Alrighty then! Here is chapter 2 of The Bond.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, and I never will. Hiro Mashima does and is a much better writer than I am.
A/N: I forgot to mention this but this takes place between the 7 year arc and the Guild Games…
The Bond
Chapter 2: Why Us?
Previously on The Bond:
"I could make it part of a team trust exercise. The whole guild could participate. That would make it less suspicious because everyone else is doing it too. We'll just...misplace their key is all." Wendy supplied with a smile.
"That could work." Mirajane murmured to herself. "I'll need to talk to Master about this but it shouldn't be a problem. We'll make it in a few weeks once Lucy and Natsu get back. Until then, we have preparations to make! Oh and don't tell anyone the actual plan!" Mirajane giggled gleefully and pranced away to find the Master.
Gray, Erza, Juvia, and Wendy all exchanged glances. What did they just get into?
It's been two weeks since the plan was concocted. Lucy and Natsu returned the previous day and it's now the day for the 'trust exercises'.
Their mission didn't exactly turn out the way Lucy was hoping it would. Not only did she lose over half the pay, since Natsu decided to tag along, but she also had to come back in a month and redo the mission…without pay. Needless to say Lucy wasn't exactly on the best of terms with Natsu when the 'Trust Exercise' was explained to her.
Mirajane had also told Lucy of the teams. Erza and Laxus were a team. As were Juvia and Gray, Gajeel and Levy, Jet and Droy, Lisanna and Bixlow, Elfman and Evergreen, Cana and Macao, Wendy and Romeo, Alzack and Bisca, Vijeeter and Wakaba, Max and Laki, Niggy and Krov, Tono and Mikuni, Nab and Kinana, Loke and Freed.
"Why do we have to do this? Lucy whined. "I already know I can trust Natsu when he isn't being an idiot. This seems pointless. Why can't I be partnered with Levy?" She shot a nasty glare at Natsu.
Natsu gulped and tried to change the subject. "This sounds like so much fun! Watch out Ice-Head! Me and Lucy will beat you and Juvia!" Natsu yelled at Gray.
"It's not a competition you know, Flame-Brain." Gray said casually.
"Juvia is so happy to be Gray-sama's partner." Juvia said for the millionth time that day.
Erza glared over at Gray and Natsu. No doubt angry over her unfortunate luck with getting Laxus as a partner.
"Shouldn't we all work with each other? Isn't that the idea of trust?" Lucy asked Mirajane.
Mirajane waved her hand a bit. "Yes, but we're working in teams of two." Mirajane answered Lucy.
Lucy looked confused for a moment but shrugged it off.
"Lu-chan! Are you and Natsu partners? I'm partners with Gajeel. He doesn't seem excited at all!" Levy exclaimed as she ran up to Lucy and hugged her.
Lucy hugged Levy back just as enthusiastically. "Unfortunately, he seems to think this is one big competition." Lucy sighed.
"Gajeel is the same. He kept saying how he would beat the 'idiot' couple no matter what." Levy replied.
"The idiot couple?" Lucy questioned.
"Oh, uhm, never mind about that Lucy! Oh I think I hear Gajeel calling me." Levy said, trying to distract Lucy so she could escape.
"I didn't hear anything." Lucy said, turning to Gajeel.
"LUCY! We're getting ready to start! We have to put these handcuffs on!" Natsu shouted across the guild. Levy shot Lucy a pitying look and walked back to Gajeel.
Lucy walked over to Natsu and held her left wrist out next to Natsu's right. Mirajane clicked the handcuffs on and made sure they locked. Once she was satisfied she moved onto the next team.
"So what do we have to do with these on?" Lucy questioned Natsu.
"I think we have to race the other teams and stuff. It sounded weird." Natsu said, yawning a bit.
"Okay! Can everyone hear me? Can you all see me? Good!" Mirajane stood on a stage in the front of the guild. "Welcome the first annual Fairy Tail Team Trust Exercises!" Everyone cheered. "Now there are only three rules and they are as follows. Rule number one, no magic may be used. Rule number two, no cheating! Rule number 3, no team may join up with another team! I have a list for everyone. You must do everything on the list with your teammate. Any team seen fighting or just not getting along will be disqualified! I have given every team a number. When I call your number please come up and get your paper."
"Team one!" Mirajane called out.
Jet and Droy walked up and got their paper. They paled a bit when they saw their tasks but grimaced and left the guild.
'Where are we supposed to find a metal sculpture of Levy?' They both thought together.
"Team two!" Mirajane called.
Levy and Gajeel walked up and got their paper as well. Gajeel laughed at their tasks and dragged Levy out of the guild.
'This will be so easy.' Gajeel thought.
'Why must we steal Lucy's unfinished novel? She'll hate me for life if she finds out about this.' Levy thought with a depressed aura. 'How is this a team building activity anyway? Teaching us to steal isn't a good thing…is it?'
"Team three!"
"That's us!" Gray and Juvia called and ran to the front. Juvia took one look at the list and fainted on the spot. Gray lifted her up carefully and walked of the guild carrying her.
'We have to find a WHAT? Where? This is going to be a long task.' Gray thought gloomily.
"What do you think these tasks are?" Natsu whispered in Lucy's ear.
"No idea but I'm worried now." Lucy whispered back as Mirajane called out "Team ten!"
"Finally!" Natsu yelled and all but yanked Lucy's arm off in his rush to the front.
They both looked at the paper and their eyes bulged out. We have to what?
A/N: Okay I'm sorry it's so short but the main 'task' will take up most of the next chapter and this way you don't have to wait two weeks for one chapter...
If anyone has an idea they want as a specific team's 'task' just PM me or leave me a review. *evil grin* Unfortunately I already have Natsu and Lucy's planned out…but any additional ideas are always welcome and I may be able to fit them in.
As I do not have a beta reader yet, if anyone would be interested please leave me a message or reivew. Thank you for reading!