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Meredy sat at a table with a plate of food in front of her. The girl didn't bother to eat the food offered to her. After everything she had just learned she didn't have the appetite to eat.
"What's troubling you?" The man asked.
Meredy seemed tensed at first but she did know this man from her hometown. Meredy confessed to said person about what had happened to her. The man sat down at the table once Meredy began to tell her tale and didn't interrupted her. Finally, when she got finished did the man speak.
"He's quite the interesting fellow that Natsu." The Man said.
He ran into Natsu!? Meredy's attention went to the man with renewed vigor.
"Have you meet him?" Meredy asked.
"Of course, I have if it wasn't for him. I wouldn't have escaped that town." The Man said.
Yet, Natsu told her that he could have killed her...
"In fact, some of the townspeople managed to get out thanks to him. I was surprised that he was merciful to allow us to live but didn't have the mercy to conceal the truth from you." The Man spoke.
Meredy didn't understand. Natsu had said that he killed people. He said that everyone died but her. Ultear confirmed it in her report. Why didn't he tell her that other people survived? Why didn't Ultear tell her?
"Why didn't he say anything?" Meredy asked.
"Think of it like this, if he told you that we had survived and you went to tell Ultear about us. It would cause a problem if their entire mission was to kill every last one of us. That would lead us to be hunt down and killed including Natsu for betraying the guild." The Man said.
Natsu had lied to her to protect...her...no all of them. Meredy knew she would want to find out if she had the chance at finding any of her family left alive. She would have went to Ultear. Now Meredy could understand why Natsu hadn't told her. She would have been impulsive. Impulsive. Meredy remember just running away from the Guild. She just ran away without really asking Natsu about anything. There was questions he had for him and he had been honest about the entire ordeal.
"Natsu...wouldn't lie to me...I have to ask him questions. I need to know." Meredy said.
"I'm sure you do, as do I. I want to know why he spared so many of us that night." The Man spoke.
The two wanted some sense of closure and they wouldn't have to wait for long to get that closure. A knock on the front door could be heard with the man getting up from his seat. He open the door to reveal Natsu. The Teenager giving him a condescending look.
"I wasn't expecting to see you anytime soon. I thought I would have to track you down." The Man said.
Natsu recognized the man. He was surprised that the man was here but if Meredy was with him. It wouldn't be so bad trying to talk to her.
"I have someone to worry about, the townspeople said that you took her to your place."
Natsu didn't actually talk to them. It is a nice cover story to use. It's not like people would believe him if he said he was a dragon slayer. It seemed that history had been lost to time. No matter, he is here now.
"Yes I did bring her here. You seem like the honest type even if it leaves you in this situation. Why did you spare everyone despite the risk it is to you?" The Man asked.
Natsu crossed his arms as he shifted his weight.
"Don't mistake my kindness for comfort. I didn't know why I had to kill people and I'm not going to be taking a life over a stupid reason. Let alone for the fuck of it. I hate senseless destruction and killing." Natsu answered.
"I see, you did that to keep up appearances and to cover our escape. I wish those mages were like you and I'm not going to ask for anymore questions. I just wanted some closure on that night." The Man said.
Natsu couldn't fault the man for that, even he was looking for closure. His mother...humans had this expression...they wouldn't teach you if they didn't love you. Natsu had a mother he very much loved and admired. However, the situation was complicated because he knew that she hated humans. She never once told him that she loved him. It was stupid but he wanted to know what she really thought of him.
"Don't worry about it. I have things I want closure on and it's not about Meredy." Natsu said.
The Man gave a nod and he took a step to the side as he allowed Natsu into his home. Natsu took the gesture by giving a grateful nod to the older male. It didn't take long for them to get to Meredy. She looked surprised at seeing Natsu.
"He had been looking for you for awhile, I'll let you two have some privacy." The Man said.
Natsu sat at the table while Meredy stayed at the table. It became quiet between the pair. As neither said anything before Natsu decided that they needed to push things along.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions." Natsu said.
This resulted in the ball being put in Meredy's court. She thought about the entire day. She thought about Natsu's words. He was right. Meredy wouldn't figure out what had happened that night if she didn't act on her desires. Therefore, she finally spoke.
"Why didn't you stop them? Why didn't you stop them from killing my family?" Meredy asked.
"I wasn't strong enough. I didn't have the strength to save everyone."
Natsu knew he was strong but strong enough to stand up against all of Grimoire Heart, much less people on the field? That wasn't a option. He wasn't that stupid. It pained him to say it, to admit he was weak but that was the truth of the matter. Natsu knew better than to hide from it.
"Are they really that powerful?" Meredy asked.
"Yes maybe in a few years I could fight them but as I'm now. I would die." Natsu said.
Meredy wanted to believe otherwise but Natsu hadn't lied to her. He didn't continue with the facade and keeping a wool over her eyes. It hurt her to hear him say such things. However, he wasn't sugar coating anything and telling her the truth. Meredy would have to accept that answer from Natsu.
"Why were you there?" Meredy asked.
"I needed money, simple as that."
Meredy could take some comfort in knowing that Natsu wouldn't just kill people for the sake of money.
"Why did Ultear chose to spare me?" Meredy asked.
"Tough one to answer because I don't know Ultear all that well. I had been in the guild for a month before running into you. That's a question for Ultear besides I can't answer for her and while I have my suspicions on why, she hasn't given me any answers." Natsu told Meredy.
Which meant Meredy would need to go to Ultear for answers. That meant going back to that...guild. Meredy wasn't immune to the influences of emotions. She thought about Grimoire Heart, she thought of Ultear and anger flooded her body.
"Yet she had no problem killing everyone but sparring me!" Meredy yelled.
What made her so special!?
"Maybe you remind her of herself when she was your age." Natsu offered.
"But she...!"
Natsu's face rested into a condescending one as he looked at Meredy. The girl feeling like she was looked at like an insect. However, she did keep her mouth shut.
"The world isn't black and white Meredy. It's filled with nothing but colors. Yes, Ultear didn't mind killing people but the question you need to remain focus on is why she spared you. I thought you wanted answers and the only way you can get them is to not let your emotions distract you." Natsu told her.
Meredy gave a dumb nod. That's when Natsu relented on his look.
"Look, she's an unknown but somewhere in that heart of hers. She can do good and her not killing you is proof of that. Now before you jump to conclusions like I did. You have to get all the information you can before making a judgment. You don't have the information on the why, let's ask her first before making a call." Natsu further explained.
He didn't need her repeating his mistake of judging Ultear too soon.
"That means going back there doesn't it?" Meredy asked.
"Yes but in your life you must do the things you don't want to do." Natsu told her.
Meredy had to make a decision. She could leave but that would only equate to running away. Ultear would find her. They would have the long awaited talk. A inevitable collision course. Maybe thats why Natsu had told her earlier today. Maybe, she should take his blunt and straightforward appoarch. Sure, it sucked especially with how it made it you feel but it had its upsides. They would settle it now instead of countless chapters later into her life. Each had pros and cons.
"Do you think she'll kill us if we confront her?" Meredy asked.
"Bah, leave that to me. I'll take the fall besides I did tell you without her permission anyways." Natsu stated.
He wasn't going to look forward to dealing with a angry Ultear.
"You're strange." Meredy commented.
Natsu snorted.
"I'm not strange." He defended himself.
Meredy shaked her head before standing up from the table.
"I want to find out about why Ultear spared me. Im going back to Grimoire Heart." Meredy said.
Which meant that both would have to return to The Guild Hall.
"Mister, I want to go with Natsu!" Meredy called out to the man.
The Man took a moment to come around the corner. He didn't seem the least bit surprised or shocked at the declaration.
"You take care of her Natsu." The Man said.
"I was planning to do that anyways lord knows she'll need an actual role model." Natsu responded.
Natsu got up from his seat. As both would head back to the Guild Hall. The pair enter to see that business went as normal despite Meredy running out. He really hated it here.
"Oh you guys are back. Ultear went out looking for Meredy, I suggest going to find her." Zancrow nonchalantly said.
Natsu wanted to throttle the mage. He was still as firm on his stance about Zancrow. A psychotic person. However, it wasn't the time nor the place to do that.
"Let's go hunt her down." Natsu told Meredy.
The pair headed back outside as they went to find Ultear.