Chapter 26

Palm Tree Village: Docks

After departing from their carriage the seven wizards made their way to the docks to ask around for anything that might give them a clue about the girls' whereabouts. "Sorry sir I haven't seen them," a dock worker answered as Felix showed him a picture.

"Thanks and I'm sorry for bothering you," Felix replied as he gave a small bow and headed to the next area. Bumping into Natsu, Felix asked, "Any luck?"

"No," Natsu replied as he scanned the area for any potential witnesses.

"There you guys are," Gray exclaimed as he turned the corner.

"Whats up Gray," Felix questioned.

"Follow me, Alzack found someone who saw the girls," Gray answered as he began heading back to the others.

Reaching the others, Felix saw Alzack conversing with an old dock worker. "Oh, you guys are here," Alzack announced. "Okay sir, please tell them what you told me."

"Well I saw these girls come by two weeks ago. Pretty hard to miss due to how fine they were looking," the old man slyly grinned.

"Come on old man," Gray commented.

"Stop wasting our time," Gajeel angrily added.

"Just fooling around boys," the old man responded as he gave a chuckle. "As I was saying, I saw them leave for Coco's Island 2 weeks ago."

"We know that, but they haven't returned," Elfman replied.

"Not surprised," the old man responded. The boys gave a quizzical look and he continued, "Most women who go to Coco's Island for a vacation usually end up staying longer than they planned."

"Really," Felix questioned.

"Oh yeah, we've had men like you come by to get back their female partners, but it usually ends up with them giving up and returning home to wait for them," the old man answered. "Trust me boys, just give it a few days and I'm sure your female friends will come back in not time," he continued with a smile.

"I guess he's right," Alzack responded as he imagined Bisca and Asuka having fun. Couldn't hurt to let them have a bit more fun.

"Well I guess we'll have to find a place to stay," Felix said as he headed back into the village. The others shrugged and followed him. Finally finding a place to stay for a few days, Felix commented, "I CAN'T BELIEVE NONE OF YOU BROUGHT MONEY." The others looked at him and shrugged. "DON'T SHRUG AT ME."

"Calm down," Laxus responded as he took a seat on the couch. "We just up and left so I didn't have time to get my cash."

"Mira usually handles the money," Elfman commented.

"I don't have money," Natsu added. Happy nodded in agreement.

"Bisca and Asuka kinda took my wallet," Alzack responded as he rubbed the back of his head.

"You're the new guy so you should pay," Gajeel said as he sat down. Pantherlily gave him a disappointed look and sat down next to him.

"Ice Mages look out for each other," Gray said as he was suddenly in his boxers.

Irritated, Felix shouted, "AND I BET YOU ALL THINK I'M GOING TO GET YOU FOOD?!" A few minutes later Felix was returning from the store as he commented, "God damn free loaders..." Hearing a commotion around the corner, Felix turned to see a mother begging some men for help. What the hell, Felix thought as he approached them.

"Please help! My daughter hasn't returned since she left for Coco's Island a month ago," the mother begged as she grabbed on the men's shirts.

"Get off lady, you're daughter is probably having the time of her life," a man shouted as he knocked her hand away and began walking.

"Just go home and wait like the others," another man shouted back as they left.

"Please...somebody...," the mother pleaded as she clutched her chest.

"What a bunch of assholes," Felix commented as he approached the mother. "Come on, up you go," he continued as he extended his hand and lifted the mother.

"T-thank you," she replied as she collected herself.

"So what's this about your daughter not coming back for a month," Felix questioned.

"Yes, she hasn't returned and it's been a month," the mother answered. "She left with a couple of friends. I'm friends with most of their mothers so we all got concerned when they didn't return from the two weeks they were supposed to be gone."

Two weeks? Well it's an Island Resort so I'm sure they give out specials, Felix thought at the coincidence. "Did anyone come to retrieve them before?"

"Yes. My husband and the other dads," the mother answered. "They waited for several days, but suddenly returned saying that the girls will come back."

Weird. The old man said women usually return home, Felix thought as he recalled the old man's words. "Hey Ma'am, have you heard anything weird about Coco's Island?"

Pausing for a moment, the mother answered, "No I haven't..."

"It's okay, I can see you're very concerned for your daughter and her friends," Felix replied as he comforted the mother. "I'm actually here with a couple of friends to retrieve several female companions from our guild."

"Guild," the mother questioned.

"Oh yeah," Felix replied. "We're actually in the same situation like you. Our plan is to wait a few days and if our friends don't return then we're going to head out to the island," Felix explained the plan.

"If you're part of a guild, can I make a request," the mother asked.

"I-I don't really handle that kind of st-"

"Please," the mother pleaded as she bowed her head. "You can name your price, whatever," she began to tear up. "I just want my daughter home..."

Aw geez...smooth move Felix. You made a mom cry, Felix thought. "Uh-I-We'll do it for free," Felix exclaimed as he grabbed the mother's shoulders. "Just please stop crying..."

"Really? For free," the mother questioned as she wiped her tears and picked her head up.

"Yeah. For free," Felix repeated himself. The guys are probably going to be pissed.

"Oh thank you thank you thank you," the mother shouted with joy. "Here is a picture of them so you can track them down easier," she continued as she handed the picture to Felix. "Her name is Shelly and if she questions you just say 'Mother's Rosary'. She'll understand and she'll know I sent you," the mother explained as she headed back to the inn she was staying. "Thank you again," she waved as she disappeared from Felix's sight.

"Well that just happened," Felix commented as he watched the mother disappear. Looking at the picture, he instantly knew who Shelly was because she resembled the mother. With her wavy brown hair and forest green eyes, Felix continued, "And the guys are not gonna be happy I took a request for free..." Hopefully they''ll overlook it with the new info I just gained, he thought as he headed back to the Inn.

"YOU WHAT?!," Gray, Natsu, Elfman, and Gajeel shouted after hearing Felix's story.

"SERIOUSLY?!," Felix shouted back. "THE WHOLE REQUEST FOR FREE THING IS WHAT YOU'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT?!"

"Okay guys calm down," Alzack said as he stood up. "Let's not get kicked out on our first night."

"Anyway. Felix you said that the daughter has been gone for a month," Laxus questioned.

"Yeah, and the weird part was that her father came, but suddenly returned," Felix answered. "I'm pretty sure a dad wouldn't leave without his baby girl," he continued as he took a seat.

"Then let's head out tomorrow and get the girls back," Gray exclaimed.

"I agree with Gray, we don't know what's going on, but it's probably bad," Gajeel added.

"Awww what's wrong you two," Natsu replied. "You missing your girlfriends."

"You wanna go Flame for Brains," Gajeel and Gray responded as they shoved their foreheads against Natsu's.

"Not now guys," Elfman said as he broke them apart. "We've got to focus."

"Maninator is right," Felix said as Elfman made a face. "We don't know what's keeping women from returning so we've got to be ready for anything." The next day, the boys caught a boat to Coco's Island. Again, with their motion sickness kicking in, Natsu and Gajeel were suffering. Staring at Laxus, Felix asked, "You feeling sick?"

Keeping his composure, Laxus replied, "As if."

"Poor guys," Elfman commented at the sight of Gajeel and Natsu while Happy and Lily shook their heads.

"Maybe we're overthinking and the girls are just having too much fun," Alzack said as they spotted the shore of the island.

"Maybe," Felix replied as he chuckled. I really hope that's the case...

Hey guys! Chapter 26 is here and man I'm getting excited for the next chapters! So I hope you are too! Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter and as always I'll cya in the next chapter!