And onto the Chapter
Lisanna's PoV
"...Elf nii-chan?" Lisanna asked worriedly as Happy gently lowered them to the ground, releasing Lisanna's dress as he flew around into her arms, the girl clenching him in her arms as she stared at the beast that overcame her brother.
The monster roared into the sky, feeling victorious as he pounded on his chest, only absorbing Elfman's power through the takeover, his wounds healing completely and stamina returning.
"Nii-chan… I know you're in there. I know you can take control back!" Lisanna cheered worriedly as Happy Latched onto her back once more, prepared to help her dodge.
The beast roared, his fist plummeting towards the girl, prompting Happy to fly, lifting the girl out of reach.
"Lisanna! Don't! He can't hear you! Run! Don't get any closer!" Mira warned, trying to run forward and protect her sister, reducing to limping, having had injured her leg when the Beast struck her.
"Mira-nee, I refuse to believe Elf-nii-chan lost to this beast!" Lisanna refuted as she and Happy continued to dodge the beast's deadly fists, infuriating the monster.
"Lisanna! Please listen to me! Run away!" Mira cried out as she walked forward, stumbling past the beast's clawed feet as she struggled towards her sister, completing ignoring any danger as she limped towards her sister.
Lisanna turned away from the beast to look at her sister, eyes widening in fear when she saw a large clawed fist plummeting towards the goth, giving up on trying to kill Lisanna.
"Mira-nee!" Lisanna cried in fear, making the demon look up. She watched, time almost slowing down as the beasts fist plummeted towards the girl, tearing through the air as it struck
She was never happier to see a black blur tackle Mira out of the way last second, the two figures sliding on the ground, barely avoiding the large fist that crashed into the earth.
Happy quickly flew them over to the eldest Strauss sibling, watching the black figure slowly get to their feet.
"Mira-nee! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Lisanna asked as she ran as fast as she could, Happy bouncing in her arms as they crossed the field. Her eyes widened when she saw the man in black slowly rise to their feet, noticing a shocked look on her older sister's face, truly resonating in her.
"Thank… Fucking… GOD! That I got here in time," The voice said, Lisanna's eyes widened in shock, recognizing the voice instantly. He was wearing tight black combat boots that reached his shins, his black cargo pants tucked in. He was wearing a sleeveless back hooded shirt, with white arm wraps covering his palms all the way to the bottom of his elbows. Scarlet red tattoos peeked out of the arm wraps on the left arm, climbing all the way up into his shirt.
"Natsuuu! I'm so happy you're here!" Happy cheered as he pushed off of Lisanna, flying into the man's chest, tears leaking into his blue fur as he hugged the man for all he was worth.
"Natsu! Wha- Why- How?!" Lisanna asked shocked as she helped Mira into a sitting position, both of them staring at the man in shock as he patted Happy on the back. 'How?! Nobody was supposed to tell him… He's way too injured to fight.' Lisanna thought worriedly as she noticed Natsu's slumped shoulders and uneven gait.
"I'll explain later… From what I heard, that's Elfman right?" Natsu asked as he set Happy down before launching himself at the Beast, left arm pulled back, covered in white flames as he punched the Beasts fist, growling as they fought for power. Natsu roared as his magic flared, the fire on his hand building as he fought back. Natsu gave one final roar as his magic exploded around his hands forcing the Beast back.
They watched as Natsu landed back on the ground, his knees almost buckling as he kept his eyes on the beast, protecting them even though he's injured. They were worried he was going to push himself too far. He barely woke up a few days ago, they were surprised he could even stand after all this, let alone use magic.
"So… If I beat him hard enough he'll turn back?" Natsu asked he turned his head to look back before looking up at the Beast before them, who was growling as it struggled to its feet, glaring furiously at the fire mage.
'What?! Even injured he's strong enough to push the Beast Back?!' Mira thought as she watched Natsu stand proud, protecting his friends. She was shocked that he was able to put the beast on his Ass, when she could barely push it over at full power.
The Beast growled as it smashed its claw into the ground, causing a plume of dirt to explode into the air and block their view. Natsu smirked at the Beasts best attempt at a fighting strategy, unfortunately its large body shook the ground itself as it stood up.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Beat!" Natsu growled as blinding white flames covered his arms, before clapping his hands, a blast of fire dispersing the dust and incinerating the two large trees that were thrown towards them in an instant, the ashes lost to the wind.
The beast was right behind it, hands clenched together as he brought them down, attempting to flatten the mages before him. Natsu glared at the beast as he knew that the girls behind him would get caught in the attack.
"Fire Dragon's Rocket!" Natsu bit out, clenching his teeth as he attempted to ignore the pain in his chest. White flames exploded below him, propelling him fist first towards the Beasts conjoined hands. The Beast roared as they entered another power struggle, Natsu answering the monsters call as more flames shot out below him as he knocked the beast a step, refusing to let the girls behind him get injured.
Natsu continued his ascent, before cutting of the flames, bringing his hands in front of his face as a magic seal appeared.
'Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu screamed as a large pillar of white flames five feet wide torrented towards the beast, slamming it to the ground as it bellowed in rage, cratering the earth and vaporizing the dust from the heat of the flames. Mira and Lisanna fell to the ground from the force of the attack, the heat tearing the breath from their lungs as they gasped for breath.
Natsu cut his spell off after a couple seconds, using flaming steps to get back to the girls, refusing to leave them open.
"Think that did it?" Natsu asked, his breathing ragged, falling to his knees as he kept an eye on the beast, looking for any sign of movement as the girls rushed to his side, Happy once again clutched in Lisanna's arms.
"Natsu! You shouldn't be here, what the fuck!" Mira berated as she punched him on the shoulder while Lisanna tackled him in a hug, Happy taking to the air as he tried to wipe his tears away with his little paws.
"When I was in the infirmary, I had heard Macao and Wakaba talking about you guys going on an emergency mission… I had a bad feeling so I kind of slipped out," Natsu said hesitantly, before groaning as he watched the Beast begin to get to its feet, hoping he had at least knocked the damn thing out.
"But your ribs?!" Lisanna asked worriedly as she let go of him, worried about the boy, but equally flustered that he risked coming all the way out here to help them. He was in no condition to fight right now, but here he was fighting for them, fighting for her.
"Natsu… I swear to God, you're amazing." Mira said as she knelt beside him, planting a brief kiss right on his lips before standing up, a blush on her face before she stepped back, her sister looking at her wide eyed as the Beast roared in anger, before grabbing Lisanna's hand and pulling her back and away from the fight. Happy quickly flew back to Mira, helping Lisanna walk her back to the tree line when Mira stumbled.
The beast was scorched, his chest scorched and blistering, blood dripping down its face. It almost seemed revitalized after seeing that little scene, it's fury reignited like a smoldering campfire.
"Ah, Elfman's definitely in there huh?" Natsu asked, a blush on his face as he rubbed the back of his neck, the girls laughing morosely behind him as the beast stumbled towards them, intent on destroying the dragon slayer at any cost.
"Fuck it," Natsu muttered as he disappeared in a flash of white fire, appearing in front of the Beast with his fist pulled back.
"Fire Dragon's Crushing Fang!" Natsu growled as white fire consumed his hand, swiping it at the Beast's face, a large fiery claw reaching out and slashing the monster. The monster screeched as it swung it's left fist at Natsu. Blood dripped down its face, clenching its right eye shut, its face singed and the smell of burning hair filled the clearing.
"Flaming Steps!" Natsu said as he disappeared in a flash of white fire, darting to the Monster's legs before reforming. The Beast began to fall back, roaring in pain and confusion at Natsu's tactics.
"Fire Dragon's Crushing Talon!" Natsu growled as white fire covered his right foot, smashing it into the Monsters right knee, a loud cracking sound echoing through the clearing as the Beast screamed in pain, it's leg bending in an unnatural fashion. It attempted to swipe Natsu out of the air with its left arm, only for Natsu to use Flaming Steps once more.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu growled as he smashed his fire covered fist into the back of the Beasts neck, sending the beast to the floor.
"Flaming Steps!" Natsu said as he zipped over to the Strauss siblings, falling to his knees, wheezing as he looked at the beast.
It growled as it held its head, it's body beginning to flicker before disappearing, a battered Elfman fell to the ground.
"Thank God… That was everything I had left in the tank," Natsu panted as he watched Lisanna carefully make her way over to her brother, tears on her face as she struggled to roll him over, crying tears of joy when she felt a pulse, grateful beyond belief that her entire family was going to make it home.
"Natsu… You're fucking amazing…" Mira muttered as she reached forward, catching the boy before he fell to the ground, passing out from the pain of his injuries. 'Were his flames always white?' Mira pondered in the back of her mind as she cradled the boy on her lap.
Macao's PoV
"I can't believe, that FUCKING IDIOT!" They heard Cana scream as she stomped into the main hall from the Infirmary, her hair floating, eyes glowing white as her body was emanating a bright white aura, each step cracking the floor as she made her way to the bar.
"Hey… Uh… Cana?" Macao asked worriedly as he placed his beer on the bar, looking at the young brunette worriedly as she sat at the bar with a stool between them. Wakaba was currently going out for dinner with his wife, leaving Macao on his own, his own wife back home looking after young Romeo.
Everyone was staring at her, Levy had even taken her eyes away from her book, never having seen Cana get this mad. She was one of the most laid back members they had!
"Natsu, fucking LEFT the infirmary!" Cana growled as she slowly turned her head to the older man, someone she looked up to as an uncle. He had always made sure to keep an eye on the girl as she grew up, inviting her over for dinner with his wife and helping her practice magic.
"You sure he didn't just leave to go to the bathroom or something?" Macao asked placatingly with his palms out in the air in attempt to calm the card mage as she slumped on the bar, her magic instantly cutting off as she waved for a beer.
"Maybe he just needed some fresh air?" Levy offered helpfully as she looked at the brunette, knowing the noise and scent of the guild may have become too much for him.
"Really? The Strauss siblings go on an emergency S-Class mission, and you think Natsu went to the bathroom?" Cana asked sardonically, watching as Macao's eyes widened in realization before sighing, not thinking that the stupid brat could hear them from all the way out here.
"Fuck, what does that kid gotta prove," Macao sighed as he took another sip of his drink, spilling down his shirt when Cana threw a card at the mug, cutting it in half with the drink falling all over his lap. Macao looked at the girl, sighing as he accepted her point, knowing how some of their guild mates felt about him, including him sometimes.
"Wow, so he doesn't even trust them to complete a mission, what a hypocrite..." Gray asked from his table with Loki, who slammed his head into the table, frustrated with the Ice Mage.
"Gray… It's been a rough week… I'll give you five seconds to take that back…" Cana glared as she turned in her seat, steam coming from her head as she attempted to turn the Ice Mage into dust with her stare alone.
"Gray, Cana's right on this one… Everyone's upset, let's just hope everyone comes back safely." Macao literally stepped in, reaching over and placing a hand on Cana's knee, receiving a sigh in response as she attempted to calm down.
Gray simply huffed, the smirk on his face dropping when he saw the glare Loki was giving him.
"What? I think this is only proof the kid is reckle-" Gray began, everyone rolling their eyes before their heads snapped to the door, watching Mira stumble in with her arm over Lisanna's shoulder, her left ankle wrapped in white gauze, the rest of her body covered in bandages. Natsu and Happy came in behind them, carrying an unconscious and bandaged Elfman.
"What the fuck happened?!" Cana asked as she bolted to the door, everyone looking at the group in shock. She quickly put Mira's other arm around her shoulder, helping the girl over to an empty table.
"Jet, Droy, go grab Elfman!" Levy ordered quickly after the group entered, the two boys scrambling to their feet in an attempt to impress their crush.
Natsu and Happy let out a sigh of relief when Elfman was taken off their hands, the two boys struggling to carry the man off to the infirmary, but refusing to look weak.
Everyone stared at Pink haired mage, watching as he made his way across the hall in silence.
"Don't get mad at Natsu!" Lisanna blurted out nervously, a chuckle running through the guild as they looked at the girl, everyone knowing about her crush on the saint since the second she met him.
"She's right, I don't know if we would have made it back without him…" Mira said, a sad chuckle rolling off her lips as she watched the Saint make his way back to the infirmary, a little behind Elfman. Everyone turned to her, their jaws hanging as they looked at the demon, the fourth S-Class mage in their guild, beating even Erza to the title.
"Mira, we need details," Makarov demanded from the second floor, having had sensed the Strauss' return, frustrated beyond belief. Not at his brats, but by the fact they seem to constantly face threats beyond their means. First Natsu and Gildarts, now this?
"That Beast had a high fucking immunity to magic," Mira said as Lisanna rushed to grab her a drink, the only one out of the four that wasn't completely drained. "We were able to delay it as everyone evacuated, but it tanked all my attacks," Mira said despondently as she looked down at her lap, Cana rubbing her shoulder as she comforted her friend.
"It was able to knock me out of my Satan soul, and I was drained. Elfman got desperate and tried to take it over," Mira continued as Lisanna sat on her other side, gently handing her a large mug of water.
"Elfman lost himself, and in the process the beast healed completely… The beast used the rest of Elfman's magic to heal himself, it's power doubling." Mira said as she looked up at the master, who stayed rooted to the railing, a small, lone tear rolling down the old man's face.
"I tried to talk to him! But all he could see was an enemy! Happy helped me stay out of reach, but then he tried to attack Mira-nee again," Lisanna wailed, tears running down her cheeks as she remembered the fear she felt, terrified that she was going to watch her brother kill her sister.
"Natsu flew in out of nowhere, tackling me out of the way," Mira said, a smile on her face as the one man she trusted above all else protected her when she needed it the most. The guild was looking at the three girls in utter horror, some turning towards the infirmary wing with a grateful smile.
"Yeah! And then Natsu helped tire the beast out, and Elfman regained control!" Lisanna explained, a smile appearing on her face as she hugged her sisters side, glad that the nightmare was over. They were safe.
"You were saying Gray?" Cana asked, a glare on her face as she turned towards the Ice mage, who was white as a sheet, actually feeling guilty that the man he berated, was responsible for saving their members based on a hunch. Everyone else was confident that the siblings would be able to handle a mere beast. That arrogance almost cost them three guild members.
"Fuck… You don't think the council's requesting us for these missions on purpose?!" Gray growled as he shot to his feet, anger exploding in his chest as he looked towards the Master, only to see a blank face.
"Whether they did or not, it is our responsibility to protect the public." Makarov said with a sigh as he turned back towards his office, having enough information to write a report for the Council.
"Did the beast have any magical presence?" Levy asked from her table, Jet and Droy once more sitting on either side of her, tired and sweaty from lugging Elfman onto the infirmary bed.
"Not that I could tell no, I don't think it could use magic," Mira said as the Guild workers brought food over for the girls, who turned around on the bench, stomachs rumbling at the sight of food.
"Alright, you two get something to eat, I'll go see how the other two are doing," Cana said as she patted Mira on the shoulder, receiving a nod in response as she stood up and made her way back to the infirmary with a plate of food in hand.
Natsu's PoV
Natsu was in the process of unwrapping his right arm, sitting on the bed, when Cana walked through the door, plate of food in hand as she kicked the door closed behind her. Natsu was exhausted, his naturally tan skin pale, too drained to even requip his arm wraps away.
"Hey, sorry if I worried you, but…" Natsu said, a sad look on his face as he nodded at the room across from his, continuing to undress.
"Yeah, well, guess I can't yell at you now, can I?" Cana asked as she placed the food on the bedside table, receiving a smile as she sat beside him on the bed.
"You gotta be careful though, next time come and get me and we can go together alright? You're not in any condition to be fighting right now." Cana chastised as she rapped her knuckles on his head, doing her best to ignore the blush growing on her cheeks when he laughed, standing up and carefully taking his hoodie off, wincing and growling in the process.
Cana frowned at the bruises on his back, his tan skin becoming abstract art, a combination of dark black bruises, old white scars and healing cuts. It was amazing he was able to lift his arms, let alone tango with a demon.
"I know, I'm sorry… how's Gildarts doing?" Natsu asked as he walked around to the other side of the bed before laying down, carefully grabbing the tray and beginning to ea as Cana sighed.
"Well, you're both idiots… But he should make a full recovery, Master has been trying to find a prosthetic strong enough for him." Cana said, a small smile on her face at the thought of him getting back on his feet.
"That's… Good?" Natsu said hesitantly as he continued to eat his food, understanding the issue with Gildarts crash magic. He had heard one too many stories of the Ace waking up naked and hungover in a forest, or on a beach once.
"Did he consider having Levy inscribe some rune's in the frame?" Natsu asked curiously as he looked at the brunette, who sat there blinking in shock at the suggestion.
"That's a pretty good idea… What would the runes be for?" Cana asked as she looked at the saint.
"If Master and any of our S-Class mages helped write the runes, hopefully it should stand up a bit better?" Natsu asked curiously making Cana shrug in agreement, anything was worth a shot.
"Yeah, well, what's up with you? Something on your mind?" Cana asked worriedly as she looked at the boy, who sighed, knowing it was useless trying to keep something from them. He didn't even do something that obvious...
"My fire was white," Natsu commented, Cana blinking in confusion as she gestured for him to continue, missing the point.
"Like, my fire is white now… it used to be orange or red," Natsu said as he lifted his right hand, a small white and grey flame dancing in his hand, outlined in black.
"That's… Interesting… Do you think it has something to do with consuming…?" Cana trailed off, trying to implicate how he regained his arm.
"Yeah… It's weird though, it's taking longer than normal for my container to fill itself," Natsu commented, his eyes widening as his mouth opened, eating a blast of fire from Cana's card.
"How did that feel?" Cana asked with a quirked brow, worried about the boy who sighed.
"...Do you think it's possible that my magic container has been affected? It doesn't feel right, I'm not consuming fire like I used to," Natsu commented as he looked at the girl, not feeling as filled as he should have, worry building in his chest at what it could mean.
"Man, I don't know what to tell ya. Want me to grab the master?" Cana asked as she stood up, only for him to grab her hand, a blush exploding on her cheeks.
"Stay for a bit, please?" Natsu asked, smiling when she nodded and sat back down.
Elfman's PoV
'Where am I? What Happened?' Elfman thought groggily as his eyes began to flutter, cringing from the light as he attempted to gather his bearings.
"He's waking up!" A voice said, as Elfman slowly began to open his eyes, seeing his sisters teary smiling faces looking down on him. His eyes widened when images began to flash through his mind.
'Beast… Mira… Blood… Tears'
"What… happened?" Elfman asked cautiously as he sat up, feeling a slight pain in his chest as he looked around, noticing they were in the guild infirmary.
"Don't you remember?" Lisanna asked worriedly as she clutched her big brothers hand, worry bubbling in her stomach as she looked him in the eyes.
"We- We were fighting the beast!" Elfman remembered, clenching his eyes as he thought, feeling a bit light headed as Mira brought a glass of water to his lips.
"Yeah, I fucking told you not to try and take it over!" Mira berated gently as she tilted his head back, giving him a drink.
"I'm- I'm sorry Mira-nee! I didn't know what to do," The boy apologized as he looked at his older sister, who slapped him gently, for her anyway, over the head.
"Next time, just do what you're told okay?" Mira said, unable to fight the smile on her face as he nodded.
"But… How did I regain control? Did you beat it?" Elfman asked curiously, worried to see his sister look at each other before turning to the boy.
"The beast attacked us, then Natsu, of all people just flew in just as he was about to hit me," Mira explained, having talked to Lisanna about the situation and deciding it was smarter to be honest with him.
"Natsu…?" Elfman wondered, his eyes widening in shock as the boy was still on bed rest when they left.
"Crazy right? He knocked ya until you got back control," Mira said, a smile on her face as she looked at Lisanna, hiding her worry much better than her younger sister.
Elfman looked down at his hands, clenching them in frustration because he wasn't strong enough, a sullen mood filled the room as his sisters looked at him.
"Don't you FUCKING dare!" Mira chastised as she slapped his knee, his eyes shooting up to look at her, as did Lisanna's.
"This wasn't your fault okay? Nobody! Is at fault here. He was just too strong," Mira said, a dangerous fire flickering in her eyes as she looked at both her siblings, just daring them to refute her statement.
"Then I guess we just gotta get stronger," Lisanna said, a smile on her face as she squeezed his hand, a smile growing on his own as he looked at his siblings.
"It's a man's job to protect his family!" Elfman exclaimed, making Lisanna laugh as she jumped on the bed right beside him, wrapping her arms around his neck while Mira looked at the two with a smile.
"That's right you idiot," Mira said as she turned around and walked out of the room, her siblings bursting into laughter when the door closed.
"I'm just glad you're okay," Lisanna commented as she slowly let go of her brother, determination burning in his eyes as he looked at his little sister.
"I will forever be grateful that Natsu-san was there for you… But I will be strong enough that he won't have to be!" Elfman exclaimed, happy to see his sister nod before getting up, pointing to a pile of clothes in the chair to his left as she made her way out of the room.
'I'm glad I was wrong about you… Natsu. You are everything my sisters said you were. You are the perfect example, of what it means to be a man.' Elfman thought resolutely, a burning need to improve building inside him as he looked at his baby sister, a tear rolling down his cheek at the thought of losing her.
It would break him.
Natsu's PoV
"Natsuuu-" Happy cheered as he watched his father figure walk out of the Infirmary, wearing a tight black combat top, that emphasized his figure, with a Dark red cloak, covered in orange flames, and a pair of brown pants. His hair was tied back in a ponytail, reaching his shoulders.
"Hey bud, how are ya?" Natsu asked with a smile, hands in his pocket as he sat in front of the cat who was eating a plate of fish at the bar.
"Not bad! Mama said she was going to train with her siblings," Happy declared as he continued to munch down on his fish, a smile on Natsu face as he received a glass of juice.
"I'm glad, where is everyone?" Natsu asked as he looked around the guild, seeing Wakaba a couple seats down, talking to one of the workers. Nab was standing in front of the request board, looking for a mission, and Reedus was painting what looked to be creek in the middle of the forest.
"Well," Happy said in between bites, "Cana went to go visit Gildarts, Gramps is in his office, Team Shadow Gear went on a mission, I don't know where everyone else is though," Happy said with a shrug as he placed his last bone down on the plate, before wiping his face with a napkin.
Natsu placed a pile of bills on the bar top, before his head turned towards the guild doors, watching Gray walk in, wearing only his pants as he proudly displayed his guild mark, also, because he lost his shirt.
Natsu's eyes widened when Gray walked right up to him before sitting beside the Saint at the bar, everyone turning to look at the Ice Mage in surprise.
"Look, maybe I was wrong about you… But I'm gonna keep an eye on you okay?" Gray said with a sigh as he requested a drink, not even looking at the fire mage.
"I'd be surprised if you didn't, what's with the new attitude?" Natsu asked curiously in response as he turned to the man, a curious look on his face as he stared down his rival.
"I put a lot of my problems on you, Loki kind of bitched at me for it," the ice mage said, a sheepish smile appearing on his face as he took a drink of his beer, turning to look towards the Fire mage.
"Well, I appreciate the apology," Natsu said with a smile as he stood up, Happy flying towards his head as he made his way to the exit.
"Hey! I didn't apologize you jack-ass! I was warning you!" Gray contested with a glare on his face as he watched Natsu walk out the door, waving him off.
"What a jerk," Gray muttered as he looked over towards the request board, considering taking another quest.
Erza's PoV
'I wonder if they have any fresh cheesecake?' Erza wondered as she made her way from the dorm towards the guild, having had dropped her luggage off at the guilds female dorm before reporting to the master.
She was wearing her Heartz Kreuz armor, the Silver Breastplate shining in the street lights as she walked. She was wearing matching pauldrons and vambraces, having a little white fin on her elbow. She was wearing simple black boots that stopped below her knees, and a navy blue skirt that matched her guild mark, stopping just above her knee. There was a sword in its scabbard, tied to a belt on her left side.
She sighed, doing her best to control her temper when she could already hear the chaos, sounds of laughter and fighting a block away from the guild.
"Stay calm…' Erza berated herself as she opened the guild doors, everyone stopping instantly at the appearance of the Scarlet Knight.
"Good Evening, I hope nothing is out of place?" Erza commented, hinting, as everyone instantly began rushing around, mopping up beer, and setting the tables upright as she made her way to the bar.
Her eyebrow quirked up in surprise, when she saw Natsu and Cana talking at the bar, surprised he finished his mission before her.
"Hello Erza, I take it the mine shaft has been cleared out?" Makarov asked kindly from his spot on the bar, always grateful for her… controlling presence. Not even he was able to command the guild in such a manner. Although, if he were to treat the guild like Erza did, he would be one of the most abusive guild masters in Fiore.
"Yes master, the mission was a complete success," Erza declared proudly as she sat at the bar beside the seat in front of him, accepting a slice of cheesecake with a nod, requipping the exact amount of jewels and handing it to the barmaid.
"Well, at least one mission went right this week," Makarov commented sardonically after taking a sip of beer, distracting Erza from her cheesecake.
"Please tell," Erza commented, attempting to control herself as she placed her fork down, the Master's eyes widened in shock.
"Long story short, Natsu and Gildarts almost died, and, I guess you could say the same about Mira, Elfman and Lisanna…" Makarov said, her head shooting towards Natsu, who seemed in good condition before turning to the Master, a frown on her face.
"Did they complete their mission?" Erza asked firmly, surprising some of their guild mates at how heartless she seemed. Although it was hard to blame her when Natsu seemed perfectly fine, and the Strauss siblings usually ate dinner at home.
"No, they did not slay the Dragon of Apocalypse. They took his arm before he retreated," Makarov announced sternly, watching as her eyes widened before her head shot to Natsu, surprised at how good he looked.
She was also astonished. While she had to agree that Natsu was very strong in his own right, probably even stronger than Laxus now, she was shocked that they were able to harm what was practically the Council's biggest threat. Acnologia, the Dragon King of Apocalypse was a myth to most, but the council was petrified of the thing.
"How… How bad is Gildarts injured?" Erza asked as her head shot back to her Master, already knowing he was nowhere in the Guildhall, which could only mean he was in the infirmary.
"His knee was crushed so badly we had to amputate," Makarov announced sadly, knowing that Natsu could hear everything in the guildhall. They sat in silence for a couple seconds as Erza tried to wrap her head around the fact that Gildarts lost a limb, while she set her cake aside.
'How... Gildarts is by far the strongest, most well rounded mage I have ever met, possibly on the continent. To think that he could lose a limb like that...' Erza thought in shock, unable to touch even her cake after news like this.
"What about Mira, Elfman and Lisanna?" Erza asked as she looked back up to the master, who managed a smirk as he looked back at her.
"There was a Beast attacking Kunuugi City, Mira and Elfman were able to hold the beast back, while Happy and Lisanna evacuated the town. When Mira was defeated Elfman attempted to take over the beast but was unsuccessful. Fortunately, Natsu got there in time to save Mira, or things would have been a lot worse." Makarov explained with a sigh, Erza nodded before standing up, her expression unchanged as she made her way out of the guild.
Everyone looked at her in shock, unable to believe that she was unable to finish the one meal she loved most. Some had been injured, and others had been broken for even daring to touch her cheesecake.
"Hey, maybe she does have a heart after all," A random mage whispered from one of the tables, quickly being shushed as they watched the Knight still, before exiting through the doors.
Makarov shook his head as he watched the girl walk out the door, hoping she would be able to find her peace.