Tokyo, Japan || November 30, 9:00 EDT ||

Ruby immediately calls Oichi and Xi Men to help her out preparing food for Zara's 9th birthday. Arthur kindly offered to take Zara to her friend's house and tried to get to know her friend. Aaliyah is baking Zara's favorite cake, peach cake since she loves her baking. The blonde girl rarely bakes dessert as she usually cooks food for everyone. Both of them are grateful as Arthur would give them time to prepare her birthday. It's hard to hide things whenever she's around and wanting to surprise her.

"Is it necessary to cook this much?" Oichi didn't bother to hide her distaste look. "Little rabbit, we cook this for an entire army. It's just us!"

"The others are bringing food as they are busy cooking as well." Xi Men pointed out and referring other celestials spirits. "We wouldn't be able to fit into one kitchen."

"Speaking of others..." Oichi stopped stirring the pot. "When are you going to form a contract with Sunny?" She asks Ruby curiously.

"Sunny?" Ruby blinks her eyes and gasped in surprise. "You mean Goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu?"

"Who else, dimwit." Rolling her golden snake eyes. "Yeah, the spoiled brat." Xi Men and Ruby are looking at her surprise by the sudden bitterness.

"You knew her, Lady Oichi?" Xi Men asks the green-haired girl.

"I did and she's worst!" Oichi exclaimed angrily and gritted her teeth angrily. "She always cares for herself alone. Brattie always thinks she's more powerful than any of us."

"Don't you feel a bit sorry for her, Oichi?" Ruby asks calmly and her temper is worse compare to Erza or Mirajane. "She was eaten by Medusa and uses her magic."

"I do but that doesn't give her the right to act all high and migh-"

Ding!

Dong!

"I'll get it, Alpha!" Xingcai volunteered and changing her human form. Blonde hair and green eyes in her teenage form. Checking the small screen by the CCTV to know their unknown visitors to see the whole team are here. "Eh? The party hasn't started it yet." Muttering under her breath and opened the door with a gentle smile. "Hello, everyone."

"Hey, Xing!" Robin greeted Ruby's spirit casually and his friends are looking at him. "That's Ruby's Chinese dog spirit, Xingcai. I met her when a young maiden and I are taking her to a snow place."

"It's a pleasure to meet Alpha's friend." Xingcai smiles and bows down politely at them. "I'm Xingcai, Alpha's friend. Come in." Allowing them to get inside their mansion house.

"Is Zara here?" Wally asks Xingcai curiously and sniffs. "It smells so good here!" Sighing happily and his stomach grumbling.

"You guys seem busy." Artemis commented and noticed a few unfamiliar Ruby's spirits are doing different respective tasks. "Did she summon you guys?"

"No." Xingcai reveals her true form as her white tail swishes back and forth. "We use our own magic to help Alpha out. This day is a very special day for Zara."

"Are all her spirits out?" Kaldur couldn't help but asking the white-haired girl curiously.

"Few stayed because they're helping Alpha out to cook different dishes since the kitchen isn't big enough to fit a few people." Xingcai explained.

"Xingcai! How am I supposed to operate this thing?" Lu Bu showed up while holding the projector in his hands.

"I haven't no clue to at all, Lu Bu." She answered truthfully and blinking her eyes. "Did you ask Alpha or Aaliyah?"

"Seaweed kick me out before I could ask sweetheart." He answered with a deadpanned expression. "Do I look like a technician to you!? I got other things to do! Damn it, why can't we use magic."

"If you must know Lu Bu, Zara is going to invite Lydia over remember?" Xingcai pointed out and the ginger-head scoffs. "Do it for her sake."

"I can help you with that, Lu Bu." Wally volunteered knowing Robin would usually help Ruby out as usual. "Can you show me the way?"

Lu Bu and Xingcai stared at him with wide eyes as they shook their heads. "We can manage-"

"You need our help because we're good with technologies whereas you don't." Wally intervened and winking at Xingcai. "You can have me- ow!" Artemis elbowed him hard with a pointed look on her face.

"Ah, everyone is here?" They turned around to see Aaliyah is covered in red as Artemis, Wally and M'gann shivered in fear by her appearance. Conner, on the other hand, could smell she's covered in tomatoes while holding a knife making him smirk.

"Ah... Aaliyah?" Wally called the blonde girl weakly and she hums in response. "Who died?"

"Died?" She frowned and noticed they thought of her murdering someone on Zara's day because of her appearance. "No one, I need to hand this knife to Xi Men. Please make yourself at home." Aaliyah walked away from them.

Wally stared at Xingcai and Lu Bu who are not surprised by Aaliyah covered in blood while holding a knife. "Why are you guys so calm!? She killed someone!"

"She didn't, Wally." Xingcai protests calmly. "She was covered in tomato because a certain spirit pranked her."

"Who?" Robin couldn't help but ask her curiously.

Lu Bu and Xingcai shared a look. "You'll meet her soon." The ginger-head answered. "Come with me, Wally. Help me out to do this thing. Xingcai, you're going to be alright to deal with them?"

"Yes." Xingcai answered as Wally and Lu Bu left. "We don't want to impose everyone to help us out."

"Hey, Zara is our friend and we volunteered ourselves." Zatanna pointed out. "Speaking of her, where is she?"

"Zara is touring her friend, Lydia around the famous tourist spot with one of our fellow spirits." Xingcai explained and hiding the fact Arthur is going to join them.

"Xingcai, can- ah!" Ruby blushed embarrassed everyone are here except Wally. "Hi?" Greeting them weakly and M'gann couldn't stop gushing her cuteness.

"Hello, Ruby. We apologize for coming in early." Kaldur spoke up and noticed she's wearing a pink apron but covered by a bit of food because of cooking. "We offered your assistance to prepare Zara's birthday."

"You don't have to, honestly." Ruby is waving it off with a wooden spoon on her right arm. "We can manage it ourselves."

"Zatanna and I can help you guys to bake something." M'gann spoke up and Ruby is in deep thought. "Ruby?"

"You should ask Aaliyah." She smiled sheepishly. "She usually prefers to bake alone than seeking help."

"But you can." Robin smirked widely towards Kaldur's direction. "Kaldur, you're the only guy who can persuade Ice Princess here."

"But why?" Kaldur looks clueless by his smirking. "We can do-"

"Do you actually have to let her do the work? Alone? Kaldur?" Artemis asks him and noticed he fancied Aaliyah.

"She-" Robin pokes her right hips and she squeals. "Robin!" Blushing furiously while glaring at him.

Robin chuckles and wipes the white flour on her right cheek. "Can I help to cook?"

"Can you help Lu Bu for the technology, please? He isn't fond of gadgets and going to destroys it." Ruby pleads and Robin sighs heavily.

"Fine, I'll do it if you ki-"

Lu Bu shows up of nowhere and grabbing Robin's back shirt. Pulling him up and he cried out surprised. "I heard my name and come with me." He ignored his cries and Ruby laughs nervously.

Zatanna smirked how Robin is completely smitten towards the scarlet-haired girl. "Kaldur, convince Aaliyah. We can't chill while they're preparing Zara's birthday."

Kaldur sighs heavily seeing their pleading looks except for Ruby. "Who wants to help Aaliyah's baking?"

"Us, girls! Kaldur!" Zatanna immediately answered and Artemis protests the idea of her joining in.

Ruby gives him a direction where Aaliyah bakes and looking at Conner. "Can you help Sun Ce and Miaka to prepare the dining room, please, Conner?"

Arthur watches them from a distance while Lydia and Zara are enjoying bumping car ride. He's taking a picture with a contented look on his face. The brunette always wanted to have a younger sibling but he couldn't since his parents died in a car accident.

"Are those your sisters, young man?" He turns around to see an elder man is asking him with a gentle look on his face.

"One of them is my sister and I made a promise to take her and her friend to an amusement park." Arthur explained and the girls are waving at him as he waves back.

"Ah, you're such a great brother." He patted his shoulder. "In the future... you're going to be an amazing father someday." The elder man left and Arthur looked shocked by his statements.

"Father... huh?" He smiled lightly and taking some pictures for them. "It would take time to find a future wife."

Lydia and Zara finished bumping car rides with a gleeful look on their faces. Arthur is waiting for them in an exit area as they approached him. "That was fun!" Lydia said happily while clapping her hands.

"Yeah! I just wish Aaliyah and Ruby are here." Zara muttered and Arthur patted her head.

"I'm your date remember?" Winking at the girls and they beam happily. "Ruby and Aaliyah are either to join us later or meet them up at home."

"Where are they, Arthur?" Lydia asks the brunette curiously while tilting her head.

"Aaliyah is helping Ruby's homework because she's struggling with her Maths." Arthur lied and hoping they wouldn't know the whole truth of Zara's surprise birthday party. "Ruby and Aaliyah wanted to join us so badly."

"How come they didn't Arthur?" Lydia asks and tilted her head innocently. "She can do her homework later."

Arthur shook his head. "Ruby wanted it to finish her homework first before enjoying the day. It won't be long cause Aaliyah is smart enough to help her out."

Robin met Ruby's spirits except for Amaterasu whenever he passed or help them out. Everyone knows his feelings for Ruby as they threatened to kill him if he dares to break her heart. He's scared of them more than Batman or Joker seeing Ruby's spirit are deadly serious of the threat. The boy wonder is not bluffing to see how much her spirits care for her deeply.

"Soo..." Wally smirked widely and Robin is glaring at the ginger-head boy. "How's the courting?"

"I'd rather face Batman or Joker than them." Robin muttered and placing the food down on the table. "Behind their beauty and handsome, they can be deadly scary."

"I wish Arthur is here to join us." Wally sighs heavily and misses his serene friend Arthur. "He adores them especially to Zara."

"It seems to me Arthur and Ruby adored young children." Robin smiles softly. "They could be long lost, brother and sister."

M'gann uses her telekinesis to placed down the cake on the table gently. Aaliyah bakes a peach cake for Zara's favorite cake. She decorates the cake into a forest with a yellow fairy in the middle holding the candle. The blonde girl did an amazing job to create a birthday cake just for Zara.

"Wow!" Lu Bu whistles with an amused expression. "Zara would be speechless to see this!" He exclaimed while placing both of his hands behind the head.

The whole team showed up and compliments Aaliyah's baking skills. "Man, I feel bad to eat this cake." Wally commented and M'gann nodded her head.

"You know, Aaliyah..." Zatanna is looking at the blonde girl. "I've never seen you a type of girl who could bake amazing things."

Aaliyah simply smiled and accepted their compliments. "Thanks. Is everything set? You have to remember, Zara's friend, Lydia, is joining us and I'm expecting you guys would be in best behavior."

"How come she only invites one girl, Aaliyah?" Sora asks her curiously and sitting on Xi Men's right shoulder in his smaller form.

"They hate her because she befriends Lydia and not someone who uses her for fame." Ruby explained it to them. "Lydia showed nothing but true kindness and Zara invites her only."

"How are we going to explain she's the only child, Lady Ruby?" Xi Men asks his Mistress.

"Make her feel comfortable like what Fairy Tail do, Xi Men-san." Aaliyah answered and her phone beeps. "They're coming, quick hide!" Everyone are hiding and Miaka uses her magic to block the food scents and their presence.

Zara, Lydia and Arthur removes their shoes and placed it on the side of the entrance before stepping in. Lydia is amazed by their home because it's too big for them to live in like rich people. Zara never shows a type of girl who uses the money to buy anything she wants but she's different. The strawberry-blonde haired girl is always humble and short-tempered.

"Ne, Lydia! Do you want a drink?" Zara asks Lydia curiously.

"Orange juice please." Lydia answered and Arthur is giving her a wink as she knows their plan all along.

"Okay!" Zara switches on the lights.

"Happy birthday Zara!" Everyone yelled and Zara jumps in surprise to see their dining room is been decorated full of balloons and banner for her name and picture.

"Everyone?" She muttered and completely looked shocked. Zara couldn't form words but only frozen in shock.

Aaliyah smiled and approaching the strawberry blonde-haired girl. "Zara?" She called her softly.

There's a chuckling voice across the room as Arthur showed up with Lydia making everyone excluding three mages look shocked to see him. "She's in shock, sis." He spoke up in his usual soft tone.

"Arthur!" Wally snapped out and giving the brunette a hug. "Man, it's good to see you again!" He's happy to see his caring and gentleman friend.

He patted Wally's shoulder and pulled away. "I wouldn't miss my little sister's birthday."

Zara snapped out and blinking her eyes. "Eh!? Is my birthday today!?" She exclaimed and forgetting her birthday is today.

"Told you she would forget it." Ruby commented and laughs nervously. "Today is your birthday, Zara. Do we have another Zara in this room?"

"N-no!" She stuttered and twiddling her thumbs. "Is ju-just that... I never knew you would do this one."

"Duh! We wanted to make it special for you, kid." Wally spoke up and winking at Zara. "We adore you."

"More troublemaker to come." Lu Bu whispered and Xi Men elbowed him gently. "Ow!" He hissed and glaring at the Chinese Dragon spirit.

"You're special to us and wanted to celebrate it with you." Aaliyah spoke up. "It's not everyday for a girl who will turn 9."

"You guys..." Zara smiled and cried in tears of joy. "Thank you!"

"You should blow a cake, Zar!" Lydia exclaim and pushes Zara's back to stand in front of the cake. "Everyone did all the work for you."

"Oi! I didn't ask them to do anything on my birthday!" Zara exclaims and tries to whack Aaliyah but she dodges it. "Da-"

"Language, Zar." Robin smirked and Zara scowled more towards the boy wonder. "You can't let Aaliyah's cake to waste if you didn't blow the candle."

"Eh?" Blinking her eyes and looking at Aaliyah. "Aaliyah... thank you." She smiles shyly and the girls excluding Lydia are gushing by her cuteness.

"Blow the cake, little one." Oichi is winking at the halfling. "Make a wish!"

Zara closes her eyes to make a wish. She wishes to see everyone again and opening her eyes to blow the candle. Everyone cheered happily as they started to eat lunch.

Aaliyah is leaning on the door while Zara, Lydia, Lu Bu, Xingcai, Robin and Ruby are playing outside to play basketball. The other Teams are socializing Ruby's spirit in their human form because they didn't want Lydia to get scared of their real form including the other's identity. Arthur frowned and starting to remember Aaliyah's word about her having an ex-boyfriend.

"Hey, Aaliyah." He calls Aaliyah and she hums while listening. "Why did you lie about you not having relationship experience?" Arthur asks him and discreetly glancing at Kaldur to see he's trying to listen in their conversation as well.

"I don't need sympathy or pity when you guys found out I had an ex-boyfriend and broke up with him." Aaliyah answered truthfully. "How will I continue our relationship when he couldn't stop loving his ex-girlfriend, Karen."

Arthur remains silent since he never has a girlfriend before. "Whoever he is, he's an idiot for letting you go. I'm sure someday you're going to find a guy who's treating you well."

"Same goes for you as well, Arthur-san." Aaliyah smiles and glancing at Robin and Ruby's direction. "Ruby and Robin just found out their feelings for each other. They're taking it slowly."

Wally approached them and sniffs while they're looking at him curiously. "Our precious Ruby is growing up so much." He almost gets teared up to see Robin and Ruby's like for each other. "Why did she choose him of all people?"

"Robin is almost close to Ruby's age, Wally." Arthur spoke up while crossing his arms. "I also know the reason why Robin wanted to pursue his relationship with Ruby because she's a special girl."

"Imagine if Erza-san is here." Aaliyah chuckled nervously, knowing Erza wouldn't hesitate to fight him whether he's worthy enough to be with Ruby or not. "She's way more overprotective compares to us."

"Erza?" Wally asks the blonde girl and he didn't know about her.

"Ru-chan's older sister, she always makes sure her baby sister is safe. One time Erza-san lock Ru-chan up to her dorm because there are few boys asking her out. Erza-san gets annoyed and frustrated so she fights them without any mercy. Poor Ru-chan, Erza-san has to follow her every move like a bodyguard." Aaliyah chuckled and catch the ball in her arms before it could smack her face.

"Come on, Aaliyah!" Zara yelled at her name while waving her arms. "Join us! You as well, ginger head!"

Wally shoots her an irritated look and snatching the ball from Aaliyah's hand. "You're on, brat! Don't ever cry when you lose!"

"Ha, it should be you, sucker!" She smirked and smirked at Lydia. "Wally is terrible at basketball and we can win this game, haha!"

Ruby holds her laugh whereas Robin didn't bother to hide it but laughing it out loud. It's either Zara or Artemis to wind Wally up and often wounding his ego and pride. Wally is not good at sports and puts him at a disadvantage. Aaliyah, on the other hand, can play fair and prefers to swim than doing this.

"Good luck, Wally. Make sure you shoot the hoops properly, not their faces." Arthur teased Wally and he gives him a dirty look. "You're terrible at basketball, Wally!"

"Thanks for the boost of confidence, Archie." He rolls his eyes and Lydia immediately snatches the ball out from his hands. "What the- hey!" Wally tries to take the ball out of Lydia's hand while she giggles and bouncing the ball before shooting it in the hoops.

Arthur chuckled and walked towards Kaldur. The Atlantean knows Arthur's scheme and he couldn't imagine Aaliyah would fall into a trap like that. "Why did you ask her relationship, Arthur?"

"Pretty hard to imagine she never been in love and I'm not a fool." He gives him an intense look while Kaldur remained calm. "You have feelings for her and somehow- you still have feelings for Tula. You need to sort out your feelings before you hurt Aaliyah."

"Tula fell in love with someone else, Arthur." Kaldur answered truthfully while he's looking at Aaliyah longingly whereas she's completely oblivious by his staring. "My heart has been lifted and no longer feel guilty. I confessed my love for her but she rejected it."

Arthur is staring at his grey eyes to see his words are true for he's going to pursue Aaliyah. No one knows what's Aaliyah's reaction if Kaldur is going to confess his feelings for her. Aaliyah couldn't handle rejection and pain for she closed her heart. Never allowing to open and give in to someone else.

"I hope you know what you're doing Kaldur." Arthur breaks his eye contact with Kaldur and looking at cheerful Lydia. "Aaliyah is special to me and I treated her as my own sister including them."

All of them could see how Arthur cares for them deeply despite they are not related to each other. "I just need time to find an opportunity to tell her soon." Kaldur spoke up while they're watching them.

Zara opened the gift coming from them with a smile on her face. She didn't want them to spend money and buy gifts for her. However, they wanted it to make special for her. Zara receives a cat stuff toy from Robin as she glares while Robin laughs. Wally and Kaldur give her an entrance ticket from an Aquarium park because they know Zara loves the ocean. M'gann, Artemis and Zatanna give her girly clothes on her actual age, not the adult version. Lydia gives her a teddy bear. Arthur gives her locket and allowing her to choose a picture she wants. He handed her another gift and Zara gives him a skeptical look.

"It's from my brother and gramps, Zara." Arthur explained and her shoulder tense. "They wanted you to have it."

Zara tears off the purple wrapper and she gasps in shock. It's a picture of the Nelson family and them with a contented look on their faces. They were so happy in this picture before Kent passed away and Caleb became Nabu's host. "This is- one of the rare moments when Aaliyah smiled."

Aaliyah smiles gently and never denied it of what Zara's opinion. They are trying their best to make her smile again and she did because of them. "I've been surrounded by dedicated people."

"Hmph! You're just saying that because-" Lu Bu flinched by Xi Men's cold look and he smiles nervously. "Ahaha... never mind~!" He prefers to be in one piece considering Xi Men is the strongest 12 Chinese Zodiac spirits.

"Thank you, Arthur." Zara hugs the brunette and he returns the gesture. "You don't know how much it means to me."

"We're your family, always and forever." He kissed her forehead.

Zara pulled away gently and it's time for her to open from Ruby and Aaliyah's gift. "This better be not a cat joke, Ruby and Aaliyah." She gives them a look.

Ruby shook her head and smiles nervously. "Actually- Robin is the only one who would do that to you. Giving you cats toy and I don't want to get involved with it."

"Why do you hate cats so much, Zara?" Lydia asks her curiously and she flinched by the sudden question.

"It's not that I hate cats, Lydia." Zara answered and she smiles nervously. She didn't want to admit her status as half cat Exceed and prefers to keep it a secret to Lydia. "I love cats but I hate people think I'm very obsessed with it."

Xingcai elbowed Lu Bu and gives him a look since he always teased Zara unstop whether a child or adult form. These two reminds them of Natsu and Gray fight nonstop. Zara opens the gift and looked speechless to see a home-made photo album. Grasping the photo album and opens it to see a picture of her and Edo-Aaliyah together back in Edolas.

"Ho-how?" She stuttered and cried silently in tears of joy. She flips another page of Edo-Aaliyah is holding Zara when she was a baby. "How did you get these pictures?" Her and Aaliyah are the same but different personalities. They have one thing in common, to see Zara's happiness.

"Lily-kun always has it in him and he wanted to give this one you." Aaliyah explained and clasping her hands behind her back. "You love looking at the picture because it gives you good memories."

"Wow!" Lydia looked awestruck to see Aaliyah in the picture. She wears a gown and tiara in some pictures. "Are you a Princess, Aaliyah!? Blue hair suits you very much! It reminds me of the color of the sky."

Aaliyah flinched and laughs nervously whereas Ruby is twiddling her thumbs. "I'm not actually a Princess." She never wanted to reveal the truth of having another encounter part from a different dimension. "Would you believe me I love to dress up a Princess?" Aaliyah asks weakly and the young heroes except for Arthur, Ruby, Zara and her spirits know she lied.

"I never peg you as a Princess-y type, Aaliyah." Wally pointed out and looking at Zara's photo album. "How come your hair is blue?"

"That is because we went to a different dimension called Edolas." Aaliyah answered. "The one in the picture is my doppelgänger. My encounter self is a Princess of Edolas Kingdom and before I used to have blue but it changes during our mission." She explained and didn't want to tell everything about the Tower of Heaven incident.

"Dress up or not, you're always fitted enough to be a Princess." Lydia smiles happily. "I know that you aren't born in the royal family yet you act like it. A kind Princess."

Aaliyah coughs and hiding her blushed while Arthur looks amused. She's already embarrassed by Lydia's comments. "I think we should drop the Princess comments please?" Smiling nervously and everyone snickered by her shyness.

"Thank you so much everyone." Zara thanked them with a smile on her face. It's her first time celebrating a birthday without Lily and Edo-Aaliyah by her sides. Usually, it's Lily and Edo-Aaliyah to celebrate birthday with her. Now, all of them are here to celebrate. She never would have thought everyone are willing to make this unforgettable moment with Zara. It makes her happy and wanted to cherish this moment forever.