The Dragon's Aim
Lucy was certainly not going to tell Happy about what Gajeel told her. If she did, then Happy would go attack Gajeel, and maybe even warn Natsu. Lucy dared not let Natsu find that out. If he did, there was nothing stopping him from laying waste to the entire surrounding area, including Egora.
At the moment, Happy, still in human form, was flying Lucy back to the mountain. What she wouldn't give for him to make a comment about how heavy she was?
"Is there anything I should know about Natsu at this point?" Lucy asked.
"Just watch what you say," Happy said, "Natsu already had a short temper before he changed, but now, you say one thing wrong, he'll go crazy." One more thing to feel sad about Lucy thought. Natsu's temper may have been, for lack of a better word, fiery, but it was never with any malicious intent, or cruelty. That seemed to be different at this point.
(in the caves)
Natsu couldn't sleep. He wanted to blame it on something like water dripping, or a ruby getting interlocked between a scale (don't be mistaken those can hurt). But he knew he couldn't lie to himself. He knew why he couldn't sleep.
Why did they have to come back? he thought I was trying to move on. Maybe that wasn't true, but as far as Natsu was concerned it was. Here he sat, a mighty dragon of fire, like his father before him, ready to not just succeed his father as the Flame Dragon King, but the king of all dragons. But now all his former friends had to come back.
"Damn them all!" Natsu roared, as he held up his fire infused, three-clawed fist, and smashed it into the wall, creating a large hole in the wall, "They turn their backs on me for all this time, and now they decide to come back?! Why can't they just leave me alone?! I don't need them! I don't need anyone!" He let out a roar, loosing his fire into the air, and lashing his body around in his rage.
In the process, he slammed his head into the wall, which dazed him just long enough to lose his footing, and fall to the ground. As he law there, he stared at the ceiling of his cave, and remember back to when this all began….
(Flashback)
"I AM… FIRE! I AM… DEATH!"
The fire consumed Natsu completely, hiding his body from view. Then, from the fire, emerged an enormous three claws hand, with a wing attached to it, and then another from the other side. Finally, a massive snake-like head and neck arose, and the fire died down. The newly transformed Natsu wavered, as he fell to all fours. He then rose his claw and looked at it.
"I'm… a dragon," he whispered. He overlooked his newly acquired body, as he flicked his tail, and ran his long tongue along his razor sharp teeth. Deciding to test something, he arched back, preparing his Dragon's Roar, as his chest lit up, like a furnace. He then let out a roar, and in addition, a stream of fire, that consumed much of the cave before him. Quickly following him, he arched by his Fire Dragon's Iron Fist, and slammed it into the wall, blowing a hole clean though the mountain.
"All this power," Natsu muttered. He expected Smaug to pop into his head and make a comment about it, but the dragon within was silent. That was when Natsu came to the realization that, in a sense, he had become Smaug. Like a snake, he had shed his old skin, and become something greater. Never had he felt such a level of strength, With this power, he would destroy Acnologia, and all those who dared challenge him.
"Natsu." The dragon whirled around, only to see Happy standing before him.
"Happy," Natsu growled, "What are you doing here?"
"What happened to you?" Happy asked softly, as he teared up.
"I became stronger," Natsu answered, "With this power, I will turn Acnologia to ash!"
"But what about…," Happy began.
"Fairy Tail is gone!" Natsu snapped, startling Happy, "They've all left me!" Happy just stared in fear and sorrow at his oldest friend, and adoptive father.
"Never again will I pledge myself to others, nor let others pledge themselves to me," Natsu explained, "With my own power, and my own power alone, I will avenge Igneel! And if doing that turns me into a fire dragon, like him before me, I will readily embrace this fate!"
"What are you going to do?" Happy asked. Natsu turned to the hole he made in the cave. A storm was building up, but he didn't care.
"I'm leaving," Natsu answered, as he crawled towards the gap.
"Wait!" Happy said, as he flew forward.
"What?"
"Take me with you!" Happy called, as he jumped onto one of Natsu's horns.
"Why would I do that?" Natsu inclined, as his eye rolled up.
"Because I can be your servant!" Happy said quickly, "I can bring you food and fire to eat!" Natsu wanted to say no. He wanted to tell Happy to "piss off", and never bother him again. But he couldn't. Despite everything, Natsu couldn't leave Happy behind.
"Keeping up with me will be your responsibility," he said.
"Thank you Natsu!" Happy said, hugging the horn. Natsu snorted, as he headed towards the exit.
"Wait!" Happy cried, as he flew over to the remains of Natsu's clothes, "Don't forget this!" He held up Natsu's scarf, still completely intact. For a time, Natsu stared at it.
"Its a symbol of a past," Natsu said, "The future's all I have at this point. Leave it."
"No!" Happy said firmly, as he fluttered up to Natsu's eye, which was now more much larger than the cat's own body, "Igneel gave this too you! You have to keep it!" Natsu thought about those words, before letting some steam out of his mouth, and gesturing with his eye. Happy, understanding, flew up to one of Natsu's horns, and tied it around it.
With that, Natsu emerged from the opening, and jumped off the cliff. Happy cried as they fell, until Natsu opened his wings, and in an instant, was soaring through the air.
(Pause Flashback)
Natsu was broken from his thought when a stalactite fell to the ground, making a loud bang. Damn this cave he thought, as he got up, and tried to slide under his rubies. Yes, his rubies. They were created through his power, in his mountain, they belonged to him, and Natsu was going to be damned if anyone stole anything from him.
As he buried himself in his wealth, Natsu closed his eyes, and tried to go to sleep again. Maybe now his memories would finally leave him alone.
(with Erza)
Erza was sitting on the docks, having finally gotten away from the others. She needed some time alone with her thoughts. The fairy turned mermaid looked over the lake, as she thought about one of her closest friends, now a tremendous dragon. What were they going to do at this point? Would they really have to kill Natsu?
No! Erza thought We're not going to do that! At this point, she had to have faith in Lucy. Natsu managed to be calmed by her, if only barely, but she had to believe she could do it again. At that point, her communication lacrima lit up. She answered it.
"Erza."
"Gray," Erza responded. She was glad she was away from her guild mates now, she couldn't let anyone see her at this point.
"Is it true?" Gray asked, "Is there a dragon in the mountain?"
"Yes, yes there is," Erza answered slowly.
"So what the others said about it was true," Gray muttered briefly.
"What were they even doing there?" Erza asked.
"The priest wanted to gather the rubies for a source of magical power," Gray explained, "Obviously that isn't going to work. But what's with this dragon? I heard its a fire dragon, right?"
"Yes," Erza said, "But the thing is…"
"Do you have any idea where Natsu is?" Gray asked, "He'd be more than helpf…"
"Natsu's the dragon," Erza said bluntly. There was a brief silence.
"That's…"
"I know you're going to say its impossible," Erza interrupted, "I don't know it is possible, but somehow, Natsu transformed into a dragon." Gray was silent for a time, as he apparently thought over this.
"What are you going to do?"
"Lucy's here too. She's heading to the mountain right now to try and talk down Natsu."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Gray asked.
"No," Erza answered, "I'd rather it be me going me up into that mountain into the dragon's lair. But the alliterative isn't any better."
"What is the alternative?" Erza was silent. She still couldn't wrap her head around the second option.
"If we're unable to talk down Natsu, then he's going to be a danger to others," she answered, "If Lucy can't calm Natsu down, and potentially save him, then we're going to have to put Natsu down."
"That's it!" Gray declared, "Screw my being undercover! I've got to get there!"
"You know you can't do that now!" Erza protested, standing up, "We've gotten this far, and we can't stop now!"
"I'm not asking for your permission," Gray said, "What's going on there, trumps what's going on here!" Not leaving this open for discussion, he hung up. Erza sighed, staring at the lacrima.
"Well at least Juvia will be getting Gray back," she said.
(in Natsu's lair)
For any other race, being buried in rubies would probably be unpleasant, but for a dragon, it was actually quite cozy. Natsu enjoyed feeling the precious stones shipping under him. It actually made for a decently comfortable bed. Unfortunately, in his comfort, his memories slipped back to him…
(Flashback)
Natsu had flown before, either with Happy carrying him, or using his fire wings to soar about. But this time was different. The feeling of the air under his wings, and the wind in his face, Natsu felt as if the sky belonged to him. Is this what it feels to really be a dragon? he thought.
Happy was clinging hard to Natsu's horn, as Natsu soared through the air. He didn't speak until Natsu landed to get a drink of water from a lake.
"Where are we going?" Happy asked.
"North," Natsu answered.
"Why?"
"Because that's where I want to go," Natsu answered bluntly. Honestly, the only reason he was flying North, was because it was the direction he had been facing when he first took flight. He didn't care where it lead him, just as long as it was away from Magnolia, and away from them.
After Natsu finished, he instructed Happy to climb back on to his horn. And with that, he flapped back into the air. They spent an hour or so flying, before Happy noticed something.
"Natsu!" he called.
"What?"
"There's something going on in the West!" Natsu looked in the direction, and noticed trails of smoke.
"So?" he asked.
"Aren't you going to do something? People might be danger!"
"I'm a fire dragon!" Natsu said, "I don't stop fires, I make them!"
"Why can't we go over there?" Happy asked, "What's the problem?" Natsu opened his mouth protest, but instead he just clenched his teeth, and flew West.
Eventually, Natsu noticed what looked like a town, being attacked by a a dark guild of some sorts. Apparently, there was some kind of legal guild there, judging by the mages assembled before them.
"We've got to…" But the dragon beat him to the punch, and swooped down, and over the village, much to everyones horror.
"Dragon!" the leader of the dark mages cried, as the dark mages scattered, only to be quickly consumed in Natsu's fire. The villagers cheered at Natsu as he flew over.
"You did it, Natsu!" Happy said excitedly. But Natsu wasn't done yet. He flew over, and at that point, he noticed the sizable guild hall. His eyes narrowed, as he dove towards the guild hall.
"Natsu, what are you doing?" Happy asked. Natsu didn't give time to answer, as he opened up his wings, and started his descent. He held up his back talons, as they were cloaked in fire. With that, Natsu crashed into the guild hall, crushing it beneath his feet, and anyone unfortunate enough to still be in there.
The townspeople stared in shock as the dragon, who they initially thought to be their savior, had just destroyed the guild they relied on for protection.
"Natsu…. why?" Happy asked in horror. Natsu held his head up high. He looked over the villagers, and then into the distance. At this point, he knew what he had to do, what his world had become, and what he had to do.
"My world, no, the world itself, is dead," Natsu said darkly, "It is time for this world of guilds to end in fire. After I end Acnologia, and claim for myself the title of 'Dragon King', I will scour the land, and bring an end to all guilds. Light, dark, independent, they will all be turned to ash." He then picked up a piece of rubble, that had the symbol of the guild he just obliterated.
"The world will end in fire, and from the ashes, a new world will arise, one of strength, and power," he growled as he crushed the rubble in his claws, "This is my mission." Happy (and everyone else there) looked on in horror at Natsu's speech. But one by one, the people of the town fell to one knee in signs of submission, until the entire town was kneeling before Natsu, while Happy just watched on in horror.
(a few months later)
For the next five months, Natsu traveled from town to town, destroying guilds he could find. The people who lived in that town, and the surviving mages, of which there were remarkable many of, pledged themselves to Natsu, out of either respect, or fear. As a result, no word of a dragon traveling the North of Fiore reached the Magic Council. All this time, Happy always kept close to him, never leaving Natsu's side.
One day, Natsu was flying across the North, before he noticed something. A large mountain, on its own, surrounding by no other mountains. Something about it seemed very enticing, and he started veering towards it.
"What are you doing?" Happy asked.
"I found us our home," Natsu declared, as he soared towards it. He then perched on the side of the mountain, and slammed a fire infused fist into it. With that, he slithered into the hole he just broke open. He dipped his head in, letting out a puff of fire, lighting up the cavern within.
"Its huge!" Happy said, his eyes wide. Indeed, the cavern was massive, big enough for Natsu to move completely freely, and even maybe flutter around slightly. Natsu floated down the ground, as he looked around for a place to sleep.
"There!" he declared gesturing to a large pit.
"It looks kind of scary," Happy said nervously.
"That's my choice," Natsu said, as he slithered into it, "This mountain will be my castle, after I become the king!"
"Yes Natsu," Happy said softly.
(End Flashback)
Natsu shifted in his rubies. He would have to resume his plan soon. But something about what just happened….
"Why couldn't they have left me alone?" he muttered.
(with Happy and Lucy)
Happy set Lucy on the ground in the cave. Lucy needed to do this. She had no choice. She had to do this, not just for the people here, but for Natsu as well. Lucy knew that some of Natsu had to be left in there, and she had to get it.
During this, Happy let his memory wander back to when this was all set up…
(Flashback)
Happy sat on the edge of the pit, in his human form, staring at the cave ceiling. He fiddled a ruby through his hands in silence. That was when heard voices for the first time in a while. He ducked behind a rock, as he saw a group of men, lead by one short man, with blocky features, and a large nose. The man was a dwarf. (I mean dwarf as in the race, not just a little person)
"What's a dwarf doing here?" Happy muttered softly to himself.
"Look at all these rubies!" the dwarf said in awe, "Imagine the wealth this can offer me!"
"Indeed, Lord Murninator," one of the men standing next to him said.
"We must begin mining operations immediately!" the dwarf, Murninator, said, "Inform every worker that we're starting now!"
Happy wanted to warn him, he wanted to tell him run away, to not wake Natsu up. To let him sleep. But something prevented him. That thing, was his loyalty to Natsu, to his….
(End Flashback)
King? Happy thought. Was Natsu his king now?
Lucy stood before the pit, as she stared down into the darkness.
"Let's go," she said firmly.
"Are you sure about this?" Happy asked.
"This was your idea," Lucy said, "Its too late to stop now. Take me down." After a brief pause, Happy picked up Lucy, and descended down into the dragon's lair.
Note: I actually wrote some of this chapter with a picture of Smaug in my view. Now we know what Natsu's plan is. He intends to destroy all of the guilds, and burn the old world to the ground, and raise a new world, with him as the king.
In the list of things I really didn't think Natsu would do, telling Happy to "piss off" was among them, even if he turned into a dragon. In addition, I wanted to give Natsu a little more of a dark edge, to demonstrate how's he's falling to darkness. I wanted to do what I could, to make Natsu legitimately dark, for as long as I can.
Now in light of the most recent two chapters, I decided to change up what was going on with Gray and Juvia. You'll be seeing them sooner than I initially anticipated. Speaking of the recent chapters, apparently on MangaPark, Fairy Tail has just overtaken Bleach for the No.3 spot.
A quick note I'd like to make, because my comment at the top of the page about rubies and them getting interlocked with scales, was supposed to be like those things some authors put in at the beginning and endings of their stories as parts of the Author Note. Personally, I can't stand those, they are a major pet peeve of mine. No disrespect to the authors themselves or their stories, I just really hate those things. So my comment is probably the closest you're going to get of something like that.
