Fiore Academy

Chapter Six – The Interview

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail in any shape or form. I am a mere FF writer paying tribute to the world of Hiro Mashima, the rightful owner of Fairy Tail.

Authors; Note – I hate not putting up an authors' note, but since I am writing this without the idea of what reviews have been put up, I have nothing else to say other than… enjoy!

It has been a few weeks since Natsu had begun dating Mirajane Strauss. Since then, Hisui had made it a point to stay over at Natsu's whenever Mirajane was staying over; she called it 'crime prevention'.

Otherwise, Natsu felt he was doing well; sure, he got some slack from the guys in his class for dating possibly the hottest girl in the school, but he felt overall, he was doing great at Fiore Academy.

It was now a Friday, and Natsu and the rest of the Disciplinary Committee had been asked to attend a Council Meeting, which is where we find our favourite Dragonslayer, in the Student Council Room.

"Thank you all for coming" Erza Scarlet, the Student Council President, spoke to everyone when they had all arrived and were seated.

Sitting on her right at the head table, was Hisui E. Fiore, the Vice President of the Student Council, who was glaring at a white-haired girl on the left of Erza; Mirajane Strauss, who was returning the glare equally.

Next to Hisui, was Natsu's boss, Lucy Heartfilia's twin sister, Ashley. Apparently, even being Lucy's twin, Ashley had skipped the last year of her schooling before she attended Fiore Academy, so instead of being a first year like her sister, Ashley was in her second year.

Next to Mirajane, was a petite blue-haired girl with strange-looking glasses on; Natsu only knew her first name, Levy, and she was the treasurer of the Student Council. Another interesting fact was, apparently, this was the first time the Five Head Members of the Student Council were all female.

Natsu was sitting at a table with a dozen other students, all of them a year or two above him. These were the members of the Disciplinary Committee.

On the opposite table from Natsu, was another dozen or so students; these were the secretaries, the ones who did all the grunt work for the Five Heads. They dealt with most of the tedious paperwork and ran errands.

Now they were all here to discuss something very important; the end of term Academy Ball.

"As you all know, the Academy Ball is in just five short weeks, so we have a lot to organise" Erza declared to them all.

"The Disciplinary Committee will focus on arranging security; Ashley will begin drawing up plans and shifts, that way you can all enjoy the ball at one point or another" Erza turned to the Secretaries, "Secretaries, your job will be to ensure that we have all the resources necessary for the ball to become a success; furniture, music, food and drink... these are all your responsibilities and you will henceforth be under the direction of the Treasurer… understood everyone?" Erza asked.

Everyone nodded their understanding; so, he didn't need to worry about anything yet.

"Before we continue with other matters, Natsu" Erza turned to Natsu, who stood to attention.

"Yes President?" Natsu politely asked.

"I'll need to speak to you after the meeting, is this agreeable?" Erza asked,

Natsu nodded and retook his seat.

"Very well, now we must discuss the latest increase in Magical Duels and what the committee can do to improve these statistics" Erza began, turning to Ashley, who began to nod.

…

Once everyone had left at the meetings' conclusion, Natsu stepped up to Erza, "What is it President?"

Erza smiled, "No one is here Natsu, no need to be formal, okay?"

Natsu smirked, "Yes Erza, what did you need?"
Erza sighed, "The Ball is a huge event as I am sure you can understand".

Natsu nodded, "It's a hundred-year-old tradition and a lot of important people will be coming as well; the Board of Magical Studies, the Knights of the Red Cross and not to mention most important Clans in the world… including the Royal Clans".

Erza nodded, "Yes, speaking of which, can we expect the Dragneel Clan to make an appearance? They don't really get out much as I understand it".

Natsu shook his head, "I've already asked… my mother and father aren't coming, but my older brother will be coming, seeing as how he is a member of the Red Cross".

Erza nodded, "I figured… the Knights of the Red Cross are an esteemed order of mages, always protecting our world from monsters and demons alike… I do believe I have heard of your brother as well… Zeref Dragneel, Captain of the Fourth Squad of the Knights of the Red Cross… it's a lot to measure up to I am sure" she said with a smirk to Natsu, who shrugged his shoulders.

"It's true that I am expected to become a Captain of the Red Cross someday, but It doesn't bother me… I just prefer to live life as much as I can before it is taken away from me… preferably in a situation that saves others".

Erza giggled, "That would be how you imagine dying… and I'm sure with that way of thinking on top of your family name, you would easily be accepted into the Knights… but I did not wish to discuss this with you, I had something else on my mind".

Natsu nodded, "I figured we were getting side-tracked… what can I do for you Erza?"

Erza sighed, "Like I said, the Ball is an important event… the media is going to be all over it, and tomorrow is when it all begins".

"What is happening tomorrow?" Natsu asked.

Erza smiled, "I have to be interviewed, alongside Headmaster Makarov and Milkovich Sensei, who has helped organise this event for years".

Natsu nodded his understanding, "Understood… what does this have to do with me though?"

"It's very public, and in the past, there have been assassinations… which is why I would like you, Natsu Dragneel, to be my bodyguard tomorrow" Erza declared.

Natsu shuffled his feet, "Wouldn't it be better for Ashley to be your bodyguard? She is the head of the committee after all".

"But you are stronger than her" Erza stated simply, "I need that strength".

Natsu nodded, "I understand Erza… what time will we meet?"

Erza smiled, "Meet me tomorrow at eight o'clock at the Tram Station… the interview will be done at the Community Hall in Academy City".

Natsu nods, "Very well… I'll see you then Erza".

With that, Natsu takes his leave, and Erza smiles.

Your power isn't the only reason why I chose you Natsu… this also gives me a chance to become… closer… to you, she thought.

…..

"Erza wants you to be her bodyguard?" Mirajane asked that night when her, Hisui and himself were seated at the Café for dinner that night.

"Yeah, I found it kind of weird as well" Natsu replied, already nearly done with his twelve-course meal.

Mirajane shook her head and turned toward Hisui, "She'll need to be subtler than that, hey Hisui?"

Hisui nodded; over the past few weeks, her and Mirajane had started to argue less often than they used to, a fact that Natsu was grateful for. Sometimes they even resembled civility.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Natsu asked.

Mirajane shook her head, "Don't worry about it Natsu, it's nothing".

Hisui nodded, "Yeah, don't you worry about it Natsu… just be careful okay?" She asked him sweetly.

Natsu smiled, "I doubt anything bad will happen".

"That's not what we mean" Mirajane and Hisui answered together.

Natsu shook his head as he took his last mouthful.

"Anyway, my father is at the Academy tonight… he had a meeting with the board of Directors… he wants me to stay over with him, so I need to get going" Hisui said as she sat up, "Natsu? Mind taking my part of the check?" Not waiting for an answer, Hisui made her way to the Café door.

Natsu shrugged his shoulders, 'I guess I'm taking her check".

Mirajane laughed, "Well… there is a silver lining to this".

Natsu looked up, "Oh yeah? What's that?"
Mirajane smiled and scooted over to Natsu, "Well, we finally have your room to ourselves… at least for tonight".

Natsu knew immediately what Mirajane was implying, "Virgo! Check please".

So, for that night, Mirajane and Natsu finally were able to give into their primal desires.

…..

"I'm sorry for making you wait Natsu, I was busy trying to arrange what I was going to say" Erza apologised to Natsu the next morning, as he'd been waiting at the Tram Station for ten minutes.

Natsu shrugged his shoulders, "No problem Erza… I came early anyway".

Erza smiled, and the pair boarded the ten past eight tram to Academy City.

As the pair sat next to each other, Erza asked, "Hey Natsu, can you ask Mirajane to return to the dorm sometime? I've been kind of lonely".

Natsu turned red, "Yeah, sure, I'll ask her".

Erza smirked, "Don't think that I don't know what you two have been doing over at your dorm Natsu… Mirajane tells me everything you know".

Natsu turned even redder, and did not reply.

Boarding off the tram ten minutes later, Natsu asked, "Hey Erza, where is the Community Hall?"

"Not far… and the Interview starts at nine, and we'll only be there for an hour, so if you want we can hang around for a bit" Erza replied neutrally; in fact, Erza's heart was beating hard at her own boldness.

Natsu smiled, "Sure thing, it'd be cool to hang out with you".

Without another word, the pair set off to the Community Hall.

…..

"I see that Miss Scarlet has chosen you to be her bodyguard today Mister Dragneel" Ur Milkovich spoke to him as he patrolled the back stage of the Hall twenty minutes later.

Natsu turned toward his teacher, "Yeah, I just hope I'm good enough".

Ur smiled, "It's good to know someone as strong as you can still be modest".

Natsu smiled in embarrassment, and luckily was saved by a man in a suit coming up to Ur and telling her it was time to head on stage.

"Very well… Natsu, I guess I will see you on Monday" with those words, Ur headed on stage with the Headmaster in the lead.

Natsu looked around and could not see Erza anywhere. Deciding to check up on her at the dressing room, he knocked on her door three times and entered when her voice answered, "Come in".

Closing the door behind him, Natsu took an intake of breath.

Erza looked more gorgeous than usual; she was dressed in a scarlet red dress to match her hair and black heels. Her hair was straightened and a touch of make-up masked her face.

"What is it Natsu?" Erza asked.

"Uh" Natsu began to reply, "Why are you done up so much?"
Erza scoffs, "It's not my own choice you know… apparently, it is also tradition to dress up the Student Rep as a doll… I look ridiculous".

Natsu shakes his head, "How can you say that? You look beautiful".

Erza looks up at this, "Thankyou Natsu… did you just come here to gawk at me though?"

Natsu shakes his head to focus, "I just came here because I was wondering where you were… you're supposed to be up on stage".

Erza's eyes widen, "What!?" Without waiting a moment longer, Erza charged out of the room.

When Natsu finally made it back to the stage, he saw Erza sitting beside the Headmaster who sat in the middle of the two girls, Erza and Ur.

When he walked up, Erza was answering a question, "We expect there to be over two thousand people at the Ball".

One of the reporters asked a second question, "How can you possibly hope to provide security for over two thousand patrons Miss Scarlet?"

Erza sighed, "Of course it would be impossible to do so with the Disciplinary Committee alone… that is why the Knights of the Red Cross have agreed to re-enforce us with a hundred of their own men… we believe their numbers combined with our own should be enough to ensure the safety of our patrons".

The reporters seemed satisfied with her answer, and a female reporter posed a question to Ur, "Miss Milkovich, we were wondering what kind of plans you had for the ball".

"I apologise to the media, but I cannot divulge these details" Ur began, "We wish for it all to be a surprise, as such, I can assure you that everyone will indeed have a magnificent night".

"Master Makarov?" a male reporter spoke up, "How does it feel not to have any say in how the Ball is organised?"

Makarov grunts, "Excuse me? Who says I have no say? Milkovich Sensei provides ideas towards the Council, and she also helps organise them… but before that happens, all ideas are posted to me for my own approval… nothing is planned unless I agree".

The interview continued from there, questions going from, 'How many courses will be served?' and 'Miss Milkovich, how is it that a woman like yourself is still single?'

The last of which, Ur answered, "I just haven't met any guys that catch my interest".

Natsu was beginning to become bored with the whole thing, when a voice boomed across the hall, "I have no interest in any kind of Ball!".

Everyone turned, and a hooded man in a white mask began to walk toward the stage. The Sergeant of the Knights of the Red Cross who were monitoring the event, stepped in to intercept.

"I'm afraid you cannot come any closer… who are you and what are your intentions?" the Sergeant declared.

Several of the Knights readied themselves for a possible combat; Natsu had no idea who this man was, but he was pretty sure everything was secured; all he had to do was keep an eye on Erza.

"You may all call me… Karlyle… and my intentions? They are to kill each and every person in this hall" the man replied, a smirk hidden behind his mask.

At his words, all the Knights of the Red Cross sprang into action, the Sergeant taking the lead. On all sides was the man covered, as they jumped in the air, ready to attack him on all sides. From an outside view, it would seem the man had no chance… but Natsu saw the inner truth of the situation.

"Get out of there!" Natsu screamed at them; his words fell upon deaf ears.

All that anyone saw was a dark light surround the man and the Knights, and after a few seconds, all that were left was the man, surrounded by skeletons.

Everyone began to panic and scream; who could do this to over a dozen Knights of the Red Cross? It's Impossible surely!

"Everyone calm down!" Erza called across to everyone, and for whatever reason, they immediately did so.

Meanwhile the man was laughing, "I see you're quite the charismatic one girl… I wish I had time to rip open that dress of yours and take what is yours… but I have my orders, and you will be the first to go!".

The man lunged forward, his hand wrapped around the same darkness as before. Everyone watching knew, that should that even touch Erza… she would die.

But then… a great explosion went through the hall, blinding everyone from the man and Erza.

When the blast cleared, the man was puffing, barely standing, and Natsu Dragneel was standing in front of Erza, his hands cloaked in fire, his eyes darker than the man's magic.

"Coward… attacking an unready opponent is the peak of all cowardice" Natsu growled at the man, who recovered quickly from the shock.

The man laughed, "Cowardice? Some call it that… others call it the smart thing to do… who would really wait for an opponent to be ready?"

"A man who deserves to live… and it would seem you are not one of those" Natsu spoke darkly.

Meanwhile, Erza was staring at Natsu. She had never seen him like this… he almost seemed like a totally different person… but darker… much darker.

The man continued to laugh, "Me? You're going to kill me? You couldn't ever hope in a thousand years to match me!"

Natsu smirked, "Tell me… how powerful was that attack of yours?"

The man stopped laughing, confused as he was by Natsu's question, "How powerful? Pretty standard if you ask me" the man said, as though it would impress Natsu that the move he had made was normal.

Natsu laughed, spoiling the man's hopes, "Standard? I didn't even break a sweat… I hope you've said your prayers".

The man, Karlyle growled, "What was that? I'll destroy you!" with that, Karlyle spread out his finger and tendrils of darkness came from each of his fingers, shaping themselves slowly into the shape of claws.

Karlyle spread them further and began to slash at Natsu wildly. Natsu however, side-stepped all of them, as though they were of no consequence… as though they were all the attacks of a child.

"Stop moving!" Karlyle growled as he continued to slash at Natsu.

Natsu laughed, "Stop moving? You expect me to want to get slashed? You know, that is so what I wanted for Christmas last year! For a weakling, such as yourself to slash me to death!".

Karlyle growled like a rabid beast and began to slash faster and faster with each passing second. But in return, Natsu just dodged quicker and quicker, until it all came to the point where no one could see Karlyle's claws or Natsu's body.

Karlyle began to slow down, out of breath, and Natsu continued to match the speed of his slashes. Finally, Karlyle made a final slash before he near collapsed from exhaustion.

Natsu however, seemed unfazed by the battle… if he could call it that. He walked up to Karlyle and looked him right in the eye. Karlyle trembled.

"You know it's funny… I only used my magic once, and it was weak at that… and here you are, just about defeated… some mage that you are" Natsu growled.

Karlyle scowled, "It isn't over!"

"Yes" Natsu said softly, bringing his middle finger and thumb together, "It is" with that, he flicked Karlyle's forehead, and that alone, sent the man across to the other side of the hall.

For a moment, silence reigned across the hall, before everyone began to cheer Natsu for what he had done.

Erza looked at the man being cheered; he seemed to have returned to how he normally was… did battle really change his personality? All the same, she knew her feelings for him, had grown in the past few minutes alone.

Ur Milkovich however, was looking at her student strangely. She had no idea what she was feeling at the moment… she hadn't a clue how it was that Natsu, her own student, was much more powerful than herself… but she knew, that she would need to keep a closer eye on her pupil.

…..

"My Lord, I apologise, but Karlyle failed to destroy those at the interview" a cloaked man said as he kneeled toward the throne of Darkness, which was currently seated.

"Is that so? I find it hard to believe that he was defeated by Knights of the Red Cross… who did the deed?" the seated man said.

"A boy My Lord… I do not know who he was but… he treated Karlyle as though he were nothing" the cloaked man replied.

"What did he look like? Was he an Academy Student?" the seated man asked as he raked his blue hair with his fingers.

"Yes, he is a Student of the Academy, he has pink hair, and onyx eyes… I also heard someone say his name was Natsu".

The seated man traced his index finger over the tattoos stretched across the left side of his face out of habit.

"Very well… I guess we'd better prepare to make our move… as soon as possible" Jellal Fernandez chuckled evilly.

…..

"Thank you for all your help today Natsu" Erza thanked Natsu later that day, once everything at the hall had been cleared up.

"It's no problem at all Erza… I am your bodyguard after all" Natsu replied, a little embarrassed.

Erza nodded, "Do you have time?"

Natsu thought about it, "Well… yeah, I mean I have no other plans".

Erza nodded, "In that case… I'd like to take you to my favourite place in Academy City".

Natsu nodded and Erza escorted Natsu through the streets of Academy City until they reached the tallest Skyscraper in the city.

"Why are we here?" Natsu asked Erza.

Erza smiles, "I like to go to the top… there's normally no one there, and you can see the entire Island from there… it's a good place to relax".

Natsu nodded, and after following Erza through flights of steps, he finally knew what she meant as he gazed over the railing on the roof the building.

It was already late in the day, so the sight of the golden sun setting was worth the flights of steps he had climbed. But turning around, he saw even more beauty.

The city seemed small, yet every detail about it seemed more refined… like a work of art. In the distance, the Academy stood proud like an old lion on his rock. And when Natsu turned even more, he saw something even more beautiful.

Up in the sky, the wind blew nicely, spreading her scarlet hair for the wind to catch. Her brown eyes softened in the golden light of the setting sun, her features from her forehead to her chin, appeared to sing together in a perfect harmony.

Noticing his staring, Erza laughs, "Geez Natsu, do you have to stare so much?"

Natsu stuttered, "S-sorry Er-Erza".

Erza laughed some more and walked closer to him and grasped his hands, startling him.

"I have a confession to make Natsu" Erza whispered to him, locking his eyes with her own.

"Oh yeah? What would that be?" Natsu asked, nervous as all hell.

"Since the moment that you beat me in that fight all those weeks ago, I felt something inside me stirring… at first, I had no clue what it was… but then… I realised the truth" Erza continued to whisper to him, her face becoming closer to his own.

Natsu couldn't move, her eyes had paralysed his entire body; all he could do was watch and listen.

"The truth was Natsu… that from that moment on… I had fallen in love with you" Erza finished off, and with that, she leaned in close and locked his lips with her own.

Warmth spread throughout Natsu's body, and forgetting everything for just a moment, Natsu dived into the kiss and embrace of the beautiful girl before him. It was nearly a minute before the two split from the other.

"That was… better than I expected" Erza muttered, her head leaning against Natsu's chest.

"Well I for one… wasn't expecting it" Natsu replied, earning a giggle from Erza.

"Someone less thick-headed than you would have realised what was going on Natsu… but I adore everything about you, your faults and strengths alike" Erza replied, snuggling into Natsu's chest.

"Thank you, Erza, I don't know how to reply, but I guess I can say this for sure… I do have feelings for you" Natsu replied.

Erza looked up and smiled at him, "Well, in that case… all the trams are closed for the day… do you… want to find a hotel?" Erza asked him.

Natsu frowned and shook his head, "I'm sorry Erza, but… I can't do that… I can't hurt Mirajane like that".

Erza smiled, "I guess you're right… I don't want to either… but we do need to talk about this".

Natsu nodded, "Definitely".

Bringing her head back to his chest, Natsu continued to embrace Erza in his arms long after the sun had gone down.

Authors' Note – Haha, I wonder how many of you were expecting Natsu to cheat. Look, If I had made him cheat on Mirajane, I would've crept into this story and castrated him myself. I don't care if it was with my favourite Fairy TailGirl. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and tell me what you thought about it in the comments section below, particularly in the Fight and Romantic Scenes.