AN: Hey there guys! First of all, thank you so much for all the support! About 200 favs and follows along with seventyish reviews! I'm ecstatic and really happy that you like it. This chapter is as long as the last, which I think is quite good. Some of the questions will be answered in this one, but nothing really major. We're still in the beginning after all! Anyway, enjoy!
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Chapter 4: Demon Slayers
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Ultear stretched in the bed and took a long breath. She laid there with closed eyes, not wanting to really wake up; not wanting to return to reality. Truth be told this wasn't even her bed, it wasn't even her friend's; oh, who was she kidding, she had no friends, but that was beside the point. What mattered was that despite all this, she hadn't slept so well for a long time. She had slept without a worry on her mind; without the constant need to think about the future. She was lost, she really didn't know what would happen in the coming days, yet, she felt elated, free…
With a resigned sigh she finally opened her eyes and sat on the bed, the covers sliding to the side and showing her curvaceous body covered by bandages, wrapping her many bruises from her fight with the Fire Dragon Slayer. Upon thinking about him a frown appeared on her beautiful face. She really didn't know what to think about the young man. What little she knew about him created an image of a brash but nice guy, not very fast of mind but in no way an idiot; and of course a powerful wizard. But the man she saw a few days ago was none of those; he had been an enraged beast with a power, which could raze cities, at his fingertips.
She was powerful in her own right, easily in the top tier of the mages in Fiore; however he had shown glimpses of his potential power and that sent chills down her spine. She would have died that day, wasn't it for Meredy. And now she was here, in a bed under the roof of the very guild that she tried to destroy less than a week ago. Oh, how easily the world changed…
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Shaking her head she stood up only to freeze in place; the very man that plagued her thoughts was standing behind the now closed door that led to her room. His face was straight and his eyes were devoid of any emotion. Not even a speck of unease could be seen in his being as he stared at her underwear clad body. Well, to tell the truth he wasn't really looking her over, but she was sure that at the distance he was, even if he gazed only in her eyes, he still could see her not so presentable state. She was by no means ashamed of her curves, but under his intense scrutiny she was hard pressed to suppress her discomfort.
Ignoring her moment of weakness he advanced toward her and despite herself, she took a step back. Realizing her foolish mistake too late, she cursed internally and steeled herself. Her eyes took on a harsh air and a cold aura appeared around her. She wasn't weak and she sure as hell would show it.
Only a few steps away from her, the Dragon Slayer stopped and finally broke the silence. "Why did you help me?" The question was a very logical one, but she was ashamed to admit that she hadn't thought about an answer beforehand. Why had she decided to help him? She was in the right place at the right time, was the answer that came to her mind, but she knew it was a lie. Still, she said it nonetheless.
"Then why had you followed me after I left?" he asked, still in his emotionless voice. Seeing her hesitation he took another step forward and continued. "Then again, after our fight, after I nearly killed you, you still not only healed me but brought me back to my guild. I'm sure you knew that the Rune Knights were searching for you, yet you came nonetheless, putting yourself and your friend in danger. So I ask you again, why did you help me?"
Her brows furrowed as she stared at the pink haired young man in front of her. What could she say to that? She was at a loss of words. "I don't know…" she whispered finally. "I just wanted to help. Help someone in need for the first time in my miserable life!" She exclaimed despite herself. "What else do you want to hear from me?!"
"Fairy Tail is not just a guild where mages gather; Fairy Tail is before all else, a family. A family, that protects every of its members to its last breath. We would prefer to go rogue or die fighting, than to abandon our family. You helped in the destruction of our holy grounds and in the disappearance of many of our members. Yet you helped me and tried to repent yourself. We, from Fairy Tail don't discriminate people, and their past stays in their past." He said with a serious face. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She didn't know what to say. "If you want to help, you can stay and assist us in protecting the Guild until all of them return." He finished and turning around started to walk away.
"What? But…they're dea-…" she began, making him stop in his tracks.
"They'll come back one day, I'm sure of it. After all, she said she would protect them, and the dead don't lie." He replied and walked to the door. Opening it he stopped in the entrance, slightly turning toward her and showing one of his eyes covered by the shadow of his hair, giving him a very ominous look. "And remember, that from now on, I'll personally annihilate everyone that threatens my family. Whether you'll be a part of either of them is up to you." And with that he closed the door, ending their discussion, but bringing forth even more questions to her mind.
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With another cry of rage, Natsu slammed his bloodied fist upon the now partly destroyed rock, creating even more wreckage around him. As the life essence slowly seeped from his limbs, he raised them again and continued to pound the stone senselessly. He didn't know how long it continued but by the time that Macao interrupted him, he could no longer feel his hands, yet the pain remained. Not from his bruises, but a pain far greater in intensity; a pain that refused to leave him despite all his efforts.
"Natsu…" the Purple Flame mage whispered, wincing at the state of his friend. "Natsu, the King has announced a new competition; a competition between guilds of Fiore to showcase their power and standing. I…we can't refuse, as all the guilds were called for the inauguration. We must participate and show that we aren't crippled, that we're still a powerful guild. The winning price can help us also."
"Fairy Tail isn't crippled." The pink haired mage replied, turning around. His bloodied form along with his dead eyes was a very disturbing sight to see; but the older mage resisted his cringe. "We will participate." Was his simple answer. Macao signed, nodded and left him alone, for he knew very well the need to vent anger on something, and the Dragon Slayer had it in spades…
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"Damn it!" Natsu cried out as he slammed his fist in the nearby wall. "We're not even in the top ten! Damn it!"
"Calm down, Natsu. Thirty forth out of all the guilds in Fiore isn't that bad." Wakaba placated his friend, calmly puffing on a cigarette. Truth be told, he knew very well that it wouldn't calm the Dragon Slayer, but he had at least to try. After all, they had done everything in their power to show that Fairy Tail wasn't out of commission, but all it did was show exactly the contrary. They were no longer the best guild in Fiore.
"Let's go home. We did what we could." Macao whispered, and with a nod all the members that participated in the Games followed. They were injured, exhausted and miserable, but they walked out of the arena with raised heads, knowing that they gave all they had…
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When the members that had left for the Games entered the guild hall, Ultear didn't need an explanation for their state. She had seen it all, as had everyone in Fiore. Fairy Tail was no longer the top dog. As she observed those mages walk dejectedly to their seats, she could see many were angry; seething even. Some were venting their anger on chairs or tables, others were openly crying, but he was the most notable of them all despite his motionless state. A dangerous aura seeped from him as he stared into space.
"All this is useless!" a man suddenly exclaimed after throwing a chair through the hall. The said furniture broke into pieces not too far from the Dragon Slayer, but he didn't bat an eyelash. "Look at us! A bunch of incompetent mages, that's what we are! We are nothing but scraps of the great Guild that was Fairy Tail! Yes, was!" he continued in his hated monologue. "We are nothing without them! But they are dead! And soon, Fairy Tail will be too!"
"Shut up…" Natsu whispered, a dark look appearing on his face.
"No! I won't shut up Natsu! Look at us! You are the strongest of us all, yet even you couldn't do a thing against them! We are crippled, and the whole country saw it with their eyes. Mission will decrease and after a while will stop coming altogether! We are done for!"
"I said shut up!" the Dragon Slayer cried out smashing his flaming fist on the bar and breaking it in two. "You are right! We are doomed! We are doomed if we continued to think like that! But Fairy Tail doesn't revolve only around them! Fairy Tail is before all else a family, and all of us make that family! Yes, they're no longer with us, yes we are crippled, but we're not dead yet!" Natsu continued with rage. Then with a great leap he smashed on the upper level and took hold of a familiar board.
"What are you doing, Natsu!?" Macao exclaimed his eyes widening. No one was authorized to take those missions!
"It's time to stop playing around and show what Fairy Tail is really capable of once and for all!" the pink haired mage replied brandishing a mission of S-Rank in his hand. "There is much work to do, so let's make sure that Fairy Tail is at the top when they return!"
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Makarov and Gildarts were quietly listening to Natsu's story when a sudden knock on the door interrupted all of them. Opening the door, Macao entered the office with a serious face. "Sorry to disturb but there is an urgent matter, Natsu."
"We'll continue later, old man." The pink haired Master said and with a nod to the others, followed the Purple Flame mage.
Upon arriving in the hall, he was greeted by a familiar wizard. "Yo, Phoenix." He said with a wave to the Master.
"Bacchus, what's the matter?"
"We were returning from a mission when we ran into a Demon, at least A-Rank, but its size makes it easily into S-Rank." The mage from Quatro Cerberus replied. "It's near a little village a dozen of miles from here. I was the fastest so I came to warn. As of now my guys are trying to slow it down, and yes we told the civilians to leave the premises."
"Thank you Bacchus. Jet, take him and contain the beast until we arrive." Natsu ordered with a serious voice. With a nod, the orange haired mage gripped his fellow S-Rank mage and blurred from sight.
"What the hell?!" Gray exclaimed in surprise. "Where did he go, and what is happening?"
"Jet is the fastest mage in Fiore and is surely there by now. As you heard he will contain the Demon until we arrive to slay it." Natsu replied. "Meredy, prepare the Car."
"How will he contain a Demon of S-Rank?" Erza asked, sign of worry appearing in her voice.
"You're all asking too much questions, and we don't have the time. Just come and you'll see all by yourselves." The young Master said exasperated. "Macao, prepare another Car for our curious bunch." He continued with a smile.
After a minute, Natsu, Ultear, Meredy, Makarov and Gildarts departed in one of the cars, while Macao, Erza, Gray, Lucy, Gajeel, Mirajane and Laxus rode the second, slower but bigger one. Meredy maneuvered the vehicle like a pro, and she perfectly knew the direction to take without the need of any indication. After all, with her peculiar brand of magic that she had trained for all those years, she could feel her guild mates through the links she had created with them.
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Swerving to the side, the vehicle slid to a stop a few minutes later; and once the wizards descended, the scenery before them was of destruction. The small village was nearly completely razed to the ground as a gigantic deformed beast stomped it with his talon like feet. Not a second later, Jet materialized beside them, frightening a few.
"Sorry Ultear, but the village was already in this state when I arrived." The orange haired speedster said with a wince. "I disposed the seals nonetheless. It can't escape de perimeter." He continued turning toward Natsu.
"What about the Quatro Cerberus? Are they alright?"
"A few are a bit injured but nothing to worry about." Jet replied over the screams of the otherworldly creature.
"Tell them to leave the area and to come here. As for the rest of you, please stay back." Natsu said advancing toward the ragging Demon. A few seconds later, Jet was back.
"What is going on? How did you contain that beast?" Gajeel asked, turning toward the Speed Mage.
"We have containment seals made for us by a member of the Council. They allow us to limit the Demon's attack range and contain it until a Demon Slayer arrives. Fortunately for us, we have our own Demon Slayer in the Guild." Jet explained with a smirk.
"Shouldn't we do something?" Lucy asked with worry. She knew Natsu was probably much stronger than before, but the Demon was really huge and its destruction reminded her of another beast, Achnologia…
"There is nothing to worry about when the Phoenix is here." Bacchus replied, having just arrived to hear the question. "That guy's a monster." He continued with a grin, looking as the pink haired Dragon Slayer stopped about a hundred yards in front of them. Then, Natsu raised his right hand over his head and suddenly it was engulfed in brilliant hot white flames, illuminating the area around him.
"What's that?!" Gray exclaimed with wide eyes. "Since when are his flames white?"
"That's what people call, Phoenix Flames." Macao supplied with a smile. "We, call it Fiendfyre." He continued with a dark glint in his eyes.
"Phoenix Flames?" Lucy asked with wonder. Again, his new moniker came up.
"Fiendfyre?" Mirajane continued with worry in her voice. She was very familiar with demons and what she dreaded wasn't a very good thing.
"A fire that's said to purify everything it touches." Jet supplied to Lucy.
"But in reality it's a fire so hot, that it transforms everything it touches to aches." Ultear finished, turning toward Mirajane. "Of course, it wasn't that deadly from the start. It was very hot thought, and painful." She continued, and unconsciously massaged her neck.
Suddenly Natsu brought his hand down in a cutting motion and a moment later the entire area contained by the seals was engulfed in a giant pillar of fire that rose to the skies. The heat coming from the fire was so intense that even at that distance and despite the barrier, the mages could still feel their skins heat. After a few seconds of burning, with another sweep of his arm, Natsu extinguished the fire and showed his companions what reminded of the Demon: aches…
"Holly shit!" Gray exclaimed with wide eyes. He couldn't believe his eyes. Natsu had erased that big monster from existence with just a swing of his arm. How powerful had he become?!
As if on cue, the containment seals shattered in thousands of pieces and dissipated in the air. The pink haired Dragon Slayer nodded toward them and Ultear walked toward him, closely followed by the others. Once they were near the young Master, they didn't know what to say. Even the stubborn Laxus was silent, still impressed by the technique.
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"The damage to the village is great, so be careful." Natsu said, putting his hand on Ultear's shoulder. With a nod she advanced forward and raised her hands. Closing her eyes she concentrated. Slowly, a visible aura started to seep from her and the others could feel the great quantity of magic gathered around her. Then she opened her eyes and uttered: "Arc of Time!"
Instantly, the village started to repair itself under the incredulous eyes of the present mages. Walls started to assemble themselves, roofs glided back to their proper place, doors standing back in their hinges, even the burnt ground and grass growing back.
"Easy, Ultear, easy." Natsu whispered, running a soothing hand on her trembling back. Beads of sweat ran along her face as she returned everything to a time when it was unscathed. Finally after a dozen unbearably long minutes she let her hands fall to her side and swayed on her feet, but Natsu was already prepared for that as he rapidly swept her in a bridal style. Then he turned around and nodded to the others. "All's done here, we can return. Bacchus, take your team and stay the night in Fairy Tail. You've done a good job."
"Any day, Phoenix." the S-Rank mage replied with a smirk; and then nodding to his friends followed the pink haired man.
On their way to the Cars, cries of "Look it's him!" "The Phoenix!" "The Phoenix saved us!" "The Time Goddess!" "Blink!" "Thank you!" could be heard as the now saved civilians emerged from the surrounding forest.
"Hurry up before it gets too crowded." Natsu whispered, hastening.
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"You make quite a team." Makarov said with a happy smile once inside the Car. "Between Blink, The Time Goddess and the Phoenix, this team is really fearsome!"
"Haha. Yes. That's probably true." Natsu replied with a smile. Everyone smiled along with him, but neither of them saw the frown on Macao's face as he exchanged a glance with the young Master. After a nearly indiscernible shake of head from Natsu, Macao nodded in understanding. It was still too soon to talk about that.
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After the injured Quatro Cerberus mages were cared for, the others sat around the bar, talking about their first experience after hibernation.
"I still can't believe what I saw." Erza whispered. "His power is tremendous."
"Don't be too quick to judge, we haven't seen anything yet." Laxus remarked with a frown.
"I'll use your own words, Dreyar, don't be too quick to judge." Macao replied with a smirk.
"And for Ultear, to be able to repair the whole village just by herself, I just don't know what to think." Lucy continued.
"Speaking of her, what is she doing here?" Gray asked, a frown appearing on his face. "I know she decided to leave Grimoire Heart, but to finish in Fairy Tail of all things…"
"She was the one that saved Natsu and brought him here after healing him." Wakaba replied, puffing on his cigarette. "Of course, Meredy-chan was with her!" he continued with a perverted grin.
"Shut it, you old moron." Macao said with exasperation in his voice. "She helped us on getting back to our feet. As you can think, we were quite crippled then."
"What about this entire Demon Slaying thing?" Mirajane asked with wonder. "All of you seemed quite ready for the situation."
"You see, after the Tenrou Island incident, Demons started to appear all around the country, be it by strange occurrence or from summoning by a Dark Guild. After what happened to our guild because of Zeref, we refused for anyone else to live the same thing, and decided to slay those Demons. At first we weren't very good at it. We were messy, uncoordinated, and hotheaded. But we were the only guild that had made its purpose to rid Fiore of those abominations, so our fame jumped quite a bit. At the time, Fairy Tail was no longer the first guild in the country and many doubted our prowess." Macao replied.
"Then, after a certain incident, where a Dark Guild attacked the King's Palace by summoning a colossal Demon from the Book of Zeref, people started to call Natsu the Phoenix. After we stopped the Demon and saved the King along his daughter, he recognized our valor and made Fairy Tail the official Demon Slaying Guild. The only Demon Slaying Guild…" Wakaba continued.
"I don't even know what to say." Makarov whispered. "Maybe just that I'm very proud of all of you."
"What I want to know is how did Natsu finish with Ultear?" Gray asked out of the blue. "Of course beside the point that he is suddenly interested in women."
"Well, when you have a hot girl like her after you…" Gildarts began with a mischievous grin, but was interrupted by a slap on his head from Cana.
"Well, that's a story for another time." Macao said with a smile.
"Where is Salamander by the way?" Gajeel asked looking around.
"He left with Happy, something about reconnecting after all those years."
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Calmly sitting in the park, Natsu smiled seeing his little buddy happily shewing on a fish. It was still hard to believe that they were back after all those years. But he was really happy.
"Hey Natsu! I want another fish!" Happy exclaimed shaking the one in his paws.
"Finish this one before, and I'll buy you another." The pink haired mage replied with a smirk. Then his smirk transformed into a frown, and he turned his head to the side. "What a surprise seeing you here…" he said not trying in the slightest to hide the sarcasm in his voice.
"I came to see by myself." A man replied, coming from the shadow, covered head to toe in a dark cloak.
"Natsu! Who's this?!" Happy cried out, frightened by the sudden intrusion.
"Just and old man that thinks he knows better." His partner replied with a dark smirk. "Your contacts are very good. They're back for only a few hours and you already know."
"I try to please."
"Don't bullshit me, old man. I already said it, but I'll say it again: your plan is beyond ridiculous! Don't play those games! A useless sacrifice will help no one."
"It won't be a useless sacrifice. I've made sure of it. The power will only help him."
"It's useless in my eyes if you prefer to die than to live."
"I'm already-…"
"You're getting on my nerves, old man!" Natsu interrupted him. "I usually don't interfere in family business, but just this once, I may do an exception. Don't make me force you."
"As if you could…"
"Don't lie to yourself, old man. Both of us know who is stronger between us." Natsu replied with a dangerous smirk. "I'll let you leave this time, but hear my words: tell him the truth or I'll make you."
No answer came to that proclamation, but the Dragon Slayer needed none. He had made himself very clear; now he only needed to see what happened…
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Opening the door to his chambers, Natsu stretched with a yawn. From the return of his friends to the Demon, and stubborn old men, the day was a really tiring one. Switching the light he was greeted by a surprise hug from Ultear. Returning the embrace he lifted her from the ground and jumped in the bed, twirling around so as to fall on his back, producing a squeal from the said girl.
"Hey there…" he whispered with a lopsided grin; a grin that was kissed not a second later. "You don't seem to be exhausted anymore. Are you alright?" he asked with a serious voice.
"Yes. But you, seem nearly falling from your feet." She returned. "A surprising day I have to admit."
"That's saying it mildly. I'm exhausted and probably will fall asleep on my feet." The pink haired mage replied, with another yawn.
"Oh, is that so?" Ultear asked slyly, before standing up. "Well if that's the case, I'll prepare to sleep." She continued with a fake disappointed voice, slowly stripping from her clothes. As her blue dress fell to the ground she undid the lace choker around her neck. Just as the skin under it was revealed, Natsu winced and averted his gaze.
"Every time I see those scars, I cringe." Natsu said with a frown.
"I think of it as a reminder." Ultear replied as she continued to strip down to her underwear before straddling his lap.
"Reminder of what; that I nearly killed you?" he asked with a grimace.
"No Natsu, a reminder that even for someone completely lost in darkness, there still can be a ray of hope." she finished with a warm smile, kissing him on the lips, before pushing him on the bed.
A few minutes later the window was opened with a bang and a flying cat stormed the room, crying: Natsu! I want to sleep!" Then seeing the state of the two mages shrieked and left the room by the door, his cries of: "Natsu is making babies!" heard all over the guild.
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AN: I hope you liked this chapter! As you saw, I showed only small parts of those seven years, as I thought that in one chapter that would have been too much. I'll continue to show the past as the story goes. I'm starting to show glimpse of Natsu's & Co. powers; the rest of that too will come very soon. And now tell me what you thought about this chap, and who the hell was that 'old man'? (It's really easy actually)
Anyway, see you soon!
Zegeth