Ch. 2- The Allied Forces Meet
Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima
Story and OCs © Me
"So, wait... why am I going, again?!" Lucy questioned.
"Because you're part of our team and Master Makarov picked you," Haru answered. "What's not to understand?"
It was the day after Makarov had made the announcement that Fairy Tail would be aligning with 3 other legal guilds. For this mission, he chose the strongest team, Team Natsu, to represent Fairy Tail, so they all hitched Blue Fang up to the wagon and away they want. However, there was just one problem: Lucy didn't really feel like she should go.
"I got picked for this, too, but you don't see me complainin'," said Gray.
"Master chose us to represent the Fairy Tail Guild," Erza began, "so we mustn't disappoint him, right?"
"But don't you think Gajeel or Juvia would be better for this kind of thing?" Lucy asked.
"They're both on different jobs," Haru said while Natsu was holding his stomach, groaning as his motion sickness took hold of him once again.
"I don't really care," he said. "I just... wanna... get... there...!" He then gagged as his cheeks inflated, threatening to throw up, but thankfully, he managed to choke down his lunch this time.
"So, I guess we don't really have a choice, huh?" Lucy asked as she reached over and gently placed Natsu's head on her lap, stroking his hair and rubbing his belly to settle him down, causing him to sigh pleasantly. By now, it was pretty much routine whenever they were traveling, and Natsu would rather have this than to have Erza knock him out, again. They certainly didn't want another incident like what happened with Eisenwald.
"Why are you making such a big deal out of this, Lucy?" Haru asked.
"Because... I'm not really the strong type, unlike the rest of you," Lucy answered, hanging her head slightly in dismay. "I'm not that great a fighter... even my own spirits are stronger than me. Out of all of us... I'm pretty much the only normal one."
"Lucy, don't start this, again," Haru said, causing Lucy to look up at her. "You're a great fighter! I mean, I've actually fought alongside you that one time, remember? I've seen what you're capable of!"
"Aye!" Happy agreed. "And remember that guy in the iron mask, back when we were on Dragon Island? You took care of him, too!"
"Not to mention you defeated Bickslow of the Thunder Legion," Gray pointed out.
"With the help of my spirits," Lucy pointed out.
"It still counts!" Haru rebuked.
"Haru, that's very nice of you to say that," Lucy began, "but really... compared to the rest of you, I'm pretty average."
"Now, now," Erza replied. "Let's not go talking down about ourselves. You're still one of us, Lucy, strong or not."
"Yeah, so don't go beating yourself up," Gray said. "That's just not how we are, right, Natsu?"
"Huh?" Natsu muttered sleepily. "Oh, err... yeah, what you said."
'Smells so good...' he thought as he nestled up against Lucy's lap, burying his face in her stomach as a light blush appeared on his cheeks.
"Thanks, guys," Lucy smiled, grateful that she had such good friends that encouraged her... even though she still felt a bit unsure about her own abilities.
At that moment, Blue Fang began barking, causing Haru to look out through the wagon's window.
"Look alive, everybody!" she called. "We're here!"
Soon, everyone poked their heads out of the window and saw that they were approaching what looked like a very lavish mansion... with the Blue Pegasus emblem on the front gate. Before long, they had entered the premises, and Lucy found herself looking around at all the decor... although, she didn't find them very appealing.
"What is this place, anyway?" asked Lucy.
"It's Master Bob's retreat home," replied Erza.
"You mean that weirdo with the angel wings?" asked Gray...who was unknowingly taking off his jacket and shirt.
"Put your clothes back on!" Haru shouted. "What are you doing?!"
"Ugh... are we there yet?" Natsu asked as he wobbled back and forth on his feet.
"We're already here, Natsu," Happy answered. "Why are you still sick?"
Suddenly, the lights shut off... and then, a spotlight turned on, revealing three mysterious figures.
"Wizards of Fairy Tail!" announced a suave, debonair voice. "Welcome! We have been waiting for you! We are the chosen wizards from the Blue Pegasus Guild... the one and only Tri-Men!"
The first was a young man of average height with brownish-blond hair and wearing a dark blue suit with a pink shirt underneath. The second was... well, he was really a teenager, 16 years old at least. He had short blond hair, and like the man before him, he was also wearing a lavish suit with a Fuschia shirt underneath that. Finally, there was another young man who looked a little older than the rest. His skin was dark and he had short black hair that was tied up in a little topknot, and he wore his suit jacket open, revealing the light yellow shirt underneath. Upon revealing themselves, they all struck a pose.
"I am Hibiki Lates of the Hundred Nights!" the first one announced.
"I am Eve Tearm of the Holy Nights!" the teenage boy declared.
"And I am Ren Akatsuki of the Hollow Nights," the third finished.
"Whoa...!" Lucy whispered. "These guys are pretty cool!" She then glanced over at Natsu and Gray, the former leaning against one of the columns while the latter was panicking over his lost clothes, again. "Unlike those goofballs..."
"Well, well, well!" Hibiki replied as he, Eve, and Ren approached Erza. "You must be the famed Erza Scarlet! Your beauty really does know no limits."
"Please to make your acquaintance, Titania!" Eve exclaimed.
"Why don't you step over here?" asked Ren, and before long, Erza found herself sitting on an exquisite sofa, being offered tea and drinks... and she didn't look very comfortable.
"Wow... Erza's really popular," said Lucy with a sweatdrop.
"No surprises there," Haru agreed while Blue Fang nodded his head in agreement... but then, Ren and Eve suddenly grabbed them, too.
"And of course, we didn't forget you two!" Eve added.
"Please, come and sit with us," Ren said as he placed his hand on a blushing Lucy's shoulder.
"O-oh!" Lucy exclaimed. "Uh... no, thanks! Th-that's okay!"
"Yeah, there's really no need!" Haru added.
"Hey!" Natsu shouted as he ran up and pushed Ren away from Lucy, causing him to stumble back. "Back off, will ya?! Who said you could touch Lucy?!"
"Uh-oh..." Gray and Happy muttered in dread.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried, a bit embarrassed. "What are you doing?!"
"Natsu, behave yourself!" Erza reprimanded. "Remember, these men are our allies!" She then muttered under her breath. "As annoying as they are..."
"There's no need for such acts," Hibiki added. "Can't we talk this over like rational-thinking men?"
"I am SO sorry about my brother!" Haru apologized as she grabbed Natsu by the shoulder and began to gently pull him away. "I'll set him straight, right now! Again, so, SO sorry!"
"Sis, let me-" Natsu started.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, just come here," Haru said as she gently sat him down on the stairs. "What got into you, just now? I've never seen you act that way!"
"I... I know," Natsu muttered. "It's just... when I saw that guy put his hand on Lucy like that, I got so angry and I just wanted him to go away!"
"Oh... I see, now," Haru realized. "You got jealous, didn't you?"
"What?!" Natsu questioned. "Jealous?! Don't be ridiculous! You really think I'm jealous of those creeps?!"
"...Well... you two are kinda dating, now," replied Haru.
"Yeah, I know that!" Natsu argued. "But... it's not like... Lucy's my girlfriend or anything, yet!"
"Well, by the looks of it," Haru began as she glanced over at Lucy, who was surrounded by the Tri-Men with Erza sitting next to her... the former nervously trying to turn down their advances while the latter looking quite irritated, "maybe you should do something after all... Lucy doesn't look very comfortable and I think Erza's getting ready to snap, any minute."
Natsu growled deep in his throat before he stood up and walked over to the sofa, and without a single warning, he grabbed Lucy by the arm and pulled her away from the flirtatious Tri-Men, to her confusion but also subtle relief.
"Uh... Natsu?" Lucy asked as the Fire Dragon Slayer sat her down next to him at the bottom of the stairs, his arm hooked around her shoulders.
"You just stay next to me from now on, okay?" Natsu asked, prompting Lucy to blink up at him as her cheeks were lightly tinted pink... and yet, she smiled a bit, as did Haru. She never really pegged her brother to be the possessive, jealous type.
"Well, that was a little uncalled for, don't you think?" asked Hibiki.
"Yes, we were just being friendly!" Eve added.
"A little TOO friendly, if you ask me..." Natsu growled.
"Now, now, boys, I think that's quite enough of that," a smooth-talking voice announced, causing everyone to look up at a shadowy figure descending from the stairs.
"Who's that?" Lucy asked.
"It's Master Ichiya!" exclaimed Ren.
"Master?" Lucy repeated in confusion.
"It's been far too long... Miss Erza," the figure replied, causing Erza to tense with dread.
"Oh, no...!" Erza whispered in dread. "I didn't realize you would be here, too, Ichiya!"
Soon, it was revealed to be... a short, stocky man with spiky orange-red hair, five o'clock shadow, a pair-shaped nose, and hairy legs. Despite how he sounded... he looked rather homely, not like the Tri-Men or any of the other members of Blue Pegasus.
"How I've longed to see you again, my dear!" exclaimed Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki of Blue Pegasus. "This one night is all for you~!"
"'My dear'?!" Lucy and Happy questioned while Erza shivered more than when she saw a spider.
"Master Ichiya has told us so much about you," said Hibiki.
"You're just as beautiful as he says you are!" Eve exclaimed.
"We'd expect less of Master Ichiya's girlfriend," Ren added.
"I AM NOT HIS GIRLFRIEND!" Erza screeched.
"What's up with Erza?" Lucy whispered to Haru.
"I don't really know," Haru whispered back. "Let's just say she and Mister Ichiya don't get along well."
"Clean this place up!" Ichiya demanded. "What do you think this is, playtime?!"
"Right away, Boss!" the Tri-Men exclaimed as they put away the drinks and even the table.
"Weren't they calling him 'Master', not that long ago?" asked Lucy.
"They're not very consistent, are they?" asked Happy.
"I've heard very much about you all," Ichiya said. "Miss Erza, Miss Lucy, Miss Haru... and the others."
"HEY!" Gray shouted, now wearing all his clothes again. "I'M RIGHT HERE, YOU KNOW!"
Ichiya wasn't listening... for he was too busy sniffing at Lucy and Haru, the former whimpering as she clung to Natsu, who growled at him lowly while the latter sat closer to Blue Fang, who also growled at the short little man.
"My, what wonderful perfume!" Ichiya exclaimed.
"Cut it out, Ichiya!" Haru shouted. "We're not even wearing any!"
"This guy's kinda creeping me out," Lucy added while Natsu slightly tightened his hold on her.
"Forgive me," Erza said. "I also find him very hard to deal with... a great wizard, he may be, but he's very annoying."
"Hey!" Gray called. "Listen up, you snotty pretty boys from Blue Pegasus! I'm gonna have to ask you guys to lay off harassing the girls, you got that?!"
Ichiya and the Tri-Men turned to glare at the Ice Wizard, who glared right back at them... until...
"Ah, yes," Ichiya said with a grimace. "The male members of Fairy Tail have my permission to leave."
"Thank you for your hard work!" the Tri-Men exclaimed with a gracious bow.
"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?!" Gray questioned. "You guys are like the comic relief, right?! Do any of you even know how to fight?!"
"Is that a challenge?" asked Ren as he and Eve stepped forward with smirks on their faces.
"I should warn you," Eve began, "we are quite skilled at magic."
"Now THERE'S something I can get behind," Natsu grinned as he stood up and cracked his knuckles, seemingly forgetting Lucy on the stairs.
"Stop that!" Erza shouted. "Remember, these people are supposed to be our allies!"
"Miss Erza," Ichiya said, causing Erza to tense as she felt him trying to sniff her neck. "Your perfume is just as wonderful as ever-"
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Erza screamed as she punched him away.
"MEEEEEEEEEEEN!" Ichiya cried as he was sent flying toward the door... just as three more figures walked in, one of them catching Ichiya as he fell, albeit rather roughly by the head.
"What the-?" Gray muttered.
"You were never one for casual greetings, weren't you?" asked a familiar voice as he froze Ichiya's head in a block of ice.
"Wait... is that...?!" Haru asked.
"If you mean to pick a fight with Lamia Scale," said none other than Lyon Vastia, "then I'll gladly take you on."
"Lyon?!" Gray questioned in surprise, with Lyon taking on the same expression.
"Gray?!" Lyon exclaimed.
"Wait... you joined a guild?!" Natsu asked, only for Lyon to throw Ichiya right back at the others, who quickly jumped out of the way.
"Ah! Watch it!" Lucy cried.
"Are you crazy?!" Gray asked.
"You're the ones who started it," Lyon pointed.
"Wait! Hold on!" Haru exclaimed. "Nobody was starting anything, we just-"
"What did you do to our general?!" asked Ren.
"Okay, now he's general?" Lucy asked, growing more and more confused.
"Yeah! That's way too cruel!" Eve agreed.
"Why don't all the male members just go home?" asked Hibiki.
"But there are women here, too," another voice spoke as the red carpet on the floor suddenly came to life and lunged for Lucy, who screamed. "Doll Attack: Carpet Doll!"
"HELP!" Lucy cried out, only for Natsu to jump in the way and burn the carpet to embers with his fire.
"You okay, there, Luce?!" Natsu asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" Lucy replied. "But wait... don't I know that magic?!"
"Hmm-hmm..." the voice chuckled as the carpet fell... revealing none other than Sherry Blendy, only now, she had her hair in an up-do and she was wearing a much different outfit than before. "I won't let you say that you've forgotten me... but you can forget my past self, for have I been reborn in the name of love!"
"Pick one or the other!" Lucy shouted.
"Guys, please!" Haru called. "Let's not fight!"
"More..." Ichiya said as he stalked toward Erza, who shrieked in fright. "I must have more of your beautiful perfume!"
"I'm not even wearing perfume!" Erza shouted as she summoned her broadsword. "And if you take one more step closer, I'll cut you down!"
"Lyon..." Gray glared.
"Come on, now, Gray," said Lyon. "How about we test our new skills against each other? Let's see how much stronger you've become since I saw you last."
"Sounds good to me!" Natsu exclaimed. "Let's settle this with a brawl! Who's first?!"
"I'll take you on if it'll get you to leave," Hibiki spoke up while Ren and Eve stood behind him, all three wearing dangerous glares.
"Natsu, no!" Haru shouted. "We're not here to fight each other!"
"I cannot feel any love for you, blonde one," said Sherry.
"Oh, yeah?!" Lucy questioned. "Well, that's good, because I've got nothing but hate for you! And where's that rat of yours?!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" a voice boomed, causing everyone in the room to turn and see a tall, muscular man in tribal clothing, wearing a dragon headdress and holding a staff.
"We are here to unite as allies to defeat Oración Seis!" shouted Jura Neekis. "Is this really the time for infighting?!"
"Sir Jura!" Lyon exclaimed in surprise.
"Wait... Jura?" Erza repeated.
"No way... Jura as in THE Jura?!" Haru questioned while Blue Fang lowered his body to the floor in a submissive pose, ears drooping down and tail tucked.
"So it's him...!" Ren whispered in awe.
"The Ace of Lamia Scale..." Eve added.
"Iron Rock Jura!" Hibiki announced.
"Wait... who's he?" Natsu asked.
"He's one of the Ten Wizard Saints, just like Master Makarov!" Happy answered.
"Even I've heard that name before!" Lucy added, worriedly.
"Blue Pegasus has 4 members," Sherry pointed out. "You of Fairy Tail have 5, not counting the cat and dog..."
"Blue Fang's a wolf, toots!" Haru shouted.
"Now we have three guilds accounted for," Jura noted. "We're only missing our representatives from Cait Shelter."
"Make that representative," Ichiya said, comically bruised and bleeding. "I heard that the guild only sent one member to join us."
"Wait... just one?!" Gray questioned. "Are you serious?! This is could be a seriously dangerous mission, and they send just one wizard?!"
"This person must be a really powerful wizard to send just one!" Lucy exclaimed in dread. "I'm almost afraid to know who they are!"
"Wait! Here I come!"
The group gasped upon hearing that petite little voice... and soon after, this young, blue-haired girl came running, but the moment she did, she yelped as she tripped on the carpet and fell flat on her face.
"Ugh... that hurt...!" the girl muttered before she stood up... revealing that she couldn't be older than at least 11 or 12. "I'm so sorry I'm late! My name is Wendy Marvell from Cait Shelter... it's very nice to meet you all!"
"A little girl?!" Lucy, Gray, and Lyon questioned in disbelief... while Natsu stared at the child with wide eyes.
"...Wendy...?" he whispered.
"Huh?" Haru muttered. "What's up, Natsu?"
"I dunno," Natsu began, "but... I can't help thinking that I know that girl."
Heeeeeere's Wendy!
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