Chapter II

Greetings and salutations all you - wait, that is not right. Ahem, hello to all! Anyway, welcome all to the new chapter of Embodiment of Flame. Hopefully everyone, or at least most everyone, enjoyed the previous chapter, and so far that appears to be the case to an extent. I equally hope the majority enjoy this chapter as well. I would like to thank my coauthor Bakuto Masaki for all his help with the story so far and his continued aid with same. There were a few reviews last time, so let us begin with the reviewer responses.

dragneel harem: I cannot guarantee all of those women will be added, but I can guarantee, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Kyouka will not. I quite despise her. The others are possibilities though.

The Insufferable One: Yes, it is a miracle, is it not? Why does it seem that so few people do pairings like that? Well, more pie for me then I suppose. There is a very strong possibility of that, yes.

TheWhiteTitan: Oh I am fairly certain you will not be disappointed. It will not be too much longer.

hornofdesolation: Yeah... for some reason my brain pops out new stories like most people pop out thoughts.

manu: Hhmm... unless I am mistaken I'm fairly certain they are in fact all there. I think

And that about does it for the reviewer responses. I hope to see more in the future. But for now, time to get on with the show!


As Natsu, Flare, and Happy ate their meal, they heard Lucy call out to them.

The three turned and gaped when they saw both Lucy and Yukino standing nearby, wearing black and white, frilled, French maid uniforms with black vests that cupped under their breasts, white, button-down blouses that hung tight around their chests with puffed, short sleeves with frilled cuffs, short black skirts, white, frilled aprons, thigh-high white socks, black, formal shoes, and white hairbands atop their heads.

Lucy smiled proudly whilst Yukino blushed in embarrassment.

"L-Lucy…" she muttered as she tugged at her skirt, "D-do these skirts really need to be this short…?"

Natsu stopped eating mid-bite and dropped his fork. "Wh-whoa…"

Lucy turned to Yukino and smirked with a thumbs up. "It's fine." She then turned to Natsu and the others and asked, "So what do you think?"

Natsu swallowed his food down and looked at the two in thought and grinned. "Looks good!"

Yukino turned to Lucy with a small smile.

"So, where to now?" Lucy asked.

Yukino answered, "We need to go to the client's residence."

The others nodded.


Eventually, Natsu and the others arrived at a modest cottage on the edge of the city.

"This is the place?" Happy asked curiously.

"Well…I think so," Natsu answered unsurely.

"Well, let's find out," Lucy added as she knocked on the door.

"U-uh, one moment," a voice from within answered.

As the door opened, Natsu and the others saw a tall, aged man with short, unkempt grey hair, a noticeably small, dark grey mustache just under his nose, and squinted eyes wearing a tattered green suit with a white shirt and red tie. "You must be the mages we hired," the man posited.

"We are," Lucy said happily.

"Oh thank goodness. My name is Kaby Melon," the man greeted. "Please, come inside."


Kaby and a woman with him with waist-length brown hair and squinted eyes wearing a tattered pink dress with vertical stripes and a green necklace led the group a rather roomy lounge with an L-shaped sofa in front of a coffee table that sat opposite a somewhat smaller sofa.

"So, where exactly is this book you want?" Lucy asked.

Kaby sighed heavily. "It's currently in the hands of a man named Everlue."

"So you just want us to get the book for you, right?" Natsu asked.

Kaby shook his head. "No, I want you to destroy it."

"Seriously?!" Lucy asked in surprise. "You're paying two hundred thousand Jewel for that?"

Kaby shook his head. "No, the reward has been increased to two million."

Lucy and the others gaped in shock.

"T-two million!?" Lucy exclaimed in disbelief. "Y-you really want this book destroyed, huh…?"

Kaby nodded.

"Why do you want it destroyed so badly?"

Kaby clasped his hands together tensely. "I simply can't allow it to exist."

The others frowned in thought as they looked at each other.


Later, Natsu, Lucy, Yukino, Flare, and Happy stood several paces away from a large, elaborate mansion with a gate encompassing the border.

"I guess that's Everlue's mansion," Lucy noted as they looked over the large structure.

"Most likely," Yukino added.

"So what now? We bust in there and burn up the book?" Natsu asked.

"No, you idiot!" chided Lucy. "Yukino and I will go up there, try to apply for the job and then look for that book."

Natsu raised an eyebrow. "Wait, so you're actually gonna go in there and work as this guy's maids?" Natsu asked in confusion.

"Well, duh," Lucy answered bluntly. "That's what the job was about from the beginning, remember?"

Natsu turned back to the mansion and tightened a fist slightly.

Yukino put one of her hands over Natsu's fist with a smile. "Don't worry, we'll be fine."

Natsu turned to her incredulously. "Alright, if you say so. But if I smell trouble I'm bustin' in there."

"You'll probably bust in no matter what," Lucy remarked snidely.

Yukino frowned at the blonde, annoyed. "Natsu knows when to be sneaky, like a ninja."

"Right…" Lucy answered incredulously. "Come on, let's go."

"Aye!" Happy cheered. "Be careful you two!"


Shortly later, the two stood in front of a large metal gate attached to a tall brick wall that surrounded an extravagant mansion.

"Okay… so we just ring this I guess," Lucy posited as they stood in front of a knocker attached to a button.

"Yeah," Yukino answered as she knocked several times.

However, moments after they did a large, grotesque woman with monstrous features and short pink burst up from the ground, startling them both. "You must be here because of my master's request for maids."

"Y – y – yes…" the two responded with trepidation.

"Oh master!" the beastly woman shouted.

At that moment a short, plump man with skinny arms and legs, sporting a curled mustache which directly protruded from his nostrils, as well as a bushel of wavy hair atop his round head, wearing a formal black suit, with his jacket fastened with a large gold button and adorned with a decorative red flower, beneath his jacket was a white collared shirt, a blue necktie and dark blue boots emerged from the ground as well. "Oh-hoh! So you two are the new maid candidates, are you? I am Everlue, master of this mansion."

The two shivered in discontent as the man walked towards them.

Everlue walked towards them and puts his hands on their chins to examine their faces, noticing the temperature rise sharply, before stepping back and sneering. "Tch, off with you."

"H – huh, why!?" Lucy argued in disbelief.

"I would never hire such hideous maids." The plump man was almost instantly surrounded by multiple maids of rather aberrant appearance. "I only hire the peak of perfection!"

Lucy and Yukino gaped in disbelief.

Lucy clenched a fist with a tic mark and angry smile. "Why you little…"

Yukino laughed weakly. "C – come on Lucy, let's go back…"


Shortly later, Lucy and Yukino joined back up with Natsu and Happy, Natsu feeling rather perturbed.

"Wow, he rejected you hard," Happy teased.

The two slumped their shoulders in dejection.

Natsu snarled and cracked his knuckles. "That midget's gonna get it."

Yukino put a hand on his and remarked, "It's okay Natsu, calm down. What he thinks isn't important."

"He insulted you both!"

Lucy sighed in frustration. "Well that plan was a total failure, so that really only leaves one option."

"We bring down the house!"

"No, you stupid cat!" Lucy rejected harshly. "We sneak in to get the book."

"Aww…" Happy pouted. "I want explosions…"

Natsu, a dark grin on his face, replied, "Oh you'll get 'em Happy."

"Oh great…" Lucy murmured. "He's lost control…"

Yukino merely sighed.


Shortly later, the group snuck towards the side of mansion.

"So, what's the plan?" Lucy asked. Looking around, she then posited, "Will we –?"

Her suggestions were cut short as Natsu merely barreled into the mansion, his fists alight with flame as he blasted a hole in the wall. "Banzai!"

"HHUUHH!?"

Yukino sighed and then added, "Well, might as well join in."

"Yeah, I guess…"

"Yay!" Happy cheered.


Once inside, Lucy looked around the extravagant mansion with awe and annoyance simultaneously. "So gaudy."

"Come on, let's find that –!" Natsu began but was interrupted by four of Everlue's maids who appeared around the group. He snarled and then shouted, "Out of my way ya ugly ogres!"

"No way!" the first maid rebutted.

Natsu, glaring with annoyed anger, demanded, "I said move."

The maids paled and immediately began running away in fright.

"W – wow…" Lucy muttered in shock.

"Natsu's really protective of those he cares about," Yukino explained. "He can get pretty scary when he's mad."

"Aye! Like that time with that crazy plant and Erza!" Happy shouted.

"Crazy plant? Wait, the Erza?!" Lucy shouted in surprise.

"Yeah, heard of her?" Yukino asked.

Lucy nodded. "Yeah, she sounds so cool! But, you know, I've never seen a picture of her. What's she like?"

"A wild animal?" Happy muttered in thought. "Or maybe just a full on monster." He then stiffened and turned slowly to see Natsu standing over him with a cruel grin.

With a feral grin, Natsu asked, "What did you call her Happy?"

Trembling, Happy answered, "U – uh… I, uh…"

Natsu grabbed him by the head and picked him up. "Come on, say it again. I dare ya."

"Wh – whoa… he really is scary…" Lucy muttered in surprise.

"Sh – she's a… good mother…?" Happy muttered in a weak lie.

"Bad cover up," Yukino remarked.

Natsu smiled. "You're right, she is."

"And Natsu's just dumb enough to buy it…" Lucy lamented.

"Yeah…" Yukino muttered in agreement. "He's really sweet, but he's kinda slow."

Suddenly, the gigantic maid burst up through the floor and landed on Natsu.

Lucy and Yukino gaped in shock before Natsu released a blast of flames and sent the maid slammed into the ceiling and then back onto the ground, unconscious.

"Go Natsu!" Happy cheered.

Lucy sighed. "Okay, now we need to find the library."


It did not take the group long to do so when they found a huge library filled with hundreds of books.

Lucy looked around in shock. "S – so many… how will we find one specific book in here…?"

"Why not just burn it all?" Natsu posited.

Lucy sighed and chided, "Because that'd be overkill."

"It'd also be fast."

Yukino put a hand on his. "Come on, let's try to find the right book."

"Fine…" After a short search Natsu saw a large book titled "Daybreak" lying on a pedestal. "Hey! I found it!" Natsu picked it up and prepared to burn it but was stopped by Lucy.

She widened her eyes and urged, "No, wait!"

"Huh? Why?"

"That book was written by the legendary Kemu Zaleon! I'm a huge fan of his books, I can't let the book be destroyed without reading it first!"

Everlue suddenly burst up through a hole in the ground and shouted, "How dare you break into my house!"

Natsu turned to the man and grinned deviously.

Lucy merely ignored him and started reading the book.

Everlue gaped and then growled. "Wha…?! You little brat, how dare you ignore me! Vanish Brothers, get out here and do what I pay you for!"

"Vanish Brothers?" Yukino asked with trepidation.

At that moment, two figures suddenly appeared in the room.

The first, smaller figure was a tall man with a mostly shaved head of black hair, in a queue style, slanted black eyes, and four red symbols tattooed on his face wearing a white tunic with a high collar, possessing dark stripes on the loose cuffs and flanking the fastener crossing the chest vertically, a pair of mildly loose dark green pants, getting tighter in correspondence to his ankles, and traditional, dark eastern-style shoes paired with light socks, holding a large frying pan. "I am the older brother."

The second, large figure, was an extremely tall man with long, dark blue, curly hair, which was arranged in a distinctive hairstyle, with four large, straight tufts jutting upwards on top of his head, getting smaller near their outer edges, with narrow black eyes wearing a red bandana with black markings on it, his outfit, unlike that of his brother, was western in look, consisting of a blue sweatshirt, with slightly puffy sleeves reaching below his elbows, adorned by wavy yellow markings on the shoulder and the sleeve areas, and bearing three light, diagonal stripes on each side of the torso, simple light blue pants and grey trainers. "And I am the younger brother."

"They look dumb," Natsu remarked flippantly.

Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. "This book… Natsu! Keep those guys busy while I try to discover this book's secret!"

"Alright!"

Everlue snarled in annoyance. "You annoying bint! I won't let you!" He then chased after the blonde, whom immediately began to outrun him.

"I'll help her," Yukino interjected, "you deal with them!"

"Gotcha!" Natsu retorted before turning to the Vanish Brothers.

"Tch, give up now, wizard. You're helpless against us," the older brother taunted.

"You wizards all focus on magic, but as a result, your bodies are frail," the younger brother added.

"So we developed techniques to nullify your magic!"

Natsu blinked in confusion and then began laughing loudly.

The older brother vanished with his frying pan instantly.

"Let's see how much you laugh against our Heaven and Earth Extinct Slaying Attack!" the younger brother shouted proudly.

Natsu looked around for the older brother. "The he –?"

However the younger brother surged forth, taking advantage of Natsu's distractedness, and kicked him hard. "If you look at the heavens, the earth will knock you down!"

Natsu hissed in irritation. "Tch, lucky shot!" He then began to attack the younger brother but the older brother appeared behind him and hit him with the frying pan.

"And if you try to stay on earth, the heavens will take you out!" the older brother chanted.

Natsu grunted in annoyance. "Fine, then I'll just even the odds!"

"Hah! And how do you plan on doing that!?"

Natsu then reached into his pocket and pulled out a key.

"Like I'll let you do that!" the older brother remarked as he appeared behind Natsu, only for the pinkette to kick his foot back, nailing the older brother between the legs and knocking him down.

"Brother!" the younger brother shouted before charging at Natsu.

Natsu responded by launching the older brother at him before launching forward with a flame encased fist. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" Natsu bellowed as he struck the brothers, his flames bursting outwards violently, knocking the two down for good. "Tch, I didn't even get to summon Ophi. You guys suck, you know that!"

The younger brother merely coughed out a puff of smoke.

Natsu glanced to the side and saw that the monstrous maid was starting to glow and shimmer. "Oh no ya don't!" he shouted before jumping up and landing on her back as she vanished.


When he reopened his eyes, he looked around and realized he was in a new location, one with an endless night sky filled with stars. "Wait… where am I now…?"

The monstrous maid growled before grabbing him off her back. "Get off!" she shouted before throwing him down.

Natsu screamed as he fell before landing on the ground below.

He groaned in pain before sitting up and looking around. He realized he was sitting on a white brick pathway bordered by tall white pillars leading out to a large gazebo on one end and a large throne on the other.

"Oh? A visitor? How unusual," a female voice remarked.

Natsu turned and saw a young woman with long, wavy, flowing blonde hair that reached her knees, with multiple light blonde accents a long section of hair sticking out to one side with a blue-green tip and red eyes wearing a white tube top that exposed very little of her moderate bust, a short white skirt with multicolored accents that tied over her left hip, knee-high white, pink, and brown boots with red bows, shoulder-length brown and pink gloves with matching red ties, white wrist guards, a brown choker with a green jewel on the front, and a series of black straps over her shoulders and midsection walking towards him. He blinked in thought and asked, "Who the hell are you?"

The woman chuckled in amusement and answered, "I am Milla Maxwell, the Lord of Spirits."

"… Never heard of ya."

Maxwell folded her arms in thought and then explained, "I am the one who rules over all of the Celestial Spirits. Their queen, I suppose you could say."

"Uuhh…"

Maxwell sighed in thought. "Ah, you are in a guild, correct?"

Natsu nodded.

"I am similar to the guild master of the Celestial Spirits."

"Oohh… So you're the drunk old person in charge," Natsu remarked.

Maxwell blinked in thought. "Well I suppose by human standards of time I am old, I am also the one in charge, though I don't drink much alcohol."

"That's because you get tipsy from just a single sip," a new, playful voice remarked as a tall, slender woman with fair skin, long, wavy blue-green hair that parted at her forehead and draped down slightly past her chin on the front and seemed longer than her legs, pointed ears with blue tips, green-yellow eyes, and slightly above average-sized breasts wearing an extravagant outfit that consisted of a central, sleeveless blouse with a blue collar that had extensions going down to her feet, along with a cape that reached to her feet, blue and green, shin-high high-heeled boots that were attached to a small piece of white clothing covering her shapely bottom and front, and shoulder-length gloves with blue, green, and red rings on them floated down to the area with large, silver-blue, butterfly-like wings.

Maxwell pouted slightly. "You don't have to put it so bluntly, Muzet."

"Huh? Who are you?" Natsu asked.

With a smile, the winged woman answered, "I'm Milla's older sister, Muzet." Muzet turned to Maxwell and asked, "So, how did this one get here?"

"He happened to arrive here on Virgo's back," Maxwell explained.

"Interesting. Most humans would have died by now being exposed to the raw atmosphere of the Spirit Realm."

Natsu tilted his head curiously. "Is it because I'm a Dragon Slayer?"

Maxwell put a finger on her chin in thought. "Hhmm… perhaps. That aside, you should probably return home. But I'll give you a little gift as a reward for making it here, hm?"

"A gift?" Natsu asked curiously.

"Hold out your hand."

Natsu nodded and extended his hand, into which Maxwell placed a golden key with a red mark near the base and a shape that resembled a lion's head. "What are these?"

"This is the key to summon Leo, the Golden Lion. She currently has no Master, so I'll give her to you as a reward. Now, Muzet, send our little friend back to his home."

"Understood," Muzet answered as a sphere of energy appeared around Natsu and vanished, taking him with it.


Natsu found himself in a sewer tunnel full of holes and saw Yukino fighting the monstrous maid, handling herself marginally well, and then turned and saw Lucy, pinned to the ground with Everlue holding her arms.

"Alright you little brat! Tell me what the secret of Daybreak is or I'll break your arms!" Everlue threatened.

"Like I'll tell you!" Lucy retorted.

"Get off her!" Natsu shouted as he punched Everlue away from Lucy with a flaming fist. "You damn midget!"

"How dare you hit me!" Everlue growled. "Virgo, crush this fool!"

"Yes, Master," the monstrous maid, Virgo, responded.

"I still can't believe that thing's a Celestial Spirit!" Lucy shouted as Virgo swung at Natsu.

Natsu ducked under the attack before upper cutting Virgo with a flaming fist and then rearing his fist back. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" He sent a punch at the monstrous Spirit that exploded on impact and caused Virgo to dispel. Natsu sighed in relief and then turned to Everlue. "There, now to pummel the midget."

Everlue paled in fear. "W – w – wait!"

"I don't like waiting," Natsu said with a cruel grin as he cracked his knuckles.

Lucy gaped as Natsu began beating Everlue brutally.

Yukino merely sighed.

Natsu sighed in relief as he finished beating Everlue. "There, all done." With a grin, he lit his hands with fire. "Now… let's burn it."

However, the mansion began rumbling violently.

"What now…?" Lucy asked in worry.

Yukino widened her eyes and exclaimed, "All the holes Everlue's been digging are about to topple the house!"

"Oh…" Natsu remarked before grabbing both Yukino and Lucy and leapt out through one of the holes in the ground.

"Wait for me!" Happy pleaded frantically as he followed the group.

Natsu jumped out of the hole with the girls right as the mansion collapsed, narrowly avoiding getting crushed.

"Too close…" Lucy moaned.

Natsu grinned. "You should be proud, Lucy."

"Why?"

"You're keeping up the Fairy Tail tradition of causing mayhem!"

Lucy sighed and urged, "Let's just get this book back to Kaby."


"We did it!" Natsu cheered as he and the others walked into Kaby's home.

"Y – you did?!" Kaby asked in surprise. However, his face turned sour when he noticed Lucy holding the book. "Wh – what?! I told you to destroy it, not bring it back!"

Lucy frowned slightly. "You should see this first. I know now why you wanted us to destroy it."

Kaby stiffened as she continued.

"To protect your father's legacy."

Kaby tensed and then sighed heavily. "Yes… Kemu Zaleon, or rather, Zekua Melon, was my father."

"But why? Why would you want to destroy your father's last work?"

"Because…" Kaby tightened his fists before sighing and explaining, "I harbored great resentment to my father, he left our family for over three years without any contact. Then, when he returned, he swore to never write again and amputated his writing hand. He died shortly thereafter, and my rage turned to remorse. So I wanted to destroy that book to save my father's honor as a great writer. Not have his last work be some aggrandizing nonsense he was forced to write by a self-obsessed maniac."

Lucy sighed as Kaby lit a match to burn the book.

"At least, with this, I can –" however, before he could burn the book, wind in the room suddenly blew through, putting out the match before the book opened on its own and the words in the book burst forth, rearranging themselves, the title also changing from "Daybreak" to "Dear Kaby". "Wh – what…?"

"I actually read the book before we brought it back," Lucy explained. "Your father, Zekua, was actually a mage, and he used Writing Magic to encode a message in the pages of that book. Even while Everlue had him slaving away at it, all he did was write that book especially for you, Kaby."

Kaby started reading the new contents of the book as his eyes widened and began to fill with tears.

After a moment, Natsu sighed and remarked, "Hey, Kaby, don't worry about that reward."

"WHAT!?" Lucy exclaimed.

"Natsu!" Yukino shouted.

"The mission was to destroy the book, and we failed," Natsu explained. "It wouldn't be right to take the money for a failed job, it'd ruin Fairy Tail's name. Besides, he doesn't have enough money anyway."

Kaby stiffened and paled.

"Huh?" Lucy asked.

"I know what rich people smell like," Natsu explained. "They smell different than most people. He's not rich."

Kaby sighed heavily. "… Yes, you're right. I only rented this house so you people would believe I was wealthy and would help me with this task."

"You mean…?" Yukino trailed off, dismayed.

"Yes… I wouldn't have been able to pay you even if you destroyed the book."

Natsu patted his shoulder. "Don't worry about it!"

Yukino and Lucy both slumped their shoulders in disappointment.

"Okay guys, let's go home!"

"Aye!" Happy cheered.

"… Aye…" Yukino and Lucy muttered in quiet despair.

As they walked out of the house, Lucy groaned in defeat. "Aw man… how am I gonna pay rent…?"

"How am I going to pay for my room…?" Yukino muttered in dissatisfaction as waterfall tears fell from her eyes.

Lucy blinked in thought. "Room? Where?"

"Fairy Hills. It's the dormitories near the guildhall."

"There are dorms?!"

"Yeah. The rent is a hundred thousand Jewel a month."

Lucy stiffened in shock. "W – wow… I can barely afford my seventy thousand Jewel a month rent…"

"Yeah… Why did I think going on this job with Natsu was a good idea…?"

"No idea…"

With a sigh, both bemoaned, "At this right I'll be out on the street."

Natsu stopped and turned to the side. "Hey, this way's a shortcut."

"Oh real –?" Lucy began but stopped when she saw that Natsu's supposed shortcut was a swamp, causing her to kick him. "You idiot! I'm not walking through that!"

Natsu outstretched his hands, causing black flames to emerge from his palms and form discs that floated above the ground. "Come on, hop on."

"Hhuuhh!? Are you crazy?! I'll get burned!"

Yukino immediately stepped up on one of the discs and sat down.

"What?!"

"Natsu has full control of these flames," Yukino explained. "They won't burn you."

Lucy gulped and then placed her hand on the disc of flames, widening her eyes. "Huh? It's not even hot." She then proceeded to sit on the disc in surprise. "Wow…"

Natsu then started walking through the swamp, his flames carrying the two girls as Happy floated behind him.


As Natsu walked out of the swamp, his flames still carrying the girls, he said, "Alright, we're through the swamp."

Lucy, whom had fallen asleep on the disc she was floating on, groaned as she woke up. "H – huh? Oh, sorry, I fell asleep."

Yukino giggled in amusement as she stepped off the disc when Natsu dispelled them, causing Lucy to hit the ground.

"Ready to go?" Natsu asked.

"Yeah…" Lucy remarked as she rubbed her bum before standing up.

Natsu then turned to the side suddenly and sent a blast of flame into the bushes.

Gray jumped from the bushes and landed nearby, annoyed. "What's your problem you dumbass?!"

"What are you doing in there?" Natsu asked with annoyance.

"Takin' a leak," Gray responded extremely quickly.

Natsu frowned slightly at the overly swift answer.

"You got a problem?"

"Yeah, you're lying."

"I am not, fire-spitter."

"Yes you are, ice-breather."

"Hothead!"

"Stripper!"

Yukino groaned in exasperation.

Gray huffed in annoyance as he turned away. "Tch, I don't have time for this crap. And if you're smart, you don't either."

"Huh?"

"Erza's on her way back, and I wouldn't want to be the one who arrives late."

A man with orange hair suddenly burst from the bushes and grabbed Happy.

"Happy!" Yukino shouted.

"Huh?!" Natsu growled.

"So they're back!" Gray shouted, readying his magic.

A second orange-haired man looked at Happy hungrily. "Aw man, I haven't eaten in days, let's hurry and fry him up!"

"HELP!" Happy shrieked.

"Let him go you creeps!" Natsu howled as he charged at them with flaming fists.

"Hu –?" the first mage grunted before getting sent flying by Natsu.

The two orange-haired mages sent out bolts of lightning, which Natsu easily dodged, and spin-kicked, taking out the two mages.

Gray formed his right hand into a fist and slammed it against his open left palm, the air around his hands freezing before he thrust his hands forward and shouted, "Ice-Make: Lance!" causing a magic circle to appear in front of him, sending out multiple arrows of ice that knocked out the remaining mages.

Natsu and Gray lined them up against a nearby tree and Gray froze them all against the tree.

"Okay, start talking, or else," Gray warned as Natsu lit up his hands with fire and a sadistic grin.

"Alright, alright, what do you want to know?!" the first orange-haired mage shouted fearfully.

"Who are you guys, and why were you digging up that old temple?"

"W – we… can't say…" the second orange-haired mage muttered timidly.

"Oh?" Natsu questioned as he cracked his knuckles. "How 'bout now?"

Another of the mages, a short goblin, shouted frightfully, "Eisenwald! We're with Eisenwald!"

"Dammit…" the first orange-haired mage lamented, "and we were so close to Lull –"

However, before he could finish his sentence, a giant hand made of shadow appeared from the distance, grabbed the tree, and pulled it and the mages, underground, crushing them.

"What the hell!?" Natsu exclaimed.

"Great…" Gray groaned, "come on, let's head back."

Sometime later, the group made their way back to the guild.

After looking around, Gray sighed in relief. "Good, we made it back before Erza."

"Yeah," Natsu added.

"I still don't know what I'm going to do about money…" Lucy lamented with a groan.

"I know…" Yukino concurred.

"Guess I'll just need to look for another job."

"Same here."

"Ah, you're back," Mirajane said happily as the two walked towards the bar. "How'd the job go?"

They both slumped their shoulders and groaned in frustration.

"That bad, huh? I'm guessing Natsu refused the payment again?"

The two cried waterfall tears.

Mirajane laughed lightly. "Thought so. His heart's in the right place. He thinks that if the job isn't completed exactly as requested then it's failed. It's just one of the many things Erza pounded into his skull."

"But…" Lucy argued weakly.

"Yeah, I know," a new voice added.

Lucy turned and saw a young, petite woman with long, elbow-length white hair that curled at the ends and bright blue eyes wearing a low-cut, light blue dress with white shoulder straps, a long, mid-calf-length white skirt with a long slit up the left side, up to her hips, a pink sash around her waist, elbow-length gloves, and blue sandals standing nearby, cleaning the bar with a rag.

"He really does mean well though."

"Right… uh, who are you again?" Lucy asked.

The white-haired woman smiled and answered, "I'm Mira's little sister Lisanna. And that big guy over there is Elfman, the middle sibling."

Lucy gaped in surprise as she looked at the large, boisterous man in the room before raising an eyebrow and turning to Mirajane. "Wait, you said Erza hammered that stuff into his head?"

Mirajane nodded. "Yes. When Natsu first arrived here, he was pretty skilled at fighting and a few basic skills, but he lacked certain qualities as a result of being raised by a dragon and a goddess."

"Eh…?"

Mirajane immediately covered her mouth in shock. "Oh no! Forget I said that, pretty please?"

"Why?"

"Natsu wants that to be a secret. Though he's never really said why," Lisanna explained.

Mirajane continued, "Anyway, after he brought her here, Erza took it upon herself to teach those things to Natsu. He wasn't exactly… receptive… at first. But after a while he started to actually enjoy his time with Erza. Her training in some of the basics of civil life escalated to her actually training him how to use a sword."

"Eh?" Lucy mumbled in disbelief.

Yukino nodded in agreement. "Yeah. You wouldn't think it by looking at him, but he's pretty skilled with it. Nowhere near as good as Erza but better than the average swordsman."

"He actually has a sword?!"

"A couple," Lisanna added. "He has a really big one an old man gave him a while ago too. Strange thing is, Natsu's the only one who can lift it. Even Master can't."

"Huh?!"

"Yeah, even Erza tried and she couldn't get it to budge."

"Wow… oh, hey Mira, can I ask you about something?"

"Certainly," the white-haired beauty replied.

"We ran into some loonies who said they were from something called Eisenwald. What is that exactly?"

"A Dark Guild."

"Dark Guild?"

Mirajane nodded. "Yes. As you probably know, there are Mage Guilds all over Fiore. They are each run by guildmasters. These guildmasters answer to the Magic Council. The Council decrees and enforces all of the laws governing magical guilds. It's a guildmaster's job to see to it that his or her guild follows and obeys the laws of the Council. However there are some guilds that violate or simply refuse to obey the Council's laws. These guilds are called Dark Guilds, and their members Dark Mage's. Eisenwald is one such guild."

"I see…"

"What'd you say to me ice-brain?!" Natsu suddenly shouted.

"Great, they're at it again," Cana groaned.

However, at that moment, Loke burst through the door. "Bad news!"

"You're coming out?"

"No! Erza's back!"

However, a calm, authoritative voice behind him, suddenly chided, "And why, pray tell, is that bad?"

"Eek!" Loke shouted as he jumped up in surprise.

Behind him was a beautiful young woman with long, scarlet red hair that reached her waist and brown eyes who was wearing a simple armor with a breastplate composed of a single piece of metal that did little to disguise the generous bosom underneath, decorated with curved lines and a deformed, yellow, Cercelee cross, with the cross's right arm extended to the right side of her armor, with the shorter left arm covering a red marking underneath, large and detailed shoulder guards, a waist guard composed of simply of two elaborate plates hanging from a simple belt over a thinner pair of plates circling her waist, plated gauntlets that extended up to her elbows, covered by elbow guards adorned by protruding metal ornaments reminiscent of feathers, a prominent, armored collared circling her neck and leaving the front side open, a short blue skirt, and long, knee-high, black, leather boots, carrying a massive horn on her back.

"Erza!" Natsu shouted excitedly.

The redhead, Erza, slammed the horn down with a loud crunch.

"Wh – whoa… the whole atmosphere's changed…" Lucy remarked before looking at Erza in thought. 'S-so pretty…!'

Erza then turned to Mirajane. "I have returned. Is the Master here?"

""Welcome back!" the white-haired woman chirped. "The master's at a conference, he left this morning."

"What is that humongous thing, Erza?" Macao asked.

"The horn of a monster I subdued," Erza explained. "The locals decorated it and gave it to me as a souvenir. Is it a problem?"

"No, not in the least!"

Wakaba then muttered, "I bet she's heard about what happened at Mt. Hakobe."

"O – oh crap… I'm a goner," Macao mumbled in fear.

"Listen up!" Erza ordered, causing everyone in the room to freeze. "On the road, I heard that Fairy Tail has been causing yet more trouble. The Master may forgive you, but I will not!" She then began, one by one, shooting each of them down. She first turned to Cana and shouted, "Cana!" causing the tanned woman to drop her drinking barrel, "How dare you drink dressed like that!"

"Why?" Cana rebutted.

"It is disgraceful to have you running around showing off like that."

"Tch, you just don't want me to take a certain someone's eyes off you."

Erza glared dangerously. "What was that?"

"N – nothing…"

Next was a slim young man with long brown hair kept in a low ponytail, two long, curved bangs over his face, dark eyes, and a prominent frown who wore a dark, close-fitting dancing suit with grey, rounded, outlined areas on it that covered all but his head.

"Vijeeter," Erza motioned.

"Yes?!" the man stammered in the middle of a dance pose.

"Dance outside! Wakaba, I see cigarette butts on the floor. Nab," an extremely tall, heavily muscular and massive young man with straight, black hair styled in a bob cut, with a light colored band circling it on the top, two curved bangs emerging from under it, prominent lips on a squared face, bandages on his cheeks, his shoulders adorned by white, tattoos consisting of several circles on both shoulders, in distinctly tribal attire froze fearfully, "I see you're dawdling in front of the request board as usual. Just pick one!" She then turned to Macao. "Macao!" the man flinched in response. However, rather than speak, she just sighed in frustration.

"Say something!" he shouted anxiously.

Erza then rubbed the bridge of her nose and shook her head. "Honestly, you cause too much trouble. But I will be kind and say nothing today."

Lucy sighed with a prominent sweat bead on the back of her head. "But you've said so much already." "What is she, a disciplinarian?"

"That's Erza for you," Happy remarked.

"Still, even if she is kind of a loudmouth, she looks like an actually mature person. Surely there's no reason to be so afraid of her?"

Erza then turned her glance to the blonde. "Are Natsu and Gray here?"

"Yeah Erza?" Natsu asked.

""H – Hi, Erza!" the half-naked teen shouted in fear, "We're good buddies as usual!"

Natsu flattened his brow.

"I heard about something bad on my last job," Erza explained. "Normally I would consult Master Makarov about something like this first, but I believe this is a matter of utmost urgency."

"What is it?"

""I want your help, will you come with me? Both of you."

The two twitched an eyebrow and then shouted in unison, "I refuse to go on a mission with him! Hey! Stop copying me!"

"Stop copying Natsu-Sama!" Juvia demanded to Gray.

"I need you BOTH for this mission. Understood?" Erza demanded dangerously.

"Aye, sir!" both answered frightened.

"Why is Natsu acting like Happy?!" Lucy exclaimed in surprise.

"Minerva, your magic could be useful as well," Erza added.

"Oooohh…" Juvia groaned. "What about Juvia?! She wants to go on a mission with Natsu-Sama too!"

"Like I'd let you puddle girl! I'm going on that mission with Natsu!" Flare rebutted.

"You stay away from Natsu-Sama you flaming pervert!"

"What'd you call me!?"

"You heard me firecracker!"

"Enough!" Erza interrupted bluntly. "Neither of you will be going on this mission. Understood?"

"HUH!?" they both gasped in shock.

"This mission does not call for a team that large."

"But Natsu needs my flames to fight!" Flare argued.

"And Natsu-Sama needs Juvia's love!" Juvia added.

"I think it'd be fun to bring everyone along," Natsu added with a grin.

Erza remained in silence for a moment before sighing. "Fine, you two can come along. But do not get in the way."

"Right!" both cheered before blinking, turning to each other, and glaring.

Erza sighed whilst Natsu grinned.

Mirajane gasped in thought as she watched the events before her. "This could very well be the strongest Fairy Tail team ever assembled." After a moment of thought she then turned to Lucy. "Hey, Lucy, why don't you go along too to see if you can stop those four from fighting too much?"

Lucy nodded. "Okay."


The group of Erza, Natsu, Lucy, Minerva, Juvia, Flare, and Gray arrived at the train station shortly and were preparing for the ride.

"Hey! Don't forget about me!"

Oh yeah, Happy was there too.

"You're so nice…"

Lucy had a collection of her own bags, as did Natsu and the others. The one who surprised her, however, was Erza.

Namely because Erza had a cart the size of the guild hall.

Lucy looked at the massive cart of bags and blinked in shock. "What…is all that stuff?"

Erza looked up at the stack plainly and answered simply, "Merely items I feel are necessary for the trip."

Lucy sweat-dropped and nodded weakly.

Natsu, however, noticed the odd sweet smell emanating from the cart.


Sometime later, as the group sat on the train, headed towards the destination of their mission, with both Natsu and Juvia getting nauseous from motion sickness.

Lucy looked at Juvia in confusion and asked, "What's wrong with her?"

"She's a Dragon Slayer like Natsu," Gray explained. "Water Dragon Slayer to be exact."

"Eehh!?"

Flare smiled as Natsu wobbled from side to side before putting a hand behind his hand, gently laying him down on her lap, and stroking his hair as he fell asleep.

Juvia twitched an eyebrow before turning green.

Minerva sighed and waved a hand, causing a portal to open in front of Juvia which the woozy Dragon Slayer threw up into.

"Th – thank you… Minerva…" Juvia offered with gratitude.

"Yes, yes," Minerva eased as she patted Juvia's back before chopping the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious.

"Whoa… what was that you did just now?" Lucy asked.

"It's my magic, Territory. It allows me to open up portals in any location, so long as I can see it."

"Wow…"

"Alright, I suppose it is time to inform you all of the mission's details," Erza began.

Lucy nodded. "Oh yeah, that's right, you haven't told us what it is yet." She then froze. 'Oh no! I agreed to this mission without even knowing what it's about! And knowing this guild it's something insane and dangerous!'

"Our mission is simple: we are going to stop the plans of a Dark Guild known as Eisenwald. They are planning on using something called Lullaby for some unknown purpose. However, I can guarantee it is something dangerous as their leader, Erigor, also known as 'the Reaper' is involved and heading their mission. I overheard this while on my last job, and knowing the reputation of Erigor, there is only one course of action."

Lucy gulped and asked, "What?"

Erza answered sternly, "We are going to launch an assault on Eisenwald's headquarters."

"WWWHHHAAATTT!?"

Erza sighed and then looked at the group. "However, I know that I am not strong enough to take on an entire guild on my own, so that's why I asked for your help. Our first stop on the way will be Onibus Town."

Lucy sighed heavily and said weakly, "I'm dead."

Minerva smirked in anticipation.

Nearby, a man in a white coat narrowed his eyes as he overhead their discussion.

"Hey…" Lucy mumbled as she looked around, "aren't we missing someone…?"

Happy looked around and then froze as the train started up

"Natsu and Juvia!" they shouted in unison.


Natsu was lying on the train, drooling and moaning all over himself, Juvia lying unconscious in the opposite seat, as a tall man with black hair pulled back in a pineapple-shaped haircut with dark eyes and wearing a white coat over a black shit with light blue pants and black shoes walked over to the two of them.

"Well, well, look at this. Tell me something, do you know the name we have for you legal guild members?" he asked, getting no response. Annoyed he reached down and grabbed Juvia by the collar. "Flies. All of you, Fairy Tail Flies, has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" He then reached a hand out towards her but felt something grab his wrist.

"Dont. You. Dare," Natsu warned coldly.

"When did you –?!" he attempted to retort but Natsu sent him flying into the opposite wall.

"Asshole. I won't let you touch Juv –!" Natsu began to shout but was interrupted as the train started moving once more, enacting his motion sickness.

The dark-haired man looked at him bewildered and then laughed loudly. "Oh, wow! This is pathetic! You've got motion sickness this bad?! This is hilarious!" He then grinned darkly and kicked Natsu in the face. "Killing you will be easy!" He aimed his hand at Natsu and shouted, "My name is Kageyama, a member of Eisenwald, now die! Knuckle Shadow!" The shadow around Kageyama's feet began to twist and reshape before a fist made of shadows launched from his feet and slammed into Natsu's weakened form, sending him flying across the train car.

Kageyama was about to continue his assault when the train came to sudden stop, causing something to fall out of Kageyama's pocket.


Back at the station, Lucy gaped as Erza had forced her way to the control room and pulled the emergency stop to halt the train. She turned to the remainders of her group and ordered, "Let's go, we have to catch up to the train."


Kageyama growled before he was hit by a torrent of water.

Juvia, still uneasy from motion sickness, threatened, "Don't… touch… Natsu-Sama!" She then blinked when she saw a strange looking flute with a skull on the top, with three eyes on it. She then turned to Natsu. "Are you alright Natsu-Sama?!"

Natsu nodded and then stood up with a smirk and looked at Kageyama. "Alright Doggymama, time to go down."

"It's Kageyama you imbecile!" the shadow-user shouted incensed. He then noticed Juvia looking at the flute and tensed before grabbing it.

Natsu rushed in with his right hand enflamed. "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" He slammed his flaming fist at Kageyama.

The shadow-using Dark Mage raised his hands and shouted, "Guard Shadow!" A dome of shadows formed around Kageyama, defending him against Natsu's attack, if just barely.

Juvia stood up and turned to Natsu. "Natsu-Sama, let us both finish him."

Natsu nodded.

"You won't stop me!" Kageyama challenged as multiple shadows rose up.

At that moment, Juvia and Natsu both slammed their fists together, Juvia's swirling with water and Natsu's with fire, causing a large magic circle to appear in front of them, before placing their fists in front of their mouths, and taking in a big breath.

"Fire Dragon Roar!" Natsu howled as a massive torrent of fire soared at Kageyama.

"Water Dragon Roar!" Juvia shouted as a surge of water shot at Kageyama as well.

The two attacks hit simultaneously, exploding violently and destroying most of the train car.

A voice was then heard over the train's communication system. "I do apologize passengers, the stop was merely a false alarm, we will begin moving again immediately."

"Crap!" Natsu cursed as the train began moving again, before he grabbed Juvia and jumped out.

"Natsu!" Erza shouted as she and the others drove up near the train on a magic four-wheeler.

Natsu threw Juvia to the group, Minerva catching her, before landing atop the four-wheeler, his head slamming into Gray's, the two grunting as their heads collided.

Erza stopped the car as the train drove off. She sighed as Natsu and Gray jumped of the top of the car and down to the ground. She then removed a clamp from her right arm and looked at the two of them. "Are the two of you unhurt?"

Gray rubbed the top of his head in annoyance. "Yeah, though I'm sure I lost a few brain cells thanks to a certain fire-breather slamming into my skull."

Natsu growled and retorted, "There weren't very many to lose! Besides, it wasn't my fault!"

"Enough!" Erza intervened.

"Eep!" Gray and Natsu shrieked in unison.

Erza sighed in frustration and then looked at Natsu. "Honestly, you should be more careful Natsu."

"R – right…" Natsu responded remorsefully.

"Now, why don't you explain what happened?"

Natsu nodded. "Yeah, Juvia was attacked by this weird guy who controlled shadows."

Juvia added, "He dropped a weird flute, Juvia tried to grab it but he got away."

Erza nodded slowly. "I understand, did you catch his name?"

Natsu rubbed his chin in thought. "Hmm…Doggymama? No…Applefarmer?"

"Juvia's fairly certain he said his name was Kageyama," Juvia added.

Erza raised an eyebrow. "Kageyama… wait, he is a member of Eisenwald!"

Natsu tilted his head. "Eiffel-who?"

"Natsu!"

"Aye?!"

"Why did you let him get away?! Were you not listening when I gave the details of the mission?!"

'They were asleep…' Minerva thought silently.

Lucy then blinked curiously. "Wait, Juvia, you said the guy dropped a flute?"

Juvia nodded. "Yeah, so what? You want it to play music?"

"Not a chance! No, I thought I had heard the name Lullaby before, now I know where. Lullaby is a magical flute that was supposedly created by the dark mage Zeref, it's a death flute."

Erza grit her teeth in frustration. "Curses. It is my fault. If I had been more aware we would have seen the enemy sooner and taken the flute." She then jumped back on the four-wheeler as she attached the clamp to her arm.


The train that the group had been on arrived at a new station, Kunugi Station, and the patrons began to slowly climb out of the cars. However, their peaceful departure was halted when a group of people walked up to the cars, the apparent leader of the group being an extremely tall man with spiky silver hair which is held pointing upwards in spiky strands on top of his head, but hangs down to the left side of his face in a distinctive tuft, covering part of his face, black eyes with no eyebrows, numerous blue tattoos covered his face and bare torso, he also wore a long, worn hakama, a short, black, tattered cloth over that, and an equally worn white cloth used as a belt, and a black scarf on his shoulders, geta sandals, and black gloves with 'X' markings on the back and bandages going up his arms. His most distinctive feature, however, was the large, curved, serrated scythe he carried.

The people looked at the man warily before he raised his scythe and pointed it at the train. "Everyone onboard this train, get lost! This train belongs to Eisenwald!"

The people began to murmur and argue.

The man sneered and raised his scythe, bringing its blade parallel to the ground, and swiped it in front of him.

The top half of one of the cars was then sheared off and fell to the side.

He chuckled darkly. "How 'bout now?"

The people slowly and fearfully left the train as the Dark Guild embarked before the train started moving again.

Kageyama walked up to the man and knelt down, handing him the twisted-looking flute. "Erigor, I've brought the Lullaby."

Erigor smirked darkly as he looked at the flute.


In another town in Fiore, Clover Town, a group of people were in a large building with multiple floors. The building was serving as the meeting ground for the Guild Master Conference, where all of the leaders of the Legal Guilds in Fiore meet and discuss the current situations amongst themselves and the Dark Guilds.

Three guild masters in particular were discussing the actions of one specific guild.

The first was an elderly, bald, cross-dressing man wearing a purple, spaghetti-strap dress, striped pink and purple shorts, a gold, hoop necklace, red lipstick and blush on both cheeks, and small white wings on his back. He was Bob, guild master for Blue Pegasus.

The second was a slim, older man with a squared face that had several wrinkles, dark blonde hair that reached his shoulders and was straight cut, who wore dark sunglasses that covered his eyes, a plain black T-shirt and pants as well as a tall hat with a wide brim and a torn top that slumped backwards. He was Goldmine, guild master for Quattro Cerberus.

The third was an extremely short, elderly man with black eyes, balding white hair, and a thick mustache. He wore a white shirt with a black Fairy Tail symbol on the front, an orange hoodie, matching orange shorts, pointed shoes, and a blue and orange striped jester hat. This was Makarov, guild master for Fairy Tail.

Bob laughed in a very effeminate tone before asking in the same tone, "So Makarov, how are those cuties in Fairy Tail doing?"

Makarov nodded in return and answered proudly, "Well as usual. We've had a few…slip-ups, with the Council recently but nothing we can't handle."

Goldmine chuckled in amusement. "I hear your guild members have been causing more destruction than the enemies they fight recently."

Makarov brushed off the remark with a loud laugh. "Well, they're young."

Bob gave a very loud laugh before adding, "Yes…I would loove to meet that youthful man again."

"Well, who knows. You might get the chance."

A small blue bird then flew in the window and landed in front of Makarov, dropping off a letter in front of him.

Makarov blinked in confusion as he picked it up. "What's this?"

He opened the letter and a magical hologram of Mirajane appeared.

"Oh my, Mira's grown so much in the past few years," Bob commented emphatically.

The recording then said, "Hello Master, I hope you're doing well at the conference. I just thought I'd let you know great news. Fairy Tail could very well have its strongest team ever formed. Erza, Natsu, Gray and a couple others have formed a team to handle a mission. Anyway, that's all."

Bob and Goldmine looked speechless. Though Bob fixed that swiftly. "My, my, how impressive."

The two then looked, rather confused, at the trembling form of Makarov.

Bob poked his shoulder and asked, "Makarov…what's wrong?"

Makarov answered weakly, "Those three…together…they could…destroy an entire city…this is bad…"


And that brings this chapter to a close. I hope everyone enjoyed it, if you did, be sure to leave a review. If you were confused, unsure, or curious about anything, leave a review about that and I will do my best to address it. If you did not enjoy it, feel free to leave a review but I would suggest you utilize your time for something you enjoy instead. But, for now, buh-bye!