Chapter 6: Salamander vs Erigor!
Natsu stood across from Erigor on the snow covered rooftop. The wind surrounding them screaming in his ears. Erigor clutched his scythe that rested on his shoulders, Natsu clenched his fiery fist, the tension in the air was so thick not even Erigor's aforementioned scythe could cut through it. Natsu knew that this fight was going to be tough just by looking at this guy. Sure he didn't have much in terms of muscle, but he had powers that were miles above Kageyama, and that scythe looked like it would hurt. The two stood staring at each other for a few seconds.
"I shall show you why they call me the God of Death ignorant child." Erigor spoke, and in an instant swung his scythe, before Natsu knew what was happening a strong gust of wind pushed Natsu backwards, the wind cut his cheek a little. The flames around his hand dispersed as a result of the strong gust. Looking down Natsu gulped.
Erigor rushed towards him, scythe in hands and swiped at Natsu who was able to roll away. Focusing his energy into his hands they once more enveloped in the orange flames a warm feeling surrounding him as he ran at the gang leader.
"Foolish…" Erigor whispered holding his hand out and sent Natsu flying off the roof with a strong gale. Natsu panicked and caught himself on the edge of the building, clinging onto the roof for dear life, he made the mistake of looking down. His eyes widened.
"Crapcrapcrap!" He quickly pulled himself back up, but Erigor was waiting and slashed at him with his scythe as if it were a baseball bat. Natsu threw his right arm up to protect his face. A split second later a searing pain came from his entire arm, warm liquid dripping down his arm. Natsu let out a cry of pain, clutching the arm with his opposite hand, he felt the warm liquid smear onto his hand, fresh tears slid down his face. Erigor laughed watching Nastus's pain, he held up his scythe once more the red liquid dripping off the blade as it towered above Natsu's head, he glanced up forgetting his pain temporarily as he saw the sharp weapon coming down on him. Rolling out of the way Erigor's scythe embedded itself in the roof, he struggled to pull it out, but Natsu took advantage. Thrusting himself forward, he ignored the pain in his arm and striked with his hand blazing, he landed a pretty good punch to Erigor's cheek that caused him to stumble back.
"Damn brat…" Erigor seethed rubbing his cheek, he shot a dirty look at Natsu's direction. Holding up his hand he sent another strong blast at Natsu. Natsu braced himself to prevent himself from an unwanted lift off into the sky. It still pushed him back a ways, his feet leaving the roof for only half of a second as he was pushed back. Using his free hand Erigor directed the wind coming from it to pull his scythe back towards him. It flew out of the roof where it was previously stuck and was soon in Erigor's hand once more. Natsu watching the scene knew he had to do something quick, because at the moment he couldn't move and he now knew from experience that Erigor's scythe hurt a whole lot. He struggled to move forward, but Erigor just increased the strength of his wind and stalked towards Natsu's figure that was coming nearer and nearer to the edge of the building again. A lightbulb popped into Natsu's head, he inhaled a deep breath, feeling the hotness inside his body move to his sternum, his cheeks puffed out.
Natsu opened his mouth letting out a jetstream of fire that blasted at Erigor who frowned at the upcoming attack.
"Pathetic, your fire could never beat the power of my wind!" Erigor snapped his fingers and a small twister formed itself around Natsu's attack and was coming closer to Natsu who's eyes widened as he was hit in the face by the strong squall, flinging him off the rooftop once more, this time not able to catch himself Natsu closed his eyes as he plummeted down to the streets below. The impact never came, instead a sudden feeling of dizziness overcame him. He opened his eyes and found he was inside a spinning twister that Erigor formed around him. It shot him upwards back onto the top of the building where Erigor was standing holding up his scythe in a ready position. Natsu adjusted himself in the air so that he was dive bombing Erigor, his first erupted in flames.
Natsu punched at Erigor as he dodged the swing of the scythe in midair, but he found his attack had no effect. Erigor smirked as a twister like thing surrounded his entire body. The only part of Erigor that Natsu could make out was a black silhouette and two yellow dots. Natsu's eyes widened as Erigor grabbed his arm and whipped him onto the ground pressing his blade above his throat and pushed it down.
"Your attacks will have no effect on me while I am in my wind armor!" Erigor chirped above Natsu who held up his arms to push away the scythe closing in on his throat.
"You...talk…..too...much…." Natsu mustered while fending off the weapon. He held onto the wooden handle, taking a deep breath he started heating up his hands steam emanating from where his hands were placed and soon it started melting. Erigor's eyes widened as he watched as his precious weapon melted into two separate pieces, the blade falling onto the ground with a clang. Erigor was left holding the handle with his eyes wide. Natsu jumped up and took Erigor's distraction to send a kick at the spot his head should have been. The flames immediately blew out and he was sent tumbling. Erigor shook of his disbelief and threw the half of his scythe he was still clutching off the roof.
"Damn brat...you'll pay!" Erigor lifted himself into the air, his shadowy figure crossing his legs and hovering in the sky, Natsu glared at him.
"HEY THAT'S NOT FAIR COME BACK DOWN HERE AND FIGHT ME!" Natsu shouted up at his opponent.
"SILENCE!" Erigor snapped and sent two twisting wind attacks heading towards Natsu, who took the chance to do that fireball trick again. Clapping his hands together Natsu combined his two small fireballs into one larger one. Flinging it at Erigor as he leapt above the two vortexes, the attack hit Erigor and dissipated into a cloud of smoke. Natsu landed on the ground staring in disbelief.
"I told you Salamander…..Your fire has no effect on me!" Erigor laughed and Natsu glared up at the shadowy figure.
"That just sounds like a challenge!" Natsu retorted he ran at full speed and hopped into the air igniting his hand and punched Erigor, his attack just bounced off sending him back onto the rooftop, he landed into the cold pile of snow. Steam poured out of his nose as he looked up frustrated. His body grew warmer as he was getting progressively more and more frustrated. He needed to calm down. He knew what happened when his emotions grew too strong, sure he was slowly gaining confidence and control over his powers, but still he wasn't in full control, he took a steady breath to calm down his frustrations.
"Well….this sucks….." Natsu sighed sitting up and shaking off the snow that stuck onto his clothes. Erigor was still just hovering there, but something was different, the small armor of wind that surrounded him was growing at an alarming rate. Natsu's eyes bulged, this wasn't going to be good.
"I TRIED TO DO THINGS THE EASY WAY! NOW I WILL DESTROY YOU ON EVERYONE WITHIN A 5 MILE RADIUS!" Erigor screamed from inside the spinning grey vortex, Natsu stared mouth agape. No way!
"YOU'RE INSANE!" Natsu yelled back his blood boiling, he shot a series of small fireballs at the man encased in the growing vortex all of which bounced off.
"I'M DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY TO SAVE THIS CITY!"
"IF THAT'S WHAT YOU REALLY WANT THEN STOP THIS!" Natsu yelled back puffing up his chest and he sent another flame breath attack. It faded away right away.
"NEVER I MUST OVERTHROW ZEREF! I MUST TAKE CONTROL OF THIS CITY! I CAN'T DO THAT WITH YOU STANDING IN MY WAY!" Natsu had to take a few steps back as the wind grew stronger and almost knocked Natsu down. Natsu grunted, taking in what Erigor yelled at him, his eyes traveled to the unconscious forms of Erigor's gang members from Eisenwald.
"YOU'RE GOING TO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE!"
"I DON'T CARE! I WILL DESTROY ALL WHO STAND IN MY WAY!"
"WHAT ABOUT KAGEYAMA! HE'S YOUR FRIEND!"
"FRIEND?! I HAVE NO FRIENDS! KAGEYAMA IS MERELY A PAWN!" Natsu's blood boiled hearing those words. His body temperature was rising to dangerous levels, he killed innocent people, that alone was despicable, but now he was threatening to kill someone who followed him without question. It made Natsu sick. He clenched his fists, his neck vein popping out, his eyes darkened.
"You're sick…" His voice was quiet. His inner rage pouring out and steam coming off from his body.
"I'M JUST DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE! I DON'T NEED ANYONE TO HOLD ME BACK ANY LONGER! I HAVE ALL THE POWER I NEED!"
"Idiot…"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME BOY?!"
"I said you're an idiot….A fool…...You think that having people by your side makes you weak…" Natsu spoke quietly, his mind drifting to a certain blonde who had been by his side for years, the certain blonde who had helped him survive the worst of the last few days. A certain blonde whose father's life rested in Natsu's hands right now. He'd be damned if he let anything that could make Lucy sad happen.
"THEY DO FOOLISH CHILD! THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN MAKE YOU STRONG IS YOURSELF! AND I WILL SHOW YOU MY TRUE POWER PREPARE TO DIE!" Erigor yelled out the wind finally reaching unbelievable speeds that Natsu knew could probably tear him apart if he touched the tornado, it began to expand outwards.
"YOU'RE WRONG! THE PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT MAKE ME STRONG….AND THEY ARE THE REASON I WILL DEFEAT YOU!" Natsu screamed his anger finally boiling over and his entire body erupted in flames. Erigor looked down silent, his tornado growing in size, it won't be long before the insect was crushed under his boot. His thoughts were interrupted by Natsu screaming.
Natsu's body was burning as he knelt underneath Erigor, the wind was stronger than ever, but Natsu hardly noticed. His flames danced around him growing hotter and larger. He couldn't handle the surge of power and it started burning him. Ignoring the pain he took several breaths trying to regain his control of his powers.
"Control….control….screw it!" He snapped and sprung upwards heading straight at Erigor soaring through the air as the flames around him formed a spear like shape.
"INSOLENT BRAT! I TOLD YOU ALR-" Erigor started, but was interrupted by a pain in his chest. His eyes widened coughing out. His wind armor faded away and he was crashing into the rooftop a burst of fire erupting upon contact with the cold cement roof. Natsu knelt above him holding up a flaming fist, Erigor's eyes widened in horror. He couldn't lose.
"TAKE THIS!" Natsu yelled and thrusted his fist into the center of Erigor's face, knocking him out cold, but Natsu didn't stop. He kept punching his anger not dissipating. How could anyone of no regard for a human life, much less willingly sacrifice people who care about you! Natsu saw red and not just the red liquid coming from Erigor's nose that was definitely broken.
"Kid stop….you proved your point…" A deep voice spoke from behind him, Natsu stopped himself in the midst of delivering his umpteenth punch, turning to face the source of the voice. A tall muscular man stood there clad in a raggedy black cloak that took up his entire body. He had slicked back orange hair and a stubble, a strange aura surrounding him, a significantly shorter man with receding gray hair and a mustache stood next to him. Natsu rose to his feet, fists still flaming.
"Who the hell are you?!" He growled, the two men didn't back down. The shorter man walked forward.
"My name is Makarov Dreyer."
"And I am Gildarts Clive." The taller man introduced himself. Natsu looked between them, not dropping down his guard.
"I take it that you are the fierce Salamander we have heard so much about?" The man named Makarov asked, Natsu nodded.
"That's me. Why are you here? And who are you really?!" Natsu let his flames grow a little.
"Please calm down my dear boy, we mean you no harm. Then we can talk." Makarov started softly like a parent talking to their child.
"How can I know for sure you mean it?" Natsu asked.
"Trust us kiddo, if we wanted to fight you, you'd already be down and out." Gildarts jested a smile on his face, Natsu sighed and calmed himself down letting the heat leave his body and stood up straight.
"Could you remove your mask please? I would like to get to know who I am talking to." Makarov smiled, and Natsu was taken aback.
"I-I….W-what?" Was all he could stutter out, Gildarts laughed.
"There's no reason to be afraid, Natsu." Natsu's eyes widened, he removed the hood and pulled down his scarf.
"How? How do you know who I am?"
"You really don't remember me huh? I'm an old friend of your father's, and when I heard that there was some vigilante with the same power as said friend's son, it wasn't hard to connect the dots. Especially considering you are wearing his old martial arts getup!" Natsu's face flushed, but then quickly fell.
"You knew my dad?" Was all he asked? Gildarts face darkened.
"I did...We were good friends, I remember holding you when you were a toddler Natsu, even if you don't remember me, I was always there helping your dad, watching over you as you grew up. It has been some time though, ten years in fact. Last time I saw you, you were a shrimp that came up to my knee. You used to call me…."
"Uncle Gilly…" The two spoke in unison, Gildarts smiled at the pink haired boy who felt his eyes water. Makarov smiled as the scene unfolded.
"Natsu….we are the heads of an organization dedicated to helping people like you control their gifts...and use them to help people." Gildarts explained.
"Powers are mysterious things, that is true for certain. For starters nobody really knows how one gets them or why. They are magical like fairies or unicorns. They are also mysterious, hence our organization is named Fairy Tail, combining the magical and mysterious into one driving force of good. I believe you have heard of my grandson, Laxus?" Makarov spoke and Natsu listened intently.
"Y-Yes I have." Natsu replied, trying to keep his eyes on Makarov instead of the tall man next to him.
"He is a member of this organization, in fact he is one of our strongest members. Just under Gildarts and myself."
"Geez humble brag much…" Gildarts muttered but Makarov ignored him.
"Anyway dear Natsu, we would like to extend an invitation for you to join. It's up to you of course, we will respect whatever decision you make, how-"
"I'll do it!" Natsu interrupted Makarov immediately, accepting his invitation.
"Really that fast?" Gildarts asked with a soft smile on his face.
"Yeah...My dad trusted you, therefore I trust you. Besides….you said you can help me...control my abilities….I want to keep being Salamander. To protect people from the fate my dad suffered, but I need to get stronger." Natsu spoke looking over to the three Eisenwald members he was barely able to defeat. Makarov smiled at him.
"Then here take this...come sometime next week. Until then get some rest." He walked over and handed Natsu a small card. That's when he noticed the huge gash on Natsu's arm.
"Oh dear! That looks quite bad! Here let me see it!" He urged and grabbed Natsu's arm to inspect the wound. Gildarts walked over.
"Does it hurt?" Makarov asked calmly.
"Not anymore…"
"Yeahhhh adrenaline will do that. One helluva drug if you ask me." Gildarts quipped looking over Makarov's head handing him a small pouch.
"Nevertheless it is still quite a deep cut and most likely infected at this point. Here this might sting." He grabbed the small bottle of alcohol out of the first aid kit and poured it all over Natsu's wound, he hissed in pain clenching his eyes shut. Next he grabbed a wipe and cleaned it off some more.
"Owowowowowow!" Natsu flinched as Makarov put pressure on it.
"Sorry dear boy, but it needed to be cleaned." With that he grabbed the roll of bandages and wrapped it around Natsu's unsleeved arm all the way from his wrist to just under his armpit.
"It is a very deep cut, you most likely will need stitches, the scar will most likely never fade away though."
"That's okay…..I guess it's just a trophy for my first big fight win." Natsu laughed pointing over towards the Eisenwald members. Gildarts smirked.
"Not bad at all kid. Taking down an entire gang in a day is quite the accomplishment, you'll do great."
"Thanks...Gilly…" Natsu smiled up at the man who beamed down at him. Makarov zipped up the first aid kit.
"That should do it, I'm no Porlyusica, but that should work for now." Makarov helped Natsu back to his feet and walked over to the Eisenwald members. He somehow was able to drag Kageyama and Erigor with ease. Gildarts sighed deeply as he picked up the biggest of the three.
"Of course you leave me with the one who has never heard of a salad in his life…" He groaned, throwing the big guy over his shoulder.
"Natsu we look forward to working with you." Makarov ignored Gildarts turning to the pink haired boy.
"As do I." Suddenly Erigor started to stir. He wearily looked at Natsu anger flashing in his eyes.
"...Fool…..you have no idea do you…...no idea….about how much you doomed us all do you?"
"What does that mean?!" Natsu glared down at the man he had beaten senseless moments prior.
"...Zeref…..will unleash….it….and destroy everything…...The netherworld gates….they are going to open soon…..I was trying to stop it…." Gildarts and Makarov both glanced at each other with wide eyes. Natsu however didn't remove his glare from Erigor.
"What is this, it?" He questioned. Erigor shuddered.
"His most dangerous creation…He calls it…..E.N.D…..and it will end life as we know it…." Erigor spoke before falling back into a state of unconsciousness. Natsu looked at the two older men who were looking at each other.
"What did any of that mean?" He asked, Gildarts just shrugged.
"He must have a concussion from that beating you gave him cause that was all gibberish." He spoke, but something seemed off about his tone. Before he questioned them they vanished in a blink of an eye.
"What...the….where did they go?" He looked around, but there was no sign of them or the three members of Eisenwald. He looked down at the card in his hand. It had an address on it, stuffing it into his pants pockets he gripped his arm and looked over to the Mayor's office. Looking down he could see Jude get into his car and drive off. Smiling he headed off in the same direction.
It took him a little longer to get back to the estate due to his soreness and injuries, but when he did he immediately walked over to the bush he had hid the briefcase with his regular clothes and phone in. He opened it up and changed hastily to avoid getting sick from the cold. He wore a sweater to hide his bandaged arm and grabbed his phone he gulped. On the home screen he read.
93 Missed Calls From
Lucy Heartfilia
117 New Text Messages From
Lucy Heartfilia
47 Voicemails From
Lucy Heartfilia
Natsu was now terrified to go in and face the wrath of his blonde best friend. He slowly walked towards the door and opened it and was greeted by a dark entry hall all except for a single lamp sitting on a table right next to a chair facing the door where sure enough his best friend sat, arms crossed tapping her foot, glaring at him.
"Natsu Dragneel…"
"Y-Yes, Luce?" Natsu asked nervously.
"I hope you know how much trouble you are in right now mister…."
"Lucy, I'm really sorry…."
"Save it. Do you know how worried I was about you?! I thought some lunatic had come and kidnapped you! O-or that you ran away, God DAMNIT NATSU I AM SO UPSET RIGHT NOW! WHERE WERE YOU!" She screamed standing up and marching toward him, despite the height difference Natsu still cowered as she grew nearer.
"M-My phone died…" He muttered a lame excuse, Lucy glared.
"Oh really?!" She whipped hers out and pressed a few buttons and waited, soon after Natsu's began ringing. He gulped.
"Now spill it, what were you doing? Why are you lying to me! Why couldn't you at least have texted me, I was so worried about you Natsu...I'm terrified of losing you! And then you go and pull stunts like this where you just disappear...I-I-I…" She soon began weeping into his shoulders clinging onto him tightly, Natsu slowly wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry Lucy….really I am…..I just needed to do something that's all…"
"What did you need to do? Please you can tell me anything…." She pleaded, he looked down into her beautiful eyes and had an internal conflict on whether or not he should tell her. On one hand she might be supportive, but on the other she would tell him that it's too dangerous, maybe he needed to keep it a secret to protect her. What if she wanted to help him and that put her in harm's way. He couldn't have that, for now at least he couldn't let her in for the first time ever.
"I just wanted to visit the house...that's all...and I forgot to bring my phone I'm sorry Luce…" She looked at him trying to decide if he was telling the truth, but before she made up her mind Natsu was saved by the front doors opening and Jude walking in.
"DAD!" Lucy yelled, rushing towards her dad and giving him a crushing hug. Natsu watched the scene with a smile, thanks to him. Lucy got to see her dad again, he looked out the window. He no longer had Igneel, but Lucy still had her dad. So what if he got a bad cut in the process, he felt good. He turned to walk up to bed as the dad and daughter talked. A tear fell down his face as he watched them hug one last time though.
"Lucy...I will tell you someday….but for now…..I'm not ready….I'm not strong enough...One day I will be strong enough to keep you safe and everyone else I care about so that you can have these moments with Jude….Those moments I can never have with Igneel again."
Chapter 7: Fairy Tail!
A/N: Sorry for the lat update! Please don't kill me to be honest I have been brainstorming where I wanted this story to go and that's part of the reason it took so long, that plus the fact that I can't stop playing the game that just came out lol! Anyway thank you so much for all the kind feedback I hope it keeps coming you are all the best!