Greetings and Salutations everyone! I have for you both good news and bad news. The good news is that after much effort and by forces of chaos that were beyond my control, I was finally able to finish this chapter! Also, while in that unfortunate time, I was able to finish the draft for the next three chapters so I wouldn't have to come up with these from compete scratch on the computer! Now the next one will be published in a relatively shorter time! YAY :) The bad news, this chapter is a filler of sorts but it deals with the aftermath of our hero's escape. Also, I heard the Fairy Tail manga was ending already. NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! IF ONLY THAT PERIOD DIDN'T HAPPEN THEN MORE CHAPTERS WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT. WHY CRUEL FATE WHYYYYY?! *Ahem* I apologize for that outburst. It's not very gentlemanly.

But my personal troubles aside, I truly hope you enjoy this chapter. I put my heart and soul into it after all :)

And as always, I will leave it at your discretion to praise, criticize, or mindlessly bash as you see it fit. Now, unto our tale.

We bring our eyes to the city port of Hargeon. At first glance, it looks ordinary. It's nothing more than a usual port tow. Workers laboring away at the docks, children running in the streets without a care in the world while playing with each other, housewives exchanging juicy gossips among themselves as a little distraction from their daily duties, hardy sailors exchanging tales and blows at the local taverns, and mighty and majestic galleons from lands far and wide docking in for a temporary relive from their journey's into lands unknown.

Indeed, one would not be faulted for thinking that this idyllic scenery was indeed ordinary. But we must all remember, this is not the mundane world. Unlike the mundane world magic is present, known, and used here and the unexpected is the norm here.

"Oi, ya' think ya' can git away with stealin' IN MY PORT?! HUH, ya' grots?!" screams a salty voice. This my fellow readers is the harbor master or more precisely an angry harbor master yelling at would be thieves stealing from his beloved port.

"Um, technically we're smugglers…." Replies one of the thieves.

"Do ya' see di's hat?"

"Um, yes?" replies another

"Do ya' grots Know whu' it means?"

"It means dat' I'm in charge and ANYTHIN' NOT REGISTER'D IS THIEFIN' ! "

"Umm, don't you mean illegal?" say another.

"Precisely ya" git. Ye'r lucky I'm in a good mood. Otherwise, I would murder ya'! "

"Nobody get's the bettr' of me in my port! No one! "

"Which remoinds me"

He picks up the bunch from their spot and moves them about an inch to the right. He moves as well, and starts to count down with his fingers.

"Ummm, what exactly are you doing?" asks one of the smugglers.

"Shut it ya' grot. I'm waitin'somethin' !"

"Five, Four, Three, Two and…. One"

Just as he finishes counting down, something huge of supposedly undeterminable origin from where he was facing crashes at high speeds to where he and his captives were a few moments ago. Their jaws drop in shock. Whether it was because their lives were saved or that for some unknown reason their captor actually saw it coming. I mean, he was facing freakin' backwards for Christ's sakes!

He takes a smoke in his pipe thing (forgot what it was called) and gave them an "I told you nothing surprises me in my port" look.

After inhaling the noxious fumes, he turns around just to see which poor, unfortunate idiot messed his harbor. He had a guess, but he did it anyway just to make sure.

All it took was one quick glance for him to know who the perpetrators were and he just as quickly brings out his log.

"Thieves and a profit. Di's is gonna be a gud' day!" If there was something he loved more than his precious port, it was the coin he acquired to use on his precious port. He maneuvers through the rubble like it was second nature and jumps into the vessel.

"Well, at least ya' gits did nu' hit any other ships di's time. Plus, ya' managed to stay in the port. Plus, der's a good part of the stockpile dat' ya' didn't hit.…" He rambles on and on about the costs while not even trying to sound empathetic. Truth be told, he was actually enjoying himself all in legal, businesslike sadistic way.

Lucy was the first among them all to awaken. She was quick to regret it since she found herself high up on the mast of the ship. From her scary vantage point she could see that the others were unconscious as well, though she questioned why she out of all of them ended up so terrifyingly high.

Mirajayne and her sister were the next to return to consciousness and luckily for them their position was less compromising. If one can consider teetering on the edge of the ship less compromising.

"Ouch, that hurt. Sister, are you ok?" Lisanna asks while trying to leverage herself back into the boat.

Mirajayne helps her sister gain footing and flashes her a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, I've been through worse"

"Hey Fried, would you mind getting your foot off my face?"

"Fried…first… get your hand out of my…" he pants in pain

"Huh?! Out of your wha-"

He saw what part on Frieds body his hand and landed on and immediately wished that he didn't know.

"AWWWW, GROSS! " sums it up perfectly.

"Hey, what about me?!" protests Evergreen as well.

"Hey, wake up. Can you hear me? Wake up!" Canna screams to her unconscious father as she tries to pull his head out from the hull. This would be quite shameful indeed for the Ace of Fairytail were he not joined by the "next" Grandmaster and the "Man" of the guild.

Brothers in guild and in shame.

"Ugh… What is this thing pressing down on Juvia?" Juvia wonders just as she regains consciousness. As if an unexpected gift left to her by the gods, she sees that the heavy thing is an unconscious Gray on top of her. Not wanting to look deviant, she quickly pretends to be unconscious again.

Off in the corner, our dragon mages were not doing any better.

"Kyah! Charles, I can't see! Did someone turn off the sun?!" Wendy yells to her feline companion from the inside of a barrel.

"Silly child, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Who in their right mind would ever think that the sun is turned off?"

Gajeel coincidently answers her question by coming to the same conclusion as well.

"Gyahh! What is this? Did somebody turn the sun off?!"

"Does this mean that Gajeel is not in his right mind?" a worried Pantherlilly asks.

"You've been with him this long and you still have a hard time believing that?" she retorts.

And Natsu…. Hold on, his not with these two and his not with the others either. Weird. Wasn't he at the back propelling everyone away from their impending but Deus-Ex'ed saved doom? Give me a sec….searching every frame…no, that's a pink turnip…. Ah there they are! Now along with the story.

Having given as much if not a little bit more than the other two, Nastu was knocked back from the impact as well. But instead of a barrel making him question the suns ability to spontaneously switch off, his semi- conscious state indicated to him that he landed on something metal hard and silky soft.

As his consciousness slowly reclaimed it's grips on reality, Natsu began to realize that metla was armor and silky soft was skin. But not just any skin, it was the face of his red haired and close as hell nakama Erza Scarlet.

Now let's take a step back and analyze this situation.

Guy and girl.

A man and a maiden.

Alone and isolated.

Together in close proximity.

One is up and about while the other is out for the count.

One is ready and the other is prepared for him.

His eyes steady and locked on his target.

A potential predator ready to pounce and potential prey right in front of him.

The former is in complete control of the moment.

Now after reading those words, what does one think might happen? To those on the outside, it may seem no more than sentences to make this literary work a bit longer. To those on the inside (in particular the anime community) your minds just even if for a second thought of some potential , romantic, rule 34-ish echhi, doki-doki goodness. Oh you bastards you.

But speculations aside, what will in this point of time happen? Well, let's find out shall we?

He was on top and she was on the bottom. She could do nothing in that moment and he could do anything. Though there were others on the ship that might see the potential act he may commit if he was to do it quickly then it would not matter.

He raises his hand. The naughty and forbidden pleasures endless from that point. Primed and ready, it slowly descends to her smooth, silky, plumb, and soft….. …..face.

What, did you people actually think that even for a second that Natsu could take a hint let alone in a golden chansu such as this?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH !

By now, you should have realized how dense this guy is. Heck, he puts a black hole to shame!. But hey, if you did then YAY I'm getting better at this. For those who didn't even buy it then congratulations. Here, take a cookie to lucky twat you.

"Hoy, Erza? Are you okay? Are you awake?" he casually says while slapping her in the face.

"Hoy, wake up. We're here already!"

"Erza? Erza? Hellllooooo?"

After a good number of comical slaps , Erza finally wakes up. Her eyes slowly focus on the pink haired mage's goofy, grinning face.

Okay , she thought. Nothing wrong with that. At least she wasn't outside of the ship. Even if by a slight chance that she was sent flying off the runes around the ship would have prevented that so it's all honky dory.

"Natsu, what are you doing?" the scarlet haired mage asks her currently "dominant" friend.

"Ah, Erza. I'm glad you're finally awake. " he responds with a smile.

"That didn't answer my question. What are you doing?"

"I was just trying to wake you up like I usually do" he replies with his goofish grin

"Natsu, it may be okay in my room at night but don't do it when we're outside. "

"Why, there's nothing wrong with it. You said so yourself"

"I know what I said Natsu but just….. just don't do it outside"

"Hm?"

"*sigh* It's like when we take a bath with each other"

"…. Oh! Okay, why didn't you just say so?"

Though after saying that he didn't budge at all and just smiled.

Having a strange feeling and seeing that she was getting nowhere, she replied in a manner Natsu understood… with a Kill-Bill coffin style punch to his gut. Whether he deserved it or not, it finally did get the job done.

"Now we have to see how the others are doing. Come on , Natsu" she says as she casually walks off and leaves him there writhing in unspeakable agony.

"Is everyone okay? " she asks to her companions.

"Yes, Erza. I think we're all here" Mirajane replies.

"To be sure, let's do a roll call."

"Laxus, Fried, Gajeel, Wendy , Bickslow, Evergreen, Elfman, Gildarts, Master, Gray, Lucy , Juvia, Marijane, Lissana, Happy, Pantherlilly, Lucy, Levy…Levy? "

"Here!" she shouts back as she comes to view.

"Ah, good and finally Natsu. Okay we're all here."

" Der's da masonary work, da brik'c fer da' masons, and finally da' usual Magic destruction tax. " The Harbor master finally finishes his ridiculously long list and hands it over to Makarov.

"Thanks , Fighharln". He doesn't even bother to look at the list. This has been happening for so long that it's become routine or at least Makarov had to make it routine because looking at the list always gave him a heartattack.

"Erza, is everyone here?" he asks. Costs didn't matter at this moment for his "children" mattered more.

"Yes master" she assured him. Other than Laxus and Gildarts, it was her de facto duty to act as the "assistant master". She didn't want the responsibility per se, but somebody had to it and it was growing on her.

"Good. Come one everyone, let's get off this ship" From the events that transpired he was tired. After all, running from impending doom after miserably failing to fight it would take the wind and the spirit from anybody. In fact they were all tired and just wanted some semblance of comfort.

"Oi, ya' grots look like a greenhorn dat' just came out of a tavern brawl"

"Well, we had a long day Fighharln "

"Wot, ya run from death or somthin' ?"

"Something of the sort" That was all we wanted to say on the matter. It may be good to tell the truth, but he didn't want others to know a dragon is on the loose….. not yet at least. What mattered now was getting some rest. He then motioned to the rest of the guild and they all began to leave the ship.

"Oi!"

Makarov turns his head to respond.

"We've all 'ad dem crummy days. Pay when yer' good and ready, Oi can wait by the end of the 6th month and I won't record it until then"

Hearing this enlightened his mood a little bit.

"Thanks again, Fighharln. I owe you one"

"You owe me four now ya grot"

They exchange smiles and Makarov and his guild went on their way.

"Now, let's see if dem' gits are tryin' to escape"

He shifts his attention to his earlier prey and sees that during his absence they were indeed trying to escape. Only to be stopped just before they got out of the docks by a painful shock emanating from the ropes.

"Ha, I told dem nobs that nothin' get's da better of me in my port. "

The guild drag themselves through the crowded streets and to a nearby inn that when compared to the streets was as empty as a ghost town.

The innkeeper looked up from her log and gave her rehearsed but sincere reply to the tired mages "Greetings and Welcome to the CozyHome Inn. How may I be in your service today? "

"Do you have rooms available?" Makarov asks her.

"Why yes. We have more than enough for all of you."

"We'll take them."

"Excellent, give me a moment to prepare."

She disappears into the door behind her but is not gone for long for she returns with a handful of keys.

"Here you go. A key for each of you. You could also share rooms too if you want, but only for a maximum of two people."

"Thank you" was the guild master's response as she leaves the metal pile on the table.

"You know, we don't get many customers during the day. What's your story?"

"We would rather not talk about if you don't mind"

"Not to worry, I can respect privacy. Enjoy you stay now"

They all take the keys and go to their rooms. Some of them going together in one room like Mirajane and Lissanna while others go on separately. From there, they all relaxed and slowly faded into the realm of dreams.

Teeth.

Claws.

Wings.

Arms.

Tail.

Soulless eyes.

These images constantly flashed in Natsu's mind, as if some cruel dream weaver wanted to remind him of the terror that almost befell him and his friends. He could do nothing, they could all do nothing. Not even their master whom he looked up to and thought at in the back of his mind as somewhat invincible could do nothing.

The cruel play carried on in his mind while his body writhe in bed. Was he still there, was he still on the island, was he about to die along with his friends?

He awoke. He got his answer as he found himself gasping for every last bit of air. He was also shaking from the adrenaline rush caused from his nightmare.

He quickly grabbed his scarf and hugged it. Whenever fear was able to register in his brain, he would take the only thing that reminded him of Igneel and hug it like a teddy bear. It put his spirits at to ease.

But not today for just as he was beginning to calm down, he heard a sound. Not just any sound, but a sound that resounded in his dreams. It was THAT roar.

"What?! How?! It found us?! " and so on as a hundred other thoughts ran through his mind. Their destroyer apparently did follow them and now it would not only hurt them but all the other innocent people in the town.

"Natsu, did you hear that?" his blue feline companion asked in terror.

"Mhm, I did"

"Do you think it was real?"

They hear it again, but this time it was louder and more pronounced.

"Happy, let's wake up everyone. NOW!"

He burst from his room nut found that his friends had already awakened and were ready for battle.

"Master, did you hear it too?"

"Yes, I did"

"What do we do sister? We couldn't beat it on the island" Her little sister instinct kicked in and she turned to her elder for guidance.

"I don't know Lissana" She too was gripped by indecision and fear. Mostly fear.

"Gramps ,all these people…."

"I know Laxus"

"If something happens to them, it would be all our fault. Maybe it was better if we died on the island and spared these people" Gildarts ruminated.

"Don't say that dad! I don't want anyone to die and I don't want you to die" Canna quickly retorts. She had just got her father back, she didn't want to hear those words.

"Canna"

"Erza, what do you suppose we do" While almost everyone else was panicking, Fried was calculating his options. Laxus may have been the leader, but he was the smart one of the Raijinshu.

"What do you mean?"

"Should we hold it off and let the city evacuate or should we evacuate outright? "

"I don't think we will be able to outrun it, so our only option is to fight it again."

Another blood curdling roar was heard and it was getting louder.

"It's coming closer Charles" The Sky Dragon Slayer fell to the ground in despair. She didn't want to go through that again especially when the memory was still so fresh.

Seeing that his guild was disorganized, some panicking and some discussing, he gave a mighty shout to get their attention.

"EVERYONE!"

They all stopped what they were doing and looked to their master.

"I don't know how it found us, but we can't just sit here and do nothing. There are good and innocent people here and we can't let them pay for our mistake. We have to get them out of here no matter the cost. I don't care if they're sleeping get them to safety. Understood?!"

With a mighty benediction, they charged out of the door, and with magic ready prepared to meet their adversary head on and with honor and glory.

There was just one problem…. There was no enemy.

No impending doom, no approaching armageddon, no destruction imminent, and especially no Acnologia.

If the embarrassment from charging out of an inn in the middle of the night and the awkward stares from the night goers wasn't bad enough, they found the source of the sound.

It was not from a dragon but from the innkeeper struggling to drag a wooden bed frame across the stone floor.

…..

As the/you Yanks say *ahem* AWKWARD.

Now some of you might begin to think me a cheeky prick for leading you like that but don't fret it serves a purpose. Watch.

Insult to injury complete, they slowly retreated back inside the inn.

What? Still don't believe me? Well, you'll see for yourselves in Five, Four Three Two one aaaaannnnnnnddddd…

Silence reigned before someone chuckled. Who it was didn't matter, because a few seconds later the rest of the guild followed. True, what they did was ridiculous but it was the lunacy of their actions and the anti-climactic reveal that got to them.

And you thought I was just being a cheeky prick. HA!

"Well, I guess we did overreact a bit huh?" Lucy broke out.

"You can say that again Lucy " followed Happy.

They all agreed. Even if the reason was "legit", reactions from being wound up this tight only for it to flop in the end is still hilarious. Feeling the mood among them all lighten, they say their goodnights, fall unto their beds, and return to the grip of the lady of dreams. Only this time, as with their sleep, it was calm and soothing.

When the guild awoke, it was already high noon. The streets were bustling and everything was in high gear. They all began eating their brunch when Makarov called out to them.

"Everyone, with regards to the incident at the island. After some deliberation, I've decided that we are not to tell anyone what happened. The panic would cause chaos, both among the citizens and the Magic council. Another thing, In order to avoid the risk of being detected drawing that beast here I have also decided that we are not to use our magic until further notice. "

"What?! But Gramps we're mages. We can't just not use magic. It's in our blood!" Natsu protested.

"And that blood and more will be on our hands if that monster finds us! I can't take that risk Natsu. You have to understand"

"But , Gramps-"

"I SAID NO MAGIC UNTIL FURHTER NOTICA AND THAT'S FINAL!" Natsu knew that when Makarov started to shout, he meant it and that he should clam up.

"Now are there any more questions? "

"I have one master. What if we need to defend ourselves?" asks Erza.

"That's a good question. Though we can't use magic, I'm certain that we can fend off many things with just our fighting skills alone. Now are there any more questions?"

He heard no reply.

"Good, now finish eating up. We leave in one hour"

After some final preparations, they say their goodbyes to the innkeeper and make their way to the train station on foot.

The beginning journey was uneventful until Natsu hears something nearby..

"Natsu, what is it?" Gray asks.

Natsu just runs off towards a nearby patch of trees and sees a traveler surrounded by nasty looking bandits.

"Hey man, whatcha got in that bag?" one of them asks while brandishing his weapons.

"Guys, he looks rich. I bet he's carrying a lot of gold!" says another

"Hey, you need some meat on your bones. You look like a walking twig" mocks another.

"I could sure use some physical practice. There's a new move I saw and I'm itchin' to give it a go." Says another. The rest of the bandits continue their jeers towards the man.

The man , however, doesn't answer and just stands there. If there's one thing Natsu hates, it's those picking on someone inferior to them.

Without a second thought, he hastily jumped into the fray that was about to happen and immediately knocked a guy out with his magic.

"Wha- Who the heck are you?!" one of them ask.

"Just a guy doing the right thing"

Rather short, but as stated earlier this a filler chapter that will lead to more important events. After all, Fairy Tail has a lot of those and I'm just continuing the tradition.

I bid you adieu for now and the update should come rather early this time.

So my readers, until the next tale.