Hey guys i'm gonna keep this short and sweet so we can get right on to the story. Thank you so much for the support. It means quite a lot to me, far more than you guys could know. For quite some time I lost confidence in my ability to write and create my own stories and hearing positive feed back so recently from even just a few of you has helped me fight against those negative thoughts and keep pushing forwards. So thank you from the absolute bottom of my heart.

Ira

As Erza walked through the streets of Magnolia city with her friends close behind her hazel colored eyes flickered lightly across the shapes of its citizens and the buildings and shops that surrounded them. She had spent most of her life in this city, in fact when she was just a young girl Master Makarov had taken her under his wing and into the fold of Fairy Tail. Of course as time went by the landscape and people changed but at the heart of it all this was her home and there was absolutely no denying the warmth that filled her heart whenever she came home. The smallest trace of a smile danced over her lips for just a faint moment as she glanced back towards Lucy and Grey who had Happy flying over their heads talking vaguely about fish she allowed her features to soften just a little bit. These two were some of her closest friends in Fairy Tail. Lucy was somewhat new but in the short months she'd become a part of their family she'd proven time and time again that she was loyal beyond a doubt to the concept of friendship that Fairy Tail held so dear to their hearts. Grey had been there from the start. Back when they were all just a bunch of kids the young Ice Wizard had been talking up his game and challenging anyone who thought they stood a chance to throw down with him. A good guy, Erza thought, as her eyes flickered past him towards the masked figure who walked just a ways behind the two well known companions and Erza's heart and mind hardened just a little. She did't know Diamere very well, didn't know how he thought, how he acted, or whether or not this was a bad move bringing him here, but she had to have faith somewhere that what seemed like a good man would reveal himself to be just as kind as she hoped he would be behind all the baggage.

Erza was drawn from her thoughts by the sound of Grey's voice calling out to her in slight worry at the distracted look on her face "Erza, you alright?" Realizing that she had been staring back at them for some time she quickly turned her head forwards and cleared her throat replacing the armor that surrounded her soul as she spoke back confidently "Yes, I was just thinking to myself." This earned a shared look between Lucy and Grey but they chose not to comment and of course Natsu remained silent as he had all the way through the bustling city of Magnolia. It didn't take very long for the group to find their way through the streets seeing as they'd been memorized like the back of their hands and before long they ended up standing before a grand building made of rather simple materials and stood a couple of stories high with a black iron fence surrounding its premises. It looked rather oriental in nature and to anyone else was somewhat unimpressive. But to the mages of Fairy Tail it signified one thing, Home.

/Natsu's POV/

The Diamond Dragonslayer's eyes had wandered the large city as they walked through it with a faint sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. All his life he'd spent avoiding any contact with civilization he could, away from their ridicule, their cruelty and sickness. Yet here he was walking through one of the largest and well known cities in all of Fiore like a hypocritical fool. Why the hell did he even agree to this. Shifting his hand up subconsciously to grip the lower half of his mask he lifted it upwards and tucked it over his features more snugly. He was so distracted by the fact he was now integrated into civilization that he didn't notice that his companions had stopped and were waiting for him to step up into their midst. Finding himself stood among his companions with the now somewhat familiar weight of Happy the cat sat on his shoulder Natsu's gaze slowly shifted towards the only thing left for him to see, the guild hall. His eyes somewhat widened as the muscles in his jaw twitched hidden below the fabric of his mask as his head suddenly pulsed with aching pain and for a moment a brief blurry vision of the very same building exploded into his thoughts. What the hell.. Natsu thought to himself as his eyes danced with confusion at the memory. That doesn't make any sense. How could he have a memory of somewhere he'd never been before?

Feeling the warmth of a small hand nudge his arm Natsu glanced over to the smiling face of Lucy who spoke in her usual kind voice "Isn't it something? Just wait until we get inside, that's when the real fun begins." and with that the three companions were off leaving Natsu with the talking cat sat on his shoulder munching on a fish that seemingly came out of nowhere at all. Slowly the Dragonslayer walked his way into the front yard of the building and spoke quietly to the neko sat on his figure "Tell me what its like." Happy seemed a little confused at the question before realization exploded on the cute creatures face and he pumped a single furry fist up into the air "It's totally awesome! Everyone there is super nice, except Lucy she can be pretty mean in the mornings but just ignore her" The cat who was so appropriately named quickly took flight and guided Natsu through the open front doors spinning up into the air shouting down to him "Welcome to Fairy Tail!"

It was as if Natsu had stepped into an entirely different dimension. The smells and sounds were so different, almost warmer in nature than the outside world. The guild hall had tables scattered about the wooden floor with various different members seated on the stools and benches either eating, drinking, or just talking and laughing with one another. At the far end Natsu spotted a small man, almost certainly a certified midget, seated on the counter of bar with a mug in his hand filled with what was most certainly alcohol of some kind talking to a rather pretty young lady with a sweet face and an even kinder smile. Natsu couldn't help but let a slightly warm feeling flicker through his heart at the simple atmosphere of Fairy Tail. It was like nothing he had ever seen before.

"It's really something isn't it?" A familiar voice spoke from beside him causing Natsu to glance over and realize Erza had been stood beside him allowing him to take it all in with her arms crossed over her chest plate both of those dark brown eyes meeting his own unerringly. Natsu attempted to come up with some sort of neutral response but failing to find any that wouldn't seem obviously fake in denial he just nodded his head and spoke in a slow voice "It is.. Unlike anything I have ever felt before." That was enough of a response to get a rare grin out of Erza as she nodded in agreement and followed his gaze out across the members of her guild cheering with the return of the three well known members of their family before she stepped forwards and nudged her head in the direction of the bar speaking confidently "Come, meet our master." Not saying anything but following the crimson haired knight Natsu walked through the length of the Guild Hall without a single word ignoring the blatant curious stares and murmurings that always inevitably followed his wake due to the usual get up of the Diamond Mage. Upon arriving at the bar counter Erza addressed the short alcoholic man with respect as she motioned towards Natsu "Master I'd like to introduce you to the man we were sent to dispatch of. His name is Diamere." The short man raised an eyebrow at her words but chose not to comment, It was odd she'd stray from the course of her mission but if Erza made a call he would have to take it into serious consideration. Allowing his eyes to wander the masked figure of Natsu the old man remained silent for a few moments before extending a hand with a ginormous grin that seemed unfit to live on such a small face he spoke in delight "Welcome to Fairy Tail Diamere! I hope you find our hospitality the best of any you have ever encountered." Natsu out of politeness took the old mans hand in his own only surprised to feel the immense amount of magical power that exploded from even the simplest touch. The two shared a silent serious look if only for a split second, clearly testing one another's power only for Natsu to quickly learn he was entirely outmatched.

"Thank you Master." Natsu spoke simply as he provided an easy shake to the mans hand only to allow his attention to drift to the kind looking woman stood behind the counter he also extended her smaller hand for him to take in greeting "Hello there, I'm Mirajane! Its lovely to meet you" She said in an innately gentle voice. As Natsu took her hand in his own he also felt an immense amount of magical power, however hers was suppressed. Odd He thought to himself as he retracted his grasp before glancing towards Erza and speaking calmly "Is there somewhere I can rest? I'm not feeling overly well at the moment." This wasn't entirely a lie, large crowds tended to make Natsu almost physically ill at times. Erza nodded and motioned towards a hallway not far from them and spoke with ease "Any of those rooms should do just fine, rest well Diamere. We can talk tomorrow."

Natsu nodded his thanks and said goodbye to the master and Mirajane before making his way towards the indicated hall glancing back to wave at Lucy and Grey as well as that damned blue cat who had found a seat and were relaxing as Erza came to dine with them. Only one thought could make its way through Natsu's head as he entered the room he found suitable for his rest.

He felt safe.