Chapter 40 enjoy
After close to a month of Seilah joining the guild, a studio apartment opened up in Magnolia.
The guild jumped at this chance, giving Seilah her own home.
Also, shortly after returning home from the magic council, many female members forced Seilah to adopt a more conservative wardrobe.
Her stockings were fine, but her kimono was another story. She replaces it with a long-sleeved kimono that does an excellent job hiding her assets.
Seilah spent most of her time in the guild library, slowly chipping away at the guild's collection of books.
Natsu made it a point to watch her for the whole month. He made a gamble sparing her from death's hands. He hopes he doesn't regret it.
That got him thinking of a way for her to open up to the guild. She can't stay held up in the guild library forever.
Natsu is brought from his thoughts, hearing the sound of crying. Looking to the source, it's Auska, and a quick sniff tells him she needs a diaper change.
A slight smirk formed as his mind devised the perfect idea for Seilah to be more open.
He hopes Ultear and her fellow mother agree with this hair-brained idea.
After some discussion, Ultear reluctantly agrees to Natsu's plan to force Seilah to open up to the guild.
The two brought their plan to the other new parent's attention, and with some persuasion from Natsu, they agreed.
Fortunately for Natsu and Ultear, Leo and the others always grab Seilah's attention. She wants to know more about humans, especially their young.
All that's left is waiting for the right opportunity to implement their plan.
A week later, the opportunity shows itself. Ultear is checking on Leo, and Seilah is nearby, wanting to know more about human children.
Ultear hands Seilah Leo without warning, much to the etherious's surprise.
"I have to go to the little girl's room," she said before heading off.
Seilah stood there completely perplexed as she held Leo as far away as her arms let her.
He started reaching out to her, spouting baby babble, clearly wanting to know more about this new face in his expanding world.
That was when the other three kids locked eyes on her, reaching out and wanting to know more.
The three mothers hide with one eye around the corner, watching Seilah handle their children.
Seilah, remembering how Ultear handles Leo, places him on the ground next to the others. As soon as she lets him go, baby Auska grabs her.
Seilah quickly pulled her hand away, and Asuka pouted in response.
"Having fun?" Ultear said, walking up to seilah.
"I didn't realize how curious your young can be."
"Can you blame them? Everything they see is new, and someone needs a diaper change."
Seilah's curiosity is piqued again as he watches Ultear change Leo's diaper. He isn't alone in the suite; Leo and Asuka are the first to finish.
"Your turn!" Bisca handed Seilah Asura, causing her to go wide-eyed.
She tried to refuse but was pressured into it by the three mothers. She carefully followed their instructions. Asura smiled after getting a fresh diaper.
Many guild members watching this had amused expressions seeing Seilah being dragged out of her comfort zone as a bookworm.
Natsu looks amused, seeing his plan come to fruition. Then, five young members walk up to him, Wendy, her team, Charon, and Meredy.
He gets up walking out of the guild hall with the five in tow for another training session.
He leads the five far into the woods surrounding Magnolia.
The first up is Sting, powering up his dragon slayer magic, effortlessly deflecting all his spells before Rogue steps up, getting the same result.
Then, it was Wendy's turn. She didn't fare much better than her counterparts.
"Getting better!" he praised before looking at Charon and Meredy.
Charon stepped forward, holding out his hand before a small flame erupted from his hand, forming a ball.
He uses Natsu as a living target since he's immune to fire. Like Meredy, he has trouble regulating his output and magic consumption.
Meredy has improved dramatically since he took her under his wing. However, she caused him trouble by transitioning from spell to spell so quickly.
During these training sessions, Natsu gained better control of his lightning dragon slayer magic but needed to be as proficient as Lexus.
So far, with that slayer magic, he's gained immunity and can restore his magic energy from lightning.
The four of the five proceeded to spar well. The three slayers and Meredy did. Charon can only watch.
It is clear to Natsu that he's having difficulty understanding why they need to be physically fit when magic mainly relies on the mind.
He walks up to the young man. "Even if you master every spell in the book, it won't be helpful if you lack the magic energy to use them effectively."
That knocked some sense into Charon's thick skull. Natsu stood across from him, waiting for him to get the hint.
Charon got into his idea of a fighting stance, and Natsu mentally sighed, realizing he had his work cut out for him.
After half an hour, a slightly bruised Charon lies on the ground, completely exhausted from his fight and from using up all his magic energy against Natsu.
Wendy rushed to her mate's side to heal him. "Nii Chan, you didn't have to go that hard on him!" She said with a sigh.
"Just because your magic is combat-focused doesn't give him an excuse to slack off!" Wendy can only sigh at her Nii-chan reasoning.
Natsu continued to train them for the rest of the day.
On another string of jobs, Ur and Gildarts just finished another quest.
When they settled in for the night in an inn, Ur didn't hesitate to cuddle up to Gildart and kiss him before sleep claimed them.
Elsewhere, the fairy tail's Shadow Devil slayer is lying down, feeling excessively drained. Beside him, his partner does her best not to make a sound as she gets her clothes back on.
"Where are you off to?" Laki froze before looking at the naked body of Lucien, watching her like a hawk.
"Lucien-"Before she could continue, he cut her off.
"You just gonna leave after what we just did?"
"This was a mistake!" Lucien got up from his spot, staring her down.
"So you're just gonna leave and pretend it never happened!"
"I didn't say that!"
"Sounded like it."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Then help me understand."
Laki looked away, not having the resolve to look him in the eyes.
She told him of her time before Fairy Tail. The abuse she experienced at the hands of her father, and her mother made many attempts to stop him.
It ultimately ended in a fight so bad Laki ran away from home, and when she came back, their house was on fire.
"I remember it like it was yesterday."
Flashback start
Year X777
A young Laki reluctantly headed home after running away at her mother's behest.
Her father was having another episode, and fearing for Laki's safety, she forced her to run away while she dealt with her dad.
She decided it was long enough to wait, so she headed home, only to notice a pillar of smoke off in the distance
. Didn't take her long to realize that was the direction of her home.
Fearing for her mother, she ran as fast as her legs let her.
When she finally got home, she fell to her knees as the house she calls home was engulfed in fire.
As the heat of the flames washed over her, tears started streaming from her eyes as her mother's final words played back in her mind over and over,
"Run, Laki, get as far away from here as possible while I deal with your father!"
Without warning, all the flames spiraled out of the windows, leading towards a boy with pink hair. Beside him was a girl with raven-colored hair.
With the last flames gone, the boy and girl pair walk up to her.
"Are you ok?" the girl asked.
"I'm fine, but my mom," she continued.
The boy with the pink hair ran inside to check the damage, and a minute later, he walked out with a devastated expression.
"They're both dead, aren't they?" Laki said.
"Yes," he said with a heavy heart.
Flashback end
"I filled in the blank Natsu Questions before he invited me to join Fairy Tail," she said with her head down.
"You hate perverts because your dad was one." Laki nods at Lucien's words.
Unknown to Laki, Natsu did this in the old timeline and hoped to make it time to save her mother.
Lucien caressed her head so they could face each other. He gently leaned closer, their lips touching, before separating.
"I love you, Laki!" Laki took a few moments to process his words.
"I love you too, Lucien." she instigated another lips lock before dragging him back to the bed to get another two rounded in.
On the walk back to Magnolia, Laki didn't hesitate to latch onto his arm.
Later that day, as Natsu relaxes, Ultear and her fellow mother help Seilah learn the ins and outs of caring for soon-to-be toddlers.
That's when his nose picked up a familiar scent. He got up and walked toward the guild doors, signaling Macao to follow him.
Sure enough, the scent belonged to a secret fairy tail member and spy, Kageyama. They follow him around the corner to Ally.
"What do you have to report?" Natsu asked.
"Ivan plans on going legit as a guild, but before that happens, many members want to get one last score in before going legal, and Ivan approved,"
"Now is as good a time as ever," Natsu said.
"So, who's going with you, Natsu?" Macao added.
"Me and Kageyama should be enough."
"You sure?"
"I'm with Natsu as this one," the shadow mage added.
"I'll let Ultear know what's going on." he ran inside and told Ultear the plan.
"Be careful, Natsu!"
"I will!" he said, kissing her goodbye as Happy hopped to his shoulder.
When he met Kageyama again, he said, "Let's go!" Kageyama was right behind him.
Kageyama filled him in on Raven Tail members and magic during the trek.
The member who concerned him the most could reduce a mage's magic energy to zero.
"Good thing you have my power!" E.N.D stated. Natsu smirked at this.
"What are you so happy about? You do realize you could be drained of magic energy!"
"Let's just say I don't have to worry about him. Anyway, what about the Flare chick?"
"She uses Hair magic, and I've been doing my best to keep Ivan's brainwashing in check." Natsu glances at him sideways.
"When she first joined, she had little experience with the outside world. I've had to be her partner so she doesn't do anything stupid or cruel." Natsu nods this.
"I assume she is reluctant to engage in despicable behavior?"
"Hard to say." It would take two whole days to reach Raven Tail Guildhall.
Speaking of the guildhall, they have it stationed far away in the unforgiving terrain of the mountain.
They stand on a ridge overlooking the guild hall. Natsu takes some time to analyze the building through binoculars.
"So what's the plan of attack?"
"How confident are you in your magic, keeping everyone incapacitated?"
"Natsu, what are you planning?"
"I use my flames to force them out; you hold them in place as I knock them out."
"Simple but effective, I like it. I am curious if my magic will work on Obra.
"I'll Deal with him first, then." He jumps off the ridge and slides down the rocky slope.
He gathers purgatory flames before unleashing them on the guild hall.
Before it can impact, it splits into countless tendrils of fire busting through guild hall walls.
As he planned, everyone came rushing out of the burning building.
Kageyama played his part, imprisoning everyone as they fled.
Natsu saw a strange black cat-like creature running towards him, only to jump.
It took Natsu a second to realize what this creature could do.
Channeling curse flames into his right hand, he grabs it mid-jump. Using his curse flames, he frightens the creature into submission.
To his utter lack of surprise, the human-shaped doll he was using to conceal his actual form caught fire from the heat of his flames.
Natsu went to work, knocking out all Raven Tail members, ending with Ivan himself.
He crouched down at eye level with Makarov's son. "You should have known we come for you eventually, Ivan!" He couldn't look Natsu in the eyes.
"Fine, be that way. Enjoy your time in Era magic prison."
He looks to Kageyama, helping Flare get to her feet before exchanging words with her.
When Natsu met up with him, he saw that she was conflicted. It's clear to him Flare is going over her many conversations with Kageyama.
The two notice the strange creature on Natsu's shoulder.
"The guy you told me about was a puppet controlled by the real Obra," he said, pointing to the source of their stares.
"What is he?" Happy asked.
"He's now MY familiar. Who will stay on his best behavior, or he's the magic council's problem!" he said with authority, getting a rapid nod from the creature. "I'll call the rune knights to pick everyone up."
"What do we do with Flare Natsu?"
"Kageyama filled me in on your history with Raven Tail. He told me that Blue Pegasus Guild would fit you well. I'll let Master Bob know," he said before stepping away and pulling out a communication lacrima.
By the end of the day, all the Raven tail members are in the rune knights' custody.
Leaving Natsu, Happy, Obra, and Kageyama to take Flare to the blue pegasus guild.
As they made their trek to Blue Pegasus, Natsu had to ask.
"Kageyama, what happened to the other members of Eisenwald? I saw one with you at Fantasia back in 84?"
"Those who got out of prison headed off independently; some joined legal guilds. As for Karacka, he wasn't too keen on me being a spy. He was afraid I would go back to being a dark mage."
"I just hope you stick to being a proud wizard of a fairy tail!" Natsu glanced at him sideways with a smirk.
"Drop Flare off, then head back to the guild!" Kageyama power walks past everyone.
It took a day of travel, but the small group stood before the Blue Pegasus guildhall.
Natsu took the lead, stepping through the front doors with the others following right behind him.
"Natsu!" Was the collective response from Blue Pegasus as they rushed him and pulled him into the center.
He played catch-up with everyone before Master Bob stepped forward to welcome Natsu. Remembering why he came here, he introduced Flare.
She demonstrated her magic before the tri-men stepped forward to put the moves on her.
Her response was to restrain them with her hair, holding them up in the air. "Keep your hands to yourself!" she then abruptly dropped them to the ground. This got rounds of laughs from everyone.
"I'm confident she'll fit right in Natsu," Master Bob said.
"Thank you, and flare, I hope you enjoy your time in Blue Pegasus."
"I hope so too, Natsu, and farewell, Kageyama!" he waves back in response as he and Natsu, along with Happy and Obra, head home.
The following morning, they stand at the Fairy Tail guild hall, "ready to step out of the shadows and into the light of Fairy tail Kageyama?"
"You know it, Natsu"
"WE MADE IT BACK ALIVE!" Natsu shouts as he kicks the door open, getting everyone's attention.
"So Raven tails is dealt with?" Macao said, stepping forward.
"Yep, it didn't take us long."
"Natsu forced them out of their guildhall. I stopped them from running away so Natsu could knock them out cold," Kageyama added.
Seeing the curious looks in everyone's eyes, Natsu spoke up: "Gramp's son, Laxus's dad, Ivan, started a dark guild. Kageyama secretly joined Fairy Tail to become Gramps' spy on Raven Tail." This got nods of understanding.
"What's that Creature on your shoulder, Natsu?" Ultear said, stepping forward with Leo in her arms.
"This little guy is Obra, MY NEW familiar who will be on his best behavior, or is the magic council's problem! I can guarantee they won't be nearly as nice as me!" he said, looking to Obra, getting another rapid nod. Everyone let out a chuckle at this.
"What can he do?"
"Chatting with Osiris," he tapped his godsend mark to remind everyone. "Obra can cancel out a mage's magic, similar to how Gramps lost his magic to Aria. If it wasn't for my curse flames, he could have been a problem," he said, igniting curse flames on the tip of his finger.
Obra tries to hide behind Natsu's neck because Leo is very interested in him with his outstretched arms. An evil smirk takes over Natsu's face as he grabs the familiar, handing him to his son.
With all his strength, Leo hugs him as he spouts baby babble. His hand goes for the leaf-made headband, the spike on his head, and his cape and tail. After minutes of this torture, Natsu frees Obra. Leo pouts at being deprived of this new thing in his life.
"Natsu!"
"Yeah, Macao?"
"Going to participate in the grand magic Games this year?"
"Sure," he looks at everyone around him. "Don't just stand there time to train for the games!" they all cheered at this.
hope you enjoy
I can't believe I'm 40 chapters into this fic. I wish I could have posted them more frequently over the past couple of years
but I try to force myself to publish at least one chapter every month to get me around the rut I found myself in when writing fanfiction.
as always, make sure to fav follow and leave a chapter review