Chapter 3: Offer from the Devils

It's been about a month since the incident and things have seemed to go back to normal. Well mostly, Natsu has changed, he started acting more mature, not causing any more fights in the guildhall, and he has been mostly going on solo missions not even inviting Happy to go with him.

"I'm going," Natsu said.

"You're going on another solo job," Mira asked.

Natsu nodded "Yeah,"

"Are you sure, you haven't been on job with Erza and them in a while, not even Happy," Mira told him.

"I'll be fine on my own besides, I need to with trials coming up in a few weeks," Natsu said.

"The S-class trials, are you sure you're okay Natsu, we still don't know what the guy did to you," Mira said.

Natsu then put his hand on where the curse mark was on his neck, "It's fine, I don't feel any different as I did before," Natsu assured her. "Anyway I'm going now," Natsu then left the guildhall without saying anything else to Mira.

" Natsu changed hasn't he," Macao said as he watched him leave.

"Yeah, he just goes on Solo missions now, I get the trials are coming up but he doesn't even invite Happy to tag along with him," Wakaba puffed his pipe.

"It's strange," Max said.

"He's also a bit stiffer and anti-social, he looks like he matured since what happened," Warren added.

The guild was continuing to discuss Natsu's sudden change in behavior and attitude. As they discussed, the rest of Team Natsu were at their own table.

"Natsu," Happy said, depressed.

"Don't worry Happy, Natsu just has a lot on his mind," Lucy reassured the cat.

"What's been going on with him," Gray said.

"Ever since that fight with that weird guy, and surviving that curse mark he's been acting different," Lucy said.

"Natsu-niisan," Wendy said worriedly.

"Porlyusica said that surviving the curse mark changes a person," Carla told them. "Maybe it had some kind of effect on Natsu's personality and attitude,"

"We don't know that for sure," Lucy said.

"Yeah, I'm sure he just feels down about what happened, and then he'll go back to the normal hot head idiot we all know," Gray told them.

"I guess," Lucy said.

"Natsu," Erza said as she watched Natsu leave the guild.

…

Natsu was walking alone in the forest, he overheard what most of the guild said about him. He then put his hand over his curse mark.

Natsu had a depressed look "I have really changed,"

Natsu's mind then went back to the dream he had when he was unconscious from the curse mark, he remembered the demonic-looking version of himself. Ever since then, Natsu has been seeing images of a young man black, and all he can think is to kill the man he saw in his dream.

"What was that dream though and who is this person I keep seeing," Natsu thought. "Why exactly do I need to kill him," his mind then went to the demon "and what was that? Was that actually me,"

Natsu continued to walk until he arrived at his destination, a band of dark mages' hideout he was tasked with capturing them due to the group constantly raiding small villages. Natsu saw that the bandits were all having a meal and he took that as his opportunity.

Natsu jumped in, shocking all the bandits.

"Who is that," one shouted.

"Wait! That mark," another pointed at Natsu's shoulder.

"No way, he's from Fairy Tail,"

"I'm here to bring you in, so come quietly or this will be painful," Natsu ordered.

The leader just glared "I don't care what you want, there's one of you and a whole lot of us,"

The other bandits smirked and drew their weapons.

"So how about you just forget what you saw, or we kill you," the bandit leader ordered.

Natsu signed "Fine have it your way,"

Natsu then started to fight off the bandits, easily overpowering them with his hand to hand combat skills. Natsu then engulfed his fist in flames.

FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST

Natsu sent one of the bandits flying.

"Wait, I know who this guy is, he's Fairy Tail's Salamander,"

"Eh, you mean that monster,"

"I don't care who he is, kill him," the leader shouted.

Natsu continued to overpower the numerous bandits that charged at them, but suddenly. Natsu felt the pain coming from the curse mark.

"Damn it," Natsu winced, grasping his neck, he felt the mark growing. The bandits then took the moment to smash Natsu against a tree. "GAAH!"

"Heh, we got him,"

"Finish this fool,"

The group of bandits and dark mages began to attack Natsu when he was down. Natsu was continually being knocked around unable to move due to the pain.

"Damn it! What's happening," Natsu thought. "I can't move,"

Natsu was now on the ground covered in bruises. He was breathing heavily from the pain of the curse mark.

"Heh, guess the Salamander was just all talk," the leader smirked.

"Let's finish him,"

"Damn it! Am I going to lose here, how," Natsu thought "Why I can't lose here to these guys," he continued to breathe heavily.

"Use my power,"

Natsu's eyes widened, he heard the voice of the man he fought, the one who gave him the curse mark.

"Use the power I have gifted you and you can defeat anyone who stands in your way,"

It was then purple energy began to swirl around Natsu, it was then Natsu's Sharingan activated. The curse grew around his body, and the bandits started to back away not knowing what was happening.

"What the hell,"

"What is that,"

Natsu glared at the group of bandits and smirked maliciously.

"Don't waver, he's just one guy,"

"What is this," Natsu looked at his arm and saw the curse mark on it "Well it doesn't matter, I feel the power surging through me,"

"Get him now men,"

The bandits all fired their magic power at Natsu. The dust cleared and Natsu was gone.

"HAHA!" The leader laughed "He's nothing but dust now,"

"Who is," Natsu said coldly.

The leader's eyes widened and he saw that Natsu was now standing behind him. Natsu then elbowed the man in the neck sending him flying, knocking him out.

"What the,"

"He's so fast,"

Natsu then continued to viciously beat all the other bandits, beating them like they were mere ragdolls.

A bandit who was on the ground was crying "Please stop, we'll turn ourselves in,"

Natsu just smiled maliciously at the man, grabbed him by the collar, and began to brutally punch the man with a sinister smile as he was enjoying what he was doing. He continually punched the man as he begged for his life but Natsu didn't listen he kept punching him till his fist was covered in blood.

"Cough...cough...please….stop…" the man weakly begged.

Natsu just kept his sinister smile "Then die," he said coldly.

"STOP!" a voice yelled.

Natsu froze and felt someone wrap their arms around his back.

"Natsu-niisan, please stop this isn't you,"

Natsu turned his head, his cold eyes looking back at her with his Sharingan. Wendy sees the Curse Mark growing on his face. It was then Natsu noticed that Wendy was crying, she was scared which shocked him.

"Please," Wendy cried.

"Wendy," Natsu said.

The curse mark then started to recede itself returning Natsu's body to normal, his Sharingan deactivating. Natsu was breathing heavily feeling the strain of using the curse mark.

"Natsu-niisan," Wendy cried.

"Natsu," it was then other members of the team emerged from the forest and all their eyes widened seeing the scene before them.

"Natsu," Erza ran up to him "Are you okay,"

"Erza," Natsu muttered.

"What the hell happened here," Lucy said, scared seeing the beaten bandits on the ground.

"Natsu did all this," Gray said, shocked seeing most of the bandits looked like they were at death's door.

"Natsu," Erza held the dragon slayer.

"What did he do, it looks like a monster went on a rampage here," Carla said.

"Natsu," Happy cried.

Natsu felt his vision getting blurry, he was tired and then fell asleep into Erza's arms.

"Natsu," Erza brushed his hair. "He's asleep, let's get him home and we'll tell Master what happened,"

The team nodded, and once informing the knights of the group of bandits they headed home. Unknowing to them though Orochimaru was watching from a distance.

"Good, he's better than I thought," Orochimaru smirked "I guess I should give him an early invitation,"

…

Once they returned back to the guildhall, Wendy and the others explained what had happened to Makarov.

"Natsu did what," Makarov said shocked.

"Yeah, it looked like he went some kind of rampage, like nothing I've seen before," Lucy said.

"I have never seen him like that before," Wendy wiped some tears. "I never would've thought I see an evil presence within Natsu-niisan,"

"This is troubling," Makarov signed.

"Do you think it has something to do with the Sharingan and the Curse Mark, Master?" Erza asked.

"If so, then Natsu can pose a danger to others and himself," Makarov looked down.

"What should we do Master," Lucy asked.

"The best we can do is to find ways to suppress the curse mark," Makarov answered.

"And the Sharingan," Gray said.

"Unfortunately I have no solution for that," Makarov shook his head. "The best we can hope is Natsu learns to control it,"

...

It was now late at night, Natsu was lying in bed alone, he told Happy to stay with Lucy as he wanted to be alone.

Natsu was still thinking about what happened to the bandits "was that the curse mark's power that made me do that to those bandits, and my eyes, the Sharingan. I still don't understand what they are but when I used it I felt stronger, and yet I lose control,"

"Use the power I gifted and become stronger than anyone,"

"That guy again, every time I keep hearing his voice, what did he do to me," Natsu thought. "And he's not the only one,"

"Remember you're true mission,"

"That demon version of me, it keeps telling me to remember my true mission but I don't know what that is," Natsu grunted. It was then flashes of man in black appeared in his mind "and him again, why does he always appear in my mind,"

Natsu shook his head "Who is he,"

It was then another image flashed before his eyes, it was a village, everything in flames, bodies everywhere, and the same man in black standing in the destruction.

Natsu grasped both sides of his head "What is this,"

It was then the man in black began to speak to him.

"Natsu, you are too weak, realize your potential then come and face me," the man said coldly.

"Brother!" Natsu yelled out.

Natsu was now breathing heavily "My brother. I have a brother, and why do I need to kill him,"

As Natsu was thinking he heard some noise from outside, he walked out and looked around.

"Whoever you are, come out and face me. I know you're there, don't underestimate my sense," Natsu called out.

"Hmm, as expected of a dragon slayer," a man jumped in.

It was then two other men and one woman all around Natsu's age jumped in as well. One man was shot and had ash grey hair, he also has what seems to be an extra head along with two other arms and legs. The second male was dark-skinned and dark hair, he had 8 arms. The last male was the largest of the group. The sole female was young and had dark orange hair and the whole group was dressed in a similar fashion.

"Who the hell are you guys, " Natsu glare.

Instead of getting an answer though the man with eight arms just straight up attacked Natsu. Natsu quickly blocked the punch, he balanced himself on the man and kicked the leader who appeared behind him ready to strike. The large one then went to punch Natsu, but Natsu grabbed his arm and threw him over his shoulder into a large tree. Once the dust cleared though instead of seeing four unconscious foes, he saw four logs.

"What the hell," Natsu said. He then felt a presence behind him, he looked back and saw all four of the attackers all standing there unharmed. "I don't know who you guys are, but I don't care. If you want to fight then I won't go easy," he glared.

The two-headed man smirked "Don't talk with such confidence weakling," he then gave the Natsu the come-on gesture. "So come on, I'll play with you,"

Natsu glared and jumped at the man, and he did the same in response. Natsu engulfed his fist in flames.

FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST

Natsu was prepared to hit the man with a fiery punch, but the man smirked.

DO

Natsu was suddenly hit by an air cannon out of nowhere sending him back to a tree.

"What! How did he," Natsu's back hit the tree hard.

"Your bones made a pretty weak sound," the man told him. "How about we hear something sharper huh,"

It was then the eight-armed men appeared behind Natsu. Natsu quickly jumped away, but the man spits some web on Natsu. Which made him get swung around and swiftly tackled by the larger man.

Natsu was then sent flying towards the two-headed man again.

The man smirked at him "Now let's make a sharper noise, shall we,"

Natsu's eyes narrowed, he quickly got under the man and kicked him in the air. Natsu then jumped in the air, igniting his foot in flames.

FIRE DRAGON TALON

…

Fairy Hills

In the girl's dorm, Erza stumbled upon Wendy sitting alone in the main hall of the girl dorms.

"Wendy, are you okay," Erza asked.

Wendy looked up and weakly nodded "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just,"

"Is it about Natsu," Erza guessed.

Wendy nodded "Yeah, it was the first time I ever saw him like that, he always felt so warm and comforting, but when I saw him there. I felt scared he was cold and frightening I know Master said he'll be fine but,"

Erza sat down and comforted the small girl. "Hey, it's okay. This is Natsu we're talking about. We may not know what that guy did to him and he may have made him stronger but, he will never fall for that guy's control. Besides Natsu was already strong, to begin with," Erza gave Wendy a reassuring smile. "I know that for a fact,"

Wendy smiled feeling better from Erza's words "Thank you, Erza-san. It's getting late I should head to bed for Carla gets upset," Wendy then stood up and bowed to Erza "Thank you, now I know Natsu-niisan will be okay,"

Erza smiled and nodded "That's good, night Wendy,"

"Good night, Erza-san," Wendy ran upstairs to her room.

After Wendy left, Erza looked out the window to the night sky and signed "my words may have reassured Wendy, but I don't know about myself. Natsu,"

…

Back outside Natsu's house, the dragon slayer was being held by his feet by the two-headed man.

"Seriously, why doe Orochimaru-sama takes interest in guys like you," the man complained."There could have been plenty of other worthy candidates but it's always back to these guys,"

Natsu was wincing in pain as he heard the man's words. "Orochimaru is that the guy who gave me the curse mark,"

"Still. If you grew up in a guild like that, then you are bound to be weak," the man mocked.

"This guy, he took my attacks like it was nothing," Natsu glared.

"If you stay here and play magic with your friends, you're going to stay weak," the man insulted Natsu.

Then the female of the group jumped in "Come with us, if you join Orochimaru-sama then you'll become more powerful than ever,"

Natsu then felt his curse mark react to hearing the name Orochimaru.

"He told us, there's no meaning in taking you by force. You have to decide," the woman continued.

"So what do you decide huh, you coming or what," the man threw Natsu towards a wall. "You can decide now or another time, Orochimaru-sama just wants us to give you an offer, you have the time to decide. You can come now or later, Seriously seeing slow guys like you makes me want to kill you,"

Natsu just glared, he felt his curse mark flaring and it growing around his body, and he felt his Sharingan activating "Just come try it," he snarled.

"Hey, that curse mark," the man said.

Natsu charged at them "AAAHHHH!" but Natsu was swiftly kicked in the gut, sending him back to the wall. Natsu was shocked, he looked up and to his shock-like him this man had a curse mark only the pattern was different.

The man grinned evilly at Natsu "did you think that you were the only one who was given a Curse Mark by Orochimaru-sama. Don't get ahead of yourself," the man smirked "One shouldn't use their Curse Mark so recklessly, and it only seems you can use it at its first stage, well that's expected for someone who just got it if you keep using recklessly like that it will eat you from the inside, but since it's the first state its slow for you, but if it eats you completely then you will lose yourself,"

Natsu felt the curse mark recede itself as the group continued with their offer.

"Once you obtain a curse mark, you are tethered to Orochimaru-sama," the woman told him. "In order to gain something, you must give up something in return, in this lukewarm guild, what is your goal, to happily goof off with your friends,"

Natsu didn't answer the question, as he didn't know what to say.

"Igneel, Zeref Dragneel,"

Natsu's eyes then widened at hearing those names.

"You shouldn't forget your true mission, Fairy Tail is the kind of guild that will shackle you down and make you forget about your goals, Cut your ties to this garbage guild, if you do that then you'll become more powerful than you can ever imagine," two head finished. The four then jumped in the air.

"Don't forget your true objective,"

"We'll see you on the island, Natsu Dragneel, Make your decision by then,"

The group of four then vanished in the night leaving Natsu alone. Natsu looked up at the night sky thinking about what they said.

"Zeref Dragneel, my brother. How could I forget,"

Natsu held his hand out and felt a leaf fall in it.

"My brother, I need to…"

Natsu then crushed the leaf in his hand, his Sharingan activated.

"Kill him,"

AN. Here we are chapter 3 of this story, what do you all think. did my best on this, be sure to leave constructive criticism. Anyway, thanks for reading be sure to review and I will see you next time.

Grammar Update