Welcome back again! Hope y'all enjoy this long chapter!
Want to give a special thanks to everyone who has commented yet again. Even if you haven't, just you reading this and following and favoriting means a lot, but y'all leaving comments is SUPER encouraging and motivating. I want to give an extra special thanks to Spot_Of_Tea and CairnCircles over on A03 for their constant feedback and support! I appreciate all you fine people leaving comments, but I mention these two since both of them are currently writing some great stories as well. If you are enjoying this, I bet you will enjoy what they have written too!
And if you do read Tea's story, There's Something Wrong With Iggy Dragneel, you may ask, "Hey SlitheryOwl777, didn't they just write something like this in the notes of their most recent chapter?" To which I will say, "Yes, they did, and now you know my unoriginality knows no bounds" XD. Seriously though it was super thoughtful, and it made me want to do something similar. Encouragement is a good thing to spread around, folks!
Anyways, enough of my yammering and on to the chapter!
KEEPING SECRETS CHP 9- WARRIORS
Natsu's training proceeded as planned. Jackal continued to be his regular sparring partner, with Zeref stepping in occasionally.
However, on the fourth day of his training, Natsu became very excited when his brother said he would be fighting August. "I'm all fired up now!" he declared as August stepped out to the middle of the floor across from him.
August stretched and cracked his neck as he faced Natsu. "The most useful form of magic I've learned in my life is something I've simply dubbed 'copy magic'- using it, I can replicate nearly any other form of magic I come across. So today, I will replicate Ajeel's, God Serena's and Larcade's powers to the best of my ability. I will not hold back, as there is no doubt they will not either when you face them." August's tone was serious, but not malevolent.
"Good. I'm ready!" Natsu spread his feet and clenched his fists.
August nodded and raised his staff. "Sands of death!"
Over the course of the next three days, August helped familiarize Natsu with the magic of his three opponents. At one point while watching Natsu fight August, who at the time was channeling one of God Serena's dragon slaying magics, Jackal had asked Zeref if this special training was fair to the people fighting Natsu, to which Zeref shrugged. "They have access to our intelligence file on Natsu. It can tell them nearly everything about his magic and fighting style. If they choose not to use it, that's on them."
"But won't they think the emperor helping him is an unfair advantage?"
"Ha." Zeref's laugh was dry. "Why wouldn't I want my beloved younger brother to emerge triumphant? They should be grateful that Invel didn't have his way, if he did they'd all be out of a job. Which I would have been fine with, by the way. I can replace members of the Twelve… I can't replace Natsu. I've learned that the hard way." Zeref said, thinking about when he had first created Larcade to be a copy of his brother. He may have replicated his brother's speaking and mannerisms well, but there was something about watching the etherious that made Zeref feel hollow. So back in his book Larcade had gone and was heavily re-written before Zeref let him out again.
Natsu's progress throughout the week impressed everyone who stopped by to witness his mock fights. The final day, after their last practice match, August told Natsu, "You've done very well these past few days, Natsu. I have no doubt- the strength you hold and the abilities you've honed will lead you to victory."
"Thanks August!" Natsu beamed at the Spriggan 12's leader. "I get why my brother hyped your power up so much." He stuck his hand out. "One day, I want you to fight me all out, with everything you've got!"
August shook Natsu's hand. "I would be happy to, Natsu."
The four made their way down the hall. As had become the usual, Ajeel and Dimaria were waiting for them. "Well, well. One more day to go. How about one last round of drinks?" Ajeel smiled at them.
Natsu had been joining the two spriggans at the bar sporadically. Apparently Ajeel had finally gotten the hint and took Dimaria alone some nights, but Natsu still had been invited on a couple of their outings. Tonight, Dimaria had even talked Brandish into coming. Their little party at the bar was growing, slowly but surely. "Hell yeah! You comin bro?" He looked at Zeref, who sighed.
"I have far too much to get done tonight. Sorry, Natsu." Zeref had shot him down every time he'd invited him to go out to the bar with them.
Natsu scowled for a moment, before putting his hand on his chin. He then smiled deviously. "When I win, I want you to come with me to the bar! Actually, I want all of the Twelve there!"
Zeref looked surprised for a moment, and then smiled. "You know what? Alright, Natsu. I'll do that. Good luck getting Invel to come, though."
"Heh, it'll be an official order from the prince. He won't be able to refuse." Natsu smiled smugly, looking quite sure of himself.
Ajeel began to laugh. "Damn, you're making me wanna throw this fight just to see Invel at the bar!"
Natsu was genuinely looking forward to fighting Ajeel. Despite his initial hostility in Natsu's first meeting with the Twelve, Ajeel had shown his competition with Natsu truly friendly. He respected the fact the new prince wasn't simply going to hide behind titles and guards, but he was willing to prove his strength firsthand.
Natsu wished he could say the same about Larcade and God Serena. Both he and Ajeel had tried to invite them on their little outings, too. The latter had struck an elaborate pose when asked, declaring he was far too magnificent to waste time with a bunch of plebians at a lowly bar. Larcade, on the other hand, had just sneered, saying he had no desire to have any type of camaraderie with his 'uncle' since he'd be out of their lives soon, evidently very confident Natsu stood no chance against him.
"Yeah, well you better not." Natsu said, his tone playful. "You're the only one I'm actually looking forward to fighting!" He and Ajeel both laughed.
"Yo, Natsu!" a new voice interjected itself. Natsu was surprised to see Wall striding towards them, a smile plastered on his face. He hadn't seen the macias since their encounter at the shipyards during the tour Zeref had given him nearly a week ago. "I got some new designs for our airship fleet you NEED to see! Right now! There's no way you'll-"
"Nobody cares Wall! We're going to have fun like normal people do, so in other words, not looking at boring- ass airship designs!" Dimaria declared, brushing past the macias.
Wall looked miffed for a moment before his grin returned and he cackled. "Well whatever! I'll just have to come with you! Where are we going? I'll show you there!"
"Huh? A night on the town? Count me in!" Jackal enthusiastically interjected himself.
Natsu rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Jackal was his ally now, guess it couldn't hurt to let him come hang out with them. As long as he didn't blow anything up. If Gramps heard that coming from me, I think he'd have a stroke.
Looking past Zeref, he was a little surprised to see August standing behind his brother- the Twelve's reserved commander usually made off before Natsu had finished his daily training. Since he hadn't today, Natsu thought he'd seize the opportunity and invite August to come with them. Natsu grinned at the old man, and then asked him, "What about you, August? You wanna join us?"
"I would be happy to, if you'd have me along, Natsu."
"I wouldn't bother asking old August, he usually likes to avoid crow- wait, what?!" Dimaria's words to Natsu on the topic of August were voided before she could finish her statements. The time mage blushed in embarrassment.
"Sweet!" Ajeel seemed excited by August's intention to join them. "I've never seen August do anything but work, it's gonna be interesting having him there with us!"
"It has been a pleasure to spend time instructing Natsu this week, so I thought joining him for some pre-match festivities and camaraderie would be nice." August said. The usually stoic sounding old man sounded unsure of himself at the moment but had a slight smile on his face. His eyes suddenly widened as if he remembered something, and he quickly turned and bowed to Zeref. "If it is alright with you, of course, Your Majesty." Even with the respect he showed, that didn't make his words feel less like an afterthought.
The look in Zeref's eyes seemed to indicate he noticed this, but at the same time his smile was genuine. "It's quite alright, I assure you August. I've known you the majority of your life and I can count on both hands the times I've seen you go do something for yourself. Have fun."
Natsu smiled as their group made their way down the hallway. "I'm all fired up now!" He yelled, excited for their evening out.
Zeref smiled as well, as he watched Natsu go down the hall with the others. He really does seem happy here… and the others, even most of the Twelve, seem to enjoy having him around as well… I certainly hope this will last.
Outside of training and his first day in Vistarion, Natsu hadn't got to speak much with August. Zeref had told him a few things about his oldest ally. The man was generally reserved, primarily staying in his quarters in the palace, reading or researching whenever he didn't have a mission or other official duties. Zeref explained, long pre-dating his arrival in Alakitasia and the founding of the Alvarez Empire, the people of this land had held the month of August as a sacred time to live a more righteous and upright life, as the month was attributed to being prone to natural disasters.
Then, nearly a century ago, Zeref had begun his conquest on the continent, uniting warring guilds and disposing of crooked regimes thought once to be immovable. And in a twist of fate, the commander of Zeref's unstoppable forces was a young man named August, whose abilities were far beyond what even a seasoned mage should have been able to manifest. The citizens of the Empire had begun to revere the man, holding him in such respect that he was basically considered a living saint.
Natsu had tuned most of this out as Zeref had explained it to him, just taking away from his brother's long winded rant August was super strong.
That said, the gravity of Zeref's words finally clicked with Natsu as his group made their way into the Winterheart's Guild Bar And Grill that night.
The past few days, the bar's everyday customers took note of some of the Empire's fiercest defenders enjoying themselves like everyday people.
It seemed none of them had ever expected their group to grow to include August, as the patrons who turned towards them as their group made their way through the bustling restaurant stared with wide eyes, their conversations abruptly dropped, same as their jaws. Whispers pointing out the legendary leader of the Spriggan 12 grew more audible the further inside they walked.
Natsu furrowed his brow and looked back at August. The old man's stoic expression conveyed indifference but compared to the fearsome mage he had faced in battle less than an hour ago, Natsu could basically feel the awkwardness radiating off the man. Natsu sighed, and opened his mouth, about to discourage onlookers from gawking any longer.
However, it seemed someone else had the same idea. "Alright everyone, I get it, I'm that attractive. Please, no need to stare. The view is free all night." Wall's coarse voice was dripping with humor, and his usual unhinged grin was replaced with what could be described as a look of pure self -assurance. Some patrons looked extremely confused, but most got the hint, and laughed heartily at Wall's declaration before going back to their food, drinks, and conversations.
"Hey that was some quick thinking Wall, color me impressed!" Dimaria's compliment to Wall sounded genuine, compared to the sarcasm she usually rolled with when addressing the macias.
"Of course! I am the great Wall, the elite of the macias race! I quite literally scanned the tension in the air and had to act! We're supposed to be having fun! No fun means no airship show and tell!"
" Ah hah, the truth rears its ugly head. And here I thought for a moment we might get through the night without hearing Wall ramble about something he designed that no sane person cares about." A new voice addressed their group, sarcasm dripping in its otherwise monotone.
"Randi! You came!" Dimaria grinned widely and attempted to pounce on the other woman, who was leaning against the bar. Dimaria was barely able to stop herself from falling as Brandish seemed to shrink into nothing. She grew back to her normal size seconds later about ten feet from Dimaria.
"I had nothing better to do. Don't act like we're best friends because I said yes to some drinks."
While Dimaria visibly pouted, Natsu flashed a grin at the green haired young woman. "Well thanks for coming, Brandish! I'm happy you decided to join us!"
"Uh, yeah, sure…" Was it just Natsu's imagination or did she sound less sure of herself now? And was her face slightly red? It reminded him of Lucy. Didn't know Brandish was a weirdo too.
Pouting over and confidence regained, Dimaria said, "Guess our party's gotten too big for the bar, y'all wanna move to one of those big booths?" The group seemed to agree and Dimaria went back to the front, and not long after the hostess came and showed them to a large booth.
Natsu, Ajeel, Dimaria, and Jackal all ordered beers. Brandish ordered a margarita, and August opted to have water. The waitress looked very confused when Wall had asked if they had any drinks with motor oil in them. After talking with the bartender, a first time rum and motor oil concoction was created, much to Wall's delight.
Waiting on their food, Brandish said to Natsu, "So, you've been here a week. Guess you're not too bored of this place or you would have left by now. But what do you think about the empire, overall?"
Natsu's sensitive ears picked up the mild curiosity in her otherwise monotone voice. "Nah, I ain't bored a bit. I haven't been outside Vistarion and barely seen the city at that, but everything here is super cool! And I really like the people here, especially the Twelve so far. I've already told Ajeel and Dimaria, but y'all remind me of a guild with all your different personalities."
Brandish's normal bored expression was replaced with a small smile. "I guess that's one way to put it. Still, I'm surprised you've not said anything bad about God Serena, Larcade, or tweedle dumb over there." She nodded at Ajeel, who was so absorbed by a conversation with Dimaria he was oblivious to Brandish's demeaning nickname.
"Eh, even at Fairy Tail there were people that got on my nerves. Guess Larcade and God Serena are just the Twelve's equivalent of Gray and Gajeel. But still, at the end of the day, I wouldn't want to go back to the guildhall and find them not there, ya know?"
"I think that's where you'll find we differ from your old guild. We're here because the emperor was impressed with our power. Our connections don't run much deeper than that."
"Speak for yourself, Brandish. Me, Marie, and Natsu are all pals now." Ajeel stated, a smile on his face, as he took a swig of his beer. "And once you're my friend, I got your back for life. That said, I can't imagine feeling the same way about some of our other colleagues in the Twelve…"
"When you were introduced to Natsu a week ago, did you expect you would become friends with him so quickly?" August looked at Ajeel questioningly.
A look of surprise came across Ajeel's face, but it was quickly replaced with a smirk. "Alright, ya got me there. But it's gonna take a miracle for me to ever consider someone like God Serena my friend."
"Who cares if you're friends or not? In battle all you should care about is blowing up your enemy anyway. We certainly didn't have any of that sentimental mushy stuff back in Tartaros." Jackal spoke up for the first time that evening.
"Indeed, and where is Tartaros now?" August countered. "The fact of the matter is, fighting for someone or something you care deeply for will always give you an advantage, an incentive- to get back home to those you care about and keep them safe." Jackal didn't say anything back to August, he just looked back down at his bottle.
"Makes sense if you really think about it. Magic is affected by emotion after all." Dimaria said, nodding. "Oh, by the way, I've been meaning to ask." She pointed a finger at Jackal. "Who the Hell are you?"
The etherious grinned. "Name's Jackal. I'm his new head of security." He pointed at Natsu with his thumb, pride entering his voice.
"No offense Natsu, but I'd feel less secure with someone who looked like that watching my back." Brandish said, with a hint of humor in her voice again. The table, minus an exasperated Jackal, all laughed.
Natsu suddenly found some messy blueprints shoved in front of him. Turning to his right, he was faced with Wall's manic grin. He had almost forgotten that the macias was with them after they had sat down. "So anyway Natsu, like I was tryin to show ya earlier, this new design incorporates cutting edge stabilizers to reduce turbulence and a gyroscopic system that'll for sure counteract your motion sickness!"
Natsu sighed. "Look Wall, it's nothing personal, I just don't care about airships. Or any moving vehicle for that matter. I really don't think there's anything you can say to convince me otherwise."
Wall was undeterred, however. "Yeah, but an airship ain't like any other vehicle! What other vehicle lets you fly through the sky?"
"You know, as much as I don't want to feed into Wall's current obsession, I gotta say piloting airships is sweet. There's nothing like it, being up there in the sky looking down at everything below you- "
As Ajeel began to gush about airships, he was cut off by Natsu. "Wind in your hair, blowing against your face… Igneel- the dragon that raised me flew me around on his back all the time. No way some dumb flying ship can compare to that."
For the first time, it looked like Natsu had finally stumped Wall. The macias furrowed his brow and rested a hand on his chin, grin disappearing into a thoughtful expression. "Man, I forgot you said you were raised by a real dragon… alright, alright. It'll be the SECOND best thing you've rode through the sky. Think about it! An airship with no motion sickness would make you nostalgic, wouldn't it?" His enthusiasm had returned as he continued his pitch to Natsu.
Natsu sighed but allowed himself to smile. "You know what Wall? If you can promise me that, I'll get on whatever you come up with, and test it out, at least."
Wall's manic grin returned, and he began to cackle. "That's what I'm talking about!"
Their server had brought them their food by this point, but before they dug in, Ajeel raised his glass. "To friendship and stronger bonds!" The table cheered as they clinked their glasses together.
As everyone dug into their food, Natsu's gaze drifted over to August, who seemed to be lost in thought. However, the old man did have a smile on his face. He sensed Natsu looking his way, and his smile widened ever so slightly as he made eye contact with the fire dragon slayer. "You know… I may not have had a whole lot to say this evening, Natsu, but thank you for inviting me along with you. I've enjoyed spending time with everyone casually." For the first time since he had met the man, August smiled with his teeth. Happiness seemed to reach his eyes as he said, "I truly hope this is something we can do more often."
Natsu was momentarily stunned, August's smile looking eerily familiar, yet he was unable to place it. He shook off his confusion and matched August's smile with his own. "You bet! Right, everyone?"
The others yelled "Here, here! As they raised their glasses again.
"So, uh, boss." The uncertain statement came from Natsu's left, specifically Jackal. "Look, I…uh, well… I was just curious, how'd you end up with Fairy Tail? And how'd you guys get so strong, for being just… well, human?"
"Awww, it seems your new friend wants to know your life story, Your Highness." Natsu raised an eyebrow at Dimaria, before realizing she was using his title to get to him, if the look on her face was anything to go by. "But yeah, why don't you tell us a little about your adventures with your guild?"
Natsu grinned as he noticed the other eyes of the table looking at him with curiosity and anticipation. "Well, I uh, I ain't no storyteller but I'll do my best!"
The group hung out at the bar for quite some time after finishing their meals, a few of them getting desserts and more drinks as Natsu shared stories from his time with Fairy Tail. As he shared, his own stories brought out commentary and stories of their own adventures from the others at the table. Dimaria seemed very intrigued by the Eclipse Gate, while Wall was extremely excited by Natsu's description of the giant mechanical dragon King Faust had piloted back in Edolas.
Meanwhile, Jackal was most interested in the battle with Eisenwald and Natsu's team's trip to Galuna Island, the defeat of the other etherious stunning him. He described both Lullaby and Deliora as stubborn fools that had refused every offer to join them in Tartaros and in hindsight it was better anyways, since they were defeated so easily. In his eyes anyway.
Brandish stayed mostly quiet, but Natsu noticed her heightened focus on describing the whole debacle with Lucy's dad and Phantom Lord. He wondered why her scowl seemed to deepen every time he mentioned Lucy or her mom. Ajeel hoped the x791 Grand Magic Games had been filmed, wishing to witness the battles Natsu had described for himself, especially Erza's 1 v 100 match.
August stayed mostly quiet, but seemed to enjoy hearing Natsu's tales, even though he had heard some of them before. Natsu did note his visible shock when he initially brought up the First Master interacting with him and the other guild members via thought projection, as well as his thinly concealed disgust when Natsu described Hades and Grimoire Heart's attack on Tenrou Island.
Eventually the group made their way out of the bar, heading back to the palace and bidding each other a good night. They all had to be up early the next day after all.
The day of the battles was almost upon them.
Unlike the last time he visited the old coliseum, quiet and empty, today the ancient structure was packed to the brim with thousands of people from all across the empire, as Invel had promised. Seeing the Spriggan 12 battle in exhibition matches made for popular events throughout the empire, whenever they arose. And now, word of the emperor having a brother who would be facing the elite mages drew in even more people than usual.
Natsu peered down the tunnel leading to the arena's floor, getting a glimpse of some of the people eagerly awaiting the battles in the stands.
"Nervous?" Zeref's voice came from behind him.
Natsu turned around and smirked at his brother, who was followed by August and Jackal. "Pfft. As if. I'm all fired up for this!" He declared, pounding his fist against his palm.
"Be sure you take your opponents seriously and be mindful of their strengths and weaknesses." August said. "If you do that, I truly believe you will emerge victorious today."
"Hell yeah, you got this boss!" Jackal threw up his fist, enthused.
Before he could reply to either of them, a new voice entered. "Oh-hoh, so this is your brother, Your Majesty!"
Emerging from behind Zeref was a strange looking man Natsu had never seen before. He had dark blue hair pulled back into a short ponytail, and green light armor, decorated with blue roses and matching blue Alvarez crests on the shoulders, as well as strange looking white fur balls on his shoulders and hips.
"Yes, Neinhart, this is Natsu. Natsu, meet Neinhart- one of the Twelve that was unable to make the meeting where I introduced you last week."
"Ah yes, apologies, Prince Natsu." Neinhart bowed dramatically. "Had I known you would be being introduced, I would have made more of an effort to be there. I simply couldn't stomach the thought of hearing anymore about that uppity lord being upset about paying his fair share while his region of the empire has traditionally been one of the poorest-"
"Oh, so it didn't have anything to do with spending a nice hour relaxing in the palace steam room, like the note you left Invel said?" Zeref asked, as he struggled to keep a straight face and not laugh.
"Simply a coincidence Your Majesty! I certainly didn't want to lower morale for the rest of the Twelve in the meeting by sharing my true feelings… However, Prince Natsu, allow me to make it up to you by doing my absolute BEST at being this event's main announcer! I promise, I will not gloss over ANY of your exploits during your introduction!" Neinhart offered another dramatic bow, before he lowered his voice. "Not that I would anyway, I'm really hoping you wipe the floor with these embarrassments to the rest of the Twelve…"
"I plan on it. And thanks, but you can make it up to me by joining us afterwards. I told my brother here when I win, I want him and the rest of Twelve to come have a night of fun with me at the bar!"
Neinhart smiled. "Consider it done, Your Highness!"
Before Natsu could correct him, August said, "He prefers just his name over titles, Neinhart." A hint of a smirk came over August, as he continued, "I'm a bit surprised you'd consider our comrades in the Twelve embarrassments… After all, yours and God Serena's personalities are so… alike."
A look of offense crossed Neinhart's face. "Tell me you jest, Lord August! If anything, he has helped me see the error of my ways! I am a changed man, now TASTEFULLY fabulous!"
"Uh-huh." Zeref said flatly. "Anyways, I'm guessing you're REALLY here because you want a free ride up to the press box, correct?"
"Haha, Your Majesty, I simply wanted to meet your brother and wish him good luck!" Neinhart smiled slightly. "But if you don't mind, that would be gre-"
"Yeah, yeah, come on." Zeref rolled his eyes and gestured to Neinhart to come over, which he did.
One hand on Zeref's right shoulder, Neinhart saluted Natsu with his free hand. "Best of luck, Natsu! I will enjoy witnessing your victories!"
August placed his hand on Zeref's left shoulder, and Zeref gave one more encouraging look to Natsu. "You've got this, little brother. I have absolute faith in you."
Natsu flashed them a grin. "Thanks Zeref! I won't let you down!"
Zeref, Neinhart, and August vanished seconds later. Natsu looked down at his right shoulder, at his tattoo of the Fairy Tail emblem, and then down at his left shoulder, where he had the Alvarez crest tattooed earlier in the week. He clenched both his fists and let out a deep breath.
"Heh, I wouldn't worry if I were you, boss. No way these pathetic weaklings have shit on what you can do." Jackal smirked as he came and stood next to Natsu. "Besides, didn't Lord Zeref say Larcade was his second strongest etherious? That alone should assure you-"
"Nothing is assured, Jackal. Back in Tartaros, you were assured Fairy Tail was no match for you. You were assured FACE would activate. You were assured you were doing the will of E.N.D." Natsu side eyed the etherious. "And how did those work out for ya?"
Jackal's look of confidence had faded to one of shame, his dog- like ears lay down on his head in embarrassment.
"I get what August meant now. About people with more power than others losing. It doesn't matter how much power you have, it's how you use it. I might have power, but if I fail here today… I agreed to leave Alvarez. That can't happen. I have to help cure my brother, no matter what! So, there's no way I can lose!" Natsu clenched his fists, and his voice became passionate the longer he spoke.
"You won't." Natsu's eyes widened in surprise, as Jackal's usual cocky and loud (and irritating) tone was replaced by one of calm sincerity. The etherious laid a hand on Natsu's shoulder. "I was thinkin- about what everyone was sayin last night. About friendship and bonds and all that stuff. Look, I don't really get it- not something I've ever experienced." A small smile formed on Jackal's face. "But I can see how much you care about everyone around you. Especially your brother. Ain't no doubt in my mind these other three guys fighting for power or fame or glory or whatever don't have a thing on you, fighting to save someone you care about." He grasped Natsu's shoulder a little tighter and smiled a real smile. "So, I got no doubt, you're gonna win, boss. You just remember what you're fightin for, and your victory is assured."
Natsu stared at Jackal, speechless for a moment. "Uh… thanks. That was actually helpful!"
"You got it boss!" Jackal nodded. "And I get I got a lot to prove… 'specially after our encounter in that town with that Magic Council asshole… but I want you to know I'm in your corner 100% now!"
Natsu couldn't help but smile a bit. Jackal had some bad baggage for sure, but then again, some of his beloved guildmates had been his enemies once, so if he could grow to care about them, who's to say he couldn't grow to care about Jackal too?
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO THE VISTARION COLOSSEUM!" The voice of Neinhart boomed across the ancient arena, and the crowd responded with cheers. "TODAY'S SPECIAL EXHIBITION BATTLES WILL PIT THREE OF THE COURAGEOUS SPRIGGAN 12 AGAINST A NEW FACE IN THE EMPIRE- THE LONG BROTHER OF EMPEROR SPRIGGAN!" More cheering followed. "JOINING ME TODAY IS MY COLLEAGUE FROM THE TWELVE, THE WARRIOR QUEEN HERSELF, DIMARIA YESTA! GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH ME TODAY, DIMARIA!"
"GREAT TO BE HERE, NEINHART! I'LL BE BREAKING DOWN SOME OF OUR COMPETITORS' FASTER MOVES SO OUR LOVELY AUDIENCE WON'T MISS A THING!" Dimaria's voice boomed throughout the arena, matching Neinhart's enthusiasm.
"OUR FIRST COMPETITOR IS SOMEONE ALL OF YOU KNOW WELL. HAILING FROM THE SOUTHWEST OF OUR GREAT EMPIRE, HE IS A SANDSTORM PERSONIFIED! KNOWN FOR HIS MASTERY OVER SAND, FORMIDABLE PILOTING SKILLS, UNYIELDING SPIRIT, AND UNWAVERING LOYALTY TO EMPEROR SPRIGGAN AND ALVAREZ, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S THE DESERT KING HIMSELF, AJEEL RAML!"
On the other side of the colosseum, cyclones of sand spun around the entrance to the other door, and Ajeel slid across the ground to the center of the arena, smiling wide and raising his arms as he took in the audience's cheers.
"DIMARIA, ANY COMMENT ON THE RUMORS OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOU AND THE DESERT KING?" Gasps of shock and several "ooooos" could be heard from around the arena.
However, a yelp was heard over the arena's loudspeakers, with some ear-piercing feedback following. Several seconds later, there was some rustling in the microphone and Dimaria's voice came across the loudspeakers again, much quieter and less animated than before, "No comment."
"WELL, AH… GUESS THAT JUICY GOSSIP WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER DAY, FOLKS! MOVING ON, THE DESERT KING'S COMPETITOR IS NONE OTHER THAN THE BROTHER OF OUR BELOVED EMPEROR SPRIGGAN- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE GIVE A BIG VISTARION WELCOME TO OUR NEWLY DISCOVERED CROWN PRINCE, NATSU DRAGNEEL!"
Deciding to add some theatrics of his own, similar to what Ajeel did, Natsu lit the ground on fire in two lines in front of him, causing his flames to shoot skywards as he made his way towards the center of the arena, as the crowd cheered.
He was able to make out several comments about him amidst the roaring of the crowd.
"He's really the emperor's brother? They look nothing alike."
"I feel like I've seen his face somewhere before…"
"OH MY GOD HE'S HOT!"
"Why is his hair pink?"
Natsu grew annoyed at that last one. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD IT'S SALMON, NOT PINK! WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK THAT?!
"PRINCE NATSU COMES TO US FROM THE CONTINENT OF ISHGAR, WHERE HE HAS SPENT MUCH OF HIS LIFE AS A GUILD MAGE! HIS GUILD, FAIRY TAIL, WAS DUBBED THE STRONGEST GUILD IN THE COUNTRY OF FIORE WHEN THEY CLAIMED VICTORY THIS PAST YEAR IN THEIR COUNTRY'S ANNUAL TOURNAMENT, THE GRAND MAGIC GAMES! THIS COMES AFTER A SEVEN YEAR DISAPPEARANCE FROM MANY OF THE GUILD'S PROMINENT MEMBERS- OUR PRINCE HERE INCLUDED! THEY HAD FACED ACNOLOGIA- YES FOLKS, THE ACNOLOGIA, IN BATTLE, AND RETURNED TO TELL THE TALE!" Gasps of shock could be made out from the cheering of the crowd.
"SADLY, FOR REASONS STILL UNKNOWN, FAIRY TAIL DISBANDED THREE MONTHS AGO. AFTER SPENDING TIME ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS, PRINCE NATSU WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME A DECADE LONG BOUT OF AMNESIA AND REUNITE WITH HIS BROTHER! HOW TOUCHING, AM I RIGHT, DIMARIA?"
"IT CERTAINLY IS! BUT DON'T LET HIS SENTIMENTAL SIDE FOOL YOU- PRINCE NATSU WAS TRAINED IN THE ART OF DRAGON SLAYING BY AN ACTUAL DRAGON- THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS, AND NOT JUST ANY DRAGON- HE WAS TRAINED BY IGNEEL, THE KING OF THE FIRE DRAGONS! OUR PRINCE IS, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, THE FIRE DRAGON KING!" More applause came from the audience.
"SO, IT'S THE FIRE DRAGON KING VS THE DESERT KING! WHO WILL WALK AWAY VICTORIOUS… AND WHO WILL LIMP BACK TO THEIR THRONE?"
As the crowd began to cheer once more, as Natsu and Ajeel stared each other down, both smirking.
"Alright, let's give everyone a fight to remember!" Ajeel declared.
"You bet!" Natsu shouted back.
"A REMINDER TO OUR FIGHTERS! THE COLOSSEUM HAS BEEN ENCHANTED BY LADY IRENE HERSELF, SO THERE'S NO DANGER OF YOUR ATTACKS REACHING THE AUDIENCE." Neinhart explained.
"SO, IN OTHER WORDS, DON'T HOLD BACK!" Dimaria added.
"ONCE THE EMPEROR GIVES THE SIGNAL, YOU MAY BEGIN!"
In the colosseum's royal box, Zeref sat on his throne, smirking. Give him Hell, Natsu. He stood, and summoned a flame of his own, shooting it across the sky.
"BEGIN!"
Natsu wasted no time summoning a wall of fire for whatever Ajeel would throw his way first. However, once the ground started shaking, Natsu crouched, and quickly launched himself skywards as the ground crumbled beneath him and sank into a narrow pit. Natsu mentally thanked August for helping him come up with that little work around to Ajeel's move.
"Nice work, avoiding my antlion pit!" Ajeel yelled, before smirking and, barely above a whisper, adding, "All according to plan."
Natsu's enhanced hearing picked up Ajeel's quiet comments and he furrowed his brow in confusion. His eyes quickly widened however as he saw several winged creatures made of sand flying toward him.
"I ain't running from two attacks in a row! FIRE DRAGON," Natsu inhaled, before unleashing an inferno at the creatures, "ROAR!" The flames consumed Ajeel's familiars, their remains nothing more than small shards of glass that fell back to earth.
"Oh shit, I forgot you could hear me!" Ajeel shouted at Natsu, who had landed on his feet about 25 yards in front of him. "Don't worry, I won't make that mistake again! SANDS OF DEATH!"
Natsu launched himself towards Ajeel's attack, a massive tidal wave of sand. However, Natsu had a perfect attack for cutting through the sand tsunami- "FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST!" His flames burst through the other side of the wave, startling Ajeel, who's cocky smirk was wiped off his face.
"That all you got?" Natsu smirked himself, readying himself in a defensive stance.
Ajeel's features lightened as he began to laugh. "Hahaha, you kidding? We're just getting started! You're no disappointment, that's for sure. I can't tell you how many enemies I've downed with those three attacks alone. So, kudos on making it this far." Ajeel's expression darkened. "But our battle ends here. SAND WORLD!"
With that, the floor of the arena was consumed by a massive sandstorm. The sand beat against the enchantments separating the fighters from the crowd, who were attempting to catch a glimpse of Natsu or Ajeel through the blur of sand.
"WOW! I'VE NEVER SEEN AJEEL USE SAND WORLD IN SUCH CLOSE QUARTERS BEFORE! CAN YOU MAKE ANYTHING OUT, DIMARIA?" Neinhart's shocked voice rang out over the loudspeakers.
"WELL AS THE NAME OF THE ATTACK IMPLIES, SAND WORLD GIVES AJEEL THE ABILITY TO MOVE FREELY WHILE HIS OPPONENT SUFFERS FROM SAND HITTING THEIR BODY AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 70 MILES PER HOUR!" Dimaria explained. "AND FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE PRINCE NATSU IS FAIRING WELL!"
Natsu was indeed struggling in Ajeel's sand world. He quickly gave up trying to spot anything, as when sand wasn't pelting his eyes, his visibility was so low he could barely see his own hand in front of him.
He tried a fire dragon's roar, but the sand that turned to glass from Natsu's fire simply made for more dangerous ammunition that the fierce winds of Ajeel's sandstorm continued to fling at him.
Through the howling wind, he could hear Ajeel making his way through the storm with ease, the distance between the two closing fast.
Natsu needed a solution faster. Something that would consume the sandstorm in one blow. The answer came to him sooner than he thought it would.
It may have not consumed everything before, but a lot has happened since then. And it had only been a week, despite it feeling like an age ago. The strength he had sought was his to command now.
It was time for the world to feel the might of the fire dragon king!
Natsu's body heated up to unthinkable temperatures as he entered fire dragon king mode. A wall of fire formed around the dragon slayer, and specks of sand heading towards him turned to tiny beads of glass before they even hit the inferno. Once inside the flames, the glass melted, falling to the ground, lethality removed. Ajeel saw this and jumped back in response.
Good. I'm finishing this. "FIRE DRAGON KING'S PURGATORY!"
The raging inferno around Natsu grew in the blink of an eye, swallowing the sandstorm, and in seconds, Ajeel's sand world was now a world of broken, melted glass.
"UNBELIEVABLE! THE DESERT KING'S SAND WORLD HAS BEEN DISPELLED! AND PRINCE NATSU IS STILL STANDING!" Neinhart's genuinely shocked voice roared through the colosseum, followed by cheers.
"BUT SO IS AJEEL!" Dimaria declared. "THIS BATTLE'S NOT OVER YET!"
The ground shook under Natsu, glass clinking and cracking as something BIG moved towards him. The dust and steam clearing, Natsu's eyes widened as he was faced with a massive sandstone golem towering over him.
"THAT WAS SWEET!" Ajeel's excited voice, muffled slightly, boomed from inside the golem. "I thought you had me there for a second! That was some intense heat! You even made me sweat, and trust me, that ain't easy!"
Natsu smirked. "Sandstone, eh? Nice thinking. But," he crouched, before his entire body lit up in flames, "it crumbles like everything else! Fire dragon!" Launching himself straight at the golem's core, where Ajeel was located. "SWORD HORN!"
His flaming head smashed through the golem and slammed into Ajeel, sandstone crumbling as Natsu knocked him through the back of the golem. The desert king flew across the arena, slamming into the colosseum's walls, before his body collapsed to the ground, unmoving.
"10…9…" Neinhart began the countdown, with the audience enthusiastically counting along. Ajeel struggled, attempting to get up several times, but he collapsed back to the ground each time, the Spriggan's stamina spent. "3...2...1! THAT'S IT FOLKS, THE DESERT KING HAS FALLEN! PRINCE NATSU IS THE WINNER!"
The crowd roared for their new prince, and Natsu flashed his trademark grin and threw his hand up in the Fairy Tail salute. After several moments he made his way across the arena's floor to where Ajeel lay, facing the sky. The Desert King's eyes were wide and there was a look of pure bewilderment on his face as he attempted to catch his breath.
As Natsu approached, he heard Ajeel finally speak, weakly, "I… lost?" Natsu hesitated a moment and was taken aback when Ajeel began to laugh loudly. "SWEET SWEET SWEET!" He yelled his favorite word over and over again, laughing in between, eventually rolling onto his stomach, and looked at Natsu as he attempted to push himself off the ground. "Well I'll be damned, I got my wish. I won't be serving any weakling Ishgarian prince, that's for sure. You're incredible! In fact, your power is beyond sweet!" He looked a little surprised as Natsu extended a hand down to him.
"I'm glad we got to fight, Ajeel." Natsu smiled at him. "Let's do this again sometime."
Ajeel grabbed the outreached hand, smiling back as Natsu helped him back to his feet. "Hell yeah, we'll do this again! You've given me motivation to reach even greater heights. In the meantime," he smirked as he offered Natsu a handshake, "you just say the word, and the desert king will get it done, Your Highness."
Natsu smirked back. "Glad to know you have my back, Ajeel."
"WHAT A WONDERFUL DISPLAY OF CAMARADERIE AND SPORTSMANSHIP BETWEEN THE PRINCE AND THE DESERT KING! OUR GREAT EMPIRE HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH AN EXCELLENT ROLE MODEL IN OUR NEW PRINCE!"
The crowd cheered at Neinhart's words, while Natsu smiled and laughed nervously. I don't think they'll be saying that still when I get too excited one day and set something on fire by accident again…
In the royal box, Zeref smirked. "Well done, little brother."
"Your brother is a very talented mage, Your Majesty." Yajeel's cheerful voice chimed in, coming from several seats over. "And I am glad my grandson was able to accept his defeat with grace. Seems they will be good friends after all!"
"Hmph. Natsu's victory was expected." Invel said coolly. "But yes, Ajeel has made up for his disrespect in last week's meeting." His small smirk faded as he added, "I am not sure we will witness such a pleasant display if Natsu overcomes his next two challengers."
"When he overcomes them, Invel." August said. "He will not fail, as long as he continues to use his power wisely."
Zeref nodded. "That said," he turned from August to another figure in the box, "I'm curious about your thoughts. What do you think of my brother, Irene?"
Irene Belserion sat to the far left of the emperor, seat closest to the edge of the box. She leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, hand on her chin as she watched Natsu smile and wave at the crowd as he walked off the arena floor, while Dimaria told the audience there would be a thirty minute intermission to allow the prince to catch his breath.
"Well, what do you expect? He's your brother, Your Majesty, of course his power is exceptional." Irene smirked, before adding, "That said, I am very much looking forward to watching the fight with his next opponent. It has been quite some time since I've watched two dragons do battle."
And enter Irene! Now all of the Spriggan 12 have shown up! How do you think Natsu's inevitable meeting with her will go?
I hope everyone enjoyed the battle. This is my first time writing battle scenes, and they were not easy. I'm fairly happy with how it came out, and hopefully they get smoother as the story goes on.