Chapter 3: The End is Where We Begin

Song: The End is Where We Begin by Thousand Foot Krutch

Snow covered roads and houses of Magnolia, including the Fairytail guild. Unusually glaring, the sun slowly melted it away. A blue haired girl with a fair skin and a gentle face stared outside through a frosted window seal- her breath fogged it further. Scarlet colored dress formulated down her body.

"I wonder how Natsu is?" she thought. She pouted. "It's been two years." Her eyes looked outside with a deep yearning. Adventure in the outside world, filled with danger and peril which troubled her vulnerable heart over the dragon slayer.

"Wendy!" Macao said. He held a drink in his hand, sitting across from Wakaba. "Stop day dreaming about Natsu. He'll come back when he feels like it. Come over here! It's the New Year. I even got you a present." Wendy looked back, maintaining the same worried expression. She met eyes with the present.

"Master Macao," she said. Her hair covered her eyes. Her body began to tremble. "Thank you so much!" Lighting up her face was a smile. She attacked the present and pulled out two pieces of cloth from the package. Her face turned to the color of her dress.

"Sky Dragon's Roar!" A powerful gust of wind shouted from her mouth like a mighty Thu'um. Macao and Wakaba both slammed into the wall.

"She's certainly become more like Erza since Natsu left", Droy said. Jet laughed.

"Wendy?" He asked. "Are you kidding? She's more like Mira. One moment she is sweet as can be and the next she's a demon." Bisca, Alzack, and Nab walked over.

"Can you blame her?" Bisca said. "Most of our female guild members have left."

"That's beside the fact she's taken the brunt of their perverseness", Alzack said.

"They didn't do anything perverted this time", Nab said. Wendy's ears twitched.

She walked over to the two injured men.

"Thanks for the present, Master and Wakaba", Wendy said. She gave a vicious, hormonal smile. Walking over to the group of five she said, "Hey guys, how do you think this would look on me?" She lifted up the outfit over the corresponding curves on her body.

Jet, Droy, and Nab all fell over from a bloody nose.

It was dark red lingerie, stitched lightly to be see through. It held two shoulder straps, with a fiery floral pattern covering her chest's border. The underwear matched the pattern, which came with thigh high stockings and a garter belt.

"Your real question", Bisca said. "is 'will he think it looks good on you?'" Wendy raised an eyebrow and tilted her head.

"What?" she asked. "Who are you talking about?"

Does she really not know?

"I only wanted to get back at the guys for insulting me", she said. She crossed her arms. "How can they call me a demon when they are perverts?" Bisca smiled.

"I think you know", she said. "Even if you don't know now, you will soon." Wendy laughed off an incoming blush and walked back to her window with the same longing stare she held before.

She certainly had matured, keeping her motherly gentleness Grandina instilled in her from a young age. Her problem was with perverts since her figure became more prominent with curves over the two years. Her shyness and high intelligence, along with her physical beauty, constantly attracted men of all ages. As such, she developed a deep hatred for perverseness without a figure to defend her from the constant onslaught of men. She became very powerful as well, with no one doubting she was the strongest active member of Fairytail- although it wasn't saying much.

Countries apart and several weeks ago from Fairytail was Natsu, who has grown slightly taller with longer, shaggier hair. He was standing on the shore of a great lake on the western border of Bellum. The lake was clear and contained thousands of fish. Surrounding this part of the lake was a vast forest, containing countless animals. Several deer walked alongside the young man. He outstretched his hands and began drinking water.

"It's been a while since I've bathed", he said. Taking off his clothes, he jumped into the water and began to clean himself. Thick flora sectioned off a part of the lake where he relaxed in. Pushing his hands together, he exhaled onto the water; warming it to a comfortable spa temperature.

Bushes nearby rustled. He heard a gentle voice.

"I finally get to recline and relax my weary bones", it said. The sound of a person entering the water behind the caped off flora quickly followed. Natsu swam under and through the bushes.

Loud screams overtook the silence which previously filled the air. Before him was a girl with scarlet hair like Erza's and soft face like Mira's. She covered her naked body with her dirty clothes as she screamed.

"What do you want?!" she asked. It was only a woman. Natsu relaxed and turned back around. "You aren't going anywhere!" She jumped onto Natsu and began pulling his hair. "Why were you spying on me?"

"Ow! Ow! I wasn't! You don't have to hurt me. I'm leaving." Natsu began to move his feet to the previous location. Water below him began boiling to scalding temperatures. "What?" he thought.

"How are you not in pain?" she asked. Vipers began to shoot out of the water.

"You're a fire wizard?" he replied. Movement stopped. She let go of him and slid into the water. Lying on her back, Natsu began to lean over inquisitively. Dizziness suddenly fell over him. Worlds around him began to crumble to the ground as he lost consciousness. He was kicked in the balls.

Fog surrounded his vision. He could feel the soft cot on top of a wood floor underneath him. He leaned up groggily.

"Finally awake I see", the voice said. Natsu looked through a hallway to his left and saw the female fire wizard from before mixing. She was smiling. The house was filled with the smell of barbecue and smoke. "I'm sorry for kicking you." He maintained his stare. Her voice was cold but her eyes and head cast themselves down while holding one arm with the other. Voice and body language didn't match.

"What's up?" Natsu asked. She tightened her grip on her arm.

"What do you mean?" she asked. He shook his head.

"You don't need to be sorry", he said. "And you don't sound sorry. However, your body language is nervous and scared."

Silence filled the air. The only sounds heard were the breaths and heartbeats of their own life force. Her face grew more downcast by the second.

"I've had a bad week", she said. Her grip continued to tighten as she managed to look Natsu in the eye, who had begun sitting up.

"Sit beside me and tell me about it", he said. She let go of her arm and sat beside him. As she was near to speak, she could feel the heat emanating from his body. Her eyes grew wide and fierce on the sudden realization.

"Don't you have any questions?" she asked annoyed. "Do you know where you are or who I am?" He folded his arms.

"No", he said. "I don't see why that matters. You seem like a good person." She became motionless. Instant faith in her, without any knowledge of who she was or her past? Blush fell over her face. Words such as "awkward" became inefficient to describe the pause in the conversation she created by not responding.

"My name is Cirilla", she said. "I'm a recent addition to this village. Right now we are in my house. After saving a few women from nearby bandits, the men of the village decided to build it for me as a thank you." Natsu scratched the back of his head.

"You're a fire wizard, right?" She glared at him.

"Don't move on if you're so uninterested!" she screamed in his ear drum. He cringed. He could barely speak intelligibly without being able to hear his own voice, not to mention loud.

"Why were you traveling around?" he asked. Her body language softened.

"I was hunting a dragon", she said. Natsu's eyes widened. "I'm from pretty far away. I grew up in an area where dragons are worshiped. The last known dragon to be alive lived there- as well as my family. I had two little sisters. They were twins." She began to shake violently. He put his hand on her shoulder.

"It's ok", he said. "Don't push yourself. Remembering who you lost is incredibly painful." Their eyes met once again. He understood. She knew he did, without any doubts in her heart.

"We found out there was another dragon, a black one", she said. Natsu began to shake silently. "They called it Acnologia. It killed the dragon and my entire family without hesitation nor remorse. I've been hunting him for near a decade now." He put both of his arms on her shoulders with a powerful life-squeezing grip.

"When did it happen?" Tears rolled down her eyes.

"Christmas, year X777", she said. His arms rag dolled and fell to his side. "Are you ok?"

"My name is Natsu Dragneel", he said. He looked up at her. "I'm a dragon slayer wizard. I was raised by the fire dragon Igneel. My dad, along with several other dragons, disappeared on July 7, X777. I've been searching for him ever since."

"I see", she said.

"That's not all", he said, beginning to stammer his words. "I'm a member of a wizard guild called Fairytail… Acnologia killed them."

Neither of them moved. They both could only stare at the floor and hear the sounds of the surrounding villages outside the walls.

"Can I ask you something?" Natsu had broken the silence.

"Yes", she replied.

"Why are you living in this village?"

The question pierced her soul. She knew why, although she would be fine with never thinking of it again.

"I found him", she said. Her breathing became heavy. "I saw Acnologia after years of searching. I tried to attack with my fire magic, but it failed. He didn't even notice me like I was an ant next to an elephant. All he had to do was take off flying and the sheer force of flapping his wings knocked me out." Natsu managed to finally look up at her.

"And", he said. "When you were so easily defeated you lost heart. You've given up." She winced at his words. She couldn't speak. She didn't want to acknowledge the presence of her feelings. "You can't give up. I know it's hard. Hell, it might be impossible, but I won't give up. I will avenge my friends." Natsu stood up, with her looking up at him. The sun from a side window glistened onto his body. A raging fire in his eyes lit a spark in her heart.

"Let me come with you!" she screamed with tears pouring down her cheeks.

"No", he said. "I won't let anyone else die if I'm not strong enough." Natsu left the house, leaving her behind him stunned.

A couple hours passed as Natsu walked around exploring the village. Sunset had come. A brilliant crimson had painted the sky with no clouds in sight. He stared into the sun, contemplating deceased friends.

"They would tell me to not do this alone, wouldn't they?" he mumbled to himself. "They wouldn't ask me to die for them looking for blood, but live for them and all of Fairytail… But, I can't help but feel the need to end him. It's my duty as a dragon slayer." He heard footsteps behind him suddenly stopped. It was her again; dressed in a pink and black knee length dress.

"I know how you feel", she said. "My father was the dragon priest. He led everyone's worship of the dragons, and he made a covenant to always protect and hold the dragons as sacred. I may not be a dragon slayer, but I can't help but feel it's my duty."

"Wasn't I mumbling?" he said and turned away. A vein on her forehead appeared.

"Don't change the subject!" She delivered a kick to the back of his head.

"What the hell was that for?" he asked, rubbing his new bump.

"Don't be rude! Listen when other's talk to you."

"You're the jerk who hit me!"

"That's no way to talk to a lady!" she yelled and tackled him. He tried to move his arms but couldn't. She exerted a noticeable large amount of heat and pinned him down. Tears began to roll down her cheek only to evaporate. "Let me help you."

"The answer's no", he said.

"I won't let go of you until you say yes." He sighed. Shifting arms promptly and grabbing hers, he pulled himself up with her in hand, lifting her off the ground by each arm. They stared at each other for an eternity. Her faced began to match the crimson skyline. A thought popped into her head.

"Like what you see?" she asked. A seductive look in her eye appeared. "Do you want to do something instead of constantly undressing me with your eyes?" Natsu only kept staring at her, not saying a word.

"What's your name again?"

"That's what you were thinking?!" He nodded in agreement. "Did you even hear what I asked?"

"Yeah, you asked to help me kill Acnologia", he said. Her eyes glared at him and his oblivious mind. He put her down. Smells of freshly baked cookies began to fill the air. Ciri's stomach grumbled.

"I'm so hungry", she said. "I haven't eaten all day."

"If I buy you some food will you tell me your name?" he asked.

"Like a date?!"

"What? No, I just want your name."

"But you're buying me dinner and we are going to be alone?"

"Yes."

"Natsu, that sounds like a date." She laughed him.

"Says who?" he demanded. She looked to the sky for answers. How do you explain an answer to a question deemed a societal norm?

"How about this", she said and began to point towards herself. "If I say it's a date, then it means you're asking me on a date."

"Alright", he said. "It's a date." While her blush ended, she turned pale.

"You gave up rather easy…" she said.

"I don't care what you think", he said. She glared once again.

"What was that?" Anger rose in her throat.

"No-nothing! I didn't mean that-." A blow was given. For the second time that day she hit his most sensitive area.

"It's a date, and you are going to like it. Got it?"

"Yes, Ciri", he said. She froze. Floods of memories came pouring back into her mind. Only her sisters and father called her by that name. "Was that not your name?" She shook her head and smiled.

"My name is Cirilla, but you can call me Ciri." She focused on the sun as she remembered the smiles of everyone she loved. Natsu began to walk towards the nearest restaurant.

"Are you coming or what?" he asked. Pride and stoicism filled his breathes.

"Don't forget about me!" She ran after him and tackled him once more.

For dinner, they traveled to a nearby restaurant where Natsu ordered fish, which he did

subconsciously. Ciri ordered several dozen cookies of different kinds, wishing to taste every variation. They spoke on friendly terms. He reminded her of his father: his serious demeanor, comedic self-interest, introspective behavior, and lack of perversion. She reminded him of an odd mixture between Lucy, Lisanna, and Erza. Each word she chose somehow reminded him of those three. A few minutes passed into a few hours. Losing themselves into their conversation, they had become hooked on each other's every word until being forcibly kicked out of the restaurant by the manager at the closing time.

Walking home, they continued to speak in amazement of the other and exchanged stories of adventures. Soon they had stopped after reaching her house's friend door. Ciri stared into the stars dressing the night sky.

"They're beautiful", Natsu said. "Aren't they?" She could only nod as they witnessed a star streak across the sky.

"Hey Natsu", she said tugging on his shirt.

Looking at her, he gave a simple "Hm?"

"I know you don't like the idea, but let me come with you", she said. She drew her arms close to her chest. "I have nothing here for me." She looked around, disappointed at the village surrounding her. "I've been searching for something to live forever since I failed to defeat the black dragon. I don't know if it's you, but this is the most fun I've had since I was a kid." She smiled at him, with the only response being a compassionate smile back.

"I don't know if you are what I'm looking for. I don't know what I'm searching my heart for. Maybe it is you, a friend, a new family, a guild like Fairytail or-." He crossed his arms.

"Fairytail is a family", he said nearly disgusted. She shook her head.

"Or if it's an adventure or whatever."

The once bustling town had now become quiet. Cricket's filled silence with their romantic songs. Fireflies danced in the night.

"What I do know", she said. "I believe I will find whatever I'm searching for if I'm with you." Ear to ear, a smile formed on his face.

"I like you", he said grinning all the brighter. "You're pretty gr-." She interrupted him, covering his mouth. Warm, gentle lips had encountered his. Her arms wrapped around his neck. Heat emanated from both of them. She jumped into his arms; not even noticing he had begun kissing her back, he gripped one of her legs and caressed her back. After an eternal kiss, she pulled back, each with a matching blush.

"I like you too", she said. Beads of sweat dropped from his head.

"You didn't let me finish", he said. "I don't really… like you like that." Her face turned white as snow.

"You said I was pretty!" she yelled, beginning lightly hitting his chest repeatedly. He scratched his cheek.

"Well, I was trying to say pretty great." He began to scratch the back of his head and gave a nervous laugh. "You seemed like a cool person. I was going to tell say 'yes' to you accompanying me."

A bit of color returned to her face.

"You!" she yelled. "You mean I kissed you for no reason?" Natsu furrowed his brow.

"You only kissed me to so I would say 'yes'?" She began to wave her arms sporadically back and forth.

"No! Of course not!" she said, denying the accusation vehemently. "I meant… I thought you said you liked me. If you're not interested I made a mistake in kissing you. There was no reason to kiss you."

"I wouldn't say there was no reason", he mumbled and began to blush. Noticing his blush returned her ghostly appearance to the crimson blush of a swooning woman.

She tackled him into the door. Once again jumping into his arms, she began kissing him all over. Unable to open the door, she directed his hands to the doorknob behind him. Flying open, he tripped into the house with Ciri on top of him.

The door slammed shut.

The following morning Natsu woke up in his boxers to the smell of smoke and barbecue once again filling the house. He walked out to Ciri's kitchen. Standing there was the red-headed beauty in nothing but Natsu's vest cooking him breakfast. He approached from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.

"Breakfast is almost ready", she said.

"Wonderful", he said with a joyful smile. "After breakfast, let's head out."

"So soon?" she asked. He nodded.

An hour passed before they cleaned up the house, gathered their needs and hit the road. The morning dew was still on the grass surrounding them. Ciri held his hand on the open road with a firm grip that will never let go.

"Have you heard the big news?" a stranger in front of them said.

"Heard what?"

"About the civil war!"

"Yes! It's crazy! What do you think is going to happen?" They were now out of earshot.

"Civil war?" Natsu asked himself.

"Haven't you heard?" Cirilla asked. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"No", he said. "What's going on?"

"The last few months the magic council has broken down. Almost all of the kingdoms in Ishgar have begun to rebel and declare themselves as independent nations with their own magical authority and systems apart from the magic council."

"Almost all? Who hasn't?" he asked.

"Fiore is the nation who hasn't", she said. She sighed. "But that's only because Era is in Fiore. It's easy for them because most of the magic council and wizard saints already reside there; which gives Fiore more power towards self-interests over the other nations in agreement of Ishgar's overall magic governing the body. Tension is rising as each country is readying for war against all the others. They'll likely drag countless guilds and wizards into the fighting if it breaks out. The news and press are dubbing it The Ishgar Civil War."

"I see", he said. "It doesn't concern us then."

"It will affect everyone, however, they likely aren't declaring open war yet. A free for all war sounds like a bad idea. Most likely each nation is trying to gather allies and continue the stalemate until someone gives." Natsu pulled her hand and began to run as fast as he could. "What are you doing?!"

"I told you", he said, giving his classic grin. "It doesn't involve us. We have an eternal adventure waiting."

A month had passed since they first met each other. Every day they spent beside each other their bond grew exponentially. All blows to the heart they had endured transferred into the emotional bond between them. Years of bonding occurred in hours. New days meant learning new things about each other and exploring the world. Over the course of time they had recycled back towards a couple miles on the outskirts of the village Ciri stayed at.

Ciri and Natsu were sitting on a blanket on an open field. A woven basket filled with food was next to them. Smells of cookies filled the air. Flowers covered the meadow surrounding them. A freshly picked rose was in Natsu's hand, gently touching Ciri's face with its petals. He kissed her.

"Hey, Natsu?" She took hold of his hand.

"Yes, Ciri?"

"I've been thinking", she said. She smiled at him. "Can I join Fairytail?" He smiled.

"Of course", he said. "You don't even need to ask." She let go. Her face appeared downtrodden. "What's really bothering you?" She looked up at him in amazement: he always knew when something bothered her.

"I wanted to say something else." She crawled on top of him and gazed into each other's eyes. "I love you." The world faded around them. Sadly, it wasn't from Ciri's confession, nor anything they had done.

A dragon had roared.

"Acnologia."

Terror filled the air. As quick as the moment had passed, a dragon dressed in darkness and death had flown over their heads and began circling the dragon slayer. Force upon landing alone shook the earth.

"Are you ready, Ciri?" Natsu shook with dread and excitement.

"Never", she smiled off her fear. Both wizards began to summon all their magic power. The earth continued to echo from the shake with every second from the sheer pressure which filled the air. Acnologia sensed their seriousness and charged.

Blood stained the ground. In one minor hit, Acnologia had cut Ciri's chest open, gushing out her life force. In her near lifeless hand was a flame of every color.

"Natsu…", she coughed out his name.

"Ciri!" He ran over towards her. Acnologia stood by watching, anticipation in his skin.

"Take my fire."

"Is that what you were doing?! We were supposed to fight him together!"

"Don't argue, Natsu. Take my fire. Only you can defeat Acnologia." She threw her remaining magic at Natsu, becoming surrounded by a vortex of a rainbow colored fire. Slowly consuming the fire, he savored every moment of consuming her remaining life force's magic. Each flame was a different flavor, emotion and memory they bonded over. Every muscle in his body tensed. Scales formed around his eyes and arms. Natsu's magic began to rip the earth apart.

"I'm ready Acnologia!" His nervous systems began to overload with adrenaline.

"Hidden Fire Form – Crimson Lotus: Phoenix Blade!" From the beginning, Natsu had decided to go all out. The fire ignited his entire being. He charged Acnologia and delivered a swift uppercut to the dragon's neck- sending it into the air. Igniting the flames in his feet, he shot up into the air and head-butted the murderous creature. Faster than he could dodge, Acnologia returned with a headbutt of his own and slammed Natsu into the ground.

He was near unconscious already. The one head butt contained more strength and will than his entire body could hope to muster in dragon force. Covered in bruises, he charged again. Acnologia swatted him away into a nearby tree. A few feet away was Ciri bleeding out. He could he hear her heart barely holding on.

"I'm not strong enough", he said. He coughed up blood. "Last time he used way less strength, but I can tell he is still playing with me."Wobbling to his feet, he got up and began running once again towards Acnologia. Only a few steps passed this time.

Natsu fell to his knees.

"Natsu", a voice said. He began to shake violently. "It looks like the time has come." His eyes grew wider by the moment.

"Igneel!?" Natsu began looking all around, searching for his dad.

"I believe that you, of all people, are capable of defeating E.N.D. You won't encounter him for a while, but I know you are the one defeat him."

"Where is Igneel's voice coming from?!" Natsu continued his frantic searching.

"I'll do something about Acnologia. I will protect you." Natsu's stomach had begun glowing with beams of light shining all around. Immense pain and nausea filled his senses.

When I was little, I was taken in by that dragon. Language, culture, and magic: he taught me everything.

"Natsu, I hope you can forgive me… for everything." The light shining from his stomach shot out further and further and took the form of the Fire Dragon King taking off into the sky towards Acnologia.

"The truth is I've always been… right inside of you." Natsu stood in awe, barely able to breathe. "Now is not the time for me to tell you everything I should have. I've got to get rid of Acnologia first." Acnologia took flight, which Igneel promptly tackled him. Swift punches to his stomach followed.

"NATSU", he said. "LIVE!"

Tears flowed from Natsu's eyes. "Dad…" is all he could muster to say. After all this time

he was looking for Igneel. "YOU'VE GOT TO FUCKING KIDDING ME!" He flew into the sky as if he had wings of his own, landing on Igneel's back. "IGNEEL!"

"You're an idiot!" Igneel showed his fangs. "I told you, we'll talk later!"

"No! Now!" he screamed back. Igneel sighed. He had no two bothersome idiots to deal with. "Why did you suddenly disappear!? And of all places you decided to hide inside me!? Where are Wendy's and Gajeel's dragons!? What happened on July 7th, 777!?"

"SILENCE!" he roared. He gave a side kick to Acnologia's skull, sending him flying into the ground. Grabbing Natsu, he inhaled a great amount of air. Exhaling birthed a great storm of fire reigning onto Acnologia from the heavens. For a moment, it appeared Acnologia lost.

"Badass…" was all Natsu could say in his amazement.

"Not quite", Igneel said. "That barely even tickled him." Acnologia flapped his wings and came out of the hellfire unscathed. "I'm all fired up!" He lifted Natsu in front of his as Acnologia began flying towards him from the great distance away. "Natsu, leave now."

"What the hell do you mean 'leave now'?" he asked. Natsu began flailing back and forth. How can you say that when we haven't seen each other in forever!" Igneel stared down at his son.

"Don't make me repeat myself. We'll talk later. Besides, you've got your own work to do."

"Work?"

"You're in a guild, aren't you?" he asked. "I'll make a formal request. One, you need to find the book referred to as E.N.D."

"E.N.D.?"

"Steal that book. Do not open it or destroy it under any circumstances. It's held by Zeref or one of his demons. You must find it."

"What else?"

"You must save your friend and not look back."

"What?!"

"This is life or death, Natsu", he said. Natsu began to sweat. "Lastly… no matter what happens, I want you to live and enjoy your life with your friends."

"I can't", he said. "They're dead."

"Never give up on your family, my son. If you believe, they are still alive. And you will always have Grandina's daughter." If it wasn't Igneel, his long lost foster father who taught him every single thing he knew, he would have stood there incredulously at the statement. Craziness filled the afternoon already. From this point on, anything miraculous was normal.

"What's my reward?" Igneel gritted his teeth.

"What?!"

"I'm a member of a guild, so I need a reward."

"I'll tell you everything you want to know." Igneel pitched Natsu towards Cirilla

"You better keep your promise, dad! Don't you wander off somewhere!"

"Yes, sir."

"A promise is a promise. Understand?" Tears streamed continued to stream down Natsu's face. Igneel could only smile and nod at his son's deep affection.

Upon landing, he immediately picked up Ciri in his arms and ran as fast as he could towards the nearby village. Above him, every step of the way was Igneel and Acnologia fighting. Each of them matched each other blow for blow. Minutes felt like hours as each attack slowed down time. After an eternity, Natsu finally reached the village.

"Help!" He yelled with all of his might. "Somebody! Anybody!" All of the villagers gathered together in their town's square, watching the two dragons fight in the distance. An old woman noticed the gashed open wound on a crimson haired woman.

"Is that Ciri?" One by one everyone began to look at Natsu. Blood stained into his clothes. Natsu nodded in silent regret. "Jimbei! Tyron! Take Ciri to my hut immediately. All healers come with me!"

Two men ran over to Natsu and stole Ciri from his arms. He followed them to a nearby house with a straw roof. He watched as four women came in and began casting spells he had never heard of nor ever would again onto her.

"Leave!" the elderly woman said. "We can't concentrate while you are here." He agreed and left the hut, watching the fight above. Acnologia had punched Igneel into the ground feet outside the village and pinned him.

"SO THIS IS THE EXTENT OF YOUR POWER", a voice raged. It was filled with hatred and malevolence. "FLAME DRAGON KING." Igneel snickered.

"When you've been napping as long as I have, shit happens…" Acnologia dealt earth shattering punch after punch into Igneel's stomach.

"Natsu!" Igneel had flowed into the sky only to be instantly tackled miles from the village.

"Igneel?" Natsu looked around as if the voice came from someone else. The scenery around the village had turned into ash. Houses were on fire. Mountains had dents. The ground was crumbled and shaken. Igneel was blocking Acnologia's mauling strikes while barely holding onto his life force.

"I have something I must tell you now. There are reasons we dragons remained inside of the bodies of dragon slayers. It was a secret art which enabled us to slow down your dragonification and create antibodies against it. Because of our efforts from this point forward, there is almost zero change that any of you will continue to dragonify. Before, we never showed up in your most intense struggles was because we were creating those to antibodies. As for the second reason… We were waiting for an opportunity to defeat the last remnant of our terrible legacy- Acnologia." Natsu began running towards the two dragons.

"You said you'd tell me that stuff later! Wait for me, Igneel! I'm coming to back you up!"

"Stop", he said. "It seems Acnologia really is stronger than I imagined. You'd needlessly get caught up in our fight."

"I don't give a shit! If we join forces nothing will ever stop us!" Acnologia delivered another mortal strike to Igneel. He smiled at death's dark face. Igneel caught Acnologia's next punch and began to wrestle control of the fight away.

"I have been waiting for this moment", Igneel said. Both dragons took flight once more. "The moment I would bury Acnologia with these hands in an instant." Igneel let out a mighty roar. Not a roar of magic nor a slayer, but rather an all-powerful roar a dragon king would have.

Acnologia had been caught off guard. A large gash appeared across his chest. Blood began to drain on a colossal scale. Flying in the opposite direction was Igneel. A hole had been blown straight through his side. Letting out one last might roar, Igneel fell. Acnologia took higher into the sky.

"Natsu, I've been watching over you. And, my how you've grown…" Igneel coughed up his last drops of blood. Acnologia charged his breath attack. "The days I spent with you… were the happiest in my life." A roar attack which could conquer all of the death itself appeared sent itself after Igneel's falling body. "You gave me the strength to love another."

"IGGGNNEEEEEEEEEEEEL!" was all he could say. Natsu stood in horror beyond his imagination. Acnologia flew off. Natsu managed to make his way to his father and knelt on the ground with barely the strength to crawl to his dad. Scorched, crumbling earth filled the landscape.

"Dad…" Natsu said. Igneel remained motionless. "You promised me that you wouldn't go anywhere. Don't break your promise… I… I've been looking for you for so long." Tears poured out of Natsu's eyes as his hair hung over his head.

"I learned how to write, and my magic is so much more badass now. Not to mention I've made tons of friends. I got a job too. I… I…" He gritted his teeth and picked up his head. "I have things I want to share with you Igneel!" He continued to cry. No one could comfort him. Only death and loneliness were there for him. His remaining flesh began to burst into the flames of a soul. "Igneel…"

"Do not shed tears. Hey, what do we do when we're sad? I taught you, didn't I?" Natsu continued to snivel.

"I remember, dad."

"So do it. Stand up."

"Okay." Forcing his bottomless grief and anger into willpower, Natsu managed to stand up.

"I am with you, now and always. Show me more how you've grown. Show me the way you live your life."

"Got it." In a stroke of fury, Natsu summoned all of his magic power and shook the earth with his mighty grief.

"I will live on!" He yelled with all of his heart and soul. His muscles tensed all over his body. "I will become stronger! And I'm going to grind Acnologia's ass into dragon dust!"

"That's my boy… speak of your future, and that shall become your will to live." Igneel's parting words resonated and reformed millions of times into Natsu's ear drums. Time rolled inversely thereafter. Hours passed in mere minutes without Natsu moving a muscle from his position of declaring his destiny. He became a statue to destiny's destruction.

The following morning, two men he recognized from earlier guided him back to the village. Brought before their healer and priestess, she questioned him outside her hut.

"How are you feeling?" He remained silent.

"I see", she said. "Do you wish to know how your friend is?" He nodded.

"Follow me."

Walking through the entrance of the hut and then further behind a back door led to a room with three other women. Ciri's body, covered in blood, lied down on a bed. She was barely breathing.

"She's in her last moments. Do you wish to say goodbye?" Natsu approached the nearly lifeless body and touched her hand.

"Ciri, from the moment we met you reminded me of my friends. I wanted so badly to replace them with you and fill the hole in my heart, but I can't do that. You've become someone dear to me. After the last day, I realized I should never have brought you with me, but I don't regret the short time we were together." He felt a weak pull on his hand. She was staring at him and was able to hear his words; understanding what was going on.

"I found my dad. He fended off Acnologia… But he died. He told me to speak of my future, so I am. I'm going back to Fairytail. I'm going to go adventuring. I will find my friends. And I'm going to slay Acnologia when the time comes."

The hand he used to hold hers grew warm. Unable to speak, she exerted her last amount of magic power into fire magic one last time. Natsu felt her last spark on his skin and cherished it.

She was gone.

"It's time for me to go."

"Don't you wish to stay for her burial?" He moved towards the door.

"Don't be stupid." Every stepped back in shock.

"How dare you! After all-!" He raised a fist towards Natsu.

"Jimbei!" the elder said. "Calm down." Natsu turned around to reveal the young man crying soundly, but with a gentle smile on his face.

"An old mentor once told me it is good to know fear, for it helps us to become stronger and gentler wizards. I wish I would have remembered before I walked off declaring a foolish one-man war. I have a family to help me, and in turn, help them. Ciri is a part of that family too. Don't you see?" He beat his chest.

"No, she isn't dead. She is living in my heart and I will continue to carry her with me on every one of my adventures. You can't bury someone still living in your heart." The priestess smiled. Walking up to Natsu she carried a gentle touch every mother holds.

"Go child. Live like your father told you to."

Natsu walked outside the door, noticing a calendar with the current day check marked. It was January 1st 787.

Over ten months had passed before Natsu returned to Magnolia. Half the town was destroyed. Eerie feelings covered the landscape. Ash and blood filled the air. Walking through the town there were countless corpses and people helping other survivors. Without knowing it, Magnolia turned into ground zero for a guild war. He rushed towards Fairytail.

Outside the guild hall was hundreds of dead bodies seemingly stacked upon each other. Standing above them all was a pink-haired, young woman in an emerald stitched dress. Her canines were sharpened. White feathers covered her wrists, ankles, and back. Encircling her was many enemies, each with a deep bloodlust. Opposing her on the opposite side was Bluenote Stinger. Everyone around but the woman held Grimoire Heart guild emblems.

Her lungs were tired. Her heart was heavy. Everyone she loved had died in front of her. Fairytail was gone in the ashes of Magnolia. Macao Conbolt, Wakaba, Jet, Droy, Alzack, Bisca, Laki, Max, Nab, Reedus, Vijeeter, Warren, and Kinana all lay dead. Tears rolled down her eyes, being unable to bear the pain for much longer.

"What do you want?!" she screamed. "What did we ever do to deserve this?!" She winced at every word from the aches which filled her body.

"Revenge", he said. "Hatred, intrigue, or a great inner evil. Do these foolish answers satisfy you?" His subordinates began laughing all around him. "I want to meet the man who can fly. I want to kill destroy everyone he loves in order see how strong he really is! Where is the demon of Fairytail?! Where is Salamander?!"

"I don't know", she groaned.

"Then he will come back to find your corpse among the others!" He pushed his hands together began to create a dark orb.

"Universal Gravity: Jupiter!" Wendy was slowly being sucked into the orb. She resisted to no avail; her feet left the ground and crashed towards the black hole. He used this same attack to crush the bones and organs of the entire guild before her. (A/N: Bluenote creates a dark orb similar to his black hole, but solidifies its mass, controls its gravity, and attacks others with it in a manner similar to Ultear in Arc of time.)

This is the end. It was all she could think. Cold fell over her body. Her life flashed before her eyes: Grandina and her friends. Enormous trials she worried about in the past now seemed trivial tasks.

"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Suddenly she felt warm. An all-consuming fire crashed over everyone. Wendy felt the fire's gentleness towards her, as the warming embrace of a hug. Everyone else was scarred with deep burns, leaving them writhing in agony.

"WHO ATTACKED MY FAMILY?" She recognized the voice. It was Natsu. Wendy began to fall unconscious for him to promptly catch her and set her aside, noticing the stare of the man who injured her.

"Bluenote."

"Salamander", he said with bloodshot eyes. "Let's fight once more! Revenge for destroying years of our operations is within my grasp!"

"You already got your revenge for the day", Natsu said. "It is time you know fear. If you don't learn fear, you will never know what the value of life is." He began summoning immense amounts of magic power, shaking the world of Magnolia.

"What… are you?" Bluenote asked.

"I'm a dragon." Bluenote fell to his knees at the overwhelming power. His soldiers scrambled for their lives- the ones who could survive his mere presence. The bodies of the dead fairies were lifted by the flames emanating from his body and set them aside. He walked before Bluenote with rage in his eyes.

"For hurting my family, your sentence is death." Bluenote's eyes widened realizing what he had done: desecrated the sanctity of life.

"Fire Dragon King's Demolition Fist." Charging flames into his right hand, he swung his fist forward into Bluenote's chest. Destabilizing his entire body, the fire shredded and crushed his body into nothingness.

Natsu looked around, examining any of the Fairytail members for surviving. He could feel a pulse in Kinana, who seemed to only be knocked out. Not being a wizard made her frailer than the others, but it meant she wasn't a target either. On the other hand, Wendy was on the verge of death. Everyone else was dead. A normal human being would mourn, but Natsu had no time to be selfish; he had to live and save his friends. Picking up Wendy, he carried her in her arms. It took several minutes but managed to reach Porlyusica quickly. He barged in without hesitation.

"Please save Wendy!" is all he could ask. Porlyusica only pointed to the nearest bed which he promptly set her down in. Several tests were performed.

"She has a high fever", she said. "There's internal bleeding, but nothing too dangerous medical and a couple days won't fix… Now get out of here! Don't you know I hate people?!" He ran out the door, leaving them behind. Wendy began mumbling the same name over and over.

"Natsu."