Heart of the Frozen Flame
I don't own any of the characters, or the language for the Dragon Words. I only own the Plot to this story.
"Natsu" – Speaking, Normal language
"Natsu" – Spells
"Natsu" – Memories
"Natsu" – Speaking, Draconic language
'Natsu' – Translation
'Natsu' – Thoughts/Telepathy
Chapter 4– Appearances
"Let the S class trial… START"
Everyone had left the boat and made it to the beach, Happy and Natsu being 4th to the beach. Freed and Bickslow had locked everyone on the ship for five minutes, which Levy rewrote to allow herself and Gajeel through. Evergreen tried to do the same, but found that Levy had wrote the runes to dissipate in one minute instead of five.
'Classic Levy' Natsu thought as he and Happy started flying through the air to get to the beach. He sniffed the air as he and Happy touched down, trying to find Gildarts. He made it look like he was looking for Erza though, as Happy would've gone ballistic if he thought he'd go for gildarts.
"So which route are you going through Natsu? Three have already been taken…"
"E, for Erza obviously. I take her in a fight now, you've seen the results of my training!"
They sprinted down the cave, trying to find someone so they can pass this stage of the trial. They came to a very large opening, where the cave extended in every direction, suspiciously making a circle in the middle of the room.
There were some fireflies in the cave, lighting up the room. There was someone standing firm, Happy recognized the face first.
"Natsu… I don't think you're moving to S class this year…"
"Why Happy, who's there?"
A booming voice bounced off the walls, making Happy quiver in fear
"Sorry kid, luck just ain't on your side. This is your dead end."
It was Gildarts, Natsu's nose was true to its word, once again. It had never failed him before, and it wouldn't start now. Natsu smirked.
"Alternatively, Gildarts. You might be surprised at what I've got in store for you…" Natsu grinned as a book appeared in his hands. This made Gildarts raise an eyebrow, at first glance believing to have never seen a book like that before, and he had travelled the world. Natsu heard a shifting sound behind him, signaling Happy was doing something. He turned to see him dragging the backpack back to the mouth of the cave.
"Hey Happy, what are you doing?"
"Well" Happy started, "I figured we've already lost, so I was getting ready to go home."
Natsu scoffed at this. "Have some faith in me little buddy, you might be surprised as well." 'I just need to test the waters a bit, so he thinks that my base power is my limit…'
Natsu cloaked his fists in an orange flame. "Get ready, cause I'm gonna hit you with everything I've got at once!" 'Just not right now though…' He thought, smirking.
"Wait, Natsu. I'm not ready yet, besides, I want to ask you about that book! Natsu! WAIT."
Natsu slammed his fist into Gildarts palm laughing. "I'll tell you about the book if you use 100%!" Gildarts magic reacted to Natsu's touch. It spiraled outwards, creating a cross out of pure white energy that soon exploded.
As the dust settled, the orange haired individual looked at the crater in confusion. 'I didn't put that much magic into my attack…' Happy was first to speak.
"I can't believe you killed him, this was only supposed to be a test."
The cave around them echoed with Natsu's voice, which surprised Gildarts as to how deep it was.
"You wanna bet Happy? Gildarts didn't even put 50% into that, any more and it might have actually scratched me." He fell back down to the ground, a few feet away from Gildarts.
"Did you use your fire to launch yourself that high?" He questioned, impressed that Natsu had the sense to move out of the way of the blast. 'I bet if this was when we last saw each other, Natsu wouldn't have moved and would have just been launched into the air by the blast'
"Yeah, I might have. Although the way I did it is not how you're picturing it…" As he said this, the book opened on it's own. "You asked about my book, right? How about I show you… the power of the Primals."
The word Primals shook Gildarts to his core. He was probably one of the only ones who knew the stories, apart from the high ends of the council and the wizard saints. 'So how does Natsu know about them…?' He only had the time to wonder about this briefly.
"This book is one of the four Primal Grimoires." Natsu paused for a second, unnaturally relishing in the shock that appeared on Gildart's face. "Oh, so you know of it?" He laughed. "I guess when you travel the world, you hear many things…"
"Now hold on a minute. How on Earthland do you know about the Primals? I've only heard stories and yet, you've got one of the four grimoires?" Gildarts was mortified. If Natsu was given the Grimoire by someone, and the power consumed him… 'No, Natsu couldn't have succumbed to the power, he is standing right in front of me…'
"It was odd at first. It didn't look like the kind of book I should share with anyone. I had never seen a book like this before, let alone read the words on the cover… then Levy came back from her job, and could only read the words "Dragon", and "Fire" after she swore to confidentiality. So, I took the book back and brushed up on my Dragon Words… and the book opened."
Gildarts took a step backward. He was intent on showing Natsu fear, so that he could progress as a wizard, and a person. Never did he the fight would go like this. He steeled himself, he heard what the Primals could do, from times immemorial. There were tales of a time when the Ice Primal went berserk, and the world experienced an ice age. Not many people survived.
"Anyway, the books history isn't important right now… What is important though, is me passing this trial." Natsu's smile disappeared in an instant. His voice became dark and gravelly.
"Dovah Rot: Yolos Kopraan"
Power surged throughout the room, however it was not from Gildarts. It was from Natsu. His body became living flame, a multitude of colours. There was a white flame in the center of his being, then an yellow flame, then an orange flame, then a crimson flame. They danced inside him as if they had always been there.
"Natsu…." Gildarts started, he had half mind to pass Natsu right here, but he knew the brat wouldn't accept this win. If Natsu wanted a fight, a fight he would get.
"The first page in the book has an interesting section about the Primals you know Gildarts… maybe I'll tell you about it once I've beaten you."
Natsu charged, his inner fire becoming outer fire, scorching the cavern floor as he ran. He threw a punch, and Gildarts dodged left.
Gildarts held his palm up and magic exploded from it, forcing Natsu backwards.
"Why hide it Natsu? Why hide it until now?"
"Because it would be irresponsible of me if I charged in everywhere, claiming I was the embodiment of fire. It would put the other three in danger… and that's" he threw his head back. "something I can't do! Primal Fire Dragon's ROAR"
The flame was unbearable for Happy. Gildarts was only just able to keep a straight face when faced with this much power. He was having too much fun. The smile turned into a frown. 'How much does he really know about the Primals... He should know that to keep the world in balance, he needs to be near his opposite element… and how long has he known?'
Gildarts was pushed to the edge of the room.
"That's enough Natsu, you've proven yourself in the power department." Gildarts started, as Natsu started to dance. "But there is another part to being S Class that you need to take into consideration, a thing that up until today I thought you lacked. Tell me Natsu, what is fear?"
Natsu tilted his head to the side. "Fear? Fear is something that you feel when you are scared. You of all people already know this, but I'm afraid of being alone. I'm afraid of being shunned. But fear is also something you feel when you know you cannot do something you said you could."
"A decent answer, but no." Gildarts started to unleash all his magic power. The air in the cave stilled as rocks started floating.
"Fear, is something you feel when you are faced with an unstoppable force, or an invincible wall. However Natsu, fear is not evil. Remember that."
Natsu, normally would have been brought to his knees with the amount of power in this small space. It felt like gravity had collapsed in on itself, and was forcing everything down. But Natsu was used to this amount of power, holding the amount himself right now.
"Either way, you pass my test. You should come over some time, we'll have a proper fight. But promise me something Natsu…" Gildarts said, as he looked at Natsu, who was still in his fire form.
"Do not give in to the power."