Brandish & Dimaria

A small groan escaped Brandish as she came too. Mind foggy on what happened to her, one moment she was readying to head to the port of Hargeon to board a Ship ready to take her and Dimaria back to Alvarez having no need to stay in Fiore any longer now that the war was over. Now she was suddenly awakening as if she had been asleep with no recollection of what had happened. Opening her eyes, she saw Dimaria above her, Brandish's head clearly lying on the War Maiden's thighs. A lot had happened between the two during the War against Fairy Tail and all the other Fiore guilds, something Brandish knew was troublesome but figured the friendship with Dimaria wasn't worth throwing away. In some aspects, Dimaria was her only friend... not that either had a lot of friends. The images of two former enemies passed through her mind, a particular well endowed blonde and a handsome pinkette. No, they weren't friends. Despite what Natsu may have told her, they simply held the same goal as ending the pointless fighting. Dimaria, despite their prior hostility towards one another, was her only friend, she was sure of that.

Raising her head off the blonde Spriggans lap, Brandish sat up looking around the area. She half expected them to be on a ship, after all that's what she could remember where they were headed. But that was not the case, and this was certainly not the war torn Fiore that they had invaded. No, instead they were surrounded by lush green grass, no trace of the destruction the war or Acnologia had brought in their wake. Brandish rose to her feet as Dimaria continued to sleep lightly behind her. Dimaria was never a heavy sleeper. Brandish's coat lightly blew in the breeze as she looked around the area; numerous windmills spotted the landscape along with livestock as she looked around the area. There were mountains to the East, covered by lush jungles and from what she could see the tip of a tall tower poking over the hills showing some kind of civilisation in that direction.

However, what concerned the Spriggan the most was the fact she couldn't sense any magic. Apart from her own inner magic circuits along with Dimaria's depleted magic, there was nothing else. No nearby lacrima, no Wizards about, nothing. It was if nothing around the two Spriggan housed an ounce of magic power. Tapping at her forehead with a frown as she tried to figure the situation out, she tried to recall what had happened. However, despite focusing there was nothing. She recalled hearing the celebration after Acnologia fell, it was honestly a relief that the Dragon Slayers had managed to win; Acnologia was a beast neither she nor any of the other Spriggans wished to face. The only ones capable of facing the Dragon and surviving the encounter were August, Irene and Zeref. But to think the Dragon Slayers had pulled it off... a smile came to her face, Natsu really was something else.

Shaking the image of the grinning man from her thoughts she continued to recall what had happened afterwards. Hargeon had definitely been their destination, Dimaria had been quiet after their last encounter with the Dragon Slayer the War Maiden truly traumatised by what had happened with Natsu, how he had overcome her time magic. Glancing down at the blonde, a frown marred Brandish's face; the magic restraining cuffs were nowhere in sight and Brandish had yet to remove them had hadn't planned to do so until they were out at sea.

"Mari." Brandish began, kneeling down before the blonde, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Mari, wake up." Dimaria's eyelids fluttered open revealing her brown eyes. It took a moment for the Spriggans eyes to focus before she spotted Brandish before her, a small smile coming to her face.

"Randi." She breathed out. "Good morning." She let out a small yawn however winced, her injuries still severe, her body still covered in numerous burns from the overwhelming power of E.N.D's rampage. However, as Brandish watched Dimaria look over her tattered uniform, the blonde looked up with wide eyes, the uneasiness present in them gave Brandish a horrible feeling in her gut as Dimaria came to the realisation of something. "R-Randi." Dimaria breathed out, her voice shaky as her form began to tremble. "L-Lord Chronos... he... he..." She uttered, tears running down her face before she lurched forward grabbing Brandish hugging the green haired Spriggan. Brandish frowned as Dimaria cried on her shoulder, she knew of Dimaria's estranged relationship with the God of Time, but she didn't know the particulars.

"Mari, where are we?" Brandish questioned, figuring the blonde Spriggan might know of their situation a bit more considering the position that she awoke in. However when Brandish asked, Dimaria stiffened considerably causing Brandish to frown. Dimaria raised her head up, tears continuing to run down her face as she stared at Brandish.

"Lord Chronos." Dimaria whispered softly, lowering her gaze. "He saw fit to banish me from Earthland for my failure at the hands of the God Slayer." Brandish's eyes widened, she hadn't even known something like that could happen. "I... I couldn't bare leaving things as they were between us Randi." She continued, raising her eyes to meet Brandish's own. The moment their eyes locked, the guilt she saw in Dimaria's eyes. She knew instantly why she had such a gut feeling.

"You brought me with you." Brandish stated completely stunned, falling back onto her haunches on the grass eyes wide. No wonder she couldn't feel a presence of magic around her. This was no longer Earthland, the Spriggan were privy to the information that was gathered about the parallel universe that was Edolas, however from the reports she had read through this was not that parallel universe simply by the fact of her magic power. After Edolas was revealed to Alvarez, August performed extensive research on it when Brandish had been younger; he told her much about Edolas. This was somewhere completely knew, somewhere only the Gods could place them.

Dimaria's pleas of forgiveness fell on deaf ears as Brandish sat stunned. To suddenly be placed away from everything you knew, how was she supposed to react to this? She had been determined to return to Alvarez, help the remaining Spriggan put the Empire she had grown up in, dedicated her life to serving, back on the right track no longer being the puppets of an Emperor who truly cared nothing for his people. How was she supposed to do that now? She had finally confronted her life's biggest goal in meeting Lucy Heartfilia, yes the results had not been what she had imagined but she believed her mother would be proud of how the situation unfolded. Dimaria had her head down as she apologised repeatedly through sobs, Brandish finally snapping out of her dazed state of mind.

"Why? Why me Dimaria?" Brandish questioned.

"You're the only thing I have left." Dimaria told her honestly, not in the way that she thought of Brandish as a possession, no after her own imprisonment after her defeat by the God Slayer, she had come to realise just how much Brandish's friendship meant to her. It was why she felt so betrayed when she saw Brandish casually conversing with the enemy as if she had betrayed them. Why she felt as if she had nothing left in the world. Until she had been brutally beaten by E.N.D and had witnessed Brandish still alive did she realise how much Brandish truly meant to her. "Lord Chronos has abandoned me. I'm no longer fit to be called a Spriggan." She attempted to wipe her eyes; however more tears just continued to fall as she looked up at Brandish with such sorrow. "I couldn't bear being alone in this world!" She wailed.

Brandish could see how broken Dimaria was over this, how much pain she was in. It didn't change their situation and blaming Dimaria for it wouldn't change it either. She also relied on Dimaria. If the roles were reversed, Brandish probably would have done the same thing. Standing on her feet, her coat flowing behind her in the wind as she looked down at Dimaria who looked up through the tear filled eyes. Brandish offered her hand, a look of relief passed over Dimaria's face as she took the offered hand and was pulled up to her feet.

"You look terrible." Brandish uttered causing Dimaria to laugh as she tried to wipe the tears from her face only to feel Brandish grip the loose fabric over the side of her stomach that had been thoroughly burnt off to reveal her skin beneath it, only for Brandish to tear of a small slither of fabric. Dimaria watched Brandish for a minute, confused to why she had done such, however once she saw the fabric in Brandish's hands turn to the size of a blanket she understood as Brandish wrapped the once small piece of fabric around her shoulders and pulled it in close. "You'll also need a doctor, neither of us has healing magic and those injuries need to be treated." While Brandish could indeed shrink her injuries that wouldn't solve the more grievous internal injuries she had endured.

"Yeah." Dimaria nodded softly, fully aware of the injuries she had sustained. That pink haired woman, Porlyusica, had healed the life threatening wounds, but she still wasn't fighting fit. "Brandish... thank you." She whispered softly. Brandish didn't say anything as she turned, scanning the landscape. She didn't truly feel like trekking through the jungle to that tall tower she had seen. Raising a hand to her brow she searched the open grasslands that were spotted with mind mills around before she spotted it, a small town on the water's edge not that far in the distance, it wouldn't take that long to get to it either.

"A fishing village?" Brandish mused aloud to herself. "Come on." Dimaria nodded as she followed Brandish down the hill to where they came to a dirt track that led straight to the village. Immediately upon entering the town both Spriggan were the instant topic of the town. Not just because they were new arrivals either, it was definitely their state of dress that brought the attention of the town's people.

"Randi, we need information and I doubt we have this world's currency to ask for a doctor." Dimaria spoke calmly.

"Right." Brandish nodded, heading to the only place that looked to be some kind of establishment. Partys Bar. Heading straight for the building, most of the villagers intimated by the sudden determination that crossed the woman's face as Dimaria followed after her keeping a careful watch on the people around her as they entered the bar which was empty, except for one person.

"Hello, I'll be with you in a moment." A woman called, having heard the two enter as she came from inside the back with a welcoming smile on her face, and surprising the two she didn't bat an eyelash at either of the two. "Hello, you must be new to Foosha Village." She suggested.

"We are." Brandish nodded walking forward, her heels tapping on the floorboards as she walked, Dimaria looked around before taking a seat at the bar feeling drained having not had the time to regain her strength. "We're looking for information." She suggested. "I don't have any money but if there is anything you can tell us..." She trailed off however the woman seemed more concerned with Dimaria. Frowning, Brandish turned to Dimaria only to see her breathing heavily causing Brandish's eyes to widen. "Mari!" Dimaria fell from her chair onto a heap into the ground as Brandish rushed to her side.

"S-Sorry, Randi." Dimaria breathed out, clutching at her burns beneath the enlarged cloth she was using as a coat. Brandish quickly removed it only to see that what Porlyusica had healed had reopened, blood staining Dimaria's stomach. The woman quickly rushed out the door causing Brandish to grit her teeth, eyes fixed in a glare.

"I need to find a doctor!" Grabbing Dimaria, the blonde limp in her arms as she rushed out the door, however Brandish's eyes shot wide open to see the woman behind the bar already returning with what looked to be a doctor. Brandish fell to her knees feeling unsteady as the doctor quickly began to look Dimaria over after Brandish laid her down, eyes wide and frantic as she watched the doctor call for two men to help him move her to his clinic. Brandish tried to follow however the woman stopped her.

"There's nothing you can do for your friend right now, please let the doctor do his work." She urged as Brandish stared down at her, she could see that the woman was just trying to help. With a slight nod, Brandish stood down her shoulders relaxing to the point that they began to tremble. Dimaria was so intent not to be alone in this world, she had almost let Brandish fall into the same thing Dimaria feared. "Hey, she'll be okay. Mari that is." The woman smiled. "Come on inside, I'll cook you up a meal. Free of charge." She smiled. "I'll even see if I can get you that information you're after."

"T-Thank you." Brandish breathed out in disbelief, this woman had no need to help her, why was she going so far.

"I'm Makino."

"Brandish μ." Brandish introduced herself as Makino led her into Partys Bar.

Chelia

"Hey." A voice called out, causing the God Slayer to slowly regain her senses, her mouth dry as she took in a deep breath. "You alive over there?" It seemed to be getting closer and as consciousness started to return she came to realise she was wet... not only that, water kept running over her. "Oi, if you're alive and ignoring me I'll kill you!" A groan escaped her lips as another wave, this time slightly larger than what she had been accustomed to hit her causing her to let out a slight 'eep' of surprise as she quickly sat up abruptly, startling the one who had been approaching. Chelia looked around with wide eyes as another wave ran over the sand she was sitting on; her clothing was completely soaked clinging to her as she sat in shallow water. Looking around, the ocean lay before her as she sat on a beach. Turning her attention to the beach behind her she spotted something strange.

Not far from where she was seated in the water, was a formation of rocks. What was strange was the obvious orange tri-hat poking from behind it while not the whole hat just a part of it, revealing to her that a person was obviously hiding there. She summarised that the person had been the one to call out to her, but by the appearance it looked to be that of a small child?

"H-Hello?" Chelia called out as she turned onto her knees and pushed herself up to her feet, water dripping from her clothes, having changed from the ruined jacket that had once been Wendy's, its fabric had torn when her body had grown from Third Origin, not to mention the damage it took from her fight with the member of the Spriggan Twelve. She now wore a simple blue spaghetti strapped top with her white skirt. When Chelia witnessed the hat move to reveal a small face. It barely took a moment before she had to hold back a laugh, there was a clown. A tiny clown!

"Damn it! What are you laughing at?!" The disproportioned clown shouted jumping from behind the rock he was hiding behind, this only made Chelia unable to hold back her laughter. His stature was just too hilarious, along with his super serious expression. Full blown laughter bellowed from her lips causing her to miss the marks that clearly labelled the midget clown as a pirate. The echo of laughter only infuriated the pirate that much more. "Why you!" He shouted running forward; however the moment he saw the wave growing behind the laughing girl, it was too late. Even already in his current state, his power had one grave weakness. Sea Water. The wave washed over the unsuspecting God Slayer and in turn crashed down onto the clown pirate.

Chelia gasped as she jumped to her feet, the unsuspecting wave having crashed down on her caused her face to slam into the sand, the wave was already pulling the current back towards the ocean. With a red nose she stumbled out of the water and onto the safety of dry land. However as she looked around, there was no sign of the tiny clown.

"Gah! Help! Can't swim!" Chelia quickly turned to the water only to see that he clown had been dragged out by the sea and was struggling to keep his head above water. Without hesitation Chelia turned for the water and ran into the surf, keeping her eyes on the tiny clown she watched with wide eyes as he went under.

"Hang on!" Chelia cried diving beneath the waves, her eyes stung as he opened them beneath the sea water but she caught sight of a shadow and swum desperately towards it. Grabbing the clown with one arm she used her other to swim back to the surface. With a gasp she broke through the surface and began to swim back to land with the aid of the waves she managed to make it quickly. The clown pirate seemed to be breathing fine and he looked up at the sky with a seeming angry determination, as it he had been through much and wasn't about to give up. "I'm sorry for laughing at you." Chelia smiled gently.

"Well you should be." The pirate huffed, forcing himself up before looking away, scratching at his cheek. "Thank you, for pulling me out of the water." He muttered softly, barely enough for Chelia to hear causing her to smile broadly at him, and as if a force of habit, something she had never really thought much of as her time as a Wizard, wind swirled around her causing the small pirate to look back at her with wide eyes as her clothes were dry in an instant by the strong winds growing around her. By the time she was finished; even Chelia's eyes were wide at what she herself had just done. After all... she wasn't supposed to have magic any longer, only having activated her magic by habit having had it for so long. "W-W-What was that just now!? What did you do!?" The pirate shouted at her as he backed away nervously. If he had to fight his saviour he would.

"M-Magic... it was magic!" She exclaimed happily looking down at her hands, for the first time since awakening she felt the flow of her magic circuits. Unlike when she had come down from the enhancement of Third Origin, she could feel magic once again. Tears welled up in her eyes; she had thought she had lost the ability to use magic that was what Ultear had warned both Wendy and Chelia about. "It's not remnants of magic either; I can feel the magic replenishing itself with each breath." Tears ran down her face, having believed she had no chance of using magic once more she let out a wail as she fell to her knees surprising the pirate. He was unsure of what to make of the sudden situation, but magic? Surely it was a jest, but she had been swimming and had rescued him from drowning so it wasn't a Devil Fruit.

"Just what kind of power does she possess?" He thought, the clown pirate known as Buggy the Clown was known far and wide, as far as he was concerned. Seen untold powers all over the Grand Line when he had been a part of Gol D. Roger's crew and then once he had become Captain of his own crew before sailing to the East Blue. But never had he heard someone actually believe in magic of all things. Magic was illogical, a fantasy. Some believed Devil Fruits to be magic, but that couldn't be true. She was young surely, but old enough to know magic wasn't real, right? Not to mention her strange circumstance of being unconscious on the beach like she had been. Putting the whole magic and strange power aside for the moment, Buggy stepped forward to the wailing girl. This only brought up the question of how he was supposed to deal with the crying. Clicking his teeth in annoyance, however the sudden act of his teeth clicking brought her attention to him once more. Wiping at her eyes to remove the tears she looked at Buggy only to tilt her head slightly, her pig tails hanging at the movement.

"Why don't you have a torso?" Chelia questioned, having come to the circumstance that there was definitely odd about his stature and upon pulling him from the water she had discovered that only his arms and legs along with his head was in place, which in a sense should be impossible. However she had come to learn that the things right before her eyes could be explained.

"Don't ask such personal questions!" Buggy shouted at her, clearly agitated at having to remember his defeat. "How would you like it if I suddenly asked why you were crying, huh!? Not very sensitive now is it?" He huffed, crossing his arms and turning away from her. Chelia giggled slightly but nodded her head.

"I'm sorry, here as a sign of apology." She smiled, raising her hands up Buggy's eyes widening as the wind began to pick up before turning black in her outstretched palm. With a simple blow from her mouth the small swirl of black wind raced across to him, he fully expected it to blow him off his feet however just like it had done her; it dried his clothing removing the stamina draining seawater from him. He immediately felt better now that he was no longer soaked. Buggy looked at her with a quizzical eye; there was no denying she had power. "I'm Chelia Blendy, it's nice to meet you Mr Clown." She smiled at him.

"It's Captain." He huffed. "I'm Captain Buggy of the Buggy Pirates, don't you forget it!" He declared with pride.

"Aye Aye, Captain!" She gave a salute with a grin. "Um, you wouldn't happen to know where we might be?" She questioned.

"On a deserted island in the East Blue, not far from Orange Town... that rubber idiot couldn't have flung me that far." He muttered that last part silently to himself. "Curse you rubber boy, I'll get you one day!" He declared mentally.

"Um." Chelia began once more. "Is that uh, maybe near Fiore?" She asked hopefully. She didn't understand how she had come to be on the beach, with her magic back in her possession. However one thing was for sure, she felt strange, not a bad strange but a feeling as if someone had cast her off with good wishes. While she was uncertain about her circumstances, she knew the feeling of a God's power, especially the goddess Boreas. Chelia knew that somehow Boreas was the reason she had her power back and possibly the reason as to why she had suddenly awoken on an uncharted island of all places. The last thing she remembered before awakening was being with everyone holding hands she had been holding hands with Carla and Lyon as they tried to seal Acnologia away with the use of Fairy Sphere. She knew that the Dragon had been defeated but after that, nothing.

"Fiore?" Buggy questioned as the God Slayer looked at her with hopeful eyes. "Never heard of it, now I'm setting out to achieve my vengeance!" He declared marching off down the beach only for Chelia to spot a roughly built raft. Had the small clown built it on his own? Wait, vengeance? Who was he after!?

"Wait!" Chelia called, getting to her feet and running after the short clown, it didn't take more than a dozen strides from her longer legs to catch up to his shorter leg span and she skid into the sand in front of him. "Please, I need your help." With another 'tch' Buggy glared up at her, this girl keeping him from setting sail was beginning to be a pain. He should have just left her to be dragged out to the ocean.

"I have somewhere to be!" Buggy shouted. "I don't need a tag along! You'll only pull me down!"

"I promise I won't! Please, just take me to a port and I'll find my way from there!" Chelia pleaded getting a groan from Buggy in response as he held a hand to his face, he didn't need this. He'd already dealt with enough ever since he had been thrown from Orange Town. The moment he found Straw Hat, he'd damn well make the idiot pay for what he had done to him and his crew! About to declare that she couldn't come she stopped him. "I did save your life."

"Gah!" Buggy shouted as if being shot. "Fine." He muttered. "Just... just until we reach the next port! Then you're on your own!"

"Yay! Thank you!" Chelia jumped up and down happily before she turned and ran for the small raft. "I'll help you pull the raft to the water!" Buggy groaned as he watched her run along the sand only to sweat drop as she let out a loud 'eep' only to fall flat on her face having tripped on the sand.

"This is going to be more trouble than it's worth." Buggy groaned as he made his way for his raft, passing the sheepish Chelia as he did so.

Sting

"NATSU!" The roar escaped his lips before he knew what was happening; the after remnants of his last thoughts of what had transpired before having fallen unconscious. He had shot up in the bed he was in. Pain flooded his entire body and he was forced to hunch over holding his shoulder that had once been pierced with the large cross of the strange blonde headed Spriggan guy, his injuries not fully healed from dealing with the Spriggan that claimed to be Zeref's son. However as he rolled over onto his side clutching at his shoulder he found bandages beneath his hand. With great effort he sat up, making sure to be careful not to over exert him or aggravate his injuries he looked over his form, the majority of his injuries had been bandaged and treated.

It was odd, if he had been treated than his injuries would have been healed by now, sure his stamina was another thing entirely but the use of healing magic that the guilds possessed, why weren't his injuries healed to the extent that they should be. Raising his head, to search his surroundings a frown marred his face as he took in both the unfamiliar surroundings and scents.

The room wasn't what he was use to, very plan by what he saw. Nothing of interest in particular, not a single recognisable scent in the air, nothing was recognisable which put the Dragon Slayer on edge. With a groan he raised his hand up to his head, the last thing he remembered was being in the dimension that Acnologia had dragged them too, fighting the beast of the Apocalypse had been the hardest fight any of them had to do, but Natsu had done it. With all of their power, Natsu had thrown the final punch and ended the King of the Dragons. It should have all been over, but it wasn't. That was clear when the dimension had started to collapse in on itself. All the Dragon Slayers had witnessed it, he wasn't exactly sure what he had witnessed but something had dragged Natsu away from the exit to Earthland. They figured it was Acnologia, but the ancient Dragon Slayer had already passed on. It was something else that had dragged Natsu into the depths of time itself. The only ones that might be a possibility of causing such were the Gods.

As Sting's memory began to clear, he came to the realisation that Natsu hadn't been the only one trapped in the rift between reality and time. No, after Natsu had been dragged away by what Sting assumed to be a God, or several, the opening to Earthland shut before any of the Dragon Slayers could escape. They had also been dragged into whatever it was that grabbed Natsu. But that was all Sting could remember before awakening here, in this room. His hearing suddenly picked up rushed footsteps, before the door slammed open the woman that emerged from outside had a frantic look on her face, it was clear to Sting that she had picked up his earlier shout and was coming to investigate.

The woman looked to be fairly young with dark brown eyes behind rectangular glasses with a red frame and wore her black hair between chin- and shoulder-length. She was wearing a yellow shirt with a pink floral design with a white-trimmed, waist-length blue leather coat over it. She wore a pair of blue jeans with black shoes. However the moment she barged in front of the door, her feet seemed to get caught among themselves in her hurried state and straight down she went causing Sting to wince, no matter who you were, that had to be both painful and embarrassing.

"Ow." The woman mumbled as her glasses fell from her face.

"Are you okay?" Sting questioned, he wasn't exactly in a position to get out of the bed and help her at the moment.

"Yeah." She said picking her glasses back up and sitting them atop her head as she rose up to her feet. "I'm Master Chief Petty Officer, Tashigi." The woman introduced herself. "I heard you shouting, are you alright?" She questioned, walking over to a chair that was by his bedside. Sting watched her for a few moments as she took a seat before nodding.

"Yeah." He nodded. "Where am I?"

"You're in the Marine Base infirmary." Tashigi told him. "A few Marines saw you down at the docks, you were washed ashore it seems." She explained to him, Sting only frowned slightly as the woman continued. "Do you remember your name?"

"Sting Eucliffe." Sting told her, seeing no point in hiding his name after she herself had introduced herself, title and all. "Don't worry; it doesn't seem to be any permanent damage." He told her getting a happy smile in return. It was clear to the Dragon Slayer that she was worried about such things when she asked him if he remembered his name and figured it'd be best to erase the thought. Sting fell quiet for a few minutes, it was clear that these Marines were obviously a force of authority from what he understood. They wouldn't bring him back with the intent to treat him be they criminals or anything of the sought. But this might be to his advantage, if they were willing to help him they might be able to offer aid in searching for Natsu and the other Dragon Slayers. Who knew where they were or how they had gotten here, the first thing was that they had to get back together. Then they could figure out how to get back to Earthland. If that was even possible.

"Do you recall what happened before you awoke here?" The woman asked, her tone shifting to an official one. "Were you attacked, your injuries were quite severe and some of the Doctors thought that they might lose you a few times." She explained. "Any detail that you share, it will help in the investigation that we'll conduct." Sting frowned slightly at that, he couldn't exactly go into detail about what had happened to him.

"It's really nothing; my injuries were my own carelessness." He explained surprising the officer, he couldn't spin a story that he was suddenly attacked, this woman really seemed like she would try and find the culprit and he wasn't about to let that happen, it would be a waste of her time. Also, even trying to explain the truth to her would probably throw him in an asylum of some sought, plus a little white lie wasn't going to harm anyone. He wasn't ignorant to the fact he wasn't in Earthland any longer, he doubted whatever had acted within the Ravines of Time to stop them from returning to Earthland wouldn't simply be satisfied by placing them around Earthland and call it a day; no it was clear this was no longer Earthland. "But, I am searching for someone." This perked the young woman's interest as she produced a pen and a small notebook.

"Can you give me a description?" She questioned getting a nod from the Dragon Slayer as he gave the woman his description; it wasn't hard to forget Natsu Dragneel after all. "I'll give this to every patrol and if he's in Loguetown, we'll find your friend." She explained with a smile getting a nod from Sting who let out a sigh of relief, at least he would have help in his search if he wasn't in this Loguetown then he would eventually have to venture elsewhere and to do that there was one more thing he would need to get to start his search.

"Would you happen to know where I can get some freelance work?" He questioned, this obviously surprised Tashigi by the look on her face. "I'm out of money you see and to search for my friend, I'll at least need that." Sting told her.

"I see, I see." She hummed in thought as she tapped her chin with her pen. Her eyes went over his form, he didn't seem to be hindered by his injuries too much and he was healing well he'd be up before long. While it might take a few more days before he was up on his feet there was a clear sign about him that he was a capable fighter, despite his injuries. While Marines didn't usually hire them, especially in Loguetown because of Captain's Smoker influence they weren't in high demand but there were several pirates out on the seas that were rather dangerous. With the term freelance, it was clear he wasn't looking to settle down in Loguetown and was intent on moving on if this Natsu Dragneel person wasn't present in town.

"You can always try the Bounty Hunter office for bounties." Tashigi started. "Pirates don't tend to come to Loguetown, or at least not openly because of Captain Smoker. But the bounty office here deals with all the bounty hunters in the area, so if you're looking for a large amount of money and have the skill to go after bounties. I would suggest it. There are plenty of bounties in the East Blue to go after."

"A Bounty Hunter, huh." He mused quietly to himself. "Shouldn't be much more different from Guild Work if that's the case, it's not uncommon for the Magic Council to sign arrest orders to strong guilds."Sting added mentally, he was definitely capable of bringing in a few pirate bounties... well maybe if they came on land first. Maybe there would be other bounties, like bandits or something that way he wouldn't have to get on a boat anytime soon. But if he really had to get on a boat to make some money, he would force himself to push through.

"But you'll need to be on your feet and fighting fit before you accept any bounties." Tashigi assured him as she rose from her chair. "I'll have the doctor come and have a look at you, check to see how you're healing." She continued with a smile. "It was nice to meet you Sting."

"Likewise, and thanks for all your help." Sting smiled at her getting a nod from Tashigi as she left the room leaving Sting in silence once more. He laid in bed for a time, looking out the window seeing a few seagulls flying by. He knew it wouldn't be any kind of situation he had ever been in before, but he wasn't going to let his situation bring him down. He had to believe he had been cast away to the same placed the other Dragon Slayers had been, he'd need to find all of them and once he did then he'd feel more at ease. Natsu, Rogue, Gajeel, Wendy, Laxus, Erik. He truly believed all of them were here. All he had to do was find them. They had to get back to Earthland, that's where they belonged; their families would be waiting for them. But they didn't have to rush, Acnologia was defeated and they were out of harm's way. Right now, it wasn't a pressing issue to get back as soon as possible; it wouldn't be a short search either. Any one of the other six could be all over the world, this was just the start of his journey no way was it going to be a short one.

"We'll all make it home together." He breathed out with a grin, he knew the Minerva and Yukino along with all the other members of Sabertooth will look out for the rest of the guild until he and Rouge returned. "Until then, we'll be fighting our way back if we have too."

Natsu

"I knew I could sense the presence of a new King." A voice breathed out causing Natsu to shift uncomfortably at the tone of voice amidst the darkness; he felt a presence unlike any other although the power felt familiar in some way he just couldn't place it. The darkness was completely wrapped around him and completely drenched in the unknown power. "You refused the title of King from Acnologia; it's because of you we're in this situation."

"Screw you!" Natsu snarled only getting an echoing chuckle in return, definitely feminine in tone.

"I by no means hold a grudge, given my prior predicament, my King." The voice spoke once more, a hint of amusement in her voice at his quick temper. A shiver ran down Natsu's spine, he didn't know why but the woman's voice was unnerving him. The way she called him King, he didn't like it. "In fact, I'm grateful." Natsu was still unable to pick up where the voice was coming from.

"Who are you!?" Natsu shouted into the darkness.

"You're just like Zeref described." The woman chuckled lightheartedly.

"You know Zeref!?" Natsu shouted out once more, his eyes focusing on the darkness expecting an attack any second however none came.

"I was a member of the Spriggan Twelve." She stated. "Irene Belserion." Natsu blinked once, then twice as the darkness filled with silence.

"Who?" Her laughter reached him once more as Natsu scowled in annoyance as he looked around the darkness. "Gah! Show yourself already!" He roared, frustrated at not having the person in front of him to argue with, if he was just hearing voices in his head again he was going to go insane, he was sure of it.

"I currently don't have the power to physically manifest in your mind." Irene spoke gently. "It seems I have yet to fully recover my magic power, it's taking what I currently have to talk with you now. From what I can gather, I'm currently in a deep state of unconsciousness and am communicating with you through telepathy. Something easy to do when you're communicating with another Dragon Slayer, for someone of my power that is." Natsu clicked his teeth in annoyance at the condescending tone she was using, he knew the Twelve Spriggan were strong, she didn't need to rub it in, not when he had defeated several of the Spriggan on his own. "I feel that when I've gathered enough strength, I'll awaken in time."

"Just what do you want?" Natsu growled, not fully trusting of this voice inside his head, last time he had been inside his mind and communicating with someone he had been on the cusp of death.

"A warning to you, my King." Her tone grew more serious. "Even now, I can still sense it inside of you. You somehow forced back its growth during the battles in Earthland, but know full well that the Demon Seed and Dragon Seed are still fighting for dominance within your body, and eventually this will come to affect you once more."

Natsu's face became serious, deep down, Natsu knew that the choice he had made hadn't changed the fact that deep down inside of him, even if they had both shrunk, the Demon Seed and Dragon Seed were still there and in time they would grow back to the same power that had almost consumed him. If not, he would neither be alive nor would he be able to use Dragon Slayer magic. Even he who was notorious for not being that smart could figure it out on his own. This woman stating the same only confirmed that fact now.

"But I have a solution, to help you adjust to the power, to allow the Demon Seed and the Dragon Seed to merge completely without taking your life from you." Natsu's eyes shot wide open as he searched the darkness, in hopes of finding the woman.

"How!?" He shouted.

"Find me, and I'll help you." Natsu clicked his teeth in annoyance. "I'll be waiting, my King."

Natsu awoke through the fogginess of his mind. Aware of what he had experienced was no dream. He had, had the same feeling when he had awoken after the Demon Seed and Dragon Seed had tried to merge once before when he had the visions of Zeref who had told him about his parents who he never truly knew. Sting who had told him about his bond with the other Dragon Slayers before he truly knew them after X777. Rouge who kindled his memories of Anna. Wendy who gave Natsu the information on the woman, Irene Belserion who was the very first Dragon Slayer. Gajeel who guided him along with Wendy to Igneel who informed him of the Demon Seed and Dragon Seed.

Yes, in fact Natsu had heard the name Irene before, he had heard mention of her name across the battlefield during Alvarez's invasion but hadn't seen her. He had no idea what kind of woman she was or what kind of Wizard, but he did know she was a Dragon Slayer. This only made things more confusing for the pink haired Wizard. Sure he didn't expect the other six he knew to be the only Dragon Slayers. But she seemed to know an awful lot about their current situation, despite not having told him anything.

"Just what the hell am I supposed to do, find this woman?" Natsu clicked his teeth as he stared up at the ceiling, swaying gently in the hammock that he had been given to sleep in. "Just how did she get here, I was the only one pulled away from the others right? She wasn't even in that weird place with Acnologia." He spoke aloud to himself raising his hands to fold them behind his head. "She said something about being unconscious somewhere, not much help when trying to find her." He muttered under his breath. "Gah, just why does some lady have the answer to fix whatever the hell is wrong with me!?"

~BOOM~

Natsu sat upright in the hammock, blinking in confusion at the sudden sound of cannon fire and with the way that the ship didn't move by the cannon fire, it was clear that the canon fire hadn't been fired from this ship. Leaping from the bed, feet slipping into his sandals he ran for the stairs. Breaking out onto the deck only to witness Luffy stretched over the ship and out over the ocean cannon ball in his gut.

However as Natsu was witnessing this, trying to come to terms with the fact that Luffy's body was currently defying any law of physics concerning the human body, the force that the cannon ball had been shot at, along with being at such a close proximity, it looked to be that Luffy hadn't been expecting the strength behind the shot and his grip on the figurehead broke a piece off the ear of the goat and he was sent swinging to his right, re-aiming the trajectory of where he was going to shoot the cannonball. Right at the sea restaurant that was their destination. The cannonball launched forward over the bow straight for the restaurant as Luffy impacted the back of the figurehead.

Natsu watched the cannonball blow a sizable hole in the restaurant causing cries from this aboard. Looking to his side he saw a massive ship considering the size of the one he was one was much smaller. Large letters ran up the side M.A.R.I.N.E. Natsu had no idea where to start on this situation, Nami seemed completely fed up with it all and he felt that Zoro and Usopp were more amused than anything else. Johnny and Yosaku, the two bounty hunters that had come aboard soon after Natsu had come flying out of the sky, were just as puzzled as Natsu was to the current situation.

Natsu unsure what to do about the current situation saw Nami holding onto a slip of paper and went to investigate.

"Hey, what's that?" Natsu asked walking up causing Nami to jump slightly scrunching up the piece of paper and hiding it behind her back, Natsu tilted his head slightly unsure of the reaction he had just got.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it." Nami told him with a forced smile before gaining a serious look on her face. "Now, have you decided what you're going to do, you still owe me money for saving your life."

"Eh!? Who charges someone for that!?" Natsu shouted stunned.

"I'm not a charity! You also owe me for cooking the meals you ate! Luffy said you had no money so you better think of a way!" The Dragon Slayer was completely speechless as Nami grinned evilly at him. "Your bill is getting pretty high there, but hurry it up or it'll only get higher." She laughed walking away.

"Damn it! I'm completely broke already!" Natsu cried, the echoing laughter of Nami could be heard over his wails.

"Big Bro Natsu!"

"Eh." Natsu turned to the two bounty hunters who had been listening to the exchange between the two.

"Since Big Bro Zoro is no longer a part of our bounty hunting trio, we have an open spot, how about it?" Yosaku asked.

"Yeah, Big Bro Zoro said you're not a pirate and not a part of Big Bro Luffy's crew, something about you just fell out of the sky." Johnny added. "Plus, with you owing Nami so much money, joining up with us should be your next step!" Johnny grinned at him while Yosaku nodded. Natsu had thought about it since the two had come aboard, the prospect of bounty hunting, taking down pirates shouldn't be too hard right? Especially now that he wasn't getting motion sickness on boats and all. It would even be better if he got paid for it? Especially now that he wasn't getting motion sickness on boats and all. But were these two really all that competent? They didn't look it.

"I'll think about it." Natsu told them.

"Alright! We know you'll make the right choice Big Bro Natsu!" Both cheered.

"Hey! Where are you taking Luffy!" Usopp shouted causing the three to turn to see several chefs now aboard.

"We're taking him to see the head chef, he caused this damage so the Head Chef will give him the bill and if he's flat broke, he'll have to work the damages off." One of the chefs informed them as they dragged Luffy from the Going Merry. It seemed after all the commotion it didn't take long for the restaurant to send a couple of chefs to collect the one responsible. While Nami was ready to blame it on the Marines, Luffy idiotically told him that he had sent the cannon ball flying resulting in the Chefs taking him to talk with the head chef of the Baratie.