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 even describe the emotions that ran through his being in this critical moment. The entire quest, one which he set out on over seven years ago, had suddenly stalled after his lifelong goal appeared from inside him. The young wizard watched those fierce raging flames continuously assault the Black Dragon 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.

Restlessly he stared at the ground and listened attentively to the roars booming above him. They were the war cries of the two battle engaged dragons. With pink hair shadowing his eyes, Natsu clenched his fists and stood obediently in silence. He was assigned a special job, one that was unexpected and eye opening for all involved. He was supposed to steal a certain book and bring it back to his father, Igneel, who was the King of the Fire Dragons. A real-life dragon coexisting with humans was unheard of in the present age!

Despite all the glory and excitement bursting about, that sting of defeat soon set in. For Natsu had failed his task. Sure, 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 that threatening power 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 since he was just a small child. The one who had taught him the ways of life, and most importantly, the one who taught him his dragon slaying magic. The very same essence he wielded and used to defeat Fairy Tail's countless enemies as well as the strongest opponents he had ever encountered. He attempted to light 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 painful cry was heard overhead and he glanced up on instinct. 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 as much as it did the Fire Dragon King's own future. 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 torn off along with 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 and his injured state remained immobilized. Those tired black eyes, ones which had seen the absolute best and worst that this world had to offer, fell upon his son who sprinted to reach his father. Igneel took notice of the black dragon circling the sky above. 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!" The dragon slayer shouted in disobedience while he rubbed water droplets out of his blurred vision. "I refuse to let you leave me again!"

"That is an order!"

"I don't care!" Natsu argued defiantly. "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 needed to be done. The dragon needed healing. He needed Wendy! But while Natsu focused on trying to pick up the bluenette's scent, Igneel recognized what exactly those monstrous flashes of light in the sky were. It was a dragon roar! With his sight failing, and death quickly approaching, Igneel fought through the agony. He moved his remaining arm that had been trapped under his lone wing and thrusted it forward. Then Acnologia fired. His attempt to forcefully push the boy backwards with his claws did not go as planned.

The movement had been too late, and the beams of light impacted both of them simultaneously. Igneel watched in shock as he missed his mark and instead clawed the left side of his son's face before the force of his lunge sent his son away from him. Seconds later and all he could see was white around him. That excruciating pain was intensified as he took the blast in full force before the roar's strength passed. He felt the earth shake and heard thundering laughter. Those vibrations messed with his highly keened senses as his mind became foggy. A door into the abyss had opened up. But Igneel wasn't ready to willingly enter it just yet. Acnologia's shadow encompassed him and the Dragon King, occupied in the victory over his opponent, 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 while his draconic voice echoed across the Cube. Igneel knew it was all over. The humans and his fellow dragon friends had been successful in stopping the Face Bombs. Tartaros lost the war and Fairy Tail won. But the Fire Dragon King was well aware he would not be present for the celebrations. He would be dead after tonight. In fact, he was already dead. His soul had been stolen years ago by the very monster in front of him. Even so… Igneel had to keep fighting for Natsu's sake. The crimson dragon would gladly let his adversary boast about his triumph if it would spare his son the chance for survival.

"For someone who had their soul extinguished long ago by you and still just barely lost... I would say I did more than hold just a small candle against you, Acnologia." Igneel retorted.

On cue, the fire dragon slayer stirred, as he opened his onyx eyes. What lay before him was utterly horrifying. Igneel, who once had been colored crimson, was now an ugly dark gray. The blast had nearly charred his remains and Natsu could only assume his father's enormous magic power was what was keeping him alive. He had no clue what his own damage held since everything around him was dark. He could feel the pain though. It felt like he had been severely burned somehow and he knew it would only get worse as time passed. Hearing a deep chuckling he raised himself up. Immediately 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.

Suddenly a comforting voice telepathically reached him, and the fire mage relaxed on impulse. The Fire Dragon King refused to look at the source of his pride. Instead, he glared at the reason for his defeat. Natsu's eyes widened once he felt 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 time, I am sure you'll have another shot. I am just grateful 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 by now.

Acnologia watched curiously at the glare he was receiving from his downed prey. Despite looking right at him it was as if the dragon's mind was elsewhere, those flaming eyes staring straight through him. His enhanced hearing began picking up a faint heartbeat and the Dragon King pondered on where exactly it was from.

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 as Natsu tried to deny what he was being told. He couldn't leave his father behind… they had just recently been reunited! There was no way he was going to leave his side. Acnologia was going down! He had grown so much since his first encounter with that monstrosity back on Tenrou Island. It was time he proved himself to be capable of slaying a dragon. Igneel would be proud of his strength!

However, a foreign voice, something of an unknown entity, pleaded in his mind to be reasonable. With that the rebellion hastily died within the depths of his throat. His subconscious was right. He was in no shape to fight. Let alone, fight an indestructible dragon. The dragon slayer's powers had grown tenfold… but so had Acnologia's. At this point, could the beast even be scratched by a human?

"I... I understand, dad." Natsu whispered despairingly. After all these years of searching… the Fire Dragon King had been concealed within his very body all along. He cried for days on end in the forest which he grew up in. Crying about the disappearance of the dragon and wondering how far he had gone. Only for his father to be closer than he ever could have imagined. Slowly Natsu began to push himself away from the scene.

It was like a nightmare come to life. He was no longer a hatchling, but his figurative wings were useless in this situation. He couldn't save the dying dragon.

What good is having the power of fire if it can't save those I love?

Unbeknownst to either of them, Acnologia had pinpointed the strange breathing he had recently noticed. The beast cackled internally. He faintly heard the rhythm within the boy's beating heart below as the slayer tried to slip away underneath him.

"So, I get to kill two fire dragons tonight."

Igneel became alarmed that Acnologia knew what was going on the whole time. Before he could warn Natsu though the black dragon acted. He swung his sharp, spiky tail in a downwards arc and struck the dragon slayer brutally across the side of his arm. The contact sent the pinkette hurtling further from the crash site.

"Natsu!" The fire dragon roared in worry as he watched amused blue eyes turn eerily 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 agonizingly, weighing him down. Pinned into the ground all Igneel could do was gape at the sword made of light. A sword that Acnologia now held in his grasp.

"You may have been victorious tonight... but have no regrets… someday you will fall Acnologia!" Igneel stated confidently and heard the black dragon snarl in response.

"I will give you credit for putting up a good fight King of the Fire Dragons… and even remarkably wounding me. But you die like every other beast I've slain in this hunt. You took my arm... and so I will take your head."

Igneel observed him readily as the sword was raised high into the air. He was prepared to die the moment he voided that spell and left his protection. Oddly though the motion stopped. Why was he being shown mercy? It was then that Acnologia's eyes transformed once again – this time into pure black spheres. Those red orbs were now like a spiraling black hole.

"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!"

The fire dragon witnessed the might of the sword slicing 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 and the blade, forged from numerous magic properties, cut right through his neck. Blackness instantly enveloped him as the ground shook with regret. Cracks in the Cube floor spread wildly while Acnologia, having secured victory, spread his lone wing. He took one last look at the decapitated Fire Dragon King before securing his trophy within his claws. His senses alerted him to two more departing spirits as he smirked gleefully.

The dragons have all been exterminated. Only their kin remains in my way.

With difficulty, the Dragon King limped off into the ever-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 began the journey towards the darkness.

When Natsu finally came to he immediately screamed as the pain fully registered. Bloodied fingers clutched dirt and he forced himself to power through the utter agony. His bruised body rolled itself over as he hurriedly examined his injuries. His entire right-side sleeve had been blown off by Acnologia's roar and likewise, that 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 was sliced in different areas. It was now 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 memory began repairing itself. Right up until he passed out. Eyes grew into saucers and 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 at 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 shredded and the head... was gone. Instantly fire flared around the young dragon slayer as he became consumed by the overwhelming emotions before he 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, tears poured out of his black tinted eyes. He slammed his fists into the charred earth in despair.

"Dad! Why did you have to go? You said you'd never leave me again!" His lips quivered. "Please, 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 to the sky before he leaned back and released a roar full of sorrow.

"IGNEEL!"

He stumbled a bit forward as small arms wrapped around his torso and embraced him passionately from behind. His flames died down quickly and his nose picked up the 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 chocolate eyes, ones that were now watery, fell upon the fallen Fire Dragon King. "I'm so sorry."

She could feel his muscular frame shake violently in her arms. Those painful sobs broke her heart. Seeing the dragon emerge from her best friend had originally taken her back in fear, but now all she wished to the stars for was peace. Natsu had finally found the dragon whom he told her endless stories about. He had just gotten him back only to have him depart from his life once more... 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 against 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. The blonde was relieved to see him safe and unharmed from the Curse that had surprised them earlier in the day. She was so thankful to see he was physically all right, but now she wondered if he was mentally. Lucy had never seen her friend this distressed and silently listened to his erratic heartbeat. She held him close to her as she let him express his suffering.

He wasn't the only one who lost someone dear to him that day. She was forced 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 shocking exception of herself. Finally giving into the day's tragedy, Lucy shed her own tears for both her own loss and Natsu's as the 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 through her still 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 begged while trying to deny the truth. He needed to hear his father's confident wisdom just one more time. What was he going to do without it?

Lucy 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. Igneel was dead.

"Natsu, he's gone." She stated and as soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it. Despite it being true Lucy knew it was the worst possible thing he could have heard in that moment. Abruptly he turned and pulled himself out of her arms. The loss of his warmth and smoky scent was instant and she frowned at the sudden space between them. 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. His arm was battered, and she could barely tell the difference between his hair color and the dried blood that was caked in it.

On the opposite side, Natsu saw her own condition for the first time since he had helped save her from Jackal and the others. She still adorned her teal Star Dress, but much like his own clothing, it was ripped in several places and her skin was bruised. He couldn't stand seeing her like that. She deserved so much better. His brain rampaged like a wildfire as his mind began spiraling out of control. Full of conflict and confusion, Natsu 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 as he truly glared at his best friend for the first time ever. Lucy stepped forward certain he needed comfort, or he would inevitably snap.

"I know how you feel..." She began and reached out to support him again before his sharp orbs froze her in her tracks. Natsu slowly was losing himself to his temper. What he honestly was angry about though was the real question.

"You have no idea how I feel, Lucy! You never have!" He berated her heatedly and a look of hurt flashed across those delicate features. Happy snuggled into the blonde's arms. He could even see how emotions were getting the best of the dragon slayer. To Natsu's surprise, instead of cowering in fear or looking away, Lucy marched right up into his face. His physical pain increased as his cheek felt the full force of her hand.

"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... everybody did or almost did!" Her eyes were full of pity and understanding for his anger. She wasn't mad at him… not in the slightest.

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 that 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 down his face as all anger in him suddenly diminished.

"Leave me..." He stared at her blankly. It was mind shattering to find out that the match had no effect on the outcome of the battle. He was going to be left behind no matter who the victor was.

"Natsu, are you okay?" Happy questioned as he 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 to her.

"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 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 think about it, the next chapter will be posted on Christmas Eve!

Edit: I frequently come back to this opening chapter and update it because I think it has so much potential and I randomly get ideas for new content, haha!

Up Next: Chapter 2 - Shattered