The Grand Runesmith

Chapter Three, Old and new friends

Natsu watched his master work while he sat along the sides of the runeforge. Milson had given him time to adjust to it just being the two of them and while he would say he was thankful he didn't really feel all that thankful. He just felt kind of empty. He was supposed to leave for Magnolia after he got back from the island, but something came up after he got back. Or rather, someone left.

He should have…. She could have told him in person. That would have been nice, but people don't tell you when they leave. It's harder to say goodbye when you must tell it to their face. Its hard to be selfish when you must watch a person that is used to you crumble when they say they're leaving. Was its selfishness though? She was always willing to go out and explore while he was contempt with just doing his daily routine… maybe he was the problem.

He could have talked her out of it. But he didn't say anything to her even when he knew something was off, that she was off. But how do you start that conversation? he's hardly talked to anyone besides those he is closest with. Was he too much? Was he just a burden? He's the reason she left. She was just being nice in the letter.

He'd just have to move on. That's what the letter was for, wasn't it? If she can, why can't he? If she can just leave why can't he just move on? Why should he feel so alone and why should she just get to leave? It wasn't far. And it made him sick just standing in this place. Deciding it was best to distance himself from the forge for a bit, he decided his next move.

Removing himself from the sidelines, he stepped into Milson's view. "I'm ready to go to Magnolia. It's been a few days already. I should have left when I got back." He answered while walking to the table that contained the Fairytail mage's sword. It was still his favorite sword, so he hoped whoever it was that was going to get it would treat it well. As for the large red katana, its owner came by and collected it with a slight bow and payment. Natsu imagined it would waste away on a shelf as a prize for who knows how long, but he couldn't really bring himself to care for now.

Milson paused his hammer strikes to look the boy over. Bisca's departure was still clearly a recurring thought. Perhaps meeting an old friend and, hopefully, making a few more is what the boy needs. "Alright Natsu, you are going to meet an old friend of mine, I expect you to behave." Milson said as he sat his hammer down before turning over the steel. He looked at the glum expression the boy held before he gave a sigh. "I know you miss her Natsu, and I miss her as well, but you shouldn't let this hang around with you. She'll be back. I'm sure of it. I-" Milson paused as the words of wisdom he had planned died at the look of the defeated face the boy wore, "…Magnolia is a bit out of the way, take a train to Clover and then another to take you the rest of the way." Milson said before picking up his hammer and continued to work on the metal.

He paused between hammer strikes to hear the door close before he put his hammer back down and turned and sat in front of the glowing heat that came from the forge behind him. He allowed the warm feeling of the forge to soothe his back as he felt the slight twinge in his ribs with every exhale. Sending his hand behind the thick leather apron that he wore, he retrieved a letter that he held on his person. He looked at the broken seal of the Merchant League before he looked out towards the street beyond his shop and placed a hand on his chest as he steadied his breathing. "Maybe the time is finally here…"

The day at the Fairytail Guild was winding down as the sun sat low in the sky of Magnolia. Some of the guild members had long since retired while some of the guild members had chosen to stay and converse with one and another. Some of the people worth noting were none other then the guild's ace, and the master himself. Both older men looked down on the crowd while the older of the two looked over the note he received from someone from his past.

"Ya know Makarov, I could ask around. See if anyone knows a fix for that friend of yours." Gildarts spoke while he nursed his mug. Makarov simply shook his head while putting the letter away.

"If it was that kind of illness, he or his guild would have long sense given it to him."

"Ah, so he's high up with craftsmen guild huh?"

Makarov chuckled while shaking his head. "Milson Hur has a voice in every guild, city, and country for as far as the sun goes. The man might as well be a legend by this point." Makarov smiled before he continued. "This apprentice he's taken on, from what I've heard, he's pretty great at following in footsteps. And when my friend finally goes, by the gods make it a long time from now, he will be a free agent. The merchant and craftsmen guild will have an all-out war to get their hands on him." He said while his eyes landed on two guild members of his.

One had met the smith a few years ago and always tried to see the lad should the request board take her in that direction. If he was a fool, he might believe she didn't have anything but friendship instore for the young smith. No other reason would she snap up any job requests in that area.

And waiting by the table closest to the main door was his newest S class mage, Erza Scarlet. That child will be a hard nut to crack. That's for sure. With a closet filled with enough skeletons to fill a cemetery and a killer attitude for company.

Aye she will find a home here. He hoped so at least. And hopefully she and the smith get along. If the rumors of the boy's talents are true, having him as her supplier will ensure that she can depend on her equipment.

"I hope he gets here soon, it will be way to dark to leave if he takes any longer." Levy said as she watched the door before looking over to her fellow guildmate who was playing with her cards.

"Levy you've been waiting for him all day. What are you going to do if he doesn't show?" Cana asked with a skeptical look. Levy's brown eyes hovered on the ground for a moment before they snapped back at her.

"Natsu is always on time. He'll be here today. For sure." Cana simply shrugged at her friend before returning to her cards with a look of annoyance on her face. The feeling of defeat still attached itself to her after the recent S class trails.

Levy chose to ignore her friend Cana as she knew he was still mad about the whole S class ordeal. Cana's overall mood had started to change from a timid child like herself to somewhat of a snarky Mira. Levy shivered at the thought of another Mira. She was just glad that the Strauss's were away on an urgent S class mission.

The sound of the doors opening caused her to turn her head to see the mop of hair she had been waiting for. His onyx eyes dully scanned the guildhall for a moment before his eyes landed on Levy and an ever so small smile grew on his face. Levy wasted no time and rushed the taller teen and tried to tackle him into a hug, which resulted in going face first into the wall that was Natsu's chest.

"Natttssssuuu! I missed you!" She laughed out enjoying the embrace of her long-distance friend.

"Hey Levy, did you really miss me this much?" He smiled lightly before releasing her from the hug and patted her head. "So do you know where the new owner of this is?" He asked while throwing his thumb back to point to the wrapped weapon strapped to his back.

"Yeah she should be right over-"

"Hello, Natsu Hur, I am Erza Scarlet. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." The newly introduced redhead said before bowing her head towards the other teen. Natsu looked between Erza and Levy with a confused look only for Levy to rise her shoulders before he turned to Levy.

"The pleasure is mine Erza, is your master around? I need to deliver this package before I can do anything else." Natsu clarified before Levy nodded and led him through the quint little guildhall. Natsu's eyes wondered from the walls to the small collection of mages that sat along the tables. Natsu's eyes finally rested on the two older men who they were approaching. Natsu turned to the large orange haired man before he gave a small bow.

"Master Makarov?" He questioned causing the man in question to spew his drink while the older of the two gave a slight chuckle before rising a hand.

"That would be me young lad. I assume you are Hur's apprentice?" The elder man asked before rising at the boy's nod. "Well then, let us take this to my office. Erza you should come along as well." He said before heading up the stairs with the two teens right behind him.

After the two entered Natsu stood in front of the guild master's desk and turned slightly to the red head who stood closer to the back of the room. "I trust the journey went well?" The old man asked getting a nod from the teen.

"Yes, it went well. Milson asked me to tell you this one was on the house." He said before he took the sword from his back and carefully unraveled the onyx colored blade. He heard footsteps move behind him ever so slightly as he finished his unveiling to show the blade in all its glory. The blade was as sharp as sin and held a natural sense of power as its runes reflected the rooms light.

"Well Erza? What do you think?" Makarov asked watching the two younger teens interact for the first time. Natsu looked at the red head before turning to the red head and, giving one last look at his creation, handed it to the red head. He watched as her brown eyes became familiar with the blade. It was still much larger then a sword she should be wielding. If he knew it was for someone his age, he would have made it shorter. Still, she appeared to know her stuff as she gave the blade another once over. Just like Milson would check the edge or the weight, she paused when her fingers brushed against one of the runes on the sword. Her eyes looked from the markings to the smith who forged it.

"A profession I alone can provide. It makes the blade stronger and faster then anything you can get your hands on." Natsu explained as she leveled the sword before turning to Natsu.

"it is wonderfully made. Thank you for your efforts." She said before bowing towards the Pink haired teen.

"It was my job, and I don't believe in half assing in the Hur forge. It would be a disrespect to my mentor." Natsu said while trying to keep an 'air of business' as Milson instructed him to. Makarov smiled at the two before he spoke.

"I believe the last train has ran for the night, you are free to use one of the spare rooms we have here in the guild." Makarov said before gesturing towards the door. "You should use the area behind the guildhall to test out the sword Erza, get a sense for it. I need to speak to Natsu for a moment." Erza nodded before thanking Natsu once more and left the room with a quite close of the door.

The two sat in silence for a moment before Natsu broke it.

"Who makes her armor?" He asked as he recalled the gear she wore. It fit, but not well. He didn't know how to even go about making armor, but he could do better then that, with some practice.

"The local smith maintains it, he's not really an armor smith but he does what he can. In my opinion, Erza shows great promise to become one of this guilds greatest S class mages. I'm sure when she rises in fame armor smiths will line up to sponsor her." He spoke with care as he watched the boy's reaction. He frowned for a bit before looking back up at the guild master.

"Give me time to practice, a year maybe, and I can be the only smith she needs." He said with confidence. Makarov could only grin at the lad.

'Just like you Milson'

"I'll keep that in mind as she develops. Now than, with business out of the way, tell me how my friend is doing." Natsu felt the atmosphere change before relaxing a bit and gave a sigh.

"I think he is worse then what he lets on. I'm worried that he is pushing himself to keep going." He said while looking down at the floor. He'd rather not discuss his master's health but with everything that has happened it felt pretty good to get that off his chest, if only one thing.

"Yes… that does sound like Milson. I could tell you some stories from our youth, if you'd like." The old man said as he felt a grin form on his face at the slow nod from the boy. "Well, let's start with how I met him. It was quite a bit ago…"

Natsu left the master's office with a soft smile on his face. They had spent quite some time talking about Milson. From what he could gather, Makarov seemed to be one of those life time friends that might grow distant but are never really far away, as he put it. The guild was silent as the dark hours of the night crept into the lively building. Natsu for his part was about to continue towards the room Makarov had offered him when he noticed a mop of blue hair that rested against the table closest to the stairs. Walking down and approaching the girl, Natsu rested his hand on her shoulder and gave a light shake.

"levy," he whispered softly trying to wake the smaller teen, "Levy wake up." She stirred before she rose from the table and gave a soft yawn and cleared her sleepy brown eyes before she focused on Natsu.

"I didn't want to miss you before you left in the morning, so I stayed down here." She explained while giving him a grin. Natsu smiled back, appreciating the effort the blue haired teen put into spending time with him.

"Well, I'm free now." He said before the girl grabbed his hand and led him towards a pair of doors on the left side of the guild.

"Come on, I want to show you something." She said. Natsu simply let his friend drag him deeper into the guildhall before they came to a small staircase that was blocked by two large doors. She pushed them open to reveal an impressive library that sat spanned the room. This was her favorite room, he just knew it. She pulled him down the stairs and onto the ground floor. She left his hand to go along several bookshelves looking for something and as she did his gray eyes watched her.

'She's really nice, I really should make more of an effort to see her.' He mentally added when she returned holding an older book. She presented it to him with her adorable grin. Waitwhat?!

"I found this a couple of weeks ago and I thought you'd want to look at it! It has a chapter on some older runes that I thought you would want to see!" She said while Natsu took this time to recover from his earlier thought before he mentally chuckled.

He doubted his runes would be in this book, but to humor her he went along with it. "well then, let's see," he said as he began to shift through the yellowed pages, "I don't think any of mi-". His voice died in his throat as he looked down at the page. Several symbols were drawn on the two pages with several notes on the illustrations, but he recognized a few of them.

Electricity, explode, fire. Where the hell did they find these? Taking a seat back into the large armchair behind him, he turned the page back to read the contents. Levy watched as her friend switched from the laid-back blacksmith to the old scholar. Taking a seat right beside him, she leaned her head to see the pages while pointing to a rune.

"You know what these are right? What's this one?" she asked as her eyes looked from the page to his face. His eye brows lowered as his mouth slightly twitched as he read over them.

"I…I don't know what some of these combinations do. I can recognize some, and I know what some of the accents are, but I only know…four for sure? My codex hasn't even gone over these base fragments-" He stopped his rumblings when he realized what he just said.

"Codex? Is that where you learned your magic?" she asked as Natsu looked from the pages to her while his mind raced. He looked at her for a few moments before his mind was made. Holding out his hand, he summoned his prized possession.

The Codex of the Dragkin.

Levy's eyes widened at the sight of the dusty tome. It was by far the oldest book she had ever seen. She reached out for it and watched as Natsu hesitated for a moment before he handed the small teen the large book.

He watched as her finger's glided across the pages with a carefulness that he found his vision shift from his object of obsession to Levy as he watched her mind try to put pieces of information together. She opened the book and frowned before she spoke.

"You can read these markings?" She asked while her fingers gently brushed over the ancient ink.

"Yeah, I think it came from my father. Don't feel bad about it though, bis-… someone else I knew couldn't read it either." He said as his feeling of melancholy returned as he dismissed the Codex and returned his eyes towards the book Levy had found.

Levy noticed his change of mood and decided to pry, for better or worse. "That was your friend, right? The one that ran the front of the store?" She asked gently.

"… Yeah, that was her. She… she needed to find her place in the world. And I guess that wasn't with us…" He said as his nose twitched and the leaky roof splashed his cheek. "She just sort-of left. I must not have mattered that much if she just left without saying anything, right?" He asked while his free hand wiped away a stray tear. Levy leaned her head against the smith and rested her eyes on the book while her mind worked for something to say.

"I'm sorry that she left and hurt you," she began to say as she felt the other teen's shoulder quake every now and again, "I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt you. And maybe that's why she left the way she did. It hurts saying goodbye, and I'm sure it hurt her a lot doing it the way she did. I know what it's like to miss someone but no matter how far away she is,"

"She's never that far away."

He finished and shifted his head towards the blue hired teen who met his gaze.

"Thanks Levy."

"Anytime Natsu."

Natsu watched the station began to fall further and further behind the train and slumped back into his seat. The rumble of the train caused him to feel a small pain in his stomach which he tried to ignore to the best of his ability. His mind floated from his words with Makarov and Levy to the symbols he copied down from the book she found. While it was just a few theories about the runes, most of them were off so he would have to do his own testing when he got back. The thought of returning home didn't seem as bad as before, but he still felt a twinge of dread about it.

His musings were cut short when his door opened to show several children around his age, with the apparent leader of the group pointed towards Natsu with a snarl. "Sorry Lad, but we're taking this cabin." Natsu looked at the trio and tried to fathom their reasoning.

A: they hitchhiked onto the train and are looking for an easy target,

or

B: they were just dicks.

Natsu felt his temper gather as he stood up and weighed his options. He couldn't assume his strength would beat any one of them. They didn't seem physically fit, so that meant that they probably used magic. The ring leader's ignited hand answered that. So, if magic was on the table he would lose, case closed. He sighed before collecting his bag and looked at the smug blue haired teens face.

"All yours, dick." He said as he passed him and moved towards the back of the train. He grumbled to himself for allowing them to push him around as he opened the door and carefully hoped cars, he stopped at a porter to by a simple lunch from her cart before continuing until he eventually came to the back of the train.

Deciding that the bread he bought would help quell his stomach pains, he almost took the first bite when he noticed the contents spread across the floor. His eyes narrowed before he felt the cool sensation of metal press against the back of his neck. His back straightened as he heard a rough voice from behind him.

"It would seem we have come to a dilemma." Came the voice. Natsu sighed at the action. He slowly began to turn around, despite the protest from his captor, and looked at the teen who was defiantly hitchhiking. He appeared to be just a little bit older then himself, with two-toned hair, it being black and white. His attire consisted of what appeared to be rags. He looked at the other teen with bored eyes.

"So, let me explain. I got kicked out of my cabin, came back here for some peace and quiet, you seem to be hitchhiking, I don't really care might I add, so if you're worried about me telling your fine. Bread?" he asked holding out his hand and watched as the man wielding the terrible excuse for a sword tried not to jump at the chance, he likely hadn't eaten in a while.

He took the bread before tearing it in half and offered the other piece back to Natsu who accepted the peace offering and lowered himself down to rest his back on a create and watched the teen do the same. The teen heard the smith chuckle before he rose an eyebrow at him.

"It's nothing, it's just that this happens a bit more then I'd like to admit. Got a name to go along with that butter knife?" He asked watching the boy frown at the comment on his choice of weapon.

"The name is Totomaru, and this sword has saved me more times then I can count." He said defiantly. Natsu was still unimpressed.

"I know a thing or two about swords, and let me tell you Toto, that isn't a sword. I could hardly count that as a short sword." He informed the teen. Totomaru chose to ignore his insult on his choice of weapon and instead chose to change the subject.

"You've yet to name yourself…Pinkie." He fired back. Natsu felt his eyebrow twitch.

"Name's Natsu, Natsu Dragneel. I'm a blacksmith in training." He told Totomaru.

"You seem a little young for a blacksmith. What are you, thirteen?"

"Fourteen." Natsu corrected. The two teens talked for a bit before they heard commotion coming from outside the freight car.

Natsu's enhanced hearing picked up on some words before he told Totomaru to hide as he did the same. Both were hiding on either side of the car with the path from the door to the back of the train lay open. The door that lead towards the rest of the train slammed opened as a large man dragging the blue haired punk from earlier by the back of his shirt, blood coming from his nose and a black eye already forming on his left eye.

"Think you got some big moves huh little man? Well you shouldn't have messed with Crooked Wings big score!" The man yelled as the teen tried clawing his way free. As he passed the location of the two other occupants, Natsu looked over at Totomaru before he nodded towards the massive wall that was the man. Natsu crouched along the floor before he shot up and yelled at the large man.

"Hey!" Natsu watched as he shot around and saw Totomaru sprang from his hiding spot and slammed the hilt of his sword into the back of the man's head, which only seemed to piss the man off. It did cause him to release the blue haired teen, but that was only to punch Totomaru in the chest sending him flying back.

He was about to go after the boy when purple fire shot up and blasted him in the face causing him to scream out and go to stomp the teen who rolled out of the way as the titanic foot crashed into the floor. He opened his eyes to see the blue haired teen had scuttled back and returned to his feet.

His arms glowed briefly before they took on a metallic color and he slammed his fist into each other causing a high pitched *cling*

"I didn't plan on making a mess but I'm gunna kill all of ya-" He was cut off mid-sentence when Natsu, wearing the gauntlet Igneel gave him, slammed his fist into the side of the man's head with his full force. He watched as the man staggered before he slumped to the ground.

He looked down at the gauntlet and let out a hiss as the glove didn't fit him just right yet, which could be seen at the blood from the cuts that surrounded his hand after he dismissed the gauntlet. He looked down at the mammoth of a man and then at the two other teens who looked between each other. The blue haired teen relaxed before looking over at Natsu.

"Thanks for the save man, I don't think he planned on locking me back here…" he gave a weak chuckle before his legs gave out and caught his breath. Natsu watched his form shutter and chalked it up as the adrenaline wearing off. Totomaru held a hand over where he was punched before walking over towards the brute of a man.

"What happened?" He asked while he grabbed his blade that rested along the floor.

"These guys hijacked the train, he said they were apart of some dark guild, but they don't have guild marks. My guess is they're new or lying. They were moving people along towards the front of the train, and I tried fighting him." The blue haired boy said as he wiped the blood from his face. "I think there isn't that many of them. Four or five maybe. Their boss uses some kind of water magic, saw him use it." He said before rising again, his breathing had finally evened out. "The name is Bora, thanks for the save…"

"Natsu, Totomaru."

The two said as they all came to look at the thug. Neither of the teens spoke until Natsu spoke.

"This guy was about to throw you over the edge of the train, if he was willing to do that, we can only assume that the others are as well. The people on this train are in danger. And we might be the only mages on board that can stand a chance."

"We caught him by surprise. They still might out number us and we got a break with this guy, we can't count on luck for the rest of them." Totomaru said while glancing between the two. "We both use fire magic, I assume you use re-equip. We have the element of surprise. I can't think of too many ways for us to win." Totomaru said while he looked at the thug before looking around the cabin before his onyx eyes began to shuffle before he clapped his hand.

"I think I got a plan."

He said while looking at the other two. Natsu looked at Bora who returned his gaze before nodding and Natsu did the same.

"First things first, we tie this one up with the straps holding the bigger boxes, they are the strongest binds we have. All trains have an emergency stop built into the passenger cars. We move ahead and ditch the serving and cargo cars with the emergency disconnectors leaving him back here. once we remove the cars Bora and I will move ahead and Natsu will wait by the break. Bora and I will use our fire to signal and when you see it pull the break. Hopefully Bora and I will be able to take care of the other hijackers. Natsu when the train is stopped climb on top of the cars and head towards the engine. you'll then move back and pincer the remaining thugs. Any objections?" He searched his companions' eyes for a moment before he nodded and went to grab some of the straps.

Natsu took a moment to collect himself. This was really happening. He was horribly under prepared for this. Perhaps Milson was right when he told Natsu he should learn how to defend himself. It didn't matter now, focusing on the image in his mind, he called forth an onyx tinted sword. He looked at the blade for a moment and the detailed runes that lined the blade. This was the one that psychopath imprinted on. He tightened the hilt of the sword before he looked back at his companions who had finished tying the brute.

"Alright, lets hope this works." Natsu said as the three walked from the freight car and serving car and finally came to the connector between the two and the rest of the train. Natsu looked one last time at the other two before he griped the side of the railing and gave a solid kick to the release leaver.

He felt it gave a little and delivered another kick which gave a little more. He brought his foot up once more and slammed it down causing the leaver to slam down and a loud clunk was heard as he slipped a bit but his companions both grabbed onto him and pulled him to the safety of the lip.

Natsu felt his pulse quicken as he thanked the other two. The trio walked into the first of the remaining ten passenger cars and Natsu looked in the corner to see the break. He nodded towards his allies before he called out to them.

"When this is over, we're grabbing lunch, my treat." He gave the two a half-hearted smile which they returned. Natsu watched as they crossed the car and headed into the next. And now, he waited.

Bora looked around the next car and found it empty.

"I imagine they'll be in the last six cars." He said as his eyes darted from cabin to cabin, making sure they wouldn't be getting cosmic payback for the ambush they did. "Do you really think we can do this?" he asked as they reached the end of the car.

Once they were inside of the next one, Totomaru spoke. "I think we have a chance, and besides, Natsu is right. We have to help these people. These guys are bad news, and someone is going to get hurt if we don't stop them." He said as they were about to reach the end of the car when the door slammed opened to reveal a short stout man with an 'X' tattoo on his left cheek.

Totomaru grabbed the railing and shouted at Bora to signal Natsu. They watched as the thug pulled out a magic revolver before he sneered at the two.

"Seems like Murten couldn't even handle some pip squeaks. Guess I'll just have to clean up." He said as he leveled his sight.

Bora looked into the cabin and shot a blast of purple fire out of the cabin's window and grabbed ahold of the other rail. Totomaru braced and closed his eyes as he saw the thug pick his target. It was then that the world caught up with them as the momentum the train hand lurched them forward, sending the thug crashing back into the wall of car hitting his head and dropping his weapon.

Bora shot his hand out and willed his fire to form a hand and retrieved and ran to meet his spell halfway. Grabbing the gun, he ran and kicked the downed man in the face before using the heel of the gun against the thug's temple causing him to collapse.

He looked down at the thug before a bolt of electricity shot out from the car in front causing both him and Totomaru into the cabin when another bolt of lighting shot out and blackened the wall. He could hear the cries of the passengers and a man shouting. Bora looked at the gun before firing a shot into the ceiling. The same kind of electric blast shot out and marked the ceiling.

"They're like a stun gun. A super charged stun gun." Bora told his companion before he turned to return fire at the man who was hiding between the gap of the cars. "Come on Natsu, we need you."

Natsu, after recovering from the force of the break, stood back and rushed up the ladder and began hoping cars as he heard the shouting and blast of magic. He was about to join his friends in combat when Natsu saw a head pop up a few cars down. The man was lean, dressed in a dark leather vest and pants. His messy hair appeared to be damp as it clung to the sides of his face.

His mascara- accented eyes glared at Natsu. Natsu for his part gulped and noticed the large canister on his back before it exploded into a flurry of water that wrapped around his arms and torso. "So, you lot are the ones that are putting a break on meh plans." He said as he hoped on car.

Only one empty car between the two.

He approached the last car before looking down.

"Oi skinner, what's going on?" He barked down at someone who Natsu couldn't see.

"Some brat got ahold of Yulla's gun. I can't get close!" A voice yelled back as the train shifted slightly before it slowly began to move again. The leader of the group growled before barking down.

"Take care of it before I finish this or I'll throw you off next!" the man said before turning towards the teen. "Well lad, you and yours didn't do half bad in pissing me right da fuck off. So ol' captain Couz is going to have to take some anger out on ya." He said before he rushed the boy while his water formed around his hands.

Natsu, despite his rational thought's protests, met his charge with his own and attempted to slash the man with his sword. The man pivoted his side before bringing his leg up and around slamming into the boys back causing him to roll across the roof of the car before he stopped himself just short of rolling over the edge.

"You don't even know how to use that proper, do ya lad?" he said as his water covered arm shot a tendril at him Natsu ducked and bobbed before he slashed the tentacle which caused the water to separate and fall to the car and quickly ran down the sides.

Couz growled before he rushed the boy again but just before Natsu could prepare a counter his hand shot out and a tendril shot out and covered his torso, trapping him in a watery grasp. Picking up the teen, he shot him over his head and slammed him into the ground with a solid thud.

Bora fired again before taking cover and felt his lungs fill with air as he wiped sweat from his brow. "This thing is taking a lot out of me. We need a new plan. They both heard a loud thud and Natsu scream out in pain. "We gotta end this fast! Natsu is getting his teeth kicked in." Bora said when Totomaru clicked his fingers.

"I got it! Bora make a fireball, and a big one!" He said as a sword pierced the top of the car and heard Natsu distorted yell come from above. Bora nodded and sat the gun down at his side and began to channel his fire.

"Just hold on a little bit longer Natsu, we're coming." Bora muttered as he focused on the ball of fire.

Natsu clung to the sword as he was tossed again into the air before he was sent down the other end of the car. Panicking that he would go over the edge, he pushed the sword down into the car and slid to a stop before he grit his teeth in frustration.

'This is useless! I can't get close to him! I need to use magic if I'm going to win this!' He thought as he began to channel magic into his right hand. He felt the magic inside him bubble before it felt like he was overloaded and released the sword while falling on his knees beside it. Had it been so long that he couldn't even muster the power now? What happe- his thoughts died out when his eyes landed on the multitude of runes glowing in a cool blue color. The sword… the sword had siphoned him!

Natsu felt his anger grow before he looked back at the Couz. The man picked the teen up with his water tentacle and turned walked towards the edge while watching the boy struggle.

"Aye lad, life is hard sometimes. But this is an important lesson, won't do ya much good for long, but a lesson none da less." He said before bringing the boy closer so the wind wouldn't interrupt him.

"The weak will always lose. If you want to make something of yerself, ya gotta be strong enough to take it." He said as a large purple explosion caused both parties to look towards the front of the train only for Couz to be hit by a blur of force that sent him flying into the air before shooting his tendril out and clawed into the top of the cabin and pulled himself back on the car. The same force that sent him grabbed Natsu and pulled him closer to it as long blue strands of hair fluttered around him as he looked at his savior.

What he saw was a girl that appeared to be the around the same age as he was. She wore a simple white dress that was tied around her waist. Natsu tuned out most of that though, he was stuck on her eyes. They held a chill that crept along his spine that somewhere brought back that feeling of Irene. Her cold gaze looked down at Natsu before she shook her head.

"You shouldn't even need me to save you." She simply said before letting the boy fall onto the roof before looking at the man in front of her.

Natsu looked at the back of the unexpected participant of his brawl and felt several questioned ran through his mind. A thought came to him as he turned to his blade only to find it missing. Realization donned on him. He looked back at his savior and noticed just the slightest hint of black ink from the nap of her neck.

Blood dripped from Couz's mouth before he spit it out and looked at the new addition. "Aye, this Lass has some bite, I can't wait to pull 'er teeth!" He yelled while charging at his target.

The girl waited for him and just before his hand shout out, she ducked under his swipe with remarkable speed and delivered a punch to his chest that caused him to cry out before a tendril shout from his back and hit her in the stomach sending her back towards the pink haired teen who grabbed her before she flew over.

She snarled at him and pushed him away, not caring where the boy landed at the moment. Her opponent shot out several more tentacles before she began to close the gap between the two.

"Watch out!" She heard Natsu yell as the tentacle had latched onto his leg and flung him back in the direction of the two. She side stepped his body but shot her hand out and brushed it against the water. It instantly began to freeze causing it to shatter letting the boy fall and landed right in front of Couz.

Couz growled out and was about to launch himself at the boy when another explosion of purple fire erupted from the gash Couz made.

Out of the flames came Bora as he landed on Couz's back and tried to wrap his arms around the man. Natsu rose from the ground and with a look of determination, began to absorb the left of fire from Bora's explosion.

Even if it wasn't a lot of fire, his entire body felt like it was set on fire, and his blood began to boil as Natsu yelled out for Bora to move.

Letting go from the man, Bora back petaled leaving Couz with a wide-open shot. Flames surrounded his fist as Natsu roared from the top of his lungs.

"FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST!" he yelled while delivering a deadly blow to the man's torso. Steam erupted clouding the man for a brief moment before the wind took the screen away.

The water that had surrounded his form had collected in one spot just before Natsu's first impacted protecting him from the blast. Couz's breath was shallow as he glared down at the teen. He was about to take another step before a discharge was heard and Couz's body was surrounded by electricity before he fell backwards into the gash and landed back in the train car.

Natsu looked towards the end to see Totomaru Shakely holding one of the magic guns. His shoulder seemed to be burned but over all he seemed roughed up. All of them, excluding their newest 'partner' seemed worse for wear. They felt the train begin to decelerate and heard the train whistle. All of those present looked to the front of the train to see Clover approaching in the distance. Bora pointed out in the field that the last member of Crooked Wings had bailed from the front and was making a break for the tree line. Natsu couldn't really care at the moment. Natsu gave Couz one last look, making sure he was down for the count, before a thought came to him.

As the adrenaline faded from his system, he felt the intense stinging pain from his right arm. Looking down he saw that it was horrifically burned around the hand and wrist. He quickly scribbled some a healing rune onto the top of the train and poured what little magic he had left into it. The dimly lit rune brightened slightly as he rested his hand on it.

Feeling the healing power, he released a sigh and lowered the rest of his body so that he was laying on his back. His companions surrounded him on his left and right.

"So, uh. Is now a good time to pick what we're getting for dinner?" Bora joked causing Totomaru and Natsu to chuckle before his eyes landed on the fourth member who approached him from the back. Even if she was upside down to him. He held her gaze for some time.

"Oh yeah, who is this? She really came in for the save back there." Bora said before holding out a hand. "I'm Bora, this is Totomaru, that one of the ground is Natsu. You are…?"

The teen seemed to ignore his hand as she continued to look at Natsu, who felt a feeling of intense dread begin to manifest in him if this is what Irene meant then that would mean she would be on her way soon. How was he supposed to explain to the strongest person on the planet that is was an accident?

She paused before she tilted her head, a look of confusion crossed her flawless features for the briefest of moments before she seemed to offer a chilling smile as she looked down at Natsu

Really, she was declaring it to Natsu. The others might as well have been visions of imagination.

"Esdeath."

Feel free to like or follow. Thanks for reading, also check Natsu is Awesome. The lad is great to bounce Ideas off of and helped me make this story, which I -hopefully- will get going.

And as always, have a good one.

-Justaguy35