Chapter Three: The Fox and the Owl
A/N: Whelp, here's the next chapter, thanks for reading!
"Whatever." he shrugs it off before getting serious again,"If I stay here and heal I'll gain my full power. And if they-" he points at the Fairy Tail members,"face me at full power. They'll never win. And I'll most likely kill them all. Plus, it'll help that guilds plans." He spits out the last part, and the King finally sees his logic.
"Fine." Natsu nods and turns towards the portal, almost at it, then the King speaks up again,"But come back every once in awhile. It's getting kind of boring."
"Oh really?" Natsu turns from the portal with a devious, toothy grin. "I'll just tell Phire to have some fun then." The King's face pales and Natsu laughs before leaving, closing the portal behind him.
Everyone pauses, not knowing how to react to the sudden event. Loke walks up to him and freezes.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" He screams at him.
"To you, he's a king. To me, he's just an old friend." He crosses his arms,"What're you still doing here, anyway?"
"I'm here because I want to be. And I want answers." Natsu nods, closing his eyes. He opens them and scans the guild, and they realize his cheeks are scale-like, same as his arms which hold a holy glow beneath them.
"Well? Are we going to do this?"
"Huh?" Natsu just sighs at their confusion. He hadn't been gone that long, had he?
"The fight?" Makarov asks and Natsu nods. "If everyone's ready." The cheers say it all and Natsu smiles, gets up and stretches.
"Well, let's go then." He then turns to the master once again,"Is Gildarts here?"
"No... Do you think you're that strong?" Natsu smiles at this.
"Well... If they do their plan before you get my key, then if you want a chance you'll need him." Natsu says to the shocked old man.
"H-how strong can their plan make you?"
"Very." Is Natsu's simple response. The guild is now empty except for a selected few who know they won't stand a chance in the battle. Once outside they go to a small clearing that's fit for a grand battle. "Well, don't hold back. That's all I'm gonna say." He gives an animalistic grin, but quickly loses it. "Uhh... Luce?"
"Hmm?" She stands next to Loke, surprised he called her out.
"You... May have to sit this one out."
"Why?" She says and Loke narrows his eyes at the statement. Natsu just crosses his arms.
"I'm not gonna kill any spirits." He states,"Leo, you can't fight either." The spirit disappears but Lucy just brings out her whip.
"I can help." She sneers, cracking the whip. Natsu gives a warm smile, and then gets in his battle stance. He untucks his wings, the glowing feathers lighting up the battle field in their warmth and light. Bending his knees he gets slightly lower. In his stance he gives no openings and holds up his loose fists.
"Go!" Makarov beacons, still feeling slightly uneasy about everyone going against Natsu. Natsu knows everyones strengths (and weaknesses), and therefore has a good idea on how strong they are. So Makarov knows that if Natsu is slightly doubtful, it means they are right on the edge. That or he's testing them for something other than strength.
"RRAAAAGGGHH!" They all launch. Metal beams-with a back-up of ice spikes- shoot out straight away. Natsu grabs the metal 'Demon Log' with his bare hand and melts the ice before it touches him. Erza comes forward in her winged armor, attacking on the front lines, sword after sword. He dodges them easily, but she soon equips two metallic swords. Swinging one at him he dodges it, the other flies towards him from a different angle which he doesn't notice.
Clang!
Everyone freezes, seeing him put his wing between the sword and his body. A web of cracks cover the silver surface, and pieces chip off.
"You have to do better than that!" He says, kicking her in the stomach and sending her flying. Everyone watches as she crashes through the trees behind her, a dust cloud filling the space. After a moment of silence everyone attacks once again.
The attacks are strong, but they realize Natsu is stronger. Much stronger, as they notice he is definitely holding back. Erza is once again butting heads with him in her Fire Empress armor, but everyone is fighting with her.
"Hmm... it's time I attack." He jumps back, does a flip in the air and lands on his feet. "Celestial Fire Dragons..." They all freeze, but Erza is quick to act, re-quiping into her adamantine armor she hops in front of the crowd. "Starlight Roar!"
The attack seemed self explanatory; a wave of darkness shooting from his mouth with golden flames and yellow sparks flashing through it. Erza quickly puts the shield together and is hit by the full force of the attack. This is- She grits her teeth- Stronger than Jupiter Cannon! The attack lasts awhile and Gray has to back Erza up, barely lasting through it. Right when he finishes the shield breaks, throwing them into the crowd behind them, crushing a few unlucky people.
"What!" Everyone yells, seeing the force of the attack, thankful for Erza's protective shield.
"That was about half of my power," Natsu belows, everyone turning to him in a newfound fear. "What would you do if I had to attack you with all my strength!" They look at each other. Gray furrows his brows and helps Erza up while pushing her off of him.
"Then we'd beat you." Gray states from Erza's side.
"What if I had no mercy?"
"Then we'd stop you." Erza joins in.
"What if I had... to kill you?" Everyone freezes, but Laxus speaks up.
"Please," Laxus says with an eye roll but then gets serious, "we won't die, we'll stop you." Natsu can't help but chuckle as everyone roars in approval of his words. He turns to the master who looks satisfied by his guild.
"Don't worry. In the battle I won't kill anyone." He places a hand on his shoulder before going back to the guild, everyone in his wake. There Natsu gets his mark back, and they party all night because of their reunion and rejoining member. Everyone laughing and fighting- other than the guild master, who cries for the money that's being lost as the damages pile up.
Late in the night/morning, when everyone has passed out in a pile of bodies and broken furniture, Natsu nimbly leaps from the pile. Making sure not to wake up anyone.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" The voice shocks him, and he spins around in battle-mode, staring at the presence which had snuck up behind him. He relaxes as he sees it's just the old man, and gives a nod.
"Yeah. I can't stay forever. I can buy you as much time as possible, but that's all I can offer."
"Where will you go?"
"An old friend who I had entrusted one of my keys to." Makarov raises his eyebrows at this.
"And who would that be?" Natsu gives a small smile and shakes his head.
"I'd rather not say." Makarov is skeptic, but nods anyway. Accepting the response in a sense.
"When will you be back?" Natsu freezes at this, placing his index finger on his chin in deep thought. Little does the Double-Key spirit notice the eavesdroppers which lie still in the pile of bodies. Listening to their conversation.
"Probably... for war." He gives a sad smile as he turns back to his guild master. "Do you think they're prepared?" Makarov gives a sly smirk.
"Why don't you ask them yourself?" Natsu gives a short laugh at the old man's words.
"I thought we were going to keep pretending that we didn't know they were awake."
"Pretending?" Grey gets up, arms crossed in front of his chest.
"You heard me," Natsu narrows his eyes in a mocking way. "Well, I have to be on my way. See ya later." He gives a two-fingered salute before disappearing into a small tornado of fire. Everyone gets up as the tornado dissipates, shocked that he hadn't waited for everyone else to get up and have a final conversation. But then again, the party served to be just that, and it was a wonderful temporary goodbye.
"Well, now that you're all up! This place won't clean itself, you know!" Groans fill the large hall as they wished they hadn't woken up upon Natsu's departure.
"You heard him! Get UP!" The Titania yells, everyone pops up straight away giving a salute to the re-quip mage. In fear of what she'll do to them if they don't obey her order.
(With Natsu)
In a flash of light and fire, Natsu appears next to an original key holder. Neither speak for a moment before the black-haired mage speaks up.
"Haven't seen you in... years." Natsu nods at this.
"Been busy. What about you?" The dark mage shakes his head.
"I've been searching for your sister, but that's it." Natsu rolls his eyes at this and crosses his arms.
"Still want death? Ellery will give it, but find some joy in life! Sheesh! You're so gloomy!" Natsu gives a heavy sigh,"I don't care who you are. Mage or not, you're human. Go out and have some fun every once in awhile, make a friend!" The other mage raises his eyebrow at this.
"I can't just do that right now, my magic's low."
"Not literally!" The pinkette sighs,"Go out, socialize-you know, when you hang out with other human beings-and find a friend."
"That's not a good idea for me. Plus, I don't think I'm entirely human." After another moment of silence Natsu chuckles.
"...I know."
(Dark Guild)
"I summon thee, key of the Dragon; Draco!" Someone twists the said black key in the air, and in a torrent of flames out comes the pink-haired mage.
"What is it, Dain?" he spits the words out as if they were poison to his tongue.
"Don't speak to me like that, Draco." Dain orders the spirit who rolls his eyes. "My plan is almost complete." He smirks, turning to the shocked spirit. " I need you to go kill the family in the house two mile west of here."
"... They're innocent, aren't they." It was more of a statement then a question, which the other only smiles at in reply. "Whatever." The spirit gets up and disappears, much to Dains' surprise, and joy.
"You will soon be completely under my control, Draco. Brother of E.N.D."
-x-
"Natsu." The spirit king belows as his strongest spirit key; Draco, appears. The king ignores the fact that the others clothes are blood-soaked.
"Mr. Limbo." He gives a flourish, over-exaggerated bow, his eyes half-lidded and unamused.
"You haven't come back in many years." Natsu opens his mouth but the King makes sure to cut him off. "Not including our small encounter. I have not been able to have such a conversation with you."
"I have missed this as much as you have." Natsu smiles up at the king who easily notices the drastic dragonic changes in the fellow spirit. "But, I can't stay for long."
"I know. I have been watching over you for a while now and understand your situation. And, if the time comes, I shall help you out personally." Natsu gives a small smile, before feeling himself being summoned to the outer world. But before he goes he makes sure to rid himself of blood and anything attached onto him with the liquid.
Appearing in an old-yet new-guild hall Natsu flashes his toothy smile.
"I'm sorry for summoning you right away..." Lucy apologizes, clipping his black key back onto her belt.
"It's fine. But why'd you summon me?"
"I wasn't the one who wanted to summon you..." This piques his interest and soon his eyes widen as a familiar voice speaks.
"We asked her to." The voice is one Natsu had been acquainted with many, many years ago. And as he turns to face his old friend a small, genuine smile crawls across his lips.
"Wise." Natsu freezes as he turns his entire body to face the center of the guild, not believing what his eyes are seeing.
If someone were to glance at the duo standing in the guild people would think they were cosplaying as realistic animal humanoids.
One is a nine-tailed, pinkish fox. It has narrow gleaming red eyes and long, sharp, black claws. It's wearing a yellow kimono with red trimmings, some purple and green. The outfit seems like something people would wear in an older era of Japan.
Beside the intimidating fox stands a winged creature. It looks like a barn owl, except as tall as Laxus. Wings slightly dragging on the ground, it has a cloak-which colors are the same as its feathers-almost covering his body completely. In one of its brown hands is a brown staff with an owl head tip, two large oval gems in the place for eyes, their color identical to the blue jewel on its cloaks collar.
"...and Kitsune?" Natsu finishes as the two take a step forward before kneeling.
"Master Draco, we're glad to see you once again after so many years." The fox speaks up, and everyone can only gape at the scene as Natsu closes his eyes for a few seconds.
"No need to kneel." His tone is as strong as a leaders, looking down at them with an overpowering glare. One the guild had never seen on him before. The two stand at his command, and the fox takes a step forward to speak.
"Draco-"
"You know my name, Kitsune." Natsu sharply cuts him off. And with a respective bow Kitsune restarts.
"Natsu, Wise and I have come to ask for you to let us aid you." The pinkette crosses his arms and bores holes into the two before him.
"And I'm guessing you're all in on this?" Wise takes the initiative at this question.
"Yes, we were the ones chosen from the group vote." Natsu turns his view from the two to the crowd that slowly surrounds them.
"Why?" He turns back to Wise and Kitsune, two of his three most trusted spirits.
"It's because they care about you, or has your brain fried?" Gray speaks up from the sidelines, through with the silence on their part. At this remark the named 'Wise' slams his staff on the ground, its eyes glowing in a soft blue. While Kitsune's claws are surrounded in a red glow.
"Don't insult Natsu." Kitsune hisses, his eyes gleaming in a blood red.
"Calm down you two!" Natsu walks up to them, placing one hand on the foxes claw, the other on the owls glowing staff. They look at his angry face with ones filled with confusion. Removing his hands so that he can cross them he gives them both a soft glare. "What's gotten into you guys? You were never this loyal before, especially you, Kitsune!" He points at the named spirit. "It almost rivals Lucifer's loyalty and that's quite a feat! So, spill it."
After moment of giving each other a knowing look, the two spirits sigh and turn to their alpha.
"We're just worried about you." Kitsune begins, and Wise pick up.
"The King hasn't stopped watching to make sure you're okay. You've been gone for years and suddenly come back, only to leave every two seconds! The King has only told Lucifer what's up with you-"
"So that's it." A smile graces Natsu's lips as he gives a small nod. "You want him to tell you, so you're being just as loyal as Lucifer." The smile leaves his face as Kitsune speaks up.
"Are we not allowed to worry about you? Can't we help a friend?"
"Plus the King has gone into a depression without you around. He just wants you to come home... We all do." As the owl speaks Natsu turns around, showing everyone his back-or should I say wings. Few-namely Makarov and team Natsu-can see the solemn expression he wears. His mouth in a firm line, brows knit with worry.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to go back to the spirit world." His words are softly spoken, hardly audible to the people the farthest away, but everyone near him can hear his words are strained, and full of grief.
"Then come home. Let us help you." Wise speaks up, but Kitsune takes a more... aggressive approach.
"Quit being such a stubborn fool!" He shouts out, stomping up to the head double-key spirit. Natsu whips around on his heels, catching the fire-covered fist with his bare hand, the flames licking and cackling on his skin. The shock wave from the punch blows past him and ruffles his clothes and hair.
"This is the Kitsune I know." Natsu smirks. But the small grin leaves as he grabs onto the others wrist and launches him out the guild doors.
"Graahhh!" The fox shouts as he smashes into the thick wood, forcing them to open and let him pass. Skidding on the grass outside he finally stops after rolling a few yards, once he stops he stands to prepare himself for the battle ahead of him.
"Here's some advice. For one," Natsu's voice echos as he walks out of the guild hall, cracking his knuckles. "If you're going into the dragons den, don't challenge it." The pinkette walks out onto the field, boring holes into the other. "Two; don't be so nosey."
"But what if we fight you in our spirit forms!?" Kitsune spouts out. "I'm sure you won't be able to kill us if we all do that! I'm sure you can't defeat us, so we can fight alongside the mages and win!"
After a moment of staring at each other, Natsu lets his hands fall limp at his side. Closing his eyes and looking up a sigh escapes his lips.
"And you're just too stubborn yourself." He begins, opening his eyes, staring at the wispy clouds above. "You'll come even if I say no." Wise and Kitsune share a look of triumph as he continues. "Fine." His gaze returns to the fox spirit. "But you're not off the hook for attacking me."
"Wha-" In an after image of fire, Natsu appears below Kitsune, knees bent and fist cocked back. The fox has no time to react as the fist comes flying towards his face. "WAAHHHHHHHHHHhhhhh!" Everyone just watches in horror as he goes flying, sparking out like a star in the sky.
"So, what does the King have to say about this?" Natsu turns to the owl spirit, who trembles under the others slight glare.
"H-he's watching the one who lost your key..." At this an evil grin spreads across his face, and as he cracks his knuckles his eyes shine in a newfound goal. The sight sending shivers down everyone's spines.
"Yes, I do need to pay Ellery a visit." As he finishes, people begin to pray for this 'Ellery' person.
"The person who lost your key?" Erza asks, marching up to the pinkette who had calmed down.
"Wise, I need you to explain. I have to go." Natsu turns to the owl who bows in response, before vanishing in a sphere of flames. The ground beneath where he was scorched black.
"Well?" Erza taps her foot, turning to the remaining spirit.
"Well, as you know, us Double-Keys have two main keys which override all others." The creature begins, getting everyone's attention. The guild gains a record-breaking silence which makes the members feel slightly uncomfortable. "Draco-uh, I mean-Natsu, had entrusted his Double-Keys to two people he had known when he was still alive."
"Who?" Gray speaks up, and Erza sends him a death glare but Wise shows understanding, and waits for a moment before continuing. His voice remaining as calm as before.
"How could they still be alive?" Lucy voice and again Erza looks back with the same devil glare, shutting the blonde up immediately.
"It is not my place to say, but I'm sure you've heard of these people before." This piques everyone's interest as they go through their memories for anyone that would fit the description. "You wouldn't know these people personally, he gave them his keys maybe... just above 600 years ago? I don't know, I didn't exist then. But they were once close friends, and because he's the most powerful spirit, his keys must be kept safe."
"What's so special about keeping the keys safe?" Lucy speaks up, trying to connect un-numbered dots.
"With both keys, the person would be able to force Natsu to unleash his 'spirit form'." Leo-who came of his own free will-raises a brow at this.
"'Spirit form'?" Wise scans the crowd full of confused faces, before giving a heavy sigh.
"We Double-Keys have two forms. Our humanoid one-the one you see us in on Earthland-and our spirit form. It's more powerful, and if unleashed on Earthland could be disastrous. Especially if Natsu were forced to transform."
"I have to ask, but didn't Natsu say that you all died-and therefore-lived once?" Wise nods to Lisanna's question, skeptic about where this is going. "So who were you before? And who was Natsu? And... Kitsune?" Dropping his head, Wise closes his charcoal eyes for a moment, before looking up at the whitette.
"Natsu before was Natsu Dragneel. But all the other keys don't know. We don't know the faces of people we had met, let alone our own. Neither do we know our real names."
"Why?" Levy looks up from the book she's reading, pushing her glasses back up. The spirit moves his gaze to the mage and answers her question.
"Well, it goes along with one of the ways we can disappear. Natsu and the Celestial Spirit King took those things from us, and the day we either choose to die or we are near death, they will tell us our name."
"And what will that do?" Mira prodes.
"It'll return our memories, and we will pass on, never to return."
"So why don't these rules apply to Natsu?" Lucy is the next to intrude, and irritation begins to spread through the spirit at their eagerness.
"Because, young key holder, he never passed on in the first place. He stayed in the spirit realm for 70 years before convincing the King to make the keys."
A/N: Well, here's another quick chapter. This story is only six chapters long so we're already halfway through. Again, I really do need to go through and rewrite this but I'll do that if plenty of people even want me to (or just because I'm not really satisfied with it). I'd definitely make the chapters longer... I should probably start working on that but first should do my other stories that I've taken WAY too long to update, I'm so sorry! I love you all! Also, I won't have my computer for the next week so there will be no updates or working on stories during that time, sorry! Til next time, see ya!