"What is this?!" Erza shouted in pure disbelief as she watched Natsu fly through the air in a single punch.
"When did he get so tough? I'm fired up now!" Natsu screeched as he threw himself forward ready to attack, only to be sent flying once more.
"He's only 14! He's so strong… and cool!" Lucy couldn't help exclaim her new found fondness for the boys strength
"Guys we have to attack together, it's the only way we can win!" Gray yelled his plan to his team mates, hoping that they will listen.
The boy in question merely stood over then with a hand thrust out, as if to bait them into attacking once more. He would be ready, he had become Fairy Tail's strongest. No. Ishgar's strongest mage now.
With a booming war cry, Erza decided to attack first. The boy changed his stance ready to punish the woman for being so hot blooded and not waiting for her team mates. However, before Erza could swing her sword she tackled him to the ground and began to lick him instead. The boy completely surprised by this 'technique' turned bright red before screaming.
"AAAAaaahHHHH GEDDIT OFFA MEEEEE"
The boy soon paused taking in his surroundings before hiding under his sheets out of sheer embarrassment. He had been in his room the whole time, it was all just a stupid dream. The boy could hear Myrrah laughing at his misfortune, almost as if she knew exactly what he was dreaming about which made everything 100 times worse. The boy turned to Myrrah with a glint in his eye ready to get revenge for her antics. However, a knock at the door nullified any chance of revenge at the moment.
The boy groggily made his way to the door and opened it to see the Dorm Master Albert.
"Forgive me for interrupting your morning screaming but I do believe it is time to get up and get going. Master Makarov is holding your reward money from yesterdays request, best not keep him waiting no?"
The boy's face was completely crimson at the mention of his 'morning screaming' but thanked the dorm master nonetheless for letting him know that his request money is up for collection. The boy shut the door and turned to see a smug looking Myrrah lying on his bed staring back at him.
The boy made his way over to the wolf and placed a hand at each side of her face, softly squishing her.
"You know I love you, but I WILL get you back for that little missy"
The boy softly flicked Myrrah's nose, causing her to let out small sneeze before heading to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the rest of the day.
After Half an hour of getting ready Mason and Myrrah picked up the 'gifts' that they acquired yesterday and left Fairy Tail's male dorm, Fairy Cove to make their way towards the guild. The hustle and bustle of Magnolia's streets was as breath taking as ever. It felt a lot like Hargeon, but so much more homely at the same time.
Finally, the duo made their way to the gates of the guild hall, ready to open the massive double doors. Unfortunately, just as the boy opened the door to the Guild hall, some sort of blur came flying towards him at a break neck pace. After the boy and the blur collided with a nearby wall, he looked down to see an unconscious Elf-man at his feet. Yup, this was definitely his Guild.
After assuring Myrrah that he wasn't hurt by the flying Elf-man they decided to leave the man there and see Master Makarov, after all it was probably Elf-man who started his fight anyway. The boy made his way up towards the bar while Myrrah branched off in search for an empty bench for the two of them to sit at.
The boy managed to get to the bar where he could see Master, Mira and Cana who were all laughing together telling what seemed to be 'adult' jokes. Makarov noticed Mira smiling at someone approaching them and decided to see who she was smiling at. When he noticed who it was he couldn't help but slap on a smile too.
"If it isn't my boy Mason! Congratulations on the security job yesterday! I got a stunning review from the manager who just couldn't stop singing your praises!" Makarov laughed, full of genuine pride for the young teenager. He reached into his cape and presented Mason with his share of the money he earned yesterday.
Cana while impressed made sure not to let this get praise get to his head and began to drunkenly tease him.
"If you keep this up you might actually turn into a man one of these days instead of being a little kid."
The boy couldn't help but flash a grin at the three adults in front of him, giving Cana a retort of his own before heading towards whatever bench Myrrah claimed.
"You better watch out Cana, one of these days I'll be the same age as you guys and you'll need to learn how to resist me. Mira too."
With the inclusion of herself Mira couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle her surprised laugh before letting it out so that Makarov, Cana and she could laugh at Mason's confident parting words together.
Mason walked away from the bar, happy with his parting words and quickly found the bench where Myrrah was. As he was going to sit down next to Myrrah he noticed that she was fast asleep with her chest slowly rising and falling in a gentle pattern. Suddenly Mason had flashbacks to this mornings 'incident' and a smile crept on his face, surely this was the perfect time for revenge. However, before Mason could act on any ideas he had, he noticed the soft smile planted on her face, and with that smile Mason remembered why he never gets revenge on Myrrah for her pranks. She's just too damn cute.
"Guess today is a lazy day then."
With a sigh Mason removed his jacket and lightly placed it over Myrrah as a make shift blanket then sat down next to her to order some brunch.
After 25 minutes of waiting while sitting next to this angel in the form of a sleepy wolf. Mira slowly made her way to the table in order not to wake the sleeping wolf. Mira placed the plates onto the bench as soundless as possible, but as soon as Myrrah's plate touched the bench she jumped awake, tail wagging, excited to eat her meal. Mason and Mira shared a giggle at the sudden shift in her behaviour before Mira retuned back to the bar. Mason and Myrrah began to chow down on their brunches, but half-way through eating the doors to the hall flew open.
"WE'RE BACK EVERYONE!" Natsu exclaimed as loud as he could
"Woah Team Natsu's Back."
"Awesome! I bet they fought another super tough monster."
"I heard that last time they let Lucy fight 30 Dark Guild members by herself."
"Imagine being on their team! Just for a day."
Just as quickly as Natsu announced their return, he began to instigate a mass brawl with member's flying left right and centre. Mason couldn't help but laugh at the sudden rowdiness of the place, the laugh was cut short though by an unwanted guest.
"JoIN ThE FIghTTTTT, MakE ThEMM BLeEd, MakE TheMM All BLeEd!"
Mason sighed and spoke out loud.
"We're not doing that. Today is a lazy day, the little lady says so."
Myrrah nuzzled into Mason at the inclusion of her name, which was rewarded with Mason giving her, her favourite behind the ear scratch.
"NO nO No LazY DAyS! LaZY iS WeAk, We ArE NOt WeAK."
Before Mason could even reply to such a stupid statement, the brawl was quelled by Erza who used Natsu and Grey's heads as symbols. After seeing the treatment of the two boys, everybody behaved themselves once again.
Mason watched Erza go sit down, he was worried about her. Sure they may not be friends but they're still in the same Guild, they're still a family right. He doesn't know why but Erza's demeanour has changed since they all returned from a mission a while ago, he doesn't know the situation but he has been made aware that it was something to do with the Tower of Heaven.
With a deep breath Mason picked himself up and hid the 'Erza' mask behind his back while making his way over to Erza. She noticed Mason walking towards her and smiled his way.
"Hey Miss Erza, I don't want to trouble you before you go and order that 'legendary' strawberry cake."
Erza chuckled at his little comment about her favourite cake and let him continue what he was saying.
"It's just that me and Myrrah were on a job yesterday and we picked up something we thought you may enjoy."
Mason presented the 'Erza' mask to her only to receive a very confused look from Erza, clearly wanting clarification.
"It belonged to one of the bank robbers yesterday. Apparently, the plan was to somehow make the world believe your team robbed the bank with these how should I put it… Artistic rendition of your faces."
Now that she knew whole story, Erza couldn't help but almost buckle over in a fit of laughter at how stupid it was. As she was wiping the tears out of her eyes, the rest of her team jumped onto the benches in order to investigate what made Erza cry laughing before bursting into fits of laughter themselves.
"HAHAhaha What is this? I love it! It's the best! Hey Mason, do one of me!" Natsu excitedly proclaimed which received a snarky reply from Grey.
"You Idiot! He literally just said that it was a bank robber that made it not him, how the hell is he gonna get one of you?!"
Almost as if on command Myrrah waltzed over to the table holding the other 3 masks in her mouth.
"Natsu fear not! For I have granted your wish! And Grey, well you got one too."
Grey's face immediately paled as he was presented with a crudely made mask of himself, this however made Natsu laugh even harder as he decided to wear his own.
Mason reached down for the final mask and to thank Myrrah but was interrupted by a shriek coming from Lucy.
"Mason, I swear, don't you dare put a mask of me on that table! I'll die from embarrassment for real!"
At the Idea of a Lucy mask, Natsu began to visibly get excited again just trying to imagine new ways to tease her with it.
Before Mason presented the final mask, he couldn't help but notice that Happy was no longer as excited as the rest of them. It was clear that he was afraid to be left out again. Seeing Happy's trademark grin not plastered on his face made Mason feel conflicted as he feels bad that Happy is clearly upset, but he is excited knowing that Happy's grin will be returning very shortly.
"And for the final mask…. Can I get a drum roll please?... The Final mask is the one. The only. HAPPY MASK!" Mason threw his arms up holding the mask, almost as if he was holding a trophy.
"Aye?" Happy's smile slowly picked up as he finally realised what Mason was holding.
Well that was it. It was no longer just Team Natsu laughing, other Guild members who noticed could no longer keep their laughter in. As the laughter finally died down Mason knew it was time to go home and bid the team good night.
The team watched as Mason and Myrrah Exited the guildhall before Natsu spoke up to the team.
"Mason's a really nice guy don'tcha think?"
Erza looked down at the mask she was given one last time and smiled.
"Yes. He really is."