Summer Is Coming - Gratsu

9. Day 5: Princess Lessons The Elegance of Combat

Natsu lay asleep on a bench completely exhausted from her terrifying display of power she had demonstrated earlier that day.

Gray lay on the adjacent bench. He had endured his own form if battle with Mira on the finer points on what he was to do during the mission.

"You two look exhausted," Lucy said trotting over happily. She had just come in which was shocking for her, the sun was almost setting.

Gray raised his head to give her a weird look, "You're lucky you weren't there this morning."

"What happened?" She asked sitting between him and the sleeping girl next to him.

"Well..." He began to recall the events of what had happened that morning.

(This is a flashback. Just so you aren't confused.)

"Natsu, are you ready to fight?" Erza asked when the cheery girl came strolling in that morning.

"You betcha," She shouted back. She was so ready for it too. She was willing to fight anyone if it meant she got to fight.

"Well," Erza stood, "Let's go outside -so we don't destroy the building- and see how your new body has changed your fighting. Then we will work on the things we need to refine."

"Yes!" She threw her fist in the air, "Who will I fight?"

Erza thought about it for a minute then smiled, "Gray. He's the closest to your skills, besides Wendy and Gajeel, but Wendy is not here and Gajeel is a bit indisposed of right now we'll use Gray."

Gray knew she was going to say him. She had been using him all week. He just wished he knew why. He stood, stuffing his hands in his pocket and began walking outside, "Finally, a good fight with flame brain."

Natsu gave him a light punch on the shoulder walking outside with him, "Whatever Ice Princess. You better not go easy on me because I'm a girl."

"Never dreamed of it." That was it. No rude comment like, 'I always beat you as a guy anyway' or anything like that. Natsu found it a bit odd, but didn't mind that their intense arguments had turned into a joking form of teasing. It felt more friendly this way.

Some of the other guild members followed them out to observe the fight. They just wanted to see how well Natsu could fight now she was a girl.

"Everyone that's watching better stay out of the way. If you get in their way it's your fault," Erza said bitterly, annoyed by perverted looks some of the less decent (and to the readers, unimportant) members were giving the dragon slayer.

They all took several steps back. When Erza was satisfied she turned to the two fighters, "You're just fighting, so just begin when you're ready." The two nodded and Erza stepped back, giving them room to begin.

The fight started out differently then every fight with Natsu did. There was no blast of heat or sound of dirt being kicked up from the force of her launching herself towards her opponent.

Natsu slid her feet apart and raised her hands in a basic defensive position. She didn't really know why she did it, but when she thought about it later she would have a reason.

Gray lifted his hands, ready to use his magic. Natsu was being strange, this was dangerous for him. She seemed to be calculating his movements and it was creeping him out. Natsu was never like this. So why was she like this now?

"Ice make-" Gray began, but was interrupted by a sudden suffocating pressure of pure energy slamming into him.

It vanished as quickly as it had struck, but the effects it left were obvious. Many of the spectators lay on the floor unconscious, and the few still awake had turned a deep shade of green.