Okay first thing's first the line clearly says "long flowing red hair hung loosely draped over her back and shoulders with a few more greys than she'd prefer" meaning she'd prefer to have no grey hairs rather than the very minimal, probably only noticeable to her amount that she has now….though she'd totally rock the iconic Rogue white streak style dude. Other than that thanks for reading and enjoy.
Erza stood in the kitchen across from her daughter as Charlie sat at the work station, an ominous aura penetrating the air, Erza hadn't noticed how small the room was but it was getting smaller by the second she felt cornered and Erza did not do well in corners. Charlie twiddled her thumbs and intertwined her fingers and looked for something in the room to draw her attention. Mira on the other hand was positively fizzing with anticipation her face was red with restraint out of respect for her best friend.
"Mira shouldn't you go and serve some alcoholic beverage or something" Erza stated calmly in the hopes her friend would take the hint and give them some alone time.
"Are you freaking kidding me!?" Mira said frustration clearly written across her face she stomped angrily over to Erza; almost head butting her with how close their faces were, eye's in direct contact with one another "Don't you dare leave this guild until I've had a chance to talk to you."
"Oh you should know, the guy I mentioned that bought the letter, he's upstairs" Mira mentioned casually as she sauntered out of the room like nothing happened.
Erza made for the door she needed to speak with that man, everything in her being needed to know what that man knew about Natsu. As Erza moved away from the work station and onward toward the door, a pair of soft hands reached out for her and clasped tightly to her arm, she felt her arm tugged slightly back.
"Momma" Charlie whispered in a mousey tone rubbing her face gently against the back of Erza's hand "Is it really true? Who is he? Does he know about me?"
Erza pulled up a stool and took her daughters head laying it gently against her chest as she stroked her daughter's hair she realised that this information would be a lot for her to take in especially at this age. They just sat in silence for what seemed like forever but in reality was only a few seconds as Charlie eyes peeked up through her hair at her mother who smiled down at her.
"There was a man who saved you from the Vulcans; do you remember anything about him?" Erza asked.
"I never really saw him" Charlie began "He wore this black cloak that was all ripped up and this hood that covered his face but he had a red fairy tail symbol on his arm, I told him I was afraid of what you were gonna do to me when I got home, he told me not to worry there was no harm done and nobody would find out about it if I didn't say anything" She giggled, a tick mark formed on Erza's forehead after finding out this information causing her to tighten her hug into more of a strangle hold "he looked kinda like Grandpa Gildarts but he had fire magic that I've never seen before it wasn't like Romeo's or Grandpa Macao's, wait are you saying that guy's my Father?"
"ah very astute deduction as always my dear Sherlock" Erza teased as she tapped.
"''twas elementary my dear Watson hohohohoh" Charlie replied as mother and daughter partook of faux-pompous laughter.
"Well that man's name is Natsu Dragneel he was known here and throughout FIore as Salamander the Fire Dragon of Fairy Tail and despite all his idiocy, ignorance and utter recklessness he is your father my love, I'm glad he kept you safe," Erza kissed her daughter on the forehead and when Charlie looked at her she could see the cogs of whimsy turning just like the day she was born, she might have looked like a carbon copy of her mother but she was every bit Natsu's daughter her antics reflected that.
Flashback
"Oh no, mom's definitely gonna kill me when she finds out about this. That's it I'm just dead no funeral, no murder investigation I highly doubt any one will weep if she has anything to do with it" Charlie cursed under her breath "This was just supposed to be a routine point to point delivery job, mom even picked it out like she always does, I hate it how she does that."
Charlie had been in the midst of a job, a simple job all she had to do was deliver a package through 60 miles of dense forest land it was a literal walk in the park or that's what it appeared to be, whomever posted this job forgot to mention this place was a basically a breeding ground for Vulcans before she knew it about forty or so she hadn't really had time to count, were in pursuit of her and those didn't even compare to the amount she had seen these were just the ones that had caught wind of her she knew through lessons with her mother that directly engaging such a high number of them at her skill level was not an option.
"To hell with it" she grunted a sly toothy grin permeated her face from cheek to cheek "Chucky ol' boy heres the deal, if we get through this imagine just imagine the look on that stupid tramp Fullbuster's face when you go home having killed 40 Vulcans on your own ," she turned with a look of sheer determination "let's do this ya ugly bastards."
Charlie steeled her resolve reaching her hand out she requipped her favourite blade a Zanbato sword she had picked out with her mother, Charlie had been dress shopping with Erza and had never seen her so excited as the day she had been shopping for her first real sword. Erza seemed to know every blacksmith worth his mettle across Fiore and even maybe the world even if their workshop was under a rock she knew about it and they knew about her, it made Charlie proud but it also made her kind of scared at the same time. They placed an order with a with a quaint little shop in Magnolia Erza trusted and assured Charlie they produced only the most exquisite work and they'd be sure to get a great deal since the owner was a family friend and so the blade "Princess Death Cleaver Bubblegum Sparkle" was forged.
"BRING IT ON!" she exclaimed as she launched herself off a nearby tree trunk
The blade cut the air like a knife through butter, it was surprisingly light for such and enormous blade Charlie was thankful for this fact it would be her only advantage she was able to discern some of the weaker among the pack and brought her blade down hard delivering a swift end the red haired sword maiden requipped her clothing in favour of her own iteration of Heart Kreuz Armour she hadn't quite mastered the art of switching equipment mid-battle so whatever she was going to do now had to count. She brought the sword to her chest deflecting a flurry of punches and swipes she pulled her sword across her body in an arc dismembering the digits from several of their hands. A fist broke through her guard knocking her down hard, dazed Charlie when into auto-pilot, stood strong and attempted to cut down her opposition. A hand grasped her and squeezed harshly and Charlie screamed in agony as the Vulcan raised her up to its face pulling her sword over her head she swung in a deliberate motion out in front of her severing the beast's throat dispelling one of the numerous viable threats around her. To say she was inexperienced was an understatement she had never been in a fight situation of this magnitude or skill set in all her life, Erza was intense when it came to training but she definitely had line she wouldn't cross under any circumstances.
Suddenly one of the stronger Vulcans readied a magical attack it took a wide stance clasping it's hands together it formed a large ball of energy at this point Charlie was exhausted, her body was failing her she had put up a good fight but there were still plenty more Vulcans to fight, she fell to her knees defeated and closed her eyes.
"Damnit, This is gonna suck" she commented as she awaited her impending doom.
She waited and waited and waited some more. She slowly lifted a heavy lidded eye to peek out and 10 fully matured lay incapacitated at her feet. She looked up and a tall man in a hooded cloak stood before her she couldn't see the entirety of his face apart from a wide grin and a white scaly scarf. He pounded his fists igniting them in quick succession he increased his magical pressure with ease bringing the entire herd of gathered Vulcans to their knees. Charlie had never felt so much power or intense heat coming from one entity before it astonished and terrified her in a way only her mother knew how as far as she was aware. The hooded figure raised his fists and in one fell swoop he ended the fight.
"Fire Dragon's Roar" he proclaimed,
Bringing his hands to his lips he unleashed an enormous torrent of fire from the his gut and utterly decimated not only the Vulcans but most of the forest brush and foliage for miles he admired his handy work with glee throwing his head back and unleashing a hearty laugh. Charlie giggled at the man's attitude causing the hooded figure to turn around he eyed her suspiciously.
"Oh how the mighty have fallen" the figure teased, Charlie on the other hand was confused.
"Messing around and got yourself turned into a little girl again have we my my it must hurt you looking so ridiculous" the hooded figure laughed at her.
"What is he talking about?" Charlie wondered to herself.
"What nothing to say? Has my arrival to save the day shocked you that much? He continued.
"Excuse me sir who are you?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Ah memory loss, this is classic the great Titania Queen of the Fairires affliscted with such a thing as amnesia this is hilarious" the man was now rolling all over the ground practically suffocating with laughter now.
"Titania?" Charlie thought curiouslt "I've heard people call mom that when she gets scary sometimes" she then inquired further "Um sir who do you think I am?"
"Well Erza Scarlett of course I'm as sure as the day is long you're her, you have the guild mark and everything" He replied.
"Okay, sir I think there's been a misunderstanding Erza Scarlett is my Mother's name" Charlie admitted shyly.
"Huh?" The man paused, mulling over the implications of her words before he exclaimed "WHAT!? YOUR MOTHER!?" the man sniffed at her inquisitively "Mmm you really aren't huh?"
"Yes sir I'm Charlie, Charlie Scarlett but you can call me Chuck," She introduced herself happily.
"Well Chuck I don't suppose" The man said almost as if it pained him to say it "You're Jellal's as well are you?"
"Yep, you know my parents?" Charlie asked.
"I did a Long time ago kid, got this little number back in X777" The man exposed his guild mark to her then turned his back "You should get outta here kid while it's safe
"Wow you're with the guild too?" Charlie said excitedly "How come I've never seen you"
"It's a long story," the man said sharply.
"alright" Charlie said understanding he didn't want to share "Oh crap My mom's gonna kill me for this" Charlie said visibly shaking.
"Don't sweat it" The man said "The funny thing about Erza is what she doesn't know won't hurt YOU"
"You sound like you speak from experience" Charlie laughed.
"I got the scars to prove it, still can't spell accommodate without flinching" The man said See you around"
Flashback end
"Did you ever try to find him?" Charlie said curiously.
"I did, right up until I was physically unable to move I searched everywhere, high and low for your father but your father is a very unique individual Charlie he is what is known as a Dragon Slayer, just like your Uncle Gajeel and Aunt Wendy he was raised by a dragon, your Grandfather was the Fire Dragon King Igneel, Igneel taught your father many things how to breathe fire, how to make his skin like a dragons scales, what it means to carry the will and power of a dragon but most importantly he taught your father your how to survive and how to be found if and only when you wish to be"
"Wait I'm the granddaughter of a Dragon King? A FREAKING DRAGON KING THIS IS FREAKING SWEET WAIT TILL FULLBUSTER HEARS ABOUT THIS IM GONNA DROWN HER SNOOTY LITTLE FACE WITH THIS SUPERSIZED HELPING OF MY ABSOLUTE SUPREMACY! WAIT DOES THAT MAKE ME A DRAGON PRINCESS? THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER! OH MY GOD!"
."LANGUAGE!" Erza Bopped Charlie on the head playfully "I can't believe that's all you took from that, You know I really wish you would stop bickering with that girl you're just like your father always fighting with the Fullbusters children"
"I do not Dior is the only one she is my worst enemy and she will be vanquished if it's the last thing I do" Charlie made a grave face and shook her fist menacingly.
Charlie found it kinda nice to discover she could have things in common with her father and that even though he wasn't there with her he was still impacting her life in some weird way. She suddenly realised that she hadn't heard anything if at all about him throughout her even though her mother remembered him fondly and even confessed to still loving him she never told Charlie anything to today, this fact made her feel sad.
"Why don't people talk about him?" Charlie asked sullenly.
"He left a very deep wound in all our hearts the day he left" Erza said her voice shaky and uneven she held her daughter as tight as she could and rocked her back and forth "I don't think any of us will ever really get over it so it's very hard for us to relive those times when he was close to us but I've missed him every day"
Erza reached into the inside pocket of her overcoat and produced a small folded piece of paper spreading it out she revealed it to be a photo of Natsu and herself as children.
"This, is a photo of your father and I as children, it's really the only one I have of the two of us being as close as the guild is there's always at least 20 people in any one picture, I like that it's just us of course if there were one of the three of us I'd have that with me to have this but I want you to have this" Erza handed the photo to Charlie.
Charlie's eyes passed over the photo trying to burn every detail into her mind so she would never forget. The composition of the photo was simple Erza sitting next to Natsu smiling Charlie had never seen her mother smile like that she was dressed in a white dress with a red bow around her neck.
"God has this woman always dressed like a schoolmarm" Charlie remarked mistakenly out loud.
"Excuse me," Erza said in a grim tone.
"Nothing" Charlie stammered.
Getting back to the photo Charlie got the first glimpse of her father. In her head she never would have guessed he had pink hair but he had the most mischievous smile and so much joy and fire in his eyes he was wearing a tank top and shorts with no shoes, his signature.
"Hey the man I saw was wearing a scarf like that when I saw him" Charlie pointed out.
"Well that clinches it the man you saw was most definitely your father" Erza told her daughter "That scarf was a gift from your grandfather, if he ever were to let it out of his sight it would say something about how much he trusts you" Erza said "One last thing I need you to keep this our little secret for a little while longer, now are you gonna be okay, there's a man upstairs your mother must deal with"
"Mhmmm sure we can do that I guess I mean I know and that's all that matters and I'll be just fine you go on" Charlie held the photo to hr chest.
"Alright, I love you my burning star" Erza kissed her daughters forehead tenderly andheld her close to her one last time.
Erza stood and made her way out of the room, tapping Mira on the shoulder and signalling her to follow, she scanned the room quietly searching for someone in the guild.
"WARREN GET YOUR GOOD FOR NOTHING MIND READING BACK SIDE OVER HERE NOOW" Erza commanded.
"Ohhhhh what did you do this time Warren" the others jeered and taunted him.
"Yes ma'am" he replied.
Warren ran for his life and fell in behind Erza and Mira as they walked up the stairs to shoot the messenger as it were.
To Be Continued…
Hope you enjoyed, please leave a review and thank you very much for reading.