Chapter 19:Planning

A/N: We're back!


Mavis floated around the two Etherious as they talked, eyeing the woman critically. She took every advantage that this Kyoka woman couldn't see her. Everything about what Natsu had been saying earlier was proving to be true. The way Kyoka was calling him her master, it wasn't like when people called her Master Mavis, or even when people referred to other Guild Masters. No, it was the Etherious' true feelings.

Mavis could tell that Kyoka meant it when she said she was at his disposal. She meant it with every fiber of her being, her eyes and her tone didn't betray any other thoughts.

The First Master didn't feel she had any reason to panic until Kyoka did… something. That magical array flared up and she could see pain dancing in Natsu's eyes. He was rapidly changing back and forth, scales flaring up over his body then disappearing, his eyes flashed back and forth, his wings snapped out behind him sharply, and his growl was being augmented in some way that sent a shiver through her soul.

The flash of magical energy brought her out of her stupor and she leapt forward to try and assist him. Concentrating on becoming partially solid, she reached out and grabbed the back of Kyoka's cloak, only to flinch away when pain radiated up her arm. That wasn't supposed to happen. This body wasn't a physical manifestation, she shouldn't have been able to feel pain.

If she couldn't touch them, then she needed to get help. "Hold tight Natsu, I'll get help!" She yelled, fleeing towards their Guildmates.

She burst into the small clearing, already yelling for help. "Everyone! Emergency protocol! Natsu's under attack!" She turned and fled once more back the way she had come, hearing the hurried movements behind her. Inside she was cursing herself for having dragged him so far away to ensure they would be out of Gajeel's range.

Though she was a magical projection of her physical self, Mavis prided herself in being exceedingly fast. She didn't have anything on the sheer speed of those around her though. They merely held back because she knew where Natsu was. A flash of magical energy off in the distance dissuaded them of that notion and she watched as seven of the mages following her flew past in a near blur and she felt a brief swelling of pride at how strong her mages were.

Kyoka raised her free hand to caress her Master's clawed hand as it dug into her throat, not trying to get him to release her. She reveled in the fact that he wasn't crying out in pain as so many others had, that he was bearing the pain. She had already been ready to sacrifice herself for her self-appointed task. Mard Geer's will be damned, this was for Master E.N.D.'s survival. If that meant she had to die to accomplish it, then she would gladly give her life for him. It was why she had been created in the first place, a deep-rooted desire to accomplish her Master's will.

Panic quickly overruled her fascination when she felt his magic pierce through her curse, but luck was on her side and in it remained uncontrollable to her Master and her curse held strong. She opened her mouth to tell him not to fight it, but his grip was too tight and all she could do was wheeze hoarsely.

She still made no move to dissuade him from choking her, knowing that if he wished it, he could snap her neck at a moment's notice. If he did so, she wouldn't be able to complete her task, she wouldn't be able to help him.

In desperation she tapped the corner of her lips and mouthed the message she so desperately needed him to hear. 'Please, Master.' She thought to herself. 'Please understand!'

She heard people approaching before she saw them and knew they must be her Master's friends. They would do whatever they could to stop her. She couldn't allow it. As quick as she could, Kyoka slammed her free hand into his elbow at the same time she stepped forward. Surprise mired his face when she didn't break his hold on her throat, merely bent his elbow so she could step close.

The Dragon Slayer spun with her in his grasp, using the momentum to force the Etherious down to her knees while he choked her with one hand. He looked off to the side to see Mirajane, Gray, and Erza rushing towards him with Wendy, Gajeel, Lisanna, and Millianna close behind them. Gray's hand was raised, holding a bow in one hand while he knocked an arrow. Mirajane was conjuring a dark orb by her side while she charged, Erza grabbing a sword out of the air.

Gray let loose his arrow, aiming for Kyoka's downed form. A wall of black and orange flames burst from the ground around Natsu and Kyoka, evaporating the ice in an instant. The flames flickered for a moment before dying out, leaving a line drawn in the grass.

Natsu's eyes were locked onto Mirajane's, his eyes hard and commanding. He was telling her to stand down. Mirajane reached out blindly to her side and grabbed Erza's wrist before the redhead could leap in and threw her other arm up to the side to stop the others that were running up on them.

As a group, they watched Natsu change. The leathery wings on his back shrank and absorbed into his back, the scales that covered nearly the entirety of his person rippled and disappeared. For a few short and tense minutes, they did nothing but watch. Despite his appearance reverting back to normal, his magical pressure skyrocketed.

Kyoka started to cry, a look of pure joy and adoration blossoming for everyone to see. When her curse finished running its course, she grabbed his free hand and held it to her cheek. He didn't fight her, but he didn't let up his grip on her neck either. Kyoka struggled to draw her breath, but the pain couldn't lessen the joy she felt. She could accept her fate happily.

Anger radiated from the Dragon Slayer, the air rippling around them in the heat being called forth in his anger.

"Daddy!"

The only one not surprised by Myou's sudden appearance seemed to be the Dragon Slayers. Those watching were pulled from their stupor when the telekinetic mage sprinted past them, directly under Mirajane's outstretched arm. Without letting his eyes leave the Etherious woman, Natsu shoved her back and freed both his arms to catch the young girl that hurtled herself through the air at him.

The moment he caught her; it was as if a switch had been flipped. The oppressive magical energy he had been exuding stopped and the gathered mages released a collective sigh in relief. "Daddy, you look like you again!" The young girl buried her head into the crook of his neck.

Natsu held his daughter gently, rubbing her back soothingly. He continued to glare down at the Etherious woman that was kneeling before him, watching her massage her throat. He could see the red imprint where he had been gripping her as clear as day. "You have one chance to explain." His voice was cold, but it was undoubtedly his.

Kyoka smiled up at the Dragon Slayer, ignoring those standing not twenty feet away. "My curse is Enhancement." She replied hoarsely, yet proudly. "I knew that if you survived, it would give you control over your Etherious transformation. I knew it would strengthen you enough to control your physical appearance."

"If I survived?" Natsu's tone dripped with venom.

Kyoka didn't flinch back. Her task was completed. She would accept any form of punishment with her head held high. "Yes, Mast-"

"Do not call me that in front of my daughter." His voice was cold.

Kyoka's eyes finally left his to look at the young girl's back. The Etherious let herself feel a modicum of hope. If one as powerful as he could care for a human child with such reverence, then maybe he would allow her to live to continue to serve him. "As you wish."

"Explain what you meant about if I survived."

"Usually, when I use my curse on unprepared individuals, it kills them because their body can't handle the change." Kyoka raised her hands to stop everyone that had surrounded her from reacting, continuing quickly. "I knew you would survive, though, I swear it! You saw, it didn't even knock you down to your knees!"

"How did she know you would survive, and why didn't she warn us before she did it?" Mavis asked from where she hovered next to Natsu's shoulder.

Natsu relayed the questions to the Etherious woman.

"I felt a taste of your power back after you took care of Jackal. I could feel how strong you were, even if it was just a taste." Kyoka's eyes grew frenzied and she grinned in excitement. "At that exact moment I realized that it didn't matter if you fully remembered everything; I am yours to command." She paused in her explanation and averted her eyes shamefully. "I couldn't risk telling you what I was going to do. You wouldn't have let me do it if you knew. I knew that if I got the jump on you that I could finish it and would lay my life down at your feet. At least then I would have been able to do something for you before you absorbed my soul as you did to that idiot Jackal."

"You're not going to trust this… demon, are you?!" Gray yelled out angrily, clenching his fists at his side. "How do we know she didn't do something to your mind like they were trying before?"

"You don't." Kyoka glared at the ice mage. "Frankly, I don't care what you think, human. E.N.D. is the only one that has any claim to my judgment."

Natsu cut in before Gray could retort back. "How long have you been following me?"

"Since you left that building in town." Kyoka answered immediately, her eyes back on her Master.

"So you remember where I live?" Kyoka nodded resolutely. "Good, go there and await my return. This time, do as I say and do not leave until I arrive."

Kyoka bowed her head and stood to her feet. She turned but stopped when Gajeel, Erza, and Gray stepped in front of her to prevent her from leaving. Kyoka's back straightened proudly and she glared at the trio.

"You cannot be serious, Natsu." Erza glared at the Etherious woman. "This could all be a trick. Who's to say that she is alone, that she wasn't followed?"

Natsu turned to look at Wendy, whom he knew had the best nose out of the three Dragon Slayers present. The young girl shook her head with a frown, her eyes darting over in the direction of Natsu's home. Natsu gave a gentle smile to his friend. "If it's a trap, we'll deal with it." Natsu continued.

"Are you still yourself, Dragneel?" Gajeel crossed his arms across his chest.

"Would you still be standing if I wasn't?" Natsu gave a sadistic grin over at the Iron Dragon Slayer, then flinched when Myou pulled on his ear. "Hey!"

"Don't be mean, Daddy! He's worried about you." Myou frowned and continued to pull on her Father's ear. "He doesn't know you like I do."

Gajeel almost seemed affronted by her last comment and mumbled under his breath. "Known him for longer than you…"

"Besides that, we don't know if she's telling the truth." Mirajane spoke up from next to Natsu, holding her hands out for Myou. The little girl was handed over by Natsu who nodded his thanks. "We should have Myou as far away as possible from this until it's taken care of."

Natsu's gaze hardened. Lisanna beat him to it. "We know you want to be close to her, but this really isn't the time to argue this. They've come after her once to get to you and if we put this off for much longer, they may send more than this woman."

"Her name is Kyoka." Natsu replied.

"Right, Kyoka, whatever." Lisanna waved her hand dismissively. "As I said, it's only a matter of time until they attack again. It's best if we take care of this now and as much as I want to be with you, I know how your mind works. You won't let Myou out of your sight long enough to do this and we won't let you go alone. So-"

"We have a compromise." Millianna continued for Lisanna. "Leave Myou with us." She pointed between herself, Lisanna, and Mirajane. "And you go take care of this with the others."

Natsu clenched his jaw, looking between the three women and Myou who was sitting on Mirajane's hip. His gut was telling him that he could trust them, but his heart was telling him that leaving Myou was wrong.

"I'll stay with them." Wendy's usually quiet tone held a conviction most hadn't heard before. She caught Natsu's eye and nodded seriously. "No one will even know your gone. Mira can transform into you and we can replicate your scent through magic with help from Levy and Juvia. No one outside of our group will even know you're gone."

"Let her pass, we'll talk about what we're going to do once she's gone." Natsu finally spoke up, looking over at the trio still blocking Kyoka's path. "She won't do anything. You have MY word on that."

Erza, and especially Gray, didn't look happy about it but they stepped aside anyways. Gajeel merely shrugged his shoulders and moved aside as well. They all waited until the Dragon Slayers had lost track of the woman.

"Master Makarov cannot know about this." Natsu stated bluntly. "Don't get me wrong, I love the old man, but… not this time. We'll take care of this, then we'll tell him about it. The smaller the group we take, the faster we can get there and the sooner we can get this over with."

Together, the group of mages came up with a plan that everyone was relatively happy with. As Natsu didn't want to bring anyone else in on this, didn't want anyone outside the current group to know about the plan, they decided it would be best for Natsu, Gajeel, Erza, and Gray to be the primary task force while the rest stayed back at the Guild to keep up appearances. As both Strauss sisters were competent with Transformation Magic, they would periodically change into one of those that had left so as to not raise suspicions in case someone was watching the Guild.


Natsu stood in the doorway to his room and watched Myou sleep peacefully. The others had wanted to come with him to his house, to at least have someone nearby in case something went wrong, or if Kyoka tried anything again. While Mirajane, Lisanna, and Millianna had been the most vehement that all of them should be nearby, Natsu told them that the three of them needed to start establishing his alibi for the eventuality that someone realized he was gone. In the end, they had come to a compromise and Millianna had stayed over. Currently, Millianna was wrapped around Myou, the woman sporting a bright smile

It was going to be hard for him to leave Myou behind, to leave her, knowing that he wouldn't be able to make it back in time if something happened. This time he would be too far away to do anything, so he would have to trust the women in his life.

Trust.

That was something he didn't have a lot of right now. He didn't trust Master Makarov. That was his own fault though, not his Guild Master's fault, not that Makarov knew about that mistrust. Maybe once he returned from the suicide mission, he would tell him about his newfound insecurities. Maybe.

It was even harder for him to trust Mirajane, Millianna, or Lisanna. The last time he had been away from them they had done something drastic. He understood their explanation and accepted that they knew they had messed up. He was willing to give them a tentative second chance, but that didn't mean he fully trusted them.

He knew that they would do anything for Myou and would always put her first. He didn't have to even question that. Just like him, they would put Myou first, so he trusted them to watch after Myou while he was gone.

He had vowed to give them a chance to make up for their ridiculous plan and he meant to do just that. But, it wasn't going to be easy and his forgiveness was going to require a lot of effort on their part.

That was another thing that had happened when he had started to transform, back before he could control it. He used to forgive people at the drop of a hat. Was it really his reawakening that changed him, or had it happened even earlier than that? Had he started to be distrustful when he had been seeking out Myou?

Eventually Natsu turned away and gently closed the door behind him, then headed to the main room where Kyoka awaited him. She was sitting in one of the chairs at the kitchen table, looking highly displeased with the state of the building. She looked up at him when she heard him enter. "How can you live like this, Master?"

Natsu took a moment to look around. The house was nearly spotless, he made sure to keep it that way once Myou had come into his life. True, his furniture wasn't brand new or fancy but it was comfortable. From the outside, it was hard to believe the building hadn't been abandoned, but inside it was quite homely. It was the place he had brought Myou home for the first time. "This place is temporary. Depending on how all of this goes down, that might be changing sooner rather than later.

"We have other things to talk about. Save those questions for after the important stuff is taken care of." Natsu sat down roughly across from the woman. He remained silent for a time, closing his eyes and extending his senses out around him. The sound of small critters running through the brush and the sounds of night borne creatures the only thing sticking out, the smell of the freshwater river off in the distance the only thing other than the animals sticking out. He couldn't sense any magical presence other than the three of them in the house.

Once he was sure they were alone and Myou's breathing was steady enough that she was in a deep sleep, did he continue. "I want you to tell me everything you know about the others. Curses, appearances, personalities, capabilities, weaknesses… everything. I trust you won't lie to me?"

Kyoka brightened marginally at his request. She would prove her trustworthiness so she could stand at his side. "Of course, Master."

"I don't need to explain what I'll do if I even think you're withholding something, do I?" Kyoka shook her head seriously, a resolute smile crossing her lips. "Very good. Now, start with your sister Seliah."


The smell of smoke jolted Natsu out of bed. He quickly checked his surroundings; he hadn't burnt anything in his sleep, so it wasn't him. A girly squeal outside his room had him slamming through the door and down the short hall in nothing but a pair of shorts.

He came to an immediate halt. Myou was in a set of fluffy pink pajamas while standing on a chair over the sink, steam and flames billowing out while she panicked. "Help! They aren't going down!"

An equally panicking Kyoka pushed away from the stove and grabbed the flaming pan out of Myou's hands and started to blow on it. She shied away from the flames when they burst forward again, holding the pan at arm's length. She was dressed as she had been when she had shown up the day prior, her skintight bodysuit peeking out beneath her white cloak while she tried not to flail about with the flaming pan.

Natsu did the only thing that he could even think to do. He laughed. Myou turned quickly and screamed again. "Daddy! You can't be here! You'll ruin the surprise" She hopped off the chair and tried to push him out of the kitchen.

Natsu dipped down, scooped Myou into an arm, and strode over to the still panicking Kyoka. With his free hand he grabbed the pan and held it up, sucking in the flames. Once properly extinguished, Natsu dropped the pan back on the stove and turned off the burner.

Kyoka stood bashfully to the side, her head tilted down. Myou had gotten over her panic seeing her father take care of the problem, but it devolved into a pout, her head turning away with a huff. "We had it under control. You ruined the surprise."

"What surprise was that? Were you making me breakfast?" Natsu grinned, setting Myou up on the counter where she folded her arms over her chest.

"Everyone's coming by for breakfast and I thought it would be fun to make everyone something." Myou still refused to look at him. "Auntie was already up and she said she could help… then, well…"

Kyoka puffed up proudly. "It was just breakfast, how hard could it have been? Almost everything is done until we tried to cook the toast in the bacon grease." She seemed to fold back into herself a little at disappointing her Master.

Natsu ruffled Myou's hair and cleaned up the mess that was still in the pan. "It's alright, these things happen." He gave Myou a wink. "Take it as a lesson. When you add water to a grease fire, it makes the fire burn stronger." He turned to Kyoka. "How did you not know that?"

Kyoka huffed. "I don't cook for myself; I have people that do that for me." She looked disgusted at the idea of cooking for herself.

Myou glared over at the Etherious. "Should have just done it by myself. Daddy never fries his toast, who even does that?"

"It tastes good!" Kyoka huffed out both in irritation and exasperation.

"None of that. I'm sure she just wanted to be nice and help you with your surprise." Natsu chastised his daughter playfully. "I can say your surprise worked without a hitch." He grinned at the two. "I was very surprised waking up to a fireball in the kitchen. Now, why don't you go and get cleaned up and dressed for the day while Kyoka and I finish up in here? You were right, Mira and Lisanna will be here pretty soon to pick you up."

Myou perked up and hopped off the counter. "Yeah!" She took off down the hall in a sprint. Natsu watched her go and smiled gently when he saw his little girl hug Millianna's legs as she stumbled out of the bedroom before dashing off again.

"Wha's goin' on?" She mumbled, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She was still dressed in what she had fallen asleep in; a yellow bikini, black skirt, yellow and black striped leggings, and her usual black choker wrapped around her neck. When she saw Kyoka standing there haughtily, a sharpness flashed across her features.

"Turns out Kyoka here cooks worse than Erza." Natsu said. He looked over to Kyoka. "Think you can plate everything up while I go chat with Millianna?" At Kyoka's confident nod Natsu grabbed his girlfriend and pulled her back into his room.

Millianna cast a glare at the Etherious but let herself be pulled away, frowning more when Natsu shut and locked the door behind them.

She let out a sharp gasp when her back was slammed up against the door, the rough wood scraping against the exposed skin of her back. "Natsu wha-" She was cut off when he leaned down and claimed her lips with his own.

She fought back for only a fraction of a second before she succumbed to him and pressed herself into the kiss. Her hands made their way up his exposed chest to clutch onto his shoulders, pulling his body close to hers. She had missed this feeling, how his rough and chapped lips molded against her own. How electricity sparked through her, her heart hammering in her chest at the sensation of her Dragon Slayer expressing his affections.

She broke their kiss to moan as he grabbed her thighs in his hands and picked her up, the wood scratching along her back until he pinned her to the door with his body. She took the opportunity to wrap her legs around his waist and encircled her arms behind his head to pull him in for a rough kiss, their teeth nearly clacking together in the force of their passion.

Natsu surged forward, rocking his body into hers and she gasped against his mouth. He took the opportunity and deepened the kiss, his tongue tangling with hers. He was unrelenting, pressed tightly against her.

Finally, their kiss broke and they both sucked in deep breaths of air, but Natsu bent and latched onto the side of her neck, Millianna leaning her head to the side to give him easier access. She quickly stuffed one of her fists into her mouth and bit down to keep her voice from rising, her entire body spasming when his teeth sunk into her flesh.

Natsu growled against her neck, the sound bringing Millianna back to reality. It wasn't an angry growl, but one of want, one of need. Noticing the feeling of blood dripping down her claws, Millianna realized that she had been scratching his back. She fisted his hair and pulled him away from her neck roughly so she could look into his eyes, his hot breath washing over her. His charcoal eyes were tinted red at the edges and she could see the scales forming on his face and neck.

She panted, grinning as she came to the realization that seeing him losing control excited her. "Where did that come from?" She asked breathlessly.

Natsu's fingers tightened on her thighs and she was sure she would have bruises there, but that didn't bother her. She liked it when he was forceful. It excited her.

"I talked to Kyoka after you and Myou fell asleep last night." Natsu admitted. "I made her tell me all about the others and backed it up with what I already knew from Jackal's memories. There's a chance that I don't come back from this." Emotions ran deep in his eyes, drawing her in and making her tighten her grip on his hair painfully.

"You will come back to us, you hear me?" Millianna hissed angrily. "I don't care how many of them you have to beat down, or how many of them you have to turn to dust. You. Will. Come. Back."

Natsu grinned at Millianna's forceful determination. "I will come back, but I don't know how much I will have changed." He explained. "One of the Etherious can bend your mind to their will. I have a plan to prevent that, but there is always a chance she can force the Etherious in me awake. It's a distant voice right now and I have to make sure they can't capitalize on that."

Millianna leaned her forehead against his, glaring into his eyes. "Then be stronger than them and come back to us. Don't let them bend you to their will. Bend them to your will instead."

Natsu nodded. "They are supposed to be my army. Our plan will work. It has to." He didn't tell her that he had changed the plan, she didn't need to know.

"Then why…?" Millianna pressed. This had been the first time since the misunderstanding that he had initiated with them. She needed to know that he wasn't trying to say goodbye.

Natsu pressed himself into her, making Millianna groan and lean her head back, a soft thud echoing through the room when her head hit the door. Not letting it go any further, Natsu unwound her legs from around him and put her back down on her feet. "Just a little incentive for me to hurry back."

Millianna, being just a few inches shorter than him, felt like she was so much smaller when she looked up at him in need. She let her hands slide down his chest while staring deep into his eyes, enjoying the feeling of his strong muscles under her hands as she dragged her claws down. Her smile grew mischievous. "I can give you something a little more enticing to come back to."

A dark glint flashed through his eyes and he snatched her hands before they could drop below his waist. "That's far enough."

Frustration burned through Millianna's veins. "Why not?"

"It's just as much punishment for you as it is for me." He responded. "When I get back all of us will sit down and REALLY talk this whole thing through."

Millianna grew nervous. She still felt guilty about the whole thing, but she wouldn't let that hold her back from pursuing what she wanted.

Natsu closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath through his nose. He lurched forward and kissed her again until she was out of breath. "The others are here, go welcome them and make sure they don't try to start a fight with Kyoka." While she was still trying to get her breath back, he opened the door and urged her out, slapping her ass to get her moving.


Natsu regretted that he didn't get much time alone with either Mirajane or Lisanna, but was happy enough that he had left them breathless and wanting more when he had sent them away with Myou and Millianna. Once they were out of sight, he quickly lost his smile and grew serious.

"When do we meet the others?" Kyoka asked stiffly from just behind him, awaiting his decision.

Natsu had thought long and hard after their discussion the previous night about what he wanted to do. Their plan was a good one and it had a high chance of succeeding. The plan was to meet with Erza, Gajeel, and Gray then head to the Cube where his friends would be following him and Kyoka, acting as part of Natsu's forces. They would force their way in and Natsu would take over to subjugate everyone to his will, including this Mard Geer. If any of them tried to raise their hands against any of them, particularly Natsu, then he would tear their existence from this world. He had no use for any of the ones that would fight him. If they were meant to be his army to follow his whims, then they would bend to his will or they would die like the demons they were.

Until he had talked to Kyoka about the other Etherious' abilities and demeanor, Natsu had wanted to continue with the plan. 'It's a good plan.' He thought to himself. 'It could work.'

He must have been standing there for some time because Kyoka spoke up again. "Master?"

"They'll be waiting for us at the train station so we can get closer before we would have to travel on foot to reach the Cube." Natsu intoned emotionlessly, steeling himself for the fight that was inevitably coming.

"We should be on our way then."

"I never said we were going to meet them." Natsu pulled his cloak over his head, turned and started walking through the forest, leaving Kyoka to shut the door behind them. The only supplies he had brought was his cloak and communication Lacrima for when the others inevitably called demanding to know where he was.

"Is that worth the hassle? They are inevitably going to be angry with you when they realize we aren't meeting up with them. They'll assume I kidnapped you." Kyoka had caught up to him and was matching his pace. "What's to stop them from showing up at the Cube anyways?"

"Better angry than dead and they won't show up at the Cube. We are going to draw the cube to us when we get where we're going." Natsu didn't explain his plan any further.

"It's for the best, they would only get in our way." Kyoka nodded as she spoke, unaware of the anger that scrawled across Natsu's features. He got it under control and forced himself to take a deep breath to calm himself. This was going to be a long trip.


A/N: Another short chapter, but expect tensions to rise in the next one!