Hello, people. Nightlingbolt here. Welcome back to more of "The ABCs of Natsu and Erza."
Go ahead. Flame me all you like. Because today's letter is W, but not for Wedding, or even for White. No, today is W for Worry. I know, I know! I've completely disappointed you all! But one, I completely forgot about White Day until late last night, so I didn't have time to prepare anything for it (like I said on Twitter, that's what comes from living in a Western country that doesn't celebrate White Day), and I do not think I could've done a wedding justice with just a oneshot. But if I haven't already mentioned this before, I do plan on doing some extra chapters once I post Z, so maybe I'll write a two-parter for the wedding then. But until that day, please enjoy this not-so-little snippet inspired by Mrs. HopeEstheim's brilliantly done ElfmanxEvergreen story, "More Than A Joke."
Also, I know I haven't been good about rating these, but I should mention right now that this chapter is rated M just because I feel its plot demands it.
I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, Hiro Mashima does.
Natsu stood on the train, looking out the window with grim determination. Of course, in any other situation, he would be a sick heap on the floor, but Happy had wisely chosen not to make that remark.
Because this wasn't any other situation.
Erza had been on an S-Class mission to destroy some sort of monster, and was due back in four days' time. Her return was supposed to be one week ago today.
Naturally, the guild members, especially Natsu, were worried. Natsu had made a promise to Erza's childhood friend, Jellal Fernandes, to protect her if ever she needed it. If it turned out she did need it and he wasn't there to guard the Titania with his life, he would never forgive himself.
Not that Natsu was worried. Erza would stay alive, no matter what the cost. She had promised him, after all – they had promised each other – that against all odds, she would live. For her guild. For her friends. For him. That thought kept him sane throughout this whole ordeal.
Of course, Makarov had tried to dissuade Natsu from going. "You have no idea what kind of trap you might be falling into!" Natsu remembered the old Master saying. The rest of the conversation had devolved into a shouting match in which Natsu stormed out of the guild and bought a ticket for the next train to the location of Erza's mission, motion sickness be damned.
As the train pulled into his stop, he subconsciously ignited his fists. According to the mayor, Erza had successfully completed her mission and boarded the morning train bound for Magnolia. As such, it was a shock to him that she hadn't made it home yet.
All of Natsu's instincts pointed to a dark guild of some sort. He asked about all the dark guilds the mayor knew of. He didn't know of any, but warned of a group of slavers based in Tulip, where he was currently getting off. "Let's go, Happy," ordered the Dragon Slayer.
"Aye, sir," replied Happy timidly. The blue Exceed had hardly ever seen Natsu this serious. In fact, the few times he had had to do with Erza in some capacity. And the kind of transformation any sort of threat to Erza invoked in Natsu scared him. All he could do was follow along and hope they found Erza in one piece.
When Natsu left the station, however, he was greeted by four familiar, but not unwelcome faces. A black-haired boy without a shirt, a blond girl wielding a whip, and a little blunette with a female cat not unlike Happy standing at her feet.
"Lucy! Gray! Wendy!" Natsu exclaimed.
"And Carla!" Happy supplied.
"What are you guys doing here?" asked the bewildered Dragon Slayer.
"Master sent us to help you," said Lucy.
"When you stormed out the other night, he decided it was pointless to convince you to stay," said Gray.
"So we volunteered to join the fight!" said Wendy brightly.
"Let's face it, if Erza couldn't face this threat alone, what chance do you have?" asked Carla.
"And that's where we come in," said Gray.
"We're always willing to fight alongside you," said Lucy. "Even if you don't want us around!"
"So don't go walking out on us again. Got it, Matchstick?" asked Gray harshly.
Natsu smiled. Suddenly, he realized what a fool he was for abandoning his nakama. Of course they loved Erza as much as he did, even if he loved her in a non-nakama way. "I couldn't do this without you guys," said Natsu.
"What do you think's gotten you this far?" said Gray.
"Hey! You saying I need you to be strong, Ice Pop?" yelled Natsu.
"I'm saying that trying to be a big damn hero and save everyone by yourself is a good way to get yourself killed, Flamebreath!" Gray shouted back.
"All right, cool it!" yelled Lucy, whipping them both on the head. The boys flinched in pain, and Carla took the opportunity to spoke.
"We overheard a pair of bandits saying their boss had captured the strongest Fairy," said Carla. "I assume they meant Erza."
"They're here in this town," said Wendy determinedly. "We have to find them and take Erza-san back!"
"We're coming for you, Erza!" said Natsu. "Let's go, team!"
"AYE!" the group cheered. And with that...
...Natsu threw up.
Lucy shrieked. Gray jumped backwards. Carla closed her eyes. Wendy turned her head and covered her nose. Meanwhile, Happy looked relieved.
"He's been unconsciously surpressing his motion sickness," he explained.
"It's amazing the effect love has on people," mused Carla.
Erza woke up, chained to the same pole, trapped in the same damnable cage she was in for God knows how long. The clothes she wore only just protected her modesty, and even through the drugs her captors had constantly given her, she had managed to piece together their plans for her.
These people were slave traders, and they were intent on selling her on the black market. Upon reflection, she probably should have lost her virginity already, for the fact that she remained untouched only excited her captors and, ultimately, drove her price through the roof. Add that to her reputation as the Titania, and she was estimated to be worth at least six million Jewels.
The drugs that they gave her served two purposes. First, they completely nullified her magic. Second, they made her docile as they exercised her. Other than that, she was given quite a healthy diet, but she knew why they did so in the first place. She also knew that for a brief period in between her dosages, the drug would wear off enough to allow her motor control, though the cage they kept her in was surrounded by runes that prevented the use of magic.
Her plan was simple, so simple that she was amazed her captors didn't think of it before. The guard that kept her fed wore the key to her bonds on his belt, and he would be coming in to readminister the drug, so if she could simply overpower him while she had the chance, she could free herself, Requip into her armor, and just go nuts on these guys.
CRASH!
Sounded like someone was going nuts already.
Erza heard a loud "MOOOOOOOOOOOO!" and realized that that cry belonged to Lucy's Taurus spirit. So her team had come for her after all!
The mage that Lucy had been fighting came crashing through the wall. She noticed a green glow on Taurus's arms, a telltale sign of Wendy's Sky magic.
Gray and the aforementioned Dragon Slayer, along with Lucy and Natsu, stepped through the massive hole in the wall after the Bull spirit, who instantly took note of Erza's attire.
"Erza-san! Your udders look positively moooooooooooo-tiful today!" said Taurus excitedly.
"FORCED GATE CLOSURE!" yelled Lucy, fearing what harm her spirit might do to Erza in her state. This was met by a glare from Carla.
"You do realize that Taurus's enhanced strength was our best chance of freeing Erza?" asked the white Exceed harshly.
"Calm down, Carla!" Erza shouted. "I'm sure we can figure something out!"
"Erza's right!" agreed Natsu, who had apparently taken charge of the situation. "Gray, you and I are busting down that cage!"
"Got it!" said Gray. "Ice-Make: Cold Excalibur!" Gray created a very large broadsword of ice.
"Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon's Fist!" yelled Natsu. His hands became engulfed in spheres of light. On his mark, he started punching the cage, and Gray swung his sword. Several explosions occurred, destroying the room they were in, but surprisingly enough, the cage remained intact.
"Damn!" said Gray. "Our strongest attacks, and that cage is still standing!"
Natsu growled. "Then we'll just have to do them again and again until that goddamn cage breaks!" he roared. "Crimson Lotus-"
"Natsu!" yelled Lucy. "Calm down! If that didn't break the bars last time, what makes you think any other time is going to work?"
"Lucy's right, Natsu," said Erza. "This cage is reinforced with anti-magic runes inside and out."
"Gaaah!" screamed Natsu. "There's got to be a way to get you out of there!"
Happy chose this moment to interject. "Can't Gray just make a key out of ice like he did in Edolas?" he asked.
"What?" everyone exclaimed.
"Happy," said Carla patiently. "Even if Gray could make a key, it would dissolve due to being made through magical means." Happy looked dejected at Carla's explanation.
"Wait a minute, guys!" said Wendy. "Happy might be onto something!"
"Explain!" ordered Erza.
"I mean, what if the runes are designed for defensive purposes? Natsu and Gray's attacks might not have worked due to their offensive nature, but there's a chance it won't recognize a key as a threat," the Sky Dragon Slayer explained.
Everyone took a minute to consider Wendy's idea. "It's worth a shot, if nothing else," said Lucy.
Natsu nodded at Lucy's remark. "Do it," he ordered Gray.
"Just give me a second to familiarize myself with the lock," replied Gray, walking up to the door. "Ice-Make: Key!"
Nobody moved, not daring to disturb Gray's concentration. Finally, the lock clicked, and the cage door swung open.
"You did it!" said Lucy.
"How did you know that?" asked Happy.
"Fried-san explained the basics of Jutsu Shiki to me once," said Wendy. "First rule: be specific with your rules."
"I'll have to thank Fried when we get back," said Erza with a smile.
"Now the chain," ordered Natsu.
"I'd love to, flamebreath, but the runes prevent magic from being used inside the cage!" explained Gray.
Suddenly, a screen appeared inside the cage. "'The prisoner is not permitted to use magic within the bounds of these runes,'" Gray read. "Huh. Who knew?"
"Just unlock the damn chains!" yelled Natsu.
"Geez, when'd Charcoal-For-Brains get so bossy?" grumbled Gray as he made another key. He unlocked the collar that bound Erza.
Needless to say, Natsu was at Erza's side in an instant. "Erza!" he exclaimed. "Are you all right?" He started to growl. "Did those bastards hurt you?"
"Calm down, Natsu," said Erza gently. "I'm fine, thanks to all of you."
Natsu beamed. "Yeah, well, I didn't really need these guys. I could've done it all on my own," he said.
"Hey!" said Gray indignantly. "Didn't you say yourself that you couldn't have done this without us?"
"I meant that spiritually!" said Natsu. "You didn't have to take me seriously!"
"Yeah?" challenged Gray. "Well good luck breaking Erza out of that cage yourself, squinty-eyes!"
"I could break a hundred of those cages, droopy-eyes!" countered Natsu.
"Both of you, cool it!" snapped Erza, though she was secretly glad that things were back to normal. "And Gray, put your clothes back on!"
"You're a fine one to talk!" said Gray. "You might as well be naked!"
"Hey! This was the only covering I was given in days!" yelled Erza. "Don't you think if it were up to me, I'd be wearing something more modest?"
"So Requip into something else already!" said Gray.
"Your wish is my command!" quipped Erza. With that, she yanked off the barely-there bra she had been wearing.
"Kyaaah! Erza!" exclaimed Lucy, covering Wendy's eyes.
"I wasn't serious about you being naked!" shouted Gray.
"Well, I'm not about to add a slave costume to my Requip inventory," said Erza, moving onto the bottoms.
"Can't you just get rid of it at home?" asked Lucy.
"Of course I could," said Erza. "However, it's the principle that matters most to me." She Requipped into her standard armor. "You can look now, Wendy."
"I thought I heard some insects buzzing about," said a deep voice in a Middle-Eastern accent. The Fairy Tail mages turned to the hole in the wall to see a fat man with a long beard in Arabian-style clothes.
"Tell me, insects," said the man. "Whatever possessed you into freeing my slave?"
This did not sit well with Natsu. "What did you call Erza, you slime?" he snarled, the intense heat of his fire melting the concrete floor slightly.
Erza placed a hand on Natsu's shoulder to calm him. "Relax, Natsu," she said. "I'll handle this." Without waiting for an argument, she summoned her sword, rushed the fat man, and in seconds flat, he was lying unconscious on the floor.
"Um... was that their leader?" asked Wendy.
"Indeed it was," replied Erza.
"...How did these weaklings ever capture you again, Erza?" asked Lucy.
Erza blushed in shame. Of course they would ask her that question. "They... fed me drugged cake," she admitted with a bowed head. Predictably, everyone in the room collapsed in shock.
"You... need to lay off the sweets!" said Gray angrily.
"Like Hell, Gray," said Erza. "Like Hell."
The slavers were taken into custody, the townspeople gave the team a generous reward, and the Fairy Tail mages were on the train home. Lucy had convinced Wendy to cast Troia on Natsu, so he and Erza had managed to grab some alone time with each other without the Salamander puking his guts out.
It was Erza who spoke first. "You know, there was no reason to come after me," she said.
"No reason?" said Natsu. "My girlfriend didn't come home from her mission when she said she would. If that's not a good enough reason, I don't know what is!"
Erza frowned. "See, this is why you've never defeated me yet," she said sternly. "You're impulsive. You fly off the handle the first chance you get. You never think of a plan of attack. In fact, you didn't even think of the "smash the cage with Arms-powered Taurus" plan in the first place, did you?"
Natsu blushed. "Nah, that was all Lucy," he admitted. "The only plan I had at first was storming in, burning the bad guys to cinders, and saving you." With a smirk, he added, "And maybe giving you a little... 'post-rescue lovin.''"
Erza sighed."How can someone so hopeless give me so much hope for the future?" she muttered.
"I'm fire," said Natsu. "It's my nature to light the darkness for the people I love. And I love you, Baby Red." He wrapped his arms around Erza and left a ghost of a kiss on her neck, causing her to giggle.
"Love you too, Honey Dragon," she cooed, letting the warmth of Natsu's arms around her body remind her she was safe and sound.
Annnnnd here we go! Sorry it's not a wedding or anything awesome like that, but again, when I read More Than A Joke, I knew I had to write something for Natsu and Erza along those lines. Besides, the first part illustrated Natsu worrying about Erza, hence "W for Worry."
But wow! Just three more letters and this project's done! About damn time, too! Then I'll be free to work on Lucky Star, which really oughta be fun. Or maybe I'll work on that Young Justice story I've been talking about. Nah, I'd rather wait for Insecurity to air.
Well, there's not that many X words that could work for what I want, plus, I've had this brewing ever since I started, so you can expect the next chapter up relatively fast. Until then, peace and love from Nightlingbolt.