So… It's been what? Half a year since I updated this story? Jesus Christ. In my defense, I've been busy with my other stories and this one is easily my least popular so it hasn't exactly been high on my list of priorities. So let's just get on with the show.
If I owned anything, I would use the money to sue public schools for mental and emotional scarring.
(-)
The Magnolia train station was abuzz as people made their way to their trains. People shoving their way through lines, arguing over the price of tickets, and confusing chatter of which station was where and what train was going there. Everyone was in a rush, except for a certain group of mages.
"Ugh! This is the worst!" Natsu roared in frustration. "Teaming up with you totally sucks!" He glared at Gray.
"Don't look at me," Gray shot back. "Why Erza would bring along a nimrod like you is beyond me!"
Gray, Natsu, Drako, Lucy, and were gathered at a train stop with their luggage for the journey ahead. The two personas of fire and ice continued to clash as Natsu retorted. "Then go by yourself! I don't wanna go anyway!"
"Fine by me," Gray snapped. "That way, I get to see Erza beat you senseless!"
Meanwhile, Lucy was sitting on a nearby bench with Plue in her lap, her head held low while chanting "I don't know them… I don't know them…" over and over.
Drako stood next to them, crossing his arms. "Best to just ignore them. They'll tire themselves out eventually."
"What are you doing here, Lucy?" Happy mumbled next to the girl, munching on a fish. Good lord, what is with this cat and fish? It's like some divine creator has no idea what to do with him so they just give him a fish to eat.
"Mira asked me to come along," Lucy explained. "She figured I could help keep Natsu and Gray from tearing each other to pieces."
Happy looked at the two mages glaring menacingly at each other. "You're not doing a very good job."
Lucy gave the cat a stink-eye. "Well, what exactly do you expect me to do about it?"
Natsu and Gray would have continued to glare at each other but a feminine voice called out to them, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Lucy's ears perked up, "Oh, Erza!" She turned to greet the knightly mage but found herself shell-shocked at the sight in front of her.
Erza stood there the same as ever but behind her was an assorted mountain of suitcases and luggage all stacked up on a gigantic wagon.
"Dang it, Erza, we've been over this," Drako rubbed his eyes. "You don't need to carry all your luggage when your magic allows you to have access to your own pocket dimension!"
Erza ignored her friend and spared a glance at Natsu and Gray. "I see those two are getting along, swimmingly."
"Yup! Just hanging out with my best bud, Natsu!" Gray chirped, his arm linked with his arch-rivals as they danced merrily.
"Aye!" Natsu concurred.
"Look, one Happy's enough," Lucy mumbled.
It was then that Erza noticed Lucy's presence. "And who are you? Haven't I seen you at the guild before?"
"My name's Lucy, I just joined," Lucy bowed in respect. "It's an honor to meet you, Erza. Mira suggested I tag along."
"Ah, so you're Lucy," Erza nodded. "I've heard much about you, you're the one who defeated a mercenary gorilla with only a finger."
"Uh… What?" Lucy was baffled. Where did THAT rumor come from?!
"It would greatly benefit us to have a wizard of your skill on our team, welcome aboard!" Erza said with a smile, periodically glancing back at Natsu and Gray to make sure they weren't fighting.
"Pleasure," Lucy said with a weak smile.
"Hey, Erza," Natsu butted in, ignoring the hasty 'shut up' from Gray. "I'm going on this quest but on one condition."
"Oh? What is it?" Erza raised an eyebrow.
Natsu slammed his fist into his palm, a feral grin on his face. "I want a rematch when we get back."
The group was surprised at Natsu's blunt request. Gray grabbed the Dragon Slayers shoulder and hissed "Are you Crazy?! Do you want her to kill you?!"
"I'm a lot stronger than last time," Natsu brushed off. "I've been training with Drako every day!"
Erza glanced at Drako at this. The Saiyan shrugged his shoulders. "He's definitely improved, you'll have to be the judge of whether or not it's enough to beat you."
Erza smiled. "Very well, I accept your challenge."
"All right!" Natsu pumped his fist. "I'm really fired up, now!" He let out a breath of flame. Nothing could quell his fiery spirit!
(-)
"Blergh," Natsu's fiery spirit was quelled as he moaned on the train ride. He, Happy, and Gray were sitting on one side of the train cart, while Erza sat between Drako and Lucy on the other side.
"Jeez, you're pathetic." Gray looked down at the blue-faced wizard. "One minute you're picking a fight, the next you're like this."
"All these train rides must be tough on him," Lucy mused.
"He'll be fine, just let him sit next to me," Erza instructed while giving Lucy a look.
I guess that's her way of telling me to move. Lucy sweated as she swapped seats with Natsu.
"Just relax," Erza cooed to Natsu before she slammed her fist into his gut, knocking him out cold. "Can't be motion-sick if he's not conscious for the ride," Erza rested Natsu on her lap.
Lucy gulped at this display. Okay, maybe she isn't as sane as I first thought…
"So, Erza," Drako cleared his throat like nothing was wrong. "What exactly is this mission that requires these two knuckleheads, a guy who sleeps most of the time, and one of the strongest girls in the guild?"
"Yes, it's time I filled you in," Erza nodded. "I have reason to believe that a dark guild known as Eisenwald is planning something big, and they plan to use a magical item called Lullaby."
Gray raised crossed his arms. "Like a child's bedtime song?"
"Wait…" Lucy tapped her chin. "Those guys who tried to eat Happy, didn't they mention something about Lullaby?"
Erza inquired "So you've met Eisenwald before?"
"Well, they never said they were from Eisenwald," Gray shrugged. "But Lucy's right about them mentioning Lullaby, it happened right before a shadow dragged them off."
"Sounds like guild dropouts," Erza deduced. "Things must have gone too dicey for them so they left."
Drako added in his two cents. "So you're saying this Lullaby thing is so bad, that even some dark wizards don't have the stomach to go through with it?"
"This is only a guess," Erza hypothesized. "But that shadow that dragged them off was probably Eisenwlad's main squad. They must not have wanted their plans to get out."
"Exactly what kinda plan are we talking about?" Gray asked.
"Perhaps I should start from the beginning," Erza cleared her throat. "It started the other day when I was on my way back to the guild. I stopped in a pub in Onibas, a gathering place for local wizards."
(Flashback time!)
"Hey, Bartender, where's our booze!?" a grumpy wizard shouted from a table.
"Calm down, will ya?" One of his companions chastised him.
"How am I supposed to be calm when we can't break through that stupid seal!" the wizard growled, unaware of Erza overhearing them at the bar. "And after all the trouble of finding the damn thing. If we don't come back with Lullaby in hand, Erigor will have our heads!"
"Don't sweat it. Are you forgetting I'm the best at breaking seals?" his companion brushed off. "Just go on without me and report back to the guild, I'll catch up after I break the enchantment and procure Lullaby."
"Will you be alright on your own, Kage?" another member at the table asked.
Kage stood up. He was a scrawny young man dressed in a white suit and black hair tied in a pony-tail, he wore a deceptive smile on his face. "Tell Erigor I'll be back within three days with Lullaby."
(Flashback end :( )
"The fact that this Lullaby needed to be sealed away means it's powerful magic," Erza finished.
"You sure those guys you saw were Eisenwald?" Gray asked.
"Yes," Erza nodded. "Like a fool, I didn't recognize the name Erigor at first. But now I remember that he is the Ace of Eisenwald, only accepts asassination requests, it's why they call him The Reaper. However, after the council outlawed asassination quests, Erigor thought money was more important than morals and took over. The wizard league kicked them out six years ago. But they still operate to this day as a dark guild."
"Oh, Joy," Lucy gulped. "Any other super dangerous members we should know about?"
"Well…" Erza took on a contemplative look. "It's recent, but people have been talking about a new Eisenwald wizard. No one knows what he looks like or what his magic is, all they know is that he's extraordinarily savage as if he takes some sort of sick pleasure as he ruthlessly massacres innocents."
"I wanna go home…" Lucy mumbled.
"Wow, Lucy's making a lot of juice," Happy observed.
"That's sweat, Happy," Drako pointed out. "We talked about this."
Erza slammed her fist into Natsu's head. "I was so foolish! If I had recognized Erigor's name, I would have pulverized that group and forced them to reveal their plans!"
"Yeah, I'm just gonna take this," Drako pulled on Natsu. "I don't think it's good for his health if you use him as a stress ball."
"What? Preposterous!" Erza yanked Natsu back. "He feels safest when in my care!"
"You TERRIFY him, Erza," Drako tried to take Natsu away. "Why would he feel safe with someone who beats him up?"
"I practically raised him all on my own!" Erza huffed. "I taught him, I fed him, I even bathed him!"
What!? Screamed Lucy's inner voice.
"That was seven years ago!" Drako protested. "And what about me? I sparred with him, I took him fishing and camping, and I took him to Dragon Land all the time!"
"Taking him to an amusement park is not proper development for growing boys! Besides, you know he hates roller coasters!" Erza argued.
"We didn't go on any of the rides! We just played carnival games and ate junk food!" Drako countered.
"Ahem!" Gray cleared his throat, causing the two powerful mages to look at him. "Back on topic, you think these Eisenwald guys are going to do something bad with this Lullaby spell, right?"
"That's correct," Erza nodded, regaining her composure.
Thank god that's over. Lucy let out a breath of relief.
"It'd be foolhardy for me to attempt to take on an entire dark guild by myself, that's why I asked you all to come with me. We're storming the Eisenwald guild."
Gray grinned. "Sounds fun to me."
Drako shrugged. "If we have to."
"I really should have stayed at home," Lucy whined.
The train ride continued uneventfully until lunch. "Hey, Erza," Lucy said while munching on a sandwich. "If it's not too rude, what exactly is your magic?"
"Erza's magic is really pretty," Happy piped up. "It makes her enemies bleed!"
"You've got a pretty disturbing sense of beauty if you consider blood to be pretty," Drako pointed out.
"My magic isn't that pretty," Erza pointed out. "If anything, I'd say Gray's magic is more pleasing to the eye."
"Oh?" Lucy wondered as she looked at Gray. It had only just occurred to her that she had never seen Gray's magic in action.
Gray shrugged and slammed his fist into his palm. His hands glowed briefly before he opened his fist to reveal a replica of the Fairy Tail guild mark made of ice. "I use ice magic."
Lucy marveled at the mini ice sculpture before something occurred to her. "Oh! Is that why you and Natsu never get along? Because you're fire and ice?"
"Nah, it's nothing that literal," Drako answered. "They fight because they're basically the same person. Knuckleheaded and punch-happy."
"I'M NOTHING LIKE THAT LOSER!" Gray yelled, pointing at the moaning Natsu, but he was ignored.
(-)
The wizards got of at Onibas Station, the town where Erza had overheard the group of wizards talking about Lullaby. The group was currently marching out of the station
Gray was skeptical about their stop. "Do you really think these Eisenwald guys are still in the area?"
Erza responded, "I have no idea. That's what we're here to find out."
"What if this is all a wild goose chase?" Lucy wondered.
"Uh, guys?" Drako looked around. "Where's Natsu?"
The group stopped dead in their tracks. Speaking of tracks, the train was speeding away with the queasy moans of a dragon-slayer accompanying the horn.
"I forgot about him…" Erza whispered. "I'm such a fool! Natsu hates riding vehicles! And I had claimed to be the best caretaker for him!" She began to hyperventilate as she grabbed Gray by the collar of his jacket. "Gray, slap me as penance! I must be punished for my arrogance-" she was cut off by a bear-hug by Drako.
"Erza! Calm. Down." Drako lectured. "Take a deep breath," He inhaled and Erza did the same. "And let it out," The two wizards released their breaths of air. "Good, now just relax into my embrace."
Erza's tense stance loosened and wrapped her arms around her childhood friend and gave him a good squeeze.
"Alright," Drako nodded and let Erza go. But female mage was still clinging on. "Uh… Erza? You can let go now."
Erza's eyes widened as she immediately let go, a blush dusting her face. "Right, we should focus on getting Natsu back."
Meanwhile, back on the train, Natsu was groaning in agony when a mysterious figure walked up to him. "What's this? You're from Fairy Tail, a legitimate guild?" the figure asked, looking at the mark on Natsu's shoulder. "How's being legitimate these days? Is it worth sucking up to the council?"
"What?!" Natsu looked up to see the figure was Kage.
Kage smiled as he slammed his foot into Natsu's face. "Don't act all high and mighty just 'cause your in a 'real' guild, Mr. Fairy." He stared with crazed eyes. "We see your pathetic little guilds blindly following the council. And all we see are flies!"
"You.." Natsu growled as his fists ignited.
Kage leapt back as Natsu stood up to face him. "Huh, guess I struck a nerve," the dark mage grinned.
Natsu would have charged forward but the train lurched. Natsu turned green as his flames disappeared.
"You call that magic?" Kage laughed. "Let me show you some real magic…" A seal appeared around Kage's feet as it seemed his shadow came alive and uppercutted Natsu.
"That's how it's done," Kage snickered as his shadow returned to the floor.
Natsu sat back up to glare when the train came to a sudden halt.
Kage lost his balance and tripped forward. A small wooden flute fell out of his jacket. It appeared to be a normal flute aside from the three-eyed skull at the end and the sinister energy surrounding it.
Back at the train station, Erza had pulled the emergency brake.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?!" an engineer snapped. "You can't pull that without permission!"
"Please, understand. It's for our comrade," Erza said in an authoritative voice. "Now, take our luggage to the hotel."
"Do I look like a bellhop?!" The engineer complained.
"Okay, that's it," Lucy decided. "Everyone in this guild is crazy!"
"I'm not," Gray denied.
"Kinda hard to believe you when you're in your underwear," Drako pointed out.
Returning to the now stationary train, Natsu was just recovering from his motion sickness. "Thank God the train stopped," Natsu then noticed the wooden flute on the ground. "What's that?"
Kage pushed himself up. "You've seen it…"
"Shut up!" Natsu snapped. "It's payback time! FIRE DRAGON: IRON FIST!" He bellowed as he swung a fiery fist forward.
Kage reacted on instinct. "GUARD SHADOW!" He yelled as his shadow formed a protective barrier. An explosion rocked the train car. Once the smoke had cleared, nearly all the seats in the car had been destroyed and there was a massive hole in the roof. "Damn you…" Kage hissed out. Despite his shield, he was knocked back to the end of the train and had a bruise forming on his cheek.
Natsu stood with a confident grin on his face. "Little fly, huh?"
His taunt was interrupted however by the train PA system. Attention all passengers; Our emergency stop was a false alarm. We will be departing shortly.
"Crap! I gotta get out of here!" Natsu panicked as he grabbed his traveling pack.
"Hey!" Kage snapped, getting back up. "I'm not letting you off that easy! You're gonna pay for messing with the Eisenwald guild!"
Natsu turned to the shadow mage. "You're with Eisenwald, huh? I'll show you for mocking Fairy Tail! Let's take this outside!" However, before they could, the train started moving again and so Natsu sickness kicked in.
Thankfully for him, his fellow Fairy Tail wizards were catching up. "Where were you keeping this thing!" Drako yelled as the group raced on a magic-mobile, a vehicle that runs on the users magic energy.
"Natsu!" Lucy yelled out. Said fire wizard burst out of the window on the side of a train. Natsu came flying at the group until he crashed head-first into Gray who was sitting on top of the vehicle.
The two tumbled off the car as the magic-mobile skidded to a halt. "You guys okay?" Drako asked as he ran up to the two.
"Aye…" Natsu mumbled.
Once the two had recovered they went back to a different kind of butting heads. "That hurt, fire-face!" Gray yelled.
"Shut up!" Natsu growled. "You guys left me on the train!"
"I apologize," Erza put in. "I'm just glad you're alright," She then decided to show this by slamming Natsu's head into her breastplate.
"But I'm not alright," Natsu argued as he recovered from the head trauma. "I was attacked on the train."
Lucy's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
Natsu nodded. "Yeah, and based on the kind of magic he used, I think it's the same guy who dragged off Happy's would-be eaters. He said he was with Eisenwald-"
"YOU FOOL!" Erza yelled as she decked Natsu across the face. "Eisenwald is the guild we are tracking! Why didn't you follow him?!"
"What? This is the first I've heard of it," Natsu rubbed his sore cheek.
"I explained this earlier on the train! Listen when people talk!" Erza lectured.
"Now hold on!" Drako interrupted. "Erza you knocked him out! Don't go blaming Natsu for something you did!"
Erza blinked in realization. "Ah, yes. Of course. Forgive me, Natsu," She apologized and once again slammed Natsu into her armor.
"This woman is all kinds of unbelievable," Lucy mumbled. "Good thing Drako's around to reign her in."
"If it was anyone else, she'd beat them up," Gray inputted.
"That's Erza for you," Happy agreed.
Erza then began preparing the magic-mobile. "You said he was on the train? Then we're going after it!"
"So what did this guy look like?" Gray asked Natsu.
"I dunno, he didn't have any defining characteristics," Natsu shrugged. "He did have a creepy looking flute, though. It had a skull with three eyes."
"A three-eyed skull?" Lucy looked a little pale.
"Have you heard of it before?" Drako looked at the blond girl.
"I have," Lucy confirmed. "A forbidden magic that plays the song of death."
"Like an incantation?" Gray inquired.
"I've only read about it in books," Lucy said, growing paler with every word. "It's said that whoever hears the song played by the flute will die instantly!"
"Guys…" Drako narrowed his eyes. "What if this flute is the Lullaby Eisenwald is after?"
"Then we have no time to lose," Erza drove up in the magic-mobile. "Everyone on!"
(-)
A woman screamed as the ticket puncher fell at the scythe of a scrawny pale man. His lower half was wrapped in dark robes but his strong physique covered in tattoos. He had a crazed look in his eye and his white hair stuck out in all directions. This was Erigor the Reaper.
"Listen up!" Erigor yelled at the passengers. "This train belongs to Eisenwald now! Grab your luggage and get off unless you wish to be killed."
The frightened passengers all grabbed and rushed off as fast as they could. The train was now filled to the brim with dark wizards. One wizard, in particular, approached Erigor.
"Kageyama," Erigor turned to the wizard that attacked Natsu. "I heard you were on this train. What happened to that car you were on?"
"Doesn't matter," Kageyama brushed off as he reached into his jacket. "What's important is that I finally managed to break the seal on Lullaby," he pulled out the three-eyed skull flute.
"Excellent," Erigor grinned as took the flute in hand. "With this, we are one step closer to our goal."
"The prime mover has been secured," a snide voice said from behind Erigor.
"What'd you do to the engineer?" Erigor asked.
"Well, you said to kick him off the train but I thought that was too boring. So I vaporized him into a skeleton," the voice said with a cackle.
"Heh," Erigor chuckled. "Very well. There's not much I can do when your strength surpasses even my own…" The dark mage turned around to see a very buff and intimidating figure. The figure was deathly pale and covered in black alien armor with some sort of furry belt. He had a malevolent smile and black hair that stuck in every direction. Erigor smirked at his co-guild leader. "...Turles."
(-)