The grieving news of Bash's death took a toll to the Kingdom and more towards Natsu, everyone knew of the man who was an inspiration to the knights of Crocus.
A funeral will be held for Bash in three days and that was something Natsu didn't want to be a part of.
Currently a day had passed, Kama along with his teammates and addition of Natsu's teammates are riding horses and carriages as they were sent by Arcadios to go after the salmon haired man who had left in a rushing storm after learning that his mentor/adoptive father had died.
They are now heading for Mt. Zonia, the mountain where Bash had died and the place where Arcadios told them where Natsu would've gone to.
on the horse carriage, there is Neppa and Uosuke who are driving at front while Kamika, Cosmos, Tim, and Rookie are staying in the back. the carriage is surrounded by Kama, Clay, and Dan who rides their horses.
"are you still feeling alright, Cosmos?" Kamika asks her female friend as she looks a bit worried to the bandages wrapped around the pink haired executioner's neck. "you don't have to force yourself from recovering, your bruise is…"
"I'm fine, Kamika." Cosmos smiles, trying to ease her friend's worry. "it's just a small red mark, that's it."
"even if it is a small wound, you should force yourself too much, Cosmos-dono." Said Tim while looking at the pink haired female, he went into a sack and rummages its content to pull out a small round plastic container that he presents to her. "here, this is an ointment made from herbs specialized in healing wounds and bruises on the skin. It will help with your recovery."
"Thank you, Tim." Said Cosmos while taking the container into her right hand's grasp.
"um…can I ask a question?" Rookie asks while politely raising a hand as everyone turns their attention to the young man. "it's about our Captain…"
"What is it?" Tim asks his comrade.
"with how we are going to get him back to Crocus. Do we have a plan in persuading him to come back with us?" Rookie asks before he frowns sadly. "I mean, the Captain just learns that Captain Dash just passed away and if I were in his shoes, I wouldn't.."
Tim and the others understood Rookie's question as they were sure that Natsu wouldn't comply to coming back to the kingdom after what his action was after learning of his mentor/ foster father's death.
"I didn't want him to just despair. I wanted to tell him the truth and yet…" Cosmos whispers as she frowns sadly and gently place a hand to her bandaged neck that she caresses. The pink haired woman remembering how Natsu looks enraged at her for telling him that Bash is dead, but she didn't just saw anger and rage, she also saw sadness. Her eyes begin to tear up as she frowns even sadder. "I'm such a terrible person…I should've tried to calm him first instead of trying to persuade him to face reality…i.."
"Cosmos, it's not your fault." Said Kamika with a frown as she went and gently hold Cosmos' shoulders. "you were right in trying to get him to face reality, it's just that it was at the wrong timing, that's all."
"but I still…" Cosmos tears up as she cries a bit. "I wanted to help him face reality but I just…"
"Cosmos…" Kamika looks sadly at her friend as she hugs her closely and comforts her.
Tim and Rookie frowns to Cosmos as she cries a bit for her boyfriend whose heart is in a world of excruciating pain.
Not only they feel sympathy for Cosmos, Neppa and Uosuke feels the same. The two drivers looks back at their comrades in the carriage before looking to the road at front.
"Captain Natsu must be having it hard-tai." Said Uosuke while having what it seems to be a frown on his unchanging face. "Captain Bash was his mentor and he just lost him all suddenly-tai."
"it's the life of being a magical knight of Crocus." Neppa stated as he holds up his bottle of acid and took a chug of it. "we live the life set for us and that means death would come at the time you least expect it." he frowns a bit. "but still…for that Captain Dash to have been killed in action by a monster of legends…."
"enough chattering about it, Neppa." Kama told the big man as he rides his horse at front, the masked Captain focused on leading the way to Mt. Zonia. "focus on the task at hand."
"I know, captain. But after what happened yesterday…" Neppa replied while raising a hand up and having a perplexed and worried expression on his face. "aren't you worried on how we are going to get Captain Natsu back to Crocus with us?"
"we can worry about that part later." Said Kama as he has a hardened gaze towards a mountain that is coming into view. "right now, we focus on finding Natsu."
"wait a minute!" Dan suddenly calls out as everyone turns towards the swordsman who rides his horse hastens its pace a bit before it came to a stop by a large rock where the rider jumps off its saddle.
"what is it, Dan?" Clay asked his teammate while riding his horse to go near the man who is checking around the large rock for something. "what you see?"
"this." Said Dan as he picks up an old and dirty looking yet well taken care magic pistol. "isn't this thing?"
"Captain Bash's magic pistol." Said Kama as he comes by. The masked hooded man jumps down and takes the item from Dan's grasp. "this is his own personal weapon that I've seen him carry around from time to time."
"Why is it here?" Clay asked while adjusting his glasses. "Captain Bash was found by the Mt. Zonia's border." He then looks at the old weapon. "For it to be here is mysterious."
Kama checks the weapon from side to side before he checks the bullet chamber but finds only one bullet left, but he seems intrigued because of how the metal shell has the carved name of Natsu on its back.
"this is?" Kama whispers as he looks closer and could see that the bullet isn't just any ordinary looking bullet. "a magic imbued bullet?"
Meanwhile at the Mt. Zonia.
There is utter destruction left around one part of the forest that surrounds the mountain. Nothing was left alive as everything seems charred to ashes.
From one part of the forest came out Natsu who seems to be looking for something.
"there has to be a track of it somewhere!" said Natsu as he sniffs the air many times while going down on all four. The young man trying to track the scent of the dragon who killed his mentor. "where is the scent of that bastard?!"
Natsu goes around all day long as he sniffs everything around the forest. From up the trees to the black dirt. He even climbed Mt. Zonia in trying to find any tracks of the Black Dragon, Acnologia or maybe its den.
"where is the scent!?" said Natsu in a frustrated voice as he keeps on climbing the mountain before he picked up a strange scent. "this smell?"
Natsu begins to climb faster as he goes up to a large yet nearly broke down cave that has its entrance nearly buried in rocks and dirt.
"this must be it." said Natsu as he huffs a bit after climbing up the mountain.
The young man went into the cave's small path as he lit his way in the tunnel with fire blazing around his held up right fist.
"its scent is so strong." Said Natsu as he light the entire pathway with his fire. The young man started to look piss. "that dragon must've been roaming this land for years." He then goes to the wall and sees deep claw marks. "this place must be its territory." Afterward he left to go deeper into the cave's tunnel. "Or it used to be."
Nearly passing an hour, Natsu goes and roams the cave to find anything that could possibly help him try to locate the dragon, but sadly; he found none.
Pushing away a big boulder with ease of his right hand, Natsu checks what is underneath and finds no such thing that leads to the Black Dragon.
"there's nothing at all." said Natsu as he goes around the tunnel and then goes to sit on a rock. He sighs while rubbing a hand to his face and then scratches his hair a few times. "where did that bastard go to!?"
His shout echoed in the cave as it goes for a few seconds before disappearing.
Natsu grits his teeth hard while trying his best to keep his anger sated inside his body. The young man vent on going after Acnologia and get back at it for killing his mentor/foster father.
"damnit all!" Natsu growls angrily before he smells something else in the cave that made him look up and turns towards the exit entrance of the cave. "this scent is?"
Natsu instantly left the cave as he went right back to the forest while trying to locate a very familiar scent that he just sniffed up.
"where is it?" said Natsu as he looks around the area before he spots something that has a part of it sticking up from the dirt that buried it. "that's!"
He runs and grabs hold of the rock before using all his strength to move it away. Afterwards, Natsu went down and pushes the dirt away to reveal something he wish and also dreaded to see.
"Bash…" Natsu whispers as he slowly grits his teeth hard while clenching his hold on the slightly dirtied and scorched cowboy hat that belongs to Bash Dash.
Night time had come and Kama with his group have arrived to the borders of Mt. Zonia where they stopped by.
"we camp here." Said Kama as he and his comrades stopped by an opening of the forest that is near a river stream. He tied his horse's reins to a tree along with Clay and Dan. The Garou Knight's captain turns to the others. "Neppa, I want you, Uosuke, and Kamika to patrol the area for dangers while Tim and Rookie set up the camp."
"got it." Neppa nods with Uosuke and the others.
"what are we going to do, Captain Kama?" Dan asked the man who just grabs a small sack bag and then points to Mt. Zonia.
"you, Clay, Cosmos, and I are going to find Natsu." Said Kama as he carried his sack bag over his right shoulder. "if we are lucky, he should leave a lot of tracks for us to follow."
"me, and Dan are one thing, but are you sure about Cosmos, Captain Kama?" Clay asks before he took a glance at Cosmos who is prepping up some of her belongings in a sack bag. "the bruise on her neck might need her to rest for it to recover and.."
"I understand where you're going, but Cosmos needs to come with us." Said Kama after nodding. "if there's anyone besides Captain Arcadios, Captain Bash, and me who can get through Natsu. It's her."
"you plan to have her talk things out with him before we go and help out?" Dan asks Kama who nods his head once to reply. "I hope you know what you planning, Captain Kama."
After setting down a few of their carried belongings to the area and leaving a few of their friends to stay and make camp, Kama and the others left straight to the inner parts of the forest in their quest to find Natsu.
Sometime later, Kama and his groups walks through and pass the trees of the forest before they reached the large and scorched area.
"what a sight…." Dan whispers with a bewildered face. "to think that a dragon could do this level of damage…"
"goes to show that they are creatures of power and myth." Clay stated while adjusting his glasses once. "the reports stated that they found Captain Bash near this area. This could mean that Captain Natsu would be around here."
"possibly." Said Kama while nodding as he looks around the destroyed area before he spots someone. "there."
The others look at Kama who points a finger forward as he is pointing straight at Natsu who is on his knees and seems to be looking at something in his grasp.
"Natsu…." Cosmos whispers out in seeing her boyfriend who just motionless sat upon the land.
"let's go." Said Kama as everyone begins to approach Natsu slowly and steadily.
Natsu stays in his place as he is just down on his knees and his head tilted down to look at Bash's dirtied cowboy hat that he found. The young man stares at the object for who knows how long as he didn't realize Cosmos who came kneeling beside him and gently grasped the back of his right hand.
"Natsu…" Cosmos whispers. "I'm sorry."
As if he was in a trance that was broken, Natsu slowly glances at Cosmos who is frowning sadly at him and then turns even slightly to the side to see Kama and the others. the group showing sympathy for him.
"I didn't want to believe it." Natsu spoke out softly as he turns and looks back at Bash's cowboy hat that he holds up. "I didn't want to believe that Bash was dead at all." he then grasped the item hard. "but after I found his hat just lying around here…..i…"
"Natsu…" Cosmos held him as she begins to cry in tears with Natsu who is crying as well.
"he's dead…..why is Bash dead?" Natsu cries out softly as his tears began to pour down his eyes. "he was a captain of Crocus' Magic Knight brigade, he was a man who would fight to protect the innocent, he picked me up and took me under his wing when I was all alone in the forest. Yet why?" his body began to shake and tremble as Cosmos cries while comforting the heartbroken man. "WHY DID BASH HAVE TO DIE!?"
Natsu cries as he wails in anguish and sadness from finally facing the reality of his mentor/foster father's passing and death.
Kama, Dan, and Clay stay silent as they just look at Natsu with sympathy in their eyes and just stood there to listen to his cries of sadness.
After nearly an hour of crying, Cosmos sat on her knees and has Natsu who lies his head on her lap while asleep. The pink haired executioner mage caressed and strokes the salmon haired man's head several times while having a sad frown of an expression on her face.
Natsu had cried himself to sleep as he had let out all his anguishing sadness and rage out in one go, emptying his harmed heart of everything and with that, it left him tired and falling asleep in an instant.
Kama and the others still remain standing where they are as the group looks at Natsu before Dan looks at the Garou knight's captain.
"Captain Kama." Dan whispers in his call to Kama who glances towards the swordsman. "should I and Clay head back and inform the others?"
"yeah." Kama nods before he looks back at Natsu. "while you're at it, pick up two tents and some supplies for me, and Cosmos. I believe the two of us are going to stay here with Natsu for the night before we head back tomorrow morning."
"are you sure?" Clay asked Kama who nods as this man the glass man adjusts his glasses and nods his head. "very well."
Dan and Clay leave as they head straight for the forest and go for their friend's location, planning to inform them of their finding Natsu and the request that Kama has for them.
Kama let out a soft sigh as he looks at Natsu who fell asleep with his head on Cosmos' lap while his hand still holds Bash's hat and not wanting to let go.
"Captain Bash, may you rest in peace for your brave sacrifice." Said Kama in a whisper as he stands up straight and did a salute to the sky. The man giving his respect to the deceased captain.
Two days later, at Crocus. There is a ceremony held at a cemetery as many had come to give their condolences and grief for the death of Bash.
It was raining and the atmosphere seems gloomy and sad, yet there are people who came for the ceremony in Bash's honor as Toma himself came with Hisui, Darton, and Arcadios. The King led while wearing his royal attire while Hisui and many others wore black and white clothing that is usually worn for a person's passing.
All the guests of the ceremony stood still in groups while facing the direction of Bash's grave marker which has a large statue of a knight standing on top. Below it is a framed photo of the deceased man and under it is a brass plate with the words 'Bash Dash, X739-X784, Beloved Son, Brother, Husband, Father, and Knight.
The rain was harsh as it pours water upon everyone.
In the group of weeping and crying people, there is Natsu who wore his mourning attire while just looking down with tears that pours down his face and seemingly mixed with the rain.
Kama and the others are near the man as they too share their mourning grief for the death of Bash.
Taking a minute for everyone just to cry and weep their sadness out, Toma steps forward as he stands before the grave and tilts his head down while closing his eyes.
"Bash Dash is a man blessed with courage, kindness, and love by the gods. He is a man who would fight any battle to ensure his beloved family, friends, and home are protected. Bash Dash is a man whose will is nobler than any I have ever witnessed." Toma spoke out as he gives a speech for Bash's passing. "his passing is unacceptable to many. To his friend, to his family, to his loved ones. But we must not let our sadness and grief overtake us for Bash Dash has given his life to ensure our home is safe by facing the monster that could destroy all." the small king lifts his head and then gives a salute. "For his brave actions and brave sacrifice…I, Toma E Fiore hereby bestow Captain Bash Dash with the title Magician Chevalier! The knight of magic who fought evil and darkness to protect the innocent and the weak! may his soul ascends to the heavens and be welcomed as a hero of Fiore!"
In response, many of the soldiers and magic knights of Crocus instantly give their salutes as they all stood tall while still crying in tears for the Captain's passing.
Arcadios stood out the most as he salutes with a proud gaze to his friend's grave while crying in tears that are mixing up with the rainwater pouring down his face.
In time, every single person who came to the ceremony went and give their condolences and grief to Natsu who stood in front of his mentor's grave that gets lots and lots of white flowers by the passing second.
Hisui came as she went and stands beside Natsu while crying in tears. The princess slowly reaches her hand and gently grasps the salmon-haired man's right hand that grasps it tightly.
"he is truly the bravest of them all." Hisui whispers as she closes her eyes and sobs a bit with a hand to her mouth. "I'm proud to have been able to meet him since I was small."
Natsu didn't speak a word as he just gazes at his mentor/foster father's grave marker before he slowly nods his head in response to Hisui's condolence words.
Hisui looks at Natsu as she frowns sadly at him before she slowly lets go of his hand and then moves away.
The Princess of Fiore slowly walks to her father who stands near Arcadios, Darton, Kama, and Cosmos who just stands a few feet away from her lover while just crying in tears.
Hisui walks up to Cosmos as the two stare at one another before the princess nods her head and gently grasps the pink haired woman's hands.
"please take care of him." Hisui whispers out as she grasped Cosmos' hands gently. "he needs our help, but he needs your help the most. Please, Cosmos-san."
Cosmos looks at Hisui for a moment before she frowns and slowly nods her head.
Afterwards, nearly everyone who had come has given their condolences and their goodbyes to Bash.
The time passes as many left the area for the remainder of the day, but there are those who remain, and they are Natsu who is accompanied by Cosmos.
Both are just standing near Bash's grave while getting soaking wet in the harsh rain.
Natsu stands still and did not move from his spot while Cosmos stands and looks sadly for her lover, but she soon looks a bit surprised when a big umbrella comes hovering over her head as it was held by Kama who merely nods to her and looks upon his friend who stays standing in the rain.
No one knows what was going on with Natsu as they could only tell that he is extremely sad and in grief for the death and passing of his second father figure.
Nearly half an hour of rain later, it begins to light up and shows the sky had become dark and the day become night.
Natsu spent nearly the entire day standing by Bash's grave as he just stands while wearing his soaked up attire.
"Natsu…" Cosmos gently calls out to Natsu as she went near and gently grasps his right hand that returned the action. "let's go home."
A minute of silence came from Natsu who slowly shakes his head and gently let go of Cosmos' hand.
"I'm sorry….but can you leave me alone for a while?" Natsu asks softly in a very sad and pained voice that made Cosmos frown very sadly.
"Natsu…" Cosmos whispers her lover's name as she went and give him a hug from the back before she slowly parted away.
Kama stands near as he looks at Natsu before Cosmos who walks away while crying in tears. The Garou Knight's captain watches her leave and then turns to his friend who stays standing by his mentor's grave but upon closer look, he could see that he is trembling and shaking nonstop.
Frowning, Kama closes his eyes and turns around before walking away, following Cosmos as he was sure that she would need the company of their friends.
Natsu stays standing in front of Bash's grave as he is left alone in the slowly cold night.
He stares at the grave marker, his eyes just looking straight at the framed photo of his mentor that stays standing.
Silence filled the air as there is no sound surrounding Natsu, there is only utter dead silence that hangs in the air for 5 minutes and soon ended when footsteps are heard.
Natsu stays still while the footsteps get louder and before long he is accompanied by Arcadios who came back while carrying Bash's hat that he went and placed on top of the flowers. The knight then takes out a cigar and lights its tip then places it near the grave marker.
"Bash grew up to be a smoker." Arcadios spoke out as he arranges the flowers a bit while wiping away some water near him. "he got me into smoking as well, but I do it on relaxing time." He looks at the cigar that just burns out a small trail of smoke that flies into the air. "there are lots of cigars for him to have, but he chooses the cheapest brand that tastes extremely bad to others. he never liked any other brand, he only loves one brand that tastes so horrible." He gets up and looks down at his best friend's grave. "but that was like him since he is the most unusual man that I have ever met during those rookie days."
Arcadios then turns and looks at Natsu who remains silent while having tears still spilling down his eyes. The Captain Knight looks the salmon haired man for a moment before he close his eyes, tilts his head up, and opens his eyes to look at the night sky filled with stars and the half moon.
"this night was the same as the night he first told me of someone he became proud of." Said Arcadios as he looks at the half moon and remembers the time that he and Bash were at an open balcony by Mercurius castle, both seeming just conversing while looking at the moon. "he told me that he is extremely proud of the energetic, crazy, and strong kid he once picked up in the forest years ago. He told me that he was glad to meet such a kid those years ago."
Arcadios turns towards Natsu who tilts his head down a bit while clenching his fists tight.
"he told me that if there was a possibility of there something that might happen to him that results in his death, he asks me to give you his will." Arcadios stated as Natsu made a small noise and looks a bit surprised at the captain knight who nods his head before he reaches a hand to his back and pulls out Bash's magic pistol that was once recovered by Kama and the others. "a will that he entrusted to me to deliver to you."
Natsu looks at Arcadios who opens the chamber of the pistol and looks at the single bullet that glows a rainbow-ish color and then creates a magic circle that gets embedded to the back shell.
"take his will and live for it, Natsu." Said Arcadios as he locks and cocks the gun before aiming its barrel at Natsu. "take his last magic, his Memory Bullet."
Natsu looks at the gun as Arcadios pulls the trigger and fired the bullet that flew and directly hits his forehead but as it made contact, the projectile becomes sparkles that flow right into his mind.
The salmon haired man's eyes widen as Natsu sees images appearing into his mind.
Flashback
At the nearly destroyed area of the Mt. Zonia, there is Bash who lies on a burned and scorched ground while looking like a bloodied corpse.
The large shadow of Acnologia can be seen flying away as the dragon seems to be satisfied in leaving behind Bash in his current state.
Thought to be dead, Bash is still alive as he grunted in pain while trying to drag himself to a nearby scorched rock.
The dying man gets to the scorched rock and lies his back against it. Bash huffs his breathing for a moment before he coughs out blood as his injuries were life-threatening.
"looks like this is the end for me….." Bash whispers as he looks to be growing weaker by how pale his complexion is. He reaches to his side and holds up his magic pistol as it remains unharmed after its wielder's unfortunate encounter. The man then picks up a bullet from the weapon's chamber and holds it up to his face. "Natsu, I'm leaving this….i'm leaving this last message for you." The cowboy's eyes glows as he uses his magic to place a message in his one bullet that glows. "don't go after Acnologia after I die. Don't go and waste your life against that monster. it just took a minute for it to get me in such a dying state….don't go and be stupid to avenge me. I'm just an old soldier who has been escaping death's grip for far too long…"
Bash coughs blood as he falls to his side and nearly let go of his bullet.
"you…you're not ready yet….you need to become stronger…." Said Bash as he is huffing his breathing while growing weaker. "you need to become stronger than me and anyone else…but don't become strong just because of what happened to me…..become strong for your loved ones…..be strong for your girlfriend, so that you can protect her…you need to…." He coughs again as he vomited blood for a moment and that caused him to start wheezing. "you need to make sure…you can protect everyone in Crocus….in all of Fiore….do that for me…do that as my last wish…."
Bash slowly picks himself up while just groaning in pain as he lies his back against the rock once again.
"Natsu…..i never told you the story….of why I always do solo missions, didn't i?" Bash asks as he huffs a bit before he slowly looks up to the clouded sun and sky. "i….i got my first team killed because of my stupidity."
Bash now speaks slowly as he tells the story of how when he was a rookie, he got his teammates; his friends all killed on a mission that he led. He tried to save them, but it ended up in their deaths because he was stupidly blinded by his pride and selfishness to become the strongest there is.
"one of them….one of them was my fiancé…." Bash whispers as he looks down to his left hand that took out a bloodied locket from inside his pocket. He pressed the switch on top and reveals a very old photo of the man when he was young with a beautiful young teen woman, both smiling at one another. "I got her and my friends killed because I wanted to become the strongest than anyone in the world…..because of that…I hated myself…I hated myself for years…I hated myself for getting them all killed…."
The man grunts as his vision is slowly becoming blurry with passing time.
"Natsu….the reason why I choose to help you that day in the forest….it was because you remind me so much of my past self…I was just like you….i had a father who abandoned me when I was young…I had no mother…but I was taken in by the Kingdom of Crocus…I was taken in and cared for like a son by the King; Toma..and yet I did something so stupid by behaving like I was going to be the best.." Bash gently holds the bullet with a shaking hand as he slowly begins to insert the object into his pistol's bullet chamber. "you're still a hatchling, Natsu. Grow strong and one day….i'm sure you would be able to find your dragon dad….and maybe….you can beat Acnologia to ensure that no other innocent soul would be killed by its power."
Bash slowly gets back up to his feet as he staggers and nearly falls to the ground, but he held strong and looks up to the sky.
"grow strong and protect your loved ones, Natsu." Said Bash as he pulls back his right hand that held his gun. He tenses his hold on the weapon as his wounds were bleeding heavily. "grow strong…for the people of our kingdom. For our home." He grips his hold and using all ounce of strength he has left in his dying body, he just throws his pistol away as it flew while spinning like a boomerang. Afterwards, the cowboy falls to the ground and life slowly fades from his eyes while his lips have a small smile.
Flashback
After the memories had been thoroughly dispersed into his mind, Natsu's eyes were tearing up as the young man stands while trembling after seeing his mentor/foster father's last message for him.
"Bash had always ensured that his friends and loves ones are protected, Natsu." Said Arcadios as he walks towards Natsu and gently places a hand to the young man's right shoulder. "to avenge him, do not stray away from the right path." The knight patted the shoulders a few more times before he walks pass the young man. "become strong in Bash's name, Natsu."
Arcadios leaves Natsu as the young man stares at Bash's grave while still in tears.
'Become Strong….Natsu.'
Natsu hears Bash's voice echo in his mind as the young man clenches his fists hard and tight.
"yeah…I will…." Natsu whispers as he grits his teeth hard before he looks up to the night sky and screams. "I WILL! BASH!"
Natsu's determined howl just echoes into the night sky as Arcadios who is a few dozen feet away, heard it and that made him smile while having his eyes closed.
About a week later pass in Crocus.
In a street area that is filled with the citizens of the kingdom, there is Cosmos who is walking straight for Bash's candy store that has its ownership passed to Natsu after the cowboy's death which was known when his written will was found by Arcadios a few days ago.
Cosmos wears her normal attire as she carries a small basket that has sandwiches covered with a small red and white striped blanket, the food intended for her lover who has been cooped up in the candy store for almost a week after the funeral was over.
Puru is with her as the little furball is on top of her hat and is looking worried for his human owner.
"Cosmos!" a voice called out to Cosmos who turns and sees Dan with Clay coming to her. the two are wearing daily life clothing as their team is currently off duty with their captain's absence.
"Dan-san, Clay-san." Cosmos greeted the two while doing quick head nods as the two men nods back to her. "what are you two doing here?"
"the same as you are, I suppose." Clay replied while adjusting his glasses. "we all tried to visit Captain for the passing week, and we didn't meet him at all."
"we think that we might have a chance to talk to him after how much time had passed." Said Dan as he raises a hand up and waves it to the side before he crosses his arms on his chest. "to be frank, I'm starting to feel a bit worried since we don't know if he is doing well or not."
"yes…" Cosmos nods while frowning as she looks down. "I tried to visit him last night…but he asks me to come back tomorrow. I still think that he's…"
Dan and Clay look at Cosmos and could tell how much pain she is in after her lover just shut himself away from everyone around him.
"you guys." A voice called out to the three as they turn and looks a bit surprised to see Kama coming while wearing his usual executioner's attire. "What are you guys doing standing around there?"
"Captain Kama." Clay greeted the man first as he did a quick head nod before adjusting his glasses. "no, we were conversing for a moment before you arrive."
"I assume that it is about Natsu?" Kama asked as Clay and the others nod.
"we haven't seen him for a week and we were getting worried, and…" Dan spoke out before Kama raises a hand to stop him.
"I understand." Said Kama while nodding. "let's go together. I have a message from the King that is to be given to Natsu."
"the King?" Clay asked after blinking his eyes twice. "what is it?"
"he wishes for Natsu to take temporary leave of duty for about a week or two." Said Kama. "he believes Natsu needs time to rest" he then looks at Cosmos. "he also asked me to deliver the same message for you, Cosmos."
"i?" Cosmos blinks her eyes a few times while looking confused before she frowns and looks down. "I understand, but my duties in our team…"
"your duty is to be with Natsu." Said Kama after shaking his head. "if we want Natsu to get better, you're the only person for the job. Understand that."
Cosmos looks at Kama for a moment before she slowly nods her head.
Kama nods back before the group went straight for Natsu's Home which is the closed candy store.
The group took a moment of silence to stand a few feet away from the store as they look at it before Kama goes to the front door, he reaches a hand up to knock but sees the closed signed turned into open before the door was pulled back to reveal Natsu.
"ah? it's just you guys, huh?" said Natsu as he came out while wearing a plain white shirt and black shorts with sandals, the man carrying a trash bag that he holds to Kama. "mind throwing this away for me?"
"r-right…" Kama replied all dumbly as he takes the trash bag from Natsu who went right back in and after a few seconds the Garou Knights' captain snaps. "h-hey! The hell is wrong with you!? We came because we were worried and you're here giving me trash to throw out!?"
"don't be so noisy in the morning, will you?" Natsu replies while scratching the back of his head. "I'm still sleepy after an all-nighter of making candy."
"making…candy?" Kama asks as he and the others went in and look in surprise because there are dozens of mouth-watering candies encased in jars all stocked up in the store. "did you just restock?"
"yeah." Natsu yawns as he scratches the back of his head and heads to the counter where he picks up a fresh cup of coffee. He took a sip and sighed in satisfaction. "Had to work hard to remake all the candies that Bash always made."
"then the reason why you didn't want to meet anyone for a week is because…" said Dan as he looks around the store before Natsu. "you were busy making candies?"
"yeah." Natsu replied while nodding as he soon finishes his cup of coffee and then went to Cosmos. "you got sandwiches, Cosmos?"
"ah? y-yeah.." Cosmos nods her head while slowly raising up her little basket and pulling the blanket off to reveal the sandwiches. "I was worried that you weren't getting something to eat and I just…"
"smells nice." Said Natsu who soon gives a peck on Cosmos' forehead and then a kiss on her lips. He then smiles to her. "thanks for making them and I'm sorry for worrying you."
Cosmos looks a little surprised at Natsu's actions as the man takes a sandwich and bites it before the group hears Puru's panicked cries as they turn to see the furball captured in a net hanging to the ceiling.
"knew that you tried to go for the sweets, you little puffball." Said Natsu with a smirk while watching how Puru just tries to free itself from the net. "I made magic traps all over the store that only responds to the presence of a furry creature which is you." He chuckles and grins diabolically. "you won't ever taste sweets in this store ever again!"
Natsu started to laugh while Kama and the others are in the background looking all awkward together.
"why do I feel like we were stupid to worry about him after Captain Bash's funeral?" Dan asked and Clay shushes him.
"don't say such an unnecessary thing!" said Clay in retort.
"hey, Natsu. Are you feeling alright?" Kama calls out to Natsu who turns towards the man. "we know you're still hurting, you don't have to force yourself to act like you always do because we're here."
"I'm fine." Said Natsu as he grabs the net and pulls Puru out from inside. "thanks for asking, but I got over Bash's death." He goes to his friends' side, and he placed the pink furball on the top of Cosmos' hat. "I'm feeling fine right now."
"you sure?" Cosmos asked with a worried face. "when you learn about Captain Bash's death, you were…."
"I went crazy mad on everyone and I apologize for that." Said Natsu while nodding and then smiling at Cosmos. "but I'm really fine. Don't worry."
"still, even if you say so." said Kama to Natsu who begins walking to a nearby closet by the counter. "Natsu, listen. I got a message for you from the King. He asks me to tell you that you are to have one to two weeks of rest time with Cosmos. He wants you to rest for the remaining time."
"thanks for the offer, but no thanks." Said Natsu as he was taking off his clothes and putting on new ones. "if I'm absent, who'll lead my team on missions?"
"we can do our mission without you, Captain." Said Clay while adjusting his glasses. "we had asked the King for permission to operate the team without you. You don't need to force yourself for us while you're still recovering."
"I'm not forcing myself or anything." Said Natsu as he adjusts his clothes and then stretches his arms up before he picks up a belt from a tablet and puts it around his waist. "I'm feeling fine and I'm doing fine." The man then gets out of his closet as he reveals his new attire to his friends. "after all, I can't just mope around like a kid forever. If I don't get back up in time, Bash will beat the crap out of me when I meet him on the other side one day."
Kama and the others look at Natsu a bit in surprise as he has a new look on him. the salmon haired man wears a nearly tribal like clothing as he wore a black sleeveless shirt with a small red cloak with yellow and brown patterns, he wears reddish yellow arm guards that has some furry designs, his pants are black, baggy, and have marking designs of the Fiore's national symbol, he wears black laced sandal boots, his scarf is under his small red cloak, his belt has holsters with his two magic revolvers stored, and in addition; the young man wears a red and long bandana around his head. (AN: see cover image for better understanding and image.)
"I got a job to do and that is to be the Magic Knight Captain of my team whose duties is to fight and protect for the kingdom." Said Natsu as he adjusts his belt once. "can't leave the job to the rest without making an effort, can i?"
Kama and the others look at Natsu for a moment before they look at each other and soon sigh while smiling.
"I need to go on an errand at the castle real quick." Said Natsu as he went to Cosmos and eats up all the sandwiches in mere seconds. He gives his girlfriend a big kiss on the lips before he heads out. "mind the store for me!"
"h-hey! What you plan to do!?" Kama calls out as he and the others watch Natsu leave.
"got to meet up with the old man and talk on the few missions that are available for us to take." Said Natsu as he stops and did a quick hand wave to Kama and the others. "also, I need to meet up and ask a favor from the old man to change my last name."
"change your last name?" Cosmos spoke out all confused. "for what reason?"
"for a promise." Natsu replied before he takes out a cigar from his back, lighting its tip, placing it into his mouth and suck out some smoke that he swallowed instead of expelling. "after I get strong and I defeat Acnologia in the future, I'll be naming myself Natsu Dash." He turns and points a thumb over his right shoulder, but it is pointing to his back as there is the symbol of a red dragon's head with two guns crossed in front. "the Captain of the Salamanders."
Kama and the others look a bit surprised at Natsu who grins to them before he heads off.
"looks like we really were worried for nothing." Said Dan while Clay nods as he adjusted his glasses.
"that guy really never changed since those many years ago." Kama stated while crossing his arms and shaking his head. He let out a small chuckle and watches Natsu leave while seeing a transparent image of Bash running alongside the young man. "like father like son, huh?"
Cosmos remains silent as she just smiles all happily to see her lover doing alright once again. She watches Natsu run off for Mercurius before she turns to her shoulder as Puru came jumping and climbing onto it. She giggles with a smile at the little furball who cried out to her.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye