With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty

Chapter 2

"Hey stop the bus!" Natsu shouted as he and Gray ran after the bus that was taking their college science class on a field trip.

"This is all your fault!" Gray said. "If you had just kept your essay paper in a folder instead of laying it around somewhere we wouldn't have missed the bus!"

"Hey man you didn't have to wait for me you know?" Natsu replied. 

"Are you kidding? If I hadn't of waited for you then my aunt would ground me for a week."

As they got closer to the bus they both banged on the windows trying to get the bus driver to stop. He and the other students just laughed at them. Well not all of the students, one pretty blonde girl who wouldn't stand for this. She was Lucy Heartfilia, the one person on that bus who treated those two with respect and kindness.

"Stop the bus!" She told the driver. "They've been trailing us since Clover Town."

The driver groaned in frustration but he pulled over for Natsu and Gray who quickly got on the bus. During their search for an empty seat, Laxus Dreyar the campus bully stuck out his foot and tripped Natsu.

"Real mature Laxus." Gray said helping Natsu up. 

"What? I didn't do it." He said faking innocence. 

"Natsu are you okay?" Lucy asked her voice filled with concern.

"Me?" He squeaked with a blush. "Oh yeah I'm fine."

"I'm so sorry about Laxus, he can be such a jerk."

"No kidding." Gray said. "Thanks for getting the bus to stop for us Lucy."

"Not a problem, somebody has to look out for you boys right?" She said with a smile before returning to her seat.

Natsu and Gray sat in empty seat in the way back, their gazes not leaving the blonde for one minute.

"We're wasting our time aren't we pal?" Gray said. 

"Definitely." Natsu said. "But she's so..."

"I know but maybe we should change the subject before we start drooling. So are you excited about meeting Dr. Kingston?"

"I guess. Truth be told I don't know that much about him."

"Seriously? The guy's a genius. Did you know that he was able to find a cure for a pandemic just by mixing some special herbs with the blood of the animal who spread the disease? I've been his biggest fan ever since I was a kid. He was the one who actually got me into biology and anatomy."

"He sounds like a pretty cool guy."

When the bus finally arrived the students were greeted at the labratory by their professor Gildarts Clive who led them inside to observe the lab of Professor Clive's old friend from college and fellow scientist Dr. Acnologia Kingston.

"Now remember class you are free to observe but that is all. Don't touch anything." Professor Clive instructed. 

"Gildarts." Dr. Kinston approached him. 

"Acnologia, how are you?"

"Just fine thank you."

They smiled and shook hands.

"Good to see you Gildarts, you remember my wife Sonya?" He directed Gildarts's attention over to the lovely brunette in a lab coat.

"Of course. Sonya you look more beautiful each time I see you." He said.

"Gildarts you always were a shameless flatterer." She giggled. "Are those your students over there?"

"Yes they are." 

"Which ones actually pay attention in class?" Acnologia joked.

Gildarts chuckled.

"That would be those three over there." He gestured his eyes toward Natsu, Lucy, and Gray. "Natsu Dragneel, Lucy Heartfilia, and Gray Fullbuster are my best students."

"Really?"

"Yes they're very brillant. As a matter of fact Mr. Fullbuster happens to be one of your biggest fans."

"Oh, did you hear that Sonya? I have a fan."

"I'm not surprised." She said. 

"He's the one who wrote that paper on the history of organic medicine." Gildarts said.

"You don't say, he wrote that ingenious paper? I've been dying to meet that kid who wrote that. Do you mind if I introduce myself?"

"Not at all." 

Acnologia smiled and went over with Sonya to Natsu and Gray who were talking to each other. 

"Excuse me." He said. "Which one of you gentlemen is Gray Fullbuster?"

"That would be me sir." The dark haired young man said eagerly. 

"Pleasure to meet you young man." He said holding out his hand to shake. 

"Oh believe me the pleasure is all mine sir." Gray shook his hand. 

"Professor Clive says that you're a big fan of mine."

"I am sir. I've admired you for years."

"Is that so? And here I thought the younger generation didn't care too much for science anymore."

"I care. I mean who wouldn't want to learn how the bodies of  to cure diseases and improve health for everyone?"

"You'd be surprised how many aren't interested. Tell me what do you think of my research on finding a way to establish a connection between the D.N.A of man and animal?"

"I think it's brillant."

"You don't think it's crazy?"

"No sir. Not at all. Animals have very highly developed senses and heightened strength, if there was a way to give them to human beings imagine how much stronger their health could be and how much more they could accomplish."

"Sonya I like this boy. He understands my vision."

"I understand your vision dear." She said.

"You're my wife you have to understand me otherwise this marriage wouldn't work for as long as it has."

They both laughed and shared a kiss.

"Mr. Fullbuster do you have anyone special in your life?" Sonya asked.

"Romantic wise? No. Most aren't really interested, they think I'm a little weird."

"Then it's their loss my boy." Acnologia said. "Because judging by the paper you wrote wrote on organic medication I can already see that you've got great potiential."

"You read my paper?"

"It was one of the best that I had ever seen. With the intelligence and devotion that you have, you're bound to find a girl who will appreciate your gifts and support your goals. Just like my Sonya does for me?"

"Well any woman would be out of her mind not to appreciate a smart, kind, and caring man like you Acnologia or support his desire to find cures for diseases." Sonya said. "You're just so wonderful."

"Now Sonya I'm only doing what God intended for science to be used for. Remember this Gray to use science will make you a smart man. But to use science to help others, that is what will make you a brillant man."

Gray couldn't agree more with his words. Natsu smiled to himself as he watched them chant, he had never seen his best friend so excitied in all his life. But then again Natsu would probably be the same way he had met the man or woman he admired the most. He decided to wander off and continue his observation of the lab by himself when he spotted someone sneaking into the back room. 

He looked suspicous and Natsu didn't know why but he had a strange feeling that this person was up to no good. So quietly followed after him.