Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Fairy Tail and Final Fantasy XVI.
Author's Note:
Sorry for the really late upload - a family relative just died a few days back and I had to fly back home just to help with preparations. I will not be able to upload this coming Friday (14th) as I need more time with family.
I'll be back on the 21st.
Hope you guys will enjoy this chapter!
Love lots,
nana
Chapter 6 - Northern Winds
Natsu, Wendy, and their Exceeds crouched silently in the treetops, their gazes locked onto a small campsite below. A bonfire crackled at the center that casted shadows over the small clearing. It hadn't taken long for the Dragon Slayers to find this place - Uyn Village was the last pitstop for most travelers heading to Bosco by land.
That, and that they could smell the bonfire from miles away.
"You think that's their base?" Wendy whispered, her voice barely audible. Her wide eyes settled on a young boy, no older than herself, his light brown hair catching the fire's glow as he methodically chopped what looked like bloody red meat. She swallowed hard, trying to force down the bile rising in her throat.
Now they knew why there were animal carcasses scattered around the village.
"Is that…?" Charle's voice trailed off, her eyes widening in horror as she took in the raw, red flesh.
"It is," Natsu muttered, his tone unusually serious. The unmistakable scent of animal flesh filled his nostrils.
Perched atop Natsu's head, Happy shifted uneasily. "I… I don't think that tastes good," he murmured, his ears flattening.
Natsu's jaw tightened his grip instinctively clenching around the tree branch beneath him. Something about the boy bothered him. Why was a child, who looked about Wendy's age, mixed up with a possibly bad group?
"We have to get that kid away from whatever group that is," Natsu murmured, his intense gaze tracking the boy as he wiped the bloodied knife on his sleeve.
Wendy and the Exceeds nodded, fully understanding what he meant. They couldn't just leave that kid with the bad guys. Just as Wendy was about to whisper something back, a sharp voice cut through the night.
"Hiro!" A man's voice, rough and commanding, echoed from within the small camp.
The boy looked up, his expression unreadable. "Yes?"
From one of the tents, a man emerged - a tall, broad-shouldered figure with striking red hair that stood out. Dressed in a black tank top and loose linen pants, he moved towards the fire, his sharp eyes scanning the pot simmering over the flames.
"How's the food coming along?" he asked as he settled onto a nearby log. He leaned forward, inhaling the rich aroma before giving Hiro a sideways glance. "Need a hand?"
Hiro shook his head, adding another pinch of spices to the broth before stirring. "I can manage," he replied evenly. "Where are the others?"
The red-haired man fished a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it with a flick of his fingers. He took a slow drag, exhaling a curl of smoke into the crisp evening air. "Should be back soon," he said. "You know how they are."
Hiro simply nodded and continued to stir the pot, silence following the two. Moments later, the quiet was broken by the sound of crunching leaves and heavy footsteps. Two burly figures emerged, their axes slung over their backs.
"Ah, Hiro, you're a life-saver!" The blue-haired man grinned as he unstrapped his weapon and dropped it beside the fire before plopping down next to the red-haired man. "I'm starving!"
The second man, a blonde with dirt-smudged skin, dropped onto the other side of the fire with a satisfied grunt. He tilted his head towards the pot, eyeing the soup. "That the deer we took down earlier?"
Hiro nodded again as he grabbed a fork and prodded at the meat, testing its tenderness. "Shouldn't be long now," he murmured before covering the pot. Reaching for a small bag near the fire, he pulled out plates and utensils.
The blonde man leaned back on his palm, stretching his legs out as he gazed up at the sky that was now painted in hues of purple. "There are mages back at the village," he said, his voice low but laced with interest.
Natsu and Wendy exchanged a tense glance, alarm flashing in their eyes.
By the fire, the red-haired man turned to his blonde companion. "Oh yeah? Travelers?" he asked, his tone casual.
The blonde shrugged, uninterested. "Dunno. Don't care either."
The blue-haired man smirked and elbowed the blonde. "Think that busty blonde is a mage?"
Natsu inhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring. He really didn't like where this was going.
"Like I said, I don't care," the blonde replied.
"There's a hot chick back at the village?" The red-haired man flicked his cigarette into the flames, watching the embers flare.
"Oh, she's hot, alright," the blue-haired man practically leered, his tone dripping with excitement. "Looked pretty young too."
Natsu felt Wendy's small hand grip his, and when he looked at her, he saw pure fury burning in her eyes. Her tiny fingers trembled against his own. If that kid weren't here, Natsu would have already dropped down and beaten the living shit out of these bastards for even daring to talk about Lucy like that.
Before any of them could say more, Hiro approached with three plates piled high with food. "Here," he said simply, handing one to each man.
The blue-haired man scooped up a spoonful and took a bite before turning to Hiro. "You know, Hiro," he started, speaking through a mouthful of food.
Natsu clenched his jaw, his hands itching to shove that entire spoon straight down the guy's throat.
"You should ditch that cult of yours and join us instead," the blue-haired man continued, swallowing. "It's not like they're paying you great jewels anyway."
Wendy's eyes widened. 'A… cult?' she thought, her mind momentarily stopping to process this new information. She looked down at the three men - are these the assassins then?
"Hugo," the blonde man called him out, his tone carrying a hint of warning.
Hugo only shrugged, shoving another spoonful into his mouth. "What? He makes good food," he mumbled.
Silence settled over the camp as the men focused on their meals. The only sounds were the crackling fire and the occasional clink of utensils against metal plates.
Charle glanced at the others, her expression serious. "We should head back," she whispered. "We need to report this to Erza."
They exchanged silent nods. The Exceeds lifted their respective Dragon Slayers and took off into the night, disappearing into the treetops as quietly as they could.
Laxus stood in front of Lucy's apartment, his eyebrows furrowed and shoulders slightly tense. After his talk with Bickslow, he had to leave the guild. A lot of things were happening one after the other and he needed a clear head to sort things out. He had been trying to call his grandfather, but he wasn't answering his comm. Either he was pretty busy with the guild master's meeting, or pretty fucking trashed - he never really knew with his old man despite being his grandson.
"Laxus?"
He turned to the source of the voice and found Levy McGarden, looking up at him with a strange look on her face. "Levy," he said, his voice gruff and low.
Levy blinked and her eyes darted between him and her best friend's apartment. "What are you doing out here?"
He knew it looked out of place for him to be standing outside Lucy's apartment. But, if he were to be honest, his own feet just dragged him out here. "Figuring things out," he responded. He took a good look at the blue-haired Script mage and saw her carrying a bag of groceries. "Heading home?"
Levy nodded with a small smile on her face. "I was craving for lasagna and we didn't have the ingredients back at home, so I went out shopping for a bit."
Laxus arched an eyebrow. "Are you even supposed to be out at night? And where's that Iron Head?"
Levy giggled, knowing he was just being his usual gruff, overprotective self. "It's not even 8 PM yet, and Gajeel's out on a one-day job. He'll be back tomorrow."
Laxus let out a sigh. "C'mon, I'll walk you home."
Levy blinked, caught off-guard. She wasn't expecting that, let alone being personally escorted by Laxus Dreyar. "I-I'm fine -"
"I didn't ask," he cut in, already taking the plastic bag from her hands. "Lead the way."
Levy's gaze softened at his unexpected kindness. Maybe this was why Gajeel got along so well with him, even if they'd rather die than admit it. They were more alike than they cared to acknowledge - tough on the outside, but a softie on the inside. Still, she knew better than to voice that thought out loud. "So," she started, glancing at him slyly. "What were you doing back there?"
Laxus kept his gaze forward. "I just told you."
Levy rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "Yeah, and I was born yesterday," she said sarcastically.
Laxus cast her a brief side glance. He wasn't exactly an expert when it came to dealing with pregnant women, and he wasn't about to start pretending to be. But he did know Levy - she was just as stubborn as her blonde best friend.
Or maybe he could just steer the conversation somewhere else.
"Did Gajeel say anything about Lucy?" he asked.
Levy sighed inwardly. Well… she tried. "Nothing much," she responded softly. "It's been bothering him, and I can tell, even though he doesn't say anything."
She looked up at Laxus. "Wendy said that Erza asked Jellal and his group to check things out at Isfrost," she continued, letting out a huge exhale. "But, they haven't received any news yet."
Laxus' thoughts went back to the scent in Lucy's apartment. He wouldn't consider himself a well-traveled person, but because of his S-class status, he'd been to a lot of cities outside of Fiore. Even during his exile, he spent most of his time in Bosco and had encountered entirely new scents, but those don't even come close to what Lucy had in her apartment.
And based on his conversation with Gajeel and Wendy a few days back, he wasn't the only one baffled.
"You're worried."
Levy's voice cut through his thoughts. He glanced back at the Script mage and found her with a knowing smile on her face. "Is it so bad to be worried?" he asked gruffly. "Your best friend has a track record of being kidnapped just because of the type of magic that she has."
Levy looked down, a grim smile on her face. "Well… that is true," she responded softly and looked up at the Lightning Dragon Slayer. Despite her earlier teasing, something about his demeanor felt a little different.
"So," she hesitated, not really sure if she should prod further. "What's really going on, Laxus?"
He exhaled sharply. "Nothing you need to worry about."
This time, it was Levy who arched a brow. "That's code for 'something's bothering me but I don't wanna talk about it.'"
He should've known she wouldn't let it go. Levy was sharp, much like Lucy.
"Something feels off," he admitted after a moment. "Not just with Lucy and the others… but in general." He needed to talk to Gramps first about what Bickslow found out about Edda. Both situations left him completely confused.
Levy bit her lip as she felt a strange weight settle in her chest. She unconsciously stroked her swollen belly for comfort. "Do you think the guild's in danger?"
Laxus didn't answer right away. Instead, he glanced up at the sky, watching the clouds drift over the moon. "I don't know," he said finally. "But I plan to find out."
The pair continued walking in comfortable silence, turning to a corner that led to Gajeel and Levy's humble home.
Meanwhile, outside Lucy's apartment, a silver-haired man had taken Laxus' previous spot, inspecting her apartment with interest. "Well, isn't she quite the celebrity," he murmured to himself as he took the steps up to her door and unlocked it with a small wave of his hand.
He looked around her small apartment, checking out Lucy's bits and bobs that were displayed on a shelf. Seeing nothing noteworthy, he proceeded in her bedroom where he found stacks of papers at a desk on his right side. Picking up a sheet of paper and reading through it, a small smirk tugged at the man's lips. "That's cute," he commented, picking up another paper and reading through its contents. After a few moments of reading, he set the papers back down and looked at the shelf on top of her desk. He pulled out a purple-colored book with the title, The Adventures of Iris.
"Isn't that her book?"
He didn't bat an eye at the newcomer. His liege does tend to pop in and out as he pleases. "It would seem so, my Lord," he said as his eyes glazed over the book cover. He turned and found his liege staring at a painting that was hung on the opposite wall where her desk sat. In the painting were three people - a blonde woman dressed in a pink corset-dress, a man in a brown suit, and a little blonde girl in the middle that sat on a plush-looking chair.
"And it looks like our blonde-haired beauty was born in a wealthy family," he commented right behind his liege. His eyes then drifted to the side where several group photos hung. His eyes scanned through each photo, mostly consisting of a pink-haired man and a flying blue furball. One photo in particular stood out to him - a group shot filled with unfamiliar faces. But his attention was immediately drawn to the blonde-haired man sitting atop what looked like a long bar table, arms crossed, and a confident smirk playing on his lips.
This was the same man he saw back at the resort with her.
His eyes drifted to the other blonde in the photo - the dominant. She had a huge grin on her face and was sitting right beside a redheaded woman who seemed to be screaming at the two boys right behind them who had a petrified look on their faces. He leaned in closer on the photo and saw a pink mark on her right hand. His eyes lit up in recognition at the mark. "So she's with that guild…" he murmured more to himself.
"What was that, Bard?" He saw his liege move closer to him, inspecting the photo that he was looking at.
"It looks like she's with Fairy Tail, if I'm not mistaken," he said, tapping a curled finger on his chin. "They're one of the guilds that helped the current Queen regarding that Eclipse Gate mess."
The man furrowed his eyebrows, distaste clearly in his features. "Why would a wealthy woman like her get involved in such a… distasteful guild?"
"Fairy Tail does house the strongest of wizards in this continent," Bard responded casually. He pointed to the blonde man in the photo. "I saw this man with her that night on Akane beach."
The man leaned forward, scrutinizing the photo. "A lover?"
"Doesn't seem like it," Bard replied. "But they seem to be close. 'Laxus' is his name, if I remember correctly."
The man turned his head as he continued to scan the rest of the room, noting that nothing else was worth looking at aside from the photos. "She has already made contact," he said, his deep smooth voice reverberating in her empty apartment. "At this point, we wait."
Bard knew that. Still, he couldn't help but ask his next question. "What was the point of us coming here, my Lord?"
The man simply smirked as his eyes looked up to the bright moon. "I grow weary of gazing upon the same sights each day, Bard."
Natsu scowled, his frustration bubbling over. They had been on this mission for a week already, and still, no sign of the cult. No eerie "singing" like the child had described, no strange activity - nothing. Even the smaller group they had been keeping tabs on, the one with Hiro, had seemingly vanished for the past two days. It was grating on his nerves. He was so done with waiting.
"Natsu~."
Looking down, he saw Happy holding out a grilled fish. "You don't look too happy~," the blue Exceed said, noticing the frown on his best friend's face.
Natsu snatched the fish with a huff. "Thanks," he mumbled before tearing off a huge chunk. Moments later, he groaned dramatically, waving the half-eaten fish around. "This job is so boring!"
"Natsu-san!" Wendy hissed, her eyes wide as a tingle suddenly went up her spine. "Don't jinx it!"
Gray let out a sigh, crossing his arms. "Is fighting seriously all you ever think about?"
Natsu ignored them both and turned his attention to Erza who stood a few feet away, arms crossed and her brows slightly furrowed. "Oi, Erza!" he called out. His impatience was very clear in his tone. "Can we just beat those guys already?!"
But Erza didn't respond.
Lucy, noticing the distant look on her face, scooted closer. "Erza?" she asked gently. "Is something wrong?"
The redhead blinked, snapping out of her trance-like state. Her sharp gaze flickered to each of them, taking in their expectant faces.
Then, she spoke.
"I think I know where they are."
They all blinked in surprise. "The cult?" Wendy asked, tilting her head.
Erza nodded. "I came across a clearing on the south side of the village," she began. "At first, I didn't think much of it since it looked abandoned. But when I walked over a certain section, the ground beneath me sounded… hollow."
A beat of silence passed before realization dawned on everyone. "An underground hideout?" Lucy guessed, her eyes widening.
"Possibly," Erza confirmed, crossing her arms. "But I'm not certain. I searched for an entrance, but I couldn't find one."
Wendy perked up. "Should we all go check it out? We still have the afternoon."
Charle nodded in agreement. "With more people, we might find something faster."
But Erza shook her head. "We can't risk drawing too much attention, especially since that other group is already suspicious of us." Her sharp gaze landed on Natsu. "Natsu, you and Gray scout the area."
Natsu's grin stretched wide as he pumped his fist. "Do we get to beat 'em up if we find it?" he asked, his eyes glowing with excitement.
"No," Erza responded swiftly.
Natsu deflated instantly, his shoulders slumping.
"We have no idea what we're dealing with," Erza continued. "Those three men you saw are most likely the assassins. We're not charging in blindly."
Lucy leaned in close to Erza, cupping her mouth and lowering her voice. "Are you sure it's a good idea to pair up Natsu and Gray?" she whispered.
Erza blinked, realizing her mistake. "Good call. Thanks." Then, clearing her throat, she turned back to the group. "Lucy, Wendy - you two go with Natsu instead."
Lucy and Wendy exchanged a glance before straightening up and saluting. "Yes, Ma'am!" they chirped in unison.
With that settled, Erza then shifted her gaze to Gray. "You and I will speak with the village leader and ask about possible undergrounds near the village."
Gray gave a firm nod and pushed himself up to follow the redhead. As the group dispersed for their respective tasks, Lucy couldn't help but notice the exaggerated pout on Natsu's face. She let out a soft giggle. "Oh, come on, Natsu," she teased as she nudged his side. "It's not that bad being stuck with me and Wendy, right?"
Wendy sweatdropped at Natsu's obvious disappointment. "R-right…" she trailed off, not sure what to say to comfort her fellow Slayer.
The trio made their way south, weaving through the forest as they searched for the clearing Erza had mentioned. After a few minutes, they stepped into an open space - a small clearing with sparse patches of grass scattered across the uneven ground. Lucy's eyes scanned the area. Erza was right. It didn't look like it had been used recently, but it looked like it had served a purpose before.
Wendy took a slow breath in, her expression turning serious. "I smell something…" she murmured. "I can't tell what it is, but it's strange."
Natsu lifted his chin and sniffed the air as well. His brows furrowed. "Yea… I smell it too."
Lucy paused her search and turned to the two Slayers. "Can you track where it's coming from?"
Wendy exchanged a glance with Charle before nodding. "I'll try. Come on, Charle."
As Wendy and Charle started moving towards the source, Natsu turned to his own partner. "Happy, stay with Lucy," he instructed. "I'll go with Wendy to make sure nothing happens."
Happy gave a quick salute before floating just above Lucy's head. Lucy watched as the two Dragon Slayers set off, her stomach twisting with unease. She wasn't sure why, but something about this place didn't sit right with her. "Don't go too far!" she called out.
Natsu waved a hand lazily over his shoulder and Wendy gave a reassuring smile before disappearing further into the forest.
Happy hovered just above Lucy, his big, round eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay, Lushy~?" he asked, tilting his head.
Lucy looked up at him and gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Yeah… just worried about them," she admitted as she glanced towards the direction Natsu and Wendy had gone.
Happy blinked. "Why didn't you just go with them?"
"Because Erza said there might be an underground entrance somewhere here, remember?"
Happy's ears perked up as the memory clicked. "Oh yeah!"
Lucy nodded. "And lucky for us, I know someone perfect for the job."
Her fingers tightened around the familiar smooth surface of one of her golden keys. Holding it out in front of her, she took a deep breath and called upon her spirit. "Open, Gate of the Maiden: Virgo!"
The golden light of her summon burst, and Lucy immediately felt the strain. A sudden wave of exhaustion hit her, making her knees buckle. Before she could fall forward, a pair of lithe but strong arms caught her mid-fall.
"Princess?" Virgo's familiar voice was soft yet laced with concern.
Lucy blinked at her spirit, momentarily disoriented. "I… I'm fine," she murmured, trying to push away the unsettling dizziness.
Virgo's brows furrowed as she kept Lucy steady. "Are you certain? Your magic flow felt unstable when you called."
Happy flitted closer to the blonde. "Lushy~? You don't look okay…"
Lucy inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stand properly as Virgo hesitantly let her go. "I'm fine," she repeated more firmly this time. She clenched her fists as she tried to push away the nagging thought that something was off.
This had never happened before. To her, summoning a spirit of hers was almost like breathing. She didn't have to think about the amount of magic needed to put into calling a spirit from the Celestial Realm.
This wasn't normal. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. They had a mission to do.
Shaking the unease away, she straightened her posture and turned to Virgo. "Erza found this clearing earlier. She thinks there's an underground hidden somewhere around here."
Virgo instantly understood the request and scanned the area with a sharp gaze, trying to feel any trace of magic below them. As she moved along the trail where Lucy and the others had come from, her eyes landed on a well that was half-hidden behind overgrown bushes.
"Princess," Virgo called out, glancing over her shoulder to see Lucy and Happy trailing behind. "I sense something from that well."
Lucy and Happy exchanged looks before stepping closer. Virgo approached first, brushing aside the leaves that covered the old stone structure. She peered inside, her sharp eyes narrowing as she tried to see the bottom. "It… appears to be dry," she said, though a hint of uncertainty laced her tone.
Happy hovered just above Lucy as he peeked over the edge. "Are you sure, Virgo?" he asked, tilting his head. "I mean… even if something's down there, I don't think Lucy will fit."
Lucy's eyebrow twitched. "I will strangle you one of these days, Happy."
"I'm sure it's in this well," Virgo responded.
Lucy turned to the Exceed, arms crossed and a playful smirk curling her lips. "Well then, Happy, why don't you fly down and check?"
Happy suddenly went stiff. "M-maybe we should just, y'know, toss a rock first," he stammered, eyes darting away.
Lucy arched a brow. "Ohhh~?" she teased. "And here I thought I was the one who wouldn't fit. You're smaller than me, aren't you?"
Happy puffed up his cheeks indignantly but said nothing.
Before either of them could continue, Virgo suddenly leapt into the well without a word.
Lucy let out a startled gasp. "Virgo?!" she cried out as she rushed forward and gripped the edge as she peered inside.
Silence.
She could still feel her connection to Virgo, but she wasn't responding.
Happy landed on the stone rim. "Is Virgo okay?"
"It doesn't seem to be the entrance, Princess."
Lucy and Happy nearly jumped out of their skins.
"KYAH~!" Lucy shrieked, clutching her chest as her heart pounded.
Virgo, standing there with her usual deadpan expression, simply blinked at them.
Lucy exhaled sharply, shooting her maid an exasperated glare. "Stop doing that!"
Virgo tilted her head ever so slightly before letting out the most emotionless, monotone, laugh Lucy had ever heard. "Ehe~."
Lucy narrowed her eyes. She decided not to dwell on it and instead tried to regain some composure. "Well? What's in there?"
Virgo shook her head. "It was too dark for me to see, but there's definitely something underneath, Princess."
Happy hovered beside Lucy, one paw tucked underneath his chin in thought. "Can't you just make an entrance for us?"
Virgo shifted her blank gaze towards the floating blue Exceed. "I can, if that's what Princess wants."
Lucy hesitated, her brows furrowing. "It's too risky," she reasoned. "We have no idea what's down there."
"How else are we supposed to find out if we don't go?" Happy countered.
Lucy opened her mouth to argue, but for once, the little furball actually made a valid point. That didn't mean they should act recklessly though. Just as she was about to say that they should wait for Natsu and Wendy before taking any action, something strange happened.
Happy and Virgo wobbled - then collapsed.
Lucy's breath hitched.
"Happy?" she called, immediately kneeling and scooping him up. She gave him a gentle shake. "Hey, wake up."
No response.
Panic crawled up her spine. Her grip on Happy tightened as her amber eyes darted around the clearing. That's when she felt it - a faint trace of magic lingering in the air. Her heart started pounding.
They weren't alone.
She sent Virgo back to the spirit world where she'd hopefully recover faster and just as she was about to summon Loke, a gruff voice echoed behind her.
"I've felt that magic somewhere before."
She whipped around, clutching Happy tightly against her chest, only to find herself face-to-face with a shirtless, blonde-haired man. An axe was strapped to his back, and he wore loose, red balloon-styled pants. If not for the menacing aura radiating from him, she might have thought he was attractive with his tanned skin, tousled hair, and well-toned abs.
The man smirked at her. "You're one of the mages back at Uyn village," he said, his deep voice laced with amusement.
Lucy felt the blood drain from her face. 'One of the assassins.' she thought. Of all the times for Natsu and Wendy to be away - why did it have to be now?
Her jaw tightened as she clutched Happy closer to her chest. "Who are you and what have you done to my friends?" she demanded, her voice firm despite the growing dread in her stomach.
The man arched an eyebrow, amusement clearly dancing in his eyes. "Are you trying to intimidate me, woman?"
Lucy didn't flinch. She kept her chin high, her brown eyes locked onto his with resolve.
A slow smirk stretched across the man's lips. He liked this one. "I like you," he murmured as he tilted his head. The fire in her gaze, the way she stood her ground - it made him want to see just how long that defiance would last. It made him want to see the fire in her eyes dim.
"I don't," Lucy shot back without hesitation, her brows knitting together.
The man clicked his tongue, clearly unfazed. With a lazy roll of his shoulders, he started walking slowly towards her. "C'mon, we're both blondes. We've got something in common," he quipped.
Before Lucy could retort, a golden light flared between them. Loke materialized, adjusting the cuffs of his black suit. "I think you heard the lady," he said smoothly.
The man's eyes gleamed with intrigue as he glanced between Lucy and her spirit. "Ohh, a Celestial Wizard." His fingers curled, a faint purple glow beginning to pulse from his hand. "I've heard a thing or two about your kind."
Lucy shifted her stance, already knowing what Star Dress to don once he attacks. "And what exactly have you heard?" she asked, readying herself.
His smirk widened, dark amusement dripping from his next choice of words. "That they're weak as shit."
Magic burst around his hand, the glow intensifying. Lucy was just about to summon her Aries Star Dress to counter whatever attack was coming, but suddenly, a fierce gust of wind howled through the clearing, nearly knocking them off their feet. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
She was just thankful that they appeared just in time.
Natsu cracked his knuckles, a wide grin stretching across his face. "Finally! I've been itching to fight someone," he said as he gazed at his blonde best friend and winked. While he and Wendy were trying to track the scent, he suddenly had a sinking feeling that something was happening with Lucy, so he practically dragged Wendy back to the clearing, and lo and behold, a blonde man was there who looked like he was about to attack.
Wendy, being the Sky Dragon Slayer, blew a huge wind towards the enemy to stall him for a bit so they could re-join Lucy and Loke.
The blonde man scowled, irritation flashing in his eyes. He despised being interrupted. "Fucking menace," he muttered under his breath. His sharp gaze assessed the two new arrivals, and he could immediately tell that they weren't opponents he wanted to take on alone. He was smarter than that.
Without much of a word, the blonde man snapped his fingers…
And vanished.
"WHAT?!" Natsu wailed as he stomped on the area where the blonde man had just stood. "Where the hell did he go?!"
Wendy took a deep breath, trying to pick up the man's lingering scent. Her brows furrowed. "I… don't sense him anywhere," she admitted before shifting her gaze to Lucy who was cradling a limp Happy in her arms. "What happened to Happy?"
Lucy shook her head as she gently passed the Exceed over to Wendy. "He collapsed the moment that guy showed up," she explained. She turned to Loke, noting the dark scowl on his face. "What about Virgo?"
"She's fine," Loke replied, adjusting his glasses with a sigh. "It's a sleeping spell. Nothing serious. If Wendy can undo it, Happy should wake up too."
Without hesitation, Wendy's hands glowed a soft blue as she hovered them just above Happy's forehead. A few moments later, the Exceed's eyes fluttered open.
"Wha-what happened…?" Happy mumbled sleepily, rubbing his eye with a paw.
Natsu suddenly appeared behind Wendy with his usual grin in place. "You went for a quick nap, bud."
Happy's eyes widened as he bolted upright. "Lushy~?!"
"I'm here," Lucy murmured, kneeling beside Happy and offering him a gentle smile, touched by his concern. "We're okay."
"Lucy."
She looked up to find Loke watching her intently, his usual charm replaced by a rare seriousness. Straightening, she dusted off her knees and met his gaze. "What is it?"
Loke stepped closer. "Stay close to your team, okay?"
Lucy frowned. "Do you know something?"
He shook his head, his expression darkening. "No… but I have a bad feeling about this. Just don't do anything reckless." And with that, he vanished in a burst of light.
Lucy let out a slow breath as she pressed her fingers to her temple. This job was getting more frustrating by the day.
"Hey."
Kianna's face lit up the moment she spotted him. "Cobra! You're back!"
Before he could react, she was already wrapping him in one of her signature bear-tight hugs. He let out a small grunt but didn't push her away. When she pulled back, her eyes immediately scanned over him, checking for any new injuries or scars. "You didn't say you were visiting."
Cobra wasn't one for public displays of affection, but his fiance was, and what kind of a man would he be if he denied her of that? "I was planning to," he admitted as he slid onto a stool. "But a lot of things happened." He leaned his arms against the counter, watching as she moved behind the bar to make his favorite drink - whisky with a dash of bleach.
While she worked, he focused, listening in on the souls within the guild. He was here for a reason, and he didn't like how close that reason was to Kinana.
But he couldn't find it. Maybe she was out?
"Kinana!"
Cobra's muscles tensed. That voice - he hadn't heard it before. So why couldn't he sense her?
"Right here!" Kinana called back as she pulled out a tray from underneath and handed it over to the newcomer.
The heavily pregnant woman moved through the guild, wobbling slightly as she flitted from one customer to another. He honed in, sharpening his magic to listen in on what her soul was hiding.
Nothing.
Just static.
A wall of pure white noise.