Chapter 63...
"H-how's this?" A voice asked from behind a closed door.
"Hmm, a little shorter." A familiar voice of Natsu replied.
"Alright, just...have to braid it too."
"You got it down. Looks exactly like Beth." Natsu nodded in approval. After getting dragged into one of the rooms of the Mermaid Heel mages, Natsu was baffled at this new face he hadn't met. Her name was Flare Corona. She was a pretty quiet, and nervous type of person, but she was okay by him. She had a slim and buxom figure. She wore a red dress that had a slit at the hip and patches that looked to be sewn onto it and showed off a large portion of her chest. And stamped onto one of her breasts was the insignia of the guild itself. However, her most notable feature was her long, crimson hair. Apparently, her magic was capable of manipulating her mess of red locks into any form she wished.
As for how Natsu came into the picture...
"You know, if you really wanted an opinion, you could just ask," Natsu told her. If it was something as innocent as that, he didn't mind giving a few minutes of his time just to give an outside perspective of her hairstyle.
Dragging him in such a rough manner was unnecessary.
"C-couldn't... bring you here...until the Demon let you go." Flare's red eyes lowered as she fidgeted. She was a bit quiet and flinching, but it seemed to be her way of speaking.
"Do you not get along with Mira that much?" Natsu asked curiously. Granted Mira was a hothead sometimes, but he couldn't see her spreading fear among her colleagues.
"I...the Demon is scary when she's angry..hehe...as you probably figured out by now." She chuckled ominously.
"Can't disagree with you there." Natsu sighed while thinking about what took place in her room. "Got to say though..." Natsu looked around Flare's room. There were shelves along the wall with paper drawings of hairstyles he'd never seen before. "You must take a lot of interest in your hair."
"I like every one's hair..." She smiled as her strands were waving strangely around her in a positive display. "Everyone has their own kind of hair...and the way they style it looks interesting...I try to...c-copy..but I don't know if it looks good on me..or not." She lamented with a frown.
"Well, you got it down. Looks like you worked really hard to-" Natsu tried to encourage.
"I don't really think it's that special though..." Flare sat on the red-carpeted floor against her mattress.
"What do you mean?" Natsu asked. He joined her and sat next to her.
"Every girl has to manage hard to keep their hair from going dry and getting too long. Washing it. Brushing it. Braiding it. Curling it. There are all sorts of things people do..to make their hair look great. But for me..." Flare just slid her hand down her hair after grabbing it. "I just think about the shape and my hair just does it. I don't have to brush it, or use my hands."
"I think you're selling yourself kinda short there." Natsu disagreed.
"What do you mean?" Flare looked up blankly.
"Well, I mean, if you can do all that without having to worry about brushing it...doesn't that make it convenient?"
"I..once thought that. But...everyone here always tells me I don't know what it's like to have to deal with unruly hair every day. So...I try my best to do it with my own hands...but I can't unless someone helps." She sadly put.
"I don't know what you're talking about, it looked good to me." Natsu complimented.
"Fufufu~ Cherry Hair is a womanizer." Flare giggled while her braids wagging with delight.
"Trust me that's the last thing I want to be called." Natsu sighed.
"Well...if a man like you says yes...then I feel a little bit...confident, I suppose." She blushed and smiled warmly. "Okay. I better let you go now before the master shows up and gets angry." Flare insisted.
"Ultear getting angry?" Natsu deadpanned.
"Mm. I've only ever seen her get mad at one person here. And I thought she would kick them out for good." Flare gripped her arms and felt a chill, recalling the sour tone that day left for everyone.
"Who?" Natsu narrowed his eyes.
"Minerva."
"Oh." Natsu could actually see that happening. "Expelled though? I figured you all were more family than anyone else. I can't see her wanting to boot any of you out. What the heck did she do to get on her bad side?" Natsu was now curious.
"Someone tried to break in here one time, and Minerva just so happened...to be in the lobby. So before they could take even so much as another step, Minerva blew them away in an instant." Flare held her arms out as if she were imitating a huge explosion. "That same person then tried to set fire here and...hurt one of us. So Minerva...errr..." Flare suddenly started shaking slightly.
"..." Natsu could tell she was frightened.
"She beat him within an inch of his life, and blew his arm off and left him for dead in the alley next door." Flare swallowed nervously.
"She did what?!" Natsu was wide-eyed.
"L-later, the master found out and got in trouble for it. We almost got shut down because of that. But Ultear managed to come to an understanding, because the man who tried to set this place on fire was also charged with the crime of trespassing, and arson-"
"You sure love to run your mouth, introvert." Minerva's voice suddenly sounded behind them and Natsu and Flare whipped around to see Minerva with a very angered look on her face. "Go on, tell him more of my personal history why don't you?"
"M-M-Minerva?!" Flare crawled backward from her menacing presence.
"I do not believe this outsider needs to know about unnecessary details. Particularly when it concerns me." Minerva scolded her.
"I-I-I-I just...was explaining...you-you were just looking out for everybody." Flare nervously spoke.
"From the way you said it, I don't believe that was your intent." Minerva scoffed.
"I didn't mea-?" Flare was trying her best to apologize, but Natsu held an arm up to her to silence her. He stood up to Minerva and sported a serious look.
"It's alright Flare. I shouldn't have asked if I knew your neighbor was this sensitive about it." Natsu worded.
"Sensitive doesn't quite cut it. The affairs involving this guild are none of your concern. I'd suggest you stop digging for gossip about our lives here." She warned him.
"I wasn't digging for gossip. If it was something that serious, I'd go straight to the person in question. I didn't think it was that serious." Natsu retorted.
"Well, now you know. Yes, I took that bastard's arm off. And yes, I and Ultear had a disagreement, but he hasn't tried to appear here again. I'd say my actions bore fruit."
"You..." Natsu narrowed his eye at her.
"What? You disagree?" Minerva scoffed once more.
"...no. I see the reasoning." Natsu closed his eyes.
"...hmph." Minerva huffed and looked away.
"But next time you decide to hurt someone," Natsu began to leave. "Make sure it's your cross to bear, not your master's." He said before heading towards the door.
"You-!" Minerva gritted her teeth and her magic power spiked.
"I'm just gonna say this right now." Natsu stopped with his back still to her. "Don't think for a second I'm in this to win favor with any of you. I have no ill will to anyone here, and I am not looking to start trouble."
"Then please see to it to stop winding up here every time you get a measly scratch." Minerva calmed herself. "I've never seen anyone as fascinated with you here as Ultear and the Empresses. What do you hope to accomplish by that?"
"I don't know what trash human being you're trying to paint me as, but I am not that kind of person." He firmly said to her.
"..." Flare looked to Minerva nervously.
"..." Minerva remained silent with a steel resolve.
"..you keep at it Flare. I'm sure your guildmates are gonna ask you to help with their hair in the near future. It was nice to meet you." He smiled at her before walking out the door. The two women were left by themselves.
"I-I'm sorry Minerva. I wouldn't have said anything if-"
"Just don't carelessly let him in your room for a dumb reason like that again." Minerva ordered her.
"I-if you say so." Flare nodded. "B-but he doesn't seem like a bad pers-"
"I will be the judge of that." Minerva walked out the door.
Minerva turned to head to her room and found Mira leaning against the wall next to it. Minerva stopped a few feet from her and the two locked eyes. Mira seemed to be pissed off at something. It wasn't unusual, but it was more obvious than normal.
"Well now, it's not often you come to my doorstep." Minerva crossed her arms under her chest. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Mirajane?"
"...you know, I never really could stand that stick-up-the-ass routine you always do." Mira sighed.
"Well, it appears I'm the only one here who actually remembers what this whole guild stood for. And not indulging in Ultear's whims."
"Do tell, sister." Mira sarcastically said.
"Why should we allow that man to roam these halls as if he owned the place? Every other time a man set foot in this building, you were normally the first one to kick them out on the street without hesitation."
"Oh, no, don't get me wrong, I still am that person. Trespassers have no right to come in here and disturb the peace."
"Then why do you tolerate him here? WE are the ones who built this place with our blood, sweat, and tears. Every single one of us had nowhere to call home. We showed this world that we are not as reliant on others to push us to this height."
"I'm well aware of that."
"Then why-?!" Minerva broke face and hissed.
"Minerva. I know why you're distrustful of men. As if your father abandoning you wasn't enough, that creep you tore into red confetti made Flare hole up in her room for the most part." Mira tried to reason. "So I understand why you want to protect everyone here."
"I appear to be the only one." Minerva quipped.
"...I'm just saying. This one is different."
"How can you tell?" Minerva persisted.
"Because he's helped us out more times than I can count, and saved my life more than once, and NEVER asked for anything in return. Ultear brings him over here. Ultear trusts him. Ultear wants him here. She's happy when he's here. What more of a reason do you need?"
"Ultear has never relied on anyone. She shoulders everything for all the members. She refused to even give anyone the light of day after that incident." Minerva's eyes looked towards the ground.
"Exactly."
"And now she just finally decides to be involved with everyone after that man enters her life?" Minerva sounded as if she was betrayed.
"What do you mean?"
"Why couldn't she look to us when there were problems? I did everything she ever asked of us. I would give my life after she took me in. And I try to do one thing for her and everyone, and somehow, I'm the one that's in the wrong." She clenched her fist.
"...!" Mira was then surprised after looking behind Minerva, but Minerva ignored it.
"Am I really that bad of a person because I don't approve of him? Am I just supposed to be all starry-eyed at everything he does?"
"Uh, Minerva?" Mira lost composure and saw someone approaching them.
"I don't have to like, let alone trust that he won't do something that we would all regret! I won't let it happen! If there is even a slight chance he is harmful to this guild I will drive him off myself!"
"Minerva..." Mira was trying to signal her to shut her trap through her teeth.
"Your life wouldn't have needed saving if you just stayed here with everyone! He didn't come riding in on a white horse to sweep you off your feet, he just wanted to manipulate you into letting down your g-."
"MINERVVVAAAaa..." Mira had a tick mark on her head. She just wouldn't stop running her mouth.
"Huh?" Minerva suddenly noticed Mira's eyes were looking directly behind her. Minerva whipped her head around and found Ultear standing there with a bagful of documents she was bringing to her office. She was wearing her blue kimono, and blue cape draped over the back, with her headband fixed neatly on her head. Her face had a serious look on it as she stared down Minerva.
"U-Ultear...?" Minerva sweated slightly.
Did she hear everything she said just now?!
"..."
"..."
"..."
There was nothing but quiet among the three.
"..well this just got really awkward." Mira sweated nervously. "H-hey, Ultear! Me and Minerva were just talking about, uhh, what type of pajama's to wear." Mira sheepishly laughed.
"Is that the best you can come up with?" Ultear sighed. "Minerva wouldn't talk about that with you. Or talk to you like this. What's the occasion?"
"Look, I know what comes next, but could you please not...we're just talking is all." Mira tried to defend Minerva.
"Sounded like you were talking about driving someone off." Ultear put a hand to her hip. "Something I should know about?" She asked curiously.
"Nobody. We weren't talking about anybody! You don't need to worry!" Mira got in front of Minerva, who was surprised she came to her aid.
"Oh, but I insist." Ultear tilted her head.
"Oh, but I un-insist! Trust me, nobody is talking ill behind your back, I promise!" Mira held up a hand in assurance.
"Me?"
"..."
"..."
"..aw, fuck." Mira drooped her head. "Look, it's been a long day, we don't need to do this now."
"I'm a grown woman, Strauss. I can speak my mind." Minerva brushed her off.
"But...!" Mira wanted to protest.
"Go about your business, Mira. I just want to talk to her for a second." Ultear ordered her.
"...(Sigh). Just take it easy on each other." Mira requested as she headed off down the hall.
"..." Ultear then locked eyes with the Siren and the atmosphere grew thick with tension.
"If you have something to say, then say it." Minerva looked away scoffed.
"..."
"Speak your mind, I'll take it with a grain of salt as usual."
"...just sleep well tonight." Ultear bowed her head and walked ahead of her.
"..." Minerva gritted her teeth and had a troubled look. "What?"
"Hm?" Ultear stopped.
"I'm sure you got something to say. You always do." Minerva's voice sounded spiteful.
"If I have something to say, Minerva, you'd know. If you want to get into another fight, I'm not in the mood." Ultear firmly put. She clearly was not mincing her words when talking to one of the big four of Mermaid Heel. "I have some things to finish before morning. If you want to talk, we'll do it then."
"...you...are you just gonna ignore me too?" Minerva said under her breath.
"Hm?" Ultear didn't quite catch it. But she noticed Minerva looked like she was a bit down, which was weird, considering she always carried herself dignified and unfaltering when she was in the public eye. "What's wrong, Minerva?"
"What do you care?" Minerva replied in an icy tone.
"Because if there is something bothering you, then I want to know what it is." Ultear walked toward her.
"I..." Minerva clenched her arm as if it hurt. "I..."
"Wh-where are you taking me..!?
"Useless girl! If you can't have the resolve to follow through, you're dead to me anyway!
"Wait, I'm sorry, papa! Don't leave me out here! I don't know where anything is!"
"Begging is for the weak, Minerva! You can't be weak in this world! Only the strong survive in this life!"
"I-I-I promise I'll try harder, don't-please don't, I can't survive by myself!"
"If you follow me, I will break your legs and toss you in the river! Go live out the rest of your days as a weakling for all I care! When you are strong, then I will consider taking you back!"
"I'm all ears, Minerva," Ultear assured. "You can give me the cold shoulder all you want, but I know when something is bothering you."
"I'm tired. I'm going to bed." Minerva swallowed and responded.
"Minerva," Ultear said in a commanding tone.
"..." Minerva stopped dead in her tracks.
"I know we haven't seen eye to eye in recent years...but I still consider you a friend and family."
"...goodnight, Ultear." Minerva just quietly went back to her room.
"...(Sigh). Can't you just be honest for once?" Ultear frowned. Truthfully, she did hear the things she was talking about, and she had an earful she was ready to give, but she bit her tongue and decided she wouldn't let her have it tonight. And after seeing her admit defeat so easily, she was now more curious why she was conflicted. She sighed. "I'm just gonna drop this off, and go see Natsu." Ultear was tired out and decided she needed a recharge.
In the form of Natsu.
Mermaid Heel, Mess Hall...
Natsu sat at one of the tables while leaning back in one of the chairs. Everyone was more or less gone, or in their rooms preparing to sleep, so he had the dining area to himself, save for one of the members cleaning up around the room. His thoughts were preoccupied with what Minerva said. He wondered if maybe he was doing more harm than good by being here. She legitimately seemed concerned he was a threat to them in some way. And after hearing that story about what happened in the past, he couldn't really pin it against her. To him, she was just doing it for the guild's best interest.
"I'm not in the wrong here, am I?" Was what he pondered. "I suppose from every guy's perception, I should be the luckiest person in the world right now. But honestly...I wonder if I'm just making this harder on them. Hell, even Ultear sent out a search party for me and gave me a new vest, and looked after me, free of charge. But was that out of her interest...or the guild's?" His eyes then looked back down at the table and he rested his arms on it while slowly stroking his finger on the surface. "Am I the reason she now has some conflict with that Minerva girl? I'm not turning them against each other...am I?" He frowned slightly.
"You always look like you're sulking." Ultear's voice came from behind. She draped herself over him as if he was her desk. She hung over his back while putting her arms over his shoulders.
"I'm in high spirits, I thought it was obvious. " Natsu simply said.
"Well, at least one of us is." Ultear frowned and nuzzled close to his face.
"...you speak with Minerva?" Natsu assumed.
"Hm? Where'd that come from?" The time mage seemed taken off guard from that question. What was he referring to?
"Cause I bumped into her not too long ago."
"What did you two talk about?" Ultear questioned while massaging his shoulders. "What did she say now?"
"Nothing but good things." Natsu sarcastically put.
"I'm sorry. She isn't a bad person. She's just not trusting of outsiders of the guild. Not that you are one." Ultear apologized and sat down next to him. She was saddened that he received such cold treatment when he just got out of another life or death situation.
"Don't apologize. I don't want to be the reason you guys have a falling out. You don't have to go with me tomorrow-"
"Don't worry about Minerva. She means well, she's just had a rough upbringing. All of my girls here have." Ultear sighed and rested herself on the table."She is just a bit more stubborn than others. I think she holds me in high esteem too much sometimes. But then again, everyone here does."
"You seem to be the glue that holds it all together." Natsu could see that the weight on her shoulders was no different than the world.
"Comes with the territory." Ultear had blue lines of depression roll down her head.
"Who's sulking now?"
"It's not cute when you act like a smart-ass." Ultear stuck her lip out.
"..." Natsu was silent for a moment before asking a question that he'd been saving for a while. "Hey."
"Hm?"
"Are you okay?"
"What do you mean?" Ultear turned to him and was very attentive. "I'm fine. The worst injury I've received all week was a paper cut." She scoffed and thought that was foolish. He'd seen more hell than she ever could dream of. And yet here he was asking her about her well-being.
"Well, I've noticed every time I talk to one of your ladies...it seems like they are always talking about how you seem to just stay in your office the whole time. Or you rarely showed yourself to everyone unless it was concerning them in some way." Natsu revealed while leaning on his arm.
"Well, taking an interest in my private life for once? Is it my birthday?" She seemed rather pleased he asked. "If you're my present I would love to unwrap you in my bedroom." She teased
"Just an observation." Natsu shrugged. "But I guess if I had to ask," Natsu looked away and crossed his arms."Why don't you rely on them more?"
"...you know how it is." She sighed. She rested her arms on the table and sat forth. "As I said before, I have to be strong and show I've not lost composure in front of my guild. I have to be the person to rely on when the times get tough. It doesn't matter what I feel like. I have to be moral support, and the backbone of Mermaid Heel." She rubbed her fingertip on the fine surface of the wooden table. "While I have to make decisions everyone likes, I also have to do things that they may not approve of. I learned that if I wanted to make this work, I can't falter in front of anyone, and I'm not just talking about Mermaid Heel. Whether it's my friends, the people in town, the council...I have to be the ideal person. Cause If I don't, I fear the weight of it all will crush the next person I give it to."
"...so you don't want them to be the ones who get the short end of the stick, I get, but even you have a limit." Natsu didn't buy it. "For a guild master, you seem to be quite the overachiever."
"I'm flattered."
"How do you deal with it?" He asked curiously. Doing what she had to do, and owning up to all the decisions that were made to shape the women's guild into what it was today, must have placed a heavy toll on her mind and body.
"Before? I mostly slept in my office. But sleep wasn't working. I wanted to take a break for once, and well...that's the same day Minerva hurt the man, that hurt one of my girls." She revealed.
"..." Natsu could tell she was being serious.
"I got into it with her in front of everyone, and ever since then, I couldn't deal with the guild the same way I normally did. I was afraid they thought I'd start kicking them out after they saw how I dealt with Minerva. So I cut myself off from them for a bit. Pathetic excuse, I know. But I didn't know how to get everyone to be more relaxed around the guild. They all started looking towards Erza, Kagura, and Mira. And I was fine with that, everything went back to normal...well, almost." She slowly closed her hand and frowned.
"Nobody really could approach you." Natsu assumed.
"Yeah." Ultear depressingly said.
"How about now?"
"..." Ultear looked toward him and smiled warmly. "Now, I feel like everything is changing back to the way it was. Ever since you showed up at my front door, you really made an impression. You gave me the perfect opportunity to be involved with my guild again. And...to meet you again." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "You have what I always thought I never had."
"Shit luck?" Natsu joked.
"I told you, you're my lucky charm. I always feel like something good will happen when you're around." The guild master slowly rubbed his arm affectionately. "I really wanted to show you everything I built." She lowered her voice as she thought back to when she first put the sign on the mansion. "The girls I've met. The things we accomplished. How far everyone had come from such unfortunate circumstances. During the beginning I just felt so...lifted. Everyone coming together. Getting over their pasts. I was constantly inspired by every member that joined our ranks. The only icing on the cake was you. I did it, Natsu. I really was able to do it." She sniffled slightly and felt happy inside that she was able to share the moment of quiet with him. "So, thanks."
"I didn't do anything." Natsu scoffed.
"There you go again. I wish we could start over and get you a proper introduction when you first got here, but I'm satisfied with your first impression."
"..." Natsu smiled a little and returned her gaze. "You sure have a funny way of getting me acquainted."
"Don't approve of my approach?" She playfully smirked.
"You mean your schemes?" Natsu deadpanned.
"That's hurtful."
"Trust me, my body knows well." He shrugged and popped his shoulder.
"Your pain is my pleasure." She giggled.
"You're messed up in the head." Natsu huffed.
"I learned from the best." She flashed a toothy grin.
"...me?" Natsu pointed to himself.
"You." She poked his nose. Their faces getting closer to one another.
"..you know." Natsu tore away from her captivating stare and laid back in his chair. "I don't quite understand why you'd go above and beyond for a guy like myself. You could do so much better. I'm pretty sure there's plenty of candidates for you out there."
"Mm, nope. I'm quite confident in my choice of man." She disagreed and crossed her legs and arms. "Nothing in this world could change my mind."
"Nothing, huh?"
"That's right." She nodded.
"...even if I wound up hurting one your own?"
"You listen here now." She narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't believe for a SECOND, you would ever hurt an innocent person. And I also believe Kagura, who I've already talked to about this, that you are no threat to my guild whatsoever."
"I just-" Natsu wanted to explain what happened to her, but she was having none of it.
"Natsu." She turned his face toward her. "You are not evil. You are not a bad person. You are not a monster. I will never lose faith in you. If anything, we worry more about your well being than our own. You know what I see when I look at you?"
"An insane pyromaniac with the inability to escape your grasp?" Natsu played along.
"I see the man that risked everything, to save the lives of my closest friends. I see the man I fell for, not ask for anything short than a promise to keep on living. I see..." She gently rubbed the scar on his eye. The hollow life light that was in his eyes reflected back at her as if an entire life of nothing but oblivion was in a constant loop. His fake smile might as well have been non-existent. "...a scared, gentle soul who closes his heart off because the pain of letting someone in would remind him how much it hurts to let it go."
"..."
"But don't worry. Whatever the future holds for us. I'll be right behind you. Waiting until you're ready." She warmly said and kissed his cheek. "I'll go get your bed ready. You know where the room is." She said before taking off.
"...thanks." Natsu smiled sadly and said before she was too far out.
"Hmph. Fall for me yet?" She twirled around and leaned forth.
"Eh, not quite." Natsu sarcastically said as he gestured with his hand as if he were still on the fence about it. "Maybe if I met you first.." He debated on what could have happened had he not gone down this path of revenge.
"Well...here I am." She raised her hands as if to announce her presence. She giggled and left him at the table.
"Heh." Natsu scoffed. "Man, she really knows how to claw her way in my head, doesn't she?" He leaned on his arm. He felt happy. But not like in a lovey-dovey kind of way. Just general happiness, that another person in this world had his back when he was at his lowest.
"I think you are a good person too." The girl cleaning up next to one of the tables said after Ultear was out of sight. Natsu turned around to greet her.
"You think?" He plainly asked and sounded unsure.
"Well, if the master is smiling...you can't be a bad person then." The girl smiled. She had light purple hair and a big red bow tying off her ponytail. She also had glasses and was wearing a green nightgown of sorts. She was about as tall as him and had a good figure.
"Hmm..." Natsu furrowed his look and thought about it. "..this is kind of off the wall, but, do you think Ultear is a good master?"
"Of course. I'd never trade her for anyone else. She's the reason I am still here. And I wouldn't mind seeing her happy more often." She leaned on the broom handle while adjusting her glasses. "And if that's in the form of you, then I'd say keep showing up! Makes it exciting when you're here, and everyone less bored."
"I'm just entertainment value, am I?" Natsu had a bead of sweat roll down his head.
"Well, I'd say it's better than whittling away the defenseless hours." She sighed.
"..." Natsu wasn't quite sure how she worded it.
"...welp! Back to the chopping block." She took a deep breath then headed back to finish up.
"Didn't catch your name." Natsu nodded.
"Hm? Oh, you can call me Laki. A pleasure to meet you, Natsu." She bowed gracefully.
"Back 'atchya." Natsu nodded, before getting up and heading to the other side of the building.
The next day...
The following day came rather quickly. The usual morning routine of everyone in Gracia was already in effect and the town was ready for another wonderful day. We shift our focus toward Mermaid Heel, where an unusual sound of clanging metal could be faintly heard from the underground training arena. The source of the noise happened to be coming from the two crossing blades of Erza and Kagura. Erza was sporting her Hearts-Kruz armor. She was swiftly striking at Kagura with a bastard sword she had re-quipped. Normally one would need to possess strength and use both hands to swing a cumbersome weapon, but for the Queen of Mermaids, she swung the thick blade as if it were light as a twig. Kagura effortlessly parried and blocked all of Erza's strikes with her nodachi. The two had battle-focused eyes as the other tried to keep up with spark spitting metal that was produced from their blades.
"Hrrgh!" Kagura began pushing Erza back as her blade slashed low and high, nearly grazing Erza. The two locked into a power struggle and a shockwave rippled out from around them.
"You've been practicing in secret, Kagura?" Erza smirked a little at her battle prowess.
"I practice whenever I can, Erza." Kagura responded and brushed Erza's sword to the side and kicked her in the side, sending her flying. Erza kept her composure as she slid back. Kagura bent forth and charged her.
"..." Erza just awaited her.
"Hmph!" Kagura slashed horizontally, missing Erza completely. Erza was below and thrusted her sword upward toward her chin, Kagura leaned back and backflipped, while also barely hitting Erza's chin. She landed on her feet and the two froze in mid-combat.
"..."
"..." The two were still sizing each other up. The tension was so thick, anyone standing in between them would probably be cut to ribbons.
"Hmm..lets stop for now." Erza conceded.
"Agreed." Kagura nodded and both combatants both sheathed their weapon.
"You seem to be keeping calm despite how hard I swing at you," Erza noted as she approached.
"What do you mean?"
"You have no shortness of breath after all that." Erza nodded.
"...hmm." Kagura seemed to feel a bit more calm than normal.
"Also, I noticed your form seems to be more defensive and counter-oriented than before. You usually try to keep me locked into parrying." Erza placed an armored hand to her chin.
"I just got tired of chasing your sword." Kagura quipped.
"Hmhmhm." Erza giggled in amusement. "That was a good match."
"Mm." Kagura nodded. "Thank you for indulging me."
"Shall we grab breakfast?" Erza offered.
"Lets-"
"Are you sure you want to do this in the morning?" Ultear's voice sounded concerned as she and Natsu came descending down the stairs.
"Think of it as my 'rehabilitation'." Natsu sounded as carefree as usual.
"This is serious. I don't want to have you do this." Ultear sounded distraught over something.
"Well, I was leaving anyway, so it doesn't-"
"I'm serious!" Ultear argued with him.
"Good morning you two." Erza greeted as she and Kagura approached.
"Morning." Ultear greeted the two. "I see you're just finishing up your workout." She noted from the deep cuts around the place. She then held up her hand and a crystal ball appeared out of thin air. She then focused and regenerated the area around the arena.
"Yes. We were just about to grab breakfast. What are you doing down here?" Kagura was curious why Natsu was here.
"Ah, I just need to make sure my body is in peak condition before I leave," Natsu explained. "And uh...well, I.. kiiinda..needed an opponent for that."
"A sparring partner?" Erza blinked.
"I wouldn't mind assisting you." Kagura offered.
"Oh, it's okay. I already have someone who's gonna help me with it." Natsu scratched his head.
"Who?" Erza asked.
"..." Natsu turned to the staircase they descended. "We doing this or what?" He called out to the person in question.
"You must be in a hurry to lose." The figure appeared before them. She wore a dark blue dress with a slit, and a fur scarf that draped over her shoulders, as well as matching high heels and white gloves that went up her arms. The one and only person out of this entire guild that did not acknowledge his presence stood proudly with her hands on her hips.
"MINERVA?!" Erza and Kagura were baffled.
"What?" Minerva shrugged.
"OII!" Another voice rang out as a trail of dust sped down the stairs. Mira was nearly out of breath when she came to a grinding halt. "Wh-what the heck is going on!?" Mira demanded an explanation. She was wearing her usual leather skirt, top, and jacket that showed off her figure. "Is it true!?" She seemed to insist on an answer.
"Is what true? What are you worked up about?" Kagura thought it strange why she looked like there was huge trouble.
"Minerva!" Mira shouted at her.
"..." The Siren was silent.
"What's the problem?" Erza wanted to know.
"I'll tell you the prob! I just heard that you're fighting Minerva!" Mira got in Natsu's face.
"Well it's more of a test to see if I'm back to normal-" Natsu tried to explain.
"I ALSO heard that Minerva said if she beat you, you'd be barred from coming here ever again!" Mira revealed.
"..?!"
"What?!" Erza and Kagura gasped and whipped their heads to Minerva.
"He agreed to my terms. That's all that matters." Minerva walked towards Natsu. "Hope you've enjoyed walking around these halls. Because you're never going to see them again." She smirked.
"Why would you agree to this unreas-!?" Kagura did not approve. Why should he have to be banned from here, just because of one person? He never did anything wrong!
"I don't have any business poking my nose with what happens around here. Besides, it's just the building itself. Either way, I thought about it, and I figured once I fight her, she'll leave me alone." Natsu's reasoning seemed to garner more concern than relief.
"But if you lose..." Mira frowned.
"Then it will not matter." Minerva scoffed. "You heard him."
"Why do you have to be so stubborn about this?" Ultear turned to Minerva.
"I'd rather confirm with my own eyes if he's really as grand as you say." Minerva briefly explained. "All I've heard is stories. I've only ever seen him when he shows up in a sorry state. What kind of impression does that give?" Minerva walked past her after refuting her.
"Minerva." Ultear clutched her arm.
"..?"
"He's different." She hissed at the Siren.
"..." Minerva simply closed her eyes and took her arm back before taking to the field.
"She's extremely loyal to you." Natsu placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Regardless of what happens, I don't resent her." He assured Ultear before following after Minerva.
"...if she only got the chance to know you." Ultear didn't approve of the terms but was comforted by Natsu's words.
The two mages took up their positions, they both stopped and faced each other. Minerva glared at Natsu and her magic power began to surge. A blue aura of power engulfed her and the room vibrated and shook slightly from her powering up.
"For what it's worth, Natsu Dranigon," Minerva talked as she placed her hand on her bare hip. "Thank you for giving the opportunity to allow me to demonstrate the pride of what makes a proper Mermaid Heel mage." She cracked a smile.
"..." Natsu furrowed his eyes slightly and felt a drop of sweat roll down his cheek. "Her magic power is...monstrous. She's different than the other three. Her attitude is one thing, but it's like she's provoking me to react." Natsu coolly analyzed the situation. Minerva was definitely not the same as the other three S class wizards he fought. She gave off the image of a demonic goddess, tempting you to find out how small and insignificant you really were.
"I expect you two to treat this like any other match here." Ultear voiced.
"No worries, Ultear. I won't kill him. But I won't be holding back." Minerva's hair fluttered from the power she produced.
"Heh, been a while since this girl got fired up." Mira couldn't help but acknowledge Minerva's power. "Last time I fought her, it was a draw. But she definitely is stronger than a year ago."
"Is Natsu really okay with this?" Erza asked Ultear.
"He...(sigh). You know how he is." The guild master crossed her arms under her bust and let out a frustrated sigh. "Meredy gave him a clean bill of health, but I think he still needs time to recover."
"I'll stop it if it gets out of hand." Kagura promised.
"I don't think it will get that far." Ultear sighed.
"But Minerva's-"
"Minerva is just being stubborn. Maybe after she finally sees how powerful he really is, she'll let him off the hook for now." Ultear recalled all her interactions with Natsu. She knew Minerva would be the hardest to convince, but she was especially hateful of male trespassers since the incident.
"Geez, if looks could kill..." Natsu shook his head in disbelief at Minerva's power. Plus the soul-piercing stare that she eyed him with sent shivers down his spine. Any less of a man would probably feel their knees give out.
"I expect you to fight me with everything you got." Minerva spoke. "Even if you are on the mend, I do not want to hear you plead for me to stop."
"Yeah?" Natsu tilted his head
"I'm not like those other three who pull their punches. If they really fought you with all they had, you'd be a distant memory. The only reason they let you wander around this building is out of respect for Ultear."
"That a fact?" Natsu crossed his arms.
"Mm. So if you want to back out, now's the chance." Minerva stopped smiling and a merciless stare was all she wore.
"..." Natsu's expression was hidden and his head drooped slightly. He hummed as if he were thinking. He rubbed his hair and began scratching his head.
"Having second thou-" Minerva assumed.
"So if I understand this correctly." Natsu cut her off as he frowned. "You think they didn't fight me with all they had, and that I'm just mooching off the goodwill of everyone here?" He summarized briefly.
"Am I wrong?" Minerva asked as the room came to a standstill.
"...okay." Natsu took off his jacket and re-quipped it into his magic space. He clenched his fists and began stretching, and popping all the soreness from his body. He popped his neck and exhaled. "It's not in my nature to really dwell on anything, but your lip is going to land you into a world of hurt."
"Bravado is nothing but hot air." Minerva sighed in disappointment. "But if you really desire to witness real power, I'll let you entertain me." She smirked devilishly. "I feel nothing from you...but then again, I suppose the lack of magic power is a deception." She couldn't feel enough power emanating from him to gauge his level.
"How perceptive." Natsu dryly said.
"Well, let's test the waters then. I'd hate to take you out in one shot." She giggled and suddenly an oddly colored energy swirled into her hand and formed a green, oily sphere around her hand. She aimed it at Natsu and it formed a sphere next to him, comprised of the strange magic that was produced by her. Natsu just stood there and took it. It hit him and it produced an explosion.
"...hm?" Minerva stopped smirking and noticed her attack did little to no damage to Natsu. As the smoke cleared, Natsu had his hand held out and he had a bluish light surrounding his body. It was his Azure Drive. He then undid it. He closed his eyes and lowered his hand. He took a deep breath and sighed in disappointment.
"Well, that was interesting. That shaved down so much damage, felt like a breeze." He compared. He then locked his eye with her. "I think you went too easy on me." He deduced.
"Well, at least you won't die from that level of power." Minerva scoffed. She then opened her palm and closed all but her middle and index finger. She raised her other hand put it together with her fingers. "Mel Ragido!" Her language changed and she spoke words that made Natsu curious.
"Huh?" Natsu said aloud.
"Niel. Monts. Kegira: Magleon!" She chanted her spell and a portal shattered free out of mid-air, and some type of red, humanoid, burly monster that was tall as a building appeared inside of it. It wore the skull of a crow on its face and had two protruding horns going out its head. It seemed to be of some type of tribal look.
"Hoh? Aren't you easy on the eyes?" Natsu joked after the giant, muscular beast extended its hand out of the portal and reddish energy began forming in its clawed hand.
"Magleon is a god. He punishes an opponent, based on how much magic power he senses. And attacks with double the amount." Minerva explained to Natsu.
"Not if I don't let him." Natsu wasn't gonna wait for the god to finish preparing its attack. He inhaled deeply and arched back a bit. "Azure Dragon's Roar!" He let out a tornado of flame from his mouth at the god, and it collided-no, ENGULFED the being in a sea of flame, making it wave around as it burned alive. The portal shut and it was quiet.
"Interesting." Minerva nodded after seeing his attack "So that's the kind of power that made you victorious over the other three. Guess those rumors about your triumph over three of the four empresses are not as inflated as I thought." She scoffed a bit of praise.
"Wanna make it four out of four?" Natsu mocked.
"I think you will find me a lot more rough than the previous three." She whispered behind him as she prepared to sock him with that weird energy in her hands. She just popped out of thin air, like she teleported.
"Whatever you say." Natsu didn't even react until the last second.
"AGH!" Minerva felt his elbow digging into her gut after he weaved out of the way of her swipe. He thrust his elbow behind him and a strong impact was heard, and she was sent flying backward. Natsu didn't even have to move from his position, let alone look in her direction. She recovered and recomposed herself.
"Going for my back? Do you have any idea how many times people try that on me?" Natsu slowly turned around to face her.
"Tch." Minerva clicked her tongue.
"If you're done attacking, I guess I'll come to you now." Natsu decided and took one step forward and sprung forth with a fiery fist. "Azure Dragon's Fist!" He declared and punched out toward her after he covered the distance.
"Hah!" Minerva engulfed her hand with more energy and the two powers clashed, creating a gust of wind. Natsu growled as the two kept their lock. He then lifted his foot back. Minerva glanced downward and retreated. Natsu kicked an arc of flame in a circle while flipping back. He missed her by a hair, and he landed and assumed his fighting stance again. He then shot forth and kept his fist raised. He threw a straight punch toward her chest, but suddenly he realized he was looking in the opposite direction of her. He narrowed his eyes and realized that they just switched places.
"Huh? When did we just-? Where'd she go?" He realized she was no longer in sight. He then was taken off his feet and he was enveloped in a bubble of her energy. "What is this?!" He wondered as he floated in mid-air.
"Crap, she got him." Mira groaned.
"Wait is she-MINERVA!" Ultear knew what spell she was using. "Take it easy! If you use that much power-!" Ultear wanted her to cease her actions, but Minerva was building power and preparing to unleash a devastating attack on Natsu as he floated helplessly in her spherical prison.
"Niel Wielg Mion Terse Elcantaeus: YAGDO RIGORA!" Minerva appeared away from him and raised both her hands with a devilish smile. Natsu gasped and the light was bursting forth from under him. Another monster, much, much larger than the previous erupted out of the light and it was briefly seen when it exploded forth with horrendous power. A huge dirt cloud engulfed the arena.
Outside...
"Gyaaah~! Those blasted ladies are at it again?!" An old man nearly fell over as the ground quaked beneath the town. The residents were holding onto the nearest object to keep them from stumbling from the shaking. People inside the shops were holding their merchandise steady and thought the end of the world was taking place for the hundredth time. It was no surprise that one would think that someone would complain about the shock waves, from whenever the strongest members of Mermaid Heel were dueling underground. But since they mainly were the ones that kept the town flowing with profit, they gave the mages the benefit of the doubt.
"I swear, every time-!"
"Those girls should be having slugfests outside the town!"
"You think it's Kagura or Mira?"
"My money is on Erza and Mirajane! Last year they broke the pipeline!"
Everyone was just taking guesses as to who was fighting who, while clinging for dear life onto everything.
Except for one person.
"...hm?" A black-haired individual wondered aloud as his upper-body was obstructed from view by the newspaper he was perusing. The only thing showing was his dark grey, baggy cargo pants, and black sandals. He didn't give a rats ass about the shaking. It might as well have been non-existent because he didn't so much as twitch. He was sitting on a bench that was facing Mermaid heel, and the iron bolts from under it were shaking out of place from the shockwave emitted from Minerva's attack.
" A bit half-baked, but that was mitigated pretty well. Must have an anti-magic field in place to keep the damage from burying them alive. And blowing this town sky-high." He hypothesized as he kept reading the news.
"Man, they're at it again, eh?" An old man groaned. He sat next to the person reading the paper. He was looking for a place to rest and joined the stranger while watching the world shake around them.
"Again?" The young man repeated, with a hint of curiosity.
"Ah, ya' must be new ta' these parts. " The old man said as he sat down. It was the individual that Natsu helped when he returned the turtle shield to him. "That guild is chock-full o' the most beautiful young girls that ever walked these streets." He went on to say.
"Hm?" He bent the top of the newspaper and glanced over it with red eyes.
"Deadliest ones too~! Hoho~!" He chuckled to himself.
"They're strong?" He went back to reading his paper and flipped the page. Not really caring.
"Are they? Sonny, let me tell ya, every rose has its thorns, but those Four Empresses would give the Wizard Saints a run for their money." The old man said.
"The Saints? Pff, whatever." He couldn't help but scoff. The conversating took such a ridiculous turn, that the stranger no longer cared.
"I'm serious! They got six S-class wizards in that building, and they are tough!"
"Uh-huh."
"Their pride is also something you don't mess with. Especially that youngin' Strauss!" The old man huffed. "She looks like an angel, but her magic power is that of the devil."
"And you know this because...? " He noted while looking at an article with Mermaid Heel on it.
"They host a fighting competition once a year. Shook the town like a leaf when they did it. Kinda like now." The old man held onto the armrest. "I've seen them, and I tell ya, they are on a level very few reach at their age."
"Very few, huh?" He smirked slightly. "That's cute."
"You're an arrogant little fella, ain't ya?" The old man gathered from the young man's responses.
"Yeah, sure. Go bother someone else you old coot." He crossed his leg and got relaxed.
"Hm?...say, sonny, have we met before?" The old buzzard glanced and got a good look at the stranger's face and could have sworn he had seen it from somewhere.
"Depends." He responded cryptically.
"On what?"
"Is there another one of me running around here?"
"Huh? Uh, can't say..." The old man innocently answered, not quite understanding the nature of the question.
"Heh." He chuckled softly and crossed his leg.
"...I swear you look familiar." He gripped his wrinkled beard and stroked it as he tried to recall where he had seen him. "...!?" His eye suddenly widened in recognition.
"Y-you're that young lad from-!"
Mermaid Heel...
The smoke was clouding up the arena, leaving little visibility. The anti-magic field nullified the blast to a certain degree, but it was apparent from the destroyed ground and crater in the center of the room that Minerva's attack was barely contained. Mira's Soul Extinction spell probably could have been compared to the amount of damage that spell did to the training area.
If not more.
"Are-are yo-(Cough). Did she just-!?" Ultear was inhaling so much dust she could hardly breathe. In a failed attempt to get Minerva to not use the most powerful spell in her arsenal, she could only watch on helplessly from the sidelines. "How many times am I going to have to say, DO NOT to use anything that would blow up the town!? The field is probably non-existent by now!" Ultear growled.
"Geesh, haven't seen her use THAT spell in a while." Mira shielded her eyes from the thick cloud. "I thought she was just using her Territory."
"Is Natsu okay?" Kagura voiced. Minerva appeared first and she was standing her ground. A victorious smile washed over her lips, thinking she must have sent him for a loop from the power of her magic. "Hmph. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." She huffed confidently. "I experienced hardships in the past. My power is a testament to how far I've come. To put it simply..." She scoffed. "The gap between us is night and day."
"Hoh? Yakuma's 18 Battle Gods Magic? To think one so young would have that power. Where does thou suppose she acquired such magic?" Nevan was amused at what she and Natsa witnessed from the opposite side of the room. They were watching the two go at it from the beginning, and stayed quiet.
"Who knows? I think those two gods are her limit though. Territory seems like her main specialty. "But I know one thing..." Natsa closed her eye and was confident it was now over. "He's not taking that one lying down." Indeed, it did look like it was bleak for the salmon-haired dragon slayer.
But to be honest...
He's survived far worse than that.
"Yeesh, that was crazy." Natsu's voice called out through the smoke.
"What!?" Minerva's confidence wavered the second she heard his voice. He walked out of it and he was coughing while trying to dust himself off. "How did you-!? There's no way that didn't injure you!" She accused, thinking he was pretending.
"Well, it would have." Natsu cleared his throat and stood still. "But it ain't my first time taking an explosion of that magnitude to the face." He shrugged. "And trust me when I say, I have survived worse." He stoically put.
"Arrogant! I refuse to believe you are unscathed!" She started compressing the air with her territory around him and attempting to blow him up in the process. Natsu jumped, and flipped side to side while dashing away in an acrobatic fashion.
"I think I've seen this type of magic before. It's like wind magic, but space is being altered. In that case, she can only use it on what she sees. I thought she was a wind mage, but this is different. I assumed it was the same." Natsu noticed as he jumped out of the way of another random appearing orb that blew up next to him. He slid to a standstill and she was still attempting to catch him. "That's enough warming up then."
"It's no use, as long as I see you, you cannot escape!" She taunted while high above him. "I'll blow you to a million pieces!"
"If you think you can, then what are you waiting for?" Natsu scoffed and jumped forth and closed their distance in seconds.
"He's fast-!" Minerva gritted her teeth and leaned away as he got in her face.
"Bite down." Natsu uttered as he spun rapidly several times and ignited his foot. He kicked her so hard she coughed up saliva and was blasted back to the ground.
"AHHAAgh!" Minerva bounced off the ground and yelped in pain as she regained her balance and dropped to one knee. She had a bruise on her side that was also burned. She clenched her teeth and hissed. "You burned me, you bastard! You've left a burn mark on my side!" She yelled angrily. "If this damages my skin, I'll flay you alive!"
"Relax. That was my Heavens Fire. It's healing magic. It just burns away impurities, and restores wounds." He briefly assured her. "I wouldn't use my Azure Flames on you unless you were protected by magic."
"Don't make light of me! I don't want your consideration, nor do I need it!" She stood up and ignored it. "Just go down, already!" She hissed.
"I don't know why you hate me so much. I haven't even done anything that would earn your wrath. Ever since we first met, you've been treating me like a piece of shit. If I offended you, I apologize. But this is just coming off as annoying." He simply said. "I don't really care what you say about me, but to simply say I have no right to be here, just because you don't like it, is awfully unfair, don't ya think?"
"Say what you will! I'll never accept a shady individual like you in this guild! I've seen many men act like you! Drop your guard for a second, and they'll-Ngh!" She stopped shouting and realized she was speaking her mind. "This is a fight to show who is stronger! You may have gotten lucky, but if I wanted to kill you, I'd have done it by now!" She hissed coldly.
"Is there nothing I can sa-"
"NOTHING! I've detested you since the moment you popped up here! You don't understand what pain and suffering is! Ultear may have her head in the clouds, but I know a threat when I see it! You turned your blade on Kagura, and nearly killed the others when that devil possessed you, from what I heard! Who's to say you won't hurt anyone here, you deviant?!"
"Minerva! You're out of line!" Kagura was angry she said that so easily. "You say your sorry, right now!" She urged. She was ready to step to his defense at a moment's notice. To simply slander him like that was crossing the line. She had no right to speak ill of him like that.
"..." Mira just frowned sadly. She knew why Minerva always acted this way. Granted, she was upset, but she knew it was useless to try to argue with her when she was like that.
"Natsu was not himself! We explained that to you!" Erza joined Kagura in his defense.
"Girls, calm down! This is not the time nor place to...!" Ultear tried to get in between them before they started another fight.
"..." Natsu crossed his arms. "...right then." His words stopepd them as they all peered in his direction.
"Huh?!" Minerva sneered, and everyone was quiet.
"Then how about we stop playing around, and take this serious?" Natsu announced after making up his mind.
"Huh?" Minerva couldn't tell if he was being serious or not.
"Despite how much bitterness is between us..." Natsu summoned his sword and assumed his usual Iai stance. "I think we can at least both agree that talk is cheap. So how about you come at me as if your life depended on it?" Natsu beckoned.
"...YOU...BASTARRD!" Minerva held up her arms and generated a sphere of her territory. She was in a fit of rage from him looking down on her, so she was going to wipe him off the face of the earth. The ball of spacial magic gathered and expanded to about the size of a giant wrecking ball.
"Mugetsu Ryu:..." Natsu was building power and the light was glinting from the hilt of the sword in his scabbard. Natsu then drew his blade and an enormous slash appeared out of thin air, and the ball of energy was cut clean in half. The destruction didn't stop there though. The shockwave was so powerful it ripped along the training rooms dirt walls, and around them. "...Divide of the Heavens."
Minerva was baffled for a moment, at the unexpected surge in power. If that was aimed any lower, he'd slice her clean in half. Speaking of lower, he was already in her face before she could react, and he drew his sword out of it's scabbard again, and hit her with the pommel of his blade.
"Hrgh!" Minerva managed to block it by applying her territory around her stomach to soften the blow. She skidded back, and Natsu was hot on her trail. He slashed and struck her with his blade as he kept up with her. She weaved and redirected his blade away by smacking it away with her hands. She was actually keeping pace with him, as he chased her back. During the midst of his slashes, he threw his scabbard ahead of them and ran his hand along Dorruga, igniting it, and he spun around several times, his blade ringing out while it knocked her back. It looked like he was hitting nothing, but his blade was chipping away the magic that was protecting her.
"Too slow!" Minerva saw an opening and hopped above him and readied another blast. Natsu jumped towards her and slashed through it, and caught his scabbard. He then swung with his scabbard and missed her. She switched positions with him all of a sudden, which took him off guard.
"You're mine!" She held her hand out and kept him fixed in place in mid-air. "Territory: Implosion!"She waved her other hand and clapped her hands together, and the bubble suddenly expanded 60 feet in diameter, with Natsu in the middle.
"What the-?! My body...so stiff!" Natsu gritted his teeth and felt like he was being crushed from all over him. The bigger the territory got, the more intense the pressing on him was.
"Let's see you get out of that!" Minerva narrowed her eyes and focused while she kept her hands closed. "He can't move! If I can just keep crushing him, I'll make him give up!" She figured if he couldn't move, he would throw in the towel.
"...not...bad!" Natsu gritted his teeth and forced his body to put his hands together. He felt like every part of him was trapped in a vice. He put his hands together and suddenly he flashed blue. "Azure Dragon's...BLAST WAVE!" He condensed the flames in his body and they erupted outward into a sphere, making the territory vanish around him.
"What!?" Minerva couldn't believe it and stumbled back from the rebound of the spell.
"Gonna need more than that!" Natsu taunted and sprung toward her after hitting the ground.
"Eil Ragdo!" She began chanting as she charged forth to meet him head-on.
"Azure Dragon's Fist!" He ignited his fist and slammed it into her hand, and another explosion enveloped them. Minerva was blown back and regained her stance and slid to a standstill. She was wide-eyed and couldn't believe HERSELF of all people was being pressured like this. Natsu jumped above the smoke and high in the air. "Azure Dragon's Wing Slash!" He then whipped his arms to his sides, and wings of fire appeared behind him. He flew downward and straight towards Minerva. Right before he passed her, she smirked and switched places with him again.
"You can't catch me like that!" She said after she appeared behind him, thinking she outsmarted him again. But then he tucked and rolled into a ball and landed on the wall, and then he pushed himself off, heading straight for her once more even faster than before. "WHAT-AAAAH!" She was caught up in the condensed wings of azure flames, and she was knocked away from him and she skipped along the ground and landed on her side. Natsu landed on his feet and faced in her direction.
"The same trick doesn't work on me twice." He stated.
"You arrogant...swine!" Minerva stood back up once more, but she was breathing heavily. The last attack really did some damage to her.
"You still wanna go?" Natsu raised a brow. Surprised she was still wanting to keep going.
"This...is not even...enough to make me yield!" She grunted. She was panting heavily and was trying to keep up an appearance, but one could easily see she was getting beaten.
"...okay." Natsu nodded and assumed his fighting stance. "Come at me then." Natsu said simply. "As far as defense goes, she's a little lacking, but her offense definitely puts her in the same league as Erza. She's used to fighting against a sword. Every one of my cuts either bounced off or missed. Plus that summon from before must have used quite a bit of magic. But she doesn't waste it as much. If an ordinary person went up against her, they'd be taken out when she summoned that god." Natsu analyzed.
"That calm deameanor...it pisses me off!" Minerva had a vein bulge on her head from how calm and collected he was. "Just go down already!" She teleported closer to him and was going to punch him. And Natsu caught her fist, making the ground shatter beneath them.
"..." Natsu just stayed quiet.
"How..."
"..?"
"How are you this strong?!" She couldn't fathom it! He didn't look any older than the rest, if not younger than them, yet his ability to beat her to this extent was ridiculous. Her pride as a Mermaid Heel mage and a member of the Four Empresses was on the line. She didn't want to go down like the rest of them.
"How long are you gonna whine for?" Natsu spoke.
"What?!" She hissed.
"I said, how long are you gonna whine for?" He repeated. "Is it really so hard to believe that there is someone stronger than you?"
"You're not stronger...than me!" She pushed his hand back a little.
"Nope. I'm pretty sure I am."
"You're not!" She barked.
"I kinda think I am though." Natsu slowly nodded.
"You're beneath me!"
"I really don't think I am." Natsu shrugged.
"YOU ARE TOO!" Minerva and Natsu exchanged words like a brother and sister trying to outdo one another.
"Take this then." He scoffed. He clenched his other fist and punched her chest so hard, she had the air knocked out of her.
"PAwk!" She coughed up more saliva. But he wasn't done yet. He still had her fist and then he jerked her forth and raised his knee, and hit her stomach again. She widened her eyes and clutched her stomach. She fell to her knees. He then bent down and eyed her with a blank stare.
"You still good?" He asked.
"B-barely even felt that!" Minerva growled.
"I felt that, and I ain't even fighting him." Mira cringed from the sidelines.
"Okay, let's try this again." The pinkette said as he waited for her to get up. Her clothes were torn and she was all dirtied from getting hit by all his attacks.
"Will you shut up already!?" She jabbed towards his head but he moved out of the way every time it was about to make contact. He then blocked with his arm and then clenched his fist. He then whipped it to the side, and he smacked her hand away before she hit him again.
"Augh!" She recoiled and gripped the sting she felt in her hand.
"...HMPH!" He then turned and then let loose a mighty sidekick that she barely blocked, but it hit her so hard, it looked like she was hit with a battering ram. She skipped along the ground again and then recovered back onto her feet.
"..." Natsu waited to see what she would do.
"Grrrgh!" Minerva was boiling mad that he was making light of her so much. It was clearly one-sided though. She was tired, hurt, and exhausted a large portion of magic. Close range combat wasn't her forte, but she could hold her own against one of the other three, but Natsu's blended style of combat was hard to grasp. Just getting hit was enough to tell her the difference in their power, and the scales looked to be tipped in Natsu's favor. "...I'm...I...I'm the Siren of Mermaid Heel! To be pushed back like this...by a man like thi..." She could feel her body start getting limp. She fell to one knee and panted.
"..." Natsu crossed his arms and awaited her.
"...I.."
"..."
"..concede..." Minerva hesitantly said in defeat. If it went on any longer, she knew her body was going to get seriously injured. "Teh...to fight you any longer would just stain my dignity."
"...(sigh)." Natsu breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes!" Mira fist pumped and smiled.
"It was a good match." Erza smiled along with Kagura.
"Even if you didn't say anything.." Ultear walked over to the Siren and helped her up. "I was going to stop you both."
"Eh?" Minerva was curious.
"You haven't battled anyone stronger than those three, so it took you off guard, right?" Ultear smiled.
"I...I suppose." Minerva looked away and reluctantly admitted.
"Plus, Natsu used to be a candidate for the Wizard Saints, so I wouldn't be surprised if he gave you that much trouble." She explained to her as the other three came over.
"A Wizard Saint?! HIM?!" Minerva pointed at him as if it were the dumbest thing she ever heard.
"Yep." Ultear nodded.
"No way..." Minerva shook her head.
"You make it sound like it was a great thing." Natsu came over to them.
"Give yourself some credit, Natsu. Only YOU would treat it as if it were no big deal." The raven-haired guild master giggled. "But to my top four here, it's the aspiring dream of a lifetime."
"..chase your dreams then." Natsu shrugged it off.
"Well, you've beaten my top four. You are now officially the slayer of the Four Empresses. You should feel accomplished. I've never seen these four lose to anyone before." Ultear congratulated him."Let alone by the same person."
"I cannot really say I'd see any of these four losing to anyone else." Natsu scratched his cheek.
"This kind of makes me sad though." Ultear crossed her arms and sighed depressingly. "There's no one else here to challenge you to a fight next time you show up."
"Why would I want that?" Natsu didn't see the problem.
"Well, think of it. It was becoming a tradition here, and now...wait." Ultear suddenly thought of something.
"I know that look." Natsu stood away from her, thinking she was going to throw him into another ridiculous situation.
"There IS one strong person here you haven't beaten yet!" Ultear got in his face.
"W-who?" Natsu sweated slightly. "There's MORE?!" He began to panic in his head.
"You actually met her here already. And that person..." She slowly revealed. "..will be revealed the next time you show up." She withheld her information in a teasing way.
"Who else wants to fight him here?" Kagura titled her head.
"There isn't anyone here stronger than us four, is there?" Mira put her hand on her hip.
"Oh, she is MUCH stronger than you four." Ultear snickered. "You haven't fought her for a while though, so it wouldn't surprise me if you can't guess. She's trained a whole lot, and after seeing your matches with Natsu, she didn't want to fight him until she was certain she could beat him."
"Now I am very curious." Kagura placed a hand to her chin. "...wait..is it Ikaruga?"
"I was thinking Sorano." Erza crossed her arms and was very curious.
"No one here particularly stands out...I beat everyone else here. Dammit, now you got me wondering." Mira was now wracking her brain as to who the identity of the next one in line to fight Natsu was.
"You know, I've wanted to ask since you now have fought all four of us." Erza cleared her throat and spoke.
"Hm?" Natsu turned to her.
"Who among us do you think is the strongest?" Erza wanted his opinion.
"Among the four of ya, huh?" Natsu looked up the ceiling. He closed his eyes and was silent for a minute before speaking. "...the one who gave me the most trouble out of all four of you.."
"Yes?" Erza was anticipating his response.
"Uh-huh?" Mira was curious as well where she ranked among them in his book.
"..." Kagura blinked.
"..." Minerva didn't really care, but after everything she threw at him, he'd had better put her over Erza or Kagura.
"...I can't say." He revealed. "You all pretty much outperform me in at least one category." He nodded after considering what he had to deal with. "But the way I see it, Erza is the fastest, Kagura has the best technique, and Mira's and Minerva's magic power is out of this world." He sighed.
"Hmmm...I guess I can accept that." The silver-haired demoness nodded.
"Really? I never thought of it that way." Erza took this to heart. Her perception of the rest of them changed.
"...my technique." Kagura was also deep in thought.
"...hmph." Minerva just huffed.
"Very well, what do you say we wrap this up and be on our way, Natsu?" Ultear began to lead them out.
"Oh yeah, the train's gonna leave soon." Natsu forgot about today's intended purpose, so they rushed out of the hall.
Later...
Natsu and Ultear were outside and were saying goodbye to the other mages. The day was nice and bright, and everybody was awake, and getting their shops and stalls open and ready for another wholesome morning.
"We'll be back by tomorrow. Try not to burn anything down while I'm gone." Ultear instructed Erza, Kagura, Minerva, and Mira.
"Quit being a nag. Nothing ever happens when you're out anyway." Mira scoffed and thought she was thinking they couldn't keep an eye on the guild.
"I hope your visit goes well, Ultear." Erza smiled nodded.
"Mm. Let's go, Natsu." Ultear said to him.
"Right." Natsu said and they began walking away from the entrance. Right before they even left the spot, a stranger spoke up to them from a park bench that was in front of the building.
"You all really made quite a racket earlier." He said, which prompted them all to turn their attention to him. "It felt like an earthquake up here." He compared.
"...?" Ultear was confused.
"..." Natsu was silent as well.
"I'm quite surprised. Says here no man alive has received special treatment from the mages in this place." He noted while keeping his paper up. "You just come and go from here whenever you're in town."
"Well, he's an acquaintance of mine. I invite him over from time to time." Ultear answered. "Is this another journalist from the Weekly trying to find another scandal again? I thought we had that taken care of last year!" Ultear thought it was probably another one of those reporters that were trying to get the inside scoop on the personal activities of her again.
"Hm, you don't say?" He turned to the last page.
"We're on our way to the train station, so if you wanted some information, those four can assist you." She offered the help of her S class wizards. Surely a chance to interview the top brass of Mermaid Heel would be the chance of a lifetime.
"Hm?" He was confused at first. "You must be misunderstanding something. I couldn't give a shit about this town, or those four." He stopped crossing his legs.
"..." Natsu narrowed his eyes. "What this guy's deal?"
"I must say, I'm a little impressed you managed to survive those dicks in the forest last week. If it were me, I wouldn't have just let them reduce me to such a sorry state." He referred to the incident at Trojan village. "You gotta stop acting like you're in complete control. I figured you knew better than to act cocky like that." He scoffed.
"...!?"
"...!"
"...!"
"...!?"
"...!"
"Huh?" All of them gasped silently.
"I can't really fault you though. If those pissants took away my magic, I'd have struggled as well." He confessed. "I don't know where those guys came from, but something tells me that you haven't seen the last of them." He assumed.
"How do you know about that?" Natsu asked the question that everyone was thinking.
"I just do." He simply said.
"Who are you?" Ultear was a bit more on the defensive and didn't trust this guy for a second. If he knew about what happened, that would mean he'd been following Natsu since the whole thing started. And if he was here, his intentions were now becoming concerning to them all.
"..." He said nothing at first.
Mermaid Heel training room...
"(GASP)!" Natsa suddenly tensed up. She whipped her head up toward the direction Natsu was outside, and a look of horror washed over her face.
"...HE, is here!" Nevan had a shocked expression, know full well who's presence she sensed.
He suddenly closed the paper and stood up and tossed it onto the bench, revealing his face. He was wearing a dark yellow vest with a black jagged pattern on it, and an olive green shirt under it. He also wore black wrappings that covered his arms. His lower half consisted of dark grey baggy cargo pants, a brown belt that was draping off to his side, and black sandals. but the most shocking feature was on his face. He was COMPLETELY identical to Natsu in almost every way. The only difference being his eyes were red, and his hair was black.
"Just a wandering mage." He simply said as storm clouds began rolling in from the distance.
I'm back! I re-wrote this damn thing like three times before I settled on how it went! Anyway, I hope you all are doing okay! I'm doing just fine, in case any of you were wondering. I hope I can get more of my stories updated more frequently. For now, with the virus and the working standards, I've been just exhausted, so I hadn't had any motivation to write. BUT FEAR NOT! I'm writing this till it ends! Thanks for all your feedback, as usual, and I will see you all in the next update!
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