I don't own anything.
X781, one month later.
Natsu outfit had a upgrade long gone were the ragged clothes. Hades had been kind enough to give him a new set of clothes. It would be a long sleeve baggy t-shirt. It's color is a midnight blue. He switched out the black cargo pants for khaki color cargo shorts. He chose to ditch the hiking boots that were given to him and wore a pair of white sneakers. Of course, he had to pay for the sneakers and shorts. How? He was currently taking another job to get funds for information about Zeref and Acnologia's whereabouts. He needed a lot of money to keep everything on the downlow. Hades was a man that appeared amicable on the surface but he was a corrupted man. Natsu didn't know why, he also didn't know why he was ordered to kill people and reduce this town to rubble. Yes, the mission he was on had required him to be in a town and to massacre everything.
'Even I'm not that heartless.' Natsu thought.
"Please! We don't even know what's going on!" A man begged for mercy.
Natsu looked outside to see if one of his numerous partners was with him. He watched as his partner, Ultear would destroy a house with people still in said house. The female clearly preoccupied. Natsu may have been a jerk but he wasn't going to kill people for no reason.
"Run through the backdoor with your family and go left." Natsu instructed.
The man did as Natsu instructed and after making sure they had enough time did he destroy the home. It would be a repetition of letting people rush to safety before destroying more and more of the buildings. Natsu was quickly realizing that he didn't like this guild. Everyone in said guild was at best evil and at worst downright psychotic. Namely, the guy standing next to Natsu that was known as Zancrow. They had met back up with Ultear. The woman would have long dark purple hair with brown color eyes. She would wear a very revealing purple dress with black high heels. Finally, she had on red lipstick. Natsu always had to scrunched his nose up in disgust when he got next to her.
'Mother always said to watch out for woman like this.' Natsu thought.
Suffice it to say, Natsu really didn't have any loyalty towards this guild and he was planning to quit relatively soon. However, maybe he was in a rush to judge Ultear too soon because Ultear was in front of a crying girl. The girl looked to be eleven.
"Just kill her already." Zancrow said.
"It's up to her and besides it's not like we did anything productive by being here." Natsu countered.
Zancrow took offense to Natsu's statement.
"You dare question Master Hades wisdom!?" Zancrow yelled at Natsu.
Natsu stood his ground.
"I don't even know what I'm doing here, just be glad I partook in senseless destruction." Natsu said.
"Shut. Up." Ultear told the pair.
Zancrow stiffened as he behaved obediently while Natsu crossed his arms. He disregard the warning.
"What are you going to do with her?" Natsu asked.
Ultear looked at the crying child. The girl had short pink color hair with green color eyes. She wore clothing that was starting to fall apart no doubt from the attack on said town. Natsu watched as something flash through Ultear's eyes. It seemed a mixture of pity, understanding, and sympathy before those emotions were concealed behind cold eyes. It seemed that Ultear was more than what he had given her credit for.
"I'll take her in." Ultear spoke.
Natsu was surprised at the statement for the past month. Ultear remained cold as ever and poised to be as ruthless as possible. This is a Ultear that he hasn't seen.
"Master Hades gave us orders that state otherwise." Zancrow spoke.
"She has great magical power." Ultear countered.
Zancrow looked at Natsu and Natsu gave a shrug. He hadn't seen Ultear like this, maybe something had happened that made Ultear stop her senseless craving for destruction. However, because of her ultimate desire to save this girl. Natsu would give Ultear another chance to prove herself. As for the child, Natsu supposed he could befriend her. She needed a normal role model...as close to normal as he could get too. That's beside the point, she did not need to be groomed to be a emotionless killer.
"Do you think she'll be useful to our Master?" Zancrow asked.
"Yes, she will." Ultear said.
It was settled Ultear would be taking this girl with them. Which meant that it would not be long before Natsu would have to interact with the girl. In fact, that very same day is when Natsu would have to comfort the girl. Ultear was dealing with Hades. This meant the girl felt the brute of the negative energy in the guild. Natsu sat next to her, least someone had been foolish enough to mess with the child. He would be there to stop them. She gave out a eep at seeing Natsu giving her a condescending look. When she eeped, Natsu face morphed into confusion.
"Is something wrong?" Natsu asked.
The girl became nervous as her eyes darted around to the door that Ultear had disappeared behind. As if pleading for the woman to come back.
'What the hell did I do?' Natsu thought.
Natsu figured he may need to do some magic to get in her good graces and move his hand to the girl's bandaged head. She closed her eyes at expecting even more pain but she felt warmth. It...it was pleasant. The girl open her eyes to see a gentle light coming from Natsu's hand. As he used his light magic to act as a heater of sorts and her head felt vastly better. The girl much appericated the warmth.
"Natsu, what are you doing?" Ultear asked.
The girl couldn't say her thanks because Natsu went over to Ultear. The woman's arms were crossed as she held a none to pleasant expression.
"Watching out for her because I care about her.' Natsu answered.
Ultear hadn't interacted with Natsu, he had the foresight to not bother her unless he absolutely needed something. As a result, she wasn't sure of his more pure intentions. This is a dark guild after all. Ultear could keep the girl safe.
"Run along, I can take it from here." Ultear spoke.
Natsu seeing he was out staying his welcome had reacted accordingly. He turn his back towards Ultear.
"If you say so but if you need help, let me know." Natsu told her.
He gave Ultear a dismissive wave while walking away. Meanwhile, Ultear disregarded his offer of help. She finally look to the girl. The female pouting up at her.
"He is scary looking but he is nice." The girl said.
Ultear raised a brow as she looked to see Natsu leaving the guild hall. She didn't think he could be nice but than again she hadn't known him too well. Ultear looked back at the girl.
"Don't trust him Meredy." Ultear ordered.
The girl that Ultear had rescued is known as Meredy. She did tell Meredy to not trust him but Ultear is going to find out rather soon that she couldn't control people.
Natsu being in his room didn't do much aside from wood carving. His mother had been right, hobby's were fun. However, he sucked at it but no pain, no gain right? Natsu wasn't expecting company. That notion would be dispelled as the door to his room tried to open but failed because of the lock engaged on said door. He stopped doing his task to answer the door to see Meredy at his door. The female stiffened due to being greeted by his condescending expression. Did Natsu always wore that expression? She steeled herself because despite looking scary. He was actually nice.
"Uhmmm...I...I..."
Natsu figured he would have to instill confidence into the girl. Ultear would...spoil her...it was odd thinking that but Natsu knew Meredy needed a kick to iron out her nervousness.
"Words. Meredy. Words."
Last thing she needed was to confess to a impatient person. Meredy stiffened at hearing the tone in Natsu's voice. She froze up.
'Great. I'm the disciplinary.' Natsu thought.
"Meredy, the world needs you to speak, use your words and speak confidently. If not, youll be missing out on a lot of opportunities." Natsu told her.
Meredy tried again.
"I want help making a surprise gift for Ultear. To...show my apperication for her saving me." Meredy said.
Natsu wanted to kill Ultear. She didn't tell Meredy about what happened? Meredy was going to find out sooner or later. Natsu should tell her. Hell, his mother all but dropped it in his lap when he was ten. She didn't beat around the bush either and this allowed Natsu to tell her in a blunt manner.
"You know...Ultear, me, Zancrow, and several others were the reason for your town burning down. Your parents death, it was one of us that killed them. You being here is because of us." Natsu stated.
Meredy's eyes widen at the information. The child unable to process the intense and conflicting emotions within her body. She is a child and children were emotional. Natsu watch as she ran away with tears in her eyes. It was cruel. It is dangerous telling her. However, Natsu didn't live that way, he wasn't raised that way. His values were different. Meredy deserved to know the truth.
'This is my mess.'
It would be in his best interest to find Meredy before Ultear came back. Natsu headed out of his room.
Meanwhile.
Meredy made it to the nearest town. She didn't know where she was going but she didn't want to be with those killers. Natsu wasn't nice but evil, same as Ultear! They killed her friends, family, and destroyed her home! They were never there to save her. Meredy passed the people that looked at her with confusion yet worry. Who made the girl cry her heart out? Meredy finally couldn't run anymore as she dropped to her knees. The child began to openly cry. She thought she could trust them but in truth they caused her great heartache. They took everything from her.
"Do you know the girl?"
At this point townspeople began to converge around the girl. They wanted to help but they didn't know if she had any parents. Finally, someone broke through the crowd.
"Meredy?" A man asked.
Meredy's head shot up to see who called her name. It was the ice cream shop owner that was apart of her old town. What was he doing here? They told her she was the only survivor! Did they lie to her to keep her there with them!? Meredy cursed them. The man quickly scooped up the young child as he would take her to his home.