The Fairy Tail guild hall was alive with its usual cacophony—shouts, laughter, and clinking mugs creating an almost comforting chaos. Yet there was a sense of something missing, a gap in the familiar rhythm. Natsu had been gone for days, longer than anyone could remember him vanishing without a word. A quiet tension crept into the air, an unspoken worry shared among the guild.

Erza sat at the bar, her brow furrowed, fingers absently tracing the edge of her drink. A feeling of unease churned in her chest. It wasn't like Natsu to leave them hanging.

"Do you think he's okay?" Mirajane asked gently, her usual bright demeanor clouded with concern.

Gray, lounging nearby, scoffed but couldn't fully mask the worry that flickered in his eyes. "It's Natsu. He's probably off punching something without thinking it through, as usual."

Before anyone could respond, the heavy wooden doors to the guild flew open with a resounding bang. Every head turned.

Natsu strolled in, his familiar grin in place, but something about his energy was off. There was a ripple of relief that passed through the guild, but it was short-lived.

Walking beside him, with her crimson hair flowing behind her like a river of molten fire, was Irene Belserion.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The chatter died, leaving a stunned silence in its wake. The air felt thick, as though time itself had stalled. Eyes widened in disbelief, darting between Natsu and Irene.

Erza's fingers clenched around her glass, her heart skipping a beat. Irene—her mother. The woman who had tried to kill her. The one who had left scars deeper than any wound.

Gray was the first to find his voice, though it wavered with incredulity. "Natsu... what in the hell are you doing with her?"

Natsu rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, clearly feeling the weight of the guild's eyes on him. "Look, I know how this looks... but it's not what you think."

Erza stood slowly, her eyes never leaving Irene. The emotions that rushed through her—betrayal, anger, disbelief—clashed violently, but she kept herself steady. "Natsu," she said, her voice quiet but firm, "explain. Now."

He had been bracing for this, but it still didn't make it any easier. He sighed, the words sticking in his throat. "Irene's... different now," he began hesitantly. "There's a... connection between us."

Erza's eyes flickered with confusion before they darkened, cold as ice. "A connection?" she repeated, each word dripping with disbelief. "With her?"

Sensing the storm brewing, Mirajane stepped forward, her face serious. "Natsu, you can't be serious. You know who she is. What she's done."

"I know!" Natsu shot back, frustration bubbling up. "I know who she is. But it's not that simple. There's something between us. Something I don't fully understand yet, but it's real. It's like... we're linked through the dragons inside us."

A heavy silence followed, the weight of his confession settling over everyone.

Irene, standing beside him with calm composure, finally spoke. "Natsu speaks the truth. There is a bond between us, something born from our shared heritage as dragons." Her gaze drifted toward Erza, and for a moment, a flicker of something close to regret softened her eyes. "But that bond is separate from... what we are now."

Erza's jaw tightened. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest as the word echoed in her mind. "Relationship," she whispered, her voice brittle. "You... and Natsu?"

Irene smiled, though it wasn't a smile meant to comfort. "Yes, Natsu and I are... involved."

The revelation hit like a punch to the gut. Even Gray, who had been tense with disbelief, looked completely blindsided. Mirajane covered her mouth in shock.

Erza's face paled, her hands trembling as they gripped her sword at her side. "Natsu... she's my mother," she whispered, her voice raw with pain. "How could you do this?"

Natsu's flames flickered weakly, his frustration turning inward. "I didn't plan this, Erza. I didn't choose for things to turn out like this, but they did. Irene's... not the same person she was when she hurt you. She's changed."

"Changed?" Erza's voice was barely above a whisper, but the anger in her tone was unmistakable. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "She tortured me, Natsu. She tried to kill me. And you expect me to believe she's just... different now?"

His heart ached hearing her voice break like that. He had never wanted to hurt her. "I'm not asking you to forgive her right away. I'm just telling you the truth."

Irene stepped forward then, her expression softening as she faced Erza. "I know I've caused you pain, Erza. And I will carry that with me forever. But Natsu has shown me things—helped me see beyond the past."

Erza turned her back on both of them, her breathing unsteady, her knuckles white as she gripped her sword. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to pretend everything can be forgiven just because he believes in you."

Gray, who had been watching the exchange with growing frustration, finally spoke up. "Natsu, this is crazy. You can't expect us to be okay with this. Irene nearly destroyed everything. You can't seriously think this is a good idea."

Natsu's flames flared, his frustration spilling over. "I'm not asking for approval! I know it doesn't make sense, but I can't ignore what I feel. Irene's not our enemy anymore."

Erza's voice was a broken whisper. "I trusted you, Natsu. And I never thought you would betray me like this."

Her words cut deeper than any blade ever could. Natsu's flames sputtered, the weight of her disappointment hanging heavy over him. He wanted to fix it, to make her understand, but no words came.

Irene, sensing the damage her presence had caused, sighed softly and stepped back. "I see I've caused enough pain for one day. I'll leave." She glanced at Natsu, her voice low. "You know where to find me when you're ready."

And just like that, she was gone, leaving Natsu standing alone in the stunned silence of the guild hall. The eyes of his friends weighed on him, but none more than the look of betrayal that lingered on Erza's face.