The guild hall was still ringing with laughter after the "fight" between Lucky's clone and the newly arrived pink-haired boy. Tankards slammed together, voices roared with cheer, and more than one mage reenacted Natsu's endless portal-fall loop, falling off benches while clutching their sides.
Natsu himself sat cross-legged on the floor, arms crossed, cheeks puffed out like a sulking child, though his grin betrayed that he'd enjoyed every second. Gray was on the other side, still shirtless, smirking like he'd won the fight himself.
Lucky sat calmly at the bar, sipping from a tall glass of fruit juice. He'd grown used to Fairy Tail's chaos, but even he had to admit the arrival of this loud, reckless boy had tilted the balance in a way even his clones hadn't.
Then he got up and walked over.
"Hey, Natsu."
Natsu turned, eyes wide. "Lucky! What's up?"
Lucky crossed his arms. "So… where are you staying?"
Natsu blinked. "Huh?"
"Where are you sleeping? Do you have a place?"
The guild's laughter slowly began to fade as Natsu stood and stretched, his eyes scanning the room with curiosity. Then, quite suddenly, he scratched the back of his head and blurted:
Natsu scratched his head harder. "Uh… I can just stay in the forest, right?"
Silence.
The entire guild froze.
Cana nearly spat out her drink. "Wait... what do you mean in the forest?"
Natsu blinked, confused at the reaction. He pointed vaguely to the back door as if it were the most natural question in the world. "I can just stay in the forest if that's easier."
A stunned silence swept the guild hall.
Wakaba nearly dropped his pipe. "...The forest?"
Macao rubbed his temples. "This brat… he's serious."
Even Gray tilted his head, smirking. "What kind of weirdo just camps out in the woods? You a wild animal or something?"
"Shut up, Droopy-Eyes!" Natsu snapped back, his cheeks red.
Macao with a pity look. "Kid, you're not a wild animal!"
Wakaba pinched the bridge of his nose. "Magnolia has inns, you know."
Natsu looked around, bewildered. "But… and Igneel used to sleep outside all the time! It's fine!"
The guild stared.
Then, slowly, their expressions shifted.
Not to pity.
Not to mock.
But to something softer.
But before another fight could spark, Makarov, still holding the Mending Enchantment Book like a prized treasure, slid off his barrel with a heavy sigh. The old master's short figure waddled over, his eyes kind but his tone firm. He placed a small hand on Natsu's shoulder.
"Natsu, my boy," Makarov began, his voice kind. "The forest is no place for one of my children. I assume that's where you stayed while Igneel was watching over you?" He said the dragon's name without a hint of doubt or mockery, speaking as if it were a simple fact.
Natsu's excited energy deflated slightly. "Yeah… we stayed in caves and stuff. It was fine."
"I'm sure it was," Makarov said, his voice full of paternal warmth. "But that was when you had a mighty dragon to protect you from the elements. Now, you need a proper place to live. Not in the wild."
Natsu's eyes flickered, the familiar stubbornness in them dimming for just a second. His shoulders slumped. "…So I can't?"
"Not anymore," Makarov said gently. He patted the boy's head. "You need a home, lad. A roof. Somewhere you can rest and eat properly. And not under a tree."
The guild members nodded in agreement, though many still wore baffled expressions.
Lucky, still sipping his juice, caught the look in Natsu's eyes, the way he tried to mask his disappointment behind bravado. 'So he's really been living like that… no wonder he's rough around the edges.'
Natsu looked down at his feet, a rare moment of vulnerability showing through. The concept of a "home" separate from wherever Igneel was seemed foreign and a little sad.
Makarov patted his head reassuringly. "First things first. A mage needs Jewels, and for that, you need a job. Let's get you started on your first official request."
Natsu perked up. "A mission? Yeah! Let's go!"
The Master's eyes scanned the guild hall, mentally running through a list of potential babysitters, ahem, partners for the obviously volatile new recruit.
His gaze first landed on Wakaba. 'No, he thought immediately. The last thing this boy needs is a smoking habit and lessons in how to be even lazier.'
He then looked at Macao. 'Absolutely not. He's a good man, but he's still getting back on his feet after his whole… ordeal. He doesn't need a walking disaster added to his plate. '
His eyes flicked to Erza, 'probly not after all, I want the kid to learn not to be led around like Millianna and Sorano, and she'll terrify the poor lad into stone so no'.
He looked around. His gaze passed over Gray.'…No. If I send him with Gray, they'll strangle each other before reaching the job site, unless Erza is there.'
Then, inevitably, his gaze landed on the calm boy at the bar, sipping juice like none of this concerned him.
Lucky, still sipping his juice, met his gaze.
'Perfect'
A plan solidified in Makarov's mind. He marched over to Lucky, his face arranged into the picture of grandfatherly benevolence. "Lucky, my boy! How are you this fine day?"
Lucky's smirk didn't waver. "I'm well, Master. And no."
Makarov's benevolent smile froze on his face. "No? No what? I haven't asked anything yet!"
"You're about to," Lucky said, taking a sip of his juice. "The answer is no. I have things to do. Preparations to make."
A vein popped on the old man's forehead. He stomped forward, standing on tiptoes just to glare up at the taller boy. "Don't be cheeky with me, brat. The boy needs guidance, and you..."
"No," Lucky repeated, expression flat.
Makarov twitched. The guild collectively leaned forward in anticipation, grins spreading.
Makarov's facade cracked. For a moment, he seemed to turn to stone, his entire body rigid with thwarted intention. Then, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Lucky's waist in a dramatic, desperate tackle-hug that nearly knocked the juice from his hand.
"LUCKY! PLEASE!" Makarov wailed, his voice echoing through the hall. Everyone stopped to watch the spectacle, used to their Master's antics but never tiring of them. "Show the new boy the ropes! Just one little mission! He's so… feral! You're the only one with the patience, and he… is a fire mage, your magic can help repair his mistakes, please!"
Lucky tried to pry the old man off. "Master, get off me. The answer is no. I'm busy."
Makarov looked up, his eyes wide and shimmering with manufactured tears. He pulled Lucky down and whispered something only he could hear. "You don't want an old man to beg, do you? I'll do it. I'll get on my knees right here in front of everyone. I'll tell them you made me cry."
A battle waged behind Lucky's eyes. The logical part of his brain, the part that was planning for an apocalyptic event, screamed no. The other part, the part that was still a member of this insane family and knew Makarov was absolutely crazy enough to do it, sighed in utter defeat.
He closed his eyes for a moment. "…Fine."
Instantly, the crying, crumbling old man vanished. Makarov sprang to his feet, brushed off his vest, and beamed with a sly, triumphant smirk. "Excellent! I knew I could count on you, my boy!" He turned to the guild. "See? The spirit of Fairy Tail is alive and well!"
The guild groaned. "Unbelievable…"
A chorus of groans and eye-rolls answered him. "You blackmailed him, old man!" Cana yelled.
"It's not blackmail, it's persuasion!" Makarov retorted cheerfully.
Lucky sighed, the sound full of the weight of a thousand past and future inconveniences. He walked over to Natsu, who was now trying to eat the wax off a nearby candle. Lucky was indeed slightly taller, and he looked down, meeting Natsu's bright, curious eyes.
"Alright, Natsu. What kind of mission do you want?"
Natsu's eyes lit up.
Natsu's eyes immediately sparkled like ignited gunpowder. He jumped up, punching the air with fists wreathed in harmless, excited flames, moving like a hyperactive boxer. "I wanna fight something BIG! A monster! A huge, scary monster so I can punch and kick and burn!"
Lucky's lips twitched into a smile. Without a word, he turned to the request board. His hand scanned the postings, ignoring the harder hunts and dangerous tasks. Finally, he pulled an easy one.
Lucky couldn't help but smile. The kid's enthusiasm was infectious. "A monster it is." He went to the request board, his eyes scanning the postings. He bypassed the ones involving dark wizards or complex retrieval missions. Something simple. Something that wouldn't result in a village being accidentally incinerated.
His fingers settled on a relatively easy job poster. *'URGENT: Horde of Magic-toothed Rats destroying crops on the outskirts of Oak Town. Pest extermination required. Reward: 50,000 Jewels.'*
Perfect. Contained, simple, and involved plenty of things to punch.
He brought it to Makarov for approval. The Master glanced at it and nodded. "A fine choice! A classic first mission! Don't let him eat the rats, Lucky."
Natsu pouted. "Rats?"
"You wanted monsters," Lucky said simply. "Start small."
He turned back to Natsu, slung an arm around his shoulders in a surprisingly casual gesture, and started steering him toward the door. "Alright, let's go."
Natsu's grin was blinding. He pumped his fist into the air. "I'M ALL FIRED UP!"
Lucky stopped for a half-second, a genuine look of surprise flashing across his features. He hadn't realized Natsu's iconic catchphrase had been with him since he was this young.
But the fire in his eyes?
The excitement?
The unstoppable energy?
Yeah.
That was Natsu.
"Alright," Lucky said, ruffling Natsu's hair. "Let's move."
With the guild roaring their approval, the two boys strode toward the doors, one calm and steady, the other practically vibrating with anticipation.
——————————————————————
The wooden doors of Fairy Tail swung wide, and the morning light poured in as Lucky and Natsu stepped out into Magnolia's bustling streets.
The city greeted them with life: vendors shouting their wares, the clatter of wheels on cobblestones, the laughter of children chasing each other between stalls. The warm smell of bread and roasted chestnuts filled the air.
And as they walked, something happened.
People recognized Lucky.
"Hey, it's the Portal Mage!" a merchant called.
"Morning, Lucky!" a child waved.
"Did you fix the bridge yet? The mayor has been asking!"
Lucky gave a small wave. "My clone finished it this morning."
Natsu stared. "Whoa… you're really popular!"
Lucky shrugged. "Not really. I just help people."
Natsu grinned. "That's so cool!"
As they walked through Magnolia until they reached the outskirts, where the cobblestones gave way to open fields. Natsu's excitement hadn't waned in the slightest, and Lucky could feel the boy practically vibrating with energy beside him.
"Alright," Lucky said at last, turning to face him. "Do you want to take it slow or rush there?"
Natsu surprised him by pausing, then saying with uncharacteristic thoughtfulness: "Take it slow. It's my first mission. I wanna… see everything."
Lucky raised an eyebrow.
This Natsu?
Taking it slow?
Not rushing in headfirst?
Not screaming about speed?
This was… different.
"Alright," Lucky said. "Slow it is."
Then he raised a hand holding a card.
Lucky used the card.
A shadow swept across the field as a massive form materialized from golden light. With a cry like rolling thunder, a colossal eagle descended, wings spanning wider than the guild hall, feathers glimmering with faint runes. Its golden plumage caught the sunlight, dazzling like molten metal.
The Featherfall Golden Eagle, Lucky's S-Class summon.
The beast's presence alone pressed against the air, making weaker men buckle. Its sharp eyes glared down with predatory majesty.
But Natsu?
He didn't flinch.
"COOL!!" Natsu shouted, sprinting straight at it. He circled the eagle, poking its feathers, touching its talons, and staring at its massive beak with childlike awe. "It's HUGE! It's SHINY! Can I ride it?!"
Lucky wasn't surprised.
Natsu had been raised by a dragon.
A normal kid would be terrified.
But Natsu?
He looked at the eagle like it was a long-lost cousin.
The eagle tilted its head in faint confusion, clearly unaccustomed to kids treating it like a pet.
Lucky didn't need the eagle to lift him.
Without hesitation, Lucky crouched, then leapt. His body soared gracefully through the air, landing with ease atop the eagle's back. He sat cross-legged, completely at ease.
"Natsu," he called, "hop on."
The boy, still hugging one of the eagle's massive feathers, looked up with sparkling eyes. "For real?!"
Lucky nodded.
"YEAH!!"
It took him several tries, slipping, climbing, grunting, but eventually Natsu clambered his way up, flopping onto the eagle's back beside Lucky, panting with effort.
"Worth it," he said with a grin, sprawling against the warm feathers.
Lucky chuckled. "Keep your grip. You'll need it."
As he said that, his eyes caught the small, worn bag slung across Natsu's back. The boy's "life savings," no doubt. Lucky held out a hand. "Give me your bag. I'll keep it safe."
Natsu blinked, confused. "Uh… why?"
"Because if you drop it mid-flight, you'll lose everything you own."
"Oh." Natsu rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. "Yeah, that… makes sense." He handed it over reluctantly.
Lucky tapped the bag once, and it vanished into storage space with a ripple of golden light.
Natsu's jaw dropped. "WHERE DID IT GO?!"
"Storage magic," Lucky said simply.
"You know storage magic too?!"
"I know what's convenient," Lucky replied calmly.
Natsu's eyes glittered. "You're AMAZING!"
Lucky allowed himself a small smile. "Don't exaggerate."
Then, his tone shifted, growing serious as he looked at Natsu directly. "Listen. This is your first mission. I'll be taking the lead. Watch what I do, learn from it. Next time, you'll have more freedom. Understood?"
Natsu straightened, nodding eagerly. "Got it!"
Lucky gave a single sharp whistle. The eagle's wings unfurled with a sound like cracking thunder, each beat pushing waves of air that rippled through the grass.
And then, with a powerful leap, the Golden Eagle soared skyward.
The wind roared. Magnolia shrank beneath them, its rivers and rooftops glittering like toys in the morning sun.
"WOOOOOOO!!" Natsu shouted, clinging to the feathers with wide eyes. His scarf whipped wildly behind him as he whooped in exhilaration. "THIS IS AWESOME!!"
Lucky sat with perfect balance, unbothered by the speed. "Try not to fall off."
"I WON'T!" Natsu yelled, his grin splitting his face. "I'm ALL FIRED UP!!"
Lucky's lips curved upward. For once, he didn't mind the noise.