Edit: I've recently received a review that made me realize I've misunderstood the main rule of thumb about dialogue, and when to properly end paragraphs including it. Starting from chapter 5 and onwards, I'll be trying to update how dialogue paragraphs are handled in this story. If you all would like me to go through and edit the current chapters to follow the rule better, feel free to let me know! Otherwise, I'll leave them as is and chop it up as a rookie mistake.
Running up to the audience, Chelia stared wide-eyed at the scene, before her. So much was running through the woman's mind - but no thought was more present than as to why Kagura and Natsu were fighting each other, in the guilds training grounds. As the petite mage noticed Erza and Ultear, standing off to the side, she would jog over to the two, her face flushed from all the running she's done, in the last few minutes. "Erza! Master Ultear! What's going on!?" She called out, catching the attention of the aforementioned woman, as she came to a standstill, next to them.
"Ah, Chelia, there you are! I was wondering where you were." Ultear remarked, a simple smile on her face, as she looked back to the two mages squaring off with one another. "You missed the beginning, but this fight is just picking up steam." At that remark, Erza simply scoffed, her head turning to look at Ultear and Chelia, as she spoke.
"Nonsense, Master. Natsu has simply been lucky, so far. Kagura will have him down in no more than five minutes." Erza stated, as if it were fact.
"Hold on, hold on! No one's answered my question - what's going on? Why are they fighting?" Chelia asked, her worry easing a little, as she saw the lack of concern on her Master and guildmates faces.
"Oh! Silly me. You see, because of the incident earlier, Kagura and Erza were required to act as Natsu's maids, and do whatever he requested!" Ultear started, a giggle escaping her lips, as she said so. "I was going to put my foot down, if he requested something ludicrous - but he asked to fight, believe it or not." Ultear mused, as the sounds of sheathed swords clanged against one another, from the battlefield.
"Originally, he wanted to fight the two of us at once. However, we knew it would be overkill - so only Kagura is fighting him. I'll be fighting next, if Kagura loses. Not that he'll beat her." Erza responded, as a proud, almost smug, smile rested upon her face. "Kagura is one of the finest swordswomen I have ever met. She will not lose easily, to another swordsman." Upon hearing this, Chelia looked to the fighting figures, in surprise - not having expected this outcome, of all things. However, as she stared at the field, something did bug her.
"There's still something I don't understand - is it a magicless battle?" Chelia asked, tilting her head in confusion. Ultear and Erza would look at each other, with evident confusion, before Ultear was the first to speak up.
"Magicless? What do you mean? Natsu's already used his Re-Quip." Ultear said, with Erza following up not long later.
"Yes, and Kagura has no need to use her magic." She stated proudly, before her eyes narrowed a little in frustration - as Natsu managed to avoid another swing of her sword, and jabbed her with his blade in the woman's leg. "...Even if he's putting up more of a fight, than expected."
"No no, I mean his MAIN magic!" Chelia emphasized, only to notice the looks of confusion from the two mages. "Wait… You mean you don't know? He's a dragon slayer!" As soon as those words left Chelias mouth, both Erza and Ultear's eyes widened in shock, their heads quickly turning back to the battling mages, just in time to see a small smirk on Natsu's face, as him and Kagura broke off from a swordlock.
"Damn, Kagura. I've got to give it to you - you're one hell of an opponent." Natsu whistled, his stance becoming a lot more casual, as he rested his sword across his shoulder. "In terms of swordplay, you've got me beat. I'm using every ounce of my strength, just to keep up." He chuckled, causing Kagura to stare on in confusion. Though she knew not to let down her guard, as she held her blade up defensively.
"Your words flatter me, Natsu. I have to admit, you're far better than I thought you would've been. But something tells me you're not saying this, cause you plan to forfeit." Kagura replied, staring on as the pink haired man only laughed, before getting back into a combat stance - his legs widening apart, as his knees sunk down towards the ground, a telltale sign of a speed strike, Kagura noted.
"Yeah, you're right about that. I have no intention of forfeiting. Though I do plan to kick it up a notch, if you don't mind?" As Natsu said that, the grin on his face would ease up, as he stared on in dead concentration. The hand holding his sword would pull back, preparing a thrusting stance, as he stared Kagura dead on, his eyes unblinking. "Dragon Sword Form…" Natsu muttered, as he suddenly dashed forward, faster than Kagura or anyone else was expecting. As he reappeared in front of the swordswomen, her eyes would widen - taking note of the sheathed blade now cloaked in a dense coat of orangish-red flame. "Vorpal Strike!" Natsu yelled, as he jabbed the sword forward. Kagura would manage to block the blade, using the blunt end of her own blade, at the last second. However, this would prove to do little In mitigating the attack - as the flames that were cloaking the sword slithered up to the very tip of the sheathed blade, compressing into a single ball of firepower. As this orb of fire contacted Kagura's sword, the flames would exploded forward in a gout of fire - the pressure of the explosion knocking Kagura off of her feet, as she was sent flying in the torrent of flames.
Despite her usual stoicism, Kagura let out a low cry of pain, as her body skidded across the floor - before she was able to roll over, instead being crouched on one knee, with one hand on the floor for support. Using the back of her hand holding her sword, Kagura would wipe off the bit of saliva dripping from her chin, as she let out a few muffled coughs - her white and gold trimmed blazer dirtied, and slightly burnt, from the force of the attack - as bruises and scratch marks are evident upon her face, from the force of the strike. With labored sighs, she stands back up - holding her blade in a defensive stance, once more. "To think you were.. Holding back on me, all along… I feel as if…I should be insulted…" Kagura muttered, between her labored panting. "Damnit, Kagura…! Are you really so weak that a single unexpected strike would put you under!?" Kagura thought, as she berated herself internally. Though she'd be brought out of her inner monologue, as she noticed the expression on Natsu's face shift - no longer looking so serious, as he let out a laugh.
"Hah! Damn, would you look at that? You're even tougher than I first thought, Kagura! Man, I'm glad I challenged you!" Natsu laughed, before he dashed at Kagura once more, bringing his sword down as the purple-haired woman raised her own sword upwards, deftly blocking the blade in the process. "Show me what else you can do, Kagura!" Natsu encouraged, as he broke off from the blade lock, sending slash after slash at the woman, as she blocked each one.
"...Heh." Kagura let out a small laugh, almost silent, as a smile started to spread across her face. "Didn't think you'd bring me out of my doubts, Natsu." Kagura thought, as she sent a jab towards her opponent - who twisted his body, out of the way. Expecting this, Kagura would turn her blade, immediately slashing inwards, with hopes of bashing the sword against Natsu's side…only for the pinkette to bring his own blade down, entering a standstill, once again. Looking her opponent dead on, Kagura's smile would grow, just a little wider. "Got you."
"Huh?" Was all Natsu could say, before he felt the woman's foot colliding with his back/side, sending him skidding across the floor, with a grunt of pain. "Damn, that wa-" his train of thought was quickly silenced, as Kagura's blade found its way to Natsu's leg, a missed jab turning into a sweep which knocked Natsu on his ass. Not wanting to get the pink haired man any moment to breathe, Kagura grasped the handle of her blade with both hands, pointing it downwards as she thrusted the sword downwards, as if she were trying to bury the sheathed sword into the ground. Not having anytime to react, Natsu would raise his sheathed blade, stopping Kagura's sword with the flat side of his own sword, as he held both the handle, and his own sheathed blade, trying to keep up the force and keep Kagura off of him. "Don't fuck with you, point taken." Natsu muttered through clenched teeth, his smile still present - as he strained his blade against Kaguras.
"Still smiling, huh? Here, let me wipe that smirk right off your face." Kagura remarked, with her own smirk, as her magical energy started to intensify. "Gravity Magic: Earth!" Kagura chants, as a magic circle forms above the two. Natsu, only having enough time for his eyes to widen in recognition, before feeling an overwhelming amount of gravity crash down onto the two mages - causing the ground to shake and crack, as dust is kicked up from the force of their bodies sinking into the floor - obscuring the two mages, as the spectators were left to wonder the outcome.
"Woah, Kagura used her gravity magic!"
"I knew she'd win!"
"Natsu put up a good fight, though!"
"For real. That was one hot fire spell!"
"Hmph. I told you, Kagura would win. She got hit a bit more than I would've thought - but I never doubted her victory." Erza stated, that same proud smile from before resting in her lips. Ultear would simply stare wide-eyed, before a soft smile spread across her face.
"My my. I never thought Kagura would give it her all… Oh Natsu, you make things so fun~!" Ultear giggled into her hand, causing Chelia to sweatdrop a little, at her master's remarks. Though she, alongside everyone else, would soon notice the temperature of the air around them - which was heating up at a rapid pace.
"Don't think I'm done quite yet!" Natsu shouted, through grit teeth, as the dust cleared - showing the two of them still stuck in the same struggle, despite the effects of Kagura's gravity. A collective gasp rang throughout the audience, as they all stared on in shock - watching as both Kagura and Natsu struggled under the intense weight of the gravity, neither of them relenting.
"He's still up!?"
"How's he holding her back!?"
"WOOOO, LET'S GO NATSU" Chelia shouted out the last statement, a wide smile on her face as she watched the dragon slayer keep up the pressure. Though that smile quickly turned into a much more sheepish grin, as Chelia's face lit up - realizing the little outburst she just had, in front of her guild. Erza's eyes would also widen, overcome by pure shock at Natsu still holding her fellow Swordswomen, and adopted sister, at bay.
"There there, Erza. It seems you may get into a battle with him, yet." Ultear jokes, her hand landing on the armored shoulder pad of the scarlet-haired woman. Despite the smile on her face, Ultear's eyes would show a completely different story; the surprise evident, as she looked at the scene before her.
"Tch. Just give up, Natsu!" Kagura called out, as the magic circle above the two pulsed out an even stronger wave of gravity, causing the duo to sink deeper into the ground.
"Not gonna happen, Kagura!" As Natsu shouted back, his magic power continued to rise - the air around the two, and audience even, heating up even further. "Fire Dragons Scorching Furnace!" Natsu shouted, as his body would suddenly light on fire. The fire would then spread outwards, building up into a brilliant flame encompassing both him and Kagura, as the heat grew to near unbearable levels - causing many of the onlookers to shield their eyes, out of instinct and fear, from the fire. "I've developed this spell… exactly for situations… like this…!" Natsu shouted out, through bated breath, as he and Kagura stood, or more so laid, in their standstill, of fire and gravity magic.
Erza, being one of the few who could keep looking at the raging inferno in front of her, would merely stare in shock. Never in her wildest dreams would she imagine a scenario where Kagura lost this fight. "Kagura… there's no way she's going to lose - right?" Erza thought, as she watched the fire continue to grow even larger and hotter. Ultear, noticing the look of shock on Erza's face, would smile gently - before looking back at the battle before them.
"I…" Kagura muttered, her teeth clenched due to the gravity of her own magic, and the intense heat from Natsu's flames. "I… I forfeit." As those words left Kagura's lips, it was like the sudden pressure building up vanished - just like that. Within a second, the gravity around the two mages would revert back to normal, as Natsu's flames vanished out instantly - the temperature slowly cooling down, despite the lingering effects of Natsu's spell.
With wide eyes, the training grounds would be left silent, not even the sound of wind blowing past being heard. Then, like a damn breaking, the audience would erupt in applause; cheering for both Kagura and Natsu, as they watched the spectacle. "The winner of round one, between Natsu Dragneel and Kagura Mikazuchi, is Natsu Dragneel!" Ultear shouted, only to be met by another round of applause from the audience. "He actually bested Kagura?" Ultear thought, a small smirk forming on her lips. "Looks like there's more to Natsu than meets the eye…" the black haired woman mused.
Standing up from atop Natsu, Kagura would look over her body and clothing, in confusion. She ached, from head to toe, and her body felt like it was scorched beyond oblivion - but her clothes only had minor scorch marks, and her skin, while bruised and scratched, suffered no burns.
"It's a property of my fire." Natsu remarked, as he stood up from under the swordswomen, cracking his neck and shoulder, with a satisfying pop. "Ahhh that's the spot." He groaned in satisfaction, before reaching his hand out, towards Kagura. Seeing this gesture, Kagura smiled softly as she reached her own hand out - grasping his palm with her own, and shaking Natsu's hand.
"A property of your fire?" Kagura asked, after breaking the handshake.
"Yeah. I have control over what it burns - well, to a degree. It's not perfect control, quite yet, but it gets the job done. It takes a lot of focus, so I usually don't bother unless it's in niche situations, like this. Didn't want to accidentally burn your clothing or skin off, y'know?" Natsu chuckled, as he sheepishly scratched his head.
"Mm, I see. You were a worthy opponent, Natsu." Kagura smiled.
"Right back at you, Kagura! Haven't had to use that move in a while." Natsu laughed, as Chelia ran up to the duo.
"That was such a good fight!" Chelia beamed, as she hopped up and down on the soles of her feet. "That last move you did was insane, Kagura! Anyone else surely would have crumbled!" Natsu laughed, at Chelia's childlike gushing, as he nodded his head in agreement.
"Chelia's right, Kagura. The gravity was one thing - but you pushing against me, while I was down? Not many gravity mages are ballsy enough to stand in their own gravity zones." Natsu remarked, causing the swordswomen to blush lightly as his compliment.
"Thank you for your kind words, Natsu, Chelia." Kagura responded, her smile then turning into a light frown. "However it would appear that it failed. I should have figured you'd have a countermeasure for gravity magic." Kagura said, addressing Natsu.
"Well, I'm an independent mage - so I've gotta be prepared. I developed that one after a battle where I was temporarily paralyzed." Natsu said, as he crossed his arms. "It's a very basic spell, honestly. I just release flames out of my entire body - the only dangerous part is how potent my fire is, I suppose. Though if it was just the gravity, I would've been able to get out without the spell, I imagine. You being on top of me prevented that, though." Natsu smiled, as Kagura and Chelia looked at him with surprise, from Kagura, and admiration from Chelia.
"Anyways!" Natsu said, before turning from the two mages in front of him, and looking towards Erza and Ultear, who were both on the side, still. "Hey, Erza. Still up for our fight?" He asked, a smirk on his face - as Erza narrowed her eyes, at him.
"Woah, woah, don't you think you should take some time to rest, Natsu?" Ultear called back, a look of concern on her face.
"Masters right! You just finished your fight with Kagura - no way you can keep going." Chelia voiced her own concerns.
"Nah, I'm good. Maybe if Kagura and I were actually enemies, I'd probably need to rest - but after a friendly sparring match? I'm ready to tussle with Erza." Natsu remarked, earning incredulous looks from the audience. Kagura, however, would stare at him with an emotionless expression, giving him a once over.
"He's not bluffing… he's scratched up a little, sure… but he's really good to go." Kagura thought, as she closed her eyes. After a few moments, she'd open them back up and call out to Erza. "Onee-sama! Don't underestimate him." After saying this, Kagura would walk off towards where Ultear and Erza were standing, gesturing for Chelia to follow. "Come, Chelia. Let's clear the way for the combatants." With a reluctant nod, Chelia would follow, walking with Kagura out of the Arena. Seeing this, Erza would walk forwards, wearing her standard Heartkreuz armor, the same as when she first met Natsu. As she passed Kagura, she'd hear her adopted sister whispering into her ear, just barely audible. "I'm sorry I could not win, Onee-sama."
"..." Erza would only shake her head, continuing forwards before she was standing across from Natsu, with about a ten foot gap. "Very well, Natsu. Just don't come crying when you get hurt, from overestimating yourself." As Erza said this, her body would be overtaken by a bright golden glow - only to die down, after about a second. No longer in her same armor as before. "Re-Quip! Flame Empress Armor!" Erza would shout, as she stood in her new armor. The new armor is predominantly dark red in color, but also has orange and black parts, with the orange parts being shaped like flames and the other parts being reminiscent of dragon's limbs. The breastplate lacks pauldrons, revealing Erza's shoulders, and extends down to cover her groin, revealing her legs and, in a way, being reminiscent of a one piece swimming suit, with an orange part covering her breasts and another one circling her waist like a belt. The black parts are mostly decorative, with the exception of the one covering her groin. The breastplate also possesses a pair of Dragon-like wings attached to it. The gauntlets sport prominent orange decorations, along with small claw-like protrusions on the hands. The greaves are shaped like Dragon's claws which possess orange-colored knee guards and black parts which extend up from the knees to the upper part of the thighs.
"Woah, Erza's getting serious!"
"Yeah, his fire magic won't do anything now!"
Natsu would hear the audience murmuring amongst themselves, especially the part about his fire magic not being able to do anything. With a curious expression, Natsu would speak up. "Flame Empress, huh? I'm assuming that's to protect against my fire?" Hearing this, Erza would only nod her head, as she readied her longsword - which had a dark red blade, the hilt and pommel matching Erza's armor, perfectly.
"This armor reduces the destructive power of fire based magic by 50%" Erza stated, as a small smile spread on her face. "Still wanna fight?" She asked, a hint of a teasing tone, to her voice.
Natsu just groaned, lowering his knees as he got into his own stance, before smirking. "Damn right I'm sure." Natsu said.
Seeing that the two were ready, Ultear would nod her head, before shouting. "The second match, between Natsu Dragneel and Erza Scarlet, will now begin! Fight!"
Wasting no time, the two mages would quickly launch towards each other, colliding in the middle as their respective swords clashed against one enough. Both narrowing their eyes, they'd hold the position, testing each other's strength, before they both jumped back - right back to their original starting positions. Bringing his sword to his side, Natsu's thumb would trace over the guard of his blade, and his sheath, as he stared his opponent down. "Dragon Sword Form…" then, with a blindingly quick slash of his blade, he'd send a crimson arc of fire towards Erza, before sheathing his blade once more. "Flaming Cleaver!" The arc of flames quickly bashed into Erza, creating a miniature explosion of flames and dust from the surrounding ground, obscuring Natsu's vision of his opponent. Suddenly, Natsu eyes would widen, as Erza came face to face with him, her blade narrowly missing the pink-haired mage, as she brought it down in a diagonal slash - though she did manage to catch Natsu with her pommel, as she jabbed it into his shoulder. Not being one to let up on an opportunity, Natsu quickly grabbed Erza's hand, retaliating with a sudden bash of his forehead against hers. Not letting go, Natsu's knee quickly raised up and into his opponent's stomach, letting go of her wrist as Erza was sent reeling backwards, saliva shooting out of her mouth as a result.
"Well I'll be. That armor might be a bit of an issue… you just ate my flaming Cleaver, like it was nothing." Natsu remarked, a smile on his face, as he prepared for the second bout between him and Erza.
"And it appears you're not fazed in the slightest, by this. Tell me, do you have a way to overcome my armor?" Erza asked, as she raised her blade once more.
"As a matter of fact, I do." Natsu said, his smirk growing, as he lowered back down into a quickdraw stance, once again. Dashing forwards, he'd quickly close the distance between the two, bringing his sword up from his bottom left, as his body twisted to accommodate the wide angle of his slash. Erza, unfazed by this attack, simply raised her blade, ready to block the slash. Then, right as his blade was meant to collide with Erza's, a sudden golden light would engulf his hand, causing the blade to vanish into thin air, and his own arm to swing to the side, without interference. "The plan is to just hit you, really hard!" Natsu grinned, as Erza's eyes widened. Using the motion of his arm shooting to the side, Natsu's body would turn - revealing his left fist cloaked in orangish-red flames, as it shot right towards Erza's face. "Fire Dragons Iron Fist!" Natsu shouted, as his fist collided with Erza's face, catching her off-guard and sending her flying.
"Gah-!" Erza coughed, regaining her balance, only to be met with a series of punches and kicks, from the dragon slayer. "Dammit! He's purposely aiming for any part of exposed skin!" Erza thought, as Natsu elbowed her in the stomach, before twisting his body and bringing his foot down, onto elbow.
"Fire Dragons Talon!" He shouted, before delivering a spin kick - knocking Erza's sword out of her hands, in the process. Finally, to end his barrage of the woman, Natsu would cup his hands in front of his mouth, forming a tunnel, as a stream of white hot flames shot from his mouth. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" He shouted, the flames engulfing Erza, and sending her flying away from the force of the impact alone. As Erza came skidding to a halt, and the smoke clouds parted, she would be seen panting, her body bruised and battered - but otherwise fine. Standing up from her kneeled position, Erza would notice her sword kicked off to the side, before sighing.
"If damage negation won't work - then I'll just not let you hit me." Erza said, as a golden light began to overtake her, again. "Re-Quip! Flight Armor!" As those words left Erza's mouth, she'd be seen in another set of armor, once again. This time, she'd have a pair of dark blue thigh highs going up her legs, before transitioning into a pair of black short shorts, with a greenish-yellow half skirt, going down one side of her body. Her top would consist of a cheetah print, with one arm adorned by a cheetah print pauldron, and the other only having a dark blue shoulder less sleeve - the outfit finished with a pair of Cheetah Ears, adorning her head. At the same time, Erza would have two Rapier-esq blades, holding one in each hand. Seeing this, Natsu would raise and eyebrow, intrigued by the new armor set. However, before he could ask any questions, he'd be met with a stinging sensation down his left side, looking down to see as his top was slashed through, with a line of crimson along his torso. Eyes widening, he'd suddenly feel three more shallow cuts appear along his body, before the onslaught stopped. Looking back up, he'd see Erza, standing right in front of him. "Fire Dragon's Iron Punch!" He shouted, as his fist collided with Erza's face - only for him to be surprised as his hand went right through her, and the image vanished before his eyes. "Fuck, an afterimage!?" Natsu realized, only to feel three more slashes against his back, before he was able to swing his arm in a wide hook - not making contact with anything.
"What? Can't keep up?" Erza mocked, from all around Natsu, as afterimages of the redhead would appear all around him, thin slashes being left on his body at random intervals, as Natsu turned and twisted his body with no success, not being able to pin down Erza, at the intense speeds she was traveling.
"Tch. Doesn't matter if I can't see you, I'll still take you down!" Natsu's right hand would clenched tightly, as flames began to form around his fist. Unlike before, however, the flames would condense with each passing second, until his hand was barely covered completely, as he raised his shoulder upwards, slamming his fist down onto the ground, in a devastating punch. "Fire Dragons Burnout!" Natsu shouted, as the ground beneath him cracked and shattered, spider webbing out in a radius of 15 or so feet, completely shattering the ground into spiky precipices. The fire that had engulfed his hand would also shoot outwards, in a full 360 degree angle shockwave, that Erza managed to avoid. However, due to the ground being so rocky and uneven, the redhead would halt in her movements for a few seconds - giving Natsu just enough time to follow-up with a pinch to her stomach. "Fire Dragons Iron Fist!" He shouted once more, as his flaming fist collided with Erza's stomach, sending her flying back and towards the crowd, as her body skidded to a halt along the ground, unconscious. This resulted in a cheer from the audience, once again, as everyone stared on in disbelief.
"He - he won… Natsu won!" Chelia shouted, a look of pure amazement on her face, as Kagura and Ultear stared on in disbelief.
"Not only did he beat me - but then Onee-sama." Kagura said, with wide eyes, before she rushed over to Erza's side. After looking over the unconscious mage, Kagura would sigh in relief, as she looked up. "Onee-sama is fine - just unconscious. Unbelievable.." Kagura muttered
Ultear was just as shocked, as she walked out onto the jagged field, walking up to the bruised and battered dragon slayer. "My my… You actually bested two of my strongest mages, back to back… color me impressed, Natsu." Ultear said, a smile on her face. Hearing this, Natsu would look towards the approaching woman, a smile forming as he wanted for air, before he felt his knees begin shaking.
"Oh fuck…" Natsu thought, as his knees gave way under his weight, and his body fell face first, with his vision blackening - the last thing he saw being Ultear's face, contorting into a look of worry, as he collapsed on the floor.
AND THERE'S CHAPTER FOUR! I hope you all enjoyed this one, as I've had a blast writing it! I'm sorry if the fights weren't as good as some of you were hoping, or were shorter than you would've liked. Like I said in the first chapter, i've never done fight scenes before, so I don't know how to handle them too well, haha. But I did have a blast writing this one! Thanks for everyone who's favorited, followed, or reviewed the story - it really means a lot to me! I know I don't get anything beneficial from favorites or follows or reviews, like a YouTuber might get from people like, commenting, and subscribing - but it does help motivate me to keep writing the story. So I really do appreciate every single one of you, even if there's barely a enough to get me in the double digits! Next chapter will probably be a lot calmer, Until next time!