Hello my readers! I know that this update is kind of late, but my weekend was really busy.
Thank you to warrior of six blades, Tharenah, mizore, Baylee1100, and nightwing5723 for reviewing.
Disclaimer: dis·claim·er (noun),
dis·claim·er [dis'kleimə](dis·claim·ers)
1. refusal to accept responsibility
2. statement renouncing legal right
3. denial of knowledge
In other words, I own nothing.
Ever since Elda and her father heard Natsu's tale, they reconsidered their actions, or at least Elda's father did. He had more than she ever did; a wife, a daughter, and for a short time, a son too. He had a true family. One related to him by blood and not by friendship. All through the night he stole glances at Elda, his precious daughter. She had took his own care into her hands, she would follow him to the ends of the earth; he knew that for a fact. All this time he never realized, he still had a family. Elda did everything for him, you name it she would have done it.
While pondering this, he had come to the revelation that the Leaf was not real. He had just used it as a false sense of hope; a hope that his son could have a second chance.
When he bid the exorcists good by and headed on his way with Elda, he smiled. A true genuine smile. Perhaps things weren't as terrible as they had seemed.
"So how exactly do we 'search' for innocence?" Natsu asked.
"Normally we just wander around until we see something suspicious." Lavi replied.
"Huh," Natsu started, "I would have thought that after a while, the organization that is in charge of finding innocence would have a plan to find innocence." Lavi and Allen sweat dropped, she did bring up a good point. "I thought that going on missions would have more action," she paused momentarily, "How many jewels did Komui say this mission was worth?"
"Jewels?"
"Yeah, like money."
"We don't get paid, the Order takes care of all of our costs." Allen answered.
"NANI?! I'm going on a mission for FREE?" the dragon slayer yelled.
"You were expecting to get paid?" Lavi asked incredulously.
"And you weren't?" Natsu countered, disbelief written all over her face.
"No."
"Damn it!" she sighed. "Lets just see if we can get some action." the pinkette raised her nose and sniffed around, maybe she could sniff out the innocence? A smell hit her nose, it smelled like, like… Natsu's eyes flashed and widened. "Akuma." She said while gritting her teeth. Guess she jinxed it.
"W-what? How can you tell?" Allen asked, wondering why his eye didn't activate.
"I can smell it. I'd recognize that stench anywhere after my training. Dark matter and rotting flesh, an unmistakable combo." She replied. Natsu turned her nose to the sky once more. "Two… no wait, three level twos." Sniff, sniff. "300 yards away, that direction." Natsu pointed out in to a grove of pine trees.
"You positive, Natsu?" Lavi asked, his hammer already out. She nodded.
"This way." she said as she ran off, Allen and Lavi following behind her.
200 yards…
100 yards… Allen's eye activated, confirming her suspicions.
Three figures stood in the snow, three Akuma. All in their human forms.
"Hello there," The she-Akuma started, "we're lost. Would you mind helping us?" Natsu growled.
"Now why would I do a silly thing like that? All you'll do is kill me… Akuma." Natsu spat.
"Now how did you know what we are, girl?" it asked again before transforming into its true form. They were truly horrendous, Natsu concluded. They looked like giant, deformed, animal, people, with some sort of disease that made them oddly colored.
"Allen, Lavi, stand back." Natsu stated before she yelled "FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!" Natsu's mouth inflated while she brought her hands to her lips. A red magic circle with a dragon insignia formed in the air in front of her hands. The dragon slayer blew out a huge jet stream of fire, catching all three Akuma in its path. When Natsu's attack finished, the Akuma had been destroyed. The forest surrounding Natsu in a 500 yard radius, was also destroyed, leaving nothing but ashes and a crater.
Lavi and Allen could only gape in shock. The tiny, pink haired girl destroyed an entire forest and three level two Akuma in one attack! Not even Kanda could do that!
"N-Natsu, I didn't see you activate your innocence… What exactly is your innocence?" Lavi asked while recovering from the shock.
~o0o~ Flash Back ~o0o~
"Where are we going, Komui?" Natsu asked the 'scientist.'
"… Ah! Here we are," he said, avoiding her question as the platform came to a stop.
"Ano, Komui, we're in a dark pit, how can that be 'here'." Natsu said as she blinked. Suddenly a white figure emerged.
It was quite tall, pure white but yet clear, its face was covered by some sort of armor, and had a long body like a centipede.
Natsu stared at it for a moment before recognition flashed in her eyes.
"Aunty Helvi!" Natsu exclaimed as she jumped on the white blob. It chuckled lightly.
"I was wondering when I would see you here, Natsu. Ever since your father informed me of the Dragon Council's decision, I knew that you would be coming here." Helveska said calmly.
"You know her Helveska?" Komui asked attentively.
"I think I would be able to recognize my niece, Komui." Komui's eyes widened.
"Aunty Helvi is one of my father's many brothers and sisters. The last time I saw her was when I was four at a Dragon's gathering." Natsu piped up. "She is the Dragon of innocence, so Aunty has to stay in this world most of the time."
"Lets check your innocence, Natsu. I was told that you were compatible with the Dragon Innocence."
"Yep! It was really a weird thing, Aunty. At first it looked like a tiny cube with two gears around it, but when I touched it, it disappeared in a flow of sparkles." Natsu said.
"I believe that the innocence entered your blood stream, Natsu. Seeing as that is how the Dragon Innocence has worked for as long as I can remember." Helveska said, drifting off into thought.
"Does that mean I have to use my blood as a… weapon?!" Natsu exclaimed horrified as thoughts of her blood moving around her, fighting off enemies. Helveska chuckled.
"No, Natsu. It's called the Dragon Innocence because only a dragon or a dragon slayer can wield it. You don't fight using your blood. Lets see, the equivalent to it in your world, would be like a giant Lacrima inside your body." Natsu's eyes widened, while Komui made note of 'in your world.'
"So all of the attacks that I could do when I ate the Lacrima, I can do now with out eating it? Does that apply for Crimson Lotus: Phoenix Blade as well? I had to eat the Flames of Rebuke to do that attack. Or what about Dragon God's Brilliant Flame, that one required Flame God's Slayer Magic."
"Yes you can do all of those attacks now, Including Crimson Lotus: Phoenix Blade and Dragon God's Brilliant Flame, but only when you activate your innocence." Helveska paused when she saw Natsu's eyes glinting with many emotions running through them. "It will also boost the attack power of your other attacks, when activated." Helveska lowered her head and rested it upon Natsu's forehead.
"1…15…60…85…90..100..115. 115% is your maximum synchronization rate." Komui's glasses nearly fell off.
"Are you sure Helveska?" From the previous conversation, he could tell that she had never used her innocence before.
"Positive. I wouldn't expect anything less from my little hatchling."
~o0o~ End Flash Back ~o0o~
"Eh, You'll find out when we're in danger." was the dragon slayer's blunt reply.
Grey couldn't take it anymore.
They had finally gotten enough money for the train fare by working, but seeing as Team Natsu was fate's punching bag, Erza had given Happy the money for safe keeping because no one would suspect a cat to have their funds. Happy hadn't listened to Erza when she told him not to spend the money, he had been staring at the shiny, gold, coins in his paws instead.
Later that day, Happy had spent the money on a giant fish that was supposedly a delicacy in this country. When Grey, Lucy, and Erza retuned to the inn, they found Happy eating the fish.
Happy's stupidity ad lack of judgment, caused Erza to be pissed, which in turn, blew up the inn. Luckily, they had the money that Igneel gave them to pay for the damage, but left them broke. Erza had come up with the idea that they would gamble to get their train fare.
As it turns out, Erza is not lucky.
The gang now had a debt and needed train fare. Where was a poker master when you need one?
Some where far away, Allen sneezed.
Team Natsu then held a series of odd jobs until they finally paid off the debt and got their train fare. Grey was now on the train and about to pull his hair out.
Sighing, he leaned his head against the window to get some shut eye. Lucy, Erza, and Happy had already fallen asleep.
We all miss you, Natsu. Come back to us, idiot…
~o0o~ Grey's Dream ~o0o~
Grey watched in absolute horror as Natsu jumped in front of Erza. The blast hit her dead on, piercing Natsu in the chest. Grey couldn't move; he was frozen in place, and not by ice magic. Erza got up, and with a new found blood lust, slaughtered the remaining demon.
Natsu had been the least injured out of the team, Erza was the most. But of course, Natsu had to be the noble one. Sadly, no matter how much he wished it wasn't true, Natsu was dead.
Dead.
The word made a gash in his heart, even bigger than the one Ur left.
He held Natsu's limp body in his hands and willed her to open her eyes so that he could see those black eyes he loved so much. No matter what he did, she never moved, no one bit.
Tears poured out of his eyes as he turned his face to the sky and yelled, then lowered his head so that he was leaning over her body.
It was at that moment Grey realized he loved her. Grey Fullbuster was in love with Natsu Dragneel, the number one knuckle head in Fairy Tail, the girl that managed to get on his every nerve.
Grey stayed there and cried for hours along with the rest of team Natsu.
Lucy had always known that Grey was in love with Natsu. It had been quite obvious. When ever the dragon slayer leaned on him, or interacted with the ice mage in any way that was more than normal, Grey always blushed, even if it was faint.
Lucy was also crying; she was crying for the loss of her best friend. The girl that always broke into her apartment and stole her food, the girl that could always make her smile, and the girl that could protect her when she couldn't.
For Erza, it was a similar reason. Erza was crying for the loss of her sister. The girl that always stood by her side, the girl who tried her hardest to get her out of bad situations, but most importantly, the girl that sacrificed her own life so that she could live.
But out of all of them, Happy took it the hardest. He cried until he had no tears left. He cried for every aspect of Natsu's being. He cried for her love, the love that she had given him through out his entre life; a love that could never be replaced.
Grey awoke with a jolt. He was sweating and breathing heavily. Another nightmare, Grey thought. He sat up in his bed, bed? Didn't he fall asleep on the train?
The bedroom door opened, revealing Natsu in a night gown. He was blushing so much that he hardly registered that Natsu was in front of him, alive.
"Morning Grey!" she greeted happily before bounding over to his bed and giving him a light peck on the lips. Grey was utterly confused, but that didn't mean he wasn't enjoying it. Natsu gave an innocent smile that he recognized all too well.
"What did you do?" he asked cautiously. Natsu laughed nervously.
"Well- er I um.." she mumbled under her breath. Taking a deep breath, Natsu said, "I tried to make you breakfast, but I accidentally burnt down your kitchen!" and then his enjoyment ended. Is that why she kissed him? To distract him so that she could get away with burning down his kitchen? Grey sighed. What was he going to do with her?
~o0o~ End Grey's Dream ~o0o~
"Hey Lavi," Natsu said gaining his attention, "why is it that the special artifact is always hidden in a cave surrounded by darkness?" Lavi sweat dropped.
"Because, it makes it more dramatic?" Lavi responded, unsure how to answer the question.
"I bet you 50 Jewels that we get attacked once we reach the end of this cave." Natsu stated.
"I'm not going to take you up on that offer because I know your right." Lavi said coolly.
The light at the end of the cavern became brighter with each passing stepthe trio took. When they finally reached the end, there was a huge tree with green leaves that seemed to sparkle like emeralds.
"Where's the innocence?" Allen asked.
"Dunno," Lavi answered. "check that tree, the leaves seem strange." nodding, Allen headed over to the tree but was blown back by a wave of power emitting from the tree.
Natsu burst out laughing.
"I HAHA didn't HAHA think we would get attacked HAHA by a HAHAH tree!" she said between laughs. "Well, I guess there's a first for everything."
So this weekend I was attacked by plot bunnies. Literally, I wrote at least 17 summaries for stories I REALLY hope to write in the future!
So far the pairing count is at:
NatsuxGrey- 23
NatsuxAllen- 6
And Grey is still in the lead by a land slide.
IMPORTIANT!: I need ideas for how Team Natsu will reunite with Natsu! This will most likely be in the next chapter! Should it be super cheesy? Sad? Tell me! I really have no idea yet, so if you have that perfect scene in your mind please tell me!
Also, I hope some of the flash backs/dreams helped explain some things!
Remember, R and R! I need ideas! I have massive writers block for the next chapter!
~slayerofthewind
