Kai Hope woke on in a cold sweat on the day he was to meet the devil. He gingerly touched his cheeks and slicked back his white hair. Iggy slept atop her little tower in the corner of the room. He longed for Erza to lay next to him but she wasn't there, instead on her way to Magnolia after another quest.

Acnologia's roar loomed in the back of his mind. Jellal's magic flashed. Jose's black eyes haunted him, starting at him agape with despair as all that power had been flushed out in an instant from Fairy Law.

Kai held his hand out and the sword came flying across the room into it. Ikaruga was the only true threat he'd defeated recently. Ikaruga.

He didn't dare shut his eyes but didn't have to for the magnificent black-winged form of Acnologia to take hold in his mind's eye. The nightmare lived so long as Acnologia still flew among the skies. Kai wondered if the dragon sought out the boy, maybe looking to take him out and draw Kairi out of whatever hiding she was doing. Kai doubted even Master Makarov would be able to hold off Acnologia if the beast came to Fairy Tail.

Kai creaked his window open and then clambered up to the top of his building, watching the Magnolia sunrise. The town woke with him, as people milled about and beasts of burden pulled carts along with all of their designated goods in tow. Doors and windows opened all over the town.

The sky turned from a dark color to a magnificent blue as the sun pushed away the darkness and the clouds above to reveal a wonderful canvas overhead. Kai sat on the roof and let the warmth of the sun wash over him.

The question of Kairi's location once more consumed him, but a far more pressing one started to take its place: what the hell was Dragon Force? What was that power that Natsu discovered by eating lacrima on the Tower of Heaven?

And why hadn't Kai ever heard about it before?

Kai closed his hand around a small ball of ice he absentmindedly created and let the bits of it fall with a dazzling twinkle into the breeze.

The bright blue sky further lit up, dredging up memories Kai always wanted to relive but never had the heart to. Memories of those days so long off in Iceberg, training in the open tundra with Kairi. The sky opened for them as the sun bled its light upon them but it never gave any reprieve to Kai of the bitter cold that came day in and day out, regardless of season.

"Kai?" Iggy's little voice popped out from the window below and the red cat flew up to meet him. She perched on the roof next to him.

"Hope I didn't wake you."

Iggy shrugged. "No biggie. Thinking about Acnologia again?"

Kai leered toward the rest of Magnolia but sighed and just nodded. "Always, Iggy. Always."

"But it's not just that this time, is it? I thought you were good with the Tower of Heaven."

"I am." Kai grasped his forearm. "What happened at the Tower is done. That nightmare is at last at an end, but what happened at the tower…What Natsu found. That Dragon Force."

"Are you scared of it?"

"No. But I need it if I want to defeat Acnologia."

"Which has you thinking about Acnologia, which put you on the roof…"

Kai nodded. "Natsu's power skyrocketed when he got that power. Imagine what I could do in Dragon Force if I used my Takeover spell…"

"You'd probably turn into a dragon!" Iggy stood and waddled over to Kai. "You can't even control yourself without a major power boost. You'd go absolutely nuts and probably just destroyed everything in your path."

"But it might be what I have to do," Kai said. "It's not impossible."

"It's also not smart."

"My track record doesn't really indicate that smart is something I dip into all that much."

Iggy rolled her big cat eyes. "Fine. Dragon Force defeats Acnologia. But how do you get it?"

"Know any places selling raw lacrima?"

"What if your system can't handle it like Natsu's did?"

"It has to."

"Stop being stubborn."

"What the hell am I supposed to be, then? Am I supposed to just continue on my path until I finally meet Acnologia and hope for the best? No. I need to know the secrets of Dragon Force, whatever it takes. Without that power I'm worthless against Acnologia."

"Are you just going to give up on your training, then?"

"No, Iggy, but there's not enough time for me to train."

"You don't know that."

Kai opened his mouth to speak but stopped and just waved Iggy off. Iggy took quite a bit of exception to that and just crossed her arms. Kai pursed his lips.

"Sorry," Kai muttered. "It's just a lot to think about, and I never know when that day is coming, or if I'll be properly prepared."

"You can only do your best, Kai," Iggy said. "And it's going to be good enough."

"With Dragon Force it would be better," Kai said.

Iggy just shook her head. "Obsession is the death of efficiency, Kai. It just stirs madness."

Kai tried to avoid a glower but could not, and instead just stood and held his hand out. Iggy climbed up his arm and he climbed down the side of the building to get the day started.

The two of them got ready and headed out to the guild hall while the rest of the town set up all of their decorations for the Fantasia event. People nodded and waved to Kai who did his best to wave back but was just too distracted. Iggy flew over his head marveling at all of the decorations that people put up. She was like this every year.

Kai's hand fell to his sword and once more thoughts of Dragon Force and Acnologia consumed him. He took the long steps up toward the guild hall, skipping every other step while he approached. A few of his guildmates meandered about town, talking about jobs or what they were planning for Fantasia.

He almost ignored the sight of the rebuilt guild hall, but it was really hard to ignore such splendor. The thing was truly magnificent and quite beautiful, all told. He'd already been inside a few times, and it was even more incredible there.

Iggy flew over the gate while Kai slid inside, catching the open door after Gray stepped outside. The two greeted one another and Kai let Iggy in. He waved at Mirajane, who dug into her ice cooler for Kai. He eyed the job board, then the rest of the room. Erza wasn't there, but maybe she was home. His stomach twisted a little.

Kai nodded to Master Makarov, who nodded back but continued talking to Happy about something. Natsu wasn't far off, munching on some food at the bar with Elfman right at his side also eating.

He absentmindedly sat at a table and Mirajane brought him his ice. Kai downed it with ease. Mirajane slid Kai a couple of jobs too, like she always did, and departed when someone called for her. Kai rested his hand on the job but didn't look at it, instead stared right down at the table. The guild hall was so vibrant and alive. He let out a long sigh broken up by haggard breathes. Iggy flew around saying good morning to everyone.

Kai strummed his fingers on the job. He couldn't even think straight. His mind constantly wandered about, unable to anchor onto anything while the rush of the guild hall burst around him. His vision didn't fade but he didn't even know what was in front of him.

Something warm came over his hand. Kai jolted and saw another hand, a slender one with a pink guild mark on it, resting on his hand.

"What—oh, Lucy," Kai said.

"You okay?" Lucy asked. She took a seat next to Kai. "You were tapping that job pretty hard…and also ignoring everything I was saying."

"You were talking?"

"Guess that answers my question. What's got you all…like this?"

Kai fumbled for words. Lucy was easy to confide in, if only because she seemed to give everyone in the guild her one-hundred percent dedication. She wanted to not just be everyone's friend but their confidant, too.

"Just thinking," Kai said.

"About the Tower of Heaven?"

"Sort of."

"He's thinking about Dragon Force."

Lucy beamed and Kai's heart sung. Erza took a seat across from them, still wearing her armor but her shoulders were back in a relaxed way, she had a general gentleness to her that Kai couldn't recall every actually seeing before the last few days.

"Natsu wouldn't shut up about it for a little bit," Lucy said. "It happened at the Tower, right?"

"I tried talking to Master Makarov about it yesterday, but since Dragon Slayer magic is a Lost Magic, it's hard to know what exactly Dragon Force is beyond a multiplication of a Dragon Slayer's abilities," Erza said.

Erza held back, Kai noticed. She knew what he was truly thinking. Her frequent gazes right into his eyes told him so, but she more-so focused on keeping Lucy distracted by smiling at her, as if in a reassuring way.

"It sounds like it'll be a useful thing if it ever comes back," Lucy said. "I mean, if we ever face someone as tough as Jellal again."

"Count on it," Kai muttered.

"What?" Lucy asked. "You said that a little quiet."

Erza glowered at Kai. "Count on it. You know Fairy Tail, always sticking our heads where we're not supposed to. Since you joined the guild we've fought two Wizard Saints, right? And you two went on an S-Class mission, so there's that, too."

"That's true. We do tend to get into a bit too much trouble at times."

Kai pushed himself up and away from the table. "Yeah, exactly. Sorry, guys, I just wanted to go see if there were any other jobs."

He left the two that Mirajane had on the table for him behind and approached the job board. Erza followed him. The two stood together and looked at a rather mundane job board.

"Talk to me," Erza said.

"There's nobody I can talk to anymore that will make me feel better," Kai said. "I've seen the exact power I need to defeat Acnologia. And I don't even understand it. How am I supposed to fulfill my mission if I don't have all the tools at my disposal?"

"This wasn't a problem before you discovered Dragon Force. What if you won't need it, what if you just continue growing stronger? You've made incredible leaps since we left the Tower."

"Since I was a child."

"But you've grown, and can continue to do so. Acnologia isn't here, and you aren't setting out to fight him. We all make each other stronger, Kai."

The Dragon Slayer nodded and tried not to look at Erza, since it would just end up melting his heart, but he couldn't help it and smiled at her gorgeous brown eyes. She nudged him with her elbow.

"Feeling better now, aren't we?"

"It's hard not to smile at a pretty face like the one I'm looking at."

Erza blushed and hid that pretty face from Kai's view. Kai just chuckled, for the first time in what had to be days, and rested his hands on his hips.

"I am overwhelmed," Kai said. "And I just…I just crawled into a shell. Plus, I mean, nobody else gets it. Natsu wants to go find Igneel. I want to find Kairi as well, but she also expects me to have the power to defeat Acnologia."

"Kai, I had the ghost of the Tower of Heaven hanging over me. I knew that one day we'd have to face it, and we did and we survived."

"It's not that," Kai said. "I'm afraid of facing him, yeah, but I'm afraid I don't know what I'm doing. If I could go find Kairi and ask her it'd be one thing. What if there's a secret weapon, or a secret spell, that we can use to beat him and when I go find him I don't have it? What if Dragon Force is that thing?"

"We'll figure it out together," Erza said.

Kai nodded and heard a ruckus behind them. Natsu leaped onto Gray, both roaring about something. Elfman dove in with an elbow to take them both out. Kai pursed his lips.

"Yes. I think we will."

Turns out it's much easier to get Natsu to fight than Kai thought…even though what he thought was really just having a reward for Natsu on the other end. Nope. Just asking him to spar and see if they could activate Dragon Force in Natsu was it.

They met in the front yard of the guild and most of the guild stayed inside, hanging out all the windows. Erza stood in the middle of the yard as not only the judge but someone to step in case someone was in danger of getting hurt. Kai removed his sword and handed it to Iggy, while Happy floated and tried to take it.

Kai's aura erupted around him while sparks flew away from Natsu.

"Nothing like a little exhibition," Natsu said. "Haven't gotten a good little fight in since the Tower, too."

"Don't hold back on me, Natsu," Kai said. He held his hand open and the entire yard turned to ice. Even Erza shivered. "I won't."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Natsu said.

Kai closed his fist and lowered into the martial-arts stance Erza helped him master, one mirrored after a draconic stance he'd seen in old scrolls.

Natsu sucked in a breath, then pounced toward Kai. Kai remained in his stance to the last second, when he moved and slid forward, slamming his shoulder into Natsu, stunning the Fire Dragon Slayer for a moment. Then, with an open palm, Kai blasted Natsu back and followed, moving fast on the ice. Natsu flipped over and punched at Kai with a fire fist.

"That all you got?"

"Not even close," Kai muttered, and blocked the fist and punched Natsu into the sky.

"Ice Dragon Roar!"

Everyone gasped as the spell slammed into Natsu and sent him even higher into the air. It even seemed to stun Natsu and Erza.

"Dragon Slayer magic?" Erza asked.

"I said nobody's holding back," Kai said. "And I meant it."

"Nice hit, Kai!" Natsu shouted from the sky, and shot fire from under his feet to blast back down. "Fire Dragon Wing Attack!"

Natsu slammed on the ground and the spell blasted heat everywhere. Kai summoned a wall of ice to block it and advanced, his body coated in a thin layer of ice. He kicked Natsu in the side and the two exchanged a quick series of blows, where none made any real contact, before Natsu grabbed hold of Kai's fists and slammed his head into Kai's. Kai stood strong and slammed his head back into Natsu's, feeling blood spill down from his forehead.

They disconnected. Kai and Natsu swished magic at one another and scooted back.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"

Kai summoned more magic around him.

"Ice Dragon Shield!"

Kai summoned the shield on his arm and tried to block Natsu's attack, pouring as much cold power as he could but Natsu still broke through, scorching Kai's arm a bit. Kai had enough time to move back and land his knee in Natsu's gut.

"Where's Dragon Force, Natsu?"

"Make me need it, Kai!" Natsu exclaimed.

Kai grit his teeth while Natsu sneered. Kai almost punched Natsu across the face but Natsu dodged. Damn those instincts. Kai blocked Natsu's next punch and shoved Natsu away.

"Ice Dragon Talon!"

"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!"

Kai and Natsu blitzed one another, and once more Natsu's attack won out. Kai shot back, but Natsu's momentum carried him forward. He grabbed Kai's ankle and slammed him on the ground. Kai bounced back up and kicked Natsu away, pursuing hot on his heels. Natsu caught himself midflight and everyone erupted in cheers. The battle could continue.

Fire and ice clashed once more and shot steam everywhere. The speed of their furious fists blew away all of the steam. A pillar of flame shot Kai into the air. He tried to catch himself but Natsu joined him in the sky. Kai's head was pounding and his side was killing him.

Nevertheless, "Ice Dragon Storm!"

Everyone gasped as the attack came from beneath Kai and propelled them both up. Kai used the power of the spell to punch Natsu under the chin and shoot him into the sky. Kai, obviously, pursued. Natsu howled with laughter while Kai followed. Natsu easily dodged Kai's kick but Kai parried Natsu's punch with a fist of his own, catching Natsu right in the eye. They both contorted around and suspended in the air for just a brief moment.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"

"Ice Dragon Talon!"

Their spells collided but Natsu's overwhelmed Kai and propelled him back as he fell. Natsu used his flames to shoot him faster toward Kai, catching him and then pushing him toward the ground.

"Ice Dragon Storm!"

A weaker version of the spell from before, but one that still buffeted Kai's descent. He hit the ground with a roll and felt the crick in his side explode. Natsu landed, heaving a few heavy breaths. He sprinted toward Kai.

"This oughta do it!" he exclaimed. "Time to feel the heat, Kai!"

For just a split second, Kai thought he felt something in him. Some sort of power, something. And he tried to capitalize on it.

"Ice Dragon!" he started, before sighing as Natsu closed in. "Rage!"

He crossed his arms, then released his magic in a spiral formation right at Natsu. His aura blinked out of existence and the magic rammed into Natsu, stopping him and forcing him back. Kai channeled all of his magic into the attack.

"Just go down, Natsu!"

"Now we're really getting started!" Natsu shouted. "How's this, then? Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Crimson Lotus Exploding Blade!"

Natsu roared, as did Kai, and the combination of the two magics caused a massive steam eruption that spilled everywhere, and even forced Erza back.

Kai dropped to his knees, his magic spent, his body throbbing with pain. That was all he had in him.

And Natsu remained standing. Barely, but standing. Kai closed his eyes.

No. That wasn't even close to all Kai had. He'd held back from using that spell. Kai punched the ground.

"Dang, no Dragon Force," Natsu said. "I know you all wanted to see it…"

"None for me either," Kai said. "Damn it! I can't even defeat Natsu, how the hell am I supposed to beat you?"

"Kai…" Erza's voice tried to soothe him but it couldn't break through.

"I'm just not going to be strong enough." Kai rolled his torso forward so his nose touched the frosty ground. "Not like this."

Two people approached Kai, while Iggy floated down. Natsu held his hand out, as did Erza. Iggy held his sword to him.

He pushed himself up and grabbed the sword, making sure to make it look like the red on his face was blood, not puffiness from tears.

"Good fight," Natsu said. "Thought you almost had me there."

"Yeah." Kai nodded, and clasped Natsu's hand, though there was nothing to it. "Good stuff, Natsu. You're real strong, you know that? You do everyone here proud."

"You too, Kai," Erza said. "You exclusively used Dragon Slayer magic, and you were able to control yourself!"

"And not able to win." Kai clipped the sword back onto his belt.

"You're getting stronger," Erza said. "Trust in your training."

Kai pursed his lips. The guild loomed tall over him, casting a wide shadow over all the wizards that poured out of the building to approach Natsu and Kai.

"Yeah. I will." He gripped Erza's shoulder and nodded to Natsu. "Thanks. You've shown me what I need to do to get stronger."

"Really? That's great!" Natsu rubbed the back of his head. "See, Erza, I can be a pretty good mentor. Maybe I could know more if I went on a few more of those S-Class missions…"

"Absolutely not," Erza said. "Kai, get some rest. Come on inside."

"I'll just go home," Kai said, almost too suddenly. "I've got some other bandages and medicines I can use. I'll be okay. I'll see you guys soon, like later today, alright?"

"Okay," Natsu said. "I think Lucy wanted to go on another job before Fantastia, so, she might try and find you."

Kai nodded but turned away from them. He said nothing and walked out the guild hall gate. Iggy followed overhead but said nothing. Kai nodded and smiled to some of the regular Magnolia townspeople who caught the fight and stared wide-eyed at him.

He winced at some of the pain he felt in his side. He did have medicines at home he could use to heal up a bit. Iggy called to him and he glanced over his shoulder at her.

"Something's wrong," Iggy said. "I can tell. That wasn't just a sparring match. You were pushing yourself."

"I was testing myself," Kai said. "To see if I could beat Natsu, whose beaten Gajeel, another Dragon Slayer. Maybe I could even take on Erza if I beat Natsu. Turns out I can't even do any do any of that. So when Acnologia comes, what I am?"

"You're still learning, you're not going to get stronger after one fight."

"I know," Kai said. "So I need to train."

He ignored the pain he felt not just in his body but in his heart while he trod on home. His hands absentmindedly touched the stone buildings surrounding him.

They reached the apartment and clambered up the steps in silence. Kai pushed the door opened, then shook his head.

"Oh, shoot, Iggy, I think I forgot something at the guild," Kai said. "It was a couple of jobs that Mirajane gave me, can you go run back and get them?"

"Only if you'll lay down and rest."

"Of course."

Iggy smiled and flew back out the window. Kai shut the door quietly but rushed back into the room. He grabbed his go-bag off the handle and rummaged with fast hands through his little medicine cabinet. He rubbed ointment on his face over the wounds and down a quick potion. His body pulsed but regenerated a bit.

Kai reset everything and left the door as is. In rushed handwriting, he left Iggy one little note on the table: Sorry.

Then he pushed the window open and let in the cool Magnolia air. He sighed, closing his eyes.

Only one place came to mind, and it was not Magnolia, it was not the guild hall. His body itched to be anywhere but. He couldn't stay back and continue to hold down Fairy Tail with his weakness.

When he returned, he had to be stronger. And only one place was going to get him stronger: the place where all of this began. Where he could be surrounded by the element that gave him power.

He had to go to Iceberg.

Kai leapt out the window and slid down the wall, rolling when he hit the ground and sprinting toward the town's cart station.

Here's a little change of pace for you: an original story! Sketchywolf, the original requester for this story, asked if I would do an original exploring Kai leaving Fairy Tail and we worked out how it would work, so here it is! Hope you enjoy it, I think we've got a few interesting ideas and moments coming down the pike very soon!

After all, the first words of this story are "Kai Hope woke in a cold sweat on the day he was to meet the devil." Next chapter?

Let's meet him, shall we?

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