Sunlight spilled over the glittering sea as a sailboat sailed steadily onward. The sail, emblazoned with the words "Dancing Fairy," billowed in the sea breeze.
On deck, a large parasol blocked the glaring sun. Four young men and women lounged in deck chairs, savoring the comfort of their cold drinks.
Snowy was so relaxed that she'd stretched herself into a little hamster pancake. Happy and Cheese, the two Magic Cats, held fishing rods and enjoyed fishing from the moving boat.
Erza set down her cold drink and tried once more to dissuade her companions from coming along. "Lucy, Gray, thank you, but the Tower of Heaven is dangerous. You shouldn't get involved."
"What nonsense are you talking about? You expect us to sit by and watch a friend walk into danger?"
Gray's reply was rather forceful. He'd been there when they interrogated Jellal. Now that he knew about Erza's tragic past, how could he stand by and let her return to that place of heartbreak?
As the person who'd funded the sailboat beneath their feet, Lucy had naturally come along too. She tried to comfort Erza. "There's strength in numbers. We're worried you might be in danger."
Erza felt touched by their words, but the constant crunching beside her ruined the moment. Her budding gratitude vanished at once.
She shot the culprit an annoyed look, then snatched the bag of chips from Noah. "You told Lucy and Gray we were going to the Tower of Heaven. Don't you have anything to say to me about that, Noah?"
The chips were gone, but the hamster pancake was still there. Noah stroked Snowy's fluffy fur and smiled. "We're all in Fairy Tail. What happens to you concerns all of us."
"Even someone as strong as you, Erza, can show your vulnerable side