IMPORTANT: Please tell me what you think of this chapter because some important things are mentioned and the later chapters greatly depends on this one. If you do not like some part of this chapter or the whole chapter I'll see what I can do and try to explain or/and change it.
P.s Sorry for grammar mistakes, it was really late when I finished this. Oh, and what do you think about Wendy X Arthur?
Chapter 56:
**In Natsu's mind- Natsu's POV**
I walked few feet behind the black humanoid form that wandered in the labyrinth of bookshelves that were my memories. The ebony black shelves spread so far you couldn't see the end in any way you looked at and the dark red marble tiles covered the floor. I always made sure to keep this place as clean as possible. I didn't want anything lost or even worse mixed. There were just some memories I wouldn't want popping out of the blue in the middle of the day. It's enough that they visit me during my sleep.
"I never thought that a mind could be so well organized" The black entity that roamed around my head for some time now said as he pulled out another 'book' from shelf. I snatched the book back and put it on its original spot before the bastard had chance to open it. We were getting deeper and deeper into my childhood and I didn't like the idea of reviewing most of those memories. Not to mention that the book he took had a burning child on the covers. It pains me to think that I did that but... oh, well... What happened, happened. I guess I have to live with that and get on, after all it's not good to live in the past and forget the presence.
"I would like to keep it that way so please don't touch anything" I hissed at The Voice as I started to call the idiot.
"Chill out dude" The Voice said as he held up his hands in mock surrender.
"When do you plan to leave?" I asked as we kept walking further into the dark abyss. It was noticeably less books the further we walked. "And how long are we here anyway?" I lost the track of time.
"Leave?!" It gave a short, annoying laugh. "Look man, I need your body by the end of the weak. I have few days to joke around before I need that head of yours but that's it and that means I have no intention of leaving anytime soon."
"Great" I muttered looking around myself to find something to get my mind off of the problem at hand. Not really the best thing to do since I have to wake up soon if I don't plan on missing entire GMG but I already tried pretty much everything I could that came to my mind and nothing seemed to work. I was once close to braking free by trying to transform into my dragon form (key word trying) but I didn't really managed to so much as twitch in the real world and only got my magical reserves emptier which now that I think about would be really dangerous to empty since the magic is the only thing keeping my blood running in my current form. The thought left bitter taste in my mouth.
"What exactly are you looking for here?" I asked as the idiot opened a book from the time when I was four and the memories of Acnologia teaching me 'Chaos dragon roar' came rushing back. Nicer memories of the time if can say so. Shaking my head to clear my vision I looked back at the figure.
"The moment I put my foot in here I felt something interesting in this hall" The Voice said surprisingly seriously and I couldn't help but feel roll my eyes. 'Foot' you say? The bastard is barely using thought projection if you could call it even that and he's talking about his feet.
"I'm not really found of people evading my privacy" I said with bored tone to my voice.
"Deal with it" It said and I could only roll my eyes in annoyance. Moving closer to the end of the hall I hate to say that an emotion I wasn't very familiar with started pressing on my chest. This... uneasiness was not uncalled for per say. I new exactly what the Voice was talking about. I know of 'that' since the day Acnologia first took me to Lurioa or more accurately after he put the heart in me but I know that that thing is there as far as I can remember.
It took us surprisingly short amount of time to reach the cursed place.
"Interesting? Did you ever try to open it?" The Voice asked. He was talking about silver gates that loomed over us. The ominous aura that surrounded it was actually visible in a form of a dark grayish mist that leaked out around the gates.
"Of course I didn't. They are locked and I have no intention of changing that. This is my head we are talking about and I have no desire to screw it even more than it already is." The uneasy feeling I couldn't really put my finger on what it was came back full force and a breath stopped in my throat for a second before I continued breathing vaguely noticing that it was slightly faster and ragged than before.
The Voice laughed. Was there something familiar about it or was it just my imagination? "You're such stuck up bastard, did anyone told you that before? With that blank face and all..."
My eyes widened as they snapped from the gates to the figure. Is it possible? No it couldn't be... But the way he said it... It sounded almost like- No there is no way that It could be him. Nodding to reassure himself that it was not possible he shifted his once again blank stare at the gates.
We stood like that for few seconds as thousands thoughts raced trough my head giving me a slight headache. I couldn't help but feel that whatever is behind those gates is darker than any demon I faced. It was something alien inside of me that at the same time felt so familiar like I lived with it even before I was born... Something that was to the core the same as me. Whatever is behind those doors has the same blood running trough it and the thought as much as I hated to admit it scared me. I couldn't help but let out an empty laugh. I'm scared of something I didn't even see? Me? Scared? What the fuck is wrong with me?!
I know what I felt when I came close to the doors few minutes ago... or was it hours?... It was fear... And by simply thinking about it made me even more terrified. What was behind those gates?!
"Do you want to find out?" The Voice asked as I tensed at the sudden voice braking my thoughts. It's been a long time since I was this lost in my own head. Which is actually hilarious because I am literally in my head already. Getting any deeper might be fatal and not just for me. Concentrating on Voice's question I couldn't help but ask myself if I asked that last question out loud.
"No" I answered before It could ask again.
"Well what ever" The Voice said. "It's not like you can stop me"
"Don't you dare open those gates!" I raised my voice unintentionally.
"And what are you going to do if I open them? Yell at me some more?" without another word he started walking toward the gates. Doesn't he feel that? Is he blind? Those doors have a giant 'DON'T OPEN' sign written all over it!
I was about to run after him when a strong tug pulled me off of my feet and I landed with my face on the red tiles. "Sorry 'bout that" I could hear the voice say but it sounded distant "I thought you wanted to wake up so here you go. Though don't worry. I'm not going anywhere and while you're awake I guess I could take a peak behind those gates"
"NO!" I yelled as I sat up in the hospital bed probably scaring the shit out of everyone around me. I registered that someone was calling my name and shaking me in the back of my mind but I barely heard anything except my own ragged breathing. I was sure I was hyperventilating and I tried to calm down by taking deep breaths but the only thing I accomplished by it was the feeling that my stomach tried to twist in two so I leaned to the side of the bed and threw up.
Someone reacted rather quickly and was now holding my hair so it didn't get any of bile on it. I made a mental note to wash my hair when I had the chance.
**In infirmary - 2nd day of GMG; 6:32 p.m. - Normal POV**
"God, I'm tired" Ultear said as she stretched her arms over her head and let out long yawn.
"What are you tired of? You barely did anything today" Mira said smirking while walking in behind the purple-haired woman. "If anyone I should be tired"
Ultear let a bark of laughter "Seriously? You only participated in the games and you were barely trying"
**Flashback - Chariot**
"We have this in our bag" Gray said with smirk as he watched the competitors of the game struggle to keep up with she-devil.
"It was a good idea to send Mira in" Erza agreed. Mira was currently flying in her Satan soul transformation dodging the attacks Raven tail's Kurohebi kept trowing at her hoping to make her fall out of the Chariot.
"But I have to wonder why did Sabertooth send Sting" Lucy said trying hard (and failing) to keep a smile from stretching her lips. The Sabertooth member was practically dragging himself along the Chariot barely any further from the Start line.
"A mistake on their part" Gajeel said with shrug.
"Come to think of it... You would probably be right next to him if we let you compete" Lily said as he turned to look at Gajeel who huffed in response. "That's something we'll never find out" he muttered.
"All participates are fighting for the first place and it's still unclear who will be the winner!" Chapati said and was quickly fallowed by today's guest Jason "COOOOOOL!"
"Unclear my ass..." Yuka muttered as he kept running trying to get at least second place.
"It's impressive you can ran so fast considering your body built, Ichiya" Yuka commented as short man held steady pace next to him.
"It is the power of perfume" Ichiya said as he managed to make one of his poses and not falling behind the bluehead.
Sweat-dropping Yuka turned to look in front of himself. Mirajane was slowly but steadily making bigger and bigger space between herself, Meredy and Kurohebi who was currently holding second place. 'I need to hurry' he thought before shouting "Wave boost!" a spiral of magic shoot from his hands as he was propelled forward. "You won't be able to use magic within this wave!" he informed Ichiya and Risley who was slightly behind Ichiya.
Risley grinned as she said "Don't look down on chubby!" and with that her slightly chubby form turned slim as she started running sideways on chariot.
"There it is! It's Risley's gravity control magic! It's just so COOOOOOOOL!" Jason yelled in microphone.
"Well since everybody's trying so hard maybe I could put some small effort in this too... *hic*..." Bacchus said as he grinned.
Looking behind his back, Yuka almost got a heart attack as Bacchus stomped his foot on the Chariot behind and lifted his end up with only raw strength. Holding for his dear life Yuka could see Bacchus jumping over him and easily caching up to Mirajane's current speed.
Next to him lied Ichiya and not to far behind Risley while Kurohebi managed to stay on his feet along with Meredy that was few feet ahead currently trying to avoid the attacks that Kurohebi now directed at her. Probably getting enough of the annoying Raven tail member she used 'Maguilty Sodom' and sent the man flying back while gripping himself in pain. Getting quickly on his feet Yuka tried to catch up to the three at front though he already knew it was worthless.
"Nee, Bacchus... That wasn't really nice of you" Mira said as she turned in the air to look at the drunk man.
"I'm surprised to see a beauty like you has such powerful Stan soul" he said ignoring what Mira said. Mira smirked "This the weakest Satan soul I posses"
At that Bacchus' eyes widened a fraction before he smirked "What do you think about finding my hotel room tonight?"
Mira looked at him weirdly before giggling slightly, turning her face back to the Finish that was now in sight to both of them.
"I wouldn't count on that if I were you" she replied before adding "I think my husband would tear you apart"
"And who is the lucky man?" Bacchus asked with smirk just as he and Mira went trough finish line though Mira was a good meter in front of him and he was sure that she could go even faster.
"Natsu Souleater" she replied with sweet smile as she transformed into her human form.
Bacchus looked at her with raised eyebrow before laughing "One of your S-class, right? I bet I could defeat him without even drinking"
Mira just smiled in return "I wouldn't put my money on you"
While the two spoke Meredy ran past them closely fallowed by Kurohebi, then Yuko, Ichiya and Risley and after some time Sting dragged himself to the end.
**Flashback end**
"So?" Mirajane replied as Jellal walked in behind them and looked over the infirmary. Inside were Porlyusica, Wendy and Charla (both of them were awake), Elfman (who ended up here after defeating Bacchus) and Natsu who was still unconscious. It worried him slightly. Lucy's injuries weren't so great for him to pass out let alone to stay unconscious for almost two days.
"Didn't you say he will wake up today?" Jellal asked as the two bickering girls went silent to hear what the healer had to say.
"I was sure he would..." she replied stiffly, still sounding like she had something more to say. And by the looks of it it wasn't anything good.
"...What?" Ultear asked after getting tired of waiting. Her gut was telling her something was wrong.
"...Look closer at him" she said finally.
And look closer they did. Mira hesitantly reached toward his head and removing his hair off of his face she rested her palm on his forehead.
"He's cold as ice" She whispered.
Porlyusica nodded stiffly "Do you know when was the last time he actually ate something or even slept?"
That got everyone thinking. Okay he ate something when they came to Crocus and that something was left half-eaten... Slept?...
"I have no idea" Ultear whispered.
"I thought as much. And for some reason he unleashed an incredible amount of magic power about an hour ago leaving his reserves half empty. It knocked me and those three out in a matter of seconds" she said pointing at Wendy, Charla and Elfman.
"It felt like he tried to enter his dragon form..." Wendy said clutching the blanket so hard her knuckles turned white. "... But he used even more than that... I never felt him release so much magic power at once"
"And to think he's unconscious..." Jellal whispered as he shut his eye tight shaking his head to clear his thoughts. They stood in silence that was broken by a quiet whisper only Wendy heard clearly.
"...Gates..." Natsu whispered as his lips parted slightly and everyone glued their eyes on him staring in shock.
"N-nightmare?" Elfman asked after a second.
"He never sleep-talked before" Mira said in shock.
"NO!" A shout so sudden broke out of Natsu's lungs that everyone around him jumped in the air before Jellal, who first woke up from his shock took a hold of Natsu's shoulders, shaking him and calling his name while the dragon prince started hyperventilating.
"What the heck is going on?" Ultear watched in horror as Natsu's eyes stared blankly in front of him straight at her. The panic in them shock her to the core.
"I have no idea" Porlyusica said and she was about to made her way to Natsu when he suddenly bent to the side of the bed and threw up what little content he had inside his stomach.
Jellal quickly reacted and held his hair away from his mouth as the dragon prince gripped his stomach.
After a minute or so of loud sounds of vomiting that filled infirmary died down Ultear shakily walked closer to the bed as Natsu pushed himself up into the sitting position.
"N-Natsu" she whispered sure that he will hear her. He blinked few times before he lifted his gaze off of the vomit on the floor toward her.
"Hai?" he rasped out.
"Are... Are you okay?" she asked barely above the whisper.
"Yea... Of course... Why wouldn't I be... Could I get some water?" he asked hoarsely turning toward Jellal who was closest to him.
"Sure" he quickly said as he quickly went to the end table in the corner of the room where few glasses stood with a bottle of water next to it. Jellal handed him the glass and he took it in his hand almost dropping it which didn't go unnoticed by others. After drinking from the glass until it was dry he looked around himself. Raising his eyebrow at the number of people around him, suppressing the panic that swelled within his chest he asked "Why are you all here?"
Mira choked in shock "Why? You ask why?" she balled he fists "You ask WHY? You just threw up on the floor and were out for almost two days and you ask why?!"
"I'm out since yesterday? Shit... I missed entire second day..." Natsu muttered as he ignored Mirajane who was about to strangle him with her bare hands. He threw the covers off of him and put his bare feet on the cold floor.
"Where do you think you're going?!" All seven occupants of the room yelled in the same time.
"And do you plan on answering me? What happened to you?!" Mira screeched.
"I was thinking about shower" Natsu replied with blank stare before he locked his eyes with Mira's. "Nothing happened to me and nothing is wrong with me. What happened today is to be forgotten since it's nothing-"
SLAP!
Wendy stood in front of him as Natsu held his slightly red cheek.
"May I know-"
"Why you deserved that?!" Wendy screamed at him "Because you scared the shit out of me and then you said that we should just forget it! You selfish idiot! You are my brother! How can you say that you're okay when you're obviously lying?!"
"I am oka-"
SLAP!
"Don't you dare finish that sentence!" Wendy continued as hot tears streamed down her face. Others stared at Wendy wide-eyed never once seeing Wendy this angry.
"You can be so selfish! I can't even imagine how horrible your nightmares are for you to not sleep sometimes more than a week but I want to know! I want to know what's happening to you! Ever since we returned from Tenrou I could tell that you changed. You distanced yourself from me! I thought I was your little sister! Aren't siblings supposed to help each other out?"
Natsu opened his mouth to answer but Wendy beat him to it "How am I supposed to help you if I don't even know what's wrong with you?!"
She opened her mouth to scream some more but her breath caught in her throat when two strong ice-cold arms warped around her. Her eyes opened wide from their tightly closed state as her head was pressed on Natsu's shoulder, Natsu warping his arms even tighter around her putting his chin on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry sis" he whispered softly so only Wendy could hear him. "I'm so sorry" He sounded so... sad... "But I can't tell you anything. You just... have to trust me when I say that everything's going to be.. okay" she could hear hesitation in his voice before he said the last word no mater how hard he tried to hide it.
"N-Natsu?" Wendy asked as she tried to pull her head away from his shoulder so she could take a look at his face but Natsu only pressed her head harder on her shoulder. Since she couldn't move to much from her current position she shifted her eyes on Jellal who stood in front of her, still frozen in shock.
They stayed like that for a good minute. No one daring to move. Then finally Natsu gently pushed himself off of Wendy and pushed himself into a standing position swaying slightly at the sudden motion.
He sent Wendy a small, reassuring grin as he said "You do trust me, right?"
Wendy couldn't help but smile back. "Yes"
Natsu lifted his gaze to look over other occupants of the room, his face blending into an expressionless facade as he nodded to Ultear and Mira giving them the sign that they will talk later if they want.
Porlyusica was eyeing him carefully like she was expecting him to topple over which he truthfully felt ready to do but he and his damn pride won't let him to fall any further then they already did. When his eyes landed on Jellal the two friends shared a meaningful look getting a silent agreement between themselves before Natsu looked at himself for the first time since he woke up. He was wearing simple black T-shirt and black baggy knee-length pants.
A barely visible frown appeared on his face as he turned toward pink-haired healer "Do you know by any chance where is my clothes?"
"Right over there" Porlyusica still sounded somewhat stiff and uncomfortable. She was pointing to the chair between his and Wendy's bed. Nodding he grabbed the clothes and head to the bathroom.
"And where do you think you're going?" she asked with raised eyebrow as Dragon Prince walked past her. "To take a shower" he replied coldly like what happened not even five minutes ago never really happened.
"I didn't even had a chance to check you up since you woke up and I don't want you passing out on me in there and hitting your head on something" she said sternly pointing her finger at him and other had on her hip.
"I'll go with him inside to make sure he doesn't pass out" Mira and Ultear said in union before the two shared a look, sparks dancing between their eyes.
Jellal coughed in his hand to mask the laughter while Wendy giggled and Elfman laughed and just like that all tension in the room disappeared.
Natsu rolled his eyes as he opened the doors of the bathrooms and walked in quickly before closing the doors leaving the two girls arguing among each other completely oblivious to the fact that Natsu is gone.
With a heavy sigh Natsu leaned on the wooden doors of the bathroom after locking them. Closing his eyes to clear his thoughts he stood like that for a minute or so. Was all that just a dream? Was the Voice just another nightmare that was caused by his exhaustion?
It must be that. There is no way someone could enter his mind like that. The barriers he put on it as the years passed would stop anyone from entering.
'Not everyone'
His eyes snapped open as he bolted upright. No it couldn't be!
'Deal with it pal' It said. 'The sooner you except that I'm real the better'
"I must be going crazy" Natsu muttered as he took of his shirt readying himself for a shower.
'It's not nice to ignore someone who's talking to you' The Voice said obviously amused.
"Crap!" Natsu hissed as he sat on the closed toilet.
He regretted saying it out loud since the next second he could hear Jellal banging his fist on the doors calling him "Hey Natsu, is everything okay?"
"Yea" Natsu said loud enough to be heard to the people on the other room. "I just... remembered I didn't took my boots"
And with that he opened the doors and poked his head outside before he spotted his boots next to the chair where his clothes was. Walking quickly to them he grabbed the boots and went back in the bathroom shutting the doors right in front of Jellal's nose.
"That was... weird..." Jellal said turning to the other occupants of the room.
Ultear huffed in annoyance. "He's really getting on my nerves now. The Prince thinks he can say whatever he wants! Well he's going to tell us tonight what's going on or I'll beat it out of him!"
Mira nodded in agreement as she cracked her knuckles and rolled her neck "I'll help you girl"
Jellal sweat-dropped and smiled awkwardly as Elfman, Wendy and Charla hide behind Porlyusica. 'Poor guy...'
In the bathroom Natsu dropped the boots right next to the doors and ignored the conversation outside in favor to try and talk to the Voice as much as he was against the idea.
'So... Did you open the Gates?' Natsu asked as he took his pants off trying to keep cool head.
'Gates? Nah... I tried, don't get me wrong!' Natsu froze in the spot and stood in awkward position with one leg out of the pants and other only halfway leaving him standing on one foot. 'I did manage to get them loose thoguh'
Natsu threw the pants off of him, his eyes impossible wide. 'WHAT?!'
'Not so loud!' It said 'And don't get your panties in a twist. It's not like whatever is on the other side can open the Gates. I mean if it could it already would'
Natsu shakily stepped in the shower while thinking about the Gates. 'Don't touch them anymore. Just... don't go near them'
'Yes sir!' the Voice mocked.
"Bastard" Natsu muttered as he turned on the hot water and let it clear his thoughts. Taking the shampoo from the small shelf where other similar things stood he poured some of it in his hand and started rubbing it in his hair. 'I might need a haircut...' he thought as he pulled his hair to see how long it was. '...Nah'
Once he was finished he opened the doors of the small shower and felt the cold air rushing in the steaming place. Warping one towel around his hips and putting another around his shoulders he made his way to the sink and searched over the cabinets trying to find new toothbrush or toothpaste for that mater but after failing he had to satisfy with a dental floss to clean his canines.
"Everything alright? You've been quiet for quite some time" Wendy called as she gently knocked on the doors.
"Yea" He replied blankly "I'm fi-" remembering his argument with her he reorganized his sentence saying "I'll be out soon. Just to get dressed"
"Oh... Okay... Sorry to bother you" she said quietly.
Smirking in amusement, he dried himself completely (except for the hair which he couldn't dry so quickly) and put on his sleeveless shirt, baggy pants and boots and warped his black scarf around hips so it wouldn't get wet if it was around his neck. He pulled his still wet hair in a high pony tail and looked himself in a still slightly fogged mirror. Nodding, satisfied he opened the doors and immediately noticed that two more people came in infirmary while he was in the bathroom.
"Arthur, master" he said in way of greeting.
"Natsu" Makarov replied with smile "I'm glad to see you're awake"
"You okay dad?" Arthur asked as he looked at him. He was standing next to Wendy and the two were obviously talking to each other a minute ago.
Natsu's lips twitched slightly upwards as he said "Why wouldn't I be?"
An awkward silence met his answer/question as Ultear and Mira were sheeting silently, Jellal trying to calm them down and others staring at him for a good minute.
Braking the awkward silence with a sigh Natsu looked at Porlyusica and asked "Can I go now to the inn?"
Porlyusica looked over him from head to toe before moving closer. He noticed he was slightly taller than her now that she was this close "Can you stoop down a bit?"
He raised his eyebrow not moving any other muscle. The healer's eyebrow twitched in irritation as she smacked him over his head. 'People tend to do this a lot lately' Natsu thought in annoyance as he rubbed his head, his facial expression staying blank. "You know, a couple of years back I would cut off your arm"
"You're still the same stubborn brat you were fourteen years ago"
"Very funny" Natsu muttered as he walked out of the doors quickly fallowed by laughing Mira, Ultear and Jellal.
Once the four left Porlyusica turned to look at the remaining people (and an Exceed) in the room. Arthur, Wendy, Elfman, Makarov and Charla.
"Porlyusica... Would you mind coming with me outside for a second?" Makarov asked and wihtout waiting to hear her reply he headed for the doors. The pink-haired healer fallowed after him with slight frown tugging her lips.
Closing the doors behind them, Porlyusica left the room in silence that didn't last long.
"How are you feeling?" Arthur asked as he jumped on Wendy's bed and sat there Indian-style. Blushing slightly since she was no more then foot away Wendy replied quietly "I'm fine now. Porlyusica said that I can return to the games tomorrow"
Arthur grinned widely "Wow! That's great!"
Wendy smiled "Thank you for asking"
"Don't mention it" Arthur waved his hand trough the air before a sly smirk tugged his lips "Now say... Did you really slapped dad?"
Wendy's eyes widened as her face changed color to white before quickly turning red as she started fidgeting not liking the fact that Elfman and Charla were laughing silently beside her.
"I... Maybe... I mean..."
"Awesome" Arthur grinned as he threw his feet off of the edge of the bed looking like he was about to stand up though he stayed on his spot. "To be quite honest I never really have the guts to do that though he actually rarely get me mad enough for me to want to slap him"
"Really? Don't you get angry at him for not telling you anything?" Wendy asked as she looked at Arthur curiously.
Arthur frowned slightly while thinking "Well of course I do but we have some sort of mutual understanding between each other. I don't get my nose too deep into his problems as long as he keeps his out of mine. To be quite honest I tell him pretty much everything but I can understand if he doesn't want to share something with me no mater how annoying it is"
He turned to look at Wendy and smirked smugly "And after all Annie and I find pretty much everything out when mums talk to him. If you catch my meaning"
The three other occupants in the room laughed.
"My sis sure know how to get an information out of someone" Elfman laughed "I remember that one time when Lisanna and I still went on missions with her. We had to retrieve some information from a small dark guild. Even though we could easily be in and out in five minutes without any of the guild members noticing she beat the whole guild until the master told us what we needed to complete the mission"
Others stared at Elfman for a good minute before Arthur burst out laughing "Mum didn't change much since than I guess"
"She did" Wendy said as she giggled at the memories of the times when she first came to the guild "I don't know about missions but she changed a lot during the years. Remember how she and Erza were fighting all the time? They destroyed half of the guild hall before Natsu or master stopped them" she asked turning to Elfman who chuckled while Arthur's jaw opened slightly.
"You can't be serious!" Arthur practically yelled as he looked from Elfman to Wendy.
"We are"
"You never heard of that?" Charla asked.
"No" Arthur shook his head "Well I guess it's because we thought you guys are... well dead. No one really liked to talk about Tenrou and few things I knew about you and the times before was what Annie and I overheard when moms and dad talked"
At that the three from Tenrou looked at the ground. Feeling the awkwardness that started to fill the room Arthur quickly tried to think of something to say but Elfman beat him to it.
"What's it like to have Natsu for dad?"
That got Arthur thinking. "Well... It's kinda hard to explain. I don't really remember what my real father was like but I am quite sure I couldn't find better than Natsu"
While Elfman was rather shocked Wendy and Charla shared similar opinion. Charla spent most of her time with Wendy and that ultimately meant with Natsu since the two were more or less always together when they were younger.
"I know what you mean. I couldn't ask for a better brother" Wendy replied with smile.
**In Honeybone inn**
Pushing him in the chair proved to be a lot harder than Jellal thought as Natsu simply refused to sit down until both Mira and Ultear pointed their own respective spells at his throat. Even though they wouldn't really fire them (probably wouldn't- they did look quite annoyed) he didn't want to get them any angrier.
"Now start talking" Mira said as she stood right in front of him. Natsu rolled his eyes. This was not the first time they have done this and most of the times they didn't really get the full answer. This time won't be any different.
"What do you want to know?" Natsu asked keeping blank face.
"Don't play dumb. What happened to you after you used that spell on Lucy?" Mira asked and behind her Jellal and Ultear nodded confirming they wanted to know the answer to that question as well.
"I passed out. How come you didn't know that?" Natsu replied. Who said he didn't have any sense of humor. Though one might say he's a masochist rather than a joker.
Mira glared at him trough squinted eyes. "We know that but what happened to you" It was Jellal who asked this time.
"I got some sleep. It was a nice nap" Natsu replied with emotionless face. Like he tried to prove his point he stretched his hands like someone would do after nice, long nap.
"What did you dream about?" Ultear asked.
Natsu looked at them with raised eyebrow as all three of them stared at him looking ready to draw blood. He sighed and leaned back looking ready to tell them everything "About a rainbow and a unicorn. I even got to ride him. His name was Sparkle"
If anyone else watched this they would be on the floor laughing their ass off. But right now Ultear, Jellal and Mira looked ready to strangle him with bare hands as their right eye twitched in union.
"Be serious for crying out loud!" Ultear yelled as she stomped her foot on the ground making a very noticeable dent in the floor with her heel.
"I am serious. He had silver mane and tail" Natsu replied.
Jellal face-palmed, Mira couldn't help but stare at him open-mounted while Ultear took off her heel and threw it at him screaming. He moved his head in the nick of time as the heel dug pretty deep in the back of the chair where his head was moment ago.
Ultear moved toward him and just when she was less than meter away from him he stood up, grabbed her around her waist and pulled her into a kiss hoping he wouldn't get his tongue bitten off. It worked better than he hoped for as the three were shocked into silence.
When they moved their lips apart Ultear narrowed her eyes "If you think this will get you out of all your problems than I have bad news for ya"
Natsu chuckled lightly "Your 'bad' news might be the best I heard today"
Rising his eyebrow, Mira entered conversation "What's that supposed to mean?"
Natsu looked up like he was thinking before he smirked "I didn't hear any news today"
Rolling his eyes Jellal looked at Natsu, eyeing him from head to toe he sighed. "Look Natsu. I-we understand that you don't want to talk to us about whatever is bothering you but please listen when I tell you this. You will have to tell us at one point and I do hope you will tell us soon otherwise I'm afraid you will brake under pressure."
"What breaks you down is not the amount of pressure you feel at one time, but it's the way you perceive and handle it. And I'm handling it quite well." Natsu responded as he locked his dragon-like eyes with Jellal's.
"Stop being so stubborn. You have to tell us the truth" Jellal replied.
"Truth? To be honest I think the truth is the most dangerous thing in this world. It killed thousands. Some died for it and others because of it."
Scratching his head with both his hands in frustration Jellal couldn't help but feel fear growing inside of him. 'What do you know that is so horrible you won't share it with us?'
"Better a cruel truth than a comfortable delusion." Mira spoke up.
Natsu sighed heavily as he sat on the bed that wasn't too far from the chair he occupied few minutes ago.
"Okay... Here's the deal... I can't tell you because the information that's been... bothering me was given to me by the higher ups" The three looked at Natsu with wide eyes. They knew who 'higher ups' were. There was no need to explain that part but... "Can't you tell us at least something?" Mira started to sound desperate.
"Someone is messing with the time" and then he turned to the shell shocked Ultear "And I'm sure you know the best how dangerous that is"
"Crap" Jellal muttered as he sat at the chair Natsu sat at the begging of this conversation.
**Later that night- 3.a.m.**
The soft snoring was the only sound in the dark room that wasn't even illuminated by moonlight. Three out of four occupants were in deep sleep while the forth lied in the bed between his mates who used him like a pillow.
Natsu looked down from the ceiling at the single bed in the corner. Despite that the room was in complete dark he could see almost as good as during the day. Bless dragon senses.
'Why would someone use Zeref's magic now of all times? And where are they? It could be right under our nose and we just didn't notice it...'
'The games has just began...' he knitted his eyebrows together in concentration 'What did Lilith mean by that? I mean when she said it I thought of Grand Magic Games but they didn't started when she said it. I automatically thought of them because we were in the middle of the training for them but what if she wasn't talking about this GMG' his eyes widened suddenly ' What if she was talking about the GMG in general? About all seven of them'
Mira moaned silently in her sleep and snuggled closer to him. Sneaking his arm behind her head he patted her snowy hair gently.
'If this is going on for seven years then whoever is doing this has carefully planed everything. It isn't the work of some random dark guild. It rooted itself underneath Crocus so much that no one even notice it anymore. I'm sure I would be able to see it if I came here the first year nut now...'
'And what did she mean by Eclipse? I now there's a solar eclipse on July 7th in other words in three days. But was she talking just about that-the solar eclipse?'
End of chapter 56.
I'm sorry for not publishing anything for so long but the school started and I couldn't find it in myself to start writing without a shred of inspiration. Another thing is the lack of reviews on last chapter that I was to begin with skeptical people will like it. I would really appreciate if someone said whatever you like this or not. It would be of great help and if you don't like it then tell me what would you like to change and I'll see what I can do.
Please review and thanks for reading :)
P.s.
If you wish to read something worth your while then do read Road to Recovery written by cywsaphyre.
(Summary: Since turning fifteen, Harry has spent seven years in Azkaban. Now that his innocence has finally been proven and he is released, what will it take to get the former Harry back? Will they ever be able to? And what happens with Voldemort now? AU)