Alright how about that cliffhanger? Pretty awesome right? Gotta say i've been getting some great reviews and PM's from people. So thanks a bunch! It really brings a smile to my face to know people are enjoying my story. Now i want to say something real quick. Its gonna be quite a bit before Natsu makes it back home. like its sooo far down the road right now. But good news is i already have some idea's for chapter 5 and a little bit for chapter 6!

Anyway's i dont own gears of war or fairy tail.

Chapter 4: Darkness and Light

Levy's invention shuddered , started smoking and with a loud "POP" died. Everybody in the guild hall was shocked, frozen in place. They couldn't believe it. He had been so close. He was supposed to make it, not fall to his death.

"Ev...Everyone, i'm sorry. I only wanted to show everybody that Natsu was still alive...not what just happend" cried Levy as she finally broke down and bawled her eyes out. She heard light footsteps approaching. Looking to the source, she spotted Makarov approaching her.

"It's alright my child, there's no way you could've known what would happen." the short man said softly. "Why don't you go on home Levy? Get some rest?"

"Oh...ok..." she stuttered before picking up her broken invention and heading out of the guild with a heavy heart

"Everybody listen up!" shouted Makarov with glistening eyes."With wh...with what happened today i will be closing the guild for the remainder of the day. Tommorow, if you wish to come into the guild, we can all share stories or memories of Natsu. But, for now go home and grieve...thats what ill be doing..." he said sadly.

After a few minutes, very few were left in the guild hall. Mira had already ran home, the anguish and heartbreak written on her face. She was quickly followed by her two siblings. Gray had left soon after with s hard look. By now the only ones left were Cana, Laxus, Gildarts, Master, Erza, and Happy..

Laxus wasn't crying, he refused too. Dammit he was the strongest in the guild wasn't he? But, what he had seen...

"Dammit bro, is that what you've been going through these last four years? What you've been doing, the monsters you've been fighting. Would I have been able to survive? I know I'm strong, but you bro. You...kept fighting, pushed through your fear...even to the end...you were strong too" Laxus kept his thoughts to himself. He looked over at Erza, she had collapsed to her knees in tears. "Should i comfort her? ...No, i'm to strong for that, plus everybody will think i'm weak...maybe i don't have to say anything?"

Cana was still sitting at the bar, looking down at her bottle of whiskey. "He's gone, he's really gone. I can't believe it. These last four years i tried to ignore it, suppress the pain with alcohol...but maybe its time I put the bottle down and dealt with this and my other problems...sober. In light of what's happened, I should tell him...tell my father that i'm his daughter." she thought to herself before picking up the bottle and hurling it at the glass mirror behind the bar.

SMASH!

The remaining members looked at the source of sound, before watching Cana stand up and head to the doors. "Gildarts. I need to talk to you later alright? Meet me in the park in at 3:00 pm. Alright? Don't be drunk either, cause i won't be." she said toward the crash-mage before heading out the door.

"Ye...Yeah. Sure thing Cana" he said to her retreating form. He soon left the hall to go deal with his thoughts in silence.

Erza was kneeling on the floor, her head hung low, still sobbing. The tears running down her cheeks. She heard footsteps before someone stopped in front of her. Erza looked up to see Laxus looking down at her. He didn't have the usual scowl on his face...it was more...blank this time. She didn't move as he reached a hand down toward her. Resting his large hand on her right shoulder, he gave a light squeeze before straightening back up and leaving the guild hall. It was just Makarov, Erza, and happy now...

"Erza, head on home alright?"

"Its just...just...that it hurts so much!" Erza cried. She soon found herself in a hugging embrace with the kind, old master of Fairy Tail.

"I know it does, my child. I know how hard you looked for him all these years. All the hope and rumors you relied on...how much you loved that boy." Erza continued to sob at Makarov's words.."Just let it all out..."

"AAAAAUUUUUUGGHHHHHHH!" she screamed before the shock of the days events caused her to pass out.

"Happy? Can you please take Erza home? I'd like to be alone right now."

"Aye sir..." replied the little blue cat in a sad voice. He carefully picked up Erza and flew her too their home in the forest.

"...Sigh..." breathed out the guild master as he stood there in silence, inside the empty, quiet guild hall...

Sera, KR-33, 10 minutes out from Jacincto

"This is KR-33, I have a wounded Gear on board. Have medical personnel meet us at Pad-17"

"Confirmed KR-33, a medical team is standing by...fly safe" crackled the radio before the pilot closed the channel.

The exchange barely went noticed by the two passengers. Glenn Park had been nodding in and out of consciousness the whole time, muttering a small groan every now and then.

Sam...Sam was just staring off into space, a blank look in her eyes.

"Dammit, he was right there...right there! He had made it. I've lost almost two full squads since i got that promotion...maybe i'm just not cut out for leading...' she thought tiredly as the Raven continued through the air...

Ten minutes later, they had set down. A medical team had taken Park to treat his injuries while Sam just stood there...

"Sergeant Bryne! What the hell happened out there?" It was Hoffman as he approached the lone Gear.

"Sir!" she snapped off a quick salute before continuing. "It was a trap, set by the locust Sir. We lost private Evans early on to sniper fire before we even arrived at the school. When we arrived, the whole place was littered with bodies. Not a single living soul was in the building. We managed to find the beacon in the gymnasium, but nobody was there." She continued her report before getting to the end.

"What happened to Dragneel?"

"He didn't make it in time Sir, ...the building gave way...I...I...I'm sorry Sir, i did everything i could."

"...You did everything you could, Sergeant. Go get some food and rest up. Your off duty for the next three days. That's an order" he commanded before walking back to the control center. "Dammit, on his first mission too...But from what Bryne told me, he conducted himself with bravery and managed to save Park's life..." He let out a heavy sigh before heading back inside.

Magnolia Park 3:00 p.m

Cana was nervous, she was sweating bullets on her chosen park bench.

"I won't back down from this...I'm gonna tell him. I...really need a drink...NO! I will be sober for this!

"Cana?"

She jumped with a yelp. "Ah Gildarts i didn't hear you. Please have a seat."

"You wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Yes...Well you see I haven't told this to anybody...not even master. But with what happened today i decided no more hiding, no more being afraid of what will happen..."she got real quiet.

"Well? What is it? Spit it out already."

Cana gathered her courage before replying.."Gildarts...I'm your daughter"

He blinked...once...twice...then passed out right there in the middle of the park. It was kinda embarrassing to be honest.

"Well...at least he didn't run away like a little girl..."

The next day, Erza's and Happy's house

Erza had finally cried herself to sleep around midnight. But it wouldn't last. The remainder of the night was plagued with monsters...horrible monsters killing her friends and loved ones over and over again.

'Knock Knock'

Her eyes shot open. "Who the fuck dare's to wake me right now...especially after yesterday" she muttered darkly.

'Knock Knock'

"OH the forest better be on FIRE to disturb me today!" she yelled before jumping out of bed and heading to the front door. Erza was not it the best of moods. She did NOT want to be disturbed, she did NOT want to talk to anybody. This person better have a good fucking reason to be here...

"WHAT! What do you want? Can't i just mourn in peace!" she yelled to open air before looking down. "Levy!? What are you doing here? This is not a good time...

There was Levy, standing at the front door. Holding her broken invention.

"Umm...Erza? Can i talk to you?"

"...Sigh...fine you can come in..." she said while moving out of the doorway.

"So what are you doing here levy? I really didn't want to see anybody today."

"I know...I actually tried Mira first...but the she refused to come out of her room according to Elfman...I thought it best to come here to discuss this. It's about my invention."

"Figured as much since you brought it with...what's it called anyway? You can't just keep saying invention or machine?"

"Oh...um...how about the Interdimensional Viewing Device! Or IVD for short!" she responded with a small smile.

"Well it's better than invention...so what did you want to discuss?

"Well, I pretty much fixed it up already..."

"Why though? We all saw what happened to Na...Natsu yesterday..." she stutterd. Erza was really trying to keep it together...she really was. But this could go badly if Levy wasn't careful with her words...

"Because the people of that world need our help! We all saw what they were fighting! What if i could figure out an actual portal or something? Shouldn't we at least try?"

"That is true...we are Fairy Tail and we do our best to help those in need...but why do you need to tell me this?"

"...Sigh...I need a special component...a crystal. What i used before wasn't strong enough. That's why i came here to ask for you help, Erza."

"Alright, but why not ask Jet and Droy? Their your team-mates are they not?'

"True, but they end up fighting each other all the time over stupid, trivial shit. I don't have time for that. You on the other hand, have laser-focus while on a job...sooo..will you help me?"

"I know yesterday was really bad...but this could help keep my mind off of him...It's not perfect, but it's better than laying in bed all day. Plus, i think Levy is trying to make up for what happened, she might need this even more than i do..."

"Very well, we leave immediately."

"Thanks Erza...umm..shouldn't we wake Happy?"

"No, yesterday was very tough for him. I will leave him a note so he wont worry and panic...He tends to go overboard sometimes" she replied while leaving a short note on Happy's fridge.

30 minutes later the two girls had arrived at the Magnolia train station.

"Levy, i forgot to ask this...but where are we going?"

"Trinity Hill. But the town isn't important...It's the cave a few miles from the town. That's were these crystals are located. Wait here a minuted, i'll go buy our tickets."

A few minutes later the two girls found their seats before an awkward silence fell over the two.

"Did you manage to get any sleep Levy?" asked the red head.

"...Not really. I kept having nightmares...about those monsters.."

"As did I...I kept dreaming of them killing all our friends while i was helpless to do anything...they were very vivid..."

"Where do you think they came from? Our world doesn't have creatures like that...at least i hope not..." she muttered the last part to herself.

"I did notice something odd though about all those battles Natsu fought.."

"Really?"

"Yes. Don't you find it odd that besides Natsu, nobody used any magic at all?"

Levy's eyes widened in surprise before exclaiming "Your right! Which means either they chose not to. Or..."

"That world doesn't operate on magic like ours does." Erza exclaimed as her eyes widened in realization.

"A whole civilization that developed with no magic...the possibilities could be endless!"

"Indeed, this begs for further thought later. But for now i will attempt to sleep. We do have a few hours till our destination"

With that, both girls tried their best to rest on the train...with some success.

Sera, Jilane approximately 1:00 p.m.

drip..drip..drip..drip...

Something wet kept hitting Natsu in the face. With a start he opened his and looked around.

"AAAUUUGGHHH!" Pain...searing hot pain. He looked down at the source. A metal shaft of rebar had pierced through his abdominals on the right side. Natsu coughed...he could taste blood in his mouth. "Ok" he muttered "I gotta get this thing outta me"

Using his fire magic, he melted through the offending piece of metal sticking out of his front. But that still left the remainder sticking through him and out his back.

"Fuck! Alright...I'm gonna have to lift myself off of this and roll away...3...2...1..." he mentally counted down before doing the deep.

'Cough..cough' he could taste more blood before taking a deep breath. "Alright...last step..." Lighting his hand on fire he pressed down on the wound. "AAAHHHUUUGHHH!" Natsu screamed, almost passing out from the pain. But he pushed through and managed to seal the wounds on both sides. It still fucking hurt though...ALOT.

Laying there catching his breath, Natsu started looking around at his surroundings. From what he could tell he had punched through the ceiling, landing on a pile of rubble.."Fucking chunk a metal, well I showed that scrap." he thought before looking around some more. It appeared to be a maintenance room with a few wall lights and a single door leading out. He continued scanning with his eyes, seeing old tools, a few broken generators...and back half of the room completely collapsed.

"Well looks like i'll be taking door number one" he muttered to himself while slowly standing up, wincing in pain. His WHOLE body hurt. No, cried in pain. "Fuck! That can't be good" before doubling over and heaving his stomach contents. Standing back up, he reached for his lancer. It wasn't there. He looked behind him, his flamer was gone too. "Ah shit, must've lost them in the fall"he muttered to himself. In a flash of light, he requiped his remaining two weapons. His Gnasher and Longshot. "Well better than nothing" he stated.

His stomach let out a small growl. "Well falling from a building does build up an appetite" he thought humorlessly. Reaching into a side pouch he pulled out a standard ration. A few minutes later with his stomach fortified he started walking to the door. He didn't even make it 3 steps before clutching his right side. "Damn i gotta have a few broken ribs at least too...I'm fucking lucky to be alive right now. I mean i fell a few hundred feet, punched through a roof, get impaled and I can still walk? I must be one lucky fucker. But...with these injuries my magic is extremely low...I can't afford to get into any fights. So goals. Get out of the city and radio for pickup..." His eyes widened in realization before pressing down on the radio in his ear. ...Nothing. No static, No Signal. Nothing.

"AHH Fuck! Can this day get any worse?" he yelled out before opening the exit.

There was one lone light above him that gave a few flickers before deciding to stay on. He was not outside. He was underground. In a sewer. With the exception of the lone light above him there was complete darkness. That's when he heard it. The beating of thousands of tiny, bat-like wings.

"Ah shit...I just had to go and open my big mouth" he muttered to himself before lighting his left hand on fire...

Trinity Hill. Three hours later

Erza and Levy had barely left the outskirts of the small town before the clouds darkened and rain started to fall.

"Huh, wasn't it sunny just a few minutes ago Erza?

"It was, but weather can be weird like that. So how far is this cave of yours?

"We should get there in about 10 minutes"

Erza nodded in silence as the two continued to walk. The rain got heavier, the road got muddier. It basically turned into a quagmire by the time they arrived at the cave entrance. The two proceeded into the cave, the light from the entrance slowly fading.

There was the shifting of loose rubble and then running feet from the darkness up ahead.

"Who goes there! Identify yourself!" shouted Erza as she requiped a sword and ran in pursuit.

"...Sigh...Erza wait up!" yelled the script mage as she followed her friend.

The two ran for a few hundred feet before emerging into a large chamber filled with glowing, yellow crystals. There was a small fire crackling at the far end of the chamber with what looked like a very thin bed mat and a few scraps of food. A large boulder sat near the small campsite, besides that the whole chamber was empty.

Erza decided to speak up. "We are not here to harm you. My friend and I are just here for some of these crystals. After that we will be on our way"

"...Re...Really? You promise? said a voice from behind the boulder...a female voice.

'Yes, you have my word. However I would be more at ease if i could see you."

"...Ok...But you have to promise to stay were you are."

"You have my word"

A minute paused in silence before a young woman emerged from behind the boulder. The woman wore a dirty, blue dress with multiple tears. She was about the same age as Erza with a very curvy body and a very angelic face. If it wasn't for the grime and dirt, this woman would be considered very beautiful.

"There, Isn't that better? Now my friend here is going to collect some of these crystals. You don't mind, do you?"

The woman shook her head side to side as Levy started to collect what she needed

"Alright. What's your name? Mine's Erza Scarlet and my friend over there is Levy McGarden' she continued with a soft smile.

"I...I'm Juvia Lockser...But alot of people just call me Juvia the rainwoman. At least they do before running me out of town...nobody want's to be around someone that makes it rain all the time." She stated as a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

"You can make it rain? That is very impressive, Juvia" smiled Erza.

"That's not the only thing Juvia can do. Juvia can control the water around her...even turn her own body into water."

"Ah, so I take it your a water mage?" Erza asked as Juvia nodded in reply.

"Hey Erza, I collected all i can carry at the moment as she slung a backpack over her shoulders." interrupted Levy.

'Alright, give me a minute. So Juvia, what are your plans?"

"Juvia planned on staying in her cave..."

"Well, why don't you come back to Fairy Tail with us? A new member always cheers up the guild. God knows we need it right now..." thought Erza before looking at the water mage.

"Juvia doesn't know what to do! What if they hate Juvia? But Erza seems nice and the short girl doesn't seem to mind...mmmm I know! If they hate Juvia's rain, she will leave them. But if they like her rain she will go. It's the only way to be sure." The thoughts crossed her mind in a flash. "Very well. Juvia will come with."

"Excellent, now let's go."

A few minutes later the three women had exited the cave, heading back into town. It was still raining...

"Juvia is sorry for the rain...she can't help it"

"Actually, I find it refreshing." replied Erza as the three continued walking.

"Really? You don't hate Juvia's rain?"

"No, I always thought of the rain as washing away yesterdays sorrows and cleansing the way for a brighter tomorrow"

With those words, Juvia could almost feel the sorrow of her heart lift. For the first time since she could remember, the sun poked through the clouds...Within the hour, the three mages were on a train, headed for Magnolia.

Jilane sewer system approximately 1 hour til sundown

Natsu had been wandering for hours. The raised walkway where he had started ended after maybe half a mile...if he had to guess. So now...now... he was limping through knee high sewer water with lord knows how many injuries now. But God Damn it stank...No it FUCKING STANK. That wasn't his biggest problem though. No...as soon as he started on his underground journey through literally SHIT CREEK. A swarm of Kryll had descended on him. The only reason why he hadn't been torn to shreds was because of his fire. But...he was getting tired. His fire was starting to get dimmer. Already a few of the little flying bastards had left a series of cuts along his exposed arms...even a few on his thighs. They were starting to sting...Badly. The environment definitely was NOT helping. After a few more minutes of slogging through liquid shit and a few more Kryll slashes.. He saw it...Light.

"OH FUCK YEAH!"

Moving as fast as he could, he started forward. Ten minutes later he tumbled out of a drainage pipe into dirty, muddy water. Feeling the mud squish beneath his fingers, he pushed himself up before climbing up the embankment. Taking in his environment he found himself on a four-lane hiway. Looking to his left, He saw Jilane miles away, draped by a lowering sun "Holy shit! I walked farther than i thought..Oh crap its close to dusk...I don't have much time before the kryll come out. I o NOT have enough magic left to deal with the kryll for another nine hours." Looking down the road to his right, were a few ruined cars...and a fueling station in the distance. 'That's my only chance' he muttered before moving down the road to the station as fast as he could.

Erza's house a little after 8:00 p.m.

Erza had invited Juvia and Levy into her home after they returned to Magnolia. They were currently watching Levy install the last component into her IVD.

"Juvia is confused, what does this device do?

"Well" stated Levy as she started explaining. This device allows us to view a whole different world...a very different world. The drawback is its only one-way. Nobody there can see or hear us...that's where one of our friend was trapped for the last four years..." the exclamation ending in a soft whisper.

"Was trapped there? Did you get him back home? asked Juvia

"No." Stated Erza before continuing. "He...He died yesterday in a battle...we saw the whole thing happen before our very eyes...We couldn't do anything to help him...He didn't even know we were there..." Erza finished with moistening eyes.

Juvia's eyes widened in shock as she looked at the two down-trodden friends. "Juvia is sorry. She didn't mean to make you upset...But Juvia has to ask. If your friend passed away...why fix this machine?

You could almost see the fire in Levy's eyes return. "Because despite how horrible it was. We could still learn alot about that universe. Maybe even communicate with them in the future...and if we can communicate maybe we can help them someday!" she yelled out before making the final adjustment to her IVD before powering it on.

'Ping...Ping...Ping...

Levy stared at the machine in shock. "NO WAY! NO FUCKING WAY! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?" she screamed out as a big grin erupted across her face.

"What? What is it Levy?" Asked Erza in confusion.

"HE"S ALIVE! NATSU IS ALIVE! The Pings! They lock on to his specific life-force! It can ONLY be him!" she continued yelling out as she jumped for joy.

Erza's eyes widened in shock.."Your sure Levy! Like 100% sure?

"YES! Oh my god! We need to tell the guild right now!' she finished before grabbing the IVD and running out the door. The two other mages quickly following in her footsteps.

Fairy Tail...10 minutes later...

Mira had finally given in to her sibling's pleading to come to the guild hall earlier today. For a while everybody had been sharing stories about Natsu as a kid...reminiscing about his antics...all the fight's he started. Even Grey and Laxus had something nice to say about him earlier... But now...everybody was just sulking.

"I lost him twice...First all those years ago and then yesterday...I...I don't think i can go through that agian..."

'Crash!'

The doors had been practically kicked off their hinges...by Levy of all people. She looked like she had run a marathon. She was quickly joined by Erza and a strange blue-haired woman.

"HE'S ALIVE! NATSU IS ALIVE!" Levy yelled out before running to middle of middle of the guild. ready to re-activate her IVD.

"WHAT!" practically the whole guild shouted out.

"Care to explain Levy? I know you feel guilty about what happened yesterday, but raising people's hopes like that is very cruel." said Makarov as he approached the script mage.

"No time to explain!" she yelled before activating the machine, once again replacing the hall with strange surroundings.

There he was, running down an abandoned hiway with a setting sunset in the distance. Needless to say...Natsu looked like shit.. Not including his fresh face scar, he was now sporting a large circular scar on his right abdomen where the armor was broken. Multiple bleeding lacerations on his exposed arms and blood soaking through similar cuts on his upper thighs. He looked exhausted.

"Holy Shit!" exclaimed Laxus as he saw the dragon-slayer running down the street. "I knew he was tough, but how the fuck is he even still alive?" the lightning mage finished.

'Thats...THATS SO MANLY!" yelled out Elfman before being slapped upside the head by Evergreen.

"None of that manly shit right now! Can't you see the state he's in?" she yelled before getting a quick nod from the take-over mage. With that everybody quieted down and continued to watch the scene unfold in silence.

(AN: Just to be clear the guild is still watching everything unfold with Natsu. I have not switched back to Sera of it as giant holographic movie projection..just you know.. in real time... where people die.)

"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! You damned wretches! don't you know the kryll will be out in a few minutes!" he yelled before pointed his left arm behind him and firing off a a sting of bullets from his snub. He nailed two of the three pursuing wretches. But by then, the third had leaped. It landed on Natsu's right shoulder before leaning back and biting down...His luck held out a little longer...It did NOT go through his armor.

"GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" he yelled before pointing the snub at the still clinging wretch and fired into its head. The back of the wretches skull exploded before its teeth went slack and it tumbled to the pavement. He continued running despite the horrible pain his body was in. He was 100 feet from the gas station. 50 feet.. his lungs were burning...the sun dipped below the horizon. The kryll were coming out now. He was less than ten feet from the actual station building. The beating of wings were behind him. Natsu didn't dare look back. He ran through the open doors down the center aisle. A storage room was open straight ahead. He ran in, slamming the metal door behind him. Not a second later the kryll slammed into it...but the door held. He fumbled around, looking for a lock. Finding one a few seconds later before locking the door.

"Holy shit that was close!" before lighting his left hand on fire. He had dropped his pistol somewhere out front. Looking around with his glowing hand he saw a few cans of food, a couple of candles. But most importantly of all was a desk with a ham radio on it. "Oh fuck yeah! I can call for pick-up tomorrow." he said before lighting the few candles on fire. Basking in the glow of the small flames he helped himself to the two cans of food before setting himself down against the far wall. Bring his right hand up he reached for something under his left armor plate. It was a photo.

By this point Erza and Juvia had joined Mira and Happy as they watched Natsu.

The picture looked old. It had small tears on the edges. The color had started to fade. It was the picture of Natsu, Happy, Erza, and Mira right before that fateful day.

"He...He...He still has that picture." whispered Erza as she locked eyes with Mira and Happy. The three of the them had misting eyes once again.

"I miss you guys..." they heard him say before Natsu continued speaking

"I miss you guys so much." It looked like he was talking to the picture.."I miss the guild. Going on jobs with my friends...I even miss grey...a little bit" he chuckled before continuing to tell his story to the photo. Little did he know that everything he said could be heard by his family. "Well I had my very first mission as a Gear of the COG today. Oh a Gear is a soldier and the COG stands for 'Coalition of Ordered Governments' ...although not much left of the COG these days thanks to the locust...Maybe i should start at the beginning that way you can understand."

"You see before this war, there was another war known as 'The Pendulum Wars' This was a global conflict that spread across the whole planet. The two massive powers were the COG and UIR. That stands for Union of Independent Republics by the way. Now this war had been raging for over 76 years with tens of millions dead on both sides. It wasn't until the 76th year of the war did the COG achieve a critical victory. They stole a weapon known as 'The Hammer of Dawn' from the UIR. Now the Hammer of Dawn is an orbital weapon satellite capable of firing a massive laser at any target on the planets surface." He paused. "I guess the closest thing Earthland would have would be the 'Etherion Cannon, but instead of one, its a whole system. It took the COG almost two years to develop and build the whole thing. They only had to use it once against the UIR...the 3rd fleet if i remember correctly. Over 30,000 men and women died that day. A few weeks later the war had ended. Both superpowers had signed a peace treaty and Sera could have peace and prosperity again...It didn't last" Natsu had stopped talking for the moment.

"Did...Did he say over 30,000 people died from one weapon...firing a single time?" stuttered out Cana as guildarts gripped her shoulder in comfort. They hadn't told the guild yet about their father-daughter relationship yet...didn't seem right.

"Yeah...He said 30,000 for sure." said grey before continuing "What the hell kind of world did flame-brain land in?"

"6 weeks"

The guild got quiet again as Natsu continued his unintentional history lesson.

"The peace lasted for 6 weeks, before the Locust emerged. They call it Emergence Day and for good reason. The locust emerged everywhere across the planet. Within 48 hours the locust had killed about 25% of the entire global population, or about 1.5 billion people. Men, women, children...It didn't matter to them. They didn't care about national borders or Religion. They cared only about one thing...The complete genocide of the human race. But god damn if the countries of the world didn't fight. They fought with all the machines of war. Men and Women across the planet flocked to recruiting stations the world over to fight this horrible new enemy. But it wasn't enough. The locust would just dig under armies and destroy them in detail. They were methodical. They would attack a new city and kill everybody who couldn't escape. They were everywhere except for a few places they couldn't dig through." he paused before continuing, the guild listening with wide eyes and shock written on their faces.

"This area was the Ephyra Plateau and the South Islands...Don't worry about why right now...its not important. After almost 2 years of this new war, the remaining governments were getting desperate...they were loosing ground everywhere, whole cities were falling. Millions were dying!" He exclaimed in anger before settling back down. That's when the leader of the COG, chairman Prescott ordered that the Hammer of Dawn would be used to attack ALL locust held territory across the planet. He gave the people in the targeted cities only 24 hours to get out before the attack commenced. One day later, 'Hammer Day' started. There were so many targets that it took 72 hours for the satellites to cycle all the targets.." Natsu let out a small sigh before he continued.

"Over 70% of the planet's surface died during those 72 hours. The resulting firestorms incinerated untold millions. That happened about eight years before i showed up. But I did see it happen once when i first arrived here...at the city of Char. The higher up's estimated over 300,000 died in the blast wave alone...It incinerated everything. I...I..can still remember the screams of the dying as they tried to escape...there was nothing i could do!" He cried out, hitting his head against the wall.

"I lucked out though..i was taken in by some soldiers. One of them, Baird, taught me so much. If i had the parts and tools i could literally build an APC" he smirked. "But like i said earlier you guys this was my first mission and i was damn lucky. I didn't even have to fight the really terrifying locust...Well that Brumak sucked for sure. But most of them were small fry.'

Erza couldn't beieive it. "Is Natsu really saying that all those horrible monsters we saw yesterday...were just small fries? Like, not even the worst?" she cried out. As if hearing her question, Natsu continued.

"Sigh...look at me...I'm just talking to an old photograph...its not like any of you can hear me anyway. But if you can hear this somehow...I want you to know I love you all...' Natsu said as he put the photo away for safe keeping before slowly drifting off to sleep.

Within a minute, Natsu had faded as Levy shut off the machine and they found themselves back in the guild hall.

"Holy shit..Did he really say billions died?" stuttered out Grey.

"Yes...Yes he did. But that was eight years ago...who knows how many more have died since then" stated Mira as she stood up and walked over to Levy. "Levy, do you think you can keep working with this technology? Maybe even find a way to communicate?

"Yeah. I'll keep working on it, but i don't know how much progress i'll make."

"Whatever you need, you come to me or Erza, alright? In fact..." she started before spinning around, eye's wide. "Hey! Who the hell are you!?" Mira yelled out pointing at the blue haired girl standing next to Erza. This was the first time many of the mages even noticed this new woman standing in the guild hall.

"My...my name is Juvia...and i was hoping to join Fairy Tail. But with all the excitement from before, Juvia stayed quiet." She stuttered out softly.

"Well this is a cause for celebration! Natsu is alive and we have a new guild mate! This is a great reason to...PARTY!" Yelled out Makarov as the guild erupted in cheers. While many members saw this as a reason to cut loose. A few members stayed subdued, thinking over all the the new information they had learned...

Sera, 5 miles south of Jilane...the next morning

Natsu woke with a start, light shining into the room under the doorway. "Well at least the kryll are gone for now. Plus alot of my magic has returned." He grinned, lighting his hand on fire. "Oh yeah...that's the stuff. Well lets see if i can find anything of use here" he muttered while standing to his feet. A minute later he was standing in the main station, looking around. He had found his pistol on the ground from where he dropped it the night before. Re-holstering it, he continued to to search. While there were a few cars and trucks in the parking lot, there was nothing in here.

"Damn, this place has been picked clean...Well might as well power up that old radio" he said while walking back into the storage room. Sitting down at the desk, he turned the power knob. Nothing. He checked the power cord. It was intact. "Maybe its and internal problem?" he thought before prying open the old radio. "Well shit." Mice had gotten in and destroyed everything...this thing wasn't going to work again in a hundred years.

"Fuck..well maybe one of those cars still works?" before he headed outside. After looking over the most of the cars. He concluded that they were all junk. Approaching the last vehicle he felt his hopes rise...It looked mostly intact. All four tires were inflated and it didn't have any noticeable damage...except for the missing drivers side door. "If it runs, i don't care about anything else." Looking inside the cabin, he smiled. Spotting the keys right on the dashboard. "Must be my lucky day" he said before sliding behind the wheel. Grabbing the keys, he placed them in the ignition before starting the truck...well, he tried to start it. Looking at the dash readout he took in the displayed information. "Hmmm...full tank of gas...oil and battery are both good, might be a problem with the engine" he muttered before popping the hood latch and walking to the front of the truck. Looking over the engine he quickly spotted the problem.."That certainly would do it" he said to himself before getting to work.

Half an hour later he was done and sitting back behind the wheel.

"Alright, let's try this again." He turned the key and the engine roared to life. "YES! Am i good or what!?"

Placing his shotgun on the passenger seat for easy access and buckling up, he shifted into drive. Pulling out of the parking lot, he headed down the road to Jacincto.

After driving for a few hours, Natsu was less than an hour away from the city.

That's when he came under fire, the bullets pinging against the truck bed. Looking behind him he spotted the cause.

"Fucking Reavers, can't just leave me in peace can you! He shouted out as he hit the accelerator. They continued to fire...

Jacincto Command Center

Colonel Hoffman was standing there stoically, looking around the room. It was actually a quiet morning so far. He enjoyed quiet. Victor glanced over at the woman standing next to him. "How are you doing Sam?

"I'm good sir, just came back from visiting Private Park. The doctors say he should make a full recovery, but it'l be awhile before he can go back in the field."

"That's good to hear. Have you filled out a new roster yet?"

Before Sam could respond a technician at one of the terminals spoke up. "Colonel Hoffman Sir. I have movement on the South Jilane Hiway. It appears to be a civilian truck being chased by two Reavers Sir."

"How far away are they?"

"Less than half an hour Sir" stated the technician before going back to studying his termiinal.

"Sam, grab some Gears and Raven, whoever that is needs a helping hand"

"Yes Sir." she saluted before running out of the room.

South Jilane Hiway

Natsu had been dodging the incoming fire for who knows how long now, when one of the Reavers got ballsy. Flying up the open door, the drone pilot was starting to line up a shot. Before he could, Natsu grabbed his shotgun with his right hand before pointing out the cabin at his target. It was the perfect shot.

'BOOM'

The blast echoed inside the cabin as the shot balls tore through the reavers hide, causing it to tumble to the pavement in a swirling mass of blood, bone, and gore.

Thats when he got hit by the other one. The bullet tore through his right shoulder in an explosive, bloody mist before slamming into the dashboard.

Natsu lost control. The wheel slipped from his left hand before the truck turned sharply and started to flip. The truck completed the flip before rolling two more times, finally coming to a rest up side down.

The Reaver landed nearby before the pilot dismounted...He was going to savor this kill...

Natsu groaned in pain, while watching the approaching grub through hazy eyes. His mind was foggy and he couldn't find his weapons. The drone was only 5 feet away now as Natsu closed his eyes in acceptance.

Rat-a-tat-tat.

He wasn't dead. Natsu opened his blurry eyes to see the locust and reaver fall. It was a Raven. It slowly settled down onto the pavement before disgorging four soldiers. Natsu was losing consciousness as he saw what he thought was a woman approach him.

"Natsu!?"

He blacked out.

Alright that is chapter 4! Over 7,000 words. Now i know the whole searching a cave for crystals might be a bit boring, same with the whole history lesson but i thought it was a good way to bring in Juvia! Now ill be honest, I am not the best bringing in multiple characters for each chapter. So i think i might just concentrate on a just a main few. Like this one was mainly Erza, Levy, and Juvia. Next chapter i could concentrate on Grey or Cana or whoever. But i hope everybody enjoys it! If you have any questions or positive comments, PM me.

The Happy is out!