Author's Notes: Hey, everyone! Here's the update of The Fish with Two Hooks, Chapter 2! This might be a little longer than Chapter 1, I had a sudden burst of ideas halfway! Do tell me if I make any mistakes, or if anything is out of character/perspective! I'd really appreciate it if you would read, review, favourite and follow too! Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, everything belongs to Hiro Mashima except my storyline! (This applies to Chapter 1 too, I realised I forgot one!)
-TheFlyingNeko
Lucy went home to her apartment after a tired day of fishing with the rest of usual. They were as noisy as usual but it was fun, especially with Gray around. She's glad that Gray didn't return the fights that Natsu threw at him, although it was only for her. She opened the door to her apartment, then the door to her bedroom and…
"Yo, Luce!" Natsu said, sprawling himself on the bed.
"N-natsu…" Lucy said, anger building up in her.
"Hm, Lucy?" Natsu said, with an innocent face.
"You do realise… I'm with Gray now right? What gives you the right to be entering the bedroom of a girl that's dating?" The celestial mage said, face still hidden by the shadows.
"Because… You're my best friend? Plus, I've been in your room soooo many times, not like it'll matter!" The dragonslayer said with a grin.
"It's different now… I may be your best friend but now I have a boyfriend. SO GET OUT!" Lucy screamed, pointing at the door.
"Fine, Lucy…" Natsu pouted as he headed for the window, expecting the usual "USE THE DOOR!" but, it didn't come…
"Geez, what's the difference? I don't get it…" Natsu mumbled as he exited the apartment.
"Aye." Happy said.
"Happy? You were here?" Natsu said, surprised.
"Aye!" Happy replied yet again.
"Say, Happy… What's the difference if Lucy has a boyfriend or not?" Natsu asked Happy, who was just as puzzled.
"Well… She'll be more interested in Gray…" Happy said.
"So, that means I'm no longer important to her?" Natsu asked, sighing.
"Why, Natsu? Do you care about that?" Happy teased.
"I guess… We're best friends, after all… And we're a team, right?" Natsu questioned, pouting.
"Aye… We're nakama!" Happy said, worriedly.
The next day, in the guild…
Natsu sat at a table with Juvia, Lisanna and Wendy, along with the two exceeds. Juvia and Natsu both looked extremely down, Wendy was probably still embarrassed about yesterday, and Romeo's embrace. Carla and Happy were stealing glances at each other, and wincing when their eyes met. They both sat at the two edges of the table. Lisanna was just eyeing all of them, sighing.
"Looks like today's going to be a boring day…" Lisanna said, knowing that no one would be there to talk to her, since they all got their own pairs.
"Lisanna-san…" Wendy started, grasping her attention.
"What, Wendy?" Lisanna said, surprised and glad that someone would talk.
'D-does... he…" Wendy's words faded away, and her cheeks flushed red.
"You mean Romeo?" Lisanna asked.
"A-" Wendy's face turned completely red as she nearly fainted on the table, gaping at that word that Lisanna said.
"Sighhhh… Natsu…" Lisanna said, annoyed that so many lovebirds were around her.
"Hm?" Natsu said, snapping out of his train of thought.
"What are you thinking about?" Lisanna asked, curious.
"Nothing." Natsu said again, with an extremely serious face.
"It's not everyday you see Natsu with a straight face." Lisanna whispered to Happy.
"Aye."
Natsu obviously heard that, but he didn't reply. Instead, he stood up to walk to the request board, hoping there was a request that caught his eye. He scanned the request board... A request to catch bandits was out of the question for him. He would probably destroy everything in the process… Destroying a property? Destroying a book was enough trouble… Delivering a letter? No trains for him…
"Hey, Natsu-nii!" Romeo said, running over to the request board.
"Oh, hey Romeo. Agh, I don't know what to pick!" Natsu said, sighing.
"This seems like a good one!" Romeo pointed out to a 'lost valuable' quest.
"Oh, really? I'll pick it then!" Natsu said, beaming.
"Mm!" Romeo said, smiling back.
"Lucy! Happy! Let's go on a job!" Natsu announced.
"Aye, sir!" Happy said as he flew over to Natsu, before they both looked at Lucy, hoping she would take up the offer.
"Sorry, Natsu, Happy, I'm going on a job with Gray. He picked it out just now." Lucy said bluntly.
"Sorry, Natsu, it's a two person job." Gray said, as Natsu opened his mouth to speak.
"Oi, bastard. Who said you could speak?" Natsu said, picking a fight with Gray again.
"Heh, look who's talking. It's time to go, Lucy." Gray said, looking at Lucy.
"Mm. Bye, everyone!" Lucy said as she and Gray left.
"Natsu… Are we still going?" Happy asked.
"BASTARD! NEXT TIME I'M BEATING HIM UP!" Natsu screamed.
"Aye…" Happy said.
"Let's go. We've got a job to do!" Natsu said, beaming.
"Aye, sir!" Happy said, glad that Natsu had such optimism.
"Mira, I'll be headed off now!" Natsu said to Mirajane, who nodded.
"Mm. Be safe, alright." Mirajane said as Natsu and Happy left.
"Geez, what's with the youngsters nowadays?" Mira mumbled to herself as they left.
"Mirajane…" Levy said, catching her attention.
"What, Levy?" Mirajane asked.
"Well… Both Lucy and Gray's request and Natsu's request take place in Hargeon town… Umm… Will it be okay?" The solid script mage asked.
"W-WHAT?!" Mirajane screamed, scaring the little mage in front of her.
"We-well-" Levy said, but before she could continue…
"I shouldn't have let Natsu go! BIG TROUBLE!" Mirajane shouted as she ran off, chasing after Natsu.
"Wait! Oh no… Now Mirajane has gone too!" Levy said as she sighed.
At the train station…
"Happy… Fly me there instead please…" Natsu pleaded Happy in front of the train they were supposed to take.
"Sure." The cat said, with a mischievous grin.
"Really?!" Natsu asked.
"Mm. Really.' Happy said, picking him up.
He started flying in the air, as Natsu heaved a sigh of relief. However, he headed to the train, and flew inside, then put Natsu down on a seat.
"We're here, Natsu." Happy said, leaving Natsu with a mouth wide open.
"Happy! You said you would fly me there!" Natsu whined.
"Well, you didn't say where, so I thought you meant the train." Happy said, pretending to be innocent.
"Hey-" Natsu said, but at the moment, the train started moving.
Natsu quickly got sick and lay on his seat, looking drained.
"Idon'tfeelsogood…" Natsu said, amidst a laughing Happy.
"Too bad, Natsu. I'm not going to waste my magic power on a piece of trash." Happy said, snorting.
"H… Happy… Save… Me…" Natsu muttered in agony.
"Oh look, Natsu! There's a wonderful view!" Happy said, completely ignoring Natsu as he giggled.
Meanwhile…
"I can't wait for this job! Can we go through the job description again, Gray?" Lucy asked, while on the train with Gray.
"Yeah, sure" Gray said, smiling at Lucy as he started to read. "Friday will be romantic night, and our restaurant, would need some entertainment. Since it is a magic-run restaurant, I would like some mages to put up an item, and the second requirement is that we would need a couple. - 8-Island"
"Gray, do you have any ideas for a performance item?" Lucy asked.
"Well… I was thinking that I could freeze up the floor, and we could dance on it. Together, you know." Gray said, thinking hard.
"Oh! Lyra could help us play a song! And, Plue might want to dance too…" Lucy said.
"Oh, great idea!" Gray said.
"Alright, so first stop is shopping! Then we, or at least I, will have to practice… Wait, do we even have time to do all this?" Lucy asked worriedly.
"Yeah, we have till the evening. There's definitely time. And don't worry, I'll help you. I'll make sure nothing happens to you!" Gray said, making Lucy relax a little.
A few hours later, at Hargeon Town.
"Natsu… Are you okay?" Happy asked while staring at the dragon slayer sprawled out on the floor of the train station, looking all worn out.
"Are… we… there… yet?" Natsu asked, while resisting the urge to puke.
"Aye, we are. Natsu, get it together. We are already at our destination." Happy said as he shook Natsu, trying to get him to wake up.
"Ohh… Happy, what does the request say again?" Natsu said, however did not move an inch.
"We're supposed to help a lady look for her lost bracelet. Her house is somewhere to the west. Let's go, Natsu. We are going to be late!" Happy said, sighing at Natsu, who was still lying on the ground, attracting lots of attention.
"Yes…" Natsu said, picking himself up and trying his best to walk towards the exit.
Behind them, a woman hiding behind the wall can be seen.
"I better transform into someone else, and make sure they don't meet, somehow!" Mirajane said to herself, before transforming into a plump lady, blending in the crowd as she followed Natsu and Happy.
"Hey, look! An ice cream stand! Lucy, let's go there!" Gray said, his voice grabbing the disguised Mirajane's attention.
"Shit! The ice cream stand is right where Natsu and Happy are!" Mirajane screamed, quickly making her way to Natsu.
"Excuse me sir, you seem lost. Care for a free guide around the town? Or would you like me to lead you to where you are going?" Mira said, under disguise.
"Umm…" Natsu said, inspecting Mirajane. "Who are you?"
"I'm a tour guide! I live in Hargeon and I love guiding visitors around! Would you?" MIrajane said, while peeking from the corner of her eye.
'Shoot! Gray and Lucy are nearly here!' Mirajane thought.
"Umm… Sure, I guess. We're looking for this lady's house." Natsu showed the disguised Mirajane the request flyer.
"Follow me!" Mirajane said, quickly grabbing Natsu by his scarf and Happy by his tail, before dashing off at high speed.
She quickly pulled them towards the left from the train station, and ran around from street to street, making the two dizzy. Lucky for Mirajane, she had been in Hargeon a couple of times, so she could find her way around town. Before long, they reached a row of houses.
"You're here! Her house is the second one to the right! Good luck, mages!" Mirajane said, slinking off, leaving the dizzy pair facing the street.
"Who… on earthland… was that?" Happy said, eyes still rolling around in dizziness.
"No… idea…" A spinning Natsu replied.
"Anyways, let's go." Happy said, after the world had stopped spinning for them.
"Yeah!" Natsu said as they made their way to the lady's house.
Meanwhile..
"Did I just hear Natsu?" Gray asked Lucy, who was struggling with her fast melting ice cream.
"Why would he be here? It must be your imagination." Lucy said, looking up at Gray.
"Whoa, Lucy. You got a little there…" Gray said as he reached out his hand to the corner of her mouth and wiped off a bit of ice cream, causing Lucy to blush.
"Gray...!" Lucy said, shocked.
Gray looked taken aback for a while, then turned his attention back to his ice-cream..
"Unlike yours, my ice-cream is not melting, as always." Gray said, shrugging and attempting to change the topic.
"Well, shall we get a move on?" Gray asked, after they both finished their ice creams.
"Yeah." Lucy replied, disposing of her napkin.
Firstly, they headed towards a shopping alley to shop for the performance. They window-shopped for suitable clothes to wear, taking mental notes on which shops had nice clothes. After a while of walking, they entered a shop called 'Pink Dots', which consisted of many female apparels.
"Wow, the clothes here are really fancy!" Lucy said, shocked.
"Y-yeah." Gray said. "Well? Anything that catches your eye?"
"Well… The clothes should be in cool colours right? That means blue, green, white, gray and purple! We'll keep to blue as the main colour I guess, that will fit the ice. Oh, I probably have to get an outfit for Lyra as well! I'll leave that to Virgo, I guess." Lucy said as she took out a key. "Open, Gate of the Maiden, Virgo!"
"Time for punishment, Princess?" Virgo asked upon her appearance.
"No! I'd like you to prepare some clothes for Lyra. Later we'll be having a performance, and I'll need her help. I don't want to open her gate now, since we'll need her to rest up. Could you tell her for me and also get her to wear something nice that's of the colour blue? And something for Plue too, I guess." Lucy asked.
"Yes, Princess. I'm on it." Virgo said as she returned to the spirit world.
"Thank you, Virgo!" Lucy said.
"Hey, Lucy! Look at this!" Gray said as he pulled a cute blue and white dress out of the racks.
The mid-length wavy strapless dress had a huge aquamarine coloured bow in the chest area and came with stockings that resembled the colour of ice. It was very glittery, and most of it was a nice sea blue, but as it reached the bottom it became lighter and lighter, until it could blend in with the colour of the stockings. In the middle were a few white coloured hearts, which glowed in the dark.
"Amazing…" Lucy said as she walked over to the dress and touched it. It was a high quality material, and the glitter was amazing. It was a glamorous dress.
"Isn't it?" Gray said, beaming.
"Let me try it on!" Lucy said as she walked into the fitting room with the dress.
A few minutes later, she came out looking like a stunning beauty. Gray was extremely shocked by it.
"I think pink might suit me better, but it has to be blue for the job!" Lucy said, pointing to the pink dress with the same design on the rack.
"Excuse me, how much is this?" Lucy asked the salesman.
"It's 200,000 jewels, made from a very rare material only found from the fur of a beast found in the mountains." The salesman replied, with a smile. "However, you two are so sweet together! I can give it to you for 180,000 jewels."
"Gray, what do you think?" Lucy asked, before whispering the next part. "If you think it's too expensive we can get something cheaper, you know. It's just for a job."
"I'll get it." Gray announced.
"What? Gray!" Lucy said, shocked.
"It's alright, really! We can always deduct half of it from the job rewards. After all, what matters is that we have fun, and you're happy!" Gray said, smiling.
"Wait, what do you mean by half?" Lucy asked, puzzled.
"Half of it will come from me, of course." Gray said.
"No! It's my dress… You don't have to pay for it!" Lucy said.
"It doesn't matter if it's your dress! I just want to make you happy." Gray told Lucy, who blushed.
"Look, you don't have to go that far. This is all-" Lucy said.
"Shh! Careful! Not now!" Gray cut Lucy off.
"I said no. And that's that." Lucy said.
"Fine… Sorry, then…" Gray apologised to the salesman, before they walked out of the store.
After a longer while of walking, they found a store with cheaper clothes, a cute light blue, icy coloured lace-strapped dress which fit perfectly on Lucy's body.
"Kawaii!" Lucy squealed in front of the mirror while wearing the dress.
"How much is this?" Gray asked.
"Oh, that's 30000 jewels. Oh yes, there's a matching male suit for that dress, if you'd like." The salesman replied.
"Seriously? Let me see it!" Gray said, beaming.
Gray soon came back in a light blue suit, the inside shirt being white. He also wore long light blue pants, which was the same shade as the suit.
"Gray… You look… Handsome…" Lucy said, gaping at him.
"Not as beautiful as you." Gray teased.
"Gray!" Lucy said, embarrassed.
"If you buy both as a package, you can have it for 50,000 jewels, along with a complimentary hair ribbon which suits the dress." The salesman added.
"Okay, we'll have it!" Lucy said, beaming.
"Alright then, let me wrap up a new one for you. You should change back now." The salesman said before heading towards the cashier.
"You really do look good in anything." Gray teased again.
"Hehe, stop it, Gray…" Lucy said, giggling.
"Here's your clothes. Thank you for purchasing!" The salesman said as they paid and left.
"Time to practice! Where do we go, Gray?" Lucy asked.
"It's a surprise…" Gray replied, winking.
Meanwhile…
"Are you Mrs. Canny?" Natsu asked the lady which stood at the door.
"It's Penny. And you are?" The lady raised her eyebrows at Natsu.
"I'm a Fairy Tail mage. I'm here for the job." Natsu said as he flashed her the request sheet.
"Come in." The lady said, leaving her house's door open.
Natsu and Happy walked in the house, which smelled like newspapers and magazines. Newspapers and magazines were torn and strewn over the house floors, which explained the smell.
"Whoa!" Natsu exclaimed, almost having stepped on a newspaper.
"Just step on them. I couldn't care less." The lady said.
"O-oh…" Natsu said, carefully making his way to the couch.
"Let's hear it!" Happy said.
"Sigh. It's just saddening… I lost the precious bracelet my late husband gave me! Please find it for me! It should be somewhere around town…" The lady said, suddenly all emotional.
"Okay. So… What now?" Natsu asked.
"Natsu! You should be asking things like 'Where have you been when you lost your bracelet' or 'Where are the possible places your bracelet could be'!" Happy corrected him.
"Alright, whatever. You heard him, Mrs. Fanny" Natsu said.
"Penny. Anyways, I lost my bracelet yesterday. All I did was some usual shopping, for clothes, and grocery. I walked around the park to enjoy the fresh air too. I also visited the port to chat to my friends there. I also walked along the houses to wave to my neighbors through the window. Then I ate. After that, I ate again. Then when I came home, it was gone! Your magic can help me find things faster right? More reliable than those useless law enforcements?" Mrs Penny said.
"Aye! Natsu's nose is very reliable." Happy said.
"Well… I would needa smell the bracelet, so I would be able to trace it." Natsu said.
"Here is the same pair of bracelet that my husband used to wear. It should have the same smell, right?" Penny said, passing Natsu the bracelet.
Natsu sniffed it for a while, before placing it down again.
"Lend me your arm." Natsu said as she gave him her arm, confused.
"What are you- eek!" Penny nearly screamed as Natsu started smelling her arm.
"That'll make things easier. Thanks!" Natsu said as he and Happy ran out.
"Hmm… Let's start from the first place she mentioned.. Um.. What was it again…" Natsu wondered.
"Shopping! For both clothes and grocery!" Happy said.
"Alright, to the shopping alley!" Natsu said, running off.
"Aye, sir!" Happy said.
"Oh no… Shopping? Gray and Lucy might be there now, shopping for their performance!" Mirajane said from behind a tree, still under disguise. "I shall follow them…" Mirajane said as she started stalked Natsu and Happy.
"Shall we start from the clothes?" Natsu asked, earning another 'Aye!'
They ran from door to door, sniffing around in the shops, but each time it was a no. Meanwhile, Mirajane had found Lucy and Gray in 'Pink Dots' talking about the dress, so she decided to eavesdrop. Lucy was changing in the fitting rooms back to their clothes and Gray was apologising to the salesman but well hidden by a big pile of clothes, when Natsu stepped in.
"It smells… like L-" He was cut off when a pungent smell filled the air.
Mirajane just released some bad smelling cologne in the air around the entrance so that Natsu wouldn't smell Lucy and Gray inside the fitting rooms. Natsu quickly ran out of there, continuing to the other shops while Mirajane heaved a sigh of relief.
"Geez, what on earth was that smell?" Natsu whined.
"Sigh, I guess some people have really bad perfume." Happy said.
"I don't think it's here. Let's check out the grocer's!" Natsu said as they ran off again.
Even after Natsu and Happy had checked out the grocer's and the small park, they had completely no luck.
At that point, Lucy and Gray had already bought their clothes and were on their way to 'practice'.
"Here." Gray pushed through a clearing in the small park to reveal an empty plain.
"Wow. How did you find this place?" Lucy asked.
"A stroke of luck, two years ago." Gray replied.
"Let's get started! Ice Make: Floor!" Gray said, creating an ice floor covering the grassy plain.
"Hang on. Are we going to dance with the shoes we are wearing right now?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah. You wore your boots, so they are gonna work. For me, I'm always prepared for this." Gray replied.
"Oh, alright then!" Lucy replied.
"Let's start with gliding." Gray said as he grabbed her arm and let her step on the ice.
"Easy does it. Just relax, stay calm, and try not to put too much weight on my hands. I'm going to glide over and all you have to do is to stay still." Gray said as he slowly glided from one side of the plain to the other.
"Whoa! This is fun! Hang on, won't the ice melt?" Lucy asked.
"This plain is very well sheltered by tall and wide trees. It's just the shade here, so don't worry." Gray replied.
"I see. This is really fun but- AHHH!" Lucy screamed as she nearly slipped, but the weight that rested on Gray's hands caught her.
"It's fine. You'll get the hang of it soon." Gray said, smiling and reassuring her.
While they practiced on an icy floor, and soon choreographed their dance moves, Natsu and Happy searched thoroughly through the port and were almost done with all the housing estates.
"Damn, how hard is it to find this bracelet?" Natsu said.
"Aye." Happy replied.
8-Island
In 8-Island, guests were getting ready for Romantic Night, settling down in front of a temporarily made stage. The lights were dim, which set a romantic mood for everyone. Gray and Lucy sat in the backstage area, and were getting ready. Lucy wore the light blue dress, along with the matching ribbon tied to her bun, which cancer made for her. Gray wore the light blue suit, and they both looked stunning.
"Lucy, you look amazing tonight." Gray commented.
"Gray, you look really handsome too." Lucy said, looking Gray in the eye.
"Do you… think we will be fine out there? What if I slip?" Lucy said nervously.
"Then… I'll catch you." Gray said, grabbing Lucy's hand.
"Ahhhh! Lucy! Do I look fine?" Lyra asked, nervously.
"You look amazing in those clothes, don't worry!" Lucy reassured her.
"Pun punn~" Plue said, shaking in his cute clothes.
"Plue! Whoa, Virgo gave you that? You look soooo cute!" Lucy squealed as she picked him up, admiring him.
"Punnn~" Plue said as he raised his arms in agreement.
Lucy shifted back her gaze to Gray, and they both smiled at each other. Mirajane, still disguised, was watching them both. She also glanced at the exit a lot, hoping that Natsu wouldn't come in there.
"Ladies and gentlemen! We shall kick start the Romantic Night with a wonderful performance from two cute Fairy Tail mages. Let's welcome… Gray Fullbuster and Lucy Heartfilia!" Yajima said, leaving the stage to the two as the lights shining on stage turned dim.
"Ice Make: Floor, Slide!" Gray said as the stage floor turned into ice.
Along with the floor came a slide, and on top was Gray, in his suit. At the bottom, Lucy got ready in her position. Lyra was positioned at the side with her harp and Plue was in the background, behind all of them. Then, the lights came on.
Lyra started playing a romantic song on her harp. Then, the moment she started singing, Gray slid down the ice slide, to Lucy. Plue started dancing in the background, creating a perfect backdrop. The audience was mystified by her singing and also Gray, sliding down the icy slide. When he reached the bottom he knelt down, and slid on his knees all the way to Lucy, where he stopped. He then resumed the ice make position and created an ice flower, then gave it to Lucy. Lucy accepted it then pulled him up, when they started waltzing, and sliding across the ice.
While they danced, Natsu took a step closer to 8-Island. He had already searched Hargeon Restaurant and found nothing there, so he headed to his final destination, 8-Island. Soon, his hand was reaching towards the doorknob, and when he touched it...
Author's Notes: Sorry for the cliff hanger! I couldn't help it, and this chapter was already WAY too long! Please do review, favourite and follow! Do give me advice, I'll need lots of it! Also, don't hesitate to tell me if you don't understand it or if something is wrong. Thanks, everyone! Stay tuned!
-TheFlyingNeko