Chapter 74:

Looking back, they should've known or at least expected things to not go the way they planned. Really, Fairy Tail symbol was probably some type of symbol to lady Fate to make sure every person wearing it can not count on their plans. Be that as it may, this turn of events actually worked in their favor. Probably... If Acnologia or Igneel don't kill them on the spot when they tell them what they are planning on doing. Ultear wasn't even sure whether to be worried or ecstatic. Their biggest concern was to find the dragon king and loo and behold he lands in front of them. It would make her worries ease a bit if the king didn't look so angry to begin with.

Maybe he wasn't angry, maybe it was just his natural expression. Not very likely.

Oh dear.

''So?'', Igneel asked, one red eyebrow raised and face straight. The fire dragon was obviously done with games. ''What are you doing here?''

''Ah... you see...'', Laxus coughed and looked at what had to be the most interesting patch of foliage he had ever seen because he absolutely refused to look away. It grew downright awkward from there, really. Gajeel cleared his throat which probably ran dry if she had to guess by her own reaction and from the startled face that followed on Gajeel's face he did not plan for it to be so loud. ''You have ten seconds to start talking,'' Acnologia spoke, his voice dry and very much threatening.

Shit.

''We may or may not be looking for... uh.. someone?'', Arthur looked for any sign of support from his friends who quickly fell quiet and with their eyes seemingly pushed him under the metaphorical train. Arthur's eyes narrowed and a pout formed for a second. Bastards. Acnologia raised his own eyebrow and Arthur couldn't help but gape at what was exact replica of Natsu's Better-start-talking-or-I'll-gut-you look. ''Right...'', Arthur shuffled his feet before clearing his throat and those dragons were looking very impatient. ''Wearelookingforyou!''

''What?'', the deadpan that left Acnologia's lips made Arthur's skin gain a weird pale-blush complexion that did not look healthy.

''We were looking for you, sir'', Annie supplied quietly, her voice a few octaves higher but Arthur visibly sagged in relief. What kind of adults surrounded them if they left two youngest members of their group to talk to what was possibly the strongest beings any of them faced. So. Not. Cool.

''...Why?'', Igneel prompted when the two dragons realized no one was jumping to explain. Humans were incredibly rude.

Gajeel visibly collected himself, opened his mouth, and released a squeak that he quickly cowered with a cough before he opened his mouth again. And promptly snapped them shut when every eye turned to him and two dragons glared.

Ultear sighed. They were not doing this right. Acnologia was starting to look downright murderous.

''We –'', Ultear spoke, rather proud her voice reminded steady as she gestured to the rest of the group, ''We're looking for you in order to ask a few questions and possibly... request a favor?''

She fell silent and looked at the two dragons hopefully. The two looked right back, though their expressions were far from impressed. ''We can't answer if you don't ask us a question,'' Igneel finally said, slowly and carefully like talking to a child – which really was true if you take into account Igneel's age and their admittedly stupid behavior.

''Right,'' Ultear blushed, ''First... What happened to Natsu?''

Now it was the two dragons that tensed and Acnologia went a rather impressive shade of grey. Igneel looked worriedly at Acnologia before facing Ultear again. ''Wha – Why are you asking that? You know already the answer. Natsu died''

Acnologia clenched his teeth and his body made a collective twitch that made every human in the clearing take a step back. Ultear swallowed, scrapped every inch of courage she had and continued, ''I mean, what happened to his soul? Is he... Do you know... I mean... Is he in... Hell?''

''Ausul,'' Acnologia snarled suddenly, magic sparking across his skin before he pushed it back. He bared his teeth as he glared at each wizard in front of him, watching as each cowered in front of him and his snarl deepened. ''What would you know of it? Why do you even want to know that?'', he eyed them, suspicious and accusatory.

''We are trying to bring him back,'' Arthur said softly and Acnologia's eyes widened a fraction as he looked at the boy while Igneel inhaled a sharp breath. ''Don't you dare,'' Igneel hissed making every mage jump, they all remembered Igneel from the GMG as a lot more friendly face. ''Don't you dare dabble in necromancy humans. You don't know what you're dealing with''

''We know!'', Mira protested stepping forward. ''We know enough to know what we're doing!'', she continued at the look the two dragons sent her. ''I will not let him rot in Hell or Ausul or whatever you want to call it. I will not let him be there and I honestly can't believe you are so willing to do it either. It's your f –'', she did not manage to finish her sentence because Gray promptly slammed his hand over her mouth and sent her a warning look that made her back down, knowing she went to far.

She might have not finished what she was about to say but it was rather obvious what it should've been and Acnologia once again went an interesting shade of grey, his lips pressed in a thin white line and his eye closed, his face suddenly looking decades older before he opened his eyes and visibly pulled every emotion back, cold blue eyes staring at the group for a moment before he spoke. ''Are you saying my son died because of me?'', he asked, challenged really and Igneel cursed under his breath. Really, this was just unfair. He had been trying for two days to get those thoughts out of Acnologia's head and here comes a human and put them right back in. Damn, and he really liked to think he had been getting close.

''No!'', Ultear shook her head quickly. ''That has nothing to do with that, Mira didn't mean it in that way. She is not blaming you for his death. No one here is!''

''Then what, pray tell, did she mean by that?'', Acnologia asked, eyes turning to Mira, obviously waiting for her and no one else to answer. Mira wilted under the stare, rubbing her forearm uneasily as she berated her lose of temper in these conditions. ''I meant...''

''Spit it out'', cold and threatening and oh, so familiar tone it made Mira's breath hitch. That tone was never directed at her before but she had heard it from Natsu. It was a demand with no other option but to answer it. ''You are the reason he's in Hell''

Acnologia reared back before he bared his teeth. ''I made him stronger''

''At the cost of his soul,'' Mira retorted and once again found herself regretting it immediately.

Acnologia lashed out, power exploding around him as he closed the distance between himself and Mira before anyone could react. His hand gripped her throat and promptly lifted her. The white-haired mage choked, her fingers barely scraping the forest floor while every mage took a stance, ready to fight a fight they would surely lose. Igneel stopped it from escalating, placing one hand on Acnologia's shoulder and lowering the king's hand that held the girl up with the other. Acnologia looked at him from the corner of his eye and back at Mira before throwing her to the ground and spitting in front of her as she fell on her bottom.

''Natsu should've have died. Had he not been foolish enough to develop feelings for humans he wouldn't have been there. Had he been alive long enough he wouldn't have died like that''

''What are you talking about?'', Mira demanded, holding her throat gingerly, her voice hoarse.

''Natsu was a dragon,'' Igneel said like that explained everything. And maybe to the two dragons, it did. The rest were clueless at what that meant but it was obvious neither of the two felt inclined to elaborate.

Silence descended on the clearing and Ultear sighed, not sure if she should be relieved or increasingly worried as the situation seemingly diffused. Acnologia became downright unreadable and Igneel looked very conflicted over whatever must be going through the dragon's head. The silence stretched and it didn't take long until it became incredibly awkward. ''Why?'', it was Igneel who broke it and the king sounded pained. At the confused looks the humans sent him he gave a heavy sigh, obviously not very keen to say it out loud. ''Why do you want to bring him back?''

Ultear felt her hope rise. If he was asking that, does that mean they were willing to help?

''Neither Acnologia nor I are agreeing to anything,'' he snapped and Ultear jerked, wondering how much of the rising hope showed on her face.

''Because he's a friend,'' Gray said, his voice deceptively mild considering the situation. He spoke in a tone that said the question was stupid. Which it was in Ultear's opinion. Not that she'd say it out loud.

''Because he's our father,'' Arthur nodded in agreement, catching Annie's hand.

''Our mentor,'' Laxus said, catching to what the others were doing, gesturing to himself and Gajeel.

''Our life,'' Ultear said firmly, lifting her chin. It sounded tacky maybe but she felt she had the right to be clishé right now.

''Every one of us was changed because of him, changed for the better and he gave his life for us more times than we can count or probably even are aware of. He was this unmoving grumpy rock everyone could count on and he was the best father, the best friend, the best mentor, the best everything,'' Arthur said firmly. ''Why do we want him back? Why on Earth not?! Because he's Natsu Souleater. That's really all we should need to tell you for you to understand what we're on about''

Igneel looked conflicted again, part proud, part disapproving. Like a parent that caught their child doing something incredibly inappropriate but for the best of reasons. '

'The best son and student''

Every eye turned to Acnologia who clenched his jaw and took a deep breath and Igneel could see his defiance crumbling. Igneel knew this would end badly. For all of them. So very badly.

''Tell me everything''

And really that wasn't agreement but Ultear almost jumped in joy, unaware Igneel was close to weeping. Don't get him wrong, he would very much like Natsu alive. But there was a reason Necromancy was very frowned upon. Oh, Himmel will get a stroke if he hears about this.

So very badly.

''How did you get permission to go up?'', Natsu asked Lilith one day and the other demon almost jumped out of her skin because she had not known he was there. She looked at him, glaring angrily at his far too innocent face that looked very out of place on a demon. Natsu merely cocked his head to the side and waited for her to answer.

Lilith eyed him suspiciously. ''Why are you asking?''

''No reason''

Now that was a lie if Lilith ever heard one. Natsu didn't seem too bothered. And really why should he be. If she refused to answer he could make her. It was decidedly disturbing how the Curse changed his Magic. Natsu found it fascinating, of course. It took some time to get the hang of it but if he had anything it was time. And he was doing a decent job at testing what he could do. Really, in all her years Lilith had not met a demon so easily slipping into a role of a well... demon. Natsu obviously enjoyed he scared the crap out of every soul around him. Some of the older demons had a betting pool how many centuries before he took her job. Lilith huffed. As if that would happen any time soon. Lilith eyed the demon who gave her a rather disturbing smile that made her shiver. She should not be that scared of him!

''So?''

Wha- Ah, he was talking to her.

''I became the Messenger. Of all the souls in the Underworld only I have permission to walk on mortal plain and even that is not limitless''

Natsu blinked and he looked intrigued. That was very curious, the dragon prince decided, looking around at the dour surroundings of the Eight Circle. Only Massanger.

''Does that mean not even Supreme are allowed out?''

Lilith snorted. ''Like you can forbid a god something. No, they can go up but they chose not to. None of them physically left this plane for several eons. Possession, yes, physically, no''

''How come?''

Lilith rolled her eyes. ''They are gods. The dimension that makes this plane is a lot steadier than the Mortal world. A god walking around freely means apocalypse. Do you know what it means to be a god?''

Natsu rolled his eyes at her haughty tone. The dragon prince looked decidedly unimpressed. ''Like you know''

Lilith flushed at that and glared at the other demon with a glare that would send anyone else running. Not Natsu. He only gave her that creepy smile and looked at her down his nose, chin rising up. ''To be a god is to change the world around you just by being there. You don't have to want it, don't need to think. Gods don't do, they are. I was there the last time they were walking on Earth. I was in the war that destroyed the world. Natsu, I fell from Heaven because the gods walked the Mortal plane and removed the line between Heaven, Earth, and Hell''

Natsu nodded to himself, the history Lilith spoke of all the time filled him with questions and made him rethink some things he knew about the world. It was humbling to be reminded just how small they were in the great scheme of things. But Lilith was wrong on one account. Gods had to fallow some rules as well. The chose not to walk on Earth in order to let mortals and dragons live there. It had been in balance for a long time. Dragons were the ones that stopped the war between Heaven and Hell from breaking out again because every immortal race needed one plane for themselves in order to avoid apocalypses. It wasn't just the presence of one god that brought chaos to Earth eons ago. It was the presence of both those from Heaven and Hell, the forces so powerfull and completely opposite that the world almost broke under the pressure. Dragons were a neutral force that drew the line between the two.

A thought struck Natsu suddenly and he looked up, wondering what could it possibly mean. He had known of it before, of course, Anubis even pointed it out but only now it occurred to him it could have a much deeper meaning. Every immortal race had one plane. In life, he qualified as a dragon. So what will happen now when a dragon is in hell? Nothing happened yet really, so maybe nothing will but it was something worth thinking about, at the very least.

And not just that. Natsu couldn't help but wonder what will happen when all dragons disappear. They were a dying race after all. Their numbers will never cower the skies. Humans made sure of that. It was rather ironic in a very twisted way. Dragons let humans, a product of both Underworld gods and those from Heaven, develop in order to satisfy their curiosity and acquire a new source of fun, the humans rebelled, some dragons helped them, the rest perished only for humans to proceed to kill the rest off and the dragons had to disappear to what used to be their Capitol and now was the only population of dragons left. Humans were a menace, Natsu concluded. They destroyed everything given enough time. Dragons made Earth livable, gods made humans, dragons hunted humans, humans killed dragons and in the end, it will all end as last dragons perish and gods once again poke their noses onto Earth, only this time there will be no dragons to stop them from destroying it completely in their petty arguments.

Well, wasn't that a depressing turn his thoughts went. Lilith was still looking at him in that I'm-worried-for-my-safety-because-you-are-cray way while the former dragon prince proceeded to stop thinking about something he had no way of changing. ''Right... How does one become a messenger?''

''Wha -?'', Lilith paused, blinked before glaring again. ''I'm the Messenger. You don't become Messenger. Despite what other demons say it's not a job description. It's not even a title. My name is Lilith but people sometimes summon me by using Messenger. It's my identity''

Natsu stared at her for a long time, and she barely stopped herself from squirming before he finally nodded, muttered something to himself, added, ''Shame that'', a little louder and walked away making Lilith stare after him until he disappeared in a hole that opened underneath him.

Natsu exited the Void somewhere in the middle of the First Circle, barely sparing a glance to his surroundings as he continued walking. There was a howl in the distance that Natsu paid no mind to as he looked at the barren trees surrounding him for a second before snorting to himself. He was an idiot. There was nothing he could do to change the fate of the world. It was far beyond his reach. It was beyond anyone's reach. Needlessly stressing over it will not help anyone. He should tell Acnologia this. Not that he could... or wanted. Was it petty he was willing to entertain the idea about not telling his Father about the end of the world because the said Father killed him? Mind you not now, Natsu would never blame him for dying now but the fact reminded that he had died before, and damn, doesn't that put some things in perspective. Petty or not Natsu was fairly certain dragons were aware of this, which was why they decided to stay as far away from humans as possible.

The dead dragon prince snorted at the thought. Like humans could kill them all even if they tried. It was not hubris nor misplaced pride that brought this conclusion, mind you. It was a fact that human mages have grown weaker over the last two or three centuries. At least that's what Acnologia claimed and Natsu was inclined to agree. He doubted any of the dragon slayers were capable of slaying a dragon together let alone on their own and there weren't all that many slayers left. That being said, before Dragon Wars in X400 humans weren't all that strong either. Really, their prowess in battle became noteworthy only during the wars.

The only reason Natsu saw of wanting to say anything about the possible, not so distant, end of the world, was if it endangered his family – which he hated, of course, and he held no love for them anymore and... he was lying to himself but that's beside the point. If the end of the world endangered his hated family he would've been more inclined to find a way to tell them. Acnologia, he knew held no such inclination. In the end, it did not put anyone in immediate danger. Dragons could live for quite a few centuries and there were still young ones born on the Island though it was an increasingly rare occurrence. People born a millennium or two in the future will need to be worried which might not sound so soon but if you take into account most humans believed it will never happen it is a lot sooner than that.

Natsu sighed, shaking his head. He was turning into a philosopher. There has to be something more productive to do in this hellhole. No pun intended.

At the frown that marred Acnologia's face at the mention of the initials at the end of the letter, Ultear shared a suspicious look with Mira. ''Do you know who that is?''

Acnologia turned his head away from Igneel who shared his own looks with the dragon king and did not even blink. 'Yes'

''No'', Acnologia gave a jerky shake of his head before frowning again. ''I am not particularly thrilled with some of your plans, however'', it might be more accurate to say he wasn't thrilled with who it was that gave them those plans but that's really beside the point. Not important at all. ''Not to say I'm surprised you're willing to do some of these things''

''What are you talking about?'', Erza spoke, her still rigid posture on full guard even almost an hour since dragons arrived. It almost made Acnologia roll his eyes, really, if they wanted to attack they would've done that by now. Igneel nodded in agreement to Acnologia's statement, picking up after his king and responding to Erza, taking the book and the short version of the ritual they agreed to follow. ''This line right here – Bring the Soul the power of a city, that which moves thousands and in a number large enough to create an anchor heavy enough to the Mortal plane for without it the Soul will not be able to stay.''

''What with that line?'', Mira asked, ''We already agreed to get one of those power chrystals that power the city and... Why are you looking at me like that?''

Acnologia watched the wizards, briefly wondering if they were joking. And the utter seriousness on their faces was an answer enough. The dragon king felt like shaking his head and kicking the idiots for good measure. Igneel didn't look far too impressed either and that made Acnologia all the more sure that the people before him were utter and complete idiots. ''Power of a city, in this context and in this conditions is a reference to the humans living there. The main ingredient to get someone back from the dead is to gather the souls of an entire city – the bigger the better''

Ah, now that's the faces he would expect these righteous and noble mages to ware at the thought. Acnologia shook his head this time, because, really? Did they think it would be that easy? ''But... but we can't do that!'', Annie gasped out, horrified. ''There has to be another way! Right? Right...?''

For a tiny second, Igneel let himself hope this will be the end of it. It tore the old dragon to think so but it was only normal, natural. People die. Igneel turned his head away from the fire and deeper into the shadows. Humans die. Dragons leave the plane. Everything ends. Going against it won't bring anyone any good. If he was given a choice, Igneel would trade his place with Natsu's immediately. The fire dragon's head snapped to Acnologia and he released a small moan when he saw that glint in the king's eyes. Acnologia, no matter how much time passed and how much has changed kept some madness in his head. No one can get rid of something like that. And now, faced with something he wanted more than anything, he was willing to do anything.

And to think Igneel almost managed to turn him back to the Island.

''There... is a way''

But in the end, Igneel couldn't help but feel drawn to it. Drawn to what he knew couldn't end well. But maybe, just maybe the positive outweighed the negative. Igneel knew Acnologia's history, the history of Fairy Tail and his own spoke of things going wrong everywhere they could but it also spoke of them moving past it, growing stronger by it. Yes, maybe they had a chance to get Natsu back without losing something or someone else in the process. Acnologia looked conflicted with his own choice of the path, a part of him was still wondering if he maybe couldn't just kill off a city for the Fairy Tail. It's not like he hasn't done worse things. But as every eye turned on him with such burning hope Acnologia knew that option was and never will be available. These people were too good for their own well being.

The dragon king sighed. ''Instead of summoning him to Lurioa we can retrieve his soul from the Underworld and tie it to a body''

''But... That would mean physically entering Hell...'', Gray muttered, eyes slightly glassing over as he stared into the fire. ''And what body?'', Laxus demanded, looking at the two kings. ''We can't just use his old body. We don't know where it is! And even if we did it's probably half-rotten by now''

Igneel spoke up, his voice suddenly determined and it set Acnologia's lips into a grim smile that was anything but happy. ''We know where his body is. It is... in a less than desirable state but enough healing magic should take care of any parts that are starting to fall off''

''...What?''

''Oh, who cares!'', Mira huffed before turning to Acnologia and Igneel. ''If you think this will work than I'm willing to believe you. Natsu believed the two of you more than anyone else I know and I'm willing to do the same for now... despite our past differences,'' she looked at Acnologia and raised her chin in defiance and Acnologia had to hide a smile. He was starting to see why his son liked her. ''All I have to ask now is what are we to do first? Get the body or get the soul?''

Acnologia's smile widened, a sharp grin in the face framed by dancing shadow of the fire around them. ''Well, I don't see the reason why we can't do both at the same time''

The High King turned and look back at Igneel who closed his eyes and nodded before disappearing in the burst of fire. Acnologia stayed with the mages and as he transformed back into his dragon form, chaos energy swirling and rising to the sky the Fairy Tail mages couldn't help but shudder. The dragon looked down at them, the black head almost melting with the night sky, two bright blue eyes staring sharply at them.

Mirajane shuddered again, for a second the night sky replaced by a bright sun and they were once again standing on Tenrou. But just as quickly as it came the sight disappeared and Acnologia still stood there, not attacking nor moving. Just two bright eyes staring at them with expression unreadable and closed.

''Pack up,'' Acnologia's voice once again boomed around them, far louder now that he was taller than the trees. ''We better get going before Igneel reaches Himmel. We only have so long before that blasted fiend gets here to tell us how crazy we all are,'' Acnologia said, his voice dry, '...And drags me back to the Island'

The Nine sat around the Tree, each occupied with their own thoughts. Morrigan and Minerva whispered occasionally to each other, a giggling leaving their lips that would make skeletons shiver. Ankhseram looked raised his head, the branches rustling above him and the White Moon shone brightly through the windows.

Gods are easily bored. That was a fact. It came with the age, the longer you watched the world the more you see just how much history repeats itself. Ankhseram didn't like it. Humans were masters at creating mayhem and chaos. No one could really do it as well as they did. But even they follow patterns, far too many of them for Ankhseram or the other gods to truly find anything interesting. That was why interference in with the mortals and their plans kept Ankhseram's interest for so long. Humans had the potential to be interesting. They just needed a little push. And pushing Zeref all those years ago was worth it. Oh, so worth it.

For the first time in centuries, interesting times were coming. Ankhseram smiled a smile, unseen on the swirling shadows of his face. The smile grew and a chuckle left his lips. The other gods looked at him, their own lips stretching, leering and smiling. Ankhseram threw his head back and laughed.

The branches rustled and the Moon shone brightly.

Oh, interesting times indeed. Finally.

End of chapter 74.

This is going very slowly... I want so many things to happen in one chapter and all I manage to do is this... This was supposed to happen in the last chapter, truth to be told but at the time I couldn't find the right words. Damn...

Well, I hope I'm not boring you. I promise the next chapter will be a bit more fast-paced, what with the Fairy Tail and Acnologia entering Hell, Igneel talking to Himmel and the likes. What happened to Makarov and Wendy, you might ask yourselves? Nothing worth mentioning let me tell you. I thought of writing that and I had a conversation written between the two but it felt wrong and clunky and I just ended up cutting the whole thing out. I have to admit I think this was one of the hardest chapters I've had to write. It's not even that I don't have inspiration as much as I have trouble putting it in the right words and making it mend well with the rest. And let me tell you waiting this long to actually write it does not help. I only had to read the last few chapters to even remember everything that I wrote. Oh, dear... Well, this is at least longer than the last. And I seriously hope I'll be updating a LOT sooner. Any questions? I would really appreciate some feedback to this chapter and what you think about all this. Any expectations or wishes?

On a more cheerful note, I have the end of the story planned out and I hope you'll like it! I think it would round the whole thing nicely and hopefully, it will turn out nice. Fingers crossed!

Please review and thanks for reading :)

P.s.

It's two in the morning here when I finally finished so... yea... please don't judge too hard the mistakes tho feel free to point them out.