User blog comment:Omega natsu2/Fairy Tail Zero: Dances with Blades, Review./@comment-5268982-20141023165343/@comment-31.61.140.196-20141023175516

If I had to make in-universe explanation for that, I would say Gray could have been far more motivated to learn as a child than Natsu. When he started learning from Ur, he had a plan to kill Deliora and avenge his parents. Natsu had a normal, careless childhood (? lol I can't believe I'm saying that about a kid raised by giant dragon). Only after Igneel disappeared, he gained additional motivation to learn, to become strong and find him, while Gray lost his, 'cause Deliora was already sealed.

But, yeah, I wish he was weaker in that spinoff. But also his cocky attitude just after losing Ur prevents me from treating this seriously. More like, I don't know, maybe it's his diary which he wrote when he was like 15 and wanted to impress some waitress or other hot chick.