Fairy Tail's Next Generation: Thrown Back Part 2

Chapter 22 - The Broken Promise, Nashi vs. Natsu

"HHHRRRAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH" I roared. My fists flew at Mard Geer one after the other and he was dodging every swing. When I wasn't looking, he managed to sneak in a spell and sent a thorn-covered vine to pull me away from him. I was sent flying back several feet, a distance at which Mard Geer preferred to fight at.

He sent vines erupting through almost every inch of the floor. I easily dodged all of them, which seemed to shock the etherious. My rage made me reckless and I ran through some of the vines to get closer to Mard Geer. They cut through my skin and the wounds began to sting, but I powered through. I was almost close enough for a roar when I was tackled by a head of pink hair.

"What?!" I snarled as Natsu restrained my arms behind my back.

"Now Kali!" Natsu shouted. Kali swooped in and lifted Natsu and myself off the ground. I kicked and screamed as Kali flew us away from all the fighting.

"What are you doing?! I almost had him!"

"This isn't you Nashi!" Kali declared.

"You gotta snap out of it kid!" Natsu added.

"Leave me alone!" I roared, breaking free from Natsu's grip I began to fall through the air. When I hit the ground I began to run back towards the fight. Kali and Natsu landed several feet in front of me, blocking my path. "Get out of my way!" I yelled.

"I said," Natsu pulled his arm back and lit it on fire. "Snap out of it!!" He swung at me and landed his fist right in my stomach. I slid back and snarled at my opponent. "What happened Nashi? What's gotten into you?!"

"They have to pay!!" I yelled.

"Why? Nashi just talk to me!" Natsu reasoned futilely. He turned to Kali who was hovering near his side. "Has she ever done this before?" He asked. Kali shook her head. Natsu sighed in frustration. "Nashi this is for your own good,"

Without warning, I lunged at Natsu with my fists ablaze. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art!"

"Dragon slayer secret art! Fire Wall" Natsu enacted his spell before I could have the chance to finish mine. Suddenly four walls made entirely of fire erupted from the ground around me, trapping me.

I growled and banged my fist against the wall only to have them burned. I snarled as Natsu walked through the fire unharmed into my prison of flame. "Please Nashi, what's going on?"

"What's going on?" I repeated. "WHAT'S GOING ON?! That dragon deserves to die! No, he deserves something worse than death!!"

"Nashi this isn't you," Natsu soothed.

"I don't care!!" I barked. "if this is what I need to do to make that dragon pay, then I'm willing to do it," I leaped at Natsu and landed a sun dragon iron fist in his chest.

"Fire Dragon Talon!" Natsu managed to send a fiery kick that landed in my stomach. I skidded back a few feet, but I managed to stand back up and release a roar. Natsu barely managed to miss that attack and I saw the surprise in his eyes.

"Dragon Slayer Secret Art! Solar Flare!!" I spiraled and the waves of light released all around me.

"Dragon Slayer Secret Art! Exploding Flame Lotus!" Natsu's attack was much bigger and stronger. It quickly countered my spell and knocked me back against the fire wall. I snapped my head up, glaring at my opponent in hatred.

"Sun dragon sword horn," My entire body was engulfed in hot flames of sunlight and I launched myself at Natsu. He held up his arms to block me, but the full force of my body was too much. He stumbled back and tripped over his back foot. 

"Fire Dragon Talon," Natsu grunted. A burst of fire erupted from his feet propelling him back on balance. "Crushing Fang!" He swung his open hand at me, his fingers slapping against my shoulder. My shoulder sparked as flames exploded in my face sending me rolling back.

I crawled back to my feet and brought my hands together "Sun Dragon Brilliant Light!" As my hands spread apart, a large ball of sunlight formed that continued to grow as I threw it at my opponent. Natsu dodged at the last second and released a powerful roar that knocked me off my feet yet again. 

Natsu walked towards me and looked into my golden eyes. "Are you done?"

I growled at him with anger and lit my fists ablaze. I lunged at him, swinging my fists in every direction. He didn't fight back, just dodged all of my punches. "Fight back!" I yelled.

"Why? So you can get out of here and take it out on Acnologia?" Natsu explained. I growled and continued to fight. "I know you're angry at Acnologia, but why are you so enraged? Just tell me,"

"BECAUSE HE KILLED THEM," I screamed and stopped fighting. Natsu's eyes were wide as tears streamed down my hot cheeks. "He killed my team," I cried. "They sent me to help fight because they couldn't. And when Acnologia attacked, they couldn't protect themselves from the blast. I should have stayed with them! I should have died with them!" I sobbed.

My body was trembling from the sorrow in my heavy heart and my knees buckled underneath me. I hit the ground hard as the cruel reality weighed heavily on my heart. The dark shadow that overcast on my face masked the tears falling from my golden eyes. I stared sadly at the fire surrounding me I didn't notice when Natsu's arms were wrapped around me in a tight embrace. "We promised to stay alive," I cried. "I told them we'd make it home no matter what. I wish I were dead with them,"

There was a moment of silence as I cried at the world around me.

"A long time ago," Natsu started. "I had to remind someone that you don't die for your friends, you live for them. Don't throw your life away because you can't go on. Go on because you can't throw your life away for them. Keep your end of the promise and stay alive for them. They'd want you to live," Natsu soothed.

As tears poured out of my eyes, their normal color began to return. "It's my fault they're even here in the first place. If I hadn't read that stupid spell that sent me back in time, they wouldn't have had to come after me and we'd all still be alive,"

"We can't change the past," my father explained. "Just change the way you do things from here on out and honor them with every step of the way. They live on in us and in our memory,"

"I don't want them in my memory, I want them here with me,"

"They'll always be with you," Natsu soothed as he ran his hand over my hair. "They'll always be with you to protect you and to comfort you when you need it the most,"

Suddenly my world felt really dizzy and my vision went blurry. Not the kind of blurry from the tears though, like the world around me was fading. "I don't feel so good,"

Natsu pulled me away and looked at my face as the dark shadow faded away. "Nashi?" His voice sounded garbled in my dazed state. It was like my head was underwater.

Is this death? Again? I wondered. It must have been because when I looked over my dad's shoulder I saw my friends running towards me. My body went limp and my over exhausted body fell backwards. I felt myself being lowered onto the ground and I saw the blurry faces of my friends gather around me with worried expressions. I guess it's true what Natsu said, they'll always be with me when I need it. I'll be joining you soon my friends. The last thing I could do was smile once more before I closed my eyes and let myself fall deep into the dark slumber my body craved.