A Star Removed from the Sky

Fateful Encounter

"What are you doing loitering outside our guild hall?" The girl named Jamie glared when she noticed Natsu, running over to stand in front of him. "How long have you been staring at us and eavesdropping?"

Natsu took offense immediately. "Huh? I ain't loitering, I'm just walking down this road!"

"Hey Jamie, stop that! He's just a traveler, look at the tent he's carrying!" Jess ran after them and pulled Jamie away from Natsu. She pushed Jamie behind her and bowed in apology towards Natsu. "Forgive her, she comes off as rude to strangers, but she's really very nice, I promise."

"Hey, stop talking about me to him! You're too trusting of others Jess." Jamie scoffed and continued to glare at Natsu from behind Jess. "I had good reason to be suspicious, he was standing there listening to our conversation and watching us!"

Antonio came over and stood with them. "Can you blame him? Suddenly there's strangers in a strange building on a road where they didn't used to exist, he'd be crazy not to be curious. Once again, I apologize on the behalf of my friend here."

"So, who are you people, why did you bring your guild hall to the outskirts of Crocus?" Natsu asked, wary of them.

Antonio answered him. "Oh pardon us, we're a guild here to participate in the Grand Magic Games and our master wanted to avoid staying in a hotel. We ended up bringing the guild hall with us and setting it up out here for the time being. We don't intend to leave it here forever of course, we're just here early to look around Crocus. Only a few of us have been here before, we wanted to explore before things got too busy."

"The city is already full of people even this late at night, lots of people show up early for the Games. Is this your first year participating?" Natsu questioned.

Jess laughed awkwardly. "You can tell? Yes this is our first Grand Magic Games as a guild and for most of us here it's the first one we've ever been to."

"Tch, you're saying that Crocus is already crawling with people even this late at night? Great. I was only going with you two so I could look around without crowds taking up all the space. If what this guy says is true I'm going back inside, I'll keep everyone else company." Jamie turned to go back inside.

Jess whined. "Come on Jamie you promised us! You can get a horse while we look for a pot of gold!"

Jamie turned around and marched back to the group. "Why the hell did you bring that back up, I told you I don't need a pot of gold!"

Natsu's expression turned confused.

"Jess maybe we should tone down the inside jokes around our new... acquaintance here, he must think we're crazy." Antonio laughed.

"You can read minds?" Natsu blurted out.

Jess laughed and said, "No no, you just looked very confused. Sorry about that."

Natsu smiled. "I can't really judge you guys. I've heard my friends and I are bad about that too. We have a reputation for being rowdy and carefree, you guys remind me of my friends."

"Hey pinkie, who are you anyway?" Jamie asked with her usual scornful tone of voice.

"Well rainbow-head that's a strange way of getting to know someone." Natsu responded with the same tone.

"Yes Jamie, be kinder. My name is Antonio, this here is Jamie and she is Jessica." Antonio bowed in greeting with one arm stretched behind him and the other against his stomach.

"I'm Natsu, I'm a wizard here for the Games too."

Antonio's mouth opened in surprise before he smiled again. "It's nice to meet you Natsu! Are you a competitor or here to watch?"