Hi guys! Glad to know that my stories are being a success so far! I'm considering making the chapters longer, maybe 6,000 words. But anyway,
thanks for following this story! Lets get to the story!
Enjoy!
Chapter 14...
"Mm,mm,mm, Puah!" Wendy gasped for air as she finished chugging Natsu's canteen."Thank you Natsu-san, I was really thirsty!" She smiled happily at him as he took his now empty canteen and made it disappear.
"Here, you should eat this. What are you doing here?" Mira asked as she handed her a energy bar.
"We got lost yesterday and couldn't find our way out. We've been trapped here since." Carla said as she stood up.
"I got here this morning. I was searching all day...and this damn rain won't just let up!" She said in a annoyed tone as she looked up at the grey clouds.
"I-I'm sorry. This is all my fault." Wendy said in a apologetic tone.
"Don't worry about it, I'll get us out of here." Natsu said. Carla then made a noise of surprise as she looked at Natsu.
"Hey you."
"Huh?" Natsu's glance shifted towards her.
"Theirs no doubt about it...Are you a fire mage?" Natsu then made a noise of surprise.
"Uhh, sure. How'd you know?" He asked curiously.
"You...I had a vision of you...you and another man."
"Another man?" Natsu thought as he thought this was strange.
"What is it Carla, you see another vision?" Mira asked.
"Vision?" Natsu asked.
"Carla is a bit strange, she can have glimpses of the future from time to time. And they're spot on too believe it or not." She explained as Natsu raised his eye brow. "So what's the deal? You see something about this guy?" She asked.
"Yes...you are going to die..in a inferno of dark flames." She said as Mira and Wendy made a noise of surprise. Natsu had an emotionless expression as he looked at Carla.
"What!? What do you mean Natsu's gonna die?!" Mira asked
"I'm pretty sure. You and another man were in dark and blue flames. All of a sudden the other man stabbed you with his hand...and you died along with him." Natsu then narrowed his eye at the cat. She didn't look like she was lying, plus, even if she did how would she know about his fire magic and the other guy?
"The other guy? I wonder if she's talking about Zancrow...So, I die? Getting stabbed by that guy's hand?" He asked said as his hair was covering his right eye.
"I'm..sorry. I don't know anything else other than that." She said apologetically. Mirajane looked at Natsu with concern."What the hell?! Is this for real? This guy...dying?!" She couldn't believe it. Natsu then scoffed and chuckled much to the three's surprise.
"Woow, done in by that jackass?." He said as he stood up and began walking away.
"Hey, where you going?" Mira asked.
"I told the others that if I didn't come back before the storm stopped they were supposed to send in someone after me. Now that I found you guys we need to head back. Come on." He said as they began walking. The three were silent as they followed him. Natsu was in thought as he was thinking about Carla's words. "Well Natsu, looks like the Grim Reaper is going to pay you a visit pretty soon. Only question is, who's he taking with him?"
"Hey." He snapped out of his thoughts as he turned to Mira who was on his side.
"Well, looks like I'm gonna die." He chuckled.
"You don't seem all that worried about it." She said. Natsu's smile faded a little.
"How accurate are Carla's visions?"
"Well, their hasn't been one wrong yet. And if she says your gonna die..."
"Keh, like I'd believe that's my future." Natsu said which surprised her as they stopped and looked at each other."The moment I accept my fate will be the day I die." He said as he smiled a little and continued walking. Mira just couldn't figure this guy out, was this his way of coping, or did he just not care?
"How can you be so positive about this?" She asked as she caught up to him.
"...I don't know." He simply said as he smiled at her.
"Um, Natsu-san?" He then looked down at Wendy who was at his side.
"What is it, Wendy?"
"W-well, while it is true none of Carla's visions have been wrong, it could have been just been a misinterpretation." Mira then made a sound of surprise as she snapped her fingers.
"Hey yeah, there was that time where she said that a village was gonna be crushed by a rock slide, but it turned out that the rock slide was blocked by one of our mages right before it happened. So maybe, this is like that time." Mira said as she smiled.
"No, I clearly saw him being stabbed by the other man." Carla interjected.
"So you saw me get stabbed, that doesn't mean I'm gonna die." Natsu said as he held his hands up and shrugged.
"You are too care free. The man stabbed you through the chest with his HAND." She pointed out.
"So? He probably just landed a lucky hit on me."
"That's no-"
"Look, I know what you said is probably true, but what good is it to dwell on it? The "Other Man" you speak of happens to be the guy I'm looking for. And I ain't the least bit worried about it, so stop telling me I'm gonna die just because you saw me getting stabbed. I'll worry about it when the time comes." He said as he was getting tired of this.
"Hmph! Foolish man. Don't say I didn't try to warn you." Carla said as she huffed and turned her head away from him.
"Wow, way to push Carla's buttons. I can never usually get along with her either." Mira said as she chuckled.
"Well it's not like I plan on dying...at least not yet."
"Huh?"
"Oh, never mind!" He said as he nervously chuckled."Crap, I almost let it slip again." Mira was wondering what was it he meant.
"What does he mean "yet"?"
"Natsu-san?" Natsu looked back to Wendy as she spoke up.
"What is it?"
"Um, do you know where we are going?" She asked, they just seemed to be walking in one direction.
"You bet! I've been tracking the scent of beef, cabbage, carrots, green pe...Wait, this is..!?" His eye then widened."Aw man! Mindy's making my favorite stew again! I hope theirs some left this time." He said as he drooped.
"I take it Mindy is your friend?" Mira asked curiously.
"Childhood friend to be exact. We played together a lot when I was uh, training." Natsu said as he was remembering.
"Training?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah, with my father Venigon. He taught me Dragon Slayer magic." Wendy then stopped as she gasped.
"Y-you mean, your a Dragon Slayer?!"
"That I am." He said proudly as he smiled.
"I-I am one too!" Natsu then stopped in his tracks. He looked at her again with a blank look. Their was a moment of silence as the two looked at each other before Natsu suddenly shouted.
"HUH!? YOUR A DRAGON SLAYER!?" He couldn't believe it! This little girl...
"No way! Are you for real!? That's awesome! What kind are you!?" He asked with excitement. Mira was wondering why he was so hyped as she looked at him funny.
"Hey, don't crowd Wendy you brute!" Carla said as she flew up and pushed his face back.
"I-i-its alright Carla, um, I'm the Sky Dragon Slayer. My dragon was-"
"Grandeeny." Natsu finished as she gasped.
"You know Grandeeny?!"
"Well, not that much, Venigon always took me with him when ever he had to go ask for information...Actually the more I think about it, that would explain how he knew so much about women." Natsu thought the last part as he realized why Venigon always dodged the question when he asked him about it.
"This is wonderful! I didn't know Grandeeny knew anyone else." Wendy said as she happily came up to Natsu."Hey, you wouldn't happen to know where she went would you?" She asked Natsu. He then made a sound of surprise as he frowned.
"Sorry kid, I don't know where she went." She then frowned as she felt depressed.
"I..see." Natsu then rubbed her head as she looked up at him as he knelt down to her level.
"You may not know where she is, but your still looking right?"
"H..hai."
"Then keep at it! I'm sure you'll find her sooner or later!" He said with a smile. She then nodded as she smiled.
"Mm!"
"Hey guys, I hate to break the moment, but something weird is happening." Mira said as Natsu stood up and looked around.
"What is it?" He asked.
"I think the fog..is moving." She said as she noticed it suddenly gently blowing past them.
"That's strange, I didn't even sense the current change." Wendy said as she observed the mist.
"You mean you can sense things through wind currents?" He asked curiously.
"Yeah, its how I use to get around large forests like this, or a mountain." She said.
"Wait, then couldn't you just find your way out of here with that then?" Mira asked.
"She's tried, she can't seem to sense the air currents in this forest for some reason." Carla answered.
"..What if it's not air? Natsu said as the three looked at him."Wendy, you can inhale air can't you?" She nodded.
"Try inhaling this stuff." He said.
"I'll give it a try." She said, she then started inhaling. Only the weird thing was, she wasn't sucking up the mist.
"I...can't..it's not working." She said as she panted.
"It's not air, and this sure as hell ain't a regular mist. So why..?..wait." He then started waving his hand in the air. The mist wasn't even disturbed by the motions of his hand.
"Ok, that's kinda weird. So if this ain't air, then what is it?" Mira asked.
"I don't know but we better move, I'm starting to loose the scent!" Natsu quickly said as he began walking quickly.
Outside the forest...
"Hey guys? What's going on with the forest?" Mindy asked curiously as they stood up wondering why the mist was floating away.
"I'm not sure. Looks like the mist is leaving." Ultear said as they watched the greyness leave the woods.
"Should we go in and look now?" Mindy asked.
"Yes, I'll go." Kagura said as she got up.
"That's alright Kagura, I can go check." Erza said as she got up.
"Don't worry Onee-sama, I will be back before long." Kagura assured her.
"Really Kagura, it's ok." Erza insisted as she got up.
"Why can't you let me look!?" She suddenly shouted which surprised everyone. They were stunned at Kagura's sudden out burst.
"K..Kagura?" Erza asked bewildered.
"Ah...I'm sorry Onee-sama, I don't know why I acted that way." She apologized as she bowed.
"It's..alright Kagura. If you really want to look, then-"
"No, its alright Onee-sama. I am feeling a bit tired, it would be best if you went to go find them." She said as her hair foreshadowed her eyes.
"Don't worry about it Erza. Kagura, Mindy and I will be keeping an eye out for Natsu. Just try to make it out of there before it gets dark." Ultear told her as she came over to Kagura.
"Very well, I will bring them back, I promise!" She told them as she began heading into the forest. Ultear smiled a little as she tugged on Kagura's shoulder.
"Hey, why don't we go sit down and talk a little?"
"I am alright Ultear, I'm just tir-"
" Kagura." She said in a bit more serious tone. Kagura then made a noise of surprise.
"Yes, Master." The two then walked away from the camp as Mindy just sat there trying to figure out what just happened.
"Uhh, I guess I'll clean up." She said to her self as she shrugged it off and began picking up the bowels.
Inside the forest...
"Why are we running?!" Mira shouted as Natsu was carrying Wendy on his back as they were dashing through the forest.
"I'm gonna lose the scent from camp if we don't pick up the pace!"
"Scent!? What are you-"
"Dragon Slayers have enhanced human senses! Long story short, I can sense things ten times better then the average person! And if we don't stay on the scent we're gonna be-" He didn't get to finish as he began sniffing more intently. They then came to a stop."Welll, shit."
"What's wrong?" Mira asked as she caught up to them.
"I lost the scent." He said as he let Wendy down.
"He's right, I don't smell it either." Wendy said as she sniffed the air.
"I wish you would say something before suddenly running off like that..I can't fly for another five minutes." Carla said as she panted.
"Ah, sorry about that." Natsu apologized as he turned around.
"Are we lost?" Mira asked.
"No, I'm certain the scent was in this direction." Natsu said as he turned around. His eye then widened, he saw the mist returning."What!?"
"What is-Huh? Its coming back?!" Mira exclaimed as the grey cloud approached them. It then enveloped them in the mist once again, as they could barely see anything.
"What the hell!? This is even worse then before!" Mira shouted angrily.
"Guys, do not move! We'll get lost if we don't stick together!" Natsu shouted.
"How are we supposed to find each other?" Wendy's voice asked in the fog.
"I don't know, just reach out to the person's voice." Natsu told her. They began reaching out towards each other as they were making sure they didn't wander too far. "Mirajane? Are you right next to me?" Natsu asked.
"Uh, yeah! Keep moving forward!" She answered.
"Ok, Wendy! Stay where you are, we'll come to y-Wah?!" He then tripped over a plant or something as he tripped forward.
"AAH!" Mira yelped as she felt something fall on her.
"W-whats wrong Mira-san!?" Wendy shouted.
"Ow...you ok Mi-!?" Natsu then realized he was groping Mirajane's breast as she was red and her mouth was wide open.
"G-G-G-GET OFF ME YA' PERV'!" She immediately kicked him off as he was sent flying back into the mist and hit a tree as he crashed through it.
"AUGH! Ok, I'm gonna feel that one in the morning." He said as he cringed."S-sorry Mirajane, I tripped on a rock or..huh?" He then noticed something. The fog began disappearing!"It's vanishing?" He thought as he began to stand up. The fog cleared to a certain extent where the three could see each other.
"Natsu-san! Mira-san! The fog is clearing!" Wendy said happily. She then made a noise of surprise as Mira was blushing and had her hand over her chest.
"Y-yeah, I can see that Wendy." Mira stuttered.
"Wait.." Natsu said as he walked up to a tree and looked at it.
"What is it Natsu-san?" Wendy asked as she came up to him.
"..Wendy get back." He said as he lit his hand on fire.
"H-hai!" She complied as she walked back a little, Mira was curious as to what he was doing as she glanced over to him.
"Azure Dragon's Fist!" He then punched the tree with his flame enhanced fist as it broke in half and fell over. The mist was then thinning, as Wendy and Mira made a noise of surprise. Natsu then smiled as he realized what was going on.
"Heh, so this is why."
Outside the forest...
"I told you I'm fine." Kagura insisted as she was sitting next to Ultear on a log.
"I know, physically you are fine."
"Then wh-"
"Your little scene back at the camp, are you upset that Erza went instead of you?" Kagura then made a sound of surprise.
"Of course not! I was just..." She didn't really know how to answer as she just stayed silent.
"You just were worried about Natsu, right?" She asked as she smiled a little. Kagura then bowed her head as she nodded a little.
"Its not just that..."
"Hm?" Ultear was wondering what else she meant.
"Recently, I've been feeling like I..am not dependable." Ultear then sighed.
"Your an S-class wizard of Mermaid Heel and a fine one at that. You even completed the initiation test faster then Erza and Mira, so why would you think your not that strong?"
"After I fought Natsu." She said as Ultear made a noise of surprise. "After that fight I was trying to figure out why he was stronger then me. So I decided that I should train harder, but then after I saw how he fought Mira, it felt like it was something more then that.." She tried to find the right words but just couldn't put her finger on it.
"You know, I don't think it's a matter of how strong you are. Remember what Natsu said right before he left?" Kagura then made a noise of surprise as she remembered.
"You probably think that everyone thinks that your not special and just cause your girls you aren't a good enough mage..but If you can overcome that and still go on then aren't you already better then what anyone says?" She then nodded.
"You've overcome a lot of things despite what everybody says, and look at where you are, one of the strongest wizards in Mermaid Heel. So turn that frown upside down and be proud. You may not be as strong as you want to be, but at least you haven't stopped trying." Ultear smiled as Kagura then nodded as she smiled as she bowed.
"Thank you Ultear, I'm glad we talked."
"Mm!" Ultear said as she got up. "Well, that, and I think you might be a little jealous."
"Jealous?"
"Erza and Mira hogging Natsu all to themselves, I understand how you feel." She said as she rubbed her back.
"H-he's just a friend." Kagura said as she turned away with a light blush. Ultear giggled as she headed back to the camp as she was thinking.
"A friend huh? Hmhmhmhm~! That's the first time she's acknowledged a man as her friend...Natsu, I'm getting more interested in you...Sigh, I'm glad I sent that request out when I did." She smiled as she look towards the forest waiting for the mages to return.
Inside the forest...
"What do you mean "alive"?" Mira asked puzzled.
"Just hear me out, the trees in this forest are the ones controlling this..cloud or what ever it is." Natsu explained.
"The trees?...Maybe they are sucking up the moisture in the air." Carla noted.
"Maybe the air currents were also being sucked up when I tried to inhale the wind." Wendy nodded as they agreed.
"But how did you know?" Mira asked.
"When you sent me on that flight through the tree." Natsu deadpanned.
"Y-you freaked me out! That's a perfect response for that sort of action! And I still haven't forgiven you yet!" Mira shouted as she blushed.
"What are you talking about?" Wendy asked curiously.
"I said I was sorry, what else do you want me to do!?" Natsu asked irritated.
"T-t-t-the match." Mira managed to get out.
"Match?...Wait, you mean the fight back at Gracia?"
"The rules were that if the other person lost they had to do what the other one said!"
"I'm pretty sure that only applied to you." Natsu thought as he sweat dropped. "Sigh, what about it?"
"I think you and I both know that that was a tie, so we both get what we want from the other person."
"But I never asked you for anything! I just wanted the shield to get fixed!" Natsu protested.
"Hey! You copped a feel buddy, your lucky I'm just asking for one favor!"
"For the love of God, what is with this girl!?...Sigh, fine. I will do whatever you ask, but right now can we please get out of here first?" Natsu reasoned as Mira nodded as she smiled in satisfactory.
"Mm, thank you."
"Am I interrupting something?" They all then turned to the voice of a familiar red head head as she walked to them.
"Erza? What the hell you doing out here?" Mira asked in bewilderment.
"Erza-san!" Wendy shouted happily as she came over to her.
"Its good to see you alright Wendy." She smiled as she ran her armored fingers through her hair."Good job Natsu, you managed to track down these two. They're always getting lost." Erza told Natsu as she smiled.
"What do you mean "they"!? I came looking for HER! I just happened to bump into Natsu while I was looking!" Mira shouted angrily.
"Ahh Mira, still a short fuse as always. Perhaps the next time I can send Kagura to make sure you don't get lost." Erza mocked as she shrugged.
"What was that you Tin-can!?"
"You heard me you Goth bitch!"
"That's it! I'm gonna make you bleed!"
"Bring it on you Cow!" The two had immediately begone to but heads as they were getting ready to fight.
"Oook, what just happened?" Natsu asked as he stood next to Wendy dumbfounded.
"Erza-san, Kagura-san, and Mira-san are rivals. They fight when ever they disagree over something." Wendy explained as she sighed.
"You know those three pretty well eh?" Natsu said as he smiled.
"Yeah, I got to know them after I joined. They were all really scary at first, but they aren't that bad once you get to know them." Wendy said as she nervously chuckled.
"Well at least you got a warm reception, I nearly was almost a human lightning rod when I entered the building." Natsu chuckled as he recalled.
"Take it back!" Mira shouted as she punched Erza's fist.
"Never!" Erza fired back as she pushed her away. They were gonna actually fight for real at this rate.
"Ok, we gotta stop this." Natsu said as he sighed and decided to step in.
"W-wait Natsu-san, those two are very very strong!" Wendy said as she tried to warn him.
"Let him go, maybe he's sacrifice will calm them down." Carla said plainly.
"Carla! That's not nice!" Wendy whined as she panicked.
"O-k." Natsu said as he got between them.
"Hey, what's the big idea!? This is how we settle things!" Mira demanded.
"Don't interfere, I must make this cow pay for her insolence!" Erza shouted.
"Oh~THAT. IS. IT!" Mira shouted as she charged forward towards Natsu. "Don't get in my way pal'!"
"Ok, your first." Natsu said as he stood there. She was about to knock him out of the way when Natsu just grabbed her by the wrist and stopped her right in her tracks.
"Let go!" She shouted as she attempted to punch him. Natsu just simply caught her fist as he just stared at her.
"Can you calm down please?"
"No way! After what the red headed whore said, not until she apologizes!"
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Erza shouted as she charged them.
"Oh geez." Natsu sighed as he then pushed Mira away and then kicked Erza's sword out of her hand, which surprised her. The sword then came down as it stuck in the ground and almost hit Wendy as she yelped.
"I'm only going to say this once, so listen good." Natsu said in a dark voice as Erza flinched. He then fell on his knees and prostrated with his hands together. "PLEASE DON'T START FIGHTING TILL WE LEAVE THE FOREST, I'M BEGGING YOU TWO!" Erza and Mira both a noise of surprise. Their was an awkward silence as they didn't know what to do.
"Well, since your asking nicely I guess. So, could you please get up?" Erza said as she coughed and blushed.
"Hmph, I guess it can wait." Mira said as she huffed. Carla and Wendy stared wide eyed.
"H-h-he stopped them." Wendy exclaimed.
"Y-yeah." Carla said as she couldn't believe it.
"Ohh thank you, I wasn't sure if I could have stopped you two." He said as he laughed nervously.
"...Natsu?" Erza asked.
"Huh?" Natsu stopped as he stared at her.
"Do you know what is happening around here?" Natsu then recomposed himself as he cleared his throat.
"Oh yeah, I was just telling Mirajane and Wendy that the forest is the cause of the cloud."
"Now that you mention it, it looked like it was moving up the mountain." Erza thought as she put her hand on her chin.
"I think the reason the phenomenon is happening is cause the trees are controlling the cloud and absorbing the moisture in the air. And then it rotates around the mountain. That's why its always raining in this forest." He finished.
"Huh, you know for some grunt your quite perceptive." Carla said as Natsu rolled his eye.
"I think that's the nicest thing she's said to me so far."
"But that doesn't matter, lets hurry up and get out of here." Natsu said as he began walking in a random direction.
"I couldn't agree more." Mira said as she they all followed as they headed towards the end of the forest.
"Guys! Your back!" Mindy said excitedly as the five walked out of the forest.
"Sorry for the delay, all sorts of craziness happened." Natsu smiled as he came up to her.
"It's good to see you back Natsu! And Wendy!" She said as she came up to the little girl. " Alright, no more soloing for you till you get better, is that understood?"
"Hai, I promise!" Wendy said as she bowed her head. Ultear then smiled as she bent down and hugged Wendy.
"I'm just glad your ok." She said as she then stood up as Wendy smiled."Well Natsu, looks like I owe you again." She said as she looked towards Natsu, he was ignoring her as he had a serious expression on his face. He looked rather upset about something.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
"...I'm not sure." He said in a serious tone.
"What's wrong?" Erza asked as the everyone came up to the two.
"...The book."
"You mean the one Zancrow has?" Mindy asked as he nodded.
"I think I remember why it was important." He said as he faced them all.
"What?" Ultear asked.
"...If I remember correctly..that book was a type of seal."
"A seal? For what exactly?" Mindy asked as she listened.
"Well..Venigon told me it may have been one of Zeref's creations." They all then made a noise of surprise.
"Zeref's!? You mean the most evil, darkest mage in history?!" Mindy asked in shock. Natsu nodded.
"Well, what the hell is it?" Mira asked as she wanted to know.
"..." Natsu was silent as he narrowed his eye.
"..A Fire Devil, a Meggido."
"Fire Devil? Wait, you mean the book you were talking about...is actually a seal for a DEVIL?!" Mira asked bewildered.
"What's a Devil?" Wendy asked.
"Devils are said to be the most darkest and most evil creatures to ever exist. Not much is known about them, but they have been known to exist in the deepest most darkest corners of Earthland where magic doesn't reach." Ultear explained."And rumor has it that they are immortal and despise everything, even each other."
"Oh please, that's just some superstition some ol' fart came up with." Mira scoffed as she shrugged.
"This isn't the same as a demon Mira, these things actually have been reported to be avoided at all costs. Even by the Wizard Saints." Ultear said as Mira shrugged as she had a blank look. "But why would Venigon want you to take care of it?" Ultear asked as they all turned to Natsu.
"So it couldn't be revived. Venigon was able to destroy it's original body, but he couldn't figure out how to destroy it's spirit. So he...Wait, how did he do it?" Natsu pinched his nose in frustration."Dragon Arcanes! Yeah, that's how he did it!" He said as he slammed his fist in his hand."He used a type of sealing spell to hold its spirit in the book till he figured out how to destroy it." He said as he nodded as was remembering.
"So, what happens if it's unleashed?" Kagura asked.
"Well, if its a spirit, its going to need to find a body or something right? Cause everyone knows that spirits can't do anything in the real world without a body." Mindy said as they nodded.
"That's what I'm afraid of." Natsu said as they all turned to him.
"But, a spirit that powerful...wouldn't it need to find something strong enough to be able to sustain it?" Wendy asked.
"Right, if it tried something too weak to possess, it would just be incinerated." Ultear said as they were thinking. "It would need a vessel that could sustain it's soul and is able to not burn the second it takes over.
"Not burn?...Is it possible Zancrow could-!?"
"Bingo." Natsu said as he turned to Erza.
"If that thing is set loose..." Kagura said.
"Well, he's not the only one who could get possessed by it." Natsu said.
"What do you mean, who else?" Mindy asked. Natsu then turned to her and smiled a little.
"Your looking at em'." She then made a noise of surprise. "We're both pretty strong and have a natural resistance to fire..so, yeah." He said as he sat down near the camp. They all then came over as they sat down with Natsu as they were silently thinking.
"A devil huh?..I can't believe it, so they actually exist." Mindy thought.
"Why would his father let him take care of something this dangerous? He had to know what could happen if it was set loose." Kagura thought.
"A Fire Devil..I wonder if its really powerful?" Mirajane thought.
"If Grimoire Heart gets their hands on something like that.." Ultear began to say.
"Well I wouldn't worry about it just yet." Natsu said as they all looked up at him. "Even if that thing is set loose, I'll eradicate it one way or the other."
"But how do you kill a spirit?" Carla asked.
"...I got some ideas." Natsu said as he stood up.
"Care to share?" Mira asked. Natsu then smiled as he summoned a sleeping bag and laid it behind him.
"Mmm, not yet." Natsu said as he laid back.
"Huh!? But I really want to know!" Mira asked as she got up even more curious.
"Sorry! Can't hear you, your being too loud, ok good night!" Natsu said in a mocking monotone as he then turned on his side as he began to snore.
"Drk! Don't ignore me!" Mira said annoyingly as Ultear chuckled.
"Just relax Mira, we should all get some sleep, it's getting really late." She said as she then used her magic to summon 3 large sleeping bags. She gave one to Wendy and one to Mira as they took them and spread them out. Erza re-quipped into her pajamas as her armor vanished. Kagura simply laid out the sleeping bag she was carrying as she laid down on it. Erza then went over to her cart and grabbed her sleeping bag, and a tent.
It was silent as they all were getting ready to sleep as Mindy had put her sleeping bag next to Natsu as he was still awake.
"Hey, Natsu." She asked.
"Hm?"
"I've been wondering about this but.." Natsu then sat up, the others were listening to her as well as the rose-haired sat up. "Well, in all the years I've known you, I never did ask about what you did before you met Venigon." Natsu then made a noise of surprise.
"Oh yeah, I never did talk about that did I?" He said as he realized she never brought it up before. "Well what did you want to know?"
"Well, where were you born exactly?" She simply asked as he frowned a little.
"..A small village in the east. Why is she asking me this now?"
"A small village huh? That's pretty interesting, was it there you met Venigon?"
"No, I found him near Selion's mountains." He answered.
"I see. So, do you ever visit the village?" She asked.
"No."
"Why not?" She asked curiously.
"Cause they're all dead." She then gasped at Natsu's straight answer. The others were slowing down getting ready as they listened.
"Ah..Sorry. I didn't know." She apologized.
"You don't need to apologize." He said as he turned to look at the ground. "Slavers came through one day, and when we didn't want to pay they're stupid "tax" they started taking all the women and children...All the kids I played with, they all were dragged off in cages like animals. And the women..." He then paused as he could feel rage slowly building up deep inside him."...Well, lets just say they would have been lucky to have died first before going through..that messed up lunatic's twisted idea of "Fun"." They all were now concerned as Natsu talked. "He killed all the men that resisted. And the ones that were too scared to fight back."
"..How could someone do that? Slaughter a whole village..." Mindy said as she couldn't believe Natsu was just a kid at the time. Erza and Kagura frowned as they remembered how their village went through a similar fate.
"But, how did you escape?" She asked. Natsu then took a deep breath as he remembered.
"I almost was out of the village, but...he got in my way."
"He?" She asked.
"The leader, he kept me from running, he grabbed me and uh.." He then tapped his eye patch as he turned to her. She then put her hand on her mouth as her eyes widened.
"Fortunately I was on kitchen duty at the church, so I managed to get a knife before running. And..." His hair then foreshadowed his eye as he finished his sentence." I killed him."
They all gasped as they couldn't believe it. Natsu then smiled sadly as he looked down. "I guess that makes me a murderer too huh?"
"..Your wrong." He then made a noise of surprise as Mindy began standing up."I know you, you are NOT a murderer. The Natsu I know is...a very nice person who will do anything to help his friends when they need him most. He's cocky, strong, and hates transportation. I told you once already..." She then looked into his eye as she smiled as she closed her eyes."I'll be your friend no matter what." He then blinked a couple times as he then scoffed and smiled.
"Teh, damn, look at you. Never thought I'd see the day you set me straight."They all then smiled as they resumed getting ready for bed.
"You know, I think I'll help you out." Mira said as she came over to him.
"Really? you su-"
"Hey, I gotta make sure your still breathing when we duke it out again." She said as she smirked.
"...Heh, I guess I was right. You aren't half bad Mirajane."
"Mira."
"Huh?"
"Call me Mira, my friends all call me Mira." She said as she smiled.
"Ok then, thanks Mira!" He said with a grin. She then blushed a little as she coughed.
"Well I guess we all better get some sleep." Mindy said as they nodded. They all bedded down on their sleeping bags as they all were thinking about Natsu.
WOW! 6,000+ words! I think I'm on a roll here! Let me know what you think! And check out my latest poll,which story would you like to see most?
Well, I'll see you in the next update, The Flames of Destiny.
LATERRRRRS~!