Chapter VIII

Hello and greetings to all. I have prepared yet another chapter of Embodiment of Flame for you all. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the previous chapter, a small sample of you seem to at least. I equally hope everyone enjoys this chapter as well, be sure to post a review if you do or if anything confuses you. As usual I would like to thank my coauthor Bakuto Masaki for all of his help with this story and others, and for his continued help on them. So with that done, how about we move on to the reviewer responses?

Jalis: That's the intention. Cool. I've sort of melded the Fairy Tail and Rave dragons into one. Haha, don't worry, I'm sure most people have by this point. How so? They seem far more exciting to me at least. And to Bakuto.

Well Natsu may be you-know-what but all of those are hidden right now, so he is, for the most part, human. Plus during sex he's more in control right now and doesn't want to hurt them.

superpeirce: I see. I suppose you have a fair point there. I've considered many times about doing that but I haven't come up with the best format to do so. You seem to know Tales of Xillia so I will skip the characters from it, but Leo is from Senran Kagura and Julia, in case you aren't aware, is from Rave Master, or Groove Adventure Rave, or just Rave depending on which version you're most familiar with. If you mentioned specifically which characters you didn't know it'd make things a little simpler.

hornofdesolation: Thank you. As I mentioned, the Leo is Leo from Senran Kagura.

correnhimself316: And you will learn more as the story progresses. But what I can tell you, in case you had not picked up this much already, is that they are both dragons and both grew up with Natsu.

That just about does it for the reviewer responses, rather robust this time around, so without further adieu, it is time to move on to the main event.

WARNING: There is a lemon in this chapter. I will have it marked, so just be aware.

Julia landed on the ground and reverted to her human form after flying into the sky and seemingly destroying the moon.

"O – Oh dear…" Moka muttered as Julia landed and returned to human form.

"Remember now?" Julia asked.

Moka gulped heavily. "Y – Yes…"

"Good."

Ultear looked around and then snapped her fingers, causing the area to glow before the crater that was once the village began to fill in and, moments later, the village was restored to its former state completely.

Moka gasped in awe, as did Natsu and the others.

"Awesome!" Natsu exclaimed before turning to Ultear. "We could really use someone like you in Fairy Tail, Ulchan!"

Ultear turned to him suddenly, surprise etched on her face.

With a grin, Natsu added, "If we had you around we wouldn't need to hold back! You could fix everything!"

Ultear twitched an eyebrow before her orb began to float before beaning him right between the eyes. "I am not a repairman you dolt!"

Natsu pouted as he rubbed the bruise on his forehead. "Aaww. But your powers would get the Council geezers off our backs better than Lakichan's Wood Dragon Magic!"

Ultear sighed heavily. "You do realize I am in the Council, don't you?"

Julia turned to the others mildly perplexed. "Council? You humans still use those? After my father took over, the dragons stopped using them because of how inefficient they are. He said all they do is bicker like dragonlings fighting over a carcass and punish others for their own inadequacies."

With a sigh, Ultear replied, "I can attest to the first part. I can't say about the second but there are several Councilors who probably would if given the chance."

Lucy blinked curiously. "Wait… so your dad is a… king?"

Julia nodded. "Yes. Though I doubt you've heard of him."

Moka walked up to the Fairy Tail members somberly. "I must thank you for your work. And I apologize for my earlier… excitement."

Erza waved a hand dismissively. "No, that is not necessary. Besides, this was an illegally taken mission, therefore we cannot accept payment."

"WHAT!?" Natsu, Lucy, Laki, and the others bellowed in unison.

Moka frowned in confusion. "Please, at least accept this Celestial Spirit Key."

"Y – Yeah!" Lucy insisted.

Erza nodded and took the key. "We will." She then turned to Lucy with a harsh frown. "However, you will not receive the key until I deem it appropriate."

Lucy pouted heavily.

Natsu folded his arms with disappointment. "And here I was hoping this job would help out with Lucy's rent problem from the last quest…"

Lucy turned to him with disbelief. "W – Wait… that's why you took this job…?"

Natsu turned to her with a nod. "Yeah… When Laki gave it to me it looked like an easy way to get you money as an apology…"

Lucy immediately turned away to hide her reddened cheeks. "Y – You didn't have to do that…"

Natsu raised an eyebrow. "I didn't? But don't you need a house?"

"W – Well… yeah… but you don't need to worry about that…"

Natsu grinned and put a hand on her shoulder. "Aw, come on! We're Fairy Tail! We help each other out! Next job I'll definitely get the money for ya! Even if I have to fight Erza!"

Gray huffed lightly. "Yeah, that's not happening."

Natsu twitched an eyebrow. "Oh yeah, ice brain?"

"Enough talking!" Moka interrupted. "Let's celebrate!"

Ur drooled as she looked over the huge table, filled with food. "This is one heck of a spread!"

Natsu sat next to Julia, consuming flames coming from her finger.

Flare twitched an eyebrow as she swallowed flames from a piece of burning coal.

Laki huffed and stabbed her fork into a head of lettuce and bit down hard.

Lucy laughed uncomfortably. 'This atmosphere is getting too heavy…'

Laki glanced to the side and noticed several of the demon women flirting with Gray. "That's just not right…"

Ultear then stood from the table and began walking away.

"Huh? Where are you going?"

"I just need to tell the others that my mission here is complete," Ultear explained.

"Ah." Laki then paled in fear. "Wait… if you're from the Council… then that means we'll be getting arrested… doesn't it…?"

"Not if you keep quiet about this," Ultear mentioned with a smirk.

"R – Right…"

Ur, swaying from side to side, her face deep red with intoxication, hiccupped before remarking sloppily, "I still can't believe you're with the Council…"

Julia twitched an eyebrow and slammed her hand down on the table, cracking it slightly. "Where'd you get booze?!"

"From the, hiccup, booze fairy…"

Moka laughed lightly in amusement. "It's alright, we have plen – where'd it go?"

The others turned to see Julia greedily guzzling down directly from one of the bottles

Lucy gaped and warned, "Wh – Whoa! You should slow down!"

Julia gasped as she set the empty bottle down. "Oh yeah, why?! I'm just gettin' started!"

Laki groaned heavily. "Great… another Cana…"

Erza stopped as she too gulped down a bottle. "Pah! Natsu!"

"Eek!" Natsu shrieked in fear.

"Get over here!"

"Aye, sir!" Natsu answered fearfully.

Julia grabbed him and buried his head in her cleavage. "Nuh-uh! He's stayin' right here!"

Erza twitched an eyebrow. "Is that so…? He is my man first!"

"Bull! He was mine first!"

Erza huffed in derision. "Mira popped his cherry before I could."

Julia blinked curiously before grabbing Natsu by the collar and hoisting him up angrily. "You've already had sex!?"

"U – Uh… yeah…?" Natsu with confusion and fear.

Julia twitched an eyebrow before she began bawling. "I was supposed to be your first!" Her tears continued as she repeatedly slammed Natsu's head against the table.

"Ul!" Ur suddenly shouted in her drunken stupor, "Save your boyfriend!"

Ultear groaned in frustration. "I told you already, he's not my boyfriend!"

Lucy sighed heavily as the shouting continued all around her.

The following morning, Gray stood with Lyon, near the edge of the village. "So what now, Lyon?"

"I'm going to get stronger," Lyon answered with determination. "With Ur back, I can pursue my dream of surpassing her. But I think I'll take a different approach this time."

Gray raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Different how?"

"I haven't decided on that yet."

The two's conversation was then summarily interrupted by loud shouting.

"Stop hanging on him!" Julia demanded angrily.

"No! He's my love, and I won't let him go!" Sherry argued, her arms wrapped tightly around one of Natsu's.

"He's mine, cherry girl!"

Natsu then pushed the two of them away, frustrated. "Okay, stop it! Both of you!"

Erza sighed heavily. "Are you ready to get going?"

Natsu nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We're going to ride Ophi, right?"

"No," Erza said bluntly.

"Why…?" Natsu asked worriedly.

Julia twitched an eyebrow. "Who's Ophi? Another woman?!"

Laki put a hand on Julia's shoulder. "Word of advice, if you get angry about every new woman Natsu has, you'll have an aneurism. Because there are quite a few."

Julia growled in annoyance.

Lucy turned to Ur curiously. "So what're you going to do now, Ms. Ur?"

Ur put a hand up. "Please, Ur is just fine." With a sigh, she added, "And to be honest, I'm not sure."

Natsu grinned happily. "You should join Fairy Tail. I know we'd be glad to have you! And it'd give Ul a reason to visit too!"

Ur turned to Natsu slightly confused. "But isn't visiting her boyfriend reason enough?"

Ultear groaned heavily. "For the last time, he's not my boyfriend!"

Happy suddenly jumped in realization. "I knew I remembered you! You're the pretty lady that wanted to talk to Natsu privately after Erza's trial."

"I knew it!" Ur shouted excitedly. "He is your boyfriend!" She glanced at Natsu with a smirk. "I definitely approve."

Ultear growled as she strangled Happy. "I'm gonna kill you, you stupid cat!" She then directed her attention to her mother. "And no! He is NOT my boyfriend!"

Ur frowned in thought. "But you two are so good for each other. And I approve!"

Ultear pointed at Natsu with one and continued strangling Happy with the other. "I am in the Council, and he is in one of the guild's I am supposed to watch over! It's a complete conflict of interest!"

Ur tilted her head in confusion. "Oh? How so?"

Ultear groaned deeply.

Natsu collapsed on the ground as they walked off of the pirates' ship. "Land! Yay!"

Ur turned to Ultear somberly. "So I guess this is where we part ways, Ul?"

Ultear nodded. "Yes. But only for the time being."

Natsu groaned as he looked at his damaged sword. "Man… Decaforce is trashed…"

"You should be able to get it repaired by any blacksmith," Ultear recommended, "though if you have the time and money I'd suggest you go east to the Lyric Continent and find Musica. He's the world's most famous blacksmith. And I presume that fame is not without reason."

"Musical?"

Ultear knocked him on the head lightly. "Musica. He lives in a city called Punk Street in the southern Lyric nation of Yamato. It shouldn't be too hard to find."

Natsu smiled brightly and hugged her. "Thanks, Ul!"

"Ah-ha!" Ur shouted confidently. "I'd say that's proof enough he's your boyfriend."

Ultear turned red and pushed Natsu away. "No, this little fool is simply overly affectionate."

"Actually…" Laki mumbled, "he doesn't hug people like that very often."

Julia nodded in agreement.

Ur grinned knowingly.

Ultear twitched an eyebrow with a wry smile as one of her orbs floated in her hand. "If you all don't shut up… I'll knock you out…"

"So my Li'l 'Tear is into S&M? There may be hope for you yet."

Lyon stared at Ultear deeply in thought for several moments. "… You're Zalty."

Ultear dropped her orb, gaping in disbelief.

"Man you're stupid," Gray chided.

Natsu nodded in agreement. "Gray level stupid."

"Shut it, Pinky."

"Make me!"

Erza glared at the two, causing their squabble to instantly cease.

"If you don't mind, I think I'll be on my way back to the Council. There's likely a mountain of paperwork waiting for me," Ultear noted before leaving.

Soon, the group made their way back to the Fairy Tail guildhall.

Ur looked around the building, surveying it. "Nice place."

Natsu took a deep sigh of relief. "It's great to be back!"

"Indeed it is," Erza noted in concurrence.

"Hey!" a new voice shouted.

Natsu turned to the side and saw a girl with short, light-brown hair that fell just below her shoulders, a large bang covering most of her forehead, big brown eyes, as well as a rather large bust, who wore a white and red spaghetti strap top with a red Cercelee cross design on it that hugged her generous bust, a denim miniskirt with slits up both side, knee-high boots with light-brown borders, a flower-patterned armband on her right arm, a necklace with a small, heart-shaped pendant, and a belt around her waist which held up a pair of tonfas.

"Welcome back!" the girl greeted with a bright smile.

Natsu returned her smile with a wide grin of his own. "Elie! When did you get back?"

"We finished our last job just a couple days ago," a young woman with long, straight, bright green hair that reached down to her lower back, and a set of long bangs that framed her face along with straight-cut bangs over her forehead, brown-purple eyes, and red lipstick wearing a revealing, brown bikini top with yellow borders that accentuated her voluptuous bosom, a small, red vest, light brown, fringed armbands around her biceps, brown and yellow bands around her wrists and forearms, a light brown, pleated miniskirt with a brown belt, high-heeled red cowgirl boots with brown fringe, and a red cowgirl hat with an up-curved brim said with a smirk as she walked up to the group.

Lucy blinked curiously as she looked at the duo. "Uuhh, Natsu, who are they?"

The green-haired woman motioned to herself and explained, "My name's Bisca Moulin and this," she paused to motion to the brunette who waved with a smile, "is Elie. We're team Guns and Roses."

"Ah…" With an apologetic smile, Lucy added, "I've never heard of you."

Bisca laughed lightly. "That's not surprising. We generally try to make ourselves scarce whenever reporters come here."

Elie puffed her cheeks, annoyed. "I hate that bug…"

Lucy blinked in confusion. "… Bug…?"

"She's referring to Jason, Sorcerer Weekly's main reporter," Mirajane explained. "He has a bit of an… eccentric personality."

Bisca hissed lightly. "If you ask me that guy needs to be squashed."

Mirajane waved a hand dismissively. "Now, now. He's a nice guy, just a little hyperactive."

Lisanna raised an eyebrow. "Sis, he tried to get you to do a –"

Lisanna was interrupted as both Bisca and Mirajane slapped their hands over her mouth.

"Like I was saying…" Mirajane mumbled lightly before she glanced over at Natsu and sighed in relief that he was not paying attention to the conversation. She then looked at Julia and the others curiously. "So, who are our new friends?"

Flare pointed to Julia, "Childhood sweetheart," then to Sherry, "saved by giving food and water," and then she pointed to Ur, "and Councilwoman Ultear's mother that we unintentionally revived."

Macao crushed his mug with a twitching eyebrow as he looked at Julia and Sherry. "I'm suddenly feeling really angry…"

Elfman pouted. "I feel less manly…"

Bisca, however, smirked happily. "More girls, more fun."

"So, will all three of you be joining Fairy Tail?" Mirajane asked with a smile.

Julia nodded, as did Sherry and Ur.

Laki sighed as she looked at Julia, who got a red Fairy Tail mark on her right shoulder. "Was it really necessary for her to get the same one as Natsu…?"

Natsu looked at the mark and grinned. "Awesome, Julia!"

Sherry pulled her blouse down after having received hers just under her breasts.

Ur smirked as she looked at her mark on the right side of her upper back.

"Glad to see everyone likes their emblems," Mirajane commented with a smile. "I'll let Master Makarov know when he returns."

"Hey, Natsu!" Happy called as he floated over carrying a request from the job board.

"What's up, Happy?" Natsu asked as he sat down, looking at the flyer.

"This job looks easy to me. Five hundred thousand Jewel just to translate some old writing."

"Really? That's super easy! Now gimme! I need to get some money for Lucy."

Julia leaned over his shoulder as he began reading.

"Hmm… let's see… Ugo deru rasu uchi boro kania."

However, just before Natsu finished reading, Julia's eyes widened. "Natsu, wait! Don't –!"

Her words were interrupted as a bright, powerful flash of light shot from the poster, engulfing the entire area.

Macao groaned in irritation as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Yeesh, my old eyes can't handle that. You guys alright?"

Ur sat nearby, shivering. "S – S – So… c – c – cold – d – d…"

Macao raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Huh? Aren't you an ice mage? How can you be cold?"

Lucy groaned in frustration. "Man… why is it so hot…?"

Lisanna blinked, perplexed. "H – Huh?"

Julia frowned in bewilderment. "Why does Juvia feel so heavy?"

Juvia trembled lightly before groaning. "I feel… wet…"

Mirajane frowned in confusion and asked, "Sis, is it just me or is everyone acting a little weird?"

Lisanna nodded in agreement. "Yes, Lisa, everyone is."

Erza sat up suddenly and looked around in surprise. "I feel big!"

Happy turned and looked in completely confusion. "Something… is definitely not right here… At all…"

Natsu then began swinging his left arm wildly. "Gah! My arm! It's on fire!"

Bisca looked up, confused. "Why am I wearing a hat?"

Cana shivered slightly. "Why does it feel like I'm covered in bugs…?"

Elie groaned heavily. "I think I'm gunna die… Need… my ale… or… moonlight…"

Macao blinked, confused and slightly afraid. "What the hell's goin' on here?"

"Bugs!" Cana shouted once more. "I'm covered in bugs!"

Happy then stomped his tiny foot and shouted, "Alright, everyone! Knock it off with this nonsense!"

Juvia frowned in annoyance. "Why is this fur ball trying to order us around? Because if it doesn't stop," she paused as she grabbed a knife, "I'm skinning it."

"Juvia! Stop this!"

"What do you mean!?" Julia asked franticly. "Juvia is Juvia! She is…!" Julia trailed off as she looked at Juvia in disbelief. "Juvia…?"

"Shit," Juvia deadpanned.

Bisca glanced over at Natsu, who was weeping in pain, and tilted her head in bewilderment. "Why am I over there?"

"It hurts…" Natsu groaned.

"What hurts, me?" Bisca asked, still befuddled.

Natsu turned to Bisca, not understanding what he was seeing. "Wait… what the…?"

Lisanna and Mirajane also turned to each other mildly surprise. "Huh…"

Ur turned to Lucy and gaped. "What the heck's going on here!? Why am I standing over there?!"

Lucy started tugging at her collar lightly with a sigh. "No clue, but it's sweltering in here." She then began unzipping her blouse, gaining the attention of the men in the guildhall.

"No! Don't take that off!"

Juvia looked down as her clothes started melting off. "Uh-oh…"

Julia gaped, turning slightly red as well. "Put Juvia's clothes back on, now!"

"What clothes?"

The men began drooling.

Bisca twitched an eyebrow before readying one of her rifles. "Quit staring at them!"

Natsu continued flailing his arm. "Make it stop, make it stop!"

Mirajane responded by throwing a bucket of water on him.

With a sigh, Natsu noted, "That feels… a little better. Thanks, Mira."

Mirajane tilted her head in confusion. "Are you feeling alright, Natsu? It's me, Lisa… nna…" Mirajane trailed off as she glanced down.

"Natsu? It's me, Bisca. You sure you're not the one who's feelin' sick?"

Erza looked around happily. "Man, I feel great! So tall!" She then grabbed her chest with mild confusion. "And my chest feels so heavy! Hey Natsu look! I got boobs!"

"Yeah, I can see that, Erza," Bisca noted blandly.

"Erza? I'm Happy."

"I'm sure you are."

"EVERYONE QUIET!" Happy immediately bellowed.

"You're way too loud, cat," Juvia grumbled before stabbing the knife down in front of him.

"Listen! I believe we were tricked."

"What was your first clue, Erza?"

Natsu groaned heavily before asking, "Tricked?"

"Happy" nodded before explaining, "Yes. This job was actually a spell that somehow switched everybody's souls into different bodies."

"Juvia" nodded with a sigh. "Yeah. A veritable Gag Scroll. Remember that time during my thirteenth birthday?"

"Natsu" pointed at "Bisca". "He's the one you wanna talk to…"

"Juvia" huffed lightly. "I know, but I want to stare at his body, cowgirl wannabe."

"Bisca" nodded slowly. "Yeah, I remember. I still remember Let having nightmares for weeks. Why?"

"This whole thing doesn't remind you of that?"

"Bisca" remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Hhmm… yeah, you've got a point there. How do we fix it?"

"Backwards reading."

"Bisca" then turned to "Natsu" and said, "Hey, Bisca, read that job request backwards, it should fix things."

"Natsu" nodded and read the job request aloud, in reverse. "Kania boro uchi deru ugo."

The room was immediately filled with a bright light for several moments before dying down.

Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Bisca, however, glanced at her left arm in thought before looking at Natsu.

"That was a nightmare…" Lucy groaned.

Seconds later Makarov walked into the building with Levy and her team behind him.

"What's with all the ruckus?" Makarov asked.

Cana rubbed her head in discomfort. "A sober experience I don't want to experience EVER again."

"Ah…"

"Hey, Gramps!" Natsu suddenly exclaimed as he ran over to Makarov.

"Yes, Natsu?"

"Ever heard of someone named Musical?"

"I think he means Musica," Flare corrected.

Makarov rubbed his chin in thought for a moment. "Ah, yes. If I remember correctly, during the Symphonia Wars fifty years ago, there was a famous blacksmith named Musica. Though I've no clue where he is now or if he's still alive. Why?"

Natsu pulled out the broken Decaforce and showed it to him. "It broke on the last job, and I want the best there is to fix it. And Ulchan pointed out that Music guy is the best to fix Deca!"

Makarov blinked in confusion. "Ulchan?" Makarov asked before he sipped his coffee.

"My daughter, Ultear," Ur explained. "She's one of the Councilors. And Natsu is her boyfriend!"

Makarov immediately spit his drink out in shock. "WHAT!?"

Ur back up, surprised at his sudden exclamation. "H – Huh?"

"Do you even realize what kind of trouble that'll cause!?"

"Well…" Natsu interjected, "we're not actually dating. You see, Ul's mom is kinda dumb, and she –"

Ur interrupted him by slamming his head down on the table.

"You opened yourself for that one, Natsu," Lucy chided bluntly. After a moment of thought, she then turned to Makarov. "Hey, Master, Ms. Ul mentioned that Symphonia War too. What was it exactly?"

Makarov sighed heavily. "A long and bloody war. Fifty years ago, on one of the eastern continents, the nations of Symphonia and Raregroove engaged in a bloody war that raged for several years. It isn't really known what caused the war, but what is known is that the Raregroove Kingdom used a powerful dark magic called Dark Bring. However, with the help of a weapon called Rave, Symphonia defeated Raregroove. But an event called Overdrive occurred as soon as the war ended, causing great desolation to both nations and surrounding their desolated land in a nearly impassable storm."

"Whoa…" Gray mumbled in surprise.

"Now that you mention it," Lucy muttered in thought, "I remember hearing a story like that once."

Ur nodded in agreement. "Yeah, same here."

Natsu growled in annoyance. "Gah! This just makes my head hurt! Let's get goin' to Yamato so this Musica guy can fix my sword! And the sooner the better so I can use its exploding blade form again!"

Makarov furrowed his brow in thought. "Exploding blade?"

"Yeah!" Natsu pulled out the small stone he had put into Decaforce's blade and showed it to Makarov. "When I put this in it, it transformed."

"Ooh, ooh, can I come!?" Elie asked excitedly.

"Huh? Yeah, sure."

"Yahoo!"

Bisca put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you're not going anywhere without me. Last time I let you go somewhere on your own you blew up a casino."

"But there was a bug in there!"

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "A bug?"

Bisca shrugged in confusion. "Don't ask me."

"Does she just think everything is a bug?"

Almost everyone in the guildhall answered in unison, "Yep."

"I do not…" Elie argued weakly with a pout.

Bisca smirked playfully. "Remember the first time you had pasta?"

"Okay, let's test it," Lucy suggested with a smile before pulling out one of her keys. "Open, Gate of the Canis Minor: Nikola!"

In a burst of smoke, a small, white, humanoid creature with black eyes and an orange, drill-shaped nose appeared.

Elie crouched down in front of the creature and questioned, "Is it some kind of bug?"

"No," Lucy argued. "It's a dog."

"A dog!?" Natsu questioned in disbelief.

"Puun, puun!" the little creature huffed excitedly before running and jumping atop Natsu's head.

Natsu glanced up at it in thought. "Eh?"

Lucy laughed lightly. "I think he likes you. His name is Plue."

"Plue…" Natsu and Elie mumbled in thought.

Natsu picked Plue up off his head and then stated with a smile, "I like Shabutaro better."

Lucy punched him on the head, causing him to face plant. "His name is Plue!"

"What'd you do that for!?" Natsu snarled as he stood up.

"Because you're an idiot!"

However, Plue then suddenly leapt up, grabbed his key from Lucy, and proceeded to swallow it.

Everyone stood in utter confused silence for several moments.

"Gah! Why'd you do that!?" Lucy shouted in frantic anger.

"Puun, puun," the white creature hummed as it sat by Natsu.

Gray blinked in thought before turning to Natsu. "Oh, right. Natsu, gimme back my necklace."

Natsu raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Huh? What for?"

"Because it's mine."

"But it goes with my sword."

"Like I give a crap. Give it!"

"No. It makes my sword more badass! Besides, Jegan tried to kill you for it! And he was part of something called Demon Bard."

Makarov spit his drink in shock. "What'd you say!?"

Natsu blinked and turned to the old man in confusion. "Demon Bard."

Makarov gulped in worry. "Do you mean… Demon Card…?"

"Maybe…"

Makarov tightened his fingers around his cup. "This isn't good…"

"Why, Master?" Mirajane asked.

"Demon Card is part of the Barram Alliance. And more than likely the strongest Dark Guild."

Lucy raised an eyebrow in confusion. "The Barram Alliance?"

Mirajane nodded and explained, "It's an alliance of four Dark Guilds that rule over and command almost all of the others. It's made up of Oracion Seis, Tartaros, Grimoire Heart, and Demon Card."

Lisanna narrowed her eyes. "All of which make guilds like Eisenwald look like ants."

Lucy gulped in fear. "Oh great…"

Julia smirked as she grabbed a large barrel. "Fighting them sounds like fun if you ask me."

"Eehh!?"

Cana looked around in confusion. "Hey… where's my ale?" She then turned and saw Julia chugging down the drink in the barrel. "Hey! That's mine!" she shouted with a glare.

"Pah!" Julia sighed with relief as she set the empty barrel down, smashing it. "Give me another!"

Growling, Cana shouted, "Give me two!"

Julia huffed in amusement. "Make that three for me!"

"Yeah right! No one beats me! Not in drinking or bed!"

Julia grinned in amusement. "Oh yeah? You can't beat a dragon like me tiny!"

"Wanna bet!?"

"W – Wow…" Bisca muttered in disbelief as she and the others watched Julia and Cana's drinking contest.

"Eight barrels each and they're still going…" Lucy maundered in unbelief.

Natsu cried waterfall tears. "Cana's gonna make me sore tonight…"

Macao spit his drink. "I thought that was just a rumor!"

Mirajane turned to him in confusion. "Thought what was a rumor?"

"That Natsu and Cana fought."

Mirajane tilted her head in befuddlement. "Who said they fought?"

"It was a rumor going around," Wakaba added.

Laki sighed. "Old people sure are stupid."

Flare nodded in agreement. "Yeah…"

Elie tilted her head in confusion. "Wait, does that mean Natsu and Cana had sex?"

All of the men in the guild turned to Natsu annoyed.

Juvia pouted. "Juvia still wishes she was Natsusama's first." With a frown at Mirajane she added, "But Demon Bitch got it first…"

The men's annoyance turned to a deep scowl.

Mirajane turned to Juvia with a smile. "Don't worry, Erza's the first one to show him S&M. Even though I wanted to do that."

"NA-TSU!" all of the men shouted in unified rage.

Natsu turned to them, confused. "What? What I do?"

Elfman stood up with a growl. "I'm gonna kill you for defiling my sister!"

"I'm gunna kill you 'cus I want to!" Macao added.

However, all of the men's rage melted away as the room was filled with an intense sense of dread as Julia turned to Mira and cracked her knuckles.

"So you took his first, eh…?" Julia asked angrily.

Mirajane returned Julia's scowl with an overly sweet smile. "I was. What of it?"

Julia twitched an eyebrow. "I was meant to be his first bitch!"

Mirajane's smile widened. "Guess you missed your chance."

Julia growled before lunging at Mirajane, getting a howl of excitement from the men.

"Julia!" Natsu interjected. "Dont kill Mira!"

"I'm just gonna teach her a lesson!" Julia argued. "That I'M the Alpha Female here!"

Sherry frowned slightly as the men cheered before turning to Natsu. "The others seem to be enjoying this."

Natsu hissed. "Stop fighting right now!"

Julia and Mirajane stopped almost instantly before sighing and turning to him, eliciting a sigh of disappointment from the guys.

"Good."

Sherry looked at Natsu for several moments before sighing heavily.

"Sherry?" Mirajane called out as she walked up to her. "Something wrong?"

"H – Huh?" Sherry flinched as she turned to Mirajane. "U – Uh, oh, nothing…"

Mirajane smiled warmly. "Now, now, you can't lie to me."

"Oh. Sorry…"

Mirajane shook her head with a smile. "You don't need to apologize. Just tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help. And if I can't I can probably find someone who can."

With a sigh, Sherry replied, "Maybe… How can I get my Love to love me?"

"The simplest answer would be to simply tell him how you feel."

"I've already done that. Many times."

"Are you sure? If Natsu actually knew how you felt, I'm sure he'd love you back. Why don't you try telling him now? I can call him over here."

"Maybe…"

Mirajane merely smiled warmly again. "I suppose we can try it later. Why don't we get you set up in the dorms?"

Sherry blinked in confusion.

Mirajane tilted her head slightly. "Is something wrong?"

"There are dorms?"

Mirajane nodded in reply. "Fairy Hills. Erza, Cana, Laki, myself, and several of the other girls live in them."

"Wow."

"They are quite comfortable accommodations," Erza noted as she approached the two. "And you are also permitted to decorate the rooms in any way you please."

Sherry grinned wistfully. "A room dedicated to my love…"

Erza sighed heavily. "Unfortunately he is not allowed on the property."

Mirajane sighed happily. "What a night…" She giggled with a light blush.

Sherry frowned slightly as she put a hand over her abdomen.

Natsu turned to Julia as they sat at one of the guild's long tables and asked, "Will you be going to Fairy Hills?"

Julia raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why would I stay with a bunch of humans?" Her eyes suddenly widened. "W – Wait, d – don't tell me you don't want me living with you!"

Natsu waved a hand dismissively. "Don't be dumb. It's just where the others are, so I thought you'd want to be with them." He then turned to her with a smile. "I don't mind you staying with me."

"Really?"

"Of course!" Natsu replied happily with a grin.

Julia smiled widely and pulled him into a tight, bone-crushing hug.

"… Can't… breathe…"

Sherry sighed as she sat at a table, tapping her finger in thought. "Hhmm…"

"What'cha doin'?" Natsu asked, standing right behind her.

"Uwah!" Sherry shrieked in surprise, nearly jumping out of her seat.

"What was that about?" Natsu asked in mild bewilderment.

"Nothing my love!"

Natsu blinked curiously before tilting his head in thought. "My… love…? What?"

Sherry sat silently for a moment before gulping. 'Okay… I have to do it… It's now or never!' "Natsu, I love you!"

Sherry's sudden yell attracted the attention of the other members of the guild, many of them turning to investigate the shout.

Natsu blinked in confusion.

'Oh no…' Sherry said in her head as she turned bright red with shame. 'I sounded like a freak… He probably hates me!' Not waiting to hear Natsu's response, Sherry pushed past him and ran out of the building.

Natsu raised an eyebrow. "Uuhh… why'd she run?"

Plue then tugged on Natsu's pantleg, pointing with his stubby arm at the door. "Puun, puun."

Natsu blinked in thought. "Uh… okay." With that, he followed the white puff ball out the door.

Sherry sat on a bench somewhere in Magnolia, she knew not where as she simply ran after exiting the building, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks. "Why did I do that…? He hates me now… I'm sure of it…" Sherry sniffled before wiping some of her tears away. "I shouldn't have taken that woman's advice…"

"Oh?" a playful voice asked. "Do you really think he hates you?"

Sherry stiffened immediately. "Wh – Who…?"

"Tell me, do you really believe he hates you, or do you simply want him to?"

"Wh – What are you talking about…?"

"Wouldn't it be easier? Just stay in the sidelines, loving and watching him from afar. Not having to worry about getting rejected by him. And not needing to worry about living up to his expectations."

Sherry trembled at the words.

"You can stay in the safety of your one-sided love, never learning if he does love you, but never needing to handle the rejection."

Sherry's trembles increased.

"And besides, even if you do make it clear, what'll happen if he rejects you? You'll be all alone."

"Shut up…" Sherry argued in a weak voice.

"And why should I? It's the truth."

"I said shut up! You don't know anything!" Sherry argued, her voice breaking with desperation.

"Then tell him. Tell him clearly. If I'm so wrong, then you can do it."

"You are and I will!" Sherry argued defiantly. "And you'll –!" she shouted but then stopped as she turned to see who was talking to her, only to see no one there. "What the…?"

"Sherry!" Natsu shouted off in the distance as he walked through Magnolia to find her. "Where are you?!"

Sherry immediately ducked behind a wall as he approached. 'Oh no, he's coming!'

Natsu looked around franticly. "Where is she…? I hope she's okay…"

'He's… worried about me…?' The words of the voice she spoke to then filled her mind.

"Then tell him. Tell him clearly. If I'm so wrong, then you can do it."

'I…' Sherry trailed in her own thoughts. 'I need to tell him… I need to do it… I will do it!' She then immediately stepped out of her hiding spot to speak to Natsu. "Natsu! I –!"

Her words were interrupted as Natsu, with a wide, relieved smile, wrapped his arms tightly around her. "Sherry! I was so worried about you…"

Sherry's eyes widened in surprise. "R – Really…?"

Natsu nodded, still holding her tightly. "Of course."

Sherry remained silent for several moments before gulping. "N – Natsu…"

Natsu pulled away from the hug and looked at her, puzzled. "Yeah, Sherry?"

"I… I… I – I love you…" Sherry said with a tight throat.

Natsu blinked and then smiled warmly. "I know."

Sherry flinched and looked at him surprise. "Y – You're not… mad?"

Natsu frowned in confusion. "Why would I be mad?" With a grin, he added, "Of course I'd be happy! You're beautiful, after all!"

Sherry's face turned bright red. "H – Huh?!"

"What?"

"Y – You think I – I'm…"

"Of course you are!"

Sherry's face reddened further, practically glowing.

"And if you still don't believe me, I'll prove it."

Sherry blinked, perplexed. "H – Hu –?" she started, only to be silenced as Natsu pressed his lips against hers, causing her eyes to widen before she accepted the kiss, pressing her lips further against his.

After a moment, Natsu pulled back with a smile. "Believe me now?"

Sherry nodded slowly before leaning up to him and kissing him once more. "Let's go… to my room… my love…"

Natsu frowned slightly. "I'm not allowed in Fairy Hills though."

Sherry chuckled lightly. "My room has a window. Use it."

LEMON BEGINS HERE

Sherry swiftly returned to her room in Fairy Hills, changing from her normal garb, wearing a knee-length, transparent, pink negligée that hid little of her curvaceous body from view, her dark pink hair left loose, flowing down her back to her round bottom, curling and waving as it fell, her forehead slightly covered by loose bangs.

"You look beautiful," Natsu said with a smile as he stepped through the window into Sherry's room under the cover moonlight, surprising her.

"I've been waiting for you, Natsu," Sherry called warmly as she reached her arms out to him.

Natsu walked forward into her grasp, wrapping his arms around her tightly as their lips locked. He wasted no time reaching out with his tongue, finding her own greedily awaiting him as they entwined, danced, and swirled around each other, fully indulging and memorizing the flavor of the other's.

Sherry moaned quietly as Natsu slipped a hand under her clothing deftly and gripped her supple orb tightly, his fingers disappearing into the warmth of its softness.

Natsu felt her moan on his tongue as it explored the inside of her mouth, pressing, brushing, and stroking across every centimeter of it, greedily drinking in her taste.

Sherry trembled as his fingers dug, twisted and pulled at her bosom, kneading it tightly as his other hand cupped her bottom firmly before shifting her to the bed.

Pulling away, he gazed into her eyes and asked, "Are you ready?"

Sherry smiled as she rubbed a hand against his trousers, his stiff member stretching the fabric. "I don't have much of a choice." Pulling up the skirt to her negligee, she exposed her mound, dripping with arousal, "My body wants it. I want you."

He nodded, removing his clothes swiftly before quickly pulling the thin fabric from her body, exposing all of her bright skin to his eyes, its texture shining as the light from the moon above glistened off her body.

Sherry glanced down, her blue eyes widening as she saw his staff in full view, its length surprising her as he moved it towards her soaked mound.

"Here I go," he announced quietly as he pressed the head against Sherry's entrance, slipping slightly from the slick coating of aroused fluids that covered her before pressing stronger, spreading her folds as his length began to fill her.

Sherry winced lightly as his shaft began spreading her walls to their limits, more and more the deeper he pushed before she felt him hit a blockage, her maidenhead. Sherry merely gazed into his eyes and nodded before he gave one strong push, forcing past the thin membrane, garnering a hiss of pain from her while she tightened around his body and trembled as blood slowly trickled out from between them. Biting her lip lightly to prevent too loud a sound from escaping her mouth, Sherry sighed before smiling up at him, her eyes clouded lightly. "I'm fine. Go ahead."

With a nod he forged deeper within her channel, stopping momentarily before pulling and pushing forward, his motions starting off slowly, but hastening swiftly as he felt her wrap tighter around him as he swayed faster and faster.

Each thrust was punctuated by a light gasp from Sherry, her bust bouncing and swaying in tune with his motions. Her gasps turned to moans as he grabbed one of her swaying orbs.

"It's almost like they're begging me to play with them, bouncing like that," he teased with a smirk.

"Th – That's only – ah!" Sherry tried to argue, gasping as the combination of his kneading and his thrusting sent shocks of pleasure through her body, "only because… you're moving so much…"

"Is that so?" he asked with a smirk before reaching between her legs. "Then I wonder what'll happen if I touch here…" With two fingers he grabbed the nub just above her entrance and pinched, causing her to release a loud moan filled with ecstasy as she arched her back, intertwining pain and pleasure shooting through her body like bolts of electricity. "You can't make that much noise," he noted before pressing his lips deeply against hers as his motions continued, increasing in speed and ferocity, their mixing fluids being thrown about by his movements.

Sherry's moans flowed into his mouth as their kiss persisted, their tongues dancing and twisting around each other, both attempting to push past the other, vying for entry into the other's body to explore.

His movements became even more forceful as he pushed deeper and deeper within her, soon reaching her back wall, seemingly having nowhere left to go with still a significant portion of his length exposed.

Sherry gasped into his breaths as he added more force to each thrust, pushing her inner wall harder and harder as he did, her body trembling with each thrust as his tongue fondled and wrapped around hers and his hand kneaded and squeezed her breast, his thumb occasionally flicking the stiffened peak.

He pulled away from her mouth, moving to her unattended orb, wrapping his lips around it, sucking tightly.

"M – My body…" Sherry moaned as her face reddened with ecstasy, her eyes cloudy with pleasure, "it's so hot… it feels like… I'm going to explode…"

And with one final push, his member forged through her inner wall, entering her womb, burying itself fully within her body and forming a small bump on her abdomen.

That proved more than Sherry could handle, all of the combined sensations with the sudden insertion pushing her past her limits. She belted out a loud howl of pleasure, her walls wrapping tightly around his shaft as her fluids burst from her body, her back arching even deeper as her eyes fell back, her tongue falling loosely as her mind fell blank. "I… I can't take it… it's too much…"

And yet, his movements continued, thrusting back and forth, stirring her insides with his motions, squeezing and kneading her breast with his hand.

"Y – Yesh…" Sherry moaned weakly as she felt his pounding motions send pulses of pure ecstasy through her body. "P – Pound my pushy… make me yoursh… my love! Forshe your shape into me!"

He growled lightly as he felt her tighten around him further, his speed increasing immensely, the only sounds audible in the room being their fluids mixing, their skin smacking against each other, and Sherry's loud huffs and moans.

Sherry's eyes then immediately widened as she felt his shaft thicken. "Y – Yesh…! Here it comesh!" And almost immediately he gave one last thrust, forcing himself inside, up to the base, before bursting within her, his thick seed filling her womb with warmth, her abdomen swelling slightly as he filled her with more and more. After a moment, he leaned down, pressed his lips against her shoulder, and then bit down. Sherry trembled from the dual sensations before crying out loudly as the feelings filled her body.

Sighing in exhaustion, Natsu pulled himself from her cavity, watching as her chest slowly swayed up and down with her unconscious breaths. He smiled lightly but then paled when he heard voices approaching the door. "Oh crap!" Quickly grabbing his clothes, he leapt out of Sherry's window as the door to her room swung open.

LEMON ENDS HERE

A girl with long, knee-length pink hair wearing a long white dress stood on a rooftop, watching Sherry and Natsu's joining as a young man with pale skin, crimson eyes, and shoulder-length silver hair wearing a light blue shirt, black pants, geta sandals, and an ankle-length black haori with a raining, green matrix code design on it draped over his shoulders walked up to her.

"Well aren't you nice, Pandora?" the man asked with a wry smile.

"Nice?" Pandora huffed back. "You must be drunk, Naoya."

"Come now, you expect me to believe you didn't know this would happen?"

Pandora twitched an eyebrow.

"Your antagonizing of that human had no other result but this."

She waved a hand in annoyance. "Yeah, yeah. What are you doing here anyway, you maniac?"

"Can't I just drop by and see my friend?"

Pandora turned to Naoya, confused and surprised. "You have friends? Last I checked, everyone hated you."

Naoya hung his head in dismay. "Even you Panny…?"

"Humph. I don't like anyone."

Naoya's frown turned into a wide, playful grin. "Oh we both know that's a lie."

Pandora puffed her cheeks with a light tint. "Shut it. And tell me why you're here."

"Okay, okay, Panny. Just here to tell you your dear li'l demon-dragon will be going to Yamato soon, and events there are about to kick off."

Pandora sighed heavily. "So he'll meet the Adventurers." She then narrowed her eyes. "This is about to get irritating." After a moment of thought, she then turned to Naoya. "You had something to do with it breaking, didn't you?"

"My brother, actually," Naoya answered with a shrug.

Pandora's eyes narrowed further. "You probably let it happen knowing the chaos Natsu meeting them would bring. Let alone his return would get delayed."

"Well if he shows up, all my fun will come to an end. And right now your boy toy isn't strong enough to handle Chronos' greatest mistake. So letting the blade snap was a good way to get him there."

Pandora hissed in frustration.

"And besides that, until she rekindles the light, they won't stand a chance."

"And who's fault is that?" Pandora challenged.

"Yours. You just had to get payback at her for breaking your man's heart when she 'died'."

Pandora stiffened. "… Sh – Shut up…"

Naoya's smile widened. "I mean, what better way to get back at her than to shatter her mind. You did do quite a number on her. I wonder if she'll ever truly recover. Right, Pandora?"

Pandora trembled before a tic mark burst on her forehead. She turned to him and shouted, "Shutupshutupshutup! You big, stupid, robo, octopus lizard!"

Naoya's smile increased to a grin. "Better hope she doesn't regain that memory by the way. Just think how your reunion would go if she told him."

Pandora paled in abject horror.

"Anyway, see you later, Panny! Hop you have a happy life." He grinned maliciously. "Oh who am I kidding? You're pretty much screwed."

The next day, Sherry, now wearing her hair down her back along with a new outfit, a low-cut, knee-length, pink dress with black, diamond-shaped trimmings, spaghetti-straps holding it up, exposing an intricate, red marking on her left shoulder, and black sandals, walked into the Fairy Tail guildhall with a slight limp and a bright smile.

Mirajane blinked curiously before smiling widely as Sherry sat at the bar, wincing slightly. "You look happy."

"I feel amazing," Sherry answered with her smile still in place.

"The first time always is. And after a while the pain will go away. It always does, then all you feel is the pleasure."

Lucy waved as she walked up to the duo before seeing Sherry's outfit, flinching back slightly in surprise. "Wh – Whoa… that's a bold outfit…"

Sherry turned to her in thought. "Oh? Well my Love likes it."

"Mornin'!" Natsu greeted with a wave.

"Morning my Love!" Sherry greeted as she hugged Natsu's arm tightly.

"You feeling okay?" Natsu asked with mild concern.

Sherry nodded in return. "Yes, I am. Just a little bit sore, my Love."

"Good. Cana couldn't walk for a while."

Sherry smirked with pride.

"Juvia barely felt anything painful after her first with Natsusama," Juvia interjected.

"That's because you were unconscious for a whole day," Natsu chided.

Juvia flinched slightly. "H – Huh? Juvia was…?"

"Yes," Erza answered as she approached the others.

"Nnnooo! Juvia is a disgrace to dragons!"

Julia patted her back lightly. "Come on, if he didn't make you pass out it means he didn't go all-out."

Erza chuckled lightly before turning to Natsu. "Natsu, when do you intend to leave for Yamato?"

"As soon as I can," Natsu answered succinctly.

"Then I shall leave with you."

"Uh, okay."

"We will need to leave by boat, since Yamato is so distant from the mainland."

Natsu paled and gulped. "… Can't I at least ride Ophi…?"

"No. It is your punishment for breaking the rules."

Natsu furrowed his brow in thought. "You're still mad about what we did last week, aren't you?"

Erza stiffened and sputtered slightly. "N – No… of course not…"

"What happened last week?" Lucy asked curiously.

"Nothing," Erza answered sharply.

"But I –" Natsu began, only for Erza to interrupt him.

"Nothing. Happened."

"You're screaming said otherwise," Mirajane intruded with a playful grin.

"… I don't think I want to know…" Lucy added weakly.

"Why not?"

"It sounds… creepy."

Ur sighed as she sat at one of the many long tables in Fairy Tail's guildhall. "When will Ul pay me a visit…?" she asked somberly before taking a swig of mead. "Mama needs her daughter's love…"

"Ur?" Natsu asked as he walked up to her. "What's wrong?"

"My daughter ain't here to visit me and you…" she answered with a pout.

Natsu raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Me? Why'd she visit me?"

"You're her boyfriend. Why wouldn't she?"

Natsu laughed weakly before mumbling, "Still goin' with that, ey…?"

"Well you both are."

Natsu blinked in bewilderment. "What?"

"Lovers! You make a great couple!"

Natsu sniffed the air momentarily. "You're hammered."

Ur puffed her cheeks obstinately. "Am not!" After a moment she blinked in thought. "Hey… I know… since you're her boyfriend, why don't you bring Ur here to see me?"

A bead of sweat fell down Natsu's cheek in exacerbation. "Don't you mean Ul? You're Ur."

"That's what I said."

Natsu sighed in exasperation as the doors suddenly swung open.

"Everyone!" Makarov shouted franticly. "Clean up the guildhall, now!"

"Huh?" Loke asked, perplexed. "Why?"

"There's a Councilor coming!"

Ur huffed and took a swig of her mead.

"I'm already here, Guildmaster," Ultear noted as she walked up behind Makarov.

Makarov stiffened in fear.

"Ulchan!" Ur shouted happily before springing from her seat. "Mama missed you!"

Ultear raised a clipboard in front of her as Ur ran to hug her daughter, only to smack headfirst into it.

"Wow…" Lucy mumbled.

"While I'd love to stay and chat, Mother," Ultear noted as her mother sat on the floor rubbing her nose in pain, "I'm here on official business."

"Nnnooo!" Ur bellowed in horror. "My daughter is a delinquent! Having a Council job and taking it seriously! Where did I go wrong?!"

And there you have it folks, the conclusion to the eighth chapter of Embodiment of Flame. Hopefully everyone, or at least most of you, enjoyed the chapter. Please do be sure to let me know if you did with a review. Also do not forget to post a review if you are unsure or confused about anything, as I will do my best to address your concerns in a reviewer response. If you did not enjoy the story, however, my best suggestion would be to find something else you do enjoy and do that instead, but if you do feel the compulsion to post a review, constructive criticism would be appreciated. So until next time, buh-bye!