Gray closed his eyes. He bent down, elbows touching his knees and his hands clasped together and meditated on what he saw.
All of it. He tried to look at it from his perspective, Zeref's. His town and family were killed by dragons, the creations of the gods. His own family, and town were killed by an Etherius, a demon of Zeref. He couldn't direct his hatred at the man himself, after all how could he kill a dead man, but he still sought to kill what caused him suffering and achieve retribution. If that's the case, then what separated him from Zeref? Zeref had achieved his revenge and killed those responsible. The dragon population in the world was incredibly decreased from their peak four-hundred years ago. He became a monster, the Black Mage, in order to achieve it. Would he become one too, if he chose the same path Zeref took?
His eyes opened and watched the teary faces of his family … No. He would never take the same path of Zeref. He still had his brother, the Natsu look-alike, but still chose revenge. He wouldn't be … he won't be like that. He saw the guild, talking amongst themselves and despite what they've seen, some smiles still held and grew amongst their companionship. He has Fairy Tail, he wouldn't become a monster like him.
" … So, what did we learn?" asked Mira a few minutes after the Lacrima stopped and the guild was unusually quiet, some conversations were taking place amongst the guild members, but talking as if Erza was doing her routine inspections. She tried to bring the minds of the guild to a different subject other than the horror they just witnessed. She saw Erza clear tears from her eyes and asked Levy to lend her the notes she inscribed throughout the entire time they watched.
"In the year X349 a village in the south-eastern coast of Alakitasia is invaded by dragons. After breaking through some kind of militarily backed barrier in the west. Zeref, the Natsu look-alike and Irene seem to be the only survivors of the attack, with the brothers going to the north to the territory of a Duke, Seath, while Irene is taken by a red dragon; who seems to be on some level amicable to humans." she paraphrased from the notes.
"I believe the dragon is taking her to Ishgar." Makarov spoke, hand on his chin and eyes closed in deep thought. "That particular dragon originates from Ishgar, only in Ishgar dragons with wings like birds coexist with those of bat-like wings."
"It also flew east," commented Levi. "From what they said, the town seems to have been on the south east of Alakitasia, by the shore, and since the dragon flew east it is on a direct path to Ishgar." She then nudged Erza with her elbow and got her attention, "From that we can assume, since the two of you look identical, Irene could be your great-great-great, many greats, grandmother."
Erza's face didn't change much to the surprise of Levy, who thought she would react more strongly at the thought, instead Erza looked back at the Silver Locket with the etchings of the goddess of Ishgar. That same torn image of Zeref, looking back at her with a smile and happiness that didn't seem to fit in a man who committed as heinous acts as he did. "Master." she said, getting Makarov's attention. "We're pretty sure that the Lacrima followed my command of 'wanting to know more about Natsu,' right?"
"Well, it's what makes most sense, the Lacrima began to show us, what is most likely Natsu's ancestry after you said that," he nodded.
Gray and most of the guild overheard the conversation of the two. Everyone was so silent that they couldn't help it. It was then that Gray then made his choice. He approached the lacrima; a question deeply ingrained in his mind, one he needed to know. "Show us why Zeref killed the Fairy Queen" he ordered.
The guild was so quiet a pin drop would startle anyone, but after a few seconds Gray realized that the Lacrima wasn't doing anything. He tried again, but it didn't react once.
Levy inspected the Lacrima, but she found nothing wrong with it, while Erza brought the Locket close to the Lacrima to see if It needed Natsu's soul present once again to activate, but it didn't change.
"Show us why Zeref killed the Fairy Queen." She repeated Gray's words, in the hopes that the Lacrima would activate to her words once more. Surprisingly it lit up once again and began to project on the wall once again.
"Does it only react to Erza?" muttered Levy. Makarov beside her nodded at her mutterings, from what they had seen so far that seemed to be the case. "But why?" she asked, a question the master also thought to himself.
The guild prepared to sit down to watch once again, but noticed something wrong with the projection. Instead of showing the events Erza ordered, the projection instead showed a vibrant blue screen with white text that read
Error. Request does not compute.
"What?" asked a confused Nab.
Makarov immediately began thinking about what the message could mean. First Gray asked 'Show us why Zeref killed the Fairy Queen,' but the Lacrima didn't react. Then it did when Erza asked the same thing. The lacrima then malfunctions and says that the question does not work for it. The lacrima can show the past and future, which means that it has knowledge of all events that happened and will happen, if that request was not computed then that would mean…
"Zeref didn't kill the Fairy Queen." All eyes turned to him. Makarov could clearly see the surprise, shock and incredulity in the eyes of the guild. Gray especially looked to have frozen still in Makarov's eyes. "If this Lacrima can show the past and future then it knows everything. Since it said 'error,' when Erza asked the question then it must mean that the question itself is invalid."
Gray stood stunned. Was it a lie? It wasn't true. If that wasn't true then what was true? If Zeref didn't kill the Fairy Queen then how did he obtain the power to create life? How did he create the Etherius? How did E.N.D. kill him? And what did the Natsu doppelganger have to do with any of it? His mind was racing a mile a minute. During his furious brainstorm he thought of an idea.
"If it can tell what happened and what not, could it answer our questions?" he wondered, leaned forward and looked at Erza. " … Did Zeref kill the Fairy Queen?" he asked and Erza, curious too, repeated it to the Lacrima.
The projection changed from its blue screen to a black background with white text.
No. 'Fairy Queen' "died" as punishment for breaking the laws of the Cosmos.
Shocked gasps echoed across the guild.
The weight suddenly falling on his heart didn't stop Gray from asking another question. " … What law did she break?" and Erza repeated his question back to the Lacrima.
Law F-13 in the Cosmic Book of Conduct: A 'Primordial' must not enter a physical, emotional or romantic relationship with a mortal or one of their subjects.
'Fairy Queen' for having broken the law, as it entered an emotional-then turned romantic relationship with the human known as Zeref, was to be rescinded of its status as a 'Primordial' and be eligible for 'execution'.
Furthermore 'Fairy Queen' broke Law A-08 of the Cosmic Book of Conduct: A 'Primordial' must not appeal to the influence of the 'Middle Realm' and remain pure to the Cosmic Book of Conduct.
'Fairy Queen' gave unapproved blessings to the 'Cult of Fay' in Ishgar and brought back from the dead humans whom it had formed emotional relationships with.
Gray felt his eyes water and throat run dry. So many unknowns suddenly thrust at him and the guild. They didn't know there was a council of gods or 'Primordials,' as the Lacrima called them in the Cosmos. They didn't know they had a vast code of law. If these beings controlled Earthland over four-hundred years ago, then where were they now?
Zeref too. He had written off Zeref's actions as pure evil because he didn't know anything. He might have lost his mind when he created the Etherius, but they too could have simply been a way to try to obtain revenge on these 'Primordials'? Presumably the love of his life, after losing most of his family, was killed due to a council of beings far beyond his control dictating how his life must go. Gray now felt he understood a little bit why Zeref did what he did … but, was all that a lie too? Did Zeref truly create the Etherius? Did he cause chaos with no rhyme or reason for the sake of it? It all didn't seem as clear cut as it did before. Gray realized that Zeref wasn't like his creations, how could a man love and be a being of malice and hatred? The lacrima described Zeref's relationship with the Fairy Queen as an emotional relationship which afterward turned romantic. If that was the case then it meant that Zeref could love, he could love his family like he did his. Did Zeref love the Etherius like Makarov loved all of them? The Etherius were his creations, his 'children'. Now he was going in circles rambling on and on in his mind, as if that would change anything.
He didn't notice worried looks from many Guild members sent to him. He was sweating and scratched his hair in frustration. Uncaring on who saw him, too entranced in the battle in his own mind to notice Erza's hand lay on his shoulder.
No words were spoken and Erza simply waited for Gray to notice her presence.
"I-I think, we need a break." muttered Gray, his sentiment shared by all in the guild.
Erza still stood there, wanting to say something, a reassuring gesture. Something Natsu would do, even for Gray. "I'll be fine … " he said. "I just need a moment, okay?" He gestured to her to leave. Even through his blatant dismissal of her person and everyone else Erza didn't see it fit for her to act like the disciplinarian at the moment. It was clear that Gray is going through some things. Even though she didn't know what happened to him in the past, she could see the information the Lacrima showed them hit him harder than anyone else, even herself.
Erza walked back to the conversing group of Levy, Makarov and now Mira, as they conversed on the events shown to them and what they learned.
"Master, when is Natsu coming back?" she asked.
"I'm not sure. He was called for a job by a council member, most of the time he comes back a week later." he said. At his words Mirajane perked up.
"Isn't it convenient that Natsu wasn't here when the Lacrima was sent here?" she pointed out.
"It is … " agreed Makarov. Since Natsu wasn't here he couldn't answer their questions on the events shown by the Lacrima. It was obvious to Makarov now that Natsu knew something to do with this whole ordeal. Be it that he is actually the Natsu shown by the Lacrima, somehow living for hundreds of years. Or a descendant with passed down knowledge of his familial past. It is convenient, but for who?
"What should we ask it to show next?" asked Levy. Curious and eager to learn more, even if she had to see more horrifying events to do so. It was a small price to pay, in her mind, to write and record a forgotten past.
"We've also not seen the future either." Mirajane said, she is too eager to learn more. although more fixed on the possible events that will happen in the coming days and years. "The letter said that it could also show the future." She then turned to Erza. "The Lacrima listens to you, what do you want to see?" she asked.
"Well, the guild certainly needs a moment of respite, if the Lacrima follows specific instructions then I guess … " she said, leaning towards the Lacrima and placing the Silver Locket close to it. She still didn't know if the locket needed to be there or if activating the Lacrima was a one time thing. "Show us something more … lighthearted, in the future," she ordered.
The Lacrima activated and once again displayed its projection, startling some guild members who stood in the path of its light and were flashed.
Ishgar X784
July 2nd
"That's only a week from now!" exclaimed an excited Laki.
Flower fields were all around with tall buildings breaking through the expanse. Kilometers of buildings decorated with all kinds of flowers, of all colors and shapes. The roads, houses and even the tallest buildings had flowers in their window sills in and outside. Crocus, the capital of Fiore, was a sight to behold for all who witnessed its colorful scenery.
Some awed at the beauty of the sight, many never before visited the capital, but now they gained a newfound drive to see it for themselves in person.
To the west of the Flower Citadel stood tall an edifice built of stone and marble. Its pristine white exterior only matched with its equally immaculate interior. It too with flowers decorating its halls, windows, and its front yard only made it more entrancing to the eye. This building is the Headquarters of the Magic Council, second only to the King in authority over the kingdom's magical affairs and in charge of managing and sending job requests to all the guilds in Fiore.
Through its halls, steady but slowly rolled a lime colored crystal ball. A Lacrima, which rolled with nothing to push it forward. It rolled and rolled, continuing to travel through the halls of the building, passing through a hall then another. It did so until it collided with a chair, one as pristine and luxurious as everything else in the edifice, but instead of laying there the Lacrima instead started to roll vertically up the chair as if it were solid ground.
The Lacrima continued its path moving up the chair and then moving up until it reached the top of a large oval shaped table, many papers strewn about and crumpling as it rolled atop them. It reached a sudden stop and without warning cracked. Many cracks began to line its surface until it crumbled into a pile of dust.
Behind it looking at it with an almost bored expression sat a young woman with delicate features. A smooth face with no imperfections; dainty nose, plump red lips, trimmed eyebrows and bright amber eyes. She had long violet hair that reached down to her hips and wore a sleeveless pink kimono that reached down to her knees and wore delicate purple heels which partially exposed her ankles and feet. Around her neck lay a necklace with a medallion attached to it. The image of a dragon was engraved into it with runes around its edges; The sign of a Wizard Saint.
"Woah, she's beautiful." Laki swooned, a bright blush spreading across her face.
The Pile of dust in front of the woman reformed and solidified itself back together, forming the same lime lacrima it was before as if nothing had happened to it. The lacrima continued its roll, sticking to surfaces it should easily slip in normally and traveling up the woman's arm and stopping atop her head.
"Ultear!" A shout from two seats away from the young woman startled many of those seated, but not the lady; Ultear, as the lacrima continued to rest atop her head as if it was fixed to it. The man who uttered the shout is a short cat-like older man, he has cat ears poking from his head of brownish hair and a long white beard. He uses a cane, which rests beside him on the table. His face was twisted and contorted showing his fury at the young woman in the sights of his silted eyes. "What did I say about paying attention? We're amidst a meeting," he spit.
The violet haired girl pouted in response, the crystal ball once again crumbling into dust. "But there's nothing to do!" she exclaimed as she lifted one of the documents, which all had a copy in front of them, "-Plus, why does the king throw the kingdom's finances our way? What is his council doing?" Though no one said anything, she knew that many in the table agreed with her sentiment.
"That doesn't matter, the king has entrusted us with this task. That's all that matters." said a tall and thin old man. Atop his head rested a tall hat which only further emphasized his height.
"I have to say I disagree," spoke a blue haired man. He is around the same age as Ultear, tall and wore a black suit. His Wizard Saint robes hanged on his shoulders, not caring for formalities of any sort. He has eyes just as blue as his hair and a red tattoo on the right side of his face. "What does the Magic Council have to say about the kingdom's finances when the Minister of Treasury is available?" He leaned back on his chair and raised one leg to rest on the other. "It seems to me he just wanted a day off."
Ultear nodded at the blue haired man's words, "That's right Siegrain," she agreed. The dust laying on the ground and all around Ultear coalesced and turned back into the lacrima once again.
The man; Siegrain then turned to Ultear with a smirk presenting itself on his face and said "Although, you aren't pointing this out to save us some menial work Ultear, are you?" he didn't ask, he stated. "You just want to leave this 'boring' meeting to go see your boyfriend right?"
Ultear's face immediately turned red, "H-he isn't-" the lacrima slipped from her head and fell directly on her fingers laying on the table, "Ah!" her scream echoed across the hall, startling a guard patrolling down the halls. Holding her fingers and hissing at the pain. Her embarrassment grew as she saw some in the room sneakily snicker at her plight.
Many in the guild laughed at the young girl, although they laughed some felt sour at what the blue haired man said. "Damn, she's got a boyfriend." slumped Wacaba. Beside him Macao patted him on the back and passed to him another pint.
"Not like we ever had a chance." muttered Laki, depressed at the news.
"Ultear, I told you not to involve yourself with those Fairy Tail troublemakers!" shouted the cat-man with a nasty frown on his face.
"Come to think of it, you gave him another mission right?" asked Siegrain, ignoring the old man.
Massaging her fingers and still blushing Ultear nodded, "Yeah … In Hargeon Port, we've gotten a report of strange happenings and disappearances in the area."
"You've been working him to the bone Ultear," Siegrain laughed, his smirk still in its place "-he just finished a mission didn't he?"
"By all accounts we'll be getting reports from Hargeon that your boyfriend wiped out over half the town! Keep that Salamander on a leash if you want to keep using him for our assignments!" shouted another member of the council. An old man with long silver hair and beard that reached down to his shoulders.
"Wait! That's why Natsu isn't here?" asked Elfman. He gasped and screamed "Oh my! Natsu is such a man! He is pulling such a manly girl!" fists clenched he had tears barely not falling from his eyes. "I'm so proud!" he cried.
Even though the sound of Elfman's screams rang in people's ears, he was ignored. "I didn't know Natsu had a girlfriend." Muttered Makarov. 'This will get interesting.'
Mirajane noticed the looks of her two best friends. Erza and Levi, she noticed their subtle frowns as they stared at the Ultear girl, "Are the three of us really that bummed out because Natsu 'might' have a girlfriend?" she asked.
Her question startled the two girls, who turned to the other and noticed the small blushes present on the faces of the three of them. "W-what are you saying?" they both said their blushes intensifying.
Mira was known as the matchmaker in the guild, always looking for hints at new couples forming within the guild and if there wasn't any then she would take matters into her own hands and bring people together in elaborate plans and dates designed by her. She was pretty sure she managed to get Bisca and Alzak to hook up, but they hadn't made it public to the guild yet. She could detect an infatuation with someone in a person and she saw that in Erza and Levy.
"I mean, I can tell you two have a crush on Natsu," she said. A smile ever present in her immaculate features.
Erza and Levy's faces looked to be deep scarlet. "N-no … " Erza weakly denied, her mind going a mile a minute trying to figure out if what Mira said was true. Did she really have such a strong infatuation with Natsu? Erza felt a sudden dizziness and clutched the side of her head. She felt as if her mind was being pulled by something.
~'O Scarlet Bloom.' 'Worry not child, We are here.' 'I believe it is time I give this back, is it not?' Wha … What was that? The pain suddenly stopped.
"Are you okay? Is something wrong?"
She gulped, she realized how her sudden 'headache' would be taken by Mira " … No."
"Are you sure?"
" … Yes."
Mirajane raised a brow. "Oh well," she smiled. "Just make sure to take care of yourself if you aren't feeling healthy, okay?".
Erza recognized the smile Mira was giving her just now, it was a smile that said 'You better tell me sooner than later, or something unfortunate will happen, Bitch.' She smiled back and nodded, she had to think about that sudden hallucination, what did those words mean? So she gave her own smile telling Mirajane 'Bring it on whore.'
Levy simply stared at the exchange. She felt out of place in the strange interchange between the two women. Noticing the ferocity in the eyes of the other, staring at each other as if a fight between the two was just a second from starting scared her. Maybe she should get out of the way of the two, for her own safety. She started to pray for Natsu's own safety at the impending cat-fight between the two girls.
They turned back to the Lacrima, which had paused again when the guild began gossiping about Natsu's, possible, girlfriend.
Ultear frowned at the councilor's remark, "He's been improving on his destructive tendencies." she pointed out.
"Yeah, yeah." hissed the Cat-like old man. "A Fairy Tail member who destroys only fifty percent of a town instead of eighty, wow!"
The tall spindly man stood up and pressed his own opinion on the discussion. "Those Fairy Tail troublemakers have made themselves more troublesome than any dark guild to the continued stability of Fiore."
A few members of the guild grumbled at the Council member's words. "Well I don't like you either." huffed Laki.
"You do know he can't hear you, right?" asked Macao.
Waves crashed upon sandy shores, salty piles left in their path ready to be taken by the hands of local merchants to be sold in their stores. Boats left and came to the bustling port, all kinds of people coming to and from, especially fishermen. Some already set up shop near the shores, selling their fresh catch from that morning.
The screeching horn of a train filled the air as it reached its destination. Argeon Port Town, a giant sign on the train station read.
Inside the train itself lay a man, estranged to the world around him as he lay in a state he would call near-death, his face green and nauseous. So entranced by his sickness was he that he didn't notice the shouts of "Sir!" and "What's wrong!?" or "Don't worry about him, this happens all the time."
"W-what!?" shouted one of the men. As assistants for the needs of all passengers they sought to make the ride the best experience possible for customers. However this particular lad was difficult. He had the most insane level of motion sickness they had ever seen, he threw up for the entire hour and a half the trip lasted. He also had a strange blue cat companion that spoke and walked on two legs.
Gray snorted at the unfortunate, but otherwise amusing and familiar situation the Dragon Slayer found himself in.
"I'm fi-fine." The man managed to get out. He picked up the blue cat and looking as if he'd drop at any moment walked out the train. Once out of the train the man perked up and the green tint on his skin instantly disappeared. "I'm never getting into one of those things again."
"You always say that." The blue cat said sitting atop the man's head.
The man is above average height with spiky pink hair that reached to his shoulders. It was tied up in a spiky ponytail with two large bangs on the sides of his face. On his hair, ears and neck the man wore a kind of jewelry; looked to be the claws, some kind of beasts and scales of Many different colors. He wears a long black cloak that reached to his knees with a white shirt underneath and white baggy pants that stopped below his ankles as well as stringed sandals exposing his feet. "Lets go, Happy."
On the main road overlooking the ocean was Pete's Magical Wonder's Shop. Inside stood a blond girl looking over all the items of the shop.
"I wonder who she is." Macao muttered.
"She's got a pair of big knockers." He jumped away, startled by Cana who he didn't notice behind him.
The girl has long blond hair that reached down to her hips partially tied in a side ponytail with a few strands over her eyes. She wears an open neck white and blue blouse with a belt and blue skirt. Her blouse protruded deeply from her chest making apparent the incredible size of her breasts. On her hip was strapped with a long whip. A strap was on her left thigh that had a bundle of copper, silver, and gold keys hanging on it.
"What do you mean this is the only magic shop in town?" she said.
The shopkeeper; an old balding man answered "Well, this town has always been more of a fish and international trading market than a hub for wizards," the shopkeeper informed. "I mostly sell my wares to traveling wizards nowadays since there aren't many in town."
"Aww! This whole trip was a big waste." the girl whined.
in response the shopkeeper reached for an item under the counter. "Prepare to turn that frown upside down! Right here I have the newest magical item from the market!" with a brilliant smile he pulled up a large book with the title ColorS, "ColorS magic! No matter how you're feeling that day–" he jumped and twirled around, his shirt and pants turning purple. " –Your clothes will change color to match your mood!".
" … No I-"
"Wait wait!" the man croaked "ColorS are rated ten out of ten by taken women and married couples!"
" … I don't have one." she said.
"Oh."
The girl sighed. "What I am looking for is a Gate Key."
So she's a Celestial Spirit Mage, noted Erza. She ignored the stifling laughs that hit the guild for a reason unknown to her. Was it because the girl didn't have a boyfriend? Or because of what the shopkeeper said about ColorS? She saw Wacaba especially looking as if he was going to laugh to death while continually slapping an equally hysterical Macao on the back.
"Oh! Those are exceptionally rare." He reached from under the counter again, "but I do have one." He pulled out a wooden box. Inside it laid a pristine copper key. on the handle of it it had the image of a cartoonish, skinny creature: with a spherical head, big eyes and cone shaped nose.
"That's Nicola the White Doggy!"
"You know about it?" the shopkeeper asked and was startled when the blonde rushed to the counter and stared at the copper key.
"How much does it cost!?"
" Eh … I'd say, twenty-thousand Jewels."
"No–" the blonde leaned on the counter pushing forward and giving the shopkeeper a clear view of her rack. "–What is the real price?"
"Oh? I like this girl." Cana said, most of the male members of the guild feverishly agreed with her statement.
Outside the blonde stomped down the main road. Through the wind one could hear her hateful mutterings "Five percent" she repeated, over and over again. "Is my sex appeal only worth a five percent discount!?" she kicked at the air, hitting a sign for a shop in the process.
"I'd say it's more like a ninety-nine percent discount." Cana stuttered through her words, those around her couldn't decide if the prominent blush on her face was due to the alcohol she drank in droves or something else.
"Why is the Lacrima showing us this girl?" asked Mirajane.
"Perhaps she'll be important in the future?" Levy theorized "Celestial Spirit Mages are really rare, so maybe she's really strong?"
" … Maybe."
In her rage the girl didn't notice the horde of girls rushing by and was pushed aside, nearly falling flat on the floor, but was able to regain her balance. "Salamander!" "Sir. Salamander!" "Have my babies!"
"What was that?" Looking to the main road she saw a growing crowd of girls and a few men circling, what she presumed, is Salamander … wait. "Salamander? The Salamander?" the girl ran forward to the growing crowd.
"Damn … " Gray watched on stunned at the crowd of women. 'Is Cinder Breath that popular with the ladies?' He didn't get how the knucklehead managed to attract so many women his way. That mystery is truly unknown to him.
Walking down the street the pink haired man and blue cat, Happy, look around. "So. Do you think there is one of those here?"
"I'm not too sure now." He looked around and said "There aren't any buildings on fire or fleeing people … tsk!" He pondered for a moment "I think we've been tricked again."
" … "
"Happy?" the man asked, looked back and noticed his cat companion laying on the paved road. After a moment he heard a low rustle and then a growl. His eyebrows immediately lowered and huffed.
"I-I need it." the cat muttered his voice low and barely perceptible.
Rays of bright light emitted from the man's hand. After it dissipated a second later a raw, dead salmon lay on his hand and without care he tossed it to the downed cat.
As if nothing happened the cat stood up and jumped to catch the fish and began devouring it, leaving only bone where its flesh once stuck to. The man scratched the back of his head and sighed. "You act like a spoiled brat … I need Jane to get you in a diet."
"Oh! That's a great idea." The bartender nodded and began to write on a note book possible diet plans for the Happy.
"What? You can't do that to him." pushed Erza, she believed Happy was good as he was. "That would be like … Me being banned from eating Strawberry Cheese Cake, he needs Salmon." At that Mirajane scoffed and began to write down diet plans for Erza as well.
His ear twitched and looking to the main road he saw the growing crowd in the town square. He picked up Happy and ran to the crowd. "The Salamander might be there!" he smiled and began to push through the crowd.
Watching in the inner circle of the crowd stood the blonde. Just gotten there a second prior she saw the center of the squealing girls' affection. Salamander, the great fire mage Salamander. One of the strongest mages around and known as the best user of fire magic in the country.
Staring, the blonde found herself starting to sweat at the sight of his charming smirk and his flowing blue hair that framed his face perfectly. His blue sapphire eyes and prominent chin made his face all the more unique to the eye; his long cloak concealed his form only revealing the expensive and beautifully designed fire patterns of his clothes. She felt her heart flutter as her eyes met with his and everything else faded away in a backdrop. Her lids closed in nervousness, "Hey" Oh she could hear his beautiful voice. "Hey!" she could hear him louder now, was he walking towards her? She felt a push on her shoulder and she leaned forward. She felt a sudden burning itch on her skin and her hands caressed a rough surface … wait.
Her eyes opened and she noticed she was on the floor. Looking up she saw the charming smile of Salamander, though it looked far more lecherous than she remembered. His face also didn't look as handsome as before, actually he might look ugly. Moreover In front of her and confronting Salamander stood a pink haired man, who had a look of … disappointment?
"Wait, where's the Salamander?" he scratching his head and looking around as if the man didn't stand right in front of him.
"W-well, you're looking right at him." Salamander stuttered and subsequently spread his arms to the crowd, which only made the squeals of the crowd grow. Though she did notice beads of sweat start to flow from his forehead.
The man stared at the Fire mage for a what felt like hours. A pregnant silence which only ended when a few seconds later the man said "oh … " and left. He was already half a block down the street when the crowd realized what happened.
"He didn't even notice he was impersonating him?" shouted Max, astounded at the sight before him. Erza sighed while Mirajane and Levy giggled, and Makarov gave a hearty laugh alongside many in the guild.
"How dare you disrespect Lord Salamander!" The crowd dispersed and many girls ran, furious at the man. In a group they pushed him around and eventually threw him back to the ground at the feet of Salamander.
"What's the deal with you lot?" the man exclaimed, more confused than annoyed at the seething girls' actions.
"How you flatter me ladies." Salamander bowed to the crowd, "Oh how I don't deserve your kindness." he exclaimed.
The blonde noticed the quickly shifting expressions of many of the girls in the crowd, some turned from adoration to annoyance to lust, in rapid succession. She caressed the side of her face. 'Did he really have to push me to the floor to break That?'
"Here, take it as an apology from me and my fans." Salamander handed the pink haired man a pamphlet for Sorcerer Weekly, signed with big bold lettered Salamander on it.
" … I don't want it." he replied throwing it away at the crowd, where a fight ensued to get the signature. He was once again manhandled by the crowd of women in their rage, this time thrown away from the crowd falling face first on the paved ground.
Salamander waved at the crowd "Thank you for your hospitality ladies, but I must say it's time to depart." With a snap of his fingers a purple magic circle formed beneath his feet and violet flames exuded from below his feet, it formed a platform in the air where Salamander stood as if it were solid ground. "However, you're all welcome to my yacht tonight" The fiery platform sipped through the air like a projectile, Salamander's now distant voice yelled "Tickets sold at the port!."
Far from the crowd the pink haired man watched Salamander fly away with his fire magic. Happy now rested on his shoulder again, having been distracted by eating another fish to accompany him to see the Salamander they were searching.
"Total creep right?" he turned and noticed the blonde he pushed in his excitement to see a Salamander.
Inside Willow's Café , sat the blonde watching the pink haired man and cat golfing down plates of food one after another, without any signs of stopping.
"He needs to use that table etiquette I taught him" grumbled Erza.
The blonde looked inside her wallet and felt like waterworks were ready to drop from her eyes. How were these two eating so much? The guy ate like a competitive eater, and she could kind of get that, but the cat ate like his stomach didn't have limits. She was thankful they were in a fishing town otherwise the salmon the little guy loved would empty her wallet.
"So uh, you said your names were Natsu and Happy right?" anything that would stop these two from eating would be helpful. The cat nodded and continued to devour his salmon. Thankfully Natsu seemed satisfied and put his mountain of plates to the side. "Well thank you." the blonde bowed. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't broken the charm spell that guy had over me."
"That's what he did?" muttered Warren, "Looked to me more like he threw her to the floor by accident."
"–My name is Lucy by the way." the girl happily exclaimed.
Happy noticed Natsu's unusual stare of Lucy's face and looked as if he were in deep thought … but that wasn't right, Natsu didn't think, he only did that when fighting bad guys. Lucy continued to talk, but he tuned it out as he stared at Natsu. He heard something like "I might not look like it, but I'm a wizard too." come from Lucy while he did, but not much else. "Hey Natsu," he called out, which brought him out of his stupor.
"What's wrong Happy?" he asked, now worried as the cat stopped eating his precious salmon.
"Why are you thinking?"
" … "
"I mean, I normally don't see you thinking so–" The cat felt Natsu's hand begin to scratch the back of his ear and he couldn't help a purr escape from his lips in response.
Natsu smiled at Happy as the two continued to ignore the girl still talking and looking as if she wasn't going to stop. She was now talking about the way guilds worked. As if he needed that explained to him. "It's just. This girl reminds me of someone."
Erza felt Mira's eyes on her the moment those words were uttered. She looked back at her and noticed the white haired girl suggestively raising her eyebrows. Her eyes narrowed, "What?" her tone must have confused Mira cause she stopped and looked at her with her own confused face.
"You don't get it?"
"Get what?" she asked. At her response Mira seemed to recoil and altogether dropped the subject, leaving a confused Erza eager for answers.
The two left their conversation when Natsu noticed a particular detail in the one-sided conversation between them. "I would love to join that guild, but I don't know if they would accept me, they must be so strict!" she squealed. She held her heart and calmed herself down. "Why were you two searching for Salamander anyway?" Lucy questioned, her curiosity masked her annoyance and shame at remembering being caught in the charm spell of the guy.
"We weren't searching for that guy, we were searching for a real big Salamander." explained Happy, although it didn't really answer the blonde's question.
"You mean, like a Giant Salamander?" that would be the only thing in her mind that would fit the description, but that didn't make sense to her.
"Yes." nodded Natsu.
"Those have been extinct for eighty years." her eyelid twitching, the girl continued "Plus, why would there be one in town? Wouldn't it be on fire and people would be evacuating?" Happy seemed surprised at her reasoning while Natsu nodded.
"Yeah, we were lied to that there was one in Argeon."
"–And you believed it?"
" … Yeah."
Lucy sighed. What was the deal with this guy? He seemed cool one moment and in the next he was an idiot … Well maybe she shouldn't judge him so harshly since she fell in such a simple charm spell by Salamander. "It's fine." She pulled out her wallet and paid her half when the waiter left the bill on their table. She noticed he wasn't there anymore. 'Did he not even try to pay himself?'
Outside sitting on a bench overlooking the ocean Lucy read her favorite magazine, Sorcerer Weekly. "Fairy tail destroys a town hall while catching a band of criminals." she read As she passed through the pages an image of a white haired model caught her attention. "Lady Mirajane is as beautiful as ever." "All the girls in Fairy Tail are so pretty, is that one of the stipulations for joining?" she wondered "Would they even accept me?."
"Of course we would!" Everyone heard Laki shout.
"Yeah, now that I think about it, the girls in the guild are incredibly attractive, all of them." pointed out Jet. He looked at Levy and shouted "O-of course you're the most beautiful of them all, Levy!"
"That's not really a rule, right Master?" Erza asked, her voice souring all the more as she said her words.
"No-no it isn't, I think it's just a fortunate coincidence." Makarov clarified. It is something he never thought about. It might be a blessing from the old goddess, at least he would choose to believe that until something disproved it to him.
Jumping out from behind the bushes and landing in front of her was Salamander. His sudden appearance startled Lucy and she kicked him in the face on reflex.
'That was a good kick,' Erza approved.
Falling on the ground from the strength of the kick, Salamander painfully got up a few seconds later, rubbing the side of his face, now red from the kick. he hissed, "ooh. I heard that you want to join Fairy Tail."
"You were stalking me!?"
"Yes." Salamander smirked, though his smile was now missing one tooth.
"That's not something to be smiling about!" she screamed and got into a defensive stance. Beads of sweat could be seen falling from her forehead. "I-I am not falling for your charm spell again." she pointed to his ringers where a set of rings lay, pink and purple with hearts inscribed on them.
"Hey hey quiet down, I have a reputation to keep."
"Well you deserve to lose your reputation! what the hell you think you're doing? Using charm spells to grow popular and increase your sales figures, disgusting!"
"Okay, I get it. We can forget about that though," he smiled gently "I offer you–"
"Nothing you offer me will make me forget that, I'll report you to the authorities!"
"What about a letter of recommendation to the master of Fairy Tail?" he got out, his smile only grew when Lucy's shouts stopped.
"Does she really not know that we don't do that?" questioned Gray.
"Wait, so you're saying you're the Salamander of Fairy Tail?" she asked, and bit her lip. 'I don't want to tarnish Fairy tail's name, even if a jerk like this guy is part of it.'
"Wait, were those her thoughts?" muttered Levy
"Her mouth wasn't moving," added Gray.
"I noticed that a few times before. The lacrima seems to be able to use telepathy magic in conjunction with its control of time" concluded Makarov.
"Yeah. I am and I'll send the letter tonight, that is if you join us for the party at my yacht."
" … Okay. I will." Lucy seemed miffed for accepting the fire mage's invitation, but when he left turned around screamed "Oh yeah! I'll join Fairy Tail!" her bright smile seemed to wash away all fatigue and nervousness she previously felt.
"I'd say she is in." proclaimed Makarov, his smile then turned to a different nature when he said "plus, with that body she's more than qualified." he heard a 'hey' thrown in his direction and an armored hand hit him in the back of his skull. "Ow! Erza, respect your elders." he uttered, but his words went unheard.
"I say she is welcome, her enthusiasm fits perfectly with the guild." intoned Mirajane, at which the guild concurred, though many male members agreed with Master's reasoning as well.
It was now near twilight in Argeon. Natsu and Happy walked through the Streets of Argeon. On an elevated walkway overlooking the ocean, Natsu saw Salamander's yacht in the distance. He turned green for a moment, before he overheard a group of women talking about the yacht.
"There's Salamander's Yacht!" one shouted.
"I wish I could have gotten an invite." one despaired.
"Wait, you mean Salamander, the Fairy Tail wizard?" another one asked.
"Hmm." Natsu's eyes glared at the ship. "So he's also impersonating a Fairy Tail wizard." He observed the cat resting on his shoulder, in response Happy nodded and jumped to stand on the railing.
"Let's go!" he shouted, startling the group of gossiping women.
"Go get him Natsu!" happily cheered Cana. Now with her sat the group of Mirajane, Levy, and Erza, two of which decided to wind down a little and drink with her.
Erza on the other hand thought about how Natsu was going to get over his weakness of moving vehicles to defeat the Salamander impersonator. 'Does he even have a plan?'
In Salamander's Yacht people cheered, drank and festered as they sometimes chanted the title of their guest. "Salamander!" "Salamander!" again and again.
In a private room under the deck of the ship sat Salamander with Lucy sitting in couches separated by a glass table. Long Curtains that reached the floor covered the entirety of the room, but two windows on opposite sides of the room. Salamander looked the same as the first time Lucy saw him while she was dressed in a brilliant red, strapped, dress.
"Lucy huh?" the man raised a glass of wine. "Such a beautiful name."
"Thank you." Lucy smiled, 'His smile still looks crooked.'
"Let us give a toast to this celebration." he poured a glass of wine for Lucy while she looked around the empty room.
"Don't you have other guests to entertain?"
"Well, I do. Though, I need to know you better to give a proper letter of recommendation to the master I am afraid." he raised her glass and a few bubbles of liquid floated across the table to the girl, held up by some kind of magic. "May your beautiful lips taste this truly magical wine."
Lucy felt a shiver run down her spine and forcefully closed her eyes. 'It's fine Lucy, you just have to play his game and you'll be in Fairy Tail' she opened her mouth to take in the wine, 'just go with the flow, go with the flow.' Lucy's open eyes widened in realization.
Salamander felt his smile drop when the girl pushed the bubbles of wine away. She stood up and glared at him with nothing but rage in her eyes.
"Those were sedatives weren't they?" she stood up, her eyes never veering from the fire mage.
Salamander's shoulders dropped, "Well there's no point now, Boys!" He snapped his fingers and behind Lucy, pushing the curtains aside were a group of large, burly men who restrained the girl before she could fight back.
"Watch out for her kick Boys." Salamander warned as his smirk only grew. "I have to say Lucy, you're smarter than most." He pulled aside a curtain parallel to their previous seats. Behind the curtain lay dozens of restrained and unconscious women. "Even still you've a first class seat on my Slave ship dear."
"Holy shit! Where is that Lizard Brain?"
"Calm down Gray."
"How can you be calm?" Gray's eyes narrowed on Erza "They are on a Slave SHIP, a vehicle, Natsu's weakness he won't be able to do anything."
"I trust Natsu knows what he's doing." At her words, Gray looked back to the projection, no words of his own coming after, but Erza knew he still disagreed with her.
"Change the ship's course boys, we're now heading to Bosco!" Salamander flicked around his finger a bundle of dangling, sliver, copper, and gold keys. "Now that we have the most dangerous mage in town in our grip, there's nothing that can stop us. Those Rune Knights will be too slow to catch up."
"W-what about Fairy Tail?" Sweating and shivering Lucy screamed.
In turn Salamander's smile turned to a disgusting laugh that rushed the now flood of tears running from her eyes to grow. "Such Naivety. So uncommon these days, you'll fetch a high price in Bosco."
'No this can't be happening!' Lucy screamed in her mind.
"It's so easy to restrain a Celestial Wizard, hm." Salamander continued to play with Lucy's keys, "But these have no use to me, so … " he tossed them past a window and they fell in the ocean.
"No!" she wailed, her head lowering down in defeat at the sight. 'Is these the things a mage like him does? A Fairy Tail Mage?'
"No! He's not with us!" shouted Laki again at the projection. This time Macao didn't remind her, the people on the projection couldn't hear her because he also shouted in disgust at the accusation. Soon the whole guild joined the two and Makarov couldn't help a smile from forming on his face.
A thunderous crash filled the eardrums and wobbled the ship, some falling down from the sudden change of balance and Lucy felt she was free, her captors losing their balance. Tumbling down from the hole in the ceiling she saw the flowing pink hair and cloak of her previous savior. "Natsu!?" She screamed, noticing behind and attaching himself to his back was Happy, though he was different as he had white swan-like wings protruding from his back and even though he scarcely flapped his wings, he floated there like gravity wasn't a thing to him. He then lowered Natsu and detached from him and left him to land on the broken wooden floor of the ship.
Natsu stood tall watching for any movement of the Slavers and Salamander, but a few seconds later he collapsed on the floor, his face green and muttering "D-damn, vehicles."
"Natsu!" "Come on!" "You can do it!" the screams echoed through the Guild.
"What's wrong!?" Lucy questioned, but her thoughts were cut short when one of the slavers rushed and jumped to catch her. She jumped to the side, dodging his tackle and delivered a round-house kick to his face when the man turned around to chase her again.
"I said watch out for her kicks!" shouted Salamander as he kicked around the struggling and dizzy Natsu on the floor.
"Happy take her away!" he shouted and blocked a kick from the fire mage, crossing his arms and being pushed around the ship in his moment of weakness.
Happy followed Natsu's order and swept down into the ship, dodging the Slavers that tried to swat him away and latched onto the blonde, "whoa whoa whoa!" Lucy squealed, her limbs frantically swaying in all directions at her new experience of flight.
"What about Natsu?" she asked her worry growing over the pink haired man.
"I can only carry one person." he replied, "Also don't worry about Natsu, we didn't tell you but he's a strong mage."
"Don't let her get away you morons!" In response a pair of Salamanders lackeys wiped out revolvers from hidden holsters under cloaks. They opened fire on the fleeing duo.
Happy's ears twitched and in an instant move to the side, dodging the incoming spray of projectiles. "Woah, they have guns!?" she screamed as happy flew from the hole Natsu made crashing into the ship and the lackeys lost line of sight with them. Slowing down when they got out of the ship, they now floated right behind its rear. " … Okay." she gulped her eyes fraying from the ship and on the ocean now below her. 'If the ship has been going at that speed in that direction then it must mean … ' "Happy fly me over there." She pointed to the previous path the ship traveled where now a glow of light broke through the surface.
They reached to be atop the glow over the swaying water "Okay, now you drop me and when I–" Happy dropped her and she fell tumbling down to face the water. "–How dare you!" The shout was heard even on the ship where Salamander was still kicking the defending Natsu all over the damaged room.
"You little shit!" he kicked him, his body tearing pushing aside the curtain where the captured women lay behind. Natsu's eyes widened at the sight of the tied up and unconscious girls and reached out to them.
Salamander saw a glow of light emit from behind the curtains and rushed at Natsu. He didn't expect a fist burst from the curtains, he felt his skin burn and a push like a tornado throwing him away like a ragdoll to the ground. He saw Natsu stand definitely, knees bent and looking ready to rush at him at any moment; But collapsed a moment later, this time vomiting on the floor of the ship. "Ha, ha ha!" Salamander laughed at the pathetic sight before him.
Outside having fallen on the ocean prematurely because of the blue cat Lucy swam to the floor of the coastal waters, the glow of light below guiding her and a few seconds later she emerged to the surface, her face meeting with a surprised Happy. "Why are you surprised? You thought I would drown!?" she shouted angrily at the little guy.
"Well yeah, you're pretty heavy." he nodded.
"Oh you little … " she stopped and breathed deeply, her legs still treading water to not keep herself on the surface of the water. She pulled out from the bundle of keys a golden key with blue markings and an engraving of a half-fish woman on it. She extended her arm and turned the key as if she were opening a locked door, a golden magical symbol appeared in front of the tip of the key, with the same symbol on the key itself and Lucy uttered "I command thee, O Gate of the Water Bearer open!" golden light showered over the area as from the light emerged a woman.
The woman had long blue hair that reached past her hips, tanned skin and eyeliner that despite her moist skin didn't dilute. She wore a blue bikini top with fish-like scale pattern and golden bracelets on her wrists. She held a large hourglass shaped chalice full of brilliant shining water. Her legs were missing, instead she had a large fishtail in their place, and despite the pull of gravity she floated above the water now looking down at the girl and cat.
"Woah! Such a beautiful fish!" exclaimed Happy, drool already dripping from his open maw falling on the blonde below him.
"Eww." Lucy shook off the drool and pushed Happy aside and called out to the fish-woman. "Now Aquarius, use your power and force that ship ashore!"
"Tsk" Aquarius growled and scowled at Lucy.
"Did you just Tsk'd me!?" a frantic Lucy shouted looking at the rocking ship.
"Shut up little girl!" she shouted, her glare intensified on the blonde. "I'll just say this once, if you drop my key one more time I'll Kill you." Her pointed, accusing finger to the blonde.
"O-Okay"
"Her spirit doesn't seem to be in a good relationship with her." noticed Mirajane.
"As if that wasn't obvious," Levy rolled her eyes.
Back in the ship Salamander kicked Natsu to the deck of the ship, his subordinates joined him wailing on the dizzy mage. The guy was tough, and every time they launched him to any part of the ship a bright flash of light would blind them momentarily, but it did nothing. The guy was still groveling on the floor after it. One of them looked around and noticed a particular detail of the ship. "E-eh Bora where are the people?" he slurred through his words and made Salamander, or Bora, notice that there wasn't a single one of the guests he tricked on the boat.
"What the hell?"
"Oy Boss!" A different lackey called out, in front of him and coming directly at the boat was a massive tidal wave, which soon collided with the yacht, its force pushed it onto shore destroying part of the port in the process and forcing the ship to fall on its starboard-side on the beach.
"Yeah! You go girl!" cheered Laki, laughs soon came from her at the sight of the destruction Lucy's spirit caused.
"Where did the people go?" asked Erza, her question worrying many members of the possible injuries they could have been inflicted in the crash, or worse. 'Those flashes of light though.'
Carried by the waves Lucy shouted "Not me! Why did you hit me!?" and washed up on the sandy beach Happy landing beside her shortly after. "Why did you do that!?" she questioned Aquarius who now floated in front of her above the wet sand of the beach.
"Oh, the boat got swept along as well." she almost sounded disappointed at the statement.
"So you were aiming at me!" Lucy squealed indignantly.
"Don't summon me for a while or there'll be consequences. I'm going out with my boyfriend.'' She smiled at the girl, though no one could call it a friendly smile by any means, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Just like that she leaves–" Lucy held up her fists in fury, "That woman is so infuriating … " She felt herself being picked up in the air once again and noticed happy once again began carrying her and flew to the ship, "Oh yeah Natsu!"
Inside the disordered ship Salamander and some of his goons got up, some were knocked out in the shipwreck, but most managed to stay awake.
In front of them also stood Natsu. "The rocking stopped … " he smirked at the furious slavers and signaled 'come on.'
Lucy slammed open the door to see a furious Salamander extend his hand and in front of him appear a purple magic circle. From the circle a burst of fire emerged from and blasted past everything else, hitting Natsu who didn't move in any way to dodge it.
"No!" Engulfed in a vortex of purple flames, Natsu was no longer visible, only purple light emitted from there.
"Don't worry about it." on her shoulder Happy shrugged.
"W-what are you saying!? He–" she noticed Natsu didn't move an inch, he simply stood there and took the attack, not long after a swirling vortex started to come from Natsu and the fire slowly subsided. Emerging through the fire Natsu's mouth became visible, like the eye of a tornado it all concentrated on it and was sucked in, leaving no fire as if Salamander never attacked him.
"Tsk, that was such a low quality fire Bora, are you actually a mage?" Natsu feigned confusion, tilting his head as he scratched the side of it. "Why did you even make it purple anyways? To stand out?" Natsu caught another projectile from Bora, this time with his hand as if the fire didn't hurt him he placed it on his mouth and swallowed it.
"imbeciles shoot!" Bora ordered his lackeys and they fired at Natsu. he still didn't move from his spot and let the bullets strike. His body jerked at the hits and he leaned back, still standing. Small clouds of smoke floated up from where the bullets made contact and Natsu locked his sights on the Salamander.
"Now he's just showing off." grumbled Gray, his frown unseen by him mocked by the cheering Cana drinking behind him.
Shaking and baffled Bora's lackeys' opened fire again. This time their bullets were disintegrated by Natsu swatting them away with his now flaming hand. Although not just his hand was on fire, but his entire body. "Get closer Bora!" Natsu swatted a lackey aside, "Did you join while I was away!" Natsu scowled at the man as he punched another lackey to the ground, burning him and breaking the wooden floor beneath him leaving him nocked out. "Because I am Natsu of Fairy Tail and I have never seen your face!" he took the cowering Salamander by the hem of his shirt and raised him in the air.
"Natsu is a Fairy tail wizard!?" Lucy exclaimed, confused and excited at the sight of Natsu easily defeating Salamander, or Bora as he called him. 'is this the strength of a Fairy Tail wizard?'
"Hell yeah, you go Natsu!" chanted the guild.
Natsu threw Bora in the air above him and delivered a flaming fist right on the man's stomach. the hit catapulted him in the air crashing through the ceiling of the yacht and landing squarely on the wet sand of the beach, where now a crowd stood expectantly at the shipwreck just outside the area of the beach. Bora was knocked out the moment Natsu's fist his him and felt painfully on the sand.
Natsu looked back at Happy who was carried by the shocked and amazed Lucy. He gave a wide smile to the two and said "Come on, let's get out of here."
Once they got out and landed on the wet beach Natsu walked closer to the town and extended his palm. A bright light once again emitted from it and after it subsided a pile of unconscious women now lay on the sand. Recognizable as the guests and future slaves of Salamander/Bora if Natsu hadn't intervened.
Erza's smile grew. 'I was right, though I never realized Natsu knew such advanced Reequip magic.'
"How did you–"she stopped when she heard a shout in the distance.
"The Rune Knights have arrived!" A legion of armored men approached the downed yacht. The man leading the group the Legion Captain began to shout orders at his men and spoke to the crowd. "Anyone who had a role in this incident will be taken for questioning."
Lucy was suddenly dragged at such speeds that she was in the air. Natsu had begun to run to the road to the north-east, the opposite side from where the rune knights came. "Wait, why are you taking me!?' she noticed behind her the rune knights had begun their chase of them.
"Fleeing suspects!" she heard in the distance.
"Don't worry Luffy." Both Natsu and Happy assured her. "We are simply taking you to Fairy Tail."
"Really!?" Lucy couldn't help a bright smile from forming on her face, the crude form of travel no longer bothering her. Natsu saved her and proved he was a member of the guild she hoped to join for so long. His guild mark was no fake, she could feel the magic emanating from it, as a guild mark is no regular tattoo. 'Fairy Tail, here I come.'
A paper was slammed on the desk, councilors were discussing the freshest reports of the incident in Argeon.
"What did I tell you, Ultear. He still caused great damage to the port of the town." proclaimed the short, cat man.
"Calm down Michello, you have to admit he's lowered his destructive tendencies by a great deal." Ultear called out the cat-like councilor, Michello.
"Hm, honestly I hoped he caused more of a ruckus." Siegrain commented disappointed by the turn of events. "Those guys of Fairy Tail at least brighten my day of writing legislations every once in a while." He shrugged.
Ultear seemed to unconsciously nod her head in agreement at Siegrain's statement.
"You know, from what this has shown us, this Ultear gal, who might be Natsu's girlfriend, might not be so bad, despite being a council member." Cana chose to share her thoughts, "I approve!
Mirajane got close to her and whispered, "Didn't you tell me you were going to take Natsu for yourself?"
"Well yeah, but we could turn it into a three-way!" Cana exclaimed and Mirajane cursed at the perpetually drunk girl's lack of volume control. She felt her cheeks burning and ears turn red as most of the guild now had their eyes on the two and particularly Erza's stunned and embarrassed face, 'She must have never thought of things like those huh.'
"Don't worry guys, I was just giving Mirajane tips to bed Natsu and his girlfriend." Cana nonchalantly told the guild who listened mortified and gasping at the news.
"That's blatantly untrue!" an embarrassed and humiliated Mirajane screamed.
A few minutes later, everyone had mostly calmed down. Mira woke up Erza who had passed out from second-hand embarrassment or at the implications of what Cana said, Mira didn't exactly know.
Erza bolted up and looked around the guild frantically. Once her eyes met with Mirajane she immediately deflected her gaze and her cheeks burned red. She leaned closer to Mirajane and whispered so no one heard her, "Is a three way, a guy and two girls doing … That?" she asked.
Mirajane looked at Erza with a deadpan expression, "Shouldn't you know, you read Levy's smut novels right?" At her accusation Erza's cheeks grew even redder and reached the same scarlet color of her hair.
"W-well, um … I could never get p-past the first page on any of them." she shakily replied, looking down on the ground.
Mirajane felt like laughing, but that would only embarrass the scarlet mage further. Instead she made her look up to the projection to bring her mind out of any lewd thoughts.
It was now midnight and a bright fire illuminated the camp the now group of three slept in. Though only two of the three slept; Lucy lay in a sleeping bag Natsu gave her, with Happy with her inside it, unwilling to sleep on the grass or ground. Natsu himself looked at the night sky for a little while. His eyes traced over all the stars he could see, and especially a bright reddish star that always directed north. Eventually he extended his hand and from another bright shine of light a communication lacrima rested on his palm. He poured his magic into it and a few seconds later a holographic projection of the person on the other side appeared in front of him. It was Thought Projection magic with the assistance of a lacrima and in front of him now stood the Magic Council member Ultear.
"Well well, another girl?" She looked at the sleeping form of Lucy on the other side of the campfire. "Are you cheating on me dear?" she smiled as she got closer and closer to Natsu's face.
Natsu didn't react to anything Ultear, although playfully, accused him of. "Ultear, can you drop the act?" he asked.
"Where would be the fun in that?"
"You won't get what you want if you stay involved with that group."
'Group? The council?' wondered Makarov.
Natsu smiled at the purple haired woman in front of him. " … You've always wondered how I discovered you so fast, right?"
Ultear's smile turned sour and vanished from her face she crossed her arms waiting for Natsu to speak. Natsu smirked and patted the ground next to him, where Ultear sat shortly thereafter.
"I'll tell you this. You remind me of someone." He pointed to the sleeping form of Lucy and said "Lucy as well and a few other people too, not like a sense of familiarity either; its more like I met you before and we both don't remember it, it made me interested in you and not long after I found out what you were really involved in."
"Now that I think about it, I've never seen Natsu act like this before." mentioned Levy.
"What do you mean by that?" questioned Gray. He hadn't paid as much attention as others to his pink haired rival and instead looked at the purple haired woman who looked remarkably familiar to him.
"I mean, I don't remember seeing him so … serious before."
"–Not even Hades knows your cover has already been blown. Why haven't you told him?"
"Do you think I want to be humiliated in such a way in front of all of them? Especially Meredy what would she think?"
"I already offered a place for you and Meredy in Fairy Tail." Natsu reminded the woman, having previously offered it to her many times in the past.
"Do you really think I can hide from Hades?"
"I am certain that he is nothing compared to the combined might of Fairy Tail." Natsu stood up and next to him a projection like Ultear's own appeared next to him, made from his own magic. It was of a young twelve-year old girl. She's short and has long pink hair wearing a white blouse and long skirt with dainty pink shoes. "–and besides, how would Meredy feel if she couldn't see her Big Brother anymore?" The projection ran to Natsu and hugged him as much as she could, that being just above his waist with her head leaned on his torso and a bright smile was visible for all to see on the projected Meredy's face.
Natsu caught the small inclination of Ultear's face. She had a small, nearly imperceptible smile on her face, but soon turned into a large smile on her face. "Meredy has taken a liking to calling you 'daddy' in private."
Along with Natsu a majority of the guild stood stunned, while those who were drinking did a spit take.
"W-what?" Natsu internally cursed his stutter, and looked at Ultear, who slowly approached him. She caressed his face with her smooth and silky hands. Getting closer and closer, Ultear pressed her body against the frozen Natsu, in his surprise he lost concentration in forming the projection of Meredy and the illusion of the girl disappeared.
"Mm" she moaned while holding him closer and whispered something to his ear and gently blew into it. "I'm sure you know … I wouldn't mind calling you 'daddy' too." It wasn't a second later when Ultear noticed Natsu went limp. "Oh, he passed out." She was about to lay him on the ground, but felt a pair of eyes on the back of her head. She rapidly turned around and noticed the blonde, Lucy, looking at her with wide eyes and a large colorful blush on her face. "H-how much did you hear?" Ultear couldn't help an equally red blush to appear on her face as well.
"J-just the daddy thing." Lucy replied, she wondered who the woman was, but she concluded she's most likely a friend of Natsu …
"Don't speak of this to anyone or there'll be consequences." Ultear glared at the girl.
"O-okay."
" … "
" … Who are you?"
"I-I am Natsu's, friend."
"What kind of 'friend'?" Ultear noticed she still held the sleeping Natsu in her arms.
"A very close friend." Ultear tried to hide her blush and kneeled to lay the unconscious Natsu on the ground. "You're Lucy right?" she asked.
"Yeah, are you a part of Fairy Tail? Natsu's taking me there." Lucy tried to start a friendly conversation with the woman, and did her best to ignore what she seductively said to Natsu.
"Oh, no I am not. I'm part of the Magic Council." She caressed the pink haired man now resting on her lap, "Someone has to watch out for this idiot and Fairy tail's destructive tendencies. Fill out the paperwork as well."
"Are they really that bad?" Lucy heard and read of them before, but never saw for herself the extent of Fairy Tail's destruction.
'So that's why the paperwork is far less than before' Makarov was sure he needed to thank Natsu and Ultear when he came back and whenever he would meet her.
" … My colleagues theorized Natsu would destroy at least half of the town to catch that Bora Slaver. Thankfully only the port was partially destroyed." She smiled proudly at the sleeping Natsu.
"Oh … "
"Hm?"
"That was me. I was the one that destroyed part of the port; my spirit, she didn't listen to me and overdid it."
"Oh my." She scratched Natsu's hair faster, "That means Natsu has gotten way better at controlling his destruction. Now he just needs to help his guild mates lessen their own and my desk will have one less mountain of paperwork." The woman's words scared Lucy at what kind of job Ultear had.
"Are we really that bad?" asked Macao.
"So now you worry!? when you inconvenience a beautiful young woman!" Laki screamed in his face.
"Calm down girl." Wakaba took the wood mage and dragged her away from the fire mage.
"Anyways, goodbye Lucy I might see you again some day." Ultear stood up and waved at the girl.
"Wait, what's your name?"
"Oh, did I forget that?" Ultear scratched the back of her head in a manner that reminded Lucy of Natsu. "It's Ultear, Ultear Milkovich."
Lucy replied in kind, "My name is Lucy … Lucy H-Heartfillia."
"The runaway of Heartfillia Corp." Ultear smiled at the now sweating blonde.
"Please don't tell anyone I-" Ultear pressed her finger on Lucy's lips.
"Don't worry, I'll never tell." She winked and whispered in her ear. At what she whispered Lucy frantically nodded with a small blush on her cheeks.
"Okay, okay, I promise." She saw as Ultear slowly faded away as she broke the connection of the Thought Projection. She sighed and laid back down and got into the sleeping bag and grabbed the sleeping Happy, who still rested in a deep sleep even through all the noise and her moving him around. 'He must have a nice dream'.
She fell asleep eager for tomorrow when she would accomplish one of her dreams and join the Fairy tail guild.