PART ONE. Realization

September 12th, Akane Beach Railway Station

As minutes passed by on the large circular clock inside of the train station, Natsu Dragneel had calmly tapped his foot against the floor.

The Dragon Slayer sat on one of the benches on the westbound platform; they would be taking the train back to Hargeon, and from there to Magnolia. A journey that amounted to a total of six or so hours. He estimated they would arrive later in the afternoon.

He'd woken up early in the morning, far earlier than the others for that matter. After waking up Happy as he trained rather vigorously, he'd taken a shower, gotten dressed, and packed his things. He was ready to go home.

Natsu didn't really pay attention to the fact that Happy had largely kept to himself, only occasionally catching the blue cat watching him curiously, but otherwise staying quiet. It had been like that for the remainder of their stay at Akane Resort as well. And not just with Happy.

Since he'd abruptly left dinner a few days back, feigning tiredness so he could brood in private, the others had seemed to be walking on eggshells when they were around him. Well, with the exception of Gray, of course. However, Natsu had noticed the distinct lack of insults being thrown his way after he'd left them behind in the lounge. Perhaps Gray was being cautious as well, just in his own way.

Whatever the case, Natsu hadn't intended to put a damper on his friends' vacation. He just couldn't bring himself to be as lively as he once was. Not with everything that was on his mind.

After packing, he ate a rather quiet breakfast with Happy and waited in the lobby for the others to come down and check out. Together, the whole team had set out to the train station where they were currently waiting for the next ride to Hargeon.

Lucy and Gray had stood by the edge of the platform just a short distance from Natsu and Happy, and Erza was currently speaking to the woman behind the ticket booth. The general mood wasn't exactly tense, but it certainly didn't hold its usual warmth, either. At least, it didn't for Natsu. But then again, he only had himself to blame for that.

Natsu for his part simply stared a hole into the concrete platform itself, and reflected on his failed duel with Fukuro, the owl wizard from Death's Head Caucus.

The bitter taste of inner shame had washed over him as he recalled just how easily he'd been taken out by the assassin. It had been a bad matchup to be sure, especially since Fukuro had done his homework on him in the first place, actually knowing about his motion sickness and using it to his advantage. It stung even more as he already knew that Gray of all people had to step in and finish the job, effectively cleaning up Natsu's trash. Another mark to add to his recent list of failures.

What could I have done differently?

Fukuro had been fast, but not that fast on his own. He'd relied on his jetpack for the most part.

Had it been possible for him to avoid the jetpack? Of course, but Natsu hadn't anticipated the mechanical hands that the device seemed to have. What sort of jetpack has hands anyways? He wondered, mostly frustrated as he looked back on it all.

Could he have kept his distance? But then how would he attack? None of his spells, save his roar at least, were particularly long-ranged. And even then it would usually take him a few seconds to inhale the air around him to get it ready. Longer if his magic reserves were running low.

Igneel had only ever taught him spells that focused solely on melee combat. His father loved to fight after all. He could afford to get in close and personal.

That might work for a dragon… but what about for a human? Natsu had figured out the hard way that he simply had much different limitations than a dragon. He was smaller, weaker, frailer. Clearly more susceptible to pain and injury. As much as Natsu enjoyed fighting close quarters… he knew that he had to adapt from this recent loss. Something had to be done.

What if… A flash of inspiration struck him. A rough, but galvanizing idea began to take shape. What if he made a spell that could address this impediment? Could he pull it off? And if he could, then how?

Truthfully, he didn't really know how much having a longer-ranged spell would help in the long run. But it was something he could latch onto, something he could improve on. And at this point, he was willing to take whatever he could get. Natsu was determined to make it work. He'd seen the Stripper make spears and lances out of ice, and he'd seen Erza rotate between various weapons; breaking the curse on Galuna Island had immediately come to mind. Natsu had used his magic to increase the velocity of Erza's spear. Who was to say he couldn't create a spell that could mimic the spear itself, though? It wouldn't hurt to give it a shot.

That said, Natsu knew that his lack of range hadn't been the core issue at hand. It was something he'd neglected to deal with over the years which had clearly come back to bite him in the ass.

His motion sickness had gotten him in the end. The weakness by itself hadn't presented any problems before, but now?

Fukuro had known about it. And if he knew, then others must as well. They'd try to take advantage of it if he gave them the chance.

Natsu did not want to end up in a situation like that ever again. The feeling of being completely helpless while others needed him only made him simmer with renewed anger. No, something had to be done about his motion sickness.

Was there a way he could get over it? And if so, how could he pull it off?

"Natsu?"

Broken out of his musings, Natsu glanced down at the blue cat who sat next to him. Happy was staring at him with a look that bordered between concern and confusion.

"Yeah buddy?"

"What's wrong with you?"

He shouldn't have been so surprised at how blunt Happy had been with his question. After all, Natsu had raised him ever since he'd hatched from his egg. The Dragon Slayer scratched the back of his head and looked away.

"Nothing." He said. "Just thinking."

Happy frowned. "Why though?" He asked. "What's going on?"

Natsu, not wanting to explain himself, gave his friend a hard look. "Happy. Leave it."

The Exceed hadn't replied, obviously getting the hint that Natsu hadn't wanted to talk about it. Happy pouted and folded his arms, looking away at the tracks.

Natsu let out a quiet breath, letting the awkward silence hang in the air. He glanced to his right, looking down the tracks that led to the smaller coastal towns and villages to the east. He squinted when he saw a small, black plume of smoke rise in the far distance. Nobody else had taken notice of it, of course. They couldn't see as well as he could.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMPHHHHH! The train roared as it applied the brakes on the tracks. People gathered on the platform had stood up from their seats.

A few minutes later, the train pulled into the station, coming to a complete halt. Natsu got up and slung his pack over his shoulders before walking over to Erza and the others. Happy followed close behind him.

They waited for the people on the train to get off before boarding. The five of them quickly found an empty car and put away their luggage on the racks above their seats before sitting down. Instinctively, Natsu felt his gut squeeze uncomfortably in anticipation for what would come next.

Gray and Lucy had sat in the two seats on the opposite side of the car, with Happy resting next to the blonde. Meanwhile Natsu found himself sitting between the window and Erza.

This was their usual seating arrangement since they'd gone out on so many jobs together. Natsu mostly slept whenever they had to ride the train, either in his seat, or with his head on Erza's lap. All so he could avoid the queasy sensation that would build up in his stomach and make the world spin around him.

BRRRRRRRRRRRMMMPHHHHH! The train blasted its horn again as it started forward and began to pick up speed. Natsu immediately heard a sharp, whistling sound that tried to penetrate his eardrums, his vision beginning to whirl into a violent vortex of sounds and colors. He broke out into a cold sweat and leaned forward, posting his elbows on his knees just to keep himself upright.

His insides lurched and gurgled, threatening to come up out of his throat like the Etherion had. His hands were clammy all of the sudden.

"Natsu, come here," He heard Erza's voice even through the loud howling sound in his ears. It didn't sound like a demand like usual, more like she was asking him politely. He felt her hand touch his shoulder and pull him closer.

A part of him was yelling for him to obey. To take the easy way out and just rest his head on Erza's lap. It wasn't like he hadn't done this before, right? Maybe he could just…

No. He told himself. Somehow, he found the strength to lift his arm and gently push Erza's hand away. He shook his head, kept himself upright, and tried to steady his breathing. You're going to get over this. You're going to get accustomed to it. You're going to adapt to it…

One way or another.

Six hours later

The ride back to Magnolia had been comfortable, but silent.

As the train came to a halt in the railway station placed along the town's southern edges, Erza Scarlet had watched the shifting clouds in the sky through the window of their car, and had unconsciously measured the position of the sun. She didn't need a clock to tell her it was early in the afternoon.

By now, plenty of the townsfolk who had their normal, every day jobs would be breaking from lunch and getting back to work. Within a few hours they'd go home and prepare for dinner, relax for the evening, and then head off to bed.

She liked the homely feeling she got from this town. The residents and shopkeepers always made her feel welcome, regardless of the changing seasons, or even if there had been some sort of tragedy that took place in recent times. Even after the battle with Phantom Lord, these people still opened their doors and smiled at her and her comrades.

Erza watched as her friends got up from their seats. As if a switch had been flicked, Natsu had been the first one on his feet. He grabbed his pack, wiped his forehead clear of sweat, and strode out of the compartment. Lucy and Happy followed. Erza followed behind Gray out into the long hallway, though her mind was currently elsewhere. She wasn't even paying attention to the ice wizard when he'd thoughtlessly taken off his shirt and left it on the floor of the train.

The Knight had breathed in the fresh afternoon air as she stepped out onto the platform, her mind wandering to the guild and what they'd been up to as of late. It had only been roughly two weeks since she and her team left for Akane Resort, but in her mind, it felt as if years had passed by.

Had they finished the new guild hall while she and the others were away? Erza hoped so, though she was willing to get to work if that hadn't been the case.

"Gray! You're not wearing a shirt!"

Erza was brought back to the present by Lucy's half-shriek as they made their way along the train platform. The blonde was practically glaring at the ice wizard.

Gray, for his part, had only now just noticed he was half-naked. "What?" he looked down, only slightly surprised. "Ah, shit."

"That's all you have to say? You were literally wearing a shirt not two minutes ago!"

"Well, it's not like I can't-"

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMPPPHHHHHHHH! The train blasted out its horn once again as passengers had finished boarding. It picked up speed, and started chugging along down the tracks once more. And with it, Gray's shirt.

"Fuck." The Ice-Make mage smoothed back his hair, giving the train a mildly frustrated glance as it began to fade away into the distance. "Well, I've got another one anyways."

The group stopped for a few moments while Gray opened up his pack and found a sweater. Then they continued on out of the station and into Magnolia Town itself, quickly finding their way to South Gate Park.

Erza found herself by the rear of the group. A rather uncommon position given that she'd been considered the de-facto leader of their team by the others. She wasn't concerned about it, however. It gave her the chance to take a step back and reflect on the last few weeks, and on how her teammates were doing.

Both Lucy and Gray had taken their excursion to the tower rather well. Erza was proud of them both for having respectively defeated two powerful assassins from a renowned dark guild. Meanwhile Happy had been up to his usual antics as always, though he seemed slightly more dejected today than days prior.

Erza would hazard a guess at what the cause had ultimately been.

Natsu silently led the group from the front. It hadn't taken a genius to know that something was off with him. Though Erza had been slightly hurt by his rejection to lay his head on her lap earlier on the train, she forced herself to look past it and focus on the problem at hand.

She knew his unusual behavior had to have been related to what happened at the tower. What she didn't know was the specifics behind his sudden change.

Was it his fight with the assassin Gray defeated? Or was it when he'd fought Jellal?

The redhead could understand the potential reasoning behind the first example. Both Natsu and Gray were highly competitive, especially when put up against one another. She wouldn't have blamed him for taking the defeat especially hard, as Gray had to come in and finish the job.

But hadn't he redeemed himself when he faced down Jellal? Natsu had won in the end. Even if Jellal seemed to be the more powerful of the two initially.

She racked her mind for any possible explanation, but nothing came up. What possible reason could Natsu have for being upset at his victory over a Wizard Saint? Wasn't fighting the thing he lived for? Wouldn't he celebrate over it?

The rest of their team had noticed it too. But Erza supposed that both Gray and Lucy were operating under the assumption that Natsu's strange behavior would eventually pass, and he'd be back to being the happy-go-lucky Dragon Slayer he usually was. They probably think he's still sick.

Erza, however, was not as optimistic. Whenever Natsu lost fights in the past, he'd always stay the same. Whether it was her he'd challenged, or Mira, or Laxus, or even Gildarts for that matter, he'd shrug it off like it was nothing and even come back for more.

But now? Him staying isolated in his hotel room was an obvious factor, but Happy had also informed them that Natsu rarely ate, slept, and that he was training when he should've been resting. None of them knew how to proceed with confronting him, since his newly stoic demeanor was enough for them to deal with.

Why change now, though? Because they'd been caught off guard in the hotel? Or because their lives had been threatened for real this time around?

Whatever the case, Erza wanted to find out what was bothering Natsu deep down. If only so she could help him. He was a member of their team after all.

And because he ate the Etherion. He was willing to die just so he could save you, a traitorous voice spoke up from within her head.

She forced it back down, however, and rationalized the ridiculous, but admittedly heroic deed as something he might've done for anyone else on their team.

South Gate Park was quickly put behind the group of five. They soon made their way into the center of town, with Kardia Cathedral being visible at the far end of the street as they came upon the next intersection.

"I don't know if it's because we almost died a few weeks ago, but everything just seems… nicer around here." Lucy said warmly.

"Maybe you just lost weight and you're finally seeing the world as healthy people see it." Happy quipped.

"Excuse me?!"

The blue cat hadn't seemed to notice the blonde's outburst. "You were fat before and because of that, everything was dark and depressing. Now that you've lost weight, everything is bright and nice."

Lucy almost growled. "I wasn't fat! Where do you get off saying things like that?!"

"Why are you mad at me? I just complimented you for slimming down."

The bickering between the two had subsequently broken out into an argument. Both Natsu and Gray seemed entirely disinterested in what was taking place, while Erza found herself slowly itching to go to her favorite cake shop in town.

It was like this often enough when they went out on jobs, but now Erza had been broken out of her musings once again, and that the two of them were beginning to draw more and more attention to themselves from the townsfolk passing by on the street, Erza figured it was time to lay down the law.

Just before she could say anything, however, Happy had bolted away from Lucy and ran up to Natsu's side.

"Natsu~! Lucy keeps insulting me even though I complimented her! She's being mean!"

The blonde pouted in response. "Well maybe if you hadn't called me fat, we wouldn't be doing this!"

Natsu came to a complete halt as they arrived at the intersection. He half-turned to face the rest of them, his face a mask of calmed anger. He narrowed his onyx eyes and first looked down at Happy, and then at Lucy.

There was a cold, silent fury behind those draconic eyes. Erza knew it all too well. It was similar to the stern, dangerous glare that Master Makarov would wear when he actually got serious about something.

"Both of you." He began, his voice firm. "Shut up!"

The simple command had completely demolished the bitter atmosphere between the blonde and the cat. And it had absolutely floored Erza.

Here was a man she'd known for the better part of her life, always playing the carefree Dragon Slayer she knew him to be. Usually he'd just ignored these occasional small-time spats between their companions, but now he'd just gone and effortlessly slipped into the role of the stern and disciplined parent.

Natsu…

"Now apologize to each other. Right now."

Both Lucy and Happy did a brief double take themselves before sheepishly looking at one another and mumbling their apologies.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear you both." Natsu said, clearly playing it off as if he hadn't heard them with his enhanced hearing. Even Erza knew he heard things most others couldn't.

The two were louder as they spoke clearly to one another this time. "I'm sorry." They said at the same time.

"Good." Natsu glanced down the left road now. His expression morphed back into one of disinterest. "I'm gonna head home for the day. You guys go to the guild if you like."

Erza had finally recovered from her shock. She stepped forward, putting force into her voice. "Natsu, Master Makarov will be expecting us to report in."

It was barely a reason at all, but she had to say something to get him to stick around so she could continue observing his behavior.

However, her attempt did not quite have the effect she'd wanted. "You can tell him yourself then, Erza." The Dragon Slayer said off-handedly, then looking down at Happy. "You coming with? Or do you want to go see the guild?"

Happy seemed to contemplate what he'd say to the stranger standing in front of him. After a few moments, he'd looked up and matched Natsu's gaze. "I'll go to the guild."

"Cool." The reply was effortless, as if the voice behind it was going to say it regardless of the answer. Natsu looked at the rest of them one more time before nodding. "See you guys later." He said, and then marched off in the opposite road to the east. Erza knew that both his and Happy's house was in the eastern forest, so that clearly must've been where he was going.

The Knight, for one exceedingly rare moment, was totally dumbfounded by what had just happened. So too were her companions since they all stood there, in the middle of the street watching Natsu's back as he strode down the main road.

Gray was the first to break the tension. "To be fair, you guys were making a racket."

Lucy punched him in the arm.

With an awkward silence beginning to set in, Erza took the lead and went down the west road in the direction of Fairy Tail's guild hall.

What is going on with you, Natsu?

Tick, tick, tick, tick…

It was roughly an hour later. Erza sat with the Master's Office in the new and improved Fairy Tail guild building.

After Natsu had left them in the streets of Magnolia, none of them had spoken a word to each other until they reached the gigantic, sprawling castle-esque structure that was now their new home. It was so fantastically different from the previously demolished building that they could only marvel at it.

They were greeted quickly by Max who, for some reason, managed the souvenir shop outside of the front gates (Erza wasn't entirely sure on why Fairy Tail needed a souvenir shop to begin with). He showed them inside, where Mira was all too happy to receive them. The barmaid had waved them over and gave them a quick tour of the new guildhall. All the while a grand brawl had been raging across the main floor in the background.

Some things never change, Erza thought with a brief, guilty smile. The difference in atmosphere was a much needed reprieve to their rather perplexing morning and early afternoon.

She was pleased to see some of the new additions; namely the open cafe where she'd imagined herself ordering tea and strawberry cake, and being able to enjoy both without interruption. The swimming pool was nice, but as for the arcade in the basement… Erza felt it was unneeded. It promoted far too much laziness, when this place was meant to be a guild for wizards to seek and acquire work. Again, however, she knew in the end she'd spend very little time in the basement area. So she quickly managed to put it out of her mind.

They were also met with a newly recovered Juvia, who was now a proud member of Fairy Tail. She joined up with them as they toured the new guildhall, occasionally remarking on Gray's clothing before giving Lucy a deadly glare.

And as a side note: Erza's confusion about why the blue-haired young woman had been in Akane Resort was swiftly answered by her clear attachment to Gray.

After the tour was over, Team Natsu (minus Natsu himself) had unanimously decided to split up. Gray and Juvia joined in the guildwide brawl, while Lucy and Happy quickly made amends for their earlier spat and went to the cafe together. Erza, meanwhile, had asked Mira as to where Master Makarov was. Having been told he was in his office, she decided to go speak to him in private.

And now, here she was, having just finished her rather thorough explanation of events during her team's raid on the Tower of Heaven. Makarov had largely kept silent as she went over everything, with him only adopting a rather serious look when she mentioned how the tower was hit with Etherion, Simon's sacrifice, and how Natsu took it upon himself to confront a Wizard Saint and save her from certain death, twice.

When she was finished, he grunted before turning his chair to face the window on the right side of the room. The old man was looking at the clouds in the sky, clearly reflecting on the story she'd told him.

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick… She smiled at the intrusion of the grandfather clock that rested on the left half of the office. It made her feel like she was back in her room at Fairy Hills on a warm winter's evening, enjoying a mug of hot chocolate on the couch while she read one of her favorite adventure books as it snowed outside.

"You probably heard about the news on your way back here," The old man grumbled, having swiveled his chair back so he was facing her. "The Magic Council has been disbanded due to this whole fiasco, at least for the moment of course. Having not just one, but two infiltrators in the ranks has a nasty way of creating distrust between the other council members. I suspect they'll be back rather soon, however."

"How do you know?" Erza asked. She'd heard about its disbandment from one of the workers at the Akane Beach Train Station, but not much else.

Makarov tapped his nose playfully and grinned. "Just a hunch, my dear." He said, waving the matter aside. "But anyway. The Magic Council is hardly important. What I want to know is how you five got out of there. And how you're all holding up."

Erza smiled back at the old man. While he was still a pervert at times, she knew he cared deeply for every single soul in the guild.

She started small. "I don't quite understand it myself. I did decide to merge with the lacrima so the others could have time to escape, but Natsu… well he got me out. Gave me a good scolding for doing so, too." She said, not noticing the faint dusting of pink on her cheeks as she mentioned the pink-haired Dragon Slayer. The memory of her waking up in his arms on Akane Beach had also come to the forefront of her mind.

"Hmph. Good. Would've done the same myself." Makarov commented, waving his hand for her to go on.

She did. "As for the tower not exploding… I could only speculate. I think Jellal might've had something to do with it."

"You think he came to his senses?"

"It's possible," She shrugged. "But I don't know for certain."

Makarov nodded. "Hmmm…" He put his hands behind his head and lay back against the chair, having already kicked up his feet onto the surface of his desk. There was a slight pause before he continued. "And how are you holding up?"

Erza thought of the answer before giving it. "I'm doing well."

"And the rest of your team? How about them?"

"Lucy and Gray are fine. They came out of it with little to no physical injury. I must also commend Juvia for her aid. Her help was unexpected, but exceptional."

Makarov nodded in approval. He gestured for her to continue.

She did. "Happy is fine as well." The Knight paused as she reached the final, absent member of their team. "And Natsu…"

The old man had removed his feet from his desk after having endured her pause for long enough. He sat forward, now with both hands planted on the table facing down.

The redhead knew that look all too well. She had his undivided attention now.

"Elaborate, Erza." Makarov asked. "What's the matter?"

I… don't know, was what she wanted to say.

Erza frowned as she thought of the best way to put it. She decided to simply describe the symptoms of the problem itself since she hadn't a single clue about the cause.

"Natsu… he's been acting… odd to say the least." She said, "At first we all assumed he was simply recovering from his sickness-the after effects of eating the Etherion. But as he recovered, it became apparent that something was wrong with him."

She was quick to defend her comrade after hearing her own words. "Not wrong with him as a person, of course! Just that… well… he was being withdrawn. He didn't communicate with us unless we spoke directly to him. Happy told us that he also wasn't resting when he was supposed to, and was training at God knows when in the morning. That was all he did, apparently. Day in, day out. It was like he wanted to avoid us for some reason."

"On the way here, he even snapped at Lucy and Happy. To be fair to him, they were arguing rather loudly. But even then, it was strange to see him so…" She tried to find the right word.

"Severe," Makarov had finished her sentence.

"Yes, severe." Erza said with a nod. She leaned forward slightly as she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. "Master, I'm worried about him. I don't know how to speak with him about this. I…" She trailed off, not knowing where to go from there.

For all of her experience in combat and with her magic, she never really understood people in general. In the past, her answer to Natsu's antics had been primarily with force. It was one of the only things he understood. Well, besides food, naturally.

Now, however, she was entering into completely new territory. Erza wasn't a fool. She knew damn well that between the two of them, Natsu had more than evened out the playing field. Were they to fight again, even just to spar, she knew he'd hold the slightest of edges over her. Regardless of if she wore her Flame Empress Armor or not.

Force wouldn't work with him anymore. The threat of it hadn't done anything to him back at the resort, and it certainly hadn't worked before he left them in the middle of town.

So what was there for her to do? Erza hated the feeling of helplessness. For all she knew, he needed her. Perhaps he just didn't know how to put it into words, or maybe he was simply too prideful to admit it. Whatever the case, she wanted to do something about it.

Makarov had listened attentively to her the whole time. Briefly, he glanced down at the desk and opened his mouth to speak.

"Erza… what do you think the problem is?" He asked.

She pursed her lips before speaking again. "I… I don't know." She admitted.

"Hmmmm…" The old man hummed. He pivoted his seat so he was facing the window again.

More silence hung in the air. The uncomfortable air was only lessened somewhat by the ticking of the grandfather clock. Otherwise, Erza found herself staring a hole into the bare coffee table.

Had she explained everything? Yes, she had. She distinctly remembered telling Master Makarov about Natsu's exploits during their raid on the tower. He knew everything she knew now.

But what exactly would come of it?

The Knight looked up as she heard the old man swivel his chair back around, facing her once again. What would his council be?

"You've done well, Erza. I'm proud of both you and the rest of your team for how you all handled things." He then got to the meat of the problem. "As for Natsu… I suggest that he be left alone in the meantime. Attempting to force him to come back to the guild, or to socialize at all for that matter, will only result in pushing him away."

What? Erza frowned. They had to do something! "But Master, I-"

"No buts, Erza." The old man shook his head. "Natsu is in a very… delicate place right now. He'll come around on his own, but you need to have faith."

Erza was at a loss. It sounded more like an order if anything.

A part of her wanted to pound her fists against the coffee table, stand up, and go out to find Natsu herself so she could give him a piece of her mind. Where did he get off doing this to the rest of them anyway? They were meant to be a team, after all!

But… soon she began to see the wisdom given to her from her guildmaster. She could see that plan totally backfiring. Nobody would benefit from it.

Resignedly, she sighed. At the very least, she was certain Natsu would come back. He had to.

"What…" Erza began hesitantly. "What is plaguing him then?"

"I don't know for sure." Makarov admitted. "However, I'll look more into the matter myself." He sat forward then, his voice becoming stern in a grandfatherly sort of way. "For now, however, you and the rest of your team must focus on recovering your strength. Rest, rest, and more rest. I will not take 'no' for an answer, Erza."

The redhead nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Of course, Master."

"Ask Mira for some cake before you head back to Fairy Hills for the day. You've earned it." He said, giving her her queue to leave.

Erza stood up from her spot on the couch. She made for the door and gave the old man one last nod before clicking it open.

Makarov watched as the door soon gently closed shut behind her, before rotating his chair for the third time and faced the wide open rectangular window in his office. The clouds outside were parting, and sun had hung just low enough to shine its rays into his workspace.

The aging guildmaster had thought grimly on the subject at hand and let out a tired sigh. He hated lying, especially to those under his care. Yet he knew that it had to be done. He didn't want to reveal what he suspected to Erza simply because he didn't want her to worry incessantly about the matter. She certainly wasn't happy regardless, but now she could focus on recovering.

He looked out the window again, and saw the slight tinge of orange on the horizon. The sun would set in a few hours.

Internally, he was reminded of a realization he'd first had when Precht gave him responsibility over Fairy Tail: every mage had to grow up at some point. And that went especially for someone like Natsu…

My thoughts are with you, Natsu… You're certainly in for a rude awakening.

Author's Note:

Hello again! Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Got a few things cooking up in the background already. We'll see where it goes.

Reviews:

Mastercheif1229: Thank you! Your kind words are appreciated.

YGReader: I can very much sympathize with you. I was never particularly happy with how Natsu was treated in canon personally.

I'm glad you gave me the benefit of the doubt with regards to Jellal. So I'll clarify my position here and you can come to your own conclusions.

As you say, my killing off Jellal in this story is 'pointless'. Well, I never really had plans for him in the first place, and I still don't. So his death being pointless or not isn't even relevant. But you likely didn't know that, so I won't hold it against you.

Even if I'd kept him alive, viewing him as competition for Natsu is unproductive in itself, however. Jellal, even if he wishes to repent, has still done terrible things to Erza (even if he'd been manipulated into doing so), while Natsu has consistently brought light, joy, and happiness into her life regardless of the hardships they endure together. From a critically thinking perspective, the choice is rather obvious. NatZa all the way.

I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter. Hope to see more of you soon enough!

Park Otsutsuki: I think it's pretty cool, too. Thank you.

OpSmile: Why thank you! Hats off to your picture, by the way.