The Cards Started It

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 2

Cobra and Bickslow were sitting above the apartment of where Lucy was living. Along with Hermione inside. They had fought hard to get out of the ropes that the brown-haired girl had thrown at them. They had to admit that her magic was strong enough to hold them until the girls had entered the apartment. Neither one of them could explain what was causing them to hunt down the girls. But knew it was overwhelming to ignore.

Once the two felt the magic surrounding the apartment, which caused to dull the need to get to them. They were able to breathe but couldn't leave the area of where the women were. Neither one of them knew why, but knew it had to be because of the Card Mage.

Bickslow sighed, "Can you explain to me what this feeling I'm feeling?"

Cobra grumbled, "Does the feeling feel like an inner voice that won't shut up?" The poison slayer glanced towards the other man. "Like an inner drive that is leading to your female?"

Knighted fool looking guy's eyebrow raised for a moment, "Yeah that."

The maroon-haired male fell onto his back, as he glanced up towards the star covered sky. "That is the same with my inner dragon. During that drunk's card reading is when it got stronger." His eye twitched for a moment. "I have to wonder, did she drive the sense of a dragon slayer into all the males of the guild?"

"That would explain a lot of hunting parties tonight…" Bickslow glanced over the city. Hearing many howls and shrieks throughout the city. "I kind of feel sorry for all the girls… I mean, having us guys chasing them and not the way they may have wanted." He glanced down at his hands. "I just hope this feeling leaves in the morning and I can face her without her being scared of me."

"I don't think Bright Eyes would give me a chance…"

"Are you kidding me! From what I understood from earlier Cobra, she doesn't have an issue with you." The Seith Mage sighed as he took a breath. "She has an issue with me being with her cousin, though."

The two had become somewhat of friends after the guild had gotten back together. When Crime Sorcière had become members. It was a night of drinking that they were able to talk about their own ways of dealing with souls. Since then, they were able to talk to one another more than most people in the guild. They had even learned to read one another, knowing when the other is lying or holding back.

"When did you have a feeling for Cosplay, snake-breath?"

The poison slayer chuckled, "I don't really know when… But if I have to place a finger on when I would have to say the clock." He gave a small nod. "Seeing her facing Midnight with fire within her eyes. Even without Salamander being there to help her. I must say, it brought my cold heart to life." He then turned towards the other male. "What about you, when did you fall for her cousin?"

"When she fell on me," he gave a smirk. He then glanced towards the canal below. Seeing the streetlights reflection of the dark water. "I don't know, I felt a spark when our bodies were near each other. It was the calmest that I've felt near someone. I guess I just want to have her, so I can feel the calmness whenever she's with me."

Cobra nodded, "That makes sense…" His lips pulled, making him sinister in the dark. "I can hear them…" His eye popped open wide. "They heard every word we've said." He then glanced at the Seith Mage. "Neither one is afraid after hearing us. But wish to know us before stepping into anything."

Bickslow nodded, "I would agree…" His own smile pulled at his lips. "At least that is something we can all agree on."

As soon as the midnight hour had chimed. The spell that seemed to have been put upon them was lifted, allowing the two men to move off of the apartment. They agreed to meet up at the guild in the morning. It was time to split their ways.

Each one of them was thinking, 'Will she be open to giving me a chance..?'

The next morning, Bickslow and Cobra had met up in the streets of Magnolia. They were making their way to the guild, hoping that they would see the girls there and hope that no pain came to them. When they reached the building, Cobra raised his arm to prevent Bickslow from moving.

"What's up?"

The maroon man gave a sigh, "I hear a lot of confused souls in there." His eyebrow raised, "I think whatever was on the cards had caused a lot of discomfort in the guild."

Bickslow gave a worried look but nodded. "I guess that would make sense since the men went on a man hunt with the women last night."

The two had decided to make the rest of the way into the guild. Once inside, they saw many women glaring at the men. The two men could feel that the temperature of the place had either gone up or down in some places. But neither of them saw Lucy or Hermione. They made their way to the bar, where they saw Mira with a scolding look on her face.

Bickslow had taken a chance with his wacky good lucky self. "Hey, Mira! Have you seen Cosplay or her cousin in today?"

The silver haired maid, who normally looked sweet gave the fool hearted knight a heated glare. "No, I haven't! Didn't you chase them down last night, like the rest of the men have?!"

"No," Cobra answered with a huff. "Bright Eye's cousin prevented us from doing so, she roped us in the middle of the street."

A holler called from upstairs, the one person who started everything the day before. "She roped your asses last night?! Ohooo, I would like to see that!"

Bickslow gave a growl, "What did you do to the cards last night?" He looked towards the other people within the guild. Noticing that all of them were interested in what was being said. "You laced the cards with something!"

"You're right, I did," answered the card mage, who was leaning on the rail from the second floor. "I knew that no one would act on their impulses for getting things started. So I made sure that the males would get their act together and get their woman."

Cobra let out his own predatory sound of his own. "Did you have to make everyone act like dragons, chasing after their mates?!"

Cana gulped from where she stood, even without a cup in her hands. "You mean, I made all the males have dragon impulses!" She raised her hands and raked her fingers through her hair. "Oh, this is bad. Very bad…" She glanced towards Mira and saw a heated glare from her. "I'm sorry Mira, you did want the immediate effect."

Mira groaned from where she leaned against the bar. "I don't think the guild can handle another night like that…" She glanced towards Cana with a raised eyebrow. "How come you're at the guild before I came in?"

Cana's cheeks came inflamed. "That's because I never left last night," she squeaked out. At that moment a massive arm wrapped itself around the woman's waist. Bringing her closer to a blonde male behind her. "I didn't hear you complain," stated the husky voice.

Mira gulped from where she stood. "Laxus?" The silver haired woman shook her head in a daze. "I forgot you two ended up with one another." She then glanced at the two that had come in. "Well, I could use some help, if you don't mind."

Cobra shook his head. "You wouldn't want me to handle foods." He raised his hands. "I'm a poison slayer if someone angers me I could poison them."

Mira grumbled, "Well it's not too late to ask you to spike a few of them…" She waved him towards the drinks. "I know that you're good at doing drinks…" Mira then glanced at Bickslow. "I know you can cook, I've seen you learn some things at that restaurant that everyone works at from time to time."

Bickslow nodded, "Yeah. I can't hide from that." He went into the kitchen and started on the task of cooking for the guild that day. He knew that even though he didn't prank people this time around. He knew that he needed to help out because Mira could kill him, knowing her bad mood that is.

The two had worked at their stations for a couple hours. Before Lucy and Hermione had found their way into the guild. They gave each other worried glances before sitting at the bar and talked with Mira. The two guys heard that the girls learn from the silver barmaid about the laced cards.

"Are you serious," gasped Lucy with heat in her eyes. "That was the reason behind all the hunting parties last night?"

Mira nodded with sorrow in her eyes. "Afraid so, I guess Cana didn't understand the meaning of subtle…" She shook her head. "Glad to hear that the two of you had fought your way home…"

Lucy grumbled, "Seeing that they're here that they told you."

"Yep," she spoke with the loud sounding 'p'.

Hermione sighed, seeing that the whole kitchen needed a cleanup. She stayed from where she sat and snapped her fingers, causing the kitchen to clean itself. Causing many pots and pans to fly pass Bickslow, making the said man to yelp. All the dirty things made it's way to the sink and washed themselves.

Everyone that was either at the bar or in the kitchen. Glanced towards Hermione with shock looking faces. Mira gave a giggle. "I like your magic… I may have to ask you to help clean up more often."

The Hogwarts student glanced at her cousin. "Doesn't anyone else use magic like I do?"

Lucy shook her head. "No, everyone has only one type of magic that they're a master at. Like with me, I work with Celestial Spirits. A group of other worldly beings that come from my keys to help me." She then pointed towards Cobra. "Then you have mages like him, who only control an element. Which he is a master of poison and even eats poison to generate his own."

Cobra had taken that moment to speak up. "Don't forget that I'm one of the very few who have master the lost art of dragon slaying." He purred out while he was making a drink. "That is the sole reason why I eat poison in the first place. Then you have Laxus, Gajeel, and Salamander with their own elements."

"Salamander," asked Hermione with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you mean Natsu?"

"Yes he does," answered Lucy. "He deals with fire."

Hermione then glanced at the blonde next to her. "You said that you're a Celestial Mage, why don't you show what you mean?"

Lucy glanced at her keys, "Well I can ask him to come out since it's been a while that he been at the guild." She pulled the key out and faced away from the bar. "I open the gate to the Lion, Leo." After a moment a flash of gold glider came and a moment later a man stood before them with his wild ginger hair.

The man was about to open his mouth to say something, when Hermione gasped out, "Charlie!" The ginger turned his head to give a glance towards her, giving her a wide eyed look, "Hermione Granger!" Causing the two the hug each other.

"Loke," asked Lucy with worry in her voice. "Why does my cousin think you're this Charlie person?"

The two pulled away from each other, causing the man to look at Lucy with sorrow in his eyes. "I was known by Charlie Weasley from Earth, at least hundreds of years ago." He shook his head. "Everyone had thought that Hermione was dead, because after the war. She was nowhere to be seen."

Hermione gave a small smile, "Sorry Charlie, but I was from here before I moved to Earth when I was younger." She glanced at Lucy. "He was one of my friend's brother, who worked with dragons."

Lucy gave her spirit a surprised look in her eyes. "Is that why you know how to handle Natsu at times. Because you've worked with dragons in your past life?"

"Yes," stated the ginger before her with a smirk. "Plus, Natsu is easy to read as a dragon at times. You just have to know what looks go with what attitude." He then turned towards Hermione with a sad look in his eyes. "My name is Loke around here. I nearly died, if it weren't for your cousin here."

"Really, wow." Hermione glanced at the Lucy with a smile on her lips. "If I remember right, he was a big flirt from where I came from, but he would anger his mother by not settling down."

"That sounds about right," stated Lucy with heat in her eyes. "He wouldn't stop flirting with me…"

"Is that right," Hermione glared at the ginger in front of her. "Do I need to teach you like I did back then about flirting with those that don't like it?"

"NO," yelled Loke with fear in his eyes. He raised his hands and shook his head. "Please don't Hermione!"

Lucy smirked from where she sat, she was enjoying the fear in her spirit's face. "What did you do?"

Hermione huffed, while folding her arms over her chest. "His two brothers gave me the idea for me to turn into a man for a day. After that day, he stopped…" She shook her head, laughing at a bit of memory that flashed into her mind. "Even his younger brother gave me more respect afterward."

Lucy gulped with uneasiness in her eyes. "I don't know about that…" She glanced around for a moment. "I don't know if I should do that…"

Hermione smiled, "I'll do it too, so you wouldn't feel bad." With a wave of her hand, which she found that it was far easier than any spells that she had ever cast back on Earth. 'Maybe the magic flew better on Earthland because it was her birthplace.' With a cloud of smoke wrapping itself around the two girls. Then cleared away to see two good looking men in women's clothes.

Mira gasped, "If I didn't know any better, I would say that you're two good looking guys I've seen around here." Many within the guild gasped out, after realizing what had happened.

Lucy with short wavy hair that came down to her neck, with a little bit of spike to it. Her chest flatten within to make room for a chiseled look. Not in a way that looked like Natsu or Gray, but enough to show some muscle. The same went along with Hermione.

Cobra and Bickslow made their way to the bar from where they were to look at the two girls. Each of them was speechless. Even the proclaimed pervy lion.

"Well damn," stated Cobra with his baritone draw that he had. "You two look good no matter what…"

Bickslow glared at him, "I will agree with you, but they looked better as women." He wasn't blind and he knew to give a guy credit for looking good, but not used to seeing women turned men. "It's just unnatural."

Loke glared towards Hermione. "You take all the fun out of being a guy for me, don't you know that?" His voice became whiny when he spoke to her. "Now that I've seen you two as guys," he turned his head as he placed his finger against his chin. "You two aren't half bad. Almost model worthy guys…"

At that moment the door slammed open, showing Natsu coming in with a big grin on his face. "Hey, Luce! Want to do a job..?" He made his way towards the bar and wrapped an arm around the man, who Lucy had turned into. "Luce, did you change your hairstyle again?"

Cobra with his one eye popped out. "You know who you're talking to, Salamander?"

"Yeah, snake-breathe." He waved towards the blonde next to him. "I'm talking to Luce, as in Lucy Heartfilia. The one you've helped placed into that giant clock…"

Bickslow grinned before his tongue lolled out. "Don't you see that something has changed? I know you know it's her because of the way she smells."

The pink haired male glared at the two males in front of him. "Of course I would know by her scent…" He then glanced towards Lucy with a raised eyebrow as he glanced at her from top to bottom. "You know what, she does look a bit different…"

Lucy felt uncomfortable as her best friend was giving her a hard look while raking his eyes over her. She couldn't handle it. "Would you stop it," she hissed out in a deeper voice. "Oh God," she gasped as she raised her hands to cover her voice.

"Sorry," stated Hermione with a shy smile. "I think my spell worked too good here." Even her own voice had gotten deeper.

Natsu looked towards the two girls with a surprised look in his eyes. "You're both been turned to guys," he asked with disbelief in his voice. He then turned towards Hermione with a glare in his eyes. "Turn back! I want my friend back!"

Loke nodded, "No kidding, I want my princess back…" He then turned to Hermione dropping down to his knees. "I'll do anything if you two are back to women again…"

"Anything," the two asked at the same time. Hermione and Lucy gave each other a grin before stating, "Stop flirting with me!"

Natsu turned towards the kneeling lion with a growl. "You made them do this?!" He picked up Loke in one of his hands and slammed a fist into his face with the other. "You will pay for this Loke!" The lion flew across the guild, embedding himself into the far wall. Just as Natsu ran after him.

Bickslow turned to Cobra, "Should we join in?" He was kind of itching to do something, other than watching the pink haired dragon slayer having all the fun.

"Why bother," the snake loving smirking man stated. "Who is better at pounding someone like the flame-eater?"

"I guess you would know," stated the seith mage with a smirk. "He had placed you upon the ground more than once."

Hermione smiled before snapping her fingers. Causing her and Lucy to become back to normal. Lucy gasped out, "Oh, my back!" She reached for her lower back and rubbed it. "I didn't realize that my body was working against me."

Hermione gave her cousin a worried look. "You didn't know that your chest size could lead to you breaking your back, don't you?"

Lucy glared, while a sigh left her lips. "There is nothing to change genetics…" She made herself sit on the stool in front of her. Ignoring the two men behind the bar, as they were listening to her and Hermione talking.

"I could shrink them down a bit." She was trying to ignore Cobra and Bickslow, but seeing their eyes popping out was a bit funny to her. "Magic can do many things, even make your life better. Sadly, it can't bring back the dead or make food for you."

Lucy smiled, "The fundamental rules of magic… Yeah, I heard it." She glanced over towards the fight that Natsu was having with Loke. She almost wanted to end it, she really felt sorry for Loke.

Cobra huffed, "Hey, Salamander." He saw that he has gotten his attention, as well as the two girls that he and Bickslow want to impress. "Do you think the cubby lion learned his lesson? Bright Eyes here don't want to lose him anytime soon."

Natsu grumbled but walked away from the ginger on the floor, who looked beaten. "Yeah, yeah. He isn't much of a challenge these days…" The pink-haired slayer made his way to the bar again. "Glad to see you two normal again," he grumbled before glancing at Cobra. "Can you make something with fire in it?"

The poison slayer glanced at Hermione. After hearing something from her soul before making a drink and then gave it to Natsu. When he was given the drink, he took a gulp before coughing. "Cobra…" He glanced at the man with a few tears leaking out his eyes. "What's this..?"

The maroon-haired man smirked, "Thank the brown-haired vixen." His eyes darken, as he saw the surprised look in the other slayer's eyes. "Her soul told me what I make for you…" His lips pulled back even harder than before. "Did it have more of a bite for your liking, boy?"

Natsu glanced towards Hermione with raised eyebrows. "What's this called?"

"Firewhiskey, something that my professor liked to drink." Her eyes became distant for a moment. "He did have a deep voice from drinking it…" Causing her own lips to pull off to one side from the image of the man.

Cobra's eyebrows shot up before making his own drink and tried it. "Damn," his own voice purred deeper than normal. "I think I found that bite that I've been looking for."

Lucy's eyes popped out after hearing his voice. 'Dear God, his voice and that purr…' She shook her head. 'Lucy… Shut up, shut up!' When she glanced up, she saw the man and seeing his eye become darker with lust behind it.

"Let me try," stated Bickslow before Cobra made one for him. "Oh, man." Causing his whole body to shake from the rush of burning flavor to hit his system. "And your professor did this often," he asked as his voice staying deep.

"Oh yes," Hermione's cheeks became red after hearing Bickslow's voice. Making her shiver from where she sat. 'If professor's voice caused wonderful dreams and Bickslow's voice caused a shiver. I hate to find out what kind of dreams I'm going to end up having.'

"Bicks," Laxus called out from upstairs. "Did you man up with that voice of yours," he asked with a deep laugh.

The fool looking knight glared towards the stairs. "You want to come down here and duke it out like a man… boss?"

Lucy sighed, "Nothing is going to change around here." She leaned into Hermione with a glare towards the male blonde, who was upstairs. "Laxus, an alpha ego." She then placed her finger on her chin. "To be honest, I think it's a dragon slayer thing. They all want to be the alpha around here."

Hermione nodded with a small smile. "That makes sense," she glanced over her shoulder and saw Loke coming towards them. "Why don't you tell us what you know about dragons!"

Loke grumbled, "Enough to want to hit the lot of them…" He sat on the stool next to Hermione. "They have mates, which either gender is territorial, along with their hatchlings." He shivered. "I remember this one female who nearly took me out because of a check up I needed to do on a hatchling. The little one was sick and we needed to help…"

The dragon slayers that were within the guild, along with some others that were willing to listen. Hermione sighed, "What about the difference between them?"

Loke gave a harsh look. "Unlike the dragons from Earth, I don't know any of them here. All the ones that I've learned about from the slayers here. All of them are elemental quality." He took a breath. "The ones on Earth were different from each other. Because of the classifications that they hold. Along with what region they were born in and their body structure."

He leaned into her, to where he was looking into her eyes. "Remember that one dragon that Harry had to face for that God awful torment? Well, it doesn't just breathe fire, Hermione. It can shred a man in half with its tail. Its tail alone could be just as sharp as its claws."

"Harry," she gasped while her eyes became harsh with anger. "He downplayed that whole event like it was nothing… I should have known better…" Hermione turned towards Cobra with a smile. 'Give me a drink, please…' She even told him how to make it, which he made it and placed in front of her.

"Hermione," asked Loke with worry in his eyes. "The last I've heard, you don't drink…" When he saw her placed the glass to her lips and pulled her head back to drink it down. "Hermione!"

Once she was done, her grin was enough to show everyone that she was related to Lucy. "I never drank around your brothers," she stated with heat behind her words. "For a very good reason… They would want me to drink them under the table." A laugh left her lips. "They would find themselves on the floor before the night ended."

Lucy gave her cousin a worried look. "What was that?"

"Where I came from, it's called a White Russian," she smirked. "Sweet with a heavenly taste."

Loke shook his head with his mouth hanging open. "What other things have sweet little Hermione have been hiding?" He gave her a glare before asking another question. "Did my little brother's corrupt you or something?"

She shook her head. "Nope, my father taught me how to drink." Her lips pulled into a wicked smile. "He didn't want a man to hurt me if I happened to drink a lot."

Lucy nodded, "Same with my dad." She placed her hand to her chin, as she leaned on the bar. "Dad said that it was one of the only lessons I had to learn before leaving home." She then glared at Cana, who was next to the Laxus. "Until I met Cana, I never thought I would have met a woman who drank as much as her."

Natsu glared at them, "Aren't women supposed to drink like that?"

Lucy and Hermione gave the pink-haired man a harsh look. "NO!"

Bickslow chuckled from where he stood. "Even I know that women should be beautiful in their dresses, drinking tea…" He shook his head while giving the fire dragon slayer his own goofy look. "Plus Natsu, Cana is one of a kind when comes to women…" He placed his hand in the air for a moment. When an object rushed to his hand before placing it on the bar in front of Hermione. "I wanted you to meet some of the souls I carry."

"Souls," asked Hermione with worry in her eyes before glancing at Lucy. "What does he mean?"

Lucy smiled, "You know that I have Loke…" When Hermione nodded, Lucy went on. "Well, instead of spirits, he has souls from those that passed. But these souls didn't want to pass into the light, as it were…"

The small object spoke up, "Nope, nope. Bickslow saved us…" The small voice giggled, "Thanks to him, we play all the time."

"Pappa," stated Bickslow with caution in his voice. "Be careful with your words…"

"Why," asked Pappa with a small sounding concern in its voice. "You saved us from fire…"

Hermione glanced up with wonder in her eyes. "Were they your friends?"

Bickslow nodded, "Yeah… We grew up in a place that outlawed magic…" He pulled off his helmet for a moment to rake his fingers through his wild hair. "Grrr. I hate this hair at times…" He glanced up, showing his dark wine colored eyes. "We were just kids, who lived in a poor town… We ended up being in a place that we shouldn't… Raiders came and burned the fields. While we're out playing."

"You were the only survivor," stated Hermione. She didn't know why he covered his eyes because they were hypnotizing to look at. She gave a small smile before lightly snapping her fingers. Causing his hair to even out and growing out in some places, into healthy looking waves.

"Yeah, I was. It was because of that and having floating logs following me that I was kicked out the town…" He reached up to touch his hair, only to bring part of it down to look at it. After he felt that the texture had changed. "What the HELL! I've never seen it like this," he glanced up with a surprised but happy look on his face. "Not since that fire!"

Hermione gave a heartwarming smile, while Lucy sighed. "I guess I should have done that for you, especially after the fight we had… once."

"You fought," asked Hermione.

"Yeah," Lucy turned to her cousin with a smile. "His boss had a wonderful idea and wanted to know who was the power mage of Fairy Tail. Long story short, I served Bickslow's ass on a silver platter that day."

"With my help," stated Loke from where he sat with his own smirk.

"You got lucky," stated Bickslow with a huff.

"Twice," stated Cobra from where he stood with a grin on his face.

"Hey, I least I allowed her to fight against me," stated Bickslow with an un-animalistic growl. "You didn't even give her chance to fight you…"

"Can't help it if I hear things before they happen," he stated with a shrug. "The only one who had put me in my place, twice was Red." He shivered. "Titania scares me…"

Natsu spoke up, "Something we can agree on." He shook his head. "I still can't beat her in a fight."

Cobra gave him a glare. "We should also agree about keep Bright Eyes from getting HURT you dim woad."

Hermione glanced at the poison eating man. "Why do you call Lucy that?"

He turned towards her, "You don't notice how your cousin has an ever lasting spark in her eyes? Everyone around here believes that she is the 'Light' of the guild."

"You're telling me its because of the light that's in her eyes that you call her, Bright Eyes?" When she had gotten a nod from the maroon haired man, she smiled. "I guess I can't argue with that kind of logic. But what would you call me, if you had a name for me?"

"Librarian," stated more than one person around her.

Her eyebrows raised when she heard that name. Not only from the poison slayer but also from Bickslow and Lucy. She gave a small laugh, "Okay, why that name?"

"You seek knowledge," the same three said together.

"Well, that is a lot better than the name I had gotten back at school."

"What name was that," asked Lucy.

Cobra groaned, "The Brightest Witch of Your Age. Couldn't they find something else, like shorter?"

Hermione sighed, "I guess they like long titles." She gave a shrug. "I mean, Harry is known as the Child that Lived. Along with the man that tried to kill him, Who Must Not Be Named." She smiled, "I guess thinking back now. Must of those were catchphrases."

Loke groaned, "The Wizarding World from Earth was full of cliches." He shivered, he then glanced at Hermione with a raised eyebrow. "Compared to that and the world you were raised, was there any advances that we've done?"

"Nope," stated the woman from another world. "Where I came from, women had more rights than the wizarding world gave credit for. Women were allowed to advance in their careers without having a husband to back them up."

Lucy closed her eyes. "At least here, mages are valued as a person. No matter if you're a man, woman or child." She glanced towards the guild, who had quieted down for many minutes as they had talked. "Come on Hermione, let us show you the ropes around here. Natsu and I can take you out of a job…"

'Oh boy,' thought four different people with different actions. Natsu was out of glee, while Cobra, Bickslow, and Hermione out of worry. At least two of them knew why they should be worried.