Chapter 3: A Cat Named Leaf

Zak P.O.V

Few days went by for me and as always I'm hating it. I mean doing some jobs were fun but I still can't figure out why she send me here. Some people tried to talk to me but I either ignored them or just answer yes or no questions. Also unfortunately for me, I run into a so called rival.

"Fight me Zak!" Natsu yelled as he charged at me with his iron fist.

I dodge and punch him in the gut and use my lightning magic on him as I sighed.

"There happy?" I asked as I went back to eating.

"Winner Zak!" Happy said.

"When will this end?" I asked.

Natsu keep bothering me to fight him since I'm a fellow dragon slayer and every time I came back he tries to fight me but as always I beat him.

"I'm back." I said the next day as I enter the guild hall but stop when I saw Erza with a lot of luggage which made me sweatdrop. "What's going on here?"

"Erza, Lucy, and Carla are heading out on a mission." Mira replied.

"A mission that requires that much luggage? I'll never understand humans so I'm just going to turn away now, pretend I never saw that, and come back a different time."

"Not so fast Zak." Makarov said who appear out of nowhere. "You're going with them."

"What?!" I said surprised. "Why?"

"You been at this guild for about a week and you don't really interact with the others so this will be a nice trust bonding exercise for you."

"But-"

"No buts you're going and that's final."

"Fine." I said in a angry tone as I turn to face Erza and the others. "Let's make this quick."

"I'm losing my sanity." I said as I walk with the others.

Erza keep repeating words for some odd reason and Carla was rambling on about Wendy and not choosing jobs and what not.

"So Zak I been meaning to ask what brings you to Fairy Tail?" Lucy asked.

"I'm here because my master told me too, simple as that." I replied.

"Is that it?"

"Yes."

"Who was your master?"

"I prefer not to speak about her." I replied.

"And why's that?" Carla asked.

"I have my reasons." I said. "Now come on and hurry up I want this mission to be over with."

After a few hours of walking, it started to rain which made me smile. Usually when there's rain there's lightning but unfortunately the girls didn't take it so well. Lucy summon a clock spirit and the three of them cram themselves inside as I sit on a rock.

"Are you sure you don't want to come in?" Lucy asked in the clock.

"And get crammed in a clock with 3 girls? Hell no and besides this is nothing, I love the rain because sometimes there will be lightning." I said.

"So you're going to sit in the rain?" Lucy asked.

"No of course not." I said as I scatter some cards around me and activate my barrier around me as the rain no longer hit me. "I'll be resting here until the rain stops and I get all this room to myself. So have fun with that cramp spot of yours."

"This is unfair." Carla said.

"Well too bad life wasn't made to be fair or else I would have a normal life." I said.

"My luggage." Erza complain. "Zak could you-"

"Forget it." I said without letting her finish.

"What did Makarov sign me up for?" I asked as I close my eyes and waited for the rain to be over.

Soon the rain clear and we continued our journey and it was getting late but soon the girl started to complain about being hungry and tried to get some food. At the end they were all eating some fish which tastes horrible.

"Is this really all we can find?" Erza asked.

"You girls wouldn't last a week in nature." I said as I walked out of the forest and to the fire.

"So the male finally speak out of his own free will." Carla said.

"It's sad to see humans struggle to live out in the woods." I said as I ignored the cat comment and looked at their food.

"And you think you can?" Lucy asked.

"Please I live in the forest to this very day." I said as I sat down.

"You don't have a home?" Erza asked.

"What's wrong don't have enough jewels?" Lucy asked.

"Not at all, I have way too much jewels but the forest is calm and peaceful and no humans to bother me." I said as I mumbled the last part and dig into my bag

"Why are you talking to us?" Lucy asked.

"You heard the master, I need to interact more and I don't wish to upset the master but this doesn't make us friends." I said as I brought out a container out of my bag.

"Is that..."

"Food?"

"Of course." I said as I open it. "I'm always packed and before you ask, no you can't have any."

"Not even just one bite?" Lucy asked.

"No."

"That's not fair, we're starving."

"It's your fault you weren't prepared." I said.

Before I started to eat, I heard a noise coming from a bush. I requip my sword and pointed it at the bush.

"Come on out right now and I might not hurt you." I said.

"Zak?" the voice asked which I recognize.

"Leaf?" I asked as I put my sword down.

The bush stopped moving and a cat who had dark green fur, two small black fingerless gloves and with a scar on his stomach walked out.

"Darn it Leaf what are you doing here?" I asked as I put away my sword.

"Me? What about you? I woke up from my nap and you were gone and left me at a cat place." Leaf said.

"I told you, you be safer with them then with me." I said.

"I don't care, I like adventure."

"Yeah but your laid back attitude will get you killed which was why I send you away." I said.

"Hold up before this gets anymore confusing, what's going on?" Lucy asked.

I sighed as I pointed at Leaf. "This is Leaf."

"Hey." Leaf said as he lean against a tree.

"And he used to be my partner."

"I still am." Leaf said.

"No you're not." I said.

"Wait so you abandon him?" Erza asked.

"Of course not, I brought him to a place for cats but this idiot decided to find me."

"Because you're my friend and I hated that place." Leaf said. "I been looking for you for about a week around all the forest I could find and I almost given up hope until now."

"Congratulations you found me now leave." I said.

"Sorry no can do, I staying with you." Leaf said. "But I have a question?"

"What is it Leaf?" I said.

"Why are you with humans?"

"I told you that I was going to join a guild for my master sake."

"You did? When?"

"Were you paying attention at all when I last talked to you?" I asked.

"I absolutely did not." Leaf said with a smile.

"Of course." I said.

"So can I stay?" Leaf asked.

"Fine."

"Yay! Wait a minute is that fish?" Leaf asked as he pointed to the fish, the others had cooked.

"Yeah but they aren't-"

"Yes so go dig in." I said as I cut off Lucy.

"Thanks Zak." Leaf said as he walked towards the fish.

"What are you doing?" Erza asked.

"Trust me." I said as I watch Leaf took a bite out of the fish.

"This is pretty good." Leaf said as he took another bite.

"Leaf likes to eat any type of fish, no matter what it taste." I said. "He can eat just about anything. Now if you excuse me I'm going to eat."

"How come we're the only one without food?" Lucy asked.

"We could try to eat the fish again." Erza said.

"That's not an option." Carla said as the last fish was being eating by Leaf as all three of their stomachs growled.

It was the next day and we continued to go on our quest with my cat Leaf. Eventually we started to walk into a desert.

"Leaf?" Lucy asked.

"Yes." Leaf said

"How long did you know Zak?"

"For a very long since the day I was born but that's a story for another time." Leaf said.

"Does that mean he know about his master?"

"Oh yeah, she was a very kind wizard. She was harsh when she needed to but also patience. Good times." Leaf said.

"And Zak was her apprentice? That's sounds very hard to believe."

"I could tell you stories but Zak doesn't want me to talk much about her so that's all I can tell you." Leaf said. "That remind me Zak you haven't introduce your new friends to me."

"Believe me if I make friends you'll be the first to know." I said.

"I think he means us." Lucy said.

"Oh, the red head is Erza, blond is Lucy, and the white cat is Carla." I said as I pointed to each one.

"So will you be joining Fairy Tail Leaf?" Erza asked.

"If Zak is in it then yeah." Leaf said as he looked up into the sky.

"You know I started to hate coming with you guys but after what happen yesterday it's starting to get fun, walking though nature and depend on my survival skills and what I have on me." I said. "It bring back some of the very few I had of good memories."

"Glad to know you're enjoying this." Lucy said in a depressed mood.

"As long as Zak happy I'm happy." Leaf said.

"Are we still going the right way?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know, I'm just following you." I said.

"Unfortunately this is how we get there on foot." Carla answered.

While talking Erza foot got stuck before realizing what's going to happen.

"Stay back!" Erza yelled as all of us stop. Suddenly Erza got caught up in quicksand

"Erza!" Lucy and Carla yelled.

"Quicksand." I said as we all took a step back. "Leaf can you get her out?"

"I'll try." Leaf said as wings appeared on his back and flew right to her and tried to pull her out. "The sand is too strong."

"Can't you do something to help?" Carla asked to Lucy.

"I know." Lucy said as she summon a spirit.

"You want to punish me princess." Virgo asked.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." I said.

"Is everybody like that?" Leaf asked as he was now back at my side.

"Oh come on, I need you to help Erza." Lucy said to Virgo.

"As you wish." Virgo said before digging into the sand.

Erza started to rise before getting stuck again.

"Princess, she's too heavy for me to move." Virgo said.

"I am not!" Erza said.

"Just how heavy is that armor?" I asked.

"I thought it was the sand but looks like it was Erza." Leaf said.

"Not even a celestial spirit can pull her out." Lucy said.

"Hey Lucy!"

We all turned around(expect for Erza) and seen Wendy along with Happy and Freed.

"Oh Carla you came too." Wendy said as they run towards us.

"We came because we were worried about you." Lucy said.

"Expect for me and Leaf." I said.

"Shut it and it looks like you're doing better then us."

"Again expect for me and Leaf." I repeated.

"Hey Zak and wait who's that?" Wendy asked as she pointed towards Leaf.

"Name's Leaf, nice to meet you." Leaf said.

"So cool another cat like Carla." Wendy said.

"Did you forget about Erza being stuck." Lucy said.

"Erza what are you doing down there." Happy said.

"Yeah about that." Lucy said.

"She's stuck in quicksand." I said.

"Great and that sandstorm continued to bare down on us." Freed said.

"Huh?!" Lucy cried as we all seen the sandstorm coming towards us.

"Quick Zak use your barrier." Leaf cried.

"I don't think it can survive that." I lied wanting to see how this turns out.

"Save yourself and go on without me." Erza said.

"Don't give up Virgo." Lucy said

"Wait where's Erza luggage?" I asked as I notice it was missing.

"I'm still carrying all my props and costumes." Erza said as she looks down.

"What?!" Happy yelled.

"Are you crazy?!" I yelled.

"It must weight a ton." Lucy said

"I know, the show can't go on without them." Erza said.

"We're not suppose to be putting on a play this time." Lucy said.

"Wait what?!" I said. "A show, we're doing this for a show!"

"Farewell dear friends, I'll always treasure our time together." Erza cried as she let go.

Virgo then was able to pull her out of the ground and landed her safety on the sand.

"They're gone and a piece of my heart goes with them." Erza said as she reached out to them.

"Be glad you're alive to dig them out later." Lucy said.

"And people wonder why I stay away from you humans." I said.

"Agree." Leaf said.

"Shall I punish her?" Virgo asked.

Suddenly the storm was on top of us. All of us(expect for me, Leaf, and Wendy) started to freak out until Wendy used her sky dragon slayer to rid the storm.

"Glad that's gone." I said. "So what's next?"

"I can't believe you actually tried to get all of your stuff back." I said as we finally reached our destination. "Why humans do that is beyond me."

"But I didn't recover all of it." Erza said.

"Be lucky you actually recover some of it." I said. "I'm just glad we're here."

When we arrived it, there were lots of people and the owner said how he made up with the actors.

"Are you kidding me? We risk our lives to come here and you don't need us?!" Lucy yelled.

"I worked like a dog to dig these things up."

"That's it I give up." Happy said.

"So I went with you girls and it was for nothing!" I yelled as I started to rub my head. Everybody soon fell down in despair as Natsu started to walk towards but only for him to collapse.

"Look on the bright side." Leaf said.

"There is no bright side." I said.

"Well I had fun." Leaf said.

"Just shut up and let's go back." I said as I turned around.

"But what about the others?"

"Leave them I already have enough human interaction to last me for a few years."

"Don't say that, you have to get used to them sooner or later."

"Yeah right." I said. "At least the master would be please I talked to them."

And that's how I wasted two days with the girls and it was all for nothing. Me and Leaf came back home without the others and inform the master of what happen. After that they made Leaf a member of Fairy Tail who knows lives with me at the forest. So much crazy things happen and I have a feeling it's far from over.