Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 24 - Natsu vs Axel

Natsu cracked his knuckles as he waited for the signal to tap the teleportation lacrima. Heat skimmed the fringes of his hand, always present. He trained his focus on the arena ahead of him, where Axel, and the path to Gajeel, waited. The crowd was simmering, like a pot ready to boil over. From his vantage point, Natsu only got a small view of his friends. Everyone was in the stands, except for Frosch. Happy and the Exceeds stood along the stands. Somehow, Happy and Lily were able to fashion flags that bore a poor resemblance of the Fairy Tail guild mark, and waved them around. The Empire probably wasn't going to like that.

Oh well.

Axel was already in the arena. He was being given a grand entrance, a grand round of hype. This was the first time in centuries that two Dragon Slayers were set to fight one another in the tournament, let alone in the era of the Empire. As such, Axel, a proud member of the Twilight Empire, was being given his due respect by the announcer.

Up in the suites, Natsu sniffed out two other Dragon Slayers. One was like Axel, a Second Generation, while the other was different. A bit like a First Generation, a bit like a Second. Weird.

The lacrima lit up. Natsu hesitated, balling his fist.

To that point, Fairy Tail was meant to be neutral, to not join the fight against the Empire, just try and get through the Grand Magic Games. They'd fought some Imperials, sure but none with Axel's pedigree. They let the Empire be, and allowed them to think Fairy Tail would placate because they were weak, because they missed seven years of time and could never possibly catch up to what the Empire had become.

Fire burst from Natsu's closed fist. The lacrima quivered next to Natsu as his power continued to surge, even though he stood still.

Did the Empire think Fairy Tail forgot? Did the Empire think Fairy Tail would let the deaths of those left behind, those who stood stalwart, go unpunished? Everyone else around Fiore, not in the Games, had to be doing their damnedest to fight the Empire.

Natsu shattered the teleportation lacrima next to him with a swift fist, letting the crystals scatter into dust around him. Fire flared around him.

He didn't forget. He would never forget. And it was time the Empire finally learned that.

With a boost beneath his feet, and with the fire in his heart at last unleashed, Natsu leaped across the great distance from the tunnel to land in the arena. Heat radiated away from him with such intensity even those in the front stands could feel it. He stood straight.

Axel unfolded his arms but didn't lose his sneer.

Natsu had his information announced to great fanfare, too, with a particularly vocal, yet small, portion of the crowd cheering him on. He turned and gave the rest of Fairy Tail a thumbs-up.

The announcer ran over the rules of the fight: to submission or death. Natsu lowered his hand as he focused on Axel.

The whistle blew. The crowd roared and then silenced.

Axel swung his arms out, aura flaring, power buffeting Natsu, who didn't care. He shot forward anyway. Axel accepted this, not bothering to move so much as brace his feet.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"

Natsu's attack slammed down on Axel, cratering part of the recently fixed arena, but when the dust cleared, Axel remained completely unharmed. A diamond coating spread all down his arm, snuffing out Natsu's flames at the source.

Natsu wheeled around with a flaming leg to kick Axel in the head and he blocked it with the same arm. Axel punched Natsu with his open fist, sending Natsu back a step.