Without more to tell, here's another update...I dedicate this to Hailey_Michaelis...thanks for what you said to me the other day.....I really appreciate it......you are such a cutie-pie...please enjoy this chapter!!!

♥LucyAshleyHeartfilia♥

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“Job! Let’s go on a job!”, Natsu cheerfully ran towards the request board with Happy flying beside him. “Hmm, what job should we do?”, Natsu tipped his chin, trying to think.

“Natsu sure is energetic as usual”, Mirajane smiled from the counter.

“You can say that again”, Lucy slumped to her hands.

“Oh my, what happened to you?”, Mirajane asked.

“Well, yesterday he kept nagging me because of what the guild told him. I’m the one who suffered all night. He went to my apartment, uninvited again, took my bed as hostage and kept ranting about missions and him being tied up from the last one”, she groaned just by remembering it.

“Looks like Natsu’s also very sensitive of you”, Mirajane just smiled from the two of them.

“Ah Natsu there you are!”, Master Makarov greeted as he entered the guild’s premises.

“Master, you’re finally back from the meeting?”, Mirajane greeted.

“Yes. It didn’t last for long”, Master Makarov said, heading towards the counter to sit. Natsu was following him. “You guys listen up! I have a few announcements to make!”, as if on cue, the members gathered near him.

“What is it Gramps?”, Gray asked. His clothes were already off.

“Gray-sama, your clothes….”, Juvia reminded, fidgeting all the time.

“When did it happen?”, Gray looked at his discarded clothing and his bare chest.

“You lot has to stop messing around. Anyway, Gray Fullbuster, Laxus Dreyar, also, Natsu Dragneel, the following names are not allowed to go to any jobs for today until tomorrow night understand?”, Master Makarov said. The guild members looked surprise at his announcement.

“What! Why Gramps? We’re about to set off for a mission!”, Natsu complained.

“Correction. I stopped you before you picked any mission. As for the other two, if you’re about to go on yours, give it to someone else”, Master Makarov ordered.

“Why are those three called out?”, Laki asked.

“It’s unusual to see those three being called by the Master”, Bisca said.

“Why does Gray-sama has to stay behind for two days?”, Juvia cried dramatically. She can’t understand why she won’t be able to go with Gray on her mission. After all the trouble she took just to make him agree in accompanying her.

“I wonder what’s going on”, Mirajane mumbled.

“You three”, Master Makarov looked at the three who looks like a war is starting to go between them.

“You better have some good reason Grandpa”, Laxus said, his arms crossed on his chest.

“Yeah Gramps. Don’t tell us you’re going to team us up for a mission!”, Natsu barked.

“As if! If we go together, Gramps is going to be beheaded for sure”, Gray said.

“Enough. You three are going to the City Hall this afternoon. You will meet some other males from Blue Pegasus and Sabertooth”, Master Makarov explained.

“Why? With them? What’s going on Grandpa?”, Laxus asked in interest.

The other guild members were listening as well. Tension is starting to build up within them.

“There’s a noble who arrived in Magnolia recently. A beautiful lady or a wealthy girl to be precise. She’s the heir to all their family’s wealth”, Master Makarov spared a meaningful glance at Lucy who was currently inflexible from hearing what he’s saying. Laxus, Gray, Erza and Mirajane didn’t miss what he did and somehow they can sense something was up.

“So what if there is?”, Gray said.

“She is looking for a suitable wizard to be her husband. You three are chosen as candidates”, Master Makarov threw the bomb. The guild gasped and murmurs were heard.

“WHAT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN CANDIDATES!”, finally, the three subjects snapped. Even Laxus was surprised.

“It can’t be helped. The Council and the Mayor requested it. If you three wouldn’t come, I’ll be in trouble. Spare this old man this trouble will you?”, Master Makrov looked at them with his puppy dog eyes. The three couldn’t resist such a sight let alone orders from their Master.

“Alright”, the three subdued to their defeat. Makarov was delighted to hear it.

“Don’t worry, it’s not like you’ll be chosen, there are others who will be in there. Just show yourselves”, he said.

“Anyway, who’s that woman you’re talking about?”, Laxus asked, his energy drained.

“Hmm”, Master Makarov glanced at Lucy again before looking at the request paper on his hands. “Elizabeth Marjolette Callimar”, he said.

“Callimar? I think I heard that…before”, Mirajane looked at Lucy. “I wonder how Lucy is related to her. She looks frightened by the sound of her name”, Mirajane worriedly looked at her.

“Now that you know, take your time to get ready. I’ll meet you back here at the guild and I’ll take you three in there”, Master Makarov dismissed.

“What’s wrong Lu-chan?”, Levy asked her with concern.

“Lucy?”, Erza made her way to her. Lucy snapped from her trance and looked nervously at her. “What’s wrong?”

“Eh? No…nothing”, she denied.

“You’re sweating, are you sure you’re alright?”, she asked again, looking closer to confiscate her.

“Y..yes don’t worry”, Lucy gave her a fake smile.

“You know Lucy, if there’s anything you want to tell us, we’ll listen. Don’t hide away, we’re all family here remember?”, Mirajane held her shaking hands.

“I know! Lu-chan! Go to Fairy Hills tonight! You too Mira! Let’s have a slumber party!”, Levy said, clapping her hands together.

“That’s a good idea! Let’s ask Juvia and the other girls. I’ll bring some cheesecake too”, Erza looks excited.

“I’ll ask Lisanna and bring some drinks along”, Mirajane cheered.

Lucy recovered from what she was feeling before and smiled at them. “Everyone, thank you!”, Lucy hugged the three girls.

“Alright let’s see each other tonight!”, Levy said.

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“Nee Lucy..”, Happy came flying towards Lucy with a very glum face.

“Happy? What happened?”, Lucy took him in her arms.

“Natsu’s away. I don’t have anyone to be with. Charle is on a mission. Lily was sparring with Gajeel”, Happy sadly said.

“Is that so?”, Lucy patted his head.

“Lucy, Natsu won’t go back until tomorrow. Master said that they will need to stay within the City Hall until tomorrow. I’ll be all alone”, Happy explained.

“I know, why don’t you stay with me?”, Lucy said. For a moment, Happy looks delighted by this but he returned his sad face.

“I can’t. Wouldn’t you have a slumber party with the other girls?”, Happy said.

“Oh that, how did you know?”, Lucy asked.

“Natsu heard you talking earlier. He told me”, Happy said.

“Oh, don’t worry; we’ll just have a talk. I’ll tell them you’ll be coming with me. How about that?”, Lucy smiled at him.

“Really?”, he asked with a sudden hope.

“Sure!”, Lucy smiled. “Wendy will go back tonight so I’m sure Charle will be there too”, she said. Happy hugged her with tears in his eyes.

“Thank you Lucy!”, he said.

Later on….

“Sure, why not? It’s just Happy right?”, Mirajane and Erza approved of Happy’s accompaniment.

“Thanks guys!”, Lucy said. Happy was smiling beside her.

“So….now that Wendy and everyone is here, let’s go?”, Levy said.

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All the men listed were lined on the City Hall. Elizabeth has descended down the stairs to speculate them. After having her time, she made her announcement.

“Thank you everyone, for coming all the way here. You must all know the reason of your presence. I’m sorry for troubling you with this…”, she said. Natsu and the others were looking indifferently at her.

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“What happened to you earlier Lucy?”, Lisanna asked her with concern.

“Yeah, you were frozen stiff when you heard the Master’s announcement”, Laki said.

“Don’t tell us you’re against of Natsu’s marriage interview”, Bisca teased.

“Marriage interview huh? That’s one way to put it”, Evergreen drank from her cup.

“Juvia is against of Gray-sama’s marriage interview! Juvia will never forgive that woman who tries to take Gray-sama away from Juvia”, Juvia was crying at her handkerchief.

“Umm Juvia-chan, make sure not to flood the floor”, Levy sweat dropped as she offers her some tissue.

“Tch, don’t we have any booze in here?”, Cana asked with disinterest.

“Cana you know we shouldn’t drink in here. We’re just here to comfort Lucy”, Kinana reminded.

“It’s not that”, Lucy sadly said. Wendy was already asleep on the bed with Asuka and Charle.

“Then what is it?”, Erza asked, taking a bite off the cake.

“When you heard the name of that wealthy woman who wants a wizard for a husband, you became like that”, Mirajane said.

“You mean it was due to that? What was her name again? Eri…Eli something”, Lisanna tried to remember.

“Elizabeth Marjolette Callimar”, Lucy said.

“Right!”, the other girls said.

“She was….my friend”, Lucy started.

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“I’ve made my decision…”, Elizabeth started, looking at all the men under her.

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“She has the same status as I had back in the days. I only met her a few times but we’re close”, Lucy said.

“That woman?”, Mirajane asked.

“Yes…”, Lucy said. “Something happened that time until I ran away from home when I turned 12”, Lucy looked sad. Happy was lying on her lap. “It must be that time, when she started to really hate me. She loathes me completely. I don’t know why but she said I will be her rival then, she said…”, Lucy closed her eyes tightly from the memory.

“I cut ties with you completely from now on! You are not my friend! You are my rival! I hate you! I will take everything that makes you happy! Everything you cherish! I will definitely take everything from you!”

“She said that she will take…everything from me”, Lucy confessed. The girls gasped from what they heard.

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“I choose you. Natsu Dragneel of Fairy Tail!”, she said with a smirk like she won something. “I look forward to the time we’ll say our vows and share our life together”

All the men gasped at her sudden proclamation and looked to the person in question. Natsu was surprised at this. Gray, Laxus, Sting and even the Master too, but Natsu’s expression was criticizing and sceptical.

“I’ll win this time. Lucy-chan”, she thought.