Just a small chapter to bridge arcs. Nothing special. Just some more character development.

Next chapter will be the beginning of one of my favorite arcs, being the Phantom Lord arc. The Phantom Lord arc will have a significant impact on Natsu in my story. Some changes here and there.

I own nothing.

Enjoy.

Come the morning, Natsu was the first to awake though Erza came quickly after and he was currently having a conversation with Moka and some other members of the tribe. Erza was standing nearby.

"But sir… I insist you take the reward! You earned it!" Moka exclaimed.

Natsu shook his head. "I can't accept the reward. Not the amount given at least."

"You want more?" Moka said. "I will gladly give you more!"

"No. I want less. When I take requests, I only take what I need to survive. I don't need a large substantial reward… it's not how I do things… My mother taught me that kindness should be free. I will always do what is right… which is why I wanted to take this quest. So please, if you really want to give me some of that money… give me 20,000."

"Of the 7 million?" Moka said, his eyes wide. "That's so little."

"Its enough for me to survive on… you can ask the others what kind of the reward they want… but I will only take enough for me to survive on." Natsu said with a smile.

'He's really a good guy… I am falling for you Natsu… can't you see that?' Erza thought before she shook her head. She looked at Moka and smiled. "I can't take the reward money. Honestly, even Natsu shouldn't be getting any cause officially, it was never taken up officially by a guild."

"Still..." Moka said. "What if its a thank you gift?"

"When you put it that way…"

"Actually." Natsu said. "It was taken officially by me… or it will be when we get back. You came with us to do this mission Erza."

Erza nodded. "Alright, then just give us a sum of 60,000 jewels." Erza said. "Everyone can have a 20,000 jewel cut." Erza said, grinnign at Natsu. "I am very pleased to see you completing an S-class quest on your own Natsu."

"I couldn't have done it without you or Gray. It was a group effort."

"True, but you did solve the mystery and you knew how to destroy it. I am sure you would have destroyed the barrier anyway."

"But Lyon an-"

"That wasn't part of the quest Natsu. Regardless, you completed the quest and I am very pleased." Erza said, taking the reward money from the leader.

"Well, at least let me take you back to shore." Bobo said but Erza grinned.

"Actually, I have a boat waiting for me here already. It's the boat I used to get here." Erza said with a big grin.

About twenty minutes later, everyone arrived at the beach where a large pirate ship was waiting for them.

"Ahoy me beauty!" Spoke the captain of the ship.

"Me beauty…?" Natsu said, snickering.

"That's right. They have become quite fond of me."

"Not sure why." Natsu teased, only to get a smack up the side of his head by Erza who was quick.

"You asked for it." Erza said grinning. "Oh and you get to ride with me back."

"Oh boy." Natsu said, swirling his left index finger in a circle as if he was celebrating though it was full of sarcasm.

On the boat, Erza was sitting on a hammock and ended up dragging Natsu on it from where he was hanging half way off the boat. Natsu was laying in her lap where she could lazily stroke his dragon arm , under the guise of trying to help his motion sickness but this was also a guilty pleasure for the armored wizard. She had a crush on Natsu from the very beginning, ever since she was a child. Spending time with him only increased her feelings for the mysterious being known as the Annihilation Dragon or Natsu Dragneel. He ended up falling asleep on her lap, taking a nap while she just stroked his arm.

About an hour later, they arrived in Hargeon town where Erza carried Natsu off the ride while Gray followed behind them. Natsu was put down on a bench where he gathered his strength.

"Jeez. You are such a worthless dragon. Getting sick so often."

"Oh shut it Stripper!" Natsu said. "At least I don't need attention by stripping for everyone to see!" He said, pointing out that Natsu was naked again.

"Oh yea!? At least I don't need to lay in the lap of my comrades in order to be healthy!"

"At least I have a lap to lay on!" Natsu said, with both Gray and him in each other's faces, sparks showing between them.

"There will be no fighting!" Erza said, smacking the both of them upside the head with her armored hands, which hurt both of them.

"Yes Erza." The two of them said in unison. With that out of the way, Erza grinned and walked in front of the two of them, heading back to Fairy Tail. All the while, she would check back every so often to make sure they weren't fighting but they would start to glare and fight when she wasn't looking.

They arrived an hour later at the guild, where Erza opened the doors, which got the guild to quiet down. It was then Natsu and Gray entered, which got Mira to come over and smile.

"Natsu! I'm so glad you are safe. What took you so long Erza to get him back?"

"Actually, I was unable to bring him back. Let's just say I was forced to let him complete the quest." Erza said with a wry smile.

"How did he manage to convince you to do that?" Cana said, raising a mug.

"I said that since I took care of her while she was sick, I should get to do something I wanted." Natsu said.

Erza looked away blushing a bit.

"Natsu, that mission was dangerous." Mira scolded.

"Oh no doubt but I did it! I was victorious!" Natsu said. Mira growled at him with a scary face, which got him to stop cheering and start fearing.

"Natsu. Next time we want you back, you come back. Understood?"

"Y-Yes!" Natsu said, cowering a bit, which got Gray to laugh.

"Aww, are you scared of our innocent little Mira?" Gray teased.

"Shut it pervert!" Natsu said, throwing Cana's empty glass into Gray's forehead.

"What was that for?!"

"I wanted to knock some sense into ya!" Natsu said.

Gray and Natsu began to grapple, their hands on each others arms, trying to wrestle.

Mira stood next to Erza as Natsu and Gray began to wrestle across tables, beginning to start fights with the rest of the guild.

"Is… Natsu actually interacting with the other members?" Mira asked, very surprised.

"Seems like it… He started acting this way sometime during Galuna… but I don't know why." Erza said.

"If you ask me, it's a change for the better!" Cana said, raising a mug as a body flew right towards her, barely missing her mug of whiskey.

"You going to stop them Erza?" Mira questioned.

"Nah. Just this once, I'll let Natsu witness one of the pleasures of being in a guild…. At least for a while."

"So, how did Natsu do on the S-class quest?"

"Actually, he did very well. There were some complications on the island, but Natsu figured out what was causing the curse, he knew how to destroy it so I can give him the credit of beating the S-Class quest.

"I see. So, why did you let him guilt you into letting him do it?"

"I… don't know. Just did!" Erza said, looking away with a big blush.

"Oh my, seems our strong armored warrior has a crush on her mysterious savior."

"Shut up!" Erza said, pouting cutely.

Mira giggled. "I can't say I don't blame you… even I get a bit flustered in the chest around him."

"Hey, he's going to be mine you hear!" Spoke a semi-drunk Cana from the bar.

Erza looked away. "Fine. Whatever." She said, denying her affections for the boy.

It was then a giant shadowy monster appeared in the middle of the brawl.

"Would you fools stop bickering like children!?" Spoke the giant monster.

The entire guild stopped fighting and quickly paid attention to the giant monster.

"Oh, I didn't know you were still here master." Mira said. "Natsu's returned from his quest."

"Oh?" Makarov said as he shrunk to his normal size before hopping onto the bar. "So Erza, you failed to bring him back as you were told to do."

"I am so-"

"No." Natsu said, stepping in front of Erza. "It's not her fault. She tried to but I wouldn't let her. She was forced to stay and help me complete the quest." Natsu said, defending Erza. "She shouldn't be scrutinized for my own actions."

Makarov frowned and looked up at Erza. "Is this true?"

"Yes sir."

"Well, I can't punish you Natsu because technically, you didn't steal the quest. However… I want you to remember this. That was an S-class quest and they are exceptionally dangerous. Only very few members are even cleared for such quests and even then, they rarely will take them. Those quests are life threatening. When we send someone to come fetch you, please come back. I am only looking out for you."

"I understand Master. I won't do it again."

"Well then. So, how did the quest go?" Makarov asked, looking up at Erza.

"Natsu ended up needing my help and Gray's, but only to stop the curse from returning. As for the curse itself, Natsu figured it out and destroyed it on his own. So, the quest was handled by Natsu himself… but either way. Gray and I were needed."

"I see. Well, I am very glad to hear this… Natsu. Keep up the good work on your quests and keep getting stronger. One of these days, you will be S-class. I know it." The master said, giving him a big grin.

Natsu nodded. "I shall continue getting stronger! No doubt!"

"Well, let's stop with this sappy nonsense and let's party!" Makarov stated with the guild hall erupting into cheers.

Natsu was part of Fairy Tail and he was happy.

Read. Review. Moo.

Might have another chapter tonight but probably not.