Foreword; This is a story that has been created by myself and the wonderful xMissFortune. Please be sure to check out her other work.
We wrote this originally as a roleplay, with xMF playing Gray and myself as (*cough* the far superior) Natsu, and it currently has 8000k messages. This chapter does not even cover the first page. It is long.
Rating; Currently T, but subject to change.
When Natsu, seemingly out of nowhere, slammed his fist in front of Gray, most present at the guild suspected a fight to follow. After all, it always did. It was one of the norms in Fairy Tail, as predictable as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. Hence, no one expected the Dragon Slayer to actually push a guild mission in front of his rival and demand he join him.
No one, least of all Gray, knew how to react to this.
But Natsu had that look in his eyes. That one of pure defiance and arrogance. The kind that was very punch-worthy in Gray's opinion. It was also one that was very difficult to say no to.
Acceptance was inevitable.
With the female half of their team away on photo-shoots, Cana plotted a betting pool with high stakes against their survival. Mira squealed in joy and kept muttering incoherently about Strongest Team Bonding. Makarov started to tear up and write apologies in advance, saying goodbye to the guild's hard-earned prize money so soon after their victory at the Grand Magic Games. A good half of the members laughed and the other half tried to pinch themselves awake.
None of this stopped the unlikely team. They went ahead in search of glory, rewards and a stronger friendship. But above all else-!
For Natsu to finally prove to Gray and everyone else that without a doubt, he was the strongest.
"You've got the mission, right?" Natsu asked as he walked blindly forward, hands behind his head and unwilling to admit that he hadn't paid much attention to the paper other than seeing some monster and the cash figure.
Hands in pockets, Gray trailed after the Salamander with a face that could only be described as bored disdain.
"Yeah, yeah, right here," he pulled the paper out, scanning the details with a little scrutiny. "You'd think they'd get a better shot of this thing considering its size."
The outline of the monster that terrorised the nearby towns barely showed any distinctive features that they could recognise it by, except for its size and human-ish shape. There were dates and sighting details, but not much to go on.
Gray could already feel a twinge of annoyance at the dumbass walking so casually in front of him. 'Bastard probably didn't read shit when he picked it out,' the Ice Maker thought to himself bitterly. 'Because, fuck it, it's Natsu, and that already means he's most likely just going to charge in and punch the first thing or person he thinks looks similar to the picture.' The paper crinkled under the pressure of his fingers and the ice-mage decided to put it away should he accidentally rip it. The faster they did this, the faster he could not catch 'stupid' and go home.
As the Ice Maker muttered about the mission at hand, Natsu opened one eye to peer down at the request. He had to admit the Ice Block was right – not that he would say it. The shot was truly awful, but luckily the Dragon Slayer didn't pay much attention to the detail. Happy or Gray would be able to point them in the right directions, towards whatever needed to be beaten up. That was where Natsu's strength lay. If the stripper was going to accompany him, he might as well have his uses.
"Okay," Gray sighed in resignation, widening his step to match Natsu's pace, "The last place it's been spotted was a farming town north of this place called Mirfield. We should check the train-schedule to see what line passes near there."
Natsu suddenly stopped short.
"T-Train?" he stammered. The very thought made him nauseous. Uncovering his second origin had somehow unlocked a completely new level of travel-sickness. He still had horrific flashbacks of the long carriage journey back from Crocus. The mission hadn't said anything about a train journey! Only now did he finally notice just where the Ice Maker had been leading him, staring up at the huge train station in disbelief.
He blinked, his dismay gone just as quickly as it appeared as he replaced his anguish with a hopeful grin. "That's OK! We'll just walk, right Happy?!" he announced, looking back at the feline.
"Aye!" his cheerful blue companion agreed.
"Pfft, we're not walking there," Gray scoffed, not stopping in his stride as he began to take the first steps into the huge white building. "Well, I ain't in any case."
Natsu's jaw just hung open.
The ice mage glanced up and down the train-schedule, finding the line he was looking for. "Looks like it's a two-hour ride there," he mumbled, just loud enough for Natsu to hear over the background chatter, bracing himself for the inevitable counter-argument. This very same situation had happened way too often. He prayed for strength to accept things he could not change. For the briefest moment, he really wished Erza was here. No one questioned Erza's decisions.
Natsu twitched. Maths was one of a long, long list of skills which the Dragon Slayer simply didn't have and he had absolutely no idea how long two hours' worth of train journey equated to by foot, or even if it was possible. He just knew that two hours being trapped inside a moving magical box would be a hell that he could not endure, not after the long weeks of fighting and travelling.
He twitched again.
"C'mon, flamebrain," Gray started walking to the ticket-booth and gave Natsu a push, "Suck it up and let's go."
"Who put you in charge, Ice Block?!" he yelled as he spun around to glare at him, not caring if the general crowds were alerted to his shouting. He could feel heat growing around him as his emotions already ran out of control, an animalistic growl crossed his face. "This is my mission, Princess, and I say we walk!"
He stomped his foot against the ground and stared down his rival. Natsu had no doubt that Gray was going to take pleasure from every last moment he struggled with his sickness. He wouldn't care - and why would he? He wasn't about the endure two hours of vomiting and pain.
"Listen here charcoal-shit," Gray said slowly at first, the vein on his forehead pulsing while his words picked up speed as they went. Somehow, only this moron had the uncanny ability to make him lose his patience without much effort. "I'm NOT wasting daylight 'cause you chose to be a dumbass and not even bothered to read where we're going, so zip it! We're taking the train and-!"
Suddenly, the ice mage was all too aware of the multiple eyes lingering on them. Most of which were intrusive with curious criticism, and the other half, the ones who worked there and had seen this one too many times, slowly backed away. Gray wasn't sure if the heat he felt under his skin was anger or embarrassment. Was this how mothers felt when their kids started throwing fits in the middle of a street?
"I'm a dumbass?! You're the one who-"
"Nope. Fuck it. I'm not doing this," Gray said with a sudden jerk of his head and leveled Natsu with a flat stare. "You wanna walk?" he gestured with his hand and slowly, almost casually, walked past him. "Go ahead. Waste, potentially, five hours getting there, and when you do get there, you can make your own contribution to the mission."
He stopped for a brief moment, smirking back over his shoulder, "You know, carrying the wad of jewels I get from defeating the monster single-handedly?"
Natsu was less than impressed. They hadn't even left Magnolia and already he had lost all patience with the Ice Block. Mostly because he was right.
He met Gray's dead glare with one of his own. Heat twisted through his skin and it took every ounce of strength not to indulge the urge to punch him in the face. They were supposed to be working together, they were supposed to be a team - but then again, that hadn't stopped him from hitting his companion before and it quite possibly wouldn't stop him now.
There really should have been nothing different with this mission to any other, just the lack of girls.
The train whistle distracted the Dragon Slayer long enough for him to break his glare.
He folded his arms across his chest, reminding himself that if they fought here then the civilians around wouldn't be able to protect themselves. "When we get there I am so kicking your ass, Ice Princess. You can carry my bag of money after I kick that monster's ass with one hit," he challenged, falling in line and reluctantly handing over money for his two-hour torture session.
Getting the tickets and finding their seats went way faster than Gray honestly imagined. Goading the slayer into the train had been a gratifying experience in its own right, but he had a sneaking suspicion he'd be swallowing his words within the next two hours. Until then, he'd just settle in his seat and take the glares the Salamander was throwing his way.
With the first jerk of the engine, Natsu felt his stomach twist and flip awkwardly. Knowing that he was going to endure two hours from hell only made Natsu's senses even more heightened. Feeling every single shudder through the metallic case, he fell face first into the chair beside him, blubbering away incoherently about revenge.
Gray didn't feel guilty. He didn't.
They had done this a hundred times before, and another hundred before that. This time shouldn't have been any different. He kept his eyes plastered to the scenery outside, away from the winces and other pitiful expressions he was sure the pink-head was starting to make.
It took too long for the train to gain speed and for the inside of their window-frame to fill up with fields and trees instead of people waving goodbye to someone. The image of a too-old and too-familiar face flashed in Gray's mind. His grip on his bicep tightened slightly.
He still wasn't all there since the games.
Eventually the mage sighed and looked over to check on Natsu's state and Happy. "How are you holding up?"
'Badly.' Natsu couldn't bring himself to speak the word out loud. Nor did he even have the energy to even think of the thousand insults he wanted to throw. He barely managed to raise his shaking hand, tightening it into an angered fist just as the train took another juddering shift that made him collapse back into his seat.
"He'll be fine!" Happy announced proudly, if a little embarrassed by his travelling companion. Sometimes it was a little fun to watch him suffer, but the amusement usually passed quickly - especially when there was so little to occupy him. Gray was being even more broody than he usually was and this hadn't escaped the Exceed's notice. "It's a shame that Erza isn't here," he sighed to himself, tail falling between his legs as he sat down. "At least she could knock him out…"
"Traitor…" Natsu managed to mumble before disappearing back into his semi-lucid haze.
Gray hummed to himself, trying not stare too much at the too wide eyes. Ahh, there it was. Guilt jabbing away at him relentlessly. He couldn't help the soft spot he held for the little Exceed. 'Damn it all.'
"Scoot over," he told him with a light shake of his head and took the place between the two. He raised a pointed brow at the slayer. "You still with us, flame-brain?"
All he got as an answer was a particularly pain-filled groan when the carriage jolted.
"Right... Try not to puke on me or I'll kick your ass." With a resignated sigh, he concentrated magic to the palm of his hand, cooling it, and pressed it to the back of Natsu's neck. Hopefully, this would help the guy. He was no Erza; punching him would just result in Natsu punching him back harder.
The gravelling groan turned into a softer murmur. Natsu's frown burrowed deeper for a moment, instinctively wanting to push away from the colder element. Eventually, however, his facial features relaxed. His whimpering became less frequent, conveniently 'forgetting' who was offering aid.
"He'll be fine," Gray said reassuringly as he turned back to Happy, gently scratching the back his head. "You know he's tougher than a train ride."
As Natsu's nauseous noises got quieter, it became clear to the Exceed that he was sleeping off the worst of his journey while he could. It probably wouldn't end well regardless; Happy remembered the last time he'd fallen asleep on the train and promptly thrown up upon opening his eyes. It would at least keep him from suffering for a little while longer.
Happy smiled up at the Ice Maker thankfully as he could feel the pleasant cooling air escape into the carriage. The Exceed's fur bristled, looking between the two. "You'd have thought he was used to it by now," he said, tilting his head to the side and pawed back over to the side of his caretaker, gently listening for any changes in his breathing while placing himself by his side.
"Thanks for coming with us, Gray," Happy said unexpectedly, tail flicking from side to side. "I know Natsu's thankful too."
"Don't worry about it," Gray replied flatly, before pointing his attention elsewhere. He was pretty sure that a 'thanks' was the last thing on the Dragon Slayer's mind after he made him board the train.
Happy watched as the mage glanced out of the window, trying to decide whether he was doing his broody staring-into-nothing thing or the slightly less broody wishing away the time while on the train. He was reminded of how the Ice Maker suddenly turned all too quiet and distant on the journey back to from Crocus, after the gala for the Grand Magic Games.
That had been the last time their team had been together. It was clear to see that his Dragon Slayer had been bothered by the passiveness of his teammates, if he was even ready to consider to go on a mission with his biggest rival.
Happy couldn't help but wonder if there was more than one trigger for the unlikely team-up.
Time seemed to move agonisingly slow inside the cabin, uncaring of their impatience and troubles.
The train lurched forwards as it began to race on older, more unstable tracks, throwing the Dragon Slayer awake with the sudden shudder. He fell onto the floor, desperately trying to crawl away from what was causing him pain, but quickly realising that it was the very ground he was standing on.
With a glance out the window, just a curve of the tracks away, a small town could be seen. "Finally," Gray cracked his neck, "We're almost there Happy."
Happy grinned, looking up at Gray expectantly as the train eventually pulled into the station. He put his paws on Natsu's back and lifted him from the ground, just enough to take him from the dreaded train ride.
Even on solid ground, Natsu looked worse for wear.
The station itself wasn't particularly big. It was barely more than a slightly run down platform, nothing like the one in Magnolia which was vast and well-kept. The only attraction to greet them here was a faded out sign that said 'Welcome to Mirfield' just overhead of the entrance. Although there was little in the way of luxuries, a waiting bench was found not far off, and the Exceed carried off the dazed Dragon Slayer. It was in their best interest to wait for Natsu to get his head on straight again.
Soon enough, the Dragon Slayer started showing signs of life once again.
The midday sun was a welcome change even as it blinded him. He just sat and listened with growing appreciation the train's whistles and churnings that grew further and further away. It was a wonderful sound. He blinked, realising that the air was fresher and the land was blissfully stable under his feet. The worst was over.
As his stomach began to calm, he looked around, eyes glancing to the faded sign that he could barely read. Reading wasn't easy for him at the best of times, but the skewed symbols and disrepair made it even more difficult. He tilted his head to the side, "Who the hell would want to live in a dump like 'Mudfield'?" he asked.
Gray shook his head, letting out something between a snort and laugh. "And here I was doubting your reading abilities."
There was a soft and polite sound of a man clearing his throat. "It's Mirfield actually," said a voice almost hesitantly.
Two locals stood just on the outer rim of the platform, looking at one another awkwardly, and unwilling to step forwards to greet the wizards that had responded to their request.
Gray glanced over to the pair, a small and nervous plump man and a scrawny stoic tall one, and took in their appearances; the fine clothes, cuffed tunics and pristine leather shoes. Definitely the town's representatives, or at least somewhere within that hierarchy. Schooling his face, the mage made his first steps towards them, much to their unexpected discomfort. "Good afternoon, we're mages from Fairy Tail. We're here in reply to your, um, monster problem?"
"Monster prrroblem," the smaller one huffed with his mousy mustache, accenting his 'r'. "Is about right... We've been expecting you, Mr. errr-"
"Gray Fullbuster. Gray, is just fine," he said shaking both of their hands and not really getting why they were looking at him weirdly. He was all to glad to divert their attention elsewhere, "And those are my teammates, Natsu and Happy."
Forcing himself to throw away the last of his nausea and focus on the exciting task ahead, Natsu pushed himself between the stripper and the two representatives, pointing to himself proudly. "He means he's our teammate!" he announced, ready as ever to show Gray exactly who was the strongest.
"Aye!" Happy confirmed, flying up and fist-pumping the air.
Gray's eye twitched.
The taller stranger adjusted his monocle, not sure exactly where he was supposed to be adjusting his gaze to but certain that it probably shouldn't be towards the topless wizard. The benefit of the mage being shirtless did at least mean that they could both see the guild marks clearly on both men.
"Fairy Tail? I see! I believe that you were in the Grand Magical Games, no? I can't say I paid much attention, but my daughter, Kathy, was hooked. Although, if I remember correctly, a little disappointed that Sabretooth-Ah," the plump short man quickly caught himself short, remembering his present company.
"In any case-" the smaller man quickly corrected his rambling with a small cough. "My name is Devin Flores the IV, descended from the Flores linage, the very founders of this town, and its current mayor by right. And this, is my Head of Affairs," he gestured to the man beside him.
The taller man bowed his head quite low, a thin smile stretching his lips. "My name is Calahan Ava. My family has been serving the Flores for seventeen-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Natsu said impatiently. He had only just recovered from the crippling tiredness of his journey and he was not yet prepared to be bored to sleep by a couple of rambling old men. "You said that there was this monster, right? Where do we find it so we can beat it up?" he questioned.
There was a moment of silence as the two men exchanged a look.
"I'm afraid that there might be some misunderstanding…" the tall man said, clearing his throat and looking between the two wizards. "We don't know where the monster currently is, as no one has seen her for a few weeks now."
The ice-mage frowned; this was where the missing mission details posed a challenge. "You haven't?"
The Head of Affairs sighed and looked back at the mayor who adjusted his collar and straightened up. "Well, we don't know much of this particular monster," Devin said taking over, "But once a year, they travel from North to South via the Graya canyon, which mind you me, is a fair distance from our little town here. But-"
"Wait," Natsu interrupted, folding his arms across his chest and already feeling disappointed, concerned over the honour of the guild above all else. "You want us to beat something up for just taking its natural path?"
The man's mustache bristled as he quickly became flustered. "Oh, it isn't like that! The entire pack moves down the Graya Canyon they are quite harmless. This particular menace, however, had taken the wrong turn and stayed behind! We've done everything we can to try and steer her back almost five years now with no success!"
''Huh, so it essentially strayed from the flock and settled down in the wrong place?" Natsu tilted his head slightly to the side.
Gray nodded to himself, already planning how the problem could be potentially solved. "Does it always take the same path? Or does it just appear anywhere from the general North area?"
Devin looked at Gray, "I'm afraid that we don't know that much, only that it stalks between the river and the Northern mountains."
Natsu's eyes grew wide, looking at the strangers in disbelief. "That's miles!" he exclaimed, staggered by the completely lack of helpful information.
Gray's eyes narrowed at the two. "And is there a particular reason you failed to mention any of this in the job description?"
Devin glanced towards his companion who seemed pretty unfazed by the question, the first signs of worry (or was it guilt?) framed his face. He sputtered for a moment with a clumsy smile and innocent hand gestures. "A m-minor mistake on our part. We- we were in a hurry you see, since we've been so busy with the repairs and, well, our administration-" he jabbered away, one excuse after the other, none of which were of particular interest to the Fairy Tail mages.
Gray's eyes moved from mayor to his companion Calahan, he couldn't help but notice how his face hardened into a particular expression. That one of impatience and frustration.
The ice mage couldn't help but think that they were missing something more important than just the basic mission info.
A vacant and shabby train station, void of people and looking one puff of wind away from collapsing in on itself? The reward money that was higher than it should have been for a simple monster hunt? The well dressed mayor and his associate rambling about the degrade in economy and all of those pretty academic words politicians loved to throw around?
"-surely it should be no trouble for Fiore's strongest-"
"Keep your flatteries Mr. Devin," the Ice-Make wizard curtly cut him off. He had heard enough. He spared a glance in Natsu's direction, giving him a look he was pretty sure the Salamander would understand. "We've already taken the job."
Natsu returned the look with his own fierce one. Fairy Tail didn't back down. They'd figure this out one way or the other.
Rare were the moments where the two Fairy Tail boys seemed to have the exact same wave-length. The kind that truly made them part of 'Fairy Tail's Strongest Team'. They had taken this mission in the name of their guild and failure was not an option.
The expressions' of the two locals changed with the mages' words. Pleased and hopeful at the prospect of having their problem taken care off regardless of the lack of details.
"We have given you all the information that we have," the mayor informed them, trying to regain some of his composure. "We can arrange for an escort to take you to the last place the monster was sighted."
"No need. If we know its direction then I can track it down," Natsu said confidently, a grin crossing his face to match, despite the fact that he had absolutely no idea what this kind of monster was supposed to smell like. No, Natsu was confident.
Defiantly confident.