"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND NATSU?!"

Natsu winced at the old man's tone as he sat on the other side of his desk. After comforting Erza the best he could, Makarov practically dragged the boy to his office. As soon as that door closed, a hellstorm was about to erupt. And boy... it did.

"What were you thinking facing the enemy alone?!" Makarov's voice boomed, making Natsu shrink in his seat. "You are not invincible, boy! YOU COULD'VE BEEN KILLED!"

"Gramps I-"

"I'm not finished!" The old man snapped, cutting Natsu completely off with a glare to rival Erza's. "I knew there something off about you..." his fists clenched at his sides with gritted teeth. "When Gray told me you were killed... Natsu.. I had no words, I felt like a damn failure as a parent! But to my surprise, Erza comes walking out of that mine with your body without injury!" The master of Fairy Tail turned to face Natsu completely with a stern look, his lips curving into a thin frown. "You are going to tell me... everything. And don't you even think about lying. We saw everything you did out there..."

Natsu lowered his head, a deep sigh escaping his lips. Luck was not on this slayer's side as of lately, from Blood Dagger ambushing them, to the devastation of Magnolia, and now this. Even if he could go back in time, even if he was given that choice of being a player again, would he of done things differently? Would he of accepted death with open arms? The answer was the most obvious. Hell no. Erza has shed enough tears in her life, shared enough heartache to rival his own. He would not do that to her, never again.

His hands interlocked together, his rosy hair covering his eyes, masking any expression from the old man who sat there, burying his gaze into Natsu. There was no escape from this. Even if by force, Natsu would tell him the truth. Natsu raised his head to meet Makarov's gaze.

The old man's eyes widened only slightly, looking into Natsu's onyx orbs. He could see grief, guilt, pain, but not a shed of regret. It... scared him to say the least. Natsu was always a bright, happy, idiotic kid even growing up with the others. Sure they laughed at the concept of his father being a dragon, but the dragon slayer would never give up on proving himself to the others. Being as old as he was, he could see a hollow shell that was once Natsu sitting in front of him. This was someone else.

"I'm sorry Gramps..." Natsu whispered, clenching his hands tightly together. "I intended on telling all of you eventually, but not this soon. But as events have gone... guess there isn't a choice. I was only trying to protect you.. all of you."

Makarov narrowed his gaze with a quirked brow. A small frown ever so present on his lips as he leaned forward against his desk. "What do you mean protect us, protect us from what?"

"Long story..." he mumbled back in response.

"I have time. Talk," The master spoke in a a parental, stern tone. "Now."

Like a broken record, having repeated this story twice now, Natsu began to explain in great detail everything that happened up to now. From the mission they took that lead to his "death", to the powers he gained from accepting to be a player. He then explained what came with being a player. To say that Makarov wasn't floored was an understatement. Even if he thought Natsu was lying, looking deep into his eyes he saw nothing but sincerity in his tone. Natsu went on to explain Blood Daggers involvement, leading to an ambush that left Natsu with no choice. Sparing no deep details, he essentially admitted to murder, which made the old man freeze up completely, leaning back in his chair with a gaping jaw.

Natsu lowered his head once more, a lone tear running down the side of his face. "I'm sorry Gramps... I'm so sorry..."

Makarov was left speechless. The attempts that came to speak, came with complete failure. Natsu.. a murderer, a liar to keep secrets from his family. Was this even Natsu sitting in front of him? An imposter? He shook his head of those thoughts with the deepest sigh he could muster. His fingers dug into his brows in exhaustion, another sigh to follow. "Natsu... I.. I don't even know what to say to this."

"I understand.." Natsu replied in a low tone, clenching his fists. "I've brought shame and dishonor to this guild. I know you are dissapointmented in me, including the others. I understand if I'm no longer welcome to-"

"Don't..."

Slowly raising his head with wide eyes. The old man, a father figure to many of the members of their big family was in tears. His teeth were clenched tightly together, giving Natsu a sharp glare. "Don't you even begin to say that!" He stood up from his chair, bounding around his desk to stand directly in front of Natsu who could only watch him with wide eyes. "Natsu... I can't even begin to possibly describe what you are going through, the things you've been forced to committ," placing a hand on the slayer's shoulder, he cracked a small smile. "But don't think for one second you are no longer welcome here. As much as I'm upset that you accepted a deal with some... thing to get a second chance at life, you saved your family... Erza a lot of heartache. So stop this self hatred," his smile split into a grin. "It doesn't suit you."

Tears flowed out of Natsu's eyes as he lowered his head. What became a small whimper, became full blown sobbing. His heart tightly clenched in his chest as the emotions he long since bottled came flowing like a waterfall. Natsu, in the lack of a better term was tired. Tired of the fighting, tired of the struggles, tired of the pain. Some would think having an unlimited amount of strength would be the best thing to happen to him. In the beginning he thought it was, until he could feel it. A small shred of his humanity was slowly slipping away, replacing it with a growing hunger, the hunger to become stronger, the hunger for more, much more. It scared him, but what could he do? He made this choice, now there were consequences to come with it.

Makarov wrapped his arms around Natsu in a tight embrace, giving the dragon slayer a tight squeeze. "Let it out boy..." he gently patted him on the back with a sad smile.

"Let it out."

Erza sat patiently, her eyes glimpsing upstairs to Makarov's office often, before facing the bar top once more. It had been an hour since their master dragged Natsu into his office. Her eyes scanned over the room that once held so much warmth, happiness was now left cold, broken. She clenched her fist tightly over her skirt with conflicted eyes. Her thoughts lingered back on that moment, the moment he showed himself to the others. As much as he wanted to hide this, there wasn't much of a choice.

She felt so useless to stop him. Natsu was strong, much stronger than her and it showed clearly today. The power gap between them grew further and further apart. A smile crawled across her lips, another memory making it's way to the surface. That night... that passionate night. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that Natsu loved her, but she couldn't help but feel like a burden to him. How was she was supposed to be his partner, his lover if she couldn't stand beside him in this battle? All of it was placed on his shoulders. What could she do to help?

"A jewel for your thoughts, Erza?"

The knight raised her head to be met with her old rival. A gentle smile was on the bar maids lips as she slid over a piece of cake on a plate. "Maybe this will cheer you up a little."

Erza smiled gratefully, taking a fork in hand to scoop a piece into her mouth. "Thank you Mira..."

"Of course, Erza," Mira bowed her head slightly, before glancing upstairs with a frown. "I wonder what's taking so long up there."

"Master is probably chewing him out for the stunt he pulled," the knight replied with a deep frown, clenching the piece of silverware tight in her grasp.

"Yeah... I suppose you're right. I'm still shocked of what I seen out there. Natsu... Natsu was on a whole different level, but my concern is mostly on that... sword of his."

Erza grew stiff in her seat, pausing in taking another bite of her cake with a frown. "What about it?"

"The demonic energy that pulsed from it," Mira sported a frown of her own, rubbing her arm. "It was... so dark... so evil. Where would he even get something like that? Especially for the fact he could even use a sword to begin with."

The knight lowered her gaze, placing her fork down on the plate. Her appetite was long gone, replacing it with a sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. "I-I see..."

"You knew about this, didn't you?"

Biting the inside of her cheek, she averted her gaze from Mira who's eyes narrowed towards the scarlet knight. It was obvious clear as a day that Erza was hiding something, something big. But as much as she wanted to pry the truth from her, she couldn't. It would be useless in trying, but for now all she could do is offer a forced smile. "I know you know more about this... but I won't force you to tell me."

"I'm sorry..."

Before the bar maid could make a response, the master's office opened with only Natsu walking out. Erza immediately stood up from her spot, rushing over to her lover.

The dragon slayer cracked a weak smile. "Hey..."

She smiled in return, taking a hold of his hand in her own. "Hey... is everything okay?"

Natsu's smile immediately vanished, replaced with a deep frown. "I.. I guess," his eyes glanced upstairs for a moment before returning back to Erza. "Gramps just needs time..."

"It's understandable given the situation," Erza nodded her head in response, before cupping his cheeks with a small frown, her brows furrowed in concern. "But are you okay?"

"I..." Natsu leaned into her hold, desperately clinging to the warmth she brought to him. "I don't know."

Before he could react, a soft pair of lips pressed against his own. Natsu closed his eyes, immediately bathing in the feeling as his arms wrapped around her waist. Erza didn't care if the guild was watching, or the smirk on Mira's face watching the love birds share their moment. Natsu was the only thing that mattered. She could feel his pain, his sadness leaking off of him. It broke her heart, but she wouldn't give up, she wouldn't relent. The tight grip around her told Erza he needed her.

"I'm here, Natsu," she whispered against his lips, rubbing circles around his back. "I'm here."

Natsu was getting used to the fact of taking things solo, lone wolf style. He was gaining levels everyday, gaining new skills, new abilities that told him this was no longer magic he wielded. But he was a fool, an idiot that thought he could put everything on his shoulders, take on the whole world with a firey fist. He needed Erza by his side, not as someone to fight by his side, but to support him when he needed it. It's true, he wasn't invincible nor was he a god. He was a human, vulnerable but the system as it showed didn't want him to die. It needed him for what reason he didn't know.

They pulled away from the kiss, her hands still cupping his cheeks with that smile, that beautiful smile that made his heart flutter. "You're not alone in this, I promise you. We do this... together, you hear me?"

"Loud and clear," he replied with a small smile.

"Good, now what is the plan now? It's obvious something bigger is at play here. And what are we going to do about these portals?"

A true thought that ran through his mind. What could be done? Randomly appearing portals that unleashed monsters upon the world. They were unpredictable, no given signs when they were going to show up. But... there is one thing that could be done right now.

"We... we recover from this loss, bury the people that lost their lives today. After that..." Natsu clenched his fists tightly together, a a flame sparking from his right hand. "I'm going to continue to level up, gain more strength. And stop this... all of this, no matter what, consequences be damned. I'm going to kill these monsters and send them all packing," he cracked her a toothy grin, flexing his arm. "That's a promise."

Erza smiled, loving the fire that burned in her lovers eyes again. That's who she fell in love with, this was Natsu Dragneel. "Then I and everyone else are right behind you all the way. We may not be much help to stop those creatures, but don't believe we'll stand idly by while you have all the fun," a smirk crossed her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Natsu returned her smirk in kind, his toothy grin growing as wide as it could. "I would be surprised if you did. But for now," his eyes followed a screen that appeared in front of him with a hardened look. "I have a training quest to complete. I'll be back soon, I promise," he leaned down to peck her lips before walking away, leaving the knight with a blushing face.

"You and him really need to get a room sometimes."

Erza turned with a small glare towards Gray who stood there with a big smirk on his face. "Focus on your own relationship, and back out of mine Gray."

"I don't even have a relationship!"

"Juvia says otherwise."

Gray's cheeks grew red in color as he stormed off, grumbling as others laughed at the ice mage's misfortune. In a small corner, a familiar blue haired woman stalked the boy with a deep blush, hoping, wishing Gray would accept her affections someday.

The dark atmosphere that once clutched onto the members, slowly melted away. Erza stood at the front of it all, her smile being replaced with a stern look. "Listen up!"

Everyone's attention focused on the knight, some sweating under her terrifying glare.

"We must take care of the injured, bury the fallen that have lost their lives today," she frowned as did everyone else in kind. "I know what happened today is terrible, but we can't, we won't give up. Natsu is putting his all in to make sure that doesn't happen. It's up to us to support him. So I ask that you all stand behind him as I do, have faith like I do, and most importantly fight like I will."

The whole guild roared in unison, all left with smiles and grins. Most of them scattered at the tasks placed for them in hand. Erza turned to her team who stood next to her with smiles on their faces. At that moment, even if it was slim, even if the odds were placed once again against Fairy Tail. Erza knew one thing as her heart agreed in kind.

Natsu will prevail against this darkness.

No matter what.

A bit shorter this time around. This was mainly an aftermath chapter. I do hope all of you enjoyed your fourth of July, lit off many fireworks and ate plenty of great food.

Next time, Natsu begins leveling up at a speedy pace, pushing himself to his mere limits. Until a special quest is offered to him.

Side Note: Who is hyped for Sunday? 100 YEAR QUEST BABY!