Nashi

I exhaled in relaxation as I laid my feet over the edge of the tub. This was nice. Life was great.

Not once in the past few weeks I had regretted my decision. Even so, Aurik's words still haunted me.

"This is only the beggining, we will succeed in our plan, regardless of you or your father's intervention."

We. Plan. Father.

I rolled my head back and let the water wash away my train of thought. I tensed up as I couldn't shake the thought.

"Why are you in my head?" I spoke aloud. I didn't want to see him. Let alone hear he was still alive. I touched the guild mark tattoo on my arm. Red.

"You got it in the same place and color as your father," Mira had said.

In the past few weeks that's what everyone had been doing. Comparing me to the great Natsu Dragneel.

That wasn't who I was. I was Nashi Dragneel. His daughter. I sank a little lower in the bath tub. Laxus had been trying to help me with my magic but it wasn't going well other than the few attacks I knew somehow. The other members my age were all on jobs getting money to pay for damages to Magnolia. Some from me.

"You have to do it like this, that's how your father did it."

I placed a foot into the water and pulled the drain before hopping out of the bath and throwing the towel around me. I stopped.

If my thing I was fire, I should use it my way. I took the towel off and I focused. I felt the flames in me and willed them to surround me as I quickly dried off.

I smirked, "that's helpful at least," I walked into the small bedroom of the old cabin I shared with Happy who was off doing who knows what. I quickly dressed my self in the new attire. Gone was the leather jacket, pants and shoes. Standing in the mirror was someone different than last month. Shorts, sandals, a white tank top with a black vest with gold highlights. The only mainstay was the scarf.

It was actually quit comfortable and easier to move around in. I bounced a little bit before looking at table in the corner in my room.

My sword was still there. In shards of metal. I hadn't been able to replace it and frankly I needed to. It was a part of my identity and the absence of its weight made me feel naked.

Maybe I could finally go out on a job. It wasn't fair to have Happy pay all the expenses, especially when my hair would catch on fire in the middle of the night. It's been a rough few weeks, adjusting to all the new things going on.

"Think of it as magical puberty, you just opened a flood gate holding back an ocean into a small creek metaphorically speaking. Of course your body is going to be under a bit of stress," Erza had told me as I was in the infirmary the next day as I was nauseous and sweating profusely.

Three days ago was pretty bad too. I burned my bed stand on accident while trying to comb the knots out of my hair, I got frustrated, it caught on fire and the rest was a pile of cinders on the floor by the time Happy was able to get Juvia.

Of course that sort of prompted a scolding from Gajeel on why I didn't just 'eat the fire'.

The concept of eating something intangible was just theoretical. I saw him, Gale and Jazz eat scrap metal but eating fire? Forget it.

I exhaled as I looked at myself in the mirror. My old clothes were burned so I was having to use most of my father's old wardrobe in the meantime. It was physically comfortable but emotionally unsettling. Erza was getting in contact with some tailor and blacksmith to make me new armor and fire proof clothing of my own.

I yawned and a few flames came flickering from my mouth. I quickly clasped a hand over it.

Dammit I thought to myself. I needed to get this under control. The lessons from Laxus and Erza were hardly helping. Laxus was teaching me the foundation of being a Dragon Slayer while Erza...well...

I became her trainee and sparring partner since Panther Lily was often away with Gale.

The first time we faced off, she won in 23 seconds. The time after 19. Then I held my own for about 40.

Now, I'm barely going over two minutes with her. Then again, I was using one of her swords and had to wear a full suit of armor so she didn't accidentally wound me.

I closed my hand into a fist, "you got this Nashi. You can handle it anything the world throws at you..."

2 Hours Later

Except a train ride.

I was bent over in my seat as the motion sickness was far worse this time as Erza sat across from me, "for heaven's sake, you're as bad as your father with the motion sickness."

I held my mouth shut. I didn't want to vomit.

"Forgive me for springing this on you last minute but the blacksmith and tailor wanted some more accurate measurements and to see the daughter of Natsu in person."

I nodded slowly as I attempted to speak, "but...why...me? I...mmph!"

She chuckled, "because after your heroics at the guild hall, word spread fast that 're Salamander' was back. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if people mistook you for your father. We should be able to give you your own attire later in the day."

I gave a small thumbs up as I covered my mouth again.

Erza cracked a smile, "I could help you know. I used a trick on your father to stop him from being motion sick several times," she moved over next to me, "would you like me to demonstrate?"

I looked at her with pleading eyes and got a gauntlet covered fist to my stomach and I lost consciousness.

I awoke to the ground rushing up to meet my face. I quickly put my hands forward and pushed myself into a flip before falling to my knees, "sweet sweet solid ground I love you!"

"Are you sure you aren't a clone of your father?"

"Why do you say that? Is it just the magic?"

Erza paled as she stepped off the train as a small crew of workers began to unload the enormous amount of luggage she was carrying, "and the motion sickness. He got sick on anything that was artificial and would move."

I tapped my chin, "I don't get sick out at sea on a ship and I didn't abandon my family while breaking a promise."

"You told Lucy you were moving out to join the guild by mail though," she raised an eyebrow.

I winced, "I didn't tell her I joined a guild and I told her I'd visit every now and then."

The guild master was silent for a few moments, "I see. Well then, maybe I will have to write a letter to her explaining what happened."

"Don't. It'll only make her depressed or worried. If she was trying to hide the guild from me, it may because it pained her so much to remember leaving it."

I stood up as a small breeze went through the area. Erza nodded, "very well then, this shall be your burden to bear. Now come along, we have to get you outfitted."

I looked at the mirror in front of me. It was a bit more piece mail armor than a full suit but it looked pretty well. My shins and shoulders were covered with plates of metal while two bracers with built in open gloves complete with a thumb ring adorned my lower shirt they had me in was black and had my midriff exposed. The sandals I had been wearing had also been traded in for boots. I bounced on my heels as I listened to the armor quietly clink together.

"How does it feel?" Erza smiled with her arms crossed.

I gave her a thumbs up, "pretty good, it does feel light though."

"It's mithral. It's a rare metal from a far away land. It's very strong and very light. Armor made out of it is great if you are a mobile fighter."

I paled, "isn't that expensive then?"

"It's a gift. Don't worry about the cost. Most older members of the guild are wealthy," she waved a hand, "besides, treat it as a thank you for taking back the guild hall."

"I thought me getting into the guild was the thank you?"

She shook her head, "99% of the time we accept whoever wants to join."

The blacksmith came out with the tailor and had me take off the armor to make a few adjustments as the tailor began to force my limbs into some positions before wrapping tape around parts of my body.

I couldn't move.

"Relax darling, it's just for the most accurate measurements. It's a temporary paralytic," he explained in a very chipper way of telling someone they are essentially frozen. He wrapped a piece around my neck and over my forehead. I was about to open my mouth when he roped one under my chin as I felt my jaw lock up.

I was at the mercy of a tailor.

"Klein here is not only a tailor but a talented fashion designer along with stylist," Erza chuckled at the panic in my eyes, "you are in good hands."

I whimpered as she stood up, "I'll be back soon, my husband should be arriving soon and I promised him I'd be out to lunch."

"Enjoy your date sweet heart!" Klein waved with his hand before he returned to me, "now Miss Dragneel, let's see what looks best on you, shall we?"

I was glad this wasn't the middle of the store as he stripped me down against my will and tapped his chin. He stepped out of the room and came back in seconds later with a clip board and measuring tape, "alright, now let's see what we are working with here."

He raised the measuring tape to my full height, "5' 7". Not bad. The hair adds about another inch or so but we'll be working on that later. For now, we need to find out what can make you, you."

This was embarrassing. He started measuring sensitive areas where I had been forced into. It was ticklish at one part. He even noted that down on his clip board.

"You certainly don't have the bust of your mother but you aren't flat chested so that's also good. Now," he threw a dress in the air and it somehow found a way around me as he brought out another device. It was one of the color changers that you could find in magic shops, "what are your colors darling?"

He started to shift through the device as the dress began to change colors, "hmmm, let me see here..." he snapped his fingers and the dress came off as he handed me a robe, "this way darling. We need to fix your hair first, okay hun?"

I nervously nodded as he led me to another room with a sink and had me sit down before locking my limbs up again except my mouth, "have you ever had a tailor do this?"

"No...I...I've never been in a shop like this."

"Ahhhh...so where has ze Salamander and his wife been living all these years?"

I closed my eyes, "he isn't around. He left when I was three. It's just been my mom and my sister."

He gasped, "oh child, my deepest condolences, I did not know!" He started rubbing something in my hair.

We were both silent for a few moments before I finally broke the silence, "what are you doing with my hair?"

"darkening it. You can't wear black all the time."

I blinked. Whatever, it's not like I really had a say in anything right now. However, when he pulled out the scissors, I had a problem.

"Wait! No no no no!" I tried to move but the binding tape kept me in place. He started snipping as I tried to will my fire but it was in vain. I liked my hair.

"Trust me darling, this will turn out well. Just have faith."

I whimpered as he snipped here and there until about fifteen minutes later he moved my head and had me look in the mirror.

And he was right. My hair was a lot shorter. The top half was now a darker color than the bottom half. It actually looked...

Attractive.

"Now darling, do you trust me or do I have to keep using the tape?"

I was waiting in the lobby with two suitcases in tow when Erza arrived with her husband.

"Ah, Nashi, this is my husband, Jellal. Jellal, this is Nashi Dragneel, Natsu's daughter," she motioned with her hand.

I bowed, "it's nice to meet you Mr. Fernandes."

He shook his head, "Jellal wil do just fine," he gazed over my appearance, "if it wasn't for the name or guild mark, you'd never be able to tell you were his child."

Klein strode back out, "Madame Erza wanted her to have a look that stood out and distinguished her from her papa. It was no easy task but I feel as if this is the best I can do."

My guild master nodded, "it is wonderful, thank you Klein," she said before stepping up to me, "fairly casual, mobile, looks good. How do you like it?"

I smiled, "I love it. It's different."

My father's scarf was still wrapped around my neck but my entire outfit had changed again. A white tank top with a dark gold short sleeved thin outer Shirley exposing my midriff and shorts and sandals was my look now. My hair was parted more to one side with it getting lighter in color as it went down.

Dresses and other changes of clothes were packed in the suitcases. A whole wardrobe of fireproof clothing. The armor was going to be sent in a separate shipment due to more slight modifications.

Erza quickly paid Klein before turning to me, a holding out a hand, "I have another gift for you."

White light spread from her fingertips as a sword, one of her iconic ones from Heaven's Wheel formed and dropped into my outstretched hand, "you can have that one until you find a sword you like."

One of Titania's Swords. I was speechless and was barely able to form a syllable as Jellal grabbed one of the bags, "are we taking the train back to Magnolia?"

Erza chuckled, "not this time. I believe Nashi has had enough motion sickness for one day, we'll be walking home."

I smiled softly. Home. Not Clover Town. Home was the guild.

Fairy Tail had become my new home in only a few short weeks. I missed the rustic feeling of Clover Town along with the crater lake but at the same time, I felt more alive as part of the guild. Training with Laxus and Erza, learning all sorts of new facts about my parents from everyone and even having some actual friends for a change...I love it! I strapped the borrowed sword to my back and grinned, "yeah, let's go home!"

In that moment, I never expected what would happen upon returning to Magnolia.

TO BE CONTINUED...