~*****~

I flinch awake when I feel someone sit upright in my bed. I turn over and grimace. "When the hell did you sneak in and why are you sleeping next to me?" I ask irritably.

Natsu doesn't say anything, he just sighs. "It was just a dream..." He murmurs.

I groan as I sit up, my hair drifting over my forehead. I push at it irritably before glancing at Natsu. "Was it a bad dream? Do you wanna talk about it?"

He grunted and flopped back down. "Man, your bed is comfy. Way better than the couch you make me sleep on."

I grimace. "I know. That's why I bought it. So, we're skimming over the nightmare business then?"

"You want some breakfast?" Natsu asked eagerly. "You got a bunch of food in your kitchen!"

I sighed loudly. "I guess so... Just don't eat everything in sight, okay? I'll run out of jewel if I keep buyin' groceries."

"Sure thing, so long as you don't mind me crashin' in your bed every now and then!" Natsu chirped. I laughed and shook my head.

"I don't. You're plenty warm to cuddle up to." I coo before walking off.

"Quit making my belly do weird things!" Natsu shouts after me. I wave him off.

~*****~

As soon as we get back to the guild, however, everyone goes bonkers at the fact that Gildarts is coming back. The entire town splits just for him and it's strange to think of. A very attractive man steps through the doors. He looks irritated at the decor of the guild hall. "Come on, ya old geezer, let's throw down!" Natsu cheered as he barged down the stairs.

"Welcome home~" Mira chirped.

"He's the most powerful guy in the guild?" Lucy wonders.

"Damn, he's hot." I comment. Lucy flinched to the side as I gazed after him.

"Sorry to bother you, miss. But I'm looking for a guild that used to be around these parts called Fairy Tail." Gildarts explained.

"This is it! Remember me?" Mira giggled. "Mirajane!"

Gildarts looked utterly confused. "Mira? Wow! You sure have grown up a lot, little girl! And did you change some stuff around the hall, too?"

"He didn't notice that from the outside?" Lucy asked.

"Dumb, but still hot." I comment.

"Gildarts!" Natsu cried again.

"Natsu! Hey pal!" Gildarts greeted fondly. "There's someone I recognize."

Natsu just giggled before leaping after him. "Good to see ya! Now let's party!" Natsu cheered.

Gildarts simply maneuvered him to slam into the ceiling. "Not now, kid." Gildarts chuckled.

"Oh yeah! He's still so awesome!" Natsu cheered.

"Same ol' tough guy we've always known." Gray chuckles.

"Genuine old fashioned man's man!" Elfman hummed.

"I'll say," I coo.

"I see a couple of new faces around here, too." Gildarts beamed. "A lot happened while I was gone."

"Gildarts!" Makarov greeted.

Gildarts turned that ridiculously beautiful head to gaze at the small wizard. "Oh, master! You're looking well."

"How'd the job go?" Makarov asked.

Gildarts began to laugh before it died off. "No good. Way too much for me."

Apparently, that was enough to cause the entire guild into shocked silence. "I can't believe he'd just give up like this." Gray commented.

"I guess it takes a big man to admit defeat." Elfman hums.

I hum delicately and tilt my head. Must've been a pretty cool job-- "I know what you're thinking over there, and you should stop." Erza snaps. "There's no way."

"Way to kill the mood," I grimace.

"I see..." Makarov finishes. "The job was too tough."

"Forgive me for bringing shame to the guild." Gildarts hummed.

Makarov shakes his head. "No, you've only brought yourself back in one piece. That's no small feat in itself! As far as I know, you're the only one who's made the journey home alive."

"Thanks boss," Gildarts beamed. "Now I gotta get back home and start to actually feel alive. Rest my weary bones. Oh, Natsu. Stop by later. I brough something back for ya!" I hum curiously as I gazed at Natsu still sitting on the floor. "Well, I'm outta here, you guys." He literally runs into the wall, breaking it seamlessly without a care in the world.

"I was afraid of that," Mira giggled.

"You can use the front door, ya know?" Warren exclaimed.

"Wonder what the old man's got for me!" Natsu cheered. "I'm fired up just thinkin' about it!" He shouts as he punches through a wall.

"One wall breakers around here is enough!" Max shouted.

"Oh my goodness~" Mira giggled.

"C'mon, Happy! We're outta here, too!" Natsu cheered.

"Are this Gildarts guy and Natsu, like, especially close or something?" Lucy asked.

"Aye! Gildarts is on a completely level than Natsu, but they've still been pretty good friends for as long as they've known each other!" Happy explained.

"Oh yeah? But isn't he gone out on quests most of the time?" Lucy asks.

"Aye! But he was around about the time I was born, so I've known him my whole life." Happy explains. Happy goes into detail about his first time meeting Gildarts. I thought it was extremely cute that he and Lisanna were like two cute parents for Happy as a little kitten.

~*****~

"This Gildarts guy seems like a super strong wizard," I mention to Ballad as we lay in bed later that night.

She hums in response. "It's strange. I could sense his strong magic power. But he was injured. Couldn't you smell it?"

I nod. "Yeah. Mild infection that his body can handle so long as he doesn't strain himself." I say softly. I sigh again. "He smelt like dragon scales, too."

Ballad's head snapped up. "Do they smell strange?"

I nod. "Everest's smelt earthy, but they also smelt like nature. You know, pine and other trees." I mention. "It smelt earthy, too, but it smelt all wrong. Like blood."

Ballad laid back down and leaned against my arm. "You must miss Everest."

I smile and nod. "Yeah. She's the whole reason I'm alive, you know. I wouldn't have survived if she hadn't found me that day." I explain. "Do you remember anything about before you found me?"

Ballad shook her head. "Not really..." She murmured. "I hope I do remember one day..."

I giggle and rub her head. "It's time we get to sleep." I mention softly.

~*****~

The next day is strangely overcast. I hum delicately as I stare into the rainy sky, my palm tilted up as I gaze up in wonder. "Something feels strange," Ballad hums as we enter the guild hall. "It's weird."

"Maybe you're just hungry," I shrug as I approach the others. I begin snickering as I stare at Natsu's face. "What did you do Gray?" I giggle. "I thought someone with your talent would go with something more creative than cat whiskers."

"All right then, if it's fine art you want..." Gray giggles as he colors in Natsu's eyes.

"How could he possibly sleep through that?!" Lucy exclaimed.

I flinch upright as Natsu immediately wakes up. "WHO'S READY TO BRAWL?! I'LL TAKE EVERYBODY ON!" He exclaims as he prepares himself.

I snicker. "You look too cute right now to be the slightest bit threatened." I comment impishly.

"I'm not cute!" Natsu roared at me, stomping around with a flush on his face.

"You know what I see? A couple of lap dogs begging for a bone!" Elfman roars at Jet and Droy. "And you call yourselves men!?"

"C'mon, Elfman, she's cute. You can't blame them." I call out.

"YES I CAN!" Elfman roars.

I giggle again before reaching up and rubbing at Natsu's cheeks. I pull my thumbs away as he flushes dark red, as if I was going to pull his face down. Well, that crossed my mind, but there's marker everywhere. "Sorry, buddy, but you've been doodled on."

He flinches and starts scrubbing at his face to gaze at his hands. "OKAY! WHO'S THE MORON DUMB ENOUGH TO DRAW ON MY FACE!" Natsu barked.

"Any minute now, his tiny brain will remember the one man daring enough to do it." Lucy comments.

Natsu sucks in a horrified breath. "HOPE YOU'RE HUNGRY, SNOWFLAKE!" Natsu roared at Gray.

"LISTEN, PANDA BOY, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE GRAFFITI, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE HARASSED MY EARDRUMS WITH YOUR OBNOXIOUS BEAR SNORE!" Gray retorted angrily.

"YOU'RE GONNA WISH I'D STAYED ASLEEP!" Natsu bellowed.

They begin to fight, as usual. I laugh and perch on the table. "What a view! He's so gallant! Like a knight of old fighting for his one true love!" Juvia sighed.

"Rainy days are best spent cuddling with your boyfriend," Cana comments.

"Cana, be sure to leave enough of your boyfriend for the other customers, okay?" Mira mentioned.

"Damn, that stings," I giggle.

"Hold on. You're actually going out into that Typhoon?" Cana adds. "What for?"

"Oh, paying a visit to the church." Mira explains. I hum delicately as I watch her leave. "C'mon Elfman! We should get going!"

"Yeah, I know, just let me finish with these sissies!" Elfman retorted. "They screwed up their most recent job and need to be taught a lesson! These morons got themselves knocked out cold in the middle of a fight, and Levy had to finish the job by herself!"

"You did?" I laugh. "Damn, you guys suck!"

"Stop! I can't take it anymore!" Droy complained.

"Don't rub it in," Jet whined.

"Well, I, for one, think Jet and Droy have gotten stronger recently," Mira smiles.

"Gee, thanks, Mira!" Jet and Droy coo.

"In their own way," She delivers a backhand blow.

"Harsh! Mira, you're killin' it today!" I guffaw.

~*****~

Gray and Natsu continue to fight until Natsu is already sleeping. I snort and pat his head affectionately. "Man, you sure are sleepy today," I comment. Natsu grumbles in his sleep before slumping against my leg. I laugh again and sit down so he can rest easier.

"Goodness, you two sure are close~" Levy coos.

I laugh. "It's hard to be when he's such a kind person." I hum.

"And it doesn't help that you also seem to think he's a cutie!" Lucy laughs.

I shrug. "There's no shame in appreciating someone. Like Bisca and Alzack--" I point out. They both flinch, their faces red. "I'm waiting on the day when they both start--"

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Bisca shouted, her face bright red. I giggle and tap my fingers together impishly.

"To be frank, it'd be super-hot!" I tease before I lower my hands to palm at Natsu's hair again. "I'm just playing. I don't mean to make you upset--" Just as I say that, a bright light flashes over head, and I'm buried in a strange material. I grunt loudly as I try digging my way up until I feel someone grasp my arm and pull me upright. "What the hell is going on?! Natsu!" I bark at him as he shrugs.

"Aria, you're here, too!" Wendy sniffles.

"Why're there bubbles?!" I ask as I whirl around in my spot. "Where's the guild hall?!"

"A-Aria, Natsu-- Do you guys have any idea what happened?" Wendy asked shakily.

"Nope. Not a clue," I sigh as I pinch the bridge of my nose.

"This is all that's left." Wendy murmured.

"Huh?!" Natsu gasped.

"A giant hole opened in the sky. The guild hall, the town, and everyone else got sucked into it!" Wendy sniffled. "I haven't seen anyone! I'm afraid we're the only ones who made it out alive!"

"Uh, Wendy, don't panic but I think you may have a couple of loose marbles in here." Natsu commented.

I swat at his arm. "Natsu," I warn as I grasp at Wendy's shoulder. "Okay, take a deep breath." I instruct softly. "Relax. Try to think. Why would we be the only ones left? There has to be someone else."

"D'you think we're the only one's left behind because we're dragon slayers?" Wendy asked.

"That's exactly why," I hear Carla say. I gaze at her curiously.

"Carla! You're safe! I thought I'd lost you!" Wendy cried.

"In fact, we're lucky you're a dragon slayer or you'd have suffered the same fate as the others." Carla explains. "Not that I care. All that matters to me is that you're alive."

"Carla." Wendy scolds.

"All right, I can't take your attitude anymore!" Natsu barked. "You're saying the others disappearing isn't important?! Wait, that crazy story you told us was true!?"

"Natsu, Wendy hasn't made up stories at all, there's no reason not to believe her," I mention irritably.

Natsu panicked. "Hello? Can anyone hear me?!"

"Don't waste your breath. There's no one left to hear you. They've been taken by the Anima, and therefore, no longer exist." Carla explains.

"Hold on, Anima?" I question. "That's not something I've heard of, and I hear everything."

"You wouldn't." I hear a familiar voice call out. I gaze behind us and see Ballad weakly hovering towards us. "Anima is a gateway to Edolas." She explains. "A world on the other side."

"Ballad--" I try questioning, but she's falling into my arms, shivering from something that scared her. "Hey, I'm glad you're all right, but you gotta stop pushing yourself."

"Would ya quit talkin' nonsense already! I don't understand a word!" Natsu cried at the small shivering cat. "Tell me where they went!"

"Calm down!" I snap at him. "Is this what you remember? You know of this Anima? Why weren't you and Carla taken by the storm?"

Ballad grimaces, pressing her face into my chest as if she wanted to hide. "What happened, Natsu?!" Happy cries as he swoops down. "Everything went poof! I'm freaking out!"

"Happy!" Natsu exclaimed.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Wendy sighs.

"The reason I appear so informed about Edolas is because I am from there," Carla explains. "As are the ones you call Happy and Ballad." I hum in confusion.

"Wait, you can't be serious," Wendy says.

"It's true..." Ballad whimpers, her eyes welling with tears. "I'm so sorry... We're to blame for this disaster."