Summer is here! (Woohoo)
For the readers who added my first story, "Natsu's Hardest Mission" as their favorite, thank you. And also to those who listed my as part of their Author Alerts and Favorite Author, thank you. :D
This story is the direct sequel to Natsu's Hardest Mission. You have to read it first before this one.
Note: I do not own Fairy Tail
Summary: (Direct Sequel to Natsu's Hardest Mission)Choices are really hard to make, especially when one is given only two. Time is not on his side. A decision has to be made, but which one will he choose?
Ayaka Layla Dragneel had grown to a spunky ten year old girl. She still had her hair tied to a pony tail, she wore a yellow shirt, the right sleeve longer than the left. She had an armband on her left arm. Her Fairy Tail mark was gold and located at her right hand, similar to her mother. She was under the training of Shorai, Fairy Tail's Spirit Mage. He has tasked it into himself to train Ayaka Spirit Magic while training under her father's Fire Dragon Slayer arts.
"Spirits, I call thee, grant me strength!" Ayaka rallied.
Her body glowed gold. It shone a faint yellow aura that surrounded Ayaka's body. The aura was thin but it got thicker as time passed.
"Focus Ayaka, Spirit Boost is hard to master." Shorai said. Shorai had a gray full body coat, white shirt, black pants and black combat boots. His shades were tinted blue. His hair was slightly longer but it never reached his shoulders.
Ayaka closed her eyes, bowed her head and clenched her fists. The golden glow shone brighter. Ayaka was releasing a large amount of magic power for someone of her age. Her control over two different types of magic, showed her potential as a powerful mage. The aura lasted for five minutes before the glow started to fade. Soon enough, Ayaka was back to normal.
"That was good." Shorai commended.
"But Shorai-sensei, that was too short. It wasn't like the last time and do I really have to shout that out?" Ayaka said.
"Spirit Boost is hard to master, Ayaka. You've impressed me quite enough by your eagerness to master Spirit Boost and your fast learning capability of Spirit Energy. Don't worry, it's just for practice. Soon you won't need to say it out to activate Spirit Boost." Shorai said.
"I don't want your type of Spirit Magic, Shorai-sensei. Spirit Forms and Spirit Channelling is your style. I want to punch people." Ayaka grinned.
Shorai laughed. Lisanna was right that Ayaka had Natsu's fighting spirit and attitude.
"AYAKA!" a girl shouted.
"Fiona! Sora! Xander!" Ayaka replied, looking at the direction they were running from.
Fiona and Sora were Gray and Juvia's children. Sora had blue spiky hair. Fiona's hair was long and black. Xander looked like a male Levy but had Gajeel's hair color and was tall for a 6 year old. Ayaka was best friends with Fiona.
"What brings you here?" Ayaka asked.
"Fiona wants to play with you and Red. " Sora said, placing his hands on the pockets of his shorts.
"Mom asked me to play with you. She does not want me to join Dad and Lily on their mission." Xander scoffed.
"You're only 6, Xander." Fiona replied.
"I'm still much stronger than you two." Xander said, pointing at Sora and Fiona.
"Shorai-sensei, can I play with Fiona and the others?" Ayaka asked politely.
"Sure, just return here soon afterwards. Your training for the day hasn't ended yet."
"Awesome" Ayaka exclaimed before running towards Fiona, Sora and Xander. Red was flying behind her.
Ayaka, Fiona, Sora, Xander and Red left Shorai and began playing. They were among the children of Fairy Tail. Currently, Lisanna is pregnant with Shorai's child. They had begun a relationship four years ago. Despite Elfman's disapproval, Mira allowed their marriage. Alzack and Bisca had their second child, three years ago. Mira had married Laxus and were given a boy. Despite the growing number of Fairy Tail babies, fate had its toll.
Four years ago, Makarov Dreyar died protecting the different master of all legal guilds from a dark guild's assault. Laxus took over as the new master of Fairy Tail. The Raijinshu (Thunder God Tribe) and Laxus stormed the dark guild that caused Makarov's death and eliminated the entire guild off the map of Fiore. The council had to intervene but Laxus was able to reason with them. Makarov's death was an untimely blow. It demoralized several members of Fairy Tail but eventually, Fairy Tail moved on. Gildarts returned three years ago and learned of Makarov's death. He took it real hard. He stayed for a year before going on another trip, this time with Cana.
Fairy Tail had changed a lot, but it still had that same feeling it always had.
(This takes place the same time Ayaka started her training [morning])
Natsu was at the guild with Happy. They were sitting across Erza, Gray and Juvia. Happy was on the table with Carla and sharing a piece of fish. Natsu's head was on the table.
"Natsu, if you're just going to drool at the table, move away." Gray said.
"I'm so bored. Ayaka's training with Shorai and I promised she'd come on my next mission." Natsu replied.
"Why not check on Ayaka. I'm sure she wants her father to see how her training's been going." Erza stated.
Natsu continued to drool on the table. Soon, it reached Gray.
"That's it, Ash Brain! Either stop drooling or I'll have to freeze it all up!" Gray stood up. He banged his fists on the table, startling Juvia and Erza.
"FINALLY! Some action!" Natsu shouted with glee. "Bring it, Frozen Underpants!"
Natsu and Gray began fighting, much to the dismay of Juvia. Erza, on the other hand stood up and approached the two boys.
"Already fathers and still acting like children." Erza said. She punched both Natsu and Gray on the head, knocking them unconscious.
"Erza, care to go on a mission with me?" Mira asked.
"Sorry Mira. I have planned to go on a mission with Wendy." Erza stated. Erza sat down and began eating her strawberry cake.
Mira smiled. She then pushed Erza towards her cake. Mira laughed. Natsu and Gray laughed at Erza's cake covered face. Erza wiped the cake off her face and glared at Mira. Mira grinned.
"What are you going to do, Erza?" Mira asked.
Erza breathed heavily. She looked at Mira and gave her a punch which Mira blocked. Mira and Erza began fighting.
"And she tells us we're acting like children." Gray said, disappointingly.
"Juvia thinks, we should get out of here." Juvia commented.
"You owe me a cake!"
"You owe me 12 years worth of fighting!"
"MIRA! ERZA!" Laxus shouted.
Mira and Erza stopped fighting and glared at each other. Mira was smiling at Erza. Laxus approached Mira and carried her away from Erza. Erza smiled at Mira and waved goodbye. Natsu, Gray and Juvia sighed. It was a good thing that Laxus took Mira away before the guild was destroyed.
"Now, it's boring." Natsu said.
"Just take a mission. I'm sure Shorai wouldn't mind going along to help train Ayaka." Gray stated.
Natsu stood up and called Happy. He thanked Gray for the idea and decided to head out and find Shorai and Ayaka. First, he had to remember where they were training.
(A few hours later)
"WHERE ARE THEY!" Natsu screamed.
"I think they're over here!" Happy said, pointing at one direction.
"WE'VE ALREADY BEEN THERE, HAPPY!"
Happy sighed. They didn't know where their children were. They've been going around the forests for hours. Giving up, they decided to wait for them at the guild and go on a mission tomorrow. On their way to the guild, they passed by Lucy's old apartment. Natsu stopped and looked at her apartment. Natsu, with the help of Erza and Gray paid for the apartment ever since Lucy died. They kept all of her things there and decided to let Ayaka and Natsu use the apartment as a home, although Natsu decided to let Ayaka stay with Levy and/or Lisanna while he stays at his house. Eventually, Ayaka convinced Natsu to stay with her at Lucy's apartment. Recently, they stayed at Natsu's home. They had it renovated to accommodate a new room for Ayaka and Red. Lucy's apartment was still being paid since all of Lucy's belongings couldn't fit inside Natsu's home.
"How long has it been since we stayed here, Happy?" Natsu asked.
"Four years, I think."
Natsu went inside the apartment. He still has the original key Lucy had. He went inside and everything was neat and tidy. The apartment hasn't been visited since. He couldn't trace any scent. He began remembering special moments he shared with Lucy at her apartment.
"It's been seven years since we last saw her, right Happy?"
Happy's eyes were a bit teary. He missed Lucy. "A...aye"
Natsu opened a few drawers and saw Lucy's unfinished novel and several journals. He hasn't touched this ever since Lucy had died. He took the unfinished novel and tried to read it. Eventually, he lay on the bed and fell asleep.
Shorai was meditating. He was trying to increase his magic power through Spirit Channelling. His glow was different from Ayaka. It was white. While Ayaka was playing with Fiona, Sora, Xander and Red, Shorai meditated. He held the basic stance for Spirit Mages, hands at chest level, left palm open, right hand clenched and the fist touching the palm. It was almost like a stance for bowing. He was standing upright and eyes closed. Shorai continued meditating until he felt a light tap on his shoulder. Shorai breathed heavily. His white glow faded and he opened his eyes. He looked back and saw Lisanna.
"Shouldn't you be resting?" Shorai immediately asked.
Lisanna had changed in the past five years. She still had that short silver hair but changed its style. She had gotten over her 'crush' over Natsu and began a relationship with Shorai. They married and were expecting their first child. Lisanna had matured and became a much more efficient mage.
"Can't I rest outside? Being bedridden is bad for me." Lisanna replied.
Shorai assisted Lisanna sit down on the grass. They looked at the children playing tag.
"Why did you volunteer to train Ayaka? Isn't Dragon Slayer magic powerful enough?" Lisanna asked.
"Why'd you ask? Want out child to be a Spirit Mage, too?" Shorai joked.
"I'm just asking. She's still too young to master Dragon Slayer magic let alone both Spirit Magic and Dragon Slayer Magic at the same time."
"Spirit magic is truly difficult to master but I'm just paving the way to things that I saw. I'm not here to interfere with things I shouldn't. I want to change the future I keep seeing but it might lead to another disaster."
Lisanna frowned a bit. "So, you just let things play its course. What about us? Did you see my future and saw me being married to you?"
Shorai was taken aback by Lisanna's response. "No, the last person's future I saw was Ayaka's. Remember that I wear contacts under these shades. I haven't seen the future ever since."
Lisanna smiled and kissed Shorai at the cheek. The day was almost over, the sun was beginning to set. The sky had glowed an orange-blue hue.
"I think it's better if we head back, and you need to go home." Shorai said.
Lisanna nodded. Shorai helped Lisanna stand up and called Ayaka, Red, Xander, Fiona and Sora. The children were exhausted and tired. They had fun.
"Ayaka, what's so special about Spirit Magic? Isn't it similar to Energy Magic with all the beams and laser like attacks?" Sora asked.
"From what Shorai-sensei told me is that Spirit Magic uses spiritual energy around us. It's a much more condensed form of Energy magic and he told me it's the only way to truly harm spirits." Ayaka replied.
"So, you can battle Leo and utterly defeat him?" Xander said.
"I wouldn't do that to Leo. He's my friend and Daddy said that Mommy used to trust Leo completely." Ayaka said.
Ayaka, Shorai, Lisanna, Red, Xander, Sora and Fiona headed back to the guild. They walked along the streets of Magnolia when Ayaka stopped.
"Is something wrong, Ayaka?" Lisanna asked.
"I'm going to meet Daddy."
"Are you sure he's not at the guild?" Shorai said.
"His scent is stronger over there. My guess is he's at Mommy's old apartment."
"Bye, Ayaka!" Fiona waved goodbye as they headed for the guild.
"See you later, Fiona! You too, Sora and Xander!"
"Bye" Red said, flying above Ayaka.
Ayaka turned and ran towards her mom's old apartment. She could smell her dad's scent getting stronger. She was about to open the door when she heard her dad talking to someone else.
"Are you serious?" Natsu asked, his voice sounding a bit excited.
"I am, Natsu." A male voice said.
"It's Leo." Ayaka said.
"Should we go inside?" Red asked.
"Try to keep it quiet, Red. I want to listen." Ayaka whispered.
"Why didn't you tell me this, three years ago?" Natsu's voice was a little louder.
"I tried to do it without letting you know. I asked Shorai for help but he said he needed training and another Spirit Mage." Leo said.
"Has he found another one yet?" Natsu asked.
If Ayaka could imagine Leo's face right now, it would be in disbelief. Shorai had been training Ayaka Spirit Magic. Ayaka began to wonder why.
"I guess there's a purpose to your training, Ayaka." Red said.
"I guess there is." Ayaka replied.
"Your daughter, Natsu. Shorai's been training your daughter Spirit Magic."
"Oh yeah. So, can we do it now?" Natsu asked. "I want to see her again."
"Who is her?" Ayaka asked.
"Achoo!"
"Someone's here!" Leo exclaimed.
Ayaka looked at Red, furiously.
"Sorry, Ayaka."
The door opened and both Natsu and Leo looked at Ayaka.
"Hi, Daddy!" Ayaka said, gleefully.
"How long have you been listening Ayaka?" Leo asked.
"Listening to what?" Ayaka lied.
"You knew she was here, Natsu?"
"No"
"Couldn't you smell her scent?"
"Why didn't I think of that? I should have done it earlier!" Natsu said.
Leo sighed heavily. Natsu was really an idiot.
"What did you ever see in this guy, Lucy?" Leo thought.
Leo looked at Ayaka with a serious face. "She wasn't supposed to know any of this. It was only supposed to be Natsu and Shorai."
"Ok, I may have listened a bit but it wasn't that important, right?" Ayaka said. "By the way, who are you talking about, anyway?"
"Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel" Leo stated.
Ayaka's eyes widened.
"Mommy?"
"We can get her back right? That's why you're telling me this?" Natsu said.
"Hope we can, Natsu. Hope that we were not too late." Leo said, readjusting his glasses.
How was that for an intro? I know it doesn't have the same impact as Natsu's Hardest Mission but keep in mind, I've got something brewing here. I just hope you'll enjoy this story.
Anyway, reviews are always welcome.
