The quiet air whistled through the tree's leaves as Gray and the kids walked into the center of the village. Nothing but the soft sounds of nature could be heard as they looked around for any signs of life.

"This place has become a ghost town," Gray said.

Gold looked up at Gray. "Did there used to be people living here before, Daddy?"

"Not people. Demons."

Elrick shuddered as he heard that. "D-demons?!"

"Yeah. They were friendly demons though." Gray placed a hand under his chin. "But it looks like they've all abandoned the place for some reason.

"Do you know why?" Aki asked, curiously.

Gray shook his head. "I wish." He walked forward a bit more, staring up at the cloudy night sky. "I wonder why they would do that. What would cause them to want to leave this place?"

Hestia's eyes lit up with excitement. "Are we gonna get to be detectives?"

"You might," Gray said, turning to face the kids. "If I can't find anything out on my own."

The orange-haired girl's shoulders slumped down. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you'll be staying in this village until I can figure out what's going on."

"Aw boo." Hestia stuck her tongue out at Gray. "That's no fun."

"Like it or not, that's what's happening." The ice wizard pointed over to one of the houses in the village. "Go over there. You can rest in that house while I try and get some answers."

Aki held her hands in front of her chest. "Will you be okay, Uncle Gray?"

"I'll be fine. Don't forget, I'm an S-Class wizard." He smirked with pride. He turned on his heels and suddenly his voice grew grave. "You kids stay safe, alright? No matter what, don't leave that house."

Freed, Bicsklow, and Evergreen walked through the paved road, surrounded by talll lanky black trees. A thick putrid aroma burned through their nostrils as they continued down the path.

A small girl with long wavy blonde hair was following behind them, her hands stuffed in her baggy black jeans. She stared at the ground as she kept walking, closely watching the ants scurrying under her feet.

"Don't fall behind now, okay Mary?" Freed said, turning his head towards the young girl.

"I can take care of myself, Freed," she said softly. "I wanted to go on this job alone anyway. You guys didn't need to come help me."

"On the contrary, we did need to aid you. We are the Thunder Legion and have been your father's personal guards for years. And now that he's had a child, that duty extends to you as well."

Evergreen nodded with folded arms. "It's just as Freed says. And besides, I'm also your auntie." She winked at her niece.

"But…"

"No buts." Bickslow waved his finger. "We're gonna protect ya, whether ya like it or not, kiddo. So you might as well like it."

Mary sighed at that. "Okay."

"Atta girl!"

Suddenly the four all clenched their noses as the stench from earlier grew stronger. Evergreen curled his lip. "Good grief, what is that atrocious smell?"

Freed looked around the area with cautious eyes. "I can't say. It's coming from up ahead though. Let's go check it out. Bickslow, you stay here with Marry."

"You got it man," Bickslow said, giving Freed a thumbs up.

Freed and Evergreen walked further and further down the path until they came to a wide open grassy area. The bright sun shone down upon them as the stifling smell wafted through the air.

Freed covered his mouth and nose as he walked to the center of the green field. "It's even worse now. That must mean we're close."

"But where is it coming from?" Evergreen asked, mimicking the same motion as Freed. "This place looks totally deserted."

Freed rubbed his chin in thought for a moment before an idea came to him. "I'll write an enchantment. Come stand next to me, Evergreen."

Evergreen did as Freed suggested. "What have you got up your sleeve?"

Freed smirked at his comrade. "You'll see." He drew his sword and started writing the enchantment. Soon enough, Freed and Evergreen were in case in a circle of glowing blue rune letters.

"Ugh, this is so not fair!" Gold shouted out at the top of his lungs.

"Gold, could you please be quiet?" Elrick asked in a meek voice. "I'm trying to go to sleep."

"Sleep? What do you need sleep for?" Gold walked over to the plain white mattress that Elrick was lying on. "Aren't you curious about what's going on here?"

Elrick shook his head. "Not really, no."

"What?! Why not?!"

The redheaded boy winced at his friend's booming voice. "I don't know. I just…think it's kinda scary, I guess."

Aki turned over on her side, fixing her pillow as she did so. "Is it because of the demons?"

Elrick slowly nodded his head. "Yeah. Are you afraid of them too, Aki?"

Aki sat up on her mattress, her pink locks dangling in front of her chest. Was she afraid of them? She honestly couldn't really tell. She had never given any thought to things like demons before. They had simply never crossed her mind. She wasn't afraid of monsters like vulcans and such, but as far as demons were concerned, she just didn't feel anything about them at all.

"I don't know," Aki said, staring down at her hands.

"Well, I ain't afraid of no stupid demons!" Gold cracked his knuckles with a grin. "I'm the son of a demon slayer, I can take 'em!"

Hestia rolled her eyes. "Uncle Gray said they were friendly demons, remember?"

"I know, I was just saying."

"Whatever you say, dummy."

"What'd you call me?!" Gold marched over to Hestia and glared at her.

"I called you a dummy. Dummy."

"You're a dummy!"

"I know you are, but what am I?"

"A dummy!"

"Nope, that's you!"

Aki and Elrick just watched their friends' constant back and forth with awkward looks on their faces.

"Agh, that's it!" Gold threw his arms up in frustration. "I'm outta here!"

"Gold, where are you going?" Aki asked with raised eyebrows.

"I'm going to find out what's going on this island before my dad does." He pounded his fist against his chest. "And then, I'm going to finish the request!"

"But Uncle Gray told us to stay in here," Elrick reminded him.

"So what? Obviously, he was just testing us."

"No, I think he was serious…"

"We're wizards. He left us alone to see if we could handle ourselves." Gold turned around and narrowed his eyes at the door with a cocky smile. "And I'm gonna prove to him that I can."

"Wait!" Hestia quickly rose to her feet and walked over to Gold. "I'm coming too."

Gold stared at Hestia by his side for a while, lowly growling. "Fine, but you're on your own."

"Fine, I didn't want your help anyway."

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

Aki ran up to the door as well, leaving Elrick with a shocked face. "I want to come too!"

Gold smiled at Aki. "Sure, no problem."

Elrick looked back and forth as the other three started walking out the door. "Uh, w-wait up!"

Once all four kids were outside, they greeted by a giant dome of purple ice surrounding them. Elrick's jaw dropped as he stared at the thick sturdy walls of ice on all sides. "What is this?"

"It's my dad's ice demon slayer magic," Gold said, lowering his head. "He really didn't want us to leave the house, huh…"

"Should we go back inside?" Aki asked, noticing Gold's dejected voice.

The cool wind blew through Gold's wavy turquoise bangs as he continued to stare at the sand underneath his feet. Then, a smirk crossed over his face. "Are you kidding me? This doesn't change a thing! I'm still going to prove to my dad how strong I am!

Hestia crossed her arms. "How are you gonna do that when you can't even get out here, genius?"

"Who ever said I couldn't get out of here?" Gold rolled up his sleeves. "Watch and learn, dork." Gold places his hand on the ice and focused all of his magic energy to the center of his palm. A veil of cold air began to swirl around his hand.

Sweat ran down Gold's forehead as he started to pant. Aki placed her hand on his shoulder. "Gold, are you alright?"

"Yeah," Gold said, keeping his eyes focused on the ice. "Just a little more and I should be able to melt it."

Elrick brought a finger to his lip, watching his friend continue to struggle. "Are you sure?"

"Positive!" Gold let out a fierce roar as more and more magic power began to accumulate around his hand. "Come ooooooooooooooooon!"

Suddenly, the young ice wizard fell flat on his butt. He looked up to see the result of his efforts. Then, he lowered his head in shame.

"Darn it…"

"Wow, good job, Gold," Hestia chuckled, pointing to the tiny hole that had formed in the ice dome. "Maybe a fly can get outside now, haha!"

Gold clicked his tongue. "Laugh all you want. That trick usually works though…I don't understand why it didn't this time."

"Oh geez, you can't be serious?" Hestia grabbed Gold's arm and pulled him back up. "You said it yourself, didn't you? Your dad used his demonslayer ice magic because he didn't want us to leave. It's not going to be so easy to break out of here."

Elrick kicked his ankles together. "Should we just go back inside?"

Then, a wide grin sprawled across Hestia's features. "No way. We're getting out of here."

"But Hestia." Aki brushed her hair out of her face. "How are we going to do that? I don't think any one of us are strong enough to break Uncle Gray's ice dome."

"We don't need to break it." Hestia winked at Aki. "It's just like I said. We have a hole that a rat can fit through."

Gold's and Elrick's eyes suddenly widened at that while Aki jus ttilted her head in confusion. "I don't understand what you're talking about Hestia."

"You'll see," Hestia said with a smirk. She pulled out a small golden coin and tossed it in the air. "Open: Gate of the Rat!"

While still in midair the gold coin started to glow a brilliant white light and morphed into a a furry little rat. The rat landed in Hestia's hands and snuggled up to her. "Hestia! I missed you!" It rubbed it's cheek against hers as she giggled.

"I missed you too, Theo."

"You should summon me more," the rat pouted, staring up at Hestia with its beady eyes.

"I can't summon you all the time. I only have so much magic."

"I know, I know. Sorry, Hestia."

"You don't have to apologize to me, silly." Hestia tickled Theo's cheek as he hummed in delight.

Aki clapped her hands against her cheek as her eyes sparkled. "Oh wow, he's so cute!"

Gold cocked an eyebrow. "Really? It's just a dumb rat."

"Ey! Sleep with one eye open, buddy." Theo's voice rang in Gold's mind, sending shivers down the boy's spine.

Gold stuff his hands in his pockets and muttered, "Stupid rat."

"Can I pet him, Hestia?" Aki asked with expectant eyes. "Pretty please?"

Hestia nodded. "Sure. Go ahead." She held out Theo for Aki to pat.

Aki reached out her hand and rested it upon the rodents head. "Aw, so cute."

Theo started humming again as Aki's hand caressed his fur. "Thank ya, thank ya very much."

"See that, filthy male specimen. I get all the girls!"

Gold's eyebrow twitched as Theo shot him a dirty look. "I'm gonna kill that rat one of these days…"

"So Theo," Hestia spoke up once Aki had enough of feeling the creature's soft fur. "Can you help us out with something?"

"Course, Hestia! You know I'm always willing to help you and your friends out! What'cha need?"

Hestia pointed to the hole in the ice. "See that hole over there? We need you to go through it."

"That's it? Easy peasy!"

"Once you get outside, climb up to the top of the dome."

"Now, it's a bit of a tall order…"

Hestia turned around. "Elrick, you wouldn't happen to have any salt in your luggage, would you?"

"I have everything in my luggage…"

"Great! Can you give it to me please?"

Elrick nodded. "Sure, but what do you need it for?"

Hestia pointed her finger up above their heads. "I'm going to have Theo carry it all the way to the top of the dome. Then, the sunlight will melt the ice."

Everyone gasped at that. "Oh, I get it! Alright then, I'll be right back!" Elrick hurried back into the house. Eventually, Elrick returned with the salt and handed it over to Hestia.

"Thanks, Elrick." Hestia handed the salt to Theo who took it in his mouth.

"You're welcome, Hestia," Elrick said, wearing a kind smile.

"Alright, Theo. It's up to you now. Get us out of here." She brought the rat to the hole and he squirmed through it.

"Will do!"

Theo started rapidly running up the ice dome, the wind blowing his fur all the way back. Then, once he was close enough, he leaped onto the top and dropped the salt on it.

Hestia clapped and gave her celestial spirit a thumbs up. "Good job, Theo! Ready for round two?"

"...What?"

"Round two. You didn't think one little block of salt would be enough, did you?"

The ocean waves splashed at Gray's feet as he stared out at the sea. He could make out an abandoned ship in the distance. He sighed lightly as he turned around. "Can't believe I came all this way for nothing. I didn't run into anyone here, person or demon."

The ice wizard rubbed the back of his head before stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Guess I'll go back to the kids."

"That's not true," a gentle soft-spoken voice came from behind Gray's back. "I promise you, your efforts were not in vain."

Despite the kind and gentle tone, Gray couldn't help but feel an eerie chill. "Who are you?" Gray asked, keeping his back turned to the unknown entity. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Gray turned to face the person that was speaking to him.

His jaw dropped when he saw it. He was at a loss for words. All he could do was stand there in shock at that hazy white figure, levitating off the ground.

"I am the Ghost of Galuna."

Character Bio: Maryjane (Mary) Strauss

Parents: Laxus and Mira Dreyar

Age: 8

Likes: ?

Dislikes: ?

Magic: Magic Contacts