Erza's POV

I was getting quite worried. Lucy and I thought it best to stay out of the way of Denzel and let him take care of Gray. Lucy told me that the bird with him was a phoenix named Carys. She also told me about how he was trapped here. This was how we were passing the time. She told me everything that happened. I tried to lighten the mood and tease her.

"So, I take it the date went well?"

I saw her face go red.

"It was not a date! I barely know him."

"Aww, Lucy Looooveeesssss him!"

"Sock it, cat!"

I didn't know that he was cursed. I have never heard about a curse quite like his. If only I knew more about this curse. If I could help him, I would. According to Lucy, it wasn't like a script spell like Freed's magic. She didn't see any spell marks. This has to be a curse. Who cursed him? What would cause someone to place a curse on him? How long has it been placed on him? I wonder if he knows.

I look up to see the phoenix that was with Gray and Denzel flew out to us. She dipped her head down as if she was bowing to us, like some sort of greeting, before she looked up to Lucy and I.

"Hello, there. Your friend is stable now. He was burning up from a fever. We gave him feverfew to bring it down. He should be fine for some time. However, he will need water when he wakes. Would you mind fetching some? "

"Gray... He'll be waking soon?"

Carys nods her head.

"He was in danger for a while, but it seems that poison is gone. More or less. He will still need to be watched, but other than that, he is fine."

"I see. Thank you. I shall get that water you asked for."

I turn and head to the lake. There would be plenty of water there. It is so peaceful here it is a shock to know that there are things like that monster out here. I wonder what else is here.

Lucy's POV

I watched as Erza walked off toward the calm lake.

"I must ask, what makes you care so much about him?"

I turn to look at the rainbow elemental phoenix.

"He's my friend. We look after each other. We would be upset if he were to die."

"Do you feel that way toward all your friends?"

I nod my head.

"Of course. Without many of my friends, I wouldn't be here."

That much was true. I can't think how many times they had my back. At times, I felt so useless. I could do nothing to help them. They had to help me. However, that was not the case. I proved myself that I was a useful member of the Fairy Tail team.

"I see. That is why you came here. The more I talk to you, the more I get an idea of your morals."

I looked at Carys. Her beak had a curve at the end, almost as if she was smiling. She perks her head toward the forest and had changed to a frown. I looked in her direction and saw nothing. Maybe she heard something? I wouldn't know.

"Carys? Is everything okay?"

All she did was blink. She didn't say a word. Her silence troubled me. What could be out there? Was it that monster, or demon, that attacked us and hurt Gray? That could be a possibility. I hope for our sake that it isn't that monster. Carys's eyes widened and she flew back to Gray and Denzel. I wonder why she was in such a hurry.

Carys's POV

"We have a problem."

I said to the pink haired boy. He turned and looked at me. He had that mask back on. Of course, he did. It makes him feel safe. A silly thing, if you ask me, but it wasn't my choice to put that in his head.

"What is it, Carys? Did someone else get attacked?"

"No, My boy. An old friend has returned."

His whole body stiffened. He brought his hands to his side and looked down.

"You sure he's back?"

"I wouldn't lie to you."

All he did was nod his head and let out short heavy breaths.

"W-we need to get them in h-here. K-keep them from h-him. "

I knew that he got nervous when He comes here, especially when he has other humans here. It was understandable that he got a bit scared.

"I will get the red-haired girl and bring her here. You can take the other girl."

He nods his head and walks out. I fly out and head to the lake. I find, Erza I believe was her name, collecting some water. I flew down and landed next to her.

"Excuse me, but I am very sorry. You must come with me, right away."

She turned and looked at me. She looked worried. I did make it sound troublesome, but I was just trying to keep her safe.

"Is it Gray? Or Lucy? Or Happy?"

"Your cat friend will be fine. You humans are the one in trouble. "

She gave me a confused look. How could I explain this to her?

"There is someone coming and he doesn't like humans. It would be best if you three were to stay out of sight."

"Us three? What about-"

"He'll be fine. Don't worry about him. He will be fine. It is you three that will be in trouble."

That wasn't entirely true. If anything, he would get in trouble. If I told the girl that, she would most likely do something I would easily regret.

"Come with me, child."

I started to fly toward the camp and I saw that she was following me. Good.

Lucy's POV

Denzel walked out to me. Was he going to tell me something about Gray? I started to get a little nervous about him coming to me because of everything that had happened in the last few minutes. He grabbed my wrist and started to pull me toward the inside of the tree where Gray is.

"H-hey! What are you doing?!"

"Keeping you safe!"

"What?"

What was he talking about? Was there something bad coming? I don't understand. Why can't he just tell me what he is thinking. Sometimes it is really frustrating when talking to him. He still said nothing. Why is he like this! He puts me next to Gray and Crays flies in with Erza. Maybe she I someone I can get through to. She is easy to talk to, even with her being a bird.

"Carys, what is going on."

She went next to Denzel who... who was shaking. Was he scared? That had to be why he was shaking.

"~Na~t~su~"

Gray? Was he well enough to talk? Why did he say Natsu's name? He isn't... Denzel turned his head to Gray and tilted his head. My eyes widened. It can't be. There is no way. How is this possible? It can't be possible... could it? The more I think about it... The more it makes sense. He was with us all along. right before our very eyes. I opened my mouth to speak to him... to know if this was true... Was he really the same person? How did Gray know? Just who was Denzel really? We gave him that name because he didn't tell us. We haven't seen his face... so, it was possible that Denzel and Natsu are the same person. Denzel looked at Gray and started to ask a question.

"How did you..."

I finished the rest of his sentence in my head. 'How did you know my name?' He turned his head and looked toward the entrance. He headed outside. He was Natsu. He had to be.

"Stay here, children. Don't come outside for any reason."

The colorful bird flew after him. I walked toward the entrance and looked out. The guy that saved us, Natsu, stood looking out to the forest. He had his hands clenched. I could see that his body was trembling. What was scaring him so bad? I looked in the direction he has his head toward. For a moment, I didn't see anything, that was until I saw some guy walk over. He had a dull look on his face. He was wearing all black with a dark gray vest cape and boots that are the same color as his vest coat. He had spiked bracelets on both wrists. Has a black line that ran from the top of his head at an angle toward his left eye. His eyes were a strange orange color.

He walked right up to Natsu and Natsu dipped his head down.

"Hello, there Taku. Didn't know that you were coming back so soon."

The guy, who's name seems to be Taku, turned to Carys. This phrase got Natsu upset.

"So soon? He was gone for many cycles!" (For anyone that is confused, cycles in the moon. One cycle is (roughly)the same as a month.)

Taku looked over at Natsu. When he spoke, his voice was rough.

"You know I don't like it when you wear that thing."

"I don't care. What are you doing here?"

"I came to check on you."

"You don't need to check on me! You can keep on acting like I don't exist!"

"You know that isn't what I think."

"You sure do act like it!"

Natsu was getting really upset. Whoever this guy was... they knew each other. Taku's eyes narrowed.

"You shouldn't talk to me like that."

"You can't tell me what to do!"

The whole time that they were talking, I could hear the anger in Natsu's voice.

"You better calm down."

"Shut up, Taku!"

Natsu still had his head tilted down but he had started to look up when Taku took his right hand, pulled it up to his left ear and swung it at Natsu. He backhand slapped Natsu. Time slowed when I saw that the mask came off his face and it really was Natsu.

I turned to Happy and Erza. They seemed just as shocked. Who was this guy? Why'd he act the way he did? What happened to Natsu? Why didn't he fight back? Natsu... what happened?

A/N: Hey, y'all. This chapter was longer than the chapters that I had been posting. I hope that you liked this chapter. We finally meet my OC. Anyway, I hope you are all okay and safe and having a good day.

Posted: 6/12/2020

~Zolf