"speaking"
"thinking"
On with the story
3 days had passed since Zancrow's attack upon Magnolia. The town was in near decimation and everything was nearly burned to the ground, but it was slowly being rebuilt by the people
Zancrow was arrested and is behind bars for a very long time, but that would be the same for a certain Fire Mage
Mira and Lucy were walking alongside the road as they were on their way to Natsu's finished built house
"so, how's your little brother, Mira-san?" Lucy asked as Elfman was in the hospital after the incident
"that big lug is fine, he's an idiot sometimes but he's a man who doesn't wimp out in some things" Mira replied
The girls turned a corner as they finally reached his home where it had a moving truck parked nearby and movers were moving in couches, chairs, boxes, and everything that belonged to Natsu
"I know that he has time and all, but did he really buy this all himself?" Mira asked as in Natsu's previous home, the man only had a few assortments of belongings but not many "when did he have a drum set?"
"must've been Dan" Lucy replied
Mira and Lucy watched as the movers moved in a box that was filled with drumming equipment
The two then went into the house as they entered in while carefully leaning to the wall to let the movers come in and out
Mira and Lucy went to the living room area where they find Natsu in conversation with Dan
"tell them that we have to move back our schedule a bit" Natsu said to Dan who nodded and started to dial some numbers on his lacrima phone "and that our contract reply is still being judged on being changed or not"
"roger" Dan replied as he walked out to take the call while Mira and Lucy went to Natsu
"you sure been busy here" Mira said as she sees movers coming in with a tv in a box "guess that what happens when you have lots of free time"
"better than lazing around doing nothing" Natsu replied as he wore some sort of black bracelet which is a Magic Tracker
After Natsu had defeated Zancrow and brought him down, the mayor sentenced him to a 3 weeks house arrest because most of the town's damage was from him. Erza and the others protested but Natsu had wanted to accept his punishment. Now Natsu was just being himself in his new home that was getting filled up with new assortments of belongings
The movers finished moving all Natsu's belongings in as Natsu paid them before they left
"you sure have lots of stuff now" Lucy said as there were dozens of boxes everywhere and that was just in the living room
The house facilitates a bathroom in each floor, a single kitchen at the first floor, and six empty rooms in each floor that was filled with boxes
"are you planning to do it all?" Mira said to Natsu who nodded while unboxing one box that was filled with dish plates and other kitchen utensils
"better than just reading all the time" Natsu replied as he carried the box to the kitchen and taking them out
"well then, let's give the house a few feminine touch" Lucy said while rolling up her sleeves as she and Mira were going to help
"right about that" Mira said as she rolled her shoulders around
They start unpackaging things as Éclair and the rest of the mates came by to help
The day soon turned to noon as the sun was setting and the sky darkens a bit
The girls were still unpackaging some boxes as there were still a few more to go
At the living room where there is now a couch, tv, table, and some boxes. Éclair, Lucy, and Mira were sitting by while the others were at the other rooms
Éclair and Lucy were folding some clothes while Mira was looking through some boxes and taking out the contents which were cat toys and assortment of books
"never knew that Natsu had a thing for so much cat stuffs" Mira said as she pulled out some feather toys before placing them aside and went into the box again "there's literally more of these things"
"goes to show that Natsu loves animals" Éclair said smiling while folding Natsu's shirt before placing them away
"yeah, every animal" Lucy said as nearby them were Ash, Hyrus, and North; the three beasts were now in a smaller size form thanks to Natsu who cast a minimize spell that turned them from giant monster like beasts into small adorable pets
Mira rummage through the box filled with feline toys before taking another box and opened it. Inside was an old red Dragon Doll that was a bit torn up
"and seems like Happy liked this toy very much" Mira said pulling the doll out for the others to see
"that's old" Lucy said, seeing the tears on the doll and how dirty looking it is "I mean really old"
Mira looks at the doll and sniffs it a bit, her eyes looks in surprise a bit
"it looks old but it smells really nice" Mira said taking another sniff "I mean really nice, it's like it was taken care of for years"
"must be Natsu" Éclair replied as she grabs hold of the doll and sees how it was torn up but was taken care of with good care "does Natsu have a sewing kit?"
"I'll go and ask" Lucy replied as she got up and went to find Natsu
Éclair looks at the doll as she saw it was in a bad shape. Pressing around its body, she felt something inside the doll
"there's something in it" Éclair said as Mira heard her while in the middle of taking out some items from a few boxes
"what?" Mira replied as Éclair turns the doll to the back and sees a zipper on it. Sliding the zipper down, Éclair finds a watch locket inside the doll. She took it out and examined it "a locket?"
Two hours later, the day turned to night
"that's the last of them" Erza said as she, Kagura, and Ultear came to the living room where the rest were at but not Natsu "where's Natsu?"
"outside, in a conversation" Ikaruga replied while drinking some tea and pointed to the garden outside where Natsu was in the middle of a call
"guess he's busier even when he's on house arrest" Kagura said as she and the others sat down by the couch that had Éclair and Lucy sitting by
"whose doll is that?" Ultear asked as Éclair was sewing the doll's tear by hand
"Happy's" Lucy replied as Éclair pulled the string and needle out, puling the sewing together before finishing by biting the string off
"there we go" Éclair said, finished sewing the doll back
"got Happy" Mira called out from the kitchen as she carried Happy "you wouldn't believe where he was hiding all along"
"in the drawers?" Kamika said while placing small cameras around Natsu's home
"yeah" Mira said while sweatdropping to what Kamika is doing
"here, Happy" Éclair called out as she placed the Dragon Doll on the floor, Mira doing the same to Happy
Happy meowed as the feline went near the doll and sniffs it before walking away
"strange" Éclair said looking a bit confused "why he won't go near it?"
"that's because it's not his doll" Natsu spoke out as he entered back his house "it's mine"
"this is your doll?" Mira asked as Natsu went near and picks the doll up, looking at it with nostalgic eyes
"yeah, it is" Natsu said in a soft voice as he squeezes it a bit, the doll making a squeaking sound a bit "it's the first toy that I ever got from Igneel when I was a kid….it's very important to me"
"is that so?" Éclair said before she remembered the locket from inside the doll "and that locket?"
Natsu took a glance to Éclair before to his doll, he reaches to the zipper behind and pulls it down to take out the locket inside
He holds the locket in his hand before opening it
A holographic magic screen appeared out as everyone sees a recording of Natsu in his young age with Igneel, the young boy was chasing Igneel who fell down before he jumps on top of the man's stomach. The two soon laughed before the hologram disappeared
"it's a magic flash recorder, they don't make these anymore but Igneel had this" Natsu said as he pockets the locket before looking at his dragon doll and sees the sewing on it "you sewed it?"
"yes, it was a bit torn so I thought I would sew it" Éclair said before getting a kiss on the cheeks from Natsu
"thanks, I was planning to sew it back one day" Natsu said smiling a bit before he walks out of the living room "if you need me, I'll be upstairs. Need to do something"
"alright" Éclair replied while smiling
"if I knew that it was Natsu's, I would've been the one to sew it" Mira said grumbling a bit
"yes" Erza said in agreement
The girls are in a rivalry for Natsu's affection as their biggest contender is Éclair who has been with Natsu far longer than any of them
Ding dong!
The doorbell rang as Éclair got up from her seat
"I'll get it" Éclair said as she went out the living room to answer the door
Éclair opened the door as it was Cana and Irene
"hey yo!" Cana greeted while a few bottles of beer "we're here!"
"sorry we're late" Irene greeted before they entered the new home
Natsu was in his bedroom as he placed the dragon doll on his desk table
His room had a king sized bed, a cupboard, a tv, an ac, and a table with some picture frames on it
Natsu looked at his Dragon Doll with a smile as squeezes it a few times, hearing the squeaking sound coming from it
He chuckled as he petted his doll's head
"that really takes me back" a voice spoke as Natsu glanced behind him and sees Zeref in his room "I remembered that doll, you were clinging on it every time you went to sleep"
"what do you want?" Natsu said, not caring of his intrusion to his new home before looking at his doll
"merely visiting, you might say" Zeref replied with a smile "but I must say that you made a very nice home, Natsu. One that can accommodate lots of things"
"and? What's your point?" Natsu asked petting his Dragon Doll's head
"you seemed no longer hostile to me" Zeref said chuckling a bit "not in the mood for it?"
"no…not anymore" Natsu replied as he squeezes his doll one time, making it squeak "I don't feel like getting angry anymore, makes me more stressed"
"I see" Zeref said with a smile "very well, your decision after all."
"she won't wake up anymore" Natsu said as Zeref raised an eyebrow to his statement "Mavis-neechan won't wake up anymore…no matter how much effort you put into it..it won't work at all"
"you should know yourself that she is merely sleeping" Zeref replied "it's merely a moment of time that she'll wake up"
"and if she doesn't?" Natsu said glancing at Zeref, his eyes glowing red and black "what then?"
"then" Zeref replied before his eyes turned red "the time of death is upon humanity"
Natsu and Zeref stared at each other as a tense atmosphere immediately filled the room
The two siblings stood in their stand, not moving nor speaking. it is like their auras are battling against each other
A crack soon appears on the glass of the window, the tense atmosphere between them disappearing
"but that is an if" Zeref said, his eyes turning black "a small if in the sentences"
Natsu looks at Zeref as black mist started to cover him
"I'll see you later, Natsu" Zeref said smiling "oh and congratulations on having Irene as your loyal servant. I do like to see the child born of both of your blood"
The mist covered up Zeref fully before he vanished
Natsu looks at where Zeref once stood before to the black smudge on his carpet floor
"that's a brand-new carpet, damn ass" Natsu said, looking annoyed
Natsu soon went downstairs as he went to the living room where he hears Cana laughing out loud
"must be drunk as usual" Natsu thought as he went in and finds Cana drinking a bottle of beer while being surrounded by the others who are knocked out except Irene who drinks a glass of wine
"hahaha! Lightweights!" Cana laughed out as she drinks more beer before laughing even more
"did she forced them to drink?" Natsu asked Irene who nodded, making the man sigh
"just as you can see" Irene said as Natsu sees that the knocked out girls all had red faces from drinking alcohol by Cana
"great, just great" Natsu said facepalming before rubbing his face a bit
"ah! Natsu! Come here and drink~! I got some Fire Wine Sake delivered straight from Hixs town!" Cana exclaimed drunk before drinking more alcohol "this stuff is the best!"
"is that so?" Natsu replied as he carried up Éclair who was sleeping on the floor, passed out from drinking alcohol "looks like my house is going to be the first place for my sleepover"
"it would seem so" Irene said drinking her glass of wine
Natsu started carrying the girls up one by one as he gets them to his room and guest rooms that has some beds inside
It took at least 30 minutes to get them all to beds as Natsu carried Cana who passed out from over drinking, the man carried the alcoholic Card Mage up before placing her on the couch, there's no more beds available for her
"this girl…" Natsu said sighing a bit as he drapes a blanket over her
Natsu stands up as he cracks his necks and rolled his arms a bit from carrying the girls as his bones and muscles got a bit stressed from doing so much work for one day
"so tiring in just one day" Natsu said as he looks at Happy who was asleep with Hyrus, North, and Ash as the four pets sleeps in a large pillow basket, huddled up together "and those four just sleep, figures"
"they are pets after all" Irene said still drinking her glass of wine "they have more freedom than you do"
"is that so?" Natsu said sarcastically as he cracks his necks before rolling his head around "man, I need a bath"
"may I join?" Irene asked as she licks her lips in delight
Natsu sighs as he shrugs his shoulders before rubbing his face a bit
"oh well, I've been bored for a while" Natsu said as he carried Irene up before going to the bathroom, the Scarlet witch giggling to his action
2 hours later
"another field trip?" Natsu said while in the big bathtub of his bathroom as Irene sat in front of him while leaning her back against his chest "where?"
"the Luminia town" Irene replied "they will host a festival in a month's time, right after your house arrest will be lifted, perfect, wouldn't it?"
"Luminia, huh?" Natsu said rubbing his chin "that place does have some good hotsprings like Corona town and it's the only town in Fiore that is so close to the beach….alright then. Luminia town it is"
"perfect, their hotsprings allow mix gender bathing after all" Irene said before yelping when Natsu grabs her waist and pinched them
"all of your girls just want it" Natsu said as he turns demonic and grins
Irene shivers as she licks her lips before their little night make out began
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
