Chapter 58...

Grey clouds blanketed the area like a bad omen. Though the bellow of thunder could be heard, the lightning itself was not striking anywhere that could be seen. A vast open plain leading straight to the foot of the mountain was an entourage of Natsu Dranigon. The group traveled single-file on the way toward their search area. Natsu was in the lead and guiding them to their destination.

"It was that one right there, right?" Natsu asked Callan who was right behind him.

"Yeah. The light arced over it, like a silver flash." Callan pointed to the mountain in front of him.

"What d-do you think it was?" Flare asked nervously.

"Hell if I know. The weather is crap around here. It could have been lightning." He turned and answered her with a shrug.

"Well, we need to look around anyway, so we'll loop around and back to town." Natsu instructed.

"What do you suppose the significance is of this moth?" Ikaruga asked from the back. "I could understand it's valued as a legendary creature, but, what does the young dragon slayer hope to discover about it?"

"The stories of the Moonferry Moth are said that if you follow it, it will lead you to the afterlife if you carelessly do so." Treya perked up. "But it's role is to collect souls that it stumbles across. It does not discriminate. A soul is a soul." She enlightened the pink-haired swordswoman. "At least, that is what the person we talked to said."

"Maybe they just walk off a cliff because they're too stupid to watch where they're walking at night." Callan scoffed, thinking there was probably a dumb reason behind it. "It's probably just some guy out there trying to get tourists to come through."

"Or maybe it's just a superstition, that they say to explorers to not move carelessly in the night." Treya gazed up at the jagged terrain that was at the foot of the mountain. suggested.

"It could be a sighting of something other than a moth, and was easily misunderstood." Ikaruga pointed out. "I refer to you, One-Eyed Dragon. What do you believe this Moonferry creature to be?" She asked Natsu.

"Don't call me that." Natsu groaned. "Well, I would think that every story has a kernel of truth to it. Whether it was made up by someone, or it was because someone saw something they couldn't comprehend, the tale itself was inspired by something." Natsu didn't quite know what to think either.

"In other words, there is something up here, but you aren't sure if it is real." Treya deduced from his answer.

"More or less." Natsu shrugged. "Or maybe it's an Ether beast." He thought out loud.

"A what?" Flare asked from behind him.

"An animal that uses magic. It accidentally consumes Ethernanos and mutates them into a different form based on their characteristics. Most notably is an increase in size."

"Oh, are they tough?" The blue-haired dragon slayer narrowed his green eyes with interest.

"They are scrappy. I spent most of my time training in forests that were full of 'em. Venigon always had a habit of dropping me in a random location, and I had to find my way back to him. Some of the places had some weird looking creatures I had never seen before, but they used basic magic spells that novice mages use."

"Oh, I know about those creatures!" Ikaruga exclaimed. "We used to hunt them for training back at my old dojo. They employed magic more naturally than people, making a worthy opponent for initiates."

"I left them alone for the most part. But if you come across a rhino that uses earth magic? It will mow your ass down until you leave its territory." Natsu cringed from remembering the brief encounter with the animal in question.

"What is a mere rhino in the face of your power?" Ikaruga scoffed.

"You know, 10 years ago, you would have laughed at how horribly weak I was." Natsu shook his head. "I couldn't use Venigon's flames until I was accepting of death."

"What do you mean?" Callan raised a brow.

"Basically, I couldn't use his flames until I gave up on myself. The flames themselves are not 'wielded', per say, but they just destroy the second I expel them from my body. I'm just unleashing them and they destroy at their own discretion." He explained.

"Why the hell wouldn't you use it more often, then? If your fire magic is that powerful, then-" Callan thought that was a pretty overpowered ability. He didn't really see Natsu use it much.

"Cause I have no control over it once it hits its target. Yeah, I can put'em out if I have to, but the damage it does is something I can't control. Unless I absolutely have to, I don't like to use them with reckless abandon."

"Now you're just being modest." Callan threw his hands up.

"The more magic someone puts into something, the more damage they do." Natsu revealed.

"So what does that mean if you hit something that doesn't have magic?" Callan asked.

"They're dragon flames, Callan. They'll turn anything to ash." Natsu thought that was a dumb question.

"...you have magic like that, and you barely use it in battle?" Callan was slack-jawed.

"I used it on you two, didn't I?" Natsu scoffed. "Do you think you can take the heat?"

"Don't know. I didn't even get to use Dragon Force, cause I had to bolt." He put his hands behind his head and huffed.

"I'm pretty sure you'd just be a melted popsicle on the sidewalk, if he really wanted it." Treya deadpanned in her usual monotone.

"What was that!?" Callan growled at her.

"I speak only from experience." Treya shifted her eyes to Natsu."If he wanted you dead, you'd have been dead." She recalled their first encounter.

"..." Ikaruga was silent, but behind her facade, she knew that the fair, green-haired woman spoke the truth. Natsu had it in him to kill every single one of them, but he let them all live because he was trying to change his ways. But these past few days were just a painful reminder of what he really was.

"...hmph." Callan grunted and looked away in a fit.

"...for what it's worth, I'm glad I didn't." Natsu put his hands in his pockets and said to the three he got into a fight with.

"..." Callan opened one of his eyes halfway and just smirked. Treya, also seemed to briefly crack a smile. Ikaruga was just maintaining her usual blank smile, but it faltered a little.

"If you really feel bad about it, I know a way or five you could make it up to me." Treya suggested. As she clutched his side and stoically looked him in the eye while walking.

"Actually, I'm still on the fence about you." Natsu acknowledged with an empty stare of his own.

"Wanna go another round?" She asked.

"I do not." Natsu shook his head.

"It wouldn't have to be fighting."

"The answer is still, no." Natsu felt his eye twitch.

"You could do anything you ever desired."

"I'm tempted to have you sent back to the hotel." He tried to shake her off, but she held fast.

"Perfect. It could be our dirty little secret." She promised.

"Go back yourself, dimwit! Why do you keep grabbing on to me?!" Natsu insisted.

"I'm cold."

"Do you want my jacket?!"

"You are my jacket."

"You-!" Natsu had a tick mark form.

"Jeez you two, get a room." Callan rolled his eyes.

"I'm trying." Treya replied simply as she bent her head back to him.

"Shut up, traitor!" Natsu barked at him.

The party managed to get to the foot of the mountain they were marching towards. They stopped and looked up the ominous mountainside. It looked like a beaten path could be found leading upward. There were warped, and wickedly shaped rocks that looked like shards of broken glass that protruded along the side of the path.

"Huh, never figured people came through here." Natsu exclaimed.

"Maybe they were looking for it too." Flare suggested.

"Could be a back way into Black Rift." Treya also theorized.

"Well, let's see what's up here." Natsu went first. They began marching up the mountain and just followed the path laid out by others that came before them. There was no difficulty in the way up, in fact, it was effortlessly an easy climb. Any deviation from the path would probably send them careening off the side, but it was stable ground for the most part. A couple of hours passed by, and they eventually made it to the top. The rain thankfully had subsided, and it was now midday. Right as Natsu took the last step needed to reach the peak, he stared out at the surrounding scenery.

The top of the mountain was shown to be quite the labyrinth. There were caves that lead into the mountain they were currently on, and leading into ones that were into other mountains. The terrain was consisting of grey, loose gravel, and dirt. anywhere not on the paths was sloped and leading down into a small channel of river that seemed to stretch out like a snake. The puffs of clouds were scattered around them, concealing different paths and land that was before them. As soon as everyone arrived, they all took a quick breather.

"Well, this is about as ominous as it gets." Callan viewed the landscape and sat down. "Think she's in one of the caves?" He asked Natsu.

"I don't know. I don't even smell anything, other than freshwater, and wet earth." Natsu said as he bent down and looked around. "Assuming of course she's up here, then I guess she'd be in one of these caves to take shelter."

"Shall we split up and search them?" Ikaruga suggested.

"...hmm.." Natsu was thinking. "If we can't track her sent, then she must be either lower, or in another area." Natsu scratched his head. "This was the mountain, right Callan?"

"Positive." He insisted.

"...okay. Then let's look around. Me and Ikaruga will check the caves. Callan? You go check the river, see if there is anything down there. Treya? You take Flare and search from above us. If anyone sees ANYTHING that looks out of place, get everyone else's attention." Natsu ordered them all.

"You expecting trouble?" The pinkette sword mage asked sweetly.

"I'm not familiar with this area. There could be anything out here." Natsu said and began heading down with her to go investigate the first cave.

"Let us go." Treya told Flare.

"Alright." Flare nodded and stuck close behind. Callan let out a deep sigh, and then jumped down and slid down the loose gravel to the river.

After the group separated, and went their own ways, Flare decided to strike up a conversation with Treya. She didn't know much about her, because she seemed to be a loner type like Natsu.

"U-um..." Flare wasn't quite sure what to talk about.

"Hm?" Treya turned her ear to the redheaded girl.

"Your..hair...green..."

"What?" Treya turned her attention to Flare, not quite catching what she said.

"I-I-I like your hair...c-color. I-i-is it natural?" She finally dredged up the courage to say.

"...yes. I take after my mother." She simply answered, and continued looking around.

"..o-oh that's nice." Flare complimented. It fell silent again, and she was beginning to mentally panic at how abrupt their conversation ended. "Wh-what do I do now!? I wanted to ask more...m-maybe she wants to talk about magic." Flare decided to give it another try. "Um, d-do you have the same magic as Cherry Hair?"

"Cherry hai-? Oh, you mean Natsu Dranigon." Treya made a furrowed expression for a moment, but then realized what she was asking. "Yes. We both possess Dragon Slayer Magic. My element is crystal. I power up when I consume lacrima or any type of gemstone." She gave a short explanation.

"Y-you eat jewels?" Flare blinked in disbelief.

"On occasion. I don't really need to unless the situation calls for it." Treya shrugged. "What about you? What is your magic?" She sighed. "Why does she ask me these questions?"

"H-Hair Magic. I can use my hair to attack and defend." She said as her long hair fluttered from her manipulating it.

"...I see." Treya once again looked around without a care in the world.

"...y-you-" Flare smiled a little and was about to ask another question.

"I'm not here to converse. We're keeping a lookout for enemies." Treya cut her off. "This is not a casual stroll through the mountains. Unless you have something important to say, please don't ask me meaningless questions." She bluntly told Flare.

"...o-ok..." Flare frowned and complied instantly.'

"...Natsu Dranigon wants me to look after you because you are weak. If I falter for a second, and you end up injured or worse, he will be distraught." Treya said right after. Flare was taken aback by her response. "You understand?" Treya stopped and turned her grey eye to her.

"Yes..I'm sorry." Flare mumbled apologetically "I-it's just...C-Cherry Hair always talks to me when we see each other, and it makes me more calm..." She explained.

"..." Treya slowly blinked and glanced away. "(SIGH). Fine. But make sure you keep an eye open." Treya decided it was worth the trouble if she was more level headed. Granted, conversing wasn't really her strong suit either. She just usually made people angry, or baffled nearly every time she opened her mouth. But she took an odd pity on Flare, and was thinking that if her mind was focused on her the whole time and not around her, it would be a liability. "What do you wish to know?"

"Wh-what do you do in your time off?" Flare lit up and felt happier that Treya conversed with her now.

"Collecting information." She simply answered as she watched Natsu and Ikaruga exit out of a cave that she assumed was a dead end.

"Why do you do that?"

"Why...? Because it's useful. And the more you know, the less you have to worry about." Treya thought the question was rather obvious.

"Is it fun?" Flare asked innocently.

"Fun. Hmph. I rarely engage in such activities. Everyone knows about my reputation, so the moment my identity is exposed, some daft fool try's to take my head." Treya scoffed.

"That sounds awful." Flare was wide-eyed at her explanation.

"Not really. For the most part, they all die in one strike." She shrugged, which made Flare terrified at the image in her head, of Treya holding the bloodied skull of her victim. Treya watched Frostbite looking around the river and looking clueless as to where to begin. "What do you do for fun?" Treya asked.

"I like trying new hairstyles." She enthusiastically responded. "A-a-and I started learning how to cook!"

"Oh?"

"Y-yeah, a-and I also learned how to read maps and stuff like that!" Flare was smiling, which warranted a raised brow from her green-haired companion.

"You just now are learning that? That's like the first thing you're taught as a child." Treya thought it was strange how she didn't know an essential skill for traveling.

"I don't know much. Ch-Cherry Hair helped me get started on those complicated things." She placed her hands behind her back and gripped them tightly. "And I hope I can repay him...someday." She smiled sadly. "He's strong, and nice...and stands up for his friends...and saved my life."

"Why do you follow him?" Treya decided to get to the source of Flare's admiration. "If you wish to return the favor, then why do you hesitate?"

"What do you...?" Flare didn't follow.

"I'm talking about sex." She shrugged. Flare's mind blanked out for a moment before she began blushing up a storm.

"No no no no no! Y-y-y-y-you got it wrong! T-t-that wasn't my intention!" She exclaimed sheepishly.

"Why not? Eventually, I will bed him myself. But if you want to go afterward, then feel free to-"

"That's...! Ch-Ch-Cherry Hair is my friend! I-I-I-I couldn't...I'm not that bold..." She frowned while her crimson hair coiled around her finger.

"Seems easy enough." Treya deadpanned while looking back at Natsu, who was pointing at another cave. "If you do not have such intentions, why are you always trying to prove yourself?" She thought that was a weird way of staying close to somebody. Particularly someone of the opposite gender.

"I just want to help Cherry Hair." She poked her index fingers together. "He...has no one. And yet he's able to act strong and kind, and smart...but..." Flare glanced at Natsu right before him and Ikaruga went into another cave. "I feel like...he needs somebody...to rely on. But, he doesn't want others to worry about him. Even if he gets hurt."

"You wish...to be by his side?" Treya furrowed her brow, which she rarely did. Evidence by how perplexed she thought how simpleminded Flare was.

"Y-yes."

"Without seeking his affection?"

"I just want to help him if I can."

"Even...if your efforts go unnoticed." Treya stopped watching and stared curiously at Flare.

"I-I'm okay. As long as he is." She sadly smiled.

"..." Treya looked away with a distraught look on her face. She had never considered that maybe she stuck with him because out of some innocent sense of obligation, and not looking for something in return. It was vexing because she always thought that women only sought a strong man to take care of them. But a woman looking for a strong man to take care of? It was unheard of to her.

"G-Green Hair?" Flare noticed she was quiet. She then started wondering if maybe she was upset.

"Nothing. I respect your venture. Though it makes little sense to me." Treya responded. "Which is why I will give permission to have you join me in deflowering him."

"Deflowering?" Flare wasn't familiar with that term.

"Having his first time."

"F-first time?" Flare was still clueless.

"Popping his cherry...?"

"...?"

"FUCKING HIM." She said so plainly.

"...F-f-f-f-f-f-ff-f-eh-eh-eheEHHHHH!?" Flare recoiled strongly and was now feeling steaming hot around her face.

"You are a better alternative than that indecent sword bitch that hangs on him like a leech." She looked back to Ikaruga with a look of disgust as she came out of the next cave. "If you are inexperienced, do not worry. I will teach you the art of lovemaking."

"Y-y-y-you don't need to do that!" Flare shook her beet red head strongly.

"Don't worry. I to was ignorant in not knowing how to make a man satisfied. But I have studied extensively for when the time comes." She gave Flare friendly pat on the shoulder, and a thumbs up.

"Ch-Cherry Hair wouldn't want to...with me...I'm too...don't know how to...(murmur)..." Flare covered her face with her crimson locks, trying to hide her expression.

"You say that, but these breasts of yours would certainly make him happy." Treya copped a feel of Flare, and slipped her whole hand into the opening of her cleavage. "The sheer volume alone would make him putty in your hands."

"P-please, don't grab them that hard..." Flare tensed up and just felt Treya's smooth hand grab a handful of her chest. Treya ceased groping her, and Flare covered her self with her arms.

"Good shape. Though, I recommend you wear a bra to help the form. It's a little uncomfortable but, it is well worth it." Treya recommended. "There are also bra's that are made into dresses, so if you prefer to show off cleavage, we cou-"

"HEY! GUYS, FOUND SOMETHING!" Callan shouted which alerted everyone.

"...we'll continue this later." Treya told Flare before making her way down. Flare was a bit nervous, but a tiny part of her was happy that Treya opened up to her.

Even if it took a strange turn. Flare smiled a little and followed after, but her thoughts were now filled with Treya's suggestion.

"...would he like them that much?"

Callan was standing at the river looking at it with a curious expression.

"What did you find?" Natsu asked as they all met up at the same time.

"Not sure." Callan said as he stepped aside and had them look at the river. Natsu peered down and his eye widened. It was a crater that was formed in the area they were standing in. Looked like a small meteor hit the river, and filled up with water. "Looks like battle damage."

"Impact crater." Treya deduced after one look. "Landed straight down, from the looks of it."

"Lightning?" Flare guessed.

"Lightning doesn't leave damage like this." Natsu quickly dismissed, and bent down to examine it closer. "This is more along the lines a-hm?" He looked further in at the center of the hole. "Are those...hold on." Natsu stood up and made footprint in the mud, and then compared it to what he saw. "Is that footprints I see in the there?" He asked them all. They all looked and were just as bewildered.

"Looks like the imprints left by someone who landed flat on their feet." Ikaruga assumed. She put a hand to her chin. "Don't tell me an individual landed in this river so hard that they damaged the ground to this extent?"

"If they were falling, they would just hit the water and nothing else. They were moving at high speed when they hit the river bed." Treya put a hand to her hip, where her black sash was knotted."Either they were gaining speed from their decent, or they were swatted downward."

"..." Natsu was thinking back to when he fought Jellal. If the person that did this moved at the speed that he did, then they must have been using magic that boosted their speed, and power. He knew about such spells, but they were rare, and only a handful of people he knew could actually do it. "Had to have been magic." He stood up and came to the conclusion. "Callan? I don't suppose Gromell told you what elements the Lost Dragon Slayers were, did he?"

"No, why?" His jade eyes shifted to Natsu.

"Because if it was magic, then it was a movement type spell. And as far as I know, only Light, Lightning, Wind, and Water-type magic spells could enhance your abilities to this extent."

"You think it was a mage?" Ikaruga blinked with a stoic look.

"I'm guessing." Natsu shrugged.

"But, why did they land in the river?" Treya thought there were better spots to make their landing, instead of in the center of the river.

"Missed their mark?" Callan threw his hands up and shrugged.

"That shoe size is rather small...perhaps Mero Serene?" Ikaruga suggested.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Natsu curbed their enthusiasm. "So, someone...or something landed right smack dab in the middle here. If that is the case, there should be some signs of them moving away from here." Natsu began looking around. He then spied a bunch of footprints across the river. He jumped with great force and landed on the other side. He saw human footprints, that were indeed the same size as the shoe print that was in the mud at the bottom of the river. "Barefoot. They're leading..."He spoke loudly while following the trail with his eye. He eventually saw another cave entrance. Though this one was a lot wider and taller than the last ones he checked. The opening was also shaped like a triangle.

They all eventually arrived at the entrance, and they stood at the mouth of the cave.

"This was cut very smoothly. This is not a natural formation." Ikaruga noted the smooth surface of the wall and ceiling. "Though...not with a bladed weapon...magic spell perhaps?"

"I'm gonna have to go with sword lady, on this one, Dranigon. This is starting to look like a mage. If it's Mero Serene, she probably is the one who cut a hole through this rock." Callan insisted.

"It certainly looks that way." Natsu nodded. "Why here, though?" He could only wonder what this person was doing. He then saw a glint of pale light at the end of the darkness. He narrowed his onyx orb at it closely.

(HUMMM)

"...?

"...?!"

"..."

"...? They were curious about the strange vibration they felt, and the humming they heard that seemed to be getting louder.

"...?! Get behind me!" Treya suddenly realized what it was and threw herself in front of them, and waved her arms in a circle. "Crystal Dragon's Mirror!" A large circular screen was formed in front of them in the look of a deep blue glass mirror that blocked their front. As if on cue, a silver laser blasted toward them from the back of the cave. It struck the mirror that was protecting them and bounced off towards the sky, ripping through clouds like a knife. The beam intensified, and Treya noticed her mirror was cracking. "Shit!"

"Clear out!" Natsu grabbed Treya and Callan grabbed Flare, and they just barely got out of the way of the beam that was shooting at them. It blew a hole straight into the hillside. They all were shocked at the destructive power of it.

It bored a hole clean through the mountain!

"Holy mother of..!" Callan let Flare go and was in awe of the destructive capability of that attack.

"So, I would say it is safe to say those were not caves we were delving into." Ikaruga quickly said as she turned to Natsu. They had their backs against the edges of the cave, taking cover from the energy blasts.

"Yeah..." Natsu let out a sigh of relief. He released Treya, and slowly inched his way to the mouth of the cave. He slowly peeked around and didn't see anything. Just pure darkness.

"What do we do, Dranigon?" Frostbite called out.

"The power of that laser was too much for my crystal to reflect. It was more solid and condensed than that of magic beams, or light magic." Treya quickly noted.

"Who the hell is that?!" Callan wondered. "HEY, ASSHOLE! TRY THAT AGAIN, I DARE YA!" Callan shouted toward the cave.

"Can it, Callan! Jeez..." Natsu rolled his eye and summoned his sword. "I'm gonna come out! Do NOT fire at me! I come in peace!" Natsu stuck a hand out. He slowly turned the corner and kept a firm hand on his scabbard. Readying himself in case they fired again. At first, nothing happened. But then...

(HUMMM)

"Ah, crap." Natsu groaned. He got into a quick-draw position. He exhaled deeply and awaited the beam. He was deeply focused on the build of magic he sensed and was gonna send the attack back at them the moment it made contact with his blade. Whatever was at the back of the cave released another shot, and Natsu slashed upward, and it cut through the center and got absorbed into his sword. "Let's see how YOU like it!" Natsu quipped before attempting to slash downward to send the energy back at them.

The beam fired again, and he was about halfway finishing with his sword, but hesitated when he saw a face for a split second coming at him, head-on.

"Waaaaaaaaiiit~!" A high pitched, feminine voice screamed with a distraught look on her face. Rather, a human-sized missile that was about to rush him.

"WHa-OOF!" Natsu was flabbergasted and was tackled straight back, and across the river and into the ground. It kicked up a smoke cloud.

"Dranigon!" Callan shouted worriedly. Everyone rushed back to their leader with no hesitation.

"(COUGH!) Ow!" Natsu felt a stick was jabbing into his spine. His eye was opening, and it was filled with the intention of smacking the shit out of whoever just plowed him a hundred feet from his previous position.

"I'm sorry!" A gentle voice apologized. "But please, leave me alone!"

"Huh?" Natsu's expression softened when he came eye to eye with a small girl holding him down while clutching his sword hand strongly. She had azure blue eyes, black hair that was tied up into twin tails, and looked younger than him. She was wearing a black hoodie with a dragonic rune on the back, and seemed to sport a white dress shirt that had a red lace tied neatly over her chest, and was sporting a black skirt with matching stockings, and strapped shoes. "Who are you?" Natsu had to ask.

"Huh? Y-y-you mean...are you just a traveler?" She innocently asked.

"Y-yeah. I'm Natsu Dranigon, a wandering mage. What are you-?"

"Oh my goodness, I'm Soowwwwy~!" She looked like she was panicking and immediately got off him and hoisted him up. "Yoshyoshyoshyosh!" She started brushing off all the dirt she dragged him though until she was satisfied. "Mero profusely apologizes! I thought you were someone bad! There were a lot of bad people earlier! I thought you were gonna attack me again!" She bowed desperately.

"Well, I get that impression. Man, you pack a mean tackle despite your size." Natsu noted from her height. She was just a tad taller than Wendy.

"Eheheh~! I get that a lot!" The young girl sheepishly chuckled.

"Natsu, are you ok-?" Callan and the rest eventually made it across the river and were stunned to see one additional person there with Natsu. "Huh? Who are you, kid?" Callan furrowed his brow.

"She's the one who blew me through the river." Natsu introduced after pointing his thumb at her.

"Eh!? This little girl?!" Callan's jaw hit the ground.

"She...blew you? In that amount of time?" Treya was stupefied. "When did she start suckin-?!"

"Treya, I swear to the fucking stars, so help me- " Natsu growled angrily at his companion whose mind was in the gutter from his brief explanation. He had just about enough of this innuendo shit that she kept referring to after every certain choice of words that left his mouth.

"Oh, you had other people with you!" The young girl was wide-eyed and happy to see more faces. "Pleasure to meet you all!" She flashed a smile with one of her canines showing. "Are you lost? I can take you to the train station if you need it!" She offered.

"No. We're actually looking for someone." Natsu spoke up, getting her undivided attention.

"Oh?" Mero blinked.

"Lookin' for a Lost Dragon Slayer, named Mero Serene. Heard she was looking for some magic bug up here." Callan didn't waste any time naming their purpose.

"...eh!?" The girl was suddenly surprised. "You know about Lost Dragon Slayers!?" She quickly got up in Callan's face. He blushed from her cute, and innocent look in her eyes. He glanced away from the overpowering positive energy she exuded. "I thought nobody around here did! I thought I was the only one left!~ What more do you know?! Tell me! TELL ME, PLEASE~!" She shook with excitement. She began tugging on him, and despite her fragile look, she had strength in her hands. She shook Callan like a leaf.

"Y-yeah. H-hey, Dranigon! I-I'm not good with these kinds of people! You tell her!" He looked at his partner in the eye and was clearly not knowing how to respond to her abrupt questioning.

"Please go easy on my buddy here." Natsu chuckled and teased Callan a little. "The reason he knows is because he IS one." Natsu pointed out.

"Really? That's gotta be a million to one encounter for me! What's your name, mister!?" She beckoned.

"C-Callan Frostbite." He scratched his nose and cleared his throat. "I'm a Blizzard Dragon Slayer. My Dragon was Gromell." He gave a brief introduction of himself.

"Ice then! You must thrive in the cold! Because you're dressed like it's summertime!" The girl noted his features and choice of light clothing and utility belt. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Callan Frostbite! That's kinda cool how you got Frostbite for your name, especially since it matches your element!"

"I'm quite certain he changed it to match." Treya simply said.

"You bitch, that is my father's last name!" Callan snapped at her remark.

"What kind of a family name is Frostbite?" Treya just instigated.

"It was a name from an ancestor that always patrolled the mountain! It is a good, and proud name to have!" Callan defended and was about to get into it.

"Both of you, knock it off!" Natsu interjected. "Callan, let it go. Treya, that was uncalled for." He got in between them.

"Fine..."

"Very well." Callan sighed, and Treya ceased.

"You two..." Natsu shook his head. "Anyway. These are my friends I'm traveling with at the moment. This is Treya Duella. She's also a Lost Dragon Slayer." Natsu introduced.

"No way!" The young raven-haired girl's jaw dropped. "THEIR'S TWO OF YA?!"

"Mm. My dragon's name is Ravalla. She's known as the Crystal Dragon." Treya proudly put.

"Crystal...earth, then!" The young girl deduced. "Crystal is a very rare element to have in your branch! Those types of dragons rarely venture above ground, so you were very fortunate!"

"Y-you knew that?" Treya was surprised. "How do you know so much about it?"

"Oh, stupid Mero~! I completely forgot to introduce myself!" She knocked her head and a star flung out in a comical display. "Soowwwy~! From the top!" She stood at attention. "My name is Mero Serene!"

"!?"

"!?"

"!"

"..!?"

"Seriously?" They all were once again surprised that this little girl was one of the most powerful dragon slayers of this day and era. If anything, she was far from what they were imagining.

"Mm!" Mero nodded happily "I'm a Lost Dragon Slayer of the Nightfall Dragon, Yoma Endveil!"

"She's the fourth one! Hey, Dranigon! She's the one!" Callan excitedly nudged Natsu.

"This little girl..." Treya was surprised but wasn't showing it on her face.

"W-wow! She's cute as a button. And she's supposed to be super strong?" Flare hid behind Treya, but was in awe of how one so small could be as strong as Natsu.

"What an adorable little girl." Ikaruga smiled and giggled to herself.

Nice to meetchya!" She winked happily.

Figured I would throw another one up here!

Read/Review/Rate!

Laters!