Phew, I've finally updated. I've been trying to update every Saturday but I had finals this and last week so I didn't really have the chance. Please forgive me ;u;

Anyway, once again, this is just another filler. Natsu is still OOC (out of character) however this is the first chapter you begin to see his transition to the Natsu we know and love :3

Sorry this chapter is a little shorter than the others!

Warning: This chapter contains slight language (not nearly as bad as my last two but I'm still going to warn you all)

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

Chapter 3 – Explanations

God I hope I don't come to regret this…

"I know I'm not the best alternative, but now that we have the bracelet and someone to use it," I gestured to buttercup, "will you all stand with me?"

Natsu

Utter shock? Pure confusion? Cautious hope? All phrases that could accurately describe the looks that individually and consecutively took the faces of my friends. Granted, yes, I did just suggest we form together and betray the sole person who has raised and shaped who I am; but I wasn't expecting it to come as this much of a surprise.

Erza was the first to break out of her dazed shock and she spoke with ease, "You're saying you want us to single handedly take down the strongest gang in all of Fiore?" Suddenly, unable to find my words, I settled with a quick nod of the head.

She bit her lip, I assume it was a form of 'deep thought' in which she was thinking of the possible outcomes. A snicker, which could belong to no other than droopy eyes, erupted and filled the small apartment we were staying in.

"Only you would suggest something so idiotic." I stalked over to him, ready to kill any mood I had just created with a fight but before I had the chance he continued, "I'm with you till the end flame brain."

My harsh scowl softened at the words, and soon everyone around me was nodding their heads and adding their own form of agreement.

More confident in my choice, I smirked. "Then let's head back and I'll report back to Zeref that the mission failed. Wendy, you and Levy take care of buttercup and make sure no one sees her."

Lucy

"Why'd you make me help you carry someone soooooo heavy?!" There was a pause in the unusually high pitched male voice complained. "She's too much for a kid like me!"

I felt a vain throbbing in the top of my head, who was this kid calling me heavy? And how many times am I going to have to wake up in an unknown environment?

"Happy! Sh, I think she's waking up." There was slight shuffling which indicated that whoever was in the room had now moved over to where I was. Wherever that may be.

Hesitantly, I slowly opened my eyes, being careful to take in the bright light that came to follow. Once my eyes had successfully adjusted I took in my surroundings. I was in a different room than before, blue walls, wood flooring, no furniture other than a bed and a computer.

Aside from the physical surroundings, the girl with blue pigtails was hovering over me, a young boy – no older than twelve – was also there, his blue hair sticking up at weird angles making it look almost like cat ears, and finally there was a familiar face.

"Levy…" I huffed out, happy that I at least knew she was ok and that Natsu guy didn't try anything after I passed out.

"Lu-chan!" She leaned down, pulling me into an iron-gripped hug and squealing loudly. "I was so worried that the machine would have a terrible side effect!"

I offered a smile but didn't have the chance as the kid spoke. "Lu-chan? Pfft, more like fish-belly." He practically laughed out, poking my stomach, implying that the comment was about my weight.

"What was that cat-boy?!" I leaned over, grabbing and stretching his cheeks until he cried out for help.

"Wendy" He drew out her name in a long, over exaggerated whine, "Get this crazy women off me!" Pigtails, presumably Wendy, just giggled and allowed me to continue with my antics, much to the boy's discomfort.

And just as I had actually began to feel somewhat comfortable in my surroundings, the door flew open and a familiar pinkette barged in.

Not saying a word he pulled my hands off of the kid, a little rougher than needed I might add, and took a seat right next to me.

I was preparing to retaliate, but as I was preparing Levy and I's eyes made contact and she mouthed, "trust me and listen. Please."

Keeping my mouth shut I turned to Natsu, who looked very uncomfortable and out of place. He opened and closed his mouth multiple times, creating the illusion of a fish. Finally, it seemed he settled on a standard.

"How are you buttercup?"

I let out a sarcastic sigh, "How am I? How am I?!" God, never in my life did I think four words could make me want to throw up, but here I was learning something new every day. Not only did he continuously call me 'buttercup' probably not even remembering my name, but he was violent and brash and he always overreacted. I hated him and hearing him talk so casually made me feel sick.

"Ok… wrong choice of words. I get-" I held my hand up, effectively cutting off his feeble attempt to continue conversation.

"That," I gestured to his previous words, "is an understatement." Furrowing his eyebrows I could see that he was quickly losing his patience. Maybe snapping wasn't the most effective method, but just as I was considering calming down he slapped my hand away from him.

Now it was my turn to furrow my eyebrows. "Look here pinky, I don't know where you got off thinking you were a big shot of some kind but you aren't. You're an arrogant monster who can't possibly care for the wellbeing of anyone," I paused, looking at the blue haired kid, "I mean for god's sake, you brought a child into this world of…. Of… Whatever the hell it is you do." Throwing my hands up in the air for more effect.

Catching me off guard he started laughing. And not the soft chuckle we all do to break an awkward silence. He flat out fell on the floor, put a hand over his stomach, and cackled. What the hell was so funny?

Finally getting himself together, he stood up, wiping the tears that were brimming at his eyes. "Man buttercup, you really have a lot to say. First off, I am a big shot, in case you still hadn't realized I'm second in command to this gang." I paused for a second, thinking of all the possible gangs that could possibly have enough power to produce people above the law. And then it hit me, this was the infamous gang END wasn't it? The one where the said it's leader was so cold that if you so much as breathed to hard around him he'd kill you. I shuddered at the thought I was possibly sharing a building with him, but before I could truly process my dilemma, Natsu continued.

"Anyway, don't worry about that too much 'kay buttercup? And Happy over there" He gestered to the cat-like boy, "isn't a child. He's only about a year younger than me, he just looks small." He added with a wink and Happy snickered.

My mouth dropped open, but once again before I could really say or think anything he continued, "and buttercup, we're a gang, what do you think we do?"

There he went being all arrogant again. God that pissed me off. I crossed my arms and prepared a line of insults but Levy spoke up, "Lu-chan you two really didn't get off on the best note, Natsu has good intentions."

"Good inentions?! Are you serious Levy, he slapped you." I paused, finally realizing a very important fact my mind had seemed to ignore. "Speaking of him, why are you even with them? Levy, what is going on? Why was I taken and why do you know them?"

She let out a sigh of defeat and stepped back, mumbling something along the lines, "I'll let Natsu explain it."

Natsu

Geez, buttercup really wasn't letting me hitting Levy go. Yes, I was in the wrong, and should I have hit her? Probably not. But, this is how I was raised and quite frankly once I'm pushed past a certain point I don't think anyone can calm me. I ran a hand through my hair, god I've known the girl for a few hours and she was already making me doubt every life choice I had ever made.

I snapped out of my thoughts as Levy let me take the lead, and surprisingly buttercup looked ready to listen.

"Ok, first off, do you know which gang this is?" I started simple, the best way to explain something this complicated was to start with the easiest question.

"END." Her answer was short and to the point. Good.

Nodding my head I continued, "Well, Zeref" I paused, searching her face for confusion, when there was none I assumed she knew who I was referring to, "He's like a father to me. He's only about six years older than me, but he took me in when I was eight and I had nowhere else to go."

She nodded her head, acknowledging that she understood and willed me to keep going, "He's taught me everything I know. How to act, what to do, how to be strong."

I let out a sigh, knowing this is where it would get complicated. "Now buttercup, this is where you come in. Zeref's one and only goal in life is to have power, and well, your father made something that could provide that power." I reached into my vest pocket, pulling out the bracelet, causing her eyes to widen.

"Your father made this for your mother. He called it the Celestial Gate. Along with this bracelet he created keys, each one having and artificial intelligence to assist you in combat." She nodded her head for what seemed like the millionth time, but it seemed like she was following on well enough.

"Naturally, Zeref sought out this technology, but after your mother…" I feigned a cough, not wanting to mention her death directly. She looked at me in understanding and I continued, "After that your father hid the technology. He tasked me with finding it, so I sent Levy to become your friend. Her mission was to befriend you and find possible places your dad could have hidden the technology. She succeeded too, finding the portrait of you mother."

Both Lucy and Levy looked like they wanted to say something but the kept their mouths shut and allowed me to continue.

"Anyway, when we found the bracelet there were no keys, but Grey found you with one so he acted quickly and took you with us. Originally that wasn't part of the plan but after finding out that the technology only worked with blood relatives having you forced along worked out perfectly."

I took in a deep breath, finally nearing the end of this explanation. Lucy had stiffened, not liking where this was going so I quickly rushed out,

"Don't worry though buttercup, I'm not going to hurt you. The opposite actually. I want your help…" And for the first time during this explanation she looked confused.

"Ok, listen buttercup, I don't want to be Zeref's puppet any longer." Running another hand through my hair I continued, "We'll work on getting more keys for you to use, and I can even help you use them."

She still looked unconvinced and I let out a sigh, trying to hint to her that this was just a big a risk for me as it would be for her.

"Butter-… Lucy, in the end, you're the only one who can stop him."

Would ya look at that, Natsu finally called her Lucy.

Yay, there's only one more chapter of introduction left~

In which I will explain more about Zeref, the Gang (END), and his Advisors (aka Gajeel, Grey, Erza, Levy, Wendy, Juvia, and Happy)

Anyway, I'm really happy that you all seem to be enjoying this story – even in these terribly boring introduction chapters.

Hopefully now, everything about Natsu is making more sense, but alas there is still more to learn about him but not until a little later.

And throughout this story you will watch as Natsu shifts from calling Lucy "buttercup" to "Luce", so just keep an eye out ;)

Until next time, please read/review/favorite

-Smoltres