Chapter 6-7

SIX: TEAM NATSU DEVOURS A VILLAGE

Alzack Cornell and Bisca Mulan are searching for Team Natsu along with Master Makarov in a desert where they find a footprint. From it, they deduce that they have entered the Clover Canyon, a place even experienced hunters cannot get out of. That worries Mira, as the Canyon is depicted as a great natural labyrinth.

Meanwhile, Team Natsu and Master Makarov are lost. Happy kicks a rock around while walking, then he kicks it over a cliff. While Cain is sitting on top of Aira's head.

"Urgh! Geez! Come on, Happy! You're lost again, aren't you?!" Lucy complained. "We've been walking around forever and we still haven't reached Magnolia! You dumb cat!" She ranted on Happy.

"What do you mean "again"? How rude! I didn't get lost before! This is the first time!" Happy said.

"First or not, we're still lost!" Lucy yelled as the Fairy Tail crew sigh.

"I'm starving..." Natsu complained.

"Quiet. You'll just make us even hungrier." Aira said.

"I can't help it if I'm hungry!" Natsu shouted.

"Quit talking about it then!" Aira shouted back.

"Indeed... I'm famished." Master Makarov said.

"Weren't you just listening?!" Natsu and Aira shouted.

"Stop it." Erza demanded as her stomach grumbles out loud.

"Your stomach just grumbled." Natsu said.

"It did not. You're just hearing things." Erza disagreed.

"Th-That's a crazy excuse if I've ever heard one..." Aira commented. Happy sees something that makes him jump in excitement.

"What are you so excited about?" Natsu asked.

"Natsu! Look down there!" Happy pointed out. Everyone else looks over the cliff to see what Happy is talking about. They all see flying fish which happens to be Hane-Sakana.

"I can fly!" The Hane-Sakana chanted. "You can fly!" The flying fishes continue to talk. "Can you fly?"

"Wingfish! They're a legendary delicacy! They're super yummy! Yum! Yum! Yum...!" Happy jumped around as Natsu and Aira stare at him.

"Legendary delicacy?" Aira questioned.

"Wingfish..." Erza muttered.

"Sounds tasty!" Natsu said.

Master Makarov puts his hand on Happy's shoulder with tears of joy while his stomach is grumbling. "Well done, Happy! Thank you for finding them!"

"You're all too hungry..." Lucy commented as her stomach grumbles as well.

"You too." Aira states as Lucy agrees.

Happy takes out a fishing pole. "All right! Let's fish!" They all sit on the edge of the cliff to catch some Hane-Sakana.

"Man. They're harder to catch than I thought." Natsu said.

"I'm gonna try hard!" Happy is determined to catch his food.

"They don't look that tasty to me..." Lucy said.

"Be quiet and fish. Anything edible will do." Erza said.

"You're that hungry?!" Lucy asked.

"I wanna eat a wingfish! They're delicious!" Happy shouted. "They're a legendary delicacy!" A few seconds later... "I give up."

"So weak-willed!" Lucy commented.

"But we couldn't catch any at all..." Happy said, disappointed.

"You're hungry, right?! Then you should keep at it! Don't give up!" Lucy gives him a smile to cheer him up.

Happy looks up at her with innocent eyes. "You're so mean, Lucy!" He runs away, crying.

"What?! I was cheering you up!" Lucy was left behind with her mouth wide open.

After some time, one of them finally caught a Hane-Sakana. "That sure was hard." Lucy heavily breathed.

"We only managed to catch one..." Erza commented.

Natsu burns the Hane-Sakana with his fire. "You eat it, Happy."

"But it wouldn't be fair..." Happy said.

"It'd only make us hungrier if we split it into tiny pieces!" Aira stated.

"Don't hold back! Eat! Eat up!" Master Makarov doesn't hesitate.

"Really? Okay, thanks for the food!" Happy said while holding the Hane-Sakana, ready to eat it. Behind Happy, Natsu is holding his arm out, Aira is pulling on his own hair, Master Makarov is holding his stomach while crying, Lucy's bangs are hiding her face, and Erza is looking away from them with her back turned. At the same time, all of their stomaches grumble.

"You really seem to be enjoying that weird fish... It must be a true bliss." Lucy whined. Happy spits out the food, disgusted by its taste. "It's bad?!"

"Man..." Natsu groaned.

"I'm starving..." Aira complained.

"Boy, am I hungry..." Master Makarov added. While they are walking, they see a village.

"A village?" Erza muttered.

"Houses!" Aira pointed out.

"Then there's probably...!" Happy said.

"Food!" Natsu yelled. They all run towards the village, but they notice that it's empty.

"There's no one here." Aira said.

"This is a really quiet village..." Lucy commented.

"Maybe everyone's taking a nap?" Natsu said. "Hey! Anyone here?!" He shouted, his voice echoes throughout the village.

"We're starving like crazy! Someone please give us food!" Happy shouted.

"Stop, starving cat! You're being too frank!" Lucy said.

"Are you sure they're napping?" Aira asked.

"That, or everyone got drunk and passed out." Master Makarov said.

"You're thinking of Fairy Tail..." Lucy stated.

"That's a good point!" Master Makarov exclaimed.

"Bah! This is annoying! I'll just take whatever food I can find by force." Natsu runs to one of the houses.

Aira runs up next to Natsu, smirking at him. "Hold on! That's basically robbery!"

"So?! You have the same idea!" Natsu and Aira race each other to one of the houses. Once they get there, Natsu bangs on the door. "Hey! Anyone home?!" He continues to bang on the door hard. "Give us something to eat! Please!" The door opens all the way.

"Nope, there's no one here." Aira walks in.

"But, hey! There's food!" Natsu grabs the bread and smells it. "All right! It's still good! Down the hatch!"

"Wait." Erza walks in.

"Oh, come on!" Natsu groaned.

"Something's not right." Erza said.

"Yeah. It's like people were just eating here." Aira looks at the bread, picking it up so he can smell it. "Where did the people who live here disappear to?"

"How should I know? Let's just eat for now, Happy!" Natsu said.

"Aye!" Happy added.

Erza appears next to Natsu with glowing scary eyes and an evil face. "Wait!"

"Y-Yes, Ma'am!" Natsu nervously said.

"We need to investigate this village first. We held out for this long. We can hold on a little longer-" Erza gets interrupted by her stomach growling.

Lucy's stomach grumbles as well. "Erza. Your stomach is really rumbling."

"Indeed. You aren't convincing at all." Master Makarov's stomach grumbled.

"Natsu! You guys will look for mushrooms or something! Don't touch the food in the village! Master and I will investigate the village in the meantime!" Erza said.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go Happy." Natsu annoyingly said.

"Why mushrooms?" Lucy questioned. Natsu, Lucy, Aira, Cain, and Happy leave the village to Master Makarov and Erza to investigate while they go to look for mushrooms outside the village.

"That food looked really good, too. Mushrooms won't fill me up at all." Natsu complained as he notices mushrooms.

"Mushrooms." Aira mutters to himself.

"Oh, wow! They look great!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Why mushrooms?" Lucy is still disappointed.

"I recognize this." Happy stated.

"What?" Lucy questioned.

"Natsu's gonna eat the poisonous mushrooms, like "Laughing Mushrooms" or something! It's a cliche gag!" Happy exclaimed.

"What are you talking about, Happy?" Natsu gathers the mushrooms. "I'd never do anything that stereotypical." He starts to eat the different colored mushrooms.

Erza stands in the middle of the village, thinking to herself wondering why it's so empty. Meanwhile, Master Makarov stares at the food cooking in the pot. He cracks an egg and mixes it. Erza catches him cooking from behind. "Master."

"N-No! I was just investigating it!" Master Makarov said, hoping that Erza will just let him off the hook.

Natsu stuffs his face with mushrooms. "Mushrooms aren't very filling, but this many should hit the stop."

"This is known as a "setup." Happy said.

Aira eats the mushrooms as well. "Just hurry and pick some!" Natsu starts to choke on the mushroom in his mouth.

"Natsu! Are you okay?!" Lucy asked.

"Here it comes!" Happy waits for the results.

A pink mushroom with yellow spots grows on top of Natsu's head. "I'm shock!"

Lucy is surprised with her eyes popping out. "No, I'm shocked!"

"I guess they weren't laughing mushrooms..." Happy said, disappointed.

"You're depressed about that?!" Lucy commented.

"What are you making a ruckus about?!" Aira had a blue mushroom on his head as well.

"Guys. Your heads." Lucy waves her hand at them.

"Huh?" Natsu and Aira look at each other, yelling in shock with their fingers pointing at each other.

Natsu laughs out loud. "What's with that mushroom on your head?!"

"No, what's with the stupid mushroom on your head?!" Aira laughs at Natsu.

"Why aren't they worried about themselves?" Lucy asked herself.

"Wait...! Hey, bluey. Did you just laugh at me?" Natsu snarled.

"You grinned at me like a moron!" Aira growled. They start to fight once more.

"Don't fight with mushrooms on your heads!" Lucy waves her arms, yelling at them.

"Any luck?" Erza asked as she walks towards Master Makarov.

"There's no one here after all. This village is deserted." Master Makarov replied.

"Still, there are signs that people lived here until very recently..." Erza looks down and sees a line. "What is this line?" Their eyes follow the line, looking at where it leads. "It doesn't appear to be an ordinary crack..." The line continues in an alleyway. "It was clearly dug up this way on purpose."

The Dragon Slayers are breathing heavily after their fight. "Come on! You're acting really stupid!" Lucy said.

Happy walks back to them, carrying a large mushroom. "Lucy! I found a jumbo-size one!"

"Y-You did?! But doesn't it seem strange somehow?" Lucy asked.

"Let me see!" Natsu looks at the large mushroom. "Oh! It's huge!"

"Just one of these could last two days!" Aira said.

"Shouldn't you do something about the ones on your heads?" Lucy sweat drops at them. Happy starts to chomp on the mushroom. Lucy holds his face, shaking him back and forth. "No, Happy! You know better! It could be poisonous! Spit it out!"

"But it's yummy!" Happy swallows the mushroom, choking on it. A small mushroom appears on Happy's head as Lucy screams.

"I guess this happens to everyone who eats one." Natsu stated.

"How did the villagers eat 'em?" Aira asked.

"They were probably all like this too!" Natsu laughed.

"I bet it was called Mushroom Village!" Aira jokes around as they laugh.

Happy runs away crying. "It's not funny the second time!"

"That's not the problem here!" Lucy pointed out. "Hold on! Is it me, or has your mushroom grown?!" Natsu's mushroom grows larger.

"That's not fair! Natsu gets all the good gags!" Happy's tears continue to flow.

Erza and Master Makarov look around, finding different lines in the village. "There's another line here." They hear growling and snarling. "What is that?"

Natsu can hear the noises from the village. "What is that?"

"H-Huh?" Lucy wondered where the noises are coming from. Natsu's and Aira's mushrooms start to glow, breaking and falling off of their heads.

"Oh! Our mushrooms are gone!" Happy said, but his mushroom is still attached to his head.

"Happy! Yours is still on!" Lucy stated. Happy looks up and yells. They run back to the village where Erza and Master Makarov are.

"Erza! Gramps!" Natsu called out. The line starts to glow red. "Erza!" He looks down and sees the ground glowing red. "Be careful, Happy!" The buildings glow red as well and start moving. "What is this?"

"Wh-What's happening?!" Lucy asked.

"I've never seen houses move before!" Happy said.

"That's what you're focused on?!" Lucy asked.

"My word..." Master Makarov said.

"Let's do it, Gramps." Aira's hands get covered in water.

"Wait!" Master Makarov halted.

"What for?!" Aira stops using his Magic.

"We need to get to higher ground. I want to check something." Master Makarov said.

"Come, everyone. Stay close!" Erza said. They follow their master up a hill. The buildings and lamp posts turn into tentacles and monsters.

"Woah! This makes no sense!" Natsu said.

"Master. Could it be a magic circle?" Erza asked.

"Yes. Those lines you found were part of a magic circle. And this particular magic circle is used for a sealing spell banned long ago... The Alive Magic!" Master Makarov exclaimed.

"Alive?" Lucy questioned.

"See for yourself. It's clear as day. It's a spell that turns inanimate objects into living creatures. The villagers must've activated that forbidden spell, only to be eaten by these monsters themselves." The Master explained.

"But would they do something that risky?" Lucy asked.

"This is a dark guild's village." Erza stated.

"What?!" Natsu said.

"I found numerous magic tools when I checked a shed earlier. None of which are intended for good purposes." Erza said.

"Knowing the dark guilds, they were probably cooking up a vile plan and wound up destroying themselves in the process. But...! There's one thing we should be grateful for!" Master Makarov said.

"What do you mean, Gramps?!" Natsu asked.

"As I said before, they're living creatures. And most living creatures..." Master Makarov seriously said. "...can be eaten!"

"Wha...?!" Lucy screamed. Natsu and Aira prepare themselves to fight against the monsters.

"Why do you have that creepy smile on your face?!" Lucy asked Aira.

"Huh?" Aira looks at her in confusion. All of their stomaches grumble at once, out loud.

"All right! Let's eat!" Natsu shouted.

"Yay! It's time to eat!" Happy exclaimed.

"At this point, it doesn't matter how they taste!" Aira said. Erza was the first one to dash towards the monsters.

"Wha...?! You're that hungry, Erza?!" Lucy asked. Natsu, Aira, and Happy jump from the hill at the monsters.

"All right! Food! Food!" Natsu chanted.

"W-Wait!" Lucy shouted.

"Save some for me, too!" Master Makarov shouted. Lucy, Cain, and the Master are the only ones left behind on the hill.

The Fire Dragon Slayer lands on a rock, facing directly at the monsters. "Hey, you guys! Know who I am?! I'm the best flambe chef in Fairy Tail!" He lights his hand on fire, clashing his fists together. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" He punches the monsters face. "Cook it throughly first, and then... Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" He punches it once more. "And then...!" He kicks it this time. "Cover it and let it steam for a short while!" Natsu smiles to himself while holding up a peace sign.

"I know it's not good to rush right to the dessert, but oh well." The Water Dragon Slayer said. The monsters rush towards him. "Water Dragon's Roar!" He easily defeats them with one attack. "Sherbert's ready! Time to eat!" He has a smug smile on his face.

Happy uses a stick to fight a chair with his mushroom still attached on his head. "I'm not sure which would taste worse, wingfish or a chair, but...!" The chair kicks Happy, but he jumps in the air and lands on the chair. The chair hops away with Happy hanging onto it.

The Celestial Mage runs to the Requip Mage. "Erza!"

"Get back. It's time to cook." Erza said.

"Cook?!" Lucy asked.

"Requip!" Erza requips into a cooking style armor with numerous large knives around her. She easily slices the monsters into smaller rectangular pieces.

"Yikes!" Lucy said with dark rectangular pieces piling up in front of her.

"The trick is to cut them five centimeters long and four milimeters wide." Erza gives advice to Lucy.

"Don't you think that's getting too carried away?! Plus, that outfit...!" Lucy asked.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu shouted.

"Water Dragon's Wave Fist!" Aira shouted.

Happy screams while he is fighting the chair.

Erza continues to slice the monsters into sticks.

Master Makarov rests his head on the palm of his hand while sitting down watching them fight. "Boy, am I hungry... What's taking them so long?" He complained.

Natsu jumps down to get closer, ripping the burnt tentacle from the body. "Time to eat!" He is about to eat it until he notices Happy still fighting the chair. "What's he doing? You can't eat a chair..."

"Lucy. You try some first." Erza offered.

"Forget it!" Lucy refused.

"Fine." Erza sighed, grabbing the stick.

"Get real! Why would you make me eat it first?!" Lucy asked. Happy still can't get off the hopping chair. "W-What's he doing?"

"He'll manage on his own." Erza replied. "Here it goes." She takes a bite of the stick.

"H-How does it taste?" Lucy asked. Erza offers the stick to Lucy as she sweat drops. "O-Okay..." She takes it from Erza's hand.

"All right. Let's have a taste." Aira grabs a piece of the tentacle.

All at once, they take a bite of it. "Horrible!" They all scream at once, disgusted by the taste.

Natsu appears next to Master Makarov. "What the heck?! We can't eat that stuff, Gramps!"

"There's such a thing as too disgusting!" Aira angrily said.

"Yes. It isn't edible after all." Erza stays calm about it.

"Don't say that after having me try it!" Lucy shouted. Happy screams as the chair crashes into a hill. The mushroom finally falls off Happy's head.

"Hey! Your mushroom came off!" Aira pointed out.

"Never mind that! Why didn't you try to help me?!" Happy furiously waves his arms up and down. "You're so mean, Natsu! Why didn't you help?!"

"Huh?!" Natsu looks at him in confusion.

"You weren't playing?" Aira asked. Happy stands there speechless with his mouth wide open.

"We're at a real loss now. We can't eat this, however hungry we are." Erza said.

"Well, we were trying to eat monsters." Aira commented.

"Damn! I'm really hungry now that I know we can't eat 'em!" Natsu complained.

"This is the worst... Friendship and camaraderie mean nothing..." Happy thinks to himself. A monster attacks Happy from behind.

"Look out!" Natsu attacks the monster.

"Natsu!" Happy called out. The monsters surround the crew.

"These disgusting bastards!" Aira snarled.

"They make my stomach squirm." Erza said.

Natsu clashes his fists. "I'll blow you all away! Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" Natsu uses his Fire Magic to attack the monsters.

"Water Dragon's Talon!" Water came from Aira's right foot as he kicked the monster. Erza attacks using her Heaven's Wheel Armor.

"Don't forget me! Open, Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!" Lucy summons Taurus.

Taurus appears from the ground. "Moo!" He does his signature pose. "You always have such a nice body!"

Lucy gets irritated with him, pointing to the monsters. "Uhh, sure. They're all yours."

"My pleasure! Fierce Move!" Taurus jumps in the air, swinging his axe around. He slams it on the ground, hitting the monsters. Natsu attacks with his fire, Aira attacks with his Water Magic, and Erza slashes her swords at the monsters. They all gather in one spot with their backs turned facing each other.

"There's no end to 'em!" Natsu said.

"N-Now what?!" Lucy asked. The monsters start to glow out of nowhere.

"A magic circle?!" Aira looks underneath them.

"What in the world?!" Natsu added.

"Ooh! Pretty!" Happy commented.

"That's not the issue here! Why do you keep focusing on all this weird stuff?!" Lucy asked.

"Is this...?" Erza said. The floor starts to dissolve and the monsters sink underground. "Run!" Before they have a chance to run, the hill breaks down causing them to fall in the Magic Circle.

Much later which seems a new day, they are still walking and famished. "I'm seriously starving..." Natsu groaned.

"I can't walk anymore..." Happy said, using his wings to fly instead of walking. Cain does the same.

"Stop using your wings to show off!" Aira argued.

"I don't know what's going on anymore..." Lucy commented.

"Master." Erza calls for his attention.

"Yes?" Master Makarov listens closely.

"I'm not convinced by your explanation." Erza replied. They discovered that the monster as in fact a whole village of people who were Taken Over by the monsters they created. Master Makarov had made the villagers promise to never create that dangerous Magic Circle again and that they should be thankful that it has been undone. However, when asked how it was undone, he told them that there's no need to get into details. Erza suspects that it was Master Makarov who closed the circle and annulled the Take Over, but he won't confirm this.

As they continue their voyage, one phase is heard from the Fairy Tail crew. "We're still hungry!"

The Magic Council discusses the increasing number of Dark Guilds and contemplates ways to eradicate the problem. The conversation soon turns to Fairy Tail. Siegrain is thankful that Fairy Tail was able to take care of the Eisenwald incident, going as far as saying that if anything would have happened to the Guild Masters, it would have cost the Council's heads. This obviously irritates some members of the Council, who direct the conversation into Fairy Tail's destructive nature. They come to a decision to make them pay the price.

At Magnolia Town, Lucy is writing a letter to her mother. She writes about the Eisenwald incident and expresses her delight for being part of Fairy Tail's strongest team. When she finishes her letter she thinks about how she is going to spend the day.

"70,000 Jewel a month is a good price for a place like this." Aira said. Lucy turns around to see Aira in his usual attire sitting on her couch. "Great find, Lucy!"

"Breaking and entering!" Lucy screamed as she kicks him hard.

"Hold on! You've got the wrong idea!" Aira stops her.

"Out!" She points to the door.

"Today's the day, you know. I'm here 'cause I thought you might've forgotten!" Aira stated.

"What day?" Lucy questioned.

"See, you did forget..." Aira muttered. "Remember what Natsu said before we left?"

People are gathered around in the middle of town, cheering for Natsu and Erza.

"Natsu and Erza are going to fight!" Aira said. They leave together to watch the match in the middle of town.

Lucy comes into the crowd, pushing Wakaba aside. "W-Wait! Are they both serious?!" Lucy watches her two friends face each other.

"Oh, Lucy!" Mira said.

"They're serious, all right! They're not men unless they're serious!" Elfman said.

"Erza is a girl, you know." Mira pointed out.

"More like a female monster." Gray stated.

"But if two members of our strongest team clash...!" Lucy said.

"Strongest team? What are you talking about?" Aira asked.

"You, Natsu, and Erza! You're the top three in Fairy Tail!" Lucy replied.

"Huh? What rubbish. Who told you that crap?" Aira said. Mira innocently smiles at them. She breaks down into tears. "Oh, it was you, Mira-chan?" Aira begins to panic, trying to calm her down.

"You made her cry." Lucy disappointingly said.

"I do recognize Natsu and Aira's manly spirit, but I can't sit by and let them be called the strongest. Fairy Tail is filled with plenty more powerful people." Elfman proudly points to himself. "Like me!"

"I'm pretty sure Erza is the strongest female member, though." Levy commented.

"As for the strongest man, you can't overlook Mystogan or Laxus." Jet said.

"I just thought that Natsu, Aira, and Erza had the best team chemistry..." Mira's tears drop little by little.

"Huh?" Lucy looks at her. "Weren't you worried they would fight whenever Erza wasn't around?"

"In any case, it's going to be an interesting fight!" Elfman stated.

"You think? I predict Erza's going to completely destroy him." Aira said.

"How many years has it been since we last locked horns like this?" Erza asked.

"I was a kid back then. Things are different now!" Natsu said. "I will beat you today!"

"I'm going to fight for real, too." Erza requips into her Flame Empress Armor.

"Flame Empress Armor? That's strong against fire!" Macao commented.

"That'll halve the power of Natsu's fire!" Laki added.

"Erza! That's clearly going overboard!" Wakaba said.

Happy thinks hard for a moment. "Can I bet on Erza after all?" Happy hands his money to Cana whos collecting money on all the bets.

"What a loveless cat!" Lucy commented. "I don't like stuff like this! I don't want either to lose!"

"You're surprisingly pure hearted." Aira said.

"Flame Empress Armor, huh? That's perfect!" Natsu chuckles to himself. "Now I can go all out without any hesitation!"

"Begin!" Master Makarov starts the fight.

Natsu charges at Erza first. He tries to hit Erza with his fire, but she dodges it and attempts to slash him. He evades her attack and tries to kick her twice with his leg covered in flames, except she evades the attacks.

Erza kicks Natsu and sends him flying into the ground. Natsu shoots fire out of his mouth towards her, but easily dodges it. Erza swings her sword at Natsu who tries to punch her with his fist engulfed in flames. Just when they are about to clash, a messenger, who looks like a frog, of the Magic Council arrives, interrupting their fight.

The messenger informs that Erza is under arrest for damage property and 11 other crimes from the Eisenwald Terrorism Incident.

The rest of Fairy Tail retreats to the guild, upset about the recent events, but cannot do anything against the council.

"Let me out! Let me outta here!" Natsu, transformed into a gecko and trapped in a glass, shouted.

"Be quiet, Natsu." Mira said.

"Let me out!" Natsu continues to shout.

"You'll go on a rampage if we do." Mira stated.

"No, I won't! Turn me back to normal!" Natsu waves his arms up and down.

"If we do, you'll say, 'I'm gonna go save her!'" Mira easily foreshadows his actions.

"No, I won't! Like I'd ever help Erza!" Natsu said.

"This is the council we're talking about. There's nothing we can do." Aira said.

"Let me out!" Natsu demanded. "I'm gonna give 'em a piece of my mind! I don't care if they're the council or not! They're the wrong ones here!"

"If the council says you're guilty, you're guilty. Even if you're innocent." Aira stated. "They'd never listen to us."

"Still, after every thing we've done, why now?" Elfman questioned.

"Yes. It's beyond comprehension." Laki said.

"There's definitely another side to this!" Lucy said.

Meanwhile, at the Fiore Branch of the National Council, Erza is greeted by a Thought Projection of Siegrain just before she enters the courtroom. They argue a bit and then Siegrain leaves, but not before reminding her to keep quiet about the past for both sakes. Inside the court, Erza's prosecution begins.

"We can't ignore this after all! Let's go testify!" Lucy said.

"Hold on, now!" Master Makarov said.

"How can you say that?! She was unlawfully arrested! We need to get there before they reach a verdict!" Lucy stated.

"It's too late for that now, however much we hurry!" Master Makarov added.

"But...!" Lucy said.

"Let me out! Let me out...!" Natsu continues to thrash around inside the glass.

"Are you really sure you want out?" Master Makarov asked. Natsu stops complaining, standing there, thinking for a second. They all stare at him in confusion. "What's the matter, Natsu? You've suddenly lost your spunk." The Master uses his magic to break the glass, setting the gecko free. The gecko is shown to be Macao.

"Macao?!" Levy shouted in surprise.

"What the...?!" They all shout together.

"S-Sorry. I owed Natsu a favor..." Macao explained. "So I transformed myself into a lizard to pretend to be him."

"Then where's the real Natsu?!" Lucy asked.

"Don't tell me he went after Erza!" Aira angrily said.

"Yes, probably." Macao replied.

"You gotta be kidding! I can't see him trying to beat up the council!" Elfman said.

"All of you stay quiet!" Master Makarov demanded. "Just wait quietly and see how it turns out."

Erza is found guilty of the charges as witnesses claim that the culprit had been an armored female Mage. At the same time, Natsu, dressed as Erza, shows up and destroys half of the courtroom. They are both escorted to the cellar where Erza tells Natsu that the arrest was just a show. The Council convinced her to appear as if they actually enforce the law. She is mad at him at the moment, but shows her appreciation for his thoughtfulness.

The Next Day...

Erza and Natsu return to the guild. "The air on the outside is so nice! It's the greatest!" Natsu screams in joy, enjoying the freedom. "It's wonderful being free!"

"Quiet!" Jet gets annoyed of him.

"Freedom!" Natsu runs back and forth with his arms in the air and spitting out fire.

"Shut up!" Droy yelled.

"This side of him is adorable!" Mira commented.

"I can't believe it was a symbolic arrest. I was worried for nothing..." Lucy exhaustingly said.

"I get it! They let her 'leaf' early because they were all bark!" Aira exclaimed.

"O-Only a water wizard could make such a frigid pun..." Elfman commented, muttering to himself. "So, what about your man to man battle with Erza, Natsu?!"

"Man?!" Lucy added.

"Oh, yeah! I forgot!" Natsu walks over to Erza. "Erza! Let's pick up where we left off!"

"Don't be silly. I'm tired." Erza said, setting her cup down.

Natsu lights his hand on fire, charging at her. "Here I come!"

"Sheesh..." Erza gets up and launches a punch right into his stomach which makes him faint. "Very well. Let's begin."

"We have a winner!" Happy said. Elfman and Aira erupt in laughter.

"You're so lame, Natsu!" Aira laughed.

"Erza really is strong!" Elfman laughed as well. Master Makarov sits on the bar counter, thinking to himself.

"What's the matter, Master?" Mira curiously asked.

"Oh... I'm sleepy..." The Master replied. "It's him..." Mira gets drowsy as well, falling asleep.

"This is...!" Aira feels tired, not being able to keep himself awake.

"I'm sleepy..." Laki added. The rest of the guild falls asleep right when a mysterious man walks in the guild.

"Mystogan..." Master Makarov muttered.

"I'll be back." Mystogan said.

"Hold on! Lift the sleeping spell!" Master Makarov drowsily said.

"Five. Four. Three. Two. One." Mystogan counts down as he walks out of the guild. Everyone suddenly wakes up except for Natsu who is still sleeping.

"Th-This feeling... Mystogan?!" Jet said.

"His sleep magic's as powerful as ever...!" Levy exclaimed.

"Mystogan?" Lucy questioned, half awake.

"He's running for the strongest man in Fairy Tail." Elfman responded.

"For whatever reason, he doesn't want anyone to see him. So he puts everyone to sleep like this whenever he takes a job." Aira explained.

"Are you serious?! That's way too suspicious!" Lucy said.

"So no one but our master knows what he looks like." Aira said.

"No. I do." A mysterious voice grinned.

"Laxus!" Elfman shouted. "You're here?!"

"This is rare!" Wakaba commented.

"Another candidate for the strongest member." Aira rests his head on the palm of his hand, looking up at Laxus.

"Mystogan is shy. Don't get too nosy." Laxus said.

Natsu immediately wakes up when he hears Laxus' voice. "Laxus! Fight me!"

"Erza just gave you a beat-down!" Aira reminded him.

"That's right! You don't stand a chance against me if you can't even beat mere Erza." Laxus stated.

"What does that mean?!" Erza angrily asked.

"Whoa, calm down, Erza..." Aira nervously sweats.

"I mean that I'm the strongest!" Laxus bragged.

"Come down here, you jerk!" Natsu growled.

"You come up." Laxus taunted.

"Fine by me!" Natsu gets off the table, rushing to the second floor to fight Laxus. Master Makarov transforms his arm into a large arm, slamming Natsu to the ground.

"You're not allowed on the second floor! Not yet!" Master Makarov said.

"Got yourself in trouble." Laxus laughed, looking down at Natsu.

"Laxus! That's enough out of you!" Master Makarov shouted. Natsu struggles to get out of the Master's fist.

"I won't let anyone take the title of Fairy Tail's strongest!" Laxus said. "Not even Erza or Mystogan. I'm the strongest!" He points to himself as he brags about how strong he is. They all look at him in annoyance.

Later, Lucy asks Mira why the second floor is off-limits. Mira explains that there is where they keep their S-Class quests and that only a Mage of the same level can pick them up.

When she returns home, Lucy finds Natsu and Happy exercising in her room. She wants to kick them out, but they show her an S-Class request. Natsu and Happy goes to on the request, but Lucy gets left behind. Once they leave, the request falls onto the floor. She reads the request and finds that the reward includes one of the 12 Zodiac Gate keys. Instantly changing her mind, she follows them willingly to go on the quest.

At the guild, Mira informs the Master that an S-Class request is missing, causing Master Makarov to spit out his coffee in a delayed response.

When Fairy Tail speculates about who stole an S-Class request from the Request Board, Laxus claims that he saw a cat with wings take it, making the whole guild realize that the culprits are Natsu and Lucy. Laxus states that since they took it without permission, they must be expelled if they return.

"Laxus! Go bring them back!" Master Makarov ordered.

"Don't be silly. I have my own work to attend to." Laxus refused. "Members of this guild are supposed to be able to take care of themselves. Right?"

"Out of everyone here, who else besides you can bring Natsu back by force?!" Master Makarov asked, yelling at Laxus.

"Gramps." Aira said, getting up from the table. "I can't let that comment go." Aira volunteers to go get Natsu and Lucy from the S-Class request they're about to go on.