A New Chapter
~*****~
My body feels hot. When my internals freeze completely, I can't feel any type of heat, even hot water. My eyes scrunch tightly as I try opening them. Everything hurts, but at least I'm warm. When I hear a harsh snore in my ear. I grunt and open my eyes immediately. "You think they're gonna be okay?" I hear Gray ask.
"QUIT SNORING!" I shriek, my pillow smashing down on Natsu's face as I'm suddenly sitting up. I let out a bellow of pain and wrap my arms around my torso. "Where am I!?"
"Aria, take it easy!" Gray laughs as I glance around wildly. "Everything's okay now."
"You guys have been sleeping for the past three days," Lucy giggles.
"It's what you get for eating that Ether-nano." Gray comments.
"I didn't eat any, that was Natsu--" I retort irritably.
Gray laughed. "When Erza tried sacrificing herself, Natsu said you went crazy and ate a chunk of the tower and dived in to save her." Gray explained. "Your body was already feeling the effects of overusing your magic, then you decided to be as dumb as Natsu."
"Say that again and I'll smack ya!" Natsu suddenly shouts, his body popping upright.
"You're awake!" Happy chirps.
Natsu doesn't respond. Instead he flops forward, his face pressing into my breasts, completely passed out. "That punk woke up just to pick a fight with me?!" Gray exclaimed.
"At least he ain't droolin' on your chest," I comment irritably as I try to push him off. His arms loop around my waist and hold tight before collapsing onto his side, literally entwinning his limbs around me. Lucy just laughs as I struggle.
"I know I've already said this," Erza starts off softly. "But I'm sorry for causing such trouble."
"You don't have to keep apologizing to us," Lucy says softly.
"Where's your friend?" Erza asks Gray. "I wanted to thank her."
"You talkin' about Juvia? She left a while ago." Gray shrugged. "She wanted to go to Fairy Tail and talk to Gramps about signing up with the guild."
"That'll be fun," I hum as I lean against my elbow, relaxing into the forced embrace Natsu has on me. "Juvia's such a cutie to see riled up! And she's super sweet when she doesn't suspect someone's out for your heart!"
"Will you quit teasin' her!" Gray snaps at me.
I hum delicately and purse my lips. "I'll start giving her pointers on how to flirt with you instead~"
"DON'T TELL HER THAT CRAP!" Gray shouts at me.
~*****~
I spent the remainder of our time at the resort in bed. "Well, this is a surprise." Erza hums once we return to Fairy Tail.
"They finished building it?!" The others bellow.
"There it is, Fairy Tail's new guild hall." Gray chimed happily. We stepped in and began to explore. "Are you kidding me?! We've got a cafe now?!"
"Do we really need a gift shop, too?" Lucy murmurs.
"Hey there! Glad you guys made it back okay! What's new?" The shop attendant asked.
"They got you workin' the gift shop, Max?" Happy asked as he and Ballad floated over. "It's been a while since we've seen you around the guild."
"Well, master made me go back to school, 'cause he wanted me to take some business classes." Max explained sheepishly.
"You're Max Alors! I've read all about you in Sorcerer Weekly!" Lucy chirped excitedly.
Max just beams. "Yes ma'am, that'd be me! And you know, I've heard a lot about you, Lucy!"
"I don't wanna think about the crazy things they probably told you!" Lucy whined.
"Miss Aria, can I get something?!" Ballad asked excitedly as I trailed over.
"Why not get one of these Aria action figures!" Max cheered as he handed it over to the small cat.
"I'm gonna have to talk to someone about this." I mention with a laugh.
"Well, she's posable, and her clothes come off!" He cheers as the clothes literally pop off.
I encase it in a brick of ice and set it back on the counter. "I'll definitely be talking to someone."
Happy, Ballad, and Lucy coo over the interior of the guild. "I could get used to this," Erza mentions.
I peer at Natsu and smile at his grumpy expression. "You okay?" I laugh.
"I'm not good with change." Natsu simply grunted.
"It's so good to have you back, Lu! Ari!" Levy cheered.
"Hey, Levy." I chirp, my hand raised in a wave.
"Isn't this awesome?" Levy asks. "Guess what? Now we've got a swimming pool behind tha bar!"
"That's kinda weird." Lucy commented.
"It's just not the same." Natsu grumbled.
"I could make it an ice rink if that'll make ya feel better," I mention with a laugh. That gets his attention, at least. However, Lucy puts a stop to that idea.
"And we've even got a game room down in the basement!" Levy continues.
"Does it need to be this big?" Lucy whines as I peer around anxiously.
"I don't like it." Natsu grumbled.
"But the biggest change is upstairs! Cause now everybody's allowed to go up to the second floor!" Levy explained.
Elfman appears at the banister. "Yo!" He salutes with his fingers.
"Master actually lets more of us go on S-Class quests," Levy mentioned. "But only if an S-Class wizard agrees to go along."
"Too bad Erza's gonna need a little time off," I mention impishly. Erza just giggles and says sorry.
"Well, I'm glad you dunderheads made it back safely," Makarov's voice rang out.
"Master!" Erza hums.
I peer over and suck in an excited squeal. "I'd like you to meet Fairy Tail's newest member, Juvia!" Makarov says. "Isn't she a cutie?"
"I can't wait to work with you!" Juvia chirps.
"So you actually made it in, huh?" Gray asks.
"Thanks so much for helping us in Akane!" Erza says politely.
"No, I should be thanking you, because now, I've found a new guild!" Juvia smiles.
"Hey, girl." Lucy chirps happily.
There's a demonic aura surrounding her, and I just laugh. "We've also added another new member to the guild." Makarov comments as I pat at Juvia's head with calming coos. "Someone you might recognize."
My nose twitches as I catch the scent of him. "Him?!" I bark as I turn my gaze on him.
"Gajeel!" Natsu growls.
"Why'd you let him in here, Gramps?!" Gray asked angrily.
"Calm down, I asked him to come along with me!" Juvia pleaded.
"It can be Juvia, I don't mind that, but he's responsible for destroying the guild hall." I hiss angrily.
"Now, now, I understand you and Lucy are still relatively new to Fairy Tail, but you must remember what this guild stands for. Yesterday's enemy can be today's friend." Makarov comments.
"Yeah. If I'm okay with him here, then you should be too." Levy comments.
"You tell that to me when you're not shaking." I snap at her.
"There ain't no way!" Natsu barked. "I can't work with somebody I can't trust!"
"What's the big deal?" Gajeel drawled as he immediately turned his face-to-face Natsu. "It's not like I wanna be your buddy."
"I thought Aria was the cold one!" Natsu barked.
"The only reason that I'm here is to get work." Gajeel snapped. "I hate this stupid guild and everyone in it, but times are tough, so I had no choice but to join!"
"Shut up, loser!" Natsu growled.
"Sorry, but Gajeel was having a hard time finding work and I couldn't just turn my back on him." Juvia stammers. "But I don't want you to think I have a crush on him or anything!"
"I know you kids don't like it, but as the master of this guild, it's my duty to help those who've gone astray find the right path. Give him a shot." Makarov states. "You might find he's a nice guy. At least I hope so."
"I'll give him a knuckle sandwich." I grumble irritably.
"Miss Aria, he's got those cool earrings you got at home!" Ballad comments as she plops onto Gajeel's head. I freeze in my spot, waiting for him to react. His face tinges pink as the small cat presses on one of them. "Did it hurt putting them in?" She asks so innocently that I was tearing up at her big eyes staring at him. "I didn't really notice them when you were tryin' to kill us!"
"Not... Not really..." Gajeel murmurs as she floats off of his head and into my arms.
"Can I get an earring just like yours, Miss?" Ballad asks curiously.
I snort. "You cry when you have a single hair plucked, I don't think you can handle an ear piercing. I'll make you a bracelet, how about that?" I laugh as I carry her away. I cast a glare over my shoulder to Gajeel. Whether I was warning him not to hurt her or anyone else, I wasn't sure.
Just as I take a seat, the lights go out and the stage curtains draw back, revealing Mira on a stool with a fancy lookin' guitar. "Hey! We made it back, Mira!" Natsu chants.
"It's good to see you~" Mira chirps. "I'd like to dedicate this song to Fairy Tail's strongest team, and congratulation them on their safe return."
She's not just pretty, I decide. She's a damn fine singer, and a very loving person. I smile affectionately towards the stage and lean back against my seat. Ballad just peers at her with her wide eyes, shimmering happily at her voice.
The lights go out after her song, and when it comes back on, it's someone I never expected to be on the stage. Black Steel Gajeel has this dumb funk getup on. I begin howling with laughter as I literally kick back on my seat, screaming louder as he begins to sing. Ballad cheers happily, her little paws swinging up. "He's not half bad!" I laugh, trying to stop the tears streaming down my face.
"This is the worst song I've ever heard!" Natsu roars just before his guitar shoots across the room and pegs him on the face. "YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?!"
They begin to rough house, and I suddenly realize what Natsu meant with it's not the same. The fighting.
"Which one of you threw that?!" Natsu roared as a cup pegs him on the cheek.
"Natsu! Would ya quit screwin' around already?!" Gray bellowed as he stood up quickly and knocked Erza's cake off of her plate.
"N-Now, Erza," I say soothingly.
"He made me drop my strawberry cake," Erza stammered, tears in her eyes. She squeals in horror as Elfman stomps up and squishes it even further.
"NOW LISTEN UP! IF YOU WERE REAL MEN, YOU'D TAKE THIS OUTSIDE!" Elfman shouts.
"REAL MAN THIS--" I shout as I kick him across the guild hall. Suddenly the hall is being destroyed by Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, Erza, and I.
"Now it's startin' to feel like home~" Natsu chimes to me as I tackle Gajeel.
"QUIT SMILIN'!" Gajeel bellows, his hand weaving into my hair as I tug his own wild hair downwards.
~*****~
I'm not sure what to make of him standing outside of my house, prodding Ballad's nose with a fond smile on his face. "Yo," I hum as I lean out of my window.
Gajeel's body flinches visibly before he snaps his hand away from Ballad. "Miss, look who's visiting! Should I bring out the blue fin?!"
I laugh. "No, that's your snack. Why don't you go inside for a minute." Ballad nods with a hum and swishes in through the window before I set my glare on Gajeel. "That's quite the injury you got." I comment.
"It's nothin'." He snaps.
"What do you want, Gajeel? You offering me a rematch? Cause I got a few new tricks I'd like to show you." I mention.
"I'm going on a job and I need one other person. Fortunately for you, I can tolerate the cat." Gajeel ignores my threat. "You want in or not?"
I hum delicately, stroking my chin thoughtfully. "Why not? Ballad! Wanna go on a job?"
She squeals and flies back into the room. "Are we bringing Natsu and the others?!"
I glance back at Gajeel's grimace. "I don't think so. It'll be a quick job, maybe a few hours at most. Right?"
He nods before shoving his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, hurry it up, will ya?" I beam and follow after him.
~*****~
Gajeel's a great job partner, now that I'd been on several jobs with him. "See you later," I yawn as I trail into my house. "No, Ballad, he's not stayin' over. He has his own place."
"Awe, but you let Natsu stay all the time." Ballad hums as she lands on my shoulder.
"You have such a cute little crush on the ol' metal head," I mention as I shut the door.
She shrugs. "He doesn't smell like a bad guy." Ballad yawns and leans on my head. I lift her off of my head, padding to my room as the exhaustion sweeps through me. I grimace as I gaze at the pink haired mage sleeping on my bed, his face buried into my nearly finished overcoat I'd been stitching together with scraps of fabric from my treasure hoard.
"Yo," I hum as I prod at his head. "Don't you have a home?"
"Smells nice," Natsu murmured back.
I sigh loudly and sit on the bedside. "Why'd you guys come by anyway?"
Ballad murmurs in her sleep as I lay her besides Natsu, the two curling into each other. "We wanted to tell you about the Magnolia Harvest Festival," Happy comments sleepily as he holds up the flyer.
I peer at it and tilt my head. "Wow, that's a lot of jewel. Why'd you show me this?"
Happy beams. "Cause I told Lucy, and she seemed pretty excited."
"No doubt for the jewel," I laugh. "Do you want me to enter the show, so she panics?"
Happy nods excitedly. "Yeah! She looks funny when she gets slimy!"
I laugh and scratch his head. "Sure thing, buddy. Just make sure you cheer extra loud, okay?"
"Aye!" Happy laughed.
I heaved a sigh and palmed at Natsu's head. His usual temperature was always a little high, but it seems as if he's still under the ether-nano's effects. "Still feeling bad, huh?" I comment lightly as I lean down and press my forehead against him. "You can sleep here; I'll take the couch."
Just as I got to get up, Natsu grasps my arm and pulls me back. I hum delicately as he curls into me, sighing out as his body visibly loosens. "Smells good." He comments soft before dozing off again.
"He loooves you~" Happy coos in my ear.
I roll my eyes and tug the cat into the embrace. "Shut it, before I kick you out."
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