This is the second epilogue, setting up for the seven year time skip and all the fun things that happen there. I hope all you enjoy the official ending of A Dragon's True Power, especially you, epic story reader, since you've been waiting patiently for me to finish these.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Natsu felt a chill seeping into his body as he slumped at the base of the Tenrou Tree. His vision was blurry. There was a distinct black area on the outskirts of his sight that was slowly growing larger.
He had done it. Acnologia was dead, just like he had promised Igneel. The dragons would be free to come out of hiding. Natsu only wished that the battle hadn't been the end of him as well. It had been foolish to hope that he would survive the fight, but the pinkette had so desperately wanted to.
He wasn't ready to leave Erza behind again, not so soon after he had gotten her back. He had feared, with the whole Oracion Seis and Jellal and the fiasco in Edolas, that she would not want him anymore. But she had taken him back after he had foolishly left her, and he had promised to never leave Erza again.
It was while he was thinking about his mate that she materialized in front of him.
Her body was incorporeal. He had thought her, young as she looked, to be a figment of his imagination. She had very long, wavy, blonde hair that reached down to her feet with a single lock pointing upwards. Her green eyes were a vermillion color and lacked irises. She wore a frilly, pink layered robe with a red ribbon tied in a bow around her neck. Around the chest were three blue diamond patterns with two blue triangles above, each one outlined in a hot pink. There were wing like adornments around her ears and small hoop earrings. Oddly enough, she was barefoot.
Natsu's hallucination had cheerfully introduced herself as Mavis Vermillion, the First Master of Fairy Tail. She knelt by his side, tiny childlike hands gently wrapping around his own. Her young countenance was belied by the serious look in her eyes.
"That was very brave of you, Natsu Dragneel," she had said. "But you are not yet finished. Zeref's pet dragon has been slain, but the wizard himself still has to be dealt with. Rest easy for now. I will take care of you. When you have recovered we'll prepare you to face him."
"I'm not done yet?" he whispered, exhausted mentally, physically, and magically. He didn't want to continue fighting. He thought he had done his part. All he wanted was to be with Erza.
Her voice was gentle as she answered. "I'm sorry. But your strength is still needed to fight this war, Natsu. Do not worry, though. We will make sure you are prepared."
Why him? Why was it necessary that he fight against Zeref? Wasn't there anyone else?
Then his brain, working even slower than normal in his current condition, heard the plural she was speaking with. "We? Who is we?"
Her smile was bright and her eyes sparkled. "Igneel. Your father is on his way."
That brought a tired grin to the dragon slayer's face. As awful as he felt, he couldn't wait to see his father again.
"It will take time, Natsu. You will have to dedicate yourself to learning what Igneel teaches you." Mavis warned him. "This is no fight to test your strength. You are the only one capable of killing Zeref. You must be ready."
Natsu was unable to fight down the nausea he felt. His already pale skin took on an ashen tint. Fairy Tail wizards never killed other mages. Igneel had had a difficult time convince him it was necessary to kill Acnologia.
But Natsu had done so. He didn't feel elation over it, however. The act had disgusted him. If it had not been for the fact that everyone in Fairy Tail would die if he let the black dragon escape, Natsu did not think he could have done it.
And now Mavis and Igneel wanted him to kill an actual human being?
"Why does he have to die? Can't we just seal him away like his demons have been?"
Mavis was already shaking her head in the negative, blond, wavy locks whipping back and forth. "It is not possible. He was sealed away once, a long time ago, but he managed to free himself. No," she said determinedly, "the only option is to kill him."
The First Master went on to explain why Zeref could not be allowed to live. Natsu suspected she was trying to make him see that he was dangerous and posed a serious threat to the kingdom of Fiore. Instead he heard a story of an unfortunate man, one who had not asked to be cursed. He could not imagine what it felt like to accidentally be the cause of death of everyone and everything around you because of magic that could not be controlled.
Natsu nodded his head and promised to put his everything into training. It was an honest promise, for he wanted to be prepared for the day he came face to face with Zeref, but he was already trying to come up with a peaceful plan, or at least one that did not require him Natsu to become a murderer.
Done with her explanation, Mavis stood.
"Wait," he called to her retreating back. "What about my guild? Can I see them?" Natsu could not bear to let Erza and the rest of Fairy Tail think he was dead.
Mavis shook her head once more, sadly this time. "That is not possible. You do not have the time. But," she continued, seeing how pained her answer had made him, "I can take them a message, if you wish."
"Please."
"Very well."
Black eyes watched as she walked away. Darkness pulled at him. He remained conscious long enough to witness several golden pillars shooting into the sky. The turned into a dome and he briefly saw the Fairy Tail insignia emblazoned on the golden shield, and then he knew nothing.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
There was not a dry eye in Fairy Tail when the wizards that had participated in the S-class wizard trials returned to Magnolia. The news of Natsu's death, which was irrefutable this time, was just as devastating to the guild as it was the first time.
Erza and, surprisingly, Cana were the most affected. For the longest time, only Cana could get through Erza, because the card magic wielding wizard was the only person who had tried to help Natsu.
The guild had erected a statue of him, both to honor him and so that he would never be forgotten.
It was only days after his death that the guild received a visitor.
She appeared quite literally out of thin air claiming to have a message for them from a dear friend.
"I am Mavis Vermillion, Fairy Tail's First Guildmaster," she stated, her soft voice tinkling like chimes. At the bar, Makarov choked on his drink and was thumped on the back by Mirajane. "I come with a message from Natsu Dragneel."
The muttering that had erupted throughout the guild at her appearance, wondering if she could be believed, died.
Erza charged unthinkingly, enraged that someone would waltz into their guild and proclaim to have a message from Na. . . him. Thinking about him was too painful for the red headed Re-Quip mage. The blade passed right through the girl's neck.
Erza halted, staring unbelievably between the sword in her hand and the apparition of Mavis.
"That was not very nice." Her green eyes darkened with anger. "But I will ignore that this once for Natsu's sake."
Erza could only nod tightly.
"Now then, he wishes to say he is sorry for lying to everyone. He knew Acnologia would be coming and was prepared to give his life to defeat the creature. To you, Erza Scarlet," Mavis said next, looking pointedly at the distraught woman that attacked her, "he says he is sorry for having Doranbolt knock you out and he hopes you'll forgive him for wanting you safe."
She felt tears burn in the back of her eyes. How could she be mad at him for that?
"Natsu also wishes to apologize for his upcoming absence." The din in the hall came back to life. Mavis easily silenced them. She then told them the same story she had told the fire dragon slayer. "His part in this war is not yet over. He must train so that he can defeat Zeref, so he will not be returning for several years."
Her last sentence rang in Erza's ears. She gripped a table with white knuckles to keep herself upright. Years? He would be gone for years this time? What was she supposed to do during that time?
Determination straightened her spine. "Take me to him," she demanded.
"No. Your presence will only serve to distract him from his purpose. He has his own role to fulfill, and you also must do your part. Train yourselves. Prepare yourselves so that you might help him when the time comes. He says he is sorry for breaking his promise to not leave you. He says that he would not in any other situation. He promises that he will return home when the time comes."
"How long will that be?" asked Makarov.
"I do not know." And with that, the First Master vanished.
Erza stared uncomprehendingly at the spot where the childlike Mavis had stood. So many emotions coursed through her, all entangled. The most prominent one was relief. Natsu was alive; she had not lost him. And he would return to her, because Natsu never broke a promise.
Now that she had calmed, Erza could feel the bond that connect her to her mate. So consumed with her overwhelming grief, she had not realized that she was still sensing what Natsu felt. She had thought the pain was all her own, but it was the bond letting her know that they were still connected, that he was still alive, fighting to hold on for her.
Right. Erza tightened her grip on the pummel of her sword. They did not know how much time they would have until Natsu returned, and consequentially Zeref too. They could not afford to sit around drinking away their grief.
They needed to train harder. They needed to become stronger than ever. And they had to start right now. They could not waste time.
"Alright! Listen up Fairy Tail!" she roared, getting the attention of the rest of the guild's members. "You heard the First Master. Nastu is going to need our help in the future, so we need to start training today. Who's with me?"
Erza raised her sword above her head. Her fellow mages answered her call, pumping their own fists and shouting for all to hear that they would be ready when the time came.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Makarov watched silently from his place at the bar as Erza roused the wizards around her. Every day, the strength of the bond between the wizards of his guild surprised him.
It reminded him of the eulogy he had spoken at Natsu's funeral. Fairy Tail had always prided itself on its relationships between members. They were not just wizards bound to the same guild and working each job to see themselves fed and a roof over their head.
In Fairy Tail, they were family, and when one of them was involved in something dangerous, all of them were.
Fairy Tail would not abandon Natsu to handle this fateful task alone.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Here it is. The story comes to a close at last. And now I need your help.
I have no idea what to name the sequel, so I'm hoping you guys can offer me some suggestions in a review.
Hope you all enjoyed the journey.