"And then she said that this job would be better suited for someone older! I mean can you believe that Myrrah?"
Funnily enough, yes. Myrrah believed that the first time Mason told this story outside the guildhall and she still believes it after the 8th time he has told the story now inside the forest. Mason finally calmed down after he noticed that Myrrah's patience seemed to be growing thin as every time he recalled what Mirajane said to him, Myrrah seemed to walk a little slower than him.
"Your right, I should calm down, it's not that big a deal. It's not. I mean come on, it's not thaaaat big of a deal yeah? Who thinks it's a big deal? Not me, that's for sure."
Mason couldn't help himself. To him it's a big deal.
"I mean how could she say that! Like who does she even think she is saying that? You know what? Let's do this job so well that she'll feel so bad for being a dick to us! Better yet, maybe she'll be so impressed by my monster slaying skills that we can go on a date when I'm olde- AAARRRGHH"
Mason's little 'bitchfit' was cut off by a headbutt to the stomach from his quadrupedal partner. Mason, who was now lying on the ground finally calmed down for real.
"Thanks Myrrah, I really needed that didn't I?"
With a short yip as confirmation Mason picked himself up and caught up with Myrrah. Mason looked down at the request sheet so that he can read the directions to where the Vulcan nest is which was included in the job description. Their search for the Vulcan was soon cut short as Myrrah noticed a collapsed man a little up the pathway. The duo sprinted over to the man who was face down on the ground and Mason quickly placed his index and middle finger on the man's neck to check for a pulse. He was still alive. The touch from Mason's two fingers must have surprised the man as just after his pulse was checked, his eyes threw themselves open and the man let out a scream. The two of them stared at the man who was now hyperventilating, unsure of what to do until Mason held out a hand.
"Excuse me sir, I know that you're afraid and I may not know what the source of your fear is, but what I do know is that we're here for you. Please. Take my hand."
The man stared at Mason's outstretched hand and accepted it. Mason helped the man up and continued talking.
"You look exhausted sir. Luckily, we are not too far from the entrance, so we can help you back to near enough the entrance then we will head back into the forest."
The man's eyes darted to Mason when he mentioned that he would return deeper into the forest after the two of them dropped him off.
"Boy, I need to ask. What are you to going to do in there?"
Mason was ready to explain that he and Myrrah are on a Vulcan subjugation request, but before he opened his mouth, Mason recalled Mira's words from earlier yet again. Deciding that he wanted to save himself from another adult's patronising. Mason lied to the man instead.
"Well, me and my girl Myrrah are just here to search for some berries for our mother, AREN'T we?"
Myrrah, on the same page as Mason shook her head in agreement. This answer seemed to be good enough for the man as he let out a sigh and said nothing more until they reached the entrance. Mason waved to the man as he watched him leave the forest. Ready to get back to their quest, Mason turned around and started walking back into the forest but stopped as quickly as he began walking because he couldn't ignore the growling coming from his partner that was clearly aimed at him.
"Sorry girl, I know you hate lying but you understand why right?"
Myrrah stopped growling and sat on her hind legs, looking at Mason expectantly. Mason knew well enough what that look meant. She wanted the back of her ears scratched as reward for going along with his lies. Deciding that she deserved such reward, Mason got down on one knee to scratch and pet an overjoyed Myrrah. After enough time had passed the two decided to press on, not stopping until they found the nest. After half an hour of following the guide's directions, they found themselves outside what was obviously the Vulcan layer. Myrrah, who had analysed the surroundings, gestured to Mason that they were in the clear. Happy with her answer, Mason winked at Myrrah to signal the start of the quest. Myrrah bowed to Mason in response before raising her head up to the sky and bellowed out a howl. After the howl the forest grew silent but said silence was soon interrupted.
"WHO MAKE NOISES"
"WE SLEEPING"
"KILL NOISEMAKER"
"THERE, OVER THERE! THEY MAKE NOISE"
"IT SMALL HUMAN AND WEIRD DOG"
Vulcans started pilling out of their nest, one by one. Blue electricity started to resonate through Mason's body until it focussed into his fists. Myrrah began growling at Vulcans as shadows surrounded her claws, strengthening them as well sharpening them and coating them in the shadows. It was time to subjugate some Vulcans.
The two of them distanced themselves in order to split the amount of Vulcan's one had to face. With a loud battle-cry the Vulcan's leaped forward at their prey. Mason jumped back in order to dodge the Vulcan's clumsy fists while Myrrah leapt forward and sank her claws into the chest of one of her Vulcan's. Mason jumped on the shoulders of a Vulcan that tried to attack him from behind, placing his hands on either side of the Vulcan's face and fried the beast with electricity. One by one the Vulcan's fell, this was way too easy. Were they Vulcan's weak or were the two of them just strong? Mason was thrown out of his daydream by a Vulcan fist that connected with his face, sending Mason flying into a nearby tree. Myrrah, seeing this let out a howl before jumping on the back of the Vulcan that attacked Mason, clawing at the beasts back until it no longer moved. Mason picked himself up and stood still until the world stopped spinning.
"I'm fine I'm fine! Let's finish this Myrrah."
The two ran towards the last group of Vulcans, Mason planted his feet into the ground and let the lightning escape from his finger's which skewered a group of Vulcans. Myrrah dipped her jaws in the shadows and began to crunch away at the last Vulcan with ferocity. Exhausted, the two let out a victory cry to show that they were done with the nest. Mason looked down at his palms, somewhat disappointed with his current magic ability.
"More, I need to get stronger."
As Mason stared at his hands, he heard a cry then a crash into the ground. Mason threw his body round and froze. This wasn't fair. There wasn't any mention of an Alpha in the description. Mason snapped out of his fear induced trance when he noticed the Alpha pounding his fists away at Myrrah, every time the Alpha's fists landed on Myrrah a whine would echo through the forest. Seething with rage, Mason's body covered itself in electricity, which he released in a chain of lightning that skewered the Alpha. However, unlike the group of Vulcans before, the Alpha almost felt nothing. It turned around and grabbed Mason in mid-air and began crushing him with one hand. Mason screamed as he could feel his ribs going to crack soon, planting his hands on the fingers of the Alpha in attempts to stab his hand with electricity. Nothing happened, there was no pain on the Vulcan's face or anything. Just a massive, bone-chilling smile. Soon bored with Mason, the Alpha dropped him, and he landed with an audible thud. Lying there, Mason could feel himself starting to lose consciousness, but he knew he couldn't. Not yet. The Alpha turned its attention back to Myrrah who couldn't move due to a broken front foot. Mason was terrified.
"sHE's GoInnngGG tO DiEEEEEEE"
"BuT i Can SaVE HeRRRRRRR"
Mason couldn't trust the voice, he knew that. But he can't lose Myrrah. He just can't.
"What to I need to do?"
This prompted a horrifying laugh from the voice.
"GiVE YoURseLf tO mEEEee."
"Done."
The voice went silent straight after and Mason fell unconscious.
The clouds above the forest turned black and a torrential rain began to fall. The Alpha looked up confused at the sudden change in weather, while he was distracted, he didn't see Mason's body stand back up. The clouds above unleashed a flurry of thunder that was all aimed one person. Mason. As the lightning struck the young boy's body, Myrrah released a heartbroken howl.
"HAHhahahahAHHAHAHA. ThIS BoDYYY IssssSS MiNEEE."
The lightening was absorbed into Mason's body. The Alpha, seeing this decided that Mason was now a threat and leapt towards him in order to finish the job. Just as the Alpha's fists created a crater where Mason was, in a blink of electricity Mason appeared behind the Alpha.
"NonNONOnonONO ThAT Won'T Doo MonKEY."
Myrrah couldn't move but whimpered in fear of the man that was standing behind the Alpha. It wasn't Mason. Mason raised a hand to the sky and as if on command a thundercloud unleashed a massive bolt of lightning. Lightning that Mason caught and unleashed a beam of blue and white lightning at the Alpha as it tried to punch Mason. The surrounding area exploded from the impact of Mason's 'technique'. The Alpha was sprawled on the ground, motionless. Mason suddenly gasped then began to look around.
"What the hell happened here?"
Mason grabbed his head as it began throbbing in pain.
"DiD YoU LiKE My hElp?"
Mason while scared demanded answers.
"What the hell did you do!"
The voice merely chuckled at his question then answered.
"I boRRoWeD YoUR boDY, ThaT'S ITTTTT."
Mason now shaking from exhaustion and fear knew he had to put the voice in its place, it couldn't think that it was better than Mason. More importantly, it couldn't know that Mason loved the feeling of its power. He turned around in order to run to the now unconscious body of Myrrah, only to fall unconscious himself as he landed beside her. As his vision turned black, he threw an arm around Myrrah as a final form of protection.
Some time later Macao made his way to the Vulcan nest and was shocked at the carnage that was before him, fearing for Mason and Myrrah's lives, Macao ran up to the Alpha to see if it had the two hostage. What Macao saw shocked him, the Alpha was already dead and covered in static. Last time he checked Laxus was out of town which meant one thing. Mason did this. Macao decided to think about this later as finding the two of them takes priority. Luckily, Macao found Mason embracing Myrrah under a nearby tree. Throwing the two over a shoulder each, he began to make his way back to the guild. Before leaving, Macao turned around to view the battlefield one more time. Master Makarov needs to hear about this.