"Dialogue"
"Thoughts"
Magic
Sitting at the table in the household's small dining area, Natsu would lean back against his chair, stomach bloated, with a content smile on his face. "You're one hell of a cook, Chelia!" He beamed, with a toothy grin, as he looked towards the woman in question.
Upon receiving his compliment, Chelia would feel her face heating up in a blush, as a small giggled escaped her lips. "I'm nothing too grand at cooking, silly." She tried to downplay, with a smile. "Besides, one of us had to learn how to cook - and Wendy nearly burned the house down, sooo" Chelia trailed off, after giving the blue-haired girl a teasing smile.
Hearing this, Wendy's face flushed a bright red, her face quickly being hidden in the palms of her hands, as she shook her head in embarrassment. "Cheliaaaa! You said you'd never talk about that againnnn~!" She whined in protest, not being able to meet the eye contact of the pink-haired slayer sitting to her left.
Carla would also click his tongue disapproving at Chelia's remark, but a small smile could be noticed on her face, as well.
Seeing and hearing all of this, Natsu just let out a boisterous laugh, his toothy smile still present. "Nothing wrong with that! I was the exact same way, when I first cooked. Wasn't allowed to use the stove unsupervised for like - three months." Natsu laughed, with a smile.
Hearing this, Wendy would perk up a little - being brought out of her embarrassment by Natsu's own admission of an embarrassing story. "Really, Natsu?" She asked, with a surprise smile.
"Yeah, really. After Igneel vanished - I found myself wondering, and stumbled upon a small city called Sacchia. There is a tavern, which also functions as an independent guild, there - The Eagles Den. I'm pretty close with the family who owns it, so whenever I'm in town I usually stay there. I lived with them for a while, before I started taking more journeys and quests that have kept me away from there for a while. Though I still visit when I can." Natsu said, with a smile. "But back to the topic at hand! When I was there originally, I'd help out in the Tavern, to earn my keep. Tried having me do a few things, but it mostly resulted in me being a bouncer, and cleaner, since it took a while for me to get food at cooking." Natsu said sheepishly, as he rubbed the back of his head.
Chelia giggled a little bit, listening to Natsu tell his story - imagining him in an apron, cooking, which only caused her to giggle even more. "That sounds right. You'd probably be a pretty good bouncer, too!" She exclaimed, with a smile. "Though I've never heard of Sacchia before… it must be a really small town." Chelia mused.
"I also haven't heard of it." Carla responded.
"Now that I think about it…. I remember master Ultear dragging Erza and Kagura off to a town with a similar name - maybe it was Sacchia?" Wendy curiously spoke to herself, only to get a nod from Natsu.
"Yeaaaah. That crafty witch brought Kagura and Erza to Sacchia, yesterday. Though Erza left early, before running into me, because she wasn't feeling well." Natsu paused, momentarily. "Ultear just wanted to make my life hell, tch." Natsu said, with a small smile.
"How come you're here, then? Did the master need your aid, in a quest of some kind?" Chelia asked, with a curious look.
"Nah." Natsu simply replied, waving her off with his hand. "Like I said. She just wanted to make my life hell. Though I had business here anyways - so I came back with them." Natsu explained.
Chelia would stand up from the table, grabbing the now empty plates that were in front of everyone and taking them to her sink. "What business does the mighty Salamander have here?" Chelia asked, with a teasing smirk.
Hearing this, Wendy would look between the two in confusion, before addressing Natsu. "Salamander? Come to think of it… I think that's what Mr Gajeel called you, during the Oracion Seis incident." Wendy mused, with a confused look.
"It's one of my nicknames - I picked it up during my travels. Not too much of a fan - but it's better than some of the others." He finished with a low whistle, before speaking up again. "As for your question, Chelia - I'm doing an investigation into all the amalgamations popping up. I have a lead saying one is about a day's journey away from here, terrorizing a small colony of traveling merchants. Apparently they've been holed up in some cave, unable to leave." Natsu finished, standing up from his seat and stretching.
"Amalgamations…? Oh! Like the thing you, Kagura, and Mira fought?" She asked, with a surprised look.
"Mhm. I've fought two, now. Though I've heard rumors of a few. They haven't been too much of a threat, so far. The one I fought with Kagura and Mira was just really surprising, since it was the first we saw. So it got some cheap hits on us." Natsu lamented, with a sigh.
"That sounds so scary…" Wendy muttered, with a terrified look as she practically shook in her seat.
Carla would be doing her best to comfort her closest friend, sitting in her lap and whispering words of reassurance and encouragement.
"It'll all be good, Wendy." Natsu said, with a smile. "I've got a lead as to where the person who's creating them lives, too. In fact, I plan to head out there soon - in six or so days' time." Natsu said with a smile, his hand ruffling the blue-haired girl's hair, as he did.
Chelia smiled at the two, from the kitchen, with content on her face. "I wonder if Natsu has any younger siblings, or something? He's really good at the big brother role." She mused, though she already figured the answer was no.
"Anyways!" Natsu suddenly said, with a smile. "I think it's about time we get outside and have that match, don't you?" He said, grinning from ear to ear as he did. "Anywhere we can go to fight in peace?" Natsu asked, with a smile.
"Y-yeah! I think I'm ready! Or - as ready as I'll ever be, at least.." Wendy giggled nervously, before standing up with resolve.
"The only place that comes to mind is the training grounds, at Mermaid Heel." Chelia chimed in, from the kitchen. "It's still pretty early, and the guild usually doesn't get busy until around afternoon - so I doubt you'll have to worry about running into too many people." Chelia said with a smile.
Hearing this, Natsu's demeanor immediately changed - as he seemingly deflated, a little. "Every time I'm there I feel like Ultear is gonna try and trick me into doing something unpleasant." Natsu bemoaned, with a sigh. Though he'd eventually stand up straight again, with a small smile. "Oh well. I have you two with me, so I'm sure I'll be fine." Natsu said, reassuringly, more to himself than the people in question.
With a giggle, Wendy nodded her head - before standing up as well. "I have to head to my room first - but then I'll be ready." She simply said, before heading off to her room.
After Wendy had shut her door, Carla would turn to Natsu - not with a look of hostility, but a very similar look, nonetheless. "If you so much as hurt Wendy a fraction too much, I will make you regret it, Ruffian." She said, naughtily.
Hearing this, Natsu simply smiled, and shook his head. "She'll be fine." Natsu said, reassuringly, as he looked towards the hallway. "I can tell, just by looking at her. She's got tremendous levels of magic power - she just needs guidance in how to properly utilize it." He said, with a small smile.
Chelia would nod her head, having moved over closer to Carla and Natsu, in the meantime. "He's right. Everything will be fine, Carla. But Natsu - don't be too aggressive still, okay?" Chelia asked, as she remembered his fight with Erza and Kagura.
Natsu would sigh, hanging his head in defeat. "Your levels of trust in me are truly inspiring." He muttered, with a sigh. "Don't worry, I won't go crazy against her, unless needed." Natsu responded, with a smile.
Before anyone could respond, Wendy would come running out of her room, a small sky blue crystal pendant hanging around her neck, as she did. "Sorry! I just had to grab this - I left it in my room this morning, when we came out to make sure you were okay." She said sheepishly, with a small smile.
Natsu would eye the pendant, his eyes narrowing slightly as he did, before they shot open, in a look of realization. "Wendy - where did you get that?" He asked curiously, while staring at it.
"Huh? I got it from Grandeeney! She gave it to me a week or so before she vanished. She said it would give me strength, in my time of need." Wendy explained, with a small smile.
"Didn't think you would be one for jewelry, Natsu." Chelia teased, with a smile.
"Indeed. Perhaps the ruffian has some refined taste, after all." Carla said, before Natsu could respond back to anyone.
"It's not that." Natsu grumbled, shaking his head with a smile. "That crystal - it's a Lacrima. A dragon, Lacrima, if I had to guess. Though it's only a small portion - not the full thing. I'm assuming it's a tiny portion of Grandeeney's Lacrima, if she was the one to give it to you." Natsu said, with a smile.
Wendy's eyes immediately widened at this, as she looked at the pendant with newfound admiration for what it was. "R-Really!?" She asked, in utter surprise.
"Mhm. I've seen a few dragon Lacrima in my travels. It's definitely one." He said, with a smile. "Keep that close to you. I think Grandeeney was being literal, when she said it would bring you strength, in your time of need." Natsu said, with a smile. "Anyways! Let's get going, shall we?" Natsu said, with a smile.
"Mhm! Let's go!" Wendy said, with newfound energy and excitement, as she looked down at the pendant bestowed upon her, by her dragon.
Mermaid Heel Training Grounds
Standing in the training grounds once again, Natsu would look around in relative surprise, not having paid too much attention to the area the last time he was here. He could see all sorts of different contraptions, likely to aid in fighting. He even saw Lacrima set up that would shoot magic projectiles - perfect for dodge training or defensive magic training, he thought.
Though none of that mattered currently, as he stood at one side of the battle arena, and Wendy stood at the other side, both getting ready for their match. Wendy was currently receiving words of encouragement from Carla, as they talked at their own end. Though Natsu would be brought out of his thoughts, as he was approached by a smiling Chelia, suddenly.
"Ready for the fight, Natsu?" She asked, still smiling.
"Of course! I'm curious to see where she stands… what class mage is she ranked, again?" Natsu asked.
"She's an A-Rank, like me. Though she's a weaker combatant than I am." Chelia said, before her smile faltered and was replaced by a more serious expression. "Don't take her lightly, though. In all the times she and I fought one another - I've never won. It was always a tie." She stated, shocking Natsu.
"Really now? Despite you being the better fighter?" Natsu asked, curiously.
"Mhm. But she's scrappy. She isn't too strong defensively - and she can't take hits that well, but she can heal up by eating the air - like me. And since it's basically an infinite supply, in most places - it's hard to keep her down. She's better at utilizing air than I am, even. She gets reinvigorated more than I do, from eating it." Chelia explained, with a smile.
Natsu simply listened to her, nodding his head along, as he stared at Wendy across from him. A smile would spread on his lips, as he did a few stretches. "This should be fun, then." Natsu said.
"I imagine it will be. You weren't wrong, she has crazy potential. She just needs proper guidance. She's - not great at making new spells. In fact - she hasn't learned a new offensive spell since Grandeeney vanished, she told me." Chelia said, with a frown.
Hearing this, Natsu would look at the amaranth-haired woman in surprise. "Really? I've learned the basics from Igneel, yeah - but most everything else was devised by me. I figured it was going to be the same for her." Natsu said, in surprise.
"That's what I mean. I think she simply lacks the confidence needed in herself - but with your aid, I'm sure she'll grow to be a monster, in terms of strength." Chelia smiled, before she turned away and started walking off. "Anyways, I'll let you get back to preparing. Give me a good show, 'kay?" She giggled her question out, before exiting the arena, leaving just Natsu where he was.
Natsu would simply examine his soon to be opponent - who was still deep in conversation with Carla, with a smile. "Yeah, I'll do just that, Chelia." He called back, with a smile.
Carla would still be hovering in front of Wendy, deep in the throes of conversation with her closest friend, during the brief respite before the fight started. "Just remember Wendy - you don't have to beat him. You just have to withstand the ruffians onslaught." Carla spoke, trying her best to offer advice, despite not being a combatant herself.
"You're not offering the encouragement you think you are, Carla." Wendy deadpanned, as her body deflated discouragingly. "But I know. I have faith in being able to hold my own - even if only because this is a simple sparring match." Wendy said, a small smile being present on her slightly rounded face. "Though I see Chelia walking off.. so I think it's time for the match to start." Wendy said, with a shaky voice.
Carla would stare at Wendy with a look of concern - before nodding her head, flying off to meet up with Chelia, off to the side.
"Natsu!" Wendy called out, her voice a little shaky, as she got down into a combat stance, bracing herself as her legs spread out lightly, her hands balling up into fist, and moving up towards her face. "I think I'm ready.." she muttered out weakly; with a resolved, albeit anxious, look.
Natsu would examine the woman opposite of him, a small smile on his face as he did. "Her stance… It's a lot like a professional boxer. That normally wouldn't do, not with her type of frame. I wonder if she's able to get away with that because of her ability to eat the air." Natsu thought to himself, as he stared at Wendy. Nodding his head, he lowered himself into his own stance, his legs spreading further apart, with his left behind his body and his right leg in front of it. His left hand balled into a fist next to his waist, with his right hand remaining open and outstretched, a bit in front of his head. "Alright, Wendy. Then let's do this." He said, with a smile, as the fight started.
Despite hearing Natsu signify the start of their fight, Chelia would stand off to the side with a perplexed expression - watching as Natsu did nothing except stare at Wendy, with a steady gaze. Chelia would even take note of multiple openings being presented in Natsu's form - something she was sure wasn't by accident. "Is he trying to bait her in?" Chelia thought, only for her thoughts to be interrupted by Wendy making the first move.
"Sky Dragons… Roar!" Wendy shouted, taking in a large inhale of air before firing off the torrent of roaring winds at Natsu. Right as the torrent of winds was about to collide with Natsu, a smirk would spread across his face, as he jumped forward, fire erupting from his feet as he used the initial force of the flames erupting to propel himself into the air, staring down at Wendy after having evaded her attack completely.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu shouted, as a large stream of fire erupted from his mouth, shooting towards Wendy with large amounts of speed; showing Natsu had no desire to pull his punches.
Wendy's eyes widened in surprise, watching as the torrent of flames rushed towards her hungrily. With quick reflexes, she decided to dash inwards, moving out of the way of Natsu's flames and under his falling form, as she readied a counter attack. "Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" She shouted, her hands being cloaked in elongated whips made of pure wind, as she flung them towards her pink-haired target, who was stuck in the air.
Seeing this coming towards him, Natsu quickly re-angled his body, his torso facing down towards Wendy, as a red magic circle with the head of a dragon appeared on his back. "Fire Dragon's Wingbeat!" Natsu shouted, as spectral dragon-like wings of fire formed from his back, large and imposing, before flapping forwards. While not strong enough to stop Wendy's attack, the force of the gust created by this flap was enough to momentarily halt it, resulting in Natsu shooting upwards further in the sky, just out of reach from Wendy's spell.
"Not bad Wendy! Trying to utilize my seemingly defenseless position!" Natsu shouted, as the wings vanished from his back, and he began falling down towards the Blue-Haired lady, feet first. "But you're wide open! Fire Dragon's Falling Meteor!" He shouted, as flames cloaked his feet and legs, spreading outwards to form a shell of fire that halfway enclosed his bottom half, as he rocketed down towards Wendy.
Not wanting to be caught in the shockwave of the attack, Wendy jumped backwards, watching as Natsu collided with the ground, causing a small explosion to erupt from the earth, sending heated dust and wind blowing in every which way.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu shouted, as a gout of flames shoot out of the dust cloud, capturing Wendy in its wake.
"Gah!" The blue-haired girl shouted, her arms being held up to try and stare off the spell as best as possible, without much success. After a few seconds, her fingers would spread apart, curling inwards a little as they began to circulate with wind - only for Wendy to quickly swipe her arms outwards, breaking the x shape she made and sending a gust of wind out, dispersing the assaulting flames in the process.
Natsu would examine his opponent, having gotten his first clean hit off on her. He'd notice the slight scratch marks and burns that littered her skin and dirtied outfit, as well as the labored breathing their short bout has left her in - but more importantly, he'd notice something else, something a bit more interesting. "Oh? That's a scary look you've got, Wendy." He remarked, with a whistle. True to his words, the aura emanating from Wendy was intense; her magical pressure leaking out into the surrounding environment, her pupils turning into slits like dragons, as the winds around her picked up heavily and the ground cracked, lightly. What he noticed next was thin wispy lines of wind entering the woman's mouth, as the sounds of slurping could be faintly heard - evident she was eating up the wind around them.
"Ile Vernier!" Wendy shouted, a blue magic circle forming above her, as her body began to glow with a very faint green outline. Afterwards, her right hand moved downwards, her fingers outstretched and coated in wind, as she charged another spell up. "Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang!" Wendy shouted, as she shot forwards.
"Enchantment magic? This should be int-!" Natsu's inner dialogue was quickly cut off, as he hastily raised his arms up, just to block a slash from Wendy's hand, his one sleeve being torn up lightly in the process. "Shit! She closed the distance in an instant!" Natsu thought to himself, as Wendy's hand moved downwards, having cleaved down his body.
Wasting no time, Wendy's hand would continue downwards, as she crouched down and placed both of her palms against the ground. In one swift motion, she'd find herself turned around, her back towards Natsu, as she pushed off the ground with the palms of her hands, her feet colliding with Natsu's stomach, and sending him flying up into the air.
"What the-!?" Natsu exclaimed, as he felt her feet colliding with his stomach. As he traveled through the air, he couldn't help but be slightly confused as to what just happened. "She kicked me - but not with that much force… so why am I being sent flying!?" Natsu internally screamed, only for him to see the faint wispy remnants left behind from Wendy's magic, on the soles of her feet. "So that's it… she hit me with condensed blasts of air, as she kicked me…" Natsu thought, as he reached the apex of his height, getting ready to retaliate.
"Fire Dragon's Ro-" Natsu started to chant, only to be cut off as Wendy fired her spell off.
"Sky Dragon's Wave Wind!" Wendy shouted, her arms twisting to one side of her body, as her body twists in proportion; only for her to quickly swing her arms back outwards, with added force from her body.
As a result, Natsu felt a large gust of wind colliding with his body from the top left, sending him flying into the ground at a diagonal before he could finish his spell properly.
Chelia would watch the battle unfold, with rapt attention. She knew Natsu would be the winner - it was evident from before the battle even started. Yet she also knew Wendy would put up more fight than Natsu gave her credit for; and that thought alone made the fight interesting, to her. "Maybe it was wrong not to warn you, Natsu… but when backed into a corner, Wendy completely shuts down rational thought, and lets her instincts take over." Chelia thought, with a smile, as she watched Natsu plummet into the ground.
As her opponent crashed to the ground, Wendy would suddenly lose the intimidating aura emanating from her person. Her magic would control itself a bit more, and her eyes would go back to their normal shape - as she stared at the dust cloud created from the plummeting Natsu. "N-natsu, I'm sorry!" She shouted, panic spreading across her face, as she started to slowly walk towards the source of the dust cloud. Though before she could get far, Wendy would find herself stuck in place, her legs unable to move, as she senses the magic pressure of Natsu's spike to incredible heights.
Stepping out of the dust cloud, Natsu stood there with a straight posture, as magic wafted off of him in waves. An orangish-red aura, much like but not quite the same as fire, would fluctuate around his body, as traces of a flame-like tattoo, same in color as his fire, would be seen going up his neck, and briefly residing on his lower cheek, on the left side of his body.
Feeling the intense aura wafting off of Natsu, and the levels of magic pressure cracking the ground around him, Carla quickly flew out into the arena, floating between Natsu and Wendy, as she stared wide-eyed at the pink-haired man. "You're going too far, you brute!" She shouted, her voice panicked as she looked back and saw the trembling form of Wendy, behind her.
Chelia would also step in, though more verbally than physically - shouting from the sidelines. "Carlas right, Natsu! This is a sparring match, not a full on battle!" She shouted, not having seen this expression on Natsu's face, before.
As Natsu was told to stand down - he would. His magic power receded quickly, and the flame-like tattoo that appeared on his body vanished into magic embers, while the aura around him also vanished. He'd let out a little sigh, as he looked towards Wendy and Carla. "Sorry 'bout that, Wendy. I didn't mean to scare you." Natsu said with a small smile, as he walked towards the shaking woman, slowly crouching down as he did. "You let your instincts take over… did you?" He asked calmly, maintaining a comfortable distance so as to not startle the girl, more.
"Y-yeah.." Wendy responded weakly, her eyes still wide, but the worry slowly going away, replaced by a more anxious expression. "It happens, sometimes… I just lose all thought, and act on instinct - like I'm not even controlling my body." She admitted, with a sheepish look.
Natsu nodded his head, with an understanding look. "That happened to me too, when I was younger. I just wanted to make sure that you wouldn't do anything stupid, while acting on your instincts. When it used to happen to me, I wouldn't even think of retreat or the difference in strength - just on how to win." He said softly, with a smile. "I just wanted to make sure that your instincts would tell you to run, when faced with insurmountable odds. Though I didn't release all my magic power - that would've been far too rough." Natsu said with a laugh.
Standing up, he'd back away from Wendy and Carla, giving them a small bow as he did. "I apologize for frightening you. I only had your well-being in mind, when doing so." He said, respectfully and almost formally.
Wendy would nod her head, as her legs stopped shaking, having gained full control over her body once more. "It's okay, Natsu.." Wendy said with a sigh, as she collapsed onto her butt, sitting down.
Carla simply huffed, turning away from Natsu, muttering something about him being a ruffian.
Chelia walked up to the two mages and cat, with an anxious smile, as she shook her head, having overheard Natsu. "While I understand your intentions…" Chelia started, before slamming her fist down onto the top of Natsu's head, coated in blackish-silvery wind. "You could've been nicer about it, you meanie!" Chelia shouted, with a puff of her cheeks.
"Gah-!" Natsu exclaimed, as he felt his body double over under the force of Chelia's punch, in a comical way. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He apologized, rubbing the newly forming bump on his head, in the process.
Chelia didn't hesitate to continue, grabbing the pink-haired man by his ear, and tugging his head down to her level, as she scolded him. "You're far too reckless! You knew it wasn't an even match, and you still showoff to that degree!?" Chelia chastised, and continued to do so, for a few minutes.
Wendy just observed the ordeal, watching as Chelia got overly defensive and motherly, in regards to Wendy - which caused a smile to form on her face, and a laugh to break out.
Hearing this, Chelia would stop her torment of the willing Natsu, instead sighing and letting out her own little giggle. "Oh well. No one was hurt - so I suppose it's fine." She relented, with a smile.
"Speak for yourself.." Natsu muttered under his breath, as he rubbed his aching cheek.
Thanks for reading! I know the ending of this chapter feels pretty sudden, but I was under a bit of a time crunch in writing it. With that said, I may not be able to post for a few days - simply due to real life things. I'll still try to write and post daily, but I can't guarantee anything. Once again, thank you for reading!