Chapter 2:
As expected, once I got off the train to chase after Gray, we ended up brawling around the bustling train station until Erza arrived and knocked both of us flat.
"Boys, what have I said about fighting?" she asked, a dark and terrifying aura surrounding her as she looked down at the battered forms of Gray and me.
"We're sorry!" Gray and I yelped, embracing each other in fear.
"Now, will you behave for the rest of this job?"
"Aye, sir!" we replied in unison.
"Good," she said, turning towards the town. "Now then, let's find an inn to settle into for the night. We will need to be well rested for tomorrow."
Getting up from the ground, I noticed Lucy giggling at our antics as usual before handing me my bag. After I set my bag on my back, I thanked Lucy and took hold of her hand.
"Let's get going then," I said, following after Erza while lightly pulling Lucy beside me.
The town of Wizove is much smaller than Magnolia, nestled in a forested valley with a large reservoir held back by a castle-like dam. Beyond the dam lies the small town, with homes built into the hillside. At the center of the town is a small market filled with various shops and restaurants where the residents can pick up whatever they need.
Not far from the central market, we found an inn called the Draygrate Inn, which would accommodate us for the duration of our stay. After securing a room for the boys and another for the girls, we decided it would be best to get settled in. Before I could approach Lucy to see if she wanted to go somewhere together, I was stopped by Wendy.
"So, you finally did it. You told Lucy!" she exclaimed, smiling widely as she gave me a hug in excitement, which I returned. "I'm so happy for the two of you!"
"I guess I just couldn't keep it to myself any longer." I laughed at my little sister-figure's enthusiasm. "I'm just grateful she feels the same way."
"Haven't we all been saying it was obvious that you two liked each other from the start?"
"Aye, sir," Happy chimed in, flying up and landing on my shoulder. "You two are so odd that it makes sense you would like each other."
"Now, Happy, that's not very nice," Carla scolded.
"Yeah, who are you calling weird, you crazy cat?" Lucy replied as she exited the girls' room, followed by Erza.
"Alright, now that we are here, and we don't need to meet with our client until tomorrow, why don't we go and explore the town before it gets too late?" Erza suggests.
"That's a great idea!" Lucy claps in excitement.
Before I had a chance to realize what had happened, Lucy had taken my hand and was dragging me out of the inn and into the bustling nightlife of the town.
"Hold on Lucy, where are we going?" I ask.
"Going to explore, that's what." Lucy smiles brightly.
"Isn't it me usually dragging you out on adventures, Luce?" I laugh as I continue to let myself be pulled along.
"I just thought it would be a nice change to drag you around for once."
"You don't have to worry about that. I'll let you pull me along wherever you plan on going." I say, smiling with a light blush on my face.
"I'll hold you to that." Lucy laughs, sporting a blush that matches mine.
For the rest of the evening, I happily followed Lucy wherever she wanted to go. We visited the market, browsing through some of the locally crafted goods and food stands. We stopped at a quaint little restaurant that wasn't too crowded, where we grabbed a bite to eat. As we ate, I sat and listened as Lucy excitedly talked about everything and anything. We reminisced about old adventures, laughing at all the silly things we did and the messes we created.
After eating, we walked around the rest of the town. At some point, I took her hand, and we made our way over to the dam. We decided to take a seat, looking over the water towards the town, where the lights twinkled and the moon reflected off the surface of the reservoir like a mirror.
"It's so nice here. I could sit and watch the water for hours," Lucy said, swinging her legs over the side of the dam.
"Same," I admitted, sitting beside her and keeping my eyes fixed on her. When she noticed my gaze, she lightly pushed my shoulder.
"Since when have you been such a softy?"
"You can blame yourself for softening me up, I guess," I replied, pulling her closer. "You know, I never thought anything like this would happen. I realize I can be oblivious and act foolish at times, but one thing has always stayed the same. Since meeting you, I've felt I could let my guard down around you and be myself without needing to prove anything. It's nice."
Lucy hugs me. "You know, I like this side of you. And even though you are a little crazy sometimes, I wouldn't change a thing about you. Promise me you won't ever stop being the funny and kind person you are."
"You won't have to worry about that, Luce. Besides, I think this spot is perfect. It reminds me of the day we met in Hargeon, with the lights of the town. Who would have thought that we would meet there and end up sharing such a familiar view again once we got together, you know?"
"You can be romantic and thoughtful sometimes. What would our guildmates say about this side of you?"
"Only for you! So you better not share any of my weaknesses with the others. I don't want them to think I'm somewhat smart when it comes to things like this."
We continued to sit comfortably for a while, and in the silence, I began to reflect on the strange feeling I had been experiencing since we took this job. Having been distracted by the events of the day—confessing my feelings to Lucy and running around the town of Wizove with her—this was the first moment since the train ride (just thinking of that death trap makes me sick) that I could think about this uneasy feeling.
I have experienced different types of anxiety before starting a job, but it's not just about my feelings. My greatest concern is always for the safety of my friends. Sensing this unusual energy in this town made me feel uneasy, and I began to worry about my friend and their safety.
Ever since the war and the discovery of my true identity, I have become increasingly worried about everything around me. My friends who know me well continue to treat me the same, which I truly appreciate. However, I remember that in the early days after the war, some people seemed afraid of me because of my past, and that hurt deeply, especially since the only people who know about who I am are my guild mates.
Now that I understand that I am the demon, END, and have confronted my brother Zeref, I have developed an unusual ability to detect dark magic. This magic is different from what other mages can feel; it feels more sinister. It's almost like a sixth sense. This town is raising alarms in my mind, and I can't shake the feeling that something dangerous might be lurking here.
Lucy, noticing I had once again fallen deep into thought, shifted from her position where she had been resting her head on my shoulder. She turned to face me, took both my hands in hers, and encouraged me to look at her.
"This is the second time today that you've zoned out like this," she said, her tone tinged with concern. "It's not like you to be so preoccupied. I'm here if you want to talk."
"I know; I just have this strange feeling," I replied.
"What kind of strange feeling?"
I knew I shouldn't hesitate to share my thoughts about my abilities with Lucy, especially since she had saved me by rewriting the Book of END, my book. We had discussed that day a bit, but I hadn't pressed her for details about what she saw when she opened the book. She probably knew more about me now than I knew about myself. If anyone was going to believe me, it was Lucy.
"I've had this sixth sense since fighting Zeref. It might be related to being one of his demons, but I can sense dark magic. But it's not a regular kind of dark magic that other people can sense; it's almost something darker. Ever since the train, I've had this feeling that something is wrong, and as we got closer to Wizove, that feeling only intensified."
"What kind of feeling is it?" Lucy asked, her concern evident.
"It feels as if there's a dark cloud hanging over the town; it's suffocating in a strange, almost unreal way. It's like it's there, but at the same time, it's not. I have a sense that something bad is going to happen, but I can't quite put my finger on it. The best way to describe it is that I sense there's more here than whatever this dark magic is coming from."
"Why didn't you say anything earlier when everyone was present?"
"It's not easy to bring up Luce," I reply with a sad, anxious smile. "After all, think about how much has happened. Erza, Gray, Wendy, and you—all of you have suffered because of my brother and, in some ways, because of me. It's difficult to discuss my role as one of the causes of their pain without creating more issues. Remember what Gray said when we found him in Avatar? He mentioned that his entire goal was to kill END for taking his family. For Erza, the Tower of Heaven was designed by Zeref to resurrect a dead person. He designed that because of me."
I take a moment to breathe deeply before continuing.
"And of course, how can I forget that you almost died trying to save me by rewriting that stupid book! If it hadn't been for Gray, I would have lost you." I feel the urge to break down, so I let go of Lucy's hands and curl up, drawing my knees to my chest. "It hurts to think back on it. It hurts me so much to realize that even though I didn't know what had happened in my past life, I am responsible for everyone's suffering."
"Natsu, stop it right now," Lucy said, her eyes brimming with tears. "Is this what you have been feeling all along? You know that no one thinks that way, and if they did, they would have to answer to me."
"But…"
"No 'buts.' You've risked your life countless times to protect everyone, and it's only natural for us to do the same for you. I would do anything to see your smile again. When it disappeared, we feared we were too late to save you. And when Acnologia took you and the other dragon slayers, I couldn't bear the thought of losing you."
"I'm sorry," I say, unsure of why I am apologizing.
"You better be, 'cause if I lost you, I would never forgive you for it." She said, this time pulling me into a hug, which I return, tears brimming down my face now. "Promise me that if you ever feel like this, you will come to me. I am here for you, always will be, no matter what you think of yourself or what others say."
At that moment, I completely broke down. If anyone else saw me, they would wonder what happened to the Salamander. I couldn't stay strong anymore, so I let myself go. I held onto Lucy as I cried.
"Natsu, promise me something," Lucy says, getting my attention. "Promise me that no matter what is bothering you, you will tell me. You are not alone; you have never been alone."
"Thank you, Lucy. What would I do without you?"
We sit quietly as Lucy holds me as I calm down.
"Now I want you to promise me something," I say, finally calming down enough to recompose myself. "Please, if something ever happens and I tell you to run. You have to run."
Lucy looks at me like I was asking her to destroy the moon (been there, and done that… sort of).
"You know I can't…" she starts, but I cut her off.
"Please," I say, begging evident in my voice. "If something were to happen, anything, I want to make sure you are safe. So please, promise me, I can't risk losing you. Especially now that I know you feel the same, it would ease my worry knowing you are safe."
Her bright brown eyes looked deep into mine. I know she doesn't want to make a promise like this, but I could tell that she knew I was serious.
"Alright, I promise," she says, defeated. "But that means you have another promise to make me."
"Hit me," I reply with a bit of relief at Lucy's promise.
"Promise me it won't ever come to that."
I take a deep breath, and knowing for sure that I may not be able to keep her requested promise, I decide to ease her worries.
"I promise."
"Good, now once more. About this dark feeling you are having." Lucy says, changing the subject.
"Right."
"Do you think it has anything to do with the job we are taking?"
"I don't know, but to be honest, I hope not. For now, let's not say anything to the others until I figure out what is causing this feeling. I don't want them to worry or think I'm just crazy."
"Alright, let's not worry the others about it for now, but if you do think of something or anything comes up that might be relevant, we can fill them in then. Anyway, we've had enough sad talk today. Let's just make one final promise that we will be careful."
I look at her and give her the warmest smile I can muster.
"Deal," I say, pulling her in for a quick kiss.
Pulling away after a few moments, I slap my face using both hands as if waking myself up.
"Man, it's not like me to be all… you know." I say, standing up and stretching before extending a hand to her to pull her up. "Thanks, Lucy. I guess I just needed to let it all out. I feel… lighter somehow, like there is less of a weight on my chest."
"I'm glad I was able to help," she says, taking my outstretched hand, standing up next to me.
"Now then, let's get back to the inn. The others must be getting worried about where we have been." I say, keeping my hold on her hand as we make our way back to town. "We are gonna need our rest if we are going to be kicking some dark guild tomorrow."
"You're right. I'm all fired up!" Lucy states and once again starts pulling me towards our destination.
While talking with my best friend and now-girlfriend helped ease some of my growing anxieties, I fear that there are still some things that are weighing on me, but in a different way.
After making it to the inn laughing and making jokes to lighten the mood as we went after the slightly depressing turn of events on the dam, we made our way to our respective rooms.
Before Lucy enters the girl's room, I pull her into another kiss before wishing her a good night.
"Sleep well, Luce," I say smiling.
"Sleep well Natsu. See you in the morning." She smiles and enters her room, and closes the door.
I walked toward my shared room and quietly closed the door to avoid waking the now sleeping ice princess, who was snoring softly on one of the beds. After removing my single-sleeved jacket, I settled down on the bed next to Happy, who was curled up on one of the pillows.
As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, I reflected on the promise I had made to Lucy about not letting anything go wrong. Just as I began to drift off to sleep, a sense of something dark approaching made me worry that I might not be able to keep that promise after all.
"Good morning, everyone!" I shout as Gray, Happy, and I enter the small cafe where we had agreed to meet for breakfast.
I walked up to the table and sat next to Lucy, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"You love her!" Happy teased as he landed on the table next to me.
"I think that was established yesterday, little buddy," I replied with a laugh, a slight blush on my face. Turning to Lucy, I smile brightly, "But just to be sure, I love you, Luce."
With that, I gave her a proper kiss, which she happily returned.
"Love you too, you crazy fire dragon," she said, blushing just as brightly as I was.
We turned to face the others, seeing Gray, Erza, and Carla smiling in response to our happiness, while Wendy and Happy laughed at how delighted I was. Those two knew how stressed I had been about sharing my feelings with Lucy, fearing that she might not feel the same way.
After we had finished our breakfasts, we grabbed a few things from our rooms and began making our way toward Wizove's town hall.
Once we entered, we were greeted by a short, middle-aged man who introduced himself as Magnius, the town mayor. He led us to his office, where he offered us a seat. There weren't enough chairs, so I let Lucy sit while I decided to stand behind her.
"Thank you for accepting our town's job request," the mayor begins. "It gives me and my people hope that these dark mages will no longer be causing us so much trouble."
"Of course," Erza replies. "Now, would you be able to tell us a little more about the job itself? The request flyer only provided that a dark guild has been causing you trouble for a while now."
"Of course," Magnius says, sitting up straighter behind his desk. "The dark guild causing us trouble is called the Crimson Saints. They have been attacking our village's storage facilities and stealing our resources for the coming winter. We asked local merchants if they could bring supplies to help replace what was stolen, but the dark mages figured this out and started attacking the merchants, bringing in more supplies. There is only one road that leads in and out of Wizove, aside from the train station, which means we have been completely cut off from any assistance. This is why we decided to reach out to the best guild in Fiore, hoping you can help us eliminate the threat so we can return to our normal lives."
"I see. Can you tell us anything about their members or where we can find them?" Lucy asks.
"Unfortunately, I don't know much about their members. I'm sorry," the mayor sighs. "Although there is one thing I can tell you."
The old man then looks straight at us, a far more serious expression plastered on his face.
"As their name implies, the Crismon Saints regard themselves as a force for good. They prioritize eradicating anything they consider remotely evil. Recently, a citizen was attacked for merely mentioning the war against Zeref and the Alvarez Empire while at a local tavern. A member of the Crismon Saints attacked them for mentioning the Black Wizard."
"That's terrible," Wendy gasped.
"They have recovered and are back on their feet. However, this incident has only instilled more fear in the town. No one feels comfortable speaking outside of their homes anymore," Magnius explained with a somber expression. "I know your guild was responsible for defeating Zeref, which is why I believe you are the most qualified to handle this request."
For a moment, we contemplated this, I likely more than the others. No one outside of the guild and a few chosen individuals—namely the dragon slayers—knows about my direct connection to Zeref. I wonder if this guild is aware of END and what they might think about Fairy Tail's involvement in the war that shook Fiore. Nothing good, that's for sure.
"Very well, thank you for your information. Is there any chance you could point us in the direction of the tavern that was the site of the most recent incident? We might be able to pick up some clues from there." Erza said, standing up from where she sat.
While the mayor was writing down the tavern's name and address, I found myself lost in thought, zoning out from the world around me.
First, there's this dark magic that I can feel enveloping the town like a dense, invisible fog. I told Lucy about it yesterday, but I know I need to be more cautious if I want to share anything with the others. If someone from this dark guild discovers that I'm Zeref's brother, I can only imagine the consequences.
The second thing that worries me is what the Crimson Saints want. Do they aim to eliminate anything related to the Black Wizard? Why did they attack a civilian for simply mentioning the war? What will happen once they realize we are from Fairy Tail, the ones responsible for defeating him and his army?
I have so many thoughts racing through my mind that I don't even notice Gray trying to get my attention.
"Yo, Flame Brain, you in there?"
"What?" I say as I now notice that we are exiting the mayor's office. "Yeah, sorry, I've just got something on my mind, nothing to worry about, Ice Princess. Hey Erza, you got the info about the tavern?"
"It's right here," Erza says, holding up a slip of paper.
"Good, now let's get going!" I say, putting on a smile as I begin marching towards the main entrance.
"Hold on, Natsu," Wendy says, grabbing onto my arm, making me stop before reaching the doors. "I think it would be best to head back to the inn to make a plan, don't you think?"
"Alright, lead the way."
Walking towards the small in we are currently calling home, I remain quiet, which seems to be making my teammates look at me in concern. I mean, my whole thing is being a loud and obnoxious dragon slayer.
Once we make it to our destination, we all make our way into the girl's room to make a plan. Once we were all seated, Erza and Gray sat at the small table in the center of the room, Wendy, Carla, and Happy sat on what I assumed was Wendy's bed, leaving me and Lucy to sit on hers.
I decide to get comfortable and sit crosslegged on the bed while Lucy sits next to me, where she reassuringly grabs my hand. I look up at her and can tell that she is worried, not just about the job but me as well.
"Are you alright Natsu?" Wendy asks. "You are a lot quieter the usual."
"I'm fine, Wendy," I say, giving her the biggest smile I can muster. Knowing that my little sister-figure doesn't believe me by the way she continues to look at me.
I can tell that no one is buying my cheerful act. They have all known me for years. I should know better than to try and hide my unusual behaviour.
"Natsu," Lucy said carefully, getting my attention. "I know that we said that we wouldn't worry about the strange feeling you have, but after hearing what the mayor said, I think we should tell the others, don't you think?"
My mind goes back to the conversation we had last night and our decision to not say anything, but it seems we were both thinking the same thing. The only reply I give her is a silent nod.
"What strange feeling?" Wendy asks curiously.
"Have you been keeping secrets, Ash-for-Brains?" Gray teases.
"It's not like that," I say quietly. "I just didn't think you would hear me out or believe me."
"Why wouldn't we hear you out, Natsu?" Erza asks, confused.
I turn to look at Lucy, who is still holding my hand. She gives a reassuring squeeze, almost like she is saying that she will be there the whole time. That thought made me feel better.
"I can sense some sort of dark magic here." I start. "I know what you are all going to say. Everyone can feel dark magic and all, but not this."
"When did you first get this strange feeling?" Erza asked, concerned.
"It started while we were riding the train."
"Flame Brain, are you sure it isn't some side effect of your motion sickness?" Gray asks in his usual mocking tone.
"If I'm being honest, I wish it was."
I hate transportation, and wishing that whatever this feeling was just something related to my motion sickness is not something that can be taken lightly. As such, I know my friends now understand that whatever is bothering me isn't to be taken lightly.
"I'm not entirely sure why, but ever since my fight against Zeref, I've developed this sixth sense that seems to alert me to what I can only describe as a darker form of magic. I'm uncertain if it's related to me being… well, you know."
I took a break to look up and see how everyone was reacting. I was surprised to find that they were all listening to me intently.
Sighing once more, I continued, "As soon as we arrived here, the feeling intensified. The best way to describe it is as a dark fog that feels both real and unreal at the same time. After speaking with the mayor and learning that this dark guild is targeting people simply for mentioning the war, I can't shake the feeling that something bad is about to happen. I didn't mention it earlier because I thought you all might think I'm crazy or something."
As I finished speaking, I suddenly felt self-conscious and instinctively curled up into myself.
"I understand, but I'm still not sure why you think we wouldn't believe you," Erza said, resting her hand on her chin and deep in thought. "We are teammates after all; we support each other no matter what."
I opened my mouth to respond, but for a moment, I couldn't find the words. For some reason, I felt too scared even to look up. I might have broken down again if Lucy hadn't still held my hand.
After a few moments of silence, I finally made up my mind, I decided to get up from my spot on the bed and head toward the door.
"Hold on, Pyro, where are you going?" Gray shouts.
"I just need a few minutes," I say as I take one more look at my friends.
I look at Lucy, who gives me a sad yet understanding glance. Behind her eyes, there's a silent question, asking for my permission to speak. I hesitate for a moment before nodding, signaling her to go ahead and answer the others' questions. Then, I turned and exited the room.
I entered the room that Gray and I share and decided to lie down on my bed. Turning onto my side, I pulled one of the many pillows to my chest, hoping it would ease the anxiety that had built up inside me.
I lay there quietly, slowly starting to drift off to sleep. The last thought running through my mind before I surrendered to the darkness was a hope that the fear I had about something happening was just a normal fear and that nothing would come of it.
