Laxus and Lucy

Chapter 4: The Storm

How powerful could she be, Happy?" Natsu frowned in concentration.

They were sitting at the bar at the guild, which was empty save Team Natsu. The festival before the battle had just begun, and everyone was attending.

"Well, there's no time to think about that now is there?" Erza sighed, as she got up and began walking to the door, "I'll be in the audience." Gray nodded at Natsu and followed suit.

"Lucy-chan is very kind." Wendy said thoughtfully. Carla was sitting on the bar, reading a novel.

"She seems a lot different than I remember her." Natsu looked at his empty cup.

"She's stronger. Physically and mentally." Wendy smiled, "I look up to her."

"But she's with Laxus. They're mated. Wendy, I should've been...I should've been her mate." Natsu gripped the glass cup.

"You left her behind for five years, Natsu. Did you expect her to sit and wait for you?" Wendy shook her head, "She found someone who held her up and supported her, and never left her...You weren't that person for her."

"I can be though, I definitely can." Natsu said, trying to convince himself.

"But she already has that person, she doesn't need you" Wendy said, almost pitifully, "You could still be her friend though."

***

1 Hour before the Duel

"Ready?" They were on the roof of the guild, observing the festivities.

"How should I go about it? End it quickly or drag it out?" Lucy asked, waving her keys around absentmindedly.

"Do what you do best." Laxus was laying on the roof, his arms supported his head as he gazed at the clouds. Suddenly, Lucy's face leaned down very close to his. "How may I help you?"

"I'm about to fight my former teammate, best friend, and former crush." Lucy said, her breath tickling his nose.

"So?" Laxus moved his head closer to Lucy's and kissed her.

Lucy smiled.

***

The crowds surrounded the arena, every seat was filled, and Natsu was standing in the arena...alone.

"Where is Lucy?" Happy fluttered around. The clouds had become dark and stormy, and thunder sounded in the distance. Suddenly, lightning came down from the clouds, and struck the arena, and Lucy appeared at that sudden spot. As if the lightning brought her to the earth...

"Hey guys!" Lucy quipped cheerfully. The crowd roared at the grand entrance, Lucy grinned, then turned to Natsu and held out her hand to shake his.

Natsu shaked her hand, "You could've fried me with that lightning strike."

"I don't want you to die before, but after the duel." Lucy flashed him her white smile.

Master walked up to the two mages in the center of the arena, "You both know the rules to a duel, but I'll reiterate just in case. The duel ends when the other gives up, too injured to continue, or the time limit is reached, which is one hour for this duel. The one other rule is that there is no breaking out of the arena, even though that will be impossible once the shield is put up. Agreed?" Both Natsu and Lucy nodded. "Good." Master exited the arena, and the shield was put in place. One minute until the duel was to start.

"DId you have fun wherever you went?" Lucy asked Natsu, her large brown eyes staring into his.

52 seconds.