This is a story that primarily follows Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia past the conclusion of the Tartaros arc. Written for nalu4emily & dragonballwish - Dragon Rage can also be found over on AO3/Archive of Our Own!
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 Dagon 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. He was to steal a certain book and bring it back to his father... and yet he had failed. The leader of Tartaros had been beaten, but the one pulling all the strings had slipped away, taking the book along with him. His rival 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 enemies and the strongest opponents he had ever encountered. He attempted lighting his palm to ignite a small flame, but nothing came out. Not even a spark.
The battle with the Underworld King had exhausted him and drained his energy. Without warning a pained cry was heard overhead and he glanced up. He saw the destructive monster, who had been battling his foster father, now missing an arm. The next sight before him though took away his breath completely. Igneel clutched one of his adversary's arms in his mouth, but paid the ultimate price for it in the end. 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 plummeted towards the earth at a rapid pace. Igneel slammed into the battered terrain as his tired eyes fell upon his son who was in the process of 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 than 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. He tried to figure out what to do. He needed Wendy! With 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 and 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 and 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 dead long ago. His soul had been stolen by the very monster in front of him. Even so he had to keep fighting for Natsu's sake. The crimson dragon 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 than 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. His senses stung though. He was in pain and he knew it would only get worse as time passed. Hearing some deep chuckling he looked up. Immedaitely 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. He refused to look at the source of his pride, but rather at the reason for his defeat. Natsu's eyes widened once 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 Natsu, I do not have much time left as I am sure you are well aware of.
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 a faint heartbeat. But where was it?
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 and he tried to deny what he was being told. Some 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 and he slowly began to push himself away from the scene. Unbeknownst to either of them, Acnologia now had the knowledge 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 once he realized that Acnologia knew what was going on the whole time. Before he could warn Natsu the black dragon acted. Swinging his sharp tail he struck the dragon slayer brutally across the side of his arm 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 pure black.
"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. 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 limped off into the darkening 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 fully registered. Bloodied fingers clutched dirt as he forced himself to power through the utter agony. His bruised body rolled itself over and 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. Thankfully his limbs were still intact and nothing seemed to be broke. 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 and he brought a few fingers up to dab his cheek - 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 grew into saucers as Natsu froze.
Igneel!
Thankfully his legs weren't all that banged up, so he was able to move around and track down the location that 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 though. 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. 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... gone. In an instant fire flared around the young dragon slayer as he became consumed by 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 pleaded while his heightened senses picked up 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. He didn't care about anything anymore. It meant nothing to him. Natsu stood and raised his head up into the sky before 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 own watery chocolate eyes fell upon the fallen fire dragon king. "I'm so sorry."
She could feel his muscular frame shake violently in her arms 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... and this time it was forever.
"I-Igneel..." Natsu stuttered and he finally succumbed to the truth. Once more landed he on his knees, dragging the blonde wrapped around him, down with him this time. She didn't mind the action and squeezed him harder as if trying to communicate to him that he was not alone in his grief. She was right there with him.
Lucy turned and buried her blurry eyes 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 while 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 surprising exception of herself. Finally giving into the day's tragedy, Lucy shed her own tears for both her own loss and Igneel as 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 and the small blue exceed flew up to them.
"Happy..." Lucy smiled slightly still with tear-filled eyes. She pulled him close and the cat 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! I know you can't be..." Natsu yelled needing to hear his confident wisdom just one more time.
She knew the dragon slayer was holding onto false hope. His mind was playing tricks on him and doing everything it could to distract and persuade him that his father hadn't kicked the bucket yet. But the smoking crater and mangled corpse proved that very thing.
"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 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 skin 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 the closest thing to him. His own partner.
"How could you say something like that? I know he's not gone!" Fire flew from his mouth and 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 her and a look of hurt flashed across those delicate 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 physical pain increased as he felt the full force of her slap.
"I do you idiot!" She yelled and grabbed his rough hands. She held onto them like 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. But 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 magic and helped us finish off 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 suddenly diminished.
"Leave me..." He stared at her blankly.
"Natsu. Are you okay?" Happy whispered and 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. Her hidden feelings be damned. Making sure he was mentally stable was a higher priority right now.
"Igneel may have been forced to depart from you, but Happy, the guild... they'll never leave you Natsu." She stated determinedly while 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
