5Chapter 3: The Reveal
Location: Yuki's House (Yuki's Room)
"Yuki are you sure about this?" Fuyu asked her daughter who was currently packing some items into her pack. The girl in question merely sighed for what seemed like the umpteenth time as she stood up and stared at her mother.
"Mom, I told you already, I'm going to be fine. I'm just going out on a trip to learn how to use my magic is all. Besides, I've been on many trips before, what's so different about this one?"
"Well, for one, you're only going to be with Wendy and her friend that we know nothing about." Fuyu responded.
"Well didn't you say that you want me to learn how to use my magic? If the style Grandpa's teaching me with isn't working, then there's nothing wrong with trying another method." Yuki shot back.
"Of course I did, but you must know that Wendy won't always be there to help you, besides we know nothing about her friend. As your mother, you must understand that I'm only concerned about you." The ravenette sighed.
"I know mom, that's why I'm telling you I'll be fine. Besides, if I want to grow stronger, then I need to go on this trip."
Fuyu locked eyes with her daughter and much to her surprise she could see a determination in her that she hadn't seen in a very long time.
"Well if that's your decision then as your mother all I can do is accept it and wish you the best of luck." Fuyu sighed, yet a smile was still present on her face.
"Anyways, you better hurry up. You have to meet Wendy at the guild in a few hours and you haven't even prepared yourself yet." With that, the elder ravenette exited the room.
Now alone in her room, the ravenette couldn't help but release a sigh and think back to the events which had transpired a few hours back which led her to this situation.
Flashback
Location: Mt. Eruption
"I said I want you to bring Yuki along with you on your journey." Wendy said with a smile on her face as Natsu scoffed.
"Bring her along? As if!"
"I wouldn't want to go along with you anyways!" Yuki retorted.
"She doesn't even know how to use her magic, she'd just hold me back." Natsu said.
"Exactly, that's why I want YOU to help her with that. You've been to every part of the world, surely this would be easy for you."
"Me? Help her? You must be joking right?" A small smile slowly formed on her face.
"Besides, didn't you mention that you owe a lot to me? Just think of this as part of what you owe."
Natsu growled but didn't say anything and walked off, and with that Wendy knew she had won the verbal battle…like she always has against him.
"Um, Aunt Wendy?" Yuki tapped the elder woman's shoulder who turned back to her, "What is it?"
"What do you mean he'll help me with my magic?"
"Well didn't you say that you had problems controlling your magic?" The elderly woman asked, getting a nod from the girl.
"Well, consider Natsu to be your teacher then. I'm certain that he'll be able to teach you a lot of things when it comes to being a mage and more."
"Wait, is he a Devil Slayer too?" Eara questioned, getting a shake of the head from Wendy, "No he's a Fire Dragon Slayer."
"A Dragon Slayer…you mean like you and Uncle Gajeel?"
"That's right, and out of all of us, he's the strongest one."
"Really?" The ravenette found that hard to believe seeing as she'd seen her uncle and grandfather battle each other and full power before. If that was truly the case…how much stronger was Natsu?
"That's right. So, even if you dislike the thought of travelling with him, at least try and I guarantee you'll be able to reach your goal."
Flashback Ends
While she trusted the Sky Dragon Slayer a bunch, the same can't be said about the pinkette whatsoever. Who's to say that he would abandon her in the middle of nowhere? the moment she looks away?
Sighing to herself, the ravenette decided to just forget about it and carry on packing the essentials needed for her long trip.
Though she couldn't help but feel excited at the thought of going on a trip in order to get stronger. It resembled much like the stories her mother used to read to her every night as a child.
It was her favourite stories aside from the stories about a prince rescuing a damsel in distress. She always dreamed of meeting the one. Unfortunately, she had yet to meet him.
'To think that I'm still thinking about all that. Guess I am still a child in some way.' Sighing to herself, she decided to focus on what she's meant to do.
Location: Fairy Tail Guild (Entrance)
After a tearful goodbye with her mother, the ravenette headed to the guild in order to make her announcement, and to her shock, she saw a small group of people standing at the entrance of the guild. Those included the likes of her grandparents, aunts and uncles and some friends. Oh, and Alex was there too.
"Hey there, you guys! What are you all doing?" Yuki greeted the group with a wave as Wendy walked over to the girl.
"Well since you were leaving on a trip to get stronger with us, I of course had to alert everyone about it." Wendy responded as Gray walked up towards his granddaughter.
"While I'm upset that I won't be overlooking your progress, I guess I can let this slide if you really do master your abilities." Gray said with a small smile on his face.
"Juvia will pray for your safety, so please be careful." Juvia said tearfully, giving her granddaughter a tight hug, one that was quickly returned.
"Heh, try not to die out there, brat." Gajeel said and Levy nudged her husband for his use of inappropriate words, "What he means if that, he wants you to be careful, and I do too." Levy smiled.
"At least try and prove that you got stronger, alright?" Alex said with a smirk.
"R-right." Yuki gave the boy an awkward smile before turning over towards Erza who was walking over to her, holding a sheathed sword in her hands.
"Yuki, while you won't be able to train for a while, I know you'll be able to do fine. Just continue to train every day, alright?"
"I will Aunt Erza!"
"Also, this is from everyone to you." The scarlet haired knight then presented the girl with the same sheathed sword.
"Woah…a new sword?" Yuki said in awe.
"That's right and it was made with all the best materials we could find, hoping that one day you'll be able to wield its true power, and I believe that today is that day."
"Thanks, everyone, I'll miss you all…" Yuki said tearfully and Wendy smiled softly at the scene happening in front of her.
Gray then took the time to walk over to the Sky Dragon Slayer, "Hey Wendy, make sure to watch over Yuki and Eara alright?" Gray whispered to the woman who waved it off, "Don't worry, we'll make sure she's safe from harm."
"Speaking of which, who's your friend anyways? And why haven't we seen him before?" However, before the Sky Dragon Slayer could even respond,
"Are we ready to leave?" a rough voice broke the silence as everyone turned to the owner of said voice, and standing in front of them was a hooded figure.
Wendy smiled, turning to face her guildmates, "Well, we shouldn't dilly-dally any longer, alright Yuki, Eara?"
The girl nodded her head and turned back to her family and friends and waved, "Bye! I'll see you next time!"
"Goodbye!" The Exceed echoed.
Just as the three met up alongside the hooded figure and was about to be on their way,
"HOLD UP!"
Everyone jolted up at the loud voice, while the group in the front stop advancing forward, before turning their attention to the one who had shouted in the first place, Gajeel, who sported a furious look on his face.
"Gajeel, what's wrong?" Levy asked her husband curiously, yet the Iron Dragon Slayer didn't respond to her, his eyes were locked on the hooded figure.
"Did you really think you'll be able to hide your scent from me…Salamander?" Gajeel growled.
While that singular word caused the majority of them to look confused, those who knew its significance quickly got into their battle stances with Gray standing in the front and much like Gajeel, he too sported a furious look on his face.
"You bastard, to think you'd come back after everything you've done." The Ice Devil Slayer spat as Natsu chuckled, removing the hood from his cloak, revealing his features to the world.
"Believe me when I say this Fullbuster, I had no intention of ever stepping foot here ever again."
"Well then, how about I show you the way out?"
"Do you really think you can take me on? You might have been my equal in the past, but at your current age? You must be out of your mind." The pinkette responded.
"All I need to do is just wipe you out, that's never been a problem for me before." A thick, potent magical aura began surrounding Gray as he said that.
"I'll see to it that that'll never happen…" Natsu responded and like Gray, a thick, potent magical aura began surrounding him as well.
Majority of the guild members who were standing nearby all froze in place, none of them could move an inch. While they knew that Gray was the most powerful mage, none had ever seen him go full strength before. Though, what was more surprising was that the "Salamander" in front of them feels as if he's as strong, if not stronger than Gray.
However,
"Sky Dragon Tempest Wall!"
Before the two could even engage in a fight, a massive wall of wind appeared, splitting the two sides.
"Now, Natsu didn't I tell you that you shouldn't get into a fight?"
"Tch, it's not like I started it." The pinkette responded the magical power surrounding him instantly died off as if it had never been there.
"It takes two to tango, and you know this." The pinkette grumbled underneath his breath while the scarlet haired knight narrowed her eyes at her friend after seeing her interact with the pinkette.
"Wendy, what's the meaning of this!" Erza asked, pointing her sword at the Dragon Slayer whose gentle features was quickly replaced by one of ferociousness.
Seeing this, Natsu began walking off while Yuki stood in place, unknowing of what to do as she shot a look of concern at her. Though she only chased after Natsu after getting a reassuring smile from the old woman.
"Wait, Yuki! Come back!" Gray yelled, only for him to be ignored by his granddaughter. Unfortunately, he was unable to give chase due to the massive wind wall that had yet to disappear. When it was clear she was not going to turn back, the Ice Devil Slayer turned his attention over to Wendy.
"So, what do you have to say for yourself, Wendy?"
"I have no clue what you mean though."
"So after all these years, you've still been in contact with…HIM?!" Gray growled.
"Who I have contact with has no relevance to anyone of you."
"It is, especially if you broke one of the rules!" Levy shouted.
"I wouldn't consider that to be a rule if most of the guild members are unaware of it." Wendy responded, and her aloofness angered them.
"Stop messing around! You were there when Master Makarov made it a rule!" Gray shouted, a cold aura beginning to surround him, yet it didn't intimidate her in the slightest.
"While that may be the case, but he isn't here anymore, is he?"
"Wendy…you 've really stooped that low…" Erza gripped her sword tightly.
"You betrayed us all, Wendy." Gajeel glared.
"If anything I could say the same to you, Gajeel." Wendy said, giving her fellow Dragon Slayer a disapproving look.
"Weren't the five of us raised to be siblings? Yet because of love, you decided to forget about everything we've been through."
"Don't you dare bring that up! If anything-"
"If anything, that alone should tell you what the right thing to do was." Wendy interrupted.
"That still doesn't change the fact about who he is and what he's done!" Levy interrupted and the Sky Dragon Slayer spared her a glance before turning back.
"Maybe if you all would actually listen to other's hearts instead of your own, then you'd be able to realise just how much he's suffering." With that said, Wendy walked off without ever turning back.
"Damn her…" Gray cursed, seeing her retreated figure slowly disappear from sight.
"Sir Gray, what do we do now?" Lance asked, now finding his voice after everything which happened for the past few minutes.
"Nothing…we'll do nothing." Gray sighed, after a few moments of silence.
"Gray, you can't be serious about that! What about Yuki?" Erza asked, completely aghast at her friend's decision.
"What can we do anyway? Knowing Wendy, her spell will only subside by the time they're a thousand miles away. That, and the moment they cut off their tracks, they'll almost be invisible…much like how he was able to stay hidden for decades." Gray said and Juvia placed a comforting hand on him.
"What about contacting the Magic Council?" Alex suggested.
"You're out of your mind if you think that's a good idea. Even now they're still trying to think up ways to disband the guild. No matter what we do, we'll never be in their good books, and if we bring this problem to them, they'll finally succeed." Alex clenched his fists in frustration.
"For now, all we can do is hope."
Location: Train Station (Magnolia)
"Are you sure we should have left Aunt Wendy alone at the guild like that?" Yuki asked walking back and forth, the amount of concern she had for the woman was increasing by the second.
"Yuki, you need to calm down. People are beginning to stare!" the Exceed said, trying to get the girl to just stand in place and true to her words, there were plenty of people who had turned towards their direction, especially since she was the esteemed granddaughter of Gray Fullbuster.
Natsu, on the other hand, chose not to respond as he leaned against the pillar. Upon detecting Wendy's smell growing, he opened an eye, and true to his senses, the woman was walking towards them.
"She's here." Natsu said before walking off to buy the train tickets.
"Aunt Wendy! You're safe!" Yuki said as she launched herself at the elderly lady who couldn't help but chuckle.
"Of course I am, you didn't need to worry Yuki."
"Well with everything that happened, you can't blame me. It really seemed like grandpa and Natsu were about to fight until the death."
"That's because they really were, had I not interfered."
"Why is that so? Isn't he a former member of Fairy Tail, why would they fight each other like that?" A rue smile appeared on Wendy's face at the mention of that.
"Well that's something you should try and find out when on your trip, isn't it?" Yuki sighed.
"Well I guess so, but at least you'll be with us, right?" Rather than responding, Wendy merely gave the ravenette a smile.
"Hold on, you aren't going to be following us for this trip?" Yuki asked, but the elderly woman shook her head and after seeing the concerned look on her face, Wendy patted the girl's head.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be heading over to Lamia Scale and staying over with my friend there. I called her just now and she's happy that I'm going over there."
"That's good and all, but…" Yuki then tilted her head to the side where she saw Natsu waiting in line in order to purchase their train tickets.
"Don't worry about Natsu. He may act like he doesn't care, but he'll make sure nothing will happen to you. Besides, out of everyone I know, he's the most reliable whenever it comes to helping others. So I'm sure he'll help you learn how to use your magic. All you need to do is believe in him, alright?"
While the girl looked doubtful she nodded her head, "Well, if you say so, Aunt Wendy. I'll do my best to trust in him!"
"Good, and here he comes now." Wendy said and true to her words, the pinkette walked over towards their direction before handing a ticket over to Wendy.
"Be careful out there. Now that it's been revealed you're in contact with me, Fairy Tail is going to do whatever it takes to bring you back."
"Only if they can of course. Don't worry about me, just make sure to take care of Yuki and Eara otherwise I'll have your head, alright?" Natsu grunted in response before Wendy proceeded to wrap her arms around the pinkette.
"Be careful Natsu, while you may be immortal, that doesn't mean you're immune to pain." She whispered and Yuki saw a small smile crept up the pinkette's face, though it had only been for a few seconds before it disappeared as if it hadn't been there at all.
'This is the first time I've seen him smile…'
"Speaking of which, here." Natsu handed over a small bottle of pills to Wendy who looked at it confusion, "It's a medicine that's used to overcome our biggest weakness." The woman's eyes widened in shock when she heard it.
"I see, I had no idea you had access to such medicines…"
"It helps when you've travelled around the whole world before." Natsu responded with a shrug.
"Train heading for Okinawa City will be departing shortly. I repeat, the train heading for Okinawa Town will be departing shortly." The intercom resonated in the station as Natsu turned away from his fellow Dragon Slayer.
"That's our stop, let's go." With that said, the pinkette began walking towards the train, moving past the group of people who were entering as well.
"Goodbye Aunt Wendy! I'll see you next time!" Yuki waved.
"Bye!" Eara echoed.
"Goodbye Yuki, Eara, I hope to see you two again soon." Wendy smiled as she watched the retreating figure of the two enter the train.
'Good luck, Yuki!'
Later
Yuki couldn't help but shuffle her feet uncomfortably as she sat across from the pinkette who was staring outside the window. While Eara was busy sleeping on her lap.
'This is so awkward!' The ravenette thought, wanting to start a topic but somehow she couldn't find the words to do so.
"If you have something to say, just say it." Natsu's cold tone brought her back to reality as she looked at him.
'How did he…?'
"Um, well I was wondering why we're headed to Okinawa City of all places? Can I really learn how to use my magic there?"
"Of course not." The pinkette deadpanned as he turned to her.
"Do you even know what's in there?" he asked, getting a shake of the head from the ravenette, causing him to sigh.
"Okinawa City has a mercenary guild which means that anyone is capable of doing missions there, and the first thing on the agenda is to earn money."
"Oh…alright."
'I didn't realise he thought so far ahead already…' Yuki thought before she felt a wave of tiredness hit her, as she slowly began to drift off to sleep.
Natsu, upon hearing soft snores emitting from the girl, couldn't help but wonder why Wendy asked him to not only teach her, but bring her along in such a gruesome task. To make things worse, she was HIS granddaughter.
It just made no sense to him whatsoever.
Deciding that it was best to forget about it, the Dragon Slayer turned his attention back towards the window and began thinking back about the past.
A time when each day was nothing but bliss.
End Chapter
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