Chapter 2: To Protect
It had been three years since that faithful foggy day.
Natsu can say things had changed for the better, at least in his opinion. He had only gotten closer with Erza. He was drawn to her, and he didn't understand why.
It was like a switch was flipped in his brain and all of a sudden, he saw, actually saw, the female form. Erza's form. Her long red hair, flowing down the small of her back. Her plump lips usually set within a scowl ready to scold him for knocking that stupid stripper down a peg. Her soft side, one he so desperately hoped was exclusive to him.
Natsu didn't quite know what was going on, but he knew.
He was obsessed with Erza Scarlett.
So, he did the only thing he knew how.
Cause a little chaos!
Every single time he knocked that ice prick on his ass, destroyed the guild doors, got a bit to rowdy on a job, he knew what would be waiting for him.
Erza. Scarlett.
Face stern, brows drawn, eyes hard. Focused on him, and only on him. He loved that part. The other part, the painful part, he could do without. But her focus on him? Only him?! That was something he could never get enough of.
Hence his current situation.
Erza was gone.
Well… He didn't like that. It caused something to stir in his stomach, a pit forming. What if something happened to her? What if she got ambushed? What if the demon she was sent to slay was to much?
Happy said his worrying was getting annoying. Like he could talk.
So, their here they were. Walking down the road within spitting distance of this town. Fort Halligree? Hallifax? Hallicinor?
"It's Magnolia Town Natsu. Theres a sign right there…"
The exceed pointed at the signing looming above wooden gates before shaking his head.
"You're so dense. No wonder Erza left without you~"
A tic mark appeared on his brow as Natsu gave false chase to his closest friend.
"Get back here you little bastard!"
"Aye!"
They had arrived on word of Igneel. Mira had passed it along, apparently getting the news from Wakabe, before passing it along to him, intent on ending his moping around the guild.
It wasn't his fault!
He just missed Erza…
Natsu begged her to take him along. Pleaded. He could pull his own weight, and she knew it! Yet, she wouldn't budge.
"I can guarantee I could protect you, Natsu. Losing you is a blow I don't know if I could recover from."
While her words were that sweet honey, he had grown addicted to so many years ago, they pained him. He was the protector! He was the dragon!
She shook her head at his challenge of a fight to prove his ability, eyes shining with disappointment either in himself or the situation, before swiftly dispatching him with a quick unexpected strick to the back of his neck.
They had grown close. Maybe best friends. With the loss of Lisanna, he found himself relying more and more on the scarlet knight for support and guidance, and she intern leaned on him. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would watch his back, and he hers.
So why would she never take him on a s-class mission?!
Hence the moping.
He missed Erza…
"Stop sighing Natsu! We need to look for your dad!"
"I don't see a flying dragon around here, do you Happy?"
The winged cat flew hallows around his head as they strode deeper into the city, a market district if looks weren't deceiving him.
Then Natsu saw her.
A blond in a rather skimpy suit. She was attractive enough (not Erza though), but seemed to be throwing a tantrum, kicking a sign while lamenting something. As they drew closer, they could pick up her rants.
"… worth at least twenty thousand!"
Lucy Heartfilia noticed she had an audience when she heard the laughter. Loud. Boyish. Then she saw them. A pink haired stranger, brazenly showing his defined upper torse, and a flying cat?
"Your funny!"
The pinkette was blunt. Leaving her to stare at him deadpanned and dull.
Before she could retort both of their attention was diverted to a large crown of woman gathered around a rather plain looking man with an oddly large nose. They crowded him crooning about his fame, his prowess, his allegiance to a renown and beloved guild.
Fairy Tail
That got both of their attention, albeit in different ways.
Lucy perked up, visibly excited at the prospect of meeting a member of such a famous guild. After all it had been her dream for almost as long as she could remember to join, if only she was worthy. Sparing the pinkette and his companion nary a glance she moved forward working through the crowd, swallowing her disappointment at the underwhelming aura, and instead hoping to prove her worth.
"Ladies, ladies calm, please calm!"
The voice was suave, smooth. She could feel her heartbeat suddenly skip. Her face heated up, and she was certain a blush stained her cheeks.
Was this love at first sight?
The man's eyes seemed to home in on her, lightly grazing her generous 'assets'.
"The Salamander is here! Champion of fire and hero of Fairy Tail!"
He made his point by shooting a rather pitiful bout of reddened fire into the sky. Such a display normally wouldn't move her, but something about this man was alluring, mystical, enthralling. She hesitantly stepped forward and opened her mouth to speak when.
"Salamander? Ya sure about that one?"
The voice was strong, dominant, intimidating even. Lucy didn't even realize it was the same pink haired man from earlier. All traced of joy and mirth gone. It was unsettling for her. Judging by the look on 'Salamander's' face hey very much felt the same.
"Ah! Another admirer I see~ While I would love to stay and chat, I must make my leave!. The Salamander never sleeps after all."
With a dramatic bow and a flourish, he quickly turned and walked at a brisk pace.
Natsu was mad.
No, he was livid.
This 'fire' mage was using his father's moniker. His name. And this is what he had? A pitiful pitch of red flame? Before he could step towards the imposter his attention was drawn away by that goofy blonde from earlier.
Lucy couldn't believe it. A charm spell? How could such a thing be allowed in such a guild as Fairy Tail, one that was placed on such a high pedestal. Turning her attention towards the man that had mocked her earlier she swallowed her pride and approached him.
"Thank you."
The man seemed oblivious, head turned to the side, index finger digging in his ear while the cat flew around in close vicinity.
"For saving me there, if it weren't for you, I don't know what would've happened."
She left it hanging, hoping the looming implication would get through to him. It didn't.
To Natsu's credit it wasn't as if he didn't care that he had assisted her, he just didn't do it for thanks. Heroes never did. Erza taught him that, and anything she taught him, he took to heart. He nodded, gave a wide smile, and started walking off, hoping to find the 'mighty' Salamander, when he heard the magic words.
"At least let me treat you to lunch!"
Lucy had done many, many stupid things over the years. Some dangerous. Some risky. Some just unexplainable. Offering the two being who had just stumbled into her life a meal ticket, was without a doubt, amongst the dumbest.
How the hell could a cat eat that much!
Through several plates, multiple refills, awful table manner, and a bill she would never speak of again, she learned the man was looking for his father. A dragon.
The man was obviously insane.
Kind, but insane.
Smiling tightly and thanking the man once more, she bowed and left the restaurant, hoping her travels would somehow lead her towards her dreams. Towards Fairy Tail. How fortunate the Salamander just so happened to be passing by, and he even invited her to a boat party! How fortunate indeed.
Natsu saw her attitude shift when he mentioned Igneel. He didn't judge her. No one really believed him. Well, no one but her…
He missed Erza.
Shaken out of his thought by the nudging from his cat companion, he turned his attention towards the window.
The smile split his face.
Bora wasn't a very smart man. Resourceful? Sure. Devious? Of Course. Handsome? No…
Lucky?
Oh he knew he was lucky as soon as he saw that busty blond from earlier, and without that pink haired asshole who had almost blown his cover. Oh, he had eyes on her from the start.
Slipping her the location of his guild yacht, along with a suggestion charged with a healthy dose of his charm magic, he left her, assured she would come. Assured she would come alone.
Bora wasn't a very smart man.
When she showed up, she looked so damn innocent. For one that dressed so provocatively she was so pure! To bad…
It wasn't until she got to the main lobby and saw the empty cages, soiled with fluids she didn't have the heart to dwell on, that she knew she made a mistake. She quickly turns to try and leave only to see the door blocked by two men. One large bursting with muscle, the other thing and small head obscured by a hood.
"It's to late love, now be a good girl and get in the cage."
Any trace of the former mask was torn away. His voice was rotten and cruel, speaking to the ill intent he undoubtedly had in mind for her. Her body locked on her, slowly moving towards the nearest rusty open cage. Her mind pleaded, begged her body to stop, accomplishing little more then slowed movement.
Bora was impressed. To even slow the rate of his charm spell took quite a bit of willpower, he wasn't holding back. Yet, still she would comply, then he would break her. So far now he would enjoy the show, enjoying the fear etched on her face, savoring it for every agonizing moment.
Bora wasn't a very smart man.
Fire. That's all she saw fire. She saw it before the screams. Before the explosion and the clashing and trashing of metal. Fire. Beautiful warming orange flames surrounding her. Warming, protecting, fire.
"I think I asked earlier ya, you the 'Salamander'? Huh? That's you right big nose?"
Bora was speechless. Of all the thing that could have happened today, some insignificant little pissant had once again reared his head and was destroying his fucking boat! Oh, this boy would pay.
"What if I am little man? Have you come to see my prowess over flame? Kneel before me and I might spare you yet! Kneel before the mighty Salamander!"
He shot a stream of flame, as fat and hot as he could make, shining red like the fires of hell! Directing this flame, he looked at the pink haired man, surely he would be shaking in his boots.
Natsu looked at Boras flame like one would a particularly loathsome slug crossing your path. Apathy and disgust. Once again, things weren't quit turning out like he expected. Narrowing his eyes at the younger man he notices the bodies of his two guards lying a few feet out. This was serious. Focusing as much magic as he could into his next words he spoke.
"Did you not hear me? Are you deaf? Have you not heard of the might and prowess of the mighty Salamander? I said kneel!"
With that one word over half of his magical reserve was plummeted, and when he saw Natsu jerk and freeze he was sure he had won. The boy was now under his control, and a cruel sneer took over his face. He could see the pinkette's knees shaking, and knew it was a matter of time before he kneeled. It would only take one more blow. Readying his flames, he pushed more power into his words.
"I said kneel!"
Bora wasn't a very smart man.
Lucy wasn't sure what was going on. She saw Natsu standing there looking bored in the face of Bora's flames. He seemed completely unfazed. Then Bora spoke. Natsu seemed to freeze, his body locked as if every single muscle was frozen in time.
Then Bora spoke once more
Natsu began shaking. It was mild at first, and then got increasingly intense with each passing second until the audible clang of metal from his shaking striking feet and body pounded through the room like a chaotic symphony.
In hindsight Bora couldn't have known. After all, not much is really known about dragons, even to scholars, let alone the likes of him. So how was he to know the one thing they hate above all else. The one thing that can drive a dragon to the brink of a mad rage. The one thing that will surely cause your demise should you have the hubris to even try to pull it off. An unspoken rule carried by man back when they flow mighty and high overhead.
Do not try to control a dragon!
Furthermore, how was he to know he was fighting a dragonslayer. He was a lower ranked criminal who made his entire fortune ruining unfortunate woman's lives. He was nothing. So how could he have known just what that means? How much of that draconic heritage was imparted upon this mage. How was he supposed to know this was an honorary son of a dragon.
How was he supposed to know he had just committed a mortal sin?
He didn't. Bora was one hundred percent sure this battle was won. Until he heard it. A sound that shook his soul. First the shaking stopped. Steam was rising from the pink haired mans body, odd as he still kept his firmly overhead for intimidation.
Natsu's head snapped back, his eyed wide and white.
Then he heard it. Not a howl. Not a whimper. Not a boom. A roar. A roar unlike anything he had ever heard before. This was the roar of a dragon. An angry dragon. It boomed through the room, and Bora was sure it was echoing through his entire ship, hopefully alerting whatever staff may remain. Although after hearing that he doubted anyone would be coming for help.
Then he felt pain.
After he roared Lucy saw Natsu disappear in a blur, then she heard Bora's grunt of pain. Natsu was standing there, fist buried deep in the mans gut, seeming pushing though him. Spittle and blood dripped from his mouth before Bora commanded the lingering flames to consume the pink haired man, before laughing at his final gambit, assured it had worked.
Bora wasn't a smart man.
Munching drew both his and Lucy's attention and disbelief. Slowly the flames disappeared, being scooped up in large part, inhaled in others, and eaten by the man in front of him.
What in god's name had he done.
"These are terrible. Definitely the worst I've ever had. The taste helped me calm down a bit though. Lucky for you."
Bora and Lucy both could only stare in shock, Bora's being injected with a large dose of fear.
"W-What are you?!"
It was a panicked plea, and Bora found himself scrambling to back away, only to fall and find himself scooting until his back was to the wall. He heard the man chuckle, before Natsu slowly moved towards him. The sounds of his footsteps, slow and confident, echoed through the hull.
"Someone your flames can't hope to reach. You can call me Salamander!"
To accentuate his proclamation Natsu ripped the portion of his vest covering his should and showed off his guild mark.
"He's the real deal!" Lucy could barely contain her excitement. What had gone from one of the worst days of her life, had easily shifted to one of the most exciting as she saw the man before her. This was her only chance. Seeing the hole in the side of the ship she quicky summoned Taurus hoping to show her skills in such a rare art.
Upon entering into her realm, Taurus bowed before Lucy, gaze firmly locked to her chest. "How may I serve you and your wonderful bosom?"
Lucy couldn't hide her blush if she tried. Now wasn't the time to argue though.
"That man over there saved my life, and is currently in a battle with a charm speaker, fire mage combo, I need you to watch that hull and take out and reinforcements!"
The bull stood might and proud, heavy axe resting on his shoulders as if it were made of air. He gave one last quick bow and set off, trying to prove proactive and search for any that might be dwelling on this vessel.
Looking back Natsu could see Lucy summon her spirit, and gave a small grin. He had seen how excited she was upon seeing the fake Salamander and was sure she would fit right in at home. She had that spirit about her. A ball of flame to the face drew his attention back to the current 'fight.'
"You're not a fast learner, are you? Natsu's a dragonslayer, flames wont work on him."
It was his ever-faithful companion, flying overhead taunting Bora. Natsu couldn't hid his grin.
Bora was having a good day. He was able to roll into town under the radar, flex his skills, have some fun, and make insane cash. Then this pink haired bastard showed up and ruined everything! Now his fucking cat had the gall to insult him! No! He turned his attention away from the pinkette towards the cat, fully intent on shutting him up. He then heard his last words before the world went temporarily dark.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist"
Lucy wasn't sure what to expect after seeing the sudden display of quick raw power display. On second Natsu was standing there, and the next he had struck Bora down with the intensity of Dragon. Standing there she felt her nerves flare up. Before her stood the fames Salamander, flaming force of Fairy Tail. From what she could feel Taurus had found two weaker henchmen, the rest had fled feeling the dragon's wrath.
Would that be enough?
Even so her mind was swimming. She had just seen a sacred magic, thought to be lost to time. Dragonslaying. Extraordinarily little was known about it, but it did cause one thought to stick out to her. One she dismissed haphazardly before had.
Natsu's father was a dragon, was it true? Were dragons real beyond myth and legend? These thoughts along with the prospect of potentially joining her dream guild seemed to overwhelm her. Seeing her dilemma, Natsu donned a bright sunny smiled, it was fun to watch her squirm.
"Hi Luigi, I'm Natsu Dragneel, Fire mage of Fairy Tail, the Salamander!"
His smile was so bright and wide, she felt the concerns and anxiety that had iced through her veins melt away. Before either could say more the ship started falling apart, undoubtedly at it's limit. Natsu quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her along in a sprint.
"Recall your spirit and come with me! You wanna join Fairy Tail right?!"
Her smile was as bright as the sun itself.
Chapter End
Getting back into the hang of it slowly. Will try and produce more. Next chapter will be Erza's return to the guild, and Natsu's reaction to seeing her and being left behind.