I don't own anything.
A/N: I get to power scale with relatively vague information, hurray. Don't kill me either. Alright a weakened version of Ur was slamming Gray and Lyon when they were using purely ice make magic. That's important for one thing. We have somewhat of a power scale in this fight. If Ur in a weakened state was overpowering her two students who were at their prime with Ice Make Magic at the end of the series. That means she's significantly stronger than the pair throughout the entirety of pre-timeskip. We have something to help get her in a respectable place. At least hopefully, considering the enemies throughout the pre-timeskip process. I see her beating them but not getting past Hades. Which makes her on par or equal to Gildarts. The one thing that hampers him is his lack of control. Which hampers his ability to go all out because of how destructive it is. She knows how powerful he is now and how much more he'll be in the future. I think that's fair at least in my opinion.
Also, also, I forgot to reply to someone but Makarov did inform Gray of Moon Drip Magic when Gray had asked him about how he could free Ur. Makarov responds with how that'll melt the ice and make her into water.
"Erza, I was never forced to go anywhere. I was given a chance to return back to Fairy Tail at the port!" Lucy pleaded with the armored mage.
All of them were on the ship that Erza had accommodated to get to Galuna Island. Gray, Lucy, and Erza were in one room as they discussed amongst themselves.
"This is also a personal quest for Natsu, he just wanted to help people that were once in his position. It seems bad but he wasn't malicious about anything. We both willingly worked with him to finish the mission and he rescued us when we lost."
Erza didn't know what was going on, no one was listening to reason and were advocating for Natsu. Erza crossed her arms.
"Listen you two, it doesn't matter how you feel after he hid the truth and forced you to come onto the mission. The fact remains, he deceived you at first Lucy. Natsu didn't tell you his intentions until after Gray got to the harbor. Gray, he punched you out cold while also kidnapping you. There's no work around, there'sno second chance, and my mind is made up. I'm not changing my opinion on the matter and it's final that Natsu will get punished. I will not stand up for him to make it lighter." Erza voiced out.
Lucy grew a frown before openly glaring at Erza.
"You know what, Natsu's right. Sometimes we need a few rulebreakers, it shows us what other people actually care about."
Lucy stormed out of the cabin. She couldn't be in the same room as Erza right now.
"You know, circumstances change right? I wasn't a saint either especially with Ur. He might have mislead and kidnapped us. However, at least he had good intentions. Natsu took care of us, but you're too busy trying to follow the rules that you don't care about it. I expected more from me and therefore, I expected more from you." Gray snapped at Erza.
Yes, Gray and Lucy were afraid of Erza but even they had their limit. Gray did the same as Lucy as both weren't able to stand in the same room as Erza. Erza released a sigh after the door to the cabin closed with a slam.
'What am I missing?' Erza thought.
Erza was always following the rules and she always enforced them. They had rules for a reason. Sure, Natsu did save them but that was the least he should do as he had to take responsibility. He may have had good reasons but that didn't change the fact that he deceived Lucy while also dragging Gray along for the ride. To Erza, those things didn't change the matter at hand. Why couldn't they see that? Erza found a knock on her door.
"Come in." She answered.
Ur walked into the room. The female electing to join Fairy Tail. Erza was always welcoming of new guildmates particularly those that had mentored someone in the guild. Erza hoped Ur would share her opinions on the matter unlike the other two. Ur close the door before facing Erza.
"You know Gray will be furious with you for awhile." Ur said.
"I just don't understand why he's being like this, Natsu physically assaulted him and forced him to Galuna Island. Even if Gray doesn't care about that anymore, Natsu still broke several rules while also severing not just my trust but the Master's." Erza spoke.
Ur could get a feel of Erza. Sure, what she said was true but Gray had spoken to her about the ordeal.
"He sees that but you have to look at it from his angle. Natsu has a curse and because of that curse, he went on this job. Gray understands Natsu and how that affects him. It doesn't help that somehow Natsu revived me, his teacher, he hasn't said anything yet. However, he probably will apologize to me after this gets settled. Natsu kidnapped him but he gained far more naturally he'd be upset. It doesn't help that this mission was personal for him." Ur said.
Erza crossed her arms over herself. The female thinking about Gray and his perspective of Natsu. She didn't know too much about his past but she never pry for such information.
"That maybe true for Gray but what about Lucy?" Erza asked.
"The blonde? I don't know. She's still new to me but maybe it's because he gave her the key for the job. As a way of saying sorry." Ur offered up.
Erza truly didn't know anymore.
With Lucy.
Lucy stood against the railing of the ship that she was accompanying. The female looking at a new golden celestial key. Normally, Lucy would be ecstatic at getting a new key but this wasn't those times. She is grateful for Natsu giving her the key but she didn't earn this key. Lucy knew that she didn't contribute anything on that mission. Natsu had to save her because she lost against Sherry. The one time she could have been of assistance, she had not only blown it but had proven him right. Lucy had a lot of negative emotions in her chest. She hated them. Lucy would stay within her turmoil as the ship made headway for Magnolia.
'I won't let Master expell Natsu. I'll plead with him until the end. I owe Natsu that much.' Lucy thought.
Even if she lost again, she would show Natsu that she cared about him. She rather do everything in her power. Lucy would see the end of this, she would get stronger.
The trip back to Magnolia would be a quiet one. Lucy and Gray weren't hiding their looks of disapproval. Ur remained stoic without showing her emotions. Erza thrust the doors open to reveal the entire Guild. Makarov watching the group walk in with the resident trouble maker in cuffs.
"Master, I present Natsu. He has cooperated to come here." Erza delivered her report.
Erza step to the side while Natsu took a few steps forward to stand in front of her. Natsu could see how pissed off Makarov was and he knew that he royally fucked up.
'He looks really pissed.' Natsu thought.
"Natsu do you know why you're here?" Makarov asked.
"I know why I'm here let's stop wasting time." Natsu answered.
"Wait!" Lucy shouted.
Lucy rushed forward to stand next to Natsu's side. The entire Guild was a lit with whispers of disbelief.
"Master, he gave me a chance at Hargeon Port to go back to the Guild! Even if he deceived me, he still let me have the choice of going with him or coming back! I wasn't being deceived regardless of what you may think!" Lucy cried out.
"Yet, you recieved a key from the villagers from Natsu. Your testimony is invalid."
Ur became a bit ticked off at trying to get Erza to understand her teammates protests to help promote communication. However, Erza used it to make Lucy's testimony Invalid. Ur did not show her displeasure, at least not yet. Lucy would be more expressive. As she looked at Erza. The redhead saw the hurt and betrayed expression on Lucy's face. Erza hated seeing that face and it reminded her of her past. Erza looked away unable to face Lucy's gaze.
"How could you?" Lucy asked heartbroken.
Lucy never thought that Erza would discredit her. Especially for what Erza did for Romeo and how Natsu risked his life for Erza. That was The Magic Council that he went up against and Erza was happy to brush it off.
"In light of that, it doesn't change the fact that Natsu wasn't forthcoming from the start." Makarov countered.
Lucy faced Makarov with panic in her eyes. Her testimony seemed to have completely failed.
"He thought I could use-"
Makarov snapped at Lucy.
"I said that it doesn't matter! He broke the rules!"
Lucy flinched at the magical energy being directed at her. Lucy began to nervously sweat as she became frightened of her Master. Yet, she had to hold herself to her standard. Lucy mouth open and she tried to talk.
"H...he was...right..."
"Lucy, it's okay. Thank you, you did more than enough. I appericate your gesture, I knew you did everything you could." Natsu said.
Lucy's morale dropped as Natsu was coming to her defense...again. She should be the one helping him out not the other way around. Gray was also scared because he would be dealing with Master's wraith. However, this wasn't right and he refused to leave Natsu alone. Gray walked forward as Makarov looked at him and he felt the magical energy being directed upon him. Gray was nervous but he was a bit more steadfast than Lucy.
"It is bad considering we didn't know anything about Natsu but it wasn't out of malicious intent. Please Master, his intentions were good and were true to his heart. He did things wrong but the good he did outweighed everything. It's not irreversible damage like my mistake with my master." Gray said.
"The ends don't justify the means!" Makarov told Gray.
Natsu would not drag these two with him.
"Lucy, Gray, don't make any more of a scene. I don't want you to share my punishment. Let me accept it and besides it's not like I'm leaving town anytime soon. I'll still be here." Natsu told the pair.
"Bu-"
"Enough!" Makarov roared.
Gray and Lucy would finally be subdued with Ur growing a frown. Is this the Guild that Gray truly joined? She knew Natsu broke a rule and hadn't been the best about getting people to join him. However, Lucy and Gray were defending him while facing their Master's wraith. It should be pretty obvious by now.
"Natsu for not only stealing a S-Class job but forcing two people to join you, having put both in danger, and causing their injuries. I hereby expell you from the Guild. It seems like we were wrong about you, we had high hopes too." Makarov stated.
Natsu took it rather well as he lost his stamp before leaving the Guild. Lucy looked at Erza. She saw Erza looking away. This enraged Lucy.
"Look at me!" Lucy shouted at Erza.
Erza seem to double down by keeping her eyes pointed at the ground.
"You betrayed me, even I didn't take the damn money! None of us did but I did take the key because the villagers insisted we take it! I hope it was worth it for your title of disciplinary!" Lucy yelled at Erza.
Lucy was shaking with rage. She wanted to hit Erza but she knew it wouldn't do anything. Damn it! Lucy stormed out the Guild.
"I thought that after we defended Natsu maybe you would reconsider but it's clear that no matter what would have happened. You would have still expelled him, I guess your idea of a family is if they always follow your rules without question." Gray said in a low voice.
Gray did much the same as Lucy. Ur needed a job, sure that much was obvious especially if she needed to rebuild her life. However, after seeing what had transpired in front of her. Ur would cut her losses. It wasn't worth the time if they only saw the rules sometimes it was okay to break rules.
"You know, rules are important but it seems like you guys value them a little too much. I was thinking about joining Fairy Tail but now? A hard pass. I can always find work somewhere else." Ur said.
Ur made her way out to catch up with Gray. She would see how her student is doing. Ur found him in the forest. He unleashed his magic onto a tree. The tree would be split in half.
"Wanna talk about it?" Ur asked.
"I wish I could have done more!" Gray answered.
Gray turn to face Ur with a troubled expression on his face.
"It's like...he could be like me...I was so focused on revenge that I went to challenge Deliora. What if...what if...he does something similar to what I did and thinks we didn't do enough for him? I just wanted to prevent that from happening." Gray said.
"Sometimes things are out of our control but I'm sure if you help him now, it'll be easier to stop him from going down that dark path. Maybe give him a place to stay until he gets the money to have his own place. There are things you can still do now that will help you do what you're trying to do. Sometimes, even just defending him against your master will be more than enough." Ur answered.
Gray thought about it and knew Ur had a point, he should be trying to help Natsu right now.
"After, helping Natsu. I do want to talk to you." Gray said.
"I know, I know, trust me. We'll settle it when we settle the business with Natsu." Ur stated.
Gray gave a nod. As he ran off to find Natsu. It would take him awhile to find the male, more or less at one of the parks in Magnolia. Natsu just admiring a tree from bench that he occupied.
"Natsu!" Grsy called out.
Natsu turn his head to see Gray rushing over to him. Gray stopped in front of Natsu.
"I'm taking you with me, you'll need a place to stay and I'm inviting you to stay at my place until you can get on your feet." Gray spoke.
Natsu raised a brow. This is quite the generous offer that he wasn't expecting. Regardless, it was welcomed. Natsu grew a small smile.
"Thank you, Gray. I appericate it."
Gray felt happy that he could help out Natsu. Hopefully, Natsu didn't have to go down the path he did as well. They may not have shared the same life beats word for word but they both cared about the other. As friends should care about one another.