Hey-ooo! Welcome back to Heart Fire.
Yes, this is a day late. However, it is only cause I got so invested in my writing and I personally think that I believe that is one of my favourite chapters I have ever written... For any story. Yep, I like it that much.
Also, before we start I just want to say thank you for over 100 followers... Just knowing that I can write that about a pairing that not many people like makes me smile so... thank you.
Now then, reviews!
Guest: Compared to cannon, Natsu is about Mystogen level/above Mystogen so... Above Laxus and a bit below Gildarts but he will get far stronger as it goes along. Oh yeah, and that isn't including what happens in this chapter (you'll see what I mean soon).
Maiden Warrior / StarMaidenWarrior: Good to be back. Also, glad to know that I made the impression good and all that. And I read your story, its good. I'll probably post a review on it to show my praise in more detail soon. Aaand good to know the backstory of these characters, I hope you like what I am doing with the characters... Are the actual people alright with me writing them like this? Uh... I dunno...
Guest: I like writing Etherious Natsu as just a Natsu's darker feelings embodied so... Sort of switching between the two. And he just sort of has that embodied into him anyway and will always feel that no matter what.
Guest: They will be happy... I guess? Well, Larcarde hates Natsu so that's all good. And you can't forget Mavis (Honestly, how the fuck is Larcarde a thing... Actually I have a theory about that. I think that he might be based on Natsu's Etherious but with Mavis' DNA added to it to give him the light powers and that is why he smells like Natsu according to Sting. I dunno though)
AND NOW ONTO CHAPTER 10! WHOO-HOO!
"Gajeel… Can you calm the fuck down, please?"
To be honest, Natsu really had no clue how to deal with a rogue, angry, lusty Dragon-Slayer so he was just sort of winging it. During his walk over here, he had heard a few growls and a few dark words muttered in a low tone that his ears could only pick up slightly before disappearing back into the silent void of nothingness. Then, when he had finally reached the tower, he didn't hesitate to jump up to the open… window? Um, window and what was he presented with when he got inside.
Gajeel Redfox, looking pissed and hormonal, with his famous red eyes now gone, choosing instead to turn a sinister gold colour, sitting crouched in the corner of the room with a trapped Levy McGarden cradled in his arms.
He had tried to walk towards the two, but as soon as he appeared on the make-shift balcony, having phased through the harmless steel quite easily which reduced it to nothing but a puddle of molten iron that was slowly dripping like a fiery waterfall down the tower, Gajeel's possessive stare was on him and him alone. And when he tried to take even a single step towards the two, Gajeel suddenly leapt up to his feet with a harsh growl, Levy now left in the corner to watch on in shock.
"Miiiine."
"No, no Gajeel, that isn't how people work." Natsu chided, trying to put some humour into the situation, despite him knowing that he has definitely said similar things about Lisanna before… Damn, Dragon Slayers were massive dicks. Shaking his head, Natsu could only watch on as Gajeel stood before Levy in a crouched position, his mind gone completely savage and protective.
"Miiiiiiiine."
A small snarl came after the words this time, causing Levy to lean back slightly in fear. However, she steeled herself before going onto all fours and began to slowly make her way towards him.
"G-Gajeel, please just calm down. Natsu isn't trying to take me, he is- "
As soon as she uttered his name, Natsu saw Gajeel's face twist and contort into that of pure unbridled rage. He glared intently at the pinkette, his eyes narrowed into almost invisible slits, with only the golden glow of his pupils leaking out onto the rest of his face. His back also became hunched and he too was now on all fours, his right arm reared back in a sort of fist.
This was when Natsu realised that he wasn't going to be talking his way out of this situation. Sighing, he turned to Levy, locking eyes with the girl. The actions of the two caused Gajeel to growl and curse and mumble even more, which only increased as the Dragon Slayer began to speak.
"Levy? Levy, listen to me. Now the rest of the Guild are down at Phantom- "
"Miiiiiiiiiiiiine."
"-Lord's Guild and are currently battling the memebers. From a quick survey of the area, you can probably get out through the stairs to the left of- "
"Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine."
"-here. Look, Gajeel's control over the metal is weakening and now you can walk on free, got it?" Natsu finished with a smile, his attention completely on the girl and not the deranged Dragon Slayer.
"A-Aren't you coming too?" Levy asked, twisting her head to see that the iron bars that were baring her inside the room were now looking flimsier and far less durable.
"Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine."
He chuckled.
"Nah, I'm taking a different way down." He subtly looked over to Gajeel, to see him leaning back. "So… I'll see you in a b- "
"MINE!"
Smirking, Natsu put himself in a defensive position and watched in glee as Gajeel kicked off of the wall behind him and leapt at him with intense speed and aggressive behind his attack. As he neared Natsu, he ducked and wrapped his arms around Natsu waist with his head planted far into the pinkette's stomach. The impact caused the two to careen off the tower, Levy calling out to them above.
As they careened and sliced through the sky, Natsu could feel Gajeel gripping onto his clothes to try and keep him in one position. While the world blurred and sped past them, the Dragon Slayers duelled and fought for attention with the brawl ending when Natsu snarled and spun around Gajeel's form before he forced both of his feet down into the Iron Slayer's back. With the push and amount of force and power behind Natsu's attack, Gajeel was just sent to the earth in a fierce and brutal show of power.
In a sickening crash, the second Slayer the earth with a barrage of smoke and dust to completely cover the skies as Natsu flew over him and landed with a crouch a few metres before the man. The two Slayer's waited a while before Natsu stood to full attention with Gajeel slowly rising back to his feet. He smirked.
"You know Gajeel… I have a mate, I love her with the whole of my being and I would never try to abandon her; not for you, not for my Guild… not even the world. So just know that I would never try to steal a mate from another Dragon Slayer because that would disrespect the Dragon Code, the Slayer himself… and my own mate."
Sighing, Natsu spun around, dropping his coat to the floor to leave his upper half bare; his muscles tensed and his few scars shone proudly. He cracked his knuckles and pushed his thumb to his canines, wiping it across them until blood was drawn. Then, his eyes still on Gajeel's fallen form, he began to drawn swirls and different tribal looking symbols on his free skin, the dark crimson staining the flesh with markings. He applied a bit to his face, before summoning a bout of a flames in his hands to cauterise the wound. When he looked up, he saw that Gajeel was doing the same, his eyes returning to their rich red for a brief few seconds as they locked with Natsu. After he finished, the two stood silent and still for a few seconds, with only their eyes writing the contract of their duel.
This was to be a duel between Dragon Slayers; an official duel, with official rules. Whoever lost was to bear the scars and the Mark of Battle depicted in the Dragon Code without complaint for if they did, it would mean failure and betrayal of the Code. With a sigh, Natsu gave off one final sentiment.
"But you have driven me to this… I am sorry."
Then gold began to corrode Natsu's vision.
Now the battle had begun.
Locking his form in a similar position as Gajeel had done in the tower, Natsu got down into a semi-four legged stances but with his right arm raised in battle and his body swaying slightly to the right. Gajeel mirrored this. Then, the two let out deafening roars that could make the Dragons themselves jealous. They were loud and aggressive, acts of violent distribution that showcased that a battle was about to be done. In the distance, they were joined by a third roar, although it was much younger and much less angry; more supportive then battle hungry like Natsu and Gajeel's.
And then with no hesitation, they sprinted at each other.
Behind them, the figures of their Fathers flowed into their very beings as the two Slayer ran and ran towards each other, fire and steel flickering and folding into their cores. They kicked and clawed at the sands below them, tearing and ripping at the fickle substance until none of it could stand in their way; Natsu even turned the substance to glass beneath his form. Then, with a jump, they both leapt at each other with their firsts reared back; it was almost as if Igneel and Metalicana were embodying their children, their phantom forms lingering around the two roaring Dragon Slayer.
When the two hits connected, a small soundwave was sent out as the two were thrown back by the parallel force before Natsu leapt forward once more, recovering far faster than his accomplice. This time, the fires of war and the very lifeblood of the Dragon race breathed life into his strife as a more ragged and war hungry version of his Dragon Ascension form coated his body. The snout was more bashed in and looked to be more ripped apart, as were the wings and tail, all appearing more ragged and worn then their normal form, but it only added to the intimidation that Natsu felt. On his chest, his blood appeared to be glowing with a fiery crimson coloration that stood out against the orange of the fire.
Springing forward, Natsu gave Gajeel no time to recover as he lashed out at the man's head with a rather sharp elbow laced with fire that sent the teen flying across the battlefield with a singeing crunch. Not even letting his land, Natsu ducked under his falling body to deliver a fierce upper cut that sent the Iron Dragon even further into the air before he too leapt up and wrapped his fiery jaws around Gajeel's neck before throwing him violently at the rocky earth. Cuts and welts were now appearing on the Slayer's body as he tried to rush Natsu with a claw made of solid iron but Natsu was faster, ducking under the arm before grabbing it and bring his knee up to the exposed joint which resulted in a bone-shattering crunch.
Gajeel roared in pure agony.
Natsu wasn't done.
Bouncing over Gajeel's back, Natsu tripped the man up by swinging at him with his legs before he grabbed both appendages with two flaming claws and with a face full of fury, slammed the man down onto the ground several times. Letting his arms rest for a minute, he noticed through a hazy, battle fuelled tint that Gajeel was trying to cover his form in a metal substance. He had done this a few time throughout the fight but Natsu was just too quick. Growling at his attempted defence, Natsu quickly rose a foot and slammed it down onto the man's skull, crushing it to the floor. Then, without any breaks, he violently ripped him from his new rocky home by his feet and began to spin and swirl his foe around by his feet. After a few rotations, Natsu let go and Gajeel went soaring into the skies… Directly towards the Guild hall.
Pausing to watch the man fly, Natsu panted lightly and cracked his joints before he tore his scarf off of his neck and threw it to join his cloak. Then he followed the soaring Black Steel of Phantom Lord…
He was going to melt him into a puddle of silver.
In the Phantom Lord Guild hall, all fighting had seized.
Now, everyone had their attention locked onto one Alexander Yuki. His form was frozen and his eyes wide as he looked down shocked at the floor. A few seconds previously, the entire rowdy atmosphere of the fighting had been shattered just after it had been heightened (Jose and Makarov had broken through the ceiling in a small scrap and now were fighting with the rest of them) when Alex suddenly locked up before his tiny form let out a fierce roar that shook the whole Guild along with his eyes becoming golden for just a few seconds. Then both stopped. But now, he had everyone looking at him as he went through the situation in his head.
As Erza approached him, she could quietly hear him muttering.
"Not good… Not good…"
As she got closer, she began to speak.
"Alex? What happen- "
She was going to continue but a sudden wave of energy and pure magic power washed over the whole Guild, both of them. It was full of such rage and fury that it shook them all to their cores. Even more powerful beings like Jose and Makarov were surprised by the sheer amount of anger behind that blast. Alex, however, just looked more scared.
"Oh shit… Oh fuck…"
Erza shook herself out of her stupor to turn back to the young boy, the 14-year-old now stepping back from a group of Phantom Lord goons that he was previously attacking.
"Alex, what are you doing? What's going on?"
This time it was Lisanna who walked up to him, with Natsu's mate realising that it was probably a Dragon Slayer problem. As soon as it was Lisanna who spoke to him, his eyes lit up and his body shuddered with fear.
"L-Lisanna we need to move everyone; now!" He suddenly shouted, dragging himself back and beckoning the two female Guild Mates to follow him.
"But why Alex? Why do we need to move?" Lisanna asked, but she didn't stop moving. Instead, her mind began to work and shift to figure out what was going on with the child.
"Because Natsu an- "
And then the sky collapsed inwards as the ceiling broke.
Everyone turned up and looked up with shock and surprise as a body fell through the wooden ceiling and collided painfully with the floor-boards. Once again, the Guilds relapsed into silence. Someone tried to speak, with Phantom Lord realising that the figure was Gajeel, the Iron Dragon Slayer covered in his traditional iron armour but still with significant welts and cuts showing through, but then Alex shouted out before them.
"MOVE!"
Not 2 seconds after he spoke, the whole skyline fell through in a garage of fire and rage as Natsu shot through the ceiling with anger and intensity. And Lisanna, Erza and Mira picked up on that immediately.
"Natsu!"
However, he ignored them, deciding instead to let out a harsh roar that ripped from his throat with the same amount of intensity and fury that he had when coming into the building. It sounded so mature, so dangerous and so deadly that it dwarfed and decimated any fear that Alex's own roar put into the crowd. Then, in an instant, Gajeel responded back with his own, matching Natsu's in intensity and fury but no in pure unbridled power. No one decided to step forward but all of those close to Natsu had eyes wide in shock as they looked upon his body.
It was bare and covered in blood that was moved and integrated into a delicate pattern of swirls and symbols that left nothing to the imagination and let Natsu's body free to the elements. Also, his precious scarf that he only gave to Lisanna, Happy or Mira was not present and so let his neck free. But the most intimidating and drastic change were his eyes; gone were his pure and honest onyx orbs and now were intimidating and dangerous golden pools of anger and fury. Honestly; it was scaring them.
Then, before anyone could do anything, he landed and in an instant, he leapt towards Gajeel at such speeds that it would make Jet jealous. Gajeel also leapt forward but Natsu was much faster and ducked under Gajeel's attempted punch and over his swinging legs to deliver a swift swinging blow to his face with his elbow. The result was a sick crunch of Gajeel's scales cracking slightly and it caused many people to step back at the intensity. Natsu wasn't finished. As Gajeel swayed to the left from his hit, the pinkette skid across the floor and jumped up to grab the other side of the Iron Slayer's face and smash it into his knee with the same sickening crash. All around the room, it echoed from wall to wall along with Gajeel's pained cries and it made those who knew Natsu recoil at his brutality; usually he used his magic to deal minor burning damage without the much needed brutality that came from his punches but now he was using minimal amounts of magic and a lot of brute strength to make up for it. Many people expected a look of fury and a gargled cry from Natsu but when they looked, they saw a look of pure nothingness, void of any remorse….
This… This wasn't Natsu.
Mira was one of these who watched on with wide eyes. She sorts of expected this from someone like Laxus or a Phantom Lord mage but Natsu? The cute, little Natsu who got with her little sister and the same Natsu who always had a smile on his face? That Natsu was doing all of this damage? She had to stop him. And she was about to, activating her magic slightly before taking a step forward but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Turning back, her heart broke as she saw the tearful face of Lisanna, her head shaking.
"Don't… He's not himself… He's fighting another Dragon Slayer so… He's just lost in the fighting..." Looking up, her sapphire eyes locked with Natsu's form and with another set of tears, she had to look away. This was what it was to be a Dragon Slayer… especially a Dragon Slayer who was extremely protective of his friends. Gazing at her sister, Mira stopped walking and embraced her sister in a warm hug as she buried her head into her hair, whispering sweet nothings into her ear.
'Hurry up Natsu… Stop this already...'
Meanwhile, back with Natsu he was looking upon Gajeel's shaky form with a narrowed gaze before he let out another roar that shook the Heavens before he kicked him into the nearest wall at an angle, making the Iron Dragon Slayer turn and swirl in the air until he hit the wall. Once again, he left no room for recovery as he charged forward and with a clawed hand, he grabbed the back of Gajeel's head and began to rapidly smash and drag his face into the already dented wall, leaving an imprint of violence into the stricture as he hit and struck his fellow Slayer into it. It was violence, it was anger… It was brutality.
Gliding his hand over Gajeel's skull, he ended up at his upper jaw and with immense force and a show of strength, he gripped at the bone and threw his whole body back by the small piece of his skull. And Gajeel flew. Spitting out a glob of sparks, Natsu turned and slowly stalked his way towards his newly fallen foe.
All around the room, people watched on in horror as Natsu continued his assault on the weakened Dragon Slayer; he was now so weak that his armour was no longer holding up and evident cracks were beginning to appear from the repeated damage. Two of these people, were the Guild Masters except one was in glee while the other in shock.
"Wow… Good job raising this one, Makarov; he's a real monster." Jose sniggered, glaring at the old man as he watched his child fight on in silence, only able to utter his child's name as he watched his continue his assault.
"Natsu…"
Jose laughed.
"This is how a mage is meant to act in battle; ruthless, aggressive, brutal! He is the perfect bat- "Jose froze up as he locked eyes with the moving Dragon Slayer. As soon as he locked his gaze with the golden pools that were the Fire Dragon Slayer's eyes, he felt fear and intimidation that he had never previously felt… This boy's anger was leaking out of his in waves that threatened to burn his very soul so to preserve his safety, he shut up… But his sinister smirk remained.
Speaking of heat, Natsu's very presence was lighting the room up in a sweltering heat that even managed to incapacitate some of the weaker mages in the room. Others were sweating buckets as the room around them melted from the intensity and the path that Natsu walked was scorched black with ash.
Finally, Natsu made it to his target, Gajeel lying face first in the wood-work. However, as he leant down, the Iron Dragon Slayer quickly reacted and leapt up with a club of iron replacing his hand. With a deafening roar, he struck at the Fire Dragon who was not fast enough this time and so suffered a strong hit that sent him flying back. A smirk emerged across Gajeel's face but it wasn't there for long as Natsu recovered so fast it was almost like he didn't even get hit in the first place. This time, Natsu used Gajeel's face as a spring-board, allowing him to jump into the air while the Iron Slayer was planted into the ground before Natsu kicked off the only remaining skyline and struck him with a sharp strike to the head, burying him even deeper.
When Natsu landed, his face had changed into a look of annoyance. It was time to end this.
Picking up the Slayer by the long hair, he dragged him through the wood, not taking the time to pull him out of it. Then, when he stood at the centre he pulled him out of the floor violent until he had Gajeel's face in his hands. Forcing his eyes open until the two looked into each other, Natsu forced Gajeel's head lower, pushed him about an arms-length away and opened his jaws forcefully before he took a deep breath in. Taking a few seconds, Gajeel's eyes widened at the realisation.
He was going to roar.
But it was too late. Letting out a spew and barrage of fire and molten heat that emerged from Natsu's mouth, it all covered Gajeel's body entirely and even entered his innards and burned him from the inside out. He screamed, he cried. Natsu didn't stop until his roar finally died out in his throat. The results were a burnt Gajeel who bled and whined as his eyes subtuly faded back to red from yellow before lulling slightly. Soon, Natsu's own gaze drifted back to black as he dropped Gajeel to be suspended by his knees.
A few seconds passed where nothing happened. No-one dared to move, to breathe. Then, after a few moments, Natsu looked down at Gajeel, the man barely conscious before he gestured to his chest and the Iron Slayer simply nodded. Next, Natsu held up his hand and lit only his sharp finger-tips ablaze before his voice rang out amongst the whole Guild.
"Gajeel Redfox, Son of the Great Metalicana. You have fought the Son of Igneel and lost, and you are willing to accept this Mark of Battle as a scar of honour that shows others the result of our strife. Thank you for a great battle, my friend."
Stepping forward, Natsu took in a deep breath before he harshly dug his hand into the right side of Gajeel's pecs and began to drag his hands down in a swift but violent fashion. Once again, Gajeel seemed like he was going to cry out in agony but instead he just growled as the Mark of Battle was applied. When Natsu was done, he stepped back to show a 3 clawed scar that had radiant of heat and burning around the edges. Gajeel nodded at Natsu one last time before he collapsed into a limp body on the floor.
Sighing, Natsu began to walk away, twisting on his heels towards the mostly destroyed bar but with one swift movement he took up one of the only remaining bottles. Unscrewing the cork with his bare hands, he quickly swigged the whole thing in one go, crushing the glass in a fiery hand that turned it to sand that quietly fell on the wood below. Turning to Jose, he growled out.
"I'm not paying for that." It wasn't a question; it was a statement.
Jose smiled.
"You don't have to."
"Good."
Turning back around, Natsu looked around the silent crowd for a second before his eyes softened at the sight of a certain white haired girl that had stepped out towards him. In his mind, he was scared that she would fear him, that she would shy away from his touch but instead she let out a whimper before she sprinted forward and collided with his body with a cry, the blood becoming dry ages ago. With a look of happiness, Natsu wrapped his arms around her lithe form, burying his head in her hair and inhaling her unique scent that he saw as a drug. For a long time, he just leant against the table with Lisanna quietly crying into his chest as he rubbed her back. Then after a while, he used his hands to make her eyes meet his and after using his thumb to wipe away her tears, he put his forehead against hers.
"Hey Honey, I'm back."
She tearfully chuckled with a small smile.
"Welcome back, Darling."
Sharing his own smile, he leant forward and captured her lips in an intense lip-lock that showed the same passion that he had for battle just a few minutes ago. It was hot and heavy and gave Lisanna all of his attention and love as he held her love, his hands drifting lower then her back. Around them, people found their faces becoming red and their body's becoming hot as they looked away from the couple. After a few minutes, they separated with threads of spit joining the two as they both looked at each other with a large mixture of love and lust mixed into their eyes. Leaning down, Natsu whispered something into the white haired girls ear that made her even redder before she nodded very quickly that also made Natsu smirk widely.
Conjoining their hands, Natsu began to lead her to where Gajeel sat only to first be interrupted by Levy, who looked at him with a sad smile.
"T-thank you for saving me, Natsu…" She held out her hands and Natsu had to look down to see what she was holding; it was his cloak and his scarf. He had completely forgotten about them. Smiling, he used the hand that wasn't holding Lisanna to pick up the scarf first. Looking at it for a second, he decided to drape it around Lisanna's neck with a smile in her direction. At first, she was shocked, but she soon accepted it and snuggled into Natsu's side. Then, he took his jacket and wrapped it around his waist, giving Levy a nod and rummaging his hand through her locks. She smiled.
Then, both pairs of eyes focused in on Gajeel. Sighing, Natsu walked forward and was about to reach out to grab him but it was taken from under him by a large hand. Looking up alongside Lisanna, the two saw Makarov holding Gajeel in his large grasp with a sad smile on his face. Nodding up at the Master, Natsu smiled and it was returned by Makaov. The Master himself then turned towards the door and quietly muttered.
"Fairy Tail… We're leaving."
And no-one protested… Well, almost no-one.
"What? What about our battle, Makarov?"
He was about to speak but a certain Slayer spoke up before him.
"The real question you should be asking is 'What are you doing with Gajeel', not the state of the battle. I know that you made Gajeel target out Guild and you would have made him do so much more damage if you could have. This all manipulation; yes Gajeel will have to be punished somehow but you know what… You'd just try and use it against him and make him do more damage for your own game. He's better off with us. You know, you really are a piece of work; Gajeel doesn't deserve to be in this Guild… Hell, I bet that most of the people in this room don't deserve to be here; it's just circumstances that they couldn't control that have put them here. So… Now I think it is time to let them decide…" Looking up at the Master, he nodded and Makarov understood.
"If there are any mages who want to join Fairy Tail, step forward and we will go through the process…"
The news shook the room. They were allowing them to join? But… But why would they? However, a few people saw the opportunity ahead of them. Behind him, Gray saw that the woman that he was fighting had begun to fidget and struggle.
"Uh… you okay there… Juvia was it?"
At the sound of her name, her face lit up.
"Yes… Gray… Um… Do you think that Juvia could join?" Her voice was quiet but Gray heard. And he smiled. Stepping forward, he beckoned her to follow him and she did with a beaming smile, and practically everybody looked at her in shock, especially the Master.
"Juvia! W-What are you doing?!"
Clenching her fist, the blue haired woman turned on her heels and looked into his eyes.
"Juvia is making her own decision for once… Jose."
Spinning on her heels, Juvia began to follow the form of Gray that was joining up with the rest of the Guild. Jose looked furious, while Makarov looked glad. Glancing around the room, he saw that nobody else moved.
"No others? Well okay then, just know that you are always welcome at Fairy Tail… Now then, our fight is over Jose. Goodbye."
And then Fairy Tail turned to leave.
Jose tried to call out, and lash out with his magic.
"We aren't finished!"
However, as his shades approached, a wall of flames and fire shot out from the floor and the tendrils of fire wrapped and absorbed them into the wall, destroying them. Letting out a growl, Jose turned to see which little Fairy destroyed his magic only to meet the same steely gaze that he saw earlier; the gaze of Natsu Dragneel. With his mate at his side and his Guild retreating behind him, Natsu glared at the wizard.
"Yes we are Jose; and Fairy Tail has won."
Turning around, he began to leave, the visage of a Dragon clear from his leaving figure and Jose couldn't take the humiliation. His body turned to shades and he just roared to the sky as he unleashed his magic, but not at Fairy Tail; but at his own men.
"DAMN YOU DRAGNEEL!"
Down the road, Natsu heard the commotion and he smirked. Feeling him move, Lisanna looked up.
"You okay, hon?"
He looked down at her and realised how happy he was to be a Dragon Slayer; despite the damage and the battles that come with it.
"Yea… Yea, never better."
AND ITS OVER! Yes, at the minute this is the end of the Phantom Lord arc. Yes, surprising right? I wanted to change the world around a bit more so this is what happened. Alright, to go through the changes, I do it know.
1. Due to Gajeel, Sol and Juvia were at the Guild along with the other Elemental 4 members so she was able to fight Gray and meet him for the first time here. As to why it wasn't raining... I sort of forgot... Sorry.
2. Now, the Phantom Lord members have the chance to join Fairy Tail if I want to do anything with that.
3. Levy vaguely knows that Gajeel likes her. Just bringing that up now.
4. Gajeel and Natsu will be hanging out more due to this fight.
5. Jose and Phantom Lord are still around so they can come into the story later on if I want to.
Pretty much, this way it gives me a bunch of freedom without going through the cliche 'Lucy get's taken again' thing that happened in this arc. And now, I can use Jude Heartfilla more which I think they should have done more so... Yay.
As for the fight, I wanted it to feel hard hitting and brutal and dangerous to show what Dragons can truly do in this universe. And what to expect in the future with Natsu and Gajeel... and Alex.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed and I will see you soon. Have a Merry Christmas and goodbye!
-Jack