Chapter 2: A bad strart

That afternoon, everyone from Fairy Tail began to enter the arena. At the main tribune were master Markarov, Erza and Mirajane seated.

"Today Natsu will fight." Said Erza to Mirajane. "I hope he will show us some new techniques he can use later on." Erza looked very excited. Even more excited than she had been before Gray's match. She, as also a member of Gray and Natsu's team, cared a lot about the possibility for them to improve their magical skills. Mirajane smiled.

"I agree, but First will Lisanna and Elfman fight. I wonder who will win today." Erza nodded. They watched more members gather in and take their seats. Suddenly Erza stood up. "What are you going to do? The match is about to start." Remarked Mirajane surprised.

"I need to do something first, you can fill me in later about what I missed." Erza said and she began to climb down the small stone stairs towards the exit.

Gray happened to be one of the few who were still standing outside the arena. He gazed a bit vaguely into the distance with his hands in his pockets. He was wondering what his friends would do when they finally did battle.

"Gray-sama, let's go to the match." Said Juvia next to him and she hooked her arm in his. She smiled at him lively. "Come on, it will be fun." Gray didn't know what to say at first, it felt like a hot wave came over him so that he couldn't speak or breath. At last he got the feeling in his limbs back and stepped back. Still with his arm locked with Juvia's.

"Don't do that so suddenly." He blurred out. "You can go without me."

"But Juvia thinks you will need this. You are worried about your friends, aren't you?" Juvia looked him hard into his eyes. Gray swallowed. It seemed Juvia knew everything. She certainly wasn't just following him without thinking, what he most of the time had thought.

"You are very friendly to each other lately." Remarked Erza suddenly from behind.

"Erza." Gray turned around and was glad to have an excuse to change the subject. "Weren't you already with master and Mirajane?"

"I was, but I need to speak with Luci, have you guys seen her?"

"No, I suppose she will be here soon." Replied Gray thoughtfully. At that moment Wendy walked to them with the three Exeeds by her side.

"Are you looking for Luci-san?" Wendy asked. "I just saw her, she said she would be here very soon to cheer for Lisanna."

"Good, thank you Wendy." Smiled Erza. "But I will look for her anyway. I need to speak with her in private."

"Well Gray-sama, should we go then?" Asked Juvia him sweetly and took Gray's hand. He blushed and pulled himself free.

"I can walk by myself!" He cried out.

"You lllllllllllike her." Giggled Happy suddenly above Gray's head. But Gray let him soon regret his action. Annoyed he grabbed the flying cat by his tail, gripped him in a bear hug and started to give him a knuckle sandwich. But very soon Happy freed himself and flew off as fast as he could. Gray wasted no time and sprinted after him.

"Happy! Come here you!" He shouted.

"WHAAA! Natsu save meeeeeeeee!" They heard Happy cry out before they disappeared from view.

"Wait, Gray-sama." Cried Juvia after them, but Erza gave her a mysterious smile.

"Don't worry about it, Juvia." She said, then she set off herself to talk to Luci.

"Well, we are going to watch the next battle, are you coming Juvia?" Asked Wendy friendly. Juvia took one more look into the direction Gray had gone to, but then nodded and followed Wendy into the arena.

Erza didn't have to look far. She met Luci on her way to her home. "Luci." She called while she walked to her. Luci halted and waited for Erza to catch up before she said anything.

"Erza, I thought you were already at the arena." She said surprised.

"Yes, I was but I need to speak to you for a moment."

"OK." Luci looked curious.

"How are you feeling, Luci?" Asked Erza really friendly.

"Well to be honest, a bit scared." Luci replied.

Erza nodded. "I see. Natsu would never harm you. You do understand that, Right?"

"Yes, I thought of that many times." Said Luci who felt really relieved to be able to talk to Erza about it. "But still I don't want to fight him." She went on. "It just doesn't feel right."

"Just look at Gray and Juvia." Said Erza. "Juvia didn't want to fight Gray either, but still she did and if you ask me, she did gain something from it. Your spirits are strong, but they can't fatally wound Natsu, he is too strong or that, don't worry. On the other hand, because it is a friendly match, he will fight fair and won't attack you directly."

Luci nodded with a smile. "Thanks Erza, that's what I needed to hear. I'll go to Lisanna's match now and support her, after that I will give Natsu my best shot." Together they walked to the arena. The battle had already began and they could hear the roar from Elfman's beast soul take over and cheering from the crowd from quite a distance. When Luci and Erza entered the arena, the first thing they saw was a huge purple bunny holding off a green giant. It was amazing how much power Lisanna possessed to be able to transform into something so big. Luci walked quickly to the rows with seats, so that she wouldn't miss much more of the match. Erza was already climbing the stone stairs to her own seat. Eager Luci looked down every row to see if there was a seat still free. With joy she saw Levi wave at her, she had saved her a seat.

"Thanks a lot, Levi-chan." Luci said in a low voice when she sat down.

"No problem. Look, you are not the only one who makes a late entrance." Levi pointed to the row below them. Gray just made his way through. He had Happy tightly under his arm and he looked very irritated.

"Gray, what happened?"Asked Luci, who looked at the beaten up Happy.

Gray sighed. "Don't ask." He said and sat down next to Juvia, who also looked quite puzzled at Happy's state. Luci gave up and smiled at her friend. Levi smiled back and lifted her shoulders at the matter.

The match was quite interesting. Lisanna could transform quickly into different things and had her speed as a great advantage, while Elfman used his strength and big body to stand his ground. He had reduced his take over magic by only transforming his arms to save his energy. Lisanna did that too by staying longer in one form and keeping them as small as possible. It also meant that she no longer could change into a flying form and Elfman was really glad he had beaten that possibility from her. Now he seemed to be in the advantage. Lisanna was slowing down and he caught her more than once.

"Come on Lisanna, You can do it!" Luci's heart skipped a beat when she heard Natsu's voice. She looked around. Finally she found her dear friend. He was standing behind the last row of seats. His eyes were filled with excitement and a big smile coloured his face.

"What's wrong Lu-chan?" Smiled Levi teasingly when she saw the look on her friend's face. "Have you grown deeper feelings for Natsu?"

"Huh?" Luci looked quickly back at her friend. "O-of course not." She murmured embarrassed and she stared at her feet.

Levi laughed. "It's ok, you can fight the man you love. Just look below."Gray and Juvia were watching the match, but when Luci watched closely, she saw that Juvia leaned with her shoulder against him and Gray didn't seemed to mind it. He didn't look indifferently away to avoid strange thoughts from others, like he used to do. Luci grinned, she didn't know Gray had it in him. "Really sweet, aren't they?" Giggled Levi.

"Don't say that too loud, otherwise you will end up like Happy." Smirked Luci.

"Oh that's what happened." Smiled Levi amused.

Not much later the match between Elfman and Lisanna ended. Elfman had won eventually. It seemed he had learned from his defeats and had used that against his sister. Luci took many large breaths to calm herself. Now it was her turn. Remember your strategy and everything will be fine. She told herself. Levi was much help, she knew exactly what to say to make Luci feel better. Luci only hoped she wouldn't bring up her tease from before. It made her feel uncomfortable and she very much liked to be able to look Natsu in the eye when she battled him. At last it was time for Luci and Natsu to enter the battle ground.

Luci saw her friend a few feet away from her at the other end of the arena. He looked pretty serious and eager to strike. He was all fired up! Luci grimaced. Ok, here I go. She thought. For the first time in her live she wasn't happy to see that fire in Natsu's eyes. It pissed her off actually, but that was fine. She could use that in her fighting.

"Begin."She heard master Markarov say in an echoing voice. Luci lifted one of her keys.

"Open, Gate of the lion. Leo!" Loki appeared and braced himself.

"Hey Loki, sorry dude, but I have to beat you."Yelled Natsu and from his hands he made a big fire that he throw in Loki's direction. Loki blocked it by using a magical barrier and sped towards his opponent.

"Too slow."He said and he attacked Natsu from behind. "Ring magic!" It was a perfect hit and Natsu gasped for air. Of course that wasn't enough to keep him down. Natsu stood up again and roared a fire hurricane straight at Loki. He dodged, but Natsu attacked again and again. Finally he got his opponent.

"Loki!" Cried Luci as she saw him slowly lose power and become transparent.

"I'm Sorry Luci." Loki said. "I don't have that much power at the moment."

"Have you been staying in the human world again? Why? " Luci asked irritated. Why did she have such difficult spirits?

"I just wanted to see you more." Loki gave her a wink before he fully disappeared. Oh good grief. Luci thought and pulled out her next spirit. With a loud mooh, Taurus appeared.

"I will defend you, Luci."He declared in his cow-like manner.

"Yes, I believe you, now go." Replied Luci hasty, she saw Natsu already approach with his flaming hands. Taurus blocked the fire attacks with his axe and stroke a few blows. Natsu avoided the attacks, but also used Taurus's axe by gripping it and so swinging him to the ground. Luci could feel her energy becoming lower. How could Natsu do all that. that's what it must mean to be a Dragon Slayer. But. Luci thought optimistic. If Levi can do it, then so can I. Taurus stroke again, but Natsu was too quick and he punched him right in the face. That was it for him. He too became quickly after that transparent and faded away. I will show him! Luci gripped her third key.

"Virgo!"

"Princess, I will do my best." Said the maid with a straight face. She immediately sped up to Natsu and Kicked him hard in the face. Then she disappeared in the ground. Just as Natsu came to his feet, she appeared again and jumped high into a sky. Like a meteor she made her attack, which missed Natsu just by an inch.

"What the hell?" Cried Natsu, completely confused by the sudden attacks. But Luci saw her change, she could still win!