Hello Everyone!

For this to be so late in updating, I'm giving you my deepest apologies. So let's get on with the chapter!

Part 2, Chapter 4: Catching Fire, Scarlet Flames of the Firebird Princess!

Fire...

All she could see around her was fire. Rubbing her eyes, she spread the ashes that were falling from the sky. Her small gasps were masked by her mother.

"It's true...the sky rained fire and ashes dust the streets." She heard her mother whisper. Seika at the time couldn't understand what she meant about that, but yet she was only six. Grabbing her hand, her mother broke into a run as they went deeper into the palace. She noticed that the deeper they went, the darker it had gotten. She whimpered, holding her mother's hand tighter.

"I'm scared..." She told her.

"Don't worry, we'll be safe. Their is a city nearby that these ruins follow through. Please continue to hold my hand."

Seika nodded, giving a loud cough from her tainted lungs.

Seika flashed back to the present to see Natsu and Tenkuu fighting fire with fire. Natsu went in to punch him while Tenkuu sidestepped.

"Seriously, you would expect the son of the fire dragon to give more of a fight! Come and show me what you got, spicy boy!" Tenkuu taunted him.

"I'll kick your butt till it burns! FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST!" Natsu flies at him, his fist charged up with flames. But to his and Seika's surprise, Tenkuu catches his fist.

"I told you dragon boy." He gripped his fist tighter. "I am the element of fire, your puny attack won't work on me!" With that, he threw him to the ground, creating a crater.

"Natsu-sama! Are you alright, igni?" Akarui asked him, worriedly. Natsu struggled to get up, his face covered in cuts and bruises. Seika choked back on her tears. Was there nothing she couldn't do? Natsu wasn't even getting a punch on him. And fire was his domain!

"As much as I enjoyed our little dance, it's time for you to die." Tenkuu chuckled as he picked Natsu up by the hair. "You're going to laugh at this though. Who do you think burned down Seika's kingdom?"

Seika felt everything stop in the room. Her legs went numb and she forgotten how to speak. Her hands and face started to shake.

This man...no..this monster was the one who burned her village down!

"You did that?" Seika growled. "You burned down my home!"

Tenkuu smirked and held Natsu's hair tighter. "I can't say that for sure darling. It was you who allowed me to do it."

"I NEVER ALLOWED YOU TO TAKE MY FAMILY AND ALL MY MEMORIES AWAY!" She shouted at him. Tenkuu pursed his lips and laughed.

"Don't you recall a certain wish you wanted to make?"

Seika sighed as she watched the festival below her. It was the annual rite of passage in which the ascension of Firebird to Phoenix would occur. She watched as some of the village boys and girls accepted the initiation into the beautiful birds that were phoenixes.

"Spread your wings and fly towards the horizon! For you were human once, but now you are anew! Live long and prosper!" Her father called out from below. One by one, the children and teens were turned into the majestic creatures and took off into the night sky. Seika's eyes brimmed with tears, watching them take flight.

"I wish I didn't live like this. I wish I could fly."

"No...I never wanted that to happen! Why would you-wait a minute..." She glared at him. "How did you know about that?"

Tenkuu gave her a cocky smile. "I can turn into fire. I was there on a recon mission for my master. He specifically wanted you alive and him dead." He threw Natsu to the ground. "Now I'll finish him off!" He raised his fist and coated it with black flames and was about to punch him, when Seika smiled.

"Now Natsu!" She yelled and his eyes opened up instantly. He grabbed Tenkuu's Han and threw him aside. Tenkuu recovered quickly and looked at him, shock covering his face.

"But I knocked you out cold! How could you have recovered so quickly?" He said, startled.

"Because flame breath, there's only room for two fiery stars in the sky. And that's me and Seika, so you better take back what you said about her or I'll punch an apology out of you." Natsu covered his whole body with fire and Seika stood beside him. "Seika stay out of this!"

"Natsu let me fight with you. This is the guy who destroyed my home, my family, my life." She smiled at him, giving him a determined look. "You better let me help you or else!"

Natsu hesitated for a moment before relenting. "Okay, but if things get to hot, get out of the fire!"

Tenkuu crossed his arms and glared at his competition. "This is going to be good."

They both nodded and charged up their powers.

"FIRE LIGHTING DRAGON MODE!"

"FIREBIRD SCARLET MODE!"

That ends today's chapter! What will happen next? Tune in next time!