Chapter 49.6- And so the Dragons Danced

XXXXXX- TOJI

H stared down at Natsu’s back as his friend made a show of stretching. War had been good to him, Toji knw. But when placed against the Prince like that, it was even more obvious. Natsu’s shoulders seemed to be half again as wide as the Prince’s and then there was his body. Natsu had muscles that looked to be cut from steel, and where Zuko was not fat or flabby by any means, he was just lesser. The entire Capital could see it. Because word had spread very quickly and the coliseum was practically bursting at its seams. His father had given him numerous signs to show that he wanted to speak, but he had ignored them all. The man couldn’t ignore him for all his life and now try to cash in when he saw some value to be extracted.

Toji knew who his family was. That was the man standing on the rough sands of the Coliseum, and the little girl fidgeting by his side. Well, them and the others. Where was Zhufu even? He hadn’t seen her or Lee in forever. Hopefully, with the war coming to an end, and Natsu as Fire Lord, it could be the Five of them again. Just like it had always meant to be. Well, them and Toph, he amended as she shifted closer to him.

“He’s going to win” He said to her. It wasn’t even a question to him. The only bender that could best Natsu in a fair fight was dead. The world was theirs for the taking.

“I know. I just don’t like not being able to watch” She said. Oh. That was it then.

“Natsu and Zuko are standing right opposite each other. They’re waiting for the Fire Sages to finish snorting incense or whatever it is they do.” He said.

When they did finally finish, they declared that the fight could begin. Natsu made a show of taking his stance and taking a deep breath in. Zuko, contrary to what his sister had said, did not just run in swinging. Toji figured that his rage had finally dulled enough for him to realise just who he was standing in front of. Of course, it was too late for him to turn back now. If Toji were in his place, he’d just do his best to die with some dignity. Make it look like a good fight.

Zuko must have had the same thought— for there was no way he thought he could actually defeat Natsu. He moved, sending a fire blast about the width of his torso at Natsu. Natsu stood still, watching the flames as they came, and then at the very last second, lifted his arms in front of him and then dragged them apart, cleaving the attack in two. He kept moving, kicking an arc of green flames in Zuko’s direction. The whole crowd gasped at the colour of his flames. Zuko barely managed to dodge, so shocked he was. Luckily, Natsu hadn’t decided to follow up the attack, just watching the Prince.

“Stop holding back and fight me” Zuko growled as he saw Natsu standing still and then fired two fire blasts in his direction. Natsu bent at his knees, and then he was off. He shot in the air, propelled by his green flames until he was flying through the sky. Then the flames died, and he began crashing to the ground, right where Zuko was. The Prince aimed some flames at Natsu but Toji’s friend crashed through them unbothered. Even his trousers didn’t get singed.

Zuko rolled to the side, and Natsu landed, scattering sand everywhere. He waited for the sand to clear, and while Zuko had retreated expecting an attack, Natsu had remained still.

“Rest well, Zuko. You will not be remembered” Natsu’s voice echoed, and then he was off again. Zuko managed to block the first attack, an axe kick matched with an arc of flames, with both arms crossed above his head. But that left him vulnerable as Natsu used the leg on Zuko’s arms to pull himself upwards and then spun into a kick that crashed right into the Prince’s ribs. He went flying and rolled along the Colisseum’s floor. Natsu stood there, and then clasped his hands together, before pulling them apart slowly.

Between his hands was a small ember of flames. He described this to Toph as best he could. The fire got bigger and bigger. Up until the point where it was about the size of a volley ball. Then and only then did it shoot from between Natsu’s hands like a cannonball. Zuko had just managed to rise to his knees then, and could do nothing but watch the attack hit.

Toji lifted a hand to cover his eyes from the brightness of the explosion as he felt some of the hair on his arms be burnt off from the heat. He moved to make sure he was standing in front of the little munchkin.

When the explosion stopped flashing at his lids, he opened his eyes to find where Zuko had been kneeling had turned to glass. There was no body left behind. Just molten glass on the floor with green flames licking above it. Natsu lifted his fist to the air and the crowd went wild.

A/N: This might be my weakest fight scene in this story. Just couldn’t make it a competitive struggle, and Natsu isn’t the type to play around with Zuko that much.