chapter four: crocus
"How can you be a wizard if you always get motion sickness?" Jasmine asked Natsu.
"All dragon slayers get motion sickness," Lucy explained. "There's three other dragon slayers in Fairy Tail that get it too. Not to mention the two in the Sabertooth guild and one that was in the dark guild Oracion Seis."
"You mean there are seven dragon slayers?" Jasmine asked them.
"Yeah. But it gets complicated. Natsu is a first generation dragon slayer, along with two of our guild mates. He was taught by a real dragon," Happy explained. "Our fourth dragon slayer and a guy we fought, who was a former member of the dark guild, the Oracion Seis, are second generation dragon slayers, meaning they had dragon slayer lacrima implanted. And the two dragon slayers from Sabertooth are third generation dragon slayers, they were both taught by dragons and were implanted with dragon slayer lacrima!" Happy exclaimed. Their carriage rolled to a stop.
"We're stopping for a break," their driver said. "We should be in Crocus by tonight."
"But I still beat them both in the Grand Magic Games," Natsu said. "I need a break."
"Come on, Natsu, I'll fly you around for a bit," Happy told him. "You could use some fresh air."
"You're right. Come on," Natsu told him. He crawled out of the carriage shakily. Happy grabbed him and took off.
"You're Lucy Heartfilia, right?" Jasmine asked Lucy.
"Yeah, I am," she replied.
"My father knew yours. It was sad when we had heard he had passed away. We are both incredibly sorry for your loss."
"Thank you," Lucy said. Gray looked out the window of the carriage at Natsu and Happy.
"I want to thank you all for accompanying me to Crocus. I know the ride is a bit dull, but my meeting is very important and I had to alert Princess Hisui right away."
"You had to alert Princess Hisui? Is what you're going to Crocus for really that important?" Gray asked.
"I'm all refreshed and ready to go!" Natsu said, walking up to the carriage then.
"You'll just need another break soon because you'll get sick," Happy pointed out.
"Oh yeah you're right."
As the carriage began to start, Natsu hung his head out of the window. "So sick."
"We'll be there soon," Lucy told him.
"To answer your question, Gray, yes it is," Jasmine said. "It's very important."
Gray looked at her then at Natsu, who was almost out of the window. "Okay. We'll get you there safely."
"You won't ask what's so important?"
"No. That's between you and her."
Natsu turned his head. He knew that something was troubling the young woman. But his motion sickness left him too weak to speak. He knew Lucy would pick up on it. She always did.
"Is it about Zeref?" Lucy's voice asked. Natsu's heart pounded.
"Yes." Jasmine reached toward her bag. "You have heard of Tartaros, yes? The remaining third of the Baram Alliance?"
"Yeah. We took out the other two members of the Baram Alliance, the Oracion Seis and Grimoire Heart. Is this dark guild is as powerful as Tartaros?" Gray said.
"Not quite. But they are pretty powerful."
"Sounds scary!" Lucy said. "What's the guild's name?"
"Black Phoenix. There isn't much known about them. But they're very dangerous. Only Tartaros is more powerful and more dangerous than them."
"Oh wow," Happy said.
The carriage came to a stop. "We have reached Crocus," their driver told them.
"Thank you," Jasmine told him, climbing out. "We'll be okay from here."
Their driver swept his hat off of his head in a bow. Lucy, Gray, Natsu, and Happy climbed out of the carriage and onto the streets of Crocus.
"Nice solid ground at last!" Natsu said.
"Man, I've missed this place," Gray said.
"First things first, let's go see Princess Hisui," Jasmine said. "That was the mission, to make sure I got to Crocus and had my meeting with Hisui. Then you get your reward."
"It's okay. I was notified by the Royal Guard of your arrival not long ago," a voice behind them said. They all turned around.
"Hisui!" Jasmine cried, running to give her a hug.
"Jasmine, it's been too long! How are you?" she asked.
"I've been great."
"I see you were accompanied by wizards from the Fairy Tail guild. They are a fantastic guild."
"You're right about that!"
"So what brings you to Crocus? I know it's not the beautiful flowers!" Hisui said with a smile.
"I actually came to have a meeting with you," Jasmine said. "It's very important."
"In that case, let's return to Mercurius at once." Hisui turned around and began walking back toward the palace. "Lucy, Natsu, Gray. You all are welcome to come back with us."
"Thank you," Lucy said.
"We're here to take them," a familiar voice said from behind them.
Natsu's eyes widened and he whipped around. "I'd know that voice anywhere."
"So what brings Fairy Tail to Crocus?" Sting Eucliffe asked them. His friend, Rogue Cheney, was walking up behind him flanked by their two Exceeds, Lector and Frosch.
"We had to make sure Jasmine here got to Crocus safely, so she could talk to Princess Hisui," Lucy said. "We want to make sure they get to Mercurius safely."
"The Royal Guard will take over from here," Hisui said. "Fairy Tail, I declare your job a success."
"Yes!" Natsu said. "And I didn't destroy anything!"
"Please don't jinx yourself," Lucy said weakly.
"So what are you guys doing here?" Gray asked the Sabertooth wizards.
"We were on our way to Magnolia. Mr. Yajima asked for a bunch of wizards to help him out at his restaurant there, so a few of us from Sabertooth offered to help. Yukino and Minerva already headed that way, but we heard that a group of Fairy Tail wizards would be in Crocus so we decided to grab them and bring them back with us," Sting explained.
"Why didn't Mr. Yajima ask Fairy Tail for help?" Lucy asked.
"He expanded his restaurant so he needed more wizards than usual," Rogue shrugged. "At least that's what he told us."
"Let's go with them, and we can stop through Iris and get our reward!" Natsu said.
"Yeah. Then we can pay my rent," Lucy said with a sigh of relief.
"Let's take the train, it'll be faster than the carriage we took," Gray said.
"Ugh. Just the thought of a train is making me sick!" Natsu, Sting and Rogue all said together.