I'm speechless. I am truly grateful for all your feedback. Even those who are not too happy with me I'm glad you spoke up. The reviews to the last chapter were mixed and I'm just sad that some of the problems you guys had are simply here to stay since it is too late to fix some of them but those that I can I will.

I will answer here some of the more frequent questions;

Some of you asked me why no one was reacting to Natsu being back since a dead man walking should certainly raise more alarm. The reason behind it is simple. No one of notice really knows that Natsu's alive aside from Fairy Tail and the dragons. There are some rumors and people are starting to talk so it's not going to stay a secret for long and I plan on talking about the reaction. Very soon ;)

I'm surprised by the animosity towards Wendy. I had no idea she was one of the most hated characters in the story (if not the most hated) though now I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. And just to point it out here, Natsu did not forgive those who knew about the vision (Makarov, Wendy, Porlyusica and Carla) – and neither did the most of the group that went to help resurrect him for that matter – in the last chapter he simply agreed to talk to Wendy instead of ignoring her and I plan on going into his feelings and all that more closely in this chapter.

In any case, I am truly grateful for all that you wrote in the last chapter. It really helped and I'll do my best to avoid making the same mistakes again.

Chapter 84:

Doors of the guildhall opened, and Makarov looked as the black-coated figure walked inside and quietly shut the heavy doors behind. It was a sight everyone was becoming accustomed to. Natsu looked up from the shadows of his hood, most of his face hidden by it and after a moment he lowered the hood, pink hair spilling behind him. Makarov bit his lower lip but didn't move from the spot he was occupying on the bar as the dragon took a seat on the other end of it. Mira happily presented him with a cup of coffee before the dragon even said anything. They sat in silence, each on their end of the bar. Makarov stole another glance in his direction. He must've stared too long because the dragon lifted his gaze from the steaming cup and looked at him. Red eyes regarded him for a moment and Makarov dared to hope he was going to say something. The dragon turned back to his cup and Mira took a seat next to him, stealing a quick kiss. The white-haired mage sat between the two and Makarov didn't even bother pretending he didn't see the glare Mira sent him over her shoulder before she leaned towards Natsu and rested her white head on his shoulder.

Mira whispered something to the dragon and a corner of his lips lifted before he turned the hand that rested on the bar around and presented Mira with his palm. She traced the lines on the hard hands before she intertwined her long fingers with his and whispered something else.

Natsu looked over the top of her head at Makarov. The master once again found himself holding his breath, the heavy gaze lingered a moment longer and Natsu's eyes narrowed before he turned back to Mira, taking another sip from the cup.

The dragon didn't trust him, Makarov knew that. He didn't even talk to him for that matter and as much as he knew he deserved it, it still hurt. It took years to build that trust and relationship he had with Natsu and all it took was one stupid decision for it all to go to waste. Makarov hopped off of the bar, unable to stay in one place as guilt flooded him. It wasn't just Natsu but those that the dragon prince somehow befriended over the years.

Natsu might not trust him. And he'll likely never truly forgive him but Makarov accepted that. He will never forgive himself either. He gave a mirthless chuckle as he made his way to his office. Half of the guild likely resented what he did. What a good master he was turning out to be in his old age.

Mira didn't lift her head from Natsu's shoulder as they listened the old man leave and only once she couldn't hear his steps any longer did she pull away from Natsu and look up at him. His face was carefully blank and despite the years she had spent with him it was still hard to read him when he truly put his mind to it.

"Should I feel guilty that a small part of me hates him?", Natsu finally asked, red eyes turning to look at her and Mira snorted. "Only a small part?" she asked, pulling further away and sitting straight in her chair to have a better look at him. "I hate him very much," she replied after a moment of silence, "I honestly questioned whether we should've returned here after we brought you back but, in the end,…"

"He's not Fairy Tail," Natsu said, understanding what she meant without her voicing it, "And don't get me wrong I'm angry. I am just… reluctant to say hate. I just don't want to give in to that hate because I'm afraid what I will do if I allow it"

Mira shook her head, "You may be able to blast this whole town to dust if you wanted to but I don't think you'd do it just because you lost your temper. You should've screamed and yelled at him when we returned. I know I had"

Natsu snorted into his cup, "When?"

"Day after we came back – Ultear was with me as well," Mira told him, then paused and regarded him seriously. "You are allowed to be angry, Natsu"

Natsu raised his eyebrow at her, looking sideways from his cup before he put it back on the bar and turned to face her completely. "I know, as I said, I am. I just never believed in being vocal about it. My whole childhood Acnologia thought me not to show it. Anger is too easily used against you to show it callously"

Mira frowned, as she always did when he spoke of his childhood, and no matter his current relationship with Acnologia and the dragon king's behavior now she was insistent that what he did to him when he was a child was horrible. "Well, I still believe it would've been healthier for you to vent from time to time. You certainly have a good reason"

Natsu stayed quiet, not sure if he was even supposed to say anything. They had a similar conversation before, right before the mission to Sun Village when Mira all but commanded him to go. He blinked, a thought occurring to him and he looked into her cerulean eyes. "You told me to go on that mission with team Erza, knowing Wendy was going – especially because Wendy was going," he said carefully and even as he started making his way to what he wanted to say the grin that formed on Mira's face answered him, "And now you tell me to be angry at Makarov when Wendy is guilty of keeping secrets just as much as he is"

The shape changer didn't say anything but one hand slid over the inside of his thigh and she grinned at him.

"You wanted me to snap at her," Natsu concluded dryly.

"And imagine my surprise when you didn't," Mira told him with a chuckle, "You were your stony self the whole time you talked to her"

Natsu nodded to himself, realizing another thing about that mission, "Arthur was spying for you"

"That sounds so harsh," Arthur objected, the teen standing suddenly on the other side of the bar and the two adults blinked, looking at him for a moment and the teen grinned. "Look, dad, what they did and said made a lot of people mad but most of us voiced it… more than once. You didn't so moms thought to give you a nudge"

"Ultear as well," Natsu sighed and downed the coffee in his cup. "As I said, you don't have to worry about this. I am dealing with it"

"Silently," Arthur emphasized almost mockingly but in good humor, and Natsu rolled his eyes, a smirk tugging his lips. Doors of the guild opened again, this time loudly and with no regard for decency. Jellal was standing there, hands on his knees, and catching his breath. Every eye turned to look at him and the blue-haired man straightened up, eyes frantically looking around the guild. A sense of foreboding clenched Natsu's stomach and he stood up from his spot, knowing exactly who the other mage was looking for even before Jellal's eyes landed on him and widened.

"Natsu!", he rushed towards him, and only then did Natsu notice the envelope gripped tightly in his fist. "The -," he took another deep breath and steadied himself, "This is from Era. Magic Council asked to see you – pretty much demanded to see you, at 'your earliest convenience' "

Mira was standing as well, worried eyes on the white paper as Natsu snatched it from Jellal's numb fingers. He pulled the letter from the envelope, eyes scanning the black ink.

"It would seem that they know I'm alive," Natsu muttered, staring at the very official summons.

Mira frowned, glancing at Jellal who looked far too pale and at Natsu who was far too still for that to be the only problem. "Unless Natsu can give them sufficient reason for his return," Jellal said through gritted teeth, "They will mark Fairy Tail as a dark guild"

His statement was met by an uproar that left Natsu's ears ringing. Makarov emerged from his office, shocked at the sudden shouting. Natsu's only answer to his confused expression was to lift the envelope with the council's seal. He didn't need to see anything else and the old master's face grew dark.

"I'll go there and see what I can do," Natsu said and without raising his voice the guild quieted down. Makarov's eyes narrowed, this time in thought.

"If I can't convince them that Fairy Tail didn't do anything wrong I will deny having any communication with the guild since Crocus," Natsu told them, and once again the guild was on their feet. No one liked the idea of him going to the magic council alone. Even if Fairy Tail didn't get branded as a dark guild Natsu likely will be marked as a dark mage which will make his membership to Fairy Tail null and void. "We can't just let you do it alone," Gray spoke up, "If anything, you are the most innocent one in the whole thing"

Mira nodded, "I'll go with you, it was my idea in the first place"

Natsu looked at them with a raised eyebrow, "And if they decide we are to be apprehended? No, I'm going alone"

"You can't be serious," Laxus hissed, hands crossed over his chest, "Not after everything that happened"

Natsu glared at him, red eyes flashing dangerously. The lightning dragon slayer didn't budge. Natsu paused, impressed before he continued, voice leaving no room for argument, "Think about it logically. They asked for me, no one else but me, by name. They know that trying to capture me is a useless endeavor and so they decided to try and ask nicely. If any one of you come with me it's admitting we did something wrong. Which, mind you, we did," he paused eyes looking around the room and making sure they heard him.

"I can lie, mind you," he added dryly when some started objecting. "But if they decide that I am a risk to Fiore they will likely try to pin it on Fairy Tail as a whole because, again, there is nothing they can do to me and they know it. Another reason to go alone. And again, if they decide that I am to be removed I can go back to the dragons. Most of you don't have another place to go should Fairy Tail be disbanded or, worse yet, criminalized"

"He is right," Ultear spoke, though fists clenched at her side told everyone how much she didn't agree with it. "It's for the best that he goes alone. Natsu can handle this"

The voice of confidence. Natsu nodded in thanks and Ultear gave him a weak smile that might've been a grimace. It took a while but the dragon prince managed to calm down their anger from raging inferno to simmering unease.

The dragon prince walked outside, aware that four followed him even as he prepared to leave.

"I don't like this," Annie told him seriously, her green eyes hidden behind her bangs. Natsu paused, watching her for a moment before, somewhat awkwardly, he rested his hand on her head. "It'll be alright," Arthur assured her, hugging her with one arm, he looked at Natsu in the eyes, "Won't it?"

"Of course," Natsu agreed, lifting his hand from Annie's head and the dragon prince tensed as Arthur pulled him into a hug with his free hand. The shadow mage laughed hoarsely at the dragon. "Like hugging a statue," he told him and Natsu felt a corner of his lips lift, relaxing into the hug momentarily and returning it, every movement awkward which made Annie laugh as well.

He quickly released them, stepping back and gave them an awkward pat on the head. Arthur grinned at him and Natsu sniffed, stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Brat," he told him.

"Be careful," Mirajane told him firmly, cupping his cheek and kissing him before she stepped back and Ultear took her place. The purple-haired beauty looked down, fingers interlacing with Natsu's and she stayed like that for a moment silent. Natsu blinked and brought her hand up, kissing her knuckles, a small smile on his lips at her shocked expression.

"I'll be back," he assured them and before anyone could say anything else, he disappeared into the Void.

"They should be disbanded at the very least," the councilwoman huffed, crossing hands over her chest. "Everything we hear about them is trouble"

"They won Grand Magic Games," the councilman to the woman's right said, "I can't say I'm surprised. Not after Tenrou group returned"

"They like to stand out," another councilman added, scowling, "But it's not because of the Tenrou group that they won – not entirely"

At the raised eyebrows that greeted his statement, the councilman frowned further, waving his hand through the air, "You have all seen what Fernandes, Milkovich, Strauss, and even that kid Smith can do. And that's not even counting Souleater. No, they didn't win GMG because of the Tenrou Group. They simply decided to compete because of them"

A murmur passed through the room before Gran Doma tapped his staff against the tiles, the sound echoing loudly in the large room. "Quiet down," he boomed, "We are here to talk about him as you well know and his possible connection to Tartaros"

"He did come back from the dead," the councilwoman muttered, "With what we know about Tartaros I wouldn't be surprised if he is some sort of spy for them"

Org raised an eyebrow, looking at the councilwoman dryly. "With what we know about them? We know nothing about them"

"Well true but," she was interrupted when Gran Doma once again slammed his staff into the tiles. "Warrod Sequen said he saw Souleater with a group of Fairy Tail mages and that they finished the mission he gave them quickly and efficiently, there is no proof that Souleater is connected to Tartaros but we do know he is alive. How or why is why we -"

The doors of the meeting room opened, the frog-like man stepped hurriedly inside, twisting his fingers worriedly. Councilwoman glowered at him, "What are you doing? We are in the middle of the meeting!"

Doma sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

The frogman swallowed, "I – I… I was told to come to you as soon as Mr. Souleater arrived"

Gran Doma straightened as did every person in the room. "Send him in"

"Of course," the frogman said quickly and practically fled outside. The council stayed silent barely breathing as they waited for the dead man to walk into the room. They heard him before they saw him, booted feet moving across the tiles and the sound echoing in the tall hallways. Few of the councilmen looked at each other. Half of them didn't even believe that the Souleater was alive.

Warrod stood rigidly at the entrance of the council's room, hard hands interlaced behind his back. The air shifted around the hallway and his ancient hands clenched, worried eyes staring at the cloaked figure. He had seen him not so long ago, in his own house, and at the time the cloaked figure drew a curious look but against his suspicions he ignored it. He had stayed behind the rowdy crowd of mages from Fairy Tail and Warrod never personally met Natsu Souleater so he convinced himself that the man was not who he obviously was.

And then the scarlet mage called him by his name before they left.

Warrod wasn't sure what it meant and so he sent the letter to the council, asking them what they knew of the sudden reappearance of the dead man. The answer was, apparently, nothing.

Souleater once again stood in the same room as him and Warrod wondered how he hadn't seen it then, for it was painfully obvious who he was. But, he acknowledged, no one's first guess would be a dead man.

"Warrod Sequen," Souleater intoned and Warrod's hands clenched tighter behind his back. The dragon nodded to himself, "Of course it was you, I should've known"

"You couldn't have thought that no one would find out," Warrod said, eyes trained on the man in front of him. An odd smile lifted the pale lips on the face hidden by the hood.

He nodded easily, "I knew people would find out. I just planned on doing it on my own accord"

Warrod noted the edge of steel in that voice, paused for a second, and then nodded. "I will see you some other time, Mr. Souleater. You shouldn't keep the council waiting"

Warrod left after that, not waiting for the man to answer.

Natsu watched him go for a moment before he turned to the doors, eyes lingering on Lahar and Doranbolt who stared at him wide-eyed.

His brisk walk quickly brought him to the exit doors and he briefly paused as he noticed a blonde-haired man standing at the edge of the mountain where the council building resided. He stared at the man a moment longer and, aware of the scrutiny the man looked back at him and a sharp smile appeared on his lips. Warrod paused and then, with a shake of his head used his magic to carry himself away from Era.

The dragon prince appeared in the doors, dressed in black and dark greys. Gran Doma fought against instinctively leaning forward to get a better look. The dark hood hid his features well, leaving only his mouth truly visible. Mouth set in a firm line that betrayed nothing. Souleater tilted his head up and two red eyes flashed under the hood.

Doma blinked, the air in the room became heavy and the dragon prince continued walking, taking off his hood as he stopped at the opposite side of the table to Gran Doma.

There was no mistaking the individual before them. It was, without a doubt Natsu Souleater. A man whose funeral he personally attended.

No one moved nor spoke for a while, everyone staring at the pale face framed by pink hair. Souleater didn't seem bothered by the scrutiny, standing there like a statue. Gran Doma couldn't help but feel the respect he had for the man growing.

"Thank you for coming, Mr. Souleater," Gran Doma finally realized he had not made a sound for more than a minute.

Natsu inclined his head, a nod. "How could I not, when you summoned me so warmly?", his voice was so dry it felt like he sucked the moisture out of the air.

"We have very good reasons," Gran Doma said politely. Of the ten wizards in room three knew of Souleater only through reputation but the rest have talked to the man at least once. He only hoped they realized how dangerous he was and that antagonizing him is something that wanted to avoid.

"So, I've heard," Natsu said, still standing perfectly still and the councilwoman snorted beside him. Gran Doma felt like pinching his nose again.

"Could you tell us, Mr. Souleater, how is it that you stand in front of us now when I have personally attended your funeral a few months prior"

Natsu looked at them. He could lie that he never died, they never buried his body after all but they would know it's a lie. Even without proof, they could still act on their suspicions. Telling the truth was a definite no.

"My father saw to that," he finally allowed. Magic Council or not they did not know what dragons were capable of. They were more than welcome to question his father if they dared. It seemed like a safe bet. The council shifted in their seats, all aware of what was happening.

They couldn't force the truth out of them and he had no intention of sharing it yet he couldn't leave without giving them a satisfying answer of some kind.

An impasse.

"You have to realize," Gran Doma spoke, his face grave, "That you were a dead man, and now you stand before us. It is not hard to draw conclusions"

Natsu stayed stubbornly silent. "Are you denying that you were dead?"

The dragon prince was silent again and Doma was certain he would not say anything else but then he opened his mouth, "I was dead"

A few gasped and even Doma stared. They knew and yet, hearing it made it that much more real.

"Then how are you here now?", Doma asked, interlacing his fingers together. Every councilor waited, silent. Natsu stayed quiet. "You have to understand that we have to be the ones to break this news to the public, otherwise the rumors will do their job and you and your guild will be ruined," a hard look and Natsu raised his chin, eyes flashing dangerously and Doma worried he pushed too far, too quickly. "Fairy Tail had nothing to do with this," he said, his voice daring them to say otherwise.

"So, your father used Necromancy to bring you back?", Doma asked, "Your father, Acnologia?"

The councilors shifted in their seat again. Doma suddenly became aware that Natsu watched them all very much like an owl would eye a mouse.

"Not Necromancy per se," Natsu finally said and Doma waited for an explanation but none came. Dragon magic was an unknown to them but Doma was certain that dragons couldn't just bring the dead back to life. For magic as dark as that there is a price to pay. A terrible price.

Natsu had no intention of telling them what happened. If they think Necromancy is bad then who knows how will they react to the news that he was alive because he made a deal with the devil, quite literally.

"You are asking me this so that you know what to tell to the public," the dragon said, cutting to the chase, apparently done dancing around the answer, "You know that if I were to be declared resurrected it would give too many people too many ideas. Dangerous ideas. So, you either have to make a terrible example of me or you have to cover the truth. You cannot touch me, too many people would stand behind Fairy Tail for you to touch them and well," he gave a mirthless laugh, "I would certainly like to see you try and take steps against Acnologia"

Council stayed silent as Natsu leaned forward, hands resting on the polished table. "So here we are. You might have the knowledge that would demand of me to tell you the truth, thus the truth I gave you. You cannot spread it to the public because the truth is dangerous so you will say to the public this; my father took my body to the Floating Island where I recovered from my wounds. I did not die though it was a near thing and thus he said nothing in Magnolia when they buried the empty casket"

The council exchanged looks, no one quite liking that they were very much ordered what to do but no one could fault the logic behind it. "No sense in giving hope when there is little chance that you'll survive," Gran Doma said, a nod of understanding to Natsu. Natsu leaned back, back straightening, and nodded as well. "Exactly"

They stayed silent for a long moment after that and then Doma rose his hand, "All who agree to proceed with this plan?"

Everyone rose their hands though it was obvious some questioned it.

Nothing more was said because the doors to the room burst open the frogman, wide-eyed and panicked gave one scream, all the warning they got.

"INTRUDER!"

And the world disappeared in the flash of orange.

Jellal entered the master's office, back tense, and face carefully blank. The old man looked up from a paper he was reading, his face tired and drawn and Jellal couldn't help but pause at how old the man looked. He stood up without a word and walked to stand in front of Jellal who still hadn't moved from the doors after he closed them.

"If you don't mind me being so blunt, I don't really see what is there to talk about," Jellal said carefully. The small man nodded, "No, there is nothing I can say that will ever fix what I did but it's not about that that I asked you to come here. I… wanted your opinion on something. Quite honestly I would've asked Mirajane or Ultear but -"

He trailed off and Jellal nodded in understanding, "They refuse to talk to you"

"Indeed," Makarov nodded, drawing a tired hand over his mouth and chin. "It's about Natsu," Jellal stated, hands crossed over his chest.

"It's related to him," Makarov replied. "I want to talk to you before I drop this on him because I'm not sure how he will react"

Jellal smiled an ugly smile, "Our little secret?"

Makarov blanched, paling and quickly shook his head, "Gods, no! You can talk to him about it all you want. I just want to ask if you thought this was a good idea before I ask him to do something that he doesn't want to do but would feel obliged to do"

Jellal sighed, "Spit it out, already"

"I'm old," Makarov started and Jellal snorted. The master chuckled, "Well, yes, obviously. What I want to say is that I'm old and the decisions I've made prove that I'm not as open-minded about some matters as I believed I was. What I'm trying to say is that to be a guild master one has to be fair and open-minded. Not misguided by personal grudges"

He stopped, an expectant look on his face as he looked at Jellal who stared at him wide-eyed, vaguely aware that his jaw was lost somewhere in the basement. He made a sound as if he wanted to say something, paused, closed his mouth, and then opened them again.

"You want to ask Natsu… to be the guild master?"

Makarov nodded, no doubt in his eyes. "I had been thinking about that for months. But then he died…"

"And now he's back"

"And now he's back," Makarov nodded, "And everything I've seen... Even years ago, before Tenrou, he was a valid candidate but he lacked any real attachment to the guild and it never seemed like he had an interest in its welfare. Now… it's different. He changed so much and it breaks my heart what I almost did to him. What I did do to him. But it's entirely my fault"

The master released a sob and Jellal stared, wide-eyed, as the old man started crying. "I know that if I leave Fairy Tail to him it will be in good hands but I don't want him to feel forced to do something. He has enough on his plate already"

Jellal swallowed, staring for a long time, mute.

Then he finally found his voice and spoke, "You have to ask him. I can't answer for him nor do I want to assume what Natsu would do but I do think you should talk to him about this"

Makarov swallowed, nodding.

"Yes, you're right, of course," he cleared his throat, "I don't know what I'm doing anymore, Jellal. I'm so tired"

End of chapter 84.

Let me hear what you think!

I decided that I will do my best to update once a week, hopefully on the same day… soo, see ya next Sunday/Monday, you all wonderful people. Hopefully.

Please review and thanks for reading :)