Around half an hour later, at the back of the Fairy Building, the home of the Fairy Tail Guild, lies one of the many training grounds that the guild owns.
The training ground that lies behind the main building of Fairy Tail, is not just any normal training ground used by the Guild. It also used as a place to uphold any special events the Guild may host as well.
And right now, at the training ground that used mostly for either light training, or events hosted by the guild. Lies many members of Fairy Tail themselves.
From some distance away from the crowd itself, lies Mirajane, who looked at the Fairy Wizards, and seeing they no different to the drunken fools they are, caused this rebellious teenager to sighed at this sight.
"Should I ask, why most of our guild is outside here for? Or pretend to act surprised by this?" Mirajane simply went, as she got no clue what's going on, since both she and Lisanna just came to the Guild.
However, as she got no clue the overall image of this situation truly is. She can guess whatever is going on here, has to be related to that person, why her follow guild members became like this, or maybe right to say, worse they normally are.
"It cannot be helped, sister. It always like this, when Gild returns back, you should know that by now." Lisanna went besides Mirajane, and also curious why their follow guild members at the training ground behind the Fairy Building for.
"I know that, Lisanna…. It just I don't see why you or Elfman even liked such a person. He so damned friendly and annoying, that makes him so suspicious." Mirajane went with annoyed look, as she looked at the crowd before her and Lisanna.
To Mirajane, Gildarts Clive might be this so-called strongest, she is not sure if Gildarts truly is the strongest within the guild. But that did not matter to her, as she has full confidant one day she will overcome that middle-aged man.
However, while Gildarts might be a wall to Mirajane, he also… too suspicious within her books. He is so loud, nosey at times, and even friendly, too friendly, that made him so damned suspicious.
For someone who is very distrustful towards others, besides Lisanna and Elfman, it no wonder why Mirajane found someone like Gildarts very uncomfortable to be around with.
"You don't have to be so wary of him, sister. Gild is a good person, he always tells us stories of his feats and past, or even what kind of things he did on the Job he just went on. Of course, to me, the most amusing thing, is not Gild, but Natsu, who always so hyped when it comes to Gild. It is interesting to hear about Gild's feats from Natsu, who always seems to forget most of it, or just makes the rest of it up."
Lisanna went with a soften expression when she thinks of Natsu.
"I truly have no clue, what you see in that loudmouth." Mirajane said looking at her little sister.
Even someone like herself, who has little interest besides her personal strength, her siblings… and maybe someone else.
Can see Lisanna has some kind of affection towards that damned loudmouth, Natsu Dragneel.
It is because they are the same age?
Or maybe her little sister likes fools like him?
Mirajane has no clue, what her little sister sees in that loudmouth, who is never quiet, unless she has to threaten him to be so.
"Natsu is not all that bad, in a way, he is… amusing in a way or two." Lisanna went.
To be honest, Lisanna cannot tell Mirajane the real reason why she so fond with Natsu. Because that reason, is because Mirajane and Natsu are in a way, are similar to each other.
Natsu can be flashy and flamboyant at times, but like Mirajane, Natsu also has a soft side to him, that only shown to those he is close with, very much like Mirajane, who also has a soft side herself, that is only shown to those she trusted, or beginning to slowly trust as well.
Maybe that is why she so fond of that Dragon Slayer, who sometimes will show that soft side to her.
However, the young maiden herself, has no clue, if her fondness for Natsu, is the same kind of emotion one will call love or not.
Even if there had been many times in the past when Lisanna joked with Natsu, that she will marry him one day.
She only said those words to tease Natsu, because when she does say those words, she liked those reactions the young Dragon slayer would show before her, causing Lisanna to be more mischievous when she is around Natsu.
But if that is love, or just fondness, is something that Lisanna Strauss has no clue what that is.
"Oh I see… anyway, let see what truly going on here." Mirajane only can say, as she and her little sister walked towards the training ground as well.
When they came closer to the crowd and before they could figure out or see what's going on. A certain blue cat with white wings flew towards them, or more like flew towards Lisanna.
Mirajane simply stepped to the side, as loudmouth number two flew into the arms of Lisanna.
"Lisanna!!" The one who flew in Lisanna's arms, is no other Happy himself.
In a way, Happy is properly the main reason, why Natsu and Lisanna are so close to each other.
One day, Natsu happened to found a very suspicious looking egg, that way bigger than normal eggs within the forest he often goes to either train or play at.
He then took the oversized egg home, but that lies the problem.
For someone whose brain is always on gear 0, the young Dragon Slayer has no clue how to raise an egg that nearly as big as himself.
As for Lisanna, who still new at the Guild back then, barely had anyone besides Elfman and Mirajane within the guild. And by chance, she spotted a suspicious looking Natsu, who failed to completely hide the egg he found.
It was that moment that brought Lisanna and Natsu together, the moment of silliness and curiosity between them.
In the end, as kind and gentle Lisanna is, she cannot leave Natsu alone, especially when it comes to her fondness towards animals.
And just like that, a single egg, became the beginning of their close relationship.
Of course, the one inside the egg, weren't normal animal, nor it was a Monster, or even a baby Dragon, that Natsu hoped it was.
But a blue talking winged cat, it was Happy himself, the source between the bounds behind Lisanna and Natsu.
"Happy! It's good to see you, wait, if you here, does that means is Natsu also nearby? Don't tell me… he is in the middle of this?" Lisanna went, feeling the source of whatever is happening, is properly Natsu's own doing.
Knowing that young Dragon Slayer, it wouldn't be surprising if Natsu were to challenge Gildarts yet again. However, it is odd… for the duel to take place outside the guild, at the training ground no less.
"Aye sir! Natsu and Zack are waiting when Gild returns, so they can challenge him! And there also a bet going on, who will last the longest between them!" Happy went with a wide smile, still nested in Lisanna's arms.
"I knew… it… wait Zack as well??"
"What the heck… why made a huge deal out of something that will… last for a moment…? Wait, Zack as well???"
Lisanna and Mirajane both went and looked at each other before as they both looked at Happy with confused looks.
Mirajane can somewhat understand why that loudmouth will do something like this, especially when this is a deal, when they will lose instantly, unless Gildarts decided to humour them.
However… why is Zack also involved in this?
Strange feelings afloat within Mirajane, one of worry, and another one of curiosity.
After all, how can she not feel worried about some dumbass challenging someone out of his league?
And the curiosity within Mirajane, is because she knew that dumbass, she knew he is not the kind of person to challenge someone above him, unless there is a reason… no, there is someone he does challenged above him…
As soon Mirajane recalled about the one who Zack often challenges above him, Erza Scarlet, something within her nearly snapped, causing Mirajane to feel a different kind of annoyance thanks to this dumbass.
Mirajane has no clue what this emotion is… she just doesn't want her prey… yes prey, to be taken away by that damned Erza, nothing else.
"Why did that guy challenge someone over his level? Don't tell me that loudmouth rubbed off him…?" Mirajane went, knowing how close Zack is with Natsu.
The last thing she wanted, for that dumbass to copy that damned idiotic loudmouth actions… yet again.
(AN: She talking about the past Zack, not the current Zack, with a better mental state)
"No clue, sir! Zack wanted to overcome something… no, was it sense something? Not really sure, but that how things came like this."
Happy went, as he came out of Lisanna's arms, and float between the two sisters, and nodded very sagely when he folded his arms… even if the blue talking cat did nothing sagely at that.
"Overcome something huh…" Mirajane only said this, as she looked at the crowd before them, and begin to make her way in the middle of them.
Of course, as someone like Mirajane stands out in many ways. It is no wonder why two thirds of the guild who stood waiting for the duel to begin also noticed the Majin among them.
This caused some of them to become uneasy, making them unable to look at the Majin within her blue eyes.
While some avoided looking at Mirajane. There also those that also looked at her with eyes of curiosity.
They became curious why the Majin came here for? Was it out of boredom? Or maybe it was a certain someone?
This caused the brave ones, to have smirks and unknowing smiles on their lips.
However, like a lie, their smirks soon faded away, when Mirajane, no, the Majin sensed their intentions behind those smirking fools looking at her and looked at them with her cold sea blue eyes, silencing them away from their foolish thoughts.
Seeing no one else has those silly expressions. Mirajane turned her sea blue eyes towards the two teenagers in the middle of the training ground.
Mirajane just stared at Zack who seems to be chatting along with Natsu, and wondered if she should personally go towards him, and asked him about this duel.
But soon made those thoughts faded, when not only herself, but everyone snapped their attention, when the sounds of a wall being smashed apart sounded behind them.
"Sorry for the wait! I almost forgot where this place is." A hearty laugh sounded, as the one who smashed through several walls of the Fairy Building, only to leave cubes in their destruction, is no other than Gildarts himself.
Many of the guild members cheered at the arrival of Gildarts, as they became excited when they can finally begin this duel, that nothing but a betting session to them.
As Gildarts made his way towards the inner ring of the training grounds, everyone, besides the two challengers made their way to the outer ring of the training ground.
However, something did cause Gildarts to halt in his steps for few seconds, when his eyes met with a certain white haired young teenager among them.
This is no other than Mirajane herself, that caused Gildarts to blink his eyes in surprise when he saw her here among everyone else.
This made Gildarts curious why would someone like her be here? Maybe Mirajane became curious why everyone is gathering here for. Or maybe out of boredom she came to watch the show.
After all, Gildarts is properly the only one in the Guild, that has no clue that Mirajane and Zack have a somewhat close relationship.
Thinking to greet this rebellious teenager, but Gildarts soon decided against it, while he sighs upon seeing those eyes that are full of suspicion looking at him.
He can only give a faint bitter smile at this, before he turned his attention towards the two challengers left within the middle of the inner ring of this training ground.
"I hoped you guys did not wait too long, how we do this? One on one, or two on one?" Gildarts went, looking at the two young teenager boys before him.
It will be a lie, to say Gildarts is not curious about the growth of this certain young Dragon Slayer, since it been a long time, since Gildarts seen Natsu's growth.
And as for Zack?
He only heard about Zack's abilities, but he never seen them himself.
How can he not become curious, after hearing so much about them?
"Of course it is one on one!" Natsu went slamming his right fist into his left hand, only to flash a grin when he said that.
"Same here." Zack only said, taking on a serious look on his own.