Ch. 2- Right or Wrong

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Story and OCs © Me

The following morning, as Lucy and Happy led Erza, Haru, and Blue Fang through the jungle...

"So, let me get this straight," Haru said. "Lucy... you went with Natsu, willingly?!"

"Yes..." Lucy muttered, ashamed as her head hung low.

"Jeez, I guess it's true what they say," Haru said. "When a girl meets a guy she likes, she's willing to do even the stupidest things!"

"I don't like Natsu!" Lucy argued, her face turning dark red. "And anyway, that has nothing to do with it! I didn't want to go at first! It's just that... well..."

"Well, what?" Haru inquired.

"...They were offering a Golden Celestial Gate Key," said Lucy. "I couldn't pass it up and-"

"So you were willing to risk your membership of the guild for something like this?!" Haru asked. "Mavis alive, Lucy! Here I was, thinking you were actually sane!"

"But I-" Lucy started.

"Enough!" Erza interjected, causing her to wince. "We'll deal with the consequences when we find Natsu and Gray."

Soon, the group arrived in what looked like a small village... although, it really looked like more of an encampment with people wearing tribal clothing walking around. As Haru got a closer look... she gasped quietly as she saw that the people all had these abnormal-looking limbs, like scales, spikes, and even warts, and they were all horribly discolored, as well. Even the animals appeared to be affected!

"...So... this place is cursed," Haru whispered in shock.

"Oh, it's you!" said a young woman with black hair as she approached Lucy. "Thank you so much for your help, last night! If it weren't for you and your friends, we would have all been killed!"

"It's no problem," said Lucy. "I'm sorry about your village, though-"

"Excuse us," Erza said as she stepped forward. "We're looking for two young men, one with black hair and the other with pink hair."

"Mister Gray is currently recovering from his wounds," said the girl, causing Haru to gasp.

"Gray's hurt?!" she asked. "Oh, I knew it!"

"Relax, Haru," Erza said. "Listen... when Gray wakes up, tell him to meet with us. I need to talk to him, immediately."

The young woman bowed her head before she led the group into another tent that was full of chopped wood, crates, and barrels. As soon as they entered, Erza sat down, arms and legs crossed while she made Lucy and Happy sit beside her. Haru sat against one of the crates while Blue Fang sat outside, unable to get in due to his size. During the time they waited, there was an uneasy silence, mainly due to Erza's intense gaze. Lucy and Happy dared not to say anything for fear of further bringing about her ire.

After what felt like hours, Gray finally entered the tent, his stomach, left shoulder, and right bicep wrapped up in bandages. The moment he came in, Haru just couldn't control herself, for she practically jumped to her feet and threw her arms around him, causing him to grunt in pain.

"Easy, Haru!" Gray said. "I'm happy to see you, too, but I'm still hurtin' here!"

"I'm sorry," Haru replied. "I'm just... so glad you're alive...!"

"Gray," Erza said in a steely tone, causing Gray to tense up as he noticed the Requip Wizard.

"Er... Erza...!" he stammered before he noticed Lucy and Happy standing in the corner.

"She caught us," Happy said, woefully. "We're sorry, Gray."

"We also told her about what's going on here," Lucy added.

"What about Natsu?" Gray asked. "Where's he?"

"We don't know," Haru replied. "Lucy said that he was fighting with some weirdos, then disappeared. Basically, he's running around the place like a chicken with his head cut off because he doesn't know where this place is."

"That idiot..." Gray muttered.

"In any case," Erza began as she stood up, "I'm going to go find him, and when I do, we're going back home to the guild."

"Wait, what?" Gray asked. "But... Erza, you and Haru know what's going on here, right? So then-"

"So what?" Erza asked, coldly as she fixed Gray with a hard stare, causing him to gasp silently... and even Haru seemed stunned by what she said. "My job is to bring back anybody who breaks the guild rules. I just have to find Natsu... anything else doesn't matter."

"But... but Erza," Gray started, "you saw the islanders, right?"

"We saw them," Erza answered.

"So... you're just gonna leave them without offering help at all?!" Gray questioned.

"We're not the only guild to get a request sent by these people," Erza countered. "It's not our place to just take the job because we're obligated to. Let someone else deal with the problem."

A pause... before Gray clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

"How could you?" he asked. "I thought you were better than that, Erza!"

"Excuse me?" Erza asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously while Lucy, Happy, and Haru all glanced at each other worriedly. "Don't tell me you intend to break the rules, as well!" She then pointed her sword at the Ice-Make Wizard, causing him to gasp. "If you plan on doing so, then you will be punished as well!"

Gray clenched his jaw further, but Erza remained undeterred... but then, out of nowhere... Haru walked up and pushed the red-haired wizard's sword away from the Ice-Make Wizard, causing everyone in the tent to gasp silently.

"That's enough, Erza," Haru said. "Please stop."

"Haru?" Erza asked in disbelief.

"H-Haru, what are you-" Gray started.

"Erza, I know what you're thinking," Haru began, "but for once... I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one! Yes, it's true that they broke a rule... but by the sound of things, it sounds like these people are in real danger!"

"But Haru-" Erza started.

"What's more important?!" Haru asked. "The rules or innocent people?! I thought you, out of everyone, knew what was more important!"

Erza just stood there in stunned silence while Gray stared at Haru in awe. Even Lucy and Happy were amazed.

"Whatever's going on here," Haru began, "we have to help them... please, Erza? If you won't do it for Gray, do it for me, at least! Even I know you're not completely unreasonable!"

A pause... but then Erza heaved a sigh before she made her sword disappear.

"I must be out of my mind," she murmured, "but... even I can't turn a blind eye away from those who need help."

Haru sighed in relief, as did Lucy and Happy. As for Gray, he just gave the Beast Wizard a grateful smile before he stepped forward.

"There's something I have to do here," Gray began, "and I have to see it through to the end. After that... you can punish me however you want."

"...I'll hold you to that, then," said Erza before she turned and Lucy and Happy. "Well, what are we waiting for? Are we going to help these villagers or not?"

"You mean you're letting us go?" asked Lucy.

"Don't get me wrong," Erza said. "You're still being punished... but we'll deal with it when we get back home. Understood?"

"Y-yes, ma'am," Lucy replied.

"Aye...!" Happy squeaked in fear.

Outside, Haru was just about to jump onto Blue Fang's back, she felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her to glance back and see Gray.

"...Thanks, Haru," he said, causing a soft smile to crease her lips.

"Don't get me wrong," Haru began, "I'm kinda mad at you... but I'm even madder at Natsu. He's the one I'm really after." She looked back at the Ice-Make Wizard. "Gray... be careful, please. You're already badly hurt."

"...This won't take long," said Gray.

"Good," Haru said before she hopped on Blue Fang. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an idiot brother of mine to find."

"This place is pretty big, Haru," said Gray. "You sure you're gonna be able to find him?"

"Trust me, it's Natsu," Haru replied. "He's not that hard to track down. Let's go, Blue Fang!"

Blue Fang barked before he ran off toward the jungle. As he kept running further in, she suddenly stopped as she heard the sound of snoring somewhere nearby, causing the silver wolf to stop in his tracks with ears perked up.

"You've GOT to be kidding," Haru bemoaned before she dropped down off of Blue Fang and walked over to a nearby bush... and that's where she found Natsu, lying on the ground, snoring up a storm.

"Mmm..." he groaned as he scratched his bare stomach.

"Natsu!" Haru called. "Natsu, wake up!"

The only thing she got in response was a loud snore.

"...Breakfast," Haru uttered, and immediately, Natsu sat up, wide awake.

"Food?!" he asked, only to look around and gasps. "Ah, crap! I was supposed to get started on this plan, but I overslept!"

"Good morning, sunshine," Haru said with a glare, causing Natsu to look up at her... and almost instantly, he shrank.

"Oh... uh... hey, sis," he said, nervously. "Listen, I-I know you're mad-"

"Yeah, I am mad!" Haru interjected. "But I'll yell at you later... just let me on in this plan of yours."

Natsu blinked at Haru before he gave her a cocky grin. "I'll explain on the way there."

And next chapter is where the real action begins!

Review, please!