Ch. 3- Eisenwald
Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima
Story and OCs © Me
Natsu and Haru both glared at their opponent, the young man known as Kageyama, who glared at them while wiping his mouth of blood.
"So you saw it, did you?" asked Kageyama. "Then you have both sentenced yourselves to death."
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about," Haru said as she stood alongside her brother. "You're seriously gonna kill us over a little flute? Although it is kinda weird-looking."
"SHUT UP!" Kageyama shouted as he sent his shadow at the two siblings, who jumped out of the way at the last second. As Natsu leapt into the air, he lit his right fist on fire before he slugged the Shadow Wizard right in the face, sending him crashing to the floor.
"That's for that sluggin' you gave me, earlier!" Natsu shouted.
"Haha! Yeah!" Haru laughed. "That's the way to show him, Natsu!"
Natsu smirked as he cracked his knuckles, preparing to deliver another beatdown... until the P.A. system came on.
"Attention, passengers: the emergency stop that had been issued earlier was given out as an error. The train will continue as planned. We apologize for this inconvenience."
Natsu, Haru, and Blue Fang all froze just as the train began to lurch forward, causing Natsu to gag as his motion sickness began to kick back in.
"Not again...!" he moaned.
"Quick, we gotta get off this thing!" cried Haru as she hurried to grab hers and Natsu's bags.
"Hold it, you two little flies!" shouted Kageyama. "You attacked a member of the Eisenwald Guild! Don't think that it ends here!"
"Oh, yeah?!" Natsu asked. "Well, I'll be sure to remember your face, too! You're gonna regret the day you insulted Fairy Tail-" His speech was interrupted with a gag as he felt the train rocking against the tracks.
"Natsu, we gotta go!" Haru shouted as she jumped onto Blue Fang's back, and Natsu hopped on not long after, but not without shooting one more glare at Kageyama.
"Next time, we're settling this one-on-one!" he declared before Blue Fang climbed up on one of the seats and broke through the windows to the outside. In doing so, however, Natsu accidentally lost his grip and fell off the silver wolf with a scream.
"Natsu!" Haru cried as she looked back, but she saw that there was no need to go after her brother... because someone else managed to catch him.
"AGH! DAMMIT, FLAME-HEAD!"
To Haru's relief, Erza, Lucy, Gray, and Happy arrived just in time riding on a Magic 4-Wheeler Car... with Gray and Natsu both lying on their ground, holding their foreheads.
"You guys!" Haru exclaimed as she and Blue Fang ran over to them.
"Haru!" Lucy called as she and Erza got out of the vehicle. "Are you, Blue Fang, and Natsu okay?"
"Well, more or less," answered Haru.
"Dude, what the hell are you trying to do, kill me?!" Gray asked as he glared at Natsu.
"I'm suffering amnesia from the shock," Natsu answered. "Who are you, again? And why the hell do you stink?"
"WHAT WAS THAT, YOU PUNK?!" Gray questioned.
"Natsu, are you all right?" asked Erza.
"Erza, Happy, Lucy, you guys left me hangin', back there!" Natsu spat. "How could you?!"
"Forgive me," said Erza, looking sincerely sorry.
"Yeah, sorry about that, Natsu," Lucy added.
"Aye!" Happy piped up.
"Funny how you remember them," Gray groused.
"I'm glad that you're both all right," said Erza as she pulled the Dragneel Siblings into a hug... but in doing so, she slammed their heads against her chest plate.
"OW!" Natsu cried.
"Ugh... Erza, your armor...!" Haru groaned.
"Let go!" Natsu shouted as he pulled himself out of Erza's "embrace". "And actually, I was NOT all right! I was attacked by some weirdo! If Haru hadn't shown up to help me, I would have been clobbered!"
"Weirdo? What weirdo?" Gray asked.
"He said his name is Kageyama," Haru began, "and he was from some guild called 'Eisenwald'. You ever heard of it?"
"What?!" Lucy and Gray questioned in alarm while Erza's face contorted to one of seriousness.
"Eisenwald?!" Erza repeated, angrily. "Are you sure that's what he said?!"
"Uh... yeah...?" asked Natsu, only to get slapped across the face, which, due to the sheer force of it, sent him flying several feet!
"AAH!" Lucy shrieked in fright as she got out of the way.
"OW! THAT HURT!" Natsu yelled as he held his bruised cheek.
"Erza, what did you slap him like that for?!" Haru asked in shock.
"The Eisenwald Guild is the exact people I've been hunting down!" Erza shouted. "Weren't you two listening to me?!"
"How could I listen?!" Natsu asked. "You knocked me out!"
"And Haru wasn't in the car with us!" Lucy pointed out.
"...Oh, yes," Erza muttered. "Well, no matter!" She soon got in the driver's seat of the 4-Wheeler and attached the SE cuff to her wrist. "That man, he was on the train, yes? Then we have to go after him. Did you notice anything about him aside from what he looked like?"
"Well, he can use Shadow Magic, for one thing," said Haru.
"And he also had this weird flute with him," Natsu pointed out. "It looked kinda like a skull with three eyes."
Upon hearing that, Lucy suddenly gasped as an uncomfortable chill crawled up her spine and she began to shake like a leaf in a wind storm.
"What the hell does that mean?" Gray asked. "Is this guy into creepy macabre stuff or something?"
"A... a flute with a three-eyed skull...?" she whispered.
"What's wrong, Lucy?" asked Happy.
"Maybe it's just my imagination," Lucy began, "but... if that flute is what I think it is, a lot of innocent people could be in grave danger!"
The rest of the Fairy Tail wizards all glanced at each other, becoming just as alarmed as the Celestial Spirit Wizard was.
"Lucy, what are you talking about?" asked Haru, worriedly. "Why would a flute put people in danger?"
"That flute is called 'Lullaby'!" Lucy cried. "It's the cursed spell song, also called Death Magic!"
"What?!" Erza questioned.
"Spell song?" Gray repeated in bewilderment.
"Death Magic?!" Haru asked in shock.
"...I still don't get it," Natsu muttered.
Soon, as the group began to board the Magic 4-Wheeler, Lucy began to explain to them what this "Lullaby" was. Even though she had only read about it in books back when she was younger, she had read that it was one of the Forbidden Magics of the world. Erza also knew about the Forbidden Magic, knowing that using it can inflict a curse on one's target.
However, Lucy explained that Lullaby was even worse than that.
"Lullaby is a Demon Magic Instrument!" she answered. "If we don't hurry and get it away from the Eisenwald Guild, hundreds, thousands, even millions of people could die!"
Upon hearing that news, the group realized that they had no time to waste. Thus, once everyone was on board the 4-Wheeler, Erza took off at a speed that was even faster than Blue Fang... which was unfortunate for Natsu, who was sitting in the back with Haru as he tried to keep himself from puking up his breakfast.
"Ohhh, why me...?!" Natsu moaned, sweat falling from his face and his breath coming out in a harsh wheeze.
"You're just gonna have to bear with it, Natsu, I'm sorry!" Haru said as she tried to keep her brother calm, and meanwhile, Blue Fang was sitting in the car, sticking his head out the window since the vehicle was actually big enough for him to actually stand in.
As they continued to ride to the next train station, the group began to overhear certain clues about Eisenwald's actions from nearby bystanders.
"So, wait," said Lucy, "they hijacked a train?!"
"That's what it sounds like to me!" Happy answered.
"I could understand a horse-drawn carriage or a boat," said Lucy, "but a train?"
"Aye!" Happy answered. "It's the only thing that can run on rails! The question is why would they steal one?"
"It's all about speed," Gray answered from atop the 4-Wheeler since there was no more room... and he was stripping off his coat, for some reason. "These guys must be in a hurry to wherever they're going in order to do serious damage!"
"Why are you stripping?!" asked Lucy. "In any case, we shouldn't be too worried! It sounds like the Royal Army is on its way to diffuse the situation, so it's only a matter of time before they're stopped... right?"
"Lucy, I don't think the army can handle something like this," Haru replied. "Remember, Eisenwald, while a Dark Guild, is still a wizard's guild, nonetheless! Their magic might be too much for the Royal Army! That's why we have to get there as quick as we can, right, Erza?"
"Exactly," Erza replied as she pushed forward on the steering shift, causing the Magic 4-Wheeler to speed up. "Hang on to your stomachs, everyone!"
"Too late for that...!" Natsu groaned before he gagged.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Erza, slow down!" Gray cried as the group made it into town with Erza literally tearing through the streets and people running and diving to get out of her path. "You're overloading the SE plug!"
"If Eisenwald plays that flute, too many innocent lives will be lost!" Erza argued as she knocked over a crate full of apples. "Even a single note could kill someone!"
"I know that!" Gray answered. "Even so, we don't even know what they're after! We could be in for some trouble, here! If you drive too fast, you'll drain your magic power!"
"I don't care about that!" Erza shouted. "If worse comes to worst, I'll fight them tooth and nail, if I have to! And besides..." she narrowed her eyes. "I'm not worried... I have you all with me!"
"Erza..." Haru whispered in awe but then gasped as she felt the car jolt from a bump, causing Natsu to groan as he held his stomach and covered his mouth.
"Oh, god... I think I'm dying!" he cried, and meanwhile, Happy seemed to be in deep contemplation.
"What's up with you, Happy?" Lucy asked.
"I dunno," Happy replied. "I feel like I was supposed to tell you something, Lucy, but now I forgot what it was."
"Something like what?" Lucy inquired.
"Like I said, I don't remember," Happy replied.
"Well, can you try to remember?" Lucy asked with a bit of urgency. "You're starting to make me nervous here!"
"Uhh... what was it?" asked Happy.
"Oh, this is makin' me sick...!" Natsu moaned.
"...Oh! I think that's it!" Happy exclaimed.
"What?!" Lucy questioned. "What is that supposed to mean?!"
"Happy, remember the real thing!" Haru shouted, only to gasp as she saw her brother beginning to lean out the window. "Natsu, wait!" She groaned as she grabbed him by the back of his vest while Blue Fang bit on the back of his kilt. "Are you crazy?! You're gonna fall out!"
"That's the idea!" Natsu cried.
"Lucy, help me!" Haru urged, prompting Lucy to rush over and grab the Dragon Slayer.
"Come on, Natsu, get back in here!" Lucy shouted as she pulled Natsu back in. "We don't have time for this!"
"Uh... what was it...?" Happy muttered to himself. "Lucy... weird... weirdo...? Fishy... yummy... Lucy... weird...?"
"Who are you calling 'weird', you stupid cat?!" Lucy questioned, just as she, Haru, and Blue Fang finally managed to pull Natsu back in, but the boy was still feeling nauseous, groaning with his arms over his belly.
"Just kill me, someone...!" he cried.
"Lucy, I have an idea!" Haru said. "Lay Natsu across the seat and put his head on your lap!"
"Okay, I- wait, what?!" Lucy questioned. "But-"
"Just do it!" Haru urged.
"Okay, okay!" Lucy replied as she gently sprawled Natsu out on the backseat and placed his head on her lap, causing him to moan uncomfortably. "N-Now what do I do?"
"Rub his belly, it'll help calm him down!" answered Haru, and Lucy was about to ask, but upon seeing the Beast Wizard's stern expression, she decided it would be best not to before she began to run her hand up and down Natsu's abdominal muscles, which elicited a soft, pleasant sigh as he felt his stomach begin to unclench. As Lucy did so... she couldn't help blushing just a little bit as she felt his chiseled abdomen, and she also found herself stroking her fingers through his spiky, pink hair... which felt surprisingly soft.
As Lucy continued her treatment, Natsu gave a comfortable sigh as he stopped knitting his brow, causing Haru to sigh in relief.
"Good, he's relaxed," she said. "Good work, Lucy! Who'd have thought that you were actually a living cure for motion sickness, huh?"
"Uh... yeah," Lucy replied, still too focused on what she was doing to give Haru any eye contact.
"Everyone, look alive!" Erza called. "We're nearing Oshibana Station!"
Haru poked her head out the window and gasped upon seeing a plume of smoke rising into the air from the station, where a large crowd had gathered due to all the commotion. Soon, Erza hit the brakes, but because she was going so fast, she almost crashed into the building. Thankfully, she stopped just a few inches short of it, causing everyone to sigh in relief.
"Sheesh... even that ride made me sick," Gray muttered.
"Tell me about it," Lucy muttered.
"Uh... Lucy?"
Lucy froze before she glanced down at the Dragon Slayer in her lap and saw that he was now staring right back at her, his complexion no longer pale and his body no longer sweaty.
"Uh... why are you rubbin' my belly and strokin' my head?" Natsu asked. "And why am I lyin' in your lap?"
"AAH!" Lucy shrieked as she pushed Natsu off, causing him to grunt in pain.
"What the hell?!" Natsu questioned as he rubbed his head.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Lucy sputtered. "Well, it's just... well... I-"
"Come on, everyone, let's go!" Erza ordered as she pulled the SE plug off her wrist and jumped out of the driver's seat. "Move it!"
"You heard Erza!" Haru called as she got out of the back with Blue Fang and Happy. "Let's go, you guys!"
Lucy, still trying to get over the awkwardness of what she was doing, hurriedly got out without a word while Natsu followed after her, confused and perhaps a bit irritated. Soon, the group of wizards managed to push their way past the crowd, and after a little... "convincing" from Erza, the station workers allowed them entrance into the building. Apparently, some royal guards went into the building, but had yet to come out... and when they got inside, they soon saw why.
There were dead bodies, everywhere... some of having bled out, others impaled by their own weapons... but it was clear that they had fought to the bitter end. Still, the sight caused the blood in the Fairy Tail members' veins to turn to ice.
"Oh... my god...!" Lucy whispered.
"I thought I smelled blood," Natsu said while Haru gagged and covered her mouth.
"Ugh... I feel sick...!" she groaned.
"...These poor, brave soldiers," Erza said as she lowered her head and closed her eyes, both out of respect and mourning. "They were up against wizards from a Dark Guild... they didn't stand a chance."
"...We gotta move," said Gray as they all walked in, steeling themselves for the battle ahead... but as they neared the ticket counter, they heard a dark chuckle coming from somewhere.
"Well, well, well... it looks like we have some flies among us."
The group looked up to see a large group of wizards standing in front of them... among them being Kageyama, who smirked as he stood among his allies, and sitting above them was a pale-skinned, sickly-looking man wearing a purple scarf, white hakama pants that were torn around the legs, a strange tattoo on his left pectoral, and holding a scythe in his arm.
"Welcome... Fairy Tail," he said with a wicked grin.
"Erigor...!" Erza hissed as she clenched her fists.
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