Pain. Pain was all Natsu could feel as he drifted aimlessly. Then it faded, only to be replaced by the cold. Shivering, he attempted to open his eyes. They were heavy. Almost like lead. Once they were opened, he looked around. All around him, the only thing he could see was black. Then, from within the blackness, he heard voices.
Are you sure?
Positive. There is no other choice. He is still alive.
Then he must go. He has still to achieve his goal.
'Wha? Igneel?' Natsu thought as his eyes widened. He frantically turned his head, searching in the darkness for the source of the voice of his father. "Igneel! Igneel is that you?! Where are you?!" he shouted into the void.
Then another voice appeared, "Hello Natsu."
He snapped his head towards the source of the voice and growled, "Zeref. My asshole of a brother. How is death treating you?"
Zeref smiled, "It's been great!" he said with a grin. "Thank you for killing me. You have put an end to my four hundred year torment and for that, I am grateful, my beloved little brother. Although the asshole comment hurt…"
"Alright, I get it. You're happy I killed you great, your welcome, but what are you doing here?" Natsu couldn't help but ask.
With the change in topic, Zeref's face turned serious. "Natsu, as much as I hate to say it, your journey is still not over. Acnologia is still alive."
Natsu froze in shock, "What?! But how?! I thought for sure I incinerated him with that last attack!"
"No, he survived it. And worse off, he fled the dimensional rift before it could collapse and escaped into another world to recuperate and regain the strength he lost." said another voice.
Natsu turned around and froze again. There, in front of him, stood Igneel in all his glory. His red scales glowing with power and his eyes gleaming with pride at his son. Natsu approached him slowly as if he were an illusion, "Igneel…? Is that really you?"
Igneel laughed, "Of course it is! Who the hell else would it be? Know any other giant red dragons?"
Natsu then broke out into a run. "Igneel!" he cried, shedding tears as he charged towards the king of the fire dragons. Crashing into him, he hung on for dear life as if he would vanish. The dragon's body radiating warmth just like Natsu remembered as a child.
"Enough my boy. We've had our reunion, now it's back to business. Acnologia is still alive and we need to discuss how you are going to put him down." Igneel stated.
"Me? Don't you mean us?" Natsu replied in confusion.
"No Natsu. We mean you." Zeref cuts in. "As long as Acnologia is alive, people will be in danger, no matter what realm he resides in. That's why we are sending you. You and you alone possess the power necessary to destroy him, thus you alone are going to fight him. However, we will be giving you a few gifts to help ensure your survival."
"What kind of gifts? I don't want your creepy death magic thing if that's what you're talking about." Natsu asked skeptically.
"No, you idiot! I am giving you access to my power once more. The power you used when you foolishly challenged your brother and nearly killed him with. The power to burn the earth, sky, and sea alike. The true power of a fire dragon king." Igneel proudly proclaimed. "However, due to the massive amount of power, you will only be able to maintain it in your Dragonforce state. So don't be surprised if you permanently end up with scales on the sides of your body, face, and arms."
"And I will be granting you knowledge of the new world. How it works, its laws, and its threats, as well as its history and anything that would be vital or could be of use." Zeref continued.
"I understand Igneel doing this for me but why you?" Natsu asks as his brother chuckles.
"Natsu, my killer or not, you are still my beloved brother. The same brother that I gave my humanity and mortality to resurrect, even if it was as a demon. I watched you die only to send you off once I brought you back. You are all that mattered to me, even in my maddened state. That's why I am willing to go to such lengths for you. Besides, I missed much of your childhood and I am determined to make up for the lost time." the dark mage answered with a smirk.
Natsu matched Zeref's smirk with his own. "Well, I hope you know I hate learning, so good luck with that!"
"Oh I know Natsu, but you don't have a choice." Zeref laughed cynically under his breath.
"It seems our time is up, Natsu. You must go now, and don't worry. The next time we'll meet, you'll have no regrets left in your life. Farewell, Natsu. Our beloved family." Both Igneel and Zeref simultaneously said as they slowly vanished from sight.
"Goodbye, dad, big brother," Natsu whispered as he drifted towards the light to be reborn once more.
