This chapter takes place after the preview, so now the story is all caught up lol.
Natsu was down on one knee, his body unable to move as his right arm bled profusely. He looked around him, everything was in rubble and all of his friends were dead, their bodies strewn upon the debris.
"Dammit!" Natsu yelled in frustration as his enemy approached him.
He tried to stand up but only fell to the ground as the figure inched closer. Stopping a couple meters away from him.
What are they doing? he asked himself but when he saw their stance his eyes widened. "That stance, it can't be. How do you-"
The figure yelled at the top of their lungs, "FIRE DRAGON..ROAR!"
FWOOM!
...
"Ahh!" Natsu woke in a fright as he fell out of the bed. He scratched his head as he stood up from the ground. "What was that dream?" he asked talking to himself as he sat on the bed. "Someone besides me was using Fire Dragon Slayer Magic...but what does that even mean? Was it Igneel? No that person was definitely a human, and it looked like a girl, actually it kinda looked like..."
"Mmmm." Natsu heard a soft moan coming from behind him that broke his concentration. He turned his head around and saw Erza lying behind him...clad in nothing but her underwear as the warm blanket covered her sleeping form.
Natsu smiled softly as he watched her sleep. She looked so at peace, the sun shining on her face only amplifying her beauty. Her smile was small, but warm as her long red hair glistened in the light, it made Natsu forget about his dream for a moment. Natsu wanted to stay next to her a little longer, but he stood up from the bed and put on his pants as he walked outside the door.
He breathed the fresh air outside as he looked at the crystal clear lake at the bottom of the hill where the small residence stood. He smiled wide and stretched his arms upward as he thought of what led to this moment of absolute serenity.
He thought of what happened between Erza last night. Replayed it over & over. I've never done that before. It felt…good. His face turned red slightly as he thought about and he sat down on the grass, continuing to look out at the lake. It shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, it was beautiful. He sat and watched it a little longer letting himself be absorbed into the moment. Suddenly he felt two arms drape themselves around his neck.
He didn't even have to look, he could tell by the feel of them that it was Erza and he smirked. She kneeled behind him, her arms still draped around him. She gently kissed him on the cheek. "Good morning." She said softly to him.
"Morning." He replied as he placed his hand on her arms.
"You're up early."
"Yeah, I had this weird dream that woke me up, so I decided to come outside and think."
"What was the dream about?" Erza asked concerned.
Before he could answer Natsu had recollection of the dream, he looked over to his left and saw Erza dead on a pile of rocks. When he snapped back to reality he put on a fake smile as not to worry her. "It was nothing."
"Are you sure?" She asked her tone getting more serious and frightening as she stared at Natsu pensively.
He smiled and scratched his head, "Y...yeah. Don't worry about it, I'm fine."
She continued to stare at him but eventually relented, "Alright, as long as you're ok." Erza then stood up and reached out her hand to him. "Come on, breakfast is ready."
"Alright." He turned around to look at her before standing up. She was wearing his vest, it looked good on her. He smiled at her and grabbed her hand, as they walked back into the cottage. He followed Erza into the kitchen and sat down at the table. He was salivating as he smelled the breakfast in the air. Erza sat down across from him and smiled, inviting him to eat.
He looked down at the food before him and smiled wide. He began to scarf down the delicious bounty before him, content with each and every bite. About 30 minutes later he was finished and reclined in the chair he was sitting in, exhaling happily.
"How was it?" Erza asked with a warm smile.
*burp* "Delicious as always." He answered back with a smile. He then stood up and stretched. Natsu then headed towards the door.
"Where are you going now?" Erza asked him confused.
"I'm going to do some training, I can't sit on my butt and do nothing. I'll get weak."
She smiled at his dedication, "Oh I see, well I'll join you then." She stood up and stared at him with fire in her eyes. She then took Natsu's vest off of her and threw it back to him. He caught it and put it on.
"Re-Quip." He body began to glow and as it faded she was now in her trademark gray armor and blue skirt.
"Really?" Natsu asked in disbelief trying to see if she was serious.
"Sure I have to stay in shape myself. Don't tell me you're scared to train with me Natsu." She looked back at him with a mischievous smirk.
Natsu clenched his fist and smirk back at her, "No way. Let's go Erza."
She nodded at him, a look of determination in her eyes. "That's what I like to here."
The two of them walked outside, and made their way down to the bottom of the hill; holding one another's hands tight. Erza blushed as they walked down the hill, she was so happy that her and Natsu were about to share this moment together.
They let go of one another's hands and walked a small distance from one another, staring each other down. Erza once again re-quipped, this time into her Flame Empress armor. Natsu looked at her and smirked. He began to breathe fire as the energy inside him began to build.
He loved fighting Erza. Her being one of the strongest warriors in the guild meant that each time they battled he would get stronger, but despite the things they had gone through the past month and what happened last night, he wasn't about to go easy on her. Erza felt the same as she got into her fighting pose, clenching her sword hilt tight.
"Natsu, I love you." She said confidently, "But don't think I'm going to go easy on you, I still have a reputation up hold." She smirked at him cockily.
He returned her smirk with on equally as confident, "I wouldn't expect the Mighty Titania to go easy on me."
After feeling each other out for a few more moments, the fierce battle began.
BAM! Natsu stomped the ground hard and dashed towards his opponent.
"Raaaaghhh!" He held his fist in the air as flames began to engulf it. Erza braced herself, she knew what was coming. "Fire Dragon…IRON FIIISST!"
POW! His fist impacted Erza's blade hard, but not a scratch was on it.
She smirked at him, "You're going to have to do better than that. HA!"
She slashed upward, parrying Natsu's attack and sending him back. She rushed him as her blade became enveloped in flames. "KYAAAA!" She slashed horizontally, Natsu managed to block with his arms but the force still sent him flying back further.
"Ngggh!" He stomped his feet into the ground to slow himself down, but Erza's wings had sprouted and she was almost upon him.
Has she always been this fast? He held his breath, Erza's eyes widened knowing what was coming.
"Fire Dragon…ROAR!" He released a huge wave of flames from his mouth directed at Erza, who flew into the air at the last second, although she did take some damage from the attack.
"Damn." She smirked, "He actually hit me with that one." She looked down at the ground and her eyes widened, Natsu was gone. Erza surveyed the ground rapidly. Where is he?
"Looking for someone?!" a loud voice called from above.
Erza looked up to see Natsu descending upon her, his right leg extended straight up. He was falling to fast for her to dodge so she was forced to use her sword to block.
"YAAAAH!" BAM! His leg swung down hard colliding with Erza's blade forcing her down to the ground below.
"Ah!" she descended fast. CRASH! The impact shook the lake below.
Natsu landed on the ground and smirked, confident that he had finally bested Erza. However when he walked to wear she impacted…he saw she wasn't moving. Terrified that he seriously injured her, he ran over to the small crater her body created. He placed his hands on her shoulders as he yelled her name concerned. "Erza, wake up! Erza!"
However it was all a front, as Erza suddenly opened her eyes and smirked. Natsu then found himself flipped on his back outside the small crater, with Erza sitting on top of him, her sword pointed at his throat.
"You let your guard down Natsu, you know better than that." She smiled at him, her sword still pointed at his neck.
Natsu looked at the sword then smiled back at Erza. "Damn, I thought I had you that time."
Erza changed back into her gray armor, her sword faded and she moved her faced closer to Natsu; still sitting on top of him. They kissed on the lips softly, Erza then backed away a bit and smiled down at him.
"I know you did." Her smile was warm and gentle. She then got off of him and extended her hand. Come on, let's go into town. I have to get a few things.
He smirked as he grabbed her hand and she pulled him up. "Alright, sure." They smiled at one another as they walked back towards the cottage.
Once they cleaned themselves off they started to make their way towards town. They talked about Fairy Tail, their respective childhoods…but more importantly they talked about last night.
Natsu's face grew red. "Umm…Erza?"
"Yes Natsu?"
He tried to find the right words without sounding too awkward. "About last night…"
Erza blushed she knew where the conversation was going, but she didn't wanna run from it. She composed herself as best she could, "What about last night?"
"I…I've never done anything like that before."
She smiled softly through her blush, he was so innocent. "I haven't either." She looked up to the sky, "It felt…good." She looked at Natsu's face and smiled. "I hadn't felt so, free before. Just losing myself in the moment, all the burdens and cares I had been sheltering lately just washed away when I was with you in that bed. I melted, I felt nothing, then everything."
Natsu looked at her slightly confused, he had no idea what she was saying; but it put a smile on her face when she was saying it so he didn't feel a need to question her on the matter.
"This morning when I woke up." Natsu started to smile, "I watched you sleep for a little bit before I went outside. You looked really peaceful, it made me happy to see you like that. You've been through a lot, most of it centered on me. SO I was glad to see you lying there with a smile." He smiled a goofy smile, something only he could do.
Erza grabbed his hand and smiled, "You're such an idiot. "
They continued down the path to Auron as they held hands. However when they finally reached their destination…
There was no one there.
This is weird. Natsu thought to himself. First that weird dream and now this. He then looked at the sky above as he and Erza walked further into town. I wonder how Lucy & the others are doing.
...
