The Power of One Dream (A One Piece x Fairy Tail Story)

Part 16: Battle 8 (Part 2)

"What the Hell you laughing at?!?" E.N.D. growled, pausing their vicious assault long enough to glare at the madly cackling pirate captain with a livid scowl. "HAHAHA.. How are you.. HAHA.. NOT laughing?? This whole thing is crazy! HAHAHAHA!!!" Luffy gasped through the deranged laughter. "We're supposed to be friends and.. HAHA.. Here we are.. HA.. Playing these Jerkwads' game.. HAHAHA.. Ready to kill each other.. HAHA... For the women we love... AHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

'Love?' the word rang through Natsu's core from somewhere deep within E.N.D.'s mindscape like a soulful melody. He'd always known that all his friends are precious to him. Not least of all Happy, Gramps, Lisanna, Mira, Elfman, Cana, Levi, Gajeel, Wendy, 'lily and Charle... and Erza (and even Ice-Stripper).

...... But.. somehow, Lucy was always precious in a different way. The way that made him have to save every scrap he could get hold of from every mission they had been on together, as a memento of the times they shared. The way that made him drag the Rainbow Sakura Tree down the street past her apartment that time when she got too sick to join Magnolia's Blossom-Viewing Festival. The way that he knew would make him go to the Ends of the Earth for her. 'Do I..... Love.. Lucy?'

With the pit of guilt in his heart resurfacing for that year he left Fairy Tail to train alone with Happy, the year he left Lucy alone. The questions remained; did he really know what love is? And could he honestly believe he was worthy of hers? Seemingly in response to his dilemma, somewhere within the deep recesses of E.N.D.'s presence (or perhaps even, their consciousness?), he got the impression they were trying to say.. Do you even have to ask?

Natsu within E.N.D. found it hard to focus on his opponent while struggling with this particular inner turmoil. But soon enough he noticed with Luffy's abrupt change in humour, so did his appearance as his battered and bruised visage melted away and reformed into something brand new! His clothes (much like his hair and eyebrows) were becoming white and wavy. These along with the fresh wisp of steam that wrapped around him like a ribbon seemed to give off an ethereal glow of their own. And when his eyes were open through the manic cackling, they gleamed an ethereal pinkish-red, like twin wildfires that would consume everything in their path.

Natsu still as a spectator within E.N.D.'s depths once again looked in amazed awe as the new figure slipped between his legs with rubbery ease and bounced in front of him. In fact the ground itself wobbled under his feet like it too was made of rubber. And still he laughed.

.........

"Yes, they're almost there!"

.........

"Like the New Look.. HAHA.. Think 'GEAR: FIFTH' has a nice ring to it, don't it?.. HAHA... But I guess we're both Monsters now, right?.. HAHAHA.. Well, may the best Monster win.. HA.. 'Coz I'm gonna save Nami AND destroy Manticore Sting! Even if I have to go through YOU!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

As much as it pained Natsu, considering he had come to regard the pirate captain as a friend, it was becoming increasingly more likely there would be only one winner of this fight. Albeit a bittersweet victory, and one that would surely break both girls' hearts. But in this there was little he could do to hold back E.N.D.'s fury. The Etherion squared their shoulders and grimaced. "BRING IT ON!!!"

With that the Fiery Creature slammed an enflamed fist into the ground, and the flames spread out once again igniting the ground in hot pursuit of the now Manic Rubber Man. "Soko on Doke ke ('Get Out of Here'!)!!" E.N.D. growled as the flames sparked upward in patches and manifested swirling pillars of fire. But the still-grinning deranged Luffy followed their example by punching the ground as well.

"Gomu-Gomu no Mogura Pistol (Gum Gum Mole Pistol)!!"

Free-moving tendrils erupted from the ground, looking like they were made from the ground, and wrapped themselves around the fire pillars that somehow held them in place. E.N.D. was somewhat surprised by this tactic, but promptly decided that fighting long-range from a safe distance wouldn't work now. They charged, E.N.D. roaring like a wild animal while 'Gear: Fifth' Luffy continued cackling like a mad man and soared towards the Etherion while still in the air.