I have returned! Didn't go anywhere, but I have still returned. Hello everyone. How are you all? I know that there were many of you who wanted me to write Marie ending up with Natsu, but that is not what will happen. Fear not though! I have something that may satisfy you. If you go to my other fanfic, Natsu's shenanigans, you'll find a bunch of one-shots centering around Natsu and the most recent one is one where Natsu and Marie are married and have Blake, but the guild had no idea of this. I don't care if you really want to read all the other one-shots, but if you want to see Natsu and Marie together with Blake, just go there to the sixth chapter. With that out of the way, let's get back to the story. Also, for those of you who for some reason don't know, Wendy has used dragon force before and she gets pink hair and white feathers so if you didn't know go ahead and look that up since our favorite sky dragon slayer is gonna go into dragon force in the chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
For hours, the mages drove. Night had fallen as they reached the bottom of a mountain. Erza stopped the magic mobile, and the mages piled out. "You sure this where he is?" Gildarts asked.
"No doubt about it. He's at the top." Natsu said. "Let's go." Natsu ran forward, ready to climb the mountain.
"Wait a second, Natsu." Erza said.
Natsu turned around. "Wait? Wait for What? Acnologia is up there with my son!" He yelled angrily, pointing to the top of the mountain.
"I understand that, Natsu, believe me, I do, but Acnologia is strong. Don't you remember that he's the reason why I lost my arm and leg?"
"Don't you remember that he's the reason I lost my son?! I'm not wasting any time. Either come with me now or stay down here. I don't care which. I'm not letting that bastard get away with whatever he's planning." Natsu turned around and ran off, ready to fight Acnologia.
The wizards looked at each other with worried looks. They knew that Natsu was not going to wait around to make a plan. It was now or never, and they knew that regardless of how rash his plan of action might be, they'd stick with Natsu. He was their family, and they weren't going to abandon him now. With a nod of agreement between them, the wizards ran after Natsu, ready to face whatever stood in their way.
They were approaching the summit of the mountain within the hour. The dragon slayers were the only wizards who weren't tired. Erza, Lucy, Gray, Juvia, Mira, and even Gildarts were out of breath. While Gajeel, Wendy, and Laxus were sweating a bit, Natsu seemed tireless. They reached the top of the large mountain, revealing a waiting Acnologia. He stood in the center of the soon-to-be battlefield..
"So, you've arrived." He said. "I was sure you'd come eventually. Zeref warned me of your foolhardiness."
Every mage, save for Natsu, had been shocked by Zeref's name. The fire dragon slayer had no other care in the world other than taking down Acnologia and getting his son back. His fists quaked in anger. "Where's my son, Acnologia?!"
"Safe. He's resting in that cave over there. For now at least." Acnologia pointed to a large cave.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Natsu yelled.
"It means that for the time being, he's alive."
"The time being? What the hell are you planning to do with my son?!"
"That's none of your concern, dragon slayer."
"Acnologia…" He muttered under his breath. Natsu charged forward, his fists lit ablaze. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
Acnologia stood there as Natsu approached. He lifted his hand to meet Natsu's. An explosive sound echoed for miles around as Anologia caught Natsu's attack. "So weak. I'm surprised that Igneel, the Fire Dragon King would raise such pitiful offspring. It's hard to believe that your son is the one meant to destroy me."
"What the hell are you talking about, you bastard?" Natsu said through gritted teeth.
Acnologia kicked Natsu across the mountain top. "You have no need for an explanation. You'll be dead in the next few minutes." Natsu landed a few feet in front of his friends who couldn't help, but stand by and watch Natsu's first attack.
Lucy rushed forward, helping Natsu up. "Are you ok, Natsu?"
Natsu raised his head to reveal some blood coming from his mouth. "I'm fine. Never been better." If it wasn't for his clear injuries, she might have believed him. "Lucy, I need you to do something for me."
"What is it?"
"I'm gonna keep him distracted. While I do that, I need you to sneak past him and grab Blake from that cave. Once you have him, run as far away from here as you can."
"But Natsu, can you hold him off that long?"
"He can't." Erza began. "That's why we'll be fighting along with him." She requiped into her Heaven's Wheel armor. Gray and Juvia got ready to fight with chained attacks. Gajeel donned his iron shadow dragon form, and Wendy, her white feathers. Laxus shed his trench coat and powered up his lightning. Mira transformed into her satan soul form. Gildarts shed his black cloak and began releasing his magic power into the area. Though he used none of his magic, the earth began to lightly tremble.
Natsu smiled at his friends rising up to help him. "Let's go!" The dragon slayers were the first to charge, circling Acnologia with their speed.
"Do you think yourselves untouchable?" He asked. "I've killed each of your dragons! I'd have killed the pretender's dragon too if he actually had one"
They continued circling Acnologia, building up their magical power. "I may not be a true dragon slayer, but I sure as hell ain't weak. TAKE THIS!" Laxus charged up a lightning bolt in his arm and sent it towards Acnologia who merely stepped out of it's way.
"You may be powerful compared to most other mages, but compared to me, you are but a child!" Acnologia jumped at Laxus, grabbing him by the neck and raising him into the air. "You are the weakest of these dragon slayers. Do not presume that you have any right to challenge me!" Acnologia slammed Laxus into the ground, sending rocks into the air.
"Laxus!" Erza yelled out. The scarlet haired mage summoned as many swords as she could and launched them at the corrupt dragon slayer.
Acnologia saw the attack and jumped out of the way before he could be hit, but failed to realize Gajeel jumped up behind him in the air. "You should've never messed with our guild, you sick bastard." Gajeel punched Acnologia down into the ground. Still in the air, Gajeel unleashed an iron shadow dragon roar, causing a cloud of dust to surround him.
Sure that he had hurt Acnologia, Gajeel let out a smug grin before a mass of blue magic energy suddenly burst through the dust and hit him straight on, sending him flying. Natsu and Wendy stood on opposite sides of Acnologia. "Wendy, now!" Natsu yelled.
The two both let out their respective roars, Acnologia spread his arms apart and blocked the two magics from hitting him, but limiting his movement. Gray and Juvia took advantage of his position.
"Ice Make: Lance!" Gray yelled.
"Water Nebula!" Juvia cried out.
The attack further limited Acnologia's movements. Mira, Erza, and Gildarts all charged up their strongest attacks, ready to unleash their fury on the evil wizard. Acnologia, held off the attacks until something in him broke. He stood there, fending off the blows of the four wizards when he felt it. The rage inside him was let out. "ENOUGH!" Acnologia cried. A ball of blue magic enveloped him.
As the Fairy Tail mages let loose their attacks, all it did was absorb the magic. Erza, Mira, and Gildarts finally let loose, sending down a unison raid on the magic orb, only to have their attack phase into it as if it were nothing. The magic power that was resonating from within the ball was enormous. Without warning, it exploded, sending the wizards flying back.
Lucy had already made it into the cave that housed Blake. She saw the infant placed on a bed of rock. He shuffled around, crying loudly from the noise outside. Lucy picked him up and tried bouncing him in her arms. "Come on, little guy. Everything's gonna be ok now".
"Are you sure about that?" Said an unexpected voice.
Lucy turned around, only to see Zeref standing there. She almost felt paralyzed by fear. She backed up until she hit a wall. "No... It can't be you!"
"But it is." He said calmly.
"What are you doing here?" Lucy asked in a panicked tone.
"I'm simply here to observe how my brother fairs in this fight." He said.
"Brother? Is Acnologia your brother?" She asked in complete bewilderment. Zeref stood silent. He knew that she'd take it to be true, but he figured it best to deceive her. If it were to be revealed that Natsu was his brother now, it may ruin his plans in unforeseen ways. Lucy clutched Blake closer to her chest. "You'll never get away with this. We will stop you."
"That's what I'm hoping for." Zeref muttered.
"What?" Lucy asked, not being able to hear him.
"Forget it." Zeref walked over to a wall and placed his hand on it. As he did so, a safe passage to a lower part of the mountain was revealed. "Take this to leave the mountain without risking entrance into the battlefield." He said.
Lucy looked at him with distrustful eyes. "Why would you help us? You're working with Acnologia, aren't you?"
"The black dragon and I have had our dealings in the past, yes, but I have no desire to see him succeed."
"Why not?" Lucy questioned.
"Because he can't kill me."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Enough of this. I've given you a path to escape, free of danger for both you and the child. Leave now. Once you reach the end of the path I've made for you, you can either escape down the mountain or run to the top to join your friends."
Lucy still looked at him with distrust, but still began running down the path Zeref had carved for her.
Without warning, Zeref could hear a large explosion go off from outside. He went to the entrance of the cave and watched from the shadows. He could see the wizards scattered across the mountain top with Acnologia in the center. He was filled with rage. By no means was Acnologia hurt, but he was furious.
The Fairy Tail mages were awestruck. "After all that, he wasn't even hurt? What kind of monster is he?" Erza said.
The sight that next befell the wizards would be one to remember. Acnologia's skin grew black, with blue markings covering him. A set of black wings erupted from his back with a tail to accompany them. He grew larger and larger until reaching the full size of a dragon. The wizards all regrouped except Natsu who stood his ground.
Natsu looked at Acnologia with even more rage in his eyes. "You bastard!" He yelled. "You think that hiding behind some scales are gonna save you, huh?!"
"You are a tenacious one," Acnologia began. "But you are a fool if you think you can beat me." Acnologia turned his head to Natsu's allies who were all together. "For the trouble you've given me, I will make you watch their deaths before I deliver your own."
Natsu's eyes widened as Acnologia began to open his mouth. A light gathered within. He knew what would come next, as did the other wizards. Natsu rushed to get in the way of Acnologia's attack, even he knew the most likely outcome of his actions. Gray tried to stop Natsu, but was held back by Erza who knew that he would not only fail to get there in time, he would fail to save Natsu. Once decided about his actions, there wasn't a force in heaven or on earth that could stop him. The wizards looked at Natsu with tears in their eyes. They had come on this journey with him in order to save his son so that he could be with him, but now Natsu was risking his life to save them, knowing full well that he may never see his son again.
Natsu gathered his flames in his hands. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Exploding Lightning Blade!" The flames of lightning flame dragon rushed towards Acnologia, but not before the black dragon's roar could be unleashed. The raw power behind it tore through Natsu's flames with ease. Holding Acnologia's power back as well as he could, Natsu had some final words for his friends. "Guys… Take care of Blake… Please…" His breaths were labored. He was growing weaker by the second.
Before they could respond, Acnologia's breath attack consumed the dragon slayer. "NATSU!" They all yelled. Tears welled up in their eyes. Natsu Dragneel, the mage with the most passion and love in his heart had just sacrificed himself for his comrades. For his family.
Gildarts couldn't believe it. Natsu always struck him as someone who would fight to the death, but he never even considered the possibility of Natsu actually dying in any battle. The kid was too determined to ever give up. If he was being honest, he thought Natsu was too stubborn to die. Through his bawling eyes, Gildarts saw something. Something in Acnologia's attack. "Guys, look at that!" He yelled, pointing into the center of the attack.
His eyes had not lied to him. Within the ball of light stood Natsu who by unknown means was stopping the magic from coming forward. Only after looking closer could Gildarts see what he was doing. His eyes grew wide. "I don't believe it…" He said with dumbstruck expression.
"What is it?" Mira asked.
"He's eating Acnologia's breath attack!" Gildarts exclaimed in awe.
Sure enough, Natsu had stood there, taking the brunt of the attack, but rather than dying, Natsu was consuming the magic of his opponent. It was the largest gamble he had ever done, but he had done outstanding things before. Gray wiped the tears from his eyes. "That crazy son of a bitch…"
Acnologia's onslaught had finally let up, allowing for the dragon to see what had happened. He looked at Natsu with curiosity. "You're more sturdy than I gave credit for. Know that killing you was no easy feat, Son of Igneel."
Natsu stood his ground, though he was beyond weak. "You bastard… I'm not done with you yet!" He said through labored breaths.
"Fool." Acnologia began. "Don't think that I don't know of your accomplishments of consuming elements other than your own. My magic is much more potent than the forms you have eaten. It shall only poison you."
Natsu was soon forced to his knees when pain shot through his entire body. "No…" He said through gritted teeth. "This... isn't how I die. I'm not… letting that bastard… GET AWAY WITH THIS!" Natsu sprang to his feat, power running wildly within him. The magic within him was so powerful that one could feel it radiating from him.
To the surprise of everyone present, Acnologia included, red scales began to spread over Natsu's skin. Wings and a tail sprouted from his back, and he grew larger and larger until he matched Acnologia's size. He had become a dragon. Not only that, but his form even represented that of his father's.
Lucy had chosen to go to the top of the mountain after she had reached the end of Zeref's passage. She reached the top of the mountain and found the Fairy Tail wizards completely in awe with what had been presented before them. She followed their eyes until she could finally see what had them so dumbstruck. There stood what she thought was Natsu's father. Molten liquid spilled from his mouth, and his eyes were filled with a murderous intent.
"Is that… Igneel?!" She yelled. "How? Didn't Acnologia kill him?!"
Gajeel kept his bewildered expression on his face as he shook his head. "That ain't Igneel…. That's Salamander…"
"NATSU?!" She yelled.
Acnologia also was surprised. "You surprise me, Son of Igneel." He said. "But you are still no threat to me. That being said, know that even your father did not put up such a fight. You are likely the most powerful enemy I've faced in hundreds of years."
"QUIT TALKING ALREADY!" Natsu's voice boomed across the mountain top. The mages down below couldn't help, but notice that even his voice represented Igneel's. "You've taken enough from me, Acnologia! My father alone was something I couldn't bear, but you dared to take my son from me. For that, you will pay dearly."
"Very well, Natsu Dragneel. Know that killing you will bring me extreme pleasure."
"It's too bad that it's not gonna work out that way."
Natsu and Acnologia both rushed forward, releasing an onslaught of attacks. Their battle took high into the skies. The two dragons unleashing powerful attacks. Their roars could be heard by people miles away. The outcome of the battle that seemed so surely one-sided in the beginning, was now impossible to tell. The wizards stood in awe of the clash between the two dragons. Watching Natsu battle in his human form was already something to behold, but to see him fighting in the form of a dragon was something indescribable. Two creature thought to be the most powerful in this world, battling to the death. It would be difficult to find a sight that could possibly rival this one.
And I'm ending it here. How'd you like it? I worked really hard on this chapter. And let me say something to those of you who may complain that Natsu not only took Acnologia's attack as well as ate it. He's Natsu goddamned Dragneel. Let's face it. Natsu would totally attempt something that stupid. As for him surviving Acnologia's attack, I kind of answer this through my interpretation of Gildarts. He is too damn stubborn to die. Now it's time to address any concerns for people who are complaining that Natsu turned into a dragon. To you, I say: shut up. Natsu went half dragon in Dragon Cry. I don't find it much of a stretch to say that he can turn into a dragon like he did here. Now it's time to address the last of you. To those of you who are mad that I ended the chapter at this awesome moment, suck it up because the next chapter is gonna be great. Please review as it gives me more inspiration to write. I love you all! Goodbye!