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"I'm all fired up!" Natsu grinned.
"Yes." Lucy smiled at him.
"Hey, Luce, give me your best 'cause I won't go easy on you." Natsu grinned.
"I'm counting on that." It was time to put her plan into action. Her opponent use fire-based abilities and has great physical strength and enhance speed and senses. She has to use multiple Spirits this time if she wanted to win. When it comes to speed, she was at a disadvantage but a surprise attack will do, enough for her to make a counterattack. And the senses, she has to confuse them.
"Here I come! Fire Dragon's Fist!" Natsu ran towards her and tried to punch her in the gut. Lucy evaded and rolled to the other side. She took out to of her keys.
"Aries! Virgo!" It was one of the things she trained to. It was quite a hassle when she spoke the incantations before finally calling out their names.
"Hime, punishment time?"
"Sumimasen!"
"No. Virgo, hide in the ground. Wait for my signal. Aries, use it!" Virgo then used her Diver Magic to sink herself in the ground.
"Sumimasen! Hamal Wool Screen!" Aries sent flurries of wool around the whole battlefield, blocking Natsu's view of her.
"What the hell's this?!" Natsu cursed when he can't see a thing. He was also stuck in place and feeling hazy. Lucy, noticing this as her chance, thought to use Virgo now but that thick wool would only blind the Maiden's vision. She might miss the target. Lucy needs to use a new Spirit. One who has experienced a fight with Aries without having their eyes blocked. Suddenly, flashbacks came into her mind. That's it! She took his key.
"Open! Gate of the Lion! Leo!"
"Your prince has arrived!"
"Loke, attack him while he's in place!"
"Your wish is my command. Regulus Impact!" A blinding light followed and for a moment, everyone thought Natsu was defeated. When the light and the wool dissipated, they saw him standing. He was able to defend himself against Loke. Lucy expected this. Her friend was an S-Class after all. There is her proof.
"Aries, go back to the Spirit World!"
"Sumimasen! But Lucy-sama" Aries protested
"I'll be fine." She gave her a warm smile. Aries believed this. She trusts her master's decision. She went back to the Spirit World cheering for Lucy.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!" Using flames, Natsu propelled himself towards her. Lucy tried to evade a second time but Natsu was fast and his flames were larger than last time, that she was caught in it. Natsu was able to land a powerful kick on Lucy's left arm. It was burnt and bruised. She winced.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Luce!" He was worried for her. He might have gone overboard and cause another injury to her teammate. He can't help but regret asking her to be his opponent. "…maybe we should stop this…" He trailed off.
"No! I can still fight!" Lucy protested at him. She knows he's worried for her but what she felt was like she was being underestimated. Besides, she has a promise and Celestial Spirit Mages don't break their promises. As her left arm was useless and numb from Natsu's attack, she has to rely on her right arm. It might take a while for it to heal.
"What now, Lucy?" Loke asked as he land beside her. When he saw the large spot on her left arm, he can't resist the temptation to attack her opponent. He saw a chance when Lucy was talking to Aries. He shot him a Regulus Beam. Natsu, who at that time shocked at what he has done, was caught off-guard. Light shot his left shoulder, grazing the skin.
"Open! Gate of the Goat! Capricorn!"
"How may I help, Lucy-sama?" The goat man bowed like an honorable butler.
"Wait for a while. I'll just talk to Natsu." She turned to the still gawking pinkette and said, "Natsu, don't hold out on me!" Smiled at him.
"Yes!" Natsu happily grinned. In truth, it wasn't the injury that shocked the dragon out of him but her opponent's fighting ability. He can't believe his own eyes when Lucy summoned her Spirits in quick succession. All of those were not just simple single summoning. She's keeping more than one Gate at the same time. Although, He didn't how much her teammate has progressed, one month of training has done her splendidly.
"Good." She was satisfied with Natsu's answer. She wants him to traet her as an equal and not be the damsel in distress. She then turned to her Spirits with a confident smile and ordered them. "Loke, Capricorn, use the one we practiced last week." Both Spirits nodded their heads and sped towards Natsu.
"Regulus Gatling Impact!"
"Deneb Algedi Hoof Barrage!"
Loke continuously punched Natsu with fast lunges of Light Magic while Capricorn used his powerful hooves to repeatedly kick him. Salamander wasn't surprised by this. He was used to close combat fighting and with his experience and Second Origin, he was even getting the upper-hand. Lucy noticed this. At first they were even but as they continued, she could see that her Spirits were being overwhelmed. They were taking fire-induced blows from Natsu. So, with her only working arm, Lucy took her whip and extended it until it was safely coiled around Natsu's neck. She brought him down. Seeing the chance that the Fire Dragon Slayer was still mid-air, disoriented and unbalanced, Loke and Capricorn made their final punch and kick that fasten his fall to the hard solid ground, causing a crater. The audience, in seeing this was awed beyond comparison. They never knew that Lucy's magic could make a sadistic turn. They were all shocked when Natsu fell. All except Laxus. He had always known that Lucy could be scary when she wants to. And he has enough proof of that when she cracked that whip in front of him when he left her to fight that monster alone.
Both of her Spirits returned to her side. They were waiting for Natsu to stand up. All of them knew that Natsu won't easily be defeated. He would put up a fight and considering the amount of magic power drained from her, Lucy knows that there is a large chance that her opponent will win. A hand shot from the crater. They were all right. Natsu stood up like he wasn't even hit. Oh no.
"Good one, Luce! But the real fight starts now!" He shot her a mischievous grin. No, she won't lose this one. 'Think, think, Lucy. A Celestial Spirit Mage uses tactics not raw strength. First, analyze the opponent's strength then their weakness. Wait, that's it! Everyone has their weakness!' She just had her eureka moment but she has to wait for the right moment.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" A torrent of large quantities of flame shot from Natsu's mouth and went straight towards Lucy. She has to counteract this.
"Loke!" She called out to the Lion. They shared a brief eye contact. He nodded in understanding.
"Regulus Blast!" Loke stepped forward Lucy and moved his arms in a circular motion and shoot a large beam of light. Loke remembered this feeling. Ten years ago, he also did this, although at that time, it was Wendy he was battling and wind was his opponent. He turned to the flames. It was overpowering him. Natsu's fire can quickly burn everything. He put more magic into it. He has to keep the flames away from Lucy. It worked. They were now even but in a second, the fire dissipated. He was almost triumphant but he saw that the Fire Dragon Slayer was charging towards him. He was covered in flames and fast approaching them that Loke doesn't have the time to react.
"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"
It was all he could hear when everything went black. For a second Loke thought that he will be back in their world, failing to save Lucy but when he blinked. One. Two. Three. Everything went clear. He was still in the island. Capricorn took the blow with his bare hands and Lucy has wrapped her whip around Natsu. Her left arm was still useless and she's using her right hand to handle the opponent.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!" With his arms bound by the Fleuve d'étoiles, he used his legs to kick Lucy in the head. The blonde ducked and lose her grip on the whip and eventually dropped it on the ground which returned it from water-like to normal leather.
"Capricorn! I close your Gate!" Lucy closed Capricorn's Gate when she saw that her Spirit has taken the blunt force of Natsu's attack. Loke managed to come into his senses and immediately reacted to the situation.
"Regulus Punch!" Light gathered at his fist and hit Natsu with a mass of light that took the shape of a vertical elongated oval. Natsu, still bound on the leather whip, crashed in a nearby boulder. He quickly stood up and burned the whip much like how he burned Sting's Stigma. He shot her another grin. 'Okay, Natsu, you really are starting to look like a pervert.' She sweat dropped.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" He rushed forward and produced large stream of fire on both of his arms. Oh, no. Now that her whip is gone, there was no way Lucy could make a long distance attack. She could try and punch him but her balance would be off since her left arm is still not working. 'Wait, this is the timing I've been waiting for!' She smiled.
"Loke, go back to the Spirit World."
"But, Lucy…" Loke trailed off, puzzled and worried about his master's choice.
"I'll be fine." She reassured him. He then went back to the Celestial Realm to recuperate.
"Argghhhh!" Natsu was now nearing her. She just had to wait for him to be in the right place and at the right time. One. Two. Three. Now!
"VIRGO!" She called out and in a moment, the maid burst from the ground and startled Natsu. He lost concentration and his fire quickly died out.
"Virgo Kick!" With brute force, Virgo sent Natsu flying into the sky.
"Virgo, chain and keep him rotating up in the air." This was what her eureka moment she was talking about. Lucy analyzed Natsu's strength and no matter how powerful in strength he became, the powerful his weakness goes. Motion sickness will cause him to faint. The Maiden did what was told of her. She extended her chains until the other end was safely clasped at the man's both arms. She spun around continously that caused Natsu to weaken. It worked. He almost looked like he was about to puke.
"Aquarius! Scorpio! Taurus!" It was just last week that Lucy learned to summon Aquarius without the obvious physical water. After all, water is present in the air and it was always the best choice to summon her moody mermaid with her boyfriend so that she'll definitely cooperate. Three figures soon appeared. Two of which are squeezed tightly together.
"We are! What can we do for you, Master?" Scorpio, currently the only 'sane' Spirit in the group was the first to spoke. Aquarius was still nuzzling his neck.
"Do the one we practiced." She ordered quickly. Natsu might recover.
"We are! Aquarius, Taurus, let's do this."
"Yes!" The other two replied. The three of them broke into their own and put on their battle stances, with Taurus on the center and the other two on both of his side. Lucy was at their back. She knows too well how much their attack will cause an impact.
"Sand Buster!" Scorpio gets on his four limbs and shot a powerful sand tornado towards Taurus.
"Water Beam!" Aquarius followed her boyfriend and cast a jet of water from her urn towards the Golden Bull. Using his axe, he absorbed both of their attacks, mixing both elements. Mud was now heavily swirling around Taurus weapon.
"Virgo, throw Natsu here!" Lucy shouted. Virgo then complied. She threw Natsu over them but the Dragon Slayer quickly regained his composure. He used the momentum and sped towards his opponents.
"DRAGON SLAYER'S SECRET ART: CRIMSON LOTUS: EXPLODING FLAME BLADE!" Natsu ignited his arms and generated long torrents of flames. He hurled it and spiraled towards Lucy. The Celestial Spirit Mage knew too well how powerful that attack is. It was the one that defeated Laxus. Taking up courage despite the odds aren't in her favor, she ordered Taurus to clash with him.
"ANTARES-SADALSUUD MUDSTORM ALDEBARAN!" Lucy matched Natsu's shout. The attack was a variation of Taurus and Scorpio's combination attack she used against Flare three years ago in that Grand Magic Games. She believed that the attack can nullify Natsu's fire. After all, fire can be exhausted by water but mud would do best in this situation. Natsu's flames were far too powerful.
Both attacks connected and the resulting impact caused the both parties to be sent in a nearby boulder. The mud has indeed put off the fire but when everything cleared, it was quiet. Deathly quiet. No one of the watching guild members moved. They were too shocked that the former partners-turned teammates were now on the same level. Lucy really can keep up when she wants to. Suddenly they heard some rustling and there stood, weak and battered, the two of them. No one wants to give up. They walked towards the center. None of Lucy's Spirits were found. She must have sent them back so that they won't be injured on that boulder. But, what now? Was she going to defeat Natsu bare-handed?
"Luce, how about we end this with all we've got?" Natsu was the first to spoke. He was grinning again.
"Okay!" Lucy replied and smiled weakly. She took two keys again. Laxus saw what keys she took and understood what the blonde girl was about to do. She ran towards the sea. Not that one. She's endangering herself by doing something out of everyone's leagues.
"Lucy, don't! No! Are you killing yourself?!" He shouted on top of his lungs. Is she really that obsessed with being an S-Class that she'd risk her life getting it? The others noticed this but was puzzled. Why is Laxus having a breakdown? Lucy managed to summon three at a time so why not just two?
"Give me your best shot, Natsu!" She gave Natsu a smile.
"LUCY NO!" Laxus was still shouting. She turned to him and mouthed that everything's going to be fine.
Natsu concentrated for a while. He was building his Magical power and concentrating it into a final attack. He finally entered Dragon Force. Scales can be visibly seen on his skin. Hair became longer and canines grew sharper. Lucy took this as a sign that he was ready so she summoned her Spirits once again. She dipped the first key into the sea and recited the full incantation.
"Open! Gate of the Water Bearer! Aquarius!" The mermaid appeared again but this time she was irritated at Lucy but kept silent. She knew too well how important this S-Class Promotion thing is for the squirt. And besides she has a boyfriend now. She has passed to the true meaning of womanhood. Lucy then held the second key and summoned them.
"Open! Gate of the Twins! Gemini!" Light flickered and the twins arrived.
"What can we do for you?" Gemi and Mini asked in unison.
"Transform into them."
"Okay" Smoke burst from their place and when it cleared, everyone saw two figures. They were startled. They all knew that they can only transform into a single person and that person must have the same level of magic power as their owner. But this! This is a whole new level for craziness. Laxus was right. Lucy really was trying to kill herself with this. Lucy noticed everyone's dumfounded expression. It has taken her the whole week before to perfect this technique. She's been practicing this for the whole duration of her 'gone missing' month. Natsu was scared beyond his wits.
"Are you and Gray fighting, Natsu?!" Gemi-Erza fixed him a glare. She was wearing the Sea Empress Armor.
"E-Erz-zaa?" Natsu gulped. There, standing in front of him was none other than Titania.
"Ara, ara, what have we have here?" Mini-Mirajane smiled evilly while being in her Satan Soul form.
"M-Mira-san?!" Salamander was now stuttering. Titania was one thing but Demon too?
The originals saw this and they can't believe their own eyes. It was like they were the ones fighting against Natsu. They didn't know what to feel. Was it to be repulsed? Excited? Or be afraid for the dear life of Natsu Dragneel?
"Natsu, shall we?" Lucy broke him from his reverie.
"Yes! I'm all fired up!" He charged his whole body and soon golden-colored flames covered him. He was about to use another high-leveled technique. Lucy signaled her Spirits to get ready.
"Mini, use your Water Magic!" Mini-Mirajane flew over to the sea and using her magic as a medium, she lifted the water with her arms and started rotating.
"Gemi, you too!" Gemi-Erza concentrated her magical power for a single strike.
"Aquarius, ready?"
"Tch." Okay, Lucy would take that as a yes since she was already gathering large amounts of water in her urn.
"HIDDEN FIRE FORM: CRIMSON LOTUS: PHOENIX BLADE!" Natsu surged toward her rapidly, the golden flames, getting larger and more powerful as he put more of his magical power into it.
"Okay, go! Attack him together!" Lucy ordered.
"EVIL EXPLOSION!" Mini-Mirajane sent the water she obtained in a powerful whirlpool towards their rapidly approaching opponent.
"WATER SLASH!" Gemi-Erza followed. She used her sword and sent a large powerful slice of glowing water towards Mini-Mirajane's previous attack.
"Aquarius, now!" Lucy signaled for the Spirit to follow.
"Okay! GIANT WAVE ATTACK!" The mermaid hurled her accumulated water with tremendous force. The attacks converged into a single powerful large jet of water and took the form of a large blue mass of a woman resembling Aquarius.
"UNISON RAID: SIREN OF POLLUX!" Lucy shouted. The attacks connected and steam rose from the combination of fire and water. Steam blurred their vision. Never have they seen such an intense battle. When the steam started to clear they could see that both shapes were down. They started to worry, especially Laxus who was about to went there and have Wendy heal Lucy but the Master stopped him.
"What's wrong, Gramps?!" He practically shouted. His eyes became so frantic. He should have never allowed her to join.
"Just wait." His grandfather merely stated.
They heard some movement. Someone was standing. They looked towards their direction. Whoever it was, was surely so weak, that standing up was a pain. The one who stood walked towards the other and sat down to try to walk him or her back to the watchers' area. The one who was able stand up supported the other by having the arm in the winner's neck and they walked slowly and silently towards the audience. The audience was holding their breaths, their hearts pounding in anticipation. They can't bear the suspense anymore. The remaining steam cleared and what they saw was quite unexpected or they could say expected.
"I won." A weak voice said. A girl's voice.
A/N: Hi, everyone! I hope you find Lucy and Natsu's fight quite intense and I also hope that you won't get disappointed at it. I really put all of my effort and vocabulary just to write this one. Anyways, thank you for those reviews, xxxLucyxharemfanxxx, anthonymasen0620, Paname, Kuro-fodo-no-otoko, Bentears, Lightningeye, mromero18, Bloody Amethist.
Note:
*Hamal is the brightest star in the constellation of Aries
*Deneb Algedi is the brightest star in the constellation of Capricorn
*Sadalsuud is the brightest star in the constellation of Aquarius
*Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation of Gemini