"Hurry up! Make strength!" yelled Erza, a little impatiently. She was pushing Ryker through a narrow passage out of the cave. The day was already breaking and the sun was high illuminating the mountain landscape.
As soon as they got up, the two Fairy Tail mages looked for the end of the cave and a possible exit. The only one they found was a narrow and complicated passage, which with great effort the soldier mage was willing to go first, it did not take long for him to realize that it was too big for the gap and to be trapped.
"I'm trying! Want to calm down!?" Ryker yelled back. He struggled to crawl through the tight crack as the red-haired mage behind him pushed him from behind.
"I should have let her go first", he thought feeling Erza's hands on his bottom pushing at him.
"I'm leaving," said the mage in a last-ditch effort to cross the rift, success! "Okay, now it's your turn," he said to his partner. "But you better come without armor."
"Why do you think that?" she asked unwillingly to take off her dear armor.
"It's tight and will need mobility, which isn't possible with armor. It's going to be hard enough without it, especially for you, who have these boo...", Ryker said, holding back at the last second not to say anything stupid.
"These what?" she said clearly annoyed.
"Nothing, nothing! You understand, take off your armor and I'll pull you by the arms", the magician changed the subject. He barely saved himself...
Reluctantly Titania removed her armor and, in her conventional clothes, began to cross the exit. It was harder than she thought. It was actually very tight, even though she was smaller than her mate the slit, it would still take work, and right away. When she went to pass the part of the torso she was trapped, could also!
"I'm stuck!" she said, trying to get out by squirming in every way.
"Yeah, I can't imagine why," the wizard said jokingly looking sideways.
"Want to say something, Ryker?" she said with a glare at him and annoyed.
"No, just give me your hands," she did so he took hold of her arms and began to pull her along as she struggled out of the hole.
After a few tries and a lot of strength he managed to get the redhead out of the cave unharmed. Anyway, both were free of that dark and damp place. It took hours to find a way out, but in the end they managed it, even with some mishaps along the way and at the end.
As soon as Erza left, Ryker looked at her and began to blush heavily, heat rose to his face and spread to his body. "Yeah, you better wear your armor now", he said to the redhead, he was a little shy and embarrassed.
"Why? Any special reason ?" , she questioned him, seriously. He just pointed his eyes at her bust.
She dropped her eyes and when she saw it, she blushed violently and turned away from him, donning her conventional armor immediately. Obviously, in an attempt to get her out of his grip, the friction of her clothes against the stone wall tore through the shirt she was wearing and most of her breasts were exposed. She wouldn't mind if it was Gray or Natsu, but with Ryker, a new person in the guild and that she didn't know very well, it was different.
"Why did you keep looking!?" she turned to him and yelled, almost hitting him with one of her swords.
"Sorry! I…I couldn't help it," he defended himself.
"Well, better start walking and get back to town," Erza said and started walking as if nothing had happened, quite stoically.
"Yeah, for sure," said the wizard who followed her down the path.
The walk to the village didn't take long, the day was hot and muggy, but that didn't stop the wizards. Finally, after a couple of hours they entered the small town and went straight to the Saloon, where they had met Albert the day before.
"Thank God you guys are fine!" , Albert yelled, as soon as he heard the Saloon door open and reveal the wizards, safe and sound.
"Yes, everything went well, don't worry," Erza said firmly and confidently.
"Did you find the troll?" asked Mario.
"Yeah, but it wasn't just one but five", she said startling everyone. "But we defeated them. So you don't have to worry about them," he said.
After the scare, everyone celebrated happy to be free from those monsters, and people could live in peace again.
"I'm glad we're free," Albert said celebrating. "Our community will be forever grateful," he said and Erza smiled at him. "I will pay your reward, but I would like you to stay to celebrate with us tonight. We're having a party and I'd like the Fairy Tail wizards to participate," he said excitedly.
"Well, I don't know if we should…" the redhead said, but was interrupted by Ryker.
"I don't see a problem, Erza. We haven't eaten since yesterday and it wouldn't do any harm to spend another night here and go tomorrow morning," he said.
"Yeah, I think it might be," she said nodding. "Now if you'll excuse us, let's go to our rooms and get some rest and get ready," she said leaving with her partner through the bar and heading towards the hotel.
After a couple of hours Erza leaves her room at the hotel and goes to Ryker's room. She knocks on the door once, twice, three, countless times, but there are no answers. Intrigued, Titania descends and goes to the reception, where a young woman is working behind a simple counter.
"Good afternoon," the magician says. "Did you see my partner come by ?" , she asks.
"Ah yes. A tall, strong man. He passed by about half an hour ago, but I don't know where he went," the receptionist said. Erza thanked her and left the hotel. She figured he must have gone to the Saloon, so she headed in that direction.
Upon arriving at the aforementioned location, she noticed that he was not there. There were only a few people decorating the venue for the night's party. She asked them about her partner, but none of them said they had seen him since they left for the hotel. She found that very strange. Where would he have gone?
Erza walks the city from top to bottom, it wasn't big so he shouldn't have gone far. However, she didn't find him anywhere, even though she asked the passersby she found, and who were happy to talk to her, they didn't know the whereabouts of their guild friend. Until she meets someone who seems to know something.
"Excuse me my lord. Did you happen to see my partner? A tall, strong man with dark hair. He would probably be wearing a moss green jacket, matching pants and boots," the mage asked.
"Yes miss, I saw him," he said in a voice hoarse and tired from his very old age. "He went towards the farms, that way," he pointed out.
"Thank you", she says and runs to where the old man pointed. It wasn't long before she found him, sitting on a wooden fence.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, moving closer to him and leaning against the fence beside him.
He looked at her and smiled. "Enjoying," he said.
"Enjoying!? Enjoying what?" she asked not understanding.
"All of this," he said, showing the landscape in front of him, open fields, forests and mountains in the background, farms after farms, the sound of the wind, the birds, the waters.
Erza had no idea that he liked the calm of the countryside and was able to admire nature. She couldn't deny it was relaxing and soothed her nerves.
"I grew up in a place like this. You knew?", he said relaxed. "Well, for a while," he said resignedly.
"Really?" , said the magician.
"Yea. My family grew corn or something like that. These were better times. I remember running and wandering the fields idly, not worrying about anything, free. You know, like nothing could hurt you. It was so peaceful, this is so peaceful and beautiful".
It was curious to see him like that, and Erza felt good for him. "It's really beautiful," she said looking at the landscape. "I didn't think you liked the countryside."
"I like it, it's relaxing," he said, admiring the look. "Besides, places like that don't exist anymore where I came from. The war ... devastated everything," he said sadly.
"I'm sorry," the redhead said, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Must be hard ..."
"All right. Here I have it," he said with a sad smile, interrupting her. "Now you know more about me than anyone else in the guild. Feel flattered," he said with a smirk.
Erza was surprised by his statement. He was always with Mira, if anyone was to know more about him it would be her. He even lived in the same house as hers for a while. And it wasn't like the two of them were far apart, he always helped her clean up and organize the guild. So what mean?
"Huh!? Me. I thought Mira knew you better. I mean, you two are always together and it feels like… dating," she said shyly.
Ryker smiled at her. "Don't jump to conclusions," said the wizard. "Maybe Mira knows me better than anyone in the guild, but who knows more about my past is you," he said looking at her. "Yeah, Mira and I are just friends," he said, wiping a blush from Erza's face. "You, Fairy Tail people, love creating things where they don't exist. What is that? Shortage?"
"Let's go," Ryker said, motioning for Erza to sit beside him on the fence. She was a little reluctant, but climbed up and settled down beside the mage. Immediately he put an arm through her, hugging her.
"Relax, Erza," he told her, who was looking at him in surprise, almost repeating what they had had in the cave last night. "Just enjoy the view", he said comforting her and she smiled, relaxed.
They stayed there, just enjoying the landscape and the peace that the place showed. After a few hours the day was already getting dark.
"We have to go," Erza said. "I passed the Saloon looking for you and they were setting up the party. It should be ready by now".
"Yes, yes," they walked back to the village to celebrate together with their people.
"I want, here, to thank the Fairy Tail mages who saved us from those monsters," said Albert, standing in the middle of the Saloon's hall. He was excited and happy, but despite the drink he wasn't drunk. He actually wanted to thank the wizards for saving the village and lives that might otherwise be lost.
"Please gentlemen," Albert told the wizards. "I ask you to stand up and receive the applause of our citizens. Our village is safe and we can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to you. Thank you", he said, all excited and oozing happiness.
The magicians rose and were applauded by the people who had filled the Saloon. Ryker was embarrassed, he wasn't used to receiving compliments or thanks, he didn't even see it as necessary. On the other hand, Erza, was calm and used to it. It was nothing new for her to be cheered after a mission well done .
"We did our job. But, I'm really happy that you guys can get back to your normal lives and in peace," said a confident Erza, who oozed brilliance. We can tell she was enjoying the situation, and being pampered, there were stars in her eyes after all.
"Count on Fairy Tail whenever you need it," said the magician Requip.
"Hurray for them!" shouted Mario, raising a glass, and everyone toasted. "And may the party continue", and so it went.
The Saloon was lively, many people had come to celebrate, the party had spread out onto the street. People eating, drinking, singing and having fun. It was a happy and fun atmosphere. Lively conversations could be heard in every corner and smiles on everyone's faces were radiant.
" Wow! All this for a bunch of trolls," Ryker said, a little surprised by the reaction of the villagers.
"It's a small community where everyone knows each other. What happens to one resonates in everyone. When the troll attacked the farms it hurt people, even if not directly affected, and when we got rid of them it was a sign that no one else would get hurt. They would be free from the threat and their friends would be at peace," Erza said in reflection. "It's like our guild. One's problem, however small it may be, is everyone's problem and everyone will help with that," she said.
"Oh, I think so," Ryker said after hearing Erza's explanation. "The food is great," he commented.
"Indeed, it is very good," replied the unflappable mage with her elegance.
The magicians stayed there drinking and eating, participating in the party and interacting with the kind people from the village who always came to their table to talk to them or say hello.
Ryker was tired by now, more than would be usual for a well-trained wizard. Titania noted her condition.
"You didn't sleep all night in the cave did you," she said.
"Huh! Did you notice?" , he said surprised at the amount of insight that woman could have.
"It does not matter. Is there a problem?" , she said worriedly.
"I have trouble sleeping" sometimes," said the wizard. "I'll sleep when we get to the hotel."
"Do it. But, this has been around for some time, hasn't it?"
"A little bit," he said, puzzled. How far would this incredible woman's wit go?
"I've noticed this recently. And in this job you didn't look 100%. Will this be a problem? Because if is, I don't think it's good for you to go on a mission. It could put you or someone else in danger," she said seriously.
"It won't be any problem. Don't worry, I'll solve it", replied the magician.
"I hope so," she said. "If you need something...".
"Thank you", he said and smiled.
The night was late and the party was over. The magicians decided to go to the hotel to rest, they would have a long journey in the morning and they wanted to be as willing as possible. Erza had a beautiful night's sleep, Ryker spent awake, taking his meds.
The next morning they said goodbye to Albert and several villagers who came to the hotel to say a last goodbye to the wizards who ended the threat of the trolls. They got into the carriage and set off for a long, tiring and tiring journey back to Magnolia.
"Erza," called Ryker. "Can I ask a question?"
"Of course," she said pompously, her arms and legs crossed, which Ryker kept looking at…almost always.
"Why the hell do you bring so much with you?" he asked as a cart full of suitcases and knickknacks, which Erza always carried with her, was pulled behind them.