...just gonna drop this here nonchalantly... I hope you all enjoy!
CHAPTER 17
Natsu squinted at the blearing light creeping through his window. He watched as the sun peeked out from behind the tree line to begin its ascent into the morning sky. Groggily, he dragged his hands over his face, for once, not having the energy to face the day. He'd hardly slept last night as his mind was nothing more than a jumbled mess, a seemingly inseparable knot of thoughts and feelings.
He hated it.
He hated feeling so unsure of everything around him, including his family. He hated the dark spirits that sat in his gut while also leaving a hollow ache in his chest. The loneliness and doubt were so reminiscent of how he felt the day Igneel went missing. People he'd known since he was a child, people he'd considered brothers and sisters, his team, everyone, they all lied to him. And yea, he recognized he was at fault now, sure. There's no excuse for turning his back on his best friend.
But to lie to someone you call family for months seemed just as inexcusable…
His nakama were his everything. He would die to protect them. And he'd obliterate anything or anyone who dared to threaten them.
So how was he supposed to feel when he was the one who hurt them?
How was he supposed to feel when they were the ones who hurt him?
What hope do I have of fixing any of this? he thought.
A growl of frustration rumbled low in his throat. On and on his thoughts went, seemingly running in circles through his head. Now morning was here, and he still didn't have a clue.
"Tch." he grumbled as he rolled away from the sunlight now beaming into his room, only for his gaze to catch on the glimmer of some of the trinkets adorning his beloved memory wall. His eyes dragged slowly over all the keepsakes he'd accumulated over the years…
A piece of Happy's shell when he hatched all those years ago, a burnt wooden spoon from the time Mira tried to teach him how to cook her infamous fire chicken, the flyer for his very first job as a Fairy Tail mage, a small chunk of Erza's armor the first time he'd landed a solid hit on her, the maid outfit he tricked Lucy into wearing on their first mission as official partners, a small branch from the Rainbow Sakura tree he'd sent down the river for Lucy when she wasn't feeling well, the Salamander signature he'd tried to gift Lucy when they first met back in Hargeon… there were tons more from flyers of the missions they took together to little mementos from the adventures they'd endured.
His eyes softened at the realization that his memories with Lucy seemed to dominate the wall. He also realized with a small flicker of sadness, that he hadn't added anything to the board since before Lucy supposedly left.
Gajeel's words from yesterday continued to taunt him.
'If I were you, I'd try to reach out to my dragon side. He could probably tell you a thing or two. Gihi.'
Natsu felt his lip curl in distaste, and he turned away from the wall to cross his arms over his chest, much like a petulant child.
He didn't want to talk to his so-called 'dragon'.
He didn't want this bond with Lucy.
He didn't want her.
As far as he was concerned, it was his dragon's fault he was in this mess in the first place.
It just had to choose Lucy of all people.
He steeled himself again to reject her but like the last time, the words simply died on his tongue.
Ultimately fed up, he rolled onto his back and took in a deep breath before letting it all out in one giant whoosh.
'I wonder if he's like Igneel…' Natsu thought.
He brushed the thought away almost as soon as it surfaced. So far, all his dragon had made him do was hurt his family. There's no way it could be anything like the kind dragon Natsu had come to love and cherish.
Yeah no, this part of himself could stay locked up in the deepest corner of his mind to rot for all he cared.
Still…dragon instincts or not, he recognized that he had to make things right with Lucy.
It didn't matter if he wasn't ready to face his feelings. He felt her absence now like a hole in his chest. Maybe it was because he knew he played a big part in her leaving, or maybe it was just guilt from not addressing her absence sooner, but he had to find her and he had to bring her home.
Gajeel's face came to mind again, but he dismissed it.
It didn't matter if some of the guild was against his choice.
It didn't even matter to him if Lucy was reluctant to come back.
He'd drag her back kicking and screaming if he had to. Because she needed to know how much she meant to the family she ran away from. And a teeny, little voice in Natsu's head confessed that he just wanted things to go back to the way they were. Back before all these confusing thoughts and feelings began to ensnare his brain. Back before he let his fears and insecurities allow him to be complacent and a coward. Back before his nakama looked at him with so much disdain.
The only way he could think to do that was to bring her home. He could get things back to normal. They could be partners again. Nothing had to change. He'd find her, and he'd apologize for how stupid he'd been, and he'd bring her back where she belonged. His nakama would be happy again and his family would be a little less broken.
After an entire night of trying to solve his problems to no avail, in true Natsu Dragneel fashion, he put everything else out of his mind, leaving it as Future Natsu's problem…For now, all he would allow himself to focus on is to find Lucy.
Having finally come to a decision, Natsu took one last look out the window. The sun was now sitting comfortably above the trees, not a cloud in sight.
'A perfect day to set out on a mission,' he thought to himself determinedly.
He leapt out of his hammock.
Picked up his pack.
And raced out the door towards the guild to settle some unfinished business.
As the guildhall finally started to come into view, he stumbled in shock before his steps came to a gradual halt.
What...what had he done?
Yesterday was mostly a blur of rage, fear, and regret for him. Still, he didn't recall doing this much damage. It was amazing the structure was still standing….
Giant holes perforated the great stone walls like Swiss cheese. Huge lumps of debris and rubble were scattered across the building courtyard. There was a ginormous gaping hole blown out of the ceiling, just barely missing the bell tower as far as he could tell, and the shingles lining the edges were singed black.
But it wasn't just the physical appearance that was off.
The normally jovial atmosphere that could be sensed even outside of the guildhall was gone. He could hear the murmurings of his family inside, but they sounded hushed…dull.
Natsu subconsciously took a step away from the guild before he froze.
'No.'
His sharp teeth gritted as Lucy's smiling face popped to mind.
'Dammit, I said I was done running.'
"I-I gotta face this." he mumbled.
His fists squeezed shut, the tanned skin over his knuckles turning white with the effort. He took another deep breath before finding the courage to march forward again. He noticed someone had at least taken the time to put the large wooden doors back on their hinges, and rather than kick them open like he usually did, he simply pushed them open, letting the gigantic doors swing closed behind him with a thunderous boom.
All conversation ceased. The already hushed tones of his comrades went completely silent as he strode inside.
He stood there, unsure what to do or say, but was saved by the call of his name.
"Natsu!" was all he had time to register before a flying blue ball of fur was launched into his chest.
Natsu looked down at the rather unkempt exceed and felt his heart break a little more. His fur was tufted and ungroomed, tear tracks stained the fur below his eyes a dark blue. His tail drooped forlornly and even now moisture continued to gather in the corner of his eyes.
"Hey there little buddy. You don't look too good." Natsu said, gently patting his head as he encased him in his arms.
Happy brushed off his words with a shake of his head.
"I-is it true? Are you gonna go look for Lushi?" he asked in a small, hopeful voice.
Natsu got ready to reply when Wendy made her way over to them as well.
The look of relief on her face confused him.
"I was worried you weren't going to come by before…"
Somehow, he managed to crack a small smile her way under the uncomfortable stares of their guildmates.
"I said I would, didn't I?"
He heard a snort and looked up to see Cana giving him a look full of contempt.
"Yea, well, we see how much your promises are really worth."
He flinched, even as his teeth clicked shut around the hurtful things he wanted to hurl at her. It was a rare occasion for Natsu to hold his tongue, but he knew there was some truth to her words.
How many times had he vowed to protect the guild and all its members?
All his talk about the importance of family must seem paltry in the face of his actions, so he swallowed the words down and looked around. There wasn't a single friendly gaze looking back at him.
He cast one last look down at his little cat before handing him over gently to Wendy. Bracing his shoulders, he looked out at all the glaring faces.
He glanced over his team, his eyes finding those of Gray and Erza among the crowd and frowned.
It was a struggle to look away, his frown deepening as he noted the head of white hair next to them, but he forced himself to continue his perusal until he'd taken in everyone present.
"Okay, listen up everybody!"
If all eyes weren't on him before, they were now. The weight of their gazes seemed determined to crush him as he tried to get his words in order.
"Look…I don't know what to say that'll tell you how sorry I am for my actions. What I did was inexcusable. I acted like nothin' but a sorry bastard. A-and I'm not just talkin' about yesterday either."
He had to pause as he met the mostly blank stares of his comrades.
"I-I don't know what came over me. You guys are my friends…no, my family."
"And I don't know where I'd be without any of you." He had to swallow around the lump forming in his throat.
"So that's why…" he felt his eyes grow tight as tears of all things tried to come to the surface.
'No, I'm stronger than this dammit!' he thought angrily to himself. His fists clenched.
"That's why it's so hard for me to accept that s-she's gone…" he chocked out.
"And why it's so hard for me to accept that you all lied to me. You! The people I'd give my life for!"
He reached up to wipe away the tears, cursing as his hand slightly tremored. He could feel it, that rage that went unchecked the previous day.
Was this how his dragon was feeling?
Or was it still himself?
This need to simply wreak havoc.
While he was struggling to control his emotions, his guildmates remained silent. None had any words to refute his claim. Even Cana looked away, uncomfortable.
"Natsu." A gravelly voice spoke out.
The quiet authority of it broke the angry spell he was falling under, and he felt his rage drop to a simmer. The pinkette brought his gaze to the upper bannister, somehow left relatively unscathed from his rampage yesterday. Sitting perched there was Gramps.
"Come to my office, now."
Natsu stiffened before slowly walking towards the stairwell.
"Wendy, keep an eye on Happy for me." he said.
He stared straight ahead, refusing to meet any of his guildmates eyes. That was, until he felt a soft hand latch onto his arm.
"N-Natsu, I-"
His body instinctively jerked in her hold as he turned to meet a pair of glistening sky-blue eyes.
Lisanna…
"So, you knew too huh?" he asked sadly.
She nodded guiltily and he sighed.
"You found out about a month ago, right?"
At that she flinched, and he felt his heart drop a little.
"I mean, that's part of the reason why you broke up with me, isn't it? Cuz' you, Gray and Erza found out about Lucy?" he asked.
Again she flinched before reluctantly shaking her head.
"I-I'm so sorry Natsu but…"
He waited, but no words passed her lips.
She was stuck, unable to get the truth to form on her tongue, but it seemed there was no need as Natsu took in the guilt written all over her face.
As he waited for her to get the words out, something in Natsu's mind started to click, and simply put, it made his heart hurt.
He had no real proof.
None except for her guilty appearance. It was the same look of remorse he'd seen buried in her eyes for the past four months. He hadn't even recognized it for what it was until the night she dumped him.
At the time, he'd assumed she'd felt guilty having to end their relationship but… seeing that same guilty expression now…he just knew. It was never about that.
It was because…
'She knew about Lucy this whole time…' he thought darkly.
He didn't want to believe it. Surely, she hadn't known for that long.
Desperately, he waited for her to get the words out that would put his fears to rest.
He had nothing to go on except a hunch after all, but as she registered the suspicion and the pain on his face, he recognized the affirmation on hers. A single tear fell down her cheek as her grip tightened subconsciously on his arm.
'Guess she really was just filling in for what's her name then, huh?' Gajeel's words from yesterday tormented him.
He turned away from her, no longer willing to hear her out, especially if what she had to say managed to break his control. A small part of him continued praying his suspicions were wrong, but his emotions were still a complete train wreck, his limited patience stretched too thin.
He felt her grip tighten on him, unwilling to let him go, and he snapped.
"Just…get away from me!" he snarled.
Yanking his arm out of her grasp, he turned back toward the stairs, forcing his way through the crowd. It didn't take much effort on his part, as everyone gave him a rather wide berth after hearing the venom practically dripping from his voice.
He suppressed a flinch when he heard the girl behind him try to stifle a small sob at his rejection.
There was no mistaking the distrust he saw on his nakama's faces now.
Completely over this entire morning, Natsu hurried up the stairs towards Gramp's office.
Seeing as he was expecting him, Natsu simply walked in before slamming the door rather loudly behind him, anguish still pulsing through his veins.
"Let me be clear Natsu."
Natsu's spine straightened at the dark tone of his master's voice, anger all but forgotten.
"The only reason I have not crushed you where you stand, is because if I were to do so, I'm afraid the rest of the guildhall would come crumbling down around us! To say I am furious is an understatement!"
"YOU DARE LAY YOUR HANDS ON MY OTHER CHILDREN IN ANGER!?
YOU DARE TO BLAME THEM FOR YOUR OWN SHORTCOMINGS?"
Natsu wisely took several steps back until he was pressed against the door he'd just abused.
Despite his previous words, Makarov began to morph into his Titan Form.
He grew, and grew, bigger and bigger, until just the sheer power of his magic began to press down on the pinkette.
It felt like the room itself couldn't contain him…a resounding crack came from beneath their feet and to Natsu's relief, Gramps began to shrink again, until he was little more than dwarf size.
"Like I said, consider yourself lucky for now."
"Natsu," he rumbled.
He watched the boy flinch at his name and a tiny bit of the anger sitting in Makarov's gut loosened.
"Look at me child." he ordered.
Natsu stiffened, movements hesitant as he finally looked up at the man he viewed as a second father.
"You know the penalty for hurting your fellow guildmates,"
"don't you?" he asked quietly.
Natsu's breath caught. He couldn't mean…
"No…" he whispered. "No, Gramps, please! I know what I did was wrong! I'll do whatever it takes to fix it! Just please, d-don't give up on me! Don't…" Natsu closed his eyes in defeat and hung his head in shame.
"Please don't kick me outta the guild…" he whispered.
Makarov said nothing. He felt the same ache bloom in his chest when he was faced with the decision to expel Laxus. The same regret that he hadn't been able to do more.
'But Natsu isn't Laxus,' he reminded himself.
He wasn't cold or selfish. He wasn't looking to destroy the guild and the people within it.
He knew the importance of family, and he cherished the bonds he shared with all of them. Makarov still didn't know for sure what came over Natsu yesterday. Maybe if he'd been at the guild instead of at a conference, he could've prevented this from happening.
'Maybe if I'd told him the truth…'
"...I'm not going to expel you from the guild." he finally said.
Natsu's breath released. The sheer relief that washed through his body was almost dizzying. He slowly brought his eyes back up to meet the hard gaze of his guild master.
"Gajeel told me his suspicions about your behavior yesterday." he continued.
"And while I will NEVER condone fighting between my children out of anger…" he said vehemently.
"as a dragon slayer, I knew there may be… repercussions… for accepting a magic as rare as yours into the guild." he continued.
"Not to mention, I already knew you wouldn't take the news well." he sighed.
"Frankly, I think I've been quite an old fool these past couple of months." he murmured.
Natsu's brow furrowed in confusion.
"I should've told you sooner about Lucy. I see that now, and I'm sorry for that Natsu. I've let this drag on for too long."
Natsu frowned.
"Why'd you do it? Why have everyone lie to my face like that Gramps? If I knew sooner, I coulda' gone after her and brought her home by now!" he yelled.
Makarov's brow cocked.
And Natsu proceeded to clamp his jaw shut. He was facing possible expulsion and even he knew better than to mouth off to the master right now.
"Yes. If only you'd known sooner. Such a shame that Lucy, the girl that you brought into the guild, the person that you asked to be partnered with, only breaches your thoughts once every four months." he responded scathingly.
Natsu winced at the acid lacing his voice. It wasn't as simple as that, but he wasn't sure which idea was worse for the guild to believe. The notion that he restrained his thoughts about her and neglected their friendship, or the misconception that he simply hadn't thought of her the entire time she was gone.
"Look, I'll bring her back and I'll apologize. Just…let me fix this Gramps!"
"Hmph. You assume she wants to come back." he stated.
"What if she wishes to stay where she is? Then what'll you do, my boy?"
"She won't." Natsu answered firmly.
"You don't know that."
"I do know that." he snapped.
"Why wouldn't she want to come back to her family huh? I screwed up. I get it. I shoulda talked to her instead of just ignoring our problems…" he trailed off.
"I-I shoulda' been a better friend…" he mumbled sadly.
There was a pause before Natsu shook his head in a vain attempt to clear away the regret. He didn't have time to be sad right now!
"But I'll tell her all of that, and then she WILL come home!"
Makarov drummed his hand softly against his desk, debating his next words carefully.
"Did anyone get the chance to tell you what Lucy said to me before she left?" he asked quietly.
Natsu's brows furrowed in annoyance.
"No."
"She told me, it hurt just to be here Natsu."
Natsu stiffened, but for once, he didn't have a response.
"And she told me this was something she had to do." he continued, eyes softening.
"It's why she didn't tell you all she was leaving. She knew if even one of you asked her to stay, she would."
"Are you willing to go against her wishes? Is this about helping Lucy or is this really about helping yourself?"
"Ugghhh you sound just like that old bucket of nails! Of course, I'm doing this for Lucy!" he snarled, absolutely fed up with everyone questioning his motives.
Makarov shook his head sadly.
"I don't think you are." he sighed.
"But," he continued when he saw the pinkette about to interrupt.
"I know I can't really stop you from going." he finished.
"Just promise me that you'll think about what I said. And if you do manage to find Lucy, I hope you'll do right by her."
Makarov hesitated, his eyes darkening for a moment before shaking his head.
"Tell her…tell her the rest of her family is waiting for her if she ever wants to come home."
Reluctantly, Natsu nodded, not trusting the words that might come out of his mouth. He was just happy to finally have permission to set out. And more than a little relieved to have dodged getting kicked out of the guild.
Impatient to get going, he turned to leave.
"And Natsu," Gramps called.
Natsu paused, feeling something dark and almost sinister building behind him where Gramps was sitting.
"If you ever put your hands on our guildmates or on our home like this again, I will not be nearly as lenient, dragon instincts or not. Understand?"
Natsu felt a shiver race down his spine. The immense amount of magic power now beating against his back was warning enough. Turning his head just enough to catch the eye of his master, he nodded once before finally walking out the door.
He trudged back down the stairs and walked straight toward his team. Wendy and Happy perked up immediately, but Lisanna seemed to shrink away from him while Gray and Erza both merely stared at him expectantly. However, before he could reach them, the booming voice of the master took his attention. Slightly annoyed, he glanced up, certain the Master wanted him to hear his words as well.
"Listen up brats!"
The minuscule conversations around the room all slowly died down at Makarov's call for attention.
He waited until all eyes were on him upon the bannister before continuing.
"As you all know, the time has come this year to pick who will have a chance at becoming an S-Class wizard."
Interest peaked, and a small piece of life seemed to have been breathed back into the guild as Fairy Tail's members listened with anticipation.
"An S-Class wizard is meant to act as the embodiment of Fairy Tail. Honesty, integrity, strength, courage, and above all, concern for the care and wellbeing of their fellow guildmates and comrades. An S-Class wizard must demonstrate all these things…"
"Which is why, I will be cancelling the S-Class Promotional Trials this year-"
Instantly, cries of outrage rose throughout the guild. It was the liveliest Natsu had seen them all morning, he thought broodingly.
Makarov pounded his cane against the floor with a resounding thud and the silence following was instant.
"I am under the assumption that everyone present is aware of the absence of our resident celestial mage."
When no one spoke up, he continued.
"If there are any doubts, let me put them to rest by officially stating that Lucy Heartfilia is no longer a member of Fairy Tail."
A couple murmurs broke out, but Makarov held out his hand and the voices reluctantly died down again.
"I cannot assume her reasons for leaving, but it was clear that she did not feel like a part of the guild for quite some time and so, she decided it was in her best interest to leave Fairy Tail for good." he stated gravely.
"Now, our pride and honor as a guild come from the bonds we forge with one another. Fairy Tail has always been a place where people of all walks of life can find a shoulder to lean on, a helping hand… a family."
"Which is why I am beyond disgusted, that one of your guildmates, one of my children, felt she had no other choice but to leave her family and face the world alone."
"A guildmate should never feel isolated from their nakama. Nakama is the foundation, the very cornerstone that Fairy Tail was built upon! The First Master would be ashamed of all of us if she could see how far we've fallen. I condemn not just all of you but myself as well. All of us have failed as Fairy Tail wizards!"
It was deathly quiet then. Not a single member could find fault with what their master was saying.
"When one of us triumphs, we all triumph. When one of us suffers, that pain can be felt by everyone…and when one of us falls, it is our duty to be there to pick them back up. We never leave a comrade behind. And we certainly never allow a friend to suffer alone!" he bellowed.
"Reflect upon yourselves and your previous actions. Do you have faith your nakama is here for you? Do you have faith that you'll be there for them when they need you?"
"Even now, I can feel Lucy's sadness as she left through those doors..." he said dolefully.
"I refuse to watch one of my children fall to despair ever again!"
There was a moment of silence, and Natsu looked around to take in the anguished faces of his nakama.
'I will find you Lucy. And I'm bringin' you back home where you belong.' he vowed silently before Makarov continued.
"If you are suffering, know that there will always be someone here to help. Whatever you may be facing, please, do not feel like you must face that burden alone. Happy moments…sad moments…we may not be able to share them all, but whenever possible, we must shoulder them together.
That is all. Think back on what I've said today, and let's all strive to be a better Fairy Tail!"
"For Lucy!" Wendy shouted.
Roars of approval sounded around the guild.
A couple of tears could be seen on some of the faces of those closer to the celestial mage. The dark atmosphere that seemed to have been pressing down on the guild for so long finally felt a little bit lighter. As the guild continued to talk animatedly amongst themselves, Makarov couldn't help but think that the unwavering feeling of fortitude that Fairy Tail was known for felt a little closer to restoration.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Natsu making his way towards his team. He let out a small sigh.
'He's a stubborn one,' he thought to himself.
'Please, watch over him First Master…'
Natsu finally stood before his teammates, eyes hard.
"I'm goin' after Lucy." he said, not waiting to beat around the bush.
"Then we're coming with you." Erza stated calmly.
"Aye!" Happy exclaimed, for once, face somber.
Natsu shook his head.
"No. This is somethin' I'm doing alone."
He saw Erza about to argue, so he rushed on.
"Did any of you go looking for her when you found out?"
Erza frowned. Gray grimaced. Lisanna merely shrank further away.
There was a beat of silence.
And that was all the answer Natsu needed.
He nodded sadly.
"You all had months to go after her. Even if I didn't know, you coulda' went looking, but you didn't." he stated.
"I don't trust you guys right now…."
"And I know I can't blame you for it taking me so long. I get that. But you kept something so important from me. I just, I can't wrap my head around that." he said dejectedly.
He looked over his three teammates and was met with equally sad, guilty eyes in return.
"And…and I don't think you should trust me either." he finished.
"I'm sorry about what I did to you guys yesterday. I was outta line, and I swear, I won't let it happen again, but…I don't feel like myself. My magic…it feels like I don't have it under control anymore. And until I feel like I have a handle on it again, I don't wanna be around any of you."
He glanced sadly at his exceed.
"That means you too little buddy. I need you to stay here with the guild."
"B-but Natsu! We're partners!"
Natsu nodded.
"I know Happy, but…" Natsu looked over at Lisanna, who was still refusing to look at him, not that he blamed her.
He looked back down at the little tomcat.
"You saw how bad I got when Lisanna was gone."
It was quiet, but he heard the little gasp of surprise that left her.
"I'm not gonna put you through that again. Okay?"
Happy shook his head.
"I don't care about that! I'm your closest friend Natsu! I'll always be there for you! And, I-I miss Lushi." he sniffled.
Natsu sighed even as his heart twinged painfully at the shattered look on Happy's face.
"I know and trust me, I wanna bring you with me, but I can't change my mind. Not on this."
He jerked his gaze towards Wendy, unable to continue seeing the sadness on his exceed's face.
"Do you mind keepin' an eye on Happy while I'm gone? It'll probably be a while."
Wendy shook her head.
"Not at all. Although Carla's been pretty cold around him. She wouldn't even look at him last night." she said sadly.
Natsu frowned. He knew Happy could be a little dense sometimes, and while he didn't really get why Happy didn't notice Lucy's absence either, he knew how much he cared for her. He certainly didn't think he deserved to be ignored by the pompous little white exceed. Still…
Natsu sighed again. "Well then, this sounds like the perfect time for them to work things out."
Wendy nodded. "I just hope Carla starts to come around sooner than later.
Natsu nodded before dragging the small girl into a giant bear hug.
"I'm gonna miss you Wen. And thanks again, for tellin' me the truth."
The little girl sniffled into his chest as she wrapped her arms around him in return.
"I'll miss you too. But we'll be right here waiting for you guys."
He finally let go, albeit reluctantly, before turning to face the rest of the team.
"I'll see you guys later, alright?"
Gray and Erza both nodded reluctantly.
"I wish you luck, Natsu." Erza stated.
There were so many emotions in her normally stoic brown eyes. Natsu did his best not to focus on the regret and the sadness he saw there.
He swallowed hard around the lump beginning to form in his throat before nodding in reply.
"Just bring her home safe, okay Firebreath?" Gray rumbled.
Natsu frowned at the remark, but simply grunted in return before looking over at his third teammate.
'Reflect upon yourselves and your previous actions.' Makarovs words rang through his head.
"…Lisanna."
Her head snapped up and he felt kinda bad when he noticed the wary look on her face.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you. I just need some time. Okay? Then we can talk." he said.
She nodded sadly, and Natsu turned away.
He gave Happy one last pat on the head, and the tears hanging onto the corners of his eyes nearly did the slayer in.
"I'll be back as soon as I can, so don't worry! And I'll give Luce a big hug for you when I find her. Okay, Happy?"
Happy sniffled, lips quivering. He couldn't help the feeling of abandonment welling up, but he knew his partner wouldn't budge on his decision.
"A-aye sir." he finally blubbered.
"Stay strong buddy. I'm gonna fix this. I promise."
Happy finally broke and shot into his father figure's arms. He tried to stay quiet as the tears he'd been holding back finally ran down his furry cheeks. Natsu patted his head soothingly, ignoring the tears and surely snot that were dampening his vest.
"I know Happy, I know."
As much as Natsu wanted to stay and comfort him, he knew he had to get going. He was finally beginning to feel the distinction between himself and his dragon, but both were itching to hit the road and start looking.
He looked up and was surprised to see Lisanna in front of him, her arms held open.
"I'll help look after him too." she murmured.
Natsu almost pulled away, almost. But he knew without a doubt how much Lisanna loved this little exceed. So, he nodded before reluctantly depositing him into her arms.
He grabbed his pack, throwing it over his shoulder, before making his was way to the doors. Right before he walked out, he turned to face his family one last time. His eyes took in the wrecked walls around them, and the rather somber mood that'd lifted just minutes ago was already back.
He felt eyes burning into him and turned to meet the blood red irises of his fellow slayer.
'Don't fuck this up.' that look said.
Natsu nodded towards Gajeel before finally pushing through the guild doors.
Slowly, they swung shut with a decisive thud.
ONE WEEK LATER
Somewhere in the middle of the sea sat a small, peculiar island. It interrupted the endless expanse of the ocean alone, no other landmarks to be seen as far as the horizon. At the island's center stood a gargantuan, ancient tree. Its roots curled firmly around the jagged rock formations at its base, as if clinging to stay erect on its perch. While above, its sturdy branches carried what appeared to be a second island. The Tenrou Tree as it were, stood proudly over the surrounding waters, giving the island its namesake as Tenrou Island. Upon its rocky shores rested an airship, its massive frame still just a blip when compared to the enormity of the great tree. Upon its hull was the symbol for the dark guild, Grimoire Heart.
All appeared quiet on the island as a woman with fair skin and hair as dark as shadows marched onto the ship, a body of what appeared to be an unconscious young man strewn across her shoulders. Six others followed her quickly onboard before the ship began its ascent into the sky.
The woman carried her haul onto the main deck where her master waited.
"Well done, Ultear. It would seem your mission went well."
"Yes, although there was no sign of the Fairy Tail Guild as you'd hoped, Master Hades." she replied.
"Hmph. It's no matter. There'll be plenty of opportunities to destroy them in the future. Still, Azuma, I expect you completed your task as well?"
A massive man with tanned skin and thick, wild brown hair stepped forward.
"Of course, Master Hades."
As if waiting for his words, the great Tenrou Tree began to shift.
Azuma pointed out the window and Master Hades turned to watch in glee as boulders began to topple from the secondary island. Even from their distance, it was clear to see the tremors running through the trunk of the tree before it began to sway.
Back and forth, back and forth, the tree tilted, gaining momentum with every swing.
The young man on the floor was slowly beginning to gain consciousness and his eyes opened just in time to watch as the tree crashed to the waves below. Large plumes of dust and sand erupted from the ground as the trunk smashed onto the beach.
"NOOOOO!" he bellowed.
He began to writhe on the ground in his desperation to free himself from the cuffs that bound him.
A tall, middle-aged man strode over, his white overcoat billowing behind him along with his long-clothed ponytail. He reached the struggling man and held his hand above him.
"Can you fly?" he asked, appearing rather bored.
When the man continued to thrash around, he brought his hand closer.
"Fairy Glitter." he mumbled quietly.
The man beneath him screamed as he felt all of his organs, his spine, even his skin get crushed under immense pressure. He felt his hip bones dig painfully into the steel boards beneath him and he struggled not to black out from the pain.
"Hmmm. It would seem the spell written inside Mavis's grave was nothing more than a fake. That was nothing more than your usual assault spell." Hades commented.
The young man managed to look up as the Master now stood before him. He was an elderly gentleman, his white beard almost touched the floor, yet he carried himself with the spryness of a man half his age. An eyepatch covered his right eye, but it was the evil, seemingly all-knowing look in his left one that stuck out the most to the man still clinging to consciousness on the floor.
"Enough Bluenote. Lest you rip a hole through the ship and plunge all of us to our deaths." he ordered sourly.
He felt the spell increase and the poor man couldn't stop the scream of agony that slipped past his lips before the pressure gradually tapered off, as if to say, "I don't take orders from you".
He heard more than saw the spellcaster walk off somewhere as his vision blurred.
Finally relieved of the pressure on his weary bones, the young man collapsed, a trail of drool and harsh breaths the only things to leave his body as he laid there.
"You needn't worry now, Lord Zeref. It's taken years, but we've finally managed to collect all of your keys, and soon, you shall awaken from your deep slumber, and usher in the beginnings of the Ultimate Magical World!"
The young man referred to as Zeref stiffened as he took in the wishes of this corrupted old man.
Without even looking at him, Zeref could feel the darkness all but cloaking the man.
It was thick as tar, and black as oil.
As the sun began to bleed into the ocean, it's dying rays bathed the man's feet before him in crimson red hues and Zeref imagined it to be the blood of the countless people this man had certainly killed.
It would seem the last 400 years he spent trying to protect mankind were wasted. How could it not be when people like this still ran amok?
The keys.
Those useless keys rumored to return his 'evil' self. Nothing more than a baseless rumor spread by desperate, misinformed acolytes some hundred or so years ago. Just how many lives had this man taken in order to get them?
He'd seen the magic his subordinates wielded.
What dark arts had they immersed themselves to gain such powers?
Through the large ornate windows behind the man, Zeref could still see the billowing dust clouds from the remnants of the fallen Tenrou Tree.
A name popped into his mind and the grief that accompanied it nearly overwhelmed him.
'Mavis,' he thought
'I'm so sorry…'
And then he felt it, that telltale shift.
These people and their actions…they were pushing him to the breaking point.
As this man continued to prattle on about his plans for the future and his reverence for the Almighty Black Wizard Zeref, the man on the floor continued to fight against the wave of apathy that threatened to engulf him.
But it was useless, and he knew it.
For the angrier he became over the loss of life, and the more he despaired for the people who'd surely suffered at the hands of these detestable people, the larger the pull was to simply stop caring.
The more he fought to value all life, as he clung desperately to the memories of his mother, his father, his brother, of her, the pull of that frighteningly black wave grew closer and closer to consuming him.
Just before the curse overtook him completely, he looked up at the man before him once more.
This man disgusted him.
And that name.
That accursed name.
The Black Wizard…
Lord Zeref...
"Oh forgive me, I have yet to introduce myself. Although, technically, we've already met. You may refer to me as Master Hades, leader of-
The words seemed to all but die in his throat as he felt an incredible amount of malice seeping from the man still crouched on the floor beneath him.
'Where had this dark intent come from? This power?' Hades thought frantically.
As the small man looked up to meet his eyes, something Master Hades had sworn he'd never feel again raced down his spine.
It was fear.
All encompassing, mind-consuming fear.
The blackness he saw when he looked at this man. The complete lack of compassion.
Those eyes were endless.
So dark, that there was no distinction between where his pupil ended, and his iris began.
Just never-ending darkness.
But what was worse was the blatant loathing that he could see overtaking those eyes.
Hades found he couldn't move, and looking at his underlings, saw them in the same predicament. Even Bluenote stood quivering, his back to the man he'd just smashed into the ground, now unable it seemed, to even turn around.
"As you can see, you despicable man, I'm wide awake…" Zeref said.
At the quiet, almost gentle voice, Hades' gaze snapped back to the man before him to find him suddenly standing, the cuffs broken by his feet. The fading light of the sunset lit up his pale face and Hades realized he'd been wrong.
His eyes weren't black.
No, they were red.
As red and as deep as a bottomless ocean of aged blood. The cold sensation of death and unmeasurable malevolence pulsed off him in waves, and still, Hades was unable to retreat even a step, merely drowning in those fathomless eyes.
"Tell me, how many atrocities did you commit to obtain those keys?" he asked quietly.
His voice was whimsical, almost condescending, like a parent scolding a child, and yet, it did nothing to take away from the terror Hades could feel washing over him.
"Did you count the lives you took?" he continued.
"The widows you made?"
"The children who will never grow up?"
Again, Hades tried to move, to back away, twitch a finger, something, but to no avail.
"I was never asleep you fool. So, there was never a need for those keys."
Hades gasped. All these years, all his hard work…the things he'd done, and the horrors he'd committed to gather those keys…all for nothing.
"The man who stands before you now is the true Black Wizard Zeref. For centuries, I have kept the darkness of my powers at bay, clinging to the dying whisps of my humanity…"
Hades didn't think it was possible, but those eyes grew even colder.
"But your abysmal attentions have rid me of those shackles for good. And now, you must be punished, for all of the suffering you've caused."
At last, it seemed the spell the master was under had broken. He staggered away from Zeref and felt his back meet the cold metal of the windows behind him.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Ultear grab Meredy and felt his heart burn with betrayal as they somehow managed to stagger out of the room.
"Hades, it was you alone who caused me to forget the importance of life."
Zeref lifted his hands, and his magic pulsed. He heard the people behind him cower as his power washed over them too.
Hades desperately tried to cast his most powerful spell, "A-Amaterasu: Formula-"
"Repent while you still can…" Zeref whispered.
And the ship exploded. A beam of hellish black magic shot into the sky as the airship was ripped to pieces and the bodies of the Grimoire Heart guild members fell to the ocean below.
THE CELESTIAL REALM
Deep within the celestial realm, a king sat upon his throne within the Great Hall of the stars, his eyes closed as he continued his eternal watch over the worlds below him. One would almost think he were sleeping peacefully. Suddenly, he felt a chill bombard his skin.
Unlike the thrilling icy heat of starlight that normally rushed over him, he felt this chill sink into his very being, steadily moving throughout his body, until a face surfaced behind his eyelids. A young man, hardly of adulthood, with messy black locks and pale, alabaster skin. His mouth was curled into a pained but nonetheless gentle smile.
But his eyes...Those terrible, terrible, eyes remained cold and calculating.
Slowly, the Celestial King's eyes opened to reveal the galaxy within their depths. He brought a hand to pet his impressive mustache thoughtfully, lips twisted into a grimace.
"It would seem, the Black Wizard has risen once more..."