Well, I cranked this one out pretty fast, since the first chapter was so short... I hope you all like it!
Also, the song this story was inspired by ("half a world away") is called Speak Up by POP ETC.
Chapter One: Surrounding Shimmers
Natsu POV
Of course I get stuck with Gray. Once our team reached the forest outside of the disappearance sightings, Erza told us - no, demanded us - to split up. Gray, Happy, and I took the path to the North, while Erza, Lucy, and Wendy started around the outskirts of the forest. I have no idea what Erza could be thinking. Every time we split up, bad things happen. Especially when Gray and I are within striking distance.
The three of us silently walked through the small forest to the town on the North side of the forest. The foliage was bright green and pink and blue, colors blending throughout the trees and plants. Spring was ending, but the greenery held on to it's last bit of blossoms and fruit.
Lucy would have liked this, the flowers blooming and the animals of the forest bravely watching us. She's so girly, I don't know how she survives being a Fairy Tail mage, I thought. Then I reconsidered. Lucy was the heart of the guild, the one who made us smile even in tough situations. She brightened the room even when she was irritated with all of us. She kept all of our spirits up even when it seemed we would all fail. I miss Lucy, even though we just left them. The silence between Gray, Happy, and I was unbearable. Even if Lucy was annoyingly loud, her voice was somewhat comforting.
I shook my head. What was getting into me? Thinking about Lucy, of all things, at a time like this! A fight might break out at any moment, and if Gray was prepared while I was off thinking about girls, he'd never let me forget it.
Happy interrupted my thoughts, "Aye! Look at that stream there! Natsu, can we go fishing?"
I glanced at the glistening brook winding through the forest and sighed. "Happy, we have a quest to finish. Can't you wait until we get home?"
His little stomach grumbled. "But I'm so hungry!"
"Wait, I think I see buildings up there. We should check it out, to see if any civilians know about the disappearances. Do you guys know any towns near this forest?" Gray said.
How could I have missed that! Gray found a clue for our quest, while I was off conversing with Happy. Ugh, I hate it when Gray is right. "Onibus Town must be coming up soon. Maybe that could be it?" I muttered.
We continued walking, watching as the town came into view. All seemed normal, no strange indication of anything vanishing. We stopped at the edge of the forest, staring at the mundane town. I scratched my head in confusion.
"Well, I guess we can just go and ask the townspeople what's going on! Come, on, Happy!" I replied.
I bounded forward, distantly recognizing a strange shimmer surrounding the border of the town.
"Wait!" Gray cried.
BAM! I suddenly slammed right into an invisible wall. The force knocked me through the air all the way back to the stream in the middle of the forest. I crashed into the ground, cutting and bruising my entire body.
I groaned and examined the damage. Not bad. I've had much worse.
I jumped up and started running back to Gray and Happy. The forest didn't look so beautiful now, after receiving a giant bruise which almost blinded my eyes. I was getting a little dizzy by the time I reached them. I could now see the obvious shimmer enclosing the entire city. Ugh, why couldn't Gray tell me sooner if he saw something!
"Did you figure out what the damn thing is yet?" I grumbled as I got to them.
"Natsu! Are you okay?!" Happy squealed.
"I'm fine." I mumbled in embarrassment.
"We tested some stones onto the force field while you were away." Gray answered my previous question. "It seems like the barrier uses electricity to immobilize anyone who tries to pass into the town."
"Ah." I tried to sound like I knew what he was talking about. "Right! Well, I guess something strange really is happening around here. Too bad I can't just pummel the damn barrier." I glared at the blockade in frustration. "What're we supposed to do now?"
Gray shrugged. "I suppose we report to Erza and the girls."
I shuddered. Erza was a frightening force of nature. I wondered how she would react to the news. Something was happening around here, and none of us knew exactly what it was.
We started walking back to the girls when suddenly, I heard a thunderous racket from above. The three of us looked up to see a massive shadow come over us. The creature looked very similar to the synthetic dragon we defeat a few months ago. It was much smaller than Igneel, though, who was once larger than the entire forest.
Igneel…
I remembered the fierce Fire dragon with nostalgia. A part of me was excited by this unknown creature appearing, and the other part was frightened by what this could mean.
The dragon landed with a loud boom, destroying some trees nearby. The crack of the trees mixed with the thunder of it's landing created such a loud reverberation, my ears continue to echo with the noise even after the it ended.
Before us lay a dark green dragon, talons plunged into the earth and canines bared at us. It's scales gleamed in the afternoon light.
It was absolutely bewitching.
Happy, Gray, and I stared dumbstruck at the creature until it roared with an earsplitting sound, waking us from our stupor. The dragon charged toward us with unnatural and enthusiastic vigor.
