Hey everyone! It's been too long since I've posted a chapter! I'm back with the beginning of the second instalation of my Fairy Tail Series! I plan on there being five more instalations or so, depending on changes, but right now, I'm focusing on bringing this next part of the series to life.

I will also be continuing work on my other stories for all of you've read them as well, so look forward to that! Also, I will be dropping the "key" for different indications for the story, since they're pretty much obvious. There will still be credits at the end of every chapter after my ending AN recapping music used, and new characters if they are introduced. This book, as well as the folling chapters, will be similar or longer in length as the previous one. Also, I want to give credit to my beta reader, Jay, for going over all grammer mistakes, the boost of confidence, and for keeping me in check as to actually post chapters on time. Thanks again, Jay!

Now, without further adieu, here we go! :D

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN FAIRY TAIL OR ANY REAL WORLD REFERENCES IN THIS STORY!

Broken Silence

The sound of the bell over the intercom sounded, signaling the end of the day. Natsu had spent the entirety of his final period passed out in the corner of the room. He sat up and stretched. It was getting close to the end of his senior year of high school, and he had actually done rather well. He was quite surprised and proud of himself. But he couldn't have done it on his own. Which also ran true with the rest of his life from then up this point.

A lot had changed since the beginning of his junior year. He used to push people away, and had been pushed away by those who couldn't stand his loner attitude. Then Lucy arrived in town. She took notice of him, and tried to understand what he had dealt with. She had helped him open back up to being friends with others, and he had gained something else too. He had grown quite fond of the blonde. And on Christmas of that same year, they became more than friends: they had become lovers. Not only had he mended relationships, he gained new ones through circumstances that changed the course of his life forever.

He suddenly felt a sharp pain sprout from the top of his head, sending his face crashing into his desk. He yelped in response, looking up to see said blonde looking down on him. Her hands on her hips, and holding a rather annoyed expression. She also was holding a rolled stack of papers, the weapon that inflicted the pain to his head.

"Jeez! What was that for, Luce!?" He grunted, rubbing his head.

She sighed. "Well, class is over for one." She replied, folding her arms. "Which you would know if you weren't sleeping the whole time."

"Cut me some slack, okay?" He groaned, standing up and picking up his bag. "I had a late night."

"Yeah, I bet you have." She said, looking around. She leaned closer and whispered. "What happened to not going after criminals alone?"

"It was no big deal Luce, I had everything under control."

Her eyes narrowed. He could tell he was going to receive another lecture from pretty much everyone tonight. For very specific reasons. The circumstances that also brought them all together were a common enemy. A man that had forced his way into their lives, and ruined many others.

"Look. I followed a lead on Zeref's whereabouts." He sighed.

"On your own."

"Could you please drop that already." He groaned. "I got the message."

"Well prepare for m-"

"More reminders, yeah. Happens every time."

Zeref was the name of the man who had kidnapped Lucy, four of their friends, and himself; and given them a formula which allowed them to use magic. Each being affected in their own way. And it didn't stop there. He continued kidnapping people, causing more and more people to be put in harm's way. Criminals started showing up with magic of their own. Some of which were people with natural magical abilities. So after taking down the Oracion Seis, the six of them, along with Wendy(Lucy's foster sister and daughter of Natsu's original foster father, Igneel), had taken on the challenge of stopping them.

And Natsu didn't like to wait for help.

"Still." The blonde sighed. "You know it's because we all care about you, right?" He couldn't argue with that.

"Yeah, I know."

In reality, he didn't have to chase the lead. It's not like a warehouse being used for trafficking and transporting people to Zeref's labs would have disappeared overnight. If there was one thing for certain about his capabilities, he had the means for doing whatever he wanted, whenever he felt like it. Plus, having a cop on the inside of the police department also had its share of benefits. That was all thanks to Igneel for giving them tips on criminals, whether they had magic or not.

Though this was true, the former of the two types of criminals seemed to have vanished. They started to take notice about five months earlier, when one of the rogue wizards went on a rampage downtown and nearly took out half a block. They eventually took him down, but Jellal almost lost an arm. In response, he stood no chance when Erza requipped and smacked him through solid concrete. After that day, crime was back to its usual human offenders. And that was a real red flag. They couldn't have caught them all, not by a long shot. Knowing this, Natsu continued following his hunch that Zeref was up to something. With, or without anyone's help or knowledge.

Putting those thoughts aside, Natsu grabbed Lucy's hand as they walked down the hall. He felt her grip as they headed to the front of the school building where they met the rest of their friends.

"What took you guys so long?" Erza questioned, as Jellal stood behind her with an apologetic look.

"U-Um, nothing." Natsu answered, shivering with fear. He gently squeezed the blonde's hand for help.

"You know him." She said, "Sleeping in class again." She sighed as Natsu laughed nervously. The redhead promptly hit him on the head in response.

"How many times have we told you to not go out at night!?" She growled. "And on your own, no less!"

"You had it coming." Lucy said, shaking her head. This earned nods of agreement from everyone else.

"Jeez," snorted Gray. "Just couldn't help yourself, can you Hot Head?"

"Shut it, Ice Princess!"

"What'd you call me, Flame Brain!?"

"You heard me, Ice Boy!"

"ENOUGH!!" Erza growled, causing the two to freeze, and both hid behind Lucy.

They watched as Laxus walked up to their group, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Take it easy, Erza." He said. "Those two do this every day, so just don't bother." Gajeel, Wendy and Levy stood there watching before the youngest piped up.

"U-Um, I don't mean to speak out of place," She said, gaining their attention. "But aren't we going to be late for the guild meeting with Master Makarov?" They all knew she was right. They had learned not to be late for, or blow off, Makarov's meetings. At times he showed sides that were more than undesirable. In their minds, and all Fairy Tail members, Makarov's punishments were worse than death. They all quickly piled into Laxus' truck and took off for the Dreyar mansion.

Upon arrival, they noticed Makarov standing on the front steps looking at his watch. They all quickly moved up the stairs, stopping in front of the short man. He looked quite angry, causing all of them to wonder what fate awaited them.

That is until he broke out laughing. They all looked at eachother confused as to what was happening. He then proceeded to clear his throat before speaking.

"You kids are really something." He chuckled, turning and walking to the door. "You managed to make it just in time." Upon hearing that, they all breathed a sigh of relief. They were spared for the time being. They proceeded to follow Makarov inside to where they headed to the basement of the estate.

The entrance was a bookshelf in the front foyer beside the stairs leading to the second floor. He touched certain books, tilting them, and then placed an open palm against the case. Upon doing this, a magic circle began to form. He turned his hand to the side, which allowed them entry to the hidden stairwell. They headed down the steps, the sounds of laughter and talking filling the stairway. Reaching the bottom, they once again took a look around the guildhall. Their fellow guild members from all around Fiore and Ishgar meeting in one place. They watched as the fireplace grew and another couple members entered the guildhall as if it were a normal door. Even though they had gotten used to seeing it these past two years, it still had an awe inspiring effect on them. Laxus had lived here for years and never knew what lay beneath the estate.

They were welcomed by every member they passed, nodding to Mira and her brother over at the bar, which they serviced now. Apparently, the Strauss family were some of the few who had natural magic among their circle of friends. Sometimes, Natsu even wondered if Lisanna was the same. However, they weren't the only ones. Laxus' little fangroup that came together, known as the Thunder Legion, were all natural born wizards. Levy, Cana, Juvia, and their families, were all natural born too. It all came as a shock when they originally learned this. Now, it hardly mattered. Especially after Makarov explained it to them.

There weren't just natural born wizards and normal people, there was an entire scale with different variations in between. Those halfway and above tended to become wizards and their magic power would flourish if they nurtured it right. On the other side, their magic power would sink to a level that would be barely noticeable if any at all remained. But embracing that magic power within had its own downsides. Once connected with that power, it became tied to you. It became your very essence, tied directly to your lifeforce. The longer and stronger your connection, the more dangers came along if the levels went too low. The difference between wearing yourself out and being completely drained of your power at that point was the difference between life and death.

He assured them upon revealing these truths, that hardly any wizards have actually died from magic depletion. But he warned them to be in tune with themselves, for it was still a real threat to their lives in the future. Especially since they were given artificial magic. With little knowledge of what really happened to them, that only made it more important to pay attention to every change they experienced.

Natsu wasn't really bothered by this, at least for his sake. He was more concerned with the blonde sitting at his side. He hadn't seen her injected like he was. All the others affected by the serums that Zeref had given them were awake at the time. Knowing this, he had his suspicions about whether she was a natural born wizard or not. There was only one person he could think of that could really answer that question. But he didn't see said Celestial Spirit around the guildhall.

Master Makarov stood up on the stage on the side of the guildhall. In his right hand he had a staff. He struck the stage, causing the guildhall to become silent, gaining everyone's attention. He had told them that today had a significance to it, though he hadn't mentioned what. Natsu in particular was excited to find out what the big deal was.

"My children!" He said. "Each and every one of you knows that our guild is a family, and families support their own." He said. Nods and murmurs of agreement were shared around the hall. "Now, we shall all support the newest members of our family!"

Cheers were heard all around. Mugs were raised as the entire room turned to them. It was then quieted down, for Makarov had yet to finish. "In light of this, I am proud to announce that these young wizards are ready for the next step. To truly set themselves on the paths to their future." He said. Natsu didn't like what he was hearing, though it was not what their master was saying. There were murmurs around the room, ones that his heightened senses were picking up.

"We all have been through this, it's true." He said sternly. His face became serious. "The work and the challenges we face as wizards in this modern world vary. Not only in the type of work, but also… the level of danger. To prepare our young for the world they will face, I am announcing that they will begin their true training; on Tenrou Island, and going through the Vermilion Trials!"

This got the attention of quite a few of the other wizards. The entire room erupted into arguments. Some were in protest of this idea, while others fought back saying it was necessary. Whatever it was, the dragon slayer knew that it had to be dangerous or sacred for the guild to be so divided. One of the men stood up. He had slicked back, dark blue hair, and he seemed rather against the idea.

"That's insane Master Makarov!" he said. "They're just kids! I've seen them in action, and sure they can handle themselves in a fight. But the Vermillion Trials!? They'll be permanently injured or worse!"

"SILENCE!" The master's voice boomed. The entire room was instantly silenced, all knowing very well what incurring the master's wrath would entail. "Macao, do you think I would say this if I wasn't sure they could handle it!? Look what they've accomplished! They took down the Oracion Seis, and they've even proved to be a major thorn in Zeref's side on occasion! They deserve at least that much!"

Natsu felt a soft hand squeeze his. Looking over at Lucy, he could tell she was nervous. He squeezed back in response, giving her a reassuring look. The master continued on, saying they would go through training before even getting to the Vermillion Trials.

"I care for each and every one of you, as if you were my own children." He said. " I am not the only one who thinks this way. For Mavis herself believes they are ready."

The hall grew silent, people looking around in confusion. Natsu himself was confused. He had learned that Mavis Vermillion was the name of the first Fairy Tail guildmaster. She had been said to be brilliant when it came to strategy, and quite the force to be reckoned with. There was only one problem he found with that statement. She was no longer with them: Master Mavis was dead.

"I think you might want to let me take the reins now, Makarov." Said a woman's voice. Natsu recognized it. It was the one he heard during their fight against the Oracion Seis. Now sitting at the bar was a short woman with flowing blonde hair that seemed to reach down to her calves. The attire she wore matched that of a painting in the Dreyer's. A rose colored ribbon around the collar of her frilly pink gown. Large blue diamond patterns lay around the abdomen area, and white wing-like attachments pierced her hair where her ears would be. Her green eyes scanned the room, her mouth holding a small smile.

She was silent for a small while until she hopped off the countertop and her bare feet hit the floor. She slowly made her way to the stage, a tap matching every step against the stone floor. She walked onto the stage as Master Makarov stepped aside. She turned and faced the crowd of wizards as they stared in awe of this sight.

"B-But aren't you supposed to be-" Natsu began.

"The real answer to that question is not important." She said, cutting him off. "What is important is that considering Zeref and his colleagues going quiet, we should take advantage of this time to increase your strength and skills. Knowing him, he has a reason for not making any obvious moves, so I requested Makarov take you to Tenrou."

The mumbles began to circle the room, but no one could deny that logic. Zeref had been merely set back by their constant interference. No way would he just go quiet without a good reason. This was probably leading up to some bigger scheme of his. The entire purpose for Natsu, Lucy, and the rest of the small group getting magic, fit into the picture of him obtaining an extraordinary one. One that would let him conquer whatever lay in his path.

"If we wish to stop him, everyone must play their part. And for you all, you must reach the next level." She said finally. "In four weeks, you will all take that next step."

Having said that, she raised her hand. At literally a snap of her fingers, she had disappeared. "Now with that settled," Makarov continued, "I believe you all have some planning to do. And fear not. This training will help you understand yourselves and your abilities more so, and with some relaxation since it is Summer after all." He then proceeded to hop off the stage and made his way to the bar.

Natsu turned back to those at his table. Not one of them spoke while the rest of the guild seemed to go back to talking, joking, and having a great time. Almost like nothing had happened. Like Mavis had not just come back from the dead and announced that all of the newest members would be going through trials to increase their magic power. Thinking about it, Natsu was partly excited for this chance to get stronger. The other part of him was afraid. All of the older and more experienced members had stressed how dangerous it could be in these trials, so he didn't know what they should expect.

"I wonder if these trials are as dangerous as the other members say." Erza said, breaking the silence at the table. They all looked to Laxus, considering he was the Master's grandson.

He looked around at them, obviously confused. "Don't look at me." He said. "The old man never once mentioned anything about magic or this guild before. I don't have a clue what they're like."

"Well, that sucks." Muttered Gray.

"I, for one, trust the Master's judgement." Levy spoke up.

Gajeel grunted in agreement. "Makes sense to trust the old geezer. He's been helping us figure this stuff out since we got our magic in the first place."

"But if they're as dangerous as everyone claims," Lucy said, gaining the group's attention. "We could even die. You heard Macao's tone. I don't really think it's a good idea."

The group kept discussing it, wondering what to do. The only one who stayed silent was Natsu himself. The thought of these trials made him a little uneasy. He knew he wasn't the smartest of the group by far, and each side of the argument had good points. If he was honest with himself, he thought that this might be a good chance to get stronger, despite the risk. To actually get to a point where he could put a stop to Zeref's plans. But he still didn't know for sure. He got up and pushed his chair in, making him the new center of attention. "Hey, where ya goin, pinky?" Gajeel questioned.

"I'm kinda tired," he said, stretching his arms. "I'm gonna head home early today. I'll see you guys later." He then took leave of the guild hall, leaving everyone to wonder what his deal was. Especially Lucy. She got up, followed by an also worried Wendy, said goodbye to their friends, and went after him.

He was lost in thought as he exited the residence, the blonde and the bluenette walking at his sides. No one spoke on the way home. He didn't know exactly what to say to them. When they got home, they unpacked and sat at the table for dinner. Not long after they arrived, Igneel came in, greeting everyone. Natsu stayed silent for a majority of dinner. Until Igneel decided he wasn't going to let him stay quiet.

"I hate to be one of us to say this," he said, wiping his mouth off, "But I'm calling out the elephant in the room. What's on your mind that's gotten you so unnaturally quiet?"

"It's nothing."

"Nothing my ass, Natsu." Igneel replied,getting annoyed. "I know you, and so does everyone at this table. You're never quiet. Talk to us, son." The table was silent for a few seconds before Natsu finally decided to give in. He told them all about what Masters Makarov and Mavis said about Tenrou Island and the Vermillion Trials.

After he finished explaining, Natsu noticed the man's face from one of concern, to one of indistinguishable rage. Igneel stood, put his plate in the sink and headed towards the front door. He didn't utter a word as the door shut behind him. They heard the turn over of the engine outside as he left to who knows where. One thing was for sure though: Natsu's fears were being proven correct so far. And he really didn't like that fact.

Later that night, Natsu couldn't sleep. Happy slept peacefully on the end of his bed. He had been by Natsu's side the whole time he'd been on his own. Even when he didn't know the feline was an Exceed. He rubbed the furball's blue head, earning him a soft purr. He slowly got up and went to his closet, finding his Salamander uniform. It was a little dirty from his last encounter, some blood on the trim. He began to put it on, wrapping his scarf around his neck. He'd been debating not wearing it in public, as to not be suspected of being the Salamander, but he couldn't find it in his heart to leave it behind.

He began to open the window when he heard a soft knock on his door. He froze, knowing full well who it was, debating ignoring it and leaving anyway.

"You can't stop me from leaving." He said, looking at Lucy's concerned face as he opened the door. To his surprise, she was wearing her "costume". It consisted of a white, short skirted dress, with matching white, frilly sleevelettes. It had a blue strip on the side, as well as matching blue ribbons on her biceps and around her neck. She wore white thigh highs and shoes that allowed her to move around without the worry of tripping(as Lucy had originally wanted to wear matching heels). Claire had also seemed to put together a white mask to go over her eyes that completed the outfit. Clearly, she got the message, and she had one of her own.

"I know," she said firmly, "So I'm coming with you this time." He knew that she could be just as stubborn as him sometimes, so it was no use talking her out of it.

"Fine, just stick close to me, okay?" He sighed. With a nod of agreement from Lucy, they both snuck out into the night. The streets were mainly quiet, except for the beeping of horns and occasional curse or two from those still up and about. For the moment, they jumped from rooftop to rooftop, fire escape to fire escape. It was kind of nice spending time together this way. They'd gone on normal dates and trips together, sometimes interrupted by this side of they're life. Partaking in it together was a good change of pace, especially with no crooks or rogue wizards. He could feel his uneasiness from earlier that day dissipate as time passed. He turned to look at her, her gaze painting over the city.

Suddenly, they heard gunshots and the sound of police sirens. They looked down to the streets in front of them to see the police chasing a van. The criminals were firing at the cars in pursuit, causing one of them to swerve and crash into one of the parked cars on the side of the road. They took that as the cue to intervene.

Natsu grabbed hold of Lucy, as they dropped down onto the roof of the oncoming van. A predictable "Shit!" was heard as the driver then proceeded to swerve the vehicle back and forth to throw them off. Thankfully, Natsu had a strong grip. That was until a well-aimed bullet found its way through the roof of the van, into his shoulder. He howled in pain, letting go and began to tumble off the roof, the blonde still holding onto what she could to keep them on.

The dragon slayer growled in anger. Holding on tight to the blonde's hand, he pushed off the side, and smashed his feet into the side of the van, forcing himself inside. He ignited his hands as the men around him turned their attention to him, firing off flames towards the front of the van and blasting the back doors off. The van swerved to the side of the road, throwing Natsu against the wall. He managed to climb out, grabbing hold of Lucy, and got out of the van's way as it crashed into another vehicle on the street. The men inside the back flopped out onto the pavement, clearly unable to fight back, while the man in the passenger seat kicked his door open.

He pulled up his ski mask, revealing his face to the two wizards, and allowing his long and messy blond hair to fall out. His red eyes bore into them as he raised his weapon. "Fuck off, you freaks!" He shouted as the bullets started to fly. Natsu dodged and put Lucy out of harm's way. Before she could even protest, he launched himself directly at the man, shooting flames from his feet to propel himself. He landed a solid push to the man's temple before stopping himself. The police had finally caught up to them, beginning to take control of the situation.

They took that moment to leave, getting farther and farther from the scene of the crime. But not before Natsu got a glimpse of the man's face whom he'd hit. His eyes were filled with rage, directly aimed at him. It was slightly chilling, especially for a normal person to make him feel a little shaken. He quickly brushed it off as they disappeared into the night, ready for the scoldings that awaited them.

Igneel had been driving angry all night, trying to clear his head.. He couldn't believe what he had heard, what Makarov and Mavis had suggested. He eventually pulled up to the Dreyer estate, slamming his door closed. He knocked heavily on the door, until it was opened by Makarov himself. He didn't seem surprised to see the man.

"You don't seem surprised to see me here, Makarov." Igneel said, his tone carrying some venom.

"Indeed." The short man said. "I knew you'd come here, eventually. You're later than I expected, and I took the liberty of inviting the rest of the Dragon Court. I hope you don't mind." He said, closing the door after they stepped inside.

"How did you-"

Makarov stopped him. "Please. I've been helping you all these years." He said. "Though part of what we've told the children so far has been lies, so for now, could you hold off your anger? I will take what's coming later on. But right now, we have more urgent matters to discuss."

Igneel nodded and took a deep breath to calm them down. Laxus seemed to still be in the guild hall, so they could meet in private. Makarov was right. There were plenty of secrets they've kept from the children. And it hurt him more than anything to continue keeping them. He also knew that Makarov felt the same way. But the reality was that the time wasn't right to divulge those secrets. At least not yet. As they entered the living area, Igneel took note of those present.

"About time you got here." Metalicana grumbled. "You're always so damn slow."

"Now, now," Another one of the men remarked. "I know that as brothers, there will always be some bickering. But now isn't the time." His white hair reached down to his shoulders, and his warm, golden eyes had a calming aspect to them. His thin build hid his strength, but no one could deny he was strong. He was known as Weisslogia, the White Dragon King. To his right, sat a man of the opposite appearance.

His short, pitch-black hair and red eyes almost made him seem evil. However, he was the opposite. He could be quite the gentle soul. His human body was much more muscular than that of Weisslogia. He didn't talk much, but he was always straight to the point no matter how much he had to say. He was known as Skiadrum, the Shadow Dragon King.

"Weiss is right." He said. "And now that you're here, that only leaves one of us left to arrive."

As if on cue, the sound of the front door opening caught their attention. It was followed by a voice they all knew well. The tap of shoes on the floor could be heard as they turned their heads. A woman who was dressed in a white and silver dress, with matching heels and a scarf turned the corner. Her lips held a straight face, and then her sky-blue eyes met Igneels.

"Good to see you again. All of you. It truly has been too long." She said, her voice like honey. "Especially you, Igneel."

Igneel couldn't help himself but to smile. "It's good to see you again too, Grandeeny."

Well, that's a wrap for the first chapter of the second installment! I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to more! I welcome all feedback so don't forget to let me know your thoughts!

WritingHobbyist2020

Song(s) in this chapter:

- None this chapter :P

New character's and their ages in this chapter:

- Macao: 38

- Weisslogia: ?

- Skiadrum: ?

AS ALWAYS, FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A REVIEW OR A QUESTION IN EITHER THE REVIEW SECTION OR IN A PM, AND THANKS FOR READING! :D