(AN: each chapter will have three points of view, Zaref or Jellal, then Natsu or Gajeel, then Lucy or Loke.)
Incredible
Summary: what if instead of losing control and sending Fairy Tail into suspended animation, Zaref begged for their help? What if there was a catch to his immortality? Basically, Zaref is freaking out, Jellal is gaining back memories, Natsu thinks Gajeel hates him, Gajeel can't figure out why Natsu is avoiding him, and then there's Lucy and Loke being so cute it's making Erza sick to her stomach.
Ch.1:
(Zaref's p.o.v)
It's been three days. Three days I've been in this noisy, bright hall, full of people who expect me to simply "join in the fun!" as they say. They slapped a blue mark on my left shoulder blade and told me that I'm one of them. I don't mind that part, now that I've got restraints on my power anyway. I just know… it's not complete. Fairy Tail guild is incomplete. There is one person missing, and I should know.
I was gifted with immortality at age 19, meaning I'd be that age "forever" and be incapable of dying from natural causes. If you chopped off my head I'd die, but not from a disease or anything. But you know how wishes work; there's always a catch. The catch is, by my 432nd birthday… I'd have to fall in love. I'm 431 right now. I'm a procrastinator if you can't tell. If I make it in time, I age from 19 on like I was never immortal.
I haven't told anyone about my age. They think I have time. I don't. I have a good three months before I crumble to dust. And… even if I do find that one special someone, I have to get them to like me back! Basically, I have to find someone who is already madly in love with me.
"Erza… you said you knew someone who idolized me… who was that exactly?" I ask the redhead sitting next to me. "His name is Jellal. But if you're looking for fanfare, you're out of luck. He lost his memory, only remembering my name and Natsu punching him through twenty something floors of a building." I curse under my breath, "I just wanted to know. If he's your friend, why isn't he here?" Erza stares deep into her cake, biting her lip. "Sadly, like everyone who idolizes you, his life turned to shit. Even though he's changed, the magic council is holding him prisoner and torturing him I believe. Which is stupid!" her hand meets the counter, rattling the glass next to it.
Realizing that I hit a nerve, I back off and instead watch the Dragon Slayers goofing off. The three Exceeds were fighting over a fish while the actual wizards were attempting to play a card game called Spit. Note I say attempting.
"Damn it Gajeel slow down!" Natsu whines in a way that makes even me snicker. "Quit swearing around Wendy Salamander. She may be a Dragon Slayer but she's only twelve." Gajeel answers back irritably. "Would it kill you to call me by my name? Even Gray does that occasionally!" Gajeel laughs at him, "I just like getting you angry; it's funny!" "FUNNY?"
Wendy spits in her hand and slaps the table, "Spit!" the other two turn to see that she in fact has every stack of four on her end matching, and upturned, "You guys need to learn to focus on the game, not each other. Though I suppose that's hard for you two." She winks and gets up. Mirajane giggles, "Wendy's such a smart girl." I turn to look at the pretty barmaid, "She is. You- we're lucky to have her." I catch myself, still not entirely used to calling myself a member of Fairy Tail.
Mirajane smiles, "Speaking of the Dragon Slayers, I think you'd get along with all three of them! You already respect Natsu, so he must think you're pretty great for that. And Wendy likes everybody anyway. Gajeel… well, I find you two similar; both of you are powerful wizards who weren't on our side in the beginning. You both have very interesting pasts. And he didn't talk with most of the guild when he got here either." I smile softly and get up from the seat, "I'll see if that's true. For now… I'll wait until the rest have acclimatized to my presence."
I walk past the job board, where a few people are looking for jobs. Lucy, a celestial mage, and her strongest spirit Loke are among them. Though, it looks more like flirting than working to me.
It's almost like no one cares what anyone else thinks around here… I bet that comes in handy. I lean in the doorway, sneaking a quick glance at the outside world before retreating back to my hideout. I can go on jobs, with a disguise and a fake name, but… I just can't bring myself to go out just yet. It's not like I don't want to help, or that I'm not capable. I just… emotionally can't.
I, for hundreds of years, observed humanity from afar. Believing that my life would be spent that way, eventually disintegrating to nothing. Now I, on a whim, have been flung back into society, and still with a limit of my life force. If only I didn't have such shitty luck, that friend of Erza's might have been obsessed with me still.
That doesn't change the fact that those toads on the council have him locked up in a tower somewhere. Memory or no memory, I do want to help him, since it was indirectly my fault. It's not like I don't take blame for what I've done. The rumor mills were never particularly kind to me. I was a fool back then, pushing away all who tried to help me. Maybe if I hadn't… no, I can't start thinking like this. Not again. Last time I did I practically destroyed a whole continent, only using a fraction of my power in a suicide attempt.
I guess that means I'll fit in well around here. Fairy Tail seems to like destruction.
(Natsu's p.o.v)
It's just not fair! I can't even play cards without making a fool of myself. Even Wendy knows it. I need to stop being such an idiot and get myself together. But… how can I when I'm constantly around what's making me fall apart!
Ever since Gajeel joined the Guild, I've always felt like I'm doing something wrong. He knows how to make me angry, and does it all the time. He sees me as the childish one. The one to tease. I don't think he's ever called me by my name. It makes me disappointed that I can earn Zaref's respect but not one of my fellow Dragon Slayers.
This bugs me so much. It's like there's something else going on here… but I don't know what! It's almost like… going to buy something, them realizing you're a jewel short! I'm so close, yet so far away. What will it take to earn the respect I deserve? What am I doing wrong?
I plop myself down in a chair in Lucy's kitchen, the blonde looking at me with concern. "You actually used the door this time Natsu! What's wrong?" I look up from my lap, "Why do you think Gajeel never calls me by my name? Does he hate me?"
"He doesn't hate you! I'd say your one of his closest friends in Fairy Tail!" I shake my head, "He's always picking on me, and never calls me anything but Salamander. I thought I made it clear I'm more than just the title. In the same way Erza is more than the Tatiana." Lucy smiles, lifting my spirits immediately, "He only calls you that because he's proud of you! If you have a problem, go talk to him about it maturely. Whining about it won't solve anything."
"Maybe I'll do that later." I sigh, looking at Happy munching on a fish. "He's out on a solo job right now, said he had to blow off some steam since we lost to Wendy in a card game." Happy looks up from his fish, "what sort of job was it Natsu?"
"Something about getting some people out of a collapsed building. He's perfect for the job, with his arms extending and stuff." Lucy furrows her brow, "Shouldn't he have at least taken Wendy or Levy with him? Someone in case something happens?" I shake my head, "He can take care of himself. Plus, as a Dragon Slayer I'll know if he gets into trouble."
Unlike me. I'd only get in the way on a rescue job. My skills are fighting. Gajeel can do so much with his magic, same with Wendy. I just catch stuff on fire.
"Natsu, you need to quit comparing yourself to them." Loke conveys my thoughts as he walks into the room with the stuff Lucy had him pick up, "You're a combat specialist, there's nothing wrong with that. Gajeel and Wendy don't judge you for it, no one in the guild does." I smile, not entirely convinced, but at ease. At least my team likes me.
(Lucy's p.o.v)
"Damn it Gajeel! You broke Natsu!" I shout, breaking down the door to his dorm room. He looks up from his book irritated that his time alone was interrupted, "What did I do? I've been gone all day!" I face palm, "You did everything! He thinks you hate him Gajeel!" he puts a feather of some sort in the book to mark his place and gets up. "Well I don't hate him. Salamander is one of Fairy Tail's best mages. In all reality he-" "That's exactly his problem. You think calling him Salamander is a cute little nickname, or a complement, but he hates it. He wants to be more than a title."
There is silence. Gajeel just picks up the door and fits it back into the frame, and carefully re attaches the hinges the best he can. "You're paying for a new door Lucy. And stop interrupting me. I was about to say something earth-shattering. I don't hate Natsu… in fact; I'd consider him my best human friend."
A half broken door is then slammed in my face. It's not like Gajeel hates everything, he's just got a reputation to uphold.
Outside, I'm met by Loke. "he didn't say anything rude, did he?" I shake my head, "No Loke, you know he wouldn't have lived through that anyway. Gajeel's a sweetheart; he just doesn't want anyone to know about it." Loke smirks, "Love, you'd find good in a hurricane."
I shyly turn away. Loke and his little nickname just make me feel so… awkward! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to him. But I think every girl he's ever met could say the same thing. What's bothering me is… he treats me so different than he treats those other girls. I did save his life, if we were to switch places, I'd probably act like this too.
That doesn't change the fact that our relationship is a work one. And Ares likes him too. I can't cause drama in my own hoard. We have enough of that already. It's not called "The Rat Pack" by other guilds for nothing!
Maybe I'll write a letter to those weird Blue Pegasus guys. Loke was their babysitter a few years back; they must know something about the guy.
That reminds me, there's a huge festival/talent show/whatever you want to call it in a week or so! Basically, all the guilds hold a song writing contest within themselves. Then, they pick three songs to go on to the competition between all the guilds. Each guild brings three singers, who can't be the people who wrote the songs. Each guild performs one song, then it's narrowed down to three guilds, then they perform the second song. Then in the finals, they bring out their best. Fairy Tail won two years ago when Natsu wrote a song. Ironic, I know. Ever since they've been trying to make him write another one, but he says he has no inspiration. Inspiration?! He's writing a song or I'll sick Virgo on his ass! That should be inspiration enough.
