Ch. 3- Rescuing Gloria
Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima
Story and OCs © Me
As Blue Fang trekked higher and higher up the mountain trail, he had his nose pointed toward the ground, tracking whatever scent he could catch as he walked while Natsu, Lucy, Haru, and Happy were still sitting on the silver-coated wolf's back.
"Got a scent yet, big guy?" asked Haru, causing Blue Fang to look up and shake his head. "Keep at it, then. You'll get it."
"Ugh... this place gives me the creeps," Lucy said as she looked around in the forest, hearing the various calls of wild animals.
"If you don't like it, you should have stayed at the village," Natsu said.
"Aye," Happy agreed.
"You're the ones who dragged me along for this job!" Lucy argued, but then Haru quickly shushed her. "Oh! Sorry...!"
Just then, Blue Fang's nose twitched and his ears pricked up, then began to quicken his pace, forcing the group to hold onto his fur as he broke into a brisk trot. As quickly as he sped up, though, he stopped as he soon approached something on the ground: a black boot... and a trail of a familiar red fluid that had splattered along the soil. Upon seeing it, Lucy felt her stomach clench and her blood run cold.
"B... blood...!" she whispered as Haru dropped down from Blue Fang's back and took a closer look, and she didn't just find the boot and a blood trail, but several footprints as well, but one set was smaller than the others.
"Well, sis?" Natsu asked. "What do you think?"
"Hmm..." Haru hummed as she stuck her finger into the blood, then rubbed her finger and thumb together. "It's fresh, all right... and look here." She pointed at the footprints on the ground. "Obviously, Gloria tried to get away at one point, but the bandits caught her."
"That poor girl," said Lucy, worriedly. "She was probably injured, too. I can't believe that these bandits would gang up on a child like this!"
"Gotta admit, though," Natsu began, "she's pretty tough, tryin' to escape from the bandits on her own. Gotta give her credit for that."
"Even so," Haru replied, "we gotta hurry. If Gloria's injured, it's only a matter of time before she bleeds out... or worse."
"I don't even wanna think about what could be worse," Lucy said, nervously. "Let's just hurry and find her so we can get her home!"
"And we can kick some bandit butt to boot!" Natsu exclaimed as he punched a fist into his palm. "Win-freakin'-win, if you ask me!"
"Just be sure to save some for me, too," Haru smirked as she put her hand to her bicep. "I'm not gonna let you have all the fun, Big Brother!"
"You two are definitely brother and sister," Lucy mused... but then she gasped in sudden realization. "Hey, Haru, I just realized something."
"Yeah?" asked Haru.
"You're a wizard, too, right?" Lucy inquired. "So what kind of magic can you use?"
"Well, I can use-" Haru started, only for Blue Fang to growl, alerting the group to an unfamiliar presence, and sure enough, shadowy figures soon came skulking out from behind the trees and rocks, growling menacingly as they advanced.
"Uh-oh!" Happy squeaked in alarm, his tail going straight up and puffing out in fright. "We got company!"
"What are they?!" Lucy questioned in fright.
"The bandits?!" asked Natsu, almost excitedly... but as the creatures stepped out, he saw that it was the red-furred dogs that the bandits were handling. "Oh... just a pack of mutts. Man, I got all excited for nothin'!"
"What are you talking about?!" Lucy asked as the dogs growled and barked. "They're still dangerous! They're looking at us like we're about to be their lunch!"
"They must be the bandits' guard dogs," Haru surmised. "I guess they were left here to keep any intruders out."
"Well, Haru, looks like they're yours," Natsu said. "Do your thing!"
"Right!" Haru replied as she stepped forward, approaching the dogs.
"Wait, Haru! What are you doing?!" Lucy asked. "Those dogs could you rip you to shreds!"
"Don't worry about it, Lucy," Natsu reassured. "I told you, animals are no problem for Haru!"
"Aye! Just watch and learn!" Happy chirped while Haru approached the dogs, who all growled at her before they began to charge... but the green-haired girl stood stock-still.
"Beast Siren: Calm," she uttered before she opened her mouth and sang a high note, holding it for 5 seconds straight. As she did, a teal aura seemed to flow out of her mouth and it reached the ears of the dogs... and almost instantly, they all stopped in front of her, wagging their tails and panting happily with comical hearts in their eyes, to Lucy's astonishment while Natsu just smirked proudly.
"W-what was that?!" asked Lucy. "She made the dogs stop attacking with a song!"
"That's Haru's magic!" Happy answered. "It's called Beast Magic! When Haru sings, it causes even the wildest of animals to obey her!"
"So that's why you said that beasts are no problem for Haru!" Lucy exclaimed.
'We really could have used her for that Vulcan job!' she added, mentally. '...Then again, she might hate that more than anything else...'
"Aww, good doggies," Haru cooed as she stroked the canines... which caused Blue Fang to whine. "Oh, Blue Fang, don't be jealous. You'll always be my favorite wolf."
Hearing that caused Blue Fang to smile and wag his tail, assured that his mistress still loved him.
"Now then," Haru said as she turned to the dogs, "can you all be good doggies and take us to the bandit hideout, pretty please~?"
With simultaneous barks, the dogs soon turned around and led the Fairy Tail group up the mountain trail.
"You did it, again, sis!" Natsu praised as he pat his younger sister on the shoulder.
"Well, I always did have that animal magnetism," Haru quipped, causing the pair to laugh.
After a while, the guard dogs eventually led the group to a higher point on the mountain, and as they drew closer, they could hear the sound of raucous laughter and yelling in the distance.
"Yeah, we're getting close, all right," Haru said as she looked at the dogs and smiled lovingly. "Thank you all. I think we can take it from here. Bye-bye, now!"
The dogs all barked happily before they turned and walked away, back down the path.
"Right then," Natsu spoke. "Let's get movin'. We should be able to reach them from here, right?"
"Yeah," Haru replied while Lucy swallowed the lump in her throat, but then took in a deep breath.
"Let's do this," whispered the Celestial Wizard.
"Why are you talking to yourself?" Happy asked.
"I'm just giving myself a pep talk, you stupid cat!" Lucy shouted.
Soon, the quintet continued to make their way around the bend, following the sound of laughing bandits, and as they drew nearer, they soon found the miscreants they were looking for... and there were actually a lot more than they had anticipated: a large group of at least 50 or so men and even a few women here and there, drinking, eating, and laughing to their hearts' content as they sat around an old wooden cabin and a large bonfire blazed in the middle of it all. Not far away from them, it was also revealed that they had several more dogs lying nearby, tied up to some trees. As the bandits partied, Haru gasped quietly as she saw someone sitting apart from them: a young girl with her hands bound behind her and blood dripping out of her left bicep... and it looked like she had gotten roughed up a little bit more, too, judging by the bruises on her face.
"No doubt about it," Haru whispered as she, Natsu, Lucy, Happy, and Blue Fang hid in the underbrush. "That's gotta be Gloria."
"Looks like she really took a beating," Lucy added as she peered through the bushes. "How are we gonna get her outta there?"
"There are a lot of them," Happy added, worriedly.
"...I think I've got an idea," whispered Haru as she glanced over at Blue Fang, who seemed to give this almost mischievous grin as he snickered, which caused her and Natsu to smirk.
Meanwhile, the bandits were continuing to have their little party while Gloria leaned against the cabin, groaning weakly as her head ached from the beating she got after trying to escape, earlier. Not just that, but her arm was throbbing, too. She could feel herself beginning to bleed out.
She wasn't going to last much longer without help.
"Jeez, the boss still isn't back yet?" asked one of the bandits as he took a swig of ale.
"You know he is," said a female bandit. "He likes to take his sweet time."
"Still, what do we do with the little bitch over there?" asked a third bandit, this one also being male as he glanced over at Gloria. "She's practically half-dead. There's no use in keeping her prisoner."
"The boss said somethin' about findin' someone to sell her off to," said another bandit as she took a bite out of some meat. "Too bad... I was kinda hopin' she'd be one of us."
"Are you kidding?" asked the fifth bandit. "I mean, yeah, she might know some magic, but she's way too much trouble!"
"And speakin' of trouble, you guys are in for a hell of a lot more of it!"
The bandits looked up as they heard that shout, only to shriek as they saw Blue Fang charging toward them, growling and snarling, causing them to shriek in fear. Before they could react in time, the wolf barreled right over a few of them, knocking them all to the ground. The sudden noise caused Gloria to stir as she looked up, only to gasp as she Blue Fang savagely mauling the bandits. As the ruffians scrambled to get their weapons, Natsu and Haru soon came charging out, screaming battle cries of their own.
"What the-?!" questioned of the bandits. "Who are those two?!"
"Who cares?!" shouted another. "Get 'em!" With that, the bandits soon charged at the siblings... a mistake they would soon come to regret.
"Fire Dragon... IRON FIST!" yelled Natsu as he swung his blazing fist at some of the bandits, sending some of them flying away. Haru, meanwhile, jumped onto Blue Fang's back, using him as a higher vantage point as she punched and kicked away any bandits in their path while the wolf grabbed a few with his jaws and threw them through the air.
"Take THIS!" Haru shouted as she punched another bandit in the face, knocking out his teeth. "Haha! Just like old times, huh, Natsu?!"
"You bet, sis!" Natsu replied as he kicked another bandit in the gut, sending him tumbling across the ground. "We should really do this more often!" He spotted a large bandit charging at her and Blue Fang from behind while holding an ax over his head, trying to hit Haru while she had her back turned. "Whoa, watch it, Haru!" Charging at full speed, Natsu jumped up into the air and kicked the brute in the face, knocking the ax out of his hand.
"Whoa!" Haru exclaimed. "Thanks, Natsu!"
As they were fighting, Lucy gaped in awe as she watched the siblings take out the bandits like they were nothing. While Natsu's movements were powerful and fiery, Haru's moves were graceful and swift, yet still forceful enough to do damage. It reminded Lucy of the little spar that Natsu and Haru the night before they arrived in Aurora Village... but to see them going all out like this, it was certainly amazing.
"Uh, hey, Lucy?" Happy asked as he sat on the Celestial Wizard's shoulder. "Instead of just standing there, maybe we should get Gloria!"
"Oh!" Lucy exclaimed as she noticed Gloria leaning against the cabin. "You're right! Come on, Happy!"
'I can't get distracted,' thought Lucy as she ran over to the girl. 'I have to help, too!'
Soon, Lucy made it over to Gloria's side and began to untie her.
"W-who are you guys?" asked Gloria. "What are you doing here?"
"My name is Lucy," Lucy replied. "Listen, my friends and I are here to get you home, okay? Your brother sent us!"
"My... my brother?" Gloria repeated. "Why would he-"
"Lucy!" Happy called. "Behind you!"
Lucy turned, only to shriek as she saw some bandits approaching her from behind, some of them giving sick grins.
"Well, well," said one of them while licking the blade of his sword. "Look at this pretty little thing~! Such lovely golden hair~!"
"And those knockers ain't too bad, either!" exclaimed another.
"Back off!" Lucy shouted as she held up one of her Celestial Gate Keys. "Open the door to the Gate of the Golden Bull- TAURUS!"
Soon after she swung the key down, Taurus soon appeared in a flash of golden light, lowing ferociously as he held his giant ax.
"Whoa, what the hell is that?!" asked one of the bandits. "A talking cow?!"
"Miss Luuuuucy~!" Taurus mooed. "Your boobs look really sexy, today~!"
"Yeah, yeah, enough of that!" Lucy shouted as she pointed at the bandits. "Now, go get 'em!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Taurus yelled. "I will protect Miss Lucy's booooooobs!"
"PROTECT ME, NOT MY BOOBS!" Lucy yelled in comical anger as the minotaur soon charged at the bandits, swinging his ax at them before they could have a chance to attack, sending several of them flying through the air.
"W... what was that...?" Gloria asked.
"Oh!" Haru exclaimed. "She's a Celestial Wizard, huh? Never thought I'd see one of those!"
"Sis, focus!" Natsu called out, causing Haru to turn around just in time to punch another bandit in the face, followed by Blue Fang grabbing her with his mouth and tossing her away.
"Thanks, Natsu!" Haru called.
"Release the dogs!" yelled another one of the dogs, and soon after, another thug untied the dogs from the tree, sending them after Haru, who only smirked before she took in a deep breath.
"Beast Siren: Obey!" she called out before she sang this long note, a bit lower than the last one she sang, as a teal aura flowed out from her mouth and surrounded the dogs, causing them to brake to a halt.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" asked one of the female bandits. "Get them, you stupid dogs!"
"Attack!" Haru ordered as she pointed her finger at the bandits, and soon after, the dogs turned and growled at their masters, causing them to gasp before the canines charged at them, biting and clawing at them viciously.
"Whoa, what was that?!" asked Lucy while Taurus kept attacking the bandits.
"That's another one of Haru's spells!" Happy answered. "When she sings the Obey song, she causes any animals that hear it to listen to her every command! She can even make the animals attack the enemy!"
"That's incredible!" Lucy exclaimed.
"...Hey," Gloria spoke up as she stood up, albeit a bit woozy. "Are you guys... from Fairy Tail?"
"That's right, we are!" Lucy answered. "Why?"
Before Gloria could answer, she gasped as several other bandits lunged at her and Lucy, causing the latter to shriek.
"Get BACK!" Gloria shouted as she held up her hands... and soon after, this purple light flashed from her palms and expanded, forming a dome around herself, Happy, and Lucy, which ended up deflecting the bandits' weapons.
"A... a barrier?!" asked Lucy.
"That's so cool!" Happy piped up.
"Oh, yeah!" Natsu said as he punched another bandit in the face. "Her brother did say she could use magic, didn't he?"
"That's amazing!" Haru exclaimed... but then, Gloria groaned as she collapsed on the ground, causing Lucy to gasp as she caught her while the barrier disappeared.
"Gloria!" Lucy cried.
"Ugh... I... I can't keep up the barrier for long," Gloria muttered as she slipped into unconsciousness, and not long after, the bandits began to charge at them, brandishing their weapons.
"Oh, no! Lucy! Happy!" Haru cried while Natsu's eyes darted about until they landed on the bonfire, which caused him to smirk before he ran over and began to inhale it, thus causing his stomach to expand until he breathed the whole thing in, then he swallowed it before releasing a loud belch.
"Ahh, now I've got a fire in my belly!" he declared before he lit both fists on fire. "LUCY! HAPPY! GET DOWN!"
Upon hearing his call, Lucy and Happy quickly ducked down to the ground with Gloria, just as Natsu leaped into the air.
"Fire Dragon... WING ATTACK!"
Unleashing powerful streams of fire, Natsu swung his arms forward at the bandits, sending them flying away and scorching them all at the same time... but in doing so, he also accidentally burned Taurus, too.
"Whoops!" Natsu exclaimed. "Sorry, cow guy!"
"Mooooo..." Taurus groaned before he vanished, his time limit having expired.
As soon the dust and smoke settled, it was soon revealed that all the bandits were now lying on the ground, defeated.
"Well, that was fun," Haru smiled.
"Hell yeah, it was!" Natsu agreed before he looked over at Lucy, who was holding Gloria in her arms. "So how's she doing?"
"Her arm's still bleeding pretty bad," said Lucy. "I think it's because of that, plus the beating she took earlier, caused her to pass out so quickly."
"Natsu can fix the wound on her arm, at least," said Haru. "As for the rest of her wounds, she'll probably have to get medical treatment back at the village."
"It's probably best she's unconscious," Natsu said as he lit his hand on fire. "Less chance of her squirmin', that way." Soon, he placed his heated palm over the girl's wounded arm to cauterize the gash, and at first, she did grunt and flinch, but then she sighed as she began to feel the pain beginning to ebb away a bit.
"...Thank you," Gloria whispered as she woke up, once more.
"Thank us when we get you back home," said Haru. "Your brother's worried sick."
"...Really?" Gloria asked.
"Yeah, why do you think he sent us?" asked Natsu. "Anyway, let's get you down the mountain. Besides, I'm starvin'!"
"Didn't you just eat a huge bonfire?" asked Lucy, incredulously.
"Just because I eat fire doesn't mean it fills me up!" Natsu replied. "I gotta eat food, too!"
"Aye!" Happy agreed.
"Okay, okay, that's enough, you guys," said Haru as she hopped onto Blue Fang's back. "Come on, let's get moving! The sooner we get back down, the sooner Gloria can get some help!"
Soon, everyone mounted up on Blue Fang, who ran through the forest as fast as he could... however, as he left, someone else returned to the bandits' hideout.
"Well, well," muttered a mysterious figure: tall and imposing with a muscular frame. He had shaggy black hair and had a cigar in his mouth, and he was wearing a dark blue tattered cape, a pair of crimson trousers, and a pair of black leather boots... and in his hand was a large halberd with a red-and-black striped shaft and an insignia that looked like a whirlwind. "Who went and made a big mess of my camp? Me, the Great Hammond!"
"Ugh... b... boss...!" one of the bandits groaned. "You're back...!"
"Get yourselves up, you idiots," said Hammond as he glared in the direction of Aurora Village. "We've got a village to sort out."
And up next is the climactic battle!
Review, please!
