Chapter 112
Will To Live
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
The Black Wizard stood before the four Slayers, the book firmly in his grasp. "This guy is…" Sting mumbled in horror.
"Mard Geer, you did well." Zeref told his demon, shocking his creation. "You were just about to revive E.N.D. You can sleep now."
"Your dream…" Mard Geer mumbled. "I can… realize… what you wish…"
"No, you can't." Zeref declared, transforming the demon into a book. It suddenly caught fire and burned to ash, shocking all four.
"You created that demon!" Gray shouted at the Black Wizard.
"Correct." He nodded. "But I don't need it anymore." Zeref looked up at Natsu, who dropped into a fighting stance. "I wanted to finish my fight against you today. However, Acnologia got in our way." He looked to the sky and somberly looked at the fighting dragons. "Will he end history once again? Or will a miracle happen? I'm not sure."
"What are you saying?" Natsu questioned.
Zeref merely hung his head and said nothing. "If you can survive this desperate situation, I will give you more despair."
The two stared at each other before the Black Wizard turned and walked away, cloud of dust obscuring his departure. "The bastard took the book with him." Gray mumbled.
"Zeref…" Natsu growled in annoyance.
Above the lot, Acnologia swung his tail and crashed it into Igneel, sending him crashing ti the ground. "Destroy!" Acnologia shouted as he dived onto the Fire Dragon. "Is that all of your power?"
"I've been sleeping for a long time." Igneel growled, bursting into flames.
'Natsu…' Igneel spoke inside his sons head. 'There's something I need to tell you now. There were two reasons we dragons stayed within the body of Dragon Slayers. The first one was to create those antibodies to stop your dragonification. Thanks to that, it's guaranteed that you won't ever turn into dragons.'
Natsu turned and rushed out of the hole, confusing the other three. 'The second reason is because I was waiting for the chance to defeat Acnologia, the legacy we created.'
"You can tell me about it later!" Natsu shouted. "Wait for me, Igneel! I'm coming to help you!"
'Stay away!' His father ordered. 'Acnologia was stronger than I was expecting. You'll be caught in the fight!' Igneel pushed his head up and twisted Acnologia up. 'I was waiting for this moment, to finally kill Acnologia with my own claws.' The two dragons roared as they flew at each other.
Natsu watched in horror as his father ripped off an arm from Acnologia, while The Black Dragon had ripped his entire torso open. The two dragons gasped in pain as Igneel fell to the ground.
"Natsu…" Igneel gasped out. "I've been watching you all this time…" Magic gathered around the Black Dragon's mouth as he aimed at the dying beast. "You really grew up… The days I've spent with you… have been the happiest of my life." Acnologia fired his roar and hit Igneel, horrifying Natsu. "You gave me the power to love humans."
Underneath Fairy Tail Guildhall
"We were saved by dragons…" Makarov mumbled, standing in front of a large crystal with Mavis' body inside it. "I had not the courage… to unleash the Lumen Histoire…"
"And that is okay." The projection of the first master said. "That simply means… it was not the time…"
Dawn had broken over the battle field as the guild members stood before the massive creatures in amazement. "Grandeeney!" Wendy cheered.
"Igneel, together with the bravery of all of you, has driven Acnologia away." The feathery dragon declared, making the guild cheer. "You did well trying to destroy the Face, Wendy." Her mother said, causing tears to form on the girls eyes.
Metallicana stared down at Gajeel, who seemed unimpressed by his son. "As always, you've got that vile look in your eyes."
"SHUT IT!" The human shouted back.
"I'm pretty sure I killed you…" Sting mumbled as he stared up at his father.
"So am I…" Rogue added, looking up at Skiadrum.
"We can alter human memories essentially at will." The White Dragon declared.
"Igneel was against us doing so." The Shadow Dragon explained. "Ultimately, what we intended to do was grant you both the memory of killing us and the results you would achieve had you actually done so."
Lisanna noticed Lucy was looking around for someone. "Where's Laki?" The blonde questioned.
"She and Drusta required some time alone…" Weislogia declared. "Her departure was… less than ideal."
With Laki
In the destroyed ruins of the control center, Drusta glanced down at the teen, clutching her arm. "Have you nothing to say?" The dragon questioned. "I was expecting some form of joy in this reunion."
Laki just glanced over at Rose, who understood the look. "I'm… gonna go find the others." The cat mumbled before taking off and flying away.
"Laki, you must understand why I left." The dragon said. "If left uncheck, your body would have transformed into a dragon and-"
"Did you know?" Laki spoke up, cutting off the dragon. "Did you know what I actually was? Some… freak of nature made by demons?"
Drusta let out a sigh and leaned into her daughters face. "Yes…" She confessed. "I sensed some demonic energy within you. and wanted to ensure that you did not go on a rampage. But you are no freak, Laki. You are my daughter, and always will be."
"So… why did you leave?" The Slayer questioned, tears forming in her eyes.
"I did not want to." Drusta replied. "But as I said before, you needed the anti-bodies to prevent your dragonofication. We also needed to be with you incase Acnologia returned. Sadly, it seems like even Igneel was unable to best that blemish. The strength we displayed for today was only a fraction of our true power.
"None of us had the chance to explain everything, but the time has come. I must part with the rest of my kind." She leaned down and nuzzled Laki. "There will be many hardships on the future, but I know you can overcome them." Laki hugged back before the pair pulled away.
"The age of dragons has ended, from now on it will be your power to shape the future." A bright light burst upwards and the other dragons faded away. "You must care for Igneel's child. He will need your love now more than ever." Drusta said as she floated upwards, her body fading away.
With Natsu
Natsu laid on the ground with tears in his eyes laying next to his father. "Dad…" He mumbled in sadness. "You promised me… that you wouldn't go anywhere… Don't break your promise…" Tears fell from his eyes as he wiped them clear. "I've been looking for you for so long."
"I… I learned how to write… And my magic is so much more badass now… I even found someone I want to spend the rest of my life with. I… I have so much I want to share with you!"
His father started fading away as he heard a whisper from his father. 'Do not shed tears…' Igneel let out. 'Remember what I taught you to do when you're sad… stand up. I am with you, now and always…'
Natsu pushed himself up and screamed to the sky. "I will live on! And I'm gonna grind Acnologia's ass into Dragon Dust!"
'That's my boy…' Igneel chuckled as his body faded. 'Speak of your future, and that shall become your will to live.'
One Week Later
Fairy Tail Guildhall
The town was in ruins as Mirajane stared at the destroyed guild hall. "Master, are you not going to rebuild the guild this time?"
"Correct…" The small master replied.
"Man, just after the town rebuilt it too…" Jet mumbled. "It almost makes you go 'not again'."
Elfman turned away in shame as Makarov stared at the rubble. "This could mark the end of an era…" He mumbled, catching Mirajane's attention.
Park
Wendy spun around as her hair had magically regrown, curtesy of of Cancer. "Wow, my hair is back to normal!" She cheered before turning to Lucy. "Thank you so much, Lucy!"
"No problem." The blonde chuckled. "Your hair looks way better like this, anyway."
Off to the side, Pantherlily and Carla watched the two on the grass. "How"s Wendy doing?" The black cat asked.
"Like usual." Carla replied. "Still acting tough… even after something like that. What about Gajeel?"
"Exactly as seen…" He chuckled, turning to the male laying on the stone wall. "Everyone… experienced a painful parting."
"I'm worried about Natsu." Carla confessed.
"He'll be okay." Pantherlily declared, catching her attention. "He's got Happy with him, remember?" Carla smiled at the statement before turning back to the girls. "By the way, have you seen Rose or Laki?"
"Not since the battle ended." Carla replied.
Natsu's House
"How much money do we have?" Natsu asked as he packed a bag.
"13 million jewel." The cat replied.
"Huh, doesn't seem right." The Dragon Slayer mumbled.
"Aye, no one broke into our house so there should've been more than that." Happy replied.
"Eh, we'll think of something." He chuckled before pulling out a letter. "The problem is this, though…"
Fairy Hills
Laki's Room
"Are you sure about this, Laki?" Rose asked as the bespectacled girl packed a bag. "Who knows when we might be back…"
"I've never been more sure of anything else." She replied, putting her bag on her back. "I need to do this. But you don't have to come along. I'm sure Wendy and Carla would-"
"Forget it." Rose cut her off. "I'm coming along too, and that's that."
Laki smiled at the Exceed before reaching to her desk, grabbing a note. "This is gonna be the hard part, though…"
In the far corners of the north, Gray sat before a crude grave marker for his parents. "Uh… Gray…" The Ice Wizard turned to the side to see Juvia walking up to him.
"You followed me here!?" He questioned.
"I'm sorry!" She snapped back. "There's just… something I have to tell you… I was… the one who defeated… the necromancer that was controlling your father…" Gray went wide eyed as he pushed himself up. "I… no longer have the right to love you… I killed your father…"
Gray reached the water wizard and grabbed onto her clothing. "You…" He growled out before breaking down, crying into her chest. "Thank you…" The two burst into tears and fell to their knees in the snow.
Magnolia
Erza sat on a hill as she grabbed onto her shirt. 'I've remembered things I didn't want to remember. Being lied to and betrayed… Will I ever be able to trust people again…'
"You'll be okay." Erza perked up and saw Jellal walking by. "Don't worry. You know the strengths of man well enough. So continue on that path of light, just as you've always done."
Erza stood up to see the rest of Crime Sorciere waiting for their leader. "Ugh, these ropes are so lame." Sorano complained.
"We'll walk the oath of darkness to defeat Zeref." Jellal continued. "Maybe someday, our paths will meet again. By then, I hope you'll shine bright enough to erase our existence. Move forward, Erza."
Night
Fairy Tail Guildhall
"I did what you asked, erased the memories of everyone who knew about… that." Mest declared. "I know, I know, I said I'll erase my own memories next. But I don't like messing with my head."
"It's fine, you're a capable man." Makarov replied. "You don't have to. Now let's relieve you of your duties…" Mest tilted his head before the clothing on his shoulder burst apart, revealing a red Fairy Tail mark on his shoulder.
"What the hell?"
"You were always a member of Fairy Tail…" Makarov explained. "But you erased your own memories to make it easier to sneak into the council."
"Wait, what are you talking about!?" Mest shouted back. "Me, apart of Fairy Tail? That does make any sense!"
"That's why I told you not to erase your own memories!" The master snapped back. "Ugh, you're such a pain. Though I guess it doesn't matter now. It's all over…"
"Over?" Mest repeated.
"The brats have chosen their own path and moved forward." Makarov explained. "It's the end of an era. Fairy Tail will now disband."
Lucy opened the door to her flat and found it totally empty. "Weird, I could have sworn someone was in here…" She walked in and found two letters on her coffee table before flipping them open.
.
.
.
"What!? They're both GONE!?" She shouted in shock as she reread the notes.
At the north end of Magnolia, Natsu walked away from the city. "Sorry, guys… I'll be a lot stronger when I come back… to protect the ones I love…"
Outside the town's southern entrance, Laki stared at the city as Rose hopped onto her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Natsu… I need to do this…" She turned back and the pair headed into the woods.
In a dark room, Zeref sat in a chair as he stared out the window. The tome was on the table as he turned back to it. "You have to try and overtake me, Natsu…" He declared. "Or should I say?.. E.N.D. Etherious Natsu Dragneel."
Like I said, this was a messed up part of the show. Natsu got his father back just to see him ripped apart by a monster. As for what happened in this chapter, chose to focus mostly on Laki and her mother since that was something new and needed for this story.
As for what happens next, you don't have to worry about as large a time skip as what was shown in the anime. See ya next month.
Beta read by General Feng Xiang.