Dragons & Demons & Wizards, oh my!

Chase

Erza and Gray moved quickly through the streets of Magnolia, they knew if they hurried they could make it to the train station before Natsu and Lucy. The streets were filled with citizens going about their day to day lives. That bode well for Erza and Gray; they could hide amongst the crowd and knew it would be more difficult for Natsu to detect their scents with more people surrounding them.

"So what are you going to do to Flame-Brain when we find him?" Gray asked, almost giddy. He thought of all the cruel ways Erza would punish his fire wielding rival. Maybe she'll break out the whip, or toss him through a few tables or throw him off the guilds balcony. Or even worse...make him rehearse lines with her for some play Erza would be in. Gray's mischievous laughter was cut off...

"Gray...your clothes..." Erza said plainly.

Gray looked down to see he was running through the city in his skivvies. "OH crap! When did that happen!?" He quickly looked around for his garments but eventually shrugged. This is no time for shirts and pants. We need to find them before they get away. Gray tried to ignore the shouts of surrounding men and women flabbergasted by the semi nude sprinter. The train station eventually came into view, he quickened his pace when his chest ran full force into the outstretched arm of his red haired companion.

"What was that for?" Gray managed to whimper out as all the air left his lungs at once. Erza simply put a finger up to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. Then he saw it. The tuft of pink hair just a few yards ahead of them. Natsu had stopped for a moment, he turned, his nostrils flared as he sniffed in the surrounding air. Gray and Erza instantly ducked behind nearby pedestrians hoping their cover wasn't blown. Why didn't I shower today!? Grey thought to himself as he peered through the crowd trying to get a glimpse of Natsu.

The dragon slayer started moving in their direction. Erza and Gray knew they were done for, you couldn't fool a Dragon slayer nose.

"Natsu, come on, I want to get back as quickly as possible!" Lucy yelled at him through the crowd.

Back?...Back where? Erza thought. To Tulip? What was so important about this random town in Northern Fiore

"Hold on a second Luce, I thought I smelled something" Natsu replied, his eyes still in the direction of where Erza and Gray were hiding.

"Smell or not, we need to get back now. We told her that the mission would only take 3 days but it took 6 because someone thought the town needed to be remodeled. Because of that we needed to depart from the guild in front of everyone and it was the most awkward thing ever. It's not fair to make her wait any longer" Lucy came up and gently grabbed Natsu's arm. Natsu was instantly pulled from his hunter mode by Lucy's touch. He looked down into her chocolate eyes and smiled.

"Yeah, you're right Luce, let's get back as soon as we can! Ready Happy!?" Natsu finally turned his back on Erza and Gray's location and began walking back in the direction of the Train station.

"Aye, Sir!" Cried the blue ball of fur in Lucy's arms. "I hope she likes the souvenir I got for her"

"Are you kidding buddy, she loves every gift you bring back for her!" Natsu answered as he patted the top of Happy's head. The three of them continued merrily onward.

Erza and Gray meanwhile breathed a sigh of relief. Who was this she? Mayor Cheerful? Why did they need to get back to her so quickly and why would they buy gifts for a client? Something didn't add up in Erza and Gray's mind, they needed to get to the bottom of this. They followed the trio more stealthily now. Keeping a safe distance from Natsu's senses.

"We need to see what train they get on, and then we can corner them once the train starts moving, understand? Erza whispered to Gray. Gray unfortunately was not paying attention in the slightest. "Gray!" She cried out with more force than a whisper.

"I hear you Erza but that won't be necessary" Gray shot back a look, and then pointed at their quarry. Erza grinded her teeth as she saw Natsu, Lucy, and Happy walk right past the train station and into the woods behind Magnolia. Now there was irrefutable proof they had lied right to her face. They couldn't be going to Tulip. Not on foot at least that walk would take close to a month.

"That's it, we'll drag them back to guild and get our answers that way" Erza barked at Gray. Gray knew better than to argue with Erza in her current emotional state. While he would enjoy whatever punishment Natsu was about to subjected to, he just hoped his friend lived through it.

Erza and Gray took off after the trio. In the woods they didn't need to worry about pedestrians, all they needed to do was catch up and ambush them. They didn't care if Natsu detected them anymore either, the time for subtly was over. As the duo raced through the trees Gray prepared his Ice-Make magic, if he could just freeze their feet to the ground then this business would be done with. It didn't take long for them to find the trio walking carefree through the woods. Natsu, Lucy and Happy had come to stop in a small clearing a few yards up ahead. Natsu and Lucy were standing still, their hands joined together with Happy nuzzled between them. Once Gray saw them he began casting the spell.

"Ice-Make..." His spell was interrupted by an explosion of bright light. Erza and Gray shielded their eyes and collapsed to the floor. "WHAT WAS THAT?!" Gray cried out. "Natsu! Lucy!" Erza shouted, calling for her friends. As the light faded they saw a swirling vortex of bright golden light at the center of the grove where Natsu and Lucy once stood. A portal? Thought Erza. The vortex was getting smaller and smaller. Erza picked herself up as quickly as she could and sprinted towards the closing swirl of light. As she entered the grove the light vanished completely and silence returned to the woods. This mystery is getting more and more complicated every moment. Perhaps they had some portal device to teleport them to Tulip? No. Why would they need to hide that from us? Does that kind of magic even exist? Ugh, None of this makes any sense.

"What the hell was that!?" Erza's thoughts were interrupted by a shouting Gray. "Where the hell they go!?" The ice wizard continued.

"Silence, Gray. It's clear they teleported out of here through some kind of portal, I've never seen anything like that"

"Teleportation magic? Since when has Lucy or Tabasco-Idiot ever had teleportation Magic"

"They don't, I'm not sure where it came from," Erza said, not confident in her own convictions after what she just witnessed.

"You...mean...IT WAS HAPPY!?" Gray exclaimed.

Erza didn't even bother to answer such a ridiculous question, she just stared at Gray till he figured it out on his own.

"Yeah...you're right, stupid idea" Gray finally admitted. Erza suddenly took off in the direction back towards town. "Hey Erza, stop where are we going now?"

"Isn't it obvious Gray? We need to go to Tulip." Erza said with a smile.