Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail and all that noise. Only thing that's mine is the plot or whatever.
To Omegasw: Irene will be entering the story earlier than in canon. The way I write stories, I typically make several changes to canon at the very start and then let things develop naturally from there. So, the reason for Irene showing up earlier will be derived from the changes in Natsu's backstory and hopefully will make sense/work well.
To Naruto (guest): Not even Acnologia was able to get his severed arm back, so I won't be doing anything like that. You do have rather good timing though, because I was already planning on solving the whole 'one-handed' thing this chapter.
Chapter 5: A council of old fools.
"You'll come home soon?"
Smiling softly, Natsu kneeled in front of the child and brought her into a hug. "Of course, little dragon. You think those old coots are going to keep me from coming home as soon as possible?" He let out a scoff. "As if! If those idiots try anything, I'll blast 'em!"
Giggly softly, Wendy swiped away the last of her tears and stepped out of her father's embrace just to fake a 'Sky Dragon's Iron Fist!' onto his chest. "Blast 'em!"
Playing it up, Natsu fell backward and sprawled out over the carpet. "Oh! You got me!"
Gasping, Wendy rushed forward. "Oh no! Papa! I'll— " She'll what? She doesn't know! "I'll heal you!"
How could she have let this happen? She should have known not to attack her papa; he was only so strong! She must have hurt him really bad; she didn't know her own strength! Oh no, oh dear, oh heavens, oh me, oh my! What was she going to—
Wendy was shocked out of her inner panic as two strong arms closed around her and brought her into her father's chest.
Of the two arms, one traveled higher and began to card softly through Wendy's blue hair. She'd been growing it out recently, finally letting it extend past her shoulders. While the child had never explicitly said it, Natsu was pretty sure it was just because she wanted to look more like Mira and Erza, who she adored with all her heart. (Sorry, Lisanna!)
The second arm though, that one stayed around her waist, pinning her down into her chuckling father's chest.
"I'm alright, Wendy. See?"
She looked up as he smiled down at her and nodded with a smile. "Mm!"
"Yeah," he laughed quietly, "you see."
"Alright, you two." A new voice spoke up. "As adorable as this is, Natsu needs to get going."
Wendy pouted up at her 'big sister.'
"I don't want him to go!"
Mira shrugged. "Well, he's gotta. Sooo.. up, up, up!" Quickly, before the sky dragon slayer could react, she scooped her up and tossed her in the air.
Wendy squealed merrily as she flew through the air and Natsu took the time to push himself up onto his feet. "Thanks again, you three, for agreeing to watch the kids. I'm sorry to push this on all of you, I just—"
"It's fine, Mister Natsu! We adore the little ones, Gajeel is helping too! And," Lisanna shared a quick peek to see if Mira could hear them. Upon noticing just how closely the older girl was standing, she quickly cupped her hands over her mouth and whispered to him. "And Erza."
Mira didn't even spare them a second glance, too wrapped up in tickling Wendy into a fit of tears, but she did hear them.
How did they know?
She told them, speaking in that same faux cheerful, sing-songy voice that would promise pain if it were anybody else. "I can heeaaar you~"
Lisanna's face scrunched up as she leaned in even closer and spoke even quieter. "Do you think she can hear us?"
Not one bit, Lisanna, not one bit.
Not even deigning to respond past a comforting pat on the head, Natsu picked up his pack and threw it over his shoulder, already making his way toward the front door of his house.
Only to be stopped by the sudden panicked shouting of a certain blue-haired girl.
"W- Wait! P- Papa! M- M- Mir—ahahah!—Mira stop! Not right now! Papa!" Wendy fought hard, kicking and lashing out at the she-demon, until eventually (finally) Mira took the hint that she wasn't having fun anymore and let her go. Wendy immediately rushed to her dad, latching onto his leg and trying her best to hold him down. "Please don't leave! I'll do anything! Just don't go! P- Please!"
"Wendy.. " Natsu sighed and kneeled down, plucking Wendy up into his arms as he lowered himself. "Is this about Grandeeney?"
"N- No! I told you already! I'm a big girl, I don't cry about that anymore!"
Natsu just smiled sadly at the 'big' girl and nodded his head.
Yeah. It was about Grandeeney.
"Here," tugging one end of his scarf, the entire thing fell easily from around his neck. "This is a promise. So long as you keep this with you, I will always come back. Got that?"
Wendy bit her lip to try and suppress her miserable whimpers and shook her head through her tears. "This isn't a promise, papa, it's a scarf."
Somewhere in the background, Mira snorted.
Natsu himself couldn't help the amused chuckle that escaped his lips. "That's— that's exactly right. Good job." With one last stroke of her chubby cheeks, Natsu wrapped the scarf around her head.
And then he kept on wrapping.
It was an adult-sized scarf; Wendy is not an adult-sized person.
It wasn't until her face was fully wrapped up and shrouded in white dragon scales that Natsu finally relented. "I'll be back in one week, Wendy. I'll see you soon, okay?"
There was a muffled 'okay..' from inside his scarf and Natsu took that as his cue to go. He needed to get out of there quickly before she decided it wasn't okay anymore. Quickly, Natsu tugged the girl in for one last hug and unwrapped just enough of the scarf to kiss her forehead before darting for the door.
"Bye, Jane! Bye, Lizzy! Bye, Elf! Be good!"
The three Strauss's chorused a 'bye, Natsu!' right on back as he left.
Once outside, he was met with the rest of his leaving committee. Erza was out of town again, which was pretty much the only reason he'd gotten Mira to agree to help out, so she wasn't there, but the other three were.
Natsu over to where the three were and chuckled softly at the twins' attempts to get a hit in on Gajeel. At the sight of the elder slayer, the twins bounced away from each other. Rogue stayed on top of Gajeel, launching himself at the iron dragon over and over and over again only to be deflected away each time. Sting, however, went straight for Natsu.
"White Dragons's— "
Rays of light coalesced around his fist as it approached, growing brighter and brighter with each passing moment. The smallest of magic circles, one only big enough to just barely cover his knuckles, arced through the air in front of it, heading on a crash course for Natsu's stomach.
"— Iron Fist!"
It might have even hit too, if say.. Natsu was (oh, he doesn't know) blind.
Instead, Sting found himself dangling from the air and throwing wild punches that did little more than whistle harmlessly through the space between them. Natsu raised the boy to his face, fixing him with an exasperated look.
"Must you?"
Yeah, Natsu wants a good fight, he craves it, but he wasn't going to get that from some squirt with a light show. Sting and Rogue had only just managed to get a handle of their 'iron fist' techniques and now they think they're on top of the world.
"Put me down, coward! Fight me for real! And win!"
Natsu blew a cloud of smoke into the kid's face and dropped him on his ass.
"I'll be living for Era today and be gone for a week. Remember, Mirajane and her siblings are going to help watch you, so be nice to them. If I hear anything about you causing them trouble while I'm gone then we won't be training for a week, got that?"
"We don't need your help to— "
Natsu silenced him with another puff of smoke.
"I wasn't finished."
Sting scowled as he wiped the soot from his face, flicking the blackened sweat from his hands.
Natsu waited just a moment longer to see if he was going to interrupt again.
He wasn't.
"I know you two don't like training with Wendy, but I expect you to help her out." Instantly, the two frowned and opened their mouths to say something, but Natsu ignored pressed on before they could. Hoping that what he had to say would at least placate them. "You're ahead of her in combat, show her the ropes. Okay?"
".. "
"Okay?"
"Ugh! Fine! Okay! We'll do it!"
Nodding once, Natsu turned his attention to the last of his 'children.'
Gajeel held a hand up. "You don't need to tell me nothing, Salamander. I've done this song and dance before."
"Oh, I wasn't going to say anything."
"Mhmm." Yeah. Gajeel wasn't buying that for a second.
Natsu faked a down-trodden face, sniffling ever so slightly just to sell it. Then, he raised his left arm (the one that wasn't there before, for those not keeping track) and pretended to wipe a few tears from his eyes. The metal of his exposed wrist and hand glinted under the morning sun, accidentally reflecting right into Rogue's eyes as if the sun had a personal vendetta against the shadow dragon.
"It's just— " Another sniffle. "I'm just so, so thankful for you, y'know?"
Gajeel growled and raised his haunches. It took everything Natsu had to force down the grin that threatened to grow across his lips at the absolute vitriol in the boy's eyes.
"It was just so sweet of you to do something like this for me!"
"That's it!" Gajeel turned his fists to iron and lunged forward, not unlike Sting had done just a moment before.
However, unlike Sting, Gajeel wasn't completely new to combat. Just before he reached his opponent, he dug his heels into the ground and shot off to the right, hoping to stay on Natsu's bad side.
Of course, Natsu wasn't just going to make it easy for the kid. Turning, he blocked the fist lashing out toward his ribs with his forearm, deflecting it up and over his shoulder.
With Gajeel's momentum used against him and his body overextended, it was child's play to grab him and hold him down.
Natsu wrapped his arms around the struggling boy's back, slowly upping the pressure until all the child could do was wriggle. "Really, Gajeel. Thank you."
"I told you not to say shit about it!"
A laugh. "You did." But would he really be Natsu Dragneel if he listened to others? He wasn't going to let some earring-wearing eleven-year-old tell him what to do.
Not a chance.
"I'm just electing to ignore your warnings."
"I will eat it."
Natsu just hugged the boy harder. "I'm not letting go until you hug me back. You gave me this arm, and I know it was for a reason. You just wanted to make sure I could hug you to the best of my ability!"
Gajeel said nothing.
Natsu squeezed harder.
There was a noise, a sort of metallic-grating-like noise combined with that of chewing. Almost immediately Natsu separated from the younger boy with a yelp, quickly checking over the entirety of the prosthetic arm in a mad search to figure out what Gajeel had taken a bite of. He knew the kid had threatened to eat the arm if he ever thanked him for it, but he didn't think he was serious! This thing cost Gajeel months of job rewards! How could he just eat it!?
Across from him the little twerp just smirked and took another bite of the half-eaten fork in his hands.
It's just too easy.
"This isn't the end of this, Gajeel! I will make you feel appreciated!" Natsu's eyes widened as a projectile glinted in the air and he ducked. Whirling around to follow the weapon continue its journey, he watches as it impaled itself in the trunk of a tree. "Did you just throw a fork at me!?"
Gajeel clicked his tongue. "Damn. Waste of perfectly good food. Shoulda just eaten that."
Lunatics. He was surrounded by lunatics.
"I'm going now! Please try to keep the house in one piece!" He didn't want a repeat of last time. It was bad enough already with Mira and Erza seemingly always at each other's throats. And that was when they were avoiding each other.
Natsu didn't know what to expect when he returned home in a week, but with those two potentially trying to care for the same children at the same time, he just hoped that everybody lived.
Please, gods, let them live.
Gajeel just grunted and waved, far too concerned with retrieving his fork from the tree, and the twins were—you know what? He doesn't even want to know.
Waving over his shoulder, Natsu left his home behind for his stupid trip to Era. He still can't believe he'd gotten roped into a week's worth of nothing. Nothing exciting was going to happen there! It was just going to be a bunch of old coots getting together and talking about boring stuff!
Ugh!
Yeah. He was not looking forward to this.
"Ah. Natsu, just in time."
The pinkette looked up, having apparently walked all of the way to the guild without realizing it, and waved metallically. "Yo."
"I see the arm is still working out for you?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah! It's great!" Natsu giggled childishly to himself as he flexed his new arm in and out, marveling at the inner machinations at work. He had no idea how they functioned, but they sure did look pretty. "I'd forgotten how it feels to have two hands."
Seriously, it's been so long since he lost his left arm. He didn't notice how much it was throwing him off until now. Hell, even his back was wonky because of the lop-sided wait.
That didn't mean things were perfect now, far from it, actually. He had to almost completely relearn his balance when fighting, so much so that it was almost easier to just fight without the prosthetic.
But, he was getting better. Slowly but surely. It certainly helped that Mira had insisted on frequent sparring matches with him now that she'd gotten a hold of her magic. Erza (never one to be outmatched by 'shitty harlots') was soon to follow suit. It wasn't very difficult fighting either of them, they had a long way to go before that happened, but it was good for muscle memory, so Natsu would take it.
Still, having two arms again just made him happy. That wound, that grievous scar Acnologia had marred his body with, had been a lasting reminder of his failure. It wasn't gone, far from it, he'd always remember what it felt to lose so completely that day, but it was healed.
Kinda.
Not really.
It was like covering a scar with a bit of illusion magic and pretending it was better.
Or.. not?
No matter what Makarov said, he still wasn't convinced you could make illusions physical.
His arm was definitely physical.
So, maybe the illusion metaphor wasn't very good. He doesn't know. Literary elements weren't exactly his forte.
Makarov nodded his head. "Good, good. It would be a shame if it wasn't perfect after how long Gajeel spent saving up for it."
"Yeah.." Natsu frowned as he turned to look back through the city, envisioning the forests that lay beyond. "I feel bad that he had to do it. He should have spent the money on something important."
"My boy, I think we both know that's exactly what he did." Shaking his head, the master smiled. "I think we both know that all of that rough exterior of his is exactly that. An exterior. He probably just didn't know how to show you his appreciation in words, so this was how he figured he could do it."
"Yeah.. maybe.. "
Still, it didn't sit right with him. He was supposed to be the adult here, he was supposed to be their guardian. He knows the kids are strong. Hell, Erza, Gajeel, and Mira were quickly becoming some of the strongest in the guild. He knows that. But that didn't mean he liked the idea of them growing up so fast that they're already taking care of him.
He should have known a prosthetic was an option, he'd been there when Erza had gotten her eye, he could have connected the dots.
He just didn't.
And Gajeel spent months (months) doing job after job after job to raise the money needed to commission a new arm for him. Natsu had just thought the kid liked to fight, which was probably half of it, but it wasn't the entire thing.
And the day it finally arrived? Natsu remembered it vividly.
Because Gajeel was smiling openly most the day.
It was clear he was trying to hide it from the rest of them, but every once and a while the kid would forget to suppress the happy, little grin and it would show itself once again.
Natsu found himself subconsciously mirroring that happy, little grin as he stared down at his metal palm, flexing and unflexing the fingers. It never ceased to amaze him. To think: the things a prosthetic could have done back when he was young, the lives it could have changed. Field amputations weren't all that uncommon in the war, whether it be by dragon claw or bone saw. Most of those who lost a limb were condemned to lives crippled by dependence. They just couldn't do everything they could before. Until a few weeks ago, Natsu was just like them. Sure, he'd replaced a few key functions with Requip, he didn't struggle with carrying stuff around as much, but that didn't mean there weren't certain things he still couldn't do.
Fighting at his fullest, for one.
Hugging his kids, for another.
"Come on," Makarov enlarged his hand and swatted the slayer into a forward march, "we'll be late if we don't hurry."
"Yeah, yeah. You don't need to tell me twice, gramps."
Stretching his arms above his hand and leaning back, Natsu cracked his back as he walked. "Man, that hits the spot."
"Quit acting like an old man."
"I am an old man."
"You don't get to claim that until you're greying and your knees ache when it rains."
"My stump aches when it rains, does that count?"
"No."
Damn.
"Well, I've got another thousand or so years before anything like that then." Probably. He really had no idea how this whole draconic aging mumbo-jumbo worked. Whenever somebody asked him how old he was, he would flip the question back on them and ask how old they think he looks. So far, the consensus seemed to be somewhere in the twenties. Some aired on the younger side while others went higher. It was really hard to say.
Regardless, he was pretty sure that his appearance had aged at least somewhat in the past four hundred years.
Apparently, it wasn't enough to be considered 'old' though. A shame. He could go for one of those 'seniors' bonus in restaurants.
Knitting his hands together behind his head (and boy did he miss being able to do that), Natsu kept walking. "So, how long does it take to walk.. uhh.. there."
"Natsu, did you forget where we were headed?"
"No." He would never.
"Then, where are we headed?"
"Para— Paran.. gari.. cutir.. imi.. cuaro?" He crinkled his nose up for a split second before doubling down and nodding. "Parangaricutirimicurao."
"Parangaricutirimicurao?"
"Yes."
Makarov hummed. "Parangaricutirimicurao." A quiet laugh. "It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
Absolutely.
"Well, color me surprised, Natsu. You actually remembered where we were going."
"Really!?"
"No! You imbecile! We're going to Era! Where the hell even is Parangaricutirimicurao?"
A shrug. "I don't know."
"You don't know?"
Another shrug. "Nope."
"Then why would you think we were going there?"
"Because I didn't know where we were going either."
Brilliant. A brilliant use of deductive reasoning.
"No, Natsu. Just no. We are not going to Parangaricutirimicurao, I'm not even convinced that's a real place."
"That would make sense. I made it up."
Makarov could only sigh tiredly.
He was starting to think they were both being punished here.
"Back to your original question, it would take a day to walk there."
"A day?"
Makarov nodded and Natsu whistled appreciatively. "Damn, gramps, I didn't know you had it in you. Choosing to show up to a meeting a day late? Nice one."
.. what?
"Natsu, what in the world are you talking about, child?"
"You. Me. Us." He waggled the index fingers of both hands around and pointed to himself, Makarov, and just about everything in between. "We're going to be showing up a day late."
"No," Makarov took a second to just let that word hang there, to ensure it really (really, truly) sunk into Natsu's thick skull. "We're not."
"Heh." The pinkette let out a quick laugh. "I hate to break it to you master, but you said the meeting was set to start tonight. If we leave right now, we won't be there in time. We should have left earlier if you wanted to make it." Seriously. It wasn't that complicated of a concept. They couldn't make a day's walk in half a day's time. That just wasn't how things worked.
"We're not walking."
"We're not?"
"No."
Well, that just didn't make any sense. How did they plan to get there if they weren't walking?
As if the world both heard his question and wanted to crush any happiness he had felt, was currently feeling, and would feel in the future, the train station appeared.
Natsu turned on a dime. "I will see you tomorrow, gramps! I just heard somebody mention an emergency mission in the woods between here and.. shit."
"You expect me to let you walk there, alone, arriving a day late, and you couldn't even be bothered to remember a three-letter word?"
Three letters.. hmmm.. what could the name of that city have been.
He tapped his chin a few times, absolutely stumped. Why was it now of all times that he couldn't even manage to think of a word with three letters?
"Let's go, Natsu. We're going to miss our train."
Nuh-uh. No way. Not a chance. Nope. Not happening. Never will he ever do that. Nah.
"What's that, Mira? My house is on fire, and you need my magic to put it out and save the—oh my gosh—six children inside? I'll be right there!"
Before he even had the chance to dart off, Natsu was forced to catch the giant fist hurtling toward his head. "Hey! That's a cheap shot! I was preparing to go save some children from a fire and you attack me?"
"There is no fire, you brat! Just get in the train car before it leaves!"
Natsu shook his head whilst taking a step back, his face rapidly turning green at just the thought of stepping a singular foot inside that— that— that monstrosity.
"You'll have to make me! I'm never stepping foot on one of those again!"
"Hurk— !"
"You never said you had motion sickness."
Natsu did his best to glare at the grinning old man in between bouts of toe-curling, stomach-curdling nausea. He couldn't taste the food on the way down, but it sure as hell felt like he could taste it on its way back up!
"A pity. One of our strongest members— "
One of!?
" —brought down by a little motion."
When he gets out of this thing, he was so going to wipe that smug little grin from his lips.
He didn't get to do it.
Stupid Rune Knights. Why did there have to be so many of them in this stupid city? Was it like their headquarters or something?
Natsu and Makarov were escorted past a big building with the symbol of the Rune Knights emblazoned into the front.
He was just going to assume that was a 'yes' then.
"Why do we need an escort?" Natsu crossed his arms and grumbled, more to himself than anything, but the master saw fit to answer regardless.
"This is the official meeting of the masters of all Ishgarian guilds and the Magic Council, if the Rune Knights were not here it would be a hotbed for dark guild activity."
"Aren't most masters like.. super strong?"
"Some, but not all." Makarov shrugged. "Our rivals, Phantom Lord, have a Wizard Saint for a master, but that is not all that common."
Natsu hummed. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out why that was.
"I still don't see the need for an escort. What're these guys going to do if we get attacked? They're not big enough for very good shields."
The master built back a chuckle as their escort's leader turned to glare at Natsu (not that the pinkette even noticed). It wasn't like he necessarily disagreed, he held little love for the magic council and the work they did, but there was one thing that having an escort was good for.
"Well, think of it this way," this time he did chuckle, "you won't get lost."
Natsu whirled around with a scowl. It's not like it was his fault people decided to make their cities so big and confusing! What happened to the way things used to be when towns weren't so massive?
"I wouldn't have gotten lost." He pointed out sullenly, not even really believing the words himself.
"Oh, I'm sure. Perhaps you can show me how on the way to our room tonight, because we're already here."
The younger of the two old men (at least physically) followed the older's gaze as it went up.
And up.
And up.
Natsu whistled appreciatively at the plateau that loomed high over their heads. "We gotta go all the way up there?"
Makarov sighed, already mourning his knees, and nodded.
"I'll race ya!"
"No, wait, Natsu! I– "
It was too late, all that was left of the dragon slayer was a trail of flaming dirt as the boy arced a path round the spiraling path up the mountainside.
" –need you to stay with me."
Makarov sighed.
"You know," the leader from before spoke up, turning to give the master of Fairy Tail a smug smile, "with idiots like him in your guild, it shouldn't be too long before we finally get the go-ahead to shut you down once and for all. I think a bit of iron around the wrists would really tie your outfits together."
"That 'idiot' could set the oceans aflame until nothing but mist remained."
A growl reverberated from the guard's throat as his grip on his staff tightened. "Is that a threat?"
Makarov laughed, shaking his head as he walked past the man fearlessly. "No, no, my dear boy. I am merely educating you. Natsu Dragneel is not somebody you should take so lightly. I fear he surpasses me even on my best days." He turned back to the Rune Knights, stopping his forward march up the hill to lean against his staff and grin down at them. "I wonder what it will look like when he finally unseals his magic."
He wonders, but he hopes he will never learn.
The day Natsu is forced to unseal his dragon slayer magic and forsake his human form is the day Makarov failed in his duty as the master of Fairy Tail.
But for now, he had bigger worries.
Namely, making sure Natsu didn't burn down the Magic Council building.
"My boy? I would have thought you'd reached the top by now."
Makarov hobbled up to where Natsu was waiting, leaning against the rock face on the edge of the path.
Natsu just waved him off with a low chuckle. "I wasn't just going to abandon you, gramps, that wouldn't be right."
".. hmm.. "
The master narrowed his eyes at the boy.
"You got lost, didn't you?"
"Er.. "
A sigh. Honestly. It was a singular path that continued in one direction, how could he possibly get lost?
"It's hard to know which way leads where! It's not my fault that I got all turned around! They should make things more clear!"
With most of their escort having departed as soon as they arrived at the front gates of the council building, the two mages of Fairy Tail were led through the halls toward the meeting room where the rest of the masters were soon set to gather. Against all odds, they'd arrived with time to spare.
"Come, Natsu, let's sit."
That's exactly what they did.
It was boring.
Natsu was bored.
And he couldn't believe he suffered through the train for this.
"Why am I here?"
"Because these meetings are dreadfully boring. Hopefully that bringing you will make something interesting happen."
Natsu rolled his eyes. So, he was the entertainment. Joy.
"So, I just sit there?"
"Oh no, no, no. Those who accompany the masters are typically the note-takers."
Brilliant.
"You want me to take notes for you?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes. I'm sure you'll do fine."
"Me?"
"Yes, Natsu. You. What's the big idea, just keep up with everybody as they talk."
"But me? I can barely write! Much lesslegibly or fast."
"Huh?"
".. "
"Oh."
".. "
"Oh."
Makarov knew there was something he was overlooking, he knew it.
How could he have forgotten Natsu still struggled with writing? The boy could read just fine, it may take him a little longer, but he didn't struggle as much as he used to. But writing? Not one bit.
It amazed Makarov how Natsu could adeptly wield a sword, dancing with the blade as if it were a part of himself, a remnant of the part he played in the war against the dragons, yet he couldn't wield a pen for their life of him. Before the inception of the art of dragon-slaying magic, mortal steel was about the best one could hope to use against the scaled beasts, evidently, words did not have a similar value.
No strongly worded letters ever stopped an advancing army, he supposed.
Either way, he really should have remembered that Natsu was an upsettingly poor writer before he brought him along to act as a scribe.
Whoops.
All he could do now was sit back and watch the absolute dumpster fire that is his strongest fire mage at work.
Sighing tiredly, Natsu stood up from his seat and stretched out. His back arched as he let out a satisfied moan. "Oh yeah, that's the spot." He turned back to Makarov, idly fixing the bottom of his black vest. "We good to go in or what?"
"Nobody else is here, Natsu."
"Well, duh. They're all through those doors. I can smell them."
"AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO SAY ANYTHING!?"
Makarov, in complete opposition to how he moved earlier, flew through the room like a bat out of hell. "We're going to be late! Hurry, Natsu!"
Natsu did not, in fact, hurry. He didn't really see a point to. It wasn't like he wanted to be here.
So, with his fingers knitted behind his hand and a jovial whistle dancing from his lips, Natsu strolled casually after him, his mind occupied by other, more important, matters.
Like where he could find the cheapest food to eat or if he could steal one of the council's communication lacrimas without them knowing.
As if sensing his intentions, a Rune Knight appeared and narrowed their eyes at the gallivanting fire mage. Darn. Those communication lacrimas could really come in handy when he was on longer trips, every time he left home his thoughts always turned back to his kids. He couldn't help it. A small part of him was just always going to worry about them, even Gajeel, Erza, and Mira. He knew all three of them would hate it, and he knew they were all fully capable of taking care of themselves.
But, damnit! It was his job as a father to worry.
Even if none of them were technically his kids and Wendy was the only one who actually thought of him as a dad, that didn't really change anything. Not for him.
Natsu pushed his way through the large doors that the large swell of old people smells was permeating through and waved a hand at the countless eyes that snapped over to him.
"And who might you be?"
Huh. That guy had a nice hat.
"Yo! I like your hat."
The old guy with the hat just stared at him.
".. "
".. "
".. "
".. your name."
"Huh? Oh. Natsu."
"Natsu?"
"Yep." He nodded his head and popped the 'p' as he looked around the room, trying to find his master. He did. "Gramps, whats up with you?"
Seriously, it looked like his soul was about to leave his body. "Natsu," he hissed, "Get over here!"
"Ah." The cool hat guy nodded. "Fairy Tail. I should have known."
"Thanks, cool hat guy!" Natsu grinned as he strolled over to where Makarov sat with his head in his hands. He nudged the old man with his elbow a few times. "You hear that, gramps? I fit in with the rest of the guild so well he didn't even need to ask."
Makarov's only response was a whimper.
His punishment for Natsu was quickly coming back to bite him in the ass.
"Now, unless any of you wish to interrupt this meeting like this.. " The cool hat guy grimaced as he looked over at the representatives from the Fairy Tail guild, as if he were attempting to swallow something bitter. "Like this fool, then we shall proceed."
Okay. Wow. Cool hat guy was not cool at all.
"Actually, chairman, sir. If I may?"
Uncool guy with a cool hat's real name was 'Chairman'? Natsu guess he couldn't blame the old man for being a little rude with a name like that. Who even names their kid after a thing you sit on?
A sigh. "Why not? Proceed, Master Porla."
"Thank you, I promise this will be worth your time." A man stepped forward and ew. What was wrong with his face? "I would like to report on recent activity within the communities of dark mages. Less than a year ago, my wizards and I had a run-in with one such wizard in our guildhall." The man smiled then and Natsu was certain that smile was going to haunt his dreams. Not that it was scary, per se, or at least not in the traditional sense. It was just really, really hard to look at. "In a shocking surprise attack, the mage was able to kidnap one of our newest members. A boy not even into his teens."
Huh. This also sounded.. vaguely familiar. Natsu couldn't put his finger on the why.
"And you are just now reporting this?"
"We believed we could handle the matter internally, at the time."
"And did you?" If Natsu had to guess, the chairman seemed displeased, but who was he to say?
"No."
"No," he echoed. "You didn't manage to locate the boy, who you claim was no more than a child, and was abducted from your guild for an unknown reason." Yeah. Definitely displeased. "And now, less than a year, a full year, later, you report this to us. And you expect us toooo.. what? What do you expect Master Porla? Why even bring it up now and embarrass yourself so publicly in front of your peers when a simple job request could have done the same and wasted far less time."
"Forgive me, chairman, for not being more clear in my intentions. I bring this up now because we have located the man who committed such a heinous crime against one of Fiore's strongest guilds."
"Oh dear, one of our strongest guilds best by a single man? I dare say we are in trouble, if that's the case." A new person spoke up. They were old (not a rare trait in this room), bald (not balding, just bald), and round. Natsu wasn't sure what to call him, so he was just going to go with 'Baldy.'
"That will be enough, Master Bob."
Or Bob. Bob worked too.
"Of course, Chairman Doma. My apologies."
The guy with the cool hat nodded, his hands folded in front of his chin as he stared out over the room impassively. "Thank you. Now, Master Porla. This dark mage, where is he and why should I care? And do be quick about it."
The creepy guy with the creepy face smiled creepily. Go figure.
"But, of course. In fact, I believe I can answer both your questions at once. You should care because he is here in this very room."
In an instant, the formal, yet relaxed atmosphere of the meeting hall vanished; replaced by that of tense, battle-ready mages scanning the room with hardened eyes. Natsu wasn't any different, both of his fists covered in flames as he stepped in front of his master.
Aside from the Rune Knights that ran in to flank him, the chairman seemed largely unperturbed by the announcement; whether it be because of confidence in his own magical prowess or because of Master Porla's relaxed stance, it was hard to say.
Gran Doma waved the master on. "Please, enlighten us on who this dark mage is. I believe we all would find the information quite insightful."
Natsu nodded his head in agreement.
"Right away."
Then, he pointed.
And everybody followed the finger.
"What's everybody looking at?"
Natsu cocked his head to the side and lowered his fists slightly as everybody's eyes turned to him. Sure, he got that they were just following where the creepy guy with the creepy face was pointing, but why were they all looking at him?
"Natsu, my child, I believe they're looking at you."
"Oh." A pause. "Why?"
"I believe that would be because Jose believes you are a dark wizard."
"Who?"
"Jose."
"Who's that?"
"The master of the guild Phantom Lord."
".. "
".. "
".. who?"
By this point, Natsu's flames had extinguished and he'd lowered his hands back to his sides. His head was tilted to the side and, perhaps subconsciously or just by acting on habit, he'd formed a large, flashing question mark over his head using light magic.
"Phantom Lord, Natsu."
"Never heard of 'em."
Makarov could only sigh.
This really wasn't how he pictured this meeting going.
"He lies! He attacked our guild in cold-blood and stole a child who was never heard from again!"
Yeah, that doesn't really sound like his style. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes!"
"How?"
"I saw it with my own eyes! I could never forget your face!"
Natsu blinked. "If that's the case, why didn't you just stop me?"
Jose opened his mouth to say something before quickly snapping it shut and whirling back around to beseech the chairman once again. "Sir, please! You must– "
"Enough."
The voice cut through the hall like butter, silencing any of the side conversations going on at the time.
"Do not think you command me, Master Porla. Right now you accuse a man of a crime he does not remember and you have presented no evidence other than your own word. Something that, I might add, holds little value in a testimony against your guild's rival. Now, seeing as this meeting has been completely derailed by frivolous matters, the rest of you may leave. We will reconvene following dinner. The representatives of Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord will stay."
Most of the masters and their accompanying mages did so soon after, very little even stopping as they made a quick exit. Natsu couldn't blame them, this meeting was dreadfully boring so far. All that's happened was him being accused of kidnapping a child for heinous purposes!
However, a few of them stopped by where he and Makarov stood to leave them with comforting words or reassuring smiles. Most of them Natsu didn't recognize. The bald guy (what was his name, again?) stopped by along with some crotchety old lady and yet another guy with a cool hat. What was with all of the cool hats?
He did not notice the guild master of Cait Shelter, which he supposed made sense. He never went back to check in on the guild after he took Wendy in, but he just assumed that the master would release his illusions over the valley.
Eventually, though, they were left alone in the room, save for the councilman atop their podium and the two Phantom lord members. The guy with the weird face and then another guy with black and white hair.
Natsu thought he kinda looked like a zebra. He even had the whole 'mane' thing going for him!
A sigh came from across the room, pulling the pinkette from his observations and back to the chairman. "Okay. Natsu, was it?"
A nod.
"Great.. just great. So, Master Porla claims you attacked his guild and kidnapped a young member of his. What do you say in your defense?"
"Uhh.. I don't know?" What was he supposed to say? He doesn't remember this happening at all!
So, he just said that.
"I've got no idea what he's talking about."
"Wonderful." Judging by the guy's tone, it was anything but. "Now, Jose. Please explain what happened. In detail."
"Certainly. It was around midday when the front doors of our guildhall were suddenly caved in. A figure emerged from the outside and stepped into the hall. My members, rightly believing they were under attack, acted accordinly and begun to defend themselves. It was then that– "
Gran Doma held up a hand. "Pause. Stop. Who attacked who first?"
"What?"
The chairman reiterated himself, though he looked unhappy to do it. "Who. Attacked. Who. First? Or is that too difficult a question for you, Master Porla?" Yeah. Definitely not happy.
"He did, sir."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"I'm sorry?"
It was like watching a fast-paced match of volleyball, Natsu could barely keep up.
"When did the assailant attack your guild members?"
"When he blew up our doors, sir. I already said– "
"That is not what I asked. I asked when he attacked your guild members."
"Sir! I don't understand what you are– "
"It is a rather simple question, is it not? When do you claim Mister Natsu attacked your guild members directly? Who landed the first hit on another person?"
".. he did, sir."
"Did he now?"
"Yes."
"And you would have me believe this is because he launched the first attack to?"
"Yes."
"I find it equally as likely that a man capable ot humiliating your entire guild is fully capable of dodging a few attacks, and I know for certain you are far craftier with your words then you would have people believe, Jose. So, do tell me, did the first hit land because the assailant launched the attack first, or because your mages missed?"
".. "
".. "
".. because they missed."
"Excellent. You may continue, but do make an attempt to not lie to me again."
Jose's face contorted into a bitter scowl, something that somehow managed to make him look better, but in the end he relented.
"Upon taking down the first wave of my members, he shouted out to the guild, asking that if the boy he kidnapped was there, that somebody let the child know he was free to try his hand against a 'fellow slayer,' but that he'd be coming with him in the end, regardless."
Huh. That sounded kinda familiar.
Natsu wondered why.
"A 'fellow slayer,' do you know what he means by that?"
Jose nodded. "My newest acquisition, the boy he kidnapped, was an iron dragon slayer by the name of Gajeel Redfox."
Oh.
Oh.
Yeah. He totally did that.
Gran Doma opened his mouth to continue along that line of questioning, but he was cut off before he could.
"So that's what this is all about? Man, why didn't you just say so! Yeah, that was totally me."
The chairman blinked, for once actually shocked at the carelessness of a Fairy Tail wizard. He'd thought he'd grown used to their usual self-destructive behaviors, but admitting to kidnapping a child in front of the Magic Council? That reached an entirely new level of stupid.
"So, you admit to what you've been accused of?"
"I'm being accused of something? What?" Natsu frowned and furrowed his brows, trying to figure out what they were talking about now.
Behind him, Makarov slapped a hand over his face and wept.
"You've been accused of kidnapping a child." Jose opened his mouth to say something, but Gran Doma cut him off with a look. "Just kidnapping a child. As much as I dislike Fairy Tail– "
Wait, what?
This guy dislikes Fairy Tail?
Since when!?
He'd complimented Natsu when he entered about being a member, how could he say he doesn't like them now?
This was all so very confusing.
" –I will not make a mockery of justice by punishing them for crimes you claim but cannot justify. Sit down, Master Porla."
He sat, though even he seemed surprised to be doing do.
"Now, Mister Natsu, did you kidnap Gajeel Redfox?"
"Define 'kidnap.'"
Makarov wept harder, a miserable 'oh sweet, Mavis' escaping his lips as he thought of all of the fines his precious guild was going to face for this. All of the money!
"Taking somebody away illegally by force."
"Oh. Then no."
"No?" Gran Doma laughed (actually laughed!) "And yet you admit to the crime itself. Explain."
"I am the sworn guardian of the young dragon slayers like Gajeel Redfox. I made a promise to his father that I would protect and teach him. That is all I am doing."
"So, he is your ward?"
"Yes?"
"And he left with you willingly?"
"Pretty much."
The chairman sighed. "Wonderful. Do you have anything left to report, Master Porla?"
Jose shook his head.
"No? What about you, Master Makarov?"
Another shake of the head.
"Wonderful. Would one of you please go gather the rest of the masters? I would like to move onto important matters and stop wasting time."
Natsu did, mostly because he really wanted a break from seeing that weird face. That had to be the negative effects of whatever magic the guy used, right? There was no way a normal person could look like that, right?
A few minutes later and:
"Now that we're all here, we can proceed with the primary objective with this years meeting." Gran Doma paused briefly just to ensure everybody's attention was on him and only him. Once he was satisfied he continued. "We have reason to believe that the Alakitasian country known as the Alvarez Empire means to engage Ishgar in war. For decades our two nation conglomerates have participated in diplomatic relations, but as of late we have noticed increased anti-Ishgarian sentiments overseas." Again, he paused, his gaze traveling each of the gathered wizards, studying them, assessing them; for what, Natsu didn't know. "We, of course, have the Etherion cannon at our disposal should we need it, but the relationship between our nations is mutually beneficial and it is in our best interest to continue trade. That is where you all come in. Each of your guilds represents major cities within Fiore and the other countries of Ishgar, we need you to help us devise an action plan."
Huh.
So, maybe the meeting would be interesting, after all.
Natsu dragged his feet through the woods on his way home, his face still tinged green from the return trip to Magnolia.
He'd been mistaken. The meeting was not, nor would it ever be, interesting.
Evidently, an 'impending threat of war' meant years away. Like three or four years at best. That wasn't soon. He'd thought he was finally (finally) going to get to fight off some enemies, but noooo, instead he just got stuck with a week of discussions on guild politics and trade relations.
It sucked!
So badly!
So, so badly!
He could take a little solace in finally being home, though. At least he could finally see his kids again.
Natsu pushed his way through the front door of his house and immediately wished he hadn't.
".. what the— ?"
He didn't even remotely understand what he was looking at.
Squinting slightly, the elder slayer approached the four mysterious objects shrouded in blankets on his couch. All of his children (and he means all of them) were sprawled out around the large, ovular.. things, either hugging them or hugging each those or hugging them.
It was weird.
It was really, really weird.
".. are those.. eggs?"
Just what the hell happened when he was gone?
Up Next: Irene Belserion (and exceeds) enter the story!