"speaking"
"thinking"
On with the story
A few days soon passed as school was now in the holidays
Our attention was now to the Magnolia Train Station where Lucy and Mira were at
"haaaa….goodbye mall" Lucy said as she had spent the entire last week shopping, but now she had to go and train for the Rank Advancement Exam
"don't whine, we'll only be there for the rest of the holidays" Mira said as they walk by some people before seeing their train coming "it's not like we'll be staying there forever"
The two had big bag filled with needed assortments as they will be away for a while
"but" Lucy whined as their trained boarded near and the passengers on it get off before the two boarded in
"if you want to fail your Rank Advancement Exam and have no chance in succeeding to the second year, be my guest" Mira said as she and Lucy took a seat
"does that mean the higher your rank, the harder the exam will be?" Lucy asked
"yeah, just because you guys are in the D Rank, it doesn't mean that the test will be easier for you" Mira said
[Avolt Forest, next stop Avolt Forest]
The PE voice out as the train moved to the next train station
"we're lucky that Natsu can still train us even in the holidays" Mira said as she stretched her arms a bit "I'm starting to feel my agility getting sluggish after the CMC, haven't been training for a while"
"I see" Lucy said
The two were on their way to meet up with Natsu who told them to come to the Avolt Forest, the place where the man had first trained with his Uncle, Atlas Flame
The train ride lasted for about an hour before it reached a stop at a station near a forest
[Avolt Forest, we have arrived to Avolt Forest, please keep in check of your belongings, and have a nice day]
Hearing where they stopped, Lucy and Mira got off the train before it left off
"there's no one here" Lucy said as the train station was empty
"there" Mira said as she pointed to the side there was Happy who rested on the floor before waking up and looks to see the two
"hello, Happy" Lucy said kneeling down and petting the feline's head
Happy meowed while purring to the petting before the feline started to lead them into the forest
The two walked in the forest as they were following Happy
After 30 minutes of walking, the two find themselves in a big opening where they find Erza, Kagura, and Ikaruga in midst of training
"looks like Erza-san and the others got here first" Lucy said as the trio swordswomen were in a mock practice against copies of Natsu
"you're late" a copy of Natsu said as he came to them
"tell that to her" Mira said pointing at Lucy "she's the one who forgot to pack up yesterday"
"hey!" Lucy exclaimed
"anyway, let's start" Natsu said as he leads them to their training ground
While the girls were training, the original Natsu was by a waterfall, meditating under the raging water
His posture stern and calm while he meditates; Atlas was nearby and was having some tea
"your aura is wavering, calmer the mind, and heart together" Atlas said as Natsu meditates before his body glowed a bit red "good"
The old man sips his tea before Happy came
"have the last of the two come?" Atlas asked as Happy nodded with a meow "very well"
Atlas turns towards Natsu as the man stopped meditating before he stands up and face towards the raging water of the waterfall
"Enryuo no!" Natsu ignites his right fist in crimson flames as it rages and burns bright "Hokken!"
Natsu punched his flaming fist against the waterfall as a torrent of crimson flames burns and evaporates the water in an instant
The water disappeared and revealed a stone statue of a dragon hidden within the waterfall
There was a crimson red orb in the Dragon's mouth as it shines bright
Water soon started falling down as the waterfall returns
Natsu sighs as he made his way out of the waterfall
"your power increased since the last time you've visited…" Atlas said as he sips his tea and finished it all "….but you are still far from reaching the flames that your father had mastered"
"I know" Natsu said as his body steams up
Lucy was meditating over a cliff as a copy of Natsu stood beside her
A breeze passes by as Lucy's hair dance around before spheres of light forms around her
They floats around before flying above and burst into particles
"good, seems like you haven't forgotten" Natsu said with an amused smile "you completely mastered Magic Concentration"
"but it's still taxing" Lucy said a bit tired "is there something next? Running? Jumping?"
"nothing of the sort" Natsu said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out 8 golden keys "it's time for you to master your own magic"
"THOSE ARE!" Lucy exclaimed as Natsu gave her the keys "8 OF THE 12 GOLDEN ZODIAC KEYS! BUT HOW!?"
"my Uncle had them from an old friend of his, he was told to pass them on to a Celestial Mage with a kind heart" Natsu said as Lucy admired the keys "you are that Celestial Mage and you are worthy to possess them"
"thank you!" Lucy exclaimed with a big smile while holding the keys to her heart
"call them out and make a contract with them" Natsu said as Lucy nodded and admired her keys
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Ikaruga was in a sword fight against a copy of Natsu as their blades clashed against each other
"your right foot is out of place" Natsu said as he pushed Ikaruga before pointing the blade of his sword to her neck "seems like you are slacking a bit"
"and whose fault might that be? Hmmm?" Ikaruga asked with a smile as Natsu chuckled before pulling away his sword and sheathes it
"touche" Natsu said before Ikaruga kisses his lips while smiling
Kagura was standing on the top of a tree as Natsu was near her
"don't shake around too much" Natsu said as Kagura's body was shaking a bit while she tried to remain still "you'll fall"
"I know that!" Kagura exclaimed before she started falling forwards "wha!?"
Natsu's hand grabbed her waist as the man holds her straight
"you were saying?" Natsu asked with a raised eyebrow as Kagura blushed and puffs her cheeks
The man chuckles before he kisses her cheeks
"adorable" Natsu said
Erza was in training as she was sweating a lot
Her Flame Empress Dress was holding in place as Erza was training into controlling her armor and that was not by wearing them
A few seconds later, her armor soon falls down to the ground
Erza holds her knees as the training was very taxing too much on her body
"this…is….hard…" Erza said while huffing her breathing
"its supposed to" Natsu said while waking pass her "Mind Telekinesis is something that only a few mages can do, but with the right mind concentration, it's not impossible"
Natsu snapped his fingers as Enryuo Yoroi appeared beside him
"try again, and be more focused" Natsu said as Erza nodded
Everyone trained well mostly everyone as the few who didn't train were Éclair, Ultear, and Cana who was drinking at the time
"they are training hard" Ultear said seeing how Mira was having a fight training against a copy of Natsu
"seems so" Éclair noted while having the Hinotori egg on her lap and was covered in a warm blanket "we should train too"
"naaah~ let's jut drink!" Cana exclaimed all drunk before she hiccuped
"why did she even came?" Ultear asked with a sweatdrop
"your psychics aren't meant for fighting" a copy of Natsu said while walking by "it's better to train your magic then forcing your bodies to do the fighting"
"I see" Éclair said "say Natsu, is the Princess going to be here?"
''Nope, the King had her come back to her home in Crocus" Natsu said "something about checking perfect suitors"
"I guess the King haven't admitted you yet" Ultear said
"back to the main question, you guys aren't fit for fighting hand to hand" Natsu explained "training your magic even further is the best option"
"but I can fight~!" Cana exclaimed drunk before she passed out a second later
"right" Natsu said before walking away
After a day of training, night had come as everyone went to a big log cabin
"is this you, Natsu?" Lucy asked as she was looking at a picture frame that had a photo of Natsu in his childhood days with Igneel beside him
"yeah" Natsu said while in the kitchen "this cabin used to belong to my dad years back. Now he passed it to me"
Lucy hummed as she sees more pictures of Natsu with Igneel, both doing many fun things together
She eyed them all before she finds a picture frame that had the photo of Igneel, Atlas, and Irene. But the side of the picture was torn, right near Irene
Lucy looks at it as she could tell that someone was in the picture but was torn out
As she looks at it, Natsu's hand reached in and took the picture frame
"best that you don't stare at it too much" Natsu said as he placed the picture away to a drawer "come on, dinner is nearly ready outside"
Natsu walks away while Lucy looks at him then to the drawer, where the picture frame was kept at
Everyone was outside as they were having a BBQ
"man! this is delicious!" Mira exclaimed while biting in a grilled meat kebab "how can this taste so good?!"
"the secret is in the spices and grilling" Atlas said as he was doing the grilling or rather he was grilling them with his magic "mushing the spices in the meat, brings out their true flavor"
"this would taste good with some beer!" Cana said while eating some meat and chewed on it
"you say that with every food" Lucy said with a sweatdrop
Natsu place down a bowl of minced fish for Happy as the feline meowed and munches down the meal while getting petted by Natsu
"eat up" Natsu said while scratching Happy's head before the man turns his attention to Éclair who caresses the egg on her lap "let me take care of this one"
Éclair nodded as she passes the Hinotori egg to Natsu
"I must say, that I'm very astounded that the Kingdom would provide a very rare animal's egg as a prize" Atlas said as he was told of the CMC a few days back "a Hinotori, was it? Those type of birds are called descendants of the Phoenix in the past"
"why is it called Hinotori, anyway?" Lucy asked "I read the book but there's no description of it"
"that is because the Hinotori means Fire Bird. The creature is entirely made of flames, just like the bird of Rebirth, Phoenix" Atlas explained "only difference is that these species are rather reclusive and not many have laid eyes on it"
"and you have?" Erza asked as Atlas nodded
"yes, when I still had my sight that is" Atlas said chuckling a bit
Natsu holds the egg as his hands warmed up a bit for it
"the Hinotori's eggs can be easily captured for their mothers would leave their eggs" Atlas said "the reason is unknown, and yet to those who captured the egg, they had never managed to hatch it"
"never managed to?" Lucy asked confused
"the Hinotori, like the name, need to hatch on certain conditions" Atlas said "first, is that the environment must be in a very high temperature; second, if the egg was to have contact with any cold objects of any sort, the egg will never hatch"
"what a weird bird, it's egg has to hatch in a weird way" Mira said before everyone heard a loud cracking sound near them
They face towards Natsu as the man holds the egg, but it hatched and everyone could see two pair of eyes looking at them from in the egg
"i-it hatched?!" everyone exclaimed in surprise as they couldn't believe that the egg had already hatched
The Hinotori bird popped out of its shell as the bird had golden yellow feathers
"my my, it would usually take up to a year for a Hinotori Egg to hatch" Atlas said with a chuckle "but this one is quite in a hurry"
The bird shakes its head around before rustling its feather
"it's cute!" Lucy exclaimed getting near the bird and wanting to touch it, only to get her hand pecked "ow!"
The Hinotori screeched at her as it flies on top of Natsu's head and rested down
"ah, I forgot to mention that the Hinotori bird doesn't like petting" Atlas said as Lucy rubs her pecked hand
"you could've say that earlier" Lucy said
Everyone looked at the Hinotori bird as it spreads its wings around, revealing its golden wings
"you said that the Hinotori bird is made out of flames, right? Why is this one just like a normal bird?" Mira asked before her head got pecked by the bird in question "ow!"
"hatchlings do not obtain their fire till there are in adolescent age" Atlas said "this little one will stay in a protected environment to where it likes"
The Hinotori rustles its feathers around before it flies towards Éclair and landed in her arms
"looks to me that it wants to be with Éclair" Natsu said as the bird nuzzles down
"but why?" Éclair asked as she looks at the bird
"who knows?" Atlas said scratching his beard "not much is known of this bird's behavior"
The Hinotori nuzzles around as it rested in Éclair's arms
"we should give it a name" Ultear said as everyone looks at her "it's better than calling it something else, right?"
"how about Tiki?" Lucy asked as the Hinotori bird woke up and squalled at her angrily "it's a no?"
"Pyro Bird?" Mira asked as everyone else sweatdropped and then shook their head
Everyone started thinking of names while Éclair looks at the Hinotori bird in her arms
"how about…..we call you Momon?" Éclair asked as everyone looks to her and then to the bird
The Hinotori looks at Éclair before nuzzling its head to her arm in affection
"Momon? Why that name?" Kagura asked
"it's the name of a Flying Squirrel character in a children story book that my father used to read me when I was little" Éclair explained to them
"Flying Squirrel?" Lucy thought as she imagined a Flying Squirrel in her head
"judging by the bird's behavior, I think it likes the name" Natsu said as the Hinotori Bird was nuzzling to Éclair, signing that it was liking the name and herself
"then it's settled then" Erza said as she tried petting the bird, only to get a peck in reply "it's such a picky bird"
"is it a she or a he?" Lucy asked curious on its gender
Natsu took a look bellow its tail as the bird perked up and glared at him
"a boy" Natsu said before he caught the bird's beak when it tried to peck him "you're a 100 years early to do that"
"is he merciless to all creatures?" Ultear asked while Ikaruga giggles to see the interaction of Natsu scaring the bird
Night soon came as everyone went in the rooms provided in the cabin
Each room had 4 beds so each room 4 people, only problem now is who gets to be in the same room with Natsu while Atlas had his own room to himself
Everyone gathered in a circle as Lucy was holding the drawing sticks can while sweatdropping
"three are marked red, whoever gets them. Gets to sleep in the same room as Natsu" Erza said as everyone holds their piece "clear?"
"why am I dragged into this?" Lucy muttered out as everyone had a spark of rivalry
"ready?" Kagura said as everyone holds their sticks tight "go!"
Everyone pulled out their sticks as only three were marked red
Everyone looks at their sticks as Erza and Ultear got the last two red marked sticks with Cana too
"alright!" Cana exclaimed "I get to be in the same room!"
"victory!" Erza said with a grin as she was victorious in getting the red marked stick while Ultear merely smiled
"looks like we have to wait tomorrow to get to pick again, huh?" Kagura said a bit disappointed in her loss
"we can do that, or we come at night?" Ikaruga said while walking away
This got Natsu's mates to look at her as Ikaruga merely smiled to their reaction
Everyone soon went upstairs, leaving Lucy and some flying dust behind
"so fast…" Lucy said while having a deadpanned face
Everyone soon went to their room as the night had come and invited them to their dreams
In Natsu's room, the man was asleep and near him were Cana, Erza, and Ultear in their beds
Natsu silently sleeps before he heard small rustling under his blanket
He peeked an eye open before he sniffs the air and smiled a bit
From bellow the blanket, Éclair appeared as she giggles silently to Natsu before hugging his waist
"you could've just asked to share a bed with me" Natsu whispered quietly as he drapes a hand over her waist and securely traps her in his embrace
"this is more fun" Éclair giggles as she snuggles to his broad chest and inhales his muscular scent "I never get to sleep with you after the CMC"
"I guess so" Natsu said as he caressed her back before pulling her closer to sleep
While the group was sleeping, our attention went to the nearby mountains
A group of mountain climbers were camping as they had a campfire set up
"man, today was so tiring" one mountain climber said to the other who sat in front of him "but getting to look at this beautiful view is worth it"
"you said it" the other mountain climber said while the rest of their group were asleep
"keep an eye out" the mountain climber said as he stood up "nature calls"
"make sure that you don't attract some wildlifes" the other one said as the mountain climber chuckles
"oh please, there's no wild life in the m-!?" the mountain climber said before he suddenly disappeared
"hmm?" the other man said looking to where the other climber was as he was gone "hey? this ain't a good time to be joking around"
He looks around to where the man was gone as he finds some sort of thick spider web
"what is this?" he said looking at the spider web before something hits him from behind
He turns and sees a thick spider silk had attached onto him
"what is this?" he said before he suddenly got pulled "h-help!"
He started screaming, waking up the sleeping group who came out of their tents
"Heeelp!" the man screamed before he disappeared
"what's going on?" the other remaining mountain climber asked before they see multiple glowing eyes in the shadows
"AAAAaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
