"speaking"

"thinking"

On with the story

a train was running down the railway as it heads out of the Magnolia Train Station

[Ladies and Gentleman, in few minutes, Magnolia Express will depart from Magnolia to Corona town. This train will stop at Cimazi, Purwa, kasi, Hixs, and Corona. This Train will travel for 3 hours and 4 minutes. For any service or information, you can contact all crew in our trip today. For your safety, we remind you to keep all your belongings and please do not smoke on the train, in the toilet, or in the borders. Have nice trip.] the announcer spoke out on the speaker as the passengers sat at their seats

Natsu and the others were on the train as they were heading out of Magnolia

Natsu sat in the middle while Éclair, Ikaruga, Ultear, and Cana sat by the side and Erza sat on the other end with Kagura, Mira, Lucy, and somehow Kamika who came along

"why is she coming with us?" Mira asked while looking at Kamika who smiles before showing the dragon mark on her left shoulder blade "even her?!"

"she wanted to come so I let her" Natsu said while reading a new book in his hand "it's better than staying at a town filled with crowds of people"

"I am somehow agreeing with that" Lucy said with an awkward smile

"how much time we got for the holidays?" Natsu asked while flipping a page of his book "I forgot"

"nearly a month, there's only 2 weeks and 4 days left before coming back for the new semester year" Erza answered him as the train soon passed by a tunnel

"that's enough time for those vulture reporters to go away" Natsu said before he heard meowing from above as he looks up and sees Happy trying to get out of his portable cage "oh, you woke up, huh?"

Natsu reached up as he opens the cage and grabs a hold of Happy before setting him down on his lap

"don't start running around" Natsu told his pet as he starts petting Happy's head while he continues reading his book "the last thing i want is you running around in a train"

Happy meowed before the feline soon hopped to Éclair's lap and nuzzles itself around before resting down

"such a spoiled cat" Ikaruga said as Éclair started petting Happy's fur

"ah, now that I think about it. What of Momon?" Lucy asked "would he be alright at the vet?"

"well…." Éclair said while scratching Happy's chin


At a local vet store, chaos rang out as the window glass breaks before Momon came flying out, squalling loudly

"ah! He's escaping!" the owner exclaimed as a staff came out of the store before seeing Momon flying in the sky


"I think he'll be fine" she finished with a smile

"somehow I don't think it's going to be fine at all" Mira and Lucy thought at the same time as the train came out of the tunnel

"I can already imagined that bird flying out of the vet, chasing after us" Natsu said as he closed his book before pocketing it "now that I think about it, I wonder how they are doing"

"who?" Ultear said "friends?"

"well more like the pets I had back at my hometown" Natsu said while rubbing his chin "it's been half a year since I left my hometown"

"you have more pets?" Cana asked while drinking a bottle of beer

"yeah, Igneel had some sort of affection for many animals and he brought home a lot of pets back in the day" Natsu said "well, not that I can blame him. They're all awesome in a way"

"hmmm, what other pets do you have?" Éclair asked, interested

"you guys just have to wait and see" Natsu replied with a grin


A few hours later, the train soon reached Hixs town's train station

Some passengers started getting off as so were Natsu and the others

"it's great to be back" Natsu said as Happy meowed while riding on his shoulder

The group got out of the train as they followed Natsu who leads them to the town and it was a simple small town that had farms around the place.

"talk about old fashioned" Mira said as she sees stores selling vegetables and farm tools with the addition of magic tools that are specifically designed for farming; there were farmers walking around the place, pulling cows, pigs, and horses around as it looks like a primitive town. "the place looks like a big farm"

"that's what makes this place the best" Natsu said "this place gives me a lot of peace when I was a kid"

As the group went into the town, a group of farmers walked by before spotting Natsu

"AH! IT'S NATSU! HE'S BACK!" one of them shouted and the whole townsfolk sets their eyes from what they were doing to Natsu. They all immediately crowded Natsu and started greeted him

"it's been a long time!" "you look great!" "you've grown up so much!" "look at his hair! He dyed it black!" "he looks more awesome now!" "we saw the news! You were awesome at the CMC!" "that's Ignee's kid for ya!" "even the kingdom's princess wanted to marry you!" they all bombarded Natsu who smiled to them before an old man approached Natsu with a smile while only wearing a monk like outfit with a staff

"it is such a great joy for these old eyes of mine to see you again, Natsu" the old man said with a smile

"it's great to see you still kicking it in, Mayor" Natsu said as he shakes hand with the old man

"what did you say!? I'm still in my 60's!" the Mayor exclaimed as the townsfolks laughed and so did him "it's good to have you back, sonny!"

"it's great to be back!" Natsu said with a grin

"seems like you are all friends here" Éclair said as Natsu nodded

"yeah, I know the people here and I'm friend with them all" Natsu said with a chuckle

"my my, you've made friends! And they are girls!" the Mayor exclaimed with wide eyes that popped out as everyone soon crowded Éclair and the others

"look at this one! She's got a refined figure!" "this one has some good childbearing hips!" "this one looks like one of those foreigners!" "what a beauty they are!" the folks chattered around as they surround Éclair and the others

"t-this is a bit" Lucy said, backing a bit from the many stares

"looks to me that Natsu's very much famous in his hometown" Erza said "even more than when he was in Magnolia"

"agreed" Kagura stated with a nod

"tell us! Which one of you is our Natsu's girlfriend!? Better yet he's fiancé?!" the Mayor exclaimed as the girls instantly blushed hard

"f-f-fiancé!?" Lucy stuttered hard

"girlfriend is one thing but fiancé!?" Mira exclaimed "why are you guys asking such questions?!"

"what? not one is Natsu's future bride? Now that's a disappointment" the Mayor said sighing as so did the townsfolk

"that's not entirely true" Natsu said as he hugs Éclair's by the waist and kisses her head with a smile "Éclair here is my mate"

"oooh!" the mayor exclaimed and looks in awe with the townsfolk

"and so is Ultear, Ikaruga, Cana, Kamika, Erza, and Kagura here" Natsu added in as the townsfolk gawked with wide eyes

"eeeh?! 7 mates?!" they exclaimed, their eyes popping out of their heads

"well 9 actually, but who is counting?" Natsu said with a grin

"hey, Natsu. It's embarrassing when you say it to them" Ultear told Natsu

"yeah, you're embarrassing us!" Kagura stated while blushing

Before long, the townsfolk screamed in big cheers as they looked like they were celebrating something big

"o-ok…this was a different reaction than expected" Lucy said in awkward

"why are they cheering like they are celebrating?" Mira said surprised

"amazing! Just like his old man!" "5 was something but his son beat him!" "get that betting pool out! And start forking over those jewels!" "hahahaha! We're about to see the coming of a great generation!" "let's celebrate tonight!" the townsfolk shouted out crazily while cheering

"what's going on?" Éclair asked Natsu while looking a bit confused

"beats me, they betted on something" Natsu said

"man, you boy sure is his son!" the Mayor said with a grin "having 5 mates was amazing already but you have 9, you say!? That's just downright amazing!"

"wait, they are cheering because you have 9 mates? What's this about?" Mira said looking more confused

"Hixs town is famous for their men and mates" the mayor said "here, it's normal for a single man to have 2-5 wives. But this boy right here just broke the record! Hahahahaha!"

"so….are you saying that this town has no moral sense?" Kagura said with a sweatdrop

"I wouldn't say that we don't have moral sense, we just love each other!" a townsfolk exclaimed while grinning with one another "that's right! That's right!" "hell, I am in dilemma if I want a third wife or not!" "ha! You in that age?! In your dreams!" "this boy sure going to have lots of strong kids!"

"man, I really do miss this town" Natsu said with a grin

"that's right!" the Mayor exclaimed "why don't you and your mates go back to the big ol' barn while we townsfolk prepare the big comeback celebration for ya!?"

"thanks, but you don't have to make a big celebration just because I got back home" Natsu said

"what are you saying!?" "your old man is a big hero in our town! And you're his son!" "making a big celebration of your come back is something small!" "especially when you come back with 7 mates!" the townsfolk exclaimed out loud

"gee, when you put it that way" Natsu said while rubbing the back of his head

"just go just go!" the Mayor exclaimed while patting Natsu's shoulder a few times "I know that your family is waiting on ya!"

"yeah, I know they will" Natsu said as Happy meowed "Happy here miss them too after all"

"hahaha!" the Mayor exclaimed before he clapped his hands one time and it was loud "everyone! All together now!"

Everyone soon surrounded Natsu and the others in a big circle as they grin to them

"w-what now?" Lucy said, not liking the looks of things

"WELCOME HOME! NATSU!" they all shouted out

"it's great to be back home!" Natsu said grinning before laughing as the townsfolk joined him

"I think we got into something really weird" Mira said looking awkward to the constant laughing townsfolk

"yeah" Lucy said while nodding in agreement

"but they all seemed really nice" Erza said "that's something good"

"agreed" Ikaruga said with a giggle

"can't wait for the party!" Cana said with a grin before drinking her bottle of beer


After getting the welcome back greeting from the townsfolk, Natsu and the others heads further in town as they made their way to a big barn right at the end of the town

"ah, home sweet home" Natsu said with a grin as they arrived at the big barn where there was a giant crop field filled with many assortments of vegetables and there were dozens of livestock roaming around the grass field

"you used to live in a barn?" Erza asked while looking at a couple of hens that walked pass them

"not really" Natsu said as he pointed a bit ahead and there was a mansion like house near the barn "I lived there"

"wow" Mira said before whistling in amazement

"my old man used to be in the magic military" Natsu explained "he got a lot of jewels and went to this town as a retirement place but also decided to build a barn like the folks here"

"I see" Ikaruga said as everyone sees that the crops planted were thriving well

"strange" Kagura said "how is this farm tended when there are no workers?"

"yeah, you hired someone to tend to the place or something?" Mira asked

"it'd be better if I call them in" Natsu replied

"them?" Ultear said in confusion before Natsu place his fingers in his mouth before whistling a high pitch

Soon, the ground started to shake and rumble

"a-an earthquake?!" Erza exclaimed in surprise

"not exactly" Natsu said as the ground near them exploded and a giant snake like creature with 8 heads appeared

"NOOO! GIANT SNAKE WITH 8 HEADS!" Lucy screams loudly

"what the hell is that thing!?" Mira exclaimed

"a Hydraus Viper!?" Éclair said as the giant reptilian creature hisses at them while Natsu steps forward

"yo, Hydra. Been well?" Natsu said as the Hydraus Viper leans down its center head to him before leaning its snout at him "I see that you guarded the town and the barn well"

"you know that thing?" Mira asked before the giant snake creature hisses at her, causing Mira to take a step back

"don't call him a 'thing'. He'll get cranky and start spitting out acid venom" Natsu said while patting the snout a few times

Hydra hissed before Happy meowed and jumped on top of the snake's head

Soon, dozens of animals came stampeding towards Natsu and the others

"it's a stampede!" Lucy exclaimed while hugging Mira as the animals surrounds Natsu

"I missed you all!" Natsu said as the animals meowed, barked, squealed, neighs, etc to him

"amazing..some of these creatures are rare creatures not found in Fiore" Erza said as Kagura nodded while gulping down her throat

"a Blizzard Wolves, Twist Weasels, Ivor Wyverns, Puffs Purun, and Popping Fox. All of them are amazing creatures" Éclair said before a hamster came climbing up her shoulder and squeaked to her before jumping away

"can't believe that his father brought so many rare animals" Ultear said in surprise as Natsu started getting licked by the animals while laughing

"they look as if they miss him so much" Ikaruga noted

"can't blame them, Natsu's been at Magnolia for half a year" Cana said before drinking more of her beer

"man, I miss you guys so much" Natsu said with a chuckle before he took a step back

"the Hydraus Viper's name is Hydra because he's a direct descendant of the legendary Hydra, the Blizzard Wolves are North and Yuki, the Ivor Wyverns are Ash and Flake" Natsu said before carrying up a Twist Weasel, a Puffs Purun, and a Popping Fox in his arms "and these three furballs are Rocket, Puru, and Kiara"

"so adorable" Ikaruga said as the Popping Fox jumps into her arms and she started petting its fur

"listen alright" Natsu said as he looks to the animals "they are my friends and my mates. Be good to them, got it?"

The animals nodded as they soon surround the girls and started licking them or rubbing their heads against them

"stop! Stop it!" Lucy exclaimed while laughing as she started to get lick from all direction

"tell them to stop!" Mira exclaimed as she was getting fluffy fur all over her

"is this their way of greeting us?" Erza asked while hugging a puff ball that was rubbing its fur against her cheeks

"in a way" Natsu said before looking to the side as the ground breaks and lava started to spill out

"eh, what's going on now?" Kamika said while her face was covered in saliva

From the lava, soon came out a claw before the lava erupted a bit and the Valcaraka, Flaze came out and let out a hissing growl

"Flaze?!" Éclair said while looking in surprise

"who? And what is this guy?" Mira asked

"this one is Flaze, he's a Valcaraka from Corona Mountain near here" Natsu said while patting Flaze's snout a few times before he gets a lick to the face and was covered in saliva "be good to him, alright?"

Everyone soon was greeted by the animals in their own way as when they are done, Lucy and the others were either covered in fur or saliva from top to bottom

"I'm starting to think that you guys want a bath" Natsu said while rubbing his chin

"you think?" Kagura said as she wipes off some saliva from her hands

"this is more worse than Flaze's drool" Éclair said as her hair was drenched in saliva


That's a wrap!

hiatus

Bye bye