Ooh, there seems to be a whole lotta confusion after the last chapter. Perfect. Don't worry, dear readers, everything will be explained in due time, I'm sure.


Pheonix, people died! And hey, you're the first person to pick up on Mr J(R)ude Heartfilia. So... Watch all of the openings? Got it. Yes fatherly Gildarts and DadMight are like my favourite things have no fear. There will be plenty of fatherly Gildarts. I'm still toying with your suggestion, you know, how it would work into the story and what character dynamic would change? I mean this whole thing that's going on right now started on the drop of a dime, so who knows what'll change? I, personally, I'm really hyped for writing the Grand Magic Games, it's my personal favourite arc. (This fic was originally gonna be a surprise! Natsu has all these crazy powers all of a sudden in the middle of the Tenroujima S-Class trials!) yeh yeh yeh, I've started reading the manga and he's been in like five panels and I like God Serena already. I do have a time slotted for him though, provided things work out. so... Is this too late? Or has Thursday already come and gone? :) oh dear I've done the cliffie again haven't I? Whoops.


"I don't trust him."

Lucy glanced awkwardly off to the side. "I'd like to, but… If what the magic council says is true…"

Gray slammed his fists down, causing Makarov to jump. "THAT'S WHY I DON'T TRUST HIM, HE'S HAD PEOPLE KILLED."

They were situated in Makarovs office, away from prying eyes. Natsu was slumped in one of the seats, still exhausted from what he had done with his magic. Lucy took another seat, though well away from the Dragon Slayer. Erza was standing closer to Natsu, if only to keep her guild mates safe.

And Gray was across from Makarov, fists still resting on his desk and frost gradually creeping over papers.

"We can't jump to conclusions, at least not now. He did pull you out of that prison the magic council would have left you to rot in." Makarov reached over the table, and gently removed Grays clenched fists. Then, he regarded the slightly damp paperwork with a disapproving eye.

"Besides, he isn't yet awake to justify himself. That will come later. For now, you need to lie low, and I've managed to secure tickets for a large resort, so long as you don't do anything over the top and keep your guild marks hidden, you should be able to blend in for a month or two." Opening a drawer, he rummaged around as he spoke, and finally pulled out four tickets.

"You can't be serious! You're gonna leave us with this guy?" Gray was not having any of this, blatantly refusing Makarovs attempt at peace-keeping.

Makarovs face darkened. "I am aware of your grievances, Gray, but Natsu is still a guild member and he will be treated as so. However," and here, Makarov sighed heavily. "I do find it hard to prove Natsu innocent, and as much as it pains me I'll be placing a spell on him to prevent him from using his magic. Erza, I'll teach you how to cancel the spell if things go wrong, but I'm hoping nothing will."

Gray grimaced, and turned to leave when Erza spoke up. "Gray, need I remind you that neither your nor my hands are as clean as you would like to believe?"

Gray paused in his strides, a moment of hesitation, and then he pushed onwards.


The resort was surprisingly beautiful, for how out of the way it was. With a beach at its front and mountains at its back, it boasted roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, food stands, a large hotel, and two casinos.

Erza shifted the Dragon Slayer in her grasp. While he had woken a few hours previously, they had been in a magic mobile, this one actually paid to take pity on the suffering teen, she had knocked him out almost immediately after his awakening.

"I'll take Natsu to his room, and I'll accompany once he wakes. Lucy, Gray… Don't cause trouble."

"Y-yes ma'am."


Natsu jolted awake with the innate sense that something was wrong, that something had been wrong for a little while.

"You're awake." Erza was seated in one of the plush chairs provided, a open book propped in her lap. With a small glow, the book vanished, and the warrior stretched.

"We're going to be staying at this resort for a little while. Keep your guild mark covered, and don't cause any big messes and we should be fine."

Natsu pressed a palm to his eyes, and then groaned. "What…"

And it hit him like a bolt of lightning. White knuckles burrowed into bedsheets, and he was faintly aware of someone calling his name -redscarletErza- but it didn't matter because his magic was -wrongwrongwrong-

His magic was completely blocked off from him, and suddenly he was back in a manor with shackles around his wrists and-

Someone was shaking him. "Natsu!"

Natsu, that was his name, wasn't it? Natsu… Hear… No, Natsu Dragneel.

His name was Natsu Dragneel, and his magic was completely blocked off from him.

Oh, oh God.


Lucy squinted at the cards in her hand, and then studied her opponents face. He gave away nothing, nothing but a cool calm. Cautiously, she began her turn. "Do you have… A five?"

A small, pleasant smile, and "go fish."

"Damn it!" Angrily, she grabbed a card from the pile, only to find it was the card she needed. "Oh."

And then the lights died. The pale man she had been playing with took a hasty bow, and strode off to find the source of the problem.

A tanned younger man slid into his seat, and proffered Lucy a hand. As she took it, what had been a pleasant smile turned menacing, and his grasp tightened. "Where's sis? Where is Erza Scarlet?"


Gray leaned back against the bar, well aware that most of the games in the casino were rigged. Scanning the room, only one person really caught his eye, a gloomy looking young woman with blue hair, which curled into perfect rings at the ends.

She seemed to make eye contact, and immediately a fierce blush spread across her features.

Gray looked away, only to find a taller man with a steel jaw had crept up on him. "Do you know Erza Scarlet?"

"Cra-" and everything went dark.


Yes, I'm perfectly aware of where we're supposed to be, but I thought tackling the Tower of Heaven first would be fun. Just to be clear with people, I've changed around some of the earlier chapters, mainly to fit Natsu's current character on more smoothly. To be completely honest, I was planning on tackling things in a more canon route, but Phoenix left a review that was like 'magic council eh? I sense Natsu's in trouble!' And this sparked in my mind and here we are. Next chapter will probably be longer. (I jokingly titled a review response Ah HAHAHAHA, but before I could delete it my iPad glitched out and it sent. My soul pretty much exited my body. Warmachine375 I am so sorry) ~ShadeShadow