Trouble In Natsu Town

The next day, Satoru walked into a very tense guild hall. Things were quiet and master Makarov looked to be very tense.

" Yo, what's going on everyone?" Satoru asked as he walked into the hall.

" You missed it, Shira." Cana told the man. " Natsu, Happy, and Lucy took off with an S-Class Quest."

" HE DID WHAT?!" Satoru exclaimed. 

" Yes, it's very troublesome." Erza spoke up. " Natsu has disgraced our guild and broken our rules. They must be punished." 

Satoru stepped forward, still trying to rack his head around what he had just heard.

" Hang on, hang on. Alright, everyone explain what happened to me first." Satoru said.

" I went up to check the second floor today." Mira told the man. " And when I saw the board was missing a quest, I told the master. Apparently, Laxus saw Happy stealing one of the quests from the board and didn't say anything."

" The master sent, Gray to bring them back, but we haven't heard anything from him since he left." Macao spoke up.

" He probably went off with them." Wakaba stated.

"Now, hang on a second. Laxus just let run them run off with a quest? He didn't try to stop them?" Satoru asked.

" Why should I? It's not like it's my job to look for those losers." Laxus spoke. He was sitting on a chair on the second floor, just relaxing like it wasn't a big deal.

" But it is your job! It's the job of every single S-Class wizard to ensure the safety of his guildmates, regardless of how he feels about them." Satoru told the man.

" Oh yeah? And what would you know about being an S-Class wizard?"

Satoru clenched his fist and glared at Laxus so hard the veins in his forehead began throbbing.

" That's enough Laxus." Makarov spoke up.

" Heh, whatever." Laxus told the man. He closed his eyes and went back to leaning in his chair.

Satoru sighed, releasing a deep breath of frustration, and closed his eyes as well. 

" Okay, well, let's look at this situation from another angle master. Natsu's strong. I'm sure he can handle himself." Shira told the man.

" That does not matter. Natsu isn't qualified for S-Class Quests. If the clients find out our guild could be in trouble!" Makarov exclaimed.

" I know. I know. I'm not saying what he did was right. Just hear me out. Let's assume by now, that Gray was somehow roped along, right?" Satoru spoke. " What if Erza and I went along? You contact the clients and inform them that Natsu and the others were just a scouting party sent ahead and that Erza and I are on our way. That way Erza, as an official S-Class wizard, could properly accept the quest, and the guild won't get in trouble for sending wizards out on an unofficial quest." Satoru explained. " That way, Natsu and the others can get the experience and the guild can save face."

" Hmmm." Makarov hummed. He seemed to be in deep thought. " It could work, but Natsu knows the rules. They all do."

" And I'm not saying we don't punish them master. I believe anyone who had a hand in this should accept the responsibility. But if we bring Natsu back now, it'll destroy him. And the people who posted the job will suffer as well. I don't think it's fair that they should suffer over the mistakes of a few young and dumb wizards, not if we have the tools to correct them." Satoru told the man.

" Hmm, very well. You and Erza can go and help them. However, you two will be the officials on this quest. I'm counting on the two of you to make this right." Makarov told the man.

" Of course, Master." Erza muttered.

" Of course." Satoru also stated. " Now, what quest did they actually take anyway?" Satoru wondered.

" The job was to lift the curse on Galuna Island." Mira told the man.

" THAT IDIOOOOOOOOT!" Satoru yelled to the tops of his lungs.

.......

" What a damned mess this is. I can't believe that idiot would do something so reckless." Satoru muttered.

" I know. I expected Natsu to do something crazy, but nothing like this." Erza told the man.

" Oh no, I definitely knew he would do something like this eventually. But I just can't believe he'd drag Lucy along with him. The girl hasn't even been a member for very long. She doesn't have the experience or the skill necessary to go on an S-Class Quest." Satoru stated. " When I get my hands on Natsu, I'm gonna give that punk something he's never gonna forget." Satoru exclaimed.

" Shira, I don't think you truly understand how severe this situation is." Erza told the man. " Natsu has gone against the rules of the guild."

" Yeah, I know."

" Then why would you put yourself in the line of the master's wrath? Surely you know now that you're the one who'll come under fire if things go wrong."

" Yeah."

" Then why do it?" Erza asked.

" Because I know Natsu feels. He wants to be the strongest, to beat you, me, and Laxus. And to do that he believes he needs to be S-Class. But that just isn't the case." Satoru told the woman. " I know what it feels like to have a constant need to prove yourself."

" Shira..."

Erza looked at Shira with concern on her face. She placed her hand softly on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Satoru grabbed her hand and removed it. He then turned towards her and smiled. " It's alright, Erza. I'm fine. Let's go get our people back."

" R-Right." Erza muttered.

Satoru and Erza walked the coastal line, looking for a ship to take them to the cursed island of Galuna. But no matter who they asked, no one was willing to take them. And for good reason. The Cursed Island had been dangerous territory for quite some time. Many travelers and wizards have attempted to purge the island, but none have ever returned.

" This is going to be a problem. How are we supposed to get to the island if we can't find anyone who will take us?" Erza asked. 

" I have no idea. We could try swimming." Satoru told the woman.

" We could. But it would take us quite some time." Erza muttered. " Could we afford to buy our own ship? Maybe a small boat?"

" Hey! You two... I heard you guys were looking for a ship."

Satoru and Erza turned to see a rather auspicious group of men walking towards them. Each of them smiling and smirking as if they stumbled upon treasure or something.

They surrounded Erza and Satoru on all sides, still grinning as a short man approached them.

" Hi there, the names patches. Now that we're acquainted, how about you guys' hand over all your stuff and maybe we'll get along just fine." He said.

Poor fool.

Erza and Satoru quickly dealt with the men surrounding them and were no looming over the small pirate. With each of them glaring daggers at him, patches had no choice but do as they said.

" How nice of you guys, to come and offer us a free ride. Right, Erza?"

" Yes.... How nice of you."

Patches began shriveling up as Erza and Satoru closed in on him.

" I'M SORRY!!!!!!!"