~~~~~~~~~
Alzack and Bisca look down at the footprints, "This footprint... There's no mistake about it.
It's already been two days since they passed from here."
"That's plenty of time to reach Magnolia. I wonder if something happened to them?"
"Anyway, let's go back and report this."
"We're not going after them?"
This woman is Bisca Moulin. And this man is Alzack Connel. Both of them are Fairy Tail mages.
They go back to the guild and a worried Mirajane replies, "I see. This is troubling."
she then continues "And we've received a notice from the Council, too"
Bisca looks at her, "Well, I was planning on going after them, but..." Alzack interrupts by saying, "No, we couldn't. That path went deep into Clover Canyon. Even experienced hunters from Hunter Guilds can't get out once they lose their bearings." "A great natural labyrinth, huh? Why would they head there?" Mirajane looks at both and says, "They must have had a reason." But, Master is with them, so it shouldn't be a problem."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy approaches a cliff and Lucy then begins rant, "Come on, Happy! You're lost again, aren't you? We've been walking and walking, but we haven't reached Magnolia yet! You dull-direction-sensed cat!"
This place is known as Web Valley because of its countless fissures from an ancient earthquake. As was mentioned before, it is said that a great number of souls have gotten lost here, never to return.
Happy yells at her, "How rude! I never got lost before. This is the first time."
"I don't care if it's your first time or your last; the fact is, we're lost!"
Natsu begins to whine, "I'm starving..."
Gray glares at him "Stop reminding me! It's only making me hungrier!"
"Well I'm hungry and that's that!"
They soon begin to bicker,"Then stop going on about it, already!" but soon Makarov joins in, "Indeed I'm hungry!"
They look at him, "Not you, too!"
Erza yells at them, " Enough." and then her stomach growled.
They all stand on the side and look at her with wide eyes, "Your stomach just went "gu"...."
She then quickly says, "It did not. You're hearing things." Asami looks at her and mutters, "Liar" while Gray says, "N-Nice cover-up there." Then Happy and Haru begin to cry out with excitement while looking down, "Why are you shouting?" "Natsu, look at that!"
The wizards all look down to see the flying fish calling out, "I can fly!" "You can fly!"
"Can you fly?"
Happy then explains, "It's the legendary delicacy, the Winged Fish!"and excited adds, "They're super tasty! Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!" Haru then pulls at Asami's cape with mouth watering who looks down at him and tilts her head.
Gray mutters, "Legendary delicacy?"
Erza then adds, "Winged fish..." While Natsu smiles " Looks delicious to me!"
Makarov looks down at both cats with tears running down his face"You did it, Happy and Haru. You did a great job in finding them."
Lucy then mutters, "You are all way too hungry." Asami looks at her with an eyebrow raised, "So are you..." she then grumbles, "Shut Up"
Happy and Haru both concentrate and say "Okay, we're fishing!"
Natsu looks down at his fish pole,"Damn Just when you think you've hooked one, it's gone."
Asami watched as Gray fishes. He looks at her concerned, "Aren't you going to fish" She looks at him and bluntly says, "No, because it looks boring." He sweatdrops.
Lucy then mutters to Erza "I'm gonna do my best! However, they don't really look all that tasty to me"
Erza glares down at the fish and responds,"Shut up and Fish. At this rate, it doesn't matter as long as they're edible."Lucy looks at her frightened says, "You're that hungry?"
Happy and Haru both go back and forth determined to catch the fish, " I want to eat a winged fish!" "They look delicious!" "They're a legendary delicacy!"
They then get up "We give up" Lucy stands in front of them ,"You lack the willpower!"
Both cats look up to her and say
"But we couldn't catch even one"
"Yeah it's too hard"
She then crouches to their level and pats their heads, "You're hungry, right? Then keep trying.
Don't give up, okay? Little guys"
They both run away crying,
"Lucy, you meanie!" "It's not our fault we're little!"
Lucy with eyes bulging out cries out to them, "But I was encouraging you!"
~~~~~~~~~~
"That was pretty tough."
"In the end, we only caught one...."
Asami looks down at them and says, "Haru and Happy, eat it."
Happy then says "We can't just eat it by ourselves..." Haru adds, "Yeah it wouldn't be fair"
Gray then tell them, "If we split it up, it'll only make us hungrier!"
Frustrated Natsu says, "Don't hold back! Eat, eat!"
"Right then!"
"Thanks!"
Happy and Haru begin to eat the fish and everyone watches with a glare.
Lucy grumbles, "Sure seems like they're enjoying that fish there" Asami mutters," Lucky them"
"Gross!"
They all cry out, "It's gross?!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
They all continue walking and are still starving. Natsu whines, "Anyway I'm completely starving." They then stop when they see a village.
"A village!"
"Houses!"
"Which means there's probably"
" Food!" They begin to run towards it but find it empty.
" There's no one here."
"This seems like a pretty quiet village."
Natsu says"Maybe they're taking an afternoon nap." but then calls out, "Hey! Anybody here?"
"We are really starving!"
"Somebody, please give us food!"
"That's too blunt, you famished cat"
Gray looks around and asks,"Are they really all taking an afternoon nap?"
Makarov sounding amused says, "Or maybe the whole village got drunk, and passed out?"
Lucy mutters, "I think you're talking about Fairy Tail..."
"You can say that!"
Natsu then begins to run and shouts, "Argh, this is annoying! Even if I have to use force, I will eat something!" Gray then calls out, "Hey, isn't that the same as robbing the place?"
He knock on the door"You have the same intention, don't you? Hey, anyone home? Give us something to eat, please!"
The others begin to walk as Gray points out, " There is no one here, after all".
Natsu then excited says, "Anyway, there is food here.It's still edible." and is about to eat when Erza stops him. "Wait." he looks at her, "Why?!"
"This is suspicious."
Gray agrees, "Yeah."
Asami looks around and then says, "It looks like they were just eating so where did they all go?"
Uninterested by the conversation Natsu looks over at the food mouth watering, " How should I know? Anyway, let's eat, Happy." "Aye!"
Erza then glares at him, "I said wait!"
"Right!"
She then looks at them and states, "We must investigate this village first. You endured until now. Endure it a little while-" but is interrupted by her stomach growling.
"Erza, your stomach is overruling you."
"Not convincing at all."
Ignoring their conversation and growling stomach Erza continues with her orders, "Natsu and Gray, go search for mushrooms or something! Do not touch the food in the village! In the meanwhile, Master and I will investigate what's going on!"
"Fine, I got it. Come on Asami" She looks at him and then down at Haru"Okay, come one let's go Haru" who happily walks by her side.
"Let's go, Happy."
"Aye!"
As the rest head off Lucy mutters, "Why mushrooms?"
~~~~~~~~~
"We had finally found some delicious-looking food I ain't gonna be satisfied with mushrooms!"
Gray then points out to the many mushrooms, "Look, mushrooms!" Natsu stops and looks on with wide eyes, "Whoa, they look delicious!"
Lucy again questions, "Why mushrooms?" Happy joins in and says, "I know why."
"What?"
"There's no doubt about it!"
" What are you talking about, Happy?"
"Natsu's gonna eat a poisonous mushroom and something weird will happen. You know the cliche"
Natsu then looks up with mushrooms in his mouth, "Give me some credit Happy you really think I would fall for some lame gag like that...No Way!"
~~~~~~~~~
Makarov is busy making stew when suddenly a dark aura forms behind him. He freezes, "Master" and quickly stutters as he notices it's Erza, "N-No! I was just investigating it!"
~~~~~~~~~
"I think I can fill up just on mushrooms, as long as I eat enough of them."
Happy and Haru begin chanting "This is the setup" "Setup" "This is the setup"
Gray who is also stuffing his face with mushrooms says, "Fine, then hurry up and pick them."
Asami who is standing next to him has tick mark, "Why are you eating them too!"
Natsu begins to choke and Lucy looks at him concerned, "Natsu, are you okay?"
Both cats shout, "See, here it comes!" "Punchline!"
As soon as that is said a pink mushroom appear on his head. Natsu relieved says, "That was scary." Lucy with eyes bulging out yells, "Your head is scary!"
An upset Happy and Haru both say, "I was hoping they would turn purple" Lucy then yells at them "That's what you were hoping for!"
Gray then asks,"What's all the fuss about?" as he watches Asami who looks up at him with wide eyes and says "Your heads."
Both Gray and Natsu look confused until Lucy sweat drops points, "Look at your heads."
"Huh? What the heck is with that mushroom?"They begin to laugh and stop and glare at one another and soon begin to argue,
"You are one to talk, with a giant mushroom growing out of your head! Trying to spruce up your image?"
"Trying to spruce up your image? Looks good on you!"
"Why aren't they worried about themselves?"
"Hey, droopy-eyes Did you just laugh at me?"
"And you're snickering like a damn fool!"
Lucy then yells at them"Don't fight with mushrooms growing out of your heads!"
~~~~~~~~
The Master and Erza are in the middle of the town searching for the villagers. "So? There is no one here, as we thought."
"This village is deserted."
"Despite the evidence that people had just been living here. What is this seam? This isn't a normal crack between the tiles."
"It seems to have some purpose."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sighing Lucy looks at both Natsu and Gray who are standing front on each other glaring, "Hey! You're acting like idiots!" Asami then pulls Gray by the ear, "Now isn't the time and we have to get that off your head"
Happy and Haru both call out, " Lucy, I found an extra big one!" "Yeah, Asami me too look"
Lucy looks shocked at both cats while Asami stops pulling Grays ear to look at Haru, "R-Really? Let me see... whoa, it's huge!"
"Damn that is huge!"
Natsu then smiles down at his furry best friend, "One of these would last us for two days!"
Asami with an unamused look says, "Why don't you two do something about the mushrooms on your heads?"
Lucy then calls out to Happy as he stuffs the mushroom in his mouth, "Wait, Happy, don't! It might be poisonous!" she then grabs his face and yells, "Spit it out! Spit it out!"
He mumbles, "But it's yummy!" Asami and Gray both look at Haru who is about to eat the mushroom with a glare that says 'You better not eat that or else' He then tosses it to the side and gives them an innocent look. But their attention soon goes to a now choking Happy.
A mushroom soon appears on his head too and Natsu says, "I guess you end up like that regardless which mushroom you eat."
Gray then asks,"I wonder if the villagers knew a way around this problem?" to which Natsu answers, "Who knows maybe they liked the way it looks?" "Yeah, maybe we'll be in style when we get back into town" They soon both begin to chuckle. Asami then mutters "Yeah right"
Happy looks at them and then at a laughing Haru pointing to his head, "It's not funny this time!"
he yells as he runs away. Lucy then looks at him with wide eyes, "Were you trying to be funny?!" But then looks back at Natsu, " Wait a sec! I think your mushroom is growing."
then Happy appears with anime tears, "Why does Natsu get all the good gags?"
Asami then looks at the mushroom on Gray's head and then back at his face, "Yeah she's right it is getting bigger..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Erza and the master continue looking around, but stop "There's a second seam here."they hear a loud sound, "What? What's that?"
Soon the mushroom on Gray and Natsu's head fall off,"W-What? Your mushrooms disappeared!" to which Happy starts getting excited that he no longer has a mushroom either but Lucy then says, "Happy, you're the only one who still has one." He begins to sulk as Haru gently pats him on the back. But soon they hear the loud scream and head off to find Erza and Makarov. "Erza!" "Gramps!"
Happy then shouts, "It's delicious, but why did it have to grow out of my head?!"
They all soon come to a stop in front of their Master and Erza.
"Erza!Be careful, Happy!"shouts a nervous Natsu "Aye!'
"What the heck?"
"W-What's going on?"
"Wow! That's the first time a house ever waved at me!" yells Happy. Both Haru and Lucy look at the blue cat with shocked looks, "Really?!" "That's what you're focused on?"
" Let's do it, Gramps..." trails off Gray just as he is about to attack he is stopped by Asami who sticks her arm in front of him. "Wait! Why?" he looks at her and then Makarov with a confused look. Makarov then orders, "Seek out higher ground. I want to check something." Erza then continues "Everyone, come and don't get separated!"
"I don't get this at all!"
They then get to higher ground and see a magic circle appear along with a bunch of monsters, "Master, that was a magic circle!"
Asami then looks at Erza and states, "All those seams you found were part of a magic circle. Right?" to which she receives a nod and then Makarov continues, "And that magic circle is the catalyst to activate the long-banned sealing magic, Alive!"
"Alive?" questions Lucy
Makarov looks at the monsters and says "Have a look." and goes on to explain"It's as you see it. A magic that turns formerly inanimate objects into living, moving creatures. The people of the village activated such forbidden magic, but they ended up as food for the monsters, and not the other way around."
Still confused she asks"But why would they do something so dangerous?" Erza responds darkly, " This is a dark guild's village." "What?" "When I investigated the shed at that first house, I found a number of magical tools. And not a single one of them was for good."
Makarov continues for Erza, "They were probably plotting something evil and did themselves in.
However! Their despair is our happiness..." he says crossing his arms to which Natsu asks, "Gramps, what are you talking about?" Makarov then happily says, "I did say that these things were alive, right? If they're alive you can eat them!" Lucy exclaims, "Don't stand there naked with a creepy grin!"
Then Natsu happily shouts, "Well then, let's eat!" Happy flies up agreeing with him, "Yay, it's chow time!" Gray then appears smirking, "This is no time to be a picky eater!"
Erza soon goes down to where the monsters shocking Lucy, "Erza, you're that hungry?"
Watching Gray, Natsu, Happy, and Haru jump down the master shouts, "H-Hey! Don't forget to save me some!" Asami just sits down looking uninterested feeling as though those monsters won't taste as good as the Master seems to be making them out to be.
Standing in front of his so called meal Natsu looks at them smirking, "Hey, jerks! Do you have any idea who you're dealing with? I'm the number one flame-griller in all of Fairy Tail! Fire Dragon's Fist!" he drops a piles of boulders on him and then sets them on fire, "First, we cook them nice and thorough Fire Dragon's Fist! And then- We simmer them covered, for a bit."
Gray uses his ice make magic to freeze them, "We shouldn't really have dessert right off the bat, but beggars can't be choosers. Ice Make Fishnet! The sorbet is done, so let's have a bite."
Happy decides to attack a chair, "I dunno which tastes more gross; a winged fish or a chair" as he jumps on the chair it begins to bounce away with him on it. Haru decides to go for stool instead seeing it as an easier target. He throws rocks at it hoping to slow it down, "Please, stool let me win. I'm very hungry." He looks cutely at it causing the stool to freeze in it's place and then Haru pulls out the big mushroom he found with Happy and whacks it. "Yay I win. Now time to eat"
Lucy watches as Erza prepares to attack, "Stand back." she then requips into a chefs outfit and cuts up the serpent like monsters. "Each stick should be around 5 cm long. With the width of 4 mm, that's the way." Lucy then stands next to her, "You're taking this too seriously! Besides, Erza, that outfit..."
Natsu and Gray continue to prepare their meal, "Fire Dragon's Fist!"
"Ice Make Knuckle!"
Makarov who is sitting next to Asami boredly says,"I'm starving. Aren't they done yet?"
She looks at him with an eyebrow raised but does not say anything and watches as her teammates about to eat.
Natsu gets ready to eat but stops as he sees Happy still trying to fight his char,"Time to eat! What are you doing? It's not like you can eat a chair."
Erza looks at the pile of cut up meat she made and in a demanding voice says, "Lucy.You try eating it first." Said girl quickly exclaims, "No, thank you!" "Ah, well."
"That's not right! Why did you try to make me eat it first?" but stops and sees Happy still struggling, "What is he doing?" Erza boredly replies, "I'm sure he'll handle it himself."
"Now then" Erza then bites half of the stick. Lucy looks at her waiting and asks, "W-What does it taste like?" and Erza just hands over the other half for her to try, "O-Okay then Well, I guess it's time to try a piece."
Gray, Natsu, Lucy, and Haru all take a bite and freeze, "Gross!" Natsu and Gray then runs over to Makarov saying, "What the heck? I can't eat this, Gramps!" "This is beyond gross!" Erza agreeing with them, "True. It's not something one would call edible." Lucy shocked by this fact looks at her, "Don't say that after you made me eat it!" Haru cries to Asami who gently pats on the head, "It tasted nasty Asami and after all that hard work" She sweat drops but calmly replies, "Maybe next time you shouldn't eat a stool" he then cries more, "That not the point!"
Happy then appears and his mushroom falls off to which Gray points out, "Your mushroom came off!" Happy gets up point at him and Natsu "Who cares about that? Why didn't anyone stop that thing? How cruel, Natsu! Why didn't you help?" to which Gray confusedly asks, "You weren't playing around?" Happy pales thinking how cruel they were for thinking that.
Erza ignoring Happy says, "But this isn't helping. It doesn't matter how hungry we are, we can't eat this." Gray adds, "I guess that's what we get for trying to eat monsters."
Natsu says,"Damn it! Now that I realize I can't eat it, I'm really getting hungry!"
Happy continues to sulk as he is being ignored"This is awful. To hell with friendship, to hell with my pals!
Still busy sulking Happy doesn't notice the giant monster behind him and Natsu appears to save him in time, "Watch out!" "Natsu!"
Gray stands beside Asami looking at the monster, "You disgusting creatures!"
Natsu glares preparing to attack, "Now I'm angry. This will send you all flying! Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" Asami gets ready too, " Water Dragon's Iron Fist" Gray joins in as well as Erza, "Ice Wall!" Lucy as well decides to help out, "Me, too! Open up! Gate of the Bull! Taurus!" Taurus then appears with hearts in his eyes as he looks at Lucy,"Nice body as always, I see!" Her lips twitch as she says,"Yeah, whatever. Get to it." He then proceeds to attack while shouting, "Well then, it's been a while!" The monsters keep showing up and they notice that a magic circle appears beneath them. It glows purple as they watch from the boulder in the center of it all, "W-What is it this time?"
"A magic circle?"
"This isn't good"
"What's that?"
As the other freak out Happy points and says,"Wow, pretty!" Lucy yells at him "That's not the issue here! You've been focusing on the weirdest things!"
"This is-"Erza begins but is quickly cut off by the monsters sinking in the ground and then her sami shout, "Run!"
They all continue walking and listen to Natsu's on going complaint, "I'm starving!"
Happy then flies next to him complain as well"Seriously! I can't walk another inch"
Gray glares at him, "Then stop showing off with those wings of yours!"
Lucy then says, " I don't get what happened at all."
Erza looks down at Makarov as they continue walking says, "Master" "What?"
" I just can't be satisfied with your explanation of what happened before."
~~~~Flashback~~~~
"What did you guys do?"
the villagers answer them, "We made a magical circle, and monsters appeared." "We were all exposed to Take Over."
Surprised asks, "So you were all inside those monsters?" but then her eyes widen and shouts, "I ate some of it!" Asami sweat drops and says, "I'm glad I didn't eat"
Ignoring them one of the villagers says, "When you outsiders entered the village, you activated the magical circle."
The master says, "That magic circle is no longer active!"
Natsu then asks him, "Why, Gramps?" "Don't sweat the details, my boy! Anyway, you should all just be happy that the Take Over has been undone.If you learn from this harsh lesson and never act in such a reckless manner again, I will refrain from informing the Council! What do you say?" The villagers all begin to apologize,
"I never want to experience this again! I'm sorry." "We'll never do it again."
Erza then continue by saying, "I thought that after we defeated the monsters, we'd trigger a switch in the magic circle that would cause it to self-destruct. But then-"
Asami then continues for her, "In that instant, you saved us by undoing the Take Over spell on the dark guild members, erasing the magic circle itself." Erza then looks him, "Isn't that right?" He then sighs walking in front of the two before saying, "Could be! At any rate-"
They all shout, "We're starving!"