The next day, many people gathered in front of Fairy Tail's guild hall. Word of the fight between Lowell and Natsu spread around the town, and people are interested in seeing what the newest member of Fairy Tail had up his sleeve. Many see him walking around the town, and they know that he works alongside the Pokemon. They are curious as to what they are capable of.
Lowell sighed as he looked at the large crowd. Even during battles, he isn't a fan of being surrounded by people. He prefers it to be between the trainers and their Pokemon, without having so many people watching. However, he promised Natsu a fight, and he wasn't going to go back on his promise.
"Did they have to go and spread the word to everyone in town?" he asked no one in particular.
Greninja shrugged his shoulders as a response. "If I am seeing right, it seems like many members of the guild are making bets on who is going to win the fight." he said, gesturing to the mages holding up Jewel and talking to members of the crowd. "I think most people are betting on Natsu."
Lowell shrugged his shoulders. "That's fine by me. They are more familiar with Natsu than they are of us, so it isn't surprising. Although, I am not sure I am happy about people betting on or against us." he said with a small frown.
"Sorry about that." a familiar voice said from behind. Lowell turned around, and his frown started to lift a bit when he saw Levy. "They tend to do that when they are excited about a fight. Normally, I don't participate in the betting, but I decided to bet on you, this time." she said, shocking him. Seeing the shocked look on his face, she looked away in embarrassment. "W-well, Natsu is strong, but if he tried to use his full power, then he would end up destroying the place, and hurting a lot of people." she explained.
Lowell chuckled. "Dragonite can be destructive, as well, but I believe that she knows how to control her power well enough to not cause so much damage. Still, this result of this fight won't be clear until it is over." he responded. Dragonite is strong, but he still isn't sure how effective Natsu's Dragon Slayer magic will be against her. That is the reason why he suggested the fight, to begin with. He wants to see how different types of magic correlate with Pokemon types and moves.
"I suggest that you have Ralts watch the fight." Lowell continued. "It isn't a Pokemon battle, but watching Dragonite will surely help him, and it will also give you a chance to see how a trainer works with their Pokemon in battle." he explained.
Levy nodded her head in understanding. She fought against Toxicroak back in the forest, but she was the one fighting. She didn't have to give anyone orders. Watching Lowell will give her much needed experience.
Suddenly, Ralts came out of his Pokeball on his own, slightly startling Levy. He has done that a couple times, and it still catches her off-guard.
"I'm guessing that you heard all of that." Lowell said, to which Ralts nodded his head in confirmation. "Good. Then we don't need to explain anything. Just watch the fight to get a better understanding of Pokemon battles."
Ralts nodded his head in understanding. However, he then noticed something. "Shouldn't Natsu be here, already?" he asked.
Levy sighed. "You would think that he would be early, for something like this." she said, covering her face with her hand.
That bothers Lowell, as well, but as long as he shows up soon, everything will be fine. However, if he doesn't show up soon, he is just going to leave. He isn't going to wait all day for him.
Seeing the small look of irritation on Lowell's face, Levy made an attempt to change the subject. He must not like it when people are late to events.
"So, did you manage to get a ride?" she asked, referring to his call with Diantha.
A small grin formed on his lips. "Yes. According to Diantha, a helicopter should be arriving here, early tomorrow morning. That means that we need to be ready to leave, by then." he explained.
She nodded her head in understanding. She feels bad about pressuring him into letting her and the others come. She just wanted to see where he comes from, and more of the world of Pokemon. "I'm sorry about pressuring you, yesterday. I just really wanted to see more of your world." she apologized.
Lowell just shook his head. "It's fine. Honestly, I don't mind. I just didn't want to cause Diantha anymore trouble. Still, she was more than willing to send someone to pick us up. After all, she once went on her own journey, so she knows the excitement of exploring new places." he explained with a small smile on his face.
Hearing him say that got her interested. He told her some things that he has done, but he never really talked about how he felt during his travels.
"Were you excited, when you finally got to travel?" she asked curiously.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I was happy, that is for sure. I wouldn't say excited, necessarily." he said before going deeper into thought. "My dream was always to become a Pokemon Trainer. It was all I ever wanted. When the time finally came for me to select my starter Pokemon, I was happy. Of course, things didn't start out smoothly, at first." he explained, looking at Greninja.
His partner nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah. We had a rough start, at first, but that changed over time." he responded. He then looked towards Levy and Ralts. "Although, you two both seem to have bonded fairly quickly. I can tell that you will work well together."
Hearing this made Levy and Ralts smile. They looked at each other, and they gave each other a knowing look. They may be new to this, but they will prove Lowell and Greninja right, no matter what it takes.
Levy looked back at Greninja, giving him a grateful smile. "Thanks. We'll prove that we have what it takes to make a great team. Maybe someday, we will even be able to beat you." she said playfully.
Lowell laughed, but it wasn't a mocking laugh. He openly welcomes any competition that he may have. If she aims to beat them in a battle, one day, then he encourages her to try. When working together with trusted partners, anything is possible.
"I'll look forward to that battle, then." he responded.
They held each other's gaze for a moment, before Levy was suddenly shoved form behind. She let out a gasp of surprise, and when she turned around, she sighed when she saw Lucy standing there with a cheeky grin on her face.
"Am I interrupting something?" she asked with a hint of playfulness in her voice.
Lowell just shrugged his shoulders and turned around. "No, not really. We were just talking about Pokemon." he responded. "Do you happen to know where Natsu is? He should have been here by now."
Lucy sighed. "He is probably still asleep. Knowing him, I wouldn't be surprised." she answered.
Clanking footsteps closed in on them. "Only Natsu would sleep in when he was so excited about the fight, yesterday." Erza said, appearing behind them.
"You came to watch the fight, as well?" Greninja asked, receiving a nod of confirmation.
"Yes. I am very interested to see how Natsu stands against Dragonite. He has fought against several Pokemon in the past, as well as the rest of us, and they gave us quite a lot of trouble." she explained. "Those were only wild Pokemon, as well. However, this time, Natsu will be up against a Pokemon with years of experience battling under a trainer. This will prove to be a challenge for him."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Gray said, appearing beside Erza. Like always, he is missing his shirt, revealing the blue Fairy Tail emblem on his chest. He has a small smirk on his face. "He is a Dragon Slayer, after all. After failing to defeat a dragon back in Crocus, Natsu will most likely be taking this fight as seriously as he possibly can. Sure, Dragonite isn't an actual dragon, but she is the closest thing to one. Although, if he does end up losing, then it will be a big hit to his pride." he explained.
Hearing that made Lowell frown, slightly. From what he recalls from the stories Levy told him, the mages managed to send the dragons back to their original time, but none of the Dragon Slayers were able to slay a dragon. Also, with Natsu's determination to win, it must've really upset him.
Still, that doesn't matter to him. "I don't care if it will hurt his pride. In a serious battle, it is disrespectful for either side to hold back. It isn't truly a win, unless both opponents are giving it their all." he said, looking back at them. "Neither of us will hold anything back against Natsu. That would hurt his pride more than if we beat him." he stated with determination.
The others couldn't argue with this. Natsu doesn't like to lose, but he would also be angry if someone underestimated him and went easy on him. The win wouldn't be satisfying, unless he knew both sides tried their best.
This reminds Levy of how Lowell turned down the title of champion, even though Diantha believe he had earned it. He didn't win, so he didn't believe that it was fair. She is amazed at how different Lowell and Natsu are, yet they still share some similarities.
"Good. I don't want to fight you at anything but your best, and you can expect the same of me." a voice said from behind. Everyone turned around, and they saw Natsu standing there with a big smirk on his face. Happy is flying beside him.
"Sorry we were late, everybody. Natsu decided that he was going to oversleep, and he completely forgot about the fight." Happy said.
Gray scoffed. "Go figure. We expected this much from the pyro." he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
This made Natsu's eyebrow twitch, and he ran up to Gray, glaring right at him. "You wanna fight me next, stripper?!" he asked angrily.
Gray smirked, and he readied his magic. "Why not right now?" he suggested, getting ready to cast a spell.
A fight between the two mages was about to break out, but Erza and Greninja split them up before they could do any real damage.
"Focus on one fight at a time." Greninja said as he dragged him to where he and Dragonite were going to fight. "You will need all of your strength if you want to beat Dragonite. Wasting your energy on petty arguments won't help you."
Natsu chuckled. "You know that I am going to give it my all in this fight. There is no way that I am losing to another dragon!" he declared.
Lowell walked forward, until he was standing directly across from Natsu. Greninja returned to where Levy and the others are, not wanting to get caught in the middle of the fight.
Lowell took out Dragonite's Pokeball. A small grin formed on his lips. "We'll see if you are still saying that after the fight is done." he said before tossing the Pokeball in the air.
Dragonite appeared, and she landed on the ground with a loud stomp. It was strong enough to create a seismic shock that knocked several people back. Dragonite sent Natsu a small glare.
"You may be a Dragon Slayer, but you haven't seen what I am capable of." she said. "Come at me with everything you've got!"
Greninja looked between Natsu and Dragonite, lifting a hand in the air. "The battle between Natsu and Dragonite will now begin. It will be over when one side is no longer capable of continuing." he announced. "Are the combatants ready?" he asked.
He didn't receive a response. Instead, Natsu and Dragonite continued to glare at each other.
"I'll take that as a yes." Greninja decided. He swiped his hand downwards. "Begin!"
Natsu took off in a sprint towards Dragonite, reeling his fist back. Once he was about a yard or so away from her, he leaped into the air, lighting his fist on fire.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Seeing Natsu close in so fast, Lowell had to think quickly to come up with a counter. "Dragonite, jump back, and then use Slam!" he ordered.
Just as Natsu was about to hit her, Dragonite took a small jump backwards, causing him to punch the ground. The force behind his punch created a small crater, and Dragonite used her large wings to block the shockwave from the impact. She spun around, and she slammed her tail into Natsu's stomach, causing him to go flying backwards.
"Fly above him, and use Dragon Claw!" Lowell ordered.
"You got it!" Dragonite said as she took off. She is faster in the air than she is on ground, so she was able to reach Natsu before he hit the ground. Her claws were extended by a green, draconic energy, and she descended upon Natsu.
Natsu saw Dragonite coming, and he ducked his head at the last second, narrowly avoiding the swipe. He leaned back even more, and he ended up doing a handstand. He lit his feet on fire, and he kicked upwards, aiming for Dragonite's stomach.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!"
Dragonite took a hard, flaming kick to the stomach, and she went crashing to the ground, sliding past Natsu. She didn't stop, until she was right in front of the crowd of people. Some of them had to step back, to avoid getting crushed.
"Yeah, Natsu! You show her who's the boss!" Happy cheered from the sidelines.
Levy watched with wide eyes as Dragonite crashed to the ground. She knew that they were going to be fighting without holding back, but she wasn't expecting Natsu to get a hit in so easily. He has definitely gotten stronger. The battle has only just begun, but she can't help but feel worried for Dragonite.
"I don't think you should be cheering so soon, Happy." Lucy said.
Gray raised a brow at her. "Why?" he asked. "He just sent Dragonite crashing into the ground. With that kind of fall, I doubt she would get up."
Erza shook her head. "You are counting her out far too soon. Remember what they said before the battle started. They said that neither would be holding back in this fight. I highly doubt that a small fall like that could beat her."
Just as Erza said it, Dragonite stood up, smirking at Natsu. "I'll admit, that was a pretty strong kick, but it will take a lot more than that to beat me!" she said, rushing forward again.
"Dragon Claw!" Lowell ordered.
Dragonite slashed at Natsu with draconic claws, but he jumped over them and over her head. He landed a couple feet behind her, and he began to gather fire in both his hands. He created a large fireball, before throwing it at Dragonite.
"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"
As the fireball headed straight towards her, Dragonite just stood there calmly. An attack from behind won't work so well. She is just waiting for her orders.
"Dodge, and then stun him with Thunder Wave!"
Without hesitation, Dragonite turned around, sidestepping to avoid the fireball. It whizzed right past her head, exploding upon making impact with the ground behind her. She took off, her body beginning to crackle with electricity. The electricity gathered around her arms, and she thrusted them forward, sending a wave of electricity towards Natsu.
Natsu tried to move out of the way, but the electricity was moving too fast for him to dodge. His body was enveloped in a powerful shockwave that left his body stiff and tingling from the electricity. He tried to move again, but his body wouldn't let him.
"W-what the hell is going on?! What did you do to me?!" he asked angrily.
"Thunder Wave is a status move that paralyzes the opponent. Until the effect goes away, you will be slower than normal, and it will be harder for you to move." Lowell explained.
Natsu let out a small growl, but he has a plan. He has done something like this before, but Lowell doesn't know about it. If he times this right, then he still has a chance.
"Dragonite, use Dragon Claw, again!" Lowell ordered.
"Of course." she responded before charging towards Natsu again.
She began to slash away at him, and he couldn't do anything to retaliate. Even if he did manage to move, he wasn't fast enough to block Dragonite's claws. Parts of his clothing began to tear away, and his body became covered in cuts in bruises. After another slash, Natsu went flying backwards, rolling to a stop on the ground. The crowd watched, amazed at how the Salamander of Fairy Tail was losing to Dragonite.
For a second, it looked like Dragonite actually won. However, Natsu slowly stood back up, albite a bit shakily. He glared at Dragonite, determination in his eyes.
Knowing that he wouldn't give up, Lowell decided that it was about time to wrap things up. He knows that he probably has something up his sleeve, so he needs to end this, before Natsu gets a chance to retaliate.
"Dragonite, finish things up with Dragon Rush!" he ordered.
Dragonite flew towards Natsu at an incredible speed. Her body was surrounded by a cloak of blue, draconic energy. The mages around them were amazed by the power coming from Dragonite. It even sent a chill down Natsu's spine. However, that didn't make him any less determined to win.
A smile found its way to Levy's face. She isn't believing what she is seeing. Natsu can barely move, and if that attack hits, there is a good chance the fight will be over. She feels bad, rooting against Natsu, but she still wants Lowell and Dragonite to win.
Meanwhile, Ralts watches in pure amazement. He has never seen such an intense battle, before. The more he watches, the more he wonders if he will ever become this strong.
Just as Dragonite was about to reach Natsu, he suddenly jumped out of the way, and he axe-kicked Dragonite in the back with a flaming heel.
"Fire Dragon's Talon!"
Dragonite slid backwards, but she didn't fall over. She looked over at Natsu, shock clear on her face. She never would have thought that he would break free of her paralysis, like that.
Lowell and the rest of the crowd are shocked, as well. He doesn't understand how Natsu managed to do it. How could he break through it without using a Cheri Berry, or some sort of status healing move?
Natsu laughed a bit. "I remembered my fight with Sting, during the Grand Magic Games." he said. "He paralyzed me using that spell of his, but I managed to use my magic to burn it off." he explained with a big smirk.
Levy's eyes widened in shock. She had almost forgotten about that. In his fight with Sting, he had been paralyzed by Sting's punch. It took him a little while, but he was able to burn it away. She didn't even consider that a possibility, here. To think, he probably had planned this out, the moment that he got paralyzed.
"Natsu definitely has gotten stronger." she said, amazed.
Erza nodded her head in agreement. "He may act foolish, but Natsu isn't someone to be taken lightly. His strength is remarkable, as well as his sheer determination." she said with respect.
Lucy smiled. "That's our Natsu. He just doesn't know when to give up." she responded.
"Why do I get the feeling that the town is going to end up destroyed before this fight is over?" Gray asked.
Surprisingly enough, they have managed to keep the damage to a minimum, only damaging the area where they are fighting. However, if this keeps up for much longer, there is a chance that they will cause much more destruction.
Levy giggled. "Well, Natsu is fighting, right? I don't think it is possible for him to fight without causing some sort of damage. Apparently Dragonite does the same thing, but she is better at controlling her power, than Natsu." she explained.
Lowell looked at Natsu, a smirk forming on his lips. "Man, Natsu is stronger than I was expecting. Not only can he keep up with Dragonite, but he can also burn away the paralysis like it was nothing." he thought.
"He is definitely a worthy opponent." Lowell said to Dragonite.
The dragon-type nodded her head in agreement, a smirk on her face, as well. "Yeah. For a human, he is pretty tough. Although, that doesn't mean that I am just about to give up. The battle isn't over yet."
Despite the hits Natsu managed to land on Dragonite, she isn't as badly damaged as he is. He has taken more hits than she has, and all her attacks also dealt more damage. She is beginning to get a little tired, but other than that, she is raring to continue.
Suddenly, Lowell became filed with something he hasn't felt since his battle with Diantha. This battle with Natsu, it has given him a couple of surprises. Natsu has managed to keep both him and Dragonite on their toes, shocking them with his unpredictability. For the first time in about a year, Lowell is feeling real excitement.
He has always enjoyed battling, and he has always taken it seriously. However, it has been a while since he has had an opponent who made him feel this excited. Even though it isn't him fighting, Lowell can't help but be overwhelmed by the sensation. Is this what the world of magic is like? He can't help but wait until the time that he is able to accomplish such things, himself.
Lowell's smirk turned into a smile. Greninja noticed this, and he was genuinely shocked. This is one of the biggest smiles he has ever seen on his friend's face. "He must be having a lot of fun." he thought with a smile.
Natsu seems to understand what Lowell is thinking, and he smiled, as well.
"How about we keep going?" he suggested, clenching a fist that he set on fire. "I'm all fired up!"
"You took the words right out of my mouth!" Lowell and Dragonite said simultaneously.
Dragonite and Natsu both rushed forward, determined to keep the fight going. Neither one of them are willing to give into the other.
"Dragonite, use Dragon Claw on the ground!" Lowell ordered.
The dragon-typed followed her trainer's command, and she slashed at the ground with a set of green claws. The impact caused a cloud of dust to kick up, blocking Natsu's vision. Dragonite maneuvered around the dust, appearing behind Natsu. She attempted to sneak attack him, but he smelt her coming, and he turned around, blocking her claws with a flaming fist.
Natsu pivoted on his heel before doing a flip in the air and kicking Dragonite in the head. She was pushed back, and she began to block a flurry of punches and kicks from the fiery Dragon Slayer.
Lowell watched the action, trying to come up with another strategy. If Paralysis won't work, then Dragonite will have to outsmart and overpower Natsu. However, with his senses, it will be hard to sneak up on him, and stealth has never been Dragonite's strongpoint, either.
Fatigue will also become a factor in this. Dragonite is still going strong, but constantly blocking Natsu's attacks will take its toll on her energy. However, the same can be said about Natsu, as he is constantly attacking, not wanting to give Dragonite a chance to counterattack. It is a stalemate, and the side that falters for even a second will give the other the opening they need to end this.
Suddenly, Lowell came up with an idea. "Dragonite, use Thunder Wave, again!" he ordered.
This seemed to confuse those watching. Why paralyze him again, if he will only burn through it?
"What is he thinking?" Levy wondered out loud.
Ralts nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah. Natsu will just burn through it, again. I don't understand how this will help." he responded.
"Actually, it may put the odds in his and Dragonite's favor." Erza responded.
Gray looked over at the S-class mage, confused. "What are you talking about?" he asked.
Erza turned her attention back to the fight, waiting to see what happens next. "If you forgot, when Dragonite first paralyzed Natsu, he didn't burn through it, right away. It took time for him to burn through it. However, now he is injured, as well as tired. If he becomes paralyzed again, then Dragonite will have the opportunity to strike, without having to worry about Natsu countering or dodging." she explained. Even if he is capable of moving, Natsu will still be slowed down by the paralysis, giving Dragonite the advantage.
"What if she misses, though?" Levy asked.
"She won't miss." Lowell said, surprising them. They didn't even realize that he had heard them. "I have confidence that Dragonite will connect this attack. After all, like Natsu, she hates to lose, and she won't give up until she wins." he said confidently.
Dragonite followed her orders, and her arms began to spark with electricity. "It's now or never." she thought.
However, Natsu noticed the electricity, and he knew what was going on. He knows that he won't be able to block this, and he doesn't have the time to burn it off, again. He must dodge it.
"I'm not falling for the same trick twice!" he announced, trying to jump back. However, Dragonite surprised him and caught his arm, slamming him to the ground. He let out a small grunt of pain, and then he was able to feel the electricity shooting through his body.
"Now, use Slam!" Lowell ordered. He doesn't want to give Natsu a chance to counter, while he is still paralyzed.
Dragonite picked Natsu up, and she threw him into the air. She then flew up and met him while still in mid-air, and she slammed her tail into his stomach, sending him crashing back into the ground.
Natsu rolled for a little bit, until he came to a complete stop. He glared up at Dragonite, who is flying towards him. He isn't sure how much more he will be able to take, so he might as well kick things up a notch. He leaned his head back, taking a deep breath, as fire began to gather in his mouth.
"Hurry, Dragonite!" Lowell yelled with urgency. "Don't let him get that attack off! Use Dragon Rush!"
"With pleasure!" Dragonite responded, gathering a blue, draconic energy around her body once more. She dived down towards Natsu at an incredible speed, but it wasn't fast enough to stop his attack.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
Natsu's breath attack collided with Dragonite midway, and the two attacks fought for dominance. However, before either one could push the other back, there was a large explosion, covering the crowd in smoke and pushing the spectators back a bit. The windows in nearby buildings began to shatter.
Lowell and the others moved their arms over their faces to block out the smoke, and Levy picked up Ralts to keep him from flying off.
"What insane power." Levy thought.
It took a few moments, but the smoke finally began to clear away. However, Dragonite and Natsu are both still blocked from view by it.
"Who the hell won?" Gray asked, trying to see through the smoke.
Lucy shook her head. "I have no idea." she responded. "Who knows if there even is a winner?" For all they know, they could still be in a stalemate. Although, seeing as though their attacks are now reaching the nearby buildings, it wouldn't be smart for them to continue much longer.
Erza narrowed her eyes as the smoke continued to clear. "Pay attention. The smoke is almost gone. We'll see who is victorious then." she stated.
Everyone watched eagerly, desperately wanting to see the winner of the intense fight.
When the smoke finally cleared, it revealed both Dragonite and Natsu, on their feet. However, neither one of them is without injuries. Dragonite's body is full of cuts and bruises, and there is some evidence of burns on her wings, back, and stomach. She is panting, but otherwise, she is still able to continue if necessary.
Natsu, is in a similar condition. His clothes are torn, leaving the upper half of his body visible, and he is covered in cuts and bruises, as well. He is breathing heavily, and his legs are beginning to shake a little. Soon, he fell to one knee, gasping for breath. He looked up at the dragon-type, stunned at how powerful she really is.
"She isn't even a real dragon. She just has the power of a dragon, and yet she is so powerful!" he thought. As much as he enjoyed the battle, he can't help but feel disappointed in himself that he failed to defeat her, much like how he failed to defeat a single dragon back at the Grand Magic Games.
Technically, the battle isn't over, but even Natsu understands that if he pushed it even further, he would lose. Not to mention, they would cause unnecessary damage to their surroundings. He will have a rematch, but not with so many civilians around to watch. That way, they can finish their battle, without having to be interrupted.
Greninja took notice at how neither Dragonite or Natsu were making an attempt to move, so he called the match. "That's enough! The match will be ended in a draw, to avoid unnecessary damage from taking place!" he announced.
Many people were upset at how the battle was ended, but they all understood the reasoning. Still, many people continued to talk about who they thought would've won if the match wasn't called, right away. Most people believe Dragonite would've won, while many people thought that Natsu would make a comeback.
After the match was called, Lowell walked over to Dragonite, and he placed a hand on her back. "You did well." he complimented. "So, how do you believe he performed?" he asked Dragonite, wanting to her hear opinion.
She smirked, and turned her head towards Natsu. "Pinky wasn't half bad. I'll admit, those fire attacks of his were pretty powerful. I guess that should be expected from someone with the power to slay dragons." she responded.
He nodded his head in understanding. He assumed that Natsu's magic would be somewhat effective against Dragonite, but he couldn't be certain until they tested it. Still, even though they said they would go all out, it was obvious that Natsu was holding back, and the same could be said about Dragonite. They were using the extent of their power that they could use without causing harm to the people watching. If they were alone, the result would've been different.
However, that doesn't make it any easier on Natsu. Lowell can see him clenching his fists in anger, and he doesn't blame him. Losing to something that you are supposed to have the power to slay; it would bother Lowell, as well, if he was in his shoes. Still, if he lets this one match, which was ended in a tie, get to him, then he will never become stronger.
Lowell and Dragonite walked towards Natsu, who is still kneeling on the ground. However, Natsu heard them coming, and he looked up at them.
"Are you still paralyzed?" Lowell asked.
Natsu was hesitant to answer, but he still shook his head. "No. I already burned it away." he responded.
A small smile appeared on Lowell's face. He reached a hand down, offering it to Natsu. Natsu just looked at his hand for a moment, before begrudgingly accepting it and letting Lowell pull him to his feet.
"Don't let this one battle get to you, Natsu." Lowell said. "It was ended in a tie- "
"I would've lost." Natsu said, cutting him off. He began to clench his fists even harder. "I can tell that she was holding back, and I still ended up in worse shape than she did."
"That may be true, but you were also holding back." Lowell said, shocking Natsu. "I highly doubt that was all the power you have, Natsu. However, since this fight was in front of so many civilians, it is understandable to hold back, enough to where they won't get hurt. You may be reckless, but that doesn't make you an idiot." Lowell explained. "If it were under any other circumstances, the fight would've been much closer."
Seeing as how this didn't make Natsu feel much better, Lowell sighed. "You know, that was one of the most fun battles I have had in a long time." he said. This managed to catch Natsu's interests.
"You didn't even fight." Natsu responded. "How was that fun?" he asked.
Lowell smiled and looked at Dragonite. "In Pokemon battles, the trainer commends the Pokemon, while the Pokemon fights. However, both are involved in the battle. Just because one part of the team doesn't fight, that doesn't make them any less involved in the action." Lowell explained. "It is a team effort, and each part of the team must have full faith in the other, otherwise, the team would just fall apart."
Dragonite nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah. What Lowell is trying to say, is that even though you lost, it didn't make the battle any less fun or exciting. The last real challenge we have had was Diantha, and that was a year ago. You may not have won this fight, but the next time we fight, thing will definitely be different."
Natsu's eyes widened in surprise. "Next time?" he asked.
Dragonite smirked. "What? Did you think that I would just let things be determined by this one match?" she asked. "After all, it was a tie. The true winner is still to be determined." she explained, extending her hand for Natsu to shake.
He was still for a moment, but a big, toothy grin soon found its way to his face, and he shook her hand. "You better believe it! The next time we fight, things will be a lot different!" he announced.
"I can't wait." Dragonite responded.
Suddenly, the three of them were surrounded by different members of the guild, all of them talking about how crazy the fight was.
"That was so intense!" Macao exclaimed.
"Yeah, that was crazy." Wakaba agreed.
"That was how a real man fights!" Elfman exclaimed.
"How dare you lose, Natsu?! I lost 10,000 Jewel because of you!" the master exclaimed, angry because he lost money from the bet. Several people actually thought that it would end in a tie, so Makarov still ended up losing his money.
Wendy walked up to Natsu, Carla following right beside her.
"T-that was an incredible fight, Natsu." she said. "If you want, I can heal your wounds." she suggested.
Natsu gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Wendy."
She returned the smile, and then she turned to Dragonite. "What about you? Do you need me to heal you, as well?" she asked.
Dragonite shook her head. "Thanks, but Lowell can handle it." she replied.
Lowell nodded his head in understanding, and he took out two items from his backpack. They are a Full Heal, and a Super Potion. Lowell first sprayed the Full Heal, and then he sprayed the Super Potion. Before anyone could blink, Dragonite's injuries were completely gone, and she flexed her wings to stretch them out a bit.
"Good as new!" she responded.
Wendy looked at Dragonite in shock. "W-wow! That was fast. How did you heal so quickly?"
"I used a Full Heal to get rid of the burns, and then I used a Super Potion to heal the rest of her injuries." Lowell explained. "Most trainers carry these with them, in case their Pokemon get hurt."
"It doesn't hurt to be too prepared." Greninja said, appearing next to Lowell, who nodded his head in agreement.
Footsteps were heard behind them, and they saw Levy and the others walking towards them.
"That was quite the impressive battle." Erza commented. "Maybe I will test your strength myself, one day."
Gray scoffed. "I should've known you were going to lose, flame brain." he said, resulting in Natsu to try and punch him in the face, but he was held back by Greninja.
"At least he didn't give up. I'm sure he could've won, if the fight wasn't stopped." Happy stated.
Lucy nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. He didn't give up, which is what is most important." she said with a smile.
Lowell looked at Levy, and he rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry about that. I guess this goes to show that betting is never a good idea."
She just shrugged her shoulders. "It's alright. I didn't bet very much. Besides, it gave Ralts and I a good look at how a trainer and their partner battle." she said.
Ralts, who is still being held by Levy, nodded his head in agreement. He has a big smile on his face. "Yeah! I can't wait until I get to battle, like that." he said.
Lowell chuckled at bit at his eagerness. "Well, you may get that chance sooner than you might think. Tomorrow, we will be going to Kalos, and you might get the opportunity to battle someone with less experience, much like you and Levy." he said.
The thought made Levy and Ralts excited. They may finally get the chance to prove they have what it takes to make a good team.
"Won't you be focusing on negotiating the preparations for the tournament, as well as shipments of Pokemon-related items to Fiore?" Erza asked. "Will there really be time for battling?"
Lowell sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I know I told Gran Doma it would take about a week, but realistically, it will take more time than that. Also, I will not be handling everything. I will speak with the president of the Pokeball factory, as well as a couple of berry farmers, to see if I can get them to agree to send some berries to Fiore. Diantha will be speaking with people from the Pokemon League Committee, to get them to help with preparations for the tournament." he explained. "Surely, there will be some time in between for Levy to battle someone."
The others nodded in understanding. It will be a very busy week, or two weeks, depending on what happens, but that doesn't mean there won't be time for them to explore a bit.
"So, who is actually going with you?" Gray asked, curiously.
Lowell shrugged his shoulders. "Levy, of course, and Natsu, because he would start whining if I didn't let him come with us."
Happy flew in front of Lowell's face. "Don't forget about me!" he stated. "If Natsu's going, then I'm going, too." he said. He then flew over to Wendy just finished healing Natsu, and he landed on his shoulder.
"As long as there is enough room on the helicopter, then I don't care who wants to come." Lowell said. "Greninja doesn't like flying, so he will travel in his Pokeball. That leaves four seats. However, with Levy and Natsu coming along, that leaves two remaining seats." he said, not including Happy, because he can just ride on Natsu's lap, or something.
"If you two want to go, you can." Erza said to Lucy and Gray. "I will stay behind to make sure that the other members don't slack off."
Lucy looked at Erza, wearily. "Um…are you sure that Natsu and Gray both going is the smartest idea?" she asked. "You won't be there to stop them if they start fighting."
Erza nodded her head. "True, but Lowell and Greninja will be there. I doubt there will be much of a problem."
Lowell nodded his head in agreement. "Of course, there won't. The reason why is because I am forbidding anyone from using magic, while we are in Kalos." he said, shocking the mages around them.
"What?!" Natsu yelled, angrily. "Why can't we use magic?" he asked.
"It is simple, really." Greninja responded with crossed arms. "The people of Kalos don't know of magic, yet, so they would be really freaked out, if they saw someone summoning spirits, or creating fire and ice out of thin air."
"He's not wrong." Levy responded. "After all, the Pokemon can be considered magical creatures, in Fiore. However, on Earth, magic isn't normal, so it would be weird to see people using magic. It would be best to wait until after it is officially revealed, to not cause panic."
Lowell smiled, glad that someone understands the reasoning. "I don't mind if you use it when no one is around, but at least in public, please restrain from using magic."
That doesn't seem like much of a problem, for Lucy. He also doubts Levy would make the mistake of using her magic in front of the civilians. However, he isn't quite sure Natsu and Gray will follow that rule.
"If you want to cause trouble, then you can just stay here." Lowell said to Gray and Natsu. "I won't be dealing with foolishness."
Gray and Natsu both mumbled something under their breath, but after receiving a glare from Lowell and Greninja, they turned away from each other. They just gave a nod of their heads, saying that they understood.
After about half an hour, the crowd was gone, and whatever damaged was caused by the fight was cleaned. Of course, the guild ended up having to pay for the windows that broke during the fight. Master Makarov is just happy that more significant damage wasn't caused, otherwise, it would've costed a fortune to repair.
For the rest of the day, people went about their regular business. Some went on jobs, while others simply stayed in the guild hall and talked, while some decided to get into fights. The latter mainly being Gray and Natsu.
Lowell and Greninja sat at a table with Levy, Lucy, Wendy, and Erza, while drinking some juice that Mira gave them. Of course, he noticed how Mira and Lucy acted when around him and Levy, but the two of them tried to ignore it, the best they could. If either of them tried to make a joke at their expense, they would quickly change the subject.
For the most part, they ended up talking quite a lot about Kalos. Lucy and Levy wanted to learn more, considering that they will be going there, a day from now. He gave them a basic rundown of the region, going a bit more in detail about the places they may end up visiting while they are there.
"So, this professor that you work for, is in Lumiose City?" Levy asked, to which Lowell nodded his head.
"Yes. That is the first place we will be going. Diantha will be meeting us at his lab, although she may get there after us, because she will be trying not to draw attention to herself." he explained.
The others understand that, because it must be hard for a celebrity like her to walk around without being noticed.
"When she is in public, she hardly gets a moment to herself." Greninja stated. "People always swarm her, wanting her autograph. Sure, she likes being able to make others happy, but sometimes it can be rather tiring, to always be surrounded by other people."
Levy nodded her head in understanding. "Yeah. I guess that is another reason why Lowell would refuse the title as champion. He doesn't want the attention it would bring."
Lowell couldn't help but chuckle. She knows him too well, already. "You're not wrong." he responded. "Still, I respect her for being able to handle it. She is one of the people that I look up to the most."
"And the other people you look up to are your sister and your father, right?" Levy asked. She remembered him mentioning his father on the train ride to Crocus, and he has told her a couple of things about his sister.
His mood seemed to falter after the mention of his father, but he still nodded his head. "Yes. My sister gave me hope when I had almost given up on everything, and my father is the one who inspired me to become a trainer, to begin with. I wouldn't be where I am today without them."
Lucy looked at Lowell, kind of shocked. "I didn't realize that you have a sister." she said. "Is she a trainer like you?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Kind of. She is a trainer, but she doesn't take on the gyms like most trainers do. She is a performer, which means that she focuses on making her Pokemon and her Pokémon's moves look good. Personally, I don't get the appeal, but I have always enjoyed watching my sister and her Pokemon perform. It was her dream since she was a child, and she was finally able to achieve it. I couldn't be happier for her." he explained with a smile on his face.
Suddenly, Greninja remembered something. "Wasn't your sister supposed to perform, the day that you got called to the professor's lab?" he asked Lowell.
Lowell frowned. He had almost forgotten about that. He had missed her performance, and he was looking forward to it, as well. "Yes, she was. I guess I will just have to ask mom how she did the next time I speak with her."
"Why don't you just ask your sister?" Erza asked.
Lowell shrugged his shoulders. "She is always busy attending performances, so we rarely get to see each other, anymore. When we do, it is usually over the phone." he explained sadly. He would like to see her, but both siblings are busy, now. He is going to have to wait until things calm down a bit.
"I'd like to meet her, someday." Levy said, shocking Lowell. "She sounds like a wonderful person."
Lowell smiled. He couldn't argue with that. She is one of the kindest people he has ever known, though she does like to tease him when she gets the chance.
Suddenly, he isn't sure if he wants Levy to meet his sister. Surely, she is going to end up teasing him like Mira and Lucy have. Plus, the fact that she is his older sister means that she will definitely take it too far.
Lowell sighed. "That'll probably be in the distant future, so I should just forget about it." he thought.
After a while, everyone returned home, and Lowell and Greninja returned to the forest. He and the others agreed to meet back at the guild tomorrow morning, since that is where the helicopter is supposed to pick them up.
He is a little anxious about going back to Kalos. He shouldn't be, but he is. He is worried that he will mess something up. Lowell has never had such an important job before. Sure, he isn't doing it alone, but he is still nervous that things will go wrong.
He turned to his right, and he saw Greninja laying on the ground, with his arms behind his head. He has already fallen asleep. Lowell knows that his Pokemon will support him, no matter what happens, and so will his new friends.
Lowell laid down next to Greninja, and a small chuckle escaped his lips. He would've never expected he would meet so many new people, let alone people with magical powers. Even now, it seems a little ridiculous, but that's alright. After all, Fairy Tail is like one big family, and family helps one another. He knows that, even though he may have to say goodbye to them someday, he can trust them to back him up, if he needs help. He doesn't need to worry about messing up, because if he does, his friends will help him fix his mistakes.
AN: Sorry that this chapter was a little late. I meant to get this out on Friday, but I have been trying to nurse a bad headache that I have been having since Friday afternoon. I worked on math work for nearly four or five hours without taking much of a break, and I was a little irritated, especially after taking a math test, only to realize how badly I messed up on some of the questions. Finals are coming up soon, as well, and I am just very stressed. I think that stress is what caused the headache, considering that I didn't get it until after I finished doing the math work.
Anyways, what I am trying to say is that I haven't been able to really concentrate very well. It's not an excuse for me to get lazy with my writing, but since my headache wasn't as bad today, I managed to get this chapter done. I am off for Thanksgiving this week, and while I still have more work I need to do, I will try to get another chapter out. I am also working on a new story, that should be coming out after finals are over. We shall see, though.
Now that all of that is out of the way, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and if you did, please leave a review, because any feedback is greatly appreciated. I hope you all have a wonderful day/night!