"speaking"
"thinking"
On with the story
A single month had quickly passed as time goes by fast and the holidays were gone
Natsu and the girls were at the train station where the townfolks were bidding them off
"come back again!" "we'll always have a festival for ya!" "we'll be waiting!" "have some more Hixs town special souvenirs and snack! They're too die for!" "and our Fire Wine Sake!" the townfolks hollered out as Natsu and the girls carried their luggage with them
"thanks, but we're good" Natsu replied, his dyed hair was turning pink over time "and don't worry, we'll be back for summer break"
"you better!" the mayor exclaimed with a grin "and when you come back, make sure that you have more mates!"
"very funny" Natsu replied chucklingly before he and the mayor shook hands "thanks for everything, and thanks for volunteering in taking care of my farm"
"it's nothing!" the mayor replied before the alarm rang as it signed the train was about to leave "now then! Off you go!"
"see ya" Natsu said as he carried his luggage over his shoulder while helping Éclair's luggage
The group soon went on board the train as it was going to leave soon
Getting on board, Natsu and the others went to their seat while placing away their luggage above their seats
"ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS!" Erza, Kamika, Kagura, Ultear, and Mira exclaimed as they were playing rock-paper-scissors to determine who gets to seat on the same seat row with Natsu. The girls all played scissors then rock, and then paper as the cycle continues
"I won't lose!" Mira exclaimed, already a part of the mates as she didn't want to lose to anyone on who gets to sit close to Natsu
"that's my line" Kagura said, her eyes glinting in serious
"even if we are friends, I won't be merciful" Erza said, her eyes raging in flames
"I shall be sitting beside Master as a true privilege" Kamika stated, her tongue licks her lips a bit
"couldn't we decide with straws instead?" Ultear asked as they played rock, then paper, then scissors again "this is not getting us anywhere"
"she has a point" Mira said before turning around "Lucy, you brought your straws?"
"huh?" Lucy said as she, Ikaruga, Cana, Éclair, and Natsu were already seating on a seat row. Natsu being in the middle with Éclair and Cana on the right side, while Ikaruga and Lucy on the left side
"HEY!" the five girls shouted as they were busy deciding that they didn't notice them at all
"the early bird gets the best worm, no?" Ikaruga asked with a smile as she leans her head against Natsu's left shoulder while Éclair did the same to his right
"I take it back! You're a fox!" Mira exclaimed, pointing at the swordswomen
"a cunning fox!" Erza stated in agreement as the two glares at Ikaruga who merely giggles with a hand over her mouth
[Ladies and Gentleman, Magnolia Express will depart from Hixs town back to Magnolia, This train will stop at Corona, Parka, Ivor, and then Magnolia. This Train will travel for 5 hours. 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
"all passengers! Please take your seats!" a train conductor exclaimed as the passengers sat at their seats, the train's engine heating up and ready to go
"another time, then" Kagura said as she and the other four sat down on the other side facing Natsu and the others
The train soon moved as it was going out of Hixs Train Station and into the tracks forward
Natsu looks through the window as he smiled when he saw the mayor and the townfolks waving to him goodbye as they were slowly disappearing to the distance. Looking a bit more, Natsu sees Hyrus, and the rest of his pets at the farm, saying their goodbyes to him
He chuckled a bit before he looks up their seats, and sees that Happy was sleeping in his cage
"it was good while it lasted" Natsu thought with a smile before looking to Éclair who was rubbing her hands a bit "feeling cold?"
"a little" Éclair replied as she shivers a bit "I think it's because I let my feet get cold when asleep"
"I see" Natsu said as he reached his hands under her knee and behind her back, carrying her and placing her on his lap crossed way "would this make you feel warmer?"
Éclair smiled as she cuddles with Natsu who holds her close, warming her body with his magic
"so unfair" the five girls across thought as Éclair got special treatment from the man, they love
"excuse me" Ikaruga said as she leans closer to Natsu while having a smirk to Erza and the others who got tick marks instantly from seeing it "I'm feeling rather cold"
"even when you're wearing a long kimono?" Lucy asked with a sweatdrop
"let me get some of that!" Cana slurred in a drunk voice as she hugs Natsu's face to her chest while nuzzling her cheeks against his hair
This made more tick marks appeared on the girl's head as Cana was really pushing her luck
"enough" Natsu said as his copies appeared around him "take one and cuddle all you want"
"now, we're talking" Mira said as she grabs one copy and made him sat on her seat before she sat on his lap "I'm going to sleep peacefully today"
Everyone got a Natsu, except for Lucy who declined as they cuddled with him for his warmth
"somehow, this doesn't feel a bit better" Ultear muttered a bit as she hugs her copy while looking at the original who was cuddling Éclair with warm and gentle kisses, the two were wearing a little blanket that covered their body
"yes" Erza said agreeing while hugging her copy to her chest "but I think that it's fair because she is the first after all"
"not for long" Kamika said while sitting on her Natsu's lap, facing against him while hugging him close
Lucy sweatdropped as the girls had a rivalry spark against each other, mostly Ultear, Erza, Kagura, Mira, Kamika, and Ikaruga. Not Cana and Éclair who just snuggles with their Natsu
"hope things in Magnolia is more peaceful" Lucy thought as she prayed that they won't wage war against each other just for Natsu's affection
A few hours soon passed as the train came to Magnolia's station
Docking by, the doors opened, and the passengers gets off
Natsu and the others got off as they arrived back home
"good old, Magnolia" Mira said as she stretched her arms a bit from sleeping in the train with her Natsu copy
"hope things are a bit calmer after we had left" Ultear said as they head towards the exit
As soon as they exited the station, they finds dozens of posters, and banners hanged up everywhere. All having photos of Natsu with Dan and the gang with the word Flaming Salamanders bellow them
"why do I think that this is Dan's fault?" Lucy asked with an awkward smile as she sees people walking around with magazines of the Flaming Salamanders
"that dunderhead" Natsu said sighing
"look" Ikaruga stated as she pointed forward where they see a crowd of screaming fangirls surrounding a single man who had Natsu's face
"what the? Did you had a copy stay behind?" Cana asked while drinking a bottle of fine wine
"there's a limit to how long I can keep one out and secondly, you're not getting more fire wine from me" Natsu said as he started walking to the crowds
"eeeh~! Stingy~!" Cana stated while puffing her cheeks
"Kyaaa!" "Natsu-sama!" "please! An autograph!" "a photo please!" "you're so handsome!" the girls screamed crazy as the Natsu they're looking at just pose and winks to them
"ladies, please restrain yourself" Natsu said as he winks and made the girls scream "I'm here for you all"
He started posing and winking as the girls scream and takes photos of him before the real Natsu came looking a bit pissed
"I leave town for a month for the holidays and some snot guy like you take my face" Natsu said as the impostor looks at him "this is so annoying"
"my, we have a fan who wants to be like me!" the impostor exclaimed with a grin "don't worry boy, being handsome shouldn't be a crime"
"but taking someone's face is" Natsu said as he snaps his fingers and the impostor's face changed into that of a middle aged purple haired man with a tattoo on his right eye
"wha! My spell?!" the man exclaimed before Natsu slammed his fist at his face hard, sending him straight through the ground
The girls looks surprised as they had just snapped out of something, they soon look at the Natsu that they were looking before realizing that they were hypnotized
"so annoying" Natsu said before he hears the girls screaming and started taking photos of him "great"
The girls screamed and started asking for photographs, autographs, handshakes and his love
"if you want photographs, autographs or whatever, take as much as you want" Natsu told them while being flashed with cameras before he pointed a finger at them "but my love, that ain't for any of you to take"
Natsu winked as the girls screamed while some fainted before the man disappeared and then reappeared with Éclair and the others
"let's go, Dan should be here with our car" Natsu said as he carried his luggage and Éclair's
Natsu leads the way as the girls followed him while the fan girls were trying to search for him
They went to the parking lot where they find Dan calling out to them while standing beside a limo
Everyone got in as Dan drives the limo and went out of the train station
"thanks for the ride, Dan" Natsu said as he sat at the back with Erza and Kagura, the two taking their chance in sitting beside him
"it's nothing, Big boss! We're making a big and new debut. We got to show the others that we mean business!" Dan said grinning as he turns a corner and now entering into Magnolia
"I guess so" Natsu said "the others already learned the new song?"
"right to the note, big boss! We got it perfectly memorized!" Dan replied "both the lyrics and the dance moves"
"good, make sure to contact Jason from the Weekly Sorcerer. We need to make it big news" Natsu said as Dan gives him a thumbs up
"you got it, big boss!" Dan said as he focuses on driving
"sure revved up for the showbiz, aren't you?" Ultear asked smiling as Natsu shrugs his shoulder
"did the same thing back then, why not do it again?" Natsu replied chuckling a bit
The group chatted as Dan drives to the direction that will take them to Natsu's home
"is your apartment fixed now?" Cana asked while drinking a bottle of beer that is in the limo's small fridge "or are you still going to randomly stay at one of our houses?"
"it should be" Natsu replied as Dan turns the wheel and they head into the street where Natsu's apartment is at
When they reached to Natsu's home, it was gone and was replaced with a small mall
"what the!?" Natsu exclaimed as his apartment was gone
"I'll go and ask!" Dan stated as he parked the limo before going out and heads into the mall to ask on where is Natsu's apartment
Natsu grabs his lacrima phone as he dials a number before pressing the call button, going to call his landowner
A few rings and it got connected.
"hello, where is the apartment, and where are all of my stuff!?" Natsu exclaimed angrily as he didn't know anything of the renovation that changed an apartment into a small mall
He hears his landowner's reply as his eyes widen a bit and his jaw dropped
Dan came back as he got into the driver seat
"how did it go?" Lucy asked while the others looks at Natsu who is just frozen in his place
"I talked to the security guard there and he said that the land was sold by the previous owner, now the landowner left town" Dan replied as this got the girls to be confused
"sold? Why? He was given lots of money and decided to retire?" Mira asked as Dan just shrugs his shoulders in reply
"what's wrong with big boss?" Dan asked seeing Natsu's posture
"don't know" Lucy asked as she poked Natsu a few times to get a reaction from him "he's like this when he had called his landowner"
"let me call his landowner" Ikaruga said as she pried Natsu's lacrima phone from his hands before pressing the previous number and calls it
She place the phone near her ear as she waits for the few rings before it connected
"hello…yes….yes…I'm talking about Natsu Dragneel's former apartment location and the whereabouts his belongings…yes…yes…in the storage facility by the Oak Street….yes….thank you…..thank you very much, have a pleasant day" Ikaruga conversed on the call before it hanged up
"so?" Mira asked
"it's just like what Dan had spoken" Ikaruga said as she placed the lacrima phone in Natsu's pocket "his landowner had left town, and Natsu-han's belongings are in a storage facility by the oak street"
"so that means…Natsu is homeless?" Lucy asked as Natsu banged his face on the seat before grumbling in annoyance, reality finally hitting him. The man sits down as he grumbles even more
"just when I get back…that impostor happened…now this?" Natsu grumbled
"so, where's big boss is going to stay?" Dan asked, concern for his boss before looking to Lucy and the others "might one of you guys could give him a place to stay? Till I get big boss a new place to stay"
"my apartment doesn't allow more than one person staying in the same room, especially a guy" Lucy stated
"my home is merely small and accommodate two people for a while" Ikaruga added in
"I already got my little brother and little sister, I don't think we can get another one to get in" Mira said while crossing her arms
"my home is big but I need to ask my brother first" Kagura said
"my home…." Kamika said before pausing then continued with a little chuckling "…is rather private"
"my apartment room is small" Erza added in while ignoring Kamika's weird chuckling "which leaves…"
"he can stay at my house!" Cana exclaimed with a grin while Natsu shakes his head, not wanting to sleep in an alcohol-soaked house
"he could stay at my house" Éclair said while smiling "for as long as he wants"
"or mine" Ultear added in as the two hugs Natsu's arms while the girls got jealous and wished that they had a big house
"well then, let big boss decide while I get us to the storage facility" Dan said as he turns the key and kicks the engine off before he drives the limo away
Natsu sighs as he started to decide which house, he should go to stay for the night
Night soon came as Natsu was at Ultear's home, the man decided that he should randomly go in between his first and second mates home, just to treat fairly
Natsu got out of the bathroom, just after taking a warm bath for the night
He sighs as he dries his hair with his towel before Ultear came, with a glass of milk
"thanks for letting me stay" Natsu said as he grabs the glass while Ultear smiled
Happy was at Lucy's apartment for the night as Ultear's place doesn't allow having pets because the landowner is apparently allergic to any furry animals
"it's fine, just stay as long as you want" Ultear said as Natsu nodded before drinking the glass, his eyes widening a bit
Natsu looks at Ultear with a raised eyebrow as the milk, he was drinking was no ordinary milk
Ultear giggles as she unbuttons the few buttons of her shirt before taking them off to reveal her breasts that had milk leaking out
"oh well, I was craving some anyway" Natsu said as he grabs Ultear's waist and pulled her in a kiss before they started a round for the night
The next morning soon came as Natsu and Ultear were going to school
The Time Mage hugs Natsu's arm while the man carries their school bags and was wearing a disguise to hide from the probably hiding reporters and fans
Before long, they met up with Lucy and the others, on their way to school
"I wonder what our ranks are now" Lucy said as they see some girls gathering around the school board that has the lists of second- and third-year students new ranks
"only one way to find out" Kagura said
They went and see on the board as they scanned it for their names and their new rank beside it
"alright! I ranked up!" Mira exclaimed with a grin as her rank advanced from B to A
"I as well" Ikaruga said as her rank turns into A
"still at the same rank, huh?" Erza said as she, Ultear, and Kagura were still in the A rank "I guess we have to try harder next time"
"I've advanced as well!" Cana grins as her rank turns into an A
"how is her rank that highly boosted?" Lucy asked while her rank is also A
"looks like Kamika and I have advanced now" Éclair said as she saw her name and Kamika's name and their new ranks which were A and B respectively
Natsu scanned for his name before he saw someone else
"Kyria?" Natsu said as the girls looks at him before to the board. Beside Kyria's name is her new rank which was a D as the Dragon Espada rank was downgraded
"figures that she gets a rank down from her little stunt back at the exam" Mira said as she crossed her arms "I wouldn't be surprised by this"
"now, she has to attend classes regularly" Erza stated "or she'll get expelled during the exam"
"it'll be shocking to see her actually studying" Kagura joked as this made the members of the seven Empress laugh a bit
Natsu scanned the list as he finally found his name
"S Rank, huh?" Natsu said as he saw his rank and it was S Rank "that's surprising"
"can't blame the result" Ultear said "you are a very strong mage"
"can you say that to this one?" Cana asked as she pointed near Natsu's name
They look to where Cana pointed her finger as their eyes landed to Hisui's name and the rank beside it which was A
"why do I think that she didn't use magic to pass the exam?" Lucy said as the girls nodded agreeing to her
"let's just go to school before the opening ceremony of the new freshmen" Natsu said as they went into the school
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
