Howdy mi compadres. Again it looks like I've failed to update in a long time. But don't worry I haven't forgotten about this, my other fic or the fics I plan to write. I'd like to say that I'll be able to update more often but its actually the opposite. With test approaching I'm going to have even less time to work on my fics. Not that I'll be studying but rather acting as if I was. By no means does that mean there won't be any updates at all. It just means that they'll be sporadic as I'll I won't be able to update on a schedule. Not that I really ever kept to a schedule. Now this just may be the longest chapter and for good reason. It preludes one of the most important moments in the entire story but also in all my stories. It's just a teaser for what I have planned for the future. Now thanks for the continued interest in me and my stories, love you all so much. Now plz Read-Review-Facourite-Follow-Follow/Fave Me in that order. And feel free to PM me. I love to talk to anime, manga even fanfic fans. You people are awesome.

Gray had just been given a hint as to how he might be able to defend his family against the impending dangers and found himself leisurely strolling through town. It wasn't until he had passed him and Natsu called out to him that he realized the dragon slayers presence.

"Hey." He said it in a monotone manner as he had way too much on his mind to be bothered with the flame brains shenanigans {I'm seriously amazed that I didn't need spell-check for this}. At least that was what he thought before catching a glimpse of his eyes. There wasn't any of his usual overzealous energy but intense and clear focus.

"So what did you guys talk about?" At that moment he realized that Natsu must've sniffed her out.

"Nothing important. Now is that all you wanted to say flame brain." He was trying hard to diffuse the tension in the atmosphere but Natsu wasn't having it.

"There's something else…Fight me Gray!"

THE NEXT DAY

God damn it Natsu. If you ask me that with that look in your eyes, how am I supposed to refuse?

That's all that ran through his mind. It's not like he hadn't thought of it after all one of the reasons Gray wanted to become strong was so he could catch up to Natsu. The only issue is that with recent events Gray had matured and wasn't very interested in bashing in Natsu's skull. Well…at least not as much as he used to be.

Natsu had told him to meet him in the forest for their match. (The forest where Natsu found Happy Can't remember the name) For whatever reason Gray accepted the challenge but they couldn't just go and beat each other senselessly in the forest. So naturally he decided to seek help from the guild resident medic. There's no way he could've predicted the trouble that would bring about. He entered the guild and the very instant he did he could feel something was off. Was it just his imagination or was he really getting some cold stares from some of his guild mates. Even more unusual was the fact that he was sure it was only some of the girls. He erased the thought from his mind and returned to his original objective which was getting Wendy to agree to help them out. When he spotted he simply asked her "Hey Wendy can you come with me for a bit." The way people reacted you'd think he had just invited her to join a dark guild or something. He didn't have time to entertain the rest of his guild mates, so he turned on his heels and sped out of the guild. Leaving a flustered Wendy to hurry after him.

He felt a tug at the back of his shirt pulling him to a halt. "Gra~ay?" Wendy wined after finally getting his attention. She wondered what it was he could have wanted that he had to be in such a rush.

"Oh, sorry Wendy I was a little preoccupied."

"Was there something you needed me for Gray?

"Um…Well…" It was kind of difficult to explain it to the kind and gentle Wendy that he wanted to pound in Natsu's face. Convincing Wendy proved to be more difficult than anticipated and in the end required both Natsu and Gray to get her help. Needless to say they couldn't tell anyone else, least of all Happy, or they would risk the master's intervention. Needless to say due to their increased power levels Gray, Natsu and a couple of the other members were barred from fighting at their full strengths for fear of destroying the town. Which to be perfectly honest was probably a good idea.

Now we find ourselves outside of Magnolia's boundary just enough to keep their affair private. Wendy at this point was regretting her decision to help them. Her idea of a good time wasn't particularly watching two of her friends slug it out. But even so she knew that it wasn't one of their usual brawls. They had this intense look in their eyes that showed just how much they were longing for this. Each of them had their own reasons for wanting this fight and more than anything they both wanted to win.

Gray's hand wouldn't stop shaking no matter what he tried. He had never once back down from Natsu challenge no matter how much of a disadvantage he was in. But this time was different as the moment kept drawing closer and closer he couldn't shake this uneasy feeling he had. As their impending collision drew nearer he found himself wondering if he really was afraid of his rival. Maybe that was the reason he avoided conflict with him, maybe that was why he had so willingly accepted Arthur's offer to hold back Natsu so he could get away. Am I afraid of Natsu?

On the other hand Natsu was having quite the opposite reaction. After all his waiting the moment had come. He and Gray had always been at odds but more than anyone he sought Gray's approval. It was different from his rivalry with Gajeel, his respect for Erza or his Admiration of Guildarts. Ever since they were kids Gray had always been the one to keep him in check the one to call him out for any stupid things he might do. He respected Gray most of all because he was always able to keep up with him despite all the disadvantages he faced. Even now and back when Natsu was overwhelmed by his Etheriose power it was Gray who had saved him from himself, although it left him with another deep scar, this time on his back. (Refer to earlier chapter. I'll show this as a flashback or in another work hint, hint.) At every point where Natsu grew strong there was Gray right at it heals. No matter how wide the gap between them got Gray would close the gap with sheer strength of will and heart. In the entire world there was no one that could replace Gray he was Natsu's one true rival.

Neither of them had realized it yet, as they were staring down each other searching for an opening. But…their magic was growing in intensity. Gray's half of the forest was being coloured white as a thin film of ice was inching its way further out. As he breathed in and out there was a thin mist as if he were at the top of a mountain.

On the other hand the trees were being scorched and leaves and small plants became withered and crumpled to dust. The ground below his feet cracked and split and a red glow seemed to be emitted from them. It was like there were two forces of nature about to collide. Unbeknownst to both of them that was literally the case. That wasn't the case fro Wendy who had been standing by all this time. The high pressure heat wave collide with the low pressure cold front was producing a disturbance in the atmosphere that would soon be noticeable to the guild member. Assuming they weren't already aware of the situation. Storm clouds began to form above head as the natural occurrence when high and low pressure systems collide is a cyclone.

Suddenly a mighty gust of wind blew through the clearing they were in. Just for a moment they were both startled. It was such a brief moment that even the most skilled warriors hardly would've noticed but Gray and Natsu long since surpassed what used to be considered elite. They sprung into action at speeds far beyond what the average person could follow. Bystanders would only have been able to see blue and red blurs crash together. BBBOOOOOMMMMMM!