Stoneheart and the Woodhome
E1sky
Chapter 2
Are We There Yet?
In a flurry of hurried moments, much to the insistence of Natsu-san, we have packed our things and set to go. Now here we are again sitting in the train to take us to our destination. Lucy-san and Charle are sitting beside me. The three of us staring at the passing scenes in our window calmly. It's just months ago when we first met but the serene feeling that we share whenever were together is like we've known each other from the very beginning.
Suddenly we heard the thumping of running steps and noisy cheers from the end of the car of the train where we're in. We all look to that direction but we already know who it were. Ever since our train took off, Natsu-san's been running the whole length of the train apparently enjoying his temporary ability to handle transportation as I had cast troia on him. I'm really glad I'd help Natsu-san that way and he really looks happy now. You may think it was childish of him but if you had motion sickness as bad as his maybe you'll understand. I think even Lucy-san have the same thought because I saw her smile pleasantly to see him this way instead of the usual.
Natsu-san burst out from the door with Happy hovering above him. But this time there's someone behind trying to caught up with them, the train conductor. Natsu-san halted adjacent to us.
"Feels good! Let's do it again Happy"
"Aye sir!"
But before they could set foot again the conductor finally caught up, panting. "Sir", he started and caught his breath, "please stop doing that. It's annoying other passengers already. And if you do I might need to throw you out the train."
"Ha! You're bluffing. Everyone knows you aren't really doing that."
The conductor looks he was taken aback when his childish threat didn't work. "In that case sir, I'll put you atop the train instead."
Natsu-san's eyes widened and the conductor smiled slyly, but then Natsu-san clap his fist with his palm and smiled amusingly. "That's a good idea! Let's do it Happy"
"Aye sir!"
I think Lucy-san suppressed a giggle. They passed in front of us and opened the window beside Charle, permitting the strong wind breeze upon us.
"You two really are a mess" Charle protested, not liking the initial gust of wind that blows upon her.
The conductor who had just came out in state of shock hurriedly try to prevent them from going out but Natsu-san and Happy disappeared quicker. The conductor poke out his head to try to see them up and then looked back at us as an awkward laugh was heard from Lucy-san.
"Uhm… You really don't need to worry for him sir" she said.
"Yeah but we'll be held responsible if something happens to them while in the train, and what he's doing is dangerous"
"He can take care of himself. He's Fairy Tail's Salamander."
"I know, and that's why I'm worried. 'Cause every time Salamander ride our train he goes… pathetic."
"Yeah… but he's alright for now"
The conductor sighed. "I guess I'll just let you take care of your partner then."
Lucy-san smiled and gave him an assuring nod. Then the conductor took of his hat to bow and left us.
"You surely got used to Natsu" Charle said to Lucy-san.
"As if you're still not used to the daily squabbling in our guild yet" Lucy-san teased. Charle looked away so she won't need to answer.
"Natsu-san's really enthusiastic" I said.
"Everything seems simple when it comes to Natsu. Let's do this, let's do that, I want this, I want that, I will protect them, I will protect you…" Lucy-san mused as if talking to herself, "But Natsu's Natsu and we all like him that way isn't it?
"Aye" I agreed.
"By the way Lucy", Charle started, "What's the request all about now?"
"Lemme see" Lucy-san took out a piece of paper from her purse and unfolded it in front of us. We read beside her. "Hmm… it says we need to fend off a golem . . . Fend off a Golem!"
"Golem… stoneman right?'
"Stonegiant, Wendy" Charle corrected, emphasizing the difference.
"Scary monstrous stonegiant" Lucy-san elaborated.
"So we just need to fend it off. We're not expected to kill it or capture it or something. Why is it so?"
"It says here it's attacking the village and destroying the houses- I don't want to read!" Lucy-san threw the paper but Charle caught it. "It's creepy a rock have life"
"And so the request pays 500,000 jewels" I reminded them. "That will give us enough payment for our rent and Natsu-san will…will…- I wonder where Natsu-san was putting off his money."
As I asked that I saw Lucy-san snapped as if something struck her mind. Then she hurried to the window, opening it so suddenly for the wind to annoy Charle all the more who was now thoroughly reading the request. "Hey!"
"Natsu! Come down here!" Lucy bellowed. Seconds later Natsu-san appeared from atop.
"Hey Lucy. You want to ahk… hey!" Lucy-san pulled her down inside and let her seat at the bench opposite to us. Happy landed beside him.
"Natsu, let's make a deal that no matter what happens we'll stick to the 100,000 jewels each" Lucy-san said stooping down to Natsu-san's face.
"Oh 'bout that again. Lucy you know there's always-"
"No! Erza wasn't here so we'll decide thru democracy. Those who agree with me raise your hand." Lucy-san straightened up to raise her hand.
She looked at me with full trust and I raised my hand in support of her, although I really don't know what this is all about. Did I missed or forgetting something?
Obviously Natsu-san and Happy were on the other side so all eyes fall on Charle.
"As if I would ever side with them"
Lucy-san smiled. "So it's settled Natsu"
"Fine fine. Like the pay really matters now"
"So if it's not for the pay why are you rushing on missions recently?"
"Didn't I told you already Lucy, to become stronger"
"You always say that. Isn't there any other reason?"
"Of course there is but that's just the first thing that comes to mind hehe"
Lucy-san closed her eyes and sighed. Charle slapped her head with her paw. "lazy" she muttered.
Several hours later, we have reached our train station. Lucy-san had to wake me in her lap. I didn't realize I fall asleep. We began walking with Lucy-san holding my hand as I gradually woke up to the usual bustling of the train station. But the village we sought is still far away from the town. Then we found a cart to take us a ride to the haste of Natsu-san and or before troia wears off.
Our cart moves away and away from the town we didn't even got the chance to see until we're travelling thru a road-wide clearing in the forest. And before the rolling of the cart, the fresh air, the melodic chirping of birds as we passed by, the softness and warmth of Lucy-san, and the gentleness of her hand on my shoulder that kept me close to her could lull me to sleep again we've finally reached our destination. The village of Diona expands before our eyes.
We waste no time in setting foot in the village. We started asking for the mayor of the village who sent the request and before we know it, villagers have gathered around us. They were looking at us expectantly as the wizards who answered the request. Eventually we were led to the village hall with many villagers marching behind us that I couldn't tell if this should be feel welcoming or creepy.
Natsu-san doesn't look bothered though he chooses to be quiet for the moment. Lucy-san was keeping pace with him. Happy was a step before them while I and Charle was a little behind. I don't know but I felt a little discomfort with this much attention and anticipation. A quick glance behind and I see them murmuring. With my superior hearing I couldn't help but to recognize some of the many words that was said.
"…they're actually here…"
"…Fairy Tail's the strongest guild…"
"…they've come to help us…"
"…they're just kids…"
"…look at those marks…".
"You alright Wendy?" Lucy-san asked, spotting me uneasy when she looked behind.
"I'm fine, it's just like um… the whole village's watching us."
"Maybe because it's the whole village that needs help now."
"Have you experience something like this before Lucy-san?"
"Mm" she nodded, and then Happy appeared out of nowhere in front of Charle.
"Have I told you about when me, Natsu, and Lucy took up an S-rank mission Charle?" he asked and began his story without Charle's consent. I tried to listen to Happy but don't get much of the details because his tale centers on him. Maybe I'll just ask Lucy-san to tell me her version at some time later. For now, I sped up my pace to caught up with them although, I swear, I really have no intention to leave the two exceeds behind.
As I caught up, I realized Natsu-san and Lucy-san were looking on something ahead a little at our right. It is a magnificent white statue of a woman portrayed to be clad with intricate layers of leaves. It was so white that it looks polished marble from afar but by its scent I can say its wood, of what kind that I can't tell. And I can also say that this place where the statue stands is the very center of the village.
"That's statue looks familiar to me, Natsu." I heard lucy-san said.
"Have you been here Lucy?"
"Impossible, or else I would've remembered. But perhaps I've seen it somewhere."
"What's the point of remembering if you can't remember it?"
Lucy-san sighed. "I don't get your point Natsu, but that sure makes me feel lazy."
"Eh, now look I think that's the hall already."
Ahead of us was a two-storey building of old bricks, the tallest building I've seen so far in this village. Not long after, we found ourselves being greeted by an old man who introduced his self as the village mayor. I can tell from his appearance he was a little younger than master Makarov. He seems wise and kind too but not so much enthusiastic even in his smiles. Maybe it was his years of service as mayor that gave him the aura of formality. He carries no magical power in him and his name is Regor Hamled.
""Ham"" Lucy-san had to strongly nudged Natsu-san and grabbed Happy off the floor at the same time before they could say more.
"Please to meet you sir. Mi name's Lucy, and here's Natsu, Wendy, Happy, and Charle."
"Ah! Fairy Tail wizards I see. Even now I have to thank you for answering the request immediately. You don't know how much relief you give me and the entire village."
"Mm… according to the request you seems having a real gigantic problem here, eh" Lucy-san said, smiling awkwardly at her own comment.
"Gigangtic indeed, but it would be rude of me to take you to the matter straightly. Seeing the time of your arrival I can assume you skip lunch for your travel," Lucy-san, Charle, and me involuntarily side glanced to Natsu-san and Happy who wasn't bothered but, ever since hearing his name was unintentionally giving some hints to the mayor. "So if you please to wait for a little while I could prepare you a meal."
The offer was accepted without further ado. I admit I was hungry too so we're glad to fill ourselves with the late lunch given to us. Charle complained about Natsu-san's dragon-like eating manners(I swear it doesn't comes with being a dragon slayer) while Happy's offering her a fish with a cute ribbon on it. Lucy-san who's more used to it ate quietly in safe distance. Gladly the table is wide and the food is plenty enough for all of us.
After Natsu-san has been full, and that's when I and Lucy-san got ample rest already, the mayor came back with the man called Lard Vegam, captain of the guards of the village. His a little more than an average man, older than Macao I think. And just after the brief introduction, they led us out the village hall.
Outside, the villagers has resumed their daily chores: walking, bustling, doing something as part of their lives. Maybe it's because of my uneasiness before that I haven't seen it well but now I could see that most houses were made of old bricks and wood. The village is wide; it stretches as far as my eyes are permitted to see. Population is vast too. But the structure, the way of life, and the atmosphere is still too simple to be a town. I think it's because of its seclusion that it can occupy a wider area.
We pass at the white statue and I saw Lucy-san looked at it like she was into thinking again. We turn to our left to what's the mayor called the Forest Alley, the road that leads to the innermost part of the forest. As we go on I noticed that the villagers bustling around were thinning until we became completely alone in the road. It became eerily quiet that I started missing the villagers that marched behind us before. It was to me as if we stepped out into an all new different village already.
Damaged houses started to appear in our sight, left and right: missing window, missing door, huge crack on the wall, missing wall, missing roof, missing house! The further we go the more severe damages in the houses that followed. I gulped, I noticed Lucy-san gulped too and we started to hold hands.
"So… this is where the golem attacked you?"Lucy-san asked.
"Right, and this extent of damage was done in just two nights" captain Vegam said in gritted teeth.
"And all we could do was to evacuate the people" mayor Hamled added.
"Night you say, it's a good thing you already got some sleep Wendy. It seems to me that we have to keep a watch by night." Charle said.
I know she didn't mean anything bad about that but I suddenly felt ashamed. It was to me that I have a responsibility to be the most awake among us tonight. But sure I would do it. In that way I could help.
We halted at the part of the road adjacent to the last house, or at least a house before it was reduced to its very foundation. But the road we're on stretches and cuts through the forest. And then I saw it. The trees. The forest. I've never seen something like it before. The outskirts of the forest were composed of regular trees; fruit-bearing trees most of it. But in the distance I saw trees twice and even thrice higher than regular trees, scattered at first but the further the denser they become as if they alone composed the forest. Staring at their huge size makes me feel smaller than what I already am. And by the mayor's words it seems not only me.
"What you're gaping at is the great Forewood forest"
"Hmm… are you sure there's only four?" Natsu-san contested.
"It's 'fore' as in 'fore' in forehead Natsu" Lucy-san explained shortly.
"Oh I get it, so that's the forehead of the forest"
Lucy-san frowned. "That's not what I said Natsu. But look how huge they are."
"But still nothing compared to tenrou tree" Happy said somewhere.
"So what are we doing here?" Natsu-san asked.
The mayor opened his mouth to answer but Lucy-san beats him to it. "To study the situation of course, and now," she paused to turn to the mayor and to the captain, "may I ask you some questions sir?"
I don't know but I felt like Lucy-san's gaining some interest about this case, and I can't help but get interested too because of her. And I'm really happy whenever I'm in their team.