Chapter Four: Let's Get Him Back!
A/N: I just gotta put out there, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chap. So many people! Even if it might'v been only to vote, I still appreciate it! *I almost forgot to update, I'm sorry!*
As they go on like this, Makarov then goes up to Macao with a smile, one the younger male returns. Sitting beside the Guildmaster at the bar, Makarov orders a beer before getting down to business.
"About what you said earlier, with Natsu needing me to be the one to accept him back into the guild... I accept." Macao beams at this.
"Really!?"
"Really." Makarov echos, taking a gulp of his beer, before turning to the present Guildmaster. "Although, I'm wondering why you guys want Natsu back so badly?"
"We owe him that much, at least." The flare mage states, "He's been there for us through thick and thin. Funny thing is we pushed him away. Yet he'd come back every time we needed help. Took us forever to realize he really was sorry about what happened. I still remember that day well."
"That day?" Makarov echos as a question, and Macao nods.
"It was just another day...
_-_-Flash Back-_-_
"So, I hear the famous 'Fairy Tail' is in need of some help." A few people said, walking into the guild hall just after a year after Tenrou had vanished.
"What do you need?" Macao speaks up, wondering what the new people want.
"Well, we were just gonna lend you some money, a loan, and you pay us back." The person explains. "We're from a new guild, known as 'Twilight Ogre'. We're new to Magnolia." The persons words were near promising. Fairy Tail was going down, and it had been roughly a year since the disappearance. The amount of jobs they had taken since then were below thirty, and the money they gave wasn't a lot. There was no one to do the S-Class missions, so they were even lower on popularity.
They were back on paying for the guild, and were in debt because of the guilds damages. They had never loathed Fairy Tail's destructivness more than at that moment. Macao looks around his guild members faces and see them looking to him. The best choice for the guild would have to be...
"We-"
"Hold on-!" Natsu walks in not a moment too late, interrupting the Guild Master and glaring at the foreign guild. "Who are you?"
"We're from the guild Twilight Ogre and-"
"Don't listen to whatever they say." Natsu turns to Macao, ignoring the rest of the sentence. Effectively pissing them off. "I've heard about this guild, and they aren't good. They pull people deeper in debt, and push them around." Macao gives the pinkette a small glare.
"Hey! Who're you? What are you doing interferring with business?!" The mages growl at Natsu, who just ignores them.
"And why should I trust you?" Macao continues his conversation with the former guild member.
"Hey!-"
"Would you rather take the risk?" The two males give each other a look before the flare mage looks to the mages of Twilight Ogre.
"I'm sorry to inform you that we will not take your offer." He says, formally and acting mature. "We will not be doing business with you, you may leave."
"How dare-you bastard!" They turn on Natsu and launch at him, which was not a wise thing to do. And in a second they are all beaten and thrown out the door, an easy task for the 'Salamander'.
_-_-END-_-_
"That day we finally accepted his help, although not as much as we do now, it was an improvement."
"I see..." Makarov nods.
"And Natsu was right!" Macao smiles towards the old man,"I checked out Twilight Ogre later on and what Natsu had said about them was true. Imagine if he didn't come! We would've probably had to forfeit the guild hall and lived in a place not even comparable to this. Not only that, but we'd be one of the weakest guilds ever and poor without Natsu!"
"Don't you think you're giving him too much credit?"
"Not at all. He got us all to train, and get working. Even Nab started taking jobs! If he wasn't here, who knows where we'd be!" Makarov can't help but smile at this. How could he ever believe that if he kicked Natsu out he'd just leave. Of course not. Natsu was too loyal to Fairy Tail. He could never just walk away like that, especially not when Fairy Tail was in need.
"Hey, where's Uncle Natsu? He isn't here yet." Asuka asks, walking up to the two Guild Masters.
"No, he might'v left for the day." Macao answers, seeing that Makarov is totally lost, watching the small girl puff out her cheeks and cross her arms. She was just sooooo cuuuuttte!
"But he promised me a piggy-back ride!"
"I'll give you piggy-back ride!" Makarov is quick to volunteer, but she just gives him a look.
"But I want Natsu to give me a piggy-back ride!" Upon being rejected the old man sulks, saddened that his 'grandchild' had said such a thing.
"Don't sweat it," Macao pats the old man on the back as Asuka walks away,"she loves him too much. And apparently he 'gives better piggy-back rides than daddy'. Her words exactly." This brightens his mood a little, and they continue their conversation for some time.
"So, what is Natsu to the guild now?" Macao sets his drink down, silent as he thinks on a way to answer the question.
"Well... he's undeniably the strongest person here. Although not a member of the guild."
"I know he's loved by everyone, that's plain to see." Macao nods at this.
"Definitely. He's still the life of the guild, although..." As the flare mage drones off, this just piques Makarovs interest.
"Although what?" WHen the old man asks this, Macao points at him with his pointer finger.
"Never. Get. Him. Mad." His face was dead serious as he said this. "You could say he's the new Erza. He's the strongest one here, something akin to the life of the guild, and the person who sets things straight. When he first came and we accepted him, we were near broke. He helped us out a bit because apparently he was rich."
"Rich? Natsu?" Macao nods at Makarovs shock.
"You'd think he'd spend it all on food and stuff, but think about it for a minute. When he was still a member he took high-class and high-paying jobs, only having to pay for food for himself and Happy. What would he need the rest of his share for? Apparently, he just saved it for emergencies."
"Why?"
"That's exactly what I asked him when he told me that, and you know what he said?" Makarov shakes his head, he had a guess, but that was all it was. "He said because he thought the guild was sure to run near broke one day because of his destruction, and he saved it in case the guilds money ran dry." Of all things, Makarov didn't think that'd be it. Natsu never seemed to care about the damages he'd make and their cost, but apparently he just knew he had it covered if worse came to worse. "He was smarter than we thought." Makarov just nods at that. Natsu was definitely smarter than they had gave him credit for.
"Wait... You said he was the new Erza. What do you mean by that exactly?" Makarov had to ask this. Natsu didn't seem like he'd ever become like Erza. He was too care-free and happy. But then again, that was before they kicked him out...
"Exactly as it sounds," Macao begins,"he's the new law enforcer. The guilds costs don't go too high because of it, and in-guild brawls don't get too far out of hand. But he's not as strict as she was."
"But still... Natsu?"
"Yep. So, why're you guys talking about me behind my back?" Both men jump at this, diving from their seats to the ground below. Natsu chuckles at this as he watches his elders jumps from him in shock. The pinkette's smile is still so warm, but his eyes... they don't shine the same way they did seven years ago.
"I don't see it..." Makarov grumbles to Macao before getting back up and onto his seat with a smile. He could never stop loving this boy, as a son, of course. So why did he kick him out? Why didn't they try to prove his innocence? Why did they just accept what they were told as the full truth and not look for more? Why?
"So, what's up?" He asks, hopping over the counter and ploping into the seat beside Macao, drink in hand.
"Nothing really." Macao states, Natsu gives him a look but shakes his head. Not buying it but leaving it alone.
"Where's Asuka?" He asks, and just as he says this he hears the small voice scream out:
"UNCLE NATSU!" She skips towards him, eyes wide as she looks up at him expectantly. "Piggy-back ride time?" He gives her a small, warm smile.
"Yeah, piggy-back ride time."
"Up!" She smiles, reaching her hands up as he stands, picking her up and setting her on her shoulders. "Where are we going this time?"
"I was hoping you'd tell me." He responds, much to Makarovs confusion.
"Hmm... Let's go to that one place! The forest!" She scrunches up her nose in an adorable way. "You know what I'm talking about!"
"Yeah, yeah. I know." With that he then turns to the two guild masters. "Do you want to see it?"
"Yeah, make it guild-wide." With Macao's consent, Natsu closes his eyes, a small amount of magic flaring around him, and when he opens them the guild looks... different. Asuka cheers from on top of his head, and the guild members smile as they see the change.
Makarov, as well as the rest of the Tenrou Group, look around with their jaws dropped.
The guild's interior was definitely not what the guild was supposed to look like. Large trees span out from where the guilds walls should be and off into the 'distance'. A soft, green mystical mist drifts around in small clouds. The trees seem taller than the guild, and they look gray-ish in color, with mossy green vines going down them like veins, also covering the floor. The floor has a thin layer of mist on it, the tables look like tree stumps, the bar a fallen tree. Chairs are mushrooms, and the only light is what seems to be glowing, floating bubbles drifting throughout this illusion. Looking around the people, it isn't hard to notice that even the members had been changed slightly. Each member had a few things: pointy ears, a tail, and wings. WINGS! If anything they looked like dragonfly wings, somewhat matching their magic types. The only difference being Natsu and the other dragon slayers who have small horns the color of their element, and dragonic wings of that same shade, and a scaly tail to match.
"Whoo-hoo!" Asuka shouts from Natsus shoulders, and people turn to notice that she is slightly different from the rest. Her wings are beautiful, shimmering green butterfly wings. And she has a crown on the top of her head, showing that she's either queen or princess.
"What is this?" Makarov asks, looking at his own gray-gold wings on his back. They're rather droopy, much to his disappointment. When Natsu sees the old mans face, he can't help but laugh slightly. Much to Makarov's anger.
"When Natsu gives her piggy-back rides, he does illusions. This is one of Asuka's favorites." Wakaba, who found his way beside Macao, elaborates.
"So this is why he gives the best piggy-back rides ever." Makarov says with a nod. He would have to admit, the illusion is top-class. Every time he moved the wings fluttered and the tail moved slightly. Everyone was having fun with that fact, it seems.
"What next, princess?" Natsu asks Asuka, both of them being the main attention of the guild.
"Up!" She points to the tree canopy, and Natsu smiles.
"Up it is." He then starts 'flying'. His wings flap and they go as high as the ceiling, and when Asuka touches the canopy, golden sparkles seem to rain down.
"Dance time!" She says, and Natsu takes her off of his shoulders as they drift back down. "No~! Natsu, dance with me, up here!" His eyes widen for a moment, before he stops his descent. Holding her at arms length, he spins through the air as if at a ball. The girl giggling all the way.
"You heard the girl!" Bisca takes her husband to the middle of the hall,"Dance time!" And soon the entire guild is dancing in the wonderful scene. Everyone smiling and enjoying their time. All worries forgotten. Everyone just living in the moment.
Natsu looks below him and Asuka to see just what was happening. And he couldn't stop a smirk from twitching onto his face. Everything was going according to plan.
You may ask just what this plan is. Well, ever since the Tenrou Group came back, they've been a bit... depressed. Missing seven years of their life, learning things that had happened. Jellal breaking out of jail, the marriage of Bisca and Alzack, the birth of their child. Everything about him. So, Natsu being Natsu, knew he needed to get them into a better mood.
And he knew how. With a nice illusion, the perfect things set in place, now all he needed to do was sit back and watch his work. And boy was it going well.
Erza's eye shined as she looked at her strawberry cheesecake. The illusion had turned everything into a fantasy-forestry type thing. Well, the desert looked absolutely amazing. As if pixie dust made it sparkle, the plate smooth and carved to look perfect. It looked better than ever. And she was drooling after only seeing it. And Natsu knew it would taste better than usual. Just for her.
Juvia looked like a water sprite in the illusion. A beauty, blue wings seeming to drip towards the ground like water. Gray's frozen over in a paler blue, spiking backwards in sharp ice shards. The two were naturally drawn towards each other. Dancing slowly, Juvia resting her head on his chest in complete bliss. Even Gray adorning a small blush. Natsu was sure to use that for blackmail later. Oh yeah.
Lucy was busy just watching the small ball. A content smile on her face as she saw a two people who would make the perfect couple: Levy and Gajeel. No need to say, she was giddy with excitement at the scene. And she absolutely loved her friends book-like wings. They were perfect for her! She had been bugging Levy about the man for quite some time. And thanks to Natsu's small illusion, they were slow-dancing with small balls of light floating around them. Oh just how romantic!
The thought makes the blond pause. It was really romantic. Juvia and Gray, Levy and Gajeel, Laxus was even trying to bring Mira out from behind the bar! Lisanna was walking around, odd flower-cup in hand, watching the dancers with a sense of longing. This was so romantic it was cheesy. Looking up towards Natsu, she sees his smirk as he stares at the couples, realizing this is exactly what he wanted! Everything was perfect for it! And man was it working! But she didn't have a partner. And neither did Lisanna, it seems.
Although her eyes kept flicking up to Natsu, it was just to see what would happen next. He was strictly her best friend. That was all there was between them. There might have been something all those years ago, but it wasn't there anymore. It wasn't there even before that. Maybe for sometime, but he was now just her friend. And he knew it. She realized that was all he was to her, and he realized that was all she was to him. There was nothing between them, and there never would be.
As she looks at the beautiful scenery, she sees a light flash to her side, and turns to see a more lion-like Loke. He has a lion tail swishing behind him, as well as more prominent ears. His hand held out to her, offering to dance.
"Care to dance?"
"Yes-?" She places her hand in his and soon they're twirling around the room, making a box with their feet and so on. Enjoying the illusion to its fullest.
Natsu watches as the angelic-winged Lucy is now in the arms of the lion. He can't help but smile at the scene. He knew she had caught on, and could only feel pride at that. That she was a wise, young, fine woman. And his... friend.
Friend? Did he even deserve to call her a friend? After everything that happened...
Natsu looks to the doors with a sense of longing. He hadn't seen his 'dance partner' in quite some time, and was actually missing her presence.
A/N: As I made clear, this will not be a NaLu. And sorry if you don't like the fact that I put those main couples in there-GruVia, GaLe, MirAxus-I just wanted to. I began the scene and decided 'Eh, why not'. Sorry to those of you who didn't want pairings!
So, I'm guessing you guys are wondering: What was the vote? I'm gonna tell you. If you didn't notice the obvious pairings I put in here, here's what you guys voted:
None= 10
Natsu x Ultear= 17 *
Natsu x Mira= 11
Natsu x Meredy= 6
Natsu x Erza= 9
Gray x Juvia= 4 *
Gray x Lucy= 3
Loke x Lucy= 4 *
Mira x Laxus= 1 *
So, if you didn't notice, NaUl won for Natsu. As did GrUvia, LoLu and MirAxus *I know for Mira NaMi technically won (that got a lot of votes, dang!), but since Natsu got Ultear, she gets Laxus*
Oh, and a lot of you wanted it to be a harem, no? Sorry but I'm not planning on doing that. I also saw a lot of people saying that they'd like Natsu to stay independent. I have already decided whether or not he'll rejoin. And what role he'll play in the story. That is all.
My recommendation is: The Irregular at Magic High School. Also known as Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei. I like it. You'll like it. Go watch it. *your choice, of course*
On a side note, I saw Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' on August 4, because that's when it came out in theaters where I'm at, and you have no idea how hyped I was to see it! If you're a DBZ hater, this doesn't affect you, don't spoil my 'hypedness'. \(*v*)/ I also wanna put out there, that I have prepared for the case in which my computer crashes or something like that happens and I lose the stories on my computer, so they're saved in THREE other places. Three. So I shouldn't have that happen to me!