Chapter 9: First Day on the Job Pt. 3
Trunks sat on the couch facing the pointless TV, tending to the welts he had on his arms and legs with an ice pack he'd made. His jacket, sword, and pants were slung over the top of the armchair with his boots on the floor next to it. He and Erza had sparred with swords after having a quick lunch, and without using his full speed or ki to bolster his guard, he didn't stand a chance. But he needed to do that in order to get a feel for his sword skills, not his own strength. Erza insisted he was very good considering how recently he had started training in sword combat compared to her, but his pride still stung just as much as his arms and legs.
Gray and Juvia came through the front door after having spent the day wandering the capital. Juvia was smiling ear to ear for some reason, but considering what he knew about Juvia's obsession and imagination, Trunks didn't really want to ask why. Gray walked over by Trunks and flopped onto the other couch laying with his feet towards the TV.
"I see you and Erza had a go." Gray noted with a chuckle as he stretched and shifted to get comfortable.
"That smile on Juvia's face says that you and her had a go as well." Trunks replied as he touched one of his more painful injuries on his right leg with the ice pack. The sound of "Juviiin!" could be heard behind them as Gray went red.
"We did not!" He replied to Trunks honestly, "And no one needs to make her imagination any bigger than it already is, so don't encourage her."
Trunks chuckled as he put ice to a bruise on his shoulder.
"I can ice all those marks at one time if you'd like." Gray offered.
"Thanks, but I'm good." Trunks answered, "Besides, you look too comfy on the couch."
"You're right about that." Gray replied as he turned his head to face the ceiling and closed his eyes momentarily.
Erza came out the center bedroom with nothing on but a towel and called Trunks' name.
"What's up?" Trunks asked without looking, still busy icing down his injuries.
"I plan on cooking dinner soon." She answered, "You said you'd need to explain how to use the cooking equipment here?"
"Oh, yeah." Trunks said removing the ice pack from his left arm and setting it on the table in front of him. He got up, grabbed his pants off the armchair, put them back on, and refastened his belt. He grabbed his jacket and sword saying, "Just let me put these in my room first."
When Trunks came back out, he finally saw Erza was only in a towel, and his face went slightly red. Not noticing Trunks' discomfort, Erza began asking him about what she needed to know. Trunks slowly recovered his composure, explained how the oven cooked without fire or magic, and then showed her how all the buttons on it worked. Erza nodded after hearing Trunks' instructions and re-quipped into some clothes for cooking. Gray watched this for a laugh as he knew what was about to happen. As Erza shined with a bright light, her towel disappeared; and Trunks immediately spun around to look away with his hands over his eyes and his face red as a tomato. Erza's new clothes were nothing too special, just a dress and an apron that said, "Kiss the Cook."
"Heh." Gray chuckled, "I probably should have warned you that was going to happen."
Juvia was standing in her doorway when Erza re-quipped, feeling frustrated when she saw Gray was watching Erza change clothes. She also didn't like Erza's apron, afraid it was on in order to seduce her darling ice mage. It took every ounce of her will power to avoid crushing the door frame with her hands.
While Trunks and Erza were working on dinner, Gray had come over to the refrigerator and freezer to inspect it.
"So all these machines run on just electricity?" He asked as he put his hand in the freezer, getting a "yup" from Trunks, "We should show Laxus all this. I'd bet it would also be convenient to have him around if the power was ever out."
"I'm not too sure Laxus would like it if you tried to plug housing appliances into him." Erza stated.
"True." Gray said with a smirk after having an image of Natsu poking an irritated Laxus with a power cord until being brutally swatted away. Oh, we have GOT to make that happen.
Juvia came up behind Gray with a glass and the bottle of liquor Erza had found in the fridge, "Drink, darling?"
Erza didn't know how she felt about a minor having alcohol on him; but when Trunks explained that the house was only recently given to him from his family and he didn't know about the drinks, she decided to say no more on the matter.
Gray looked at Juvia suspiciously for a moment before saying, "Sure. Why not."
Juvia poured it for him and gave it to him. He made some ice for it and sipped it.
"This is pretty good stuff."
"Knowing my family," Trunks said, "There's probably some more expensive stuff hidden somewhere in here."
"Just don't let Cana find out." Gray laughed as Erza placed two whole and fully prepared turkeys in the oven. Trunks knew that wouldn't be enough for himself, so he went back to his room on the right side of the house and put his jacket and sword back on. He announced he'd be back as he crossed the distance between his bedroom door and the front door.
"Where're you going?" Gray asked him, taking another sip of his drink.
"To take a look around town." Trunks half-lied.
"Come back in an hour and the food will be done." Erza replied, "And try to not get in trouble."
"Awww!" Trunks joked as he opened the front door.
"He's in Fairy Tail, Erza." Gray replied as Trunks shrugged, "All we do is get in trouble."
"I know," Erza said, "But still, don't."
"Alright, fine." Trunks responded, "But you sound like my mother. Minus the occasional death threats, of course."
"Don't worry," Gray added with a laugh, "She'll start giving you those after a week or so."
Clover Town…
Gohan raised an eyebrow in interest as he looked ahead, Who's Acnologia?
More like what's Acnologia. The master replied, He's an evil dragon that would kill any person he crossed. Only Gildarts, the strongest of our guild besides me, survived without ancient protection magic. Even so, he lost his arm and leg just trying to escape Acnologia.
Sounds like a powerful monster. Gohan stated.
More than powerful. Makarov explained, The best of us in Fairy Tail including me, Gildarts, and four dragon slayers went up against him; and we didn't even scratch a scale. The only reason we survived was that we were on our sacred ground called Tenrou Island, but that's a long story. All you really need to know is that we got lucky; and even then, those of us on the island paid for that miracle by sleeping for seven years.
"I'm guessing that must have hurt the guild. Not to mention the feeling of finding out how much you missed in that time." Gohan said aloud, "My father actually had been away for seven years while my mother and I raised Goten. Goten was so nervous when he first him."
"I see." Marakov replied, "Where was he?"
"It's hard to explain, but he was dead." Gohan answered, "It was only because a guardian of our universe allowed it that made my father able to come back."
"Sounds like the world you're from has some strange things happening in it." Makarov concluded.
"The same could be said for yours." Gohan said with a smirk, "But then again, we both can be considered weirdos compared to the rest of the people in our worlds, right?"
"This is true." Makarov chuckled as they arrived at the front door of the conference hall.
"The last time I saw this place," Makarov reminisced, "It was a pile of rubble that Natsu's team and a demon created. We moved the location to another meeting spot until it was rebuilt, but I was asleep to miss its grand reopening."
Gohan entered the building with his master, being greeted by guild masters from all over Fiore. He noticed the respectful tone that most of them gave Makarov, but he figured it would be like this, given that Makarov was master of the number one guild.
"It's nice to see you again, Maki!" A very peculiar voice said. Gohan lost his momentary composure and showed his confusion when he saw a rather large man in a pink dress and heels with white wings on his back.
Yes, Master Bob is a man. Makarov explained to Gohan telepathically, He may be strange; but he is a respectable wizard and the master of Blue Pegasus, one of our most loyal allies, so just go with it.
"It's nice to be back." Makarov replied, "Though I hope the reason we're here is just an overreaction."
"I agree." Bob said before looking at Gohan.
"Oh! And who is this handsome young man?" he said as he grabbed Gohan and rubbed his stubble on Gohan's arm.
"Uh… thanks?" Gohan whimpered while trying to gently worm his way out Bob's grip.
"This is Gohan, one of my three newest members." Makarov answered.
"You know this meeting is meant for masters only." Bob told the short man as he released Gohan.
"Gohan is a special case." Makarov replied, "I won't say more until the meeting starts."
"I hope this isn't another one of Fairy Tail's stunts." An old woman's voice said, "If it is, I'll spin you myself, Makarov!"
"There's nothing to worry about, Ooba." Makarov assured, "How's Lamia Scale doing these days?"
"Better if we weren't known as the third best guild."
"Oh, don't be so sad about that." Another voice jumped into the conversation, "You could be in sixth."
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Goldmine," Makarov said, "I still have a high opinion of Quatro Puppy."
"It's Quatro Cerberus." the punk rock-fashioned master corrected, "At any rate, I sympathize with Bob and Ooba's hesitation at your bringing guild members here. Anything Fairy Tail does usually makes the council worry anyway. And considering the council's recent mood, I wouldn't want to test their patience."
"Oh, whatever." Makarov said, "Either way, I made the poor boy come. It'd be rude of me just to send him off. Now, when's this thing supposed to start?"
"Pretty soon," Bob answered, "I think the council representative was waiting for you."
As if on cue, a council member called all the masters to a small stage that had been erected just for the meeting.
"Gohan," Makarov said, "I want you to familiarize yourself with these masters. You're abilities allows almost instant communication with anyone anywhere, and I have the feeling we may need that."
"This is the reason you brought me." Gohan observed.
"One of the two." Makarov replied, "You'll find out the other during the meeting."
Gohan nodded and joined the crowd with Makarov.
"I can't believe it!" one of the attending masters said, "An entire village wiped out, and it was kept quiet?!"
"You must understand," the humanoid frog that was the council rep. said, "We can't afford a mass panic across the land. There were several witnesses far enough from the village to survive their injuries, each one saying that a massive dragon destroyed it in one shot; and those witnesses volunteered their silence, feeling the same way as the council does. That being said, there is now only a crater where that border village stood, and we can't ignore that."
"What would you have us do?" another master called out, "Should we go out there blindly aiming to pick a fight with Acnologia? From what I heard, Fairy Tail's best couldn't even scratch him!"
"That was seven years ago." Blue Pegasus' Bob replied, "Now they're stronger than ever before. If any group could ever take that thing down, it'd be them. They've got four dragon slayers after all."
"That means nothing!" another random master cried out, "We've seen them fight dragons before, and they barely hurt them. Acnologia is supposed to be a hundred times stronger!"
"He's right." Another voice added, "We only got lucky after the Grand Magic Games."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" the confused council representative questioned, "Dragons at the Grand Magic Games?"
"Oh, now you've done it." Goldmine sighed, "Someone fix his memory now, and make sure his guards are taken care of too."
"What are you-?!" the frog man demanded as a group of wizards pulled him off the stage, "Release me at once! The council will hear of this!"
"No they won't." someone told him as he was carried from the room.
"Now that the council's out the room, do you have anything for us, Maky?" Bob asked, bringing the room's attention to the two from Fairy Tail.
"I don't know, maybe." Makarov answered, "What do you think, Gohan?"
"What?" Gohan said surprised, "You're asking me for advice?"
Murmurs of wonder as to who Gohan was went through the crowd.
"This is ridiculous!" Ooba exclaimed, "You're asking some new guild wizard that's not even allowed here for advice?"
Exclamations came from the crowd, "He's not allowed here?", "He's not a master?!", "New?!"
"Be quiet and listen to Makarov." Quatro Cerberus' master said, "He is the leader of the number one guild, so let's hear what he has to say."
"Thank you, Goldmine." Makarov began, "This is Gohan, and to be honest, he only joined Fairy Tail last night."
Another wave of whispers went through Makarov's audience.
"That being said, Gohan in the same night easily defeated the dragon slayers Natsu Dragneel and Gajeel Redfox while still seriously holding back."
This time, the crowd's mood seemed to start showing curiosity and interest.
"I decided to bring Gohan here because his power is something no one else in all of Earthland has. You won't be able to sense any magical strength from him, but you will all see it. I think he may be able to defeat Acnologia."
"That's horse crap and you know it!" a young voice cried out from the crowd.
The speaker shoved his way past people until he was standing in front of Makarov and Gohan. Standing in front of them was Sting Eucliffe, Master of Sabertooth. He was wearing the same outfit he had worn at the Grand Magic Games, and his reptilian blue eyes shown with anger at Makarov's statement.
"The only person that can kill a dragon is someone that uses dragon magic!" Sting declared, "I admit that Rogue and I were easily beaten, and I'm greatly impressed by someone that can defeat Salamander and Black Steel Gajeel; but that is how things are."
"I do think you are right, Sting." Makarov sighed, "I didn't say he would kill Acnologia, though. I'm suggesting that he'll be able to weaken him enough for all the dragon slayers to be able to finish him off."
"So your plan is a coordinated attack, Maky?" Bob asked.
"I doubt there's anyone strong enough for that." Sting said, "What makes you think he's so special?"
"I think Gohan can win because he is a God."
Statements and murmurs of disbelief went around the room as Gohan realized he was here to show off.
"Show them, Gohan."
"Gladly." Gohan replied. He began to power up as a field of energy radiated a blue light around him. Tables and chairs in the room began to levitate as Gohan took his time gathering ki, deciding to show off rather than just change.
"You guys better brace yourselves. I apologize ahead of time for any injuries you may receive." Gohan said, "Oh, and Sting, was it? Natsu used some strange form to fight me that had some strength. It may be able to keep you on your feet for this."
"You talk big," Sting replied as he activated his dragon force, "But I haven't seen anything yet."
Gohan smirked before he began yelling. The building's windows shattered and its doors broke open. His power shoved everyone over and a few feet away except for Sting and Makarov. Sting was brought to one knee while Makarov had to physically push back to stay on his own two feet.
Sting stared in awe as he felt too tired to maintain his dragonforce. He returned to normal and sat back as Gohan's energy finally stopped pushing. Sting looked at Gohan and saw that Gohan's eyes and hair had changed to red, and an aura of red light lit up the whole room. Gohan smirked when his eyes met Sting's.
Goten and Natsu were leaning back in their seats while Happy lay back on a cleared part of the table, stuffed from eating all the food Mr. Yajima had asked them to try. The girls were seated across from them. Lucy and Charle shook their heads when they looked at the three but Wendy just giggled. Pan was giggling at her uncle's expression while Lucy held her. Everyone had tried each course they were given, but leave it to Natsu to make an eating contest out of it. To everyone's surprise, Goten had won and continued eating after. At each plate, Lucy, Wendy, and Charle had told Yajima what they thought; but Goten, Natsu, and Happy had eaten everything before saying what they thought. Lucy and Charle were genuinely surprised when the boys had reviewed each plate somewhat intelligently. Yajima had left for a moment to go talk with his kitchen staff while the group rested.
"I'm so happy we can fly back." Natsu declared as he patted his bloated gut, "Cause I sure wouldn't want to lose this lunch."
"Aye." Happy agreed with a sigh of content.
"The food was quite enjoyable." Charle said, getting an agreeing nod from Lucy.
"We saved a good bit of time thanks to Goten." Lucy stated.
"Maybe we could use the time to look around town." Wendy suggested, "Isn't Lamia Scale nearby?"
"That's not too bad of an idea." Lucy replied, "We could go by Margaret Town and pay them a visit."
"Or you could just look over here." A familiar voice said as everyone turned to see Lyon Vastia and Chelia Blendy.
"Oh, hi!" Lucy greeted as Lyon and Chelia came up to the table.
"We were in town and heard that some Fairy Tail wizards were having an eating contest, so we decided to investigate." Lyon explained as he stood next to the table.
"It's so great to see you, Wendy." Chelia said as Wendy got up to greet her.
"I'd ask for a fight," Natsu told Lyon, "But I'm a little too stuffed at the moment."
"That's too bad." Lyon replied with a grin, "I needed something for a change of pace."
The ice mage looked around the table before asking, "Aren't Gray and Erza a part of your team? Where are they?"
"They're off doing another job." Lucy answered while Chelia and Wendy quietly chatted.
"I see." Lyon said before turning to Goten, "Forgive me, but I don't think we've met. My name is Lyon."
"I'm Goten." The demi-Saiyan greeted with a smile, "And I just joined Fairy Tail."
"And this is your little sister or something?" Lyon asked as he gestured to Pan.
"Pan here is Goten's niece." Lucy said, "His older brother and his friend joined with him."
"All three of them are really strong." Natsu informed the ice mage, "As much as I hate to admit it, Goten's brother knocked me and Gajeel out pretty easily."
"Really?" Lyon said with a hint of amusement, "I would have enjoyed seeing that."
"It was a pretty cool fight." Goten added.
"Hey, Goten, why don't you fight Lyon?" Natsu asked.
"You aren't serious?" Lucy questioned as everyone turned to Natsu.
"Sure I am." Natsu said, "Lyon said he was bored, and Goten could easily take him, couldn't you?"
"I don't know, maybe." Goten replied, "I don't really know anything about him, so I couldn't really know."
"Are you afraid?" Lyon teased.
"No." Goten answered with a smile, "I think a fight would be fun."
"Well then," Lyon said, "Let's begin!"
Without warning, Lyon swung his arm, sending birds made of ice crashing into the table. Everyone sitting and standing nearby quickly dived out the way.
"What's the big idea?!" Lucy demanded as she made sure Pan was alright, "Couldn't you have at least waited for us to move?!"
"Sorry, but I wanted to see your friend's reflexes." Lyon explained as he stared down Goten, "And they are excellent."
"That wasn't very nice." Goten told Lyon, "You could have hurt someone."
"I have full confidence that Fairy Tail wizards could handle a little ice." Lyon half-joked, "Besides, I'm not known for my kindness."
"Before this gets any crazier," Chelia interrupted as she and Wendy walked past Lyon, "Wendy and I are going to take a walk around town."
Lyon nodded as Chelia and Wendy continued walking past Goten. Wendy turned to Goten before leaving.
"Be careful, Goten." She told him.
"There's nothing to worry about." Goten assured her. She nodded and followed Chelia away.
Lucy, Pan, and Natsu stood a few feet away while Happy and Charle hovered nearby. Charle eyed the two teens as they spoke, but she said nothing.
"I know Fairy Tail has a reputation for destroying everything they come across," Lyon said, "So let's try to keep the collateral to a minimum."
"I'm not sure I know what collateral means," Goten replied, "But I think I know what you're saying. Don't worry, I'll barely use any of my power for this."
"You're very confident." Lyon taunted, "You may end up regretting that."
"Ice-Make Eagle!" Lyon shouted as he pointed at Goten. A swarm of ice eagles appeared and flew at Goten. Phasing in and out, Goten dodged every projectile. Goten appeared in front of Lyon, who quickly made a shield and jumped back. Goten's punch easily shattered the ice as Lyon made a sword to slash it at Goten. Goten leaned back and caught the blade with his right hand. He quickly broke the ice by tightening his grip, causing Lyon to show some surprise. Goten just smiled and waited for Lyon's next move.
"Aren't you going to attack?" Lyon asked, wondering why Goten didn't take the opportunity he had.
"Nah, I want to see what else you can do first." Goten answered.
"Alright." Lyon responded, "Ice-Make Ape!"
Behind Goten appeared a massive blue-green gorilla.
"Cool!" Goten said as he jumped on top of it. The ape appeared as confused as Lyon.
"So you can make any animal with ice?" Goten asked as he tapped the ape's forehead while leaning over its head.
"That's… right…" Lyon replied as Goten continued to look over the mobile ice sculpture.
After a moment, Lyon regained his focus. He swung his arm, and the ape reached over its back in an attempt to grab Goten. Goten jumped down just before it could grab him, unknowingly dodging Lyon's attack.
"Can you make dogs too?" Goten asked, not realizing Lyon or the ape's frustrations. Natsu and Happy were on the ground laughing at Lyon's expression.
"I'd make one for a pet." Goten told Lyon.
"That sounds nice and all," Lyon replied with a tone of irritation, "But the longer my ice has form, the more my magic drains."
"Oh, okay." Goten said.
The two carried on for at least half an hour. Lyon would create an animal to attack Goten, who would compliment the sculpture in some way or another and then dodge its attacks. Each time, Lyon would seem to get angrier and try harder to hit Goten, who was much too fast.
"Aren't we fighting?!" Lyon exclaimed, finally getting too annoyed, "Ice-Make Dragonfly!"
As Lyon swiped his arm, dozens of large dragonflies appeared, moving in random directions to hit Goten. The ape also tried to hit Goten by swinging an arm at him, but he easily jumped over it. The dragonflies came at him from all directions, giving Goten no way out; despite his speed. The dragonflies flew straight through him, causing Lucy and Charle to gasp. They became confused when they saw Goten fade away.
"Up here!" Goten called out. Lyon and the spectators looked up to see Goten unharmed and smiling.
"That was my after-image trick." Goten explained, "Pretty cool, huh?"
"Take this seriously!" Lyon demanded angrily as the ape crumbled.
The smile Goten had on his face went away.
"Are you sure you want that?" Goten warned him.
Natsu suddenly began to worry for Lyon. This was just like Gohan's warning to him.
"Lyon should stop fighting." Natsu said quietly to his fellow spectators as he sat up, "He's already used a good bit of magic. If he over does it; and if Goten attacks, he may get seriously hurt."
"Yes, I do!" Lyon insisted, "Now fight me! Ice-Make Snow Dragon!"
Goten watched as the dragon erupted from the ground, making a straight rush towards him. He shifted quickly to his left, dodging it. The dragon wrapped around, trying to bite its target. Goten quickly dropped in altitude, reaching the ground a moment later. The ice dragon followed him as Lyon continued his assault.
"Ice-Make Snow Tiger!"
A tiger three times the size of any regular one appeared in front of Goten, swiping a claw at him. Goten tried to jump up to dodge, but water from the melted ape made him slip.
"Oops!" Goten said as he fell backwards, still managing to dodge the tiger's claw; but the dragon behind him managed to close its jaw around him and smash through the tiger. Since the ice was opaque, no one could see if Goten was alright. The ice mage wiped the sweat off his forehead and was about to celebrate when a yellow light shone from inside the dragon.
"What the?" Lyon said.
The next moment, the dragon shattered, scattering ice everywhere. Where the dragon once was, a yellow-haired and turquoise-eyed Goten now hovered.
"Not bad." Goten said with a grin, "You almost ripped my shirt."
"What are you?" the ice mage asked.
Ignoring his opponent's question, Super Saiyan 2 Goten grinned and then disappeared.
The Ascended Saiyan appeared behind Lyon and chopped his neck. The next moment, Lyon's eyes went white as he fell to his knees and then forward onto his face. Goten appeared next to Natsu and Lucy. He powered down, letting his hair and eyes return to its normal color.
"That was awesome!" Natsu cheered.
"Is Lyon going to be alright?" Lucy asked, worried since he wasn't moving.
"He should be." Goten answered, "I didn't hit him too hard."
"You took him out in one hit!" Charle argued, "You had to hit him very hard to do that!"
"No," Natsu replied, "Lyon was using too much magic; and by the time Goten hit him, he was already too worn out. If Goten wouldn't have attacked, Lyon was going to do that to himself."
"Yay, Uncle 'Ten!" Pan cheered as she hopped from Lucy's arm to hug him, "I knew that meanie couldn't beat you!"
"Thanks, Pan." Goten said with a grin as he rubbed the back of his neck with one arm while the other held Pan.
"I guess we ought to bring him back to his guild." Charle said.
"Aye." Happy agreed. Natsu walked over to lift Lyon over his right shoulder.
"I'll go find Wendy and Chelia and tell them what happened." Lucy said, leaving in the same direction that Wendy and Chelia did. Natsu nodded and began walking with everyone else following. A few minutes later, Lyon began to stir.
"Errr…" Lyon said as he woke up. Natsu eased him down and helped him remain standing.
"Are you alright?" Natsu asked.
"I'm fine, just a little shaken up." the ice mage replied; but when he tried to stand on his own, he began to fall forward.
"It doesn't look like it." Charle said as Natsu caught Lyon.
"I'll be fine." Lyon insisted, "Just give me a moment."
Natsu nodded and lowered Lyon to let him sit.
"You held back that entire time." Lyon said, "Even that attack was pulled back. I realize I was a fool to demand your full power. I could have been killed."
"I wouldn't have let that happen." Goten told him, "But it's good to see you're awake so quickly. I was worried you wouldn't be up for me to tell you that I had fun."
Lyon chuckled, "You are something different. But, yes, I guess that was a little fun. Even if I was humiliated thoroughly."
"Let me see if I can help you." Goten said, closing his eyes after setting Pan down. He focused for a moment before opening his eyes and placing a hand on Lyon's shoulder. Lyon watched Goten with some confusion, but strangely began to feel some strength in his legs.
"Did you just heal me?"
"No." Goten explained, "I just gave you some of my energy to give you enough strength to walk. I never tried that before, so I don't know how much it'll help."
"Looks like it worked to me." Happy observed as Lyon slowly got up unaided.
"Thank you." Lyon said.
"No problem." Goten replied with a smile as he picked Pan back up.
"I guess I should head over to my guild so I can get some rest." Lyon stated.
"We're going to come with you to make sure you don't run out of strength along the way." Natsu said.
"If you insist." Lyon joked, "I'm sure some from Lamia Scale would be glad to see you. And I think they'd also like to meet Goten."
"Let's get going then." Natsu said, "Lead on, Lyon."