" Give… up… " Natsu woke up from the chilling voice and looked around and saw Gray and Makarov sleeping in their seats. He got off his seat and walked around the train, going from passenger car to passenger to see if anyone else heard that strange voice. As he continued walking through the passenger cars, he found nobody besides himself, Gray, and Makarov on the train.
"This is so strange. Where is everyone else?" Natsu mulled it over as he walked back to his seat. "Gramps… Gray… do you know where everyone is…" Natsu said as he looked up at them and saw they were both gone; even the stuff they packed was missing. Natsu tried to use his nose to sniff where they went but could smell nothing.
" Useless… " The voice only got louder as a dark haze seeped into the train and covered the entire train. The haze slowly built up and obscured Natsu's vision as it seemed like he was transported out of the train and into an endless void.
"Show yourself!" Natsu shouted as the voice started laughing. It sounded like the voice was getting closer, and Natsu tried to light his hands up on fire to see what was around him, but not even a spark of flame appeared. He tried to light up his hands repeatedly but to no avail.
"What the hell happened to my magic?" Natsu exclaimed as he felt something he thought he would never feel: cold. His body shivered as it seemed like the temperature around him dropped to insufferable freezing levels, "G-Gray… if this is you… this is not a funny… joke…"
" Joke? This is no joke… " Natsu turned around and saw something staring at him. It was like he was trying to melt him with his glare alone, "W-who are you…" Natsu quietly asked as he tried to keep his eyes open while staring at the figure before him.
" I am… your END! " The voice shouted behind Natsu. He quickly turned around to see a twisted figure of himself, with the entirety of his left side corrupted with a demonic appearance. He had no time to comprehend what he saw when the sinister version of himself charged toward him and pierced his chest with his claw.
Natsu woke up in a cold sweat, his heart pounding in his chest as he gasped for breath. The dim light of the train compartment blurred his vision momentarily. He felt a firm grip on his shoulder, shaking him awake. Blinking rapidly, he saw Gray kneeling beside him, his usual scowl replaced by a hint of concern. Behind Gray stood Makarov, his small yet imposing figure framed by the train's flickering lights, "Finally, hurry up, Flame Brain. We just got home." Gray's voice was gruff, but there was an underlying tone of relief.
Natsu took a deep breath, his hand instinctively moving to his chest. He could feel his heart thumping against his ribs, each beat resonating loudly in his ears. He remained still for a few seconds, focusing on the rhythmic pounding until it gradually steadied. The remnants of the nightmare clung to him, but he pushed them aside as he swung his legs over the edge of the seat and stood up, the motion sending a brief wave of dizziness through him.
Stepping off the train, Natsu squinted against the early morning light filtering through the station. He noticed Makarov watching him intently, a worried frown creasing his forehead, "What's up, Gramps?" Natsu asked, trying to sound nonchalant, though the lingering unease from his dream was still evident in his voice.
Makarov's expression softened slightly, but the concern didn't completely fade. "You looked like you were having a rough time there, Natsu. Are you sure you're alright?"
Natsu forced a grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, just a bad dream. I'm fine, really."
Gray raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Sure. So, Gramps, can't you just tell us how you will explain our injuries? I don't want Juvia to worry over me over nothing."
"Don't worry, Gray. If she gets suspicious, you can give her a cryptic answer, and if she keeps pushing… well, you know what to do." Makarov pervertedly answered as he was about to picture Gray and Juvia having sex before he was struck with an icy fist, knocking the perverted geezer out.
"You didn't need to do that." Natsu said as Gray created a copy and guided it to take Makarov back to the guild while Natsu and Gray walked back to Gray's home.
"He had it coming. I knew what he was thinking about when I saw his face." Gray replied before deciding to swap topics, "It's going to be boring with you gone. Who am I supposed to fight while you're away?"
"You have Elfman and Gajeel to fight. Wendy is also pretty strong, but you have to push her first before she retaliates. And, if you want a challenge, you can always challenge Erza or Laxus." Natsu answered as they walked through the empty streets.
"Elfman and Gajeel are more focused on their girlfriends than training. Fighting Wendy just doesn't feel right; it's like picking on a little sister who's nothing but kind to you. And fighting Gray or Laxus would end up with me in the infirmary." Gray retorted as they closed in on Gray's house, where they saw a figure standing on the front porch.
"Gray-Sama! Juvia missed you so much!" Juvia dramatically cried as she ran to her beloved and tackled him to the floor with a bone-crushing hug, causing Gray to cry out in mercy.
"J-Juvia! I can't breathe!" Gray wheezed, struggling to get free from her enthusiastic embrace. Juvia finally let go, fiercely blushing as she helped Gray to his feet. "Juvia is sorry! She just missed Gray-Sama so much!"
Gray rubbed his bruised ribs, wincing slightly. "It's fine, Juvia. I missed you too."
Juvia's eyes sparkled even more, and she clasped her hands together in delight before noticing how beat up Gray and Natsu were, "Are you okay, Gray-Sama? Why do you both look so hurt?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Natsu waved his hand dismissively. "Just the usual stuff, Juvia. Nothing we can't handle," he said, though the cuts and bruises on his face and arms told a different story.
Gray nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we had a bit of a rough mission. But we're fine now, just tired and banged up."
Juvia frowned, her worry deepening as she examined their injuries more closely. "Juvia wishes she could have been there to help. She hates seeing you like this."
Gray placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle despite his own discomfort. "Don't worry, Juvia. We're tougher than we look. We just need some rest."
"If you say so, I wish you goodnight, Natsu. Thank you for joining my beloved Gray on the mission." Juvia thanked Natsu, who gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
"No problem, goodnight, love birds. And Gray, don't forget what Makarov told you to do with Juvia," Natsu teased, a mischievous grin spreading across his face before he ran back to his house. Gray pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation while Juvia looked up at him in confusion, her head tilted slightly to the side. "What did Master Makarov tell you to do, Gray-Sama?"
Gray sighed, his cheeks reddening slightly. "It's nothing, Juvia. Natsu's just being Natsu. Let's just get some rest, okay?"
Juvia's brow furrowed with concern. "But Gray-Sama, if it's something important, Juvia wants to know."
Gray rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's really nothing to worry about. Just some... advice from the old man. You know how he can be."
Juvia's eyes widened as a noticeable blush crept up her face, the pink hue spreading across her cheeks and down her neck. Her heart fluttered as her mind raced with possibilities, each more embarrassing than the last. She looked up at Gray, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and bashfulness, her hands fidgeting nervously with the hem of her dress. "Did Master Makarov give you some special instructions about Juvia?" she asked, her voice blending hopeful anticipation and shyness.
"You're going to find out once we go inside." Gray whispered in her ear, causing Juvia to let out a squeal before getting muffled by Gray's hand, "Let's go inside my house first before you wake up any of the neighbors."
Natsu's walk home was quiet as he reflected on the nightmare he had during the train ride home. Nothing made sense; it felt so real yet absurd, "It was just a stupid nightmare. Nothing else."
Natsu repeated to himself as he closed in on his house. Once he could see his home through the dense forest, he saw a small light coming from the guest room, "Weird, I usually turn off all the lights before I go out."
Natsu quietly entered his home and saw two sets of clothing scattered all over the place. His brow furrowed as he took in the mess. "What the hell...?"
He could hear a quiet creaking noise coming from above, most likely from the guest room, and slowly made his way upstairs, where he could hear two separate voices talking to each other.
"O-oh, God… harder… harder~!" A girlish moan was the first thing he heard; it sounded awfully similar to Carla, but when he heard the second voice, his heart sank, "You don't need to tell me twice!"
Natsu kicked the door down, and what he saw would forever be burned into his brain; he saw Happy, his most trusted partner and someone who he considered a son, in his human form, holding the tail of Carla, who was also in her human form, in one hand as his other hand was pushing Carla's head into the bed. Meanwhile, Carla was just moaning out Happy's name in pure bliss as they both were very naked, with the only thing covering them being the blanket they had over them.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU BOTH DOING?!" Natsu shouted as Happy and Carla stopped, and before either one could say a word, Happy looked over at the half-empty bottle of wine they drank before they decided to have their fun and, without any hesitation, tossed it straight at Natsu's head. Thankfully, the bottle didn't break into a million tiny shards, but it did knock Natsu out as a bruise slowly grew where the bottle struck Natsu.
"WHY DID YOU THROW THE BOTTLE?!" Carla shouted as she pushed Happy off her and quickly looked for her clothes.
"WHAT ELSE WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?" Happy shouted back, hyperventilating as he looked at the unconscious form of Natsu's body when he noticed Carla rushing out of the room and downstairs, "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!"
"I'm getting my clothes and going back to Wendy's! You're the one who said that Natsu wouldn't be back for a couple of days!" Carla shouted as she hastily put her clothes back on before flying out of Natsu's home.
"And you're the one who wanted to continue when I wanted to stop!" Happy shouted as he lazily put on his clothes and flew after Carla, "GET BACK HERE!"
Natsu was left unconscious in the guest room for the rest of the night and only woke up when the rays of the early sun gently warmed his face, "What the hell happened?" Natsu groaned as he rubbed the bruise on his forehead before he noticed the bottle of wine right next to him and remembered what transpired last night. He picked up the now-empty bottle of wine and shuffled his way to the bathroom to analyze the bruise, "Those two have some explaining to do…"
As Natsu spent the next couple of hours cleaning the mess that Happy and Carla had made in his house, the two Exceeds found themselves inside the guild, sitting at the bar while they whispered amongst themselves.
"Why do you want us to stay here? Wouldn't it be better if we just hid for the entire day? Happy asked.
"Are you forgetting that Natsu is a Dragon Slayer and could probably smell us out if we try to hide? The best we can do is just wait for him to come and apologize." Carla responded as Lisanna heard them whispering and was curious as to what they were talking about.
"Is something wrong, Happy? Both you and Carla haven't been acting like yourselves." Lisanna asked Happy as she noticed how both Exceeds looked over their shoulders, almost like they were dreading someone to come through the door.
"Us, not acting like ourselves? I don't know what you're talking about, Lisanna." Happy nervously giggled as Carla added, "Y-yeah, me and Happy are acting totally normal!"
"Are you sure? You guys are sweating an awful lot." Lisanna pointed out as the doors slowly opened up, and the Exceeds hugged each other in fear.
"I should really let Natsu choose my missions for me from now on!" Nab smiled as he entered the guild with a large bag of jewels in hand, making the two Exceeds sigh in relief.
"Welcome back, Nab! Judging by the giant smile on your face, I suspect the mission you took went on was a success?" Lisanna welcomed Nab as he sat right next to Happy and ordered a small meal.
"Yep! That mission was tough, but it was well worth it." Nab said as he thanked Lisanna for the meal, and before he ate, he would look down at Happy, "Yo, Happy! Do you know where Natsu is? Maybe he could choose another mission for me when he has the chance."
"N-Natsu! Uhh, he's at home, sleeping. So, I'm not too sure if he could choose a mission for you today." Happy squeaked out in response.
"Are you sure about that?" a voice said from behind the two Exceeds, and before they could even react, they were grabbed by their tails and held high in the air. "Good morning, Nab, Lisanna. Sorry, but I need to speak to these two alone."
Natsu would take the two Exceeds out to the back of the guild before letting go of their tails and looking down at them like a disappointing parent, "Can you explain to me what I saw yesterday?"
"You caught us… having sex…" Carla muttered in embarrassment for saying it out loud.
"PLEASE DON'T KILL US! I PROMISE NOT TO EAT A SINGLE FISH FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH! I'LL EVEN LET YOU EAT MY FISH IN FRONT OF MY FACE!" Happy pleaded, tears and snot rolling down his face as he shook Natsu's leg for forgiveness.
"I'm not going to kill you. I just need you both to tell me why you had sex in my house." Natsu sighed.
"R-really?" Happy said as he wiped the snot and tears with Natsu's slacks before backing away, "Well, technically, it's our hou-OW!"
"You're not helping, Happy!" Carla grunted as she kicked Happy in the shin before he dug a grave for him and herself with his loud mouth, "We're sorry, but this idiot told me that you were gone for the foreseeable future, but we didn't plan on having sex in the guest room."
"Really, then where were you planning on having sex, my room?" Natsu jokes.
"Nah, we already had sex in there." Happy said as Carla placed her face in her hands while Natsu almost let out a blood-curdling scream but somehow restrained himself.
"Explain!" Natsu said, almost shouting, as he glared daggers at Carla rather than the cat, who let the cat out of the bag.
"Why are you looking at me!" Carla shouted but was met with no words. She sighed as she started speaking, "It was a couple of days ago when you were hanging out with Laki, so we decided to let loose and have fun in your room… and on your bed specifically…" Carla said, whispering the last part. Her face only got darker as she continued to speak.
"Alright… I should be mad at you, but for some reason, I'm not." Natsu sighed as he paced back and forth, trying to figure out what to say next, "Before I let you go, answer these questions. How long have you been doing this? Has anyone, aside from me, caught you doing this? And do you use protection?"
"Ever since we started dating. Only you caught us. And yes, why do you ask?" Happy unabashedly answered while Carla felt like digging her own grave if it meant she wouldn't listen to this conversation anymore.
"Because if it comes out that Carla is pregnant and they find out you guys did it in my house. Wendy, and I mean Wendy specifically, will be the first one after me and leave me on the brink of death before she heals me only so that everyone else can beat me, and that is not a joke." Natsu said as the two Exceeds nodded their heads, more so doing it in order to get this conversation over with.
"Alright then, just make sure I don't catch you both doing that ever again. Understand?" Natsu asked the pair as he slowly walked away from them.
"Aye, we promise to do it when you're not around!" Happy shouted as Natsu glared back at them, both of them quivering as his glare was on par with Erza's before he re-entered the guild.
"Happy, I hate you…" Carla muttered, her face still flushed from embarrassment, hoping to forget everything that happened today and the day before.
"That's not what you said last night." Happy retorted before he was met with a swift punch to his face as an embarrassed Carla walked away from him.
When Natsu returned to the guild, he made his way to the bar and ordered the most potent alcohol that was available to try and forget what he saw. As he took a sip of the alcohol, he heard some chuckling and turned to see Cana with a barrel of the alcohol he was drinking, "What is it, Cana?"
"Nothing, you just don't like drinking so early in the morning, and I suspect it has something to do with the two cats~" Cana said as he moved closer to Natsu and wrapped an arm over his shoulder, "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul."
"What makes you think it's because of those two?" Natsu asked as he took another swig of alcohol, hoping that the alcohol was enough to make him pass out and ignore Cana's prodding.
"Well, you weren't quiet about it when you snatched the two out of their seats and out of the guild. Speaking of which, where are they? Do you think they're doing it~?" Cana teasingly whispered in Natsu's ear.
"Not. Another. Word." Natsu threateningly said, which Cana ignored as she pestered Natsu for the next couple of minutes, only stopping when she wanted to drink from her barrel. Natsu was in his own personal hell with Cana acting like Satan as she kept on whispering scenarios between Happy and Carla that steadily got more risque as time passed. However, his hero would soon arrive when he noticed Cana pressing her body against Natsu's. He squealed as he wrapped his arms around them, crushing them in a hug.
"Are you two dating? No doubt about it; just look at how you have my beautiful daughter wrapped around your pinkie finger, Natsu. You're taking so much after me that I can't believe it! Soon enough, you'll be a lady killer just like me, but make sure you treat my darling Cana with respect, or else I'll make sure you never see the light of day ever again!" Gildarts shouted, tears comically rolling down his face as he tightened his hug around the pair.
"D-Dating?! Listen here, you old coot, I was just toying around with Natsu! So get your mind out of the gutter!" Cana shouted as she tried to push Gildarts off her back in embarrassment.
"Really, but you two would be so perfect together. I can just imagine how beautiful your children would be as they call me Grandpa." Gildarts said as Cana grabbed the barrel and smashed it over Gildarts head, who just ignored the hit and kept on hugging Cana and Natsu.
' Thank you so much, Gildarts. I owe you one, but right now, I need to escape." Natsu thought as he wiggled his way out of Gildarts grasp, finished his alcohol, and looked up at the man he considered a dad, "She's telling the truth, Gildarts. Also, when did you get here? I thought every time you came back, the bells would ring, and the entire city would transform."
"I came here late last night, so maybe that's why." Gildarts answered as he let go of Cana, who walked away, cursing under her breath about how clingy Gildarts could be, "Also, I heard about your secret, so how about we take this up the Master's office."
"Sure." Natsu said as he followed Gildarts into Makarov's office. He sat right next to him while Makarov sat across from them with a bandage on his forehead.
"Good morning, Gramps. Looks like you're feeling better." Natsu said, eyeing the bandage on his head and almost chuckling as he remembered the events from yesterday.
Makarov sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Good morning, Natsu." he muttered, thinking back to Gray's punch after he had a perverted thought about Juvia.
"You really need to be more careful with those thoughts, Makarov." Gildarts laughed as he leaned back in his chair before his expression turned serious, "Now, onto a more serious topic. Makarov told me about your decision, Natsu."
Natsu took a deep breath, feeling the weight of both men's gazes on him. "Yeah, I figured it's best if I leave the guild for a bit. I want to get stronger, not only for myself but to protect the family I have known for the past ten years."
Makarov nodded, "We understand your reason, Natsu. But this isn't going to be easy for anyone. How about this: we party in your honor, but we mask it as Gildarts completing his hundredth S-Class mission.
"That sounds like a plan. It'll be a great way to celebrate the send-off of Fairy Tail's most destructive mage." Gildarts said with a small smile.
"You're already leaving? I thought you made a promise that you wanted to spend more time with Cana." Natsu quipped, making them all burst out laughing for a minute straight before they calmed down, "Thanks, Gramps, Gildarts. I appreciate it. I just hope everyone can understand why I need to do this."
Makarov smiled warmly. "They will, Natsu. They're your family. We're all here for you, no matter what. Just make sure you come back to us."
"Of course. I'm not coming back as some super serious person who thinks the world is awful or some kind of super genius. I'm coming back as Natsu Dragneel!" Natsu declared as he stood up from his chair.
Gildarts chuckled. "That's the spirit, Natsu. Just remember to stay true to yourself out there."
Natsu nodded, a determined glint in his eyes, "I will. Now, let's get this party started. I'll show you all how to have a real celebration!"
As they all walked out of the office, Makarov got on top of the railing and cleared his throat. "Listen up, everyone! We're having a special celebration today in honor of Gildarts completing his hundredth S-Class mission!"
The guild members erupted into cheers and applause. Gildarts grinned and waved while Natsu used the moment to slip out of the spotlight.
"We'll have food, drinks, and plenty of fun! Let's make this a party to remember!" Makarov continued, his voice booming through the hall. Natsu could already see them rushing toward the bar and grabbing their alcohol to begin the party.
"Welcome back, Natsu!" Mirajane jovially welcomed Natsu before she eyed him up and saw the bandages covering his body, "Are you okay? Was the mission too dangerous for you?"
"About that…" Natsu said before remembering that Makarov promised to be the one to come up with an excuse for why he and Gray were so beaten up, "I thought Gramps told you already."
"He hasn't told me anything." Mirajane said, giving Natsu a confused look. Natsu gulped as he tried to figure out a way to escape this situation when he heard Makarov speak up, "Don't waste your breath, Natsu. Go celebrate with the rest of your family." Natsu nodded his head as he went out to find Wendy first before participating in one final brawl, leaving Makarov and Mirajane to speak for a bit.
"Can you tell me what happened that caused Natsu to look beat up?" Mirajane asked.
"Ah, you see, the mission we went on was a simple retrieval mission for an up-and-coming guild who had their guild banner stolen by some thieves. We found them, and it turns out their leader had some kind of magic that allowed him to copy someone's magic." Makarov spoke before getting interrupted by Mirajane, "Whose magic did he steal?"
"He stole Gildarts' magic. Apparently, they found him wandering the forest completely drunk and snatched his bag after they stole from the guild. So, as Natsu and Gray fought the leader, Gildarts appeared out of nowhere and defeated the leader in one hit. Unfortunately, Gray and Natsu were also caught in the crossfire." Makarov said.
Mirajane seemed to buy his lie, but before she went back to barkeeping, she decided to ask him one more question, "Master, have you noticed anything off about Natsu? A couple of the girls have been keeping tabs on Natsu, and they realized he hasn't been acting like himself for the past couple of weeks."
"Hmm, maybe you girls are looking at this too much. Today is the perfect day to unwind and relax. I'll handle the bar for the time being." Makarov said as he pushed Mira and the rest of the bartenders out of their station, ' So they have noticed Natsu's slight changes. '
Natsu dodged the flying bodies, furniture, and alcohol as he spotted Wendy with Gajeel and Levy. "Hey, Wendy! I need your help."
Wendy looked up, concerned. "Natsu! What happened?"
"Just banged up from the mission. Think you can heal me?" Natsu casually replied as he sat right next to her and allowed her to heal his wounds.
Gajeel smirked. "Don't tell me that you're getting soft, Salamander?"
"Shut it, Gajeel," Natsu retorted lightly. "I could knock you out if I want to. You're just lucky that you have to look over Levy."
Levy chuckled as the two Dragon Slayers continued to throw petty insults at one another, "You two never change."
Once Wendy finished healing Natsu, she helped him remove all the bandages from his body, blushing as her hands brushed against his muscular physique, "Alright, you're good as new. Just be careful next time you go out on a mission."
As Wendy took off the last of his bandages, Natsu got up and did some light stretching, "Thanks, Wendy. Where would I be without your healing?"
"Probably stuck in a wheelchair." Levy jokes, making Wendy and Gajeel while Natsu scoffs and goes to participate in the growing brawl.
As the brawl got more destructive, Mirajane found herself sitting at a table far away from all the action alongside Lisanna, Lucy, and Erza. They watched the chaos unfold with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Mirajane sighed, leaning back on the bench, "Maybe Master Makarov is right. Maybe we have been focusing on everything Natsu has been doing too much."
"Do you think the Master is covering up for something we don't know?" Lucy asked as she ducked in at the last second to avoid a flying body hitting her in the face.
"Possibly, but I'm not too sure anymore. Lisanna, do you have anything?" Mirajane asked as Lisanna was busy staring at Natsu lovingly before she was snapped out of her stupor when Mira pinched her thigh.
"W-what! Oh, I mean, maybe Natsu found himself in a lull. He's certainly acting like his usual self right now." Lisanna responded as Natsu kicked another unconscious body at their general area, "Even if it means he might destroy the guild in the process."
"Aren't you going to do anything, Erza? Things are starting to get more intense." Lucy pointed out that some of the mages started to use magic when they fought.
"Normally, I would. But, I might just let them have their fun. I'll only jump in when I deem it necessary." Erza said as she was about to take another bite of her Strawberry Cake when a beam of light struck her hand and caused her to drop her cake.
"I guess she now found it necessary to drop in." Lucy sweatdropped as Erza requipped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor and charged into the brawl, looking for the culprit. Erza's eyes scanned the room and landed on Evergreen, who was sitting on the second floor with the rest of the Thunder Legion and Elfman. "Evergreen!" Erza shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. "What are you up to?"
Evergreen smirked, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "Just enjoying the show, Erza."
Lisanna leaned closer to Mirajane and whispered, "This is going to escalate quickly, isn't it?"
Mira nodded, a cheeky smile on her face, "Oh, definitely."
"You're also not planning on joining in the fight, too, Mira?" Lucy asked as she was given her answer when Mirajane transformed into one of her takeovers and charged at Erza and Laxus. Everyone hid as three of the strongest mages fought it out until the late hours. Once the fight concluded, nearly every single member was knocked out inside the guild—all except for two: Natsu and Makarov.
They quietly exited the guild hall, stepping over their unconscious comrades. The night was calm and quiet, a stark contrast to the earlier chaos. As they walked to Natsu's house, the silence was broken only by the sound of their footsteps. Natsu glanced at Makarov, "I'm really going to miss this place," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Makarov nodded, his expression somber. "We're going to miss you too, Natsu. But this journey is important for you."
They reached Natsu's house, and Natsu turned to face Makarov. "Thank you, Gramps. For everything."
"I should be the one thanking you, Natsu. You brought so much life into our already crazy guild that none of us would change it for the world," Makarov responded, his voice thick with emotion. His eyes welled up with tears as he looked at Natsu, a proud and fatherly smile on his face. Natsu entered his house and returned moments later, holding a large bag filled with all the essentials for his journey. His eyes were filled with determination and a hint of sadness, knowing that he was leaving behind his family and friends, even if only for a while, "Before you go, you deserve this."
"Gramps… are you sure?" Natsu said as Makarov handed him an S-Class request. He unraveled the mission and read about a demon who had taken control of the town, Floralia in the southwest region of Fiore.
"Think of it as your S-Class trial. I have faith that you will be able to complete this mission." Makarov replied as Natsu placed the mission in his bag and waved Makarov goodbye.
As he started down the path away from his house, Natsu paused and looked back one last time. "I won't let you down, Gramps. I'll come back stronger than ever."
Makarov nodded, his heart swelling with pride. "I know you will, Natsu. Take care of yourself, and remember, the guild is always with you, no matter where you are."
With a final wave, Natsu turned and continued on his way, the weight of the new mission mingling with the warmth of his guild's love and support.
