Calm After the Storm
"You should've seen it!" Natsu said proudly, thumping his chest, "I took down Jellal without breaking a sweat!" He, and the other members of Fairy Tail, along with Erza's friends were assembled at the Lumina Casino, with the Fairy Tail goers getting ready to head back to their guild, while the others reading to go wherever.
"That sounds impressive!" Lucy said.
"Aye!" Happy chimed him.
"It does, but not entirely true," Erza said, "Before you activated this 'Eye of the Fire Dragon', you had to eat Etherion. And before then…"
"Well I still beat him, didn't I?" Natsu interrupted, before pointing at Erza, "First thing we're doing when we get back is fighting! Now that I've got this new ability, I can beat you!"
"Some other time," Erza said, turning, and waving her hand dismissively. Ignoring Natsu's disappointed look, the scarlet haired woman had her doubts that she would actually be able to beat Natsu if they fought again. After Natsu used his Dragon's Eye, he beat Jellal very easily, and considering Jellal was probably stronger than Erza, chances are, if Natsu used that technique again, he would beat Erza without much trouble. Heck, he may be able to even beat Laxus.
"Well, that's in the future," Erza continued, "This is the present. And seeing as we just had a major victory, I say we celebrate!"
"Aye!" Happy and Natsu said in unison. With that, the group set out to do exactly that.
Gray and Juvia set out to ride the water slide, or more accurately, Juvia dragged Gray to the water slide, and forced him to ride it with her.
Erza spent time catching up with her childhood friends. She was shocked to learn what Jellal had shanghaied them into doing, and was intent on making sure that they didn't have to go through anything like that again.
That left Natsu, Lucy, and Happy. Though Natsu was intent on riding all the rides, and going all out, he was more sapped for energy than he thought. So instead, the three were sitting at a table, eating lots of food. Well actually, Lucy was eating only a little, and Happy was mostly just eating fish, and most of the food was going to Natsu. He even sucked up a couple of the candles.
"You know, I'd think after you ate what was essentially pure magic, you'd be slightly less hungry," Lucy commented.
"Come on, you know Natsu better than that!" Happy said, as he gulped down the rest of his fish, and reached for another, "Natsu isn't Natsu if he isn't hungry."
Natsu wasn't paying attention, but in all honesty, not all his attention was on his food, either. Instead, he was thinking about the vision he had when he unlocked Dragon's Eye. That image he saw of Lucy… Though Natsu had known Lucy for a very short amount of time compared to the others, there was something about her. Something that made Natsu want to fight harder…
Putting those thoughts out of his head, Natsu tried to focus on his food, but his mind instead wandered to Dragon's Eye. Never had he felt such incredible power. It was as if he had turned, body and soul, into a dragon. Natsu had heard about Dragon Force, and how it could supposedly give a person draconic features, but this felt more like just getting scales or whatever. When Natsu used Dragon's Eye, he truly felt like he had become a dragon. One thing was for sure, Natsu couldn't wait to use it again.
(the next day)
After sending off Erza's friends on their voyage, the group started heading back to the guild hall. Juvia wasn't among them. According to Gray she left overnight.
"Hopefully they've finished the repairs," Lucy said.
"They were almost done when we left," Erza said, "They should be done by now."
And Erza was right, when they arrived at the guild, the group was in for a surprise.
"Its huge!" was the first thing Lucy said, and she was right. The guild hall had practically doubled in size, with a great, almost castle like appearance. They went inside, and found even more surprises.
"We've even got a cafe now?" Gray said. Indeed they did. There were a series of tables connected to an outside bar, with people getting drinks and snacks.
Not far from the cafe, was a fully stocked gift shop, with Max behind the desk.
"You're working the gift shop?" Happy asked as he floated over.
"The Master made me take some business lessons just for this," Max said with a grin.
"What kind of stuff do you have here?" Happy asked.
"Pretty much everything," Max said, gesturing behind him. There were mugs, t-shirts, necklaces, jackets, and even action figures.
"Look at this, a Lucy doll!" Happy said, holding it up. Lucy let out a yelp.
"Didn't anyone think to ask me about that?" she cried.
"Its our most popular item," Max explained, "Its clothes even come off!" Lucy screamed loudly at that.
"I'm going to sue!" she cried.
They went into the guild, and noticed it had also grown significantly in size. There was even a massive stage at the end.
"Pretty!" Lucy and Happy said.
"I could certainly get used to this," Erza said with a smile. Natsu, however, didn't share their enthusiasm.
"What's with you?" Gray asked.
"I don't like change," Natsu said with a pout.
"Lu!" Levy said as she ran up to meet them.
"Levy!" Lucy responded.
"What do you think?" Levy asked, spreading her arms in presentation.
"Its amazing!" Lucy said.
"And this is just the inside!" Levy said, with a wink, "Out in the back we have a pool!" Sure enough, there was indeed a pool out in the back.
"Yo! Natsu!" Romeo said, waving.
"This is really nice!" Lucy said, smiling. She couldn't wait to relax in it, especially after their recent adventure.
They continued exploring the new guild hall, discovering a game room in the basement, and a renovated second floor, where anyone could take an S-Class quest, so long as they were accompanied by an S-Class level mage. All these details did not serve to make Natsu any happier. When Lucy vocalized her concerns about his expressions, Natsu just continued to pout.
"It took us all a long to build everything," Cana explained, "But it was all worth it the end."
"No kidding," Erza said, "This looks beyond amazing."
"I still don't like it," Natsu whined.
"We heard you the first time," Gray said.
"Good, you're back!" Makarov said. Everyone turned to see the small man standing before them, but there was someone next to him. Someone familiar…
"Everyone, this is Juvia Lockser!" Makarov announced. Sure enough, beside him was Juvia. But she had swapped out her large coat, for a short sleeved, but still fairly long blue dress, and she was wearing a smaller heart. The most notable change, however, was her hair, which was now cut short.
"Juvia!" Lucy said.
"So you did end up joining?" Gray asked, "That's good!"
"Yes it is, thank you for all your help by the way!" Erza said
"Juvia will do her best to help Fairy Tail!" Juvia said happily.
"That's good, I'm looking forward to working with you!" Lucy said.
"We will fight for Gray!" Juvia hissed. Lucy sweat dropped at that.
"Trust me, I'm not interested in Gray," she said. She then reflexively flashed her eyes to the left. Though she didn't know why she did.
Natsu, who was standing next to Lucy (on her left more specifically), had his attention in a different place though. He wasn't pouting, instead he was looking angry.
"There's another member as well!" Makarov said, gesturing. People turned, and saw what Natsu was glaring at.
"What?!" Lucy cried.
"You got to be kidding!" Gray said.
Standing before them, was Gajeel Redfox. The Iron Dragon Slayer glared right back at them.
"What's going on here, Master" Gray yelled.
"Wait!" Juvia said, "Juvia asked him to come!"
"Juvia is certainly one thing," Erza said, "But this guy attacked and destroyed our guild hall!"
"He was merely obeying orders," Makarov said, "You know the old saying: 'yesterday's enemies are tomorrow's friends'." Lucy noticed Levy, with Jet and Droy hiding behind a column.
"I… I'm okay with it!" she stuttered.
"Levy," Lucy said softly, worried about her. However, she couldn't help but notice Jet and Droy's death stares at Gajeel.
"I won't work with a guy like that!" Natsu roared. Lucy noticed his chest start to glow, as if there was lava beneath his skin.
"Look, Salamander!" Gajeel said, marching up to Natsu, "I don't want to be your buddy! What I need is work! That's it!" Natsu continued to fume, as a reptilian growl slipped out of his teeth. The glow began to spread to his neck…
"Natsu!" Makarov scolded, "It is the task of Fairy Tail to give those with nowhere to go a place to go! Now put away your fire!" Natsu scowled more, as the glow faded away, as a cloud of steam
"This new guild," he muttered, "It just doesn't feel right!"
"Doesn't matter!" Cana said, as she pushed Natsu to a table, and sat him down with the others. Natsu just slumped over the table. The lights dimmed.
"What's going on?" Lucy asked.
"Just watch," Cana answered. A spotlight then lit up over the stage, as the curtains parted. Sitting with a guitar was Mirajane. She then smiled, as began to sing.
The white-haired woman's singing voice floated over the entire guild hall. It made everyone smile happily at the sound of the beautiful sound spread. The only one who wasn't smiling was the still moping Natsu.
"Can't you smile for us?" Lucy said. Natsu remained still. Lucy then decided to use her "womanly skills".
"Can't you smile for me?" she said as she leaned over to Natsu, batting her eyelashes. Natsu looked up, and for a brief instance, the corners of his mouth turned up.
"Holy Mavis!" Happy cried, "Lucy made Natsu smile!" However, nobody was paying attention, they were all focused on Mirajane's singing. In that interval, Natsu's smile faded again, and he resumed his pouting, as he sipped his drink through a straw, too mopey to even pick it up.
Gajeel apparently decided to give a little payback to Natsu. He held up his foot under the table, and slammed it down right on Natsu's. The pink-haired guy spit out his drink as he whirled around to face Gajeel.
"The hell's wrong with you! You did that on purpose!" Natsu roared. The response was when somebody threw a mug at him.
"Stop interrupting Mira's song!" someone yelled.
"Who the hell threw that!" Natsu roared, his chest now glowing again, as he overturned the table, where Lucy, Juvia, and Cana were sitting. The girls, save for Juvia who was splashed away, were both sending flying with the table.
"Dammit it Natsu!" Gray said as he stood up, bumping Erza slightly, causing her cake to slip out of her hands, and fall to the floor.
"My… cake…," Erza muttered, before her face darkened, "This means war." She then leapt to her feet, and slammed into the nearest man, who just so happened to be Elfman.
Mirajane looked over the rising chaos, before grinning.
"Alright then," she said, before holding up her guitar as she strummed a tune, "Time to rock the house!"
Lucy dove to the ground in an attempt to avoid the brawl, as she let out a sigh.
"I guess somethings aren't meant to change," she said. Meanwhile Natsu knocked away a couple of other guild members, before smiling.
"Now this is Fairy Tail!" he said. He then jumped over to Lucy, as he picked her up, slinging her over the shoulder.
"Natsu! What are you doing?!" Lucy cried.
"We're going to watch this!" Natsu, as Happy picked Natsu up, and brought them up to the rafters, overlooking the guild hall. Lucy looked over the brawl.
"Why are we up here watching?" Lucy asked, "Don't you want to participate?"
"Nah," Natsu said, "At this point is funner to watch."
"Aye!" Happy said, "I'm too lazy to fight anyway!"
"Why do you say that?" Lucy inquired to Natsu. He just smiled down at their guild mates.
"After going through all that Tower of Heaven crap," he said, "Seeing Fairy Tail being itself is satisfying." Lucy looked at Natsu before grinning. She punched lightly in the arm.
"Don't you go getting soft on me," she said. Natsu grinned put her arm around Lucy's shoulder, as the blonde flushed the color of Natsu's fire.
"Only for you."
"What do you mean by that?" Lucy asked. But Natsu didn't pay attention, he was paying attention to the battle. Lucy just smiled, as she looked down as well.
"They like each other!" Happy said.
Note: This chapter is filler, following the manga closely, only with an added on NaLu scene. They aren't a couple yet, but they're getting there. What that was more like a friendship hug.
Next chapter I'm not sure what will happen, it will be either Gajeel's singing, or the beginning of the Fighting Festival. What do you think? I'm inclined to go with the former, since I think it would be simpler, since the singing scene isn't TOO big, so it may be to short a chapter.