Author's Note: Hello! I hope you're enjoying the story so far! This is a good chapter, cause now we get to meet more characters you know and love!
Also, I do not own Fairy Tail.
Chapter Three - A Diamond in the Rough
We're now seven whole years into the future. Natsu is now a seventeen year old man working as a rail hand in the small western company-town of Magnolia as he helps build the new tracks and facilities for the everlasting Heartfilia Railway.
He is also living with his foster father of seven years, Gildarts Clive on the outskirts of town. Federal Marshal and main defender of Magnolia, Gildarts moved out to the west in his early years to help spread the laws of the east onward. However, within the last 20 years he decided to settle down in the small desert town and start up a family of his own.
Sadly, his beautiful wife Cornelia died 18 years ago as she was giving birth to their beloved daughter, Cana. Now, Gildarts claims Natsu and Cana both as his own blood and watches over the peaceful town with a rifle in his hand and a smile on his face.
Here, Natsu and his co-workers finish their long day of rail work as they make their way to the center of town. Although it was full of sand and dust and some of the buildings were beginning to fall apart, this was still their home.
Natsu and friends began to laugh and celebrate as their long day came to an end…and yes, to this day he still has that trusty scarf wrapped around his neck.
"Boy that was a doozy! I hope they let us off the hook tomorrow!" Natsu began to cheer loudly as they had just finished putting up a large length of track in the south.
His dark haired friend, and longtime rail-hand Gray Fullbuster laughed in response. "Yea, but it is awfully rewarding to see each length go down." Gray had known the rail way all his life. He and his parents moved out to the west and followed its growth for the early days before they both died of a bad fever.
"HA! What are you talking about? The only rewarding part is the after party!" Walking beside them was their rough and hard headed friend with long, spiky black hair, Gajeel Redfox.
Gajeel, or "Black Steel" as they use to call him had previously been in a former gang of outlaws call the Phantom Lords. Despite that black past, Marshal Gildarts caught him at a young age and helped him turn his life around.
Natsu looked on with a puzzled expression as he didn't understand Gajeel's comment. "After party?"
Gray laughed. "Yea, apparently the owner of the Rail Road is coming out later today to monitor its progression. I guess we're gonna have a celebration for him at the Town Hall."
Gajeel laughed. "Yea, and I could use a bit of relaxation. We've done enough work bustin' our asses for this jerk over the past few days anyway."
Natsu shook his head and laughed as they entered a nearby saloon. "Pff. Whatever you say, Gajeel."
Natsu laughed at that remark, but in a way he had to agree. Growing up with outlaws on the run Natsu had a hard time accepting established society for a while, and he really disliked the wealthy elite of the east, and especially the cocky attitudes they brought with them every step of the way.
As they entered into the doorway they were greeted by the lovely white haired bar keep, Mirajane Strauss. "Hello boys! Welcome back to Fairy Tail!"
The Fairy Tail Saloon and Diner. The main attraction in the small town of Magnolia, and the #1 gathering place for everyone in the village.
As soon as she finished, her younger yet equally attractive sister, Lisanna laughed and replied. "So, you guys lookin' to order a few drinks?"
Gajeel shouted out with impatience as he took his seat. "Duh!? Now let's get 'em out here, already!"
"Hey, watch it tough guy!" Yelling from over in the side of the bar was the rather large door man and brother of the bar tenders, Elfman.
"HEY!" The white haired brute of a man was taking a break and sitting next to his lovely wife, Evergreen before he heard Gajeel's comment pierce his ear. "Real men don't yell back at ladies, especially if they're my sisters!"
Evergreen snapped and gestured over to her husband. "Would you just sit down, you dunce! Quit causing a scene!"
Gajeel went to snap back as well, but another girl spoke up from behind. "Relax, Gajeel isn't a real man anyway."
Standing behind the scruffy rail road worker was the town librarian and local book worm, Levy McGarden. She had beautiful short blue hair and wore a modest but lovely orange gown as she entered into the conversation, and she also had the privilege of being Gajeel's girlfriend.
Levy smiled as she sat next to her large companion, Gajeel and hugged him passionately. "How was work today, Sweetie?"
Gajeel chuckled as he sipped his drink. "More work than you did, I'm sure."
"Gajeel, be nice!" Sitting across the table and next to the other guys was none other than Juvia Lockster, the Library Aid and girlfriend to Gray. She was also a former member of the same gang Gajeel was in as a child, and their mutual "friendship" went back a long way.
Juvia then continued and began to blush. "Besides, I'm sure you all weren't as hard working as my beloved Gray! Isn't that right, my love!?" She smiled with passion as she rested her pretty blue head on his shoulder.
Gray chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Nah, we all had the same job, today. I just get paid more."
Natsu growled as he took a sip of his ale. "Yea, which is really lousy if you ask me! You can't even keep your shirt on for a whole day!"
Gray snapped back with anger. "Yea, well that's cause I've been here longer; and as for that second comment? It gets hot out there, and sometimes I need to cool off." He then looked over to Juvia who sat next to him with hearts in her eyes.
"Oh please tell me about it…!" She melted away with a romantic image in her mind as the others rolled their eyes and kept drinking.
Levy then winked over to Natsu. "So, when's the Salamander gonna get himself a girl? There is that big party coming up tonight for the rail road crew." She laughed as she tried instigating a new idea.
Natsu rolled his eyes. "Yea, like I have the time and money to waste on a girl…!" He then stopped as a very beautiful brown haired girl with a cowboy hat put her arm around him and laughed.
"Yea, and there's no way I'd let my little brother date at his age!"
Natsu's foster sister, Cana had apparently come to join the fun in the bar. She worked as the aid to the Mayor's Office and knew everyone in the town by their full name. She was also the town's heaviest drinker, and put all the men to shame when it came time to defend her title.
Natsu rolled his eyes and sank into his chair. "Geeze, relax. I ain't datin' no one!"
*DING-DONG* "HE'S HERE! HE'S HERE!"
They all snapped their heads towards the windows and got up to venture outside as the town bell and crier both began to announce the arrival of a large and luxurious locomotive train at the north end of town.
As they all ran outside Natsu looked over to Gray and laughed. "Wow, this guy sure seems like a real stiff. Look at that stupid thing!" He exclaimed as he mocked the elaborate and very expensive train car as it rolled into place.
Gray looked back to his pink haired friend with confusion. "Who cares? He is the one who pays us, after all."
Then, as they each made it to the small town square the whole group looked over to the train station as they saw five or so men standing in wait.
The first two included the foreman and chief operator to the railroad project, Macao Conbolt; and beside him was his assistant Wakaba Mine.
Macao rolled his eyes and began to sulk in the arrival of his cross-country employer. "Oh man, I hope my boys got enough work done on those last few track lines!"
Wakaba grabbed the pipe out of his mouth and began to laugh. "Nah, I imagine no amount of work those goons do will ever be enough."
Standing beside the two rail road managers was the local Marshal and foster father to Natsu, Gildarts Clive. Below him stood the town's tiny yet rowdy mayor, Makarov Dreyar who stood in anticipation for this huge publicity event.
Finally, the last man was actually much younger than the others and appeared to be the grandson of the mayor; and this fellow also acted as the town's youngest man ever to be elected as Sheriff, Laxus Dreyar.
As they all stood there Gildarts held his hand behind his head and laughed a loud. "Boy, Mayor I hope this place looks good enough for ol' Heartfilia. I've heard he can be a real ball buster!" He laughed with sarcasm as Makarov stood with tension in his legs.
"Mmm…" The small mayor was very anxious for his new guest and didn't want things to go badly. "Yes, I agree. In any case everyone just needs to act casual. And please, no funny business, Laxus."
The recently elected Sheriff stopped and laughed. "Gsh, calm down gramps; this guy's nothing. We'll be fine.
He then turned and looked right at Gildarts with a joking expression, but kept his response geared towards his grandfather. "Besides, I hear his daughter's with him, so maybe he'll decide to relax a bit while he's at it..."
Makarov snapped back with anger as he heard the news. "WHAT!? THAT'S EVEN WORSE THAN I THOUGHT! We can't have a debutant laying eyes on this ugly, dust bowl of a town!"
Suddenly, they all looked over to the train as the door opened, revealing a tall and handsome older man with combed blonde hair and a neatly trimmed mustache who walked out of the rail car. He also wore a very expensive brown suit with red tie as he entered the town.
Everyone cheered out with great intensity as he barely smiled and waved his hand to greet them all.
Gray made his remark. "Well, that's Jude Heartfilia; millionaire tycoon to the Heartfilia Railway." He looked serious but stopped as Natsu rolled his eyes without looking impressed.
"Pff, these dummies are all acting ridiculous. Don't they know this guy's stealing money from 'em?!" He went to continue but stopped and widened his eyes as the second guest came out behind Jude.
This visitor appeared to be a girl, and she was much younger and far more beautiful than anyone he had ever seen. She looked to have long blonde hair rolled up in a neat bun, and also let a few bangs hang down in front of her face. She also wore a lovely and elaborate pink and red gown with white and red ribbons all over, and she also wore a matching lace collar with a red ribbon around her neck (to fit with this era's fashion trends.) Finally, she had a soft smile on her face and she appeared to be holding a pink sun umbrella as she stepped out of the car to greet the town.
Natsu was speechless as Cana laughed came over to put her arm around her foster brother's shoulders. "Sheesh. Ya didn't know he had a smokin' hot daughter, did ya'?"
Later that night the entire town attended the extravagant ceremony being held at the town mess hall in honor of the Heartfilia Family's arrival. The local string band was playing loud and the Strauss's of Fairy Tail had agreed to cater the event's food and drinks all evening.
Meanwhile, the familiar group from before all sat around a large table as they each moaned in boredom.
"Ugh, come on, Gajeel! Let's have some fun and try a dance or two!" Levy tried to get her boyfriend to join her on the dance floor, but he wasn't up for it.
"Nah, I'm perfectly fine right here." He looked on with a serious face as he took a large drink of whiskey from his glass.
Juvia then looked over to Gray. "Well, my love. Should we go out and enjoy a dance of our own?"
Gray took one last drink form his glass before he smiled. "Eh, what the hell?" He then held out his left elbow and had her grab ahold, and although she almost passed out from over joy she accepted his romantic offer and joined him in the celebration.
Natsu chuckled as they left. "Pff, you guys look soo stupid with your little dancing crap!" He then stopped laughing as he looked to his empty glass.
"Eh, I'll be right back."
Natsu got up and began to navigate himself through the large crowd of familiar faces. Truth be told he had never felt comfortable in large crowds and didn't even want to attend this event.
Despite that, his father asked him to come for at least a couple of hours, and as soon as he met up with Gildarts he would us that as his cue to ditch the scene.
He finally made it to the refreshments table as he then noticed a large crowd of people standing to his left. It was made of predominantly boys who all had very expensive suits on.
"Where the hell do you get those kinda cloths out here, anyway?" Natsu chuckled to himself as he took a bottle of ale from the table. However before he could leave, a tall and obnoxious boy walked in front of his path and stepped on his toe.
"Watch where you're going, please." The overly posh boy grinned with sarcasm as he shifted his glasses onto his face and combed through his bright orange hair with his other hand.
Natsu rolled his eyes as he realized who it was. "Oh, Loke. It's you…"
Natsu didn't truly hate the local tailor and garment salesmen as much as it seems. Even though he was rich, Loke was actually rather friendly, and even offered good discounts to the rail workers; but other than that he seemed to be a person who could only be handled in doses.
"Ay it's no problem, Natsu! You're probably just exhausted from all that field work!" Loke laughed as he patted Natsu on the arm, while the pink haired rail worker didn't seem to find his comment as funny.
Natsu straightened up his act and replied. "Why you so antsy anyway?"
Loke grinned and turned away. "What does it look like? I'm here to win the hearts of all the lovelies attending tonight's party!" He then turned and faced the crowd to the left.
"And there happens to be one girl on my mind that I simply can't ignore…" Loke then continued to walk into the large group of boys as they all had no choice but to make way for his entrance.
Natsu then realized who Loke was talking about, and rolled his eyes as he noticed they were all surrounding the pretty blonde daughter of Jude Heartfilia.
The pink haired rail-hand turned around and tried to walk away, but was stopped once again as a large muscular arm wrapped around his shoulder.
"Well well, Natsu has his eyes on Lucy Heartfilia. Heiress to the Country's rail roads. HA!" Standing beside Natsu was none other than Sheriff Laxus, who found amusement in Natsu's choice of women; and he also spoke a little louder than Natsu would have liked.
Natsu continued to roll his eyes as he forced the much taller Laxus to turn around with him. "Pff, no way! She's just some rich girl who gets dolled up for dances."
"Oh, I'm just some doll, am I?"
Natsu gasped and Laxus raised his eyebrow as they both turned around to see the exact same Lucy Heartfilia standing right behind them with a self-confident grin on her face.
They then looked over her shoulder to find a miserable Loke sulking in the corner after what appeared to be a heart breaking turn-down.
Laxus laughed hysterically and patted Natsu on the back. "Eh, I'll let you fix this one, Natsu…" He then continued to howl with laughter and walked away with his two Deputies, Freed and Bickslow right on his tail.
Lucy giggled as she looked to her next acquaintance. "So, Natsu is it? That's a nice name! I've read somewhere it means "summer" in another language." She smiled and widened her large brown eyes in interest as Natsu looked even more annoyed.
So much so he even scowled a bit in his response. "Oh reading? Well I bet you think you're pretty smart too."
Lucy put her hand over her face to conceal her faint blush, and continued to laugh. "Well somebody has a short temper. Haha, I kinda like that."
Natsu's cheeks flushed with confusion as Lucy then grabbed a glass of pre-poured ale off the table and continued to talk.
"I'm Lucy! It's nice to meet you!" She stuck her hand out for a handshake, but never received a returning gesture.
Natsu still looked confused, and ignored her hand. "Huh, you seem awfully friendly for a rich girl…" He said with suspicion as he took a drink from his beverage.
Lucy smiled and took it like a champ. "Come on, give me a break! I am just a person after all." She then looked on with awe as she gazed around the whole room.
"I really like your town! Some of the men here are a little too forward, but everyone really seems to enjoy themselves!"
Natsu looked around with her and let out a faint smile. "Yea, it's small, but once ya get used to it, it's easy to live in..."
He then remembered what kind of person he was talking too. "I mean if ya like getting your cloths dirty and what not. We here in Magnolia can only afford about 2 shirts each."
"Mhmm, why do I get the feeling that was a joke?" Lucy sighed with sarcasm and took a sip of her drink. She then continued. "I've always enjoy visiting small towns anyway. I make sure to bring back a souvenir from each one I visit!"
Natsu thought that seemed a bit ridiculous and cracked a laughed in response. "Well everything here is dirt cheap. Nothing fancy, but it's all usually family made."
Lucy smiled and sighed. "Awe, that sounds sweet. I'd really like to see the whole town for myself!"
She then turned and found her eyes landing on her dad and let them sag a bit. "Oh well, maybe some other time..."
Natsu nodded, and before it got too quiet he slowly looked back at his guest with an awkward expression.
"So…I hear you're from the east?"
It turns out that unlike his distasteful feelings from before Natsu actually enjoyed the stories Lucy had to share. Over the course of the party the two started talking about everything they could think of, and eventually they even wondered outside on to the front porch to discuss her life of wealth in further detail.
Although Lucy kept trying to steer the conversation back his way, Natsu always stopped her. In his mind he just met this chick, and didn't want to tell her about his "dark past."
They both stopped to laugh as Lucy finished an embarrassing story from her last uptown ball.
"HAHA! No way!? That sounds awful!" Natsu tried poking fun at her as he continued to finish his drink.
Lucy tried to hold her laughter, but even she had to join in. "I know! Those things really get on my nerves sometimes."
Natsu looked puzzled as he took in her words. "What, you don't like being rich?"
Lucy looked too conflicted to provide a straight answer. "Well, let's just say there's a lot expected from me. I don't get much freedom when I go to balls, and I can't say they're always fun…"
Natsu looked angry. "What? That's ridiculous! What kinda jerk keeps you from havin' fun!?"
"Ahem…"
Then, they both paused as Lucy's daunting father, Jude Heartfilia came up behind them to sit in on their conversation.
Natsu whispered under his breath. "Man, I gotta stop doing that…"
Lucy then looked embarrassed and held her head down low. "Father! I'm so sorry for leaving the room. The hall was just getting a little stuffy is all…"
Jude looked angry, but sighed with relief. "Lucy, you had me worried. I understand if the room got too warm, but you should have told me where you went. After all we need to be inside with our hosts as a family, and you were the one who volunteered to join me on this trip …"
Natsu absorbed that comment and naturally cocked his eyebrow with an inner thought. "She wanted to come here?!"
The Heartfilia patriarch then looked down at Natsu with a look of disapproval, but continued as he ignored the boy and addressed his daughter even further. "Now, we must be going. Our room at the inn is ready, and we have a very busy day ahead of us tomorrow. We'll be leaving right at sun rise this time around."
She nodded and obeyed as both of the Heartfilia's walked away, and as Natsu went to say something he was cut short as the small and angry mayor, Makarov came up from behind and grabbed his collar.
"NATSU! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, YOU MORON!? ARE YOU TRYING TO GET US ALL FIRED!?"
Natsu looked down with anger. "Geeze, cut it out gramps. Just talking to a newbie."
Makarov sighed as Natsu referred to him with that pet nickname, and the short mayor released him as he continued. "Yes, well keep a better head next time. Please." He then shook his head as he walked off with his own look of disapproval.
Natsu rolled his eyes and went to walk back inside the hall, but as he did he heard his name being called from behind.
"NATSU! It was nice meeting you!"
He then turned around to see that although Lucy was walking away with her father, she apparently stopped to wave good-bye. Sadly, she was cut short as he father reeled her in to give another small scolding.
As Natsu turned around he looked on with a puzzled expression and walked back inside.
"Well that was weird…"
So everyone seems to fit into good roles, and now we've met up with Lucy! :D
Good stuff in the next chapter.
