Here it is! Chapter 4! Two days early! That's what I get when we have snow day...more time to write! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 4

The Long Road

It had been a two weeks since Ryoko was released from the infirmary. She had had long conversation with both the Master and Porlyusica about her future going forward. It wasn't a pretty one. It was bad enough that she was going to have to relearn her magic in a different way. A way that didn't send her heart out of control, but now the master was setting up conditions for her and if she didn't, the Master would be forced to ban her from all magical participation. Effectively removing her title as a wizard. She couldn't let that happen.

One condition was no solo missions. She was to join Team Natsu. The Master tried to sell it as he was making the strongest team but to Ryoko it sounded like a babysitting excuse. The other was that all jobs had to be approved ahead of time. Anything deemed too dangerous for her was off the table. No exceptions. The last, she had to undergo a little test to prove she was ready for any jobs.

Ryoko punched the tree that was in front of her. Rage boiled in her. She just joined the guild and already she was being treated like a special case. Yes, her own stupidity put her there but she couldn't stand the baby treatment. And to make matters worse, Marie had refused to speak with her the entire time. She stayed by her side but mostly just ignored her.

"Damnit!" Ryoko shouted. "This just sucks!"

Marie glanced at the frustrated Ryoko. She was still angry at her. Her best friend was so reckless at times and the Fairy Tail battle was another prime example. Marie didn't know if she could forgive her lack of care for her own life. To be honest, Marie didn't know what she would have done if Ryoko hadn't survived.

"Hey Marie," a voice to her right said.

Marie turned and looked at Happy. He was sitting next to her putting his small fishing rod together as Natsu did the same next to him. "Hi Happy. Hi Natsu," she said softly.

"How's she doing?" Natsu asked.

"I don't know. We're not speaking to each other," Marie said as she watched Ryoko walked over to the water's edge.

"You're still mad at her?" Happy asked.

Marie nodded. "Well, you two really shouldn't fight," Natsu said as he watched Ryoko. Marie just looked at him, confused. Natsu turned and smiled. "Because now she's gonna need you more than ever."

Marie just stared at Natsu. He was right. Ryoko was going to need her. She looked back at Ryoko as she practiced her magic on the water. She could see in the small amount of time that they had been talking, she had already exhausted herself. Sweat clung to her brow as she forced the water at the river to bend to her will. The water was shaking as it moved to where she wanted it.

BUt it didn't last. Ryoko released her magical hold on the water and bent over in order to catch her breath. "Damnit! Damnit! DAMNIT!" she shouted, trying to catch her breath.

Marie could see the tears that clung to her eyes. She wasn't just suffering physically but emotionally. Marie had failed to see that, but not Natsu. He had caught onto her pain. She watched as Natsu walked over to Ryoko, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Happy?" she asked as she watched them.

"Yeah?"

"Can you and Natsu look out for Ryoko for me? I need to go and get something. It will take a couple days," she said as she stood up and dusted her dress off.

"Sure thing. Be safe," he said knowing that sometimes, friends just needed time apart. Without another word, Marie spread her wings and took off.

Ryoko looked up as Marie flew away. Her annoyance bit into her as she turned back to Natsu. So she went from not talking to me, to abandoning me. And I guess Natsu and Happy are the shift change. She thought as Natsu tapped her shoulder.

"Ryo, did you hear me?" Natsu asked.

"Huh?"

"I asked if you wanted some help. With your training," he said as he smiled at her.

"I'm ice and water. You're fire. How can you help me?" Ryoko asked, a little snippy.

Natsu justed ignored the bite in her tone. Had the Master done to him what he did to her, Natsu would have flamed out. "Oh lots! We're opposites so I'm a perfect sparring partner. Besides, I think you got a really raw deal from Gramps and I want to help," he said genuinely.

Ryoko watched him carefully. She couldn't explained what it was about him that made her feel comfortable with him. It started the moment she met him. "Why do you want to help me?" she asked.

"Well, you're joining my team, so why wouldn't I help a friend out ?" he said with a big smile.

Ryoko couldn't help but smile back at him. "Alright, Natsu. I'll give you a shot," she said before turning to the water. "Take your best shot!"

Natsu smiled before pushing her into the water. Ryoko yelled as she fell in. She quickly surfaced. Natsu was laughing while Happy yelled at him for scaring away his fish. Really? You pushed me into the water! Oh this is war! She laughed as she used her magic to effectively make a water cannon, taking aim at Natsu. Natsu laughed as he dodge every attack she threw at him.

Ryoko laughed as she prepared another water attack but was pulled out of the water by Happy. "YOU TWO HAVE SCARED AWAY ALL MY FISHIES!" he shouted with tears in his eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Happy. Blame Natsu, it was dirty move pushing me into the water," she said as she wrung out her hair.

Natsu laughed. "Maybe but I bet you didn't notice," he said as they both gave him a confused look. "You attacked me at full power but you're not struggling."

Ryoko froze. It was then that she realized that she wasn't tired and her chest didn't hurt. She had held nothing back and she felt fine. "What? How did you do that?" she asked.

"You weren't thinking about it. You just did what comes naturally to us Dragon Slayers," Natsu said as he smiled at her. "Still think I can't help you?"

Ryoko laughed and shook her head. She walked over to the water. She placed her hands into the water and froze it instantly. That took a little effort from her but knowing that her magic was like taking a breath, made it a little easier. Not like before but enough to help. She walked over to Natsu and grabbed his hand. Almost instantly, the two felt a weird electric shock when their hands met.

Ryoko tried to ignore that feeling as she walked him onto the frozen water. "What are we doing?" he asked her as he held her hand tightly. Walking on the ice wasn't that simple for him as it was for her.

Ryoko chuckled softly as Natsu slipped around on the ice. She didn't answer until she found what she was looking for. "Fishing," she said as she pointed below their feet. There, frozen, were at least 20 extra large fish stuck in the ice. "Thaw a circle around them and we'll pull them up. That should make Happy happy again."

Natsu smiled at her and melted a circle around the fish. At that point, Ryoko melted the ice and set the fish free. The fish, in a panic, swum quickly in a circle, trying to break free. That were unsuccessful until Natsu started to fish them out one by one. He threw them onto the land in a pile. Ryoko smiled as she watched the pile grow and so did Happy's eyes.

"FISHIES! Oh thank you! Thank you!" he said as he started gnawing on the closest fish.

Natsu crawled his way across the ice to the pile of fish and began to cook about four of them. Happy did his usual complaint of Natsu ruining the fish. Natsu just ignored him. He just watched as Ryoko moved gracefully across the ice. Almost like she was dancing. Funny, he never thought ice was beautiful until today. He could only hope Gray never caught him thinking things like that. Gray had already been giving him a hard time about his behavior towards her. Natsu had been by her side every day while she was unconscious in the infirmary. He didn't know why but he didn't want to be away from her. He was thrilled when the Master said she was joining his team. And now she was letting him help her train.

He flipped another fish as Ryoko returned the ice to water and sat beside the fire. He offered her a fish but she smiled and declined the cooked meat. "I'm not a huge fan of fish," she said as she made a face.

Natsu laughed before launching into one of the fish. Ryoko chuckled softly as she watched him devour the poor animal. Natsu knew he had food all over him. Lucy was always reminding him to be more civil, but he always forgot. Putting his fish down, he turned to Ryoko. "Can I ask you something?" he asked.

Ryoko gave him a curious look but nodded. "Go ahead," she said.

"Why'd you do it?" he asked. When she gave him a confused look, he explained further. "The Thunder Palace, why?"

Ryoko frowned at his question. Everyone had asked her that and she never answered. She didn't like to explain herself. That being said, she found herself talking about what had happened. "Everyone wants to know why. Does there always have to be a reason?" she sighed.

"You nearly died so I'd say you had to have a reason and I don't think it's that you wanted to die," Natsu said without reservation.

"I didn't think it would be as bad as it turned out to be. Honestly, I had hoped that Laxus wasn't serious about blowing up the town. But they were all on full power," she explained, rubbing the area over her heart. Natsu gave her a concerned look but she waved him off. "I've been homeless since my parents disappeared seven years ago. I traveled with Marie, then Gajeel, and then it was just Marie and I . I did odd jobs for guilds and managed to survive but I wasn't happy. I wanted a home, at least until I found my parents again. Master Bob was the one that sent me to the Master and to Fairy Tail. He said that Master Makarov was better equipped to handle Dragon Slayers."

"Yeah, Gramps can handle anything, except any of us getting hurt. I know he's worried about you. We all are," Natsu said softly.

Ryoko nodded. "Yeah, I got that. Everyone walks on eggshells around me. It's really annoying. They treat me like I'm going to break if they touch me in the slightest," she said, her normally calm demeanor seeming to shatter.

"So tell them to knock it off. Don't be afraid to tell anyone in the guild how you feel. We're family," he said as he smiled at her. Ryoko smiled back and nodded. "Now, you were gonna tell me why?"

Ryoko rolled her eyes but nodded. "Well, really, I didn't want anyone else getting hurt. I knew that I wouldn't stand a chance against Laxus so I figured that I would more helpful to everyone if I took out the Thunder Palace. Really, I was just trying to protect my new home. Simple," she said.

"No, it's not just simple. It's means alot to everyone there that you would risk everything to save them. I know I appreciate it. You saved your family," he said, his eyes soft and there was something in his eyes that she didn't understand.

"Thanks. I've really become great friends with a lot of guild members. I don't want to leave the guild but if I can't prove to the Master that I can handle taking jobs on, he won't let me continue as a wizard there," she explained.

"And that's why I'm here. It's gonna be a long road, but I will make sure you past Gramps test and stay as one of us!" Natsu said as he jumped to his feet and offered his hand. "So let's get started!"

Ryoko just laughed and took his hand. A long road, indeed, but she had a feeling that she and Natsu would reach the end together.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'll be sure to have chapter 5 before you know it! Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks again!