**I don't own Fairy Tail or the characters. They belong to Mashima.
Alright everyone, sorry I've taken so long to update. A lot has been happening in my life recently, and I haven't had as much time to write. But I'll still be finishing all the stories I currently have running. I'll also create some of the other stories I was planning on.
Looks like (according to the poll) the majority of my readers want to see the NatsuxWendyxChelia next. That will be a shorter story, most likely, and I'll start it in conjunction with the "back in time" story**
But the day after the birth he appeared. Not as a dragon, as Natsu was expecting, but as a dark-skinned man with light colored hair and a dead look in his eyes. If it hadn't been for his scent, Natsu might not have recognized him. But this was a scent he wouldn't forget in a million years.
Trying to still his beating heart he looked up to meet those dead orbs that stared back at him and uttered the name of the creature that for years haunted his nightmares…
"Acnologia."
"So the king thought Zeref's little brother could stop me." A mirthless laugh escaped the self-proclaimed dragon king's throat as Igneel awakened, hoarse baby cries escaping from his throat. Hisui, who was in no condition to do anything except lay in bed, comforted the child, pulling him in to nurse him.
Natsu could feel his limbs shaking as he faced the monster before him. He didn't have nearly enough time to prepare for this battle. Another 7 years wouldn't have been enough time. But somehow he had to win it. Natsu Dragneel, the son of the fire dragon king, would have to come out victorious.
"I guess after I finish with you I'll have to show Fiore what a real king looks like." Acnologia took a ready position. His posture and bearing were not at all like when he faced God Serena and ended him with a single blow. This was more like his encounter with Fairy Tail on Tenroujima. He was confident that his prey was within his grasp, and wanted to enjoy a few minutes of toying with it before delivering the killing strike.
"You have to get past me first," Natsu said, stepping forward against the inner terror that tried to freeze his limbs in place. Somehow the step boosted his confidence. He wasn't the same dragon slayer that fought Acnologia on Tenroujima all those years ago. He was Natsu Dragneel, son of the fire dragon king and the only one who could use the king's magic. He would find a way to win this if it killed him.
"Big words for such a small insect," Acnologia replied with a smirk. "I'm gonna' enjoy—"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu hit him before he could finish the sentence, knocking him away from the palace area. He quickly chased him out into the dark streets of Crocus. Good. I can go all out here…
Acnologia regained his feet easily, shaking the blow off. "Is that what you call an attack, boy? I didn't even feel it."
"Yeah? There's plenty more where that came from! Iron Dragon's Wing Attack!"
This time Acnologia didn't even budge, allowing the attack to hit him and once again taking no damage from it. Then he lunged forward with incredible speed. Natsu saw the power of the attack and managed to get out of the way in time.
"Impressive for an insect," the dragon king smirked, lunging forward again. Natsu twisted to the right, barely avoiding the claw that threatened to tear half his torso out.
"Fire Dragon's Talon!" Natsu attacked again, landing a hit on the dragon king's head. He smirked, certain that would do at least some damage.
But Acnologia didn't look like he was hurt at all. In fact, he wasn't even breathing hard. He was just standing there, the same dead look in his eyes and a slight smirk on his lips. Natsu could feel his anger rising within him, and he let loose with a flurry of attacks.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!" He dove in, slashing hard with his right hand in an attack that should've torne some flesh from Acnologia.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" His fist impacted the dragon king's hard abs, but the monster still didn't budge an inch.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" His attack scored a direct hit on the dragon king, but still he remained unfazed.
"Alright. Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!" The flames engulfed Acnologia forming a vortex around him.
"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Crimson Lotus Exploding Blade!" The massive attack hit Acnologia, engulfing him in the superheated flames. But still the dragon 'king' stood there, not moving an inch or even showing the slightest bit of damage.
"Dammit!" Natsu yelled. "How many times do I have to hit you before you go down?!"
"You think you can hurt me, dragon slayer." Acnologia replied, looking at Natsu with his dead eyes. "Tell me, how many times does a mosquito have to bite you before you go down?"
Natsu growled. He knew he didn't have a chance at this power level. He was hoping to wear the apocalypse dragon down a little before using his full strength. But at this rate he would wear himself down rather than Acnologia. He stepped back from the false dragon king. "Fire Dragon King Mode!"
Immediately the stones of the surrounding buildings began to melt from the heat. Natsu could hear people still fleeing the area, though most had left when the fighting first began. He didn't have time to worry about them, though. "Fire King's Demolishing Fist!" He felt his fist connect with his opponent, and Acnologia wend flying back through two stone buildings, which crumbled around him. For a few moments the streets were filled with dust. Natsu watched the spot where Acnologia disappeared to, holding his breath. Did he hit the black dragon hard enough to knock him out?
His answer came seconds later as a roar echoed from the debris, and a black dragon suddenly stood over the entire area, his enormous foot narrowly missing Natsu as it settled on the streets of Crocus. Natsu swallowed hard as he looked up and saw two blue orbs staring at him from within the black face of the dragon king.
"So the little dragon slayer has grown fangs," Acnologia sounded angry. Despite the fear coursing through him, Natsu couldn't help a little smirk. "Let's see how you fare against a dragon king!"
"Dragon king my ass." Natsu glared at the dragon slayer. "The only real dragon king was Igneel, the fire dragon king. You're nothing but a low-class clown compared to him."
He saw the claw coming just in time, leaping backward as the air rushing from the swipe knocked him even further back into a nearby building. Acnologia glared from above him, his blue eyes glowing in the darkening sky. "You would do well to remember that it was I who killed Igneel, worm!"
"Pff. You killed Igneel's shadow," Natsu replied, rolling quickly to the left to avoid another claw that descended on him at lightning speed. "If you fought Igneel at his full power he would've wiped the floor with you. Hell, you couldn't even beat Zeref. What kind of 'dragon king' does that make you?"
Acnologia's voice suddenly sounded like steel. "You will suffer before you die, insolent worm. Perhaps after I have defeated you, I'll keep you alive long enough for you to watch me take that pretty mate of yours."
"Big words," Natsu said as he dodged still another attack, searching for an opening. "But it'll never happen. The only way you're getting to her is if I'm dead."
"That can be arranged too." Acnologia lunged forward, swiping with a claw that Natsu avoided easier now as he began to read some of the dragon's attack patterns. A sudden instinct told him to move quickly, and he threw himself forward into a roll, just diving under the dragon's massive jaw that snapped shut where he'd just stood.
"Fire King Dragon's Roar!" Natsu poured as much power as he could into the attack, hitting the black dragon just below the neck near his chest. Acnologia roared, rearing up on his hind legs, and Natsu looked to see the effect of the attack. The dragon's scaly hide was now scratched and burned in the area where the flames hit him, but the damage still only looked to be surface damage.
"Fire Dragon King's Crushing Talon!" Natsu attacked again, narrowly dodging one of the dragon's hind legs as he used his fire to jet up to the spot his roar just hit. He felt the attack connect hard, and Acnologia threw back his head with another roar at the contact. Yet, just like before, there was nothing but minor scratches to the dragon's protective hide.
Then Natsu was forced to jump back as the dragon's forelimb descended on him, followed quickly by a swipe underneath from the other forelimb. He used his feet to propel himself back faster as the massive head whipped toward him, and even with all the speed he could muster the jaws snapped shut just inches from his face. He got a close up look at the rows of razor-sharp teeth, each the size of his head, and the glowing blue eyes of the chaos dragon before him.
Refusing to stay down for long, he took off, running around the dragon. He dove and rolled left just as the massive tail came crashing down, then quickly jumped off the ground as the dragon's tail swept across the ruined city streets in an attempt to swat him away. He didn't have time to regain his footing as another claw came shooting down, and he narrowly avoided it by twisting just enough in midair. The wind from the swipe pushed his body out and back again, sending him plummeting into a pile of debris nearby.
The dragon slayer got up, shaking himself off. His opponent still hadn't landed a solid hit, but enough of these sideswipes would eventually wear him down. Besides, he knew he could only last so long in this mode. Somehow he had to find an opening and take it before his magic power ran out, all without letting the black dragon finish him off. With another roar he plunged forward, dodging the claw attack and rolling under the next claw. He then ran up the beasts extended leg as he tried to withdraw it, heading quickly for the area he already struck twice. But apparently Acnologia saw what he was doing, because the black dragon shook his leg violently, throwing Natsu from it and off into the rubble surrounding the two.
Natsu got up again, moving forward more carefully this time. He saw Acnologia's left forelimb rise a few feet, and quickly dodged the sweeping strike he knew followed that movement. Next he jumped out of the way of the tail that came crashing down again, turning sharply and throwing himself forward to then avoid the jaws that snapped at his escape route. Another clawed foot came down on top of him, forcing him to roll quickly out of the way while regaining his footing at the same time. He then dodged a back leg, but he could no longer reach the part of the dragon's hide that was already damaged.
Another narrow escape from a claw that actually brushed him, cutting a gash along his left side, sent him flying several hundred feet into a building that was still standing. Natsu got up, cauterizing the wound to make sure the blood loss wouldn't physically weaken him. Then he charged toward his foe again. The charge seemed to take the dragon by surprise. His movements were a little slower than previously, and Natsu was easily able to dodge his first clawed foot as it descended. The second one was even easier, and the predictable follow up with the tail he was able to jump over. In fact, the attack was just at the right height.
Natsu launched himself up, using the tail as a springboard to reach the damaged area of Acnologia's hide. Putting as much power as he could into the attack again, he yelled out "Fire Dragon King's Piercing Fang!"
His hand connected, and he quickly registered something wet and sticky covering it. He didn't have time to relish the strike though, as a large, clawed forelimb suddenly struck him from the side, completely removing his arm, tearing into his side, and sending him rocketing into a nearby building. Dazed for a moment, Natsu struggled to get up. He managed to cauterize the mangled skin on his left side using his right arm, which he then used to push himself slowly to his feet. He felt his fire dragon king form fading.
Then he realized Acnologia was no longer in front of him. He looked wildly around, but then a loud roar sounded from above. He looked toward the sound, and what he saw terrified him.
The dragon was preparing a breath attack that would soon be at least as large as the one that demolished Tenroujima island. Even though all the citizens were a long way from the battle scene, Natsu knew the attack could hurt people far away just from the power of the shock wave. And how the hell was he going to survive this? He had to survive! But this attack was enough to destroy all of Fairy Tail once. How could he, Natsu Dragneel, take on this by himself and come out alive?
But he couldn't die! He couldn't let that monster have his wife and his child. He had to come out of this fight alive no matter what! He had to—
The purple-white breath attack descended on the dragon slayer and everything went white. Pain coursed through every part of his body, tearing him apart.
~End~
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Just Kidding! Here's the rest of the chapter
~~~~~~Acnologia~~~~~~
The black dragon just smirked as he watched the attack descend on the dragon slayer. He hovered, high above all the insects in the city below, hearing people's cries of shock and terror as their would-be savior perished in the midst of his breath attack. He was going to enjoy taking the little dragon slayer's mate and child. And then he would kill the insect's king for trying to betray him this way.
But then he looked at the ground again. Something was wrong. Was his breath attack getting smaller? The apocalypse dragon's eyes widened as the explosion caused by his breath attack slowly disappeared. What was happening? He couldn't believe what his eyes were telling him. The puny dragon slayer was eating his attack? There was no way an insect could have the power to consume the breath of the dragon king!
But even as the events fully registered in his mind, the dragon king saw him. Natsu Dragneel, now in full dragon force, shooting up into the sky at him. He quickly struck out with his claw, but the dragon slayer was even faster than before. Before he could stop him he felt the dragon slayer latch on to the hole in his hide, just below his neck. He whipped his head around, trying to see what the annoying insect was up to. But suddenly pain exploded inside his body. But the pain quickly faded as the dragon smirked, knowing victory was still assured. He watched, the smirk still on his face, as his body fell.
Wait. As his body fell? The realization suddenly struck the dragon king that he was watching his body from the outside. But that would have to mean…
I can't be dead. There's no way that insect defeated me. Those were the last thoughts of the dragon king as the gates of hell opened to receive his spirit into the afterlife…
~~~~~~On the ground~~~~~~
The dragon's body descended from the sky, its enormous wings no longer beating the air. No glow remained in the eyes that struck terror into so many. No life in the dragon king that destroyed Tenroujima years before.
Falling below the monstrous creature was the pink-haired savior of Fiore. But he was also unmoving. Apparently he'd used the last of his strength fighting the monster, and now the savior of Fiore was powerless to save himself. Soon he would be crushed by the body of the dragon he'd just killed.
But before that could happen a blue blur sped under the falling creature, riding on the wings of the wind, and snatched the pink-haired dragon slayer from beneath the falling corpse. Natsu was then carried back toward the palace, where Wendy waited with the white exceed at her side.
And she was angry. If Natsu told her this was going to happen, she could've been there to help him. Instead of being awakened by the dragon's roar when it was already too late to join the battle, she could've supported her older brother figure. Maybe things wouldn't have become this desperate!
But she had to push that aside as Happy deposited the dragon slayer on the ground in front of her. At first she couldn't even tell if he was breathing, but a quick check assured her of a weak pulse. More alarming, though, was his body. The dragon force had faded, but now his skin looked like it was cracking everywhere, like a ceramic vase that was about to shatter. Bluish-purple light poured from the cracks. It looked as though his body could explode at any minute. In addition to that, his left arm was completely gone, and deep gashes covered the left side of his body. They had been cauterized so they weren't bleeding, but the damage was still there.
Wendy set to work healing him. She was able to repair the torn flesh in his side and his other various scratches. She mended the bones that had broken during the fight, beginning to grow tired from using so much magic. But she couldn't do anything about the glowing cracks that covered his body.
That condition frightened her. She knew that for the dragon slayer the battle still wasn't over. He was fighting for his life, and there was nothing she could do to help. She didn't even know what was happening. But she knew someone who might.
"Carla, Happy, we need to get him to Porlyusica!" No matter what level of knowledge the palace healers possessed, Wendy didn't trust them at the same level she trusted the old healer. She was the only one capable of saving him. At least, Wendy hoped she could...
Alright - that's a wrap for this chapter. Read and Review please!