Part 3 of the final battle! Hopefully I'll see some of you guys at Megacon today :) Don't forget to review when you finish reading!
Chapter 36
Natsu rammed into Acnologia head first, knocking the black dragon off balance. From the ground, Igneel roared. A plume of fire hurled toward the black beast. Wrapping himself in fire, Natsu slashed at Acnologia with all of his might. Even if he wasn't in his human form, he could still use his magic. After all, it used to be Dragon magic before it became Dragon Slayer magic. Acnologia roared, enraged.
Snagging the black dragon's scales, Natsu opened his mouth and breathed a stream of fire at point-blank range. Acnologia screeched in pain and thrashed about. With his mighty tail, the black dragon struck him in the side. Acnologia slashed him with his razor sharp talons, sending Natsu careening toward the ground. The ground beneath him shook as he landed. The magic the mages were using didn't seem to faze Acnologia. Folding his wings in close to his body, the black dragon nose dived into the fray. Natsu shakily stood, but he wasn't quick enough.
Acnologia slammed into him full force. He clawed and slashed at Natsu's red hide. With a mighty roar, he clamped his jaws around Natsu's right wing. Natsu screeched and howled in pain. The heart wrenching cries nearly broke Lucy's heart. A bellowing roar echoed in her ears. And in a flash of bright red, Igneel launched himself at the beast. He kicked and slashed wildly, trying to pry the black dragon off his son.
When at last Natsu and Igneel managed to kick him off, Natsu's shoulder was bloody and torn. The wing had been ripped from its socket. The leathery wings and shaft were torn and tattered. He might not be able to fly in such a state.
Despite the pain, Natsu flapped his wings quickly. Fire swirled around his wings and sailed on the current created by the updraft. The flames hit their mark. But the pain was taking its toll on Natsu. He stumbled.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried, worried.
"Natsu, focus!" Igneel bellowed. "Push past the pain! You can defeat him!"
Despite his father's words, he was exhausted. Natsu panted heavily. I don't know if I can do it….
Igneel snarled. "Natsu, you are a Dragon Slayer! No…you have become a fine Dragon Master. Have faith in your own strength. And never forget the pride that comes with that title!"
Sting and Rogue, who had been watching from high in the stands, rushed down to the arena floor. Natsu snarled at them, unsure of what they would do. After all, they had admitted to killing their dragon parents.
"Did that dragon just call him a Dragon Master?" Sting asked, jabbing his thumb toward Natsu.
"Aye!" Happy flew up to him. "Natsu's a Dragon Master! Igneel taught him the magic to become one!"
"So that really is Natsu-san," Rogue said softly.
"Aye!"
Igneel growled, glowering down at the two Dragon Slayers at his feet. "Child of the white dragon, and child of the shadow dragon…I have heard of you. And of your murderous ways." He barred his fangs. "Do not think that I will turn a blind eye to you! If you are not here to help, then get out!"
Grandine giggled. "Always so harsh with your words, Igneel."
Sting frowned. "Who are these dragons?!"
"Sting-san," Hibiki said, frustration evident in his tone. "We don't have much time to explain. But the red dragon is Natsu-san's foster father, Igneel the fire dragon. And the other is Wendy-chan's foster mother, Grandine the sky dragon." He typed away at his keyboard of light. Statistics and strategies flashed across the screens at lightning speed. "Are you two here to help?"
Sting cracked his knuckles and smirked. "I wouldn't mind killing another dragon. Besides, after that, I want a rematch with Natsu-san."
Hibiki sighed, a relieved smile spreading across his face. "Thank you very much. Your help will be much appreciated."
Pushing past the pain in his right wing, Natsu soared up into the sky. He chased down Acnologia, determined not to let him get away. He let his own magic engulf him. With a mighty roar, he rammed into the black Dragon's chest. Now that his weight and power was doubled in his dragon form, "Fire Dragon's Sword Horn" had more power behind it. He spun in midair, slapping Acnologia in the face with his thick tail. Flapping his wings rapidly, he darted away from the dragon.
Natsu took a deep breath, calling forth the Dragon Master magic flowing through his veins. His fire melted to a bright gold color. He roared and darted forward, his speed doubled. He flew above the black dragon. Using his dragon fire, he changed course a few times in midair, leaving streaks of fire in the sky. He darted back and forth in the air, the flames left behind looking like the Draco constellation. Bright fire from his "Draco's Flame" attack exploded from the constellation shape in the sky above Acnologia. With a deafening boom the fire magic shot downward, burning everything on contact.
Acnologia shrieked and screeched as the fire charred and burned his tough scales. But from the center of the firestorm, the black beast rocketed skyward. Jaws wide and flesh still burning, he slammed into Natsu. His eyes were ablaze with rage. Acnologia ripped chunks from Natsu's tough skin with his razor-like fangs. But the black dragon's power had weakened from before. The fire was eating away at him, even if he didn't show it. From below, there was a chorus of simultaneous roars. Fire, wind, metal, shadows, and a white beam shot toward them with lightning speed. Natsu kicked Acnologia hard, knocking him away. With a powerful flap of his large wings, he dodged just in time. The simultaneous attack struck the black dragon hard. In a whirlwind of blazing metal shards, he was hidden in a pillar of shadows and light.
Determined to finish it, Natsu gathered as much energy as he could. He roared with all his might. Fire exploded upward in a bright golden pillar. The golden fire took the shape of a dragon as it shot skyward. His eyes were glowing bright with rage. The fiery dragon swooped down, jaws wide to engulf the black dragon.
Snarling and growling ferociously, Acnologia shot toward him. His speed had greatly lessened and he was bleeding badly. But the black dragon was determined to get in his finishing blow before he let death take him. With a deafening roar, Acnologia struck, just as the dragon of fire engulfed them both. The black dragon's sharp claws dug into Natsu's chest. Thanks to his momentum, Acnologia's entire limb thrust through Natsu's chest. Natsu coughed up chunks of blood. He could smell charred, burning flesh and the sweet scent of blood as his flames engulfed Acnologia. He felt the dragon's foot twitch with his last ounce of life before the black bulk fell from the sky.
"What happened?!" Lucy shouted. The explosion of golden flames and thick cloud of smoke hid the entire encounter from view. Her heart was thumping painfully against her ribs. From the cloud of smoke, a giant black form plummeted. Holding her breath, she squinted. "What is that?!"
"The Dragon King," Igneel growled.
"It's Acnologia!" Wendy cried.
"So Natsu won?" Gray shielded his eyes with his hand. "Where is the bastard?"
Suddenly another shape dropped from the cloud—this time red. Relief washed over Lucy. "It's Natsu!" But slowly her joy morphed into terror.
"Why isn't he moving?" Gray muttered.
"Something's not right." Erza stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the falling dragon.
Her eyes widened in horror. Something was wrong with Natsu! Slowly scales started to peel away from his dragon hide. The air around him was ripping scales and dragon skin from his body, thanks to the speed he was traveling. Soft fleshy patches appeared in places across his body.
Grandine gasped. "He's changing back!"
The Sky Dragon's previous words rang in Lucy's mind—the words she had spoken before Natsu took off after Acnologia: the purification has begun its work. Your dragon form will cease should your magic drain or should you die in this battle. Was he simply out of magic or…had he…?
"NATSU!" Lucy screamed. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.
A powerful updraft stirred as Igneel flapped his leathery wings. He took off into the sky to aid his child. The more Natsu plummeted, the more scales peeled away from his body. Soon he was just a simple human, bloody and battered. Igneel curved below the boy and caught him gently. Natsu landed on his father's scaly back and slumped against him. Igneel rushed him to the ground. Happy flew up to meet them.
"Natsu! Natsu!" Happy cried. "Natsu, are you okay?!"
The ground shook as Igneel landed. Erza and Gray hurried to his side. They scrambled up the dragon's back and Lucy rushed up beside the dragon. Gray froze. Erza gasped. Lucy stared at them wide-eyed.
"What?! What is it?!"
Happy flew into her arms, sobbing. "Luuuucyyyy…." He sniffled. "N-Natsu's…."
"Natsu's what?!" She looked up at her friends.
Gray shrugged out of his jacket and laid it across the Dragon Slayer. Erza held Natsu by the shoulders and Gray lifted his legs. He was naked and covered in blood. They carefully lowered him to the ground. Lisanna shrieked at the sight of him, eyes wide with horror. She covered her mouth as she tried to hold back the tears. Master Makarov rushed to his child's side, Porlyusica close behind him.
Mira covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my…Natsu…."
"Natsu-san!" Wendy cried, racing toward him.
Natsu's right shoulder had been dislocated and his arm nearly torn to pieces when Acnologia almost tore off his wing. Deep gashes ran along the left side of his face, streams of crimson flowing from them. He was covered in bite marks and deep scratches. The skin around the armband on his left wrist was torn and bloody. The skin was raised and clear puss leaked out from beneath the band, as if the skin was badly burned.
Lucy's knees gave out and she collapsed beside him. She slowly inched closer, brushing his blood-matted pink hair from his face. He was wheezing. It sounded like he couldn't breathe well! Maybe if she elevated his head, he might be able to breathe better. Lucy gently lifted his head and laid it on her lap. He winced, but remained silent.
Porlyusica knelt beside him and peeled back the jacket Gray had laid across him. It was already stained deep red. When she saw the wound beneath it, Lucy gasped sharply. Porlyusica clicked her tongue. A gaping hole had been gouged though Natsu's chest.
"Well," Makarov urged her, his face pale. "How is it?"
"This is going to be difficult," Porlyusica muttered.
"Natsu-san!" Wendy knelt beside his head. "Don't worry, Natsu-san, I'll make sure to heal you right up!"
The glowing ball that was Grandine descended and hovered over Natsu. "Your magic will not be enough, Wendy," she said sadly. "It will take all three of our magic talents to save him from this."
Porlyusica nodded. She rolled up her sleeves. "This is going to be a close call, but we'll do our best." She looked up at Levy. "You! Bring the medical team here, now! And make sure they bring type B blood! We might be able to close the wounds, but if he doesn't get a blood transfusion quickly, he'll die!"
Levy nodded and took off toward the arena's infirmary. Wendy and Porlyusica immediately set to work healing his more serious injuries, but it would take time. Chelia hurried over to assist them any way she could. Lucy traced the contours of Natsu's face lightly, but made sure to stay away from the left side of his face. Natsu groaned and coughed. Chunks of blood came up with each painful heave of his chest and trickled down his chin. Lucy brushed the hair from his face.
"Natsu! Natsu, listen to me," she said urgently, her voice shaking. "I know you're strong, and you can get through this. So please hang on!"
Natsu's breathing was worsening. His right eye slowly opened. The bright gleam they usually held was now dull and fading. Gently taking his face in her hands, Lucy tilted his chin up so he was staring at her. Natsu's chest shakily rose up and down, and slowly his breathing became little more than a wet rattle.
"Hey," Lucy said softly. Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks, but she smiled down at him. She couldn't let her composure slip. "Hey, sweetie. Everything's going to be okay. Porlyusica-san, Grandine, and Wendy are going to fix you right up. Okay?"
Slowly, hand shaking, Natsu reached up. He weakly brushed her tear away with his thumb. Knowing that she was safe put his mind at ease. It was all that mattered. His vision was starting to fade. He coughed violently, but forced a cheerful grin.
He gasped as he stared lovingly up at his mate. "…Lu…cy…."
She grasped his hand and squeezed it gently. She choked on a sob, but smiled down at him. "Yes. Yes, I'm here."
He chuckled. That little bit of stress on his lungs stirred up another coughing fit. A small trail of blood trickled down his chin. "I…did it. Told you…I could…L-Lu…cy…." Each word was strained. But he couldn't quite get everything out. And slowly the world dissolved into darkness. The last thing he heard was Lucy screaming his name and her hot tears hitting his cheek before his consciousness slipped away completely.
The final cliffhanger!
Chapter 37 should be up on Monday!