It was late morning when the girls had mounted the hill for the "country guild hall" as they called it. Master had told everyone to be there by noon because he had an announcement. Though Kia had a fairly solid guess what the announcement was about, she hadn't told anyone, not even the girls. Which led to Verani trying her best (and most pitiful looks) to try to get more from her grandfather, but he had just bolted. He knew there was no way he could keep up his stern facade much longer against his only granddaughter.
Kia sighed, shaking her head as they approached the archway that read the guild's name.
At the sound, Amber peeked up from the book she was reading on runes, "What is it, Kia?"
"Who's causing the disturbance?" V smirked.
Their friend shook her head, "Wait a few more steps and I'm sure you'll hear him."
True to her word, it had only taken six more steps up the hill before the all-too-familiar voice reached their ears. They all waited for him to pause to learn who he was complaining to now. To their surprise, it was Happy's voice that responded, not Gray's or Gajeel's.
"Well, don't you see that I'm doing all this yard work over here? Not laying around?"
"It's your turn. Why should I care?"
"Because your partner is working his tail off, while you're dreaming about stuffing your face! That is so not cool!"
The three finally crested the hill, easily spotting the pair causing the commotion. Happy was standing on the tree stump that was used for chopping wood, Natsu closeby with a broom in hand. So far it looked like their only audience was Lucy, Wendy, and Carla.
"We're partners on missions and stuff," Happy crossed his arms, "But stupid yard work is a completely different thing."
Natsu pointed at the Exceed, "What in the heck is the matter with you, Happy?! How could you be so cold?"
Kia sighed while the blonde beside her started chuckling, "Are they like this at home?"
"Unfortunately more than I care to admit."
"And it might be getting worse."
The two followed Amber's gaze, easily catching sight of the Ice-Make wizard who was cutting across the yard for the vocal pyro.
"So what are you two idiots flapping your gums about this time?" Gray said, "The work would go a lot faster if you didn't stop to complain about it."
Natsu turned, "Who asked you, frostbite? And for the record, I'm not complaining about cleaning up." He pointed a finger at Happy, "I'm just saying that cat should help!"
But his buddy wasn't even on the stump anymore. He had moved over to start up a conversation with Carla when the opportunity presented itself.
"You can't just walk away while I'm talkin' to you!"
'Oh brother.' Kia sighed, resting her palm against her face.
It was at this point, four more figures joined the commotion: Max, Nab, Warren, and Vijeeter.
Max stood with one hand lazily on his hip, "Whaddaya know. It's been seven whole years and Natsu hasn't changed one bit. Still a brat."
"And that brat's sister can hear you!" Verani laughed at the immediate reaction she got from not only the Sand mage, but the three behind him.
Max held his hands up in front of him in surrender as he faced the girls, "Sorry, Kia."
The Phoenix Slayer just waved a hand. It wasn't like she could totally disagree with what he had said, but it wasn't like they had the time to really change or grow since they headed off for the S-Class trials. But she could say that she wasn't the biggest fan of her little brother being called a brat, flame brain or pyro, but not a brat.
Natsu turned to fully face Max, "Are you tryin' to say that you've changed I mean, obviously besides getting older and stuff."
V leaned over to her friend, "How many times did Igneel drop him on his head?"
Kia sighed, "Maybe twice, but he used to have a bad habit of headbutting things and people when he fought."
"That honestly isn't that surprising," Amber turned the page in her book, only half paying attention to the ruckus happening in front of them.
"So what you're trying to tell us is that you're basically just an immature old fart?" Gray stood next to Natsu with his arms crossed. The boys had an almost arrogant air to them that made Kia wish her magic was back already so she could give them a quick wake-up call. But it didn't look like she had to worry about that.
"If you want me to show you my new skills, you're on!"
"Ha!" Natsu happily stepped forward. "Bring it, ya dusty ol' geezer!" And then the broom was tossed aside, "Let's throw down right here!"
"Thought you'd never ask!"
"Hey, wait!" Lucy shifted closer, "You two are gonna fight right now?"
Gray seemed nearly as enthusiastic as his fiery friend, "Sounds like a plan to me. It's perfect weather for a little outdoor sparring match, don't ya think?"
"Yeah. Now I've got a fire in my belly!"
Max smirked, "Let's rock."
They both charged, Natsu engulfing his right fist in fire as he punched. Max easily shifted to the side before countering with a kick to the ribs and a nice smack in the face with his sand magic.
The pink-haired slayer was confused, "What? Are you kidding me?"
Max stood up straighter, "Do you seriously think that we just sat around and did nothing the whole time you guys were gone? We've all been working on our fighting chops."
This did nothing to dissuade the blockhead from charging back in without a plan. It was an interesting sight to see Natsu struggling in a fight that wasn't against one of the S-class wizards in the guild.
"Man," Verani gave a light whistle, "he might lose."
"Nah," Kia stretched a little, "he's too damn stubborn for that."
Amber placed her bookmark before slipping the book into the pouch on her hip, "Reminds me of someone else we know."
The pinkette shrugged, "It's hereditary. What can I say?"
"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"
"Sand Wall!"
Kia listened to the frustration in the yell that left her brother. Immediately her instincts kicked up. "We should move."
"Lightning Flame Dragon mode!"
The girls had enough time to dash around the yard toward the rest of Team Natsu that was spectating the match.
"Lightning Flame Dragon Roar!"
A giant funnel of fire and lightning magic left Natsu, blasting past Max as it cut a new path through the forest, right where the three had just been standing.
Amber blinked, "Well we have at least one upside to the guild moving out of town."
V chuckled as Kia sighed, her shoulders slumping a little. That was the understatement of the century. She would like to think that her little brother was smarter than that and wouldn't have used that kind of power where the old guild used to be, but he never really paid attention to what he was doing when he was in the heat of battle.
But Kia had to admit it was nice getting to see the ability that Natsu had been talking about constantly when they were at home. She had yet to go home to the house she shared with her fellow Mythics, but she had missed the blockhead. It was also nice to hear from him what she had missed. A little bit of her was sad that they hadn't been around to go to Edolas with them, but she would have likely just been frozen in the giant lacrima with most of the others. She also wasn't completely thrilled when he told her all about Grimoire Heart's attack on Tenrou Island. It made her feel like she should have come back for the trials, but if that had been the case, she might have had the strength to butt heads with Acnologia like she did. She had defeated him or anything, but the time had helped get Amber's barrier around the others to protect them.
Her attention went back to her brother. And as expected, he wasn't finished yet either. Natsu turned to the other three that had walked up with Max, "Which one of you is next in line?"
"I'm good, thanks though!"
"Yeah, you win!"
Kia straightened her shoulders as she started toward her brother. Her friends perked up.
"Hey, Kia. You serious?" Verani asked, stopping herself after half a step. "You're still not fully recovered from your time sickness."
The Phoenix Slayer held up a hand to signal that she had this for a moment, before she slowly started counting down with the fingers on that hand. On cue, the Fire Dragon Slayer's laughter fizzled out as he fell forward on his face. She stopped beside him.
"You actually have a decent hold on that power shift with how little time you've had it."
He turned his head to give her a weaker version of his signature grin, "Told you it was awesome. I can probably take you now, sis."
Kia snickered, "Don't get your hopes up, blockhead."
Happy padded up beside her, "You should probably practice a bit more before you pull that one out in a real fight."
There was some agreement as Carla asked, "If everybody in the guild has gotten that much more powerful, why is it that you let Twilight Ogre bully you around for so long?"
Vijeeter sighed, "It's a little bit more complicated than that."
"It was more a problem with cash flow." Warren nodded.
Nab looked over the group, "You don't expect us to settle our debts with brute force, do you?"
"But that's kinda how Master settled them, right?"
Verani crossed her arms at Lucy's half-question/half-statement. "Yeah. And he didn't invite me along to help."
Her dark-haired friend sighed at her side, "Stop pouting."
||~x~||
That had somehow turned into a spur of the moment decision that the Tenrou Team needed to find a way to get stronger and fast. The Mythics still weren't entirely sure how Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Wendy, and the Exceeds had landed on paying a visit to Porlyusica, but that was apparently where they were going. Kia just shook her head as her brother yelled at her to fill them in on what Gramps had to say. It wasn't like she was going to have much of a choice, seeing as they were leaving regardless. She thought for a moment, she could always just send Erza after them. She really didn't have the magic to drag them back here. Of course, if she drug Natsu forcefully enough, the others would just fall in line behind her and march into the guild on their own.
She decided to just leave it alone. If anything, they were the ones missing out. That was what she told herself as she and the girls moved over to one of the tables in the corner of the small hall. And it looked like they were just in time.
"The time has come, kids!" Makarov stood near the bar as he addressed everyone who had gathered. "I've done all I can in service to this guild. Allow me to introduce Fairy Tail's next master."
There were murmurs from the crowd. Amber blinked a few times in awe as Verani's jaw nearly hit the table.
"Without further ado, the fifth master of Fairy Tail...Gildarts Clive!" the old man gestured toward the man in question, but was thoroughly shocked to see that only a smiling Mirajane stood there. He wasted no time walking over, "Where the hell is Gildarts?"
"I'm not sure, but he left us a note."
It took everything Kia had not to start laughing. Between Master's shock over Gildarts absence and her two friends' reactions, it was hard to contain. Even though he hadn't told her outright who he was planning to name the next master of the guild, Kia had a decent guess that Gildarts would have been the "he" that Makarov had been referring to. She also knew that something like this would happen. The Crash mage wasn't the type to sit around. They'd probably have a better chance of getting Natsu not to wreck everything out on a job than for Gildarts to stay in Magnolia for more than the odd week, though there was a chance that could change with the whole Cana situation now. Kia was slightly surprised that Master hadn't seen something like this coming.
Master began reading over the letter, muttering a little as he tried to skim ahead. "To Makarov and all of my Fairy Tail family, I'm sorry. Being master of the guild just ain't my style." His shoulders went rigid, "What?!"
The guild laughed before he continued.
"But, since I have the rare opportunity to be in charge for a bit, there are two things I want to get done. First, I hereby reinstate Laxus as a member of Fairy Tail."
The Dreyar in question was in shock as the Thunder Legion smiled from ear to ear. Kia and Amber had to try to calm the extremely excited blonde with them because she had started sparking.
"Well, if that is the master's wish, then so be it." Makarov grumbled.
"And second... I hereby appoint Makarov Dreyar as Fairy Tail's sixth master."
"But I just retired!"
Even with the slight pause for Mira to give Cana her letter, Makarov couldn't help but become more and more peeved as he read aloud. "...And I believe with all my heart, that we'll be the number one guild in Fiore by the time I return. But getting us back on top isn't my responsibility. It's up to you guys. Makarov, that will be your final task as master. I'm counting on you to bring Fairy Tail back to its former glory."
He growled, "What does that lumbering fool mean my final task? After the stunt he pulled, I'll never let anyone else be master!" He was so aggravated at the other wizard that he shook his fists in the air, "I'll be this damn guild's master til the day I die! Somebody pour me a drink! That's an order!"
Mirajane smiled as she turned, "Of course, sir."
The guild was thrilled with the outcome of his announcement, even though nothing had really changed. Kia shook her head as she tried to wonder how many drinks it would take before the old man started to cool off. Her attention was pulled when she noticed V stretching her neck.
"What are you doing?"
"I think Laxus just ducked outside."
Amber quirked a brow, "So?"
"I was just seeing if the Thunder Legion were following him."
Kia gave her friend a push to get out of her seat, "Go tackle him. We know you want to."
The blonde flashed them a grin before taking off before anyone else could notice the siblings' absence. This exchange was noticed only by one other person as he leaned against the bar with his new drink, his mind playing over the bottom of the note that had been left only for his eyes as he watched the pink-haired girl at that table.
And master... I won't tell anyone about what's down in the basement. Or the other things you shared. You have my word.
He grumbled into his cup with a sigh, "You'd better not, bonehead."
||~x~||