As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the tranquil beach, Natsu let out a contented sigh. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore provided the perfect backdrop to his thoughts.
"Ahh, this is nice," he whispered to himself, a genuine smile gracing his features.
For the past week, this had been his routine: wake up, enjoy a hearty meal, then make his way to the beach to soak in the sun and relax. With his swim pants on, a loose beach shirt, a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose, and his scarf tied as a headband, Natsu felt completely at ease.
As he spent more time away from Fairy Tail, Natsu found himself thinking less and less about what had happened. In fact, he hadn't felt this calm and at peace in years. The weight of his worries seemed to melt away with each passing day, replaced by a sense of freedom and tranquility.
Closing his eyes, Natsu allowed himself to simply be in the moment, savoring the feeling of the warm sun on his skin and the gentle breeze ruffling his hair. For now, all that mattered was the here and now, and Natsu was determined to make the most of it.
As the evening approached, Natsu decided to break away from his usual routine and explore the island a bit more. With a sense of curiosity driving him, he ventured along the shoreline, the sand warm beneath his feet.
Spotting a cluster of palm trees swaying gently in the breeze, Natsu made his way towards them, intrigued by the promise of shade and shelter. As he reached the shade of the trees, he found himself surrounded by a serene oasis, the rustling leaves providing a soothing soundtrack to his wanderings.
Deciding to further immerse himself in the island's natural beauty, Natsu decided to try his hand at snorkeling. He waded into the crystal-clear waters, the coolness a welcome relief from the heat of the day.
As he submerged beneath the surface, Natsu was greeted by a kaleidoscope of colors—vibrant coral reefs teeming with life, and colorful fish darting in and out of view. It was a breathtaking sight, and Natsu couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder as he explored the underwater world.
After a refreshing swim, Natsu returned to the beach, feeling invigorated and at peace. As the sun began to set in the distance, casting the sky in hues of orange and pink, he settled down on the sand, content to watch the spectacle unfold.
With each passing moment, Natsu felt a deeper connection to the island and its beauty. And as he gazed out at the horizon, he couldn't help but feel grateful for this opportunity to escape, if only for a little while, and find solace in the simple pleasures of nature.
At Alvarez, Vistarion
In Alvarez, Vistarion, a young-looking man with dark hair and black eyes stood in an office, dressed in a long robe with a white toga draped over his shoulder. It was Zeref, the Black Wizard, and he looked thoroughly bored as he gazed out the window.
For a while, Zeref remained silent, lost in his thoughts, until his attention was drawn to the paperwork on his desk. With a sudden burst of frustration, he shouted, "Fuck this!"
"I am Zeref, the fucking Black Wizard. I won't waste my time doing mortal shit," he declared angrily to himself, his voice echoing in the room.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and a man with long blue hair tied in a ponytail on his right side, red eyes, and a pair of glasses entered in alarm. It was Invel Yura, a member of the Spriggan 12.
"Your Majesty? I heard shouts. What has happened?" asked Invel, clearly concerned.
"What has happened is that I remembered who the fuck I am. So, I will no longer do these mundane tasks. I am going to do something fun," Zeref stated simply, his tone resolute.
"But, Your Highness, what are we going to do with the work?" pressed Invel, his worry evident.
"Ask August and Irene. They are used to this. Bye," Zeref said dismissively before disappearing from the room, leaving Invel to ponder the implications of his sudden departure.
Invel stood there, stunned by Zeref's abrupt departure and the weight of responsibility that now fell upon his shoulders. He watched as Zeref vanished from the room, leaving behind a sense of uncertainty and chaos in his wake.
With a deep sigh, Invel knew that he had no choice but to take charge in Zeref's absence. As a member of the Spriggan 12, it was his duty to ensure that Alvarez continued to function smoothly, even in the Black Wizard's absence.
Quickly regaining his composure, Invel turned his attention to the paperwork scattered across Zeref's desk. There were reports to be reviewed, decisions to be made, and tasks to be delegated. It was a daunting prospect, but Invel was determined to rise to the challenge.
Summoning his subordinates, Invel began to organize the workload, assigning tasks to the most capable individuals and prioritizing urgent matters. Despite the chaos of the moment, he remained calm and focused, drawing upon his years of experience as a strategist and tactician.
Back with Natsu
Another week had passed, and Natsu found himself lazily lounging around on the island.
"Ahhh, I might stay here for a few months," he mumbled to himself, soaking in the tranquility of his surroundings.
After idling for a few more hours, Natsu ambled back to the beach house he had rented.
Upon entering, he detected a faint scent lingering in the air. Though whoever it belonged to had already departed, the aroma remained.
In the living room, Natsu's attention was drawn to a massive box.
"What the fuck?" he muttered, approaching it with curiosity.
As he drew nearer, his keen senses picked up a familiar scent—the scent of a dragon.
Igneel.
With a mixture of excitement and trepidation, Natsu opened the box and discovered an envelope, emanating Igneel's unmistakable magic.
Natsu eagerly tore it open and began to read.
"My Dear Favorite Brat,
I'm sure you're bewildered about how I found you and why I left you to fend for yourself in the mortal world.
Allow me to explain.
You, along with four other Brats, were sent into the future.
That's it.
It took me, The Great Igneel, King of Dragons, quite some time to locate you. Enclosed in this letter is a magic that will transport you to the realm of Dragons. We have much to discuss.
With Love and Awesomeness,
The Great Igneel."
Natsu fell silent for a moment, processing the revelation. "What the fuck?" he exclaimed incredulously.
"I can't even try to deny it. Knowing Igneel, he would absolutely say something like this," Natsu muttered to himself, baffled by Igneel's concise explanation of being sent to the future.
Standing before the box, Natsu gazed at the lacrima radiating with dragon power. After a moment of contemplation, he made a decision.
"You know what? If he waited 400 years, he can wait one more day," Natsu declared resolutely before heading off to bed, his mind buzzing with questions and anticipation for what lay ahead.
With Erza
Erza's worry deepened with each passing day. Despite her best efforts to push aside her concerns, the absence of any communication from Natsu weighed heavily on her mind.
As the days stretched into weeks, Erza found herself grappling with a sense of unease that refused to be ignored. She couldn't shake the feeling of something amiss, a gnawing uncertainty that gnawed at her from within.
"Why hasn't he reached out?" she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with frustration. "What could be keeping him away for so long?"
Her mind raced with questions, each one more troubling than the last. Has something happened to Natsu? Was he in danger? Or had he simply chosen to distance himself from Fairy Tail for reasons she couldn't fathom?
Unable to find solace in the absence of answers, Erza resolved to confront Natsu directly, determined to uncover the truth behind his prolonged silence.
Erza's frustration simmered as she confronted Mira for the communication lacrima, her determination unwavering.
"Why? You want to call someone?" Mira inquired innocently.
"Yes, I want to contact Natsu," Erza replied firmly, her tone brooking no argument.
Makarov and Gildarts nodded in agreement, their interest piqued by the idea of reaching out to Natsu. "We have something to speak with Natsu ourselves, so a call might be a good idea," Gildarts suggested, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.
Even Laxus, ever the mischief-maker, chimed in from the corner of the room. "Yeah, I'm quite curious what he's been up to, hopefully into some girls," he said with a mischievous grin.
Gildarts chuckled at the comment, adding, "Yes, I hope those lessons kicked in."
Erza's expression twisted into one of anger as she shouted at them, "YOU SCOUNDRELS! YOU WILL NOT TURN NATSU TO YOUR DEPLORABLE WAYS!"
Cana, thoroughly amused by the exchange, couldn't resist adding her own comment. "Hey, what's the problem, Erza? Natsu is already eye candy. I wouldn't mind seeing what he can do," she replied suggestively, a playful glint in her eyes.
Erza shot Cana a glare, but the mischievous mage remained unfazed by her reaction, a smirk playing on her lips.
Despite the playful banter around her, Erza remained steadfast in her resolve. With a determined expression, she turned back to Mira.
"Please, Mira. I need to speak with Natsu," she insisted, her tone softened but resolute.
Mira nodded understandingly, realizing the seriousness of Erza's request. Without further delay, she retrieved the communication lacrima and handed it to Erza.
"Here you go, Erza. I hope you find the answers you're looking for," Mira said, offering a supportive smile.
Erza nodded her thanks and wasted no time activating the lacrima.
The Lacrima buzzed for a minute until someone picked up.
''What the fuck ? Its 3 in the fucking moring ?! Do you guys not sleep?'' Natsu asked, pissed.
''Sup Dude.'' responded Laxus amused and prideful in Natsu's choice of words which took most of the people by surprise.
Erza's astonishment grew as she struggled to process Natsu's uncharacteristic language. She exchanged bewildered glances with her guildmates, who were equally taken aback by his outburst.
Makarov, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, managed to compose himself enough to say, "Well, well, it seems Natsu's awake and fiery even at this hour!"
Gildarts, still chuckling, added, "Looks like he's not one for pleasantries when he's disturbed from his beauty sleep."
Mira stifled her laughter behind her hand before speaking, "Looks like we caught him at a bad time. Sorry, Natsu!"
Lisanna, a mischievous glint in her eyes, teased, "Natsu, you're even grumpier than Happy when he's woken up early!"
Despite the lighthearted banter, Erza couldn't shake off her concern. Clearing her throat, she attempted to regain her composure before addressing Natsu. "Natsu, it's Erza. We need to talk. It's important."
"It's really not a good time, but oh well, I was planning to call you guys tomorrow to tell you something," replied Natsu, his voice tinged with irritation.
Erza's heart skipped a beat at the thought that he might have wanted to talk to her specifically.
Laxus, amused, chimed in, "Oh? Did you do something, Natsu?"
"I'm gonna stay a bit longer... just got some info," Natsu explained.
Erza felt a pang of disappointment, realizing she wasn't the reason for his call. Despite this, she pushed aside her feelings and offered, "So what kind of info? If you need, I can come and help."
"No, it's personal. I'm not sure how much time it will take, and I don't think the lacrima will work there," Natsu said firmly.
Erza's disappointment deepened at his refusal, but she chose to remain silent, her concern for him overriding her own feelings.
Erza couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling in her chest. Natsu's abrupt manner and cryptic explanation left her with more questions than answers.
As the conversation drew to a close, Erza struggled to find the right words. "Take care, Natsu," she finally said, her voice carrying a hint of concern masked by a facade of calmness.
"Yeah, stay safe," added Makarov, his tone serious despite the earlier amusement.
"And don't forget what we taught you, do it as much as possible with as many girls!" said Laxus, laughing along with Gildarts.
Natsu chuckled, his voice tinged with sarcasm, "Yeah, yeah, then leave for the milk. Now, careful with Mira, Laxus, she might put you on your ass." He ended with a playful "Later, Bitch!" directed at Laxus.
Laxus couldn't help but laugh, amused by Natsu's response. "That punk," he said, shaking his head in amusement.
Mira, curious about Natsu's comment, turned to Laxus. "What did Natsu mean by that?" she asked, amused.
Laxus immediately denied it "Oh nothing." he said as if he was hiding something.
Erza's expression darkened as she shot a disapproving glare at Laxus and Gildarts. "Teaching Natsu such... inappropriate behavior," she muttered under her breath, her disappointment evident.
Gildarts, catching Erza's glare, raised his hands defensively. "Hey now, just a bit of harmless fun! Besides, Natsu's a grown man, he can handle himself."
Erza's gaze remained stern, but she said nothing more. As the others dispersed, she found herself lost in her own thoughts.
"That was a mess… How can I mend our relationship if I can't even get him to talk to me?" Erza thought sadly, her heart heavy with concern for her friend.
Feeling a sense of helplessness wash over her, Erza resolved to find a way to reach Natsu, to break through whatever barriers stood between them.
Unbeknownst to Them, this was going to be the last time they heard of Natsu in a while.
Back with Natsu the next day
Natsu stood before the box, the morning sunlight casting a warm glow over the room. His gaze lingered on the lacrima, pulsating with potent dragon magic. Contemplation weighed heavy on his mind as he deliberated whether to open the box.
Torn between curiosity and apprehension, Natsu's heart raced with uncertainty. The knowledge that Igneel awaited him in the realm of Dragons tugged at his soul, stirring a longing he couldn't ignore. Yet, the prospect of confronting the mysteries of his past and the implications of being sent to the future filled him with trepidation.
Taking a deep breath, Natsu closed his eyes, allowing the cool ocean breeze to wash over him. In that moment of stillness, he sought clarity amidst the tumult of emotions swirling within him. With each breath, his resolve strengthened, fueled by a determination to face whatever lay ahead.
With a decisive nod, Natsu reached out and grasped the lid of the box. With a steady hand, he lifted it open, revealing the contents within. As the lid swung open, a surge of anticipation coursed through him, propelling him forward into the unknown.
And suddenly... Natsu found himself in the sky... falling.
"AHHH!" his scream echoed through the air, but soon, it transformed into laughter as exhilaration replaced fear. The rush of wind against his face, the sensation of weightlessness—it was a thrill unlike any other.
As he tumbled through the air, Natsu's laughter rang out, a joyous symphony amidst the vast expanse of the sky. In that moment, he embraced the freedom of flight, letting go of all worries and uncertainties, embracing the adventure that lay ahead.