A/N: I am so glad that you guys are giving this a chance and seem to enjoy it! Thank you so much for those of you who reviewed; I really appreciate it. I know things might start off a little slow, but don't worry it'll all pick up soon I promise.
EDIT: Omg my apologies if anyone read this with those missing names. This is the 3rd time Fanfiction has saved changes I've made to a document and then used the older version after I've updated the chapter -_- its so embarrassing.
Chapter 2- The Professor
Gray Fullbuster wasn't quite sure how he got himself roped into going with Natsu, Happy, and Lucy to a college town filled with bookworms and geeks and teachers.
Okay, that was a lie— he knew exactly how he ended up hopping on the train at the last minute because it would be a cold day in hell before he'd let the flamer get lone bragging rights about 'going to school'. That just wasn't going to happen; besides, what did Natsu know about studying and research? He probably hadn't ever read a book to the end before.
He's probably never even started a book before.
Although he couldn't blame Natsu for that. Books were pretty boring. He never understood how Levi and Lucy found them so enthralling, spending hours on end with their noses buried in paper and words and chapters.
Lucy seemed really excited when they left; she said she had only ever visited the University in Magnolia once before and that it was supposed to be small compared to Kizern.
"It's the biggest and most prestigious school in Fiore!" She said, practically bouncing in her seat. She was completely ignoring Natsu who was flopped over, head in her lap and getting greener by the minute. "You know, if I hadn't joined Fairy Tail I might have gone to school eventually."
Happy laughed. "What would you study?"
"Maybe writing. I don't know."
Gray had tuned out the conversation from there. He knew that people went to school for a lot of things but he never understood why some of them went to school for magic. Magic wasn't something that could be taught in a classroom; it had to be learned step by step and he couldn't fathom anyone doing that among lots of different students.
Ul only had two of us and we practically drove her crazy.
Envisioning thirty other kids trying to learn magic the way they did was hilarious. It would be utter chaos. Besides, the world didn't need a bunch of other people stripping throughout the day. Still, even Gray would admit that he was interested to see how this school worked. With all the different things going on lately (from the war with Phantom to Laxus being expelled) he was beginning to realize that a lot happened every day in the world that he wasn't very aware of.
He had no idea about Lucy's past or that her father was such a powerful (and crazy) person. That there were people out there that were so bent on money and prestige that they would walk all over family to get it and threaten lives or even start a war. And who knew what Laxus had been doing with the Rajin tribe or what they had experienced to make him so bent on taking Fairy Tail over for some greater purpose?
That still didn't give them the right to do what they did, either of them, but Gray was beginning to see that there was a catalyst for every event and even though he might not know what it was or agree on how the person (or persons) reacted, it was still important to consider and learn about.
Sure, he knew about things other people didn't. The look on Natsu and Lucy's faces when they found Deloria on Galuna Island was proof enough of that. He didn't want to remember the monster at that time. All the pain and suffering it had caused him throughout his life, but in hindsight it showed him he had learned lessons that other people hadn't. Learning and growing were about experience and everything that was out in the real world: getting his hands dirty, spilling some blood, and seeing how the world worked first hand. How could anyone really learn something in a cramped classroom?
Guess he'd find out soon enough. Or maybe not soon enough; Kizern was far and trains were slow and watching Natsu writhe was only fun for long before he actually started to feel bad for the guy. Only a little bad, though.
Mighty Dragon Slayer. Pfft.
Overall the ride wasn't too bad. Between watching Lucy and Happy bicker and poking at Natsu to see what colors his cheeks could turn, Gray managed to keep himself occupied. When they did finally roll into the station it was already dark, but the city's glow was so bright it gave the sky an orange glow. Gray dragged Natsu to his feet and off the train, but was only a few steps away from the train when he had to stop.
Kizern was huge. Magnolia might be a big city, but Kizern was huge. The buildings went to the horizon and beyond as far as the eye could see. Nestled in a valley between a couple of rather large hills (not quite mountains) to the East and West the city stretched North and South, divided by a river that cut through the valley. The buildings were bright and colorful and the streets were crowded with people, even well after dinner time. Distant music and lively chatter popped up from every direction.
Who knew college towns would be so energetic?
Lucy stretched as they looked around at the streets below from the vantage point where the train let them off on the Western hill. Across the way on the Eastern hill sat the University; at least it had to be the University. It looked scholarly. A spread of large, brick buildings that climbed up the hill and on top of it all was the largest building with a clock tower that was large enough to rival the one at the Cathedral in Magnolia.
Gray shifted Natsu on his shoulder and glanced down at Happy near his feet. The cat yawned and frowned up at him. "What now?"
"I think we should find a place to stay for the night. It's too late to look for that professor now." Gray looked at Lucy. "Besides, I'm starving."
Lucy nodded. Fourteen hours on a train was never fun and everyone was exhausted and hungry and more than a little cranky.
"Hey Natsu," Lucy looked over at the green Dragon Slayer and grinned. "Levi told me she's been here before and that there's this really famous street that all the students go to called Snack Street. It's nothing but blocks of food carts."
Oh man, that sounded awesome. Gray was pretty sure his stomach would start eating itself if he didn't find food soon.
Natsu, on the other hand, just hiccupped.
Mighty Dragon Slayer my ass.
If Natsu's motion sickness was an impressive thing to see, then his ability to recover after rolling around on the floor like a lethargic slug was doubly so. They hadn't walked through town more than ten minutes before he was back to his rambunctious and carnivorous self. Tired as they were after the train ride, the night had not been an early one. Which was something Lucy was kind of regretting at eight in the morning as she walked up the steep hill towards Kizern University… kind of. It was still a fun night between Gray's dismay at figuring out the city's specialty was spicy food and a couple students asking if they could study Happy in their laboratory.
Kizern was not what she had been expecting. She found herself with preconceptions about towns just like she did about people. When she first arrived in Magnolia she knew it was a town of magic since there was a major guild there. She expected to see certain kinds of people and she had ideas about what she would find in the town: magic shops, mages, guild merchandise. Port towns were about trade and business and commerce, and college towns about learning and education.
Why she was expecting libraries and book stores and students coming and going from their studies was suddenly beyond her. Sure, there were bookstores and there were students but that was all between the bars and restaurants and cafes and gardens. It was mixed in with the live music and parties and an air of life that was acutely different than what was found in Magnolia. Both cities were vibrant and energetic but in very, very different ways.
Things were quieter in the morning. Without nearly enough time to recover from their festivities, students dragged themselves to classes, part time jobs, or to cram in some last minute studying. The air smelt of coffee and baked goods and everything else easy for someone to grab and eat on the go. Gray was happily munching on his own muffin as Lucy finished off an apple and Natsu and Happy bickered over the last of five meat stuffed dumplings they had bought from a small snack cart outside the school's gate.
Lucy tossed her apple core in a trash can and groaned a little. "This city is huge and this school is huge. How are we supposed to find this professor?" You'd think a school this big might have signs or something…
Gray shrugged. "He's a history guy right? We just have to find where their history department is."
"So we jus... haf to ask shom…one." Natsu said between bites of the dumpling he managed to win from Happy.
Which was easier said than done. They asked a language student who knew the professor's name but nothing else, a biology student that hated history, and a math teacher who was so busy talking to himself he didn't even hear their question before they found someone who could help.
Happy cut a tall girl with brown curly hair off in midair to ask if she knew who the professor was and after staring for a solid minute she finally nodded without taking her eyes off Happy's wings. "Professor Rosche? Yeah, his office is on the second floor of the archive building. Keep heading straight up the hill and when you get to the lake take the right path. It's next to the library."
"Finally." Lucy said relieved. "Are you a history student?"
"Yeah," The girl turned with a smile. "I'm in his ancient civilizations class. He's a really good teacher once you can get past his tendency to go on tangents all the time. If he's not in his office his student assistant will probably know where he is."
Happy did a flip. "Thanks!"
The girl blinked. "Um, you're a cat, right? Were you magically enhanced or something?"
Natsu laughed. "No way, Happy is Happy!"
"Aye!" Happy said flipping again before floating to the ground. "I can do magic, though."
Lucy shook her head. She always forgot that Happy wasn't the typical house cat. The people in Magnolia were so used to him that no one even blinked twice at him so when they went outside the city she always had to remind herself that a talking flying cat was more than a little odd.
"Happy, that's a cute name." The girl laughed and knelt down to pat Happy on the head. "That's pretty cool that you can do magic. I'd stay away from the science students though, they'd have a field day with you!"
"No kidding." Gray rolled his eyes. "They looked ready to dissect him last night on our dinner table."
"I don't doubt that; we can all get fanatical about our work. So what are you guys doing here at the University? Are you all mages?"
Lucy nodded. "Yeah, we're from Fairy Tail. We're here on a job."
"Really?! That's so cool! I always wished I could do magic, but all I can do is study it." Standing back up, the girl waved. "Well, I better get going. It was nice meeting you and good luck with your work!"
"What's your name?!" Happy shouted after the girl as she walked away.
She turned and waved. "Candice!"
Lucy waved after her and began back up the road. She really hoped the others they worked with were like her. This job could be a lot of fun.
Books.
Books were everywhere. Up the walls, on the floor, on the desks, on the chairs where people should be sitting at the desks; there was even one sitting precariously on one of the ceiling fan wings. Books with bookmarks, books splayed open, books stacked at angles that defied physics. It was like Fairy Tail's basement archive only not organized.
Natsu never thought he'd be happy that Mirajane was a slight neat freak. Not that he had ever read any of the books at the guild nor would he read any from that office; there were far better (and much, much more interesting) things to do.
Lucy, on the other hand, looked like she was physically hurting as she stepped into the room and looked around at the mess. Her eyes kept darting to one mammoth book that was open face down, its pages falling out of the binding and her right eye was twitching, which was a sure sign that she was not happy about it. It reminded Natsu of their first mission together; they had to steal a book from that crazy rich guy with really ugly maids (except Virgo who turned out to be really pretty and nice) and Lucy had looked like she was going to be sick when she was told they had to destroy the book.
He didn't really understand why, but books were important to Lucy and if they were important to her than he'd be nice to them. That's why this job sounded like fun to him; it something right up Lucy's alley.
Besides, he'd never been to a school before and it seemed like it might be fun. And it totally is!
Natsu's attention was drawn as a pile of books that nearly reached the ceiling shifted to his right, teetering dangerously back and forth. Taking a precautionary step back he grabbed Happy off the floor and put him up on his shoulder. He knew firsthand how much a book could hurt; granted they were usually throw at him, but falling from up high couldn't be much different.
"No no no no no no—" A panicked voice suddenly chirped from behind the swaying book pile and a tall slender man with a low, long grey pony tail sprang into view with his arms out ready to catch any book that fell.
He didn't look very strong and there were a lot of book in the pile and- ouch. Natsu cringed as gravity won the fight and the pile came crashing down right onto the man who fell backwards onto a large desk knocking over another pile of books which flung off the desk and onto the chair where…
Books. Books everywhere.
Once the dust settled Gray took a hesitant step towards the desk, eyeing the other stacks of books that managed to stay standing. "Um, are you Professor Rosche?"
The man turned and stared at Gray, blinking as if he wasn't sure he was looking at someone or not. After a moment he stood up straight, dusted his black shirt off and fixed his collar obviously ignoring the fact that he just lost a battle with his personal library. "I am and who are you three?"
"Four!" Happy piped up putting a paw in the air.
"My apolo—" The professor stopped short as he turned to look at Natsu and blinked again. He reached into his pocket and took out a pair of small rectangular glasses, cleaned them on his sleeve and put them on and blinked again. "Oh, oh my…is…are you a cat?"
Natsu frowned. He was really tired of all these people calling Happy a cat. Maybe he was cat-like, but Happy was Happy, his best friend and partner and that's all there was to it.
Happy didn't really seemed bothered though. He nodded and leapt off Natsu's shoulder, padded across the room to stop at the professor's feet. "Yup! I'm also a member of Fairy Tail, so there are four of us here."
"Fairy Tail?" Professor Roche frowned and then jumped with a small gasp. "Oh, the guild! Yes, yes, of course you're here about my bill. Fantastic, great, wonderful, come in come in, sit down!" He paused and looked at the chairs covered paper and books and shook his head. "Oh second thought, do you mind standing?"
And people call me hyper? Natsu had to try very hard not to laugh as the man ran around to the other side of his desk and began shuffling through papers, tossing pens and books and what looked like half a sandwich aside. What a waste of food…
"Aha!" Rosche finally found what he was looking for and motioned for them to come closer to the desk. "Come here, come here. What do you see?"
He smoothed out a large map of what Natsu recognized as Earthland, but it looked very different from other ones he'd seen. Instead of numerous towns and cities and roads written on it, it was filled with rivers and mountains and forests and the desert. It even went beyond Fiore's borders and marked some of the lands to the north and east.
"Whoa, this is a really old map!" Lucy said with that lilt in her voice that told Natsu she was getting excited. "The capitol isn't even marked on here."
The professor looked impressed and smiled at Lucy, looking over his glasses at her. "Very good. This is what our beautiful home looked like before the kingdom was settled here.
"Huh?" Natsu couldn't help raising an eyebrow. "Hasn't the kingdom always been here?"
"Not always, no." Rosche pushed his glasses up wiped a hand over the map. "Perhaps the people have always been here or at least some people were here, but the world we know now has been a long time in the making."
Lucy looked ready to start dancing on the spot. "So what does this have to do with your bill?"
"Absolutely nothing." The professor grinned. "I just thought it was interesting. Your job only has to do with here." He tapped a large country in the middle of the map.
Woohoo! Natsu immediately burst into a giant grin. Desierto was warm and sunny and everything he loved. He glanced over at Gray and yup, definitely not happy. This is gonna be fun.
Gray scratched the back of his head. "So, what are we going to be doing? Your posting didn't say a whole lot."
"Yes, yes." A quick ruffle of paper and the map was folded up and on top of a stack of books and folder was in its place. "This is everything you'll need to know. In short I posted that bill for a dear friend and old colleague of mine who's worried about a guild that is stirring up trouble in his town."
A small tap on his ankle alerted Natsu that Happy wanted in on the conversation. As he scooped his friend up he caught Gray's eye. They all knew that taking a job that involved another guild without their knowledge was technically against the rules. Spying or intervening on another guild's job was also bad news. Basically anything that could end in a fight was bad.
Bad but boring, because at the end of the day, who didn't want to blow of some steam? Especially against
"Are we going to spy on them?" Happy asked jumping from Natsu's hand onto the desk.
"Oh no no no. That wouldn't be right of me to ask; you could get in trouble. You're just going to finish their job before them." A push of the glasses and a glance at the three (four) mages and Rosche burst into a grin at their wary faces. "I know, I know. Two guilds cannot take the same job, but I am not the original poster and my job is slightly different. It just has the same goal; finding an animal that lives outside my friend's town in the desert."
It got better! Natsu grinned at Lucy as she laughed in his direction. He was glad they went on a job, but he was seriously wondering how much fun he could have when it looked like it was all about books and studying. Hunting? That was always fun and it usually let him blow off some steam…so to speak. Even Gray looked a little happier.
Oh it was on. He and Happy were going to find this animal before Gray and it was going to be glorious rubbing it in his face. They'd also totally be beating another guild and, rivalry rules be damned, that was always a good time.
A/N: I've posted a good bunch of this story on an old forum thread (but I stopped for reasons) and a lot of people had a problem with my Gray. I know that he and Natsu are kind of portrayed as easy going and rather simple minded, but Gray always struck me as a more philosophical person on the inside. Especially when I read the Deloria arc or even how he handled things in Edoras, he's quite methodical in the way he acts. Unless Natsu is around and there's a challenge in the air… then all bets are off. =p
Anyway, thanks for reading! Comments and reviews are always appreciated (and I really take what you say into consideration, I want to improve my writing and storytelling skills). See you soon!
