"Dialogue"

"Thoughts"

Magic

Natsu would meet up with Kagura and Ultear, finding them outside of the tavern, and waiting on the main road. Before leaving, however, Natsu made sure to say his goodbyes to Vincent and Sarah, giving Sarah a hug, and Vincent a handshake, as he always did when saying bye to the two.

After all that was said and done, and Natsu had met up with Ultear and Kagura and began walking - the pink-haired slayer would finally decide to break the silence.

"So, what's the news you got, from the council? I recommend we talk about it now, cause once we're on the train, I won't be one for conversation." Natsu groaned, feeling sick just thinking about the train.

Kagura would sport a nervous smile, as she remembered her last time taking transportation, with the mage. "Ultear, I agree with Natsu. I can assure you that what he says is true." Kagura spoke.

Hearing Kagura and Natsu speak, Ultear could only nod her head in agreement, while thinking to herself. "Is his motion sickness that bad? This should be an interesting sight." Ultear thought, with a little giggle.

"What do you find so funny?" Natsu asked, his eyes narrowing at the woman standing next to him.

"Oh, nothing. Nothing at alll~" She purred out, giving Natsu a little wink, which only served to confuse him, and Kagura, more.

"Master, I do not understand you at all sometimes." Kagura said, bluntly.

"Glad to know I'm not the only one." Natsu muttered under his breath, though both mages would hear him.

"Anyways. Back to the important topic -" Ultear suddenly said, her expression much more serious than before. "According to my contacts in the council, there's been amalgamations, which is what these creatures are being officially referred to as, popping up all over Fiore. I guess it's been happening for a few months now. Though they don't know who's causing the issue, or why." Ultear said. "Well, I suppose they probably do, and just haven't told me."

Natsu nodded along with Ultear, as he held a hand up to his chin, while pondering. "For months now, huh? They've been an issue this long, and I've only seen two… that's worrying." Natsu remarked, with a serious look on his face.

"You've seen two?" Kagura asked, a surprised look on her face, as she did.

"Ah, yeah. The second one was right after I left Gracia, actually. Heard rumors of an amalgamation being spotted in Hargeon. Found it in the forest - it was this giant spider mixed with a wolf… it was actually deadly as could be. It was huge, but was nearly as silent as a normal spider. Though it feared fire, like most animals - so it really wasn't anything difficult." Natsu paused, remembering his encounter with the creature. "It did kill quite a few people, though. I also made sure the public was informed of the creature killing people - so the council will be forced to actually handle it." Natsu muttered, his fist clenching briefly, before relaxing as he calmed down.

"I heard about that, actually!" Kagura exclaimed, surprising Natsu and Ultear. "Mira approached me about it, the other day. She said one of her friends in Hargeon talked to her about it - and how some mage took care of it." Kagura said, with a small smile. "Well, she actually said a really attractive mage took care of it - not that I'll admit it, or say that one, out loud." Kagura thought, as she tried her hardest to fight off a small blush from forming.

Ultear nodded her head along, as she listened to Kagura speak, with a smile. She'd only recently noticed, but Kagura has been opening up a bit more, recently. She'd probably never have made an outburst like that, just to speak of something that casual, in the past. "Perhaps having Natsu around is a better thing than I thought?" Ultear thought to herself, with a smile. "I heard of that as well, from my contact in the council. They - weren't so pleased, of the outcome of it, but they're at least glad the amalgamation died." Ultear stated.

As he heard this, Natsu would simply scoff, shaking his head a little, before he spoke. "Tch. The council not happy that the public knows something of importance? How surprising." Natsu remarked, with a sigh.

"You must really not like the council, Natsu." Kagura commented.

Hearing this, Ultear would be the first to respond. "Who can blame him? The council is full of scheming bastards, after all. Only one or two actually care about the people of Fiore, after all." Ultear said, with her own look of annoyance.

"Is that where you learned all your tricks, Ultear?" Natsu asked, teasingly, as he gave the woman in question a side-eye.

Ultear, not finding this one funny in the slightest, began to lightly throw her fist against the man's back, over and over, like a child throwing a tantrum. "That was too mean! You take that back this instant, Natsu~!" She whined, in the midst of her tantrum.

"Okay okay I'm sorry!" Natsu exclaimed, as he tried to move away from the woman, only for her to follow and keep hitting him lightly.

Kagura, staring at the two, would smile as they bickered - very much like how Natsu did with Ophelia, earlier. Though she would notice people staring with confusion, as they walked through the town. "Master. People are staring." Kagura simply stated, as she fake-coughed into the back of her hand.

Hearing Kagura speak up, Ultear would finally relent, instead choosing to simply huff, as she crossed her arms under her bosom. "I suppose I'll stop. But Natsu can forget getting any comforting cuddles during the train ride." She said, showing a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Hearing this, Natsu would let out a groan, before smiling. "So you're saying I'm getting rewarded, for what I said? Works for me." He laughed, watching as Ultear's expression turned to one of mock sadness, hearing her muttering something along the lines of how he was meant to be sad, upon hearing that.

Kagura just blushed lightly, while her fist clenched in response. Noticing this before anyone else, however, she'd unclench her fist - as she was lost in thought. "Everytime Ultear says or does something like that… Why does it make me so sad?" She thought gently, while being lost in her own internal world. Kagura would soon be pulled out of her thoughts however, as they neared the train station, smiling at Natsu's display of childish whining.

"Do we really have to take the train, guys? It's only a week or two's travel by foot!" He explained, trying to convince the two to hear him out - albeit failing miserably.

"Natsu - no, just no." Ultear responded. No witty remark, or flirtatious undertone - just denial.

Natsu just sighed, his body deflating in defeat, as blue lines ran comically down his face. "Just wake me when it's done." He grumbled, much the amusement of his company.

Gracia, late at night.

The sounds of the train entering the station would ring out throughout the surrounding sections of Gracia, the whistle blowing and smoke bellowing being more than warning enough as the train came to station.

Natsu would find himself out of the train, hugging the floor out of sheer desperation to be off of the metal death trap; much like when he had first arrived in Gracia, a bit over a week ago.

"Oh land how I've missed you so!" Natsu exclaimed, tears of joy comically running down his face, as he laid there.

Walking out behind the dragon slayer, Kagura would see him hugging the floor, a look of bewilderment crossing her face, before being replaced by a simple smile.

Following not far behind Kagura would be Ultear, who couldn't help but laugh at the comical sight in front of her, giggling behind her hand, as she stared. "Hard to believe you're the same man who bested Kagura and Erza, back to back, Natsu." Ultear teased, as she watched him.

Standing up from the floor, Natsu would turn around to meet Kagura's and Ultear's gaze, as a grumble escaped his lips. "Hey, if you two suffered from that deathtrap like I did, I'm sure you'd be doing the same thing!" Natsu said, as he buried his face into the scarf around his neck, with another grumble.

"Yes yes, I'm sure we would." Kagura responded, a hint of sarcasm to her voice, as she was the first to begin walking towards the guild.

Ultear just smiled, as she saw Kagura's retreating figure, and heard her sarcastic remark. "They grow up so fast." Ultear had stated, proudly, much to the confusion of Natsu - until he realized she was just joking around. Though a sudden thought would pop into Natsu's mind.

"Oh! Ultear, is there a hotel here? I'm gonna need to get a room for the next few days." Natsu explained, as he and the dark-haired lady began walking, catching up with Kagura after a few moments of hastened footsteps.

"Well, there should be one down by the harbor. Though it's not the nicest place, truth be told." Ultear mused quietly, as she walked alongside the duo. "I would offer the guild, but I'm not sure.. not that I don't trust you or anything, but letting you stay for any reason other than you being injured may give off the wrong impression." Ultear sighed, unsure as to what to say.

"That's fine, Ultear. I can just stay in the hotel - I don't mind if it's not great. I'll only be sleeping there." Natsu said, as he waved the topic off.

The trio continued walking in an amiable silence, as they all were lost to their own thoughts, seemingly. Though as they walked, Natsu couldn't help but overhear a pair of footsteps following the trio, his eyes narrowing in response. "I can't get an accurate read on their distance… and I can't turn around to check. But they're quiet. Definitely trailing us." Natsu thought to himself. "I'll wait till Ultear and Kagura get back to the guild. Then I'll confront them." He decided, before being brought out of his thoughts, by Kagura.

"Is everything okay, Natsu?" She asked curious, having noticed the look on his face.

"Mm? Yeah. Just thinking about the DNA Splicer. I don't think I mentioned it, but I heard some information about him when I was in Hargeon. He goes by King, apparently. Has a few dark guilds working for him, too" Natsu explained, as he tried his best to remain casual, and not alert his eavesdropper of his attention.

"That's troubling news. Would've been good to mention it earlier, don't you think?" Ultear asked, with a teasing look.

"I - forgot, okay?" Natsu grumbled, with a faint blush out of embarrassment.

The trio continued their walk in silence, as Natsu kept his ears open for the person who was following them - noting that their footsteps were still being heard. They'd soon reach the guild hall, with Kagura wishing Natsu a goodnight, before heading in. Ultear, however, would wait outside for a moment.

"What's your plans for tomorrow, Natsu?" She asked, curiously.

"Well, I want to check out the lead I have. I'm heading off into the forest, about a mile out from here." Natsu responded, after thinking for a moment.

"I see. Would you like hell for this? In case you run into another creature?" Ultear asked, as she looked Natsu in the eyes, worrying being evident on her face.

"I should be fine. The first one only got me, cause I was so surprised. The Wolf Spider didn't even touch me, besides for when I let it." Natsu reassured her, with a toothy grin.

Hearing this, Ultear gave the pink-haired mage a small smile, before nodding her head. "Alright. If you say so, Natsu. Just be safe." She remarked, before saying her own goodnights, and heading into the guild hall.

"When am I not?" Natsu replied, jokingly, before watching the woman enter the guild. After waiting a few moments, he'd let out a small sigh. "I know you've been trailing us. What do you want?" Natsu asked, as he turned around, and got a good look of the person following them from the train station. As soon as he did, Natsu would instantly recognize him, the scent of iron entering his nose, as his onyx eyes met the man's red eyes.

"So that's the company you keep now, Salamander? I think I liked Sting and Rogue better." The man said, with a little smirk on his face.

"Gajeel. I would say you've got to stop approaching me like this - but I prefer this over you trying to bisect me." Natsu said. "As for my company - what can I say? They keep things interesting." He responded, dryly, before taking a few steps towards the man.

"Woah, don't give me that look." Natsu growled, before crossing his arms. "I'm not here to cause no trouble. Besides, I already know better than to fuck with you." Gajeel muttered, as he looked away, seemingly annoyed.

Content with his words, Natsu would soften up his expression a little bit, as he looked at his fellow dragonslayer. "Right. What did you want to talk about, Gajeel?" He asked, curiously.

"You're still chasing after this King dude, and his weird abominations - right?" Gajeel asked, his eyes narrowing lightly.

"Yeah, I am. Though I reckon you already knew that, based on you trailing me." Natsu responded.

"I just had to make sure, dumbass. I've got some bad news for you. Apparently he's based out in The Badlands. Specifically - in his lab, the Sunless Citadel, he calls it. What a Pretentious prick." Gajeel spat out the last part, as he stared at the pink-haired man.

Natsu would narrow his eyes in reaction to this news. "I'm not too surprised about him being in The Badlands - but he calls his lab the Sunless Citadel? I already figured he had one, because of the whole amalgamation thing - but he really does have a god complex." Natsu groaned, as he massaged the bridge of his nose. "How did you find this out?" Natsu asked, skeptically.

Upon hearing this question, Gajeel would grimace slightly, keeping quiet for a second - before sighing. "I heard it from Master Makarov. He wanted me to inform you, since I informed him of our last meeting." Gajeel stated.

Hearing this, Natsu would groan audibly - rubbing the temples of his head. "What next? Does Makarov want me to work with a band of his wizards, to stop this man? Then is he going to try to get me to join Fairy Tail, again?" Natsu asked, sarcastically.

"..." Gajeel remained quiet.

"Oh Mother fucker!" Natsu exclaimed, in annoyance more than anything else.

"Look, I know you've made your stance on joining clear - but Makarov wanted me to at least let you know the offer still stood. Though he does want to aid you in taking out King. He only knows if everything cause the council - likely to try and get Fairy Tail Disbanded in the aftermath, who knows with them." Gajeel said, with a tired tone.

"Who's he even gonna send? That ice mage? The Celestial Spirit girl? You?" Natsu asked, his tone irate.

"..." Gajeel remained quiet, once again.

"Unbelievable. Gray - maybe could handle this. But Lucy? Last time I saw her, she was still pretty green to the mage life." Natsu commented, as he walked towards Gajeel some more. "You're - you'd be the only one I'd trust to have my back, fully." Natsu stated, with a sigh.

"Tch. You'd be backing me up." Gajeel stated, with a bit of arrogance.

"And that's why I don't want to go with you." Natsu deadpanned.

"Look, I'm not thrilled about it either - but that's what Makarov wants." Gajeel stated.

"Then tell him I'm out." Natsu simply said, as he walked past Gajeel and began to walk down the street, towards the harbor.

"Wait!" Gajeel barked out to the retreating figure of Natsu, after standing there for a few minutes. "You heard about the prison break at the Prison of Thanatos, right?" Gajeel asked.

Still walking forward, Natsu would respond. "Yeah, why?"

"They broke Cobra out." Gajeel stated.

As soon as he heard this, Natsu turned in his tracks - making his way towards Gajeel - as he stared him in the eyes. "Why?" Natsu asked, simply.

"Protection, we assume. According to the council, this King dude is weak - he's not a fighter. Hence why he has so many dark guilds working for him, and why he'd need someone strong to act as his bodyguard." Gajeel stated, a small smirk forming on his face. "Still going to stay out of it?" He asked.

Natsu would be quiet for a second, before sighing. "What all do we know? Do we know the exact location of his Sunless Citadel?" Natsu internally gagged, after saying that name.

"No, we just know it's in the Badlands. Makarov wants you to help in finding it, though." Gajeel stated.

After thinking things through for a few minutes, Natsu would sigh. "Fine. But tell Makarov that he's keeping his mages out of this. I'll accept your help, but that's it. If he doesn't accept those conditions - then I'm out, and will go solo." Natsu stated, firmly. "I'm leaving in a week. You have until then to get me a letter with his decision. If I don't hear back from you by then, I'm leaving on my own." Natsu said, before he turned around and began walking away, once again.

"Tch. Whatever you say, Salamander." Gajeel muttered, before he turned back towards the direction of the train station, and began to walk away.

Natsu would be walking through the city of Gracia, watching as lights in the houses would turn off, one after the other, as he paced throughout the cozy town. Despite knowing where to go, and having passed by the hotel on numerous occasions, Natsu would for some reason never enter the building - instead he just kept walking throughout the town, lost in his own thoughts, after his conversation with Gajeel.

As Natsu was walking down the main road, for what felt like the fifth time already, his ears would perk up, as he heard the sounds of footsteps not far behind him - only to hear his name being called out, by a familiar voice.

"Natsu! Is that you? What are you doing here?" A feminine voice rang out.

Turning around, Natsu would see the familiar face of a certain Amaranth haired lady, not far from him. "Oh, hey Chelia. What are you doing out so late?" Natsu asked, brushing off her question without even realizing it.

"That's basically what I just asked you, silly." Chelia whined, as she shook her head. "I just left the guild. Finished a mission today, and just finished my report on it. I'm on my way home now." She said, with a smile, as she walked up towards Natsu, standing a few feet from him.

"Home? Do you not live in the guild?" Natsu asked, curiously.

"No. It's far too stuffy in those rooms." Chelia laughed, gently. "I have a small house with Wendy - I think I mentioned her to you, last time we talked." Chelia said, with a smile.

"Wendy… oh, yeah! The Sky Dragonslayer, right?" Natsu asked.

"Mhm! Her and I were talking about you, the other day, actually." Chelia said, as she started to walk past Natsu, who instinctively followed.

"You were? What would a tour guide so great as yourself be talking about me, for?" Natsu asked, teasingly.

Hearing that, Chelia's face flushed a little in embarrassment, as she turned her head away in a huff. "Just about how you fought Erza and Kagura, you meanie!" Chelia whined playfully. "Though I was surprised to find out she knew you." Chelia stated, with a smile.

Hearing this, Natsu would look at her confusedly - his eyes narrowing as he tried to think. "She knows me? I don't think I know any sky dragonslayer…" Natsu mused, momentarily. "Yeah, I'm not coming up with anything." He finished.

Chelia giggled at Natsu's brain fart of a moment. "She said you probably wouldn't remember her. She was there during the assault and take down of the Oracion Seis. She was the guild member from Cait Shelter, if that rings any bells?" Chelia said, with a smile.

"Cait Shelter? Yeah… wait, that was her!?" Natsu asked, his eyes widening in surprise. "I only saw her briefly, since I was busy fighting with Cobra - but really? I didn't think she was a Dragonslayer - I would've asked her about her dragon, if I knew that." Natsu grumbled, as he recalled his very brief run in with the blue-haired girl.

Chelia simply laughed, shaking her head slightly in amusement, as she listened to Natsu. "Well, you still could ask her. She's probably asleep right now - but I'm assuming you're staying in the city, for the night? You could probably speak to her tomorrow about it." Chelia smiled, before turning down the street, onto a smaller road - once again surprised by Natsu instinctively following her.

"Yeah, I might have to do that. Though I still have to get a hotel room - shit, I forgot about that completely." Natsu groaned, as he looked off towards the harbor, in the distance.

"You're - staying in a hotel? The only one we have is down by the harbor…" Chelia said, as she thought for a moment. "If you want, you can stay at my place tonight? It'd only be a couch - but it's way nicer than that hotel." She said, with a shudder.

Hearing this, Natsu would get confused and curious about the hotel in question. "Okay, that's the second time I've been told about how awful of a hotel that is - what's so bad about it? Like, is it really expensive? Dirty?" Natsu questioned.

"Yes and yes." Chelia said. "Though the main thing is the people. The owners are terrible, and cause issues all the time. I had to stay there once, and they charged me for my room, then refused to do a refund, or relocate me to another room, when mine flooded due to faulty plumbing." Chelia shuddered, at the thought.

Hearing this all, Natsu nodded his head along in agreement. "That does sound awful." Natsu thought, briefly. "You sure it's fine if I crash on your couch?" Natsu asked. "It's okay if no, I wouldn't mind camping outside of town." Natsu proposed, only to be shut down instantly by the look he got from Chelia.

"You will do no such thing! You can sleep on the couch, just fine. I'm sure Wendy will be confused in the morning… oh well, I'll just write a note or something." Chelia mused. "But it's really fine, honestly." She said, with a soft smile.

Nodding his head, Natsu would follow Chelia back to her place, arriving at the small, but cozy, house after not too much longer of walking. Entering the house, Natsu would see that it opens up immediately into the living room, which had an open connection to the kitchen, which was resting against the top left corner of the house. To the right was a small hallway, with three doors that he could see.

"The door at the very end of the hallway is the bathroom, if you need to use it. The right door is Wendys, and the left is mine! And I'm sure you've noticed the couch." Chelia giggled lightly, as she took off her shoes. "Wait right here, for a moment." Chelia said in a whispered tone, as she quickly made her way to her bedroom.

Natsu would do just that, looking around the small living room, as he saw photos of Chelia, alongside who he now remembered to be Wendy, with a white cat in her arms. "They look like a happy little family." Natsu mused, with a smile, as he continued to look around the living room.

After a few more moments, he'd hear the sound of the bedroom door opening, and see Chelia coming out, carrying a pillow and small blanket, which she put down on the couch, for Natsu. "It's not much - but there you go!" Chelia said, with a smile.

"Thank you. It'll do just fine, I promise." Natsu smiled softly, as he sat down on the couch, giving Chelia a thankful smile.

"I'm glad! I'd love to chat some more - but I'm supeeer exhausted" Chelia giggled, softly. "So I'm gonna go to bed, okay? We'll have to chat more, with Wendy, tomorrow!" Chelia said, with a smile.

"Yeah, for sure." Natsu responded, with his own smile, as Chelia ran off to her bedroom.

"Goodnight!" Chelia whispered to him, which Natsu heard just fine thanks to his enhanced hearing, as she shut her bedroom door.

With a small smile, Natsu leaned down on the couch, resting comfortably, for the most part, as he stared at the ceiling. "Today sure has been… interesting." Natsu mused, thinking about everything that happened, despite most of his day being spent on a train. He found himself thinking back to his encounter with Gajeel, hearing about how Cobra had been let out - and how his stomach dropped, the second Gajeel had said those words.

"What the hell am I getting myself into?" Natsu said aloud, as he closed his eyes, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Thank you all for reading! I appreciate the continued support, so much, and hope you've all enjoyed it. Until next time!