Chapter 44: Natsu Vs. Erza?

The next day, when Natsu arrived at the guild, Erza was already there waiting for him. She had a grave expression on her face. He immediately knew it was something serious. She approached him and spoke. "Natsu! You're finally here. I was tired of waiting for you."

"What do you need me for, Erza?" Natsu asked in confusion. Other guild members also looked at their direction curiously.

"I've thought about the thing you told me for the whole night, but I still couldn't decide what to do. So, I decided to do this the old-fashioned way," Erza replied with a stoic expression.

"What do you mean?" Natsu asked while tilting his head in confusion.

"Fight me! Let's decide this the warrior's way. If you win, I'll be yours, but if I win, you'll be mine." Erza answered, taking out her sword and pointing at him. She looked just like a heroic warrior heading out to battle.

'Isn't that basically the same thing?' Natsu pondered internally, but he didn't care to voice it out. He didn't want to embarrass Erza in front of the whole guild.

"Sure. Let's head out to the arena. Remember that I won't hold back against you, even if you're my future mate." Natsu replied with a teasing smirk. Erza blushed upon hearing him call her a potential mate. He gestured for her to follow him outside, which she did.

"That's how I like it. I would be disappointed in you if you held back against me," Erza said before following after Natsu. The other guild members also heard this and started cheering out loud. They even began placing bets on their fight.

They headed toward the guild arena and stood in their respective places. Both of them got into their fighting position.

"Re-Equip: Flame Empress Armor!" Erza shouted, summoning her flame empress armor.

The armor was predominantly dark red but also sported orange and black parts, with the first ones being shaped like flames and the second resembling a dragon's limbs. It was mostly made up of three different components: The revealing breastplate with dragon-like wings attached to it, the orange gauntlets, and the dragon claw shaped greaves. Erza's hair was tied into a pair of long, high pigtails.

She began to raise her magic level as high as she could. She knew that Natsu was stronger than her, so she didn't want to waste her magic on a mundane battle. Everyone around the area started feeling tense due to her sword-like aura, making them gulp nervously. They felt like there was a sword hanging above their necks.

"Flame Empress Armor, huh… I see you're serious about this match. Let me return the favor by getting serious as well." Natsu declared with a serious expression. He started raising his magic level to the maximum it could in his base form. The temperature around them began to rise rapidly due to his aura.

The people around the area were starting to feel really hot. The temperature reached such an insane height that even their clothes began to catch on fire spontaneously. They were sweating profusely, but also the sweat evaporated swiftly due to crushing heat. They were starting to feel like they were being roasted over an open flame.

Erza bore the pressure head-on and started sweating profusely, but she still maintained a calm disposition while facing him. She didn't want to show a shameful display in front of Natsu.

Both of them stared at each other and were about to clash but were suddenly interrupted by someone.

"That's enough!" Shouted a strange frog-like humanoid creature wearing the magic council uniform, outside of the arena.

He wore a uniform consisting of a wide-collared dark jacket. With wide sleeves and edges, cuffs adorned by a series of light stripes, worn over a light shirt that was closed on the front by a multitude of lace ending in a bow knot in the upper part, and a long, light, skirt-like cloth covering the legs. The outfit was completed by a small, elongated dark hat that matched the jacket, which got larger near its top and had a flat, round object on the front, reminiscent of a medal.

Natsu and Erza dismissed their magic level, causing everyone to sigh in relief. They were sure that if both of them had battled, they would have destroyed the whole arena.

"Who are you? Why did you disturb our fight? I hope you have a good reason. Otherwise, I'll roast you alive and feed you to the dogs." Natsu spoke in irritation. He glared at the frogman coldly, making him feel terrified.

"Stop it, Natsu! He's from the council. Let him speak first. Who are you?" Erza said, stopping Natsu from harming the frogman before asking him.

"Y-Yeah, I'm a messenger from the magic council. So, you better not harm me." The frogman replied, nervously. He was terrified of Natsu. He didn't want to become dog food.

"So, why are you here? I'm guessing you're not here to spectate our battle, right?" Natsu asked while fully knowing the reason from his past memories. This guy must be here to arrest Erza if he remembered correctly.

"I'm here on behalf of the magic council to arrest someone." The frogman answered, regaining his composure. Everyone looked at the messenger nervously. They weren't sure who the council wanted to arrest.

"Who's the one you're here to arrest?" Erza asked in a severe tone. She didn't want one of her friends to get arrested.

"Natsu Dragneel has been placed under arrest for destruction of the forest area near Onishiba Town. Please don't resist the arrest. Otherwise, your whole guild will be charged guilty and declared as a dark guild." The frogman replied, haughtily. Everyone was shocked at hearing this news.

But Erza and Natsu were affected the most. Erza couldn't believe that Natsu was arrested for something like that. Why was he the only one to get arrested? She and Gray were there as well. Why was it only Natsu who was detained?

"Why are you only arresting Natsu? Gray and I were both there with him. Why not charge us as well?" Erza asked while glaring at the frogman, causing him to break out in a cold sweat due to the intensity of her glare.

"T-This is the council's decision. I'm just here to bring the news and bring Natsu Drangeel to the magic council in Era for his judgment. If you have something to say, then complain about it to the council, not me." The frogman answered nervously. Natsu just looked at this scene with a dumbfounded expression.

'Why is it me? Shouldn't it be Erza? Damn, the plot is already starting to divert from canon.' Natsu thought. He was surprised when the frogman told them that he was getting arrested instead of Erza.

Before Erza could argue with the messenger, Natsu held her shoulder and said gently. "Don't worry about me. They must have arrested me to display their petty authority. This is nothing more than that. I'll probably be back in two or three days. Just wait for me here,"

"But…" Erza wanted to say something, but Natsu blocked her lips with his finger and shook his head. She could only sigh and nod.

"I'll see you soon, Erza," Natsu said, approaching the frogman while waving back at her.

Natsu approached the frogman and said coldly. "Get this over with already. I don't have much time to waste on this."

The frogman nodded nervously and put magic-restraining handcuffs on Natsu. Natsu could easily break free from them but didn't bother doing so. He didn't want to give the council more reasons to detain him.

They then left Magnolia in a carriage and headed toward Era, the place where the headquarters of the magic council is situated.

'These councilmen are getting too arrogant. If it weren't for the guild, I would have already blasted their headquarters into smithereens.' Natsu thought angrily. He sighed and just took a nap. It was a long journey to Era, after all.

~Edited by Nyanodesu

(A/N: Here's you go. I'll upload another chapter as well after 10 minutes.)