Thanks for faving and the following my fic. Just a reminder that Natsu of the Dragneel Clan is known as Natsu Dragion here due to safety reason as explained in S3 which I guess many of the readers had forgotten about. It had been a while after all.

Maybe I'll try to update once or twice a week. Please read and review.

Thanks ahuna67 for the beta.

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is not mine.

Chapter 2: The Short Reunion

The boy who curled himself up to sleep was aroused by the increasing volume of noises made by all the footsteps marching in. He vaguely opened his eyes and blinked before realising what he had got himself into. He was being surrounded by rune knights of the Magic Council. His eyes widened in horror when he realized his hands was cuffed by a magic canceller.

"By the order of the Magic Council, Natsu Dragion, you are under arrest for the treason against the Council for being in cahoots with the traitor, Jellal Fernandes, breaking out prisoner, Zero and the destruction of Tenroujima". Lahar read the order aloud. The salmon-haired boy glanced around hoping to find an opening somewhere to escape. He could not afford to get caught now. He had a promise to keep.

"Come with us!" Lahar pulled the boy up and yanked him upright before dragging him out of the cave surrounded by the remaining of the rune knights' army. As soon as they were out of the cave, the boy used his head to head-butt Lahar to catch him by surprise and release his grasp on him. Natsu attempted to make a run but was surrounded by the alarming number of the knights charging up on him.

"Let me go!" The boy screamed in panic as he was being pinned down by a number of them. He struggled against the grips when he felt that one of them lessened. But before he could take advantage of it he felt a sharp pain in his arm. He looked up and saw the rune knight with a sedative. "Damn it all….." was his last thought before he succumbed himself to the darkness.

"He really was a pain in the ass " Lahar commented as he confronted the unconscious worn-out and tear-stricken boy.

Three months had passed since the news of the destruction of Tenroujima had spread. Even though there had been no findings, the remaining members of Fairy Tail remained hopeful.

Jellal as Mystogan was pacing up and down in the guild as he was waiting for news from Wakaba and the rest who went out to find out for updates to the search for the lost Tenrou team. Usually, he would not stay in the guild for long but due to the gravity of the events, he had no choice but to be Acting Master as nominated.

Wakaba who had a cigarette in his mouth came back panting at the door. He stood by as he tried to catch his breath while Jellal and Macao approached him.

"How is it?" Jellal asked.

"They have found someone. The council…" Wakaba tried to catch his breath. At the same time, Jet sped back to the guild with Droy after returning in disappointment. They had caught the words of Wakaba and urged him to continue.

"I'm saying the council had arrested someone suspicious and they are eager to pin all the blames on him. The council will give us further details once they had made their decision."

"You got to be kidding me." Sweat formed on Jet's head. "We were told that it was a dragon which destroyed the island. What does it got to do with a human?"

Jellal was taken aback. He was deep in thought on the basis of decision. Makao approached Jellal. "Mystogan?" Makao called. "Mystogan." Jellal lifted his head. Something was amiss. He finally spoke up.

"Wakaba, tell me the description of the person who was caught."

Wakaba scratched his head bitting on his cigarette. "I'm not sure. They said it is a young man. Probably a teenager or early twenty. He had committed a lot of crimes and all of them came with heavy sentence. Poor boy, I don't think he will ever see the sun again. One thing is he is related to that Jellal for sure." Wakaba commented.

Jellal clenched his fist. "Is he charged with breaking out a prisoner or something alike?

"I guess so."

"That's it. I'm going to save him." The masked man sped out.

"Mystogan?" Wakaba and Makao called in unison. Jet ran after Mystogan but was stopped by him. Mystogan ordered him to stay to wait further news. Jet had the speed, so he could always ran to him if need be.

"It's either Natsu or Tsuna." Jellal thought. The former was more a possibility as he was not even sure if he was actually on the island. If not, Tenrou Team could have perished in vain. He needed to find out.

Jellal took a deep breath. He was back at the Era, the branch at Fiore where the prisoner was held.

"Jellal!" The masked man was caught stunned to hear his name.

"I knew it. I should have known you are Mystogan and you have been hiding in Fairy Tail." A man approached him. He was Mest who had been waiting for him. Hundreds of possibilities ran through his mind. Jellal had to try to get out of this somehow.

"Don't worry, I don't intend to rat on you for promotion. I would have like to if I have not been through what happened at Tenroujima. Besides, Jellal Fernandes was framed. He had been acquitted from all charges. He is no longer a fugitive. He is free."

Jellal was surprised but in case this was a fraud, a trap to catch him red-handed, he better be safe than sorry.

"Did Natsu?" He asked cautiously.

"Yes, someone turned himself/herself in and confessed the crimes and freed Jellal from all the crimes he was accused of. He is free. But that person is not Natsu Dragion. The charges on Natsu Dragion is already enough to imprison him indefinitely. "

Jellal turned to face him in doubt. He scanned Mest and wondered if he could trust him.

"Come with me. I will take you to Natsu Dragion." Mest walked and signalled Jellal to follow him. Jellal followed in wary.

Screams could be heard as the duo walked down the path to the prison. As usual, the Council used torture techniques to force information out of defiant prisoners.

If it was in the past, Jellal would have been cold towards this but now, he began to feel empathy for them as he saw how they are being tortured with magic draining devices and whip.

The duo came to the transporter and two guards approached Mest.

"Sir!" Two guards greeted Mest. Mest nodded and signalled them to leave. They took the transporter up towards the crystal where various prisoners were held and they headed to where a salmon-haired boy was found lying against the wall of the crystal. He was groaning in pain.

"Natsu!" Jellal called his name as he squatted down by the crystal.

"Make it fast." Mest informed Jellal who nodded in response.

"Natsu!" Jellal knocked on the wall of the crystal.

The salmon-haired boy stirred and started to cough. He struggled to open his eyes and could barely make out who was outside the crystal. He tried to sit himself up against the crystal.

"Teacher?" His voice was faint but Jellal was relieved. Natsu was alive. He was right in front of him with a 4-inch crystal separating them. He placed his hand on the crystal. Natsu tried his best to raise his hand to reach for his. Natsu smiled weakly.

Jellal could see signs of torture on Natsu both physically or mentally. Tears fell down the boy's cheek.. Jellal felt really sorry. He shouldn't have taken him as his disciple. Natsu was a descendent of the Dragneel Clan, his foundation was much higher than the Fernandes. Just who did he think he was? He did not deserve to be called a Teacher by Natsu when he had not even done anything for him and all Natsu had been enduring was endless sufferings.

Jellal snapped out of his thoughts when he noticed something was amiss. He could not sense Zeref from Natsu. It could be due to the draining of his magic but Zeref could not be removed that easily. Jellal wanted to ask more but decided not to as he sensed Mest approaching him telling him it was time to leave.

"Natsu, I will get you out of there. Promise me you will hang in there for me". Natsu barely understood him. He nodded weakly. Jellal smiled, and even if Natsu couldn't see it because of his mask, his eyes told it all. Jellal watched Natsu's hand slip down the crystal as he fell unconscious once again. Jellal tried to knock on the crystal to wake his disciple up afraid that he could have...

"NATSU!" Jellal looked down at Natsu's unconscious form in despair.

Mest placed his hand on Jellal's shoulder. "He will be alright. The Council won't let him die."

Jellal decided that he had to bail Natsu out. And fast.