The fairy pub business was lively as usual, people coming in and out buying items or paying to go to the museum inside.
Mira was working the bar she ran drinks from table to table of turning down a request to go on a date or Elfman jumping saying how a real man doesn't ask out someone's sister without a brother's blessing; she even saw Gray walk into the place at some point.
Otherwise it was a pretty normal day. Natsu and Lucy sat at one of the tables in the corner. Lucy is still sulking over losing the 2 million.
"I know we made him happy, but it stills hurts." She groans.
"Oh, come on, Lucy, cheer up." Mira said, walking over to her. "I know your first job wasn't as stellar as you wanted it to be, but it was a start."
"I know." Lucy said, facing her head down on the table. "I guess I should try to find more work?" Lucy asked.
"Sorry, Lucy, but the board is empty today." Mira told her.
Lucy jumped up. "Why?"
"Well, cause not a lot of jobs require only one wizard." Mira explained. "That and most people are under guild protection, so request often go to them." Mira told her. "Which is why solo wizarding is becoming a foreign practice." Mira said her expression saddening.
"Wow." Lucy said as she looked back at the empty board. "Hey, what is the guild system like."
Mira placed her hand on her chin, thinking of a way to explain it best to the young wizard; her face lit up, and she pulled out a light pen and started drawing in the air; once she was finished, Lucy saw all the different guilds placed in a particular order.
"Wow." Lucy said in amazement.
"This is a chart of the guild's allied forces." Mira told her. "They formed as a way to keep one guild from having control of all the others." Mira told her.
"The major players in the allied forces are Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, Phantom Lord." Mira explained, pointing at the center. "They are the top three guilds in all of Fiore, nearly every guild in the country belongs to one of the three."
"Wait, so how do other guilds form?" Lucy asked.
"Well, you see, most guilds were independent, but one day the three challenged the guild for their territory." Mira told her. "When that happens, the guild often breaks into fighting. It's really dangerous."
Lucy nodded; she had heard stories of guilds fighting each other over territory. "So I take the big three took over all that territory."
"Nowadays though, nearly all of Fiore has a guild watching over it." Mira finished. "Actually, Magnolia is the only place in Fiore that doesn't have a guild." Mira told her.
"Wow." Lucy said.
"So I'm guessing that the lower-ranking guilds take on the jobs." she took a closer look at all the guilds until she saw a familiar one.
'So Titan Nose was just some sort of sub-guild under Phantom Lord.' She thought to herself.
"Well, no use worrying about that." Natsu declared, putting his hand behind his head, "it's not like we're joining a guild anytime soon."
Lucy gave a weak smile before looking at her hand. The mark that Mavis gave her had long since disappeared, and she noticed that Natsu was gone too.
"Well, well, what do we have to hear." A voice called out, pulling Lucy out of her thoughts; she turned to see a man with orange hair, wore a green coat with a wide collar, complete with prominent, spiky, brownish-white fur trimming lining the hood, over a light red shirt "what do say we ditch this place and have a bite at my place.
"Um, who are you?" Lucy asked, confused.
"The name's Loke." He said with a smirk, his genuine smile sending chills up her spine. "And you, you're so stunningly gorgeous I have to keep my shades, so I don't go blind."
"Do the ladies actually fall for that?" Lucy asked as her keys clinked together.
"You're not a celestial wizard, are you." Loke said, jumping back.
"Yeah." Happy answered while eating a fish. "She's got talking cows and everything."
Panic broke out on Loke's face as he started to back away. "Damn you, fate, why must you be so cruel." He then ran away, tears falling down his face. "I'm sorry, my dear, but we can't be together."
"What was all that about?" Lucy asked, confused
"Loke has a bad history with celestial wizards." Mira told her. "Rumor is that he dated one, and it ended pretty bad."
"Well, I see wh-" Lucy was interrupted when Natsu was sent flying into her.
"Well, that looked painful."
"Will you too knock it off." Lucy groaned as Natsu started to get up.
"Natsu started it." Gray explained. "I was just following through."
"Where are your clothes?" Mira asked as Gray just shrugged it off
"But you were the one provoking me." Natsu said to the boy, "Ya dirty slimeball."
"Oh yeah, and what I do to provoke you?" Gray asked. "Ya fire clown."
"You pervy flasher."
"Pink-haired punk."
"Lame insults, guys." Lucy said as she tried ignoring the two.
"They start to run out." Happy told her.
"Pretty much!" Natsu shouted, causing the rest of the pub to burst out in laughter
The laughter was interrupted with the door burst open, revealing Loke.
"Bad news!" He shouted while catching his breath. "It's Erza."
With the mere mention of her name, the place erupted in panic.
"What is she doing here!" Someone shouted.
Everything went quiet as the sound of footsteps sounded through the whole place.
"Those sound like foot steps." Macao commented
Lucy listened. It sounded like armor was clanking against itself, and the sound just got closer.
Soon the door burst open, revealing Erza, her long red hair falling from her face. "Wow, she's pretty."
The woman stepped forward and looked around. "May I speak with the owner of this establishment?" She asked in a calm voice.
Mira stepped forward, giving her signature grin. "Sorry the owner is away right now, but I can take your request for her."
"I see." She said, facing the young woman. "I'm looking for assistance, and I hear that there are powerful wizards that live here."
"Well, Natsu is the strongest wizard here at the moment, but the other is away." Mira said as Natsu sat down and started to eat.
"Yes, and where is he at the moment?" she asked.
"Oh yes." Mira said, smiling. "You actually came at a good time; he just got back from a job." She said. "He's sitting over there." She pointed over to where the three were sitting.
Erza nodded and stepped forward to the two boys.
"Are you Natsu?" She asked.
Natsu Looked up to the women. She had scarlet red hair flowing down her face and a blue skity on under her armor; he honestly didn't see why people were so afraid of her. "Yes."
She nodded. "I need your help." She said bluntly, shocking the rest of the pub. "On my way back from a job I finished, I heard something that has me quite troubled." Erza explained. "After asking, the people around town directed me to you."
Natsu said nothing. He could see the seriousness in her eyes. He nodded. "Sure, I can help, but another wizard is studying under me right now, so she might have to tag along."
Erza nodded. "Thank you."
Hey why do I have to come!" Lucy shouted.
"Gotta get your feet wet eventually." Natsu said.
Erza looked to Gray, who was still naked.
"Why are you naked?" She asked.
"No reason." He replied.
"You seem powerful I would like to request your help as well." Erza said, shocking Gray.
"What!" Gray and Lucy shouted, jumping back.
"If that's everything, then I'll get going. We leave for Onibus first thing in the morning." Erza told them. "So get ready." With that, Erza left the pub leaving the whole place stunned with fear. Everyone stared at Natsu, Lucy, and Gray, who were just as frightened.
"Well, looks like you got a job, Lucy." Natsu said, smiling
"Yeah, thanks."
"Uh, teaming up with you is the worst Idea ever!" Natsu shouted.
"Yea tells me about it Erza made a big mistake asking a loser like you to come along!" Gray shouted back.
"Well, then fine go by yourself. I don't want to go anyway!" Natsu shouted as people began to stare.
"Great idea; then I get to watch Erza beat you senseless!" Gray shouted.
"Let's just sit here and act like we don't know them." Lucy said, looking away, Plue muttering in agreement.
"You excited Lucy?" Happy asked.
"No."
"Oh, come on, it won't be that bad." Happy told her.
"Yeah." She looks at Natsu and Gray, who are still staring at each other intensely.
"Sorry, I'm late. Have you been waiting long." A voice called out.
Lucy turned to see Erza walking.
"No, not really." Lucy's face lit up in shock as she saw Erza with a mountain of suitcases behind her.
"Are all those yours!" She shouted in disbelief.
Erza then turned her attention to Lucy.
"So you must be the wizard Natsu was talking about; my name is Erza." She said with a smile.
"I'm Lucy." Lucy said with a smile. "I'm still new to this whole thing though."
"don't worry. for us, it should be a simple mission." Erza said, looking at Natsu and Gray, who started where butting heads. "Are they always like that."
"Afraid so." Lucy said as she deadpanned.
Erza turned around to the two boys who were locking heads and let out a cough causing Gray to straighten up in fear, but Natsu just laughed. "Now listen up, we're working together to complete this mission, so whatever squabble you have with each other you need to forget it."
"Yes, ma'am." They said in unison.
Once they were on the train, Natsu immediately got motion sickness as soon as they started moving.
"Jeez, Natsu, you're pathetic; one moment you're jumping around, and the next you're like this." Gray told him.
"It must be tough getting from place to place." Lucy said with a swell of pity in her voice.
"He'll be fine." Erza told her. "Come sit next to me, Natsu."
'I guess she wants me to move.' Lucy said, backing away from the wizard.
"Now, just relax." Erza said, placing her arm around the dragon slayer.
"Aye."
Erza punches him on the side, knocking him out cold-, causing Gray and Lucy to look away.
'Well, she seems like a fun person to be around.' Lucy thought to herself.
"Erza?" Gray asked, pulling Lucy out of her thoughts. "I think it's time you tell us what this all about."
Yes, I'll explain." Erza started. "I have reason to believe that a dark guild is planning something big."
"A dark guild. Gray said, shocked, "Dark guilds haven't been around for centuries."
Lucy looked up, confused. "Dark guilds."
Erza looked up. "Yes, they're wizards who are practitioners of black magic often not following the rules of the magic council."
"And from what I heard, a dark guild is planning something." Erza told him. "Apparently, it involves a magical item called Lullaby."
"Lullaby?" Gray asked.
"You mean the thing from before?" Lucy asked.
Meanwhile, at the guildhall known as Eisenwald.
"I hear Kageyama finally got back to us." A voice said. "He said he actually has it."
"the moment of truth is upon us, gentlemen." A man with a large scythe said as he turned to face the other men. The light from outside covering his face. "Pretty soon, vengeance will be ours."
"I see." Erza muttered. "So you've run into the people from this guild before."
"well, not sure about that." Gray answered. "But one of them did mention Lullaby."
"They probably were members who dropped out." Erza told them.
"They probably wanted no part in what was coming." Erza said. "Whoever dragged off Happy's kidnappers that day clearly shows they didn't want it getting out."
"What do think there going to try?" Lucy asked
Erza let out a sigh.
"Let me start from the beginning." Erza started. "After I finished my job, I stopped by a pub in Onibus that was a gathering spot for solo wizards there."
Flashback
Hey bartender, hurry it up!" A man shouts, getting's Erza attention.
"Hey man, calm down." someone else spoke up.
"And how do expect me to do that!" The man shouted, "We finally know where Lullaby's hidden, but we can't get it because of some damn seal."
"it's okay, guys. I have this one." A man said, standing up. "You just head back to the guild."
"You sure, Kage."
"Just tell Erigor that I'll be back with Lullaby in a couple of days."
End Flashback
"Lullaby." Lucy said quietly. "That's like a song you sing kids to sleep."
"I know." Erza answered.
"The name Erigor sound familiar, though." Gray said. "Wasn't he a member of Eisenwald."
"Yes, but the guild disappeared six years ago." Erza told him. "Right after assassination requests were outlawed."
"Well, didn't people have always said the dark guilds would return one day." Gray told the redhead.
"I agree." Erza said. "We'll just have to be on our guard from here on out." Erza told them. "Whatever this is, we have to stop them."
Gray looked out the window. "Alright, seems fair, but should we have brought more people along."
"Perhaps, but I think we will be sufficient enough." Erza told him.
A man came up to the three and gave them some food Erza had gotten a strawberry cake while Gray and Lucy started to eat some sandwiches.
"If you don't mind, Erza." Lucy said while biting off her sandwich. "What kind of magic do you practice"
"I hear it's gorgeous." Happy told her.
"Actually, from what I heard, Gray's magic is much more beautiful than mine." Erza said
"Really." Gray then holds his fist down, and stem flies from his hand shape of Ice forms. "I practice Ice magic."
"Oh, now I see." Lucy exclaimed. "That's why you and Natsu haven't been getting along your Ice, and he's fire."
"I would never have thought of that, isn't that ironic." Erza said
"Nah, I just hate his guts."
After getting off the train, the three wizards made their way out f the station.
"You think they're still here?" Gray asks.
"No, but it's a good place to start." Erza replies.
"hey, where's Natsu?" Happy asks
They all look back and see the train beginning to leave. "Oh, uh, there he goes."
"I was so busy talking I forgot about him." Erza said. "Not to mention he gets motion sick; I need one of you to hit me for my penance."
"A bit much, don't ya think." Lucy said while Gray looked away.
Back on the train, a man sees Natsu lying on the seat.
"Well, well, a wizard; there must be a new guild in town." He said as he walked up to him. "So is the new guild worth sticking around."
However, Natsu is unable to reply because of his motion sickness. "Huh."
Annoyed, Kageyama kicks Natsu on the face causing him to wake up."You know, Wizards like you make me sick."
An angry Natsu tries to stand up "You." Natsu tries to use his Fire Dragon's Iron Fist but fails because of the moving train.
"What kind of Magic is that." Kageyama then uses his Shadow Magic to attack Natsu, who falls to the floor. "That's how you get it done." Suddenly, the train stops curing Natsu's motion sickness and causing the man to drop a strange flute.
Back at the train station, one of the conductors' rn to see Erza standing over the lever. "What are you doing, lady? You can't pull the emergency brake."
"It's for our comrade; please understand." Erza told the man. "Now I want you to take our Luggage to the hotel."
"I'm not a bellhop."
Back on the train, Natsu manages to stand up; he looks at the weird object.
"What is that?" He asks.
"He saw it." Kageyama said.
"That's enough out of you." He attacks with his Fire Dragon's Iron Fist.
Kageyama tries to defend by using his Guard Shadow; however, he fails and is sent flying to the train's back.
"Lucky shot." Kageyama tries to stand up but fails.
"He he."
"Attention, all passengers. It turns out our emergency stop was just a false alarm. We'll be moving again shortly."
Hearing the announcement, Natsu picks up his baggage. "I gotta go."
"Hey, you're not going anywhere!" Kageyama shouted. "You're messing with the dark guild Eisenwald."
'A dark guild.' Natsu thought. "Why don't we take this outside." The train started to move, causing Natsu to get motion sick again.
Outside, Erza, Gray, and Lucy were riding on a magic mobile.
"Natsu!" Lucy shouted as the boy jumped out of the train, crashing into Gray.
Erza pulled the car to a stop. "Natsu, are you alright."
"Aye." He said as his eyes started spinning.
"That hurt you idiot!" Gray shouted.
"shut it, you Icy freak!" Natsu shouted back. "Why'd you leave me on the train."
"I'm just glad you're alright." Erza said. "I apologize, Natsu." She then pulled him in for a hug hitting his head against her armor.
"Well, I'm messed up pretty bad." Natsu told her. "A weirdo attacked me on the train said he was with a guild called Eisenwald."
"What!" Erza shouted. "Natsu, are you sure he said that."
"Yeah." Natu answered.
"Then it looks like dark guilds are coming out of the shadows." Erza said as she hooked up with the Magic mobile. "We'll head to the next stop on the train and hopefully catch him."
"Another thing he had this weird flute thing." Natsu said. "It looked like a skull, but it had three eyes."
"A three-eyed skull?" Lucy asked.
"That's creepy."
"Something wrong, Lucy?" Happy asked.
"It's just I've heard of that before." Lucy told them. "Lullaby, the cursed song it's death magic."
"Death magic like an incantation."
"No, I've only read them in books before, but there are some deadly spells out there." Lucy explained.
"That's right; there are cursed black magic spells that will kill the person they're used on." Erza said.
"Well, if I'm right, this one is even worse." Lucy told them.
Meanwhile, at Kunugi station, a woman screams as the conductor is killed by one of the members of Eisenwald. "This train belongs to Eisenwald now."
"the rest of the members started to loot the train, tossing luggage away as people ran away screaming.
"Well, looks who's here." Kageyama said, looking at the man known as Erigor.
"Kageyama." He said, looking at the man. "I heard you were coming back on this train." He looked at the part of the train where Kageyama and Natsu fought. "That's quite a bit of wreckage care to explain."
"Come know don't you want to see what I brought you." He pulled out Lullaby. "I finally broke the seal."
"I don't believe it." Someone said.
"Is that it?"
Erigor picked up the flute and smiled.
"Yes, the forbidden Lullaby originally a tool for simple death spells." Erigor explained. "Simple but limited that is, until the great black wizard Zeref turned it into a death flute."
"Now it will kill hundreds, no thousands at once." Erigor said.
"Lulling them all into endless sleep." He added, smiling. "And it's all mine."
The magic mobile shot across the ground. Gray bounced up as he was trying to hold onto the hood. "Slow down, Erza, you're using too much of your power."
"I can't slow down!" Erza shouted. "If Erigor gets his hands on the flute, trust me, lives will be lost." She said as she started to go faster.
'Curse them.' Erza thought to herself. 'What do they hope to gain from this.'
Erigor let out a laugh as they climbed the train.
"And now the final hour begins!" He shouted. "Let's move forward, men."