"It should be this way." Natsu said as he led his friends through the Forest of Life. "This is the way I went last time."
"Are you sure? Your memory isn't exactly the best." Lucy said.
"It is so." Natsu said.
"You couldn't find your marbles and you had them for about one day." Lucy said. "It took you about four weeks for you to find them again."
"Quick question. Are you talking metaphorically or are you talking about actual marbles?" Zach asked.
"Natsu, is that it?" Erza questioned. She pointed to a familiar tree up ahead. Natsu took a good look at it and he remembered it.
"That's it!" Natsu said. Natsu went over to the tree and went under the tree. He looked around and spotted what he was looking for: a branch inside. Natsu went over to and flipped it like a switch and it opened up a passage way in the ground. "Yep. Just like how Najarin did it." This was the same passage that Natsu and Najarin took when they went to help Under Cavern Jungle, but rather than going in, someone is coming out.
"Is she even there?" Zach questioned.
"Here she comes." Natsu said as someone came out of the cavern. "Hey, Sanndanna." Sandanna climbed out of the passage and took the first steps outside of her home.
"I can't believe I'm really doing this." Sanndanna said.
"Just be glad you are." Natsu said. Sanndanna has been in Under Cavern Jungle her whole life, never once set foot outside of it. She's been wanting too and she's finally getting the chance. Since Natsu heard about that, he offered to help her out and his friends volunteered to help. "Come on. Step outside and see the outside world with your own eyes."
"Okay." Sanndanna said as she walked outside the tree and saw the Forest of Life with her own eyes. She was amazed with what she saw and saw the clear open sky for the first time.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Lucy said. Sanndanna and she just noticed the others for the first time. "We didn't get to introduce ourselves. We're friends of Natsu. I'm Lucy."
"I'm Erza."
"And I'm Zach."
"I asked my friends to help show you around Perim." Natsu said.
"I see." Sanndanna said. "Natsu, I don't know how to thank you for doing this."
"It's nothing." Natsu said. "Let's at least start by showing you the Forest of Life." They started by showing her around the forest and showing Sanndanna all that they can of Perim.
"I had no idea such an exotic forest was just above my home the whole time." Sanndanna said.
"If I may ask, how come you never left Under Cavern Jungle before?" Erza asked.
"I had no reason to." Sanndanna said. "My Master, Sinta, is the one in charge of our home. I've always followed her orders and helped her when she needed it. I've always wanted to see the outside world, but I never had the chance or a reason to."
"That sounds stupid. If you wanted to see what the rest of Perim is like, you could have just gone. What reason do you need to do that?" Natsu said.
"It's not that easy to leave your home." Sanndanna said.
"I can understand that." Lucy said. "Speaking of your home, we were aware of what happened down there with that sludge and how it was destroying your home. How is it now?"
"It's doing much better actually." Sanndanna said. "The location has healed well and is getting better with each passing day."
"Well, that's good to hear." Erza said. Sanndanna kept exploring the forest and she heard a sound.
"What was that?" Sanndanna questioned. She looked to the sky and they spotted Dractyl in the air.
"It's just Dractyl. His nest must be close." Zach said.
"Really?" Lucy said and followed after him.
"Where are you going?" Natsu asked.
"Ever since Zach showed me that Dractyl's scales can be used as battlegear for healing, I've been meaning to get a scan of them." Lucy said and kept moving.
"Lucy, wait!" Erza called as they went after her. "Dractyl isn't exactly to keen on the idea of others being in his nest." Lucy followed after Dractyl and was able to find his nest at the top of a tree. Lucy started climbing up as the others watch.
"Lucy, I don't think this is a good idea. I got those scales as a card back home." Zach said.
"I'll be fine. I'll be in and out before Dractyl even knows." Lucy said as she climbed up.
"Is this something you humans do a lot?" Sanndanna asked.
"Sort of." Natsu said. Lucy climbed to the top and was able to make it to the nest. She found a few of Dractyl's scales in the nest and had her scanner ready.
"Just a quick scan and I'm out." Lucy said. She was about to scan, but Dractyl came flying in and nearly snatched her from the entrance.
"What are you doing in my nest?" Dractyl questioned.
"Nothing. Just getting a scan." Lucy said. Dractyl didn't like the idea and tried attacking her again. He tried attacking her again as he came right at her. Lucy backed away and ended up falling from the nest.
"Lucy!" Natsu shouted as the others were scared. Sanndanna acted as she jumped in the air and was able to catch her. Dractyl came right at them, but Sanndanna used Flashwarp and blasted Dractyl with it. Sanndanna landed down and the others were impressed. "Nice catch."
"Yeah. Thanks." Lucy said.
"Don't mention it." Sandanna said as she sat Lucy down.
"Maybe we should go before Dractyl circles back around for a rematch." Zach said and the others agreed. They moved away from the nest and continued their walk through the forest. Sanndanna was enjoying her time with Natsu and the others. They continued walking through the forest with Sanndanna taking some fruit for a snack.
"So are you enjoying the trip so far?" Natsu asked.
"I must admit that I am." Sanndanna said. "This is just one location and there is much more to see."
"Well, there's a lot of Perim to cover." Natsu said.
"Why can't we just simply use your devices to travel faster?" Sanndanna said.
"It doesn't work since you're a creature." Natsu said. "Our own scanners only work for us. Besides, where's the fun in that for you? You wouldn't get to experience all each location has to offer if you travel like that."
"I suppose." Sanndanna said. "I also have you to thank for all of this. If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't be able to have done this." The two of them kept talking and the others kept a distance and watched those two.
"Weird." Zach said.
"What's weird?" Erza said.
"It's how well Sanndanna and Natsu seem to get along." Zach said. "You've got to admit that despite being a creature, she's pretty cute and such."
"Zach, what are you saying?" Lucy questioned.
"Do you really think there's any chance that there might be a little something going on between Sanndanna and Natsu?" Zach said.
"Say what?" Erza questioned.
"I'm just saying." Zach said. "Could be looking at the possible attraction between a human and a creature." Lucy didn't appear to like the idea, but Erza seemed intrigued.
"Can something like that really happen?" Erza questioned.
"Maybe. I don't see a reason as to why it couldn't happen." Zach said.
"It's not." Lucy said as she seemed like she was against the idea. "There's no way that Natsu would like a cat-like creature like that."
"You really think so?" Erza questioned.
"It's completely ridiculous." Lucy said.
"That's a little weird hearing you say that. I thought you would be a little more optimistic than that." Zach said. "Hang on. You wouldn't be jealous, would you?"
"What?! Don't be even more ridiculous than you already are." Lucy denied, but Zach and Erza had other thoughts.
"There's so much out there that I haven't seen before." Sanndanna said as she kept talking to Natsu.
"Tell me about it. There's probably so much of Perim that I haven't seen either." Natsu said.
"In that case, why don't we just travel together?" Sanndanna offer and Natsu was a little surprised. "If there's still so much for the both of us to see, why don't we travel together and see it all?" Natsu didn't know what to think. It would take years to explore all of Perim, but there would be some things that Natsu is leaving behind.
...
Later
Natsu and the others continued to travel through the forest until they reached the edge of the forest. Now, as they stood at the edge, there is the rest of Perim for them to explore.
"Well, this is where the Forest of Life Ends." Erza said. "Seeing as how you're a fellow overworlder, you shouldn't have any problem moving through here if you wish to continue."
"I wish we could stick around and show more of Perim, but we should really be getting back to Chaotic." Zach said.
"I understand. I do thank you for showing all of this to me." Sanndanna said. She looked to what lies beyond and can only imagine. "A whole world for me to explore. It's a little hard to believe."
"But aren't you going back to Under Cavern Jungle?" Lucy asked.
"It is my home, but there is still so much for me to see." Sanndanna said. "It's what I talked to my master, Sinta, about. She claims that if I truly desire to see Perim with my own eyes, she would be quite fine with me leaving and traveling."
"So go for it." Natsu said.
"Natsu, it's not that easy to leave your home." Zach said.
"True, but I've wanted to see Perim for a long time." Sanndanna said. "I might go depending on what you tell me, Natsu. Will you take my offer and come with me?" The others were shocked to hear it. All of them looked to Natsu to see what his answer would be.
"It does sound like a nice offer, but I'm not going." Natsu said. "I have my own life, my own goals, and my own dreams back home. It's complicated and I can't explain all of it, but I can't go with you, Sanndanna. This is your wish. It's not really mine. Still, if you want to go, go. Don't let me stop you."
"I understand." Sanndanna said as she expected that he might say that. "I am glad that I got to know you, Natsu. I might return to Under Cavern Jungle in time, but there is much I like to see."
"If you do go around traveling, keep your eyes open for a buddy of mine named Igneel." Natsu said. "You and he might get along pretty well."
"Take care of yourself, Sanndanna." Erza said.
"I shall." Sanndanna said. She turned to Natsu and hugged him tight. "Thank you for doing this for me."
"No problem." Natsu said.
"That's it. I'm out." Lucy said as she took out her scanner and just ported right out of there.
"What's with her?" Natsu questioned.
"I have an idea or two." Zach said as he and Erza snickered and ported out themselves. Natsu didn't get it, but he just brushed it off.
"So long, Sanndanna." Natsu said as he ported out. Sanndanna turned around and took her steps into a brand new world for her. Moments like this are good to see because this might be the last chance anyone can really see Perim as it is with what's to come.
...
Acnologia
"How's it coming?" Acnologia asked.
"Pretty good. Understanding this equipment from Perim was easier than I thought." Siegfried said as he was working with the equipment he stole from Ulmar. "By the way, where's Drevex?"
"He's taking care of a loose end at the moment." Acnologia said. "Just keep working. With this, everything will change."
"It sure will." Siegfried said and when bad guys things are about to change, it's usually for the worse for everyone.