Chapter Two: Leading A Double-Life Is Hard When You're Apart of a Legal and Dark Guild
Authors Note: Here's the second chap. (like promised) so~ thanks for reading!
"So, will you come back to the guild with us?" He looked at them, tilted his head, and smiled.
"Of course... as long as I can stay out the entire time." Lucy's smile quickly fades. "Don't worry, I'll use my own magic!" Everyone in the room brightens at that, Natsu is back in a sense. Now to tell the guild.
XXX
Everyone watches the flame dragon-slayer as they ride the train. He is a-okay. No motion sickness, no nothing.
"So... was the motion sickness from being out of the Spirit World for to long?" Lucy asks, he looks at her with a bright face and nods.
"So, we only have five days?" Wendy asks again which gets a sigh from everyone in the train.
"Yes Wendy, I'm sorry." He gives a sad smile to the young dragon-slayer, patting her on the head. Erza, on the other hand, is further analyzing the red on her friends clothing.
"Natsu," she sighs, giving up on doing it on her own. "What's the red on your clothing?" He looks at her with a sad face, then back to the red-dyed cloth. Erza's eyes widen, she was almost positive her hypothesis was wrong.
"Blood." The air goes stale as he sighs and leans back. "I can't constantly say no, no matter how badly I wish it. They're still my master in this world, after all." He leans forward again, tail falling limp onto the ground. The blinding feathers from earlier diming out into air.
"Natsu..." He eyes Lucy who gulps. "We're here to help. Okay?" He sighs and puts his hand through his hair.
"Let me sum up my problem, then." He looked at them all. "Right now, one of my main keys is in the hand of a dark guild which took away my membership to Fairy Tail and cursed me to being out for only five days. I am not allowed to attack or harm any of my masters and if they are in true danger I must come to their aid. Do you understand where I'm getting at?" Erza and Lucy seemed to be the only ones. Another sigh comes from the Double-Key spirit. Lucy pities him and sums it up in a more simplified version.
"It means that if we attack the guild with one of his many keys, he'll be forced to aid the dark guild and fight us while we're trying to save him. He also can't save himself."
"Then why not just ask your other stellar spirits to help you?" Gray asks, everyone stares, anticipating Natsu's answer.
"That-" Natsu began to say but was interrupted by the announcement that they had arrived in Magnolia. "Let's go!" He jumps with glee, blasting from the train, tail flying behind him, lit-up once again. Everyone sighs but they can't hide their smiles. Natsu- their Natsu- is back. Now they just have to save him for good.
-x-
Upon everyone entering the guild it goes silent at the sight at their long-lost friend. Angered by the silence, a certain iron dragon-slayer begins the guild ruckus.
"I call a rematch, Salamander!" The guild quickly becomes a war-zone as Gajeel launches at Natsu who simply side-steps.
"SILENCE!" The guild master turns into a titan before shrinking back down in front of Natsu. "My boy..."
"Gramps." That's when he realizes the mark on Natsu's arm is gone.
"What happened! Did you-" Natsu raised his hand for silence and everyone gives him their full attention, noticing all the strange things about the Natsu before them.
"I have a lot to explain, I know." Natsu says as he looks at the master. "I can't stay for long, so let's get this done now."
"Whoa, why so serious?" Gajeel mocks, gaining a glare from the pinkette.
"Let's start with the fact that I'm a celestial spirit. I can't explain everything now but they can. I can only stay for five days thanks to a curse. You'll be able to contact me because Lucy obtained one of my keys."
"Wait, what!" He sighed then turned towards the people behind him.
"You explain, I'm going for a walk." He walks towards the door, Happy following him eagerly. The guild could only stare at him wide-eyed, all thinking the same thing; So fast!
-x-
After fishing and some catching-up the two return to the guild, noticing the change in the atmosphere.
"Natsu, sit." Natsu listens to his mas- no, previous master, and sits on a chair.
"Which guild is it?" He stares at the man who everyone now knew was younger then the flame mage.
"There are a lot, any specific one?"
"The one that cursed you, of course! The one that took your mark!" Romeo shouts out, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. The dragon-slayer sighs and leans back on his chair.
"Can't say." The guild explodes in anger, but Makarov stares intently as Natsu's face changed from apathetic, so sorrow. Only to turn back to its previous, stoic state.
"Another curse?" The guild master asked the flame mage who only nods in reply. The guild again goes silent.
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Loke-who came out on his own accord-asks.
"The guild-no, I should say-guilds would've found me much faster. Also, I'm in no mood to face the King of Limbo anytime soon."
"You mean the Celestial Spirit King?" Lucy says and Natsu looks at her wide-eyed.
"Ah, yes! I forgot he changed it, even if it's been at least a few hundred years it still feels so new."
"Wait, he used to be the King of Limbo?" Loke looks at the Draco spirit.
"Yeah. It's a long story for another time."
"So," Gray speaks up,"let's use the other stellar spirits to aid you. What do you say?" The pink-haired boy stares at his rival, and gives an exasperated sigh.
"As you know, I will have to fight you if you attempt to harm my masters. The other stellar spirits are no exception."
"But they'll just be sent back if they're harmed." Erza says and crosses her arms, Natsu already knew that, where is he getting at?
"I was the first spirit key. Well, I was also the one who gathered the spirits to use for the other keys. I know who each and every one of them used to be. Including you, Leo." Natsu leans forward, staring at the guild members intently,"You usually are sent back, but there are two cases in which you cannot be sent back." He raises his middle and index finger at that.
"Which are?" Loke asks, he would figure out the other things Natsu said later.
"One, banishment. Which you know quite well, Leo. The second is death."
"But, they can't die, they're spirits already." Gray crossed his arms, staring at his rival who gives him a glare in return
"We've already died once." He looked at Loke,"And only the King or I can make it happen again."
"We've died once? I don't remember death."
"That's because you didn't want to," Natsu stared at him,"The Zodiac keys are actually spirits of people that wished to come back but also didn't want to remember their previous life. The Double-Key set are spirits that wished to come back and remember their previous lives. The Silver keys... they were the only ones actually made by the Celestial Spirit King."
"What about you?" Mira spoke up,"I mean, you never said we-even on the Double-Key set-you only said they."
"True." He nodded, crossing his arms. "Unlike all the other keys, I had never passed on from Limbo. I refused to, and thanks to that I inspired the Celestial Spirit King to create the keys and turn Limbo into the spirits home."
"Wait, so the Spirit World used to be Limbo?" Macao speaks up, everyone giving him a stare.
"Yes. In Limbo there is no such thing as time-as you've been to the Spirit World before that is no longer the case. That is because of the magic that has been placed in the realm."
"Let me guess, that's also your doing?" Gray scoffs, only to get a nod in reply.
"Wait, who was I? And my fellow spirits?!" Leo stepped out from the crowd.
"I cannot say. You asked for the memories to be gone, so I took them." Leo's face goes red with anger as he steps forward and grabs Natsu by the collar.
"Why the hell do none of us know about this?! About the Double-Key set? I should know!" Natsu just gives a dark chuckle in return.
"Yes, yes. I suppose so." Then his glare goes cold as he gives the crowd a quick scan, stopping on Lucy. "But now is not the time. I can't stay forever. Hold your questions for the next time we meet, I have to go." With that, he disappears in a tornado of flames, leaving everyone in shock.
"Did he just leave? I thought you summoned him." Wendy looked at Lucy for answers.
"Maybe one of his masters is in trouble." Wakaba sighs, taking in more of his smoke.
"Seems so." Lucy nods, staring at the key. It's empty, the symbol no longer where it should be. Everyone tries to go back to normal, and time goes by in more silence than not. Lucy finds her spot at the bar table talking with Lisanna about Natsu. Suddenly her keys vibrate as if exerting an immense power, pulling them out she sees the symbol on Natsu's key had returned and made haste in summoning him again. The rest of the guild pauses in shock and mild happiness.
"Gate of the Dragon, I summon thee; Draco!" Another torrent of flames come, and Natsu stands in the remains of the fire. A lot happened to Natsu by the looks of it.
Blood, that's the first thing everyone notices. He's covered in blood, and lots of it. Then they notice the red, scale wings protruding from his back, thankfully folded. The tips which drag on the floor are long, blinding feathers of light. The dragonic eyes scan the crowd once again in disdain before he realizes he's in Fairy Tail.
"Wow, did you summon me right when I got back?" He says, sitting down. The deadly aura that surrounded him moments ago dissipating.
"What the hell? What did they make you do?" Gajeel stares at his blood-covered rival. He realizes-as does everyone else at that moment-that the blood wasn't his.
"I think it's obvious." Natsu says but then Erza steps right up to him and grabs him by the collar, her bangs hiding her eyes in their shadow.
"Didn't you say you can disobey them?! Are you not letting them make you do this!" Her grip on his shirt tightens, her shaking gauntlets the only noise in the entire hall.
"If that's what you want to believe," he spoke, but then lifts her head so they are eye to eye. Her left eye shining with the tears she's fighting to supress. "But, there are consequences. What would you prefer me give up next?"
This made them pause, why would he have to give up something?
"What do you mean?" Wendy speaks up, looking into the eyes of the other dragon slayer. He sighs and Erza puts him back down with a growl.
"You're the only legal guild that owns my key. You also don't have to be a celestial wizard to summon me. Over the centuries I have lost numerous things because I would refuse to do what people say. And they would ask me to do things worse than what I just did. I lost an eye and it took three decades for it to heal, everything heals through time in the Celestial Spirit world, but that doesn't make it any less painful." he half glares at them while he speaks, effectively silencing many of the mages.
"What are you getting at, Salamander? We just have to beat the shit out of them! Gee-hee hee" Gajeel laughed, slamming his fist into his other hand.
"Hmm..." Natsu then flashed his usual goofy grin, but it had a devious twist to it. "How about a little game then?"
"What?!" The guild members stare at him, expecting nothing less of their favorite dragon slayer.
"If you can beat me-and I mean me at... almost full power-I'll aid you, as much as I can. The dark wizards that have me on their side are absolutely ruthless, they'll at least tell me to attack you, to protect them when the time comes. So, I will test Fairy Tail's strength. Decide whether or not you're worth my precious time." He crosses his arms in front of his chest, his smile widening. "Is the strongest guild in Fiore willing to accept my challenge?"
"Yeah!" Fists pump in the air as everyone cheers, but Lucy notices Natsu's smile droop, somehow saddened by the sight.
"Hey, old man." He turns to Makarov who sees the determination and sadness in his old 'childs' eyes.
"Hmm?" He sits on top of the bar counter.
"Can I have my guild mark back? You know, if they beat me?" the few who hear this turn to him in shock.
"Why? Wouldn't they take it again?" He nods, but flashes another devious smile.
"That's the plan. " He sits on a stool,"I could care less about the pain, actually... if I rest in the spirit world long enough, the scar will fade. The plan I have is that if I deem you worthy of this task, I'll show the dark guild the guild mark." Erza perks up, realizing the plan.
"So then they'll come to us..." She nods.
"H-how do you know they'll come!" Wendy squeaks.
"Because they are trying to find the second of my main keys. If you have one key they may think it's the one they're searching for. So they'll come to Fairy Tail knowing you had summoned me. Then, well, the rest is obvious." Makarov nods, but has his speculations on the plan. Especially one made by Natsu.
"Are you positive?" Natsu sighs at the old mans question.
"Listen, Makarov," he flinches at the boy not saying 'gramps, "I've known this kid for quiet some time. His parents gave him one of my keys, so I knew his mother, not the best person..." He crosses his arms and nods as if agreeing with himself.
"I take it the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Gray jokes as Natsu pauses and cracks a smile.
"Yep! And it was a rotten one! As soon as she-well, I-taught him about the Double-Key set, he devised a plan." His face grows serious as he looks at his friends,"He's..." His brow pulls together tight in thought for a moment, but then he comes upon a decision,"He's going to-GAHH" He suddenly grabs his throat in pain, falling from his chair. Red markings crawling up his throat and jaw, shining maliciously.
"Natsu!" Everyone screams, running to aid their friend, but the master is there first.
"Natsu, my boy! What is this?!" He grips the pinkettes shoulders, who just winces in pain. After a few moments the red ruins on Natsu's throat vanish and he goes limp in his old master's arms. Everyone looks at their fallen friend for a few moments before Loke *ahem* Leo comes out in a flash of golden light.
"What happened to Natsu?!" He yells, then quickly seeing the pink-haired boy limp in the master's arms. Quickly he scoops him up and disappears in another flash.
"W-" Lucy begins but in a moment Loke returns, more composed than before.
"Sorry about that. The Celestial Spirit King sent me as soon as he felt a disturbance in Natsu's magic." Loke explains putting everyone at ease.
"Wait, so he's resting in the Spirit World right now?" Wendy asks, getting a sweet smile and nod from the spirit.
"He should heal up and be much more powerful upon his return. The Spirit King won't allow him out, even when summoned, until he is completely healed."
"How long until then?" Makarov asks, worried for his child. Even though he no longer has the guild mark, he still loves Natsu- the boy who's older than him.
"The King says at most a day before he should go out. Although Natsu might force his way out."
"Isn't he Natsus ruler?" Gray says and crosses his arms in front of his bare chest.
"That's what I thought, but apparently at full strength he's stronger than the King." Lucy puts a hand to her mouth in shock, S-stronger!? A spirit? Let alone, Natsu!?
"Unbelieveable." Gray huffs,"He's on par- no, weaker than me. There's no way."
"Well, he was also out for many years, probably evening his power out so he wouldn't become suspicious. Healing up will-" Loke is suddenly cut off as a circle of light appears beside him. Flames spewing from its mouth.
"What the hell, you old man! Let. Me. GO!" Natsu's voice wails.
"YOU NEED TO HEAL!" The Celestial Spirit Kings voice booms. "And how did you open a portal!?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out! Now-" A hand-Natsu's-grips the edge of the portal,"-get OFF OF ME!" Everyone watches the King struggle with the spirit who looks like a teen.
"No. Stay here to heal." At this Natsu pauses, slowly lets go of the portal, and turns to face the massive spirit.
"Mr. Limbo-"
"CELESTIAL SPIRIT KING! Why can't you remember?!" Anime tears roll down the Kings face, saddened that his friend can't remember his true title.
"Whatever." he shrugs it off before getting serious again,"If I stay here and heal I'll gain my full power. And if they-" he points at the Fairy Tail members,"face me at full power. They'll never win. And I'll most likely kill them all. Plus, it'll help that guilds plans." He spits out the last part, and the King finally sees his logic.
"Fine." Natsu nods and turns towards the portal, almost at it, then the King speaks up again,"But come back every once in a while. It's getting kind of boring."
"Oh really?" Natsu turns from the portal with a devious, toothy grin. "I'll just tell Phire to have some fun then." The King's face pales and Natsu laughs before leaving, closing the portal behind him.
Authors Note: Good news! I know exactly what I'm gonna do! Now~ I just gotta do it! Yay! Thanks for reading, and I live off of reviews. Wow, this is going fast and the character development isn't too good, I suppose I should fix it *sigh*. I'll do a remake later, probably. So, til next time! See ya!