Seven Years Passed

A Demonic Presence

"The beach!" Natsu and Happy called happily as the duo ran to the beach with grins on their faces and the rest of the group trailing behind them.
The group had left at early hours of the day to make it to Akane Beach in time. Natsu had booked the entire beach for Fairy Tail for the months up to the GMG so they could get enough training in. "Some things just never change..." Lucy sighed as Lisanna, Levy and Juvia all chuckled.
"If those things did change then we might not have fell for him so hard." Lisanna smiled as she approached Natsu and gave her husband a hug.
"That's something I can never get used to though." Erza said.
"It was hard to get used to at first, but the relationship is a good thing for them, so we got used to it." Droy smiled as Levy smiled up to Droy.
"I'm lucky to have you guys as friends." Levy smiled as Jet and Droy smiled back before giving thumbs ups.
"Wendy, have you decided yet about the...you know what?" Juvia asked as Wendy shook her head.
"I...I don't know still, I'm sorry Juvia." Wendy apologized.
"Don't worry about it, you'll be stronger in no time without it." Juvia smiled as Natsu and Happy ran back towards the group.
"Alright, you guys ready to the training of our lives?" Natsu asked as Happy cheered and Gray simply snickered.
"Seriously? Natsu, I get you're stronger but what can you teach people like me who have polar opposite magic to yours?" The Ice Make mage asked.
"It's not just Natsu-Sama who will be training you guys." Juvia smirked as she fired a Water Dragons Roar at Gray who barely froze it in time.
"Training starts now." Lisanna spoke as she turned into her Dragon Soul – Igneel form.
"Well since you're just going to be getting those lot back up to standards we'll just-" Before Jet and Droy could retreat a tall metal wall blocked off the sole exit to the beach.
"Oh no you don't, you may be on Erza's level now but you two had every opportunity to get stronger in these seven years." Levy smirked as Erza quickly re-equipped into her Flame Empress armour.
"Let's do this Natsu." Erza beckoned as Natsu nodded, his flames erupting out of his body at full power making everyone, but Team Survivors, break a sweat.
"All this time I have been dreaming of the day we can finally fight...and I can finally beat you Erza...come at me!" Natsu roared with a gleeful grin on his face as training begun.

Up on the mountains looking over Akane Beach three people looked down to the training with sweat slowly falling down their faces. Even though they were so far from the action they could feel the pure heat coming from Natsu Dragneel. "He's gotten so much stronger since we last unlocked his container." One of the women said, moving her pink hair away from her eyes.
"What did you expect from him? He filled up his second magic container within two years, only two other mages in history has done that before." The second woman explained, her black hair flowing through the wind.
"We wait until dark, we'll approach Team Survivors then. Now is not the time to introduce ourselves to the others." The male said as he focused on the magical power coming from Team Survivors.
"Jellal, do you sense it?" Meredy asked as Jellal nodded.
"Faintly, but yes...I can..." Jellal softly said before the group went quiet and went back into the shadows to watch.

As the sun started to set, and the training paused for the day the group all set a campfire up and started cooking some provisions over the open flame whilst the group chatted among each other. "Jeez, you must be even stronger then Mira now Lisanna." Lucy panted as Lisanna giggled.
"Maybe, but I have been working every day to achieve my strength. Even the last two days I have been using our secret technique to increase our magic capabilities." Lisanna smiled as Happy sat on Lisanna's lap, also tired due to him participating in the training too.
"I'm glad I was frozen for seven years; I couldn't do this for that long!" Happy panted as Lisanna petted Happy's head before giving the exceed a fish.
"You did well today Happy, from what we've seen with Lector and Frosch it's hard for Exceed to be accustomed to training like this. You should be proud." Lisanna complimented.
"So Natsu, how does it feel to finally have beaten me?" Erza asked as she sat next to Natsu and Levy, who was leaning against Natsu for warmth.
"It...feels kind of hollow, yeah I beat you with my own power but...you weren't given the years I had to train...It wasn't a fair fight, nor a fair victory." Natsu sighed as Erza chuckled.
"You really have grown up Natsu, for what it's worth though now I have a reason to get stronger too. I'm not going to let myself be shown up by you for much longer, when I'm at your level we will have our rematch." Erza smiled as Natsu nodded.
"It's a promise Erza." Natsu grinned as he looked past Erza, up into the mountains, where he saw a glare of light hit the trunk and his grin loosened.
"What's up Natsu?" Erza asked.
"Why don't you go check it out Natsu? We'll stay here and watch the fire." Levy urged as Natsu nodded.
"Of course, see you soon Levy." Natsu smiled as he pecked Levy's forehead before making his way up the mountains.
"Oi, what's Natsu up to?" Gray asked as Juvia shook her head.
"Don't worry about it for now Gray, you'll learn soon what he is up to. Call it the second part of your training, you still need to finish the first part." Juvia explained as Wendy looked up to Juvia.
"Can I ask you a question Juvia, how did it feel becoming a Dragon Slayer?" Wendy asked as Juvia looked at Wendy,
"To start with...it was nauseating. It started with a surge of power but as we were recovering from the fight against the Kraken, and I felt every one of my senses enhance, it felt sickening. But Natsu showed me how to control my senses and now It's like second nature to me." Juvia explained.
"So how did you guys and Natsu...you know, get together?" Lucy asked as Lisanna, Levy and Juvia looked at each other and smiled softly.
"It's a long story, When we realized we all felt the same for Natsu we had a meeting to discuss how this would work." Lisanna started telling the story as Team Tenrou all leaned into listen closely to the story.

Up in the mountains Natsu found himself at a clearing with a small campfire. Around the Campfire was Crime Sorciere, escaped criminals who had a single mission of making sure Zeref never returned. Natsu had met Crime Sorciere a year after their break out and since then they have been in close contact, helping Natsu protect his guild and sending him to any towns which they couldn't handle themselves. "Natsu, it's been too long." Jellal spoke as he approached and shook the Dragon Slayers hand.
"It has, how have you three been?" Natsu asked.
"Same old, taking down cults looking up to Zeref and dealing with any rising Dark Guilds who could be a threat." Meredy spoke up as Jellal looked at Natsu.
"So, your contact in the capital told you about the prophecy right?" Jellal asked as Natsu nodded.
"Dragons are going to return, I know. I am going to be training up Wendy personally; Gajeel and Laxus have promised they're going to be training too." Natsu responded.
"Are you not going to make any new second generation Dragon Slayers?" Ultear asked as Natsu shook his head.
"Not after last time, we can't risk an incident like that happening again...too many people were lost." Natsu said, an upset look on his face.
"For what it's worth, you're justified in holding back...but you need to take a risk...and now is the best time to take that risk, you have people who you know are strong enough to become Dragon Slayers." Jellal said.
"I know...what if they say no and tell someone else? It could become a whole incident and lead to a leak happening about the Dragon Invasion." Natsu said worried.
"Are you doubting your friends, Natsu?" Ultear asked as Natsu shook his head.
"No, I'm just being careful...seven years ago I would've laughed at that...but I cant risk it again." Natsu sighed.
"Let's just move on, there is one other thing we need to warn you about Natsu...it's the Magic Games. Every year in the last three years we have felt an evil energy from the capital whilst the games have been on." Meredy spoke.
"It's not an energy we have ever sensed from here, the magic is completely different, and we've only sensed it once before..." Jellal explained.
"The Demons of Zeref...their curses fused with magic is what it feels like..." Ultear explained.
"You think maybe Tartarus will try something at the games?" Natsu asked.
"No, there's too many mages there...if they're going to try anything it'll be something subtle, but if Dragons are returning then this mysterious Demon wont be holding back." Ultear responded swiftly.
"Right, keep me updated." Natsu requested as Crime Sorciere nodded.
"See you when the Tenrou lot are ready for their containers to be unlocked." Jellal said.
"You too. Ultear and Meredy, make sure he is mentally prepared to see Erza." Natsu teased before leaving.
"See you soon Natsu." Meredy giggled as Natsu headed back to the group.