Heartburn
Happy stumbled up the stairs leading to the second floor of the guild. The little blue Exceed's day could have been better in a lot of ways.
The flight back to the guild had left him almost depleted of magic; he couldn't bring out his wings to fly anywhere; his stomach sounded lonely and he was out of fish; Mira wasn't around, so he had no hopes of sneaking anything from the kitchen. Worst of all, his best friend and father figure was lying in the infirmary for the second time in just a few days.
Happy rubbed at his eyes with his paws. All he wanted in the world was a fish for a snack and to curl up for a nap until his favorite dragon slayer woke up. Ever since they'd gotten back, though, all the other guild members had to take their turn asking him questions about what happened.
"Happy."
The little cat groaned. Master Makarov was no exception. Happy was beckoned over to a table near the S-Class job request board.
"Aye."
He waited. He didn't know what Makarov wanted, but he had a guess.
"I know the details already. But I want to hear it from you," Makarov said. Happy whimpered. He wanted to sleep! "How long did you know?"
The Exceed's hair stood. He'd had a feeling, but it was certain now. He'd gotten into trouble enough times to know when a lecture was lurking.
"Um. Know what?" Happy asked, playing the act of innocence. Makarov shook his head.
"You know what I mean, Happy. How long did you know what Natsu is?"
The hungry cat let his tail fall to the floor.
"Since we went to fight Zeref before."
Makarov's expression hardened. Happy's eyes trailed down to his feet.
"You knew for a few days, then."
Happy's shoulders slumped.
"And you never said a word to anyone."
His head drooped.
"Why?"
The blue Exceed's voice wavered.
"Natsu asked me not to."
Makarov gave an agitated sigh.
"Look where that got us," he said.
"I didn't think it was gonna" Happy started, waving his arms. "I mean, I never wanted- Natsu wouldn't- I!" The young cat was on the verge of tears.
"Happy," Makarov said. "Listen closely."
The Exceed quieted, sniffling.
"Everyone has their secrets," the old master began. "That's fine. In our guild, it's a rare person who doesn't have some private burden." Makarov gestured to the guild members on the floor below.
"But," he continued. "We're a family. We share in joy, tears, anger, triumph and pain, spoken or not."
Happy nodded.
"Whenever I see one of my precious brats come home with injuries that needn't have happened, it ages me. When one of us endures suffering, everyone feels it. Do you understand?"
Happy set his mouth in a line and curled his paws.
"Aye sir."
Makarov held his hard stare a few moments before giving Happy a soft smile.
"Good," he said, patting Happy's head. "Go see to Natsu with Wendy. I had Kinana bring up a fish from the kitchen."
The blue Exceed's mood skyrocketed and he trotted toward the infirmary with stars in his eyes.
"Thank you~!"
Makarov watched the little cat bound away and out of sight. The old wizard saint massaged his chest, shallow breaths coming through gritted teeth.
"Not yet. Not now..." he muttered, one hand slapping on top of the table for the mug he'd left there. Finding the beverage, he took a few tentative sips to wet his dry mouth and worked to steady his heart. The episode passed with a few minutes. Makarov sighed, grateful that Happy hadn't noticed his sweating palms.
"Are you unwell, master?"
Makarov put on his best smile for the spirit of master Mavis.
"Of course not. I'm fine."
He managed a weak chuckle before another spike of inflammation in his chest cut him short.
"Worried about the children?" Mavis asked.
Makarov straightened, taking another gulp from his drink.
"I'm honestly getting too old for this nonsense," he said. "It's bad enough being in charge of this guild on a normal day!"
Mavis giggled.
"Are you indulging in self-pity?"
Makarov scoffed.
"No! I just don't see why these brats insist on keeping me as master."
He set down his drink and wiped his palms on his sleeves.
"If that nomadic brat Gildarts could sit still, he'd be excellent for the position. The rest of them got the right idea electing Erza while I was in Alvarez. Hell, even my boy Laxus has matured enough to take over if need be."
The miniscule giant walked to the second floor railing.
"They're all growing into fine young men and women. The way they've handled themselves is enough to make a parent die from pride," he said. He took a moment to appreciate the sight of everyone discussing how to react to the war's latest development. "And I can't say how much more I can stand seeing them get hurt."
Mavis' soothing voice answered the tired mage.
"They are growing powerful. They may not need your protection as they once did, but they are still your children in every sense that matters," Mavis said, smiling. "You are a constant in their chaotic lives. You have been their first source of stability since they found home here."
Makarov blinked to dry his eyes and coughed before heading to the stairs.
"Ah, don't mind me," he said, waving a hand. "Just an old man griping about chest pains and the passage of time."
Charla was struggling to maintain her usual composure. She had taken a spot in a bed by Wendy adjacent to Natsu and Happy. The white Exceed still felt almost empty on magic power, but her premonitions were keeping her from sleep.
She rolled over to check on Wendy. Her charge was dozing despite her insistence on staying up to watch over Natsu. Charla smiled and shook her head, stroking the young mage's hair with a paw.
Fire.
She grimaced. It was coming to her again.
Wendy screaming.
Under any other circumstances, Charla would be wrestling with panic, but she had never felt more drained in all her life!
The guild filled with shouts and cries. Magnolia lit up with the fight of two beasts.
She clutched her head, trying to control the flow and intensity of the visions. She had difficulty making sense of them in her state.
Anguished crying.
The sound of stirring from the other bed broke into Charla's premonitions. Happy mumbled, groggy from deep sleep. Charla glanced over; the fire mage was moving.
"Natsu!" Happy cried, waking up Wendy. The younger dragon slayer shot up from the bed, stumbling to the floor from the sudden motion.
"Natsu-san!"
Charla stood up on the head of her bed to look at Natsu. The pink-haired wizard's skin had worsened; the black splotches having spread to cover most of his body. Only various spots on his face still showed his tan skin tone.
"How're you feeling?"
Wendy asked from the foot of his bed. Happy leaned over from his spot on a pillow with an expectant look. The fire mage groaned, shifting his head before fluttering his eyelids open a crack.
Charla frowned. She swore she saw something beige protruding from Natsu's pink locks. The dragon slayer's eyes opened, his dark pupils unfocused as he lifted his head to look at Wendy. The blue-haired girl smiled.
"Thank goodness"
She never got to finish. Natsu produced a foreign, unnatural sound from his throat.
Charla pieced together an instant too late what her visions were warning her about-
Fire.
Yeah, this was a brief one to start things off. I promise there is set up for the story in here! A few things will make sense later on.
On a more personal note, thanks to everyone who's read, favorited and followed this story so far! I've gotten more follows on this story than any other I've written, which makes me happy! If you like this chapter, leave a review! Otherwise, type something just to give your fingers the practice!
To those who've reviewed:
0FairyTail0: I'm hoping that means you're intrigued and possibly on the edge of your seat. Thanks for the review!
Aj Neko: Thank you! I'm glad the tension comes through in the story!