"Mira, bring a few more beers over here!"
"Coming, coming!" Mira replied with a smile.
Wakaba Mine took a long drag of his cigarette and let out a lecherous grin. "Mira, you should go on a date with me next time."
"Oh, but you..." Mira paused for a second. With a soft poof, she cast her Transformation Magic, turning into a plump, middle-aged woman right before his eyes. "Don't you already have a wife?" she finished.
Wakaba jumped back, nearly falling out of his chair. A look of sheer terror washed over his face. "Don't do that, Mira! I just want to drink my beer in peace every now and then."
Nearby, Macao Conbolt began to tease him. "You've certainly grown some backbone, Wakaba. Daring to hit on Mira while Chen Fan isn't around?"
Wakaba's terror intensified. He dropped to his knees before Macao, pleading, "No, please! For the sake of our years of friendship, don't tell Chen Fan! If he finds out, I don't even want to imagine how he'll mess with me."
"He's just joking," Mira said, giggling at the sight of Wakaba's miserable face. The rest of the guild joined in the laughter. It seemed Chen Fan held a truly fearsome reputation in the hearts of everyone at the guild.
"It's about time I get back to work," Natsu Dragneel said, resting his chin on a table with a bored expression.
"Aye, otherwise we'll run out of food money," Happy added, munching on a fish. The fish was still wiggling, though how he managed to eat it like that was anyone's guess.
"Yeah, losing those 2 million Jewels was such a waste. Rent is looking a bit dangerous this month," Lucy Heartfilia noted seriously. She hurried over to the Request Board, scanning the flyers for something she could handle, but after searching for a while, she still hadn't found anything suitable.
Mira walked over to her. "If you see a job you like, just let me know. The Master is away at a Regular Meeting right now."
"A Regular Meeting?" Lucy asked.
"It's a conference for local guild masters. It's different from the Magic Council. The Council exists to maintain order in the magical world and punish mages who commit crimes. Below them is the League of Guild Masters,
where the heads of the various guilds meet to pass down the Council's decisions to their subordinates." Before Mira could finish, Natsu piped up with an ominous tone. "If we aren't careful, those black-hearted guys will show up!"
Natsu's sudden interjection startled Lucy. "Stop trying to scare me!" she snapped.
Mira's expression turned solemn. "Those 'black guys' really do exist. They are the Dark Guilds."
"Alright, alright! Come on, Lucy, just pick a job for us already," Natsu urged excitedly.
"Why do I have to decide?" Lucy asked, confused.
"We decided last time. It's Lucy's turn now," Happy said.
"Exactly! We're a team, after one another's hearts," Natsu said with a grin.
"What do you mean, 'a team'? Weren't you guys just looking for a blonde maid? Besides, that mission is over. This team is disbanded! Disbanded!" Lucy shouted, though her voice wavered slightly. She secretly worried if she'd even be able to find another team if they split up.
"Of course not! We teamed up with Lucy because she's a good person."
Gray Fullbuster, who was sitting nearby, chimed in. "Whatever. You don't have to force yourself to be on a team. I'm sure plenty of people will invite you soon enough."
"Gray, your clothes," Cana Alberona said, taking a sip of her drink.
"Ah, dammit!" Gray cursed, realizing he was half-naked again.
"Annoying," Natsu muttered dismissively.
Gray pressed his forehead against Natsu's, glaring at him. "What was that, you stinky fire-breather?"
"I said you're super annoying, you perverted bastard!"
"Birdbrain!"
"Exhibitionist!" The two began screaming insults at each other.
"They really are a noisy pair," Loke said, suddenly appearing in front of Lucy while the other two were distracted. "Lucy, why don't you and I form a 'Team of Love'? Just the two of us tonight. You're so radiant that even with my sunglasses on, your beauty is blinding. If I looked at you with my bare eyes, I'd surely go blind." He spouted lines that even Chen Fan had long since retired.
"Then go blind right now," Lucy deadpanned.
Suddenly, Loke's eyes fell upon the set of keys hanging from Lucy's belt. He recoiled a few steps, his face pale with fear. "You... you're a Celestial Spirit Mage?"
"Yep! She's got a bull and a crab and all sorts of guys," Happy added, appearing with yet another fish in his mouth.
"Ah... what a cruel trick of fate! I'm sorry, but this is where it ends for us!" Loke cried, tears streaming down his face as he bolted out of the guild hall.
"Did we even start?" Lucy asked, watching him run with a bewildered expression.
"Loke doesn't handle Celestial Spirit Mages well," Mira explained with a gentle smile. "Word is he had some kind of trouble with a girl in the past."
Thud! Natsu crashed into Lucy, pinning her to the floor. To his credit, he was far sturdier than Chen Fan; at least he didn't pass out from the impact.
"If someone brings a fight to my door, I'm not backing down!" Gray yelled at Natsu.
"I told you, clothes!" Cana shouted again.
"You're the one looking for a fight, you damn droopy-eyes!" Natsu barked.
"When did I ever start it, you damn squinty-eyes?!" Gray roared back.
The guild members laughed as they watched the two bicker. It was a normal day at Fairy Tail.
Suddenly BAM!!
The guild doors burst open. Loke, who had just run out, came sprinting back in, panting heavily. His face was grave. "It's bad... Erza is back!"
A literal shiver ran through the guild. People's legs began to tremble, and the loud laughter died instantly into a hushed silence.
"Erza? Is that the same Erza Natsu was talking about?" Lucy whispered.
"That's right," Mira said softly. "She's the strongest mage in Fairy Tail."
Just then, a rhythmic thud, thud, thud echoed through the hall.
"It's her."
"That's Erza's footsteps."
"Erza's back."
A silhouette carrying a massive, monstrous horn walked into the guild. BOOM! She slammed the giant horn onto the floor.
Erza Scarlet surveyed the room. "I'm back. Is the Master in?"
"Welcome back, Erza. The Master is away at a Regular Meeting," Mira said with a welcoming smile.
"I see," Erza replied. Her expression suddenly shifted, turning stern. "I heard rumors during my travels. They say Fairy Tail has been causing more trouble again. Even if the Master forgives you, I will not." She turned her gaze to Cana. "Cana, what kind of drinking posture is that?"
Startled, Cana immediately set the massive barrel of booze down.
"Vijeeter."
"Yes!" Vijeeter Ecor stood straight.
"If you want to dance, do it outside. Seeing you dance in here reminds me of someone I find very unpleasant. Wakaba, your ash is falling. Nab, are you still doing nothing but loitering in front of the Request Board? Get to work! Macao... sigh." Erza's long sigh made Macao squirm in discomfort.
"Please, just say something!" Macao begged.
"You're all such a handful. I won't say any more today," Erza said, rubbing her forehead.
You've already said plenty, Lucy thought, a sweatdrop forming on her brow. She leaned over to Mira and whispered, "Is she some kind of disciplinary officer? I get that she's a bit talkative, but there's no need to be that scared."
"Are Natsu and Gray here?" Erza asked.
"Aye!"
Natsu and Gray were suddenly locked in a sickeningly tight embrace. "Hey there, Erza! We're getting along perfectly today, just like always!"
"Aye!" Natsu chirped, mimicking Happy perfectly.
"Natsu's turned into Happy," Lucy muttered.
"I see," Erza said, looking somewhat relieved. "Even best friends argue sometimes, but I prefer seeing you two being so close."
"No, we aren't"
"Aye!" Natsu cut Gray off, terrified.
"I've never seen Natsu act like this," Lucy said, wondering if his brain had finally short-circuited.
"Natsu has challenged Erza countless times, only to be beaten to a pulp every single time," Mira explained.
Macao added, "Erza once caught Gray stripping in the street and gave him a 'lecture' he'll never forget."
"And Loke tried to hit on her once. He nearly died," Cana whispered.
Erza began scanning the hall, searching for someone. Noticing her look, Mira said, "If you're looking for Chen Fan, he went with the Master to the Regular Meeting."
"Oh? Is that so? That's wonderful," Erza said, looking genuinely pleased.
However, Mira, who was watching Erza's eyes closely, caught a fleeting glimpse of disappointment hidden deep within. Mira sighed internally, her own smile fading slightly.
"Natsu, Gray, I have a favor to ask," Erza said, her mood shifting back to business. "I heard something at my last job site. I wanted to ask the Master's opinion, but I've judged that this must be settled immediately. I need your help. Will you come with me?"
The guild erupted in shock. "What? Erza is actually asking for help? That's a first!"
Erza ignored the chatter. "We leave tomorrow. Get ready."
Mira rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Erza, Natsu, and Gray... I've never imagined them as a set before. This might just be Fairy Tail's Strongest Team."
Meanwhile, Chen Fan who had been absent for quite some time was currently sitting on a sofa in a brightly lit villa, looking dazed. As he watched people walking by with glasses raised in celebration, he screamed internally: Where the hell am I?!
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