I do not own Fairy Tail

Chapter 6- The Weeping Lion

He's tired.

He's been running around the forest for ages. Natsu couldn't really stop even if he wanted to, he didn't want the scary looking monster bite him on the butt or in any part of his body. It's not his fault that he accidentally stepped on its weird looking tail. How should he know that it's sleeping underneath the tree, the monster looked like a freaking boulder for crying out loud! He just wanted to eat that freaking fruit he saw high above. Yes, he felt stupid for just stomping on its back but he's so hungry that he could eat Happy. Speaking of Happy, that stupid cat didn't even tell him that there's a freaking monster under it. Er, well Happy did, but not when the monster was already ready to bite his head off for awakening it.

Natsu tried fighting it at first but it was so huge and its hideous teeth didn't help at all, especially with a screaming Happy at the side yelling that they're gonna die by the wrath of the rollidillo, whatever that is. With just a swipe off its huge scaly paw, Natsu sailed into the air and slammed into a tree. That's when he thought that he couldn't defeat it, not by himself, so he did what he's best at.

He ran.

He ran for his life, looking beyond with Happy flying by his side, he saw the stripping exhibitionist Gray hanging by a tree, looking like a buffoon. He wanted to laugh out loud but due to his predicament he couldn't. His heart stopped for a moment when he saw Levy and Erza near the tree. Gray and Erza could fight really well but Levy... Levy couldn't even lift a pistolblade without tripping, she's all brains no brute. So in his loudest voice he yelled "RUN".

Erza wanted to wring Natsu's neck and torture him in every way possible. But right now she have to save his neck first, well… all of their necks. She battled battalions, lead soldiers to war but she never battled a monster before. Running ahead, she looked past Natsu's back and saw a huge 12 feet flesh eating monster. How could she fight that? With its scaly hide she knew her sword or her any of her bullets cannot penetrate it's thick hide. She has to think of a plan and she have to think fast, her friends were already lagging behind.

She scanned the area. Afar, she saw caves letter markings: A to H. Not wasting another minute she turned her back and yelled "Run to the caves! Gray and Natsu protect Levy. I'll distract the monster. Now go!"

"Roger" yelled Gray as he passed Erza, hosting a tired Levy unto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Levy tried to complain but when she finally saw the thing that was chasing them, her knees suddenly turned weak like jelly. It's the first time that she saw it. When she heard Natsu yelled awhile ago, she didn't hesitate to do what he asked, for she remembered how scared Natsu voice was.

"Erza" she yelled. "Be careful" she knows how capable the red hair is, that why she was relieved when she heard that she was coming to their expedition.

"I've ventured the caves before" said Happy. "Go with letter E, caused it stands for exceed but not Happy. Aye!" Happy added plopping on Gray's other shoulder for he was tired and almost out of magical reserve.

Nodding her head, Erza prepared herself to battle. Hosting her broadsword up high she ran towards the monster striking its paw. The monster screamed in annoyance, snapping its teeth near Erza's head, slightly chopping off her scarlet locks. Knees on the ground, she braced herself for another impact, holding her sword high above her face to fend of the monster. Her eyes widen in shocked as a flashed of pink kicked the monster's head to the side.

"Natsu! What are you still doing here? I told you to run" she hissed.

"Well, I don't want you to have all the fun" Natsu snorted "And I know it's my fault we're all here" he grinned.

"Well, let' see if you can keep up" Erza smirked. She ran pass the monster and into its rear, jumping as high as she can go, before slamming her sword into its back for hold. The sword didn't penetrate as deep as she wants but it will suffice. She removed her gun from her holster and shot the animal in the head.

Feeling heroic, Natsu brought out his spear and threw it into the monster's gapping mouth. Choking at the foreign object, the animal tried to shake its head off the side thus tossing Erza in the process. Natsu then sailed under its head and kicked its massive chin up. Erza stood up and fling out two miniature holographic devices into the air. When the devices landed in front of the muddled animal, it set forth a series of electrical currents hence presenting a holographic image of them running, while also zapping the monster in process.

Erza backed away and sprinted, grabbing Natsu's arm. The monster shrieked in fury as it curled its body up and rolled towards their holographic selves. Glancing back at the distracted animal, the duo dashed towards the cave with their remaining strength.

"You guys alright?" asked a worried Levy

"Yeah, we're fine Levy" Erza smiled while she tiredly plopped to the ground to rest.

"That was awesome!" yelled Natsu as he excitedly jumped up and down. Not even noticing the glare that the others gave him. Infuriated with his idiocy, Erza grab Natsu's neck and smashed his head on the ground.

"Idiot" teased Gray.

"What did you say, stripper? You want a pi-"Natsu didn't finish as Erza's gloved hand tightened around his neck.

"How's it feel to eat dirt, dumbass?" laughed Gray, as Natsu struggle against Erza's hold.

Getting tired of their condition, Levy wandered the area with curiosity. The cave was dark with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The walls felt damp with residue thus casing the walls with moss and plants as a cool sweet breeze coming off the other end of the cavern.

Keeping her hold against the wall, she slowly walked further inside, gradually crushing her foot on the slippery ground.

"If you're wondering if there is any creature living here. There's none" Happy softly said, afraid of scaring Levy.

Levy turned her head towards the exceed at the side, she smiled, still fascinated by the said creature who was following her.

She slowly crouched down, leveling the exceed and asked "You're name is Happy, right?"

"Aye! And I live here at the island, in case you were wondering" said Happy suddenly remembering Natsu's question before.

"You sure there's no animal living here that we could disturb?" Levy asked still smiling at Happy.

"Aye! It's the only cave that is safe" answered Happy

"And why is that?" quizzed Levy

"Because-" started Happy "All the creatures here respect THE graves and they're afraid of the lion" shivered Happy.

Levy stood up, eyeing the other end of the cave, "Graves? Lion?" she thought. Picking up Happy, who gladly joined her as she hugged him from behind, she asked him "Can you show me where the graves are, Happy?"

Happy stilled for a moment not knowing how to answer, he whispered a struggled "I don't know" looking at Levy with a troubled gaze.

Levy looked at him questionably while he turned his furry head beyond. "It's an old exceed teaching to always protect and never let any outsider wonder beyond the cave. We never had any problem before due to the island's protection" he sighed.

Silence followed after, he then somewhat added "Maybe you guys were meant to be here."

Happy turned his head again towards Levy "Will you promise to just look and never disturb anything" his eyes teary.

"Yes Happy, I promise" Levy said slightly shocked at Happy's whirlwind of emotions.

"Aye, then follow me" hopping down Levy's hold, he struts towards the other end of the dark cave not even turning his head back.

She watched the exceed strode whereas she signal the others to follow them thus preventing them from killing each other.

"WOW"

Levy thought at first that once she exited the cave she will see a creepy cemetery with tombstones and caskets but she was wrong, absolutely wrong.

After they left the cave, they still walked for several minutes and followed a series of hidden paths and routes lead by a determined Happy.

At the end of their journey stood the most enchanted clearing that Levy ever seen in the island. Trees and variety of vegetation surrounds the glade, with large roots and rocks shadowing it. At the middle stood a large and ancient structure with a series of granite and light stones adorning it. Multiple fireflies hovers the structure making it appear ethereal and peaceful.

"Fairy Tail's first master. The grave of Mavis Vermilion, the fairy of Tenrou Island" whispered Happy.

A sense of nostalgia filled the group as they saw the grave, a warm feeling of home. They felt like they've seen this place in a distant past, a childhood memory or fantasy dream. Shaking the feeling off, the group moved towards the grave, bowed their head and prayed their respect.

"What now?" asked Gray still observing the grave.

"I don't know" answered Levy "I thought that if we looked for the grave, answers will pop out. I thought that it is inside a mausoleum that was filled with books and wonders. But-" she sighed.

A sudden crash was emitted behind the group followed by a high shrieked. Behind them stood a man in a suit holding a scared Happy by the tail. The group gasped and readied their weapons for defense but the man just stood there, observing at the group seriously. Happy screamed once again saying that the Lion caught him, over and over again.

Natsu almost charged at the man, terrified for his newly found friend's well-being but Erza shielded her arm into his heaving chest. Natsu looked at Erza questionably but she wasn't looking at him but she was focused on the man before them. He turned his eyes back and he noticed tears were streaming in the guy's cheeks. Soaking his polished suit with tears and dampening a stilled Happy, now placed in his shaking arms.

Face hidden behind his auburn mane, the guy removed his dark-tinted glasses and brought his right hand unto his face, hiding his tears. He bends down on his knees releasing Happy in his hold and weeps.

"Loke?" Happy muttered as he gently approached the wrecked man. "I'm just joking Loke. I know you're not gonna hurt me" he softly said.

The man named Loke looked at the exceed at his side, smiling a little. He turned his face on the group in front of him and gazed particularly at Natsu.

He smiled as tears tickled down on his face.

"You're finally here..."

.

/TBC

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Pistolblade - a long sharp-edge weapons with build-in guns at the handle