A/N: WHOOP, guess who's back with another chapter that isn't chock block full of spelling errors *dramatic pause for effect* me!
The sounds of the footsteps echoed through the council headquarters hallway as the Fairy Tail mages; Natsu, Lucy, Happy and Erza were still searching for Wendy and Mest. Natsu was leading the group with his enhanced sense of smell as their guide with Happy following beside him as Erza continued to grill Lucy.
He turned just in time to see Lucy's face now a bright red while Erza had a calm expression on her face.
"I could always ask Rissy to lend it to Natsu...After all it is his job to please you" She stated with a smile.
Lucy shook her hands in defense whilst shaking her head, flailing her hands at him as if to scream 'help me'
"Oh thanks Erza... but I'm sure Natsu doesn't need a book on pleasing women..." Lucy countered.
Erza turned to face him with a raised brow, before flinging her arm around the blonde and trapping her in a tight armour clad embrace.
"So you're already pleasing Lucy...I hope he's respecting you" Erza cooed.
Natsu shrugged innocently before turning back to the redheaded woman.
"Of course I respect her, we sleep together every night and Luce doesn't mind" Natsu shrugged though he was confused as to why Lucy face palmed and Erza was blushing - he only said that him and Lucy slept together after all they shared the same bed every night.
Erza was staring between the two mages in what only could be described as pure and utter shock, whilst Happy was staring on in mild amusement.
"How...how long has this been happening?" Erza asked
Happy shrugged before turning to Natsu.
"Natsu and Lucy have been sleeping together since she joined the guild" Happy explained, with a grin. Though the exceed was just stating facts he knew what effect his words would have on the redhead - that cat was sneaky like a snake...or exceed since that what he is…
With her look of shock still intact, Erza shook her head as if t forget Happy's statement though something like that about someone she had known for the majority of her life had come to a shock to her of course - even in the wrong context.
"At least you've been using protection" Erza sighed which only confused the dragon slayer further.
Natsu blankly stared at the redhead, he looked to Happy for some sort of help however since he was an exceed he had next to no knowledge about coitus as it were.
"Protection...?" He asked which once again caused Lucy to face palm.
Before Erza could start to lecture Natsu about the steps of pregnancy Lucy stepped into his aid.
"Natsu it's that smoke again..." Lucy gasped as she ran to one of the windows. Natsu, Erza and Happy instantly ran over to join her and spotted the cloud of thick smoke covering the city of Crocus.
They all stared as the thick smoke started to contort and curl around the city; almost as if it were to engulf it into a grave of pure weightless darkness
"Then that means that the smokey mage is back" Happy suggested as the smoke continued to rise.
The mages managed to peel themselves off the window, Natsu, Happy and Lucy turning to Erza for some sort of guidance.
"Then we need to find Wendy and Mest" Erza stated, her eyes making contact with each of them.
Natsu frowned, even though he trusted Erza's leadership it didn't mean that he had to like it. For one both his sister, Lavender, Rinan and even Gray, were trapped out in said smoke and could possibly be in some sort of fight - a fight which he was missing.
"But Rissy's out there" Natsu pointed out, remembering the last times the smoke mage had attacked his younger sister.
Erza nodded in understanding before placing her hands on his shoulders, at least with this form of contact he avoided a chest full of armor.
"I care about Rissy as much as you do but right now finding regrouping and finding Wendy is a priority" Erza explained before removing her hands from his shoulders.
Lucy nodded from beside him, placing her own hand on his shoulder and it was then that he was once again met with her chocolate brown orbs which he had come to lo- no like a lot.
"And besides she's with Gray, Rinan and Lavender" Lucy added with a smile.
He tried to act as if her touch had little effect on him, but due to her smile he was certain that it wasn't working so instead he settled with a childish pout.
"Lavenders fine but I don't trust Rinan and Grays an ice Bastard" Natsu sulked.
Lucy shook her head in disbelief before walking ahead to catch up with Erza, who had somehow overtaken them whilst the dragon slayer was sulking..
"That doesn't make sense..." She muttered with an added laugh.
Happy nodded in agreement before smiling at his partner.
"That's probably because Natsu doesn't really do sense" Happy remarked, which only worsened Natsu's mood.
"You really are a ray of sunshine" Lucy said sarcastically.
Happy simply shrugged with an innocent smile - that exceed definitely wasn't as sweet as he looked, though Natsu tended to turn a blind eye to his sass since Lisanna would most likely kill him if he hurt their 'son' in any way possible.
"Lucy it's my job as Natsu's best friend to point out how stupid he is...After all a best friend is always honest" he answered with a smile.
Natsu shook his head with disbelief before catching up with Erza, she was stood outside a large wooden door where surprisingly the scent of both Mest and Wendy ended.
"Guys it's a door and trail goes on through here!" Natsu declared with a grin.
Erza clapped him on the back with an armour clad hand, the force knocking him forward slightly as well as knock the wind out of him.
"Which means that Wendy and Mest are inside" Erza added.
Without any further delay Natsu kicked the door down much to Erza's displeasure, and as a result hit the dragon slayer upside the head.
"You're forgetting we are in the council headquarters and vandalism should result in punishment" She pointed out causing the group of Fairies to pale.
"And don't forget trespassing, Erza - San" a sweet voice added and the mages turned to see a smiling Wendy accompanied by Mest.
Natsu and Happy were the first to greet Wendy, the salmon haired dragon slayer had wrapped his arms around the younger mage and proceeded to lift her high into the air.
"Natsu-San it's getting hard to breath..." Wendy muttered which caused Natsu to abruptly release her with an apologetic smile.
Erza smiled down at the young mage before turning to face Mest.
"Mest what happened?" Erza asked in a serious tone.
"Myself and Wendy were called upon by chairman Hoshino..." Mest said thoughtfully. "Though when he didn't get the support he wanted for the magic registration bill he had us locked up"
"He's taking out the opposition so the bill can be passed?!" Lucy exclaimed in disbelief.
Mest nodded grimly,
"And judging by the time I'm assuming the meeting already taking place" He added.
Everyone sighed in sadness, though Erza stood still as if trying to think up a plan whilst Wendy glanced up at Mest hopefully.
"There has to be a way to stop them" Happy said with a frown.
"Since I'm a member I can verbally oppose the bill.." Mest pointed out, which caused Wendy to smile for young mage held nothing but adoration for those older than her.
Erza nodded before turning to Natsu and Lucy.
"This leaves us to find Rissy and the others" she said
"So I'm going with you?" Wendy asked the older mage. Mest nodded in agreement causing Wendy to smile once more.
Once again they were leaving Wendy, though Natsu knew that she would be safe with the teleportation mage.
"See you soon Wendy" Lucy said before hugging the younger mage, she then turned to Mest with a smile.
"Look after her and good luck"
Mest nodded though Natsu was sure that the way things were going that he was going to need more than just simple luck.
Rinan stared from his father to his mother, his father seemed different for a soft smile had made its way across his face and for once his eyes didn't have that same dead look to them. He watched as his mother studied him, the smoke having cleared and allowing them all to breathe freely. She took a cautious step towards his father before turning back to face him.
Her eyes were wide and her brows slightly furrowed as she assessed both of the men in turn, almost as if she were trying to connect the dots.
"Rinan...why is he here?" She asked.
Before he could answer his father or future Rogue had wrapped his arms around his mother causing her to make a soft squeaking noise.
"You don't even know how good it feels to hold you how I used to" he whispered into her hair.
She glanced up at him wide eyed before placing a hand to his cheek, he hadn't seen his parents interact like this for while...and it was strange to say the least.
"What happened to you...you changed..." She muttered as she continued to assess him.
He nodded softly as he placed his hand over her own, and it was that point that Rinan saw a flash of his old father.
"Fate happened" He answered with a drawn out sigh.
It was at that moment that both Gray and Lavender had come round from the effects of the fog, Gray was the first to notice the future Rogue whilst Lavender just stared on confused.
"What's he doing here?" Gray spat as he staggered upright, he was glaring daggers at the future Rogue whilst Lavender hid behind him.
Rogue scowled slightly at Grays tone.
"It's nice to see you too" he muttered.
Gray rolled his eyes before turning to Rissy.
"Didn't Natsu tell you about what he did to Lucy at the dragon war?" He asked.
Rissy nodded whilst biting her bottom lip, though Rinan watched in interest no one had told him of what happened at the dragon war for his parents had always held the details from him.
"But he's Rogue..." She tried to reason, though he could tell that she felt conflicted.
"He's not your Rogue he's future Rogue" Gray pointed out whilst narrowing his eyes at his father.
Rissy frowned before folding her arms and Rinan smiled at her stubbornness.
"Tomato, tomato" she countered though she pronounced the vegetable the same both times which only confused everyone, save his father.
Gray double blinked in confusion, he turned to Rinan in a confused state though the teen mage just shrugged after all he had learned over the years that if a matter concerned his mother it was just best to go with the flow for anything that came out of her mouth was most likely to confuse even the smartest of people.
"That's not how you say it" Gray pointed out in frustration.
Rissy shook her head before taking a step closer to Rogue, as she continued to keep eye contact with the ice mage.
"That isn't the point Gray," she countered with a frown as she folded her arms.
Gray shook his head before placing hand on her shoulder.
"Rissy as a friend, trust me on this..." He said.
Rissy sighed before glancing back over to Rinan and then back to Gray.
"As your friend ill listen...but I can't not trust his face, and you have to understand" She told him with a sigh.
Gray nodded in understanding, though he still exhaled loudly.
"Well he did save you from that smoke guy..." Gray muttered which caused Rissy to smile.
"Yeah he Rogue did..." Lavender said before quickly turning
"I think I'm seeing double"
They all frowned before turning where Lavender was focused, and Rinan was surprised to see his father but not the one of his time. Rissy however was the first the greet him, a wide smile on her face as she ran to embrace him.
"Whoa you guys are identical" She muttered as she assessed his father's younger self.
Sting laughed before placing an arm over her shoulder.
"You are precious..." He said which caused Rissy to pout slightly.
"They're identical because they're the same person" Sting explained
His young father didn't seem to correct her, his gaze focused on his future counterpart.
"Yes we are..." He muttered as he stared at the stranger.
Sting seemed to amused at the situation for his trademark smirk was plastered across his face.
"So is anyone wondering who the kid is, or is it just me?" Sting asked as he narrowed his eyes at Rinan.
Gray rolled his eyes whilst Rissy grinned as she wrapped her arms tightly around Rinan, who only stood calmly.
"He's from the future too" Gray stated.
Sting raised a brow before glancing between the future dwellers and then between his own timelines Rissy and Rogue.
"I knew it!" He declared with a grin which only seemed to confuse Rissy further.
She turned to him with wide dark eyes and her head tilted slightly to the side in her classic 'thinking face'
"Know what, Sting-Kun?" She asked with her head slightly tilted.
Sting placed his arms round both dragon slayers, Rissy looked up at him expectantly whilst Rogue sported a bored expression.
"That you two are proud parents" he declared whilst gesturing between the two of them and then to Rinan.
Rissy's eyes widened before turning back to Rogue.
"So he's our son!" She declared before flinging her arms round his neck in excitement
Whilst Rogue was busy trying to process the news of being a father, Rissy was excitedly rambling about the future to Sting, without missing out a single derail.
"And not only do I get a hose, but I find out that Rogues the father of our son" she happily declared whilst shaking her head in disbelief.
Sting nodded before frowning slightly at the salmon haired mage.
"Wait...you did say that you um...died?" Sting asked wide eyed.
Rissy nodded with a small pout, which only confused Rogue since this wasn't just a minor detail that one would just drop into a conversation 'hey I just found out that I'm gonna die not too far from now, dude' it just didn't work…
"Yeah...I did" She said sadly "but hey I got a hose so I say it's a win win" She added with a grin, since neither of them answered her she simply shrugged before walking over to pester Rinan.
Sting shook his head be great placing his arm around Rogue once more.
"You okay man?" He asked.
Rogue nodded, though his gaze was focused on the boy - or Rinan and the future mother of his child happily conversing. Rinan's face was hidden of all emotion while Rissy physically bounced around beside him, her eyes glistening with excitement and a wide grin across her face. He could tell that Rinan was trying to suppress the urge to smile, for he himself had done on various occasions, however like himself his son had found Rissy's grin contagious and cracked a smile of his own.
Rogue's eyes widened at how similar the grins were, there was no doubt that they were mother and son. Rinan had the same look of excitement in his own dark eyes, and even their grins were uncanny.
It felt strange referring to him as their son, someone that a little of each of them inside and to learn that Rissy was the mother made the experience stranger.
But another thing crossed his mind. Rissy said she would die and he was going to lose her.
"Just fine..." He grimly answered as he continued to focus on Rissy.
Sting followed Rogues gaze and with a small sigh clapped him on the back.
"You can still change the future" Sting pointed out as he gestured to Rissy embracing Rinan once more.
Rogue smiled softly at the scene and glancing over his future counterpart sported the same expression. He had promised himself a couple of months back that he wouldn't become that man but it seemed that some unseen force was working against him to take away everything that he loved.
"I'll make sure of it" he muttered
He turned to Lavender and Gray, the latter carefully watching his future counterpart with wary eyes.
"I'm still keeping my eye on him...you" the ice mage stated as he watched the future Rogue, the rest of them following suit. If there was one thing that Rogue noted about the future counterpart it was the dead eyes that seemed to assess each of them, the way he rigidly stood as if always on guard, however the only time he saw a flicker of life in those dead orbs was when they landed on the salmon haired woman and that made the shadow dragon slayer think that the pair had more in common than he had originally thought. For it seemed that whatever timeline he was in the Clarissa Dragneel would always be able to make him smile.
So what did you think of that?
Ew I can't believe I posted that last chapter with spelling errors, that is just gross!
Stay tuned for the next chapter where more things happen, Smokey the not so friendly mage isn't forgotten, Natsu's group find our surprise visitor and of course Wendy and Mest try to oppose that stupid registration bill.
JustAnotherFairy :)