400 years

4

"You intrigue me, which is almost as worthy of praise as saving my life."

'Huh?' I half heartedly listen while continuing looking.

"As for the cat your speaking of, his name is Happy and I ensure you that he is just fine."

'Oh, wait so it's his cat?' His words finally draw me in fully and while brushing a few strands of stray hair from my face I give him my attention.

"I on the other hand am the lord of Magia Castle and Daimyo of Dragnof, Natsu Dragneel."

'N-Natsu.. Dragn.. Did I hear him correctly! He's King E.N.D of the seven Demons!' My eyes widen in shock, with a lurking nauseas feeling. I turned toward the gate of the burning temple. The sign on the gate was engraved with the name Magnolia-ji. 'No, no! This can't be!!' "Pardon me for asking something strange but what year is it?" I asked through my panic.

His smirk slightly faltered into confusion. "It is 400. Why?"

In the year 400 Natsu had been betrayed by Jellal Fernandes, Natsu Dragneel committed seppuku amidst the fiery wreckage of Magnolia-ji. At least this was the information giving to me and what the history books all say.. 'Wh-What's really going on here.. I've got to be dreaming this! Was I actually hit by the lightning yesterday? Am I in a coma, Omg is this hell!?'

Lost in my thoughts I move mechanically, raising my hand to my cheek and pinching it hard. 'Ouch! That hurt. There goes the dream theory out the window. But does that mean I really stepped back in time to the night Natsu died?'

Natsu's rather childish smirk returns at my action. "What are you pinching yourself for? I've given my name; now it's your turn."

The self proclaimed Dragneel took a full step forward and took my chin in his hand forcing me to meet his eyes. "Hey!" I exclaimed, uneasy with his sudden closeness. With his toothy smirk so close I couldn't help the blush that threatened my cheeks as I thought,  'Maybe it's not so childish after all.. Omg Lucy no!'

"Give me your name." Natsu intently repeated.

His warm breath danced on my skin as I stuttered, "L-Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia." 'Get it together Lucy!'

"Hm, Heartfilia? (Repeating my last name his eyes twitched as if contemplating it, all while smirking.) A good name."

I'd finally talked myself back to reality and could think more clearly. "Glad you approve. Now let go of me." With that I brushed off his hand and put some distance between us. 'I desperately need to figure out how to get back to that cave!' My Head was spinning with everything that's happened until now, a headache beginning. And now the sound of a large group coming our way echoes through the night air.

'What now..'

With this thought a half naked man demounts from his horse. 'Why is he shirtless!!' The man has Raven black hair, some sort of tattoo in blue ink on the right of his chest. Besides the metal necklace around his neck he's wearing long black hakamas and wrist guards.

The shirtless man acknowledged Natsu with, "There you are flames for brains! Glad you made it out alive."

'Flames for brains!? Should he have said that!??' I frantically repeat the words he'd nonchalantly tossed in my head. The man stands holding the horses reins at the front of a unit of soldiers, rushing towards us.

But Natsu unleashed a replay of, "Ice Stripper, Why are you here? Where is Erza.. (His once childish smirk twisted between annoyance and cocky.) and your shirt?"

Paying no attention to the fact he has no shirt on.. "Uh, What part of the temple turning to ash did you forget!? (Along with Natsu's, his face twisted to annoyance then back to attention at the mention of Erza.) Erza sent me ahead. She'll be here shortly. (He took in the sight of the burning temple with a frown.) We received information about an assassination attempt. It appears to have been true. I had my men search the grounds but whichever one those lowly fools it was had already fled."

He glance at me while I was trying to process his words. My head hurt, really, really bad at this point.. 'Assassination attempt!? Does this mean the history books are in deed wrong, Natsu hadn't committed seppuku on his own a cord..'

The shirtless man gestured towards me and questioned the elephant in the room. "Who is this? I saw the two of you leave the temple together. It ain't like you to run around with strange women."

Natsu indicated the raven haired guy with a nod "Luce, present yourself to my subordinate."

As he then waited for me to comply. I glanced sideways at Natsu. 'What's with this nickname? We'd only just met, not to mention he's got a major attitude.' I didn't care if he'd almost united the country, I wasn't putting up with it! During my hesitation the raven guy introduced himself..

"I'm Gray Fullbuster." He then slightly bowed, not in a respectable way but more like trying to brake the ice.

But In response I shook my head, "I'm sorry, did I miss the part where I became a subordinate too? Also it's Lucy."

Natsu began glaring at me and it was sharp as a knife and I felt my body grow ten degrees colder.) 'Yikes! Had I taken it to far. He truly is intimidating!?' "Then you're choosing to disobey me?"

::Definition note::

seppuku: is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. (No photo for this, if you must see it, it's common in samurai movies.)