"Another successful mission," Makarov commented looking down at a piece of paper "Natsu and Erza do make one strong team."
"Mhm, yeah will after 2 years of working together they have certainly completed the most missions of any team in my recent memory."
"Yeah, add to that the year it took Natsu to teach Erza the ins and outs of living in the town," Makarov nodded "They know each other's personal habits too."
"They are so cute together." Mirajane smiled.
Makarov chuckled "They are not together remember Mira, they both make that expressly clear."
Mirajane gave him a sidelong glance "I have a nose for these things Master you will see."
Natsu sat with his legs crossed over the table looking out the window on the second floor, Erza had heard a rumor about someone claimed to be Salamander in Hargeon and had rushed off assuming it was Igneel, Natsu shook his head as much as he tried he couldn't clear his mind of the red-headed dragon slayer he had grown up with. he sighed I need to take a job, he thought vaulting the railing of the second floor and landing deftly in front of the request board, he looked at it for a few moments, fight a giant beast terrorizing a village, well that's as good as any he took the note down and walked over to the master's office all he had to do was tell them he was going on a job, he heard Mirajane laugh inside and he stopped and against his better judgment her pressed his ear against the door. the voices were muffled but he could hear them.
"Oh come on master a blind person could see they like each other, it is probably love," Mirajane argued "Why can't we meddle in a guild member's life just this once."
"No Mira," Makarov stopped "Come in!" he called out.
Natsu hung his head he should have known better he opened the door, he wondered who they were talking about for a moment "Um, I'd like to take this job." Natsu said handing Makarov the paper.
"Oh, is Erza not with you?" Makarov asked surprised
Natsu shook his head "No, she heard some rumors about a Salamander in Hargeon and she rushed off."
Makarov chuckled "That girl is quite fool-hardy to think a dragon is going to be wondering around a port town."
Natsu nodded "Yeah, she is, but anyway can I take the job I should be back in a few days."
Makarov nodded I will contact the client, you can set off whenever you are ready.
Natsu smiled and nodded as he left the room.
Mirajane looked at the master with a little hope in her eyes.
Makarov sighed and looked at her "I think this time you are right Mira, a little meddling might do them some good."
Mirajane clapped her hands together excitedly "Just leave everything to me Master!"
Erza sneezed and rubbed her nose.
"They say you only sneeze when someone talk's about you." Happy chirped from beside her.
"Oh please that's just superstition," Erza said looking out the window "So this is Hargeon."
"Aye, sir!" Happy chirped again.
Erza sighed and got to her feet "Wakaba said the Salamander was here."
"Aye, but why would Igneel come to this dump," Happy said suspiciously "On second thought if a dragon was in town, don't you think people would be worried."
Erza frowned at Happy "Of course there is no dragon here, Happy you are talking to the real Salamander whoever is here is an imposter I am going to have a few words with him."
Happy nodded in understanding "That guy doesn't stand a chance against you Erza."
She smiled at him and the two set off about town, a few girls knocked into her as they run, she heard them say Salamander is in the centre of town as she took off after them. She stopped a small distance away from the group of woman and rolled her eyes.
She stalked her way through the crowd of people and stared at the man in the centre, he had dark hair she couldn't make out the color and a small tattoo above his eye, the cloak covered his left arm and he looked at her with a wide smile "So are you another fan, of Salamander."
Erza crossed her arms "No, I Am Salamander," she said warningly, the man's jaw dropped as he stared at her "Now you claim to be the Fairy Tail wizard Salamander, where is your guild insignia?"
He staggered back a few feet Erza pulled her cloak of her body and let it get taken by the wing revealing a red Fairy Tail mark on her right arm "I am the real Salamander," She announced loudly looking at all the women around her before pointed towards the man "this man is an imposter and a liar using a charm spell."
The woman around the pair seemed to start snapping out of their little trances, many of the eyes darkened.
"W-wait ladies I can explain." The man started to back away from the crowd as the woman converged on him, there was a bit of shouting, Erza sighed and leaned her head against the wall of a building as she waited.
"Thanks for saving me," Erza opened her eyes and looked at the small blonde girl beside her "You made the whole group aware of his charm spell, now they are all their own people again."
"Don't mention it." Erza said simply
Erza noticed the crowd of women had dispersed making it much quieter, the blonde girl bent down in front of her Erza stood up "Oh, you are still here is there something you need?"
"I wanted to buy you lunch, if you are hungry as a thank you." the girl stated simply.
Erza stomach growled and she nodded in acceptance "Oh, I am Erza." she introduced and held out her hand.
"Lucy," the girl answered shaking her hand "Come on."
Not long after Erza, Happy and Lucy sat at a table eating.
"So you are in Fairy Tail?" Lucy asked excitedly
Erza nodded "Wait, let me guess you are a wizard and you have always wanted to join Fairy Tail."
Lucy nodded "You get asked that often huh?"
Erza shook her head "No, I can sense your magic energy and you have your gate key's on your belt so I know you are a celestial wizard."
"Oh, well I can't ask you to get me into the guild or anything." Lucy said.
Erza chuckled "You are not very good at manipulating people or looking sad, tell you what pay for lunch and you can come back to the guild with me I can't guarantee you a spot in the guild but you never know Makarov might let you join."
"Really?" Lucy asked hopefully "You are being serious?"
"Yeah some human company on the trip home will be nice," Erza answered looking at Happy "And besides I owe you for lunch, we will just call it even."
Lucy nodded excitedly "Okay we are even."
Erza rubbed at her temples, is this what Natsu feels like with me around?
Natsu trudged along toward the village he was supposed to save, he kept waiting for Erza to jump on his back and complain that her legs were sore or for her to do something at all then he would remember she wasn't there he shook his head again I need to focus on this job he thought determined to push Erza out of his mind. Natsu heard something heavy coming towards him and he pulled his sword free from his back eyeing the forest around him, with a loud Roar a large beast broke through the tree's unto the road charging towards him, he crossed his sword in front of him and braced, the horn of the beast collided with his blade and he slid back a few feet before stopping, the beast bucked it's head towards him and he was forced to jump away, he flicked the sword out to his left and ran around to the right the beast watched him intently is was large bulky looking at its hide he could tell it was tough, his eyes narrowed and he spotted his opening, it's left hind legged buckled slightly every time it moved if he cut get a clean cut on it dispatching the beast would not be difficult. He scanned through his mind for options, he had an idea he slid to a stop and braced himself again, the animal snorted and ran it's leg along the ground preparing to charge him again, the large horn on its head was the focus on Natsu's eyes if that thing hit's me I may as well be mincemeat, the animal charged forward and Natsu closed his eyes "Requip!" he glowed gold for a moment and he felt the weight of the beast against the flat of his blade he slid back again before stopping, he smirked as his black wing armor set in, he brought the blade across and forced the monster to put more weight on its injured leg, it toppled to the left and he jumped onto its belly, he thrust his sword forward through the bottom of the beasts head and out the top, it thrashed for a moment then went still. Natsu fell back heavily panting he summoned a large chain, it was likely this was the beast he was hired to kill if not he was sure he would get something, this thing could feed a village for a week with the amount of meat on it. he Wrapped the chains around his sword and pulled it over his shoulder dragging the thing along behind him. He arrived to a cheering village and he smirked well at least I don't need to do anything else he thought happily. he felt his leg give out and he fell to his knee heavily, his armor disappeared and he was kneeling in his normal clothing.
"Are you alright my boy?" an elderly village member walked up to him concerned.
Natsu nodded "I just overdid it, I will be fine in a little while I just need to rest."
The old man nodded and gestured to a large building with a dotted with window's.
"That is out inn you will be able to find a room there to recuperate, then I imagine you want to set out for home?" He asked
Natsu nodded "Yes, that beast was much stronger than I had anticipated to tire me out like this, blocking it took more energy than I expected it would."
"Mm, the mark of a humble man is to admit he own missteps," The old man nodded "You seem to be wiser than most young wizards."
Natsu smiled "I am no wiser than any other wizard my age, my life is just one of more downs than ups."
The old man gave him a knowing smile and moved away from him, Natsu shook his head and walked into the inn "I need a room for the night." he said to the round innkeeper, he gave him a smile "please pick any room you want it is the least I can do for the villages savior."
"I am no savior I was paid to kill an beast causing your village problems." Natsu responded.
"Please I insist," the innkeeper replied with a smile "if it is really important to you, I can ask you a favor in the morning after I give it some more thought is this okay with you?"
Natsu thought about it for a moment before nodding this man was adamant he didn't need to pay and he would feel bad if he didn't give him anything he took one of the numbered room keys and walked up the stairs he opened the door to room 7 and walked inside he looked outside "Hm, when did it start raining?" he wondered aloud before shrugging and laying down on the bed, sleep overtook him quickly.
A/N: Haha, well many of you can probably guess who is going to be joining Natsu in the next chapter, as you can see I am changing quite a few things you will just have to wait and see how much exactly!