AN: This was going to be two chapters but I am putting it all in one. Enjoy!
AN2: I headcannon that Zeref, Acnologia, and Igneel are all cockblockers to Natsu.
AN3: Parts of this story (Andromeda and Acnologia) were first told in Mavis and Zeref's memories. This elaborates on their background… More will be discovered in later chapters (^.^) Acnologia is really hard to write because I do not know how he acts beyond his base form interacting with Zeref and Serena. On top of that, I don't know how he was before he became evil/driven/true slayer. So I want him to show signs of insanity even though in these back flashes he has not fell to the dark side yet. I am getting inspiration from Lucia (Rave Master), Zelman Clock (Black Blood Brothers), and Hieke (Code:Breaker).
Beta reader: NaluFTFanatic
Thank you to reviewers: Adelene900, Uchida Akira, Guest, ThatOneTroubleMaker, Emperor Zeref Dragneel, NaluFTFanatic, Trugrace
Chapter 35 - Fairies, Dragneels, and the Tenrou Jade
Igneel stopped the story even as Natsu roared, "WHAT?! HE KIDNAPPED HER?! WHAT A DOUCHE BAG! WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?"
The dragon's attention was occupied by something in the distance as Natsu continued to rant and rave about the story. Lucy used the opportunity to kicked the pink haired demon's ankle managing to catch him with enough surprise that he fell over. Happy snickered as Natsu turned his heat toward her, "Lushiiii, why did you do that?!"
"Idiot! Have you forgotten you kidnapped me?"
"...?"
Igneel snorted, looking somewhat perplexed before continuing with Andromeda's history.
(Part 1: Andromeda's POV)
There are some moments you never forget.
Being dragged away kicking and screaming by a half dressed alpha male is one example.
A surge of adrenaline flooded Andromeda's system as the dragon slayer took her away from her friends. They moved so quickly that Andromeda had no idea where they were headed.
The circulation was being cut off from her waist where he had his arms wrapped tightly. Starburst like fireworks from his feet, and the fast changing scenery made her feel a bit nauseated. She tried valiantly to regain any sense of time or place, but failed.
Slowing down, he dropped her on her ass. The blonde managed a small, "Ooof." Even though she sat on the ground, her mind was still spinning. She swayed as she tried to stand up, but only managed to topple over.
"What are you?" Crouching down he sniffed the air like a dog. "You aren't human?"
She drew her knees to her chin, "A spirit…"
He leaned down reaching out to touch her face in reverence as if she was some sort of holy objected that needed to be worshipped.
"Uh?"
His face closed the distance to hers. She held her breath as he inhaled, closing his eyes. Kissing her cheek slightly he ran his mouth over her jaw below her ear. Her fist twitched disturbingly with the need to beat him for his impudence.
Was this some weird form of dragon greeting?
"Haven't you heard of something called personal space?" She grabbed his chin and held his face away from her, glaring into his emotionless eyes. Maybe that's why she did not feel very threatened. He studied her, completely detached, as if she was an experiment and he, the scientist. He had red flames that burned deep within his eyes, but that came from his magic, not his emotions. She had never witnessed eyes like that. Hypnotic and dangerous is what they were.
His skin was really warm and she was tempted to rub her fingers across it. As close as he was to her, she felt his body warmth seep into her clothes.
"What exactly are you doing?"
"Research."
She shivered a bit as he stepped back, holding out his hand to her. Her arms reached up to insulate the traces of warmth that graced her skin as she purposely ignored his outstretched hand and stood up on her own.
Folding her arms under her breasts, she raked his figure with a hard eye before questioning, "Acnologia?"
He did not even seem surprised. Just stared at her with a directness she knew meant he was memorizing every detail about her. The girl took the time to do the same to him. His blue hair was unbound as oppose to how it had been when she met him before. The wings he had sported before were gone. He stood in front of her, shirtless, at least six foot four of pure muscle. A six-pack was cut into his perfect stomach… area. Small wounds graced his shoulders and rib area. (That was grade A prime male right there, folks.) His tattoos were glowing, but more than that they seem to be reacting. Maybe it was the island? Andromeda could sense a magic link between the man and the island. The island was sacred.
Finally, he asked, "So you found me. What's your name?"
"Andromeda," the girl whispered. Had that really been her voice? Grrr… now she was sounding like a simpleton. She shoved at her hair. A sign of her displeasure to anyone that knew her.
He smiled a random mixture of smugness and superiority, "I must really have left an impression on you Ana for you to find me. Are all spirits like you?"
"First, the name is Andromeda. Not Ana. Not sweets. Not princess. If I respect you enough to call you by your name, you could at least show some decency by doing the same for me. Second, I guess they are. How should I know? And third, I just wanted to…."
He kind of liked her spunk. He was not used to people he just met to be so high handed with him. Clearly, she lived a life spent bossing people around. Well then, he was going to throw a dent in her prissy little attitude. "Less talk. More gratitude. Why don't you go ahead and take your clothes off for me?"
Wait.
W-what?
At that moment, his arm reached out to her.
She slapped his hand away.
"I said I was a spirit. Not a whore. Did anyone ever teach you manners?"
He growled folding his arms in fake annoyance, "They tried but why should I conform my actions to others' expectations? They should conform to me. Didn't actually think you would survive those lycans, but now you have… We can have some fun."
Please, if people say that normal men have testosterone syndrome, they clearly have never met this dragon slayer.
"Do you always shorten names?"
"What? You mean lycans? Yes, I guess I do. What about it?"
"Well you called me Ana."
"Once you do something important, I will remember your full name. Until then, you will be whatever I title you. It doesn't really matter to me."
She stared at him in shock. Did people really think like that?
He smiled a bit more amusingly. "Actually Andromeda and Acnologia. They are both long 'A' names. So that's why I will let you call me anything you want, sweets."
"Names have power. Don't abuse it or the disrespect will bring you misfortune."
"Really? Because I would think your name was a constellation, but that can't possibly be right because then you would be in the sky and not on Earth with me."
Andromeda's face blanched. He was smarter than what she thought. She started thinking of him as more of brute who just happened to save her, but now she was not so sure. She sighed in irritation. She could not figure him out.
Was he friend or foe?
He was playing with her, like a game of cat and mouse. Now that he seemed to have her figured out, he was baiting a reaction from her.
Frustration clipped her words, "So what is your point?"
Having an emotional outburst would be no benefit to her. Right now he was in complete control of the situation.
"My point is… names are only as much value as what you make them out to be. My name doesn't mean much now, but one day it will. Your name, what it once meant… can actually change. You are not bound to a name. Neither am I. So give a reason for people to remember you. And looking at you now…. I can think of a few reasons I can give you to remember my name."
Pervert…
"Isn't that what you want?"
"Ugh god no!" Ok perhaps if he had been nicer, she would have slept with him to redeem what she owed him but whatever… "You saved me and I passed out. I am here to thank you and do something for you to repay my debt. Why would I want to sleep with you?"
"Isn't that what women want? Danger, Animalistic, something hard and fast."
"Honestly, you are more pig than dragon. "
"I can smell your emotions. And when you lie, a wrinkle appears corner of your mouth."
She gasped in outrage, "I DO NOT!"
He shrugged, "I mean it was your life. What else would you pay me back with? Are you going to vow to be my servant? Maybe I should make you grovel at my feet?" His face closed up again.
He was throwing so many mixed signals at her. She was getting whiplash trying to keep track.
"Well, I have thanked you. SO, now I will be on my way."
His moves blurred and suddenly he was there at her side, his arms encircling her. "Don't go. I have never had someone go out of their way to thank me. It's a new experience for me and I want to prolong our time together." He breathed into her hair.
Was he a psychopath?
Starting to be frightened, Andromeda murmured, "Seal," before slipping away.
"Why can't I move?" He shouted. Fire erupted from his body, as she turned to see him struggling.
He glared at her. His words could have frozen hell, "Let me go."
"No," she airily replied with a wave of her hand before adding, "Maybe you are feral, but there is something now quite right with you." She blew him a kiss before walking away.
"That's what wild beasts are, sweets. And trust me I will be a lot nicer if you let me out now rather than me escaping your little spell. Although, I do like a challenge. It's more fun to have to fight for something you want."
She paused. "And how will you do that," the sadism in her was enjoying this a bit too much. She could tell he likes control.
Amazed, she watched his flames burned away the seals on his body.
He grabbed her neck and flung her into a tree.
"What?!" She braced her body for the impact, but before she could hit, his body was there grabbing her. He took the fall for her. She felt the tree explode from the collision there bodies made. They smashed through two more before she stopped.
He was there at her, gripping her, pulling her toward him. "See I could completely dominate you if I wanted. But I choose not to." He released her.
"Now come at me with your best shot."
"Bind! Holy seal." She formed a wand in air and light appeared on his head but it disappeared under a rage of flames.
That too? She needed a better battle plan. He was playing with her.
Black spirits appeared next to her. Both girl and beast were startled by the new presence. Shakingly, the spirits latched onto Andromeda before pulling her downwards. Darkness engulfed the girl and she disappeared out of his sight.
He turned, trying to pick up her scent, but found hair tangled around the trees. Acnologia stood still as soon as he moved, the hair sliced his skin. "Pathetic attempt at escape," he called out his flames which singed the area but surprisingly the hair did not burn. Instead, fire appeared around the strands, protecting it.
Hell flame from Atlas Flame.
(Precht's POV)
Precht huffed sweatily as he trailed Andromeda along with Flare who was constantly viewing the background. They were scurrying back to their beach post hastily. Precht was the one that brought them to the island, but not through any teleportation magic. He had a ship waiting in the distance and he had used the scanners to select a place for the three to merge. The problem was that they would have to get back to that exact location to return.
Their path was being guided by weird white orbs that he had noticed earlier. The balls seemed to be watching their escape.
A black flame streaked overhead before landing in front of them in an explosion, stopping their progress. The three turned to see the dragon slayer crouched behind them, almost more animal than human.
Andromeda prepared for a fight. Dang, she wished that the celestial spirits had been granted more than one element. Her power of souls was not going to be strong enough if he kept burning through her seals. If she could summon up an attack of the stars, she could defeat him easily, but that would drain most of her life force.
He jumped with one outstretched arm covered in flames. Precht throws out one of his magic chains. The grappling hook at the end of it locks onto the dragon slayer's arm, and flips him onto the ground.
The chains broke the next second.
"Ignis sonitus rugiet draco." (Translation: Fire dragon's roar)
The boy barely had time to shield himself. Luckily, Flare's hair appeared in front of him and took most of the fire attack.
"Stop hurting them!"
Mist began to form around the battle. A charge went through Andromeda and she felt recharged. She almost felt as if she could use THAT attack.
Acnologia punched Flare in the face the next second. Stepping back, he whirled around and threw a flaming foot toward Precht who caught it in the stomach.
Acnologia elbowed the boy into the ground. The impact causing a huge hole and the soil to form fissures. The slayer stomped the boy repeatedly before kicking him into a nearby tree. The balls of light flickered frantically.
"Stop hurting them!" Andromeda blasted soul energy toward Acnologia but he sidestepped. Appearing next to her, he pushed her to the ground. Following her down, he stroked Andromeda's neck. "Don't leave yet. I am so bored here by myself."
Dirty and bruised, Precht on the ground raised himself up. The boy growled, "Stay away from her!"
The mist grew thicker and the number of balls increased as if the woods were unhappy with this outcome. They vibrated so fast that sometimes it was hard to see.
Acnologia's face became carefully guarded as balls of light worked themselves into frenzy around them. He slowly retracted himself from the girl lying in a heap along the ground, glaring at the interruption of his game.
Laughter from children surrounded the pair.
The man stiffened as two girls, holding hands, appeared from the mist that swirled around them.
A large wolf with plants growing from his joints and claws stood behind them, growling menacingly at the dragon slayer.
The two children, one blonde and one brunette, smiled at Andromeda who struggled to stand.
"It's so nice to meet you princess," the two bowed.
"You two are fairies? Are you hot? I must apologize. My senses are dimmed in my current form and it's hard to recognize members of the seelie and underlie courts," stated Andromeda as she followed their action. The courts are the ruling bodies of the fairies. She was momentarily wary of the fairies. Auroras, Sprites, and the Tenrou's royal families make up the seelie, or "Blessed Courts." The unseelie are the "Unholy Courts," which include only one group, the spriggins. If a fairy did something kind for you, and Andromeda was fairly sure that interrupting Acnologia counted as a favor, the wrong words could allow them to own your life.
"Actually we aren't just members of the courts. I'm Queen Zera and this is Queen Mavis."
Andromeda gasped, "Then it is I who has the honor of greeting you." She went to her knees and bowed properly. Acnologia's bangs shadowed his face, but she could tell that he was unhappy with her action.
"Ah, but that you are wrong. It's been centuries since a celestial being has tread these grounds. Welcome to our island, Princess of the Stars."
Chapter 35 Part 2 (AN: Bonus/Merged Chapter from the guilt of not posting last week)
Andromeda stayed on Tenrou after the invitation from the fairies. September was almost over and the dragons with their slayers begin to return. Some brought their children with them. Acnologia had to babysit. The former celestial spirit would help him as she could. She loved children and enjoyed watching the dragon slayer awkwardly try to handle them. Igneel said it was to show Acnologia humility and what humanity was. How could Acnologia stay detached against the innocent love of a child? Igneel purposely brought two children to the island for this reason. Their father was a dragonslayer who was frequently gone on missions. The names was Zeref and Natsu. Acnologia even grudgingly admitted that those two weren't as bad as all the rest of the shitty brats that hung out on the island.
The days were getting shorter. Andromeda had been living on the island for a few weeks now. Flare returned to Sun Village but Precht stayed with Andromeda, under the pretense of watching "the evil beast," but in all actuality Precht spent lots of time in the libraries on the island studying ancient magics. He even followed Mavis and Zera to study the islands.
The star princess paused for a moment to think about Acnologia. That first week the dragon slayers started returning had been hell. Not because of anything she did, but how they had tried to flirt with her, causing Acnologia to brawl with each and everyone of them. He got into sooo much trouble with Igneel.
She caught the others throwing around words of "feral" and "psycho" and how Acnologia should be "Put down." This immediately made her feel bad for saying something similar when he started acting weird around her.
He really was not that bad.
He just did not know how to interact with people
She even suspected that being aggressive to a certain extent was a sign of affection. There is a fine line between love and hate, and it seemed that this line was blurred in the man.
Because the opposite of those emotions is indifference, and he very easily could express this emotion like when he left everyone to sit in his cave.
Not a man cave.
Not a secluded place he lived.
Just a random cave he would sit in.
And stare.
Mutterings from the humans around her snapped her attention back to the meeting at present. She'd been sitting here for at least an hour listening to the dragon slayers discussing plans.
"We should attack! Hit them while they are down."
"No, the dragons are living in peace with us now. This is no time to stir the feud up again."
"If we don't get them now, when will we have another chance? It would be a surprise attack."
"So what do we do, just wait until they attack us? Will we always be reactive to them? Destroy them all."
Bicker. Bicker.
Some name calling.
Oh look… there's a fist fight…..
Then everyone would settle down…. For two seconds…. Before the cycle would start again.
Andromeda heard a child say underneath the arguments, "Brother I want to go play."
"Shhhh!"
"But this is BORING!" (Andromeda agreed wholeheartedly.)
"Natsu!" She finally eyed the two boys sitting in the corner. The older one seemed eager to hear the proceedings while the toddler was trying to drag his toys away. Zeref had his foot on the younger one's robes that kept him from moving too far. Natsu was trying earnestly to escape. The distance could not hide the grimace that the elder Dragneel showed his brother.
"But I want to go see Igneel. Why did he bring dad here if we can't play?"
The blonde chuckled at their antics, wishing she could be so innocent.
"Natsu, shut up! We are going to get in trouble."
Acnologia glared at the two boys from across Andromeda's chair.
Moving swiftly he hit both, muttering, "Both of you, shut your damn mouths."
Zeref whined while rubbing his head, "But I didn't do anything."
"Acnologia!" Natsu cried reaching up to be picked up. The dragon slayer turned away but the little boy grabbed his leg.
"Bossy tyrant," Acnologia muttered before stooping and scooping up the baby.
Zeref jumped as the dragon slayer took his brother out of the meeting. Andromeda excused herself and quickly followed as well.
Even though Acnologia was the resident island babysitter, nobody fully trusted him.
Zeref asked, "Where are you going?"
"Taking him to see Igneel."
Zeref became a bit bratty for having to leave the meeting. Acnologia told him to go back inside. Zeref frowned as he debated the decision but decided to tag along. Zeref glared at the man.
"You always give in to him."
"Well he hasn't been polluted by this world yet."
"What about me?"
"You just don't fit in this world. Like me."
Andromeda noticed Acnologia did not become as impatient with Zeref after that. He held onto his temper for the rest of the walk whenever either boy did something silly. It did not take long for the party to run into Zera and Precht. Mavis had long since disappeared from the island. Zera told Andromeda it was because she was fascinated by humans children and with so many on the island, she ran away.
Apparently in a vision, Zera warned mavis to stay away from them that they would lead to her downfall.
"Where are you going?" asked Precht.
Acnologia let out a frustrated groan, "Is everyone going to give me the third degree?"
"You don't have to get so defensive." Andromeda responded to his question. Turning to the others, she smiled. "We are going to see Igneel."
"But he left."
Natsu pouted and before the waterworks could start, Acnologia, Precht, and Zeref started trying to make him happy.
"Hey, Hey! Don't cry!"
"Put your face away! You're scaring him!"
"Let me hold him. He likes me."
"Hey want to see me dance."
The two girls look on with mild disbelief. Their antics started annoying Andromeda and Natsu continued to cry. Andromeda finally took the baby from the others and rocked him gently. He immediately let out a happy squeak and curled up next to her chest.
She smiled brightly at the boys, but they were crowded together whispering to each other.
"Of course, he goes for the boobs."
"Smart child."
"He is my brother."
"You three know I can still hear you."
When Natsu was calm, she put him down. Zera led the band of humans to a hole in the ancient stone wall. "I am going to show you our island's sacred treasure. Many eons ago, a dark spirit rose up to cause strife in the world. The first fairy queen sealed him in a stone here on the island. A jade use to sit here, but the dragon king stole it merging his body with the spirit of chaos that was housed there. That's why he sits on the throne of dragons. Otherwise, Igneel would be king of the dragons. We still have a fragment of it."
Precht stared at the hole, fascinated before looking at Zeref who said, "How is this perfectly rounded jade a mere fragment of the original? It seems to be whole."
Precht glared at the black haired person for asking a question he should have thought. The boy was half his age for god's sake. He had noticed that the boy showed unusual signs of intelligence.
Instead, he answered for the queen, "It was probably taken and reshaped as an object to be revered. Most items today do not exist in their original form."
The queen shook her head, "Actually the original part was not even a Jade. The creature was sealed underneath the great tree in the stones. When the dragon king broke its seal, the essence seeped away into the dragon's body. The stones wept because they knew the fairy queen would be angry so they infused their life force into an attempt to get the spirit back. They did not manage to separate the dragon from the spirit but they managed to tear this part off, trapping it into their souls. So, what lies before you is a perfectly shaped Jade. "
Precht tried to cover his blush at being wrong. He had not known the whole story and had made an assumption.
He stared really long at the object in the hole. Reaching out he attempted to touch it, but was stopped by the queen.
"Do not touch it or you will break the seal and be possessed."
Andromeda nodded in agreement. She knew what the spirit was in legend after seeing the stone.
A seed of chaos.
She would have to destroy it. Someone apparently sealed the spirit but it was still dangerous.
The only place where law could be used was at the Temple of Ankhseram.
Precht meanwhile was entertaining dark thoughts.
He did not like the dragon slayer or the black haired boy.
However, he had magic unlike the black haired boy. He created energy at the tip of his finger and aimed it at the boy, not meaning to do serious damage, just hurt him enough so he would learn not to mess with Precht.
The smaller black haired boy leaped at Precht before having his chest hit in his brother's place.
"Natsu!"
Acnologia shoved Precht into the wall, making his face fall on the jagged edge of a rock. Blood streaked down his face.
"My EYE!"
"Quick, take him to Grandeeney!"
Zera stared sadly at Precht as Acnologia swept Natsu into his arms. Zeref jumped on his back as his wings expanded. The three flew off.
"One day you will fall oh lord of hades. Through this child you have shot, the seeds of your fate have been planted. Two paths sit before you. One choices is guided by fairies, illuminated by the heart. While the other sits a grimoire heart darken with death and destruction. The choice seems easy now."
Almost mournfully, Precht turned away and stomped into the forest. Andromeda looked back at Zera before gazing past her head to the jade embedded in stone.
"You knew that it would possess him."
"He has a weak spirit that is easily influenced. Yes, I knew that the stone could corrupt him."
"Is that why you brought us here? To hurt us and condemn my friend?"
"No. I was showing you."
"What?"
"What you would have to do princess. Only the stars have enough light to purify such darkness."
(Back to Igneel)
"Hey why did you stop? You are going to have to stop stopping!" Natsu yelled completely engrossed in the story. Lucy also raised her eyes expectantly. She too was beginning to be interested, but the dragon ignored them, turning his eyes, focused on something in the distance.
Natsu clutched his chest. The pinkhaired boy double over in pain.
Igneel growled, menacing with smoke pouring from his nostrils, "Acnologia is here."
Natsu lurched forward until he became completely still on the ground. Lucy screamed his name as the great dragon and blue cat disappeared.
"Natsu?! Wake up!" She tried shaking his limp form. She turned her ear to his mouth, but she could not hear his breathing.
Blackness covered the area, rotating inside a spinning vortex until a figure in robes emerged from the chaos.
"Natsu, you idiot," Zeref said quietly as he knelt beside the two. He touched Natsu's forehead.
The blonde turned her tear streaked face to the black mage. "Zeref! what's wrong with him?! Please help him!"
Next Chapter: Lullaby