Chapter 36
Gray and the rest of the group immediately took a defensive stance as Dimaria walked towards the Spriggan members, rolling her eyes, as she did. Laxus stepped forward ordering the group to stand down as Natsu and the others stared back at him in shock.
Natsu was the first to speak "Uhh…what's going on here ?" he asked completely flabbergasted. "Don't worry dear Uncle…as you can see, we aren't here to start a fight. Infact we are here on official Alvarez business" Larcade said with a business-like tone. "Official business?...here in Fiore ?" Erza asked intrigued. "That's fine and all…..but why are you people here in the guild ?" Natsu asked confused.
"Would you let me complete, what I have to say ?" Larcade asked exasperated. "Larcade remember what Sir Yajeel told us, be gentle" Brandish replied with a smile, yet in a serious tone. "Just ignore Flame for Brain's, he never has anything good to say" Gray said laughing as Natsu glared at him. But to their surprise Larcade and Dimaria's expression turned serious as Brandish stepped in between them,the whole Guild looking on in confusion.
"The only way to help them understand is to explain everything" she said pleading with Larcade and Dimaria to step down, as Larcade calmed down while Dimaria stood to the side not letting her guard down and glaring at the group and Gray.
"Before thing's escalate any further, we are here to announce that Alvarez has decided on the next Emperor to lead us" Brandish said smiling, as everyone in the room began to whisper. There were whispers of "Why did they need to come and tell us ?", "Isn't this a announcement that they should make Nationally ?", "Maybe they were here to inform Natsu, since his brother was the Emperor". " That's enough Brandish. Just get it over with already, I would like to leave as soon as possible" Larcade said staring at the ceiling,bored. "Fine….The Emperor Of Alvarez is you….." Brandish said looking straight at Natsu, as the group let out a "Huh…." collectively in shock, as the color drained from their faces.
Natsu on the other hand looked around at everyone staring at him in shock, "Why is everyone staring at me?" Natsu asked Lucy as she looked at him, with a look that said "Are you serious". "What….?" Natsu asked completely oblivious, when Lucy didn't respond. Lucy let out a loud sigh as she began to explain, "Natsu… the Emperor that Brandish and the others are talking about is you". Natsu was silent for a moment as he processed the new information before screaming in shock "What….?". "Well that was quick for him…." Cana said continuing to drink nonchalantly.
Gajeel's face had turned completely pale as Panther Lilly looked on worried, he turned to Levy a expression of urgency on his face "Hey Shrimp….quick tell me….what do I have to do to become the Emperor of Ishgar ?" he whispered to her. "Gajeel….you can't be serious right now, what's gotten into you ?" Levy asked surprised and concerned at the same time. "Well I've done as much as Salamander has for Ishgar, so what makes him that special, also I was the one who joined the Council, when he on the other hand slacked away on the mountains somewhere" he huffed angrily. "Well Gajeel…Natsu has been chosen as the Emperor for Alvarez and not Ishgar to begin with and I would appreciate it if you could just put your ego aside, just this once. This is a very important moment for the guild as well as Natsu-san" she said glaring at Gajeel daring him to say anything contradictory.
Gajeel felt his face heat up and bit back a retort that would usually follow. Ever since the incident with the Spriggan, he felt a even fiercer protective nature over Levy. As he stood there looking at her smiling and cheering for her friends, he could feel her elation spread to him. When he found her turning around and catching him staring at her, he turned away his cheeks turning bright red,upon being caught. Gajeel groaned he wished thing's could go back to how they were before, when he wasn't so confused about everything. To his surprise he found Levy slipping her hand into his, her cheeks flushing a light pink as well, as she smiled at him before returning her gaze to the guild. He found himself smiling like a fool and moving closer to Levy as she didn't object.
Happy was all excited as he began to fly all around Natsu excited "Natsu, now you can get me all the fish I want and we wouldn't have to take any jobs" he said elated. Carla glared at Happy "Seriously….can't you ever think of anything apart from fish" she huffed as Happy looked back at her confused and wondering what had he said wrong. Lucy on the other hand was looking at Natsu who was weirdly silent since his outburst. Wendy approached Natsu "Natsu-san you should go, it's after all a place your brother founded and we all know that family always comes first….." she said smiling at Natsu "Plus it will be cool to say we have a real Emperor in Fairy Tail" she said grinning at Natsu, to which Natsu finally smiled. "Not to interrupt, but as an Emperor you could have any girl that you fancied Natsu-nii" Romeo added as Wendy admonished him, pulling him away from the group by his ear. "I'm not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed right now" Macao muttered as all the girls in the guild glared at him.
"So what do you say Uncle….it would be good to have a Dragneel lead Alvarez again" Larcade said as Natsu stared at him "Well a real Dragneel" he added going back to staring at the ceiling again, when Natsu turned towards him, "Why not someone else….anyone else ?" Natsu asked. "Well it was the people's decision and the decision of the council…Uncle. You'd have to come to Alvarez and ask them why, yourself". Natsu stood staring at everyone in the guild as he was faced with a decision that would end up separating him from his family yet again, when he felt his sight land on Lucy who smiled back in response. Natsu felt a huge surge of emotional strife, as he made his decision on a whim.
"No…" he said as the whole room fell silent the commotion coming to halt. "What…?" Brandish and Dimaria asked shocked. "No I will not be the Emperor of Alvarez, I'm sorry" Natsu said as he stood up walking out of the guild before turning at the door and saying "Don't bother following me, I wont change my mind. No one follow me" he growled as Happy immediately sat down again. "Aren't you going to stop him ?" Brandish asked Larcade pleading with him. "Good riddance, if you ask me" Dimaria added as Brandish glared at her. Larcade interrupted the two of them "It's time we leave, if he's made his mind, then there's no point in staying, we'd better leave for Alvarez and let the others know" he said in a serious tone as the other two Spriggan followed him.
Lucy ran after the group running as fast as she could to catch up to them "Man these guy's are fast" Lucy huffed as she caught up to them and the three of them turned around to face her as she approached. "Look don't leave, just give me a few more hours to knock some sense into him ?" she pleaded with them. "Lucy-san…we cannot wait any longer if Sir Natsu's decision is going to be the same" Brandish said a gloomy expression on her face. "Well…what if I say I can make him change his mind ?" Lucy added. Brandish looked at her confused "Fine…." Larcade answered for her, "We will wait another 2 hours Lucy, if you do not convince Uncle…by then we are out of here" Larcade added. "2 hour's…. ?" Lucy asked shocked, but corrected herself " Well 2 hours is more than I need" Lucy said smiling as she didn't wait another moment, taking off. "Are you serious…..?" Dimaria asked "I was seriously looking forward to returning home and now we have to wait another 2 hours over here ?" she groaned. "You can swim your way back to Alvarez" Larcade said turning back in the direction of the ships. "I didn't know you could make jokes…Larcade" Brandish said giggling as the group made their way to the ships.
Lucy ran as fast as she could hoping her hunch was right and Natsu was there. "I thought I made it clear, not to follow me ?" he asked as Lucy walked into the clearing behind their hut, to the memorials of Mavis and Zeref. "Well…I'm here now, so what are you going to do Natsu ?" Lucy asked as she knelt down beside him. When he didn't respond she continued "What are you doing here Natsu ?". "What do you mean why ?" Natsu asked confused "This is the last remaining symbol I have of my brother and Mavis" he said looking at the graves heartbroken. "Well that's where your wrong…" Lucy said as Natsu turned to her raising his eyebrow in question "Well….there's Alvarez, it stands as a testimony for all the good thing's Zeref's life stood for, just as Fairy Tail stands as a proof for Mavis and her life" Lucy said now practically grinning "And even if his motives were not always genuine, he was loved and respected by the people and to such an extent that they were willing to wage a war on a whole continent for him, that says something" she finished as Natsu smiled back a few tears falling down his face.
"But….Luce if I leave, then what about the guild and…..you" he said holding her hands. " Natsu….the guild….me… we'll be fine, you really shouldn't be worrying about me or the guild" Lucy replied resting her head on his shoulders as they both stared at the memorial of Zeref in the sunset.
"Man….i thought coming here….would help me clear my thought's, but it didn't help at all" Natsu said plucking the grass absent mindedly. "Why is it so difficult ?" Natsu groaned as he lay on the grass exhausted. " What's difficult ?" Lucy asked as Natsu looked at her confused "Are you serious ?. So you wouldn't mind me going away once again ?" Natsu asked surprised. "Well I guess I am not a big fan of the idea, if that's what you're asking me" Lucy replied as Natsu stared into the sky that was growing darker by the minute, "But I think you should do it, irrespective of how I feel" she said smiling at him "Think of it as this way Natsu, this could be your moment to make sure Zeref's legacy, of all the good thing's that has come of his life,be remembered always" she continued before he could interrupt her.
"Well Luce, you make some great points….i don't know why I never thought of it that way ?" Natsu wondered "Well Natsu….that's because I'm the brain and you're the brawn in this relationship" Lucy answered kissing his cheek sweetly. "That's it" Natsu screamed as he stood up and began to pace elated. "Natsu….what's wrong ?" Lucy asked concerned at his reaction. "Don't you see that's it….you could come with me to Alvarez, that solves the problem. I don't have to worry about Larcade and the other's, I don't have to worry about staying away from you and you could help me with all the diplomat stuff as well" Natsu answered.
"Diplomatic" Lucy corrected him "Natsu….i cannot do that, I have to be here, the guild and the other's need me, there's just so much work to be done. Plus do you really think it's a good idea to get someone from Fairy Tail, the guild that apparently killed their Emperor ?" Lucy asked him. "But what about you guy's, what about all the work that's left over here ?" Natsu asked desperation evident in his voice. "Natsu the guild has all of us to help out and I really think the people of Alvarez and Alvarez itself needs your help, much more than we do" Lucy replied.
"Ok Natsu…how about this, how about you go to Alvarez and once everything works out fine between both Ishgar and Alvarez, I will come there myself, would that be fine with you ?" Lucy asked. "I guess….i mean would you be okay with us staying apart again ?" Natsu asked concerned. "Well…I stayed a year waiting for your lazy ass to come home, a few more months won't be a problem" Lucy said as Natsu grinned at her.
"Oh crap, I completely forgot, I sent Larcade and the other's back home" Natsu groaned. "Well…I actually managed to convince them to wait" Lucy replied as Natsu looked at her with a mixture of astonishment and pride "Lucy….you're the best" Natsu replied giving her a quick kiss, "As I said the brains" Lucy replied as Natsu had already teleported away. Lucy quietly walked into the hut only to find herself in a pile of mess inside. "What am I ever going to do with those two" she wondered as she began to clean up the mess, as Happy returned and began to help her clean the mess occasionally taking a break to snack on a fish or two.
Natsu suddenly appeared amongst the Alvarez group as they were dining, Larcade spat out his drink in surprise while Dimaria began to choke on her food as Brandish reduced it's size allowing Dimaria to swallow it. "Sir Natsu" Dimaria and Brandish bowed in respect, while Larcade gave a half bow before questioning " So ….Uncle, should I assume that you have changed your decision then?" Larcade asked. "Actually Larcade that's exactly why I am here…. I agree to be crowned as the new Emperor of Alvarez" Natsu answered as Larcade stared at him astounded. "But I just need you guy's to wait a little longer, I have something that I have to do" Natsu said as he teleported again.
"Damn, never expected the blondie, to be able to convince him" Larcade said as he was still surprised at Natsu's change of heart. "It's obvious she has him in the palm of her hands, just as I hold all men in the palm of my hand" Brandish said winking at Dimaria, who grinned and motioned to Larcade before saying "Is that so….why don't you prove it then" she said grinning at Brandish.
"Alright…."Brandish replied as she put on the sweetest expression that she could muster "Larcade….could you please pass me that bowl ?" Brandish asked as Larcade furrowed his brows before asking "And why would I do that ?". "Larcade...I was just asking you. Why are you being so rude to me ?" Brandish sobbed as Larcade grew worried and confused "Ummm well…. it's okay here,I am passing the bowl to you" he said in a hurry,holding the bowl. As Brandish turned to Dimaria in triumph "See what did I tell you" she said smirking proudly.
Larcade on hearing this took the bowl away as Brandish stared at him astonished. " Oh….c'mon Larcade you know, I was joking" Brandish said as she held his hand that was on the table before pouting at him. Larcade felt his cheeks flush and he stood up abruptly, growling "What's wrong with the two of you…." as he walked away.
Natsu…stood in a restaurant facing the lake as his Lacrima rang, a female voice speaking through it. "Natsu….what's the meaning of this, we did tell you to think twice before contacting us again and only if it's an emergency". "Well….i have been trying to contact him all evening now, and I didn't get any response, what would you have me do ?" Natsu asked. "And it is a kind of emergency if you think about it, so did he tell you anything then ?" Natsu asked curious. "He said we'll be there" she replied. "Are you sure ?. How will you…" Natsu's question was cut short as the connection terminated.
"Yosh I'm all fired up now" Natsu muttered as his fist engulfed in flames, as he made his way back to the ship, this time walking all the way.