Man I'm so tired today *yawn* ok… I'm going to start by saying thanks for my wonderful followers and thanks to the people who reviewed my story. I love every one of you guys and I sincerely hope you continue reading. Anyone saw the new OVA for Fairy Tail if not; I would tell you that there is a lot Nalu so watch it! By the way I'm going to write the story slowly so I can proofread the chapter so it may take longer for me to upload the next chapter. Here's the disclaimer like any other chapter.

Disclaimer: My life is basically Fairy Tail since Hiro Mashima created it so he owns everything about it.

Chapter 9: The 3 companions

Natsu's POV.

An arm wraps around me, and a warm caring voice murmurs words to me. I can barely hear what the voice is saying but I know it's Princess. Wait, I'm crying in front of Princess, my suspicions are confirmed when I turned to the person revealing the girl, I quickly stop my tears and brought my hands to my face. I rubbed my sleeve over my eyes and slowly removed myself from Princess's arm.

I staggered as I try to stand up, did I use up all of my energy in crying? 'I feel soweak' I thought, I finally got on my feet.

I nodded at Princess, whose eyes widened at me and I walked away from her, sliding my hands in my pockets. I don't want to see anyone now and looking at Princess would only makes me think about my conversation with Sting and Rogue. I am so confused…

Flashback

"Alright" I replied signaling my hand as a gesture to say 'go on'. Sting looks at Rogue, moving his head toward me. Rogue spoke to me. "Jose…wants Princess to come back to the castle Natsu-san…"

"Tell me something I don't know…"I grumbled, Sting smiles but it disappears as quickly as it came. I raised my eyebrow suspiciously 'he smiled like before…like himself' I thought but I realized we're here to talk about Jose…Don't think about old times…

I sat down on the ground, crisscrossed my legs and look at them, saying to continue. Rogue spoke again while Sting sat on the ground like me; probably he still thinks I'm his role model…

"Jose wants us to remind you the consequences of taking Lucy in your custody, you already took her for a week." Rogue reminded me.

"And he says if you keep her for one more day, HECK even one more second, he will burn your guild to the ground until there's nothing more than ashes left of it" Sting added, looking at me seriously which was unlike him.

I look at them cautiously inspecting their words, for the past 2 years we had been together, I could tell whatever they're thinking. Rogue would always admire Gajeel while Sting admires me. That's the way it goes…

"Master defeated Jose once and he do it again" I said firmly, holding my ground. Sting and Rogue look at each other, signaling something like they knew I was going to say that.

"Jose-sama knew you wouldn't give in" Rogue sighed and he opened his mouth to say more but Sting put his hand in front of Rogue to stop him.

"Natsu-san… Jose is willing to trade the Dragon's Den for Princess Lucy… You I mean you, Wendy, and Gajeel can see your dragons again; don't you want that?"

No words come out my mouth but I noticed that they looked depressed when Sting said the words "see dragons again". But after that thought, I processed the words "trade" and "Princess Lucy". To see Igneel again I would have to trade Princess. My forehead beaded with sweat, I can't choose…Princess…or Igneel…Wendy and Gajeel would want to see their dragons again but I would have to break my promise with Princess…

"We can help you choose Natsu-san… Choose the dragons, you don't want to be stuck with the Princess any longer she is too different from you" I suddenly got up, my legs moving on their own, my fist aiming at Sting. They…Sting and Rogue…just stayed there, not moving and staying at that spot; waiting for my punch. A sudden flash of them smiling and laughing 12 years ago, that memory seems so far to reach and I never knew how much I missed them.

My fist slowed and it landed gently on Sting's forehead. My bangs shadowing my eyes as I clench my teeth, I can't hurt them. 'I'm weak…' I thought over and over in my head. I slid on my knees and my face looks up at the night sky. The sound of cheering of the villagers in the background that was the most fun they had in 10 years but my thoughts drowned out their sounds.

"I'm sorry Natsu-san" Rogue said gently "You have till tomorrow morning to decide, we'll come by at your guild but if you don't want us there… Meet us at the old road…You know where…"

The old road? The first place we met when I was late to Igneel… my eyes still locked on the starry night. Do I want them to the guild? Well I did tell them to never to come back ever again back then, do they still remember that?

Flashback in a Flashback (I bet no one did this before XP)

I stayed at that spot with Levy, Jet, and Droy. Cried with them. Comforted them as they comforted me. About not seeing princess ever again… (This is also found in Chapter 6)

Just then the doors of the guild slammed open. The 8-years old Sting and Rogue came in, my head snapped to their directions. I wiped my tears I didn't want them to see me crying because I was like a role model to them well mostly to Sting, Rogue admires Gajeel for some apparent reason...

"Sting! Rogue! Didn't I say to meet me at-"But Sting interrupted my sentence.

"We don't want to stay in this hell hole anymore Natsu-san" My eyes widened, I was shocked at his words, the Sting I know wouldn't say this. But he did.

"W-what do you mean guys? you love the Dragon's Den!" I stammered a little. Rogue spoke next which shocked me even more.

"We decided… to join Jose because…Because he is far much stronger than you! And the dragons, we don't care about them anymore! They can just die by Jose's hand!"

Levy's, Jet's, and Droy's wounded faces were filled with confusion and Levy started to cry when she heard Jose's name. "Y-you got to be kidding me…We hate Jose you will never asked Skiadrum and Weisslogia to die d-do you!?" I yelled at them, Jose is appearing everywhere today. (A/N Skiadrum and Weisslogia is Sting's and Rogue's dragons and no I did not make them up, that's their real dragon's name)

Sting gulped as this was a hard question. They both started shaking but Rogue got out these words "W-we killed them with our bare hands…We don't feel guilty at all" He added a small smile to this sentence. That smile… It looks like Jose's smile…

"You…YOU…KILLED YOUR OWN PARENTS?!" I shouted as I ran toward them, lighting myself on fire. "THEY TAUGHT YOU EVERYTHING! WHY? HOW COULD YOU?" They dodged my move and I broke the front doors of the guild, the wind blew a gust into the guild. Levy starts to sob harder, while Jet and Droy carried her away from the chaos.

"That's not it... there was more…he has another thing p-planned…and…"Sting got out, his body was trembling; Scared because I never hit them even once but now…

"…We showed Jose the Dragon's Den… H-he took Igneel, Metallica, and G-Grandine, all of them…He is going to kill them if you come near the castle-"

"SHUT UP! GET OUT! GET OUT FROM MY GUILD! STAY AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK!" I screamed at them, running at them again. My fist ready to strike, I can't think right now, were they the children I met 2 years ago? They stumbled out from the guild from further harm.

Flashback in a flashback ends

My brain then remembers a small detail as they ran out of the guild. When they ran out of the guild, little wet drops fell from their faces as they ran out. They were crying…My head still aimed at the sky, barely moving. I couldn't move my head to look at my old nakama; I didn't even notice they left already. That was when the tears started to fall from my eyes.

Flashback ends

I stumbled in the alley bumping into stray trash cans and eventually falling face first on the cold floor. I got up slowly and pressed my back on the side of the wall of a building. I-I can't choose. The faces of Princess and Igneel flash in my mind which only makes me aggravated even more.

Princess?

Or

Dragon's Den?

FUCK everything…Fuck everything…fuck…everything… I slowly walked out of the alley and got blinded by the bright lights.

"Hey Flame head!" A stripper yelled as he saw me, he wasn't wearing his shirt again... He ran toward me and patted my back with his hand.

"Where were you? We were going to enter the pie eating contest remember?" Gray looked at me smiling his annoying pervert smile. He doesn't know what is going to happen, everything bad has to happen to me…

"Fuck off" The words come out of my mouth and I threw his hand off me; I slugged away from him, I slid my hands in my pockets. Gray's eyes widened at my outburst.

The next person I literally ran into was Erza. She was with Princess who was eating cotton candy. Their eyes widened when they saw me, and Princess smiled shyly at me. Her face even pains me, Igneel or Princess… "Natsu!" Erza said in her serious monster voice. "Gray told me-"She doesn't know either…Nobody knows how I'm feeling.

"Shut up and leave me alone" I glared at her. Erza looked surprised, Natsu never talked back to her before…Something must be very wrong. Princess was shocked as well, she even dropped her cotton candy. (Nooooo Cotton Candy! DX)

"Natsu… what's wrong?" Erza asked me, suspiciously.

"Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?!" I said as I swung my arm at her. She grabbed my arm but I brought my other arm, which was lit in flames, around and it grazed her cheek. Princess yelped as Erza let go of my arm. We are now gathering an audience.

"You dare hurt your own nakama?!" Erza shouted at me, her blood from my punch dripped from her cheek. I froze; I looked at my blazed hand and at her blood on her face. I hurt my own Nakama… I trembled and dropped to my knees, my hands clutching my face. I hurt her, my nakama, my family…

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME?!" I screamed in the air. The villagers around us were silent and Gray came out of the crowd. He walked toward and stopped in front of me.

"Gray-?" I started but he punches me and I flew backward. I grabbed my cheek where he punched me.

"Now you're even" He told Erza, she nods like she accepts this.

"And you" Gray turns to me, all serious like Erza. I still clutched the throbbing pain in my cheek as my eyes widened as his words to Erza. I hurt Erza so he punches me? That's even?

"Don't keep things to yourself! We're family so you can tell us anything instead taking it out on people! That's why we're Nakama!" He smiles and puts his hand in front of me. I stare at it for a while and I chuckled as I grabbed his hand.

"I can't keep anything from you guys" I sighed. He pulled me up and laughs along. "Oi Stripper what a cheesy speech by the way" I added getting the usual fight started.

'What the hell? Are you trying to get me to punch you again?!"He shouted but I added more.

"And where is your clothes exhibitionist?"

"Gah! Where are they?" He exclaimed. I started laughing my head off. But I stopped and looked at Erza. I bowed my head at her direction.

"Sorry Erza…" Erza just smiles at me, why was she smiling? She walks toward me and stripper and puts her arm around each of us in a hug. The blood on her cheek stopped dripping; she pulled back then bashed our heads together. We grabbed our heads in pain. The crowd laughs at her action and they went to their regular business until there were only me, the stripper, Titania and Princess.

"If you guys ever fight again the next beating will be even harder" She threatened, wagging her finger as if to scold. I started laughing but I sensed that Erza was not done.

"Natsu what had happened?"

I clenched my teeth, the words from my conversation with Sting and Rogue repeated in my head. Gray, Erza and Princess look at me eagerly. I took a big exhale.

"Jose wants to give me back Dragon's Den…" Gray's and Erza's faces lit up but my face looked grim.

"That's great!" Gray exclaimed. "You get to see them again! Including Wendy and Gajeel!"

"What's the Dragon's Den?" Princess asked us. 'Damn it I forgot to tell her everything' I cursed mentally.

"Dragon's Den is where Natsu's foster parent Igneel is" Erza explained to her but Princess's face still looked confused.

"Jose took away Igneel? Jose? The man who is my father's lieutenant? That Jose?" She rambled on, to stop her; I gave her a slow nod. She quieted down to hear the rest.

"So Natsu? Why are you mad then? That's great news!" Erza said.

"HE… wants to give me back the dragon's den…if I exchange Princess…" I finished, my voice stops.

Gray and Erza looked at me, their eyes widened. The most surprised was Princess; she trembled and froze on one spot.

There was a silence in the group.

"Jose will never do that…"

My eyes widened at the person who said that. Erza and Gray also looked at the person, shocked. Princess looked at the ground, her bangs covered her eyes.

"J-Jose wouldn't do that, he help me find Hoodie!" Princess shouted, lifting her head; I could see tear appearing at the corners of her eyes. I was shocked when she said Hoodie; does she know I was Hoodie?

"He found Sting!" She finished. If my eyes can widen anymore that would be very surprising. What was Jose planning?! Is that what Sting meant by Jose has another thing planned 10 years ago?!

"Sting is Hoodie?" I asked her slowly, dreading the answer. Princess looked at me, her tearful eyes filled with guilt. She thinks Sting is the boy that she met long ago; Jose planned this all along…

Erza interrupts us "What are you going to do?! Igneel is waiting! But we can't leave Lucy she is nakama!" But I still focused on Princess.

"Sting told you he was Hoodie? Do you-"I stop; if I tell her Jose still has King Jude captive; He will kill him and the dragons. Should I tell her? She has a right to know…Everything is hard. Suddenly Gray ruined it.

"Lucy, Natsu was the kid with the Hoodie back then" Lucy looked surprised and stared at me, who was still processing what the stripper just said.

"Yes Lucy, Gray's right. Natsu was the kid that went to play with you everyday 10 years ago. Sting and Rogue was the ones who betrayed Natsu and went to Jose" Erza told her everything. What are they doing?! Are they trying to make matters worse?!

"Master was the one who defeated Jose 12 years ago and Jose escaped to the castle, Jose was the one who attacked the village" Gray explained further. Princess looked like she was going to explode. She grasped her head, her eyes wild.

"Stop it! You're making it worst!" I told them to stop but they kept continuing.

"He forced Natsu to stay away from you…"

"He took away your memories"

"Lucy…Jose was the one who killed your mother…" Erza finally said.

Princess froze and looked at Erza with unbelieving eyes. She opened her mouth but no words came out. She slowly looked at me as if to say if all the things they said were true. I was still frozen, Princess took this as a yes and she slowly walked to me. I was staring at the ground. They told her…

"Natsu…" I look up at her reluctantly. She suddenly grabbed me in a hug. Her tears flowed from her eyes on to my back.

"I-I think I knew…you were him…" She whimpered. I slowly wrapped my arms around her waist; she finally knew the truth… But that didn't make me happy at all.

Later in the night

The guild left the village, Miss. Misaki gave Princess a hug and we left. Everyone was talking about all the things they did but all I was thinking about was Jose. Which one should I choose?

When everyone was asleep…

Tonight I slept in a hammock outside. I couldn't sleep so I stared at the moon. The stars formed different constellations like Leo, Aries and something that looked like a dog snowman.

Princess or the Dragon's Den?

"Natsu…?" a voice from my left, I turned to the person. It was Happy.

"Yes Happy?" I said quietly, carefully not waking the others. Happy's blue hair, almost matching the night sky.

"I can't sleep…" He admitted, embarrassed. I grin at his embarrassment and patted a spot on the hammock. He climbed in and we looked at the sky together like before. Happy was born when Sting and Rogue was still with me and we always look at the sky, just us four.

Happy fell asleep and I was still awake. Dawn was almost here so I carefully got out of the hammock, not stirring Happy. I walked in the woods, heading to the path where the old road was. When I got there, the memories of me, Rogue and Sting appeared in my head. Back then they were such crybabies… I sat on a nearby rock and waited. Soon enough the blond and the dark-haired teens came.

"Natsu-san" Sting greeted almost normally. I raised my eyebrow at them.

"We are afraid you wouldn't make it…" Rogue admitted.

"You were afraid that I wouldn't want to meet my favorite brats two days in a row?" I said sarcastically.

"You never changed Natsu-san" Sting said.

"Yeah I never changed but you guys did…" I mumbled. Rogue then broke the silence that occurred.

"Natsu-san what is your decision?"

"You want my answer now?" I asked them incredulously, they sweat dropped; I was still the same thick-headed Natsu they know.

"All right my answer is…" the corners of my mouth forming a smile, the answer popped in my head.

Sting and Rogue looked confused when I smiled my mischievous canine smile.

"I choose both" I conclude.

"WHAT?!"

End of Chapter 9

How you like this? I know it's kind of long and I was so tired so I put what pops in my head. I bet no one ever heard of flashback in a flashback! Hehe XD I hope you guys favorite, review, or follow my story! Please look forward to the next chapter! If I have grammar issues, I will make sure I will fix it! XP Please watch the OVA 4, its sooo good, not joking! So much Nalu, I feel like I'm going to explode! By the way it doesn't have subs so beware…I NEED SUBS!

Coming up next Chapter 10: That Idiot

How does Lucy feel about Natsu being her Hoodie?

What is going to happen next?

What did the Dragons do for the past 10 years?

ROAR! X3 FIRE DRAGON ROAR!