The Second Salamander

16) Fight Take 2?

Natsu

I had almost burned through the chains when the platforms we were on snapped onto the dust arena above. I flared, giving everything I possibly could into my hands. I just had to... get... through...

Snap

I fell to my knees, only allowing myself a moments rest before shuffling to my feet. I shambled over to my sister, supporting myself against the wall while gently holding her face.

"Kameel, you just gotta wake up!" I whispered into her ear.

Natsu...

"Yeah?" I didn't even care anymore that she was in my head, I was just glad I could hear her.

Natsu, I felt the fire. You... what color was it?

"That's not important right now. I have to get you out of these chains." I murmered, cupping my hands around her wrist and setting them on fire.

She was silent as I worked, melting through the metal. The area was dead silent, so I didn't even notice the extensive crowd watching every move I made.

Finaly, I burned through the shackles. Kameel fell forward, ito my open arms. I held her for moments before I sensed something really wrong with the wall she had been chained to.

I scowled at it, shuffling away from it. Then, the wall melted into a puddle of liquid metal, slipping through the gaps in the floor.

"What's going on?" I mumbled.

I looked around then to find rows and rows of people. There probibly were more than a thousand pairs of eyes staring at us. I scannned the crowd with confusion and a little fear.

"Ladies and gentalmen! Welcome to the Black Hoods annual Trial by Fire! We thank you for ccoming tonight!" A loud voice boomed over the crowd.

Suddenly, the empty air was filled with cheering and screaming. I got the feeling that this wasn't going to be a very good show.

"We, the Head of the Hoods, have brought you a very special treat for you this year! We have been fortunatly blessed with Fairytail's famous trouble maker, Salamander!"

The crowd erupted in another round of ear splitting cheers. I winced at the volume. It made my head hurt. Kameel still wasn't responding.

"And his little friend, or sister, the Second Salamander!"

Another wave of screams. I was seriously starting to get tired of all the noise. I huffed in frustration and annoyence, sending out a small puff of black smoke.

"Uh-oh, looks like our Fire Dragon is getting impatiant. What do you say, should we get this Trial started?"

The crowd of people went crazy.

Natsu! You have to fight! Fight as hard as you can, no matter what! Promise me, that you won't hold back!

I looked down at her, confused. There was desperation in her tone, and fear.

"Why would you think that I won't give it my all?" I asked.

Then her eyes flew open, the warm glow of her amber eyes gone, instead replaced by shadow.

Because you must beat ME!!
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Kameel

Natsu, don't hold back, and whatever you do, don't listen to anything that I say! It's not me, I'm not in control! You must defeat me in order to win! I will do whatever I can to help you, but it won't do much, so promise me...

I was stranded in a void, and all I could do was reach his mind. I was cast out from my own body, replaced by one of the Hoods, but I had no way of telling him...

...promise me that you will win!

I crouched, ready to spring. He looked at me with a solemn gaze. Then he stood and looked at the balcony, an intense fire burning brightly in his eyes.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!!!" He screamed. His clenched fists burst into flames, the heat so intense, it made me flinch. I marvled at the strength of his fire. It was unlike when we fought the first time, or when he was out of control with rage.

I knew that he was in complete control of himself, but his fire was even stronger than anything I could've expected. He really was a Dragon Slayer!

He turned back to me, his gaze locked onto mine. I bared my teeth, shooting a menecing snarl at him.

"Kameel...." He whispered. "I don't want to fight you..."

"Pft! What a load of CRAP!!! You whimp, of course you don't want to fight! You already know that you can't win! I've already won, so why don't you just run away like the coward you are?" I hissed.

"This is not how I want to fight you, not under these circumstances. It's not right for us to be forced to fight eachother like this, and I'm sure you agree."

I launched myself at him, landing a hard punch to his gut. A grunt escaped his lips, but he didn't return my attack.

"Stop talking and FIGHT!!!" I shreicked.

"NO, KAMEEL!!" He shouted. "I will NOT fight you!!"

"Then you'll die!!" I hissed.

I landed flaming punch after flaming punch, but Natsu did nothing to fight back. He refused to fight me. Instead, he kept glaring up at the balcony, as if trying to say, 'You can't make me fight her.'

He was being torn to shreds, and all I could do was watch helplessly. Tears ran down my cheeks as I watched my brother get beaten.

STOP!!!!! PLEASE STOP!!!!

My efforts to save him were completely useless. I fought as hard as I could against the body snatcher, but I had no affect on anything. I was completely mortified. I couldn't save him!

Then I noticed him staring into my eyes. It seemed like he was staring right through the darkness at me.

"Fight it, Kameel! Don't forget who you are! You are Kameel Dragneel, my sister, and I know you are stronger than even you know. I can see it. You just have to find it for yourself." He smiled, despite the obvious pain he was in. "Now what are you waiting for, sis? An invitation? Show that no good looser who really controls you!"