Natsu sat at the bar with a dark look on his face, "Can I have a whiskey please Lis?" The young silver haired barmaid simply laughed "You know master would be angry if I did that, he said already he won't let anyone younger than 18 drink. You're 15 remember? Not that it stops Cana." Natsu smiled softly, he knew he couldn't blame Lisanna. He just needed to block out the voices of the guild. One in particular. That bitch with a capital B Lucy. She turned up three months ago and had roped Natsu into forming a team, then she spent the whole time moaning about her rent and whenever they got back she constantly talked shit about him behind his back, trying to turn the guild against him, all of them forgetting his extremely sharp hearing. And it worked. Only Erza, the Strauss' and Levy bothered talking with him. But then he heard something that shocked him. A certain voice drifted over from the corner of the guild hall. "Y'know what you blonde bitch! Quit having a go at flamebrain! He might be destructive and dumb but the fucking guy has done more for this guild than you ever will. You seem to have forgotten the fact that although he was raised by a dragon he is still human and I'm not gonna keep sitting here quietly listening to you." Natsu grinned, so the snowflake did have a heart after all. What he heard next though turned his own heart cold. "You mean he says he was raised by a dragon. He probably made that up because everyone else here actually has a rough background. That was enough for Natsu and he barely even grunted out a "Seeya Lis." Before he stormed out of the guild.
A week later
Natsu was on his knees weeping at Lisanna's grave. He had been there for three days straight now, not eating or sleeping. He'd barely kept himself together the first two days, but he'd needed to be strong for Mirajane and Elfman and now they were there for each other he had broken down. Rain poured down Natsu's face and his very magic was beginning to flicker. "C'mon candlelight" a cold hand gripped his shoulder "you'll end up dying out here yourself. Lisanna wouldn't want this. She needs you happy. The guild needs you happy. Erza's had a full meltdown worrying about you." Natsu snorted, "The guild doesn't care, Lucy took care of that." The hand on his shoulder tightened painfully. "Look Gray. I can't go back there. I need to get stronger. If I had been stronger L… She would be alive and safe. I'm going to train for a long time and I can't do that with the guild." Gray's response shook him. "Then like hell you'll do it alone, beside who better to train with than your rival?" Natsu looked up, "Why?" Gray smiled softly, "We might be at each other's throats all the time, but we are brothers in everything but blood and brothers look after each other." This made Natsu smile for the first time in six days. "What about Happy? Is he coming?" asked Gray, "No. I won't risk his safety he can stay with the Strauss'. Just us okay?"
"Okay" came the response.
The next day at the guild there was a crowd of shocked faces. A letter announcing the two's departure but not only that a photo was top of the later showing the two wizards without Fairy Tail's guild mark.
Natsu and Gray stood on a hill overlooking Magnolia, each with matching sad smiles. Then they turned and left.
Two years later
Natsu grinned with excitement as he and Gray walked down a forest path, the two had had a rough two years training but the results were undeniable. Both the boys had bulked out considerably but were still on the lean side, they were wearing tight fitting leather vests rimmed in iron and Natsu wore black, metallic knuckledusters that glimmered viciously whereas Gray opted for silvery-white bracers. They both wore fairly baggy combat trousers and leather combat boots and each of them had their recognisable trademark items, Natsu's scarf and Gray's necklace. Natsu's hair was slightly longer and three claw shaped scars marred his right forearm and Gray now had a strange curling black tribal tattoo wrapping up his left arm. "What do reckon changed the most?" asked Natsu, "I bet ya they have a new guild hall, they destroy so much." Gray grinned back, "I remember that being you dragon-breath, nah I bet Bisca and Alzack finally hooked up."
"It's on popsicle! Two thousand jewels sound fair?" Gray laughed "Sure I could do with some easy money and when it comes to betting your luck is going to run out one day."
Half an hour later the guild hall doors were kicked open by the two. "OI GRAMPS!" They screamed, "HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TWO NEW RECRUITS?" The guild turned to look at the newcomers. And their jaws dropped. "GRAY?! NATSU?!" the two simply grinned. "Yo guys, how have you been?" said Natsu seconds before he was barrelled to the ground by a certain red-haired knight. "WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU NATSU? DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS?" iron-clad fists began wailing down onto Natsu, then, surprising everyone he caught her wrists and stopped her. "Chill out Erza we're all good. How have you been?" Then Natsu leant up and whispered something in Erza's ear that no-one could quite catch. What they did see however was Erza turn bright red in embarrassment and begin stuttering causing several jaws to drop. "I…i… w…was worried… s…sick N…Natsu" Erza managed to fumble out. "Well there's no need for that okay?" several guild members were pinching themselves and by this point Mirajane had sidled up to Gray, "He figured out Erza had a crush on him back then?" she whispered "Yup. The guy isn't as dumb as he makes out and he does have the advantage of advanced hearing, though that can be a blessing and a curse." Gray muttered out of the corner of his mouth, a dark look gracing his features at the last point. It was at this point the master tumbled off of his perch at the second floor railing. "Glad to see you two back Gray and Natsu, you wish to re-join the guild?"
"That's the ticket Gramps" replied Gray as the master stretched out his arm to grab the stamp using his titan magic. "Same place as before?" asked Makarov, "You know it Gramps" called out Natsu, who by this point was stood back up and had his arm slung around Erza's shoulders, said mage's face now indistinguishable from her hair. As the master began stamping the mark onto the two wizards Mirajane leant into Gray's ear. "Y'know that letter you guys' left probably saved my rep. When Lisanna… left. I was all set on giving up my magic totally, but seeing you and Natsu leave to train and your reasons for it. It reminded me why I even learnt my magic in the first place, to protect my family. Now I'm stronger than ever." Gray smiled mischievously, "Oh I think I'd love to have a fight with you soon." The response was instantaneous "You're on pretty boy." Causing Gray's smile to widen. Finally it seemed Erza had recovered, "You two picked a good time to return after all. Gray, Natsu I require your assistance in defeating a dark guild I have been investigating." She puffed out her chest imperiously, "What tin-can means is, we want to see you guys in action and by the way it was both of us that investigated that dark guild, if only flatty had done so we wouldn't have any info 'cause she would be too busy with her cakes." Mira flashed a devilish smile "WANNA GO GOTH BITCH?!" screamed Erza, barely restrained by Natsu, "ANY TIME ANY PLACE" yelled Mira, also being held back though by Gray. Two goliath hands slammed the S-Class mages into the ground "ENOUGH" yelled the master. Erza stood up and dusted herself off, "Of course master" causing Natsu to roll his eyes at her instant recovery, "Better get going brats, they're on the move" continued the master and with a nod from Erza she and Mirajane began dragging Gray and Natsu out of the guild.
"Shouldn't you be in agony right now Natsu?" asked Erza confused as the train shuddered down the tracks. Getting no response from him she was about to punch the Fire Mage before Gray pushed her fist down. "You really think I could have managed two years with him if we couldn't go on trains? He can manage now but has to really focus, doesn't really respond to anything until it stops moving, stops him chucking up on me though." Erza and Mirajane looked at the two in wonder, "You guys really changed huh?" asked Mira, "Yeah… well neither of us would let the other slack off." Muttered Natsu quietly, the two girls took the answer in their stride, "Figures. Succubus and I did a similar thing. Turns out training with a rival can really get results." Commented Erza, sparks emanating from Mirajane. "Anyway, ignoring ginger over there what's with the new get-up?" asked said wizard, Gray shrugged. "Loot, custom weaponry. In all honesty it was about practicality. Both our bodies are extremely durable but this armour" Gray tapped the leather on his chest "just means we take even less damage and therefore long. I use these" he then knocked his bracers on the chair "to stop arrows et cetera and flamebrain uses his knuckledusters to make him even deadlier in a brawl." Mirajane listened intently "What about the tattoo? Not to mention both of you guys' magic feels different." Gray simply tapped the side of his nose "That is on a need to know basis, we just picked up some tricks during our training"
"Just… so you know. S'not just me who got rid of a bad… habit. Pervert doesn't even strip anymore." The two girls snapped their heads to look at Gray who scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "Yeah, finally got that sorted. The worst thing is that it took longer than it did to train hothead out of motion sickness." A snigger escaped Erza before she patted his head patronisingly. "At least we won't have to punish you for stripping randomly anymore." As Erza said this the train slowed to a stop. The group stood and were just about to leave when Natsu grabbed Gray's shoulder "Sense that?" he asked in a low tone, Gray focused for a moment before gaining a dark look, "Zeref" he hissed, "Mira, Erza c'mon, there is dark magic on this train." The two girls in question gained serious looks. To their surprise Natsu started first silently, creeping into the carriage ahead, "Come out, come out wherever you are." He muttered in a sing song voice. Just ahead of them the mages spotted a man with pitch black hair look up sharply. He then caught sight of Gray and Natsu and his face turned white as a ghost, "The Demon Twins?" he whimpered before shadows swirled in front of him, blasted a hole out of the side of the train and sprinted off in terror. Natsu gained an evil grin which Gray mirrored, "I love it when our prey runs." His magic power filling the room, catching Erza and Mira's looks he explained himself, "We gained a bit of a reputation as dark mage hunters, especially when it came to Zeref." With that fire swirled under his feet and he blasted out of the hole in the train, Gray looked back with a grin "Coming?" he asked and with that he launched himself out with a pillar of ice. Erza and Mira looked at each other in wonder. Then shrugged.
"REQUIP: BLACK WING ARMOUR"
"TAKEOVER: SATAN SOUL"
And with that the two S-Class soared after the two pursuing mages.
Erigor's lip curled in disgust, "What do you mean the Demon Twins?" he asked with disdain, "I'm telling you! They were there! On the train! They could turn up any time!" shouted Kageyama, pulling hair out in fear. "Nonsense, the last anyone heard they were imprisoned in Bosco" though doubt flickered in his confident statement. "Yes and that was three months ago, everyone knows their reputation and Bosco never releases information that could make them look weak!" A resounding crash echoed through the train station that the dark guild Eisenwald were currently holed up in. "Talking about us?" came a derisive voice, two shadowed figures strolled into the centre of the station, hard, bright light shone down on the two and revealed Natsu and Gray. Ice and fire began swirling around the two forming intricate patterns that flitted through the air and broke and reformed as fast as they were made. Several of the dark mages in the room began shivering uncontrollably. "You know it's rude to talk about someone behind their back." This time it was Gray who spoke. Erigor began laughing maniacally, though there was a definite note of fear there. "You fools think you can take on the dark guild of Eisenwald? I could destroy you with a flick of my wrist." The statement made Natsu grin, "What was that phrase again?" he said to himself, "Oh yeah." A devilish grin grew even wider. "Come on and get it then. If you think you're hard enough" with that said Erigor threw himself at Natsu, who blasted himself with barely restrained excitement. Gray cricked his neck to one side and even more ice began swirling around his hands "Please tell me I'll at least get a half decent fight out of this, I don't want to get all worked up to find there are only grunts." A strangely dressed man stepped forwards, his coat yellow and black stripes and an evil smile forming as he spoke. "My name is Rayule and I think I will have the pleasure of fighting and defeating you." Black cables dripped from his arms and began racing towards Gray, however without even blinking Gray simply raised his hand and the cables froze then shattered. "Freeze" he spoke in a monotone and his would be opponent was encased in ice. "Like I said. I want at least a half decent fight." The other members began to flee, however Gray raised his hands again "Ice Make: Walls" huge four-metre thick bastions rose from the ground up to the roof, trapping the dark guild. It was at point Erza and Mira flew in. "Thank god for the cavalry" muttered Gray sarcastically, "HEY YOU TWO! MIND TAKING OUT THE BOZO'S DOWN HERE WHILE I LOOK FOR A DECENT FIGHT?" Erza and Mira looked down in annoyance and were about to respond when Gray interrupted them again. "CHEERS" and with that he strolled off in search of a mage with some actual skill. A sudden yell caught entire station's attention "FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR" and a pillar of flame stretched out into the visible sky, two figures could barely be seen high above Oshibana station and fire and gusts of wind snapped back and forth. Natsu grinned happily, it had been too long since he'd stretched his metaphorical magical muscles and even longer since someone gave him a challenge. "Where's the Zerefian item you guys had?" He yelled at Erigor, the wind mage sneered, "Looks like Kage's taking it to its true destination. It's no longer here." Natsu lost his childish excitement and all of a sudden Erigor was reminded of why the mage was so feared in the underworld. The black knuckledusters Natsu wore began to glow orange with heat, then white, then gained a bluish tint. "Guess I can't enjoy this fight after all. FIRE DRAGON'S IMPLODING FIST" As Natsu launched the punch at the wind mages chest the air super-heated at such a speed the space directly in front of Natsu's fist formed plasma and as the metal crushed into Erigor's ribcage it snapped out, devouring oxygen, forming a vacuum which sucked in more air and created a massive explosion. The force behind the attack rocketed Erigor back towards the ground and as he impacted a crater the size of a house was formed. Natsu cut off the fire keeping him air borne and dropped to the earth like a stone. He quickly caught Gray's scent and caught up with the ice mage. "The item has been taken by some other mage and I can only find one scent leaving the building. We need to hurry." Gray nodded in agreement. "You grab Erza, I'll get Mira."
The night was practically silent around Kageyama and he held Lullaby in trembling fingers. "I… I can do this… the old geezers betrayed us… I… I can…" the flute dropped from his fingers. A rumble echoed through the ground and a deep voice echoed out "Disgusting coward. After all this you can't even play a little tune. I will do this myself." The flute warped slightly, wood bulging unnaturally. A magic circle grew from its head. There was a flash of light and then in place of the flute was a demon the size of a mountain. "HAHAHAHA it's good to be free once more." Bellowed the demon, green light swirled by its feet and three glaring eyes turned to look at Kageyama. "Pathetic" it said and opened its mouth. Kageyama staggered slightly and before his eyes a wisp of white light began drawing out of his chest. While he looked the light continued exiting his body until was only attached by a thread. Then the thread snapped and Kageyama collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. The demon made a retching noise, "Foulest tasting soul I've ever had. Needs salt." It turned to look at the Guild Masters meeting. "Those look nice though." A huge magic circle began forming. "I DON'T THINK SO YOU GROSS HEAP OF ROTTING WOOD" came a yell. The demon glanced down. Four mages stood facing the monstrosity. "Interesting" said Lullaby, a grin forming on the ancient carved face. Natsu looked over at Gray, "We bringing out the big guns on this one?" he asked, Gray nodded. "Better safe than sorry and if its anywhere near Deliora's level we'll need to be serious." Natsu nodded and cracked his knuckles. A golden magic seal appeared under his feet, "Etherious" he incanted. Golden light crept up his legs, wrapping around his torso and then arms, soon he was completely covered in light, when it faded Erza and Mirajane looked on in wonder, it was definitely Natsu, same face, same bright pink hair, but poking out of said hair was two pointed golden horns stretching out from between locks of hair. In place of his leather vest and combat trousers he wore baggy white trousers and a long unclasped black trench coat which had emblazoned on one side two overlapping golden keys atop a v shape. Beneath the coat he wore nothing and on his chest were curling black marks from behind his back. A large x-shaped scar covered his chest and his eyes turned into feral slits. Golden fire lapped up his arms and magic poured off of him like a waterfall. He turned to Gray and grinned, "Don't leave them hanging" he said, his voice like the rustling of dry leaves. Gray grinned right back. "Devil Slayer Secret Art: Transformation of the Damned" Gray's hands turned to claws, the tattoo on his arm shifting and lengthening before stretching over his arm, across his torso and down the other arm. The same mark that marked Natsu's coat forming icy blue on his now uncovered chest. His ears stretched to a point and teeth sharpened into lengthy incisors. The two faced the demon Lullaby, who now looked terrified. Natsu began casting, "The advantage of my twin fires, both dragon and cursed. Is that I can burn any who threaten me or my family. DRAGON FIRE CURSE: IGNITION OF TEN THOUSAND SOULS" Golden fire roared forth from his outstretched hands and shot up the wood-demons legs, who began screaming in desperation and pain. The magic circle under the demon vanished as it could barely think. Then the fire was gone and left the demon barely standing. Natsu turned to Gray "Your turn" he said. Gray nodded with a smile and turned to Lullaby, "I've been itching for the chance to use a strong spell all day so I guess I should thank you really. ICE DEVILS ZEROTH DESTRUCTION BOW" A huge bow of ice formed in his hand and faster than either Mirajane or Erza could see he aim, drew and fired the bow, an arrow of lilac-coloured ice shot forward at immense speed and pierced Lullaby directly through the chest, the demon staggered but still stood and a grin began to form, then the ice grew huge spikes that ruptured Lullaby further. Then more ice grew and more until the entire chest of Lullaby was pierced by huge lances of ice. Then the ice exploded with such force that the entire body of Lullaby was reduced to shrapnel and thousands of splinters of wood began raining down on Clover Town. The two demonic figures snorted "Too easy" muttered Natsu, "I still haven't gotten a good fight!" groaned Gray. Erza and Mirajane looked at each other, "Am I the only one feeling completely useless right now?" Asked Erza and Mirajane just gaped in shock.