Meetings

Aura stood on the stage of the Fairy Tail Guild hall, microphone in hand as she solicited everyone's attention. "Hey every one!" She yelled into the mic as everyone's previous activities stopped, save Lucy & the others who already knew what Aura's aim was. All eyes were on the prodigal daughter as she cleared her throat.
"I know I may be new to the guild and most of you don't even know my name, but believe me when I say that I know each and every one of you." She said confident as she scanned the room, looking at each member of the guild.
"What is this chick talking about?" Jet asked as he looked at Droy.
"I don't know man, seems a bit crazy to me. What do you think Levy?" The pair looked at their blue haired teammate, but her eyes were fixated on Aura. "Uh Levy?" Droy asked confused.
"Quiet guys, this is important." She said in a stern tone confusing the two.
"In 6 months, someone will come, someone terrible and he will destroy Fairy Tail along with the world." Aura explained as she looked around the guild hall, but save those she went on the mission with, she was met with skeptical looks.
"What are you talking about?!" Elfman yelled from the back of the guild, "You're not making any sense, say it like a man!"
Lisanna sighed and patted her brother on the back, "She's not a man big brother."
"Yeah what are you talking about "someone is coming"?" Macao added.
"You bringing some kind of attack to our guild?" Wakaba commented adding gas to the small spark of distrust. Everyone began to yell at Aura, throwing accusations left and right as Lucy & the others tried to calm their friends down. Master Makarov simply sat at the bar silent as he watched the situation unfold.
"Hey guys calm down!" Gray yelled, "Let her talk!"
"Yes everyone, please hear her out." Wendy begged.
"Yes calm down, please!" Juvia added, "Let her explain her story."
"Why should we believe her?" Laxus yelled as he sat on a bench in the back. "We don't even know where she came from."
As the yells continued to drown out her words, Aura clutched her fist in desperation. I knew this wasn't going to be easy but I never imagined it would be this hard. Suddenly she saw a vision of Luana in her mind, followed by her parents, then Wendy, then Kagura, all of her friends from the resistance. All the people she had lost, and those still waiting for her. She was not going to let them die again in this time, not when she sacrificed everything to come back.
"LOOK!" Aura yelled defiantly as she took her shirt off and turned her back to the rest of the guild. Everyone sat in stunned silence as they looked at the marks on the girls back.
Mira covered her mouth in shock. Oh my gosh, it looks like she's been tortured all of her life.
Lucy, Levy, Juvia, & Wendy looked at Aura sullenly while Gajeel & Gray sat stunned with the others. This was the first time they saw her scars clearly in the light.
"Look at her back." Laki commented, "Who did that to her?"
Makarov looked at Aura's back, his eyes wrought with sorrow behind his stern gaze. How could a girl so young be put through so much pain and still have the strength to continue living?
Aura started talking again as her back remained turned. "Each of these scars represents a memory, a terrible memory. The deepest scars are everyone I lost in my life. My sister, my parents, my teachers, my friends; all of them are gone because of this one man…this monster."
"But where did you come from?" Cana asked.
"Take a look at my lower back."
As everyone's eyes tried to Aura's lower back their eyes collectively widened as they saw a burn mark there, but underneath it they could faintly make out…a Fairy Tail guild tattoo.
"How is that possible?" Fried asked surprised, "she has two Fairy Tail marks?"
Makarov was also surprised as he looked at the red haired girl put her shirt back on and turn around. "I agree," he said stunned, "Where did you come from child?" everyone was on the edge of their seat as Aura spoke, their attention focused squarely on her.
"I come from 18 years in the future. My real name is Aura, Aura Robin Dra-"
"WE'RE BACK!" A familiar voice yelled from the guild hall doors, interrupting Aura as two figures stepped inside. Everyone turned around and their surprised looks turned to smiles when they saw who had entered. Natsu & Erza had returned!
"Natsu, Erza; welcome back!" Mira yelled happily as everyone surrounded them, happy to see their friends safe and sound. Makarov was happy that two of his children had returned safely but his attention shifted to Aura whose face was mysteriously white from shock.
"Mom…Dad…" Aura's voice was low but Makarov's eyes widened in shock as he was able to make out her words. He looked to see a stunned Mirajane looking at the young girl as well.
"Master." Mira began worried, "Did she just-"
"Yes Mira, I heard it too. That is certainly a surprise." He then looked at Natsu & Erza who were still surrounded by the others. Natsu & Erza, to think that those two would…
"What do you want to do Master?" Mira asked disrupting his train of thought.
"We'll leave it for now and talk to her either, she obviously has her reasons for being secretive. I'm sure Lucy & the others she went on that mission with know something as well, but for the moment I'm more interested in this threat she is talking about." He answered his face serious. "Alright everyone." Makarov announced, I'm just as happy as anyone to see that Natsu & Erza have returned safely, but this young lady still has something to say." He said as he pointed at Aura, her face still white.
Natsu looked at her and smiled, "Hey Amy how's it going?" he waved. "Her name is Arana Natsu." Erza corrected him again.
Everyone realized they had almost forgotten the young girl had spoken of earlier and returned to their seats so she could continue. Save Natsu & Erza who stayed in front of the bar.
"Actually her name is Aura." Mira corrected Erza.
"Aura?" Erza looked at Mira confused, "That's a beautiful name." Erza commented smirking.
Mira let out a small chuckle as she looked at Erza's face. "What is it?" Erza asked caught off guard by Mira's sudden outburst.
"Oh it's nothing." She smirked and looked to the left, avoiding Erza's gaze. Erza knew this look on Mira's face well, she was hiding something; but she was too interested in what the young girl had to say to pursue it now.
"Come on Natsu." Erza instructed as she began to walk.
Natsu looked confused as he followed Erza to the front of the stage. Aura's eyes followed them all the way as they sat down. On their way up, Lucy and the other noticed that the pair had a strange mark on their arms, the same as the one on Aura's. So she wasn't lying about that. Lucy thought to herself.
Why are they here? Aura thought distressed as she looked at her unknowing parents. They weren't supposed to be here for another month. Is this something else I changed? She then looked at Natsu's arm to see the same mark she had on hers. He has the crest already? She then quickly looked at Erza, she had on her Heart Kreuz armor so it was impossible to see it, but Aura knew.
Lucy & the others saw Aura was already nervous up there as she revealed her secret, but the unexpected return of Natsu & Erza only made things worse.
"Why don't you start again from the beginning so Natsu & Erza can know what's going on." Gray yelled from his table. Aura was still nervous to reveal herself in front of her parents, but something about the way he said their names allowed her to think of something.
She cleared her throat and her mind and began her story again. "Like I said earlier, my name isn't Arana its Aura. I come from 18 years in the future, where I'm a member of Fairy Tail." She explained albeit a little more nervously this time.
"You're from the future?" Natsu asked with a skeptical look.
"Y-yes I am."
A few moments of silence passed as Natsu looked her up and down, suddenly a smile appeared on his face. "That's awesome!" he yelled in typical Natsu fashion. Everyone else chuckled at his response. Save for Erza who was not amused by his outburst.
"Be quiet Natsu, she has something important to tell us." Erza chastised him.
Natsu ignored Erza's request and asked another question, "So do I become the strongest wizard in the world?"
"Natsu!" Erza yelled in frustration
"Well…uh-"Aura tried to find the words but the questions kept coming.
"Do I become Guild Master?"
"Well no, I think-"
"Do I find Igneel?"
"I don't-"
"Do I ever beat Erza in a fight?"
"Natsu…" Erza spoke his name in a low roar as he began to quiet down.
"One last question. What am I doing now?"
Aura knew this question was coming, although she wasn't prepared for it. She had trouble before telling the others of their fate, but now her father, although a much younger version, was asking her what would happen to him. She looked down at her feet sullen as she answered his question.
"You're dead."
Two words, only two simple words but they hit everyone like a ton of bricks. Erza turned at Natsu, a tinge of fear in her eye as he looked at Aura. He said nothing as a half-smile was across his face, he was still trying to process the information.
"I'm dead?" he asked still not fully understanding, although there was no fear in his voice for the unknown. Erza was doing the fearing for him.
"Yes you are-" She turned and looked at her young mother, "And so is Erza."
Everyone was shocked even more so by the second revelation, but Natsu just grew angry.
"In the future I come from, Fairy Tail has been all but destroyed. No one survives the attack. No one except for me, my little sister, Levy, & Wendy." Her tone was grim as she continued. She told them an abridged version of her tale, reworking parts of it for obvious reasons.
Instead of telling them her true origins, she instead told them that her parents were members of Fairy Tail that had yet to join; keeping their identity ambiguous in order to shield her identity from her real parents. She spoke of Draven, as well as telling of his past and how he was stopped last time he was free. She saw the fire in Natsu's eyes when she referenced his father Igneel but she powered through.
For time and safety she glanced over members of the resistance movement, only giving the names of the members from Fairy Tail. She also didn't release any information that dealt with members individual futures, such as children or injuries. She didn't really like lying so much to everyone, including her parents, but she thought it was best that way. After about an hour or so her tale had concluded, and to no one's surprise there was good deal of speculation.
"This all sounds so outrageous." Macao commented as he scratched his head in confusion.
"Yeah I know what you mean." Wakaba added after his friend. "Seems a bit too extraordinary, even for us."
Murmurs of dissent started to flutter around the guild as its members began to doubt Aura's story. Aura began to look down sorrowfully until Erza stood up. "Whether or not her story is true, she is telling the truth that something is coming." Every one stopped talking and listened to Erza who had made her way to the stage, Aura sidestepping to give her space.
"While Natsu & I were away we fought a wizard named Cardinal who used gravity magic…he was also a member of Oracion Seis."
Aura's eyes opened wide with realization. They're making their move already? I didn't anticipate them meeting an Oracion Seis member while they were away. Things keep changing, what else is going to happen?
Gasps echoed throughout the guild hall as everyone was starting to believe Aura's story. Erza, seeing her duty had been fulfilled, handed the mic back to Aura. She smiled at the young girl as their hands touched briefly, Erza returning to her spot next to Natsu. Aura smiled back as she regained her composure.
"I know it may be a bit hard to believe and I know it must be hard for you to hear so much about the future, but as Erza said Oracion Seis is already on the move with their plans to revive Draven. Auron was used in my time as a temporary base as they grew their numbers. When Draven was released they launched their attack from there and decimated Magnolia and Fairy Tail with a surprise attack."
Erza raised an eyebrow at Aura's explanation. I never said the town's name.
"Well what's the plan?" Elfman yelled from the back of the hall.
"Draven is supposed to be resurrected by Oracion Seis in 6 months, we're going to try and stop them in 4."
"And how are we going to do that?" Alzack chimed in.
"We're going to train, these next four months will be dedicated to training for the fight as well as finding out Oracion Seis' location."
"You're from the future, you don't know where they are?" Laxus yelled mockingly.
"No, we never found out just where Draven was sealed. The information died with Lucy's mother and disappeared with the Dragons, and with no celestial spirits we couldn't ask directly." She then looked at Lucy, "But since Lucy is still alive now, I'm sure one of her mother's spirits knows his location."
Everyone was still a bit skeptical of the young woman's story, but Fairy Tail nonetheless went along with her plan. Natsu, of course, was the first to speak up. He turned around and looked at his guild mates with a cocky smirk on his face as he placed his hand on his flexed bicep. "Well guys what are we waiting for?! Let's get ready to kick some dark guild butt! Whose with me?!"
His enthusiasm was contagious as everyone else joined in with his loud call, all them answering with a resounding "YEAH!" Aura stood on stage spellbound as she watched the rest of the guild. It had been years since she saw everyone, well anyone this happy. She missed the camaraderie and familial bond that the guild shared, and it reminded her of the few happy times she had there.
As everyone became their usual rowdy selves, Aura stepped off the stage to go towards the table that Lucy & the others were sitting, however on her way over she couldn't help but notice a hardened look on Erza's face.
Erza stood up and tapped Natsu on the shoulder. As he turned around his smile faded into a look of concern as he saw the serious look on the Knight's face. He knew something was up, "You okay Erza?"
"Come with me Natsu." She turned around and headed towards the guild doors, Natsu tentatively following behind her. At the table, Aura watched the pair walk outside as her attention was caught by Wendy.
"That must have been hard Aura." The young girl said smiling.
"Yeah, it must have been hard with Natsu & Erza watching you." Lucy added
"It was nothing, as long as everyone knows what's coming we can do something about it." There was a gleam in her eye as she smiled lightly.
"You know when you smile like that, you look like Erza." Levy added slyly causing Aura to blush.
"Sh...Shut up." She looked away embarrassed.
As the group carried on they were surprised to see Mira heading their way. She stood at the edge of their table smiling at them.
"Something up Mira?" Gray asked
"The master wants to see you in his office." She then turned her attention to Aura, "All of you." Something about the way Mirajane said that last part along with her smile made the young woman uncomfortable, but she didn't know why. The confused group of wizards then followed the barmaid up the stairs to Master Makarov's room.
Natsu & Erza stood outside as the wind blew. Erza was silent the entire time they walked to the doors and it made the Dragon Slayer more than a little uneasy. They stood apart from each other, Erza looking at the ground as Natsu looked at her confused and worried.
Aura and her group entered Master Makarov's each of them nervous about what he needed that he couldn't say in front of everyone else, more importantly why was it just them. Mirajane entered last, closing the door and locking it behind her.
Gray let out a loud gulp as Lucy's knees began to shake. "What do you think he wants with us?" Lucy asked deathly afraid of the answer.
"I don't know." Levy asked equally afraid.
"Why did you want to see us Master?" Aura spoke as they looked each other in the eyes.
After a few seconds that felt like hours, Erza looked at Natsu, her eyes piercing into his very soul. It sent a chill up his spine.
After a few minutes of analyzing the group, Makarov finally spoke up. "Now young lady," he spoke unwavering as he looked into Aura's eyes, "Why don't you tell us who you really are."
"Natsu I know how much you want to protect everyone, believe me I do as well. I understand your determination more than anyone." She sounded like she had a tinge of regret in her voice.
"Erza what's going on? You're kinda freaking me out."
She looked into his eyes, her tone was as cold as Gray's ice.
"I'm forbidding you to take part in this battle."
Natsu's eyes widened in pure surprise, he was honestly taken aback at what Erza had just said to him. He didn't really know how to process it, eventually he smiled and laughed to himself thinking it was just a joke.
"Come on Erza," he said with a smile as he walked closer to her, "stop jo -"suddenly there was a flash of light. If his eyes weren't closed it may well have blinded him.
SHING!
Natsu opened his eyes and stopped short as he looked down. Touching his Adams apple was the point of Erza's Flame Empress Blade. Astonished he looked ahead of him – his smile now gone - to see Erza now clad in said armor, her face just as serious as when they first arrived outside. Natsu could now see that Erza was not joking about the matter.
"Erza…" He said her name low, his voice littered with confusion.
Her tone was commanding as she looked him in the eyes.
"That wasn't a request Natsu."