Chapter 170: Bachelor Party
Dante smiled to himself as he sat down at the bar in the Fairy Tail guildhall. It was just six days until he was going to be married and he could not wait. Glancing over towards Mira, Dante smiled at the fact that soon he would be married to her. Thinking that the day could not get here soon enough, Dante was just about to wave Mira down to order something when his vision suddenly became dark.
Dante let out a muffled gasp of surprise as he registered that a burlap sack had been thrown over his head. The same instant that the bag was thrown and tied over his head, Dante felt strong hands attempt to pull him away to some unknown location. Panic welled up inside him as many questions raced through his mind. Who was trying to kidnap him and why did they think they would get away with it right in the middle of the guildhall? Come to think of it, why wasn't anyone helping him as he was being kidnaped right in the middle of the guildhall?
Dante decided that these questions didn't matter for right now, what mattered is that he throw of his kidnappers. Starting to struggle, Dante tried to wrestle his way out of the grip of his kidnapper while he couldn't see. After a short struggle where Dante could have sworn he heard someone laughing behind him, Dante was able to get a hold of the kidnaper's arm. Holding onto the kidnapper's arm, Dante held him in place before he elbowed him hard in the gut. Hearing a groan of pain indicating to Dante that he had hit his mark, Dante turned around and aimed a punch towards the source of the pained groan.
Being in enough fights Dante was able to recognize the feeling of his fist connected hard with someone's face. Smiling to himself as his face was still covered with the burlap sack, Dante could hear the kidnapper fly across the guildhall before crashing into the wall some distance away. Thinking that the danger had passed long enough, Dante reached towards his face and started to remove the burlap sack. Once Dante removed the burlap sack, he was able to clearly see things and just became even more confused.
Standing in front of Dante was Elfman, Laxus, and Gray. Some distance away from the three of them was Natsu who was still on the ground. Looking closer at Elfman, Laxus and Gray it was clear they were laughing as Natsu struggled to stand up. Taking a quick look around the guildhall Dante could see serval guild members laughing as Laxus started to speak.
"I told you that was a bad idea Natsu" stated Laxus with an amused smile. Natsu was holding his head in pain as he walked up to the group, Dante still had a confused look on his face.
"Why did you have to go and do that Dante" asked Natsu in an annoyed tone. Still confused about what was happening, Dante started to speak.
"What do you mean?! You're the one who was trying to kidnap me! What the hell were you thinking? You're lucky I didn't use more force; I could have seriously hurt you" shouted Dante in an annoyed tone. Natsu could be annoying from time to time with how often he liked to pick fights with him or Ezra, but this just seemed ridiculous, even for Natsu.
"Damn he sent you flying" stated Gray as he wiped a tear from his eye as he continued to laugh.
"Can someone please explain what the hell is going on" asked Dante still confused what was happening.
"Isn't it obvious, this is your bachelor party" responded Elfman in an excited tone.
"It is" asked Dante suddenly piecing together what Natsu tried to do.
"Yah, Natsu here thought it would be a good idea to do the whole kidnapping gag but obviously didn't think it all the way through" responded Laxus in an amused tone. Turning his attention towards Natsu, Dante started to speak.
"Well, that wasn't smart of you Natsu. Don't you know I can easily overpower you even if you catch me by surprise" asked Dante thinking that he could have seriously hurt Natsu if he used his magical power.
"I do now! Geez you didn't have to hit me that hard you know" responded Natsu in an annoyed tone, his pride hurt more than anything else. Everyone chuckled at this response, including Dante. Shortly after this, Elfman started to speak.
"Enough talking! Are you ready for a bachelor party made for a real man" asked Elfman in an excited tone. Dante smiled as he nodded his head and started to speak.
"Yah sounds fun. Does this also mean Mira in having her" responded Dante as he turned his attention to Mira. Dante stopped what he was saying as he watched Mira be hoisted over Erza's shoulders, her hands tied together while her face was covered. It looked like Erza had the same idea as Natsu.
"Well at least they actually had someone of equal strength attempt it" stated Dante to himself as he watched Erza carry off a struggling Mira while Lucy, Sorano, and Lisanna followed behind. As Dante watched Mira be carried away, his attention was turned back to Elfman as he started to speak.
"Come on let's go" shouted Elfman as he led Dante and the others out of the guildhall. As Elfman led Dante through the crowded streets, he wondered what was the plan. Soon Dante was standing in front of a well known steakhouse with a smile. The five of them stepped inside and were soon seated at a private table. Already Dante could feel his stomach rumble with hunger as he turned his attention towards Elfman and started to speak.
"This was a good idea Elfman, good job" stated Dante with a smile thinking he choose right in making Elfman his best man. Elfman nodded his head with a smile on his face. Soon the orders were taken, and Dante and the others talked amongst each other while they had their fill. After a couple of hours, and countless meals later Dante and the others sighed with content.
"Damn that was great" stated Dante with a smile. As Dante said this, Elfman smiled at him as he started to speak.
"That's not all, we all got you something special" responded Elfman as he placed down a thirty year aged bottle of whiskey. Dante eyes widened as he looked at the gift as he started to speak.
"Hold on that's too much you, guys. This bottle must have cost a fortune" responded Dante in slightly guilty tone.
"It did but don't worry about it" responded Laxus in a steady tone.
"Yah with everything you've done for us over the years this is the least we can do for you man" responded Gray with a smile. Still feeling guilty about receiving such an expensive gift, Dante started to speak.
"Are you guys sure" asked Dante.
"Oh yah, this is a real gift for a real man" responded Elfman with a smile. Finally, Dante smiled back at everyone as he reached out and took a hold of the bottle.
"Thanks everyone, this means a lot" responded Dante touched that his friends would spend so much money on him. As Dante admired the bottle of expensive whiskey, Laxus started to speak.
"So, any idea when you are going to pop that thing open" asked Laxus with a smile.
"Yah, I imagine you would want to save it for a special occasion" stated Gray. Dante smiled at his friends as he opened the bottle and filled everyone's glasses.
"Do you guys really have to ask? I'm opening it right now with all of you" responded Dante with a wide smile. Holding up his glass, Dante waited for everyone else to do the same. Seeing everyone waiting for him to make a toast, Dante continued to speak.
"To Fairy Tail" stated Dante in a happy tone, thinking that toasting the place that brought everyone together was appropriate. Everyone then drank down the contents of their glasses, all appreciating the taste.
"Damn that's great stuff" stated Dante with a smile. Everyone at the table nodded in agreement as Dante poured everyone a second glass. Soon the bottle was empty, but the drinking didn't stop there. Laxus ordered more drinks for everyone, the drinks might have been less expensive, but they flowed like water as they all drank while reminiscing about the good old days.
"Did you two ever hear the story how Dante joined Fairy Tail" asked Laxus with a smile as he finished another drink. Laxus was talking to Natsu and Gray since Elfman already knew the story. Natsu and Gray both shook their heads as Natsu started to speak.
"No, we haven't" responded Natsu in a curious tone.
"It's not that much of a story" responded Dante with a smile as he remembered that fateful day.
"Are you kidding me? It's hilarious" responded Laxus with a chuckle.
"Well now you have to tell it" responded Gray eager to hear how Dante joined Fairy Tail. Laxus took another drink before he started to speak.
"Imagine this, it was just another day at Fairy Tail. My gramps and I were out for a stroll just outside the town. Suddenly Dante steps in our way and demands that we hand over all of our money or else" stated Laxus in an amused tone. Natsu and Gray both looked at Laxus with surprise as Gray then turned his attention towards Dante.
"No kidding? What were you thinking" asked Gray in an amused tone. Finishing another drink, Dante started to speak.
"You guys have to remember Elfman and I had it pretty rough before we joined Fairy Tail. We couldn't settle down in any one place because Mira didn't have her demon take over magic under control. Back then I was the only one that could use magic so it was up to me to make a living for everyone. Since we couldn't be in one place for too long I couldn't take normal jobs, so I had to resort to stealing" responded Dante.
"And you thought gramps was a good target" asked Natsu with a laugh.
"Hey, give me a break, how was I supposed to know how strong Master Markov was? Back then he just looked like a weak old man, I thought he was an easy target" responded Dante in a defensive tone. Laxus laughed before he started to speak.
"Oh, he learned the hard way all right. The old man pummeled him into the ground even when Dante used his take over magic" responded Laxus between laughs as he remembered that day.
"Haha, you got beat" responded Natsu in his typical tone. Taking another drink Dante set down his cup and started to respond.
"Like any of you would have done better. Even now Master Markov could beat all of us combined if he wanted to" responded Dante finding it absurd that he had to defend himself losing to someone as strong as Markov.
"So, what happened next" asked Gray in a curious tone.
"After that Master Markov helped me up. He told me I didn't look like the type to resort to thieving without a good reason. Eventually the master got my reasons for what I did out of me, and he offered his help" responded Dante with a smile as he fondly remembered the day that changed his life for the better. Taking another drink, Dante enjoyed the warm sensation of the burning alcohol falling into his stomach before he placed the empty cup down and continued to speak.
"Imagine that I tried to rob Master Markov and his response was to help me. He could have turned me in but instead gave my siblings and I a home" responded Dante with a smile. All around the table everyone was smiling as they remembered Markov's kindness and how it positively changed each of their lives.
"That's just the kind of man the master is" responded Gray remembering how Markov gave him a home after losing Ur.
"Yah he might stop my fun every now and then, but gramps is the best" stated Natsu remembering how Markov took him in after Ingeel left. Taking a long drink, Laxus slammed his cup down as he remembered with shame what he did in the past.
"The old man was always kind to me as well and what did I do with it? I threw it back in his face" responded Laxus in an ashamed tone. A brief moment of silence followed before Dante started to speak.
"Are you really still worried about that? Master Markov and everyone else at the guild forgave you a long time ago, lighten up" responded Dante with a supportive smile.
"Yah man, you long since proven yourself with how many times you saved our butts" responded Gray remembering how Laxus stepped in to save them when Hades was going to kill them.
"Truth is we've all been ungrateful brats to Master Markov at one point or another" stated Dante thinking about the plenty of times he caused trouble for Markov. After taking a moment to take another drink, Laxus then started to speak.
"Yah I suppose you all are right" responded Laxus in a grateful tone that everyone one in Fairy Tail was so forgiving.
"Enough talking and let's drink the night away like real men" shouted Elfman. Dante smiled as he drank the rest of the night away with his friends. He knew that he would regret drinking so much in the morning but for now Dante enjoyed everyone's company.
End of Chapter 170