Back with the continuation
"speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
the next day
With the battle over and the enemy successfully driven away from the island, Fairy Tail could fully focus on treating their wounded and fixing their remaining issues. Makarov managed to get his hands on a lacrima brought by Mest and let the Council know what he thought of them and their idea of nuking the island. With the threat of Grimoire Heart resolved and Zeref disappearing from the island, the Council backed down from their decision.
As promised, Makarov allowed Grimoire Heart to peacefully leave the island and collect their dead. Although Azuma's body could not be moved from its place after turning into a tree, Zancrow who was found dead in the woods, was taken away by Grimoire's troops under the command of Rustyrose. Kain took care of Kawazu, and Yomazu. And Grimoire Heart then left Tenroujima
At base camp
Everyone was bandaging their wounds while chatting sometime
Natsu was with his family as he was carrying Aya for the first time
He was rocking the already sleeping child in his arms as he was overjoyed to finally meeting his baby girl
Ultear and Meredy smiled to him
At Grimoire Heart
Hades stared at his bandaged hand and frowned. He was currently sitting in the throne room of the ship, which was put back together by Rustyrose and his magic. Kain and Rustyrose sat together with him, their injuries also patched up. Their mood was sour to say the least.
Rusty sighed and clutched his face with his hand. "We were so close! So close to the Grand Magic World! Zeref was right in front of us!"
Hades said nothing. His head was too busy to pay attention to his underlings.
"It is because of people like you that I have turned out like this."
The Kin snapped to their feet in an instant, as a strange voice spoke out from the shadows. Hades slowly looked up, not surprised at all.
"It is your evil thoughts and intents that have summoned Acnologia upon this land."
As soon as the voice's owner stepped out of the shadows, Kain and Rusty dropped to their knees in shock and horror. Hades felt his eyes widen in shock, as he slowly stood up from his seat.
The voice belonged to none other than Zeref, who was slowly strolling towards them, his step carefree and relaxed.
"Zeref!" exclaimed the elder. "The Black Wizard himself! But...how...why are you on my ship?!"
Zeref arched an eyebrow. "To leave this island, obviously. I have spent years in solitude on that island, but it appears that I am once again forced to interact with humans." he explained, putting a lot of pressure on the second half of the sentence.
Hades' hands were shaking. "The Black Wizard...right in front of my eyes..." he then smiled like a madman and turned to his underlings. "Quick, the keys! Bring me the keys!"
Kain could only raise his head a little. "We...can't move." he grunted, with Rustyrose nodding weakly beside him.
"There will be no need for keys of any sort." stated Zeref loudly. "I am awake. I have never been asleep."
Hades' face dropped. "What?"
"Tell me something." began Zeref. "I am by all means in no place to judge you, but many people lost their lives in your pursuit of the keys, am I right? People paid the ultimate price just so you could get your hands on those. It really makes me sad...and angry. Those keys have always been a myth, a legend created and spread by third-rate Zeref worshippers, who never gave a second thought to do some proper research on the person they devoted their lives to."
Hades punched his throne, its armrest falling off. "No! I did my research! The keys are necessary to awaken your true magic! Your true form! What you are right now is just-"
"I really hate repeating myself." Zeref's voice echoed dangerously, wind suddenly appearing inside the closed ship
"The keys are an old fable. They were never real to begin with. I have been awake all this time. The person standing before you is the real Black Wizard Zeref." said the man once again.
Hades was lost for words. "But...how is this possible? I saw you being tricked and defeated by my underling! Someone of your caliber would never have fallen for such a childish trick!"
"The person who was bested by that woman was not the person who is standing before you at this very moment." explained Zeref. "Back then that truly was my real power. But, as you can tell, that is no longer the case."
The ship began to creak, cracks appearing in the walls and floor. Zeref's magic was enormous, but stable. It created an illusion of filling the room like a balloon, putting constant pressure, but keeping it on a non-aggressive level.
"Despite your age you look no older than my youngest underling..." whispered Hades. "How?"
Zeref smiled sadly. "Would you like to learn the secret of my immortality, you poor fool?"
Having received a nod, Zeref told him the story. "Over 400 years I have seen countless battles and deaths. They started to become something...daily, for me. Like breathing. But one day, I was shown just how valuable life truly was. That was also the day I became cursed. From that day, the more precious I find human life to be, the more of it I steal. To stop killing people, I must forget the weight that is a human life."
"Are you saying you are constantly battling the weight of human lives?" asked Hades.
Zeref nodded. "That is correct. That is why my magic never works as I want it to. I can never control it. But, if I forget the weight of life...now that is a different matter."
Hades started to choke, his hands mindlessly going towards his throat, as if that would help him breathe properly. Zeref's eyes changed color from black to red, his hair being gently raised by his magic. His face, although stoic and seemingly emotionless, hid a vast ocean of anger underneath. An ocean Hades has just realised he was staring at.
"You are guilty of many crimes, Precht." he said quietly. "You are guilty of taking innocent lives in my name, of making me forget how precious human life is, of calling Acnologia onto this island, but most importantly...for being the reason this era has come to an end."
"Acnologia?! What are you talking about?!" choked out Hades.
"When exactly did I say you are permitted to speak?" Zeref's voice was cold and merciless. It pierced right through Hades' heart. making the elder terrified to the point he was incapable of further speech. "For the things I have mentioned, you shall be punished. I am going to steal from you, Precht. I am going to steal the most valuable thing a human can offer, something you have been stealing ever since you took a step towards darkness. Your life."
Hades extended his hand and tried to speak out one last time, asking Zeref to give him just one more moment to ask just one more question but could not as the old man falls
Zeref closed his eyes and breathed out, as Hades' lifeless corpse fell off the throne. Magic stopped putting pressure on the room, colours returning to their original state. He started to say a small prayer for all of the people who died in pursuit of his keys, but soon stopped after hearing a sound. A sound that never failed to send a chill down his spine.
Zeref turned to the window and frowned gently. "Here he comes." he announced in a whisper.
Back at the base camp
Gajeel who has woken up quite recently was slowly trying to eat his soup. Every time he moved any part of his body it stung, so he settled in with a closed tent and a straw he slurped the dish through with. He ate it lost in his own thoughts, only to have his ears pick up something. A nostalgic sound that for a second rendered him dumbfound. He shook his head, blaming his imagination, and got back to eating, only to hear it again. This time louder.
Gajeel slowly stood up and frowned, as he thought that he was going crazy.
he walked out of his tent and wanted to find other Dragon Slayers to confirm his theory, only to be met with the sight of Wendy and Laxus staring into the skies. Wendy's face expressed hope and a small dose of fear, while Laxus' confusion.
Natsu who was in his tent with his family picked up the sound as his face went serious
""he's here""
"You hearing that?" Laxus asked to Gajeel who nodded
"Yeah. It sounds like..."
"A dragon!" finished Wendy.
Lisanna looked at her funny. "A dragon? Are you sure?"
"It is." Gajeel said "but it ain't friendly, it's.."
"Hostile." finished Laxus.
"That's because it is."
Gildarts ran into the camp with Cana and Lucy behind him
"Right now. it doesn't matter where or how, split up if you have to. Just run."
"Gildarts." Makarov called out as he came walking in
"Is that who I think it is?"
The man nodded slowly. Makarov closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose, before roaring on top of his lungs. "All of you, leave the island! No matter what or how, do as I say! Run away from here as far as you can! Don't look back, just-"
ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Makarov was interrupted by a deafening roar that came from behind the clouds above them.
Just when everyone looked up in the sky, a dragon as black as death descended upon the island, spiking at it like a meteor.
Just before it could smash into it spread its wings and stopped just above the land, the wind created by its wings knocking everyone to the ground, trees bending as if they were made of rubber.
The Dragon of Chaos, Acnologia has descended
"W...what is this...thing?" choked out Lucy in terror.
"This can't be..." whispered Erza, just as shocked. "I knew dragons were still around." he growled. "But..."
"...This one sure as hell ain't a friendly one." finished the thought Laxus.
"It's the very same dragon I've met on my Quest last month." stated Gildarts and walked up in front of everyone. "I know what it's capable of. All of you leave this island immediately, I'll do something about it. I know how it moves, so-"
"No."
Makarov's voice was stern and loud. He threw his shirt aside and began to increase his size to match that of the dragon, who has just landed on the island, its weight causing it to shake. "You will all run away from here, right now. None of you is allowed to challenge this beast. That is an order. Run. Don't look back. Keep moving forward."
"Like hell we're gonna leave you!" roared Gray with Juvia on his back. "We will fight!"
"Those who can still fight, prepare yourselves!" yelled Freed and pulled out his blade. "We shall hit it with everything we've got!"
"I told you to run!" roared Makarov, his voice loud enough to make the Dragon Slayers grimace in pain. "That is my final order as Master! You shall all run to the ship and get away from here! Are you going to disobey my orders until the very end?!"
Fairy Tail was shocked. ""Final order?!""
"Like hell we're gonna-"
Gray wanted to argue, but he was stopped by Laxus, who simply grabbed him by the collar and started to drag him towards the ship. "Enough. We're leaving. You heard him, Master's orders. Shut up and obey." he said quietly.
Gray wanted to snap on the man, but he soon felt his eyes widen in shock. Laxus was crying. He wasn't even trying to hide it - soon all could see tears flowing down his face.
Taking his tears as a sign that it truly was their only option, Fairy Tail grit her teeth in frustration and started to run, some of them sobbing. They've decided to leave Makarov by himself.
The elder smiled under his moustache and turned to the dragon, who jumped forward, almost as if trying to get to them.
Makarov clenched his fist and punched the dragon right on the jaw, before wrapping his arm under its head and securing it in a choke hold.
Acnologia roared and started to push, but Makarov did not move. He flexed his muscles so hard they were crying out in pain and continued to strangle the beast with everything he had.
"Like hell I'm letting you go through!" he growled. "Those are my kids behind me! I don't know what you came here for, but you will not take their lives! As long as I have limbs to move with, you will stay here!"
Acnologia roared as it sends the giant hurling down to the ground before pushing a claw to Makarov's chest
Makarov and Acnologia roared at each other before Makarov started laughing
""for the first time, I've acted like a true parent, I now can die without regret…." Makarov said as he closed his eyes and awaits his death
ROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR
Suddenly a different roar was heard as Makarov opens his eyes and sees Acnologia get rammed to the side by a flaming dragon
"Natsu….?!" Makarov exclaimed while shrinking back to size as Natsu was in the flaming dragon
"get back to the other, gramps" Natsu said as a red sphere like bubble flied to Makarov and encased him in it
"what are you?!" Makarov look to him in shock as Natsu and Acnologia was in a power struggle
"I'm going to finish what I've started" Natsu said before he threw Acnologia aside
Flashback
Natsu and the gang were running back to the ship only to find it drifted away into the vast sea
"no!" Lucy gasped in horror
"it was because of that thing's roar" Gildarts said while clenching his fist
Natsu looks to them all as he could tell that they were afraid
"Natsu" Ultear voice out as Natsu turns to see her and Meredy who was carrying Aya were looking to him
"it's going to be alright" Natsu said as Drac equipped to him
"what are you?" Ultear asked as Natsu gives her his locket
"my duty as a father" Natsu said as the gem on his gauntlet glowed and everyone except Natsu was encased in a red bubble
"Natsu!" Ultear slammed her hands at the bubble trying to break out while the bubble was flying towards the drifted away ship
"Gray, I'm counting on you" Natsu said to Gray whose eyes widen in shock
"you!" Gray shouted as Natsu nodded to him
"you're crazy! Even for you! You wouldn't even stand a chance against that thing" Gajeel shouted
"that thing ain't something a human can hope to beat" Gildarts shouted as he saw black markings appearing on Natsu's face
"I was never a human" Natsu spoke as he was encased in flames and the flames then form a flaming dragon
"I'm a demon"
Natsu had demon like horns appearing on his head as everyone then see his gauntlet turning black
"I'm sorry for keeping it a secret to you all, I did not know how would you react to see me like this" Natsu said as he looks to them before looking to Ultear
"I'm sorry Ultear, looks like you've got to get home before me" Natsu said as Ultear had tears falling down her eyes
"but don't worry, I will be back, I promise"
The flaming dragon then flies to the battle with Ultear screaming Natsu's name
Flashback end
Makarov stared in shock as Natsu was on par with the dragon of chaos
"take care of everyone, old man" Natsu said before the red bubble flied towards the others
"Natsu!" Makarov shouted his name as he sees Natsu and Acnologia battle in power
With the others
In the ship
"turn back!" Ultear screamed while Gray was trying his best to hold her
"turn back! Please!" she begged them to turn back
"we can't!" Gildarts exclaimed to her
"let Natsu deal with this, trust him!" Gildarts said before seeing Makarov flying towards them
"Master!" Erza exclaimed as the bubble he was in popped and he fell down to the ship
"where's Natsu!?" Gray exclaimed as Makarov only looks back to the island where they see a flaming dragon was duking it out with the black dragon of chaos
They then see both dragons were charging up a breath attack as the attack collided and cause a devastating explosion that sends giant wave of ocean water splashing their way
Ultear's eyes widen as both dragon fly to the sky and were clashing each other before they did one last clash and an explosion engulfed the both of them
"NATSU!"
On that day, Natsu Dragist, and Tenroujima disappeared
Four years later
Magnolia
In the forest
At a home
A little girl was playing in a swing while humming as she was having fun
She did not notice that she was being watched from the trees as a pair of canine eyes were looking at her from the bushes before disappearing
The child continued to swing as she smiled while enjoying the swing
The sound of something stalking her could be heard as she turns to see a giant wolf was looking at her with a growl
"North!" The little girl squealed as the wolf started licking her cheeks as she laughs
The door to the backyard was opened as a certain pink hair girl came in
"hey, North! Stop it! Aya just got bathe!" she scolded the wolf as she takes out a napkin and cleans the little girl's cheek of Dog drool
"nee-chan" Aya said as she wants to be carried
Meredy smiled and carried up her little sister into her arms
"Woof" North barked as Meredy and Aya heard the bush shaking as they then see ten wolf pups running towards them while being followed by a white wolf
"wait!" Meredy exclaimed before falling with her sister as the pups started licking them
"wait!? Ahahhahahaaahhh!" Meredy started laughing as the licking from the pups were tickling her
"help!" Meredy screamed out a help as Ur came out with a cane
"North! Call back your pups!" Ur shouted as North started to bite on her cane while Ur was pulling it back
"hey!" Ur shouted as she then creates an ice bone in her hand and then throws it
"fetch!" she shouted as North and the pups went after it while the white wolf rested down
"ewww, I'm drooled up" Meredy said while carrying Aya who also got drooled
Ur sighed before letting the two in to get cleaned up
In the home
Meredy and Aya with Ur went into the home as the two went straight for the bathroom to get cleaned up
"geez, that little pup grew into such a trouble maker" Ur said while sitting down on the couch with her cane leaning to the side
She then heard giggling coming from the kitchen as she rolled her eyes
"how can you be laughing? That trouble maker was brought here by you husband, you know?" Ur said as woman identical to her came in as she had longer hair length and was wearing a white dress as well as a locket
"Ultear" Ur spoke as the woman smiled
After the assumed passing of Natsu and the destruction of Tenroujima
Fairy Tail returned home with grieving hearts for the loss of one of their own
Ultear and Meredy were brought to Natsu's home with the help of Gray, Ur and Ultear had a long time to reconnect after such long years of separation
"it's almost time for lunch" she said as she looks to the clock in the living room
She went to the kitchen to make her family a meal while cooking she takes a look to a picture from of her and Natsu smiling
Ultear smiled softly before returning back to cooking
Night time
Ultear was sitting at the porch with a night coat on her as she was listening to the sound of crickets in the night
North and his family were sleeping as the pups were twitching their legs as they slept
""it's already been four years"" Ultear thought as she looks to her locket and opens it
""four years pass since you disappeared"" Ultear trace her finger to the picture of Natsu with a sad smile
A tear fell to the locket as Ultear wiped it away then to her eye
In the forest the sound of footsteps could be heard as North's ears perked up as the wolf looks up
Ultear was about to go back inside but hears North letting out a low howl as she turns to look at the wolf who was looking at the forest
The fireflies appeared as they fly in the night illuminating a figure walking towards the house
Ultear's eyes widen as tears started to form and fall down her eyes before she runs towards the figure and embrace him
"I'm home"
~fin~