Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
March, x785.
A few weeks have passed since Alfonzo and Elicia brought the Hughes family back to Magnolia. And they have integrated seamlessly into the family that is Fairy Tail. On top of that, Maes was the first non-wizard to join Fairy Tail officially.
The Hughes were also able to find quite an affordable apartment to live in. In fact, it was the same apartment building Lucy used to live in before she was kicked out for destroying a large part of it. They even managed to get the only two bedroom apartment in the building.
The only hiccup in their integration was the fact that Elicia quickly became friends with Macao's son, Romeo. Mostly due to the fact that they were the only children who often hung around the guild. Unfortunately, that triggered Maes' overprotective instincts. Unfortunately for Maes, that is.
Once Maes started getting out of hand, as if she had been practicing magic, Gracia appeared behind him with a frying pan in hand and knocked him unconscious with one blow.
Other than that, everything went well. Maes took to his work as the information analyst of the guild like a fish to water. Even Gracia took a job in the guild's kitchen so that she could keep an eye on Elicia, who spent most of her time at the guild hall, as well.
And just like Alfonzo and the older Elicia said, Ur was taken with the younger Elicia from the moment she met her. She even became Ur's fifth student. Though, they had not done much in the way of training yet, as the little girl did not want to learn [Ice-Make Magic]. Instead, she was the first wizard to start learning one of the Ancient Magics found on Grimoire heart's airship. Specifically, the [arc of Embodiment].
During the time when the Hughes family was getting used to Magnolia, the guild was also preparing for another important event. And today was the day it would take place.
Just as they said in the letter, representatives from Mermaid Heel would arrive in Magnolia today to see Fairy Tail's training facilities. And if they were happy with what they saw, they would then discuss having Alfonzo build some for them, as well.
"So, do we still not know who the guild master of Mermaid Heel is?" Elicia asked from a seat at the bar where she was accompanied by Alfonzo, Makarov, and Ur. "I mean, what's the point of keeping it secret like this?"
"I don't' know." Alfonzo replied. "But the suspense is killing me."
"It's not that big of a deal." Ur replied after taking a sip from her glass of wine. Then, she shot a sharp glare at Makarov. "I just hope this old pervert can keep himself together after seeing all the women of Mermaid Heel."
"Hey, what do you take me for?" Makarov asked with a huff. Then, he looked in Alfonzo and Elicia's direction. "I'm a perfect gentleman, right?"
In response, Alfonzo and Elicia did not even look in Makarov's direction. Instead, they were engaged in what appeared to be one of the most interesting conversations either of them had had in either life.
"After all I did to raise the two of you…" Makarov muttered in a depressed tone. "Yet you betray me like this?"
Instead of responding to Makarov's melodrama, Alfonzo and Elicia included Ur in the conversation while the three of them ignored Makarov.
Then, before Makarov could try and gain their sympathy again, the doors to the guild hall slid open, drawing everyone's attention. And when it did, they saw a group of five, seemingly young women, come strolling into the main hall.
While one of them was familiar to both Alfonzo and Elicia, and one was familiar to only Alfonzo, there were two that seemed to be familiar to Makarov, as well. While no one had ever met the fifth of the women.
Naturally, the one Alfonzo and Elicia knew was the lazy, little cat, Yoruichi Shihouin. Alfonzo also knew Kagura Mikazuchi thanks to the joint mission a few months ago.
Then, there were the two that Makarov seemed to know. Though, Alfonzo and Elicia, due to their past lives, recognized all of the new arrivals.
Walking in the center of the group, and appearing to be the leader, was a brown-eyed, fair-skinned, blonde woman with long hair that reached her lower back tied into a pair of ponytails and shoulder-length bangs that framed her gorgeous face. ON top of that, she had the largest breasts anyone had ever seen.
As for her clothing, she wore a grass green hoari with the kanji for gamble on the back in the middle of a red circle, a grey, kimono-style blouse that was closed quite low, revealing a large amount of cleavage, a dark blue-greyish obi, a pair of pants that matched the color of the obi, and a pair of high heeled, black sandals.
Also, she wore red nail polish on both her fingernails and toenails, while she wore soft, pink lips stick on her pretty lips. There was also a violet colored diamond mark in the center of her forehead.
The second of the women, walking to the blonde woman's left with Kagura walking to her left, was a beautiful, youthful-looking woman wearing a kind and gentle smile with blue eyes and long, black hair tied in a thick braid that hung in front of her chest wearing a black kimono with a white obi that camouflaged her large breasts that could rival the blonde woman's in size, a white hoari over top that had the Mermaid Heel guild emblem embroidered in black on its back, and a sheathed katana strapped to her left hip.
The third woman, walking to the right of Yoruichi, who stood to the right of the blonde woman, was quite petite with grey eyes and short, black hair, with the exception of two long braids that hung down her back and were tied with white cloth.
As for her attire, it was similar to what Yoruichi usually wore, being a black, sleeveless and backless kimono-style blouse, a yellow obi, black pants, black Chinese-style martial arts shoes, black detached sleeves that covered everything from her upper arms to her wrists, as well as a sheathed wakizashi strapped to her lower back.
Shortly after entering the guild hall, the five women stopped to take a look around. Then, after spotting Alfonzo and Elicia, Yoruichi raised her hand and began waving vigorously.
"Hey! Alfonzo, Elicia, we're here!" Yoruichi shouted as she started walking towards the group sitting at the bar.
Shortly afterward, the other four women followed Yoruichi over to the bar.
At the same time, the rest of the guild hall fell silent, especially the men, as they watched the new arrivals approach four of the strongest members of Fairy Tail.
"Hey, Yoruichi, long time no see." Elicia said as she stood up. Then, when Yoruichi was close enough, she pulled her into a hug. "How have you been?"
"Oh, you know me." Yoruichi replied with a smile while returning the hug. "Taking quests, kicking ass, and taking naps."
"You're still such a lazy cat." Alfonzo said with a smile. "But it looks like you got a little stronger since the last time we met."
"Yeah, after seeing that purple laser-thingy you shot through the ravine, I thought I should train a little more." Yoruichi replied as she released Elicia and showed off her biceps.
"*Cough* *Cough* Yoruichi, would you mind introducing us?" The blonde woman said, interrupting the conversation, in an irritated tone.
"Oh, sure." Yoruichi replied carefreely. Then, she gestured towards the blond woman. "Allow me to introduce you, this is the guild master of Mermaid Heel, Tsunade Senju."
After introducing the blonde woman, Tsunade, Yoruichi then gestured to the woman to her left.
"And this is the guild master before her, Ritsu Unohana." Yoruichi said with a smile.
"Damn, she's' the last guild master?" Ur asked in a shocked tone. "I hope I look as good as she does when I retire and hand this job off to the kid."
"When you say the kid, you're talking about your kid… As in Ultear…. Right?" Alfonzo asked with his eyebrow twitching.
"Sure, keep telling yourself that, Kid." Ur replied with a cheeky smile. "And maybe one day, it might become the truth. Though, I wouldn't hold my breath."
"Then, I guess that would mean you're the fourth master of Fairy Tail, Ur Milkovich." Tsunade said, interrupting the conversation. Then, she reached out for a hand shake. "I've heard a lot about you. And I must say, the rumors were true. You're really quite strong."
Naturally, Ur accepted Tsunade's handshake. However, she became alert a moment later as she felt blood lust wash over her.
"Indeed." Ritsu added with a nod as her smile became slightly blood thirsty. "She might be able to make me fight all out for the first time in decades."
With that, a bit of Ritsu's battle intent leaked, causing some of the weaker members of the guild to shiver involuntarily.
At the same time, Alfonzo and Elicia were thinking the same thing.
'Yachiru is coming out.'
"You should calm down, Master." Kagura said in her usual, monotonous tone. "You're going to make all the wizards under A-Class pass out."
With that, Ritsu took a quick look around the guild hall before exhaling a deep breath and returning to her usual demeanor.
"I see you haven't changed in all these years, Ritsu." Makarov said while putting on what he thought was a charming smile.
"Oh, you were here too, Mr. Dreyar?" Ritsu replied in a tone that made it seem as if she had just now noticed Makarov. "I thought I was just imagining things when I saw you there. I mean, I did say I would cut off that little thing between your legs if I ever saw you again, didn't I?"
Though her words were enough to make every man in the guild hall squeeze their legs together involuntarily. And the fact that she said them with such a kind smile on her face was enough to make some of the weaker willed men pass out directly.
"Oh, wow! Look at the time!" Makarov said, looking down at his left wrist, which was absent of a watch. "I need to go and make sure that… Um… yeah, right.! I need to make sure that Gildarts isn't getting into trouble. Anyway, it was nice to see you again, Ritsu. But I really should be going. Bye!"
Then, Makarov hopped off the top of the bar and ran towards the guild hall's entrance as fast as he could. Meanwhile, the other seven people could only watch in disbelief.
"I'm kinda curious to know how Gramps pissed her off so badly." Alfonzo muttered while he watched Makarov run. "But at the same time, I'm really scared to find out."
"It would seem you have good instincts, young man." Ritsu said. "And I would assume you are Alfonzo Marcus, the Master of Metal. And the one beside you must be Elicia Taylor, the Magic Seamstress, correct?"
"That's right." Alfonzo replied with a nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Nice to meet you." Elicia replied with a smile and sparkling eyes. "By the way, could I make some clothes for you? All of you are making my creative juices run wild."
Hearing that, four of the five women from Mermaid Heel smiled, even kagura, who rarely showed any emotion let a small smile slip. The only exception was the petite young woman, who was staring at Alfonzo and Elicia with clear hostility.
'Damn it, Sui-Feng looks like she wants to kill us. Alfonzo thought to himself after feeling the hostile glare. 'I bet Yoruichi told that yandere assassin that she wanted to sleep with the both of us. And now she hates us.'
"Um… Excuse me, why are you staring at us like that?" Elicia asked while already knowing the answer to her question.
"You two should stay away from Lady Yoruichi." The petite young woman, identified as Sui-Feng, replied in a threatening tone.
"Hey, Sui-feng, knock it off." Yoruichi said in a reprimanding tone. "We're here as allies, not to start a fight."
"Yes, Lady Yoruichi." Sui-Feng replied with a nod while continuing to glare at Alfonzo and Ellicia.
"Anyway, since you came such a long way…" Ur said, ignoring the hostility Sui-Feng was shooting at Alfonzo and Elicia, as she knew they were fully capable of handling it. "Why don't you join us for a meal. As it turns out, our guild is home to one of the continents best chefs."
"Oh..." Tsunade replied while raising an eyebrow. "Interesting. Now, I'm curious to know who this chef is"
"I wouldn't say no to a meal after such a long journey." Ritsu replied with a smile. "All the better if it is both delicious and filling."
"Well, you heard them, Kid." Ur said while slapping Alfonzo on the back. "Go make the magic happen."
Though he followed her instructions, Alfonzo glared at Ur harshly before he made his way to the kitchen.
"Now, why don't you come with me to my office." Ur said with a smile that cramped slightly after seeing Alfonzo's glare. "We can place our orders and have our meal up there, too. After that, we'll give you a tour of the guild hall. Then, we can discuss business tomorrow."
'Oops, I forgot to discuss this with him beforehand.' Ur thought to herself. 'Oh well, I'll just give him double his normal rates and he should be fine.'
"Sounds good to me." Tsunade replied with a nod. "I just hope you have some good alcohol to go with the food."
With that, Ur and Elicia led the five wizards from Mermaid Heel to the elevator while Alfonzo prepared the kitchen for dinner.
On a side note, while Alfonzo was cooking dinner, the anguished wailing of Fairy Tail wizards could be heard echoing through the guild hall, as Alfonzo refused to take any orders other than for the people currently in Ur's office.