On to business, seeing as I've only gone one day in to the story and already feel as though I should update, I don't have much in terms of reviews, favorites, and follows. But, I still have some! And I have to say that I am pretty happy about it. Thank you to those people that did that, and that's the main reason that I'm updating so soon. Although, I am updating on my phone again...
I don't have much more to say as I have only gotten one PM regarding the story so far and the review that I have gotten is not concerning the contents of the story. The PM was about the shipping and potential romance in the story. Note the characters I placed in the stories description. Natsu, Erza, and Lucy. Either of those two girls are the main route. BUT... I am open to suggestions. Vote on which girl gets the ship, or vote on a completely different girl. Hell Mira could join the potential ships. There are two more options, although one of them is probably not going to be very supported. Natsu can either get a small harem and no definite girl, OR he could get... No one. He could have no ship. I doubt people will want that as much but it's possible. So... Yea. Vote on that if you want. Don't forget to leave a follow, review, and/or favorite. It helps a lot in terms of making me want to update sooner. Look at me. Already updating after one day because one review, one PM, and a couple followers made me happy.
Anyway we might as well get started!
"Speech/Talking"
"Thoughts"
"Spells"
"YELLING/LOUD NOISES"
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail. I really wish I did. Money and owning such a great anime? Cool.
"How long are you going to make me wait?" the voice roared.
Natsu, now age 12 slowly crawls out from the cave where he and Igneel took up residence.
"Gimme a break! You had me training a lot longer than usual these last couple of days. Who stuck a stick up your ass?"
The large reptile gazed at the young boy.
"You want to get stronger don't you? After 7 years, you're still to lazy. Natsu, you must master Fire Dragon Slayer magic."
At his adopted fathers gaze, Natsu grew curious. Something was there.
What was that glint in his eye? Sorrow? Regret?
"Yea, yea whatever. I already know a lot of magic. The only thing I can't beat is you!"
"Natsu, I am but one being that is more powerful than you. You have to-"
"Wait a minute. I understand that this is important, but we have plenty of time. What is the point of us stressing about this. I have years to learn this magic. And thanks to you, I'll be the strongest Mage in Fiore! Hell, I could be the strongest Mage in the world! And I'll definitely defeat you some day. Just you wait, I'll beat you!"
At his sons declaration, Igneel couldn't help but feel pride. Pride in his sons courage. Pride in his sons spirit. His onyx eyes held a glorious shine. But, while prideful, Igneel couldn't help but feel distressed.
Natsu could see his fathers mental anguish but decided not to bother him about it. Sometimes people, or dragons, just needed to think to themselves.
"Natsu, I have no doubt that someday will not only grow to surpass me, but you'll grow to surpass the mightiest of mages. But, now is the time to train."
For we don't have as much time as you think.
Leaving it at that, Natsu walked out of the cave and started up his daily routine. Beginning with a jog, with occasional sprints, around the base of the mountain that their cave was carved in to. After a few miles worth of laps, he began to strengthen his magic flow with a small meditational cool down. Igneel already had the boulders set up for target practice.
Natsu then used his various spells. With destructive force, he hurled spell after spell at the boulders, at his fathers command.
Why has he been working me so hard lately? I have seen improvement in my magical container, but this is ridiculous!
"Fire Dragons Iron Fist!"Natsu yelled out.
"Natsu that is enough practice for now. It's time for lunch."
"Awe, yes! I'm starved!" replied the heaving boy.
The two are in relative silence except for the occasional questions about Igneels past, or other curiosities that the boy had for the world he lived in. Natsu, over the 7 years he trained with Igneel, grew to love him as a father. And Igneel loved him as a son. They grew to be a family.
"You idiot, stop eating the raw meat before you cook it!"
With a big toothy grin, the goofball chomped into his raw meat, much to the disdain of his father.
Was this kid dropped on his head as a baby? Igneel pondered that thought with a sweat drop. That was until, his mind moved on to a more important matter. I can sense him. He's nearing. Tomorrow is the time. But, there's no sense in not enjoying today.
With that thought on his mind, Igneel and Natsu ate, enjoyed each others company, and even played a couple of games. Despite not being able to catch the dragon when Igneel decided to cheat and fly, Natsu still tried his hardest to tag the large lizard. The joy he felt while playing with his father would not make him guess in a million years, that what would happen tomorrow, would ever happen at all.
The Next Morning
The sun was high in the sky. An odd occasion for the boy to wake up to since he's been woken up at the crack of dawn since he was adopted. His eyes slowly began to open.
Huh? What the hell? Where's Igneel? Is he hunting? Eh, he's probably just hunting.
Not wanting to annoy his father after he got back, Natsu began to start his routine. A couple miles worth of laps and his target practice were complete within a relatively short amount of time. Working himself to the point that he used to, he wasn't dying from exhaustion like the last couple of weeks.
It's been a few hours. There's no way he could possibly be taking that long to hunt a few deer. He's a dragon for christs sake! He could sniff out a herd of deer and slaughter them all at a moments notice!
It was then that he heard the hard downstrokes of large wings. Although, there was a problem. The wings were not in rhythm. It was almost like... Whatever was flying, was in pain.
Natsu grew worried and ran towards the sound as fast as he could. With his dragon slayer hearing, he could hear it at a fairly large distance away, yet it only took a second for him to sprint to the origin of the sound.
Igneel attempted a landing, only to stagger and fall.
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU!?" Natsu yelled.
Igneel was broken. His left wing was clearly cracked along the bone, his back leg had a chunk missing, and various battle wounds littered his body. Blood soaked his red scales leaving a dark scarlet. It was evident that many bones were broken and even the membane on his wings were to torn.
"Who could have- no. WHAT COULD HAVE DONE THIS TO YOU!?" screamed Natsu.
Igneel opened his eyes after a few shaky breaths and looked Natsu in the eye. Natsu could see many things in just that one gaze. Love, compassion, fufillment, success, and- regret. It was at this moment that Igneel tried to speak. But, he could only cough up blood at his attempt.
"No. No, no, no, no. Don't try to speak. I'll get help yea? I can get help and fix you. You'll be alright. I know it. Just don't move and I'll go get help," Natsu cried.
There was no way this was happening. Igneel couldn't have possibly lost a fight. He's a dragon. One of the most powerful beings to have ever walked the earth, flown through the skies, and swam in the oceans. Igneel couldn't have lost a fight. His dad couldn't have lost a fight.
"Natsu."
The pink haired boys eyes widened at the voice that came out of his fathers maw. It was weak, and fragile. It didn't sound like Igneel. Igneels voice held power! This voice was one of a dying creature.
"No, please don't speak. I'm going to get help! Just wait here!"
"Natsu, no."
He couldn't take anymore. He needed to run. This couldn't be happening. His dad couldn't be beaten, bloodied and bruised, right before his eyes.
Natsu dropped. His legs grew weak. He dropped his head as tears fell freely.
"Natsu I must tell you one last story about my past."
He continued to look down, his bangs over his eyes.
"Long ago. One man changed the world as we know it," Igneel croaked out. "This man was a dragon slayer like no other. He wanted nothing but power. He slaughtered dragons to gain this power. He turned animalistic. He lost all sense of his humanity. And, as he bathed in the blood of dragon after dragon, he did something no one thought was possible."
At this, Natsu looked up at Igneel. A dead look in his eye. The light that he saw shining in those onyx eyes was gone.
"This man, was no longer a man. He became darkness itself, in the form of a dragon. Scales as black as night. He continued his rampage until he was thought to be unstoppable. He-"
"Did he do this to you?"
Igneel could sense his sons rage and sorrow. Natsu was no longer Natsu.
"Yes. But-"
"I'LL KILL HIM! WHAT'S HIS NAME!? I'LL TEAR HIM LIMB FROM LIMB! I-"
"Quiet boy!"
"BUT-"
"He's dead!"
Natsu grew quiet.
What? How? What's going ON!?
"Listen Natsu. I have something to tell you that you will not like," Igneel confessed. "This man went by the name Acnologia. He was the Dragon of Chaos. And today was the day that will go down in history as the day...- that Acnologia was slain."
Natsu was shocked. Slain? How?
"Acnologia has tormented this world long enough. We, the Dragon Kings, congregated and worked together to bring him down."
This sounded like great news! But, what could Igneel mean by bad news?
I only need to go for help, right? And then Igneel will be okay, and we can continue our lives! Yea, that sounds great!
Caught in his fantasies, he failed to notice Igneels eyes darken.
"But-" Igneel continued.
But?
I am going to die."
Those five words rung out in his mind. It was those five words that would stay with him forever. His father couldn't die. It wasn't possible. He father was the most powerful creature in this forest. He was a Dragon King. King of fire.
Natsu broke. His reality shattered around him. Realization hit him. Igneel was going to die. His father was going to die.
"And I have only a few more requests of you. Will you please listen?"
Natsu crumpled. If his legs were weak before, it was nothing compared to the complete loss in motor function that he had right now. Using the last bit of his energy he nodded, staring at the ground, and refusing to look at the dying dragon.
"Request number one. Don't forget me."
At this Natsu grew angry.
"HOW COULD I!? YOU– YOU'RE MY DAD! I COULD NEVER FORGET YOU!"
Igneel chuckled a bit. And the regret that had previously been in his eyes, resurfaced.
"I wish I got to spend more time with you Natsu. I really do. Now that I think about it, 7 years wasn't that long. But, you're still a brat. My brat," Igneel chuckled before coughing up more blood.
Natsu sat their in disbelief. The situation he was in was so hard to comprehend. His dad was dying before his eyes.
"Request number 2. I need you to hold onto something very important. If not for my personal need of request number 1, this would've been top priority," laughed Igneel.
The large dragon then grew very serious. His gaze alone was enough to make Natsu shudder.
"I need you to hold Acnologias soul."
What. What? WHAT!?
"Acnologia was two things. A monster in mind and in body. He was powerful. To powerful. If his magic power were to be released, the continent would be wiped off the face of the earth. It needs a host to keep the power in check. I need you to be the container. That's also the reason for the hard training I've had you undergo. You're magical container is now big enough to host his soul without losing yourself."
This request was almost to much. Being a host for the most powerful dragon that's ever lived. The fate of the continent resting on his shoulders? It was to much.
"Why me? WHY ME!? I am not strong enough! How-"
"I know you're strong enough."
Natsu hung his head.
"You're strong, but not in the conventional sense. It's your heart Natsu."
He didn't understand. What did he mean?
"You are of the most pure humans that I have ever met. You are special in more ways than one. Whether it's your magical power or your ability to bring out joy with one smile," Igneel continued, "and that's where request 3 comes in. Smile."
Natsu looked up. How could he ever smile. He was paying witness to the worst event he could ever imagine. This was painful. It hurt.
"I know you're strong enough. I need you to smile. Bear the pain. Request number 4 is next. Make friends. Make the best friends you could ever dream of. Fight for them. Laugh with them. Cry with them. Enjoy life with them."
"How can I enjoy life if you're not in it?"
Igneel couldn't help but laugh at this.
"Because you're Natsu. Your heart is so warm and genuine. You must work past this!"
At this Igneel was getting louder, and Natsu could almost swear he saw tears beginning to form.
"Please! For me, just be the best you, that you can be! Smile at the beautiful world around you! Don't let life beat you down! Live! Smile! Be happy!"
"I-"
"You need to. I will forever live on in your heart. I promise. I will be with you forever. I even left a gift for you. I will only tell you of its location when you accept my requests! Come on boy, you must!"
"I-"
"Do you accept!?"
"I accept," Natsu mumbled.
"Speak up boy!"
"I ACCEPT!"
With a laugh resembling that of the old Igneel, he smiled the best he could in his current state.
"Great. Now I must reveal one last thing."
Natsu grew curious. What could Igneel possibly reveal at this point.
"I am only alive due to me hosting Acnologias soul and magical power."
What? So... If Natsu was to host the soul? Igneel would die?
"What?"
"Indeed. I will die when I give you his soul."
"But-"
"Remember what you promised me."
"But-"
"REMEMER IT WELL BOY!"
"I'll remember it!"
"The gift is hidden under a small stone outside of our cave. The stone resembles that of a dragons tail."
"Okay..."
"Now boy, are you ready?"
Nothing could have ever prepared him for this.
"I said 'ARE YOU READY?'"
"NO! BUT I HAVE TO!"
"Repeat back to me what I have requested!"
Natsu went over everything Igneel had said up until this point, including his request. Natsu began to slowly stand up, and he recites what Igneel requested.
"I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU!"
Igneel began to inhale.
"I WILL HOST ACNOLOGIAS POWER AND I WILL PROTECT THIS CONTINENT AGAINST IT!"
As time ticked on, Igneels chest grew with the incoming air.
"I WILL SMILE!"
Almost there.
"AND I WILL MAKE MANY FRIENDS! I WILL PROTECT THEM, LOVE THEM, AND FIGHT FOR THEM!"
Igneel had completed it.
"Get ready Natsu. And remember each request. Burn them into your memory!"
With a mighty roar Igneel blasted a jet of black and blue flames at Natsu.
"I love you Natsu."
With tears streaming down his face, endlessly, Natsu took one last look at Igneel. He could see a single tear rolling down the dragons bloodied face. Never before had Igneel said those three words even when Natsu said them to him.
There was only the loud crackle of the dark flames that Igneel spewed at Natsu. At least for now. For before the Fire Dragon King succumbed to the darkness, he smiled. For when his world went dark, he heard a big gulp.
And that's that. Honestly when I thought of that ending, I depressed myself. I'm sure everyone isn't going to be a cry baby like me about it. But, that was chapter 2 of Fairy Tail: Natsu Dragneels Legend! Feel free to PM me about ideas for you might want to see in the story, and don't forget to review, favorite, and follow if you want to read more. Although, I'm not that good. Remember to gimme a vote on the ship in the story. That's all I can really think of to say about that so... Meeka out.
