Since they only discovered that Natsu had accepted the mission a day late, Kira and the others spent a considerable amount of time organizing the guild's response. Between Markov's lengthy instructions and Kira's visit back to his shop for supplies, the rescue team only managed to set off much later.
By the time Kira's airship soared toward the Lingfeng Zonia region, Natsu, Lucy, and Happy had already arrived—and were hopelessly lost.
"Where is this place?!" Natsu grumbled in frustration, glaring at the tattered map in his hand. "It's clearly marked right here!"
All around them was an endless sea of white snow. The mountains loomed, shrouded by swirling snowflakes and freezing winds. In this featureless landscape, there were no landmarks—just an unchanging blur of snow. It was as disorienting as the ocean or desert, except far colder.
Happy, looking anxious, flapped his wings in the frosty air. "Maybe we took the wrong path. Natsu, are you sure you're following the map right?"
"Of course! We're going exactly where it says!"
Lucy leaned in and squinted at the map Natsu proudly held up. The moment she saw it, her face froze in shock.
"This map...??!!"
"What?" Natsu tilted his head, completely oblivious.
"This map is... too crude!!!"
The so-called map consisted of a handful of poorly drawn snow-capped peaks. In the middle of the paper was a stick-figure tavern with a big arrow pointing toward it, labeled "Zonia." Beyond that, it was utterly useless.
"Natsu!" Lucy screamed, veins popping on her forehead. "You followed this map???"
"Yeah! What's wrong with it?" Natsu responded innocently.
Lucy lost her temper. "You big idiot!!!" She slapped Natsu so hard that he flew backward into the snow with a loud thud.
Happy, hovering above, shivered nervously. "What do we do now, Lucy?"
Lucy crossed her arms, her teeth chattering from the cold. "We… we should just go back! This is hopeless!"
However, as she turned around to retrace their steps, Lucy's face paled.
The snowstorm had already wiped away their tracks. No matter which way she looked, there was nothing but an unbroken expanse of white.
Her voice cracked with panic. "W-We're lost…"
Happy froze mid-flight, his paws on his face. "Lost?! What do we do?! What do we do?!" He flew in frantic circles around Lucy, his voice rising with panic.
Lucy hugged her knees, staring blankly at the ground. "It's over… I shouldn't have come here… I didn't expect to die on a snow-covered mountain…"
Suddenly, she blinked and asked, "Wait. Where's Natsu?"
Happy paused, looking just as confused. "Huh? Yeah, where did he go?"
Before they could look for him, a distant rumbling sound echoed across the mountain.
Lucy froze. "Happy… do you hear that?"
Happy paused, tilting his ears. "Yeah… it's like a rumbling sound… but it's getting louder…"
"That can't be good."
"And… wait. It sounds like Natsu's voice, too…"
Lucy and Happy turned toward the noise just in time to see Natsu barreling toward them at full speed, waving and shouting excitedly.
"Hey, Happy! Lucy! Look! It's amazing!"
Lucy's jaw dropped as she noticed what was chasing Natsu.
A massive wall of snow—an avalanche—was thundering down the mountain toward them, swallowing everything in its path. The ground vibrated violently beneath their feet.
Happy shrieked. "A-Avalanche!!!"
Lucy screamed at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her face. "RUN!!!"
In an instant, Lucy and Happy bolted in the opposite direction, snow spraying around them as they stumbled and scrambled for safety.
"Wait for me!" Natsu yelled, catching up to them easily.
Lucy shot him a furious glare, even as she ran. "You caused this, didn't you?!"
Natsu shrugged, grinning. "I don't know what happened! I heard a crack sound after you punched me, and then the snow started falling."
Happy whined, flying as fast as he could. "Lucy! This is your fault! Your punch caused it!"
"WHAT?!" Lucy screamed, horrified. "Don't blame me for this!"
With the avalanche only meters away, Lucy and Happy were at their limits. "Natsu! Do something!"
Natsu slowed to a stop, planting his feet firmly in the snow. "Leave it to me!"
Flames erupted from his hands, enveloping his body with intense heat. The snow beneath his feet melted into steam as he gathered his strength.
"Fire Dragon's… Roar!!!"
A massive pillar of fire shot from Natsu's mouth, carving a fiery path through the avalanche. The flames melted the oncoming snow, turning it into water and steam.
Lucy and Happy stared in awe as the attack pushed back the unstoppable force of nature.
"We're saved!" Lucy exclaimed, tears of relief in her eyes.
"Go, Natsu!" Happy cheered.
However, the avalanche was relentless. No matter how much snow Natsu burned away, more continued to crash down the mountainside.
Three minutes later, Natsu stopped, gasping for air. "I'm… so tired…"
The snow surged forward once more.
"AHHH!!!"
"Don't stop now, you idiot!" Lucy screamed, but it was too late.
The avalanche consumed them.
Ten minutes later, the snowstorm had calmed. The mountains were quiet again, with no sign of the three unfortunate travelers.
Meanwhile, Kira and the rescue team were aboard the airship, quickly approaching Zonia.
Kira stood at the front, facing a magic crystal that recorded his every word and action. "Ladies and gentlemen! Ahead of us lies the majestic Lingfeng Zonia, the most mysterious and dangerous region in the northern Kingdom of Fiore!"
Gray looked over at Erza. "What is Kira doing?"
Erza explained with a faint smile, "He's recording footage for the children at the orphanage. He plans to show them a movie when we return."
Gray raised an eyebrow. "Only Kira would turn a rescue mission into a documentary…"
The snowy peaks of Zonia came into view. Massive, untouched mountains rose as far as the eye could see. The air was cold and sharp, and the skies were an endless gray.
Kira spread his arms theatrically, his voice booming with excitement. "According to legend, this is where the Black and White Goddesses once fought their epic battle! Was it truly a fight for love? Or is there more to the story? What kind of man could inspire such a legendary showdown?"
He grinned mischievously. "Stick with me—the 'Sage' Kira—and together, we'll uncover the truth!"
Behind him, the rescue team groaned collectively.
"Can we focus on finding Natsu and Lucy first?" Gray muttered.
"Agreed," Erza said, sighing.
As the airship descended toward the snowy expanse, the team prepared themselves for the challenges that awaited them in Zonia.
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