Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait, writers block is a pain. Anyway here's a new chapter, and I'm working on posting the next one by the end of the week. Enjoy!
Normal POV
Crystal stood at the request board looking for a job. When Mira called her over. "Crystal, there's a job here with a request for you!"
"Thanks Mira!" Crystal walked over to Mira and took the request flyer from her. As she began to read it Gray comes behind her and reads it, then he grabbed the request from Crystal and held it above his head.
"Gray!" Crystal whined reaching for the paper.
"You're not going." Gray says holding it up higher.
"Gray, one of my dear friends requested for me to take it. She's in danger and I'm going to help her. That's what friends do!"
"I can't let you go, especially by yourself."
"Then come with me!" Crystal said getting frustrated.
"No it's way too dangerous" Gray said as he places the request on the bar next to Master who picks it up.
Crystal crossed her arms, and glared at him. "When has anything been to dangerous for you?"
Gray turned back toward her and sighed, "Look, I'm just worried about you."
Crystal rolled her eyes, "Why? You haven't taken on dangerous missions." She spat back.
"You don't know about half of the dangerous missions I've taken, and I'm fine now. Please just come with me if you feel it's dangerous."
"I already said no!" Gray said sternly
"Then I'm going by myself!" Crystal yelled back.
"I'm sorry my dear, but I agree that you can't go on your own." Master said intervening in the quarrel.
Crystal looked at Makarov and saw just how serious it was. "... Fine, so if I have a partner then I can go?" She pleaded to the short old man.
He paused to think over the offer "Yes that's fine."
"Gramps!" Gray said in disbelief, he was sure the wise guild master would make her stay.
"Gray, I can't deny her a mission she's qualified for, she is S class and is willing to go with a partner." He said trying to reason with the boy.
"Thanks Master!" Crystal says slightly bowing her head and took the flier back from Makarov, and walked over to Mira with the flyer to get it approved.
"So who's gonna be your partner?" Mira asked worriedly glancing at Gray.
Crystal turned avoiding her brother's glare, and leaned on the bar while looking around the guild. When her eyes set on someone she smirked.
"Someone who won't say no to a mission with some action."
Crystal pushed herself off the bar and walked over to the chatting blonde and pinkette. She put one hand on her hip and holds the flier in the other.
"Hey guys! Natsu, wanna go on a mission?" She puts the paper in front of him and sing songs, "We get to fight dark wizards~"
Natsu immediately jumps up with a fist in the air. "Alright! I'm all fired up! Happy you coming?"
The blue exceed looked up at them, "No thanks I'm good. Wendy and Carla are going on a mission with Romeo, so I'm gonna tag along."
"Alright little buddy I'll see you when I get back!" Natsu said as he pat Happy on the head.
"Aye sir!"
"Sorry for stealing Natsu from you Lucy." Crystal apologized. Lucy waved her hands dismissively. "Not all it's fine, but it he going to be ok?" She said nudging her head toward Gray.
Crystal shrugged and quickly glanced at him. She leaned in and whispered to Lucy, "Do you think you could say something to make him understand or at least calm down? He might listen to you."
Lucy smiled and winked at Crystal, "Sure, I'll try my best!"
"Thank you." Crystal smiled back, and turned to Gray who still looked upset, and crossed her arms.
"There! Now I'm not alone and if something happened I have Natsu." I look over at Natsu, "Come on, let's go!"
Gray growled, "Crystal don't..."
Crystal looked at him and gave a sad smile. "Bye Gray." She said as the two dragon slayers walked out of the guild hall. Gray sighed and crossed his arms, "Why is she so stubborn?" He groaned.
Erza walked up next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Well, she learned from the best." She said smirking, "Don't worry she'll be fine, she's a tough girl." Gray sighed, and ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah I know, but I can't help but worry about her."
Erza smiled at him, "I'm sure she's worried about you countless times. That's what siblings do."
Crystal POV
As we walked towards my house, Natsu was happily rambling about how excited he is for finally going on a mission.
"Hey!" I hear him yell, I jolted seeing his face inches from mine, I blush a little at the closeness and realizing I wasn't paying any attention.
"Huh?" Was the only thing I could say.
"Are you okay with this?" He said pulling back a little and looked worriedly at me.
Our eyes lock for what seemed like forever, then I broke eye contact and looked at the ground with a frown. "What are you talking about?" I say feigning innocence.
Natsu puts his hands behind his head and looked up. "Leaving like that. I mean Gray was being an idiot like he normally is, but he was just worried about you." He said glancing over.
I wrapped my arms around myself. "Yeah, I know but..." I sighed, "I just wish he would believe in me enough to know I can handle it. He has no idea how many missions I've been on that were way worse than this. How many times I've almost died. I don't even know how he'd react if he knew that I..." I stopped not knowing if I should continue.
"That you what?" Natsu asked probably sensing my uneasiness.
"That I... Used iced shell."
Natsu's eyes widened as his head whipped toward me and stopped walking. "You what?" He asked staring intensely at me.
I shrunk back a little and avoided his gaze. "I used iced shell."
"But how? When Gray told me about iced shell, he said the caster's body turns into the ice itself to encase their enemies. So how are you still here?"
I hugged myself tighter and shrugged. "I-I'm not exactly sure myself. I have a hunch though. You remember when we fought right and at the end my hair and eyes changed." He nodded, and continued listening, "Well I was in that same 'mode' while fighting a monster along with other powerful wizards from different guilds. We separated into two groups and I was the only one standing from mine, the other group wasn't around. And if I didn't destroy it, not only I would have died, but thousands of other innocent people too. So I used iced shell. I knew the consequences but I also wanted to save everyone. After I used it I passed out and I was in a coma for two months. I was surprised when I woke up and remembered what happened. Another thing was I couldn't summon that power for three months after that. That's what makes me think it saved me."
Natsu was quiet for a while. "Yeah I guess that makes sense, but it may have been a fluke so don't try it again." He said finally breaking the silence.
I smiled a little hearing that. "Yeah I know, I made a promise that I wouldn't use it again."
"Huh, Gray promised the same thing when he tried to use it."
"Yeah, Gray wrote letters to me all the time while I was away at school. He told me about all of your adventures. That's also when he made me promise not to use iced shell." My small smile turned into a frown, "I broke that promise."
There was another short pause before Natsu spoke up. "You have to tell him."
I sighed, "I know but I'm scared, I already know he'll be mad at me. Hell, he's mad at me for this!" I said waving my arms around. "I-I don't know what he'll do when he finds out."
Natsu looked at me with a serious but kind expression and says, "... Gray loves you. He may be mad but he'll get over it. Just explain everything to him. And if you're still scared, I'll be there when you tell him."
My eyes widened as I stared at Natsu, then I started giggling. Natsu looked at me confused and pouted. "What are you laughing at?"
"Sorry, but you just seem all out of character right now. You're normally super playful and kinda child like. But right now you're serious and consoling."
Natsu pouted even more. "Hey I can be serious if I want to." He said crossing his arms.
"I know, I know, sorry... Hey Natsu? Thanks."
Natsu smiles, "No problem, that's what namaka are for, right?"
I smiled back, "Right."
Inside the apartment building Natsu and I are walked up the stairs."Alright I'm just going to go pack my clothes, leave a note for Gray about food he needs to eat before it spoils, and then we can go!"
Natsu's stomach growled and he places a hand over it, "I'll take care of some of that food for you!"
"Haha! I'm sure you will."
Natsu turned to me as we stop at my door. "So how are we getting there?"
"Well it takes a day by foot and we need to be there by tonight, so we could take the train, but my magicycle would get us there faster. Less stops."
Natsu's face paled immediately when I mentioned the train, "Uggh, I hate transportation"
I giggled and began to unlock the door. "Actually, I have motion sickness pills you can take. I don't get motion sickness that often, but I learned how to make them with magic. It's not as good as Wendy's troia spell and doesn't last as long, but it'll work."
Much to my surprise, Natsu dropped to his knees and bowed in front of me.
"Thank you, Thank you! You're a lifesaver." He said his face an inch of the ground, and I snorted.
"Well look who we have here" a voice said from behind us. I turned my head and smiled as I practically bounced over to hug my neighbor.
"Bianca! How are you? Where's Mya?"
"Hey Crystal," she said hugging me back tightly. "I'm good and Mya's with her grandparents. What's going on?"
"Oh, I'm about to go on a mission." I explained releasing her from the hug.
"Ooo, sounds fun! Is Gray going with you?" My smile faded a bit.
"No, um Gray and I got in a fight. So I'm going with my friend Natsu." I pointed back to the pink haired boy.
"Oh that's to bad. I hope you make up soon."
"Thanks, we will, he's just being overprotective. Anyway, Bianca this is Natsu, Natsu this is my best friend Bianca!" I smiled waving Natsu closer.
"Ah! So this is the famous "Flame brain". Nice to meet you Natsu!" Bianca said giggling.
Natsu scowls, "That damn ice princess!"
Bianca and I laugh, I leaned in to whispered to Bianca. "Natsu and Gray fight all the time, but they really care for each other, they're like best friends."
"I can hear you know! I am a Dragon Slayer!" He said pointing to his ears.
I smirked and put a hand on my hip, "You didn't deny it though." Natsu seemed to want to protest, but at a loss for words, he just looked away and crossed his arms. "He's still a bastard."
I chuckled, "Yeah, yeah whatever. Anyway, I have to pack we'll probably be gone for a few days." I said turning back to Bianca.
"Oh in that case here!" She said reaching inside a bag and pulled out a container. "I made cookies for you and Gray. Take some on your trip, I'll give Gray his when he comes home."
I grabbed the cookies which were quickly taken by Natsu. "Thanks! These smell great!" He said already plopping a cookie in his mouth. I just shook my head, "Thank you, now Natsu doesn't have to eat all of my food."
Bianca giggled, "You're Welcome. Have fun on your mission and be safe."
"Thanks we will." I said as I opened the door to my apartment and walked in with Natsu trailing behind me.
"Whoa, nice place. It looks totally different from when only Gray lived here."
I walk into my room and pulled out a bag and started packing clothes.
"Thanks, I did it all myself!" I paused and looked up. "Wait, Gray invited you over?"
Natsu appeared in the doorway and leaned against it. "Nope! I'd just sneak in and annoy the crap out of him." He said proudly with a mischievous grin plastered on his face. "Hey, how come I've never seen you here before?"
I thought about it for a second, "Oh um, Gray moved here soon after I left to go to school, so I was never here. I started living here after you guys disappeared with Tenrou Island."
"Ah, that explains it."
"Yup. Okay I'm done packing, let's grab some food and get out of here. Oh but first take this, its the motion sickness pill." I said placing the little green orb in his hand.
"Thanks. That reminds me, why don't you get motion sickness?" He said sounding a little jealous.
I shrugged my shoulders as I picked up my bag and walked out of my room. "I don't know I use to be then it just went away."
"Lucky." Natsu grumbled crossing his arms.
I chuckled as I scrawled out a note and stuck it to the fridge. "Ready?"
"Yup, let's go."
•••••••••••••••••••
"Woohoo! This is awesome!" Natsu yelled behind me as we fly down the road on my magicycle.
"Don't you see why transportation is amazing now?" I asked with a teasing tone to my voice.
"Yeah, as long as you're not motion sick, then it's awesome."
We had been riding close to an hour now and we had covered a good distance, but the SE Plug was starting to take an effect on me.
"Hey Natsu how about we take a break in a few?" I said gesturing to the SE plug.
"Oh, yeah sure. We can have a picnic when we stop." I could feel the smile plastered on his face. Typical Natsu, already thinking of food.
We stopped at a pretty field with lush grass and flowers. There was a huge sakura tree in the middle of the field.
"Wow, this place is pretty. Hey Natsu, you want to set up under the tree?"
"Yeah sure." He said as he grabbed the blanket and basket off of the magicycle. We went under the tree and spread the blanket out underneath it. Once the food is out, we dug in. Geez I'm glad I brought a lot of food, Natsu's basically inhaling it. When we were finished eating I packed everything away and we relaxed in the shade.
"So, what's the mission about anyway?" Natsu asked me while laying out on the blanket. I turned to look at him incredulously.
"Did you not read the flier when I showed it to you?"
"No not really, I was just excited to go on another mission." He shrugged.
I sighed "Alright well, it for a friend of mine. She's the daughter of a big business owner."
"So she's kinda like Lucy?"
"Exactly. And Lucy ran away because her father was forcing her into a marriage right?" He nodded. "Well Alicia also is arranged to be married, only the guy she's marrying is a childhood friend and she liked him anyways."
"Well that's good."
"Yeah, I'm happy for her. Anyway, her parents are throwing a huge engagement party. The thing is, while one of her servants and friend who is also a wizard, overheard a conversation. Turns out an assassin's guild in a forest near the town, is planning on kidnapping her and holding her for ransom. Who knows how much they want for her. So they hired us to hang out at the party and protect her."
"Okay. No wonder Gray was nervous. An assassin guild right?"
"Right so we have to be careful and keep our senses tuned at all times. I heard that there should be five of them. That's also one of the reasons I picked you for this mission, since we're both dragon slayers we can smell and hear better than anyone else."
A small grin plays across Natsu's face. "So you didn't only pick me to make Gray mad."
I scoffed pretending to be offended, "I'll have you know I thought about who and what I need for this mission, after Gray denied me from going. You were a good pick for this mission, your rivalry was just a bonus." I smiled and winked. Natsu laughed and I did too. I yawn then look at my watch. Man I'm tired. "We should get going," I say trying to stifle another yawn. Natsu sits up and looks at me.
"But you're tired. I know I could drive while you get some sleep!"
My eyes widen as I stare at Natsu. A nap sounds like a good idea but... it's Natsu.
"Have you ever driven before?" I asked hesitantly.
He blinked for a moment, "Ah no, it couldn't be that hard though. Teach me!"
I sat there and seriously considered it, then shrugged, "Alright, come on."
"Awesome I get to drive!"
"Maybe, if you can handle it" I tease.
"Come on it can't be that hard."
Once we got up to the magicycle, I began teaching Natsu how to drive.
"So you turn the handle forward to make it go, and the speed depends on how much Magic Power you put out. Got it?"
"Yeah, alright let's do this. I'm all fired up!"
"Yeah yeah, just start off slow- NATSU!"
Natsu had immediately shot off, going at an incredible speed and almost knocked me off. I tightened my grip around Natsu.
"I told you to start off slow!" I yelled at him.
"You don't have to yell, I can hear you." Not the point. "Anyway slow is boring and I rather get there sooner than later."
"Fine, just don't over do it."
"Got it!"
Hm, he's pretty good at this. I analyzed after a few minutes and yawned again.
"You sleepy ice prince?" Natsu asked.
I furrowed my eyebrows, "Ice prince?"
"Yeah, Gray is ice princess so you're ice prince."
I pouted at that. "That makes me sound masculine."
"That's the point."
"I don't like it."
"That's also the point."
"... Okay, Cinderella."
"Isn't she a princess?"
"Yep, so now we're even. I can't believe Gray didn't come up with that one." I said yawning again.
"You can take a nap if you want to."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I just keep going straight right? I'll just wake you up when we get to the town."
"... Okay" I leaning against Natsu's back and immediately started to drift to sleep.
"Night ice prince."
I rolled my eyes and close them "G'night Cinderella."
~~Chapter End~~
