Fairy Tail's Sun Guardian

Chapter 14 - Phantom Lord Strikes

(Two Years after Izuku Joined Fairy Tail)

[ Year X784 ]

[Magnolia]

In the early morning, Magnolia's streets were alive with the hustle and bustle of people going about their daily routines. Among the midst of busy citizens, a small party of four could be seen strolling along, drawing gazes from the passersby. This group comprised two women, two men, and a flying blue cat.

As they made their way through the vibrant town, the group's presence was impossible to ignore.

Natsu and Happy couldn't contain their excitement, and they let out resounding shouts that pierced the peaceful morning air. "We've come back!!" they bellowed, causing the nearby crowd to flinch and hurriedly cover their ears. Gray, trailing just behind them, couldn't help but sigh in annoyance as he heard the boisterous duo.

"But after all that work, we only got one key..." Gray grumbled, his voice laced with fatigue. Happy, who was perched in front of him, turned around and nodded in agreement. "You're right, Gray. After taking on an S-Class quest, I was hoping for a bountiful catch of fish," he lamented, his tone somber, causing Gray to break into a sheepish sweatdrop.

The dynamic duo came to an abrupt halt, a shiver running down their spines as they felt an ominous presence behind them. Slowly, Gray turned around, his body trembling as he beheld a very dangerous sight. An angry Erza. Her intense glare bore into them, making Gray swallow hard before she spoke.

"You two," Erza's voice carried a stern and reproachful tone, "You didn't embark on an official mission. You should be grateful that the Magic Council didn't intervene, let alone hope for a substantial reward."

Lucy, always quick on her feet, jumped in to alleviate the tension with a forced grin. "Right, right! You're absolutely correct, Erza! We have no grounds to complain whatsoever!" she chimed in, trying to shift the focus away from their audacious outburst.

Natsu glanced back at Lucy with a pout, "But you did get a reward, Lucy," he protested. Happy enthusiastically nodded in agreement, a feral grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, and we can always sell the key!" he suggested.

Lucy jumped back, exaggerating her shock with wide eyes. "How terrible!" she exclaimed in a playful and comedic manner, placing a hand over her heart. "To say such things to a lovely lady! Only stray cats would utter such words!" Her melodramatic response prompted a round of chuckles from the group, diffusing the tension and lightening the mood.

As they continued to walk forward, Lucy relaxed and shared her thoughts, "Jokes aside, I've mentioned this before... The golden keys belong to the Twelve Golden Gates, and there are only twelve of them in the entire world. They're even rarer than you can imagine. So, please don't even think of entertaining any such ideas."

Natsu couldn't resist deadpanning in response, "You mean like the cow and the masochist maid?" Lucy's cheeks flushed at his brash words, leaving her momentarily flustered.

"Alright, what key did you obtain this time?" Gray inquired as he joined the conversation. Lucy beamed with excitement and skipped over to show him the key. "It's the centaurus key, half horse and half man!" She held it up proudly, eager to share her latest celestial acquisition.

Their lighthearted banter came to an abrupt stop as Erza suddenly halted and spun around with a sharp and serious tone. She declared, "Now, the first order of business is to head to the guild and address the matter at hand with all of you." Her words conveyed the gravity of the situation, and the group realized that it was time to face the consequences of their actions.

Natsu came to an immediate stop upon hearing Erza's declaration, and his eyes widened in shock. "Whaa—?!" he exclaimed in disbelief. Lucy, with a swift reaction, hid behind Natsu, her face flushed with anxiety, while Happy nervously sweated beside them. Gray couldn't help but click his tongue in irritation, muttering, "And here I was trying hard to put that out of my mind!"