Chapter One

"Hurry up were almost to the forest" said a mad breathing heavily in a panicking voice to his two companions. 'Once we past the forest there's the sea and the ship we came on and we can get away from this hell island'.

"Boss I see the forest" said one of the companions just and as exhausted and scared as his boss. "Okay pick up the pace guys he is right on our tail." It was easier said than done as all three men were exhausted and had drained most of their magic energy in the fierce battle that happened no more than an hour ago.

As they ran into the thick, heavily treed, humid forest the boss could not help but feel a small sigh of relief believing they were going to make it to the ship. "Come on guys just a little further were almost there" said the boss to his spirit depleted companions. "Boss how did this happen?" one man said in disbelief with a knot in his throat. "Stop your bitching we are almost to the ship just keep going" said the third companion. As they ran the boss could do nothing more but wonder how the hell things went wrong. 'We came with a small of army of one hundred men and more than half of them were very skilled mages too….how…how the hell could it only be just us three now and to be completely wiped out…. by one man?

Not knowing how far they ran or even how long they had been running for, the three men were holding on to their last breath as fatigue started to wear on their bodies more and more, and just as sudden a familiar smell crept through the forest. "The Sea I can smell it were almost there" said the boss, with such a sensation of relief, that it felt as if a heavy weight was lifted off his shoulders, he almost cried.

Finally they escaped the heavy forest and reached the sea. The smell of the salt in the air, the waves crashing on to the beach, and sight of the glorious "Sea Maiden "was too much to take in, the boss could not help but fall to the rocky warm sand crying historically. "We did it, hurry get on the ship lets go" he said gleaming as he turned around to his men. "Huh? What the….where…..where are my men?" He realized that he had been running so hard and with an occupied mind he hadn't noticed no one was behind him. "Oi, where are you guys?" He sat on the sand in almost disbelief as his face turned red from his anger. 'Damnit! Damnit all to hell where are they…..maybe they collapsed from exhaustion…well I'm not going back into the forest I can't go any closer to that town or to…..him…we left as the battle was concluding so I know we had a good lead but….he was so fast as if he moved with the wind too fast to even see his magic, he is probably catching up by now…..Screw them everyman for himself now'.

He stood up becoming clumsy in his movements and started for the ship when a shadow appeared in the sand just in front of him. It was a large shadow but a figure he recognized. As he stood their shaking and sweating uncontrollably he slowly followed the dark trail on the beach with his eyes until it came upon a figure standing on the deck of the ship looking down on him.

"It….its….you…but how…how did you get here so fast?"

"A captain abandoning his crew you're the worst type of scum" said the figure on the ship as he jumped to the beach. As the man got closer the boss got a better view of the architect of his current nightmare.

"Wait I know you...your" but before he could finish a fist hit him from his left side as the boss flew back into the forest. 'Damnit how could he be this fast' the boss thought as he tried to compose himself and stand rubbing his aching cheek from that hellish left hook he saw the man coming closer. "Wait…no please wait salamander"

The man than started laughing "I hit you so hard I made a memory of your salamander friend come bursting out…..damn I'm good" he said continuing in his taunting laughter.

"What? You're not the fire mage? But you look almost identical to him who are you?" blurted out the boss. "I am Lee the commander of the 4th unit of Heavens Island military, now come peacefully your comrades are waiting for their captain in court"

" No wait please Salamander I have money lots of it just please let me go you can have it all, I promise I will never try to steal from this island again, no, I will never steal from anyone again….please let me go" the boss pleaded on his knees shaking with fear.

"I said I am not a Salamander" the man said as he closed in on his prey. "No please I apologize you're not Salamander than no your name is…damnit what is your name…" Before he could finish his thought the boss felt something hard crawling up his legs. He looked down and saw branches circling up both of his legs, and before he could respond, the two branches were firmly hugging him tightly around his chest and arms. He felt the last bit of magic he had being sucked out of him.

"Thief, for the desecration of our holy temple and the murder of two holy monks and by the power vested in me I, Commander Lee of the 4th Heavens Island military unit, sentences you to death. I will make this fast and as painless as possible and that is the only mercy you will receive from me" said the man in cold stern voice. "Damnit you piece of shit I will not let you kill me" the boss struggled mightily trying to free himself but the more he struggled the faster his magic was depleting. The commander was then just a few feet from the thief standing firm with hands to his side looking at his criminal. He was a tall light complected medium built man wearing a light pearl white coat that looked more like a rob. It had green sigils and writing on both sides confirming his high rank in the army. On the back of the coat was a large green thick tree, with branches that seems to never end and clustered with green leaves. It was buttoned up covering his entire body only revealing his lower legs. He had on dark leathered sandals that covered up to his ankles only revealing his foot toes. His sleeves hung slightly past his hands, he wore a large green hood, green as the leaves of the forest, over his head which made it difficult to see his face at times. The commander just stood there as the hollow wind blew on his coat swaying it. As the commander stared down the criminal with stern angry dark brown eyes, the boss could not help but feel overpowered. Even though he was not much taller than him his presence made him feel like an ant standing before a mountain.

The mage than said in an assertive tone "It's no use thief, magic comes from the energy of the heavens and earth, when mother earth has her hold on you there is no escaping it. She will take back and strip you of the magic you abused and use that and your life's to energy to restore the destruction you caused to her earth and her children".

Even after hearing those words the boss still tried to free himself not being able to summon any magic. Finally after some struggling he fell to his knees, still being hugged by the branches, he could feel not just his magic but his life force being depleted as well he looked at the mage with disgust. "You bastard, how can you have such magic? You're a fire mage how is this possible!" The man shouted using what little energy he had left. "I told you thief my name is –"

"Your name is Natsu" the criminal yelled. "You're one of Makaroves damn bastards that fire breather. I may be dying but I am not stupid I don't know why you're here or what how you got this magic but-"

"Natsu?" the commander said with wide deaf eyes and inability to control his jaw. "Thief how the hell do you know that name? Answer me damnit" The commander said in a irritated voice with his hand now locked into fists. He could feel every vain and muscle in his body bulging is sheer anger and frustration. "Your patronizing piece of crap….your him? Said the criminal, before he could say anything else the criminal started fading away. The commander quickly released the branches and the criminal fell on his stomach. "Wait thief how do you know-"

"Damn you….damn your guild….you Fairy Tail bastard" that was the last words the thief spoke as mother earth finished passing her judgment.

The commander stood there with only the sounds of wind and dancing leaves echoing throughout the forest. He stood there his body unable to move. Sweat dripped down his cheek, wait, this isn't sweat-when the drops reached his lips he realized it was tears.

"Natsu…..your….it can't be…but how could this thief know your name if you were….Natsu are…" He looked down into his palms where skin was meshed up and saw tears fall into his mutated burnt palms.

"Really still alive?"