'Recap'

Erza's eye's widened as the first thing she saw was a black Fairy Tail Guild Mark on the upper-right of the man's Breastplate.

"After all, I am a part of Fairy Tail."

~RR9~

Erza stood off to the side glowering as the 'Hunter' was surrounded by Guild members who were firing off questions faster than the man could answer. Most of them being…

How did you do that?

What did you use?

Where did you come from!?

At this Question Erza finally stepped in saying. "I would like to know this as well."

As she spoke, all the wizards surrounding the man parted as he made his way to where she was standing. As the last few people parted she finally got a good look at the man who had 'saved' Magnolia.

Standing at roughly 6'3", the man was wearing a black cloak that wrapped completely around him like a shadow. His head was covered in a silverfish-grey helmet with only a inch wide gap for sight but it had a black lens that hide the mans eyes. As a strong wind blow across the road the man's cloak billowed revealing the rest of the man's armor. The chest piece, which only covered the chest, was the same silver-grey as the helmet with a dragon type emblem in the center of the chest and a string of beads, tablets, and trinkets. The man's lower torsos only protection was a Grey scaly type fabric that was wrapped tightly enough that the man's well defined abs showed through the fabric. Below that, the mans belt held two large knives on either side of his hips, both were about a foot and a half long each. ( Revenant Shader). The mans gantlets seemed to have chunks of vertebrae straped to his left fore-arm and a skull on the left shoulder. The man slowly strode forward until he was just in front of Erza and just stood there looking at her. After just standing there looking at each other, Erza finally had enough, Re-Quiped a sword and pointed it at the stranger, Grinding through her teeth. "Who are.."

"Prince."

"Umm…what?"

"My name, it's Prince."

"Oh…um, ok. Where did you come from 'Prince'?"

"The Wall."

Silence reigned on the field from complete shock from the utter enormity of the claim.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see the Master. H, dock the ship, I'll be back later." And with that the man erupted in a torrent of black flames and was gone.

"Wait…damn, he's gone." Erza muttered staring at the stop the man had just vacated. Remembering what the man she quickly looked up to where she could see his 'ship' was starting to move off to the west she sat and stared at it because it was something that she had never seen before. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice when the guild members started wandering towards the guild (what little of one there is).

"Man, what was his deal." Grey said, he then laid a hand on Erza's shoulder and said "Come on Erza let head back to the guild."

As they started walking towards the guild, Erza brought a hand up to her chin in a thinking position. "Grey, do you ever remember him showing up at the guild?"

"I never have but you never know he might be like that prick Mystogan."

"Yes, but we know of Mystogan where as we've never heard of this 'Prince'." Erza said as they were now outside of the Fairy Tail construction site.

"It seems that you aren't very fond of the nickname my team gave me." Said the 'Prince's voice from right behind them.

Erza and gray quickly spun around and readied their magic, in Erza's case, Re-Quipped a sword and had it at the ready. In response, Prince held his gauntleted right arm up, his palm facing them in a peacemaking gesture.

"Wow, easy there. There's no need for that."

After Erza and gray relaxed, if only slightly, Erza thought that something was off about him until she noticed the two more knives strapped to his right forearm and he was missing the bones that had been on his left arm and shoulder. She must have been staring at him thinking there was a familiar bearing about the man when he tilted his head to the side and said "Is something wrong Ms. Scarlet?"

Caught unprepared by the question, Erza could only stutter. "I...um…well, I…

Stopping before she made a bigger fool of herself then she already had. Erza took a breath to collect herself and was about to speak once more when Gray stomped up to the man stood right in front of him just close enough to touch.

"What the hell did you do to Erza?!" Gray shouted at full volume. "Erza just stuttered, ERZA NEVER STUTTERS! Now tell me what you fucking did to ERZA!" Gray screamed as he sent a murderous right hook at Prince who in turn just swayed back just enough to evade the blow and then ducked as gray tried to kick him in the head. This continued for a short while with Gray swinging madly and prince always dodging with what seemed like no effort at all.

During their 'fight' All the guild members from the construction site streamed out in response to grays yelling to find Erza rooted where she was staring at the very one sided fight. Never in the years that she had known Gray had she ever witnessed him unable to at least hit his opponent

"RAAAGGG! WHY CAN"T I HIT YOU! STAND STILL SO I CAN BASH THAT HELMET IN!" Gray roared as he jumped back. It was obvious to the guild that Gray was completely out matched. Gray was panting for all he was worth but Prince seemed to be unaffected.

"Mr. Fullbuster, if you would just calm…"

"SHUT UP! Ice-make…" Gray snarled as he got in to his casting stance "…HAMMER!

As soon as Gray cast his spell a giant hammer made of ice appeared in his hands.

"Take this ass-hole!" Gray screamed as he brought the hammer down in an overhand strike. Midway through time seemed to slow down as he heard a soft *shing*. As he watched, he stared with disbelief, along with the entire guild, as his ice hammer continued its decent but in two pieces, sliced clean in two. Standing in front of him with his head bowed so the shadows of his cowl enveloped his helmet, making it look like you were staring at the grim reaper. In his right hand was one of the big knives from his belt but the blade was glowing cherry red and covered with black fire. It was dead silent as Prince slowly slide the knife back in to its sheath. The farther into the sheath the knife went, the black flames started to disappear. There was a soft *click* as the knife finally slide home. Prince slowly stood straight and looked at grey who was froze in the same position he had been, just staring at Prince.

"Are you finished?" Prince stated in an irritated tone.

Gray could only look on with his mouth hanging open. Not able to comprehend what just happened.

Shaking off her shock, Erza stepped forward putting herself between Gray and Prince to try and stop farther conflict.

Seeing her defensive posture, Prince brought a hand up to his helmet and shook his head back and forth sighing in exasperation. "So I have to fight you as well. Huugh…fine, but fair warning, my magic is still dialed to lethal so its not my fault if you end up in the infirmary."

Erza would have been extremely pissed off and charged him then and there. But part of his statement had caught her interest. "Why is your magic set to lethal!? That's extremely dangerous, someone could get hurt!" she asked with a bit of heat and sending her trademark glare for good measure. Thinking she had reduced the man to a shivering, stuttering mess like she does with the guild, she was a little a taken back when the man replied.

"I just came back from the front lines where it's kill or be killed. Beating the enemy into unconsciousness may work here but that doesn't fly in war. You can't use kid gloves in a life or death situation. I would think you of all people would understand that, Erza."

"That's quite enough." Said a deep voice from the crowd and the guild parted to show Master Makarov. "You know that those who know of war and those who go to war are two different people. Plus you don't have to remind her." He looked pointed at Erza and Prince (Natsu) was stunned to see her on the verge of crying. Slowly walking forward and lifted a hand to her cheek and softly ran his thumb across her cheek. Erza initially tensed at the contact but relaxed and unintendedly snuggled into the surprising warmth of his still gauntleted hand. "Please forgive me for making you cry. I promise I Will try my best to not do it again." She heard him whisper in her ear and then the warmth was gone and she surprised herself by groaning at the loss as he turned to Makarov and said "I would like to speak with you in private if you don't mind." With an affirming nod they too their leave leaving the guild to its own devices and Erza feeling very confused.