Chapter 4

The First Job

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location/ Date/ Noise

Lucy's Apartment

Lucy smiled as she woke up in her new apartment. For only seventy-thousand jewel a month, it was a great find. She took her morning bath, thinking about all of the features her new home had to offer. Finished drying off, she pushed her curtain door open. Her jaw then proceed to hit the floor.

Sitting in a chair, surrounded by garbage was Natsu and Happy. On instinct, she kicked them both into the wall.

"Geez, Lucy." Natsu said as be rubbed his check. "We just wanted to see your new pad."

"This isn't checking out!" Lucy screamed at the two. "This is called barging in! Plus, I think the police would call this BREAKING AND ENTERING!"

Lucy screamed at Happy as the cat scratched up her walls, while Natsu found some papers on her stationary. Lucy reacted, once again kicking Natsu away, clutching the papers tight to her chest.

"What was that for?" He asked once bandaged up. "Man, Lucy you place is way more exciting than our house."

A sudden knock on her door took her attention away from her two friend/intruders. Burying the papers, she walked over to the door and opened it, revealing Laki.

"Hey, Lu-" She started to say before she was taken aback by Lucy's attire. "Why are you in just a towel?"

"I wouldn't be, if these two hadn't broken into my new home!" Lucy screamed before moving out of the way, letting Laki see the intruders she was talking about.

Laki entered the house and Natsu caught sight of her. "Yo, Laki, bout time you showed up."

"Natsu." Laki said shaking her head. "How many times do I have to tell you? You can't just break into a girls room, let alone her house."

Lucy nodded in agreement, before she was taken back by her friends words. 'Times? This has happened more than once?!'

A few minutes later, Lucy was dressed and sitting at her table, tea cup in one hand, glaring at Natsu and Happy across from her and Laki.

"Once you two finish, get out. Laki, you can stay." Lucy said to her respective guests.

"Wow, your cold." Natsu said staring at his tea.

"What do you expect?" Lucy screamed. "You broke into my house! Don't expect any special treatment for that." She took a sip from her tea before turning to Laki. "So, why'd you guys come over here?"

"A few reasons. First, we wanted to see you new place. I gotta say, it's a really nice place you pick." Laki said before taking a sip from her tea.

"Well, I wanted to see more of those key people you keep with you." Natsu said leaning onto the table.

"First of all, they're called Celestial Spirits, and second they're not some toys I can just call up whenever I want."

"How many spirits do you have contracts with?" Laki asked.

"In total, six." She answered placing her key pouch on the table. "But their are different key types as well. The silver ones are the easiest to find because you can just buy them in magic shops. I've got Horologium the Clock, Lyra the Harp, and Crux the Southern Cross." She said as she raised the keys one by one.

"But the gold ones are rare. They open the gates of the twelve zodiac spirits. I've got Aquarius the Water Bearer, Taurus the Golden Bull, and Cancer the Giant Crab."

"GIANT CRAB!" Natsu and Happy jumped out of their seats at the thought of giant crab legs to eat.

"Wow, I've never seen anyone get so excited over food." Lucy said.

"So, Aquarius sent that big wave crashing into Hargeon?" Laki asked receiving a nod for an answer.

"Oh, yeah." An idea came into Lucy's head. "Speaking of Hargeon, I still have that key I bought there. You guys wanna see how a contract between wizard and spirit is made?" She asked leaning into the table.

"Sure, it's sounds interesting." Laki said excited.

"Okay." Lucy stood up, new key in hand. "Here we go! I call upon the in the world of the Celestial Spirits! I beckon the to my side at once, pass through the gate!" A blue magic seal appeared beneath her as her three guests looked on. "Open, Gate of Canis Minor - Nicola!" A golden bubble rose from the ground before sprouting tiny legs and arms and growing a carrot nose.

Natsu and Happy stared at the creature for a few seconds before saying the same thing. "Nice try."

"Shut it, that's how it's suppose to work!" Lucy screamed at the two. She turned back to the spirit, only to see Laki clutching the spirit close to her.

"Aw, you are so cute!" Laki said rocking it against her face before putting it down. "Hard to believe this thing is a powerful spirit."

"Actually, this spirit doesn't take much power to get through the gate, so a lot of wizards keep them as pets." Lucy explained as she walked over pen and note pad in hand. "Alright, let's move on to the contract." She said as she kneeled down.

The spirit raised it's paw in agreement.

"You free Mondays?" Lucy asked, receiving a vertical head shake for an answer. She jutted it down on her notepad.

"Tuesdays?" This time, she received a nod yes for an answer. Her guests watched, Laki with intrigue, Natsu and Happy with boredom.

"Man, this is boring." Natsu said sipping his tea.

"Who would have thought it would be simple?" Laki asked aloud.

"And done!" Lucy said as the spirit smiled.

"Well that was easy." Happy commented, causing Lucy to grin.

"It may look simple, but it's very important. See, the contract between Spirit and wizard is based around the promise they make to each other. Because of that, I make it a point to always keep my promises." Lucy explains.

"That's a nice code you have." Laki comments.

"Now all you need is a name." Lucy says before thinking.

"Isn't it Nicola?" Happy asked.

"No, see that's the name of the species." Lucy explained. A few seconds later and she had an idea. "Oh I know. Come here, Plue."

"Plue?"

"I think it's the cutest name ever!" Lucy said hugging the newly christened Plue.

"I don't get it." Happy stated. "It's the little dog, but it's not barking at all."

"Well, you aren't meowing, cat." Lucy pointed out the hypocrisy. Plue jumped out of her arms and began a weird dance routine. Natsu stared at the dancing spirit intensely.

"You got that right, Plue!" Natsu said giving the spirit a thumbs up.

"You can understand him?!" Lucy asked, freaked out at the sight before her.

"Never underestimate Natsu." Laki said while Happy nodded his head.

Natsu then stared at Lucy with intensity. Freaked out, she asked what he wanted from her.

"Alright, it's settled. You both are gonna be apart of our team." Natsu flashed her his signature grin.

"Team?"

"Yeah, team." Laki said rising out of her chair. "See, even though everyone in the guild is allied to each other, the ones that get along really well will form teams within the guild. That way, jobs to difficult for one person can be done by a team. Of course, the issue of how the pay is split is another story, but for the most part, teams stick together."

"Alright, I'm in!" Lucy yelled excited. The wizards then did a three-way fist bump to seal the deal.

"Great, and it just so happens that I have the perfect job for us." Laki then took out a flier with the job they were doing. Lucy took the the paper and read it over, missing the looks on her teammates faces.

"Shirotsume Village, that's not that far away." The reward the caught Lucy's eyes. "Whoa. 200,000 jewel. Just for stealing a book from this Duke Everlue guy.

"Peice of cake, right?" Natsu asked, knowing why Laki had picked it.

"Huh?" Lucy read the last part the job. "Please note. Everlue is a dirty old man who's looking for maids with blonde hair!?" She didn't like the sound of that.

"We know a blondie, don't we Happy?" Laki asked in a loud whisper.

"Yup, and I bet we can find her a maid outfit." Happy answered with a smile.

"You, sneaky little... YOU TRICKED ME!" Lucy shouted at the two before falling to her hands and knees.

"Sorry, Lucy." She looked up to see Natsu, who put his hand on her shoulder. "Laki's always like this. If she sees a job involving anything perverted, she wants to take it. You're lucky all you have to do is dress up as a maid."

Lucy looked at him. "What does that mean?

Carriage to Shirotsume

"Are you enjoying the ride today, Master?" Lucy sarcastically asked the motion sick Natsu. "Anything else I can get for you?"

"Barf, Bag, Please." Natsu muttered out.

"Lucy, don't be so hard on him." Laki said. "I'm the one who picked the job. You should be mad at me."

"Oh no, that's not why I'm doing this." Lucy said. "Hey, Laki, can I ask a question?" Receiving a nod, she pressed on. "You and Natsu are already a super powerful team, so why'd you want me to join you?"

"Cause your a nice person, that's why." Laki answered honestly.

"You're just so wierd." Natsu groaned out before passing out.

"Well, I'm stoked for my first real job. I just know I'm gonna rock it!" Lucy said in excitement.

"Weren't you upset about this whole thing?" Happy asked, taking a break from his fish.

"Hey, if this guy like pretty girls, than I'm a shoo in to get this done." Lucy said.

"Well, all you humans look alike to me." Happy just burst Lucy's bubble.

"Alright, onto the pay scale. I'm doing all the work, so I think it should be 70-10-10-10." Lucy explained.

"Why do you want ten percent?" Happy asked, causing Lucy to snap that she was the seventy.

Shirotsume Town

The group arrived at the small town and began walking towards thier clients house. Natsu was still feeling the effects of the carriage ride and was sluggish walking.

"Lets find some place to eat, I'm starving." He said weakly.

"Why not just eat your own fire?" Lucy asked.

"Sure, great idea." Natsu replied. "Hey, I know. Why don't you eat Plue or your cow while you're at it?" Lucy freaked out at the idea, causing Laki to laugh a little.

"See, Lucy it's like this." Laki explained. "Dragon slayers can eat their respective elements, wether natural, artificial, or magical, but they can't eat anything they produce themselves."

"That's lame."

"Sweet, let's get a bit to eat." Natsu said pointing at the restaurant in front of him.

"No thanks." Lucy said as she walked away. "I've got something to do."

"What's with her?" Natsu asked Laki. "The four of us should be eating as a team."

"Come on, Natsu." Laki grabbed his wrist and led him into the restaurant. "We'll just order stuff for her."

Once in the restaurant, the group order a lot of meat for Natsu, fish for Happy, and salads for Laki. "So, we just leave the fatty stuff for Lucy." Natsu said as he stuffed his face with two giant drumsticks.

"Yeah, that's the part she likes the most, it seems." Happy agreed.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Said girls voice called out, causing Natsu and Laki to look up. They're mouths dropped open to see Lucy in a maids outfit. "Come on, be honest. How good do I look in this?"

"Lucy." Laki said dropping her fork. "We were never going to have you dress as a maid. We're gonna storm that mansion and take that pervert down!"

"Are you crazy!?" Lucy asked. "Who knows what kinda security this guy has?! Better to do this discretely, Laki." Laki slumped her head in disappointment. For the rest of the meal, she sat in silence.

Melon Household

The three wizards arrived at the house and were led to an open room with a small table in the center.

"My name is Kaby Melon. It's a pleasure." The client introduced himself as his wife stood behind him.

"Melon!" Natsu and Happy said in excitement.

"Guys, that's so rude." Lucy told her friends.

"Don't worry I get that a lot." Kaby said after a small chuckle. "Now, about the job. It's simple: Duke Everlue has a book called Daybreak in his possession. I want you to burn it for me."

"No problem. I'll burn the whole house down, if you want." Natsu said raising his finger and igniting it to prove his point.

"No way am I going to jail for arson." Lucy told him before turning to Kaby. "May I ask why?"

"For 200,000 jewel, who cares about the reasons?" Laki said before drinking from her glass of water she asked for.

"The reward has been raised to two million." Laki did an immediate spit take as the other three were shocked. After a collective gasp they stared stunned at their client. "Didn't you know that?"

"Two million?" Natsu asked aloud. "Split four ways!? Wow! I suck at math, but that's a lot!"

"Oh, I know." Happy chimed in. "You and I get a million, Laki gets a million, and Lucy gets all the rest."

"But that means I get nothing!" Lucy screamed, ruining their dream. She calmed down before turning to Kaby again. "Why'd you raise the reward money?"

"Because that book must be destroyed."

Lucy felt the heat in the room increase as she turned to Natsu, who was a blaze.

"Alright. Let's go, you two. We gotta book to burn." He ran out of the house dragging Lucy behind him as Happy flew Laki after them.

Duke Everlue's Mansion

The group arrived at the dukes address and were taken back at the size of it. It was a massive three story building with solid stone wall surrounding it. The only way in was through a metal gate.

"Cuse me!" Lucy cried out to the inside. "I heard you had a maid position opening. Hello!" She looked over her shoulder to see Natsu holding Laki back from breaking down the gate.

Before she could break free of Natsu's grip, a giant, gorilla maid burst out of the ground and landed in front of Lucy. Not long after that, another figure burst out of the ground and this one was the Duke himself. Laki struggled even harder to break free, while Lucy thought that this Duke looked BETTER on paper.

The Duke looked over Lucy carefully to see if she was good enough to be his maid. Deciding against it, the Duke called her ugly and told her to beat it. Four more maids popped and the group could see why he thought Lucy was ugly. His sense of beauty was, to say the least, unique. It was, to say the most, horrible.

Moments after being tossed by the burly maid, Lucy was crying by a tree as Natsu and Happy looked down, while Laki comforted her.

"Just couldn't do it, could ya?" Natsu asked in disappointment.

"Leave her alone Natsu." Laki looked up to her friend. "You saw those 'women'. This Everlue guy would call a peacock ugly." She turned back to Lucy. "It's okay, Lucy. Pervs like him never go after pretty girls."

"Alright." Natsu said slamming his fist into his palm. "Looks like its time for plan T!"

"Yeah." Laki said in agreement.

"This big, fat jerk's is gonna pay!" Lucy declared. "So, uh, what exactly is plan T?"

"Take 'em by storm!" Happy shouted.

Unbeknownst to them, a lacrima sphere observed the whole scene.

Moments later, Natsu and Laki where on the roof, trying to break in through the window. Happy flew back up with Lucy, gingerly placing her the roof.

"Thanks, Happy." Lucy said as she noticed Natsu melting the glass with his bare hands.

"Jeez." Natsu said disappointed. "This isn't exactly 'takin by storm', ya know."

"I'm with Natsu." Laki added. "We should just bust down the doors and beaten that guy down."

"What part of 'I'm not going to jail' did you guys not get?" Lucy asked.

"But don't you want revenge on this guy?" Natsu counter questioned.

"Oh, I do." Lucy smirked. "I'm not just gonna burn his dumb book, I'm gonna use his tooth brush to clean the toilet." Her plan made even Laki think 'That's gross.'

The group entered the mansion throught the now open window, and found themselves in an old storage room or something. As Lucy walked around, Happy popped out with a skull on his face. This scared Lucy while Natsu and Laki just grinned at the cats antics.

Finding their way out, the group eventually came to a long hallway filled with doors. They opened all of them, but found no trace of any books. Although they did find some peculiar equipment in the dukes bathroom.

"Hey, Laki. Think you can find a library or something with your wood merging spell?" Natsu asked as they snuck along the wall.

"Sorry, Natsu." Laki said. "I need wood for that to work, and this house seems to be more drywall and fancy stone than wood. Even if we did find some, I doubt there'd be enough to find the book."

"I think we should take a hostage, force them to tell us where the book is." Natsu proposed.

"We're trying not to be seen." Lucy shot that idea down. "This whole thing has to be done stealthily, like ninjas."

"Like a ninja..." Natsu said as his mind wondered of to images of himself and Laki in ninja get up.

"How do you deal with this guy?" Lucy asked as sweat dropped of her. Suddenly, the ground in front of them open and the five maids from before jumped out of the hole. The short ones were carrying spears, while the largest one wasn't.

"Let's crush'em, girls!" The large one ordered them. Before they could get close, however, Happy, still wearing the skull, scared the small ones with a small growl.

"I got this." Laki said as she conjured a magic seal on to the wall. "Wood-Make: The Distance Between the Two is Forever!" A second seal appeared at the same height as the maids and from it, a giant wooden hand and foot each caught two maids and sent them into the opposite wall.

The largest maid preformed a belly flop onto Natsu and seemingly crushed him. However, with pure brute strength, Natsu lifted and threw the 'woman' off him and into the air. A magic circle appeared beneath him as he jumped into the air and struck the maid with a flaming left foot. As the maid crashed to the ground, Natsu wrapped his scarf around his head.

"We mustn't be discovered." He said, holding his fingers to a point. "We are ninja."

"Ninjas are quiet." Lucy pointed out to them.

Finding their way down the stairs, the four opened a large door and found themselves in a very expansive library.

"Wow." Lucy said impressed. "Who knew that Everlue was such a book worm?"

"Lets start lookin'!" Natsu shouted.

Lucy found a ladder and climbed her way up to the top. She put her finger against a spine and began moving it across the spine. Not finding Daybreak, she let disappointed sigh. "How are we gonna find this one book?"

She looked over to see Laki ripping perverted books apart page by page, Natsu shouting about finding a picture book, and Happy about finding a book about fish.

"Look, this one sparkles!" Natsu shouted holding up a gold colored book.

"Will you three get serious and start looking for the book we need!?" Lucy said as she slid down the ladder. "As she reached the floor, her eyes went wide as she stared at the book. "That's Daybreak."

"You did it, Natsu." Laki said as she ripped another perverted book apart. "Now spark it up." She ordered. Listening to his friend, Natsu set his fist on fire and prepared to burn the book.

"Wait a second." Lucy grabbed the book out of Natsu's hand. "I didn't realize this was written by Kemu Zaleon?" She asked as she read the author.

"Zalo-what?" Natsu and Laki asked at the same time.

"Zaleon was an amazing wizard, and an even better writer." Lucy explained before going all fan girl on them. "I'm such a big fan. I thought I'd read all of his work, but this must something he never got published!"

"Who cares, Lucy?" Laki asked as Natsu reignited his finger. "Paper's paper, so let's burn it already."

"Don't you two dare!" Lucy said clutching the book in her arms. "This is his last piece of work, a priceless literary artifact. We can't just burn it!"

"But what about the mission?" Happy asked with a glare. "Failure is not an option!"

"But I'm such a fan of his!" Lucy said as she backed away from Natsu and Happy, only to be meet by Laki's hands on her shoulders. "Come on, guys. Let's just say we burned it. I promise I won't tell!"

"We're not liars." Natsu told her as he inched closer. Just as he was about to reach her, a familiar voice was heard.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" Behind them, the ground burst open and a familiar figure jumped out of the ground, Duke Everlue. "So you've come to pilfer Daybreak, have you?"

"This is cause you took so long." Natsu stated as he stared down Everlue.

"It's not so bad." Laki smirked as she adjusted her glass. "Now we get to kick this prev's but."

"I knew you lowly wizards were trying to steal something, never would have guessed it was that stupid book." Everlue said.

"Stupid?" Laki questioned.

'This book must be important if the client is willing to pay so much for its destruction, so why his calling it stupid?" Lucy thought to herself before an idea came into her head. "That's great. So if it's so stupid, can I have it?"

"It's mine!" Everlue yelled. "You can't have it, so get your grubby hands off it!"

"Greedy gut." Laki and Lucy muttered at the same time.

"Shut your traps, uglies." Everlue replied as the two girls flinched.

"Will you just give me that book so I get this over with?" Natsu asked letting his hand hold a small fire.

"No way, Pyro!" Lucy said clutching the book tight.

"Lucy!" Laki snapped at her with a serious expression on her face. "This is our job!"

"Well I'm going to read it first." Lucy demanded as she sat down to read.

"Read it, now?!" The others asked her at the same time. The fact that Lucy was reading his book threw Everlue into a rage.

"I've had enough. How dare you put your filthy hands on my possessions. Now, come forth, Vanish Brothers!" Everlue ordered as he snapped his fingers. Natsu turned his head to see a secret passage with two figures inside be revealed as two bookshelves moved apart.

"You called called upon us, sir?" The short one with a large frying pan strapped to his back asked the Duke.

"These punks are really from Fairy Tail?" The taller one asked. "Talk about lame."

"That sign means they're from the Southern Wolves, a mercenary guild." Laki informed Natsu, who cracked his knuckles.

"So, you got body guards, huh?" Natsu asked unimpressed.

Lucy's eyes went wide as she read a passage from the book. "Oh, wow."

"Boyoyoyoyo!" Everlue said as he curled his mustache. "The Southern Wolves are always hungry for fresh game. Say your prayers, thieves!"

"Hey guys, try and hold them off." Lucy told Natsu as she sat up. "I'm not sure, but I think this book holds some kinda secret." She started to run towards door and closed it behind her.

'A secret? It must have slipped by me somehow. It could be a treasure map or something.' The Duke thought angrily as he sank back into the ground. "I'm going after the girl. Make sure that pink-hair doesn't leave here in one piece." Everlue demanded as he vanished.

"Yes, sir."

"Happy, Laki." Natsu turned to his teammates. "Go help Lucy."

"You sure you don't need us here?" Laki asked.

"Thanks." Natsu answered stretching his arms. "But I'll be fine." Laki nodded as she ran after Lucy through the same door while Happy flew past the guards.

Sewers Below the Mansion

Lucy sat on the side of the sewers canals, using her Wind Reader Glasses to scan the book as quickly as possible.

"Unbelievable." She muttered to herself. "I knew this book had some secret, but this is way more than I was expecting!" Before she stand, a hand broke through the steal wall and grabbed her wrists. As her glasses fell off, she looked over to see Everlue's smug grin coming out of the wall.

"Well, well, please share." The Duke said as he held Lucy's arms behind her back. "After all, secrets don't make friends."

"No way." Lucy gritted through her teeth, trying to ignore the pain. "A man like you doesn't deserve to know. You're an enemy of literature!"

"Enemy of literature? My massive collection of books and art only proves I'm cultures greatest friend!" Everlue said as he kept twisting Lucy's arms behind her back.

"But that ugly maid collection of yours proves you don't know squat about beauty!" Lucy said in defiance.

"How dare you mock them, they are the definition of beauty!" Everlue countered back before pushing Lucy over to get a better look at the book. "What secret does it hold?" He asked with an evil grin. "Let me guess: he buried his fortune and the map's inside? Tell me, or I'll snap your arm like a toothpick!" He threatened, only to have Lucy blow him a raspberry. Everlue gave a wicked grin before forcing Lucy to the ground. "Now's not the time to be sassy. I, myself commissioned this books very creation, therefore, any secrets it holds is rightfully my property!"

"Lucy!" A voice rang out as both captor and captive turned to see Happy flying over the water before his wings faded.

"A flying cat?" The Duke asked still holding Lucy's arms. "Tell me, what was the point of that?!"

"It's called a distraction." Happy gurgled in the water.

"Wood-Make: Violent Approach!" The Duke turned his head just to have a small wooden spiked ball crash into his face, forcing him to give up his hold on Lucy.

"Laki!" Lucy called out to her friend as she got to her feet.

"Sorry it took so long to get here." Laki said apologizing. "He didn't do anything perverted to you, did he?"

"No, I'm fine." Lucy told her before turning to Happy, who was floating down stream. "Happy, please get out of that sewer water."

"But it feels good." Happy gurgled again.

Lucy sighed as she pulled out a golden key from her belt and pointing at Everlue. "Looks like the tables have turned. But if you let us keep this book, I think about going east on you."

"But I'm still tempted to kick your but!" Laki added as she entered her maker stance.

"Oh, a Celestial wizard and a Maker mage?" The Duke said unimpressed before glaring at Lucy. "But for reader, you seem a bit deficient on your terms of phrase. Turing the tables means that the weaker party has rallied to claim victory. But there's now you two and that cat can beat me! Boyoyoyoyo!"

"I've had it with your voice!" Laki shouted as a magic seal appeared behind her fist. "Wood-Make: Harvester of Souls!" From her seal came scythe made completely out of wood. (A/N: Think Grays Death Scythe spell, just made of wood.) She swung the wooden weapon at Everlue, only to just barely miss his hairdo as he sank back into the ground.

"Boyoyoyo! You can't beat my Diver Magic!" He bellowed from the walls. Laki looked around, scythe in hand, trying to find the troll of a man.

Happy finally climbed out of the sewer and was staring at the hole Everlue created. "So he does that using magic? I had no idea Everlue was a wizard too."

"Can't you smell yourself?" Lucy asked the cat. Before she got an answer, Everlue burst from the ground and tried to grab her. Lucy effortlessly dodge and Laki swung the scythe, only to barely miss again. He tried twice more, as did Laki, but neither were able to hit their target.

Lucy flipped and landed on her feet, side by side to Laki, and held the book up angrily. "Look, I know the whole story now! It a horrible adventure novel about a trashy little character named Duke Everlue!"

"What?" Laki stared at the book.

"You serious?" Happy asked.

"I don't know that I'd call the protagonist 'trashy', but yes." Everlue stated before returning into the ground. "The story is crap, and to think it was written by the great Kemu Zaleon, inexcusable!" He jumped out from the wall. Lucy managed to dodge, but he hit Laki, sending her to the water.

She would have fallen in, if she hadn't spotted a hole the Duke made over head and increased the handle length of her scythe, allowing her to stick the blade in it, leaving her hanging over the water.

"I can't believe your arrogance! You forced him to write it!" Lucy shouted as Everlue continued to drill through the sub-levels.

"Arrogant, moi?" Everlue bellowed from the walls as debris fell into the sewer. "The word doesn't even begin to apply! To tell my story is an honor, no matter the circumstances!"

"Then why'd you have to blackmail him?" Lucy asked.

"Blackmail?" Laki and Happy repeated.

"What's the big deal?" He popped out of the wall, curling his mustache. "He just needed some extra encouragement to take the job."

"Oh, really?" Laki asked shooting daggers as Everlue began swimming across the ground.

"Any fool would have jumped at the chance to have me as their muse, but he had the audacity to say no!" He dove back into the ground, went behind Lucy, and stuck his hand out of the ground. "So I gave him the added inspiration via an ultimatum. Write the novel, or his family would be stripped of their citizenship."

"But, then none of them would be able to join any of the guilds and make a living." Happy stated the ramifications of such an act.

"You can't just do that!" Laki shouted from her scythe.

"I can do whatever I want!" He declared as the beneath Lucy and Happy shock. Everlue jumped out of the ground and into the air. "I got him to write it, didn't I?"

Lucy shot silent daggers at the man.

"But I didn't like his attitude. So I put him in one of my personal jail cells. Boyoyoyo!" The Duke laughed at the memories while Laki had begun to swing on her scythe. "He rambled on and on about how he would never give into threats, BUT IN THE END I GOT WHAT I WANTED!" He shouted as he rolled himself into a ball and bounced around the chamber.

Laki finally built up enough momentum and shrunk her scythe, sending her flying onto the pathway. Landing, she turned her head and glared at the Duke. "You did something like that just to boost your self image?!"

"You don't know the half of it, Laki!" Lucy stated as the two began to run side by side. "He was in kept in solitary confinement for three years!" She turned her head to look at the bouncing creep. "Don't you know how hard that was for him?!"

"Three years?" Happy asked as he flew by the female wizards.

The ground before them burst open and Everlue stood ready to attack. Laki and Lucy, however, managed to dodge the hit in time. "Maybe it took that long for him to appreciate me?" Everlue asked before letting out a creepy laugh.

"More like he hated that he had spread your lies!" Lucy shouted as Laki regrew her weapon. "But he swallowed his pride to protect his family, even if it meant going against everything he stood for as an author."

"Lucy, how do you know all this?" Laki asked.

Lucy held the book in front of her so that even Everlue could see it too. "It's all in here."

"Impossible!" Everlue shouted. "I've read that book front to back, and Kemu Zaleon isn't in it."

"That's because you read it normally." Lucy explained. "But what you obviously don't know is that before he was an author, Kemu Zaleon was a wizard."

"He was?" Happy asked.

"Wait, did he..." Laki started.

"Don't tell me..." Everlue gritted through his teeth.

"Once he finished this book, he gathered all his remaining strength, and cast a spell on it." Lucy explained to the others.

"That bastard." Everlue said, fuming. "He used a spell to turn a book about a great man like me into a piece of crap?! Unforgivable!" He used his Diver Magic and again dove into the ground to strike the girls.

"Oh, get off you high-horse!" Laki shouted as she and Lucy dodged the attacks the Duke tried.

"Its true he wrote about all the horrible things you did to him!" Lucy added as they landed behind the enraged Duke. "But that's only a fraction of the book. The truth is that it's real secret has absolutely nothing to do with you!"

"Okay, now I'm curious." Laki said staring at the book.

"Tell us, Lucy!" Happy ordered as his mouth began to drool.

"What are you babbling about?" Everlue questioned.

"I won't give this book back to you, Duke Everlue." Lucy said as she put at the book behind her back before pulling out a golden key. "Because it was never meant for you in the first place! Open, Gate of the Giant Crab - Cancer!" A seal appeared on the ground and from it, the spirit rose.

"GIANT CRAB!" Happy shouted as he began dancing around in joy.

"Happy, be quiet." Lucy said sternly.

"So, Lucy..." Cancer spoke, pointing at Laki. "You want me to do your hair, or hers, baby?"

"What's wrong with my hair?" Laki asked worried.

"We don't need styling." Lucy said annoyed. "We need help." She then pointed to Everlue. "Take out baldy over there!"

"You got it, baby." Cancer replied as he and Laki dropped into fighting stances.

'What is that books real secret? Did that hack write down all of my illegal business deals?' Everlue thought to himself while shaking in fear. 'I can't have that. If the council actually knew how I made all my money, it be the end of me.' Everlue quickly reached into his jacket and pulled out his own gold key. "Open, Gate of the Maiden - Virgo!"

"That's your trick, Lucy!" Happy shouted.

The giant maid, Virgo, burst out of the seal. "Did I hear my master summon me?"

"Hold up! She's a spirit?" Lucy asked in disbelief.

"I knew something was off!" Laki shouted, pointing at the spirit. "No real human could be that big and that ugly at the same time!"

However, all four of them noticed something above the spirit and gasped in shock. Natsu was clutching onto Virgo's dress, with a confused look on his face.

"What is going on here?" Everlue demanded.

"Natsu?" Laki and Happy asked.

"What are you doing up there?" Lucy shouted.

"Well, she started moving, so I grab onto her. One minute, I'm about to knock her out again, then the next I'm in the sewer." Natsu shouted, answering as best he could.

"Wait, so that means you traveled through the gate with her?" Lucy asked before freaking out. "BUT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE!"

"Laki, what do I do now?" Natsu asked as Virgo stated to reach for him.

"Finish what you started!" Laki shouted as Lucy pulled out her whip.

"Virgo, clean up this trash." Everlue ordered.

"As you wish, master." Virgo replied as Natsu jumped of her, turned and stared at the spirit.

"Eat this. Fire Dragon Roar!" He unleashed a torrent of flames that pushed Virgo back.

"Impossible!" Everlue shouted in disbelief. Lucy seized the moment and swung her whip.

"You vile little mole-man!" She shouted as her whip wrapped around Everlue's body. "Can't dig out this problem, can you? You make me sick!"

"Batter up!" Everlue glanced over to see Laki swing her scythe, launching him over Lucy and into Cancer, who attacked with his scissors. "You're just another greedy villain." She stated as Everlue landed unconscious.

"Alright, I'm done. Does this look good or what, baby?" Cancer asked as Laki looked at Everlue's now bald head.

"Nice work you guys." Natsu said standing on the steaming body of Virgo. "Baby?" The group then noticed the ground was shaking and the walls were coming apart. The group started running until they found a hole to climb out of, as the entrance was one of the first things to go.

Natsu had a grin on his as they watched the mansion collapse before them. "I like it, Lucy. Out with bang. You are definitely gonna fit in at Fairy Tail."

"But aren't we suppose to not destroy things?" Happy asked.

"Well, Everlue dug all those holes so technically, he destroyed his mansion, not us." Laki stated as she fixed her glasses.

"I just hope I don't get blamed for all this." Lucy said in fear.

The four wizards turned around and headed for their clients household, unaware that Virgo, whilst hold Everlue's unconscious body, was upright and watching them.

Melon Household

"When I read Daybreak, I didn't think it was written by Kemu Zaleon. There's no way he would have written something that bad." Lucy explained as the group reached the house where Kaby and his wife lived.

"So, that's how figured out there was a spell on it?" Laki asked as they entered the house. Lucy nodded as Kaby and his wife turned to them at the door.

"You're back. Did you...?" Kaby asked in a hopeful tone.

"Not exactly." Laki muttered as Lucy handed over the book to Kaby.

"I requested this book to be burned." He said taking the book. "Why are you handing it over to me, unscathed?"

"If you really want it burned, I'd rather you do it yourself." Lucy stated as her teammates watched.

"I most certainly will." Kaby said shaking for an unknown reason. "I never want to see this trash again."

"I get why you feel that way. You want to protect your fathers legacy, because you're really Zaleon's son, aren't you?" Lucy asked shocking her teammates.

"That's correct." Kaby answered nodding his head.

"Have you read it yourself?" Laki asked.

"No, not even the first letter." Kaby answered. "I couldn't bring myself to do it. My father told me it was garbage."

"So you were just gonna burn it?" Natsu asked a bit angry.

"I was." Kaby told him. Natsu's eyes went wide and instantly, he grabbed Kaby by his shirt collar.

"You weren't even gonna look at it!?" Natsu asked as Laki tried to pull him away. "It's the last thing you have of your dad, right? Some of us would kill for that kind of memory!" Laki finally managed to pry the two apart as Lucy stepped between them.

"That's enough, Natsu!" Lucy said. "Let Kaby explain himself!"

Kaby stood there in silence before he explained everything that happened all those years ago. His fathers return after being gone for three years and then cutting his writing arm off, attempting suicide, and the final conversation the two of them had before he passed.

"As the years past, all the anger and betrayal I felt slowly turned into,a sense of remorse to my father because I was never able to apologize to him." Kaby explained to Natsu's back, as he had turned around in anger. "So I decided to make amends by burning this book. It's caused so much trouble for my family, I know he would agree with this." He then lit a match and moved it to the book.

"No, you're wrong." Lucy stated, causing everyone to turn to her. The match was quickly extinguished and the book began to glow.

"What the?" Kaby asked as he covered his eyes from the bright light.

"A wizard by the name of Kemu Zaleon... no, I should say Zekua Melon, cast a spell,on this book." Lucy explained.

"What?" Kaby questioned as he stared at the floating book. The letters in the title began to rearrange themselves until a new title was created.

"Dear Kaby?" Laki asked as she looked at the book.

"That's right. It's a three year letter he wrote to his beloved son. He cast a spell on it so no one but you could be able to read it." Lucy said as the book rose higher and letters shot out and began to rearrange themselves; all present were amazed as the words circled around them.

"Wow." Natsu let out.

"This is amazing." Laki said.

"Pretty!" Happy added.

"The true reason he stopped writing was because he finished his masterpiece, a letter containing everything he ever wanted to tell his beloved son." Lucy stated as the last of the letters were put into place. "This truly is his greatest work."

As the glow died and the book floated into Kaby's hands, he thought back to the last thing his father said to him.

"I thought about you the entire time."

"I... never really... understood him." Kaby cried as he began flipping through the pages. "Thank you all. I won't let any harm come to this book."

"Looks like we won't be gettin that reward." Natsu said as he scratched the back of his head.

"Huh?" Lucy asked.

"Think about it." Laki chimed in. "We were suppose to burn the book. We didn't do that."

"Come you guys." Lucy said as the two began to walk to the door. "He wants to give us something, so let him. It's not our fault he decided to keep the thing. "

"Lucy, stop being greedy." Happy said.

"I need the cash, feline!" Lucy shouted to the cat.

"Thanks, but it would be right if we did." Laki told them as she and Natsu reached the door.

"I think it's time we all went home." Nastu said before turning his head. "You too, Mr. Melon. Go on home." The group then left the house, leaving the couple shocked.

Make-Shift Camp at Night

"I can't believe we didn't take that reward." Lucy said dejected at her financial status. "Who in their right mind would turn down two million jewel?"

"If we took it, it wouldn't have looked good." Laki said waving her finger at Lucy.

"You gotta think about Fairy Tail's reputation." Natsu added before digging in to the meat cooking by the fire.

"I still can't believe it." Lucy said thinking back on the couple. "They were just renting the house so people would think they were rich. By the way Natsu, how did you know that house wasn't even theirs?"

"Hm? Oh, easy." Natsu stated taking a break from his skewered meat. "They smelled like some other house. Pretty obvious."

"Sure, maybe to an animal like you." Lucy said disappointed. "Not me. I'm still thinking about that amazing book."

"I had a feeling." Natsu said, looking at Lucy with a sinister smile. "All those papers on your desk, you're writing a novel, aren't you?"

"Guess that would explain how you know everything about books." Laki added.

"Please don't tell anyone!" Lucy screamed as her face turned a bright red. "I'm a terrible writer! It would be so embarrassing if anyone read my stuff!"

"Relax." Natsu said. "No ones gonna read it."

"I don't think that's comforting her, Natsu." Laki said before yawning. "Well, we should probably get to sleep soon. We'll be back in Magnolia tomorrow." The others nodded as they waited for the food to finish cooking.

Magnolia

"Finally, we're home." Lucy exclaimed as they passed the town gates. "I don't think I've ever walked that far in my life before."

"You gotta be kidding me." They turned around to come face to face with Gray, in his underpants. "I got back from a job the same time as flame-breathe?!"

"Watch it, Stripper!" Natsu countered his rivals insult.

"What are you-" Gray looked down and noticed his lack of clothing. "Crap, why does this keep happening to me?!" He asked no one.

"Maybe you should glue your clothes to your skin?" Laki asked jokingly.

"Haha. Laugh it up now. You won't be in a couple of days." Gray retorted now dressed.

"What do you mean?" Laki asked serious this time.

"Erza's due back any day now." Gray answered, causing Natsu to sweat profusely and Laki to gulp.

"The Erza?" Lucy asked unafraid. "The most powerful woman wizard in all of Fairy Tail? That Erza?" All three wizards and Happy nodded. "You know, I've never seen her in Sorcerer Weekly. What's she like?"

"Wild animal?" Gray asked.

"A vile beast." Natsu gave his own opinion.

"An evil monster." Laki added.

"More like a full on demon!" Happy said.

"I think we can all agree that she's scary." Natsu said before his eyes widened. "I gotta get home!" He took off with Happy heading towards their house.

"What was that about?" Lucy asked.

"Erza's kinda a stickler for the rules." Laki explained. "The last time she found Natsu's home a mess..."

"What?" Lucy asked but Laki refused to finish,, scaring Lucy even more.

Unbeknownst to them, from the east side of town, a massive decorated horn entered the town. Carrying it with one hand was a scarlet haired, armor clad woman with a seroious look on her face, entered the town and was heading for the Fairy Tail guildhall.