council wishes him to submit a report. He then decides in anger and panic that it wasn't time to retire yet.

Down at the guild, Lucy rests her head on the table, sighing out loud. "Oh? You seem down, Lucy. What's the matter?" Mira asked.

"That Lupinas job..." Lucy replied. "Sheesh... Natsu spewed fire everywhere, Aira caused a tsunami, and Erza..." She screams out loud. "Don't even get me started with Erza!"

"Umm, Lucy? Are you all right?" Mira asked, worried about her.

"Everyone destroyed everything, so our reward got slashed..." Lucy bangs her head on the table. "I won't be able to pay this month's rent like this!"

"Then maybe I could hook you up with a special job..." Mira suggested. "It's perfect for you, and you don't have to worry about stuff getting destroyed!"

Onibas Station...

"Onibas! We haven't been here since the Lullaby incident!" Lucy said.

"Natsu! We're here!" Happy exclaimed.

"N-No good..." Natsu's suffering from motion sickness.

"So this is a job to use our magic to attract people to a languishing theater?" Aira asked.

"That's right! Doesn't it sound neat?! Natsu can shoot fire, Aira and Erza can create a big scene with their magic, and I can use Lyra's singing to stir up emotions! It's going to be a wonderful performance!" Lucy responded. "If I ever finish my novel, I bet it'll get turned into a play someday! Yes! This is a great chance to study up on stage direction!"

They arrive at Onibas Town Theater. "Oh!" They all stare in amazement.

"This place is classy!" Happy commented.

"Very modern." Cain added.

"Let's go!" Lucy said.

"Excuse me..." A man pops out, catching all of their attention. "Are you the people from Fairy Tail?"

"Yes!" Lucy replied.

"Thank you so much for accepting the job!" The chairman, Rabian, thanked politely.

"Sure! Just leave the stage work to us!" Lucy said.

"Actually, about that..." The man said. "I'm suddenly in a bit of a pickle..."

The chairman of the theater take them inside behind the theater. "Wha...?! All the actors ran off?!" Lucy asked in surprise.

"Yes... thank you." Rabian thanked again.

"For what?" Happy sweat dropped.

"All my plays have been bombing one after another, to the point that even the actors became ashamed to be in them..." Rabian explained. "Even my wife got sick of me chasing my dream and left me! This was all I had left going for me, too! Thank you so much!"

"You're thanking at the wrong time..." Aira commented.

"So the play is called off! Thank you!" Rabian cried.

"Oh, that's all that's troubling you?" Erza asked. "If it's actors you need... you have some right here!" Erza looks glorious with flower petals raining over her and her hair blowing like the wind.

"Wha...?!" Lucy said.

"Sh-She's dazzling!" Aira commented.

"A-e-i-u-e-o-a-o! Ka-ke-ki-ku-ke-ko-ka-ko!" Erza starts to sing, practicing her vocals.

"Vocal exercises!" Happy commented.

"Actually, it does sound kind of neat!" Lucy said as Erza sings in the background the entire time.

"You sure?" Natsu asked.

"Aye!" Happy replied.

"We won't let your dream end here." Aira said.

"Everyone..." Rabian starts to cry tears of joy. "Well, I guess I can let you try... Ugh. Amateurs..." He coldly said.

"Now he doesn't thank us..." Aira notices his mood changed.

"One week until our performance!"

"My name is Fredrick! I've come to rescue the princess!" Erza rehearses her part of the play, acting glamorous at the moment.

"Wow! Erza is really good at acting!" Lucy exclaimed.

"She has her role on point!" Happy said.

"C-Can't let her outdo us!" Natsu uses a seasaw to cut wood.

"Yeah!" Aira agreed, carrying a piece of wood over his shoulder.

"Aye, sir!" Happy and Cain fly through the sky, throwing fliers all around town.

"From that point on, whenever we weren't busy rehearsing, we were passing out fliers, building sets, and working hard to memorize our lines. Even so, everyone's enthusiasm made it a real blast!"

"Your cheering squad is here, thank you." Rabian once again thanked for no reason.

"Cheering squad?" They ask at the same time.

"Yo!" Master Makarov greeted. He isn't the only one there, Mira, Master Bob, Master Goldmine, Yajima, Chief Moka and Lulu, the Pirate Erza befriended, Boze and Sue, and the Eisenwald Chicken.

"Where do I even start with this group?!" Lucy didn't expect to see them all.

"It's almost show time! Break a leg!" Mira cheers on.

"How long it's been since I last saw a play!" Master Makarov is excited to see the play.

"I appreciate the invite, Macky!" Yajima said.

"It's good to see you again! How've you been?" Master Bob asked.

"We're here to crack jokes." Master Goldmine commented.

"Meat!" Chicken chanted.

"Wait, what are you doing here, fake Salamander?!" Lucy sweat drops when she sees Bora.

"Long time, no see, Michael!" Natsu greeted.

"It's Bora." He corrected. "I gave up my life as an aggressive glamour model scout after being deeply struck by nii-chan's heated fists."

"Huh?! That's what that was?!" Lucy remembers about the first time she met Bora.

"Huh? What did you think it was?" Bora asked.

"Oh, uhh, well..." Lucy blushes hard.

"Lucy had dirty thoughts!" Happy commented.

"Madame, I'll be rooting for you!" The Pirate said.

"Thank you for coming all this way!" Erza hugs the Pirate by slamming his head into her hard armor.

"So hard!" The Pirate commented with hearts around him.

"Aren't you from Galuna Island?" Aira asked.

"My name's Lulu! Thanks for helping us back then!" Lulu replied.

"Wait, aren't you two from Phantom...?" Lucy asked.

"I was also captivated by his power!" Boze said.

"And that's that. Have some food." Sue offered.

Natsu and Chicken get excited when they see meat.

"That's raw, you know." Lucy commented.

"Oh, thanks!" Natsu thinks that the meat is for himself.

"Not for you!" Sue kicks him away. "It's for that red dog."

"It's blue. And a cat." Lucy corrected.

"How long until you destroy the moon, huh?!" Chief Moka asked.

"Do I even need to say anything?!" Lucy sweat dropped.

"Good luck!" The cheering squad chanted.

"I'm beat, and the performance hasn't even started..." Lucy already feels exhausted.

"It's finally opening day!"

Rabian looks at the amount of people who came to watch the play. "I've never had such a large audience! Thank you very much!"

"And I never sang in front of so many people!" Lyra squeals in joy.

"All that's left is to put on a good show!" Lucy said.

The play is about to start. Lyra starts playing her harp and begins to sing the opening play, revealing that the princess has been captured and the prince has been captured and the prince went out to save her. They all comment on her beautiful singing.

When Erza goes on stage as the prince, she gets stage fright. "Why is she so nervous?!" Lucy asked as she watches Erza.

"She must have serious stage fright!" Natsu said.

Erza starts to tremble. "M-My name is F-Fredri... I-I here... save prin... cess..." She stutters her line as she shakes in fear. "I... w-w-wield..."

"She's skipping ahead! It's not time for that line yet!" Lucy notices that Erza is skipping through the parts.

"She's so nervous she's hardly even breathing." Happy stated.

"...t-t-ten swords..." Prince Fredrick (Erza) summons his swords, hitting the audience by accident.

"Ooh, Madame! Do more!" The Pirate cheers on.

"Oh, man." Master Goldmine sighed.

"Goodness gracious!" Master Bob said.

"Catching a play is hazardous to your health." Yajima said.

"This certainly is fun!" Mira commented, enjoying the play like everyone else.

"Erza is falling apart!" Happy starts to freak out.

"What do we do?!" Aira whispered.

"Anyway, we need to try whatever we can to cover for her!" Lucy responded.

"When do I get to go on?!" Natsu asked.

"Shut up!" Lucy shouted.

The princess, Lucy playing as "Princess Yanderica", is tied to a rope. "Oh, please help me, Prince Fredrick! Sieghart had captured me!" The audience wonders who that character is.

Aira walks in. "My name is Julius! If you want the princess b-back, you will face me in a duel!" He says his lines in a monotone. This confuses the audience further.

"Du-du-du-duel..." Prince Fredrick (Erza) shakes some more, soon her face turns blue.

"Crap! Erza's reached her limit!" Aira sweat dropped.

"I'll handle it!" Lucy secretly has a celestial key in her hand. "Open, Gate of the Clock Constellation! Horologium!" She summons Horologium to help Erza.

"Du-du-duel..." is what she says." Horologium speaks for Prince Fredrick (Erza).

"What are you doing, Lucy?!" Aira whispered.

"The story would have nowhere to go if Fredrick had fainted there!" Lucy responded, whispering back. "How good of you to come, Great Clock! Please give Prince Fredrick a brief rest!"

All of the sudden, Erza returns renewed vigor. "I can breathe again! I am revived!" She walks out of Horologium.

Julius (Aira) uses his Water Magic. "Taste my water sword!" He summons a sword made out of water.

"Th-That's nothing! I-I wield ten swords!" Prince Fredrick (Erza) summons his swords.

"Ahh. Help!" Julius (Aira) said in a monotone as Prince Fredrick (Erza) defeats Julius (Aira) with no effort, much to the audience's surprise.

"Thank you, Prince Fredrick!" Princess Yanderica (Lucy) gets untied from the ropes.

Prince Fredrick (Erza) goes down on one knee. "L-Lady Yanderica! Let us have many children! Thirty or so!" This all shocks the audience.

"Plays these days certainly are surreal..." Master Makarov commented.

"I quite like it!" Yajima said.

"They're so dazzling!" Mira complimented.

Julius (Aira) walks back to the scene. "Your brief respite is now over, thusly!" He continues to talk in a monotone voice. "This is the end! Come forth, my dragon servant!"

"It's about time!" Natsu shouted with Happy carrying the Dragon. The Dragon shoots fire out of his mouth.

"Yes, yes!" Rabian cheers on.

"I am a great dragon! I will destroy you all!" The Dragon continues to spit fire.

"Our only hope is to work together!" Julius (Aira) said.

"O-Oh... That would be... reassuring..." Prince Fredrick (Erza) agreed.

"I'll hold it off! Please escape, you two!" Princess Yanderica (Lucy) said.

"W-We owe you one!" Prince Fredrick (Erza) and Julius (Aira) run away.

"Ooh! They're eloping!" Master Bob admires the play.

"Aira's a real stud!" Mira commented.

"That's youth for you." Master Goldmine added.

The Dragon continues to spit fire as Happy struggles to carry it. "So heavy..." He accidently drops the Dragon (Natsu) on stage.

Lucy's dress catches on fire. "Aira! Help! Water! Water!" Lucy runs to Aira.

"All right! Water Dragon's..." Aira is about to use his breath attack, but Erza uses his head as a boost. Instead, Erza slices up Lucy's clothes. All the men stare in excitement. Aira blushes hard as he sees Lucy almost naked.

"Thank you!" Rabian commented.

"Princess... Are you all right?" Prince Fredrick (Erza) covers her with his jacket.

"For such a bad actress you're way too into your part!" Lucy commented.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" The Dragon spits fire throughout the theater.

"Quit it, Natsu!" Aira shouted.

"Moo! What a nice body, Princess Yanderica! It's the best!" Out of nowhere, Taurus bursts through the ground.

"The best!" All the men agree.

"Come on, now..." Mira commented.

"Don't just come out and say stuff like that!" Lucy shouted.

"I told you before, Lucy. I swore to protect you and your nice body!" Taurus then disappears.

"What did you come out here for?!" Lucy asked.

Erza then gets stage fright again. "I-I have no choice now but to punish y-y-you all!" She starts to attack Natsu and Aira.

"This is completely out of hand now!" Lucy gets worried about everything.

"Yes, yes!" Rabian agreed.

"Plus... I got a really bad feeling about this..." Lucy said. Soon, the building behind cracking and ultimately crumbles apart, leaving only the stage. "I should've known!"'

"Oh, my!" Master Bob pops his head out.

"Why does this always happen?!" Master Makarov asked.

"You should hurry and retire, Macky..." Yajima suggested.

"Dear me..." Mira commented.

"It's the moon's curse!" Chief Moka accused.

Lucy finds the audience cheering them on in a supportive manner, shouting praises at them and laughing even as the antics continue, much to her happiness.

"Just wonderful!" Rabian cheered, happy with everyone's reactions and the play.

One week later...

"I never imagined it would be such a huge hit!" Rabian said. "For such lousy actors, you sure can put on a show!" Erza's practicing her singing while Natsu and Aira rest their heads on the table.

"C'mon, pay up already..." Natsu weakly said, wanting the reward already.

"I don't want people to see me like this..." Aira mumbled, worried about what other people will think of him.

"Get your butts in fear and get ready, you lowlifes!" Rabian ordered.

"He's a different character now..." Happy commented.

"Agreed..." Cain said.

"I want... to go home...!" Lucy's fatigued and simply wishes to leave.

A/N: Another update done!

Hope you enjoyed!

~Kyle