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!
Dedicated to: Aspartame Boy and Angel.
Thank you to everybody for your kind comments, favorites, and support. I appreciate it and look forward to writing more for this one!
Summary: With guidance from Lucy, Natsu accepts the reality that Igneel has passed on. The trio journey back to Fairy Tail and reunite with their friends only to be met with a shocking announcement from Master Makarov! One that threatens the very existence of the guild and begins to inwardly tear apart the overwhelmed dragon slayer.
Chapter 2: Shattered
Lucy couldn't help but be a little flustered after her adrenaline rush had ceased. She became well aware of her boldness as their exhausted figures continued to be wrapped around one another. Her feelings for the pink-haired man, currently in her arms, had slowly changed after every adventure they took on and faced together. What had started as a petite crush now blossomed into something much more. Unfortunately, she practically knew he would never return those same feelings since he was so oblivious to them in the first place. Pushing the negative thoughts aside, she ran her delicate fingers up and down his back, offering as much assurance as she could provide in his moment of dire need.
The fire dragon slayer was normally relaxed, no doubt about that, but even strong-willed warriors like himself could suffer pain. It had taken a while, but her best friend now found himself surrounded in sadness and it was up to her to save him from that eventual suffering. At least, Lucy took it upon herself to do so. She owed him that much, following his countless times of saving her, after all. The blonde was a little surprised at how long they stayed within the other's embrace. She saw Happy fly off his friend's shoulder and float in front of her eyes. He had that teasing grin across his face that you instantly knew what was coming. Eyes turning into daggers, and voice dropping with coldness, she warned the blue furball.
"Don't you dare."
Happy looked away and acted like he was unsure about what the girl was referring to. Feeling she was safe for now, Lucy sighed into his shoulder. The blonde could tell the exceed had just been trying to lighten the mood... but now wasn't the time for that. She could still feel his trembles and lightly heard his sobs, although he tried his best to conceal them. Reuniting with his dad had been his mission. It was the entire reason they met in Hargeon all those years ago in the first place. Lucy knew finding Igneel had always been the goal, and now that the crimson dragon was dead, no longer needing to be found... well she could only assume how lost he must feel inside.
"Natsu..." She whispered quietly hoping her voice could draw him back out from his crushed mind. Thankfully her plan worked as he acknowledged her by clutching her more tightly to him.
"Mhm?" He responded, almost sleepily. The day had really taken its toll on him and he was content at this point to just mourn himself to slumber in her arms.
"It's getting a little late. We should get back with the others, don't you think?" Lucy brought up as she noticed the sun was beginning to set.
"Yeah, I suppose so." He spoke nonchalantly not really caring but still agreeing with her statement.
"Alright." She nodded before frowning. She would love to stay cuddled up against him, but knew they really needed to get going and the only way to do that was for him to release her. "Do you mind letting go of me now?" She asked, although sadly.
Lucy felt him slightly jump out of surprise at her request. Lessening his grip on her, he allowed her to step out freely while mentioning a quiet, "Oh, yeah... sorry."
Giggling while saying something under her breath, she looked at him cutely and gave him his favorite smile. "It's fine. I know you needed that. Did I at least do a good job?" She questioned curiously while hoping her actions had somewhat helped ease his nerves on the whole ordeal.
"Huh?" Natsu turned his head, slightly confused at her comment. "Whatcha mean by that, Luce?"
"Yeah Lucy, what DID you mean by that?" Happy, back on his partner's shoulder, bombarded the two's discussion as he put his hands over his mouth and acted all mischievous.
"Shut it, cat!" She yelled at him, seething, before calming herself. "I just meant that I hope my support helped you with... this." She explained, waving her hand out in front and towards the deceased dragon.
"Oh..." Natsu mumbled with a frown reappearing before he replaced it with a slight smile. "Yeah, you did an excellent job. Thanks Luce." He replied as she saw the far away look within his dark orbs. Before she could say anything else, he was moving past her and back towards the corpse of his father.
"Natsu?" Happy worriedly called out, receiving no answer back.
"Give him a second, Happy." Lucy mentioned, realizing that he needed some final alone time with Igneel before they departed.
"Aye..." The exceed nodded solemnly as they both watched the pinkette drop to his knees in front of the fallen dragon.
"Dad?" Natsu asked, hope radiating in his eyes before vanishing. Despite basically soaking his best friend's shoulder with his tears, he couldn't help but shed a few more in front of the parent he had chased after for years. Finding Igneel had been his sole reason for joining the Fairy Tail guild. Now, and abruptly, his quest to seek out the fire dragon king had ended in a way he never would of expected. Not only had his father been literally hidden inside him this entire time, but not long after awakening he was killed off by Acnologia.
Lucy's words flooded his brain as he stared at the beheaded king. Igneel had already long ago died, but knowing he was murdered by the blood thirsty tyrant... it made his blood boil. Before he could voice his frustrations the dragon's body started to glow. In faint golden shades Igneel began to fade away.
"Wait! Wait, Igneel don't go!" Natsu shouted as he reached for his unresponsive father. His hand went through the ghost-like form and he hurriedly found his footing, not wanting to be looking down as the fire dragon slowly dissipated. Fire rolled off his fingers as he unconsciously summoned a fiery and electric inferno behind him.
"I will get stronger. I won't let anyone or anything else that I cherish fall! I promise you that as your son!" He stated determinedly.
Lucy and Happy watched on interestedly, and in relief as the brightness restored itself within the dragon slayer, overtaking the darkness. Her eyes went wide as she saw, and felt, the aura he had released.
"I will avenge you Igneel! I'll train like I never have before so when Acnologia and I meet again... I can kick his ass!" Natsu threw his head back and roared into the sky. The vortex behind him launching itself up into the heavens. The last of Igneel's golden corpse shined before disappearing forever.
Thanks for everything, dad.
Panting heavily, he turned around and gave his bewildered teammates a thumbs up. The pain would always be there, but Lucy was right. As long as he had his friends and the guild he could move on and come to terms that Igneel was eternally gone.
"What are you two slowpokes waiting for? Let's get a move on!" He cheerfully joked as they nodded, albeit slowly, and followed him.
They chatted on their way through the wasteland that was once known as Tartaros' Cube. Needing to take flight to get back to the rest of the guild, Natsu having already informed them that their friends' scents had departed from the floating island, Happy summoned his wings. Although he and Lucy soon began to bicker about weight. The cat teasingly brought up the fact he had to carry the two of them and how that was straining due to her heaviness. That remark proceeded to get his ear's blown out, thanks to her thunderous shriek, as she attempted to strangle the giggling exceed. Taking the easy way out, Natsu picked Lucy up bridal style in his arms, stunning her momentarily.
"We're burning daylight- well at least what's left of it." Natsu mentioned as barely any light was visible from the sky by then. "Time to get going, Happy."
"Aye sir!" Happy called out as he grabbed his friend's shoulders and carried them off the flying cube, all while laughing at the still sputtering blonde.
It was nightfall by the time they arrived in Magnolia. The smoking base of operations for Tartaros not only had been moving away from the town since the war had begun, but it was also plummeting. Literally plummeting as the Celestial Spirit King's strike had erased all the curses that the Cube held within it. Hence making it lose its air support and immobilizing it. Ironically, once they had flown out of the territory, it had floated over a vast ocean meaning it would eventually impact the water and sink.
Lucy was glad the opposition with Tartaros was over. Not only was it physically draining, but emotionally too. Natsu had obviously lost Igneel, and she, without anyone knowing, had lost Aquarius after a traumatic sacrifice. All so she could wield the power to summon the King and save her friends, and herself. Lucy was embarrassed originally after Natsu had scooped her up in his warm arms and they took into the skies. She quickly got over it though and relaxed into his chest, letting him hold her close. Little by little her previous thoughts of her best friend being dense were beginning to betray her.
She knew how much she meant to him, friend wise, and that it most likely was him just being protective of her since Igneel had been brutally stolen from him... but at the same time, Lucy couldn't resist the slight smile that appeared, brightening by the second with hope. She easily noticed how tight he held her and how he consistently would bury his nose in her hair, as if making sure she was still there and hadn't left him too. It broke her heart to see him like this. Someone who rarely showed weakness, unless it was a moving object of course, was in total unrest. Her life was already full of chaos and suffering, but Lucy truly was beginning to see a different, secret if you will, side of Natsu Dragneel. He had been horrified when her future self was killed back in the Eclipse debacle and now here he was having to battle the reality that his father was gone. Never again would he see the dragon he dreamed of reconciling with. All he had were those few precious minutes and then he was once more left behind.
Just when he got him back too... it all seems so unfair.
Her heart ached not only for herself and Aquarius, but for Igneel and Natsu. She would of have plenty of time to mourn, and plenty of friends to go to in addition... but Natsu? He would have Happy and her, and that was practically it. His guy friends were unlikely to see his pain like she could and she fully believed he would try and hide his nightmares from the rest of the world. It was his nature. It's who he was. Natsu wasn't supposed to be held down by struggles or hold doubt. He always conquered it. Whether that be fighting it head on or turning things into piles of ashes, that was the mentality. Lucy chuckled inside at that, but couldn't help but still be concerned.
What if this is a battle Natsu can't win?
Beyond exhausted and seeing they still had a little ways to go, she nestled herself closer against him and closed her eyes sleepily. Lucy headed off into a dream land, one where she had no worries and her feelings for him were in the open. Not needing a reason to be locked away.
During Lucy's thoughts, and unbeknownst to her, Natsu was having his own inner turmoil flaring about. His complications were so vast, but at the same time so narrow. The dragon slayer couldn't decide on whether to be enraged about Acnologia killing his father, worried about losing his friends, or more specifically terrified by the thought of losing Lucy. No descriptions, that he was aware of, could help him understand what he was going through. He thought back to his mock battle with Gildarts on Tenrou Island and how the S-Class wizard showed him what fear was.
Could it be that?
Flashes of a dark spiral and shadowy blade crossed his vision as he reached out for it, only to fail to catch it. It went right on by him and hit its target, one Lucy Heartfilia. Only, not the Lucy it was intended for. Similarly to how he failed to get the book of E.N.D like Igneel requested, he failed to catch the dagger that took away her future self. Instinctively a memory of Lucy's lifeless state formed in his mind and he held the girl in his arms more tightly. He buried his nose into her thick golden locks and inhaled her scent, needing clarification she was still with him. Even though he had enough trouble in his brain as he already did, Natsu couldn't help but wonder what this new sensation was that for some reason circled around the blonde so intensively.
Lately he was seeing her in a different light. Something that he had zero idea what it could be. Obviously he would do everything in his power to make sure she was safe, along with the rest of his guild. Strangely though this foreign mindset expanded further than just her being one of his guildmates. He didn't care for his partner like he would say, Erza, Mirajane, or Lisanna. They were all obviously his friends... but she was different. Lucy was, well he was unsure, but he knew she held some type of of specialness to him. Like she was some secret treasure of his. This brewed more frustration inside about Igneel's death as one of his main priorities once the war ended, after reuniting of course, was to discuss this matter with his father. Now with that idea extinguished, Natsu faced confusion with no answers... and despite his best friend's promise, he felt stranded on an island all alone.
Natsu watched her carefully as realized she had been rather quiet the entire way back. He hoped nothing was troubling her, but couldn't shake something she said in the past. Something about him not being the only one to face tragedy that night.
I miss you dad. I know you can't hear me, but I just hope you're proud of who I have become. I swear on my life... I will protect Fairy Tail and all my friends. Most importantly, I'll make sure to protect those closest to me.
"We're here." Natsu whispered into her ear, waking her as they touched down onto the ground. She felt him place her back on her two feet and noticed him looking at her curiously as she adjusted from former drowsiness.
"You snored like a wild beast!" Happy announced and she swatted at him annoyedly.
"I did not, you stupid cat!" Lucy retorted before walking ahead of them, only to stumble forward. Before she could hit the ground, however she was swept back up into Natsu's arms. His dark eyes were full of concern. Her right ankle was a light purple and she figured she must have sprained it during her battle with Jackal and the rest of those demons.
"Easy Luce. You must of hurt yourself more than you thought." He summarized and she pouted before looking away embarrassed. "Don't worry I don't mind carrying you." He added a little amused at her antics.
"He likes you~" Happy sang out before he was picked up in the air by his bag and tossed onto the blonde's chest. Gathering his bearings, he flew off her and glared at the now chuckling mage.
"That was mean you jerk!"
"Did you hear something, Luce?" Natsu asked.
"I thought I did, but nothing is there?" Lucy replied while playing along.
"Must of been a ghost." He teasingly announced.
"Perhaps we imagined it?" She added jokingly.
"You all are bullies!" Happy wailed as he flew off into the night sky. They watched him go before they continued to walk in silence.
"Maybe we went too far?" Lucy questioned after a little while.
"Na, he'll get over it. I bet he wanted to go late night fishing or something."
Happy had landed them further outside of Magnolia than they realized and with their wounds they weren't able to move as fast as they would of liked. While being carried, Lucy constantly glanced up at his face studying him. He noticed her frequent stares, but ignored it until he no longer could take it.
"Okay, what's up?" He asked out of the blue.
"Huh?" She slightly shifted in his hold as his voice surprised her, pulling her from own thoughts.
"You keep looking at me like something is troubling you." Natsu explained. "Everything okay?"
"Oh... no I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about." She revealed.
In more ways then one.
"Why are you worried about me?"
"Well for starters, your injuries silly." Lucy pointed out as her right hand came up and gently caressed his battle-scarred cheek. The same one that Igneel had misjudged and clawed while trying to prevent his son from being caught in the black dragon's blast.
"Don't worry about it, Luce." He waved her worries aside. "I'm alright. I'm a dragon slayer remember? I'll heal and be as good as new."
"Those scars are deep..." She mentioned and her fingers delicately traced the marks before accidentally brushing one of the cuts. She saw his features wince. "Sorry!"
"It's cool. They're from Igneel." He divulged and recapped the final events that led up to where she found him. Lucy was grateful, despite him striking Natsu, that the fire dragon king was able to shield her friend from a majority of Acnologia's attack. She didn't even want to think about what might of happened to him had he taken it fully. Her eyes trailed down to his right arm, which she could barely see from her position, but she could see the dried blood still present. That arm definitely had seen better days. Natsu caught on to where her eyes had gone to and he simply shrugged.
"Damage done afterwards from being so close to his spell."
"You need healed, Natsu." Lucy's eyes lit up and she looked at him full of determination.
"Yeah, I was planning on going to Wendy-" He began before a finger across his lips silenced him.
"Nope. It's late and I bet they all have already returned home. Let's go to my apartment since we're close and I can treat you." She stated while ignoring the fluttering feelings inside her chest. His lips were radiating warmth. "Maybe if you behave and don't destroy the place, I'll let you stay the night." She added with a teasing smirk.
"Hey! I always..." He started defending himself before laughing at his exceed's missed opportunity. "Happy is gonna be so jealous I got to sleep on your comfy cloud and he didn't."
Lucy sighed at his childishness. They shared small talk the rest of the way back and enjoyed the other's presence. Since he was carrying her, Natsu actually went through the door this time, like a normal person!
"Not the window?" Lucy asked shell-shocked.
"How else would I have gotten you in here, dummy." Natsu chuckled as he once more set her down. She gingerly limped over to her bedroom before stopping at the door handle.
"I'm gonna grab the kit so I can patch you up. Be back in a second!" She called out before opening and then closing the door behind her.
"Yeah, yeah take your time." He nodded offhandedly as he strolled over to her fridge. With a greedy smile he opened it and initiated his raid.
Grimacing, he could feel the bandages done to his shoulder threatening to give out. Lucy had done a marvelous job fixing him up, at least what she could do without healing magic, but his arm was still sore. Meanwhile for her, thanks to her Spirit friends, her sprained ankle had carefully begun to right itself and she could now walk at a light pace and not stumble.
"Easy Natsu. Keep your arm relaxed or you'll tear it." She explained and he, albeit stubbornly, slowed his movements whilst growling under his breath.
"Damn bandages..."
"Hey, don't be that way!" She grinned pulling him along this time. "We're almost to the guild and then Wendy can finish up. Speaking of, I hope Levy and the others are already there!"
Lucy, while thrilled to see her friends, forgot about her own injuries and increased her speed only to let out a little hiss as she toppled over. Once again Natsu refused to let her hit the ground as he reached his arms out and caught her firm figure with ease.
"Gotcha. What was that about being easy, mhm?" He mocked her previous statement. In return she hit his uninjured shoulder and pouted.
"I got carried away..." She mumbled, trying to pry herself out of his grip.
"Stay." He voiced out softly. Lucy was caught off guard by his sudden gentleness.
"Your shoulder though-"
"Don't worry about it. Wendy is gonna heal it anyways, so who cares?" He brushed her concerns elsewhere deciding to focus on her state instead. "She's working on you first thing though."
Lucy went to argue but the serious look in his eyes stopped her protests. "Okay." She nodded and they got back going. The guild entrance, or well what was left of it, could be seen from afar.
During the war, a demon who went by the name Seilah, had taken control of Elfman's mind and ordered him to blow up the guild hall using her lacrima bomb. The plan was to kill all of the Fairy Tail wizards present, but thanks to quick thinking by Cana, she prevented Elfman from annihilating everyone. The same could not be said though for their beloved building. It was sadly reduced to a pile of rubble. With no place to hide they decided to take the fight to Tartaros. Thus Natsu, Lucy, and the rest flew to the Cube and raged war with the final dark guild of the Balam Alliance.
They soon arrived and were surprised to see nearly the entire guild either standing up and chatting, or sitting down and looking up at the sky. It was a few hours past noon as Lucy allowed them both to sleep in since they were worn out after coming home last night.
"Natsu!" Hearing his name get called he quickly set the girl in his arms down and turned around. Instantly the dragon slayer was knocked off his feet by the blue cat that flew into him. "I'm sorry for getting upset and flying off!"
"It's okay lil buddy!" He smiled and gave him a few pats on the head.
"Hey Flamebrain!" Another voice made his presence as he looked up and noticed Gray standing off to the side. Erza, Wendy, and Carla were behind him.
"Yo stripper!" His kind smile morphed into a smug expression as the two rivals ran up and charged each other.
"You look like you need to cool off pyro!"
"Oh yeah? Bring it on frosty! I've been needing something to melt these past few hours." Fire and ice clashed as the two spiky haired men went at one another, pulling their fists back, only to get picked up from behind and slammed against one another, painfully.
"No more fighting you hooligans!" Erza ordered. "Am I clear?"
"He started it-" They both said in unison before her menacing glare fell upon them.
"I said, am I clear?" Her voice boomed.
"Aye!" Grabbing each other's arm they pretended to bond and Erza nodded proudly.
"Works every time." She smiled while Lucy sweat dropped.
I don't think it does...
"It's good to see you, Lucy." Erza threw her friend into her breastplate which instantly gave the blonde a headache.
"You too, Erza..." She whined and was released, rubbing her now sore head.
"I apologize. I forgot how hard my armor is." The knight giggled to herself making Lucy believe that was done on purpose for once.
I'm getting the Natsu treatment now!
"Master is planning to make an announcement soon." Erza revealed causing Lucy to perk up.
"An announcement?"
"Yes, I am rather curious to what it could be. Perhaps the mayor is lending us money again to rebuild the guild hall." She tried theorizing as she too was wondering what the wise man had to say.
"We might as well start rebuilding right now!" Natsu cheered as he grabbed a few pieces of broken wood and began to run about.
"Careful Natsu, I just healed you!" Wendy exclaimed.
"Yeah, let's get an early start to make the old man proud!" Gray added as other men in the guild joined the duo and helped them work on the first wall.
"Gihi, I'll assist you guys later." Gajeel said while biting down on a bolt.
"Those aren't for you moron!" The ice-make mage shouted as he grabbed the rest that had been thrown around on the floor.
"Lu!" Lucy heard someone trying to get her attention and turned, just in time, to see dark blue hair before she was pulled in for a hug.
"Levy! I'm so happy to see you!"
"Right back at ya! How are you feeling?" The bluenette asked.
"I've seen better days that's for sure." She lightly chuckled as the two began chatting the day away.
Some time had passed as they successfully managed to build a majority of the first wall. Elfman had been a large contributor since he had the frame for this type of job, but also was feeling miserable and being the one to wreck the guild hall in the first place.
"Man, we told you it isn't your fault." Gray spoke trying to make him feel better but to no avail.
"I know I just..." He trailed off as he continued to hammer in nails across the boards. Knowing he did his best, he turned to his rival who was looking off into the distance, as if distracted by something.
Gray had remembered during the end of their original battle, the one before they went up against Mard Geer, that Acnologia had arrived... and so did a crimson dragon that could breathe fire. He also recalled seeing a flaming sphere shoot up into the sky at one point and reach the fire dragon. He put two and two together and assumed it had been Natsu and his father, Igneel. The one he had been searching for this entire time... and the one he and the rest of the guild, back when they children, teased him endlessly about. Not seeing the conflicted slayer's issues clearly he decided on riling him up to snap him out of his lost state. Only the snap he got in return was one he never would have expected.
"So what'd Igneel do, huh? Did he flee once he realized how stupid his kid is?" Gray chuckled. In record seconds the cool breeze that was around them was overrun by a powerful aura of heat. He heard two people cry out behind him as his taunt was louder than he meant it to be.
"What did you just say?" Natsu's eyes landed on him as his eerily quiet voice rang out. Gray instinctively took a step back.
"Gray!" Lucy shouted at him and made her way over. "What were you thinking!" She stepped in between them, separating the two incase another brawl broke out. This one being for real and not over some petty argument.
"Huh?" He asked in complete confusion.
"Gray, that the worst possible thing you could of said at this time!" Lucy chastised as she tried to ignore the rising temperature behind her. Forcing herself to push through she caught his gaze and her voice turned to steel. "Acnologia killed Igneel."
Gasps could be heard all around the wrecked grounds as many eyes went wide or softened. The ice wizard had unknowingly hit a sore spot and now was about to pay for it.
The other dragon slayers, Wendy and Gajeel in particular, had already said goodbye to their dragon parents after the end of the war. Like Igneel, they too faded away back into the sky, but at least their death was one of peace... unlike the king of the fire dragon's. Recognizing his mistake, Gray cursed under his breath and he glanced up into flaming eyes that were full of frustration and anger.
"Natsu, I'm so-"
"Ah, thank you all for being gathered here." A voice familiar to them all interrupted. Fairy Tail's own Guildmaster approached them as the time for the announcement had come.
"Master!" They cheered out, completely forgetting about what had been about to go down. Erza helped the short man be seen better as he stood on one of the spare barrels they had laying around.
"I am thankful that all my children are alright." Makarov nodded to himself as he looked at each and every one of them. All were bruised, but each scar told of a different story, a different battle, a different ending.
"We're glad you're safe too Master!" Many of the guild eagerly responded.
"You don't need to keep calling me that anymore children. Just call me Makarov from here on out." His calm demeanor was somewhat frightening to some and Erza quickly latched onto the real meaning of his words.
"Master...?" She stuttered as her eyes went wide, the signs were suddenly clear. He met her eyes and shook his head.
"From this day forward... Fairy Tail will be no more. I am disbanding it." That bombshell being dropped took most guild members by surprise. Mest, the magic council infiltrator, seemed to be the only one not taken back. Almost like he saw this day coming one way or another. Either that or the teleporter had already been told.
"What!" Outcries went all across ground zero as the information became comprehensible. "You can't close the guild down!"
"I have already made up my mind. We will not rebuild. I appreciate those who started reconstruction, but I am afraid this is the end." He confirmed.
Without warning a loud crash shook the foundations of the wall. It was then blasted through by a flaming fist, completely destroying all their progress in one fluid motion.
"So after all that... everything we fought for... we're just gonna call it quits?" The heart of their guild shouted out as he suddenly felt sick to his stomach.
This can't be happening! Not now!
"Natsu..." Makarov's authority-like tone descended and he acknowledged him somberly. He was one of the few that had actually seen the final moments of the dragon duel from afar and was aware of the outcome.
The fire dragon slayer felt like his world was self-destructing. Igneel's tragedy being the catalyst that opened a black hole of suffering, one now that was being widened by Makarov's selfish decisions himself.
"Like hell it is!" He exclaimed. "I won't let you destroy what I promised to protect!" Natsu challenged as he ignited his hands and stared Makarov down. The old man was torn as he tried to settle on what approach was best.
"I saw what happened between him and Acnologia." He spoke out to the broken mage, whose eyes narrowed in response, and he decided avoiding the dragon's name all together. "I am sorry he was taken from you so soon Natsu, but this opens a new path for you to journey out on. It's time to let go."
The guild interestedly watched as the fire died out from around their friend and he backed down. He never had surrendered. His spiky locks fell down, shielding his eyes from the rest of the world, as they listened to his temper break out.
"What happened... is done with." He bitterly forced out, growling in the process as he went on. "I promised my dad I would save everything that matters the most to me. So Gramps, how the hell do you expect me to forget about everything I have accomplished here? All the memories I have made here! That we have made!"
"It's going to be hard my boy but I have faith you can persevere. We all do." Makarov said as he walked up to the fire mage and saw many heads nod in agreement. "Ultimately, that begins with you accepting it is time to move on from here."
He gave him a pat on his shoulder, anticipating to see the man's signature smile, but instead received an infuriated glare. He pulled away from the Guildmaster and the temperature from his heat skyrocketed. He finally had reached his boiling point.
"Cool yourself down hothead." Gray attempted to distract his rival's thoughts, but stopped at the penetrating dagger from Lucy's eyes. He knew deep down he had already screwed up and he would only make things worse if he continued.
"I know this isn't what you want to hear, Natsu. I don't like it either, but this is a chance for you to try something you've never done before. The possibilities are endless." Erza walked over and whispered encouragingly. She saw him literally shaking and attempted to reach out to him only to recall her hand after his scorching touch left her burned.
He turned and looked at those gathered around him that he cherished. The guild was his family. Nothing meant more to him then knowing they were all safe. "After everything we've been through, you're all just going to walk away?" He venomously spoke. His coldness filled some with regret and others uncertainty. Despite the tension one woman in particular found the courage to answer him.
"We all have a life to live Natsu. We can't just try and hold on to something that is clearly no longer available to us." Cana countered, knowing her response was on the harsh side, but what else could they do? "We're mages... guilds close down every day. Let's be happy we got to make the most of these times, yeah?" She attempted to cheer him up and lighten the mood as she raised a tankard.
His eyes, now glowing with a tiny red dot in the center of his pupil, froze her in place. The dragon slayer no longer emitted a feeling of warmth. Rather, his heat felt chilly as if the flames were far away and distanced. Those same angered orbs landed on the sixth master of Fairy Tail as his head turned sharply.
From behind Natsu, Lucy's loyalties collided desperately. As a member of Fairy Tail she willingly followed Makarov's orders and did whatever he said. As Natsu's best friend though she was the one that understood him the most. She knew exactly how broken he currently was. Now Lucy felt trapped as she watched her friend's sanity rapidly deteriorate. She had been the one to promise Fairy Tail would always be there for him... and now it wasn't going to be.
"Why are you doing this Gramps?" He lashed out and everyone present could feel the anger in his tone. "Igneel was the reason I came here! Now that he's dead why are you making the guild, all of my remaining family... go with him!" His eyes teared up as his mind clashed between confusion and fury. He needed answers or he would inevitably blow.
"Trust me, Natsu. This was not an easy decision to make and the reasonings behind it are far too complicated for you to understand. It's safer this way. I promise you, shutting down Fairy Tail is for the best."
That was the final straw as those words hurt more then the constant sting from the scars represented across his cheek.
"For us, or for you?" Natsu darkly declared while doing the only thing he ever knew how to do since a child when facing issues. He turned and ran. What he was running from he wasn't entirely sure, however Natsu knew he had to... it was the only way to escape the pain that now followed and attempted to consume him.
A/N: So... Natsu is in a lot of pain. As would be expected from someone who just lost their father and their guild within a single day. Now it's up to Lucy to mend her broken dragon slayer and maybe release some grief of her own that she has hid away.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
Up Next: Chapter 3 - Scattered
