WARNING THIS STORY USES PROFANITY
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters!
Enjoy!
Lowering his head, Natsu took a deep breath and continued for her. "On the day of the battle, when I was fighting Zeref, he told me something that I'm still having trouble believing." Using one of his hands he rub the back of his neck not knowing how to put his thoughts into actual words.
"Y'all know about the demons he created, and with those demons there was END." picking his head back up he looked everyone in the eyes and said "Etherious Natsu Dragneel..." saying each word strong but slowly so everyone can soak it in quicker.
He stopped looking around the room, and looked Master Makarov in the eyes and said "he told me, I am END."
No one said a word, for what felt like eternity for the dragon slayer, but was actually for three minutes straight, you couldn't even hear anyone breathing. Instead every pair of eyes in the room were on Natsu, but his was staring right into Master Makarovs' looking for something. What exactly? Natsu didn't know. He just wanted him to say something before someone else say something he was afraid to hear come from his Nakamas' mouth. Somehow Natsu manage to brake the staring contest he was in with the Master, stood up from his seat and started walking past him towards the door, watching the floor pass under him.
"Where are you going my child?" Makarov finally said softly stopping him in mid step.
"And where did you get that necklace?" Gray irrelevantly wondered out loud.
A solemn shadow fell over his face as he took off the pendant and tossed the item to Gray, not caring if he wasn't in the mood to play catch. "Found it after the battle. Here in the guild, where his body was." He deeply sighed.
Gray opened the pendant, with half the guild hovering around to take a peek at what was inside. And inside they saw a picture of a light blushed, grinning kid Natsu, who looked to be about 7 years old and a 10 year old smiley Zeref standing just behind him on his right side. Both wore a white tunics with a sash around the waist, only Zeref's were black and Natsus' was red, it appear to be a little big for his little body. Zeref wore dark brown sandals and a gold bracelet, they couldn't see the bottom half of Natsu body but they just assumed he had the same footwear and jewelry on.
He didn't say anything else just waited for everyone to finish looking at the image of the two boys. Eventually the pendant got to Lucy. Natsu watched how she admired the happy boys on the necklace enjoying how happy they must have been at the time.
"Geeh hee" Gajeel started chuckling unrelentingly, earning him an elbow to the side and a sharp gaze from Levy. "What!? That explain why he destroys half the city when he's on a mission. Gee Hee." The iron dragon slayer laughter stir something in the group of mages, and started an uproar of laughing, some more than others. Natsu didn't know what to think, he knew they would tie his recklessness with the given information, but hell, he didn't expect that they would laugh it off. He was slightly scared to turn around, believing that once he do their smiles and laughing would turn into repulsiveness and dreadful eyes.
A giggling among the ruckus gained him to turn around and search for the source "Yea but he's still our Natsu" Lucy looked at him, eyes full of something he can't quite understand yet, but he loved how they lit up in warmth "and we wouldn't change him for anything in the world." She ended in a genuine smile.
"You sure about that Lucy, flame brain here, might actually burn down a village one day" Gray said with a sly smile trying to help lighten his mood even just a little bit.
"What was that ice princess?!" Natsu said head butting the raven haired teen. "You wanna fight!"
"Bring it on you pyro!"
"Frost breath!"
"Hot head!"
"Pervert!"
"Ash for brains"
"Popsicle!"
Seeing the boys go at it like they just was 30 minutes ago brought the guild back to its normal chaos, and started a sudden brawl for the third time in that day. Soon everyone forgot about why Anna came in the first place, unfortunately for them she wasn't finish.
Clearing her throat trying to gather everyone's attention, so she can finish her explanation on her being there "Back to the matter at hand.." she was interrupted by a flying Elfman who crashed into a nearby table.
"Let me." Erza offered. She cleared her throat with a deadly aura surrounding her, and firmly yelled "Settle down" getting the guild to stop the brawl in cold sweat and pay attention. "Now, Anna please continue with your explanation." the red haired mage along with the guild turned back towards Anna to give her their full attention.
"Well" she started, surprised how well put together the guild got in matter of seconds. "What Natsu don't know is that after he was resurrected, he had all his memories of the life he once had, and he spent some time with Zeref and during that time the dark wizard realize Natsu wouldn't be able to fight at his full potential if he stayed with him. So he did what he thought was right and erased his memories, and sent him off with Igneel" She cleared her throat again.
"But if that's true, how come you said he was gaining his memories earlier?" Levy asked out of curiosity for the guild.
"His memories had powerful seals on them, that no ordinary magic could break, and one of the seals was broken when Zeref died." She trailed off at the end but she still said it loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Like with The Oracion Seis.?" Wendy stated but asked to make sure she was correct.
"Precisely, and only one seal remains. That seal isn't strong enough to hold back the memories on its on, Which explains the episode he just had moments ago" They all did a quick look towards Natsu but their attention was brought to Erza when she spoke up.
"If that's true who, or what is the other seal?" Erza wondered out loud.
"Whoever, or whatever it is we gotta take them down, like a real man!" Elfman eagerly stated, with everyone around him hollering in agreement, except Natsu. Who stood nearest the bar contemplating on if he actually wanted his memories back.
The guild was still hollering in agreement when Anna spoke up "That would be me." When she stopped talking everyone went silent, not wanting to fight or hurt their dearest comrade. "But you wouldn't have to take me down, I can simply unlock the rest for you." as she stopped talking her eyes found Natsu again, searching his face for an answer on if he wanted her to unlock the rest of his memories or not.
Once again everyone went silent, looking towards the young dragon slayer already believing that him having his memories was a good thing. Natsu on the other hand didn't know if that's what's best for him.
Half sitting at the bar his left leg bent, foot resting on the bottom ledge of a stool while the other leg was extend to the floor. His right hands was in his hair as he looked to the floor, the other was resting against the bent leg. He looked as if he was in deep thought, which is a rare sight for anyone to see, than he spoke.
"Do you have to?" he ask as if he didn't meant to say that out loud but it was too late, dropping his hand to his side his face showing genuine concern as he looked around to see everyone with a questionable but understanding looks on their faces. Looking back to Anna, "Is there a way we can keep them locked away?" He asked sternly. "What would happen if we was to leave it alone."
"Maybe, if I had help from more powerful wizards. I, myself don't have the power, like Zeref did, to lock them away as before. If I was to try I could seriously damage your brain." Anna responded truthfully. "And if we was to leave you how you are now you could be torn apart from the inside and die."
Without giving it another thought he asked Anna "How many wizards do we need for this to work?." Anna was going to respond but Gray interrupted.
"You can't be serious." Gray said in disbelief, gaining Natsu's attention.
"Gray." Erza warned but he and the dragon slayer ignored her.
Making eye contact with the raven haired wizard, "I don't need them." Natsu stated calmly, from where he sat. "The memories I have and the ones I'm going to make, are enough for me." He honestly stated nonchalantly.
"So what, you rather keep having these episodes, and go through all that pain, just to keep the memories away?!" Gray practically yelled at him.
"Of course not Gray, but.." Natsu said.
"The lady, literally just told you if you keep going through this any longer you could die." Gray stated interrupting.
"I know, but if we get the wizards she needs in time, than maybe-" Gray cut him off again.
"IF we get the wizards." He repeated, "There's no telling how long you got. Another episode could happen at any minute now and it could be stronger than the last."
"I know." Natsu gave in.
"You know." Gray scoffed, "But you still don't want the memories? Why?" Gray asked, "Don't give me, that 'you don't need them', bull shit. Tell me why?" He demanded coldly. Natsu didn't say anything just eyed the him relentlessly.
Seeing he wasn't going to answer his question. "I get it, you're scared. Huh? Is that it?" Gray peeved. Natsu shot his head angrily to the ice make wizard but he still didn't say anything, only huffed out loudly, and balled a fist at his side.
"Gray, that's enough!" Erza finally stepped in. "He told us he didn't want the memories, and we should respect that!"
Shooting his eyes to the red head, "I do, it's just.." Gray confessed. "I just wanted him to admit to whatever's he's feeling, so we all can know just how much all of this is affecting him." He finished.
Gray isn't trying to make him mad. He's trying to get him to say what's on his mind in the only way he know how, by provoking him. He wanted Natsu to admit his real reason why he don't want the memories, and he knows it's a chance that it was about Zeref. Even though the two always butting heads, Gray genuinely cares for him as if he was his blood brother, you can say the same for Natsu. They've grown close enough to know when something is bothering each other. Fighting or bickering at one another is their way of expressing those bothersome feelings.
With his elbow on the bar Natsu moved a hand towards Anna to continue his conversation with her. "How many wizards do we need?" Natsu asked clearly over Gray, but the ice make wizard wasn't done.
Gray took a few daring steps towards the dragon slayer, "You know what." Balling his hands at his side "You're a hypocrite!" He yelled stopping a feet in front of Natsu. "You did all that shit before to get me from using ice shell on Lyon and lost shell on Zeref, so I wouldn't die."
"This isn't the same!" Natsu yelled, as he stood up straight.
He ignored him and kept talking. "But yet here you are, ready to put your life on the line just because you're scared to remember." He poked. "It's better to just let her unlock the memories than it is for you to be in pain." At this point Natsu was shaking from irritation and anger that Gray could be trying to pick a fight with him now of all times.
Moving his head to the side looking at anything other than Gray. "You don't understand." Natsu said relaxing his hands, his voice cracked slightly when he spoke in a low tone.
Gray really didn't care that Natsu didn't want his memories, he just didn't want the dragon slayer to ball up his feelings about why. He would stand behind his friend no matter what he chooses but he needs Natsu to confess to himself out loud. Doing so will help lighten the load on his shoulders and his nakamas could assist him better. And Being up close to Natsu and staring at his face, Gray can see just how much the situation was bothering him, was pissing him off.
"Than make me understand!" Gray argued, pushing his shoulder hard enough to make Natsu turn back to him.
"That's enough, Gray!" Erza said, pulling on his arm tried moving the raven haired wizard away from the pink haired mage.
Snatching his arm away lightly, he continued talking to Natsu, "You get the chance to remember the family you once had, not just Zeref, but what about your mom, dad, and old friends?" Gray finished, trying to drill the fact he have a chance to remember the life he once had, a life filled with hopefully happiness and love.
"He has a point Natsu, what about finding out what type of magic you used to have before you became a dragon slayer?" Happy inputted, he flew around the young mage and rested in his hair as gesture to calm him down.
"Yea it all sounds nice when you put it that way.." he grabbed the feline off his head and sat him gently on the bar counter handing him the fish he dropped. Turning back around facing everyone again. "But-" he choked.
Gray interrupted him again, "But what?" He asked, but Natsu didn't say anything. "Just admit it, you're afraid." Natsu still speechless "So you're just gonna die before you tell Luc-" this time Natsu interrupted him.
"Gray!" Natsu yelled stopping him from saying anything else. The dragon slayer know they could be right about everything, he had hoped his life before was a happy life, he wanted to believe that it was, but the experience he had earlier told him otherwise. "You're saying all this good shit about having the memories, But what about the other part.." He stated, taking a couple steps towards the confused group.
In a serious tone "what if it all wasn't like this, happy family, great friends and a talking cat." he said, staring everyone in the eyes, so they could understand his point.
"And if it was?" Markarov asked.
"That would be worse." He admitted softly, throwing his hands in his pockets. He was honestly torn between the two possibilities and deep down he really wanted to know.
He looked Gray in the eyes, "So yes, Gray." Hating the fact that he was right but he continued talking, "I am scared to know. I'm afraid to even think of how close me and Zeref probably was, because I helped end his life…" he confessed.
Chuckling in a disturbing manner, "I mean we had to been close if losing me hurt him bad enough to anger a god. And that episode I had, was a memory of me dying by the way." The way Natsu talked, to the members of Fairy Tail, was almost as if he was a different person. There was no childish smile, no goofiness in his words, and his eyes had no life to him. It was almost as if he was sick or tired of talking.
"So no, I don't want the fuckin' memories. No, I don't want to keep having these fuckin', massive headaches. No, I don't want you all to worry. No, I am not going to fuckin' die. And no, this shit is not finna keep going on because we're gonna go out there" he pointed to the doors. "And find the damn wizards Anna need." He talked with so much sovereignty in his voice and he stood up tall, even more than usual, no one had the guts to speak. Instead they fed off his integrity and strength, and let his words concoct them to all into one unit, ready for a hunt.
"Now let's—" he quickly turned grabbing onto the bar as another vast headache ripped through his speech. "Fuck!" He shouted dropping down to his knees holding his head as his eyes flashed white.
"Natsu!" The group behind him cried out. Some running up to help aid him, but he held a hand back stopping them from getting closer as he felt another explosion approaching.
"Stay back! I'm going too-" he tried to warned them but it was too late he was blown back from his spot into the crowd, landing on his back. His teammates shed tears as they watched Natsu back arching off the floor, screaming in agony, and sweat pouring from his pores. But his current situation was far from his mind, Happy was sitting close to him when he erupted and didn't manage to get out the way in time.
"Wendy! Check on Happy!" He managed to yell out In between screams.
As Wendy did what she was told, Erza rushed over to jet and told him to go get Porlyusica in case someone got seriously injured. She than looked to the stronger mages around like Gajeel, Laxus, Gildarts, and Lily in his panther form asking for help in holding down the tormented dragon slayer.
Knowing their intentions Natsu rolled over onto his hands and knees grunting, sitting up onto his calf's huffing out of breath, "No!" He yelled stopping them from moving closer. "Gray! Freeze me!" He demanded. But Gray couldn't get close fast enough, before another blast erupted from Natsu's body tossing Gray into a pillar. "Gray!" Natsu reached out, but his back began to sting as if he was cut deep but a sharp blade causing him to let another scream escape from his mouth. He started taking off his one sleeved jacket and muffler curious to see what's happening to his back.
"Gray!" The guild shouted hoping he was okay. Luckily he managed to get back to his feet with Juvia's help.
"Damnit" Grunting has he stood up, "Thanks, Juvia" he gave a small smile at the blue-nette, before she could respond Natsu gave out another ear piercing scream. The two, along with everyone else, looked up eyes wide in horror from what they saw on Natsu's back. On it laid a burning red but bloodless scar, stretching from the top of his left shoulder down to the lower right side of his back. The brighter it burned the louder he screamed, as two small ones slowly appeared randomly on his body.
"Natsu! Somebody do something" Lucy screamed. Her eyes was puffy and red as she cried for the pain her best friend was going through right in front of them.
Suddenly Gray snapped, "Fuck it! Anna do it!" He demanded. He knows Natsu's might be pissed at him for it but he don't care, it's better than him being dead.
"Huh?!" She asked. She couldn't hear him due to Natsu's screaming and the guild's yelling.
"Unlock the memories!" Gray commanded again. He didn't have to ask anyone else if they're gonna help or not, because they all stood ready to help save their friend from his self.
Hearing what Gray just told Anna, Natsu, grunting out of breath, got back up to his feet putting the three scars on his back on display, "No! Don't!" He pleaded.
Gray ignored him, "Do it Anna, if you don't he could die right now!" He was too worried that Natsu could die to care if this was the right thing.
"Okay!" Anna agreed.
Erza knew how Natsu felt but at the moment the best thing they could do for him was to go against his wishes. "We'll try to create an opening for you! Come on guys!" she command.
"Right!" Lucy and the others acquiesce in on Erza plan.
Natsu watched how they all ran around him attempting to get close enough to hold him down for Anna to brake the seal. But each time someone got too close he erupt, resulting in them being tossed back on their ass. "Erza, Gray, stop!" He begged tears flowing from his eyes. Totally focused on the Red head and ice wizard, he didn't sense Lucy standing behind him.
It seemed like he stopped exploding for a moment giving them an opportunity to rush in, distracting the Dragon slayer from the celestial mage.
Erza using the chance given, yelled to Lucy, "Now, Lucy!"
Wiping away fallen tears she complied, "Right!" She took out her whip flipping her wrist getting it around Natsu's body, holding his arms down to his side.
Natsu turned around to face the young blonde pleading with his eyes, "Lucy, please!" He softly begged, looking into her eyes, noticing how red and puffy they were.
Staring him in the eyes while her's flooded with tears, "I'm sorry Natsu!" quickly wiping away stray tears. "But if we don't you could die!" She entreated, voice strained from crying out for him.
"Lucy…" he breath out, almost inarticulate. The sight of her crying out for him was too much for him to handle.
Taking a couple breaths as he stared her in the eyes, a tear dropped from his eye, "Okay…" he relaxed his body struggling to hold in anymore blast, allowing them to give Anna her chance.
"Nows your chance Anna!" Gray yelled to the golden haired mage.
"Right!" Anna ran up to Natsu laying one of her hand on his back focusing on unlocking the door to his memories.
Not caring about what was going on behind him, natsu held his eyes on Lucy's seeking comfort in her gaze. Feeling the power surge through his body as the wind circled around the two and a growing blinding white light began to appear from the had connected to Natsu back, most of the guild had to shield their eyes away from the light. And the longer she held the brighter the light became and the more stronger the wind got. Which made it hard for some of the member to stay put, some like Jet, Droy, and Levy who was thankfully being held in place by Gajeel started to get picked up by the wind. Master Makarov was being held down by Laxus and Mira, Wendy and Erza was holding onto the nearest pillar, Gray had to put his arms around Juvia to keep her from blowing away.
than all of a sudden the wind stopped and the light died down, believing that it was over they all began to advance to the pair standing in the middle of the guild to aid them in any way possible. "Is it done" Erza asked.
A vague feeling like this won't end well he called out, "Lucy! Get back!" but the light shot out brighter than before and the wind became hurricane strong and there was a huge explosion that caused not only Natsu and Anna to get blown away from each other but everyone got blown farther (as far as the guild walls would allow) away from the two. Lucy was thrown in to the air, landing on the floor in a hard drop knocking her unconscious. Some more of the tables and chairs had been blown to splinters, there goes trying to keep some of the furniture.
Elfman had to let go of his young sister and Evergreen to catch Anna from her fall, thankfully everyone else was alright, and no one was harm. Everyone but Natsu, who landed on the floor in a hard drop. It seem he was knocked out by the explosion but he started to grunt in pain and tried to get up, but it wasn't over.
"Lucy!" Natsu cried out but more explosions exploded from his and tossed him in all directions, pushing back anyone who dared to get close. Everyone screamed for Natsu hoping that the nightmare come to an end soon, so they can check on their Nakama.
Finally he landed on his back in one final explosion, his back arched from the floor tears spilling from his eyes and an ear splitting scream leaving his mouth, causing everyone to gasp in horror. Some of the girls had a hand covering their mouths and tears streaming down their faces for the pain they're all witnessing their friend enduring, even Elfman was crying.
Lucy came to, in time to witness Natsu harboring more bloodless scars all over the top half body and some, not as much, was on the bottom half as well. But one stood out the among them all. It was large enough to cover the left side of his chest, just barely touching his left shoulder and top abdomen, it almost looked like he was shot with a cannon.
Getting up to his knees he clutch his head in agony, it almost seemed as if Natsu was about to say something. Instead his hair glowed like fire, the air around them grew thick with heat, and as his head lift to the sky his fangs grew dangerously bigger and a deafening loud, almost inhuman, deep howl, like sound escaped his lips. The people in and near Magnolia, including everyone in the guild, had to cover their ears and close their eyes and hope no damages was done. Wendy dropped to her knees along with Gajeel and Laxus and joined in unwillingly on letting the howl escape their lips, everyone else brace for impact.
The cry lasted for, what felt like hours to everyone, only one minute for all the dragon slayers. Once it was over Natsu dropped from exhaustion, to his guild-mates it was almost as if he was dead to the world.
No one moved since Natsu dropped to the floor, all too scared that any sudden movement would accidentally set off another blast and cause him more pain. They all stood there wondering what to do or what to say. All except Lucy who was already by his side with shaky hands, the celestial mage laid his head in her lap eyes puffy from crying. Her movements gave all of the guild mates the courage to slowly move closer, the three dragon slayers seem as if they had a hard time standing and breathing, eventually they gain their composure and moved closer with the rest.
Natsu had an bothersome face expression and was breathing rapidly, the scarf Igneel gave him was laying underneath his back revealing more scars over his body. With tear stained face Lucy gently laid a hand on his right cheek, and softly called his name repeatedly, almost fearful to move him or speak too loudly in case of another explosion.
"What the hell was that?" Laxus questioned out of breath, he was a little pissed for, what felt like being forced, to howl out the most strangest sound he ever did. Nobody answered him, instead they all was looking at each other with puzzled expressions and mentally asking the same question. Wendy, however rushed over to their unconscious friend side hands hovering over his body glowing a light shade of blue again, she started working on healing the scars across his body.
"That my child, was a dragons cry" Anna spoke up, wiping tears from her cheek as she walked towards the sleeping Natsu. Everyone almost forgot she was there let alone originally from another time. "It wasn't uncommon for the world to hear ages ago. Over 400 hundred years in the past, in fact." she breath out
"But this was the first time I heard it so immensely." She kneeled down next to the dragon slayer, staring at him with sorrowful eyes. "Maybe this was a bad idea." No one could agree, but they didn't want to disagree either, all still hoping that he had some type happy memories. So instead of talking they kept their mouth shut, and mourn for their friend's pain.
Ignoring the last comment her ancestor gave, Lucy was staring at the angst dragon slayer face in her lap, wishing all of this never happened and he was is normal carefree self again. "Natsu.. You gotta open your eyes. You're starting to scare everyone" Tears dropping on his cheek "Please... For me.." she whispered the last part so softly even the dragon slayers ears barely pick up on it.
"We should get him to the infirmary.." Erza ordered, looking towards the boys in the guild gaining Gray and Gajeel to moving in the dragon slayers direction but stopped when they noticed his arm twitching in movement.
It seemed as if he heard his best friend call for him, because his eyes began to flutter open sluggishly and horsed out a small, "Mae." onyx eyes glistening up at the blonde hair mage grabbing her hand that still rested on his cheek and a slight smile on his lips making her heart skip a beat. He sounded like he needed a cup of water, which the takeover mage, Mira ran off to get for both him and Anna.
Lucy eyebrows came together after she finally processed that Natsu called her Mae. The look on Natsu's face says that he knew what he said but he didn't know what to excuse to come up with to explain why he called her another girl name.
"Who's-" before she could ask him who is Mae they heard Wendy sniff.
"I can't heal the scars!" a distress Wendy called out to everyone, hands still hover his body. The pre-teen couldn't look him in the eyes, instead she desperately kept her attention on healing. Wondering if she should call, the more experience Porlyusica.
Softly patting the upset Wendy on the head, in attempt to make her feel better. "Don't worry about it. Theses scars can't be healed." Natsu appear to be feeling fine as he got up to his feet, followed by Wendy, Anna, and Lucy who grabbed the his scaly precious muffler, that slipped his mind, off the floor holding it close to her bust.
"What do you mean?" Happy said flying over to the dragon slayer.
Ignoring his question, too happy to see his flying blue cat, "Happy! You're okay Buddy!" grabbing the feline by the head happy to see he's up and flying around.
"Yea, Thanks to Wendy!" Happy said between squished cheeks, glad to be embraced by Natsu.
Letting go of Happy, he looked over to Wendy, smiling goofily. "Thanks Wendy." He said making her blush from the gratitude she was given.
"Uhh no problem" Wendy responded sheepishly.
Brushing passed Wendy, Lucy walked up to Natsu, "Here. You must want these back." She suggested smiling and holding out the two items in one as if they were the most fragile artifacts in the world. He took the muffler contemplating on what to do with it and debating on if he should grab the necklace too.
"I don't want 'em." He told her, eyeing the objects dangerously, putting everyone on edge.
Looking back to the young mage, "You hold onto them for me." He softly requested, "just until I want 'em back." She was going to object but instead her face turned the shade of Erza's hair when she noticed he was standing, oh so, very close. That blush soon disappeared when he and playfully wrapped his precious scarf around her neck and face. Suppressing a chuckle when she started bickering at his actions. She finally got the scarf off her face to witness Natsu closing the hand that still held the pendant. Looking up to his face as if she wanted to ask him why. Natsu didn't want his scarf? He never go without out it. But no one questioned it, knowing he would tell them why if he wanted to.
"Okay." no matter how much she wanted to asked why, she didn't. In fear of making his smile disappear from his face. Again the room went silent as Natsu looked around for his shirt, breaking the silence that hovered over the room was Romeo.
Romeo walked up to the dragon slayer with the shirt he was searching for, handing it to him, "So Natsu? What do you reme—" Romeo started to asked but Natsu growling stomach interrupted him.
Patting the young mage on the head, "Sorry Romeo, but I need some food," he said rubbing his uncovered stomach. "and a drink. Mira! One fire whiskey and some more of Gildart's barbecue from earlier, but this time can you set it on fire." He asked grinning, throwing his shirt over his shoulder. It was clear to everyone that he was completely over the situation.
A hour later
While everyone was eating and getting patched up by the guilds' doctor, Porlyusica, the doors burst open. In came Sting, Rogue with Frosch and Lector accompanied by Yukino and Minerva.
"Natsu!" Sting said almost out of breath. "We came as soon fast as we could"
"Yo. Sting and Rogue." naming the first people he sees earning him a "I'm here too" from the little green cat dressed as a pink frog. "Frosch and lector."
"Don't forget about us" Minerva imparted.
"Yukino, and Minerva too!" Lucy noted.
"What're you guys doing here?" Erza asked the group.
"We.. Woah what happened here!?" Sting started to tell her but got distracted at the more disarranged than usual guild hall.
"What happened to you?!" Rogue spotting the scars over the half-dressed Natsu. They couldn't answer the question because of the door of Fairy Tail slammed opened once again with more unaware guest. This time it was Crime Scorciere's Jellal, Meredy, Ultear, and poison dragon slayer Cobra. All dressed in their own style but covered in a matching navy blue cloak, the edges were outlined in silver.
"Jellal!" Erza announce a light blush coating her face, smoothing out her hair almost too quickly. He walked in her direction and stopped a few feet away "What are you..?" she was interrupted by Jellal.
Blushing at how the red head eyes lit up slightly at his incoming, but that soon faded away at remembering his reasoning for being here. "I don't mean to interrupt you but, it was Cobra. He.." He didn't know how to properly say what was on his mind. "We was just finishing up terminating a dark guild when we heard a faint roar and he" gesturing to Cobra "dropped to his knees and howled in animalistic way, and insisted that we get to Fairy Tail as fast as possible." He spat out.
"Same thing happened with us." Yukino mention interrupting their conversation achieving the party attention. "But with Sting and Rogue."
"I heard your despair. It was as if.." Cobra started drawing everyone's attention.
"You called for us." Rogue finished for him looking towards Natsu. One by one the heads in the room turned to the topic of the conversation. "Just what happened here." he ended. Not know where to start Natsu didn't say anything, instead Erza did.
The room went dead silent as the requip mage finish telling the welcome party what happened until Meredy, unmannerly broke the silence asking him "So what do you remember?" receiving a scold from Ultear. "What!? I was just wondering what caused him to go berserk."
"If he want to tell you, he will." Ultear snapped at the pink haired beauty. Although everyone was inwardly thinking the same thing. They wanted to know too but they didn't want to push the dragon slayer if he wasn't ready.
Natsu sat down throwing his shirt on the table Gray, Happy, and Lucy were at he answered their mental question. "It's not that I don't want you guys to know." Looking around "It's just that.. I don't know how to say it." He put his hands in his hair in uncertainly "It'll be easier if I can just show you all." throwing his head back slightly in frustration.
Anna voice came forth "You can." she looked at the dragon slayer and than to Lucy who had a surprised face expression.
Once again a long silence that fell upon the guild hall until Mira utter a "Oh dear, what a mess." and began cleaning. Being aware of the mood changer the takeover mage just presented, everyone gave her a hand in cleaning the messy guild hall, which didn't take as long as they thought thanks to the extra helping hands.
Just as guild the was done cleaning leaving Fairy Tail everything seemed somewhat normal again, the guild was full of people laughing and talking, Mira, Lisanna and Kinana was serving everyone drinks and food. Natsu and Gray started an even larger brawl than before with not just Fairy Tail but with the dragon slayers of Sabertooth. Even Cobra jumped in yelling about how he can hear their movements. Lucy was threatening and chasing a flying laughing Happy around for making a joke on how she needs to lose weight again. The girls from the guilds were catching up on gossip, except for Erza who was blushing often in her awkward conversation with Jellal.
Soon everyone began to leave, Crime Scorciere left to a nearby inn, Jellal and Anna decided they would stick around in Magnolia for a while since they didn't have anything left to do. Lucy suspect the Jellal just wanted to spend time with Erza for a while longer, same with Cobra and Kinana who happened to disappear. Anna wanted to be around in case Natsu experience some side effects happened, plus she wanted to spend some time with her descendant as well.
Therefore, leaving only Gildarts, Master Makarov, and Macao having a drink together at a table far in the back of the guild. Lucy and Anna busy catching up on the time they spent apart. Lisanna and Mira was cleaning in preparation of closing the guild up for the night, and sitting at the bar was Natsu and Gray. Who stayed behind as everyone was leaving behind them, both on their fifth cup of whisky, except Natsu's was on fire. They sat in awkward silence reflecting on the events that took place earlier.
"Where's Happy, and Lucy?" Gray asked finally breaking the silence, glancing around the room.
Natsu took a sip of his drink, taking a deep breath he replied, "He said 'he wanted to give me some time alone tonight, so he would be staying the night with Wendy and Carla at the Fairy Hills'. The little fur ball was too excited to go with them that he forgot his bag." He said tapping a hand on a little green book bag.
"And Lucy around here somewhere, talking to Anna about something" he chuckled a little, making Gray laugh lightly. "I can hear them, sounds like they're talking about me… and her" he finished smiling down at his cup.
This time Natsu looked around the room and noticed Juvia wasn't here either. "Where's Juvia?" He asked.
Gray sighed, "She went back to my place, saying that she wanted to shower and go to bed." He said taking a sip of his drink.
"Oh is that so," Natsu teased, "and how's that going. You know" he wiggled his eyebrows, "you and Juvia." He asked.
Gray laughed at his goofy way of asking about him and his girlfriend. "We're…" he exhaled deeply, "it's been great, actually, now that we're actually a thing, she hasn't been acting as crazy, at least not like before." He smiled at his drink, "It's better than I ever thought it would be." He finished.
"That's good, now she can give you some of that wet wet, so you can stop moping around " he replied daringly chuckling a little, elbowing the mage on the arm.
Gray nodded his head in agreement until he fully processed What the dragon slayer said, "Hey, what we do is none of you business!" Gray warned getting Natsu to laugh out loud.
Still chuckling at his reaction, "Calm down man, I was only joking." Natsu said returning to his drink.
"What about you and Lucy," Gray asked earning him a sigh from Natsu, "Come on man, when are you just gonna tell her how you feel? In fact you bought those bracelets for that exact reason!" Gray stated.
"I know dude, I tried earlier today at the pool." He said sliding his hands down his face in frustration, "But that little shit ball ruin the moment by taking pictures of us." Natsu said reaching for the bag.
Hearing how frustrated Natsu was at Happy getting in the was cause Gray to laughed, "Happy did what?" Gray asked still laughing.
"Its not funny man. Look," Taking out the lacrima camera handing it to Gray, "I was just about to tell her and give her the bracelet but happy took that picture and she went crazy!" He finished, taking out a pink rectangle box that had a red bow tied at the corner, while Gray looked at the pictures.
Inside the box laid two silver chained bracelets, one with diamonds around the band and a small charm that was shaped like a dragon, similar to Igneel. The other didn't have as much diamonds on it, but it did have a small charm shaped as a cresset moon.
On the picture there was, Natsu, who didn't have a shirt on but his scarf was wrapped around his neck, and Lucy, who had on a small white bikini top with a red dragon on the right breast. One of Natsus arm was wrapped around Lucy's waist holding her close to his body, and the other one was holding onto the poolside supporting them up. Lucy's right hand was on his chest while the other one was wrapped around his shoulders. Their heads was tilt towards each other almost as if the was about to kiss, as the sun shined brightly on the two making them radiate through the photo.
"You two look good together." Gray said still looking at the picture.
"She said the same thing." Natsu replied alerting Gray causing him to jump back when he noticed Natsu was practically laying his chin on his shoulder so he can look picture. Natsu laughed as he took the camera back from the ice make mage. "That's why she let us keep the picture." He finished calming down.
"If you ask me, it looks like she's into you man." Gray inputted, "just hurry up and give her the bracelet." He rushed.
"I will later, after I sneak into her place again." Natsu replied.
"Still a pervert, sneaking into girls rooms huh." Gray poked, making him chuckle.
Wiggling his eyebrows again, "only for Lucy." He winked making Gray laugh again as he joined in.
As the laughing died down Natsu put away the two objects and they both picked up their drinks again taking a sip.
Not wanting to end the conversation Gray took a deep breath and said, "Look man." He looked down at his drink, "Sorry about earlier, I just.." he breath, weirdly not knowing how to say what's on his mind to Natsu.
Knowing what he was trying to apologize about, "It's okay. I'm not mad." Natsu confessed looking over at Gray with a cheesy smile on his face while leaning towards the raven haired mage, "You loooove me." He said teasingly, sounding like Happy, getting Gray cheeks to turn a light shade of pink.
Gray pushed his shoulder, "Don't say it like that!" He yelled causing Natsu to laugh obnoxiously. Hearing him laugh made Gray chuckle, "But seriously man, I do." He admitted, "and seeing you like that." he sighed deeply. "You scared me man. I didn't know what to think, so I did the only thing I thought would help." He finished, seriously staring Natsu in the eyes.
Turning his attention back to his drink, "It's fine." Natsu said in his carefree voice, "what's done is done, and plus now I remember a whole lot of shit." he took a deep breath.
"Like what?" Gray asked.
"Like where I used to live, and a huge tree house me and Zeref build as a club house for our friends, The type of magic I used to have and probably can still use." His eyes brighten up thinking about what he can do now as a smile crept on his face, "I remember my mother, and how beautiful her smile was,"
Gray eyes widen in curiosity of what magic he can do now. "What type of magic you had?" He asked.
With his cup still in his hand he turns his body to face Gray, ignoring his question, "and there was this" with his free hand the brought his index finger and thumb together "lil song she used to sing whenever I couldn't sleep. Dad was a warrior so he wasn't home much. And when he was," his face turned sour. "Let's just say he had a personality issue, or whatever."
Waving off the topic of his dad. "You know what, I'ma go visit the club house, just to see if it's still there." He finished laughing at how crazy that sounded and eyes lighting up ready for another adventure.
"Are you nuts, it been 400 hundred years. Ain't no way it's still there." Gray said.
"You never know." He replied. "Let's go see." Natsu dared, earning him a strange glance.
"What?!" Gray exclaimed. "We don't even know if it's there or not."
Natsu rolled his eyes leaning against the bar on his arm, "duhhh that's why we're gonna go and check.. Tonight!" He finished with a sly smile, daring the raven haired mage.
"You are nuts." Gray softly stated returning back to his drink. "But Fuck it, I'm drunk and ready for a new adventure." Gray said returning his smile, holding out his glass towards the dragon slayer, who happily returned the gesture.
"I'm fired up now." Natsu said, Clicking their cup together than swallowing the last of the whiskey they had left. "So go home and pack a bag, we'll be back here the day after tomorrow." Natsu warned as they both stood up preparing to leave. "I think." He whispered the last part.
Gray shot his head that Natsu, "What was that?" He threatened. Instead of answering he waved off his question.
"Nothing, nothing" Throwing a arm over his shoulder, noticing Lucy finally announced she was going home for the night and was saying goodbye to everyone as she was leaving, turning his attention back to Gray, "Just meet me on the edge of town by 2am. I'm finna walk Lucy home." He winked his eye at Gray making him laugh.
"Than go get her tiger." Gray said chuckling, pushing Natsu off his shoulders towards the doors after Lucy.
While walking away Natsu turned his head at Gray, "it's dragon." He corrected causing Gray to chuckle more.
Rolling his eyes, "Than go get her dragon." He replied. "Wait you never said what type of magic you used back than!" Gray yelled after him.
While still in a light job he turned to him, "I'll show you later. But for now Later loser!" Natsu yelled back at Gray running out the doors to catch up to Lucy, before he could say something back.
Meanwhile during Gray and Natsu conversation
Off far to the back of the guild, sitting at a table was Gildarts, Master Makarov, and Macao having a drink together. Until Macao noticed the boys having a conversation. "Would you look at that." He said gesturing the hand that held his drink in the direction of a laughing Gray and Natsu.
Gildarts look over in the directions he pointed, "I never thought I'll see the day when those two have an actual conversation without fighting."
"These kids are growing up so fast" Markarov replied, eyes flooding with tears as he took another swallow of his drink. "Or am I dead." He joked, laughing at himself, followed by a chuckle from Gildarts and Macao.
"I wonder what they're talking about." Macao said as the three watched the scene in front of them, "Looks like they're really enjoying the conversation." He finished a warm smile spreading across his face, as he turned back to the conversation, noticing Markarov had a sad expression. "What's wrong with you?"
"Uhh nothing, just thinking about what happened earlier today." Markarov replied honestly. "That boy had been through so much in his life, and now this." He finished taking a drink from his cup.
Gildarts picked up his cup, "Come on, he seems fine." Taking a sip, "That boy there, is one tough cookie. So there's no need to worry." He said trying to cheer him up.
Leaning back into his seat, he exhaled deeply, "Yea I know but that dragon's cry, Anna mention earlier." Master Markarov said.
"Yea what about it?" Gildarts questioned.
Looking the two men in the eyes as he leaned onto his elbows, "If Cobra, Sting, and Rouge heard it, I wonder who else did." He said, taking another drink.
"And did they have the same instinct, to come running to the source." Macao inputted.
The three men turned their attention back to the dragon slayer, in time to see him and Gray getting ready to leave for the night. They watched how Natsu threw his arm over Grays shoulder, it looked as if they was talking about something important. But that thought left their minds when the raven haired teen, started to laugh as he pushed off the dragon slayer.
Due to their yelling the three men were able to hear the end of their conversation. "Wait you never said what type of magic you used back than!" Gray yelled after him.
"I'll show you later. But for now Later loser!" Natsu yelled back at Gray running out the doors. Wondering what they was talking about Master Markarov called Gray over.
Walking up to the table, "What up Pops, you need somethin'?" Gray asked kind of sluggish from the many drinks he had.
"What was that about?" Gildarts said preferring to what the two younger males was yelling about.
Gray scratched the back of his head debating on if he should tell them, but since it's not a secret that Natsu got his memories back he didn't think too much on it. "Well Natsu was just telling me about some of the things he remembered." He started.
"Uh huh, go on." Master Markarov insisted.
Feeling like he can't lie to the Master he continued, "He said he remembered what type of power he had, and that he might still be able to use it." He said honestly, shocking the three older men. "Also we're leaving tonight, he said something about wanting to find an old treehouse, he and Zeref made when they was younger." He finished nonchalantly waving it off.
"Is he nuts! Ain't no way it's still there after 400 years!" Markarov exclaimed.
"That's the same thing I said. But he insisted on finding it, and dragging me along with him." Gray said.
Markarov dragged his hand down his face in defeat, "Very Well, if there's nothing else, you can go on home now." He said allowing him to leave.
"Alright, good night guys." Gray said as he turned to leave waving to the three behind him, they doing the same.
After watching Gray leave the guild Gildarts and Macao got up to leave as well. "You know Makarov." Gildarts said before walking away, earning him a "hmm" from the little old man. "If Natsu is able to use the power he had before he died, with the dragon slayer power he got now." He started staring Master in the eyes. "He might end up being the most powerful wizard in Fairy Tail." And with that he waved good night to the ladies that was cleaning and left the guild, along with Macao.
