"speaking"

"thinking"

On with the story

A week soon passed as Natsu with his copies continued training Lucy and the others for the Rank Advancement Exam

Right now, everyone was on break; except for Natsu who was blindfolded while dodging attacks from Atlas who strikes at him with his staff

Dodging to the left, then right, before jumping and then started to backflip away, the man was perfectly dodging Atlas's attack even though he could not see them coming

"your decision in actions is improving very well" Atlas said as he sends a fury of stab attack with his staff against Natsu who dodged them at high speed "reflexes are increasing, and your speed too"

Natsu took a side step before he bents down and readied his right fist for an uppercut in attack

"but…" Atlas said as he lifts up his leg and blocked the attack with his knee before slamming his staff at Natsu's face, sending the salmon haired mage, straight to the ground "…you are still a small hatchling compared to me"

"ow…" Natsu muttered out as he slowly got up before holding his face that had a red imprint of Atlas' staff "your staff is as hard as metal, even though it's made out of wood"

"magic can do wonderous things," Atlas said while scratching his beard and chuckled before the old man soon spins his staff around and slammed the tip at the ground "come, I know that Irene would give a hard task for your Rank Advancement"

"you don't have to tell me that" Natsu said as he got up and ignites his fist in flames

The two went back to sparring as Lucy and the others watched them

"wow, never seen Natsu moving that fast" Mira said as Natsu sends fury of flaming punches at Atlas who blocked them all with his staff before slamming the tip at Natsu's gut hard, causing the man to cough out some saliva "and man, that old man sure pack a punch"

"goes to say that he is a Famous Retired mage" Kagura said before they see Natsu went flying and then crashing to the ground, sliding near them

"ow….that really broke a rib" Natsu said as he grunted a bit before sitting up and then got back up

"you should take a break, you two been at it for an hour straight" Éclair said as Natsu huffs his breathing a bit

"I'm fine, I still have some gas in my fire left" Natsu said as he walks back at Atlas before engaging back in the spar

"he's really training hard" Lucy said as they watched Natsu trying to land a hit on Atlas but the old man swings his staff at Natsu's face before sending a kick at his gut hard, causing Natsu to stagger back before he soon swings his staff at Natsu's face, making the man fly towards the trees, breaking them in the process "but can this be called training?"

"It looks more like a brawl to me" Mira said as everyone wince a bit when Atlas swings his staff at Natsu's head hard, causing the man to tumble back before getting sent flying from a kick to the chin "a brawl to the death, that is"

"guess this is how he got really strong, huh?" Ultear noted, seeing how harsh Atlas' training was "if either of us were to follow that training, we won't even last a minute"

"goes to show that Natsu-han is in a different league than us" Ikaruga said while holding a cup of tea

BOOM!

An explosion was heard before everyone soon sees Natsu flying to the sky before crashing to the ground hard, creating a crater in the process

"in a very different league" Erza stated as everyone sees that Natsu's legs were sticking out while the man's upper body was underground "is he still alive?"

And to her answer, Natsu got back up while he rubs his neck around, making cracking sounds

"that answers that" Cana said before drinking a bottle of beer

"that is for psychical and magical training" Atlas spoke out as he came out of the woods "take a rest, and we shall resume with combat training"

"that was just psychical and magical training?" Mira said

"how gruesome with the Combat Training will be?" Lucy said, imagining that Natsu fighting against Atlas like his life depends on it

"haaa….these old bones of mine have never felt so tired" Atlas said taking a seat on a stump while patting his back

"this" Lucy said as she gave the old man, a cup of tea

"thank you, young one" Atlas thanked Lucy before he holds the cup of tea and sips it, then let out a satisfied sigh

"you ok?" Ultear asked as Natsu got back up and rolled his shoulders around, making more bone cracking sounds

"yeah, just a bit sore" Natsu said while rolling his neck around then rotating his waist around, making more bone cracking sound "that Uncle of mine, never knew the definition of holding back after so many years"

"that goes to show that he wants you to be strong" Mira said to him

"till when?" Natsu said as he stretched his back and a loud bone pop sound before wincing "his training is always so painful"

"do not complain on my teachings, nephew" Atlas told Natsu "your father was the one who told me to never be merciful in training you, I am merely keeping my word to him"

"you could at least go a bit away from his words" Natsu said patting his back as his back was now killing him "man, my back is now killing me"

"let me help with that" Kagura said as she pushed Natsu to sit down before her hands started massaging his back before pinching his back a bit, causing a bone to pop

"that's the spot" Natsu said as he rolled his neck around before looking to Kagura "were you always this good in massaging?"

"my brother often comes back home after work in a sore condition" Kagura said as Natsu hummed while she continued massaging his back "I learned how to massage to help him"

"I see" Natsu said as Kagura pressed her thumb to a mid section point of his back, making more bone pop, releasing the stress in them "thanks"

"your welcome" Kagura said with a smile

"I can give a better massage!" Mira said as she grabs Natsu's shoulder and started massaging them hard, causing Natsu to jolt in pain

"THAT HURTS!" Natsu shouted out as his muscle started twitching before the man fell down, frozen

"ah, Mira-senpai killed him" Cana said

"I DIDN'T!" Mira exclaimed

Atlas chuckled in hearing the commotion as he sips his tea

"he founds some good friends….Igneel, if you were still here to see this, I can tell that you would be truly proud to see him grow" Atlas thought as he smiled before his blind eyes glowed red

He saw Natsu and the others but he could see the Dragon Mark on Éclair, Erza, Cana, Ultear, Ikaruga, and Kagura. All of their dragon mark burning in red flames

"6!? No…" Atlas looks at Lucy and Mira and sees that they too have Dragon Marks but their mark were glowing weakly "8 of the seals are near…is this perhaps a fate that cannot be changed?"

Atlas looks at Natsu as he sees the man had the golden circle on his back and he could see the 7 metal slots glowing on him

"perhaps…the curse is upon him" Atlas thought with a small frown on his face


Night soon came as Natsu was in the hot spring with Atlas

The two sighs as they sink in the warm temperature water that soon increased in heat, due to both of their magic

"nothing beats this" Natsu said sighing as he sinks into the warm water before surfacing and then sighing again "this place feels the best for me"

"I cannot agree more" Atlas stated with a smile "tell me, Nephew. How is it possible for a young man like you who desire to only live peacefully, obtained many mates?"

Natsu's face went a bit red as he rubs the back of his head in embarrassment

"well…..i don't really get why actually…" Natsu said while looking at the water and his reflection "…Éclair confessed that she loved me….then Ultear, Ikaruga, Cana, then I love Erza and Kagura….it's kinda weird when you think about it…."

"and the other two? Mira and Lucy were they?" Atlas said "do those two have feelings for you?"

"m-maybe….i know that they were like this and then that…I don't know why but I feel comforted with them" Natsu said chuckling a bit "it's like….all of us have some sort of connection with each other"

"in truthfully, I believe that they have a connection with you" Atlas said as Natsu looks at his uncle "hohoho, I might be expecting many grandchildren coming to me in the future"

"I know that you're my Uncle and all, but don't get your hopes too high" Natsu said shaking his head while having an amused smile on "I'm still unsure if I even want to have children in the future"

"Irene….she was like you once" Atlas said as Natsu raised an eyebrow to him "she was one in a thousand, whose sole purpose in life was in battle….yet she forge a pathway that neglects her own path created by her destiny…"

Atlas soon patted Natsu's shoulder while having a smile

"destiny is something that cannot be fought against. It can only be forged by yourself" Atlas said as he holds Natsu's shoulder "I know that you and her are not in an equal understanding, but look in your heart. She may not look like it, but she was a kind hearted warrior with a very big heart"

Natsu looks at his Uncle before sighing

"if you are faced with the task, I trust that your heart will know that path to truly take" Atlas said as he patted Natsu's shoulder a few more times before letting go "your father would've done the same, if he was still here"

"I guess so" Natsu said as he looks to the stars in the night sky


the next morning soon came as Natsu stood on the grounds in front of the cabin

he looks at the morning sun as it shines bright

Catastoras was tied near a post as the mechanical warhorse neighs to Natsu

"I know" Natsu said as he summoned Enryuo no Yoroi and the armor equips itself upon him

Natsu's necklace soon glowed red as so did his armor that reacted

The Crimson Black Gauntlet equipped on Natsu's Right fist as it shined

Catastoras neigh as the mechanical warhorse shined red

Natsu's swords soon appeared on his hilt as they glowed too

Natsu shined bright before red static started to run around his whole body

"gguuughh!" Natsu grunted out as the red static started to spread around and before long lightning strikes down upon Natsu

BOOM!

"Gaaaah!" Natsu soon went flying as he crashed to the ground, his armor breaking into pieces and his weapons flying everywhere

He sat up while holding his head as the explosion really hit him hard

"that didn't work like it used to" Natsu said as he shakes his head a bit before looking to the side as Erza and the others came out of the cabin

"what was that!? An Explosion!?" Lucy exclaimed in surprise

"an enemy!?" Mira exclaimed, ready for a fight

"it's not an enemy attack" Natsu said as he got back up while dusting off his shirt and pants "I was just trying a new magic attack but it failed and nearly blew me away"

"can you do that in the evening -yawn- it's like really early in the morning" Cana said as her hair was all messed up while she hugs a beer bottle in her arm

"it's only 7" Kagura stated

"so…what's with all of this?" Ultear asked pointing to the mess of metal around Natsu

"just the aftermath of a failed magic attempt" Natsu said as he snaps his fingers and all the scattered armor pieces became one again while his weapons floated near it "I still can't get it right like I used to can"

"what was the new magic that needed all of them?" Ikaruga asked while holding a hand to her mouth to hide her yawn

"just a combination of all my weapons" Natsu said as he holds his golden sword before sighing "oh well…"

Natsu threw the sword as Kagura caught it

"hey, that's dangerous!" Lucy exclaimed before Natsu's weapons soon floated to everyone except for Lucy, Mira, Éclair, and Cana

"why are they?" Erza asked as Natsu's armor stood in front of her

"use them" Natsu said "you're going to need everything you can get in the Rank Advancement Exam"

Erza and the others looks confused before they see his weapons shining crimson

Ikaruga holds Natsu's Black Red Katana as it transforms into a crimson hair comb

Kagura holds Natsu's Golden Blade as it transforms into a golden earring with a crimson gem embedded on it

Ultear holds Natsu's gauntlet as it shined before disappearing into the bracelet, Natsu had given to her during their date many weeks back

Enryuo no Yoroi glowed red before the armor and the wings on its back split apart

Erza looks at the armor as it transforms into a glowing sphere that flied into her body, making her glow a bit

The metal wings floated in front of everyone before it transforms into a ball of light that floated in front of Éclair

"I see" Natsu said as he took off his necklace before attaching it on Éclair "you've been chosen by them"

The ball of light soon disappeared into Natsu's necklace as it shines red before dimming

"ok, what just happened?" Mira asked while scratching her head

"all of you are mages with specific types of abilities, right?" Natsu asked "I'm an All rounder"

"so? you can drink more?" Cana said before chugging down her bottle of beer

"not that All Rounder" Lucy said sweatdropping "he meant that he can use any type of weapons in disposal"

"right, and my weapons chose me, but they choose some of you too" Natsu said as everyone looks more confused "my weapons are alive"

"you're just playing with us, right?" Lucy said getting more confused

"just think of this as a way for a part of me to be there with you guys, in case you are in danger" Natsu said as Catastoras neigh to him before going to Cana and leans its snout to her shoulders

"what's wrong with this guy?" Cana asked as she holds Catastoras' snout

"he chose you, which I find kinda weird" Natsu said as Cana looks at him then to Catastoras who transformed into a belt that attached itself on her waist

"neat" Cana said looking at the belt that was crimson and had a dragon head buckle on it "and might I add, very fashionable"

"what about us?" Mira asked as Natsu rubs his chin before he snapped his fingers

He lifts his left arm up as flames rages around it and a Black gauntlet appeared

"let's see who this guy chooses?" Natsu said as the gauntlet glowed before dimming then disappearing "huh, weird"

"what is?" Erza asked

"looks to me that one had already chosen someone else" Natsu said as he clenched his left hand a few times

"bummer, I wanted to get a gauntlet or something" Mira said while feeling a bit jealous that Erza and the others got something nice from Natsu

"but are you sure that letting them come to us, is a good idea? What of you? What weapon will you be using?" Éclair asked while holding the necklace on her neck

"my weapons are still connected to me, I can call them when I need them but for now" Natsu said as he motions them to back away

Natsu cracks his knuckles a few times before he punched the ground

"I still have my original first weapon at hand" Natsu said as the ground blazes in flames before the man pulled out a dual edged sword that burns crimson in flames "the Blade born in Mother Earth, Gaia Sword"

The sword shined as it soon disappears

"now then" Natsu said clapping his hands a few times to dust off some dust on them "let's start training again"


That's a wrap!

Bye bye