Authors note

Heyy, just wanted to say that I apologize if the story sucks on a grammatical and syntax level since I've never actually written stories before. I'm just a visitor of this website who was saddened by the lack of stories in my particular field of interest. Also, I forgot to say the characters and settings aren't mine and I'm in no way or shape trying to plagiarize. They belong to their respectful owners.

Now that the warning is over, lets dive back into it shall we?

Chapter 2 – A well deserved celebration

It was nighttime when Natsu woke up. He woke up in what seemed to be an infirmary with a powerful head pounding and aching body.

"How the hell did I get here..?" He looked around the room in search of anything that could help him place himself in time again. He spotted a few of his close friends all asleep in different beds. "Ohhh yeah now I remember." They had all been fighting dragons only twenty-four hours ago and had managed to close the god damn gate.

He didn't care if the games had been interrupted, they won those games fair and square.

His mind recalled everything that had happened, the gate opening, an evil Rogue trying to destroy the world, a dead future Lucy, the dragon invasion, Atlas Flame, everything.

"Man, we sure are lucky to still be alive, it was cool and all fighting, but I never ever want to be in such danger ever again." He spotted Happy sleeping peacefully with a head bandage on a large pillow on the desk next him. The little guy had been through a lot, he really had the best companion in the world no matter how annoying he thought he could be at times.

His eyes scanned each of his friends. They all had bandages at different spots on their bodies. Gray had bandages wrapped around his head and torso, curtesy of a huge gash that had been made by a dragon. Lucy was strangely intact, only a few scrapes here and there with a huge bruise on her arm. Laxus was in bad shape. His entire torso was covered in bandages, some of them would be in need of changing. If it hadn't been for Wendy, his entire body would have been wrapped up. Speaking of her, she was currently lying on a mattress on the floor. The poor girl must have been exhausted from all the healing she had given.

His eyes moved to Mira, she was in an even worse state then Laxus before she was treated urgently by Wendy, now she only had a stomach bandage and a severe bruise on her left thigh. He continued to look at his friends and assume the damage done, he couldn't believe how weak he still was. He was a dragon slayer by all gods! He should have been able to get rid of them easy, once they were at the guild he was definitely going on a training journey. He kept surveying the room and noticed something out of the ordinary.

"Where's Erza?" he looked and looked but he couldn't find her. He opted for his nose and sure enough, her scent wasn't in the room. He got up despite his pain and started walking slowly at first but eventually resumed to normal walking speed. He carefully made his way to the door without making noise. He exited without any sound, which was an unbelievable feat considering who he was.

Upon entering the well-lit corridor, he found himself following her sent. He passed by all the other guild's room and reached the end of the corridor. The white walls reflected the light from the bulbs so intensely it gave him a slight headache.

"Damned heightened senses..." he whispered to himself. He reached the doors of the building and exited the temporary hospital. Apparently while he was still out cold, they managed to find an undestroyed large building and transform it into a hospital.

"Jeez how long have I been out?" he asked himself out loud. It couldn't have been more then a day for sure… Yet again, he would find answers to those questions later, right now, he wants to find Erza. He just needed to make sure she was safe... nothing more!

At least, that's what he told himself. But to anyone else in the guild it painfully obvious what was really going on with the dragon slayer. Ever since the tower of heaven episode, he just never really acted the same to towards her. He would often find himself thinking about her, and it was especially painful when Mira caught him staring at her for a bit too long. She would go on and on about how cute they would look together and would constantly tease the dragon slayer about it.

Apparently, everyone was aware of it except for the two of them. How surprising.

It was incredibly light outside because of the full moon. He noticed for the first time the extent of the damage caused by the war. The entire city was a pile of rubble and desolation, the streets were covered in debris from the surrounding destroyed buildings, stores and houses. He could see the cathedral and castle had taken quite the beating as well but weren't as wrecked as the rest of the town.

Crocus was going to have to pull a miracle on this one.

The people seemed to have taken refuge in either the castle, cathedral or neighboring city since he couldn't see anyone living in any of the destroyed houses.

"Heh, looks like we lost the title of "most destructive" now did we?" Natsu stretched his arms and yawned. He had bandages that covered both his arms and a patch on his right cheek bone.

"Jeez I really do heal fast." He continued his way to find Erza. Her scent was getting stronger and stronger which meant she mustn't be that far. He was taken to the back of the makeshift hospital where he saw a ladder. He climbed to the top and finally found the person he was subconsciously desperately looking for.

Sitting on the edge of the roof, Erza was quietly looking at the moon, deep in thought. Her long scarlet hair was gently wavering in the soft breeze of the night. The light of the moon was giving her skin a divine impression and reflected directly off her chocolate brown eyes. She was wearing her regular white blouse and skirt and let her legs dangle off the edge. However, her battles were hard and her body showed it. She had her entire left arm wrapped up till the fingertips, dozens of cuts on her arms, legs, face and back. Natsu felt his anger and shame rise. His anger because someone or something dared harm her, and shame because he wasn't there to help her.

"I really do need this training damn.." he thought.

Erza was currently deep in thought about just about everything. The events that had occurred during the games had been on her mind and she just needed some time to calm down from what could have been the end of the world.

"Hey there" She jumped at the voice but quickly recognized it, she turned around to fin a more then friendly face.

"Natsu! Don't scare me like that!" Natsu grinned "Well I'm sorry, I thought you would have been able to figure out my presence the second I touched that ladder."

Her face slowly softened and even cracked a small smile, "well we don't all have dragon senses you idiot." She went back to looking at the moon.

"Hey you mind if I sit with you? I just woke up and I have too much energy to go back to bed."

"Sure." He sat down next to her, contemplating her features. She looked deep in thought and what she was thinking about must be aggravating her.

"Heh, it really was a close one." Said Natsu.

"A bit too much for my taste, but yet again, when isn't it "a close one"?"

"Yeah being in a guild sure isn't the safest lifestyle, but it beats any other life in my book. I mean, sure sometimes we get our asses whooped, but at least its as a family." Erza smiled at that. She looked at the dragonslayer and couldn't help thinking about how much he had grown these past months. Not just in terms of physical abilities, but as a mature adult as well. He was definitely still a destructive and fiery little man but he was actively trying to change himself. She really admired that.

"Natsu, may I confide something in you?" These words were what the pink head wanted to hear, but it also put him at unease at the same time.

"Okay something must really be bothering her then…" he thought nervously

"Lately you've been on my mind… I can't help but admire you." He was shocked at what the red head said.

"Erza admires me? Why? What have I done to deserve that? I didn't do anything special." He couldn't help but torment himself as she kept talking.

"The way you are able to push yourself through any challenge is something that I admire greatly about you. There are moments, when I truly feel like everything is over and we've lost, that I think about you and how you would react in my position. It keeps me going. You never give up even when you're down. Its what makes me come back twice as strong ready to retaliate. So thank you Natsu, for being the one I look up to." She finished with a smile and rosy cheeks while looking at Natsu. He was outright speechless.

"I had no idea Erza looked up at me of all people! She's already so strong and powerful, how could she need me? And why does this make my stomach all weird and warm?" Natsu finally snapped back from the shock and gave her a sly grin.

"I had no idea a mighty S-class mage looked up to me… this just puts more pressure on me to save everyone again" he finished with a proud smile.

"Natsu you idiot!" she giggled while playfully punching his arm. They both start laughing, any tension that was in the air before was now gone and the two were now enjoying the light of the moon.

"Well I think we should head back to bed, we're returning to the guild tomorrow by the way since you were sleeping."

"Right, I can't wait to be back home and find another job so that I can train!"

"Of course, you are," she smiled as she watched him start going down the ladder. "Always pushing yourself to help others" She thought while her cheeks light up a little.

Two weeks have passed since then and our beloved characters were back from yet again another hard mission. The guild was rowdy as usual and our group of friends were sitting at a table talking about the mission.

"I swear these dark guilds are starting to have more and more guts these days. Attacking villages like that and barely hiding it is risky for them."

"I have to agree with you Grey, but they have enough strength to protect themselves so that's why they do it," replied Lucy.

"I just hope we won't have to deal with another invasion like last time…" squeaked Wendy, the poor wind dragon slayer was barely over the dragon war they had fought.

Natsu slammed his fist on the table. "Yeah well I say bring it on! The more we beat the less remain!"

"Natsu please calm down around my cake, you touch it, you'll bleed," warned Erza.

"Yes ma'am…"

Suddenly the guild doors opened and a familiar face entered, one which Erza instantly recognized.

"Kagura? What are you doing here?" Upon entering the building, Kagura's face was tense but as her eyes settled on Erza, her face softened.

"Hello Erza, would you like to tell me where I could find your master Makarov? Its important." She said with a straight face. If it weren't for the games, she would have addressed them with a cold look. She didn't like to show it, but inside she was rally excited to see her new friends again. But right now was not the time for that.

"Yes absolutely," Erza got up, "follow me." Her and Kagura made their way to Makarov's office where he was nose deep within papers.

"Master we have a guest." The short man looked up to see the beautiful black-haired swords maiden.

"Ohhh and to what do we due this visit young lady?" He said in a formal tone.

"Hello Mr. Makarov, my guild master has some interesting information to share with you." Erza was wondering weather she should leave or not but upon looking at Kagura's face, she decided to let her curiosity control her.

"Damn it Natsu, are you rubbing off on me?"

"Hmm, I see… well let's hear it child!" Kagura was suddenly a bit embarrassed.

"Well.. actually we need your help." Both the master and Erza were surprised. What could the very proud Mermaid Heel mages need help with? It wasn't in their nature to ask for help… "We've discovered strange energy signals coming from the ocean, we have reasons to believe with her head down. Erza was speechless. She couldn't believe it, other beings outside of Ishgar? How could this be.. She knew about the Alvarez empire, but she doubted it was them, and by looking at her master's face, she could tell he came to the same conclusion.

The Master recomposed himself and spoke, "lift your head child there is no shame in asking for help," Kagura lifted her gaze to meet Makarov's and glanced shyly at Erza, " tell your master that I accept, in fact I'm sending Erza and her team with you."

Erza's face lit-up a bit but inside she was jumping with glee.

"Thank you very much Mr. Makarov we are very grateful," said Kagura bowing her head once again. She looked at Erza and noticed her smile, which made her smile as well, she was excited to have an adventure with her new "sister'.

"Very well master, I will go warn them of our departure immediately." Erza left the office and speed-walked to where her team was sitting, "guys don't get too comfortable we're leav-." She never finished her sentence. Her face was now full of strawberry cake and the entire guild, including two elemental opposite mages were beyond terrified.

"NATSU STARTED IT! HE INSULTED ME SO I PUNCHED HIM AND HE PUNCHED BACK AND NOW FOR SOME REASON YOUR CAKE IS IN YOUR FACE."

"HE'S LYING, HE WAS BEING AN ICE-PRINCESS AND I THREW HIM A CHAIR, ITS OBVIOUSLY HIS FAULT." Obviously, they failed to notice during their brawl that the table with the cake was sent flying and Erza came back at the worst time possible.

Wordlessly, Erza made her way to the two idiots and grabbed them both by the throat. Her eyes were now pitch black and her face full of killing intent. She lifted them in the air and threw them outside the guild through the walls.

"GO PACK YOUR BAGS WE'RE LEAVING IN 20 MINUTS AND IF YOU ARENT READY BY THEN I'LL MAKE SOUP WITH YOU. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?"

"YES MA'AM!" They both said in unison as they got up and sprinted to their respective homes.

The group was now at the train station. It had only been five minutes and everyone was already tired of hearing Natsu complain about the transportation.

"Ughhhh why don't you guys go on ahead? I'll just fly with Happy intead."

"Youre on your own Natsu! Im not flying all the way to Mermaid heel!" Pouted the blue feline.

"Its okay Natsu I'll just use my magic to make your motion sickness disappear," piped in Wendy.

Erza finally arrived carrying her immense trolley of suitcases she uses, along with Kagura as well. She surveyed the group to make sure everyone was there. Natsu, Gray, Wendy, and Lucy were there, along with Happy and Carla.

"Good, looks like everyone is there. Now I want everyone to be good on the train, we have a guest so we need to behave!" she said this looking at two specific people who immediately averted their gaze.

"Oh, don't worry Erza its fine, I owe it to you guys, you saved us after all," Kagura said with a smile.

"Its no problem Kagura! I mean we weren't the only ones to fight, your guild as well fought and so did everyone else!" replied Lucy.

"Lucy is right, we all helped each other!" added Gray. With that, everyone entered the train and sat down. Lucy, Gray, Wendy, Carla and Happy went and sat together while Erza, Kagura and Natsu sat somewhere else, the tables were too small for the whole group to sit together. The train started moving and immediately Natsu turned green and started moaning.

"Ughhh I… forgot to ask… Wendy to cast *gags* a spell on me…"

"I still don't understand how such mighty mages can be slain with the most mundane thing," commented Kagura from across Erza and Natsu. The cabin was made for four people two benches were separated by a wooden counter. Kagura was sitting across the Fairy Tail mages.

"If you knew how many times, I've asked myself that same question… Natsu put your head on my lap."

"Thank… you… Erzaaa" he had barely said that he was already falling asleep on his favourite (but he would never admit that) redhead.

"Wha-wha-whaaat?" Kagura was embarrassed, she didn't know that that was just how things had always been between Erza and Natsu.

"The only way for Natsu to not suffer the effects of his motion sickness is for him to sleep, so I have him sleep with his head on my lap when we take the train," she said as she looked down with a smile at the sleeping dragonslayer. Her hand unconsciously running through his salmon locks.

"Well… "started Kagura, embarrassed, "I guess that's fine." She said as she sat back in her seat, getting comfortable for the long ride to her guild.