Hi guys! So this update was finished quicker than I thought XD I decided to write three days after posting chapter 25 cause I couldn't stand the thought of not having at least a plot ready for chapter 26. So I got it done in a few days and here it is! Yay...

Anyways, this chapter was a little harder to write than usual not just because I was still feeling a little down after what had happened but because I noticed that content quality has gone down a bit, so I was focusing on improving it back to standards. My Beta Reader is also on vacation right now, so you'll have to bear with my bad editing for the time being XD Ok, enough talking-thank you guys so much for you support again and I hope you enjoy this chapter c:

Chapter 26 (Electric Fire, Holy Nova: Part 2)

Normal POV,

29th May, X791

"You're distracted Natsu, don't lie to me." Natsu looked up at the taller Mage, but didn't answer. He didn't remember ever being this tired in his life.

But he couldn't give up now-he had gotten himself into this, he was going to get himself out.

Fuelled by nothing but willpower and faith, Natsu charged at the Disassembly Mage standing opposite to him, completely ignoring the painful cuts running up and down his body.

Gildarts rolled his eyes at Natsu as the pink haired Dragon Slayer slammed into him, only to be stopped by Gildarts's left hand the hundredth time that day.

"Concentrate idiot, don't you listen to what I say?!" Gildarts snapped before letting Natsu's forehead go, dusting himself off as he did so. Natsu fell backwards, too tired to hold himself up anymore.

That last charge was all the energy he seemingly had left.

Gildarts stared at the boy for a few minutes before crouching down next to Natsu's heaving chest. "What's wrong with you? You were more powerful back at Tenrou, what happened?" Natsu didn't answer, he was too busy trying not to look at Gildarts in the eyes.

"Oi, look at me." Gildarts said sternly, suddenly aware the Dragon Slayer wasn't listening to what he was saying. Natsu's head turned to face him, meeting his tired eyes to Gildarts semi-annoyed ones.

"Answer me, what's wrong with you kid? I know you won't just challenge me and not give your all to it. So tell me what's wrong."

Natsu was silent, he was sure Gildarts already knew his answer, so why was he asking him, damn it?!

Without thinking, Natsu raised his right fist-the one nearest to Gildarts-and tried to land a punch into Gildarts' jaw. Gildarts only caught by semi-surprise, grabbed his fist just in time before it hit him, making Natsu grunt in frustration before letting him go. His fist landed on the grass with a resonant thud.

Gildarts sighed and got up, leaving Natsu lying underneath the grey sky. "I know what's wrong Natsu, but I want to hear it from you. There's no use hiding from your problems kid."

Natsu was quiet for a minute, his eyes never leaving the cloudy sky above him. "I know." He said simply. Gildarts looked away from the Fire Dragon Slayer lying next to him, his face set in a small frown.

They were both silent for a few minutes, both avoiding each other's gazes.

"Just because we didn't let you run after her, doesn't mean we've forgotten about her. The reason we didn't let you go after her was because... She's too far gone Natsu."

Natsu was still for a moment as if not quiet absorbing what Gildarts had said.

Then he exploded.

"Lucy is not too far gone, I know her. She would never kill anyone!" He snarled, grabbing Gildarts by his collar and slamming him into the tree behind him.

Gildarts completely caught by surprise this time, let the teen exert his anger and frustration on him. He didn't understand what Natsu was going through and he doubt he ever will. But he could see the anger in his eyes and behind all of that.. Well, sadness.

"I REFUSE TO FORGET ABOUT LUCY HEARTFILIA!" He yelled at Gildarts, his eyes blazing like burning coals. Gildarts only watched the Dragon Slayer's outburst with grim frown.

Receiving no reaction from Gildarts, Natsu let go of him and fell to his knees limply. He couldn't look at the Mage-that had been out of all things, his foster father after Igneel had left-in the eyes.

Gildarts leaned against the tree trunk for a few minutes, both mages silent before getting up quietly. Natsu didn't look up as Gildarts left the clearing he had chosen for the fight.

But before the Disassembly Mage left, he patted Natsu head gently while looking up into the sky again.

"You know, one thing I've learnt over the years Natsu. Through all those jobs, all those one-night stands is, that we fight for the people we love, we fight to protect those who are closest to us."

Gildarts hesitated before adding, "So who do you love, Natsu?"

Natsu's POV,

I always thought love was stupid, I didn't know what it was of course, but I mean who did? Well, except for Lucy who always acted weird when I asked her what it was.

She clearly reads too many of her romancy books.

She said love was something you felt for someone else, a...you know, a sign or whatever that you wanted to share the rest of your life with someone.

She said when you loved someone you would always want to be around them, you would be there for them when they need it and that there is nothing you won't do for them.

Simple right?

I already had someone I wanted to be around with all the time, someone who I would be there for all the time, someone who I would do anything for.

She was standing right there in front of me, waiting for my reaction.

I had grinned and said quickly that I loved her.

She went bright red and 'Lucy Kicked' me all the way to the other side of the guild.

She left the guild a week after the incident.

I didn't know then, but somehow the 'love thing' had caught onto me after she explained it to me that one day. The longer she was gone, the longer I thought about it.

Until I realised one day that...

Well, I wanted to be around her again, I wanted to be there for her again, I would have done anything for her to come back to the guild.

Before I knew it, I had fallen in love with Lucy Heartfilia.

Present

Normal POV,

"DRAGON SLAYER SECRET ART, CRIMSON LOTUS: FIRE DRAGON'S FIST!"

Sting couldn't help but grin as Natsu ran at him, his heart was racing against his chest, he was nervous, scared almost. But that didn't stop the grin from spreading all over his face.

This was it, his final moment. It was down to either him or Natsu and he'll be damned if he let Natsu get away with this.

Sting's true intentions were already long lost in the smoke and fire that was still burning beneath his feet, he couldn't remember why he was doing this anymore. He just wanted to do it, that was all.

As Natsu's fists collided with his body, he could feel every wound, every scar he was getting from Natsu's attack. But he wasn't effected by any of it or maybe he just didn't care enough to worry about them.

He closed his eyes as he gather all of his energy into one big ball of light in his right fist.

Just one more punch, one more Natsu-san.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

"HOLY RAY!" Sting screamed as he thrust his fist straight into Natsu's stomach, a burst of white light exploded from Sting's outstretched fist, sending Natsu flying to the other side of the platform.

Sting after performing the last minute spell leaned into his own weight, panting heavily as he eyed Natsu's still body. A single voice of terror echoing in his head.

Did I... Did I kill him?

He stared at Natsu's blank eyes on the other side of the platform they were both on, the severity of what he had just done finally hitting him on the full.

What had he done?

His feet itched to walk over there and check if Natsu was alright-beg to god he was alright- but his pride kept him from moving. He couldn't show mercy, not to someone he had tried to kill.

But if he was dead... Then, he had just killed one of Fairy Tail's mages. Fairy Tail's. Who he knew weren't just going to let this slide, hell he wouldn't live to see the next sunrise. And worst of all...

He had killed someone who was close to Lucy. He had made Lucy upset, hism.

What a great partner he turned out to be.

Suddenly to Sting's sick relief, Natsu moved. His hands were thrusted roughly into wood beneath him, pushing him up into a crouching position. With shaking shoulders, his feet straightened and he was standing up.

Slowly Natsu's gaze met Sting's, making him stiffen. Natsu laughed weakly at Sting's unease. "I fight for the people I love, I protect the people that are important to me. So it doesn't matter how weak I really am or how long was my last serious fight."

"As long I can still breath, still talk, still stand up. I will keep on fighting, because I want to be around her again, to be there for her again. Hell, I'll even be her servant, because I would be her servant. And that's what love is about."

As Natsu spoke he looked up into the sky, a small smile gracing his rough features. "Isn't that right Lucy?"

Sting stared at Natsu as he talked, his fist clenched tightly at his side. He couldn't believe was Natsu was saying. One minute, he's treating Lucy like a traitor to his guild and another minute he's a jealous asshole.

And now he says he loves her?!

"Shut up, you don't even deserve her!" Sting hissed, his demeanour flaring up again. "You think you know everything don't you?! Cause guess who kicked her out of the one place she called home six months ago?! "

"We were the people who took her in when she was just outcast. We gave her a new family, new hope." Sting hesitated before adding,

"She's moved on, your the only one living in the past Natsu."

The last sentence hit Natsu hard, not only because it was Sting's first time actually calling him by his name but part of him had thought that Sting would have just back down after what he had said about Lucy.

Part of him didn't even want to continue fighting. But Sting's tone was screaming that he wasn't having any of that.

This was the end.

He really was tired of sharing.

"Just because I never apologised, doesn't mean I'm not sorry." Natsu whispered, turning around to face the other Dragon Slayer. "I am."

Sting was silent for a few seconds. His face completely emotionless before saying,

"Too late."

All around the two Dragon Slayers were white light, they couldn't see out and Natsu doubted could see in. As Natsu looked back at Sting he realised the white light around them wasn't the end of Sting's attack.

No, his attack was a lot more dangerous than that.

Even from several feet away he could feel Sting's magic energy wafting off him like horrible stench would off garbage. Natsu didn't need someone to tell him that he needed a good defence now.

"I didn't think I would use this spell this early into the game either." Sting chuckled. "Oh well."

As soon as Sting finished speaking he was off. His speed a lot faster than earlier, his fist was extended out in front of him, the light surrounding both Dragon Slayer almost wrapping around his fist.

Natsu was frozen as Sting ran at him, his brain numb from the terrifying beauty of it, he wasn't a man that appreciated beautiful things nearly enough, but even he thought the swirling light was magnificent.

Deadly or not.

Suddenly as if reaching it's crescendo, it exploded. The white light swallowed up his vision and he could only believe he had been hit.

It was the only plausible thought in his head.

But as the seconds ticked by, he realised no pain had came. No cold numbness, no fatigue. Just him, standing there. Waiting like an idiot.

Natsu couldn't help but open one eye to see where exactly he was. Surely if he was dead he would only see darkness, or at least something that wasn't the arena. Anything.

But what he saw was completely different, it wasn't darkness or something, it was someone.

The name of the person escaped his mouth before he had time to think about it, making the person shielding him chuckle.

"Came here just in time, didn't I? Gehe."

Gajeel?! How did you get into the chapter :[ Another, sorta kinda cliffhanger I guess XD Errr, Sting is behaving very weirdly right now, I am absolutely stumped for the next chapter. Oh well, I'll figure something out. I hope you guys enjoyed, tell me if the characters were acting majorly OOC or not. And if you mind that happening.

Also, I want to know if my content quality has gone down cause I would love improve. Read and review c: