Spoiler: 100-Year-Quest spoilers sprinkled in.
It's a normal rowdy day at the Fairy Tail guild on a fine Wednesday afternoon. Well, it was normal until two mages started to argue. It was not our fire-breathing dragon slayer Natsu and Ice Make/Devil Slayer Gray. Nope. This time it is the resident Celestial summoner Lucy and The Rain Woman Juvia.
"You're just jealous Love-Rival because Gray-sama and Juvia have a stronger bond than you and Natsu."
"For the last time Juvia, I am not your love rival! How do you figure you and Gray have a stronger bond than Natsu and I?"
"Because we can do three unison raids together and Love-Rival and Natsu can't even do one. That means Juvia's and Gray-sama's bond is far stronger."
Lucy sweat drops, "Uh, Juvia are you forgetting that you and I pulled off a unison raid?"
"We also have more faith, trust, and love for each other than Love-Rival and Natsu."
Lucy scoffs, "Yeah, okay."
"You doubt our love for each other?"
"Not at all Juvia but-"
Juvia cuts her off, "We work much better together than anyone else here. We can take on anyone and triumph."
"Anyone huh?" Normally Lucy wouldn't even be entertaining the idea of challenging someone to a fight but she and Natsu have been working together since the beginning. Their faith, trust, and love for each other grew more and more each day. Lucy can't say for sure Natsu's love for her is the same as hers for him, but there's still love all the same. Their bond also got much stronger throughout the years and in her opinion they work better than any other couple there. Aside from Alzack and Bisca. Okay Erza and Jellal too. But still, "I bet you and Gray couldn't beat Natsu and me in a fight, even if you use your unison raids!"
"Are you challenging Juvia and Gray-Sama to a fight against Love-Rival and Natsu?"
"Damn, straight I am."
The guild silences at the declaration wondering if they heard right. The assumptions are proven correct when the fire-breathing mage yells out, "Hell yeah Luce and I can beat Frosty and Juvia without a doubt!"
"Yeah right, flame-brain, Juvia and I make an awesome team, there's no way you and Lucy can beat us." Gray's head collides with Natsu's and they glare at each other.
"Oh yeah? Then how about we take this outside unless you're scared."
"Pfft, like I'd be scared of you and Lucy."
"Juvia isn't scared either and accepts Love-Rivals bet."
"Good," Lucy gets up and heads towards her partner, "C'mon Natsu, let's go."
He jumps, fist-pumping the air, "All right! We're so going to beat you guys."
The two teams head out the backdoor of the guild while everyone else is surprised by what transpired. Lucy started an impromptu fight? Natsu must be rubbing off on her.
"Bets anyone?" Cana yells.
As the guild members get in on the betting Carla asks, "Erza, you're not going to stop this?"
"Honestly, I'm curious about how this match will play out. Juvia and Gray over the years have grown to become great partners, albeit slowly. Juvia's love for Gray is a force to be reckoned with. I should know, I've seen it. Natsu and Lucy however have been working together since they met. In my personal opinion, Natsu and Lucy have the strongest bond here. Neither want to admit it, but their love for each other is strong too."
"How about magically though?" Macao asks. His bet depends on Erza's answer because she knows three out of the four mages out there better than anyone, aside from Wendy.
"Magically, they're all strong. Natsu and Gray are on par with each other. Both Juvia and Lucy are almost to their level."
"Lucy is really that strong?" Jet asks.
"Lucy is a lot stronger than what people think. I've had the honor of watching her grow since the beginning and I am so proud of her. She is now capable of doing what no other Celestial Mage in history has ever done. Utilize the Star Dress ability. She can even mix two together. Even though she had to pay a price, she summoned the Celestial Spirit King to save all of us during Tartaros. I've heard about her accomplishments through those who have seen it firsthand." She looks at Laxus. He had told her what he could remember of Lucy's fight against Kiria and asked her opinion about nominating Lucy for the S-Class trials. She wholeheartedly agreed that Lucy would be a good candidate. "I wish I could have seen what she has accomplished firsthand. She is also very tactical and knows Gray and Juvia very well."
"She probably already has a plan formulated and isn't going to just run into the fight like the others," Wendy states.
The two teams are on the field and impatiently wait for Freed to double-check the runes surrounding it to ensure no one outside the perimeter gets hurt.
"Well, crap. Who do we bet on?"
"I was going to say Gray and Juvia because their bond is so strong they can accomplish a unison raid.
Natsu overheard the whole conversation. Erza isn't the only one who is really proud of Lucy. He watches her gently brush her fingertips along her keys telepathically communicating with them. The fight between her and Juvia started because Juvia was bragging about her and Gray being able to do not just one but three unison raids. He chuckles, 'Boy are they in for a surprise.'
Freed had been talking about unison raids one day and being the curious mage he is, asked Natsu if he and Lucy had ever attempted one. Natsu thought about it and was surprised when he came to the realization that no, they never have. Laxus had said maybe it was a good thing since the more trust, faith, and love along with a strong bond the partners have, the stronger the unison raid. Both Natsu and Lucy have that in abundance, especially when it comes to each other.
He also pointed out that Natsu was destructive enough as is on his own. Lucy has become almost as destructive with her power. Add the two of them together their unison raid would be a force to be reckoned with. Freed then babbled on about how many of Lucy's spirits are capable of mixing their magic with Natsu's.
They really shouldn't have pointed all of that out to Natsu because right after that conversation he searched for Lucy. Once he found her, he dragged her off into the woods behind his home. She protested the whole way there when Natsu told her they would be doing some secret training. She wanted nothing to do with it but allowed him to drag her anyway. When they reached their destination he said he wanted to try doing unison raids with her and her spirits. Her tune quickly changed and they spent some time not only practicing unison raids, which didn't take them long to accomplish, but sparring as well.
Natsu had thanked Laxus and Freed for the idea. Both men face-palmed and blamed themselves for the future destruction caused by the duo. They told Master but no one else because should word get out, Gray would more than likely challenge them. They however did not foresee Lucy challenging him and Juvia.
As they wait for Freed to finish up Natsu says, "It's ridiculous that Juvia thinks her and Gray's love for each other is stronger when it's clear ours is."
Lucy shocked by what he just said stutters out, "W-What?"
Natsu blushes when he realizes how that sounded. Not that he doesn't love her, he's just not ready for her to know it yet. "Our bond is much stronger and we're going to kick their asses!" he yells.
"Keep telling yourself that!" Gray shouts back. Although, he has his doubts. He knows his current opponents well and will freely admit Natsu and Lucy make a great team.
Erza yells out, "You know the rules but since it's you four, it's highly likely you won't follow them. That being said, try to not kill each other. You have 30 minutes. Ready? Go!" Erza blows her whistle to signal the start.
Both teams stare the other down, waiting to see who will make the first move. Gray gets into position to make the first move when he hears the sound of drilling coming their way.
"Look out Juvia, Virgo is coming our way from underground." Both he and Juvia keep an eye on their opponents while anticipating Virgo's attack.
"I didn't hear Love-Rival summon Virgo."
"Virgo, Loke, and a few others can come out on their own without being summoned and use their own magic." The sound of drilling goes in one direction and then the other.
"What is she doing?" Juvia inquires.
"Dammit, be careful, she's making pitfalls. Lucy can also telepathically summon her spirits so we won't know who she's sending out until it's too late." Gray looks over at his opponents who are just standing there. He sees Natsu antsy to get in the fight but Lucy is holding him back. He's going to feel like an ass with what he's about to say but he wants to get Lucy riled up, "I thought you didn't hide behind your spirits Lucy!"
"Bastard!" Natsu yells. He wants to dart over there and pummel Gray but Lucy has a plan and for once he's going to try to the best of his ability to follow it. He feels the aura of Scary Lucy next to him and he's so thankful that it's not directed at him.
"That jerk," Lucy fumes and growls out Natsu's name.
"Y-Yes?" Natsu has no cause to be scared of her since she's not mad at him but she is scarier than normal.
"We're not holding back."
Natsu gathers his composure and grins at her, "All right!"
"Now you know better than that Gray," Loke says from behind him.
"Shit."
"Regulus Impact!"
Gray fails to block the attack and happens to land on a pitfall, "Double Shit."
"Gray my love!" Juvia wants to help him but she doesn't know where the pitfalls are at.
"Normally I don't hit pretty ladies, but I must defend my princess." Loke swings a punch at Juvia but she turns into water causing his fist to go through her body.
As Gray climbs out of the hole he sees a flash of light in Natsu and Lucy's direction, "Juvia! Loke was just a distraction."
Lucy had summoned Sagittarius and changed into his Star Dress. Natsu standing between them has one hand engulfed in lightning, and the other in fire.
Both spirit and mage pull their arrows taut and once Loke has gone back to the spirit world they let their arrows fly. Natsu swings his arms around and shoots his attack at the arrows encasing them with fire and lightning.
"Lightning Fire Star Shot!"
Both Gray and Juvia's eyes widen. "What the hell?"
"I thought Love-Rival and Natsu couldn't do a unison raid!"
Dozens of arrows powered up with celestial magic, fire, and lightning head in their direction. They won't be able to dodge them all.
"Ice Make: Wall!" His spell blocked the vast majority but not all. Both he and Juvia get struck. Gray yells out from all three magics hitting him all at once. Damn, they didn't hold back.
Juvia screams out in pain. The celestial and fire magic did very little to her, the lightning, on the other hand, shocked the hell out of her. When she falls back she lands on the ground where a pitfall is and falls into the hole.
"Juvia!" Gray growls at the other two, "What the hell you two! Are you trying to kill us?"
Natsu growls back, "We were going to take it easy until that low blow. You know Lucy doesn't hide behind her spirits!"
Gray makes a mistake by not keeping an eye on the other two as he helps Juvia out of the hole. Once they're upright Gray gets a Fire Dragon's Iron Fist to the face and Juvia receives a Lucy Gut Punch which makes contact since the water mage wasn't focusing on her body keeping it in water form.
After their attacks, Natsu and Lucy create distance from the opponents. Lucy changes into her Aquarius Star Dress and Natsu stands by her side, arms crossed.
"When do I get to fight that Ice Bastard Luce?"
"Soon Natsu."
"Water and Ice Make: Shotgun!"
They stand there and watch the sharp ice spheres head in their direction.
"Why aren't they moving?" Juvia asks her beloved.
When Gray sees a ripple around the two before the attack makes contact. He yells out, "Crap!"
"What is it?"
Lucy yells out, "Nice try but not even Jackal's explosions could break this barrier."
When the dust settles, Juvia sees Natsu and Love-Rival high-fiving each other without even looking at each other. "A water barrier?"
"Yup!" Lucy gives Juvia a big smile.
"We have to get serious Juvia." Gray taps into his Ice Devil Slayer Magic. It's dirty but Gray knows just how to get Juvia serious about fighting her comrades. "Did I tell you Lucy gave me a big hug today and offered to buy me a drink?"
"Love-Rival," Juvia growls out.
"Shit, be prepared, Lucy. Gray just used Juvia's rivalry with you against us."
"Does he want me to die?"
"Well, we did say we weren't going to hold back and if there's any way to get Juvia serious in a fight just bring up a girl trying to take frostbite and bam! But you can do it, Luce! I believe in you."
Lucy gives him a grateful smile, "Thanks."
Their opponents charge at them, "Can I beat up frostbite now?"
"Kick his ass Natsu."
"Hehe. I'm fired up now."
Gray and Natsu collide in a fury of fists and kicks, neither holding back while Lucy allows Juvia to use her as her punching bag. She knows she can handle it plus if Juvia thinks she has the upper hand she'll get cocky.
"Water Slicer!"
"Gah!" Lucy gets up on her feet and prepares to attack Juvia with her water magic.
"Does Love-Rival honestly think her water can beat Juvia's?" Juvia gets her own water spell ready.
Gray overhears this. Why would Lucy use water against Juvia, Juvia's water attacks are stronger than Lucy's. He dodges a punch from Natsu. Think Gray think.
"Water Cyclone!"
"Aqua Metria!"
Gray takes another swing but misses since Natsu jumps backward.
Natsu gives him a smirk before taking a deep breath "Fire Dragon Roar!" and aims his attack at Lucy's water attack and together it hits Juvia's.
Dammit. Natsu's fire is so hot it evaporates the water creating a smoke screen of steam.
"Be prepared Juvia."
"Right." It's tough for her to see through the steam. She can't even see her beloved who isn't too far from her. All of a sudden he is in front of her.
"Juvia, marry me, and let's have 33 babies."
Juvia's face turns beat red, "G-Gray-sama."
"Juvia! That's not me!"
Because of Natsu's awesome sense of smell, he's able to land a hit on Gray.
"Piri-piri."
"How did Gemini copy Gray-Sama?"
"This is an older copy of Gray. Piri."
"You dare use my love-" She's cut off when it's no longer Gray but Wendy in front of her.
"Hi, Juvia!"
"Come out and fight Love-Rival!"
"Okay! Luuuuucy-Kick!" Her kick sends Juvia in Gray's direction. They collide and fall to a heap on the ground.
Gemini-Wendy uses sky dragon magic to clear away the steam and goes back to the spirit world.
Natsu and Lucy regroup. "You all right?"
"I'm fine Natsu. This is nothing compared to the other fights we faced together." She holds hands with him as she channels her water magic. Natsu grips hers back and channels only lightning to his.
"Another unison raid?" Juvia questions out loud.
"How are you not getting electrocuted by Laxus' magic?" Gray asks as he and Juvia take the same stance, channeling their magic.
"This lightning is mine and I'm capable of controlling it so it doesn't hurt her."
"Even if it was Laxus' it wouldn't hurt me because he doesn't ever want to harm a guildmate again."
"Wait," Levy says, "Lucy and Laxus could pull this off?"
"It seems so," Erza says.
"I didn't even know Natsu could use lightning without his fire." Freed states.
"How is he not electrocuting Lucy?" Pantherlily asks. All heads swivel to Laxus.
He just shrugs, "Your guess is as good as mine."
"It's because Natsu loooooves Lucy."
'You're damn right I do', Natsu thinks to himself. He and Lucy unleash their attack at the same time Gray and Juvia launch theirs.
"Water Nubula!" "Ice Make: Geyser!" Both attacks form one heading toward Natsu and Lucy.
"Aqua Lightning Metria!"
When they make contact there's a huge explosion sending dust and debris into the air. It's a good thing the runes keep the bystanders from getting hurt by anything.
Gray and Juvia act quickly preparing for their last unison raid before Natsu and Lucy get a chance to get their bearings. Juvia controls water again so Gray can solidify it into a large wave of sharp strikes toward their opponents, freezing Natsu and Lucy.
"Ice Devil's Zeroth Destruction Bow!"
"Wings of Love!"
Both Natsu and Lucy yell from the spell hitting them. They don't get a chance to recover because Juvia traps them in her water lock spell.
"Good Luck escaping that!" Juvia's triumph is short-lived as Natsu increases the intensity of his flames, evaporating the water and burning Lucy's clothes in the process.
Falling to the ground, Lucy coughs, "Dammit Natsu."
"Sorry, Luce."
"AquariusxScorpio Star Dress Mix! Aqua Storm!"
"Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!"
More projectiles chat almost look like ice come their way, but it's "Glass?" Gray uses Ice-Make: Rampart to block it from hitting him and Juvia.
"Fire plus sand equals glass duh," Natsu yells as if it's common knowledge.
"All right Flame-Brain we're gonna-" Gray huffs.
"TIME!" Erza shouts.
"Thank goodness," Lucy says as she falls over.
Natsu catches Lucy just in time. "You're awesome Luce!"
"Thanks, Natsu."
"Since Love-Rival is out of magic we won!"
"I don't think so," Erza says.
"What the hell do you mean?" Gray foolishly yells at her.
"Idiot. This match wasn't only about who would win, but also who had the stronger bond. I have to admit, I originally thought Natsu and Lucy had the strongest bond, but yours and Juvia's is just as strong. I didn't even know they could do unison raids together and they pulled off four."
"Ha! We can do more than you!" Natsu brags.
"Shut it pyro!"
Wendy rushes to heal them. The guys wave her off and tell her to focus on the women. Lucy holds her hand out to Juvia, "Good match Juvia."
"Thank you Love-Rival. Yours and Natsu's love really is strong."
Lucy gets swarmed with questions about when she and Natsu realized they could do a unison raid and she tells them that Natsu randomly came up to her and told her they were going to train.
Natsu grabs her wrist and drags her back into the guildhall, "Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving."
"You're always starving Natsu."
'Not just for food,' he thinks to himself. She has no idea how much their sparring with Gray and Juvia affected him. He loves seeing her fight enemies but to partake in beating the ice bastard's ass made him happy. Really happy.