The Iron Dragon's Mark

Guess Who's Home?

Several Months Later, at the Guild Hall:

"I'm home!" Lucy appeared at the doorway, grinning. Levy lifted her face from her book, so excited to see her best friend. "Lu-Chan!" she squealed. It had been too long!

Running towards each other, the two best friends embraced. "Levy-chan! I missed you!"

"Lucy!" a lot of the guild members called, seeing their celestial spirit mage standing in the doorway.

"Hi guys! I'm back!" Lucy smiled. She glanced around, but didn't see Natsu or Happy.

Lisanna joined the two friends embrace. "Lucy! We missed you!" she cried.

"Lucy!" a grim voice greeted her. Lucy looked up from her two friends and faced Erza, Grey, and Mira. The three mages almost looked....hostile.

"How could you be so selfish?" accused Erza in a harsh tone. "I am so disappointed in you."

Grey and Mira crossed their arms and seemed to be in agreement with her.

"Uh, what's going on guys?" Lucy asked nervously.

"Because of your selfishness, you abandoned Natsu. Because of your actions, he became reckless, careless, and more volatile. What have you to say?"

"Now just a minute!" Levy spoke up, standing in front of her friend, facing Erza. "Lucy went with Natsu's agreement. You can't blame her for his choices!"

Grey grunted. "He's always been a hot head, but he got worse when Lucy left him!"

Lisanna stepped forward as Lucy opened her mouth to speak. "So what you're saying is that because we're not S-class wizards, we shouldn't want to better ourselves?"

"Lisanna, that's not what we're saying at all!" Mira responded angrily. "What we're saying is that Lucy should not have been so selfish as to leave Natsu at this delicate time of his life."

"Wait, this is because I left to train?" Lucy finally said, getting angry herself. "I'm tired of being the weak member on the team! I would thought you'd be happy that you wouldn't have to protect and defend poor little Lucy when things went wrong!" she finished sarcastically. "I mean, who needs a weak member on the team? Now that I'm back, I'm stronger than ever – you won't have to worry about me again!"

"That's not what we're saying," Erza began, but Levy interrupted her.

"So what you're saying is that those of us who are not as powerful as you three shouldn't think to train and make ourselves stronger!"

"Levy – " began Mira, but Lisanna interrupted her big sister.

"Levy's right. What's wrong with Lucy going to train? She went with Natsu's blessing! It wasn't her fault that he decided to go a little nuts! It's not her fault he did what he did!"

The whole guild had gone silent watching the heated exchange. Several of the mages had had moved closer to the group, seeming to take sides.

"It's like you don't want anyone to become as powerful as you," Lisanna stated with narrowed eyes at her sister.

"That's not it and you know it!" Mira answered hotly. "I can't believe you would think that!"

Lucy raised a hand to stop the arguments. "Wait! WHAT happened to Natsu?"

The noise in the guild hall grew as other mages jumped in on the argument. Gajeel stepped in front of Levy, fist raised, glaring at Erza as if daring her to challenge him. No one messed with his mate! Plus, he happened to agree with Levy and Lisanna.

Lucy looked at Pluu who shivered and disappeared, not liking all the conflict. Lucy realized no one could hear her above all the ruckus, so she closed her eyes, drew in her power, and raised her arm. Sparks flew from her fingertips and a loud whistling sound was heard.

Everyone froze, stunned with the fireworks. "WHAT HAPPENED TO NATSU?" Lucy yelled.