Betrayal

Chap 1

A month after the war Natsu has started noting changes in his magic similar to how E.N.D took over. He worried he would lose control and that the demon never left.

Natsu never voiced his worries, not wanting to make others worry for him. He was able to fool almost everyone, everyone except for the two closest to him. Happy and Lucy noticed his changes. His smile wasn't as big as it used to, he didn't seem to eat as much, almost always lost in his own thoughts.

The only thing that stayed the same for the two was how often he got into fights, but he seemed like he was straining to hold back. He had always hold back because he knew that he could accidentally hurt the weaker members, even against the stronger members he hold back as to not mutually cause to much damage. Now it seemed more so to the two, they tried to reason it as the lost of his brother, but they didn't really believe that.

But to Natsu's knowledge he had everyone fooled. He didn't like to lie, but he was never one to talk about his feelings. Most of the time he just punch his frustrations away against an enemy or Gray's face, not that he could anymore, times where peaceful and Gray would probably break if he really let all his frustration out on him.

So Natsu decided to talk to Gramps, try to see if he would allow him to go on an S class quests. Noting that would require trying to figure anything out since he would need Lucy with him and he didn't want her anywhere near if he lost control, she always gets him to snap back, but he didn't want to risk hurting her. He just wanted to fight an S class monster, something to really let out the pent-up anger and frustration without worrying about killing someone.

Makarov knew that Natsu technically was equal and probably stronger then a few S class mages. If not for the brains part of the test he would have passed the last time and technically based on the last exam he had passed considering that on Natsus year away training he had found the first masters grave. But Makarov couldn't just give him S class status.

'Could he?' He wondered, staring at a jumpy pinket in his office. 'He did technically defeat Zeref on his own.'

Natsu's pov:

"Why do you want to go on an S class mission already? It's only been a month, shouldn't you be resting?" Gramps asks, rolling his wheelchair out from behind his desk and getting closer to me.

Sighing I run my fingers through my hair. 'I should have expected him to be noisy.' "I need a challenge, something that will give me a real fight without hurting anyone."

"I understand, but why alone? You have a team, Erza is S class you could have asked her to take you guys along to one." He points out, staring at me worriedly.

"I know, but I want to fight on my own, test out my limits without holding back." I explain, hoping he'll buy that and not question further.

"Very well, I'll allow you to go on a single S class mission. Depending on how well you do, meaning no destroying the place, I'll let you go on more." Gramps says, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Yosh!" I jump up celebrating. 'One was enough, but if I'm able to do multiple I could be gone for a while without anyone noticing.'

Gramps starts looking through a stack of papers before handing me one. "Here, this one will keep you busy for a while also giving you a fair challenge."

Multiple groups of 100 or more Vulcan have appeared in different regions of Fiore.
Reward: 50,000,000
Requestor: Magic Council

"This one is perfect! But do they know where are the nest?" I ask him. 'It'll take me longer if they don't, but I should be able to sniff them out.'

Gramps pulls another stack of papers along with a map. "They have a few nest pin pointed, some the general area, and some is just rumors from locals about a big group of Vulcans. In total its about 20 different groups." Gramps informs me before his expression turns to concern. "This mission will take you months Natsu, are you sure about going without your team?"

'He does have a point and I don't want to leave Lucy alone again...but she'll have the whole guild and Happy this time. It's not like we are anything more than best friends and she also has Levy and maybe when I get back I could actually tell her how I feel?...Yeah no, I don't have the slitest chance in the world with her, but how could I love anyone other than her, they don't compare.' Gramps worried expression snaps me out of my thoughts. "It should be fine, I'll write every once in a while. Plus I can leave the ones near for later and can come visit." I reason.

He still looks skeptical, but nods agreeing with me. "I'll tell the rest of your team you were specifically requested for this mission."

"Thanks Gramps."

With that I leave his office and go to the first floor seeing Gray, with Juvia attached to his arm, talking with Erza. Deciding to just get this over with since they are going to be the easiest to explain I walk over to them.

"I'm going to be gone for a while." I tell them before they can say anything.

"You're leaving again! What about Lucy you idiot!" Gray yells getting the attention of a few other guild members.

"Tone it down Ice princess, I'm going on a mission that's going to take a few months. And what about Lucy? She has the rest of the team, plus Happy will probably stay over at her place till I get back." I explain since all of them are glaring at me.

For some reason they all face plam and call me an idiot under their breath. 'Do they forget I can still hear them?'

"What did Lucy have to say about this?" Erza asks.

Scratching the back of my neck I laugh nervously. "Yeah, I haven't told her yet." That was not the correct answer considering it got me a hand chop on the head. "Ow! The hell! I haven't even seen her since this morning and I just got back from talking to Gramps." I explain so that I don't get hit again.

"Very well, if you need assistance don't hesitate to ask." She let's me know.

'She should know by now that I'm not going to.' "Thanks."

With that I leave, following my nose to find Lucy. Not that I needed to since she was still in her apartment with Happy. 'Now this one is going to be difficult. More so with both of them.'

Breathing in I take a moment to try and figure out what and how I'm going to say it, before jumping up to the windowsill and opening them.