The time goes on in Crocus as nearly seven years had passed after Natsu joined Bash in becoming a mage for the kingdom. We turn our attention to Mercurius training ground as there is a training session for the guards which is a close quarter sparring combat which was making a big riot because of the two foes who are sparring right now.
"go!" "take him down!" "go! go!" the trainees cheered as they surrounded a sand field that has a drawn circle upon it and has two people circling around on it. "I bet my money on Natsu!"
Upon the field is Natsu who has grown into a teenager over the past 7 years ever since he came to Crocus. The young boy now became a strong build young man whose body was fitted with the toughest training that was given to him ever since he was young.
Natsu walks around the field as he is only wearing a pair of jeans while top naked, the young salmon haired man smirks while staring at his foe who is a purple haired teenager with a military haircut and wears a similar fashion to the salmon haired man who goes by the name of Kama Falce.
"come on! Come and get some!" Natsu taunted his foe who gritted his teeth before he lunges in and the two were in a wrestling grip with each other.
The spectators started cheering as Natsu and his foe started to wrestle while trying to push each other out of the ring or taking them out as the rules for the spar are that the losers are those who cannot continue or is pushed out of the circle ring.
"This time!" Natsu's foe shouted while he pushes the salmon haired teen towards the edge of the ring. "you're going down!"
"like hell I am!" the salmon haired teenager responded as he pushed back his foe.
The two keep at it as the spectators cheered while they were being watched by Arcadios who is by a balcony on the second floor, the guard knight now wears a suit of armor that punctuates his title as a knight.
"as always the buffoons are at it again." Said Arcadios while shaking his head before having an amused smile in watching the spar. "can't say that I find it surprising."
Natsu grabbed Kama by the waist before he lifts him up and then went for a throw, but the young purple haired teenager retaliated by grabbing the salmon haired teenager and then both got to hold onto each other's back.
"not this time!" Kama shouted as he and Natsu pushes each other's back while having their arms interlocked, their legs are the ones doing the fighting as they pushed each other. "like hell I lose to you again!"
"nor will i!" Natsu exclaimed before he spins and the two pushes each other away but came back to start grappling each other by the shoulders. "go down!"
"never!" Kama retorted.
The two keep on at it for almost an hour before they fall on the ground while sweating hard as their entire energy was spent.
"ah! It's a tie!" "damn! I betted 100 jewels on Kama for nothing!" "come on! You guys can do better than that!" the spectators chattered out while Natsu and Kama sat up.
"this makes it the first draw…" said Kama while huffing his breath and smirks a bit at Natsu. "but don't think this will end, Natsu."
"say as much as you want, Kama." Natsu grins in return before the two bumps fist with each other. "I will win next time!"
"in your dreams." Kama replied while chuckling as the two get back up and shakes each other hands in respect for one another.
"Captain Arcadios is present!" someone called out as everyone started to run around before the trainees got into line with each other, Natsu and Kama joining in line before they all saluted towards Arcadios who came into the scene and saluted them before lowering his hand down to command them to be at ease.
"well done, you two." Arcadios called out while smiling towards Natsu and Kama. "as always, your rivalry and comradery just keeps growing stronger."
"yes! Captain Arcadios!" Natsu and Kama replied. "but we will grow stronger for the sake of the kingdom!
Over the years of training with the rookie recruits years back, Natsu grew with them as they were like his family who helped him become the young man he is now.
"now that today's training is over, I have an announcement to make!" Arcadios stated while folding his hands behind his back. "as you all may know; you have completed your 7 year of training ever since you were nothing but rookie recruits!" the knight then turns to the side and walk back and forth while looking at the trained teenagers. "Therefore! Having finished your entire training, it is time for you to become real knights of the kingdom! You will face missions for the sake of the kingdom while saving and protecting the citizen's lives! From today on forth; you all will become Fiore's sword and shields!"
"Yes Sir!" Natsu and the others responded loudly.
Arcadios nodded to hear their response before he turns and started walking.
"I want everyone to clean themselves up and be back here in an hour!" Arcadios exclaimed before swinging a hand to the side. "Dismiss!"
"roger!" Natsu and the others replied while saluting as Arcadios left.
In time, the trainees stopped saluting before they all started cheering.
"after 7 years, we are going to get the real deal." Said Kama as he crosses his arms and smiles while looking at Natsu. "you feel pumped for it, Natsu?"
"you bet." Natsu grins. "once we start our jobs as knights for Crocus, I'll climb up the ranks and start finding Igneel!"
"such an expected answer." Said Kama while chuckling. "I pray that you can do your best to find your father, Natsu."
"thanks!" Natsu replied.
into Mercurius' hallway; Natsu and the trainees are all in a locker room where they put away all their training attire then head into the showers to get a bath to wash their sweat away.
"man, things are going to get real really soon." Said Natsu as water wet his hair and entire body. "I can't believe 7 years had already passed since we've started as rookies."
"that's time for ya." Kama replied while showering beside Natsu, the purple haired teenager washed his hair with shampoo that started to bubble up. "soon, it'll be a few more years and we might already be captains or even generals for the kingdom."
"You are starting to speak like an old man again, Kama." Said Natsu with a smirk towards his comrade. "you always say those things in regards of time."
"I'm just saying the truth." Kama replied while rinsing off the bubbles on his hair. "everyone will start to get old one way or another."
"but we're still in our youth." Said Natsu before he slapped Kama's back. "ease up will ya?"
"I know, you always say that to me." Kama replied while turning off his shower as he finished bathing. "and remember to wash your hair. Captain Arcadios wants us to be clean up before he starts to put us up into our ranks."
"yeah yeah." Natsu replied as he grabs Kama's shampoo and uses it on his hair. "I'll borrow this, ok?"
"you need to start being responsible, Natsu." Kama stated while pointing a finger at the salmon haired teenager. "if you want to get into the high ranks, you need to start thinking about the responsibilities that you might get."
"I got it." Said Natsu while scratching his bubbled hair to clean it up. "don't get to stuck up like always."
"I'm being mindful." Kama replied as he grabs a towel and wraps it around his waist then heads out of the shower. "you'll be leading your team and you got to set up examples as their leader."
"I know" said Natsu as he washed off the bubbles on his hair before he shakes his head and then has a very serious face to his right hand that forms a fist. "I got this far, and I've got to work my ass off so that I can find Igneel."
After an hour, Natsu and the others went back into the training field as they wore blue and yellow training suits which are for trained soldiers like them which they have been wearing ever since they were rookies.
Natsu and Kama stood in front of their lines while in stance as they see Arcadios coming with a few instructors who are leading a line of other trained recruits who are in different classes.
"it's the other classes, huh?" said Natsu as Kama nodded.
"they've been trained in their ranks with their own capabilities strengthened." Kama spoke in seeing a few who seem strong. "we're total strangers to each other, this is going to be a hard task for us since we are going to be their leader of the divided groups."
Each group had their instructors at their side as the training field was actually big enough to fit every class of trained soldiers. Arcadios stood at front with a soldier by his side who handed the knight a scroll which he rolls out to read.
"it is time for you all to begin your lives as the swords and shields of the kingdom!" Arcadios announced out. "we have trained and evaluated all of your skills from all the 7 years of training! Therefore; each and every single one of you will be in a group of a five man team! The selection is made based on your skills that will cover each other on the field! There are no mistakes in the decision!"
"five man team, huh?" said Natsu in a whisper as he eyed the other classes' trainees, he spotted a few that caught his eyes but his sight was focused on a pink haired girl that has his attention for a while but was soon mind off to focus back on Arcadios who holds a list of names.
Arcadios started to call out names from the leader class which is Natsu's group as they were all trained to be potential captains. The knight also called the names of the other classes as each individuals stepped forward to meet their teammates which they great before heading off to receive their first task as a group by the king.
"Kama Falce!" Arcadios called out Kama who stepped forward from his line. "your teammates are; Nappa Venenum, Uosuke Nauta, Kamika Charta, and Cosmos Fleur!"
Kama looks to the side as he sees the called trainees of other classes who are his teammates who nodded to him in greeting which he did the same.
"see ya later, Natsu." Kama told his comrade who nodded before the purple haired man left with his team.
"Natsu Dragneel!" Arcadios called out as Natsu nodded while stepping forward from his group. "your teammates are; Clay Arrow, Dan Reiner, Tim Duke, and Rookie Bolt!"
Natsu looks to the side as he sees his teammates stepping forward.
'these guys, huh?' Natsu thought as he sees that his team consist of a messy blue haired glass wearing teenager, another who is red haired in a spiky form and looks like a ruffian, a black haired middle aged man who looks to be in his mid 50's, and a young brown haired short boy who seems scared and nervous. 'the hell did I do to get with these guys?'
The group soon left as they went away to go to the king's throne room to receive their first task.
Natsu and his team walks in the hallway as they head for the throne room but stopped when the salmon haired teenager turns towards his teammates.
"before we meet the king, let's do some quick introductions to each other." Said Natsu while crossing his arms. "I'm Natsu Dragneel, just call me Natsu. I'm trained and specialized in being a vanguard and supporter. I use magic and any weapon I can get my hands on and use."
"Clay Arrow, a long range and short range supporter." The blue haired teenager stated while adjusting his glasses. "I use a bow and arrow."
"just like your name!" the red haired teenager exclaimed with a grin before he points at himself. "as you've heard from Captain Arcadios; my name is Dan Reiner! I'm a vanguard and a ranger in scouting! I use any sword that I can use! Nice to meet you all!"
"my name is Tim Duke." The middle aged man in the group stated in introduction while having a soft smile and a humble look. "I am a supporter and a medic. I wield a shield as my weapon of choice."
"i-I'm R-Rookie Bolt!" the young boy spoke out next as he looks nervous and scared. "i-i-I am a supporter and a front vanguard! I-I have been trained with a spear as my weapon!"
'a geek looking guy, a ruffian with an energetic personality, a softie looking old man, and a shrimp who is just shaking like a newborn calf.' Natsu thought in seeing his team. 'who the heck came up with the pickings for each team?'
The group soon heads to the throne room as they head in and meets the king who they bowed and kneels to.
"welcome, and congratulations in graduating from your training, young ones." Toma spoke out to the group who continues to bow. "first as you all know, upon your graduation from training; your team will receive its first mission that will start in a week; therefore take rest with your family and friends before it begins."
"yes" Natsu and the others replied.
"secondly, the status of your team will be as a frontline vanguard which will receive missions out at the area of Crocus." Toma stated before he holds out a scroll. "the details of your mission is in this scroll, read and understand it amongst each other."
"yes" Natsu replied before he went and quickly receives the scroll then goes back to kneel before the king.
"finally, the name of your team is to be decided with each other." Said Toma. "it is known as a bit of a tradition for the name of the team will be remembered as the start of your legend. Think about it carefully and take your time in discussing with each other. That is all."
"yes. thank you, your majesty" Natsu and his team responded before they bowed their heads and then stands up to leave the throne room.
The group walked in the hallway but stopped when Natsu turns to face his teammates.
"since the king gave us time to rest and prepare for our mission." Said Natsu while crossing his arms. "it'd be better if we spend this one night at a bar by the down district area called Rock n Road. To have time to get to know each other better; and discuss our team's name."
"Rock n Road, huh? That pub's beer is nice!" said Dan while scratching his chin while having a grin. "count me in!"
"I would rather propose that we go to a more refine bar." Clay stated while adjusting his glasses. "we are going to become the kingdom's soldiers, it'd be best if we make an example for ourselves."
"but we do not start becoming one until the beginning of our first mission." Said Tim while holding a hand up. "I would believe that it'd be best for us to celebrate our success for our seven years of training."
"i-i-I am ok with the b-bar!" Rookie stuttered out. "b-but please no alcohol! I-I can't drink alcohol!"
The group chattered as Natsu sighs a bit in seeing his teammates.
'will this team ever work?' Natsu thought as he scratches his head.
The day passes as the sky turned orange. Natsu is walking down the city's street with normal clothes that consists of a black and red shirt and jeans with boots. The salmon haired teenager hoists a sack on the back of his right shoulder that is filled with his training gear.
"talk about a long discussion." Said Natsu with a tired face as he had spent 4 hours chattering with his team on where they should have their celebration for graduating and their discussion for their team's name and everything. "I got to put up with this somehow."
Natsu scratches the back of his head before he turns to the side as he went straight into Bash's Home which is also his home that he has been living in for the 7 years since he was brought to Crocus.
The young teenager entered the candy store as the bell by the door rings a few times.
"I'm back." Natsu called out towards Bash who is sitting behind his store's cashier.
"yo, finally done with the training?" said Bash while just reading a newspaper before he glanced at Natsu who walks pass by.
"yeah" Natsu replied as he placed his sack down by the stairs before he started to stretch. "the old man finished things up for our training; gave an announcement, made us take a shower, then called the other class trainers with the trainees." The salmon haired boy then cracks his neck a few times before looking towards the cowboy. "we get paired into teams of 5 people, and we met with the King who gave us a week of free time before our first mission."
"and I suspect that your team are good?" Bash asked while looking back at the newspaper.
"a bit weird." Natsu replied while going to a rack filled with jars of candies as he took one then takes out one peppermint candy. "to be honest, they're kinda like opposites with each other."
"how so?" said Bash while flipping the pages of his newspaper.
Natsu told the cowboy about everything that had happened from the point of his wrestling with Kama and to the point where he comes back home.
"I had to spend 4 hours listening to them chatter back and forth." Said Natsu as he sat on a chair while sucking on his peppermint candy. "I was nearly bored to death."
"hahaha, there will always be an odd batch amongst the group." Bash laughs a bit while slapping his knees once. "talk about a weird combination for ya!"
"I don't get what the old man sees in this combination." Natsu sighs tiredly while munching on the candy in his mouth. "it's more like we're the remaining on the list and he just decides to mash us up."
"Arcadios has some ideas, but they're always considerate." Bash stated while taking out a cigar and light it up for a smoke. "he probably sees something very interesting in link with you and your teammates."
"it's more like he is interested in seeing us just fail our missions." Said Natsu with an annoyed face.
"probably." Bash laughs out.
"haaa." Natsu sighs before he looks at Bash. "so? You got anything on Igneel?"
"nothing much." Said Bash as he reaches a drawer under his cashier and pulls it out to take a small stack of papers that he placed on the table then slides it towards Natsu. "all the rumors people seeing dragons are just seeing either Wyverns or Rex Lizards. Not one was about dragon."
"tch, I thought people here would actually find or spot Igneel." Said Natsu as he checks the papers filled with information and photos of creatures that are mistaken as Dragons. "why can't they tell that dragons are way bigger than these things?"
"not anyone seen dragon these days." Bash replied while blowing out some smoke to the side. "the only one rumor that is true is the first rumor we got."
Natsu sighs before he glanced to the side and to a wall where there is a pinned piece of paper that has written information of a dragon and a photo of a footprint on some dirt.
Over the years Natsu has been in Crocus; Bash did his promise in collecting any information about the Dragon that the young man seeks to find. Each time a rumor of a dragon came; Bash went and checked only to find out that the so called Dragon is actually a wyvern or any reptilian creature that looks only a bit similar to a Dragon. However; there was one rumor that the cowboy went and checked as he found the track belonging to a creature that he doesn't recognize; but the young salmon haired man knew.
"that's the only clue we got." Said Bash before he stands up from his seat while placing away his newspaper. "for now, we still got search more info just like that first clue. Any other info ain't leading us to your dragon dad."
"I got it." Said Natsu before he sees Bash taking his cloak that he hanged on the wall. "Are you going on a mission tonight?"
"not really." Bash replied while wearing his coat on. "The King called on all the captains for a meeting this night, I got to attend."
"what's it about?" Natsu asked while watching Bash go to the front door that he pushed open.
"Who knows?" Said Bash while shrugging his shoulders. "from what I can tell with how the king called on all the captains, it must be important." The cowboy then adjusted his hat. "lock the store later, kid."
"yeah" Natsu replied before Bash walked out.
Natsu soon sighs as Bash left the store before he decided to look at the ceiling then down to the floor.
"only one lead to a dragon who might be Igneel." Said Natsu in a whisper as he sighs before he glanced at the pinned paper on the wall. "will I ever find you, dad?"
Natsu looks at the paper before he felt a breeze on his neck that made him turn to see a window opened. The young salmon haired boy looks at the opened window before he decided to get up and close it. After that he went upstairs and decided to take a bath to get prepared to meet with his team at the bar.
Night comes to Crocus as the moon was up with the stars. We turn our attention to the Rock n Road where Natsu came walking by as he met up with his team inside; but they weren't the only ones with the idea to celebrate for graduation.
"hey, Natsu." Kama greeted the salmon haired teenager's group as the purple haired teenager's team was also present in the bar, and all the other teams as well.
"you guys had the same idea, huh?" said Natsu before he sighs and then looks to a waiter who brought his group to a table near Kama where they sat together and started to order some drinks, and food. "I always thought you to be the type to pick a fancier bar than this one."
"I have my taste, you know." Said Kama before he went and drink up some wine that made him exhale in satisfaction. "and the wine that they have here is nicer."
The bar was filled with chatters and laughter as the individuals know each other which made the mood a bit good and happy.
"How about we do an introduction to each other's teams?" said Natsu while holding his mug of wine. "Some of us know each other; but not a few."
"Sounds good." Kama replied. "Who knows if our teams get a joint mission one day in the future."
"Then let me start!" said Dan with a grin as he huffs and pounds a hand to his chest. "I'm Dan Reiner!" he then went and hugged one of Kama's teammates. "me and Uosuke here are from the Ranger Class! This guy is a blast to have for fun!"
"I do-tai!" said Uosuke with a weird smile. "I always make a big blast everywhere when I get a big catch-tai!"
"-tai?" Natsu muttered out with a weirded look.
"He has that kind of a persona." Kama told Natsu. "don't comment too much on that."
"I believe it is my turn." Said Clay while adjusting his glasses. "I am Clay Arrow; I am of the same Long Range Support class with Kamika Charta."
"Know each other well?" Natsu asked the blue haired glasses man.
"Just enough." Clay replied. "we've did some sparring practice together and when we were to have a training at the forest near Fiore about a month back. I've learned a few more things about her at the time" The man then looks a bit seriously stern. "she's a Sadist that loves to hear the pained screams of animals and people."
This made a cold chill flew in the air as everyone looks at Kamika who merely smiles while giggling a bit.
"Your team is more weirder than mine, huh?" Natsu whispered to Kama with a very weirded look.
"Keep that comment to yourself." Kama told the salmon haired man.
"I shall go next." Tim voiced out while politely raising his right hand as the man takes action into reviving the atmosphere. "I'm Tim Duke." He introduced himself while placing a hand to his chest. "I am in the same supporter class as Cosmos Fleur."
"Pleased to meet you all." Said Cosmos with a smile and a hand wave.
"she looks normal…" Natsu spoke out before he looks at Kama. "but that is only on the outside, ain't it?"
"yeah" Kama replied with a nod. "You don't want to know her other personality."
"hey, Rookie. It's your turn." Dan called out to the young man who squeaks when called.
"y-y-y-yes!" Rookie replied stuttering. "m-my name is R-Rookie Bolt! I-I am in the same Supporter and Front Vanguard Class as Nappa-san!"
"hey, Rookie. Since when you need to stutter when you introduce yourself and your classmates?" said Nappa as he went and grabbed Rookie before giving him a head noogie. "I told you that you need to man up! You've graduated from the class, remember!? man up!"
"y-yes! I'm sorry!" Rookie cried out.
"a bully?" Natsu asked to Kama who shakes his head.
"they seem like that but I had known Nappa ever since I first enrolled into the class." Kama replied as he and Natsu looks at Nappa who slapped Rookie's back and then gives him some harsh yet encouraging words. "He may look like a bully, but he has a caring heart for his friends and allies."
"Is that so?" said Natsu while looking at the two. "can't judge a book by its cover, huh?"
"with the teammates all introduced each other." Said Clay while adjusting his glasses before he glances at Natsu and Kama. "I believe the two of you are the last ones."
"I guess so." Natsu replied before he points a thumb at himself. "I'm Natsu Dragneel. I'm in the same captain class as Kama here."
"And you two are the Hardcore Rivals." Cosmos added in as Natsu and Kama looks at her. "the talk about the two strongest trainees from the captain class reached to the other classes' ears, you know?"
"They all talk on how there are two Trainees that has been going in a strong yet respected rivalry for almost 6-7 years." Tim stated in for the explanation. "both trainees have the highest scores in the physical training of any kind. I believe we all knew who they were because the talk always tell on a pink haired man and a purple haired man who are rivals and friends at the same time."
"I thought it was salmon?" said Cosmos to Tim before she looks at Natsu. "his hair is salmon after all."
"I always thought it was pink." Kama stated while looking at Natsu who looks a bit annoyed.
"it's salmon, damnit!" Natsu growled out. "it's not pink!"
"pink, blue, red, polkadot! It doesn't matter!" said Dan with a grin before he holds up his beer. "today is the day we graduated and became the Sword and Shield of Crocus! Let's not talk about hair! Let's just celebrate!"
"celebration-tai!" Uosuke exclaimed while waving a flag from out of nowhere.
And just like that; the group started their celebration from graduating their class as they had a party of a celebration. This party went on hard for the entire night.
As some time pass; we look at Natsu and Kama who is by the bar's front seats while their teammates were just celebrating behind with a few of the customers.
"our group has been tasked as the kingdom's executioners." Said Kama while holding up a mug of beer. "we've decided our team as the Garou Knights. The bringers of justice to the sinners who shall be cleansed."
"right..your magic is the type that can kill…" said Natsu with a sweatdrop before he takes a mug filled with wine and drank it then exhaled. "My team are the frontline vanguard, we'll probably get missions that sends us far from Crocus. But we haven't decided our name yet."
"we picked our name based on our magic." Said Kama to Natsu. "and no, I didn't get the idea. It was Uosuke's idea."
"that guy, huh?" Natsu muttered out while taking a glance behind to see the weirded face man doing a dance on top of a table. He then looks back front. "he has a weird face but it is kind of a good idea."
"You know your team's magic?" Kama asked. "that might help you narrow down a name."
"it's a bit of a variety." Natsu replied while shrugging. "they got many different magic but they do have one base fire magic."
"Then think of a name for your team that is a bit based on fire." Kama told Natsu while getting a refill for his drink by the bartender. "lots of names like Phoenix, Dragon, or anything that is a bit connected with that."
"hmmm." Natsu hummed as he started to think before he nodded. "I think I got one but I need to check with our team's main position in missions and stuff."
"your team got a job nearly identical to Captain Bash's job, right?" Kama replied before taking a sip of his beer then exhales a bit. He then looks at Natsu. "and speaking of the captain, I saw him walking to Crocus just about half hour before me and my team got here. He got a mission?"
"more like a meeting." Natsu stated before he fills up his drink with more wine. "he said that the king called all the captains of the kingdom to a meeting. Other than that; I don't know nothing else."
"Must be important if all the captains of Crocus are called in." said Kama while Natsu drank his drink and then nodded.
"it's probably a sortie type of meeting." Natsu stated while wiping off some wine around his lips. "The old man always gets called on it by some time of the month."
"yeah, but this is with all the captains." Said Kama while picking up some skewered meat. "very different."
"kinda." Natsu replied before shrugging his shoulders. "but they'll talk and then get a mission each before they go off and be back in a month as always."
"I don't know, something about this meeting call feels a bit different." Said Kama before Dan and Nappa came from behind the two captains while looking drunk.
"hey! Hey! Let's party!" Dan shouted out.
"you two got to drink up more!" Nappa exclaimed while filling up Natsu and Kama's drinks even more. "we just graduated so let's just party!"
"hey, you two!" Kama growled out in annoyance. "we're now knights of Crocus! Don't set a bad example of yourselves!"
"hahahaha!" Dan and Nappa laughed as they drank more booze together.
"just give up." Said Natsu as he grabs a fork and stab a piece of meat before eating it whole. "knowing those two members of our team, they're drunk and won't be listening to anything."
Kama looks at Natsu before he sees Dan and Nappa getting the other people in the bar to start drinking even more booze.
After a few hours, the party was over as people were going home drunk.
"ugh…my head…" Kama groaned in pain as he was being helped walk by Uosuke and Kamika.
"god damnit, Dan." Clay growled as he drags Dan who is heavily drunk and is laughing with a red face. "you'll get us dead by the guards!"
"talk about a pain." Said Natsu as he came by while rubbing a hand to his head which has a headache because of his large share of booze. The salmon haired teenager then looks at Tim and Rookie who were helping with Nappa who is also drunk hard like Dan. "get the big guy home and we'll have another meeting after three days" the teenager then shakes his head. "I don't think our heads will be focused right now."
"yes" Tim and Rookie replied before hoisting up Nappa who chuckles while drunk.
All the groups split up as they went to their homes, Natsu is walking down the street as he is not alone.
"you actually live near here?" Natsu asked his companion who is one of Kama's teammates; Cosmos Fleur.
"yes" Cosmos replied with a smile. "I've been living or rather I was raised at this street."
"no wonder you smell a bit familiar in some way." Said Natsu as this made Cosmos look confused which the salmon haired teenager responded. "you should know by Kama that my magic allows me to have heightened sense of smell and hearing."
"oh…right, Kama-san did say that after our team was formed." Said Cosmos while folding her hands behind her back. "he said that you had the greatest senses that any normal person could have."
"that's right." Said Natsu before he smirks. "that guy is always jealous on that."
"I see" Cosmos spoke out with a smile. "now that I think about it; you live with Captain Bash, right?"
"yeah" Natsu replied with a nod. "the old man took me in about 7 years back." The salmon haired teenager takes out a small pack of dried plums as he took one and ate it. "been training with him while also helping him at his candy store."
"oh, I see" said Cosmos with a nod before pointing a finger at the pack of dried plums. "if I'm right, those plums are also from the candy store, right?"
"yeah" Natsu replied before he holds the small pack towards her. "you wanna try one?"
"I'd love to!" said Cosmos as she takes a few plums and ate it before she squeals in delight. "so sour~!"
"you have some liking to dried plums?" Natsu asked in seeing Cosmos' reaction.
"yes! The dried plums at Captain Bash's candy store are good!" Cosmos squeals out while munching the dried plums in her mouth. "I've been eating them ever since I was a little girl~! They're so good~!"
"so you must be the one who always buy it, huh?" Natsu muttered out with an amused smile. "no wonder the stock for dried plums always get bought out."
The two keeps on walking but they soon stopped by a house.
"this is my house, thank you for accompanying me." Said Cosmos with a gratitude hand wave to Natsu.
"sure." Natsu replied with a nod as he waved off Cosmos who went back into her home before he left to go to his home.
'Cosmos Fleur, huh?' Natsu thought while scratching the back of his head. 'what a girl'
A week soon passes as Natsu and his team gathered at the front gate of Crocus. The group wore different attires but have matching black capes with the Fiore Symbol on it.
"everyone geared up and prepared?" said Natsu as he wore a black vest, white jeans, and his belt with Revol and Ver stored on their gun holsters. His team nodded in response to his question. "good, this will be our first mission that we will accomplish in the name of the kingdom."
"but we haven't decided our team name yet." Said Clay while adjusting his glasses. "we had to spent the entire week just discussing our team's name over and over."
"like I said before, Team Swords sounds good!" Dan stated with a grin. "we raid through the enemies with our swords and might!"
"but some of us don't wield Sword…" said Tim with an awkward smile.
"and some of us don't do raids…" Rookie added in.
"we'll be named as Salamanders." Natsu stated as his team looks at him. "all of us have two connections;" the salmon haired man raises two fingers from his right hand up. "one we serve the kingdom of Fiore" he pulls down one finger. "and secondly. We all share fire magic together."
"Salamanders, huh?" said Clay while adjusting his glasses again. "very well, we can stick to that name so that we can finish this discussion."
"so we are a team of fiery flames that blazes through the enemies, huh?!" said Dan with a smirk. "nice name!"
"a bit fierce, but it is a nice name." said Tim while nodding.
"s-sounds a bit scary…" Rookie stuttered out.
"we've decided our team's name and we've got a mission to do." Said Natsu as he readied his backpack. "let's go."
The team nodded before they soon left Crocus together as the Salamanders; the team that blazes their enemies in flames.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye