*Why post a story you started writing right before you move? Because you just cannot help yourself! I do not own Fairy Tail or The Hollies. Very sporadic updates... sorry, but life just isn't fair* (Psst... I know it's Bickslow, but I prefer Bixlow)

Redfox and Crow Chapter 1

Year X791, Septemberish

The curvy mage shook her long black hair loose then stretched her trim arms into the air. "Damn, I'm hungry… and I can't even smell a fucking tin can close by," she complained to her traveling partner. 'This is turning out to be a real shitty vacation thanks to a certain little bastard,' the mage grumped silently.

Heavily lashed emerald eyes (green irises with black reptilian slit pupils) narrowed onto her small dark-hooded traveling companion. As if feeling the heat of her glare, it turned its innocent icy blue orbs upon the mage in question.

"Don't play stupid with me Beatbox, this trip was at YOUR insistence… you even clam jammed me on the job posting. What the flying fuck could so damned important?" the woman ranted as she adjusted the gray belt around her waist. It kept her 'worn-to-hell' black sleeveless tunic, now worn trench coat style, in place. It was all she had (besides her magic) to remind her of her father, the Iron Dragon Metalicana, and her twin brother, Gajeel.

Looking at the studded collar of her tunic her thoughts wandered… If she ever got too hungry she could always eat the metal studs along her popped collar… "Ah hell, I'm contemplating eating my damned clothes!"

The hooded crow watched silently with eyes like ice, before beginning to make the sounds of a lonesome harmonica. Beatbox only communicated in two forms… music or bloodshed. So the mage stopped her bitching and listened. (The Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother)

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

(The dark haired mange stopped walking and her tan complexion paled with a comic jaw drop)

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

(Surprise was quickly cleansed by anger inside the lady dragon slayer as the jaw snapped close with a growl)

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

(Emerald eyes now glowed at the singing bird as it continued traveling ignoring the deadly aura being released by the mage)

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share…

"Because that heartless piece of shit abandoned me, HE left… and I have adhered by that bastard's wishes and stayed the fuck away from him!" the woman snarled. "And don't you dare sing another word, or I swear I WILL mother fucking eat you!"

Icy blue orbs stared into glowing green, measuring the truth of the lady slayer's words and then with a slow nod the bird walked between the slayer's metal studded boots and continued down the path.

Gajeel Redfox was relaxing in the recently rebuilt Guild with a cold brew and a plate of scrap iron. He munched contently as Lily shared the news of the raising number of 'new' dragon slayers.

"For being 'rare', Dragon Slayers seem to pop up a lot," Lily snickered as he raised his scared brow.

"Yeah, we're rare… but if the kids are some science experiment with lacrima or a dragon's foster is the real question any more," Gajeel acknowledged before tossing some scraps in his mouth.

"A young slayer just arrived in Fiore, apparently she goes by the name…" Lily began.

"She?" Three dragon slayers of Fairy Tale interrupted at once. Wendy and Natsu were now seated beside Gajeel and looking at the Exceed expectantly. Lily sweat dropped, "Uh, yes… I've heard she's female."

"Another female dragon slayer…" Wendy cheered as she clapped her hands together.

"I wonder if she's strong…" Natsu murmured as he scratched the back of head.

"I wonder what her slayer magic is…" Happy babbled as he munched on a fish.

Lily looked at the blue Exceed with surprise, that actually sounded intelligent… who knew? "Well, that's another oddity. She seems to be a…"

"Another Metal Dragon," Laxus finished for Lily, earning a glare from the Exceed. Laxus just shrugged at the black cat and sat with other slayers.

"What?" Gajeel blurted before choking on the iron he had been snacking on. His racing thoughts paused as his lungs began to burn for air… dammit!

"Idiot," Laxus sighed as he looked bored at the choking slayer. Noticing that Gajeel's choking was attracting a crowd, Laxus pulled back his ham sized fist and punched the Iron Dragon right under his rib cage; then ducked.

The metal was forced (rather painfully) from Gajeel's throat and shot like a bullet across the guild hall. The projectile hit Cana's barrel of wine, causing a bit of an explosion.

"Sweet mother of God what have you done?" Cana screamed as she began to slurp up the wine like it was a party foul. (College, good times… good times)

Mirajane looked up from the glass she was drying with her signature smile, "Did someone say my name?"

A few guild members laughed at the confused Mira, some tried to clean up the wine, most returned to what they were doing before Gajeel started choking.

Natsu was staring at Gajeel, his onyx eyes were bulging bigger than the choking Gajeel's had been, "Do that again, it was awesome! Better yet, let me try!"

A resounding "No!" filled the guild; depressing the pinkette.

"Everyone gets to have fun except me," Natsu pouted.

Gajeel had recovered during the madness, but sat eerily still as the ramifications of the information filtered through his brain, "Hell?"

"You got something you want to share with the group?" Bixlow joked as he sat next to Laxus and eyed the spaced out Gajeel.

Gajeel shook his head slowly side to side, "Just… Hell."

Laxus raised a blonde brow, maybe he'd hit the guy harder then he thought… or couldn't some sort of brain damage happen from lack of oxygen for too long? Bixlow and Laxus shared a look then shrugged it off.

Natsu sat on the table pouting, Wendy had hid when Gajeel had his choking fit, and Laxus and Bixlow were looking at Gajeel as if expecting unicorns to pop out of his ass… awesome. Just, awesome.