What's up guys. I'm here for the double update. It might even be a triple. Not sure. I want to try and get this story moving along and around the same length as my other ones. Around the 20k-30k word mark by at most, next month. I think we are at a strong 7.5k. I found something interesting though. The longest piece of literature in English history isn't Men of Goodwill by Jules Romains, which stands at a staggering 2,070,000 words.
That's two million, seventy thousand words. But, in actuality, the longest work is almost more than double that. It's a fanfiction, on this very site. It's called The Subspace Emissary's Worlds Conquest by AuraChannelerChris, standing at a mind-blowing number of 220 chapters and 4,061,129 words. And, it's still in progress. That's four million, sixty-one thousand, one-hundred twenty-nine words. Anyway, on with the chapter!
Natsu walked around the guild, waiting for something to happen. What exactly was he supposed to be doing? Oh yeah, technically, he was supposed to be trying to find and save Zeref, but he kinda needed more information and stuff. Maybe a job? That sounded like fun, but he needed a bit of a stronger job. Maybe he would be able to take one of those decade quests. There were quite a few piling up. There were around ten century quests just collecting dust too. That might have been interesting, if Natsu wasn't interrupted by one Gray Fullbuster.
"Hey Natsu…" Gray said slowly, "I was wondering if you wanted to do something."
"If it's kicking your ass again then hell yeah!," Natsu said.
"That's not exactly what I meant. See, I have this job," Gray said. Natsu's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Gray shrugged, "It's an S-class which I'm technically not supposed to take but since you're here, I figured we could go on it."
Natsu looked at Gray as he took the listing from behind his back and handed it to him, "How'd you even get this?"
"Well, I walked up the stairs and took it," Gray said, "It's not that hard."
"You probably couldn't even make it up the stairs," Natsu said nonchalantly.
Gray bristled before sighing. He really needed Natsu for the job, "Whatever. Let's go already."
Natsu laughed, "Where are we going?"
"Some place called Galuna Island. Apparently we need to destroy the Moon?" Gray said before shrugging and unintentionally removing his shirt, "I guess they'll tell us when we get there?"
"Hope so."
Natsu had received endless laughter from Gray as he watched Natsu get sick on the boat over. Natsu had proceeded to smack Gray into the island upon arrival. Gray grumbled as he picked himself out of the rock he'd smashed into.
"So what exactly is the deal here?"
"Well apparently, according to some of the captains at port, this island is full of demons," Gray said as she shrugged off his shirt.
"Clothes," Natsu said. Gray cursed, "What kinda demons?"
"Hell if I know. Paper said more information would be given upon arrival," Gray said, hands hovering above the belt he had on.
"Then let's get wherever we need to go. I hear people," Natsu paused before starting to walk, "this way!"
It was at this point that Natsu dashed off, leaving a shirtless Gray staring at the dust trail. Gray cursed before running after him. Natsu came up on a quaint village rather easily and looked around. So demons. Neat. Gray at some point, caught up to him. Together, they went and tried to find the mayor of the village but had no luck. The two wandered around a bit more before being stopped and pointed in a direction. Eventually, they came up on a small rock structure with a small figure hunched in front of it. He was whispering intently about someone named Bobo.
"Heya Old Man!" Natsu said, "You wanted us to destroy the moon?"
Again, the two ended up setting off, this time in search of some ancient ruins that the villagers couldn't seem to go near. Natsu laughed, "Bet they're just demons and don't realize that their memories are being altered."
"That's," Gray paused, "Oddly specific. Do you feel that?"
"Felt it since we got here Popsicle," Natsu shrugged.
"Do you know what it is?" Gray asked.
"Has something to do with some sort of moon spell I imagine," Natsu said, "The Moon's not actually pink. There's just some sort of crystal thingy between it and us."
"But what caused it?" Gray asked. Something niggled in the back of his head, "you said moon spell?"
"Yep," Natsu said, "has to be."
"I think I might know what it is then. My..." Gray paused, "My old master used a spell called Iced Shell to kill a demon. I wanted to get her back so I asked Gramps."
"What demon are we talking about?"
"Deliora."
"Ah that one from Zeref's books," Natsu said, "so what you're saying is someone is trying to defrost Deliora then?"
"I suppose so, but who would be stupid enough to do that?" Gray asked.
"I imagine you'll find out when we find who's casting the spell," Natsu said as he swiped at a bush. In front of them, stood the ruins they were after. Sure enough, there was some weird dog human thing sitting there, almost like it was praying.
"Oi, you!" Gray shouted, "Who are you?"
"Name's Toby, who are you?" the strange man waved back before scratching his head and spinning around, "why are you here?"
"Name's Gray. The pink haired guy is Natsu," Gray snickered as Natsu pulled a face at the miscoloration of his hair.
"We're supposed to destroy the Moon," Natsu said sagely, nodding with afterwards as if it were perfectly normal (which it wasn't).
"Do that after we're done with the spell then. The Cold Emperor insisted he had to kill this demon thing to surpass his master."
"Can we talk to him?" Natsu asked.
"I don't see why no-" Toby said before being cut off by another, rather short man with bushy eyebrows.
"Toby!" he said, "What did he say! Not to let anyone near!"
"I'm sorry Yuka, they just seemed so nice," Toby whimpered not unlike a dog.
"Whatever, I'll take care of them. Continue with your job," the man (who's name was apparently Yuka) said before turning to the duo. They were in the middle of their own conversation.
"What do you mean Deliora's on the island?" Gray asked, "How would he have gotten here?"
"I dunno but unless you know another demon sealed away by Iced Shell, I got no other answers," Natsu said. Yuka attempted to interject and get their attention.
"Hey you! You there!" he yelled.
"Shut up!" Natsu and Gray shot back in unniscent before Gray continued on, "I suppose you're right."
At this point, Yuka was a bit worked up and sent a blast of magic at the two mages. Gray barely moved as he slammed his hands together and made an ice barrier. Natsu and him continued to debate what was going on. Yuka, thoroughly upset, stormed over only to be smacked away by Natsu as soon as he approached. Yuka flew threw two trees and into a ground. He attempted to get up but succumbed to unconsciousness. Toby said nothing and continued with his work.
"Oi Toby," Natsu said, "Gray and I are going to go inside."
"Okay!"
Gray turned to Natsu who shrugged. That was a lot easier than they'd thought it'd be. The two hopped down the hole and Gray used his magic to make a slide that put them down over a small platform-like area that seemed to have strange crystals around it. It was here that Gray found traces of ice. He sighed to himself.
"Alright so what do we do if the demon wakes up?" Gray asked.
"How long has this Ur lady been dead?"
"I dunno, eight years or something?"
"We watch as it dies," Natsu said, "Iced Shell saps out the lifeforce of whatever it imprisons.
"So why is Deliora being defrosted?"
"Well, Gray," a smug voice came from behind him, "Some of us wish to make up for our failures. And I for one, plan on finishing what Ur couldn't."
Gray sighed and turned around, "Lyon. What are you doing here?"
"Have you become so stupid that you've already forgotten what I said?" Lyon asked with a smirk.
"He mean's why you're trying to defrost a demon," Natsu supplied as he rubbed the back of his head.
"And who are you?"
"Natsu."
"I see. Well, I suggest you both leave," Lyon shrugged.
"And why would we do that, exactly?" Gray asked.
"I don't feel like beating the shit out of you right now. I'd rather conserve my magic for a worthy opponent," Lyon said snarkily.
Natsu hummed, "Well, if you feel like killing a dead demon, be our guest."
"It's not dead, merely frozen," Lyon spoke, "As anything would be when frozen in ice. Watch."
Lyon snapped his fingers. Nothing happened. Natsu and Gray looked around. Natsu smirked and gave Lyon a knowing look, "I'd really hate to embarass you but with weak magic like that, you probably couldn't take it down even if it was dead."
"Shut up!" Lyon yelled, "How are you not frozen."
"He's a fire mage. Fire melts ice," Gray shrugged.
"And tell me Gray, does he melt your ice like that?"
"W-well-" Gray stuttered while looking embarrassed.
"Everyone's ice melts around me," Natsu said easily as he started walking away, "well, we're out."
Gray looked at Lyon, "See ya around I guess. Come visit."
Lyon looked dumbstruck. They were just... leaving? Leaving him to do what he wanted? He had thought that Gray would at least try to stop him. Apparently not. Lyon chuckled at his luck. A few hours later, he stared as the demon in the ice started crumbling as it was exposed to air.
Gray and Natsu shrugged as they left and figured they might as well finish their jobs and leave. The two found themselves staring at the barrel of a rather large ice cannon. The conversation had gone a little bit like, "hey Gray how large can you make one of your ice cannons?" followed by Gray slamming his hands together and creating the monstrosity in front of them. It easily stood five times the size of Natsu with an extremely long barrel.
"Alright so you're going to fire me out of that and I'm going to destroy the shell thingy in front of the moon. Deal?"
"I get to shoot you out of a cannon?" Gray asked, surprised before grinning, "Fuck yeah! That sounds fun!"
Natsu nodded sagely and hopped down the barrel of the cannon. The villagers gathered around and watched as the two did their thing. Gray gave an easy countdown and at zero, Natsu shout out of the cannon like a, well, cannonball. He rocketed through the sky, going higher and higher before channeling a bit of magic to his feet which acted as thrusters. He engulfed his body in flames and everyone watched as he smashed into... something?
Natsu pierced straight through the purple crystal stuff that had surrounded the island. Back on the ground, Gray chuckled to himself.
"Is that Natsu up there?" Erza asked.
"Yeah that's Pyro," Gray said turning towards Erza before shuddering, "E-Erza."
"That is my name, Gray," Erza said stiffly.
"Please don't kill me?"
"We'll see," Erza said as she turned around, "Where did Mira go?"
"Mira's here too?" Gray breathed a sigh of relief.
"I wouldn't be too happy Gray, Mira's here for the same reason I am."
"A-and why w-would that be?" Gray asked fearfully.
"Master doesn't take kindly to S-class jobs being taken by non S-class mages," Erza smirked.
"Oh."
"So, when you get back. It's up to me how you get punished," Erza smiled, though this scared Gray more.
"Please just kill me! Please!" Gray begged.
Meanwhile, Mirajane walked down the beach to where the fireball that was Natsu had landed. Around him were shards of glass that had been sand moments before. She smiled, "So, what's all this?"
"Well, this spell makes a weird purple crystal so I broke it. Gray launched me out of a cannon," Natsu said happily, "Hey how'd you get here anyway?"
"Master sent us after you and Gray."
"Us?"
"Erza and I are both here to bring you back. I called punishing you so Erza has Gray," Mirajane said easily, looking at her nails.
"Poor Gray," Natsu shook his head, "So! What's my punishment?"
"Why do you sound so eager?"
"I mean, with you it can't be all that bad, ya know?"
"Says you," Mirajane laughed, "See, I know you're stronger than Erza and I combined so I have no issue with you going. Just tell me next time. Anyway-"
Gray's scream cut her off. Mirajane and Natsu glanced each other and shrugged, "Hope she's not too harsh with him. At least he thought to bring you along."
"I guess so. Oh! Reward! Need to go grab that," Natsu said, sitting up out of the little crater he was in. He brushed his shirt off, "Let's go!"
"Alright alright," Mirajane chuckled. The reward ended up being the money as well as a strange little golden key. Natsu knew what it was (kinda) but everyone else looked at it dumbfounded. It ended with Gray taking most of the money with Natsu taking a small portion and the key.
"So, shall we be off?" Erza asked, surveying Natsu and a bruised Gray.
"We don't have to take a boat do we?"
"Think of it as part of your punishment," Mirajane whispered, "The other part is going to happen tommorow."
"You're cruel," Natsu said as his eyes widened.
Mirajane feigned hurt, "You haven't even heard what we're going to do."
"We?"
"You and I are going out on a date," Mirajane said simply.
Natsu nodded his head before smiling, "That sounds like fun!"
"I hope so," Mirajane laughed. Gray looked over to Erza.
"Can my punishment also be a date?" He asked wearily. Erza clapped her gauntleted hand on Gray's back and laughed.
"Of course not!" Gray breifly debated throwing himself off of the boat so that he could drown in peace.
