(Edited 18/07/24)
I do not own Fairy Tail Hiro Mashima does.
Promotion With A Price
***POTD***
It had been just over a week since the closure of the Dragon King Festival incident, and Natsu's return from Draconia.
It had been agreed upon by all Guilds that no winner would be chosen for this year's Grand Magic Games. Instead, all proceeds that would have gone to the winning Guild went instead to the victims of those who lost everything in the battle against the Dragons.
And so, Fairy Tail had returned to Magnolia, its ties to the other Guilds in the country stronger than ever. The disaster had brought Fiore together in a way that none could have predicted, and it was all for the better.
However, things weren't all smooth sailing, as Natsu knew he had to eventually speak with Makarov and explain himself. He knew the old man wasn't going to expose him, else he'd have done so by now. But it was clear that Makarov was waiting for things to return to a sense of normalcy before they spoke.
"-aren't listening to me, are you?"
Natsu blinked, exhaling sharply as his focus returned to the present. Shaking his head several times, he remembered where he was. He was currently sitting at the center of Magnolia Park on a blanket, Erza and Wendy with him, as they had a picnic.
He was currently dressed in a simple pair of black shorts and a dark blue t shirt, wearing a pair of basic sandals on his feet. Erza wore a rather lovely sundress with a matching hat, her hair done up in a basic ponytail at the back. And Wendy wore a pair of grey tracksuit pants, a matching grey t shirt, and a black jacket over her shoulders.
All in all, it was a rather relaxed look for the three, who usually always found themselves ready for combat at a moment's notice.
"Sorry Wendy, my mind was elsewhere," Natsu apologized sincerely. "What did you ask me?"
"I was asking if you were enjoying the picnic," Wendy replied, before quickly avoiding his gaze. "I'd say I got the answer though…"
"N-No! Hold up a second, I am enjoying this," Natsu spluttered, shaking his head quickly. "My mind is just- Well, I'm still thinking about last week is all…"
"The Dragons," Erza asked quietly, taking a sip from her wineglass. "You can talk to us about it if you want?"
"It isn't really anything new," Natsu sighed in reply, as both girls shot him sympathetic looks. "I just keep thinking back to how dire the situation was, you know?"
"You fought five Dragons Natsu, of course you're going to be thinking about that," Erza replied in support, as she took one of his hands and linked it with her own. "You've got every right to think that way."
"Especially when Zirconis was a Monarch Class Dragon," Wendy added, shuffling closer to him on the blanket. "Every Dragon Slayer knows how much stronger they are compared to a regular Dragon…"
"Dragon Slaying aside, do you like the sandwiches Natsu," Erza asked, tactfully changing the subject as she offered him another one. "I-I know they aren't exactly traditional…"
Wendy giggled as Natsu took the offered sandwich from Erza. It was true that the sandwiches she had made were different from the norm, having been cut into hexagonal shapes so that she could fit over one hundred of them into their picnic basket using a precise stacking method.
Also, a lot of them had an overabundance of either meat, or something strawberry related on them. It didn't take a genius to figure out why that was the case either…
"I don't mind them Erza," Natsu smiled, taking the sandwich and taking a bite out of it. "I can tell you put a lot of effort into making them."
As Erza beamed from the praise, the sound of several younger kids calling for Wendy caught his attention. With a polite smile, she excused herself, making her way over to a group of twelve-year-old kids who had joined the Guild.
"You know, I miss being able to have more days like this," the Dragon Slayer sighed, taking a bite out of the sandwich. "All the fights I seem to get myself into feel worth it though when I can see that…"
Erza couldn't help but agree, as she leaned into him, her hat shielding the both of them now from the sun, as well as curious onlookers, adding a sense of privacy to their conversation.
"You've fought hard for us all Natsu, and you deserve a lot more days like this," Erza muttered quietly in reply. "I-I'm not very good at doing things like this either, but Mira tried her best to help teach me how to be…"
"How to be what?"
"You know," Erza mumbled, clearly embarrassed as she avoided his gaze. "I'm not a very gentle or effeminate person, as you know…?"
"Is that what this is about?"
"I know it's only been a thing for a short while but… I'm your Girlfriend Natsu, and I need to be there for you however I can!"
Natsu seemed genuinely surprised at the seriousness behind what Erza was saying, as the scarlet-haired Mage finally met his gaze with a firm one of her own.
"I can't stand by your side against many of the enemies we seem to face anymore. But if I can't stand by your side as you face down all these enemies that could kill the rest of us with ease…then I'll be here for you when you return, you know?"
"Erza… You don't give yourself enough credit," Natsu sighed, gently cupping her cheek as they pressed their noses together. "I believe in your strength Erza, even if you don't."
"Is that right?"
"I don't think you realize just how much stronger you are than most, do you? I'd wager you're in the top five percent of Mages in terms of raw power, and you always have room to grow and learn new things, right?"
"I suppose that is true…"
"The foes I face aren't normal. I'd go as far as to say that I myself am akin to the Ishgar Five, something that can't be considered Human…"
"Good thing for me that I couldn't care less if you were Human or not," Erza whispered, kissing his cheek as she pierced his heart with a gentle smile. "You chose me, Natsu… I'm not going to settle for anyone else."
Hearing Erza's words, Natsu felt his heart clench, her words striking him hard since he hadn't told her about how he was the greatest Demon Lord on Earthland. However, before he could even begin to recover, the pair were startled by the sound of someone familiar clearing their throat before them.
The pair gasped, separating, as Natsu saw Makarov had been standing in front of them, an amused look on his face.
"Am I interrupting?"
"Fuck off old man," Natsu hissed, clutching his chest as Erza hid her face using her hat. "How long were you even standing there!?"
"Long enough boy," the Guild Master smirked, before shaking his head and adopting a more serious facade. "I'm truly sorry to interrupt this, but I've got to speak with you in private Natsu…"
At Makarov's words, Erza lowered her hat just in time to watch Natsu's entire demeanour shift. His face hardening, his eyes losing that gentleness she loved to see whenever they laid eyes upon one another.
Clutching her hat tightly, her facial expression remained passive, though, to any who knew her, they'd have noticed the tightening of her jaw as she watched Natsu get to his feet.
"What's it about?"
"Wizard Saint business I'm afraid," Makarov replied, as Wendy came back over just in time to see Natsu getting ready to leave.
"Natsu?"
The man turned back to face both Erza and Wendy, immediately noticing the subtle shifts in their posture and the minute changes in their facial expressions. He felt his face twitch slightly, as he placed a hand on Wendy's head, ruffling her hair in an affectionate manner.
"I'm sorry… I can't refuse the call-."
"We know," Erza replied, the slightest hint of frustration in her voice. "Go, do what you need to do."
Looking between Erza and Wendy, Natsu nodded stiffly as he used Requip Magic to instantly change into his usual Wizard Saint attire, following Makarov out of Magnolia Park and off toward the Guild Hall.
The moment he was out of sight, Erza sniffed, prompting Wendy to immediately turn around to face her, eyes widening in surprise as she saw the usually stoic Erza forcing back her tears.
"E-Erza!?"
"Its not fair," Erza sniffled, clearly unhappy by Natsu's forced departure. "This was meant to be our day... Just the three of us!"
"…You know he's an important person-?"
"I know," Erza snapped, immediately regretting it as she instantly grabbed a hold of Wendy's right hand with her own. "Sorry…I-I know. I just-!"
"I know," Wendy whispered, kneeling down as Erza pulled the younger girl into a hug. "It shouldn't be like this, but it is…"
"I just wanted ONE DAY," Erza hissed, holding the younger Dragon Slayer close as she fought off her tears. "Just the three of us! Like a-!"
"I know," Wendy cut her off, as she managed to fully hug the saddened Requip Mage. "I know…"
***POTD***
Marching into Makarov's office, the old man was surprised when Natsu practically slammed the door shut.
He didn't comment on it, however, as he knew full well why he was angry. After all, this was supposed to be the one day he was meant to be free of his responsibilities amidst the countless others he was forced to slave away for the sake of the Council.
"This better be good?"
"It's a mixed bag," the old man replied tiredly, placing a letter onto the desk. "Its from Warrod. He's requested your presence at his home North of Elira Town to discuss the results of your match with God Serena."
"The Council has decided my new placement?"
"They have. Apparently, Warrod was selected to inform you of it," Makarov sighed, before meeting Natsu's gaze. "But before that, I think its time you and I spoke?"
"About?"
"Let's not dance around the subject Natsu, please? You're E.N.D, the most powerful Demon Lord that has ever walked this world. An SSSSS Rank threat on par with Achnologia and his Harbingers, and Zeref himself."
"…I am. Can't really hide it since you saw me regenerate using my Demonic powers, can I?"
"No, you can't," the old man replied bluntly, as he steeled himself for the conversation to come. "How long have you known you were E.N.D? I know for a fact you didn't have those abilities on Tenrou, so they must be a recent addition?"
"Truthfully, I acquired them in Scarlione when I was fighting Harbinger Famine," Natsu replied, eliciting a stiff nod for him to continue. "I made the decision to not speak of it to anyone in the Guild, and to keep it solely to myself."
"Due to the general stigma surrounding Demons?"
"That's one reason. The main one is the fact that I'm, as you said, one of the most wanted entities on the Ishgar Continent. Ironically, I myself am a Century Quest…"
"And no one else outside of the Alvarez forces know that you are E.N.D?"
"Jellal, Ultear and Meredy know, and haven't got an issue with it," Natsu replied, eliciting an understanding nod from the old man, since those three were ex Dark Mages, and more used to working with powerful entities. "But the main reason I hid it is for the safety and stability of the Guild."
"Yes, I can imagine the reaction the Council would have toward Fairy Tail if it knew that it counted the great Demon Lord E.N.D among its ranks," Makarov replied, shaking his head.
"A lot of our members are rather prejudiced when it comes to Demons as well," Natsu continued. "Elfman and Gray in particular hate Demons to the point that they could lash out if they found out the truth…"
"You're right. Elfman only accepts Mirajane because she's his older Sister. Gray on the other hand, well, he'd do anything he could to see you dead. Ur still doesn't have any faith in revealing her own secret to the boy, despite the fact that she sees him like her own Son."
"Yeah..."
"Truthfully Natsu, you being E.N.D changes nothing in my eyes," Makarov said, meeting the younger man's somewhat surprised gaze. "Despite being E.N.D, you're still the same Natsu I've always known. Furthermore, although it disheartens me that you felt that way, I completely understand why you opted to remain completely silent, and can't fault you for doing so."
"So, you really aren't mad?"
"No, I am not. We all have our Demons, yours in the most literal sense," Makarov joked, shaking his head. "I know that you'll use this Demonic power the same way you've used all your other abilities up until now..."
"To protect what matters," Natsu replied quietly, smiling gratefully toward his Guild Master. "Thanks gramps. I-I usually only use the power as a last resort, since I'd be hunted down if I were ever spotted using it in public."
"That's definitely the best way to go about it. And don't worry, you can count on me to keep your secret safe."
"Thanks gramps… I'm really grateful," Natsu smiled sincerely, as the older man waved him off.
"You know, I was mortified when I saw you get impaled on Phyrra's scythe? I thought that there was no way you'd survive what she'd done, only for you to immediately attack her despite lacking your own heart!"
"Heh. Well, that caught me off guard too…"
"Honestly, I'm more awed by the fact that you've gone from being a loud-mouthed brat, to one of the greatest men on Ishgar! The child version of yourself would have found you exposed in seconds, mouthing off as he tried to showboat each new scrap of knowledge…"
"That was a long time ago now, wasn't it?"
"That it was," Makarov sighed, before narrowing his eyes once more. "I do have a question though?"
"Go ahead?"
"Had you fought God Serena with all the powers you possess right from the start, how do you believe you'd fare?"
"Truthfully," Natsu mused, as he genuinely gave the question some thought. "Going all out from the start… I'd have demolished Serena with ease."
The old man didn't seem all that surprised, merely leaning back in his chair as he contemplated this new information.
"A bold claim. Though, I know you don't make claims such as that without evidence, so I'll take your word for it at face value."
"Are those all the questions you've got for me gramps, or should I head out to meet Warrod?"
"Probably a good idea to go and meet with Warrod," Makarov replied thoughtfully. "He's not stated exactly why you must go meet him at his home, but you know he rarely makes any decision without considerable thought put into it, right?"
"Right," Natsu agreed, remembering all the times he'd met the tree-like man. "Can you let Wendy, Erza and Elise know why I'm going to be absent?"
"I'll let them know you've gone to meet Warrod regarding Wizard Saint business," Makarov agreed, as Natsu swiftly rose to his feet, halting as the old man raised his right hand, motioning for him to stop.
"What is it?"
"I'm proud of you Natsu… I hope you still remember that?"
"Of course I do old man," Natsu smiled as he made his way toward the door, his hand wrapping around the handle. "You aren't exactly subtle about showing it, are you?"
Natsu smirked as he departed the office, leaving Makarov rather flustered and embarrassed, as he turned around in his chair to look out the window.
His eyes narrowed, noticing storm clouds on the horizon, and he hoped that his family would be safe. After all, storm clouds often foreshadowed trouble for them, and they could ill afford it as things currently stood.
***POTD***
"So, this is where he lives," Natsu hummed to himself as he strolled up a large, grassy hill. "Flora everywhere…"
Having spent the better half of the afternoon traveling to Warrod's home, Natsu finally arrived, spotting a quaint little cottage right at the top, positioned dead center, with many crops lining the hill on all sides.
Making his way through the various gardens without damaging anything, he reached the front door and politely knocked, only to receive no response.
"I hope Warrod's home right now," he mused to himself, as he knocked once again.
This time however, his knock sent the door flying off of its hinges, with it slamming into the wall opposite. Wincing, he poked his head inside, only to see Warrod sitting in the living room, an amused smirk on his face.
"Warrod?"
"Ke heh he! Hello Natsu!"
"You heard me knock, right? Why didn't you answer the door?"
"Ah, yes… Well, you see Natsu, there's actually a pretty serious reason as to why I didn't answer the door," Warrod replied seriously, his tone emphasizing the importance of whatever it was, as the old man waited for him to take a seat. "You see… I couldn't be bothered getting up."
Natsu nearly tripped as he was moving to sit down, the annoying laugh of the tree-like man echoing across the room.
"Hah, so funny," Natsu huffed, shaking his head.
"Heh! Messing with the young ones is always such fun," the old man sighed, shaking his head in amusement. "But I digress, for we've got actual business to discuss, you and I, don't we?"
"So I'm told, yeah," Natsu nodded slowly. "Supposedly its regarding-."
"Hi Warrod!"
The Wizard Saint looked like he was about to have a heart attack, as Mavis floated up through his coffee table, her eyes sparkling with joy and her usual beaming smile on her face. Natsu meanwhile, knew she'd likely do something like that, and was mentally prepared for it.
"M-Mavis!? What in the world are YOU doing here!?"
"You see, my spirit is sort of linked to Natsu's right now, so I follow him around on his adventures!"
The Wizard Saint narrowed his eyes, as Natsu revealed his modified Guild Mark, which elicited genuine interest from the old man. Dropping his glasses onto his nose so he could see properly, Warrod examined the modified Guild Mark from where he sat, humming curiously.
"You've given him two of the three Fairy Tail spells?"
"That's right!"
"I see… I suppose this actually makes my decision all the more fitting then," Warrod sighed, leaning back into his rather comfortable looking seat. "Mavis, I would ask you to give your input on the situation I'm about to outline, as the Fairy Tactician?"
"What's going on Warrod," Mavis asked, concern clear in her eyes as she floated to sit near Natsu. "Its rare for you to ever ask me to take something serious like this?"
"I'm aware. Before I get into the details of the situation, I should probably begin by explaining the current situation regarding your Wizard Saint status, eh Natsu?"
"Well, that was the original reason I came here, so yeah?"
"Simply put, the Council are up to their usual shenanigans once again," Warrod sighed, clearly somewhat annoyed at what he was about to tell him. "They have, in their infinite wisdom, decided that you must perform one Wizard Saint specific job for them before they're willing to fully reinstate you."
"Am I surprised? Not really," the Dragon Slayer chuckled, shaking his head. "Do you at least know why they're being stubborn?"
"Not directly. However, I've heard that God Serena was the one who requested you do this job before any sort of promotion…"
"Good to hear he's still as much of a prick as the last time I saw him."
"With all that being said, I do have one other bit of news," Warrod continued, trying not to laugh at Natsu's insult toward Serena. "I plan on retiring by the end of this coming year, as I'm growing far too old to be out there fighting on the front lines like the others."
"You want me to take your seat, don't you?"
"Well, technically no. I've spoken with Draculos, Wolfheim and Ur over the past week, and we all agree that you should have the Rank Two spot at the very least. So, the plan is you take Draculos' spot as he drops to Rank Three, and Wolfheim assumes my seat."
"Are you sure you're fine leaving the Ten though?"
"Of course I am," Warrod smiled in response. "I've been a Wizard Saint longer than you've even been alive, and done far more than most besides! No, its definitely time for me to retire and pursue my own projects…"
"Well, I suppose I can't argue with that logic, since you're right on all counts," Natsu smiled, as the old man chuckled in agreement.
"Very good! I'll leave the particulars of what happens after today to the others," Warrod replied happily, before abruptly shifting the tone of the conversation, as a vine slithered into the room with a rolled-up map in its grasp.
Warrod took the map and unfurled it onto the coffee table, as both Natsu and Mavis peered down to look at it.
"Moving on to the quest… Natsu, you're aware of a place known as Oak Town, are you not?"
"Oak Town," he hummed to himself, the name sounding vaguely familiar as he glossed over the map, eventually finding it, along with a familiar symbol. "Is that the Guild Mark of Phantom Lord?"
"The very same," Warrod nodded in reply, as Natsu met his gaze. "I trust you remember Fairy Tail's last encounter with them?"
"Remember it? I was the one who fought Jose and basically stole his title!"
"Indeed. You of course remember both Jose, and by extension, Phantom Lord's hatred for Fairy Tail, yes?"
"How could I forget," Natsu replied darkly, as he recalled Jose attempting to blow away all of Magnolia with a Jupiter Cannon, just to annihilate Fairy Tail.
"Tell me, has anyone fully explained to you the truth behind the animosity Phantom Lord held with Fairy Tail?"
"Uh… Honestly, not really?"
"Then allow me to give you a brief overview," Warrod replied, as two vines slithered in carrying some tea. "A long time ago, Magnolia used to be home to a Dark Guild known as Blue Skull. They routinely harassed the civilian population in the surrounding area, yet no one had the power to stop them. They were led by a man known as Geoffrey Porla…"
"Is that right," Natsu hummed thoughtfully. "I'm assuming you, Mavis, Yuri and Precht beat them?"
"That we did. Well, Mavis did most of the work," Warrod replied, as Mavis blushed slightly out of embarrassment. "Still so humble, even after obliterating over three hundred Dark Mages in a single attack?"
"Warrod!"
"Whoa!? Did you really do that!?"
"…Yes."
"Moving along," Warrod smirked, as Mavis pouted cutely at being outed for her Magical Prowess. "Moving on. After the destruction of Blue Skull, and Geoffrey being kicked out of Magnolia, he went on to found Phantom Lord, vowing that its goal would be to surpass and crush Fairy Tail."
"This guy sounds like a real piece of work?"
"It wasn't just him," Warrod sighed. "His entire family all were like him, all of them becoming Phantom Lord Mages, and all of them vowing to keep the feud going until their dying breath."
"I assume that was the case right up until Makarov and I killed Jose, right?"
"That's right. Following Jose's defeat, Phantom Lord were cast out of the Legal Guild system by the Magic Council. However, they refused to disband, despite Jose's death, and officially became a Dark Guild around two years after the Tenrou Island incident."
"Phantom Lord as a Dark Guild," Natsu chuckled to himself. "Why does that not surprise me? Still, I assume Phantom are up to something?"
"Indeed they are," Warrod replied seriously, as one of his vines grabbed a red marker, circling the entirety of Oak Town, along with a section of the forested region. "Everything in this zone is considered hostile toward the Magic Council, and the Kingdom of Fiore."
"…What?"
"Something strange has been happening in Oak Town for around a week," Warrod began to explain. "First, it was just typical Dark Guild nonsense such as Blood Mage rituals, Necromancy and banditry. However, last week, a powerful Magical Signature was detected for around thirteen seconds within Oak Town, which was then followed by the emergence of multiple Dark Guilds, all seemingly flying the Phantom Lord flag along with their own…"
"Really? They must have succeeded in some powerful Dark Magic, or gained some sort of leverage to force Tartaros to give them additional forces?"
"We're not entirely sure what's going on in there Natsu," Warrod admitted darkly, his eyes hardening. "What we do know, however, is that Geoffrey's Magical Signature was indeed detected within that thirteen second burst of Magic."
"Warrod… Are you saying what I think you're saying," Mavis asked quietly, eliciting a faint nod from the old man. "Good Gods…"
"What do you think happened?"
"I believe that the surviving members of Phantom Lord have summoned Geoffrey back to the land of the living as a Shade, or, perhaps even a Lich," the old man replied seriously, as Natsu leaned back into his seat.
"It seems I haven't got much choice but to do this quest, do I," the Dragon Slayer sighed. "Who knows what's happened in Oak Town since Geoffrey returned?"
"With that in mind Natsu, I'm going to ask something of you," Warrod continued, his gaze refusing to falter from the Dragon Slayer's own. "Due to the threat Phantom Lord poses to Fiore, I'm going to formally request that you head to Oak Town, and kill every last one of the Dark Mages there, including Geoffrey. However, if you discover any other descendants of Geoffrey in Oak Town, I want you to eliminate them as well, and finally put an end to this ridiculous feud! Nothing less than the complete destruction of Phantom Lord, and the Porla bloodline!"
Natsu was taken aback by how fired up Warrod was becoming. For the briefest of moments, he was witnessing a Warrod from a time long ago, back when the man was in his prime. He could tell that, had he been capable of it now, he'd have marched right on over to Oak Town and done the job himself.
"If you can do this for me Natsu, I can retire easy knowing that a major threat to both Fairy Tail, and Fiore, has been finally eradicated."
"I understand," Natsu nodded stiffly, as he shared a look with Mavis, whose eyes had completely lost their usual sparkle, replaced with a deadened, hardened gaze that would freeze any foe on the spot. "Is everyone currently within Oak Town a Mage?"
"From the reports I've received on Oak Town from the Council, Oak Town has become a Dark Guild stronghold. Not only that, it also says that a lot of other illegal Guilds such as Bandit, Assassin and Thieves Guilds move through Oak Town."
"Its like another Valtheim," Natsu sighed, shaking his head. "Understood."
"I thank you Natsu. If I could, I'd be right there alongside you in this," Warrod replied in a much gentler tone. "But I fear that I'd become naught more than a liability in such a large scale battle…"
"Its fine Warrod, I understand," Natsu replied, waving the man off as he rose to his feet. "I'll make sure to get it done. Which way is Oak Town from here though?"
"No need to worry, I'll use my Green Magic to help get you as close as possible," Warrod replied, as he slowly got up and shuffled out the front of his house, with Natsu and Mavis following close behind. "Just stand right here please?"
Natsu nodded and stood where Warrod instructed, as a giant vine erupted from the ground, Natsu balancing himself with ease so he didn't fall off. Looking toward Mavis, the First Master and Warrod appeared to be sharing a silent conversation, and it was one he wouldn't dare intrude upon.
It took less than a minute for Warrod's home to become little more than a speck in the distance, as Natsu finally decided to ask Mavis her opinion on the whole situation.
"Alright O Great Fairy Tactician, how do you think I should proceed?"
"I'm not entirely sure to be honest," Mavis sighed, as Natsu sat down on the vine. "Geoffrey was probably about as strong as a Wizard Saint when I fought him, but if he's a Shade or a Lich now, he'd be far stronger…"
"Well, how did you beat Geoffrey last time? Wouldn't that be a decent clue as to how we can beat him again?"
"Last time, I used Fairy Law and completely obliterated his Dark Guild right in front of him, then threatening to do the same to him until he ran away…"
"Oh."
"Honestly, I don't know what to expect when we get there, because there's something about all this that doesn't seem right to me? Like something's missing…?"
"Well, any ideas on how we can stop any Dark Mages from escaping?"
"On that front, I actually do have a solution," Mavis replied in a slightly cheerier tone. "You recall the time I had you cast Fairy Sphere, right?"
"Yeah?"
"I've been pondering a way to use Fairy Sphere as a pure Barrier Spell, designed to both protect all that lay within, yet not send its inhabitants to a pocket dimension."
"You've tweaked the design of the spell then?"
"I did, yes. However, in order to make the spell work, a number of its effects had to be changed. Firstly, the sleep portion of the spell was removed entirely, and it will not force you into another dimension upon casting. The barrier itself is also half the size, and it alters the spell from being a continuously draining type, to one that requires only a set amount of Magic."
"You have been busy," Natsu chuckled, as he felt Mavis press her hand against his right arm, the knowledge seemingly flowing into his mind on how to precisely cast this altered version of Fairy Sphere. "Huh? That is quite impressive…"
"Eyes ahead, we're almost there," Mavis replied, deciding to forego praise in favour of seeing the end result of her altered spell, as Oak Town slowly came into view on the horizon.
***POTD***
As Natsu closed in on Oak Town, Wendy sighed as she lazed about the Manor.
Erza and Elise had gone out to buy some groceries, since they had all but run out. Jellal, Ultear and Meredy weren't even in Magnolia, apparently having some sort of important mission to take care of near Crocus, which left her the sole occupant of the house.
"I wish Natsu were here," Wendy huffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she laid on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. "Stupid Council…"
The young Dragon Slayer growled, cursing the Magic Council under her breath for taking him away from them yet again. To her, Natsu should spend more time with them, his family, not out getting attacked by trash that the Council and their forces were too weak to handle.
Just as the Dragon Slayer was about to get up to find something else to do, her eyes narrowed, shifting slightly as she easily slipped into her Dragon Force. Within the blink of an eye, she'd flipped off of the couch as an explosion blasted the room apart.
Despite having dodged, she was still struck by the debris, smashing through the nearby wall and hitting one of the cupboards in the kitchen, the sound of shattering plates echoing throughout the house.
"What the Hell was that," Wendy hissed, rising to her feet as a voice cackled throughout the house.
"Come out little Fairy, and I won't skin you till later!?"
Wendy's eyes widened, as a tall, wolf-like creature with golden fur marched into the kitchen, a sinister smirk on its face.
"Found you…"
"What the-!?"
Before Wendy even had the time to contemplate what was happening, a second Demon smashed through the roof, forcing her to immediately try and jump out the window. However, the wolf-like Demon seemed to predict this, grabbing her leg as he spun her around, smashing her head through the various cupboards and even the kitchen sink itself.
"Round and round she goes, where she stops, WHO FUCKING KNOWS!? AHAHAHAHA!"
Wendy gasped as she was suddenly thrown through the upper floor, where a third Demon was waiting. This one was massive, and had tentacles in place of its feet. This was all she had the time to register of its appearance, before its meaty fist smashed into her stomach, blasting her through several walls where a surprisingly Human man stood, his arm outstretched as he caught her.
As Wendy coughed up blood, the other three Demons entered the room, with the wolf-like one pointing at the roof and blasting a hole through it.
"Sorry kid, nothing personal," the Human smirked, as Wendy tried to free herself, only to notice her body was rapidly being frozen over by ice that bore a reddish hue.
"KEHAHAHAHAHA! Lord Mard Geer will be happy with this," the wolf-like Demon cackled, as Wendy's vision slowly faded to black.
The last thought that ran through her mind, was of her in the park earlier that day alongside Natsu and Erza, as a tear streamed down her cheek.
"I…"
"We've got her, let's move before the others show up," the Human among the group said sharply, as Wendy fully fell unconscious.
The four Demons quickly leapt out of the hole in the roof, using their superior speed to quickly make a break for Magnolia Forest, most of the residents of the town unable to even perceive their speed with the naked eye.
By the time any sort of response arrived at Natsu's home, it was already far too late. And it wouldn't be until Erza and Elise arrived an hour later, that anyone would realize Wendy had been kidnapped.
***POTD***
Natsu currently stood behind a tree near the entrance to Oak Town, as Mavis scouted the area ahead for him. Judging by the strength of the guards at the front, he didn't think he'd have any difficulty getting inside the place whatsoever.
Sure enough, Mavis returned a few minutes later, informing him that the vast majority of the Dark Mages were indeed fodder, and that there wasn't any sort of sensory barrier around the town.
"This shouldn't be too difficult then," Natsu replied quietly, as he peeked out to look at the two guards, who seemed rather bored. "I should be able to breeze through this…"
Vanishing in a burst of speed, he almost immediately appeared between the two guards, slamming their heads into the brick wall behind them hard enough to shatter their heads into pieces.
Looking around the corner from the entrance, he saw a few more guards and immediately bee-lined toward them. Decapitating the first with an overpowered chop to the neck, he then slashed the throat of another, grabbing both and tossing them into some nearby bushes.
"So far so good…"
"Head to the center of town as soon as you can. From there, you can deploy the Fairy Sphere and get to work."
"Right," Natsu replied quietly, as he took off down a side alley.
Spending the next twenty minutes stealthily moving through Oak Town, Natsu had already racked up over forty kills, and yet the place was still packed full with Dark Mages. Despite their numbers, he still managed to make it to the center of town, arriving at a rather distasteful fountain.
"Charming," Mavis sniffed, clearly unimpressed.
The fountain had a statue of Geoffrey standing atop the bodies of the four founders of Fairy Tail, his foot specifically atop Mavis' head. If it wasn't any clearer that the Porla line hated Fairy Tail, this was the best possible proof one could refer to.
"This bastard deserves everything that's about to come to him," Natsu huffed, as he marched out toward the fountain, releasing his Magical Power as he prepared to cast his spell.
"Good luck Natsu," Mavis called out, before vanishing, as his form began floating off of the ground, startling many of the Mages present.
"I invoke… Fairy Sphere!"
Every single Mage within Oak Town immediately felt the effects of Fairy Sphere as it was deployed, with many cowardly ones who wanted to flee, hitting an invisible barrier, forcing them into the conflict alongside their more zealous allies.
Landing atop the distasteful fountain, Natsu watched as dozens of Dark Mages flooded the area, sensing that this was going to be an annoying battle. As he began to release more of his power, he saw Eliza standing atop a nearby roof, drinking some sort of alcoholic drink, clearly planning on spectating the battle.
"Cheeky bitch," Natsu chuckled, as his Crash Barrier blocked much of the initial weak attacks being sent his way. "Enjoy the show then…"
Vanishing from where he'd been standing mere moments prior, he appeared right in front of a Mage that was wielding a katana. Catching the blade between his index and middle fingers, he raised his free hand and flicked him, blowing away the upper portion of his body, claiming the sword for his own.
"Hello Phantom Lord! Sorry to drop in unannounced like this," Natsu smirked, effortlessly blocking a slash attack from a Sword Mage, before expertly dispatching him with a flick of the wrist using the blade he wielded. "Figured I'd remind you all the consequences of being a bunch of pricks!"
Spinning around, he fired off a ranged aerial slash attack with the katana, the blade shattering from the sheer force behind his swing. The attack cleaved dozens apart in an instant, as fire erupted from the fountain, melting the distasteful statue down to molten slag.
Diving into the crowd, Natsu began butchering them as he moved through them like they weren't even there. Blood stained the streets as he wielded his superior power with expert precision and grace.
Their numbers may have been seemingly endless, but that didn't matter to Natsu. To him, he wasn't even trying, the battle feeling more like a walk in the park, and he knew he could keep up the pace all day if he needed to.
But he wasn't here for the small fry… At least, not really. He wanted Geoffrey, and he'd slay every last one of the Dark Mages in Oak Town until he found him.
***POTD***
As day turned to night, Natsu still continued to absolutely butcher the horde of Dark Mages, unaware that he was being watched from afar.
Standing atop a balcony nestled in the tallest tower of the Guild Hall Phantom Lord once occupied back when they were a Legal Guild, seven figures observed his massacre of their forces.
None of them seemed to care about their troops being annihilated, or even about the damage to Oak Town itself. Only the man at the head of the group seemed to care, his head cocked to the side as he watched the carnage in morbid fascination.
"The Mage is from Fairy Tail," a feminine voice muttered quietly. "Is it a personal matter?"
"Of course it is," a rather cocky voice hissed, arms crossed as he surveyed the damage. "He's the one I told you all about!"
"We'll undoubtedly need to proceed with the outlined plan if we want any chance of killing him," a massive man in the back murmured.
"His power is clearly far beyond that of a Human…"
"A Fairy who can kill so casually is one we must be wary of…"
"Aha! Look at his pink haired, its stained crimson! Isn't that hilarious!?"
"Ladies and Gentlemen," the man at the front cut in smoothly. "We've been brought here this day, to play our part in the final downfall of Fairy Tail. We've been told to buy time, so that all the pieces our Lord requires shall slot into place smoothly. Vengeance shall be ours, but only if we follow his orders to the letter…"
"With the power bestowed upon us, we should easily be able to crush him!"
"Patience," the man at the front replied calmly, silencing them all with a wave of his hand. "Soon, Fairy Tail shall fall, and Lord Zeref shall rise, crushing all those arrogant fools who dared stand at their back!"
The others behind him all spoke as one, agreeing with the man at the front, as he turned around to face them all.
"Let us prepare… We must buy all the time we can using what Lord Zeref has graciously given us!"
The seven figures made their way back inside, with the leader turning back to face Oak Town, right as Natsu blew away several blocks of land in a single punch.
"You and yours shall pay dearly for every day that the Porla family was exiled from Magnolia, Mavis Vermillion," the man hissed darkly. "First we'll dethrone your precious Oberon… And then, we'll put Magnolia to the torch!"
With that, the man marched inside, his mind ablaze with dark thoughts on how he'd tear apart the Guild that had, in his eyes, ruined the life of both himself, and his entire bloodline.
He'd see these ambitions through, no matter how many times he had to die to do it.