I was reading the comments from the last chapter and the use by the name of Xalmasyz, that Natsu's armor was the Deathwing set and I was like: "What's a deathwing?" Then I look it up and it was an armor from WOW, I swear that I didn't know the existence of that armor until now. It all just a big coincidence.

Chapter 3: The Dragon Knight, Natsu Dragneel

Haregeon was one of the most important cities of all the kingdom of Fiore, not for their magic users. Less than 1% of its population used magic, but it was the most important port city of the Kingdom. Tourists, merchants and travelers come from all corners of the world. So their economy depended from the port.

"So this city only has one magic store?!" A teenage girl asked to the store cleric, she was very young looking. She had blonde long hair and some of it was tied by a ribbon. Her outfit was simple but fashionable, a white sleeveless shirt with a blue cross and blue miniskirt.

"Yes, this is a port city after all. We don't have any guilds or magic schools, so they are not many wizards around here."

"So there's go any chances to get a celestial key…"

"We have other articles! This one got today: Color changer! You put your finger on it and woola! Your clothes changes color!"

"I already have one." The girl looked around his store, the shells were full of products but they were pretty basic. More like children stuff and trinkets. But something immediately caught her attention. "Is that the key of the magical dog, Nicholas!"

"Yes but he isn't that strong."

"It doesn't matter, he is cute." She said. "How much for it?"

"200000 jewels."

….

….

"How much is it?"

"200000 jewels, young lady."

….

….

….

The girl sit on the table, she extended her legs all over the cashier and winked at the cleric. "How much for it?"

"

He only give 1000 jewel discount! Who the hell he thinks he is?!" She wasn't one of those girls who spend all day saying that she was a beautiful but she knew that she was very pretty. Her looks are worth more than 1000 jewels!

"KYYYAHHH!"

"Salamander-sama!"

She looked at the center of the street and it was a geninually surprised to see so many girl pill up on a single spot. She got closer to see was the fuss was about, what she saw was a bunch of girls around a single guy.

"Take it easy, girls. There's nothing wrong with sharing." The man was handsome but nothing to be surprise. Then…why was her heart beating so fast?! Was this the so call love at first sight?!

Who—Who was this man?!

"Are you truly the missing mage of Fairy tail, Natsu Dragneel?!" She heard that name many times during the last couple of years. He was a wizard that was able to control the flames but one day he went into the sea and he went missing. She honestly didn't believe those people that claimed to be him, pretending to be someone else…someone presumably death, that was disgusting.

But what did this man have that she couldn't take away her eyes from him?!

*Thud*

"Apologizes." A man hit her from behind by accident. Suddenly, all those feeling crushing her chest were gone. She saw the man who hit her and her eyes almost pop out from her face. Whoever he was, he looked like a knight from a Fairy tale. A vibrant red armor with spikes and a sword as big as his body, the stranger was truly imposing.

"Hmm? A cosplayer?" Natsu Dragneel said when he saw the knight approaching.

"Excuse me, are you perhaps Natsu Dragneel?"

"Of course! I'm the mythical fire wizard of Fairy Tail that returns to his home after 2 years! Do you want an autograph?" The wizard took up a board and signed. "Here, don't lose it. I will love to stay and talk but I have business to do."

*Snap*

Salamander snapped his finger and his feet were covered by fire. The next moment, he was flying with it. "I'm hosting a party on my boat! Everyone is invited!"

"KYYYYYYYYYYAHHH!"

"Salamander-sama!"

"I'm going to marry him!" All the girls chase after him, leaving the knight and the girl alone.

"What a frivolous man." The knight said while turning apart the autograph he got. "Better get ready for the night."

"Excuse me, sir." She got close to him, he was taller than she thought now that she was close to him. "I wanted to thank you. He was using a hypnotize spell for making woman fall for him."

"I thought it was for his charming personality."

"Right? Jejeje, my name is Lucy. Let me treat you."

"This is unnecessary, young miss."

"If you didn't bump into me, I would be running behind that asshole." The two were inside a dinner, she decided to buy him something to eat as a treat. "By the way, I didn't ask for your name, mister."

The knight sit before her and remove his helmet. He was very young looking! And he had pink hair.

"I'm Etherius, a pleasure to meet you, miss Lucy."

"D-Don't be so formal, you're making me blush…"

"My apologizes."

"Good day, may I take your order?"

"I want a coffee."

"Do you have any kind of alcohol?"

"We have beer."

"I would take one, thank you." Etherius smiled and make the waitress go away while hiding her heavy blush. She had to admit that he was very handsome. "Miss Lucy, are you a local or a visitor?"

"I'm just passing by, I just got here this morning."

"IS that so? Where are you travelling to?"

"You see….I'm some kind of wizard."

"Some kind?"

"I'm a celestial wizard."

"A celestial wizard…a summoner?"

"You could say that. I summon celestial spirits to help me fight."

"Then why a celestial wizard is travelling?"

"The truth is I'm want to join a magic guild…"

"I see, sorry to tell you this but this town has none."

"I know that! But I don't want to join any guild! I want to join Fairy Tail!"

"Is that so?"

"H-Here are your orders." The waitress come back with their orders, she was very nervous and trying to avoid looking at Etherius.

"Thank you, young miss." The girl fade away with a big blush on her face. "Tell me, why do you want to join Fairy Tail?"

"Because is the best! Have you ever seen Mirajane?! She is too beautiful! And their master is one of the ten saint wizards! Yes, they do a lot of trouble but they can go to big adventures!"

"…"

"Sorry for be overexcited."

"Don't be, I find you enthusiasm endearing."

"Please don't tease me." She grabbed her drink. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"What's with that look?"

"Look?"

"I don't want to offend you or something! Is just is not common to see someone wearing a full armor and such a big sword around."

"Oh. Well, that's because I'm a knight."

"Ehhh, that's sound very romantic. Do you work for the realm?"

"I do not, I'm more of a free sword."

"Like a mercenary?"

"I prefer the term 'sell sword´." Etherius grabbed his beer and swallowed in one swoop. "Which brings me to this town."

"Are you on a mission?"

"I am. I'm looking for a man."

"Who?

"You met him no so long ago."

"I did….that Natsu Dragneel wannabe?"

"Yes. I'm investigating this man, besides identity theft, he has being accused of other and heavier crimes."

"I can't believe him, can someone be this awful?" People like that guy were unforgivable. They were limits that no one could trespass and this guy seem like one of those. "If I could get my hands on him…"

"What would you do to him?"

"I will turn him to the authorities and make him pay for what he did!"

"Do you have a sense of justice, Miss Lucy?"

"More like common sense. Someone like him shouldn't be free!"

"I'm glad that we think the same….now, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"If that man was before you and you knew that he not only did horrible things but will also keep doing to innocent people. What will you do to stop him?"

"What do you mean?"

"What method will you use to stop him?"

"Method-? H-Hold on, you mean like….to kill him?"

"…."

"A-Are you seriously asking if I….?"

"You don't have to answer if don't want to. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

"A little late for that, Etherius-san."

"My deepest apologizes, miss Lucy." The knight grabbed his helmet and pull it on. "Don't pay for me." He threw money on the table, enough to pay for the two of them.

"Wait! You don't have to go! I don't feel offended!"

"Sorry but as I said I'm on a mission and I don't want to waste any more time. And don't feel obligated to pay, a thanks is more than enough."

"…Then I want you to answer something."

"Absolutely, what you want to ask me?"

"What you ask me before….what would you do in that situation?"

"I would do what I have to do."

Lucy was sitting under a tree of the main plaza, she was trying to read the weekly "Sorcerer" magazine but her mind was still on her previous encounter. Etherius was a very odd person. The only knights she knew were the Rune knights and those she read on her novels. Speaking of knights, the pink haired man reminds her of one of the main characters of her favorite novel series: 'The rebellion of Fire and Thunder'. Those books were really old but yet still hold up this days. Those books were one of the reason why she wanted to join a guild and go to adventures.

"Now that I thinking, Etherius has the same name as the protagonist of the books…and he is also a knight." Ever since she was little, Etherius was her favorite character. The rebellion books happen on an apocalyptic setting were most of the kingdoms were on the verge of disappearing because of some ancient evil. And Etherius was a boy that came from nowhere and faced all the calamities of the world and bring hope to people.

Yeah, it was kinda cheesy but she always love that no matter what they threw at him, he never give up.

Her father hated those books, saying that were a waste of time and just fantasy for children. Even so they were very…adult with their contents. In all ways.

How many times she write stories about her and the slayers (the name of the group of knights in those books) going to adventures? Too many for her to count. It was those stories that motivate her to become a writer….or wishing to be one, because she couldn't find the courage to public one of her stories.

People don't know the pleasure of knowing someone is reading something you made! If she ever get the chance of publish something, she would do it under a pseudonym.

"ahhhhh…." She sighed. "At the very least I have to join Fairy Tail."

"OH so you want to join Fairy Tail?" The man from before appeared behind her, making her jump from her seat. "Forgive, but I couldn't not hear your words."

"What're you doing here?! Listen, your magic will not work twice on me! I already know your tricks and what you did!"

"Hmm? What are you talking about?"

"About the crimes you committed!"

"And what those crimes be?"

"You're stealing someone else's name!"

"I admit to be guilty. But there's no law of calling yourself whatever you want."

"You're impersonating a dead man."

"So does a ton of actors. I'm just another entertainer whose performs the role of an already dead man. If you arrest every person who play the role of someone dead, there won't be any movies or plays."

"If you need to use a charm spell on girls, maybe you should dedicate to something."

"I do, believe or not I'm a wizard from Fairy Tail."

"YOU ARE?!"

"Why do you think I'm capable of using his name? Someone has to keep his legacy."

"There's better ways to do it that using his name. Wait, you're a criminal! Etherius told me!"

"If you pass a week in Fairy Tail, you would know that we all committed crimes. As a matter of fact, I dare you to find a new about us that doesn't shit on us and call us criminals."

"Really?" Lucy grabbed her magazine and read it once again. The man was telling the truth, outside Mirajane pictures, all the articles about the guild didn't put it in a good light. "Huh, you're actually-"Suddenly, her mind and body stop working.

"Where I am?" The blonde girl was opening her eyes, for her surprise she was inside an unknown room. It was very fancy and expensive looking, it was like a presidential suite. But when she tried to move she realized that she was being tied to a chair.

"You finally wake up, darling." The imposter was before her, alongside plenty other men. "Honestly, I expected you to wake up earlier but I see that I overestimated you."

"What are you bastards doing?!"

"Allow me to explain: As I told you early today, I'm an entertainment. My area of expertise is towards an adult public. They pay very high for specimens like you. And let's not talk about this babies." On his hands was a keychain with plenty of silver and gold keys.

"Give them back!"

"You have any idea how rare is to find a golden celestial key? I almost had a stroke when I saw three of them!"

"W-What are you planning?"

"Haven't you listening? We're selling you to the best buyer, alongside the other girls. Although, I could make a special spot for a companion in my business trips."

"Go to hell."

"A shame, we could have made a great couple. Alright boys, put her with the rest."

*Knock* *Knock*

Before they could do something, someone knocked the door. "What the hell?"

"Who's knocking?!"

"Is probably one of the newbies." One of his henchman said while walking towards the door. "AAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Said henchman grabbed his hand on pain when he touched the latch.

"What happen?!"

"The latch! Is burning hot!" The door was open by the one on the other side. For her surprise it was no other than…

"Etherius!"

"Hello again, Miss Lucy."

"Who the hell are you?!"

"Forgive me, allow me to introduce myself. I'm an entertainer by the name of Bora. My area of expertise a young lady between the ages of 13 to 25. I profit of their exploitation in illegal brothel and slave houses. I used the name of a deceased person as a way to caught attention of innocent women."

"W-What?!"

"You bastard what are saying?!"

"Forgive me, I had the impression that is allowed to be someone else. After all, you do the same for a living with no repercussions."

"That's about to see. Take care of him!" All of his henchmen took out weapons.

"This is y-"One of the henchman that had a sword on his hand try to attack him. Emphasis on try. Because his right arm was on the floor. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Lucy freeze on her seat, she has never seen someone getting an injure like that. She wanted to scream but her mouth was completely dry.

"Don't worry. My heat sword can cut as well it cauterize wounds. You won't die."

"Y-"

Before they could do something, Etherius slashed his way towards them. He moved so fast that she couldn't see what he was doing. The only thing she saw was how all the men fell to the ground in seconds.

"H-How?!"

"Tell me, is this of your liking? ?"

"…Seems like you made your homework, sir. I applauded for all your effort. And if you make search about then you must know..." Bora extended his hands and a magic circle appeared. "That there's a reason why I could pretend to be Natsu Dragneel!"

A blast of full fire emerged from his circle, the fire consumed everything before him. Even his men.

"ETHERIUS!" Lucy screamed in fear. "BASTARD!"

"Be quiet, I should lost a ton of my men."

"How pathetic."

"Eh?" The two look at the fire Bora made and saw a silhouette standing inside of the flames.

"Do you truly use this flames to pretend to be me?" The silhouette grabbed his helmet and open his mouth. What the two mages saw was something that leaving them with no words. He was eating all the fire like a vacuum! In a couple of seconds, the fire was off and he was standing with no injuries. "At the very least, you could dye your hair."

"P-Pink hair…and eats fire….you-you supposed to be death!"

"But I'm not."

"H-Hold on….this be that Etherius is…!"

"Allow me to properly introduce myself, for real this time. My name is Natsu Dragneel, a pleasure to meet you."

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!"

"Not jokes, all true. Speaking of truth, let me demonstrate you…" He closed his left fist and put it on fire. "…how are my flames."

"DO YOU THINK I'M GOING-?!" Before he could finish his sentence, Natsu punch him right on his face. The strength was so enormous that Bora was fire out of his boat.

"Fire Dragon claw."

After the fight, Lucy and all the girls were rescue by the authorities. Et-Natsu informed the rune knights about the location of Bora, even if Natsu was defeated, they surrounded Bora's boat. Taking away any chances of escaping. She was quite surprised to see that he managed to capture so many women, she hated to admit but that says that he was a quite skill wizard.

But what shocked her the most was the knight on shining armor that come to her rescue was no other than the real Natsu Dragneel! For a second she taught that the real Etherius came to save her. A knight rescuing a damsel in distress, how classic.

"Miss Lucy." Speaking of the devil, Natsu came back from talking to the rune knights. "I have something that belongs to you."

"My keys! Thank you so much!"

"Don't be." They were both on the deck of the port, the rune knights made a perimeter area for the girls until all her families came to them. "Are you alright?"

"Thanks to you, Ethe-Natsu-san."

"Sorry for not telling you that name."

"Why didn't you say that you were the real Natsu Dragneel?!"

"Would you believe me?"

"….Probably not. But that doesn't matter, aren't you supposed to be dead?!"

"They have been exaggerations about my disappearance but I can assure that I'm quite alive."

"How—How long have you been alive?"

"Accordingly to Fairy Tail, I come back from the death 3 days ago. I can assure that after what happen today, the news about my return would be in all newspaper of the kingdom."

"Fairy Tail…"

"Oh, that reminds me. Where do you staying currently?"

"Eh? What you mean with that?"

"I want you to grab your belongings now that you have your keys back and your freedom." Lucy started at the knight in confusion. "You said it. You want to join Fairy Tail. So go and grab your stuff. We're going to the greatest guild in the world."