Okay people here I am with my brand-new story! xD

This will be a long ride, so you'd better be ready!

And, people, really – community urgently need more stories about beautiful Erza, so please leave reviews to encourage my further work (:-D) and do not hesitate to write some stories by yourselves!

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This story starts right after The key of the Starry Sky ark (it's anime only but looks like it's considered as canonical, at least partially). While Makarov took Gildarts along with him to old Fairy Tail building to show him Lumen Histoire, team Natsu took a request for subduing robber gang not far from the town of Magnolia.

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All right, I think I said everything I wanted to say for now, let's get started.

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Disclaimer: Fairy Tail and some Rave Master names and references belongs to Hiro Mashima

Blessing of the Scarlet Dragon

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Chapter I – We just need this damned money

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Fiore kingdom, city of Crocas – the flower blooming capital.

…At the dead late hours of the night, a lonely white exceed was barely breaking through the violent thunderstorm, accompanied by deafening sounds of thunder. Not a single source of light were in sight, neither streetlights nor house lights. The entire city was completely dark and seemed abandoned. The harsh wind gusts were hurling Carla from side to side, causing the poor exceed to shiver as she was like a drowned rat long ago. Finally, she managed to hear someone through the thundering wind. She flew towards that direction and three shadowy figures appeared before her very eyes on top of little church near the Royal palace. Uncertainty ran through exceed princess' mind as she saw those creepy people, causing the white winged cat to hide behind bell tower.

"Are you sure the King gave them his approval?" A female voice asked, "He seemed quite reasonable man to me…" Carla could not recognize who it was, but even as it was distorted by storm, it sounded like voice of Canens*.

"Absolutely, although he could be blackmailed by the council," Another woman's voice answered, and this time Carla recognized it – that was Ultear's voice.

"Reason doesn't matter, it means that they all are just a bunch of worthless cowardly slugs!" Third voice hissed with unmasked contempt and anger. It was voice of a man, but Carla could barely hear his words because of the harsh wind, resulting in her not being able to recognize the owner.

"Okay, thank you, we will be ready for their actions," The woman with the pretty voice said.

"Don't mention it," Ultear replied, "In the end – you two are everyone's hope now. I'll contact you again if we manage to learn something else," Time mage promised and disappeared into the darkness of the storm.

Suddenly, bright lightning struck something nearby and Carla managed to take a brief look at remaining two people. She was unable to see their faces but noticed man's exposed shoulder with strange symbol on it – Carla didn't know any guild or organization with such mark. In addition, the white exceed managed to see a messy yet beautiful and ever so familiar scarlet hair.

"So, they do not understand the good attitude…" The man said. "Very well then – if they want violence so much – they will get it." Carla was uncertain but it seemed that they two kissed each other. "My dear, please show them some top grade violence…"

"My pleasure" Woman replied. "As they say – fish begins to stink at the head. Let's start from the head then," She raised her hands to the skies and turned toward royal palace.

"Enim lupin purnum pravus intus!" (**) Woman with scarlet hair exclaimed and began to cast her spell:

"One who is darker than twilight

One who is redder than flowing blood

Buried in the flow of time

In thy great name,

I hereby pledge myself to darkness…"

While she was conjuring her spell, very dense mist started to swirl around her, turning into a whirlwind…

"…Those who stand before us in our way

All those who have become fools…"

Gradually she lowered her hands, pointing her palms toward palace.

"…Merge thy power and mine

To grant destruction equally to all!

DRAGON SLAVE!"

A ray of extremely dense, black/crimson energy shot toward royal palace from the woman's hands and landed a direct hit (***). An extremely powerful explosion shook the entire city, if not the entire Fiore. Blinding light hit Carla's eyes and a blast wave, which had spread in more than one-mile radius, blew the exceed princess away…

April 2nd, Year X791, 0:07 AM (****) Town of Magnolia, Fairy Hills dormitory, Wendy Marvel's room.

Carla instantly woke up. Exceed princess was breathing heavily and was covered with cold sweat. She perplexedly looked around. She was in Wendy's room, in Fairy Hills, sky sorceress was nearby, peacefully sleeping in her bed.

Celebration of the victory against Reborn Oración Seis and farewell ceremony to Legion Corps ended few hours ago. Everyone was happy but exhausted, and, because Team Natsu already decided to go on mission tomorrow, Erza ordered everyone to have a good sleep.

'What, for the heaven's sake, was that?!' Carla thought. 'Was it a premonition? Or could it be just a dream? Who were those people?' Carla then remembered that she was in some unfamiliar city. 'It isn't typical for dreams. And those people… Ultear? Not to mention the scarlet haired woman…' Contradictive thoughts were tearing Carla's head apart.

Nevertheless, in the end the white kitty decided that she just inhaled too much of alcohol's vapor yesterday, turned on the other side and tried to sleep. She must rest before tomorrow's mission…

April 2nd, Year X791, about 5 PM, approximately 15 miles away from the town of Magnolia.

Mission was successful. Erza took care of the gang leader at the top floor. Natsu, with Wendy's help, neutralized most of gang members inside the tower that the robbers used as their hideout. Lucy and Gray, however, got in trouble. They were in the basement, recovering stolen goods, when Lucy accidentally activated a set of traps. They managed to avoid most of its potential damage, thanks to Gray's magic, but then the whole building collapsed and buried them alive.

OK, they are both are mages of Fairy Tail, so the consequences weren't too bad. Natsu, Erza and Wendy managed to dig them out, along with the stolen goods, with minimal aftermath. Lucy got off with her right elbow broken and Gray got both feet injured. They were on the way back.

"At least we got money for the job, and we did not break something valuable to pay reparations." The sky dragon slayer noted, trying to cheer up her teammates. It had little effect, however, as Lucy whimpered all the way, irritating Erza, while a very annoyed Natsu was forced to carry very annoying Gray.

"At least you did not have to carry Lucy, Natsu, she is much heavier than Gray," Happy giggled, Carla shook her head in disapproval.

"Not funny, tomcat!" Lucy got angry. "Can't you see that I am in pain?! You can at least express a bit of sympathy!"

"Oh my God, Lucy, can you stop it already?!" Erza exclaimed. "Wendy already cast a painkilling spell on you so there is no way you can feel any pain! Just stop your complaining!" She was really tired from that endless whining.

Lucy, however, just moaned again, "It's easy for you to say! I can't move my arm…" She continued to whimper. Moreover, Lucy herself was the one who set off the traps so she was unable to blame anyone else, and that fact was making her even more annoying.

"Don't even think about it, you pervert!" Natsu shouted at Gray when he saw that the ice mage began to strip.

"Shit…" Gray was very disgruntled.

"Why this is my duty to carry this ballast on my back?!" Natsu protested.

"What?! You called me a ballast?! You want to fight, flame-brain?!" Gray growled in reply.

Nevertheless, Natsu was not in mood "Oh, shut up already or I'll throw you into the closest trench!" Dragon slayer addressed to Sky Maiden, "Wendy, can't you heal his legs somehow? It's just unbearable for me to carry this guy!"

Carla answered ahead of the blue-haired sorceress. "Stop it, Natsu, Wendy has already done everything she could right now."

"And why can't anyone carry me? I'm injured too…" Lucy moaned.

"Because your legs are fine!" Erza and Happy shouted at the same time.

Wendy smiled shyly, "Sorry guys, but I'm really can't do anything more right now."

"It's not your fault, Wendy. It's 'Mr. Boxers' fault, he is the one who couldn't avoid a simple trap…" Natsu answered, calming. They all continued to quarrel all the way toward guild hall.

When they arrived to the guild hall, it was already about 10 PM, Lucy and Gray were quartered in the sickbay.

"How long will it take for them to recover, Wendy?" Erza asked. "We have to do some more missions while we have some free time."

Wendy took a deep breath and looked at the patients. "Well, usually these types of injuries take weeks to recover, however, with the help of my magic, it will take no more than three days!" The sky dragon slayer informed cheerfully.

"Three days?! We can't wait for…" Natsu exclaimed but Erza jabbed him in his side with her elbow. "Oh!.. I… I mean – just three days! It's wonderful, Wendy."

The dark blue-haired girl smiled, "I'll do my best then!"

"Okay, we'll leave this to you Wendy, but don't overdo it, take some rest when you need it." Erza noted. She grabbed Natsu's hand and dragged him toward the exit. "Come on, Natsu, we must not hinder Wendy, see you soon guys," She waved to her teammates.

"Yeah, yeah…" Natsu agreed unwillingly, but he understood that he can't provide any assistance right now, so the salmon-haired boy waved to his nakamas, "See you tomorrow people. Carla, Happy – take care of Wendy," He closed the sickbay door behind him.

"Take a rest, Gray-san, Lucy-san, I'll start your treatment tomorrow, as… as…" Wendy yawned, "…as soon as I recover my magic power."

"You can barely stay awake, Wendy. Come on, I'll carry you to your room in Fairy Hills," Carla said.

"Aye! I'll help you!" Happy exclaimed as the two winged cats grabbed Wendy and flew out through the sickbay window.

"We've screwed up, Gray" Lucy sighed sadly when Wendy and her exceed carriers vanished from sight. "Things were going well, and I was careless and did not notice the traps set."

"Yes," the ice mage nodded. "I couldn't say that for those two, but they did their part, while I failed mine. Erza only asked me to protect you, and now we're both in the sickbay. This sucks..." Gray and Lucy looked at each other as they both feel themselves ashamed now.

"Sometimes I think that they can do their job without me just as good…" Lucy mumbled.

"Do not get carried away Lucy, we are the team, and our candle-boy invited you for a reason. Tomorrow will be a new day Lucy, let's rest, I know both flame-brain and Erza need money now, so we have to recover ASAP and take more requests…" Gray turned on his side and fell asleep pretty quickly. Lucy stared into the open window for some time, but eventually she slipped into sleep as well.

Neither of them noticed Juvia, who was hiding on a tree that was growing opposite the sickbay window. She was worried when she found out that her beloved "Gray-sama" was injured, and that he and Lucy, her 'rival in love', are going to sleep in the same room.

April 2, X791, 11:03 PM, Fairy Tail guildhall.

Natsu and Erza were on the first floor of the guildhall, both slightly depressed. "Damn, what am I going to do? My shack almost crumbled, I think I have to build a new house," Natsu scratched his head. "But it going to cost me a huge pile of money, I just can't sit here for three days, I have to take missions… Oh, I really hate all this money stuff."

Erza looked into his face. "Yeah, I understand you Natsu, don't tell Lucy about it, but I still haven't paid the rent money for my dorm room for seventy five months (*****), so I'm in need of money too." She looked at the stairs, which led to the sickbay. "But I'm afraid there is nothing we can do, Wendy said it will take three days." Erza looked into Natsu's eyes, it seems like they both thought about the same thing as they simultaneously turned their heads toward the request board. "Unless we…"

Well, actually it was happening before. The team had gone on missions with incomplete structure. Natsu & Lucy and Gray & Erza have done some missions by themselves when the other teammates had to take care of some private affairs, but now was a slightly different case. Neither Natsu nor Erza wanted to make Lucy and Gray feel themselves unnecessary (Natsu, however, will never say aloud Gray's part).

"OK, there is nothing wrong if we at least take a look at the requests our guild has…" Natsu noted. Erza nodded in agreement. They stood up and headed to the request board.

Midnight was drawing near, so very little people were remaining in the guildhall. Mirajane was cleaning the bar counter and Lisanna was helping her. Cana was sleeping on one of the tables and Macao and Wakaba were playing cards. The dragon slayer and knight-mage studied the board and eventually their eyes became fixed on the same request. It was unusual because it had an "S" stamp on it. OK, it was not too special before, but now, when Fairy Tail became the weakest guild in Fiore, no one wanted to send tough requests here, thinking that it will be a waste; the guild even removed a board, intended specifically for S-class missions. However, the task did not seem too difficult. It was most likely marked "S" as a precaution, because 5 000 000 jewels reward was posted for a reason… Someone wanted his family relic being recovered from an old vault, now infested with monsters. It was perfect job for Natsu and Erza – clearly their spatiality.

Erza hesitated, however. Okay, she is an S-class mage, so there is no problem with the guild rules, but there is one other thing that concerned her. If she and Natsu went on S-class quest by themselves, then the others definitely will be mad at them. Erza shot a glance at Natsu, she saw that he was hesitating too, most likely with the same reason. "If we do that, they definitely will be offended…" Erza mumbled. "…I don't think this is a good idea".

"May be we shall not tell them…" Natsu said thinking aloud.

"And how exactly you're intending to explain our absence?" Erza asked acidly, "This will not be a 30 minutes long mission."

"We don't have to lie to anyone. We will come to the sickbay tomorrow to visit Lucy and icy boxers, and to cheer up Wendy. Then we will depart on mission. The client is in Onibas, it is nearby. No one will get suspicious just because we are not hanging around the sickbay for a whole day. If we don't screw up somehow then we definitely will be back in time to mark their recovery." Erza thought about Natsu's words, his plan sounded quite convincing. The only thing that they need to do is to keep themselves away from troubles, but she still have doubts. "Erza, it really hurts me to deceive Lucy and Wendy like this, but we really need this damned money…"

Erza looked into the dragon slayers eyes. "All right," She decided. "But remember, Natsu, if you screw things up somehow and we'll be late or get into some other kind of trouble, you will be responsible for all of it and you will make the excuses before the rest of our team!" She glanced at him menacingly.

The sight of crying Lucy and very upset Wendy appeared before Natsu's eyes. He considered them almost as his little sisters, and definitely did not want to see them like this. "How wilt thou say," The dragon slayer muttered. He was determined to do this mission fast and clean.

Erza took the request from the board and headed to Mirajane. "Mira, please mark that me and Natsu took this request…"

"Hmm?" The platinum blonde's eyes widened a bit. "Just two of you, not your team?"

"Yeah…" The scarlet-haired girl replied, both she and Natsu looked into the floor. "I know it sounds not too good, but we are in some kind of need…"

"What's wrong, Natsu?" Lisanna asked her childhood friend.

"No, it's all right, Lisanna, I just… I just need some money…" The dragon slayer faltered.

Mirajane made a record in the requests registration book, "All right Erza, as you say…"

"And Mira, Lisa, please don't tell anyone about it," Natsu murmured. "We don't want Lucy and the others to become upset if they find out that we went out on a mission while they were recovering."

Mira took a deep breath as her face expressed dissatisfaction. "Okay Natsu, but you two have to promise me that you will return soon, I don't want to be a liar."

"Thanks Mira!" The Salamander replied cheerfully. "Believe me, I don't like it either, but this is emergency." He and Erza headed to guildhall door.

"Take care, Natsu," Lisanna waved goodbye to her salmon-haired friend. "Nee-san, do you think they'll be all right?" She asked to her elder sister.

Mirajane sighed, "I have no doubts about their combat skills, but these two have weird relationships between them. I'm wondering how things will go…" The take-over siblings looked at the guild hall door, where Natsu and Erza left.

April 3, Year X791, 7:30 AM, Fairy Tail guildhall.

The next morning, just as planned, Natsu and Erza came to visit their teammates at the sickbay. Wendy was already there casting her magic upon Lucy's arm, Gray was still asleep and Carla and Happy were… somewhere elsewhere.

"They went out for some airing," Wendy said when she noticed that Natsu was looking around for Happy. Natsu sighed, but then grinned to Lucy, who was in a much better mood than yesterday.

"How's it going Lucy?" The Salamander asked cheerfully, both he and Erza tried to look as natural as possible.

"I'm fine, thanks to you guys, and to Wendy, of course," She smiled a bit guilty. "I'm sorry for my yesterday's behavior, I was angry at myself and annoyed you guys even though it was my fault."

"Don't worry Lucy, I wasn't bothered at all, just recover quickly and we will be fine," Erza said, although yesterday she actually was quite bothered.

"I will! I promise I'll be careful next time and will do my best! We'll take the mission as soon as we get out of here; I know you guys need money (just as I do…)" Blonde exclaimed with enthusiasm.

Natsu and Erza got another prick of conscience. "Hey, what's wrong guys?" Lucy asked when she saw her teammates' troubled faces. "Are you… Are you still mad at us because of our failure?" The stellar mage's face became sad again.

"What? Oh no, we are not, Lucy, it's just… um…" They both tried to come up with a reason for their behavior.

"It's just this day Lucy," Erza said at last. "On this day, fifteen years ago, I was kidnapped and sent to the R-system tower." Natsu can physically feel how hard those false words came to the scarlet knight-mage; he knew it was a lie. Now was an early April, and Natsu was one among the very few who knew that she was kidnapped in late November.

Lucy's eyes widened, "Oh, I'm so sorry Erza," Blonde lowered her head.

"Don't worry Lucy, because, thanks to you, Gray and this guy…" Erza clapped Natsu on his back and he fell on his knees. "…it's just distant memories now."

"Oh, Erza, you really should work on your way to praise people," Natsu stated while getting up, Lucy giggled.

"Okay, we should let Wendy work, see you soon guys," Erza headed towards the exit.

"Yeah, later! Lucy, Wendy," Natsu followed her.

"These two look quite cute together, somehow, don't you think, Wendy?" Lucy asked to her deep-blue haired friend.

"I think so, Lucy-san" The Sky maiden was too busy with her spell to give an unfolded answer.

"Sorry Erza, I know you hate to tell lies, especially about your past," Natsu said while they were going downstairs. Erza sighed, "Forget it; after all, it was our joint decision – to hide our mission. However, Natsu…" She looked at him with narrowed eyes, "It better be worth it…"

"I'm sure it will!" Natsu smiled, a bit nervously.

They were out on the guild hall, on the yard. "All right Natsu, the morning train will depart in 40 minutes, we have to hurry if we don't want to be late."

Natsu's eyes widened as he shook his head in protest "What?! Train?! No way will we ride on it!"

"Oh, don't start it again Natsu. We should be going," Titania said with annoyance "And where is Happy?"

Natsu sniffed, "This traitorous blue fur ball traded me on that white kitty of his…"

Erza smirked, "Looks like he outgrew you Natsu"

Natsu shook his head in disapproval. "Look who's talking. Regardless, we surely will not take the train. I can't handle it, besides, we have no time for it!"

"So, you got a better idea?" Erza looked at him questionangly.

"Actually, I do!" Natsu answered proudly.

"You do?" Erza was surprised. "What is it then?"

"I'll show you, but first, you have to wear your flame empress armor," Dragon slayer said.

Erza wondered, "What? Why?"

"Just do it Erza," Natsu exclaimed impatiently, "You'll see by yourself."

The knight-mage couldn't understand what exactly the dragon slayer wanted to do, but he seems confident, so she did as he asked. "Okay, as you say. Entei no Yoroi: Za Naito! [The Knight: Flame Empress Armor]" She was now wearing crimson armor with black and gold drawing. "All right, now what?" Asked Erza.

"Now grab my shoulders from behind," Natsu replied.

"What?! What is it for?" The fairy queen could not understand his intentions.

"Come on Erza, hurry up and do it, this will work, I promise," Natsu replied, urging her.

'All right, he got some good ideas from time to time,' the scarlet-haired girl thought and grabbed him by the shoulders from behind, as he asked. "So, now what?"

"Hold on tight now!" Natsu shouted. "When Happy started to 'go out for some airing' with Carla way too often, I understood that he is no longer reliable as much as he was, so I had to think about alternate way of travel… without transportation, I mean." He raised his hands, building up his magic energy, and then shouted "Karyū no Enyoku!" [Fire Dragon's Flame Wings]

Wave of heat had spread around Natsu as pair of large, burning, dragon-like wings appeared behind his back. It was burning hot, but Erza's armor deflected heat.

'So this is why he wanted me to wear this armor, but how he's intending to…' The answer for her question came by itself. Natsu covered his legs with flames and used it as thrusters to soar into the air. "Wow, way to go Natsu!" Erza approved. "And you created this spell all by yourself?"

"Yep," the dragon mage nodded. "Actually I thought about it since my first fight with Erigor. That was a first time when I was able to change fire's properties and give it a shape."

'Hmm, quite impressive, to be honest, he really amazes me sometimes…' Erza thought.

They were in flight for some time and Erza enjoyed it, after all, she dreamed of flying since her very childhood. 'It's so nice to have wings…' She envied Natsu a bit. Then she remembered something, "Oh, wait, Natsu, I forgot my stuff!"

"What? Oh, just drop it already, we are almost half-way to Onibas now, and I'm using my own magical power to fly. Besides, I just started to use this magic, I can carry one person all right, but I can't lift up a cart full of junk…" Natsu replied.

"Boor!" Erza exclaimed when Natsu called her stuff a 'junk', and, even lying on his back, in midair, she still managed to give Natsu high knee.

After 20 minutes of flight Erza started to feel herself uncomfortable. "Fly steady Natsu, I need to change my position, my hands are starting to become numb," She lowered her legs and wrapped them around dragon slayer's waist while grabbed his collarbones with her hands.

"So, you like to be on top?" Natsu joked.

"What? No, not really" Erza replied, looks like she did not get Natsu's vulgar joke… or she just did not think that it was vulgar, she's Erza, after all…

They were flying high, but Natsu's wings produced enough heat so Erza didn't feel cold. However, she felt something else, a strange, but warm and relaxing feeling. She was not able to understand what it was exactly, but she remembered that she felt something similar. It was back then, in the Tower of Heaven, when Jellal was near her, before he was consumed by darkness. Natsu maybe felt something too, but he was too focused on controlling his flight, so he did not notice anything. "There it is!" The Salamander's voice returned Erza from wandering inside her memories.

They were approaching Onibas. The client wanted to meet with them in one of the houses in the city, the address was specified in the request. However, as Natsu and Erza were not too familiar with this town and its layout, it was not possible for them to find the specific building from above, thus Erza commanded, "All right, Natsu, land there, in that little square" She pointed at one of the town's squares with a fountain.

"Aye aye, captain!" Natsu grinned as he headed down, toward the place, pointed by the knight-mage. The time was about 9 AM, and town's streets were quite crowded with people, some of which already have noticed a strange flaming bird in the sky, approaching town.

At a height of about thirty meters Natsu abruptly turned his legs down toward the ground and used them to produce a reverse thrust, Erza relaxed her legs and hung on his neck. At ten meters above the ground his magical wings disappeared and they simply jumped down. At the point where they touched down, the pavement cracked and split into several pieces in different directions, but the wizards of Fairy Tail looked as if nothing unusual had happened, unlike the shocked townspeople.

"Hāto Kurosu Yoroi: Za Naito" [The Knight: Heart Kreuz Armor] Erza ex-equipped her normal Heart Kreuz armor and looked at the request. "OK, now we have to find a client's house," She looked around.

"I think we should ask someone from this town about the address," Natsu suggested.

"Yeah, you're right," Erza agreed. "Hey you!" She grabbed the closest passerby. "Where is this house?" Erza showed the address on the request blank.

The guy was stunned by this request. "Wai.. Wha…" He had no chance to finish his phrase as Erza threw him into the fountain.

"Hey, where is this house?" She 'asked' another citizen. A certain young girl stuttered too much and soon joined the first guy inside the fountain.

"How can you live inside this town not knowing its layout?" Natsu asked thoughtfully to the people in the fountain, which were now three. It was Erza's usual behavior, so the dragon slayer just waited patiently until she got the information. On the fifth attempt Erza managed to catch somebody who was able to explain how to find client's house. According to the guy, it was one of the houses in the city's center, which are usually leased out.

"Come on Natsu, let's go, double time!" Erza commanded and they hastened to the client.

"And just why such a beautiful girl has to be a crazy bitch?!" Asked with annoyance one of the guys, getting out from the fountain.

April 3rd, Year X791, 9:30 AM, town of Onibas.

The house, whose address was specified in the request, looked quite usual. It was very similar to the one that Lucy has rented. Natsu looked at Erza, shrugged, and simply knocked to the door. On the other side of the door they heard footsteps and few seconds later the door opened. A middle-aged man, dressed like a butler, stood before them. "May I help you?" He asked.

"Um, yes, we came to see your boss, we are from the mage guild and we took up his mission," Natsu replied.

"Ah, of course, we have already received a notice that somebody has accepted his mission, we have been expecting you, please, come in." He made a step aside, letting Natsu and Erza pass. "Mr. Glory is awaiting you in the office upstairs, please, follow me," He headed upstairs, and the Fairy Tail mages followed him.

Natsu remembered something, "Mr. Glory – the owner of the vineyards in the south? I think I heard something about him earlier…" The dragon slayer murmured.

"He was, yes, but now Glory family owns a largest wine producing complex in all of the southern Fiore", The Butler opened the office door and entered. "Mister Glory, these people are from the mage guild that took up your request."

"Ah, good morning! Come in, please!" A well-dressed, tall man, about 45 years old, greeted them and pointed to the sofa. "Please, take a seat, make yourself comfortable."

He waited until the young mages will sit and introduced himself, "My name is Gale Glory, I am the owner of Glory vineyards. With whom do I have the honor?"

Erza smiled affable, "My name is Erza Scarlet," The scarlet-haired girl answered, "My partner here is Natsu Dragneel, and we are mages from a guild Fairy Tail."

Mr. Glory seemed surprised a bit. "Fairy Tail, really?" Looks like he remembered something. "Wait, I think I heard your names before, are not you the Salamander and the Titania from the once famous Fairy Tail?"

"Yep, that's who we are!" Natsu replied with his signature toothy grin.

"Hmm, even so far south we have heard about you and your guild," He sat down on the chair opposite to young mages. "But that was more than six years ago, I heard some of your guild members were lost or something…"

"Yes," Erza answered, "We were attacked during one of the guild events and forced to vanish for several years".

It looked like Mr. Glory did not really get it, he just murmured, "Yeah, this is why I was against my daughter's wish to become a mage…"

It looked like Natsu wanted to say something on this matter but Erza grabbed his shoulder and shook her head, mentioning that everyone has his right on his own opinion, so the dragon slayer just said, "But now we have returned and are ready to work!"

"That's what I wanted to hear," Mister Glory said cheerfully. "Let us get straight to the business then," He cleared his throat. "My mission is to retrieve the Glory family tapestry from the old vault, just few kilometers west from here. It collapsed during the earthquake 37 years ago and now it infested with monsters. However, monsters are not the real problem," He continued. "The real problem is Gale Raregroove – owner of Raregroove's vineyards, from the west – my arch-competitor," Neither Natsu nor Erza was a wine connoisseur, so they just listened.

"This tapestry, actually, has quite little value for me, it was buried for 37 years, and no one cared about it. But recently I heard from my agents in Raregroove's surroundings…"

Natsu interrupted him, "You have agents there? Like spies or something?"

Mr. Glory replied, "Young man, when you'll have your own business, you will understand how important it is to know about your competitor's plans." Natsu, however, was sure he would never do such boring thing as business. Glory continued, "Anyway, from my agents I heard that Gale's intending to retrieve my family's relic. He even sent requests to mage's guilds all over Fiore to find people who can do it. I bet my head he has intentions to use it to make fun of my family somehow, probably during approaching annual wine festival. I can't let that happen!" Glory pounded his fist on the table.

"Sorry," Businessman put his tie straight and continued. "So, I'm willing to pay 5 000 000 jewels to anyone, who won't let Raregroove to lay his hands on my family's relic. If there is no other choice, just rid of it. Hide it, burn it, bury it forever." Gale gave a nod to his butler, and the servant gave an old map to Erza, it contained a direction for finding the vault. "However…" Glory added, "Since I took up this… If you will be able to retrieve the tapestry and bring it back to me, I will pay additional 500 000 to each one of you," Mr. Glory finished his tale and opened the office window. "So, will you accept my mission?" That question was unnecessary, however, as both Natsu and Erza already were shedding drops of saliva. This is the solution for all of their financial difficulties.

"Six million jewels just for retrieving some rag?! We are all fired up! C'mon Erza, let's go!" Natsu shouted. There were no need to persuade her – Erza could be weird sometimes, but money is money. Natsu grabbed her hand and they jumped out the window. "See you soon, mister Gale!" Dragon Slayer exclaimed.

"Good luck to you, young mages!" He shouted as an answer.

Erza looked at the Glory's map. "Hmm, all right, it's not too far away, west from town, come on!" They hurried toward west side of the Onibas.

Unfortunately, because Natsu's used part of his magical power to get to Onibas, and because dragon slayer overslept today and had to skip breakfast, Erza was compelled to cede to his requests and stop at the tavern so Natsu could eat. "Natsu, if someone get ahead of us because of you…" The knight-mage glanced at him menacingly.

"Nobt nobvy Esha ib… (Don't worry Erza it)…" He swallowed a piece of meat "…will take only a few minutes".

Erza punched him in the forehead, "Stop talking with your mouth full!" She wiped the grease from her armor with napkin. Erza was not really hungry, but she did not mind some coffee, however.

"Strange guy, willing to pay huge amount of money to protect some family portrait…" Natsu was thinking aloud.

"It's a family matter Natsu, it's important. I doubt you would be pleased if someone decide to make an Igneel's dummy and put it up for show and…"

Natsu did not let her to continue: "All right, all right! I get it!" Salamander vowed, this very idea was quite disgusting for him.

They already paid for the food and were about to leave the tavern when three non-common people entered from outside. Natsu and even Erza were able to overhear their talking. "… we will spend some time to get breakfast and refill our supplies and then we will go ask people around the town about that Glory's vault…"

Erza grabbed Natsu's hand and flew out the door like a bullet. "See?! What have I told you!?" She was running toward the town's west exit, dragging Natsu along.

"Hey Erza where are you going?! They are our competitors, we can't let them find the vault, it will be a shame for Fairy Tail if we fail our mission! Let's kick their asses!" Natsu protested.

Erza shook her head. "Gladly, but we can't! They have not done anything illegal, we cannot just attack some random people inside the town in front of everyone's eyes!" To his regret, Natsu was unable to disagree with her. They can't arrange a riot in the town and set up their guild just after they've returned. Erza added, "By the way, these guys may be not the only group of our competitors, so we have to hold over violence for better case… Oh, now I understood why payment is so high – because of guys like those!"

"Looks like we have no choice then – we have to get Glory's relic first!" Natsu vowed.

"Exactly, besides, we have an advantage – looks like they do not know where the Glory's vault is, it will take time to find someone who knows something about it," They were running through the forest now.

Using Gale's map, it was not too hard to find the vault's entrance. The old gate was half-opened and damaged by earthquake, Natsu can easily use his "Karyū no Hōkō, [Fire Dragon's Roar]" for example, to collapse the entrance, making the task to find something there completely impossible, at least without heavy mining equipment. However, they just can't refuse the possibility to earn an additional million jewels, because they were here for the money in the first place, that's the very reason why they're hiding from their friends.

April 3, Year X791, 11:00 AM, Glory's vault.

"All right, let's go inside. Don't do anything stupid Natsu, I don't want to be buried alive here…" Erza stated edifying.

"It's unnecessary to say such things, I'm not entirely stupid," The dragon slayer replied resentfully.

'I know, Natsu, just…' Erza thought with a slight smile. However, their way down to the vault's core was unexpectedly smooth. They met some forest Balkans and giant spiders, but nothing special. Natsu was obliged to let Erza do most of the job, since her magic was less destructive in nature. Using the map, they found the sought-for relic pretty quickly. It seemed like the relic was magical, time and dust were not be able to ruin the tapestry. Besides, both Natsu and Erza got some strange, faint feeling when they held it. Natsu wrapped tapestry into his blanket and they headed toward the vault's exit.

Just outside the vault gate they meet the same group of mages whose conversation they overheard in the tavern back then. "Well, well, look what we have here, people! Some little mages doing our job for us." A tall guy, most likely the team leader, looked at Natsu's guild stamp, just like other two mages.

"I can't recognize this guild stamp, boss," A girl with narrow and a bit nasty eyes pointed at the dragon slayer's shoulder.

"Nah, who cares from where they are? Probably from some little and unremarkable guild. Let's just take the thing from them and get our reward," The leader turned to Natsu and Erza, which both already were steaming from rage.

Flames completely enveloped Natsu, "You said you cannot recognize the stamp?" The dragon slayer hissed. "Then I'll make you learn our name, for the rest of your lives!" He jumped in the air, "We are from FAIRY TAIL! Metsuryū Ōgi: Guren Bakuenjin!" [Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flameblade] A large explosion sundered the surrounding area and collapsed the Vault's entrance. Unconscious and covered with ash, bodies of rival mages party were scattered around. "Remember what kind of wizards Fairy Tail has…"

"That's enough Natsu, c'mon, we have to hurry," Erza said. Natsu looked contemptuously at his competitors, lying in the dust, and followed the Knight-wizard. On their way back Natsu and Erza met another mage party, however they were able to avoid fighting as they hid in the trees, despite Natsu was still on edge.

April 3, Year X791, 2:00 PM, town of Onibas.

Natsu and Erza arrived at the client's house and once again knocked on the door. Mr. Gale Glory himself opened it. "What is it? You… You've already returned?! And you got my relic?!"

"Yep, we have it right here!" Natsu answered with his signature toothy grin.

"Wonderful! And, as I am understand, it even in one piece?! That's even more wonderful! Please, come in!" Natsu and Erza entered the house, Mr. Glory lead them into the lounge. "May I have it, please?" He asked.

Natsu unwrapped his blanket and handed over tapestry to Gale. "Yes, that's it! Look, it's our family tree!" He unfolded the tapestry and showed it to Natsu and Erza. It was a large family tree with miniature portrait of each member. "My family legend said it that contains self-sustaining and self-cleaning magic so it always looks like new." The tapestry really looked like new, so the legend probably was truthful.

However, Natsu and Erza were not really interested in it, and Gale Glory noticed that. "All right, I remember I promised some extra reward for you, and I am a man of my word." He took out a checkbook, and wrote a check for 6 500 000 jewels. "There it is – five millions as a mission reward, one more million for retrieving the relic intact, and extra five hundred thousand for a very fast and clear job. Here…" Glory handed a check to Erza, "Believe me, you have earned every last of these jewels, I shudder to think what that fool Raregroove might have been able to do if he'd got his hands on this."

He walked over to the safe and took out a bottle of wine. "And before you go, I have one last favor to ask from you. Please, let me share this with you. It's the best sample of Glory's vineyard products." He put three glasses on the table and poured the contents of the bottle into them. "I want to raise a toast to the Fairy Tail guild!" Natsu and Erza may not refuse, not after all the additional money given to them by Mr. Glory. How it was said, neither Natsu nor Erza were not a wine connoisseur, but that was not necessary to understand that this wine was really wonderful in both taste and color. Its tone was exactly the same as Erza's luxury hair, by the way. Certain warm feeling filled Natsu's and Erza's bodies.

"All right, I will hold you no longer." Mister Glory said, while escorting the young mages to the door. "Working with you was a pleasure, really. Goodbye, I hope to hear more good things about Fairy Tail soon!" He waved his goodbye.

"Bye!" Natsu shouted.

"It was a pleasure, Mr. Glory!" Erza waved her goodbye.

April 4, Year X791, 8:00 AM, Unknown location.

Both Natsu and Erza woke up simultaneously. They looked around with spacey eyes. Their heads were filled with some haze. They looked at each other and noticed a few things – they didn't know where they are, how much time it is now, and most importantly – why they are in the same bed. Erza examined her body with her hands and realized that she is completely naked. With widened eyes she looked at Natsu, who seemingly came to the same conclusion about his clothes – they were gone. In addition, and that was worst of all, none of them were able to remember anything since they left Glory's house…

Spell List:

"Entei no Yoroi: Za Naito" – "The Knight: Flame Empress Armor"

"Karyū no Enyoku" – "Fire Dragon's Flame Wings"

"Hāto Kurosu Yoroi: Za Naito" – "The Knight: Heart Kreuz Armor"

"Karyū no Hōkō" – "Fire Dragon's Roar"

"Metsuryū Ōgi: Guren Bakuenjin" – Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flameblade

Footnotes:

* Canens, also known as "Canens of the beautiful voice" was a Roman Goddess of Song, famous for the incomparable beauty of her voice. According to a legend, all musical instruments becomes silent as she started to sing, because her voice by itself sounded like most beautiful melody in the world.

** Verily, the corrupted sinner will be cleansed from within.

*** Dragon Slave and its cast sequence belong to Hajime Kanzaka. By the way, this is the only spell in this story what won't be changed in any manner, despite circumstances. This is the sign of my respect to Kanzaka and his fans (I'm is among them).

**** Actually, exact date of events was never specified, but if Grand Magic Games started July 1st, we can subtract three months and assume what Key of the starry sky events happened in the late march.

***** Exact quantity of months while Fairy Tail core members were missing, there was no 7 years – there was 6 years and three months.

Well, this is it for the prologue and chapter one. I hope you liked the idea. Please read and do not forget about REWIEW! Cya!