Heart of the Frozen Flame
"Natsu" – Speaking, Normal language
"Natsu" – Spells
"Natsu" – Memories
"Natsu" – Speaking, Draconic language
'Natsu' – Translation
'Natsu' – Thoughts/Telepathy
Chapter 1 - Memories
- Natsu's Shack, 4 AM -
"Na-chan, are you ready? It's almost time!"
Natsu awoke suddenly, in a cold sweat. That had been the 3rd time this week he had that dream, and it never got any less creepy. It felt so real, but at the same time, it felt like a memory.
Natsu looked at the clock on his wall above his door, and shuddered. He hasn't been able to get a full night's sleep since the Daphne Drama that Gray caused, and Edolas had taken a lot out of him. He was amazed he could defeat the Dorma Anim with the help of Wendy and Gajeel.
"Today is the day that Gramps announces the candidates for the S class exam, I can't get sloppy thanks to lack of sleep." Natsu said to himself. "I wonder when the last primal slayer will show up… We've already got Wendy and Gajeel, although it seems they've not got their memories back yet." Natsu looked over to Happy, who was still asleep. "I should probably go and train myself in my Dragon Words, I've not used them in such a long time… I might need them for the S class Exam."
Natsu got out of bed, completed his normal morning routine, ate breakfast and went to his private training grounds. It was a large clearing, with a stream running along the side of it. He started chanting in the Draconic language as he got into a meditation stance in the centre of the clearing. A black leather-bound book with a red trim appeared in front of him as he was chanting, hovering in his lap.
"Dovah Rot: Yolos Kopraan" 'Dragon Word: Flame Body' Natsu chanted. The book flew open and flicked through the pages at an alarming speed. Once the page settled, his body caught fire, turning his skin into living flame. This spell allowed Natsu to change his body structure to become any shape or size, and magnifies his dragon slayer abilities tenfold. He practiced his Fire Dragon's: Roar, Iron fist, Wing Attack, Talon and Claw until sunrise. He then cancelled his Flame Body spell, and got back into his meditation pose again. The book hovered in his lap once more.
"Dovah Rot: Amativ Tiid Koraav" 'Dragon Word: Forward Time Sight' Natsu chanted, as his vision went black. 'This ability is a lot like Carla's Premonitions, although mine are forced unlike hers. Makes me more reliable, although I need to let her take the credit. I never would be able to explain that I could see the future, and the very explicit conditions that it has…' He thought to himself, as his vision slowly returned to him. He was in the guild hall, watching everyone celebrating. He then was on Tenrou Island, running into a cave.
Everything faded to black once again, then a series of faces appeared before him. First was Gildarts, then Wendy, Gajeel, and then, unexpectedly, a girl appeared. Her eyes were Electric blue, and Bubblegum Pink hair. Her eyes changed to a dull green, as if trying to suppress something, before disappearing entirely, and Natsu's vision was returned to normal. He was back in the clearing. Her image lingered in his head, wondering who she was and why she was important enough for her to be shown in his premonitions. 'Oh well, I'm sure if she's that important she'll show up sooner rather than later… I best be on the lookout though.' Natsu thought as he was walking back to his house.
It was clearly still early morning, however there were signs of life in the town. "Ne, Happy, Wanna go to the guild? I wanna get there before Gramps announces the S class Candidates!" he shouted, waking up Happy who was sleep talking about Carla and Fish.
- Time skip -
Everyone was here. It was time. Makarov had jumped onto the stage, and had shouted for everyone's attention. The guild went quiet, all eyes went to the guild master. Everyone waited with baited breath, as they all waited for Makarov to call out the names of the participants.
"I will now announce the participants for the S class Trials, held on Tenrou Island. These trials will cover the course of one week, and you will face many challenges." Makarov shouted, grinning.
"The people going to become S class Participants are;" the suspense was thick in the air, as if smeared on by a toddler trying to make a chocolate spread sandwich.
"Gray Fullbuster!" "It's about time, Beat that, Shit-for-flames"
"Cana Alberona!" "Well, another year to try my hardest I guess"
"Freed Justine!" "I will not disappoint my Laxus-sama. Only then can I present myself to him."
"Juvia Lockster!" "Maybe Gray-sama will want me if I become S class…"
"Elfman Strauss!" "BEING S CLASS IS MAN!"
"Levy Mcgarden!" "Eh?!"
"Mest Gryder!" "No surprise there."
"And last but certainly not least, the person we all expected to become a participant, Natsu Dragneel!" "Yosh! I'm all fired up!"
"You are all to be at Hargeon port by the first day of autumn and we leave at Midday. You are allowed to bring a companion with you, although they cannot be from outside the guild or already S class."
Everyone had already started pairing up, Gray with Loke, Cana with Lucy, Freed with Bickslow, Juvia with Lisanna, Elfman with Evergreen, Levy with Gajeel, Mest with Wendy, and Natsu with Happy. People wondered why Natsu was bringing Happy, knowing full well that he couldn't be of any help in a fight, however they didn't know.
"Ne, Wendy, Gajeel. I need to speak to you two, outside." Natsu shouted, over the guild brawl that he created himself. Wendy nodded and Gajeel sighed gruffly, and both made their way to the door, not knowing what was about to happen, and how drastically it would change them.
The guild looked at him incredulously, thinking that Natsu would never leave in the middle of a brawl. "Hey, flame breath, why'd you send them outside?! We're in the middle of a fight here!" Natsu punched Gray in the face, knocking him into Juvia, winked at the pair and said "Duty calls, cya!" before sprinting outside so Erza couldn't catch him for hitting Gray.
"Salamander, why'd ya call us out here, if this is about the S class exam, then Girlie and I aren't going easy on you, just because you're the alpha." Gajeel huffed, caution in his eyes. Natsu's response was not one he was expecting.
"How much do you know about Primal Slayers, Black Steel?"
