~*****~

I stared up at the large guild hall before me with a slight nervous feeling ebbing in my belly. The words Fairy Tail were over the front. I tried to take a step, only to panic mid step, and immediately whirled around. Natsu quickly wrapped his arm around my waist. "Too late to back out now! Come on!" He exclaimed as I squirmed around.

"Welcome to Fairy Tail!" Happy exclaimed as he flew above Natsu and I.

I finally stopped struggling and let Natsu kick open the door after setting me down. "We made it back alive!" Natsu cheered.

"We're home!" Happy added equally as excited.

"Welcome back!" A few members cheered in response. I kept a close tail on Natsu, my gaze warily shooting at every angle I could. Natsu looked over his shoulder and grinned at my nervous expression. He grasped my hand and pulled me along.

"So, I heard you went all out in Hargeon, Natsu. Had to go startin' trou-" The man with bucked teeth was cut off as Natsu released his grasp on my hand and kicked the man in the face.

I backed up in surprise as I held up my hands. 'Okay... These people are... insane.'

"You lied about Salamander! I'm gonna kick your butt!" Natsu shouted.

"Don't get mad at me! I'm not the one to blame here! I'm just passing along a rumor I heard!" The man replied, standing from the wrecked side of the table, completely unharmed by Natsu's kick.

I backed up even more, trying to escape while I had the chance. Lucy stopped me immediately as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "It was just a rumor?!" Natsu bellowed.

"You wanna fight?!"

"LET'S GO!"

Lucy sighed in adoration. "I'm actually standing inside the Fairy Tail guild hall~" She cooed.

"That's your first impression?" I mutter in annoyance.

I whined in shock as tables started flying everywhere. "So, Natsu finally made it back?!" A raven boy exclaimed as he stood up quickly. Only... He had on no clothes... I shrieked in shock as I covered my eyes. "It's time we settled things once and for all!"

"Why is he naked?!" I whined in embarrassment.

"Gray, your clothes~" A woman said from behind me. I turned my eyes to her. A brunette with a bathing suit top on, and brown pants that had a belt lazily tied around her waist, sat on a large barrel.

"I don't have time for that!" Gray shouted and jumped straight into the fighting.

"You see, I don't date the men here because they have no class." The woman said as she pulled up another huge barrel of wine towards her mouth and started chugging.

"No class, you say?" I drone ironically.

"Come here and fight me, Natsu!" Gray bellowed as he kicked something out of his way.

"Not till you put some clothes on!" Natsu shouted back.

"It's only noon and you boys are already whining like spoiled babies!" A huge man shouted with his arms crossed over his chest. He had white hair, and a jagged scar under his right eye. He stopped right at the duo. "I'm a real man, you want me to prove it to ya?!" He shouted.

"Butt out!" Both Gray and Natsu bellowed and swung their fists. I ducked immediately. The man went flying.

"What is the hell is going on..." I murmur softly.

"Jeez, it's so noisy around here, huh?" I hear a cool voice echo from behind me. A man with orange hair, and a weird feeling magical aura sat with two women on his lap, until a cup flew out and conked him on the forehead. "I'm gonna fight to protect you, two." The man in question mentions.

"Good luck, Loke~" The two coo.

"Are they for real?" I inquire to Lucy.

"Yeah, he's definitely off my list." She scribbles something off on her journal. "What the heck is wrong with these people?"

"It took you this long to notice? If we're quick, maybe we can still escape." I quickly suggest. "I mean, there's not one sane person in the whole place."

"Hello," I hear a sweet voice coo from behind us. One that I wouldn't mind hearing babble all day long. "Are you two new here?" I turned to face a pretty white-haired girl. Her bangs were pulled up into a ponytail on the top of her head. She had dark blue eyes and wore a beautiful dark pink dress.

"It's Mirajane!" Lucy shouted. "In the flesh!"

"Whoa, you were right- She is pretty." I mention. "My names Aria. Shouldn't someone try to stop this?" I ask curiously.

"Oh, it's always like this around here, I just leave them alone." She smiled and turned back to face us. "Besides-" She was cut off when someone slammed into her, sending her flying. "It's kinda fun, don't ya think?" She squeaked under the brut of a man from earlier.

"Ahh! Don't die, Mirajane!" Lucy exclaimed. I moved to the side as Gray slammed into Lucy. I turned to see Natsu swinging around a pair of black box-

"NATSU!" I exclaimed in embarrassment. "WHO DID YOU STEAL THOSE FROM?!" I bellow.

"Give me back my underwear, jerk!" Gray shouted from behind me. He leapt in front of me, and oh my god, I saw everything. I frothed at the mouth as I started to wonder why I decided to join a stupid guild. "Excuse me miss, could I please borrow your underwear?" Gray asked politely.

I clench my fist tightly, and a literal brick of ice encases it as I slam it against his face. "GET BACK, YA PERVERT!" I shriek. Another man comes around and wraps his arm around my shoulders. He tugs Lucy to his other side.

"These guys are all so insensitive." Loke mentions. "A woman has needs-"

He's cut off by Elfman punching him away. "Real men speak with these fists, Loke!"

Natsu kicks him away. "I told you to butt out!"

"Where's the exit..." I moan desperately as everyone gets ready to launch off magical attacks.

"Would you fools stop bickering like children?!" A booming voice shook the halls, making me turn my gaze upwards.

"He's huge!" Lucy cried.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were still here, Master." Mirajane said as she pulled herself from the rubble. The man gave her a kind smile.

Natsu's laughter bellowed from the crowd. "Man, talk about a bunch of babies!" He laughed again. "Looks like I won this round y-" He was cut off with a grunt of pain as a huge foot slams onto his back.

"Ouch..." I mutter.

"Well, seems like we have two new recruits!" The man turned his attention to the two of us.

"Yes sir!" Lucy exclaimed as she caught my arm to stop me from running away. I watched with a pained expression as he shrunk and shrunk until he was only the size of a toddler. This was Makarov Dreyar?

He was known as one of the ten wizard saints. Yet... he only came up to my knee... He had black eyes and was growing bald with only the outer rims of his head contained white hair. He also had a thick white mustache. He was dressed in a casual manner, with an attire of a white shirt with a black Fairy Tail stamp in the middle of it under an orange hoodie. Completed with matching orange shorts and an orange and blue striped jester hat.

He smiled up at us and held up his hand in a wave. "Nice to meetcha!"

"He's tiny! This little guy is really in charge here?" Lucy asked in shock.

"Of course he is!" Mirajane exclaims happily. "Allow me to introduce the Fairy Tail Guild Master, Makarov!"

"That's it. I'm done. Where's the exit again?" I hum hopelessly. Lucy tightened her grasp around my shoulders and refused to let me leave.

Makarov leapt up and onto the railing of the second floor, all the while slamming the back of his head onto it first. "You've gone and done it again, ya bunch of clods! Just look at how much paperwork the magic council sent me this time! This is the biggest pile of complaints yet! Have you lost your minds?!" He held up a stack of papers, his face changing into a scowl. Makarov started shaking in anger. "All you kids are good for is getting the higher ups mad at me!" He was seriously irked, and I was kinda glad I wasn't a part of this yet. "However," The shaking stopped, and the papers in his hands caught fire. "I say to heck with the magic council!" He threw the fire over the railing, and Natsu leaps up to catch it in his mouth. "Now listen up!" Makarov started again. "Any power that surpasses reason still comes from reason, right? Magic isn't some kind of miraculous power; it is a talent that only works with the flow of energy inside of us and the flow of the energy in the natural world are in perfect sync! To perform magic, one must have a strong mind, and the ability to focus. It should take over your being and come pouring out of your soul! If all we do is worry about following the rules, then our magic will never progress! Don't let those blow-hards on the council scare you! Follow the path you believe in! Cause that's that makes the Fairy Tail guild number one!" He shouted as he thrust his finger into the air.

The guild cheered around us, and at that moment, I knew I made the right choice. Even if they were a bunch of wackos, they were a bunch of charismatic wackos with their hearts in the right place.

~*****~

I watched as Lucy got her guild stamp, a pink one on her hand. Mira turned to me with a kind smile. I nervously rubbed at my shoulder again before gesturing to the burn mark. Not a lot of people would burn their marks, simply due to it being such low level magic, but those who did often considered that guild their breaking point. Mira smiled sadly and pressed the stamp against the burn. When she pulled it away, it came out a dark fuchsia color. "Thank you," I hum happily.

"You're both now official members of the Fairy Tail guild!" Mira said happily. I stared down at the mark nervously and gave her a shaky smile.

"Hey, Natsu, look! Mira just put the official Fairy Tail mark on my hand!" Lucy exclaimed, showing off her pink mark.

"Oh, yeah. That's cool, welcome to the guild, Loony." He replied in an emotionless tone. I let out a snort as she grunted in anger.

"The names Lucy!" She shouted.

"Whatcha lookin' at Natsu?" I ask curiously.

"Pickin' a job— hey, did you get your guild mark, too?" Natsu asked, turning his attention away from the board. I turned my body and flashed my shoulder with a grin. He grinned happily. "By the way, what magic do you use?!"

"I'm an Ice Dragon Slayer." I mention casually.

"Haah?!" Natsu bellowed in shock. "Since when?!"

"Since Everest took me in?" I giggled. "So are you picking a job or what?" I ask as I loop my arm around his shoulders as he continued to panic.

"Pick one with a big reward!" Happy exclaimed as he landed atop my head.

"We should team up! We'd be unstoppable!" Natsu plucked a paper from the board and smirked at me.

"Sure, sure- You're one strong mage, I'd love to work with you." I agree happily.

"Then it's decided!" Happy exclaimed.

"When's my dad coming home?" I hear a small boy behind me. I turn my head and gaze at the small boy in curiosity. He was so cute- he had jet black hair, and big dark eyes.

"You're starting to work my nerves, Romeo." Master replied as he set his mug of beer down. "You're a wizard's son, have faith in your father and wait patiently for him."

"But sir, he told me he'd be back in three days! And he's been gone for over a week now!" The small boy shouted.

"If I remember correctly, he took that job on Mt. Hakobe." Makarov trailed.

"That's right, and it's not that far from here! So why won't somebody go look for him?!" The small boy shouted so emotionally. I wanted to comfort him.

"Listen kid, your old man's a wizard, and like every other wizard in this guild, he can take care of himself!" Master snapped. "Now go home, have some milk and cookies, and wait!"

"Jerk!" Romeo shouted, tears forming in his eyes. He punched master square in the nose and ran out of the open doors.

A loud bang broke me from staring at the direction the boy ran away to. "Natsu! What do you think you're doing?! You almost broke the board!" The man besides us mentions.

"N-Natsu!" I yelped in surprise as I'm lifted over his shoulder. "Oof~ I can walk ya know!" I whine as I feel a flush crawl up my neck.

"We're goin' on a special quest," Natsu stated. His voice easily portrayed his feelings, and I found myself extremely moved. He was aggravated, and it was obvious he wanted to help Macao and Romeo out. "We're gonna save Macao and bring him home for Romeo."

"O-Of course we will," I grunted as he continued to carry me. I smoothed my hands over his back and leaned my back up a little to try and gaze around at his face. "Why are you so worked up over this?"

His face pointed towards the ground. "Doesn't matter," He hummed. "Let's go."

As Natsu carried me down the road, he spotted Romeo, and as he passed by, he patted the boys head tenderly, but didn't stop to say anything. I smiled affectionately at the tear-stained boy before asking Natsu to let me down once more.

~*****~

I grimaced as we got a horse drawn carriage to take up to Mt. Hakobe. I managed to ingest a special potion to ward off the motion sickness, but it didn't always keep it down. Natsu, however, was completely unaffected by it. His face rested on my lap as agonizing groans escaped his mouth. Happy sat on the ground besides Natsu's travel pack. Surprisingly, Lucy sat across from us.

"So, uh, why did you come?" I ask as I fan my face.

"I thought maybe I could help," She smiled, but her eyes kept flickering to Natsu. "Wow, you really do have a serious case of motion sickness, don't you? It's just another reason I feel sorry for you." Lucy sighed.

"Huh?" Natsu glared at her. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, but it came out way too shaky to mean any threat.

"Nothing!" Lucy said laughing. "Forget I said anything." I started brushing my fingers through Natsu's pink locks, and he immediately calmed down, and passed out. His face contorted into bliss as I continued to fiddle with his hair. "So... was Igneel an actual dragon?" Lucy asked curiously.

"Yeah," I smile. "The dragons disappeared seven years ago. Like Everest." I sighed heavily and leaned back against the seat.

"I guess that's why you guys are keen on getting Macao." Lucy sighed.

The horse cart suddenly stopped, and Natsu rolled off and hit the floor with a bang. My stomach finally settled, and I stood up.

"All right! We've stopped moving!" Natsu bellowed as he shot up and knocked me over. I hissed and rubbed at my butt. He leaned down as fire spurt from his lips and threw me over his shoulder. "Hehe~ Let's go!"

"Where the hell are we?!" Lucy shivered wildly. "It's a frozen wasteland!"

I kept squirming on Natsu's shoulders and started hating that he was physically stronger than I. "Natsu! Let me down!" I bellow. I growl angrily and slump over his back.

~*****~

"Why is it so cold! I know were on a mountain right now, but it's summer! There shouldn't be a blizzard like this anywhere!" Lucy cried as she hugged herself.

"It's cold?" I hummed curiously.

"YOU'RE AN ICE DRAGON SLAYER! IT'S IN THE NAME! NOW HAND OVER THAT BLANKET!" Lucy cried.

"She just keeps on talking, huh?" Natsu and I start giggling.

"Oh, I know!" Lucy pulled out a key from her waist. "Open: Gate of the Clock constellation! Horologium!" She shoved her key downwards as a bell rang out. A magic circle appeared below her, and in a puff of smoke, Lucy is inside the stupid clock. I push my lower lip out in annoyance.

"Boy- She sure got in super-fast, huh." I mention to Natsu. Lucy starts talking, but I can't hear her. "Wait, I can't hear you!" I mention loudly.

"She says, I'm staying in here, and I'm not coming out." Horologium explains.

"Then why'd you tag along?" I hum curiously.

"What kind of crazy job would force Macao to come to a place like this, she inquires." Horologium says.

"You should've asked that before you came with us." Natsu groans. "He went to slay a Vulcan. It's a big monster. Seriously. It's not even that cold." Natsu agreed.

"I want to go back to the guild, she proclaims." Horologium says for Lucy.

"Go ahead and be my guest, I say back." Natsu retorts. I snort and wrap my hands behind my back casually.

"Aye~" Happy chimes.

"Macao! Where are you?!" Natsu shouts over the roaring winds. Happy echoes him. I back up a few steps as a large being slams his hands down in front of me.

"That's a big vulcan!" Happy cries wildly. The monkey sniffs the air, turns his head, and stares impishly at me in front of Horologium. I start backing up quickly until I'm opening the clock and shoving myself in with Lucy. The two of us stare out at the vulcan with wide eyes.

"I didn't like the way he was looking at me," I mention numbly.

"I don't blame you," She shivers.

"Me like human woman!" The vulcan chimes happily.

"Don't just stand there, you idiot! Save us!" I shriek as the monkey starts carrying us away.

~*****~

The monkey danced around the clock wildly as we refused to exit. Well, Lucy refused to, and she somehow managed to squish herself in front of me. "Are you sure you don't want me to wipe the floor with him?"

"If you do that, he'll get to me, too!" Lucy cried.

I groaned in agony as my bust crushed against hers. I vaguely wondered if they were made of rocks. There was not enough room to sit comfortably. Then, the clock disappeared, and we were sitting on our butts.

"Where'd you go Horologium!? Don't you vanish on me!" Lucy cried out.

"Sorry, but my time is up! Take care!" The voice was distant and unmistakable. I got onto my feet and slammed my fists together harshly.

"Fist of the Ice Dragon!" I exclaim as thick, freezing ice covered my hands and formed large fists. "Stay behind me, Lucy. I won't let him touch you!" I stated. I rear my fist back and slam it against his leering face and send him flying.

"Hey! You big ape! Where's Macao?! Tell me!" I hear someone shout. Natsu hits the ground, slips, and goes sliding across the room.

"Way to make an entrance, hot head!" I exclaim angrily. "That wasn't cool." I moan in agony.

Natsu was on the ground with his feet in the air. "Spill it, Monkey! Where's my friend!" He demanded. Lucy and I ran over to Natsu and stood behind him. "You understand, right!? He's a human man! Now tell me where he is!"

"Man?" The monkey asked, turning his head.

"That's right, where are you hidin' him?!" Natsu pointed at the Monkey.

"He might not know, Natsu." I mention.

"Yeah, don't you think you're jumping to conclusions?" Lucy asked from behind me.

The Vulcan starts gesturing behind him. "Man!" He coos.

"Hey! I think he's gonna show me!" Natsu exclaims excitedly.

"Natsu-" I tried warning him, but the Vulcan had thrown him through the hole and turned back to us. "Good god, he's an idiot." I mutter.

"This isn't the time to be joking around, Aria! Natsu won't survive out there!" Lucy yelped.

"I believe in him," I mention as I slugged the vulcan in the face. "Got anything in that fancy key holder?" I snap as the vulcan wraps his hand around the large, icy fist and tries tugging.

"Oh-" Lucy pulled out a key. "Open; Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!" She shouted. A magic circle appeared below her, and a huge cow lifted his beefy arms upwards, and roared. "I should warn you, monkey! Taurus is the most powerful celestial spirit I have a contract with!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Oh wow, you've got a seriously rockin' bod' girlie~" The cow commented as I broke free of the Vulcan's grasp. I rolled my eyes and shot a glare at Lucy. "Wow, miss Lucy, I almost forgot what a nice figure you have, why don't the two of you come give me a smooch?" The cow asked.

"Oh yeah... he's a big perv, too..." Lucy palmed her face.

"Don't touch my women!" The vulcan screamed.

"Your women? Them's fightin' words, you moooonkey!" Taurus taunted.

"Get him, Taurus!" Lucy exclaimed and pointed at the Vulcan.

The cow let loose an onslaught against the Vulcan. The icy ground was reverted to rock as the money leapt out of the way from the devastating attack. "He's fast," I commented. The vulcan tried to attack, but out of nowhere, Natsu leapt in, and kicked Taurus in the back of the head.

The cow landed on his face with his butt shoved in the air. "Looks like this is the end for me," Taurus whined, though he didn't vanish.

"Hey, so how come there are more monsters now than when I left?" Natsu inquired as he gestured to the monkey.

"He wasn't a monster, you idiot," I snapped.

"He's one of my spirits, dummy!" Lucy shouted.

"That guy?" He asked as he looked over at the Vulcan.

"Not him, stupid-- the bull!" I cried.

"Hold on, how did you even survive out there?" Lucy asked.

"Seriously? He's a fire dragon slayer, a bit of ice isn't going to deter him." I mention dryly, my pinky nail digging at my incisor.

Natsu smirked and turned to look at Happy. "Happy came to save me! Thanks, little buddy!" Natsu cheered.

"Aye!" Happy cheered back.

"So you can't handle other modes of transportation, but you're fine flying with Happy?" Lucy asked.

"Lucy, he isn't a vehicle," I remarked in offence.

"Yeah, what kind of stupid question is that? Happy isn't a mode of transportation, he's my friend! I mean, duh!" Natsu ranted.

"Not to mention he's a living breathing creature!" I added.

"You're right," Lucy put her hands up in surrender. "It was totally wrong for me to compare the two."

"No, I can see where you would be confused, seeing as Happy can fly and whatnot, but comparing him to an inanimate object is really offensive. It's like calling you a life-sized doll." Natsu explained. I snorted as Natsu looped his arm around my shoulders. "Right?"

"My woman!" The Vulcan screeched after growling out angrily. Natsu shoved me out of the way and managed to block the attack with his right arm. The ice beneath them shattered.

"You listen up, I consider everyone in the Fairy Tail guild my friend," Natsu began, but stopped when the money attacked again. Natsu slid across the ice with his arms crossed to defend. "Whether its gramps and Mira, or even those annoying jerks Gray and Elfman," The money ran at him again. "Aria and Lucy, too! They're all my friends!" A warm feeling spread through my chest as I gazed at the Fire Dragon Slayer in awe. That warm feeling settled in my cheeks as I continued to gaze at him. "Which is why," Natsu continued as a dark red magic circle formed below him. Right as the money lunged, Natsu kicked him in the gut. "I'm not leaving without Macao!"

The monkey hit the ceiling but was on his feet within seconds. Icicles fell between the two and Natsu gave the Monkey a smirk.

"Your ice attack has no effect on fire!" Natsu shouted.

"Watch out," I gasp as the monkey found Taurus' axe. I looked around wildly and lifted up a large icicle and took a huge bite out of it. My teeth rang for a second, but I chewed dutifully, and cupped my hands around my mouth. A magic circle appears in front of my hands. "Ice Dragon Roar!" My lip's part, and the icy blast shoots out and hits the monkey head on. He skids to the side, and frost starts to build on his body. That gave Natsu enough time to stop the axe from hitting his face as the monkey's movements were now slower.

He held the axe between his hands, and slowly began melting it. Small droplets of melted metal fell into his mouth. He shoved the monkey away with a full mouth. "Oh yeah, now I've got some fire in my belly!" Natsu cheered. "Eat this!" Natsu's right fist was engulfed in flames. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" And with one mighty slug, the monkey hit the cave wall.

"He beat him!" Happy exclaimed happily.

"He was supposed to tell us where Macao is, remember?" Lucy mentioned as we warily approached the monkey.

"Oops..." Natsu mumbled as he scratched the back of his head.

I giggled and patted Natsu's pink locks. "Don't worry, I know where he is." I mention as I approach the monkey as a bright yellow light enveloped it.

"What the heck was that?" Natsu grumbled and opened his eyes. I was hoisting up Macao into a sitting position. "MACAO!?"

"He was taken over by a Vulcan," I quickly comment to ease Lucy's panic attack. "They survive by stealing people's bodies and taking them over."

"What do you mean taken over?!" Lucy questioned.

"It must've used a possession spell on him." I hum. "Pretty advanced magic, but Vulcan's can do some weird shit."

"They're evil body snatchers!" Happy added.

"You got that right," I nod. "Let's get him comfortable so we can perform some first aid onto him."

Macao is laid across the large red blanket Natsu had brought, his wounds slowly but surely being treated between Lucy and I. "It looks like Macao put up a good fight before that Vulcan got to him, though." Happy commented.

"Macao!" Natsu called. "Don't you die on me! Romeo's waiting for you. Open your eyes!"

"Natsu..." Macao finally groaned.

"You're okay!" Natsu sighed.

Macao sighed out. "I'm so pathetic... I defeated nineteen of those brutes. But the twentieth, that's the one that got me. I'm so angry with myself. I'm embarrassed to go home and face Romeo."

"Do all men sulk when they're defeated?" I comment dryly. "Come on, dude, you defeated nineteen. I'm in my element here, and that monkey gave me trouble-- I wouldn't have been so lucky with twenty of them! Now get up! You have a little boy waiting at home."

I reach my hand out and Macao gives me a friendly smile before grasping onto it.

~*****~

Back in Fiore, we hurried through the streets to bring Macao back to his son. "Hey, Romeo!" Natsu called, waving his arm around as we finally find the young boy with raven colored hair.

"Dad!" Romeo called and tackled the injured man. I gave a snort and began to giggle. "You came back! I'm so sorry, Dad!" Romeo began to profusely apologize.

"No, I'm sorry for making you worry." Macao responded gently.

"I can handle it! 'Cause I'm a wizard's son!" Romeo sobbed.

"Next time those bullies pick on you, here's what I want you to say," Macao hummed as Natsu turned on his heel. I gazed after him curiously before following. "Can your old man defeat nineteen monsters all by himself? Because mine can."

"NATSU! HAPPY! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!" Romeo bellowed down the street.

"No prob, kiddo!" Natsu called back without looking.

"Aye!" Happy chimed.

"LUCY! ARIA! THANKS FOR HELPING TO BRING MY DAD BACK TO ME!" Romeo shouted.

"Aw--" I sniffled. "I was holding it in so well..." I kept sniffling, tears bubbling down my face.