Natsu opens his eyes identifying their room. Natsu looks at his side seeing Irene carrying a baby in her arms.
" Irene?" Natsu asks hesitantly as Irene looks up at him.
"Natsu. You're awake... Looks like someone misses you" Irene said handing the baby to Natsu who can only stare in shock as he felt the weight of the baby.
" W-Wha?" Natsu was cut off when he stares into their baby. Natsu can only guess that the baby is a girl since she is swaddled in a pink baby blanket. Natsu can see scarlet hair which she got from Irene.
" She is beautiful," Natsu said in awe as he rocks his daughter gently who yawn in his arms.
" What is her name?" Natsu asks looking at Irene.
"Her name is E- Agh" Natsu watches wide eyes as a sword penetrates Irene making her cough out blood.
" Irene!" Natsu shouts in shock. He looks down to calm down his child but found her bleeding in his arms.
" No.No. No. No!!!!"
Gasp
Natsu opens his eyes, gasping for air as he wakes up from his nightmare. The healers that monitoring his conditions approach Natsu immediately. He found himself still in pain against the battle with the dragons and Acnalogia.
" I-Irene?" Natsu called out as the healer approach him while the servants call for General Rung.
Natsu tried to sit down while the servants assist him.
" Your majesty. You are still greatly injured. You need to rest more" The healer said trying to calm Natsu.
" W-where is my wife?" Natsu coughs as the healer looks at him in shame. Natsu glare.
" Your majesty. Calm down. You need to drink your medicine to lessen the pain"
" Don't tell me to calm down! Why is my wife not here?!" Natsu shout. He started getting worried about not seeing Irene anywhere. His door open and General came inside.
" Your majesty." General Rung kneels in front of Natsu. " I am glad that you are awake. We are all worried about you"
" I will ask one more time, General Rung. Tell me where is my wife right now?!" Natsu ordered.
" Your majesty. You have to calm down. About Irene-sama case. I deeply apologize but Irene-sama was controlled by a dragon. She is starting to turn into a dragon so we have no choice but to imprison her." General Rung reasoned out. Natsu eyes turn red as he glared at General Rung
" What!? You imprison her!? What are you thinking?!" Natsu summons his sword, using it to hold his weight as he advances towards General Rung who becomes more afraid of the King.
" Irene is pregnant with my child! And you telling me that you imprison her!? If something happens to my wife and my child. I will torture you! where is she now?!" Natsu shout
" Your Majesty. Please be reasonable. You didn't see it when the dragon woman shed her skin. And there is no child. It's been 3 years but her womb did not get big. No pregnancy lasts for 3 years." General Rung argued. Natsu looks in shock at what he said. Natsu took the knife resting on his table and stab it near General Rung's head
" B-Bring me to Irene. Now!" Natsu growl making General Rung gulp. Natsu cough with blood as he almost stumbles down.
" I-I will bring you to her. But you have to rest first." General Rung said leading Natsu to his bed.
" I don't need rest. I need to see my wife." Natsu argued daring him to argue with him.
" Very well. But you have to drink some medicine to lessen the pain. You just came back from the battle against the dragons and we don't want you to be in danger." General Rung said as the healer gave Natsu his medicine.
Natsu looks at the medicines and drinks it as he starts to feel slightly better. He gets his sword and sheath it at his side. General Rung leads Natsu to where they imprison Irene and some soldiers came to protect him in case Irene went into a rampage.
Irene didn't know when did this happen. It's all starting a great day. They found out they're having a child. They start preparing things for their future child and both of them are excited to start a family.
Then when her husband leaves to fight against the dragon slayers that turn into dragons. It is where her hell started.
Like other dragon slayers. Irene was affected, her skin starts to shed. General Rung and the other soldiers noticed her changes and they immediately capture her. She keeps reasoning to them that it still her but they didn't listen.
They torture, public shame, and imprison her and the only thing she can do is to protect her child and wait for her husband's return to save them.
Irene enchants her child to pause her growth so their torture will not affect her child. Irene starts to feel cold. For 3 years, she prays for her husband to come, and save her. Until now, she still believes that her husband will believe her and not General Rung. She knows Natsu, she knows that their love weighs more than General Rung's lies. She still remembers their last conversation.
Flashback
" You have to release me. If my husband learns of your betrayal. He will not be very forgiving" Irene plead but General Rung just looks at her coldly.
" The King will understand my actions. And between us, he will believe me when he saw your current state" General Rung said indicating the dragon scales covering Irene's body.
" Natsu is different. He will not stay quiet especially when it comes to me and our child"
" Child? What child? There is no child inside your body. There's no way your pregnancy lasts more than 3 years. I will not execute you, instead I will let the King be the one to execute you" General Rung said leaving her alone in the cell.
Flashback End
Irene lay on the floor of the cold cell as she comforts her child who is growing inside her body. She looks up hearing the steps of the soldiers.
Her cell opened and saw General Rung enter looking at her with a cold look.
" Dragon lady. Your majesty came back. It is time for your execution" General said coldly making Irene's eyes widen and lookup seeing him step aside and look at her husband whose eyes look is in shock.
" Natsu! Please... It still me, Irene, your wife." Irene pleads approaching her husband who enters the cell.
" Silence Dragon woman! You don't speak to the King like that" General Rung shout startling Irene.
" General. Leave the two of us alone" Natsu said
" But Your majesty" General Rung protested
" Now." Natsu growl. General Rung glares at Irene and steps out of the cell. Natsu stares and knelt in front of Irene who is looking at her husband with pleading looks.
" Your starting to turn into a dragon," Natsu said running his hand through her scale. He touches her abdomen and found it still flat.
" What happens to our child?" Natsu asks. Irene starts to cry and hold his hand.
" I-I enchant our child to protect her. S-she still inside my womb" Irene said through her tears.
" She? So it's a girl?" Natsu asks not giving away his emotion. Irene cries and nods her head praying that Natsu will believe her.
" Your majesty! She is lying. That monster is trying to trick you" General Rung says outside the cell. Irene watches as her husband feels her abdomen once again and closes his eyes. She can see tears falling from his eyes. She felt him kiss her forehead and she can feel his tears.
" I'm sorry," Natsu said standing. Irene felt a betrayal in her heart watching her husband stand up and take his sword. She encircles her arms in her abdomen protecting their child.
" No. Please..." Irene pleads. She see him unsheathing his sword. Irene saw General Rung smug grin and approach the cell.
" We will prepare for her public execution. Your majesty." General Rung said approaching Natsu.
" Please Natsu... I'm not a monster... Think of our promise to each other. Our love. Our child... Please believe me..." Irene pleads as Irene saw her husband's lift his sword.
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Slash
" H-Huh?"
Blood splattered around the cell.
" AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!" A shout of pain alerted the guards prompting them to check and saw the state of the cell.
They watch in shock as Irene is staring wide-eyed at the scene. General Rung's hand is cut off and he is sitting in the cell crying in pain. Natsu's back facing Irene protecting her.
" For 3 years... Your treat my wife like a monster... It's unforgivable... If you think death is a great punishment for you then that is where you are all wrong. I will let you feel what you did to my wife. I will torture you for more than 3 years" Natsu growl. He glares at the soldiers who step back, afraid to approach him.
" Y-You! You betraying us because of that monster!?" General Rung shouts in enrage.
" No... You all betray us. I have no comrades like you" Natsu said as he starts to attack them but feel his body cough more blood.
" Natsu!" Irene shouts in worry as her husband suddenly kneel and cough blood.
" W-What did you do to me?" Natsu cough out a blood
" Just a precaution I take. I know I won't win against you with your dragon slaying magic but it doesn't mean we don't have anything against you. Anti-magic and poison in case you betray us. We prepare an antidote if you execute her but alas, you chose that monsters against your kingdom" General Rung said covering the blood in his wound as he still feeling weak from Natsu's attack.
" Guards! Capture him! He betrays our kingdom for this monster" General Rung ordered as the guards start to enter the cell.
Slash
Crack!
" Hehe... I think you forgot that before I became a dragonslayer. I'm already called a Reaper by our Kingdom. I may die tonight but I will take you with me!" Natsu shouts using his sword in killing the guards that try to approach him. Natsu tries to get to General Rung but the soldiers came and try to kill him.
General Rung watches with wide eyes as his soldiers are slaughtered by the weakened and poisoned Natsu. He looks at Irene who is vulnerable because of her condition. General Rung took advantage of it and he makes sure Natsu is occupied by the soldiers. As long as he kills the dragon woman it will be fine.
Natsu killed the last of the soldiers as he coughs more blood. He turns to General Rung and found him missing. He heard Irene's shout making him turn around and use his last remaining energy to shield his body from the incoming attack.
STAB
Irene watches wide eyes as she is face to face with her husband. Blood splattered in her face as she looks down seeing the sword impaled on his abdomen. His one hand stopping the tip of the sword from penetrating through her womb.
She watches the blood coming out from his mouth as he is trying to smile at her. Natsu grip the tip of the blade hard and lift his sword with the other hand
SLASH
" AAAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!" General Rung's other hand was cut off as he stumbles onto the floor.
Natsu touches Irene's face with his bloody hand. His tears flowing in his eyes.
" I-I'm sorry for coming too late. I-I'm sorry that I let you suffer this long... I-I love you" Natsu whisper as he loses consciousness. Irene stared wide eyes feeling her heartbeat going faster as she suddenly felt magic surround her.
"NNNNOOOOO!!!!" Irene shouts in despair as a pair of dragon wings grow behind her back. She slowly starts to transform into a dragon.
RRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRR
" S-Stay away from me!" General Rung shout trying to back away but Irene's claw stops him and drag him closer to her.
" Y-You killed my husband! I-I won't forgive you" She roared at him as she starts to torture him.
RRRRRIIIIIPPPP
" Aaaggghhh! Stop! P-Please. S-stay away.." General Rung cried out as Irene's claw slowly rip his left leg making him cry out in pain.
RRRRIIIIIPPPP
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Then she slowly pull the right leg
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RRRRRIIIIPPPP
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Then the right arm
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RRRRIIIIPPPP
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And last is the left arm. Irene watch in satisfaction as General is now choking with his blood, his body is now covered with blood. All she's been through is because of him and now he killed her husband. She will make sure that he will receive a slow and painful death.
" I-I'm sorry... M-Mercy" General Rung plead trying to form a coherent word as he felt the massive pain in his body.
" You never show mercy in me and you killed my husband without mercy. You don't deserve mercy" Irene growled as she uses her claw to slowly slash him across his chest. She uses her giant claws to step into his body watching as he struggles to breathe until his face begins to turn purple. She put more force and then...
C-CRACK
Blood splattered around the cell as General's Rung body is now scattered inside.
Irene felt satisfied as the General died in her hands. She slowly leans down and carefully takes her husband's body using her claw and fly away from the Kingdom.
She can still hear her husband's heart beating slowly. She will not let her husband die, they will be family. Him, her, and their baby girl. He will live. If there is someone who can save him, it's Zeref, his older brother.
Mildian
In a place where God Ankhresiam is worshipped. There is one student who excels in the Academy. He has a lot of theory in regards to life and death.
The professor warns him since it may offend God. He stops his experiments when his brother Natsu voices his concern to his brother of angering God. Zeref may value his studies but what more important is his brother.
So Zeref stopped his study of Life and Death and focus more on recording the magic that uses nowadays and the theory of magic. But what made Zeref more curious is his brother's alternative technique used before his Fire dragon slaying magic. His brother may not be a prodigy like him but Natsu still considers a prodigy in war.
Zeref doesn't know what he will do if he loses his brother. Natsu is the one who makes him feel more Zeref as a human compared to Zeref the genius in Academy.
RRRROOOOAAAARRRR
Zeref was startled when he heard a dragon's roar near his house. He went out of his home seeing the dragon land in front of his house.
Zeref approach the dragon and saw it open its claws. He runs towards the dragon when he saw his brother's figure with a sword sticking in his stomach.
" Natsu!" Zeref cried in worry as he approaches his brother. Zeref tried to heal his brother's wound when he identifies the poison inside his body.
" W-What happen to him?" Zeref asks the dragon.
" H-He was stabbed and betrayed by our former comrades," The dragon said. Zeref looks at the dragon seeing tears flow in its eyes. The voice he heard is familiar in his ears.
" I-Irene?!" Zeref asks in shock.
" Yes. It is me. I was turned into a dragon...But enough about me. Please save him. You are the only one I know that can save him" Irene plead.
" I will do my best" Zeref nods as he focuses his magic on Natsu's wound. Natsu cough blood as he regains consciousness. It takes Zeref hours but he knows that his brother is beyond saving. Zeref let his tears fall as he looks at his brother breathing slowly.
" I-I'm sorry" Zeref cried, feeling useless for not saving his brother.
" I-It's okay. T-Thank you Zeref-nii... H-Hey... Give me a niece or nephew and find a woman that will make you happy" Natsu said trying to grin but only cough more.
" I-I will." Zeref said wiping his tears.
" P-Please take care of my w-wife and my child. D-don't let any harm come into them" Natsu pleads to his brother who nods.
" I will do my best. Brother." Zeref promised to his brother. He looks at Irene's dragon form and nods at her. He steps aside as he gave space to the couple.
Irene leans her head down as Natsu look at her dragon's eyes with love. Natsu lifts his hand and shakily runs his hand through her scale.
" E-Even in your dragon form... Y-Your still beautiful" Irene let her tears flow as she leans her dragon head. Natsu feels the warmth Irene emitting in her dragon form.
" I-I'm sorry... I-I don't want to lose you" Irene's dragon form cried. Natsu feels his chest tighten seeing his wife crying.
" Y-You don't have to apologize. I-I should be the one apologizing... I'm sorry... I was not there when it happened and I hate myself for it... Please believe me when I say your not a monster... Y-Your Irene Dragneel, my wife and mother of our child." Natsu groans feeling his consciousness slowly fading.
" I-Irene... Y-you said that we will be having a g-girl... Can I know the name of our little girl?" Natsu requested.
" E-Erza... Erza Dragneel" Irene said laying her head near her husband's dying body. Natsu looks at the darkening sky.
" Erza... W-What a beautiful name... I love it" He said softly as he closes his eyes and let the darkness consume him.
Irene watches her husband's breathing and heartbeat fade away. She let tears flow in her eyes. She feels a massive pain in her heart from her husband's death.
RRRRRROOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRR
Zeref watch Irene's dragon form mourn in pain as she flies through the sky. She roars as she flies away from the Mildian.
Zeref looks at his brother's dead body and feel his life suddenly dim from his brother's death. The pain he felt is more painful compare to the death of their parents. He recalls all the happy memories he has with his brother, his unending supports, and love from his brother. His precious brother who is now dead.
' There must be another way. His life cannot end that way. He still has family that needed him the most' Zeref thought clenching his fist. Then a memory suddenly flashback in Zeref's mind. All his discontinued research between life and death. He will use it to bring his brother back.
' I will do everything I can to bring you back, brother.'
I know I killed Natsu.
At least he is already mature when he died and Zeref already experience some kind of childhood.
In my original draft. Natsu is supposed to be the one who will kill General Rung but it felt more satisfying that Irene will be the one who will kill General Rung since she is the one who suffer for 3 years and I try not to make it more graphic when she dismembered his body like roasted chicken.
If you have any questions. You can ask in the comment section.
I will answer it when I uploaded new chapters.
Thanks for reading!
Till next time!