Author's note : Hi there!
Well, it's been about a month, so let's dive into the next part!
We're getting into what I would call the 'exposition' chapters. These are mainly to set up the framework and characters that the story will revolve around now that the introduction (Natsu's departure and its aftermath) is behind us. I hope the few points you learn here will still keep you hooked.
There's something I would like to ask you about the name of one of my character. Actually, there's a character later on who has the name of a character from Kingdom Hearts, and I was wondering if that would be an issue. When I first started writing this fic, before I rewrote it, I was 15, and at that time I had NO idea what I was going to do with it. I wrote without any real intention of making something original or even good, so I borrowed tons of names from other things I liked. But now that my story has grown so much, I'm trying to make it an entirely original creation and I have a more mature approach to my work.
To get to the point, I've changed a lot of names, but there are some that are very hard for me to change because I've always been used to seeing that character with that name and I can't find a name that satisfies me. One of my character is named Xehanort, and my question is: is that really a problem or not? Thanks in advance for your responses, it would really help me to have your opinion!
One last thing, I'll say it at the end too, but you can follow me on twitter Gzou Fanfics, until now I was only publishing things in French but I'll start to do it in English since I'm translating the story. On this tweeter on my profile you'll find a linktree with other links like a discord server. It was mainly french until now but I'll create channel for english people if you want to come and talk ^^.
We'll talk more about this later. For now, enjoy this chapter :)
xxXCrimson-Wolf-MoonXxx : Hey! I'm so happy to see you on this chapter too! I'm really glad you liked it and that you felt transported by the characters' emotions. After rereading certain passages for checks so many times, I sometimes lose track since I don't necessarily feel much anymore after the 15th time.
Anyway, I think you misunderstood the question at the end (or maybe it's just that my wording wasn't clear, since English isn't my first language...). I wasn't asking which character is the most affected by the situation, but rather which character you felt the most affected by, the one who made you feel the most. That's why I mentioned Makarov, because unlike you, I know why he's not saying anything and it breaks my heart.
But no matter, in any case, Gray and Erza are indeed going through a lot. I noticed that Lucy was completely left out of your analysis xD. Not sure if that was intentional or just an oversight ^^.
Thanks again so much for your review, and I'm EXTREMELY excited to hear your thoughts on this one—I can hardly wait! As for the alternate passage from chapter 2, I have a lot to write for the next chapters, but maybe I'll get to it someday! Or I might save the idea for another fic, we'll see.
Hope to see you soon! And thanks again!
kuroshiragami0 : Hi, I'm happy to see you again ! Glad you liked it, sorry I can't say much about when we're going to see Natsu's POV without spoiling, but when it'll happen I think you'll like it ^^. I'm so impatient to get further into the story T_T. But those exposition chapters are necessary to fully understand the plot, I'm trying to make them as interesting as possible. This one is one of them, let me know if you found it interesting or not. I think you'll like the end of it hehehe.
See you soon and thank you for your support !
TheLaughingStalk : Welcome back, thank you for your review ! Yes I know EXACTLY what you mean, usually those kinds of stories are quickly noticeable and I just skip to another one right away. Anyway, I hope you'll like this chapter, and I'm looking forward for your thoughts about it !
Lunaris : Hi ! You have no idea how your reviews have delighted me ! I'll answer all three reviews here :). I'm happy you were touched by Makarov and Natsu's interaction in the first chapter, I like this moment too ^^. I tried to make Makarov's paternal side as palpable as possible because I find it incredibly touching. I'm glad Erza's reaction in chapter 2 didn't seem out of character to you. So far, everyone has been satisfied, so that's perfect! You're the first to mention the end of the chapter from Natsu's perspective. When I reread it, I also feel particularly moved by the moment when Natsu really starts to struggle with the succession of goodbyes. I'm glad I conveyed his emotions well enough to make it poignant.
As for chapter 3, again, you're the only one who mentioned Natsu burning his own house, and I'm glad you liked it. Well, I can't tell you for obvious reasons when you'll find out why he left, but it will definitely build up.
In any case, your impatience in each review was contagious. I kept refreshing the page to see if there was another review ^^. Thank you so much, and I hope you'll enjoy this chapter too!
Chapter 4: Shadows of the past
The search began the very next day. Lucy, Gray, and Erza headed to the cave that Natsu and Happy had been commissioned to explore, only to find it had collapsed, burying any potential clues. The only thing they discovered was numerous streaks of dried blood, which, upon analysis, turned out to be Natsu's. This revelation was unfortunately useless, serving only to confuse them further by highlighting the extreme suffering his wounds had caused. To leave behind such significant traces of blood, the journey back must have been torture. No wonder he had fainted upon arrival.
Finally, they visited the neighboring villages in case Natsu and Happy had stopped there, but none of the inhabitants had seen or heard of them. They had to return to the guild, empty-handed and demoralized.
Meanwhile, Mirajane and Elfman returned to the spot where they had found the unconscious bodies of Gray and Erza. They hoped to find some detail the night might have concealed in the place where Natsu and Happy were last seen, but as Erza had predicted, the rain had washed away all traces. They decided to take the nearby forest path and followed it as far as they could, in vain hope of finding something that might lead them in the right direction.
The Shadow Gear team took on the task of researching in the country's largest library, located in Crocus. For several weeks, they combed through books and documents on every subject related to Natsu, the Dragon Slayers, and even Igneel. Despite Levy's intelligence and extensive knowledge, the trio returned empty-handed.
Once they returned from their respective missions and were briefed on the situation, Juvia and Gajeel went their separate ways. The water mage had to use all her willpower not to insist on accompanying Gray, and agreed to team up with Cana for their own expeditions. As for the Iron Dragon Slayer, he seemed particularly concerned about his fellow's departure but decided not to join any group. He wasn't at the guild most of the time, and although he never admitted the reasons for his absences, it was likely he was just as determined as them to find Natsu.
Excluding Makarov, who was rarely seen now, only Macao and Wakaba hadn't taken part in any research. Romeo's father spent most of his time holed up at home, while his friend and his son tried everything to understand his behavior and get him to confide what was tormenting him. Each time, they hit an insurmountable wall and couldn't get a single explanation, weighing heavily on their hearts and especially Romeo's.
The boy eventually gave up hope of comforting his father. After venting his anger and despair, he never returned to see him again. Makarov agreed to let him stay at the guild until the situation improved, but his attempts to convince Romeo not to join the search and put himself in danger were unsuccessful. Natsu had always been Romeo's greatest inspiration and role model, and he refused to let his father's actions distract him from what was most important. He couldn't accept Makarov's decision to do nothing to bring Natsu back and help him face what had compelled him to leave, no matter how much he tried to justify it. He joined the search groups despite his young age, even though he wasn't allowed to go if there was any risk of danger.
The escapades went on and on. Relentlessly, day after day, the Fairy Tail mages scoured the country, moving heaven and earth for even the smallest clue about Natsu and Happy, but found not the slightest trace.
Until the day they realized they had stopped living.
As time passed, the intensity and frequency of their search dwindled, along with their hopes. Money became scarce, and the exorbitant sums spent on their journeys compelled them to resume the missions that had piled up on the guild's noticeboard. They had no alternative but to revert to the routine they had temporarily set aside, despite the profound impact of their friends' demoralizing absence.
Week after week passed, turning into months. One hundred and fifty days after their departure, Natsu and Happy were still nowhere to be found.
The guild finally regained a semblance of normalcy, though it hadn't yet regained its former vibrancy. Laughter and exclamations from its occupants echoed enthusiastically through the surrounding streets.
Amidst the constant din of the building, Gajeel struggled to come to terms with the gloomy and trying days he was forced to endure. Since discovering Natsu's departure after his solo mission, he had alternated between intense research and dull passivity, exhausting him both physically and emotionally. The more time passed, the more the doubts caused by Natsu's absence turned into tragic certainties.
The wheels of destiny were in motion.
This meant that Natsu had embarked alone on a losing battle, the outcome of which would have grave consequences no matter what. A battle in which he was meant to participate, like all the Dragon Slayers in the world, even if he might be the only one already aware of it. He knew exactly the role he had to play in this sordid affair, but for now, he hadn't found the courage to make the ultimate decision that would plunge his life into unprecedented emotional chaos. Moreover, he had no idea how he was going to catch up with Natsu, wherever he might be.
Even though he always refused to let any of his emotions show, he couldn't stand the uncomfortable position of lying to the whole guild while struggling so much to suppress his own doubts. Pretending to know nothing when he knew everything they were desperately trying to discover consumed him with guilt. Every time he watched Natsu's team leave, struggling with sadness and despair after each failure, only to return empty-handed and even more demoralized, he had to resist the irresistible urge to tell them everything.
While ensuring no one suspected his intentions, he had spent the last five months searching for the fire mage without success, exponentially intensifying his anxiety. Not even his knowledge of the situation had enabled him to find him or even determine where he had gone, and he was terrified of arriving too late.
Even Makarov had refused to reveal anything about his location, despite knowing about the Dragon Slayers involvement in the affair. The master was likely afraid of the dangerous acceleration Gajeel's involvement would cause in Natsu's plans, and this was his only way to delay the disastrous fate awaiting his beloved son. He had kept silent to protect him, to influence the only aspect of this tragedy he could still control. It was clumsy and pointless, a desperate act, but Gajeel couldn't blame him.
This way, the master remained unaware of how much he knew about the affair and of what he had learned from Metalicana years ago. Truths that no one else knew, including Natsu himself, and weighing on his shoulders for nearly fifteen years.
Natsu was his lifelong goal and one of the few people whose respect mattered to him, the only one who inspired such a will to surpass himself. Beyond his duty to help, he couldn't leave him to face the greatest threat of his existence alone. He would do everything in his power to find Natsu and help him carry his burden.
The tragic event of his departure still lingered in everyone's memories, but over time, the guild's mages had come to terms with it, realizing that dwelling on hardships they couldn't change wouldn't lead them anywhere. This didn't mean they had abandoned all hope and resigned themselves to fate, but they admitted that there was no point in keeping their lives on hold.
They had to move forward.
They could never pretend that Natsu and Happy's absence hadn't changed anything, but this mindset allowed them to cope with the loss of their friends. Even though the memories of them remained central to everyone's thoughts, especially Gray, Lucy, and Erza.
Unlike the others, the trio never recovered and continued their relentless search. Makarov had more or less forced them to promise not to seek out Natsu and Happy and to carry on with their lives, but they had never intended to obey him. Not a day went by without them trying to uncover their whereabouts.
Deep down, they were certain that the entire guild, including Makarov, knew their sole purpose in life was to find Natsu. Yet, they took great care to avoid suspicion, meticulously choosing missions that could potentially aid their search. Despite their efforts, every attempt to gather information had ended in bitter failure. The scant leads they managed to uncover proved fruitless, tormenting their nights with sleepless anxiety. Gradually, their hope of ever seeing him again dwindled, leaving them to wonder if he was even alive.
Fortunately, Makarov had never resorted to drastic measures to discipline them, instead patiently waiting for them to lose heart on their own. They had made numerous attempts to convince him to share what he knew, but he had always refused to divulge anything, retreating into a profound silence each time.
On a moonless night, the trio of mages prepared once again to head towards a location where the fire mage was likely to have been.
Tired and numbed by the frustration of the past twenty weeks of repeated failures, the trio stepped out into the nighttime gloom of Magnolia with a deliberate restrained hope. Despite the advancing morning, the town remained shrouded in unsettling darkness under the lingering moonlight. This pervasive obscurity seemed to amplify their doubts, making everything appear murky and elusive, as if their negative emotions were clouding their senses.
Disregarding any thoughts that might hinder their objectives, they walked silently toward the Magnolia train station. They had to travel to the Kingdom of Lüditz, a country west of Fiore stretching to the distant Burning Plains of Ashan, to verify a rumor about a fire dragon sighting there. Immediately making the connection to their friend, they deemed this clue worth traveling to the ends of the earth to confirm. If their efforts brought Natsu back, even if the chances were nearly zero, it would be worth all the risks in the world. They knew the journey ahead would be long and arduous, but this challenge wasn't enough to make them turn back. Even if their journey turned out to be a waste of time, they would continue their search for as long and as far as necessary.
Their final destination was Fürg, one of the many underground cities in Lüditz, and the source of the rumor. To reach the Nalfein mountains, where the city's streets were carved, they needed to cross the Fiore border and venture into the mountainous wastelands of this unfamiliar country. According to the numerous documents they had studied, Lüditz's magical resources remained untapped, and the use of magic was forbidden. Only certain authorized individuals were permitted to use magic to maintain order or for water supply purposes. A small portion of the Lüditzian territory contained rivers and wooded areas; the remaining three-quarters were arid deserts and high mountains.
Historically, Lüditz had endured numerous skirmishes, forcing its inhabitants to seek refuge in the mountains, where they built that much-vaunted underground cities known as U-Bahn. They were also served as extraction bases, where the liquid resources of the rock were collected through unknown magical processes and then transported to various towns in the region.
These violent battles had devastated much of the forested regions that once covered a significant portion of the country's surface, and were won with the aid of dragons. Most of the written records from those distant times had been lost, leaving unanswered questions about how the dragons had appeared and why they had chosen to assist. Since ancient times, these creatures had been revered as gods, with monuments erected in their honor despite lingering uncertainties about their existence. The history of Lüditz was marked by profound gaps that many Lüditzian historians endeavored to fill, yet their efforts had thus far yielded no success.
Armed with this crucial information etched into their memories and dressed as lightly as possible to endure the scorching heat of the arid lands, they proceeded nervously toward the train platform. Their ultimate destination was Lüditzen, the capital, which required them to surmount the primary obstacle of their expedition: the border dividing the two nations. After taking the train to Geffen, the Fiore town nearest to the border, the next step was to rendezvous with Mirajane and Elfman. These two had proven invaluable in their quest thus far, providing the new leads they now pursued. Admittedly, they were mere rumors and there was no certainty they pertained to Natsu, but after weeks and months of fruitless searching, any lead was deemed invaluable.
They swiftly began preparing for the journey to meet up with the two Strauss siblings, who were already waiting for them at the location. After completing their job and hearing about the rumor, they had stayed in Geffen to organize their journey to the Lüditz capital, which was located a few days' walk from the border.
As they approached the Magnolia train station, Gray, Erza, and Lucy quickened their pace. Makarov seemed oblivious to their intentions, but they didn't feel secure and chose not to risk compromising their plans. If the master became determined to stop them, they had little hope of slipping through the Wizard Saint's net, who could effortlessly bring them back to the guild. They were banking on his recent absent-mindedness and disorientation to offer them a chance to slip away unnoticed, even though it pained them to see their mentor so distant and diminished since that fateful day.
As they entered, the train was already on the platform, seemingly awaiting only the driver's signal to depart. They hurriedly boarded, realizing they had wasted valuable time persuading Gray not to travel half naked despite the scorching heat expected in Lüditz's deserts. The train started almost immediately after they settled into their seats, marking the beginning of their perilous journey. The three travelers sat in silence, lost in their private thoughts.
Leaning on the arm of his seat, his chin resting against his palm, Gray gazed with a certain fascination at the landscape passing by through the window, while getting lost in thoughts and memories as haunting as they were infuriating. Ever since Natsu had left, a fierce grudge had festered within him, fueling his desire to make him regret his words and actions, despite knowing they were based on falsehoods. He couldn't stop replaying the scenes from that fateful night, the odious remarks directed at them, at him, and the sting of rejection felt just as sharp each time. Every day, without fail, those hurtful words returned to haunt him, tearing at his heart and deepening his sense of irrelevance.
He had the dreadful impression of being nothing more to his rival than a bothersome parasite who meant nothing to him. Natsu had shown his disdain without a second thought, fighting him without any restraint, as if he were ready to kill him to get him out of the way. Gray couldn't shake the conviction, though it was likely wrong, that Natsu deeply hated him. He tried to recall his last words, full of compassion and guilt, but while this memory soothed his unease, it also intensified his anger.
He had manipulated him to gain control of their fight and used unfair methods to defeat him, and though Gray preferred this to tearing each other apart, he couldn't forgive him. The helplessness he felt while fighting to keep his life from falling apart had been so intense, he didn't want to go through it ever again. His defeat had marked the complete dismantling of his world and the start of one of the worst periods of his life. Natsu had torn a part of him away by leaving, and Gray was determined to get it back.
Erza had withdrawn into herself, looking calm but with her mind elsewhere. Sitting upright with her hands resting on her knees, she absently gazed at the empty seat next to Gray, trying to ignore his obvious restlessness. Her thoughts wandered to the one who should have been in that seat, and an affectionate smile played on her lips. She imagined him sprawled out in front of her, tongue hanging out, his complexion shifting from blue to green. She could almost see him lamenting the nausea caused by their mode of transport as he cursed the creator of this infernal machine. Nostalgia soon gave way to sorrow, and her smile faded.
He had suffered so much from the separation, from ignoring his heart's plea to stay and forcing himself to act so cruelly towards them… How had he lived since leaving? Was he haunted by their farewell as much as they were, or had he managed to move on? Did he still think about them, or had he tried to forget? So much could have happened to him in five months, and she was afraid to find out what.
She closed her eyes to focus on her memories of her friend—his look, his face, his voice. Despite herself, the last images of him before he left surfaced, and tears welled up in her eyes. The expression of unconditional love he had shown her before plunging her into unconsciousness replayed in her mind for the umpteenth time that day, making her feel as if she had traveled back in time to feel his warm presence once more.
'I love you more than anything in the world. That's precisely why I have to leave, and why you must not follow me.'
She had been the only one to hear those words, and they had marked her forever. All the other words spoken that day held no importance, no value in her eyes. They meant nothing to him either; he had only used them as a decoy to serve his subterfuge. She had tried many times to tell Gray that part of the story, hoping to stop him from torturing himself with the horrors Natsu had told him, but she had never succeeded, terrified of breaking down in front of him again.
Ever since she had proved so powerless to protect them that night, her unconscious fear of revealing any weakness had intensified, symbolized by the armor she always wore. She was supposed to be their guide and support, yet she hadn't been able to overcome her fears and fight, forcing Gray to step in for her. She had condemned him to confront Natsu when he didn't want to, abandoning him to a fight designed to torture him emotionally. She would never forgive herself for her incompetence.
If there was one positive aspect to this painful experience, it was the exponential growth in her determination to find him and understand the reasons for his departure. She had vowed to find the words that would convince him to accept their help, to make him understand that, despite the risks, acting alone was just a misguided way of protecting them.
She knew that his resolve to keep them away from danger had been unshakeable. Not even the torture inflicted on his heart to induce him not to sever the irreplaceable ties that bound him to them and to Fairy Tail had been able to break it. She admired his courage in sacrificing everything he owned and cherished to save them from misfortune, but he should have known that they would uncover the deception. Their friendship with him was too deep to disappear so easily. They had known him too long to be fooled by such lies, even if he had been more than convincing. Having lost the man he considered his own father so early on, having endured the void left by Lisanna's death, he understood better than anyone how painful losing a loved one could be—much more than being hurt or die.
So she didn't understand. Why had he imposed his exile on them without letting them decide what they wanted to do? Why did he never agree to let them do for him what he had so often done for them? Why didn't he put himself in their place and realize that they could never abandon him to his fate, just as he would have done if the roles were reversed? He had risked his life so many times for theirs, and she couldn't understand what was stopping him from accepting their support in return.
The more she thought about it, the less she understood. So she forced herself to push these reflections aside, being careful to maintain her composure. Accepting that the answers to her questions would remain elusive as long as Natsu would be out of reach, she sharpened her determination to find him by focusing on her burning desire to see him again. No matter the bitterness and pain caused by Natsu's absence over these five interminable months, no matter the dangers that would block their path, they would find him and bring him back to the guild, setting everything right.
Empowered by her resolve, she lifted her head, which had unconsciously bowed over her hands during her introspective thoughts, under Lucy's discreetly watchful gaze.
The stellar mage, unaware of what Gray and Erza had gone through that night, felt deeply excluded. Even though she hadn't experienced Natsu's farewells and the subsequent memories, the pain of feeling left out was no less acute. When she had finally arrived at the scene of devastation where her two friends lay unconscious before the Dragon Slayer, it had felt as if the world was collapsing around her. The chirping of birds, the hooting of owls, the buzzing of crickets, and the wind rustling through the leaves—all sounds had seemed to distort and blend into a single piercing noise, with only Natsu's voice cutting through. Time itself had seemed to stand still, leaving her alone with the cruel words that tore at her raw heart.
'I'm off. I have nothing left to do here.'
And what about her, her feelings? Didn't she deserve his attention, for him to even glance her way? He hadn't even turned back, as if she meant nothing to him, as if leaving and never seeing her again held no importance, and she couldn't bear it. She had watched him walk away and vanish into the night's darkness, frozen by the icy emotions burning inside her, overwhelmed by the sense of utter uselessness and powerlessness.
She knew that his actions had been a desperate attempt to shield them from the truth, and he had never intended to cause them harm. She trusted him and his good intentions, but her resentment lingered, indelible. She harbored a deep-seated grudge against him.
She had tried to confront this feeling, but her sleepless nights only deepened her uncertainty, and her inability to overcome it filled her with immense guilt. Whenever the faces of Gray and Erza appeared to her, whether in dreams or reality, she felt powerless, knowing she couldn't do anything for them, and guilty for lamenting her own struggles when they endured far worse. Natsu hadn't bothered to say a word to her, so she would probably never understand the pain of the memories haunting them, but she hoped that one day, even in the distant future, they would confide in her. She hoped she could ease the weight of those memories burdening their hearts, if only they allowed her to be the compassionate listener for the feelings they kept hidden.
Until that day came, she would muster patience and support them as best as she could. This decision didn't alleviate her distress, and ignoring her own turmoil was difficult, but her friends deserved her fighting for them.
She turned her focus back to Erza, whose demeanor reflected the strength of her newfound resolve, a feeling Lucy deeply envied. She lowered her gaze and withdrew into an emotional void, shielding herself until the sudden halt of the vehicle jolted her forward. After regaining their composure, the three friends exchanged brief glances before rising from their seats. Stepping off the train, they ventured into Geffen's winding streets, which were bathed in sunlight that day.
As they advanced, a growing crowd surrounded them. Following their numerous journeys to remote corners of the Kingdom of Fiore in search of Natsu, the trio found themselves unexpectedly besieged by this gathering throng. Overwhelmed by waves of unbridled emotions and the tumult of enthusiastic voices and shouts, they couldn't comprehend the reason behind such a large gathering. Eventually, they had to confront the situation when they could no longer proceed.
As Gray and Erza attempted to navigate through the bustling crowd, Mirajane's face emerged between two shoulders. Panting, the barmaid leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees to catch her breath. Once her breathing steadied, she straightened up, revealing her radiant face framed by two silvery locks of hair.
"You're finally here!"
"What's going on here?" Gray asked, looking at the now silent crowd.
"We got the same welcome as you, let me fill you in. Let's find a quiet place to talk. The locals have lent us a house on the outskirts of town to get organized."
They nodded in agreement and followed her through the neighborhood with houses sporting smoking chimneys, filling the air with the aroma of fresh goat cheese, potatoes, flour, minced meat, and coal.
Opposite them stood a hundred-foot bell tower, its gold and silver ornamentation glinting in the sunlight, dominating the town. Several miles to the west lay the snow-capped mountains of Ethar, a vast uninhabited region filled with impenetrable glaciers that no one dared to explore anymore.
The Kingdom of Fiore hardly extended to the east, cut off by the Lüditzian border. To the south, the pine tops of the Okkar Forest could be seen, and beyond them lay Alimecia, an abandoned city now home to Dragon Lords, a powerful dark guild with unknown aims and obscure activities. Even Fairy Tail's daring mages avoided this area, as the vast wastelands had witnessed incidents so grave they were dubbed the 'Dark Lands'. The Magic Council itself refrained from intervening, as this region had witnessed the complete decimation of an entire people. Since Dragon Lords had settled there, they deliberately turned a blind eye to the atrocities, as if waiting for the dark guild to act before making a move.
Leaving the discordant shouts of the crowd behind, the group headed for the outskirts of town. They entered a modest house atop a small rise dotted with yellow flowers and bordered by an azure river, where a strangely nervous Elfman greeted them. Mirajane gestured encouragingly and offered them the comfort of four armchairs arranged in a square in one corner of the room, and they settled into the chairs with a sigh of relief. The barmaid poured them three steaming cups of red clover herbal tea before dropping into an armchair herself.
"Any good news?" Erza asked, bringing the steaming liquid to her lips.
"More or less," Mirajane replied. "I don't know where to start."
She glanced briefly at Elfman. Standing beside her with his arms crossed like a bodyguard, he nodded in encouragement. She took a sip of tea and lowered her mug to her lap.
"Natsu came here," she informed them first, setting her cup on the table.
Her interlocutors stiffened in their seats with a surprised exclamation, nearly spilling their drinks or choking. Embarrassed by their intense reaction, Mirajane avoided their gaze and instead fixed her eyes on the woolen rug at their feet, tracing the worn geometric friezes adorning its edges. Under the weight of their questioning stares and the ensuing silence, she reluctantly lifted her gaze.
"It's been just under five months," she continued. "He supposedly crossed the Fiore border to get to Lüditzen. The people of Geffen helped him."
"Five months?" Lucy repeated. "Does that mean..."
"Yes. He came here right after leaving Magnolia."
At first, the three friends didn't know how to react. They were thrilled and relieved to have finally picked up Natsu's trail after searching for him for so long, but his journey to another country added a layer of complexity. While they didn't mind to step into unfamiliar territory, staying optimistic was tough knowing Lüditz was twice the size of their own country.
Yet hope persisted. For five long months, they had strung together fruitless attempts to gather information about Natsu's whereabouts, enduring the slow erosion of their belief in a future where he would return to them. They had finally obtained a solid lead, a path they could follow without hesitation, leading them towards their long-awaited goal.
The joy Mirajane saw on their faces warmed her heart and brought back memories of her own reaction to the news. She understood their immense relief, making it harder to proceed her explanations as she knew the shock and despair they would bring, particularly to Gray who was involved by the truth more than anyone else.
"Why would the people from a town so far from ours help a stranger break their own laws?"
Erza's question snapped her out of her anxious thoughts, and she silently thanked her for not delving into the topic that scared her the most.
"According to what I've been told, the town was attacked by a few survivors of a people once living in the Dark Lands, the Alimecians," she replied. "When Natsu arrived, allegedly flying -" she stifled a laugh, recalling how much the young man despised transportation, "the battle was already in full swing. According to the stories written about it, and I quote: 'A young man with flaming hair and his azure-scaled dragon tore through the depths of the night with the terrifying screams of their enemies'."
For the first time in a while, genuine, hearty laughter filled the room, mingling with Mirajane and Elfman's. The 'azure-scaled dragon', none other than Happy himself, sparked their amusement with vivid, comical images that were hard to resist. They could already envision the proud expression on the Exceed's face at being described in such a manner, and their laughter swiftly transitioned from amusement to affectionate smiles, then to concern. Happy was just as loyal as Natsu himself, and they all felt immense compassion and gratitude towards him for steadfastly standing by his friend's side despite the dangers. He had never deserted Natsu, earning him the deepest gratitude from all.
"Anyway," Mirajane continued, noticing the dangerous shift in their expressions, "it seems that Natsu—and his dragon companion—defeated a hundred Alimecians single-handedly."
"That seems like a lot," Lucy contested, perplexed.
"Pff, the Geffenans must have exaggerated things," Gray intervened with a hint of irritation. "That guy is too lousy and stupid to pull off something like that."
His feigned contempt brought a smile to their faces, as they hadn't heard such disparaging remarks about his rival in a long time. Since his departure, he had avoided mentioning his name, no longer finding any pleasure in insulting him or blaming him for what he had said or done. Whenever someone spoke of him, he would retreat into silence or isolate himself to soothe his frustration, regrets, and above all, his pain.
Seeing him act like his old self was a relief; it signaled that each step they took toward finding Natsu was a step closer to his deliverance and healing. With every new piece of information they managed to glean about the Dragon Slayer, he seemed to open up more and gradually free himself from his torments. However, Erza knew his words would remain anchored in his memory, no matter what.
They realized how much they had missed their quarrels and felt an even greater urgency to find Natsu. They longed to experience those moments of joy and celebration again, to finally dispel the horrible emptiness his departure had left behind. The hopeful prospect of seeing their missing friend again gave Gray a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel, easing everyone's fears, including his own.
"Natsu's strength isn't something you can measure," said Erza with an affectionate smile. "It varies depending on the situation."
"Anyway," Elfman cut in, "that act of heroism allowed him to cross the border without any trouble. And since then, his name and Fairy Tail's have been admired by the people of this town."
"That's why they welcomed us like that," Lucy concluded.
Elfman nodded in agreement. "And that's why we'll be able to cross the Lüditz border too. "
The three friends were visibly surprised, and Erza almost choked on her drink. "You were planning to come with us?!"
"Not exactly," Mirajane replied, suddenly more somber.
She didn't continue right away, fearing their reaction. She and Elfman had offered to help, but it was never about letting them join such a dangerous journey. At least, it was never discussed openly, although they had always intended to go, fully aware of the challenge in convincing them. Venturing into such unfamiliar and hostile territory was risky, and the Strauss understood this even more since they were the only ones who knew why Natsu had gone there.
In addition to these risks, there was the threat of being banned from the guild for leaving without informing anyone for an indefinite period, likely several months. Makarov would never do this on his own—it had never even crossed their minds—but the Council wouldn't hesitate to force him, threatening to dissolve the guild if he didn't comply.
Despite this, they had to find a way to convince them that they needed their help and couldn't do it alone.
"My brother and I are heading to Ascalön," she explained, brushing aside a stray strand of hair with a flick of her hand. "It's a U-Bahn located southeast in the Kingdom of Lüditz, opposite of Fürg."
Concerned yet not entirely opposed to their coming, the trio simply stared at them, evaluating the pros and cons of their request. Apart from their reluctance to expose them to danger, they couldn't fathom why this unfamiliar town demanded their attention, especially since it seemed unrelated to Natsu. Clearly, there were still pieces missing in this puzzle, and they preferred to gather all the details before reaching a decision. Perhaps there was an entirely different motive driving their interest in going there.
"So, what exactly are you planning to do there?" Gray asked, picking up the cup he had set down on the table. "Unless I missed something, it's not like we've ever heard of this town before."
Mirajane froze, the question echoing repeatedly in her mind. She had pondered her response for so long, but now that the moment had arrived, she found herself at a loss for words.
"Because we got that information yesterday," Elfman answered for her, noticing his sister's hesitation and inertia. "Apparently, Natsu passed through there before crossing back through the desert to get to Fürg."
"Do you know why?" Lucy asked.
This time, even Elfman hesitated, withdrawing from the conversation to muster the courage to speak, casting a pall of oppressive silence over the room. Unintentionally, his gaze fixed on Gray, who met it with a mix of apprehension and unease. The ice mage had a sinking feeling that whatever they were reluctant to disclose involved him, a feeling amplified when Mirajane also turned her eyes towards him. If Elfman's gaze hinted at fear, his sister's spoke volumes of compassion, almost pity, foretelling a painful information ahead.
The ice mage was so tense now that Mirajane regretted her hesitation in delivering the information sooner instead of staring at him without a word. She knew the truth would hurt him regardless, and realized it would have been kinder to reveal it abruptly, like ripping off a Band-Aid, rather than letting him stew in anguish.
She wished she didn't have to break the news to him, but it was necessary for their mission; she had no other option. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage.
"He was looking for Deliora," she finally confessed, carefully avoiding eye contact with Gray.
Confirming their fears, the ice mage's expected reaction was immediate as he flinched in his seat, almost choking on his drink, "W-What?!"
His fists clenched so tightly that the burning container cracked under the pressure of his fingers. Completely ignoring it, he focused on controlling his breathing, struggling to prevent himself from standing up and destroying everything in the living room.
Deliora couldn't possibly be alive. He had witnessed his destruction with his own eyes, his body corroded by the ice that had imprisoned him all those years. Ur had sacrificed her life for this miracle; accepting that this monster was still alive was akin to admitting that she had died in vain. He vehemently refused to believe it.
Lost, furious, and frightened, Gray stared blankly at Mirajane, hoping to find the truth in her expression. Yet, the reassurance he longed for eluded him. Mirajane was furrowing her brow in compassion, hardly withstanding his tormented gaze. She was not lying.
Certain memories resurfaced to haunt his thoughts, reopening a deep wound he had hoped would stay closed forever. First came the ruins of a city, a gigantic monster, and cries of terror and agony. Then, bloodshed, a feeling of helplessness and distress, followed by despair, grief, and deep suffering. Finally, he saw the smiling face of his master, the person who had raised him and given her life for his. Her smile was gentle, loving, and kind, calming all his fears and doubts.
When was this monster going to stop taking everything important from him? He had taken his home, his family, his master, and now he came to take his friend. He would keep ripping away everything he loved one by one until he was stripped of his sanity—if he hadn't lost that already. Even if he didn't know how or why, just knowing that this abomination had driven Natsu to leave, abandoning what was dearest to him, made him nauseous.
He would never forgive him.
Never.
Hatred coursed through his veins like venom, embedding itself deep in his soul and consuming him from within. He recalled the guilty look Natsu had given him upon returning from his mission, just before collapsing into his arms. Now, he understood the source of that uncharacteristic expression, and Gray's anger toward him intensified.
He knew about Deliora… and hadn't told him. He had deliberately hidden the truth from him, and no matter how much guilt he carried, Gray didn't care. Natsu knew his past, knew how much Deliora had shaped his life, so why?
Suddenly, his animosity turned to terror, and his complexion became livid. What if...?
What if Natsu intended to do the same as Ur? What if that was exactly why he had left them, why he had kept silent about Deliora, and why he was searching for him?
Panic took deeper root and mingled with his hatred, leaving Gray paralyzed with fear. At the mention of the demon who had destroyed his life, Lucy and Erza had watched as the ice mage shifted through emotions, filled with compassion and apprehension, while they grappled with their own less intense but equally consuming feelings. Seeing his eyes poisoned by hatred, they feared he might erupt in fury and unleash his rage on everything around him.
To their surprise, however, nothing happened. Gray even appeared to regain control, his voice curiously serene as he demanded, though with a touch of coldness, "Don't tell me he's alive or-"
"No," Elfman hurriedly interjected, cutting him off before his anger could erupt. "He's definitely dead but..."
"Explain."
Elfman was taken aback by his composure, feeling slightly cornered by the stark contrast between the animalistic frenzy burning in his eyes and the severity of his demeanor and voice.
"When Deliora was destroyed, his body split into several fragments that scattered all over the world," he replied, a bit wary of risking Gray turning into a raging beast if he kept him waiting any longer. "Apparently, there are about ten of them, and their power is massive. Natsu went to Ascalön to gather more information on the matter, but we don't know why."
He remained silent, allowing his companions, especially Gray, time to digest the information. While relieved that Natsu hadn't set out to destroy Deliora on his own, Gray still simmered with anger and confusion. The existence of these fragments shouldn't have so drastically altered their lives, regardless of their power. There was no apparent reason for Natsu to pursue them, let alone leave the guild to do so. There had to be another motive, and he feared discovering it. Deliora had already shattered countless lives, and he couldn't bear to see Natsu's life destroyed as well.
Erza kept a careful eye on him, worried that in his confusion he might reach a dangerous breaking point. It was already a miracle that he had managed to maintain his composure despite the surge of negative emotions triggered by the mention of Deliora.
"And why do you want to go there?" she asked, giving a discreet glance to make sure her friend remained calm.
Mirajane took a deep breath to ease the tension in her shoulders and leaned back against her armchair, "For the same reason you're going to Fürg. If Natsu went there, there must be a reason, probably related to those fragments."
"Why not travel together then?" Lucy suggested.
Mirajane shook her head, "No, we're running out of time. It would take a week to get to Ascalön from Lüditzen, and another to go to Fürg, if not more. By then, the situation could change and who knows how much time we really have before it's too late. Natsu's already been gone for five months, we can't afford to lose more time. We need to split up. We'll set a meeting point within a specific time frame."
For a few moments, the only sounds were the whisper of the breeze through the branches, the gurgling of the stream, and the distant chatter of squirrels. Lucy could sense Gray growing more nervous as the conversation continued.
"Have you found out anything about this fire dragon business?" she asked, hoping her question wouldn't trigger the human bomb sitting next to her. "It's about Igneel, right?"
Mirajane closed her eyes for a brief moment, "We haven't learned much about it, unfortunately. All we know for sure is that Natsu went to Ascalön to investigate the Deliora fragments before heading towards Fürg. We don't know any more than you do about what he did there or why he went. We don't even know if he's still there, if he's on his way, or if he's already left." After a brief pause, sensing her friends had become incredibly tense since the start of the conversation, she tried to encourage them, "Don't lose hope. Nothing is lost."
It was at that moment that the bomb detonated, startling everyone present. Gray had slammed his fist on the table and jumped to his feet.
"I won't give up until I've punched that idiot in the face to knock some sense into him!"
With no one to stop him, tense as a spring, he stormed out without looking back, slamming the door violently behind him.
His explosive departure left a bitter chill in the air. The others exchanged confused and worried glances, briefly focusing on the door through which the ice mage had exited. No one spoke for a long time, disturbed by their concern for him and the icy atmosphere his outburst had left behind.
They wanted to follow him to make sure he was all right, but reluctantly decided against it. They knew better than to confine him to their presence, which would prevent him from expressing his emotions when he needed to most. They preferred to give him time to process his feelings before engaging with him again. With concern, they forced themselves into temporary passivity.
Someone still needed to talk to him once he had regained his composure, to help him navigate the maze of hatred and guilt he was already getting lost in. Whenever Deliora was involved, he couldn't help but feel responsible for all the misery caused. Learning that Natsu was the creature's next target had completely shattered what remained of his emotional balance. They couldn't imagine how he felt, especially considering he saw it as a betrayal that his rival had decided to face Deliora without telling him. It was a lot for him to handle, and they needed to keep him from reaching his breaking point at all costs.
The heavy atmosphere quickly became unbearable for everyone, prompting Erza to break the prolonged silence.
"How did you find out that Deliora's fragments had scattered? What kind of powers do they exactly hold?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know," Mirajane admitted, disappointed that she couldn't satisfy their need for answers. "If only we had known... we could have figured out why Natsu wants to learn more about them."
This was exactly what Erza had hoped for when she posed the question, but she expected this answer.
"As for the person who informed us," Mirajane continued, "it's a storyteller named Zexion. Elfman and I tried to find connections between the Kingdom of Fiore and Lüditz by looking through books on their respective histories, and we were advised to visit him. He's the one who wrote about the attack by the Alimecians that Natsu defended the town from. So, we paid him a visit, and he explained what we just told you."
Mirajane paused, reflecting on their encounter with this peculiar man.
"What's bothering you?" Lucy asked, noticing her concerned expression.
"His behavior was really odd," Mirajane admitted, still thoughtful. "We tried asking him how he knew so much about Deliora, but he always skillfully beat around the bush.
"He talks a little too slick, if you ask me," Elfman chimed in. "It's like he's doing it on purpose to confuse us, and it's really annoying. Plus, he gave off this vibe like he knew Natsu, but no matter how many questions we threw at him, he always found a way to sidestep them. This guy is a pain in the ass."
Despite the serious nature of the crucial information buried within his brief speech, the girls couldn't help but stifle gentle giggles at the obvious irritation that this infamous Zexion stirred in him.
"I take it you're not too fond of him, Elfman," Lucy affirmed with a teasing smile.
"Not really. He doesn't seem like a bad guy, but he's just really annoying."
"Haha, I see."
The girl's smile softened, shifting from amusement to something more affectionate, prompting an embarrassed yet reciprocating look from Elfman. Soon, the atmosphere returned to a thoughtful silence, partly due to the realization that this storyteller might indeed know more about Natsu than he had agreed to reveal. However, no one initiated further discussion, and the conversation quietly concluded.
Mirajane stood up, feeling emotionally drained from the extensive conversation, "Go fetch Gray. I'll explain the next steps."
"I'm on it," Lucy offered immediately, eager to make sure the ice mage was all right.
She got up and went outside, ready to do whatever it took to provide her tormented friend with the comfort he needed.
The place stretched out in a sinister maze of narrow, oppressive corridors, carved from rough stone blackened by humidity and time. The walls oozed moisture, dripping with mildew that exuded a nauseating odor of decay and despair. Puddles of stagnant water gleamed faintly under the flickering torchlight, casting ominous shadows and accentuating the aura of doom pervading the place.
The heavy, rusty iron bars stood like guardians of forgotten horrors. The silence was absolute, broken only by the steady drip of grayish water splattering on the ground, adding to the gloomy, suffocating atmosphere. In this cursed place, time seemed to stand still, leaving the trapped souls to an eternity of suffering and penance.
Footsteps echoed gloomily in the icy silence, traversing the corridors to a tiny cell. The steady thud of his boots against the hard rock was accompanied by the rustling of a bloodied body dragged across the floor, creating a sinister symphony in this den of desolation.
The man carelessly tossed his burden into the cell, unconcerned by the damage caused as it rolled across the floor, leaving a trail of blood behind. Despite the brutal impact of his deeply shattered body against the hard stone, the prisoner didn't utter a sound, oblivious to the outside world and the pain inflicted upon him. A second, smaller body was thrown into the icy prison, and the metal grate slammed shut behind their captor.
He advanced toward his first target, grabbing him by the hair and forcefully dragging him to the wall furthest from the exit, where a pair of iron shackles dangled ominously. He removed the shackles already binding the prisoner's wrists tightly behind his back, then locked on the new ones with a resounding snap. Each arm was now shackled to the wall by heavy steel chains, hanging limply beside his inert body.
The chains scraped the floor as the man lifted him again, this time by the throat, to get a better view of what he had managed to defeat, torture, and capture. A carnivorous grin stretched his lips as the exhilarating memory of bones crunching under his blows and howls of pain echoed in his mind.
"You're finally going to get the punishment you deserve," he exulted in an icy voice. "I tremble with anticipation."
He dropped him carelessly, ignoring how his body crumpled to the ground or how his head struck the wall, worsening the fractures in his skull.
"You'll be staying with us for a while, until the trap is set. We can't let you roam free and risk you messing everything up by trying to save them, right? Besides, there's someone who wants to see you. That's what they call killing two birds with one stone."
His smile widened as he ran his tongue over his lips, gazing with morbid fascination at the mangled body slumped at his feet. He savored every open wound, every bruise, every trace of blood, and above all the streaks of dried tears on his cheeks. His victory over this wretched pest was complete, and he couldn't have been more satisfied.
"Don't worry, we'll take good care of you both. I'm sure you'll love what we have planned for you. Enjoy this comfortable room while you can, because you won't be seeing it for long."
With these parting words, and without sparing a glance for his second prisoner still lying inert in the opposite corner of the cell, Temenas turned around and walked out, his sinister smile still on his lips.
He couldn't wait to receive congratulations from Zeref at last.
Author's note : And there we go!
What better way to end than on a soft note, haha. Can't wait to hear your theories! I hope it's clear and vague enough at the same time to make you want to find out more :).
So, a few things to mention! First, there's Gajeel. I want to say right away that he'll have an important role, a bit more than the other Dragon Slayers (except for one you don't know yet but will see later ;)). But that's also because, where the story begins, Gajeel and Natsu are the only Dragon Slayers we know. The fact that my fic took over twenty years to really take shape allowed me to incorporate some characters that the manga introduces only later, but the characters don't know them yet. Not everyone will be included, though—I can't fit everyone in, and you'll see it's already complicated enough... I have entire files of Q&A to make sure I don't forget certain plot points and to keep everything coherent. Every time I get an idea, even if I'm not sure I'll include it, I write it down so I don't forget. Honestly, my files are a mess. All this to say that, unfortunately, the story won't be consistent with what we learn later in the manga.
Yeah, so as I was saying, Gajeel is going to be quite important, even if we don't see him as much as other characters, like Lucy, Gray, Erza etc. I think that's clear from the paragraph dedicated to him at the beginning, and that's why I made sure he wasn't there in the previous chapters. He might seem more attached to Natsu than he would be in the manga, but his behavior is entirely justified by the plot, even if it's not clear to you yet. I hope you'll like his development.
Next, there's Lüditz. I hope I've been concise and clear enough for you to understand without burying you under information and names of places. In any case, know that everything is important, whether it's the fact that magic is forbidden, its history, its relationship with dragons, etc. This applies to everything else too. Generally, details that may seem trivial or briefly mentioned will eventually be explained later. I scatter little clues everywhere that will form a whole in the end.
Then there's Deliora. As you can guess, these fragments are very important for what's coming next, and I can't wait to dive into the heart of the matter... Because there's a lot more to it ^^.
Lastly, there's the ending! Haha... But I won't say anything! I'll let you tell me what you think ^^. In any case, as I explained at the beginning of chapter 1, Zeref is going to be different from how he is in the manga.
Well, I think I've said everything I wanted to say! I can only beg you again to leave a little something if you enjoyed it. It's really hard for me to hold back from publishing the next part faster, but I prefer to give people time to discover the fic so I don't go too fast. For now, I'm trying to stick to one chapter a month. If enough people wants it I will publish sooner ^^.
By the way, as I said at the top you can follow me on twitter Gzou Fanfics, until now I was only publishing things in French but I'll start to do it in English since I'm translating the story. On this tweeter on my profile you'll find a linktree with other links like a discord server. It was mainly french until now but I'll create channel for english people if you want to come and talk ^^.
See you next time!