The night of Halloween was a busy one at Fairy Tail High. It was like christmas to the city. School was out for holiday businesses were closed. The whole city was basically on hiatus for the holiday that most just pass by and found it as a way to get free candy.
The students of Fairy Tail High though were busy setting up the festival to honor Natsu as a tradition that Mavis started 200 years ago.
At the beginning they would lower the gargoyle to a pedestal on the ground and keep him there for the whole night honoring him and bringing tributes and sacrificing small animals for him. In the morning though he would be back on the top of the building like always though everyone was typically to drunk and hungover to remember if they even put him back.
Now a days though Natsu was left where he was and the towns people partied until the candy gathering started around 9. Though every year their was always one person volunteered to go and sit with the gargoyle the whole night not able to participate in the festivities. It was a way to let him know they never forgot of him.
This year though was Gray's turn to sit up in the cold and wind talking to the statue like some idiot.
"Its a real honor." Erza said as they walked him to the staircase leading to where the stone figure stood.
"Yes an honor to watch a statue." Gray replied grumbly.
"I had to do it three years ago when I was a freshman. It really isn't that bad to be honest with you. Its like the elements don't even touch you up there no matter how high up you are the wind or rain doesn't even bother you. Time also goes by really fast for some reason." Jellal said honestly as they stopped at the stair case.
"Really?" Gray asked unsure whether or not to trust the tattooed man.
"Trust me its not that bad." Jellal said confidently pushing Gray into the stair case.
Gray sighed and walked up the six flights of stairs to where the guardian of the city sat unaware of everything happening around him.
When Gray got up there he found a stool was there for him to sit on so he didn't have to sit on the ground. There was also a set of water bottles and some snakes to last him the night. There was also a pit of orange fire to keep warm next to that was already light.
A creepy meow was heard behind Gray and he turned to see a stang colored cat on the roof next to the door. The cat could only be described as one color: blue. Gray didn't know what the cat was doing up there but the cat didn't move to leave nor attack Gray in anyway so he left it alone and sat on the stool next to the creepy stone statue looking out into the city as the sun set.
"Well its just you me and a cat." Gray said patting the stature calmly as the sun sunk below the horizon.
"I am not a cat." A small voice said from behind Gray. He turned to only see the cat sitting there staring at him with his large eyes. He gave Gray a creepy kind of look a knowing annoyed kind of thing played on the cats whiskers.
"Hello?" Gray asked not seeing anyone who could have spoken. Upon seeing no one he looked at the stature never having seen it up close before. "You know for 200 years old you're in pretty good shape." Gray mumbled noticing how the stone wasn't weathered at all.
"Thank you." A deeper voice said this time. Gray slowly looked up to see the statue was turning from stone to flesh.
"What the hell!?" Gray shouted as he watched the gargoyle move its wings and stretching out its body.
"You know you can move during the day right now." Gray looked down to see the cat talking making him flip even more had their been no ledge he would have fallen to the ground below.
"I know but I love freaking out the new guy!" The large winged creature said as it jumped from the pedestal he had been crocheting on moments ago. "Why they don't send up the same guy every year though is beyond me."
"Natsu the last guy they sent up for ten years you ended up eating." The cat replied matter of factly.
"He got annoying. Kept coming up even past Halloween. It wasn't like I could stop him." Natsu replied sitting crosslegged on the podium.
"You are going to burn in hell one day." The cat side pinching the bridge of his nose with a tiny paw.
"Been there done that. It was so 200 years ago." Natsu said waving off the cat to look at a scared horrified Gray. "Well what's your name?"
"G-Gray." Gray stuttered rubbing his eyes trying to see if he was dreaming or not.
"Well Gray we are going to have some fun tonight. By the way I am Natsu you probably know that already though. And that is Happy. He is a forgotten childed of Bastet." Natsu said and the blue cat puffed out his chest.
"Bastet? Like as in the egyptian cat goddess?" Gray asked stunned at this new information of gods being real.
"Well ya. You know any other Bastet's? Look all them gods are real and trust me are not as friendly as you are told. Those stories you hear are actually watered down versions of what actually happened." Natsu explained waving around his hands as his tail came around him to fall down the podium but not long enough to reach the ground.
"Gods are real demons are real you're real. God damn it. How come this is so secretive?" Gray asked sliding down the wall and looking up at the dragon demon in front of him.
"It's not really a secret actually. Humans just sorta forgot about us and stop worshiping the gods so we don't really do anything in return for the human race. I am actually the best looking and best feed out of all demons. This whole Mavis stuff actually turned out pretty good for me. I never go hungry no one forgets about me and I can do whatever I want whenever I want." Natsu spoke with a laughter in his voice.
He watched Gray try and get to the door thankfully Happy grew to his fighting size. The cat's leathery wings spread. His fangs extending past his jaw and grew to a slightly bigger version of a black panther. His fur turned black with blue strips coming down from his spine to his underbelly. A blue strip went down his skull till it reached his nose before it disappeared into the black wet nose of the large demon cat. Happy sat back on his large hantches as he stopped Gray in his tracks licking his lips cocking his head in the process.
"You cant keep me here for ever!" Gray shouted at Natsu.
"Dont want to. Just tonight will do. Your job is to ride Happy and do an aerial search pattern. I will be doing the opposite pattern. All you have to do is watch for creatures in the streets. Look for the opening and tell Happy he will call me. You will do no fighting and will be back before dawn breaks." The demon spoke in such a tone that was not to be argued with in the least bit of tone that said you shall do as I say or else.
Gray though was in a challenging kind of mode as he got over the initial shock that all the stories he was told as a child and throughout high school about the guardian demon of the city. He stood up and looked the other male in the eye finding he had to actually look down slightly as the demon was actually two inches shorter than he was.
Though Natsu was fearful to the eye with his wings and tail and horns along with his powers of fire but to Gray the demon wasn't as scary as he was a chilled with some weird abilities and weird looks.
"Why should I?" Gray asked eyeing the pinked haired male.
"Gray when I say you are going to do this I am not asking you to I am telling you." Natsu smirked in reply.
"Happy." Natsu said turning to the larger cat who stood and jumped at Gray grabbing his jacket with large teeth before throwing the male off the top of the school.
Gray dropped through the air unable to scream in fear before teeth once again grabbed his collar tossing him into the air before he landed on a large thick furry back. He clung to the collar on the thick blue black fur in front of him. There was a leathery sound of wings and a movement in the muscles under him. Opening his eyes which he had not realised he had closed he found himself atop of Happy soaring above the city peacefully. The moon lighting their way as they flew in and out of the buildings popping up like trees in the forest.
He turned around to look at the school building to see Natsu casually step off the building falling for some time before suddenly his wings flew open flinging him back as the air filled his large wings pushing him up and he tilted his tail so to follow Gray on the larger cat.
Gray watched as Natsu put his hand to his ear and spoke though watching him even how close the demon flew to them he couldn't hear him speak. The sudden crackle from the collar Happy was wearing.
"Hey can you hear me?" Natsu asked and Gray pressed the glowing red button next to the speaker.
"Yes but how come I can hear you even though you're right their?" Gray asked making sure he wasn't going crazy.
"The wind prevents us from talking. Also I hate shouting and you need to get used to it for the rest of the night because unless you or Happy spot something we won't even see each other till dawn breaks. Happy grid search." And with that Natsu snapping his wings in one way as Happy snapped his own in the opposite way.
They sworded through the air and gray looked down to see kids running from house to house asking for candy. Lights from houses setting weird glows to the street below him. He had never seen his city like this but he loved every moment of it. Happy flew with such grace it was easy to believe why he had never noticed the creature flying before tonight.
They circled the center of the town extensively noticing that a bit of the asphalt was coming up a fire pit below that but only a few beings came out regardless how scrawny they looked Gray and Natsu like he was told to do.
"Natsu center of town we got somthing." Gray said into the mic but as he waited for the reply he watched as something else came from the pit. It was clearly well fed and had a large amount of power erupting from it.
"What are they?" Natsu asked cautiously.
"I have no idea but a larger one is following them. It seems well fed and powerful. I dont think its a harmless one that you were telling me about." Gray replied as Happy circled the being.
"I will be right there." The mic went silent after that.
"What is that?" Gray asked leaning into Happy's shoulder so the cat could hear him better over the wind.
"It looks like a person. But Natsu is the only thing I have seen come out that is remotely close to looking human. That how ever looks exactly like a human. No wings, no tail, no extra limbs, nothing and that worries me." Happy admitted over the wind.
The wind suddenly got stronger as something went past them. Leathery wings beat by as Natsu landed on the ground his wings feathering out before closing them entirely. His tail whipping around behind him as he stood up and faced the new comer as Happy and Gray landed on a building near by to watch the action from a safe distance.
Gray dis mounted from the large cat who did not change shape but sat back on his haunches his tail waving back and forth as his wings folded up on his back.
"Who are you?" Natsu demand of the new demon who had come from the ground. The creature turned and looked just like a teenager at least 18 years old. His hair was soft looking and his deep red eyes betrayed his looks to make him seem older than he first looked.
"I thought you were dead in all honestly. Everyone back home has been looking for you every time they come up here. Father would be upset if he saw you in such a pitiful state." The new comer replied coldly.
"That doesn't tell me who you are. Also my father was a dragon it was just me and him so I don't understand how you can say somthing like that. So tell me who you are!" Natsu demanded again. He seemed to getting really pissed off now.
"Oh Natsu why must you be so serious now? You used to be so much fun! That which must have taken your memories of me. Oh well we shall plunder this world and bring father up from hell so he can rule this world with a fiery fist!" The demon spoke raising his arms and gave a strange cackle.
"Sorry I don't care much when I can't do the things I want. Plus never really listened to the devil much he was a maniacal bastard who tried to make me do things I had no care for. Bringing him up here would ruin my little playground." Natsu sneered and slammed himself into the demon effectively sending him flying through countless buildings.
Natsu stepped out his wings folded as he dragged the demon man behind him by the throat. When he got a large open area Natsu flipped the man over his shoulder and slammed him into the ground as hard as he could creating cracks in the ground radiating from where the man was slammed. Natsu didn't stop till blood was soaked through the demons cloths and his head was gushing blood part of the being brain dripping out as well. His left eye was hanging by a cord.
Natsu dropped the demon man in disgust before walking away. "Great making me use my magic to fix the buildings just peachy." Natsu mumbled to himself as he focused his power to the buildings he had crashed through and put them back together.
Gray watched Natsu with small smile until he caught movement in the corner of his eye. Looking over to the movement he saw the demon pushing bones back into place and putting his brain and eye back into place before squeezing his skull back together with a gross cracking noise that even Gray could hear and winced at the noise.
"Oh shit!" Gray cried as the demon got back up limping a bit at first as his legs went back to their spots and walked up behind Natsu. "Natsu! Look out!"
Natsu turned around to find the man in front of him perfectly fine. Before Natsu could think he was hit across the chest and thrown through a wall he just rebuilt. Smashing though it his wings thankfully tight against his back so they wouldn't get torn up. He laid in the rubble gasping for air to recollect in his lungs before standing up on wobbly legs. As he stood the demon was at his side in a second giving him an uppercut to his jaw sending him through the roof and above the building falling back to the roof with a sickly thud.
The demon man was there once again and kicked Natsu in the face before moving to his rib cage and cracking several ribs and braking another three. He then stated slamming his foot down on Natsu's wings causing Natsu to call out in immense pain as he spurted blood up and on to the roof.
This is where I die. Natsu thought as the world started to go hazy the kicks stopped and the man was kneeling in front of Natsu's face a look of sick pity covering his face.
"I am sorry did that hurt? Well I am Zeref it should hurt. Oh and this is your last halloween working under that bitch. The spell is broken now you can kill and plunder this world as long as you please and never turn to stone just like before. Our father will rise again and you will follow his commands just like in the past. I will be back tomorrow. And yes I am way stronger than you ever where I can open the portal any time I want where as you could only do it on Halloween. Follow me and father and I shall make sure you live though this. Have a nice night Dragon Demon." Then Natsu blacked out as the man gave a cruel laugh and walked away.
Natsu POV:
I awoke in a white room and everything hurt no scratch that everything killed. It felt like my whole body was in pain and the only thing that didn't hurt where my eyes and that was only they where closed.
Winching I sat up and had to keep taking deep breaths to keep from screaming out in pain. Suddenly last night flew into my head. The demon man no Zeref was his name beating the shit out of me. Thankfully I heal fast when I am asleep. I must not have been out that long since only my wings were set back into their spots and where relatively painless.
"Oh thank god you woke up!" I heard a male almost shout in relief from behind me.
I turn to find Gray and Happy sitting next to the bed I was currently on. Wait bed? I dont have a bed!
"Where the hell am I?!" I demanded trying to stand but found my legs did not want to move right now.
"You're in the high schools infirmary. My principal said this was the only place you could stay without being turned into the government for experimenting or somthing like that." Gray shrugged.
"Makarov said I could stay here?" I ask in total disbelief and sarcasm. That man hated me for causing him so much trouble all the time.
"Ya I know I was totally stunned to! That guys hates you like you hate transportation!" Harry replied as stunned as I felt.
"Why would the principle hate you so much. You seem to fix all your messes without any problem." Gray pointed out confused.
"Its not that I hate Natsu its just Natsu is definitely a problem child to say the least." We turned to find the principal along with two other teachers standing at the door.
I paled a bit at the site of the principal. The teachers freaked me out as well. Gildarts was a very large man as the vice principal was scary to me so I felt bad for the students who dealt with his punishments. Mira was next to him her white eyes searching me but I felt the evil and inhuman glare she held on me as she watched me from across the room.
I took a few steps back from the people my wings unfeathering as I searched for the closest exit which seemed to be an open window behind me. Granted I wasn't completely healed yet but the fact that they where here freaked me out fully and completely.
"Natsu! Freeze!" Makarov shouted at me and the collar sent magic though my body forcing me to stop in my retreat. All eyes on me as I was frozen in my spot unable to get out of the prying eyes of the most terrifying school administration I have ever even heard of in all my years.
"Whoa that is some creepy stuff my friend." Gray said as he walked up to me and poked my face. "Can he talk while like this?" Gray asked. Unfortunately I couldn't yell in his face shouting at him that I was there and that I could hear every freaking word he was fucking saying!
"No he can't and I bet he would very much like to yell at you right now. Though he can move his tail. We have developed a system to communicate with him if you haven't made him to upset to do so yet if he does not I shall not take the spell off of him till the demon shows up." Makarov threatened.
I internally sighed I can't deal with humans they are horrible creatures that threaten and kill just because. Granted I did as well years ago but still I did it because we don't get that many souls that you know are good and won't kill us. I mean seriously even the mass murders and warlords are to evil for us to eat we need to eat like robbers with one felony for crying out loud! We never ate anyone who wasn't going to go to hell anyway. I made sure of that it was the only rule I kept constant throughout each rade. Only kill those who would go to hell anyway. Granted it may not have seem that way since so many were taken and eaten but trust me they were not as good two shoes as most thought.
"So Natsu are you ready talk or do we have to keep you like this so that you don't run?" Makarov asked me giving me a death glare. I cant answer that! Our system is based off yes and no questions!
"Makrab you have to phrase it like a yes or no question remember?" Mira reminded the older man who nodded and remembered she was right. I would have so rolled my eyes if I could move them.
"Alright we will keep you like this and you know the drill answer what you can with yes or no questions. Happy shall help fill in the blanks." The principal said and looked over to the large winged cat laying on a bed his head on his front paws cracking an eye open clearly thinking they had forgotten about him.
"Damn! How do you do that!?" Happy demanded raising his head with a yawn.
"You would turn small if you were really sleeping." Gildarts pointed out. I had a hate I am okay with kind of relationship with that man not going to lie. He visited me and kept me updated on a lot of things. When he saw Happy flying around he would keep others from seeing him as well, but the man was still scary as hell.
"Right." The cat gave up reluctantly. "I shall try and help you understand Natsu's thought process a little better but I dont even fully understand it and we have been together for just a little over 194 years!"
"Well try to translate. If you can then explain as much as possible it would help a lot." Makarov said patting my little buddy on the head. I thumped the end of my tail in furry. I hated it when humans touched Happy they had been mean to him for the 6 years I wasn't with him. They had beat him and tore at his wings.
When I had met Happy he was being kicked and thrust into by spears and swords by locals. Happy had just been fishing when they found him and nothing more. Bastet had given Happy up when she realized he was not into harming humans because his job was originally to drag those who betrayed Bastiat to her and not treat them very nicely on the way to the goddess.
Happy had hated this and the goddess got wind of it sending Happy to Magnolia which was on the opposite side of the world to where he was originally from. That is when the we met. I had helped Happy and Happy had never left my side fearing all humans. He helped me with my mission every Halloween and all year long as they tried to protect the civilians and students of the city from the demons that really did walk the grounds of the town.
Makarov knew this. He seemed to understand why I was upset and withdrew his hand from a disappointed Happy. Gray walked over and sat next to Happy and began petting him I didn't like humans but I could trust Gray even now he seemed different from other humans and it made me feel as though he could make a difference in this world.
"What was this daemons name?" Makarov asked.
"He said his name was Zeref. He seemed to know Natsu though on a personal level." Happy said glancing at me.
I wanted to scream and shout that I had no idea who this man was nor what he wanted from me. But I couldn't because of this stupid collar preventing me from talking or moving anything besides the end of my tail since the magic boundary still couldn't go that far. Granted the barriers was shrinking and I could move my wings but if 200 years had just shrinking the barrier that much then I was toast because it won't be at least another thousand years before it wears off enough for me to no be frozen with one freaking word from the principal of the school.
"Zeref? That name has been tossed around a lot these days. I thought it was just a fade in all honestly but if the rumors are true then this may be the guy Mavis wanted you to fight." Gildarts said walking up to me.
I get excited at this finally! The bastard shows his face! I mean I will stay in this world but I don't care much for being called upon every waking moment to deal with petty things like robbers or murderers they will get what is coming to them on Halloween night anyway or at least they used to.
"Well his tail is going wild I have no idea what that means." Gildarts said.
"He's just really happy that after he defeats this guy that he can be rid of humans and do something else." Happy knowing for a fact that is what I wanted since I tell him every other day and sometimes its not just once a day.
"He couldn't even beat him the first time! The guy just got right back up and almost killed Natsy before leaving! There's no way Natsu can beat him now even healed Natsu has no chance!" Gray screamed and I would have so pouted for his lack of confidnece but again cant fuking movie right now!
"Natsu can beat this guy trust us. He just wasnt ready for the power this man holds the first time he is ready now though. Trust me I have a trick or two that will give Natsu his powers back." Makarov said smugly and snapped his fingers.
I could finally move! Thank god! Suddenly a familiar but old and long time coming heat sealed up inside of me. Bursting through my horns wings and tail. My horns extending as well as my nails to their former inky black selves. I even felt the color in my eyes change color. Smirking I knew I had my powers back that stupid old man gave them back to me. I was my former self and I was going to bask in that glow for a long time.
I reached up to the collar and pulled it off the rest of my power surged through my body and gasps where heard throughout the room.
"I am not as strong without my fire. Give it back and well your puny little collar ain't going to do jack shit. Think things through a little better next time if their is a next time." I say coldly in Makarov's stunned face.
I turn and run to the window my body completely healed now that my own power was back. Folding my arms against my face and my wings to my back I smashed right through the window and gave a yipping sound of joy as I fell to the earth the rush of the wind in my hair as I fell before I snapped open my wings and was flung back into the air and pounded my wings. Smoke trailing behind me from my fire.
I turn to the sound of someone following me and find Happy right their grinding his large grin around those giant fangs of his. I grin right back cause now we are an unstoppable team and no freaking human or this Zeref guy can stop us!
