Chapter 3

Igneel's Essence

'Take care of her Erza' Natsu said while handing the sleeping beauty over to her.

'Where are you going child' Makorav asked.

'My fathers out there fighting alone. Zeref said the dragons would be overwhelmed by higher demons... I know my father and he'll tell the others that he can handle Acnologia.'

'And your leaving to help him' Erza finished his sentence.

Natsu nodded before turning away from the group.

'Naruto go with the boy please' Makorav asked only to hear Natsu 'No, stay with them, they're all exhausted if a higher demon attacks them I'm counting on you to defend them understood Naruto-San?'

Naruto slowly stood and nodded 'I wouldn't be any help anyways, bringing your friend back about drained me. I should be able to handle demons with no problem but a dragon like Acnologia...' Naruto paused. 'I don't recommend you doing this but I can tell your not one to listen so take this' Naruto held a hand out and his eyes flashed crimson. His hand burst into crimson flames.

'Have a meal before you go... It's going to taste a little odd but it will endow you with some of my power for a short time... use it wisely'

Naruto tossed the flame to Natsu who quickly devoured it.

2 hours later

The group had set up camp for the civilians and themselves. They hadn't yet encountered any demons but the night was still young. Cana sat alittle ways away from the camp atop a hill looking up at the moon... the portal was still open... she sighed to herself while wishing her father had been with them throughout this nightmare.. 'How pitiful' she thought 'Wishing my daddy was here'

"You alright up here?" a voice called from behind her. She turned to see Naruto walking up the hill with a bottle in his hand.

"Just dandy" She replied before taking a swig of her Saki only to realize she was out. Naruto smirked while taking a seat next to her.

"Here" he said, handing her the large bottle labeled 'Home grown'

"Whats this?" She asked while removing the cork and taking a waft of the liquor.

"My own Saki... made it myself. I've traveled the world and tried them all and in my opinion mines better" Naruto said with a bit of a cocky tone and a wide smile plastered on his face.

Cana couldn't help but laugh "A little con-seeded aren't we?" she asked before taking a swig.

"How about you tell me?" He asked. Her eyes where wide in shock, it was harsh yet smooth, sweet yet bitter... it was perfect... but of course she wouldn't admit to it.

"Meh, its alright" She said while handing it back to him and continued to look at the portal which covered the moon.

"How long will that stay there?" She asked the blond who in return took a large gulp of his Saki. He let out a refreshing 'Ahh' before wiping his mouth and replying. "Till midnight... today was the day of the eclipse, once today is over the portal will close and my job begins"

"Your job?" she asked the blond who nodded. His expression seemed to change suddenly as he spoke.

"Killing off the higher demons and then killing Zeref"

Cana somewhat expected his answer and turned towards him. "Whats someone gotta do to get such a shitty job like that?"

Naruto let out a laugh before handing the bottle to her "That my friend is the million jewl question"

"Ill drink to that"

"Natsu" Erza thought to herself while sitting with Lucy's sleeping form. "After wanting Lucy to live so badly why would you go off on such a foolish quest?"

"Because its Natsu" Gray said while entering the tent along side Laxus.

"How is she?" Laxus asked while taking a seat next to Erza and handing her a plate of food.

Erza took the food with a nodding thanks before answering. "She's been sleeping peacefully but her eyes are moving a lot..."

"She's dreaming" Gray said while looking at the girl.

"I wonder what shes dreaming of"

Lucy watched from afar as the two dragon battled. Flamed consumed the entire plane as Igneel and Acnologia stood growling at one another.

"Your a pitiful excuse for a dragon" Acnologia said to the red dragon.

"Hmph says the mindless puppet of a human" Igneel replied "Honestly before the human came into existence you actually had meaning Acnologia! You where our leader, and enforced the law with passion and strength but now look at you? You arrive when your called apon to destroy! That is not our roll in this world! You take the side's of demon and a human over your own kind!"

"I take the roll of the ending the world! That is my meaning! Ever sense the day those two challenged me I realized this would was filled with hatred and suffering and I choose to aid in ending it. There is no wrong in my roll now Igneel and you will suffer the wrath of standing in my way!"

Acnologia leaped towards the red dragon with unmeasurable force knocking him on his back.

'Why am I here' Lucy asked herself while watching the titans battle.

Acnologia's jaw widened as he took a deep breath. Power began to gather with his gasp and Igneel cursed before looking over towards Lucy... 'So... it has happened yet again' he thought before turning his gaze back to Acnologia.

"FATHER!" a voice yelled catching Igneels attention. He watched as a small figure moving incredibly fast shot towards Acnologia.

Crimson flames consumed his arm along with lighting and fire as the blur approached the giants. "CRIMSON LIGHTNING FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!"

"N-Natsu?" Igneel said in shock as he watched his son slam his fist into Acnologia's Jaw and knock the dragon off his father. Acnologia's breath shot into the air lighting the sky up with it brilliant blue shine for miles.

"So he's finally fighting..." Naruto said while taking a swig of the Saki. Cana watched in amazement as the sky lit up... and revealed what was hidden in the shadows...

"Its going to be a long night... get to the camp Cana tell that old man to get everyone ready but make sure someone is protecting Lacy-Chan" Naruto said before standing.

"What the hell are you doing!?" Cana asked in a panic.

Naruto looked back at the women and smiled a toothy smile "Starting my mission of course".

Growls and roars began to fill the air as Naruto turned to the hordes of monsters.

"Kill your demons" He whispered to himself as the wind around him began to flow, his hair and cloak swaying with its grace. "Face your fears" he said as a crimson light started to outline his entire body.

"W-what are you?" Cana asked as he continued

"Fight with no discretion" flames slowly began to run up his legs as he growled .

"die..." Naruto paused while looking down at his hands 'I won't let you die!'

"die alone this is the oath I've... we've, taken, this is the sacrifice I've made..." He clenched his fists tightly as they where consumed in the beautiful yet horrible crimson flames.

"The blood on these hands can only be cleansed by my mission and my mission... is your death."

"Natsu" Igneel stood slowly "What are you doing here boy!" he roared.

"Shut it Igneel! I'm pissed off at you enough as is. Let's focus on the problem at hand for now" Natsu growled while crossing his arms and crouching down. 'Lets see what that fire in my belly is made of Naruto' he thought while closing his eyes.

"Grrrrrrr" Natsu growled as the ground around him erupted into crimson flames mixed with his own fire. Lightning began to crackle in the sky as he continued to focus.

"GRRRRAAAAAAAHHH!" He yelled as Lightning struck him repeatedly.

Igneel watched in slight amazement as his son powered up. 'Those flames' He thought to himself before looking towards Acnologia. "So that monsters also come out of hiding has he" he whispered to himself... "This could get interesting..."

"I can hear you old man" Natsu growled his eyes burned with power as he looked at his father "Im not sure who your talking about but I don't care... I've got a score to settle with this dragon. Ill show you what happens when you try to kill me and my friends dragon!"

Acnologia flapped his wings as he stood "You think you have the right to talk to me HUMAN! IM THE BRINGER OF THE APOCOLYPSE"

"Like I give a rats ass, your Zerefs pet as far as I'm concerned a real dragon would never answer to a Human".

"DIE!" Acnologia yelled while charging the two. Igneel seeing this charge forward and locked arms with the black dragon.

"So this is your child, the son of Igneel... Pitiful" he mocked Igneel before clawing him across the chest and cutting into his scales. Igneels growl in pain before head butting his rival. "Pitiful you say? No whats pitiful is you letting him knock you off your feet by himself! Do not think lightly of my child you poor excuse for A DRAGON!"

"ROAR!" Igneel yelled as flames shot from his mouth and consumed the apocalypse bringer. Natsu watched and grinned He appeared in a flash underneath the two giants planted feet.

"Dinner time" He laughed while taking a huge breath. Igneel watched as the flames from his roar and the crimson and other flames engulfing the area rushed to the boys mouth. Lightning began to strike Natsu as he continued to consume it and his stomach seemed to grow...

Igneel knowing his sons plan jumped back and laughed in amazement. "DO IT NATSU!"

"You got it!" He yelled with a smile "Point blank! Demonic Lightning flaming Dragon... ROOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!" He yelled as loud as he could The mixture of power exploded from his lungs and they felt as if they would collapse. Acnologia looked down to see the attack charging towards him. 'Its going to hiT me dead center... His wings shut around his chest quickly in an attempt to block the attack but to his surprise he felt the attack rip through them. 'U-Unbelievable' He growled as the attack drove him into the sky. The dragon felt the attack eating away at his chest... a large amount of scales fell to the ground as he continued into the sky.

'Natsu' Lucy thought in amazement as she watched him fight the beast. 'He's... incredible'

'This is my son' Lucy heard a voice in her mind she turned to see Igneel looking right at her. 'My son... is the only one who can kill Zeref. And you my dear will be there to guide him'.

'Me? What do you mean? How are you talking to me?'

'The scarf girl... you have a piece of my essence inside of you at this very moment, but that is not important right now. Do not rely on the new man you and your friends have in your group, he is powerful and kind but he will fail. Natsu can succeed where he cannot'.

"I don't understand" Lucy said in her sleep. Erza could hear the battles raging outside as she watched over Lucy...

"Lucy are you awake?" Erza asked while leaning over her.

"Igneel... W-what am I supposed to do!?" She yelled in her slumber...

'Guide him, protect him when he needs protecting, show him the love he has been fighting to regain... Be there for my son' she said in a different darker tone.

"I-Igneel?" Erza said in shock "Whats going on Lucy".

'I will not let my son die here... he is strong but his strength is not yet enough... farewell Lucy remember what I have told you'

"ENOUGH!" Acnologia roared and expanded his wings. Lighting and flames shot in eery direction making a spiderweb in the sky.

"ILL KILL YOU BOTH!" He growled as blood dripped from his wings and chest. "APOCOLYPSE ROAR!" He yelled while firing his roar down at them...

'I will not let my son die here... he is strong but his strength is not yet enough... farewell Lucy remember what I have told you, Naruto is powerful but he can't kill someone he once loved... Just like Natsu couldn't lose someone he does... now... Farewell'

'IGNEEL!' Lucy yelled while reaching for the dragon.

"Get back Natsu!" Igneel yelled as flames crawled from his closed mouth. "LORD OF THE FLAMES, FLAMING DRAGONS! ROAR!" He yelled firing his Roar up at the black dragons attack.

Natsu seeing this prepared to breath once again but suddenly felt his body go cold.

'Use it wisely' Naruto told him... "Guess this is the side effect... tch" he groaned in pain while falling to one knee. The son of Igneel knelt there looking up at his father as his roar slowly subdued to the awesome power of Acnologia. "Damnit" he growled and struggled to stand but quickly returned to his previous position. 'I've got to help him!' he told himself.

"That enough Natsu" Igneel said softly "IM sorry for leaving you my boy... I want you to know that I am proud of you... the damage done here today was your doing. You did well my child" Igneel said with pride as doom approached them.

"Not mater what happens keep your family close, and never forget the love I showed you child... the love of a dragon is hard to replace but you will find it one day".

Natsu smirked "Enough old man, looks like neither of us is walking away from this... i'm just glad Lucy-Chans alive and well... I can die happy. Bye your side".

"QUITE BOY!" Igneel growled "If you think I'm going to let my child die here today then you are rudely mistaken. Continue to grow Natsu! Continue to fight for those you love and never give up on living! You are Natsu Son of Igneel! There is no other dragon slayer like you in this world... remember that and you will not lose..."

Igneel quickly cut his attack of and turned his back to the sky. He wrapped his arms and wings around Natsu and curled to the ground.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING FAHTER!" Natsu yelled while trying to pry away from the dragon.

"You will live... Natsu... I just wanted to hold you one last time" Igneel said softly. Memories of Natsu's childhood filled his mind... Then he felt them... Warm tears fell from the giants eyes onto Natsu...

The cracks in Igneels defense began to glow with light as the attack approached "I love you child... I'm glad I got to fight by your side".

"NO! IGNEEL STOP IT NO!"

"NATSU!" Lucy yelled while reached out to the two only to be blinded by Acnologia's light.

TBC