Hello, people! Nightlingbolt here! Welcome back to "The ABCs of Natsu and Erza!" Today's chapter is brought to you by the letter I, as in Isolation!
Honestly, this is pretty much filler, so if you don't want to read this chapter, I won't stop you (not like I can). If you decide not to read, I'll just say this here: I have no plans to continue Conversion. I wrote it on my iPod spur of the moment early in the morning during the beginnings of a head cold and a sore throat, so I don't really have any plans for it. Besides, I would like to get started on some of my other ideas, primarily "It Takes A Guild," my next-gen Fairy Tail story. Besides, I have this, that, Heart to Heartfilia, When the Sky Falls, a project for a friend on deviantArt, and a potential Let's Play to worry about, and I just don't see any opportunity to craft a whole universe for Conversion. However, if anyone likes it, I'd be more than willing to let them adopt and continue it. Just send a PM my way, and we'll chat.
I could say more, but I don't want a large Author's Note to get in the way of the story, so without further ado, enjoy Isolation.
I own Dion Mencierte, and I own Human Requip. Anything else is Hiro Mashima's.
Team Natsu, or Fairy Tail's Strongest Team, was on the hunt for a recently escaped dark mage. He was last tracked to the town of Onibus, and the team was in hot pursuit thanks to Natsu's superior sense of smell.
Suddenly, Natsu stopped at the entrance to an alley. "What's wrong?" asked Erza.
"Don't ask me how, but somehow, the guy managed to split his scent!" explained Natsu angrily.
"What?" asked a confused Lucy.
"He means he smells the perp's scent going in two different directions," said Gray, having long since gotten used to Natsu's way of wording things.
"Do you smell any other scents?" Erza asked Natsu.
The Dragon Slayer took a moment to sniff both paths, then gave his analysis. "I only smell one other scent straight ahead, but there's at least half a dozen down the alley," he said. "That's probably how he split up his own scent!"
"Hired thugs?" asked Lucy.
"Most likely," replied Gray.
"I would surmise that our escapee has gone down the path where he would be better protected," said Erza.
"I don't think so," said Lucy. "The straight path leads right to the town square, so if he goes that way, civilians are bound to get involved, which works to his advantage."
Natsu closed his eyes and tilted his head downward in a thoughtful position. "I agree with Lucy. He puts us at more of a disadvantage if we have to worry about people getting hurt," he said.
"Wouldn't we also be at a disadvantage fighting in close quarters?" asked Happy, speaking up for the first time.
"Yes, but so would he," said Erza. "In that sense, it wouldn't matter."
"So what's our plan of attack?" asked Gray.
"You, Happy, and Lucy will take the straight path, sticking only to melee attacks if forced to engage. Natsu, you'll be going down the alley with me," Erza ordered. "Ready…? BREAK!" The two teams went their separate ways.
No sooner than Natsu and Erza gone ten feet into the alley had the thugs Lucy spoke of decided to attack. They were advancing quickly, and Erza took a battle stance.
Natsu, however, gave Erza his signature grin and said, "Hang back, Erza. I got this." Erza barely had time to protest before a large flame engulfed Natsu's feet. "Fire Dragon's Claw!" he shouted.
His feet rocketed him into one of the thugs, then he managed to propel himself into another, repeating until they were all knocked out.
Erza wanted to compliment Natsun how well he had used that attack, but she didn't want to sound like a fangirl. Granted, she was his girlfriend, so she had every right to, but she had a little more class than that, and instead settled for saying, "There goes my fun for the day."
"Not yet," said Natsu. "I hear their boss is pretty tough!"
"Thank you for the compliment," said a new voice. The two mages saw a man in his early thirties come out of hiding. The first thing Erza noticed was his hideous green trenchcoat and how it clashed with his plum hair.
"Dion Mencierte, you are wanted for use of illegal magic, sale of forbidden magical items, and escaping the Magic Council's prison!" Erza announced. "You are to come quietly or we will use force!"
"Please don't come quietly!" said Natsu. "Your henchmen were weak as crap!"
"Such are hired thugs, Salamander Natsu," said Mencierte. "Always looking for money, never qualified for the job. And Titania Erza, you will be pleased to know that I stand no chance against you both in a fair fight."
"Then do you surrender?" Erza asked.
Mencierte smirked. "When did I say that?" he said with a laugh.
"Talk straight, you bastard!" Natsu yelled, his fist aflame. Meanwhile, Erza muttered "They always choose the hard way." Both mages charged at Mencierte, Erza not having chosen an armor, waiting to determine how her opponent would fight. However, to both their surprise, Natsu and Erza were frozen in place when they got within five feet of Mencierte.
"Ah!" exclaimed Mencierte. "You've activated my Justu Shiki trap!" Sure enough, Natsu and Erza saw a message saying, "Mages caught within this field are forbidden from all movement or magic except their mouths."
"You bastard!" Erza spat.
"I chose my words carefully, Titania!" said Mencierte. "I said I stood no chance in a fair fight! Now, I can kill you with one well-placed blow each. But then you wouldn't be suffering, now would you?" He spread his arms out as two purple magic circles appeared in between Natsu and Erza.
"Human Requip!" he shouted. The circles closed in on the Fairy Tail mages, and in a flash of light, they disappeared from sight.
The next thing Natsu knew, he and Erza had landed in some weird place. Everything around them was white. Actually, nothing at all was around them. There was only a floor and nothing else.
"Mencierte!" Natsu screamed. "Let us out of here, you jerk!"
Fortunately, Erza had a better grasp on the situation than her boyfriend. "Calm down, Natsu," she said after landing a hard hit on the Dragon Slayer. "This is only a pocket dimension."
"Pocket dimension? You mean we're in someone's pocket?" asked Natsu. He didn't seem to like the idea one bit.
Erza sighed. "A pocket dimension is a space where Requip users store their belongings," she said. "I knew Mencierte was proficient in many forms of illegal magic, but I didn't think he could use Human Requip."
"Human Requip? Like Requipping humans?"
"Yup," said Erza. "It was outlawed due to its use in human trafficking throughout the years. However, we're not totally stuck here… so long as Lucy and Gray defeat Mencierte."
"Oh, then we'll be out of here in no time!" said Natsu with a smile. "Lucy's strong, and so is Gray, though I'd never tell him so myself. But that doesn't mean he's stronger than me!"
Erza could only smile at her boyfriend's confidence, with no doubt in her mind it was perfectly placed. Natsu's rivalry with Gray was as strong as ever, and Lucy was well on her way to becoming one of Fairy Tail's top mages. In fact, she was recently named Sorcerer Weekly's "Premier Celestial Spirit Mage," a title befitting of someone who's gathered nearly all the Golden Keys. Still, Erza was somewhat jealous of Lucy for one simple reason.
Natsu kept sleeping in her bed.
Erza knew Natsu wasn't the cheating type, but she also knew he wouldn't tell her straight to her face if he decided to break up with her. Having decided on her course of action, she spoke. "Natsu?"
"Yeah?" said Natsu.
"What is your relationship with Lucy?"
Natsu looked surprised that Erza would ask him that. "We're best friends. I thought you knew that already," he answered.
"Yes, but according to Lucy, you end up falling asleep in her bed a lot," said Erza tersely. "Sometimes with her in it!"
"Eh, I'd sleep in your bed, but I'm not allowed at Fairy Hills," said Natsu.
"Anyone is welcome at Fairy Hills as long as they are an invited guest of one of the residents. Even boys," said Erza. "You should know this, Natsu! I've had you over several times, and we cuddle about half the time!" She punctuated this statement with a harsh glare.
"Natsu, if there's something you're not telling me, then please tell me already!" Erza shouted. "If you don't love me anymore, I deserve to know about it instead of letting you just lead me on!"
By this point, Erza was blinking back tears. It was at this point that Natsu decided he couldn't hide it anymore. "You're right, Erza," he said. "You deserve to know the truth."
Erza braced herself for the inevitable good-bye.
"I've been keeping this to myself for a while now, but now I see that I was only hurting you by doing that."
She should have known she was never meant to be happy. First Jellal betrayed her, now Natsu was breaking up with her.
Natsu took a deep breath and began to speak. "Erza… your bed's not comfortable. At all."
"WHAT?" screeched Erza as she punched Natsu with as much force as she could muster.
"You make me think you're leaving me for another woman, and you tell me my bed isn't comfortable?"
"Um… yes?" said Natsu timidly, bracing himself for yet another blow. However, much to his surprise, he found himself being kiss attacked by his girlfriend.
"You idiot!... Don't ever … scare me like that… again!" Erza said, planting kisses all over Natsu's face in between her words.
Natsu giggled. "Of course not, Baby Red," he replied. "But seriously, your bed's hard as a rock."
"Is not!" Erza pouted childishly. "It's just very firm! It's good for my posture!"
"I can hardly sleep on that thing!" said Natsu dramatically.
"Well, maybe we'll have to give some serious thought to me moving in with you, won't we, Honey Dragon?" cooed Erza.
Natsu froze up for a moment. "Can't you just get one of those Sleep Number beds?" he asked.
"Do you have any idea how much those things cost?" asked Erza.
"I can deal with your hard – sorry, firm! – bed until you save up enough," said Natsu.
"Good," said Erza. Because I don't want you slouching!"
"In bed!" said Natsu with a cheeky grin.
"Really," muttered Erza. "You really went there."
"For you, I'll go anywhere," said Natsu.
"Nice segue," complimented Erza. Natsu just kissed her in response. It was sweet and tender, and when Natsu's tongue sought entrance, Erza complied without hesitation.
They kissed for about ten minutes, when suddenly, there was a flash of light, and they hit the ground and found themselves in the Onibus town square. They took in the scene before them. Lucy and Gray were breathing heavily, standing over an apparently defeated Mencierte.
"You guys have crappy timing," said Natsu.
"Oh, excuse us for defeating him while we had the chance!" Gray retorted. This sparked one of their famous arguments, which did NOT suit Lucy's mood.
"Listen, you stupid shitheads," the Celestial Mage growled. "I had to summon three, count 'em, THREE Golden Key Spirits in that fight! I am NOT about to let that go to waste with you two DESTROYING everything! So knock it off before I destroy YOU! GOT IT?" The boys could only nod, and once she banged their heads together, Lucy was satisfied.
"Natsu was right, you know," said Erza with a wink. "You do have bad timing."
Lucy could only blush at what Erza was implying.
If you made it through, congratulations, here's a cookie. If you liked it, here's two. If you didn't like it but have the balls to tell me, here's some ice cream to sandwich in between the cookies.
Off-hand, what would you guys call a JellalNatsuErza triangle story? Because I recently finished one up (and trust me, it's a long-ass piece of pie), and I have no idea what the title should be.
Anyway, once that's up, I'll be rewriting Cheat and Guilt a little bit to reflect the events in it (because they contradict what was already there). And be on the lookout for a new series of Lucy oneshots called "Love and Luc y" (the space is intentional). Basically, it's oneshots of Lucy paired with various Fairy Tail characters, uploaded and worked on when I feel I have time and whenever inspiration strikes me. But that's for another day, so until then, peace and love from Nightlingbolt!