- Several months ago -

It was like any day in Symphonia. Everyone living in the city was busy living their own lives, not caring about anyone else other than himself or herself. As the sun started to set, the city's lights started to lighten up the city. "The City that Never Sleeps", the people called Symphonia.

On the outskirts of the city, near the bay, Natsu Dragneel was ready to walk out of his house. He was getting ready for the magic games against Symphonia Busters. It was the city derby in the magic games; Symphonia Phoenix vs Symphonia Busters. The winner wins the magic games league; this was the most important game of the games' recent history.

And who is the most important player on Phoenix? The one and only Fire Dragon slayer, Natsu Dragneel!

Natsu was getting his regular clothes on. He was smiling; he knew the girls in the stadium liked it when he left his chest visible. He trained for many days for this match, he was ready for them.

He stepped outside, and already a horde of Phoenix supporters were waiting for him to come out.

"There he is!"

"The one and only Dragneel!"

"Do it Natsu! Do it for Phoenix!"

"Oh my god! Dragneel-sama!"

Natsu was laughing. He always had fans waiting for him outside so they can cheer him on before the matches, but there were more people outside today.

"Hey guys! Cheer us on for tonight's game!"

The crowd roared. Natsu felt proud and happy he was getting the approval of the fans. He only joined the team two years ago; when he joined them everyone thought he was going to be a flop. Now, no one dares say that he is a failure. Natsu was determined to leave his name in the team's history.

"Can you sign this for us please?"

"Yeah sure!"

Natsu was busy signing autographs to his fans. He was happy that people were accepting him. Every time he signed autographs, he looked back at his childhood.

Why can't you follow the simplest orders?!

Why can't you do this?!

You're hopeless, I tell you, HOPELESS!

You'll never be accepted by anyone!

"Dragneel?"

Natsu realized he was daydreaming while signing an autograph. He shook his head.

"Sorry, was daydreaming" he finished signing the autograph and gave it to the fan. "Here you go"

"Thank you!" said the fan. She was squealing. "Um, Dragneel?"

"Yes?"

"I was going to ask, when the match finishes, do you want to meet up?"

Natsu stared at the fan. She looked quite pretty. He thought about it.

"You can't" said a voice behind him.

"What?" Natsu said, looking back.

A young girl was standing there. She looked around 13 or 14, wearing a blue one piece and having blue hair. She had it really long, so she had it in a twin tail.

Natsu knew her. She has been around him his whole life, popping up when something happens.

"What you do mean?"

"You can't tonight. You're going to be busy"

"Am I?"

"Yes"

Natsu looked at her. She smiled back. Natsu nodded, and looked back at the fan. "Sorry, I can't tonight"

The fan looked sad. "Ok, sorry I asked"

"No problem" Natsu leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Maybe next time"

The girl's face went bright red, and squealed. She nodded many times, and ran off to her friends. Chuckling, Natsu looked back to ask the young gril why he was going to be busy.

She was not there.

Natsu looked around, but she was nowhere to be seen. Looking slightly confused, Natsu focused on the upcoming match, and started to run towards the stadium.

"Ill meet you guys at the stadium!" shouted Natsu. "Cheer for us!"

The crowd roared, and started to chant Natsu's name. Laughing, Natsu continued running to the stadium.

Within a visible distance, a man was sitting down, leaning on a mast of one of the boats stationed in the harbor. He was holding a sake bottle, drinking from it. he looked like he was in his 30's.

"Is he ready?"

"I don't know" the girl from earlier appeared in front of him. "I told him he will be busy"

"That's it?" the man chuckled. "You could have given him more information"

"What's the point?" the girl chuckled back. "He's not a child anymore, Gildarts. He'll be ready whether he likes it or not"

"That's true" Gildarts laughed. "Let's hope he doesn't get crushed first, Wendy"

Gildarts looked at the open sea. On the horizon, a bulge started to form. It was slowly heading towards the city.

"There's no turning back" Gildarts said to Wendy while the bulge was continuing to head towards Symphonia. "He'll have to be ready for this. It's going to change his life forever"