Morning
"Are you sure we're going the right way, Natsu?" Lucy asked while eating celestial food that Virgo brought out to raise up her energy as they continued this long trek through the swamp Happy was leading them through.
"Happy says this is the way home, so this is where we're going." Natsu said, determinedly.
She shrugged trusting her teammates enough to continue following them, partially since she herself was not familiar enough with Magnolia to try and find her way home alone.
"Aye!" Happy said.
Natsu smiled grateful that Lucy didn't complain about how long the way back to the guild was. A part of him thought she might on account of how lazy she is but seeing her eat that weird celestial food and happily chat with his best friend made him realize she really didn't mind the walk. Lucy was the first person to ever team up with him and while he was skeptical at first, after defeating Everlue together and making the journey back to the guild together he knew that having her as part of his team was a great idea, even if it was part of a prank at first. Happy likes her too, so that's a plus in my book!
He couldn't help but think that her having slayer magic made her even cooler because together their team would probably be one of the strongest now. And yeah, her personality was a little weird but then again so is everyone else in Fairy Tail. Man, Lucy's gonna be a great team mate.
He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard the bushes move. Lucy was moving to walk to where she heard the noise but Natsu beat her to it by jumping in the bushes.
She sighed, "Natsu doesn't have to worry about it, there's no threat" deciding to lay down on the ground for a moment.
"You're really lazy Lushie!" Happy giggled. Sticking her tongue out, Lucy moves into a comfortable position waiting to see what happens next.
The culprit as well as Natsu came out of the bushes glaring at each other.
"It's Gray!" Happy said.
"Hmm. So that's why I smelt ice, but why is he not wearing clothes again?" Lucy sighed.
"I was trying to find a bathroom." Gray said, wondering if he really smelt like ice.
"Why would you strip down before you found one? And who the heck ever heard of a bathroom in the middle of a forest?" Natsu glared.
"I wanted some privacy I didn't expect an idiot to barge in." Gray glared back.
They got in each other's faces growling at each other.
Lucy closed her eyes enjoying their fight, "I was bored, but not anymore." while biting into more celestial food that she pulled out of nowhere.
"That's Natsu and Gray for ya." Happy said while trying to swipe the food out of Lucy's hands only to get smacked out of the way.
After the two of them stopped their arguing they all sat down and relaxed.
"So, you were on your way back from a job?" Lucy asked.
Gray nodded, "Yeah there's a shortcut here through these woods that'll get you back to town in no time."
"See Lucy? My nose is never wrong!" Happy puffed his chest out.
She smiled, "Yeah, great job Happy. But why is it that you couldn't smell Gray who was close by?"
"There are some things I'd rather not smell." Happy shuddered.
A tick mark appeared on Gray's head, "What'd you say?!", ignoring Gray Happy looked to Lucy.
"Why didn't you smell out Gray?" Happy questioned. "Thought your senses were as good as Natsu's" Happy teased.
"I said I smelt ice, didn't I?" the girl shrugged, "And besides, I knew he wasn't a threat. Why do you think I didn't get up?"
"Cause you're lazy" the cat giggled.
"Touché" Lucy smiled, going for a high five with Happy.
"Now that we have that settled go on home and we'll smell ya later." Natsu grinned.
Gray got up, "Fine I will, and unless you want trouble you should to."
Lucy blinked up at him moving to stand up, moving... So much work, "And why do you say that?"
Shivering as he spoke, Gray said, "Ezra's due back anytime now." Natsu and Happy gasped, feeling the same terror and dread that Gray was obviously feeling. A bit clueless regarding their actions, Lucy asked innocently, "This Erza... Is she another member of Fairy Tail?"
"Not just any member," Happy explained with a shaking voice, "Erza Scarlet is the strongest and scariest female member of Fairy Tail. "
"Nah, I'd say she's more of a Wild Animal" Gray said flippantly.
"Vile beast" Natsu added.
"Noo! A full-on monster!" Happy said.
"I heard that she once brought down three mountains with one kick." Gray said.
"Don't exaggerate, Gray. It was only two mountains," Happy corrected. Lucy imagined a giant, silhouetted girl stomping down mountains with their descriptions of Erza. She sounds breathtaking.
"Wow…is she single? Doesn't matter I'll just woo her like I did Mirajane" Lucy tells the three mages garnering looks. Scaring them when she gasps, "Oh no, I hope Mirajane doesn't cry too much when I break up with her".
Natsu and Gray turned to give identical dumbfounded expressions. "What the hell is she talking about flame-brain?" Gray asked his pink headed rival.
Shaking his head, the dragon slayer said nothing regarding his teammates' weird comments already used to them and deciding to instead get back on track to getting home.
"Just ignore Lushie, that's what we do, anyways" Happy said laughing.
Looking at the three teammates Gray shook his head, deciding that the blonde was a perfect teammate for Natsu with how weird she was.
Natsu went to keep walking but stopped when he noticed Lucy not moving. In fact, he couldn't help but notice how high her magic power was rising and where she was focusing on.
"Hey Luce... you okay over there" Natsu asked, noticing the demon slayers magic was only rising higher and she never lost focus on the spot even when he nudged her.
"What's wrong Lucy?" Happy asked landing on top of her head to try and get a reaction out of his friend.
"Celestial demon flame whip!"
In the blink of an eye Lucy whipped out a golden flame like rope grabbing hold of five unknown mages and smacking them into a nearby tree.
"Uhhhhh. What happened?" one of them moaned.
"I can't move!" another one said trying to wiggle out of the flame whip burning into their clothes.
"It burns!" another one yelled trying to use his magic to escape to no avail.
Gray blinked up in astonishment then looked back at Lucy in total shock, "She was so fast…how though?"
Natsu laughed at the expression on Gray's face, "That was her demon slayer magic she showed us earlier, it's awesome right!"
"Aye! Her demon slaying magic is like Natsu's except stronger! "Happy explained.
"No way." Gray said awed by the girls' power. He turned to look at the mages all tied up in her flame rope, amazed that she has the power to construct such a thing.
Happy nodded, "Yup, don't you know she's a wizard saint."
"You serious?" Gray asked in disbelief.
Happy nodded, "Aye! Fifth rank"
He looked over at Lucy who had her arms crossed glaring at the five unidentified mages.
Natsu stuck his tongue out, "Yeah Gray! And she's my partner! So, don't even think about poaching her from me and Happy!"
Gray growled back, "Shut up Flame brain! I wasn't thinking that" But, how the hell did Natsu get a wizard saint for a teammate?
Happy shook his head, "You guys are hopeless."
"Speak," Lucy said making the two of them look at her and preventing them from getting into a fight, "I sensed one of you trying to use your magic on us. So, talk because I really don't want to have to hurt you"
Gray sweat-dropped, "Her and Erza would get along great"
"Aye" Happy said, agreeing.
"W-we're not telling you anything!" the one who was about to use his magic before he got caught yelled.
She narrowed her eyes, " Fine, I didn't want to do this but" she ignited her hand, "improvised move: Celestial Interrogation technique! Flaming demon…. shin kick!" Lucy went up to the mage who spoke and kicked him in the knee with her foot. Howls of pain were heard from the mage now realizing he has what is most likely a broken knee.
"Ooops, I forgot to hold back my strength" Lucy thinks.
"That's her interrogation technique?" Gray says skeptical, rubbing his own knee in sympathy of the mage.
"She said it was improvised". Happy tried defending, looking back to his teammate.
"Yeah, you go Luce!" Natsu yells, "I should create a move like that too" he says aloud.
"How about now?" Lucy questions.
"O-okay!" another man speaks not wanting to endure what his friend has, "We were in the forest for a while now and got hungry! When we were looking around, we found you guys and saw the blue cat and decided to take from you, so we could eat it!" the man finishes noticing the heat from the rope was finally lowering.
Happy shivered, "Y-you were trying to eat me…?"
Natsu growled, "Bastards!"
"So, you were trying to attack us huh? Bad move." Gray glared.
Lucy nodded, "I agree with Gray." Just then she noticed a shadow come creeping up and jumped back near the others.
"Lucy? What's wrong?" Natsu asked.
"Stay back, don't go near them." She warned, her demon powers alerting her of the threat.
They were confused of what she meant until they saw what looked like a shadow of a hand go towards the five mages. One of them shivering in fear had turned towards them, shouting what seemed like a warning "L-lullaby! Beware of Lullaby!"
Gray raised a brow, "Lullaby?"
"What's that?" Natsu questioned.
Lucy bit her thumb, having been taught about these demons from Luce before he disappeared knew exactly what he meant, "Shit, Lullaby…"
The shadow formed into a giant hand grabbing from underneath them and made them go underground disappearing in the process.
"What the hell…?" Gray said.
"Who was that?" Natsu questioned.
Lucy went back to normal, "Whoever it was they're fast. I can't sense their presence anymore." Trying to sense the mage or source where the shadow went but coming up with nothing.
"But…what could this mean?" Natsu questioned looking at his partner who seemed to be thinking about something which for her seemed off to him.
"Lullaby…" she repeated.
Natsu had to ask her, "Do you know what he was talking about Lucy?"
She turned away from Natsu, "Hmm, and it's not good."
"Hey wait up Lucy!" Natsu followed trying to catch up to her with Happy and Gray following them.
Lucy was too caught up in her thoughts to acknowledge the fact that they were following right after her.
Lullaby, one of demons created by the dark mage Zeref. Loke, Aquarius…Something's about to happen isn't it.
For a moment Lucy heard nothing from her two most trusted spirits, thinking perhaps they were busy until she heard them speak up.
We believe so Princess.
What do you think brat?
Once they got to the guild Lucy forgot about Lullaby for a moment and immediately went to greet Mira causing a few guild mates to laugh at the newest members antics.
"I'm back Mira!" Lucy yells. Sitting down at the bar with a smile towards the barmaid. Seeing Lucy's face Mira couldn't help but let out a giggle. For such a powerful wizard she's like a puppy.
"I see that Lucy, and how was the mission with Natsu and Happy?" Mira asks setting down as strawberry milkshake that she's learned is Lucy's favorite drink.
Taking a sip before answering Lucy grins, "Awesome, not only did we help the client make amends with his dead dad, but I got myself a gold key" showing off her newest spirit.
"Well congratulations Lucy, I'm happy for you" sending a smile her way before going off to serve others.
"Thanks Mira!" Lucy shouts before grabbing her shake to head to the table with Natsu and Happy who were happily eating fish.
However once seated she started to think about what happened back in the woods. That shadow coming out of nowhere and taking those mages then disappearing just like that. The most annoying part was the warning he gave them.
"L-lullaby! Beware of Lullaby!"
She sighed taking a sip of her drink, "Man, so much work and I've barely been here two days…I wonder if this is how that little bluenette guild is?"
"Probably not, Cait Shelter seemed a bit smaller and far more relaxed." Loke says.
Natsu saw his partner was in deep thought about something that was making her give a weird face, like she was thinking a bit too hard for herself, which he didn't like at all.
He poked her side, "Yo Luce, you okay?"
She grabbed his hand setting it down on the table, "What is it Natsu? I was thinking about something."
"Did that hurt?" Happy grinned.
"Why you, stupid cat" Lucy growled, not needing to be told by anyone that Happy was insulting her intelligence.
"Aww. Come-on we just were checking up on ya Luce, you were zoned out for a while" Natsu whined. "And to be honest, you were giving a weird face. It was kind a creeping me out".
"Tsk. I was just thinking, no worries" Lucy said. Both teammates looked to each other before grinning "Alright weirdo!" She then took that as her cue to get up from the table and go over to the request board.
"Better start looking for a job before I get too bored." She mumbled standing next to a man who seems to always be by the board.
Mira came up and smiled at her, "Let me know if you find one, you're interested in taking on. The master's away at a conference so I'm covering for him."
"Conference?" Lucy questioned.
Mira nodded, "It's one for guild masters. Occasionally, they all get together to talk about the state of things."
Lucy shrugged still not used to the happenings around here and went back to looking at the board.
"Did you find a job for us yet Lucy?" Natsu asked standing next to her.
Lucy merely grunted "I was thinking I go solo this time." Already noticing a nice high paying job for taking down bandits in a faraway village.
Natsu smiled, "Don't be ridiculous. We're a team now, aren't we? And that means we stick together."
"Yeah! We picked the job last time, so it's your turn to pick." Happy said sitting on her shoulder.
She rubbed her chin signifying she was thinking about something, " So as a team, this means every job I take...it will involve you and Happy?"
He slung his arm around her, "Yup that about sums it up." Smiling at the blonde-haired wizard saint "Besides, It's much more fun when we're together right?"
Happy nodded, "Right!"
She gave a toothy grin in agreement. "Aye!"
"Hey Lucy, I wouldn't stay with those losers if I were you. You'll get plenty of offers from other teams." Gray said from his place at Cana's table, having seen her power up close.
"Thanks, but no thanks Gray. As a celestial mage I'm duty bound to my word and I promised Natsu I'd be part of his team and I NEVER break my promises" Lucy says, eyes darkening for a moment before brightening back up and giving a toothy grin. "Besides we slayers need to stick together, right Natsu!"
"Yeah, Jerk!" Natsu yelled happy by the declaration of his teammate.
The entire guild was silent by Lucy's speech. Some sadden they couldn't pick her off for their own team and that Natsu had already called dibs. Just being known for having a wizard saint on your team would make you popular, but of course everyone knew that's not why Natsu picked Lucy. No, Lucy and Natsu were like two peas in a pod even after only having known each other for a few days.
"The similarities between Lucy and Natsu are uncanny" Cana whispered to Levy.
"I know. They eat the same, talk the same, heck Gray told me that Lucy came up with some improvised move while dealing with some bandits and Natsu immediately wanted to do the same thing" Levy giggles, "They're already best friends".
"I guess Slayers really do stick together" Mira smiled.
Gray got in his face and glared, "Did you just call me a jerk, dragon boy?"
"Maybe I did, what are you gonna do about it?" Natsu glared right back, waiting for retaliation.
"You mouth breather!" Gray yelled.
"At least I'm not a coward." Natsu yelled back.
Happy sighed, "Looks like they're at it again."
"Looks that way." Lucy said turning away towards the bar to get something to eat.
Just then Max came bursting through the guild doors with a terrified look on his face.
"I've got bad news! It's Erza! She's on her way here!" he yelled.
Everyone had a different reaction from terrified to horrified or just plain scared out of their minds at the mention of Erza.
Natsu and Gray were paralyzed with fear, both stopping their fight mid-punch.
"Amazing, just the mention of her name and everyone freaks out. " Lucy watched with a raised eyebrow as everyone in the guild immediately stopped fighting, arguing, or drinking and made themselves look as presentable as possible.
" Remind me again who Erza is" She asked Mira complete forgetting what Natsu and Gray told her.
"You don't know who Erza is," The bartender asked shocked. "Erza Scarlet, contender for strongest women of Fairy Tail?" The barmaid explained, hoping that would clear things up for the blonde... it didn't by the blank expression she was getting. She then paused looking at the blonde in front of her who began fighting with Happy over the last piece of chicken on her plate, remembering she was a Wizard Saint "Well second strongest if I count you, but Erza may have you beat if we consider intelligence as a factor.
Lucy smiled when she got the last piece from Happy, "AHAHa, take that ya stupid cat."
Mira giggled.Yup, She has you beat, Lucy.
Once Lucy ate the chicken, she won from Happy she shook her head. "I've traveled my entire life in the West, so I know virtually nothing about you guys. All I know is what Loke told me." She muttered as she turned to the door.
A teenage girl with long red hair, wearing armor kicked the door open and walked in, carrying a huge horn on her shoulder. Lucy watched as she looked around and people cringed whenever her gaze landed on them.
"She's beautiful" the blonde announced unaware half the guild had heard her, some shocked at the blonde's bold declaration and others choosing to ignore the newbie.
"I'm back." Erza announced. "Is Master present at the moment?"
"He's at a meeting." Mira told the armor-clad woman while trying to hold back her smile from hearing Lucy's bold words.
"Erza." Warren interrupted. "What is that huge thing?"
Erza glanced at the horn. "Oh, this? It's a horn from the demon I defeated. The villagers were so grateful that they decorated it and gave it to me as a souvenir." Erza's gaze snapped back to him. "Is that a problem?"
"N-no! Of course not!" The terrified man choked out.
"She's so assertive. I want her." Lucy said, slamming her drink down thinking no one could hear her, unbeknownst to her a dragon slayer and barmaid who was right next to her heard everything and were holding in their laughter. "She's the perfect mate, wouldn't you say Loke?"
I mean you said that about Mira, but go off, I guess. Loke says.
Lucy observed the irate scarlet haired woman tearing into every guildmember, finding the woman in front of her even more attractive then she first saw her. "She's really tearing into them" Lucy says dreamily.
"Cana sit up when you drink" the drunkard sat up.
Vijeeter, go dance outside" immediately he stopped.
"That's Erza for ya." Happy said from her shoulder.
" I don't see why everyone's so afraid of her" Lucy said, "She's just bossy. When she becomes my mate, I'll help her become more relaxed" smiling at the scarlet mage.
"I thought Mira was your mate?" Happy asks, not even questioning Lucy's weird mate thing.
"Yeah, I thought so too, but now my whole body is just calling out for Erza." Lucy explains to the blue cat on her shoulder.
"Huh, have you told Mira?" Happy says jokingly.
Gasping Lucy looks to the cat, shaking her head realizing that she has not told the barmaid she will no longer be pursuing her. "Oh man I haven't thanks for reminding me Happy!"
"I was joking." Happy thinks, shaking his head.
"Mira, I'm sorry but I'm no longer pursuing you for a mate" Lucy says point blank. No use in dragging it out.
Cover up her smile Mira decides to humor the blonde, "Oh my. Well what a shame, and here I was already thinking of names for our future children I planned on having with you. Well thank you Lucy I appreciate you telling me and while I will be heartbroken for a while, I'll learn to get over you and love again one day".
Kissing the barmaid on the cheek Lucy smiles, "I'm glad to hear it, now I can pursue Erza without any guilt" turning to walk off not seeing Mira red face holding her cheek over the girl's actions. She's really bold, Mira thinks.
Walking back to her spot at the bar with Happy Lucy begins to come up with a plan to win over Erza Scarlet.
"I've broken up with Mirajane, she was heartbroken, but she will survive" Lucy says oblivious to the barmaids' sarcasm.
"Wow, you really did it huh. So what's next?" Happy asked.
"Now I need your help Happy. I need to know how to ask out Erza Scarlet." Lucy smiled thinking her close companion would be helpful in her endeavors to getting close with Erza. Your Mate, a voice in her head corrected.
"You go up to her and say I wanna go out with you Erza" Happy said laughing thinking he would get to embarrass his friend.
"Of course, such a simple and logical solution, thanks Happy. Erza will be mine in no time" Lucy says smiling pumping up her fist.
"Good luck, you'll need it" Happy laughed.
"Hey you scarlet!" Lucy shouts from the bar, attracting not just the knight, but the entire guild.
"Uh, Lucy maybe you should talk to Erza in private about whatever it is you want" Mira says already knowing what she wants to discuss, having heard similar words not too long ago, and trying to prevent any embarrassment from forming to the new guild member. This girl doesn't wait long to move on, Mira thinks.
"No, I want to talk to her now." Lucy says, her inner demon calling out for the armored cover girl.
"Wow, I didn't think she'd take me serious" Happy said laughing.
A look of confusion graced Erza's features, until a smile formed. "Oh, are you a new member? It's nice to meet you."
Loke looks to the usual stoic demon slayer from the spirit world only to see her holding in a blush, "Oh ho, ho, what's this" the lion says, "Lucy finally wants a romance, interesting."
"No, it's not, you dumb cat" Aquarius says also seeing what Loke is through the spirit world mirror,
"Oh, and why's that" he says thinking the mermaid was just being a kill joy.
Smacking her face, the mermaid explains "Because Lucy has had little too, no human interaction besides taking down dark guilds. "This is literally going to be a repeat of Mirajane" rubbing her temples Aquarius continues "I can't watch this; how could Lucifer never give tips on dating besides be assertive. Tch dumb demon, surprised he remembered to explain what mating was."
"Oh Mavis" Loke says, just now realizing what is about to happen.
"Oh, Mavis is right".
Looking to their master they watch the train wreck currently at play.
"Yeah, I'm new, and I want you to be my mate" Not noticing all the jaws dropping in the guild or laughter start up Lucy continues, "You're beautiful, assertive, and strong which I find very attractive, so what do you say?" Lucy says with her signature grin.
"Oh man, not this again" Cana says, trying to hold back laughter.
"Lucy really likes strong woman doesn't she" Levy giggles.
Now cherry faced, Erza looks at her new guild mate confused at what's happening. Continuing with her speech, Lucy pulls out a bracelet Lucifer gave her for when she finally found "the one". "This is for you, it's to show I've started my claim on you. That way if anyone else tries to court you they'll know I've already got first dibs" the demon slayer says as she puts an intricate bracelet on the frozen knight. "Don't' worry this is just the first part of my claiming".
"Did the new girl just really claim Titania, so easily." A guild mate whisper.
"Holy shit she did!" Alzack yells, as he watches Lucy put the bracelet on Erza. "Go Lucy!"
"whoa, whoa, wait up I'm sorry Lucy, but you can't just come up here, and claim someone without their permission?" Gray says, as he goes to take the bracelet off Erza, until a wall of flame stops him.
"Hey what gives?!" the ice mage yells putting ice on his burning hand.
"Mine" a feral looking Lucy says.
No more than five seconds does the missing playboy of Fairy Tail decide to show up to explain what's going on. "LOKE! Where the hell have you been, we've been looking all over for you" Gray yells punching the lion spirit, completely forgetting about Erza being claimed now.
"I've been with Lucy, she saved me when I was dying" Loke explains.
"That doesn't explain-
Interrupting the ice mage, Lucy explains "Loke was dying while being here in the human world and I only saved him after a talk with Stache face.
"She means the Spirit king" Loke interrupts.
"So really if Loke hadn't left he wouldn't even be here right now" Lucy says while staring shamelessly at Erza who couldn't stop looking at the bracelet on her wrist which now stated she was claimed.
"WHAT?" just about every guild member yells.
Sighing at the subtleness of his master Loke explains to his former guild mates. "I'm a celestial spirit and Lucy is my mast-
"Friend" Lucy objects.
"Lucy is my friend, true, but also my contractor. Without her I'd probably, as she said, be dead", taking off his signature blue glasses, "I was on Earthland for three years suffering before Lucy found me and within a minute of interacting with each other she somehow detected I was a spirit and fought to get me back to my normal state."
"So, this whole time you've been missing you were with Luce?" Natsu asks also slightly angered but relieved he was safe this whole time.
"Yup, Lucy is the best master any spirit could ever ask for. And I'm glad she found me all those years ago" Loke says smiling at his master who is still checking out Erza to his and half the guilds amusement.
"Dude you could've written a letter" Gray says.
"We were in Alvarez Gray, a lot of the times we were destroying dark guilds, resting then destroying more dark guilds. Where would I have had the time to write a letter?" Loke asks rhetorically.
Rolling his eyes, Gray decides to drop the subject and move on to more important matters.
"Look it's great that you're back, but what the hell was that wall of fire about, that weirdo can't just claim Erza as her mate, stick a bracelet on her and place first dibs on her" Gray yells at the absurd notion.
"Ye-yes, I agree" Erza stutters, finally able to speak once she gains her bearings.
"Technically she can." Before anyone can protest Loke hurries to explain. "Lucy's inner demon has chosen Erza as her mate, that bracelet just shows that she has staked her claim. Really, this is only the beginning of the claiming process. There are other steps to the mating process which will be discussed further with Erza once she accepts Lucy's offer. But be warned Gray, if you were to even touch that bracelet on Erza, Lucy would been inclined to attack you for trying to go after her mate" Loke says.
"So basically, Erza Scarlet is off the market, a drunk Cana says holding in her laughter.
I swear, Lucy you are a handful sometimes, Loke thinks smiling. "In a way" the spirit says shrugging.
"But Loke, I didn't pay anything for her, then again if I'm right she's most likely worth more than anything I can afford." Lucy says still standing in front of her mate protectively. "A woman like her would be priceless" not noticing the blushing mess behind her the demon slayer looks to her spirit who is mildly impressed by his master's suave words.
"Loke come, if Erza of Fairy Tail is on the market than we must go on a job to gain enough jewels to purchase her hand" Lucy declares garnering laughter.
"No, Lucy that's not how things work." The spirit tries to explain.
"No, no, let her go" a giant mermaid says popping up to witness first-hand what is happening, and smiling at the events unfolding, "Lucy wants to do things right, so come on Loke, let her".
"BUT THIS ISN'T HOW YOU DO THINGS AT ALL" Gray yells.
"Really?" Natsu asks, writing down everything he sees Lucy do. Lucy is kind of like me, so we obviously must be the same when it comes to mates, Natsu thinks as he watches Lucy claim Erza.
"Enough!" taking a deep breath Erza decides to put whatever the hell is happening to her on the back burner in lieu of the current dilemma she was hoping to take care of.
"Natsu, Gray I need you to do me a favor." Erza asked when everyone was done with greeting Loke back from the dead and trying to forget she was just claimed.
"Huh?" they said surprised she needed them for help.
"While traveling I overheard something that has me worried," she started, "Normally I would consult with the master before acting but he's not here and this is a matter of upmost urgency. The two of you are the strongest wizards here. I could really use your help." She asked.
"Actually, Lucy is" someone whispered, however not wanting to feel the wrath of Erza made sure she didn't hear them correct her.
"Yeah, she's a wizard Saint." Another one said, this one also whispering in fear of any type of punishment that would be dealt because they spoke back to Erza.
"Aye, Erza." Natsu choked out, breaking his pencil. "I'll definitely help you out."
"Same here!" Gray added.
Lucy blinked. "When did Natsu become like Happy?"
"Excellent we leave tomorrow morning" Erza nodded.
Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Natsu's unusually timid."
"Both Natsu and Gray are scared of Erza." Mira clarified. "Natsu picked a fight with her once and got beaten up. And the same happened to Gray when she caught him walking around naked. Loke tried to hit on her once and she nearly killed him."
"Is that true Loke" the demon slayer growls.
"Ye-yes, but that was then and now, I am over her, I have no intention of ever being with her, I swear!" the spirit says trying to calm his master.
"Hmm, alright then, thank you for your honesty Loke" the blonde says smiling, doing a total 180 with her attitude the guild notices.
"She's kind of weird, don't ya think" someone mutters"
"Only when it comes to Erza" Cana laughs, "I like her!"
"Hold Up Erza, I got two conditions if I'm coming with ya! " Natsu declares.
"Are you crazy flame dick!"
"Oh, all right then. Name your conditions" Erza says casually.
"First off, I wanna fight when we get back! I've grown stronger and I'm gonna prove it".
"Yes, I can tell you have grown stronger. Alright then once the mission is over we will fight. And your second condition?"
"We gotta take Lucy with us!"
"What why?" Erza says nervous about taking the new guild member who has tried declaring her, the girls' mate.
"Because! she's my partner, and where I go, she goes!" Natsu says smiling, "Right Luce" not noticing the Knight mage look for someone to object.
"He is correct. As team mates if one of us goes on a job, then we all go on a job" Lucy says nodding her head sagely, repeating Natsu's words. "Also, I must protect my mate, so it only makes sense I go with you Scarlet."
"Ack, did she say what I think she said" Mira says enjoying the spectacle that is Lucy claiming Erza. This is better than when she tried claiming me.
"Oh yes, she did" Cana says taking bets on whether Erza is going to beat the crap out of Lucy now or later.
Just breath Scarlet, Erza says to herself. "I'm going to ignore that and allow you on our mission.
"Perfect." Lucy grinned, happy to already be joining her mate on a mission.
"Come on Luce! Let's go pack our bags, this is gonna be awesome." Natsu says oblivious to what transpired in the guild. Preparing to run out with the blonde in tow to leave and pack their necessities.
"We're leaving tomorrow!" Erza tells Natsu, Gray and Lucy, already heading out the guild and ignoring any halfhearted protests. "Make sure you're prepared. I'll give you the details later."
As the four left the guild went in uproar, with most of the members scared and muttering about what could possibly be dangerous enough that Erza needed the two boys and the newly joined Demon Slayer/ Celestial mage.
Cana frowned when she saw Mira trembling. "What's wrong?"
"Erza, Natsu and Gray..." Mira muttered. "They were already the strongest... but with Lucy being a Wizard Saint and all I never imagined this, but... this maybe the strongest team Fairy Tail has ever had..."
Natsu and Lucy groaned, holding their stomachs and leaking drool as they stared out of the train window, totally out of it.
Gray sighed. "You two are so pathetic. You said you were coming to protect Erza, yet you can't even handle a moving train and you Natsu- why didn't you just choose to run next to the train if this was going to happen?"
"I'm gonna- gulp- get you" Lucy says trying to hold in her vomit.
"Just watch- gulp- once we're off this vehicle of hell-gulp- your ass is grass" Natsu adds.
Erza sighed. "I guess there's no other way. Come here"
Eyes shining Lucy goes to switch places with Natsu, until she realizes the Scarlet hair mage meant Natsu. The girl watched as Erza gave the sick boy a tender smile, jealousy pooling in her stomach, before slamming a fist in his stomach, knocking him out and laying him on her lap.
"There." She said, satisfied. "That should ease him up a little."
"Oh, that must've hurt" Lucy says a bit happy that she didn't have to deal with that. Looking to the scarlet haired mage Lucy asks a question she's been meaning to ask since she first met her.
"Mate, what kind of magic do you use?"
"An excellent question Lucy." Erza replied trying to ignore the fact she was just called mate.
"Erza's magic is awesome! She makes her opponents bleed a lot!" Happy exclaimed, Lucy nodding along with his excitement. Wow blood magic, that's rare!
"Personally, I find Gray's magic to be more impressive than my own." Erza said with a smile, Gray mirroring her expression.
"You mean something like this?" he said as he placed a closed fist over the other hand, a faint cool mist emanating from underneath his closed fist. A second later Gray removed his hand to reveal a piece of ice carved into the shape of the Fairy Tail emblem, now floating above his hand. "I use Ice make magic."
"I see…is that-mmprh-why you fight with Natsu so often? Because… he wields fire and you wield ice?"
"Hmm, I never considered that." Erza commented.
"Nah, I just hate his guts." Gray denied with a wave of his hand.
"Prett-mmphrg-ty" covering her mouth Lucy turns away feeling a wave of nauseous-ness.
"Not to worry, Lucy," seeing a mischievous look in the older girls' eye, the demon slayer looks for an exit, until she realizes she can barely move "I have just the remedy for you too", slamming a fist in her stomach too.
"Ouch" Lucy says trying to hold in the vomit she was already holding in, "that hurt mate".
"What the hell?" Gray shouts "How the hell did you not pass out!"
"It will take more than a sucker punch from my beloved to take me out" Lucy smiles before sticking her head out the window." Luce threw sucker punches that would knock me out for days, hits from you are like love taps.
Slapping her face, Erza ignores the blonde's words, slightly impressed by her strength but also choosing to listen to Gray when he speaks.
"Moving on, So what's up, Erza?" Gray asked. "You can handle anything thrown your way, so why ask Natsu and me for help? What happened?"
Erza nodded, thankful for the change in subject. "I was on my way back from a mission when I stopped at a bar in Onibas with a reputation of being a wizard hangout. Some guys in there caught my attention when they started talking about a flute called Lullaby and about the seal on it that prevented usage. Then a guy they called Kageyama said that he can take care of it and to let someone called Erigor know that he'll return in three days. I didn't understand at first and I put it out of my mind until I remembered who Erigor was."
"And who was that Erza?" Happy asked.
Erza scowled. "The ace of the Dark guild Eisenwald, Shinigami Erigor. He got that name because he keeps accepting assassination requests. They broke away from the League when the Council forbade assassination missions, because they preferred earning money to respecting the law. Despite their master getting arrested, Eisenwald continued to ignore the law."
"Lullaby?" Lucy muttered, still nauseas but trying to listen to the scarlet mage.
"Yes, and those guys have a hold of this Lullaby thing and are up to something." Erza continued explaining as the train stopped and they got off. "I decided that we simply cannot overlook the matter."
"I-I know what" … "Hey, Natsu where'd everyone go?" Lucy says looking to locate her guild mates.
"Mmprh- I don't-gulp- know."
As the mages walked off the train Erza explained her plan. "The plan is simple. We march into Eisenwald!"
"That's good and all but we have a problem." Gray said after realizing their mistake. " Lucy and Natsu are missing."
