Natsu

Blanc had planned to use Take Over on Mahoraga right away, but at the last moment, he remembered the guild master's warning. Thinking it over, he realized that the lack of risk was ultimately just his own assumption. Until he tested it, anything could happen.

Besides, he had only just promised the guild master he wouldn't do anything reckless. If he turned around and took over a powerful creature, then used it later and got caught, wouldn't that be awkward?

After weighing everything up, Blanc decided to return to the guild and ask the guild master to watch over him. He would explain that Mahoraga was under his control, too, so everyone could rest easy.

"Have you heard? About that big incident in the Royal Capital a while back?"

"What big incident? There was nothing in the papers!"

"They supposedly hushed it up and wouldn't let anyone report on it."

"I heard some of the Ten Wizard Saints fought over a treasure beneath the Royal Capital. Their magic clashed so hard that the whole Royal Capital shook. The residents were scared out of their minds!"

"That's obviously nonsense. Do you know what kind of people the Ten Wizard Saints are? Why would they fight over treasure beneath the Royal Capital? Besides, wouldn't any treasure down there belong to the royal family? Robbing the royals? They'd have to have a death wish."

"Well, the rumors sound pretty convincing. And it's strange that the papers weren't allowed to report any of it. It only got out through word of mouth, but it still spread all the way to Magnolia. Something big must have happened!"

Blanc didn't join the other members' gossip. He was still hoping to have the guild master supervise his Take Over of Mahoraga, only to discover upon returning that the guild master was out.

Another member was temporarily manning the counter. Blanc learned from him that the guild master would return that day, leaving him with nothing to do but wait nearby.

Holding a drink he had just bought, he glanced around and spotted Gray sitting at a table, engrossed in a letter.

"Oh, what's this?"

Blanc wasted no time. He crept up behind Gray, planning to sneak a peek at what he was reading.

Just then, Cana suddenly popped up beside them.

"What are you two looking at?"

"Ah!"

"Who's there?!"

Blanc and Gray both jumped.

Being startled like that could scare someone to death, especially when they were up to no good!

With a mischievous grin, Cana teased Gray.

"A letter? Is it from some gi~rl?"

"Oho! Maybe it's a love letter," Blanc teased with a grin of his own.

At the scent of gossip, Laxus, who was sitting a short distance away with his back to them, straightened slightly and pricked up his ears, looking thoroughly interested.

Nearby, Erza watched them in confusion.

"Huh? No, it isn't!" Gray hurriedly denied it. Then he looked down at the letter and explained with a hint of nostalgia,

"It's from an old friend."

"Hmm... a girlfriend?" Cana asked, half covering her mouth and narrowing her eyes.

"It's a guy! A guy!"

Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside.

"Wahahaha! This place is huge!"

"So this is the guild where lots of wizards gather?"

"Huh? What's that noise?" Blanc asked in confusion. Cana jumped, too.

Gray took the opportunity to answer. "It came from outside, right? Oh, yeah, the guild master sent word earlier that he'd be bringing a new member back today."

With that, the guild doors swung open. The guild master stood in the doorway beside a pink-haired boy, sunlight streaming in behind them.

"Hey, brats! This is our newest member. Make sure you all get along!"

"My name is Natsu Dragneel, and I'm the son of a dragon!"

Once the joining formalities were finished, Natsu jumped straight onto a table, breathed out a mouthful of flames, and shouted to the crowd,

"Hey! Have any of you seen Igneel?"

"Igneel? Just giving us a name doesn't tell us who he is."

"Igneel isn't human. He's my father, a fire dragon. A real dragon!"

The guild members whose attention Natsu had caught burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Are you still half asleep, kid?"

"There aren't any dragons left in this world. They went extinct four hundred years ago."

"No, they didn't! Dragons aren't extinct! Igneel raised me!" Natsu snapped furiously before his voice grew subdued.

"He just suddenly disappeared a little while ago."

Seeing how certain Natsu was, the others began to waver. Perhaps there really were dragons still alive in this world.

Blanc, however, knew that dragons did exist. There seemed to be quite a few on the northern continent.

And Igneel and the other Dragon Kings hadn't actually gone anywhere. They were all inside Natsu and the others. Still, that wasn't something he could spoil for Natsu. If he let it slip, Igneel might hold it against him.

For some reason, Gray found Natsu's cocky attitude irritating and couldn't resist mocking him.

"Maybe you're just so lost in your fantasies that you can't get out!"

"Huh?! What are you talking about? You wanna die, you naked, slant-eyed pervert?!"

"Huh?! Is that any way to talk to your senior, you droopy-eyed bastard?! Come fight me if you've got the guts!"

"Fine! You think I'm scared of you?"

Natsu charged first, swinging his fist. Gray was every bit as quick, and the two traded blows, darting and leaping around as they brawled right there in the guild.

The guild's shameless spectators immediately grew excited, gathering around and egging them on.

"Go, Gray! Show the newbie what it means to respect his seniors!"

"Newbie, my money's on you! Take Gray down!"

"Give it up, you fire-spewing freak!"

"Underwear freak!"

While watching the fun, Blanc headed over to Macao's table, where he was taking bets, and put some of his pocket money on a draw. At this early stage, those two were evenly matched, and neither could get the better of the other. Besides, they wouldn't be allowed to fight in the guild for long. It was a sure win.

Sure enough, Erza soon ran out of patience and stepped forward. One punch each sent both boys straight to the floor.

"You're guildmates, so get along! And don't wreck the guild!"

"(×_×) What a nag..." Gray was angry but didn't dare say it aloud.

"(￣ε(#￣)☆ Damn it..." Natsu looked thoroughly resentful.

"Haha! Just as I thought, no winner! I won! Come on, pay up, pay up!"

"That doesn't count. The bet was on which of them would win. A third party interfered, so the bet's void."

"Macao, you're cheating!"

"Blanc!" Erza's voice suddenly came from behind him, making him jolt and sit bolt upright. "Yes! (·_·;;; )"

"Why are you fooling around with them, too?!"

"And you, Macao!"

"E-Erza... Σ(っ °Д °;)っ"

"Don't be a bad influence on Blanc!"

"Yes! (·_·;;; )"

In the end, Blanc's winnings went up in smoke.