Disclaimer – I do not own Naruto or Fairy Tail

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By Any Means

Chapter 2 – Returning Shadows

Soundtrack – Kanzen Kankaku Dreamer by One Ok Rock

0o0o0 3 Days After Hargeon Massacre 0o0o0

"Naruto." The blond stopped in his tracks along the worn dirt path. "You've returned.

The morning mist began to clear and two figures became visible. "You should use less chakra in your Mist jutsu Kisame." A shark toothed grin split the face of one of the figures. "It's good to be home Sensei."

0o0o0 1 Week After Hargeon Massacre 0o0o0

"Halt! I'm afraid we cannot let you pass here. We were told to be on the lookout for someone with your description: a black hooded trench coat, red clouds, and blonde hair. As of this moment you are under arrest for suspicion of killing over a hundred men in the port city of Hargeon as well as suspicion of being a slaver in league with Bora of the Prominence. Please do not resist arrest. We have one of the most powerful Mage Suppressors with us, Arthur Bislow the Forbidden Sealer!" the Knight-Captain Charles Stroid spoke proudly as all 25 of his best soldiers surrounded the lone traveler. "Now remove your hood and show us your face coward."

"Kuso." Most of the men, including Charles and Arthur chuckled as their captive did as they said. Just as he clutched the edges of his hood, the surrounded 'mage' spoke once more, "I hate it when egos are as large as yours." Then to the astonishment of all the Rune Knights and Bislow, a flock of crows flew out from the hood and began to attack the unprepared group.

"Arthur, dispel his illusion!" Charles swung his sword at the birds yet nothing he did seemed to harm them, all of his attacks phasing through each bird.

"This is impossible! I can't suppress his magic!" Arthur screamed in pain as the crows began to peck and tear the flesh from his bones.

"AHHH!" One by one each knight was eaten alive by the flock.

Then, it stopped. All 27 men were still standing where they had been when they surrounded the rogue who was now nowhere to be found. The birds gone just as fast as they had come.

"It's impossible. We could feel him a kilometer away and now it's as if he was never here to begin with. No one could suppress that much magic energy! There aren't even any footprints in the dirt!" Arthur couldn't remove his eyes from the spot where the youth had been standing.

"A shadow of death," one of the Knights spoke shakily. "That was the name given to the monsters of Shadow Heart. They were thought to be descendants of Death itself! He's probably biding his time before he kills us all!" Panic and fear spread as the Knights were unsure of what would happen next. However, nothing happened. They all just stood there, waiting.

Charles hung his head as he remembered what the Knight-Commander had told him before he and his company set up the road block. "Whatever you do Charles do not underestimate this man. If he truly is from that guild, you must be ready to die for your country and King! It took 100,000 Rune Knights and all 10 Mage Saints of the time to end those monsters. We must not allow even a single man to bear their mark, even if he's nothing more than an imposter. I will not tolerate failure! Either return here with him in custody or don't return at all!" Charles clenched his teeth as his fear subsided and anger at being humiliated filled him.

"Men! It was nothing more than an illusion! Steel yourselves and remember your oaths to both your country and your King! This bastard is nothing more than a coward, too afraid to face justice! We will not return home until he is in irons! He couldn't have gotten far. Fan out and bring this murderer to justice! FOR FIORE!" Finding courage in Charles' words the 25 Rune Knights marched out, leaving the Knight-Captain and Magic Suppressor behind.

"Knight-Captain." Charles looked toward Arthur. "Whatever magic was used here is one that I've never seen before. I will be nothing but a hindrance to you at this point and shall dismiss myself and return to the Council in Era." As Arthur walked away, he left Charles with these words of wisdom. "Do not let a hurt pride consume you. In a hunt where the prey is a predator, one must have a constitution that cannot be broken lest you wish to kill yourself."

"Whoever you are… I'll find you," Charles gritted his teeth together before heading out in search of one of Fiore's greatest enemies.

0o0o0 Same Time – Magnolia 0o0o0

Lucy stared up at the large doors of Fairy Tail's guild, gulping nervously. She had been standing before the guild hall for 30 minutes already and had yet to even knock.

"You just need some confidence is all. All of these famous mages you're telling me about weren't always well known. They had to work hard and build up a reputation. They never gave up no matter what they faced. Believe in yourself Lucy-san and you'll be amazed with what you can do." Naruto's words ran through her head. Gulping down her fears, Lucy began to open the enormous door before her... and was suddenly flying through the air as a kick from behind forced both doors to open.

"WAHHHH!" Lucy impacted with the far wall next to the bar.

"We're back!" a pink-haired youth with a scale-like scarf yelled out to the numerous mages and wizards eating and conversing among one another.

"Aye!" a blue coated cat saluted as he jumped up and down excitedly.

"God damn it Natsu!" A pink-haired girl stood up from her seat and marched over to the duo of boy and cat. "You were dropped as a baby weren't you! You just sent someone flying into the bar! That's the fifth time this month you've done that! What are we supposed to drink if you keep destroying everything? Not to mention the hospital bills that you keep racking up because you can't control yourself! Idiot!" The girl sandwiched Natsu and the cat's heads together with her fists.

"That's enough Sakura. You know Natsu didn't mean anything by it," the silver-haired barmaid, Mirajane Strauss smiled sweetly at seeing the two siblings interact.

"Fine." Sakura Haruno, Fairy Tail's main nurse, dropped her self-appointed brother and his cat flat on their backs and marched back over to her seat next to Cana Alberona, Fairy Tail's constant drunk.

Natsu grumbled about the monstrous strength his older sister possessed. "Where are you rat-face!"

"Hey! Who the heck are you calling rat-face!" a nameless mage yelled, gaining Natsu's attention.

"You!" Natsu kicked the other mage square in the face, causing him to destroy the table he was seated at by flying through it. "You lied to me about the Salamander! When I got to Hargeon, they wouldn't let me into the city because of some accident caused by an imposter pretending to be me! There wasn't even a dragon!"

"Don't blame me! I was only passing on some rumors I heard about!"

"Grrr! You wanna fight!" Natsu yelled as his fists were engulfed in fire, pouncing before the other mage could decline.

"He'll never change," Sakura grumbled before taking another drink of beer. "Mira! How's the girl?"

"She seems fine." Mirajane smiled as she helped the poor girl up and get her bearings, "Are you ok?"

"I think so…" Lucy stared wide-eyed at her ideal mage, Mirajane Strauss, The Demon of Fairy Tail and current barmaid as well as Sorcerer Magazine's number one swimsuit model.

"M-Mirajane!"

"That would be my name yes. I imagine you've seen my spreads in the Sorcerer." Mirajane blushed, embarrassed at her celebrity status.

"I'd like to meet the fool who doesn't know who you are and ask what planet he's from. I'm Sakura Haruno, Fairy Tail's combat medic. I'm sorry for my idiot brother over there. Unfortunately, he was born with the brain of a caveman. You're sure that you weren't hurt? No pain anywhere?" Sakura had sauntered over to the blonde and barmaid, managing to avoid being caught in the escalating bar fight that Natsu had started.

"I'm fine, really. Thank you. My name is Lucy." She stuck her hand out in greeting.

"Well then, it's nice to meet you Lucy." Sakura smiled as she shook Lucy's outstretched hand.

"What business brings you to Fairy Tail? Is it a mission request?" Mirajane asked.

"No." Lucy gulped down her nervousness and breathed out slowly. "I can do this," "I came to-" Lucy was cut off by a naked body slamming into her.

"Hahaha! Missing something Gray?" Natsu taunted as he swung Gray Fullbuster's boxers on his index finger.

"Natsu!" Sakura had fire in her eyes as she slammed her fists together, charging a spell.

"For Christ's sake, you're all a bunch of noisy babies." Cana pulled out a magic card and prepared to cast her magic.

"Damn it Natsu I'll get you for that." Gray stood up from a now completely flustered Lucy. Feeling a draft Gray looked down and took notice of his nudity, "Excuse me miss, may I borrow your underwear?"

"The hell you can." Lucy immediately slapped Gray away from her.

"Honestly Gray that's not how you treat a lady." Loki, Fairy Tail's most eligible bachelor, began to charge his ring magic.

"Real men fight with their fist!" Elfman Strauss pumped his fist up, activating his Take-Over magic and encased his right arm in stone.

"That's enough!" A giant slammed his foot down as everyone stopped and looked to him.

"Huge!" was all that Lucy could think of.

"Oh? Master you were there this whole time?" Mirajane smiled sweetly at the giant.

The giant turned to the silver haired girl, "Yeah."

"This is the Master! No wonder they're like this," Lucy was dumbfounded.

"Wimps! Looks like I win this –" Sakura planted her fist in Natsu's face to shut him up.

Lucy made a squeak noise at the amount of violence Sakura showed toward her brother and caught the attention of the Master.

"Oh? You new here?"

"Y-yes!"

"NYAGHHHHhhhhhh..." A rush of wind and instead of looking at a hulking giant, Lucy now found herself staring at a rather short old man wearing what she thought to be an orange and blue clown costume.

"Nice to meet ya!" The Master waved at the confused blonde.

"Y-you're the master of Fairy Tail?"

"Yes. This Master Makarov, Fairy Tail's master!" Mirajane confirmed once again that Lucy was truly looking at the master of Fairy Tail.

Makarov turned and jumped onto the railing of the second floor before coughing to get everyone's attention, "You blasted brats have done it again! Look at all the paperwork the council sent me!" Makarov waved a hefty pile of paperwork around. "All complaints. All you guys do is get the council mad at me!" The guild hall remained quiet and Lucy looked nervous. If the Master was upset with the current members he may not let her join. "However… TO HELL WITH THE COUNCIL!" Makarov used magic to burn the stack with fire and threw the burning pages overhead which Natsu jumped up and caught, eating the flames. "Listen up! Power that has surpassed reason bears its roots within reason. Magic is not a miracle. It can only happen when the flow of energy within us and the flow of energy within the natural world perfectly synchronize. Magic comes from mental strength and focus, nay your entire soul! Worry about those who watch from the sides and you'll make no progress. Don't let the fools on the council scare you! Follow your own path and believe in your own beliefs! That's what Fairy Tail mages do!"

0o0o0o0o0o0

"There you go! Now you're a Fairy Tail mage!" Mirajane removed the magical stamp from Lucy's right hand and a pink version of the guild emblem was left.

"Wow! I can't believe this is happening." Lucy was beside herself with joy. Finally, her dream was a reality.

"Well, start believing because you're one of us now." Sakura smiled at Lucy's excitement. It'd been awhile since a new guild member had joined.

"Thank you, Sakura. I was really nervous about coming here but I'm glad I did." Lucy smiled as she remembered Naruto's encouragement once more.

"Oh? And what kicked your rear hard enough to finally follow through with joining?" Sakura asked teasingly.

"Someone I met. He gave me the courage to believe in myself after something… horrible... happened to me. I… don't know what I would've done had I not met him. This is the first time in my life that I've been on my own and doing things for myself and I let myself fall into such an obvious trap. I was ready to run home but he left me a message telling me not to let what happened determine the rest of my life." Lucy pulled her arms across her torso and did her best to keep her composure.

Sakura looked at the girl with sympathetic eyes. She knew what it was like to go through a horrible experience and feel like giving up on life. "Well, I'm glad that you met that person. Otherwise we'd never have met. The men were beginning to outnumber us girls and we can't have that now can we? Who else is going to save these idiots, am I right Mira?"

"Sakura don't be so mean. It's not like any of them actually go seeking trouble." Mirajane laughed to herself at Sakura's indignant scoff as she cleaned some of the bar glasses. "Well not all of them."

"Thank you." Both Mirajane and Sakura were barely able to hear it but both smiled at Lucy's gratitude.

"There's no need to thank us. It may not seem like it, but everyone here has a past they'd rather forget. All of us, in one way or another, are broken. I think that's what truly makes Fairy Tail, well, Fairy Tail. It's not about making money, being famous, or even being the strongest. We're a bunch of broken pieces coming together to make a whole. A family," Mirajane spoke softly as she took hold of Lucy's hand to give reassurance to the younger girl. "You're our sister now whether you like it or not."

"A family. I… thank you Naruto. Thank you for giving me the strength to come here." Lucy smiled brightly at the warmth radiating off of Mirajane.

"When is my dad going to come back?" The young voice caught the girls' attention to look at the other end of the bar where Makarov was seated.

"You know you're beginning to get on my nerves Romeo. Your Father's a mage and can take care of himself. Just wait patiently for him." Makarov took another swig of the beer he was drinking.

"But Master he said he'd be back in 3 days and that was over a week ago!" Romeo pouted at Makarov's dismissal.

"If I remember correctly he took the job on Mt. Hakabe," Makarov said as he scratched his chin in thought.

"That's right! It isn't that far from here, so why won't somebody go look for him?" Romeo stomped his foot in anger.

"Listen up brat! Your father's a mage and like every other mage in this guild he can take care of himself. Now, go home, have some milk and wait!" Makarov flew backwards as the young boy punched him

in the face.

"JERK!" Romeo ran out of the guild hall, tears flowing freely.

Lucy watched in silence as Romeo ran. Sensing Lucy's misgivings about Makarov's treatment of the boy Mirajane spoke up. "I know it seems like Master is being unfair but he really does care."

Everyone suddenly looked at the Mission Request Board at a loud cracking noise. "Natsu! What the hell are you doing?" Sakura yelled as the pink-haired boy removed his fist from the board. He picked up his camping supplies and walked out with his blue cat, Happy, ignoring Sakura completely. "Huh, what am I going to do with that idiot?" Sakura sighed to herself as she went back to her drink.

Makarov remained silent as an older guild member addressed him, "Looks like Natsu is going after Macao to save him from Mt. Hakabe. He's just going to hurt Macao's pride in the end."

"Remember Nab, every mage chooses his own road. There's nothing we can do except hope Natsu is successful in retrieving Macao." Makarov watched Natsu's retreating form keenly.

"Why is Natsu so upset?" Lucy asked, not knowing just what she was asking.

"Natsu and I aren't actually siblings." Lucy turned to Sakura, a little surprised.

"But I thought…" Lucy let her question die on her tongue at the look in Sakura's eyes.

"The two of us are orphans. My parents were both killed when I was very little and Natsu never knew his actual parents. From what he can remember he just drifted through the wilderness until one day a dragon found him and took him in as his son." Lucy's eyes bulged at the outrageous statement, "Don't give me that look, I know what I said. Igneel was the only parent Natsu ever knew. He taught him culture, language, and magic. Then one day he disappeared, leaving Natsu all alone once again. He searched everywhere for Igneel but couldn't find him in the end. Natsu swore to one day find Igneel and set off into the world. I was the first person Natsu had ever met and he thought we were siblings because of our hair. I was 13 then and already on my way to join the guild and brought him with me. I never told him to beat it or that I wasn't actually his sister. I just accepted him. I had been alone for a while and needed someone just as much as he did." Sakura smiled bitterly at the memories.

"I'm sorry to hear about your parents. My mother died when I was a little girl and my father buried himself in his work to escape his grief, leaving me to take care of myself. I don't have any siblings and never really had friends, so I guess I can understand just a little bit how the two of you must've felt." A silence fell over the three girls.

Lucy suddenly stood, a determined look in her eyes. "Right! I'll see all of you later!"

"Oh? Where are you going suddenly?" Sakura asked surprised at Lucy's sudden eagerness.

Smiling brightly Lucy answered, "To go help Natsu rescue Macao!"

0o0o0 3 Weeks Later – Guild Master Meeting 0o0o0

"Makarov, tell me you've heard the awful rumors too!" Bob, guild master to Blue Pegasus, asked the aging mage and guild master of Fairy Tail at the annual Guild Master Conference.

"Bob there are numerous rumors that circulate all the time. You'll have to be more specific," Makarov said not looking up from his latest edition of Sorcerer's magazine and shamelessly ogling his barmaid, Mirajane, who had once again done a swimsuit shoot.

"He's talking about the incident that took place 3 weeks ago in Hargeon," Goldmine, the guild master of Quatro Cerberus, turned from one of the dining tables with a shish kabob in hand, "As well as the numerous sightings of a mage wearing a black hooded coat with red clouds on it. Some are calling this rogue mage's sudden appearance as a sign to the end of days. Even going as far as to claim the ghosts of Shadow Heart are returning for revenge."

"Oh no!" While most of the other guild masters merely flinched at the mentioning of the dark guild, Bob shook his head and cowered beneath a table, afraid that a ghost of the now dead guild would appear.

"Shadow Heart..." Makarov stroked one side of his moustache and sighed, his heart deepening as memories of a blonde haired man returned after 13 years of being buried, "A new mage in my guild, Lucy, was at Hargeon when that massacre occurred." All eyes turned to the short mage, intent on knowing what happened from a first-hand account. "She told us that though she couldn't remember what happened well, she is thankful to that rogue mage who wears a symbol of Shadow Heart." This caused many eyebrows to rise in questioning.

"She had been captured by Bora of the Prominence," many eyes turned toward to the guild master of Titan Nose briefly, "and had it not been for that mage she would now be a slave in a foreign land being forced to do only Lord knows what. Even though he killed those men that night, we must also think of the countless number of lives he saved from suffering a fate worse than death and question what we would not do in his position!"

"That doesn't mean he can be judge, jury, and executioner Makarov. I read the reports on what fate dealt those men that night and many of them experienced what could only be hell before death embraced them. Just thinking about what he did makes me sick to my stomach." Goldmine clenched his fist. "Mages alone cannot decide how others must die. Everyone deserves a chance to a fair trial before final judgment is cast."

"Could you have stood idly by and watched young women be raped in front of you, Goldmine?" Makarov asked solemnly.

"What!? Of course not! I would do anything I could to save them! How dare you accuse me of cowardice!" Goldmine yelled.

"Bora has been apprehended multiple times on charges of attempted rape and showed no signs of changing his ways, which is why I personally helped in his capture. How he escaped prison is unknown to me but I know, had this man not killed him, I would be tempted myself out of shame and sorrow that my guild once held such a member!" Gardenia Bluenose, guild master of Titan Nose, said solemnly. "I cannot even imagine the pain that his victims are still feeling to this day. I can only hope that they find peace in knowing he will harm no one else."

"Gardenia! To say such a thing! Despite his crimes, Bora was still a human and deserved a fair chance. Don't tell me you're siding with a murderer," Goldmine couldn't believe another guild master was ok with the murder of a little more than a hundred murders.

"You know nothing Goldmine! Such ignorance is why men like Bora continue to get away with their crimes. Bora had plenty of chances to change and didn't. I feel no pity or remorse other than it wasn't me who did him in," Gardenia seethed as thoughts of what her former guild member had done.

"I can't believe this!" Goldmine looked scandalized.

"Tell me Goldmine, how far would you go for your guild to protect those in it?" Makarov spoke with an intense stare.

"As far as I could and more!"

"Then perhaps this young man is doing the same for the people of Fiore. Going as far as he must to protect his home from evil doers like Bora. Even if he becomes the villain, hated wherever he goes, it is a price he has chosen to pay to ensure the peace that is revered in this Kingdom. I can admire his dedication." There was no further argument from Goldmine, who now seemed too conflicted to continue.

Finally the crowd that had gathered dispersed and normalcy somewhat returned to the conference.

0o0o0o0o0o0

"Uzumaki Naruto, you have a lot of nerve showing your face around here after all this time." Tayuya glared at a corner of shadow filling the Strip club she owned. It was the middle of the day, the one time that the club was actually empty and she could relax before all the perverts rushed in to try to get a little too friendly with her girls.

"Tayuya, it's been a long time." Naruto stepped out of his hiding place, his black cloak encompassing his body and hood up, "How's life been?"

"Long time is a few months, Uzumaki. You've been gone 5 years. And cut the crap. You ninja types aren't exactly the type to care about how others have been. You and emotion just don't mix." Tayuya walked back behind the bar and poured herself a shot before downing it. "So what do you want?"

Naruto's tone fell flat as he spoke. "I need to know everything that I've missed since I left. He wouldn't have let his spy network go to shit just because I went to train. Political plays, which guilds are at the top, rumors, all the usual info you can give me. Payment will be made the usual way."

"As of late all those bastards in the Mage Council have been rather quiet, simply regulating the guilds like they're supposed too and all the King and his bumbling fools of advisors haven't been doing much besides raising taxes. Guild positions are the same, the morons of Fairy Tail being as destructive as they can be. To be honest everything has been too quiet. Which means someone somewhere is plotting something but is being careful. You, on the other hand, caused quite the stir with that stunt in Hargeon. Everyone's scared that the shadowy Death God's of Shadow Heart have returned to exact vengeance." Tayuya chuckled at all the buzz about the massacre the blond had started.

"What about them?" Tayuya rolled her eyes.

"Nothing. The one's that did in your guild are ghosts by now, you should let go of the past already." Tayuya was met with silence. "Don't give me the cold shoulder. Whoever was behind the curtains was good."

Several moments passed before Naruto spoke once more. "What about rumors? Anything interesting?"

"Hmm? You know now that I think about it, I did hear an interesting rumor involving one of those ancient items that were cursed by that Zeref guy." Tayuya smirked to herself the moment she said Zeref. If there was one way to get the utmost attention from a ninja, it was mentioning the mother of all evil mages.

"I'm listening."

"So what do you know about Lullaby?"

0o0o0o0o0o0

"I assume you've all heard the rumors."

"We'd have to live under a rock to not."

"I thought we killed them all!"

"It was never clear that we did and the possibility of a few escaping into the shadows was always a possibility."

"We must order a hunt for this man! He's already evaded several border patrols and made a fool of my strongest magic sealer!"

"Don't be so hasty or we'll play right into his hands. There's always more than meets the eye when it comes to ninja, wouldn't you agree?"

"I can kill this imposter before he knew he was dead."

"Here I thought this was all too easy and conquering this pathetic land would be boring. After all, Shadow Heart kept us at bay for nearly a century before we finally turned the very country they cared so much for on them. I think having an opponent that can put up a fight will be entertaining while we put the finishing touches to our plan."

"He'll be dangerous. For now we'll observe his movements and see what it is he wants."

00000 To Be Continued 00000

Edited: 08/18/2013 by The Revolutionary Ronin & Lord of the Morning