"I hope you know this is all your fault." Gray grumbled as he and Vivi were walking back to Magnolia.
Vivi frowned over at him, though couldn't really argue. After the two had calmed down, they had realized that collecting their reward would be rather hard without those thieves that Vivi had sent flying. The two had to book it in the direction they were sent flying to go and collect them with a crowd of mad townspeople behind them. They hadn't exactly been pleased with their bank being destroyed. After all that was settled, the two had only gotten half of the promised reward to pay for the damages to the bank. They were then once again chased out of town, and unable to grab another train. So they've been walking this entire time.
"Give it a rest, ya icy stripper." Vivi grumbled as she looked away from him. "I apologized, which was more than you deserved."
Gray glared down at her with his brow twitching in aggravation. Why did she like to push his buttons so much? He then sighed as he stopped walking. Vivi stopped as well while looking at him in question.
"I need to find a bathroom." Gray said. "So give me a sec."
Vivi rolled her eyes though just turned away to wait for him to finish his business. Gray went off into some bushes with Vivi taking a seat down on a log not too far away. She hoped he hurried because she was dying to get back to the guildhall. She was tired and felt gross and sweaty. That meant her nice large bathtub had to be calling her name. As she waited on him, there was suddenly a large crashing noise that had her whirling around. What in the name of Mavis was going on?
"Gray!" She called while running forward.
She broke through the bushes while seeing Gray, who stripped down into his underwear, was facing—!
"Natsu!" She exclaimed in surprise.
Natsu looked up at her, seeming surprised to see her as well, especially with Gray of all people.
"Vi, what are you doing here?" Natsu asked. "And with this loser?"
"Who are you calling a loser, fire breath?!" Gray demanded.
He then grunted when Vivi just shoved him to the side out of her way, so she could talk to Natsu.
"We went on a job together since Master said I had to take him along with me." Vivi explained. "We're just heading back now to Magnolia."
"Us too." Natsu said while putting his arm around Vivi's shoulders. "Man, do I have a story to tell you!"
He laughed while walking along with her telling her all about his job with Lucy and Happy. Lucy watched them as Vivi laughed hard at some of the things Natsu was saying.
"Natsu and Vivi seem really close." Lucy said as she watched them chat and laugh.
"That's because they're the best of friends." Happy said. "Practically siblings. They've trained together, fought together, and much more. They've teamed up before many times, but then Master told them they probably shouldn't team up anymore after causing severe damage to not only one town but three! They're a destructive duo."
Lucy's mouth hung open— and though she wasn't completely surprised, it was still a bit stunning. Vivi was just as destructive as Natsu?!
"Yeah, those two are like a match made in hell." Gray said as he sighed. "All they do is cause trouble together."
"You're not much better, Gray." Happy pointed out. "You cause trouble all the time."
"Shut-up, cat." Gray said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Happy laughed behind his paw as Lucy smiled as she continued to watch Vivi and Natsu. It was Vivi telling her story now, and she was making somewhat wild gestures as she spoke that had Natsu roaring in laughter. It seemed as if both teams had their own crazy fun on their jobs. Lucy wonders if it's always like this, or if she was just lucky to have such a crazy first adventure.
***
After a while the two groups decided to take a small break, which Happy took full advantage of as he sat down to fish.
"So you're both on your way back from a job?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah, there's a shortcut through these woods that will get you back to town in no time." Gray explained.
He pointed towards a path between some trees, and Lucy tilted her head guessing they'd be home soon. She hoped so. She was tired of walking.
"See?!" Happy asked. "I told you so!"
"Yeah, well, if your nose is so great, how come you didn't know Gray was right in front of us, Smart guy?" Lucy questioned.
Happy was deterred by her question at all as he continued to fish at his own leisure.
"There are some things you don't want to smell." Happy said simply.
"What'd you say?!" Gray demanded.
He then turned to glare at Vivi and Natsu as the both of them snorted in amusement at Happy's claim.
"I agree, so go home, and we'll smell you later." Natsu said to Gray. "But Vi can stay."
Gray rolled his eyes while standing up, and surprisingly Vivi stood up along with him. He actually wasn't expecting that one.
"I'd love to stay with you guys, Natsu, but Gray and I took this mission together—even if unwillingly." She said. "So that means we need to finish it together and report to Master."
Natsu pouted though nodded his head in understanding. He guesses he'd just have to hang out with his best friend once he and his group return to the guildhall. Gray almost felt like smirking in triumph as the fire breather looked bummed, but they did need to get back. If the rumor he heard was true, they all needed to return before it was too late.
"Yeah, we'll start heading back." Gray said as he placed his hands on his hips and turned away from them. "And unless you want trouble, you should too."
Vivi frowned along with the rest of them in confusion as she wondered what Gray meant. Had she missed something? Gray looked back at the group while not surprised Vivi was clueless. What he was about to say was discussed before she had arrived to the guildhall to inform Makarov of the job she was taking.
"Why do you say that?" Lucy asked.
"Because Erza's due back anytime now." Gray explained.
While Natsu looked freaked out by the mention of Erza, Vivi frowned. Great, now she'd have to deal with that redhead when she gets home. Just another headache for her.
"The Erza?" Lucy asked. "Whoa."
She wouldn't be so wowed once she actually met the redhead. Vivi certainly wasn't when she met Erza. Of course, that's when they were all still kids and no one knew who they were. They were just little nobodies back then.
"Yep, she's the strongest, most powerful woman in Fairy Tail." Happy mumbled around the fish in his mouth.
Vivi frowned even more as she crossed her arms over her chest. She couldn't disagree with that one even if she tried. Erza is the strongest woman in the Fairy Tail Guild while Vivi ranks closer to fourth much to her chagrin. Though there was a certain female S-class wizard who was definitely a close second to the famed Erza Scarlet. Vivi would pay big money for Estella to show Erza a thing or two.
"I can't wait to meet her!" Lucy said not seeming to notice how depressed the boys looked or how annoyed Vivi seemed to be. "But, you know, I've never seen a picture of her in Sorcerer's Weekly or anything. What's she like?"
"Scary." The boys said in unison as Vivi snorted, "A pain in the ass."
Lucy's eyes widened in shock wondering how scary Erza was, and why Vivi seemed to dislike her a lot.
"A wild animal." Gray suggested.
"A vile beast." Natsu said.
"More like a full on monster!" Happy cut in.
Lucy got more freaked out by the second as Vivi was rolling her eyes with a huff.
"You're freaking Lucy out, you guys." Vivi said while patting the blonde on the head. "Erza does have monster strength, but she doesn't actually look like a monster."
This had Lucy looking a bit calmer since she was picturing this towering beast with horns.
"She doesn't have to look like one to be one." Gray pointed out. "All we can agree on is that she's definitely that scary."
Happy and Natsu nodded in agreement, but Lucy could tell by Vivi's expression that the bluenette did not agree. So Vivi wasn't afraid of Erza like the boys? She seemed more annoyed than anything as she turned away from the group as the boys were talking about Erza and her level of scary. Lucy looked at Vivi curiously wondering what was up. It was like there was some bad news between Vivi and Erza.
"You can discuss how scary she is on the way home." Vivi said, waving her hand dismissively at their babbling. "You guys did want to get home before she did, right?"
"Right, we better get moving!" Natsu said, grabbing his bag.
Before the group could get a move on, however, they were hit by a blast of sand magic that buried them. Once the dust settled, Vivi sat half buried in the sand with her brow twitching in aggravation.
"What now?" Gray asked, looking annoyed as well.
Natsu, whose head had been buried in the sand, popped up coughing up some sand.
"Happy!" He exclaimed.
Vivi stiffened while looking around for the blue feline. He really was gone. Did whoever attacked them take him? Well, now she was really annoyed. Vivi dug herself out of the sand then went to help Lucy up.
"Ya know, I was already annoyed knowing I'd have to deal with Erza later." Vivi said as she walked off the sand pile. "Now I've got sand in places it doesn't belong, and someone stupidly kidnapped a member of Fairy Tail. It's like the universe is trying to piss me off."
Lucy gulped looking at Vivi's annoyed expression as the bluenette was cracking her knuckles.
"I can see Erza isn't the only scary woman in Fairy Tail." Lucy murmured.
She definitely didn't want to be the one who took Happy. They were so gonna get it once their group caught up to them.
"We have to get to Happy!" Natsu said. "They didn't go far! Let's go!"
Natsu hurried after those who took Happy with the others following. When they arrived, they looked down to see a group of Wizards ready to barbeque their friend over a fire.
"Hold it right there!" Natsu shouted down at them.
"Happy!" Lucy called down in worry.
Sure the cat could be annoying, but she didn't want the little guy hurt. They had to get him out of there.
"Thank goodness!" Happy cried. "Now I'm not going to taste weird."
Vivi wasn't sure what he meant by that one, but it wasn't like it really mattered.
"That's our friend you're trying to roast, buddy." Natsu said as he cracked his knuckles. "Sorry but you're going to have to make other plans for dinner."
"You're all wizards, aren't you?" Gray asked. "What guild are you from?"
"I'm not telling." The one who blasted them with sand said as he smirked.
Vivi smirked as well as she stepped up. If they didn't want to talk, that was fine by her.
"Fine," Vivi said. "I don't care if you answer or not. Only thing that matters is that we're taking Happy back! Let's go, boys!"
She then jumped over the hillside—caution to the wind—causing Lucy to gasp as Vivi landed on the large chicken man with her feet planted firmly in his face. She pushed off of him to do a tuck and roll in the air as he was falling backwards to smash into the ground.
"There she goes again." Gray said, sighing as he scratched the back of his head.
That girl was always rushing in without thinking. One of these days she was going to wind up hurt or something.
"Well, I'm not being left out." Natsu said grinning. "Let's do this, Gray."
"Fine, but don't start telling me what to do." Gray retorted.
The two joined the fight after that as Vivi elbowed one of the twin wizards in the gut. Natsu took down the other one then went after the leader of the group as Gray dodged the chicken man who managed to get up. Looks like he was sturdier than Vivi thought. Not that is mattered. These losers were going down in the end.
"Sand Bomb, go!" The little troll looking leader of the group said as he hit the ground.
His magic created a circle of sand around Natsu who shouted in protest. Vivi paused for a second to worry about her best friend before mentally shaking her head. Natsu would be fine. As if something like that would slow him down for long.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried out in worry.
"He's fine!" Gray said. "Go and help Happy!"
"Right!" Lucy said.
She ran off towards where Happy was with those two twins trying to intercept her. However, Gray easily took them down with a few swift kicks and punches, so Lucy could get to Happy.
"Help!" Happy cried. "Lucy's going to eat me!"
"Shut-up, Cat!" Lucy snapped.
She then gasped when the chicken man appeared at her side with his little flaming pitchfork. As she let out a cry of fear, Vivi appeared between her and the chicken man. She jumped up to kick him right in the face again to send him flying backwards. Lucy and Happy didn't hesitate to take the time to run as Gray joined Vivi in front of the chicken man who stumbled around looking as if he just needed a few more hits to take him down.
"Looks like you're a tough one." Vivi said grinning. "Fine by me."
Vivi then went to take him out at the legs as Gray went for his already throbbing head. The two together easily took him down, and Lucy watched in amazement at how easy they made it seem.
"Next." Gray said.
The two then turned towards the next guy who had a glowing purple orb between his hands. They both got into a fighting stance when the orb between his hands seemed to glow even brighter.
"You'll learn of having someone special in your life, but the stars point to trouble with women." The man said to Gray.
"He's telling my fortune?" Gray asked, looking annoyed.
"Yeah, and it doesn't sound like a good one." Vivi said laughing. "I knew you'd never have any luck with girls, Frosty!"
"Shut-up!" Gray snapped then broke that guy's crystal ball along with his jaw with one strike from the elbow.
The guy dropped after that only leaving one more guy to take care of. Lucy was still just shocked at how strong Vivi and Gray were.
"They didn't use magic at all." Lucy said. "Wow…Gray, put some clothes on."
Gray gasped looking down to see he was suddenly in his underwear. Vivi shook her head at him wondering where he misplaced his clothes this time.
"Crap!" Gray said.
Vivi snorted, then looked towards the large sand bomb in the sky as an explosion of fire came from it. She grinned as Natsu freed himself from that other guy's magic. He looked a bit dirty, but besides that, he looked to be in one piece.
"You jerk," Natsu said as he wiped some sand off of him. "Now, I've got a mouth full of sand and it's all your fault. Save that kind of stuff for Matt."
He then spit out some of the sand while wondering how Matt could even eat that stuff.
"Now here it goes," Natsu said as fire collected around his fist and jumped into the air. "Fire Dragon: Iron Fist!"
He hit the ringleader hard causing the guy to cry out in pain as he was practically barbequed. Lucy sweat-dropped thinking Natsu might have gone slightly overboard again as a tree crashed to the ground due to the impact of the attack. She sighed, hanging her head.
As the boys were talking behind her, Vivi looked down at the guys who attacked them as they were now tied to a tree. Now that the excitement has died down, maybe they could get some answers from these guys.
"Don't you think you went overboard again, Natsu?" Gray asked.
"So what if I did?" Natsu questioned. "I got the job done, didn't I?"
"Grow up already!" Gray said. "You're an embarrassment to the guild."
"What?!" Natsu demanded.
As he and Gray butt heads, Lucy joined Vivi over by the tree as the bluenette was crouched in front of the ringleader.
"Hey, pal," Vivi began while ignoring the bickering going on behind her. "You ready to answer any questions yet? Like who are you? And why you're all the way out there?"
The guy coughed obviously still a bit shaken from his fight with Natsu. The pinkette had done quite a number on him. Lucy was about to say he probably wouldn't be talking anytime soon, but the guy finally managed to make out some words.
"Lulla—lulla." He choked out.
"Huh?" Lucy murmured. "What's lulla?"
She looked to Vivi wondering if the bluenette might now, but Vivi shook her head. She doesn't know who or what lulla is.
"Lullaby." The guy managed to get out.
Vivi's eyes widened wondering if he could be talking about what she thought he was talking about. The others just seemed confused since they had no clue.
"Did you say lullaby?!" Vivi demanded as she grabbed the guy's shirt to jerk him closer. "Hey, answer me!"
Lucy looked at Vivi in shock as she wondered what had her so riled up all of a sudden.
"Vi, what's wrong?" Natsu asked. "Do you know what he's talking about?"
Before Vivi could reply the group was sent flying by a shadow that appeared suddenly to knock them back. Vivi grunted as she landed on her ass. She then looked to the tree as the shadow wrapped around it before jerking it into the ground along with those wizards. What was going on? And what did Lullaby have to do with it?
"What was that?" Lucy asked, sounding scared.
"Who was that?" Natsu questioned.
"Well, whoever it was, they're fast." Gray said. "I can't even sense their presence anymore."
As the others picked themselves off the ground, Gray looked to Vivi as the bluenette stared hard down at the ground. He also noted her fists were balled tightly and shaking. He didn't know what was up with her, but whatever this Lullaby thing was—it had her on edge.
"But what could this mean?" Natsu asked.
"Lullaby." Lucy murmured.
Lucy turned her eyes on Vivi as the bluenette turned away from what just happened.
"Let's go." Vivi said as she started walking away.
"Wait, Vivi." Gray said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "What's up? You seem to know what that guy was talking about. What's this Lullaby thing?"
Vivi was silent for a moment before letting out a sigh as she stuffed her hands into her pockets.
"Let's just hope he wasn't talking about what I'm thinking." Vivi said. "I want to talk to the Master about this. After that—if he has no protests, I'll tell you then."
Gray frowned though guessed he had no choice. If it was so serious that Vivi needed to speak with the Master, he'd wait until then. Vivi looked back forward while frowning. She prays this has nothing to do with that Lullaby. The Lullaby her ancestor Diva's—the creator of Melody Magic—pupil had made and that the Black Wizard Zeref had transformed into something much worse.