First of all, I just wanted to thank Critic-san for being the first follower of my story.
I have to admit that the lack of feedback (non-existance for that matter) on the first chapter was rather disappointing. But I will keep updating (for now) hoping that the story might end up apealing to more readers, some time soon.
Disclaimer: I don't own fairy tail or any of its characters.
Chapter 1 : living in a fairy tale
"Sir, I think you might want to wake up, we've just reached Magnolia." Opening his eyes slowly, he looked for the source of the voice, or rather the annoying noise that kept on disturbing his slumber. Not that he really wanted to sleep after being in a comatose-like state for who knows how long. It was just that the stinging pain in his head still didn't die off despite being awake for a few weeks by know.
Swaying a salmon lock out of his vision field, he slowly limped toward the exist of the train before being interrupted again "Sir, wait! I think you have forgotten your luggage." He looked over his shoulders sending an irritated glare to the poor woman trying to be helpfull, before facing the exit again and replying with a low "I don't have any". He was about to step out of the train before, suddenly, starting to clutch his head as if it was about to explode and growling in pain. The woman rushed instantly to his side sending him a concerned look "Are you okay? You seem to be in so much pain. Is there anything I could do to help?" It was only then that he realized why this woman didn't seem willing to leave him alone, anytime soon. Those half lidded lustfull eyes, that tight v-neck showing off her cleavage—that she didn't seem to mind pressing oh so boldly against his back. She didn't even bother hiding her inner needs as she softly stroke his toned arm in a too much intimate manner before she forced his head to face her own, keeping their noses merely inchs apart and breathing directly onto his lips. But much to her dissatisfaction, he gave her a disgusted look making her step back before starting to boil in humiliation. His next words took her by surprise considering the reaction he just had "You know what? You might actually be of some use to me. Of course, as long as you don't mind being used, if you know what I mean…". She looked at him with incredilous eyes and a gaping mouth. She knew she was a pretty woman and until now, no one refused her advances, yet along offended her in such a manner. She closed her mouth and opened it again, ready to give this stranger—this totally smoking hot stranger, in her opinion—a piece of her mind, only to be cut off before she could even speak "Before you give me your answer, I should warn you that I can be a little bit… Rough while… Well, you know… 'using' other people". The woman only bit her lower lip before looking him up and down and noding slightly…
The salmon haired man took a few deep breaths reveling in the feeling of satisfaction washing over his body. His headache was long forgotten by now and he felt that this could keep him going ,at least for today, before he needed more. He then looked down and cursed under his breath at the sight of the naked woman's lifeless body spread over the grass. Thank god, she was dumb enough to follow him to the forest in the outskirts of this city. At least he didn't have to muffle any of her screams. He started scanning throughout the trees searching for anything that could be used to dig deep enough in the ground for a body to be burried, only to end up spotting a cottage nearby. It took him rather by surprise for he thought no one would be living so deep in the forest. But he quickly shrugged it off as he made his way toward the small house.
Reaching for the doorknob, he paused in his tracks, considering the possibility that someone might be inside at that moment. But then again, he was sure that they would've heard the woman screaming, if it was the case, and would've probably rushed to her rescue. He slowly shook the doorknob, only to discover that whoever lived here was stupid enough to keep his house unlocked, so he may as well suit himself…
It didn't take him long to find a scattered chisel and make his way out of the unbelievably messed up place. He quickly glanced over his shoulder at the house he just left, only for his eyes to grow as wide as plates and for him to drop the chisel he just found, before turning completely to face the wooden sign placed in front of the small cottage. How did he miss this when he came in? He narrowed his eyes as he read the sign one more time to make sure his still sore mind wasn't playing tricks on him. "Natsu & Happy" Could it really be? He was sure 'Natsu' was way too much weird to be a commun name at this time, so there was a slight chance that the lead he's been following from since the day he woke up, a few weeks ago, was actually the right way! He then instantly rushed toward the town forgetting the rotting corpse he left behind him. Screw it, he already left a trail of bodies long enough to be caught before, he wasn't going to start being cautious at a moment like this.
As he looked arround him, he couldn't help but notice that this 'Magnolia' town was way too much crouded for his own comfort. But right now, he sure as hell wasn't going to complain about something like that. If anything he was rather gratefull, the more people to ask, the more intells he could gather. With new found resolve, he pushed through the people crouding the first stand in his way, before asking eagerly "Excuse-me, I'm looking for a guild in this town where a salmon haired man is supposed to be working. I don't really recall the name, but it should be 'Fat Tail' or something like that…" The merchant looked at him with irritated eyes before pointing at one of the mirrors he was trying to sell. "I'm sorry but I'm just looking for that certain guild, I have no interest in any of your goods". The marchant's eyes flared even more anger as he shouted "Don't come interrupting people's business to make bad jokes !" He then shoved the same mirror he's been pointing at to the young man's face. The said man replied with a low oh as he understood what the merchant was referring to. He had completely forgot that he was himself a 'salmon haired man'. Not wanting to anger the already boiling seller any further, he simply flipped his hood over his head, making sure to hide his pink locks, and kept walking toward the next store…
"Fat Tail?" The woman smiled sheepishly as she tried to stiffen a few giggles. "You must be talking about Fairy Tail, it's the strongest mage guild in Fiore's entire kingdom and the protectors of this town. Of course I know Fairy Tail, if that's what you meant" She then proceeded to give him directives to follow. He was about to start heading for the place before the lady practicaly yelled out for him "Oh and by the way, a 'salmon haired guy'? I'm pretty sure you're talking about the one and only Salamander! Natsu Dragneel! Aren't you?" He instantly turned arround to face her with an eager expression "Yes! That's his name! Do you know him or anything about him?" The look she gave him was reflecting some sort of disappointement as she replied "Well, I don't know him personnaly… Though, I wish I did." muttering the last part. "He's one of the strongest mages in Fairy Tail and he's also pretty cute actually. Too bad he was hitched two years ago…". His eyes widened and his mouth droped slightly "He's married?!". The young woman gave a sigh of exasperation as she said her next words "Yes, unfortunately, I even heard he has a kid by know. I personnaly don't see what he likes about that blond chick. She's allways showing way too much skin in every magizine article she shows up in! I know I woudn't even dream about reading them, but I'm pretty sure her books are also mirroring her slutiness! If only she—" And there goes his headache once again, why did she have to talking so much? "Thanks, that would be enough." He quickly interrupted her rambling before turning arround and heading for the guild he's been looking for.
Fairy Tale, so that was it's name? For some reason, that didn't settle good with him. He almost felt suffocated with all this cheery mood he's been spotting all over this town, from the moment he stepped foot into it. And know he's learning that 'Natsu Dragneel' has been living a happy little life with a family of his own—wife and offspring—in a fricken place called Fairy Tale? That was way too much far fetched for his taste. He kept on thinking about the matter until a high pitched squeal ringing in his sensetive ears brought him back to earth "Oh my god! They're so cute together! And look at Jaiden in Natsu's lap! He's absolutely adorable!" It was merely a girl surrounded by others—probably friends of hers—as she showed them the magazine she's been holding. It didn't take a genius to figure out what she was talking about, especially after everything he already heard about the oh so perfect Dragneel family in his way to the guild. And even though all this stuff was threatening to trigger his gag reflex some time soon, he took his chance to sneak a peek at the magazine still in the girl's hands. "The princess of the stars, heir of the Heartflilia family, giving birth to her second favorite 'dragon' in the world" He subconciously read out loud before cringing in disgust. So she wasn't only a well known writer, but also some beautiful noble heiress or something like that? He took a quick glance at the todler featured in the image and couldn't supress the laugher escaping his lips, as he noticed the color of his eyes. A jade shade of green... Oh the fricken irony of this rotten unfair world…
His breathing was still ragged as he tried to come back to his senses. The poor little girl was nothing more but a pile of limbs floating in a pool of blood, by now. But as far as he was concerned, it was her fault for flashing that magazine right in front of his face. He had to let out some steam after that disgusting article. The author must've been damn much oblivious to write all that crap about the 'couragous fire dragon protecting his lovely mate'. No, in the salmon haired man's opinion, Natsu Dragneel shouldn't be living such a life. Not anymore. Not after everything he's done! Another fit of rage took over him as he stomped with all his might on the decapitated head laying on the ground, shattering it as if it was nothing but a porcelean jar. After calming down, he took a glance at his clothes noticing all the blood covering it. Great, now he couldn't leave this alley without being noticed. He really had to start working on his temper if he didn't want to end up caught. But this need that was left unfufilled for such a long time wasn't helping. And the occasional stinging in his head kept on reminding him about it, every now and then. So throwing all this stress and anger he's been feeling since he reached this town into the mix, made him completely helpless, and more importantly ruthless. He concidered refraining from going to that guild until he's 'normal' again. But on second thought, he may as well try to speed up that process by letting all of his impulses free for a while. This town was pretty crowded, after all. A few missing bodies won't be noticed that quickly. Making up his mind, he smirked devilishly before heading to the entrance of the alley…
Lucky for him it was already nightfall, so sneeking arround to catch another pray without being seen should be easy enough for someone like him. He just had to make sure to choose a man of his own size and to not make any mess this time, if he wanted to have some new clothes to change his bloodied outfit. As he scanned his surroundings with predatory eyes, his eyesight landed on a raven haired man that could be the perfect target. He took a couple steps and held his breath, readying himself to make his move. But just as the pinkette was about to lash out, the brunette turned to his direction abruptly as if sensing the incoming danger. Their eyes met for a second before the former was already hidden in the darkness of the alley again. "Gray-sama, is something wrong?" A woman, he presumed by the voice reaching his sharpned hearing, asked his escaping pray. "Nothing, Juvia. I just thought I saw someone over there… Covered in blood?..." He answered muttering the last part, though not lowly enough to escape the pinkette's ears. A conversation followed between the pair he's been eavesdroping on and, slowly, their voices faded away. Oh well, there's plenty of fish in the sea, so he may as well let go of this one. But he would make sure to catch the next one…
As planned, he was in no time at all, clad in a new outfit after leaving yet another 'sleeping' figure in the alley. He didn't want to complain much about the outfit itself but those jeans and sticking T-shirt weren't exactly as comfortable as his usuall attire. But he'll have to live with that for now. He kept walking in the direction of the guild with a lowered head as he thought about everything he's done today. This was most certainly the only thing he hated about having his mind finally clear. Every deed he's done starts to sink in as the feeling of guilt tries to conquer his heart. But he refused to let it in, he wasn't truely the one at fault for what happened to those people, after all. If anyone should be blamed for it, it was… His train of thought was suddenly interrupted as he heard a huge ruckus ahead of him. He could easily discern the sound of wood being broken thoughout all the yells he's been perceiving. He looked up only to see an imposing building ahead of him with big sign at its front. It said clearly 'Fairy Tail'. He let a snort escape his nostrils as he noticed with amused eyes that the name of the guild he's been looking for wasn't 'Fat Tail' nor was it 'Fairy Tale', but oddly enough, a combination of both. But whatever the guild name was, the 'Natsu Dragneel' that the town's people were talking about was surely living in a fairy tale. The salmon haired man kept on walking forward and before he knew it, he found himself standing in front of the guild doors. Curiously, his mind wondered to that little todler's green eyes, as his own jade ones took in his surrounding one last time before putting both hands on each side of the double door. "I wonder how you'll react once we finally meet again… Natsu." were the last muttered words escaping his smirking lips, before he took a deep breath and, finally, pushed the guild doors open…
I know this chapter might be confusing a bit. But this is an important step of the build up I'm planning for the next few chapters. And if the last scene wasn't enough to make it clear, The character you've been following throughout this chapter was NOT our beloved Natsu!
Feel free to live your impressions and critics in the box bellow. Thanks for reading!