Keeping Secrets

Warriors

Welcome back again! Hope y'all enjoy this long chapter!

Want to give a special thanks to everyone who has commented yet again. Even if you haven't, just you reading this and leaving a vote means a lot, but y'all leaving comments is SUPER encouraging and motivating. I want to give an extra special thanks to @Spot_Of_Tea and @CairnCircles over on A03 for their constant feedback and support! I appreciate all you fine people leaving comments, but I mention these two since both of them are currently writing some great stories as well. If you are enjoying this, I bet you will enjoy what they have written too!

And if you do read Tea's story, There's Something Wrong With Iggy Dragneel, you may ask, "Hey SlitheryOwl1595, didn't they just write something like this in the notes of their most recent chapter?" To which I will say, "Yes, they did, and now you know my unoriginality knows no bounds" XD. Seriously though it was super thoughtful, and it made me want to do something similar. Encouragement is a good thing to spread around, folks!

Anyways, enough of my yammering and on to the chapter!

KEEPING SECRETS CHP 9- WARRIORS

Natsu's training proceeded as planned. Jackal continued to be his regular sparring partner, with Zeref stepping in occasionally.

However, on the fourth day of his training, Natsu became very excited when his brother said he would be fighting August. "I'm all fired up now!" he declared as August stepped out to the middle of the floor across from him.

August stretched and cracked his neck as he faced Natsu. "The most useful form of magic I've learned in my life is something I've simply dubbed 'copy magic'- using it, I can replicate nearly any other form of magic I come across. So today, I will replicate Ajeel's, God Serena's and Larcade's powers to the best of my ability. I will not hold back, as there is no doubt they will not either when you face them." August's tone was serious, but not malevolent.

"Good. I'm ready!" Natsu spread his feet and clenched his fists.

August nodded and raised his staff. "Sands of death!"

Over the course of the next three days, August helped familiarize Natsu with the magic of his three opponents. At one point while watching Natsu fight August, who at the time was channeling one of God Serena's dragon slaying magics, Jackal had asked Zeref if this special training was fair to the people fighting Natsu, to which Zeref shrugged. "They have access to our intelligence file on Natsu. It can tell them nearly everything about his magic and fighting style. If they choose not to use it, that's on them."

"But won't they think the emperor helping him is an unfair advantage?"

"Ha." Zeref's laugh was dry. "Why wouldn't I want my beloved younger brother to emerge triumphant? They should be grateful that Invel didn't have his way, if he did they'd all be out of a job. Which I would have been fine with, by the way. I can replace members of the Twelve... I can't replace Natsu. I've learned that the hard way." Zeref said, thinking about when he had first created Larcade to be a copy of his brother. He may have replicated his brother's speaking and mannerisms well, but there was something about watching the etherious that made Zeref feel hollow. So back in his book Larcade had gone and was heavily re-written before Zeref let him out again.

Natsu's progress throughout the week impressed everyone who stopped by to witness his mock fights. The final day, after their last practice match, August told Natsu, "You've done very well these past few days, Natsu. I have no doubt- the strength you hold and the abilities you've honed will lead you to victory."