Chapter 4: Reunion and Farewell

Meanwhile, on the moving Cube, a.k.a Tartaros territory:

The Face bombs start denote in various areas, slowly removing magic, but in the nick of time, the Dragon parents, Icigoneal, Stardast, Grandeeney, Metalicana, Weissolgia, and Skiadrum, all zoom in and destroy the face bombs one-by-one. Meanwhile, Igneel fights Acnologia, head-to-head out in the skies.

"E.N.D is no longer a threat you fear, Acnologia, so leave the humans alone!" Igneel demands.

"Fear, you say? Ha! Why would I fear those abominations from Zeref's book? I am the King of Dragon's, Acnologia." He declares.

"You were once human too..." Igneel knows, "I won't let Natsu and the rest of them become like you!"

"The only thing that desires me is to see this entire world destroyed." Acnologia merely replies and goes on to attack him again, "It's DESTRUCTION!"

After destroying some face bombs, Icigoneal notices Igneel soaring up and fighting Acnologia from a long distance, "You guys, I have a favor to ask."

"What?" Metalicana asks.

"You guys mind destroying the rest of the face bombs? I'll go and assist Igneel in taking down acnologia." Icigoneal replies and plans to do.

"I don't know, Igneel seems to have it under control." Grandeeny replies and notices the fight from their distance.

"Not to mention it'd be more of an interference to him anyway..." Stardest adds.

"That won't be. It'll be even better if we gang up on that lizard and finally put an end to him." Icigoneal replies.

"Hmmm, he has a point." Weissolgia kinda gets it.

"Let Icigoneal do it. Our bodies don't have much time left so let's make the best of it and give it all we got." Skiadrum doesn't mind and the dragon's come to an agreement.

"Thanks." Icigoneal flies off, "Their fight sure is far away. Just hope I make it on time." He thought, leaving the other dragon's to destroy the faces.

Meanwhile, Igneel and Acnologia continue clashing, strike-after-strike and blow-after-blow, until Acnologia smashes Igneel toward the ground, and then proceeds to pin him down, crushing the ground beneath them in process from the impact, "It's over, Flame Dragon king." Acnologia proceeds to finish him, but out of nowhere... An Ice Dragon roar rams right into the black dragon's head, sending him flying and right off of Igneel.

"Hmm?!" The dragon king exclaims and recovers from the attack, wondering who did that.

"Where'd that come from?" Natsu watches form the ground and wonders.

"Ice?" Gray noticed.

"That Ice..." Igneel guesses in surprise and recognizes.

"You seem to be having major problems down there, Igneel!" Icigoneal appears, flying in the sky and joins the battle.

"Icigoneal!" Igneel exclaims in surprise at him being here.

"An ice dragon?!" Gray says in surprise.

"Gems come to help Igneel." Natsu figures

"I know that's not you're best, flame-brain!" Icigoneal grins.

"I've sleeping for a long time. Ice breath!" Igneel grins and taunts back, getting up as well.

"They seem to have a rivalry." Sting guesses.

"It looks that way a hundred percent." Rogue agrees and they sweat-drop.

"Heh, all of us dragons were, but it doesn't mean we can't thrash and kill this lizard off." Icigoneal replies to igneel before turning his sights towards the dragon king, who does the same thing as well.

"If it isn't the Ice Dragon king himself." Acnologia speaks, "You're one step away from your grave as well."

"You took the words right out of my mouth." Icigoneal rebukes back, "You're free to rest, Igneel. I'll take it from here, especially since you gave him quite the damage, which makes it easier."

"Ha! An inferior dragon has no right to talk big!" Acnologia flies towards him and Icigoneal does the same, which they butt heads into each other, before clashing and exchanging blows for a minute. Icigoneal punches the black dragon with an Ice diamond fist, but Acnologia easily recovers and rams him back, sending him flying back a bit.

"Even though he fought Igneel, he's still evenly matched with me." Icigoneal though while flying.

"Icigoneal!" Igneel shouts, "Don't interfere, I'm stilling gonna fight him alone."

"What? Are you crazy?! You already done that and look where it got you!" Icigoneal shouts back at him with a mad look, "In you're condition, there is no way in hell that you're taking him alone a second time!"

"Igneel! I'm coming to help too!" Natsu rushes on the ground and looks up at their sky battle.

"You stay there too!" Igneel warns Natsu as well, "You'll get caught in the crossfire."

"I don't care!" Natsu still insists, "If we join forces, he doesn't stand a chance!"

Icigoneal looks down and notices natsu running, "Isn't that your child, Igneel?" He guesses and can tell, "One thing's for sure, he's right... Acnologia can't take all of us at the same time. We'll gang up on him and finish him for good.

"I was waiting for this moment. To kill Acnologia with my own two hands..." Igneel flies at the black dragon on his last breath.

Ignoring Icigoneal, Acnologia comes at Igneel as well and by the time the clash and fly through each other, Igneel rips off his right arm, while Acnologia does something even worse... he rips igneel's chest in half.

The sight of this Shocks Natsu and Icigoneal.

With Igneel's dying breath, "Natsu... I've been watching you all this time... you really grew up... The days I've spent with you... have been the happiest days of my life... you have me the power to love humans."

Acnologia then fired and hits igneel with a dragon roar, vaporizing the Fire Dragon king and he crashes to the ground, dead.

"Igneel!" Natsu and Icigoneal exclaim in shock.

Upon seeing his long-time rival killed, "Bastard!" Icigoneal fires an Ice roar at Acnologia, who counters with his own roar. The two roars collide and cause an explosion, shockwaves sent out.

The smoke clears, Icigoneal flies and looks around for Acnologia, seeing him nowhere, "Where is he?" He then sees Acnologia already at a far distance, retreating out of sight, "Darn, he used that smoke as cover to bail out here, knowing he couldn't handle another fight with his arm ripped off." He says under his breath, but lets it be.

He looks down at Igneel's dead body and gives him a moment of silence before flying down with the other dragons in front of the fairy tail guild.

As the Dragon slayers reunite with their foster dragon parents, it's revealed that they are already half-dead, all because of Acnologia. They hid inside their childrens' bodies to prevent them from Dragonifying.

With that truth revealed and as they foster parents talk with their children, Icigoneal looks around and notices that Setasuke is not among them, same with Stardust, who notices Alvin not being there either, "Wait a minute..." "That's strange..."

Grandeeny notices the two searching next to her, "Both your kids aren't here, are they?"

"Apparently not, which is very surprising." Icigoneal sighs.

"You're not the only one. The same goes with mine." Stardast said with a gaze.

"Hold on, you two have dragon slayers under you as well?" Sting asks the Ice and Star dragon.

"That's right." Icigoneal nods, "It's Setasuke Ryuta." He reveals.

"And mines is Alvin Zaville." Stardest adds, making Sting and Rogue perk up at hearing their names, "I'm guessing you other dragon slayers haven't met them yet?"

"Nope, we never heard of them either." Gajeel and the other slayers shakes their heads.

"What type of element do they have?" Wendy asks.

"He's an Ice Dragon Slayer." Icigoneal reveals.

"Star Dragon Slayer." Stardest too.

"Hold on..." Rogue speaks up.

"We know those two!" Sting finishes getting glances from them all.

"Really?" Icigoneal expresses some surprises

"Say what?!" Stardest's surprised, almost dramatically.

"Yeah, we went on a mission with those two, not too long ago." Rogue explains.

"Sure did and going by characteristics alone, Setasuke's smug attitude did a great job at annoying me..." Sting rubs his head in mention.

"You egged him on remember? He was even close to taking your head off." Rogue reminds, causing Sting to scoff in embarrassment, "On the other hand, I was surprised that Alvin was a dragon slayer, despite his carefree nature."

"Figured as much..." Stardest said, "Right now, he should be the same age as you." He looks down at Wendy, who's surprised to hear that.

"Speaking that, it's time to go and see them while we have the chance." Ichigoneal states to the Star dragon.

"Agreed." Stardest nods, "We already know where they are so it'll be easy for them to sense us automatically. He tells the other dragons and their children before the two dragons fly and leave to where Setasuke/Alvin are.

"Off they goes." Weissolgia sees them off from a distance.

In the forest, near the guildhall:

Setasuke and Alvin felt the same feeling in their stomachs as the other dragon slayers.

"Alvin?!" Ryan runs over and checks on him.

"What's wrong, Setasuke?!" Hiouis checks on him as he kneeled.

"What are you two laying on the ground for?" Limmjow appears, along with Illyana, Clesspin, Jetoal, Katuro, Geras, the ferrer siblings, Yomei, and Merena.

"Is it some kind of tummy ache?" Jetoal wonders.

"Setasuke..." Illyana runs over immediately to check on him like Hiouis.

"This feeling..." The ice slayer mutters and immediately recognizes who it is, much to his surprise, as he hadn't sensed him in years.

"It's him..." Alvin trails, same way.

"Icigoneal!"

"It's Stardest!"

The Ice dragon and Star dragon themselves flies down and appears right before them.

"Woah..." Hiouis widens his eyes at the dragon.

"Two dragons?!" Clesspin widens in surprise and amazement.

"This is a first..."Geras utters.

"It sure is..." Katuro agrees.

"Wow..." Merena and Yomei widen in surprise too.

"What...!" Limmjow widens.

"They do exist...!" Jetoal too.

"So these must be..." Ronin trails.

"The dragons that you two were trying to find all this time." Rin finishes.

"Icigoneal..." Setasuke doesn't know how to express himself at seeing his foster father.

"Stardest..." Same with Alvin.

"I'm glad you're doing well, Setasuke." Icigoneal smiles.

"Same to you, Alvin." Stardest said, "It's great to see you again, kid."

"The Star dragon and Ice Dragon King..." Hiouis mutters in surprise, "The parents of these two..."

"Shocking, right?" Ryan agrees.

"You all must be there companions." Icigoneal gazes at the rest of the Arkobolos guild, "I appreciate you all looking out for them."

"And for being friends." Stardust adds.

"It's... our pleasure." Illyana speaks up, "We're glad to have them as members of the guild." She smiles.

"What she said." Katuro adds.

"Hmph, whatever..." Limmjow looks away, hands in pockets, but is elbowed on the arm by Rin.

"Don't even think about it..." She mumbles.

"Having sparing matches with them is the best!" Clesspin raises his fist.

"Same here!" Ronin too.

With a couple seconds of silence, "Icigoneal..." Setasuke speaks up.

"Hmm?" The Dragon listens.

"Where have you been all this time?!" Setasuke demands answers with a mad look, "I was searching for you all this time ever since you abandoned me! What's you're reason for doing that to me, huh?!"

"Setasuke..." Hiouis and Illyana mutters, never seen him angry like this, same with their guild mates.

"This is a first..." Clesspin inwardly trails.

"Guess we can't blame him for getting uptight like this." Geras thought.

"Setasuke was searching for this ice dragon for a long time... same with Alvin and the Star dragon." Katuro adds in mind.

"I would like to know too... Stardest." Alvin speaks to his yellow dragon, "Is there a reason why you left us on that day? On July the 7th of X777?"

The dragons are silent for several seconds before replying, "It wasn't because I abandoned you two." Icigoneal states.

"Then what was?" Setasuke asks.

Icigoneal then starts explaining the truth, "All this time, we were actually inside each of you, to prolong our lives."

"Inside us?" Alvin was surprised and widens his eyes.

"You guys can do that?" Yomei voices.

"Amazing..." Jetoal trials.

Stardust nods, "Us, dragons, went inside you, dragon slayers, in order to prevent the dragon seeds inside you all from dragonifying into a monster like Acnologia. It was also to prolong our lives."

"Acnologia?" Rin narrows a brow.

"Who could that be?" Geras wonders.

"That guy?!" Setasuke is shocked to here that name, "I ran into him before!"

"Really? When exactly?" Stardust and Icigoneal want to know.

"It was a few hours ago after we finished a mission." Hiouis explains, "He appeared before us and sensed dragon slaying magic in Setasuke, even wanted to kill him, but three allies from other guilds held him off and died, all in order for setasuke to escape." He adds, a little sad by it.

"I see." Icigoneal feels sorry for that.

"Well we're glad you were able to get away, Setasuke-San." Alvin expresses relief.

"Yeah... especially if he was that dangerous." Illyana too.

Setasuke is silent for a little before understanding, "Dragon seeds huh. So that's why you hide yourself inside of us... to stop us from turning to a dragon and to extend your life."

"So that's why we could never find you guys, no matter how hard we tried..." Alvin understands.

"Yes... and it's also because Acnologia killed off our souls with his dragon slaying magic, leaving us in a half-dead state." Icigoneal adds to it.

"What?!" Setasuke and Alvin are shocked to hear that, so are the rest.

"It's only a matter of time before we go, especially now that we can't re-enter your bodies." Stardest says the bad news, "So this is the last and final time... we'll ever communicate."

"No way..." Merena mutters.

"That can't be..." Illyana trails.

"W-W-Wait a minute...!" Alvin steps up, already not liking this at all, "We've been searching for a long time to find you two... and now..." He voice starts to break, "You're gonna... leave again?!" Tears form in his eyes.

"..." Stardest gazes, but then smiles warmly, "That may be the case... but I'll always be with you, and watching from above." He adds, "I can tell just that you've gotten stronger since being with these people, you friends..." He adds again with encouragement, "Even if I'm not here... you still have a family right here, to cherish you and help you get more stronger..." He looks to Setasuke next, "And I thank you, Setasuke, for training him."

Hearing this, Alvin rubs the tears off his eyes as Merena and Yomei comfort him. Ryan hops on his shoulder in addition to comfort his best friend.

"..." Setasuke glances at the Star dragon and nods a little, before gazing down for a few seconds... and gazes up with a serious glare, "Icigoneal..." with a determined/mad expression, "I promise... that I'll train hard, and to kill Acnologia, one of these days and without rest." He pumps his encased ice fists together and they shatter, "Whatever it takes, I'll freeze him hell of a new one."

"Wow, setasuke..." Hiouis and Illyana are surprised by his declaration.

"After finishing in wiping his small tears, "Me too..." Alvin gazed at Stardest, determined like his ice slayer senpai, "I'll work on getting stronger from here too. I promise, Stardest." He states firmly.

Icigoneal and Stardest both grin as they're pleased to hear this before the former advises, "Against that lizard, you'll have to train rigorously to different heights to stand a chance against him."

"He's the most powerful dragon in the world." The latter adds.

"You got it." Setasuke nods.

"Right." Alvin too, both tightening their fists.

The dragon's whole bodies starts to glow, "Looks like time is up." Icigoneal looks at himself before saying this, "You've gotten stronger as well, Setasuke. I watched from inside you when you fought that earth dragon and defeated it, along with your companions." He praises, "You'll definitely surpass me one day." He smiles, which the ice slayer cracks a smile to and nods firmly.

"We also hope that you two meet the rest of your fellow dragon slayers." Stardust adds.

"You got it." Alvin nods.

The dragons then raises and prepare to depart, same with the other dragon parents, who are also departing and gives their children some final words.

"It was great being with you, Setasuke." Icigoneal smiles, his final words.

"Same to you, Alvin." Stardust smiles to in final words, "Love ya, kid."

"I love you too, Stardust!" Alvin yells out, tears in eyes.

"Likewise, Father." Setasuke nods and smiles back, shedding a tear from his right eye before they all watch as the dragons disappears away.

After the final farewell:

In their apartment, "So, where are we headed to train?" Hiouis asks as they pack up their things.

"Back to 'that' cold area. Where my Ice dragon slaying magic will increase even greater than ever." Setasuke replies, packing his stuff, "Especially since I'll be staying there for 1 year and 3 days."

"1 year?! You're not messing around, are you?" Hiouis is almost dramatically surprised, but smiles anyway, "Either way, I'll be with you in every step of the way."

"Thanks." Setasuke expresses to his exceed pal, " I have no time to waste and the time to go is right." The ice slayer declares.

After they finish in packing, they then set out to the Catafalco gate, but not before leaving a letter near the apartment door before heading off.

Guild hall:

After showing up to their apartment door, Alvin and Ryan shows everyone else in the guild about the letter Setasuke left behind:

To everyone:

I meant what I said earlier and have made up my mind. I'll take a break from the guild for awhile to train rigorously and become stronger than my current level. So don't try looking for me, because this is a goal that I will see through. In 1 year, I'll come back and settle the score with Acnologia. Until then, take care.

-Setasuke Ryuta

After reading that, they're very surprised at the ice slayer and his exceed leaving so soon.

"They even left without saying goodbye?! Oh come on!" Clesspin dramatically freaks.

"Stop yelling, it's ringing my ears!" Yomei exclaims to the light slayer.

"After what happened earlier, can we really blame him?" Katuro wonders.

"He meant what he declared..." Ronin trails, "He's training to bring down Acnologia."

"That means he won't be around to train you then, Alvin." Jetoal glances at the young dragon slayer.

"It's okay." Alvin doesn't mind it, "This gives me the chance to see what I can do on my own, with everything he's taught me." He adds, "I'll be a different person when Setasuke-senpai gets back."

"Alvin..." Ryan mutters in surprise, but proud to see his friend take a step up.

"I should train as well." Rin steps up, "As a dragon slayer, I can't afford to be left behind."

"Yes." Geras agrees, wanting to train too.

"Good answer." Raburn walks in the guild hall, getting their attentions, "I saw your talks with Icigoneal and Stardest." He adds, "If this Acnologia person is out to hunt all dragon slayers, than that includes you three." He eyes to Rin, Alvin, and Geras as they're also DS, "I was aware that Setasuke would depart for awhile to get stronger, which was wise on his part, as long as he's careful."

"Yes." Ronin nods, "In the meantime, we'll all train to get stronger too, in case Acnologia ever shows his face her.

"Agreed." Yomei and Merena nod.

"It'll be training like crazy, just you watch!" Clesspin is hyped.

"Me too!" Jetoal agrees, while Katuro has his arms crossed with a grin.

"By the time you get back, Setasuke... I'll be the one who stronger." Limmjow swears inwardly.

"Setasuke, Hiouis..." Illyana hopes with a smile, "Please be safe while your both out there."

While walking away from Catafalco, "It begins..." Setasuke thought, with a determined glare, "Acnologia will shatter to pieces after I freeze every part of him completely."

That was the conclusion of the tartaros arc. Now Setasuke is fixated on killing Acnologia now, as well as the rest of Arkobolos moving to improve.

The 1 year Time-skip starts next chapter.

Peace out dudes.