Chapter 3
When the smoke began to fade away, everyone sat on the edge of their seat. Silence infected the arena as everyone watched, total focus and attention on the match that was taking place. The smoke faded away, revealing Mirajane, heavily breathing, and Natsu who was standing straight, smiling as always. It was as if he was just toying around with them this entire time. The three S-Ranks stared at Natsu, planning their next move.
"We need a plan. Going straight for the kill won't get us anywhere" thought Laxus, who was using telepathy magic to speak to Mirajane and Erza.
"You're right. We don't know how much magic power Natsu holds right now so we can't go in blindly" thought Mirajane.
"…! That's it!" thought Erza. "He may be powerful now, but even he has limits. We just need to overload him. And knowing him, he'll try to get as much power as he can, ignoring all the danger around him" thought Erza.
"Requip: Flame Empress Armor!" shouted Erza as she traded her Heaven's Wheel Armor for a dark-red and orange armor. Then, she began to shoot a continuous blast of fire at Natsu. Natsu smiled as he began to consume the flames.
"Now! Attack him!" shouted Erza as she kept on shooting flames out of her sword. Laxus and Mirajane rushed towards him, only to crash into a dome of fire surrounding Natsu, who was still consuming the flames.
"He's using his magic while absorbing magic to keep himself at his limit?" asked Laxus, in surprise that Natsu would actually think of that. Then, when the dome of flames disappeared, Natsu was still consuming Erza's flames.
"He still hasn't reached his limit?!" asked Mirajane in shock. Erza ceased her fire while Natsu let out a large belch.
"Thanks Erza, I was getting pretty hungry! Let's just say me and Happy aren't the best cooks out there" laughed Natsu as he began to reminisce his failed attempts at making food. Then, he rushed towards Erza, locking into combat. Natsu threw a barrage of punches, which Erza blocked with her sword. Soon, Laxus and Mirajane rushed from behind him, attacking him. Natsu began to dodge the attacks of all three as they struggled to attack him. Then, Natsu lowered and spun in a circle, while simultaneously releasing fire magic from the tips of his finger. The circle of flames pushed back the three, giving Natsu space.
"Heh, try this on for size!" shouted Natsu as he rushed towards the three, who rushed back at him. He began to throw punches and kicks at them while dodging them. They were locked in combat, and shockingly to everyone else, they were on even terms.
"Fire Dragon's Flame Elbow!" shouted Natsu as flames shot out of his elbow, reinforcing his punch. He struck Mirajane, who shot backwards, and even knocking her out of her Satan Soul: Sitri, to everyone's surprise.
"He knocked her out of her Take Over?!" shouted Lucy in utter shock while gasps filled the battlefield. Mirajane got up, heavily breathing, transformed back into her Satan Soul: Sitri and re-entered the fight.
"Lightning Dragon's Breakdown Fist!" shouted Laxus as he imbued his hand with electricity and extended his fist forward in a punching motion. Suddenly, a large electric fist charged at Natsu at high speeds. Natsu was struck by the attack and was unable to move, due to its stunning effect. Laxus rushed towards him and began his barrage of attacks. Then, as Laxus punched Natsu, Natsu grabbed his fist and looked up, smiling.
"The stun effect has already worn out?!" shouted Laxus. Laxus tried to retreat, but Natsu's grip was too strong even for him. Then, Natsu supported the arm that held onto Laxus with his other arm.
"Fire Dragon's Grip Strike!" shouted Natsu as he shot a blast of flame at point-black range. The flames had completely consumed Laxus, completely out of sight. Erza and Mirajane rushed towards Natsu, who dodged their attack by jumping over them. When the flames disappeared, Laxus was finally in sight, shirt completely burned off and heavily panting. Then, Laxus began raised his hand and began to gather lightning. Next to him, Mirajane began to gather darkness energy, which took the shape of a dark globe.
"Requip: Nakagami Armor!" shouted Erza as she transformed once again. She shifted to a battle stance, as if she was getting ready to charge.
"Soul Extinction!" chanted Mirajane as she extended her arms forward along with the dark globe which shot a beam of dark energy straight at Natsu.
"Lightning Dragon's Heavenward Halberd!" shouted Laxus as he shot a massive, electric spear at Natsu.
"Nakagami Starlight!" shouted Erza as she charged forward within the two attacks, ready to strike Natsu all at once.
"Is he just going to stand there and take that?!" shouted Gray, as he watched on the edge of his seat, much like everyone else.
"Natsu, move!" shouted Lucy. Natsu just smiled and looked up.
"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art! Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!" shouted Natsu as he swung his arms in circular motion, releasing a blazing torrent of flames which easily consumed the attacks of the three. Before they could even react, the flames as engulfed them, burning brightly and ferociously. Another explosion clouded the arena as the entire guild braced for the enormous amount of magic that was being released. As the smoke disappeared, Erza, Laxus, and Mirajane just stood there, in complete shock at Natsu's new-found powers.
"I had fun, but time to get this over with!" shouted Natsu as he ignited both of his fists with flames. He jumped up and in complete shock, everyone stared as Natsu as they imagined a powerful dragon, ready to fly and strike down on its enemy.
"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flames!" shouted Natsu as he brought his hands together, creating a giant fiery explosion. When the flames blew out, they stared at the barely standing S-Rank mages, heavily wounded. Natsu just sighed and pouted.
"Oh come on, you guys weren't even serious!" shouted Natsu in annoyance as the three smiled.
"Nor were you Natsu, so don't even try to get mad at us for that" said Laxus as he crossed his arms against his chest. Erza and Mirajane smiled and laughed as they stared at Natsu who was still pouting.
"Wow…to think the little boy I would constantly tease and make fun of would become this strong…and would grow up to be such a great man, morally" said Mirajane in such a quiet voice that only Laxus and Erza were able to hear.
"Indeed. And even if we did fight seriously…he would have still won. Natsu truly has grown, hasn't he" said Erza, smiling as she imagined the younger version of Natsu in front of the present Natsu.
"Hmph, he's still a brat. Buts still, even I can't help but notice him" said Laxus with a slight smile.
"Incredible…has he truly gained the power to defeat Zeref and Acnologia? And even possibly E.N.D?" thought Makarov.
"Well that was an interesting match, to say the least" laughed Lucy as she walked along with Natsu and Happy.
"See, I told you not to worry about Natsu. You should listen to me more often" said Happy with a suspicious face.
"As if. But I will say one thing; you really did get stronger. Those three years must have done a lot for you to get that strong" laughed Lucy.
"Well, I would have beaten those three even if I didn't go off on my own. Piece of cake!" said Natsu with a cocky smile.
"Suuureeee" said Lucy with a slight giggle before she stopped in front of her house.
"Whoa, your house is huge! When did you get a new one?!" shouted Natsu in shock.
"While you were gone, I racked up on money from the missions I did" said Lucy. "I just barely had enough for everything I needed for the house"
"Probably because you spent so much of it on clothing or whatever" remarked Happy with a smirk.
"Shut it blue cat!" shouted Lucy as she opened the door, muttering to herself. As soon as she opened the door, Natsu crashed down onto the couch, falling asleep in a matter of seconds.
"Getting here was really tiring, so he's probably just going to take a nap. I think I will too!" shouted Happy as he flew away.
"HEY, THAT'S-" started Lucy before she heard the door slam.
"My room…" sighed Lucy as she walked over to the bathroom, locked the door, and turned the shower on.
The bathroom door opened, releasing the stored up steam from the hot water. From the bathroom emerged a blonde-haired girl in a white towel, wrapped around her body. She stretched and closed the door, and walked over to the living room, where Natsu was still napping. She sat on the couch across from him and just smiled as she watched him sleep.
"You know, Natsu can be really cute when he sleeps…wait…did I just call him cute?" thought Lucy as her face flared up. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the thought. But as hard as she tried, she couldn't help but smile at Natsu's calm and relaxed face.
"The real sin is averting your eyes and failing to believe in anyway" said Natsu as he glared at Zero while golden flames wrapped around him.
"The minute you think of giving up, think of the reason why you held on for so long"
"We all have the right to choose our own future. We should be able to walk the paths that we choose, not the future you decided for us!" shouted Natsu as he rushed towards Future Rouge. "We can't live if we don't keep running forward. We don't have to know what tomorrow holds! That why we can live for everything we're worth today!"
Lucy smiled as she began to reminisce all her past memories with Natsu.
"He's always been so strong, always there when he's needed most, and giving the motivation we need. But…the one time he needed our help…"
Tears began to drip down the dragon-slayer's face, as much as he tried to hold them back. He was on his knees, staring at the ground in sadness and pain.
"You promised me…that you wouldn't go anywhere…don't break your promise…I…I've been looking for you for so long…" said Natsu as he sniffled.
"I…I learned how to write…and my magic is so much more badass now…" Natsu just stared at the ground as his voice shook in sadness.
"Not to mention, I've made tons of friends…I got a job, too…" Natsu tightened his fists as he stared at the ground.
"I…I…" At that moment, Natsu looked up, revealing his tear-stained face.
"I have things I want to share with you! Igneel!" said Natsu as he sobbed at the loss of his foster-father, who had spent so long searching for only to watch him fall right before his eyes, shortly after fighting for Natsu. Almost as if Igneel was still alive, he heard his voice.
"Do not shed tears…Hey…what do you do when you're sad? I taught you, didn't I?" said the dragon.
"Yeah…I remember" muttered Natsu.
"So do it. Stand up."
"Okay…" Natsu stood up, hair covering his eyes.
"I am with you...Now and always…show me more of how you've grown…show me the way you live your life…"
"…Got it…" whispered Natsu, clenching his fists. Suddenly, he stared straight at the sky, eyes with tears still falling but also with rage and determination embedded into his onyx eyes.
"I WILL LIVE ON! I WILL BECOME STRONGER! AND I'M GONNA GRIND ACNOLOGIA'S ASS INTO DRAGON DUST!"
Lucy stared at Natsu, smile replaced with an apologetic and sympathizing frown.
"He blamed himself for what happened…and that's why he left to train. I just wish I could have been there for him" thought Lucy. At that moment, Natsu's eyes slowly began to open.
"Eh? Hey Lucy, you look weird with that face. You should fix it before Happy wakes up and says something about it" said Natsu. Lucy's face went from shock to rage in a matter of seconds.
"YOU ARE SUCH A JERK, AND TO THINK I WAS FEELING BAD FOR YOU!" shouted Lucy as she stomped off to her room, leaving a confused Natsu who was scratching his head.
A\N: So that has been the first three chapters. I hope you guys have been enjoying this so far, and the quotes were excerpts from the Fairy Tail manga, obviously lol. Anyway, review if you want; point out what I did well in, what I need to work on, or just tell me about your favorite part! Thanks, and I'll see you guys in a bit :P