Natsu was lying back on his hammock in his shack with his hands behind his head. He was still heavily bandaged and was hurting quite badly, as much fun as his brawl with Erza was there was no denying that it wasn't the greatest decision he had ever made considering how injured he already was.

But that wasn't what was plaguing his thoughts at the time.

It was something much worse.

Acnalogia was a creature of monstrous power but one thing everyone always relied on was the fact that the world had the dragon slayers to help defeat him, if anyone could defeat the dragon of the apocalypse it would be a slayer... Only now Natsu now knew that wasn't the case.

The startling discovery they had made would change everything, despite Acnalogia's name sake as the 'Dragon of the Apocolypse' Natsu and the other slayers were now sure of one thing; Acnalogia was not a dragon... He was a god.

Dragon slayer magic would have no effect on it and the fact that there was only one known god slayer, a man who was on Zeref's side, did not bode well for their chances of beating the mighty creature when the inevitable attack came.

The world was in for more than just a little trouble.

As much as Natsu wanted to fight the great black reptilian god he knew that it would not work.

He and the other slayers had lied to the rest of the guild, they had been able to fend him off but not by themselves, they had had help.

Help from a surprise ally.

Help from someone who had sworn them to secrecy regarding his involvement as it was strictly forbidden.

Help from Metalicana, the Iron Dragon; Gajeel's father and mentor.

Natsu sighed deeply before flopping unceremoniously out of his hammock. He couldn't keep secrets; it just wasn't in his nature.

He would abide by the promise he made to Metalicana and keep his involvement a secret but he had to confess to Acnalogia's true nature. There were two people who needed to know.

Master Makarov and Erza Scarlet.

Natsu gingerly left his shack, careful not to wake his sleeping exceed/surrogate son Happy, and began his strenuous journey towards the guildhall.

As he approached he could hear a particular scarlet haired knight admonishing a few of the guilds members for what was most likely their normal every day behaviour. Natsu smiled at the thought of Erza, and then rather surprisingly he blushed. An image swept through his mind, the memory of when Erza had kissed him on the cheek the night before after their play-fight. He remembered how she felt when she landed on top of him, he could almost still smell her intriguing scent and he was sure he had a couple of bruises on his body left behind by her iron clad fists.

He wondered if she would remember how he felt after she landed on him or if she could remember his scent or if she was as proud of the bruises he had left as much as he was proud of the bruises she had left on him.

For a moment he doubted it. Why would she remember how he felt? Why would she want to be reminded of his bizarre smoke and ash scent? And why should she even want to look at the blemishes he left on to her body mar her perfect porcelain like skin?

Although she did kiss him, so that had to mean something… right?

He was so deep in his almost uncharacteristic like state of self-loathing that he actually walked head first into the closed doors of the guild hall with a loud clang.

"Dammit…" Natsu grumbled as he picked himself up off the floor. "Great start to the day so far…" He mumbled as he rubbed his now sore nose; just another injury to add to his list.

He entered the door to find the guild almost empty. He had been so preoccupied all morning that he hadn't realised that it was still very early in the morning. He looked around the hall and only spotted a few faces. Thankfully Makarov and Erza were amongst them.

His heart skipped a beat when he noticed Erza smile gracefully at him after she had realised he had walked in, there was a light pink dusting of a blush upon her flawless face. Natsu's mind went blank.

'Why was I here again?' He thought to himself a he continued to stare helplessly at the face of Titania. 'Oh I remember!'

Natsu was able to reel himself in before he made too much of a scene, his pause had not gone unnoticed by Erza who could only feel happy that she could make the almost ADHD like brain of the pink haired dragon slayer pause for thought.

"Master, Erza we need to talk about something." Natsu stated firmly in one of his very rare moments of seriousness. Now people knew not to ignore his 'feelings' but people often felt their heart rate quicken and their breathing become shallow in excitement and dread when Natsu went serious, it usually meant IMMENSE danger.

"What is it my boy?" Makarov asked cautiously as he eyed up the still beaten form of Natsu Dragneel.

"Is everything alright Natsu?" Erza asked in a voice that was much softer than usual, her face carried a look of concern that was almost rare on her features.

Natsu led the two wizards back to Makarov's office before he began to explain what he, Wendy, Gajeel and the Exceeds had discovered during their fight with Acnalogia. He explained how they had come to the realisation that Acnalogia was not a dragon but a god; he did however leave out the bit about Metalicana intervening to save their hides.

Erza and Makarov were as white as sheets, all the blood had drained from their faces as they stared on in shock and horror and what Natsu had was saying.

"Are you sure?" Makarov asked seriously. Natsu only nodded slowly in affirmation. "Damn… that would explain why you're attacks did very little against him during our fight on Tenrou island." Makarov then groaned in frustration. "There is only one power than can truly harm a god and that is god slayer magic and that has been lost for centuries."

"How did Zancrow learn it?" Erza enquired thoughtfully.

"Hades collected tomes on lost magic's, he would have given it to him." Makarov explained.

"Then let's go to the old Grimoire Heart guild hall and take it." Natsu said as he punched his right fist into his open left palm. "Simple!"

"Not simple Natsu." Erza attempted to correct her secret crush. "We have no idea where it is." She said with a sigh.

Natsu raised a cocked eyebrow at the statement. "I know." He answered simply. Erza and Makarov stared at him in awe.

"How?" They both asked in unison.

"I asked Ultear." He answered with a shrug. "I was curious so I asked her, it's in the Jack-knife mountains to the south."

Erza and Makarov were a little shocked that Natsu actually provided a useful answer for something but chose to continue on anyway.

"What do you think master?" Erza asked her firm tone of voice returning.

Makarov looked at her in deep thought.

"We'll send… what did Mira call you again?" Makarov asked, semi-interrupting himself. "Ah yes, The Dragon Guard. We'll send the Dragon Guard along with you Erza and Gray."

"Gray's on a mission and won't be back for a few days." Erza informed.

"Damn." Makarov grumbled.

"Well then let's take Juvia, she's powerful." Natsu offered.

Makarov and Erza both thought about it for a moment before agreeing.

Natsu quickly left after that, he wanted to tell the two other dragon slayers about the plan. He didn't know what they were going to find or how hard it was going to be but he knew he could count on those he was going to have by his side.

He was almost out the guild hall doors when he felt Erza's iron clad hand on his shoulder.

"Natsu wait, you left something out of the story didn't you?"

Natsu knew exactly what she was talking about, but he couldn't break his promise to Metalicana but neither could he lie to Erza.

"You're right." Natsu stated honestly as he turned round to face the beautiful buxom knight. "But I was sworn to secrecy. Let's just say we had help from someone extremely powerful and leave it at that." Natsu answered with a warm smile.

Erza knew what he did. Everyone knew Natsu couldn't lie, but he knew how to tell the truth without actually telling the truth… he was a cunning man when he wanted to be and Erza found the trait very attractive.

"I understand." She said warmly, her hand still rested upon Natsu's shoulder and they were standing very close to one another. She blushed and remembered what she had done last night when they were this close and by the look on Natsu's face he was remembering it fondly as well.

She smiled and kissed his cheek again before wondering off with a massive blush spread across her face. She had missed. Natsu had moved to speak just as she leant and she had accidentally kissed his open mouth.

The feeling was incredible for the both of them but Erza was extremely embarrassed as well so she decided just to wonder off home instead of standing their explaining herself, she didn't want to apologise for it either… she enjoyed it.

Natsu watched her leave with his mouth agape.

He was going to ask if she wanted to grab breakfast with him but her actions were just as good as any food.

'What's going on with me?' Natsu questioned as he watched his armoured friend briskly walk away from him as he raised his hands to gently trace over his lips, he could still sense Erza's lips and it mad him feel... good. No, better than good! 'Now I've got both a good and a bad feeling about this whole situation-y thing… and I hope to the gods the good feeling is about Erza…'