"Hurry, Natsu! We've got to see this!" Zeref said as he practically dragged Natsu through the streets of Magnolia. He was excited about something.
"Take it easy, bro. What's the big deal of some black goop from space?" Natsu asked.
"It's not goop, Natsu." Zeref said. "Scientists are detecting signs of life in it. It's the first sign of alien life. We're so lucky that they're conducting experiments right here in Magnolia."
"How are you even planning to get inside the lab they're experimenting it in? Aren't you going to need a press pass or something?" Natsu asked.
"I luckily know someone who will allow us to get in." Zeref said. He and Natsu hurried to the lab and they saw Mavis, Zeref's girlfriend, outside waiting for them.
"I'm glad you guys could make it." Mavis said. "Let's hurry inside and go see it." All three of them went inside. It didn't seem like there were any reporters in there. There was only one person that was in the lab doing research. "Dr. Acnologia!" They called for the professor that was working as he turned to them.
"Mavis and Zeref. It's nice to see the two of you." Acnologia said.
"It's great to see you too." Zeref said as they all shook hands. "Acnologia, I don't think you ever met my young brother. This is Natsu."
"Zeref has told me about you, Natsu." Acnologia said as the two of them shook hands.
"He's mentioned you too." Natsu said. "You're the professor these two worked for, right?"
"In a sense." Acnologia said.
"Mavis and I interned at this lab when we were both in high school." Zeref said.
"Not only did Zeref and I loved interning here, but it also allowed us to spend some quality time together." Mavis said as she wrapped her arms around Zeref's arm. "Are we able to see it, now?"
"Of course. It's right there." Acnologia said as he showed them. They saw a black substance that was inside a glass case. They also saw it moving around on it's own. It was something amazing to see.
"This is incredible." Zeref said.
"This is the first concrete sign of alien life." Mavis said. "If this came here from a meteor, who knows what else is out there." Everyone seemed amazed by it, but Natsu didn't really look that impressed from it.
"This is alien life? It's just a pile of black gunk." Natsu said. "I was expecting alien life to be more lizard-like. Maybe something with big green heads."
"It sounds like you watch too many alien movies." Acnologia said. "This is the first sign of alien life. Even the beginning of life here on Earth traces back to just two amoebas."
"Well, if this thing is alive, open it up and see what it can really do." Natsu said as he reached for the door to the case, but Acnologia smacked his hand away.
"Are you mad?" Acnologia said. "This is the one and only sure sign of alien life. If we lose it, this would be a great upset. I'm the one that has been placed in charge of studying and taking responsibility for this thing. I'm not going to let it out of my sight without it being properly secured. In other words, don't touch it. Do I make myself clear?" He was trying to intimidate Natsu and it was slightly working.
"Okay. I need to go anyway." Natsu said as he left the place. All of them saw him out, and didn't notice the black slime acting like it was reaching out for Natsu.
...
The Dragneels
After all that, Natsu and Zeref met up at home. Natsu wasn't excited about the alien life like Zeref was. He also didn't like the impression that Acnologia left.
"Sorry about Dr. Acnologia." Zeref said. "He can be a little intimidating when it comes to his work. That's why it's best to do what he asks."
"It doesn't really bother me." Natsu said as he just played around on his phone. "It just didn't look all that impressive to me."
"Probably because you're already something amazing." Zeref said. "Still, it's quite the find, Natsu. People would pay a fortune for something like that." That part of the lifeform caught Natsu's interest.
"Really? You mean something that might be worth stealing?" Natsu said. When he said that, Zeref didn't like it. Some of his enemies might be tempted to steal it to make some money out of it. "I think I better get another look at that gunk." Natsu may not have liked what he saw earlier, but it seems like he has to go back for some more.
...
The Lab
Natsu hurried as fast as he could to the lab. It may have been night, but he needed to make sure that alien stuff was secured. He tried going in through the front door, but it was locked tight.
"Rats. I was hoping I didn't have to sneak in, but it looks like I don't have a choice." Natsu said. He snuck around to the other side in hopes of keeping an eye on the lifeform. Right when he left was when trouble came in. That trouble was the gang known as Sabertooth: Minerva, Rufus, Orga, and Jiemma, the boss and Minerva's father.
"You sure it's here?" Jiemma questioned.
"Positive." Rufus said.
"I'm sure END will be most impress if we bring him the first sign of extraterrestrial life." Minever said.
"It just looks like gunk to me." Orga said. "I'm sure the place is highly secured. How are we even going to get inside?"
"I'm not scared of a few security systems." Jiemma said as he just smashed the door open and triggered the alarm.
"Settle, Father." Minerva said with disapproval.
"Just get the slime." Jiemma said as the four of them walked inside and could see the it right before their eyes. As for Natsu, he managed to get inside by becoming Salamander. He changed into his costume to avoid being spotted, but he saw Sabertooth was able to break in.
"Well, you should never pass a good photo opportunity." Natsu said as he set his camera for photos. Jiemma walked right over to the case and was ready to take it.
"Time to find out how much it's worth." Jiemma said as he reached for the case, but Salamander jumped in and hit him right across the face.
"Don't you know not to touch the glass?" Natsu said.
"Salamander?!" Minerva said with surprise.
"How does he always show up like that?" Rufus said.
"I don't know, but I know how he's leaving." Orga said. He went right at him and tackled Natsu. He was about to slam him into the wall, but Natsu was able to flip over him. Natsu kicked Orga in the back of his head and caused him to crash into the wall. Natsu moved fast as he tackled Rufus to the ground as well. Minerva jumped at him and tried to kick him, but Natsu jumped out of the way.
"You'll have to move faster than that." Natsu said.
"How's this?" Natsu turned to Jiemma, but got hit pretty hard as he flew across the room and smashed into the glass case. It caused a large crack to form on it. "I'm going to enjoy breaking your bones." Jiemma was ready to crush him, but they could hear sirens coming.
"Father, we have to go! Now!" Minerva said. Jiemma hoped to crush Salamander, but it will have to wait for another time as the four of them ran out of there.
"That didn't go well." Natsu said as he was able to get back up. When he turned to the case, he saw the lifeform was gone. "The lifeform! They must have took it when I wasn't looking! I better get out of here before I get blamed for it." Natsu grabbed his camera and hurried out of there, but he failed to notice the lifeform was actually attached to his back.
...
The Next Day
Natsu was fast asleep after the small beating from the other night.
"Natsu, get up." Zeref said as he tried to get his brother to awake.
"It's still the weekend." Natsu said as he wanted to sleep in more.
"Natsu, this is serious. The alien lifeform is gone." Zeref said. "Dr. Acnologia is furious and he think you had something to do with it." That part caught Natsu's full attention. He think Natsu stole it? That can't be good.
...
The Lab
Natsu and Zeref hurried over to the lab. Acnologia was there and he did not look happy when he spotted them.
"What's this about you thinking I had something to do with the lifeform being stolen?" Natsu said as he got straight to it.
"Settle." Zeref said. "Dr. Acnologia, why do you think Natsu had anything to do with the lifeform disappearing?"
"I left the lab and locked it before I left. I know I did." Acnologia said. "When I got back, I saw it was gone. I checked the security footage. Look here." He pulled up the footage on a computer and showed Natsu trying to get in through the front and going around. "What were you doing here when the place was locked?"
"Did you not see the Sabertooth gang was there too? That's a bigger issue." Natsu said.
"Yes, I'm aware of that." Acnologia said as he showed the news...with Natsu's photos. "I've also seen the photos you've taken. Rather than calling the police, you were taking the photos."
"Dr. Acnologia, I promise you that my brother has nothing to do with this." Zeref said.
"I might have no real evidence, but this is a serious issue." Acnologia said as he walked over to Natsu. "If that lifeform doesn't show itself soon, I'm holding you responsible." This wasn't looking good for Natsu. He knew he needed to find that alien stuff.
...
Salamander
Natsu changed into his Salamander attire and started searching. He's going to be in some big trouble if he doesn't find it. He jumped around and tried to find something.
"I just can't catch a break." Natsu said. "I've got to find that alien sludge. That means I've got to find Sabertooth. They had to have taken it, but how did they do it?" As he was searching around Magnolia, he saw a flare go in the sky by the harbor. "That qualifies as weird." He hurried over as fast as he could. He followed the flare's trail and landed behind an old house over the water. "It came from around here." When he looked around, he ended up getting hit in the back and smashed against the railing.
"Almost too easy." He looked and saw he was faced with Sabertooth.
"Just the dummies I was looking for." Natsu said as he got back up. "Tell me what you did that black stuff."
"Pardon?" Minerva said.
"He seems to believe we're the ones that stole it." Rufus said.
"Who cares?" Jiemma said as he popped his knuckles. "We called you here so that we could finally crush you."
"How? Aren't those muscles just for show?" Natsu joked. That was when it started. Orga was first as he tried to hit him, but Natsu moved out of the way. Rufus jumped in the air and tried to kick him, but Natsu grabbed him and tossed him against Orga. Natsu ducked down from Minerva attacking him, but she jumped off the railing and managed to kick him. Orga tried attacking him while he's down, but Natsu jumped up and kicked off of Orga. "You guys add meaning to the saying "all brawn, no brain"."
"Do we?" Rufus said. He proved him wrong as he pulled out a smoke grenade form his hat. He tossed it right at Natsu and it went off. Natsu couldn't see a thin through the smoke. Minerva used that as she jumped through the smoke and knocked him back. She knocked him into Jiemma as he placed his arms around him and tried crushing him.
"I thought you didn't like hugs." Natsu said through the pain.
"I'll break all your bones to dust!" Jiemma said as he added pressure.
"Can't breathe... Can't break free..." Natsu claimed as it wasn't looking good. He couldn't get out of this and might have been finished, if he didn't get help. The alien substance encased around him as his costume changed into black. Natsu pushed back and was able to break free from Jiemma's hold.
"Whoa! When did he change clothes?!" Orga said. Natsu was surprised by all of this himself. He felt the substance and was amazed by it.
"Is this the lifeform?" Natsu said. "I did take it? It feels...amazing." Natsu couldn't believe how much stronger he feels.
"You know what, who cares?! He's dead!" Orga said as he tried to attack him. Natsu jumped up and had fire form around his feet. He smashed right into Orga and pushed him halfway through the dock. "Hey!" He tried getting out, but he couldn't.
"Wow! I'm much stronger!" Natsu said. He ignited flames around his feet again and gave himself a boost. He smashed into Rufus and sent him flying through the railing and into the water. Minerva tried to attack him again, but he grabbed her arm and tossed her into some crates to knock her out. "You guys really are just all show."
"Is this just a show?!" Jiemma said as he tried to smash him, but Natsu jumped out of the way as Jiemma smashed through the dock. Natsu bounced against the railing and hit Jiemma in the face. Jiemma tried to hit him, but Natsu was able to hold on to Jiemma's arm. The surprises kept coming as Natsu was able to lift Jiemma off his feet. "You were never this strong before!"
"I am now!" Natsu said as he tossed Jiemma into the house. "Good thing no one lives here." Jiemma got back up and tried to keep going, but Natsu used his flaming fists and smashed them against him. He gave Jiemma a good hit that sent him flying through the house and knocked him out. "Wow! This new black suit feels incredible, makes me stronger." Natsu never felt more alive than he did right now with this suit. "I think I'll...hold on to it for a while." He might be stronger, but this strength might come at a price.