A/N - This story actually was supposed to be based on the "Alt prompt: Natural Disaster" and it was going to be based on Natsu always destroying everything. Then I started writing and it became this.
I actually really love how this turned out. Loved the fight scene and the way the story feels from Lucy's eyes.
Inferno
By Genavere
Fire and debris filled the streets of the once calm village. A heavy wind sent the flames further through the straw homes and sent families running for their lives. Water and ice were used to try to combat the inferno while others helped evacuate those they could.
Deeper in the village, the heat bearing down on her, Lucy looked for any villagers they might have missed. Above, a roar of pain vibrated the air around them, shaking the flames that danced high into the air and spread to the trees above. Smoke and heat choked her. Irritated tears spilled over and evaporated on her cheeks.
From the sky, two scaled beasts fell and slammed into the emblazed huts. The larger of the two skid across the ground, its multiple heads arching in different directions to find the one attacking it. When it came to a stop, a smaller figure stood up and several of the nearby flames disappeared into his mouth.
Lucy stumbled forward, desperate to see her partner, to know his condition.
"Heh, now I have a fire in my belly," Natsu's voice warmed her heart along with the searing air. He stood in front of the large chimaera—a creature created by a rogue wizard the villagers had become suspicious of. Its body had been crafted by the bodies of animals and missing people from the area.
When they had arrived, investigating the older wizard had not seemed bad. They talked to the villagers, let Natsu and Wendy investigate with their noses, and developed a solid case against him after a week's time.
Unfortunately for them, while reporting their findings to the magic council to get their help in capturing him, several of the younger warriors of the village had overheard them and decided to take matters into their own hands.
It would be a wonder if any of them still lived now.
To retaliate, the wizard unleashed the creature he had been working on. A creature with the lungs to breath fire and ice, the skin to reflect swords and arrows. With two heads that snapped at each other as much as those it attacked.
Now, it struggled to get off its back, the stretched skin between its arms torn and unusable to take to the sky anymore. Still, the muscular arms and legs could still cause massive damage to anyone unlucky to be caught by them.
She watched her partner start running for the creature, her hand pressed to her chest in anticipation and concern, and saw him jump into the air. "Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon's Fist!"
Memories of years back when he protected her from Gajeel came back. The same flurry of punches that took out the Iron Dragon Slayer now pummeled the pieced together creature as it flayed against the onslaught.
Muscled limbs kicked up dirt and the updraft from the flames kept it high in the air. Behind her, a chilled air swept passed against her back. She felt like a coin with two sides. One chilled and peaceful, the other burned with an inferno.
If given the choice, her legs would have carried her further into the blaze. But, instead of doing so, she waited. Waited as the dust began to clear. Waited for a sign of how the battle progressed or if it had finally come to an end.
A lone figure darkened the layers of dust in the air before a ragged Natsu stepped through the curtain. They locked eyes, onyx with brown. One of his eyes closed and puffed, blood ran down from his forehead down that eye and dripped off his chin.
The only piece of clothing he had left were his pants, and even those were torn and beyond any repair she could fashion. Bruises, bites, and deep scratches covered his clearly exhausted body. But he lived. He had kept his promise.
Into the inferno of harsh smoke and heat, she threw her body into his and they held each other close. Each relishing in the moment to know they had survived. Another mission had finished. The village might be destroyed, but it had not been their fault, and neither cared at the moment.
"Not sure you noticed," he let out a short breath of a laugh, leaning into her heavily. "But I fought a fricken chimaera just now."
Relived and letting him use her for support, she smiled. "Was it everything you thought it'd be?"
"Heh, yeah, but now, I could use a nap." His arm slung over her shoulders and she wrapped hers around his back. Together, they walked away from the heat behind them and towards the cool salvation their friends worked to create.
"Let's go take a nap, then."
"Together?"
A small smile graced her lips. "Together."
A/N - When I googled mythical creatures that could breath fire and saw Chimaera on there, I was like: Sold!
So that is how we got a Dragon Slayer fighting a Chimaera. Do they exist in the Fairy Tail world? No clue, but they do in this story!
Let me know what you think!