I got this idea for an adventure that occurs in between the Water Dragon God & Wood Dragon God and had to see how it played out, especially since I'm impatiently waiting for the next chapter of 100 year quest. We'll see how it goes. Don't forget to review!
Chpt 1: The Woods between Ermina & Tekka
"I can't believe Erza got so angry," Natsu whined.
"I don't know what you expected," Gray said with an eyeroll. "You shouldn't have tried to erase the train on the map."
"I didn't even do anything," Wendy repeated sullenly.
"Either way, you bought yourself a little bit of time until we get to Tekka," Gray said with a shrug. Natsu fell into step with him,silent and sulky . Ahead of them, Erza was hidden behind the piles and piles of luggage she dragged along. The only hint that she was there at all from their angle was that Lucy kept turning her head to respond or laugh at something Erza said behind the luggage.
"She looks like she's talking to herself," Gray observed with a smirk.
"I always knew she was a weirdo," Natsu replied with a chuckle.
"Has to be for putting up with you for so long," Gray teased.
Natsu shot him a glare, but still too wounded from his most recent Erza beating, he made no move to start a fight. Instead he looked up at the sky, arms behind his head as a breeze blew past. He'd take a bit more time to heal from his new bruises, but any second not on a train was well worth thousands of bruises from Erza. He'd rather fight the the Water Dragon God again than take this inevitable eight hour train to the center of Giltena Continent.
"So you really don't remember any of the fight after you ate those flames," asked Gray.
Natsu gave Gray a sideways glance. Gray was looking a head, a bored expression on his face.
"No," Natsu conceded. His eyes fell back on Lucy again. "I ate the flame and it sort of all went black. Then I was awake again in front of Mercphobia's body with Lucy holding onto me and my arms burned up."
"Really? Nothing?"
"I think I heard Lucy," Natsu thought, tapping his head to try and jog a few memories. Happy had said she stopped him before he went overboard, after eating Ignia's flame. "I just heard a voice very far away saying it was over. Maybe, honestly I can't say. It's all pretty blank."
"You're impossible" Gray sighed. "And then you tell her you'll pee on the burns after Wendy already healed it? Didn't even know you were into that sort of thing."
"Hey," growled Natsu, "shut up, ice brain. Who even told you about that?"
Without warning, Happy picked up his flying pace, making it to Lucy and landing in her arms, glancing back only once more. Natsu made a mental note to get the Exceed back later for gossiping. "Doesn't matter," Natsu continued. "I'm getting stronger and stronger and next time I eat those flames it'll be to defeat Ignia!"
Gray was about to respond with a snarky remark, but was interrupted when Erza paused, calling back to them. "This seems like a good camping spot for tonight, let's set up here before it gets too dark. Natsu and Gray, help me set up camp."
"I'll go find some firewood," Lucy suggested.
"I'll join you," Wendy agreed.
...
"You could help me, you know," Gray snapped as the tent fell down again.
"How do you not know how to set up a tent," Natsu teased, opening a lazy eye. He was very comfortable against the tree trunk, feeling the last few rays of sun hitting his face as the sun disappeared and the first stars began to twinkle above.
"If I set this whole thing up then you don't get to sleep in it," warned Gray, banging the first nail into the ground for the hundredth time.
"I already told you I don't need a tent. They get too stuffy," Natsu said. "Do you have ice in your ears?"
"Say that again," Gray threatened, dropping the tent pole he had been trying to erect in order to turn completely to Natsu, hands ready to ice-make a hammer or a cannon or anything to shut the fire idiot up.
"Gladly," Natsu said, jumping up and lighting his hands. "I said, do you have ice in your ears? Obviously you do, unless its your popsicle brain that's giving you issue."
Natsu lunged out of the way as a huge sweeping ice pillar took out the tree Natsu had been leaning against, and a few behind it. Natsu, in response, sent a flaming fist right to Gray's jaw, sending him staggering backward before recovering and banging an ice encased hand down on Natsu's head. Natsu was just about to put Gray in a headlock when a demonic growl came from behind them, making both boys freeze.
"What are you doing?" Erza was glowering at them and the boys could feel her glares in their back. "You almost killed those people in the woods."
"People in the woods," echoed Gray & Natsu confused. They looked back at the leveled area where trees once stood. Sure enough there was a group of five people standing their watching them with a mixture of fascination and horror on their faces.
"Sor-" Natsu & Gray began, but before they finished two hits from Erza knocked the wind right out of them.
"I apologize for my friends, how can I make it up to you?"
"Oh, it's alright," the tall man said, "No one was hurt, just a bit surprised. We're a traveling group, so we are use to seeing odd things, though I'll admit, seeing a fight between an ice and fire mage is new."
"I insist you come sit with us and share some bread or water. Please," Erza said motioning to their only half way put together camp.
"Well, alright," agreed the leader. "Let us provide some firewood for you and we can all make some tea with your water. I'm Abaddon and we are the Troupe of Tellers. We travel and tell stories and put on shows."
"Shows," Erza's eyes lit up and Natsu moaned, both from the pain of Erza's hit and from the idea of having to watch Erza act in any kind of play.
"What kind of stories," Gray asked, managing to sit up and greet one of the younger men of the group named Arawn.
"Actually," Arawn said, "We have one about this forest if you'd like to hear it."
"Tea is best with a story," Abaddon agreed. "The story of the Rock Unicorn."
"Sounds kind of boring," Natsu admitted. Erza shot him a death glare and he added on, "b-b-but who knows! A story is a story! I'm sure Lucy would like to hear it as well, once she and Wendy get back."
"Indeed, I am also intrigued," Erza said. "Please begin this story of the rock unicorn. We will fill Lucy & Wendy in when they return."
"Alright," Abaddon agreed. He set a kettle above the wood and Natsu lit the flames. Then, he waved the remaining troupe to come around the fire to hear.