Hello everybody ! I know that I'm late regarding my usual schedule, I have one week of delay but as I explained in chapter 13, I was away for holyday which explains this gap in the schedule. But now, I can go back on my usual rhythm with this 14th chapter of this Fairy Tail fic, with a fight between fire user.
I don't own the rights for Fairy Tail, everything belongs to the holders said rights with the exception of my OCs
Let's go !
Chapter 14: Volcanic feelings
A sun high in the sky hot enough to burn skin, a mountain of red stone from where poured a river of magma which moved slowly on the side of the mountain, a stony landscape destroyed by the heat and the total absence of humidity which made dehydration something more dangerous that the lava itself. Basically, not the ideal place to go on a holiday.
For a fight, on the other hand …
FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST !
BURNING KNUCKLES !
The already scorching temperature suddenly grew up several degrees just as two fists covered with flames collided. Their owner, a young man with spiky pink colored hair, oops forgive me, SALMON colored hair, and another one with orange-red hair combed in a big reptilian crest, their faces deformed by their concentration, the first one determined to destroy his opponent for kidnapping his friend, and the second was thinking, surveying his opponent. They took some steps back to gauge each other again, Natsu putting his fist ablaze ready to go back to the fight, that had begun a few minutes ago, at least until his opponent asks a rather strange question.
- " What do you want to save her from ? " Asked Jameson by pointing at Lucy, who was still 'crucified' in one of the stone not far away, unconscious.
Natsu's flames went out whereas his eyes suddenly opened widely, his body almost face faulting, completely taken by surprise by this question that came out of nowhere and which, to him, was completely stupid.
- " Are you stupid or what ? I'm saving her from you. Use your head, dumbass. "
- " It's the pot calling the kettle black. " Countered Jameson, apparently not convinced by the Dragon Slayer answer. " I did nothing wrong to her now, did I ? "
- " She is my partner, one of my guildmate. A friend. I'm not letting her down. "
BURSTING ROPE !
Natsu didn't had time to prevent a strange red rope from wrapping around his head, precisely over his mouth, a rope which exploded shortly after, sending him to the ground writhing in pain after feeling his tongue so close from exploding.
- " It's normal to be friend with the members of his guild seeing what you are all getting through. " Began Jameson. " But I forbid you to even think that the friendship there is between you and Warren is the same that the one that there is between you and Gray, for example. "
- " I may spend more time with Gray than Warren but they are both friends. Even if it make me want to puke to say that of ice cube. " Answered Natsu while getting up. " And why does that concern you ? You're not my father. "
- " There is a reason why I tried to get you here alone. It's because when we investigated into you, I saw myself in you. Somebody who hurts the others because he is unable to know exactly what he is feeling. So I'm going to teach you that well mastered feelings gives a lot of power. That way, if you manage to survive this fight, you will have learnt something. "
- " SHUT THE FUCK UP ! "
FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR !
Natsu, not being able to hear any more of that guy bullshit, shut him up by unleashing the power of his roar, but Jameson didn't move, putting a hand to the hilt of his sword which he had at his waist.
FLAME SLICING EDGE !
He raised his sword over his head and brought it down on the torrent of flame which rushed at him, splitting it in two, the breath being put out shortly after.
- " My turn, now. " Began Jameson, inhaling the smoke of his cigarette while sheathing back his sword, Natsu chuckling at that.
- " Go for it. Send your flames. I'm kinda hungry. "
- " I am the volcano, pink flamingo. " Countered Jameson who began to be slightly annoyed by Natsu, a viscous liquid oozing from his hands. " And until proved otherwise, a volcano spit no flames. "
MAGMA TWISTER WAVE !
Joining his hands in front of him, he threw a swirling torrent of magma at his opponent who was forced to dodge, his foot receiving some drops of lava, which was enough for Natsu to suffer like his feet had been cut off.
- " Well, I am disappointed. I did not expect the famous Salamander to be such a disappointment in a fight. " mocked Jameson hands in pockets, Natsu recovering from his burn on its foot.
- " You are starting to get on my nerve. " Natsu where starting to feel his wrath boiling up. " I am going to demolish you quickly and save Luce. "
- " Save her from what ? " Countered Jameson, having a lot of fun driving the mage mad. " She is not hurt, she is not in immediate danger, she underwent no violence. It's as if you are looking for a pretext to play the knights in shining armor. Rather ironic for a dragon. "
- " Fuck off. You are making me mad with those half assed sentences. "
- " And that's exactly the point. If they make you react, it's because there is a part of the truth inside which disturbs you. " Growled Jameson who was starting to be fed up with the stubbornness of that guy.
- " AND WHAT TRUTH ?! COME ON, TELL ME ! "
- " THAT YOU LOVE LUCY, YOU ASH FOR BRAIN ! " Roared the Strizer by consuming what remained of its cigarette all at once. This sentence had gone out of nowhere, something he clearly had not planned but he had no other choices. He quickly understood that Natsu needed some kind of electro shock to start thinking about this kind of thing.
And this sentence had the expected effect because it was all that it took to put Natsu out immediately, the Salamander completely shocked, not knowing what to think of that. For him, it was only bullshit but a part of him seemed to wake up, as if it had been buried for years and could finally make his voice heard.
- " What the hell are you saying ? " Asked Natsu, completely lost. " I'm not in love with Lucy. And you have nothing to prove the contrary. "
- " Well first, I noticed that she is the only woman of the guild for whom you have a nickname. A very affective one, I must say. "
- " It doesn't mean anything. "
- " If that was the only thing, yes. But I have much better." Jameson kept on. " YOU are always there to protect her, YOU made her join the guild, YOU swore to protect her future. And if that is still not enough for you, I would even go so far as to say that you are bound by fate. "
- " What ? In what ? " Now, Natsu was really lost. He didn't see in what they were bound by things like fate, even if a part of him where accepting that.
- " Let me explain. " Proposed Jameson before beginning to enumerate the proofs. " You were born 400 years ago and it is Anna, Lucy's ancestor, who was your teacher, to you and the other Dragons Slayer. It is also her who opened the Eclipse Door to send you to the future and it's one of her descendant, Layla Heartfilia, Lucy's mother, who opened the door in this 7th July 777. And it is you who makes Lucy come to Fairy Tail, offering her a new family. Everything that you lived together, to the moment when she risked her life to rewrite the book of END to cut the link between you, Zeref and the book, allowing you to survive. If it's not enough, I don't know what could convince you. "
Jameson put a new cigarette in his mouth, looking satisfied with his explanation but Natsu was still in conflict with himself, as if he refused the reality.
- " I'm sorry, but it's rubbish. " Began Natsu while getting up, which didn't really pleased Jameson. "First, this stories of fate, I don't believe in shit like that. I build MY own life. " A tick mark appear on Jameson's forehead. " Then, let us admit that I feel more that friendship for her, it would be more as a sister. " a second tick mark. " And then, I have no need for anything else than my fury to beat your ass. " Third tick mark, JACKPOT !
- " RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH ! "
Jameson suddenly roared at the same time as the volcano exploded in the background and the explosion of the ground around the Strizer, spurts of flames and lava splashing all that was nearby. Natsu took a step back, surprised by such a rise of power.
- " YOU REACHED MY ULTIMATE LIMIT , MATCH STICK ! I THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD AT LEAST SMART ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE A MINIMUM, BUT IT MUST BE NOTED THAT WITH YOU, I'LL HAVE TO USE THE HARD WAY ! "
On these words, he pushed his sword in the ground, some magma springing from the cracks appearing around the blade.
VOLCANIC FORGE : MAGMA BLADE ERUPTIVE SLASH !
He then took his blade out of the ground, creating a long projection of magma which splashed Natsu. But the most impressive thing was the immense blade which Jameson was brandishing towards the sky, a blade covered with lava that he then swung down, sandwiching the mage between 2 projections of magma, his pained cry ringing all over the mountain.
And reaching the ears of a blonde mage, whose eyelids fluttered before slowly opening, her readjusting to the ambient light. After this little period of adaptation, she realized her situation: chained to a stone wall, in front of a field destroyed by flames, his pink haired partner writhing in pain in front of Jameson, who had just turned his head to her.
- " Well, well. The princess is finally waking up. " Stated Jameson, the mage glaring at him.
- " YOU ! When I think that I took your side against Natsu back at Magnolia. What do you want ? "
- " The same thing as the other Strizer. To test you. And I am currently teaching a lesson to Flame Boy. And the least we can say … "
FIRE DRAGON'S SWORD HORN !
Jameson was interrupted by Natsu, who struck him in his lower back like a missile, head first, sending him crash in a stone spike some meters away.
- "… Is that he is one hell of a difficult pupil." Resumed Jameson by getting up, his anger shooting up.
- "Now, I hope that you're going to fight more seriously. I'm starting to be fed up with you talking like a gossip girl." Threatened Natsu by igniting before throwing himself on Jameson once again.
FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST !
The burning fist approached Jameson but while he still had some centimeters left before reaching its target, Jameson covered himself with flames too and Natsu's fist was blocked suddenly, as if it had collided with a wall which had absorbed the attack. Natsu didn't understand what had happened before Jameson came with an answer.
- "Well, having a hard time ? It's not surprising. My anger make my flames so powerful and violent that they are much denser than normal flames. Your flames won't get through them, not as long as they are that weak at least."
EXPLOSIVE VOLCANO GEYSER !
The ground under Natsu began to swell and crack, the Dragon Slayer getting out of the way just as the ground exploded like a volcano, throwing a column of lava towards the sky. Lucy, from her part, struggled more and more to try to release herself from her binds, not supporting the view of her friend being manhandled like that, her will to fight growing after she had seen her whip and her keys fall from Natsu's back pocket which had been destroyed during his dodging. But she could do nothing. From his part Jameson could see in Natsu's eyes 2 different sparks. The first one was a conflicted one, proof that the words he said did have en effect, Natsu's brain working at full speed to try to make sense out of everything that guy had said. The other spark was one we usually have when we just thought of an idea. Jameson had a hard time understanding what it could be when suddenly, lightning appear in the flames of the mage who inspired deeply, feeling his lungs with air.
LIGHTNING FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR !
A small memory lapse prevented Jameson from understanding quickly enough what was happening but when he did, it was too late. He was struck quite hard by the attack and if the flames of the pinkette had been weakened by his own fire, they remained powerful enough to cross his barrier and that was without taking into account the lightning bolt which had not been weakened, striking him at full power. Jameson was torn away from the ground by the attack and was sent approximately 100 meters back while an explosion of fire and lightning shook all the mountain. Taking advantage of this moment of calm, Natsu rushed at Lucy, breaking the stone and releasing her from her binds, the blonde still having what was left of the handcuffs to her wrists and ankles.
- " Luce, are you ok ? " Natsu worried by examining the blonde. " He hasn't done anything to you, at least ? "
- " No, nothing. " Answered the blonde, checking herself out too that to see if she had no hidden wounds. " It would seem like he told the truth when he said he did nothing to me. "
- " And alas for you, it will quickly change. "
VOLCANIC BOMB RAIN !
Natsu and Lucy hardly had time to turn their head to the voice which had uttered the threat that a shower of bowling sized fire covered stone fell from the sky straight on both mages, which tried to evade with great difficulty, suffering heavy damages. By getting up, they saw Jameson standing not far away, his body covered with superficial burns and still going strong. He seemed like he was more than angered, like the flames and lava swirling around him indicated.
- " Well done, cotton candy. " congratulated Jameson, irony heavy in his voice. " I told you that she wasn't in any danger, but your stubbornness, absolutely wanting to save her, is what will put her in danger. "
He moved toward Lucy, whom he lifted by the back of her collar and dragged towards a small stone platform in the center of a crater. He put her on it and used his flames to weld the rests of the handcuffs together, attaching her wrists together before doing the same with her ankles. Then, he filled the crater with magma, the platform floating with difficulty on the surface of the small lake.
- " Here. Now, she is stuck on a small rock floating in the middle of the lava, restrained so she won't be able to get out of here. Which would have never arrived if you had listened to what I told you. "
Natsu remained awestruck, grinding his teeth, forced to admit that Jameson was right. He had more and more difficulty to push away the words of Jameson and this small voice in him who welcomed with opened arm those revelations like they were god sent. He then exploded, letting his flames and lightning spring from his body in a maelstrom of chaotic power reflecting his current state of mind. In the face of that, Jameson seemed almost satisfied. And much to Natsu's surprise, his strength seemed to dissipate suddenly, as if his anger had disappeared.
- " I see. You're so impressed that you know it's over for you, isn't it ? " provoked Natsu. " In this case, let me finish it ! "
LIGHTNING FIRE DRAGON'S FIRING HAMMER !
Natsu covered one of his forearm with flames and lightning which he brought down with all of his strength on Jameson, the shockwave cracking the ground and sending gusts of air in every direction, but something unexpected happened, something that was almost scaring Natsu. The Strizer had caught Natsu's arm effortlessly, by no means bothered by the heat of the fire and lightning mix, although they were slightly burning the palm of his hand.
- " Do you know what's worse than an angry man ? " Questioned Jameson without letting go of the arm, the Dragon Slayer sweating heavily, clearly ill-at-ease, we could even say frightened. " A man who control it. "
BLAZING LASER !
He pointed two fingers at Natsu and shot a concentrated beam of flames which pierced the shoulder of the mage, tearing away from him a pained cry and pushing him back a few meters away.
- "Feelings are like flames." Began the redhead by watching Natsu getting up with difficulty. "The bigger they are, the more powerful they are. But as they are growing, they began to represent a threat to everyone, destroying everything on their wake. And what you have just done is a proof of that. Look." He pointed to the right and by following his finger, Natsu was paralyzed.
The stone on which Lucy was rocked dangerously on the surface of the small lake of lava, the blonde suffering because some magma drops had splashed her thighs.
- "Your attack was led by your anger towards me. It was powerful but the shockwave created waves of lava which almost made Lucy take one hell of a hot bath." With each words, Natsu was shrinking more and more, the realization hitting him as hard as a ton of bricks. "Yes, Natsu. She would have die by your fault because you don't pay attention to those who are around you nor in what you feel. You are a danger."
Natsu seemed brain dead. He wasn't moving anymore, eyes lost in his own reflection and this was hurting Lucy who looked desperately for a way to save her best friend. Jameson, on the other hand, had not finished his verbal torment.
- " I know what you're feeling, you know. Long ago, like you I had no control over my feelings, in particular my anger, and I made a lot of people suffer because of that. Feelings, in the same way as flames, are dangerous but if you know how to control them, we can then call on to their full potential. You thought I let my guard down, but my anger was still here, but it was focused cause I controlled it, hence why you couldn't felt it. Sorry to tell you that, but you have no chance against me. It is over. "
Natsu was still not moving, he had heard Jameson but remained totally silent, motionless, as dead. Refusals and stubbornness were over, he literally was seeing the movie of his life, everything and he noticed details that he didn't saw at the time. All those times when he had hurt his close friends because he was not paying attention to the others were now obvious to him. Remorse flooding him, along with doubt and constant questioning, he got to the point where he even forgot the fight, looking at his opponent for answer.
- " I … I hurt them that much ? "
- " Not that much. I have exaggerated it little to force you to go out of your shell. But your lack of consideration is at the origin of numerous small problems. As for example, getting in a girl's house without being invited to fall asleep in her bed, while she is in it. It's not something normal people do, even between friends. I know girls who can be particularly violent regarding this. And I know what I'm talking about since a girl I know really well was about to fill my ass with glass shards because I fell asleep by mistake in her bed while I was drunk. " Added Jameson without knowing why, wriggling by remembering the painful memory who would have been a lot worse if nobody had come to his rescue.
Natsu grimaced without being aware of it by imagining the scene, while remembering himself of all the times when he had literally broken into Lucy's private life by inviting himself in her home just like that. Returning to the feelings, he still had a hard time thinking that they can have such an impact.
- " Those feelings … They are as powerful as that ? " Asked Natsu, still motionless.
- " Of course they are him. " Calmly answered Jameson by lighting a nth cigarette. " The feelings, no matter which one, are powerful inhibitor which multiplied tenfold what people can do. I saw mothers lifted cars by themselves alone to save their children. People can move mountains and realize the impossible for love or even for friendship. For example, in my world, a young man without any experience in mountain climbing went to climb the highest summit of my world just for the love of a woman. And in the same way, under the influence of anger, jealousy, people destroyed whole lives, theirs or that of the others. And you, it's always feelings like the friendship that you feel for your friends, your attachment to your guild, the hatred felt to those who threatens your close friends, it is these feelings that allowed you to surpass all the obstacles, even the most insuperable. As for example, the anger that you let explode in front of Erigor from Eisenwald allowed your flames to remove suck his Storm Mail up. You have these feelings in you, but you can't put a name on it and as long as that will be the case, you will always have the risk of hurting the others. It's also for that that I did everything to face you. I've been in your place, making close friends suffer because I did not control them. Given that you know flames better than anyone, I knew that you would understand if I made an analogy between both. " He paused then began smiling with a haughty look. " But having said that, whether you realize it or not, it will not change the fact that I won. "
Natsu was now deep into his own world, drowned under all those information but it did not stop those last words from making him raise his head, not understanding in what the fight, that he had forgotten with all that, was finished.
- " What are you talking about ? "
- " If you want to have a chance to beat me, it would be necessary for you to use your full power, even if I doubt that it would enough, but let us say that it would be. If you do it, it will put Lucy in danger because you cannot control your power enough to prevent it from hurting her. And because you do not want to hurt her, you will never reach the level of power needed to beat me. So I've won. "
Natsu began thinking, trying to find a way to beat the dude, without putting Lucy in danger. He might be saying to himself that she wouldn't be that much in danger, but there was still a doubt that was there. He had no solution. For the first time in his life, Natsu was almost sure he had no way to win.
- "If I have to stay there, swear not to attack Lucy. "
- " It is strangely noble from you, but don't worry, I didn't plan on attacking her. Now, farewell, dragon. "
Jameson raised his sword over his head, Natsu on his knees, totally resigned but if he could save Lucy like that, he didn't mind. Her life came before the rest. He thought of everybody at the guild, his eyes filling with tears, a fact rare enough to be underlined.
Everybody. Mira, Cana, Wendy, Romeo, Gajeel, Levy, Laxus, Master, Juvia, Gray, Erza, … Happy. Lucy … I am sorry.
His head lowered, tears flowing down his face, he waited to feel the blade pierced his flesh and to put an end to his life.
But as Jameson got ready to bring down his sword, some kind of blue magic rope wrapped around his wrist, preventing him from proceeding to the execution.
- "What the…?"
He did not have time to understand what was happening that he felt himself getting send into the air and being thrown to the ground several meters away. But he did not have time to get over the commotion.
SHOOTING STAR CANNON !
Jameson raised his head just enough to see an enormous arrow of green light arriving towards him at a crazy speed, arrows which exploded like a cannonball when it reached him, throwing him even farther, tattering his clothes and blood trickling down from his lips. By looking at it closely, he saw Lucy standing in front of Natsu, wearing her Sagittarius Star Dress, her bow pointed at the Strizer, eyes red with unshed tears.
- "Luce ? But how did you get out of this crater ?" Wondered Natsu before putting his eyes on Lucy's hands, eyes filling with surprise.
Lucy's hands were as red as crawfish and covered with big blisters and it was the same for her feet and there was nothing left of the handcuffs. Natsu didn't understood how she had been able to free herself, but Jameson answered it for him.
- "She plunged her hands into the lava to melt the chains ?! She didn't even made a single noise !" He exclaimed stunned that she could pull a trick like this one, Natsu entering the same state of shock by understanding the pain which she had to endure for that.
- " But why did you do that ? " Natsu wondered, not understanding why she would go hurt herself like that and her answer was not the one he waited for when Lucy turned to him, visibly mad, slapping him strongly, her hand hurting because of it.
- " WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, YOU IDIOT ?! " Lucy exclaimed. " What happens to you, seriously ? Staying there, on your knees, waiting for death to come as if you had giving up fighting and living. It's not like you, Natsu. The Natsu I know wouldn't let himself get down like that, he would fight up to the end, even if everything seems lost ! " She calmed down and fell to her knees, grimacing because of her ankles bruised by the lava, taking his face in her hands. " I don't know what he told you but judging by the effect it had on you, those were hard to listen. But whether he is right or wrong, you don't have to give up because of that. Because it's not what our Natsu would do. " She ended with a soft smile, Natsu's focusing on her, forgetting everything else.
" How could I have been that oblivious ? " The sentence was repeating in his head like a mantra. His heart beating like a jackhammer, he felt his body becoming hotter than usual and by thinking about it, he had always felt this kind of thing when Lucy was close by but he was just too naïve to know what it was about and he put them aside each time. Without counting the many times when he had felt the need to eviscerate other people, especially other guys, who were being too friendly, even too flirty, with her. Because he was jealous. Because he wanted to be the only one to make her smile, to make her happy. Now that he understood all this, he could not deny the fact that the others were right to say he was an imbecile.
Because he had to be one to not notice it before.
He began to laugh lightly, what intrigued Lucy, before raising his head that had slightly lowered.
- " Yeah. Sorry Luce. And thank you for waking me up. "
- " No problem. " Answered Lucy with a big smile reflecting Natsu's one, a smile that didn't stay for a very long time in place, disappearing when they heard noises coming from behind them.
MAGMA STONE CHAINS !
Jameson, who had observed the scene from afar, called upon a series of chains made of volcanic rock which crossed the distance separating him from the mages in a blink of eye, winding around Lucy under the eyes of Natsu who looked without moving the body of her friend being pulled back until she end up in front of Jameson, who used her as a human shield.
- " It's not really my kind to take hostages, but I didn't expect her to intervenes, so I'm going to make an exception. "
Natsu, naturally, got up but for once, he took time to analyze the situation. Jameson was largely hidden behind Lucy, which meant that if he used his full power as he was used, he will hurt her. If he wanted to succeed, he had to evolve and he had to do it now. He concentrated, thinking again about Jameson's word about flames, to control them and now that he knew what he felt, he felt that his power had been multiplied tenfold. After all, as a Dragon Slayer, his flames really did reflect his emotions. He reopened his eyes, and his body covered itself completely with flames in an instant, slightly blinding both observers and when the flames disappeared, they end up out of breath.
In front of them was standing Natsu but not the one that they were used to see. He had entered Dragon Mode, but it had changed a lot. Before, it was basically a scaly Natsu covered with flames. But there, it was not the same. The scales were ruby red and partially covered his arms and his legs, as well as his shoulders, his torso and ribs. His hands, which looked more like claws than something else, were covered with flames, the same kind of flames that formed sorts of wings on his back and horns on his head. The eyes had turned yellow with reptilian pupils, his teeth had become more sharpened and even his hair had grown to end up as long as when he had appeared at the Great Magic Games after one year of training (A.N. : I'm sure you know what I'm talking about). He inspired deeply, his mouth filling with flames.
FIRE DRAGON'S …
- "Wow. I admit that I did not expect that." Admitted Jameson before a grin appear on his face seeing Natsu taking a deep breath. "But if you attack me now, your friend is going take the full strength of the blow, you know ?"
- "Natsu …" whispered Lucy, a little worried about what was going to happen.
… REVISED ROAR !
While Jameson and Lucy were expecting the usual roar, this time, it was a concentrated beam of flames that broke out towards them. The attack barely grazed Lucy's right side, the latter feeling almost no heat at all, the attack striking Jameson dead on his belly, throwing him far from Lucy, the belly almost carbonized by the attack. Once the flames disappeared, he got up with difficulty, eyes aimed at Natsu, who had been joined by Lucy.
- "You said something ?" Asked Natsu, openly mocking the Strizer by picking his ear like nothing happened.
- "Grrr. OK, if you want to play that game, we are going to be two !" Roars out Jameson by leaving his sword on the ground, igniting completely. In front of him, Lucy and Natsu remained motionless, the two ready to fight.
- "Lucy". Says Natsu, drawing the attention of the mage. "Together ?"
- "Together.". Answered the blonde with a smile before they turn their attention back to the Strizer in front of them.
FIRE BOMB SWARM !
STAR SHOT !
On one side, Jameson called a multitude of fireballs which were met with a swarm of bright green arrows, none of the two side getting the upper hand on the other.
- "You know that it's useless. If that continues, none of us two will reach the target." Warned Jameson, Lucy continuing her shootings without being distracted.
- "I don't need to hit you. He is here for that."
FIRE DRAGON'S BRILLIANT FLAME !
Natsu appeared just over Jameson, having to take advantage of the fact that he was busy with Lucy to hurl him a hard hit on the top of his skull with his Dragon Mode enhanced Brilliant Flame. Quickly recovering after that, Jameson and Natsu then exchanged fiery blows at a blinding speed, striking mainly the face of their opponents. But Jameson, although busy with Natsu, tried to see what Lucy was doing. But Natsu prevented him from doing so. When the exchanges came to an end, Natsu quickly went away and before he had time to understand no anything, Jameson was almost drown on the spot by a gigantic whirlwind of water which succeeded in putting out his flames and send him to the floor. By raising his eyes towards the origin of the attack, he was surprised to see Juvia beside Lucy in her Star Dress Aquarius who had just executed the Unison Raid which they had used in the Tower of the Paradise. While he got up, Jameson saw Juvia disappear in a cloud of smoke, revealing the two Gemini's spirit who disappeared at the same time as Lucy's Star Dress.
OPEN, GATE OF THE SCORPION : SCORPIO !
STAR DRESS SCORPIO !
Now accompanied by the spirit of the scorpion and wearing the corresponding clothes, Lucy threw a new offensive. But first, her spirit had to set the ground.
SAND BUSTER !
Scorpio threw a swirl of sand on Jameson, literally swallowing the Strizer who, alas, didn't have time to do anything else when Lucy, surfing on the sand, had come to fight Jameson who, between the sand and the water from before, he had a hard time defending against the blonde mage who was a lot stronger than he gave her credit for. And it was not finished.
DRAGON SLAYER SECRET ARTS: CRIMSON LOTUS - EXPLODING FLAME BLADE
While the sand was still dancing around him, Jameson was hit by an enormous burst of swirling flames which propelled him towards the sky and, totally drowsy, he was not able to prevent his flight and his fall. Meanwhile, Lucy and Natsu were standing side by side, their magics beginning to merge together.
UNISON RAID : FIRE STAR SUPERNOVA !
Combining their respective magics, Lucy and Natsu called upon a gigantic bomb of light and flames which rushed at Jameson who had still not landed and was swallowed mid-fall by the sphere which exploded without any further ado, creating a gigantic crater while cracking the ground on several meters all around it and in the middle of the hole was Jameson, his body calcined and smoking.
Lucy and Natsu let themselves fall on the ground, exhausted by the fight. They were getting their breath back under control when Natsu felt something on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw that Lucy had fallen asleep on him. Looking at the beautiful blonde and thinking again about everything he had learn during this fight, he let a smile escape him and went to replace a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear, swearing to became better at managing his feelings, at least for her.
So... First, I hope that you liked this chapter. Next, I felt like it kinda get out of control in the end, as if I let my fingers type without even thinking. I wanted this chapter to act as a trigger for Natsu, to be able to develop a little the character afterward, in particular on his interpersonal skills with the others, and mainly Lucy, now that he knows what these feelings are worth. And if I chose this Strizer for that, it's to be able to make a parallel between feelings and flames, something that Natsu understands. Not my best chapter, I admits it, and I apologize if it's not as good as the others. If you have any remarks, don't hesitate to tell me. See you !
I'm also thinking about changing my rhythm. I'll still try to post at least a chapter every 7 days max, but I'll basically write whenever I'll feel like it as to not force myself in doing things I don't want just to publish in time. But I'll try to do the chapters in within a week and, let's say, 1 week and a half at the maximum.
Next time: Natsu meet his advisor. A 'new' Natsu Lucy can't handle. Mission in Fiore's Far West.