Chapter 7: Natsu VS. Erza
The sun's rays shone through the curtains and onto a sleeping young mage. Lucy squirmed around the bed trying and failing to fall back asleep. She knew it was morning. The shining sun and signing birds said as much. It was strange, normally Lucy had no problem waking up early, in fact she would often wake before the sun would rise but today Lucy found herself sleeping in.
Excepting her fate, she rose out of bed and looked at the clock on the wall. Lucy read the time and bounced out of bed and ran towards the front door.
"How could I have slept in until 11:00 AM? At this rate I will miss the Duel!" Lucy thought.
As Lucy opened the door, she found herself face to face with Mirajane. She was carrying a few bags of what Lucy assumed was clothing and food.
"Oh my. Lucy you can't go out looking like that. Unless you want to be like Gray." Mirajane said.
Lucy down at herself and realized she was about to run to the guild barely clothed. A small blush crossed her face at the thought of all her guild-mates gawking at her.
"No. I was just a little too excited about the duel." Lucy said.
"Well good thing I was here to stop you. That would be quite embarrassing." Mirajane said as she walked past Lucy and started to put her groceries in the fridge.
"Oh Lucy! I brought some clothes for you. I hope you like what I picked out." Mirajane said.
Lucy started to cry as she pulled the clothes out of the bag.
Mirajane looked over and saw Lucy crying, tears hitting the floor. "Lucy, what's wrong?"
"It-It's just that I've never been given a gift before. Thank you." Lucy said in-between sniffles.
Mirajne frowned. "Just what has she been through? Poor thing." She thought.
"Hey, Mira! I don't think I can wear these clothes." Lucy said.
"Don't you like them?" Mirajane asked.
"No. I do, but I will need to cut a hole through most of these for my wing." Lucy said looking at the clothes in her hands.
Mira had a smile on her face. "I knew that so I had these specially made."
"You didn't tell anyone did you?!" Lucy yelled.
"I just said they were for a certain friend. So don't worry." Mirajane said as she walked off to her room. "And you can spread your wing here."
Lucy just smiled. "Thank you, Mira. For everything. I mean it. I will pay you back every single jewel."
"There's no need for that. I have more than enough jewel. Plus, it's a gift." Lucy could hear Mirajane say.
Lucy rushed to Mirajane had have her a bear hug. "Thank you mira, I love the cloak."
"A pink cloak isn't very good at hiding someone, but it still hides your wing, and it looks cute too." Mirajane said with a wink.
Lucy was wearing a short, white skirt that cut off around mid-thigh and a black button up shirt. The clothing was short but also long enough that it hid her diamond scales.
As Lucy ran towards the guild, this time fully clothed, she noticed a large crowd had gathered Infront of the guild. Lucy pushed her way through the crowd and saw Natsu and Erza glaring each other, ready to start the fight.
"Good. I just made it before it started." Lucy said in relief.
"It'd be pretty unmanly of you to miss this fight!" Elfman said, who was standing next to Lucy.
Lucy looked up to the large man and spoke. "Erza is a woman, you know."
"No, she's a female monster." Max, another wizard nearby said.
Lucy saw gray in the crowd and walked up to him. "But Gray, if two members of the most powerful team face off against each other than it could be utter calamity!"
Gray stood there with his hands in his pockets. "The most powerful team? What's that?"
"You, Natsu and Erza, of course. Your Fairy Tail's top three members." Lucy said.
"That's stupid. Who'd say something like that." Gray said, not knowing that Mirajane just arrived to the watch the fight and was standing right behind him.
Mirajane put her hands to her face and started to cry. "Great, now you made her cry!" Lucy said as she glared at Gray.
Gray tried to console Mirajane but it only made her cry more.
"All I was trying to say is that I thought Natsu, Gray and Erza were the most compatible." Mirajane said in-between sniffles.
Lucy patted Mirajane on the back to try and comfort her.
"I admit Natsu and Gray are manly, but there are plenty of strong fighters in Fairy Tail. That includes me!" Elfman said.
"But there's no doubt Erza's the strongest woman, Lulu." Levy said, waving to Lucy.
"And for the strongest man there's Mystogan or Laxus." Jet said.
"We can't discount the old man either." Droy said.
Lucy listened to the other guild members talk as she waved back to Levy with a smile.
"Do you like my new cloak? Mira brought it for me." Lucy said.
"It looks cute on you, Lulu. But I don't think a pink cloak will hide you very well." Levy said.
Lucy overheard Natsu and Erza talking.
"How many years has it been since your magic clashed against mine?" Erza said.
"Back then I was just a kid! This time is different! This time I'm gonna win!" Natsu proudly declared.
"This will not be play acting for me either. After a long time, I get to test my strength." Erza said as she transformed into her flame empress armor.
"Hit me with everything you've got." Erza said.
"That's flame empress armor. It's armor that protects against fire magic!" One mage yelled.
"That would cut Natsu's power by half!" Another mage yelled.
Happy saw Erza transform and made his way over to Cana who was squatting on the ground around two baskets of money, and behind a small chalkboard that had the betting odds tallied on it.
"Do you mind if I bet on Erza instead?" Happy said.
Lucy looked around at the ground hoping to find something. She saw something sparkle in the sunlight and picked it up.
"One Jewel. Now I can bet." Lucy said as she made her way over to Cana.
"Hello, Lucy. Who are you betting on today?" Cana said.
"Erza" Lucy said as she handed her one jewel to Cana.
"A bit broke today? Eh Lucy?" Cana said.
"Yes, I unfortunately have no money." Lucy replied as she walked off to get a better view of the fight.
Natsu smirked. "I was hoping you'd wear your fire empress armor. Now i can fight you with everything I've got!"
"And…Fight!" Makarov said, starting the duel.
Natsu lit his left hand on fire and lunged at Erza but luckily, she dodged just in time. She swung her sword at Natsu hoping for a clean hit across the gut, but he quickly dodged and Erza swung at empty air.
Natsu tried to kick Erza's face with a flaming foot, but he missed her by a few inches as she rolled out of the way. With her large armored legs, Erza kicked Natsu's feet out from beneath him and his face slammed into the ground.
Not wanting Erza to have the upper hand, Natsu quickly launched a fire dragon's roar at Erza but her armor protected her form the heat.
"This is incredible!" Lucy said, watching the fight with the rest of the guild.
"See? it's a good match, huh?" Elfman said.
"What's good about it?" Gray grumbled.
Natsu and Erza were going at it and when they were about to clash blade to fist, they heard the sounds of clapping.
"That is far enough!" A council member said, who just happened to look like an oversized frog.
"The council?!" Levy yelled.
"Why would he be here?!" Jet yelled.
"A messenger?!" Droy yelled.
Everyone was shocked, wondering what could have caused the council to personally go out of their way and seek them out. Sure, they were always scolded by the council because of all the property damage, but they never sent an envoy.
"To all, do not move from this spot. I am an envoy from the council!" The frogman said in an annoying voice.
"During the occasion of the Eisenwald terror case, as a suspect in eleven counts of property damage, I have come to arrest Erza Scarlet!" The frogman declared.
"Huh?" Erza replied in utter shock.
"What did you say!?" Natsu yelled in anger.
The once loud and rowdy guild has been reduced to a total silence. No one wanted to speak. Everyone just sat around quietly contemplating about why Erza was arrested.
Trapped underneath a cup that was sitting on the wooden bar top was a little red lizard shouting and screaming. "Let me out! Let me out of here!"
Mirajane who was nearby, looked at the small lizard who was being annoying.
"Natsu, shut up!" Mirajane told the transformed Natsu.
"Let me out!" Natsu shouted.
"If I let you out, you'd just go on a rampage, right?" Mirajane said.
"I will not! Anyway! Change me back!" The small lizard Natsu yelled, waving his front legs around.
Mirajane leaned in closer to get a good look at lizard Natsu. "If I did, the first thing you'd do is scream, I'm coming to save you! Right?"
"I would not! Who would want to even save Erza?!" Natsu protested.
"This time, she's up against the council! There's no stopping them." Gray said.
"Let me out! There's one thing I will say! Council or not, they're the ones making the mistake!" Lizard Natsu snarled in anger.
"It's weird. When you think of all the things that have happened, why'd they pick this time?" Elfman said.
"Yeah. It begs for an explanation." Loke replied.
"Something could be white, but if the council says it's black, then it's black. There's nothing we could say that would get through to them." Gray explained.
"The council could herd us into a room and slaughter us like cattle and no one would know. That's how much power they hold." Lucy said nonchalantly.
Everyone's jaws dropped. Unable to believe such an innocent looking young girl draped in a pink cloak could say such a thing.
Lucy could hear laughing from the second floor. "Who is up there?"
"Just stupid Laxus. Don't pay him any attention." Gray said.
"Who is Laxus?" Lucy asked, but before anyone could answer her, Laxus's booming voice was heard across the guildhall.
"Oh, so now we're accepting demons into our ranks?" Laxus said, pointing to Lucy. "I thought the guild couldn't sink any lower!"
Lucy pulled the cloak's hood up to hide her face. "I-I'm not a demon." She murmured, looking at the floor.
"Laxus!" Mirajane moved in front of Lucy, glaring daggers into Laxus.
Laxus, from where he sat on the second floor of the guild, got up and leaned over the railing. "I haven't seen a look like that in years."
A sly smirk formed on his face. "What don't believe me? Just look under her cloak. There's more than a naked body under there!"
Mirajane calmly walked up the steps to the second floor of the guild, and Laxus, in the middle of his laughing fit, was suddenly slapped.
A slap so hard his right cheek was left red.
Mirajane trembled. Her right hand shaking in not fear, but frustration. "How dare you say that about Lucy! About any woman!" Her fierce glare not subsiding.
Laxus just shrugged his shoulders and walked off. "When I make you my woman, you'll learn some respect!"
Mirajane walked back downstairs and embraced Lucy in a tight hug.
"I'm sorry Lucy. Laxus, he's not always been like this."
"W-was it something I said? I don't understand…" Lucy murmured.
Mirajane shook her head. "No. Laxus is just a jerk."
Lucy could feel Laxus's magic aura radiate off of him. It was so powerful, something she had not seen since 'him' years ago.
Mirajane let go of Lucy and she started to run out the guild, trembling at the memories that were resurfacing.
As Lucy was walking through Magnolia's south gate park, trying to calm herself she remembered she still hadn't made a contract with Virgo yet. Lucy summoned Virgo and in a puff of smoke she appeared with a bow.
"How may I be of help, Princess?" Virgo asked.
"I am sorry, Virgo. I acquired your key a few days ago, but I forgot to make a formal contract with you." Lucy apologized.
"There is no need, Princess. I'm just glad I can be of service." Virgo said.
"So, what days can you work?" Lucy asked.
"Every day of the week except for Friday." Virgo said.
"Wow! That's a lot of time I am able to summon you." Lucy said.
"Is it not to your liking, Princess?" Virgo said.
Lucy waved her hand in front of her. "No, no. It's great, it's just… why would you want to make a contract with me?" Lucy said.
"Because I was once contracted to your mother, Layla and I see great potential with you as a key holder. Is that a sufficient explanation Princess?"
"You knew my mother?!" Lucy smiled slightly. "Thank you, Virgo."
And with the contract done, Virgo went back to the spirit world, but not before asking for punishment which baffled Lucy.
As Lucy walked through Magnolia, she noticed a rather large library she somehow didn't see before in her various explorations of the town. Lucy's eyes sparked with excitement and she spent several hours becoming lost in the world of fiction.
It was around noon when Lucy's stomach grumbled and she decided that it would be best to go back to Fairy Tail and grab some lunch.
As Lucy walked closer to the guild, she could hear an argument break out.
"Great! Erza is arrested and now Lucy disappears! I hate the men in this guild!" Levy yelled.
"Men? It's not our problem our new member is weird!" Max yelled.
"Lucy isn't weird, she's just…" Levy trailed off, not sure what to say.
"Lucy just lacks some of the life experience we all have." Mirajane explained to Max.
"Yeah, well tell that to her. The other day I saw her chewing on rocks!" Nab yelled.
"Lucy isn't an animal! What are you saying!" Levy yelled.
Lucy was slightly confused why she was the topic of conversation. For all accounts Lucy thought she wasn't very interesting, and that there were many more interesting members of the guild.
"Lucy! Where did you run off to?" Levy asked when she saw Lucy return to the guild hall a few hours later with a bundle of books in her arms.
Lucy's eyes glittered in excitement. "The library! After I left the guild hall I wandered around town and found it. It is huge."
Levy smiled. "So, you like books?"
Lucy smiled back. "Yes. They are my favorite."
"Books are my favorite too." Levy said.
"I have fond memories of books with my father." Lucy said.
"Oh, did he read to you?" Levy said.
"No. But he would give me a new book every month if I behaved." Lucy said.
"Levy nudged Lucy. "So, you were a problem child then?"
Lucy's gaze darkened. "You could say that…" she murmured.
"Anyway, I came back because I'm hungry and I know you serve food here." Lucy said as she made her way to the bar, where Mirajane was cleaning glasses.
"Oh, lucy! It's good to see you back again. Laxus didn't upset you too much did he? I was worried when you suddenly ran off." Mirajane said.
"Sorry about scaring you, Mira. He did at first, but then I found a library and got these!" Lucy said as she slammed the stack of books on the bar top.
"I see, so you like reading books then?" Mirajane said.
"Yep! And I came back because I started to get hungry." Lucy said.
"Well, what do you want to order?" Mirajane said.
Lucy sat by the bar eating a chicken sandwich when she heard Master Makarov talking to Lizard Natsu.
"Let me out! Let me out!" Lizard Natsu was yelling.
"Do you really want to be let out?" Master Makarov said, who was sitting atop the bar.
Lizard Natsu started to scratch under his neck in thought. Thinking if it really is a good idea or not.
Master Makarov had a knowing smirk. "Your awfully quiet, Natsu. What's wrong?"
Master Makarov shot a blast of magic at Lizard Natsu, destroying the glass cup he was being held under. In a puff of smoke Lizard Natsu suddenly turned into Macao.
"Macao!" Levy yelled in shock.
"Why would Macao turn himself into a lizard?" Lucy thought.
"Sorry everybody. I owed Natsu a favor. I turned myself into a lizard so I could pose as Natsu." Macao said as he scratched the back of his head.
The guild was shocked. No one would have thought Macao of all people, one of the older, mature mages would do something so stupid.
"Then where's the real Natsu?" Levy said.
"He didn't go after Erza, did he?" Gray asked.
"Yeah probably…" Macao mumbled.
"It's nothing to be proud of! I wouldn't put it past him to try and punch out the council!" Elfman yelled.
"How stupid can you be?!" Gray grumbled.
The other guild members started to argue and the guild was thrown back into chaos again.
"Everyone, Silence! Now!" Makarov let his magical aura radiate outwards, to show his 'children' he was not playing around. "All we can do is wait quietly for the outcome."
Lucy watched the scene unfold as she continued to eat her sandwich. She was somewhat scared when Master Makarov would unleash his magical aura, but she knew he would not hurt his children. He was simply a father scolding his rowdy children.
I really hate this chapter. It was not what i wanted to do. I just could not pull of my original idea of Lucy busting Natsu and Erza out of prison. I hope you still like the chapter. Next time we're off to Galuna Island!