A/N: Alright guys, here's the next chapter. I didn't get much reviews for my last chapter so I'm kind of sad but I can't blame my fellow readers since I went missing for a while due to my god damn work! Anyways, enjoy reading(:

The Princess and the Dragon Slayer

Chapter 19

After the king departed, the weird guy took his chance to leave the castle as well but before that, he bid us farewell and informed me that he looked forward to our battle. I was so fired up that I finally get the chance to have a showdown that I actually forgotten the current situation we have on hand.

Well since it was just the six of us at the garden now, Loki and Lucy took this opportunity to really give me a good beating. Well, I mean with words though and honestly, I would never imagine to see their reign of terror. I guess the day has come.

"What the hell were you thinking Natsu?!" Lucy screamed right at my face as she clenched her fists to her sides. "Did you wanted to get yourself exiled from here?!" I backed away until I fell on the floor. Loki just stood over.

"Yeah bozo, I didn't know you were that stupid to get yourself involved!" He shouted at me.

"Woah chill…" I put my hands up in reason. "I got myself involved because I know I can take down the guy. I'm not that stupid you know?" I got up and dusted myself.

Loki scoffed before face palming himself.

"Yeah right? With what?"

"With my fists of course and…" Oh right, I couldn't use my dragon slayers powers at all.

"I knew it, I knew it! You weren't even in the right mind when you stood up to the king. How are you going to fight huh Natsu? The guy has powerful magic judging from the various of staff he had that hung behind his back! You're going to get beat within a second."

I felt so demoralized after Loki shoved it to my face. I didn't thought about all this at first. All I wanted to do was protect Lucy. I even forgot for a minute that I couldn't use my dragon slayer powers in the open. If I could, I think that guy will be down for the count in a second! I didn't know what to say that I just looked down as I clenched my fists to my sides.

"Natsu." I felt warm hands grabbed my right arm and I knew it was Lucy. Though it was her, her touch didn't make me feel much better at that point.

"I can help you Natsu." Capricorn? I looked up and saw he was looking at me with arms crossed.

"How….?"

"We have one week right? We'll get you train up. After all, you'll be reporting to Aquarius and Scorpio from today onwards. I can't let the king see you working at the horses stable after I lied to him earlier."

"Are you serious Capricorn?" Loki asked after letting out a sigh.

"We have to Loki. Don't get me wrong Natsu but we're doing this for Lucy. We want the best happiness for her and I think right now, you can do that." Capricorn paused to take this chance to look at Lucy before continuing. "This is what Layla would want too."

"Capricorn." I could see that Lucy was trying to control herself from breaking down as she covered her mouth with her hands.

Immediately, I felt my hopes being lifted up. I saw Aries, Virgo, Capricorn and even Loki giving me encouraging smiles. I looked at Lucy and I didn't care if they were going to look but I grabbed Lucy by her shoulders so that I could make her look at me. I could see Lucy's eyes were glistened with tears.

"Lucy, I'm going to be the one to marry you so just you wait. I'm going to work hard." With that, I finished off my declaration with my signature smile.

"Natsu!"I think Lucy couldn't hold it because she crashed her face to my chest and started crying. I held her in my arms tight as I tried to cooed her down, the best as I could. I looked up to the sky because I could feel my eyes getting watery too.

Damn. I couldn't cry, not yet when the competition has only started. I need to fight for her, my mate. I used one of my hands to rub my eyes before looking back down but at Aries and Virgo instead. I saw them nodding at me and it seems from our exchange of eye contact, we understood each other.

"Luce." I pulled her away from me. "Why don't we get Virgo and Aries to bring you back to your room? Get you washed up?"

*Sniff* "What about Natsu?" *Sniff*

"I got to talk to Capricorn and Loki. Okay?" I didn't hesitate to give a peck on top of her head.

I guess that made Lucy obeyed me by nodding her head in reply and that is when Aries and Virgo came in to take her back to her room. As I stayed in my current position to see her walk away, I knew deep down that I can't lose to that guy next week. I clenched my fists to my sides as my determination started to kick in.

"So guys…" I could feel myself burning up. "Where do we start?" I turned around and I swear I could see Capricorn and Loki startled by my face expression. (FYI, it's the face that Natsu always make when he is angry, that scary but sexy face^^)

Days passed since I've started my training with Scorpio, Aquarius, Capricorn and even Loki. Man they sure can fight and I got to salute to them for their good power pack and stamina. I didn't know they had magic powers even! It was great that I could finally release my power in the open again. What's more great is that I could use my power for the battle with Mystogan but to a certain limit because Capricorn told me that they are still fire mages around.

Okay, I decided to respect the fellow and call him by his name instead of weird guy since he was kind enough to give me a spot to challenge him for Lucy. Anybody would have turned me down but he didn't. I have to be that thankful to him at least.

I decided to take a rest on one of the benches before I moved my focus to the ceiling. Their training room was fully equipped I tell you! They have different types of weapons and shields ranging from swords to axes. Though the castle had everything they could grab in a battle, we've only been using our powers in this training room since that day.

"Okay Natsu, follow me." Capricorn started to walk away together with Loki. I took my queue to follow them. We entered the castle and we headed to a room that was at the end which I recalled I never went before.

Once Loki and Capricorn open the door for me, I entered the room and was taken away of how amazing it was. It was so big and spacious! I took a good look around the room and I was appalled with the various types of weapons and shields they had displayed nicely at the sides.

"This is where we will be training for the next week. This is our training spot." Capricorn said as he walked deeper into the room.

"This is the training room? Wait." I put my finger on my forehead like I was trying to remember something before removing it. "I don't recall coming here before?"

"Well Natsu, because we have a few. I guess the one Lucy showed you the first time was the room that the kingdom is aware of. That is where you will be most probably having your battle at." Loki explained as he put his hands behind his head. "As for these rooms are kept in secret because we have to hide our assets from the public."

Well, I got to put it to him. He was right. I just nodded my head in response before Capricorn budged in this time.

"So Natsu, ready to start?" Capricorn threw a sword at me.

"You bet." I said as I caught the sword.

Without even a chance to breathe, Capricorn came dashing at me, headbutting me in the stomach sending me flying backwards. Thanks to my agile skills, I was able to turn the situation around by making a backflip to the wall so I landed on my feet instead of crashing towards it.

"Damn, that was uncalled for." I smirked after landing on the ground and rubbed my nose.

"I must admit Natsu, you have great skills." Capricorn positioned himself into his battle stance. "But not enough to beat Mystogan!" Capricorn yelled as he came charging at me.

We were on a fierce battle. Capricorn trying to land hits on me while I was blocking every attack with the sword in my hand. I could feel my power was emerging out of my body and I think my flames were now surrounding my body.

"Remember Natsu! You're not allowed to display your dragon slayer powers." Capricorn shouted as he continued to land punches and kicks on me.

Oh damn, this was harder than I thought. I managed to control my powers after concentrating hard enough causing the flames that were surrounding my body to disappear.

"Good! Keep it up Natsu!" It was so hard to block Capricorn's attacks while concentrating to control that Capricorn managed to knock the sword out of my hand sending it flying to the air. I acted fast. I dropped to the side and tripped Capricorn to the ground. I ran over to where my sword landed to grab it but only be kicked at my side which made me flew to the other side of the wall.

"Phew, that was a close call Capricorn." I heard Loki commented as I tried to get back right up. I was quite annoyed though. I could have defeated him hands down like previously if I could use my powers.

"You're not focusing boy!" That does it.

"How am I supposed to when I'm trying my best to concentrate and control my flames from not going chaotic?!" I roared and flames appeared around my hands instead.

Capricorn only chuckled.

"That's more like it Natsu."

And that's how I found out that he was trying to train me to be more like a normal fire mage than a dragon slayer because fire mages only have their magic coming out from their hands, legs or mouth and not the whole body.

"Yo Natsu, get your ass back here! We still have a lot to train." Loki burst my train of thoughts which that got me to look at them instead. I then thought, I couldn't fail them neither the rest especially Lucy. I'm going to win this thing.

A/N: And that's it for this chapter folks! Are you excited for the next chapter? The battle between Mystogan and Natsu is next. Anways, please do leave me a review before you go. I'll really appreciate it thanks^^