Chapter Four:
It was about time to go to the train station to meet with the rest of the team. I walked to my window, placing my hand on the cool glass. I thought that a bit of brighter weather would be better for the rest of the team's attitude towards the mission. I stared at the clouds, concentrating my gaze on them until they started to dissipate, the sprinkling rain subsiding until the sun gleamed through. My mouth downturned a bit, missing the cool feeling of the moisture in the air, but I figured the good of the team was better than how I felt towards the rain. I pulled my suitcase off of my bed and picked up my small charm bag.
"Put away suitcase." I muttered softly, and the suitcase glowed blue for a moment before going inside the small bag. It looked almost like a coin purse. I strapped it to the garter wrapped around my thigh before leaving. It was even colder today, so I had some white earmuffs on, along with my jacket draped over my shoulders again. My outfit was basically the same as the day before, since I was being mindful of the weather, except for my white turtleneck shirt.
When I walked outside today, I was a bit more prepared for the weather. The shining sun made it a bit warmer than it would have been. I would have preferred the drizzle, though. I walked down the calm streets, knowing that as the day went on it would get more and more hectic. Fairy Hills wasn't far from anything in town, really, so a short while later I was at the train station. I seemed to be the first one there. I stood near a bench, watching the clock. We had fifteen minutes before our train departed.
"Hi." I heard behind me, and I whirled to see the ice mage Gray. I had never spoken to him before, but now was as good of a time as ever to start.
"Hello. I'm Mari." I held out my hand. He tentatively shook it, his long, cold fingers feeling like ice.
"I'm Gray." he replied.
"Are Lucy and Natsu late for every mission?" I looked at the clock again. Seven minutes.
"Not really late, but they like to push the limit." he had a small smirk. I watched the ticking hands in silence. I never really liked to be late. Gray coughed awkwardly. "So, it seemed to clear up."
"Huh?" I glanced around.
"The rain stopped this morning." he gestured at the sky.
"Oh, yes. Better for travel this way, especially with a fire mage." I looked back at the clock. Five minutes.
"So, you did it?" he narrowed his eyes a bit. Not intimidatingly, more like… curiously.
"It will revert back to normal once we depart." I shrugged.
"You seem pretty selfless. Yesterday you looked like you loved the rain. You smiled for the first time in two weeks." he pressed his lips together, creating a line.
"You've been watching me?" I felt my eyebrow go up.
"I- no. You just attract a lot of attention, is all."
"Why?" I frowned.
"You interest everyone." He wasn't making sense. I looked at the clock again.
"Two minutes. Will we have to leave without them?" my thought was cut short as my ears perked up, hearing hurried footsteps making their way through the station.
"Oi! We're here!" Natsu and Lucy were running towards us, their suitcases being dragged behind them. Happy flew above their heads.
"Where's your luggage?" Gray questioned.
"Requip bag." I patted my small charm bag. He nodded and picked up his own suitcase before boarding the train. I followed, then Lucy, Natsu, and finally Happy. We sat in our private cabin space, Lucy and I on one side, Gray and Natsu on the other. As soon as the train started moving, Natsu blanched, his face turning green. I usually would feel queasy, but I had my anti-motion sickness charm hanging around my neck.
"Hm? Mari-chan, you're wearing a necklace, how cute!" Lucy smiled.
"It's not a necklace, it's a charm. It stops my motion sickness." I explained.
"What?! Gimme that." Natsu moaned, lurching towards me. I held him back by his forehead as he swiped his arms.
"Oi flame-brain, leave her alone." Gray rolled his eyes. Natsu's cheeks puffed and I could smell the bile rising in his throat. I winced away, not wanting him to puke on me, and he snatched the charm from my neck, snapping the chain. He let out a sigh as he was relieved of his sickness. I suddenly felt sick.
"You bastard." I gasped, sweat forming on my brow as I buried my head between my knees, gasping in air. I looked back up at the fire dragon slayer with a glare.
"Give it back to her!" Gray smacked his head before grabbing the charm, pulling it from Natsu's hands, but over calculating his force. The necklace slipped from his hands and got sucked out the open window.
"No! Ice-brain, you idiot!" Natsu went green again and flopped on the ground.
"When we get off this train I'm going to kill you." I muttered to Natsu darkly, taking in another deep breath. I didn't seem to have motion sickness nearly as bad as Natsu, but I was still suffering. I spent the entirety of the train ride glaring daggers at him, and he puked a few times as well. The three hour trip was torture. Gray and Lucy had a conversation that I wasn't able to follow, since I was in and out of consciousness. I woke up with my head on Lucy's lap more times than I could count, and it was embarrassing to say the least. At least she didn't hit me, like Gray was doing to Natsu. As soon as the train stopped I sat up straight. "Thank god." I sighed.
"Aye!" Happy cried. I stood and walked off the train, waiting for the others on the platform. Natsu had to be carried out by Happy, Gray looking irritated behind him. Lucy rolled her eyes.
"He takes it the worst of all the dragonslayers I know." she complained. He gave her a wide grin, and she rolled her eyes at him.
"How many do you know?" I asked, my interest piqued.
"Well, there's Laxus. He's in Fairy Tail, but I think he's been on a mission since you got here. Then there's Gajeel and Wendy, you've met them I think. And then Sing and Rogue, they're the twin dragonslayers of-"
"Sabertooth. I've met them." I scowled. Lucy blinked.
"They didn't leave much of a good impression, I see." she laughed hesitantly.
"We're friends. We fight, usually they end in draws." I waved her curiosity away.
"I've beat them!" Natsu suddenly perked up, a smile stretched across his face. "Their magic was strong, but I managed to be stronger."
"That's just great." I scowled
"Touchy." Natsu grumbled behind me. I felt a growl form in the back of my throat, but I quickly swallowed my anger and pushed open the door, revealing a bright, sunny landscape in front of me. The town of Chrysanthemum bustled with life, instantly making my mood even worse. I stalked away, hearing their shuffling footsteps behind me. I hadn't even started this mission yet and I was already regretting coming. I didn't work well in groups, why did I think this was okay? I suddenly felt anxious. I glanced behind me, seeing Natsu and Lucy chatting about things in store windows. Gray was looking at me, but as soon as I looked back at him his eyes widened and he turned his face away. I looked in front of me again, we were headed towards a hotel. I walked up to the door and made sure the rest of the group followed me. They had. So I went up to the front desk and dinged the bell. An older woman shuffled from behind a curtain with a smile.
"Yes, how may I help you?" her voice was frail yet sweet, and I felt my expression soften under her gaze.
"Two rooms, please." Gray stepped up beside me, laying down some jewels on the counter. "My treat." he added, with a glance to me.
"Only two?" I questioned.
"Oh, newlyweds?" the old woman winked. "We have a discounted suite, if you'd like. One room with two queen sized beds, the price of one regular room."
"We'll take it." Lucy hastily said, and I slumped my shoulders a bit. So much for alone time. The lady gave us two keys, and I thanked her.
"C'mon Luce, why'd you only get us one room." Natsu groaned.
"It was way cheaper! Plus, it would be nice for us to all stick together. It will probably only be for one night." it had better be, I thought to myself. I followed Natsu and Lucy up a flight of stairs, Gray trailing along beside me.
"This'll be interesting." Gray muttered.
"Oi! Does this mean I have to share a bed with ice-prick over here?!" Natsu shouted. Lucy rolled her eyes.
"Well I'm sure as hell not sharing a bed with you!" she retorted. Natsu complained even more.
"Be quiet." I snapped. Everyone turned to look at me with a surprised look on their face. "I can go get a room for Lucy and myself and we won't have to listen to you blathering on all night."
"Natsu's just an idiot." Gray smacked the back of his head. "We'll be fine all together like this."
"Sorry, Mari." Natsu muttered and sat down on a bed.
"So, about the dark guild. We know where it is located, but we don't really know how big it is or how to defeat them." I changed the subject to something more useful than arguments.
"Well, I read about it, and apparently it's not a huge guild, only four mages, plus the master. But they've been doing some weird stuff, and cutting down a lot of trees, and the town is getting worried." Lucy answered me.
"Trees?" Natsu asked.
"I think they're building something." Lucy frowned.
"What could they be building?" I wondered aloud.
"Let's just go and investigate." Gray said, setting his bag on the corner of his and Natsu's bed. I nodded in agreement.
"I'll stay here and take a nap." Happy yawned and flew over to the bed, landing face down with a soft plop.
"Cute." I said softly. We headed out after that, walking into the forest on high alert.
"What could they be building." I muttered again. We trekked over huge roots, but the trees thinned out as we continued. Telltale signs of logging were shown. I could smell the sawdust in the air.
"This is so weird." Lucy stepped over a hole. Some trees were completely uprooted, leaving gaping pits. I touched a stump, a little sad. These trees were so old, they had lived for so long, and now they were being destroyed, not even for a good cause. I sighed and continued walking. I felt very uneasy, but I couldn't sense anything. I don't think Natsu could, either.
"Nightmare shadow!" I heard someone shout.
"An ambush!" I ducked quickly, and Natsu and Gray did the same.
"Lucy!" Natsu shouted to her.
"Water wall!" I quickly stopped the attack from hitting her, pulling the moisture from the air around her into a shield. She shrieked as the attack slammed against the wall, but the water didn't budge. I sprang to my feet, letting the wall drop as the attack dissipated.
"Show yourself!" Gray shouted, ice crackling between his hands. I scanned the few patches of trees before a man stepped out. He had white hair and black eyes. He had a wicked grin spread over his face, and he was dressed in all black, complete with a cloak.
"Hello, Fairy Tail mages." his grin widened. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. I'll enjoy your screams." His voice was coated in venom, a shiver forming in my spine. I suppressed it. Showing weakness around this man seemed like a very, very bad idea.