Luke summoned chains to wrap around his hands as he shot towards Natsu, successfully making himself some makeshift boxing gloves of steel. He didn't know this 'Natsu' guy, but he assumed that was his name since that was what Max had called him. He also knew this guy was strong since the table he threw managed to send him through a bar. So, he wasn't about to hold back. Besides, he was really pissed off.
Elfman sensed Luke's oncoming attack and instinctively moved out of the way. Luke released the invisible chains constraining Natsu right before delivering an all-in right hook which sent Natsu flying back. Gray chuckled as Natsu flew through the guild doors. The guild erupted in awe.
"What the hell was that?"
"The fight's just beginning people."
"Hey is that Luke?"
"What did he get back?"
"He PUNCHED NATSU?"
"Man, Natsu's about to go all out."
"We gonna need a new hall"
Slowly the murmuring stopped. The entire guild looked at the guild doors, waiting for Natsu to come back swinging. After 5 seconds of painful silence, everyone headed out to find him. Gray tapped a stunned Luke on the shoulder. Luke turned to see that they were the only two people in the middle of the hall.
"Mean right hook. Wrapping your hands in chains? Didn't see that coming" whistled Gray.
Luke grinned. He undid his magic, causing the chains to disappear and reveal the white gloves underneath. "Hey, I have penty of other uses for my magic. It isn't just used to trap my opponents."
"Well, you did quite a number on Natsu." Said Mira. "Last person I remember to have taken him out with one blow was Laxus."
Luke's face lit up. 'So this Laxus dude is strong after all' he thought.
Soon the bulk of the guild arrived carrying a knocked out Natsu.
"What happened here?" came a sharp yell from the master's office. Gray turned to see Erza standing there, arms crossed.
"Natsu's just knocked out. He'll be fine" said Mira gently.
Erza raised an eyebrow. "Knocked out? Well… as long as he's okay. No more fighting in the guild everyone."
Erza then proceeded to hurry towards the door. "Gray come with me. We're headed to Hargeon"
Gray followed Erza. "Anything interesting?" Gray asked lazily.
"According to the authorities, Gajeel showed up from his mission badly wounded. He was rushed to the clinic." Replied Erza. Gray's eyes widened.
At Hargeon
"Ok Gray I know I asked you to tag along but did you notice the guy in the red coat following us?" Asked Erza.
Gray turned back to an awkward wave from Luke. "Yeah, his name's Luke. Apparently, he came to the guild 8 years ago following the Tenrou incident in search of Laxus."
"I'm Luke" he said as he caught up to them.
"I didn't ask you to come." Stated Erza flatly.
"Well, Gray's one of the few people I've been acquainted with since I got here and I didn't wanna sit at the guild and have everyone fawn over me for beating that Natsu guy, so I tagged along" said Luke.
"Oh, so you were the one who knocked him out. Trust me, he'd even give me a tough time." Laughed Erza.
"It only took a punch though." Smirked Luke. Erza almost tripped. One punch? Natsu?
"Must've been one hell of a punch" marveled Erza.
"Yeah it was. Didn't catch your name." said Luke.
"Erza. Erza Scarlet."
"We're here" stated Gray.
Indeed they were. The newly rebuilt Hargeon Clinic, bigger and more equipped than it was during Acknologia's attack. The trio stepped in and Erza asked for Gajeel Redfox. They were taken to his room. Erza gasped. He was hooked up to multiple Lacrimas. She regretted not bringing Wendy. She would've been really helpful right about now.
Gray noticed his lips moving. "He's trying to say something"
They all listened intently. Gray and Erza couldn't make out a thing. Luke however, managed to get the gist of it. Luke walked up to Gajeel's bed and raised his hand above Gajeel's head. A magic circle appeared under his palm. "What're you doing?" asked Gray.
"Apparently, this weirdo wants to be fed iron" said Luke as multiple chains emerged from the magic circle and into Gajeel's mouth. Gajeel began chewing and swallowing the chains to Luke's surprise.
After five minutes of chain munching, Gajeel was already off the bed. "I feel so much better. Thanks runt" he growled. "No probs… metal eating weirdo." Said Luke awkwardly. He didn't appreciate being called runt, given he was still a tad bit taller than Gajeel.
"What happened Gajeel? They're saying some traders found you beat to shit by the side of the road" said Erza.
"It was the mission. It was a trap. It was just supposed to be me killing a giant snake. There were a dozen of them. The quest didn't mention that. Nearly died. Then a bunch of bandits jumped me. Hell, they knew everything about me. The way I attacked, my weaknesses and all. I recognized some of them. Ex-Phantom lord members." Gajeel growled.
"The master thought as much. We never should have put that quest on the board. It came from a shady source. Even more suspicious was the fact that they specifically wanted you to take the quest. What became of the bandits?" asked Erza.
"Taken care of. But they did a number on me. Tried making my way back to Hargeon. That's the last thing I remember. Who's the new guy?" asked Gajeel.
"Lukario Cantona" introduced Luke. "Weird name." Gajeel remarked, "You from the Pergrande Kingdom?"
"Nah, I'm actually from outside Ishgar. I came from west of Alvarez" replied Luke.
"Oh a foreigner! How'd you hear about Laxus?" asked Erza.
"I don't even know the guy. Someone from back home told me to seek him out" said Luke.
"I don't remember Laxus ever venturing that far west." Said Gray.
"Really? I remember him taking plenty of quests that took him outside Fiore." Remarked Erza.
"Well I don't know how he was back in the day" stated Gajeel, "but Freed did tell me they used to do quests all over Ishgar. Maybe he did a few outside Ishgar as well"
"Enough talk, let's head back to the guild. We should let the master know about this Phantom Lord incident." said Erza. They all headed for the door in agreement.
Gray was in deep thought as Erza thanked the nurse and they left the clinic. They seemed to have a new enemy with the potential resurgence of Phantom Lord. He also had a feeling Laxus was hiding something. Luke seemed to be a decent guy. Gray was still curious about the letter he had in his position.
Somewhere along his thoughts, he started staring at Erza's butt. He found himself mesmerized with the way her hips swung from side to side. For God's sake, why'd Erza have to be so hot? He looked up to see her fiery scarlet locks flowing freely with the wind. The most beautiful sight before him.
"You know, you shouldn't stare so much" whispered Luke beside him.
'Shit' thought Gray. He'd been caught. Seeing the tinge of embarrassment on Gray's face, Luke said "Relax, I ain't snitching. But you make it so obvious. You know girls have this sixth sense. They can tell when a guy's checking them out."
Gray looked at the armored mage in front of him. "So, why doesn't she notice?" he asked.
Luke chuckled. "I think she does, but maybe she likes it when you check her out."
Gray blinked stupidly and then smiled. "You should join the Guild, you'd fit right in."
Luke's expression turned serious. "I seriously doubt that" he said.
At the Guild
While Erza and Gajeel went to master Makarov with the situation, Gray decided to feed his curiosity. He went over to where Evergreen and Elfman were seated and took a seat. Luke followed suite.
"Hey, it's the new guy who knocked Natsu out." Remarked Ever. "What can I do for you boys?"
Gray went straight to the point. "Did the Raijinshuu ever take any quests outside Ishgar?"
Ever squinted for a second but then replied. "No, the Raijinshu never did but Laxus used to take quests outside Ishgar all the time."
Gray raised an eyebrow. "You didn't go with him?"
"No, he was adamant that we could handle all the S class Quests in Ishgar my ourselves. It was to get us to grow as a unit." She replied.
Well Gray certainly was gonna have to ask the other members of the Raijinshu when they get back from their quest. "So, aren't you gonna introduce me to the new kid?" asked Ever. Elfman grunted in agreement.
Luke cleared his throat. "Lukario Can-"
"Hey guys, it's Luke. Come on Luke I'll introduce you to the guild." Said Wakaba as he dragged Luke away.
This was going to be a long day. Gray sat back and watched the introductions unfold. The guild already felt like it had a new member.