Author's Note: Well it's been a long time since an I updated this story. My apologies. School got crazy and I had to stop writing. School's out now so my schedule's back in effect so updates should happen more frequently, although I do not promise weekly updates. I do have a few personal issues that may get in the way of my writing and updating so I apologize now for the inconvenience. Just know that no matter what the story will eventually be updated. Now enough with the serious business. Let's get back to the girl's and their missions. I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review. Thanks for reading.
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Fairy Tail. All rights belong to the writer and creator of the manga and anime show.
Aurelia brought her hands up to cover her face as the ghosts converged on her. She didn't even think of using her magic, she was so scared. The ghosts hovered inches from her, occasionally touching her. Their touch felt like ice on her skin. Besides her Bones whined sounding just as frightened as her.
"Leave us alone!" she screamed, but this just seemed to egg the ghosts on more. They joined together into one giant black mass before surging for her. Just as she was about to close her eyes a bright ball of fire slammed into the wall of ghosts and sent them scurrying. Aurelia sunk down to her knees shaking. Bones climbed into her lap and she absentmindedly pet him.
Natsu knelt down in front of her. "Are you okay?" he asked concerned.
She stared dumbly at him for a moment. "They were ghosts," she said.
Natsu's eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "Aurelia?" he asked, clearly questioning her sanity.
"Ghosts!" she cried and began laughing. "I wouldn't have come if I knew there were ghosts here."
"Aurelia, the job request directly states that the ruins are haunted," Natsu said looking concerned.
More hysterical laughter burst from her lips. "But I didn't think they were real!" she cried. Natsu stared at her for another second before a chuckle escaped him. Aurelia giggled too. Suddenly, the whole scenarios seemed funny. The two of them were still laughing when Lucy finally reached them.
"What happened?" she asked. "I heard Aurelia scream. Are you two okay?"
"We're fine," Natsu said standing up and helping Aurelia to her feet."
"Yeah, Luce, we're good," Aurelia assured her.
"Natsu!" Happy called and they all turned to see the blue cat flying towards them.
"We're good little buddy," Natsu said as Happy landed on his head.
"Is someone gonna tell me what happened?!" Lucy exclaimed and turned to Aurelia. "Why did the ghosts attack you? Did you try and go into the ruins for some reason?"
"No," Aurelia replied shaking her head. Bones and I were just walking along when he started growling. I turned around and the ghosts were standing lined up behind me."
"So they attacked you for no reason?" Lucy exclaimed. "But Mr. Rhine said they didn't attack people unless they tried to enter the ruins."
Aurelia shrugged. "I guess he was wrong," she said.
"Well, one thing's clear," Natsu declared. "No bandits are coming into the dig site from the north side of the encampment. Lucy and Happy go back to your posts. Be on higher alert in case the ghosts come back. Aurelia, you can come with me." After reorganizing the group guarded the dig site for the rest of the night.
When the sun started to rise activity in the site began to stir. Lucy and Happy joined up with her and Natsu as they started to make their way back to their tent. They were stopped midway by Mr. Rhine. "Are all of you okay?" he asked concerned. "We heard screaming last night."
"We're fine, Mr. Rhine," Lucy replied. "It's just the ghosts attacked Aurelia last night."
"I didn't try to enter the ruins," Aurelia added. "I was just observing the area around them. Have the ghosts ever attacked someone at the perimeter of the ruins before?"
Mr. Rhine shook his head dumb founded. "No," he replied. "They get a little worked up but they've never actually attacked someone who didn't actually enter the ruins."
"How strange," Aurelia murmured.
"Yes, it is," Mr. Rhine agreed. "Why don't you four grab some breakfast with the diggers before resting?"
"We will. Thanks," Natsu said. The three scarfed down a quick breakfast before heading back to the tent. Aurelia was exhausted and her head hit the pillow without any delays and fell asleep instantly. She was dreaming when something woke her. She groaned as she opened her eyes and sat up not sure what had woken her. She glanced around the tent. Natsu and Lucy were sleeping beside her. Bones was curled up fast asleep at her feet and Happy was sleeping between her and Natsu. Shrugging it off she laid back down and closed her eyes.
A rustling sound made her open her eyes again and her mouth dropped open in fright as she saw a ghost phasing through the tent and coming for her. "Natsu!" she screeched scrambling for the door of the tent. She frantically tried to unzip it, but it was stuck. "Natsu! Lucy!" She gave up on the zipper and watched in horror as the ghost began to glide towards her. It had just reached her when the tent was lit up with the light of Natsu's fire.
"Get away from her!" Natsu yelled and aimed his flaming fist at the ghost. The ghost quickly disappeared. Aurelia stared in shock at the spot the ghost had just been.
"Aurelia, what happened?" Lucy asked, awake too.
Aurelia shook her head. "I don't know," she said. "I woke up for some reason and then the ghost was coming into the tent. I tried to get out but the zipper was stuck." She turned back and pulled at the zipper to show them it wasn't working, but this time she had no problem opening the flap of the tent. She froze. "Oh my god. It was trying to keep me in."
"I don't like this," Natsu declared and she turned to look at him. He was staring right at her, visibly concerned. "These ghosts are targeting you specifically."
"But why?" Aurelia asked. "I didn't do anything to them."
"I don't know," Natsu replied. "But Lucy and I are going to take turns guarding the tent until it's time to go out again."
"No that's not fair," Aurelia insisted. "I shouldn't be the only one who gets to sleep."
"Aurelia, these ghosts are after you," Lucy said. "We're just making sure you stay safe. We don't care about losing some sleep so long as you don't get attacked again."
"But," Aurelia tried to argue but Natsu wouldn't let her.
"No buts," he said. "I'll take the first shift. Happy, stay close to Aurelia."
"Aye sir," Happy replied seriously.
Natsu smiled at Aurelia then. "Don't worry," he told her. "We won't let anything happen to you."
Lani, Gray, and Hel arrived in Enico just in time to watch their train pull away from the station. "You've got to be kidding me!" Hel cried. "I can't believe we missed our train again! We're going to have to walk to Manchuk now."
"No!" Lani cried and the other two turned to look at her surprised by her loud outburst. "I am not walking through some leech filled, quicksand trap forest again. You two can just go on without me."
"We won't have to," Gray told her. "Another train for Manchuk will arrive in the morning. We'll just stay at a motel for the night."
Lani relaxed. "Okay," she said.
Gray smiled at her. "Before we find a motel did you want to find a restaurant to eat at?" he asked, the invitation clearly only meant for her.
"Yeah, that sounds good," Hel said before Lani could reply. Both Gray and Lani looked at the other girl dismayed. Haleigha didn't seem to notice. "I'm starving. Let's get a move on." She started walking down the road. Gray opened his mouth to say something but just sighed before following after Hel. Lani stood there frozen to the spot. She felt a dark surge of anger flowing through her veins and for a moment wished she could spout lava like Aurelia. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down. When she finally felt like she had more control she followed after the other two trying to convince herself that strangling Hel would be a bad idea.