This work is an original creation and is protected by copyright. The characters and elements of the Fairy Tail universe belong to the mangaka Hiro Mashima.

Important:

As I have said before this story is an original work created by me, InsideBlu. But since my native language is not English but Spanish, I have used the application DeepL to translate it to reach English-speaking readers. I have tried to remain faithful to the original text, but some adaptations may have been necessary to ensure clarity in English.

Fairy Tail

One-Shot

Why do men live less?

In the warm and cozy hall of the Fairy Tail guild, an apparently innocent conversation took an unexpected turn. Lucy and Carla were sitting together, enjoying a cup of tea and chatting about various topics. The atmosphere was full of laughter and lively conversations, but in their corner, the two friends were engrossed in a deeper discussion.

"Lucy, I've always wondered... why do men live shorter lives than women?" Carla asked, frowning as she stirred her tea with one hand while holding the cup with the other.

Lucy crossed her arms, thoughtful. "That's a good question, Carla. I really don't know the exact answer. Maybe it's due to biological factors, or maybe it's because of their life choices."

Carla set her tea cup aside and walked over to a corner of the guild, where she began searching through a pile of magazines and books. She returned with a couple of volumes in her hands and dropped them on the table. "Maybe this will help!" Carla exclaimed, pointing to the magazines and books.

Both leaned over the table, flipping through the publications in search of answers. After a while, Lucy found an article that seemed promising.

"Wow, Carla, look at this! There's an interesting article about the secrets to a longer life." Lucy held up the magazine enthusiastically. "Although I'm not sure how many of these tips apply to us."

Carla leaned in to look at the page Lucy was showing her. "Hmm! I don't know if that will really help us." Carla frowned, a bead of sweat on her forehead. "The lifestyle habits of an Exceed are different from those of a human. But, why not? Maybe there's something useful here." Carla explained as she pointed towards another book.

"Well, it can't hurt to try." Lucy let out a small giggle. "Though now that I think about it, I wonder if there's a specific reason why men tend to live shorter lives than women."

Carla put a finger to her chin as she thought. "I've never really thought about that. But you're right, it's a good question," she said, intrigued. "I've always heard that it's a real phenomenon, but I've never looked into why."

"Yeah, it's something that's intrigued me for a while." Lucy nodded with curiosity. "There are always statistics about this, but no one seems to have a clear answer. Do you think there might be some magical explanation?"

Carla frowned, searching for an answer to Lucy's question. "Maybe. Although it could also be a combination of factors," Carla said seriously. "Men tend to get involved in more risky activities, right? Maybe that has something to do with it."

"Yeah, that makes sense. But I also wonder if there's something deeper behind it," Lucy slowly nodded. "Maybe it's more about their behaviors and decisions."

"It's a possibility, but who will know the answer to our question?" Carla asked, shrugging, ending the debate for the moment.

Both decided to take the books and head outside the guild, to keep talking about the topic in a more relaxed way, trying to unravel a mystery that, in their minds, seemed increasingly fascinating.

Meanwhile, outside the guild, Lucy and Carla were searching for more information in the books they had gathered. The conversation about longevity had led to a deeper analysis, but both still doubted whether they had found a satisfactory answer.

Lucy was flipping through a book, clearly deep in thought. "It can't just be a matter of physical strength. There's something more. Maybe the answer lies in how they handle stress. Men tend to throw themselves into dangerous situations without a second thought."

Carla closed her book with a sigh. "It's possible. Or maybe it's something emotional. Men often don't talk about their problems and keep everything bottled up, which could affect their health in the long run."

Lucy nodded as she scanned another book. "Yes, it could be. And if we're talking about magic, there could also be an unknown factor in how men interact with it. Maybe magic has a different effect on their bodies that we haven't considered."

Carla frowned, thoughtful. "Magic might be a factor, but I'm not sure that explains everything. It could be something much simpler."

Lucy looked at her curiously. "What do you mean?"

"Stupidity," Carla said with a mix of irony and resignation.

"Stupidity?" Lucy repeated, surprised.

"Yes," Carla nodded, convinced. "Men tend to be reckless, not thinking about the consequences. They get into unnecessary trouble just because they're not afraid of stupidity. That might be what shortens their lives."

Lucy laughed softly. "It's as simple as it is true. Though I doubt we'll find that theory in these books."

"No, but it's a reality we live with every day," Carla said, smiling resignedly. "Sometimes, you don't need a book to see the obvious."

Lucy sighed, closing the book in her hands. "Maybe you're right. After all, who else would dive headfirst into stupidity without thinking...?"

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet shook, followed by a loud crash that made them stop dead in their tracks. They exchanged glances for a moment before running toward the door.

When they reached the street, they were met with a scene of absolute chaos: a mechanical dragon, engulfed in flames, was careening wildly down the street. Natsu and Happy were riding the machine, laughing and shouting with excitement, completely oblivious to the impending danger.

"There's your answer!" Lucy exclaimed, wide-eyed, pointing toward the dragon.

Carla put a paw to her forehead, sighing. "They definitely aren't afraid of anything... not even stupidity."

In the air, Natsu and Happy were riding the machine, laughing and shouting with excitement, completely oblivious to the impending danger. Natsu, with his usual nonchalance, was using his fire magic in a desperate attempt to control the machine, while Happy flapped his wings with all his might, trying to keep the dragon afloat.

The men of the guild, including Gray, Gajeel, Lily, and Elfman, watched the scene with a mix of astonishment and amusement, not intervening but clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Lucy looked on in disbelief and resignation. "How on earth did this happen?"

A few minutes earlier.

While the two girls were pondering the question, in another part of the guild, Natsu and Happy were in the middle of a raucous conversation. Or rather, Natsu was talking excitedly while Happy looked at him with wide, bright eyes.

"Come on, Happy! It'll be amazing!" exclaimed Natsu, with his typical unbridled enthusiasm. "Imagine it! The two of us, riding on that mechanical dragon we have. We could race all over the city."

"Isn't that dangerous, Natsu?" Happy blinked, trying to take in the idea. "And where did you even get that thing?" Happy asked, clearly intrigued.

Happy pointed enthusiastically at a medium-sized mechanical dragon. Its structure, made of polished metal, was large enough for two people to ride comfortably on its back. The articulated wings extended with an impressive wingspan, and its body was adorned with intricate details that mimicked the scales of a real dragon.

"I swiped it from a group of bandits!" Natsu explained, quite excited. "They were using it to pull off heists from the sky, but now it's ours." He exclaimed proudly.

"I see, but is it safe?" Happy asked.

"Bah! Details, details. We just need to set it on fire to make it work better!" Natsu clenched his fire-covered fist and slammed it into his other hand, as if everything was perfectly planned.

Happy, though a bit skeptical, couldn't help but feel excited about the adventure. "Well... I guess we could give it a try. What could go wrong?"

Natsu and Happy, with great effort, dragged the mechanical dragon to the outskirts of the guild. The sun was beginning to set, and the guild's bustle had calmed down.

Upon reaching the outside, the scene was quite a spectacle: Natsu and Happy were sweaty but excited, trying to get the imposing mechanical dragon up and running.

Soon, a group of men from the guild, attracted by the noise and commotion, gathered to watch. Gray, Gajeel, Lily, Elfman, and others grouped around, observing with curiosity and a bit of skepticism.

"What the hell are these two doing?" Gray asked, crossing his arms as he observed the mechanical dragon.

"Looks like they're about to do something really stupid!" Gajeel added, frowning. "Where did they get that thing?"

"We stole it from some bandits!" Natsu explained proudly. "And now we're going to ride it around the city! It'll be an epic adventure!"

Lily stepped closer to inspect the mechanical dragon. "Are you sure this is a good idea? It seems pretty dangerous."

"Does it matter? We just need to set it on fire to make it work better." Natsu gave the dragon a small tap, causing it to wobble. The other guys knew this was pure madness.

"Gee Hee!" Gajeel stepped forward with a determined expression. "If Salamander survives this, I'm getting on too."

The guild men exchanged looks, and despite their doubts, they couldn't help but laugh at the insanity of the plan.

The others stood by, ready to watch the spectacle unfold. Happy climbed onto the mechanical dragon with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Hurry up, Salamander!" Gajeel prepared to hop on with them, ready to join the fun if Natsu came out unscathed.

"Let's do this, Happy!" Natsu said excitedly. "I'm going to use my fire magic to boost the speed."

"Aye!" Happy, though a bit skeptical, was swept up in Natsu's enthusiasm. "What's the worst that could happen?"

The sky was clear, perfect for a thrill-filled challenge. Natsu, with a confident smile, turned to Happy, his eyes shining with the excitement of what was to come.

"Ready, Happy?" Natsu asked, igniting the mechanical dragon. Flames danced around them, reflecting his fearless spirit.

"Aye, sir!" Happy responded with enthusiasm, grabbing a rope and flapping his wings with all his might, lifting the mechanical dragon with as much power as he could muster. The hum of the engine mixed with the roar of Natsu's fire, creating an atmosphere charged with energy and danger.

The dragon began to take off, and Natsu, wasting no time, used his fire magic to propel it even faster. The machine turned into a flaming arrow, leaving a trail of fire that cut through the air. The wind whistled around them, roaring in their ears as they sped towards the river, racing to see who could reach it first as if the very wind was urging them on.

Natsu fired bursts of flames to keep the dragon balanced, laughing with an exhilaration that bordered on madness. "This is amazing, Happy!" he shouted, completely unconcerned about the flames that threatened to consume the machine.

"Aye, sir!" Happy responded, though his voice began to carry a slight tone of concern. The speed and height they were flying at were extreme, even for him.

As they neared the halfway point of their journey, suddenly, a large flock of birds emerged from the nearby trees, alarmed by the flames and noise. The disoriented birds flew in all directions, surrounding the mechanical dragon.

"Watch out, Happy!" Natsu warned, trying to swat away the birds with desperate hand gestures. But one of them, in its confusion, hit Natsu directly in the face, causing him to momentarily lose control.

Happy, struggling to maintain control of the dragon, also tried to shoo the birds away. However, the situation worsened when an unexpected gust of wind blew them off course towards a nearby chimney. "Natsu, this isn't part of the plan!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with panic as the mechanical dragon collided with the chimney, shaking violently.

The impact damaged the dragon's structure, and now out of control, it was plummeting inevitably towards the forest. "Hang on, Happy!" Natsu shouted as the machine descended dangerously, snapping branches and trunks in its path.

Finally, the mechanical dragon crashed with a thunderous noise in the middle of a group of trees, throwing Natsu and Happy into the air like rag dolls. Happy, dazed, collided with a nearby tree and got tangled in the branches, while Natsu landed disastrously in a mud puddle, covered in dirt and leaves.

For a moment, everything went silent, broken only by the creaking of fallen branches. Both remained still, taking a breath to check that they were unhurt. And then, unable to contain themselves, they burst into laughter, a mix of relief and the adrenaline still coursing through their veins.

"We did it, Happy!" Natsu exclaimed, waving his arms enthusiastically, despite being covered in mud.

Happy, still in the tree, joined in the laughter, though his voice trembled a bit from the experience. "Yeah, we did! But next time... maybe a little less fire, Natsu."

"Nah, that makes it more fun!" Natsu replied, grinning widely. For him, chaos and danger were part of the fun.

And so, amid laughter and jokes, the two friends gathered the remnants of their adventure, ready to face whatever came next, no matter how crazy or dangerous it might be.

Currently in the Forest

Lucy and Carla, who had been watching from the ground, rushed towards them with urgency. Lucy arrived first at where Natsu had fallen, finding him laughing while spitting out mud.

"Are you crazy!? You could have killed yourselves!" Lucy yelled, clearly furious but visibly relieved that they were okay.

Lucy hurried to help Natsu, while Carla made her way to where Happy had landed.

"Natsu, you're such an idiot!" Lucy shouted, clearly upset but relieved that he was unharmed. "What were you thinking?"

Natsu, still laughing and covered in mud, just shrugged. "Well, I didn't expect the dragon to crash... but it was pretty fun."

Meanwhile, Carla found Happy struggling to untangle himself from a tree, with some leaves still stuck in his fur. "Happy, are you okay?" she asked with concern, though there was a hint of reproach in her tone.

Happy, laughing and shaking himself off, nodded. "Yeah, yeah! I'm fine. But that was exciting!"

Carla, though equally annoyed, simply gave Happy a light kick as he tried to stand up. "You're an incredibly irresponsible cat, you know that!"

"Aye!" Happy exclaimed. "Help me?" he said, extending his paw.

Carla, sighing, helped him free himself. "I don't know what you were trying to accomplish, Happy. Natsu's an idiot on his own... and this was just plain stupidity."

As the boys continued to laugh, the girls couldn't help but smile at their carefree attitude. Despite the recklessness, they couldn't stop caring for them.

Lucy, arms crossed, looked at Natsu sternly. "I really don't get how you can think these things are fun."

Natsu stood up, still chuckling, and walked over to Lucy with a wide grin. "Come on, Lucy! It was a great adventure. Besides, it wasn't that dangerous... well, maybe a little."

Lucy sighed, shaking her head. "A little? What if you'd fallen on the rocks instead of those trees?"

Natsu shrugged. "Then we wouldn't be as dirty right now. But look on the bright side; at least we didn't get bored."

Happy, approaching Carla, smiled nervously. "Sorry, Carla. I guess it was a bad idea."

Carla, though clearly irritated, couldn't help but smile slightly at Happy's expression. "Yeah, it was. But I'm glad you're okay, though next time, try to avoid these crazy stunts."

Happy nodded enthusiastically. "Aye! I promise the next time will be safer."

As they headed back to the guild, Lucy issued a final warning. "Guys, seriously, you need to be more careful. We don't want you getting hurt."

Carla, looking at Happy with a mix of affection and reproach, added: "Yes, please, think a little before you act."

Natsu and Happy exchanged a glance and smiled. "Sure, sure! We promise," they said in unison, though the mischievous glint in their eyes suggested this probably wouldn't be the last time they got into trouble. They both started laughing again.

Lucy and Carla exchanged resigned looks, knowing there wasn't much they could do to stop them. As the boys continued laughing, Lucy muttered under her breath, "I think we just figured out one of the reasons why men live shorter lives."

Carla nodded with an ironic smile. "Yeah, definitely. But I guess we can't help but worry about them."

The girls joined in the laughter. Maybe the boys were idiots, but to Lucy and Carla, they were their lovable idiots.

This is the first time I write about something Natsu x Lucy, so don't judge me, since I'm used to Happy x Carla.

If you liked this Oneshot, let me know with a review or a private message, if you want to keep an eye out for every update of this story, just put that favorites heart. I'll be waiting for you.

I recommend you my story "Fairy Tail: New Extalia" if you want to read a new more serious story with our favorite Exceeds. The story is in my profile.

If you want to find a place where there are stories about Exceeds, check out the new community, "Kingdom of Exceeds". (Link in my profile)

InsideBlu says goodbye, until next time.

Good Bye!