A/N: That was quick, wasn't it! Hope you enjoy this. Also, if you're waiting on a new chapter for Natsu's Last Straw, you won't have to wait too much longer, but so far, it's the best I've written for that story. Let me know if you have any song suggestions. I've gotten quite a few good ones from you guys!
~ Ad Vitam, Ad Mortem ~
"What's goin' on?" Natsu asked, giving a toothy grin, somehow oblivious to the fact that the entire guild was listening to his music that no one was supposed to know about.
"Nothing! Nothing at all, Natsu!" Happy exclaimed rather quickly. "Let's go fishing! Come on!" The blue cat quickly flew over and tried to drag Natsu out of the guildhall.
"Hey, hold on a second! I just got back!" Natsu protested. "I haven't even seen everyone yet. Speaking of, why is everyone just staring at me?"
The fire slayer was looking at his guild members with a rather confused expression on his face while they were looking at him in what could only be described as a look of fear, worry, and shock.
"Uh…" Happy stuttered, trying to think of a convincing lie. "I told them you wouldn't be back tomorrow! So they're just surprised to see you!"
"Well, I thought I'd be back tomorrow, but I finished early. It was just some hoax…" Natsu grumbled, kicking the floor. "Somehow, people don't know the difference between a dragon and a forest fire."
"Isn't that crazy, hahaha," Happy laughed awkwardly, still trying to pull the slayer out of the room.
"Happy, what's gotten-" Natsu paused mid-sentence when he looked slightly to his left. "Happy…" he said with a tone of complete seriousness.
"Uh...what's up, Natsu? Ehehe…" the cat tittered uncomfortably.
"Why...are...those...here…" he said slowly, magic power slowly leaking from him.
"Uh...you see," Happy started to sweat. "MIRA! YOU TOLD ME YOU'D PROTECT ME! HELP!" the cat wailed, flying max speed away from him.
Natsu took several slow steps forward approaching the boxes full of disks, complete silence filling the guild.
"Natsu-" Erza started.
"Not right now, Erza," Natsu growled back, continuing to walk forward. He reached down and picked up one of the boxes while the entire guild just watched him and turned to leave, however, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"Natsu?" Mira said quietly.
Not quite trusting his ability to reign his anger in, he simply looked at the white-haired demon, though anger isn't what she saw. It was betrayal. She, as usual, saw straight through him. He wanted to appear furious, enraged, and angry at Happy for sharing something like that with the guild, and them for listening to it, but he really felt scared and hurt. Hurt that someone he trusted shared something so personal of his and scared of what would happen now that they knew. A single tear was in his eye, threatening to fall down his face.
"Oh, Natsu…" she whispered tears building up in her eyes. "I...I loved them all…" And then, she did something that caused jaws to drop across the entire guild. She kissed him.
Natsu wasn't entirely sure how to react. One moment he was excited because he managed to get back home early and see everyone, the next he discovered that Happy broke his trust about the one thing he never wanted anyone to know about, and, now, Mira was kissing him. On the lips. In front of the entire guild.
After a short moment, she pulled away smiling while everyone else was still in shock, unable to really react. Natsu was no different, as all he'd managed to do was drop the box that he was holding.
And then...he fell over. The legendary Fire Dragon King, brother of Zeref, strongest of the etherious, slayer of Acnologia, was just rendered unconscious by a single kiss from the resident Mirajane Strauss.
"Natsu!" she squeaked as his unconscious body thunked on the ground.
Now, the guild began to process what just happened. Natsu came home early and caught them doing something they probably shouldn't have been doing? Check, definitely happened. Natsu got furious and scared the daylights out of even Erza? Yeah, that one happened too. Mirajane kissed Natsu out of nowhere and then Natsu collapsed on the floor? Yup. Three checks and there's the hat trick.
"I think you broke him," Cana pointed out, nudging the slayer's leg with her foot. "Though that was a little fast, don't you think? I thought you two were about to go all the way right here!"
"CANA!" Mira shouted, blushing while trying to pick up the pyro. "I-I just- I don't know, ok? Just help me bring him upstairs."
"Kissing my sister is NOT A MAN!" Elfman declared, turning away in defiance.
"Elfman…" Mira said in a voice promising detrimental consequences if her commands weren't followed. "Come help me bring Natsu upstairs."
"O-of course! Lifting things is a man's job!" he replied nervously, walking over and picking up the slayer to bring him upstairs.
"YOU KILLED NATSU!" Happy shouted.
"Oh, relax, hairball," Cana told him. "She didn't kill him. Just gave him a big ol' smooch, right on the lips. How much tongue did you get out of him, Mira?" she added, waggling her eyebrows.
"Give it a rest, Cana," Lisanna sighed, trying to console her sister who was a stuttering mess from Cana's teasing.
"How could he steal away our gorgeous Mirajane?" Wakaba and Macao wailed, drinking away their sorrows. "Today's young people get all the women!"
"How could flame-brain get his first kiss before me?" Gray angrily declared, slamming his fist down on the table.
"Juvia will be my darling Gray's first kiss!" Juvia declared, running over and tackling the ice-mage.
"AHHHH!" Gray shouted, trying to escape the assault that was Juvia's undying love and affection.
"So...uh...Mira," Levy started, trying to break the awkward silence. "Why did you kiss Natsu?"
"Can we talk about something else please?" she squeaked out.
"Like where we can set up the video camera…" Makarov said perversely, rubbing his hands together.
"Master!" scolded Erza. "That is inappropriate!"
"I'm so proud!" Gildarts wept. "I know! To celebrate, I'll give Natsu some of my very best magazines!"
"Perverts…" Laki muttered to herself.
"You will both stop this indecency at once!" Erza demanded, trying not to get lost in her own fantasy world from the many...literary experience...she would indulge herself in, most of which were definitely not involving a certain mage with blue hair and a tattoo.
"I know!" Lisanna piped up, trying to move on past what just happened, both for her sister's sake and so she wouldn't have to think about it anymore. "Since Natsu's unconscious, why don't we listen to another song."
"I don't think we should, Lis," Mira said. "He looked really hurt that we'd break his trust like that."
"Squinty-eyes'll get over it. Besides, we've listened to a bunch anyway, what's a few more," Gray said, finally having extracted himself from the water mage.
"Are you...actually enjoying something that Natsu did?" Lucy asked while the whole guild looked at him in shock.
"Hey, shut up!" Gray defended.
"Master, why don't you pick another one?" Mira suggested.
"Very well, child. I suppose Gray has a point," Makarov said and headed over to the boxes. He rummaged through for a moment before saying, "Hmmm...that's peculiar."
"What's that, master?" Lisanna questioned, walking over to the elderly mage.
"It looks like there are two songs here," Makarov said, showing her the case. Sure enough, there were two labels on the case, though there was only one disk.
"Maybe they're supposed to be played one after another?" Lisanna suggested. "And what language is that first one in?"
"Who cares, just play 'em!" Cana exclaimed.
Makarov sighed and headed over to the player, inserting the disk. The music started with a very upbeat orchestral rhythm, quickly causing everyone to nod their heads or tap their feet along with the rhythm. (Song: Viva la Vida by Coldplay)
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the world
Now in the morning, I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
"What's this one called, master?" Levy asked, taking notes on the song.
"It says Viva la Vida," he informed her.
"What does that mean?" Lucy asked, confused. "It's really catchy, though!"
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
Now the old king is dead, long live the king
One minute I held the key
Next, the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castle stands
Upon pillars of salt, pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason, I can't explain
Once you'd gone, there was never
Never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
"More Roman stuff," Gray groaned.
"Quiet, Gray," Erza scolded. "You're getting caught up in the details."
"This is really interesting," Levy muttered.
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh, who would ever wanna be king
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason, I can't explain
Once you'd gone, there was never
Never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
"What has Salamander ever ruled? If anything, he's only a ruler now," Gajeel pointed out.
"Hmmm…" Levy thought aloud, considering his point as the song continued.
Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh
Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh
(Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh)
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
(Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh)
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
(Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh)
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
(Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh)
My missionaries in a foreign field
(Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh)
For some reason I can't explain
(Oh-oh-woah, oh-oh, oh)
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm...
"Pause the player, master, I think the next one is going to start if you don't," Lisanna reminded him.
"Of course, my dear," he answered, pausing the lacrima player.
"So, Levy," Lucy started. "Any idea what that one was about?"
"Well," Levy started. "It sounds like it's about someone who used to be a monarch of sorts but lost his kingdom."
"How could flame-brain be a monarch? I doubt he even knows what that is," Gray scoffed.
"Natsu is a great monarch!" Wendy said in a surprisingly defiant tone. "Gajeel thinks so too."
Gajeel gave a grunt that may have been taken as approval, but he'd never go out of his way to agree that he didn't mind having Natsu as his 'king'.
"Regardless of Natsu's ruling capabilities, the fact remains that he hasn't ruled anything before, and he certainly hasn't lost anything he's ruled, so what is he talking about?" Erza asked.
"I think this is supposed to be from the perspective of Igneel," Levy suggested. "Igneel was the Fire Dragon King but lost his throne in the dragon wars against Acnologia, where all the dragons were forced into hiding. That could be why he referenced the Romans again, because they were a warring people, constantly involved in conflicts."
"That would make sense," Mira nodded in agreement. "That could explain why he said there was never an honest word once he'd gone."
"Yeah, if the perspective of the song is from Igneel, the 'you' would be referring to Natsu, and once Natsu and Igneel had been separated, Igneel was unable to tell Natsu the truth for his own safety," Levy nodded. "But I want to know why there was a second song in that same disk. Do you think they're connected somehow?"
"I guess it's possible," Lucy said, scratching her head. "None of the others are paired up like that, so it has to mean something."
"Only one way to find out!" Cana exclaimed, pressing play. "What's this one called?"
"Kings," Makarov answered, reading the case as the music started. There was a quick drum rift and it immediately went to the lyrics. (Song: Kings by Tribe Society)
Running with all my brothers
I always wondered how far we could go
If we could break through the ceiling above us
There'd be no point in us looking below
We could be free, we could be free
Finally, we could be free
"This song is manly!" Elfman roared, who was quickly shushed as the next verse began.
I've been through the darkest of caves and suffering
One hundred steps off the end of the road
Painted with passion, my favorite color
Hope I'm alive when the story gets old
We could be free, we could be free
Finally, we could be free
I ain't at home, home's where I'm goin'
I close my eyes to see
I take my throne, lay it on a mountain
And make myself a king
I said whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Make myself a king
I said whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Make myself a king
"Got it!" Levy exclaimed, but before anyone could ask, the song continued.
Lost in the world full of nonbelievers
Searching for smoke in a still-water pond
A nothing king, they called a dreamer
This is my life and I call it a song
We could be free, we could be free
Finally, we could be free
I ain't at home, home's where I'm going
I close my eyes to see
I'll take my throne, lay it on a mountain
And make myself a king
I said whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Make myself a king
I said whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Make myself a king
Kicked through the shackles, broke through the chains
There's no oppression, there's no one to blame but you
Kicked through the shackles, broke through the chains
There's no oppression, there's no one to blame but you
"Hmm…" Levy thought aloud.
"What?" Lucy asked, desperate to find out what she was thinking.
I said whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Make myself a king
I said whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Make myself a king
I ain't at home, home's where I'm going
I close my eyes to see
I'll take my throne, lay it on a mountain
And make myself a king
I said whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Make myself a king
I said whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Make myself a king
Make myself a king
"Being a king is MANLY!" Elfman announced.
"Right…" Lisanna sweatdropped at her brother.
"So, Levy, did you figure it out?" Lucy pressed excitedly.
"I think so!" she replied. "Most of it at least. The first song was from the perspective of Igneel, right? It was about how he used to be king but lost his throne. This one, I think, was about Natsu taking that throne."
"That doesn't really sound like Natsu," Erza pointed out.
"I don't think I phrased that right… It's not like Natsu was taking the throne by force or anything. I think that when Natsu went to train for a year after Tartaros, he learned dragon king slayer magic, which corresponds with taking the throne," Levy hypothesized. "There are a few lines that I thought could mean this. In the beginning, he said 'I always wondered how far we can go' and that there was no point in looking down if they could keep moving upward."
"That makes sense since Natsu's always trying to get stronger," Lucy agreed.
"Exactly. I think the 'dark caves and suffering' that he mentioned has something to do with what Natsu experienced right after losing Igneel. He was on his own for a few weeks before running into the master, so I think that has something to do with it."
"Why did he keep saying that he could be free? Isn't Natsu already free?" Erza questioned.
"I'm not entirely sure," Levy admitted. "The same with the ending where he was talking about breaking chains and shackles. I guess something was holding him back, but I don't know what."
"We never question the freedom of a bird," came a voice from above them. "We simply assume that because the bird has wings, it is free. Why is that?"
"Natsu!" Levy exclaimed while the rest of the guild looked up the stairs to see the pink-haired slayer staring at them.
"Y-you're awake!" Mira stuttered, blushing aggressively.
Natsu jumped down from the stairs, landing with a short burst of flames, and he walked towards the door of the guild. "Freedom is not found in one's wings. Freedom is found by an individual. Freedom is accepting what is right and changing what is wrong. Freedom is knowing when to fight and when to run away. Freedom is power, yes, but freedom is truly found in how that power is used. In chaining others, you chain yourself, and in freeing others from their chains, one finds the true essence of freedom."
