Chapter 2: The Demon
Six months had passed since the demon left. Clocks around a no name city began striking midnight. A few miles outside the city was a guild surrounded by a dead swamp. The fire covered the guild in a dress. Screams came from inside the building. A pink haired demon was on the loose.
"Run away from the freak!" yelled Kageyama, a young male adult with a spiky black ponytail who moved with the shadows down a hallway. Above him was a man flying on a scythe with white hair, with the appearance of a pissy grim reaper.
"I won't run away from trash!" the other man yelled back. Fire chased the two men relentlessly down the hallway engulfing everything in its path. The grim reaper stopped- affirming his decision moments ago.
"I won't lose to trash like you", he said under his breath. A split second later the pink haired demon came bursting through the flames and grabbed the reaper by his neck and held him with one hand.
"What did you say?" the demon said.
"I won't lose to a fly!" he said. The demon laughed.
"Tell me where Grimoire heart is," the demon said. "A birdy told me you have a deal going on with them."
"I won't speak to fly!" he said. The demon crushed his windpipe ruthlessly and tossed him at the wall.
"I wonder," the demon said. "Can you breathe with a crushed throat since you're a wind wizard, Erigor?" The man began coughing choking on his own coughed up blood.
"I'll help you out with that", the demon said. He lit the man on fire. He attempted to scream but to no avail. After a few more seconds he lost consciousness from suffocation, and then he proceeded to die from being burned alive. The demon turned towards the shadow. "Will you tell me what I want to know?"
With eyes stuck he said, "Any- anything! Just don't hurt me!" The demon extended his hand towards the shadow's face and touched it softly.
"I'm not all bad. See?" The shadow relaxed slightly, although still weary. "Do you know where Acnologia is?" The shadow began to shake sporadically and shook his head. "Where are the members of Grimoire Heart that you report to?" He began to shake more violently.
"If I tell you, they will kill me", he said. The demon's fire began burning brighter into a crimson. The building began to slowly collapse.
"Do you really think I will let them live if I am hunting them?" The demon and the shadow's floor gave out, sending them into the basement only for the demon ready to keep asking him until they both died.
"Shit! Shit! Alright!" the shadow said. "The two we report to are currently leading a dark guild called Yellow Werewolf. They exist around 150 miles north of here at the base of Mount Stone."
"Thank you." The demon extended his hand to help up the shadow. As they gripped hands, the demon pivoted and tossed the shadow into the sky as far as he could. "If he survives then he deserves to live." He sighed. "Besides, he was about pass out from the smoke he inhaled anyway. He would have died if I didn't throw him." The pink haired demon left the building and began to think about the names he was given.
"Those names..." he said. "They are really shitty. What the hell type of names are Yellow Werewolf and Mount Stone?" The demon headed north.
Two days later at the base of Mount Stone was a Chicken and a Dog talking. The sun was shining brightly. Flowers filled nearby meadows. Surrounding the entire area was a forest cut in half by a man-made road.
"I hate days like this", the chicken said. "Not enough murder and mayhem."
"What?" the dog said. "Do you want to go kill our guild mates again? Oh! Wait! You already did that dipshit." Clouds covered the sky.
"This is better", the chicken said.
"Hey, can I join you two?" a voice of a young man yelled from a distance away. He was cloaked in a black robe with a bright smile on his face. He began to run over to them when the chicken motioned him.
"Why, Kawazu?" the dog asked.
"I'm in the mood for more murder," he said. As the young man arrived the chicken looked at him and asked his deadliest voice, "How would you like to die today instead of a picnic?"
"I don't know about that", the young man laughed. "The sun isn't out. How will everyone enjoy murder on such a dreary day?" The chicken grew vain on his forehead.
"Are you mocking me?" he asked. The overcast shifted as the sun began to come out again.
"What a beautiful day!" the young man yelled. "Now it's a day for murder!" Irritated, the chicken lunged forward and began shooting eggs rapidly at an ever increasing speed. The demon dodged each shot with relaxed ease. He threw off his cloak to revealed a pink haired demon with an overwhelming murderous presence. "What the fuck kind of attack is that?" he asked. He lunged forward and punched through the chicken's abdomen. As the chicken began to bleed out, he asked, "Where is Grimoire heart?" The chicken proceeded to cough greats amount of blood.
"Why would I tell you?" he said. "I'm going to die anyway." The sun became overcast once again.
"You never know. I might have healing magic" the demon said.
"Fine. We are Grimoire Heart", he said. "We report to Rustyrose and Kain. They both report to Master Bluenote now that Hades is dead." The demon looked at the dog, noticing his uneasiness. Without hesitation, the demon burned the chicken extra crispy.
"Hey dog samurai bitch, do you want some of this chicken?" The dog sat down and crossed his legs and sweated. "Are you going to tell me what I want to know?"
"No!" he declared. "I will not tell you that Rustyrose and Kain are currently at Mount Hakobe, nor will I tell you that only they are allowed to know where Master Bluenote is."
"You ever realize that you're a dumbass?" the demon asked. The samurai sighed.
"Yes," he said, "every day." The demon fell to the ground and began laughing. His fists slammed on the ground back and forth.
"I like you, samurai dog", he said. "If I wasn't going to kill you I would ask to be friends." Without hesitation, the dog got up and began running into a nearby forest for cover. "Alright! I'll give you a 5-second head start for helping me out."
"This kid is crazy!" the dog thought.
"5".
"What the fuck is wrong with him?! Isn't he Salamander?!"
"4".
"Damn! Damn! Run faster!" Each step held the force of his entire will.
"3". The dog dove into the forest and continued running. Time began to slow down as he sensed his death nearing.
"I can't give up yet! I can't die!"
"2" was heard with a loud yell being screamed faintly into the distance. The dog continued to bolt in the opposite direction of the sound.
"So close to freedom!"
"1" was even fainter and sounded like a borderline whisper. The dog continued to run.
"He can't catch up to me now!" he thought. "I just need to keep going!" A shadow appeared in front of the dog to reveal the demon mere feet away from his own self. Time slowed down further as his brain began to process every moment of his life in an attempt to justify all he has done.
"Zero." The dog began backtracking and then he tripped over a root behind him. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" Fire burst out of the demon's mouth on a colossal scale, destroying every living cell in its path. When the fire stopped, the demon looked out at the forest. A new man-made road ending nowhere had been made. The sky began pouring rain over the forest, however, it could not put out any fire. There was none. The fire itself raged on his command, but cease to exist as an obedient slave the moment the magic stopped. The only fire that raged was inside the demon's heart.
After several more days of traveling, the demon arrived near the peak of Mount Hakobe-where there was a large metallic building three stories high. The demon cloaked his wrath and climbed into an unlocked window on the second floor. After entering the second floor, he examined the interior. It was covered in polished wooden floors. The main hallway was not separated by floors, but it had wooden balconies on the second and third floor to watch over it. All rooms had a tacky golden wallpaper finish. The demon, using the balcony, peaked onto the main hallway; there were a dozen men surrounded by over twenty tied up women and men. Most were clearly grunts, although there was a weird man with sunglasses and a fat pale man he recognized. However, all those tied were either young women or wizards. The demon heard their whispers.
"What do you think?" Rustyrose asked. "Should we give all of them to Master Bluenote, or should we keep some of them for ourselves?" Kain walked over towards a young blonde woman with a Blue Pegasus emblem on her left shoulder. She had long blonde hair tied into a ponytail, with minor bangs on the left side of her forehead while wearing a light pink sequin dress. He put his hand around her mouth and went in to kiss the squirming girl.
"You're beautiful", he said. He backed away. Jenny breathed. "But don't think I'm the type of guy who will just fling himself at any woman!" He looked at his partner. "I want to keep her as my wife." Jenny fainted.
"Don't you dare!" said Hibiki, thrusting himself into the conversation.
"If you don't shut up now, I will kill you and your two friends over there", Rustyrose said, pointing at Eve and Ren. Kain jumped on top of the trimens.
"She is mine now! He said. Jenny regained consciousness.
"Don't you think it's evil to force someone to love you?" she asked. Tears streamed down her face. "All you've done is hurt us! You're a monster!" His face turned red.
"It's our first lover's spat," he said calm and angered. He embraced the tied up woman against her will. "That makes me so happy! It's like we are already married!" Jenny cringed. She swallowed her anger and calmed her breathing. She looked him dead in the eye.
"I won't ever marry you. I would rather die first because you hurt my friends." Kain began to laugh.
"You think I would kill you?" he asked. He smiled cruelly. He groped her chest and began kissing her neck. "Why would do that when I can do whatever I want since we are married?"
"Stop!" the trimens yelled. Kain ripped off parts of her dress.
"ENOUGH!" a mysterious voice yelled.
"Looks like the show is over, Kain," Rustyrose said. Everyone looked around for the voice. "Make everyone watch you rape her later. We have an intruder right now." He motioned his men to move out. Kain picked up Jenny and began to carry her.
"We're going to my room to finish consummating our marriage," he said.
"Help! Please! Anyone!" she cried out, barely able to formulate words after. Loud crashes ensued from the second floor.
"We better hurry, my love," he said.
The demon burned away the shadows and stole the attention of the dark guild. "I'm right here, you cunts! Come and get me! Me, the demon who is slaughtering your dark guilds!" A man dressed in a purple suit appeared before the demon.
"Oh ho ho!" he said. "So you're the one who has been causing us so much pain in the last few weeks."
"Who the hell are you?" he asked. "You're not a part of Grimoire Heart."
"My name is Tyrion the Bald," he said. "I-"
"But you're not bald. What kind of shitty name is that?"
"Don't interrupt-"
"No one cares about your feelings."
"I'm one of the new seven kin of purgatory! Don't underestimate me!"
"What was that? You're a worthless piece of shit?" The man in his purple suit lost his hair and began to emanate an overwhelming amount of magic power. His eyes turned red. Veins grew all over his body.
"Now you will see why I'm Tyrion the Ba-!" Before his sentence finished the demon lunged forward and smashed his fist through the man's neck, effectively decapitating him. He jumped to the main hall and burned away all the rope with a gentle flame. The women and men began to celebrate their freedom.
"Salamander?" Hibiki asked. "Is that you?"
"Yes," he said.
"Thanks for saving us," Ren said. "Why are you here?"
"Not enough time." He said. "Take the women and leave as fast as possible. Head to Fairytail. They are close and will help you."
"What about Jenny?" Eve asked.
"Leave her to me."
"We want to help too!" Hibiki declared.
"You are!" he said. He glared at them. "Don't be dumbasses. You have the most important job. You need to save all these women. I will Kenny."
"You mean Jenny?" Ren asked.
"Yeah, whatever- the blonde girl about to be raped. Don't worry."
"But!" Ren cut off Hibiki. They all noticed The demon's eyes. They were different; filled with rage and without mercy.
"They won't get away with this," Ren said. "Besides, we lost our fight against the two of them." The three men gathered the women and quickly evacuated. Although cold, they headed down the mountain in the magic bus mobile which brought them up. During that time the members of Grimoire Heart noticed and headed to the main hall. The remaining 10 men surrounded The demon all grinning.
"It's ten of us, and only one of you," Rusty said. He laughed maniacally. "Such shitty decision making!" The demon looked around him and closed his eyes. An enormous amount of magic power came forth out of the demon. All but Rustyrose fell to their knees out of pure fear.
"You dumbasses! Attacking us on Tenrou Island is what summoned Acnologia." He said. "You are responsible for Fairytail's death. Now where is Bluenote Stinger? Do you know where Acnologia is?" Occasionally when fear or sadness pushes someone over the edge, they only have one option to take: laugh. Rustyrose laughed and laughed, overwhelmed by the demon's power.
"Sure!" he said. "Master Bluenote is running a Gladiator tournament in the Serpent mountain pass." He opened his arms as if expecting a hug. "It is in northeast Fiore, which is a few miles west of the border the country Seven." He laughed hysterically more. "Who knows? Maybe your fight with him will draw Acnologia to you! Although I have to say Master Bluenote is stronger." He snickered.
"Yeah? We'll see", the demon said. "Fire Dragon's Burst!" The demon crossed his arms as fire built up around his aura. He proceeded to slash out his arms giving off darts of fire poured from his body. Each blast pierced the skull Grimoire Heart members. Only Rustyrose survived.
"You won't kill me that easy! Not when I have the power to create any shield I want."
"Fine." The demon began summoning a tremendous amount of power. His body was engulfed in flame with streaks of lightning all around it. "Lightning Fire Dragon's Roar!"
"I'll block it!" The shield pushed back the roar. However, the flame surrounded and heated up the shield. Moments after roaring, the flame began to melt the shield and the gold in the shield made for a conductor of the lightning- effectively frying his entire nervous system. The demon's breath attack stopped.
"What do you know?" the demon said. "He is alive." Rustyrose was lying on the ground, missing a hand where the skin of the protruding bone had been seared shut. He was paralyzed and couldn't move a single muscle in his body, although his basic senses still worked as his muscles twitched on their own when prodded. "Well, you were fucked anyway. I might as well finish the job!" The demon proceeded to rip his head clean off, using the fire to stop the bleeding.
"HELP!" a voice yelled.
"That must be Penny", the demon thought. He rushed over to the door on the top room where the scream came from using his fire magic as a booster. Kicking down the door, he peered inside to see the young women naked, with a pale, fat man on top of her.
"Stop resisting and let me rape you already!" he said.
"Who the fuck says that?" she yelled.
"What?" he asked back. "You do want to fuck? You must be wanting me to force this against you. Does that get you off?" Suddenly, a flying object flew towards the large man who caught it on instinct. "What kind of throw was that? It was weak!" He looked at the object and noticed Rustyrose's detached head in his hand. He began to shake overwhelmingly. Immediately, Jenny kneed Kain in his testicles. Vomit from the surprise attack went all over the floor.
"You will never hurt a lady as long as you live," the demon said. He approached the large man who was on bended knee.
"There must be something you want!" he said. "I can give you whatever! Don't kill me!" The demon looked at Jenny, noticing the horror on her face. She was distraught and overwhelmed by what had been happening.
"In exchange to let you live despite hurting Jenny?" he asked. The pale man shook his head in great need. "Not on your life." Sweat began to drop. However, it was quickly evaporated by the fire dragon's roar which came from The demon- which destroyed half of the guild. Seeing her captor defeated, Jenny fell down in relief. The demon rushed over to her and began pounding on her chest in an attempt to perform CPR. "Don't die on me, Kenny!"
"I'm not dying" she whispered. She seemed to not notice the demon calling her by the wrong name. "I'm just relieved someone came to save me."
"I won't every let an innocent die if I can help it." He smiled at her. She noticed his appearance.
"Salamander?" she asked.
"Yes?"
"You… are him?" she mumbled. "Thank you. You're my hero."
"Rest for now", he said. "I'll get you to safety." The demon picked her up and jumped outside of the building, now engulfed in flame. Jenny could only see the pink haired demon holding her. She let herself be swallowed in his arms, cuddling to his inner flame for warmth on the icy mountain. After a while, the demon had reached the base of the mountain and had caught up with the Trimens who were on their way back up.
"You saved her!" Hibiki yelled. The three men shouted for joy. She still needs medical attention. Make sure she is alright."
"I am alright," she said groaning at every word winced with pain. Natsu put her down. "I was able to resist long enough. He didn't do much past kissing me and touching my," she grew quiet and gestured to her breasts.
"Don't worry," the demon said. "He won't do that to you or anyone else again. I don't know what to say to someone who went through what you just did. I know you're cared about, though. Your friends are here."
"You're the one saved me." Her voice grew somber as she began to mentally accept the situation. "Won't you be my friend too? After all, not many guys get to call a model their friend." She joked trying to break the awkward tension in the air. The demon laughed to ease the tension, even though the joke wasn't funny.
"Even if it's from horrible circumstances, we are friends," he said. The demon smiled at her like before. She blushed a quick smile back, attempting to return the same smile which warmed her heart in the moments of her fear. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." It began snowing.
"I need to head off", the demon said.
"You aren't coming back to Fairytail with us?" Hibiki asked.
"No. I'm still hunting down Grimoire Heart." The demon frowned, remembering his purpose. Jenny went to hug him goodbye.
"Be safe", she said, gripping him loosely. "Thank you for saving me. When I can, I want to make it up to you in my own way. No buts about it." He nodded. She let go of him and the demon headed his way northeast waving goodbye.
A month had passed. The demon was nearing the border of the Fiore and Seven. Ahead of him was a mountain range with a narrow path splitting it into two. The mountains were bare, holding only dirt and stone. As the demon walked through the path he eventually reached an opening with a small coliseum at the center- being able to hold a few thousand viewers.
Silence filled the air.
"What's going on?" the demon thought. There was no crowd. Only the echoes of the blood-stained stone filled the air. After entering the coliseum, the demon looked around.
Twenty minutes had passed without contact. Ahead of the demon was sunlight piercing into the passage he had been searching. It was a doorway. Upon going through the door he had entered the gladiatorial arena. Ahead of him was Bluenote Stinger standing in the center.
"You must be the demon who has been hurting our operations", he said. The pink haired demon walked towards him. "You're right. There is no need for words. Can you fly, fairy?"
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" A tsunami of heat and raw energy shot forth from the demon's mouth.
"Fall!" The endless wave became a mere whimper, although still making contact. The ground began to crackle. Natsu fell to the ground. "You still can't fly?"
"I'm going to fly, fuckface." Excessive magic power began to shake the earth around the demon, pushing back the gravity. "Lightning Fire Dragon Mode." Veins all over the demon's body began to bulge. "Lightning Fire Dragon's Fist!" He jumped forward and made contact with Bluenote's hand which caught him. The demon lifted and kicked with his right leg to be blocked by his left forearm. Gripping the demon's leg, Bluenote slammed him into the ground, creating an indent.
"Fall", Bluenote said. The amount of gravity tripled in strength as the demon began to feel his organs be ripped apart. The ground began to cave in on itself. He looked up at his oppressor with a fiery stare. With every ounce of his strength, he pushed himself up to one knee. "You can fly." Bluenote looked down intensely. Gravity increased exponentially. Bluenote stomped the demon's back, who released a depressed squeal.
"I'm all fired up." As Bluenote extended his leg to stomp on the demon's skull his foot was caught.
"You can fly."
"I can soar." The fire began dripping from the demon's mouth. Lightning crackled around his body. "Lightning Fire Dragon Roar!" Bluenote flew and crashed into the wall of the coliseum. "Where is Acnologia?!" Scales developed around Natsu arms and eyes. "Lightning Fire Dragon Fist!" He lunged forward with all his might and sent the attack straight into Bluenote's gut. He coughed up blood. Grabbing the demon's fist, he threw him into the opposing wall.
"Black Hole!" Bluenote extended his arms forward and began to close his palms together. A dark orb emanating a strong presence appeared in front of him pulling on the earth all around him. Natsu's feet slid closer inches by the moment.
"Damn! Do or die!"
His feet took flight. Bluenote squirmed with excitement.
"Crimson Lotus: Exploding Lightning Blade!" Lightning and flames engulfed each of the demon's hands. Swirling his arms, he shot a vortex of energy. A flash of light covered the arena.
"Did he fly?" The dust settled. The orb and its emanating presence were gone. The tension was palpable. Both wizards faced each other unharmed. Lunging at each other, they exchanged blow after blow with great ferocity.
"Enough." Bluenote and the demon looked at the entrance to see five wizards. Speaking was a man with a potato head: Jura Neekis. He stood tall and walked with authority. "Let's end this Salamander." Both wizards looked back at each other and began exchanging blows again. Each collision of fists was an explosion of force shaking the coliseums foundations.
"Th-they're demons!" Sherry said. Next to her was Lyon, wide-eyed in amazement. To his left was Ichiya, whose knees wobbled from their vicious nature.
"Natsu!"
He stopped. Bluenote continued to charge, but upon unleashing his fist it was caught with relative ease. Natsu's heart had calmed down. A calming anger and realization overcame him. He slowly turned to see the voice's origin was Wendy.
"Wendy", he mumbled. The team of Jura, Lyon, Ichiya, Sherry, and Wendy stepped forward and approached the two men.
"You can relax now", Jura said. "We are here to help." Bluenote's eyes wandered around, looking for an out, he noticed the demon's slight change in demeanor.
"I have no connection to Acnologia", he said. He exhaled. "You can fly, and have earned my respect."
"Do you know where Zeref is?"
"No, but he killed Master Hades."
Bluenote laughed.
"Do you have any other questions?"
"No." Intense magical energy began to shake the coliseum once more. "Crimson Lotus: Exploding Lightning Blade!" Bluenote smirked. The demon began to charge his attack.
"Fall", Bluenote whispered. As the earth cracked upward, the demon's attack shot Bluenote thousands of feet away, disappearing into the distance.
"Why did you do that, Salamander?" Lyon asked. "We could have arrest-."
"Stop, Lyon", Jura interjected. "They were perfectly even. If they fought to the death the survivor would only have Luck to thank. Besides, Bluenote has gravity magic."
"He reversed his own gravity", Ichiya said. His eyes widened with a finger in the air as if given the stroke of brilliance. "He purposely let himself be blown away to escape!"
"Yeah", the demon said. "You don't need to worry about him. He hasn't been running this slave ring in a month- if ever to begin with."
"What do you mean?" Lyon asked. The demon smelled the air around them to test uncertainty.
"A dragon's nose is never wrong", he said with a smirk. "I don't smell even the faintest of scents outside of your team, me, and Bluenote. Isn't it strange there is no smell of blood at a tournament where everyone fights to the death?"
"This place has been abandoned", Jura said. "We don't know Bluenote's real goals, but he didn't care about whatever operation they could have been doing here."
"What now?" the demon asked. His smile faded. "Are you going to arrest me?"
"That depends on", Jura said. "Will you keep attacking dark guilds without permission from the council?"
"I don't have any other leads." The demon sighed. He gazed at the cracks in the ground. "My next choice will be to hunt down Tartarus." Jura shook his head in grief.
"I'm sorry, Salamander, but I can't let you do that."
The demon's eyes sharpened.
"Why not?"
"Think." Jura's stance widened. "By attacking a powerhouse everyone you care about will become a target. You have no backup. You'll be declaring a war which the magic council isn't ready for, making you our target as well. The list goes on." The demon turned away,
"What if I decide to attack anyways?"
"We will be forced to stop you", Jura said. Magic power began building up in the two wizards.
"Do you think you can?" sneered the demon. He turned back to Jura. Fire lit in their eyes.
The wind blew across the coliseum.
"Lightning Fire Dragon Fist!" The demon leaped towards Jura.
"Iron Rock Wall!" A large slab of earth erected from the ground. The demon's fist easily pierced through the wall, making contact with Jura and pushed him back.
"Time for us to help!" Sherry yelled. "Doll attack: Rock doll!" The giant doll formed and immediately launched a fist towards the demon. He immediately jumped into the air, dodging the attack. Quickly retaliating with another Lightning Fire Dragon Fist the rock doll crumbled. Its remnants flew back at Sherry and pinned her to the ground.
"My turn!" Lyon said, folding his hands together. "Ice-Make: Snow Dragon!" Rushing towards the demon, it melted before making contact.
"Lightning Fire Dragon Roar!" Flowing from the demon's mouth was a wave of fire surrounded by a storm of electricity crashing into Lyon and Ichiya, effectively knocking both out. The demon met Jura's ever constant gaze. "You won't win." Jura shook his head in disgust.
"What happened to him?" Sherry thought.
"Salamander, you must stop this at once," Jura said. "Supreme King Rock Crush!" Rocks swarmed all around the demon and collapsed on him. From the base, it began exploding rock by rock slamming into each other. The demon was down. "We won."
He got up.
"Damn it!" Lyon said. He slammed his hand into the ground. "I thought we had him."
"It won't be so easy", Ichiya said. They pulled themselves up.
"Crimson Lotus: Exploding Lightning Blade!" Beginning to recreate his powerful vortex attack, the wizards readied their defense. The fires of hell and lightning bolts of Zeus seemed ill in comparison to the power overflowing from the demon's rage. The attack's radiance created a blinding luminosity over the coliseum.
"Natsu, stop!" Wendy jumped in front of the attack with her arms stretched out.
When the dust settled once again, the four wizards targeted were completely safe. Wendy lied on the rough surface covered in bruises and open wounds. The demon stood motionless, not making a sound.
Approaching her, the demon leaned over and fell to his knees. His head rested on her battered stomach, tears dripping into her wounds. "I'm sorry", he whispered angrily. "I'm sorry." She touched his cheek with her warm hand, covered in blood and dirt.
"It's ok, Natsu", she said. She began to rub his face. "I forgave you when you left." The demon stiffened. Every single muscle became tense with anger and grief. He picked Wendy up and walked over to Jura.
"Will you surrender?" Jura asked. Pain filled their faces.
"No." Wendy tugged on his shirt, indicating he wanted to be put down, which he did gently. "I won't attack Tartarus, but I am hunting Acnologia." He began to stammer. "I'm the only wizard capable." Lyon, Ichiya, and Sherry's faces were filled with disgust. Wendy gave a gracious smile, while Jura lets out a light laugh.
"I see", Jura said. "Well, although we cannot permit you to declare a one-man war with Tartarus, chasing Acnologia is a legal job approved of by the magic council." Lyon clenched his fist and jaw.
"Are you not going to arrest him?" he yelled adamantly, pointing at the demon. "He is a demon. He has killed countless dark guild members over the last month without permission from the council. He attacked his own friends without hesitation. He nearly killed Wendy! What more is there?" Natsu's scales finally faded away. He looked up at the sky deeply vexed.
"He is remorseful now, Lyon", Ichiya said. "He saved the Trimens and Jenny. Even if he has been cruel, he hasn't been cruel except to those he felt were standing in the way of his friends' memory- a parfum of grief."
"He has always been destructive and without restraint before", Sherry said. She put her hands on her hips. "What makes him different now that he's sought blood?"
"Simple", Jura said. "He said his goal is Acnologia. He doesn't want to risk hurting his comrades and receive no information."
"How can we know he will keep his word?" Lyon asked.
"Do you think Gray would?" Wendy asked. Images of Deliora began to flood Lyon's mind, causing his face to cringe.
"She's got a point, Lyon," Sherry said. "He may have acted like a demon, but he wouldn't disgrace his friends."
"He's not a demon!" Wendy shouted vehemently, stomping on the ground. Suddenly, she felt a warm hand patting the top of her head.
"Thank you, Wendy", Natsu said. "Thank you for having faith in me."
"Salamander, I will not arrest you", Jura said. Wendy and Natsu both looked at him smiling. "From here on out you will officially be on the job to hunt down and slay Acnologia."
"Thank you, Jura", Natsu said. His stance softened. "Acnologia is my only goal." He looked deep in Wendy's eyes and knelt down. "I'm sorry for ever losing track of what mattered. I will come back to Fairytail soon. I promise." Although Wendy's eyes watered, her heart toughened and helped give rise to a loving smile.
"I know you will", she said. She looked firmly back at him. She knew what he felt. His feet paddled slowly away from Wendy.
"Why are you doing this, Salamander?" Jura asked. Ichiya stepped forward.
"Everyone's been wondering why", he said. "What do we tell everyone?"
"I'm a dragon slayer", Natsu said. He charged his roar and unleashed a hell fire which destroyed the entire opposing side of the coliseum. Everyone stared in awe with the relative ease of his destructive power, realizing in some manner he was holding back. "It's my duty to Igneel, my friends' memories, and for all of Fairytail.
A quick rush of wind through the canyon temporarily alleviated the blistering heat. He turned back one final time.
"And for you, Wendy." In a matter of seconds, he was gone at the beginning of nightfall; leaving all but Wendy uncertain about his future.