As to be expected of the Fairy Tail Guildhall, the place was roaring with noise. Beer mugs being thrown around, people yelling, excessive drinking, laughter, brawling, Nab standing by the request board… really it was everything one would usually see on a typical Tuesday night at the guild. What was surprising was that it was not a typical Tuesday in the guild, as a good portion of the guild's members were away participating, judging, or observing this year's S-Class Promotion Trials, at an undisclosed location (because nobody wanted a repeat of Tenrou), and had been gone five days now. They were expected to be gone for at least another two, so it's not like the remaining members were celebrating. The members that were present must have been excessively loud to compensate for the lack of numbers.

The members all seemed to pause in their lively, chaotic behaviour for a few seconds when the doors to the hall burst open with a loud crack, announcing the arrival of guild members returning.

"Natsu! How many times have I told you to stop kicking in the doors?!"

A scowling and heavily bandaged Lucy Heartfilia stood in the doorway next to her long-time partner. Her long blonde hair was mussed, falling in a loose braid down the side of her neck and reaching her waist. She was staring a perfectly healthy-looking Natsu down, fire in her eyes, as he - completely oblivious to her frustrations - shouted "We're home!" and strutted his way through the doors, not bothering to dislodge the right one from where it stuck in the wall at the force he'd used.

Everyone shouted their greetings to the exuberant pinkette as he made his way forward, before returning to their previous activities without missing a beat. Lucy just threw her hands in the air in frustration, even if she'd rather Lucy Kick the crap out of her partner, recognizing that likely, he would never learn to control himself. She followed behind him, stopping briefly to pull the door from the damaged wall, before catching up and walking beside him, arms crossed over her chest and an annoyed but resigned expression on her face.

An overly warm arm draped over her shoulders as a heavy weight started pulling down on her left side. She felt her anger creeping up as her partner practically fell on top of her, whining in her ear, "Luuuuccyyyyyyy, feed me…."

She bore his weight for half a step before her patience finally broke. She elbowed him harshly in the side, stepped out from under his arm, and watched with a small, satisfied smirk as Natsu fell to the ground in a heap at the lack of support. She couldn't help feeling a bit victorious as he grumbled in pain from the ground.

"So… mean…."

The celestial mage turned on her heel in a huff and walked up to speak with Mira at the bar. Said wizard was watching the bickering pair with hearts in her eyes and a soft smile on her face, but she reluctantly turned her attention to Lucy completely when she heard the blonde call her name.

"Yes, Lucy? What can I get for you?"

Lucy took her normal seat at the bar. Why everyone claimed that stool was hers, she didn't really know. She had just shown up one day after a particularly intense guild party the night before, and saw everyone else backing away from the bar as she approached it. She thought it was weird, but it's Fairy Tail, so weird is kind of relative and she didn't think much more on it. Since then, though, no one ever sat there, even when she was away from the guild. When asked about it, Natsu had just mumbled something about smoothies, starlight, and Scary Lucy before running away. To this day, she'd never gotten the real story, but had just learned to accept it. And she wasn't complaining either, it was the best stool in the place, and if they wanted to designate it as all hers, who was she to argue? As she settled in, she dropped her head and arms onto the bartop dramatically, mumbling into the wooden surface, "Strawberry Milkshake. Please. And food. I'm starved…"

MiraJane giggled a little at her dramatics, but got started on the order right away, shouting over her shoulder, "Romeo, help Natsu up to the bar please? They've been out on mission for a month, I'm sure he's hungry."

Romeo, who'd been chatting with Nab at the request board, looked up at the mention of his name. His whole face lit up at request to help his idol, and smiling, he rushed over to the still grumbling dragon slayer. As much growing as Romeo had done, it appeared as though his hero-worship of Natsu was going to be permanent. What had shocked a lot of people though, is that the same adoration he'd expressed for the fire-breather had seemed to extend in the last two years to include Lucy, and when they were in the guild he seemed to hover around them both equally begging for stories of their missions. Lucy thought the praise unwarranted and often steered clear of talking about her, but she was nice to the kid. If she was being honest, he reminded her of what she'd always imagined a younger brother to be like.

"I'll get you, don't worry! Come on, Natsu!"

Lucy rolled her eyes hearing him so excited to help, but smiled a bit under cover of her face still being buried in her arms on the bartop.

The now fifteen-year old Romeo was much taller he was when they'd faced Tartaros, their last "end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it" type confrontation (no one was under the impression that it would remain their last battle like that, they just seemed to be in the center of every bit of crazy on Earthland), and had put on some muscle, but was still a kid and struggled a bit under the shockingly heavy pinkette he was acting as a crutch for. As they reached the bar, Natsu all but collapsed into the stool on Lucy's right side.

Lucy arched an eyebrow at the pair.

"What, Luce?" Natsu asked her, tilting his head curiously but still had his shoulders slumped in exhaustion.

"Gray is over there making fun of you," Lucy deadpanned.

"What?!" Natsu shouted, bouncing up and facing the rest of the guild, ready to start an all-out brawl, "Where's that ice-stripper hiding? I'll show him!"

Lucy tried and failed to stifle her giggles at the sudden energy change in her best friend, and the dumbstruck look on Romeo's face. Natsu turned and narrowed his eyes at his partner, after realizing that Gray was at the trials and not even in the guild.

"You did that on purpose," he pouted, settling back down in his seat and motioning for Mira to come take his order.

"Of course I did, you were being dramatic and poor Romeo fell for it," She said, her giggles finally calming. She pulled Romeo into a brief side-hug in greeting, ignoring her partner in favor of speaking to the young fire wizard.

"Hey Romeo, it's good to see you!" she smiled brightly at him as she turned to face him fully after releasing the hug, resting her elbows behind her on the bartop. She reached out and mussed his hair in a way she knows he hates, laughing lightly at his disgruntled expression.

"Hi Lucy," he grumbled, though he looked happy under the fake grumpiness at having her full attention, "How are you feeling? You look a little beat up."

To her side, Natsu snorted as Mira came up with Lucy's milkshake. Lucy glared at him for it, but calmed a bit when he passed her the shake, and she groaned happily after taking the first sip through the brightly colored straw. He turned his attention back to Mira, and to the prospect of food, while Lucy addressed Romeo's question.

"Oh, I'm fine. Actually most of these bandages can come off now, we've just been travelling really quickly to get here since Gramps expected us back in time to help watch the guild while everyone was away, and I haven't had time to mess with them."

Romeo looked relieved at that, Lucy had a tendency to get really injured pretty frequently, "What happened? Was it the mission?"

Natsu, again, snorted. He was doing a really poor job of containing his amusement, and Lucy wasn't really happy about that. She elbowed him again and he choked a bit.

"Ah, well, the mission was fine. Took a little longer than we expected because the lady we were escorting wanted to stop every few hours. We only had to fight off bandits twice, and neither of the groups were mages so we didn't have trouble. We got surprised by a group of Vulcans on our way back, though."

Natsu, for his part, was openly laughing now, "No, Luce. You got surprised by Vulcans. I could see them just fine, and tried to warn you, but you were too busy reading your novel after having chained me to a tree with magic-cancelling restraints in the middle of a well-known monster infested forest because I was 'bugging you', to notice that the creepy monkey things were gawking at you."

Lucy, as much as she was angry at him for saying it, was more embarrassed that it had happened, and just slapped him lightly and looked away, "Whatever. It was good talking to you, Romeo. I think your dad is calling for you."

Natsu was still gloating over the whole thing, he was excited that for once he wasn't the one who had screwed up and gotten someone injured. He would have been more worried, but Lucy had gotten a lot stronger and she could handle Vulcans on her own. She'd only gotten hurt because she was trying so hard to tune him out that she'd forgotten to pay attention and they got a few good hits in before she'd gotten her bearings and fought back.

Romeo sighed, Team StarFire was always getting into arguments like this, and as much as he loved both Lucy and Natsu, it was kind of exhausting. He found himself wishing that Team Natsu did more together these days, since Erza usually helped deter their fighting, but since after Tartaros they had only taken a few jobs together and it seemed like the team was mostly done. It made some sense, though, as all the members of that team now were incredibly powerful. They would be overkill on most any of the jobs they took, even S-Class.

"Hey, Luce was right, Macao is waving at you, Romeo," Natsu said, nodding his head to a spot behind Romeo before turning back around to complain at Mira that the food wasn't done yet.

Turning around, Romeo noticed what the two other wizards had. His dad, Max, Reedus, Wakaba, and Vijeeter were all looking his direction, Macao actually gesturing for him to come over. They weren't all that far away from the bar, with so few members in the hall, they all stuck close so Mira wouldn't have to walk all over the hall to serve them. Romeo approached his father with a questioning look on his face.

"Romeo, my boy! We need you settle a bet! Who do you think is going to win S-Class this year?"

"Gajeel, obviously," Vijeeter and Nab both chimed in. When they noticed they spoke at the same time, they high fived over the table (Vijeeter doing some weird version of dance after they did so).

"Idiots, clearly it's going to be sweet little Wendy," Wakaba threw in, blowing smoke in both of their faces.

"I'm betting on Freed or Bickslow, I'm pretty amazed that Cana and Natsu both past them the last two years. Now, though, there's no way they'll lose," Max added.

Macao rolled his eyes, "I've told you over and over again, it's gotta be Elfman. He's a man!"

Everyone at the table chuckled at Macao's reference to the beast takeover mage's signature catch phrase, before settling their gaze on Romeo to see who he'd side with.

Sighing, Romeo took a seat next to his father, and answered slowly, "Honestly, I'm shocked that Lucy isn't in. If she was, I'd be betting on her. Besides her, though, I've gotta say probably Freed."

Macao scowled, "You have terrible judgement, son. Freed definitely isn't strong enough to beat Elfman after all his training. And really? Lucy? Natsu can't partner with her, since he's S-Class now, so there's no way she'd come close to beating any of them."

He said it loudly enough that even through the raucous sounds of guild and her own exhaustion, the sound carried, and Lucy caught her name being said across the room. She might not have dragon slayer senses, but Lucy definitely heard the comment, as did the dragon slayer beside her who had gone still, his hand frozen holding fire chicken halfway to his mouth and his face paling…

The guild hall seemed to quiet for the first time since Lucy and Natsu had arrived, as the guild members all felt a chill in the air and the oppressive aura of magic surrounding them. They all turned their attention at a furious looking blonde as she turned slowly toward the table not thirty feet away from her where several people were scrambling from the table while Macao sat frozen, afraid to look up at what he knew was Scary Lucy.

"Got something to say to me, Fourth Master?" Lucy said with a quiet, menacing voice that was deceivingly calm as she addressed the fire mage that had insulted her.

He knew, he just knew, that looking at her was going to be a mistake. He did it anyway.

Macao lifted his gaze and saw Scary Lucy in all her glory. She was giving him the most terrifying glare he had ever received (which was saying something, considering he'd grown used to glares from both Erza and Mira), and she was clutching what looked like an empty smoothie glass in her hand (he could swear he small cracks in it where her hand was gripping it). The parts of her hair that had fallen from her braid seemed to float around her slightly as if she were standing in a breeze, and she had a faint golden aura of magic around her whole body. Most of her bandages had been taken off by now, and in her green half-jacket, black high-necked fitted shirt, green fitted cargo shorts and knee-high combat boots, she looked downright formidable. Macao seemed to be just now realizing that the woman before him was a far stretch from the sweet teenager that wore skimpy clothes to defy her father that joined years ago looking for a real family and adventure, the girl that had next to no experience and even less confidence. And now all he can process is that he has made a terrible mistake.

Natsu, as scared as he was, knew Lucy wouldn't seriously hurt him, and decided to tamp down his own sense of self-preservation and try and save the man he considered a mentor when he was younger. Swallowing hard, he leaned over to speak to his partner.

"L-Luce…" he started, cleared his throat, and started again, "Luce, I'm sure he didn't mean it," he very carefully stood and gently wrapped an arm around her waist, prepared to restrain her, "I'm sure he's sorry. Right, Macao?"

Macao, for his part, tried very hard to apologize. His mouth opened and closed, and yet, he was filled with such terror he really couldn't form the words.

"Macao, seriously," Natsu said to him, his voice anxious, "You've gotta apologize, before she explodes!"

The older man tried, he really did, but after another ten seconds of silence, Lucy was over it.

"Too late."

A glass, still with remnants of strawberry milkshake on the sides, and yes, a few minor cracks in it, went sailing through the guild hall and connected with Macao's forehead, sending the poor mage several feet back as the sound of glass shattering reached everyone's ears.

Natsu was immediately wishing he'd have thought to restrain his partner's throwing arm, mentally cursing himself for never thinking things through as thoroughly as Lucy did. He didn't dwell on it though, because Lucy was fighting against his hold trying to chase after the dazed fire mage as the rest of the guild hall started chuckling at his misfortune.

"Oi, calm down, Luce…" Natsu said, chuckling himself a little as he felt her anger fade and she stopped fighting him so much, "You got 'em good. Isn't that enough?"

Lucy stopped struggling altogether and took a deep breath. Sighing, she pinched the bridge of her nose and nodded slowly, "Yeah, I guess."

The blonde was internally chastising herself. She really needed to reign herself in a bit. The last few years have been hard, and she's been trying to keep the changes in herself from her family as much as she could. She tried to be all smiles in the guild, still had love for each and every one of them, and still felt strongly that everyone deserves second chances and forgives still, probably too easily. But in her heart she knows she's less trusting. Less open. Less… bright? And as the Light of Fairy Tail, bright is exactly what they need her to be. It's just that, since Aquarius, she's thought of little else besides how weak she was. How weak she'd been to have to sacrifice who had essentially become her second mother to save her friends instead of being able to do something on her own. And Macao's comment really just hit too close to home.

To think, everything she'd done to protect the guild, everything she'd sacrificed, everything she'd given, and her guildmates still thought so little of her. She'd not even been nominated for S-Class this year, when she'd fought so hard since Tartaros to get stronger. Will I always be weak?

Lucy snapped herself out of her own thoughts and turned back to her food, trying to finish it quickly and then leave so she could be alone.

"What did Macao do to you, Lushi?" the high pitched voice of one of her closest friends chirped in her ear.

Surprised, she looked over to Natsu (who had resumed stuffing his face) and saw Happy perched on his head with a fish in his hands, a curious look on his little furry face.

"Happy!" she shouted happily, snatching him off Natsu's head and cuddling him to her chest. As much as she sometimes couldn't stand the teasing exceed, she loved the little guy. He had a way of making her feel better that no one else really did, just because he distracted her from all the negative thoughts in her head (unless he was calling her fat).

"Oh, and don't worry about Macao. He won't do it again, I'm sure, so it's all good!" she shot a glance over to said mage's table to find him being helped back to a bench by a grinning Wacaba, who gave her a thumbs up as his best friend paled even more.

Happy caught the look and giggled, escaping her grip and sitting between her and Natsu, mowing down on the fish Lucy had thrown on the bar.

"So, wha' are you doin' 'ere, little buddy?" Natsu asked him, his mouth still full of food. Lucy smacked him on the back of his head, but he ignored it.

Rolling her eyes, Lucy looked back to Happy as well, curious for his answer. He was supposed to be with Charle and Wendy at the S-Class Trials, since she and Natsu hadn't gotten back in time from their 'super boring mission' before everyone left, and the little blue fur ball hated staying anywhere alone for any length of time.

"Oh, it was just boring. And the site really isn't too far away and you told me you'd be back tonight, so I came over by myself while everyone cleaned up and got ready to head out. I missed you, and besides, Team StarFire isn't complete without it's strongest wizard!"

Lucy and Natsu both sighed as Happy puffed his little chest out. Ever since they'd become an official team - Happy, Natsu, and Lucy - Happy had been on this kick about being the strongest on the team. Something about 'carrying them both' on missions (which was true, he just tried to play it off as though he was carrying the workload, not just physically carrying them when they had to fly). At this point it was just easier not to argue with him, especially since Natsu usually used it as an excuse to challenge Lucy or Happy or both to a fight in the middle of whatever they were doing, to 'see who is really the strongest'. Sometimes, Lucy didn't really understand how she'd ended up in a team with the two most immature and dense individuals in the guild, but secretly, she wouldn't change it for the world. She loved them dearly.

"Right, we'd be lost without you," Lucy deadpanned, "Do you know who won?"

Happy smiled at the praise, fake though it was, "Nah, I left before they finished. It was between Gajeel and Freed though and they'd been going at it for a while when I left".

Mira was off to the side behind the bar and had been listening intently. Upon hearing that Freed was in the finals, was squealing and clapping cheerily, smiling like a madwoman. The two of them had been dating for over a year, and Mira had been extremely upset when she'd been asked to stay behind and watch over the guild while the trials happened, as she'd wanted to go to support her green-haired rune mage. The only reason she'd stayed was because Freed and Elfman both had assured her they would rather surprise her with the S-Class status upon their return home than have her defy their master's wishes just to watch them compete with each other. Lisanna had even offered to stay back instead of her sister, after they realized that Natsu and Lucy being delayed would leave the guild less protected than they'd like, but Master had insisted they needed an S-Class, and Mira was the only one besides Natsu not scheduled to be an opponent this year.

Mira's excited noises were cut off abruptly when a loud explosion rocked the guild. It sounded like it came from in front of the hall, close enough that it was probably something in their front courtyard that had gotten destroyed.

In moments, the guild was alert. Natsu, Lucy, and Mira all looked at each other, determination in their eyes. As the strongest currently in the guild, they were responsible for whatever happened next. They'd planned for this, made sure they were protected in case someone attacked the guild during the trials, but none of them expected it to actually happen. Since Grimoire Heart attacked Tenrou, the S-Class Trials happened at a different time each year, and the time and location for the trials wasn't announced to anyone outside the guild, and even among the non-S-Class guild members or participants, the trials weren't announced until the day before they happened. That someone is here attacking, now of all times, had to be either a very big coincidence or something else. And Lucy didn't believe in coincidences.

If it was as she feared, and someone in the guild gave out the trial information, it was also very likely that the enemy has knowledge of their skills and abilities that would put them at a disadvantage. Add to that the fact that both she and Natsu were fresh from a mission and exhausted, and things weren't looking all that good for them. But, they were Fairy Tail, and so they'd figure it out.

Mira leapt over the bar, and all three of them stepped forward toward the doors at the front of the hall. The rest of the wizards took stances back behind them and behind the bar, ready to assist, but being very much aware that they would only get in the way if they tried to be too actively involved. They'd wait to see what they were facing before they jumped into the fray.

"Natsu, Lucy-"

"Yeah, Mira, before you ask, we're fine. We've fought on less energy than this before, no problem," Natsu said confidently, taking another slow step towards the door in a battle-ready stance.

Mira glanced at Lucy, who nodded, "He's right, Mira. We are fine to fight, don't worry."

Mira took a stance on Natsu's left, Lucy on his right, and all dropped into fighting stances. Mira into Sitri-Soul, Lucy's power flared as she summoned Loke's Star Dress, and Natsu lit his fists on fire and punched one fist into his other palm.

"I'm all fired up now!"