The Salamander

by ScarletWebWarrior06

In a world, very much like our own their is a group of people who are born with special gifts. These people are able to do incredible feats, like turn into monsters, teleport, or even control lightning. Natsu Dragneel of Magnolia is one of these gifted people and he must learn how to control his gifts, and become a hero.

54. A Hero Is Born!

Chapter 54: A Hero is Born!

"OH NO I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW! The Salamander just was going toe to toe with the demon known as Jackal, but just collapsed….I'm afraid this truly looks like the end. I don't know if anyone will be able to defeat this terrible foe." The reporter's voice came through the television speakers as the guild stared in disbelief.

"He must've run out of power…..shit this is so not good." Gray muttered, squeezing his fists tightly as he smacked them down on the table he was sitting at. How could this have happened? Erza cursed under her breath and requipped into her armor, wielding a sword in hand.

"Jet, I need your speed. I need you to take me to Shirostume! I know we said it wouldn't be possible but Natsu needs support ASAP!" Erza turned to the man who widened his eyes in shock.

"U-Um….I don't know Erza, I would if I could but with how far away that town is….it would still take at least an hour or two….that's the whole reason that we didn't try this earlier." Jet tried to reason with the armored woman who glared at him clutching her sword tighter.

"THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE!" Erza shouted in response while pointing the tip of her sword towards Jet, making him jump and hide behind Droy who looked equally terrified at the fuming redhead.

"Erza, calm down please….we all want to help….but…" Mira held her hands up, tears forming in her eyes as she looked at the television where the sounds of Jackal's laughter could be heard despite how far away from the camera the battle was taking place.

"But what?!" Erza glared at the beautiful white-haired woman.

"But, there is nothing we can do….this is in Natsu's hands…..and he's a real man so we just gotta have faith he will win…" Elfman finished for his sister walking up behind her and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Erza scoffed and dropped her sword to the ground with a loud clang. Her real eye began to water like Mira's.

"I….feel so useless….Natsu is a member of Fairy Tail just like us….and we can't just leave him on his own to die from that demon….same goes for Levy and Wendy….we have to….help them…" Erza's voice grew weaker with each spoken word until it was barely a whisper by the end. Everyone in the guild stared at her in shock as the normally stoic Titania was now quivering.

"Erza…." Gray mumbled stunned at the sight of his longest friend. He hadn't seen her cry once since they had known each other. The last time he did see her shed a tear was the day she, Natst and himself met. Gray instinctively reached out to his side and grabbed Juvia's hand and gave it a tight squeeze. It was about to make him break seeing his two oldest, and closest friends in such sorry states. Juvia just frowned and gave his hand a squeeze of her own. In the corner of the guild a l;oud cry could be heard.

"Asuka…what's wrong?!" Bisca held her daughter tightly. Asuka continued to let out cries of agony.

"I DON'T WANT NATSU TO BE DEAD! MAKE HIM WAKE UP MOMMY!" She yelled which didn't make anyone feel better. Alzack tried his best to comfort both his wife and child as Bisca was soon crying with her daughter while muttering.

"I know baby, me too…"

With all the commotion going on in the guild Cana turned to look at Lucy who had been quiet for a while, but instead of her blank stare she was lost in thought.

"Penny for your thoughts blondie?" Cana muttered. Lucy sighed, with a frown she looked at the screen where Jackal was slowly walking towards Natsu.

"...I…just wish there was a way I could talk to him….you know?" Her eyes darted at Cana who went quiet. Gajeel frowned, sympathizing with Lucy's plight as he too wanted to talk to Levy just to make sure she was alright. Makarov looked around at the guild upon hearing Lucy, his eyes widened, and a light bulb went off in his head.

"Wait a second…Warren, where are you?" Makarov called out, making everyone go quiet, and start looking around.

"Uhh…I'm right here sir, why?" Warren walked over to the counter where the Master sat at. Makarov looked at him with laser focus.

"I need you to try and form a mental link to Natsu so that we can communicate with him." Makarov muttered. Warren's eyes snapped open in shock.

"B-But sir….I've never attempted anything like that yet! At least not to the range you are asking me to…besides it's going to be hard since I've only met him like once…" Warren explained.

"I'm aware that it will be difficult son, but we are counting on you…so please just try…." He pleaded, Warren nodded his head and closed his eyes, and lifted his hands to his temples.

Meanwhile Natsu felt his life slipping away. He was out for the count. All of his power was depleted, the combination of dragon force and his father's flames must've drained him at an accelerated rate. Jackal's laughter fell onto deaf ears.

"Oh man what a giant buzzkill! And here I thought things were starting to get interesting!" Jackal stomped over to the limp form of Natsu. His tail flicked left and right as it brushed the grass under him. His sharp fangs were revealed as he gave a terrifying grin.

"Come on dragon-boy…get up! It would be so unsatisfying for you to just kill over like this! I want to destroy you with my own hands!" Jackal snapped, as he reached Natsu who remained motionless. Jackal slowly reached down and grabbed Natsu by his spiky pink hair that now fell flat onto his face, his eyes were closed as if he was in a peaceful slumber.

"WAKE UP!" Jackal shouted into Natsu's face before using his clawed hands to scratch Natsu's bare chest, the five deep cuts began bleeding immediately, but Natsu didn't and couldn't react. He was basically a corpse that could breathe, like he was in some sort of vegetative state.

"COME ON! WAKE UP! I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!" Jackal then threw Natsu across the field. When the golden circles popped up on Natsu's body and exploded, the boy didn't react. No scream out of agony, no curses. Nothing. He just fell to the ground, landing motionless on his back. The only indication that he was still alive was his chest slowly moving up and down as he breathed.

"STUPID BRAT! I WAS STARTING TO HAVE FUN! HOW DARE YOU RUIN IT!" Jackal screamed as he leapt into the air and dove knee first into Natsu's stomach. Natsu's limp body still sat up briefly as he coughed out blood, before falling onto his back again. Jackal was irritated and grabbed Natsu by the scarf wrapped around his neck. He pulled him into a sitting up position, holding his scarf with one hand while the other punched Natsu's face over and over and over again. Natsu never reacting to any punch made the already irritated demon angry.

"DAMNIT!" He shouted and let go of Natsu's scarf causing him to one more time lay back down while blood ran down his face. Natsu's mind was wandering, so far removed from the fight it might as well could've been in a different dimension. Thoughts of his father filled his mind. He had spent so much time fighting against dying, his will to live always stronger than his fear of death that he had never considered a situation like this. Would he meet his father again? Was this truly the end? Everytime he was met with a life or death situation there was always a way out, a power up he could use, a friend he could rely on. Now….things were bleak. All power had been drained from his body, he had lost a concerning amount of blood. Who knew what body parts were injured, at this point it would probably be easier to count the amount of uninjured body parts than vice versa.

Would he meet his real parents at last? Would he finally be able to ask them why they abandoned him in the woods? What about Gray's parents, he could tell them how awesome their son had become. Erza's mother who left her at the orphanage he could scold for leaving the poor girl in such a terrible place. Igneel….he would get to see Igneel again….and he would be there with Daphne. He would be able to apologize for wasting the second chance at life she gave him. Jude and Layla Heartfilia would also be there….This thought filled him with overwhelming sadness, as the thought of her parents obviously made him think about Lucy herself. Hadn't she been through enough…she lost everything she had in a few short years. Her mother, her father, the large house she had grown up in. The whole reason he came to this place was to get her a gift. How could this be it? When they hadn't even begun to live their lives together….Then again maybe it was for the best, maybe if he died she could move on, find someone new. A nice bookworm, nerdy kind of guy that would treat her right, someone she wouldn't have to worry about, someone she could grow old with. Someone who could help her with her writing and would spend every waking moment with her. The thought hurt his heart more than any pain Jackal could inflict on him, but there was a small part of him that was saying it would be for the best. Erigor, and Eisenwald. Zero and the Oracion Seis capturing people with powers because of Laxus and him destroying Kardia Cathedral. Zero killed Daphne who jumped in front of a blast targeted at him, dying to save him the boy her husband had abandoned her and their child Ignia to raise. Sabertooth attacked their guild and injured many of his friends after he attacked them first. All the pain he had been the root cause of, and now to add to the list who knew how many people Jackal was going to kill all because he was too weak to stop him.

Natsu felt himself drifting into the darkness, a chill ran through his body and it stopped breathing, his heart stopped beating. Was this it? What was the reason he was born to begin with? Just to bring destruction wherever he went? He felt the cold arms of death dragging him closer to the pits of despair, just when he felt himself giving in a voice called out to him.

"NATSU!...DO YOU READ ME?!" The words shouted loudly in his head, but in Natsu daze they sounded silent. The voice was unfamiliar to him, his mind tried to ignore it playing it off like it was some figment of his imagination like when he had been pulled into Zero's void so long ago.

"NATSU!" The voice called out again echoing around in his mind, this time loud and clear. The voice snapped him out of his trance, his heart resumed beating, and he began to breathe once more.

"I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR ME! BUT IT'S WARREN! FROM FAIRY TAIL! I'M TRYING TO REACH YOU!" Warren's voice called out, Natsu wanted to reply but he didn't know how.

"Natsu, my dear boy….it's Makarov…I hope you are able to hear us…..if that's the case I wanted to tell you something….when I first met you, you could barely control the tiniest flame….and now look at you. My dear child I cannot express how proud of you I am, to not only watch how much stronger you have grown, but more mature….I feel like I have watched you grow up and I am as proud of you as if you were my own son….so now I beg you, do not let evil triumph….do not give into the darkness. Come back home, to Fairy Tail!" Makarov's words made Natsu's body feel warm. He wanted to call out to the old man, but found his voice failed him. Not five seconds passed before a new voice called out to him….Lucy's.

"Hey there Natsu…..ummm, I hope this is working and you can hear me….but I just wanted to say….please get up….please fight! Please come home to me, to Happy….I believe in you and so does everyone else here. I love you….and I don't want to lose you….so get up! AND KICK THAT UGLY DEMON'S BUTT LIKE ONLY YOU CAN! I BELIEVE IN YOU!" When Lucy finished Erza stepped immediately.

"NATSU! YOU BETTER GET UP THIS INSTANT OR SO HELP ME!...I don't know what I'll do….please I just need you to be okay, so stand up and fight." Short and sweet.

"Now listen up you stupid, flame-brained idiot! You can't die! Not to that monster! Not when so many people are counting on you!" Gray's voice irritated Natsu's very soul. Even while laying on his deathbed that jerk was still well….a jerk.

"My Gray darling is very worried about you, so don't you dare hurt him…you need to return to us please use all your strength to defeat this evil like you have done time and time again!" Juvia slightly helped in calming his temper at Gray, but it didn't last long as Gajeel was next.

"Salamander! You promised! You promised me that Levy was going to be okay! So don't you dare go back on it! You need to bring her back! Wendy as well!"

"NATSU! PLEASE BE OKAY! I REALLY ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH YOU AND LUCY! I WANT TO PLAY SO MANY MORE GAMES WITH YOU!" That was little Asuka's voice shouting at him. Natsu finally began to stir, feeling was starting to return to his body. Soon every remaining person in the guildhall took a turn.

"Natsuuuu! When you win this drinkssss are on meeee! OH! And don't you dare go and hurt Lucy's feelings by dying! Or I will kill you myself!" Cana slurred.

"Natsu! I hope you are okay! I hope you know everyone here loves you dearly!" Mira chimed.

"STAND UP AND FIGHT….LIKE A REAL MAN!" Who else but Elfman shouted. And so on, and so on. Each and everyone in the guild had given him so many words of encouragement before the connection broke on Warren's end there was one last message.

"YOU ARE A MEMBER OF FAIRY TAIL! SO FIGHT!" All of the guild members shouted, and then Natsu was left with silence as the mental connection severed. Natsu's eyes watered and slowly blinked open. Looking up at the blue sky he was suddenly able to feel his body again. He could wiggle his fingers, and close his hand. He was alive still, and fully conscious. He groaned in pain as he struggled to get up to a knee. His body screamed out in agony, telling him to stay down, but after hearing his guildmates words he wasn't going to give in. Not again. Soon his ears were pierced with laughter that sounded much more like howls, propping himself up on a knee he looked up, and a couple feet away Jackal was beaming down at him.

"Yes…YES! YES! YES! YESSSSSS! GOOD! GET UP! LET'S FINISH THIS DANCE OF OURS FOR REAL! I WANT TO PUT A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH THAT CHEST OF YOURS!" Jackal broke into laughter, his tail wagging like a dog who was getting their dinner served.

"I won't let you guys down….I will win!" Natsu mumbled before ignoring his body's pain and rose up to his feet one last time.

"So, tell me brat….is this your third wind? Or a dying gasp?! Either way savor these breaths, because they are the last you will ever take!" Jackal taunted, but Natsu just glared at him. Grabbing the scarf around his neck he gripped it tighter and got into a fighting stance, albeit a weak one as his legs were ready to give up. He tried to summon flames, but nothing came out to the surface. He was still out of power, but he had an idea. One last Hail Mary. If it didn't work, then all was truly lost.

"I never got an answer to my question…One of us is going to die….will it be you, or me?!" Natsu weakly asked. Jackal just smiled, before punching Natsu hard in the stomach. Natsu coughed out as the wind left his body. Jackal grabbed him by the arm and judo flipped him back into the ground enjoying the loud scream that came out of Natsu's mouth as he made impact with the ground. Natsu struggled to his feet, but Jackal just kicked him in the side of his torso and then elbowed his cheek. Natsu cried out as he stumbled back.

"I AM GOING TO DESTROY YOU!" Jackal shouted and picked Natsu up by the throat before headbutting him, blood dripping from his nose. Jackal just tossed him to the side. Natsu skidded along the ground, unable to gain his balance and roll back onto his feet. Jackal stomped down onto Natsu's back enjoying the cry that escaped Natsu's lips. Natsu tried to get onto his hands and knees, but Jackal punted him in the ribs making Natsu roll away a few feet.

"This is much more fun….I do enjoy hearing the screams of my enemies! NOW SCREAM MORE! SCREAM FOR ME!" Jackal held as he repeatedly kicked Natsu's side until the boy collapsed again, and dropped onto the ground laying face down. Jackal backed away several yards and broke into laughter, but was cut off when Natsu also began to laugh. Jackal looked stunned, after the beating he had just given that brat he had the audacity to laugh?

"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!" Jackal screamed, Natsu kept chuckling as he grabbed a fistful of dirt. He struggled up to his feet, golden circles were forming all over his body ready to blow at any second. Natsu weakly stood up straight, giving Jackal a sadistic grin that made the demon back up in fear slightly.

"Oh nothing…..you just fell into my trap….." Natsu grinned, at Jackal's confused face, just then each and every last one of the golden circles on Natsu erupted and a cloud of smoke formed from one of the larger explosions Natsu had been subjected to sounded throughout the large field and echoed off the tall buildings in the nearby city. Jackal smirked satisfyingly as the smoke began to disappear and Natsu was on one leg, but Jackal's smile instantly vanished when Natsu began chuckling one more time.

"Thanks for the boost…." He murmured, wiping away some blood that trickled down from his nose, and rose to his feet. He held out his hand and sparks formed, before he used every last bit of concentration and power he had gotten from absorbing all of Jackal's attacks and a small ball of fire roared to life from the sparks of his hand. It wasn't the biggest nor was it the most powerful fireball he had ever conjured, but it was his last chance.

"Now, I have a fire in my belly!" He glared at Jackal who had shaken off his shock and was smirking back at Natsu.

"Yes…..YES! HAHAHAHAHA THAT'S THE SPIRIT! SO IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS OUR EPIC CONCLUSION! ONE LAST CLIMATIC SHOWDOWN!...I AM FIRED UP!" Jackal cheered and let out an animalistic howl. He cracked his neck, his tail was going wild in excitement before crouching down on all fours and in the blink of an eye was storming towards Natsu like a train. Natsu watched him grow closer and closer, his feet stuck in place as if he was glued to the ground. It was just like Jackal said this was the conclusion to the fight. Natsu grit his teeth together tightly and put every last drop of power he had in him into the fireball he wielded in his hand, his green eyes flickered into draconic, reptilian eyes almost like he was transforming into dragon force, but his skin remained bare no scales appeared on him. He didn't have the power to fully transform. Jackal was closing the distance at blazing speeds.

"THIS IS THE END!" Jackal screamed as he raised one of his clawed hands high into the air he was in the process of slashing down at Natsu when a loud bang sounded from across the fields, and a bullet grazed the back of the yellow furry demon's neck. Jackal was about to see who had just shot at him, but before he could a gust of wind hit him, making him stumble and leaving himself wide open.

"NATSU! NOW'S YOUR CHANCE!" Levy yelled, breathing heavily while holding the smoking pistol, from next to her Wendy fell to her knees after that last blast she shot off used up all she had left.

"G-GO! FINISH HIM!" Wendy cheered on, and Natsu grinned. While Jackal was off-balanced and focusing on the two girls who had distracted him, Natsu took a few steps forward and with all his strength thrusted the fireball into Jackal's chest. Jackal looked down in horror while Natsu pushed the fireball deeper into Jackal's chest screaming as his power spiked.

"NO! NO! NO! NONONONO!" Jackal began to panic and used his claws to scratch at Natsu, who without breaking his focus on the fireball lifted his free arm to parry Jackal's strike.

"This….ends…..NOWWWWWW!" Natsu roared and used every last bit of strength he had pushed himself forward. He imagined Igneel standing behind him, along with Daphne, along with Lucy, Gray, Erza….every member of Fairy Tail was standing behind him pushing him forward. Jackal cried out as the ball of flames erupted into a large blast that pierced straight through Jackal's chest as he roared out in agony.

"This….can't be happening….no, not again not to him!" Jackal choked out as he fell backwards, he looked at Natsu's stern expression, the same expression worn by the man who killed him all those years ago. History was repeating itself and there was nothing he could do, except cry out one final curse as he fell to the ground with a giant hole in his chest that was dripping golden blood as the flames faded. Natsu fell face first right next to him.

"Damnit….Damn…you…." Jackal coughed out. Natsu struggled to rise to his feet groaning out in agony, his right arm completely limp after unleashing the devastating attack from it. Jackal closed his eyes in defeat, but not without one last sinister grin and chuckle as he had been doing the entire fight. Natsu glared at him.

"It's…over…I win…." Natsu mumbled weakly, stumbling around almost like a gentle breeze would knock him onto his backside.

"I suppose so…..but I will still have the last laugh…..I'm taking you to Hell with me!" Jackal whispered before his laughter stopped, so did his breathing. Natsu didn't get the chance to celebrate though as Jackal's corpse began to shimmer a golden glow. Natsu's eyes widened and all he could do was throw his hands up to attempt to shield himself as moments later Jackal's entire body went up in the largest explosion yet. The force of the blast sent Natsu into a tailspin, bouncing off the ground and rolling until he skidded to a stop on his back, his vision black. Natsu wasn't unconscious for long as a few minutes later his eye flickered back open, he could feel a strange warmth above him, and as he regained his vision he saw two worried expressions staring down at him. When his eyes fully opened they smiled brightly down at him.

"Natsu! Thank goodness you're okay!" Wendy beamed, her hair normally worn in pigtails was undone flowing in every direction. She had various scrapes and bruises, but thankfully nothing too bad. Levy was much in the same state, a couple of wounds here and there and her orange headband was long gone.

"Levy….Wendy….Are you two okay?" Natsu asked groggily, he attempted to sit up but groaned, and grabbed at his ribs that cried out in agony.

"Easy there, we're fine…but you are in bad shape…we need to get you back to Porlyusica…." Levy placed her hands on his shoulder, and chest to prevent him from sitting up. Natsu sighed and slowly laid back down on his back, staring up at the blue sky above him. He smiled, for a second there he wasn't sure if he was ever going to see it again.

"What about Jackal….is he-?" Natsu slowly began to ask, but Levy's smile just grew.

"Yes…he's gone, it's over….you won…" Natsu smiled brightly, and despite Levy and his own body's reaction he sat upright hissing at the pain, but ignored it to smile at the two girls.

"I wouldn't say that….I couldn't do it without the two of you…we won! Speaking of which…" Natsu turned to face Wendy, and placed his hand on her head and ruffled her hair.

"You were awesome kiddo! When did you become so strong?!" Wendy blushed in embarrassment and hid her face in her hair.

"I'm not that strong….I really didn't do anything to stop him…"

"Sure ya did! I'm proud of you! You put up one heck of a fight!" Natsu smiled at the small girl, Levy smiled at the two but then her eyes widened as she looked over Natsu's shoulder.

"Uh-oh….here comes a mob…." She pointed in the direction behind Natsu which led back into the city where a huge crowd of people from the city were sprinting towards them. Wendy and Natsu blinked as if trying to process what was happening before their eyes bugged out. In an instant the trio was swarmed by the huge crowd, and before Natsu knew it he was pulled onto his feet. Levy and Wendy panicked and both supported him to prevent him from falling over. People were trying to shout over each other.

"WOAH IS IT REALLY OVER?!" One lady yelled.

"YOU ARE THE COOLEST SALAMANDER! CAN YOU SIGN MY SCARF!"

"YOU SAVED MY DOGS THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

"IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU THAT MY DAUGHTER IS SAFE! SHE SAID YOU PULLED HER OUT FROM DEBRIS! I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!"

"THAT WAS! AWESOME!...I WISH I CAN SHOOT FIRE OUT OF MY MOUTH TOO!"

"I DON'T CARE WHAT THE PAPERS SAY YOU ARE A HERO!"

"HERE SON! I RECOGNIZE YOU FROM MY SIGNING! HAVE A NEW SIGNED COPY OF MY COMPLETE WORKS FREE OF CHARGE!"

And they just kept coming. It was all so overwhelming for Natsu who ever since he had become The Salamander was always viewed as a villain, a fugitive, a criminal. Soon they were joined by the cameraman, and news reporter as well.

"In an absolutely stunning turn of events the demon has been defeated! That's right! Like Rocky Balboa, or the miracle on ice….our plucky, hard working underdog has defied the odds and emerged victorious."

As the announcement came through the television speakers the guild erupted into a loud chorus of cheers. Lucy and Cana jumped up and down holding each other tightly while they laughed and cheered, Elfman picked his sister up and was swinging her around. Gray let out a sigh of relief and slumped into his chair, but still gave a sly smirk. Juvia leapt into his arms crying out of joy. Erza stared at the crowd on the TV surrounding Natsu with a proud smile of how far her dear friend had come. Gajeel smiled unembarrassed as a single tear rolled down his cheek when he saw Levy on the screen.

"Thank you…Natsu…" He muttered, for the first time calling the pink-haired boy his name. Makarov wore a similar expression to Erza filled with pride. The celebrations transpired more than in just the Fairy Tail guildhall, but in the town of Magnolia church bells rang and people flooded the streets no longer having to worry in fear if their city was next to be attacked by the monster who destroyed two major cities, they were safe. Even in the capital city of Crocus cheering echoed through the city as well in the Sabertooth guild hall where Yukino was beaming at the screen in pride and Sting bounced up and down.

"See! I knew he would win! He's so awesome!" Rogue just sighed at his cousin's antics while Minerva chuckled. At the pub he was at, Gildarts was joyously celebrating with a pitcher of beer in hand.

"THAT'S MY BOY! HEY BARTENDER FREE SHOTS FOR EVERYONE HEHEHE!" The joyous celebrations even poured into prison cells where the likes of Erigor and his crew were smirking at the tv. Unfortunately in Shirotsume the celebrations were about to be cut short as a large crowd of police officers began running out into the field where the large crowd of people were now hoisting Natsu up in the air much to the boy's embarrassment.

"SPREAD ASIDE!" A booming voice commanded the crowd. The voice coming from the leader of the large group of officers, he had long black hair that he wore in a high ponytail, and a pair of spectacles. Natsu remembered seeing the guy so long ago after his father's death. Lahar, one of the two people who interrogated him and accused him for being the person who killed Igneel. The crowd stopped cheering as they watched the group come closer to them. They did as they were told and broke off to two different sides leaving an easy path to Natsu, Levy, and Wendy. Natsu gulped as Lahar stormed to him.

"I knew from the first time I met you that you were trouble! I am placing you under arrest this instance! Men! SEIZE THE SALAMANDER!" Natsu sighed, he should've figured this was going to happen. One act of heroism doesn't negate the bad that he had been blamed for. Lahar was closing in on him and he closed his eyes and took a shaky breath preparing for the inevitable, but before Lahar could reach Natsu…

"NO I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HIM!" Wendy's squeaky voice cried out and she leapt in front of Natsu with her arms spread wide.

"ME NEITHER! IN CASE YOU MORONS HAVEN'T NOTICED HE JUST SAVED A LOT OF LIVES! YOU SHOULD BE THANKING HIM!" Levy snapped at them.

"Guys….it's okay…really…" Natsu muttered, and stepped in between them.

"NO IT'S NOT NATSU! YOU ARE A HERO! SO YOU SHOULD BE TREATED AS ONE!" Wendy cried out.

"Yeah, I agree with those two girls! Why should we let you take away our city's hero?! Where were you while that monster ran havoc?!" One of the town people cried out, stepping in as well. Natsu was taken aback by this, so used to being blamed for destruction and never once being treated like a hero.

"You want to get to him, you have to get through us!"

"YEAH! ME TOO!"

"AGREED!"

"YEAH!"

"YEAH YOU WON'T GET HIM AS LONG AS WE ARE HERE!"

"THIS BOY IS A HERO! TREAT HIM AS SUCH!" Soon the entire crowd of citizens were jumping in front of Natsu, blocking Lahar's path to him.

"HEY I WILL PLACE YOU ALL UNDER ARREST FOR AIDING AND ABETTING!" Lahar shouted as if that would make the people calm down and soon chaos broke loose leaving Natsu to stare in awe, tears formed in his eyes. He had been called a monster, a demon, a murderer, and anything under the sun, and yet here people were standing up for him. It was unbelievable that anyone could stick up for him outside of his close friends. He felt like falling to the ground and balling, he wasn't being yelled at or run out of town…they were protecting him. As the chaos continued Natsu, Wendy, and Levy failed to notice a figure appearing behind them until he placed a hand on Natsu's shoulder.

"If you don't want to go to jail, then come with me." The gruff voice made Natsu turn and face the messy-haired man with a scar on his face. The second person who had interrogated him, Doranbolt.

"W-What?" Was all Natsu asked?

"Just shut up, grab your friends and hold on!" Natsu blinked a few times, as Wendy and Levy glanced at each other before once again throwing Natsu's arms over their own to support him. Doranbolt grabbed Wendy's hand and the world seemed to shift, as if they blinked out of existence, and they reappeared outside the guildhall. Doranbolt was nowhere to be seen leaving the three of them looking around for him confused as to how they just teleported from Shirotsume to Magnolia in mere seconds.

"Come on, let's go inside…" Levy muttered, and soon the three slowly waddled into the guildhall's doors. The guildhall went silent as they stared at the trio before it erupted.

"LEVY YOU'RE OKAY!" Jet and Droy yelled out in unison and circled around her, Gajeel just smirked in her direction giving her a small nod.

"Oh….Wendy….I'm glad to see you okay…." Porlyusica smiled down at the small girl. Natsu stood awkwardly trying his hardest not to collapse from exhaustion and pain. Gray and Erza greeted him first, Erza banged his head into her metal chestplate while saying she couldn't believe how grown up he was. Gray offered him a simple fistbump and a smirk that said more than words could between the two brothers. Elfman called him a real man several thousand times, and Mira just cried and kept repeating that she was happy he was home safe. Soon the crowd that had gathered around him parted so that Natsu and Lucy's eyes met. The blonde girl slowly walked up to her boyfriend, tears in her eyes as she studied each and every last wound on his body. How his white scarf was all dirty and covered in blood. The terrible scratches on his chest that had now dried into scabs. The torn pant leg that revealed the bite marks from Jackal. When she was in front of Natsu the guild was quiet as they watched the scene unfold. Natsu offered her a goofy grin and slowly held up a bag in his hand. Lucy took it slowly. She glanced inside and smiled at him, tears streaking down her face.

"The whole reason we went down there in the first place was for that book signing…It was Wendy's idea, I hope you like it…I know I haven't been able to support you the way you supported me when my Dad died….but I hope you like it…." He explained, and Lucy felt her heart melt. The bag with the autographed books inside fell to the floor with a loud thud as Lucy rushed Natsu who flinched as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for the tightest hug they had ever had. Natsu felt his heart skip a beat as he felt her tears drip onto his skin.

"Dummy…..all I ever need….is you….it's always been you that gives me strength, you are always so strong….but please just this once you don't have to be…let me be the strong one for you…" She whispered the words in his ear and the second she did all of Natsu's emotion from the day he just had poured out. The thoughts he had before he thought he would die, the pain his body was in….the sadness he felt knowing that his father's flames were no longer within him. But he wasn't alone. Tears dripped out of his eyes and he fell to his knees, burying his face into her chest before he soon just went limp. Finally giving into his body's tiredness. It was over, all over and he was back home safe. Porlyusica patched him up, scolding him the whole time for being reckless and putting Wendy in danger. Of course she wasn't actually angry at him and was happy the trio returned safely. After exiting the infirmary a lot of his body wrapped in bandages a party soon began. A night that nobody would forget full of drinks, dancing, laughter, bad karaoke, plenty of shouting. Lucy stared at her boyfriend's large childish grin as he danced on a table while everyone laughed, a loving smile on her face….Nobody knew it at the time, but if they had they would have cherished that moment longer. For soon those warm smiles, especially the ones worn by Natsu, Gray, and Erza would soon vanish. Nobody could truly be ready for what came next…

War.

Chapter 55: Silver

Oh boy we are in the thick of it now! Hehe! Real talk, I appreciate each and every last person who has supported me, everytime I get a notification it motivates me to write the next chapter. My love for writing has definitely returned, and I am so happy to share this with you! We've come a long way and we still have a little ways left to go! So I hope you stick with me as the story enters its final arc! In the meantime I am trying out a more experimental story titled Fairy Tail Academy of Magic so feel free to check it out. No idea if it will stick, but we will see. I'm not ready for Salamander to end, and I have the sequel already planned out! So if you are a fan of this AU don't worry I got lots more in the chamber!