GOD DAMN. WHAT IS WITH ME!? I'm so sorry everybody, I'm lazy. Ugh. But, another average of 1000 words added to each chapter! That oughta give you guys mixed feelings about my late chapters eh? And now, time for a dramatic change in scene! By the way, I have recently discovered a new site dedicated to any kind of writing, even some Fanfiction: , and I'll be putting up some random non frantic stories. Sometime soon, I think I'll start working on it after this chapter. Enjoy!
(Makarov's POV)
As was customary to a dragon, Makarov fell to one knee in curtsey. Normally, he would joke around with Igneel and say hello, but today, this looking to be a fatal idea. If the guild master didn't tread lightly, he would soon be burnt extra crispy.
"Igneel-dono." He said with the respective formality. In Igneel's rage, he didn't hear what the human said. He'd yet to register the human's presence.
"DAMN YOU! ZEEEERRREEEEFFFF!" Makarov froze, his body going rigid, hives breaking out, releasing cold slimy sweat. The name was a chilling reminder of the worse days, the days back after man had just been shown the potential of magic. It was the days of the Shiver, when families would shudder in the quiet confines of their homes, huddling away from those who were taught how to use magic as weapons. Their teacher was the master of black magic: Zeref. Despite his earlier control, it deserted him in his next sentence.
"I-Igneel-san. I-I beg your pardon?" Igneel snapped out of his fury, and looked down at his old friend. Lowering his head, Igneel chose his words carefully.
"Forgive me my friend. I was… angry. You should forget what I just said." Makarov stomped his foot.
"Don't give me that crap! You and I both know I can't just 'forget' that ever happened! You said… HIS name. What is this all about?" Unwilling to answer his question, the lizard beast surveyed the grounds and saw his son.
"Natsu!" Rushing over, he placed his scaly head to his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"No! Igneel! That boy is dangerous and evil! He—!" Igneel gnashed his teeth in front of the elder.
"Dangerous he may be," He spat "But my son is not evil!" Makarov did a double take.
"What?"
"Yes, and any insult to him is one to me!" Makarov shook his head.
"But Igneel-dono, why does this boy know dark magic?" This time, Igneel blew flame in Makarov's direction.
"Did you not hear what I just said? Any insult to him, is one to me! Yet you still accuse him of practicing the dark arts!?"
"Igneel-dono, I fought him myself! How else do you think I got these?" He pulled away his sleeves; displaying the bruised and purple marks Natsu had scarred him with earlier. "I even had to fight MY child to stop this rampage! Your brat somehow, don't ask me how, infected my daughter! I don't know what you've been teaching him, but I can't let this stand! I'll be forced to take this up to the counsel if you don't—" This time it was Igneel's turn to roar indignantly.
"I had nothing to do with your children! I swear it! I didn't even see her till today! It was Zeref, he is the spark of this chaotic flame!"
"You let him approach your student?"
"NO!" Igneel forced his breath to become even. The forest was becoming agitated with the angry auras that were being blasted everywhere.
"No, he approached my son while he was on his first test, and didn't use his powers until after the boy had left. There was no way he could've been teaching Natsu any dark magic without me noticing." Makarov grunted in grudging agreement.
"Forgive me my friend, I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Makarov was stunned to hear the fire beast apologize. Dragons were the proudest race there was, it was almost sad how one would never back down from a fight. It was rare that they ever admit to being wrong, let alone apologize. Being the gracious person he was, he bent over in the respectful acknowledging bow.
"No, no, forgive me. I accused of you of something without even asking for the facts." Igneel growled, his temper bloating a bit as he thought of that one person who had started it all.
"Damn that Zeref… It's always about him." Igneel suddenly became disheartened, as he realized what he must do. His child had seen other children after being taken in, REAL human children. He could no longer see him, as was Dragon Law. And besides, July 7th was approaching. This could somehow be a blessing in disguise, though that made the pain no easier to bear. He looked Makarov straight in the eye.
"Makarov. I have something to ask you, and I have no time. I have to leave, immediately. But I cannot take Natsu with me, and who better to look after him than you? There are sure to be others his age at your guild." Makarov gaped.
"You cannot just hand over the responsibility of a child over to me! Why would you—" The sky became sunset red, then sunrise pink, in the span of a second. Igneel pawed at the ground, and made a sound at the back of his throat.
"Makarov, that is my cue. I must leave. Promise you will raise the boy as your own! Promise me! I will forever be in your debt!" Now this was turning out to be a real surprising day. It was rare to hear an apology from a dragon, but it was at least ten times as rare to have a dragon be in your debt. At first Makarov was too stunned to react, until Igneel grabbed him and gave a squeeze.
"Makarov! I don't have time for this! Promise me!"
"So long as you one day come back for him, I promise." The weight of a lifetime was lifted from the red dragon's chest.
"Thank you." He flicked his tongue over his son and murmured a blessing, then spread his glorious wings and beat them into flight. But before he left, went to all the slumped over figures of the Strauss siblings, and tapped them lightly on the chest. Makarov couldn't tell what the dragon was doing, and Igneel just said, "Insurance, just in case."
(Makarov's POV)
"Mr. Dreyar, they're awake." The aged man stood, and walked into the healing room, with incenses burning and a cloth over the Strauss siblings faces. The other boy was in an artificially induced coma at the moment, but the nurses were constantly using sleep magic on him, for there were times he fought the spells. Makarov gave an unconscious nod.
'This is Igneel's son no doubt' Mirajane wiped her mouth of the trickle of drool she'd produced in her slumber.
"So old man. What exactly happened? All I remember is some little purple guy beating you up." Makarov deadpanned, and pointed at said boy on the other bed beside her. Mirajane looked, and her body went rigid. Elfman slowly got up, and wrapped his arms around his sister. Then he clenched his muscles in preparation. Were it not for Elfman's pre-emptive actions, Makarov was relatively sure that Mirajane health would have gone into dangerous levels, and the room would not still be standing.
"WHAT IS THIS GUY DOING HERE!?" Makarov was already regretting the words that left his mouth.
"Calm down you brat." He whapped her on the top of her head and sat down beside her. Her confusion and curiosity eventually won over her distress, falling back onto her brother's chest.
"Sorry Elfman." She clutched her siblings hand halfheartedly, and he simply grunted in response. He was about to clamber back into his own bed, but Mirajane kept her grip on him in a silent plea. The boy stayed where he was, a flower of happiness blooming in his chest that his sister was asking him to stay with her. Makarov cleared his throat again.
"Lisanna is also doing well; she should be here with your food soon. But first, I have to talk to you about this boy. I cannot tell you everything, because I am bound by a magical contract. What I can tell you this. This boy's father is exceptionally influential and versed in magic. He has inherited his father's talent and as I'm sure you've noticed, he has great potential. His attack on us what not of his free will, and as he had certain business that couldn't be put off, his father has left me in his care. So, we will be taking him back with us to Fairy Tail." Mirajane's attitude flared again.
"Hold on! I'm nice enough not to kill him here on the spot, but I can't just stand by as you let this thief into our home—!"
"And by taking him back with us, you will have effectively stopped any more thefts from this boy on the apple garden, so good work, you completed your mission." The guild master plowed on, ignoring the protests of his guild member.
Mirajane clenched her fists tight, and she was ready to argue her way when two maids pushed the door open and Lisanna rolled in a cart tray with plates steaming fried rice and bowls soup. Mirajane's mind melted and her primeval urge to feed took over. Lisanna laughed when a blur nabbed half of the cart's dishes.
"Morning Nee-chan, Nii-chan! How you guys feeling?" Elfman stood and went to hug his sister, pecking her on the forehead, and ruffling her hair.
"Fine." Lisanna beamed.
"That's great!" Mirajane shoveled spoonful after of spoonful of the delicious bits of heaven her little sister had delivered. Once her appetite was sated, she took a final gulp of a water and food.
"Ahhh~ Lisanna you little angel! That was delicious! I looooove you so much!" Lisanna giggled as she was assaulted by a series of hugs and kisses. "Really, I missed you so badly." The eldest sister's voice shook and the happy mood became gentler. Elfman also embraced his family.
"Tadaima. I'm home."
"Okairi. Welcome back." Lisanna slipped out of their arms and grabbed another bowl. Then to everyone else's surprise, she spoon fed Natsu and forced him to swallow.
"Here you go, eat up. I made it just for you." Betrayal crashed through Mirajane, and not a little in Elfman. Mirajane felt her demon stirring, and it scared her just a bit because the only time it did that was when she was intent on summoning it.
"Lisanna!" She grabbed her sister's wrist and wrenched it away. Lisanna looked confused, and paled when she saw the expression on her sister's face.
"N-Nee-chan?" Mirajane gasped, and let her face soften.
"Lisanna," her voice still stern, she refused to look into her eyes and instead looked at the kid who had just received her little sister's love. "I can't let you associate with this guy. I mean how can you!? He tried to KILL you for crying out loud, Elfman and me too!" Lisanna hair swished to the side as she disagreed.
"I don't really think so. We attacked first didn't we? And he even saved my life, more than once! If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here!" The Devil bit her lip.
"That may be true but…" She couldn't find any sort of hole in her reasoning, but Elfman intervened with a strange question.
"Lisanna, how much do you remember since you woke up here?" Lisanna frowned in concentration, and muttered
"Um… When Natsu saved me from the rabbit-bear." Mirajane flinched.
"A rabbit-bear?" Elfman patted her elder sisters shoulder. Long ago the rabbit bear was the first creature, human or otherwise to have defeated her in battle.
"Anything else?" asked the elder, but Lisanna shook her head.
"No, it goes blank after that. I'm sorry master."
"No, this was no fault of your own. The three of you may have the day off, we get on the train at sunset, and you all must be here before the sun touches the mountains" The three nodded in assent, and the master hobbled off in search of something to snack on. As soon as Makarov left the room, Mirajane stared Lisanna in the eye.
"Lisanna, promise me you wont get involved with this guy any more than you have to. Promise me!" Lisanna squirmed.
"But Mira-nee—!"
"No buts! Promise me!" Sighing, Lisanna hung her head.
"I promise." She mumbled.
"Good," Mirajane bundled her little sister close and breathed into her hair. "I'm sorry." Lisanna shook her head.
"I know you're just trying to protect me." Then Lisanna slipped free, and with sad footsteps, she headed to the gardens outside to be alone with the flowers and the bees. Mirajane studied her splayed fingers, adjusting her hands to direct shadows over her palm. Her chest was hollow, and she couldn't even bring herself to feel guilty, only the numbness that filtered the pain.
"Neh, Elfman? Am I really doing the right thing? What if I'm wrong?" Elfman looked out the window, the sun beating heat at everything underneath it.
"I don't know. But it's better than doing nothing." The Devil moodily agreed.
(Makarov's POV)
"Thank you for your hospitality, I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we had a pleasant stay." Mr. Morbis played with his mustache and sang.
"No, thank YOU! With the thief gone I can properly take care of my apples! I was beginning to lose employees who feared for their lives because of that boy! I wont hesitate to contact Fairy Tail when I am in need of a service." Makarov grinned.
"Thank you very much! Have a good one!" The president of Amai Orchards waved like seaweed in a current, left to right with both his hands in goodbye. Elfman carried Natsu in his arms, while Mirajane and Lisanna held the luggage. Normally, Mirajane would have laughed and refused to take anything that would slow her down as she ran to the front and yelled for the others to catch up, but today, she simply took the bag and staggered forward in what could barely be classified as a walk.
Makarov slowed, waiting for Lisanna and Mirajane to go ahead, and stepped to Elfman's side.
"So Elfman my boy, can you tell me what happened?" Elfman raised an eyebrow, knowing that Mirajane would have already told him all the details. But he obliged to tell the story over again. Makarov waited patiently, not even noticing how they got on the train, only stopping to realize that they boarded as the departure whistle interrupted Elfman's words. He spoke about Mr. Morbis, his paintings, Natsu, Lisanna, the storm, their training, and a few things he'd noticed. He opted to leave out the phone call his sister had made. There were certain things you just couldn't say to a non-family member, even to one of the few men he respected and trust.
'He really knows what to say. What an intelligent boy,' Makarov marveled, not for the first time. Not a few guild members in Fairy Tail underestimate Elfman because he was quiet, but that was usually just because he didn't have anything to say. He got along well enough with Gray, Erza and Cana, but still quite a few of the older kids just thought he was stupid. 'Their loss' The elder remarked with a smirk. If any of them got into a fight with the male Strauss, he wished he could be there to see how well Elfman did.
By the time Elfman had gotten to when Makarov had arrived at the mansion, Makarov could tell two things. First, Elfman's version of events was most likely much more accurate than Mirajane's as hers reflected her personality, where there was a lot more fighting explosions, and head bonking. And second, Elfman had given up a piece of information Makarov hadn't heard from Mirajane. Apparently the boy had been shown mercy by Natsu. He hadn't really talked to the child, but perhaps he deserved the benefit of doubt.
"Elfman, please release the sleeping spell. When he wakes, tell me, and get everyone into the carriage. I need to use the washroom." Elfman's eyebrow repeated it's movement upward, but again, he did as he was bid. The door hissed, closing with a cushion of air.
(Elfman's POV)
Mirajane had gone in search for something to occupy herself, though Elfman suspected she just wanted to be alone, and Lisanna was asleep beside him. He waved a hand over the other boy's body, and the timer glowed. An hour left before the spell wore off naturally. The thudding of the train was beginning to pull him into a lulling pattern, one that touched the even quieter part of his already peaceful mind. He closed his eyes… Then paid the price.
Instantly, wind began to whip at Elfman's face, scratching at it, and his eyes flew open to see a foot slam into him, Lisanna's foot.
"W-wha—!? Lisanna!" But his pupils dilated and his teeth clenched in a combination of fear and anger. His little sister was pouring out the same aura her elder sister was when she'd fought Natsu.
"She can't hear you. She's been awakened." Elfman grabbed the wrists that threatened to tear out his throat, and he glanced back. He couldn't see a face, but his waist and left shoulder was wrapped in a white silk robe, and underneath that a golden trimmed coat.
"She was feeling depressed. It's better she let it out now. She'll feel better later. Lisanna tried to kick Elfman's family jewels, but bunched up his knees to block her.
"Hey you! Who are you?" The man didn't answer, and walked over to Natsu.
"Hello Natsu. Time to go home." Natsu sat up, with no signs of darkness around him.
"Z? What are you doing here? Heck, what am I doing here?" Z patted his head, and Natsu let out a strange half rumble half growl. If a lizard could purr, that's what it would sound like.
"We have to go. Now. These people are the ones who fought with Igneel." Natsu's eye's narrowed, and he saw Elfman and Lisanna.
"Wait, but I know these guys—" Zeref grabbed his shoulders and stared him into his iris'.
"Natsu, you're going to have to trust me. Can you do that?" Natsu blinked, looked at the two struggling on the floor one more time, then nodded firmly. "Good, now lets go." The door hissed open again, Mirajane and Makarov both behind it.
"Lisanna!" Her sister cried, she knocked her off her brother, and together the two siblings managed to hold their sister to the floor. "Lisanna it's us! Elfman and Mirajane! What's wrong?" Makarov hadn't moved. He gave such a menacing glare; Natsu's had to close his eyes to and fixate on the darkness to keep his brain from rattling as he shivered.
"Zeref. What are you doing here?"
"I would answer, but you already know why don't you?" Makarov kept his fists in a ball. "Anyway, I'm not here to fight. I only came to get my friend back. Goodbye." Natsu was starting to think it would be a VERY good idea to leave. Like now
"Wait. Much as I want us not to fight at this very moment, I made a promise. I can't just let you—"
"Master!" It was Mirajane. She had called him master. She never did that. Never. Gritting his teeth in a manner that wouldn't be picked out as unusual in an angry dragons den, knuckle smashing into a palm, he spoke again.
"Forget it. Whatever happened to her, hurting you should stop it," And what happened next would damn Makarov for many sleepless nights. It would be imprinted in his mind to repeat over and over. In slow motion, this is what happened: in the span it took to open and close your hand, Makarov shot a concentrated burst of yellow at Zeref's face. Planning on taking him by surprise and not really expecting him to be hit, he'd made it so the blast would explode with light two seconds after being launched. It was done to distract, with little actual power behind it. Instead, Zeref cringed, and held his arms in a protective cross. Natsu, eyes grew, and his lips parted to yell something, one arm stretching out to help. Makarov tried to stop the dragon slayer, trying to grab his wrist. But the corner of his eyes caught the movement of a giddy smile.
The light was somehow rebounded, Makarov didn't know how; Zeref must have found some trick in his hundreds of years of experience, but the delay time of a second was added to the timer. It rocketed back to Makarov's face, who raised his hand to cancel his spell, but as it traveled back into his magical core, he found it was a different spell. He realized Zeref changed the properties, now it was set to destroy the whole train. Doing the only thing he could think of in a moment, he curled his body tight, and green acidic foggy goo oozed out. He convulsed as it ate away his chest. It slithered in his veins, eating away his blood, while damaging whatever it could. His skin red and tender, he fell to the floor, a wreck. Zeref inhaled face full of smog, protecting his younger friend from the worst of it. Lisanna, though feral, retained her natural instincts, and they told her to RUN. She leaped away from her siblings, who had also seen the danger. The fog was of magical substance, and though some wafted out the hole in the wall, most stayed where it was.
"Master!" They both screamed. Mirajane turned untamed to Natsu.
"I'll kill you!" Natsu was very obviously thinking of saying the same to her, but then Zeref coughed and held his hand.
"N-no— Don't." But ignoring him, she charged forward, and her next step crumpled beneath her. "Don't breath!" Zeref was trying to do the same, but too much had seeped into his lungs for him to do anything about that. It was a dreadful cycle. Every cough took a breath, and every breath took in more poison, which produced more coughing. Strangely, Natsu was fine. If all of them hadn't been coughing and retching, he would have thought they were all acting. Elfman was in the corner of the room, crouching, where it was easiest to breath. The two males had a conversation that consisted of no words.
'Lets not' Natsu huffed the surprisingly light Zeref onto his shoulder, and with such a solemn gaze that Elfman was sincerely sorry to see him go, he hopped backwards out the whole and was carried away with the breeze.
"Beast Arm: Stone Bull" Scooping up both his master and older sister, he carried both out the door, and to the front of the train, where an urgent announcement requesting some sort of doctor could be made.
(Natsu's POV)
"Igneel! IGNEEL! Where are you baka lizard!?" The son called and called again, his throat hoarse and his small hope dwindling. Where was his father? Where had he gone?" Zeref moaned, rolling in Natsu's usual sleeping spot. The moss was serving as a temporary cushion, and the fire mage could sense the gnarled roots that cradled Zeref were nervous, but they also respected Natsu's wishes and kept their tenant safe. Natsu leaped back to him, mid jump grabbing a wet dew leaf as big as he was with little to no effort. He placed the tip to his friend's lips, letting the liquid trickle down his throat. Then taking his finger and tasting it, he asked
"Z, where is my dad?" Zeref looked down, his fingers gouging his skin.
"I'm sorry Natsu, but those guys forced him away. He's not coming back, not for a long while." The thing he promised himself he'd never do again was starting to break him: Cry. Natsu was struggling not to follow his example, but failing terribly.
"Why? Why would they do that?"
"I don't know, but they did it to me to: push away my loved one. That's what they do Natsu; mages are terrible people. And the worst of the bunch, is no doubt Fairy Tail. Don't trust them, do you understand me? Never." Natsu nodded through his forearm, which he was attempting to use to block the flowing rivers leaving his eyes.
"I'll be the one you can believe, the one you can confide in. I'll be your brother. Okay?" The first thing Natsu did with his second family was slam into him with a bear hug, untying the pathetic knot that had tied together his self-control, and promised revenge in his mind.
Dun du du dun! Next chapter will have a bit of a time skip, and where he starts really getting involved with Fairy Tail. That last bit was fun to write, and the story starts to ignite from this point, and much more fun confusing things happen!
Very special thanks again to Renoa-hime, go read her works!
Also, I'm rewriting my first chapter from scratch, same storyline, and generally what happens stays the same, I just added and took away a couple words to make it longer and better! Tell me what you think! I'm going to do the same to whatever chapters I think need improving!
I have a FB account now! Technically it's Gaud Pen, but please don't ever spell it like that. I hate. Very muches. And now I have a Wattpad account! I use that for whenever I want to write something non-fanfic. Only one story out so far, got another in progress!
-Justin, Lover of anime, enemy of haters, and family to all my otaku brothers and sisters. Welcome to my world! XD