Erza's POV

I was relieved to see them come back safely. I saw out of the corner of my eye, Carys flew past me and went straight to Natsu. He turned to look at her, listened to what she had to say before nodding. He walked over toward me.

"Na-"

He walked past me and inside the tree. Lucy and I followed. Gray didn't exactly see Natsu before and was slightly shocked. He quickly relaxed. Natsu walked straight up to Gray and examined him.

"Can... Can you move... your arm?"

"I... not really. My arm feels numb. I can't really feel it."

Natsu just nods. He turned toward the plants that he had stashed away. He went to the area that Carys had gotten a plant from.

"I don't have any more snakeroot."

He hummed. He turned to us.

"I... will be gone for a little while... Need to get snakeroot. Will help with the poison for your friend. Hmmmm. Maybe he should come with me... No... maybe not..."

He was muttering the last part, but I heard him.

"Natsu, I'm coming with you."

I was not about to lose sight of him again.

"What? No. You should stay here. Safe here."

It's safer to travel in a group. We were attacked once and Gray was paralyzed. If Natsu was attacked, again, he may not be able to get out.

"We are going with you. You can't change our minds."

Happy and Lucy nod their head in agreement. At least they are on my side. Natsu didn't look annoyed or concerned. He was more conflicted if anything. He lets out a sigh.

"Fine. You may come. We will have to leave soon though. It is still midmorning..."

A smile came to my face. At least he wasn't going to be stubborn about this. He went to Gray and wrapped his wound. After he was done, he helped Gray to his feet and headed out. We were close behind. We were walking for a long while before the forest started to change again. We came to a small house that was covered in moss and vines. It was made of stones. Smoke was coming from the back. Natsu stopped walking for a moment before continuing. Was he scared? He knocked on the door. When the door opened, we were not prepared for what we saw. It looked like a dragon but with human-like features. Snow white hair, brown eyes, red scales covered his body. Two wings were on his back and he had a long tail. He looked at us. His gaze stopped on Natsu. He growled a little.

(Switching POVs because Agama and Natsu will be speaking a different language. When it is a language that Erza, Happy, Gray and Lucy understand it will be in Italic. Until I change until someone else.)

Agama's POV

Natsu showed up at my door again. What does he want now? He was three humans and a blue feline. He was holding onto the male human. The other two were females. Why does this situation feel familiar? What is he even doing here? He knows the rules. I looked straight at Natsu and growled a bit before talking to him.

"What do you want? You know you aren't supposed to be here. Especially with humans."

"I know, but this one got attacked by Corvus..."

The blacked haired human flinched at the name. I guess he understood 'Corvus'. I narrowed my eyes at Natsu before letting him in.

"I assume you came here first for some mask?"

"Yes."

I hate that look he gives me. He always has that dull expression on his face. I wish he would smile at least once. As I look at him, my expression changes from being annoyed to a frown.

"Come on in."

The humans and cat looked confused. Natsu looked at them and tilted his head a little.

"We can go in Agama's house."

"Oh. Alright."

"So, they can't understand what I was saying... right?"

Natsu nods his head. I let out a sigh. Each human took a seat and were looking at each other with an uncomfortable look on their face. I left the room and made a quick drink. It was a tea that will help them while they are here. I gave each of them one. They just stared at it for a moment. I looked at Natsu. He knew what I was giving them. He looked at the humans, and the blue feline. He spoke to them in their own tongue.

"It's safe."

They each took a sip of the tea. The cat winced at the taste. I assume he didn't like it. The others didn't mind it too much. Now to test to make sure it worked.

"You should be able to understand me now. Right?"

The four of them looked at me. They seemed surprised. They all exchanged glances before the redhead spoke up.

"How is it we can understand you now?"

"The tea I made you. It is a type of potion. You can understand any language for some period of time."

"Oh. Thank you for this."

I nod. My daughter came running in. Her red hair was tied back. Her scales were as red as mine, but she looked more like her mother. I smile at my little girl. She was growing up and becoming more like my mate everyday. I wish she was still her. It is always nice to see my daughter. Although, I thought she was with her friends today.

"Kashi, what are you doing here?"

"Sorry Father, I just... "

She suddenly realized that we were not alone. She looked at each human, the cat, and then her eyes fell on Natsu. She glares at him.

"Why is the Demon here!?"

"Kashi..."

"Nope, forget it. I don't wanna be near him!"

She quickly runs out to the garden.

"KASHI!"

I look at Natsu. He was unfazed by the outburst. He has heard it from her before. I hate how he doesn't react to it. He acts as if this is normal. He should speak up, do something, but no, he gives me that blank stare. The other humans, on the other hand, were shocked. Natsu looked at me.

"I need to go to the village and these three humans want to come with me. I need your changeling mask so they can go in unnoticed."

Taku told me about this. I made them per his request. I didn't realize that this was why. That explains why that had felt so familiar. Taku had informed me what would happen. I just nod at Natsu and quickly get them. When I walked back in, it was just the humans and cat. Natsu had left the room and was just sitting outside in my garden. The others were just talking to themselves. I handed each of them a mask, minus the cat. They looked at them, confused. The blonde girl asked,

"What are these for?"

"Oh, well, I'm a changeling. I make these masks that you see before you and they can change your appearance. You see, Humans and Monsters don't get along well. If you were found to be human, you could get in some trouble."

"I see. Is that why Natsu had given me one in the forest?"

"Well, he has the right idea, but they don't work the same way. I am a changeling and my magic can be put in the mask and change anyone's appearance. He is not a changeling so it will have no effect."

The male human looked at me with concern.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but what was with that girl that came in here? She freaked out at Natsu... Why?"

"Oh, well, that is a long story. Natsu and Kashi have a bit of history. Some good... But some bad as well. To her, she only knows, and chooses to remember the bad parts. She-"

I heard a sound coming from the garden. Don't tell me...

I ran outside to see Kashi and Natsu. Kashi was using her own fire abilities at Natsu. Her fire was a brilliant red. I knew she hated him, but to attack him was not a smart move. Even though nothing she was doing was gonna affect him, it was still dangerous. Her fire was going toward Natsu and all he was doing was preventing the fire from touching him. He was controlling her flames. She hissed at him.

"What is wrong with you! Why does a freak like you always come back here?! Leave us alone!"

Kashi... Stop...

Natsu was using his own magic to prevent the fire from even going near him, however... If continued to use his magic... I can only fear what might happen... I could already see that it was having an effect on him. The red and golden lines that were quickly spreading down his left arm. I had to stop this.

"KASHI! STOP THAT AT ONCE!"

She stopped and looked at me. Her orange eyes stared at me.

"He is leaving with those humans now, leave him be."

"FATHER, I WISH YOU WOULD STOP LETTING A CREATURE LIKE HIM IN OUR HOME!"

"This is my home and I will do as I wish. I let him in because I will not turn him down."

I gave her the look that showed that she shouldn't push her luck with me. She hissed at me forming her wings and flying to the roof. I looked at Natsu. He looked fine... apart from his left-hand shaking. He turned his head slowly at me.

"I... should be going now..."

He gave me that same dull look. Natsu...

He walked past me and gathered the humans and cat and left. Taku... I hope you know what you are doing...

A/N: Hey y'all. I was able to finish editing this chapter. Hope you liked this chapter. If you have any questions, I will happily answer them. See ya next chapter.

~Zolf

Posted 9/2/2020