Oh my gawd it's finally out. This one has been in the works for a while. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own FT. *cries*
A sixteen year-old Erza Scarlet sat with her legs dangling over the cliff located at the back of the guild, shoulders slumped and tears dripping into the azure lake below. The scarlet-haired teen clasped a small piece of paper in her shaky hands. It was something she held very dear to her heart. Reedus had drawn this especially for her around three years ago. A young Erza was stood tall and proud besides one of the guild's tables with her hands on her hips. Next to her, two boys sat boldly on top of the table. One boy had spiky pink hair with a white scaly scarf wrapped loosely around his neck, his dark eyes beaming with joy and his usual toothy grin plastered on his face. The other had messy black hair and wore his classic smug smirk; not to mention he was missing his shirt. Erza clenched tighter as the paper crumpled further. A choked sob escaped her mouth which in turn urged a certain blue bundle of flying fur to approach her.
"We will find them Erza, won't we?" A very sorrowful Happy fluttered down into the girl's lap.
"We're doing everything we can, Happy," another one of Titania's futile attempts at being strong. "Natsu and Gray will be alright. I'm sure of it."
Makarov watched the pair from a distance with an equal - if not more - amount of worry surging through his being. He only prayed that his boys hadn't gotten themselves in any serious trouble. It was hard enough when one of his children returned from a job sporting new injuries, but to have his brats forcibly taken from right under his nose was just too much to bear, and even he was beginning to have his doubts. It had been weeks and the only thing they had going for them was one or two tiny splashes of the boys' blood. Please, you idiots better be alright, he prayed as a single tear fell down his cheek.
~~~ Three Weeks Earlier ~~~
The young S-Class wizard was making her merry way back to her beloved guild hall after a very successful job. Not only had she been given a hefty reward, but also a brand new set of amour. Erza had set out to defeat a beast that possessed incredible speed. To assist in the mission, her client had allowed her to borrow the Flight armour so that she would be able to keep up with her foe. Upon learning of her astounding victory, the gracious man just up and gave her the armour as a bonus. So she now strolled along the streets of Magnolia, smiling and waving to any passing locals. Nothing could possibly ruin this amazing day...
CRASH!
"Really?!" Erza huffed. She hadn't even entered the building yet and could already tell which two wizards were causing the ruckus.
Bursting through the double doors, the red-head was met with frozen stools and charred tables. Many other guild members had taken refuge behind the bar or anything big enough to block the assault. Two boys stood in the middle of it all, bruised and panting for breath. Neither of them had even acknowledged their sister-figure's presence.
"Are you two fighting AGAIN?!" The requip wizard's voice boomed throughout the guild hall, spooking everyone in range of her terror.
"E-Erza?!" Both boys' stuttered, clinging on to each other for dear life.
"I... I didn't realise you would be back so soon?" Gray mumbled, barely able to form words thanks to his sudden onslaught of panic.
"That's what I was trying to tell you," Happy grumbled. "I saw Erza getting off at the station before, but you guys were too busy fighting to even listen!"
Erza's frown deepened, eyebrow furrowing. "I've told you two time and time again not to fight. You're supposed to be friends - family even!"
"We are f-friends, Erza," Gray attempted to protest, forcing a smile on his face. "We were just doing some training... Right Natsu?"
"A-aye," Natsu proclaimed, imitating his partner.
Erza sighed. "I have to go and drop some things off at Fairy Hill, but we're not through with this conversation." She dismissed the pair before returning to her luggage outside the building and marching towards the girls' dormitory.
"Quick, this is our chance to make a break for it," Gray whispered to Natsu which sparked an evil glint in his eye. Both boys laughed to each other before making a mad dash for the guild doors and charged towards the Eastern Forest.
Erza delicately folded her unused clothing and neatly placed them in the drawer whilst muttering to herself about her two foolish younger brothers. "I can't leave them alone for two seconds without them practically reducing the guild hall to rubble. When are they ever going to grow up?" The scarlet thought back to the last time she had caught the two knee-deep in another brawl. She'd ended up sending them both away on solo jobs whilst the girl repaired any damage that had been made to guild property. What annoyed her most was that Makarov had been present the entire time and had done nothing to stop the duo from throwing their fists at one another. Upon questioning the old man, the only response she was given was
"It's natural for families to lock horns every now and then, Erza. This is just how Natsu and Gray communicate with each other. Haven't you ever noticed how happy they are when they fight one another? And don't you worry yourself about the damaged property, it can easily be fixed."
Erza still failed to see the point of how they found fighting one another so enjoyable; didn't they get enough satisfaction out of fighting on jobs? The girl huffed again before shuffling over to her scattered armour. She fashioned the gear around one of her spare manikins and admired her new addition to the collection. The red-head then picked up some paper and a pen out of the draw and began scrawling in her usual swirly handwriting. "Okay... So the Flight Armour gives me immense speed along with two swords and two knives. This should come in handy in the future." After noting down any other important aspects of the armour, Erza folded the paper nicely and attached it to the manikin. She was about to organise through the rest of her possessions when a brunette topless girl burst through the doors.
"Erza!" Cana gasped for breath. "You have to hurry! Natsu and Gray are..."
Erza's form went ridged and soon after both girls rushed back to the guild in a state of sheer panic.
Once the red-headed demon was out of range, Natsu and Gray had chased each other down to the Eastern Forest to finish their brawl. This way the pair could fight to their hearts' content without dealing any damage to the guild and once again having to deal with Erza's wrath.
"You're really in for it now, Popsicle Pants!" Natsu roared, igniting a flame in his clenched fist.
"Don't get so cocky, Flame Brain!" Gray retorted, launching his fist into his palm. "It'll be your downfall." The raven forced his hands to the ground, creating a thin sheet of ice that spread along the forest floor.
The pinkette skidded over to the nearest tree in an attempt to keep his balance, but alas, he wasn't fast enough and slipped over the frozen surface. "Ow! That hurt, you bastard!"
"You can do it, Natsu!" The small blue feline flailed, spiralling through the air.
"Karyū no," the boy inhaled sharply, puffing out his cheeks as he felt the fire spread through his being. "HŌKŌ!" Flames erupted from Natsu's throat and headed straight for Gray.
Acting upon instincts, the Ice Wizard brought his hands together and created a thick shield to defend himself from the blow. As much as he hated to admit it, Gray struggled to keep his shield intact due to his rival's intense flames that didn't seem to be letting up. Small chunks of ice chipped away as the red flames began licking the raven's pale skin. Just as his shield shattered and dissipated, Natsu too ran out of fuel and bent over, panting for breath.
Gray took this as an opportunity to strike. "Ice-Make: Hammer!" The icy weapon - that looked to be the same size as Natsu, if not bigger - came hurtling down above the teen. The pinkette barely had enough time to dodge and rolled out of the way just as it came crashing down.
"That was close..." He mumbled, wiping the sweat off of his brow.
"Yeah! You can do it Natsuuuuu!" Happy continued to cheer as the boys went head to head. The young Exceed scored through the air, but came to a sharp stop when a searing pain burst through his back and numbed all of his sense. "Natsu... I feel... Strange..."
The boys halted their onslaught of insults to witness Happy's form crumple to the ground. They both instantly turned their attention to the surrounding bushes, awaiting their opponents to reveal themselves. "Happy, you alright?" Natsu called over to his companion.
No response.
"Happy...?" His eyes darted over to the feline to see him unconscious with what appeared to be a needle in his back.
"Natsu, look out!" The next thing he knew, Gray had tackled him to the ground as another one of those needles shot through the trees, aiming at Natsu's neck. The boys then scrambled back to their feet.
Natsu ignited his fists and pointed them towards their attacker. When no one came out, the Fire Dragon turned to his rival to offer his gratitude. "Tha... Gray!"
The boy in question bore a look of discomfort on his face as he pulled out a needle from his shoulder. "What the..." Gray stared quizzically at the item before his muscles fell slack and he dropped backwards into Natsu's arms. "Ow..." The ice wizard's eyelids grew heavy as the increasing darkness pulled him into unconsciousness.
"Gray?!" Natsu panicked. "C'mon Gray stay with me." His heightened senses picked up a barely audible rustle of leaves and immediately sprang into action. "KARYŪ NO HŌKŌ!" He screamed, lighting up every tree in his wake.
"My, my, looks like we've got a feisty one on our hands," a deep masculine voice boomed through the burning forest. A gang of buff men emerged from the now crispy bushes and grinned menacingly at the young pinkette.
"Who are you?" Natsu growled, placing Gray gently on the floor as he rose into a battle stance. "And what did you do to Gray and Happy?!"
"Oh relax," one of the men chortled. "They're just unconscious. In a few hours they'll be fine."
"Now do us all a favour and surrender," another demanded in a calm manner.
"Never!" The Fire Dragon yelled, charging towards his new opponents.
The gang of men scattered, surrounding their target and his wounded friend, all clenching swords and other weapons tightly in their fists. Natsu threw one fiery punch after another at the two men in front of him. "Karyū no Yokugeki!" He cried, pushing the foes back through the trees. He was about to charge in after them when...
"Not another move, kid," a voice snarled.
Natsu's eyes widened in fear when he saw a man holding Gray up by the hair with a sword to his throat. "No don't!" The boy suddenly felt a sharp pain spread through his back and he dropped to the ground with a loud thud! The last thing he saw before the darkness enveloped him was his raven haired rival being flung over a man's shoulder and Happy being kicked off further into the woods.
Whoo! Chapter one is done! So I do have chapter two finished, but I'm going back to my usual habits of having one chapter finished in advance before posting the previous one so stay tuned!
I know I haven't been active much this year, but I'm working on it. Stuffs been happening and I just kinda shoved updating to the back of my mind, but I didn't stop writing and I don't plan on it any time soon.
There's no telling when I'll update, but hopefully it shouldn't be too long of a wait.
Anyone read the latest chapter? Be warned, I'm about to spoil.
GILDARTS! He's back! And the guys are so close to the guild! I just know that as soon as they find Zeref, Gray will somehow find out about Natsu and then all hell will break loose. I can't wait!
See ya in the next one! ;)