Hi there everyone, this is a new story I'm working on and this chapter may feel a bit rushed 's because I needed yo get the beginning established without it being like 10 thousand words. Other chapters won't feel as rushed so please enjoy the first chapter and please leave any feedback. Its always appreciated
"I'm sorry... I should have been able to do something... In sorry..."
Natsu suddenly sat up growling and angry as he looked around letting out a soft sigh while placing his hand on his head. He groaned loudly before standing up and looked around seeing numerous trees surrounding him and remembered how he had passed out in this forest. It was quiet in the forest as he took steps towards a nearby pond where he saw two deer on the other end of the pond taking a drink of water together. He just blinked a couple of times before letting his body go limp causing his body to fall, except for his head which landed inside the ponds water. He sat up taking in a breath of air and looked down at the settling water showing his reflection, his spiky pink hair, scruffy pink beard, and his tired face.
Natsu scratched his beard looking across the lake and noticed that the deer had ran off leaving him completely alone in this forest. He stood back up on his feet stretching and let out a long yawn along with it. He grumbled a bit as he began walking in a random direction till he had found himself inside a small town. He simply walked through town not paying attention to any of the stares he got till he spotted a bar and decided he could use a drink
He stepped through the door to the bar ignoring the stares he got from the other men already at the bar and took a seat at the counter looking at the young woman across the counter "Get me some booze, I don't care what it is"
"Uh, do you have money to pay for that drink sir?" She looked at him doubtful that he could pay due to his homeless man look. She didn't want to be rude but she soon saw him place a couple of jewel down on the counter
Natsu didn't say anything as he was used to being mistaken for a homeless man over the past few years but it did bug him just a tiny bit. The woman across the counter served him up a large wooden mug of beer and left to serve another customer. The Dragon Slayer looked at him himself in the bar mirror as he drank thinking of how he used to look before everything happened
He took a chug of his beer not caring to turn around the doors to the bar opened and a man with black hair and a long coat walked into the bar, taking a seat right beside him "Your nose must not be as good as it used to be, you usually run before I catch up to you"
Natsu let out a sigh as he set him half empty mug down and looked at the man sitting beside him. Gray, his old friend who had been following him for a while now "I smelled you coming from a mile away, I'm just tired today. So hurry up and tell me what you want before I leave"
"You know why I'm here idiot, I'm here to bring you back to the guild, masters orders" He glared at Natsu before moving a seat away from him
"What's wrong popsicle? I haven't even punched you yet and you're already backing up"
"You smell terrible" Gray simply pointed out due to the bad smell eminating off of Natsu. Natsu didn't seem to care however as he just took another sip of his drink shrugging
"Look I know what happened took its toll on you, it took its toll on everyone at the guild. But you cant just run off and disappear for years, what about..." Gray was cut off as he saw the mug in Natsus hand suddenly break due to the dragon Slayers tight grip
"Don't you dare say her name, I don't even deserve to hear it. And I'm not going back, you don't have any idea how it feels to go through that" Natsu got up off his seat leaving the pouch full of jewels on the counter and began leaving. Until he felt the room suddenly drop in temperature that is
"I told you, I was ordered to bring you back whether you like it or not" Gray kept his eyes on Natsu as cold air began coming off of his hand. Natsu simply groaned as he turned around about to punch the ice mage in the face but suddenly fell to the ground unconscious before he could land even a single hit
Natsu's vision was blurry as he opened his eyes and he couldn't seem to stand or even move a muscle. As his vision slowly got better he saw he was against a wooden floor with some bags around him "Didn't think that would actually put him down, thought it might take at least five shots"
"Well we can thank Porlyussica for that, it took her a while to make them" Natsu groaned managing to lift his head up seeing the back of two heads. As he took a sniff he immediately recognized it as Gray and Alzack. He was about to try and escape till there was suddenly a bump and he realized he was in a carriage, damn motion sickness
Gray and Alzack both looked back to see the immobilized Dragon Slayer attempting to crawl away and failing "Glad to see even after all this time you still haven't gotten over your motion sickness, made bringing you back alot easier. By the way don't worry, we'll be reaching Magnolia soon"
Natsu's eyes widened as he heard that name and began attempting to escape with what little power he had. That was till Gray drove the carriage over a hole in the ground affecting him alot more "I get we're supposed to bring him back but do you really have to drive over the pits? I doubt he'll be able to get out"
Gray looked at Alzack nodding as he drove the wheel over another one "yeah, unless you wanna shoot him with one of the tranquilizers again"
He signed looking back at the groaning and helpless Natsu shaking his head "Just hang in there, we'll be there before you know it"
Natsu couldn't do anything but just lay there hoping that he could escape the second they get there, he didnt want to go back to Magnolia, and least of all the guild. The ride continued for some time with Natsu throwing up a bit due to Gray purposefully driving over any obstacle that was on the road making the carriage shake. After some time the carriage finally stood still but due to whatever they shot him with and the ride Natsu couldn't even stand up
He watched as Gray and Alazack pulled him out of the carriage to a sight he hadn't seen in a long time. Natsu saw the familiar back of the guild but noticed some differences like chalk drawings on some of the wall and a playground built in which made him lower his head. He didn't put up any resistance as the two dragged him in through the back door and up to the second floor. He didn't see anyone but he could definitely hear them just a few feet away
They dragged him up to Makarovs office and once they entered they set him down on a chair facing the desk and the chair with its back to them "What do you want Gramps? You know damn well that I don't want to be here"
He watched as the chair turned around revealing his scarlet haired friend who looked similar to when he saw her last except for a pair of glasses on her face "Well its nice to see you too Natsu, thanks for getting him. And seeing as how you two aren't covered in burns it went smoothly?"
They both nodded as Gray looked at her "Yeah, Alzack shot him with the tranquilizer Porlyussica made and he went out like nothing. The ride here was enough to keep him down as well"
"Good to know, but I think its best if we're left alone for now. And make sure no one walks up here" The two men nodded as they walked out closing the door behind them leaving the Dragon Slayer and the Requip mage alone
"So you're the guild master huh? Figured the job would have gone to Laxus considering he tried to take it by force"
"He turned it down when Makarov offered it to him exactly because of that reason. But we're not here to talk about Laxus, or me, or anyone else, we're here to talk about you. Just what the hell were you thinking just running off like that!? Especially after what happened!" She glared at Natsu as he just slumped over in the seat, both from shame and the motion sickness still affecting him
"You don't know how it feels to have gone through that, I needed time away. I needed to get away" He kept his head down not wanting to look at her as he slowly regained his strength
"I know I can't understand what you went through but that doesn't give you an excuse to run off, if anything its more of a reason for you stay. Neither of you should have been alone at that time" she looked at him watching as he just sat there in silence like a punished child
"Why did you make them bring me back...?" He mumbled quietly as she stood walking closer to him
"It was time that you came home, you dont have to push us away Natsu. We're all here for you, we always have" She placed her hand on his shoulder only to have it shrugged off as he slowly stood up
"Bye Erza, and dont try to find me again" He immediately made a run for the door managing to open it but he hadn't really regained his balance completely so once out the door he stumbled over to the stairs before tumbling down. He groaned standing up only to be met with countless stares from everyone in the guild
He didn't bother to say anything and made a run for the doors of the guild still not fully able to run right. He saw the bright light from the outside coming in and as he was about to make it out he saw the silhouette of someone and ended up running into them. Natsu was once again on the floor but as he began to stand up he was met with a fist to the face sending him onto his back "Ow! What the he..."
The dragon slayer couldn't finish as he saw his old friend, his closest friend, Lucy standing over him with hate in her eyes. As he sat there unable to speak he saw her walk away into the guild not even looking at him as she spoke in a hateful tone "Dont you dare talk, look, or even think about me. You come anywhere near my house and I WILL make sure you can't walk anywhere ever again"
Lucy didn't wait for a response as she walked into the back of the guild as Erza walked over to the still shocked Natsu on the ground and helped him up. She walked with him back to her office sititng him down on the chair looking at his still shocked face "I know this isn't easy, but its time that you came home Natsu. Its time that you made amends with her"
He sat there still not able to comprehend everything that happened but simply nodded up at Erza still with some anger inside him. After some time in her office Natsu walked out and down to the first floor of the guild still receiving stares from all of his old guildmates. He walked up to the bar counter where he saw Mira standing there still the same as ever "Hey Mira..."
She stared at him for a bit before shaking her head finally regaining her composure "Hey Natsu... Long time no see..."
He nodded as the entire guild had an awkward silence only with a few whispers going around "How about a drink?"
The barmaid offered one to him to which he gladly accepted. The guild slowly got back to its loud self as Natsu sat at the bar talking to Mira "Its good to have you back, but im assuming Erza told you why right?"
He nodded looking down at his glass speaking quietly "some dudes mom who me and... Her helped is on her deathbed and her last wish is to see us one last time"
She nodded as Erza took a seat next to him looking at him "I don't mean to rush you but you do have to go, you could also take this opportunity to fix things with her. Or at least try to"
Natsu nodded as he was handed a piece of paper with an address on it and walked out the guild. Magnolia hadn't changed much since he left so he could easily find the house on the paper. It was a small house with flowers all over outside which hurt his sensitive nose but he tried not to be bothered by it as he knocked on the door
He was met by a man who seemed to be in his fourties with light Gray hair and a smile on his face "Natsu Dragneel? Wow you really do have pink hair like my mom said. Come in come in"
Natsu walked into the small house being met with much more smells from flowers but that wasn't as bad as who he saw sitting on the couch, it was Lucy. He knew the woman wanted to see them but he didn't know at the same time. He tried to avoid looking at her as she was with him not even glancing at him as he took a seat, he figured after everything that happened this could serve as one good deed towards his redemption
He sat on the opposite end of the couch Lucy was sitting on wishing he could talk to her and not receive a punch to the face. He was about to till the man walked in with three cups of tea and handed them each one "Again thank you so much for coming, my mom says you two really helped her out before"
"Hey its not problem at all, its not like we would abandon someone when they need help. Only a terrible despicable person would do something like that" Lucy smiled as the man just nodded and took a sip of his tea followed by them two
Natsu's eyes widened as he took a sip of the tea however immediately noticing the flavor of it. He looked over at Lucy who fell off of the couch unconscious reminding him of what had happened. He was about to run over to her but fell over as well unconscious
Natsu slowly woke up groggy for the second time that day and tried to rub his eyes but couldnt due to his arms being strapped down. He pulled on the restraints attempting to burn them off but saw they were magic sealing cuffs. He growled seeing the same on his legs and noticed his vest was off with wired connected to his chest monitoring his heart rate. He continued attempting to break out till he heard a groan and looked over to see Lucy waking up with wires connected to her chest as well "Lucy! Lucy are you alright?"
"Yeah... Just feel like hell..." She groaned loudly obviously feeling the same as Natsu. Who if it wasn't for the situation would be overjoyed to have her talking to him
"I'm sorry about that but I doubt you two would have done this willingly" They both looked over at the same man who had opened the door for them walk in wearing a lab coat
"You bastard! All those plants were so that I couldn't smell what you put in our drinks right?" Natsu growled pulling on the chains harder but gained no success
"You're smarter than I thought, I'm actually amazed they got you. I had been posting that fake job request in your guild for months" he smiled at them walking over to a small computer checking their vitals
"What do you want with us? And why do you want the two of us?" Lucy glared at him attempting to escape as well
"The two of you don't seem to appreciate your magic, they're both very old and powerful magics. Just what I need" He smiled at them pulling Lucy's keys out of his pocket placing them in slots around Lucy
"Dont you dare do anything to them! I will make sure you pay for whatever you do to them!" Lucy growled at him attempting to get out but could only watch as he walked back to his computer
"Dont worry, I need your keys for this as well" He smirked at them flipping on a switch as electricity began to surge through both of their bodies causing them to scream. Natsu looked over at Lucy in pain causing him to remember the incident and giving him enough willpower to tear his hand out of the shackles adding onto the pain
As soon as his hand was out it ignited on fire braking the other shackles before his body ignited on fire overloading the system and causing the computer to explode. The man groaned standing up from the explosion staring in shock at the computer "All my research... All my hours of work..."
He didn't have time to do anything however as he was suddenly met with a flaming fist to his face knocking him out. The electricity had stopped surging through the chains letting natsu tear them off of Lucy "Lucy! Are you alright?! Please please be alright"
He looked down at her frightened till she finally sat up nodding and grabbed her head "Yeah... I'm fine... Stop yelling"
She stood up grabbing her keys from the slots in the table she was laying on and grabbed the rest from his lab coat pocket before kicking him in the side. Natsu grabbed the man and dragged him with them as they found an exit walking out of the underground laboratory seeing that they weren't in Magnolia anymore "Great, how long do you think it'll take to get back?"
Natsu looked at Lucy but watched as she began to walk away ignoring his question "Nothing has changed, nothing at all"
Natsu looked at her a bit saddened but just sighed dragging the man with them as they walked looking back at him "what the hell did you want with us...?"
Natsu shrugged off his own question as they walked not knowing that back inside the underground lab a metal door fell to the ground revealing a connected room with its own heart monitor which suddenly begin beeping signaling a heartbeat. A large metal tube suddenly opened up letting the person inside slowly onto the ground. She didn't know where she was but she was cold and saw a vest on the ground near her. She picked it up and put it on which covered her entire body due to her having a small body. She yawned walking out of the small till she was face to face with a piece of a broken mirror.
She looked into it seeing that she was a small child with light brown eyes, long pink hair, but most of all the red symbol on her right hand. She looked at it confused not knowing what it meant but sniffed her vest looking at it confused before catching a small scent matching it and began walking out of the lab following the smell of the vest hoping to find who it belonged to