A/N : All out for a brand new Mission !
Enjoy !
A few days after our beach day, Natsu approached me one morning as I sat at the counter, nursing a cup of coffee.
"Hey Haru! Taking a mission with Wen, wanna join?" he grinned, his energy almost palpable.
"Mavis, Natsu, stop yelling so early," I groaned, squinting at him.
Mira promptly bonked me on the head. "And stop being so miserable," she chided with a playful smile.
"Wendy, and now you?" I muttered, rubbing the sore spot. I sighed. "But yeah, you're right. I'll tag along, Natsu. I need the money, to be fair."
After gathering our stuff, we left the guild. We didn't take much, as the mission shouldn't be more than three days. The morning air was crisp, and the streets of Magnolia were just beginning to stir with activity.
Walking along, I turned to Natsu. "So, got any more details about the mission?" I asked.
"Apparently, a group of thugs is trying to act like a dark guild. I mean, it's not like they are one, right? They just have an HQ next to a nearby village. The villagers sent out the mission request," Natsu explained, his voice brimming with excitement.
"Right, so we find them, knock on their door, then on their heads, take the money, and leave," I said, smirking.
Natsu grinned widely. "Yup, you're getting the real Fairy Tail spirit!"
Even Wendy, perched on my shoulders, was brimming with enthusiasm. "Yeah, let's show them!"
As we walked, my marks started to burn slightly, an unwelcome reminder of past events. "Shit..." I muttered under my breath, grimacing at the sensation.
"Haru?" Wendy asked, noticing my reaction.
"All good... just my marks again." But as I looked at their concerned faces, I realized I hadn't explained everything to them. "Right... I haven't told you guys the full story."
During our journey, I took some time to explain everything that had happened the other night. I recounted the flashbacks, the pain, and the mysterious connection to Ventio and Raykio.
Natsu walked alongside me, silent for once, his hand on his chin as he thought deeply. "I see," he finally said. "Similar to our dragons indeed. However, it still seems like it's not directly connected," he added, his brows furrowed in contemplation.
"And you can't remember more?" Wendy asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Not really," I admitted. "I wasn't even trying to remember anything at the time. I just... fell into flashbacks when my marks reacted somehow." I glanced down at both my marks.
As we continued our journey, we debated the new information I had just shared with them.
"Anyway," I began, "I've got plenty of time to figure out what happened. I just need to take it slow. Everything is moving way too fast right now. Let's focus on finishing this mission first," I added with a happy grin.
"Aye!" answered Happy enthusiastically, landing on my head.
After a few hours, we arrived at the village's entrance. We were welcomed by a few people.
"Are you the mages who took our request?" a lady asked.
"Yes ma'am, that would be us," grinned Natsu.
"Could you please give us more details about all this?" I asked, stepping forward.
The lady nodded, her face a mix of relief and worry. "It's a group of rough-looking men. They showed up a few weeks ago, claiming to offer 'protection' for a price. When we refused, they started causing trouble—stealing livestock, setting fires, frightening our children. We're desperate for help."
"Sounds like classic dark guild wannabes," Natsu muttered, his fists clenching in anger.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of them," Wendy reassured the villagers.
"Please be careful. They seemed dangerous, and nobody here knows how many of them are around," the lady added.
I simply gave her a thumbs up before following Natsu, who was already sprinting off in random directions.
After a few looks around, Happy came to us. "I found something! I was flying above the forest south from here, there's a trapdoor, badly hidden right in the middle," he said, pointing in the right direction.
"Good job, Hap!" Natsu smiled. "Let's go!"
We nodded, then followed our blue flying cat. As we approached the spot, I noticed the trapdoor hidden beneath a pile of leaves and branches. It was just as Happy had described—poorly concealed.
"Looks like we've got our entrance," I said, stepping forward to clear away the debris. Then, it struck me. "Wait. This is weird. Even a child could hide this better than it is right now. Something is off..." I said, suddenly entering a defensive stance, eyes watching every corner.
"Happy, can ya do another round?" I asked, before slightly retreating from the trapdoor on the ground. "C'mon, get away from that thing," I motioned to Natsu and Wendy.
"I don't like this," whispered Wendy, her eyes darting around nervously.
We settled down behind a few trees, meters away from the entrance we had found, waiting for Happy to return. The tension was palpable as we kept our guard up, ready for anything.
After a few minutes, Happy approached, his face serious. "Haru was right! I found something else! There are trapdoors spread across the forest, maybe five or six. They all look the same; it has to be a trap. I also spotted a guy over there. I followed him, and the entrance is actually very well hidden." He tried explaining calmly, though I could see the adrenaline still pumping through him.
"This complicates things," I muttered, rubbing my chin thoughtfully. "They've set up multiple fake entrances to throw us off."
"Thank god Haru has a brain," Wendy said, earning a furious glare from Natsu.
"Happy, take us to where that guy was," I finally asked. "It's risky, but I don't see any other possibilities. We'll have to deal with them even if there are more of them than us."
When we got there, Happy showed us the entrance. Indeed, nobody could find it without knowing. These guys weren't amateurs.
"All right. Let's go, and stay packed," I said before taking the first step in. But before I could even see what was inside, the ground collapsed, leaving a human-sized hole under my feet. After a gasp, I fell into the darkness.
"Haru!" yelled Natsu.
After a few silent seconds, I yelled back up, "It's safe, you can come down!"
Natsu nodded to Wendy before jumping down as well. Wendy followed, and soon we were all together in the dark, narrow tunnel. The air was damp and smelled of earth and mold. The faint light from the hole above cast eerie shadows on the walls.
"Everyone okay?" I asked, brushing dirt off my clothes.
"Yeah, I'm good," Natsu replied, his voice echoing slightly.
"Me too," Wendy added, her eyes adjusting to the dim light.
With his right hand, Natsu created a few flames, illuminating the space around us. The flickering light revealed rough stone walls and a dirt floor, with roots hanging down from the ceiling like skeletal fingers.
"Mavis..." I gasped. "We actually are in..."
"In some kind of underground maze," Natsu finished for me, his flames casting eerie shadows on the walls.
"This place feels ancient," Wendy whispered, her voice filled with awe and a bit of trepidation.
"We need to stay on our guard," I said, scanning our surroundings. "There could be more traps."
Natsu nodded, his flames growing brighter as he took the lead. "Let's find these thugs and put an end to their operation."
We moved cautiously through the tunnel, the sound of dripping water echoing around us. The air grew colder the deeper we went, and the sense of foreboding grew stronger.
Suddenly, the tunnel opened up into a larger chamber. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering light across the room.
"Wha- GET DOWN!" I yelled, before grabbing both of them and pinning them on the ground. As I moved, a line of arrows came flying above our heads.
"What the hell is that? Who uses arrows with traps?" yelled Natsu.
I got up, sweating. "No clue. I think Wendy is right. This looks like a really old place. What would these guys even do here..." I wondered aloud.
We turned back, trying another corridor. The place seemed immense, not seeing the end of any path we were taking.
"I've got a feeling we're gonna be walking for a long time," said Natsu, his flames still flickering in his hands, creating our light source.
"Yeah," I replied, "but we need to stay sharp. There could be more traps or ambushes waiting for us."
We moved forward cautiously, each step echoing ominously in the narrow tunnel. The air grew colder, and the sense of foreboding intensified with every step.
"Stay close," I whispered, glancing at Wendy. She nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. Natsu took the lead, his fiery resolve unwavering.
As we turned a corner, the tunnel opened into another large chamber. This one was even more impressive, with ancient carvings etched into the walls and a high, vaulted ceiling supported by massive stone pillars. Torches flickered along the walls, casting an eerie glow over the room.
"Wow," Wendy breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "This place must be centuries old."
"Yeah," I agreed.
Natsu nodded, his flames brightening as he scanned the room. "We'll find them. Just keep your guard up."
We spread out slightly, carefully examining the chamber. The carvings on the walls depicted scenes of battles, ancient warriors clashing with dark creatures. The detail was astonishing, each figure rendered with incredible skill. It was clear that this place had a long and storied history.
"Look at this," Wendy said, pointing to a particular carving. "These symbols... they look like the ones on your marks, Haru."
I moved closer, studying the symbols. She was right. The intricate designs mirrored the marks on my arms, glowing faintly in the torchlight. "What does this mean?" I muttered, more to myself than to the others.
Before we could think any more about the symbols on the wall, someone yelled, "Intruders! Gather up, don't let them get out!"
We instantly got into a defensive stance, listening intently as the sound of footsteps echoed through the tunnel. But then, to our surprise, the footsteps began to fade away.
"They're... not coming?" Natsu asked, perplexed.
"Doesn't seem like it," I replied, still tense.
After scanning the room one last time, we decided to move on, finally focusing on what we came here for.
After many long minutes walking around—they felt like hours—we stumbled upon a gigantic door at the end of one of the corridors.
"Well, guess we're going in," I said, nodding to Natsu as he approached the door. He pushed it slowly open, the door creaking as he did.
As we stepped in, we gasped at what we saw. The room was filled with black-hooded strangers—the same ones who had taken Wendy the other day. We clenched our fists, realizing the gravity of the situation. Wendy watched us, a little worried.
"There they are! Catch them!" someone yelled as 15, maybe 20, rushed toward us.
Natsu's flames flared up, casting an orange glow that danced wildly against the dark walls. "Time to show them what Fairy Tail is made of!"
I summoned my magic, the marks on my arms glowing fiercely. "Roaring Storm, Kirin!" I raised my hand to the sky, drawing lightning down into my palm. A bolt of lightning crackled from above, arcing toward the oncoming enemies, striking several of them down with blinding light and a deafening thunderclap.
Natsu leaped into the fray, his fists blazing with intense flames. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" he roared, his punch connecting with a hooded figure and sending him flying into the wall with a resounding crash.
Wendy stayed back momentarily, her eyes sharp and focused, ready to support us. "Vernier!" she cried, casting her speed-boosting spell on Natsu and me. Instantly, our movements became even swifter, our attacks more precise.
More of the thugs charged at us, undeterred by their fallen comrades. I clenched my fists, feeling the powerful surge of energy from my marks. "Whispering Tempest, Aelion!" I spun on one foot, arms wide, gathering wind before releasing it. A massive, swirling vortex of wind formed and rushed toward the attackers, the sheer force of the tempest knocking them back and creating chaos among their ranks.
The room filled with the cacophony of battle—roaring flames, howling winds, and the crackle of lightning. Despite their numbers, our opponents were no match for us. Even Happy was having a good time, zipping through the air and slamming into a few heads.
One of the attackers managed to get close, swinging a crude axe at me. I dodged effortlessly and countered with a powerful, thunder-charged kick that sent him crashing into the wall. Sparks flew as he convulsed and then collapsed, defeated.
A few others were completely scorched, evidence of Natsu's fiery handiwork. I didn't let up, continuing to fight alongside Natsu and Wendy, each of us pushing forward with relentless determination.
Natsu grinned wildly, clearly reveling in the chaos of the battle. "Keep it up, Haru! We're almost through them!" he shouted, his flames blazing even brighter with his enthusiasm.
With a shared nod of determination, we pressed on, the remaining opponents faltering under our combined might. Wendy unleashed her own attacks, her sky magic cutting through the enemies with precision and grace. "Sky Dragon's Roar!" she cried, sending a powerful gust of wind that knocked several more enemies off their feet, their bodies tumbling like ragdolls.
As the last of the hooded figures fell, the room fell silent, save for the crackling of residual magic in the air. We stood amidst the defeated foes, our breaths heavy but our spirits unbroken.
"Is everyone okay?" I asked, glancing at Natsu and Wendy, my voice echoing slightly in the spacious chamber.
"Yeah," Natsu began, but before he could continue, another wave of enemies surged forward, their numbers even greater than before, standing in a compact group in front of us.
"Oh come on, man!" I whined, exasperated by the relentless assault.
Then, we heard a voice—different from the others, commanding and sinister. It seemed to echo from every corner of the room, making it impossible to pinpoint its source. "Soldiers, defend it at all costs! Remember, Erebus must have this egg!"
Natsu and I exchanged stunned looks, our eyes widening in shock. "E-Erebus?" I choked out, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and anger.
"Those bastards!" roared Natsu, his fury igniting his flames to a brilliant blaze. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" He unleashed a massive torrent of fire, the roaring flames consuming the air and barreling toward the group of enemies. The heat was intense, and the sheer force of the attack sent the hooded figures scattering.
"We need to push through!" I shouted, summoning my combined magic once more. "Tempest Fury, Storm Phoenix!" I stood with one foot forward, arms raised, one hand drawing wind and the other drawing lightning. A colossal tornado infused with crackling lightning formed, tearing through the enemy ranks like a living storm, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Wendy supported us with her magic, her voice clear and resolute. "Sky Dragon's Claw!" she cried, her feet glowing with magical energy as she leaped into the fray, striking down enemies with powerful kicks enhanced by her sky magic.
The room was a maelstrom of elemental fury, our combined magic tearing through the enemies. Yet, no matter how many we defeated, more kept coming, relentless and driven by the sinister command.
After a fierce onslaught, we managed to clear enough of them to finally glimpse what was held in the back of the room. A giant egg, about one third of my size, rested on a stone pedestal. It was white, adorned with intricate light gray symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint, eerie glow.
I barely spared it a glance, my focus snapping back to the incoming enemies. But Natsu, Happy, and Wendy stared at the egg with wide eyes, their faces pale and glistening with sweat. They exchanged worried looks, a silent understanding passing between them.
"Haru, we need to get this egg out of here!" Natsu roared, his voice urgent and filled with a rare edge of fear.
"Huh?" I turned my head, surprised by his sudden request. The intensity in his voice caught me off guard. As I locked eyes with them, a chill ran down my spine. They looked genuinely scared, something I wasn't used to seeing in my fearless comrades. What did they know that I didn't?
Natsu's eyes were wide with panic, his flames flickering erratically. "That egg... We can't let them have it!"
I clenched my fists, the urgency of the situation hitting me like a ton of bricks. "Alright, cover me! I'm going for it!" I shouted, narrowly dodging another incoming attack.
I wanted to speed through the throng of enemies, but their sheer numbers made it seem impossible. This wasn't the time for hesitation. Taking a few steps back, I prepared myself. "Ethereal Wings, Ventio!" The translucent wings formed on my back, shimmering faintly. With a burst of speed, I zapped towards the egg, the hooded figures converging to block my path.
A massive ball of flame erupted ahead of me, scattering the enemies like leaves in a storm. "Get it, Haru!" Natsu's voice echoed through the chaos, urging me on.
I continued my dash, zapping around with agility. Thanks to Natsu's fiery assault, my route was clearer than I had anticipated. The egg loomed ahead, its light gray symbols glowing ominously. With one final surge, I reached it, skidding to a halt in front of the mysterious artifact.
"Get it and let's get the hell out of here!" Natsu roared again, his voice filled with urgency.
I grabbed the egg, its weight immediately surprising me. "Mavis, this thing is heavier than Wendy!" I cried out. As I turned to rejoin my friends, realization struck hard—there was no way I could speed back with this heavy object in my arms. "Natsu! Need some help here!"
Both Wendy and Natsu prepared to unleash powerful roars, aiming to clear a path for my return. "Sky Dragon's Roar!" Wendy's voice rang out, a gust of wind swirling around me, offering a brief respite from the relentless enemies.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu's fiery blast followed, incinerating the remaining foes and creating a safe corridor.
I gulped, knowing I had to move fast before their attacks reached me too. Summoning all my strength, I zapped back towards my friends, the egg's weight a heavy burden that slowed but didn't stop me. Wendy's wind magic gave me an extra boost, propelling me forward with a sudden surge.
I landed next to Natsu and Wendy, panting but resolute. "Let's go!" I shouted, adjusting my grip on the egg.
Natsu led the way, his flames blazing a path through the darkness. Wendy cast supportive spells, her magic enveloping us and keeping our pace swift and steady. We sprinted out of the chamber and into the labyrinthine tunnels, the oppressive atmosphere pressing in around us.
"Happy!" Natsu called out. "Find our way out!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy responded, flying ahead with determination.
We followed Happy through the winding corridors, the urgency of our mission propelling us forward. Suddenly, we came upon Happy, hovering mid-air, completely still. In front of him stood a black-coated figure, emanating an aura of malevolence.
"Well, it seems our fairies will not let us complete our job. It's a shame you crossed my path, for I am one of the—" The figure's taunt was cut short as Natsu rushed forward with blinding speed, his fist igniting with fierce flames.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu roared, his punch connecting with the figure and sending him flying across the hall. The impact echoed through the tunnels, followed by the deafening sound of the figure crashing into the stone walls.
I glanced at Natsu, a mix of surprise and admiration on my face. "I guess that works..." I muttered.
"We don't have time for that bastard," Natsu replied, his eyes blazing with determination. "Let's get outside, and I'll burn everything down if I have to."
With renewed urgency, we pressed on, Happy leading the way. The tunnels seemed to stretch endlessly.
As we neared the exit, the cool night air began to filter in, a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the tunnels. We burst out into the open, the starlit sky above us a welcome sight.
Natsu turned around, slapping both his hands on the ground. Quickly after, I saw columns of fire erupt from every single trapdoor they disposed in the forest. It was an impressive show, to be honest, and I couldn't help but think about the remaining people in there. "Well, I guess some of them will smell charcoal for a while," I added, slightly smiling.
After that, we rushed back to the village. Panting, we were again welcomed with the lady from earlier.
"You're back! So, how did it go?" Her eyes were wide with anticipation.
We all tried catching our breaths, hands on our knees as I gently set the giant egg down beside us.
"Should be good," I started, panting. "The Magic Council will be called in to lock down the remaining ones. Don't worry, with what Natsu did, they won't be escaping anytime soon from that rat hole," I added with a weary grin.
After grabbing our reward, we headed to the village tavern. The fire in the hearth danced, casting warm, flickering light across the room. Happy banter and lively chatter surrounded us, creating a comforting atmosphere.
"So," I began, leaning my head on my open hand, "mind explaining?" I shot a curious glare at Natsu and Wendy.
They both flinched slightly, exchanging uneasy looks.
"Well, where to start... Let's just say you weren't there, so it's normal you're not aware," Natsu said, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Just spill it out," I grumbled, my patience wearing thin.
"It's an Exceed... egg," Wendy said softly, nervously fiddling with her hands.
"Exceed?" I repeated, my head slowly tilting as I processed the information.
"Yeah. He's one," said Natsu, jabbing his thumb in Happy's direction.
"Aye!" Happy chimed in, fluttering nearby with a big grin.
"So Carla... and Lily?" I asked, earning nods from both of them.
I looked at the egg, then suddenly yelled, "THERE'S A FLYING CAT IN THERE?" pointing at it.
Natsu laughed while Wendy couldn't hold back her exasperation. "Lower your voice, Haru. We don't want everyone knowing what this is," she said, sighing as she glanced around nervously.
I collapsed into my chair, holding my head with both hands. "Why the hell do we always have to find weird things? I just want to do a classic mission," I whined, Natsu patting my shoulder as if he felt guilty.
"Hey, it keeps things interesting," he said with a chuckle. "Plus, it's not every day you get to save an Exceed."
"Yeah, I guess," I muttered, still feeling a bit overwhelmed. "But seriously, can't we just have a normal job for once?"
Wendy smiled sympathetically. "You know, they were going to take that egg to Erebus.. It whatever Erebus actually is. Who knows what they would of done to this poor egg." She sadly commented.
Short silence fell upon us, before Natsu broke it. "Let's go back to the guild, I'm sure everyone there will help us out" He grinned. And with that said, we left seeking for a well deserved rest before leaving for Magniolia, early tomorrow morning.
A/N : And done ! I think most of you have understood what's happening in the next chapters...
So until then, see ya !
.Ney.