As the trio waited for Lucy, Rizzo did a few push-ups on the floor with a stack of Lucy's books on her back. Natsu was doing sit-ups in her bed with Happy lifting weights since there was no time to lose. Besides, might as well keep busy as they waited. Just then the door opened with the blonde they were waiting for walking in.
"What's up?" The three of them asked in unison as Lucy gave a scream of surprise.
Rizzo then gasped as Lucy did a flying kick to hit Natsu right out of her bed. Rizzo sat up with the books falling on the floor. Well, someone wasn't happy.
"Why don't you jerks work out at your own houses?!" Lucy demanded as she glared at Natsu.
Rizzo sweat-dropped wondering why Lucy was so mad. Shouldn't people be more welcoming when they're being visited by their friends? Natsu and Happy visit her all the time, and it always makes her happy.
"Now, Lucy, if we want to work together like a team," Natsu began while holding up a pink dumbbell. "We gotta train like one."
"We thought you'd like the pink dumbbell." Happy added.
"I don't care what color it is!" Lucy snapped. "I'm not lifting weights with you!"
"Pushups then?" Rizzo asked.
"Oh yeah!" Natsu said.
He and Happy joined her on the floor with the three of them doing pushups, which had Lucy growling in frustration. Didn't they understand she wanted them gone?! She knows Rizzo's smarter than those idiots, so why didn't she get the hint?!
"We gotta kick it up a notch if we want to beat Laxus and Erza." Natsu said.
"Aye, sir!" Happy said.
Rizzo just kept doing her pushups while leaving the books out of it this time. There was no time to waste.
"I just want a little bit of peace and quiet." Lucy complained. "Now get out, boys! Rizzo can stay since I know she won't act like a lunatic if I ask!"
As the boys just continued to do their pushups, Rizzo paused to sit on the floor again. She was starting to get it. Lucy just wasn't like them. In fact, despite her annoyed and sometimes aggressive behavior, she kind of reminds Rizzo of Lisanna. Lisanna wouldn't join the three in this kind of stuff either. But she had always found their antics funny instead of annoying.
"We'll train quietly, Lucy." Natsu promised.
"I don't think that's the problem, Nats." Rizzo said.
Natsu paused in his own pushups to get into a crouch position beside Rizzo. Then what was the problem?
"Maybe we should just get to the point as to why we're here." Rizzo suggested grinning. "Maybe that'll brighten her mood."
Her words had Lucy looking at the three curiously as Natsu grinned nodding his head.
"Yeah!" Natsu said as he turned to look at Lucy. "Lucy, I've made a decision. Our team is ready for the big time! S-Class!"
As he said that, Happy, who moved to Lucy's desk, held up the flyer he had snatched from the board.
"Yeah, check it out!" Happy said.
Lucy gave a squeal while leaning away from the flyer as if it might bite her.
"How'd you get that?!" Lucy demanded. "I thought we weren't allowed to go on the second floor!"
"Well, I just climbed the stairs and took it!" Happy said.
It had been a lot easier than he thought it would too. No one even tried to stop him. Happy was sure no one even saw him either.
"You little cat burglar!" Lucy said.
Happy just laughed as Natsu moved over to the desk after putting back on his vest.
"Since it's our first S-Class Quest, we decided to go with the smallest reward we found on the board." Natsu said. "But 7 million is still a lot of jewel."
"It can sure pay my rent for a few months even split four ways." Rizzo said holding up four fingers.
Not to mention it'll be fun. Another island adventure with monsters probably waiting for them.
"We're not ready!" Lucy insisted then pointed at the flyer. "If the Master knew we had this job request, he'd be furious!"
Rizzo couldn't deny that. The second Makarov realizes that the job request is missing, he's going to be so mad. Which is why they need to go while no one knows they have it.
"Yeah, but I think he'll actually be proud of us if we actually pull it off." Natsu pointed out.
Lucy sighed as she plopped down into a chair that rested at her kitchen table.
"Hah, ya know, this might be the dumbest thing you've ever done, Natsu." Lucy said. "And you pulled Rizzo into to. If you want to rise up the ranks, you should try following the guild's rules."
Rizzo and Natsu exchanged a glance wondering if Lucy could be more of a party-pooper. She definitely needed more spirit.
"You keep having an attitude like that, and we'll never make it to S-Class, Lulu." Rizzo said. "You want something, you have to take risks to get it."
"Damn straight." Natsu said.
Lucy just sighed again wishing they'd try thinking more clearly. But Natsu was just looking for trouble as always. And to be honest, Rizzo wasn't much better.
"You handle this on your own." Lucy said. "I'm staying right here."
Rizzo looked to Natsu as he pouted a bit. He obviously wanted Lucy to join them. They'd have to start bringing out the big guns.
"But the job is saving a tropical island." Happy said putting the flyer in front of Lucy again.
"Really?" Lucy asked looking curious now.
Rizzo and Natsu nodded their heads as they joined her and Happy at the table.
"It's the cursed Island of Galuna!~" Natsu and Happy said creepily causing Lucy to freak.
"No way!" She said. "Definitely not going now!"
Rizzo sighed because they were trying to get her to go. Not run away from the job. Even as they tried to convince the blonde, Rizzo could see their words were having the opposite effect. Rizzo then remembered the second part of the reward, which had her smirking. Well, there was one other way to get her to agree, and it wouldn't even take much effort on their part. Rizzo placed her hand on Natsu's shoulder getting the boy to look at her.
"We tried, Natsu." Rizzo said sighing. "If she doesn't want to go, she doesn't want to go."
Natsu frowned though guessed they were kind of wasting time here. They needed to head out before everyone at the guild knew that they took the request from upstairs.
"I guess you're right." Natsu said as he grabbed his stuff. "Let's go, Happy."
"Aye." Happy said sulkily.
The boys headed out the window as Rizzo put on her bag. As she was about to follow them out, she accidentally knocked the request in the floor instead of placing it in her bag. Rizzo then climbed into the window as Natsu waited to catch her below.
"Well, later, Lulu." Rizzo said then jumped out the window with Lucy's scolding voice following her.
Natsu caught her below in his arms then set her down on her own feet. They started heading out of town with the boys pouting.
"Hey, don't look so glum." Rizzo said grinning at them. "She'll be joining us for sure."
The boys looked at her in confusion before turning their heads when they heard someone shouting at them to wait up. Natsu grinned when he saw Lucy heading their way.
"Hang on, you guys!" She said. "I'm coming with you."
As she hurried to catch up, Rizzo smiled when seeing how happy Natsu was with Lucy joining them. This certainly would be an adventure to remember.
"Master!" Mirajane called as she ran down the stairs. "One of the S-class requests is missing!"
Makarov didn't seem to quite register Mirajane's words at first as he took another sip from his tea. However, when the words finally sunk in, he spit his tea all over the place.
"Say what?" Wakaba asked. "One of the jobs from the second floor is missing?!"
"But the jobs up there are S-Class quests." Macao pointed out. "Anyone know how took off with it?"
Gray remained silent though a frown did pull across his face. He had a feeling who might have taken it. He looked around the guild. Nope, Rizzo and Natsu definitely weren't here. Those morons just couldn't stay out of trouble, could they?
"Well, it's either someone really strong or really stupid." Laki pointed out.
"Oh, I know," Laxus said from the second floor.
Everyone turned their heads up to the blonde at he sat in a chair with his legs propped up on the table. Amara was with him as always, and she had a troubled look on her face as she sat in his lap.
"A little blue cat flew up here and ripped it off the board." Laxus said.
"It was Happy?" Mirajane asked.
Amara nodded her head silently while wishing Laxus had let her say something when it happened. But he said not to spoil the fun, and she never could deny him of anything.
"He must have stolen it for Natsu, Rizzo, and Lucy!" Wakaba said putting the dots together.
"That's crazy!" Macao said. "What were they thinking?!"
Gray's frown depended. He was hoping for a moment that he'd be wrong. That those idiots didn't take the job request. Were they trying to get expelled from the guild?
"They've got some nerve taking on an S-Class Quest." Alzach said.
"I don't know if I'd call it nerve, but it's definitely dumb." Bisca retorted.
And none of Rizzo's brothers were here to stop her. Breccan and Sven would have already been out the door by now to catch up to them—not even knowing exactly where to start. And Erza wasn't here either. Mystogan probably wouldn't even show his face even if he was here, so he's no help. And Gildarts—well, even if he was here, he'd probably leave them be while laughing it off. Unless Master gave him a direct order to go and fetch them.
"That's a serious breach of the rules." Laxus pointed out. "Hey, Gramps, a stunt like that will get you kicked out of the guild, am I right? Not that is matters. It's not like those four losers are going to make it back alive from an S-Class Quest."
Makarov just sighed wishing he didn't have such reckless children. Just what was going through their heads? Was all that training they went through just to get them ready to take the job? Have they been planning it for a while? Or did Laxus's words rile them up enough to push them to such drastic measures to prove themselves?
"Laxus," Mirajane, who walked back up to the second floor, began. "If you knew, why didn't you stop them?!"
"Oh, lighten up," Laxus said. "All I saw was a blue cat flying off with a piece of paper in its mouth—trying to act all sneaky, I had no idea it was Happy. Besides, Natsu nor Rizzo are cleared for S-class. I never dreamed they'd break the rules."
Amara almost gave him a deadpanned expression. Even without seeing Happy, it should be easy to deduce who took the request. The two most troublemaking members of the guild—Natsu and Rizzo. Amara then turned back to Mirajane while standing up in a defensive like manner when seeing the look on her face. Laxus just chuckled while wrapping his arm around Amara's waist.
"Hmph, you haven't given me that look in a while." Laxus said not looking frightened in the slightest.
Mirajane just continued to glare wishing she had her magic back right then and there to teach Laxus a lesson. Why did he just stop caring? He used to look out so much for Rizzo at the least. Even more than her brothers. Now it's like he doesn't care if she lives or dies.
"This isn't good." Makarov said to himself then looked up to Mirajane. "Well, which job was it?"
"For lifting the curse on Galuna Island." Mirajane replied
Makarov's eyes widened as everyone else in the guild gasped in shock—unable to believe it.
"What?!" Makarov demanded.
The others all exclaimed their disbelief as they all murmured together. Gray just sighed. Of course, they'd pick the cursed island. Not only is it S-Class, but it took them away from the continent. He was sure they hadn't really been thinking of that part when they took it, but it would make going after them a bit harder.
"Laxus, go and fetch them at once!" Makarov ordered.
"Yeah, right." Laxus said as he pulled Amara closer to his side. "I've got better things to do, Gramps. And besides, everybody in Fairy Tail is supposed to be able to take care of themselves, right?"
Amara frowned wanting to volunteer to go after them, but she was sure that wouldn't please Laxus in the slightest.
"I don't care how you feel about Natsu and Rizzo!" Makarov snapped. "The fact is you're the only one strong enough to bring them back by force! Especially if they team up together!"
Some of the guild shuddered remembering all those other times the two teamed up. All that destruction…and it was caused by accident. Everyone then looked to Gray as he got out of his seat.
"Sorry, Master," Gray began. "But I'm afraid I have to disagree with you. I'll go after them."
Laxus scoffed. Gray was just on par with Natsu and Rizzo separately. Once those pinkettes team up against him, he didn't stand a chance. Heck, even if he did fight them one on one and win the first fight, he wouldn't have enough magic energy for the second fight. But whatever. Laxus didn't care either way. He leaned back in his seat while looking up at the ceiling as he kept his arm around Amara.
"Let's see how well you do with this one, Rizz." Laxus said to himself.
Rizzo hummed happily as she stretched her arms above her head. Perfect weather for sea travel it seems. Second mission to take her out of Fiore. This should all be fun.
"Wow, this brings back memories." Lucy said as she stood at the front of the group. "It seems like only yesterday when we met here for the first time."
Rizzo had heard about that first meeting. Apparently, Natsu had destroyed a good chunk of the town taking down someone stupid enough to use the Fairy Tail name.
"It practically was yesterday." Natsu pointed out. "You don't have to get all mushy."
"Yeah, you sound like an old lady." Happy said.
He went to laugh behind his paw but tried to hold it in when Lucy sent him a glare. Rizzo chuckled shaking her head.
"Anyway, we should get going." Rizzo said. "I'm sure that by now everyone in Fairy Tail knows what we've done, so we better hurry."
"Right." Lucy said. "We better go find a boat that will take us to Galuna."
She started walking off with Rizzo right beside her since that sounded like a plan to her.
"Are you crazy?!" Natsu demanded then hurried to catch up to the girls. "Forget the boat! Why can't we all just swim for it?!"
As Rizzo gave Natsu a sympathetic look, Lucy let out a sigh. His motion sickness was a real hindrance. She knows he can't help it, but he has to know that it wouldn't be possible for them to swim all the way there.
"You think I'm the one who's crazy?" Lucy asked.
"Sorry, Nats, but we have to take a boat." Rizzo said. "Galuna isn't too far from Fiore, so it shouldn't take too long."
Natsu groaned not wanting to do this, but he did follow after the girls who took the lead. Rizzo hoped it didn't take too long to find a person who'd take them. They were losing their window to get to the island before the guild caught up to them.
"Don't know why you'd wanna go there." The umpteenth sailor they've asked said. "But no sailor worth his salt is gonna take ya. Not even pirates will go near that place."
Rizzo sighed. She's lost count of all the people they've asked to take them, but she was sure getting tired of being told no. If they'd just be loaned a boat, she was sure they could get there on their own.
"Are you serious?" Lucy asked.
"Looks like we're going to be swimming, after all!" Natsu said grinning broadly.
"Sure does!" Happy agreed.
As Lucy snapped that wasn't happening, Rizzo crossed her arms over her chest. This wasn't going well. She then gasped when a hand was placed on her shoulder.
"I found you." A familiar voice sang behind her.
She and the others jumped and whirled around to see Gray standing there with a smirk on his face. Rizzo frowned. Great, looks like they missed their window.
"It's Gray!" Lucy gasped.
"What are you doing here?!" Natsu demanded.
"Looks, like he was sent to stop us." Rizzo said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Gray nodded his head as he sighed while stuffing his hands deep into his pockets.
"That's right." Gray said. "Gramps found out about your hair-brained scheme and sent me to bring you back."
"Why?!" Natsu asked genuinely shocked. "We're not in danger yet."
"Yeah, we haven't even gotten to the good part yet." Rizzo said. "But man, are we going to be in trouble when we get back."
Lucy paled wondering what kind of punishment awaited them. She was shaking just thinking about it.
"If you come back now, you might avoid being kicked out from the guild." Gray said. "Maybe."
Rizzo rolled her eyes at how Gray was trying to scare them. She highly doubted Makarov would kick them out. It wasn't like they were endangering the entire guild.
"Kicked out?!" Lucy demanded.
She had no idea they could be kicked out for this. Why didn't anyone tell her?!
"I don't care!" Natsu snapped. "I'm going on this S-class Quest!"
"Man, you're way out of your league here. Both of you are!" Gray said as he looked to Natsu and Rizzo. "Just come home!"
Gray then paled leaning away, which had Rizzo wondering what his deal was all of a sudden.
"When Erza finds out about this, she's gonna be so angry." Gray said.
As her three companions worried about Erza and her wrath, Rizzo just rolled her eyes. That redhead didn't scare her one bit.
"Erza can kiss my ass for all I care." Rizzo said. "She isn't stopping me from going."
"Oh yeah, and what about when Breccan and Sven hear about this?" Gray asked. "I'm sure they're not going to be happy."
Rizzo frowned knowing that was true, but those two wouldn't give her a thrashing like Erza would try to do. And she didn't live with them anymore, so it wasn't like they could ground her. Gray frowned in reply to Rizzo's lack of one. She was still unfazed. Was she just that stupid? Or just that confident not to worry? Gray then looked to Happy as the little furball flew over to his shoulder.
"You've gotta save me, Gray!" Happy said. "I told them this was a bad idea, but they forced me to come along!"
"You are such a liar!" Lucy snapped.
Besides, Gray already knew Happy was lying without Lucy pointing it out. Laxus saw the blue cat take the job request himself.
"I've gotta prove my power to Erza!" Natsu said burning with intensity. "And Rizzo's gotta prove herself too! So, like it or not we're doing this!"
"So, you can either run back to the guild empty handed or join us." Rizzo added grinning.
Gray growled in frustration. Why couldn't these idiots just listen and come home? They might annoy him, but he doesn't want them kicked out of the guild.
"Listen, you idiots!" Gray snapped as he butted his head with Natsu. "Master ordered me bring you home. I'll drag you back to Fairy Tail if I have to!"
He stepped back with his ice-make magic forming around his fingertips, which had Natsu and Rizzo jumping backwards away from him. They both got into fighting stances as they narrowed their eyes.
"Don't make me hurt you, Natsu, Rizzo!" Gray warned.
Rizzo just brought forth her guitar ready to rumble as Natsu's fist ignited into flames.
"I'd love to see you try!" Natsu retorted.
"You're at the disadvantage, Frostbite." Rizzo pointed out. "Two to one isn't the best odds."
Gray knew he was at a disadvantage. He knew Rizzo and Natsu together was a dangerous combination, but he would bring them home. Even if he had to beat them both down.
"Excuse me," The boatman interrupted. "But are you wizards? Have you come to lift the curse on the island?"
"Yeah!" Natsu said while dropping his fist.
"Well, maybe." Lucy said with little optimism.
"Not gonna happen!" Gray growled.
He then grunted in pain when Rizzo elbowed him in the gut really hard to shut him up.
"We're here to help, sir." Rizzo said. "We're wizards of the Fairy Tail Guild. We have to job request right here."
She pulled the request, which she had taken from Lucy from her bag for the man to see. He stared at them silently for a moment before gesturing to his boat.
"Get in." The boatman said.
"Huh?!" Lucy exclaimed in surprise.
"Seriously?" Natsu asked grinning.
"No way!" Gray argued.
However, before he could protest much more, he was socked in the jaw by a certain pinkette. As he was flying backwards, Rizzo hit him hard in the back of the head knocking him out. The others watched with wide eyes as Rizzo dusted off her hands.
"Looks, like that argument was decided." She said grinning.
Natsu laughed in agreement as he threw Gray over his shoulder since they didn't have time to waste.
"We're ready when you are, sir." Natsu said.
"Are you sure we should bring him with us?" Lucy asked.
"Well, leaving him isn't a good idea, Lulu." Rizzo said. "The second he wakes up, he'll return the guild. After that Erza will be after us."
"Or Breccan." Natsu said shuddering.
Lucy frowned wondering if Breccan was as scary as Erza. She hasn't spoken enough with him to know, but it seems as if he was someone not to anger.
"I didn't think it'd take this long to get to Galuna." Rizzo complained. "You can see the island from the shore, after all."
And they had left midday yet it was dark now—and late. Of course, their boat wasn't going very fast either. Though she supposes she shouldn't complain too much. The guy was nice enough to give them a ride. Rizzo then pat Natsu on top the head as he blew more chunks over the side of the boat.
"Okay," Lucy began. "Now I'm starting to get scared."
"Well, look on the Brightside," Gray said. "At least you're not tied up."
He threw a glare at Rizzo and Natsu, and the prior actually had the decency to look apologetic as she smiled. He sighed before turning his eyes onto the boatman.
"This is your fault too, Buddy!" Gray added. "Why did you decide to let us on?"
The man turned towards Gray while looking un-pulsed by Gray's glare and clenched jaw.
"The name is Bobo." He introduced himself. "And if you must know, I used to be a citizen of Galuna Island. But I had to flee. I just couldn't take it anymore."
Rizzo's brows knit together. Take what anymore? Was this curse that bad? What was it doing exactly to the island? If Bobo would tell them, they'd have a better chance of helping the island and his people.
"I should warn you tragedy befalls anyone who would step foot on the island." Bobo said. "There's no avoiding it. That is unless you are able to lift the curse."
He moved his cloak to the side revealing his arm, and Rizzo gasped along with the others. It wasn't a typical human arm for sure. It looked as if it belonged to a Demon.
"This vile demon's curse." Bobo continued.
"Whoa, your arm," Gray murmured. "What happened to it?"
"Is that the curse?" Lucy asked.
Rizzo frowned. These people really did need help, and if it is a demon's curse then Breccan would have been better for this job. Taking down things that are demonic are right up his alley. But Rizzo would do her very best to help these people. Because this quest isn't just about proving themselves but helping those who need it. That's what all wizard quests are.
"We're almost there." Bobo said looking forward. "That's Galuna Island."
Rizzo and the others turned towards the direction he was looking to see the island was indeed closer. At this distance, Rizzo noticed a light glowing from the top of what looked like a mountain.
"That's weird." Lucy said. "Why is the mountain top glowing like that?"
Rizzo didn't know, but she had a feeling it wasn't anything good. But she supposes they'll figure that out when they get there.
"Huh, what the?!" Lucy exclaimed getting the other's attention. "Where'd he go?!"
Rizzo frowned wondering where Bobo went. He was just here a second ago. He couldn't have just vanished, could he?
"Did he fall out?" Gray asked.
"We would have heard the splash if that was the case." Rizzo pointed out.
"So did he just disappear?" Happy asked.
Rizzo looked around stumped when she and the others started hearing a rumbling sound.
"What's that sound?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know." Rizzo said frowning.
It didn't sound good that was for certain. And it sounded as if it was getting louder and closer.
"Ah, Lucy! Rizzo!" Gray exclaimed in alarm.
The girls turned around while gasping as they saw a large wave heading in their direction. Well, this wasn't going to be good. Lucy screamed shrilly at the sight while clinging to the boat.
"Now, don't panic." Gray said. "Just hold on!"
Rizzo didn't think that'd do this much good, but realized she better untie Gray since he couldn't hold on at all. She went to do just that. However, the wave swallowed them up before she could. As they were being pulled under, Rizzo clung to the ropes around Gray while trying to pull them loose. He couldn't swim like this. Gray watched her with wide eyes as she tried to save him even if it meant getting dragged under as well.
Natsu had already gained his bearings somewhat and was trying to collect Happy and Lucy. That meant Rizzo was on her own trying to help Gray. Rizzo tried to loosen the ropes more, but felt her lungs start to burn. Things were going black, and finally she collapsed into Gray who started thrashing knowing he had to try something. This wasn't good. They had to get to the surface!