Ch. 5- When Tempers Flare

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Story and OCs © Me

It took them a while, but the group had managed to make it to the sandy shore of Dragon Island, panting with exhaustion as they crawled onto the beach. The moment they reached the shore, Natsu scrambled onto the sand and laughed like he never had before, saying how much he missed solid ground before he began to kiss the sand. Of course, that only caused him to spit the gritty sand out when he realized what he did.

"Ugh! Sandy!" he cried as he kept spitting out more sand.

"You should have seen that coming, bro," Haru said as she wrung the seawater out of her ponytail while Blue Fang shook himself dry.

"Well, at least we made it to shore!" Happy exclaimed.

"Yeah, but now that we have," Lucy began, "now what do we do?"

"Well, we certainly can't sit here and do nothing," Erza replied as she poured water and seaweed out of one of her boots.

"It's not like we can do much, anyway," Gray said. "In case you guys have forgotten, our only way back home is now sitting on the seafloor, making a nice new home for the fish."

Everyone went silent as they looked at each other, realizing that Gray was right. Without their ship, they were pretty much stuck here with no way back home.

"You're right," Erza said while putting a hand to her chin in thought. "Still... there must be something we can do."

"Can't we just contact the guild?" asked Lucy. "We have a Communication Lacrima Orb, right?"

"Well... we did, sorta," Haru admitted.

"Well, where is it, then?" asked Lucy.

"On the boat," Happy replied, "which is in the sea."

"...Oh," Lucy muttered.

"We were going to contact the guild when we got here," Haru began, "but that was before we got attacked."

"Well, maybe someone will realize that we're missing and come to look for us!" Lucy suggested.

"Even if they did know," Gray began, "it could be a long time before anyone sends a rescue party."

"Oh, yeah... you're right about that," Lucy realized.

"We could all be skeletons by the time someone comes to look for us," Happy said with a dark look in his eyes, causing the Celestial Spirit Wizard to yelp.

"Must you make that look when you say that?!" she asked.

"Not to mention that if we stay out here much longer," Haru began, "that girl and her roc could come back."

"Then perhaps we should move further inland," Erza suggested as she looked toward the huge jungle that stood before them. "At least that way, we won't be out in the open."

Lucy also looked toward the jungle, hearing all kinds of ominous growls and calls coming from within, causing her to gulp nervously.

"In there?" she asked.

"What's the matter, Lucy?" Happy asked, teasingly. "You're not scared, are you?"

"Happy, don't you start," Haru scolded. "Come on, Lucy, it won't be that bad. We'll all be together!"

"Yeah!" Natsu agreed. "Besides, sis can take care of any wild animals if we see 'em!"

"I mean, the only things we could possibly run into are some birds and maybe a few jungle predators," Haru began, "and maybe some spiders-"

"S-spiders?" Erza repeated, tensing nervously.

"That's not a problem, is it, Erza?" asked Gray, causing the Requip Wizard to glare at him before she cleared her throat, regaining her composure.

"Certainly not," she said before she soon marched ahead of the others. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go while we still have daylight."

Lucy still seemed a bit apprehensive, but then she felt a hand placed on her shoulder, causing her to glance over at Natsu, who grinned at her.

"It's gonna be okay, Luce," he said. "As long as we stick together, we'll be all right! Who knows? Maybe we really will find a dragon here, too!"

Lucy blinked at the Dragon Slayer before she smiled, feeling reassured.

"Yeah, you're right," she said. "Let's get going."

With that, the group headed into the dense jungle. However, as they begin to make the trek further inland, Lucy glanced over at Haru, who had a worried expression on her face.

"What's up, Haru?" Lucy asked.

"I... I think I know why those two fishermen thought that they saw a dragon here," said Haru. "They must have mistaken the roc for one."

Lucy's eyes went wide as the realization began to hit her.

"So... if it turns out that there are no dragons here..." she whispered.

"Yeah," Haru muttered before she looked toward Natsu, whose back was turned to them as he walked. "This is gonna kill Natsu..."

Lucy bit her lip nervously. She knew how excited Natsu was when he heard that there might have been a dragon here... so if he found out that it was just another rumor, she knew it would absolutely crush him. He wanted nothing more than to see the dragon who he called his father again... so she knew the truth would devastate him.

However... she knew she also couldn't lie to him.

As the team ventured further into the jungle... they didn't seem to realize that a pair of eyes were watching them through the underbrush before the owner turned and skulked off.

XXX

Back in Magnolia, Elektra stared out the window, holding a mug in her hands as she watched the rolling clouds and the orange sky. Worry etched her face as she held her drink while Mirajane collected some dirty dishes on her tray. The ivory-haired girl glanced over at the older woman, her expression not too different from hers.

"I'm worried, too, Elektra," said Mirajane. "It's been a while since we heard from them."

"...The guildhall seems quiet without them here," Elektra said.

"Now, don't you fret so much," said Makarov. "Perhaps Dragon Island is farther away than we thought. That's why it's taking them a while to contact us."

"Maybe," Elektra said.

"Hey, look on the bright side," said Macao. "They'll be safe as long as they stick together."

"He's right," Wakaba agreed as he puffed out some smoke from his cigarette. "Let's not count 'em out, just yet."

"Yeah!" Romeo added. "Natsu's strong! He'll be okay!"

Elektra chuckled at their attempts to cheer her up... but even so, worry still weighed heavily on her heart. No one could really blame her, though, considering that she had a hand in raising the younger members of the guild, and she had already imprinted on Lucy as her own daughter. In her eyes, they were her precious children that she loved dearly.

As for Cana, she was looking down at her cards, flipping some of them over to see what their reading might be.

"So?" asked Elfman. "Anything, Cana?"

"Nothin', so far," Cana replied as she shuffled her cards and spread them out again. "The cards don't really work when I want 'em to. I wish it worked that way, though."

Suddenly, as she flipped one card over, her eyes widened for just a moment as she picked it up.

"Hold it," she muttered.

"What is it?" asked Mirajane. "Did you see something?"

"...Look at this one," said Cana as she held up the card... revealing a demonic-looking figure with black horns and glowing yellow eyes, shrouded in flames.

"Oh, my...!" Mirajane whispered. "That's... kind of scary."

"Yeah, I know," replied Cana. "The weird thing is... even I don't know what it could be."

"Does it mean Natsu and the others are in danger?" asked Makarov.

"Like I said, I don't know," Cana said before she put the card away. "This is the first time I've seen that happen."

"Maybe it's a dud," Elfman suggested.

"There's no such thing as a dud card," Cana replied before she looked back down at it.

'Still... what could it mean?' she thought.

XXX

Erza grunted as she cut down any foliage in her path with her sword while Natsu used his hand as a torch, holding a small ball of flame in his palm. Lucy, Haru, and Happy all sat on Blue Fang's back while Gray walked alongside them, his hands shoved down his pockets as he gave a yawn.

"Jeez," the Ice-Make Wizard muttered. "Feels like we can walking forever..."

"That's 'cuz we have," Natsu said.

"I think we should walk a little bit further before we make camp for the night," said Erza.

"Good idea," Lucy replied as she looked around, hugging her arms. "This place gives me the creeps."

"Aye," Happy agreed. "Me, too."

"You know, I kinda wonder," Gray began, "how did this island get the name 'Dragon Island', anyway?"

"Who can say?" Erza asked as she looked up at the starry sky. "Perhaps dragons did live here at one point."

"Then there's still a chance that Igneel is here!" Natsu piped up, causing Haru and Lucy to glance at each other.

"Umm... Natsu?" Haru asked. "About that. You see..."

"Yeah, sis?" Natsu asked as he looked back at his adopted sister, whose face saddened as he saw his hopeful expression.

"Err... never mind," Haru said. "I forgot."

Natsu blinked in perplexity before he shrugged and kept walking, and meanwhile, Lucy put a hand on the Beast Wizard's shoulder in concern.

"Haru, why didn't you tell him the truth?" Lucy whispered.

"I can't, now...!" Haru whispered back, worriedly. "I don't wanna break his heart...!"

"Hey, Haru, I can understand that," Gray whispered as he dropped back beside the two girls and the wolf, "but it's better if you tell him the truth than keep letting him believe that Igneel might be here."

"...I guess..." Haru whispered, sadly.

Suddenly, a low growl filled the air, causing Happy to gasp as he looked around, fur bristling in fear.

"Umm... did... did anybody hear that?" the little cat asked in fright.

"Hear what, little buddy?" asked Natsu.

"All I can hear are these annoying bugs," Erza said as she swat at the flies buzzing around her ear.

"Ugh... I know," said Lucy as she swat at the flies buzzing around her, too. "Shoo, fly! Shoo!"

"Uh... maybe it was just my imagination," said Happy as he clung to Blue Fang's neck... but not long after, that same growl was heard again, causing him to gasp as his tail shot straight up. "Th-there it is, again!"

"I-I heard that!" Haru stammered as she looked around, nervously.

"M-m-me, too...!" Lucy whimpered as she clung to her, frightened.

"Steel yourselves!" Erza shouted as she brandished her sword. "Looks like we're about to have company."

Natsu snarled as he lit both his hands on fire while Gray stood behind him, taking his Ice-Make stance, and meanwhile, Blue Fang growled as he tried to pinpoint the source of that growling, which had gotten louder by now... and oddly very close. That's when a look of realization appeared on Haru's face as she followed the sound... and that's when her eyes landed on her brother, and almost instantly, she groaned in exasperation.

"Natsu!" she shouted, causing him to look back at her.

"What?" Natsu asked. "What is it?"

"That's your stomach growling!" Haru pointed out, causing the Dragon Slayer to look down at his belly, which was making deep roars of hunger, and soon the others groaned, as well.

"Should've known it was Flamehead's stomach," Gray groused.

"Be thankful it was nothing else," said Erza.

"Hey, it ain't my fault!" Natsu argued. "I mean, I haven't eaten a thing since we've been on that boat! I could barely keep anythin' down!"

"Well, now what?" Lucy asked. "We didn't exactly bring anything to eat with us."

"There must be something," Erza said. "Maybe some fruits or-"

A deep growl interrupted her, causing everyone to glare at Natsu again.

"Dude, we get it!" Gray spat. "Shut your gut!"

"What are ya talkin' about?!" Natsu questioned. "That wasn't me!"

Upon hearing that, everyone else tensed.

"A... are you sure?" Lucy asked, nervously.

"Trust me, I know my belly's growl," Natsu replied, "and THAT wasn't it!"

"Then... what was it?" Haru asked, worriedly, only for Happy to shriek as he pointed at a pair of huge, glowing yellow eyes, glowering down at the group from the trees, and as the creature skulked out, it was revealed to be a giant lizard with green and black scales and a long, lashing tongue.

"A MONSTER!" Happy screamed.

"Dinner...!" Natsu said with a fang-toothed grin and drool dripping from his mouth.

"Well, that settles that, then," Erza said as she requipped into her chef's outfit in the blink of an eye.

"This monster just better taste good," said Gray as he took his usual Ice-Make stance.

"Uh-oh," Haru muttered as she and Lucy stood back with Blue Fang and Happy. "Here we go."

"Ice-Make LANCE!" Gray shouted as he shot several ice lances out at the lizard, which screeched as it got pulverized while Natsu ran in with his fist ablaze.

"FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!" he roared as he punched the reptilian beast, practically roasting it alive, and finally, Erza leaped into the air before making several consecutive slashes with her kitchen knives, then finally landing gracefully on the ground... with the monster now chopped into neatly sliced cuts landing behind her.

"Dinner is served," Erza said as she requipped back into her Heart Kreuz Armor.

"Hold it," Lucy said. "Do we even that thing is safe to eat-"

"OH, MAN, THAT'S GOOD!" Natsu exclaimed as he was already stuffing his mouth with the meat. "I CAN'T STOP EATING THIS STUFF!"

"Hey, I want some, too!" Happy cried. "Don't eat it all, Natsu!"

"...That answers that," Lucy muttered.

"How about we set up camp here for the night?" Erza asked. "Haru, can you and Blue Fang help me find some firewood?"

"Sure," Haru replied as she and Blue Fang followed after her.

"Hey, Lucy," Gray said... now topless. "Help me make a shelter, will ya?"

"Uh... sure," Lucy began, "but why did you take your shirt off?!"

XXX

Not too far from them, Erza, Haru, and Blue Fang were searching the jungle floor for any firewood. So far, they found a fair amount of dry sticks and old fallen branches on the ground, but Erza wanted to make sure that they had enough for their fire. As they kept searching, however, Haru had to keep Blue Fang from chewing on any sticks he found. He may be a wolf, but he was still a canine, and every canine loved to chew on a stick.

As Erza reached down to pick up another branch, she shrieked as she stumbled back, accidentally bumping into Haru, who yelped as she ended up dropping her bundle of sticks.

"Erza, what's wrong?!" Haru asked as she looked back.

"It's... it's...!" Erza stammered as she pointed toward some shrubs... where Haru could see a spider that was about as big as her hand skittering by.

"It's just another spider," said Haru. "There's no need to be frightened, Erza-"

"I was NOT frightened!" Erza spat as she took a moment to regain her composure. "I was just... surprised."

Haru sighed and shook her head before she approached the red-haired woman.

"Erza," she said, "there's no shame in admitting that you're afraid."

"Afraid?" Erza repeated. "That's ridiculous! I fear nothing!"

"Everyone's afraid of something, Erza," Haru countered. "I know it sounds silly, but a lot of people are afraid of spiders, just like you."

Erza's scowl seemed to remain on her face... for about two seconds. Then, she sighed as she looked away, hugging her arms.

"I... I shouldn't be afraid of spiders, though," she said. "I'm the Second Strongest Woman in Fairy Tail... I can't afford to show weakness." She shuddered as she hugged her arms. "But I just can't help myself! Those... long legs... and those beady eyes... and the way they walk around! It just makes my skin crawl!"

"I get it," Haru replied. "Spiders can be really creepy... but honestly, no one's gonna judge you for that... including me." She put her hand on Erza's shoulder in consolation. "You'll always be the brave Erza Scarlet that I know."

Erza blinked at the Beast Wizard, who gave her a big, toothy grin that wasn't unlike the kind her brother would make... and seeing it caused Erza to smile.

"Thank you, Haru," she said.

"Not a problem!" Haru replied as she picked up her bundle of sticks. "Now let's get this firewood back to-"

"NATSU, YOU IDIOT! LOOK WHAT YOU DID!" Gray's voice suddenly boomed across the night sky, causing the girls to glance at each other.

"Uh-oh," they muttered before they hurried back to where they left Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy with Blue Fang following after them.

XXX

"Guys, calm down!" Lucy urged, but Natsu and Gray were already butting heads with each other. Nearby, there was a smoldering pile of cinders, which Happy just put out with some water from a nearby stream.

"I can't believe you just burned down the shelter!" Gray shouted. "What if it rains?!"

"I said I'm sorry!" Natsu snapped. "Cut me a little slack, Frosty!"

"What's going on?!" Erza asked as she, Haru, and Blue Fang appeared.

"Natsu burped and he accidentally burned the shelter that Gray and I made down!" Lucy answered.

"I can't help if I get gas!" Natsu replied. "Would you rather it came out the other way?!"

"Trust me," Happy said. "It's not pretty."

"Gray, calm down!" Haru urged. "Look, Natsu said he was sorry-"

"Sorry won't cut it this time!" Gray snapped. "Dammit, Flamehead, it's your fault we're in this situation in the first place!"

"What do you mean, it's my fault?!" Natsu asked.

"Gray," said Lucy in a pleading tone, but she went unheard.

"Oh, come on!" Gray spat. "This was all some wild goose chase, Natsu! You just had to rope us into coming here, just so you could see that that rumor you heard was just that! A rumor! There is no dragon here!"

"You don't know that, yet!" Natsu shouted.

"And even if there was," Gray began, "I bet Igneel left you because he got tired of your buttheaded attitude!"

Natsu tensed while Lucy and Haru gasped in worry... but then, the Dragon Slayer's expression darkened.

"You take that back!" he hissed through clenched teeth.

"Make me!" Gray argued, and that's when the fuse went off. With an almost animalistic growl, Natsu tackled Gray to the ground, the two of them tussling around in the dirt. Happy yelped as he jumped out of the way, using his wings to fly as the two wizards punched and grappled with each other. Lucy and Haru tried to call out to them in order to get them to stop, but they were too caught up in their brawl to listen.

Naturally, it was Erza who had to step in and separate them.

"STOP IT!" she shouted as she grabbed Natsu by the back of his scarf while she also held Gray by the back of his hair since he wasn't wearing his shirt. "Both of you, knock it off!"

"He started it!" Gray shouted.

"I don't CARE who started it!" Erza snapped. "I'm ending it!" She then looked to Natsu with a stern expression. "Natsu, I suggest you go and cool your head for a bit!"

"But-" Natsu started.

"NOW!" Erza ordered, causing the Dragon Slayer to glare at her, seething angrily as embers seeped through his clenched teeth... but then, with a growl, he pushed her hand off before he turned and stormed off, leaves and twigs crunching under his feet.

"...Oh, Natsu..." Haru whispered, worriedly while Lucy had a hand over her mouth in concern.

"That was scary," Happy said as he hid behind Blue Fang's front legs, the wolf whimpering in nervousness.

"Gray," Erza said as she glared at the Ice-Make Wizard. "We need to talk."

"...Great..." Gray groaned, withering under her gaze.

Don't worry, this won't last too long.

Review, please!