I'M BACK WITH NATSU'S FIRST MAJOR BLOODY FIGHT! I WAS SOOO EXCITED TO WRITE THIS YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW! And I'm soooo glad to be back. Although the Coronavirus craze is pretty hyped in America, like Goddamn... Trump, you're supposed to REASSURE us, not sound like you're at a funeral as you declare a national emergency- which I know it's a bad thing if it's declared, but still! Another thing is that he took forever to test for the wee beastie himself- what took so long? S there's that too… I'm no politician and I'm not trying to rap (Kinda am, tho) but the way I see it, Trump never expected something of this scale to hit us during his time in office and that's led him to make dumb decisions in this major event. I'm not saying that opening that safe with billions stashed inside it is a bad idea, I'm saying that he could try to sound a bit more confident, try to not deflect some questions and actually answer others.

{This is ASL}

"Normal Talking"

Thinking or flashback

'Telepathic linkup'

"Writing"

Natsu's moves

Emphasis for anger

"Shifted Halfling speaking"


Taipei, Time Unknown

"Oh, I remember you~!"

Salamander narrowed his eyes at the cunning woman as he came up behind Red Arrow. 'Yeah, and I'd remember your smell anywhere, like wild cat and too much makeup.' Cheshire smirked as she looked around Red Arrow. "Oh, don't be like that. Cobra can't wait to play with you again, by the way- you left a pretty good impression on him."

Salamander huffed, snorting black smoke and looking up at Red Arrow with a disgruntled look on his face. 'have you gotten anything out of her?' "Nothing yet," The elder said with a scowl at the woman. "I was waiting for you to get here." Turning to the female Salamander leaned against the wall. 'Where's Aqualad?' "Ran into some minor trouble on the way here. He'll be a bit late." 'Ight. Let's get started.'

Red Arrow turned to Cheshire, who was going through some forms while in a cell. "Who hired you?" he asked. Cheshire merely smiled as she slid into another form seamlessly. "Who else? The shadows, of course." 'And who hired them?' Salamander tacked on, tapping his claws against the scales on his bicep. "I didn't ask, little Dragon." He got with a wink. The Halfling hissed at the blatant teasing- despite his dragon half being settled with Conner's presence earlier that day, the dragon-boy's more animalistic side began to writhe free of it's cage again. Fire flickered over golden markings before going out. 'Endgame? Was it the peace summit or Luther himself?'

"It'd be more accurate to say that they were going after both," Red Arrow said. "Correct, little Red." Cheshire said with a smirk. "Two birds, one stone." Mismatched red and gold flitted up to covered greens before Cheshire spoke again. "So where are the rest of your friends? Especially the archery girl and the buff brute? I like them~." Salamander snarled, fire curling around the corners of his mouth when Roy reached out and gripped his shoulder, grounding him in place. "They are neither in my league nor wanted around me."

Cheshire grinned, reaching forwards and grabbing Red Arrow's collar to pull him close. "Poor Red Arrow… left behind by his mentor only to be replaced by a little girl. Where is your teacher when you really need him? Oh, that's right- teaching little Green Arrow how to be a hero while you work in the cold all alone." she reached out her other hand and grabbed Salamander by his wrist when he was reaching out to pull Red away from her. "And you… Oh, Acnologia told us the consequences of being rejected by a Chosen, the signs of seeing it in you. You better find a place to curl up soon little Salamander, because you're Regressing. The way you go, you probably won't make it to next year." Salamander went rigid, draconic pupils going pencil thin and the irises flashing a deep magma-like amber before he pulled himself out of it.

Red Arrow growled and yanked himself away from her, pulling Salamander along before the kid could lose it, but the salmonette fought the redhead, realizing something wasn't right by the scent in the air. 'Red, she was buying time! I smell Sportsmas-!'

The entire cell block was engulfed in dust as an explosion blew the wall of the cell to pieces. "Great, it had to be you!" Red Arrow heard Cheshire grump. "Yeah, beggars can't be choosers, babycakes."

'ROY! Come on! If you ride we can catch them!' Following Salamander, Red Arrow burst onto the roof of the police building and watched as Salamander shifted, a dragon much larger than his normal form kneeling so Roy could get on. In an instant they were in the air and flying low over the buildings towards the fleeing assassins and their getaway helicopter.

Red Arrow nocked his bow and aimed at Sportsmaster, firing and missing by mere inches. Salamander swooped down and let Red slide from his back before shifting back to his normal form and lighting his fists on fire, the gold and black blazes illuminating the night around them. "I admire your persistence boys," Cheshire said with a smirk. She flung a Shruikan at Salamander while Sportsmaster drew a gun and shot at Red Arrow.

Salamander ducked, feeling the blades of the weapon shave off some three centimeters of the hair on his head, and Red dodged, allowing the two assassins to board the helicopter. Salamander moved to go after the fleeing transport but Red Arrow held him back. "It's my mission, let me go after her."

Firing an arrow he latched onto the underside of the vehicle as it flew away. "Are you even trying to get away?!" Sportsmaster asked Cheshire irritably. "Well, I hate to say it, but he has a good point~." Flashing her knife the woman sliced the rope off, sending Red falling back to the city below. Large claws wrapped around the man's waist and his fall was stopped as Salamander caught him. 'Damn it, Red- what would you do without me?" gold and red eyes had a patented really look as the dragon-boy directed them to a nearby roof. Salamander shifted back and crouched beside his brother. 'Now what?'Red smirked and pulled out a small tracking screen. "Now, we go after them."

~~~~*/|\*~~~~

Salamander was crouched amongst the stone Gargouilles in the shadow of a temple. His eyes laid on Sportsmaster and Cheshire as they bickered about how the mission could have gone wrong.

"I hope you realize that the evening's agenda was to cause strife between nations, and not amongst my contractors?" a voice as oily as tar made Salamander shudder as Ra's al Ghul stepped out from the shadows. Cheshire knelt in respect as Sportsmaster scoffed. "Twice we are disappointed in your failures- Luther has been a thorn in our side for quite some time now." Cheshire blinked under her mask before daring to look up at Ra's. "Master, I'm afraid I don't understand… who is this 'we' you speak of?"

The Head of the Demon tilted his head. "You do not truly think that Cobra was the only one to come through the Anomaly, did you?"

Salamander felt like ice cold water was dumped on his head. Red hair like blood caught the light of the torches, armor unlike any he had ever seen reflecting their red glow. On her left shoulder was a mark, one eerily familiar, and grey eyes were cold with armored determination. "Titania, glad you were able to make this appointment." The girl- Erza, the one from school, the one who stood up for him once- nodded. "Yes, it was rather trying getting away from the school grounds on time, but we managed." The boy from before stepped out of the shadows as well, the entire right side of his body covered in black and lavender chips of ice crackling on his arm. "What'd we miss?"

Ra's looked away. "Nothing of consequence. However, it would seem you are just in time to rid us of two little insects."

Ra's looked straight at Red and Natsu.

The two boys shared a horrified look before they made a decision- scatter.

"Devil Slayer, we go after the Son of Acnologia!" a flash of light pulled at Salamander's attention and he brought up his claws barely in time to deflect the sword arching towards him to slash across his chest. "Ice Devil's Yukimaru!" Salamander bent backwards and disengaged from Erza just as Gray's lavender-colored katana sliced towards him. Red Arrow was occupied with Cheshire, so the Halfling was on his own.

Jumping down from the Band of stone gargoyles the dragon-boy raced along the roof, dodging kunai thrown by the insane girl. Mismatched red and gold eyes jumped from the roof to the sky and he spread his wings. "Oh, no you don't! Ice Devil's SCREAM!"

"Heaven's Wheel Armor: Circle Sword!" Salamander lept to the side and off the building, unable to take off due to the incoming attacks. Tumbling to the ground the Halfling growled, smoke and gold fire trickling from his mouth as he glared at his attackers. 'Who the HELL are you two?! What did I ever do to you?!'

Gray- no, Devil Slayer, sneered, his aura lighting up a pure frosty white that lashed in the air like an angry wraith. Ice spread from his feet like a glacier on fast-forward, ready to freeze the dragon-boy to the very core. He began to shake with fear because instinctively he knew that if this guy hit him full-on with this power, he would not survive it.

"You took everything from us!" Devil Slayer hissed, moving his hands into some sort of casting position. "It's bad enough that bastard killed him, but you'd look exactly like our fallen comrade if you didn't have the features of that monster!" Salamander's world went red, then. With his tail lashing the ground, he snapped his teeth and let fire curl around the corners of his mouth, a low growl rippling from his chest as he bit down on the escaping wisps of flame to cut them off. 'I don't even know who you are!'

It was always about Acnologia. What he did, what he accomplished, who he killed… and his sins were passed onto Natsu, the one trying to atone for things he never did in the first place.

Natsu Dragneel.

Was fucking.

Goddamn Done.

Letting his anger rise to a fever pitch, Salamander's eyes were covered by his bangs. His claws dug through the flesh of his scaly palms and blood dripped from the puncture wounds to the stone below. '…n… king… ll-e.'

A lance of ice shot from the carpet of frost and slammed into Salamander's left shoulder, carrying him off his feet and through a wall before pinning him to the steel of the second wall. "What was that?" the boy's head shot up and both people paused. 'THEN FUCKING KILL ME! FREEZE ME AND CHOP ME TO PIECES IF YOU THINK IT'LL BRING BACK THOSE THAT MONSTER KILLED! It doesn't matter what I do, I'm only seen as Acnologia's son! It doesn't MATTER if I wasn't even fucking born when he did whatever the hell he did to you! It doesn't FUCKING MATTER THAT I'M TRYING TO ATONE FOR WHAT HE DID! TO EVERYONE IN THE DAMN WORLD I'M THE GODDAMN MONSTER FOR BEING HIS KID! I NEVER ASKED TO BE BORN THIS! I NEVER ASKED FOR MY MOTHER TO DIE, AND I SURE AS HELL NEVER ASKED FOR THAT MONSTER TO BE MY FATHER!'

Salamander's chest was heaving from his rant, the sounds of fighting having since faded away. Devil Slayer and Titania stared wide-eyes at the trapped Halfling before bloodthirsty glares slid over their faces. "You hear that, Titania? He said to 'kill him'." the scarlet-haired queen of the fairies glowered, materializing a sword and pointing it at the pinned dragon's chest. "Yes…I heard. He's right- even if we kill him, it won't bring them back…" She traced it over his collar before the blade flashed to the right and dug into his right shoulder with enough force to tear the sleeve away from the joint.

"However, it will give their souls closure and keep others from befalling the same fate as them!"

Salamander refused to cry out. Instead he shot the pair a look that could have curdled dairy and forced his wounded arms to move, wrapping around the sword blade and drawing blood from his palm. Arrow looked up in the direction of the attack in time to see a pillar of gold and black fire burst through the roof merely twelve meters to his right. Looking into the hole after kicking Cheshire and Sportsmaster, the man having come running out at some point with loaded crossbows and even a sword, away, he saw his brother gritting his teeth, blood running from between the grit fangs as Salamander walked off a lance of ice and a sword jabbed through his gut.

Devil Slayer groaned as he looked up and went paler than normal. Salamander was hunched over, salmon locks pushed upwards by the incredible heat being emitted, coughing up blood but refusing to fall. 'This guy… we knew he wasn't normal from the start…but this is unreal!' Salamander took a step forwards, the ground of the temple cracking and splitting under his talons even as blood fell from the hole in his stomach and his mouth. Ra's looked on with an unreadable look before turning away and gesturing to the Assassin and client.

Titania's gaze was trembling as she saw the outline of a monstrous black dragon with flashing golden marking on the left side and jagged red flashing marking on the right poised to strike. 'He's- he's a!'

Salamander hissed, fire jetting from his mouth that sported larger fangs than before. Raising a fist, he ignited it as he prepared to deliver judgment on those who attacked him and his own.

"Monster!"

'Golden Flame Dragon's Iron Fist!' Power washed over the temple grounds before a blast of fire shook the earth. Red Tornado was toppled from the roof to the water below while Sportsmaster and Cheshire escaped with Ra's.

.

Devil Slayer cracked his eyes open after a few moments to see the clawed scaled fist embedded into the stone in the middle of a crater that he and Titania were in. a frantic look to his right sent relief through his body- she was still here, alive. Holy shit they were alive?!

"I… Don't… Kill…" a weary rumbling voice brought the Ice User from his inward rejoice. Looking up, he came face-to-snout with a golden-marked Acnologia look-alike. Rapidly getting into a casting stance Devil Slayer took a moment to see that the demon spawn wasn't attacking them, merely watching. "I never… never have, and never will…"

The dragon got to its feet, teetering precariously on its four legs, before moving to follow the scent of his brother, leaving Titania and Devil Slayer to wonder about their enemy and watch him limp away.

As the dragon turned the corner, Devil Slayer turned to look at Titania. "What do we do? This might change-."

"Nothing has changed." The scarlet haired warrior woman said flatly. Her grey eyes were as flat and sharp as flint knives. "our objective is still the same. Kill Acnologia's son."

=›◊‹=

Salamander shifted back slowly, too tired to go through his normal speeds. There was a pounding in his head, the dragon half of his being straining against the resistance to stay and instead leave, to just bury themselves in instincts and ancient consequences and nothing else.

Not yet.

Finding Roy at the shore of the river, he crouched down and looked at the bright red… red… who was red…? The memory slipped by before the dragon-boy grabbed it firmly in his grasp once more. "R-Rrroy…?" damn… seven years without speaking… he sounded like a frog that exploded in a microwave. The Red archer froze before looking up into mismatched eyes. "Nn… Need h-help.. call… Aaaqual-lad." The red archer stared in awe at the younger teen speaking before he snapped out of it, noticing the real severity of his wounds. "Holy shit… kid, you need to pull out of the mission." Salamander narrowed his eyes, clenching a shaking clawed hand and shaking his head no. "Natsu, you have a literal hole in your gut how are you still even standing?!" 'I just need to cauterize and bandage myself. My healing factor will kick in soon enough.' Red Arrow scowled, sitting up and glaring at the younger.

"You're fucking shaking, Natsu. You're tired, and whatever you did back there sapped what strength you had left. Pull out of the mission." Salamander lit a claw and snarled, slamming it into the concrete and making a hole where his fist broke through the cement. "If it gets too bad, I'll tell you! I'm not a china doll, Roy!' meeting covered green eyes with mismatched red and gold, Salamander rumbled out a determined growl. Pulling his fist from the small crater he ignited it once again, and while looking Red Arrow square in the eyes smacked it over the gaping hole in his gut. Red had to swallow back bile at the smell of roasting flesh, but when Salamander finished and wrapped his scarf around the wound, he had to hand it to the kid for his continued tenacity. Sighing while shooting his rebellious younger brother a look, the vermilion archer tapped his earpiece, and called their last back-up man.

"Hey, it's me… we may need more backup after all…"

~~~~*/|\*~~~~

Salamander stood next to Kaldur under his Medallion disguise. Listening to Luther sweet-talk the two Relasian leaders made the teen grudgingly admit that if he were a dragon, he'd be one of the more crafty ones. 'A Mirage Dragon maybe…' he said to Kaldur via telepathy. The Atlantian, despite the serious situation, had to quirk his lip in a small smile. The scent of bloodlust smacked Salamander in the face and he reached up in a flash and ripped off the medallion. 'Cheshire's here! Behind us!'

The dragon boy and Atlantian brandished their weapons- water bearers and claws and flame while the audience gasped and tried to back away. The disguised woman smirked before pressing a button on the cart she was pushing before shoving it at them.

For the second time that night, Salamander spoke.

'EVERYONE GET DOWN!'

The cart exploded.

Fire and heat swirled around the room, people screamed as they tried to find cover. then everything seemed to stand still, the oppressive heat seeping away rapidly.

"W-what is that sound?!" a Relasian leader demanded.

*Gulp*

"I-I hear it too!"

*Gulp!*

"That crazy bastard! Is he-?!" Red Arrow started. Aqualad smirked as the smoke and fire cleared to show Salamander sucking the fire down like flaming spaghetti. His suit had been blasted apart though, showing the wounds he had obtained during the night already, but despite his fatigue and desire to just drop, he kept going until not a single ember was left.

The crowd was making noises of awe and relief as the Halfling gulped down the last spark. With a huff, Salamander reached up shakily to wipe his mouth, shoulders trembling with the exertion. Looking up at the assassin, the dragon boy grinned, and the blood staining his teeth made it that much more frightening for the receiver of the grin. Speaking directly to her with his telepathy, Salamander lit his fists on fire.

'Now I've got a fire in my belly.'

=›◊‹=

Aqualad and Red Arrow came down beside him, aiming their weapons at the assassin. "It's over, Cheshire. Time to give up." Red Arrow said. The woman smirked. "You'd think that, wouldn't you~?" the droning of a helicopter was picked up by the Halfling's ears and he grit his teeth before stiffening. 'Cobra.' He snarled. With a growl ripping from his chest, Salamander stood up, his mismatched eyes shadowed by his bangs and started walking towards the windows behind Cheshire. The woman smirked but one look in Salamander's eyes, unseen by the others behind him or in front unless they looked right at him, made her falter.

'Stay out of the way.'

Salamander sped up his stride, passing the Atlantian and allowing the water-borne teen to catch a glimpse of something that set him slightly on edge. "Wait, Salamander-!" Red Arrow called out for the younger but Aqualad pulled him back. "Did you see that?"

Red Arrow looked at Aqualad incredulously. "See what?"

"…His eyes… he isn't all there." Red's frame tensed when he realized what it meant and cursed under his breath. "Take out Cheshire and Sportsmaster, then we can worry about Salamander." Red Arrow scoffed. "You mean you get Sportsmaster; Cheshire is mine." The woman in front of them laughed, throwing her head back and bearing her pearly teeth in a feral grin. "Oh, he must have smelled Cobra. That snake is eager to settle the score." The two snapped their attention to her and tensed. "What do you mean?"

"Well, your dragon isn't the only one with allies and power-ups in the magical department."

~~~~*/|\*~~~~

Play Tokihanatareshi Chikara from Fairy Tail OST

Salamander raced to the broken windows and lept into the air, spreading his wings and hanging for a split second before driving his wings downwards and shooting towards the Poison Dragon like a rocket. Cobra snarled, green eyes flashing as he brought up his claws. "I've never had to retreat from a mission until you came along! For punishment, I got this!" His left eye was gone and only a jagged scar sealing over the socket remained, the sight making Salamander draw to a stop. "this time, I'm gonna kill you. You'll be nothing but mush on the fucking pavement when I'm done with you!"

That's funny- he didn't seem to have a problem retreating when we first met…

Cobra shifted, his huge horned serpentine shape coiling in the sky before it shrieked at Salamander, poison dripping from its fangs to the streets below. Salamander felt his dragon half clawing at his mind, trying to break through, but he shoved it down- that cost him and he felt Cobra's bladed tail slam into his gut, sending jagged pain through his body as it connected with his previous wound. The dragon boy recovered over a large skyscraper and shook his head, looking around, straining his ears and scenting the air, but all he got was a burning sickly sweet smell all around him. "how your little group managed to make the League of Shadows retreat is something I'll never know, you useless wyrm." The air whistled and Salamander ducked top avoid the bladed barb from taking his head off.

Golden Flame Dragon's Roar!

His golden fire lit up the night around him, giving him some visibility, but when Cobra wasn't seen in his frontal view he turned to the right. Nothing, so the left?!

"Surprise~!"

A sickly violet barrage of Poison Dragon's Scales slammed into Salamander's upper left side, smashing him through a window and into the middle of a conference meeting. Cobra shrieked in the skies as he circled around, barreling straight for the downed dragon-boy. Spinning to the shocked meeting attendees Salamander forced his throat to work. "R-Ruun! Y-youu need to RUN!" in an instant Cobra smashed his way through the rest of the broken window, snapping and hissing toxic fumes at the dragon-boy. The Halfling rammed the snake-snout and forced him back out, latching to his face and blasting it with a torrent of fire.

Cobra shrieked and shook Salamander off, the boy hovering in the air and glaring down at the serpentine Halfling under him. red and gold eyes glared into a singular toxic green, wings flapping as the two circled each other. 'You're not going to win, Cobra!' Salamander shouted. 'Even if I have to break every single bone in your body, I'll drag you back to the ground!' diving towards the ground and shifting as he went Salamander wove between buildings, leading Cobra around with his want to kill him- he had to get him to a less populated area. The Halfling cursed when he realized there were still people on the streets in this. 'Everyone, you need to get away! He's after-!' the smell of poison increased tenfold and Salamander rolled to the right to avoid a Poison Dragon's Roar.

Turning in mid roll Salamander slashed at his gaining adversary with his claws, making Cobra draw back. Taking the advantage Salamander flew and head-butted the serpent- only it didn't connect. The snake was reading him again, and he wound himself around the Golden Flame Dragon and started to squeeze. Gritting his teeth he turned to the dumbstruck crowd below them and roared. "RUUUUUUNNN!"

With Salamander lighting himself up, Cobra managed to slither away in time, but took notice of the hole in Salamander's gut. The words were racing through the fire-user's mind at a mile a minute and Cobra heard every word.

I have to protect the humans and keep him occupied! Dammit, maybe if I-

"Go for a Golden Flame Dragon's Sword Horn you'll be able to knock me to the ground where you can fight easier?" Cobra mocked the other Halfling's thoughts and laughed when he looked startled. "Remember, I can hear you! Whatever plans you make I'll hear them!" the smell of poisons made Salamander loopy, he was wobbling in the air and coupled with his injuries and crudely treated hole in his gut his strength was flagging. His greater weight while in dragon form made flight harder. Cobra smirked.

=›◊‹= End Song =›◊‹=

"Keep me away from the Humans?! Why are you so worried about them? I can hear it in your mind, the hate for them and at how they treat you!" the poison dragon barreled through the air, letting poison fill his mouth as he got closer to the exhausted Halfling.

Salamander jolted his head up and breathed a panicked blast of fire at Cobra, the golden yellow blaze reflecting off the windows of the buildings around them. The smaller dragon was rammed in the gut, blood flying from his maw, and slammed into an old parking building below with a poison-wreathed claw pinning him and digging into the chinks of his underbelly scales. Unknown to them, the reporters gathered to speak of the peace summit had shifted to the two battling dragons and heard every word the poison dragon spoke. The people all over the world watching felt some form of dark smugness, the we knew that inside Acnologia's son was like his father- it was only a matter of time smugness. Back in Happy Harbor Megan was tense and Conner was wide-eyed at the revelation. The people in their class were muttering and giving dirty looks at the TV. That is, before said subject's voice rang through the screen with an echo-like quality, and everyone watching saw how the dragon's mouth didn't move, but his expressions change.

'You're wrong…' Salamander said, his golden eye shut from the blood dripping from a scratch in his scales and blinding said eye. 'It's not the humans I hate…' a clawed talon came up and gripped Cobra's wrist before throwing it off, sending drops of blood everywhere. 'It's the fact… that that monster dug his claws in so deep that they can't help but fear and hate me… the fact that his legacy is what makes them avoid me, some hurl trash at me, call me a beast…' fire writhed around the downed dragon, making his serpentine adversary leap off and rise back into the air. 'But… I made a promise to my mother… and to Gramps… I swore that I'd fix whatever he ruined! Even if it took me a thousand years, I would!'

Salamander stood, shifting back to his normal form as he went, and planted his feet. he let his fire surge about him, feeling it's intense and comforting heat.

~~~~*/|\*~~~~

Meanwhile back at the summit, Red Arrow was holding his own against Cheshire. Aqualad blocked a thrust from Sportsmaster as he skillfully wielded a fencing sword. Knocking the blade away, Aqualad pulled at some water to make a pair of machetes with his Water Bearers. "Not bad, Kid. It's a far cry from what you gave on Santa Prisca or Bialya." Aqualad jolted, scowling at the information being thrown at him. "How did you know about-?!" Sportsmaster laughed. "Now now, kiddo. A hunter never reveals his methods, but let's just say I have an… inside source. Very inside."

Red Arrow grit his teeth when Cheshire kicked him back. Defending with his bow the red archer hooked her next blow with her foot in the string and gripped her ankle tightly. Planting his feet Red swiveled his hips and threw Cheshire into a wall, dazing her. The vermilion archer was so done with this mission!

"Aqualad, let's end this!" looking up, Red Arrow took aim at the sprinkler system and fired. The drizzle turned into a torrent and Aqualad felt power rush through him. he gathered the water and formed a giant snake. The watery apparition roared and attacked, devouring League of Shadows assassins before flinging their unconscious forms from its liquid body. As it barreled straight for Sportsmaster, Cheshire landed in front of him and palmed a grenade.

Chucking it into the water construct's mouth, moments later it exploded, sending steam everywhere.

With the smoke screen in place, a still-conscious assassin lept through the veil, screaming for blood.

"Mercy."

Before anyone could react a blast slammed into the attacker and knocked him unconscious. The members of the summit stared in awe at the woman- who was apparently a robot-cyborg, before looking at Luther. Aqualad and Red Arrow turned back to the smoke as it began clearing but Cheshire and Sportsmaster were gone. "Give a different meaning to 'Arms Race', doesn't it?" before they could answer a shriek came from outside and Aqualad tensed, sharing a wide-eyes look with Red Arrow.

"Shit, Salamander's still fighting that guy!" Aqualad turned to the smashed window where they could see the still -battling dragons. Worry made his heart clench when he saw Salamander's more bulky frame flagging before worry was replaced with fear as the snake slammed Salamander into a building. Luther turned to the TV that had somehow survived the chaos of the assassination attempt and nodded to Mercy, having her turn it on.

"The streets are in utter chaos! The attempts on North and South Relasian leaders appear to have been stopped, but-!" a roar ripped through the skies over Taipei and a flash of purple and gold was seen between buildings on the TV just as Salamander blew a gout of fire only miles outside the window. The news reporter screamed and ducked, shielding herself from falling debris. "It's an all-out dragon fight over our heads, people! The League's Salamander and a foreign snake-like dragon are fighting over our heads as we speak!" the scene was switching from camera to camera as there were many driving around and following the dragon fight- the cruel words being fired from Cobra's mouth and how hard Salamander fought.

=›◊‹= Play Fairy's Glitter (Yosei no Kagayaki) from Fairy Tail OST =›◊‹=

=›◊‹=(May need to have it on repeat)=›◊‹=

'You're wrong…it's not the humans I hate…' a clawed talon came up and gripped Cobra's wrist before throwing it off, sending drops of blood everywhere. 'It's the fact… that that monster dug his claws in so deep that they can't help but fear and hate me… the fact that his legacy is what makes them avoid me, some hurl trash at me, call me a beast…' fire writhed around the downed dragon, making his serpentine adversary leap off and rise back into the air. 'But… I made a promise to my mother… and to Gramps… I swore that I'd fix whatever he ruined! Even if it took me a thousand years, I would!'

Red Arrow clenched his fists as he heard Salamander solidify his resolve to fix what Acnologia did on worldwide television.

Aqualad closed his eyes and prayed for Poseidon to lend his brother strength. Even if we are polar opposites when it comes to our elements, the Atlantian thought. He deserves so much because of his faith in humanity and everything else. Lord Poseidon, please lend him your strength!

In Central City, Wally and his class were watching the broadcast as well, and the speedster was watching with rapt attention. Come on, Natsu… Wally said. Don't give up. The speedster knew how rough Natsu had it in life- he didn't have any heroes like Wally did in his family, and Natsu's powers were seen as a disease or something evil due to his blood. In a way, Wally was faintly envious of the fire-user. Even if people throw him down, kick him into the dirt, dislocate his wings or break his arms and legs, Natsu will find a way to forgive and forget. Natsu wasn't always exuding confidence like Wally pretended to. Natsu never tried to force things to happen despite his elemental affinity's basic property- passion and brightness. Natsu just did what he could and damn the consequences. Wally felt less-than, felt inferior to his uncle- hell people didn't even remember his name on their first day out! But as he and his classmates watched Salamander become more bloody and battered, doped up on poison and flagging in strength, the saffron speedster realized what it was that he didn't have that Natsu did.

Will.

In Gotham, Dick and Bruce were watching the broadcast with tense frames. "He seems to be weakening, Master Bruce…" Alfred said worriedly. Bruce nodded. "It would seem that he was more injured than he let on when Red Arrow made the request to send in Aqualad… we need to prepare the medical bay for their return at the Mountain." the young Grayson had no objections and hurried down to the cave without being asked, worry and fear for his brother swirling like a typhoon in his gut. He already lost his parents, he didn't want to lose his brother. Dick was all alone when Bruce adopted him, only meeting Natsu when they were around nine and a half, maybe ten? It really told how close the boys were that he couldn't remember much without Natsu being there next to him. After quickly dressing into his uniform, Robin pulled up the stream from the battle once more with his gauntlet computer.

Fight him, Natsu. The Boy Wonder thought fiercely. After everything, you're NOT gonna get offed by some doped-up freaky snake charmer. Fight him!

In a place unknown, Raven, daughter of Trigon, watched her student, her acolyte, her son, fight one hurdle in the many on his path. Her gaze was shadowed and her looking mirror flashed from one major point in the fight to another. Your battle had only truly begin, Natsu Dragneel. She thought sadly. This is just the first obstacle of many.

=›◊‹=

In Metropolis Lois Lane and the rest of the Daily Planet were gathered around the TV, wide-eyed at the fight going on. "This is intense… I never knew the Salamander felt like that…" one man said to Lois's right. The woman sighed. "When you think about it, we've been giving him all the reasons to turn to what his father did…" Clark side-eyes her with a frown, but doesn't say anything. "He's never hurt us, his father did… we just associate the closest thing to the cause and push the blame onto that…this kid- god, he's just a kid- just said that even if we hate him, he doesn't hate us, he gets it."

Lois gained a look of determination and spun on their boss who was standing in the room with them. "Sir, I'd like to start a project." The man jumped at her determined look before narrowing his eyes. "Depends on what it's about…" Lois looked back at the screen and saw that it had panned closer to the dragon-boy. His red and gold eyes were exhausted, but an fire blazed within them. his golden flames billowed around him and made his only remaining clothing item, his pants, ripple with the heat. His wings were spread and his stance, despite the horrid wounds, was firm and tall.

"It'll be about Salamander. Truly about Salamander, not what we think about him, but what he's really about- his full back story, his thoughts, feelings, and trials to be where he is now. I want to know the kid under all those scales and fire, not the monster that we've made him out to be."

Clark looked skeptical- the Halfling was just fighting an enemy, what was there to be so excited about? As he glanced back at the TV he felt a tickling sense of hesitation about the dragon-boy. That determination and will… it reminded him a little bit of himself…

"I think… I think we should, sir." The hidden kryptonian said, adjusting his glasses. Around them, their coworkers and collogues all started to mutter in agreement, nodding or already starting to do some research on more lesser-known sites about the heroes and their sidekicks.

Their boss narrowed his eyes before he looked at the screen as well- someone had paused it and the frame of Salamander standing straight and tall, the scrap of fabric tied around his waist with blood stained and bleeding through, but the wind making his scarf flap behind him almost like Superman's cape would.

The man wasn't a hero, wasn't a metahuman… but damn it if the image of that kid standing like that didn't light a fire in him too.

"Permission granted, then Miss Lane. Everyone who wants to be included will have this as a side project, though. This will be your main focus, Lane, and Kent? You'll be with her on that."

His two top reporters nodded and stood a little straighter. "Yes sir."

=›◊‹= End Song =›◊‹=

~~~~*/|\*~~~~

Salamander zipped through the buildings, following as well as he could behind the snake until he suddenly vanished. The smell of poison made it impossible to pinpoint him, and every gust of wind made the Halfling jumpy. 'Where are you?!' Salamander bellowed. 'Come out and face me!'

"Poison Dragon's ROAAARRRR!"

Salamander let out a choked scream as the poison washed over him. His eyes burned, his skin itched, his heart raced, and as the black and gold Halfling fell he had to dodge a kick covered with poison heading for his chest. It was close, but even so Cobra grazed Salamander's chest. The two Halflings snarled at each other and lunged, throwing punches and kicks, using their tails to bash and batter while their wings threw each other off balance with their constant flapping. Salamander got in a few good hits, many in the chest and a good axe-kick to the head, but he barely remembered moving to make those moves- it was almost as if his mind would shut off in that time. Cobra smacked him with his tail in a roundhouse motion and Salamander crashed through another window, sending several people screaming as they gave the two battling Halflings room.

Salamander had blacked out for a moment with that blow. Coming to laying on his side he coughed and winced when blood coated his tongue. Cobra was hovering in the opening they made, split lip, cut scalp and a slashed arm bleeding a moderate amount. Gotta… gotta get up…with that Salamander forced himself to his feet, teetering a bit but he used his tail as a third leg to prop himself up with.

Looking back at the terrified people he gave them a shaky grin, being sure to wipe the blood from his teeth. 'It's okay. I'll protect you!'

"Sure, you'll protect them," Cobra's voice grated on Salamander's ears, making him growl as he turned back to the poison user. "But who'll protect you?" reaching out faster than the fire-user could react, Cobra gripped him by the neck and flew higher, leaving the city far below and those watching to see nothing but dark sky.

"Any last words, Salamander?" Cobra hissed. The dragon boy scrabbled at the scaly purple arm franticly, whipping his tail around and thrashing. Opening his mouth he made to breathe fire in Cobra's face but the Poison Dragon Slayer simply dodged and came up to grip the head of pink hair from behind. "If that's how you want it, FINE!" Cobra laughed manically as he dove towards the ground, gripping Salamander's wings and tail to keep him from struggling with what strength he had. "I'll end this by smashing your fucking skull on the pavement, you pitiful little brat! Tell your mommy I said 'hi' when you see her on the other side!"

=›◊‹=

In the Mountain, Robin and Batman watched with their hearts in their throats as Salamander was forced to plummet in his adversary's grasp.

In the Summit meeting, Red Arrow and Aqualad were wide eyed and ice flooded their veins when they saw their brother about to die.

In Happy Harbor High, Conner had stood up and shouted his friend's name, eyes wide and fear-filled while Megan had her hands over her mouth and tears filling her eyes.

In Central City, Wally was looking away from the screen and had squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn't bear to watch.

In Metropolis Clark and the rest of the Daily Planet Crew, a few out of the thousands all over the world who had a change of heart upon hearing the Halfling's declaration and were rooting for him were either crying out, shouting encouragement, or praying for a miracle to happen.

In her own realm, Raven was crying, the first true emotion she'd showed since her father was sealed away and her powers deemed unstable- yet nothing was happening. She was freely crying, fearing for her child that might lose his life on Earth.

High on a building and watching the fight, Titania and Devil Slayer were attentive, curious at what would happen. Would Cobra succeed, or would he fail?

Is this it…?

Am I going to die…?

No… I refuse.

=›◊‹= Play Dragon Slayer from Fairy Tail OST =›◊‹=

*The red dragon sits in his cave, darkness all around. He opens a single amber eye and rumbles.*

I won't die like this…!

"Natsu! Remember what I taught you. When all seems lost and you're in the verge of falling into darkness, ROAR!"

who are you?

"If you cannot to that, then how can you call yourself a Son of ******?!"

...Son- Son of who?"

"ROAR, MY SON. ROOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRR!"

The voice was familiar, it carried a fire like none he could ever make, and that fire stoked his own. This Mysterious voice wanted a roar?

...Well, Natsu Fucking Dragneel would fucking give it the best goddamn roar that ever graced this world!

Salamander growls and opens his eyes, furious at this situation. He wasn't going to die like this! Fuck this snake bastard, fuck those who tell him to die, FUCK THOSE WHO WANT HIM GONE! HE STILL HAS THINGS TO DO DAMMITTT!

Salamander opened his mouth and announced his fury to heaven and earth as he ignited into a pillar of fire.

And all over the world, those who were watching felt the indignant rage, the urge to protect, and couldn't look away.

And then Salamander, Natsu Burnbright Dragneel, felt it bubbling in his guts. Something primal scrabbled at his vocal chords, and he let it out.

The Justice League's Salamander didn't just scream…

He roared.

=›◊‹=

Red Arrow and Aqualad could hear it roll across the city, Salamander's determination, his rage. it pulled something in them and they couldn't look away as the skies lit up in flame, pushing the clouds that had gathered overhead away. The scream was inhuman, and the more the two elder former protégés listened, the more they realized that it actually wasn't a human roar at all. It was guttural, beastial, deep and primal. This was the roar of a dragon.

Wally's aversion to watch what would have been a splat was forgotten as he heard Salamander roar. The call made it seem like the world was trembling, and through the TV Wally saw several building's windows shatter from the volume.

Batman and Robin stared as an image flickered to life behind the roaring Halfling- it was almost misty, wreathed with fire and the wings were nothing like Natsu's in that they were webbed and tattered but still fully functional. The image was a dragon, and it's scales were red as it's flames and eyes were as golden as Natsu's fire.

In Happy Harbor, Conner and Megan had been metaphorically blown back at the feeling and volume of Salamander's dragon cry. It raced along the clone's every nerve, latching in and sending a racing fire in his veins. Megan felt it too, but it made her feel uncomfortable, the heat. She was unable to block it out, though. It was that powerful.

Cobra never knew what hit him. his eardrums felt like they were being ripped apart with a tiny rusted fork. The tapered extremities bled and his vision whited out, the cry of something other than Acnologia penetrating his mind and burning all other thoughts and plans to ash in a second. His claws slipped from Salamander's head and he fell limp down to the pavement past his intended victim. Salamander instinctively spread his wings with the loss of restirction. His roar died down and he finally took a breath.

=›◊‹= End Song =›◊‹=

Looking around, the Halfling searched for his opponent, but didn't see him.

"MY EEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRRRSSSSS!"

Oh, there he is.

Salamander panted as he watched Cobra crash onto the roof of the same car park building they had been on earlier and stay down, writhing and cursing as he clutched at his shot to hell ears. There was far too much poison to burn out of his system this time, and he didn't realize his flapping was getting less and less, his breathing more and more labored, his blood falling more heavily as the cauterized wound had been reopened a bit (and the poison wasn't making it any better) until he had crash-landed into the streets below him. It's over… he sighed to himself as he saw darkness crawl through the corners of his vision. He gave a tired bloodstained grin to the sky above. And raised his index finger and thumb over his head. He was victorious, and over an agent of his father to boot.

Maybe... he could rest now…?

yeah... a nap sounds... really... great...

~~~~*/|\*~~~~

"Salamander! Hey, answer us!" Red Arrow and Aqualad, after ensuring the summit was a success, had sprinted to the last sighting their brother was at. The closer they got, the more the crowds began to thicken, people shouting over each other and trying to get over to where the halfling had crashed to. "Move! We're with him! Get out of the way!"

Aqualad ruptured a fire hydrant to make a ramp to get them both over the crowd and to Salamander's side.

Then they caught sight of him they felt a stone form in their stomachs. Sala- no, Natsu, was pale, once tanned skin sweaty and almost translucent. What was worse was that he wasn't moving.

Swearing in Atlantian, the water-borne boy picked up the pace. "Red Arrow, get us a transport back to the Mountain now!" as soon as he shouted that over his shoulder he slid the rest of the distance down the water ramp like a slide and to Natsu's side. Placing his palm just under Salamander's nose and just over his mouth, the Atlantian's dark skin paled. Next he shoved his fingers against the boy's scaly neck. Shooting a fearful look at Red Arrow he uttered eight words that the cameras still broadcasting caught, cutting through the celebrations for this boy's victory.

In Happy Harbor Conner felt his heart stop and Megan gasp with tears in her eyes.

In the Mountain, Batman, Robin, Black Canary, and Wonder Woman- the two woman had arrived to see if anyone else was seeing the event- were doused with ice-cold fear.

In Central City Wally went still, stiller than he ever had been since he recreated Flash's lab accident.

In Metropolis Clark and Lois tensed.

… and all because of these two sentences, with three and five words, to make a damning eight-word status:

"He's not breathing... I can't find his pulse!"