Chapter 21
Natsu felt drained...he could barely open his eyes but when he managed to do it he found himself in a void and in front of him stood a huge shadow. It had horns potruding from its mouth, hair and shoulders, with two huge wings protruding from it's back. It smiled at Natsu with its red eyes glowing in excitement, "Natsu Dragneel…I've been waiting for you a long time".
Natsu froze he couldn't understand where he was or how he got here, but even in this void he could feel the presence of the beast in front of him "Who are you…where am I ?".
The beast grinned "Where you are, is none of your concern Natsu….. as for who I am ?. Well I guess you know the answer to that now don't you ?".
"Anksher….Anksheram" Natsu froze, he had a mixed feeling of dread and anger coursing through him but he found that he couldn't move a muscle.
"Interesting I never thought Zeref would manage this…..you are something special aren't you Natsu, you're not completely human,but you're not completely made up of Etherious either. Now to come to the question at hand, what do I do with you Natsu Dragneel ?" Anskheram asked his face filled with curiosity.
"Go ahead do your worst, I'll just use that immortality to find you and destroy you" Natsu replied furious.
Anksheram began to laugh before his face turned serious "Do you think you can Challenge a God Natsu ?. Don't be foolish".
"Well haven't you heard I am the demon END and I'll just have to knock you off that false pedestal you've created for yourself Anskheram" Natsu said grinning back at Anksheram.
It looked like Anksheram stood contemplating Natsu's statement before he began to disappear "I can't wait to bring you, to your knees Natsu Dragneel".
Natsu felt the void taking over him again "No enough of this already". Natsu opened his eyes again this time he could feel a different presence beside him, but he was beginning to feel very weak as his legs began to wobble "What the hell is going on ?...", Natsu groaned.
"Natsu…it's time for you to rest. There will be time for question's later", a huge voice boomed.
"Igneel….." was the last thing Natsu said before drifting off to sleep.
Porlyusica entered the guild to find most of them with sullen faces while the others tried to bring the guild back to it's former state of choas and disarray. She was used to the routine now, after all she was looking after the boy for the past two days now. While she managed to heal the other's, as they injuries weren't severe. With Natsu's case, it was different his body had suddenly began to grow cold and his breathing was almost shallow like he was on the verge of death and she had no idea as to what the boy was going through , instead as far as she knew the boy's Etherious abilities should protect him from his body's failing temperature even if his magic couldn't.
As Porlyusica entered the room Natsu was being kept in she found the bed as usual with the pink haired mage and the blonde Celestial Mage sitting beside his bed with her head beside his and as usual the Exceed sat at the other end looking at the two mage's. "You should wake her up", Porlyusica demanded Happy.
Happy frowned "Why don't you do it yourself, you're there anyway so why can't you ?". "Do you want me to help your friend or not ?. Then do as I tell you, you stupid cat", she said taking out a few potions from her bag as Happy moved to wake Lucy.
"Lucy…..Lucy" Happy began to gently shake her shoulders as she stirred "h…uh" Lucy moaned as Porlyusica noticed the fresh tear tracks on her face. "You should eat some food to Lucy….." Porlyusica said gently, as Happy's mouth fell open into a comical 'O', "She is never that gentle with anyone, she could have asked me in the same manner" he began to mumble in a whisper.
"It's alright …Porlyusica san", Lucy said managing a weak smile "How is he now…..?". Porlyusica tutted at her before handing her a sandwich "Just eat that sandwhich girl and get yourself some real food later before I force you…..". "And she's back…." Happy thought sighing.
Lucy politely took the sandwich from Porlyusica and for some reason she felt if she didn't, Porlyusica would hold her end of the deal. Meanwhile Porlyusica was busy pouring the potions down Natsu's throat, just looking at him in this condition broke Lucy. Natsu would be making a fuss and causing a scene until he was allowed to find a way to help her if the roles were reversed but she found herself incapable of doing anything.
Just when she had managed to gain Star Dress and train herself to protect her friends to…..instead of them always standing up for her and protecting her. Here she was thrust into another situation where she could do nothing but sit and listen to his shallow breathing. The only thing giving her solace was the fact that Virgo had appeared and told her that the book wasn't acting strange.
The doors to the room banged open, as Larcade stood his torso severely bandaged up. Porlyusica jumped at the sudden noise "Care to explain yourselves ?" she asked the group of Levy, Gray,Wendy and Erza."I apologise Madam Porlyusica this fiend…just rushed here as soon as he heard the news about Natsu,from someone incompetent" Erza said growling the last part while glaring at Gray.
"What's wrong with him….? Larcade asked Lucy, ignoring Porlyusica who was livid at him for not resting. "We have no idea, he hasn't moved since two days, his breathing is shallow, I don't know if he's going to wake up" Lucy said sobbing as Erza and Gray comforted her "Wait how are you still….." Lucy began. "Alive…..?" Larcade finished for her "Well I don't know I should probably be dead right, but Wendy here saved me", he said ruffling her hair. "It was the last thing Natsu told me to do to save him, with whatever little magic I had left in me", Wendy said sheepishly "Luckily Porlyusica was around too and he should be healed soon".
"Uhh…..guys….Natsu's cold like really cold" Larcade said holding Natsu's hand as Porlyusica rushed towards him checking Natsu's temperature with her magic."This is bad we need to get his temperature up" she said panicking. "What's wrong ?. It's just a bit of cold it won't be a bother to Natsu" Gray said frowing. "With his magic maybe, but without it he's no better than any of us when it comes to dealing with cold conditions" Levy said her hands on her hips in a stern manner. "What ?..." Gray asked confused.
"Look your ice magic allows you to weather hot and cold conditions, now if I take away that magic and throw you into either of those conditions you would not be able to survive. Perhaps the cold weather, but in the heat without your precious ice, you would be in no better position" Levy said.
"If all of you are done playing around go get us some quilts and hurry…" Porlyusica said as everyone rushed out of the room.
"We found just one, most of the guilds item's were destroyed in the fight" Gray said. "I've got another one…" came Cana's voice. "I think we have to do everything we can to raise his body temperature,I can only pray now that sharing some body heat may help. It's our last resort" Porlyusica said.
"Wait what do you mean sharing body heat ?" Gray asked. "You mean like one of us with Natsu ?" came Erza's voice which was eerily calm. Lucy blushed realising what Porlyusica had just said.
"Alright fine…..i'll do it" Cana said moving forward as Erza blocked her path.
Lucy spoke up "I'll…I'll do it…." she said her face flushed red. As she stood staring at the others, Erza and Levy began kicking the guys out of the room "What the hell are you guys still doing here….get out".
While Porlyusica kicked Happy out through the window before closing the curtains "Wait….why kick me out ?" he groaned. "So….you guys are going to stand here ?", Lucy asked.
"Do not be shy Lucy, it isn't like we haven't seen each other naked. If you'd like I can strip with you". It was frightening how quickly Macoa and Wakaba could hear new's in the guild. As they rushed to the door to try and get a peep through the keyhole, before Wendy stood in front of it, blocking their view.
Lucy began to strip and she went to lay down over Natsu, as the others lay the quilts around them. Lucy felt her face couldn't get any more red without popping her head. Of all the times she kicked Natsu out of her bed and hear she was with him. She wished he would wake up so she could look into his eyes and just tell him how she felt.
"Natsu….Natsu …". Natsu woke up he was in a different place it was like the void he was in but different at the same time, he heard the voice again "Natsu…", "Who's there….?" Natsu asked looking around. "It's me Natsu…", a figure appeared behind him."Zeref…..?" Natsu smiled rushing towards him but falling right through him. "I'm not real Natsu, I'm kinda like your conciousness" Zeref said looking at him. "So where are we then ?". "I'm afraid your going to die soon Natsu….and I'm here to help you retrieve your lost memories from 400 years ago, in your final moment" Zeref said smiling sadly at him.
Natsu was transported to a small house in a worn out Zeref explained to him that it was their house, as they entered Natsu found himself face to face with a man with pink hair and a lady with black hair. Natsu immediately recongised them from the photo back at Alvarez, these were his parents. Then suddenly the sky turned black as their parents screamed for them to get to safety as a Dragon attacked the town.
Zeref then explained how he found his body and turned him into END his last demon. How he entrusted him to Igneel, to look after due to his curse at which point Zeref first turned into Gajeel, who explained how Igneel had entrusted them and the other Dragon Slayers to Anna Heartfilia and together they planned to use the Eclipse gate to get to the future full of Ethernano so they could finish Acnologia once and for all.
At which point Igneel appeared explaining how every Dragon Slayer has a Dragon seed growing in them and how the Dragons used their soul's to create antibodies and halt and stop the maturation of the Dragon seed, but in the case of Natsu he had another seed growing in him, the seed of END the Demon seed and that they were fusing right now and how it would result in his death.
Natsu was given the choice to choose either being a Etherious or a Dragon Spawn but he knew deep down that he was neither he was just Natsu Dragneel with or without those seeds in him, and Igneel was proud of him.
"Always remember that Natsu you are neither a Dragon nor a Demon, you are Natsu Dragneel….now go forth son", Igneel said smiling.
"I love you Dad…..watch over me….", Natsu said as everything began to vanish.
"Always…..", was the final words Natsu heard.
Natsu opened his eyes he didn't know how long he was out, but it was night and the stars were visible. Something heavy was on his chest, he tried to move his head to find his view blocked by golden strands of hair. He would recognise that hair anywhere…. "Luce" he whispered as Lucy stirred Natsu was met with a glorious view of her chest, as his throat closed up and he felt his crotch twitch, it was a miracle it hadn't caused a hole in his boxers.
Lucy opened her eyes as she found Natsu's onyx eyes staring right back at her, first she found herself freezing then when she felt something twitch near her thigh, she screamed sitting upright as Erza, Wendy and Levy jumped in their seats. Lucy rushed covering herself up as Natsu scratched his head looking at the scene unfold. As Wendy and the others celebrated, Porlyusica appeared smiling "Heard all the commotion, good to have you back brat" she told Natsu. "Yo thank you Granny, for taking care of me" he said grinning. That's when he was met with a fist to his face, as Erza and Levy came forward to hug him, they then left the room to tell the rest of the guild.
"Ow….geez Luce, could you not try to kill me" he said as he found Lucy clinging to his chest "Don't joke about it you idiot" Lucy reprimanded him as she cried over his chest. Natsu held her head and stroked her back comforting her. That's when he noticed Lucy was naked again.
Wendy cleared her throat as Lucy kept talking to Natsu, she tapped Lucy's shoulder and held the towel out for her as Lucy screamed once again covering herself up and hurrying to the corner to get her clothes.
Wendy turned to Natsu, "Natsu san you should probably get dressed too" Wendy said pointing at his clothes before she left along with Porlyusica and Natsu was left alone with Lucy.
"So….ummm thanks for you know the blanket i….guess" Natsu said pointing to the blanket and remembering Lucy on him. "Oh you were cold and it was like the last resort so…." Lucy began to say.
"Yeah I mean….you know thanks for saving my life…..", before Natsu could say anything else the door burst open as the whole guild rushed into the room and Natsu the disappointed look in Lucy's eye before she covered it up laughing along with the guild.