"Come on, you noodled leg whimps! Put some hustle into it!" Down in a military base, an army man was training some of his men out on a course. He was shouting them to really push themselves. The men were doing what they could until one soldier fell to the ground. "What are you doing?! Get back up there!" He called as he marched right over and lifted the guy up, but he was in for a surprise. Right when he lifted him up and saw his face, he saw his face was that of a zombie's. He was dressed like a soldier with an army helmet, but he was a zombie. Then, the zombie grabbed a hold of him and breathed out something that blew against the army man and he was knocked out in an instant. A veteran taken out just like that? What is that thing?

...

The Gang

"I can't believe it. We're actually being called on to a military base." Lucy said as the gang was driving straight to the base. "Your old man might not work in the military, Gray, but it's so cool that he has military connections."

"I guess... The general that called us in has known my father since they were in school." Gray said. "Still, I wonder what we're being called in for."

"Maybe we're being drafted." Natsu said. "Erza can be bossy and scary like a general when she gets angry. She probably be great in the army."

"Thank you." Erza said until she realized what he meant. The gang soon saw the military base and pulled up with security waiting for them.

"Passes?" Security asked.

"Uh... We don't have any. All we were told to come by the general himself. He knows my father: Silver Fullbuster." Gray said as he tried to convince him to let them in, but security wasn't budging for any of it.

"Stand down, men." That was when the general himself stepped forward with him having silver shaved head like most military men. "Everything he says is true. Let these nice folks in."

"Yes, General Bricks." Security allowed the gang to pass through and they were now able to talk to the general himself. "Sorry about that. We had to up security a little. Are you really Gray Fullbuster? It's hard to believe you're Silver's little squirt."

"I'm not so little, as you can see." Gray said. "So, what's going on? My old man said you need our help with something."

"What could the military want our help for?" Erza said.

"Well, it's also why security is tight." Bricks said. "Silver tells me you kids are good at what you do, and this is what you do. He have an...uncommon intruder roaming around our grounds. Described as a...Zombie Soldier."

"Zombie Soldier?!" Lucy said as they were all shocked to hear something like that.

"I'm not sure what to think of it myself, but I have a bunch of my men claiming something attacked and that's what they described." Bricks said. "Silver tells me you kids solve stuff like this all the time, so I'm hoping you can get rid of whatever this thing is."

"Don't worry, General Bricks. Whatever is going on around here, we'll find it." Gray claimed as it seems like they found themselves another mystery.

...

The Training Grounds

After agreeing to help General Bricks, the gang had a look around and tried to see if they could find this Zombie Soldier. They decided to check out the training grounds to see if they could find anything.

"According to the general, this is where the Zombie Soldier was first seen." Gray said.

"Boy, our regular gym is killer. I can't imagine what these guys go through." Natsu said.

"It's not easy being a soldier and serving your country. It takes real dedication and resolve. It's a true test of character, especially if you're a woman." All of them were met with a fellow server of the country with it being a woman with tanned skin and brown hair that she kept tied back. "If you're a woman serving her country, it goes to show you just how strong and powerful us women can be."

"Amen, sister." Erza said as she and Lucy agreed to that.

"Who are you?" Gray asked.

"Corporal Angie Wells at your service. Proud soldier for our country." She introduced herself with a salute. "What are all of you doing here? Thinking of joining as well."

"No. We're trying to solve the mystery of the Zombie Soldier." Lucy said.

"The Zombie Soldier? I've heard about that." Angie said. "Though, I find it hard to believe that a proud soldier, living or undead, would actually attack one of their own like this." She claimed, but that was when two young boys with a mix of brown and blonde hair came running by and grabbed her by the arms.

"Mom, you said you weren't going to get involved."

"You did your country well. Isn't it time for you to retire?"

"I said I would think about it." Angie said. "Sorry about this. These two are my boys. The oldest is Brian, and the youngest by two years is Hunter. They've been a little a clingy since I got back from my last deployment."

"Guys! Happy just found something!" Lucy said as the moment was put on hold as Happy was pointing at something through a sandbox. "Check it out. A set of footprints, but they split into two different sets. They could belong to the Zombie Soldier"

"That might not mean much. A lot of soldiers probably walk through there." Erza said.

"But given how these footprints are perfectly preserved, and how there was an attack here, I doubt anyone went through here recently." Lucy said. "I'm willing to bet our zombie went through here."

"Mom, let's just go." Brian said as he and Hunter dragged her out of there obviously concerned about her. With a zombie roaming around, one has every reason to be.

...

The Gang

The gang searched around, but the base was huge. This Zombie Soldier could really be hiding anywhere.

"We've been looking all day and nothing. It's already getting dark." Lucy said.

"The general isn't gonna like that. They're like Erza. You don't want to make them mad." Natsu joked, but he was already making Erza mad.

"It would help if we could find a clue." Gray said.

"I think I just did." Natsu said.

"Really? What?" Gray said as they all turned to him. Natsu pointed behind him as there was a hand on him. They all looked behind him and saw the Zombie Soldier was right there. As it gave off a gnarly snarl, all five of them got a little freaked and ran off. The Zombie Soldier chased after them and kept running, but none of them knew where to go.

"I thought zombies were suppose to be slow!" Natsu said as this wasn't looking good for them.

"Hang on, kids!" A brave soldier attempted to help the gang out as he tackled the zombie and tried to fight him off. However, the zombie breathed it's strange breath right in the soldier's face and it knocked him right out.

"Yikes! That zombie has got some noxious breath!" Natsu said as they couldn't believe a soldier went down so easily. Zombie Soldier pushed him right off and ran out of there just as reinforcements arrived.

"What happened?!" General Bricks said as he showed up.

"We found the Zombie Soldier. It chased after us and this brave soldier attempted to save us." Erza said as they all tried to help him.

"That zombie breathed something against him and it knocked him out." Gray said.

"Get him to the infirmary to make sure he's okay!" Bricks said as his men helped him out. "This is just great. My soldiers are falling, we have a zombie roaming around here, and I just found out that someone has been breaking into our own lab." He complained as he left.

"Not very tight security around here." Erza said.

"Whoever is behind this must know the layout of the place." Lucy said. "Take a look at this." She said as she found some sort of capsule. "The Zombie Soldier must have dropped it when he got tackled. Feels empty."

"Any idea what was in it?" Gray questioned.

"I think so..." Lucy said as she took a good look at the capsule. As they were trying to figure something out, Happy spotted something. He saw Zombie Soldier came back and was entering a building. Happy grabbed Natsu's head and twisted it.

"Ow!" Natsu complained until he saw what Happy saw. "Hey! Zombie Soldier is heading into that building!"

"Let's go find out what he's up to." Gray said as they all hurried over to check it out. The five of them hurried over to whatever building Zombie Soldier was in there. They all snuck their way inside and tried to see what Zombie Soldier was up to. When they found him, they saw Zombie Soldier smashing up display case that honored many brave men and women of the military. He even took a photo and smashed it to the ground.

"He's destroying that display that honor's many brave soldiers." Lucy said.

"That's going too far. Those people are honored as brave heroes and he's destroying it." Erza said as she was being brave this time.

"Erza, wait!" Gray called, but it was too late. Erza charged right at Zombie Soldier and tackled him away from the case.

"Who do you think you are?!" Erza said as she tried to hold him down, but Zombie Soldier fought back as he breathed that noxious breath on Erza and she passed out.

"Erza!" All her friends called. They all hurried to try and save her. However, as poor luck would have it, the Zombie Soldier jumped up and brought down a security gate and blocked them off. When the Zombie Soldier did that, he dragged Erza away with him. This was bad for them as they could only watch their friend be taken away.

...

Later

By the time the gang could get around, Zombie Soldier was already gone and Erza was missing. The General showed up at the display and he was most unsatisfied with how things turned out.

"This is going too far now." Bricks said as he didn't like this. "Are you sure you kids even know what you're doing? Not only is this freak roaming around, but he's starting to make a mockery around here."

"Few setbacks, but we usually get our guys. Besides, now that he took our friend, he's really asking for it now." Gray said.

"Hey, guys. Take a look at this." Natsu said as he found something strange. "The only photo that got messed up was Angie Wells."

"Maybe that means that she's Zombie Soldier's real target." Gray figured. "General Bricks, what can you tell us about Colonel Wells?"

"She was certainly a great soldier." Bricks said. "Last time she was deployed was with about thirty other men. She was the only one that made it back alive...and barely. She was in recovery for months, but I heard she really stepped up and took charge when she needed to. She was promoted to Colonel and was placed on this display as a tribute for all the brave."

"See, Mom?" All of them looked and saw Angie herself being dragged in by her sons. "Look at what that freak did." Brian said.

"He might go after you next." Hunter said.

"Boys, I'll be fine. Besides, I am not going to stand for something like this." Angie claimed.

"We're just worried something is going to happen to you." Hunter said.

"I can take care of myself." Angie said as she left it at that and walked out of there.

"I feel bad for those kids. Do you think the zombie is a soldier that has a grudge with her?" Natsu questioned.

"Maybe, but right now we need to find Erza." Lucy said.

"Let's split-up. We'll cover more ground." Gray said as they all agreed to this.

...

Natsu and Happy

Natsu and Happy were on their own and looked around Erza. They searched around the base until they stopped at a certain building.

"Mess hall? I'll never understand why they don't call this place a cafeteria." Natsu said. "Knowing Erza, she might be in there eating all the strawberry cake." He joked with her and Happy laughing. "As if this base would have cake. We better find Erza fast." They were about to walk around this place until Happy picked up on something and ran on inside. "Happy, we don't have time for a snack." Natsu followed after Happy into the mess hall and went into the kitchen. "Happy?" He found Happy and saw Happy pull out Erza who was hidden in the kitchen. "Erza!" He hurried over and untied Erza, but she was still out. "Erza, wake up!" He called as he shook her awake. "Don't got into the light! Do you I need to give you mouth-to-mouth?!"

"Absolutely not..." Erza said as she was able to wake up.

"Erza, are you okay?" Natsu asked.

"Tired, but who can sleep with you shouting?" Erza questioned.

"Hang on. I'm calling the others." Natsu said as he pulled out his phone and gave the others a call. "Hey, Lucy. Happy and I found Erza. She's okay."

"That's great to hear." Lucy said.

"Natsu, it's Gray. I think I have a trap for Zombie Soldier. If you see him, get to the obstacle course." That was when the three of them heard something and saw Zombie Soldier bust through the door.

"Finding him isn't going to be a problem." Natsu said as the three of them were in trouble now.

...

Gray and Lucy

"Are you sure this is going to work, Gray?" Lucy asked.

"I am. We have a pitfall at the end of the obstacle course." Gray claimed. "Once the others get here, they just need to trick the zombie into chasing them through the course and jump away at the end."

"That's assuming they can make it through." Lucy said as she was worried about this one.

"Gray! Lucy!" Erza called as she found them and caught up to them.

"Erza! Thank goodness you're okay!" Lucy said.

"Where's Zombie Soldier?!" Gray said. Erza pointed straight to the obstacle course and spotted Natsu and Happy screaming with Zombie Soldier chasing after them. Natsu and Happy tried to get through the course with the zombie going after them. Natsu and Happy easily cleared through the tires with Zombie Soldier struggling. Then, they dived in and made their way through the barbed wires with Zombie Soldier struggling to go through. Finally, Natsu and Happy climbed up the wall with the rope with Zombie Soldier having trouble. Natsu and Happy jumped down, but Zombie Soldier just ended up losing his grip and fell right off and too tired to keep going.

"Wow. Natsu and Happy, maybe you should join the military." Erza said.

"No way. I call dibs on that muscle." Lucy joked.

"Either way, we finally got the Zombie Soldier. So much for my pitfall." Gray said as they gathered around. "Now, let's what person caused our good military so much trouble."

"You mean what people." Lucy said as she reached down and pulled the costume apart to show two people inside.

"Brian and Hunter Wells?!" The others said.

"Boys?!" Angie said as she and General Bricks came over and saw what was going on.

"What in the name of Uncle Sam is this?" Bricks questioned.

"Brian and Hunter didn't mean any harm." Lucy said. "They were just worried their mother was going to get deployed again. Since she barely made it back alive after last time, they were afraid what might happen next time. That's why they attacked the display. They wanted to make it look like Colonel Wells was the Zombie Soldier's next target."

"They must have been here many times with their mother. They knew the layout and that's how the Zombie Soldier could get around and even avoid security." Gray said.

"That's why we found one set of footprints turning into two. There were two people in the costume." Erza said.

"But how did two kids knockout those army guys?" Natsu questioned.

"The capsule we found contained nitrous oxide, also known as sleeping gas. That was the breath the zombie used on its victims." Lucy explained. "They snuck into the lab and stole some like General Bricks mentioned earlier. All they had to do was get close enough to use it. They really had no ill intentions. They were just scared they were never going to see their mother again, so they tried to trick her into retiring."

"And it worked, even in spite of you meddling kids." Angie said.

"Huh?!" Everyone said with the boys happy to hear that.

"You two wipe those grins off your faces! You're both still in a lot of trouble!" Angie said. "Still, if my boys felt like they had to do this just because they were worried about me, maybe it is time I retire. General, please don't press charges."

"I'm not going to. It's not a crime to care for your family." General Bricks said. This mystery seemed to be ending on a good note.

...

The Next Day

"I would like to personally thank all of you for your work. Things can finally get back on track." Bricks said as the gang was about to hit the road. "It would seem that Silver raised a good one."

"I'm glad this mystery ended well this time." Lucy said.

"You said. You agree, Happy." Natsu said, but then he noticed what Happy was doing. "Check out what Happy is doing." All of them looked and saw Happy marching like a soldier. He even had a tiny flag with him and placed it up with him saluting straight to it. Everyone couldn't help but laugh and aw on how adorable that was. Maybe Happy will be the first cat in the military. If only...