Your opponent is me! The sequel.
this story is written for the Fairy Tail fanfiction contest, held by Rainbowcastle
Chapter 1: upcoming battle
Gray watched the other matches. The event would last for a couple of days because of the large number of Fairy Tail members. A few battles had passed, but Gray noticed it hardly. His eyes turned too many times to Juvia, who sat next to him. Still overthrown by his late discovery about himself, he watched how she cheered for Gajeel, who was now battling Levi. Gajeel could certainly use it because Levi was way too quick for him. Because of her small appearance, she could avoid his attacks easily and had enough time left to throw every spell she knew at him.
"Levi-san is really doing her best, don't you agree, Gray-sama? Gray startled and even felt his face warming up a bit. He hadn't been watching at all! He nodded a bit awkwardly. I wonder if she wants to prove anything to him. Juvia went on. I mean, everyone knows she has a crush on Gajeel-kun."
"What did you say?" Asked Gray surprised, he never heard of that!
"Oh, you didn't know? Juvia found out herself, it is pretty obvious." Gray made a weird face. He could not imagine Gajeel being nice to a girl, let alone dating one. What did you think about our match, Gray-sama? Asked Juvia and she became shy. Was Juvia good enough?"
"O-of course, you were!. You were amazing!. Blurred Gray out enthusiastic, which was really unlike him and Juvia backed away a bit with a head like a lobster.
"Really? Juvia is very happy that you think so." She replied.
"Ah yeah. Gray's sweat dropped at his own reaction. He sounded like that fire head! An awkward silence fell and they turned their eyes back to the battle. A few minutes after that the battle ended. To everyone's astonishment, Levi had won. She had spent a lot of time plotting tactics and they paid off. Gray heard Luci and Natsu cheer.
"Well done, Levi-chan!" Yelled Luci while she waved at her friend. Levi smiled and waved back.
"Ha, take that screw head! Laughed Natsu. You got beaten by a girl!"
"Shut up! Yelled Gajeel back, while Levi came across and offered him a hand to help him get onto his feet again. He accepted, but was with all his attention with screaming at Natsu. You will get beaten by a bunny, if you don't watch it!" Gajeel still called Lucy a bunny from that one time she wore a bunny suit.
"Gajeel." Said Levi threatening through her teeth, but she got ignored.
"Don't call me a bunny!" Protested Lucy angrily, but she got cut off by Natsu.
"Just watch, I will win!" He grinned.
"Wait Natsu, don't go answering him normally after he calls me a bunny!" Luci retorted.
Gray laughed at Natsu's Stupidity. He also wanted him to get defeated, but it didn't matter to him by whom.
On the evening after the first day, Luci spent her entire time planning for her battle with Natsu. While she did, she cursed hard at her luck. Why does Natsu want to fight me? I'm not strong at all, he will be done with me in a blink of an eye. Luci shivered. Why did he have fire magic of all things? How can I fight against fire? Natsu wouldn't really burn me, would he? She asked herself terrified and sighed annoyed. Gray and Juvia didn't go easy on each other and they do have some sort of bond. Juvia wouldn't want to harm Gray, but still she shot boiling geysers at him. I'm going to die! Cried Luci complete forlorn.
"Right. Luci stood up from her bed. Be strong Luci! She told herself. You won't burn like a witch, Natsu wouldn't do that to you. Don't be such a scared rabbit. I will show him!" Let's see which sprits would be useful against fire? I guess Aquarius and Scorpio would be very good against fire, but then again Luci didn't dare to summon them. Aquarius would kill her if they happened to be on a date. Loki would be better, as was Taurus, Followed by Virgo. But I don't want Natsu to get hit with an axe. Thought Luci suddenly. What if he loses a limb? But I can't summon Cancer or Sagittarius, they really can't do much against fire and I don't want Cancer to cut Natsu either, not even his hair. WHAAAAAAAA! What am I doing? I can't be bothered about hurting him, I won't be able to give him a match he deserves this way. Luci messed up her hair in annoyance. Suddenly she got an idea that brought a cunning smile upon her face. I use Gemini to copy Natsu himself, that way he can't get through me. And if Gemini can't copy him for some reason, I let them copy Happy instead. He can blow the fire away with his wings or even take Natsu for a flight and then he will be completely distracted. She sat down on her chair at her writing desk and wrote down her strategy.
First spirit: Loki – one on one battle
Second spirit: Taurus – uses axe and strength in combat
Third spirit: Virgo – uses also strength and her digging skills to dodge his attacks, would be able to last for a long time.
Fourth spirit: Gemini – transforms into Natsu and uses his own fire against him, should be able to exhaust him.
Fifth Spirit: Aquarius – he would be weakened by then, uses water for final blow.
That should do it. Luci thought. She then took one of her keys and summoned Gemini.
"Peery, Peery!"Called the two little blue spirits cheerfully when they appeared into her room.
"Please, go to Natsu and copy him and his knowledge. Make sure he doesn't see you." She requested.
"Peery, Peery." Called they again and nodded. They vanished. It took them some time to return, but when they did they were happy to let Luci know that they had successfully copied Natsu, along with his knowledge.
"How Natsu sees Luci.-"They suddenly sang together and Luci felt herself becoming very nervous.
"No, you don't have to tell me that." She said while blushing and she tried to close their door quickly, but she was too late.
"Natsu likes to be with Luci and wants to do things for her. Luci lowered the hand in which she held the key. She looked away, but kept listening. Gemini continued. He will always try to protect her. Peery-peery." With that they returned to the spirit world. Luci was left alone in her room. Her legs began to tremble and she collapsed upon her bed, shedding big tears. That was the most beautiful thing she ever heard and she knew Gemini could not be wrong about it. She didn't even know how to describe how she was feeling. She was extremely happy to know that her companion cared so much about her, but at the same time she felt terrible for fearing his flames before. I have mistrusted him in the cruelest way. She thought. Luci sat up straight and calmed herself. I have to do my best tomorrow, for Natsu!
Natsu was training hard, he ran often around the town to keep up his energy with Happy as his companion.
"Natsu, just be careful with Luci, ok?"Said Happy worried.
"What are you talking about? Of course I will."Replied Natsu while running.
"It's getting dark, Natsu. Let's go back and eat something." Natsu halted abrupt and Happy flew straight ahead before he flew back to his friend.
"You're right. Grinned Natsu. Are you hungry?"
"Aye sir!"
Not much later they were at their home eating dinner. Natsu had been very quiet and looked a bit depressed. "I know I'm not fighting Erza. He said finally softly. I won't harm Luci."
"Natsu." Happy looked sad, he knew what his partner feared.
"I should have challenged someone else, I know that. Went Natsu on. I will control my fire, but at the same time fight to win. A huge grin appeared upon his face. Otherwise it wouldn't be a fair practice!"
Even though Natsu had said that, the next day he still wasn't sure. He started the day with a ran again, but this time without Happy who wanted to spend some time with Sharle and Lily. Natsu tried to use the exercise as a meditation to concentrate on his ability and to control it. He had to! That night before, Natsu had a nightmare in which he had burned Luci and was kneeling down. With trembling hands he picked up her weak body and held her close while he cried for her. He didn't tell Happy about it, it was too painful. Just when he started to feel lonely and cold, he ran into Lisanna. She passed by a few feet ahead of him and she waved at him. He gave her his characteristic grin in return and halted just in front of her.
"Yo, Lisanna, how's it going?"
Lisanna smiled. "Couldn't be better. Today is my battle with Elfman-nichan."
"Oh right, you have a battle too. Reacted Natsu excited. Do you think you can win?"
Lisanna gave him a confident smile. "Of course. We have been doing some practice battles and I won 2 out of 3 of them!"
"That's awesome! You don't need much luck then."
"Well I will not go that far, but will you cheer for me?"
"Of course, you can count on me."
"Good, than I will cheer you on too. She smiled, but then added in a serious manner: But make sure you don't break Luci's heart."
"Don't worry, I will protect Luci, no matter what. Smiled Natsu. Well I have to finish my training. See ya!"
Lisanna watched Natsu ran off. Most likely he hadn't understood what she meant. Lisanna knew she spent too long on Edolas. She lost her feelings for Natsu and he had lost his for her. Lisanna thought it a shame but it couldn't be helped. Even in Edolas, she had seen the bond between Edolas Luci and Edolas Natsu. It was simply meant to be.
But Natsu did know what she meant, at least for the most part. He would never hurt Luci or make her sad or even hate him. She was more than family to him, he knew that for certain and he would not lose someone close to him ever again. Not like the time when he lost Igneel or when he lost Lisanna for a long time. Luci was important to him. "I won't burn her. Or I will burn myself." He said to himself.
"What are you saving, flame-brain?" Asked a voice behind him. In annoyance Natsu turned around.
"Gray, I don't have time for you and… Juvia?" Natsu stood there and gaped stupidly at the two before him. This was a scene he didn't expect.
"Drop the stupid face, idiot. Said Gray irritated. Juvia and I just had a conversation when we heard you mumble to yourself. Natsu's gape now turned into a hard laugh. Gray and Juvia? Having a conversation? Natsu couldn't help but laugh. Gray was annoyed, but knew better than to argue with Natsu. Instead he sighed. Anyway, we wanted to wish you good luck with your fight with Luci. Don't try to burn her alright?" Natsu bowed his head.
"Gray-sama, Juvia thinks that Natsu-san has already worried himself about that." Said Juvia in a low voice. Gray looked close at Natsu, then his facing became teasingly.
"Oh? He said and Natsu looked up again, a bit confused. Do you llllllllllike her? Gray asked grinning.
"Aaaargh, don't imitate Happy like that! Natsu jumped towards Gray to punch him, but Gray waved it away with his hand.
"Don't worry, it was just a joke. See ye at the arena. Natsu let Gray walk away. Alright, here I go. He thought.