Chapter Two Red Riding Hood
"Once upon a time, there was a little girl with a bright red cloak..."
"Sounds... like Erza." Natsu murmured.
"Fine, Erza."
Once upon a time there was a girl with flaming red hair...
A girl walked through the woods, her tall black boots crunching the dirt beneath them as she trudged along the forest path. The trees above her sent shadows creeping over everything, not in a disturbing way, and she relished in the cool air of the shade.
The sound of a snapping twig came from somewhere behind her and she spun around, shielding the basket she carried behind her back. "Who's there?" she shouted, not at all afraid. She was a young teenaged girl, but she was positive she could handle herself.
There was no reply, and she saw nothing as her dark eyes scanned the bushes. Thinking it her imagination, she continued on.
"Little Red?" a voice breathed on her ear. She jumped, startled, and had to catch the basket before it fell.
She spun around again, but there was no one there. "My name is Erza Scarlet. You would do well to leave me alone." she said, the note of finality in her deep voice echoing through the trunks of the trees.
Little Red Erza continued along the path, a slight caution in her step now as she looked about.
"Little Red!" the voice hissed again, this time sounding almost teasing. Erza looked around, her hair bouncing. It was for that brilliance of her hair that she had earned that nickname, Little Red. But it had been ages since anyone had called her that. After all, she was not so little anymore!
Finally she caught a glimpse of something – grinning yellow eyes peering from the shadows. "I see you! Come out!" she demanded, standing her ground and setting the basket at her feet. "I'm not afraid of you!"
A form slunk its way out from behind a tree, lithe and smooth, with glittering yellow-brown eyes and a crooked half-smile. It was a boy – well, sort of. The boy was tall and slim, dressed in a long white coat trimmed in black. He had messy blue hair, and a tattoo twisting the side of his young face. The only real oddities to him, however, were the fluffy gray ears poking from his head and the tail swishing at his backside. "Little Red." he mocked, showing off a pair of fangs.
Little Red Erza stared in shock. "A wolf!" she gasped, shocked. "I didn't know there were any in these woods!"
"I'm not just a wolf! I'm the Big Bad Wolf Jallal." he moved forward as he spoke, until he was right in front of her, looking down at her wide eyes.
Little Red Erza stood her ground, even as he lowered his head and brushed his nose along her jaw line. "Something smells delicious." Jallal's voice was low and quiet, only for her ears. Erza swallowed and took a step back. Jallal turned his eyes on her, blinking slowly, so that his long blue eyelashes flicked over his cheeks, brushing against his skin gently. "Is something wrong, Little Red?"
"Of course not, Wolf." Erza said shortly, turning away but listening carefully in case he decided to attack. "I must be going now. I need to take this basket to my grandfather."
She continued along the path, glancing over her shoulder every so often for gold eyes or a tattooed cheek. He did not appear until the third time she looked, and even then she only saw him when she turned back around. "Wah!" she gasped, barely stopping herself before she collided with him.
"Ah, what's in here, I wonder?" Jallal flashed a sharp smile, sliding his hand down her arm as he reached for the basket.
"It's contents are not for you." Erza snapped, pulling away again and brushing past. "Leave me be, Wolf Jallal."
"Ah~ but Little Red, I'm terribly..." he leaned closer, eyes narrowed and dark, like honey. "Hungry."
Little Red Erza snorted and shoved him away, stalking off. "Bother me once more, and I will have to harm you."
Big Bad Wolf Jallal let out a loud, barking laugh, and then walked off into the woods, hands in the pockets of his white pants and fluffy gray tail swishing behind him.
Little Red Erza made it the rest of the way to her Grandfather's house, a sprawling building a bit like a castle, and was greeted by him. "Little Red Erza? Is that you?"
Erza's ginger eyebrows creased in worry. He sounded hoarse, he must be coming down sick again. She'd have to find his medicine.
She entered the huge house and strolled up to the bar where her grandfather was known to sit. He was sitting there. "Hello, Makarov." she said kindly, politely, as she took the seat next to him.
"Ah, Erza..." he said, and once again his voice was a bit different. Erza reached for him and he leaned away slightly.
"Is something wrong?" she demanded, eyebrows once more scrunching.
"No no! I have a cold, don't want you to get infected too!" he said, laughing. Erza's eyes narrowed.
"What a strange voice you have." she implied, warily.
"Ah, it's probably because of the cold!" he explained, smiling.
"What happiness you show, for someone seemingly sick." she was getting up now, and Makarov quickly shook his head, white hair bouncing.
"I told you, just a cold. Nothing major."
"What stupidity you have. Grandfather Makarov does not get sick." Erza grabbed at her sword, but she was seconds too late. The enchantment slammed into her, pinning her arms to her side. "Who are you!?"
Makarov – or, the image of the great Master – grew and grew. His legs lengthened, as well as his body. His hair flowed like water, smooth and blue, until it hung shaggy around his ears. The Wolf Jallal stood there, flashing sharp canines in laughter. "I should have known the great Little Red Erza would see through it."
Erza glared at him, straining against the bright yellow magic that bound her. "Let me go, Wolf! What have you done with Makarov?"
"He wasn't even here when I got here." Jallal shrugged. The ears poking out of the top of his head flattened against his hair. "Now, let's see what you've got in here, shall we?" he smiled, purposefully reaching around her to grab the picnic basket.
Erza snapped at him, but he opened the basket and brought out the magic scrolls anyways. "Ah~ how int-"
SLAM.
Jallal the wolf was suddenly knocked over the bar, the scroll falling to the floor. A few coloful words burst from his lips as he jerked himself into a sitting position, clutching at a rapidly forming bruise on his head.
Erza looked upon her rescuer with a surprised expression. It was Natsu, the woodcutter of the place. Flames danced in his hair, and his slightly manic grin as he crossed his arms over his bare chest and laughed was only slightly disturbing.
"Who are you?" Jallal growled, baring his fangs and flattening the perked ears on his head. His tail whipped.
"Name's Natsu. I take care of the place, when Gramps isn't around. And you, are totally not s'posed to read that." He picked the scroll up with his toes, kicking it up into his hand and then turning to Erza. "Here ya go."
Erza moved, realizing the spell Big Bad Wolf Jallal had cast had been broken with his concentration, and took the magic paper. "Uh... thank you, Natsu." she said. Then she turned furious eyes on the Wolf, who was just rising to his feet, looking annoyed and a little purple around his temple.
Erza and Natsu both surged forward at the same time, and Jallal fled with both eyes turned black by the fists of the two angry children of Makarov.
"The End." Lucy said.
"That's a great story. Short though." Natsu paused, hacking again. "Can I have... another?"
Lucy sighed. "Fine... I'll tell you my favorite..."
