Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
Natsu walked into the guild hall one day with a saturnine look on his face. This was most unlike his typically cheerful disposition, so naturally, everyone in the guild was concerned. Happy had a concerned look on his face. Wendy went up to Natsu to ask what was wrong.
"Natsu, are you OK? Did something happen on the last mission?" she said.
"It's nothing, Wendy. Except I had my ass handed to me for the first time since that battle with Future Rogue." he said glumly.
"He's really upset, even though the mission was completed and we collected the reward money." Happy said.
Gray and Erza looked shocked, because as one of Fairy Tail's newest S-Class wizards (made one on account of his performance during and after the Grand Magic Games) and one the guild's strongest outright, Natsu was hardly one to admit defeat, as it seldom happened.
"Who the hell beat you, fire brain!?" Gray demanded.
"I don't know who he was, but he left Gramps a letter." Natsu said.
Happy pulled the roll of paper from Natsu's pack. Showing the letter to Mirajane, Happy said that it was a handwritten letter but was unsigned.
Mira delivered the letter to Makarov. The news of Natsu's defeat created a quietude unnatural to the Fairy Tail guild hall. It continued until a yell issued from the Master's office.
"Natsu, come up here right now!" he said.
It was rare for the Makarov to ever lose his composure and panic as he did. It was equally uncommon for Makarov to have to call anyone to his office.
Natsu went up to Makarov's office, and for a moment, the guild went back to its usual bustling self. Several teams departed on quests, leaving the guild somewhat empty. Only Erza, Gray, Lucy, Mira, Wendy, and a few others remained.
When Natsu came down from Makarov's office, everybody looked to him, expecting to find out what happened.
"The old man's got a special job for us. The letter was an order to the Master from someone he knows, but won't tell us who. It says that he has to go meet this guy, but the Master wants Erza, Gray, Juvia, Lucy, Wendy, and me to escort him." Natsu said quietly.
Erza wore a pensive look on her face.
"In my whole time at Fairy Tail, there has never been a time when the Master has needed an escort. But we cannot ignore this task. All of you, prepare to depart." she said.
Each member Makarov requested prepared themselves for a journey to the neighboring country of Elorien, a vast empire to the east, that had conquered seven countries around it in the time that the Tenrou Team was gone.
On the train to the border, Makarov explained that the man who had defeated Natsu was none other than the Crown Prince of Elorien, Sorian, and he had been sent on a diplomatic mission to fetch Makarov for an audience with the Emperor of Elorien, Rizael.
"But why would he beat up Natsu?" Gray asked.
"He said he just needed a way to loosen up. That he was out of shape. Just pickin' a fight as far as I can tell." Natsu said, while green from motion sickness.
"Master Makarov, what connection does the emperor have to Fairy Tail or Natsu?" Juvia asked.
"In my young days, under the leadership of Guild Master Precht, Fairy Tail had received a request from the Emperor, the first cross-national request ever, so it had to approved by the government and Magic Council. In Elorien, there was prophecy that a descendant of the current Emperor would be stolen away. It was said he would come to harbor a dragon's flames in his soul. The request of the Emperor was that Fairy Tail's master, if the guild found the child, raise it as his own, and when the time came, to return him to the land of his birth." Makarov explained.
"But that doesn't explain why you have to go to Elorien. Did you find the child? I mean, if the child was kidnapped as a little kid, he'll be around our age." Lucy said.
Natsu tossed around restlessly, and it appeared to be more than just motion sickness.
"Natsu, why don't you just sleep through the ride? We won't be there for a few hours and my Troia spell doesn't work anymore." Wendy suggested.
"Fine..." Natsu said listlessly.
The request was still a mystery to the group, and Makarov remained tight-lipped about anymore details regarding it. Lucy ruminated the possibility of one of them, aside from herself, being the lost child. She imagined that it was the only reason the Emperor would have requested Makarov's presence.
When the train finally stopped, Lucy woke Natsu up. Juvia, Gray and Erza covered Makarov's rear as Wendy, Natsu, and Lucy took the front. The group traveled to the post that monitored travel across the border. When they arrived, a man carried on a palanquin by his four guards was waiting for them.
The man stepped off of his palanquin. He was tall and well built, toned by years of battle training, and the group could sense immense magical power coming from him. He had shiny black hair, lightly tanned skin, and very dark brown (nearly black) eyes, that flashed an ocean blue.
"Allow me to introduce myself, although Mr. Dragneel has already made my acquaintance. I apologize for the little spat a few days ago. My name is Sorian, Crown Prince of Elorien." he said, giving a bow.
"Just shut up, you bastard." Natsu said curtly.
"My apologies, my lord. This young one is still bitter from his defeat at your hands." Makarov said.
"Oh no, anyone would be. Especially the infamous Natsu Dragneel, son of Igneel, and mighty Dragon Slayer." Sorian said, with a note of narcissism.
"If you would please, Prince Sorian, do inform us why the Emperor has sent for the Master?" Erza asked.
"My father, the Emperor has called for your Master for personal reasons. Reasons which I cannot disclose due to the fact I do not know. We shall see, upon arrival in the capital." Sorian said.
With that, he summoned a floating transport, propelled by nothing. And thus, began the journey to the capital of Elorien, Uraliat, where a certain person's past lay in waiting.