The fake dragon lay limp on the ground, completely unconscious, with white foam still at the corners of its mouth.
Natsu shook his wrist, the flames wrapped around his arm gradually extinguished, leaving a few wisps of smoke in the air.
He turned to look at the golden-haired girl holding a golden whip, revealing his signature fanged smile: "Thanks!"
Lucy flicked her wrist, and the golden long whip automatically shortened, retracting to her waist like a nimble snake.
She tucked her loose golden hair behind her ear, a bright smile blooming on her face: "You're welcome! My name is Lucy Heartfilia, a Celestial Spirit Mage."
The sunlight shone on her hair, reflecting a warm golden glow.
"Aye! I'm Happy!" The little blue cat flapped its wings and flew in front of Lucy, its big round eyes curiously scrutinizing her, "Your whip is amazing!"
"Natsu Dragneel, a Fire Dragon Slayer Mage!" Natsu pointed his thumb at himself, then tilted his head in thought, looking very much like a confused puppy, "Heartfilia... why does that name sound so familiar?"
He scratched his messy pink hair, a few strands still steaming from the recent battle.
Happy suddenly clapped his paws together, spinning in a circle in the air: "Aye! I remember! Ezreal and Levy mentioned before that they knew a girl from the Heartfilia family who was supposedly joining the guild this year!"
"Ah! Right!" Natsu suddenly realized, slamming his fist into his palm with a crisp sound, "You're that super-rich young lady?"
He drew out his words, his eyes sparkling as if he had seen a moving vault.
Lucy's mouth twitched, and she put her hands on her hips: "...You don't have to be so blunt."
She sighed helplessly, the action causing the Celestial Spirit keys on her chest to jingle with a crisp metallic sound.
Just as she was about to explain that she was indeed here to join Fairy Tail, a hurried footsteps suddenly came from the cobblestone path in the distance, mixed with the clatter of metal armor.
"Yo, isn't that Natsu?"
The familiar voice made Natsu and Happy turn their heads simultaneously.
Ezreal walked slowly, hands in his pockets, the sunlight dancing on his golden short hair.
Behind him followed Ikaruga, Cana, Yukino, and Marcus, each with a hint of helplessness in their expressions.
Ikaruga's katana glinted coldly in the sun, Cana's fairy card flipped deftly between her fingers, Yukino was as quiet as a painting, and Marcus was trying to mold a small rabbit out of gold sand.
"Ezreal!" Natsu's eyes lit up, and he ran over in a few quick strides, "What are you doing here?"
The lingering heat from his flames slightly distorted the surrounding air.
"We were originally here to deal with these human traffickers," Ezreal shrugged, the silver chains on his black leather jacket swaying gently with his movement.
He glanced at the unconscious fake dragon on the ground, a playful smile on his lips, "Didn't expect you to get to them first."
His gaze turned to Lucy, and the expression on his face instantly softened: "Lucy, long time no see."
The sunlight cast delicate shadows on his eyelashes, making his amber eyes appear exceptionally warm.
"Ezreal!" Lucy waved in surprise, taking a few quick steps forward, "What a coincidence, I was planning to travel to Magnolia by myself, and I didn't expect to run into you guys as soon as I arrived in Hargeon!"
Her boots made a crisp sound on the flagstone path.
Cana curiously leaned closer, her long black hair fluttering in the wind: "And who is this?"
She had a glass of sparkling water in her hand, the bubbles sliding down the side of the glass.
"Lucy Heartfilia," Ezreal introduced, with obvious pride in his voice, "The newcomer I mentioned to you all, who's joining the guild this year."
"Wow!" Marcus's eyes lit up, and the gold sand rabbit in his hand "splashed" apart, "That super-rich—"
Ikaruga expressionlessly elbowed him in the stomach, so fast that it almost left an afterimage.
Marcus immediately bent over like a shrimp, the rest of his words turning into painful groans: "Ow—!"
Yukino quietly stepped forward, bowing slightly, her long purple hair cascading like a waterfall: "Hello, I'm Yukino Agria, a Celestial Spirit Mage."
"You're also a Celestial Spirit Mage?" Lucy excitedly grasped her hand, her eyes shining as if she had discovered a treasure, "That's great! I've always wanted to meet more fellow Mages!"
She excitedly took out a golden key from her waist, "Look, this is Aquarius, the Zodiac of the Water Bearer. Do you also have Zodiac keys?"
The two girls quickly started chatting, from their collection of Celestial Spirit keys to summoning techniques, the conversation flowing like a breached dam.
Lucy gesticulated animatedly, while Yukino nodded and added details from time to time, the scene as harmonious as old friends reuniting after many years.
Cana smiled and put her arm around Lucy's shoulder, the sweet scent of sparkling water mixed with her perfume wafting over: "Don't just talk about Celestial Spirits, welcome to Fairy Tail! I'm Cana, I like soda and fortune-telling~"
She winked, "Want a soda?"
"I'm Marcus! A gold sand Mage!" Marcus finally caught his breath, proudly displaying the re-formed gold sand in his palm, "Look, I can mold any shape! It took me a lot of effort to learn from Laki!"
The gold sand constantly changed in his hand, finally settling into the profile of Lucy's face, the details so exquisite that even individual strands of hair were visible.
Ikaruga stood to the side, holding her katana, and merely nodded faintly: "Ikaruga, a Swordsman."
Her voice, like her person, was clean and concise, without unnecessary embellishment.
Lucy was surrounded by their enthusiasm, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she smiled.
The Heartfilia family crest on her chest sparkled in the sunlight: "Everyone is so friendly! I was worried it would be difficult to integrate into the guild..."
"Don't worry!" Natsu slapped her shoulder boisterously, almost making her stumble, "Fairy Tail welcomes newcomers the most!"
He turned to Ezreal, "Right, Ezreal?"
Footsteps from the distance grew closer, and the clatter of the Council's enforcement squad's armor was now clearly audible.
Ezreal glanced over, snapped his fingers, and white magical light points danced at his fingertips: "Time to go."
A white magic circle unfolded beneath his feet, complex patterns spreading like a living thing, rapidly expanding into a swirling portal.
The magical fluctuations rippled through the surrounding air, and a few falling leaves were swept into it, instantly disappearing.
"Let's go," he smiled, beckoning to everyone, his golden hair shimmering in the magical glow, "Let's take Lucy to meet everyone."
The sunlight gilded his silhouette, making him look like an elven prince from a fairy tale.
Natsu effortlessly hoisted the unconscious fake dragon onto his shoulder, like a sack of potatoes: "We need to bring this guy back for questioning too!"
The fake dragon's head bobbed limply, looking both pathetic and comical.
Happy flew to his head, his small paws gripping a tuft of pink hair: "Aye! Let's go home!"
Lucy looked at this group of companions, so different in personality yet somehow harmonious, and a warm feeling surged within her.
She took a deep breath, the salty air unique to the harbor mixed with the scents of her companions—Natsu's lingering flames, Ezreal's faint warmth, Cana's soda scent, Yukino's perfume, and Marcus's metallic scent of gold sand—all of it made her feel incredibly at peace.
"Mhm!" She nodded vigorously, following everyone into the portal.
Silver light reflected on her determined face, her long golden hair flying in the magical currents.
After a flash of silver light, the harbor park returned to peace, leaving only a few swirling leaves falling, and the Council's enforcement squad, who had rushed to the scene, staring at each other in confusion.
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