Fairy Tail: Eien no bōken o kakinaosu
Chapter 5: The wizard in armor
After their run-in with the wizards from an unknown guild that took them on and tried to eat Happy the other day, Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Lisanna, Setsuko, Shiro, Aspen, and Gray returned to Magnolia. Gray, Natsu, and Happy went home, and Setsuko, Shiro, and Aspen went to the Girls' Dormitory Fairy Hills. Lisanna asked to walk with Lucy home before setting off home too.
"What a crazy two days has it been?" Lucy admitted.
"Yes, a mission turned to recovering a father's message to his son, and then those strange guys were trying to eat Happy and Shiro? Yeah, to me, this is normal," Lisanna replied, smiling at Lucy.
"Still, guess we'll see what tomorrow will bring us," Lucy said.
"You still want to work with Natsu and me? Look, I love the goofball but the maid trick was out of line, even for me," Lisanna said, shaking her hands in defense.
"Sure, I was annoyed by the whole thing. But, you, Setsuko, and Aspen are very nice, so I'll stick with you guys. I dunno," and she smiled at Lisanna, "I feel happy when I'm with you,"
Lisanna blushed, looking away at the Celestial Spirit Wizard, "Ummm, thank you," and the two walked to the front of Lucy's apartment.
Lucy walked up a step, looked back at Lisanna, "Well, see you tomorrow," and walked into her apartment.
"See you," Lisanna replied, and the last few words still rang in her ears:
"I feel happy when I'm you,"
Lisanna's cheeks turned redder before walking back to her home at Fairy Hills.
It was the next day, and things were as usual at the Fairy Tail guild, of course, Natsu and company still thought about the other day. Although the thought of 'Lullaby' was beneath them, the day went as normal.
"Mira, three beers over here, please!" called a male wizard.
"Coming right up!" Mirajane responded, a tray of three foamy beers in her left hand.
"Go on a date with me, Mira!" asked a man with sandy brown hair, a pipe in his mouth that puffed out pink smoke, and a green shirt with flowers on it. Sitting in front of him with a shocked expression was a girl with purple hair with a red bow in the back, black round glasses, and wearing a white long-sleeve shirt with a red tie in the front.
"Not this again!" the purple-haired girl named Laki responded.
"Oh, but…" Mirajane replied as she waved a hand to her face a pink magic circle appeared and a puff of pink smoke. When the smoke finally cleared, Mira's face and appearance were that of a heavy-looking woman with brunette hair, rosy cheeks,s, and red lips. "…don't you have a wife?" she added, her voice still the same.
The wizard Wakaba, jumped from his seat, "Don't do that, Mira!" he exclaimed, as Laki slightly laughed.
Over by another table, Cana was drinking a beer while sitting across from Macao. "All I ask is to drink in peace." Cana sighed.
"You drink too much." Macao pointed out.
Over by another table, Natsu was his head down in a bored mood while sitting with Happy and Lisanna. Happy was eating a fish happily while Lisanna was drinking a milkshake. Setsuko was taking a cloth to polish her katana, Shiro eating a plate of food, and Aspen was enjoying a drink too. Lucy was standing at the table watching her friends. She was wearing a red-neck shirt, a white skirt, black boots, and a pink ribbon in her hair today.
"We should get back to work…" Natsu told Happy and Lisanna.
"Aye. We're running out of food money." Happy replied.
"So whose turn is it to pick a job this time? You picked up the last one Natsu and we couldn't take the reward since we never finished the mission properly. Hey Lucy…" Lisanna asked, turning to the blonde-haired Celestial wizard, "Didn't you say the rent was due soon?"
"Yes, this month's rent is coming up," Lucy replied.
"Then you pick a request this time. And don't worry, these two won't try another 'Daybreak' on us, they promised." Lisanna replied.
"Okay." Lucy understood and walked away from her friends and to the request board.
"Whatever job we get, I need to earn money too," Setsuko said.
"That's right, you moved into the girl's dormitory too, isn't that expensive?" Happy asked.
"Don't worry, I saved enough money for rent, but I need to get used to being a fledge wizard of a guild," Setsuko explained.
It's only been a few days and she was getting a little bit more used to Natsu, Lisanna, Setsuko, Shiro, Aspe,n, and Happy. As different as they are, they and Lucyaree are a team now and a team has to stick together. But there was one thing Lucy wondered, who's the leader and what is their team name?
Lucy was pondering by the request board and was looking at the different jobs they had. Hand to her chin, she eyed each and every request.
"Find a magic bracelet… Breaking a spell on a cursed cane… Reading someone's love horoscope… Hunting a volcano demon?! wizard jobs sure come in lots of forms." Lucy said to herself.
"Let me know if you find one you're interested in," Mirajane said to Lucy. Lucy turned her head to her as she added, "The master's at a conference right now, you see?"
"A conference?" Lucy repeated confused.
"All the guild masters in the region get together every so often and report about things," Mira explained, then placing a finger to her lips. "It's not like the council, but…" she then turns to a round-looking man with a black wizard's hat and orange-colored hair. "Reedus. Could I borrow a light pen?"
"Oui," Reedus responded, handing Mirajane a pen, but it wasn't a normal pen by any standards. This light green/dark green pen with a glowing tip was called a light pen; it allows a wizard to write in the air. Mirajane started to draw out a graph to explain things to Lucy.
"The Council is at the very top of the magical world. It consists ten members and has connections with the government. Its purpose is to uphold all the rules in the magical world. wizards who commit crimes can also be tried here. Just below that are the different guild masters leagues. They pass on the decisions the council makes and help all the different guilds communicate. Basically, they hold us all together. It's really a tough job." Mira explained.
"I had no idea that guilds were interconnected like that…" Lucy said, a little taken aback.
"Yes, it's important that guilds cooperate. If a guild doesn't focus on cooperation…" Mirajane stated but was interrupted by Natsu who lit a fire on his fingertips; a dark and sinister look was on his face.
"…the guys in black will come!" Natsu said dramatically, coming up to Lucy.
Lucy shrieked and hid behind Lisanna for support. Natsu simply laughed.
"You're such a scaredy cat," Natsu stated.
"I-I am not. D-don't scare me like that." Lucy replied, frightened.
"Natsu's not kidding. There are guys in black though. Mira?" Lisanna asked.
Mira nodded and wrote something on the chart which showed the words 'Dark Guild'.
"The dark guilds… They're guilds that don't belong to any league. They're malicious people and are often involved in crimes." explained Mirajane.
"Really?" Lucy asked.
"We're waiting to choose a job already," Natsu said to Lucy.
"I haven't decided Natsu, give me a little more time. Besides, I'm surprised there are dark guilds." Lucy replied.
"Remember what I said back on Bora's boat? Most wizards are either good or evil. Same with night and day, light or dark, there are wizards who would do anything." Lisanna whispered.
"Oh, I got it now," Lucy whispered back.
"I heard the number of dark guilds has increased in the last few years, but it's just a rumor," Aspen said, walking up to her friends with Setsuko and Shiro.
"I wouldn't be worried about any dark guilds or being in a team with those five. Lisanna's fine, the new girls too, but Natsu, better pick someone else with better offers," Gray stated, sitting with Cana and as always…
"Gray, your clothes." Cana pointed out, causing the dark-haired wizard to jump with the fright of being in his boxers again.
"You're annoying." Natsu scoffed, annoyed at the stripping dark-haired wizard.
Gray's black eyes sharpened in anger as he and Natsu locked horns again, a menacing aura of fire and ice over the two boys.
"Did you just call me an annoying freak?!" Gray retorted.
"You're super annoying, you pervert." Natsu retorted back with a growl of anger.
"Feather face!" Gray taunted.
"Silky hair!" Natsu taunted back.
"You're stifling!" Gray snapped back.
"You stink!" Natsu snapped back again.
Lisanna and Happy had their back turned from the fighting between the two wizards.
"Here they go again…" they chimed in.
"Lucy, why don't you form a team of love with me? Tonight just the two of us?" spoke the smooth and calm voice of Loke coming up and placing an arm around her.
"Huh?" Lucy questioned.
"You're really beautiful. Even with my sunglasses on, your beauty is dazzling." Loke added smoothly, finger pressing to the roof of his glasses and smiling. "I'm sure I would go blind if I saw you with my naked eyes."
"Um sorry, but I have arrangements with Natsu, Setsuko, Aspen, and Lisanna, so sorry," Lucy stated shaking her head as Loke's eyes looked at the flash of Lucy's Gate Keys. Shock rushed through the young wizard's body and his coolness was replaced with fright.
"Y-You're a Celestial wizard?"
"Huh" Lucy questioned again, surprised by Loke's choice of actions. First, he was flirting with her, now afraid of her? That was a whiplash of emotions.
"Yeah, you didn't hear Loke; she has six spirits, a bull, a crab, and even a clock!" Lisanna explained, coming back to Lucy.
Loke screamed in shock, as if his heart was breaking, tears in his eyes. "What twist is fate! We can't be together!" and like a drama queen, Loke ran out of the guild.
Lucy stood there, a little confused. "I didn't say anything bad to him or was rude or turned him down. Did I do something wrong?" Lucy asked.
"Loke has some bad blood with Celestial wizards. Rumor has it he had trouble with a girl a long time ago." Mira explained, still smiling.
"So it has nothing to do with you, Lucy. Loke might be a bit of a playboy at times, but he's an okay guy." Lisanna stated.
You go on one date with him and he's not that bad of a person. Of course, his usual girlfriends didn't know it was me.
Just then, Natsu was sent flying into Lucy and Lisanna, causing the three to topple to the ground.
"Oh, my." Mirajane simply said, seeing her sister and her friends on the ground. Gray had punched Natsu back, the reason he was on the ground with the two other wizards.
"Natsu, would you and Gray knock it off? You almost killed us." Lucy said, straining in pain.
"He picked a fight with me. I can't turn down his offer." Gray stated to the pile that is Natsu, Lisanna, and Lucy.
"I told you, your clothes." Cana reminded him, causing the wizard to be shocked again.
Natsu rose back to face Gray once more. "You're the one who started it, droopy eyes."
"When exactly did I start it, silently eyes?!" Gray retorted, eyes as Natsu described him.
They were fighting yet again with calls of 'Talking underwear' or 'Amoeba', while Cana drank from a barrel and Lucy and Lisanna watched.
"Talking about petty..." Lucy described, seeing the scene.
"Indeed," Setsuko, Shiro, and Aspen nodded.
"They have been like this always. I stop them but, what children they are." Lisanna sighed.
Many of the guilds looked at the two arguing wizards and laughed. Lucy decided to laugh with them. Just then, Loke came bursting into the guild, now panic-stricken than before. It was like his reaction to Lucy was merely nothing.
"This is bad!"
The whole guild fell silent. Lucy hadn't felt the guild be this quiet since Makarov was the size of a giant. But that was because they were all fighting, mostly Natsu, Gray, Loke, and Elfman.
"It's Erza… She's back!" Loke confirmed to the guild.
Everyone was shocked, screamed, and a little startled. Natsu and Gray were also panic-stricken too.
"Erza, you mean that person Natsu and Gray mentioned earlier?" Lucy asked.
"You can say she's one of the strongest female wizards in Fairy Tail now," Mirajane explained her sweet and calm appearance still on her face.
"One of them?" Lucy repeated.
"I'll explain later," Lisanna whispered as the sounds of footsteps echoed closer to the guild.
"It's Erza." Laki realized.
"Those are Erza's footsteps," Wakaba stated.
"Erza's come back…" Macao added, shocked as well.
As everyone was murmuring, fearing the worst from the unknown wizard, Lucy thought. 'Given their reactions, Erza must be one powerful wizard...'
Her image of Erza being a large mountain-destroying monster with flames coming out her mouth made the young blond feel frightened like the rest.
"Scary!"
The sound of boots hitting the wood floor as someone entered the building. Lucy gasped to see who it was. Slamming a large object that resembled a horn to the ground to shake the guild a little stood a young woman no older than nineteen. She had scarlet hair that reached down to her waist, black eyes, and crystal earrings in her ears. Her outfit was an armor that sported the guild's insignia on the right breastplate, and fairy wings on the elbows, and wore a blue skirt and black boots. Her dark blue fairy Tail mark was located on her left shoulder. Her face was stern and serious yet beautiful all the same.
"I have returned, where is Master Makarov?" asked the scarlet-haired woman.
"S-So pretty!" gasped Lucy.
"Welcome back Erza!" Mirajane greeted. "The master's at a conference right now."
"I see." The scarlet-haired woman named Erza said calmly.
"What's with the humongous thing, Erza?" asked a bow-cut-haired wizard named Max.
"The horn of a monster I subdued. The locals decorated it and gave it to me as a souvenir." Erza explained but look to the two wizards standing across from her, eyes narrowed. "Is that a problem?"
"No not at all!" the two wizards said panic.
Over by Cana and Macao, the brown-haired wizard was drinking from a barrel, nervousness dawn her comrade.
"I bet she's heard what happened on Mt. Hakobe."
"O-Oh crap… I'm a goner." Macao muttered nervously.
"She's not what I imagined at all," Lucy said to herself.
"Told you they were exaggerating," whispered Lisanna.
"I had a feeling the boys were exaggerating," Setsuko whispered.
"But given her aura, she shouldn't be upset with it," Aspen whispered.
"Listen up!" Erza announced, causing the guild to snap into focus with an 'Eep!" "I heard that Fairy Tail has been causing trouble as of late. The master may not care, but I do!"
Erza turned her attention to Cana, who 'eep' when spoken to, her drinking from the barrel cease. "Cana! How dare you drink and dress like that?"
"Vijeeter!" Erza added, getting the attention of a man wearing a black single suit and had brown hair.
"Yes?!" Vijeeter spoke in fright.
"Dance outside." She told him. With her back still turned, she caught the attention of Wakaba who 'eep',.
"Wakaba. I see cigarette butts on the floor."
"Nab!" Erza yelled getting the tribal-wearing wizard's attention as an aura of gloom was upon him, 'eeping' like the rest. "I see you're dawdling in front of the request board as usual. Do some work!"
"Macao!" and her eyes were on the older wizard, who 'eep' in fright of her. Erza didn't respond but kept her black eyes on the wizard. But she sighed deeply. Macao, scared or fearing the worst.
"Say something!" he asked.
"Honestly, you cause so much trouble. But I'll be kind and not say anything today." Erza sighed, hand to her forehead.
"She already said a lot though… What is she, a disciplinarian?" Lucy whispered to Mira and Lisanna.
"That's Erza for you." Happy chimed to the blond-haired wizard.
"Still, even if she is kind of a loudmouth, she looks like an actual mature person," Lucy whispered.
Lisanna, Setsuko, and Aspen lightly cleared their throats to get Lucy's attention.
"Sorry, you three are a little mature," Lucy corrected, " But I don't understand why everyone's so afraid of her yet you and Mirajane are calm?"
"Are Natsu, Lisanna, and Gray here?" Erza asked her calm nature still there.
"Aye!" Happy stated, giving the signal for Erza to look to Natsu and Gray who were… happy, smiling, and quivering at the same time. Lisanna grinned as she came to them and placed an arm around Natsu and Gray, who had arms around each other doing a handshake. Lisanna just kept her grin going.
Oh, do I enjoy this? There are only three people who have control of Natsu and Gray when they are fighting, that's Erza, the master on smaller occasions, and me. But I have to deal with this every day with these two.
"H-hi, Erza. We're good buddies as usual…" Gray stated nervously.
"Aye!" squealed Natsu in a tone that sounded Happy.
"Hey Erza, it's great to see you again." Lisanna greeted, her grin gone but replaced with a smile.
"Natsu turned into Happy!" Lucy confirmed shock by this turn of events.
The two boys were sweating bullets as Erza said, smiling at them, "I see. It's natural for good friends to fight sometimes, too. That said I like seeing you getting along like that." Erza stated and added to Lisanna. "And Lisanna, do be careful on missions with Natsu."
"Yes ma'am." nodded Lisanna.
"No, we're not exactly 'good friends'…" Gray stated still nervous.
"Aye!" Natsu agreed.
Lucy was shocked by Natsu's change of character. It was a little funny once you see it. "I never saw Natsu act like this before."
"A long time ago, Natsu challenged Erza to a fight and got beat up," Mirajane explained.
"Natsu did?!" Lucy repeated.
"She found Gray walking around naked and beat him up." Macao grinned.
"She beat Loke up too for trying to hit on her. She would have killed him by accident if we weren't there." Cana interjected. "You reap what you sow."
"Wow hate to be anyone trying to hit on her," Lucy said, feeling a little bad for Loke. Playboy as Lisanna describes, but who would want to go out like that?
"Natsu, Lisanna, Gray, I have a favor to ask," Ezra spoke to the three.
"Huh?" the three in question spoke in unison. The guild was silent again. What was Erza asking of them?
"I heard about something bad while on my last job. Normally, I would consult the master something like this first, but I believe this is a matter of the utmost urgency."
Natsu, Lisanna, and Gray let each other go as they listen in. "I want your help. Will you come with me?" she asked.
The three wizards who were requested look to one another. Was Erza serious about this? Many of the guilds murmured things like 'What in the world?', or 'Erza's acting for help?' and 'That's a first!'
"We leave tomorrow. Make sure you are ready." Erza continued.
Natsu, Gray, and Lisanna look at one another shocked.
"Me, Lisanna, and Natsu…" Gray questioned.
"…on a team?" Natsu questioned too.
"The three of us?" Lisanna asked.
"Erza, Gray, Natsu, my own sister… I never even imagined it before." Mirajane said slightly, getting Lucy's attention. "But this could very well be the most powerful team in Fairy Tail…"
The Strongest team as Mirajane stated. Out of any of the third generation of Fairy Tail wizards, these four have shown the most of anyone.
Erza is one of the most powerful wizards in Fairy Tail and the most skilled. Then there is Natsu. As hotheaded as he is, he has shown great potential. Gray too has shown tremendous growth. And then there was Lisanna who was close to her siblings' strength in only two years. But what was Erza asking them for? Natsu and Gray were two opposite people and as cliché, you can make it, fire and ice. And Lisanna was the middle girl, stuck in the middle of their petty fighting. But Erza knows their strength, how much they have grown in power, to form a team with them, this was a matter of urgency as the scarlet-haired wizard described.
It was late in the afternoon and Mirajane, Lisanna, and Elfman were heading home after leaving the guild. The sun was nearly setting and Lisanna was deep in thought. Her two older siblings were in front of her while she brought up the rear, hands in her pockets, and looks up to the sky, thinking about earlier.
"The strongest team…" Lisanna repeated.
Elfman and Mirajane turned to their younger sibling when they caught her words.
"You say something Lisanna?" asked Mirajane.
"Is Erza correct about having the boys and I? We're really that strong?" Lisanna questioned.
"Of course little sister, you really have changed a lot since. You should be proud Erza pick you." Elfman stated, his arms crossed, and stood proudly.
"I am but…. Erza would never pick me if I was like…." Lisanna began but Mirajane placed a solemn hand on her little sister's shoulder.
"Don't dwell on what happened. We made a vow we keep moving forward and never look back. What happened is not any of our faults, so don't worry about it. Be proud you know?"
Lisanna smiled up at the elder sibling and agreed. "Right, I got it. Thank sis, I feel better now." As they continued walking.
"You know, most of the guild made a bet that the four of you would destroy a whole town now or a few mountains," Elfman said.
Lisanna laughed. "Maybe an entire building but I go with a few mountains too."
The following day, Natsu, Setsuko, Shiro, Aspen, Lucy, Lisanna, and Gray were at Magnolia Train Station. They were waiting on Erza who was getting her things. Of course, the pink-haired Dragon Slayer wasn't too happy about Gray, Well he and Lisanna were a strong team already, Setsuko and Aspen helped in their last mission. Gray and him were always at each others throats. Natsu had his usual bag on his back while Gray had a bag sling on his side. The Ice wizard was dressed in a white jacket over a blue shirt and black pants.
Natsu growled in annoyance. "Why do I have to team up with you?! Lisanna and I can handle ourselves just fine."
Gray glared at Natsu. "That's my line. If Erza needs help, I'm more than enough by myself."
The two wizards were arguing as usual but were making a scene. Lisanna was pushing them back with all she could muster without using her magic but they continued to lock horns at one another.
"Then go by yourself! I don't wanna go!" Natsu snapped.
"Don't come, then! Let Erza beat you senseless later. Or maybe your little girlfriend can do it for you!" Gray snapped.
"She is/I'm not my girlfriend/boyfriend!" Natsu and Lisanna snap back.
Over by one of the benches, Lucy, Setsuko, Shiro, Aspen, and Happy, who had tagged along were watching this happen too. Lucy was wearing an orange top and a dark blue skirt with a red ribbon in her hair. In her arms were her spirit Plue and her whip on her lap. Happy was happily eating a fish when he heard Lucy mutter something.
"I should tie them up, but I might draw too much attention too."
"How come Lucy?" Happy asked, curious to why Lucy would do that that.
"Mira asked us yesterday…" Lucy admitted and explained to Happy why.
It was the other day and Mira had given Lucy, Setsuko, Aspen, and Shiro a request.
"You going along with Natsu and Lisanna right?" asked Mirajane.
"I guess so…" the three replied unsure.
"Well, Natsu and Gray might start fighting behind Erza's back. See if you can stop them by any means necessary." Mira offered.
"Okay, I'll try Mira." Lucy nodded.
"But I don't how to stop them without making a scene too." Lucy finished.
"I could threaten them with my katana, but I'd look like a weirdo," Setsuko suggested.
"And things will be weird if I change the weather, so I'm unable to help," Aspen said.
"You should do it Lucy," Shiro suggested.
"You could try, I won't hurt." Happy requested.
"I guess, watch Plue for me, would you." Lucy told Happy and walked to the feuding two wizards and the girl who was trying to break them apart. But before Lucy could offer her assistance to help Lisanna, a voice spoke to them.
"I'm sorry. Did I keep you waiting?" asked the young woman's voice.
Natsu and Gray stopped glaring at one another and were shocked to hear the source of the voice. Lisanna sighed in relief to hear who it was. Lucy turned to greet the voice.
"Oh! Erza!" Lucy greeted but saw the scarlet-haired young woman wasn't alone, but was dragging along with her a large carriage of luggage.
"That's a lot to take for one mission," Lucy said startled.
On cue, Natsu and Gray had their arms around one another and were doing what look like a happy dance. Their faces were also in an odd expression too.
"Time to hit the road, good buddy!" Gray chimed in.
"Aye!" Natsu chimed in too.
"They're doing it again!" Lucy pointed out.
"Yes, it's important to be on good terms," Erza added calmly. She looks to Lucy, now noticing she was with the three others now holding back Plue. "Who are you three? Didn't I see you at Fairy Tail yesterday?"
"I-I'm Lucy. I just joined a few days ago." Lucy introduced nervously. While they were talking, Natsu and Gray were back to glaring at one another. "I was partnered with Lisanna and Natsu so Mira asked me to come with you too. It's nice to meet you!"
"I'm Setsuko Koori, I joined the same day as Lucy, nice to meet you Erza," Setsuko greeted.
"Shiro, Setsuko's partner," Shiro greeted.
"Um, I'm Aspen. nice to meet you," ASpen greeted shyy.
"I'm Erza, It's a pleasure." Erza greeted. "Ah, so you're Lucy." She glanced at Natsu and Gray who automatically went into Happy mode before turning back to Lucy, who returned to glaring mode she wasn't looking, "The one who defeated a mercenary gorilla with just your little finger?"
Lucy was shocked by this. Who told her that? Natsu, Setsuko, and Lisanna defeated the gorilla maid Virgo and the two members of Southern Wolves. She defeated Duke Everlue.
"I think the tale is a little exaggerated," Setsukko stated, hands behind her back.
"It'll be wonderful to have you three on board. Thanks for your help." She glances back at Natsu and Gray who are back in a happy mood. Lisanna was just giggling at the same.
"My pleasure I guess," Lucy responded calmly. When did she get this reputation to do all that?
Erza smiled at the Celestial wizard as Natsu spoke behind her. "Erza I'll come along, but on one condition."
"Hey," Gray stated, shocked that Natsu would ask about this now of all times.
Erza looked back to Natsu and asked, "What is it? Tell me."
Natsu clutched his fist tightly in the air and spoke confidently. "Fight me when we get back."
Happy and Lucy were shocked at this. Was Natsu serious about this? even Setsuko and Aspen blinked in surprised. They know of Erza's strength and fame, you don't come up and ask for a fight with her.. Lisanna came and place an arm around Natsu. She smiled, her blue eyes shining with determination.
"It wouldn't be fun if Natsu gets all the glory. So how about we make this a three-way when we get home?" Lisanna said confident too.
Now Lisanna wants to fight Erza? Are they both out of their minds? Sure those two were close but never in a lifetime would the young Strauss would stoop to Natsu's level.
"Hey! Don't get hasty! You wanna die?!" Gray hissed. "And Lisanna, don't you like living?!"
"Things were different last time," Natsu added with more confidence. "I can beat you now."
"And I like to show you how much I improved in two years." Hand balled into a fist Lisanna added, "Even if it means beating you."
Erza lightly chuckled at the two eager wizards. "It's true you two have improved. I feel somewhat at a disadvantage, but all right." A smile appeared on Erza's face, her bangs covering her left eye from view. "I accept."
Natsu roared as fire covered his face and Lisanna let him go. "All right! Now I'm all fired up!"
Natsu and I have our reason to battle Erza but my reason is to prove myself. My sister and Erza are two of the six strongest wizards in Fairy Tail. I know it'll take me years to beat 'The oldest one' and 'Makarov's grandson' is a battle I try to never get into. Then there's 'The unknown wizard' I never saw his face to even want to battle him. So lastly were Mira and Erza. Mira and I have our practice battles outside town but beating her would take time. Erza was someone I respected next to Mira and the master; I wouldn't miss a chance to fight Erza. Plus someone's got to keep Natsu from making a fool of him.
After that was all said and done, the group of Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Erza, Gray, Setsuko, Shiro, Aspen, and Lisanna were now on the train to their destination. Natsu's determination to beat Erza had changed to him feeling sick on a train again. Natsu sat from Lisanna Aspen, and Gray, Happy sitting on the white-haired wizard's lap. Erza, Setsuko, and Lucy were stilling across from the others. While she seems to have motion sickness like Natsu, she says 'it comes and goes, she doesn't know why,'
"Geez, you're pathetic." Gray scoffed, "This, immediately after picking a fight?"
"It's gotta be tough doing this every time." Lucy understood.
"Oh all right. Come sit next to me." Erza offered kindly.
"Aye…" squeaked Natsu.
"Is she telling me to move?" Lucy thought, feeling offended.
Lucy switched seats with Natsu and sat next to Aspen, Gray, and Lisanna. Erza placed a hand on Natsu's shoulders to comfort him.
"Just relax." She said simply.
"Aye…" squeaked Natsu again.
The armored wizard then punch Natsu in the gut to knock him out as he led there on Erza's lap, causing the wizards to flinch in shock. Lisanna, Setsuko, Aspen, Lucy, and Gray pretended not to watch as Natsu was out cold.
"There. That should be batter." Erza said to the group.
Lucy had a blank stare on her face from what she just witnessed. 'Th-This woman might be a little weird after all…'
"Erza isn't it time you fill us in?" asked Gray, his arm on the window and hand to his chin.
"I like to know too, what exactly are we doing?" asked Lisanna.
"Yeah, we want to know the mission you asked for them," Setsuko said.
"Right." Erza nodded. "We're up against the Eisenwald dark guild. They plan to use a magic called Lullaby for something big."
"Lullaby?!" Gray, Lucy, Setsuko, Aspen, Shiro, Lisanna, and Happy repeated.
"That thing from before?!" Lucy reminded them.
Erza had a stern look on her face. Do they hear that name too?
In an unknown area, Inside a creepy building in an unknown forest was the dark guild Eisenwald. Inside, members of the dark guild were speaking to one another as they were leaving the guild house
"I hear Kageyama sent us a word." spoke a member.
"Says he's found the item." spoke another.
"At last, our big chance has come." spoke another member wielding a scythe. He look back to the other members, "This is our only chance to achieve our goal; the guild master geezers are in the middle of a conference.
Back on the train, Lisanna, Lucy, Setsuko, Aspen, Shiro, Gray, and Happy then explained to Erza that they were attacked by members or so they think of Eisenwald. Erza was astonished that they beat those members, even though they didn't know what guild they were in when they fought them.
"I see, so you encountered Eisenwald as well," Erza said to the group.
"Probably. They did mention something about Lullaby." Gray replied.
"But there was something odd with them. They seem to be hungry and tried to eat Happy and Shiro." Lisanna explained.
"It sounds like they were guild dropouts." Erza confirmed. "The plan must've been too much for them so they ran off."
"And that plan has something to do with Lullaby?" Gray asked.
"It's only a guess." Erza continued, "But the shadow that dragged them off was probably Eisenwald's main squad. They must not want the plan to get out."
"What kind of plan are we talking about?" asked Lucy.
"Allow me to explain in order," Erza informed calmly. "It happened the other day on my way home after that job. I stopped by a pub in Onibas where wizards gather. "
Erza sat in the pub as a voice called, "C'mon, Where's my booze?!"
"Hey, calm down." Another responded.
"How am I supposed to calm down?!" the first voice snapped.
Erza turned her gaze to a couple of wizards sitting together at a table. One wore a white jacket and his hair tied in a knot. Another wore a black and yellow hood and a black and yellow jacket, white undershirt, and green pants. The next was a little heavier than the first two wearing a red jacket and green pants. The last wizard also had his hair in a knot and wore a light red coat.
"We manage to find where Lullaby is located," one of the four exclaimed.
"Not so loud." hushed another wizard.
"Don't sweat it." responded one of them calmly, the one with a knot in his hair. "I'll take care of it now. You guys head back to the guild." And the knot haired wizard rose from his seat.
"Kage?" asked one the three.
"Will you be okay by yourself?" asked another.
"Tell Erigor that I will be back within three days with Lullaby," informed Kage, a smile on his face.
After hearing Erza's side of the story, Lucy asked, "Lullaby… Like a nursery rhyme, right?"
"Yes. The fact it's sealed away likely means it's very powerful magic." Erza nodded.
"And from how they knew about it, were they members of Eisenwald, right?" Lisanna asked.
"Yes," Erza confirmed. "Like a fool, though. I didn't recognize the name 'Erigor' at the time. He's the ace of the Eisenwald dark guild. He only accepts assassination-related jobs or he earned the nickname 'Erigor the Reaper'.
"Assassination?" Lucy gasped.
"The council outlaws assassination requests." Erza continued again. "But Eisenwald decided that money is more important. As a result, it was kicked out of the Wizard Guild league six years ago. However, they disobeyed orders and remained active to this day. "
After Erza's tale, Lucy was stunned in silence, sweating bullets that a puddle of sweat was underneath her.
"I think maybe I'll go home," Lucy admitted.
"Don't be so scared, Lucy," Lisanna replied to her.
"You heard it right?!" She snapped at Lisanna.
"Yeah I'm terrified too, but you gotta be brave. You can't chicken out because of what Erza said." Lisanna reassured her.
Lucy sighed, but had a feeling arguing with anyone about this would get her nowhere.
"I'm scared too, but we wouldn't come along if we knew the risk," Setsuko said with Shiro, who patted in her arms, "We are facing a Dark Guild with assassination plot, it's nothing easy for even rookies.
"I'm scared as well, but I wouldn't join a guild if I was going to chicken out, I'm stickign this to the end," Aspen said.
Erza slammed her armored fists onto Natsu's head, causing the pink-haired Dragon Slayer to yelp.
"I was careless." Erza fumed. "Only if I recognized Erigor's name then, I could've pulverized them and had them confess their scheme!"
"Scary!" squeaked Lucy.
"I see. So Eisenwald is planning to do something with this Lullaby, and you want to stop them because it'd obviously something bad?" asked Gray.
"Yes." Erza nodded. "I don't believe I can take on an entire guild by myself. That's why I asked for your help. We are going to storm the Eisenwald guild!"
Lucy was even more scared, Plue too was blue in the face and flattened as Lisanna jabbed her in the sides with her elbow to loosen up.
"Sounds interesting." Gray smiled.
"Aye!" Happy agreed.
"We won't let you down, right Lucy?" Lisanna asked a dark glare roughing out her kind face.
"Aye!" Lucy squeaked.
As the train stopped at another train station and departed once more, Lucy decided to break the ice and ask about Erza. She didn't know her mush and nothing about her magic either. In the meantime, Plue was eating a carrot and Happy a fish. The others were eating sandwiches while Erza ate a slice of strawberry cake.
"If it's not rude to ask, what kind of magic do you use, Erza?" Lucy asked calmly.
"It's not rude at all," Erza responded.
"Erza's magic is pretty! It makes her enemies bleed a lot!" Happy explained.
Lucy was gloomy all over. 'You call that pretty?'
"Personally, I think Gray's magic is prettier." Erza pointed out, taking a bite of her cake.
"Really?" Gray responded putting his left fist and right palm together as a light blue magic appeared for a quick second. Mist formed from his hands as he opened his fist to reveal a little ice figure of the Fairy Tail mark, it lightly floated from Gray's opened palm and Lucy was astonished.
"Wow!" gasped Lucy.
"Ice magic" Gray confirmed to Lucy.
"Oh, is it that way you and Natsu don't get along? Because Natsu uses fire and you use ice?" asked Lucy.
"Oh. I never thought of that." Erza admitted.
"Does it matter?" asked Gray.
"So you know Ice magic too?" Setsuko asked, surprising everyone. they knew a little from when she joined she's a dragon Slayer, but unlike Natsu who looks the most odd in how he dresses, Setsuko is more elegant. she held out her hands, performed a similar gesture to Gray, and showed from her hands a small ice figure of Shiro. everyone was amazed, they knew that Setsuko was using her magic and decent swordswoman, but never she knew ice magic normally.
"Wow, it's been ages since I've met an ice wizard," Gray said amazed.
Setsuko removed the ice figure from her hands and smiled, "Thanks, I've learned the magic for the last seven years,"
'That sounds familiar…' Lisanna, remembering that day far too well.
Finally, the group made to their destination, Onibus station, and disembarked from the train. As the train was getting ready to leave and their luggage in their possession, Gray asked while they were walking.
"Are the Eisenwald guys still in town?"
"I don't know," Erza replied concerned. "That's what we're about to find out."
"It's going to be a wild goose chase…" Lucy admitted.
"Huh where's Natsu?" asked Happy.
Lisanna look to Erza. "Wasn't he with you, Erza?"
"No, I thought he was with Gray, Setsuko, Aspen, and Lucy," Erza admitted.
"Don't tell me he's..." Lucy screamed, looking back at the twin leaving the station. Lisanna and Happy watch the train go bye-bye just like in Hargeon a few days ago. Talk about your case of déjà vu. And Natsu was sound asleep and motion sick, unaware of what was going on.
Happy waved goodbye to the train while Lucy's mouth was wide open. Gray was speechless too and so was Lisanna who like Gray was speechless. Aspen and Setsuko were left dumbfounded, they forgot to grab Natsu.
"I was so absorbed in a conversation that I forgot." She fumed, hand balled into a fist. "I can't believe myself. He's terrible at riding vehicles, too. This is my fault. Could you please hit me?!"
"Now, now," Lucy responded hands up, shocked that the scarlet-haired woman would ask one of them to hit her.
"Yes just go get Natsu, and then we'll deal with those Eisenwald folks," Lisanna told them.
"Right." Everyone agreed.
Meanwhile, back on the train, Natsu was sound asleep in an empty train car, still looking sick in the face as someone walked inside the empty car. The unknown wizard spots the mark on Natsu's exposed shoulder, identifying it as Fairy Tail.
"What's this? Fairy Tail? You're a wizard in a legitimate guild?" he asked. "I'm jealous!"
"Huh?!" Natsu responded uneasily. Natsu looked up at the unknown man but found a black shoe in his face. With his arms still folded, he heard the man speak again.
"Don't act so big 'cause you're in an official guild, Mr. Fairy." He jeered. "Do you know what we call you guys? We call you flies."
'Oh, how original…' Natsu thought. 'We're flies because fairies have wings, real original…'
Natsu unfolded his arms as both fists were surrounded by red-orange flames, causing the unknown wizard to jump back as Natsu rose from his seat.
"Whoops!" the unknown man responded calmly.
"You!" Natsu growled. Natsu's flames went out, his motion sickness returning.
"Huh? You call that magic?" he asked. "Real magic…" A dark purple magic circle appeared from under his feet. Shadows appeared from the circle and struck Natsu as he fell to the wooden floor of the train car. "…is used like this." He finished, his shadows disappearing after their use.
Natsu grunted, in pain, and looked to see the shadows disappear.
"That magic…!"
The unknown wizard slightly laughed as the train the two were fighting was screeching to a halt. Natsu was kicked back by the unknown wizard as an odd instrument fell to the ground. It looks to be a wooden flute with a skull on it. The skull had more eyes than the usual two.
Back at the train Station, Erza had pulled the emergency break to the train Natsu was stuck on. The conductor had a sweatdrop down his head as her comrades were standing in the back. Lucy had an aura of gloom over herself while Lisanna, Setsuko, Aspen, Shiro, Happy, and Gray were calm about this.
"Please don't do that!" the conductor exclaimed. "Don't pull the emergency lever without permission!"
"It's for our comrade. Please understand." Erza replied calmly.
"You're absurd!" the conductor exclaimed again.
Lucy had an odd expression on her face
"Please take our luggage to the hotel," Erza asked.
"Why me?!" the conductor exclaimed.
"I guess everyone in Fairy Tail is like this after all…" she admitted.
"Not me," Gray admitted coolly, not wearing his shirt.
Both Lucy, Setsuko, Aspen, Shiro, and Lisanna stared at the half-naked wizard. "Where are your clothes?!" they screamed.
"It stopped," Natsu confirmed. He got to his knees and spots the odd flute on the ground. "Huh? What's that?"
The unknown wizard noticed that Natsu saw the flute too. "You see it!"
"Shut up! It's payback time!" Natsu told the dark-haired wizard. Slamming his fists together an orange magic appeared too as he came leaping towards the unknown wizard, his left fist covered in flames. The unknown wizard
"Guard shadow!" he commanded and several shadows formed in front of him to guard against Natsu's Fire Dragon Iron Fist. The fist connected with the shadows as an explosion occurred in the train car. When the smoke cleared, the unknown wizard was in the wreckage of the train car. Many of the seats were destroyed and the floor was broken up. Above where Natsu stood was an opening of the roof.
"Damn you!" Natsu growled, walking his way to the unknown wizard, fist up. "Fly punch!"
"Our emergency stop was due to a false alarm." A woman's voice announced, getting Natsu's attention. "We will depart again shortly."
Natsu was panic-stricken once more, knowing full well the train moving again meant he was sick again. Behind him, several passengers from the other car look to see what caused the explosion to see two young men who look to have been in a fight, with the pink-haired young man the winner.
"Crap! I'm outta here!" and Natsu hurries to grab his bag.
"Wait you!" the unknown wizard called. "You'll pay for messing with the Eisenwald guild!"
"You're with Eisenwald huh?! I'll teach you not to mock Fairy Tail! Let's take this outside!" Natsu demanded.
Natsu heard a slight shake from outside as a green magic-mobile, a type of vehicle that runs on the user's magical energy, was coming to the train with impressive speed. Erza was driving it, Happy and Lucy were riding inside, Gray was hanging on for dear life on the roof and Lisanna flew near it in her full harpy takeover. Shiro carried Setsuko, her wings keeping up with Erza's driving. Aspen rode inside the carriage with Lucy, looking out the same window with her.
"Natsu!" Lucy and Lisanna called as the pink-haired Dragon Slayer flew out of the train and crashed into Gray with a loud bonk. The two boys fell from the vehicle and onto the ground. Erza made a quick turn and stopped to see if her two comrades were alright, Shiro flying back towards the boys.
"Natsu! Are you all right?! Erza called.
"Aye…" he responded weakly as Gray was still shocked in the face. Lisanna back in her human state helps the two boys back on their feet as Lucy, Aspen, and Happy join them outside.
"That hurt you, idiot!" Gray spat.
"Shut up!" Natsu retorted back. "How dare you leave me behind?"
"My apologies. But you don't appear to be hurt. I'm glad." Erza responded kindly taking Natsu into a one-arm hug to her chest but banged his head into her armor's chest plate.
"That's hard!" Natsu replied weakly while Lucy's mouth was open wide. Natsu lurched back from Erza, looking at the group.
"I'm not all right. Some weirdo attacked me on the train!" he added.
"Weirdo?" Lucy and Lisanna repeated
"The one who dragged away the guys, who tried to eat Happy and Shiro, said he was with Eisenwald…" Natsu stated but found a hard slap to the face by Erza.
"You fool" she exclaimed, causing Gray, Lisanna, Setsuko, Aspen and Lucy all shocked. "We're trying to go after Eisenwald! Why did you let him go?!" she added, hands on hips.
"This is the first I've heard of this…" Natsu groaned, hand to her swollen cheek.
"I explained it earlier! Listen when people talk!" Erza shouted back.
Lucy whispered into Lisanna's ear. "That was because she knocked Natsu out. Of course, he wouldn't know."
Lisanna nodded in agreement. "Sometimes Erza can be so unbelievable in various ways…"
"He was out cold, he wouldn't know, so he's not too dumb," Setsuko assured Erza.
"Natsu-san is dumb, but he was knocked out to get all the details," Aspen agreed.
"Agreed…" Gray chimed in.
"That's Erza for you!" Happy chimed in as well.
Erza returned to the Magic mobile and placed cuffs on her arms that connected to the vehicle. "He's on the train, you say? We're going after it." Erza ordered the group.
"What was he like?" Gray asked Natsu.
"He wasn't very distinctive," Natsu told him but remembered something else he saw. "Oh, he did have some kind of skull flute. The skull had three eyes."
"A three-eyed skull?" repeated Lucy.
"What kind of flute was it?" asked Lisanna
"It looks wooden from my little glimpse of it," Natsu explained.
"That's creepy," interjected Gray.
Happy noticed Lucy was silent after Natsu said it was a flute with three eyes on it. "What's the matter Lucy?"
"I know about the flute…" she admitted. "Lullaby… A curse song…. It's death magic!"
"What?" asked Erza who had brought the vehicle closer to Natsu, Gray, Lisanna, Setsuko, Lucy, Aspen, Shiro, and Happy.
"A cursed song? Like an incantation?" asked Gray.
"I only read about them in books, but there are some deadly, forbidden spells out there, right?" asked Lucy.
"Yes. Cursed black magic that kills whoever it's used on." Erza admitted.
"Well, Lullaby is even worse than that!" Lucy corrected.
"Looks like we have an idea what Eisenwald is up to, but we need to hurry after the train," Setsuko said to everyone.
Everyone nodded, but Natsu just realized…. he'd have to ride in the magic mobile and Erza's driving. He rather deals with a flute.
Meanwhile, Several witnesses watched in horror as a conductor was killed right in front of them. A man with silver hair and wielding a scythe announced to the people, his men right behind him. The unknown wizard stood in a little train station called Kunugi Station.
"This train belongs to Eisenwald now."
"Dump everything. Including the luggage and conductor." ordered the white-haired man. "Defy us and you die."
The passengers did as they were told, removing everything from the train. The unknown man that Natsu fought hop from the train and greeted the white-haired man.
"Erigor."
"Kageyama," he responded calmly turning around. "I heard you were returning aboard this train. This wreckage, though… Did something happen?" asked Erigor.
"I can explain later. First, have a look at this." Kageyama chuckled. "I manage to break the seal." He held the Lullaby flute in his hand, proud of his handy work.
"Oh!" the yellow and black hood-wearing wizard responded amazed.
"So this is it" asked the green-haired wizard. "This is the forbidden Lullaby?"
Erigor held the flute in his other hand, the scythe in his left hand. "This flute was originally nothing but a simple death-cursing tool. But the great wizard Zeref developed it further into a demon flute. Its terrifying mass death cursing kills all who hear the sound of the flute. Lullaby!"
Erigor had claimed Lullaby. Now that step one was complete, it was time to put step two into play.
Back with Natsu and the group, Erza drove the magic mobile through the rocky terrain, Gray on the roof, Lucy, Natsu, Aspen, and Happy riding inside, and Lisanna, Setsuko, and Shiro flying beside it.
"Slow down Erza!" screamed Dray through the rushing wind. "Powering this thing takes a lot of magic energy! Even for you, Erza!"
Inside the mobile, Natsu was motion-sick and sat with Happy and Lucy.
"There's no time for complacency!" Erza called back to Gray. "There's no telling what Erigor right do if he gets his hands on the death curse magic!"
'Curse them… What is their aim?!" Erza thought as she drove even faster.
Erigor held the death flute in his right hand proudly as he announced, "Let's begin! Let the operation commence!"
What was the Eisenwald guild going to do with Lullaby? Can Erza and the others make it in time to stop the evil plans?
To be continued…
Chapter 6: Fairies in the Wind