"You're a celestial spirit?!" I heard Natsu exclaim as I nursed a drink at the makeshift bar we were using. Loke had left the guild and sufficiently freaked everyone out, then later returned with Lucy, explaining that he was a celestial spirit. I hid my smile as Gray, Natsu and Happy crowded around him asking questions. I frowned as Loke began to carry Lucy away and I sent a dart of ice at his feet causing him to slip and drop Lucy. He recovered quickly, much to my disappointment.
I dropped a few coins on the bar and walked over as Loke began to cuddle up to Lucy. "Down boy." I commanded as I zinged him with another ice dart.
"Don't be mean. I'd never abandon you my- Mmph!" Loke turned and attempted to put his arm around me and deliver a smooth line, but was stopped when I froze his lips shut.
"Yeah, I think you need to go now, you're still not up to one hundred percent." Lucy said with an unamused expression as she made to close his gate. I waved my hand and unfroze his lips as he mimed saying something.
"I got you something." Loke handed Lucy six tickets.
"What are those?" Lucy asked as she took them.
"They're tickets to a beach resort, you've done so much for me it was the least I could do." Loke grinned as he passed them out to us. Natsu, Lucy, Happy and Stella cheered as Loke continued, "I already gave Erza her ticket. I hope you guys have a good time."
"Come on, chop chop! No lollygagging or I'll leave you behind!" Erza's imperious voice echoed from behind us. We turned to see that once again, she had packed more than would ever be required of this trip.
"Bring on the beach! Let's go!" Natsu and Happy yelled out as Gray began to yell about how he needed to pack still.
"Why bother, when you'll end up stripping anyways." I cackled as Gray gave me a dirty look. "Speaking of, put some clothes on when you're in front of my cat!" I yelled, slamming Gray with an ice covered fist.
"Are you packed yet, we're almost ready to leave." Erza asked Lucy after Loke had disappeared.
"Yeah, I was just thinking. If I had been in his situation and had caused someone I cared about to get hurt, I would be just as torn up about it as he was. But I wouldn't hold onto the guilt, because I know my friends would be there for me. If I ever needed to talk, there's always someone here at Fairy Tail. We're really lucky, you know?" Lucy reflected as we all smiled at her. She had grown so much, and we all had only known her for a short time.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Erza agreed with a smile.
"Come on let's get to the beach!" Natsu whined impatiently.
"I can't wait to get to the beach and soak up some rays." Gray added.
"Me too. What an unexpected treat this was. Now, let's have some fun!" Erza commanded and we all cheered and raced for the train station, excited for the fun that was about to come.
I watched Stella and Happy play tag while Erza and Gray played volleyball. I leaned back onto the sand and sighed. This was the life, soaking up some sun, having fun with my friends, it was perfect. Then Natsu slammed into me as his grip came loose from the surfboard he had been clinging to.
"Natsu, you have three seconds to get off me before I turn you into a glacier and float you out to sea." I muttered as I shoved the motion-sick slayer without me. Gray laughed as Natsu scrambled away from me and then stopped when the volleyball smacked him in the face.
"You want to something to laugh at, Popsicle? Here!" Natsu crowed with triumph as he ripped Gray's boxers off him. Causing him to use Happy as a cover-up. Lucy, Erza, and I howled with laughter as Gray yelled at Natsu to give them back. I made a point of covering Stella's eyes, despite the fact that she was napping, and unlikely to see Gray's junk.
As the day passed on, Stella and I went back to the room we shared with Erza to take a nap and shower off respectively. As I climbed out the shower and wrapped a towel around myself, I heard Erza scream and I rushed out of the bathroom to the balcony.
"Erza! What's wrong?!" I gasped as I looked around and saw nothing there.
"I-I'm sorry, it was merely a bad dream. I'm fine, don't worry about me." She said as she struggled to catch her breath.
I frowned but held my tongue. As much as I wanted to know what was going on, Erza and I had never discussed the past. It was easier for both of us that way.
As we both walked inside the room Lucy knocked on the door and burst into the room. "Hey Erza, Aquila, why don't you guys get dressed and come play some games? Natsu and Gray are downstairs." She exclaimed.
"That's right there's a casino here. In that case…" Erza's voice trailed off as she glowed with her requip magic. Suddenly she stood before us with her hair in a messy yet beautiful updo, a long red and purple dress, and long evening gloves. "So how do I look?" She asked.
"Beautiful, you show-off. Now, give me about ten minutes. Not all of can requip and instantly be perfect." I muttered the last part as I walked into the bathroom.
I threw on a royal blue cocktail dress that had only one sleeve and was cut at a high angle. I tucked my hair into a messy bun like Erza's and emerged.
"You both look amazing!" Lucy said though she looked confused as I yanked on my combat boots.
"I don't do high heels." was my response as I swept out of the room, followed by Erza.
As we met up with our group, we broke apart into small groups. Erza and Lucy went to play one card game, while Natsu and Happy drifted towards the games of chance. Gray and I joined a card game and tried to look like we didn't know Natsu.
"Gray my darling." A voice echoed from our left and we looked up to Juvia Lockser of Phantom Lord standing before us. "I'm Juvia, do you remember me?"
"You're from Phantom! What do you want?" I snarled at her. I didn't trust her, and what was up with calling Gray darling?
"I'm not here to fight! I just wanted to talk to Gray!" She exclaimed as she backed up and waved her hands.
"Chill out Aquila, let's see what she has to say." Gray said, and we walked over to one of the bars set up throughout the area.
"I heard Phantom was disbanded. That had to be tough on you." Gray said cordially as he ordered us drinks.
"Yes, but now I'm a free wizard, and I can join any guild I want!" Juvia said enthusiastically. I relaxed my guard a tad. She didn't sound bitter, and didn't seem to want revenge, if anything it sounded like she wanted to join Fairy Tail.
"I take it you want to join Fairy Tail then?" I asked her, my voice cautious as Stella watched from my lap. She nodded enthusiastically, then deflated as Gray chimed in.
"I don't know, there may be some problems with that. I personally don't have a problem with it, who knows what the master will say."
"I promise I'll do whatever it takes." Juvia said with determination. I had to smile at that, her determination was admirable.
"Gray Fullbuster, Aquila Orion?" A voice enquired behind us and we all turned. A man with a mask covering half of his face was standing there as a magic circle appeared over his eye. Suddenly the stand behind use exploded. I hardened into ice, but Juvia wasn't so lucky. She was cringing as she laid over half of the bar.
"What do you think you're doing?" Gray growled as he turned to face our assailant. I lifted Juvia up and propped her against the foundation of the stand. She wasn't badly injured merely stunned.
"Where is Erza?" The man asked, ignoring Gray's question.
"Bastard, if you're asking, no one's answering." I snarled at the man, whose face gave nothing away.
"Where is she?" The man asked once more.
"You think we'd tell you?" Gray responded as he prepared to fight.
Juvia suddenly turned to water and flowed in front of Gray. "You think I'd allow you to touch my beloved? You'll have to go through me first!" She declared. Admirable, but Gray could defend himself.
"Erza needs your help right now, I fear she may be in grave danger." Juvia stated, not taking her eyes off the man.
"I couldn't agree more. So…" My ice covered fists slammed into one another, "Why don't you start talking?"
"Ah so you've located her? Yes, I see… So I should clean things up here… Understood." The man spoke to someone, most likely using telepathy. His eye glowed and then the world went dark.
"What happened to the lights?" Gray yelled from somewhere to my left.
"It's magic of the dark lineage. Dark moment." The man whispered from behind us and I dodged to the right, grabbing Stella and taking her with me.
I heard a cry from where Gray and Juvia had been standing.
"You're very quick. But that won't stop me." The man said as I took a whiff of the air. I dodged to the right, once again causing him to miss me.
"What the eyes can't see, my nose and ears typically can." I smirked. Then with a rush of speed, I smelt him appear right in front of me.
"Stay down." He hissed as he fired a magic spell right at Stella and I. As I fell back I assessed the damage done. He had barely scratched me. In fact, his spell seemed meant to look like death, but in fact incapacitate us. So he wasn't trying to kill us, so what was the end game? I slipped into unconsciousness.
As I blinked back into consciousness, I heard Lucy speaking. "They took Erza, Happy, and Stella."
"They did WHAT?!" I hollered as I rose to my feet, only to see Natsu blowing out a stream of fire.
"Natsu, Aquila!" Lucy called out as we met in the center of the room.
"What happened to you?" Gray demanded to know.
"Hey what kind of jerk shoots people in the mouth?! Someone could get really hurt…" Natsu whined.
"I think I think that would kill anyone who wasn't a weirdo like you." Lucy said drily.
"I'll show that BLOCKHEAD!" Natsu roared as he made to run for the door.
"Does he even know where he's going?" Lucy asked as we watched the smoke rise up from his trail.
I turned to Lucy and tapped the side of my nose. "Never doubt the nose of a dragon slayer, when it comes to chasing the people who've pissed us off, we're better than a bloodhound! Now come on!" I yelled as we made for the beach. I would catch the people who dared attack Erza, dare to kidnap my cat, and dared to mess with Fairy Tail!
A/N: What do you know? I'm alive! I'm sorry for not updating for so long, but I have something to make up for that. Shortly after this chapter is uploaded, I amd up loading not one, not two, but FIVE complete chapters that should bring us completely to the end of the Tower of Heaven arc! So forgive me for not updating for so long?
Don't forget to read and review!