HEY GUYS, GALS, AND PANDAS!
I hope that you like this chapter. Tell me what you thought or you can message me and we can talk about extra random things! It'll be fun *pulls out unrelated cookie*
Anywhoozies! That's all I got right now!
DQA out! Byezies!
Chapter 3: Green
"Uhhhhhh... Gray, Arion..." Everyone in the Fairy Tail Guild hall literally dropped everything when they walked in. They were walking hand-in-hand, fingers intertwined, with smiles on their faces.
"Yes?" Gray says with a puzzled tone in his voice.
"Are you guys...alright?" asks Erza. She was skeptical yet hesitant to ask as they weren't fighting each other. She didn't know how long that would last and she didn't want to find out.
Arion flashes a toothy grin at the fairy queen. "We're fine. Honestly."
"Are you sure?"
"Yep." They both say in unison. "Jinx! Jinx! Jinx again!"
"Oh you're so cute." Arion takes her free hand and places it gently on the ice mage's face, pulling him in so that their foreheads were touching.
Doing the same thing, Gray huskily whispers to her saying, "I freakin' love you..." before everyone's eyes, the two were already kissing each other, obviously mastering the art of nose breathing.
"Uhhm... Ok then?" Lucy clears her voice as the two break their kiss. "We should probably be getting to the mission." the blonde says awkwardly.
"As long as I'm with you, Gray, I'll go anywhere."
"I would too..." they once again lock their fingers together and stare into the eyes of the other. "Oh Arion."
"Oh Gray." with a tight embrace the two love birds picked up where they left off not one minute ago.
Here we go again! "HEY HEY HEY! We don't have time for that!" Lucy abruptly yanks Arion out of Gray's arms by the collar of her white jacket. "We have to go on that mission soon, don't we?" she asked.
"But Luuuu~!" Dragon whines. The hands of the two just barely stayed clasped together as she yelled to him, "Gray! I love you!"
"I love you more!"
"I love you most!"
"Lucy, a word?" Lucy released the collar of the dragon girl's shirt and met with Erza at a secluded table in the back of the guild where hopefully the infatuated dragon couldn't hear them. "What's with those two? Just yesterday they were arguing like animals?" They looked over to the couple who, like a magnet and refrigerator, ended up connected again. Gray nuzzled the shorter girl, hugging her tightly against his body.
"I'm actually not sure." Lucy says. "Let's just...hope for the best I guess."
"Yes. You seem to be right. On this mission, watch them closely." With a nod from the blonde girl, Erza rounds up the rest of their party which included, the lovebirds, a pyro, a little girl and two cats. "Onward to the train!" She called pointing a sword heroicly to the sky, eyes glistening.
"The train? But what if I get sick, Er?" Dragon asked.
"I'll carry you the whole way if I have to." Gray whispers into her hair.
"Oh Gray!"
"Oh Arion!"
"WILL YOU TWO KNOCK IT OFF!?"
"Aww but Luuuu~"
The mages sat at the train station waiting for the train that had been scheduled for about 8:45am. It was 8:40 right now so there wasn't much of a wait for the train to arrive. Everyone just sat around talking about how the mission might go. Well, everyone except for an obvious pair, Gray and Arion.
Dragon just sat, playing with Gray's dark strands of hair, twisting them around her fingers. Since the games ended Gray had been slightly on edge. Besides the arguing that had happened, there had been something else weighing on his mind. Dragon noticed. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Just-" He began. He didn't have any actual request. She couldn't bring people back from the dead, he knew this for a fact. Arion looked upon him with loving eyes. Eyes so green that pastures were put to absolute shame in their presence.
"Gray?" She questioned. She didn't mind him staring at her but, she was confused and worried about him.
"Don't worry. I'm fine as long as your'e here with me. I swear." She kissed his cheek and stood as she saw the train pulling up to the station, offering him a hand.
The mages made their way to the train. When it finally arrived, everyone took their seats. Erza and Lucy sat together with Wendy and Carla, who were all watching the booth across from them. The booth had Natsu and Happy who sat directly across from Gray and Arion. Natsu sat with a pout on his face, probably due to being forced by Erza to sit with Gray. Gray, on the other hand, sat in a window seat, arm around Arion who was leaning against him for support. It's a known fact that dragon slayers can't take transportation and it's even more true for actual dragons. Sure, Wendy cast her Troia spell but it doesn't work quite as well on dragons as it does the slayers.
"I can't believe it!" "We're meeting one of the top four of the Ten Wizard Saints."
"That we are, Wendy."
"I wonder what he's like. What magic he uses."
"He must be strong."
Arion felt woozy. She glanced out of the window and saw the lush, green scenery passing by. The view reminded her of the first time. It had been quite some time since the guild's strongest team went on a real job together and Arion couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
~Flashback~
She hadn't had too much contact with anyone. After she joined the guild, avoiding its members was her game plan. She didn't know how to act. Honestly, she had made Juvia cry on her first day. Only Makarov and Gray ever knew when to find her. Makarov was the master so he had to know and Gray just followed after her once though, she knew he was there the whole time. One day, she was in her usual hiding space, when the ice mage, whom she had the closest bond with, asked her on a mission to catch a rouge Cerberus that had been reeking havoc in a city east of Magnolia known as Redrick. When she agreed, she was quickly dragged to the train that she bitterly agreed to ride, getting sick juat by stepping foot onto the odd machine.
"DAMMIT NATSU!" Gray had yelled.
"What?! He had it comin'!" Natsu shrugs, taking a casual seat on the belly of the three headed dog. The beast was beaten within 5 minutes of the group's arrival. It would have been quicker had the dumb thing stayed down the first 10 times it's heads we're set ablaze.
"Yeah but, you could have restrained yourself a bit." Arion reasoned.
Her words fell on deaf ears as Natsu's voice got complainy. "Aww what fun is that?"
"Hey!" Gray called as he slapped the salmon haired boy in the back of the head forcefully. "Cut her some slack, Ash Breath. It's her first mission." Gray yelled. You see, Arion had only been in Fairy Tail for about a month or so now and still, she could barely remember the names of the guild members who had adopted her into their small group.
"What did you say, Stripper?"
"It's a habit!"
"G-Gray can you please put your clothes back on?" Arion asked nervously.
"Huh-?!" he looked down to find himself in nothing but his boxers. His face turned bright red in embarrassment for the first time. Odd though since he strips so often. "Oh shit!"
"Lets just take this guy in for the money so we can hurry and get home." Lucy attempted to feed everyone this idea though, the only person who heard her was the blue cat, Happy, who responded with a sarcastic comment about her being stupid
"Erza, I have a question." Arion slips away in the midst of Natsu vs. Gray commotion to approach the scarlet haired mage, Erza.
"Yes. What is it?"
"I-it's about Gray!"
Brow raised, Titania asks, "Gray you say?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Well come on spit it out." Erza was getting excited and the suspense had been killing her. She had been watching their resident dragon sense they found her in the forest. Watching her interact with everyone. Titania watched especially close when Arion and Gray spoke. The two just...clicked!
"Why does he strip so often?"
"Oh that's all?" Arion nods. with an exasperated sigh, Erza says "It truly is out of habit. His master, Ur, trained him that way along with Lyon."
"Lyon?"
"You remember from Galuna Island?"
Arion raised an eyebrow to her. "Galuna Isl-?"
"Nevermind... Any other Gray questions?"
"N-no-"
"Are you sure?"
"Uhm..."
"Are you sure?" Erza pushed the question further and further, waiting for the desired answer.
"I-"
Just as Arion had been about to answer, she was interruptedby said ice mage. "Hey Arion we're ready to go now."
"A-alright Gray be over in a second." she calls back to him, leaving Erza alone with a knowing smirk.
~End Flashback~
That was quite a day, if she had remembered correctly. She felt a larger set of hands invade her own hand's spacing, intertwining into them. Instantly, She awoke to the soothing voice of her ice making boyfriend. "Hey. The train stopped. You gotta wake up."
"Huh?" She asked him, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"The train stopped. We're at our stop now." he repeated softly against her hair.
"Y-yeah. Okay." They got off the train and began to walk to where the others waited for them. Gray had noticed that Arion was nodding off a bit as she walked along with him.
"I can carry you if you want." He offered her, still walking hand-in-hand.
"No its fin-." Before she could even finish her words, Gray had swept her up in his muscular arms. He was holding her as a man would hold his bride. She felt embarrassed by this sudden action. "Stop it put me down! People are watching..."
"I'm not gonna let my little dragon princess fall asleep in the grass now am I?" He mocked playfully. He used his most childish voice as he walked through the crowd with his dragon in his arms.
With a sigh, she admittedly said, "No..."
"Alright then." he pecked her on the lips and continued to walk as if nothing had even changed. Walking like it was normal to just be walking around carrying a person. Totally normal.
"Gray..." Grateful to him, She sought to thank him, though the words never formed as the sleep began to take over once again..
"Hmm?" He looked down at the green-eyed girl, admiring how her midnight blue hair fell against soft brown skin. He could feel her breathing against his chest, soft murmurs passing her lips. "Arion?"
"Gray..."
"She fell asleep again?" His eyes were wide when she spoke out his name. "And she's dreaming about me..."
~Flashback continued~
"What's Gray's favorite color?" Back at the guildhall, Everything
A slight chuckle escapes Erza's lips abruptly. "Well it seems that his favorite color may be green."
"Green?" Dragon asks in confusion. "I would never have expected it."
"Really?" Out of no where, the blonde celestial spirit mage, Lucy, asked."You wouldn't have expected that?"
"No..."
"You're so cute Ari~" Mira cooed.
"Wait what?" The three girls just laughed at the confused dragon. Arion sat at the bar, dumbfounded and confused. What were they trying to say to her? She looked over to the ice mage who was sitting across the room, stripped of anything but his underwear. Green?
She walked home that night wondering. Why green? She used the spare key that Lucy had given her and unlocked the door to the apartment. When she opened the door, recognizable smells clogged the air, she was confused to say the least. Lucy's apartment never smelled this... much like people. Her thoughts were once again pushed aside as a loud "Surprise!" rang out in the room. Everyone screamed it when she finally flicked the light switch on. Everyone was here. Gray, Natsu. &Lucy, Mira, Erza...?
"Surprise?"
"It was your first official mission. We had to celebrate." she scanned the room. There was Elfman, Shadow Gear, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Lucy, Mira-
She had just been with Erza, Mira and Lucy. She knew she wasn't imagining things... "But how did-?"
"I ran." Erza interrupted, answering the unfinished question that Arion had intended to ask. She must have been a fast runner to beat Dragon home like that. Arion brushed the thought aside. I mean, we are talking about Erza.
"And how-"
"We ran too." Mira and Lucy chimed in unison.
"Oh ok...makes perfect sense... Humans..."
The night dragged to a close and everyone started to head home. Eventually only Arion and Lucy were left in the apartment. Arion layed lazily on the celestial spirit wizard's couch thinking. He doesn't really wear green. Why not blue? White?
"Arion?"
"Hmm?"
"You're thinking too hard." Lucy says flatly. The blonde could feel the flow of thought in the air spewing from Arion's mind. The magnitude of her thoughts were enough to make the room feel heavy.
"Oh... Sorry..."
"What're you thinking about anyway?"
"Ah Arion. You're awake!" Shouts Titania ecstatically.
Once again wiping away the sleep, Dragon stretches, hitting...a wall of flesh...as she did? Wall of flesh? She felt around in a very confused matter before she finally realized what was happening. With a shriek, Arion jumped up realizing that it was Gray that she had just felt up. heat cheeks heated up under this realization and disappeared again when she jumped once again when she realized that there was a moving tree underneath them. "What the hell?!"
"Morning Scaly Beauty."
"Stop trying to be cute Gray! THIS TREE IS MOVING!" She shouted.
"Yeah...?"
"WHY?!" After exchanging a fewlaughed at the dragon Princess's expense, It was all explained to her. "So basically we have to go and defrost a village.
When the tree stopped moving, Arion hopped off, stating "I'm gonna check the north for a clue." Everyone nodded in acknowledgement and she swt off to the north. As she walked on, she noticed the world was seemingly getting taller. She didn't account for the fact that her clothes had gotten bigger either. When she finally realized it, she was already the size of an eight year old child. "What the- Why am I a kid?" Arion pulled at her shirt-turned-dress in disbelief. Her baggy pants and boots were far too large for her in this state. She felt her hair on the backs of her legs and nearly lost her cool with the thought of her hair dragging on the ground the way it did.
"Who knows?" the voice spoke, appearing out of nowhere..
"Who's there?" Dragon called.
"Hello." There was a silhouetted figure standing there, just leaning cockily against the tree.
"Who are you?"
"Who am I?"
"Sol?" Arion recognized this scent anywhere. "I maybe a child but I can still smell you, Sol!" She was growing impatient. The figure was just watching her and chuckling evilly at all of the unanswered questions Arion had. "Answer me!"
"Arion?" Another familiar voice was heard.
"Gray?"
"What happened to you?" She gave him a very serious look. She knew that he could definitely see what happened to her. She was OBVIOUSLY a child. What could be worse? "Oh yeah..."
"And my hair is DRAGGING!" She whined, stroking her head nervously. She scrambled to get it off the ground to no avail. Gray sighed and sat on the ground behind her. He motioned for her to come and sit in front of him so he could take care of it.
"How'd this happen?" He asked as he began to braid her hair back, getting it off the ground before the little dragon had a panic attack over it.
"I'm not sure but..."
"But what?"
"I think... I think I smelled Sol."
"Sol? I thought we were passed that."
"We are but as you can see..." she gestures to her now child sized body dramaticly. "Plus I heard her voice and I smelled her."
Gray clearly got the message as he simply said, "Lets find the others."
"Yeah..." She agrees as she pats the neat braid he had put in her hair. "Thank you."
"Sure thing." He says as he picks up her clothes from the ground. He holds his free hand out to her and she takes it as they begin to walk.
"Hey, you." "Are you with those thieves?"
"Wha-?"
"Such a pain in the ass..." It says. "Showing up one by one-"
"Hey! I'm here too!"
"Eh-! What was that? A bug?"
"Arion. Be quiet. In your child form, you could get hurt dealin' with this guy." Gray scolded quickly. With a nod, the dragon girl took shelter behind the ice mage, looking out from behind him.
The beast laughed. When he did you could see his sharp teeth with fur coming out of the... "What's the deal with your mouth?" Gray asked.
"It's for eating you up!"
"He's like the Big Bad Wolf-icorn" Arion muttered earning a confused look from Gray. "What? Those exist! Really cute and really gassy."
"I think I'll start with that one." It pointed directly at Arion.
"Arion!" Gray attempted to shield her, both bracing for impact, until he felt himself shrinking. "Huh-?" he exclaimed.
"Gray?"
"What's goin' on...?" He yelled, holding up his pant's belt as his shoes fell sloppily all over the place. "This is- I'm a...kid?"
"Gray are you-?" Gray was squirming around on the ground
"It's too late now. When they get transformed into kids, some of them recall and relive moments from their youth. It brings a tear to my eye." "NO! THOSE ARE JUST TEARS OF JOY!"
"A-A demon!" Gray shouts. "Deliora!"
"Gray! Snap out of it please." Arion pulled him onto her lap, stroking his hair in aattempt to calm him, if only for a second. The demon started to move closer to Arion. She started to become panicky. There was no way she could fight or protect Gray as a child.
"He-Help me!"
"I'm trying! I don't know what to do!" He inched closer and closer to Arion as she tried to snap Gray out of it. "Don't come any closer! I'm warning you!"
"I'm tired of this. You runts aren't getting away."
"I mean it-" Interrupting the little dragon, the beast slams her into a tree. She crawls back over to Gray, desperately brushing his hair from his face. "I will protect him." She looked down at the squirming boy, still trying to calm him. Just then a hand reached down and latched onto Gray's face. "NO!" Her voice cracked. "GRAY! FIRE DRAGON'S-" She begins to pull her self up, though the beast was faster than she ever was as a child. He snatched her up by the neck with its other hand and pinned her to the tree she had been slammed against not long ago. The life in her green eyes fade as her consciousness begins to fade not long after.
"Before I send you to meet your maker, I'm gonna share these words of wisdom with you. In this world, there's a place you mustn't set foot in." he spoke calmly. "That place is called the underworld and you're standing right at its gates. Why am I even bothering to tell some punk this?"
My friends... Arion... This enemy standing before me... Gray sighs into his thoughts. "Ultear!"
Freezing it's hand, Gray lets himself free from the demon. "That's cold!" it complained.
"Ice, demon, kid and moon drip. We've got way too many nostalgic things for my liking... That must've been a sorry sight... Losing my composure over such petty things. But, I'm all right now, Arion." Knowing that she couldnt hear his voice, he glanced at her still. Anger flared within him as he took in the sight. Blood ran from her forehead, the color mixing into her midnight blue strands. "Now are you the one responsible for doing this to the village?"
"And if I were to say yes...?"
"Then I'd say that the ice magic you're using is disgraceful. Let me show you how it's done."
"G-Gray..." Dragon pushes her body from the tree, her once vibrantly emerald eyes now pale in comparison, and places a hand on Gray's elbow. "You're crazy..." she murmurs.
"Stay down. I don't want you to get hurt anymore."
"I'll be fine." she pleads softly. "I have enough magic power to help you."
"No. Let me handle it..." Gray whispers as he props her back up against the tree safely.
"But what if-"
"He stole your green. And I'll make him pay for it..." Placing a kiss to her forehead, Gray turns back to the demon prepared to defeat it.
Arion gasps. Green?