Hello guys! Here is the second chapter of 'Shadow of Fairy Tail' I hope you guys will like it.
As you guys may know there is a poll open right now on my page, deciding if this story is going to be a harem or not since i'm kind of conflicted here. The poll will close the 14th of this month so cast your vote!
Also I will say I made a mistake by naming Loki instead of Loke in the first chapter. My bad.
Let's begin this!
It's been a couple of days since Naruto returned from his quest and a new mage named Lucy joined Fairy Tail. But in overall it was a normal day in Magnolia's best-known guild hall as everyone began to have a meal or a drink, and having fun. Sometimes there was even a laugh thrown in when Wakaba, one of the members of the guild tried (jokingly) to ask Mirajane on a date on which she responded by transforming her head to that of Wakaba's head were on that he gave the normal funny respond.
"I hate it when you do that, it's so creepy!"
Everyone in the guild laughed at that except for one table where Natsu, Happy and Lucy were sitting. While Happy was devouring his meal which was just a fish, Natsu was mumbling on how he was broke.
"I guess we should try to find another job," Natsu grumbled.
Happy joined in "Aye, we're running out of food money." Before going back to his meal.
Lisanna walked by and smiled "If you can't afford to eat today, I can cook something for you guys. I won't charge you anything."
"Nah it's not that Lisanna," Natsu sighed "thank you I really do but we need more money to pay our rent."
"That would be no problem if we took that 2 million jewels reward." Lucy reminded him while still slightly ticked off about it but then reminds that she also had to pay her rent soon "I guess I better find work too."
She turned around and before she got to the quest board, she noticed someone walking in the guild.
It was Naruto, wearing just a pair of boots, trousers and a t-shirt which didn't cover much of his body as his arms and parts of his shoulders were exposed. He still wore the bandana over his left eye and the mask over his mouth.
He dried his arms up with his towel and said "Mira! Can I get the usual? I'm done training."
Mirajane smiled and turned around "Sure! Coming right up!"
Naruto went over to the table next to Natsu's and tapped the back of a man of average height with short, straight, slicked back dark blue hair "Hey Macao, how's it going?"
"I'm doing good, kid." Macao gestured "Sit down here. I see you just finished your training?"
He sat down and answered "Yes, I did the usual. Around 4 hours done."
Macao noticed checking Naruto and chuckled "I can see that your whole back is drenched in sweat."
"It is?" Naruto turned his head to try and look "Damn, I barely notice that anymore."
Wakaba waved his hand in front of his nose "And that smell like you've been running a marathon."
Some of the guys laughed just as Mirajane brought a bowl of ramen in front of Naruto and commented "Well, I say good for Naruto. At least he uses his time productively."
Cana smirked, "Yeah, unlike some of you."
"Hey!"
"Thanks for the food Mira," Naruto said as he began to eat it.
Cana's cheeks were red from the alcohol and ask drunkenly "So, Naruto. What are you planning to do today?"
"I don't know to be honest. I already paid my rent for the upcoming three months, so what about-"
He saw that Cana grabbed out of nowhere a barrel of wine and started downing it until she couldn't drink anymore.
Naruto sighs at the usual Cana, smiling "Never mind."
Five minutes later
Naruto just walked out of the restroom but noticed someone else except for Nab, the guild member who doesn't know what quest he wants to pick.
The girl was wearing a white skirt, a pink ribbon in her hair, a red t-shirt and brown boots while carrying a whip around.
He saw the girl scoping for a quest "Finding a magic bracelet….Lifting a spell from a cursed cane….Fortune-telling love using astrology…Exterminating the evil spirits in a volcano?! I didn't know there was so much different kind of requests for mages…"
"Excuse me." That voice made Lucy stiff for a moment before turning around to see Naruto standing in front of her.
"H-hello."
"I guess we didn't meet before, you must be the new one here. What's your name?" Naruto asks, just as Mirajane walks by.
Lucy saw the began to turn red and stutter "I-I-'m-"
"Don't worry Lucy, he won't bite." Mirajane tried to calm the blonde girl down and took it over "Naruto, this is Lucy. She's the newest member of Fairy Tail and the reason you haven't seen her much is that she's been going away on quests with Natsu and Happy."
"Lucy….you mean Lucy from like Hea-"
"NOPE! Just Lucy." Lucy waved her hands around "It's me from the time you saved me from that gang. You remember that?"
"…..Oh yeah. Now I remember." Naruto nodded his head and smiled offered his hand to shake it, eye smiling "Nice to see you joined. Welcome to Fairy Tail."
Lucy cheeks blushed "Yeah, nice to meet you."
Mirajane giggled at the interaction and began changing the conversation "Lucy, if you are interested in taking one of these requests, just let me know. The master is away for a conference so I'm covering for him."
"Oh, so that's the reason why I haven't seen the old man. So it's that time again…" Naruto said knowing the routine occasion.
"What kind of conference?" Lucy asked.
"One for guild masters, every once in a while they all get together to talk about the state of things….It's a bit different from the Council, though…."
"The Magic Council." Naruto rolled his eyes while speaking those two words with venom. Earning himself a questioned look from Lucy but a normal response from Mirajane who ignored it to put a finger on her chin, trying to figure out a better way to explain it better.
She then got an idea in her head asks a fellow guildmate, the 'obese' Reedus for something "Reedus, can you give me your Light Pen?"
"Of course, here." Reedus handed over his pen that had a glowing end to it.
"Thank you." Mirajane thanked him before turning around and starting to draw a hierarchy of diagrams in the air and explaining it from top to bottom "The most important people in the magic world are the 10 members of the Council, who have a connection with the government. They exist to maintain the order in the magic world. The Council can also pass judgment on mages who commit crimes."
Mirajane then pointed at the middle of the diagram as Lucy focused "And beneath the Council, there are the Guild master Leagues, where Guild Masters assemble. They relay the decisions of the Council, smooth out the communication between the guilds in the area, and keep us in order. It's a difficult job, right?"
"I didn't know that there were connections between guilds," Lucy said astonished by the diagram and organization.
"It's important that we interact with each other, or else our structure would've fallen apart." Mirajane added.
"Yeah," Naruto stared at the structural plan of the diagram "I personally find this a good plan, communications between guild masters, corporation, multiple meetings to build trust. Pretty much a good system, well except for the Council, most of them are nothing but bureaucratic thick headed morons."
Lucy sweatdropped, did this guy have some grudge against the Magic Council or was this a universal thought in this guild. She already had heard it from master Makarov but now from him…
Natsu appeared out of nowhere with an evil grin and his finger burning a small fire, spoke in a demonic tone "And then the guys in black show up."
Lucy screamed scared of her chest.
Natsu laughed while holding the back of his head "Hahaha! That was almost too easy!"
"Are you trying to scare me to death!?" Lucy shouted at him while holding her chest.
"But seriously, the guys Natsu is talking about do exist." Mirajane said while drawing another diagram "These are the dark guilds, they have chosen not to join any of the leagues. They're the bad apples and most of them are involved in magical crime."
"Wow," Lucy was amazed but also slightly scared.
"Don't worry, they rarely pose a threat nowadays. Mostly because the actions of some of the guilds have been actively taking down some of these dark guilds, even members of the Magic Council have been involved in rooting them out." Mirajane said and mentioned, "Right, Naruto?"
Naruto smiled "Of course, Mira-Chan."
"Uhm, I don't follow."
"Oh yeah, you don't know. You see, Naruto is one of our mages who's active working with other guilds in fighting these dark guilds," Mirajane told the celestial mage "he gets quests from the Magic Council and he with mages from other guilds go and hunt down dark mages who pose a threat."
"Wow," Lucy turned to Naruto and asks "you've met with other guilds?"
"Yes, of course, I've met some very powerful mages and a lot of them and many of them became good friends of mine after I proved myself," Naruto answered to her question.
Mirajane smiled "Naruto is known for defeating and capturing over 49 dark mages from 8 different dark guilds. This gave him the nickname 'the Shadow of Fairy Tail.'
"Why the Shadow of Fairy Tail?"
"Because Naruto's fighting skills are like that of a Shinobi," Lisanna said as she walked over to the counter with an empty tray "I'm not joking really, when Naruto and I went to do a recovering request, we got jumped by like 5 dark mages, he took them all down without even using his magic. He picked them all off one by one and paralyzed them, ending it for us getting a good pay when we brought them in."
"He did?!" Lucy's eyes widened as she turned to Naruto "You're really that strong?"
Naruto was flattered "I'm not saying I'm that, I just got lucky that's all. Besides they weren't that powerful, just some A-class morons."
'That ain't nothing.' Lucy's mind though.
"Whatever, say are you going to pick a job or not?" Natsu asked Lucy.
Lucy frowned "You've got to be kidding me. What makes you think I want to do that?"
"Well, we are a team. Aren't we?" Natsu mentioned.
Happy then burst in saying "Yeah, and we picked the job last time. So it's now your turn to pick, so get to it!"
"Just forget it cat, as far I'm concerned our team has been disbanded," Lucy crossed her arms and huffed "and besides you guys didn't actually want me, you just needed me last time because I'm a blonde."
"Wait a moment, what do I hear here about needing a blonde?" Naruto looked in between the two and turns with a frown to Natsu and Happy "Guys…."
Happy and Natsu shrieked out of fear and quickly said "It was for a job! It was for a job!"
Naruto kept the frown and then asked: "You guys make sure she got paid?"
"…..No. The guy's book was that from his father who was tormented."
Naruto sighed and turns around but couldn't be angry at his kindness "Okay, I let this slide for ones."
"Hey Lucy," Gray got their attention, sitting next to Cana "I wouldn't stay with those losers If I were you. You'll get plenty of offers from other teams."
Cana just mentioned "Your clothes, Gray."
"Crap!" Gray looked down, he was in his underwear again.
Natsu just cussed him "Jerk."
That comment made Gray glare at Natsu and in a second, they were at it again; Natsu and Gray glaring at each other, butting heads giving each other insults.
"Did you just call me a jerk, dragon boy?"
"And what if I did, what are you going to do about it?"
"Chickenhead!"
"Least I'm not a coward!"
"You spineless wimp!"
"You're a freak!"
"It looks like they're at it again." Happy said munching on another fish.
"Those two, urgh…." Naruto shook his head before turning towards Lucy who now was listening to Loke's attempt to flirt with her.
But then he took a few steps back after noticing something hanging on Lucy's hip. He then hopped back on his feet and then when Happy mentioned one of her celestial spirits and then ran away out of the building.
"Celestial spirits…oh boy, I please I hope she isn't the holder of that key." He knew Loke had his own run-ins with celestial wizards, and it wasn't good ones.
He noticed Gray punched Natsu and that his body was about to hit Lucy.
"Wow, watch out." Naruto grabbed Lucy by the shoulders and pulled her slightly to him before Natsu's body could hit her.
Lucy saw what happened and turned to her fellow blonde "Thanks."
"No problem," Naruto said before addressing the two guys "Really guys, can you both stop this for a moment, just a moment?"
"Natsu started it, I'm just following through," Gray argued.
"You're clothes, Gray," Cana said.
"Damn it!"
Natsu got back up "You're the one who was provoking me, you dirty slimeball."
Gray's eyebrow twitched "Oh yeah, what did I do to provoke you? You fire clown."
"You pervert slasher!"
"Pink haired punk!"
"Lame insults, guys." Lucy deadpanned.
The rest of the guild started laughing at the two troublemakers going at each other yet again, Lucy couldn't help but smile and Naruto smirked giving an eye smile.
"We got bad news!"
Everyone turned towards the main entrance, seeing that Loke was already back and in distress.
"It's Erza, she's on her way here!"
Everyone except for a few began to freak out when that name was mentioned.
Lucy was impressed by the sudden change of sphere "Wow, just mentioning her and the whole place goes crazy."
"Well, she is the strongest female wizard we've got in Fairy Tail," Mirajane said.
"Don't forget the fact she's a bit intimidating," Lisanna mentioned the small fact.
"Yeah, to put that lightly, but that's Erza for you," Naruto added.
Then they started to hear loud footsteps, it sounded like it was coming closer and this got the guildmates to start sweat and shriek.
"That's got to be her."
"Those sounds like her footsteps."
"Even the air has gone completely still."
"Man from these reactions you'd think she's some kind of demon." Lucy said imagining Erza as some kind of demon and frightening her "I'm so scared!"
The person entered the guild hall and brought in a large object which was to be revealed as a horn that must've belonged to an animal that had been slain. It was put down next to the person carrying it with a loud thud.
The person was a woman, or more precisely a 19-year-old girl that had a slender voluptuous figure. It may not be seen at first because of the custom-made armor breastplate that resembles of the medieval days. The armor was made by Heart Kreuz, the most popular clothing line for young girls and women. She also wore a blue skirt and black boots, and diamond shaped silver earrings. But her most noticeable was her scarlet hair and brown eyes.
This was Erza Scarlet, the strongest female wizard of Fairy Tail.
"I have returned, where is master Makarov?" Erza sternly asked.
"She's beautiful." Lucy breathed with a mini tint of redness on her cheeks.
"Welcome back, Erza. The master is at a conference right now." Mirajane said.
"I see." Erza complied as she puts a hand on her hip.
"Erza, what's that huge thing?" One of the guildmates asked.
"It's the horn of the monster I defeated. The locals were so thankful that they decorated it and gave it to me as a souvenir." She looked at the guy "Why you got a problem with it?"
"NO, not at all!"
"You know, she's not anything that I had imagined," Lucy said.
Lisanna giggled "Well, it's not her looks that cause everyone here to be scared of her, you'll soon find out."
"But she's a caring person and someone fun to hang out with." Naruto patted Lucy's arm "So just relax."
"O-Okay."
"Now listen up," Erza turned her head towards everyone, making them shiver "while I was on the road I heard a few things. Word is that Fairy Tail had been causing nothing but trouble as of late. Master Makarov may not care, but I certainly do!"
"Here begins the road call," Naruto said.
"Cana! You need to start controlling your drinking." The brunette stopped drinking. "Vijeeter! Take the dancing outside! Wakaba! Get rid of the filthy habit of yours! Nab! I would suspect you still standing there in front of that board, just pick a job already!"
She then turned to Macao "Macao!"
The man went stiff.
Erza instead just sighed.
"Please just say something!" Macao cried.
"I don't even know where to begin with you" She grabbed for her head and shook "Honestly you guys cause so much trouble sometimes I've just given up."
"She's really tearing into everyone." Lucy nervously muttered "It's like she's taking over.
Happy appeared "That's Erza for ya."
"Even if she's kinda bossy, she's saner then everyone else in here. I don't understand why everyone is so afraid of her."
Naruto points to her right "Look out there."
"Are Natsu and Gray here?"
Lucy turned around to see something that surprised her.
"H-Hey there Erza, We're just hanging around as good friends do." Gray and Natsu gave nervous smiles while crossing their arms over each other's back and shaking hands like really close friends, all that in fear of course.
Natsu replies "A-Aye."
"He's talking like happy!" Lucy exclaimed in shock.
"That's great, I'm quite pleased to see you two finally getting along." Erza smiled nodded her head "However it's only natural that even the best of friends squabble every now and then."
"I don't know if we're the best of friends." Gray replied.
"A-Aye." Natsu added.
"What's gone into Natsu!?" Lucy now was too confused.
"Cuz Natsu and Gray know better than to piss off Erza. A few years ago he challenged Erza to a fight and got beaten up badly." Naruto said to her.
"That's a stupid thing to do." Lucy said.
"After that she found Gray walking around naked and decided to beat him up too." Macao added to the list of reasons to why people fear Erza.
Cana who for once is not drinking, decided to bring in another story "And lets not forget she also beat up Loke for trying to hit on her. He totally deserved it though."
Lucy quipped on that one "Yeah, can't say I blame her."
Naruto spoke "So Erza, from what I see, you normally come back here and relax, eating a strawberry cheesecake and forget about everything, but instead of that I can see you're planning something now, I'm I right?"
Erza turned to Naruto and gave him a smile and nod "You're right Naruto, still as sharp as ever." She eyed Naruto, who eyed back.
"Like I ever lost it. Dear Erza."
Erza huffed it with a smug smile before turning towards the two "Natsu, Gray. I need you to do a favor." The two turned towards Erza and paid attention to what she wanted to say.
"While traveling I heard something that made me worried. Normally I would consult with the master on an issue like this but he's not here and this is a matter of upmost urgency. I can use you both for this."
The dragon slayer and the ice mage looked between each other while the whole guild couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"We'll meet at the train station tomorrow morning." Erza informed them and then turned to her blonde friend "And you Naru- Where is Naruto?"
Between Mira and Lucy where Naruto was standing now was empty.
The only sound that everyone was hearing in the silence was the sound of clicking shoes.
Everyone turned towards where it came from and saw that Naruto was on his way out and "I'll see you guys at the train station, oh and this." Naruto threw something backwards.
Lisanna catches it and it was a bundle filled with jewels.
"Thanks for the meal, girls." Naruto gave out a wave to everyone "See you guys in a few days."
"See ya!" Most guild mates waved him goodbye.
Mirajane giggled "There he goes, preparing for another job."
Wakaba smirked while puffing out smoke "That kid doesn't sit still, not even asked and already prepares for the job."
Lucy couldn't help but raise her eyebrow and asks Happy "Why is everyone talking so good about Naruto."
Happy replies in his usual manner "Because everyone knows that's Naruto nature. He's always ready to help out a fellow guild mate."
"That's true." Nab says catching Lucy's attention "You can ask anyone in this guild, Naruto has helped people no matter what their problem is. Just like how he comforted Macao's son when he was missing. That is Naruto."
Macao smiled, he had to properly thank him for calming his son down and giving him hope. Sure he did not rescue him but he did gave his son the comfort he needed.
Cana chuckled "That's Naruto for you." She took a sip from her jug of beer, while a blush was lightened on her cheeks.
"Whatever it is, the big thing is that with Natsu, Gray and Erza joining up as a team, the would be the most powerful team, but with Naruto joining in it IS the most powerful team this guild might have."
Happy flew up high and exclaimed "Hooray for Naruto!"
"HOORAY!"
Outside the guild hall, Naruto heard the cheering from his fellow guild mates. He couldn't stop smiling and gave it a thought.
'Glad I was brought here.'
Next day, Magnolia station
"Can you explain me why have we decided to come here three hours earlier?" Lucy groaned out loud, while everyone has already arrived Naruto was the only who hasn't arrived yet. She was holding her snowman celestial spirit who kept shaking.
Happy was munching on his fish snack and explained "Have you forgotten already? He has a habit in getting late and coming up with an excuse, are all of you blondes this dumb?"
Lucy was ticked off "Don't start that, cat!"
Natsu and Gray still played the friendly buddies part while Erza sighed waiting for Naruto wasn't new for her as she got used to it like most of the guild who worked with him.
Happy flew up with the fish in his mouth pointing at the hallway "There he is!"
Naruto was wearing his brown trousers, boots, a green flat jacket, a brown coat he was wearing over his jacket and his bag for his travels.
"Hello guys, sorry for the waiting. I couldn't leave the place without enjoying a warm cup of ramen."
Lucy frowns "Why am I thinking you're lying?"
"Because he is, silly. Haven't I told you it just a minute ago?" Happy reminded her.
Lucy fumed at the cat.
Erza smiled "Not a problem, Naruto. You're just in time."
Naruto eye smiled "Great, let's go."
"Wait! What about the baggage?" Lucy said pointing at the mountain of baggage that belonged to Erza.
"Allow me." Naruto stepped forwards and pulled out of his coat a scroll and opened it before laying it down and then pulls up his sleeve.
Lucy watched what was written on the scroll "What language is that?"
"I don't know, we asked the same thing. He just says it's a contract." Natsu/Gray/Erza/Happy replied while observing Naruto's work.
Lucy asked out of curiosity "What kind of contract?"
He bit his nail and started sign the middle part of the contract.
Lucy was creeped out "Why did he signed it with his own blood?"
"I don't know, he does this all the time." Natsu/Gray/Erza/Happy replied.
"You guys should listen to yourself." Lucy sweatdropped.
He started making a series of signs with his hands before slamming his hand into the middle part of the contract.
POOF! The area around Naruto was filled with smoke.
"*cough* *cough* what was that?" Lucy waved the smoke off, and when it cleared she was gasping like a fish.
"Where is all the baggage?!" the only thing left was the cart that transported it.
"In here." Naruto showed the scroll that was small and tossed it to Erza who catches it.
"Thanks Naruto."
"B-but-"
Naruto waved his hand "I'll explain it after Erza explained the job we're about to do." He turned to the two others "And? You guys have anything to say?"
"Yes, Erza." Natsu got her attention "I'll come with you but only under one condition."
Gray immediately responded "Shut up!"
"Oh? What is it?"
Natsu held his fist up with a grin "I want a rematch when we get back to Fairy Tail."
"What's wrong with you? You've got some kind of death wish?" Gray said behind Natsu.
Natsu ignored the others "I've become a lot stronger since the last time. This time will be way different. Cause I'm gonna beat you!"
Naruto smiled at Natsu's determination, he reminded a lot….of himself. Full with spirit and never giving up.
Erza was silent for a moment before giving her response "Yes I can tell you've been improved. As to well if you can beat me. I suppose we have to see." She faces up "I accept your challenge."
"Oh yeah!" Natsu yells into the sky "I'm fired up!"
Everybody started to enter the train as it was set to leave with almost everyone in it.
Naruto was the last to board the train but then sensed something. He looked around and saw nobody was there.
He still sensed something nearby and decided to reach for something in his coat-
"Hey Naruto!" Happy landed on his head "Come on, we've found a seat."
Naruto stopped reaching for his coat and said "Okay, let's go." he boarded the train as it started leaving the train station.
In the steam of the train that just left, a figure stepped out of the steam. It was a masked man with armor plates covering his body from top to bottom, and he had a tattoo that was noticeable on his arm.
The mark of the Hidden Leaf village.
And that's it! we're going to the first arc of the series! I hope you guys liked it and if you do and want to leave a comment or a suggestion. Leave it here below