Finally - the next chapter of TLDS! Hope you all enjoy it!~ 3 Please read and review - let me know what you all think!

This chapter is rated m for language and torture - you have been warned.

The Lost Dragon Slayer

Chapter 4: Cracked Glass

Natsu came to with a thudding headache, eyes shut tightly against the throbbing pain. His temples pulsed with each beat of his heart, the blood flowing through his veins loud in his ears. He bit out a curse and moved his hand to inspect the damage – except that it didn't move. Something was restraining his arms, and after a minute's thought he noticed he couldn't feel them, as if they had gone numb a long time ago. Moving his chest forward, he heard the distinct sound of rattling chains. That meant his arms were suspended above his head, probably attached to the ceiling if he wasn't mistaken… This posed a problem.

Not quite ready to open his eyes, he tried to stand, only to realize his legs were also immobilized. He could feel the heavy weight of the chain cuffs on his ankles, and the rattling was beginning to make his head spin once more.

How long had he been out cold this time? He could hardly remember anything leading up to this - all of it a blur. He cracked open his eyes to better perceive just where in this hell he was and was met with complete blackness. A tremor of panic vibrated in his core. He was sightless, motionless, and restrained.

Trying to sort through this nightmare, memories of the last few days started to return. Was it only a few days, or was it weeks? How long had it been exactly…? Either way, Natsu knew he was in some deep shit. Everything around him was in an eerie darkness, the little light he was able to see was creeping in through the cracks around the door right in front of him.

It was a small tease set there by his captures. They seemed to have that sick sense of cruelty.

He tried to wrench his arms free and felt the heavy cuffs dig into his flesh. He grunted out in pain as the chains cut into his wrists and drew blood, the red liquid trickling down his forearms. His every instinct within his tired and beaten body screamed at him to fight through this, to escape these bonds, to run free once again. He needed to get out of here to find the others - they were probably worried sick.

His eyes snapped all the way open. He could… remember them? A wave of relief flooded through his body, calming down his rising panic. Erza, Gray, Wendy, Mest, Gramps, Laxus, Gajeel, Mirajane… they all started to flow into his mind one by one. A small smile graced his lips as he thought of the blonde mage and blue cat he wished to see the most. These fresh images - a light hope in this desolate darkness - this was exactly what he needed to keep fighting through this.

A noise caught his attention, and his eyes focused on the dark shadows that blocked the light coming in through the door. His heart started beating faster, his muscles straining against the chains in preparation for what was coming.

The door before him opened up, and his eyes squeezed shut at the bright light that flooded the room. He grit his teeth as another skull-splitting headache made itself known within his temples.

He tried to speak out, but his throat was raw - probably from screaming previously from the heavy torture he knew his body had gone through. His lips cracked as he croaked, a gasp leaving instead of the words he tried to form.

He slowly opened one of his eyes, and tried to focus on the three figures that walked into the room. He remembered them all clearly now. The blonde haired one and only female, DiMaria he recalled, had a smug look on her face as her eyes roamed over his body. The white haired with the goofy glasses was in the middle - Invel was it? And the last one made his body tense, the evil grin on Ajeel's lips made Natsu want to punch that look right off.

If only he wasn't suspended and restrained by these fucking chains - he would enact his revenge on the black haired bastard this very moment - no matter how tired his body was. He would get free, he would. He'd escape, but not before getting back at each and everyone of them.

His fists clenched around the blood he knew was caked there. He swore on his very blood - he would get them all back for this.

"Looks like our little dragon is finally awake. Did you have a nice rest?" DiMaria's voice made Natsu glance in her direction. He didn't dare speak - he wouldn't give them that much this time.

"Not talkative huh? I'm sure I can get you talking pretty boy…" DiMaria stepped forward and jabbed a knee right into his gut. He grunted out and hunched over as much as his restraints would allow. Blood leaked from the corner of his lips as he coughed heavily, trying to regain the sudden loss of breath.

He glanced up, his eyes cold as he glared at her through his sweat and blood soaked bangs. "Y-you bitch…" His voice was barely above a breathless whisper.

Invel stepped forward, his eyes bearing into Natsu's own as he grabbed his chin and forcefully moved his head to face his right. "I'm glad you've got some fighting spirit within you today. It will make breaking you even sweeter." Natsu's eyes widened as he felt another prick to his neck. His body stiffened as he prepared for the horrible burning he was used to, but nothing came. He glanced at each face, noticing that he still remembered their names, their faces, and nothing was blurry. What exactly had they just given him?

"You seem confused Natsu… Think hard. Are you feeling… different?" Invel's voice seemed to slip a few octaves lower. A hint of danger and… almost remorse seemed to be leaking into his voice as Natsu glanced around the room. What was he missing?

"Having trouble pink haired bastard? Let me help you…" His head was forcefully pulled up by a fistful of his hair. His eyes met with Ajeel's as another swift kick was met with his abdomen and Natsu hunched over and coughed up more blood. His body… was it more sensitive than before? Had this medication they given him heightened his pain sensitivity?

An elbow to his already swollen face threw his head back to the side, opening the still healing wound to the back of his head. His mind was met with the faces of his nakama - their names flooding through his mind as each face presented itself. He grit his teeth as another switch kick met with his bruised and battered body. His mind seemed to rip open as the mental pain was worse than his physical.

Is this what they planned to do to him? Make him think of his precious people and have them slowly ripped away by the physical torture brought upon his body? An elbow met with his right shoulder and he felt his joints dislocate. He screamed in pain at the battery being done. His mind was shutting down.

"You know dragon boy…" Natsu's head was cradled in soft hands, and his hooded eyes lifted to peer into the face of DiMaria. "Maybe if you just forgot, we could stop all this. Just let go dragon boy…" She moved closer to whisper the sweet promises in his ear.

Maybe he could just forget…? This would all stop, right?

Natsu shook his head and glared up at them. He jerked his head away from her grasp and set his eyes on Ajeel as he came forward once more. He would continue resisting. He couldn't give up just yet... And yet...

His body was continuously pounded upon. Each hit was another mental blow. His mind began to turn in on itself, trying to block out the source of his pain. The seed of thought that his torturers had whispered in his ear began to find purchase. If he forgot, the pain would stop. He was tired, he was in pain, he was broken. Slowly, one after the other, he pushed another one of his precious memories into the dark corners of his mind. His head hung low as eventually only five people remained within the light.

Erza, Gray, Wendy, Happy and Lucy.

He opened his swollen eyes as much as he could when he didn't feel a blow come for several moments. He locked eyes with Ajeel who seemed to be grinning. Great - he could remember their names clearly but the others… He shut his eyes as his body shook in pain - his mind burning at even remotely trying to pull upon those memories.

"Having fun yet pinky boy?" Natsu didn't respond as he gasped for breath from another kick. This had been going on for almost an hour now… All he wanted was to sleep. He was exhausted as his body slumped forward. His mind, his physical being, his soul… Maybe, maybe forgetting those final few would be easier. Pride was the only thing that allowed him to bite back the tears, but even his pride was waning. Weakening with the rest of him. He wanted the torture to be over. He wanted it all to stop. Pain, time - his heart, if only he could just rest.

He had already lost three of them to the darkness. Their bodies fading into the darkness as they walked with their backs facing him. Leaving him behind once again.

His mind was retaliating against him. Rejecting his thoughts and blocking out those of his friends… Were they even friends to begin with? They had left him here to go through this hell all alone. Real friends, real family would have gotten him out by now. His hands clenched tightly even against the pain it caused him. He would block these feelings out. He would get out of here and demand the truth.

His head jerked up to glare at the three in front of him. DiMaria backed up a few steps as Invel's eyes widened and Ajeel's grin grew. Ajeel's laughter rang throughout the room as he stepped forward with a knife twirling between his fingers, "Looks like it happened, just like Spriggan predicted. Welcome back, Lord Natsu."

Natsu's eyes looked at the reflection in the knife. His eyes glowed right back towards him - a deadly red that screamed to bring pain. He locked eyes with Ajeel as the last of his thoughts brought forth Lucy and Happy. He didn't want to forget, but if everyone else had left him… They would as well. Everyone had abandoned him. The whole guild. Igneel. Lucy and Happy would surely follow.

He didn't want to believe it, but looking into the void that was left in both his mind and heart - there was only one truth.

He would let go. He would move forward.

He tsked as he closed his eyes when he felt the knife meet his shoulder blade where his guild mark rested. "Do it. I have no need to remind myself of this shit anymore."

Ajeel grinned as he dug the knife into his shoulder blade, watching the blood trickle down as the pink haired bastard let out a strangled cry in response. Natsu's mind went blank at that moment - his mind shutting down and letting those last thoughts leave his body as a mental block was now in place. His past, his present - all of it disappeared as his body was finally allowed to rest.

Natsu's vision was spinning as he came to again. People surrounded him on all sides, his body shackled to the thin padding of a medical bed he was resting on. This was the third day in a row he had awoken strapped down to this damn bed. His body was starting to get jittery. He wanted to get up and move around just like DiMaria had promised him the first time he woke up. He was healing considerably fast for the amount of injuries his body had sustained, but it seemed the medications and injections they were giving him was doing the trick.

He lifted his head slowly, seeing faces coming into focus. A blacked haired man stared back at him, a small smile on his lips which made Natsu raise an eyebrow in question. His red eyes focused on the smaller teen in front of him as tears began to gather in the strange man's eyes.

"Who the hell are you?" And why the fuck are you crying?

The strange man wiped away his eyes as they rested upon Natsu's prone body once more, "Natsu… my brother. It's so good to see you again."

Wait… brother?

"Woah… woah wait a second… Brother? Just who the hell are you? Why am I still strapped to this god forsaken bed?" His voice raised towards the end of his questions, muscles tensing against the straps holding him down. He could feel his magic spiking in response to his need as his eyes glanced at the black haired bastard once more. "All I know is that DiMaria said they found me in the bottom of a ditch along the river bed and I woke up with amnesia. What the hell happened to me and how the hell am I your brother of all things, yah bastard?"

Invel stepped forward with his hand raised as if to slap him but the black haired man raised his own to signal to stop. Invel looked appalled as he glanced between Natsu and the rising man, "But Lord Spriggan… He just insulted you! He deserves to be reprimanded for his words."

"He does not understand Invel. He will learn in time where his place lies… And need I remind you that he now lies above you in the pyramid…." Spriggan's cold, red eyes now locked onto Invel as he backed up. Invel bowed and they heard a small mumble of an apology.

"Geeze… Where the hell was that the other day when he was giving me my pain dosages…? Glasses bastard could have apologized then." Natsu sneered as he side glanced at the now known Lord Spriggan… Whatever that meant. "So mind telling me just who exactly you are and how I am your 'long lost brother'?"

He heard a chuckle as Spriggan moved forward and unstrapped his arms and legs. He slowly eased him into a sitting position, his body still quite sore and tense from the days of rest. "Well Natsu, it is indeed true you are my younger brother. And as for who I am, you may call me Zeref. I am the emperor of this land - Alvarez. We have been looking for you for years." He paused as he seemed to think something over before glancing back up with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "It was… difficult. Losing you. I am happy to have you back once again, my brother."

Natsu focused on Zeref, his eyes squinting to take in his form. He didn't look old enough to be emperor of a kingdom… But he sure dressed like it. He thought over the new information before it finally sunk in just what he had said…

"Did you say emperor? That means that I am…?"

"Yes. You are the rightful Prince of Alvarez."

A few days later...

After a few days trip to the shore line, the Fairy Tail group found themselves on course to a small island called Caracall to refill their fuel and food for the rest of the trip to the borders of the Alvarez Empire.

"I see it, Caracall!" Lucy exclaimed as she leaned over the edge of the boat's railing to get a better view.

"Hey, get yourselves ready!" Mest exclaimed to the others around him before turning back around to Erza's loud gasp.

"Wait! That ship!" Mest moved his eyes to the location that Erza's was facing and his eyes widened at the large battalion in front of them.

"The… The Alvarez Kingdom's Navy Ship!?" Mest gripped the railing tightly as sweat began to pool along his temple.

"What's it doing there?" Happy peered over the side of the ship, placing his body closely to Charla's as she looked over the edge as well. "Caracall isn't under Alvarez's rule, is it…?"

Mest peered out of his telescope to get a closer look at the large ships that flaked along the small island's coast, "It seems they're checking for something at the ports…"

"Doesn't that mean we can't get any closer?" Gray approached slowly towards Mest, letting his mind wonder as he looked out over the vast ocean.

"They're… They're probably looking… for spies… maybe… ugh." Wendy slowly lifted her heavy body over the edge of the railing, resting her chin on it to try and calm her queasy stomach. "And it… doesn't… look like they've caught them yet…" Her hands went up to cup around her mouth as she grew sicker from the rocking of the boat.

"Wendy! You can hear what's going on from here!?" Lucy ran over to her side to gently rub the small girls back as she simply nodded in reply.

"What do we do…"

Erza's face was solid as she looked over the boats once more, her eyes taking in the whole site, "We need to get to the spies before the navy catches them…"

"We're sealing the port off temporarily!"

"Get in line!"

"We will have inspections for those coming and going out of the island! Leave your luggage too!"

The check in and out line that began to form along the island's entrance was filled with the Navy's soldiers as they inspected all the luggage and persons' that came through the small barrier.

As next in line, Lucy and Erza stepped forward as the guard signaled for them to approach.

"We're here on a holiday!" Lucy smiled sweetly at the guard.

"I heard the star mangoes here are to die for…" Erza looked off with a dream like look to her face.

The guard tensed as they all came closer. "That mark, are you part of a guild?"

"Yeah, we're part of a wizard's guild called Cat Shelter…"

"I haven't heard of a guild like that…" The first guard turned towards the second as he neared the large group. "Yeah well, we only know a handful of those from Ishgar anyway…"

"What do we do? We've been told to be thorough with those from guilds…"

"But would a spy come through our front door bearing guild crests?"

"True…"

"Hey…" Lucy approached them, her arms crossing under her breasts, arching her large bust towards the guards as Erza came to stand beside her, her arms folded to show off hers as well. "Are we done yet?"

"There'll be no more star mangoes by the time this is over…"

"O..Okay! Your bags!"

"You're clear to go!"

After walking into the resort like area, they took a look around to get a feel for the island. The small shopping area was littered with guards and soldiers, each inspecting a different area.

"The number of guards in the town itself…"

"We can't move around much like this…"

In the distance the group heard a faint cry of a small boy, screaming "Gimme back my daddyyy!" and began to move in that direction. "Where did you take him! Dadddyyyy!"

A soldier that the young boy had grabbed onto began to shake him off as he groaned out, "This brat's exactly like his rebellious father…" He pushed the small child away as he began to cry louder and he withdrew his sword, raising it high into the air above his head. "I'll make you shut up if you don't!"

Bystanders gathered around at the commotion and gasped as the sword was brought closer to the small child's head, "He's taking it out on a kid!"

"Is he out of his mind!?"

The Fairy Tail group moved forward, Gray knocking down the large brute who had previously wielded the sword, Lucy and Erza right on his heels as Wendy gently approached the small child and took him into her arms.

Mest began to sweat as he looked on to the others around him, each of them being surrounded by a large group of soldiers. "We can't get out of this island!"

Charla smirked as she glanced over her shoulder at him, "Right… Not unless we take all of them out…"

"Leave her to us!" Wendy grasped the young child by his shoulders and directed towards an area that was less dense with people. Happy patted his arm as he joined with Wendy and Charla in taking care of the child.

"Mest, you go with her too…" Gray looked over at him as he stood between Erza and Lucy in blocking the soldiers from the view of the child.

"I see, while you guys are keeping them occupied here…" Mest pondered as Erza gave him a nod.

"Split the group – divide and conquer."

"Alright then, be careful you guys…" Mest used his teleportation magic to leave the area and the group behind to fend against the growing group of the Alvarez guards.

The group was left to spread out and take care of their own small group of soldiers. They easily blew through the soldiers, as none of them had magic to give them much of a fight as they continued forward and knocking them out one by one. After a short period, they stood victorious over the soldiers.

"This is disappointing…" Gray mumbled as he looked around at the small amount of destruction around them. He couldn't help but wonder if it would have been worse if Natsu had been there to take the first charge. His fists tightened at his sides as he pushed past the depressing thoughts that followed. "You sure these are the guys that the old man's so afraid of?"

"I have a feeling reinforcements will be coming from the ship…" Erza nodded her head towards the large ships off shore where she could feel a large magic source coming from. "Either way, we've got to be ready!" Erza marched over to the star fruit shop nearby and sat down to begin munching on the delicious treat provided. She stopped mid-bite, knowing full well who should have been in the seat next to her. She smiled softly as the image of the pink haired mage appeared next to her.

Lucy looked over at her, and sighed at the scene. "Her actions are contradicting the things she's saying… She's totally unaware of it too…" The shop owner smiled gently at the rest of them, beginning a long tale of how he had begun saving up money to move to Ishgar, wanting to spread the joy of the star mangoes there as well and make the best desserts around. Erza seemed to be off in her own dream world as she imagined all this in joy. However, it was short lived as the small hut blew up suddenly, sending the three of them flying away and grabbing the shop owner in the crashing around them.

"Well done… Well done!~"

Erza grit her teeth as she looked around at the source of the voice, "Who is it! How could you…"

"Ah, that's a wonderful face you've got there! Very well done!~" The black haired man, held back by both glasses and a bandana stepped forward, bowing slightly as he introduced himself. "The name's Marin Hollow. And I'm from the Brandish Force, a part of the Alvarez Empire's Army."

Erza's face portrayed pure rage as she stepped forward. "I will exact vengeance for the star mangoes." Gray and Lucy had sent the shop owner away and got ready to fight the man in front of them.

Marin's face lit up at her words, bowing once more as he closed his eyes in joy. "Well done, well done!~ You'll get a well done from me anytime!~"

"Enough with that nonsense… I'll show you the wrath of the desserts." Erza began to generate magic around her and yelled out, 'Tranformation!' before it all evaporated around her. "What is… I can't use my transformations…"

"Of course you can't… space is something I own!" Marin took on a more serious face as Gray gave him a hard look.

"What do you mean by space…?"

"The Knight..." He gestured towards Erza, "It's a kind of magic that enables me to instantly Equip anything I want. And that's why you can't use any of your 'spacial' magic against me…"

Lucy grinned as she took out her key, calling forth the Gate of the Archer before even her magic evaporated. Her face grew in shock as she glanced towards Marin.

"Well… Celestial Spirit Magic… That's spacial magic too, you know?" His grin grew as he shrugged his shoulders towards Lucy. "Ah! I forgot to say this… But those that have managed to break free of my laws of space…" Both Lucy and Erza looked down as their bodies seemed to slowly be dematerializing right before them. "Get an invitation to my own personal relaxation space."

Gray looked on in shock and reached out for Lucy and Erza, his hands wafting through the smoke as it slowly dissipated around him. "Wh… What did you do!? Where did you take Lucy and Erza!?"

"Ah, didn't you hear me? I said I invited them to my relaxation space!~ Those two have done so well so… I've decided to make them mine. But you boy… You have failed." Marin's face turned deadly serious as he pointed his finger out towards Gray, Gray sweatdropping in the process.

"Woah, he turned 180 degrees right there!"

Marin flicked his fingers, growing a scowl on his face. "He is one of yours, isn't he?" Appearing before him was a very badly beaten Mest, Gray moved forward to help him before he stopped as Marin's voice. "This one too, tried to use spacial magic in front of the great me! Failures! Unclean! How dare you shitheads use spacial magic! It's not something for men to use damnit!"

Gray moved forward at this time to attack Marin, his body preparing an Ice Lance as he slashed at where Marin was originally, his eyes widened as he heard his voice whispering behind him, "The great me, a specialist in spacial magic…" Gray slashed behind him but hit air as Marin rematerialized behind him once more, to punch him right in the kidney. "And you're now in my domain!" He was hit once more and sent sprawling on the ground as he turned and groaned. Gray glanced around and couldn't spot where he had gone at this point.

"The one that controls space… Is the Victor!" He heard his voice coming from behind him, and Gray turned to see Marin planted on the rooftop of the guard station nearby.

This guy… He's too much trouble…

Gray's thoughts stopped abruptly as his body began to shake and take on a cold sweat. This magical power… It was too intense for his body to handle. He turned around slowly, facing the new comer behind him. Gray's body stiffened as he caught sight of the long hooded cloak that concealed the figure's body.

"Yo Marin… How long are you gonna play around like that?" The hooded figures voice sounded horse, like he was just in a screaming contest with a Banshee. Gray's body faced more towards the new comer, preparing his body despite the shaking it was going through.

What's this… His magic is off the charts…!

"Ohhh!~ My Lord! You are well done as usual! The only man I will comment this to, if I do say so!" Marin appeared behind the new comer, bowing generously low to him as he stepped closer to Gray and Mest.

"Stop that Marin. You know how Brandish feels about such comments." The figure turned and Gray could have sworn he saw the faint red glow under the hood.

What the hell is up with his magic… It's nothing like I have ever felt before…

"I actually came here because I heard that the soldiers and an Ishgar mage guild had gotten into a little scuffle…" The man looked around and Gray heard a loud sigh as the man's head seemed to slump forward. "Damnit… It looks like that was true… And the star mango shop… It's destroyed! Brandish promised me some if I came on this trip with her!"

Gray sweatdropped as he watched the figure walk past him and almost throw a childish tantrum at the broken down hut. "Damnit all! How did this happen Marin!?"

"Oh my Lord! They went all BOOM! On it!" Marin pointed towards Gray and Mest who was still sprawled out on the ground.

"You ass! That's really cheap of you to say that when it was you who did it!" Gray raised his fist towards Marin who just shrugged as the cloak figure came up behind him to bop him on the head.

"This is sad even for you – you know how Brandish will react when she finds out that the shop is in ruins… Damn, I'm heading back to the ship…" The figure turned to walk away as Marin gasped after him, pointing back towards Gray and Mest.

"But- but my Lord! These guys picked a fight with our soldiers out of nowhere! And there might be more of them out there meeting with the spies!" Marin yelled at the retreating figure.

The cloaked man stopped and waved off his hand, before facing Marin once more. "I really don't care. Marin, give them back the girls that you have 'passed' or whatever you call it."

"Ehh!? But my Lord! They were going to be a part of my collection! Lady Brandish gave me permission to do whatever I wanted…"

The air around the three of them slowly dissolved into a fiery heat. Gray reached for his throat, his mouth suddenly becoming so dry that he could no longer speak. His body shook as he could feel the thick layer of sweat that once covered his body evaporating just as it formed. He stepped back, as the magic power passed over his body. Holy hell… this guy… His magic is insane!

"Don't make me repeat myself again, Marin." The figure turned towards him, his red eyes blazing under the hooded cloak. Gray watched, frozen as the air seemed to shimmer around them. Any water near them had evaporated instantly.

Quickly, Marin released the two females from their holds and they fell forward onto the heated ground beneath them, both luckily unscathed. The heat slowly dissipated as the air returned to normal and Gray's body slumped backwards onto his behind as he looked up at the figure. Erza and Lucy both looked around and then at Gray to see him shaking in fright at the man before them.

"They, they are back my Lord! I did as was asked!" Marin seemed to shake at the power that was just shown as well. "My relaxation space isn't anything dangerous! So no worries, no worries at all all!"

Erza gathered up on her hands and knees, her body still shaking from the transport. "What was that creepy room…?"

"We're back…" Lucy sighed as she looked around, and her eyes fell onto the figure that was slowly approaching them. "Huh? There's another person…" Her eyes widened as her mind finally registered the heat radiating from all around her. Wh-What's with this power!?

"My Lord, what seems to be have been taking you so long…?" A green haired beauty stepped out of the nearby bush, walking with her hands on her hips as she swayed towards them. Her eyes glanced over the Fairy Tail members, each one gulping as they felt her magical power as well.

What is she…? This is almost as bad that guys! They are both stronger than the old man!? Gray glanced between them as she stepped next to figure.

"Lady Brandish! Our job is to capture the spy and their acquaintances that have gone to look for him… And we can't go back empty handed or Master Wahrl will…"

Brandish gave Marin a hard look before he shut his mouth. "You will do well to listen to our prince Marin… He has much more say in what we do than Wahrl does, and you will be just in remembering that…" The now known Brandish then turned to the figure and bowed slightly. "My prince, what is to be done about these… guests?" Her eyes turned to the Fairy Tail members, making them all grit their teeth in waiting.

The… the prince!? A collective thought ran through the members heads as they glanced at the figure once more, when a loud boisterous laugh left the hooded man, as he leaned over to grasp his stomach. Everyone else looked on in shock, seeing the man stand upright and place a hand on what they supposed was his head. "Oh man, Brandy. Didn't I tell you not to call me that? Anyway…" He turned to the group and gave them a thumbs up. "Thanks for all your help with the guards. I know they are all pains in the ass, to compensate for all the trouble Marin here caused, why don't you don't come to Alvarez for the next few weeks? Free room, board, expenses paid for by me, just to stay until the unveiling ceremony and festivities end. It'll be weeks of fun, I can promise."

Lucy felt her heart clench at the words the hooded figure said. The way he spoke and carried himself… It all seemed too familiar.

It felt like him.

Despite her inner thoughts, Erza gathered up her still shaky legs under her and approached the man. Bowing before him, she smiled courteously at him. "I think we will all be grateful for your hospitality Lord…?" She paused, hoping to gain more from him. Just before he could speak up, however, Brandish stepped forward and leveled Erza with a glare.

"The prince and I must be going now. You have our accommodations, please find a passageway to the bay through the means of one of our boats. We will see you all in a week's time." Brandish turned on her heels, a small hand firmly grasping the prince's arm and hoisting him after her.

After they had disappeared into the bush, the Fairy Tail group let out a collective sigh and turned towards the still down Mest. "Well... That could have gone better." Gray scratched at the back of his head before hoisting Mest onto his back. "At least we have a clear way into Alvarez now. Let's go find Wendy and the others to figure out our next move."

Erza and Lucy nodded and followed behind him. Lucy glanced back behind her, looking towards the brush they had disappeared into. Still… I wonder why he felt so familiar?

Back on the Alvarez Navy ship…

"What the hell were you thinking!?" Brandish turned towards the hooded figure, her finger jerking into his chest as she glared a hole through his head. "You were told to stay accompanied by me at all times, told to stay near the ship and not interact with anyone unless I gave the okay… Prince or not – you ignored your brother's rules and disobeyed orders. And on top of all of that – you went and invited possible Ishgar spies into our country!" She breathed heavily and stepped back to cross her arms over her chest.

"Calm down Brandish, it's all according to plan." A white toothy grin could be seen from under the hood, as the figure stepped up to the side of the ship. The breeze from the ocean air swept across them and flew off his hood. Natsu stood tall and proud, his pink locks swaying in the ocean breeze as they sailed back towards Alvarez. "This way we can watch them, on our own turf, with our rules. They won't slip past us this time." He turned back towards Brandish, giving her a crooked smile, an evil glint to his blood red eyes.

Hope you all enjoyed it! Took forever to write due to the end of the school year with finals and projects galore. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! 33