Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter and how to hear what you all think of it.
Chapter 6: The True Threat
By the time he entered the library, that is where he found one individual sitting down, looking at a book next to the fireplace that lit up the room due to the curtains being shut.
"Hello again, Ziggy...it's been some time." Spoke the Emperor who walked over to the other chair which he sat down. What he found sitting in front of him was a robot. He had a silver face vaguely reminiscent of a skeleton. He is made completely from metal and has black, metallic pieces covering his neck and surrounding his face. He wears a gold crown with a dark purple jewel in the middle and he has large, gold horns protruding from either side of the crown. He adorns himself with a large, red cape with gold trimmings with two gold skeletons on each shoulder. This cape covers his metallic body armor which has a beast with an open mouth and silver teeth adorned on the front.
"Almost 50's since our last meeting, Vulpecula Naruto." He responded which Naruto merely nodded to the one he met in space during the climax of the war with the Gods, 400 years ago. Slowly, Ziggy looked around to see the decorated figureheads of individuals all on the wall, making 14.
"Even now I'm still amazed...to think that during the Great War, we managed to push back the Gods to the point we were basically fighting in Space and causing massive explosions." When Ziggy heard that, he gave a small laugh.
"Your telling me, we met when you cane barreling into the Bridge of my ship. You nearly crushed me when that happened." When Naruto heard that, he starts to sweatdrop as he found himself surrounded by pissed off female robots, it wasn't a sight he liked to remember.
"Anyways...I wished above nothing more than to come with good news. But, I'm sorry...because you were right. There returning, the Gods are coming back to finish what they started." When Naruto heard that, he grits his teeth in anger while showing a deadly seriousness on his face.
"Who is leading them?!" Immediately demanded Naruto, needing to know who they were up against.
"I'm not entirely sure who's exactly in charge, but it's most likely the first one... Cronos, the God of Time." Upon hearing that, Naruto's eyes widen while he immediately thinks of Dimaria. Even during the war, he's never once met Cronos who's never gotten involved.
"Next...is Loki, the False God of Asgard." The second name triggered a memory, of a great evil laughing while an adult Acnologia was crying while holding a woman close to him.
"If he's getting involved, then we know we have Acnologia to back us in the fight...yet even so... Cronos is a True God while Loki may not be as powerful but he's still stronger than the Twin Gods...who I presume are also getting involved." When he asked that, he gained a nod of agreement, yet what he heard next had set Naruto odd.
"And... Hades." When Naruto heard that, he immediately stood up with shock.
"HADES?! THAT MUST BE A MISTAKE! I've been keeping my eyes and ears out in case he found a new host for over 400 years, but nothing has happened nor has his cosmic magic returns to this world! It's impossible for him to have left this planet either, meaning that must be false information!" Hearing his words, Ziggy just shakes his head.
"I'm sorry, but you forget. Both Thanatos and Hypnos are direct subordinates of Hades, even if he hasn't manifested in this world yet he can still be contacted." His words caused Naruto to grit his teeth, recalling that final battle he had.
"How long do we have?" When he heard that question, Ziggy just leans back into his chair while his right hand was placed on his chin.
"At most, this world has two years...I can only suggest you hurry the hell up and get the other four God Dragons on your side. Because once they arrive, you either become unified...or go extinct." Upon hearing that, Naruto looks down with contempt as he didn't like any of this and now his worst fear has come true, the Gods are coming back to finish what they started.
"I understand..." As he said that, the gaze he showed...if Ziggy could, he would be smiling.
"That's good, that's the same gaze he had while he was leading the other zodiacs against the Gods. When they were known, as the 14 Heavenly Knights of the Dancing Sakura." As Ziggy thought that, he had complete faith in Naruto as he didn't during the war hundreds of years ago.
THE VERY NEXT DAY, AT TENEOU ISLAND
With a single roar, bursting from the ocean was the raging Acnologia who took the full blunt of Fairy Tail's combined attack, showing no visible harm while he flys high into the air.
"He's back into he air!" Shouted the Queen of the Fairies, Erza Scarlet who knew this was not good while others made comments on the durability of the dragon.
"His powers unbelievable." Spoke the Iron Dragon Slayer who was in disbelief such a creature exits while Wendy was on her knees, having lost the strength to stand at seeing there combined attack didn't even scratch the dragon.
"Engage everything we had, three Dragon Slayers all at the same time, our whole guild went against him, and it still wasn't enough." As she said it, a specific pink-haired idiot slams his fists into the ground, anger evident on his face.
"This shouldn't happen! I'm supposed to be a freakin' Dragon Slayer, so why the hell couldn't I beat him?" As he asked himself that anger, Pantherlily wondered what happens next with Happy making a foolish idea. It was by than, they all saw it... Acnologia was charging up a breath attack.
"BREATH ATTACK!" Gajeel shouted, knowing full well that will kill them all.
"Is he gonna try and wipe out the whole island?" Questioned Cana who was quite fearful on what was about to happen next with Gildarts unsure if it can be stopped.
"No...isn't there anything we can do?" As Natsu heard that, he turns to see the crying Lucy on his left, having broken down in tears.
"Is this it? Are we all just gonna die here?" As Natsu heard that question, he felt something in him pulse and with it a voice.
(Do you want to taste defeat again...?)
When Natsu heard that, he jolts and found himself in darkness, just complete darkness void of all light except for his body being seen.
"W-What's going on, who said that?!" Demanded the salamander who was looking around until he saw it, behind him. What he was, was a figure sitting on a chair while his right arm was on the armrest while the hand fist against his head.
"Who—" Natsu stops as he saw black flames erupting from the being, consuming him completely while eyes could be seen gliding through the flames.
(It seems, that my inevitable return has been postponed again...so be it, in the end I will return?)
It was with that, Natsu felt he was pushed out and came back to reality yet instead of feeling despair he watched the others not give up hope with plans already being made to try and survive Acnologia's breath attack. With determination, he turns to the fearful Lucy.
"Lucy." Upon hearing her name being called, she moved her hands to reveal Natsu having extended his open hand to the blonde who was on her knees.
"This isn't the end Lucy, so don't cry!" He told the his close-friend, not wanting to see her cry anymore but most of all, give up hope. As she slowly tries to move her hand, Natsu grabs it tightly with his unwavering determination staring directly at her which she simply swallows and nods, showing her own determination, despite the tears in her eyes.
"FAIRY TAIL NEVER GIVES UP THE FIGHT!" Lucy shouted loudly before her other hand was taken by Gray.
"We've gotta all face our fears together! We'll show him we have a bond that can never be broken!" He shouted at everyone as they one-by-one, take each other's hands as they still held hope.
"Okay, kids. Let us all go home together!" Makarov said, tearful as he takes his grandsons opened and extended hand, showing a big smile upon his face. It was with this they all focused together, focusing their magic power while Acnologia was almost done the charging.
"BACK HOME TO FAIRY TAIL!" As they all shouted that a light could be seen appearing in the center just as Acnologia was about to unleash it when he suddenly turned fast, catching everyone off guard as they too saw it, falling from the sky directly at Acnologia, was a massive meteor directly aimed at the dragon and even if he dodged it would have missed the island due to him being high in the air. Without wasting another second, the dragon unleashed his breath attack upon the meteor, causing a blinding light to be unleashed as the meteor was reduced to dust, leaving nothing behind as it finishes.
"W-What...just happened?" As Levy asked that, she couldn't understand that yet they saw it, the dragon had lost interest as it was focused on something in the distance, that was until something odd happened as well as shocking. In an instant, a single instant...something appeared in front of Acnologia and slammed into him with such force it sent he Dragon right into the ocean, creating a massive splash, causing water to go everywhere as it hits the Fairy Tail members, it being seen as rain coming down on them hard.
"Is that...?" As Ezra asked it, what they all saw was another dragon having attached Acnologia. The dragon had light-colored scales running all over its body. Having a dark-colored fiery-mane running down its back and arms, which appear to be connected to its feathery wings. While having three pairs of extensions from its jaw, tree dragon has a dark-colored wing-like design over its eyes that's complemented by two oval designs right above it, the bigger one on the bottom and the smaller one on top. It also has them on its paws, four extending from the forearm and three on each finger. There's a noticeable border above the nostrils that divides its mouth from the face, extending near the back of its head. Finally, it has a pair of jagged horns extending from the base of the skull and feather-like scales extending from the back of the knees.
"Another dragon?!" Wendy asked in surprise as they watched the dragon directs its gaze on the group who were not sure if it was friend or foe until finally, it came down, its wings creating a strong gust of wind that caused them problems in staying in the same place as the Dragon looks at them all but more specifically Ezra.
"You've...grown strong..." Spoke the dragon, much to everyone's shock at hearing it speak while they themselves didn't know what was going on, that was until two individuals were seen standing upon the dragon's back and seeing one of them, Makarov's eyes widen.
"YOU'RE!" As he shouted that, the others didn't know who he was as they look at the Master questionably as they watched them jump off the dragon.
"Been awhile, hasn't it boy?" Spoke the smiling Emperor to the Master of Fairy Tail.
"Gramps, who are these guys?!" Natsu questioned the Master yet, even so, he seems...familiar with Naruto, as if he's seen him before while Naruto glances at Natsu, knowing exactly who he is.
"That's... Emperor Kage, the one who rules the Alvarez Empire, a large country located on the Western Continent, Alakitasia. Next to him, is his daughter, Princess Dimaria known as the Warrior Queen for her her valor and feats on numerous battlefields...and..." As he spoke those words, he looks at the dragon who began transforming which caused everyone to be shocked at what it was replaced by was a gorgeous woman. She was tall, having a voluptuous figure with thickly braided, bow-adorned, scarlet hair. Her two front braids have two golden ornaments near the upper sections; she also wears two U-shaped earrings which was one on each ear and wears red lipstick. Her clothing itself showed off quite a bit of skin and if it weren't for his serious his was, Gildarts would have been eyeing her and Dimaria tho a few noticed the similarities between Erza and the woman. All this did was fill them with so many questions yet they were unsure what to even ask of these three while Makarov knew that it was said the Emperor's wife was a Dragon.
"That is the Empress of the Alvarez Empire..." As he said that, he could see that Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy were completely shocked at seeing that a dragon turn into a human which caused her to give a small laugh.
"I get that reaction every time, tho I thought dragon slayers would have a unique expression to show, after all, you three will turn into Dargon's one day, too." It was Upon hearing that, Natsu was the first to speak.
"Wait, WHAT?! WE'RE GONNA TURN INTO DRAGONS, TOO?!" Demanded the shouting Pinky who was looking at Gajeel.
"DIDN'T YOU JUST HEAR HER?!" Demanded the angry Gajeel while Wendy looked like she was about to cry.
"But I don't wanna!" Hearing those words, Irene simply laughs cheerfully at the exchange.
"Ahahahahah, now that's a reaction I was expecting! But don't worry, I doubt you three will become Dragons, for reasons I mean. But enough about that..." As she said it, she directs her gaze at Erza who blinks in surprise but she looks at Dimaria, seeing her staring at her with wide-eyes filled with sadness and with a click of her teeth, everyone's eyes widen to see her already in front of Erza, hugging her tightly while she herself was trying to understand what just and is happening.
"We finally meet, big sister." It was Upon hearing that, slowly Erza's eyes widen all the way just as everyone became speechless as they put everyone together, thanks to Irene's appearance. Yet this couldn't continue, not after they heard footsteps approaching them.
"Been awhile, Acnol." Spoke the Emperor and without even turning, unlike his wife and daughter who did. Almost all of them saw him. The Dragon of the Apocalypse having taken a human form. He was a muscular young man with long, dark blue colored hair. With his sharp gaze; his eyes have black circles around them. He is dark-skinned, and on his body he bears the same light blue markings he does when he is a Dragon. For his attire, he dons a high collared, black cloak which also bears his draconian markings, sharp red claws around his neck, a sash around his waist, and baggy pants.
"It's Acnologia now, it has been for hundreds of years." Hearing that, Naruto finally turned around as he starts approaching them. Due to the fact of Irene's magic spell, none of them could sense the Empress and Queen's magic yet Naruto didn't have that, none of them could sense magic coming off of him, a few thinking he may just be a figurehead or hiding his true power and simply watched him stand in front of the Dragon.
"You were about to try and kill my daughter and her family, why?" He demanded Acnologia who's eyes narrow.
"I'm done with these insects, they dare trample upon Mavis's grave and bring destruction." His words caused Naruto's eyes too narrow.
"Yet you were going to destroy the whole island along with them, meaning after all these years you still have yet to control that anger—" He was cut off by immediately getting grabbed by his shirt with Acnologia looking.
"Don't even finish that sentence, we both know what happened. There is absolutely no point in bringing up the past so stay silent!" He warned Naruto who sighs before pointing behind himself.
"Look at what you were about to wipe out..." As he said it, he was pointing at the guildsmates of Fairy Tail, which in turn annoyed Acnologia more.
"Why would I care for—?!" Acnologia stops to see he wasn't moving from his spot but pointing at a specific person, and slowly...the Black Dragon of the Apocalypse followed that finger and once he saw who he was pointing at, complete disbelief appeared on Acnologia's face. What he saw, was a girl. She had brown eyes and shoulder-length blonde hair. As he continued to stare at her, his eyes continued too widen while sniffing the air and it was at that moment the Acnologia realized who she was.
"Again, you let you wrath take over again. After you lost Anna, you lost control of yourself and attacked everyone and everything. Even now after such a long time, you allowed it to happen again and if it weren't for me, you would have killed the last thing that connected the both of you...have you come to realize that, now?" As he asked that, Ancologia looks down while slowly letting go of Naruto who just stares at the man who looks at his arms as he saw the corpse of someone in his hands before he jolts when Naruto spoke again.
"I'll say this once, Acnol." As he spoke those words, he took a step closer which caused him to look up and becomes surprised at finding his former master showing the expression of 'death' that unnerved him more than anything else.
"As someone who's raised life, you know what it means to be a father. So I'll tell you this once, if you even try, one more time to hurt my family...I will kill you." Hearing those words, Acnologia and finally looks away in shame before turning around completely.
"I understand...~~" As he said it, Naruto just stares at the man who starts walking away from them all with Gildarts and Makarov just remaining silent yet shocked at what they were seeing while Naruto just watched him get further and further away. The dragons slayers couldn't believe what he did, stopping a fight while Lucy was very confused since that dragon was looking at her like she should have been dead.
"Did he...just scare off Acnologia?" Happy finally asked, having trouble absorbing the large amount of information before Naruto looks back at the Cat.
"That's not it, I merely gave him some words of wisdom and hit him with reality. You people may see him as Acnologia, the Black Dragon of the Apocalypse...but me, all I see is Acnol, a man who's been broken. Even now, he's still trying to pick up the pieces." After saying that, he heard Dimaria finally speak.
"It's time, dad." As she said that, Naruto let's out a sigh and turns to look at his daughters who were staring at him, Dimaria with great annoyance while Erza was, unreadable. It was at that moment, Irene placed a hand on Naruto shoulder yet he simply shakes his head as she lets go, wanting to take the blame.
"I know, it's time to explain...why...'I' made—" He was cut off as Irene stepped forward, surprising her husband.
"Why we made the decision, to abandon you and leave you in Fiore when you were an infant." When Irene said that, the entire Fairy Tail guild became shocked while Erza was the only one who didn't show that but her eyes merely widening with shock.
xxxxxCHAPTER ENDxxxxxx