Chapter 11 - Burning Bright In The Night
Dedicated to: Goku275, zzkaizer, Kriim-Sauce786, and all the new readers who have found this story!
FIRE DRAGON's WING ATTACK!
The bright flames swarmed around the dragon slayer as he sent them hurdling towards his opponent. With a bright flash they teleported avoiding the attack completely as the fire slammed into the sand.
"Dammit..." Natsu groaned. "I forgot you could do that."
Laxus chuckled slightly before grinning. "You forget a lot of things kid."
As the two were about to go back at it, a voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Alright you two, I think you ought take a break every once in a while."
Both dragon slayers turned towards the voice and saw FairyTail's founder, who happened to be floating.
"Now come on inside for lunch." She motioned them as Natsu's expression did a one-eighty.
"Yippee, food!" He shouted taking off into the forest. "Thanks First!" He added, disappearing from sight.
"You've never stopped us before..." Laxus questioned walking over next to the blonde. "Something troubling you?"
"No Laxus." She began as she tapped her fingers together and looked up, only to see his questioning gaze.
"You sure?" He asked now curious.
"Alright fine." She gave in despite not wanting to tell them this soon. "The others left the island last night."
"The others?"
"Yes, while you were both asleep the shield that protected the island and the guild from Acnologia's roar finally collapsed freeing them. Last night marked seven years which is how long the barrier would stay up for."
"Why were Natsu and I then able to be out before them?" Laxus questioned bringing his hand up to his chin and pondering on it.
"Well to answer your first question, I saved Natsu from the sea so he wasn't apart of the shield anyways, and going back to you...I'm not entirely sure. Come on, I'll tell you more before we arrive." Mavis told him as they began walking off the beach and into the forest after the pinkette.
As they got deeper into the forest, she continued.
"I was thinking you being free had something to do with being a dragon slayer, but then I realized Gajeel was still protected, so that couldn't be it. The only thing I can assume now is maybe it had to do with something of how severe your wound was."
Laxus was about to add something, but was silenced before he could even speak as a hand came up in front of him. Her eyes pointed to the makeshift camp where a certain dragon slayer sat by the fire and ate. The two quietly sat down next to him as Laxus grabbed his own food.
Noticing them now as he licked his fingers clean, Natsu waved. "Hey guys, glad to see you could make it! Sorry, if I ate half of it." He chuckled apologetically placing his hand on the back of his head.
"Don't worry Natsu, you need the energy anyways." Mavis said.
They began talking with one another and discussing the days events as both dragon slayers stood up, finished with their meal.
"Are you two going back to training?" She asked.
"Yep, you know it!" Natsu grinned giving her a thumbs up.
"Alright have fun and Natsu I want a victory today!" She cheered jokingly while he simply nodded with a smile and walked off back to the beach, Laxus in tow.
"Wow that last attack was amazing Wendy!" Jenny complimented her new friend after the three had left the city of Orange River.
"Thank you." Wendy sheepishly replied.
"Don't be embarrassed." Alice teased while wrapping her arm around the girl. "Say, Wendy, where did you learn that one?"
"Learn what?" She asked.
"Ya know, that spell you used to defeat that axe wielding slob." She explained causing Jenny to lightly laugh into her hand behind them.
"Uh...well...I don't really know how to explain that." Wendy began as Alice looked at her in confusion.
"Huh, what do you mean you don't know?"
"Well you see...the spell just kind of...came to me?" She did her best, but the two still failed to understand.
"Are you trying to say that you didn't ever practice that and it just sort of happened?" Jenny wondered aloud as Wendy turned around to look at her.
"Yes, exactly Jenny!" She nodded.
"That is incredible." Alice whispered to herself wondering how that even works. "Alright come on you two, we don't want to keep Master Hades waiting any longer." She spoke as the three rushed back to the guild.
As Natsu rested against a tree after running himself out of magic following their training sessions, Mavis and Laxus sat outside near the Tenrou tree by the fire. Laxus told a funny joke that had Mavis laughing for awhile, before she suddenly turned serious. He noticed this and before he could question, she answered.
"I just remembered something."
"What did you remember?" He asked.
"When Natsu fell into the water, I vaguely saw a ship that was in the sky and a man with yellow hair standing over the side looking down. Laxus just looked at her. "He and the other sky dragon slayer were captured." She looked into his eyes.
"Yea, you already told me that remember?" Laxus pointed out.
"Yes I know that, but there's more. Natsu can't know."
The lightning dragon slayer stood up from the fire and walked about with Mavis doing the same. "I don't understand what the big deal is Mavis, why can't he know?"
"I am worried that... he won't like the circumstances." She replied.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Laxus, while you and Natsu have been out cold the past seven years along with the guild... Wendy was abducted by Grimoire Heart."
"I thought you said you were unsure of what happen to her?" Laxus questioned.
"I did originally, but now I know for sure. She is a dark mage now and about of their most powerful members."
"Little Wendy is?" Laxus was stunned. "What the hell, what else occurred First?"
"Lots grandson of Makarov, a lot of things. I will tell you them later, however I think you need to rest.
"Yeah, sure." He agreed his mind now spinning with the new information learned.
Unknowingly, neither of them realized that the fire dragon slayer had awakened from his slumber and caught the final glimpses of their conversation. His eyes remained closed, however they burned with fury and rage underneath. Someone is gonna pay and if they so much as scratched her... I will annihilate them.
"We're back Master!" Jenny announced as they walked through the door into his office. He glanced up from his desk as he hit a couple buttons and turned the lacrima off.
"Glad to see you all, I assume you got what I asked for?" He asked glancing at Alice.
"Yes sir, Wendy here did it all by herself." Alice bowed in respect as she presented him with the red gem.
"Thats not tr-" Wendy began, before Alice sent her a look that made her clamp up.
"Perfect." Hades laughed as he took the gem and walked back over. "I am proud to see your progressing Wendy. Just a couple more years from now and you'll be amongst the elites!"
Alice and Jenny glanced over at their friend to find her staring back at the Grimoire Heart master.
"Yes sir." She nodded once before turning her back and walking out, her two friends chasing after her.
Hades ignored her rudeness and glanced at the sparkling gem in his grasped. He turned it over and flipped it a couple times before opening a drawer and setting it inside, closing it back up. He grabbed the lacrima he had been using and pulled back up the archive he was working on. The onyx eyes stared back at him almost as if they were glaring.
"Yes, I have what I need. Now I just need you Dragneel."
Natsu continued to train with Laxus and Mavis to control his new power. Despite his fists being into it, his head was anything but out. In his mind all he did was began to think of a plan. I have got to get out of here. Wendy is in danger, I can sense it. I can't let her get hurt, I gotta protect her!
Following the days end of their training, the three split and began to do various things. A few hours later he came back over to the cave where Laxus and Mavis were and saw they had fallen asleep and grinned. Well that makes things a lot easier.
Suddenly, realization hit him of his plan, he had to take transportation. The fire dragon slayer began to already feel sick just thinking about it. After recovering from the thought, he found a better solution that involved his magic and the new abilities he learned that he could do with it. Natsu slowly walked out on to the beach enjoying the breath of fresh air one last time from the island. He tore a piece of wood off a limb from the start of the tree line using it as a stick and began to write a note into the sand.
Hey, I decided to go ahead and leave. I sense Wendy is in trouble and have to go rescue her. Thank you for training me First Master and lightning freak, really do appreciate it. Stay away from me please and I will not bother you, this is my mission and my mission alone.
-Natsu
Well that should do it. Time to- He thought before being interrupted by a noise.
"Natsu?" He heard a voice call out.
His heartbeat picking up several paces fearing the worst. He turned around and flinched. Standing there at the edge of the forest, was Mavis Vermillion herself, now no longer sleeping. He could see the stern look on her face immediately as she walked over and read his crude handwriting that had been forged in the sand.
"You're leaving?" She asked him as her dark green eyes pierced his night black. His figure wavered as he opened his mouth only to close it.
"Natsu, why do you feel you need to go?" She added.
"Dammit First!" He growled noticing it was like she was staring straight through him. "I just have to alright? I know she needs me."
"She needs you or you need her?" Mavis words battered into his mind in a challenging like manner.
"We need each other." He answered as a fire began to light itself in his eyes. His scarf wrapped around his neck flapped with the wind as the moon shone down on both of them.
"You need guidance Natsu." Mavis tried only for him to turn his back on her.
"I don't need a leader." Natsu spat his anger beginning to show. "I need a friend, and she is out there waiting for me to find her." He finished as flames began to ignite around his body, most noticeably from his hands and feet.
Mavis stepped closer to the inferno as his magic lit up the beach. She stood behind him watching his gaze follow the dark ocean.
"It's a long way back to land." Mavis attempted to dissuade him one last time as his left flaming eye looked at her.
"She's waited long enough." He finished as he turned ablaze causing Mavis to back up and watch him sky rocket up into the dark. His fiery form lighting up the pitch black void leaving the remnants of his former self behind.
"Oh Natsu..." Mavis muttered sadly knowing his future was out of her hands now. "I hope you are successful in your goal." Light tears washed down her face as she sat on the beach watching the dark ocean, the same ocean she saved the fire dragon slayer from drowning in, and lowered her head.
Her attention was snapped half an hour later as she noticed someone towering over her. Her eyes looked up and met blue orbs as he smiled down at her.
"He's gone isn't he First?" Laxus asked the smile still not leaving his face sensing she was upset.
"Yes, yes he is." She confirmed as she stood up, lightly embraced the remaining dragon slayer, and scurried off back into the forest.
Laxus watched her go without a word after that as he too glanced out at the ocean chuckling. Lightning lit up all around him for a moment before dispersing.
"You reckless fool..." Laxus spoke in the dark. "Best of luck."
Dang you weren't kidding First. Natsu thought as he continued to fly with his fire through the sky searching for land, only to see a never ending ocean below. The thought of running out of magic before finding something crossed his mind several times. That would be a fantastic way to go out, drowning before I could even start my quest.
Hours later, as Natsu began to feel the strain of his ever flowing fire power, he caught the glimpse of land and immediately dived for it. Being new to flying with his flames, he failed to practice his descent and crash landed into the beach colliding face first with the hard earth.
"Ow..." He groaned as he lay sprawled out on the beach. After a short rest, which he greatly appreciated, he pulled himself up shaking off the sand as he began his journey back to Magnolia.
As he got closer and closer to his home town, his mind began to wander. He reached the road that would take him to FairyTail, but his legs refused to go any further down it.
"FairyTail..." Natsu mumbled as he began to question many things. "No, I can't go back there right now. She's waiting for me. I don't need to let anyone else get wrapped up in this mess either, this is my mission and my mission alone."
He turned around and began to walk the opposite way to his house before, once again, stopping.
"Lucy!" He shouted into the night sky. I have to go see Lucy!
He knew the road to Strawberry Street like the back of his hand, or in a better sense, like the guild hall or his own home back in the woods. Natsu had been there so many times to visit his best friend and knew he couldn't leave to go rescue Wendy without telling her goodbye. She would kill him when he got back if he just up and left and he knew that. Better to go and get this out of the way, I just hope this doesn't turn into a big fight.
He easily reached her apartment in a matter of minutes and began to climb up the side of the building and planted himself against the brace of the window. Balancing himself on the sill to keep himself from slipping, he easily popped it open and slid the window up now giving him access inside.
His childish antics immediately awoken within as he located his target, who of course was sleeping in her bed, and quietly snuck up next to her. His shadow covered face hovered above her sleeping figure as he yelled,
"Hey long time no see!"
The loud sound directly above her shook the girl from her dreams as she screamed, threw the covers off and kicked him so hard he went flying backwards, away from the bed. She quickly got up, grabbing her keys off her night stand and ran over to the intruder prepared to give him a beating.
"Geez, dammit Luce, why are your kicks so strong..." He mumbled in defeat as he slumped against her wall.
His voice, which had become so easily recognizable to her, made her eyes expand wide as she stood there staring at her downed best friend. His sudden appearance broke her out of her trance as she began shaking.
"NATSU!" She shouted immediately rushing over to him, as he began to rise off from the wall, and crashed into him sending them both tumbling back down onto the floor.
His already damaged mind internally groaned as he began to see stars and felt a headache forming. Once his vision restored itself he noticed he was below Lucy as he felt drips of water land on him. He glanced up and met her chocolate colored eyes, which were filled with tears as they continued to fall. His head lay between her arms as the only thing he could do in that moment was watch in surprise as he listened to her sob.
Finally getting a hold of himself, he raised his right arm and his hand dabbed away a tear that was about to fall.
"Don't cry Luce." A grin appeared on his features. "Now dry those eyes, I like it better when you smile."
Lucy lit up the room with a bright smile after hearing her nickname once again. She stood up and rubbed her arms against her face as Natsu brought himself up off the floor. Immediately, she was pulled into a hug as the dragon slayer wrapped himself around her and comforted her.
"I'm so glad to see you." Lucy whispered feeling a fresh set of tears begin to appear.
"I'm happy to see you too, I missed you Luce." He pulled back as the two stared into each other's eyes.
"Where have you been?" She asked wondering why he hadn't come back with them.
"I almost drowned." He began as she reeled back staring at him with confusion. He noticed this, but continued as he began to walk around her room retelling the end of Tenrou. "I encountered one of Grimoire's top mages and she got the jump on me. I was locked away with Wendy and got into a fight with that bastard god slayer."
"The one that attacked Mira?" Lucy questioned.
"Yep, same one." Natsu nodded sitting down. "We got into a fight and he released a spell that would of killed Wendy, so I protected her, but by doing so I forfeited my own safety and was thrown out of the ship. With no power left since I used it all to protect her, I sunk into the sea and awaited the end."
"You were going to give up?" She said as she sat down next to Natsu on the bed.
"I didn't have much of a choice Luce, I was powerless." He mumbled as she leaned her head on his right shoulder.
"Continue." She whispered.
"Alright, well after that, First Master rescued me from the waters and in a sense some what revived me."
"First Master? Do you mean Mavis?" Lucy wondered.
"Yes, she saved me and Laxus and I was with her the past year." Lucy didn't reply as she continued to rest against him.
"I got this new power up too from Laxus, Mavis basically had this plan of fusing my fire with his lightning and it worked. I now can duel wield both and fight with it, it's pretty awesome." He chuckled as he looked down at the silent mage.
"Luce, you still there?" He asked and got no response. Maybe she fell asleep?
He patted her head as he hugged her again. "I wish I didn't have to leave you again." He whispered to himself, or at least he thought he did as suddenly the girl in his arms flinched and he let go as she stood up.
"What do you mean leave me again?" Lucy placed her hands on hips as she glared down at the dragon slayer.
"Were you faking being asleep?" He questioned trying to derail the topic.
"Answer the question Natsu."
He sat there staring up at her disheveled appearance as her eyes were still wet from crying and her hair all over the place. His heartbeat picked up again like it did hours ago with Mavis back on Tenrou and he continued to look at her. Suddenly, he rose up off the bed and walked past her heading for the window.
"Natsu! Where are you going, answer my question!" She demanded her voice rising, but also her features becoming worrisome.
He stopped just shy of his escape, feeling the breeze go by his fingers, as he turned around to acknowledge his best friend.
"I'm going to rescue Wendy."
"Rescue? What do you mean rescue?" She asked as she noticed his look become darker.
"Wendy was captured by Grimoire Heart." He spoke venomously as Lucy came closer to him.
"I'm sorry." She whispered as she hugged him for the third time that night. She didn't feel him reciprocate it, but shrugged it off.
"Me too." He spoke into her shoulder.
"Let's go tell Master and the guild in the morning, we can go rescue her together!" She proposed her plan to him, only to look up and now notice the burning fire in his eyes forming.
"No."
"Natsu, stop being so stub-" Lucy began only to be silenced by the look he gave her, which caused her to step back.
"I don't want to drag you all into this, specifically you Lucy." He mumbled turning his back towards her once more. "Stay out of this please, I don't know what will happen." He put one leg out the window as he began to climb out only to freeze up as he felt her grab his shoulder. Turning his head, he could see her figure shaking and imagined the gears in her mind grinding, fearing she would start crying again.
"You'll come back, right?" She asked with both their eyes locking against each other not wanting to depart.
"That's the plan." He confirmed before sliding out the window, landing on the ground and leaving his best friend behind. I won't fail you Luce.
Somewhere, in the deep part of his mind, a voice was calling out to him while laughing. You already have.
Natsu felt terrible leaving Lucy like that. He wanted to bring her along so bad, but knew he couldn't, this was uncharted territory he was throwing himself into on this mission of his and it was best he kept her away from it. Am I coming back Luce? He thought back to her question. I hope so.
He arrived at his cottage in the woods and opened the door, not even surprised it was unlocked. His eyes glanced around the small dark space as they located what they were looking for. A blue cat rest in his own hammock. He walked over and gently began to shake the exceed.
"Happy, wake up." He tried, to no avail. "Come on, Happy, wake up." He tried again and this he awoke.
"Natsu!" Happy shouted in happiness as he flew to his partner once he noticed him.
"Hey little buddy, did you miss me?" He asked while they hugged.
"Nope, didn't even notice you were gone!" Happy joked which had Natsu crying. "I was just kidding!" Natsu stopped his fake tears as he began packing.
"What are you doing?" Happy asked now fully awake as he flew next to his partner.
"We're going on a trip." Natsu stated as he grabbed his supplies. Happy didn't question it as he grabbed his little green backpack and began storing things in there, mostly fish of course.
The two, once fully packed and ready to go, left the small cottage.
"Natsu, we forgot to lock the door!" Happy called out as they were almost to the edge of the forest. His partner looked back to where there house was, before shrugging.
"Eh, it's been unlocked for seven years already, another couple days won't hurt." He chuckled as the two continued on. They entered down a dirt road that ran around the town of Magnolia as they walked on in silence.
Happy, who was perched on top of Natsu's head, perked up as he thought of something.
"Hey Natsu, where are going?" He asked.
"We're headed to Fairy Hills." Natsu answered as Happy immediately shrieked and flew off his partner's head.
"Fairy Hills? What why!" Happy questioned.
"We're going to pay Erza a visit." He said as he walked on leaving Happy behind. Seeing, he was being ditched if he didn't get a move on he took off towards his father figure.
"Why are we going to Erza though?" Happy wondered as he caught up with him.
"I don't think she was too pleased the last time I saw her on the island, and I don't want to leave her without saying goodbye."
"Goodbye? What do you mean goodbye?"
"You're full of questions tonight aren't you?" Natsu glared before laughing as Happy floated back over and landed on his head. "We're saying goodbye, because we may be gone for a little bit." Before Happy could speak, Natsu finished it for him. "That is because we're going to rescue Wendy."
Hearing his best friend's declaration, Happy slowly nodded as he began to feel sad for his totally great friend and not crush, Carla, who was Wendy's exceed.
Built into the ground in front of Natsu & Happy was a giant building like structure. Tall frames which supported giant stone walls. It looked like a castle. A large black gate closed any intruders out and at the top of it on a plaque read, FAIRY HILLS.
"You ready Natsu?" Happy asked.
"Yeah, let's do it!" Natsu grinned as he lit his hand ablaze.
"No! We aren't smashing it Natsu!" Happy suddenly outburst at his friend catching him off guard.
"What? Why not? Isn't that easier?" Natsu asked confused.
"No...read this Natsu." Happy facepalmed as he pointed to a wall.
Natsu scanned to where Happy's paw rested. In big black golden letters read, NO MALES ALLOWED. ANY FOUND INSIDE THE FAIRY HILL's PREMISES WILL BE DEALT WITH BY ERZA SCARLET.
"Oh shit..." Natsu muttered after he finished reading the warning sign. Just don't have to get caught...on second thought it might be easier to run in to Erza this way, but I don't want to get found out by the rest of the guild.
"How do we get in then?" Natsu pondered over in his thoughts which Happy seemed to read.
"We fly!" Happy said evilly grinning.
The two comrades looked at each other and lightly chucked as the blue cat hopped in the air as white wings appeared on his back. He then grabbed the pinkette by his shoulders and they flew over the tall darkened gate.
Natsu began to sniff around the ground. "Yep, Erza definitely went this way. I just hope we find her before the rest of these women find us." Natsu sweat dropped as he and Happy got goosebumps just thinking about what would happen if they were caught. After some time of flying they neared the actual building of where the female wizards of FairyTail mostly lived.
"Do you know which room would be Erza's?" Happy asked.
"Not a clue. But if I'd have to assume, it might be the top one?" He wondered.
"Let's try it." Happy agreed.
Please let this be Erza and not be Mira or any one else. I just need to find this crazy women. I don't need dozens of females yelling at me for sneaking in. Natsu's mind begged.
As the duo neared the top floor they abruptly came to a halt on the window sill. Luckily there was a curtain over the window, so they weren't exposed by the person on the inside. As they peaked through, instead of seeing a red head with weapons all over their room like they imagined...instead they saw a white walled room with some pink here and there and laying on a bed was a white haired cat.
"Carla!" Happy whispered seeing his friend and crush.
"Shh Happy." Natsu warned him. He slowly opened the window and slipped in. Carla's back was facing them and it was dark inside, so they slipped in without an issue. Well, that was until Happy accidentally walked into the side of a bed and fell on the floor with a little whine.
"Who's there!" Carla shouted hearing the noise instantly since Happy was so loud and she thought it was an intruder breaking in.
Natsu knowing he should disarm the situation before someone heard her and got backup, came out of the shadows and halted himself right in front of Carla as Happy floated behind him.
Instead of yelling at the culprit and wanting to beat their head in she gaped, wanting to cry. Standing in front of the cat was not only her blue exceed friend but the love of her best friend. Tears began to slip out of her eyes as she couldn't hold them in any longer. Natsu sat on the bed and hugged the cat as did Happy.
"Don't worry Carla. We will save Wendy. No... I will save Wendy. Promise you that. I'm sorry for the pain you have been through I'll make sure she comes home." Natsu spoke to the exceed in a serious tone as she could see his determination.
She nodded her head continuing to cry as Happy consoled her in his arms. In the process, Natsu sat there and began to form a plan in his mind. After some time weeping, Carla came to and about and asked them what the heck they were doing here and did they know how stupid they were being.
"Look we know about the rules and if we are caught we know we're screwed, but I need to find Erza." Natsu said.
Carla remembered when her friend came home early as everyone prepared to leave for the guild and Erza came storming through and shut her door leaving everyone with questions unanswered. Carla pondered on telling him but after some time seeing his seriousness about Wendy, she knew he was going to do nothing inappropriate.
"She is down below us, Dragneel. Make no mistake you have to be absolutely quiet. If one person hears you and finds out before you reach Erza, you will die by her wrath, Dragneel."
"No need to tell me twice." He chuckled as he stood up.
Natsu thanked Carla and motioned Happy over. "I'm going to go visit Erza, stay here with Carla and talk to her. Keep her busy and out of her mind for now. She needs relaxation and someone to talk to. Be that person, alright? I will come back for you once we're ready to head out." Natsu told him.
"Alright, be careful pal." Happy responded as they bid farewell and both exceeds watched as the pinkette carefully slipped out of the room to continue his search for a certain someone.
So, Carla said Erza's room was the one below hers. Natsu thought as he soon found the steps, taking extra seconds to make sure he was light as a feather with his movements.
"Ah." He let out a sigh finally figuring out where he was. The pinkette shortly arrived on the floor that Carla said was Erza's. As he passed by a few other doors, which he assumed were other females apartments, he was very stealthy. He didn't need to be caught by a resident and be known as Natsu the Pervert for the rest of his life. He also defiantly didn't want Gray having an upper hand on him. Just the thought of the ice wizard's name made Natsu boil.
Natsu neared a door he stiffened a few times before noticing a familiar scent. So this is where you ran off too huh?
Natsu was skeptical at first and a little unsure what he should do here. He began to weigh his options. If he barged in she was sure to kill him thinking he was an intruder, well he was but, okay yeah he was intruding. Eventually he got his head on straight and quietly opened the door. As he peered in he saw no sight of Erza. Thinking she may be in her bedroom the dragon slayer quietly strolled in shutting the door behind him hearing it shut with a click. As he searched for the Scarlet Knight, he heard a whisper behind him.
"I thought you would be here." It said as he then was hit in the back of his head and slowly fell to the floor unconsciousness enveloping him.
Natsu and Igneel (16 Years Ago):
"Igneel! Look at this fire I made!" A much younger Natsu said holding up a small ball of fire in his palm.
"I see my son. Very nice flame indeed."
"Do you think I could roast a mountain with it?"
"Not at all. That flame could barely cook a fish."
"Oh yeah? You'll see! I'll prove to you that my fire will one day roast two mountains!" The pink haired young boy and red dragon laughed together.
Natsu came back to the magical world he lives in and immediately woke up with a startle. What an awful dream.
He went to take his hands to rub his eyes like the everyday routine, but soon realizes he couldn't use his hands. The hell?
"The dragon is finally awake I see?" A voice whispers into the dark as Natsu opens his eyes. He looks around seeing he is in a darkened room as he sits on a bed. His hands are tied on the headboard by his scarf. What the?
"What the hell?" Natsu asks as the figure gets nearer before turning on a lamp sitting on the nightstand. As the light envelopes the two figures, a startled Natsu Dragneel meets the eyes of a mischievous Erza Scarlet.
"I have been waiting for you, Natsu." The female's voice slithers into his ear. "I'm glad to see Azuma wasn't to much for you to handle."
WHAT! Natsu internally shouted as his mind began to think about the last time it was awake. He remembered the last thing being opening her door and...Oh cmon, I could of swore I was being way quieter then that.
"Ok look Erza, I just wanted to apologize. I just got back from Tenrou when-" Natsu began but was soon interrupted as Erza forced herself on top of the pinkette attempted to kiss him. He brought his legs up and forced her to back away as she looked at him with a questioning look while he simply glanced at her.
"No." He stated, but the message didn't seem to get across. Confused by the display of affection from his friend and the butterflies in his stomach he continued on and began to ramble about how sorry he was for not awakening after he rescued her from Azuma. Then he brought up the ordeal with Laxus and Mavis and how they were training him with his newfound power.
"That's enough Natsu." Erza smiled. "Do you know why you're like this right now?" She asked.
"No? I just came to apologize since you stormed off earlier." He innocently answered.
"Natsu." She grinned. "You're a male in a female only dormitory. You're also an uninvited guest."
"Shit." He mumbled. "Look, I don't have time for this Erza, I need to go." Natsu tried to get out of this situation realizing how bad this was turning on him.
"Oh? Is that so?" She asked him teasingly.
"Yeah?" He responded confused.
"Natsu? You read the warning sign outside correct?" Erza continued now taunting him.
"Yes Ma'm." He quickly answered her.
"And what did it say males who were caught?" She started smiling even more.
"That intruders caught will be dealt with by you?" He started stuttering knowing he was done for.
"Well guess what!" She asked him again.
"W-what?" He replied nervously.
"You, Natsu Dragneel, have been caught!" She triumphantly grinned.
Fantastic, just what I needed...HAPPY!
"Listen Carla, I'm really sorry about Wendy. I miss her too and so does the guild. Natsu and I will be sure to bring her back for you!" Happy exclaimed before Carla turned to him and began crying as he pulled her in an exceed hug like Pantherlily taught him how to do.
"Are you okay?" Happy asked as he continued to comfort the white haired exceed that rest in his arms like how Natsu told him.
"No, I miss her." Carla admitted as more tears leaked out, Happy unsure what exactly to do. He took his paw and gently rubbed her back which seemed to have soothed her causing her to stop crying.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He wondered aloud trying to break the strange ice that kept finding its way into the room.
"No, I'm good." She responded. More silence came between the two exceeds, before suddenly and without Happy's awareness, she embraced him snuggling closer into him.
"Thank you." She whispered as she began to fall asleep.
"Don't mention it." Happy slowly nodded his insides turning. I wonder how Natsu is faring?
"Look Erza I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to do anything naughty, you seemed sad so I just wanted to make sure I hadn't done anything wrong after I rescued you on Tenrou!" Natsu quickly explained before anything unpleasant could occur, which he figured was coming anyways.
"Mhm..." Erza raised her eyebrow.
The two stared each other in the eyes before one smiled and the other one frowned.
"Don't care." Erza spoke grinning at the immobilized dragon slayer.
"Erza please, dammit snap out of it." Natsu begged.
Erza began to slowly walk over to the end of the bed before getting on it.
"Hi Natsu." She purred.
HAPPY SAVE ME! Natsu thought hoping his friend could get him out of this mess he dug himself in. He closed his eyes and told himself not to open them no matter the circumstance.
"Natsu, help me!" Erza cried out causing Natsu's protectiveness to emerge and immediately he opened his eyes to freeze seeing her brown orbs right on top of his black.
"Ah-ah" Natsu stuttered nervously.
"What's wrong Dragneel?" Erza grinned loving this.
"Not-thing." Natsu stuttered again. Dammit man, I'm falling apart faster then Lucy's rent money!
Erza advanced closer and closer until her lips met his and he immediately flared up. Fire exploded from his hands as he burned the headboard and freed himself from his scarf, which was fire proof, all in the same time that Erza had kissed him. She suddenly noticed the heat and scooted back seeing the back of her bed was catching fire.
"Natsu you idiot!" She shouted as she ordered him to put it out, which he eventually did. The two sat there on her bed staring at one another unsure what to do.
"No Erza." He crushed her dreams before she could even begin. "I have more important things to do right now."
"Like what?" She questioned.
"It's none of your business, I'm sorry."
She was none to pleased with his statement, and grabbed him by his scarf as she recaptured his lips in a passionate kiss. She was surprised, when he actually returned it with nearly full passion before he pushed her away, his eyes burning with intensity.
"I have to go." He spoke as he slid off the bed and walked out of her room.
"Natsu wait!" She called out as she chased after him and into her living room. He was just about to reach the door and as she went to grab him, he used his fire like a whip causing her to trip and bang her head on the floor, knocking her out instantly
Shit! I didn't mean for her to fall! Natsu quietly said as he ran over to her and made sure she was okay. Not seeing any serious injuries, and sensing maybe just a small headache when she awoke next time, he gently carried her back to her bedroom and laid her under the covers. She reached out for him as he went away into the shadows, dropping her hand with a small frown across her face.
"Goodbye Erza." He whispered as he closed her door and left the apartment room.
"I hope nothing bad has happened to Natsu." Happy spoke starting to worry a little for how long his friend had been absent for.
"I'm sure that buffoon just got lost." Carla said reassuringly. At least I hope.
As if on que, the fire dragon slayer burst open through the door, instantly grabbing his partner who began to wail for Carla as the two were separated. He hurryingly headed for the window.
"What's the rush, Natsu?" Happy wondered as he glanced back at Carla who looked sad, but amused at the same time.
"We gotta go, Erza's gonna kill me when she wakes up!" He announced. He looked back at Carla as fire returned in his eyes staring at the white haired exceed. "Don't you worry Carla, next time I return Wendy will be with me, I promise!" He confidently stated as the two jumped out the window. She watched Happy grab Natsu and fly up high into the night sky.
"Bring her home." She whispered as she began to break down thinking about her lost friend.
A/N: Wow what a chapter! I did it, only took me 3 days this time and this one's length nearly beat out Ch. 9 for the record! We also just hit over 50K words if you can believe that, so thanks guys! I had a lot of fun writing this one and thought the Natsu and Lucy moment was probably the best part. Like I said, this is NOT a Nalu story, they are best friends and without spoiling anything that was a scene that needed to take place. We also had a little Naza moment, as I mentioned in the Prologue, The DragonSlayer series begins as a Natsu and Erza type story. Wendy, Alice, Jenny made it back safely to Hades and delivered the item, Hades is one step closer to now accomplishing his goals. Speaking of goals, Natsu has one for himself that he is about to partake on as him and Happy set off to rescue Wendy. Next chapter is going to get heated, haha pun intended, it's going to be a good one! Hope you all enjoyed this one, and I'll see you hopefully shortly for chapter 12: The Past vs The Present!