Firstly, a huge thank you for the massive, overwhelming positive response. It is thanks to the amazing response you all gave me; that I put up A Jade Princess' Dragon.
Secondly, some of you guys are absolute savages… I mean, it hasn't even been a week and I've been getting multiple PMs, asking me if I've abandoned my stories. I was gobsmacked. I've put up an update, every day, for the past 10 days or so, across my stories, and you guys are asking for more…
One the one hand, I'm extremely flattered, on the other hand, you guys are going to want to lynch me when I go back to Uni, and my updates drop back down to once a month instead of every day. That's one update, total, each month, not per story…
That being said though, I'm still on break for another two weeks, so the updates aren't stopping yet.
Now, onto business, literally and I do mean literally, I'm not mistaking it for figuratively, everyone who commented on the pairing, wants Ultear in the harem… so, you guessed it, she is in and this is now Natsu/Erza/Kagura/Ikaruga/Ultear.
That being said, my other stories have had somewhat mixed responses, as far as harems go. Some are weighted heavily for, and some are actually against the harem. To rectify this, next chapter, for each of my stories I will put up a poll.
The system will be as follows (but I will repeat myself again in each new chapter): I will place all possible harem candidates, which I've chosen, into a poll, in addition to my main pairing. The system will work, on the basis of the votes, for the main pairing character. Take, A Demon's Rebirth for example: Erza, Lisanna, Cana, Ultear, Minerva and Sayla are all possible harem choices. The poll will have all of them in it PLUS Mirajane, the main pairing for the story.
Now, the way the pairing will be decided, will be based on how many votes the others get, in comparison to Mira.
For example, if Mira has the most votes, the story will remain a single pairing.
If only Lisanna has more votes than Mira, it will become a Natsu/Mira/Lisanna.
What this means, is that those who want the story to remain a single pairing; should just vote for Mira.
You will have the option to vote for up to six people in this example, but if you want a single pairing, just vote for Mira.
Alternatively, if you want the full harem, cast all your votes for the others and none for Mira.
Now, here is where the final option comes in; if you want this story to become a Natsu/Mira/Erza, but don't want anyone else, vote for both Mira and Erza, as this increases not only Erza's numbers, increasing her odds of getting in, but also gives Mira more votes, to make sure none of the others can catch up to her, aside from Erza.
Doing this however, does have risks, as if a lot of people vote for Mira only, the equal vote between her and Erza, won't be enough, however, the alternatively also exists, that many people just vote for Erza and not Mira, in which case, the vote for Erza and Mira, increases the chances of it being just them.
In any case, there is a lot of gambling going on here, so I encourage you to vote only for those you truly want, and feel would suit the story best.
Since this particular story in question, is a Natsu/Mira story primarily, I imagine most of you want Mira, or else, why would you read it? However, as for the others, you need to weigh your chances, for this reason, I will keep the poll results hidden, so you are all forced to choose honestly.
My system for each poll, will be, to put it up along with an update for that story, then, when I update a different FT story, switch the poll out, with the poll for the newly updated story. What this means, is that when I update A Third Chance, there will be a poll for the harem for A Third Chance up, however, when I update Wheel of Fortune, I will switch the poll for A Third Chance, with the one for Wheel of Fortune. I will continue doing this until I reach chapter 5 for each respective story, as by that time, I believe everyone should have had ample time to vote.
Ok, extremely long note out of the way with now. Also, I'm not too sure which story I will update next, it could be DxD, Bleach, or one of my Naruto stories, I'm undecided… however, my money is on, either Heart of a Dragon, or Naruto Guardian of the Mist.
Also, before anyone starts to get upset over how Natsu is apparently so skilled with a blade despite having no training whatsoever, I urge you to think of the title of the story and take notice of Natsu's attitude throughout this chapter and the last, and how it changes. I thought I was going to get up to the explanation for it this chapter, but it didn't feel right, so I'll explain it next chapter instead.
Now, on with the chapter!
SSJ3 Kyuubi Gohan.
Disclaimer – I don't own anything from the Fairy Tail anime/manga. All I own are my original characters and plot twists.
'Talking'
"Thinking"
*expression*
Flashback
'Dragon talking'
"Dragon thinking"
Techniques
Chapter 2 – Scum
Natsu and Kagura walked, in a slightly uncomfortable silence. Before the duo had left, Natsu had saw fit to incinerate the bodies of the two bandits, so no one would find them and come after Natsu, or, even worse, Kagura herself.
The smell of charred flesh still lingered in Kagura's memories, causing her to be somewhat fearful of the boy beside her, despite the fact that he had saved her life and was, for all intents and purposes, protecting her interests as well. Retribution by other bandits, was not something Kagura desired.
Natsu on the other hand, was trying to figure out what had come over him when he started using his sword. He fully agreed with the killing of the two bandits, it fit Zeref's requirements perfectly and Natsu himself felt that it was a necessary evil. However, Natsu had felt something when he used his sword, something ancient… and dark.
"It kind of reminded me of Zeref… the feeling of all-encompassing death… which was really weird, since Zeref never killed a single thing the whole time we were together." Thought Natsu, brow furrowed in confusion, as he pondered the strange sensation he had felt.
The duo kept walking for a little, before finally breaking out of the dense foliage that had enveloped them, and arrived near a dirt path, leading towards a small village.
'Hmm, so I guess that's your village then.' Said Natsu, as he peered at the largely wooden village curiously.
'Well, yes… and no, I guess.' Answered Kagura, somewhat bashfully.
'Hmm, what do you mean?' Asked Natsu, as he gestured for them to walk, which Kagura obliged.
'Well, the truth is, I fled to this village, when the one I grew up in, was attacked and razed to the ground.' Said Kagura sadly, getting Natsu to pause momentarily in his walking.
'What do you mean? Who, or why would anyone do something like that?' Asked Natsu in shock.
'Well, I was young at the time, but I remember them saying about them being worshippers of Zeref, and that they needed people to help build paradise.' Recalled Kagura, as she stopped slightly in front of Natsu.
'Zeref.' Whispered Natsu in disbelief.
'Yeah, they said something about reviving him and helping him usher in paradise… but… when some of us refused, they started killing us.' Said Kagura.
Natsu growled at this, getting Kagura to look at him in surprise.
'Zeref… Bastards.' Said Natsu, as he unknowingly gripped his sword.
'I didn't know what to do at the time. I was running around the village, trying to find my brother, before I heard some of them approaching me. I froze and didn't know what to do, but a small red-haired girl, maybe a year or two older than me, quickly grabbed my hand and hid me in a small box. I hid there until the noise had died down, and when I got out… everyone was gone, and the village was in ruins.' Said Kagura, as she started to cry.
'*sniff* What's worse, *sob* is that I never found my brother, *sniff* or the girl who saved me.' Cried Kagura.
Natsu's anger dissipated at this, and pity replaced it. Natsu closed the distance between the two of them, and gave Kagura a hug, holding her close to his chest, and rested his head atop hers.
'It'll be okay, everything will be okay.' Soothed Natsu, as he gently brushed her dark purple hair.
Kagura didn't respond and merely sobbed into Natsu's red shirt.
'You know, I never knew my parents, or any of my family.' Said Natsu, getting Kagura to pull her head back and wipe her eyes, before looking up at him.
'How come?' Asked Kagura shakily.
'Well, I don't know how exactly… my earliest memories were of me wandering the forest and crying a lot.' Said Natsu, as he scrunched up his face in thought.
'I'd say I was maybe three years old when I was found by someone, but I can't be sure.' Continued Natsu.
'Who was it?' Asked Kagura curiously, momentarily forgetting about her own pain.
'The King of the Fire Dragons: Igneel.' Said Natsu, to which Kagura giggled.
'Dragon's aren't real.' Said Kagura.
'Hmm, what makes you so sure of that?' Asked Natsu curiously.
'Because… no one has ever seen a dragon before.' Replied Kagura simply.
'Oi, I just said I was found by a dragon, am I no one?' Asked Natsu indignantly.
Kagura blinked at this and thought about it for a moment.
'Ok, let's say they are real, prove it.' Challenged Kagura.
'Ok then, Fire Dragon's Roar.' Said Natsu, as he turned away from Kagura, and launched a wave of fire from his mouth.
Kagura winced slightly, remember the burnt bandits, before noticing Natsu was looking at her again.
'See, that was Fire Dragon Slaying Magic, magic that can only be taught to someone by a dragon. Is that enough proof for you?' Teased Natsu.
'Ok, that was pretty cool… ok, so maybe I believe you then, what happened to the dragon?' Asked Kagura curiously, noticing Natsu seemed to be upset by the question.
'I'm not too sure myself.' Said Natsu sourly.
'Sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad.' Said Kagura.
'Nah, it's fine, you didn't know, besides, I'm the one telling the story after all.' Said Natsu with a small smile, but even Kagura, with her childlike naivety, could tell it was somewhat forced.
'Well, from the beginning, after Igneel found me, he started to teach me his magic. It was a little hard at the start, but Igneel said I was a fast learner.' Continued Natsu, his smile becoming less forced.
'We would do all sorts of cool things, but the best, was when Igneel flew me on his back. I always wanted to fly because it was so cool. Flying through the air on Igneel's back was awesome, but I mean, how cool would it be if I could fly? Like, just grow wings and fly like a dragon.' Said Natsu excitedly, which caused Kagura to giggle.
'But you can't fly, you're human and Igneel is a dragon.' Said Kagura.
'Aha! So you do believe me about Igneel!' Exclaimed Natsu cheerfully.
'Well, I don't think you would lie about something like that. Plus, the way you are talking about him, sounds like how I talk about my brother and you believed me about him.' Said Kagura with a sad smile.
'Kagura, I promise you, I'll find you brother for you, and when I do, I'll bring him right to you.' Declared Natsu, shocking Kagura.
'B-but why?' Asked Kagura in surprise.
'Well, you're my first friend and friends make each other happy.' Said Natsu simply, as he gave a toothy grin.
With that statement, all of Kagura's previous misgivings and nagging thoughts about the bandits, disappeared from her mind. Natsu was her friend. She was his first friend.
Kagura smiled at Natsu.
'Thank you Natsu, and I'll gladly be your friend.' Said Kagura happily, getting Natsu's grin to widen.
'Alright-y then, let's get you back to your village now.' Said Natsu cheerfully, as he started to walk once again, passing Kagura.
"Friend." Thought Kagura simply, before following after Natsu.
-line break-
From a distance away, a small imp-like creature jumped down from a tree and rushed towards a man with black hair; who was wearing a high collared robe and a toga, sitting near the edge of a lake, seemingly waiting for someone.
The dark skinned creature, wearing a crown of leaves, quickly climbed up the black haired man's arm and squeaked a little.
'I see, thank you Obra.' Said Zeref, as he stood up, the imp-like creature still clinging to his shoulder.
"Well Natsu, with this, I really will leave you on your own for now. I just hope you can enjoy your life… this time… although, I'm glad you've made a friend already." Thought Zeref, before frowning.
"Worshippers of Zeref… it seems that even without me doing anything, I cause people to suffer and die." Thought Zeref grimly.
"I will go and hide myself… hopefully, in time, people will forget about me and the world will come to find peace once more… although, Natsu, I just hope… that when the time comes… you will end my suffering, once and for all." Thought Zeref sadly, before heading off, hoping to hide himself from the world.
"Good luck, little brother." Thought Zeref, before he disappeared from the small grove.
-line break-
'Wow! So this is your village.' Commented Natsu in awe, as he looked around eagerly.
Multiple houses were made out of wood. Small wooden stands were set up sporadically around the village, with people trying to sell their wares. A small stone well was in the middle of the village, around which, children were currently running and playing around. There were also large evergreen trees, interspaced around the village every dozen metres or so.
'Yeah. I imagine it can't compare to a forest or a mountain, but it is nice in its own way.' Said Kagura, as she led him along the dusty path, to a small house.
'This is the orphanage and it is also were I live.' Said Kagura, before moving on.
'Over there is the bakery and next to it is the general store.' Said Kagura, pointing out two wooden buildings standing side-by-side.
They were identical in design, a wooden door and two windows, only the bakery, also had a chimney, out of which, smoke was currently wafting.
Natsu looked down at this, remembering he had no money, something Zeref told him people use to buy things, such as food and clothes.
'Eh, that's nice, but I don't really have any money.' Said Natsu weakly.
'Oh, I guess you weren't lying about being raised by a dragon… I don't think a dragon would need any money.' Commented Kagura.
'Yeah, Igneel would just go out and grab some beasts from the forest for food, as for my clothes, I'm not even sure where they came from. I've always had these shorts, but I can't remember where, or when, I got my shirt, or shoes from, the scarf though… I just woke up with it next to me one day.' Confessed Natsu.
'Hmm, well, I'm sure there are some odd jobs you could do for people around the village, in exchange for things.' Said Kagura thoughtfully, before a commotion was heard near the entrance of the village.
Natsu and Kagura looked over and Kagura's eyes widened in worry. It was bandits.
'Alright you little miscreants! We want to know what happened to the two scouts we sent to your village!' Shouted a scruffy looking bandit, with four more behind him on either side.
'B-but we don't know anything.' Said a young woman, with long brown hair and brown eyes, clad in a simple yellow sundress, that reached down to her knees, before the head bandit walked up to her, and gave her a vicious backhand, sending her crashing to the ground.
'And I say you are lying. Until someone tells us where they are, we are just going to stay here and wait.' Said the head bandit.
'Natsu, wait, what are you doing?' Whispered Kagura, as she saw Natsu begin to walk towards the bandits, and quickly grabbed his arm.
'I'm the one who started this mess, so I'll be the one to deal with it.' Said Natsu firmly, before he shook off Kagura's hand, and continued walking towards the bandits.
'For every five minutes that someone doesn't tell us where they are, I will smash someone's house in.' Threatened the head bandit, before noticing a small pink haired boy walk up to him.
'Huh, what are you doing here punk? Get lost!' Shouted the bandit.
'You are asking about your scouts, aren't you?' Questioned Natsu, as some of the villagers looked at him in fear and worry.
'Yeah, I am. What, do you know where they are, huh kid?' Questioned the bandit mockingly.
'I do.' Said Natsu simply.
'Well terrific! Now, tell me where they are, before I wring your little neck!' Shouted the bandit.
'They are ashes in the wind, just like you're going to be.' Said Natsu, getting the bandits to laugh.
'Hahaha, look kid; that was funny and all, trying to be a tough guy, but scram before we hurt you.' Said one of the four bandits, standing behind the leader, as he approached Natsu, before his laughter abruptly stopped, a blade wedged into his gut which was quickly raised, severing his heart in two, causing him to drop to the ground.
As the life bled from the bandits eyes, he looked into Natsu's and only saw two pools of uncaring darkness.
"Ruthless." Thought the bandit before he died.
The villagers gasped in fear and shock, while the bandits looked at Natsu in disbelief, which quickly turned to rage.
'You little shit! Get him! Kill him!' Shouted the head bandit, as he and the other three remaining bandits charged at Natsu.
Natsu expertly weaved and ducked under their physical assaults, only the head bandit possessing a weapon, in the form of a small, studded, steel club, about the length of his forearm. Natsu suddenly activated another of his Curses and started to spin rapidly, before sliding around the bandits, confusing them.
One of the bandits charged at Natsu, aiming to kick the young boy in the head. Natsu jumped, avoiding the kick, before stabbing the man in the back, with a right-handed thrust, which he quickly followed up, with a flaming fist to the back of his head, causing him to pass out from the pain. He would die soon enough if he received no treatment, as he was bleeding heavily from his back. Natsu had struck him in his spleen, which was haemorrhaging blood at an alarming rate.
'Shit! The kid must be a mage boss, this is bad!' Shouted one of the bandits fearfully.
'Shut it you wimp! Fight him, or I'll kill you myself!' Shouted the head bandit.
Natsu frowned at this, before rushing the head bandit. Natsu swung his blade from low to high, sweeping from the left side of his body to the right, seeking to eviscerate the bandit, but found his sword blocked, by the bandit's club.
'Heh, I've got you now, boy!' Declared the head bandit, before the other bandit, which he hadn't yelled at, dived at Natsu's back.
Natsu felt something telling him to jump, so he quickly broke the weapon stalemate and jumped up, just as the bandit that had tried to attack him from his blind spot, crashed into the leader. Natsu, still in mid-air, breathed in deeply, before giving a mighty roar, aimed at the two downed bandits, enveloping them in a sea of flames, which slowly killed them.
Natsu slowly turned to the last bandit, who had dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
'I'm sorry, please don't kill me! I only did this because I need money for my sister's medicine.' Cried the last bandit in fear, as Natsu approached him.
"His sister… would I do something like this for Zeref if he needed me?' Questioned Natsu.
Natsu nodded his head and walked past the bandit.
The bandit smirked internally, as he pulled a small dagger from within his robes and lunged at the small boy.
'Die!' Shouted the man, as he lunged at Natsu, getting many to gasp out in fear, before Natsu quickly turned around and thrust his blade through the man's left eye, right into his brain, killing him instantly.
'You are the worst… and to think, I believed you and let you live… it just goes to show, that bandits, are all scum.' Said Natsu, as he pulled his blade out of the man's head, before wiping the blood and brain matter off his sword, onto the deceased man's cloak, before sheathing it.
'Young man.' Said a wizened old man, who hobbled over to Natsu with the help of a wooden walking stick.
'Hmm, what's up old man?' Asked Natsu cheerfully, catching some of the crowd off guard, at the sudden shift in personality.
'Young man, on behalf of this village, I offer you my most sincere thanks. These bandits have been terrorising our village, for almost eighteen months now.' Said the old man, who aside from a thin white moustache, was completely bald, and was clad in a simple, white robe.
'Oh, no worries gramps. I mean, I felt it was my fault, after all, I wasn't joking when I said I killed those two scouts. They were being really mean to my first friend, Kagura, over there, and I couldn't let that slide.' Said Natsu, as he pointed to Kagura, getting many to look at her, causing her to blush from the sudden attention.
'But the real thing that really annoyed me, was they said they were doing all those bad things just because they could, not because they were hungry or anything.' Said Natsu with a frown.
'Sadly, that is just how some people are my boy. Their hearts are full of evil and have no sense of compassion, or right and wrong.' Commented the old man sagely.
'Yeah, sorry about all the trouble though, I mean, if I didn't kill those scouts, they wouldn't have come and hurt you guys.' Said Natsu, as he walked over to the girl the head bandit had hit.
I'm sorry pretty lady, if it wasn't for me, those guys never would have hurt you.' Said Natsu, as he bowed.
Natsu was surprised when he felt the lady raise his head and crouch down to his level, before hugging him.
'It isn't your fault. Those people were reckless and cruel, and this isn't the first time they've tried something like this.' Said the lady, before she stood back up.
'So you're not mad?' Asked Natsu shyly, as he looked to the side.
'Of course not, in fact, I should be thanking you, just as the Village Elder was.' Said the lady in a warm tone, which caused Natsu to give a toothy grin.
'My boy, is there anything we can do to repay you?' Questioned the Village Elder, as he walked over to Natsu once again.
Natsu was going to decline politely, before his stomach grumbled, so loud, that everyone, in the small crowd that had gathered when the bandits arrived, heard it.
'Well, I'm pretty hungry, you got any food you can spare?' Asked Natsu with a chuckle.
-line break-
It was a few weeks later, that a certain Guild Master heard the news of a small child easily killing off a small group of bandits, using nothing but a sword and fire magic, which he apparently claimed, was Dragon Slaying Magic.
'Hmm, Ultear, I have heard some interesting news recently.' Said an old man, with a long white beard and an eye patch.
Kneeling in front of the man, was a small girl in a purple singlet, with her long, dark purple hair, tied up in twin-tails.
'It seems that a boy, who apparently, single-handedly killed a group of bandits using only a sword and fire magic, is roaming Fiore.' Said the man.
The small girl, named Ultear, merely kept her head bowed, waiting for the man to go on.
'I want you to find him. His magic is apparently Dragon Slaying Magic, however, what interests me, is his drive and ability to kill so mercilessly, if my report is to be believed, and show no remorse for it. Find him and see if you can persuade him to our cause. You need not kill him if he refuses, however, do warn him strongly to not mention anything about Grimoire Heart.' Said the man.
'Yes, Master Hades.' Answered Ultear, as she looked up at the leader, of one of the strongest Dark Guilds in existence.
