Hey readers. I am so sorry this chapter took a while. I'm sorry for my lack of updating in general. The cooling fan in my laptop died on me. So my computer over heated and shut down and refused to turn on. Which was a good decision on its part. But it left me computerless while it was getting repaired.
"I see," Master Makarov said. The little old man, who hadn't lost any hair in the seven years Natsu had been training with Igneel exhaled. His attire was unchanged as well. Makarov Dreyar still wore his high collared white cape with the black Fairy Tail insignia proudly emblazoned on its back over a white shirt and red vest combination paired with a pair of simple black pants. He closed his eyes to think, making the lines on his face more prominent.
Natsu had always known the Master was getting up there in age, but now Makarov was looking as old as he was. That air of mischievousness and youth was nowhere to be found.
Finally, he looked at Natsu and Erza. "That should not be a problem. I dare say the rest of the guild will enjoy it."
It had taken Natsu the better part of an hour and a half to explain to Gramps everything that had happened, repeat his father's warnings, and detail the Dragon Slayer's unexpected encounter with Zeref himself.
Makarov had listened to Natsu's tale in stony silence, face never showing emotion. The gravity of the situation was not lost on him.
One of his children was in a precarious situation. Seven years had been a long time, but Makarov understood why the pinkette was gone so long. Relearning and remastering one's magic from scratch was no quick or simple task. It was one made even harder by having to get used to unfamiliar magical coils.
But Natsu had pulled off the impossible once more, controlling his newer and stronger magic with a finesse he had never possessed.
If Makarov was honest with himself, part of his silence came from his incredulity. Natsu's message was as serious as a heart attack. Something the guild master felt he'd be all too familiar with before Natsu finished his mission.
However, he was aware this day was coming. All of Fairy Tail had known.
The First Master Mavis Vermillion had warned them after Natsu's disappearance, telling them they must prepare for the war ahead. She said ti would be obvious when the time to take a stand had arrived.
The infamous Fairy Tactician was right. Natsu's return was an omen of Zeref's.
Makarov saw the irony of the situation, considering Natsu's coming back to the guild was provoked by a surprise visit from the Black Wizard himself. Erza's grimace informed the Master that she could see it too.
He folded his fingers together. He needed clarification. "You don't know where he went or what he wants?"
"Aside from wanting me to kill him?" the pinkette said, half confused and half sarcastic. "No." The Dragon Slayer gave a little shake of his head.
"I see," Makarov said again. "And Zeref chose you to be his executioner? Why?"
Natsu's response was to shrug. "I honestly have no idea, Gramps. Zeref claimed we met once before, but I wasn't strong enough then to 'grant him peace.' Nearly cried when he realized I still wasn't capable."
"How could that be?" Erza finally spoke. The furrowed rows and slightly tilted head clearly showed her confusion. Makarov felt the same.
The one immortal wizard in Earthland was begging for Natsu to kill him. Zeref appeared to know Natsu personally, although the Dragon Slayer swore they had never met. It was a puzzling situation to say the least.
The Third Master reclined in his chair. For once, he actually felt every year of his ninety-five years. "The only explanation is Time Magic."
"Time Magic?" Erza parroted, incredulous. Her face snapped up to meet his, which was fixed in an expression of polite interest. "I know Time Magic is one of the Lost Magics, but what you're suggesting is impossible. Ultear has Arc of Time Magic. She can fast forward an object's time, freeze it, and return it to its original state, but it only works on non-living things and non-sentient living things. Not on humans. Besides, even if it did work on a human, rewinding a human's time would, theoretically, de-age them, not send him through time and space. Time Magic can't e used on such a scale. It would take more magic energy than a single person has."
"You just might be right, Erza," he said cheerfully. She stared at him, bewildered by the complete change of tone. "But we'll know for certain when Ultear arrives."
Erza ignored the drool sliding down the corner of the old man's mouth. She slammed her hands on his desk, which creaked ominously, startling Makarov out of his fantasy. The pinkette's smirk went unnoticed. It wasn't often he got to witness his mate lose her cool. That her anger was directed at the master and not him was a bonus. That it might lead to the destruction of personal property was the icing on the strawberry shortcake.
"Why did you not inform me she was coming?"
Makarov raised a white eyebrow, but otherwise ignored the Re-Quip mage's question. "I talked with young Ultear by lacrima earlier. Crime Sorcière will be here in a day to see if she can evolve Natsu's Second Origin. After hearing the summation of his training, I believe the presence of Crime Sorcière to be essential. There is no one better to help us deal with Zeref."
"But, Master—"
"But what, Erza?" he interrupted, inclining his balding head towards the man lounging beside her, legs outstretched comfortably and hands behind his head. "Natsu seems to have no issue with Crime Sorcière's help."
The female wizard opened her mouth, fully prepared to argue with Makarov. She hadn't even started saying how it wouldn't be good for Fairy Tail if the Council caught them conspiring with an illegal vigilante guild. Or that Natsu had been through enough pain and shouldn't have to suffer more to unlock his Second Origin. But Erza's righteous fury on her mate's behalf was cut off by a light knock on the office door.
"Come in." A pair of brown eyes glared daggers at Makarov.
"We weren't finished," she hissed.
"Yes, we are," Makarov countered firmly, brokering no further arguments. "Crime Sorcière is coming. End of story."
Anger rolled of the Re-Quip wizard in waves. She stood, dragging Natsu to his feet and roughly pushed past the blue eyed, white haired beauty that entered the Master's office.
"Welcome home, Natsu," the woman chirped in greeting, warm smile spreading across her face.
Natsu managed a "Good to see you, Lisanna," before the door shut behind them.
He followed Erza silently; content to wait to ask his questions. Despite the fearsome reputation she had gained, it wasn't often that Erza found herself truly angry and not just mildly irritated.
Whoever this Ultear person was, his mate was genuinely upset that Gramps had invited her to the guild to meet with him.
Natsu was overcome with an odd sensation. It was so sudden that he almost stopped walking. Erza did look at him askance, however; her face a mix of concern and curiosity. It took him a minute to realize the feeling: hollowness. The same hollowness he felt every time Erza had scolded him, reprimanded him, or disciplined him in any way. The same crushing hollowness he felt when he thought she had chosen Jellal over him.
While the Dragon Slayer had been outwardly cheerful to the point of obliviousness, every fist made him question if Erza would ever look at him the way Natsu wanted . . . no . . . needed her to.
This time, the hollowness was caused by how little he knew of the Erza currently leading him around by their clapsed hands.
Before now, Natsu had never regretted the time spent training with Igneel. It was necessary if he hoped to defeat Zeref, and he was absolutely thrilled to have seven years with the father he had unexpectedly and unexplainably lost. Now all he could feel was bitterness because it was seven years apart from his mate. He should know this Ultear and why the very mentioning of her set Erza on edge.
The red head finally came to a halt; sinking down on a stone bench in a stone courtyard Natsu was certain was a new addition to the guild hall. She hunched over, resting her chin in cupped hands with her elbows situated on her thighs.
He sat down beside her, wrapping one arm around her shoulders, which were tense beneath him. Natsu waited patiently for Erza to give voice to her feelings.
"You must think me insane," she said at long last.
"Always thought you were," Natsu grinned. His cheeky attitude earned him a slap to the shoulder. But it also elicited a small smile from her, so it was pain well earned. The Dragon Slayer maneuvered Erza so that she was pressed against him from knee to shoulder. "So what's your deal with Ultear?"
"It's not Ultear," Erza answered. "Yes, she was more than a little misguided, but she realized her errors and repented for her crimes."
Natsu didn't hide his confusion. If her issue wasn't with Ultear, then it had to be . . . "Crime Sorcière?"
"Not quite. It's . . ." Erza trailed off. "Natsu, I really don't want to talk about this."
Natsu replied in a level tone that she didn't have to talk about anything that made her uncomfortable.
The reverse psychology of the pinkette not pushing for answers made Erza feel guilty enough to reveal her insecurities.
"It's Jellal! He's part of the guild. Or maybe he's the master? I don't actually know. There's only three wizards that make up Crime Sorcière, so they might not have a master. They've been hunting down and annihilating Dark Guilds. Without the Council's permission, of course." She muffled her bobbling by burying her face, which was as red as her sanguine hair, into the fabric of Natsu's waistcoat.
Natsu stiffened minutely. Jellal. That was a name he hadn't heard in a long time, and quite frankly, one that he was fine without hearing. He understood that the other man wasn't at fault. Even if he did have romantic feelings for Natsu's mate, he had certainly never acted on them. Or, at least, not in any manner recognizable as announcing his intentions. Still, Natsu held onto a heavy distaste for the blue haired man. He feared, that so long as Jellal remained a part of Erza's life, there was a chance she might want him instead.
Natsu's heart had already been broken once from a misunderstanding between him and Erza over Jellal. Natsu had no desire to suffer that pain a second time.
Then he relaxed, remembering how Erza had followed him to Edolas after that incident to repair their relationship. Pulling Erza tighter to him, Natsu whispered in her ears, keeping his voice soothing. He had nothing to fear from Jellal. He clearly hadn't approached her in the seven years they were separated and she had been there waiting for him when he returned; the first thing he saw when he came home was his mate, crying tears of joy.
"Jellal is not a problem in our relationship. He is not involved with either of us." Natsu shuddered at the image of him possibly ever being with that man. Erza giggled. "He in no way factors in unless you allow it."
"So you don't care that he's coming?"
Natsu shook his head firmly. "I don't."
Erza carded a hand through his pink locks. They were longer than she remembered, but just as wild as ever. The fly-away hair strands stuck out in every direction. Clenching it in her fist, she brought his face down for a searing kiss.
Black eyes sparkled when they broke apart. "Now, what do you say we put this time and space to good use?"
Erza tilted her head questioningly. "We never did finish that match between us."
Her magical aura practicaly exploded from her as she excitedly pulled her partner to his fee. "I'll have you know that I've added some new armor to my collection."
"Enough to fill another room?" Natsu teased, cracking his knuckles. There wasn't anyone in the guild that didn't know Erza rented extra rooms in Fairy Hills to house her impressive collection of armor.
The temptress in front of him smirked. "Two, actually."
Natsu gaped at her in disbelief as she Re-Quiped into her Flame Empress suit, which would negate any damage from his fire attacks.
"Now I'm all fired up!" he shouted.
"You're going to have to prove yourself, first. Show me that you're strong enough to be worth to match them against you."
"Don't worry, Erza. You'll be changing outfits in no time."
Flames burst into existence around his fist. Natsu sank into a balanced crouch, one leg positioned behind and body angled to the side. His stance would let him dodge quickly if need be but also allow for him to close the distance between them if she didn't make the first move.
Erza could feel the heat from his fire across the courtyard. She withdrew her Sea Empress sword, holding it aloft before her.
With loud battle cries, both wizards leapt forward, striking out with fire and steel.
Makarov watched the pair clash again and again in his lacrima. He was so very proud of how much Erza and Natsu had grown. Both in terms of physical strength and emotionally.
With a heavy sigh he disconnected the small channel of magic he was feeding into the lacrima. The image vanished, leaving Makarov alone with his thoughts.
Natsu's return, and consequential explanation, had left the question with more questions than answers. For all that the Dragon Slayer had learned, there was still so much that he could only offer opinions and guesses for.
Breaking the news to the rest of the guild was going to cause chaos. The First Master may have warned them this was would come eventually, but Makarov believed, along with the rest of his guild, that it would be decades in the making. But it was not so.
Still, Fairy Tail would enjoy drawing Zeref out into the open.
"Do not worry, Third Master. I will help."
Makarov glanced at the First Master, sitting on the corner of his desk swinging her legs. Her childish appearance was unchanged from the last time he has set eyes on her. She still wore the flowing dress and no shoes. The words of a ghost gave him no reassurance, however.
"Well, not time like the present." His white cape swished behind him dangerously as Makarov determinedly strode to the main lunch hall, the favorite gathering spot of his children, to break the news.
They were stronger together. And together, they would get through this period of turmoil.