Natsu x Lucy post-Tartaros story. Here it is for those who have been waiting! (This was originally written for AO3/Archive)

Summary: Dragon Rage opens up near the end of the fight between Igneel and Acnologia as Natsu, after failing the task of stealing the book of E.N.D, returns and watches the ferocious duel from below.

Note: If you really want to get into the feels, put on and listen to WE ARE FURY's "Nightmares"

Chapter 1: Fallen

Words could not describe the emotions running through his being at this critical moment. The entire quest he had set out for seven years ago had suddenly stalled as his lifelong goal had appeared, literally from inside him. He watched the fierce raging flames continuously assault the black dragon of the apocalypse. Who in return, sent his own regards back to the fire dragon king by releasing behemoth rays of white light from its jaws.

He stared down at the ground, listening closely to the roars and war cries of the two dragons. With pink hair shadowing his eyes, the young man clenched his fists and stood obediently in silence. Natsu had been assigned a special job, to steal a certain book and bring it back to his father... and yet he had failed. The founder of Tartaros had been beaten, but the one pulling all the strings had slipped away, taking the book along with him. Gray had been stubborn in relenting to hand him the demon tome and now it was in the hands of their greatest enemy. Well, besides the one currently dog fighting in the skies.

Natsu knew he had let Igneel down. He had at last been reunited with the dragon that had taken care of him as a child, taught him the ways of life, and most importantly, taught him his dragon slaying magic. The very same essence he wielded and used to defeat Fairy Tail's countless and strongest opponents. He attempted lighting his palm to ignite a small flame, but nothing came. The battle with the Underworld King had exhausted him and drained his energy. Without warning a pained cry was heard overhead as he glanced up and saw the monster, who had been battling his foster father, now missing an arm. The next sight before him took his breath away completely. Igneel clutched one of his adversary's arms in his mouth, but paid the price for it. Fate had dealt him a losing hand, and a wound that was fatal. His own arm had been ripped clean off, along with nearly the entire left side of his body. Natsu watched helplessly as the crimson fire dragon was sent plummeting towards the earth at a rapid pace.

Igneel slammed into the battered terrain as his tired eyes fell over to his son who was sprinting to reach him. He took notice of the black dragon circling the sky above, and his shallow breathing increased as the beast began to emit a powerful amount of magic power.

"Natsu, stop! Get out of here, he is more powerful then we imagined!"

"No!" He shouted in disobedience while rubbing water droplets out of his vision. "I refuse to let you leave me again!"

"That is an order!"

"I don't care! I can help you! Me and you dad, let's take him down together!"

The two fire dragons' eyes met momentarily as the pink-haired slayer reached his dying mentor and skidded to his side, trying to figure out what to do. His sight failing, and death approaching, Igneel recognized the monstrous flashes of light and became aware of what was coming. Then Acnologia fired. Taking his remaining arm and extending it out, he attempted to forcefully push the boy backwards with his claws.

The movement had been too late, however as the beams of light impacted both of them. Igneel watched in shock as he missed his mark and instead clawed the left side of his son's face. Seconds later all he could see was white around him. His excruciating pain was intensified as he felt the earth shake and heard thundering laughter. Acnologia's shadow encompassed him as the dragon king, occupied with his victory over the fire dragon, failed to see the injured slayer directly below him.

"You couldn't even hold a tiny flame to me 'great fire dragon' Igneel!" Acnologia mocked as his draconic voice boomed, echoing across the Cube. Attempting, but struggling to fight off death, was Igneel. He knew it was all over. In fact he had already been long dead since his soul was stolen by the very monster in front of him. Even so, he had to keep fighting for Natsu's sake. He would gladly let Acnologia boast about his triumph if it would spare his son the time he needed.

"For someone who had their soul stolen by you long ago and still just barely lost... I would say I did more then hold just a small candle against you." Igneel retorted.

As if on cue, the fire dragon slayer stirred, opening his onyx eyes. What laid before him was horrifying. Igneel, who once had been colored crimson, was now an ugly dark gray. The blast had nearly charred his remains, and he could only assume his magic was what was keeping him alive. He had no clue what his own damage held, as everything around him was dark. Hearing some deep chuckling, and glancing up, his body stilled. Natsu now knew where he was and what he was directly under. Those blue and black markings, cold as the night itself, were unmistakable.

Natsu.

Igneel's voice telepathically reached him as he refused to look at the source of his pride, but rather at the reason for his defeat. Natsu's eyes widened as he heard the ghost-like voice enter his mind.

This is not your fault my son. I am not upset the book of E.N.D is now out of reach either. In due time, I am sure you'll have another shot. I am just thankful you are still in one piece. Listen to me for once son, I do not have much time left as I am sure you know.

Acnologia watched curiously at the glare he was receiving from his downed prey. Despite looking right at him, it was if the dragon's mind was elsewhere. His enhanced hearing began picking up the words.

It's not safe, Natsu. You need to get out of here while you still can. He will finish what he started and I want you gone prior to then, do you understand!

The familiar feeling of abandonment spawned in his thoughts as he tried to deny what he was being told. An outside voice pleaded in his mind to be reasonable and the rebellion died within the depths of his throat.

"I... I understand, dad." Natsu whispered as he slowly began to slide away from the scene. Unbeknownst to either of them, Acnologia was well aware of the pinkette underneath him and internally laughed. He faintly heard the rhythm within the boy's beating heart below as he began to try and flee.

Igneel became alarmed as he realized that Acnologia knew what was going on the whole time. Before he could warn him, the black dragon had acted. Swinging his tail, he struck the dragon slayer brutally and sent him hurtling further from the crash sight.

"Natsu!" The fire dragon roared in worry as he watched blue eyes turn red.

"That was your last mistake, Igneel. You actually thought filth such as yourself could outsmart a king like me!" Acnologia roared evilly. He placed his right leg into the remaining portion of Igneel's side and pushed, weighing him down. Pinned into the ground, Igneel gaped at the sword made of light that Acnologia now held in his grasp.

"You may have been victorious tonight... but have no regrets, someday you will fall Acnologia!" Igneel stated and heard the black dragon snarl.

"I will give you credit for trying king of the fire dragons, but you die like other beast I've slain in this hunt. You took my arm, so now I have come to take your head."

Igneel, prepared for death, observed him readily as the sword raised itself high into the air, and then stopped. Acnologia's red eyes began to transform into a glowing crimson.

"Have no worries Igneel, that brat you call a dragon slayer will soon join you. Once I am ready to destroy him as I did you!"

He heard the might of the sword slice through the wind and in his final seconds he scanned the area, looking for any sign of pink hair.

I love you Natsu.

Igneel failed to find him as the blade, forged from numerous magic properties, cut right through his neck. Blackness instantly enveloped him and the ground shook with regret. Acnologia, having secured victory, spread his lone wing and began limping off into the sky to recover from the gruesome battle.

From this day onward, everything would change. A loving father passed on into the light while a conflicted son journeyed into the darkness.

When Natsu finally came to, he immediately screamed as the pain began to fully register. His bruised body rolled itself over as he examined his injuries. His entire right side sleeve had been blown off by Acnologia's roar and likewise, the arm was covered in blood. The red emblem that had been proudly displayed on his shoulder for years had been sliced in different areas. It was a struggle just to make out the insignia for anyone who had never seen it previously. A stinging feeling caught his attention as he brought a few fingers up to dab his cheek and was unsurprised to see them coated in the same red substance. He cursed frustratingly at his condition as his thoughts replayed the final events before he had passed out. Eyes growing into saucers, Natsu froze.

Igneel!

Thankfully his legs weren't all that banged up, so he was able to move and track down the location he had been sent flying away from. He ran, collapsed, picked himself back up, and the cycle repeated itself. His injuries were the least of his concerns in that moment. He faintly heard a voice calling out to him, but ignored it since he was determined to reach his destination. Reaching the ongoing billowing smoke, the sight in front of him momentarily stopped his movements as he stood as still as a statue.

There, among the destruction, was the fire dragon king that had raised him since he was a little boy. Half of his side had been torn off, the head completely missing. In an instant, fire flared around the young dragon slayer as he got lost in the overwhelming emotions and fell to his knees.

"No, no, no... NO!"

Everything that he had worked for in his life, the trials, the struggles, the comebacks... it had all been for the dragon that now lay dead ahead of him. Crawling on his knees, like a lost child, water began pouring out of his black tinted eyes as he slammed his fists into the charred earth.

"Dad, why did you have to go? You said you'd never leave me again! Please, come back... I have so much to tell you!" Natsu begged while his heightened senses caught Happy's scent not far away. Similarly he heard footsteps and heavy breathing eagerly closing up behind him, but his mindset was not in the right place. Natsu stood and raised his head up into the sky, releasing a roar full of sorrow.

"IGNEEL!"

He stumbled a bit forwards as small arms wrapped around his torso, and embraced him fully from behind. His flames died down quickly and his nose picked up a familiar scent, one that he cherished as much as his now deceased father. Her blonde hair and smile were captivating.

"I'm here Natsu, I'm here..." Lucy whispered into his ear as her watery chocolate eyes fell upon the fallen fire dragon king. "I'm so sorry."

She could feel his muscular frame shake violently while his pained sobs broke her heart. Seeing his father appear out of nowhere from inside the man had originally taken her back in fear, but now all she wished for to the stars was peace. He had been reunited with his missing parent, only for him to be ripped away. This time, forever.

"I-Igneel..." Natsu stuttered and he finally succumbed to the truth and once more landed on his knees, dragging the blonde wrapped around him, down with him. She squeezed harder as if trying to communicate to him that he was not alone in his grief.

Lucy turned her eyes away and buried them into his tattered jacket. The sight of the slain dragon brought her to tears, but she forced them to stay at bay, knowing she had to be strong for the pinkette in her grasp. She had never seen her friend this broken and silently listened to his erratic heartbeat, letting him express his suffering.

He wasn't the only one who lost someone dear to him that day. She had to destroy one of her greatest friends and most precious Celestial Spirit in order to save all those who had been trapped in Mard Geer's curse. That happened to be the entire guild with the suprising exception of herself. Finally giving in, Lucy shed her own tears for both her own loss and Igneel as the two best friends faced harsh reality. Fairy Tail had been successful in winning the war, but the tragedies left in its wake felt more like a defeat.

"Natsu! Lucy!" A voice cried out as the small blue exceed flew up to them.

"Happy..." Lucy slightly smiled with tear-filled eyes as she pulled him close and Happy wedged himself between the two's strange embrace. He too saw Igneel's remains and began weeping for his best friend. In a sense, it was like he was watching the funeral of his grandfather.

"Dad, please. Please say something!" Natsu yelled needing to hear his confident wisdom just one more time.

"Natsu, he's gone." As soon as the words left from her mouth, she regretted it. Despite it being true, Lucy knew it was the worst possible thing he could of heard at that time. Abruptly, he turned and pulled himself out of her arms. The loss of his warmth and smoky scent was almost instant and she frowned. Seeing the full view of his grief and state stunned her. He had several jagged scars across the left side of his cheek, which expanded even further up towards and over his eye.

On the opposite side, Natsu saw her own condition fully for the first time since he had helped save her from Jackal and the others. She still adorned her Aquarius Star Dress, but much like his own clothing, it was torn and her figure was bruised. He couldn't stand seeing her like that, she deserved better. His brain rampaged like a wild fire as his mind began spiraling out of control. Full of conflict and confusion, he lashed out at his own partner.

"How could you say something like that! I know he's not gone!" Fire flew from his mouth as he glared at his best friend for one of the first times. Lucy stepped forward knowing he needed comfort or he would inevitably snap.

"I know how you feel..." She began and reached out to comfort him again before his sharp orbs froze her in her tracks. Natsu was slowly beginning to lose himself to his temper. What he truly was angry about though was the real question.

"You have no idea how I feel, Lucy! You never have!" He berated as a look of hurt flashed across her features. Happy hugged the blonde and could see emotions were getting the best of the dragon slayer. To his surprise, instead of cowering in fear or looking away, Lucy marched right up into his face. Natsu's pain increased as he felt the full force of her slap.

"I do idiot!" She yelled and grabbed his rough hands, holding onto them life a lifeline. "You're not the only one who lost something valuable today, Natsu! I lost someone close, nearly everybody did or almost did!" Her eyes were full of pity and understanding.

She hated seeing the usual carefree man in this heartbroken state. Death was inevitable, it had already taken her own father from her while they were encased in a spell on a historic island. Lucy knew this would be difficult for her friend to grasp, but it had to be done. The quicker he tackled it, the sooner the healing process could begin.

"I know this is hard to accept, but Igneel is gone. He and the other dragons accomplished the goal they had set out for. It was always a one-way trip, can't you see that?" She asked and watched him take in her words.

"One-way trip..." He whispered.

"Yes, Natsu! They were already dead. They took out Face to save us and help beat Tartaros. Whether Igneel won or lost against Acnologia..." She paused midsentence knowing the truth would shatter him. "The end result would still always be the same. I'm sorry Natsu, he was going to leave you either way." That reveal brought new tears as all anger in him diminished.

"Leave me..." He stared at her blankly.

"Natsu, are you okay?" Happy whispered as he carefully sat on his partner's shoulder. Lucy, now knowing what was really devouring her friend apart inside, tugged him forward once more and hugged him lovingly.

"Igneel may have been forced to depart from you, but Happy, the guild, they'll never leave you Natsu." She stated determinedly, looking right into his shadowed over eyes before adding, "I promise that I will never leave you."

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this little start! I've always felt like Igneel's death was brushed aside since it happened in the final episode of the season and, at least in my opinion, the fire dragon's death is one of the biggest moments in the entire story. Plus with the disbandment of Fairy Tail, I believe Natsu would of had a different response to all the loss happening to him in one single blow. Let me know what you thought about it, the next chapter will be posted on Christmas Eve!

Up Next: Chapter 2 - Shattered