Chapter 2: Dark Guild
As soon as the team arrived back at the guild, they were all worn out; their faces were caked in dirt, their clothes were mangy, their hair matted and scars and bruises covered every inch of their body. They had walked all their way back.
"We're not risking anymore rides," Natsu had said. As soon as they burst through the door, the other guild members gathered around them.
"Where have you guys been?" Mirajane Strauss exclaimed. "You should've been here days ago. Master's been—oh my, what happened?" Surprise was soon replaced by concern.
"You wouldn't believe us even if we told you," Natsu said and proceeded to tell them about their journey, with Lucy, Gray and Erza piping up every once in a while if he missed a detail.
There was a stunned silence when they finished.
"Some girl you encountered there," Gajeel Redfox commented. "We could use someone like her."
"That's what we thought," Erza said. "Until she ran away, that is."
"I wonder why she ran away..." Wendy Marvell wondered aloud.
"Yeah, why?" Levy McGarden echoed.
Erza just shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe she doesn't like being around people."
"How can anyone live in solitary like that?" Gray said. "Living in the woods all alone, she's gotta feel lonely sometimes."
Lucy nodded in agreement.
"Aye!" Happy exclaimed. "But if she ever changes her mind, we won't hesitate to accept."
Mirajane giggled. "It is some story you told, I must say, but Master is waiting, so I suggest you get some rest and change. Master is anxious to see you all."
"You called us, Master?" Lucy asked carefully as she peered into his office.
"Ah, Lucy," a voice replied. "Are the others with you?"
"Yes, Master," she replied.
"Alright, come in!" Lucy beckoned the others to come.
"What's going on, Master?" Erza asked with her hands on her hips.
"Any news?" Gray inquired in a more calming tone.
"I hope it's more dark guilds to destroy," Natsu said excitedly. He punched the air with a fist of fire. Gray stared at him as if her just burned out all his hair. He would pretty much punch him in the face if it weren't for Makarov.
"Aye!" Happy said, jumping up and down.
Makarov chuckled to himself. His children never changed.
"So what's the news, Master?" Erza asked again impatiently.
"Well, first of all," Makarov started. "I'd like to say that I'm glad that you guys made it out alive."
Erza rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes we get it..."
"Oh, the mission was a piece of cake!" Natsu said, blowing a raspberry.
"I was talking about your encounter n the woods, Natsu," Makarov explained.
"Oh," Natsu responded. "That was easy too!"
Makarov shook his head. "From what I've seen and heard, it was more than just 'easy'?"
"Wait, you heard?" Gray asked.
"Mirajane is a pretty reliable source, is she not?" Makarov said.
Natsu rolled his eyes. Mirajane, of course...
"Hello?" Erza suddenly snapped, causing everyone else to jump back. "News?"
Makarov cleared his throat. "Ah, yes, thank you for reminding me, Erza."
Erza rolled her eyes again.
"Well, since you've had your share of battle, I suppose that makes it easier for me to tell you," Makarov began.
Everyone grew confused.
Lucy, who has been quiet for most of the time, spoke up. "What do you mean, Master?"
"There seems to be," Makarov explained. "a new guild in town."
"A new guild?" Gray repeated. "Isn't that good—"
"A dark guild," Makarov added.
They all gasped.
"Not to mention independent."
Lucy was suddenly lost in thought. Could it be...
"And based on what I've seen and heard," Makarov spoke again. "That it seems—"
"That they're after us?" Erza interrupted.
Makarov nodded. "Those are my suspicions."
Natsu blew another raspberry. "Oh come on, we've defeated plenty of dark guilds before, this once's gonna be a sitch! I'll burn them to the crisp!"
"So tell me all you know about them," Makarov said. "Fill me in with the details." He leaned forward as if the team was going to spill him some juicy gossip.
"Well, there was a guy with a top hat and a coat with tails with a little moustache," Gray started.
"Top hat? Coat of tails?" Makarov repeated in astonishment. "Who on earth fights in those outfits?"
Gray just shrugged. "Beats me too."
"Oh, and there was a big man, but I couldn't see much of his features," Lucy added. "And a woman with red coat tails and black boots. Her name is Miranda or something."
"There were orange twins," Erza mumbled.
"Orange twins?" exclaimed Makarov.
"I meant twins with orange hair," Erza corrected. "And green eyes. They can duplicate themselves and it's hard to tell them apart."
"Is that all?" Makarov asked. "What about your attacker, Natsu?"
Natsu raised and lowered one shoulder. "He had whips but I didn't know who it was."
Makarov scratched his balding head. "That doesn't sound right, there ought to be more than just six..."
"There's possibly more behind the bushes," Erza suggested. "They just haven't found the right time to attack."
"That's possible," Makarov agreed.
"But why?" Lucy wondered aloud.
Natsu placed one hand on her shoulder. "Hey, we're the strongest guild in Fiore! Who wouldn't want to try and beat us?"
"Yeah," Gray said. "But don't worry, we'll crush 'em."
Lucy smiled at that comforting thought.
"I suggest we come up with some kind of strategy," Erza announced. "There's got to be more mages in that guild, and that's a fact! We don't know their full powers yet either, so we bett—"
Crash!
"You goddamn son of a bitch, good for nothing bastard!" a loud voice roared outside.
"That sounds like Laxus," Makarov said as he got up. He quickly opened the door and came to see a shocking sight.
Laxus Dreyar, Makarov's very own blood grandson, held up Freed Justine by the collar and pinned him to the wall. Rage was clearly expressed on his face as Freed struggled to set himself free. Evergreen and Bickslow weren't much help, as they had been shoved tot he side in the efforts of making Laxus let Freed go.
"Laxus! Stop it, you're hurting him!" Mirajane cried out.
"Laxus!" Makarov cried as he trooped out with Team Natsu. "What in the world is going on here?"
Seeing his grandfather's reaction, he quickly released his grip on Freed and Freed dropped to the ground, grasping his neck and struggled to breathe. Mirajane quickly rushed over to his side.
"Nothing," Laxus grumbled.
"L-liar," Freed managed to his at him. Laxus threw a death glare at him and shot him with a thunder bullet.
"Laxus!" Mirajane cried again.
Makarov peered at his grandson closely. Something about him didn't seem right. "Laxus...where are your SoundPod?"
"Damn right, I 'd like to know!" Laxus bellowed, throwing another glare at Freed.
"I told you, I'll get them back," Freed protested. "I'll just have to look for them!"
Makarov stared at Freed. "You don't mean to say that you lost them, didn't you?"
"That's not it!" Freed cried. "I had them yesterday, I swear!"
"Oh, so you think that my SoundPod grew wings and flew away?" Laxus asked in anger. His eyes narrowed to slits and he started breathing heavily, like an angry bull about to charge.
"Laxus, I think it's best that you calm down," Makarov said.
Laxus kept his gaze straight and his expression unchanged. Then he said. "Fine, I'll just go on my mission without them! But mind you, Freed, when I come back, I'd like to have them back! Clear?"
Freed could do nothing but nod.
Laxus bent down and picked up a crumpled sheet of paper lying next to his shoes and stormed out of the guild, cursing to himself.
"Geez, what was that all about?" Lucy asked as soon as Laxus was out of earshot.
"Yeah, I've never seen him beat up the Rajiinshu up like that before," added Natsu.
"I'm fine," Freed said. "I just misplaced Laxus' SoundPod and he wants it back fro his mission, that's all. I'll find it as soon as possible."
"Yes, you can't risk getting another blow from him!" Mirajane told him worriedly, concern etched across her face.
Freed smiled. "Don't worry, I will." And with that he got up.
"Oh dear," Makarov muttered. "I hope Laxus doesn't run into that mysterious dark guild."
"Oh don't worry Master," Natsu said, trying to calm Makarov. "You know Laxus inside out, he'd beat them all to the pulp. Literally." He let out a belly laugh.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Makarov muttered again.
"He'd fry them all before they can move a muscle," Happy exclaimed.
Makarov hinted a smile but still couldn't help worrying over his grandson.
"Yeah, and I bet Black Bandit is gonna kick some asses, too!" Gray said.
"Who is Balck Bandit?" Makarov asked.
"Oh, we forgot to tell you!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Black Bandit is just someone we met along the way," Gray said. "She's got—"
"She?"
"Yes, Balck Bandit is a girl," Erza continued explaining. "Apparently she masters Arc of Embodiment."
"Arc of Embodiment!" Makarov said in astonishment.
Erza nodded. "Yes. But all we know about her is that she wears a black hood."
"Where does she come from?" Makarov asked.
"I think she lives most of her life in the woods alone," Erza replied.
"Well the guild could certainly use someone like her," Makarov stated.
"That's what we thought!" they all exclaimed at the same time.
Makarov smiled. Now he had a better feeling of things.