In the Ravines of Time, Natsu Dragneel lands the final blow on Achnologia with the help of the other Dragon Slayers. However, while they are returned to their Guilds, Natsu is too weak to make the journey. As he floats dying from Magical Drain, but happy knowing his family is safe, the specter of Igneel appears with an offer. Die in peace, knowing his adventure was at an end, or start a new one in a world that needs him, with a new partner and purpose.
Not just as a Dragon Slayer, but as a Dragon Rider too.
Watch out, Alagaësia, for with the introduction of the first Guild in this world will come a new player in the War- Natsu Dragneel, Dragon Slayer, Dragon Rider, and the Guildmaster of the Dragon King Guild.
So, this is another story I've had kinda floating in my computer for a while. Just wanted to get it out there because I notice a still SEVERE lack of Fairy Tail x Inheritance Cycle stories. take the intro with a grain of salt, though- I'll edit it as I go along as I see fit to. I know Natsu is OOC, it's been a while since I've actually seen Fairy Tail, though I feel I have a good enough read on the character to pust this chapter out. Hope you all enjoy
Am I dead…? Natsu asked himself. He felt like he was flying on Igneel's back from when he was a child. Opening his eyes, he saw the land of Fiore spread out under him, he felt the familiar warmth of his dragon father under his hands and knees, and he felt the powerful strokes of the wingbeats carry them farther into the distance than they ever traveled before.
He was, in fact flying on Igneel, but... Igneel was dead.
Guess that answered that.
"…yes, and no," Igneel's voice rumbled under Natsu's body. Natsu knew he should feel… some sense of anger, panic, sadness, some kind of upset, but instead he felt… well, it was hard to explain. Did I at least save them? Natsu asked after a moment. Igneel rumbled proudly. "Yes. You became the true Dragon King when you put down the Usurper… Natsu, you have made me immensely proud of you. You proved you are truly the son of the Fire Dragon King, Igneel."
Natsu blinked at that, feeling his eyes burn. All that strength, and he finally brought it to bear.
He was strong enough to save everyone.
"Before the Ravines could fully take you," Igneel began again. "I was able to sense your end, even here, in the In-Between… I used a forbidden Dragon art to pull you away from the end… It was selfish, but I could not allow my son to die in such a way, no matter how proud I am of you." Natsu nodded, stroking his dad's rough scales soothingly. You did what you could, and hey, I finally get to tell you all about my adventures. Igneel snorted before falling silent again, prompting his son to begin. The Fire Dragon King angled upwards, driving his wings downwards to spiral into the clouds before arcing to look at the continent below.
They spoke, well, Natsu did, anyways. The boy went on and on, talking about the missions he went on, learning how to cook his own food, how Erza taught him to properly read and write… how Lucy had become his best friend, how Gray had become his brother. Even about Wendy, Laxus, Gajeel, and the other Dragon Slayers.
Finally, after hovering in the skies and talking for what felt like hours, Igneel gave a purr of fatherly pride and love. "I cannot even begin to reiterate how proud I am of how far you've come, my boy," Igneel said. He pulled Natsu from his back and cradled the boy to his chest in a show of rare tender affection.
Igneel hugged Natsu, and Natsu felt like a little five year old again, just learning how to breathe fire and nestling close to his dad for warmth.
"Natsu. I pulled you away from your death to offer you a choice," The Fire Dragon King said. "You can return to the ravines and seal your fate, or I can send you, both body and soul, to a world that needs you just as badly as this one did. Dragons are all but extinct there, save for four eggs that await to be bonded. Two are in the grip of a tyrant, One is being ferried from one place to another in hopes that it will hatch to someone worthy, and the last one awaits in a hidden place for you to find it and bond with it as your partner." Natsu humphs, crossing his legs and his arms. Sounds great and all, but I feel like there's a 'but', Natsu prodded. Igneel rumbled, nodding. "Should you accept this… offer, this mission… You might never return to Fiore again."
Natsu raised an eyebrow, smirking. You said 'might'. That means there is a way, no one knows, yeah? He asked.
Igneel chuckled, grinning as he looked back at his son.
"Then I know what your answer is. Prepare yourself, and good luck. My son."
Natsu's golden eyes snapped open, a gasp ripping from his mouth as he sat up straight, flames dancing along his arms and writhing in his mouth as he clamped down on a shout. The Dragon Slayer looked around frantically, but the only signs of movement were scattered leaves littering the damp stone around him and his scarf waving with his motions.
Natsu winced as he felt the soreness of his back as he sat back on his palms and let out a sigh. "Well, I'm alive…" he said, both relieved and shocked with himself. Natsu looked down at his hands, thinking about what he had just agreed to.
Natsu took a shaky breath in before letting it out. Squeezing his eyes shut, the Dragon Slayer let his fire magic wash over him, the familiar heat dancing on his skin and crackling merrily, bringing him some much-needed comfort. Once he got his thoughts in order, Natsu opened his eyes to really look at where he was. With a groan, Natsu pushed himself to his feet haphazardly, arms pin-wheeling as he regained his balance and began to look at his surroundings.
The wheels in Natsu's head began turning when he realized that he was in an unknown place. Within a cave of some sort, and the sounds of dripping water echoing from the back confirmed he had a source of water, so if he had to hole up here, he'd have something to drink, at least. Sniffing the air, Natsu caught the scent standard to that of a cave, along with the outside's close-range surroundings as well.
There was also something else.
Natsu sniffed again, hoping that he wasn't wrong.
There.
The scent of dragon.
Grinning widely, Natsu turned to the cave interior, going deeper. He danced around Stalagmites and ducked under long stalactites until he came to a large inner chamber. Nestled in an alcove carved from dragon claws themselves, sat a glimmering red-orange egg, the same color that Igneel's flames were.
The egg was about the size of two of Happy's, when Natsu had found it way back when. Veins of deep red ran through the shell as if they were rivers of fire, entrancing Natsu's eyes. The smooth surface of the egg reflected the flame in Natsu's hand perfectly, and the Fire Dragon Slayer had to admit, it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
"Hey there," Natsu almost cooed, the instinct within him that was ingrained with his dragon magic urged him to surround the egg with warmth. "Must've been pretty chilly sittin' in this cave for so long… no one to keep ya warm. How about I help with that?" Taking a breath, Natsu blew a gentle stream of fire into the alcove, heating the stone around the egg to a comforting cherry red color.
As soon as he cut the stream of fire off, the dragon hatchling within the egg squeaked. The large egg wobbled and rocked before rolling off the alcove and onto the stone ground. Natsu grinned, eyes bright as he watched an event he never dreamed of seeing at all- a dragon hatching.
Shards of egg fell, dusting the ground until with a mighty burst of force, the baby dragon unfolded from it's shell, its scales shimmering the same red-orange as it's egg had been. It was about four feet long already, its wings almost twice that. Light brown eyes the color of hot desert sands blinked open, and Natsu raised his flaming hand a little higher to get a better look at the baby. Black claws and spines rolled down the dragon's neck, which was a good length, and proportional to the body, from the looks of it.
"You look freaking awesome, lil' guy!" Natsu cackled, grabbing the baby's attention as it licked the goop from its sides and wings. Its little nose worked as it peered up at Natsu, who reached out to stroke the baby's head.
The moment contact was made, the roar of flame and crash of thunder made Natsu fall onto his back, a metallic taste flooding his mouth.
When he finally came to, the little red-orange dragon was on his chest, chirping and nuzzling the lapels of his shirt, batting at the tassels of his scarf.
"Ouch…" Natsu muttered. "That…was one heck of a hello, wasn't it?" Natsu grunted as he sat up, nudging the hatchling off him and looking at the hand he had touched the dragon with, the left, which was tingling. A strange golden-yellow mark had seared itself into his palm, which was weird- due to his Fire Dragon Magic, Natsu should be immune to burns of that kind, right? Natsu moved his fingers cautiously, and when he made sure that no more damage was made other than surface level, he nodded. Standing up, the Dragon Slayer cradled the rather large baby dragon in his arms and turned to leave the inner chamber.
He reached the mouth of the cave and his eyes automatically crashed closed at the brightness, the man raising his arm to shield himself. After a minute Natsu worked his gold-colored eyes open and gasped.
There were mountains and forests all around him, nothing like the demolished landscape Achnologia had left behind when he ripped open the Ravines. There was no sign that the massive rage-filled dragon had ravaged the land, and near the center of the mountain bowl a small pond. Natsu was in just the right position to see over the other side of the range- there was an ocean on one side, and on the other a desert past a flat and sort of marshy-looking plain.
Mist curled down from the clouds as if to caress his head and welcome him to wherever this new world was, and birds cawed and chirped as they flew by in an array of colors both bright and dull. The sounds and smells and sights were many, new, and enormous in amount, but Natsu found himself not caring. Taking a dazed step forward, the young man reached up to the sun overhead with a growing grin on his face.
The warmth, the light, the life.
He could feel everything. There wasn't any magical residue or the sounds of battle screeching or people screaming as they died, as the remnants of humanity eked out an existence. No evil dragon thundering past that he had to charge in to kill- he never liked killing dragons, though Motherglare was an exception from the Grand Magic Games- he was raised by one, for Mavis' sake!
"This is incredible," Natsu muttered, laughing wildly and running his fingers through pink locks of hair.
Relaxing and letting out a breath, Natsu surveyed the area once more and found the river, probably half a mile away from his point on the mountainside and at the foot of the earth-made mass- he had to situate himself first and foremost. With a groan, Natsu realized he'd have to walk to and from the river if he wanted a meal of fish for himself and the new hatchling. Stretching out his arms, Natsu took off towards the lake at the bottom of the small valley paradise, the red-orange dragon perched squarely on his back like a backpack. First order of business before I really sit down to think, is water and food… water comes first, otherwise we'll kick it in a week.