Why has the Wizards' Council suddenly decided to postpone the trials? Whatever is going on, nothing good is going to come of it.

"To hell with it. Let's go! We'll be back by nightfall."

"Somehow you believe yourself, Natsu. Do you think you can teach them that in three hours before it gets dark?" Aki asked provocatively.

"I don't think so, I know. You said they're teachable, so there's nothing to worry about. I'll feed them on time, don't worry." He called from the stairs and quickly caught up with us.

"I hope you're as hot as I am?"

"Of course we are! But tell me, where are we going?"

"Well, away from our garden. I don't want to burn Haru's flowers, even if they are withered. I did that once and well... It was worse than any natural disaster. I advise you to be careful. Touch his flowers and you're dead.

Kenji and I both laughed out loud and left.

We ended up in a small clearing in the woods. Natsu immediately fell into the grass. We carefully walked up to him and leaned over him. He just opened one eye and watched us intently for a while.

"What is it? I don't need to tell you that you need to concentrate. I think that's twice enough for you. You have to look within yourself. Your inner fire. Come on, let's get to it. I'm gonna take a nap before I bite into something juicy." He finished his big teacherly lecture and put his hands behind his head and closed his eye.

I sighed out loud and sat down in the grass a little ways away. Kenji echoed me and we both went back into meditation mode.

No avatar of fire or perhaps Gaia herself visited my thoughts. It was like the first time. Alone in the darkness. I had to find the light. I ran, but I couldn't find it. I didn't even want to stop. I'll just find the fire in me.

An hour later

I finally see the light. I quickly run to the small flame. It barely glows. It's staggering and looks like it's about to go out. The flame reflected in my eyes and I was completely hypnotized by it. Carefully and slowly, I began to reach out to it. I had no idea that I might get burned. I didn't even feel anything as I approached. Maybe it was my previous hypnosis. The flame began to flicker more. It started to go out! Oh, no! I quickly reached into the flame. The flame suddenly flared up. My whole arm, even me, started to burn. But it didn't hurt at all. I closed my eyes and let my inner fire take me. How could my fire hurt me? I would be a coward and not control it if I was afraid of myself. I may doubt myself sometimes, but I've been more sure of myself in the last few months than ever before. In fact, since meeting those four leeches, I'm different.

I suddenly woke up. No darkness, but a bright light. I blinked rapidly and gradually got used to the daylight. I was still in the same place. Just me, Kenji and a sleeping Natsu. I'm glad I made it. Judging by Kenji's blissful expression, he did too.

"So we're done. We only have one more to go." I said proudly.

"Yeah. Now let's go fool around. You got her!"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

He slapped my hand and started running.

"What are we, five?" I asked with a giggle and took off running after him.

Yes boys will always be boys. We are a shining example of never growing up. We're almost 18 and 19 and we're flying around playing baba like five year old caparts. But in our defense, it was fun. It's nice to have a little fun now and then. Especially after such a hard journey. It seems easy to get the element, but every time I get it, I get a five-minute migraine. I can suppress it, but it's not pleasant. And what better cure than fooling around.

I almost had Kenji. He used to smile at me and stick his tongue out like a baby. And that was a mistake. He tripped over a bump on the ground and fell. Unfortunately, he fell on a root and hit his temple.

"Kenji!" I yelled and quickly ran up to him.

"Are you okay? Let me see."

I gingerly touched the red strand that was flowing from his head.

"Yes I am. It just hurts."

"It's gonna be okay just..." I stopped mid-sentence when I heard a loud swipe of his nose.

Shit, Natsu. Natsu was already on his feet, full of form. He smelled Kenji's blood, and it derailed him again. He would've held on if he was fed, but now he was hungry, and he looked pretty hungry. I stood in front of Kenji to cover him up a bit and he wasn't looking at the blood.

"Okay Natsu. I know you're hungry, but you don't want to eat Kenji." I appealed to him, but it wasn't believable enough. I was scared of him and my voice was shaking.

"No, you're right. I'll eat you both." And he licked his lips hungrily.

His face wouldn't normally scare me, but his vampire eyes and fangs made me decide to fight back any way I could.

"Sorry, Natsu, but you'll thank me later." I said in a slightly more firm voice.

I held my hands out towards a tree nearby and ordered him to cuff Natsu. The branches immediately began to wrap around Natsu's body. He twitched, but didn't stand a chance. I turned to Kenji. He was staggering between consciousness and unconsciousness.

"Kenji, don't fall asleep. Just sit here and sit." I whispered softly in his ear and pulled him over to the tree I was leaning against.

"Okay. Just don't sleep." I patted his cheek and smiled.

I turned my attention back to Natsu. He had stopped moving. He gave up. Thank God. I thought to myself when suddenly he was all on fire and my feet were there.

"Hell's circle." He whispered, and a circle of fire formed around him and me.

Damn it. I'd forgotten about it. He controls the fire even in that state. What now? My earth and air spells won't work on him. I don't know enough of them to stop fire yet. And I don't know any fire spells either. What now?! I wish I had a fire dragon. Wait, what if I have one too? I can try to summon it! No, Iruka, you have to control it or you and Kenji will die today.

"I was really hungry for you, but now I'm going to burn you to the ground. The flames of hell!!"

I didn't heed his words or the spell he cast. Reality didn't exist for me at that moment. I plunged back into myself and tried to find that flame inside me again. Never in my life had I been so focused to run somewhere in my awareness like that. It was strong, but not strong enough to defeat Natsu, of that I was certain. Suddenly I see an egg in the fire. A fire dragon? I have it inside me? I jumped into the flames and grabbed the egg. That's when I woke up. Its flame was almost upon me. Instinctively, I crossed my arms in front of me.

"Shield of the Fire Dragon!" I yelled at the last moment.

The flames of hell struck, but fortunately did not kill me. My dragon shield protected me. The flames ceased and so did my shield. Now it's my turn.

"Dragon..." I reached out for my counterattack. A dragon was even beginning to emerge from the flames, but suddenly I was interrupted.

"Stupefaciunt!" Kenji coughed out, interrupting me.

The spell instantly hit Natsuo and he collapsed to the ground. My flames ceased and my dragon disappeared.

"Hey you! Dragonlord!" Kenji shouted at me in amusement.

I walked over to him and stared at him in incomprehension.

"Don't waste that amazing power on someone like Natsu." He chuckled.

I couldn't help but feel the corners of my mouth lift up as well.

"I had to protect you at all costs."

"Don't worry, he's unconscious now. Then pull out your cell phone and call the guys. You're not gonna get us both home and that's enough for today."

I had to laugh again. He was making fun of me like he always does. I immediately took his advice and called Haru and explained everything to him.