This is a 'what if' story... Where Natsu Dragneel wasn't Zeref's Brother but instead was born four hundred years later. Without Zeref's evil influence, what would become of the Fairy Tail universe? Well for starters there would be no Acnologia, no demons and the dragons would live on and that's only the beginning of the changes, especially at Fairy Tail! - A new darkness rises! AU OOC
A simple twist of faith and Natsu Dragneel is born to Jude and Layla Heartfilia... Now before everyone writes the story of because of this, I want you to know that Layla and Jude are only in the first chapter and perhaps down the road in some future chapters.
This is Natsu's story and it's about his adventures in Fairy Tail, with some romance thrown in... Who am I kidding, Erza is head over heals for him! Natsu will be stronger, smarter and wiser thanks to Jude and Layla's influence, hence the reason for his parents. There's also Lucy but that's another matter altoghter! LOL
Also some familiar characters will have slight alterations to their personalities, while others will have major alterations but for the most part the majority will remain the same as Hiro had written them... It will all depend on their circumstances in their lives... Remember without Zeref's influence many events never happened! At least in my story they never! (Arcs may still happen but for different reasons!) You'll see what I mean over the next three chapters.
Note: There will be a few time skips over the next three or four chapters! Three in this one! Their minor and meant to move the story along... You'll see what I mean after this chapter! Well lets get to it then!
Disclaimer... I do not own Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima does!
Fairy Tail - Phoenix Rising!
By The Bay Man
Chapter 1 - Natsu & Lucy
"I-Igneel!... I-IGNEEL!... G-GRAANPAAAAA!" Yelled a two-year old pink-haired boy, as he pulled a small bundle tightly to his chest and ran. It bounced lightly as he excitedly moved around the large grassy clearing... Checking behind nearby trees, inside a small dark cave and even underneath several small rocks, yet he was at a loss as to where the mammoth fire-dragon could be hiding.
He huffed and puffed and then screamed at the top of his lungs once again, "IGNEEL-PAPPY!"
"..."
"Why are you so loud today my boy?" The large fire-dragon said as he descended from above and slowly transformed into a six-foot tall, red-headed man dressed in black jeans and a red shirt. As he approached the young boy his sense of smell picked up a scent that set alarms off all throughout his system. "Natsu!... What do you have there?"
Natsu ran up to him holding the small bundle out at arms length and proudly smiled up at Igneel as if he held the greatest treasure of all time within his small hands! "L-Look!" He excitedly said with a grin.
Igneel slowly pulled the small pink-blanket back and his eyes bulged as he stared down at a new-born baby with brown eyes and a hint of blonde hair. Gripped with dread, he glared at the young grinning boy.
"N-Natsu is that a-a baby girl?" The horrified man said as Natsu nodded profusely.
"Ahh ha!... My little sister Lucy!" He proudly smiled as he pulled her tightly to his chest. "Ain't she sump-ton!"
"Yes..." He said as he trailed off and looked around. His senses were in overdrive as he tried to find the source of dread that was now washing over him. "D-Does your mother know she's here with you?"
Natsu shrugged and grinned back up at the red-head.
"My boy... I would not want to be in your shoes when she notices what you've done!"
"Ah!... Momma said she was my little sister and I have to protect her!" He smirked while he gently rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.
"W-What are you doing?" Igneel asked as he ran his hand through his thick red hair. He was preparing himself because he knew with this boy, it had to be good!
"Rocking Lucy!" He said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Igneel face-palmed but his attention quickly turned to a screaming voice running towards the field.
"NATSUUU!" A tall blonde-haired woman yelled as she entered the open field. She stopped briefly and scanned the area and when she noticed the pair, she ran towards them. "NATSU DRAGNEEL HEARTFILIA!" She shouted.
"M-Momma!" Natsu's smile immediately faded to a frown when he saw the death-glare his mother was sending his way. She stopped in front of Natsu and fell to her knees pulling Natsu and the sleeping infant into her tight embrace and released a loud sigh of relief.
"Please sweetheart, don't 'ever' do that again... W-We thought that you both had been kidnapped or something!... Ms. Spetto is frantic and your father..." She paused to calm herself. "...Your father is beside himself! ...He even called out the city guards to search for you two!" She said as her voice fell to a whisper as relief washed over her at seeing they were both unharmed... Natsu's bottom lip quivered as he was on the verge of crying.
"S-Sorry Momma!" Natsu sniffled as he stared up at her red tear-filled eyes and he burst into tears. Layla's heart broke at the sight of the overtly happy child now bawling his eyes out.
"There, there sweetheart, it's alright now!" She said as she pulled out a handkerchief from a pocket in her yellow sun-dress and slowly wiped away his tears. She gave him her best smile and then turned her head upwards and glared at the red-headed man beside her and growled lowly. Igneel stepped back and held his arms up in surrender.
"Dad!... Please stop encouraging him, you know how he is!..." She said as she caught sight of another man hiding behind a cluster of trees just a few feet away. "...And that goes for you're partner in crime, hiding over there!" Layla groaned as she pointed towards the shorter blue-haired man making his way towards them.
"I had nothing to do with this Layla-chan!" The approaching figure said as he waved off any possible involvement.
"That's not fair Layla!" Igneel said with a low groan as he watched Natsu turn his now brilliant smile towards the new man.
"Uncle Atlas! Look!..." Natsu grinned as he broke free of his mother's embrace and stared up at his friend. "...Isn't my baby pretty!"
"That she is young dragon, perhaps I can take her under my wing when she gets older!" Atlas grinned but stumbled back as an angry Celestial Lion appeared out of no-where.
"Not happening flame-brain, this princess belongs to me!" Leo spouted but was quickly bought back to the reality as Layla yelled at the two. They glared at each other one last time before they felt the Celestial maiden's anger rise.
"ENOUGH!" Layla took a deep breath and rose to her feet. She glared at her brother and then her spirit and she sighed. She knew this was going to escalate and now was not the time nor the place to be deciding her two-week-old child's future. "Jude and I will decide our children's future teachers when we feel it is the right time, not you two bumbling hot-heads!"
"But Layla-chan..." Atlas stopped when he noticed Layla's aura change and he knew now wasn't the time to argue with the new mother.
"Layla, I-I..." Leo also stopped mid-sentence when Layla roared, "ENOUGH ALREADY!" at the two stubborn males. Igneel and Atlas cringed at her loud voice and Leo stepped back. They knew not to get on the wrong side of the irate Celestial mage - Years of experience had taught them that!
"That's better!" She said as she looked around the field. A moment later she sighed and looked up into her father's eyes, he pause and release a sigh before he slowly shook his head 'no'. "Still nothing from mom!?"
"Sorry my child!..." Igneel said as he fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around his teary-eyed adopted daughter. "...We'll never give up looking for her!"
"Dad I miss her so much and I want her to meet her new granddaughter!" She whispered to him.
"We'll find her!... Besides it's only been two months and she's disappeared like this before! Remember?... She's probably off helping some poor lost soul again!" Igneel half-heatedly laughed as he gently patted his daughter's back. She took a deep breath and released it and nodded. "Good!" He said as he stood up and helped Layla to her feet. "Now let me see my newest pup!"
"Hey!..." Layla groaned at her father as she gently took Lucy from a disappointed Natsu and proudly handed her daughter to the King of the Fire Dragons. "...She's not some street mongrel you know!"
"Okay, okay!... Point taken, my pup!" He laughed at his daughter who was now turning bright red. He loved her dearly but, 'she could be quite childish at times' he thought!
"Dad!" The flustered girl yelled as she snatched her daughter from the disappointed Dragon and reached down and scooped up her son in one fluid motion. With a smirk she stuck out her tongue and made a mad-dash towards the pathway that led back towards their home. "Come over later!" She yelled back as she disappeared into the woods.
"Well that was rude!" Atlas laughed and Igneel smiled back at him and nodded.
"Now, run along little pussycat!" Igneel waved his hand in front of Leo who 'humphed' and followed quickly after his master. "Bye-Bye!" They both waved in unison.
"Well pops, it looks like things are going to get interesting around here now!" Atlas said as he slowly changed back into his Flame Dragon form and was quickly followed by Igneel who followed suit. They both took to the sky and as they saw Layla and her children near their home they both released mighty roars which caused Layla to stop and wave to the dragons as they disappeared into the clouds.
Four Years Later!...
"Stop following me Lucy!" Natsu said as he put up his hand to stop the charging four-year old blonde, who had been hot on his heels all day.
"...But Natsu you said we could play all day cause Mamma and Pappa were gone working!" She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.
"But Lucy..." Natsu sighed as he kept staring at the door in front of him. He kept dancing from one leg to the other as he tried to escape his little sister just for a moment... But that wasn't an easy task for Natsu as Lucy seemed to have a very unique knack of finding him no matter where he disappeared to... It made playing hide-and-seek with her rather difficult for the six-year old. "...I have to go pee!... Really, 'really' bad!"
"No!... You said you'd play with me 'all' day!" She groaned but Natsu knew he would give in, he always did as there was something about her infectious smile and her warm eyes that always melted his resolve... But this time he had to stand firm or at-least offer up something in return for a few moments of privacy. "I'll take you out to see Grandpa and Uncle Atlas if you give me just five minutes of privacy!"
"Really!... Grandpa!" Her eyes lit up, "promise!"
"I promise!" He said as his dance had turned into jumping from one leg to the other as he held himself tightly and hoped he would make it in time.
"Okaay!" She softly groaned as Natsu grinned and disappeared in a flash.
Later that evening, the Heartfilia household had been in an uproar as Atlas had gone behind his sister's back and passed his power unto his young niece. He never meant to cause problems but he knew how stubborn Layla would be and her husband Jude could be just as bad at times. ...But he wasn't going to be deterred and no one but him was going to teach his niece magic. It was his right as her uncle and no amount of argument or common sense from anyone was going to sway his mind. So he did what any uncle would do in the given situation - He went behind his sister's back and did as he pleased!... And quickly cowered behind his father when she found out.
After hours of arguments the Heartfilia household slowly returned to normal and a battered and bruised Atlas disappeared for a few days. Igneel figured that was for the best as they knew Layla's anger would subside in a day or two and all Atlas had to do was crawl back and beg for forgiveness and all would be forgiven. Eventually!
Later that night Virgo had tucked the children into their bed and left when Layla had arrived to say goodnight to her children. It was the nightly routine for the Heartfilia children and all involved looked forward to it, especially Jude who was always very busy during the day.
It had been a long tiring day for our young and very newly-minted Dragon Slayer. It was a painful experience getting her powers but she promised Atlas she wouldn't cry and she kept her word, never shedding a tear but the tears fell when her mother and father had found out what she had done! Their admonishment of her hurt more than Atlas' power transfer ever could. She knew she was to wait until her parents gave her their 'okay' but she hated those days when Natsu got to train and she had to study all by herself in the library... It wasn't fair!
She was lonely during those times but now that her parents had given 'their consent' or had no other choice in the matter, she could stay by her big brother's side even more and that made her happier than even the magic she was going to learn.
As her mother tucked her and Natsu into their bed she smiled down at her two rambunctious children and she couldn't help but smile. She and Jude had tried everything possible and yet no matter what they did Natsu would end up in Lucy's bed so in the end they conceded and moved Natsu into Lucy's room... And the two couldn't be happier!
A moment later Jude entered the kid's pink room, walked up to the four-posted bed and sat on the edge. The angry scowl that he had earlier that day was now replaced with a genuine smile as he noticed his children beaming with not only energy but smiles... Especially his little princess who looked as if she was the proverbial cat that swallowed the canary.
"You look happy princess!" Jude said as he ran his fingers along her pink cheeks causing her to grin ecstatically. Lucy's head bobbed up-and-down excitedly as a wide grin washed over her face! It was the first time he noticed her elongated canines and he knew there was no turning back now. He remembered how it all had started... His fathers death and meeting Layla and her family - the dragons! "Would you two like to hear a story?" Jude asked but he knew the answer before he even asked the question but he asked anyway!
"Yea!" Natsu said as he pumped his fist into the air. Lucy nodded frantically while Layla smiled down at her two little trouble-makers.
"Yeaaa!... Story time!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Very well!..." Jude said as he cleared his throat as he shifted Natsu slightly to the side and slid in between the two restless children. Sliding an arm around each child, all-the-while he watched his wife stretch comfortably across the bed and rest her chin in the palms of her hands. Layla was like a child as well sometimes and he smiled at the sight of his happy family. It was moments like these that made all the hard work he put in to building his empire well worth it.
"Natsu!... Lucy!... Did your mother or I ever tell you about the greatest mage ever... Zeref, your Grandpa and how Dragon Slayers came to be?" They both shook there heads 'no'. Jude smiled when he realized he had a story that he hadn't told the pair yet.
"Before the Great Dragon War, Dragons dominated the world. They had no regard for life especially those that were different from them but there were some Dragons that believed that they could live in harmony with humans and the biggest supporter of this idea was the Dragon King and his Queen... Your Grandfather and Grandmother!..." Jude stopped and glanced towards a smiling Layla who confirmed he was correct.
"Was I there?" Natsu asked curiously. Jude chuckled at his six-year old's inquisitive nature.
"No my boy, you weren't!... You came a 'lot' later!" Jude chuckled and shook his head in disbelief at his sons odd inquiry.
"Jude!" Layla groaned as she reached across the bed and gently smacked his leg.
"Sorry my dear!" He said as Natsu and Lucy giggled. "That reminds me, we need to get a good math teacher for this one here!" Jude pointed to Natsu and Layla nodded her agreement.
"What's mat?" Lucy raised her head and asked.
"Sweetheart not 'mat' but 'math'... But we'll save that for another time, let's let your father continue with his story, shall we!"
"Okaay!"
"Will I like math?" Natsu scratched his head and wondered what was so important about this 'math' thing anyway!
"Absolutely!" Layla smirked as she motioned for Jude to continue.
"Thank you my dear!" Jude leaned forward and kissed his wife's cheek which caused Layla to blush a light pink and their children to giggle again.
"Me too!" Lucy said as she stared up at her father. Her beautiful brown orbs melted his heart and he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Me three!" Natsu glared up at his father and waited but he never had to wait long as he was quickly rewarded with a kiss on the cheek that caused Natsu's grin to grow even larger than it was before.
"Adorable!" Layla cooed as she watched her husband smile light up the room. She knew he may be a little short with the kids from time-to-time but moments like these made her so happy she choose him as her husband, her mate! She knew he loved their children more than anything and it was times like these where he would relax and show that side of himself... The side she had seen when she first met him, which reminded her... "Jude you're getting sidetracked again!"
"Sorry my dear but it's hard not to get distracted with these two so close!" Layla smiled and nodded. He was right when it came to their children, they had a way of digging deep into your very soul and illuminating it. They made you feel warm and fuzzy as if being in their presence made the world a better place, even her brother had commented on it just after Lucy was born. "He said, "their smiles warms the heart!""
"Very true my dear!" Layla leaned forward and softly kissed Lucy and then Natsu. They both giggled and Lalya melted as she noticed Lucy reach across her father's chest and took Natsu's hand into hers. Their bond seemed deeper than most siblings and even though they constantly fought one another at the end of the day they were always like this... Very close!
"Anyway back to my story!..." Jude stopped and took a small breath as he reorganized his thoughts and continued. "At that same time there was a very powerful wizard named Zeref Dragneel, who was known to most people as the 'Black Wizard' because of his work in the area of demonology but to those that were close to him he was called the 'White Wizard'!... And his biggest supporter was his wife Anna! She loved him dearly and would follow him wherever he went. Whether it was on a mission or work related she was always at his side. In time they would be joined by a young girl, their daughter, Mavis!"
"A few years later Zeref formed an alliance with the Dragon King and the two of them slowly put an end to the war that had plagued the world for years... And do you know how they ended the war?..." Jude paused and glanced down at his curious but confused children. Natsu opened his mouth as if he was going to speak but quickly closed it again as he leaned back into his pillow and shook his head from side-to-side. "...They created Dragon Slayers!"
"L-Like us?" Lucy whispered. Natsu leaned forward and grinned at his sister and she grinned back.
"No!... Not exactly like you two!" Layla proudly said. "You two are a little different from most Slayers! For one thing you were both born with the ability to use my magic and your fathers and that's thanks to your Grandmother's unique magic and her blessing on Jude and I when we were married. Also your Grandfather and Uncle not only gave you a portion of their magic, unlike other dragon slayers who are taught the ability to use their magic but they also marked you both as Dragon Royalty which comes with some special powers and privileges. So 'no' you are not like normal Slayers!"
Natsu sprang forward at mention of the word 'special', "Special!... How?"
"Sorry son but Igneel will tell you that when he feels the time is right!" Jude's eye-brow rose as he watched his son sink back into his pillow with a thud. "Don't worry son, we have similar marks and it's something really cool! Actually I think that only one person outside our family was gifted with that mark and it was Zeref's daughter, Mavis!" Jude's mind drifted back to the day he married Layla and the moment Igneel bestowed his families crest upon his chest just above his heart. It was an exact copy of the crest Layla had. It was a small black dragon with red flames circling it. At first he thought it to be a normal tattoo but over time he realized it held hidden power as it had different effects depending on his mood.
"Anyway dear you're getting side-tracked again!" Layla shook her head when she noticed Jude staring off into space. At the sound of her voice he quickly returned to his story.
"Sorry!... Back to my story!" Jude said as he rubbed his chin and began to speak. "Where was I again before I got side-tracked!"
"Zeref dear!..." Layla said as she gestured with her hand for Jude to get back on topic as she had noticed that Lucy had drifted off to sleep several minutes ago and Natsu was fading fast. "Jude your loosing your audience!" Jude looked down and sighed as he noticed Natsu was now starting to snore. It was too late!
"I guess we'll have to finish this story another night!" Jude said with a sigh as he gently slid out from beneath his children and pulled the covers over the two sleeping children. They kissed them both and exited the children's room.
"I can imagine how surprised those two will be when they find out about the other slayers!" Jude laughed as he wrapped an arm around his wife and disappeared down the hall.
Little did this happy family realize that everything would change and it all would happen on the seventh of July in the year x777... The day the Dragons disappeared!
Sixteen Years Later... Port Town of Hargeon!
"Why do you think we'll find him here?" The raven-haired mage said as he carefully scanned the bustling port town, carefully side-stepping people as they moved through the town.
"Because Master asked us to come check this place out Gray... Isn't that enough!?" The scarlet-haired mage said but she sighed when she noticed Gray's state of dress. "Gray!... Clothes!"
"Damn! When did that happen?" He groaned as he quickly back tracked and returned a few minutes later fully dressed only to find a group of people had gathered around a mysterious mage shouting a name...
"Salamander!?"
"Finally!" Erza and Gray said in unison as they pushed through the unruly crowd.
I will post chapter 2 on Friday and then updates should be weekly after that. If there's no interest I'll probably remove it and move on! Sorry it's not a form of blackmail but more of hating to waste my time and effort if it isn't wanted. I hope everyone can understand that! I have several stories where there is no interest...
Anyway thank you for reading and I'll see you next chapter, sometime on Friday!