Title: Gladys the Deathbringer

Author: Risa

Pairing: Natsu/Gray

Rated: T

Disclaimer: Gladys is a figment of my imagination. Everything else is Mashima's.

Summary: The formidable Gladys is said to be able to bring an end to any loving relationship by using forbidden magic to manipulate the memories and perceptions of her victims. How will Natsu and Gray fare against such a foe?


ONE: The Land of Ardent Love

Erza sat perched upon her chosen bar stool, nibbling at her shortcake while trying to drown out the hustle and bustle of the guild. Although this place felt like home, she was working on a terrible headache brought about by not being able to sleep well. Various things haunted her mind, such as Jellal and, well, mostly that. She bit right into her fork as though she intended to eat that along with her cake, though only Gazille was known to do something like that. Now her tooth ached along with her head, and the leg of some table behind her crashed right into her cake and tea.

Enough was enough. The moment she slammed her gauntlets against the counter, all rowdy parties fell into a dead silence with the exception of two. Natsu and Gray were getting awfully cocky about their strength, daring to carry on with their idiotic squabbling while Erza was just trying to relax, for once. She needed a break from them, though she understood their need to take their pent up frustration out on each other. She often took her own frustration out on them, just like she was about to now.

She yanked Natsu by the hair off of an entirely nude and yelling Gray, then yanked Gray off the floor and slammed their heads together. It got the bickering to stop at once.

"You two need something more constructive to do than fight all day," she said, leaving them both to nurse their dizzy, bleeding foreheads and she browsed the missions board. She would not be joining them on this one, because she was so sick of both of them at the moment. At this rate she'd kill them both much quicker than they could ever hope to kill each other. She would talk Lucy into staying behind, too, or perhaps joining her on a separate mission, if money was tight. Happy wouldn't even be able to catch up with how fast she planned to send them flying out the door.

It was high time certain sectors of the strongest team took an opportunity to strengthen their bonds. Natsu and Lucy (and Happy) already had the most cooperative bond within the four of them. Then there was Gray and Erza, who shared a more subtle support for one another. Natsu and Gray had the best potential, considering that the rivalry would push them above and beyond. Natsu had a lot of sleeping power within him, but he'd never even dream to surpass Erza if he kept charging at her like a mad bull all of the time. No, really, if he even hoped to get better without the use of major guild and town threats to supplement his sleeping strength, he would need to use his competition with Gray to unlock his power. Furthermore, Gray needed to learn to be less reckless and shed himself of a few... unfortunate habits, though she admittedly had less hope for him.

She browsed that board for several minutes, trying to find the perfect mission that would help them bond. Rather, a mission that gave them no choice but to cooperate, rather than something that would enable them to go their separate ways until the mission was complete. That was when she came across a request from the Town of Balsam. The headline was Gladys the Deathbringer, and the description was that this malicious woman was capable of tarnishing any relationship that was once loving. Couples married for as long as fifty years separated, familial ties were broken, and the crippling amount of sorrow and loneliness in the town has driven up the demand for booze, and the once thriving farm town was rotting away.

It was perfect. No petty mage could break a bond between members of Fairy Tail, that much was for certain. That, and Natsu and Gray weren't afraid of anything. Even so, Erza could understand if a pair like Alzack and Bisca, or Team Shadow Gear would be too reluctant to go. However, it was right up Natsu and Gray's alley. The reward for this mission was 200,000 jewels, and again the two of them would sooner blow up everything in their path than let something destroy their questionably existent minds.

They managed to peel themselves up off the floor by the time Erza started walking back toward them. She could practically feel their knees rattling, and when she thrust the mission toward them they clung to each other for support. It was almost cute.

"Here's something constructive," were her orders, and Gray eventually reached out and observed the mission. Natsu's eyes widened at the description, and his expression went dark for a moment. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was when allies turned on allies. When people who were supposed to love each other turned away from one another, it amounted to basically the same thing. His love for his friends was so strong that he took every attack of bonds between people personally.

"I'm ready when you are, Erza," said Natsu, cracking his knuckles. "Where's Lucy?"

"Lucy and I won't be joining you," said Erza. She would spend her day eating cake, bathing, and napping, she decided. One quiet day. That's all she wanted was one quiet day, and for Natsu and Gray to actually learn to cooperate with one another. It was risky, no doubt. Her and Lucy usually acted as mediators for their behavior, but the training wheels needed to come off at some point, because if they didn't then by her repository of a thousand swords those two would suffer a pain history would be too scared to tell.

"What? That's impossible!" said Gray, glaring at Natsu who was already glaring at him. Erza's fists clenched in a very metallic clank, and if they refused to cooperate then those metal fists would fly. Their burning gazes were extinguished, and suddenly Erza seemed to grow about eight feet over their heads.

"You will do it. Cooperate, or else."

If they were the types to wet their pants in fear, they would have done it five times by now, and they nodded profusely as falls of sweat roared down their backs.

"Good," said Erza. "Now go."

"AYE SIR!" They said in unison, stampeding out of the guild. She meant to tell Gray to put some clothes on first, and she told Mirajane to contact Balsam at once. They left just in time for Happy to be done with his plate of fish, and once the wings shot out Erza knew he intended to follow automatically. She grabbed Happy by the tail when the winged cat attempted to take off in their direction. This trip was strictly for Natsu and Gray, after all.

"But Erza, they're gonna kill each other without us," said Happy, trying to struggle out of her vice grip. It may have been wise to at least have Happy along. Then again, knowing Happy's tendency toward mischief and sarcasm, he would probably just make things worse. Nope, just because the training wheels came off didn't mean they could ride the bike no-handed yet.

"It's for the best," said Erza, using her free hand to sip tea. She let Happy go once he conceded. Natsu very rarely went on missions without Happy. Would he be completely lost without his dearly winged companion? Who would drag him off the train after the motion sickness completely overwhelmed him? Gray would probably just leave him behind and take care of the mission himself.

"I'll save you, Natsu!" said Happy jetting forth, though his efforts were fruitless, because Erza had him by the tail once more and was unrelenting. Those two had no choice but to cooperate.


"An hour and a half?" said Natsu, his cheeks as pale as death already. Was there enough time to track down Wendy and have her cast troia on him? No, it was already at the station. Damn, damn, damn.

"You're pathetic, Natsu," said Gray, dressed in shitty souvenir clothes. This particular train station was used to Gray's random nude appearances, and made him buy clothes before he climbed on board. This time it was chafing boxers, sweat pants with the station's logo, and an ugly brown, wrinkled botton up shirt. It didn't matter anyway, because they'd just be gone within the next twenty-four hours. Perhaps the only reason this station didn't ban Gray from the general area is because he was one of their best customers, not by choice, mind you.

"Who's pathetic? Who tries to get on a train naked but you, you squinty-eyed pervert!"

Before Gray could respond, the conductor announced the departure of their train, and the two of them headed on board glowering at each other the entire way to their seats. With anyone else Gray would insist that he grab the window seat, but with Natsu, well. The window seat was a requirement with Natsu, for obvious reasons. Too bad they didn't think to pay Wendy a visit before this, because an hour and a half was an awfully long time to put up with Natsu's shit.

Then the train jerked into motion, and the moaning and groaning commenced. Gray was the one who wanted to be sick. After all, it wasn't like he did anything to deserve being stuck on a mission with this loser. At the same time, he valued his life, so he wasn't even going to exercise the thought of grumbling with Erza about this anymore than he already had.

What she was trying to do was obvious. Gray had seen this particular mission up for weeks, and a few people voiced their reluctance to do it. Gray just didn't want to do it because it seemed too easy. Well, now that he was with Natsu, alone mind you, that was the greatest challenge of them all. Of course, he ought not to be so quick to judge the mission as "too easy" now that he was on it. Erza and Lucy weren't here, so Gray would have to be the brains on this team. That didn't seem too terribly difficult.

Gladys the Deathbringer. He spent his time occupying his mind with the mission and grabbing onto Natsu's shirt anytime he seemed dangerously close to falling out the window. The people sitting across from them had long since relocated, which was expected. After awhile Gray had to keep one hand clutched to the dangling Natsu at all times, while the other hand was on the mission. This lady could destroy any relationship, so it seemed. Apparently it was magic at work, because even the closest of partners went their separate ways.

He had once heard this town described as The Land of Ardent Love. It was lush, green, and filled with any type of plant and vegetable native to the area that anyone could imagine. There were also the Sunset Hills he once overheard Juvia and Mirajane gossiping about, but he tuned it out in favor of beer with Cana after just hearing the name. People often had their weddings and honeymoons in Balsam. That was common knowledge. The Deathbringer had plenty of targets, but the motive was unclear.

The exact magic being used was also unclear. It had to be a magic that manipulated hearts and minds, though, so it was definitely forbidden. He supposed that, if she was even able to separate the happiest of marriages and the tightest of families that he had to be on his guard. Natsu might have seemed like a logical choice to have as a partner because they seemed to hate each other, so what effect could the magic possibly have on them?

Seemed being the keyword. When Gray was actually forced to stop and think about it, he really didn't hate Natsu at all. He was insufferable, loud, destructive, and was overall the hugest pain in this ass that he could possibly be. At the same time, Gray fought with him because it was fun. It was easier to piss Natsu off than anyone else, and he got a good workout pummeling the flame mage. Also, some of the best insults he had ever come up with came from fights with Natsu, and he had to admit, he recycled the ones he was proud of on enemies. Natsu was as much a source of strength as an annoyance.

What was the best way to approach this so-called Deathbringer? He supposed he and Natsu could just act naturally, but if she was fine-tuned in what made a relationship work then she would find some way to put an end to all of Natsu and Gray's epic fights, which wasn't cool. Gray needed to amuse himself somehow.

Another way to approach this witch was to fool her into thinking that they were best friends. Well, they were already sort of best friends. Gray would have to pretend Natsu was someone else, probably. Lucy? No. Natsu didn't have the underwear for it. He wasn't scary enough to be Erza. Juvia? Hell no! The last thing he needed was a bunch of weird blathering about love and junk from NATSU of all people.

Damn, was there really no one Gray was buddy-buddy with in a conventional sense? Well, he supposed the closest that came to mind was Lyon. Their relationship was essentially the same as his with Natsu, only not quite as violent. Not to mention Lyon thought of himself as elder and superior, which was always annoying. Still, Gray could stand to be polite to and work with Lyon if the situation called for it, so he supposed this was a starting point. Treat Natsu how he would treat Lyon.

But wait. He didn't really pay attention to how he treated people all that much. It usually wasn't necessary. Crap. And if he didn't keep his charade in check at all times then Gladys would figure it out. Then there was Natsu to think about. How the hell was he going to get a complete idiot to follow a plan like that? It was hopeless. The two of them would have to ride on the hope that, whatever power Gladys had in mind manipulation, she lacked in physical strength.

It seemed like eons passed by the time they had reached the Balsam station. Gray's hand was still gripped to Natsu's shirt, and he didn't bother to try and rouse the pathetic flame mage from his sickened stupor. He just grabbed both sets of luggage from the top in one hand and dragged Natsu through the train with his other, garnering a few unwelcome stares, but hey. This was basically routine at this point.

Once they were off Natsu found the strength to stagger on his own, which was good because Gray didn't feel like carrying his damned stuff. Gray shoved Natsu's luggage into his wobbly arms as the two of them wandered away from the station. It was already a sight to behold. Streets littered with enough hard stuff to make Cana blush, and that wasn't all. Every other building appeared to be boarded up and run down in some way. Some man who apparently reeked enough of urine to make Natsu's eyes tear up was sleeping in an alley between an apartment complex and a foreclosed restaurant.

"Tch, Land of Ardent Love indeed," said Gray, scratching his head. He was sure some part of this town must have gone unscathed, but with all trash and browning green he found his optimism dying as quickly as the gardens. Very few places seemed lively and appealing. Most of those places were bars and pubs, which were all packed. That was most unfortunate, because he was hungry.

"I've never smelled so much alcohol in my life," said Natsu, his cheeks retaining a hint of their previous green from the train. Natsu was not an alcohol drinker. Alcohol and fire did not mix, which he learned the hard way once. Besides, Natsu had no need to be under the influence of anything. He was enough of a crazy idiot sober.

"Let's just get this over with," said Gray, spotting the mayor's house.

For once, they agreed on something.

TBC

A/N: I don't anticipate that this is going to be a terribly long fic. Depends on how much detail I feel like going into. It wasn't even supposed to be a multipart one, but it grew in my mind, thus called for it. Also, any excuse to get Natsu and Gray alone together? Hee. I'm pretty new to writing for this fandom, so feedback would be super!