I think it's sorta obvious who the beast is. Anyway, I'm glad people like it so far. I decided to put this chapter up early. Just because I've got nothing better to do... Well hope you like this chapter. Please Review~

Chapter 2

A Dragon's Decedent

It was sitting there against the cave clutching its shoulder. I held the torch closer. What I saw wasn't a dragon, nor a beast. It, was actually a he. He was a teenager, around Gray's or my age. he had pink hair, dressed in a dark shirt and pants, and sandals. He was glaring at me. Flames leaked out from his mouth. I stepped back.

" Are you here to kill me too?" He hissed, standing up. I backed away. I looked behind me, the entrance I came from was further than I thought. I didn't know I came so far in. I lashed my whip. It struck him in the face. He fell back with a shocked expression. He was still holding his shoulder. I looked closer. One of my knives stuck from the place he was holding. Blood running down his hands. A small cut on his face, I guess thats where the second one struck.

" You killed those knights," I said, my voice was slightly shaky. " You burned those Fields and those peoples homes, didn't you." Did I have to kill him? He looked like he's been in more fights than just todays. " I'm suppose to slay you. When I do, I'll get enough money to save the poorest people. I along with many other girls won't be looked down on." I muttered. I watched him slowly get up. He opened his mouth. And flames came shooting out, I was shocked I couldn't move an inch. But the flames didn't touch me, it didn't come close to me at all. I turned around, seeing a knight with his sword raised get engulfed by the flames, another one came in past him pushing me to the ground. I looked up at the pink haired teenager, who punched the knight away barely missing the sword that was aimed for his head, his fist was lit on fire. The knight fell back, but got up quickly, swinging his sword. I don't know why but I flung my whip as fast as I could grabbing onto his sword and pulling it out of his hands. The boy kicked the knight who went flying outside the cave. Probably falling of the edge, because I heard his screams until it died away. The pink haired teenager fell back down panting. I took a step closer to him but he growled. I flinched and took a step back keeping my distance.

" I... I didn't burn nothing. Besides them. I didn't...d-didn't go down. Didn't burn no houses." His hand found my knife's handle, he touched it trying to pull it out but flinched and left it alone. " Leave!" He yelled, " If you don't I'll burn you ashes too!" I stared into his black onyx eyes he was serious, but those eyes showed that he didn't want to do it. I threw my whip along with my other knives on the ground.

" Look, I won't hurt you, Okay?" I pointed to his shoulder, " Can I help you?" He hesitated but nodded slowly, not taking his eyes off of me. I walked slowly to him. I grabbed the hilt of my knife that stuck out from his shoulder, and pulled on it fast. His face didn't show anything. He just stared at me. But I felt him flinch. So it must've hurt. I used the knife to rip the sleeve of my shirt and tied it around his shoulder tightly, to stop the bleeding.

" I'm sorry," I muttered. I felt bad for hurting him. I didn't know if I should kill him or not, I didn't want to but, I told them all I'd accomplish this task. I wanted to.

" Weren't you gonna kill me?" He laughed.

" I came to slay a beast. You aren't a beast."

" But I was the one who supposedly burned your town." He said, " Not that I did." He was still panting.

" Maybe, but you're human. I can't kill you, in fact I won't," They said to kill the fire breathing beast. Wait... they said beast, they never said dragon. So does that mean. They knew he wasn't a dragon? They knew he was a human who could, somehow breath fire? Does that mean, they're actually expecting us to kill him? If only I didn't go with my feelings, someone else would have been the one that had to kill him. I reached slowly for my knife while he looked away. I felt my hand grab the hilt. He turned and looked at me. Even though his bangs covered most of his face, I could see his eyes, He looked tired. Like he hasn't slept in days.

" Go ahead, kill me." He said simply, " It's not like I'll fit in anywhere anyway." He muttered, mostly to his self, looking down.

" What do you mean?" I asked.

" If you could light yourself on fire, do you think other people would stop and stare at you saying ' Damn thats so cool!' ? Because you're wrong if you think that. They'll despise you, They'll be too afraid to think, You're afraid aren't you? Who wouldn't be if you saw some monster that could burn you in an instant?" He was right. I was afraid. When I saw him fight, I thought I was going to burn to death. Who wouldn't be afraid. If he looked like an actually monster, and came to town destroying everything, people would run screaming. If the people back in town actually see him on fire, they would scream, and the knights would probably come and try to fight, or cower in fear.

" You're right. But... have you even tried to go down there?" Maybe the people could try to accept him? He laughed.

" Others like me tried before, they were either killed, or taken prisoner by your people, they were used as weapons." He hissed, " Do you think I'm stupid enough to go down there?" He sucked in his breath. I thought he was going to breath fire again, but he just sagged a bit and looked down. I saw him clutching his shirt, pulling at it. Then He looked at me. I wasn't sure if he'd think this would be a stupid question, but I didn't know the answer to it.

" How come you breath fire?"

" Because...My ancestors were... d-dragons." He fell down. I moved in closer to him.

" H-hey! What' s wrong?"

" W-weren't you going to kill me?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

" I said I won't. Now what's wrong!" My voice was shakier than his. He was starting to scare me more.

" W-weirdo." He laughed again. But stopped hissing, " Poison... Those damn knights." He whispered, closing his eyes. I pushed back his bangs. I guess proving myself was gonna have to wait. He needed help. Argh, but I'm suppose to kill him! But I can't. Dammit. I punched the wall. Bad idea. That hurt more than I thought. I shook my hand. If I went down to the town I could get an antidote. But I couldn't leave him here, the knights will kill him while he's out.

Erza was suppose to come too. I guess I'll have to wait. I wonder if he can hold up until then. I sat there for hours. Each minute that passed by, he seemed to get worse. He was clutching his chest, breathing hard. I walked over to the entrance of the cave and peeked out. It was getting dark outside. And there were no sign of knights anywhere. Which was good, but where was Erza? I hope she comes soon. They should notice that I'm not back. They should all be coming to check on me. They weren't the type to just abandon a friend. I went back to the pink haired teenager. I wonder what his name was.

He opened his eyes a little, looking at me. Opened his mouth a little as if trying to say something, before falling unconscious again. I heard something outside the cave. I reached for my knife as well as my whip and stood up in front of the fire breather.

" Lucy?" It was a feminine voice. Erza!

" Erza! I'm in here!" I yelled. She came running in, her sword was drawn. She looked behind me. I dropped my knife and put away my whip. " I'm glad you're here!"

" Lucy what happened? You didn't come back. Is that the beast?" I nodded slowly. But then put up my arms as she held her sword up.

" No! Don't kill him! Please..." I said. She paused, hesitating a bit before deciding to sheath her sword. I sighed and sat down beside the boy. " He said he didn't burn the field. Erza, he doesn't look like a monster, but... but I said I'd kill the beast. But I can't kill him, I can't!" She walked up to me.

" Then don't. Its that simple." It wasn't her voice. Erza didn't answer me. I looked behind her. Gray walked in slowly. " Why didn't you come back?"

" He's hurt..." I said, " The knights that came here poisoned him. I couldn't just leave him. And I can't bring him with me."

" Why not? As long as he isn't spurting out flames no one will know."

" But the knights that ran back..."

" I'll get Mira, she'll get an antidote, as well as some bandages." Erza said, " Gray, stay here." We nodded.

" So... care to tell me why a pink haired human can breath fire?" I shrugged.
" He didn't really have a chance to tell me... but he said his ancestors were dragons." When I said that he moved. Opening his eyes, before sitting up fast. I turned around.

" Hey, slow down buddy, you don't want the poison spreading faster do you?" Gray asked. Kneeling down next to me. The pink haired teenager glared at him.

" Don't worry, he's my friend, he won't hurt you. Right, Gray?"

" Yeah." I sat against the wall next to him. He was still glaring at Gray.

" Um, before you pass out again... what's your name?"

" Natsu. N-Natsu Dragneel." He winced.

" Another one of my friends went to get an antidote. You'll be fine." He leaned on my shoulder, and went limp, falling unconscious once again.

We heard footsteps a few minutes later. It wasn't Erza though, there were too many.

" Gray!" He grabbed his sword, and I grabbed my knife, not moving from my spot. The cave lit up with torches. Knights as well as just regular towns people walked in. Swords and Lances in their hands. I lifted Natsu's head from my shoulder and placed him gently on the ground. I stood up. Why didn't I think of it? Of course more knights would show up at night! They'll think he's asleep.

" What are you doing girl? Step away from the monster!" One man said.

" He's not a monster!"

" He breathed fire I saw it!" Another yelled.

" If you don't move we'll kill you too."

" No, we'll kill you." Gray hissed, and charged at them. Swinging his sword. Cutting down some of the knights. Others made their way towards me and Natsu. I threw my knife, and struck one in the chest, killing him instantly. I reached for my whip, and swung it, lashing out at people. I grabbed one with it, and pulled his sword away, I kicked him and swung around to kick another. Grabbing their swords, which were heavy, and threw it as hard as I could killing the one that got struck by it. There were too many. Just trying to keep them away from Natsu was proving to be a problem. That was when one snuck past me and made his way to him. I turned around, and was grabbed by a knight. Gray was still fighting the ones in the back. I shouted telling them to let me go. The man by Natsu held his sword up high.

" Shut it girly, I'll kill you if you don't shut up!" I bit him, closing my eyes. The man screamed. I felt the cave heat up. I opened my eyes slowly. Seeing Natsu standing up slowly. The knight with the sword scrambled away dropping his sword. Natsu looked at me. Then to the man that was holding me. He moved fast, one minute he was there and the next the man holding me was being pushed down, getting scorched by Natsu's flames. The other knights ran up to him. I ran for my whip, intending to help, but it seemed like Natsu had it under control. He knocked most out, and the others burned to death. Natsu swayed a bit before walking back to the back of the cave. Gray threw his sword down and walked back towards us.

" Thanks dude," Gray said nodding to Natsu. Natsu glanced at him and looked away.

" Whatever." Was all he said. The next thing I knew I was diving after him as he fell. I caught him. Gray rushed to my side. I brushed away his bangs and placed a hand on Natsu's forehead. He was burning.

" I hope Erza gets here soon." I said. " D-do you think she'll actually get it?"

" If she says she'll get it she'll get it. Don't worry." He answered, " What are you planning to do?" Good question Gray...

" Don't know... I won't let him die though. He seemed sad. Gray... if you were in his place, how would you feel?" Gray sat back thinking.

" People don't like him right, and everyone's trying to kill him, I guess I'd be... well, lonely." He shrugged.

I wonder Natsu... I bet its true... but... are you lonely? Right now?