Chapter 15

Honey Bone Inn

Erza had awoken from her slumber, she had a good sleep despite all the drama that happened yesterday. The memory of yesterday came to her mind, her battle with Natsu, she remembered his now cold eyes, they no longer showed any kind of warmth and kindness.

"Natsu" she spoke softly thinking about the dragon slayer. "No I can feel down about this, I swore to everyone yesterday I will bring him, Gajeel and Wendy back"

"Yeah, that's the spirit," Kurama told her.

"Kurama," Erza said as she heard the fox's voice.

"You're just like Naruto, never giving up on your friends," Kurama told her. "So don't give up on them, you'll bring them back"

"Yeah, I definitely will" Erza declared to the fox.

"I also think you should spend today doing some training, you need to learn how to use chakra and my power properly," Kurama told her.

"Okay, I will" Erza answered.

Once Erza finished freshening up she began to walk downstairs to eat breakfast. When she made it downstairs to the dining area of the hotel she saw that Mira was already there preparing breakfast.

"Good Morning Mira," Erza said.

"Morning Erza" Mira said in a somber tone.

From Mira's tone, Erza can tell right away something was bothering Mira and she knew what it was immediately.

"Mira I know you're still upset over what happened yesterday," Erza told the barmaid.

Mira looked up at the knight when she gave her usual breakfast to her when that was asked. "Yeah, It's just that Natsu almost killed you yesterday, if it wasn't for that ninja spirit you could have died" `Mira told her. "I'm just thinking, is it possible for him to come back and not just him, Gajeel and Wendy as well. Do you think they will just come back" Mira asked Erza.

Erza looked at Mira with a smile. "Mira its Natsu, I know he will come back. As well as Gajeel and Wendy. I know they will" Erza smiled "I always believed in Natsu, and that feeling will never change, I'll make sure to bring them back"

Mira was surprised at Erza's response when Mira looked at Erza she saw the image of the old Natsu. The one who always said he will protect and save his friends no matter what the odds were. Mira then smiled back at Erza the same bright and kind smile she always had on her face.

"Yeah you're right," Mira said. "We should believe that will come back, we just have to hope" Mira smiled as she watched Erza eat her breakfast. "You know you started to sound like the old Natsu"

"Huh," Erza said as she began to eat.

Mira smiled "Those words are something the old Natsu would say, protecting your friends and doing anything to save them, you sound just like him"

"Hmm" Erza had a small blush on her face when she heard those words "Well yeah I mean he was the one who taught me that"

"Yeah, he was always such an amazing person, strong, confident, kind and caring," Mira said remembering the past, with Erza smiling as well.

"Yeah" Erza smiled thinking about the past. "Natsu"

"Anyway we have the day off today for the games, are you going to do anything," Mira asked.

"Yeah I think I'm going to the nearby forest and do some training I mean I just unlocked this new power I need to learn how to use it properly," Erza told Mira as she finished her breakfast. Erza then stood up and began to leave the hotel to go train.

"Okay, then good luck Erza" Mira waved to her when she left.

"Did Erza just leave?" a voice said.

Mira turned in the direction of the voice to see it was Makarov.

"Master," Mira said "Yes, she left to go train on how to use her new power more effectively"

"I see that's good, that power she displayed yesterday would become a good asset to the guild, it's good she is going to learn how to use it," Makarov said stroking his beard.

"Master, do you think Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy will come back," Mira asked.

Makarov looked down when he heard the question "I don't know Mira we just have faith in Erza's words"

Outside Crocus

Erza had arrived in an open field just outside of Crocus to do her training. It was only her, Kurama and nature.

"Okay, here no one should disturb you in your training," Kurama told her.

"So what exactly do you want me to do," Erza asked the fox.

Kurama signed "You need to learn to control and use your chakra, not just my own. You know that you just can't rely on my power"

"Oh," Erza responded understanding what the fox meant. She knows that she needs to continue training and not just rely on Kurama. "Okay so what should we do first"

"Try and focus your chakra and create your Rasengan," Kurama told her. .

"Okay," Erza responded she then held her hand out and began to focus her chakra in her hand, Erza then felt strong energy began to swirl around her it forming an orb, Erza then smiled seeing that she formed the Rasengan with her chakra on her first try.

"Well, what do you know you're a natural. Now go test how powerful it is against that large stone over there" Kurama told her. Erza then turned towards the direction of the large stone in front of her, it was the size of a small house. Erza then charged at the large stone at full speed, she then thrust her arm forward towards the stone.

"RASENGAN"

BOOM

Once the Rasengan made contact with the stone there was a loud explosion. The impact of the Rasengan had managed to destroy at least a quarter of the stone.

"Hmmm not bad" Kurama complimented "Okay you should now train on how to infuse and control chakra properly, then after you do that we will begin to train on how to use my power understand"

"Right let's do this" Erza declared.

Unknown to Erza however, someone was watching her from a distance. It was Nagato Uzumaki the Guild Master and leader of the Akatsuki he simply watched as she continued to train and he could not help, but smile as she did. As he is reminded of a blonde-haired and orange-clad ninja.

"Hmm, it seems you continue to fight within this girl huh. My sibling disciple"

Back at Honey Bone Inn

"So Erza went go train huh," Macao said as he drank from his mug.

"Yeah, she wants to train this new power she has. When she fights Natsu again tomorrow" Mira told him.

"Erza is so Manly" Elfman declared.

"Oh shut up Elfman" Cana told the muscle man as she drank from her barrel.

"So what are we going about Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy," Wakaba asked. This question caused Mira to glare at him. "What" Wakaba then realized he just said and looked towards and saw that they were all depressed especially the Exceeds, Levy, Gray, and Lucy. "Oh sorry"

"Don't fret about it Wakaba, the topic is not something we could ignore?" Makarov told him.

"So what should we do about it," Lisanna asked the old man.

"As we talked about Yesterday, we have to believe Erza's words. We have to believe they will return one day," Makarov answered. With that answer, Gray punched the table.

"Oh come on Gramps" Gray yelled "You expect us to wait and hope for the best"

"Gray-sama" Juvia said as she looked at her lover.

"Why can't we just go get them now" Gray demanded "Do you just not care about them"

"Gray that's enough," Mira told him "Master is just as hurt as everyone else do you not think he feels guilty about what happened that day"

Gray stiffened at what Mira said, he then looked towards the old man and saw the sad look on his face.

"I'm sorry Gramps. I'm just angry about this whole thing" Gray apologized.

"I know Gray, I'm upset about this too, but we have to live with it and hope those three will return one day," Makarov said. "Understand"

"Yes," Gray responded with his head down.

"Good" Makarov then jumped out of his seat "Now I have a business to take care of, I will be back at the end of the day, so don't do anything stupid while I'm gone got it," Makarov told the guild.

"Yes sir" the entire guild responded with that Makarov left the hotel.

Lucy who watched the ordeal continued to eat her breakfast she turned towards Happy to see he was still crying. She then grabbed the Exceed and pull him towards her for a hug.

"Hey it's okay Happy, Natsu will come back I'm sure of it," Lucy told the Exceed.

"You mean it" Happy said wiping tears.

"Yeah I mean it's Natsu after all, he is just being too stubborn to listen" Lucy smiled.

Happy smiled back Lucy wiping away the tears "Yeah you're right Natsu is just being his stupid self"

Lucy then turned towards Carlam Pantherlilly and Levy "Not only that I'm sure Gajeel and Wendy will come back as well"

Levy wiped away some tears and smiled "Thanks Lu-chan"

"Hmm you're right," Carla said, it was then Carla's eyes widen. "What is this"

Carla was seeing a vision of the future. In her vision of the future, she saw that all of Crocus was destroyed. She sees Lucy with tears and she was singing, but she could not hear what she was saying. She then sees both Natsu and Erza fighting each other both looking close to their death. Finally, she sees some kind of big monster and a man dressed in white with a red glowing fishing pole.

"Hey Carla"

Carla snapped out of her vision and turned towards Lucy who had a worried look on her face.

"Are you okay Carla?" Lucy asked.

"Oh yes, I'm fine" Carla responds reassuring her she is okay. "What was that," Carla thought.

"A vision of the future. Crocus destroyed, Lucy singing, Natsu and Erza seemingly battling to the death. A giant monster and man in white" Carla thought "Was that the future"

"Are you okay Gray?" Juvia asked her lover.

"Yeah I'm fine Juvia," Gray told her, Gray then walked out of the hotel. Juvia stared at Gray as he left and she can tell by looking in his eyes he was planning something.

Akatsuki Hotel

"So are you feeling better," Itachi asked as he walked into Natsu's room.

"Yeah, my eyesight has returned" Natsu responded.

"That's good, just remember not to overuse your Magenkyou Sharingan Tomorrow if you do you could lose your Sharingan forever," Itachi told him.

"I know I'll try" Natsu answered.

Natsu and Itachi then walked downstairs to the dining area of the hotel to eat and when they made it there they see Gajeel, Wendy, and Obito were there, but no Nagato.

"Where's Nagato" Natsu asked.

"He went to go take care of some business," Obito told him.

"What kind of business" Natsu asked.

"Well he is guild master, it makes sense he has to do some things," Wendy said.

"Oh I see," Natsu said as he sat down and ate the plate of breakfast that was left for me.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow," Gajeel asked "I would like to take down Titania I own for that blow she gave me yesterday"

"It doesn't matter if we win, I just want to crush Fairy Tail and destroy their spirits" Natsu declared clenching his hand. "And I'll be the one to fight Erza, I'm going to show I'll be stronger than she ever is"

"As for the plan, we'll simply let the other teams wipe each other out, Our team and Fairy Tail will be the last ones standing anyway," Natsu said. "We'll stick to shadows, we will only fight if someone engages us"

Itachi, Obito, Gajeel, and Wendy nodded at Natsu's plan.

"So are we going to go that dragon graveyard under city Zetsu spoke about," Wendy asked.

"We'll go tonight, I need to do some of my training," Natsu told them the others nodded. Once Natsu finished his breakfast, he left the hotel to go train.

"He has changed," Wendy said as she watched him leave.

"Yeah, I still remember him as a headstrong idiot, but after what happened he became a completely different person," Gajeel said as he ate the silverware in front of him.

"Well, we changed to," Wendy told the iron dragon slayer.

"Yes, but did you three change for the better or the worst," Obito asked.

"What," both Gajeel and Wendy said.

"Do you three think that you have changed for better or for worse? Destroying Fairy Tail is that truly the path you three want to walk" Obito asked again.

"Yes, are you three sure this what you want? Destroying those you once called family" Itachi asked them. Both Gajeel and Wendy were both silent they did not know how to answer the question, as despite what they felt towards Fairy Tail they still hold valuable happy memories they have with the guild.

"This is something you three have to find the answer for yourselves," Itachi said. "But we continue to help you no matter what path you three walk" Obito nodded at the statement and the two Uchiha left the dining room leaving Gajeel and Wendy in the dining room to think about the answer.

Crocus

Natsu was currently walking alone in the city of Crocus, he kept his hood over his face so no one would see his face. He did not want anyone to see his face, especially those who have known him in the past. As he was walking a man in a black suit took notice of him as he was walking. The man then gave two other men a look, signaling them to do something, the two men nodded at their boss knowing their orders.

As Natsu continued to walk through the city he felt a hand grabbed his shoulder.

"I have some questions for you Natsu Dragneel" The man who grabbed his shoulder said. Natsu immediately recognizes the man who grabbed his shoulder.

"Mest, no Doranbolt of Magic Council," Natsu said as he faced the Rune Knight "What do you want"

"You're coming with me I have some questions for…" Mest could not finish his sentence as Natsu grabbed Mest's arm and began to squeeze it tight "Aggh"

"Sorry, but I don't like being ordered around by someone weaker than me," Natsu told the councilman as he continued to tightly squeeze Mest's arm. Mest continued to wince in pain as Natsu's grip became stronger the pain forcing Mest's to his knees.

"What the hell" Mest winced in pain.

"Now if you don't want a broken hand I suggest you let me go," Natsu told the Rune Knight.

"No, you have to answer my questions" Mest demanded. Natsu then signed at Mest's demand.

Snap

"GUNAAH" Mest screamed as Natsu broke his wrist.

"I gave you a warning," Natsu told him as he lets go of Mest's wrist. Once he did Mest clenched his broken wrist pain. "Now I must be going" with those final words Natsu walked away from the Rune Knight. As Mest watched Natsu walked away he saw a crowd of people go up to him to ask if he was okay, but Mest shrugged them off. He ran through the crowd to search for Natsu, but now he was gone.

…

Natsu managed to get out of the city without being noticed by anyone except for Mest. Once Natsu in an open field he took a breath. Natsu then sat down against a nearby tree, Natsu wanted some peace while he did some training. Natsu closed his eyes and thought back to his match with Erza.

Why are you fighting against your Family

Look inside yourself remember who you are

Our bond can not be broken so easily

Both Fighters are unable to battle. This Match is a draw

Natsu clenched his fist in anger and with that anger, Natsu punched the tree that was behind sending it falling. Once the tree fell to the ground Natsu felt two presences behind him, Natsu turned around and saw that it was the two men who were the business looking man from a while ago.

"Hey, brat," one of the men said.

Natsu simply remained silent and glared at the two men.

"Now listen, our boss has placed a lot of money on Sabertooth winning, so how about you do us a favor and forfeit tomorrow," the other man said. "If you do that things won't get ugly," he said trying to sound threatening.

"Yeah our boss has a lot of money riding on you losing," the first man said with an evil smile, the man then looked at Natsu whose bangs were covering his eyes "Well say, something kid"

Natsu then looked at two men his Sharingan activated and he had a sinister smile on his face. One of the men then smirked and then took out a blade and began to walk towards him. Then in an instant, purple energy formed around Natsu and formed a skeleton rib cage shield with one arm. The giant arm then grabbed the man with the blade.

"AAAAHHHH" The man screamed as he felt himself being crushed by the arm, and then Natsu activates his Magenkyou using Amaterasu making the thug go ablaze in black flames, his screams of anguish loudly. His partner watched in horror as his partner was being burned and crushed to death by Natsu.

"Hehehehe" Natsu laughed evilly as he watched the man die.

The other man in fear of his life began to run away crying and screaming, hoping someone would hear him.

"AAAAAHHHHHH" the man screamed as he ran away.

In the direction, the man was running there were three individuals, it was Crime Sorciere: Jellal, Ultear, and Meredy.

"What was that," Meredy said as she turned in the direction of the screams.

"I don't know" Jellal answered her.

"Someones in trouble," Ultear said.

The three then see a man run out of bushes screaming and crying as he ran away. They then see he was set ablaze of black flames. Making them widen their eyes horror as he screamed in pain and agony, then a giant purple skeleton-like arm grabbed the man crushing him to pieces his cries being the last thing he said.

The members of Crime Sorciere could not believe what they had just witnessed. They were in fear of such great power. They then heard footsteps coming in the direction of where the man came from, and in their horror, they saw Natsu garbed in black clothing walking towards them. All three of them were too scared to move or say anything to the Akatsuki member. As he got closer to them they saw that one of his eyes was bleeding, when he got closer he simply walked past them ignoring their presence. No words were uttered, the mages were still in shock of what just happened. Once they no longer hear his footsteps and saw that he was gone, all three of them fell to the ground.

"What was that," Meredy asked in fear still shaking.

"I don't know, but if we would have walked up to those bushes a second earlier. That could have been us who died" Ultear shivered. "I never see anyone kill like that before, I don't think things look good for Fairy Tail tomorrow"

Jellal who also had a look of fear turned towards the direction where Natsu left. "Natsu Dragneel"

A.N Here is a short filler chapter. Now, this chapter was going to be longer including the whole Zirconis scene, but when I wrote it out like that it did not flow well So that's going to happen next chapter. So what do you guys think? Be sure to review to give me your thoughts and I will see you next time.