Chapter 29- Fathers & Sons

The roar was so distant and battles so fierce below that no one had realized the travesty rushing their way. But Riku, sitting on Phyllis at the edge of the cliff could hear it, straining his ears to separate the wind from the sound of distant thunder. He was feeling strange indescribable feels swirling about inside of him. He felt as if he were suddenly very small again- a child staggering hungry in the woods, tears stained onto his cheeks looking for something- someone- anyone to help him. Perhaps it was the strange relationship between parents and their children that allowed him to recognize the sounds before anyone else. Perhaps it was this same relationship that made him feel so small now.

The second roar ripped him back to the present, this one more distinct and Riku knew that Acnologia was firing blasts of destruction against the Earth as he flew towards them. How many towns and villages was he sending up into smoke? How many people were running for their lives and how many were simply vaporized before the scream left their throats? Riku touched his cheek and was surprised to find it wet. He was crying? In his mind's eye, Riku could see his father: his long, dark blue colored hair and a sharp accusing gaze framed by the markings across his face. Riku could hear the cold, stern tone in his mind: "Why are you crying?"

Phyllis glanced back at him and made a reassuring sound with her tongue against her beak.

"There isn't any time for this," Riku told himself. He ran his arm across his eyes and looked determinedly forward. He closed his eyes and felt himself begin to transform, black scales covering his body as his hands grew and expanded into claws and wings appeared on his back. All of his senses became more heightened and he could hear and smell and see much clearer than before. Now he could clearly hear the conversations below and he shifted through them to find the sound he was tracking.

Riku heard the third roar and heard Natsu's voice below him tremble as he spoke, "Can't you hear it coming, Gajeel?"

"Phyllis, take me up there," Riku instructed, pointing up to the cliff across the way. "Then, back away to a safe distance and if I need you I'll whistle. If anything happens to me, be sure you fly back to Master Rikyu."

Phyllis shot him an offended look as they landed, but Riku ignored it as he slipped off. He could smell Acnologia now. He'd be here any moment. Below, Riku could see Natsu, Lucy, Juvia, & Gajeel. Something seemed wrong. Riku narrowed his eyes to focus in. Gajeel and Natus were clutching their chests, trembling. Were they reacting to Acnologia's approach?

As if the thought itself had summoned him, Riku felt the heat of Acnologia's roar as it shot up against the mountain wall. The large black dragon decorated by spiraling blue markings reared up, revealing his gray chest and stomach. His white, beady eyes looked around at the destroyed Plutogrim below. Acnologia began to open his mouth, revealing razor sharp teeth and Riku could sense the magic energy growing. Acnologia was going to vaporize them all with a roar right then and there.

"No!" Riku called. He gathered his magical energy in his fist, a ball growing rapidly there as he leaped from the mountain. His speed increased as he fell towards the dragon and sent as much magic as he could to his hand. "Dark Alchemy Dragon Claw!"

He drew his hand through the air and the shape of a dark aura claw appeared, but it was larger than usual and it rushed towards Acnologia, hitting him in the face and making him waver in the air, his head snapping away from the strike. The attack had surprised the dragon, but that was about it. Even with magic mixed with Master Rikyu, his attacks were like a fly landing on a human hand. That was fine, he'd just have to attack again. Riku managed to land on Acnologia, but the dragon turned its head up,throwing him back and almost off the next moment. Riku grasped onto the dark scales with his claws.

Acnologia beat his feather-like wings and rose higher into the air, pulling his head back. Riku could feel it again, the energy coming together and moving up Acnologia's throat. He was preparing to fire his Dragon's Roar and Riku had to stop it again. Using his claws, he climbed slowly up the dragon's neck. He could feel the energy had moved to Acnologia's mouth, it was gathering there as Acnologia opened his jaws.

I'm not going to make it in time, Riku realized, trying to pick up the pace.

But Acnologia didn't fire. Instead, his head snapped back and he seemed to flip in the air from some force that made contact with his jaw. Riku barely managed to hold on as Acnologia steadied himself in the air, widening his stance into one of defense. Riku used the pause in movement to scramble the last few feet to the top of Acnologia's head. What had hit Acnologia? Was there a new enemy to face? Riku's mouth fell open at the view he found at the top.

There was a gigantic dragon covered with dark, red scales glaring at Acnologia. Scars criss-crossed his biege stomach and chest and Riku could see that his back had numerous black spikes, reaching down from the back to the end of his tail with horns on his head. The dragon's sharp canine teeth and claws were revealed and ready to attack, but his large, round eyes with yellow sclera widened at the sight of Riku.

Below them, Riku could faintly hear Natsu's voice shout the dragon's name, "Igneel!"

"Who are you, boy," Igneel said, glaring at Riku. Before Riku could answer, Acnologia charged, head first into Igneel. Riku leaped into the air using his wings to avoid the collision, but the force of their impact sent vibration through the air so powerful that Riku felt himself pushed away into the air sending him into a stomach churning spiral. The next swipe of Acnoligia's claw barely missed Riku as it fell across Igneel's shoulder. He responded to with a fierce upper cut to Acnologia's chin. The force pushed Acnologia back, but Riku had no time to marvel at the match. Suddenly a hand close around him sharply and pulled him back.

"You smell familiar," Acnologia said, the same cold tone Riku remembered. Riku glanced at Igneel, but he was distracted by his own son. Natsu had blasted his way to his father, who was now grasping him in his hands and gesturing from Acnologia to Natsu and then down to the destroyed Plutogrim below.

"You are the boy," Acnologia continued, putting his own pieces together. "All alone and come to surpass your father, Riku? With this small amount of magic you now possess?"

"I'm here to stop you from destroying everything," Riku snapped back, squirming to get out of Acnolgi'as hand. The dragon held tighter in response and Riku was sure he felt a rib or two crack.

"I admit I'm impressed you survived after I left," Acnologia admitted. "Am I to imagine you've spent all these years training for this moment? To build your power to face me once again?" Acnologia peered even closer, taking in his appearance with one eye just a few inches away. "All that time and this is all you can muster?"

In response, Riku managed to tug his arms free, throwing them together to shoot off an attack as he called, "Dark Alchemy Dragon Blast!"

The stream of energy shot forward and hit Acnologia in the eye, making him release a hiss of pain, his grip loosened enough for Riku to escape, but before he'd gotten too far, Acnologia had him in his grasp again. Without another word, the hand grasping Riku moved towards Acnologia's face a moment later, Riku felt himself thrown into the dragon's mouth. He curled slightly to avoid the front teeth.

It was very wet, very enclosed, and very dark. Acnologia's voice rang in Riku's head.

A mosquito in the air. An ant on my boot. May your last thoughts be regretting you ever had the arrogance to face me, King of the Dragons!

The moist cave began to get warmer and a faint light illuminated the backs of Acnologia's teeth. Dark energy was building deep in Acnologia's bowels, illuminating the throat. Riku realized what was happening: Acnologia was preparing an attack and that attack was going to exit from this exact place. He'd be vaporized on the spot.

I'm a mosquito, Riku thought viciously, then let me bite! In a swift movement he drew Erza's sword and charged it with his own dark energy, making it glow. Then, he slammed it down in between the two back teeth before him, hitting the gums. Dark blood shot out as light flooded in and Acnologia let out a shout of surprise. The next moment Riku found himself flying through the air above hell fire as Igneel hit Acnologia will his own dragon roar. Riku found himself again in the grasps of a dragon, but this time the hands were as hot as fire and made Riku sweat.

"You are a friend of Natsu, then you are a friend to me," Igneel said as he peered down at Riku. "But this is no place for a human, no matter who they may be. Go and help your friends."

Igneel tossed Riku away, sending him hurling towards the ruins below. He felt himself run head first into two forms, one after another. Each gave a cry of surprise as the three of them went straight into a wall. Riku mentally scanned himself. He definitely had two hurt ribs, his shoulder felt a bit out of place, and his magic was weakened, making him turn back from his Dragon takeover form. At least, he thought, I'm not wet with saliva anymore. He opened his eye when he heard Natsu and Gray's surprised tones saying his name.

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