Chapter 21

**On with the story**

**On the road to Magnolia**

Natsu and the gang were on their way back via Natsu's magic vehicles as they speed along the way home.

Erza holds onto Natsu's waist while leaning herself to his warmth.

They then saw Magnolia up ahead as they increase the speed on the magic bike and went ahead to their home.

**In front of Fairy Tail**

The gang was now staring at the newly re-build Fairy Tail Guild, and they are quite amazed on the new building

"it is very surprising." Erza said as she looks to the guild.

"So, this is our new guild?" Gray said in amazement as they all went in.

"Why is there a good shop here?" Lucy said with a sweat drop as she saw a shop that was selling Fairy Tail merchandise.

"Welcome!" The man in the stall who goes by the name of Max Allors greeted Lucy and the others before realizing that it was just them.

"Max!" Gray greeted the guy as he did a handshake with the man.

"You now run this store?"

"Master got me to learn a few things on selling stuffs so here I am" Max said while chuckling to him.

"What are you selling here?" Erza asked him.

"Mugs, t-shirts, cushions and the best one of all" Max replied to her before kneeling down to take something out.

"This!" Max said as he takes out a figurine of Lucy.

"Please don't sell figurines of me without my permission!" Lucy said in sadness as everyone eyed the item.

"And also, it can Cast off!" Max said as he pressed the back of the Lucy figurine and the clothes came off as the figurine was now in her underwear.

"Noooooo!" Lucy screamed.

Natsu eyed the figurine before spotting several more.

"Looks like you've been busy." Natsu said as he saw many figurines of everyone in a crate.

"Yeah, and your figurine is selling like crazy." Max said as he pulled up a figurine of Natsu in his armor.

"It's got many features and this is the last one in stock." Max said.

They all chatted with each other before deciding to go to the guild to meet with everyone.

In the back, Erza quietly stayed behind as she pulled out a sack full of jewels.

"I'll take the last one." Erza said as she looks to the figurine of Natsu in his armor.

"Thank you for your purchase!" Max said to Erza as she looks to the sides before putting the figurine into her pocket dimension then joined the others.

**In the guild**

Everyone welcomed them back as Levy told them of the new things that was in the new guild

"And we have a new message station." Levy said as she reached to a stall that said "Milo's Delivery" with a picture of Milo in a post man outfit while Lisanna was carrying a pile of letters into the stall with some cats following her

"Oh yeah." Lucy said as she started to look around for a certain feline in name.

"Where's Milo?" Lucy asked as they all realized the same thing.

"Could it be?" Gray said as an imagination bubble appeared of a gravestone with Milo's name on it.

"Don't kill my partner off." Natsu said with a twitch of his eyebrow.

Then

"Nyaaa!"

Milo came running in with a note attached to his collar and a pink ribbon on his tail.

"Milo!" Natsu knelled down and carried his little partner as he started petting him.

"look there's a note." Erza said as she points to the note.

Natsu looks to the note and took it while taking a quick look to the ribbon on Milo's tail.

He gulped as he knew the smell coming off the ribbon.

"I'm very hesitant on reading this." Natsu said in fear as he slowly opened the note.

He took a peek and reads it

"to Natsu-han

Keep a good care to Milo-han and don't forget to visit me often with him

Love Ikaruga

P.S.

If you forget, Oneechan will Castrate you~~"

Natsu reads the letter as he could feel a dark aura was emitting from the note itself.

"man she is still scary" Natsu muttered out in fear as his face paled.

Gray and Lucy laughed at Natsu while Erza and Milo smiled to the man.

"Oh you're back!" Makarov's voice called out as the gang looks to him.

"Master!" Erza said as she smiled to the old man.

"Huh? Oh, you're.." Gray said as he saw Juvia beside Makarov.

"Ah, it seems you already met." Makarov said as he came out with Juvia. "Everyone, this is Juvia. She's the newest addition to Fairy Tail, so please get along with her."

"Ah, thank you so much for letting Juvia join...Ah, Gray-sama!~" She came over and fawned over Gray. "Do you like Juvia's outfit?" She nervously asked.

"Sure, it looks nice." Gray said simply with a smile.

"Ah, Gray-sama praised me~!" Juvia felt like she was going to faint.

"Ah, its great to see yo-"

***"LOVE RIVAL!"*** Juvia turned demonic at Lucy.

"No, i'm not!" Lucy turned pale from Juvia's glare.

"Ah yes, must not forget the other one." Makarov pointed out.

"Another?" Erza asked.

"Yes, over there. He's your new guild mate." Makarov said as everyone in the guild looked at Gajeel who was just sitting in the corner by himself.

"EEEEEEHHH!?" They all screamed.

"Gajeel!" Erza seemed to act hostile toward him as she re-quipped her sword.

"Hold on Erza, he's one of us now." Makarov said to her.

"But he attacked the guild gramps!" Gray argued as he glared at Gajeel.

Jet and Droy made a dark look at him from afar.

"P-please! Juvia is the one that recommended him! He was all alone and I thought he would like to join!" Juvia panicked as she tried to stick up for her friend.

"You're telling me we have to go out on jobs with this guy!?" Gray shouted.

"Well, you know what they say, "Yesterdays enemies, are today's friends"..I like to think." Makarov said as he sheepishly strokes his moustache.

"Well, if you say so master, however I think we should keep an eye on him for a little while." Erza said as narrowed her eyes around him.

"So, you joined?" Natsu said as he was already sitting at his table much to everyone's surprise

"Huh? Oh, it's you." Gajeel recognized Natsu's face from that time.

"turned over a new leaf, did ya?" Natsu said with a smirk as Gajeel scoffed at him

"Natsu, or Salamander. you can call me whichever you want." Natsu said as he reached his hand for a handshake with Gajeel.

"Teh, I'll call you Salamander then. And don't worry, I ain't going on any jobs with ANYONE." He said coldly while shaking Natsu's hand with a dark grin.

"That's fine. Well, see ya Gajeel." Natsu nodded and simply left.

"He hit it off with him pretty well." Laki noted as her and Cana watched.

"Oi, doesn't it bother you that the guy that destroyed Fairy Tail is now one of us?" Gray asked him.

"Which did he destroy? The guild? Or Fairy Tail?" Natsu asked.

"Huh?..Uh.." Gray said as he wasn't sure how to answer.

"He could have killed Levi, Jet, and Droy if he wanted to, but he didn't. He could have gone anywhere, but he chose here. Juvia's here to, and I don't see you acting all hostile around her." Natsu explained as he sat back at his table.

"She..helped us!" Gray tried to find a reason.

"You gave her a chance. So give him one. Either way clam up, it's not like he'd be stupid to.." Natsu then looked back at Gajeel. "...Yeah, he's not stupid enough to attack you after joining." Natsu scoffed in annoyance.

"That's enough everyone, go back to whatever you were doing." Makarov ordered. They made a slight scowl as they sat back down. Gajeel eyed Natsu a little and simply scoffed.

"Like I need you to stick up for me." Gajeel knew they weren't gonna accept him right off the bat. So it would probably be best to just start small.

"Hmm.." Natsu was once again thinking when all of the sudden the lights went out. "Huh?" He was curious, then all of the sudden the stage lit. Lisanna and Mira were standing there with musical instruments in their possession.

"Alright everyone, me and my sister are going to sing a new song for our new members and everyone's return." Lisanna announced.

"Whooo! I've been waiting for this!"

"You two are like angels~!" Most of the men shouted out.

"Alright, lets get started everyone!" Mira said in a friendly manner.

the two began singing a song with Lisanna singing harmony. They sounded really good. They really calmed everyone down. After a few minutes, they were done and everyone was cheering.

"Thank you everyone!" Lisanna called out as the curtains closed.

"Oh that was beautiful~!"

"Oh, someone else is preforming!" They all eagerly awaited whoever it was. They then turned to stone from the shock. It was Gajeel in a suit and holding a guitar.

"I wrote this song, hope you enjoy it. Its called Best Friend." He announced.

"I hope you choke!"

"Why are you dolled up!?" They all protested. As soon as he started, everyone was already falling over from the insanity. Gray and Erza and the rest were just sitting there with their mouths wide open.

"Go for it, Gajeel-kun!" Juvia shouted to her friend.

"God, I never heard a song this crappy before!" Gray said as he kept his hands on his ears. All of a sudden, the guitar hit him square in the face, and Gajeel seemed to say something in his harmonica with a tick mark. "You wanna go Bucket Head!?" Gray shouted to him, as he and Gajeel jumped and trounced each other.

"SHOOBY DOO BOP!" Gajeel responded with a kick.

"O-oi! Don't do that here! Somebody stop them!" Macao shouted in distress.

"Stop it!" Makarov shouted worriedly.

"OwwwhhoooaaaAAA!" Elfman suddenly roared and got up, unintentionally knocking Erza's cake out of her plate.

"M-my..Strawberry cake...AH!" She was on the verge of tears when Elfman stomped the poor cake flat as he bellowed. "Hey! Its not very manly of you two to make a damn racket!"

"SILENCE!" Erza kicked Elfman to other end of the guild in fury. Once again, the guild was enveloped in chaos much to Makarov's sorrow. They just finished it, and now they were already back to destroying the guild.

"What hell were you doing!?"

"I was Shooby do bopping, you jerk!"

"Wahhhh~!" Makarov cried.

Natsu looks to the mess as he sighed.

"never gonna have peace, are we?" Natsu said as he snapped his finger loud as everything stopped.

And in an instant.

Everyone was seated to their seats, and all of the damage they made disappeared.

Erza, Gray, Lucy and Milo who was on Gray's head got confused as a second ago there was a brawl happening but the second later, they were all seated there.

"What the?" Gray said as he looks confused.

"What just happened?" Lucy asked.

Erza looks around and then to the table where a delectable looking new Strawberry cheese cake was on the table as a note on the side that had some writing that said.

"Enjoy, My princess."

Erza looks to the note for a second before hearing some commotion from the stage as everyone turned to the stage as Natsu appeared with his armors beside him.

"Natsu?" They all called out in confusion.

Natsu smiled to them for a moment before snapping his fingers as the armors were moving on their own as they picked up instruments.

"This song is dedicated for Erza, my beautiful princess." Natsu said with a wink to Erza who blushed as everyone looks to her with a smirk, grin and smiles.

The sound of piano came playing as Natsu moved his head to the melody.

**"Kyou mo mata hitori koko ni tatazumi tada sora wo miageru."**

Natsu sang the song in perfect tune to the music as his body moved while singing.

**Tsumetai kaze ni kokoro furuete boku wa ugoke nakute**

He looks to Erza as he reached a hand to her while making a soft expression on his face.

**Mabuta ni nokotta itsuka no egao wa**

**Katasumi ni saku ichirin no hana**

**Karenai you ni namida de uruoshite ita**

Natsu made his way down to the stage as he slowly walks to Erza.

**Kimi no koe ga kikoe nakute kikoe nakute kurikaesu omoi**

**Nee? Kienai de maboroshi de ii kara nee? Boku ni ite**

**Boku wo dakishimete ano hi no mama**

He then reached to Erza as he pulled her chin up with his finger and gives her a kiss before looking to her.

Everyone snickered to Erza who was blushing so hard that it was nearly the color of her hair.

Natsu smiled as he gives her a kiss to her forehead then to her lips again.

Everyone then started clapping for Natsu's singing as they had never heard such beautiful singing and for the couple.

**A few hours later**

Natsu walked around town in a happy mood as he smiled while walking around the town.

"maybe I should make a whole strawberry cheesecake for Erza." Natsu thought with a smile as he thinks of buying the ingredients to bake it.

He then looked over towards an open area near a large tree, and he saw Gajeel in a standoff with Jet and Droy, while Levy was hiding behind a tree.

"Hmm? What are those guys… what the!?"

He thought before he saw Droy and Jet attacking Gajeel. He then headed that way, making sure things didn't get out of hand.

**With Gajeel**

"Errgg..." Gajeel grunted as he looked up at the two wizards assaulting him.

"What's the deal?"

"Why aren't you..?" Jet and Droy asked. He wasn't fighting back much to their surprise.

"What kind of bullying is this?" Laxus asked as he came upon the Fairy Tail mages.

"Laxus!" Jet exclaimed.

"So this is the kid that destroyed my guild huh?" Laxus said as he got a closer look at Gajeel. "So the old man lets people join so they don't destroy the guild." Laxus began saying as he got closer. "This is exactly the reason people look down on us!" He suddenly shouted angrily. All of a sudden a large lightning bolt enveloped Gajeel as he yelled in pain.

"I heard all sorts of things from the bars on the way here. Fairy Tail isn't much? Those guys are through?...IT REALLY PISSES ME OFF!"

"GAAAAAAHHHH!"

"AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!" Laxus then slammed his fist in the ground and a wheel of lightning came out and hit Gajeel. It pushed him along the ground and exploded. He laid there and just faced the ground.

"Laxus, that's going too far!" Jet said as he sweated nervously.

"I knew he was a monster, but seeing it, I still can't believe it." Droy swallowed at Laxus's power.

"I'll show you what happens when you mess with Fairy Tail! You piece of shit!" Laxus was kicking him while he was down.

"Laxus, stop! You're going to-!"

"Weaklings like you should shut up!" Laxus turned around and launched a lightning bolt at Levi. Levi closed her eyes and cringed. However, she was not hurt, and found Gajeel blocking the attack that was headed her way. He then winced a little.

"You finished yet? I got work to do." He walked off while clutching his arm.

"Um, wait-!" Levy tried to call out to him.

"Leave me alone." He said as he walked away.

"Humph." Laxus scoffed, and he turned and was about to leave, but Natsu was standing in his way with a narrowed look. "What's with you? Mad cause I was putting him in his place? You got a problem with it, then go right ahead, I'll show you where you stand."

"..." Natsu just remained silent and then walked past Laxus. Natsu then walked over to a piece of burning iron that chipped off Gajeel's club. He picked it up and then looked at it for a moment. He then looked over at Jet and Droy with a slight glare as they sweated a little nervously.

He then walked over to Levi and grabbed her hand and put the piece of iron in her hand. It was surprisingly not hot. "Like I said, give him a chance." He smiled a little as he patted her on the shoulder. He then walked away from them.

"What's the matter Natsu? You scared of harming your own guild mates, or you just can't bring yourself to-"

"Scared?" Natsu suddenly said. "Why would I be scared of hurting someone .." He then looked back with a deep shadowed look. **"..who only knows how to run his mouth?"**

"You little shit." Laxus once again looked angered. He then turned away and scowled as he stomped off. Natsu stayed to make sure he didn't try anything. And then he left as Levy followed him. Jet and Droy frowned, thinking they might have been in the wrong.

**In the town**

"Um.." Levy spoke up. "I'm sorry you had to get involved with that." She apologized to Natsu.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for. I saw what happened." Natsu said as he stopped and turned to her.

"He..didn't fight back...so we would acknowledge him."

"And he protected you." Natsu said as she nodded.

"I knew he was a good person." Levy smiled.

"Sigh, I wish everyone else thought the same as you." Natsu frowned as he recalled the hostility that occurred at the guild. "Well, I'm sure things will work out eventually."

"You think so?" Levy asked him.

"Well, if you can do it, so can the others." Natsu smiled.

"Mm. You're right Natsu. Thank you." She said and happily headed back to the guild.

Natsu smiled to her before spotting a store selling baking ingredients.

"Might as well." Natsu said with a smile as he went into the store.

**Night**

**Forest**

Natsu was walking in the forest at night while carrying a bag full on ingredients he needed to make the cake for Erza.

He then reached to a two level house which was his home, he made himself.

Natsu reached to the door and opened it as he came in with the sight of Milo sleeping in a cat basket.

"I'm home." Natsu said in a quiet whisper as he petted Milo's head for a moment before walking to his kitchen to make the cake for Erza.

After an hour, the cake was done and Natsu smiled to his successful creation.

"Now to let it cool." Natsu said as he placed the cake into his refrigerator.

He looks to the clock and saw that it was nine o'clock at night.

"Well." Natsu stretched while yawning.

"Time for some shut eye." Natsu said while stripping off his vest and change into a white shirt and headed to bed.

**In another part of the town**

Laxus was standing in the forest while watching the town as he was accompanied by three figures.

"The time for the old man's era is over!" Laxus said as he had sparks of electricity running through his whole body.