Disclaimer : I do not own Fairy Tail in any way shape or form. No money is made from this. It is purely Fanfictional fun. Any additional characters were created for entertainment and have no ties with the real and living whatsoever.
Second Disclaimer : This story is the continuation to the one-shot 'As Fate Would Have It'.
Warning = OOCness and English is my second language. My grammar is not perfect. Please excuse any horrendous mistakes.
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As Fate Would Have It Grand Magic Games
Chapter 1
The sound of pen on paper rang loudly in the silent room. Natsu Dragneel; Master of Fairy Tail and Fire Dragon Slayer, was buried neck deep in paperwork. He sighed and glared at what's left of the blasted documents morosely.
"Damn," Natsu groaned tiredly, his pen fell into the table as he rubbed his tired eyes. "When is this paperwork ever going to end?"
Downstairs at the grand hall, boisterous laughter can be heard faintly causing Natsu to smile. His guild is one of the rowdiest guild there ever was and he won't have it any other way.
A knock on the door jolted him from his musing. Natsu gave the person permission to enter, and the door opened revealing Doranbolt – or better yet – Myst Gryder.
"Master Natsu," Doranbolt greeted as he entered the room, shutting the door behind him. He walked straight up to Natsu and stood before him.
Natsu grinned lopsidedly. "Ah, Myst. Welcome back. What have you been doing lately? Don't tell me you're drunk so early in the afternoon?" said Natsu teasingly.
Doranbolt sweatdropped and he looked away in embarrassment. "I never drink during the day or when I'm working."
Natsu arched an eyebrow. "Really, Myst?"
"Really," Doranbolt replied without a beat.
A pregnant paused ascended the room as the two stared firmly at the other. Then, Natsu inquired casually without breaking eye contact. "How was your mission?"
Doranbolt eyebrow twitched and he could feel the irritated ticks present on top of his head. His mission? Was by no means simple. In fact, it was bother line suicidal! Why Natsu had entrusted that assignment to him, he will never know. Doranbolt sighed. He rubbed the back of his neck as he took a seat in front of the pinkette. "You know, even now, I still don't get why you let me come and go as I please. I'm not even tied to Fairy Tail," See, that's the problem. He was never officially made part of Fairy Tail guild, much less given a tattoo. And yet, somehow, Natsu had let him take a few jobs at his leisure. He had found himself woken up with the meanest hangover one afternoon with a none to please Pink haired Dragon Slayer. The newly made Guild Master simple said 'Get your act together' and then proceeded to slap a few good paying job advertisements on him stating that the people could use some 'Myst Gryder' expertise. He protested, Natsu ignored him. In the end, he went and do those jobs. He just couldn't figured out why he sometimes found himself being back at the unruly guild.
Natsu shrugged nonchalantly. "Technically you are not. But considering you were not with the council, I figured I could lay claim on 'Myst Gryder'."
Doranbolt snorted at that. They both knew quite well there was no need of any claim to involved. He was quite happy to mind his own business and Natsu was more than content to let him be. "You didn't ask for anything in return. You treat me as if one of your own!"
Natsu stared at Doranbolt, sharply. "And that's a bad thing?"
Doranbolt secretly fidgeted. Like any other Fairy Tail members, even he learnt that you never contradict the Master once he was uncharacteristically serious. When he is in the mood, you'll learn to be a good boy and listen or he'll make sure you'll end up running with tail between your legs. A glaring, non-boisterous, silent Natsu is a scary Natsu.
Natsu signed the last batch of paper in front of him and set them aside, focusing his attention solely on the Runic Knight before him. "Is there anything you would like to report?"
Doranbolt's eyes peered at Natsu, looking grim and troubled. "I've done the mission as you requested. However, I didn't get much. They are protecting something and are guarding it very well. Only a few knows of it."
Natsu frowned. His face scrunched looking very troubled by the news. "Any chance I can persuade you to look into it some more?"
"Not unless I want to set myself up for treason and possible execution. Which I don't."
Natsu nodded his head. He simply sat back and studied the male before him. "I see."
Nothing else needed to be said after that. The mission that Natsu had asked him to do was completed, even if the result was minimal and unsatisfactory. "Natsu... I would like to thank you for looking after me."
Natsu perked up at that. His gaze bore into Doranbolt with intensity. "You're returning to the council," Natsu said in understanding.
Doranbolt eyed Natsu wearily. He doesn't even want to know how Natsu knew about it. "Yes. Lahar offered my position back."
Natsu hummed lightly. Then, he grinned. "I'm surprised you took it."
Doranbolt shrugged. "Someone had to look after the idiot. Plus, he makes a convincing argument."
Natsu smirked in amusement briefly before he stood from his chair, extending his hand at Doranbolt, which he took also standing. "Then I wish you all the best."
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Natsu snickered when he saw most of the Tenrou group slumped against the chair in exhaustion.
"What got into them?" Natsu asked Romeo, who was sitting beside him, having just return from completing his own mission.
"Rental overdue did. Seven years worth of debt isn't going to settle overnight. They're doing the best they can to get as much money as possible," answered Romeo dutifully.
"Yes. But running themselves ragged is not going to help them with their health," said Natsu frowning.
Romeo shrugged nonchalantly. "Have mercy on them, Master. It's not like they have any other choice."
Natsu snorted before sipping his drink. Romeo hopped off from the stool and went to the mission board, intending to take a new mission. Macao watched his son go before he turned toward the master.
"It was kind of you, Natsu, to do them a favour by talking to their landlord," Macao spoke up not far from him.
Natsu snickered before facing Macao with a careless manner. "I hardly did anything. I only convinced them to hold the lease for ten years. Had they not return by then, it was agreed that their rooms are free to be let go and their stuff sold."
Macao snorted at that. "Yes but you lend to them. You help with the girl's dorm payment and maintain the gents abode once in a while. That's got to be costly," Macao said in a playful banter.
Natsu wave him off casually. "It's not like they not paying me back." He then smirked mischievously. His eyes gleamed wickedly. "I wonder if they'll ever realize that they have no rental overdue or the rent they're trying to pay back is actually my payment?"
Macao snickered. "With the way they're going and how you had made the deal with the landlords? I figured then won't realize for a while yet."
They both cackle with glee looking so much like two devils scheming that some people who saw them shuddered wearily. Natsu drowned his drink and put down his cup on the counter, thanking Kinana with a smile, before making way to one of his miserable guildmates.
"Oy, Ice Cube," Natsu plopped unceremoniously beside the Ice Mage. "Why so sad?" Natsu inquired, his tone oddly sounds conspiring.
"My house..." Gray mumbled unhappily, not looking up from pathetic slump.
Natsu smirked. His rubs his hands gleefully before they slowly snatched the closest item to him, which was a mug of cold water. He looked positively wicked. Natsu smirks widened. "Then I know just the way to cheer you up," said Natsu sinisterly.
"How?" Gray mumbled distractedly. He then yelped when Natsu smashed the mug on his head, completely shattered the wooden cup and drenched the Ice Mage completely wet. Natsu was shamelessly laughing hysterically.
Gray felt something snapped within him. He slowly stood, his body shaking with fury. His face distorted to something hideous. Ironically enough, the water was freezing, damnit!
"Natsu!" Gray furious roar could be heard throughout the guild. What follows after was, of course, the legendary brawl that Fairy Tail was renowned for.
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"I can't believe you did that, Natsu," Carla, ever prim and proper, chided her Guild Master from within Wendy's arms. Said pinkette only whistled jovially. "I'm serious! Erza wanted to intervene had she was not being reminded that you are the Guild Master now."
Natsu grin his signature big goofy grin while making victory sign at her. "Wasn't I great? That popsicle didn't even scratch me!"
Carla shook with irritation. A tick could be seen on the side of her temple. Couldn't contain her temper any longer, she burst at the object of her ire. "That's not the freaking point! You're the master! Shouldn't you be more mature?" Carla yell uncaring of the staring passerby.
Wendy giggled. "Carla, I think it's fine. I mean even Master Makarov didn't seem to mind," Wendy said softly.
Carla looked up to Wendy sternly. "That's because he's glad he is no longer the Master!"
Natsu laughed, not minding at all of Carla's scolding. For all that she is, Carla is one exceed that deeply cares of the people around her – especially one she considered her charge. Natsu secretly grinned. And to deal with practically two uncouth dragon slayers and preventing Wendy to pick up their bad unrefined habits, she is certainly having her hands full. He looked up at the sky. "Yeah, but at least Gray loosen up. For a while at least he forgets all his troubles."
Wendy looked up at Natsu, puzzled. Natsu halted before slowly turned around, running his hand through one of Wendy's ponytails, smiling softly at them. "Don't worry," Natsu said sincerely. "I won't do anything that will jeopardize and get us into deep trouble. It was all a good fun afterall. I mean, working hard is all well and good, but if you don't take care of yourself well, you'll not be helping anybody."
Wendy and Carla stared at Natsu, speechless. They knew Natsu can be oddly perspective, but those times usually reserved for when he was in a heat of battle. To hear him talking like that now, it felt so surreal.
Natsu smiled widened as he continued, "Plus, that play fight was necessary. It's uncouth, yes. But a sure damn good way to release some pent-up tension," He told them teasingly. Carla eyes widened and she gasped in shocked, looking scandalize, while Wendy burst into a fit of giggles. Natsu grinned roguishly as he leaned down and whispered conspiratorially at them. "But you don't have to worry though, Carla." Natsu whispered, his eyes gleamed in mischief. "I promise we won't corrupt Wendy too much with our rowdiness." Natsu then kisses Wendy briefly on her cheek before abruptly jumped away from her laughing.
Carla squawked in indignant. "What are you doing?! That's improper!" she screeched. Carla took her handkerchief and wipe out the place where Natsu kisses Wendy while said Sky Dragon Slayer blushed darkly and was hiding her red face behind her bangs. Natsu for his part only grinned unrepentantly.
Natsu turned and walked away. "You should head home now. I'll see you tomorrow." Natsu said over his shoulders. His hand waved his goodbye and they watched him go.
Once Natsu disappeared from their sight, Carla sighed, "I don't understand him," Carla mumbled petulantly. Wendy too sighed. "Come on, Carla. It's getting late." Wendy continued the rest of the way home with Carla.
Carla can't help turning back at the direction where Natsu had walked off with a frown on her face. In truth, she felt that this day couldn't get any weirder.
Natsu had insisted that he walked them home. While they do not mind the company, it was pretty late already. They were one of the few left still at the guild. Natsu had even sent the Tomcat ahead first. And they both live on the opposite side of town!
Carla looked up at Wendy, who was humming lightly. Carla turned ahead and saw that they already reach home. She bit her bottom lip.
Really, she just doesn't know how to deal with this new Natsu.
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Natsu strides calmly as he walked down the road. He stopped short and turned to looked at the dark alley beside him. "Isn't it a bit late for you to be about? If ya worry about Wendy, she's safely inside her dorm room."
A snorted could be heard from within the shadows. "I ain't worried, Salamander," Gajeel replied, scowling at him as he stepped out from the shadows.
Natsu's eyebrow arched. "Could have fooled me," said Natsu mockingly.
Gajeel bristled. "I'm not the one who has been secretly checking up on from time to time."
Natsu jammed his hands in his pockets and resume walking. Gajeel fell into step beside him. "I don't know what you're talking about," Natsu denied casually, portraying the epitome of innocence.
Gajeel glared at him. "Don't try to lie to me, Flame Brain!" Gajeel yelled. "It's pathetic and your scent is all over my den!" Gajeel settle down with a growl.
Really, they're both Dragon Slayers for fuck sake!
Natsu shrugged him off. They continue their way home in silence after that.
Gajeel is not wrong technically. Natsu had been by their places. Ever since his dragon siblings returned to him, he had the urged to assured myself that they are fine and safe. He needed to know where they are at all times. So sometimes at odd hours, he would go to their dens and stood at a distance, just to smell their scent, appeasing his more dragonlike nature that his siblings is really, really back and that they're not going to disappear on him.
Natsu took several deep breaths and quench down the sudden need to keep them under lock and key. If he had his way, his fellow dragon slayers are not going anywhere far from him anytime soon. If ever.
He is not possessive. He's just feeling overprotective.
They reached Natsu's home first. "Well, this is my stop," said Natsu while staring at Gajeel pointedly. "You'll be okay on your own?"
Gajeel jaw dropped in disbelief at the question. He stared at Natsu like he was some sort of an alien. Not liking the implication one bit, his eyes narrowed angrily. Gajeel growled and he stormed off to the direction of his own home. "Don't insult me!"
Natsu rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He sweatdropped as he watched Gajeel briskly walked away, cursing colourful profanities at him from what his hearing can picked up. Natsu shook his head ruefully before walking up to his hut. Well, he supposed he couldn't call his home a hut anymore now could he?
Natsu eyes went over his white bricked medium-sized house. Maybe a cottage? A cabin? An apartment?
Natsu had renovated his own home over the years. While still a single storey, his hut now have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living dining area and a kitchen. While the style was basically the same, it still gave the feeling that he was very well off.
Natsu opened his door shouting, "I'm home!"
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The guild was exceptionally noisy that day. Half of their members have been studiously doing various jobs. Those who didn't were hanging out at the bar, some at the cafe, while there are those who choose to dip in the pool.
In the grand hall, some members choose to test their strength while their fellow guildmates and friends cheered, placing bets on who would win. Some groups choose to drink quietly, others doing their own activity and generally minding their own business.
Up in the Master office, Natsu was going through some letters. A small portion of them are bills – things destroyed while on the job – for their guild, payments for the various jobs completed, and of course; the complaint letters.
As he was sorting through some unopened ones, an invitation letter caught his attention. Natsu turned to look at the back. What he saw makes his eyes narrowed.
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Author Footnote :
As many requested I've continue this story. But it will be separated arc by arc.
Pairing is still undecided. However, If I do decide to pair off Natsu in the future, it won't be the conventional pairing. Meaning, it won't be with Erza, Lucy, Lisanna, or Mirajane. (For the hardcore fans of those pairing, I'm sorry but such pairing is too typical and common already).
Review on your way out!
-Elvina P.
