Behind the scenes

Madman

I took off across town, heading for the big cathedral. I heard the townspeople muttering about the fighting going on, and commenting on the lacrima hanging in the sky. "Think they're some kind of fireworks?" Tch. Normal people are so dense. I shoved a couple of drunken idiots out of my way and kept running. Gotta hurry if I want to fight this bastard before the Salamander.

As I ran up the street towards the building, I saw the Titania running out the front door. She didn't look like she was running from anything, but she was definitely in a hurry. She ran the other direction and I slowed my charge for a minute, considering following her. I heard fighting sounds from the cathedral, and that decided me. I whipped around and headed inside, jumping up to climb in a window instead of the front door.

I found myself on a balcony, and crouched low to the ground. The sounds of battle from below were pretty intense. I snuck towards the edge of the railing and looked over. Dammit, he beat me here! I can't join in, he'll just start whining. I stayed there, crouched low, watching the two fight. At the moment, the pink haired idiot was getting his ass handed to him, but he just kept getting up.

"You really are tough" I heard Salamander say, as he pushed off the ground once again. Suddenly, a swell of power surged out from Laxus. Natsu wasn't getting any further than his hands and knees. "Crap, my body isn't working anymore!" He whined as he fell flat again. Move, idiot! I dropped over the edge of the balcony down to the ground floor, but neither of them saw me.

"Resounding through the air, the roar of thunder, plunge from the heavens and reap destruction!" Blondie was standing with a fist raised, the power emanating from him intense. Ah shit, he's gonna kill him! I heard the murderous growl in his voice as he yelled, "Raging Bolt!" The electricity was so thick in the room you could almost taste it, and then I couldn't see anymore.

As the glare faded from my vision, I heard Laxus laughing maniacally. "Natsu... Who's the strongest man in the guild? Hahaha! Guess you can't answer because I've blown you to bits!" I looked down at my fisted hand, and grinned to myself.

"Weren't you meant to be nakama? And now you're laughing about killing him..." I said, watching the lightning idiot's head snap in my direction. The shock in his eyes was ironic. "You really have lost it. Not that you actually did kill him or anything. That's my job." I raised my arm to show him the Salamander. I had snatched him from where he'd lain mere seconds before the lightning struck. I held the flame-brain up for another second, then tossed him aside.

"Oh look! A new victim! Vanish! Disappear! Anyone who dares to stand against me shall be reduced to nothing!" He was raving like a madman now. Natsu grunted and pushed himself upright again. "I'll handle Laxus, just stay back." He told me obstinately.

"Tch, I have a personal grudge to settle with this loser. However, he's truly a monster. He is, after all, Makarov's flesh and blood. We may not like it, but there really isn't a point." I stopped and heaved a sigh before growling, "we take him together." I wasn't looking at the pathetic mess on the floor next to me, but I could feel his disbelief. And smell his anger.

"Screw that!!! I'm gonna take him out myself!!! Like hell would I team up with someone like you!!!" His screaming whine really hurt my ears. "Look at him, idiot! Is that really the guy ya know?" We both looked at our opponent. His eyes had lost focus, and he was laughing again, lightning crackling around him. "This is an enemy of our guild! We have to stop him here and now, we have to protect the guild! There's no one else left, do ya have any idea what would happen if we don't stop him?"

I looked back at my, shudder, partner. He was pouting, of all things. "YOU are protecting the guild?" He asked, looking at me in disbelief. Even though I knew it wasn't an unreasonable question, anger coursed through me. "Destroyin' it or protectin' it, that's my own damn choice! Alright?!"

"I thought you said there wasn't enough room in the sky for two dragons?" I ground my teeth and looked down at him; he still hadn't stood back up. He had a smug smirk on his face. "Maybe not, but with all this damn lightning, the sky ain't fit fer flyin'"

Flames began to lick his arms as he stood up, "This is a one time thing, right?" he asked me. I grinned, balling my hands into fists. "Yer damn right! I'm gonna settle things with ya one of these days! Now, let's go!" I armored up my arms as we charged towards our foe, prepared to give him the beat down of a lifetime.