Early in the morning, in front of the Fairy Tail guild hall.
BAM!
With an unceremonious bang, the guild's heavy doors were kicked open from the outside.
The door panels slammed against the wall, letting out a pained groan as dust rained down from the frame.
"I'm—back!!!"
The signature booming voice, like a clap of thunder, instantly drowned out all the noise inside the guild.
Natsu, with his messy mop of cherry-pink hair and a face still showing the lingering fatigue and a few bruises from last night's fierce battle, stood at the entrance.
He flashed a wide, gap-toothed grin at the members in the hall, who were sitting or standing, momentarily stunned by his boisterous entrance.
"Oh! It's Natsu!"
"Huh? Ace is back too?"
"And who's the blonde young lady behind him...?"
After a brief silence, the guild erupted into a frenzy. Wakaba, Macao, Team Levy, and others all crowded around.
However, Natsu's gaze instantly locked onto a figure near the bar.
Natsu let out a roar and shot forward like a cannonball.
Before the other person could react, a flying kick slammed right into his face.
Bang!
"Whoa! What are you doing?!"
Caught off guard, the man was knocked off his high stool, and the mug in his hand went flying.
"What am I doing?! That intel you gave me about some 'fire dragon' was fake!" Natsu landed and roared, pointing at the man's nose, his spit nearly spraying the other's face.
The man was stunned for a moment, then grew furious!
"How was I supposed to know it was fake! I just heard it from someone else! You bastard!"
"Take it outside if you want to fight!" Elfman's voice boomed with authority, but it was too late.
"Who's afraid of who!—"
They both struck at almost the same time, their fists colliding.
But because they were too close and their movements too wide, their fists bizarrely missed each other and simultaneously smashed into Elfman's face.
"Pfft!" Elfman, a victim of collateral damage, suffered a massive nosebleed.
His burly body spun through the air, knocking over two tables before landing in a heap, seeing stars.
"..." The entire guild fell silent for a second, then erupted into even louder laughter.
"Elfman-nii-chan!" Lisanna quickly ran over to check on him.
"Pfft..." Lucy, who had just walked into the guild and was still feeling a mix of nervousness and wonder, couldn't help but chuckle at the chaotic yet comical scene.
She quickly covered her mouth, feeling it was a bit impolite.
Her curious gaze swept across the guild hall, finally landing on a handsome, scholarly-looking blonde man with glasses by the bar.
However, the next second, she saw Loke expertly take a mug from a buxom female mage, his fingertips seeming to "unintentionally" brush against the back of her hand.
He flashed a smile, earning a coquettish laugh from her.
"..."
The smile on Lucy's face froze.
She silently drew a large cross next to Loke's name in her mental ranking book, adding the note: Flirt, womanizer, OUT!
Meanwhile, the "brawl" in the guild had reached a fever pitch as Gray joining in out of nowhere.
Natsu lunged forward, and Gray dodged, not realizing that Natsu's target wasn't him at all.
Instead, Natsu grabbed his waistband.
Riiip!
"..."
The entire guild fell into a dead silence once more.
Everyone's eyes widened, staring at Gray, who stood frozen in place wearing only a pair of white boxer shorts.
Gray looked down at himself, then looked up at his guildmates, whose shoulders were shaking as they tried to suppress their laughter.
Finally, he cast a desperate gaze toward the most harmless-looking person present, and the only "outsider" who might have a spare pair of pants—Lucy.
"Uh, um..." Gray said, maintaining his pose of covering his crotch, his voice on the verge of tears as he spoke to the dumbfounded Lucy.
"Can I... borrow a pair of pants?"
"Huh?! Why would I have men's pants! You pervert!" Lucy's face instantly turned beet red.
She backed away repeatedly, hiding behind Ace, who had just walked in.
Ace shook his head helplessly, long accustomed to the daily antics of this lively bunch.
His gaze swept over the bustling hall, finally settling on the gentle and serene silver-haired figure behind the bar, who was covering her mouth and chuckling softly.
He walked over and sat on a high stool at the bar, looking at Lisanna, who was wiping a mug, a gentle smile on his face.
"I haven't seen you in a while, Lisanna. You've gotten more and more beautiful," Ace said softly, his tone sincere.
Lisanna's movements paused slightly, and two rosy clouds quickly bloomed on her fair cheeks, like ripe apples.
She lowered her head shyly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"No, I haven't... Don't, don't tease me..."
But the slight upturn of her lips and the joyful sparkle in her eyes betrayed her delight.
She quickly composed herself and looked up.
Her gaze went past Ace to Lucy, who was peeking out from behind him and looking around curiously.
A sly glint flashed in her eyes. S
he leaned closer to Ace, lowered her voice, and teased with a mischievous smile, "Ace-nii, you brought back such a cute girl this time? Is she... a new friend?"
Her eyes darted between Lucy and Ace, the implication obvious.
Ace chuckled and lightly flicked Lisanna's smooth forehead. "What are you thinking? She's just a newcomer I met on the road who wants to join the guild."
"Oh~ Just met on the road~" Lisanna drew out her tone, relieved that she didn't have another rival.
Ace's gaze then shifted to the side.
Mirajane was walking out from the back kitchen with a tray of food with a gentle and serene smile on her face, a stark contrast to the sharp-edged "She-Devil" Mirajane from back then.
Sensing his gaze, she gave him a slight nod.
A complex, unreadable emotion flickered in her eyes—concern, gratitude, and perhaps something else—but it was quickly masked by her gentle smile.
Ace understood.
Some changes had already occurred, and perhaps some seeds had already been sown.
Mirajane saw the familiar and intimate interaction between Lisanna and Ace, but the fleeting, unusual look in her eyes went unnoticed.
In fact, Erza was the same way, but she naturally knew how much of a "lethal weapon" the now-gentle, radiant Mirajane was to men.
Little did she know, Mirajane probably harbored similar thoughts, feeling that she could no longer fight and that a strong, beautiful female mage like Erza was perhaps a better match for an outstanding male mages.
Just then, a short figure leaped onto the largest central table.
With his hands on his hips, despite his small stature, the immense aura he instantly projected silenced the boisterous guild.
It was Master Makarov!
Lucy stared at the Master's short stature, which was a complete contrast to his imposing aura, and his comical outfit, her mind racing with complaints.
'This-this is Fairy Tail's Guild Master?! The contrast is too huge!!'
"Ahem!" Master Makarov cleared his throat, his small eyes sweeping across the hall with what he considered to be authority.
He paused for a moment on the bruised and swollen Natsu, the underwear-clad Gray, and the unconscious Elfman as several veins popping on his forehead.
Ace rubbed his nose, walked up to the Master, and bowed. "Master, I'm back."
"Hmph!" Master Makarov snorted through his nose, his small eyes looking Ace up and down with apparent displeasure, but a hint of imperceptible relief was hidden in their depths.
"So you know how to come back? You run off for over a month, treating the guild like your personal hotel? You think being an S-Class Mage gives you the right to be so carefree?"
Ace's expression stiffened, and he inwardly lamented, 'Why is he like this... Aren't I supposed to be Fairy Tail's poster boy, your pride and joy?'
But on second thought, he suddenly understood.
The Master was treating him like his own child.
He complained about him always running off, but deep down, he actually hoped he would stay in the guild more, enjoy a peaceful life, and even... get married and have children soon.
'But that won't do...'
His eyes darted around.
He leaned close to the Master and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Master, don't just lecture me."
"You've practically watched me grow up, so I know you want to hold a great-grandchild. So, you see, shouldn't you be persuading your own grandson?"
Master Makarov froze.
Ace continued his "persuasion."
"Laxus isn't young anymore. He's strong and handsome. If he could just tone down his attitude, he'd definitely be popular with the girls! Why don't... you push him a little? I can help you talk to him, help him see the light sooner, and fulfill your dream of becoming a great-grandfather. How about it?"
Master Makarov was speechless.
He stared at Ace, his expression a colorful mix of astonishment, speechlessness, and exasperation, which finally melted into a heavy, helpless sigh.
He kicked Ace with his short leg. "Get lost! You brat, have you no respect for your elders!"
Despite his words, the Master's expression had clearly softened, and a complex longing and hope for his grandson Laxus even flickered in his eyes.
'This kid, though cheeky, sometimes the things he said...'
Ahem, he was getting ahead of himself.
On the other side, Lisanna pressed the stamp down.
Lucy looked down at the brand-new, smiling Fairy Tail emblem on her arm, and her eyes instantly welled up.
At this moment, her dream had become a reality.
"WOOOOOH!!!"
A deafening cheer once again echoed through the guild. Streamers flew, mugs clinked, Lisanna smilingly handed Lucy a glass of juice, and Mirajane welcomed her with a gentle smile.
Even the bruised Natsu and Gray crowded over, clamoring for a party to celebrate their new guild mates.
Lucy held the juice, feeling the overwhelming warmth and enthusiasm from everyone around her, her heart filled with immense happiness.
She subconsciously searched the crowd and soon saw the dark figure standing quietly to the side, watching everything with a smile.
She mustered her courage, walked up to Ace and Natsu, and held up her arm, showing them the new emblem.
A brilliant, cloudless smile bloomed on her face.
"Ace, Natsu! Look! I did it! I'm really a member of Fairy Tail now!"
Her voice trembled slightly with excitement, but the light in her eyes shone brighter than the stars.
Ace looked at the ecstatic girl before him, raised his cup, and gently clinked it against hers.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail, Lucy."
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