A Tale of Fairies: The Gender Thief

A Tale of Fairies: The Gender Thief
It had been a year since Makarov Dreyar had retired and handed over rein to the Guild to Erza Scarlet. In that year Natsu had left to train in the wilderness, performing an exercise few knew about. The death of his foster father, Igneel the Fire Dragon King, had shaken him to his core in the eclipse of the Tartaros' plan to destroy all life as they knew it. It was a miracle that casualties were low in the wake of the Guild of Etherious Demons attempting to lay waste to the world and make it magicless. A world that only spawn of Zeref could delight in, users of the infamous Curses.

But now, he was returning home, a different man than before; or so he'd like to believe. Walking down the road he was next to Happy who flew casually beside him, his faithful companion and friend. The simply dirt road that sprawled down the mountain kilometers away from his home in Magnolia was just beyond the horizon. Even from here he could see the magnificent bustling city, the brisk river running through it and smell the sea air with his dragon's nose.

"Soon, we'll be home before we know it, won't we Happy?" He declared with a grin beneath his hooded cloak's silhouette.

"Aye sir!" His Exceed partner shouted in response.

"It'll be good to be back," The Salamander thought with a smile, going first and foremost to Lucy. His partner and only person he'd spend the day before anybody else. A warm flush crawled up his neck and cheeks, a nasty habit that had been occurring during his isolation in the wilderness. Closing his eyes he shook his head, focusing on the fights he'd have with Erza, Laxus, Gray and the bar fights that'd ensue from any of the established. While a certain blonde would just chastise him and get drawn into the mess of things; his thoughts always seemed to loop back to her. "It'll be good to see her too."

"You said that out loud," Happy whispered with a smirk on his face.

"I-I said what?!" He queried aloud with a startled look on his visage.

"You were having dirty thoughts about Lucy, weren't you?" The flying cat giggled mischieviously. "Oh Natsu, you've been alone for too long. Longing for the touch of a woman. What a desperate thing you've become!~"

"STOP SAYING THAT! THAT'S OUR FRIEND LUCY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" He shouted with a comically swelled stature to tower over Happy's diminutive form.

"Who we also have seen in just a towel or naked a number of times," He reminded, stifling more sputtering laughs between his paws as Natsu lit up like a tomatoe at remembrance.

"...s-shut up!" He deflated, pocketing his hands and running down the road quickly.