So I decided to add Angel to the poll, just because I had an idea for her. I'll be mindful of the fact that some of you have already voted and can't change to reflect this, but I will still compare it to the votes as they are now, as though they are 0.
In other news, I have a chapter ready for ATC and WoF ready to go, so they will be up soon as well and I've almost done the next chapter of this story as well. Next chapter will be much longer than this one though, since it goes through a lot of character development for someone, as well as a mission and introducing other canon characters. Guess who?
Also, I've gotten to the stage where I can't decide what to work on next, so I'm actually just using a random number generator to decide which story to write on, hence why I'm doing another chapter for this story already, since it won the first random pick.
I also started a from a suggestion… don't really understand the whole thing too well, but I figured I'd give it a shot.
I'm also getting close to exams soon, since I have two reports and two orals to go for this month, then I have exams next month. I'll be done mid-late November so I'll pick up my writing around then. That being said, I'm not going to pull daily updates again, because that really messed me up. I'll probably go for every three or five days though. Since a full length 5-6K+ chapter usually takes me about three days to write and another day or two to proofread.
I am currently most motivated to write my Fairy Tail stories right now though, especially since so many people keep asking me if I've abandoned them… I mean I just started them, why would I abandon them?
It is worth pointing out though, that I am regaining my DxD kick as well, as well as some of my Naruto kick, since starting Shatter, Naruto Uzumaki. Sadly, my Bleach motivation is wanning fast, but my Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z push is coming back, since I finally got Xenoverse back and I'm planning on getting the newest mystery dungeon when it comes out.
Well, that's all for now, so enjoy the chapter.
SSJ3 Kyuubi Gohan.
Disclaimer – I don't own anything from the Fairy Tail anime/manga. All I own are my original characters and plot twists.
'Talking'
"Thinking"
*expression*
Flashback
Techniques
Chapter 3 – Remember
After the chaos from their return had abated, Natsu had gone home and decided to take a long rest, staying away from the guild for a full two days, as he tried to reorient his memories. He had stopped most of them from coming back all at once, only allowing the most important ones to return, lest his mind be overloaded. As he sat up on his hammock, he gave a small grunt as he stretched his limbs, which had become very stiff from not being used for forty-eight hours. Leaping to the ground from his hammock, he swung his vest on easily, having slept in his pants, put on his sandals and grabbed his scarf. He glanced at the scarf for a moment and hummed thoughtfully, before wrapping it around his neck.
'I guess despite it all, you are the closest thing I have to a father.' Mumbled Natsu, before exiting his home in the woods, and started to head towards the direction of his guild.
With all his memories back now, Natsu decided that he needed to take care of a few things. The things he needed to do though, were not close to Magnolia at all, meaning he needed to travel. With this in mind, he decided taking a mission would give him the chance to leave for a while without causing a great deal of suspicion. Arriving at the guild, he noticed he was getting quite a few odd looks. He noticed Makarov was looking at him with barely hidden curiosity. Walking over to the notice board, Natsu grabbed the job that was located the furthest from Magnolia, before walking over to the Guild Master.
'I'd like to take this job.' Said Natsu simply, holing the notice up to Makarov's face.
'Hmm, that is quite a difficult job, quite far too. I don't know if you should take it, having been gone for two days, I believe you may not be ready for a huge undertaking just yet.' Said Makarov calmly.
'I was resting, but now I am fine.' Said Natsu, with a sigh.
Makarov gave Natsu a searching look.
'Would you at least consider taking someone with you?' Queried Makarov.
'Aw come on gramps, do I have to?' Whined Natsu, which caused Makarov's lips to twitch imperceptibly.
"I guess he is still the same for the most part." Thought Makarov in amusement.
'Fine, I suppose you can go alone.' Said Makarov, getting Natsu to grin.
'Awesome gramps, you're the best.' Cheered Natsu, before turning and heading for the door, only for it to slam open.
Two huffing girls were glaring at Natsu.
'Natsu, where have you been?' Shouted Erza.
'Yeah, you can't just disappear for two days without warning.' Added Mira.
'I was just at home sleeping… you could have just come by.' Said Natsu, with a raised eyebrow.
'No one knows where you live.' Refuted Erza.
'Happy does. One fish and he would have told you easily… sheesh, how am I meant to be the dumb one around here?' Questioned Natsu tiredly.
Mira growled and Erza's face started to turn the same colour as her hair, which caused Natsu to sigh.
'Gramps, they're coming on the job with me.' Said Natsu, as he walked up to the two, before his scaly tail burst from his lower back, only this time, splitting into two appendages, one for each S-Class female.
Makarov merely gave a small nod, as Natsu carried two of his strongest mages out of the guild, with them futilely struggling in his grasp.
'That kid's got balls of steel, manhandling both Mirajane and Erza like that.' Muttered Wakaba, to his purple haired drinking partner.
'I'm honestly scared.' Agreed Macao, his smoking friend nodding in agreement.
-line break-
'So what's the job, Natsu?' Asked Erza calmly, despite being held by Natsu's scaled appendage.
'What the hell red? Why are you so calm?' Shouted Mirajane indignantly.
'I think Erza likes being tied up.' Commented Natsu, getting Mira to look at her rival in shock, which magnified when she saw her small blush.
'Wow, guess all those dirty books you read finally got to you.' Commented Mira teasingly.
'Who told you I read dirty books?' Shouted Erza indignantly.
'Oh please, it is like the worst kept secret in the guild, right up there with the fact that Cana regularly raids the cellar for beer when she thinks no one will notice.' Scoffed Mira.
'That is outrageous, I would never do something like that!' Refuted Erza.
'You already admitted to it, you do realise that, right?' Commented Natsu.
Erza spluttered, which caused Mira to laugh, neither caring all too much that they were still being held by Natsu anymore.
'Besides, it would also explain why you always had so much rope to drag me back with, when I tried to escape your teaching lessons.' Continued Natsu, getting Erza to blush hotly.
'T-that had nothing to do with it!' Denied Erza.
'You know, that means you just admitted that you do have a bondage fetish after all.' Said Mira slyly, enjoying the site of her rival squirming.
'Can you please tell us about the job, Natsu?' Requested an embarrassed Erza.
'Ah, well since you asked so nicely, it is for a bandit capture request near Oak Town.' Said Natsu jovially.
'Oak Town? Isn't that close to Phantom Lord though, why would they send out a mission to us?' Asked Mira in surprise.
'Don't know, don't really care, all I know, is I'm going there.' Shrugged Natsu.
'You're acting very odd, Natsu.' Commented Erza.
'Oh, I'm sorry mother, mood swings happen in teenagers.' Teased Natsu, getting Mira to snicker at Erza's outraged expression.
'I'm not your mother Natsu!' Shouted Erza in annoyance.
'As funny as this is, you are acting a bit different, Natsu.' Said Mira seriously.
'I could say the same of both of you. Erza acting submissive and you acting openly nice, I'm not the only one acting different here.' Retorted Natsu.
'Well, red has probably always been like that, you just bring it out of her.' Said Mira, causing Erza to splutter denials.
Natsu brought Erza in front of his face and studied her. She was avoiding his gaze and trying to look menacing, but it just made Natsu smile. Natsu brought her closer and closer to his face until she was only a hands breadth away from his face. Erza started to squirm slightly, which caused Natsu to grin, all the while, Mira was looking on in shock.
"No way. He won't do it, Natsu doesn't have the stones." Thought Mira in denial.
Natsu brought his head closer to Erza, so his face was just past hers, watching her out of the corner of her eye.
'Is that it Erza? Are you really just a softie at heart and want someone to look after you?' Whispered Natsu.
Erza didn't answer at first, simply studying the ground intensely, which caused Natsu to sigh.
'It isn't anything to be ashamed of Erza. I felt the same for a long time, you know? To be weak is frightening, especially when people are depending on you.' Said Natsu softly, as he pulled back to face Erza once again.
'I'm not a softie, I just like the feeling of being protected. That's why I try to protect everyone at Fairy Tail, because I don't want them to feel unsafe like I did for so long.' Mumbled Erza.
Natsu sighed softly at Erza's honesty, before bringing her closer so she was looking him straight in the eye.
'Then you protect Fairy Tail and I'll protect you, sound fair?' Propositioned Natsu.
Erza looked at Natsu in surprise, but his expression showed nothing but determination. Giving a small smile, Erza nodded.
'Well, with that out of the way, let's fly.' Declared Natsu, bringing Mira and Erza close together behind him, before he shot off through the sky.
'Soooo, what was that all about?' Asked Mira curiously, after a few minutes of soaring through the air.
'It was nothing.' Said Erza, avoiding her rival's gaze.
Mira gave a sigh.
'You know tin-can, if you need anyone to talk to, I'm here for you.' Said Mira stiffly.
'Are you getting soft on me, harlot?' Questioned Erza, with a narrowed gaze.
Mira growled before responding.
'All I'm saying, is I can understand feeling isolated… and next time you insult me like that, I'll beat the stuffing out of you.' Whispered Mira.
Erza didn't say anything in response, but an understanding of sorts passed between the two rivals. No matter how much they fought with each other, they could both understand the other after all.
'We're here.' Natsu informed the two S-class mages, as he touched down on the ground and placed them both on the firm soil, before releasing his grip on them and causing his tail to vanish.
'How the hell did you get to Oak Town from Magnolia in a few minutes?' Shouted Mirajane in disbelief.
'I flew. I'm never taking a train again anymore, since I'm much faster.' Said Natsu, before walking off to the address given on the job flier.
Erza and Mira followed Natsu quietly, simply looking around. Oak Town wasn't a place frequented often by Fairy Tail members, due to it being the town with one of their major rivals, Phantom Lord.
Eventually, Natsu found the client, who just so happened to be the mayor of Oak Town, who told them of how bandits were raiding houses and stores on the outskirts of town. They didn't have an exact number of how many there were, as the bandits hid their faces, but there was at least six total, with the possibility of there being thirty.
Natsu gave a deep yawn, as he walked to the outskirts of town.
'Man, this is going to be so boring.' Commented Natsu, giving another yawn.
'What do you mean Natsu, you love jobs like this?' Questioned Erza in surprise.
'Yeah, normally, but after that S-class job, this just doesn't feel as exciting as it felt before.' Commented Natsu.
'You could have just asked to go on an S-class job.' Pointed out Mira.
'With who? Gildarts is never around, Mystogan is never around, you're injured, Laxus is also never around and has been acting really moody these past few months and Erza is too uptight to let me go on one with her.' Said Natsu tiredly.
'You're not ready…' Started Erza, before Natsu gave her a blank look and mouthed the word, mother.
'Fine! After this, I'll take you on one and if you get hurt, you can never call me mother, mom or anything similar again!' Declared Erza, with a huff.
'Now I'm all fired up!' Shouted Natsu, before jogging off at extremely fast speeds.
Mira merely sniggered at her rival.
'You do realise he totally played you, right?' Laughed Mira.
'I don't care. If he wants to act so tough, then he better prove it.' Growled Erza.
'Do you think we should go catch up to him?' Asked Mira.
'It is his job, he should be able to handle it.' Said Erza, but started to trail after Natsu nonetheless.
'Wow, no wonder her calls you mother, you act just like one.' Said Mira, with a strained laugh.
Erza didn't know how to respond to that and the awkward look Mira gave her, when she glanced her way, showed her rival was slightly uncomfortable as well. Out of the three, only Mira had ever had a mother. While Natsu had Igneel as his father and Erza had Grandpa Rob as a sort of father figure, but more so a grandfather figure, neither of them had ever had a mother figure.
As the two followed after Natsu, an awkward silence permeated around them. Both were thankful to find Natsu at last and surprised to see twelve knocked out bandits, all hogtied and gagged.
'Well that's taken care of.' Said Natsu proudly, dusting off his hands as he gazed at his prisoners.
Mira walked over to one of the bandits and looked closer at Natsu's handiwork.
'Well, looks like Erza is in luck; those are some serious knot making skills you've got there, Natsu.' Observed Mira, giving an appreciative whistle.
'Pfft, that was me in a rush.' Said Natsu, with a dismissive wave of his hand.
'Hmm, maybe we should change your moniker from Salamander to Shibari Master.' Said Mira.
'That's such an obscene title!' Shouted Erza, with a small blush.
'Well, at least it advertises the truth to some extent. I don't get why they call me Salamander anyway… you know they can't actually breathe fire. They should have called me Natsu the Dragon.' Huffed Natsu.
'Nah, that's too cheesy. Salamander works because you can't fly like a dragon.' Said Mira.
'I can now.' Deadpanned Natsu.
'Hmm, I guess that's true… how about Shibari Dragon then?' Suggested Mira, with a smirk.
'Hmm, has a unique ring to it.' Commented Natsu thoughtfully.
'Natsu! I won't let you have such an absurd title!' Shouted Erza in embarrassment.
'Aw, why not mummy, please?' Natsu fake begged.
'Fine then, be the Shibari Dragon, see if I care when your reputation is a laughing stock!' Huffed Erza.
'Played again, tin can.' Laughed Mira, getting Erza to look at her and then Natsu, only to notice he was grinning.
'I was just joking, Salamander is fine… for now at least.' Said Natsu happily.
'Fine. Are we going to go get the reward for your mission now?' Asked Erza, having calmed down now.
'Well, there is something I actually needed to do around here… so you guys can take them to the mayor and I'll meet up with you guys in like half an hour, after I finish with my business.' Said Natsu, with a toothy smirk, before shooting off into the sky again.
'I wish he never went on that mission with you, he's become so… so… so…argh!' Grumbled Erza.
'Chill out red, don't get your panties in a twist, I'm sure Shibari Dragon can make an even better knot than you could.' Joked Mira, getting Erza to glare at her.
'Don't call him Shibari Dragon; that is a horrible moniker!' Ordered Erza in annoyance.
'Hey, I'm just stating facts here, I've never seen a knot this tight before. Hearing he did this is a rush and considering he didn't even have more than five minutes to do all this, means he probably is some sort of Shibari master anyway.' Said Mira, as she grabbed a few of the hog tied bandits and placed them together.
'Got any rope?' Asked Mira.
'Why are you asking that now of all times?' Asked Erza in annoyance.
'Well how else are we meant to carry them all?' Said Mira, pointing at the tied bandits.
'Hmm, good thing I always come prepared then.' Said Erza, her personality doing a complete shift, as she requipped a stretch of rope.
Mira snickered at this, causing Erza to growl at her.
'Shut up harlot!' Roared Erza, which only caused Mira to laugh harder.
-line break-
Natsu touched down outside a moderately sized building. It was a simple cream in colour and was split into two parts: a normal house on the left and a rather tall rectangular attachment on the right, possibly for a library.
Natsu walked up to the door and stared at it for a moment, before opening it, and walking inside, shutting the door behind him.
'You are rather unfortunate to have stumbled upon this place.' Spoke a soft spoken voice.
Natsu smiled slightly, as he turned to face the figure.
A woman clad in a very revealing beige-coloured leopard-printed kimono was the one who had spoken. Natsu didn't care too much to study the person, already knowing her very well, even with the two horns on her head.
'In a Demon's story… there is no such thing as mercy.' Said the woman, as she started at Natsu impassively.
'Good thing I'm a demon then.' Retorted Natsu, with a smirk.
The woman stared at him with apathy.
'How amusing, you think yourself a demon… for that slight against my kind, I will show you a true demon.' Said the woman calmly.
'To think, you wouldn't recognise your master's visage, Sayla.' Said Natsu, getting the woman's eyes to widen before narrowing.
'Who are you?' Questioned Sayla cautiously.
'I'm disappointed, Sayla. You were supposed to be one of the smarter members of Tartaros, it seems in my absence you've grown complacent. You know how much I dislike complacency, Sayla.' Said Natsu darkly.
Sayla dropped the book she was holding and looked at the person in front of her in shock.
'Master E.N.D.' Whispered Sayla in shock.
'So you finally recognised me, Sayla.' Commented Natsu, with a bored glance.
Sayla quickly knelt on the ground and bowed her head.
'Forgive me Master E.N.D., I didn't recognise you immediately.' Said Sayla submissively.
A clawed hand grasped Sayla's chin and she froze for a moment, wondering if she was to be punished. Glancing at the claws carefully, Sayla knew that these were in fact the hands of her master.
Natsu raised Sayla's face up, as he knelt down towards her, looking her in the eye.
'You're forgiven.' Said Natsu, before leaning his face until his lips were just next to Sayla's left ear.
'This time.' Whispered Natsu, causing Sayla to involuntarily shudder, before he leaned back, so he was facing her again.
'I have a mission for you, Sayla. I do hope you accept it.' Said Natsu kindly, but Sayla saw the authority in his eyes.
'Of course Master E.N.D., I'd be honoured.' Said Sayla, trying to bow her head once again, only to find Natsu's hand wouldn't let her, still holding her head in place.
'Excellent. You, my dear Sayla, need to carry out a task of the utmost importance for me. Do you believe you are capable?' Asked Natsu.
'Of course, I will succeed without fail.' Said Sayla, looking into Natsu's eyes.
Natsu smiled before standing up, bringing Sayla up with him, still not releasing her face.
'Excellent. The task I wish for you to accomplish for me, is to find my book and retrieve if for me.' Said Natsu, getting Sayla to look at him in surprise.
'Master? For whatever do you need your book for?' Asked Sayla in confusion.
'Ah, my dear Sayla, so inquisitive, but that has always been one of your most redeeming traits.' Said Natsu, as he released Sayla's face and crossed his arms over his chest.
'You see, although my memories are back, as are my fire manipulation abilities and my transformation abilities, the very techniques I created are locked from me, still in that book. It is funny really, I created Curses, yet I can't use any right now, since the power I need to do so, is still sealed in my book.' Said Natsu, getting Sayla to look at him in surprise.
'I understand Master E.N.D., I will carry out this task with utmost care.' Said Sayla.
Natsu reached to Sayla's horn and stroked it slightly, causing her to lean into his touch.
'I knew I could rely on you, Sayla. I will leave you to carry out your task for now, but once you hear word of it, or, if you manage to, retrieve my book, contact me at once.' Said Natsu, as he turned towards the door.
'Of course, Master E.N.D., I will do as you command.' Intoned Sayla, bowing her head.
'Oh, and do try to not fail me, Sayla. You know how much I dislike failure.' Said Natsu.
'Yes Master.' Said Sayla once again.
Sayla remained with her head bowed, until clawed hands raised her head again.
'Do take care Sayla, I would hate to have to discipline you.' Said Natsu, before kissing the demon on her forehead, causing her to swoon slightly, eyes half closing in contentment.
'Good luck.' Said Natsu, before releasing the demon and heading towards the door.
'Oh, and do tell Mard Geer that I have returned, I would also appreciate him spreading the news to the rest of the Balam Alliance. They should know that E.N.D. has returned, I don't want them becoming arrogant after all.' Said Natsu, as he reached the door.
'However, tell no one of the mission I have given you, not Kyouka, Mard Geer, no one… or, things may not end pleasantly for you, Sayla.' Said Natsu, as he glanced back to Sayla, his left eye boring into her very being, with a menacing glare.
Sayla didn't respond and merely bowed once again, before Natsu opened the door and left, closing the door once more. Sayla shivered. If she had any doubts before, she had none now. That was truly E.N.D. in the flesh, as no one else could ever make her feel fear like that. Not Mard Geer, not Kyouka, no one. Only him, Etherious Natsu Dragneel.