chapter three: let's go to crocus!
"Damn, who knew it would take this long to get to Iris Town?" Gray said, stretching.
"Aye. We're supposed to meet the clients around nine, I think," Happy said.
"Yeah, well, we need to figure out how we're going to go about doing this," Lucy said. "We don't know much about the client."
"We'll figure that out when we meet them! Come on, Happy!" Natsu said.
"Aye, sir!"
Natsu ran off, leaving Gray and Lucy to try and catch up to him.
"He's still got energy to run after riding two trains?" Lucy called out to Gray.
"That's just Natsu. But he's got a point. The quicker we meet these guys, the quicker we may be able to get the job done and go back home," he replied back.
Lucy nodded. She looked ahead and noticed that Natsu and Happy had stopped at a large home. "Natsu? Happy?"
"This is our client."
"Okay. Let's go ahead and let them know we're here," Lucy said, knocking on the door.
"Are you the guild wizards here to protect the heiress?" someone asked them from inside.
"Yes. We're from Fairy Tail!" Lucy said.
"Can we come in?" Natsu asked.
"Yes, yes. I'm sorry." The door opened wider and they were let inside. A tall, graying man greeted them with a bow. "I'll be right back, let me go and talk to my master, your actual client."
As they walked in, they took in their surroundings: many staircases led to the upper floor, where there were at least ten doors leading into different rooms. Natsu, Gray, Lucy and Happy stood in the open room and watched as the man who let them in scurried off.
"Sheesh, what's the matter with him?" Gray asked.
"I don't know," Natsu frowned.
"Will the young lady please come with me?" the man said, returning. "My master would like to talk to her."
"Who? Me?" Lucy asked, confused. The man nodded.
"Go on, Lucy," Natsu said. "It can't be all that bad."
"Okay." Lucy followed the man, then stopped. "Wait. Anything he needs to say to me, he can say to Gray and Natsu, too."
The man bowed deeply. "Yes, ma'am. Will you all please follow me." He turned around and walked down the long corridor, leaving Lucy, Natsu, Gray and Happy to follow him.
Lucy sighed, and looked over at Natsu. "Were you seriously trying to get me kidnapped just now?" she asked him angrily.
"No. Just calm down, Lucy."
The tall man stopped outside a pair of tall oak doors. "My Master is inside. He has agreed to see you all."
"Thank you." Lucy led them in.
As they entered, they noticed a change in the atmosphere. They felt a lot of tension in the air. Natsu tensed up and put himself between Lucy and the man behind the desk.
"We're from the wizard guild, Fairy Tail. We came here about the job to protect an heiress," Gray said, stepping forward.
"Yes. My name is Henry Davids. I need you three to protect my daughter, Jasmine, while she is on her way to Crocus. She is heading there to have a meeting with Princess Hisui."
"Sounds easy enough," Natsu said.
"Yes. Seeing how we aren't that far from the capital, it wouldn't be that far of a trip. However, my daughter is my only child and the inheritor of my entire business. It is important she gets to Crocus safely," he told them. "The reward will be delivered on your way back here if you succeed."
"Of course we'll succeed. We're Fairy Tail!" Natsu said.
"Very well then. My butler will see you off. I have to see to an important business matter." Henry waved them on out.
As they waited out in the hall, Lucy frowned. "He can't even see his own daughter off before she leaves?"
"I know. Something's not right about that," Gray said.
"We have no say in it. Let's go wait outside. Like he said, it's not a long trip from here to Crocus so it shouldn't be a hard job," Natsu said.
"Yeah, let's go," Lucy said.
As they headed back toward the head of the long corridor, they were greeted by the butler. "Miss Jasmine is ready in the front hall."
"Thank you, sir," Lucy told him, bowing.
A look of recognition dawned on his face. "You aren't Jude Heartfilia's daughter, Lucy, are you?"
Lucy cringed. "Yes sir, I am."
"I heard about his passing. I'm very sorry for your loss. I used to work with him at the merchant guild in Acalypha some time ago. You look just like your mother, Layla."
"Thank you."
"Are you three the ones who will escort me to Crocus?" a voice cut in. Lucy looked up to see a young girl coming down the stairs with a suitcase. "My name is Jasmine."
Natsu waved at her. "Hi. I'm Natsu. This here is Lucy -" he motioned to Lucy, "- and this is Gray." He pointed his thumb at Gray, who waved. "We're from Fairy Tail."
"And I'm Happy!" Happy said. "You forgot me!"
"Sorry about that!"
"Hello to all of you," Jasmine said with a smile. "James, is the carriage ready?"
"Yes, ma'am," James said with a bow.
"We will leave at once. Princess Hisui cannot be kept waiting." Jasmine grabbed her bag.
"Let's go!" Natsu said.
"Aye, sir!" Happy replied.