Chapter Three: Natsu vs Erza
A couple days passed as Natsu and Wendy got used to their new home at the guild. They played with the other children, mostly Levi and Cana who were easier to get along with. As soon as he woke up one morning, Gray ran at Natsu.
"Hey Natsu! I want a rematch!"
Wendy looked at Gray and noticing his half naked state, shrieked.
Seeing this Natsu growled, "What is it with you and no clothes? You're scaring Wendy!"
Gray looked down and saw he was once again in his underwear. "Ah come on!"
And he went looking for his clothes. Wendy looked up at Natsu with a smile that he returned before asking, "What is with him and no clothes anyway?"
"Don't know, he just has that stripping habit," Cana shrugged.
"I read that Ice Wizards don't get cold, their training actually requires them to become one with ice," Levi said. "So they have to do a lot of cold exercises such as bathe in freezing water, trek through snow without clothes on, and eat frozen foods."
"I wouldn't mind the last part if its ice cream but no thanks to the rest," Natsu said. "I don't need to bathe in cold water!"
They all laughed.
"Natsu!" a familiar voice called.
Natsu looked over and saw Erza. She smiled at him.
"Would you feel up to fighting me now?" she asked.
Natsu looked at Wendy, he didn't want to do anything to upset the younger dragon slayer. It was strange, he felt as though she was much more to him than just a kid he'd found in the forest. It was as if they'd known each other all the time. Like they had a connection beyond being dragon slayers or a pair of children that each lost their parent. Natsu couldn't explain it. But he did know this, she was the one that he cared about more than anyone else right now and he didn't want to see her hurt or sad. Sure, it had been annoying having to haul her around as he went and searched for Igneel. If not for her he could have moved much faster in his search. But he couldn't simply leave her.
"If you want to… but please don't hurt each other too much!" she said.
"Alright Erza, but nothing too bad," Natsu said.
The one-eyed girl in armor nodded. "Alright, I suppose I can play nice. We'll do hand to hand combat only."
Many of the guild members excitedly gathered outside, forming a circle around Natsu and Erza. Gray, now in full clothes, ran to the front.
"I get to take on the winner!" he declared.
"You don't stand a chance against either one! At least not Erza… though Natsu I'm not so sure about!" Cana said.
"He took you down with one blow last time!" Levi reasoned.
"Only cause I made him mad," Gray grumbled.
Natsu and Erza stared at each other silently for a moment.
"Fight! Fight!" One member shouted.
"I got a hundred thousand Jewel on Erza!" Wakaba called out, holding the bill over his head . "Anyone up for a bet?"
None of the guild members took it. They knew how strong Erza was and weren't going to take the chance. Natsu looked around.
"What no one believes in me?"
"I do!" Wendy called.
Natsu looked at her. "Thanks Wendy! Listen up you jerks! If I win, everyone of you has to give me Jewel!"
"Say what?" Wakaba said.
Makarov laughed. "Now this just got interesting! I'd say the odds are very much against you Natsu! Erza is tougher than most of the adults in the guild already, the odds of beating her are pretty low, like one in a million I'd say! Though I've seen you're quite powerful! If you win, you get one million jewel!"
"One MILLION Jewel?" Natsu repeated, his eyes lighting up. "I could buy a house with that!"
"But if Erza wins, you'll have to give the guild a million jewel!" Makarov said. "Don't worry, not right away. Just… when you're old enough to take a job like that. Of course, if you don't want to do that, you can just surrender now!"
He ended with a grin and chuckle.
Natsu frowned. "Surrender? Not a chance! Your Jewel is mine!"
He charged at Erza with a shout.
"Haaa!"
"Wait!" Makarov shouted.
Natsu punched at Erza, but she easily blocked it and landed a palm strike on his chest, sending him flying back. He landed on his back and struggled to get up.
"Natsu!" Wendy called in concern.
"I'm okay Wendy!" Natsu said as he prepared to attack again.
"Stop!" Makarov ordered. "I didn't explain the rules of the fight yet!"
Natsu froze and waited.
"Okay, there will a number of rounds for this hand to hand combat. Whoever manages to get a good blow first wins the round! Erza just won one round. We'll have a maximum of five, whichever one of you wins three out of five will be the victor!"
"Only two more for me then!" Erza declared.
"You got a cheap shot in there!" Natsu said, covering his mistake of not being quick enough.
"Round Two!" Makarov started. "Fight!"
Natsu and Erza both charged this time. Natsu threw a series of punches, but Erza blocked all of them with minimal effort. Natsu tried kicking next, but Erza trapped the kick between her hands and turned his leg while taking a few steps back. This caused Natsu to lose his footing and he fell over. Erza then landed an axe kick to his stomach, he cried out in pain.
"No Natsu!" Wendy cried again.
This time Natsu didn't tell her he was okay, which worried her.
Erza glared at him. "You disappoint me Natsu, I thought you might have been a worthy opponent since you beat Gray so easily yesterday!"
Natsu coughed. "I'm just… I'm just getting started."
"Well you better getting moving now, because I'm just one point away from victory!" Erza stated. "This time you'll probably get a broken bone! Why don't you just give up and save yourself a world of pain?"
"Not a chance!" Natsu said getting up.
"Alright then, one more round! You asked for it Natsu!" Makarov said with a disinterested look now. "The guild is gonna get one million jewel someday! Go!"
Erza stood there waiting for Natsu to attack, but he stood there looking at her. After getting beaten so easily the past two times he wasn't gonna charge in again.
"You can do it Natsu!" Wendy called.
Natsu looked at her. She looked at him with sad eyes, but her voice had sounded so confident.
"I believe in you!" she said. "Win! I don't want to see you hurt anymore! Don't let her break your bones!"
Looking into the girls face, something awakened in Natsu. At that moment Erza decided to take the offensive.
"If you won't move then I will!" she said.
The young female knight charged at her opponent as he looked back. Her fist thrusted toward his chest, and everyone in the guild thought it was over as time seemed to slow down. Then, Natsu stuck out his palm and caught Erza's punch before it could land. She stood there with her mouth open, as did several people watching.
"Sorry, Erza but I can't afford to let you hurt me anymore!" Natsu said. "Because I hate seeing Wendy sad!"
Then he punched her, sending her to the floor. Everyone in the guild gasped. He had actually landed a hit! Erza looked up at him, clenching her teeth.
Makarov took a moment to get over his shock. "Well, two to one! Its not over yet!"
Erza got to her feet, an eager grin forming on her face. "Well, looks like this might be more challenging after all!" she said while thinking, It seems he gets more strength from Wendy, like when Gray punched her, his power seemed to increase enough to let him easily beat Gray.
"Fight!" Makarov said again.
This time, Natsu leapt first, brining down a mighty fist upon Erza. She managed to block, but Natsu followed up with a midair kick. She ducked, then countered with a flurry of punches followed by a low kick intended to throw Natsu off his feet. But he jumped over it and threw another kick this time it landed.
Everyone in the guild was completely shocked with the exception of Wendy who had a wide smile on her face as she began to watch Natsu win.
"Come on Natsu! Just one more!"
Makarov's eyes were wide. "I don't believe it!" He then cleared his throat and announced. "This fight is now two-two. Whoever wins this final round will be declared the winner!"
Erza looked at Natsu and formed a smile. "Well, it seems your drive to protect Wendy or even fighting for her sake gives you incredible power. But until now… I've taken it easy on you! Prepare yourself Natsu, for now you face my wrath! Requip!"
Erza's armor suddenly vanished and she was left in only ordinary clothes. Natsu raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, I thought you said no magic!"
"I'm not using magic against you," Erza told him. "I merely put my armor away. So now I won't be slowed down!"
Natsu shrugged.
"Final Round!" Makarov put his hand up. "End it!"
Erza charged at Natsu, without her armor weighing her down she moved much faster then before. Natsu punched out at the same time as her. Both their fists met their opponents cheeks and they hit the ground, knocked out.
"Tie!" Makarov stated.
That gave the guild members a bit of relief, because they didn't have to give Natsu any jewel.
"Natsu!" Wendy shouted as she ran toward her fellow dragon slayer. She put her hands on his chest and Erza's. Green magic flowed from both her hands as she used her sky dragon healing magic.
"So this is the power of the first generation dragon slayers," Makarov remarked. "It's a sight to behold. To think he could defeat Erza to a draw."
"And the little girl can heal," Macao remarked.
Wendy finished healing both participants of the fight, then collapsed onto Natsu's chest.
"Looks like she still needs time to develop more magic power though," Wakaba said.
"They'll become very promising wizards someday," Makarov said.
…
On the hills overlooking Magnolia, three white haired siblings stood gazing down at the city.
"Maybe we could live here?" the youngest, a little girl suggested.
The eldest, a teenaged girl in a cloak, raised her arm which had become ugly and demonic.
"No one is going to accept me," she said.
"Don't give up Mira," the middle sibling, the only boy said.
Authors Notes: Well I managed to get Lisanna and her siblings introduced at least so they'll met Natsu and the others next time. Maybe next time. I was torn between having Natsu beat Erza thanks to Wendy's cheering or have him be defeated, but I decided to have it end in a tie as I felt it would be least expected. Protecting Wendy or even having her around to cheer him on would give him a major boost in strength I feel. It was that way in the Smart Flame as I recall, though that version made Natsu much smarter as well. This way Natsu is equal in strength to Erza… at least for now.