"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Chapter 6: Teamblessed

(Fairy Tail)

Naruto sat at the bar, calmly sipping his drink while Aquarius leaned back beside him, her eyes scanning the raucous crowd of Fairy Tail wizards causing their usual chaos. The guildhall was alive with laughter, shouting, and the occasional crash as a brawl broke out in one corner. Natsu, of course, was right in the middle of it, but that didn't stop him from periodically darting over to Naruto.

"Hey, Naruto!" Natsu called, bounding over with a wide grin. "You've gotta join in! I bet you could take Elfman down with that weird spirit magic of yours!"

Aquarius rolled her eyes. "He's not interested in your childish antics, idiot."

Naruto chuckled, giving Natsu a half-smile. "I'm good for now, Natsu. Maybe next time. Also I'd avoid calling my magic weird. You're upsetting Aquarius and she's sensitive."

"Stuff it brat."

"You see?"

Natsu pouted, but before he could argue, the doors to the guild burst open. Loke staggered in, a wild look in his eyes. "She's back!"

The entire guild froze mid-action. Chairs were dropped, drinks forgotten. Even Natsu stopped pestering Naruto and straightened up.

Gray was the first to respond, his usual cool demeanor cracking. "Wait. You mean Erza's back?"

Loke nodded, looking pale. "Yeah. Erza's back."

The reaction was instant. Members of the guild scrambled in all directions. Jet and Droy dove behind a table, Levy quickly grabbed a book and tried to look busy, while Elfman muttered something about "being a man" but was clearly nervous.

Naruto exchanged a glance with Aquarius, who raised an eyebrow. "Who's Erza?" Naruto asked, completely unbothered by the sudden shift in atmosphere.

Mirajane laughed innocently as she leaned over the bar. "She's just another member of the guild! You haven't met her yet!"

Cana, who was leaning against a nearby pillar with a barrel of booze in hand, gave him a crooked smile. "Oh, she's more than just another member. Erza's… well, she's terrifying, but in a good way, I guess? She's one of the strongest wizards in the guild."

Gray nodded seriously. "More like the scariest. She's strict, especially when it comes to guild rules, and she doesn't take any nonsense."

Levy chimed in, her voice slightly nervous. "She's got this… way about her. You'll know when she's here. Trust me."

"Just don't get on her bad side." Jet added from his hiding spot. "She's… intense."

Aquarius huffed. "She's just one woman. How terrifying can she be? You're all acting like children."

Naruto shrugged. "She can't be that bad."

Before anyone could reply, the door swung open again, and the atmosphere in the guild shifted even further. It was like the very air grew heavier, and everyone seemed to hold their breath. In walked Erza Scarlet, her crimson hair flowing behind her like a cape. She was clad in full armor, a massive decorative horn strapped to her back, and her eyes scanned the guild with a piercing intensity that silenced even the rowdiest wizards.

The guild collectively swallowed, all eyes on her.

Erza's gaze landed on Natsu and Gray, who visibly tensed. "I hope you two haven't been causing too much trouble while I was gone."

Natsu laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Trouble? Us? Nah!"

Gray crossed his arms but didn't meet her gaze. "You know us Erza! We've been getting along like two best buddies."

Erza stood at the center of the guild, her sharp eyes surveying the chaotic state around her. Plates were scattered across tables, chairs were overturned, and there were still a few smoldering marks on the floor from Natsu's earlier fight. The air was thick with the tension of the guild members who were all trying their best to stay out of Erza's immediate line of sight.

Her brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "This place looks like a war zone." She said, her voice carrying throughout the hall, making everyone flinch.

"Gray, put your clothes on." Erza commanded, not even glancing at the half-naked ice wizard.

Gray, realizing he was standing in his underwear, immediately grabbed his discarded clothes, muttering under his breath, "I didn't even realize…"

Erza's gaze flicked to Jet and Droy, who had been pretending to read books alongside Levy. "Jet, Droy, clean up those chairs and stop cowering like children."

"Yes, Erza!" the two shouted in unison, scrambling to fix the chairs they'd knocked over earlier.

"Natsu!" She snapped, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him. "How many times have I told you not to break things? Clean up the mess you made, and fix the scorch marks!"

Natsu flinched but quickly gave a nervous laugh. "Uh, yeah, sorry about that, Erza…" He started picking up debris from his earlier fight with Elfman, grumbling under his breath.

Erza snapped her eyes to one of the guild's older members. "Macao." The girl began but took a long pause before shaking her head in disappointment. "I don't even know where to begin with you."

Mirajane tried to soften the mood, smiling sweetly at Erza as she continued wiping the bar. "It's good to have you back, Erza. Everyone's just been a bit… energetic."

Erza turned to her, frowning slightly. "I can see that. Where is the Master? This place is out of control and I need his advice."

Mirajane kept her smile, though it seemed a bit strained under Erza's scrutinizing gaze. "He's at a guild master's meeting. Should be back in a few days."

Erza exhaled sharply, clearly displeased by the news but accepting it nonetheless. Her eyes moved back to the guild, scanning the room again as she took in the flurry of activity. The only person who wasn't rushing around or avoiding her gaze was Naruto, who simply sat at the bar next to Aquarius, observing everything quietly. His calm demeanor seemed to catch her attention for a brief second, but she quickly dismissed him without a word.

After a moment of watching the others scurry to clean, Erza turned her focus back to Natsu and Gray, who had just finished arguing with each other over who should fix a broken table.

"I was afraid you would say that. Natsu. Gray." Erza began, her voice firm and commanding. "You two are coming with me on my next mission."

The pair of them froze, eyes wide.

"What?!" Natsu exclaimed. "With him?!" He pointed dramatically at Gray.

Gray shot back with an annoyed glare. "I'm not thrilled about it either, flame-brain."

Erza's eyes narrowed, silencing both of them instantly. "You two will be working with me. I'm in need of extra hands for this mission and you two are capable enough."

Natsu grumbled, crossing his arms. "Fine, whatever. As long as I get to fight something strong."

Gray sighed but nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, yeah. I'm in."

Erza, satisfied with their compliance, nodded firmly. "Good. We leave in the morning."

With that, she turned and made her way toward the door, leaving the guild once again in stunned silence. As soon as she was out of sight, the tension in the air seemed to lift, and everyone collectively exhaled.

Naruto watched it all unfold with mild interest, still sipping his drink. Aquarius glanced at him with a smirk. "Seems like she runs this place with an iron fist."

"Looks that way." Naruto said, amused. He leaned back in his chair, watching as Natsu and Gray exchanged glares, both clearly dreading their upcoming mission with Erza.

"Those two are going to fight the entire time." He muttered to himself.

"Not our problem."

Mirajane approached Naruto from the other side of the bar, her usual warm smile back on her face now that things were calm again.

She noticed Naruto's curious expression and leaned in, resting her elbows on the counter. "You're not used to this kind of thing, are you?" she asked with a soft laugh.

Naruto glanced at her, shrugging slightly. "Not really. The whole dynamic here is... different from what I'm used to."

"Well." Mirajane began, her voice friendly, "Fairy Tail may be a little wild, but that's what makes it home. You'll get used to it soon enough." She wiped down a glass before continuing, "I saw you watching what just happened with Erza. She's strict, but that's because she cares about the guild."

Naruto nodded, processing what he had just witnessed. "I can tell. But the way she commands everyone, it's almost like she's a second guild master."

Mirajane chuckled. "In a way, yeah. She's one of our strongest members, and people respect her authority… Sometimes out of fear." She teased, glancing around at the others who were still visibly relieved that Erza was gone.

Then, Mirajane's expression turned a bit more thoughtful as she said, "By the way, Naruto, have you heard much about how teams work here?"

Naruto shook his head. "No, not really."

Mirajane smiled. "Well, most of us form teams for missions, which makes the work easier and helps everyone cover each other's backs. Kinda like how you and Natsu worked together, but more on a regular basis."

She paused, looking back at the stairs where Erza had disappeared. "And speaking of which, I have a favor to ask." Her tone was light, but there was a bit of mischief in her eyes.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "What kind of favor?"

"Erza might be able to keep Natsu and Gray in line, but sometimes their fights get out of control when she's not looking." Mirajane tilted her head, her smile widening. "Since you have experience working with Natsu could you tag along? Make sure those two stay in line?"

Aquarius, who had been quietly floating beside Naruto, raised an eyebrow at that. "Why should we care if those idiots fight?"

Mirajane laughed softly. "It's not about stopping them from arguing. It's about making sure they don't blow up a town while doing it. I should mention that Erza, despite her reputation and personality, can be just as reckless. So having a few more level heads could be nice!"

Naruto considered it for a moment. He wasn't thrilled about getting between Natsu and Gray's constant bickering, but he could tell Mirajane was asking with good intentions. Plus, it might be interesting to see what kind of mission they were about to go on.

"Alright, I'll go." He said, nodding. "I'll keep an eye on them."

"Great! Thank you, Naruto." Mirajane's smile brightened. "I'm sure you'll be a huge help. Natsu and Gray might not admit it, but they'll be glad to have you there."

Aquarius groaned loudly. "And now I'm stuck babysitting an entire group of idiots."

Naruto gave her a small smile in return, though inwardly he was already bracing himself for the chaos that was sure to come with following Natsu and Gray on a mission. This would definitely be a test of patience.

(Magnolia Station)

Naruto stepped through the Magnolia Station, feeling the familiar rush of the busy crowd around him. The air was buzzing with chatter, but Naruto's mind was focused on the task ahead. Aquarius, as usual, floated beside him, her arms crossed and her face a mask of mild annoyance.

"Why do you always insist on dragging me into these things?" Aquarius grumbled.

Naruto grinned. "Because I enjoy your company."

She huffed but didn't argue further.

As they made their way through the station, Naruto spotted Natsu and Happy waiting near the platform, both looking as eager as ever. Natsu was practically bouncing in place, while Happy sat lazily on his shoulder.

"Natsu! Happy!" Naruto called out, waving a hand.

Natsu's face lit up when he saw them. "Naruto! Aquarius! You guys are coming too?"

"Yeah." Naruto replied, walking up to them. "Mirajane asked us to tag along. Said she didn't trust you and Gray not to blow something up."

Aquarius smirked. "She's probably right."

Natsu pouted. "What? We're totally fine without a babysitter!"

Just as he said that, Gray appeared behind him, as usual without a shirt. "Yeah, except you're always the one who blows things up, flame head."

Natsu immediately turned, his fists clenched. "Oh, you wanna say that again, ice princess?"

Gray crossed his arms, glaring back. "You heard me."

Naruto sighed, shaking his head as the two of them leaned in, sparks flying between them. "Here we go again."

Aquarius rolled her eyes. "I swear, it's like watching children. Should you step in? That's why we are here after all."

Before things could escalate, a sudden, overwhelming presence filled the station, and everyone froze. Even Naruto could feel the intensity of it as the air seemed to grow heavier. Natsu and Gray stopped mid-argument, looking toward the source of the pressure.

Erza Scarlet approached, her red hair flowing behind her like a cape, and her armor gleaming under the sunlight. Her mere presence was enough to quiet the entire station. Her eyes narrowed as she locked onto Natsu and Gray.

"Natsu. Gray." Erza said, her voice calm yet commanding. "What are you two doing?"

Natsu immediately stiffened, his face paling. "Erza! We weren't doing anything, I swear!"

Gray nodded quickly, sweat forming on his forehead. "Y-Yeah, just talking."

Erza crossed her arms, not buying it for a second. But instead of continuing with them, she turned her attention to Naruto, her sharp gaze appraising him.

"I saw you the other day at the guild, but didn't recognize you. So you must be new." She said, her tone still firm. "I'm Erza Scarlet."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, feeling a little awkward. "So I've heard. You've got quite the reputation around the guild. I'm Naruto Heartfilia. Mirajane asked me to tag along and help keep those two out of trouble."

Erza's eyes softened, just slightly, as she continued. "I recognize that name. You're the wizard they call Starblessed."

"That's me." Naruto admitted with an awkward laugh.

Erza nodded with a pleased expression. "I've heard rumors of you slaying armies and felling monsters the size of a mountain. Id be honored to have a wizard of your caliber accompany us."

Naruto blinked and rubbed his cheek, his eyes glancing up at Aquarius. "I'm starting to think these Starblessed stories are getting out of hand."

Aquarius rolled her eyes with a huff. "Obviously."

Erza gave him a rare smile, albeit small. "Regardless, I'm glad to have you with us. We could use your help."

"Aye sir!"

Naruto smiled back, nodding. "At the very least I won't let you down."

"Thank you for your help, Naruto," Erza said, her tone genuinely appreciative. She then turned to Natsu, Gray, and Happy, who were all standing a bit more at attention now that Erza was there. "Let's go. The train is waiting."

With that, the group made their way toward the train, boarding quickly. As they settled into their seats, Naruto couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and curiosity about what lay ahead. Whatever it was, he knew one thing. With his new life in Fairy Tail things were never dull.

The train rattled along the tracks, the rhythmic clatter filling the otherwise quiet cabin. Natsu slumped in his seat, green-faced and groaning, while Happy hovered nearby, patting his friend's head with a sympathetic expression.

"Urgh... trains..." Natsu mumbled, his head leaning against the window as if the glass itself was keeping him from collapsing entirely.

Naruto glanced over at him, feeling a mix of amusement and sympathy. "Man, you really don't do well with motion, huh?"

Aquarius, leaning casually as she floated rolled her eyes. "It's pathetic. How can someone with that much energy be taken out by a little movement?"

Gray, sitting across from them, snorted. "It's not just a little movement. Natsu turns into a weakling the second he steps onto anything with wheels."

Natsu opened one eye, glaring weakly at Gray. "Shut... up..."

Erza, seated near Natsu, cleared her throat, immediately drawing everyone's attention. She wasn't one to waste time on small talk, especially not with a mission at hand. "Enough bickering. We need to focus."

Naruto leaned in slightly, listening intently as Erza began to explain their mission.

"I've been given information about a dark guild called Eisenwald." Erza started, her expression serious. "They've acquired a cursed flute known as Lullaby. Rumors say they plan to attack near the town we are traveling to."

"Lullaby?" Naruto repeated, exchanging a glance with Aquarius. The name alone didn't sound good.

Erza nodded grimly. "Lullaby is a dangerous weapon created by the dark wizard Zeref. It's said to be capable of killing anyone who hears its melody. Eisenwald having said flute could only mean disaster for anyone near it."

Gray's eyes narrowed. "So they're planning a mass assassination."

"Exactly." Erza confirmed. "Our mission is to stop them before they can unleash Lullaby's curse. We'll intercept them before they have a chance to unleash it's magic."

Naruto folded his arms, processing the information. "Killing people just by playing a song... that's pretty messed up."

"That's why we need to stop them." Erza said firmly. "This is no ordinary mission. The lives of many innocents are at stake."

Aquarius looked unimpressed, though she didn't say anything. Instead, she watched Naruto carefully, as if gauging his reaction.

Naruto gave a small nod, his expression now serious. "Alright. We'll stop them before they even get close to using it."

Natsu groaned from his seat, still pale and looking utterly miserable, but his fists clenched as he tried to focus through the nausea. "I... I'll take down whoever tries to use that thing... just as soon as we get off this stupid train..."

Happy floated beside him, offering a supportive "Aye, sir!" before patting his head again.

Erza stood, her presence commanding as she looked over the group. "We all need to be at our best. We can't allow Eisenwald to succeed. Stay focused, and don't let your guard down."

Naruto met her gaze and gave a reassuring smile. "You can count on us."

Erza nodded, her expression softening slightly. "I know I can. We have a strong team. Let's make sure we stop them before it's too late."

As the train sped onward, a tense silence fell over the group. The gravity of the mission weighed heavily on everyone, even though Natsu's groans occasionally broke the quiet. Naruto stared out of the window, watching the landscape blur by, his thoughts swirling.

Gray leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, glancing at Naruto. "From what I've heard, you're a pretty famous wizard before joining Fairy Tail. Mind tell us about your magic?"

Naruto lifted his brow, but Erza nodded. "That's a good idea, Gray. We are all familiar with each other's magic except for Naruto. It would be beneficial to know each other's abilities."

Naruto hummed softly. "That makes sense. I'm a Celestial Spirit Wizard." The blond began as he pointed to the two golden keys against his chest.

Erza nodded and looked at Aquarius with her small form floating above. "A summon based magic if I'm correct. You summon your contracted keys to fight for you in battle right?"

Naruto smirked and held his hand outward. "Not exactly." He chuckled as Aquarius rolled her eyes, understanding what he was wanting to do. So within seconds she shot into a ribbon of light that took the shape of a trident in his hands. "I use a brand of Celestial Spirit magic that's different from most. My spirits take the form of weapons and gear that give me abilities. I then fight in combination with my spirits."

Gray and Erza both admired Aquarius in her weapon form. Erza being a weapon user herself taking extra interest with the weapon.

"That's somewhat similar to my Requip magic. I use an assortment of magical armors and weapons to give me an advantage in battle." Erza explained as she demonstrated her magic by summoning a sword then after a moment placed the weapon back to her storage space.

"Very interesting." Naruto began as Aquarius flickered back into her tiny form. "What about you Gray?"

Holding out his hand, Gray crafted a small Fairy Tail insignia made of ice. "I use ice maker magic."

Naruto snickered. "Explains why you and Natsu always butt heads. You're literally fire and ice."

"That and Natsu's just an idiot." Gray grumbled as the ice within his hand shattered.

Erza was about to chastise Gray for his insult, but the train came to an abrupt stop, jolting the passengers and the group of Fairy Tail wizards. Natsu, who had been slumped over in his seat from motion sickness, suddenly perked up, eyes wide with excitement. "Yes! We're finally off this thing!"

The rest of the group exchanged confused glances as Erza stood up. "This isn't the station we were supposed to stop at."

Naruto glanced out the window. "We're on the outskirts of town."

Gray furrowed his brow. "Something's not right."

Just then, the conductor appeared in the train car, visibly sweating. "Sorry for the emergency stop, but the main station's been taken over by a dark guild! We had no choice but to halt here for your safety."

"Taken over?" Erza asked, her voice sharp with concern.

"Yes! I believe the Rune Knights identified them as Eisenwald. They've seized control of the station, and no one's allowed in or out." The conductor explained, glancing nervously between the passengers.

Erza's eyes narrowed. "Seems we are running out of time."

Without hesitation, she took charge. "Everyone, let's move. We can't waste any more time than we already have."

Natsu was already out the door, followed by Naruto and Aquarius. Gray and Happy hurried along as well, all of them determined to put an end to Eisenwald's scheme.

As they sprinted toward the town, they came upon a group of Rune Knights forming a perimeter around the station. The knights looked exhausted, their numbers too few to storm the station. One of them stepped forward as the group arrived.

"Halt! This area is off limits!" The Knight began before finding Erza's hands gripped hard onto his uniform.

"Out of our way! We are Fairy Tail wizards here to help!" Erza said confidently, her armor gleaming in the sunlight as she tossed the man to the side. "Let's go!"

Erza, ignoring the other Rune Knights, ran into the station. A giddy Natsu and calm Gray following close behind her. Naruto jogging in place gave a slight bow to the guard Erza had tossed to the ground.

"Sorry about her." Naruto said respectfully as he darted after his friend's.

The group of Fairy Tail wizards came running into the main terminal. All of them coming to a stop at the sight of a large collection of unfamiliar wizards. The most stand out of the group being a slender man with long white hair and a scythe slung over his shoulder.

The tension in the air was thick, as neither group made a move against the other. Yet Erza, fearless as ever gritted her teeth.

"You must be the Eisenwald guild." The red haired knight began, her eyes narrowing at the man perched above the rest. "And that makes you their leader Erigor."

The scythe user grinned. "Guilty and you look like a couple of fairy flies."

"Come down here and say that to my face, jackass!" Natsu roared, fire flickering from his fists.

Erigor laughed and Naruto slightly zoned out. That voice. That scythe. It was all so familiar that it made Naruto's stomach turn. He knew who that man was. He was the one from his memories. The masked attacker who had stolen Virgo from him.

"It was you!" Naruto burst out in rage, his eyes glaring at Erigor with an intense fury. "You're the bastard who attacked me and took Virgo's key!"

"What?" Happy yelled with a scowl on his tiny face.

"Really? Now we have another reason to kick that jerk's ass!" Natsu added with fury, while Gray and Erza merely looked at Naruto with confusion.

Erigor leaned forward and studied Naruto only making a loud snort after a few moments. "Well if it isn't the little Heartfilia brat! You seem a little more lively than our last meeting." His eyes then narrowed onto the keys around Naruto's neck. "And looks like you got your little key back. I might just have to sell it a second time!"

"I'm a whole lot different than I was back then." Naruto shot back as Aquarius was already zipping into his hand to form a trident.

A member of the Eisenwald guild yelped at the sight of Aquarius in her weapon form. "Boss that trident! He's that famous Celestial Spirit wizard. They say he's blessed by the stars to use magic unlike any regular key user."

Erigor threw his head back in laughter. "Oh spare me! He's nothing besides a little coward who hides behind his spirit." Erigor flexed his arm and a small grin twisted onto his face. "But him being here does change things!"

Natsu took a step forward, flames growing wild as his temper rose. "What are you talking about, you bastard!"

Erigor tightened the grip on his scythe. "I've been wanting to carve that Heartfilia brat for years. So before I go use Lullaby to kill the assembled guild masters. I'll kill him first."

Erza's eyes went wide in horror. Realizing the true target of the man's plot. "We won't let you succeed Erigor!"

Gray joined Erza's side and the air around the station began to cool. "We're gonna stop you right here and now."

Wind flapping against Erigor's clothing. The dark wizard looked almost excited. "Oh I sure hope you try!"

Naruto's grip tightened on Aquarius as Erigor's taunting laughter filled the station. The memory of that day. That awful day where Virgo's key was ripped from his hands. Was fresh in his mind, and his blood boiled at the sight of Erigor.

"You're going to regret ever messing with me!" Naruto shouted as he charged forward, his trident glowing with celestial energy.

Erigor leaped from his perch, scythe spinning in his hand, a gust of wind swirling around him as he prepared to meet Naruto's attack. "You haven't learned a thing, brat. Let me show you what real power looks like!"

Naruto's trident collided with Erigor's scythe, the impact sending a shockwave through the station. Water spiraled from Aquarius' trident, clashing with the wind surrounding Erigor, creating a chaotic swirl of elemental forces.

"You think you can stand against me with that little toy?" Erigor sneered, pushing back against Naruto's attack. "You'll always be the weak kid who hides behind his Spirits."

"I'm not hiding behind anyone!" Naruto growled. He pushed harder, the trident glowing brighter as the water began to form a massive wave around them. With a mighty swing, Naruto unleashed a torrent of water, forcing Erigor to leap back to avoid being swept away.

As Naruto and Erigor clashed, the rest of Fairy Tail was already locked in battle with Eisenwald's members.

"Natsu, Gray, take care of them!" Erza ordered as she transformed into her Heaven's Wheel armor, dozens of swords materializing in the air around her. She launched them at the dark guild wizards, forcing several to retreat. "I'll cover you!"

Natsu grinned, the flames from his fists flaring to life. "Finally! Time to burn these guys down!" He charged headfirst into the fray, fists blazing as he delivered a fiery punch to an unsuspecting Eisenwald wizard, sending him crashing into the wall.

Gray was right behind him, ice forming around his hands. "Don't go stealing all the fun, flame-brain!" He unleashed a barrage of ice shards at a group of Eisenwald members, freezing several of them in place.

Meanwhile, Naruto continued his fight with Erigor, each strike of the trident met with the deadly slash of the scythe. Erigor's wind magic whipped around them, trying to overpower the waves created by Aquarius. But Naruto wasn't backing down.

"How does it feel to be outmatched again, Heartfilia?" Erigor taunted, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You were never strong enough to protect your Spirits!"

Naruto's eyes blazed with fury. "I'm not the same person I was back then!"

With a burst of power, Naruto thrust his trident forward, water exploding from its tip in a massive tidal wave that crashed into Erigor, sending him flying across the station. The force of the attack left cracks in the floor beneath them.

Erigor coughed as he stood, wiping blood from his mouth. "Impressive… but not enough." He raised his scythe, and the air around him darkened as he summoned a massive gust of wind, spiraling into a deadly tornado. "Let's see you handle this!"

Naruto braced himself, but before he could react, the tornado began tearing through the station, ripping apart everything in its path. The roof of the station groaned as the wind howled, debris flying everywhere. Even some members of Erigor's guild was got in the line of fire.

"Naruto!" Erza shouted, but she was too busy fending off the other Eisenwald wizards to help.

Naruto gritted his teeth, his blue eyes glowing with determination. "Aquarius, let's end this!" He raised the trident high above his head, and a massive sphere of water formed at its tip, shimmering with celestial light.

With a powerful swing, Naruto hurled the water sphere into the tornado. As the two forces collided, the water overwhelmed the wind, extinguishing the tornado in a violent explosion of steam. When the mist cleared, Erigor was on the ground, breathing heavily, his scythe held beside him. Yet Naruto was nowhere to be seen.

"Well it looks like he was all talk!" Erigor growled as he stood tall. "Starblessed my ass-."

The man was halted by a long whip constricting around his neck. Erigor's eyes glancing upwards in horror to find Naruto floating above. Aquarius held firmly in one hand, while his other hand held Virgo.

"Natsu!" Naruto roared loudly as he flexed his muscles and slung Erigor to the Dragon Slayer. "I got one coming your way!"

A look of pure excitement covering his face. Natsu's voice rang out from across the station. "And I'll send him right back!" The Dragon Slayer leapt into the air, flames covering his entire body. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

Natsu's flaming punch landed squarely on Erigor's chest, sending him flying upwards. Where Naruto who zipped across the air appeared above to deliver a strong ax kick to the man's temple. Knocking him unconscious to the station's floor with a loud crash.

Naruto then landed beside Natsu and exchanged his friend a quick high five. Both wizards grinning at the pile of defeated dark wizards.

As the dust settled and the last of the Eisenwald members were defeated, the Fairy Tail wizards stood victorious in the now-ruined station. Natsu wiped sweat from his brow, a satisfied grin on his face. "That'll teach them to mess with us."

Gray leaned against a broken pillar, his arms crossed. "Took longer than expected, but we got the job done."

Erza sheathed her sword, her gaze still sharp as she scanned the station. "Stay alert. We can't afford to let our guard down. We still have to secure the Lullaby."

Naruto twirled his trident before letting it dissolve into light, Aquarius returning to the Celestial Spirit World along with Virgo. Feeling the tension in his body ease as the immediate danger passed. "Where is the Lullaby?" he asked, glancing around at his friends.

Before Erza could respond, a low, menacing laugh echoed through the station. One of the Eisenwald members, beaten and bruised, managed to pull himself up, a twisted grin on his face. "You think you've won?"

Erza's eyes narrowed, stepping closer. "What are you talking about?"

The Eisenwald wizard chuckled darkly, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "You Fairy Tail fools were so focused on us… you didn't notice one of us slip out of the station."

Naruto's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

The man smirked, his eyes gleaming with malicious triumph. "While you were busy fighting us here, one of our members slipped away with the flute. He's on his way to the conference of the Guild Masters as we speak. Lullaby will kill them all."

Erza's face paled. "No…"

The Eisenwald wizard laughed louder, enjoying their shock. "By the time you get there, it'll be too late. All those Guild Masters wiped out in one blow. Eisenwald will make history!"

Natsu's fists clenched, flames already flickering around his knuckles. "You son of a-!"

But before he could finish, Erza barked out orders, her voice steady despite the urgency. "We need to move! Now! We cannot let Lullaby reach the Guild Masters!"

Gray nodded, his serious expression returning. "We can't waste any time. Let's go."

Without another word, the group took off running, the urgency of the situation pushing them to move faster than they had before. The station behind them lay in ruins, but none of them cared anymore. Their master was in danger and that was what truly mattered.

The Fairy Tail wizards sprinted through the dark forest. Their breaths ragged as the urgency pressed on them. The night had fully descended by the time they arrived at the grand hall where the Guild Masters' conference was taking place. A faint glow spilled out from the windows, casting long shadows across the ground.

Naruto's heart raced, thoughts of Makarov swirling in his mind. Praying that the man who had given him a home was safe.

Erza led the group to the entrance, her usually calm demeanor replaced by a rare expression of worry. "We must be cautious, but swift."

Yet as they drew closer they saw Makarov, his usual carefree smile gone, replaced by a firm expression of resolve. He was seated on a small stump outside of the meeting hall with a mug of ale in his tiny hands.

Across from him stood the Eisenwald wizard holding the cursed flute, Lullaby, in trembling hands.

Makarov's calm voice filled the air as he spoke. "I understand what you're feeling, lad. That weight of wanting power, of wanting to make a mark on the world. But this…" He gestured to the cursed flute. "This isn't the way."

The wizard's hands shook as he gripped Lullaby tighter, his face a mixture of fear and determination. "You don't know what it's like. Eisenwald… they promised me I'd be remembered. That I could-."

"Change the world?" Makarov finished for him, stepping closer but keeping his hands open and non-threatening. "Lad, the kind of change you seek will leave nothing but destruction in its wake. There will be no one left to remember you."

Naruto, Natsu, Gray, and Erza stood frozen at the back, watching the scene unfold. Naruto's eyes flickered to Lullaby, its presence radiating a dark, oppressive aura. He clenched his fists, knowing how powerful and dangerous the cursed artifact was.

The dark wizard looked down at the flute, his resolve cracking. "But… I've already come this far…"

"What's your name my boy?"

"... Kageyama."

"Well Kageyama. You don't have to go any further." Makarov said, his voice filled with a kind of paternal warmth. "You still have a choice. It's not too late to step back."

Kageyama's breath hitched, tears brimming in his eyes. For a brief moment, his grip on Lullaby loosened, but just as Kageyama began to lower the flute, an ominous, eerie wind blew through the area. The air turned heavy, and a low, guttural sound emerged from the flute. Makarov's eyes widened in alarm.

"I will kill you all!" Lullaby roared with a life of its own.

"No!" Kageyama gasped, his hands tightening around the flute again as if it were acting on its own. "This isn't right!"

Before anyone could react, the cursed artifact pulsed with dark energy, and from it, a monstrous, grotesque figure began to emerge. The Lullaby demon, a twisted, wooden skeletal creature with enormous size and hollow eyes, ripped free from the flute, towering over the nearby hall. Its voice was a deep, echoing growl that reverberated through the forest.

"I am Lullaby, born of destruction. I shall devour the souls of all those who stand before me!"

The Guild Masters stumbled outside, their faces pale with terror as the demon spread its wings, its hollow gaze locking onto them. Makarov, unflinching, stepped forward, his gaze hard as stone. "You're not taking anyone's soul tonight."

Makarov's eyes then floated back to his wizards, giving them all a nod.

Erza, Natsu, Gray, and Naruto snapped into action, charging forward. "We've got your back, Master!" Natsu shouted, flames already igniting around his fists.

Naruto summoned Aquarius, her trident forming instantly in his hand. He grit his teeth, adrenaline surging through his veins. "We'll take this thing down, no matter what!"

Kageyama, now freed from the cursed flute's influence, collapsed to the floor, staring up at the demon in horror. "What… what have I done…?"

The Lullaby demon let out a deafening roar, lunging toward the Guild Masters, its claws outstretched. But Erza reequipped into her Heaven's Wheel armor, sending a barrage of swords to intercept the attack. "Get back!" She commanded the Guild Masters, her eyes fierce.

Natsu leaped forward with a battle cry, fire blazing around him. "You're gonna regret coming out of that flute!" He threw a punch into the demon's side, the flames erupting on impact and burning its wooden body.

Naruto, thrusting Aquarius's trident forward, sent a powerful torrent of water crashing into the demon's other side. "Gray back me up!"

Gray was right behind him. Using his magic to freeze the water from Naruto's attack, which left a large section of the demon immobilized. "Nice job Naruto!"

Grinning like a madman, Naruto zipped around the demon's large body. "Don't mention it!" Naruto called back as he reached the height of the demon's head. A figure of a dragon's head with an elongated body forming around his body. "Still let's end this overgrown weed!"

"Who are you calling a weed human!"

"I'm talking to you!" Naruto called back as the water dragon began to swirl around his body and grow in size. "Natsu! Gray! Erza! Let's hit this bastard hard!"

"Hell yeah!" Natsu yelled before taking a massive inhale. Fire puffing from his lips as he called out. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"

Gray watching Natsu's steam of fire knock the demon back grinned. "Ice Make: Bazooka!"

Lullaby smacked with a massive chunk of ice didn't get time to recover, as Erza shifting armors flew around the battlefield. Her massive sword severing weak points in the demon and knocking it off balance.

"End this Naruto!" Erza yelled out as she came to a stop in her assault

Naruto grinned ear to ear and pointed his trident down. "Celestial Water Dragon!" Naruto roared loudly as his creation flew straight through Lullaby's body. Only turning around to take a massive bite from its demonic head. Making the large demon of Zeref fall over onto its backside. Landing directly on the empty meeting hall for the guild masters.

The impact shook the ground as the Lullaby demon screeched, its body crumbling under the force. In a final, agonizing wail, the demon dissolved into nothingness, its dark essence dissipating into the night air.

The forest fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the wizards and the faint echo of the demon's last cry.

Naruto floated down and collapsed to one knee, panting, but relief washed over him. "It's… over."

His trident flickering into light took the shape of Aquarius in her miniature form. Who lingered on Naruto's shoulder with a look of slight concern.

"We did it!" Natsu cheered as he rushed to Naruto's side. "And that attack was awesome!"

Gray smirked and joined the group. "Yeah, not bad."

Erza holding her hands out, helped Naruto to his feet. "We all made quite the team today."

Naruto nodded and stood tall. "Yeah we did."

Makarov stood tall, arms spread wide in a gesture of pure pride. "And that, my fellow guild masters, is why Fairy Tail is number one!" His grin stretched from ear to ear, completely oblivious to the destruction his wizards had just caused.

The other guild masters, still shaken from the battle, exchanged glances. One of the older masters, a grizzled man with a pointed hat sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Makarov, your guild may have saved us from that demon, but I'm pretty sure your 'children' did more damage to this place than the demon would have."

A woman with sharp eyes and crossed arms nodded in agreement. "You say you're number one, but it looks like your guild's specialty is destruction. This place is in ruins."

Natsu, puffing out his chest, didn't seem to care. "Who cares about a few broken buildings? We won, didn't we?"

Gray gave him a sideways glance. "I think it's more than just a few broken buildings, flame-brain. You set the forest on fire."

"Shut it, ice block!"

"Enough!" Erza's commanding voice cut through their bickering, and both wizards immediately fell silent.

Makarov, however, was still basking in the afterglow of victory. "Buildings can be rebuilt, but the spirit of Fairy Tail is invincible!"

Just as the guild masters were about to continue their complaints, a familiar voice echoed from the forest edge. "Hold it right there!"

The sound of clanking armor and authoritative voices grew louder as a squad of Rune Knights emerged from the trees, led by an officer with a very stern expression. His gaze swept over the battlefield, eyes narrowing at the destruction around him. "Fairy Tail... what in the world did you do this time?"

Makarov paled slightly, his grin faltering as the Rune Knights closed in. "Ah… well, you see, it was all in the name of saving the guild masters from a terrible curse!"

The officer didn't seem convinced. He pointed at the rubble and broken walls surrounding them. "You call this saving people? Looks more like you destroyed half the forest and most of the building!"

Natsu rubbed the back of his head, laughing nervously. "Heh, we kinda got carried away."

Gray crossed his arms and smirked. "Told you."

The officer sighed heavily. "I don't care who you saved. You can't just go around causing this kind of damage without consequences. We also got reports you assaulted an officer and demolished a train station."

Naruto gulped, glancing over at Erza, who, for the first time in the battle, looked a bit nervous. "Uh, Master… what do we do?"

Makarov, in classic Fairy Tail fashion, quickly shifted his expression from prideful to sheepish. "Well, my children, it looks like it's time for a strategic retreat."

Erza's eyes widened. "Master, we can't just-."

But before she could finish, Makarov had already bolted, moving surprisingly fast for his small stature. "Run, my children! We'll deal with the paperwork later!"

Natsu, Gray, and Naruto blinked in confusion for a moment before realizing what was happening. "RUN!" Natsu yelled, grabbing Happy as they all took off after Makarov.

The Rune Knights gave chase, their shouts echoing through the forest. "Get back here! You can't just run away!"

Erza, with her usual sense of duty, sighed but still followed after her guildmates. "I can't believe we're doing this… again."

Naruto, grinning despite the situation, ran alongside her. "Hey, at least we won, right?"

Aquarius flew beside him and shot Naruto a sideways glance. "Victory isn't the point if we end up in jail."

As the group sprinted through the forest, the sounds of the Rune Knights grew fainter, their footsteps echoing in the night. Makarov's laughter, however, could still be heard, carrying through the trees as they made their escape.

"We'll fix everything tomorrow!" Makarov shouted over his shoulder, clearly having the time of his life.

Naruto couldn't help but laugh, adrenaline still rushing through him. "Just another day in Fairy Tail!"

The night ended with the Fairy Tail wizards disappearing into the darkness, leaving behind a trail of chaos, victory, and more than a few confused Rune Knights.

In a dimly lit room, the soft glow of candlelight flickered against the walls, casting long shadows that danced in the corners. A lone figure sat by a wooden desk, her posture regal yet relaxed. The light revealed only glimpses of her pale hands, delicate fingers, and long green hair that fell over her shoulders like cascading ivy.

Her piercing emerald eyes scanned the newspaper in front of her. The headline was bold, jumping off the page: "Fairy Tail Wizards Stop Lullaby Demon!" Beneath it, the subheading spoke of chaos and destruction, of a dark guild brought to justice by the infamous Fairy Tail.

The figure's lips twitched into a faint frown as she sipped her tea, completely unfazed by the drama described in the article. Her focus was on one particular name, buried halfway down the page.

"Naruto Starblessed."

She traced the name with her finger, her green eyes narrowing in thought. "So, you're a Fairy Tail wizard. " She murmured to herself. The article described him as a Celestial Spirit wizard of rare talent, wielding powers unlike any other. But it was more than his abilities that caught her attention. It was his heritage. A Heartfilia, tied to the Celestial Spirit Aquarius.

Her fingers lightly tapped the wooden surface of her desk as she read on.

"Naruto Heartfilia, known as Naruto Starblessed, wielded the power of the stars to vanquish the cursed demon Lullaby, alongside his Fairy Tail comrades. Eyewitnesses described his magic as 'otherworldly,' capable of summoning a powerful water dragon to deliver the final blow. Rumors say he inherited his key from his mother Layla Heartfilia..."

The figure crushed the paper in her hands. "What a goddamn joke." Her gaze grew distant, memories flickering through her mind like old film reels. "So, Layla's legacy lives on through him."

As she read further, the details of the fight against Lullaby became less important to her. What mattered now was this boy. A rising star in a guild notorious for its chaos. But unlike his loud, brash companions, there was something deeper, something personal about him. Something that resonated with her.

The figure leaned back in her chair, tossing the newspaper with little care. "I wonder…" She mused softly, her fingers brushing a strand of green hair from her face. "If you're as vile as your wicked mother?"

Her eyes glittered in the candlelight as she stood, her flowing cloak sweeping the floor. She moved gracefully across the room to a tall window, where the night sky stretched above, filled with stars. Her gaze settled on a single constellation, shining brighter than the others.

"Like it matters." The girl began as her voice grew a slight edge. "Vile or not. I'm going to kill you."

(Chapter End)

And here is another chapter done. Hope you enjoyed it. I tried to make it different from cannon, but some things needs to happen to progress the story forward. For this example Naruto and the gang making a mess to earn someone's attention. And yes after hearing everyone out from last update. The pairing will stay as Brandish. Anyway leave a review and tell me what you think and I'll see you next time.