In the once-thriving town of Magnolia, though calling it a town was a painful stretch, the aftermath of the war with the Alvarez Empire had left behind nothing but devastation and rubble. Even the iconic Fairy Tail guildhall, a symbol of hope and camaraderie, lay in ruins, shattered like the spirits of those who called it home. But amidst the desolation, an unexpected, malevolent force emerged—Acnologia, the self-proclaimed "Dragon King" and the harbinger of the apocalypse. His arrival during the invasion spelled doom for all who dared to challenge him, save for two lone survivors.
In the heart of the destruction stood the Dragneel brothers. One, the infamous Black Mage Zeref Dragneel, now ascended to a godlike form with the power of the Fairy Heart coursing through him, appeared unscathed, his emotions locked away behind a mask of stoicism. The other, Natsu Dragneel, the newly crowned Fire Dragon King and Etherious Natsu Dragneel, the most formidable creation of Zeref, bore the brunt of the battle's fury. His body, battered and bruised, oozed blood from countless wounds, his forehead streaming crimson. What weighed most heavily upon him, however, was his inability to harness his dragonic transformations. In this grim standoff, he was undeniably the weakest link.
"Accept it, Natsu," Zeref spoke with chilling detachment, "you are powerless now." His words carried a hint of melancholy, a testament to the twisted fate that bound these two brothers. Natsu's immortality, a curse incurred to resurrect his elder sibling, had ensnared him in a never-ending cycle of despair. Only Natsu could have ended this curse with his own hands.
"N-no... I'm not... a killer," Natsu replied, his voice trembling between labored breaths. Even as the embodiment of E.N.D., he clung to his unyielding moral code. He remained, above all else, a Fairy Tail wizard, and the guild's creed of sparing even the most vile enemies held sway over him. Their venerable master, Makarov Dreyar, a short and quirky figure with an unwavering commitment to these principles, had instilled in Natsu the belief that "today's enemies are tomorrow's friends."
"Stop deceiving yourself, Dragneel. You're a murderer, a monster, a demon!" Acnologia's voice thundered, charged with rage. He believed Natsu responsible for the deaths of their comrades, the impending world's end, and the very reason Igneel, the previous Fire Dragon King, had met his demise. With the newfound power of time manipulation, Acnologia intended to reshape history, ridding the world of dragons and seizing control with an iron grip. Yet, standing before him was Zeref, harboring similar time-warping abilities. Only one of them could alter the course of destiny.
The tension mounted, and Acnologia declared, "It's time to end this," as he prepared to unleash his devastating roar.
"I couldn't agree more," Zeref replied, his own magical energies crackling with destructive intent. Both unleashed their formidable forces, an amalgamation of death and life magic against the apocalyptic dragon slayer's might, reminiscent of the epic clash between Cell and Gohan's Kamehameha. Natsu could only gaze in disbelief at the overwhelming power these two juggernauts wielded.
"How can I even hope to fight back?" Natsu thought, his spirit wavering. He felt drained, his magical reserves exhausted. Yet, he couldn't stand idly by, watching their cataclysmic duel unfold. His mind raced through the faces of his fallen comrades: Gramps, Lucy, Happy, Gajeel, Erza, Wendy, and countless others who had perished in the war. With newfound determination, Natsu stood tall, preparing to contribute his own power.
"I won't let it end like this!" he cried out, unleashing his Fire Dragon King Mode, channeling his remaining strength into a defiant roar. "You may think I'm running out of power, but if I do, I'll borrow some from tomorrow!" With that, Natsu's fiery roar clashed with Zeref and Acnologia's titanic onslaught, engulfing everything in a blinding white light.
In the midst of the blinding brilliance, Natsu found himself in a void, his senses overwhelmed. Zeref's words echoed hauntingly in the emptiness. "Natsu, you may have won this skirmish, but you won't find what you seek. Time is a fickle thing, my little brother," Zeref whispered, tauntingly, though Natsu couldn't pinpoint the source of the voice before losing consciousness.
Year 783
Natsu awoke amidst the cool embrace of a forest, the distant echo of a scream still ringing in his ears. Racing toward the source of distress, he stumbled upon Lisanna and Mira, facing a perilous confrontation with their brother, Elfman. Without hesitation, Natsu lunged forward, delivering a single, decisive punch that felled Elfman. Lisanna and Mira stared in awe at this unexpected savior, amazed that he knew their location and could overpower their brother with a single blow, a feat Mira had struggled with in her Satan Soul form.
"Nat...su," the sisters exclaimed in unison, their disbelief evident. For Natsu, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. The blinding flash had transported them back to the year 783, a chance to rewrite their shared history. With newfound determination, Natsu called out within himself to Igneel, his guardian and mentor, who resided within him.
"Hey, Igneel, old man, I know you're in there! Answer me!" Natsu's voice quivered with desperation, but there was no response. Panic clawed at him as he remembered Zeref's cryptic words. In a fit of anguish, he screamed into the darkened sky, knowing that Igneel had vanished forever, leaving him alone in this altered timeline.
Thus, a new chapter began in Natsu's life, filled with uncertainty, resolve, and the burning desire to reshape destiny itself. Tears mixed with sweat on his face as he confronted the emptiness of a world without his mentor.