...
"Hope you enjoyed the introduction party," He announced cheerfully, his voice ringing out like a bell in the chaos. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Natzu, and I'm glad you could all make it!"
The Natsus exchanged nervous glances, feeling the pressure of his aura ripple through them like the vibrations of water after a stone is thrown in. The tension thickened, and they instinctively backed away, forming a makeshift circle around him as the remnants of the banquet lay scattered around.
Despite his playful demeanour, the energy emanating from Natzu was suffocating. It felt as though the very air had become charged, igniting a primal instinct in each of them to flee or fight. Yet, they found themselves captivated, unable to look away from the bizarre spectacle unfolding before them.
"Who are you?" Asked Natsu Orcaneel, his voice barely a whisper as he stared at Natzu with curiosity.
Natzu's grin widened, an expression that was both welcoming and terrifying. "I am Natzu! The host of all of this! I sent out invites for my birthday bash!" His tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious as he scanned the crowd of Natsus, their bravado evaporating under the weight of his gaze.
"I could care less if it's ya' birthday!" Pirate Natsu growled, eyeing Natzu with suspicion, his cannon still trembling in his grip, "Why did ya' bring all of us here?! I want a reason!"
"For my party!" Natzu raised his arms dramatically. "You see, it gets boring watching the same stories over, and over, and over, and over. I want to be entertained! Surprised! I want a big action film to play in front of me,"
"What does that mean exactly? You aren't making sense," Sir Natsu Dragneel glared ahead at Natzu, his hands getting sweaty from the menacing power that emanated off of Natzu, but he tried to keep his cool.
"The Sakura tree blooms beautifully and creates my path," Samurai Natsu gripped the hilt of his katana tightly, scanning Natzu's playful features with a cautious glare. "Yet, the journey to this world is still against the Sakura tree's wishes. There is something you aren't telling us,"
"Ah... how do I put it..." Natzu said with his grin wide as ever, his arms still raised like an actual plush doll. "I want to see who the best Natsu is. The best, best Natsu! So, you will all be partaking in the Big Bash Event!"
"And that is?" A small Natsu appeared amidst the crowds of Natsus, stepping out with bandage tape around his arms and a scar over his right eye, he wore red, knackered pants along with brown-buckled boots that capped just beneath his knees. Upon his small chest was a tribal mark of the sun in dark red paint.
[EARTHLAND 0038: THE SUN VILLAGE'S SON, NATSU]
"The event where you'll be fighting for your ticket back home and a wish for anything you want! Badum Tssh!" Natzu pounded at the air with his hands as the sound of Hi-Hat drums went off and ended with Crash Cymbals.
"You're kidding, right?" A pink-furred Exceed flew into the air, his wings sprouting out as he descended towards Natzu with his arms out wide, he pointed at Natsu. "I got thrashed around by a tall guy that looks like that jerk for two minutes!? Just for you to tell us you just want a stupid contest?"
[EARTHLAND 0004: EXCEED NATSU]
Natzu's permanent grin remained on his face. "Yep!"
The Natsus felt a shiver of apprehension course through them, even though the name of this event sounded wholesome, their instincts were screaming at them that they were standing on the edge of a whirlwind.
Natsu Orcaneel slowly approached the chibi fiend, "Natzu, what about our friends back home? Will they be okay?"
"That's what I want to know! My Lucy and Manatsu better be alright?!" Mechanic Natsu appeared from the crowd and like fallen dominoes, the Natsus all began to chatter about their homes, their friends, and mostly about their respective Lucy's.
"If I don't get home with the groceries, Luce is gonna kick my butt!" A Natsu with a half-buttoned shirt tucked haphazardly into belted-black trousers that were accompanied by shiny brown shoes.
[EARTHLAND 0012: FAIRY TAIL INC., MR NATSU HEARTFILIA]
"You're telling me? I was supposed to pick up our son, Luka, from school today!" A Natsu with laidback pink hair added, he had a grey shirt that stuck to his slightly defined figure, blue jeans, and black Chelsea boots. "I promised that little squirt that daddy will not put his work above him, but now he's going to see that I'm just all talk! And I can't fail my wife, Lucy, or else she won't let me sleep in the bed again,"
[EARTHLAND 2186: MAGNOLIA'S GOT TALENT, NATSU COWELL]
"Ya! I've got to get back home to my Lisanna." A Natsu with a close-fitting wrap around his head and giant black shades on his face along with a giant silver chain with a flame design on it.
[EARTHLAND 0090: FAIRY RECORDS, FLAME SPITTA' NATSU]
Immediately, he earned several odd glares from the Natsus who spoke before him, almost judging the name he called out as some sort of statement that had to be looked down upon.
"What?" Rapper Natsu glared back at them.
Natsu, Natsu Dragion, and Natsumi watched as the other Natsus crowded around Natzu.
"Is anyone going to tell me who Lucy is?" Natsumi blinked at the Natsus as they bombarded Natzu with questions about this Lucy individual.
"One of my best friends!" Natsu said happily, his fists on his hips as if claiming Lucy as his best friend was an achievement in itself. "She uses Celestial Spirit magic."
"And in Edolas, she's my wife-" Natsu Dragion said calmly, peering around Natsu to glance at Natsumi, his permanent expression showing constant worry. This earned him a flabbergasted expression from Natsu who almost spun his head off his shoulders when he darted his head at Natsu Dragion.
"HUUUUUH? You and that scary Lucy are married?!" Natsu slightly comically towered over Natsu Dragion, almost scaring the poor Car enthusiast to death.
"Ehhh, yeah..." Natsu Dragion waved his hands frantically in front of him, hoping that Natsu would calm down. "We have a daughter named Nasha-"
"A BABY TOO?" Natsu comically pounced at Natsu Dragion, scaring the young man even further as Natsumi peered around with a foolish grin.
"Sooo, Lucy is like Luke then... good to know," She said sheepishly.
Natzu's feet left the ground as he began to hover above the Natsus, waving at them to get their attention. "The Birthday Bash Event aims to see who the best Natsu is. This entails that you all will partake in a giant battle royale slash hunt. Why is there a hunt? Simple. To make sure it's fair, you all will be transported to different parts of the multiverse, you will end up in a makeshift replica of different worlds within the Multiverse. From there, you will be expected to get specific keys that will allow you to travel within your respective teams to the next world and reach the final world where you will face off for your wish and your ticket back home!"
All the Natsus muttered to one another after Natzu explained the event, each Natsu expressing their worries about this event before Chef Natsu raised his hand. "Natzu, was it? Will the keys be held by a specific person or..."
"The keys will spawn in the worlds once the games begin!" Natzu waved his arms excitedly, his grin remaining permanently wide on his face. He was happy that they were finally getting it. "No one will hold these keys, you will have to find them if you want to move to the next world! Also, there are only three keys in each world, so that's where the fighting aspect comes-"
"That's absurd!" A Natsu wielding a judge's gavel slammed it against a rock, causing a small crack. "I've noticed most of these imposters seem to have fire-based abilities. Never in my life have I shot flames from my mouth."
[EARTHLAND 0200: FAIRY COURT, JUDGE DRAGNEEL]
"He's got a point," Cowboy Natsu clicked his tongue as he chewed on a grain stem, his brows furrowing at Natzu.
"How do you expect us to fight against powers like that?" Sheriff Natsu scowled up at Natzu, the brim of his hat shading his fiery glare.
Natzu giggled mischievously. "Don't worry, I'm not that heartless! I'll grant everyone magic. Some of you have magic, so yours will not change, as for those who have no magic, you will either get Dragon Slayer Magic or general magic. But you'll need to train hard if you want to keep up."
"What exactly is this Dragon Slayer Magic?" Asked a Natsu dressed like an old-school detective, his voice calm but curious.
[EARTHLAND 0064: DETECTIVE DRAGNEEL]
Sun Village Natsu cleared his throat and spoke up, glancing at the Detective who was not too far from him. "Dragon Slayer Magic is an ancient form of magic. It's a type of magic that was designed to slay dragons, taught by dragons themselves to humans. In this case, most of us are Fire Dragon Slayers, so we can produce and control flames. But what really sets us apart from normal elemental mages is that we can also eat our element to replenish our magic energy and become even stronger. Dragon Slayer magic as a whole gives us the power and endurance of a Dragon, allowing us to fight at a level far beyond ordinary fire mages. Which in a way..."
"Makes it slightly unfair." Sheriff Natsu chimed in, still glaring up at Natzu. With quick precision, he pulled out his trusty revolver and pointed it up at Natzu who remained hovering in the sky. "What are you playing at, you little goblin?"
Natsu Dragion jumped at the sudden appearance of the revolver whilst Natsu and Natsumi remained still, the two taking on more serious expressions than the playful ones that they had worn previously.
"No need for violence. It's not like I'm picking favourites. The bestowals will be random just like your teams will be random, so you may end up with a Natsu that has Fire Dragon Slayer Magic and another Natsu with simple Fire Magic." Natzu held his feet with both hands as he carelessly twirled in the sky freely. "Some Natsus don't have Fire Magic, and have something like Ice or Water, or even Earth Magic. It can be anything! All you have to do is just work together and win!"
"I'm in!" Natsu shouted suddenly, springing to his feet with a defiant grin, feeling a strange exhilaration in the face of Natzu's overwhelming presence.
Natzu and the rest of the Natsus glanced in his direction, the Natsus muttering with one another whereas Natsu Dragion sprung onto Natsu's arm.
"Wait, wait, wait! Natsu-san! Are you sure?" Natsu Dragion tried to shake the Dragon Slayer, hoping for the sense to return to him, but to his dismay, Natsu continued.
"It sounds awesome! Besides, if all I have to do is race a bunch of imposters so I can go back home, then I'm all for it because, at the end of the day, I'm the one and only Natsu!" Natsu pointed at his chest, wearing his triumphant wide toothy grin. "Let's see what this party's all about!"
"That's the spirit!" Natzu exclaimed, stopping his spin in the air and waving his arms. "I'm looking forward to watching you fight, Main Natsu."
Immediately, the voices in the crowd got louder.
"He's the main Natsu?"
"Him?"
"No way..."
Natsu Orcaneel clicked his tongue, letting out a soft mocking laugh as he clenched his fists against his side. "Main Natsu? That's got to be a joke. Like all these other imposters, you must be a Fire Dragon Slayer, we should see if you can keep up with my Water Dragon Slayer Magic."
"Sounds like fun! I'll kick your butt to the sun!" Natsu grinned from ear to ear with determination as he took a step forward.
Sun Village Natsu furrowed his brow, crossing his arms in contemplation.
"The Main Natsu?" He mused aloud, his voice laced with a mix of scepticism and curiosity. "What makes you so special? We've all been through the same stuff, right? How strong are your flames because nothing beats the flames of my father, Atlas Flame! And I have inherited those flames."
Instantaneously, Sun Village Natsu's flames wildly burst around him, soaring into the sky to craft into a giant bright Dragon made of flames, the scorching flames bellowing and making the Non-Magic Natsus jump back and scatter away from the flames to get a good distance from the flickering light.
A few Natsus remained in the wake of the flames, as if it didn't harm them, some of them looking shadier than most of the Natsus there.
Sun Village Natsu smiled from ear to ear as he glared up at Natsu. "Now, I'm getting flared up!"
Detective Dragneel, as if not being intimidated by Sun Village Natsu's stance, adjusted his hat, studying Natsu with a careful eye. "Main Natsu, huh? I wonder what case you've cracked to earn that title." His calm voice now had a subtle edge to it, as if he were about to start an interrogation.
The group started murmuring, a wave of disbelief rippling through them.
Sheriff Natsu holstered his revolver, glancing at the crowd before shifting his glare back to Main Natsu. "Don't seem like much to me. 'Main Natsu'? That supposed to make you the leader or somethin'? Ya think you're better than the rest of us? Not sure I buy it."
Before Natsu could respond, Natsu Dragion tugged at his arm, panic in his eyes. "What if being the main one makes you a target? You gotta be careful! If you stand out too much, they all might try to gang up on you, Natsu-san!"
Natsu blinked, clearly unfazed by the concern, and gave Dragion a reassuring smile. "Relax. If anyone wants to pick a fight, they'll get one."
Natsumi, still quiet, exchanged a glance with Natsu, pouting at him but no hostility was visible in her voice like the other Natsu variants. "You're Main Natsu? That ain't fair... but, you ain't half bad, I guess."
The rest of the Natsus whispered among themselves, some casting envious looks at Natsu. Even those among the non-Magic crowd were just as curious.
A Natsu with blue tribal markings all over his arms raised a single hand and clenched it, giving Natsu a menacing glare as his magic energy began to sprout, making the ground rumble beneath his feet.
Mechanic Natsu dropped on his back, pushing against the ground to escape this immense power that made his entire body run cold.
The Natsu with blue tribal markings chuckled darkly, his powerful fist unclenching as a menacing smirk spread across his face. "Main Natsu? Sounds like a title just waiting to be stolen. I've already claimed the crown of Dragon King—your title is next."
He wore a tattered blue cloak draped around his waist, a dragon-toothed necklace hanging from it. His white, baggy pants were adorned with golden flame patterns, emphasizing his imposing stature.
Standing at nearly 6'3" with a muscular, rippling build, he towered over the others. A deep scar slashed across his right cheek, cutting through his closed eye—a testament to the battles he'd endured.
[EARTHLAND 9999: THE NEW BLACK-WINGED DRAGON KING, NATSU DRAGNOLOGIA]
Above the unfolding chaos, Natzu floated with a wide grin, relishing the spectacle. "Oh, this is gonna be fun!"
Natsu stood firm, unfazed by the murmurs and suspicious stares surrounding him. His trademark defiant grin spread across his face as he clenched his fists at his sides. "Bring it on. I'm ready for anything."
Suddenly, a massive blue portal tore through space behind the crowd, emitting a blinding white light. All the Natsus shielded their eyes with their arms as Natzu gestured grandly toward the portal. "Now, anything goes. There are no time limits, no need to worry about your friends—they're frozen in time. When this ends and you return, it'll be as if they just took a short nap."
A collective sigh of relief rippled through the group, accompanied by excited whispers. Yet, amid the murmurs, a shady group of Natsus pushed through the crowd, making their way to the front.
"I CAN'T WAIT TO RIP ALL OF YA' TO SHREDSSS!" A Natsu with long, wild hair slunk forward on all fours, his razor-sharp nails digging into the ground. His tongue lolled out as he grinned maniacally, with empty black sockets where his eyes should have been. His skin was sunken around his furrowed brow, giving him a crazed, curious expression. His tattered black pants hung loosely over his bony frame, and his dirty, bare feet ended in sharp, fang-like toenails.
[EARTHLAND 4044: EXPERIMENT NATSU]
Another Natsu swooped down from above, propelled by blue nitro flames from his suit. He landed with a metallic thud, his armour a sleek black with glowing red lines running along his limbs, meeting at a fiery core on his chest. From the nose down, his cream-coloured skin was visible, but his eyes were obscured by a glowing red visor. "Let's make this quick. Once I'm done, you'll all see why I deserve to be the Main Natsu."
[EARTHLAND 0006: METAL DRAGON HERO, CAPTAIN NATSU]
"You wish, tin head!" Natsu strode confidently through the crowd, coming to the front with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. He cracked his knuckles, his fiery spirit igniting. "I'm all fired up now!"
"All of you, do your best! I'll be watching closely!" Natzu's gleeful voice rang out as he ascended higher, glowing with anticipation. He raised his arms dramatically and began the countdown. "Five!"
Natsu dug his heels into the ground, muscles tensing, fire already flickering in his gaze.
"Four!" Natzu called out again, his excitement rising.
Natsu Dragion trembled, his small frame vibrating with anxiety as he stared ahead at the looming portal, unsure of the chaos that awaited him.
"Three!" Natzu's voice echoed across the battlefield.
Natsumi hummed cheerfully, bouncing on the balls of her feet before dropping her hands to the ground, preparing for a powerful running start. Her eyes glinted with competitive mischief.
"Two!" Natzu shouted, launching into a playful star jump even higher into the sky.
Natsu Dragnologia bared his sharp, dragon-like fangs, his breath heavy with excitement as a low growl rumbled from deep within his chest.
Beside him, Sheriff Natsu spun the cylinder of his revolver with a click, ready for action. Natsu Orcaneel clenched his fists, water swirling around him as he prepared, a deep gurgling growl escaping from behind his teeth.
"One!" Natzu's voice rang out with finality.
The ground was alive with movement—shoes, boots, bare feet, and slippers shuffled as every Natsu braced themselves for the inevitable clash.
"GO!" Natzu bellowed, his voice booming across the world like thunder.
With a thunderous roar, all the Natsus surged forward, the ground trembling beneath their collective stampede. They charged toward the massive portal, letting out battle cries that echoed across the skies.
"HAHAHA!" The psycho Natsu screeched in wild glee, galloping ahead on all fours like a wild beast, his claws tearing into the ground as he lunged forward, diving into the portal. Natsu followed close behind, his eyes blazing with determination.
Sun Village Natsu followed next along with Exceed Natsu deep-diving in, his white wings close to his body to allow him to move like a bullet.
Dragon Hero Natsu ignited his jet flames and rocketed forward, cutting through the air like a missile. Natsumi shot upward in a powerful leap, flipping mid-air to catch up, while Natsu Dragion lagged behind, reluctantly moving forward amidst the rushing crowd, his nerves betraying him.
Natzu's laughter filled the sky as he hovered above the battlefield, watching the chaos unfold beneath ahead of him before the portal eventually closed behind the collection of Natsus. His voice was filled with maniacal glee as he declared, "And now, let the party… begin!"
In a flash of light, Natzu vanished, dissolving into stardust that scattered across the sky, leaving only the distant sound of his laughter echoing as the battle for supremacy truly began.
-TO BE CONTINUED-