Fanfic #3, let's do this! I know that Edolas is all very familiar to us, but worry not, this isn't a copy. I also know that planet Earth is very familiar to us (I hope it is) and woAH wouldn't it be cool if FICTIONAL characters ended up in the REAL WORLD?! Finding Nakama is still ongoing though; don't panic. I don't own Fairy Tail by the way, just holding 'em hostage for a while.
.:Fairy Tail, Earthland:.
Nab Lasaro studied the request board hard. Today was a Sunday, so it was expected that plenty of jobs would be available. Except, nothing was there. A rather buff mage ran up to the board for the tenth time in the past ten minutes. "Damn! Nothing yet? This is so unmanly!"
"Hm," Nab studied the cork. "Looks like I won't be working today."
"Like you work any day," Erza stood behind him and crossed her arms. "The S-Class Trial candidates will be announced today and you haven't even lifted a finger."
The pudgy man shrugged. "Nothing here suits my interests."
"That's because there isn't anything there," Mira walked up with a sweet smile and pinned a single pamphlet onto the board.
Elfman exclaimed. "AHA! Thanks Mira-nee, you're a man!"
He swiped at the paper but it was gone in the flash of an eye. "Sorry Elfman, but I'll be taking that." Macao winked with it in between his fingers.
"Dad, can I come?" Romeo jumped in, eager to be nominated.
"Now son, your old man needs to take care of the important stuff like— babysitting?!" His eyes bugged when he read the request. "Who in the right mind adopts a baby Vulcan?"
His son's eyes sparkled with hope once again. "Does that mean I can do it instead?"
Macao scratched his head as he inspected the fine print and cleared his throat. "Come along and watch the great Macao Conbolt, future S-Class mage, on the job!"
"Wow, everyone's really putting in their all this year, aren't they?" Lucy opened the guild doors watching the father and son race out the door. "Hopefully nothing goes wrong like last year."
"You mean seven years ago." Levy corrected behind her. "We haven't aged a bit, dermatologists must hate us!"
"Right," Lucy laughed and the two of them stepped inside with an armful of books. "Do you think you'll be a candidate?"
"Me?" Levy playfully shoved the blonde, causing her friend to nearly topple over. "Eep! Sorry Lu-chan! But did you see me a Tenrou Island? I got my butt kicked."
"Oh right," Lucy plopped her books on a table. "Wasn't Gajeel there to help you, though?"
Levy grew pink and she made a face. "Wh-What does that have to do with anything?"
"No~thing." She winked and looked at the table littered with books and sighed. "What did that request want us to do again? Become librarians?"
"Well these are all first editions so they need touch up work." The bluette nodded to the crooked spines and loose pages sticking out. "And to sort them."
"Alphabetically?"
She shook her head and pulled out her glasses. "That and the year published, and some of them go wayyy back to IV500."
"That was over a thousand years ago!" Lucy cried and plopped down in a chair. "I guess this is why they offered a reward. No one wants to spend all day looking at The Meanings of Rocks and How to Live off of Powered Water."
"I'll use my Gale-Force Reading Glasses for the sorting,"
"And I'll stick with the binding," Lucy got out the glue. "Agh! The top is stuck! Where's Natsu when you need him?"
"Where is he, though?" Levy wondered, not looking up from her work.
"Oh right! He's got some kind of Dragon Slayer flu or something." She frowned. "He ate something he wasn't supposed to again. Hey Elfman, could you help wi—"
"I'm here for you, Princess." Loke shimmered into existence and easily popped off the cap with a charming smile.
"Oh, thanks!" She beamed, not bothering to question his random appearance. "You can go back now, I'm sure you're busy on a date or something."
"You're the one true love for me, princess." He bowed down and shimmered his way back to the Spirit World.
Levy and Lucy worked hard on their librarian work while the rest of the guild went to work as well, finding anything and everything they could do to help out. Jet and Droy had taken over the bar, despite Mira telling them that won't make a candidate difference. Gajeel had been out with Pantherlily after another session of meditation under the waterfalls and came back just before sunset.
"Hey Shrimp, whatcha working on?" He leaned over Levy's shoulder and scrunched up his nose. "You sure this isn't just dust?"
"It's Zeref's Guide to Zucchinis." She replied and closed the book. "Done! Lu-chan how about you?"
"Yeah I just," the blonde held up her glued fingers. "I need to wash this off."
"Juvia can wash it off!" The water mage came out of nowhere, surprising even Gajeel. "But only if Love Rival promises to stay away from Gray-sama."
"Please, I haven't seen him all day. You really don't have to worry." Lucy sweat dropped and was rewarded with sticky-free hands. "Thanks Juvia."
The mage pouted, not having seen her beloved Gray-sama either. "Juvia did it for Gray-sama!"
"Hey Levy, I'm gonna go grab some—" Lucy stopped and watched Gajeel pester her best friend and decided to leave them alone. "Mira! Can I get something to eat?"
"Actually," Jet popped up from behind the counter. "I'm on duty today."
"No," Droy shoved him over with a drumstick in hand. "I am."
Lucy put her head on the counter. "Guys, I just want a snack."
"If Droy hasn't eaten it already," Jet shot his partner a look. "What can I get you?"
"Do you have any uh," She squinted at the menu. "Blazin' Flamin' Chicken Wings?"
"Ooh! Spicy foods!" Droy retrieved a bucket of said order. "Not my taste, wouldn't think it was yours either."
"Not for me," She smiled and placed her payment at the bar. "I want to cheer up Natsu, I don't think he'll be able to participate this year."
"Well in that case take some of this," Jet threw a fish at her so fast, she almost dropped it. "Raw, just how Happy likes it."
"Thanks! I'll be sure Mira gives you two a raise." Lucy waved goodbye and left the guild in search for her missing team members and sighed. "Probably sulking at home."
She carried the steaming boxed chicken with the fish on top in her arms and walked off-path to the remote location of Natsu and Happy's house. It was a beautiful day, summer was just ending and a cool breeze tousled her hair. Lucy enjoyed the weather until she realized that she had forgotten the way to the small cottage.
"Why, oh why did they have to choose the forest?" She grumbled and nearly tripped over a rock. "I'm hungry myself you know, maybe I'll just eat the Blazin' Flamin' Chicken Wings myself."
After trudging along for the next ten minutes, she finally spotted smoke puffing out of a little chimney not too far away.
"Natsu!" She knocked on the wooden door. "It's Lucy, I brought you something!"
She stood there, holding out the food, but no one ever came to open the door.
"Natsu?" She knocked harder and held and ear to the door. "Happy? You in there? I got some fish too, although it's a bit…" She held the seafood away from her nose "Old."
Still no response and she grew impatient. "What if they're not even home?" She widened her eyes and set her head on the door. "They're probably at the guild! Master should be announcing the candidates by now."
With a sigh, she pushed off the door, but then it clicked and swung slightly open. "They left it unlocked?" She cautiously pushed it open with her finger and stepped inside. "It's a mess in here! The place was clean when I left the last time."
"Lu…sheee." A small voice came from the corner to her right and she was surprised to find Happy on the floor, under Natsu, squished. "Save me."
"Happy!" She exclaimed and set the food down. "What happened to Natsu? Is he passed out?"
"He kept trying to get out of bed and go to the guild, even though I told him not to. Then I tripped over something and he tripped over me and then fell asleep." Happy whined.
"You wouldn't be tripping over things if you picked up after yourself," Lucy sighed and nudged Natsu off of his Exceed. "I got you fi—"
"Fooood!" Happy cried tears of joy and flew towards where she had left the fish.
"You're welcome," She sighed again and leaned towards Natsu. "Now your turn. Natsu! Gildarts wants to fight with you!"
"Hubwuh?!" He shot up and blinked a few times. "Fight me Gil—" and then was cut off by a round of coughs. "Luce? What are you doing he— food? Food!"
His nose twitched and he followed Happy to where the Blazin' Flamin' Chicken Wings were. The contents of the entire box was then dumped into his mouth, bones and all.
"You shouldn't eat that fast!" Lucy got up and snatched the box away. "Especially when you're not feeling well."
"Whaddya mean? I'm feeling fine." He stood suddenly and made for the door. "We need to go on a job! The S-Class— ugh." Turning green, he pivoted and made for the bathroom instead.
"Lushee." Happy rubbed his belly and burped. "You saved me…do you have any more fish?"
She tossed a washcloth at him. "You're gonna help me clean up this place."
"But—"
"Then the three of us can go back to the guild." She finished and took the broom that was currently being used a coat hanger. "Then Wendy can help out Natsu and we'll her the S-Class results."
"And fish?"
"And fish."
The Exceed took the washcloth and rapidly wiped down a table. "Ayee sir!"
It wasn't long before the two of them had the cottage looking spic-'n-span with Happy exclaiming "Max Speed!" 95% of the time and Natsu out cold. The sun hadn't even set by the time Lucy pulled of her rubber gloves and took it all in.
"Not bad." She smiled and found Natsu on the couch. "Do you feel good to go to the guild?"
"I'm all fired up." He dully rolled onto the floor and stood up, yawning. "Hey Happy, I think my fever's gone down."
"It dropped a lot!" He flew onto his partner's messy hair. "110 already! You'll be good in no time."
"Is 110 normal?" Lucy murmured and led the way outside. "I'm pretty sure that's not normal. Then again, Natsu's not normal."
"…talking to herself again, what a weirdo." She caught on to Happy's whispers and promised herself to hide the fish.
"I can hear you." She muttered.
"Oi, Luce! Where ya goin'? The guild's this way!" Natsu went left when she turned right.
"What do you mean?" She stopped and frowned. "This is the way I came."
"Pfft, Lushee took the long way." Happy giggled and flew left.
"What are you…?" Clueless, she followed the two and found that the back entrance of the guild was less that a two minute walk away. Two minutes! "Unbelievable."
The three of them entered the guild hall, Natsu with a tinge of green, and Happy's first move was to get more fish. "Mira!" He flew to the bar only to find a very sullen looking duo. "Eh? Jet and Droy? Are you working at the bar now?"
"Mirajane says we have to work 'til the day is done and then we're free." Droy sadly set down an empty bucket of drumsticks.
"Here's your fish, Happy." Jet sluggishly brought out three fillets and slid them across the counter.
"But I can't accept these with you so sad!" Happy whined. "What happened?"
Jet had set his head on the bar and lifted his arm to point towards the request board. "S-Class candidates are up."
"Aw," The blue Exceed slowly ate his fish and sighed. "Guess you two'll have to try again next year?"
"Ahh! Let me see!" Natsu pushed through the crowd with as much energy as he could muster only to be faced with his greatest fear. "Gramps! Why didn't you put me on the list?!" Fire spewed out of his mouth in his rage.
"Natsu." Erza came up from behind him. "How are you feeling?"
"I'M FEELIN' ALL…fired…up…" Consciousness slowly left him as he drifted to a sleep.
Erza sighed and lifted him over her shoulder. "I'll take Natsu to the infirmary, though he'll probably throw another fit when he wakes up."
"Lu-chan!" Levy bounced on the blonde with a smile. "I made it! Look!"
"I knew you would!" Lucy hugged her friend, not needing to look for confirmation. "Congratulations!"
"No, Lu-chan. Look!" Levy drew Lucy towards where the results were posted and the Celestial mage's jaw dropped.
"Me?!" She squeaked.
"Gihi, I made it too." Gajeel smirked and crossed his arms. "Pantherlily will be my partner again, of course."
Lucy squoze her way through to get a better look at the board, it said:
X792 S-CLASS EXAM
LOCATION: MOUNT ANTRO
PARTICIPANTS:
GRAY FULLBUSTER
LEVY MCGARDEN
GAJEEL REDFOX
WENDY MARVELL
LUCY HEARTFILIA
ELFMAN STRAUSS
"Only six this year?" Lucy questioned and then took a second look. "Wendy!"
"I know, I'm surprised too!" The Sky Dragon Slayer commented shyly. "Natsu-san was supposed to be chosen but since he got sick, Master decided to take a vote from the whole guild."
"Congrats on winning!"
"I feel bad for Natsu-san!" Wendy persisted. "I couldn't help him with his fever and now I'm taking his spot! He's gonna be mad at me." She began to tear up.
"Wendy!" Carla flew over. "Stop crying!"
"B-But Natsu-s-san!" She wailed and Carla hit her head.
"I'm sure Natsu will understand." Lucy assured her. "Besides, how could he get mad at you? You did nothing wrong!"
"I-I guess…" Wendy sniffled. "Wh-Who are you choosing for your partner, Lucy-san?"
She had almost forgotten. "Huh? Oh, well it depends on who's already been picked."
"Let's see," Levy recalled her memory. "Wendy is with Carla. Gajeel as you already know has Lily. Gray chose Freed. Lisanna and I had a bet going on so I'm with her. Oh! And Elfman picked Evergreen! Can you believe it?!"
"Something happened between those two on Tenrou, I just know it!" Lucy nodded. "Hm, I'd choose Cana, but Master passed her last time since she did technically find Mavis' grave. I guess I'll have to go with—"
She was cut off by a sudden chill that spiked down her back. Turning slowly, she was met with Juvia's penetrating gaze. "Love Rival wants to be with Gray-sama alone on Mount Antro while Juvia is stuck here, doesn't she?"
"N-No that's not—"
"Juvia won't let Love Rival get away with it! Juvia will be Love Rival's partner and claim Gray-sama!"
"What did she just say?" Gray turned from his table with a scared expression and stripped off his boxers in his nervous state.
"Kya~! Gray-sama!" Juvia melted and left Lucy alone.
"What just happened?" Lucy stood there, dumbstruck.
"Looks like you're with Juvia this year, Lu-chan!" Levy patted her friend on the back. "Good luck! The Trials start tomorrow, we leave in the morning, so get some sleep!"
"Mhmm," Lucy nodded absently and thought to herself. This was going to be interesting.
Well that marks the end of chapter one! (And hopefully this one doesn't go over 100 *glares at Finding Nakama*) This was a bit of an expositional chapter as you can see, they are not on Earth. The pace will pick up in ch2, promise! Read on and expect the next chapter to be soon! (Followers of FN collectively laugh at the blatant lie)
Questions/comments/concerns/rants? Drop by a review or even slide into my PM's, for I have an answer! 8XxAnimexX8, out!