"Is this the right place Laxus?" Freed asked. I looked at the slip of paper in my hand again.
"Is this place Greenwood?" I asked back.
"Y-yeah?"
"Then yes," I shot back annoyed. 'First we're told it's a mission concerning the black magic and that bastard Zeref and now we have to babysit some fancy ladies…' my face must have been contorted in rage.
"Laxus, are you okay?" Evergreen comes up to me with concern.
I run my hand down my face and sigh loudly, "no, what the hell kind of a mess have we gotten ourselves into?"
"What do you mean by a mess?" she raised an eyebrow at me.
All I could think about was the last thing Clara said to me back at the border. 'Be careful who you take your money from in this country.'
"Laxus?" contrary to popular belief Ever was a very kind and compassionate woman. "Seriously what's eating at you?"
"Yo we are almost there!" Bickslow called out from ahead of us.
"Thanks!" I turn back to Ever. "It's nothing…"
"Does it have to do with Clara?" I was startled back the accusation, even though it was dead on.
"Wh-what?!" I almost tripped over my own feet. "Why would you say that?"
Ever gave me her well perfected 'you're a moron' face, again. "Really Laxus? It's woman's intuition."
"We're here!" Bickslow hollered and I couldn't have been more relieved by his obnoxious voice level.
"Let's go Ever," I walk briskly into the town. 'Mavis this is a one-horse town isn't it?' I see a building labeled The Bar and head for there. My team follows me without question. When I opened the door I was not expecting to be hit in the face with the smell of Clara. 'What the hell?!' my eyes dart around but I don't see her anywhere. I sniff the air and notice the smell is closer to the bar where I see a girl with long orange hair talking to the barmaid. I was going to walk over to her but Freed pulls me back to the present.
"What are we going to do Laxus?" before I could respond the barmaid is on us inquiring on how she can help us.
"We're here for a shipment?" I said looking down at the note that Lord Shellington guy gave me. "But we don't know where the…master is?" what strange terminology for a town this size. "I didn't know there was a guild in this town." The barmaid gave a little laugh and informed me that there is no guild here.
"I shall seek him out for you." She snuck a look at me, "the shipment should be here at noon. Please make yourselves at home! My name is Veronica if you need me," she gave us a smile and turned to go back behind the bar. A few minutes later she came back with drinks for all of us. While sitting there I watched at the orange haired girl and her friend get up and walk out the door. A few minutes later that barmaid summoned us and the orange hair girl walked back in.
The meeting wasn't anything spectacular apparently these women are too good for us and we can't interact with them in anyway. 'That's suspicious.' I think as we finish up and head back downstairs. We were told to wait by the big tree outside and that our ride would be here momentarily.
A few minutes later a big wagon comes lumbering up the street to stop right next to us. A rather tiny man jumps out of the driver's seat to greet us. "Hello there! You must be the Fairy Tail wizards I've been hearing so much about!" he has some weird ass hair. Not to mention his inability to stand still, probably why he was sweating so much. "Here is the map, good luck!" he passed the map to Freed and headed for The Bar. I watched as he approached the entrance and I saw the orange haired girl again with her friends. 'When did they come outside?' I thought as I watched there interaction with the tiny man. "Good day!" he tipped his hat to the man and gave the two women a disrespectful look. The other girl flipped the tiny man the bird! I tried not to laugh as he hurried into the building.
I watched as the women giggled at his reaction and I was struck by the similarities between Clara and the orangenette. I must have been hardcore staring at her because when she looked at me she didn't break the eye contact. 'Just who are you?' I was struck by the notion of walking up to her again when Bickslow started to talk.
"We need to get going, like, now. It's gonna take forever to get to Crocus." He sighed and plucked the map from Freed. As we finished checking our equipment and the wagon the male companion of the orangenette walked over to the shops behind us and the other woman wandered back into the bar. I finally ended the staring contest and jumped on the wagon. About a half hour or so into our trip Freed started to grumble.
"Oi, what's your problem Freed?" I bump his shoulder with mine.
"Don't you sense them?" he threw an angry glance behind him.
"So? They haven't done anything." I shrug and lean back in the seat. "Besides Ever is watching them."
"It's those people from The Bar!" he was clearly frustrated.
"They're not the problem here are they Freed?" I glance at him from half lidded eyes.
"No…" he ran a hand down his face. "Let's stop at the clearing up ahead."
"Why? Freed talk to me, man," I tried to get my longtime friend to open up. 'This guy is so secretive I swear.'
"To confront those people! Why else?" he replied angrily.
"Come on Freed," I prompt him.
"This mission sucks," he stares straight ahead. "A lot. What happened to the dark magic and Zeref? Who the hell are these women? And why are we even in Bosco anyways?" he apparently had a lot on his mind.
"I agree." I fold my arms across my chest. "This mission is not going at all like I thought it would. Can I be frank with you?"
"I wish you would."
"Clara-san gave me a warning before leaving us."
"Oh?" he gave me a curious look.
"To be honest man I think something is fishy about this whole business, and it's not just those people following us…I have a weird feeling they aren't the enemy." I sighed and Freed waited for me to continue. "You're right let's stop and see what they want," I finally decide as we cross the clearing.
Once we stopped we only had a moment to rely the plan to the other two before we all sensed a presence. We all put in minimal effort into the fight that broke out between us and the orangenette. 'Where did her friends go?' I wonder as we watch her dart up a rather large tree. 'Clara?' I couldn't help but be reminded of the dark haired woman from a few days ago. "What is it that you think you're helping these women with?" I finally yelled to the woman in the tree after a few minutes of silence. We all heard the rustling of leaves as she weighed her options.
"They're slaves! Those women are being transported to be sold on the slave market!" it became very quiet as those words settled around us.
"What?!" Ever would've torn the cover off the wagon if it wasn't for Freed.
"Wait! Ever we can't look at them remember?!" Freed shouted, "it was a rule!"
"Shut up Freed!" she was livid.
"What if she's lying to us, huh?!" He shouted back. "How do we know we can trust her!?"
"I was once one of them…" the words were soft and I don't know how my friends heard her. But they did and for a second time we all freeze in place. "Please, let me help my people." With that she jumps down from the tree. We all stay on edge as she gazes over us, once she seems satisfied with her survey she walks towards the wagon. I stiffen as she walks past me and it took all my strength not to reach out and touch her, the smell of Clara was all over her. "I believe this is yours." She hands the sword back to Freed.
"Th-thank you?" it came out as a question as he reached for the sword. Ever moved out of her way and she reached out for the cover.
"Thank you," she bowed slightly to Ever then pulled the flaps back. What we saw next was sickening. A handful of women of different ages were sitting there bound and gagged and unmoving. We all watched in wonder as she reached out to pull them from the wagon. "I'm going to unbind thee." The smallest girl flinched from her touch, but made no sound.
"Oi! We got her!" came the voice of the female friend. She wasn't alone the male was also with her as well as the barmaid.
"Veronica, I'm so glad you're okay now." The orangenette seemed genuinely relieved to see them. "I'm going to break the chains. I won't hurt you," I watch as she started to concentrate on the little girls arms.
"She can't talk," it was a woman with yellow hair that spoke up. "Her chains…they constrict her vocal chords," she looked angry. "Hurry up and free us if you're gonna do it!" she growled. The orangenette wasn't fazed by the tone and merely gathered her concentration again.
"I just don't get it!" Ever screamed. "What chains?!" it dawned on me that I had no clue what was happening either. Before any of us could ask questions the woman cut us off.
"Just watch, you'll understand soon." With that her fist catches into a golden fire and brought it down to the girl's outstretched arms. Next thing we hear is the sound of magic on metal and the metal gives in and crumbles around the little girl's wrists, ankles, and throat. "Better?" she asked.
"Thank you!" the little girl threw her arms around her neck and started to sob. "Thank you!" she couldn't have been older than ten and I could feel my own anger rise when I actually saw the chains. I could feel the anger of my friends as well, we had all be duped by that Shellington guy. We watched as the women hugged each other and cried with joy at their newfound freedom. The first little girl finally asked the question that's been burning a hole in my brain since I first saw her. "Who are you?"
"I'd like to know that, too." I spoke as I walked up to the orangenette. The little girl looked terrified and I immediately regretted it. 'Damn my intimidating nature…'
"Do you trust me?" my face must have been one of utter shock. I didn't know how to respond to that. "Please…Laxus-kun trust me." She said it so quietly and I hope to Mavis my friends didn't hear her as they walked up to us.
"Do I—we—know you?" I stumbled over my words and was trying not to blush.
"You deserve to know, but not yet. There are things I must do first, please go home. Prepare for the Games, be safe, and please remember I am not the enemy. I will not hurt you." I couldn't help it I started to stare at her again and she did not flinch from my gaze. I don't know what made me believe her but I did, maybe it was her smell.
"Let's go," I started off down the road. "Come on!" I snapped at my friends they still seemed shocked by the whole thing. 'Bosco is known for its slave trade after all. Lucy told us that before we left.'
"But…Laxus the mission…" I couldn't tell if Freed forgot that we weren't really going to stop these people or if he was just a really good actor, but I was in no mood for this.
"Didn't you hear? We were transportin' slaves and that ain't the Fairy Tail way. We would be tarnishing our name by completing this mission, I think the old man is gonna understand," I let my eyes briefly touch hers and I watched as a small blush creeped across her cheeks. "Let's move out." No more arguments came after that and once again my team followed me without question.
'We had walked for at least half the night by this point…' it was getting colder and everyone was silent this whole time.
"Isn't it March?" Ever finally tries to break the tension.
"Yeah like the first. Doesn't guarantee it's gonna be warm." Bickslow was obviously shivering. They all were once I finally looked at them. I sighed and wrapped my jacket around Ever.
She looked up at me shocked, "thanks Laxus." I grunted in response and kept walking. "So are we not going to talk about this?"
"Laxus what are we going to do?" Freed finally spoke up. "How do we ever begin to deal with this? That Lord Shellington guy is back in that town that is at least another days walk."
"Let's just find somewhere to stay, isn't there a town coming up? That one with the weird name."
"You mean Birchwood? Like the type of tree?" Freed gives me a mocking grin and I punch him on the top of his head.
"No need to be a smart ass."
"No need for violence!"
"Boys!" Ever snapped at us before we could start an all-out brawl in true Fairy Tail fashion. "We need to hurry and find someone with a communication lacrima. We need to contact Master and tell him about Shellington, the slaves, and ask for advice on how to proceed. Come on!" she trudged on ahead of all of us.
"Man is she a bossy woman or what?" Bickslow said with a whistle.
"Makes you wonder how she got Elfman to fall for her," Freed laughed and was hit in the head with a shoe.
"What did you say?!" she had heard the two idiots and was currently glaring at them. I laughed so hard my side actually hurt as I picked up her shoe to hand back to her.
"Nice aim," I say as I wipe a tear away. "I needed that."
"It's nice to hear you laugh again Laxus," she smiled up at me. I give her a closed lip smiled back as we continued on.
Once we finally make it to Birchwood and secure a couple of rooms for the night I contacted the old man.
"Huuuh?! Laxus what is the meaning of this?!" Makarov choked on the alcohol he was drinking.
"Didn't ya listen, you old man? I said we have to abort this mission." I sighed deeply and wished I had some alcohol right now, too.
"Why?" he bellowed and almost woke the whole town.
"We were transportin' sex slaves."
Silence. We stared at each other for a few moments before either of us dared to breathe.
"How do you know for sure?" his faced morphed from anger to rage in less than a second. "We cannot make these kinds of accusations against someone with as much influence as Lord Shellington, Laxus."
"That's hard to explain…"
"Where are these people now?"
"That is also hard to explain…"
"Laxus!" he roared. "This is not a game, boy! If these people truly are what you say they are, then we have to go to the Magic Council immediately, we cannot be caught up in such a scandal! You must find those people again and bring them to Fairy Tail at once!"
I sighed and scratched the back of my head, deep in thought. "Look Master," he finally looked at me. "There was this woman and she had two friends, another woman and a man. They were there to stop the shipment, I don't know how they knew what it was and we didn't, but they did. Do you remember that other woman I wrote to you about a few days ago? The one in the forest that let us use her fire?" he nods in acknowledgment. "I think they were the same person, but the problem is they looked totally different. Her smell…" I drifted off in remembrance. 'Like a beach mixed with honeysuckle.'
"Laxus?" he was impatient as ever.
"Right, anyways I didn't know how to say anything because she did prove they were not ladies of a higher society. They were ladies that accompanied higher society," I shutter remembering how they were bound and gagged. "Long story short, she has those women and I don't know where they went but I have a feeling that they're fine without us." I cross my arms and wait for his response.
"Hmm, this is very troubling indeed. To think this man thought he could disgrace the Fairy Tail name with his dirty business. Well get home, we have a month until the Grand Magical Games and we are going to need you to participate again. I'm going to alert the Magic Council to this recent development. Hopefully it helps them with their crusade against the recent rash of mages being snatched. And Laxus," he give me a hard look. "Be careful."
With that he disappeared and I was left standing in the dark. 'What have I gotten myself into?' I think not for the first time as I turn my thoughts back to beaches and honeysuckles.
The next day we make the half day journey back to the border town to catch the next carriage back to Fiore. "What does Master mean by mages being snatched?" Ever was horrified after I recalled the conversation for all of them.
"I don't know to be honest. But I have a bad feeling this is going to become an even bigger mess and it's going to involve the Council, so you know things are going to get complicated." I replied.
"Well let's focus on the Games now," Bickslow said. "No point in racking our brains to find a solution when we don't even have the whole problem."
"Bickslow is right Laxus, we have to win the title again." Freed agreed. "Besides…if we don't get that reward money we are all going to pay for it," his face dropped in angst just thinking about the debt we owe. "And all that work that nice girl did for us too, wasted! It hasn't even been a year since she left!" he threw his hands up exasperated.
"You're surprised by that?" Ever snorted. And the bickering continued until we made it to the town. "I'll go find out when the next carriage is."
"I'll come too, Ever," Bickslow followed her over to the station and it was just me and Freed.
"So about that forest woman…" Freed started.
"What about her?" trying to keep the obvious interest in where he was going with this out of my voice.
"She was very cute."
"What?" I almost shouted and Freed just laughed. "What?" I grumbled after his laughing fit subsided.
"Ever had a hunch that you might have liked her." I gave him an incredulous look and he only raised an eyebrow at me. "Plus there was this feeling something happened between you two when you went to patrol the area." He gazed at me expectantly.
"Nothin' happened and you and Ever need to mind your own damn business." I gruffed as I felt a heat creep across my cheeks. When I looked back at him he only gave me a skeptical look. "Fine. Something happened."
"I knew it," he smirked a smug little smile and his eyes glowed with wicked glee.
"But I'm tellin' you it was nothing and I ain't telling you any of it!" now it was my turn to smirk as his face fell. He whined and complained the whole time and he even told Ever and Bickslow on me. But for all of their pestering there was no way I was going to share what happened in the forest by that lake. "Come on our ride is here," we get on the carriage and settle in for the long ride.
Of course they pester me the entire ride and I just try to concentrate on not throwing up on Ever. I sighed and closed my eyes, 'family…'.