The bustling town of Magnolia was as lively as ever, with merchants haggling, children playing, and guild members of all sorts going about their daily routines. In the heart of the marketplace, a diverse group of people had gathered around a small tavern, their conversation buzzing with excitement. Word had spread that Team Natsu, the most notorious team in Fairy Tail, had returned from yet another mission—this time, apparently saving the world from certain doom.
"I heard they fought a dragon the size of a mountain!"* exclaimed a wide-eyed merchant, his hands gesturing wildly to emphasize the dragon's imaginary scale.
"Oh, please,"* a passerby from Blue Pegasus scoffed, flipping his hair dramatically. *"Knowing Natsu, it was probably a baby dragon that he mistook for a mountain. You know how he is with exaggerations."*
"A baby dragon?"* a civilian interjected, laughing. *"Last time, I heard he mistook a giant chicken for a dragon! Burned half the countryside trying to 'slay' it!"*
The table erupted in laughter, each member of the group contributing their own wild tales and rumors about the infamous team.
"Didn't they destroy a whole village once just to catch a single bandit?"* a wizard from Lamia Scale chimed in, shaking his head. *"I think the bandit was more scared of the destruction than of getting caught!"*
"That's nothing,"* a shopkeeper added, leaning in with a conspiratorial grin. *"I heard that when Erza's around, even the buildings start shaking. They know it's better to fall down on their own than wait for her to smash them!"*
"And don't get me started on Gray,"* a Rune Knight said, rolling his eyes. *"My cousin works in construction, and he swears half his work comes from fixing the places where Gray decides to do his 'art' in the middle of a fight. Who needs a wall when you can have an ice sculpture of his abs?"*
Another round of laughter rippled through the group, but the conversation quickly turned more mischievous as a few less-than-reputable characters joined the discussion.
"Yeah, yeah, but the real fun is watching Lucy try to control those maniacs,"* a rough-looking mercenary from a darker guild chuckled, eyeing the others with a grin. *"She's like a mom with a bunch of hyperactive toddlers… except these toddlers can blow up mountains!"*
A former dark wizard, trying to lay low in Magnolia, leaned closer, his voice low but full of wicked amusement. *"I was there when they fought one of the Ten Wizard Saints. The guy was more worried about the collateral damage than the actual fight! Kept begging them to take it outside the city… like that ever works!"*
Everyone roared with laughter again, imagining the Saint's desperation.
"Remember when they took down Phantom Lord?"* a former guild member asked, unable to suppress his grin. *"They say Natsu punched their master so hard, the guy's still seeing stars. And of course, the building didn't survive. I swear, these guys have a vendetta against architecture!"*
"Vendetta?"* a rival guild member sneered. *"More like a natural disaster! They should call them the 'Fairy Tail Furies' instead of Team Natsu!"*
As the conversation continued, the tales grew even taller, the exaggerations more outrageous. But one thing was clear—Team Natsu's reputation wasn't just about their strength; it was about the sheer chaos they left in their wake.
A local innkeeper, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, shaking his head with a mix of awe and exasperation. *"You know what's really crazy? They're not even doing it on purpose! They just… attract destruction. It's like they're a magnet for mayhem. They walk into a room, and suddenly the floor's on fire, the walls are frozen, and the roof's flying away on a magic carpet!"*
The entire group dissolved into uncontrollable laughter at the innkeeper's words, each picturing the scenes he described.
Just then, a shadow fell over the table, and the group looked up to see a tall, cloaked figure standing there, their face hidden. The laughter died down as curiosity took hold.
"I heard something even more unbelievable,"* the figure said in a deep, gravelly voice.
The crowd leaned in, eager for what was sure to be the wildest tale yet.
"They say that Team Natsu,"* the figure paused dramatically, *"actually completed a mission… without causing any destruction at all."
For a moment, the tavern was dead silent. Then, someone snorted.
"Now that's just ridiculous,"* the merchant said, shaking his head. *"Next you'll tell me Natsu learned to ride a vehicle without getting sick!"
The laughter exploded once more, the entire group now doubled over at the impossibility of the idea.
The cloaked figure chuckled softly, then reached up and pulled back their hood, revealing a mischievous smile beneath a mane of pink hair.
"You know,"* Natsu said, grinning ear to ear, *"we can hear you guys, right?"
The group froze, their eyes widening in horror as they realized who had been listening to their entire conversation. Behind Natsu, Erza, Gray, and Lucy stepped into view, each of them wearing expressions that promised payback for the teasing.
"So,"* Erza said, her voice dangerously sweet, *"who wants to explain what they were saying about my 'vendetta against architecture'?"*
"Or my ice sculptures?"* Gray added, his arms crossed over his now shirtless chest.
"Hey, I like the idea of 'Fairy Tail Furies'!"* Lucy said, though she was clearly ready to summon her spirits for backup.
The crowd scattered in every direction, tripping over chairs and tables in their haste to escape. Natsu, Gray, Erza, and Lucy stood there, watching the chaos with satisfied grins.
"Well,"* Natsu said, cracking his knuckles, *"I guess our reputation precedes us."
"Let's go, Team Natsu,"* Erza said, a smile tugging at her lips. *"We've got a guild to get back to."
And with that, they walked off into the sunset—though not without leaving behind a few scorch marks, frozen puddles, and the faint scent of celestial perfume in the air.
After all, they were Team Natsu, and no one told tales quite like them.