The carriage bounced along the bumpy road, jostling its passengers with each dip and bump. Natsu was sprawled across the seat, his face a sickly shade of green. His motion sickness had hit hard, as usual, leaving him a groaning, pitiful mess. Ben glanced at him sympathetically before turning his attention to Lucy.
Lucy, however, was far from sympathetic. She sat rigidly, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her brown eyes shooting daggers at Natsu's prone form. The tension in the small carriage was palpable, and Ben couldn't help but feel caught in the middle.
"Uh, Lucy? Everything okay?" he asked cautiously, his voice barely audible over the rattling of the wheels.
Lucy's head snapped towards Ben, her expression softening slightly at his concerned tone. Without a word, she thrust a piece of paper at him - the job flyer they had picked up at the guild.
"What's this about?" Ben asked, taking the flyer and smoothing out its crumpled edges.
"Read it," Lucy growled, her voice low and dangerous. "The fine print."
Ben's eyes scanned the paper, widening as he reached the bottom. He cleared his throat and read aloud, "Warning: Duke Everlue is a womanizer and a pervert. Currently looking to hire a blonde maid."
"Oh," Ben said, realization dawning. He glanced at Natsu, who was too sick to defend himself, his face pressed against the carriage window in a desperate attempt to cool down.
Lucy fumed, her cheeks flushed with anger. "I bet he was going to make me dress up as a maid and go into that creep's mansion! Weren't you, Natsu?" she demanded, knowing full well the Dragon Slayer was in no condition to respond.
Happy, perched on the opposite seat, his tail swishing back and forth, chimed in with his usual lack of tact. "Aw, don't be mad, Lucy! It's not like you can back out now. You gave your word, remember?" His big eyes blinked innocently, but there was a mischievous glint in them.
Lucy's glare intensified, if that was even possible. "Shut it, cat," she snapped, her hands clenching into fists.
As if on cue, Natsu let out a particularly pitiful groan from his sprawled position. "Gonna... die..." he mumbled, his words barely coherent.
Ben, sensing the tension in the carriage, quickly tried to think of a way to distract Lucy and lighten the mood. His eyes lit up as he remembered something.
"Hey, Lucy," he said, his voice casual and friendly, "what about that key you got in Hargeon? Have you had a chance to use it yet?"
The effect was immediate. Lucy's anger seemed to evaporate, replaced by a spark of excitement in her eyes. "Oh! Actually, I made the contract last night!" she exclaimed, her earlier frustration forgotten. "Want to see?" Lucy asked, already reaching for her keys.
Ben grinned. "Absolutely!"
Lucy stood up, careful not to bump her head on the carriage ceiling. She held out a silver key, her voice clear and confident. "Open, Gate of the Canis Minor! Nikora!"
There was a flash of light, and suddenly, a small white puppy appeared on the carriage floor. It was a beagle with floppy ears and large, soulful eyes that seemed to take up most of its face. The puppy wobbled on its stubby legs, looking around curiously at its new surroundings.
Lucy beamed, gently scooping up the little spirit in her arms. "Isn't he adorable? I've decided to call him Plue!"
Plue let out a soft, high-pitched bark, his tail wagging as he snuggled into Lucy's embrace.
Happy, who had been sulking earlier, eyed the new arrival with a mix of curiosity and mild disdain. "He doesn't look very strong," the cat observed, his whiskers twitching. "And he's a dog. I'm not sure how I feel about that."
Lucy laughed, scratching Plue behind his floppy ears. "Not all spirits are for fighting, Happy. Plue here is more of a companion spirit. Aren't you, boy?" She cooed at the puppy, who responded with another excited bark.
Lucy held Plue up to Ben. "Want to hold him?"
Ben hesitated for a moment, then nodded. As Lucy placed the puppy in his arms, he was surprised by how light and warm the spirit felt. Plue looked up at him with those big, trusting eyes, and Ben felt his heart melt a little.
"Hey there, little guy," he said softly, gently petting Plue's head. The puppy responded by licking his hand, causing Ben to chuckle.
Happy watched this exchange with growing interest. Despite his initial reservations, he found himself inching closer to get a better look at Plue. "I guess he's not so bad," the cat admitted grudgingly. "For a dog, anyway."
Lucy grinned triumphantly. "See? I knew you'd come around, Happy."
Plue, sensing Happy's newfound curiosity, waddled over to the blue cat. His nose twitched as he sniffed Happy, who stood frozen in place. Then, without warning, Plue gave Happy a big, sloppy lick right across the face.
"Aaaah!" Happy yelped, his fur standing on end. "Gross, dog cooties!"
The cat bolted across the carriage, diving behind Natsu and using his shirt as an impromptu towel. "Natsu! Save me from the weird dog!"
Natsu, still green-faced from motion sickness, groaned as Happy rubbed his face vigorously against his back. "H-Happy... stop... you're making it worse..."
Lucy couldn't help but burst into laughter at the scene. Ben chuckled too, scooping up Plue before he could chase after Happy.
"Aww, come on, Happy," Lucy teased between giggles. "He just wants to be friends!"
Happy peeked out from behind Natsu, his eyes narrowed. "Friends don't slobber all over each other!"
For the rest of the ride, Happy used Natsu as a living shield, ducking behind him whenever Plue so much as looked in his direction. Natsu, caught in the middle and still battling his motion sickness, could only groan in misery.
The carriage rattled to a stop in the quaint town where the client lived. Natsu practically fell out, looking green but relieved to be on solid ground again.
"Ugh, I'm never riding in one of those death traps again," he groaned, wobbling a bit.
Happy patted him on the back. "You say that every time, Natsu."
Lucy stretched, taking in the charming town around them. "Well, we're here. Should we head straight to the client's place?"
Natsu's stomach growled loudly in response. "No way! I'm starving. We gotta eat first."
Ben chuckled, pointing to a cozy-looking café on the corner. "How about there? They've got outdoor seating."
"Perfect!" Natsu perked up at the sight of food.
As they started walking, Lucy suddenly stopped. "Oh! I just remembered. I saw this cute little shop back there. Mind if I check it out real quick? You guys go ahead and order. I'll catch up!"
"Sure thing," Ben nodded. "Just don't take too long. You know how Natsu gets around food."
Lucy grinned and waved as she headed off. "I won't! Save me a seat!"
Natsu and Ben made their way to the café, settling at a table under a colorful umbrella. The smell of fresh bread and coffee filled the air, making Natsu's mouth water.
"I'll have one of everything," Natsu told the waitress when she came by, earning an eye roll from Ben.
"Maybe start with the breakfast platter," Ben suggested. "And we'll need another menu for our friend when she gets here."
As they waited for their food, Natsu's color slowly returned. He drummed his fingers on the table, clearly impatient for his meal to arrive.
"Feeling better?" Ben asked, sipping a glass of water.
Natsu grinned. "Getting there. Food always helps after those stupid carriage rides."
"I noticed," Ben laughed. "Just try not to inhale everything before Lucy gets back, okay?"
"No promises," Natsu replied with a mischievous glint in his eye.
The waitress returned with a massive platter piled high with eggs, bacon, sausages, and various pastries. Natsu's eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning.
"Now we're talking!" he exclaimed, diving in with gusto.
Ben watched in amused disbelief as Natsu practically inhaled his food. "You know, one of these days you're going to choke."
Natsu paused just long enough to grin. "Nah, I've got a iron stomach. Hey, you gonna finish that?"
As Ben guarded his own plate from Natsu's wandering fork, he couldn't help but wonder what was taking Lucy so long.
As if on cue, they heard the click of heels approaching. Ben glanced up and nearly choked on his drink. Lucy sauntered towards them, wearing a maid uniform that was worlds away from the ones at the Heartfilia manor. Short skirt, thigh-high socks, and a top that hugged her curves just right. Her blonde hair was done up in cute pigtails, completing the look.
With a flirty wink, Lucy leaned in close to Ben. "Can I get you anything, Master?" she purred.
Ben's mouth went unexpectedly dry. "Uh... L-Lucy? What are you wearing?"
Lucy straightened up, a confident smile on her face. "Well, I thought it over. I figure I'm hot enough to make this work, right?"
"Y-yeah, definitely," Ben stammered, his face burning.
Meanwhile, Natsu and Happy were having a frantic whisper-shouted conversation.
"I was just kidding about the maid thing!" Happy hissed.
"Well, she took it seriously!" Natsu whispered back. "We can't tell her now!"
"What was that?" Lucy asked, her voice taking on a dangerous edge. Clearly overhearing Natsu and Happy's poorly whispered conversation.
"Nothing!" they yelped in unison, looking like kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
Lucy's eyes narrowed, and Ben could practically see the steam coming out of her ears. Before she could explode, Natsu jumped up, nearly knocking over the table.
"Hey, look at the time!" he exclaimed, grabbing Happy. "We should really go meet that client, right? Like, right now!"
Without waiting for a response, Natsu took off down the street, dragging a protesting Happy behind him. Lucy huffed, stomping after them in her maid outfit.
"Get back here, you jerks!" she shouted.
Ben sighed, reaching for his wallet. He quickly counted out the necessary jewels and left them on the table, adding a generous tip for the trouble they'd caused. "Probably should have seen that coming," he muttered, shaking his head.
As he turned to leave, the waitress caught his eye. "Thank you," she said gratefully. "Your friends are... quite lively."
Ben chuckled awkwardly. "That's one way to put it. Sorry about the commotion."
He jogged out of the restaurant, trying to catch up with the others. The streets were bustling with afternoon activity, and he had to weave through the crowd, occasionally catching glimpses of Lucy's maid outfit or Natsu's pink hair.
"Excuse me! Sorry! Coming through!" Ben called out as he navigated around startled pedestrians. A few people gave him odd looks, probably wondering why he was chasing after a maid and a guy with a yowling cat.
As they approached the fancy manor, Ben finally caught up, slightly out of breath. Lucy had slowed down, her eyes wide as she took in the ornate architecture and well-manicured gardens
"Wow," she breathed, momentarily forgetting her anger. "It's beautiful!"
Natsu, ever impatient, marched up to the front door and gave it a solid knock. The sound echoed eerily through the seemingly empty house.
Ben glanced around, a slight frown creasing his brow. Something felt off. The grounds were immaculate, but he couldn't spot a single gardener or worker. It was unnaturally quiet for such a large estate.
Before he could voice his concerns, a muffled voice called out from inside. "Please, come around to the back entrance."
Exchanging puzzled looks, the group made their way around the house. As they turned the corner, they found a middle-aged couple waiting for them. The man had a kind face, but his eyes held a hint of worry. His wife stood close by, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
"Welcome," the man said, his voice soft but urgent. "I'm Kaby Melon, and this is my wife. Thank you for coming."
As they settled into chairs on the back patio, Mr. Melon leaned forward, his expression serious. "I have a simple request. I need you to find a book called Daybreak in the possession of Duke Everlue and bring it to me. It's the only copy in existence."
"Sounds easy enough," Natsu grinned, always ready for action. "What's the catch?"
Mr. Melon's expression darkened, and his wife placed a comforting hand on his arm. "I want to see it destroyed."
Ben blinked, surprised. "Hold on. You're willing to pay 200,000 jewel just to destroy a book?"
Mr. Melon chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Actually, you're mistaken. I've increased the reward... to 2,000,000 jewel."
The team's jaws dropped in unison.
"Two m-million?" Lucy stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief. "For one book?"
Mr. Melon nodded gravely, his hands clasped tightly in front of him. "That's right. I understand it's a significant sum, but this book... it's of utmost importance to me."
Natsu's grin widened, a fire igniting in his eyes. "Oh, we're definitely taking it. Right, guys?"
As the others nodded enthusiastically, Ben couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this job than met the eye. The enormous increase in the reward was suspicious, to say the least.
Kaby cleared his throat, his expression somber. "I feel I must reiterate - what I'm asking you to do is, essentially, stealing. I would completely understand if you're hesitant to accept such a task."
Before he could finish, Natsu jumped to his feet, practically vibrating with excitement. "Hesitant? No way! We're on it, Mr. Melon! I've got a fire in my belly now!"
Without waiting for a response, Natsu grabbed Lucy and Ben by their arms, all but dragging them towards the gate. "Come on, team! We've got a book to steal!"
"Natsu, wait!" Lucy protested, stumbling in her maid outfit. "We should at least discuss a plan!"
Ben allowed himself to be pulled along, but he couldn't help glancing back at Mr. Melon. Instead of relief or happiness at their acceptance, the client's face was etched with a deep sadness. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Ben felt a chill run down his spine. There was definitely more to this story than they were being told.
As they hurried down the street towards Duke Everlue's mansion, Ben's mind raced with questions. Why was this book so important? What could possibly justify such an enormous reward? And why did Mr. Melon look so... heartbroken?
But with Natsu's enthusiasm infectious and Lucy's determination palpable, Ben kept his doubts to himself. For now, at least. He made a mental note to keep his eyes and ears open during this mission. Something told him they were in for more than just a simple book theft.
"Alright, team," Natsu declared as they approached the looming gates of Everlue's estate. "Let's show this Duke what Fairy Tail wizards can do!"
As they approached Duke Everlue's mansion, Lucy's eyes widened at the sight before her. The estate was a monstrous display of wealth and poor taste, rising from the dense forest that surrounded it like a gaudy sore thumb. The mansion itself was a bizarre mishmash of architectural styles, with golden domes, spiraling towers, and an abundance of statues that seemed to depict the Duke himself in various heroic poses.
A tall, imposing wall encircled the property, its iron gates adorned with intricate filigree that, upon closer inspection, spelled out "EVERLUE" in an ostentatious script. The forest pressed close to the walls, its ancient trees dwarfing even the tallest spires of the mansion, as if nature itself was trying to hide this eyesore from the world.
Lucy took a deep breath, smoothing down her maid outfit. The fabric felt itchy against her skin, a constant reminder of the role she was about to play. "Alright, I can do this," she muttered, more to herself than the others. Her voice quavered slightly, betraying her nerves. she pressed an intercom button to the right of the gate before she could second guess the plan.
Suddenly, the ground erupted, and a massive figure burst forth. Lucy stumbled back, eyes wide as she took in the sight before her. A hulking, gorilla-like maid with shocking pink hair towered over her, easily seven feet tall.
"You rang?" the maid grunted, her voice deep and gravelly.
Lucy struggled to find her voice. "Uh, y-yes! I'm here about the maid position?"
The brutish maid eyed her suspiciously before bellowing, "Master! We have an applicant!"
The ground shook again, and a small, portly, gremlin of a man with nose hair so long he styled it like a mustache popped out. This, Lucy realized, must be Duke Everlue.
The Duke looked her up and down, his beady eyes narrowing. After a moment, he sniffed disdainfully. "No, no. Get out, ugly."
Lucy's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Everlue sneered. "I have no use for ugly maids. Virgo, show her my beauties!"
The gorilla-maid, apparently named Virgo, nodded and clapped her hands. Four more maids appeared, each more grotesque than the last. They posed dramatically, and Everlue beamed with pride.
"Now these are beautiful maids!" he declared.
Lucy stood there, stunned and hurt. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and anger. Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed off, leaving a smug Duke Everlue behind.
As Lucy approached, the boys were hiding a decent way up the road. Ben had used his plant magic to grow a dense cover of bushes and shrubs, effectively concealing their position without drawing attention. He was peering through a pair of binoculars, intently watching the manor.
Lucy's face was flushed with anger and frustration, tears threatening to spill over. Her fists were clenched at her sides, knuckles white with tension.
"That... that... ugh!" she sputtered, struggling to find words strong enough to express her indignation.
Ben lowered his binoculars, turning to face Lucy with concern etched on his features. "What happened?" he asked, his voice soft but urgent.
Lucy's eyes flashed dangerously, a mix of hurt and fury swirling in their depths. "That creep called me ugly! Me! And you should see the 'beauties' he keeps around. They look like they crawled out of a swamp!"
Happy floated nearby, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Maybe you're just not his type, Lucy."
Lucy rounded on the cat, her voice low and menacing. "One more word, cat, and I'll turn you into a pair of mittens."
Happy yelped and ducked behind Natsu, who was trying (and failing) to hide his amusement.
Ben's expression softened, a mix of sympathy and something else flickering across his face. He reached out, gently patting Lucy's head in a soothing gesture. His touch was light, almost hesitant, as if he wasn't quite used to offering comfort. "There, there," he murmured, his voice low and reassuring. "Don't listen to that jerk. You're very pretty, Lucy."
The compliment, casual as it was, caught Lucy off guard. Her cheeks reddened slightly, the anger in her eyes giving way to a flicker of surprise and pleasure. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Natsu chimed in.
"So... no maid plan?" he asked, oblivious to Lucy's emotional state and the moment that had just passed between her and Ben.
Ben shot Natsu a look that was half exasperation, half amusement. He turned back to the manor, raising the binoculars once more. His posture was focused and alert, reminiscent of his demeanor in Hargeon. But Lucy noticed, with a small spark of warmth, that the cold edge that had defined him then was noticeably and thankfully absent.
As Ben scanned the grounds of the manor, Lucy found herself studying him. The serious set of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes as he searched for any sign of weakness in the manor's defenses. There was something both reassuring and intriguing about his quiet competence.
"We need a new plan," Ben muttered, lowering the binoculars once more. "That creep might have terrible taste, but he's got the place locked down tight."
Lucy nodded, her earlier frustration giving way to determination. "Right," she said, squaring her shoulders. "So what's our next move?".
Suddenly, a wicked grin spread across Ben's face as he looked Natsu up and down. "Actually, the plan could still work. It just needs... adjustment."
Natsu's eyes widened, a sudden chill running down his spine. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ten minutes later, Natsu stood before them, his pink hair now a vibrant blonde thanks to Lucy's ColorS device. His face was painted with exaggerated makeup, giving him a garish appearance that was somehow both comical and disturbing. Lucy had gone all out, applying thick blue eyeshadow that stretched almost to his eyebrows, bright red circles of blush on his cheeks, and lipstick so red it looked like he'd been drinking blood.
"I can't believe I agreed to this," Natsu grumbled, tugging at the short skirt of Lucy's maid outfit.
Lucy, trying hard not to laugh, stepped forward to adjust the stuffed bust. As she did, Happy's head popped out, gasping for air.
"I don't like this any more than you do!" the cat complained.
Lucy shoved him back in. "Man up, cat! We're all in this together."
Lucy stepped back, tilting her head as she admired their handiwork. She pressed her lips together, trying desperately not to burst into laughter. The makeup was absolutely atrocious, which was exactly what they were going for.
"You know, 'Natasha'," she said, her voice quivering with suppressed giggles, "you don't look half bad. And by that, I mean you look perfectly terrible."
"Natasha?" Natsu spluttered, his face turning as pink as his natural hair color beneath the layers of garish makeup.
Ben chuckled, patting Natsu on the shoulder. "Yep, that's your name now. Natasha the beautiful maid. Well, beautiful in Duke Everlue's eyes, anyway."
Happy's muffled voice came from inside the bust, sounding equally amused and uncomfortable. "Aye sir! I mean, aye ma'am!"
Lucy snorted, quickly covering her mouth with her hand. She gave Natsu a gentle push towards the gate. "Alright, Natasha. It's showtime. Break a leg!"
Natsu took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. "Fine. But if that creepy Duke tries anything funny, I'm burning the whole place down."
As 'Natasha' stumbled towards the mansion in heels, Ben and Lucy shared a look. This was either going to be their most brilliant plan yet... or their most disastrous.
"Alright," Ben whispered, his hands beginning to glow with a soft green light. "Let's get into position."
Lucy watched in fascination as the nearby shrubbery started to shift and grow, twisting into a dense, concealing thicket. "That never gets old," she murmured, impressed.
They crouched behind the living barrier, peering through gaps in the leaves. To their amazement, they watched as Natsu, or rather 'Natasha', was welcomed into the mansion with open arms. The Duke's voice carried across the grounds, gushing about his "new beauty."
"I can't believe it actually worked," Lucy muttered, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Never underestimate the power of bad taste," Ben chuckled, though his eyes remained alert and focused on their surroundings.
Carefully, they began to move. Ben used his magic to create a path of elongated grass and bending branches, providing cover as they made their way around to the back of the house. Lucy marveled at how seamlessly they blended into the landscape, like shadows in a forest.
Once they reached the rear of the mansion, they found a sturdy oak tree with a good view of the building. Ben created footholds in the trunk, and they climbed up, settling onto wide branches that gave them a perfect vantage point.
"Now we wait," Ben said, pulling out a pair of binoculars from his pack.
Time ticked by slowly. They took turns with the binoculars, scanning the windows for any sign of Natsu or the book. Lucy fidgeted on her branch, the bark rough against her palms.
"It's been twenty minutes," she whispered, worry creeping into her voice. "You don't think he forgot the plan, do you?"
Ben lowered the binoculars, his brow furrowed. "Natsu may be... unpredictable, but he knows how important this is. He'll come through."
Just as the words left his mouth, a thunderous crash echoed through the air. They watched, wide-eyed, as Natsu burst through one of the large glass windows on the back of the house, a book clutched tightly in his hand.
"Well," Ben said dryly, "I guess that's one way to give us a signal."
Lucy couldn't help but laugh, despite the chaos unfolding before them. "That's Natsu for you. Subtle as a sledgehammer."
Suddenly, a shrill voice pierced the air, so loud it reached their treetop perch. "THIEF! THIEF! GUARDS, MAIDS, EVERYONE GET THAT THIEF AND GET MY BOOK BACK!"
"Looks like Everlue's not happy," Ben muttered, wincing at the volume.
They watched as Natsu hit the ground running, his maid cap askew and makeup smeared. He bolted towards the forest, still in the ridiculous maid outfit.
"Come on," Lucy hissed, scrambling down the tree. "We gotta move!"
Ben followed suit, and they met Natsu at the edge of the forest. Without a word, they all took off running, weaving through the trees.
After a few minutes of frantic sprinting, they slowed to catch their breath. Lucy rounded on Natsu, her eyes blazing.
"What the hell happened?" she demanded.
Natsu, panting, yanked off the frilly maid cap. "Well, I got into the library alright. But man, that Everlue guy is a total creep! He kept trying to get handsy, so I had to... uh, persuade him to take a little nap."
Ben's eyes widened. "You didn't..."
"Relax! I just gave him a little tap on the head," Natsu said, miming a gentle bonk. "Anyway, once he was out cold, I started looking for the book. But geez, that library was massive! Shelves as far as the eye could see. I swear I spent an hour just trying to figure out where to start."
Lucy shook her head, both exasperated and impressed. "And let me guess, by the time you found it..."
"Yep," Natsu nodded, "Creepy McHandsy was starting to stir. I had just grabbed the book when I heard him groan. Next thing I know, he's sitting up, eyes all bleary, spots me with the book, and starts yelling his head off."
Ben raised an eyebrow. "And the window?"
Natsu grinned sheepishly. "Fastest way out?"
Lucy groaned, but couldn't help a small smile. "You're impossible. Did you at least get the right book?"
Natsu held up the book triumphantly. "Daybreak, just like the client wanted!"
Lucy's eyes widened. "Wait, let me see that!" She snatched the book from Natsu's hands, her face lighting up. "No way! This is by Kemu Zeleon! He's my favorite author!"
Lucy, now might not be the best time for a book club," Ben said, glancing around nervously.
But Lucy was already flipping through the pages. "Just a quick peek! I can't believe I'm holding an unpublished work by-"
A rustling sound came from the nearby trees, cutting her off. Ben tensed, his hands glowing green as he prepared his magic." Guys," he whispered urgently, "we really need to move. Now."
Lucy reluctantly closed the book, her curiosity still burning. "Fine, but I'm definitely reading this later."
Before anyone could react, two figures dropped from the canopy above, landing with surprising grace given their contrasting appearances.
The first was an incredibly tall man, easily towering over seven feet. His blue hair jutted out in four straight points, defying gravity and common sense in equal measure. He wore a blue tracksuit with yellow highlights that seemed to shimmer in the dappled forest light. His face was set in a stern expression, dark eyes scanning the group with calculated precision.
Beside him stood a man of average height, his bald head gleaming in the sunlight that filtered through the leaves. The only hair on his head was a long, braided ponytail at the back, reaching all the way down to his legs. He wore a pristine white tunic that seemed at odds with their forest surroundings. But what truly caught everyone's attention was the weapon he wielded – a giant frying pan with a handle so long it resembled a pole arm.
Natsu, still rocking that ridiculous maid outfit, stepped forward with his fists blazing. "Who the hell are you guys?"
The tall man's voice was surprisingly smooth for such a big dude. "We're here for the book you stole. Hand it over, and you might keep all your limbs."
Natsu didn't miss a beat. He reached into the stuffed bust of his costume and yanked out a very disgruntled Happy. "Stick with Lucy, buddy," he said, tossing the cat towards their friend.
Ben's eyes darted between Lucy and their new opponents. "Lucy, run," he said, his voice low and urgent.
"What? No way, I'm not leaving you guys!" Lucy protested, clutching the book to her chest.
Ben shook his head. "They're after the book. We're trusting you to keep it safe."
The shorter, bald guy smirked. "Go ahead, girlie. Run off. We'll find you after we're done putting your friends in the ground."
Natsu's grin was fierce. "Don't underestimate Fairy Tail mages, baldy."
The tall man let out a booming laugh. "Fairy Tail? Please. We've got plenty of experience dealing with wizards."
Lucy hesitated, torn between staying with her friends and protecting their mission. Happy tugged at her sleeve. "Come on, Lucy! They can handle this!"
With a final worried glance at her friends, Lucy nodded and took off into the forest, Happy flying close behind. The sound of her footsteps faded, leaving the clearing silent except for the crackle of Natsu's flames.
Ben's hands glowed green as vines began to creep along the forest floor. "So," he said casually, "you guys got names, or should we just call you Tall and Baldy?"
The tall man smirked. "We're the Vanish Brothers, from the Southern Wolves mercenary guild in Seven."
Ben's body instantly tensed, his eyes widening slightly. The brothers exchanged a knowing glance, interpreting Ben's reaction as fear.
Natsu, still in his ridiculous maid outfit, looked confused. "Hey, Ben, you know these clowns?"
Ben swallowed hard. "Yeah, I've heard of them. The Southern Wolves... they're soldiers for hire. Damn good ones, too."
The bald brother twirled his giant frying pan, its polished surface glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the cedar and oak leaves. "Oh? Looks like our reputation precedes us. Care to share how you know so much about us, boy?"
Ben's jaw clenched, his hand instinctively reaching for the small flower tucked into the top pocket of his coat. "Let's just say I've had some... run-ins with your guild before."
The taller brother chuckled, his voice echoing through the quiet forest. "Well, we've been branching out lately. Did so well after the war in Seven that we decided to expand our operations into Fiore. New territory, same old business."
Natsu cracked his knuckles, grinning despite the tension. The absurdity of his maid outfit only seemed to heighten his confidence. "War, huh? Bet it wasn't as tough as facing Fairy Tail wizards!"
The bald brother sneered, his grip tightening on the oversized frying pan. "Please. We've taken down plenty of wizards. You two will be a piece of cake."
Ben's mind went to the flower he had in the breast pocket of his jacket. "Don't count on it, baldy. We've got a few tricks up our sleeves."
The forest around them seemed to grow still, as if the very trees were holding their breath. The cedars loomed overhead, their branches creating a natural arena for the impending clash. Oak leaves rustled softly, the only sound breaking the tense silence.