Here's the next chapter of The Fairy Tail Orphanage. I'm grateful that people like this story…thank you for your appreciation, guys.

Hope you enjoy!

The Fairy Tail Orphanage

Chapter 1:

The Meeting

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"I miss him…" A seventeen-year-old Lucy sobbed into her hands. It was the about time she had done this since Makarov died seven years ago. It had been a while since she last let herself mourn over the man who had welcomed her into the family.

"We all miss him, Lucy…" said an older, leaner Natsu, rubbing her back soothingly as she fell into his embrace. He had to be strong for her. It wouldn't help if he was crying too, right?

"I can't believe it's been seven years…" Bixlow mumbled in disbelief.

"We're running out of cash," Fried says sadly, "If we can't find enough money, we may lose the whole Orphanage."

"That's terrible…" Levy commented as she sniffled into a tissue.

"How can we get money fast enough for this month's rent?" Gray asked his friends scattered all over the library, where Makarov used to tell them stories.

"I don't want to lose the Orphanage…" Lucy pulled herself away from Natsu's arms, "We've been able to live for seven years without Master. It's up to us to keep Master's legacy going."

Erza sighed. She had kept her calm demeanor throughout the years, becoming a temporary leader to the group, "It won't be easy for a bunch like us. We could get jobs…"

Everyone groaned. Nobody wanted a job. They were boring.

"We won't get paid enough for the upcoming rent anyway…" Gajeel pointed out stoically. He seemed to have become for reclusive over the years, usually alone or rock silent when with the others.

"Then what do you suppose we do to get money?"

There was a long pause. What could they do? A measly show or lemonade stand wouldn't get them nearly enough money, even with the 40,000 Jewels saved inside the Orphanage safe.

"Perhaps we should all brainstorm for a while by ourselves," Juvia suggested, "I'm sure at least one of us can find a way to make money."

"That's a good idea, Juvia." Gray grinned.

"R-really?" Juvia's eyes twinkled, 'Juvia is so happy! Gray-sama likes her idea!'

"Let's get started then," Mirajane announced, "We'll meet back here at 7:00, okay?"

"Yeah!"

Natsu sat on one of the benches in Magnolia, which was a little over 10 minutes away from the Orphanage. He, nor any of the other orphans, liked going into town that much, but this time he decided that it would be easier to get an idea by watching the events in the square.

Oh, how wrong he was.

The town was boring in this broad daylight. People walked around, people stood in stores all day, people talked with other people, and then the people left.

"This place is no fun!" he said aloud, gaining the attention of many, though they just walked away a few seconds after, as if seeing nothing.

Natsu stood up abruptly, turning to make the trip back to the Orphanage, when he heard a distressed cry from one of the town shops.

"Somebody! Stop those thieves!"

The pink-haired teen ran back towards the shop with a grin, "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

He pushed through the crowd of people, nearing the store. He prepared his fists. Would he get money from capturing some thieves? Surely, he would. Thief subdue was a great job in the city, and he was a great fighter. Heck, he fought pretty much every day!

Just before he had a chance to think, he crashed into something.

"Ow!"

"Ah!"

"Ouch…"

Natsu blinked at the three figures on the ground, "Oh, sorry 'bout that."

Both stayed silent, staring up at him in bewilderment. That was when the pink-haired noticed that two people were probably only in their pre-teens.

"Hey! There you are, you blasted thieves!"

Natsu eyed the shopkeeper who suddenly ran up to him, panting.

"Good job, sir…you've caught the thieves!" the shopkeeper said.

The Fairy Tail orphan looked down to his feet, "You mean these guys?"

"Yes!" he exclaimed, glaring at the two children, "Those brats stole food from my shop!"

Natsu glanced at the duo once more, whom were still on the ground. Both held pleading looks.

"…Sorry, mister…" the pink-haired says, "They won't do it again, really."

"You know them? !" the shopkeeper exclaimed.

"Yeah, they're…they're my siblings."

"You three don't seem to look alike."

The two children turned to each other in worry.

Natsu cleared his throat, "Well…this one was adopted…" he pointed to the dark-haired child.

"I see…" the shopkeeper narrowed his eyes, "Alright. They won't go to jail this time, but you still oughta gimme back my food! It's not free!"

The children looked away in shame as they handed their stolen food to the shopkeeper. This seemed to satisfy the shopkeeper, as he left soon after.

The boy spoke up, addressing Natsu, "Thanks for that…we were in a tough situation there."

The other child, a girl, stood up and bowed, "Yeah…thank you very much…"

"Hey, no problem!" Natsu waved it off, "Say, why were you guys stealing in the first place?"

"We're poor…and we don't have parents…" the girl trailed off.

The boy nodded "We've had to live on the street for some time now."

"Why don't you guys come with me then?" Natsu offered, "You can live at Fairy Tail."

"Fairy Tail?" the boy perked up, while the girl just looked confused, "You mean the Orphanage just out of town?"

"Yeah."

"I thought you had to pay or something to get in…"

Natsu looked shocked, "Heck no! Fairy Tail isn't like that!"

"Then what do you need to do to get in…?" the girl wondered.

Speaking Makarov's words, he explained to them, "All you have to do is treat each other like family. That's it."

"Wow…can we really come with you?" the girl asked, "Fairy Tail seems nice…"

"Of course you can! Let's go!" Natsu grinned at them.

The trio ran excitedly towards the town exit.

"I'm glad…" the girl says, "We'll finally have somewhere to stay…"

"We'll need to repay him lots for this!" the boy beamed in joy.

"Alright, guys," the pink-haired teen spoke,

"We'll be at your new home in no time!"

Can anyone guess who the two thieves are?

Thank you for reading!

Review, please!

~Miyuki