Okay decent reception from the previous chapter have to admit better than I was expecting, now as you know from the previous chp I said infinity clock wasn't going to be a chp, I just put in those little tid bits to lengthen out the word count. So, for this chp we're starting a few days ahead, hopefully some of you won't be surprised.
Surprisingly Natsu's idea had actually worked and Lucy's spirits had decided to help in the investigation of Michelle, turns out they had every right to be suspicious of Michelle as she was involved with this generations Oracion Seis, who were after a special artifact called the infinity clock. Turned out they required Lucy to get things done, fortunately with a little help from the guild Natsu and Sorano were able save Lucy from any horrible fate that awaited her, now we find ourselves with the entire guild enjoying a day off.
Seeing as the last couple of days had been a bit hectic, Makarov had decided to give Natsu, Sorano and the gang as well as anyone that was involved with the infinity clock incident the day off and then with the guild finally being complete thought it was only right to do the same for everyone else's hard work. At any rate because of the damages that were caused Makarov was going to be away all day anyway, he'd told everyone that with the grand magic games around the corner that they need to be in top condition but it'd be up to them what they did with their day off. Naturally Erza took the lead and demanded that everyone meet up down at the beach for intensive training because as things stood even she could admit the guild didn't have a chance unless they used Gildarts.
"Alright everyone there's no time for messing around, we're here to train for the up coming tournament and reclaim the respect Fairy Tail once had as a Guild!" A very enthusiastic Erza shouted at the group of wizards she'd brought with her, "She says dressed like that" Sorano whispered to Natsu referring to the black bikini and matching thong the red head wore, the blue dingy she had around her waist didn't help either. "And after we've put in a good day's work then we can enjoy ourselves just as much!" the requip user shout with a look of joy on her face. Another reason they were taking the day to train was that a certain source had tipped them off to an ancient type of magic called second origin, few can use the magic and if they wanted their second origin unlocked it would be painful, so everyone was using today as a day to prepare for what's to come.
The group that had been brought down to the beach were as you can imagine team Natsu, then obviously Natsu said Sorano and Joy should come down too, the rest of the guild members were scattered about to who knows where, the Thunder Legion most likely took themselves up into the mountains or an area well known for lightning strikes. "Alright then everybody start training the way you think will be most beneficial" Erza said to the entire group before she noticed Sorano heading straight for the Ocean wearing a light blue bikini with lining along the edges with the thong matching it. "Hey Sorano aren't you going to train?" Gray asked as soon as he seen Sorano pass by Erza without a second thought while also trying to keep any unseemly thoughts out of his minds as he took in the sight of her amazing figure (Although he didn't know a very jealous Juvia had herself hidden watching over the ice user, for personal reasons).
"Well I don't really need to train so I'll just be speeding time with my daughter" the celestial spirit user said with a smile as she and her daughter went on to the ocean to mess and swim about having fun. Taking the sight in Natsu still realised something, he'd been gone seven years just how many years of opportunities like this has he missed, how many has Joy been deprived of. Thinking of the matter caused his heart to feel like it was sinking in an ocean of pain, even so Natsu took himself off to his own small area of the beach not that this didn't go unnoticed by Sorano.
"That idiot where's he off to now" she said to herself before asking Draco to mind Joy while she went after the pink haired slayer. As she came to the corner of a cliffside she could hear what almost sounded like pounding, peering her head round the corner she caught sight of something she wasn't prepared. She saw Natsu standing at the base of the cliff punching and pounding into it even despite the rock was cutting into him. If it was just this, she'd has just assumed it was some sort of strengthening method, but no; on top of this he was crying.
Without even hesitating she jumped from her hiding spot knowing what was causing this, before Natsu could throw his next punch he found himself unable to and instead of feeling the crunch of rock against his fist feel someone else's wrap around his own. But as he went to turn around to it's owner the next thing he found himself feeling was a quick slap across the face, "Natsu Dragneel you listen here and you listen well, we already agreed what happened wasn't your fault and was never in your control". "That's in the past and the man I know would never let the past hold him back, so I suggest you get your butt in gear and start training cause second origin is a bitch!" Natsu found Sorano shouting at him with a stern look on her face matching that of Erza if not exceeding.
Taking a moment to take her words in Natsu wiped his tears in and then smiled at Sorano, "Thankyou Sorano, I'm sorry when I saw you two playing like that I got thinking again and well you can guess" Natsu said with a sincere tone as he held Sorano's hands. As the two came back the group location they could see everyone was still hard at wort, Juvia had even come out to join the crew. Wendy was practicing incantations and magic expansion, Lucy seemed to be doing the same but unfortunately looked like she hadn't taken in Sorano's message of practicing physical hand to hand combat. Grey looked like he was just practicing different moulds for his maker magic and how they could be used and Erza being Erza well not much to say on that front other than if she needs to get something done, she'll figure a way out.
Natsu and Sorano had agreed that he would go a train and then in the afternoon the three (or four if Happy decided to come) would take the time to themselves and have some lively family fun. The idea of this just drove Natsu on for the rest of the day, making sure he made the most out of his training before deciding it was enough which meant it was time to go have fun with Sorano and his daughter, Happy had neglected the invitation on the idea that a beach setting was the perfect place to woo Carla sadly for our feline friend he thought wrong yet again.
Meanwhile with Natsu, Sorano and Joy they were having fun just like any normal family would at the beach, Natsu even through in some natural elemental flame magic lessons. Despite the fact that yes he was a fire dragon slayer, to do so Igneel obviously had to start by teaching him basic fire magic. While Joy had some grips already on this when it's coming from her father it felt special and he was also teaching her some new stuff she hadn't learnt yet. Seeing this level of connection between the two brought a sense of Joy to Sorano as well as lifted a weight from her chest, she was worried it was going to take Natsu and Joy a lot longer to get along.
Over the course of the next couple of days the group had decided to stay down by the beach as there was an old beach house owned by the guild, they figured that this training and the attaining of the second origin would work better if the were as close to the beach as possible so that most of their time could be spent training. Everyone except for Sorano and Joy was using the beach house, Sorano thought that keeping Joy around everyone twenty-four seven wasn't such a good idea and after the latest day's training it was definitely for the best.
As the night hours crept in and everyone found themselves getting ready to use the bath with girls taking priority by significant numbers Natsu and Gray had to wait calmy and resist the urge to beat the crap out of each other to pass the time. "Man, this sucks why do girls take so long in the bathroom?" Natsu questioned aloud, "How would I know, you're the guy who's hitched to one although we all still find that a little hard to believe sometimes" Gray responded in a fed-up manner although the second half was muttered under his breath.
"Alright you two the baths are all yours" a literally smokin Erza said as the steam came rose from her body, "bout time" the two simultaneously thought only to receive a sharp glare from their scarlet haired companion as if she could read their minds. "We'll just get going then!" Natsu shouted fearfully as both he and Gray took off in the direction of the baths, it didn't take them long to sort themselves out with a bath but unfortunately, they weren't quick enough as when they returned, they were greeted with a less than pleasant sight.
Wendy was currently passed out on the floor, Juvia was rolling around with a pillow she had now named Gray, Lucy was on the verge of collapsing and well Erza was practically the same as always except now she was a drunken tyrant. "What's going on, scratch that I think I'm better off not knowing" Gray said in a confused tone not like there was anyone left to answer his question. As Natsu and Gray went to leave the room they both found themselves caught by someone.
"Gray, where do you think you're going?" Juvia asked her crush as she was now latched onto his leg, "Natsu I want to go for a run around the beach…carry me" Lucy winged in her drunken state pulling at the dragonslayer making sure she got her way. "What no way, I'm tired and have you seen how late it is" Natsu replied on for the blonde to use puppy dog eyes knowing he'd have no way to respond to that. "Oh man this is so unfair!" Natsu shouted almost prepared to rip out his own hair at the moment "You wouldn't be thinkin of cheating on Sorano now would you Natsu!" Happy said sarcastically although he instantly regrated it when he found a fist buried in his face forcing him into the adjacent wall.
Come next morning both Sorano and Joy were on their way to meet up with everyone down at the beach and upon reaching the house they were met with Natsu asleep outside of the building most likely to separate himself from everyone else. When Sorano looked inside she witnessed Gray with what seemed to be Juvia coiled around him like a snake not allowing him to move an inch, "Seriously what happened last night?" Sorano questioned partially not wanting an answer to her question seeing everybody lying about the room conked out before she noticed a large jar of what was most likely some kind of alcohol. "Poor Wendy probably got drunk off the smell" Sorano went on to say to Natsu with a bit of a laugh in her voice.
"I wonder what they'll be like for handovers, honestly I can't wait to see Erza's haha" Natsu said with a smile to his face, if any of them was gonna have a hangover it would be Erza and he couldn't wait to see how she'd react to that. Somehow managing so separate Juvia from Gray, Natsu, Sorano, Joy and the aforementioned Gray were waiting down at the bottom of the beach for the others to meet up with them before carrying on with more training.
"My God please kill me, what even happened last night?" a very hungover Erza Scarlet asked aloud as she held her stomach on the verge of puking. At the sight, Natsu and Gray were both trying their best to mask how hilarious they found it, "Erza may be this big bad warrior among the guild but when it comes to alcohol she can't her liquor for shit, easily top 10 worst drinkers I've ever met" Natsu told his white haired beaty of a wife.]
"Can I just skip training today, I feel like Taurus has split my head open with his axe" Lucy whimpered as she barely made her way over, "if you guys want I can see if my healing powers will work on you" a completely fine Wendy said with a smile that's brightness would radiantly pick up anyone's day. Unfortunately, it would seem that for Juvia, Erza and Lucy the three were gonna have to power through there hangovers.
"I CAN DO FOR MY DEAR GRAY!" Juvia shouted after the group noticed Sorano whisper something in her ear, it was like an instant pick me up. "Just what did say to her?" her dragon asked curiously with his hands thrown behind his head, smirking Sorano did a quick spin before answering "oh nothing much" she answered the tone of her voice obviously hinting towards ties there. "Yano, because you're I'm just not gonna bother besides I've got better stuff to do" Natsu replied with a huff and before he and the rest of the group could split off for their training two more familiar scents came to his attention.
"Wait who's that?!" the fire breather readied himself incase it was someone looking for a fight, when the group turned they saw two individuals covered by cloaks but both obviously women as one could tell by there figures. "Who are you people, what do you want?" Erza fiercely demanded as a sword appeared before and everyone else had their magic on ready bar Sorano who had an idea where this was going and so she just held her daughter close.
"Awe come now surely it hasn't been that long since we last saw one another" a familiar voice called out to them, her tone almost teasing. The two then revealed themselves by pulling down their hoods causing Natsu and the gang's eyes to pop open.
"NO WAY MEREDY!"
The sight upon seeing her old friend from seven years ago she never would have thought she'd change this much, "I've missed you so much" Juvia cried out as she tackled the pinkette receiving a mirrored response. "So wait, then that means…" Natsu had started but got cut off
"Ultear" Gray said emotionlessly causing said mage to smirk.
"Well I can say I was expecting a worse greeting" Ultear replied her smirk still present on her face, "should have figured as much, still thought there'd be more than two" Sorano spoke up catching everyone's attention, she was speaking as if she knew what was going on. "Actually, there is a third, they're just late" Ultear said before rolling her eyes. "Sorano, what's going on?" Natsu asked his brain starting to fizzle out trying to figure it out causing Ultear and Meredy to smile. "Aw its cute when he tries to think" Meredy giggled and none of the other girls were gonna argue with her on that.
"The ones who can help you achieve 2nd origin are Ultear and Meredy, I asked them for this help and from what I understand there'll be no physical training today, but instead more about mental resistance and focusing on the ability to draw from your deeper well of power within" Sorano explained, explaining it perfectly for the most part for everyone bar Natsu causing his partner to huff
"Just get in the damn house already"
Not as long as usual I know but at this point this is just a small filler chapter before we get to the games cause im still working on how im gonna shape that up you know what way will do the Yukino bit, the teams etc will be taking suggestions if anyone has any.