"Awww, it sucks you're leaving without me, huh?" Alexis grinned at Hunter as she leaned over the bar resting her chin on her hand. News of their special mission had spread like wildfire. Mainly due to the fact that Nashi was bragging about it to everyone in the guild.

"Not really." Hunter responded with a little shrug. "Without you there, I think I'll enjoy myself a little more than usual."

Alexis looked playfully offended and laughed. "Whatever you say, tough guy. I know the truth." She winked at him.

Ultear approached the pair at the bar. Her eyes unintentionally were glaring fiercely right at Alexis. Alexis, deciding, she didn't want the crazy girl to hurt her chuckled nervously.

"Hey there, Ultear." She greeted awkwardly. "N-Nice job getting that important mission." She gave the Fullbuster a shaky thumbs up and a painfully forced smile. Ultear didn't respond or falter her glare at all.

Hunter, who was watching, couldn't help but snicker. Alexis gave him a nice backhand to the head for that.

"I'm just gonna go help my mom." She said quickly before scurrying away.

Silence fell between the remaining two as Ultear breathed out and sat on the stool next to Hunter.

"Man, that was crazy weird." Ultear said followed by a sigh. "I can't believe she's actually SCARED of me."

"Well, what do you expect?" Hunter asked. He frowned down at Ultear. "You basically attacked her and glare at her every time she comes around."

"I don't understand how you give her a chance...after what she did." Ultear's looked straight at the scar under Hunter's eye.The memory suddenly thrust into her brain again and she felt like she was reliving that awful moment.

All she could hear was screaming.

Mind numbing screams that shook her to the core.

Citizens of Magnolia, friends and her family screaming in agony as Alexis' spell invaded their minds. It was day time but the sky was as dark as night. Fear creeped into her conscious with each passing minute in this nightmare.

"Ultear!" She snapped out at the sound of Hunter's shouting voice. "You have to focus on the Demon."

Ultear nodded harshly and raised to her feet. Everyone except her and Hunter were under the Demon's Torment Spell. She didn't know why though.

"Poor little Ultear..." An evil mocking voice sneered with a sinister giggle. "You've always been weak." Alexis' dark solitary demon shaped figure inched closer and closer towards Hunter and Ultear. Hunter stared onwards with a fierce gaze gripping tightly onto his sword. Ultear shook her anxiety away and got into her attack stance.

Her fear turned into rage. Pure bloodthirsty rage. Ultear didn't see the girl who she'd grown up with anymore. She saw a monster. A monster that was hurting everyone she loved. She only saw one option...

She had to kill it.

Without another second of doubt, Ultear sprung into action, thrusting multiple spells at a time. She ignored Hunter's plea who told her not to rush in. Razor sharp icicles and serpent shaped streams of water rushed towards Alexis who dodged them with ease.

"My turn." Alexis stated. Bat-like wings sprouted from her back and within a flash, she was right in front Ultear. Ultear found herself lost in the infinite darkness that was once Alexis' sapphire blue eyes and froze with fear. "And you call yourself an S Class wizard."

Alexis' arms extended back and Ultear couldn't even think before sharp demon claws came hurtling down towards her. A body collided with hers and she was pushed to ground.

She heard a ripping sound of the claws meeting skin and the loud thud of a weapon hitting the ground...

There was silence...

...unnatural silence.

That was until Ultear heard the soft sound of droplets plopping onto the ground. She looked up in horror to see Hunter gripping tightly on his eye with hands that were now coloured crimson. Her mouth gaped wide open with shock.

Alexis' maniacal laugh filled the silence as she slowly faded into her human form. Hunter's blood dripped from her fingertips.

"That wound looks terrible, Hunter. It's a shame Aunt Wendy isn't here to heal it."

Hunter tensed and turned his head slightly away from Ultear. "She's just...so different now, Ul." He said with the faintest of smiles. Ultear sensed fondness in his tone and felt a slight twinge of jealousy. He sighed heavily once again and locked eyes with her. "Just give Alexis a chance."

"I trust you...so if you say to give her a chance...I guess it's worth a shot." Ultear folded her arms while puffing her cheeks in reluctance.

Hunter took a swig of his beer before wiping his chin. "So do you want a drink?" He asked the water mage.

Ultear smiled. "Thought you'd never ask."

___________________________________________

Nashi was happy. Well, she was excited. EXTREMELY excited. It was rare for Master Laxus to trust the teens with pretty much anything so she decided to treasure the event.

"Dad! Guess what I-."

"You were specifically picked to go on a special mission by the Master." Natsu droned with a blank expression. His arm was slung around the shoulders of none other than Lucy Dragneel who clapped proudly at her daughter.

Nashi raised an eyebrow in confusion. She knew for a fact she hadn't told her dad yet. She left him till last.

"We heard you a few tables away telling Mirajane, sweetie." Lucy said knowing all too well what her daughter was thinking.

Unfortunately for the mother of four, Nashi had inherited more of Natsu's intellect than her's. Lucy wasn't gonna lie, her eldest was a nightmare to parent.

Nashi made an 'O' sound and then proceeded to jump with excitement. "You're proud of me right?"

"Course we are, Nash." Natsu congratulated his daughter ruffling her pink hair simultaneously. Nashi giggled.

"I'm gonna be better than you pretty soon, ya know?" Nashi added with a sly smile. Natsu's face faded into a grimace.

"Dream on, kiddo."

Lucy tapped her chin squinting her eyes. "You know this reminds me of your father's earlier missions where we had to take down this dark guild, Oracien Seis." She pointed out. Nashi groaned and rolled her eyes.

"Blah blah... no one cares about ancient history mom." Nashi said. Lucy furrowed her eyebrows at the girl and gasped feeling pretty offended.

"Rude little brat." Lucy muttered.

"Daddy, can you beat up Luke's stupid best friend?" A very angry Luna snarled jumping onto her father's lap. "He's hogging Layla!"

"Mom! Can you lock Layla somewhere far FAR away!" Luke shouted popping out of nowhere. He was furious as well. "She's hogging Raiden!"

The young Dragneels pointed over to Layla who was having an enjoyable time braiding Raiden's snow white locks.

Natsu looked like he was about to kill the young Dreyar while Lucy's eyes went into the shape of hearts and she clasped both of her hands tightly. "I'm totally winning the bet." She whispered under her breath.

"What bet, mom?" Nashi asked. Everyone was in silence as they stared curiously at the blonde haired mage. Lucy paled cursing the uncanny dragon slayer hearing.

"You know... the bet that Nashi will be getting a boyfriend very soon." Lucy lied.

Flames erupted from Natsu's fists. "WHATT? Nashi's getting a boyfriend!? Who is he? Who am I killing?!" He shouted with rage.

Nashi's was completely flustered and embarrassed. Her cheeks were a deep red colour, similar to the colour of Erza's hair.

Luke burst into laughter. "Who would date this ugly thing?" He said gesturing to Nashi. He clutched onto his stomach as he laughed uncontrollably.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Nashi yelled pouncing onto her little brother. She strangled him and soon the two were in a full fledged fight.

"I personally think it's gonna be between Hunter and Gale." Luna said holding her finger in the air. "Me and Aunt Mira talk about it all the time."

"Stay out of my love life!" Nashi yelled. Luke saw his chance gave her a good kick in the stomach. Nashi made an 'oof' sound and fell to the ground.

"What love life? You haven't even had your first kiss!" Luke laughed towering over his sister.

Everything happened so fast and suddenly Natsu was grabbing Raiden by the collar and shaking him.

"Dad! You're gonna shake the braids away!" Layla shouted with a pout. Her hard work was being ruined. Raiden was too stunned that he couldn't do anything.

All Lucy could do was sigh. With Nashi and Luke fighting, Luna's constant babbling about her OTPs (which didn't include Raiden and Layla) and Natsu basically assaulting the Master's son, she just... needed a breather. You'd think by now, she's know how to handle it but the unfortunate truth was that she took it one day at a time. She lived with a bunch of hyperactive kids, her husband being one of them too.

____________________________________________

Gale and Storm walked through the streets of Magnolia. They were on their way to getting ice cream for Lily who was hoisted on Gale's shoulders. Being the last day Gale was at the guild, he chose to spend his remaining time with his sister. Storm, on the other hand was trying to avoid his.

"What's with you and Flame Brain huh?" Storm asked. Gale stopped in his tracks, his cheeks going red in embarrassment.

"Nothing." He grunted.

"He totally is in love with Nashi" Lily said with a beaming smile. Storm burst out in laughter. "He wrote a song about he-" Gale threw his little off his shoulders and onto the grass. "I'm telling dad you did that!"

"Let me hear the song dude." Storm snickered. Gale glared the ice make mage.

"Shut up." Gale snarled as he clenched his fists tightly by his side. Storm raised his hands in surrender.

"You know you have competition though." Storm pointed out. Gale raised his brow. "I'm pretty sure Flame Brain likes Hunter."

Gale's face paled and started to fidget with his fingers.

"Ooh you're gonna have to work really hard to get Nashi then." Lily said to which Storm outrightly agreed.

"W-Well how are you sure about that?" Gale blurted out.

"Know your enemies. Flame Brain's been my enemy since before we could even talk." Storm explained. "I picked up on a few things."

Gale hung low in defeat. "Damn." He muttered under his breath. Lily frowned.

"Don't give up, though! You still have a chance." Lily yelled clutching onto her brother. "Aunt Mira told me that Hunter has unresolved feelings for both Alexis and Ultear." She said in desperate hopes to raise her brother's spirits. "So he probably won't notice Nashi at all." Lily's head slightly lowered. She felt a little bit sad for saying that.

"Mira's freakishly accurate with lovey
stuff." Storm pointed out agreeing with Lily.

Gale had regained some sliver of hope but not a lot. "At least I have a chance."

"Oh so you really do like her?" Storm said with a smirk.

Gale shook his head. "Okay let's just stop talking about me." He said striding faster ahead. Lily and Storm just frowned at each other.

"He's hopeless huh, Lil?" Storm sighed. Lily responded with a very adamant head nod.

"You and Quinny are dating, now. Aren't ya?" Lily asked catching Storm off guard. He laughed.

"Well, no..."

Lily shrugged. "Well you're hopeless too." Storm looked dumbfounded for a little bit finding it hard to even say anything.

"Lily move your butt!" Gale called out from front. "Do you want that ice cream or not!?"

Lily's eyes widened and she quickly ran ahead to her brother.

Storm felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He looked down at the contact and couldn't help but smile.

"Funny thing, I was just talking about you."

__________________________________________

Chapter done! Thanks for reading to the end. Sorry if you've been waiting for a while. Hope you enjoyed it.

Don't forget to Vote/Comment!