I See Fire
Happy had managed to carry Lucy back to Fairy Tail, where Porlyusica was brought in immediately to treat Lucy's burns. Everyone was assembled in the guild, waiting for news on her. The only one who was allowed to be in their with Lucy was Happy.
"Hang in there, Lucy!" Happy said, as he floated over Lucy.
"Move," Porlyusica said, as she mixed something, "I can't have anybody in my way."
(outside the infirmary)
"I really hope Lu's going to be okay," Levy said nervously.
"Porlyusica said that her burn isn't too severe, but she may end up having some scars," Cana said, as she stared at her beer mug, too nervous to actually drink.
"Why would Natsu do this?" Mirajane said worriedly.
"Of course he wouldn't," Macao said, "That's not who Natsu is."
"But Lucy didn't get burned from nothing," Wakaba responded. There was a silence reverberating across the guild, as that sunk in. They all knew Natsu would never willingly hurt anyone in the guild, with Lucy being particularly low on the list.
"Where is Natsu?!" Erza demanded, slamming her fist into her hand, "I'm going to punish him like I've never punished him before!"
"And I'm going to help you!" Gray said, as his clenched his own fist, "Its high time that guy was taken down a peg!"
"This could give me a good excuse to family lay a beating on Salamander!" Gajeel said with a grin.
"Gajeel!" Levy scolded.
"What?" Gajeel answered.
"Enough!" Everyone turned to see Makarov sitting on the bar, his arms folded, and his head hung.
"At this point, what Natsu's going through on his own is more painful than any punishment that you can deal to him."
(in the mountains near Magnolia)
There was a cave, somewhere deep within the mountains, that was inaccessible by foot. But if one had wings…
Natsu sat in the cave, curled up, his head in his hands, as he breathed heavily, fire leaking out of his mouth with each breath. Flaring around him was a curtain of fire, as his Dragon's Eye still glowed bright. But Natsu wasn't paying attention to any of this. His entire mind was on one thing, he had sworn never to day: he had hurt Lucy.
He had always cared about all the people in the guild, but there was something about Lucy. Something was special about her, giving Natsu an emotion he never felt again. One he didn't fully understand. And yet he had hurt her.
"I'm not dangerous…," he mumbled, "I'm not a monster…" But Natsu could hear something, in the back of his mind. Something growling. As he listened, the rest of the world fell away from around him.
(in Natsu's mind)
Natsu was suddenly standing in the volcanic land again, on his knees.
"I'm not dangerous!" he repeated loudly, "I'm not a monster! Lucy, I'm sorry!"
"That is not true," a familiar voice called out. Natsu looked up, and saw the dragon from before, but this time, it wasn't hidden the smoke, and Natsu saw it in full.
The dragon had red scales, like Igneel, but that was were the similarities ended. It was built like a massive snake, with a long neck, and a tail that was at least twice the length of its body. Framing its long head were a crown of horns, and running down its back were plated armor, and a series of scales coating its neck and chest, save for a scar on its neck. One that was eerily similar to Natsu's scar on his own neck.
"You are dangerous," the dragon said, as it crawled towards Natsu, grabbing and maneuvering across the rocks, "Fire is dangerous. But that is not weakness! That is strength!"
"Who are you?" Natsu asked, the same question he asked when he first saw the dragon.
"I suppose you can know it now. In the strictest of terms, I'm you," the dragon responded.
"What?" Natsu asked, "But…"
"I am what you could be," it explained, "If you stop fighting the power you have. If you let it go, and allow you're true strength to emerge."
"My true strength?"
"Do not feign ignorance," the dragon growled, "You know of what I speak. You experienced it, and you saw what you were capable of." An image appeared in the smoke, as Natsu saw his battle with Laxus, as he sunk his teeth into Laxus' shoulder.
"But I can't hurt Lucy!" Natsu said, shaking his head, "And I don't want her to be afraid of me!"
"Why would you not desire that? Fear is power."
"Because Lucy's my friend!" Natsu yelled. He knew she was more of that, and chances are, the dragon did as well.
"And if power has to be taken from fear, then I don't want power!"
"They should be afraid of you!" the dragon roared. Natsu looked up. Suddenly, he was a child again, no older than when Igneel left.
"But they're… they're my friends," Natsu said, "Nobody was supposed to be afraid of me!"
"What are they, lowly humans, compared to you?"the dragon continued, "Insects, that is what! They fear you because they know you are stronger than them."
Natsu turned, and saw a new image in the smoke, as he saw people bowing, including all the members of Fairy Tail.
"You can rule them as a King, nay, a god," the dragon said, as it circled Natsu like a snake, "Embrace your true power! Embrace the fear that they hold for you! And you will be unstoppable!" Natsu watched as the smoke cleared away, and he saw that all the members were bowing before him. Natsu covered his face, he didn't want to see that.
"I'm not a monster! I'm not a monster!" he cried, tears streaming through his fingers.
"Stop denying who you are! Clasp your true nature in both your claws. You're weakness has been the result of you denying it. You are a monster, and monsters are powerful."
"I'm… I'm…," Natsu stuttered, as he grabbed his head, and continued crying.
(in the real world)
Natsu, on his knees, with tears dripping down his face. The fire was surging around him, and threw the cave. He held up his head up, as his Dragon's Eye's power surged. Scales slowly began to form on Natsu's arms, as his teeth sharpened, his three fingers began to turn to claws, while his remaining two lengthened out, with webbing in between them. Tiny horns began to poke through his hair.
(in the mental world)
"Yes!" the dragon hissed, as it slithered closer, looming over Natsu darkly, "Now tell me, what do you see?"
The young Natsu just stared into the smoke, as the image in the smoke changed. No longer was everyone bowing to Natsu, they were bowing to the dragon. The land, and buildings were burning, as burnt bodies lay littered across the dirt. Lucy was in the dragon's talons, her eyes closed, as if she were asleep.
"I see fire," Natsu answered slowly, "Nothing but fire, burning the land."
"That is the true nature of power," the dragon said menacingly, "There is fire, and there those who turn to ash. You are fire, all others turn to ash in your path!" With that, he reared over Natsu, his chest glowing, and he struck forward.
At that exact moment, there was a surge of fire from a different source, that caused the dragon to flap back in response. Natsu looked in that direction, and then he heard the voice.
"BEGONE FROM HERE!" a very familiar voice roared, "THIS BOY DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU! Natsu stared in shock, as a familiar shape formed through the fire.
"Igneel," he whispered in awe.
The great fire dragon stood tall, his wings spread, and his teeth bared at the other dragon. The other dragon saw Igneel, and slowly retreated back, away from Natsu.
"You," the four legged dragon hissed, as he glared at Igneel.
"I told you begone!" Igneel repeated, "Leave this boy and his loved ones be! They are not yours to take! For you are but a worm! A worm that crawls on its belly, working its way into the minds of others! And for that, I grant you this name: Smaug! A name of disgrace, and one you deserve! Now I will say one last time: begone!" The dragon just glowered back at Igneel, before slowly backing off, and taking to the air, disappearing into the smoke. But Natsu wasn't paying attention to the newly christened Smaug, all his attention was on Igneel.
"Igneel?" Natsu asked slowly. Igneel looked down on his son, and smiled.
"Natsu," he said. Natsu struggled to find his words. There was so much he wanted to know, so much that he had been wondering about that day in x777. But he couldn't find what to say.
"I understand you have questions," Igneel said, "But I am afraid I cannot answer them. I am not truly here, this is merely a piece of my magic I left in you, so that I could guide you if the time arose. And it seems it did." Natsu then finally decided what to do. He cried out, and sprung forward, grabbing his father's nose.
"I missed you so much!" he cried. Natsu didn't care if Igneel wasn't truly there. This was the first he saw of his father in years. He was going to ensure every moment count.
"You never could keep your mind on topic," Igneel said, smiling at his son, "But now you and I must discuss this all."
"What?" Natsu asked, stepping back.
"This power you awakened, Dragon's Eye," Igneel explained, "No doubt you have realized that this power is dangerous." Natsu stared at the ground, nodding.
"There is something you must know about fire," the Fire Dragon continued, "Fire is certainly one of the mightiest of the elements, but it is also the most difficult to master. Fire can, and often will, consume you, if you forget its power. But never forget its true nature."
"Yeah," Natsu said sadly, "Its destruction."
"That's not true," Igneel responded. Natsu looked up in surprise.
"Fire may be destructive, it is not destruction," Igneel explained, "Fire is the element of strength, and power. Its potential is dangerous, but unmatchable if used right. In that sense, it is quite like the power of Dragon's Eye. Dragon's Eye is an incredible power, but one that will consume you if are not careful."
"I know, but how can I be careful?" Natsu said. Igneel chuckled at that.
"Of course you don't," he said, "In order to be careful, you must find anchors to keep you in the light."
"Anchors?" Natsu asked. Igneel looked at the smoke, as did Natsu, and an image of the different members of Fairy Tail appeared.
"All those people are your anchors," Igneel said, "They are the ones who protect you." Then an image of Lucy appeared, smiling at them.
"Lucy," Natsu said slowly.
"I know you are confused about this," the dragon said, "But it is simple. What you are feeling, is love."
"Love?" Natsu asked. Never did he think about that, but… did he love Lucy?
"Love is one of the strongest forces out there," Igneel said, "It made me strong, and it makes you strong. That girl will be among your strongest anchors, and she will be at your side in your most troubling hours."
"But…," Natsu said, "I hurt her. I don't want to hurt her again!" He then began to tear up slightly.
"Natsu," Igneel said sternly. Son looked up at father.
"You will carry this with you for the rest of your life. But you must not allow it to rule it. Your friends love you with all their hearts, and that girl with possibly more. They will forgive you, but you must also allow you to forgive yourself. For if you let your sorrow consume you, then you will be lost" Natsu listened to Igneel's lecture, before clenching his fists.
"I'm never going to use Dragon's Eye again," he said, "I can't."
"No!" Igneel responded to Natsu's surprise, "You must not run away from your fears. For doing that, is the same as giving into them." Natsu was silent, before he slowly nodded.
"There is one more thing you must know," Igneel said, "Soon, you will likely meet a child of a friend. When all is done, this child will be alone. Promise me, that you will be there for her, as her guide."
"But…," Natsu began, but noticed Igneel's expression, and then he said, "I promise."
"Good. Though I'm afraid this is all I can give you for now," Igneel said, as he reared up.
"You aren't going are you?!" Natsu cried.
"I will always be present, to guide you," Igneel answered, "I am with you!" With that, he opened his wings, and fire surged around him, and Natsu. When the fire faded, Natsu was back in his normal age.
(in the real world)
Natsu took a breath, as he stood up, his draconic features gone, as was his Dragon's Eye. He then looked at his hand.
"Lucy," he said.
(two days later, in Magnolia)
Lucy was very fortunate for Porlyusica. Without her, her burns would probably be in a far worse place. But thanks to the herbalist, Lucy's burns healed fairly quickly, with minimal scarring likely.
Right now, she was heading back to her apartment, a sleeping Happy in arms. Happy had never left Lucy's side since the accident, since Natsu wasn't around.
"Natsu," Lucy said. Whether for better or for worse, Lucy could not be angry at he for what he did. She knew very well that Natsu would never, in a thousand years, hurt Lucy intentionally. And because of that, she could not hold it over Natsu's head. Of course, she hadn't seen him since. The Dragon Slayer had disappeared into the mountains, and hadn't been seen by anyone since. And that worried Lucy. That wasn't like him.
"Where are you?" she asked out loud. She got her answer when she opened her door.
Sitting at the table, his head hung, was Natsu. Lucy stopped, as she looked at Natsu, setting Happy on her laundry basket.
"Natsu," she said.
"Lucy," Natsu said as he rose his head to look her in the eye. Lucy slowly approached him.
"Natsu, I…" But Natsu beat her to the punch, as he grabbed her arms.
"Lucy!" he cried, tears in his eyes, "I'm so sorry! I didn't want to hurt you! I promise it was an accident! I promise, I will never hurt you again!" After he was done, he hung his head weakly, as he cried.
"Natsu," Lucy answered, as she stared at him surprise. Then, something awoke her in. Some kind of feeling that she didn't fully understand, but didn't feel she needed to. She cupped Natsu's face, and brought it up to look at her.
"I forgive you," she said with a smile, "I will always forgive you." Natsu slowly rose to his feet, as he touched Lucy's hand against his face.
"Lucy," he said, smiling.
"Natsu," the blonde responded. It couldn't be explained, but at that moment, the emotions the two had long either suppressed or ignored, escaped to the surface, and at long last, they both acted upon them. Slowly, the two leaned towards each other.
And their lips connected.
The two briefly separated, and looked into each other's eyes, before the two kissed again. But this time, their tongues slid out, and into the other's mouth. The two embraced, as they began to move back. And with that, they fell back onto Lucy's bed.
All the while, Happy slept peacefully on Lucy's laundry.
(in the mental world)
Igneel lay in the lava, as he watched his son returned to happiness, smiling.
"Don't degrade yourself with spying." Igneel looked over, and saw Smaug perched on a rock.
"I told you to leave," Igneel growled.
"I know you talk a big game, Flame Dragon King," Smaug said, ignoring the comment, "But you and I both know that I can go nowhere without that boy following, and likewise, he cannot go without me following. He and I are one and the same."
"That is not true," Igneel hissed.
"And you also know, I am the only one keeping it at bay,"Smaug said, as he glared at Igneel. Igneel just glared back at Smaug, but he retracted his glare. He was not a fool, he knew Smaug's true nature, and how he was intertwined with Natsu. But for now, his son would enjoy his world.
Note: There we have it folks. Natsu and Lucy are officially hooked up. I hope you all liked this chapter, with Igneel's exchange with Natsu, and with Smaug. And yes, Natsu and Lucy had sex, even though they probably shouldn't have with Happy in the room.
Surely some of you won't be happy with me using Smaug's name. Well, I figured I might as well go all out with the Smaug references, but don't worry, there probably won't be any other Tolkien references beyond that.
Up next is the Oracion Seis arc, and of course, Wendy.