Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of it's characters.
Fair warning: this fic is rated M for a reason. Expect sexual themes later on.
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
"What? No 'how have you been' or 'it's good to see you again?"- The former celestial mage, Angel, asks while Gray and Erza narrow their eyes –"I am touched by your cold treatment."
"Hey you!"- Natsu steps forward and points a finger towards Angel –"Have we met before?"
Team Natsu (minus Lisanna) face vault at Natsu's poor memory. Angel raises an eyebrow, wondering if this was really the same mage that helped in the demise of her guild. Even Lahar was wondering the same.
"Who is she?"- Lisanna asked Lucy as she helps her get back on her feet.
"A dark mage we defeated a while ago."- Lucy explains to Lisanna –"her name is Angel from the dark guild Oracion seis."
"Ahh! Now I remember"- Natsu exclaims after hearing Lucy –"I didn't recognized you without that weird feather dress."
"It's not weird!"- Angel looked like she was about to smack the slayer in the head, but one look from her jailor stopped her on her tracks. Erza noticed something strange in her behavior, but stayed quiet about it.
"Now that you know what you will be guarding we can move out"- Lahar motioned the jailor to escort their prisoner back inside the carriage –"Your mission is to ensure we deliver our guest here to a more secure prison at the desert. Any questions?"
"Is there reason to suspect the caravan will be attacked?"- Erza asks.
"Of course not: this mission is classified, no one knows we are transporting "it" to another prison. The only reason you're here is because a council member suggested your guild could assist us. If that is all, then we can move."
"One more thing"- Lahar stopped and turned to face Natsu –"Former foe or not; she has a name. So stop referring to her as 'it'."
Lahar frowned at Natsu's words, but agreed –"Fine. Now, can we get moving?"
Silently agreeing, Team Natsu and the council caravan began their trip. The Fairy tail mages were not surprised by the slayer's reaction, after all they know Natsu doesn't hold grudges against former enemies.
"Idiot "- Angel mused from her cell, not knowing why the dumb slayer had defended her like that. Nevertheless, she was kind of grateful for him standing up for her.
As both parties walked side by side, they were unaware of someone watching their moves from afar.
"They're moving east sir, towards the desert."- A mage, using a spell to watch from afar, informs to his superiors. –"It also seems they hired mages to help them too."
"Mages?"- A man with a ponytail asked –"From what guild?"
"I couldn't see their marks, but I recognized Titania from Fairy Tail."
"Erza!"- Another mage exclaims –"Now we're fucked!"
"Relax"- the mage turns towards another person, this one wearing a dark armor –"she will be no trouble for us; our mission is to recover Angel, not to engage the mages."
The ponytail guy smirked and addressed the rest of the mages –"We will engage them at nightfall, before they reach the outskirts of the desert. We shall then distract the council lackeys and the fairies, while the other group secures our target. Understood?"
"Yes sir!'- Over 20 dark mages replied, while the two leaders smirked; their real plan was to use them as a distraction while they recovered the girl. After all, these mages were just cannon fodder.
"Then let's move!"
The trip towards the prison would take a few days on foot, the reason the council didn't use one of their flying transports was to minimize the attention they could get. Since daylight was ending soon, Lahar ordered to stop and set camp near a small forest. The mages of Fairy Tail watched as the rune knights took positions around the camp, while Lahar sealed the surroundings of Angel's cell with magic scripts similar to Freed's magic.
"Aren't you exaggerating?"- Allowed to come outside, Angel asks the council mage.
"You can never be too careful, inmate"- Lahar said, making the girl sigh at her current situation.
"At least take these off me."- Angel said, referring to the cuffs that restricted her magic. –"Even without your script I can't use magic without my keys."-Ignoring her, Lahar went to check the camp, while the white hair girl slumped on the ground defeated. Which Erza noted.
"Lucy, Lisanna: start setting the tents. Natsu, Gray, go gather wood to start a campfire. Wendy, go with Happy and Charle to refill our water canteens" – The S mage ordered while the mages obeyed without complain. The girls obeyed because they followed the chain of command, and Natsu and Gray because they feared the red head. Erza gave those orders because she doubted the council would care how they would spend the night, and second because she wanted to talk to Angel without being interrupted.
The former celestial mage frowns after seeing her approaching –"What do you want?"
Ignoring her tone, Erza spoke: "You were also a slave on the tower of heaven, right?" – Seeing her reaction Erza explains –"When I fought against Cobra I saw some of his memories."
"Yeah, so? What do you care?"
"I was also a slave there"
Surprise flashed trough Angel's eyes, but she quickly hid it –"What's your point?"
"My point is; why did you become a dark mage? You do realize it's the same as those bastards that enslaved us!"
"It wasn't like I had a choice!"- Angel screamed at Erza, catching the attention of those nearby. Noticing it, she lowered her voice –"Brain came to the tower one day and selected us for his guild. It's not like I had a choice to begin with."
"There's always a choice!"- Erza remarked as the girl looked down –"you made yours the moment you decided to become a dark mage." – Turning around she was about to leave when Angel spoke:
"I just wanted to be free…that is all."
Erza's expression softened a bit just by looking at Angel; the bags under her eyes showed lack of sleep, on top of that the strict regime she endured while in prison was the first signs she noticed at first glance. Where once a dangerous enemy stood, now in her place was a broken girl reliving her nightmares from the tower.
"I wish I could save you, but I couldn't even save Jellal."- Erza thought as she went to aid Lucy and Lisanna with setting up camp.
From afar, Lahar had watched the entire exchange of words.
"I think you have enough"- Gray said to Natsu currently carrying a large pile of wood to set a fire.
Thinking he just wants to outdo him by bringing more wood, Natsu replies: "Nice try, but I won't fall for that." – The dragon slayer then starts grabbing more wood to beat Gray's.
"Like I'd let you beat my quantity!" – Said that, Gray mimics the slayer and starts recollecting even more wood. After a few moments, both have an even larger pile of wood on their hands.
"A tie!' – Both mages say at the same time.
"Let's settle this; first one back to the camp wins!"- Natsu offers, making Gray smirk.
"Fine by me."- Not wasting a second, the ice maker starts running back to camp. Thinking he has a good head start Gray fails to realize Natsu isn't following him.
"Sucker"- Natsu drops the pile of wood and heads towards the river nearby. This was the perfect opportunity to ask Wendy about the bite mark
Reaching the river, Happy is the first to spot him: "Hey, Natsu! What are you doing here? Are you gonna catch some fish for dinner?"
"Yeah but first I want to ask Wendy something"- Natsu explained, catching the young sky dragon slayer's attention.
"Ask me about what?"- Wendy asks as she filled a water canteen.
"Well you see, I was wondering if your dragon ever taught you a technique that involved a bonding with another person."
"Bonding?"- Wendy repeated as she tried recalling any memory she had with Grandeeney –"I think she did"
"Great! Can you tell me about it?"
Natsu's cheerful expression dropped when Wendy shook her head –"I'm sorry, but I can't remember anything else."
"Oh, that's a shame"
"I'm really sorry Natsu."
"Don't worry about it"- Natsu replies, putting his grin back –"Hey Happy, wanna help me catch dinner?"
"Aye!"
While Natsu and Happy start fishing, Wendy and Charle returned to the campsite. The white exceed wondering why the pink head wanted to know about "that" technique.
"Oi! Were back"
"Aye!"
Team Natsu marvels at the exaggeratedly large fish Natsu carries with him. Setting it down he turns to Lahar: "If you want some we can give you a piece." –Natsu offered, even if the guy was a pain in the ass.
"Like we would eat that"- Lahar responded, making Natsu glare at his retreating form.
"Let it go Natsu-kun"- Lisanna said as she set her hand over his –"More for us, right?"
"You always know what to say to cheer me up."- Natsu smiled giving her a quick kiss, earning a groan from Gray.
"Can you guys take it elsewhere? We're trying to eat here."
"Jealous? Pervert striper."
"What did you say? Flames for brains! "
"You heard me!"
Lisanna groans as her boyfriend starts a verbal exchange with Gray, -"At least I'll have his attention tonight."
"Can't you stop fighting for just once?"- Lucy asked, knowing full well her question would go unanswered by the bickering duo.
Slamming the now cooked fish on the makeshift table, Erza spoke to them: "Shut up and eat your dinner!"
Almost instantly, Natsu and Gray went all buddy-buddy with each other and took their seats. As they eat, Erza spoke:
"Even with the knights guarding the camp we can't let our guard down. We shall take watch during the night; I will take the first shift, then Natsu, followed by Gray, then Lisanna and finally Lucy." – Before Wendy can say anything, Erza adds –"We need you fully rested in due case we need of your healing magic."
"Ok, I guess. But I still feel I get the easy way out"- The young slayer says.
"Whaaat! Erza didn't even mention us!"- Happy cried while Charle scoffed at his antics.
Later at night:
While Erza kept an eye out guarding, the rest of the team was resting in their tents. Since Lisanna had 'forgotten' her tent it was just natural she would spend the night sleeping in Natsu's. Of course, that doesn't mean they would get a lot of sleep.
Currently, Lisanna was on top of Natsu engaged in a lip lock while Natsu roamed his hands all over her legs and her firm butt. The dragon slayer was turning out to be an ass man. However that didn't mean his girlfriend's breasts were neglected; retrieving one hand from her firm buttocks, the pink hair male massages her right breast, making her moan.
"Mmmm…Natsu-kun…your shift is…next."- Lisanna says between kisses –"You really…mmmm…don't want to…mmm… sleep before it…comes?"
"I'll sleep….mmmm… after my…shift"
Lisanna didn't argue anymore, more than happy with their current activities. Meanwhile Erza approached Lahar, wanting to ask any information about Jellal's current situation.
"I am sorry Miss Scarlet, but all info regarding him is strictly confidential"- Lahar replies to the crestfallen mage –"The only thing that's public knowledge is the sentence dictated to him."
Erza didn't have to ask since she already knew; sentence for life in prison.
"However"- Lahar said, stopping Erza from leaving –"I would like to talk about your earlier encounter with our escort."
Erza frowned, not knowing where was he heading with this –"You mean when I talked to Angel?"
Before Lahar said a word a large explosion rockets the camp, rune knights head out to investigate just to face off against several mages. Team Natsu quickly emerged from their sleep and joined Erza and Lahar.
"This can't be!"- Lahar said as he watched the fight –"This was supposed to be a secret of the highest level!"
Ignoring him Erza spoke: "Natsu! Gray! Let's go!"- Drawing her sword intending to join the fray.-"The rest stay here and guard Angel!"
"Wait!'- Lahar yelled to catch their attention –"That is exactly what they want; to distract us so they can retrieve the prisoner!"
As on cue, another group emerged from the other side of camp. Not wasting time the mages from Fairy Tail engaged them head on. Lahar stayed near Angel's cell, surrounded by some Jutsu Shiki magic.
"A magic barrier? Interesting."
Lahar was startled when someone spoke from behind, turning around he finds a cloaked man with a ponytail inside the barrier. Jumping out of the barrier, Lahar smirks –"You fool, once inside my barrier you cannot do any magic!"
"We know" – An armored mage surprises the council mage with a fierce blow from behind –"My comrade here just wanted to draw you out of the barrier."
Unsheathing a dark glowing blade, the armored mage slashed the barrier that contains his companion. Stepping out, the ponytail man compliments their plan.
"Worked like a charm, right Zane?"
The dark armor mage smirked–"Yes, your teleporting magic worked alright. Now let's free an angel shall we?"
The ponytail man, known as Sixring, agrees and steps aside to let Zane slash the barrier around Angel's cell.
"Stop!"
Groaning, Zane turns to face Erza. The scarlet hair mage sporting her Heaven's Wheel Armor with several swords pointing at Zane. –"Did you really believe we would leave our objective unprotected?"
"You're smarter than I thought"- the dark armor mage comments, getting ready to fight –"Sixring! get Angel. I will face Erza."
"Yeah, whatever"- the ponytail mage says as he approaches the door to the carriage-like cell where Angel was peeking out.
"About time you came for me!"- The white hair girl says to the indifferent Sixring –"So, who sent you? Was it that old fart from Grimoire or Maybe Tartarus?"
Angel was thrown back when the door of her cell was blasted into hundreds of pieces, brushing some rubble from herself the former celestial mage glares at her "savior".
"What the hell is wrong with you? You could at least warn me before doing that!"
Smirking Sixring grabs her by the throat and raised her from the ground, making Angel gasp for lack of air.
"Listen girly and listen up good! We are not from those guilds and we sure aren't 'freeing you'. As of right now you are our prisoner. Got that?"
Angel barely manages to nod. Satisfied, Sixring drops her as the girl regains her breath. Glaring at him with teary eyes she listens to his next words:
"We have great plans for you…"
A.N.
There you go! another chapter up. now to clarify some questions:
Vica verca: You're absolutely right! Lisanna should call Natsu "Natsu-kun" and he call her "Lisanna-chan" or "Lis-chan" That's a detail I forgot to edit in previous chapters.
The Folklistener: They will reach that level, but not yet. Also, the reason Natsu asked Wendy about the mark is because: 1) She's also a dragon slayer so he believes she might know something, and 2) He's Natsu! What did you expect from him? I won't deny Lisanna getting a bit kinky or pervy...
Dezeiver: glad to see you liked my story enough to create an account.
As for the rest, it's always a pleasure to read your reviews.
Thanks for all the other reviews. If I get enough inspiration I might expand it further into the S-class trials and beyond.