First of all, I hope everybody had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hopefully you all enjoyed my Christmas special hahaha. Now this one is based off a video game so I'm sure you'll be able to connect the dots. Also, modern themes like guns, cars, convenience stores…stuff like that because dammit, it's fun to do! After this I'll go back to the COG and write some more of that bloody war. Don't forget to vote! After this posts I'll be taking the poll down so make sure you do! So…read, review, and enjoy!

I don't own the rights to anything….anywhere.


The Last of Us

Universe 8484-N Year 796 Early Spring.

Natsu looked up at the clouds, their darkness threatening rain as he walked along the cracked and crumbling road toward another nameless town in the distance. Re-adjusting the strap to his rifle on his back, he felt his muscles give a small sigh of relief. Laden down with a ratty backpack of brownish color, the weight held their spare water, a single medical kit, some dried fish, and a few momento's. A holster was strapped to his right side, showing off a pistol and a spare magazine along with a combat knife, the weapons always under care by the former mage. A webbing of support held his chest flashlight, ensuring he could keep his hands free in dark places and situations.

His black boots were scuffed and worn, having walked countless miles as his outfit was equally as weathered. Brownish, tan pants with a few extra pockets covered his legs as an old patch decorated one knee. A grungy, white shirt that had seen better days covered his torso as his eyes always darted to and fro. Natsu's face was unshaven, the beard of pinkish hair covering his chin as he glanced down at his two traveling companions…the last of his family.

"You doing alright Asuka? Happy?"

"Yeah dad…I'm doing alright" Asuka replied softly as they walked past a rusting hulk of a car pulled over on the road. Bleached skeletons were inside, the former driver leaning back along with two others as Natsu gave a small grunt of acknowledgement. The day was ending with the darkening clouds mixing in with the coming of dusk as they all kept moving toward the remains of dead civilization in the distance.

Asuka was coming up on fourteen years old soon, and had gone through a small growth spurt during the harsh winter. Wearing the signature cowgirl hat of her deceased mother, the young woman wore a green shirt and blue jeans. She too carried a pistol on her hip, the extra magazines secured tightly along her right side as a sheathed machete hung from her back. Happy was resting on her shoulders, his little paws clinging to her clothing as the sound of distant thunder rumbled.

"Natsu…do you think we'll find anybody in this next town?" The little cat asked softly, looking up at the man that protected the last of his family with everything he had.

Letting out a sigh as the city limits loomed closer, the dragon slayer looked down at his longtime friend before returning his attention to the approaching town. "I don't know Happy…the last people we met tried to kill us for our water and weapons…I'm kinda hoping we don't run into anybody…or anything"

"Oh….I miss seeing good people…" The cat said dejectedly as lightning crackled above. The approaching storm was almost upon them, the clouds ready to burst. "I miss how it used to be…" Happy finished sadly as the first droplets started to fall on his blue fur.

"Me too buddy…me too" Natsu told his friend as another bolt of electricity shattered the sky. Feeling the charge in the air, Natsu hurried his pace. "Come on…we can't be caught out in this storm" The man instructed as an abandoned magical fueling station came into sight. Numerous vehicles littered the parking lot, a small tent city erected on the grass to the left as the trio ran up, their boots splashing the water as it pooled in the cracked and cratered pavement. It had been years since anybody would've repaired it…but that wasn't important as a few scattered corpses littered the ground or rested in vehicles. The flesh had long since rotted away, leaving nothing but white bones and tattered rags.

Crouching next to a truck that was resting next to one of the magical fuel pumps, Natsu looked down at Asuka as the rain thrummed and drummed against the stations island roof. They were now protected from the worst of the rain, only a few droplets falling down through cracks in the roof above the fuel pumps.

"Alright Asuka. What do we do first?" Natsu asked, his voice soft toward his adoptive daughter as the rain fell harder around them.

"We check for immediate threats" she replied as her eyes scanning the darkened windows of the fuel station. Peering her eyes, the young woman saw a shadow shift inside the store…hidden among the darkness of the interior. "Somethings in there" she whispered, Happy staying silent as his father and adoptive sister worked. He knew how dangerous this could be…living day to day on the road.

"Good. Anything else?" Natsu asked as Happy kept a lookout behind them.

Tracking her gaze, the thirteen year old narrowed her eyes as she studied more of the building. The windows had long since broken, shattered by looters or by other means as a few broken shards rested in the sills. The structure was covered in vines and greenery, an obvious result of long abandonment as a second shadow shifted inside toward her right. A fallen body laid in the doorway facedown, recently dead as a packpack laid nearby the rotting fingers of its outstretched hand. The hand twitched as yellowish particles were illuminated under another flash of lightning.

Looking toward her left, Asuka studied the tent city. Belongings of people long dead littered the ground. Rotting and threadbare garments…children's toys…garbage and trash…anything of value would've been picked clean long ago.

"I see three total…and some spores. It would make staying inside risky…but traveling in a storm like this is risky too. We wouldn't be able to hear much over the lightning and visibility would be reduced" she finally told Natsu as the older man nodded.

"Yeah…your right about that. Okay. We clear it, check for anything of value and hunker down in one of the cars until the storm passes" Natsu finished his instructions as he pulled his combat knife free. It used to be Erza's…the last object he had of the fiery redhead. Watching as Asuka slid her own machete free, she whacked it against the truck bed, leaving a resounding 'clang'

Immediately, the presumed corpse rose from the doorway, its senses homing in on the location of the sound as the other immediately inside started to stagger out. The third of the infected must've not heard it, still swaying among the darkness as the two human's hid further back along separate cars. Happy was floating above, flying circles in the air as his role as distractor came into play.

Staggering among the rusting cars long abandoned, the first infected person was missing part of their face as horrible yellow bulbs covered part of its flesh. Tilting its head upward, it saw the flying cat humming to itself as the previous human let out a snarl.

Crouching low as his stealth came into play, Natsu gripped the combat knife firmly in his hands as Happy giggled above.

"You stupid infected can't get me! I'm flying!" The little blue cat cheered out as he watched Natsu move closer behind the woman. In one quick motion, Natsu embedded his blade into the back of its skull, the metal sliding into the diseased brain. Falling forward, Natsu used a boot for leverage as he pulled the blade free, its length covered in sickly material and darkened blood.

Not forgetting about the second plague carrier, Natsu turned as it snarled at him from the other side of the pumps near a tiny hatchback with its doors thrown open. It was covered with the yellow, pus-like bulbs as well, signifying its loss of humanity.

"That's right…a nice uninfected human for you…" Natsu goaded as his target finally made its way around the bumper, a trickle of rain falling on its head. Moving backward toward Asuka's hiding spot, Natsu made sure to keep taunting.

"You smell like rotten shit on a hot day…" he teased, drawing it further out as the third walker appeared in the doorway of the store, drawn out by the voices.

Asuka clutched the machete in her hand, the water dripping down her back as she was no longer under the island's roof. Staying low and quiet behind the opened door of the abandoned police car, she heard Natsu getting closer. Peering around the side, she finally saw him backing into the road as the diseased man came after him, its arms outstretched and wanting to grab hold of the man she considered her father.

"NOW!"

Springing forth, Asuka ran behind her target, swinging her machete with all her might at its right leg. Slicing through the tattered pants and flesh, the limb fell away as the person crumpled to the ground, its rasps filling the air along with the rumbling thunder. Water dripping down her cowgirl's hat past her eyes, Asuka stepped on its back and stabbed the business end of her blade into the diseased skull with a sickly crunch. Pulling it free, she turned as another rasp echoed behind her.

The third had finally joined them, its torso missing a shirt as it staggered and limped around the vehicles toward the trio.

"HEY UGLY!" Happy shouted, flying above the creature who became distracted by the noise as Natsu and Asuka flanked either side. Running up, Natsu kicked it in the chest, knocking it to the pavement as it flailed on its back, struggling to regain footing. Not getting the chance, Asuka embedded her blade into its right eye, a guaranteed kill as ichor and blood leaked toward the pavement. Pulling it free as it stopped moving, she wiped the excess gore on its shredded pants, wiping it clean.

"Stay sharp Asuka…there always could be more" Natsu chastised the young woman who gave a curt nod. Scanning her surroundings, she didn't see any movement except for the fluttering of a few birds nearby in the rain.

"I don't see any…and looks like we didn't make too much noise" She replied as the young woman walked in step toward the abandoned station with her adoptive father.

"You never know…always keep an eye out…never let your guard down" Natsu instructed as the two braced the doorway into the store, a few small spores littering the air as the two pulled out breathing masks from their pockets. Sliding it on, Asuka waited for Natsu to make the first move into the store as she breathed in the musty smell. She hated it…but it would protect from the spores…although she idly wondered if they could even infect anymore. After all…it had been years since the plague first hit and killed most of humanity.

Walking into the musty building, the dirty shafts of light stabbed through the broken windows from the fading daylight outside as the two moved in slowly. Echoing drips of water leaked from several places in the roof, pooling on the cracked and moldy tile. The store was a wreck with many of the shelves looted clean, leaving nothing but garbage and scattered papers.

Leaning over the register counter, Natsu saw the skeletal remains of the attendant, the uniform rotting and whitewashed by years of weather. A bottle of brackish water rested near the body, its discoloration meaning it was horribly past its prime. Pulling back, the trio moved through the gas station, checking each and every aisle for threats. Unfortunately, not a single item of use could be found or seen…even the bottled water case was completely empty as they kept moving. Finding the front clear a minute later, Asuka moved toward the bathroom door.

"Dad…the bathroom" she whispered as Natsu came up besides her. Giving a silent nod, the male gripped the knife in his hand while slowly turning the knob. Hearing it unlatch, Natsu pushed the door open as the rain beat down on the roof, some of the excess water leaking onto his shoulder. Revealing the small restroom, there was a lone stall with the door missing and a dirty sink with a cracked mirror. A small window was on their left, rain running down the walls as the glass had been broken long ago. Stepping toward the stall, Natsu moved in to reveal a porcelain toilet…and nothing else.

"Okay…we just need to check the storage room and then we're clear. Remember Asuka…always check every room no matter what. All it takes is missing one of the infected and we could get killed" Natsu lectured, always hammering the hard learned lessons into the girls head through the muffled face mask. Giving a slow nod, the female knew how important it was to double check their surroundings.

Leaving the bathroom, the trio moved toward the door in the back with Happy hovering above them, the little cat keeping sentinel as the last of his family secured the building. Pushing the door open toward the back, the three gave a sigh of relief as no more of the infected inhabited the structure. The storage room was ransacked…most of the boxes and crates having long been looted, but there was still some items of use as the trio started their search.

"Look dad! Soda's! Five of them!" Asuka cheered with pride at the half empty twelve pack of cola on the floor. The cans were still sealed, and their shelf date would last for a few more years.

"Good job. Throw them in the pack" Natsu instructed as he found a few rolls of sealed gauze. Placing them in Happy's little backpack as he went back to searching the room with a few light spores drifting through the air. "Thank god Happy's immune to this crap…" Natsu thought as he searched through a few empty boxes. Turning on his flashlight, he hoped the extra illumination would help in their search.

"Natsu! Look!" Happy called out as he held up a can with the weathered picture of a dog on it. Moving over to his furry companion, Natsu inspected the can of dog food as Happy pointed toward a small box. Two more cans rested inside of similar make as the dragon slayer gave a nod.

"Good find, Happy. This will feed us until tomorrow for sure" He said in a kind voice while letting out a sigh. Placing the cans of dog food in his backpack, Natsu re shouldered it as their search came to an end.

"The storm is getting pretty bad" Asuka mumbled out, her voice muffled by her mask as lightning cracked the sky outside. Rain was falling in droves…masking any other sound as it beat the roof.

"It is. Come on, we're done in here" Natsu instructed as the trio left the building. If it wasn't for the spores, he'd stay in the storage room, but that wasn't the case this time as they emerged outside. Studying the scattered and rusting vehicles, Natsu finally locked his eyes onto a brown van that looked relatively intact. Approaching as he removed the mask, his hair was quickly plastered to his head as Asuka and Happy followed in the downpour. Thunder rumbled and the sky cracked, lightning flashing across the darkness of the falling night.

Quickly pulling the back doors open, Natsu was greeted with an empty van as he urged Asuka and Happy inside. Closing the doors, he locked them as a precaution as the three spread out on the old sleeping bags.

"Well…it's nothing great, but at least it's dry" Asuka commented as her stomach rumbled, showcasing her hunger.

"No complaints here. You hungry?" Natsu asked as he started to pull the dried fish from his backpack. Handing them to Asuka along with a can of cola, the young woman started to greedily eat. Pausing as she shared a small fish with Happy, the black haired girl looked at Natsu with guilt in her eyes.

"I'm sorry…I don't mean to eat so much…" she tried to apologize, her stomach still rumbling at the sight of more dried fish before her. Watching as Natsu pulled a can of dog food from his backpack, she waited for her adoptive dad to prepare his own meal. Prying it open with his knife, the slayer waved the girl off.

"You're a growing woman…you need to eat. Plus…" He paused, shoveling some of the canned dog food in his mouth. "It's…not that bad" He told her.

"If….if you say so…" Asuka replied with a softness in her tone as she ate another small fish. For the next five minutes, the trio ate in silence, listening to the beating raindrops against the roof of the van. Finishing their respective meals, Asuka slid over to Natsu as the man laid down on one of the old sleeping bags. Curling into his side, she could feel his protective embrace as Happy laid on her chest, his little belly full.

"Natsu?"

"Yeah Asuka?" The man asked as he listened to the rain…and for threats outside.

"Do you think you could tell me how you met Lucy again?"

"…Sure. I can do that…" the slayer replied softly, memories of his deceased family jumping forth as he started to speak… "I first met Lucy in Hargeon when I was looking for Igneel…."

Twenty minutes later Asuka was fast asleep with Happy, the tale and day of survival taking their toll as the two emitted soft snores. Looking up at the ceiling, Natsu was overcome with the same visions…of all his friends smiling…then how a strange new sickness crossing the country…. His eyes trickled water, remembering how Lucy was the first one to perish from the new plague…and nowhere near the last.

"None of them had a chance…" He whispered, remembering how quickly it spread among his loved ones. After Lucy…then Juvia and Grey…Elfman and Lisanna…it spread like wildfire through Magnolia and Fiore…His heart broke again and again…burying so many of his cherished friends….Mira, Cana and Erza…they were the last…to die…the infection ravaging their immune system's. And when everybody had died…it was only himself, Happy, and a seven year old Asuka in the guild hall. At first, they stayed to watch over their family's graves and to try and maintain order among the few survivors in the city…but then the monsters appeared one night…infected with pus and disease. Natsu could still remember clear as day when they infected some other survivor…the screams and pain….gushing blood and tearing flesh. After that…they left Magnolia as society continued to fall and break. Soon…it wasn't long before people turned on each other for the basic supplies like food and water….that was five years ago for the three of them. "Bisca….I hope you're not disappointed in me…I've done my best to keep her safe…" Natsu whispered to the heavens as sleep finally took hold of the tired man.

The next day…

"Natsu" Asuka whispered, trying to shake the man awake with small motions as the sunlight cast shafts of light through their temporary haven. Happy was awake as well, making sure all their supplies were packed with the minimum of noise.

Rousing from his slumber, the old nightmares of burying Mira and others faded as he looked at Asuka, trying to blink away the grogginess. She looked afraid…here irises betraying a deep seated fear.

"Natsu…I hear voices outside…" She whispered again as the man immediately rose. Nodding his head silently, he peered through the dirty windshield. Approaching the abandoned gas station were six or seven humans, armed with an assortment of guns and clubs.

"Alright boys! Fan out and look for anything useful! Check all the cars too!' A man bellowed, not concerned about silence or stealth as the group split of into teams of two's. Knowing what kind of men these were, Natsu crab walked to the rear doors. Pulling his pistol free, he unlocked the rear and slowly opened the door. A squeal of hinges made him cringe as their silent escape was ruined by rust on the door.

"HEY! Who's there!" A man shouted out behind them as Natsu jumped down to the pavement, Asuka and Happy close by.

"Run!" He hissed out, pointing toward a drainage ditch as the young woman nodded. She knew that voice…the no-nonsense you better listen now voice. Running with Happy flying nearby, she made a beeline toward the mud-filled ditch.

"HEY BOYS! I THINK WE FOUND US SOME SURVIVORS! LET'S TAKE THEIR SHIT!" the leader bellowed out as Natsu leaned out of cover behind the vehicle. Seeing one of the closest already near the hood of the van, Natsu snapped up his pistol and fired two shots. The echoing report bounced through the air as the first bullet missed their mark…but not the second as the hot lead created a furrow along the side of the head, taking part of the left ear with it as the man clutched the fresh wound, screaming.

Knowing he had no chance in a seven verse one firefight, Natsu started to run toward the drainage ditch as bullets pierced the serene morning air around him. Feeling the tug as a round snagged part of his shirt, Natsu tried to not think about how close it came to piercing his flesh. Quickly turning, he summoned his magic, knowing the sound would attract many of the infected to this location. Forming a ball of flame in his left hand, he grew it to the size of a basketball. Not bothering to shout out its proper name, Natsu threw the orb of flame toward the old van before jumping into the ditch with Asuka and Happy.

"WATCH OUT!" One of them men yelled to his companions as he dodged to the side. His warning and years of survival saved most of them, but not all. Colliding with the vehicle, the ball of magical flame had detonated, reaching the fuel source in a split second.

'BOOOM!'

The van exploded in a small cloud of flame and smoke, spreading destruction around the cracked pavement as the wounded man was consumed by the flames in an instant. His voice had no chance to scream for mercy as he was taken by death, his body becoming nothing more than smoking, charred flesh.

Not waiting to see what they would do next, Natsu lightly pushed the girl toward the darkened sewer drain on their right. The grate was gone and it would be risky…but those men would easily track them in the open light of day. Moving inside, Natsu could see an intersection to the left in the looming shadows of the tunnel. A separate entrance was to the north of them, giving enough illumination for the moment.

"Stay quiet and close" Natsu ordered with a whisper as he heard the shouts of the bandits outside.

"Okay…" Asuka barely whispered, gripping onto Natsu's hand tightly as they turned down the new tunnel. Feeling Happy hanging onto her neck, the trio descended into the dark underbelly of the city before them. Wrinkling her nose, the young woman tried to ignore the stench of rot and mildew, knowing that this was their best chance for survival as her eyes strained to accommodate the low level light.

Walking forward with her father, Asuka's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness over the next few minutes as they left the bandits behind. "Hopefully they'll just leave us alone after dad killed that one guy. I know he doesn't like killing people, but everybody we meet only see's what they can take from us" Asuka thought before she stumbled, her body falling into water up to her thighs.

It was horribly cold, sending a chill up her skin as her clothing stuck to her flesh. Feeling Natsu regrip her hand as he own body splashed into the freezing water of the sewer, he kept her close as their eyes finally adjusted to the gloom.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, just my clothes are soaked now. I'll nee-" Asuka paused, hearing the sloshing of uneven footsteps ahead in the darkness. Peering her eyes, they were blinded by the sudden illumination of Natsu's rigged flashlight. The tunnel lit up like day…and showed the four infected staggering toward them through the murky liquid. With the sewer line only fifteen feet wide, there was no time or room to try and separate the group of monsters. Covered with pus-like sores and bulbs of disease, the four probably had been down here for months or longer based on their emaciated features. Cracked and yellowed teeth…rotting clothes and pale skin. It made Asuka shiver as Natsu pulled his pistol free once more.

"Asuka!" Natsu shouted, his voice bouncing off the wall as he took a shooters stance. Firing his first shot, the flash of propellant lit up the walls with their discharge as blood and bone erupted from the forehead of the closest monster.

Shaking her head, Asuka had her pistol in her hands, holding the firearm steady before she even realized it. Countless hours of training with the weapon had made her a decent shot and quick drawer as she fired at the one on the left. The loud report echoed around her, filling her nostrils with the scent of gunpower as the lead punched through the throat of her intended target. Staggering backward as the raw wound leaked coagulated blood among the torn skin, Asuka realigned her sights and fired again. This time her shot flew true, blowing off the top left part of the former woman's skull as she pitched backward into the murky sewage. Shifting her aim, her sights leveled on the last monster as Natsu dispatched the third with another headshot. Squeezing her finger, the gun gave a horrifying 'click' as the firearm jammed.

"Shit!" Asuka cried out as the monster staggered closer. Realizing she had no time to clear the jam, she holstered the weapon before pulling her machete free. Walking forward, she closed the gap between them as Natsu watched, almost testing the girl while he covered her with his own gun. Using her short height to her advantage, Asuka dodged to the side as the infected reached for her. Stumbling, the creature overshot its victim as the raven haired female got behind it and swung down with her blade. Embedding in the diseased and rotting skull as a few flecks of bone and flesh spewed outward, she killed it with brutal efficiency as it gave a small death spasm. Planting her boot on its back, she yanked her trusty machete free as Natsu walked up.

"WOW ASUKA! You've gotten really strong!" Happy cheered out for his adoptive sister as Natsu gave a small nod with a smile.

"So, you actually do listen to me…that was well done. You didn't panic and kept a level head even with your gun jamming" he complimented as the young woman smiled with her mother's hat still on her head.

"Thanks dad" she smiled awkwardly before pulling the jammed weapon from her holster. "I just hope mom would be proud of me…" she whispered while she cleared the blocked cartridge. Pulling it free and reloading the unused bullet in the magazine, she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Bisca would be very proud of your strength. I know…I'm not the best father figure…" Natsu tried to explain as the darkness loomed around their little haven of light.

"Stop dad…you…you did the best you could. I couldn't ask for a better person to look out for me…" She whispered as she remembered images of her own father, Alzack. The drinking…how he would hit her mother for the slightest infraction at home when she was such a young girl. The bruises her mother would have the next day under her clothing. Clenching her fist, Asuka remembered how much of a pathetic loser Alzack was. Then she was weak…but now she is strong like Natsu. "If he was alive now…I would make him pay for hurting mom! She would've been better off with Natsu!"

"Asuka? You alright?" Happy asked, the little cat searching her eyes as her raven locks flowed past her shoulders in the encroaching shadows of the sewer.

"Ah….was just thinking of my mom…" She replied sadly as the other two gave knowing nods. Their loved ones were gone…but never forgotten. Giving one last pat on her head, Natsu started to walk further down the tunnel as the lone flashlight illuminated the dark path before them. Hurrying her steps as the dank and cold water soaked her to the bone, she kept pace with Natsu as they moved onward.

Walking in silence for the next hour, the trio only encountered a few lone infected, quickly dispatching them with brutal efficiency. They hadn't heard or seen sight of the bandits during their journey, giving the trio hope that those men just cut and run after the loss of one of their own.

Eyes sharp, Natsu kept leading his family down the tunnel as the water slowly got deeper. Having Happy carry the young woman, Natsu had to move his ammunition and pistol into his backpack to keep it dry. After all, the last thing he needed was to lose all their ammo due to some damn water. While he did have a water tight container for it, no point in tempting fate as he kept the blade handy.

The brackish liquid was now up to his chest, the vile liquid pressing down his clothes as Happy kept Asuka near the ceiling for the time being.

"Ugh…this sucks" Asuka lightly complained as they continued to move forward, the tunnel separated by a rusting grate up ahead.

"Tell me about it. Heh…Lucy would be freaking out right now just by walking in the sewer" Natsu chuckled, imagining his blonde friend refusing to get herself dirty. "She really was a wonderful woman…beautiful too…well, a lot of the women in the hall were beautiful…too bad I was such an idiot back then" he lightly cursed himself as he gripped the gate and pushed it forward. With so much rust, the barrier just fell in the water after years of neglect and moisture.

Moving into the new tunnel, Natsu could've sworn he saw light coming from further ahead.

"Hey! Is that a way out?' Happy asked, his little paws gripping Asuka tightly as he flew behind Natsu.

"It might be. But be quiet just the same" Natsu instructed as they moved closer and closer to the light. The minutes crawled by as the trio walked through the shadowed darkness toward the source. Finally reaching it after ten minutes of walking through the sewage, Natsu took in the area.

The street above had collapsed, sending a semi trailer down into the sewage line along with a few ruined cars that had piled into the floor below. The trailer had been hauling furniture, some of the old couches rotting and covered with moss as they littered the area to his left. Water was trickling down in a steady stream while shafts of light lit up dust particles around them. An access ladder was set against the wall, but time and weather had taken the bottom steps long ago. However, it looked like they could climb on top of the cars toward the tractor and pull themselves onto the road above….or have Happy do it. About to turn, Natsu noticed a cascade of bubbles in the water before him. Taking a step backward, his caution was warranted as a lone infected broke the surface.

"HOLY SHIT!" Natsu exclaimed in surprise as the diseased woman latched onto his shoulders with her clammy and rotting fingers.

"NATSU!" Happy and Asuka cried out, not being able to help from their angle as the man braced his left forearm under the woman's chin.

"STAY BACK!" He hollered, the snapping teeth inches from his skin as sickly pus bulbs covered her face. Gritting his teeth as her yellowed eyes rife with infection flashed with murder, he managed to keep her at bay. Hefting the blade in his right hand, he gripped it tight before plunging it into the woman's ear canal. Sliding into her brain, the damage was extensive as her attempts ceased in moments. Pushing the corpse away, it slid into the water as Natsu took a deep lungful of sewage air.

"Fuck…stupid zombie things" he muttered with a wheeze before climbing onto the flatbed of a truck that was barely below the water.

"Dad…are you okay?" You're not hurt, are you?" Asuka asked as Natsu gave a small grin.

"I'm fine…was just startled is all" He replied before starting to climb up the pile of crushed and rusting cars toward the semi-trailer that led to the surface.

"Happy. I'll check up top. When I give the clear fly up here with Asuka"

"Aye sir!" the feline saluted as he stood guard, looking for more of the monsters as Natsu grunted and climbed up the cars. Stopping at the hood of a wrecked sedan, Natsu eyed the gap between him and the ladder on the semi- trucks side. About five feet wide, he reckoned he could make the jump. Taking a few steps backward, he burst forward as his daughter watched with a worried look. Leaping through the air, he grasped the rusting metal bar at an angle. Finding purchase with his slick boots, Natsu used his upper body strength to quickly climb upward. Wrestling himself onto the bowing pavement as it groaned beneath him, the male quickly took in his surroundings of the abandoned city. He was in an intersection, the wide roads going in four different directions as the spring sun shone down at him.

Vegetation climbed up numerous buildings, clinging to the brickwork among broken windows. Cars and other vehicles clogged the streets in all directions, many overgrown with greenery. Garbage littered the roadways along with other signs of dead civilization. The bleached remains of skeletons dotted the abandoned road, their deaths already in the past. The gurgle of water echoed from the left as he turned his head. A nearby road had sunken half a street away, forming a stream of water that rushed past half -submerged cars. Rust was climbing up their sides as a few birds drank the clear liquid from the banks of pavement. A few nearby buildings were leaning toward the submerged road, the foundations sinking year by year as a light breeze scattered trash. Shifting his view to the right, Natsu took in more details of his surroundings.

A firetruck was overturned on its side to his right, having crashed into a bank. Trying to read the sign among the vines and rubble around him, Natsu gave up after a few moments. It didn't really matter where they were…this city was just like all the rest…broken and abandoned.

"Let's be honest…I doubt I'm even in Fiore anymore…" He whispered as he continued to look around. Several birds were resting on a leaning streetlight, chirping excitedly as the spring sun washed down through the serene clouds above. The city was silent…abandoned by the living long ago. Even if there were people here, he doubted they would be friendly. And if they were, odds are they wouldn't be that organized. "The few friendly human's I've met…were just small bands like myself and Asuka…mainly just close friends or family sticking together in this hellish life. Dammit…why does this have to be so hard?" He asked the heavens in contemplation. "If Erza or Mira were still alive…" He thought sadly, their faces bursting through his mind's eye.

'Clink…'

Bringing his rifle up in a movement of swiftness, Natsu homed in on the alley down the street as he peered through the scope of the bolt action firearm. The alleyway itself was half blocked with a van on its side, its metalwork streaked with rust and damage from old flames. The building closest had collapsed, unable to support its weight as steel and brick cascaded into the road. But what appeared made his breath catch in his throat.

An infected still wearing the fireman's outfit staggered into view…then two…no six…no…over a dozen came into view…and there was still more coming. It was a horde of infected…and the closest had spotted him.

"Happy! Bring her up here now!" Natsu commanded in a harsh whisper as the cat quickly airlifted themselves upward to the street.

Seeing the mass of staggering and stumbling disease carriers, Asuka readied her pistol before Natsu pushed it down.

"No…there's too many. And my magic will just create noise and bring even more down on us" the older man instructed before looking around. Eyeing the bank, his eye saw a gap for them between the crumbling wall and wrecked fire truck as a body slumped over the broken doorframe. Grabbing Asuka's hand, the three ran toward the building as the mass of infected homed in on them. Their snarls and rasps echoing among the canyon of abandoned buildings as the human's ran.

Pushing Asuka through the gap and turning his body sideways, Natsu could feel his shirt snag on the jagged concrete. Sucking his stomach in, he barely squeezed through as Happy flew in the gap above his head. The bank was a wreck, the vault lying open as jewel banknotes littered the floor…useless now. The far receptionist desk was warped and cracked, the security window broken and glistening under shafts of light from the half caved in roof above them.

"HERE!" Asuka yelled out, trying to push an old desk toward the gap in the wall. Made of heavy oak, Natsu didn't ask how or why such a piece of furniture came to rest in the middle of the lobby. Joining her, Natsu lent his shoulder as Happy placed his paws on the edge.

"PUSH!" Natsu yelled out, the scrap of rusting metal feet across the dirty marble ringing in their ears as the heavy piece of furniture moved. Snarls and gasps of infected were drawing closer, the horde of plague carriers seeking to spread their disease to the lone human's.

Muscles straining, Asuka dug her boots against the old marble, as she used her desperation and desire to live onward. Clenching her teeth as Natsu grunted, they pushed the desk in place just as the fireman jutted an arm through the gap, barely missing the girl by an inch as its clawed fingers sought to dig into her flesh. The horde of half dead human's grunted and gasped, their snarls and cries echoing through the abandoned bank as the trio stepped backward. The desk shifted slightly under their weight, bearing witness to their desire.

Bringing up his rifle, Natsu drew his aim at the fireman, the battered and tattered uniform weathered by untold years. "Asuka! Headshots on the two behind him! Clog the entrance with corpses!" Natsu instructed as he fired the rifle. The report echoed through the bank as the spent brass flew and tinkled in the light. Snapping back as the head exploded, the body slumped forward across the desk as more of the plague carriers gasped for the humans. The noise had riled them up, spurning the closest into a frenzy as their yellowed eyes bayed for blood.

Taking a deep breath, Asuka lined up her sights, the woman before her covered in pustules and ragged auburn hair that was ratty and unkempt. Her left breast was exposed, the skin beyond diseased and ruined. Trying to work through the gap, her left eye exploded into a ruined mass of blood and gore. Clogging the small gap even more, the young woman quickly re-aimed and fired at a man that had excess skin hanging from his diseased jowls. Head snapping back as the brain matter exploded out the back, the three corpses succeeded in blocking the narrow entrance to the bank as the remaining mass of human's struggled and clawed to gain entrance.

"C'mon! The gunshots will draw more!" Natsu exclaimed as he scooped up the spent casings and pocketing them. "You never know…" he thought as the trio ran toward the back hallway toward the emergency exit. The offices they ran past were abandoned and dusty, long since picked over as their boots thudded against the rotting carpet of the old employee area. Running past the third door on the left, they noticed the body of a recently dead man restin in a chair. Flies and maggots crawled over his skin and flesh, the stench of rot and decomposition making the trio wrinkle their noses in disgust. A hole was blown through his temple from the side, an obvious suicide from the magnum in his hands. Stopping, Asuka pried the weapon from his cold and dead hands. Snapping it open, she saw five more bullets filling the chambers as she quickly dug into his pockets.

"I can't believe I'm doing this…" she groaned with disgust as a few flies buzzed around her, the closeness of the body making her want to vomit. Feeling her fingers clamp around four spare cartridges, she pulled them loose and placed them in her own pockets. Flicking the safety on, the young girl tucked the heavy pistol in the small of her back as Natsu cocked an eye at her.

"You always say not to waste anything…" She explained as Natsu smirked.

"I have mentioned that time to time…good work" He complimented as an echoing crash resounded from the entrance. Eyes widening at what it signified, Natsu lightly pushed Asuka back into the hallway as they ran toward the emergency exit.

"Shit!" The man silently cursed as they came upon the door. The entrance was blocked by a heavy beam, the outside wall half collapsed on their only escape route. Laying at a downward angle, the end of the beam dug into the floor on his left as spilt brick and stone littered the floor. Looking back as the snarls grew louder and closer, Natsu saw the first of the infected stagger into view.

"Dammit!" He yelled louder as Asuka brought her pistol out once more. Firing, the young woman's mother would be proud of her marksmanship as the slug tore a chunk of skull away. Pitching forward, the body spun to the floor as she realigned her next shot.

Looking down at the rotting beam, an idea came to the man as he crouched down. Another echoing gunshot echoed down the hall, this time staggering a diseased old man as it burrowed through center mass.

"SHIT!" Asuka cursed, the horde of infected drawing closer through the building as their number reached a dozen…and more were coming. Firing again, Asuka heard a grunt behind her as Natsu lifted the rotting beam.

"ASUKA! GO! NOW!" Natsu roared at her, his muscles trembling under the horrid weight as he shifted his back to support hundreds of pounds.

Knowing better than to argue, the young maiden kicked the door open as Happy flew under the heavy weight.

"HURRY NATSU!" Happy urged, the alleyway around them filled with encroaching gasps as the entire area seemed to draw more of the plague walkers. Asuka was covering the entrance toward the north, a few more infected a block away as they meandered into view. Glancing south, she saw a few more at the entranceway to the street, the alleyway strewn with ruin and overgrowth. "This is really fucking bad…" she thought as she fired at the closest one, dropping it like a sack of rotten tomatoes.

Grinning to his little buddy, the fire dragon smirked as the bank walkers stumbled closer. Taking a deep breath, the mage lived up to his old name. "Not much point in being quiet now"

"FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!"

Unleashing a torrent of flames toward the horde down the hallway, Natsu smirked as his magic burned and sundered flesh. Skin crackled and was consumed under the flames, a few pustules of infection bursting as the front ranks had their flesh and skin melt off their bones. Working his way out from under the heavy beam, he let it hit the floor as the wall and bodies burned inside. Stepping next to Asuka, he glanced north and south, seeing more of the monsters staggering into the alleyway. Asuka had killed three, but there were more as Natsu looked around for some sort of escape.

Eyes catching a glint of rusting metal across from them and above their heads, Natsu spied the old fire escape of the apartment building across the alleyway. Running over as his two friends joined him, the man jumped, trying to reach the ladder as more of the infected came on. The bark of his daughter's gun echoed off the vine coated walls as he fell back to the pavement empty handed. The fire escape ladder was out of reach, never having been lowered as Natsu cast a quick glance toward the approaching monsters. They were blocked in with no escape as the ones in the bank snarled and grasped from the doorway, the burning beam keeping the walkers at bay as flesh burned and crackled. Building up his magic, Natsu grimaced as the stench of rotting pork reached his nose. Unfurling the flame toward the south, the man knew that it wouldn't kill them all…not even close.

The magic attack burst, sowing flames and destruction around them as several bodies were flung around from the brunt of the explosion. Some were killed, finally at rest…but the horde came on as Asuka fired to the north, dropping more with expert ease.

"Let me lower it!" Happy said in a quick panic as he flew up toward the grated landing. Settling down near the lever, his little paws gripped it as the rust squealed and screeched under the cat's actions. Grunting, Happy knew that his family needed him…failure was not an option.

"Well you better hurry! My ammo wont last forever!" Asuka screamed out, the moaning getting closer as dozens filled the long alleyway. Firing again, she scored a headshot, the bullet destroying the top of the skull of an emaciated male. The pores and pus burst, filling the north end of the alleyway with airborne disease as Asuka gulped. She had seen small groups before…but never this bad. Turning toward Natsu, he was flinging endless balls of flame at the horde to the south, burning and wrecking the mass of plagued humans at a horrid pace. Fire was climbing the vines now…burning the vegetation that crawled and snaked up the buildings nearby as the walkers come on. Their flesh was cracked and burning, the sense of pain long gone from them. "I really hope I don't die from these zombie bastards…in an alley…while surrounded by fire…while burning zombies eat me…" she thought wryly before re-aiming and firing her pistol again. This time, she killed what had once been a morbidly obese grandma…who was naked. Her breasts sagged and swung from the gravity of her motions as the bullet punched through the bridge of her nose. Splattering blood across her horrid features, Asuka quickly grabbed her next magazine and slammed it home in her pistol as that was her last bullet.

'CLANG!'

"I GOT IT! I DROPPED THE LADDER!" Happy yelled out before swooping down, knowing Natsu would always choose Asuka first.

"GREAT JOB BUDDY!" Natsu cheered out as he jumped and grasped the first rung. Already, Happy was lifting Asuka to the rusting metal platform, his little wings lifting her aloft as Natsu pulled himself upward. Gripping the next and the next, he climbed, his feet just out of reach as the first infected gathered below. Their eyes spoke hunger and bloodlust, wanting to infect and spread the plague as Natsu pulled himself onto the landing.

"Holy shit that was close!" Natsu exclaimed with a chuckle as he gave a relieved sigh, Asuka looking down at the horde still grasping with skeletal hands at the humans above them. Breathing a sigh of relief at their close call, she sat down on the rusting metal with a soft thud…and it shook.

Eyes widening as both humans looked at the heavy bolts holding the escape in place, they grew even wider as the closest gave a horrid groan. The closest was beyond rusted, held in place by one…ONE half rusted bolt out of six…and then the entire emergency siding shuddered…

"RUN! TO THE ROOF!" Natsu screamed out as he picked up his daughter and flung her over his shoulders with a yelp. Clanging up the steps as Happy flew next to him, Natsu could see the fatigue in the little feline's eyes. After all, he had carried Asuka above that grimy, stench water underground for who knows how long. It had been far too deep for her to stand, and Natsu couldn't carry her and protect at the same time…so now…he carried her up a collapsing fire escape above a horde of infected humans while the same building started to burn from earlier. Taking a deep breath, the man carried her up the stairs, each hard step making the structure groan under their weight as his boots echoed among the rungs. Bypassing the fourth floor, he saw the apartment through the window filled with spores and dust, the glass miraculously intact as one of the monsters staggered past a couch. His bootsteps alerted the monster to humans, But Natsu was already at the fifth floor by the time it reached the dirty window.

Glancing up, he saw two more levels as his free hand gripped the railing.

"Dad…? I'm scared…"

"Everything will be fine…I promise" Natsu breathed out, the safety of his daughter spurning on his speed. Boots clanged…the rusting metal shuddered as more bolts fell away from the rotting brickwork. Happy was clinging to his neck, the little cat exhausting the last of his magic as Natsu ran, each step bringing them closer to the roof.

He reached the last level of the fire escape…and that's when it finally gave way.

"NO!" He roared, jumping at the last possible moment toward the edge of the building with his left arm outstretched. Feeling the cold concrete under his palm, the dragon slayer held purchase as the rusting metalwork crashed down into the horde. Crushing and maiming many, the area immediately below him became a mess of twisted metal…and angry infected. Hanging by one arm along the side of the six story apartment building, his muscles screamed for mercy to rest…but he wouldn't…not yet.

"CLIMB! CLIMB!" Natsu shouted as Asuka grabbed Happy and grasped the edge herself. Pulling herself onto the roof moments later, the young woman immediately clasped her own hands around Natsu's as she planted her feet against the low roof barrier.

"COME ON DAD! YOU CAN MAKE IT!" the black haired girl cried out, her muscles straining as her face dripped sweat under her favorite hat. Pulling with all her might, she felt relief as a second hand joined the first…then his bearded face…then his shirt and body as he tumbled onto the roof. Breathing deeply as he lay there near an exhausted Happy, the salmon haired man did the only thing he could…he laughed.

"HahahaHAHAHA!"

It was infectious…because Asuka found herself doing the same seconds later, the trio full of relief and joy at escaping death once again. It was madness why they were laughing…but sorely needed to stave off insanity as they continued to laugh at their hellish lives. Finally, after several minutes, Natsu wiped a tear away as he sat up.

"Jesus fucking Christ…I don't think I've ever seen that many in one place" he commented as he looked over the side at the snarling horde below. The whole alleyway was filled with them…clogging it completely as the bank continued to burn on the other side. Studying their own building, Natsu saw flames dancing up the walls like liquid, the overgrowth and poor maintenance of the structure the perfect fuel. Glowering at what it meant, he quickly stood up as the others did the same.

"It's the fire…isn't it? It's spreading?" the girl asked as she cradled Happy in her arms. The poor little cat was magically drained, his eyes drooping as the female held him.

"Yeah…yeah it is. It won't be long till this whole building is a fucking pyre. Dammit!" He vented, cursing what happened. "If I had been more careful…"

"Dad…it's already done. You kept them at bay and now we just need to find a way off this building…" She trailed off, looking for a way down. The roof access door was nailed shut…and probably suicide inside as she continued looking. The far corner had a dilapidated tent and sleeping bag with several empty cans nearby.

"Nothing of use there…" she muttered as she walked around the roof access housing, the square block of concrete hiding the far side of the roof from view. Rounding the corner, she stopped in her tracks as her smile grew.

"Natsu! Look!" she pointed out as her father came to her side. Spanning across the street toward the next building was a wooden rope bridge, the planks mostly there as they connected to several pipes and heating ducts on both structures.

"Well…that's fucking convenient…" he mentioned before stepping up. Giving it a tug, the suspended walkway swayed…but didn't break. "Seems solid…" he told his daughter as Happy looked at them both.

"It's not like we have a choice…It's gonna take hours for my magic to fill up again…" the blue feline said, giving Natsu all the convincing he needed. Taking the first tentative step onto the closest board, his hands gripped both sides of the rope as he put his full weight down.

Nothing happened.

Taking another step, he noticed the weathered boards…but few actually looked damaged or rotten. "Whoever built this…they did a good job…wonder if they're still alive?" He wondered to himself as he moved onward.

"Asuka! Make sure to grab both railing ropes!" the pinkette commanded as he started to walk across…very slowly.

"Yeah…I know…" the girl huffed as Happy climbed into her backpack, freeing up her hands. Grabbing both ropes, she slowly started to follow her father. Glancing down at the road, it was littered with skeletal remains, rusting cars and trash…the typical ruin she had been living with for half of her life. Buildings were overgrown with vines and vegetation, nature slowly but surely reclaiming what human's had taken as a few infected staggered and wandered around. None of them had noticed them yet…many actually moving toward the noise of the horde and crackling fire as the bank became engulfed in flames.

It took barely a minute to reach the other side safely, the group finally able to rest easy as they came to a stop on the office building. It didn't really matter though…the only thing that counted was it was safe for the moment. Looking up at the spring day, Asuka finally plopped on her ass as she was finally able to rest.

"Ugh…so far this day has just sucked…" She complained…just as her stomach grumbled. All of sudden, she found herself starving as Natsu sat down next to her.

"Hungry?" he asked while pulling out a can of dog food…one of their last two. Nodding, she waited as Natsu pried the lid open with his knife before handing her the meal.

"Hopefully, we can find some animals to hunt or some fish soon…" Natsu explained as he too, opened the last can. Sharing half with his little cat, the man watched with sadness and disappointment as his daughter used her fingers to scoop up the meat from the can. She was starving…she knew not to waste food…but it still sickened him he couldn't even provide a decent meal toward her. Watching as she scooped more of the meat into her mouth, Natsu started doing the same before handing his daughter a can of cola.

"For the taste…" he told her, getting a low nod as she cracked it open. Starting his own meal with the exceed, Natsu helped himself to a soda also as he gave one to Happy. They had one left…Asuka would get it as he scooped more of the canine food into his mouth.

"Thanks dad…" she whispered after chewing the food.

The taste was awful…she knew it would be. But it was something to keep her going for a little bit longer before she took a deep pull of the cherry cola. Washing down her throat, it took away the taste of the canned meat as the cherry flavor erupted in her mouth. It left bubbles on her tongue as she smiled, knowing it would be a long time before finding her favorite flavor again.

'pop…pop…POP! POP! POP!'

The air around them charged with electricity, the stray bolts lashing out from a spot ten feet away. In seconds, a strange…disk? Portal or vortex? Whatever it was, it appeared with a flash as blues and purples swirled and danced in mid-air.

"GET BEHIND ME!" Natsu yelled, knocking over his unfinished meal as he stood and pushed the young maiden behind his back. Happy was standing next to him, ready to meet this new threat as Natsu pointed his rifle at the strange mass. There was a burst of light…then a person walked through…somebody that had been dead for years. A woman with flowing white hair…a beautiful smile…and a maroon dress that hugged her shapely body.

"Hello…Natsu" she said, her voice like an angel.

"M…Mira?" He whispered, his eyes looking at her with the portal behind her pulsating and hovering in the air.

"Yes…it's me Natsu…at least…in a sense" she continued to smile at the tattered survivor.

"Mira…no…NO! YOU DIED! I WATCHED YOU DIE! I…I BURIED YOU WITH THE OTHERS!" He yelled, gripping his rifle as he kept it centered on her body. "Am I going crazy? Have I finally snapped and broke with insanity and visions of the dead? Of a woman that dances through my mind?"

"Yeah! I was there in your last moments Mira! I…I want to believe your real…but you're not! You've been dead for years!" Happy shouted at the woman as Asuka gripped the magnum at her back.

"Whatever this is…I'll defend my father!" She vowed as Mira slowly rose her hands.

"I'm not a trick Natsu…I'm very real. I come from a different universe…full of life. A universe where there was never a plague…where everybody is still alive. Lisanna…Lucy…Erza and Cana…Gildarts and Master…Magnolia…its all there…" She said soothingly, her voice calm and serene.

"THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE! This…YOU HAVE TO BE A DEMON! OR…OR WE'VE GONE CRAZY! OR…" he trembled as Mira took a step closer, his grip on the rifle stern as he kept her in his sights.

"It is possible…so many different universes with different paths" She took another cautious step closer, now standing only a foot away from the barrel as Natsu's eyes glittered with tears.

"YOU EXPECT US TO BELIEVE THAT!?" Asuka shouted, bringing her magnum to bear on the woman who smiled down at her.

"You must be Asuka...your growing into such a brave, young woman"

"SHUT UP!" the girl trembled, her heavy pistol gripped tightly in her hands as Happy looked up at Mira. Her hands were shaking…the imposter looked just like her…just like Mira who would give her treats…

"You can't be Mira…you just can't" the little cat said softly as the mentioned female slowly pushed the rifle to the side, reaching a hand for Natsu.

"I know…your life has been horrible…full of death and suffering. Your Mira…is still gone…but I'm here…" she barely whispered as her delicate fingers brushed his cheek.

Natsu subconsciously leaned into it…her touch sending sparks to his heart. "She feels real…she sounds real…hell, she even smells like Mira…"

"I'm here Natsu…I'm really here" she told him as the man lowered his rifle. Wrapping him in a hug, the male could feel her bosom pressing against his chest as he slowly sank to his knees with her.

"M..Mira?" He choked out, the touch of the woman real as tears streamed down his face. Gripping her tightly, he nestled his face into the crook of her neck. "I…Is this a dream? Am I dead?"

"No…your very alive. I'm alive" the beautiful angel told him before slowly breaking the embrace. Looking into his eyes, her smile was infectious. "Would you like to leave this world behind? To see all your loved ones again? Never having to scavenge for supplies or fight off deadly monsters?"

"Th….that would be really nice…" he said softly as Mira jumped to her feet, surprising the trio.

"GREAT! And I'll even make you a huge lunch! Anything the three of you want!" The white haired woman cheered out, her breasts giving a small bounce as Natsu eyed them. He really couldn't help it…it had been a long time since he glanced on a woman his age. This of course, didn't go unnoticed by Mira who gave a small smirk as she walked toward the portal with the three.

"Now don't worry, it won't hurt at all" She instructed, taking Natsu's and Asuka's hands in her own. Happy was clutched to the young girl's bosom, looking up at Mira.

"Y…you're not lying right? Everybody is there? Even Carla?"

"That's right, Happy. All your friends" Mira told the blue cat that gave a small smile. Pulling them forward, Mira walked through with her charges and left this world behind as the portal snapped shut moments later…

Universe 132-F Fairy Tail guild hall

The four walked through the spinning breech, Mira their guide as they arrived in the middle of their hall. It was a sunny day, shafts of light pouring through the window as the many mages sat and drank, laughed and talked over meals and their latest jobs. Cana was sitting at the bar with her father, sharing a bottle of rum with the crash mage, the clink of glasses bringing smiles to their faces. She was sitting next to Evergreen, the busty brunette reading a novel as the men of the Thunder Legion chatted and talked at a nearby table. Lisanna was sitting next to Laxus, leaning against his chest with a content smile as her boyfriend continued to relay his latest adventure to the Strauss sister.

Elfman was at a separate table, arm wrestling with Gajeel as Pantherlily was referee to the manly duo over shouts of how manly he was. Lucy was at a separate table with Erza, Juvia, Wendy, Carla, and Bisca, feminine laughter rising through the air as the women talked and joked with each other. Levy was with Jet and Droy, fiddling with a strange machine as the newly arrived trio stopped.

Natsu's breath caught in his throat. It became parched and dry as his eyes looked at everybody in the hall. Tears started to stream as the mages finally looked at the new arrivals.

"They…they're here….they're alive" Natsu whispered before falling to the floorboards, his hands bracing him up as water droplets leaked from his vision. His shaking sobs quivered his body as the tears flowed.

Happy was a bawling mess, his little legs carrying him over to a person he never thought he would see again.

"LISANNA!" He shouted with a leap, landing in her arms while he nuzzled into her neck, bawling his eyes out into the crook of her neck. Feeling her slender arms wrap around him, the white haired woman gave small reassurances and cooing sounds to the cat.

Looking around, Asuka didn't know what to do. She was just a young girl when everybody died. She didn't have the abundance of memories like her dad did…then she spotted her…she was walking toward her with a small smile on her beautiful features as green bangs framed her face. Stopping before the young woman, Bisca sank to one knee and held out her hand.

"Hello Asuka. I'm Bisca" she said, the voice carrying over the sobs of Natsu and Happy as the older woman studied the girl. "Poor thing…she's wearing torn and dirty clothes…covered in ash and grime…she even still carry's weapons and was eating dog food just minutes ago to survive…" Bisca thought as her heart screamed to comfort this young woman. They had all watched the last few minutes of that universe…just that glimpse had been awful for them to watch.

"Mom…" Asuka whispered as she held her hand out. They graced fingertips, the touch cracking the last dam of resistance in the survivor as trickles of moisture gathered at the corners of her eyes. "She's alive…I touched her and she's alive…mom's alive…MOM'S ALIVE!"

"MOM!" the black haired teen cried out before jumping and wrapping herself around Bisca's neck, her tears flowing. The years of pain and fear…of constant fighting and killing…it all boiled over as she bawled and cried into her mother's shoulder.

"Ssshhhhh…it's okay…" The female whispered as her green locks flowed down her back.

"What a bunch of crybaby's. Seriously, if you think you can just walk in here and steal my Natsumi, I'll kick your ass back to your shit universe" Grey mentioned with a scowl, his shirt already missing as many mages looked at the ice wielder in horror.

"Hey man! That is not cool!" Laxus shouted at the black haired teen as Makarov nodded from the bar.

"Indeed Grey, these three survived a horrible life and don't need you insulting them. Now you will cease your words at once" Makarov ordered, setting his beer down.

"Why? Look at him? He's crying like a damn kid"

"Grey…." Erza glowered, slowly standing up to place herself next to the obviously traumatized man.

"What? If it was me there, I would've been able to save our family from a lame sickness. In fact, I'm surprised Asuka didn't die too-"

Natsu snapped his head up, a feral rage on his face as his tears ceased. Jumping forward, he cocked his fist back and slugged Grey across the face, sending him flying across the room.

"SHUT UP YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!" The fire mage screamed before running over and kicking the ice user in the side with a heavy boot. The man grunted in pain, hitting a pillar as Natsu stalked over, his face contorted in rage.

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW! I WATCHED EVERYBODY DIE!" he yelled, punching the man in the ribs as he slowly stood, block trickling from his mouth. "I HAD TO BURY EVERYBODY! SEEING THE LIGHT GO OUT OF THEIR EYES! WATCHING INFECTED SPREAD THEIR PLAUGE ACROSS THE PLANET! I WOULD GO DAYS WITHOUT FOOD! SACRIFICING MY OWN SO ASUKA AND HAPPY HAD MEALS!" He screamed in fury, punching the man in the stomach once more, doubling him over as Natsu gripped him by the hair and dragged him to eye level.

"I'VE KILLED MEN FOR A BOTTLE OF WATER AND TWO CANS OF PEACHES! HID UNDER ROTTING CORPSES TO HIDE THE THREE OF US FROM THE WALKERS! I DID MY FUCKING BEST TO KEEP THE LAST OF MY FAMILY ALIVE! AND YOU! You…you think you could've done better! You were one of the first to die…" the man snarled as he raised one final punch to knock the arrogant man out.

Feeling his hand restrained, the survivor looked back at Erza, her tears streaming as she looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Natsu please…that's enough" she whispered as his anger dissipated.

"I always hated it when you cried…" he whispered, feeling his anger leave him before glancing at the bloody and bruised ice mage. "I don't know who Natsumi is, but whoever she is, I hope she does better than a weakling like you. I could've killed you at anytime…your weak" Natsu finished, letting the hair go and dropping the mage at his feet. Feeling her hand wrap in his, the dragon looked at the knight.

"…Sorry…" he mumbled as Erza gave a small smile.

"It's fine…he was asking for it after his words" she replied…then wrinkled her nose. "You could use a shower" she stated flatly as the red head took in his appearance…and smell.

"Well…I was in a sewer this morning fleeing some bandits…don't think I can remember the last time I saw running water" He replied while running a hand through his greasy hair.

"Well then, follow me to Fairy Hills. You can use the shower in my apartment. Then, we can get you some new clothes" the knight commented, getting a stern glare from many of the other women in the hall.

"That hussy! She's already trying to coil her fingers around him!" Many thought as Mira walked up, a light glare in her eye as she grabbed his hand.

"You know men aren't allowed in the women's dorms, Erza. But, luckily my home doesn't have such a rule" she told her rival in love as Erza glared back, grabbing his other hand.

"Obviously Mira, an exception can be made. He needs to shower and my apartment is closest" she said through clenched teeth as Lucy walked up, her vest showing a large amount of cleavage as her chest heaved and giggled.

"You two need a lesson in geography. My apartment is the closest and he can shower there" the blonde stated matter of factly as all three started to emit auras of annoyance.

"What…why are they so insistent on a shower for my dad?" Asuka asked Bisca who glanced at the word she used for Natsu…much to the annoyance of a distant Alzack.

"How about I tell you later? But I know you could use some fresh clothes and a good cleaning too" The greenette smiled down at the younger female who looked up with her own little smirk.

"That…that would be nice….HAPPY! Your getting a bath too!" She yelled, making the blue cat jump in fear and fly over to her. Cradling him in her arms, the young woman looked up. "Okay. We can go now…mom"

Smiling down at the girl, Bisca didn't mind in the least at being called mom by the teenager. "And if I play my cards right, Natsu will date me first!" the gun mage told herself as she grasped the girl's hand and led her out of the hall into the summer day.

Watching his adoptive daughter go, Natsu couldn't help but be overcome with worry. Aside from the stupidity of Grey, nobody had made a hostile move against them even as the three women argued around them. "If this was a trap…it would be pretty elaborate just to get a few guns and bullets. It's not like we have money or anything else. And where is this…Natsumi? Is she the female version of me? The name sounds like something feminine… But…why would they help us? What could they possibly want? Are they planning on taking Asuka away from me? Are they crazed cultists? No…their body language is relaxed and Bisca's eyes…they were soft and kind. But…if they are a threat, I'll destroy them or leave with Asuka and Happy…I haven't needed anybody for years" He reasoned as the three females continued to argue about him showering.

"Honestly…its just a damn shower…" He muttered, walking toward the back of the hall. If he remembered correctly, there was a spare bedroom with a full shower. Leaving the women behind, the guild soon heard a door open and shut. It was soon followed by the sound of running water as the survivor started his tasks in the bathroom.

Looking down at the knocked out Grey, Gildarts glanced at the three women across the hall, his face contorted with questions. Minutes ticked by, the crash mage unsure how to feel about this. "Natsumi is like a second daughter to me, but she's helping her boyfriend fight those monsters in one thirty seven-C. We all know she is alive from her regular check in's, but this guy…I'll keep an eye on him for now. We have no idea what he's done except for a few small pieces" Shaking his head, the man took a pull of his beer before setting his gaze on the girls around the hall.

"So…how long are you girls going to wait before telling him? Judging by the world he came from, you're lucky he's not a complete psychopath. I mean…he beat the shit out of Grey for almost nothing? He's dangerous like Dragneel from one thirty seven C…and has been looking after Asuka and Happy for years. This Natsu…he won't be like the normal ones we've met after scavenging and killing to survive"

"We know dad…but we couldn't just leave him there…and the fact he kept her alive all this time…means he's very protective of her. It will take a while to reacclimate them to society…I plan on taking it slow and rebuilding his trust" Cana told her father as Makarov nodded.

"Slow would be best with him. We have no idea what could set him off. Same with Asuka. It's only because Bisca was soft and gentle with her and the fact her old mother was a different Bisca…that had to have been exhausting and a jumble of emotions. But notice…she didn't once look at or acknowledge Alzack?" Makarov muttered as the man stood up.

"Yeah…that doesn't make sense to me? I thought I ended up being her dad so why is she calling Natsu dad?"

Hearing a door slam, the guild looked to see Natsu walk back, his hair dripping wet as his old clothes clung to his body. He had not abandoned his weapons, the deadly firearms within easy reach.

"It's because you were a wife beating bastard in my universe and a shitty father that would leave Bisca with bruises. A fucking drunk that took out his failures on a kind woman or his daughter. As far as Asuka is concerned, I'm her dad…" Natsu marched across the room before grabbing the man by the collar, pulling him close so they were eye to eye.

"And if I find out you hurt her…or Bisca…I'll fucking break your legs and leave you for the crows…Nobody will fuck with my daughter…you get me?" Natsu hissed out, his eyes boring into Alzacks.

"Y…yeah man…" he stuttered as Natsu pushed him away, a sneer on his face before walking toward the door.

"I'm going to wait for those two to get ready. I don't like being separated from them" He stated evenly, his eyes casting over the guild. "Make no mistake, I appreciate you bringing us here…that place was hell on earth. I…broke down in weakness…weakness that could get me killed…it won't happen again" He stated coldly while pushing the double doors open, his dirty white shirt clinging to his hard muscles as the rifle hung on his back.

The sun was bright outside, the light warming his skin as he heard the scuffling of boots.

"NATSU! WAIT!" Juvia cried out as she dragged Wendy along, the poor girl helpless as the rainwoman stopped at the main doors. Trying to give a pleasant smile, she could feel the glares of her love rivals on her as Natsu turned to her.

"Yeah, Juvia?"

"Um…" She fidgeted nervously, shifting her feet before clenching her fists, steeling her resolve. "Wou…Would you like Juvia and Wendy to help you and Asuka buy new clothes? Yours…um…they're pretty worn out" she stated, giving the cutest puppy dog eyes she could muster as Wendy just stood there with Carla, studying the man.

Looking down, Natsu could see several new tears and rips in his pants and shirt, destroying some of the previous patches as he gave a knowing nod.

"I…guess that couldn't hurt…" he relented, Juvia's stare making him uncomfortable.

"YAY!" the rainwoman jumped in place before running toward Fairy Hills. "Come on Natsu! We can get the others and make it a shopping trip!" She said excitedly as Natsu looked down at Wendy with the ghost of smile.

"So uh…would you want to help Asuka? Your both close in age here…All we've ever done is loot abandoned stores for clothes and shoes…whatever was left…" the man started to say as Wendy gave him a little smile.

"It's alright Natsu, I would be happy to help. I just…I hope myself and Asuka can become…friends…" the sky maiden told the fire dragon as they walked up the hill toward the dorms.

"That…would be nice" He relented, unaware of a group of women eyeing from a distance.

"Remember…we can't let Juvia sink her claws into him first. He's for all of us" Erza stated as the other women agreed with nods of their heads. The rainwoman had blindsided them, but they would recover and make sure all of them got to spend time with the dragon slayer.

"But how will we get her away from him today?" Laki asked, crossing her arms underneath her bust as Mira shook her head.

"We won't. Right now, we need to build trust with him and the others. That won't happen if we charge out of nowhere and drag Juvia or Bisca off. He might see it as an attack right now. All we're doing is observing and learning" Mira explained as she looked at each one in turn. "This is the closest we've ever come to our own Natsu since Dragneel visited and…pleasured us" The barmaid said with a blush before shaking her head. "We can't mess this up ladies! This is our chance! We just need to wait and give him time!" she shouted as Evergreen raised a hand.

"Hey Mira? They already left" the brunette stated as she pointed toward the distant Natsu and his group heading into the city.

"DAMMIT!" she cursed before running after the future king of their harem…

Walking down the street with her father's hand clenched in her own as she held Happy, Asuka couldn't believe the noise and bustle of the city. The buildings were clean and functional, magic mobiles driving through the wide street as people walked about their business. Clamor's of shouts and conversation reached her ears as Bisca and Juvia walked with them, smiles on their faces.

Turning a street toward the main market, the young woman's eyes got wider. Stores of all types lined the avenue. Toy stores…clothing stores….restaurants and cafes…even a cake shop as people purchased their wares and continued their day.

"Th…so many people…" She whispered as she watched two teenage girls walk out of a store for young women.

"I know…the last people we saw would have killed us" Happy said softly as the two drifted closer to Natsu.

"It…must've been awful there…I'm sorry" Bisca relayed to them as Natsu waved it off.

"It was survival. Only the lucky, strong, and merciless survived as long as we did" He said with a hint of unease. Never once did he remove his hand from the butt of his pistol, ready to draw it in a heartbeat as the masses flowed around them. Some were glancing at their tattered and worn clothes, but nobody made any threatening motions to the group as they all continued to walk down the avenue of the shopping district.

Sniffing the air, Asuka's stomach grumbled, the last canned meal not doing much to stave off hunger. Looking around, the young woman spotted a restaurant that had several tables outside. People were sitting and eating food….cooked and delicious looking food.

"So…much food…" the girl said softly as Bisca looked at the survivors.

"Would you like something to eat you three?" the gun mage asked as they drew closer.

"FOOD!" Happy shouted out before flying toward a waitress walking out on the patio. Grabbing her by the collar, the little cat got in the woman's face.

"FISHY! GIVE ME FISHY!"

"AH!" The woman fell back, startled at the crazed cat that was flying around in circles, looking for fish. Getting picked up by Juvia, the rainwoman tried to give an apology.

"Juvia is sorry. Happy didn't have much to eat today and is hungry. May we have a table and some menu's?"

"I…of course. This way" the waitress said nervously, leading them inside the restaurant to a booth. Quickly returning with menu's, she quickly hurried away from the crazy cat. She remembered last time he was in here with Natsumi and how he stole another patron's food. Still…the man seemed almost similar…perhaps a long lost brother?

Scanning down the menu, Asuka was trying to decide with an almost giddy look. "I can't believe I'm in an actual restaurant! The last time we were in one, we had to hide in the freezer with spoiled meat from the walkers. The smell was really bad, but they didn't find us" she stated matter of factly, not realizing Bisca, Wendy, Carla and Juvia had uncomfortable looks upon learning that.

"It must've been dangerous…living day to day like that…" the greenette said to the trio as Happy nodded.

"Yeah…it was…" Natsu replied before looking at Asuka. "Make sure to not go overboard. Juvia and Bisca are being nice enough to buy us lunch, so thank them"

"Oh! Um…thanks…for…" the distracted girl tried to say, gaining a light giggle from the two women.

"It's fine, really" Bisca told her new daughter as the waitress returned, note pad and pen in hand.

"Are you ready for your orders?"

"YES! A double bacon cheeseburger with barbeque sauce! And onion rings! And a soda!" the girl practically shouted as Happy rose up.

"FISHY! A PLATE OF FISH!"

"I'll have what she's having" Natsu told the waitress with a grunt as Bisca and Juvia ordered two salads and a basket of French fries to share. Wendy ordered some chicken and a fish for Carla, her blue locks spilling down her back as she sat across from Asuka. Walking away, the waitress flowed around the other tables to place their food order among the talking and clamor of the other customers.

Watching her leave, Natsu looked over at Bisca.

"Bisca"

"Yes?"

"Who's Natsumi? And where is your own daughter? Did she die?"

"What? No. I've never had children. I'm not even seeing anybody. As for Natsumi, she's basically…the female you. Currently, she's with her boyfriend in another universe"

"Wow Nastu! I didn't know you were a girl!" Happy said impishly, teasing his father as Asuka giggled.

"I'm not, you furball!" the man grumbled before wiping a hand through his salmon hair. "I guess I should have figured that out from the name. Does that mean there's another Happy flying around too? Whatever. As long as her boyfriend's not that stupid ice pick. Stupid fucking asshole. Had no idea the kind of man I am or what I went through"

"Well…hopefully I'll meet her sometime. Just hope whoever he is treats her right…ugh. Is Grey really after her?"

"Yes…even after she started dating him…he just won't give up. It's really annoying to her since she wants to eventually marry him" Juvia butted in as the waitress returned with their drinks.

Taking a sip, Asuka savored the bubbly flavor of the soft drink, making her smile even more as Wendy did the same.

Seeing her face light up, Natsu's own features hardened as he looked over at the gun mage.

"Bisca. If your planning on being…her mom or friend….don't take it lightly. Asuka watched you die, and I…I did my damn best to keep her alive…safe… I taught her how to kill and evade. Firearms and knife handling. How to hunt and prepare animals and fish…I promised you before you died that I would treat her like my own…and I did. Don't betray the trust I'm placing in you right now" He said sternly, his gaze unblinking at the female.

"I…wont. I know it will take time…" she told the man as Juvia glanced at the three across from them.

"So Natsu…I don't mean to pry, but…was there a 'special' girl in the guild for you?"

"No. I was an idiot back then and didn't notice anything like that. If any of them had feelings toward me, it died with them" He relayed harshly, making the rainwoman flinch. Softening his tone, the man shook his head. "I knew they were beautiful…all of them…but then the plague hit…" he spoke softly, clamming his mouth shut as he leaned back, the conversation over.

"Dad doesn't like to talk about it. He buried everybody…someone died everyday…You were one of the first, Juvia" Asuka said softly, ceasing the depressing topic for the next few minutes.

Eyes downcast, the rainwoman knew that the multiverse could have any situation...but it was still hard to hear she was dead from Asuka's home reality.

"Asuka?" Wendy asked, looking at the downcast girl.

"Yes?"

"I don't know where you plan on staying tonight, but you can stay in my room at Fairy Hills if you want?"

"Thanks…but I'll be staying with Natsu and Happy" Asuka told the sky maiden as the waitress returned with their meals. Flipping her mood, the black haired girl with the dirty cowgirl hat eyed the burger and onion rings before her. Sizzling meat between two buns…melting cheese and crispy bacon…lettuce and ketchup…her mouth was watering. It was a meal she hadn't seen in years.

Grabbing it with her hands, the girl took a huge bite of the double decker. Chewing with an angelic look on her face, she didn't realize tears were streaming down her cheeks from the sheer amount of flavor and deliciousness. Finally swallowing, her lips were trembling.

"THANK YOU FOR THE MEAL!" She cried out before eating at a furious pace. Happy was digging into his plate of grilled fish, his cat instincts making him eat.

"YEAH! IT'S SOOOO GOOD!" He complimented as Natsu dug into his own burger, his face contorted with pleasure.

"I guess you were really hungry…" Carla said casually as the trio ate and ate. Swallowing his latest bite, Natsu took a gulp of soda before looking at the gathered women.

"This is way better than dog food…only thing I've eaten since yesterday…That was our breakfast too"

"By mavis…Juvia will never let that happen again…" She whispered, not fathoming the desperation to eat something like that…to hid in rotting meat lockers…to kill over simple items. Seeing Wendy, Carla and Bisca nod, the busty rainwoman knew these others would do their best to help these three readjust to society.

The next day…

It was still early morning, the guild barely opened as Mira prepped the kitchen for the eventual rush of hungry mages. Yesterday had been a whirlwind of following Natsu and his group, trying to keep a safe distance from the man as the group of women surveyed and watched. While she was upset she hadn't been chosen to help in the shopping, she could understand why Bisca got one of the prime spots. Wendy wasn't a threat and having a girl Asuka's own age could help the teenager acclimate to their world as the two had advised and helped the dark haired teenager shop for some new clothes.

Stifling a sigh, she new Natsu had done his best in a horrible…horrible situation. Stylish clothes and items were probably the last thing on his mind. He seemed to only care for functionality and the bare minimum on his day out…despite Juvia's best efforts. The water mage had been quite…close during the outing after their meal, always using opportunities to brush her hands along Natsu's arms in passing or other area's of his body. She actually had to hold back Erza from charging in and ruining the whole thing. After that…nothing of note really happened. But what she did notice is that Natsu never let Asuka leave his eye sight along with Happy. He was always close…like a coiled python ready to strike at any threat as the day moved on and on. Eventually, the women called it quits themselves as they couldn't follow the dragon slayer all day…and the darkness of evening was approaching.

"We all agreed to share a Natsu when the time is right…but that doesn't mean one of us can't be queen…" Mira told herself smugly as she wiped a glass behind the bar. Little did she know that all the other women of the guild had similar thoughts during the night as the doors swung open. Stepping in, a familiar blonde key mage strode in, her skirt a little higher than yesterday…and her cleavage just a little more revealing.

"Good morning Mira. Have you seen Natsu and the others?" The blonde asked with a little excitement in her voice. Ever since meeting Dragneel and enduring his…manliness in the bedroom, each girl was hooked. They had been searching for their own Natsu since, and odds are each one was just anticipating the day when they could bed the dragon once more.

"Master let them sleep in the spare room at the back of the hall. I was actually going to start cooking them breakfast soon"

"Well, in that case, I'll wake them up and join them" The blonde replied, skipping to the back of the hall as Mira gave a light glare.

"Yes…she will be one of the main contenders for queen…same with Erza, Cana, or Juvia. I'll have to secure as much time with him as possible…" The snow haired angel told herself as Lucy disappeared down the hall, a small smirk on her face.

Walking down the hall, Lucy's breasts heaved with each step, her shirt barely containing the large assets.

"Take that Mira….I'll be the first…" She whispered to herself as the blonde approached the door. Yes, Mira was family and Lucy loved her like a sister, but they finally found a Natsu of their own. He was a survivor…strong and brave…more intelligent than many they had met in the multiverse…protective of his child and not to mention damn sexy. He would be perfect for her future children and Asuka can be their big sister! It would be wonderful! The blonde fantasized as she reached for the door.

Turning the knob, she pushed it open, letting light spill into the shadowed room. A window was across from her, the blinds drawn as sunlight dared to peak through, spreading shafts of light across the floor. Their backpacks and most of their belongings were resting near the nightstand, the trusty rifle leaning against the wall. Two pistols sat on the nightstand itself, no doubt loaded and ready for action.

But what really drew the beautiful blonde's attention was the trio on the bed. Natsu had his arms wrapped around Asuka, the girl protected during the night as she did the same to Happy. While the soft snores from the cat and girl were barely audible, Natsu seemed to be breathing…harder. His body was twitching, shaking the frame a little bit as he slept restlessly.

"Is he…having a nightmare?"

"Natsu?" Lucy whispered, closing in on the bed. He didn't answer as the man continued to dream of years of horror and broken lives.

Resting her hand on his shoulder, Lucy gently shook him.

He sprung like a coiled tiger, jumping toward the female in a flash of movement as his instincts took over. The nightmare he had been dreaming of was blood and fire…loss and death. He didn't know who had snuck into his room...but they would pay for it as his mind reeled. Pushing them to the wall as his left hand clasped around their throat, he brought the deadly blade upward.

"N…Natsu…" Lucy pleaded as the blade came inches away. His grip was deadly strong, holding her in place as their bodies were pressed close. She didn't even have a chance to cry out as his blade finally stopped inches from her throat.

Recognition flared in his eyes. The face of a lost friend…the blonde hair…her womanly body pressed close…the smell of lilacs from her blonde locks.

"L..lucy?" He asked hoarsely as Asuka and Happy had sat up, realizing there was an intruder amongst them. They were still sleepy, but the young woman already had a gun in her hands…before lowering it.

Releasing his grip, the man set the blade down on the table as the female took a few deep breaths, a few coughs echoing around the room as her adrenaline spiked and dived in moments. Running a hand through his salmon locks, the man studied the woman before easing her into a spare chair. Grabbing a bottle of water from his backpack, he twisted the top off and handed it to her.

"Christ Lucy…what were you doing in here?" He asked as the blonde took deep gulps, trying to settle her nerves.

"HOLY SHIT! HE COULD'VE KILLED ME!" She trembled, realizing that winning the hardened trio would take more than a few days of flirting and friendship.

"I…I was wondering…I was going to invite you to breakfast…but then I saw you shaking…" She whispered, her body still trembling.

"Dad! Apologize to her right now! You scared the shit out of Lucy!" Asuka demanded, finally standing up with a teenager glare. She would be a force to be reckoned with when she's older.

Grunting at his daughter, the slayer looked back down at the blonde as he knew his daughter was right.

"What just happened…that was years of instincts and survival kicking in. I just…reacted to a possible threat in the room. So…I'm sorry I over-reacted" He apologized before extending a hand down toward her. "If you still want, I would enjoy some breakfast…just knock next time"

Wiping a few tears away, Lucy stifled a small laugh before gripping the hand. Feeling herself pulled to her feet.

"I'll make sure to tell the others. Don't disturb Natsu and his naps. He's a grumpy dragon" She teased as the man left the room, his new clothes wrinkled from sleep. Apparently, he's ready to fight or flee at a moment's notice.

"Tch…think your so damn funny" the male replied, a little mirth in his voice as he walked down the hall.

"C'mon Lucy! I finally get to try some of Mira's cooking again!" Asuka exclaimed, grabbing the blonde's hand and dragging her from the room as Happy fluttered in the air.

The next few hours had the new trio enjoy a large, hearty breakfast from Mira, each asking for seconds as her legendary cooking skills came into play. More mages had shown up, many trying to be friendly toward the trio…with the exception of Grey. The ice mage was still swathed in bandages, lying unconscious in the infirmary from the beat down the day before. His pain would be a lesson to most of the men…don't piss this guy off.

Soon finding his table crowded with Erza, Cana, Lucy, and Laki, the pinkette cocked an eyebrow as each one. While Asuka enjoyed a bottle of cherry cola, she couldn't help but notice something odd.

"Now why are they always studying my dad. Granted, their Natsu is a girl…so maybe its just something new for them? It's not like they want to date him or anything. That would be crazy" She thought before getting up. Grabbing her drink, the daughter walked over to Wendy's table and sat down, trying to be friendly toward the sky maiden.

As soon as she left, Evergreen filled her vacant spot, a smile on her face as she scooted closer to the man. Leaning her chin on her palm, she rested her elbow on the table while looking at the mage.

"So Natsu…what are you going to do today? You don't have to worry about fighting for survival anymore" the brunette asked, her eyes wandering all over the man next to her.

"Uh? I guess I don't really know?" He replied as Laki interrupted, her purple bangs framing her face as she leaned forward. Her breasts were practically spilling from her shirt, trying to entice the man.

"Why not go on a job? Technically, you never left Fairy Tail and while master is being nice enough to give you a room, he wont let you be a free loader forever"

"Huh…that's not a bad idea. Plus, I should pay back Bisca and Juvia for yesterday. And I don't have a single jewel to my name….I'll need to earn a living if I want to build a home…"

"OH! If you want help, I can design one for you" Levy spoke up, interrupting the man's musings as she stood at the end of the table with a familiar smile.

"Ah…I guess?" he replied before standing up. Leaving the women alone, he didn't realize it was rude to just…leave. Walking over to the job board, he started to look over the jobs. Nab was standing there…not choosing one just like Natsu remembered. Shaking his head at the distant memory, the mage finally settled on one right up his alley.

"Monster elimination…perfect. And the money is pretty good too…three hundred thousand jewel. Let's see…rampaging forest vulcan's outside of Ilumina City…" He muttered, before noticing another job close by. In fact, it was issued by the same customer. The second was to defeat some bandits, offering another hundred thousand. Grabbing the two job requests, he slammed them on the bar near Lisanna.

"Hey…I'll be killing all this shit"

"Ah…alright" the younger sister replied awkwardly as she grabbed them and walked off. Turning, he spotted his daughter chatting and laughing with Wendy, her smile making his heart glow. Walking over, he looked down at Asuka.

"Hey. We have to pull our weight. I took two jobs"

"Oh…can Wendy and Carla come with?"

"…Sure" the man relented as Happy landed on his shoulders.

"YAY! We can finally have money again! I'm gonna buy so many fishies!" the little cat cheered out as Bisca and Erza walked up to the trio.

"Would you like us to accompany you? It's been several years since you've completed a job, correct? Us being there could help you refamiliarize yourself with the tasks" Erza stated, her eyes wandering to the man's torso. The new black shirt was form fitting…hugging the muscles and six pack underneath as she snapped her gaze back toward his eyes.

"Bad Erza! No dirty thoughts right now!"

"I…guess that would be fine…." Natsu replied guardedly as Bisca smirked. Erza had been looking at him weird…almost like Juvia did the day before…like he was some piece of meat. "Wait…they're not cannibals, are they? Nah… I've only met a few of those"

"YES! I can spend more time with Asuka and this sexy man!" Bisca practically jumped for joy in her minds eye before coughing awkwardly. "Well then, lets prepare for our journey. I'll go get packed since this will take a day or two" the greenette told them as she ran from the hall.

"I too, shall go prepare" The knight told the group as she left, thoughts of sharing the same bed with Natsu in her mind's eye. She would give him pleasure one day…and there would be no resistance on his part…

Watching the two women leave as the rest of the guild went about their business, Happy glanced over to his father.

"Hey Natsu?"

"Yeah buddy?"

"Have you been noticing a lot of the girls acting weird around you?"

"I have noticed that…"

"Same here. Just now Bisca was studying your arms while you talked with Erza" Asuka relayed to her father as the man rested a hand on his chin.

"Hmm…when I think about it, they've all been stealing glances at me…just like how Juvia used to look at Grey. But that would mean they're all interested in me…nah. The idea of them wanting some super harem with me is ridiculous. I've only been here a day. It's not like some other Natsu came here and seduced them all in three days or something…"

"Whatever, women are weird on normal days. Let's get ready" The man told his group as they went to prepare for the start of new adventures…

And that's a wrap! Phew! This was fun to write! A mix of walking dead and the last of us…survival and killing! But now he gets a new life with many women interested! And before you ask, I would like to write a sequel for this, maybe with Natsumi and Dragneel appearing to…test this Natsu in strength. But if you expected him to just be okay with a super harem off the bat, sorry, right now his priority is building a new life with Asuka and Happy. Romance can come later. Now I'll start the next chapter of the COG next…maybe two right away. However…I would really want to do a chapter with the upcoming RE2 remake and Wendy. Like no magic…just bloody survival…maybe throw in Jill Valentine for kicks. Also, the poll is still up for now so make sure to vote on the Riftworm! YES OR NO PEOPLE! SO READ! REVIEW! AND ENJOY!

Natsu: Man…I can't believe I'm out of that horrible universe…right Asuka?

Asuka: Hmmm? Oh, sorry, was reading this new book. *So, your father is a harem king*

Natsu: What the hell is that?

Erza and Mira: NOTHING! NOTHING AT ALL! WE SO DON'T WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH YOU RIGHT NOW! *Waving hands frantically*

This is Thehappy signing off!