The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Chapter 18: Lost Time

The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic):
Chapter 18: Lost Time

The Next Day-

A piercing scream shattered the stillness of the Guild, jolting me out of my daydream. Startled, I lifted my head from where it had been resting on my hand, blinking away the haze. Around me, chairs scraped loudly against the wooden floor as everyone leapt to their feet.

"Natsu, please calm down!" Lucy's voice rang out, laced with urgency.

I turned to see Natsu in a frenzy, kicking benches clear across the room. Plates and mugs clattered to the ground, shattering upon impact. His eyes blazed with an intensity that was unsettling, even for him.

Guildmembers who had been napping like me were now wide awake, confusion and concern etched on their faces.

"Hey, Natsu!" Gajeel lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Natsu from behind in an attempt to restrain him. But Natsu was beyond reason. With a swift move, he slammed backward into the wall, forcing Gajeel to release his grip. Flames erupted from Natsu's fists as he roared in frustration.

"Someone pin him down!" Jet shouted, dodging a stray fireball.

The Guild erupted into chaos. Wizards scrambled to avoid Natsu's wild attacks, the air thick with heat and the smell of singed wood. Tables were overturned, and the sound of splintering wood filled the space.

"Enough!" Erza's commanding voice cut through the commotion, but even she seemed hesitant to engage him directly.

I started to step forward, instinctively wanting to help, but a firm hand grasped my shoulder.

"Don't." Gray said, his gaze fixed on the tumultuous scene. His touch was steady, but there was an unfamiliar calmness in his demeanor.

"Gray? We have to do something!" I protested, trying to shrug off his hold.

He met my eyes briefly. "Kaname will handle it," he assured me.

"Kaname?" I echoed, bewildered.

As if on cue, Kaname appeared, moving gracefully through the chaos. Despite the debris flying around him, he seemed untouched, an island of calm amidst the storm. There was a serene confidence in his stride as he approached Natsu.

Natsu whipped around, eyes wild. But as soon as his gaze met Kaname's, something shifted. The flames around his fists flickered and died down. The tension in his muscles eased, and his posture slackened.

Within moments, Natsu swayed on his feet before collapsing into Kaname's outstretched arms—unconscious.

A hush fell over the Guild. Members exchanged bewildered glances as the reality of what had just happened settled in.

Erza and Lucy hurried over, concern etched on their faces. "Is he okay?" Lucy asked, brushing a strand of hair from Natsu's face.

Kaname nodded reassuringly. "He'll be fine. Just exhausted himself."

"Thank you, Kaname." Erza said sincerely. "We couldn't have calmed him without you."

He offered a modest smile. "I'm just glad I could help."

I stood there, a strange sensation gnawing at me. Something about this felt... off. The ease with which Kaname had subdued Natsu, the way everyone seemed to accept it without question—even Gray's uncharacteristic calmness.

"Are you alright?" Gray's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Yes, I just..." I hesitated. "Did that not seem strange to you?"