Natsu felt his jaw drop. Lucy wanted Igneel to do what? Slay her? How the hell did Igneel and the other dragons know that? The blonde empress couldn't say a word while under Usami's influence. The only time she was able to speak was just before Celeste and Akira transported them to the Dragon Realm. There was just no way for Lucy to be able to say something of the sort while in transformation. But then, it hit the pink headed dragon slayer. It was when she was roaring.

He remembered, just before Lucy choked out her final words to them, the cry she made before she told them to flee. Her final order. Her sorrowful command. The way the dragons looked away in shame. Their clenching fists. How conflicted they look from her orders to their belief of another way. Natsu remembered how he just stared and did nothing, cursing at himself for not seeing the signs before. He and the other humans couldn't understand her, but the dragons surely did.

'You must run! You must get everyone to safety! You know what you must do in order to stop me! Go now!'

The pink headed dragon slayer didn't hear her plea, nor could he understand her roar, but he could only assume that her wishes were something along those lines. After all, it was Lucy; she would rather forget about herself than risk the safety of her nakama. Natsu listened quietly as everyone began protesting to Igneel's claim about slaying Lucy. He silently wished that they wouldn't have to ultimately go and slay the dragon that was once his blonde partner, but he couldn't help remembering Future Lucy as she faded away.

Clenching his hands into fists, Natsu gnashed his teeth as he thought how useless he felt. The weight of Nashi's death hitting him harder now that he had to worry about Lucy's life. He lost his daughter... he was not about to lose his best friend and partner next. Not to those damned twins. Not to some Dragon Slayer's Secret Arts. Not to anything. He was definitely going to bring Lucy back home to the guild so that they could go on more adventures with the rest of Team Natsu.

Once that resolve solidified in his mind, the dragon slayer took a deep breath to calm his mind. Everyone's protesting voices drowning out from his ears until the only sound left was the sound of his own breathing. When his sorrow and rage calmed, Natsu's eyes narrowed and he widened his stance. No one noticed him as he lifted his leg and in one motion, lit his foot on fire and stomped his foot to the ground. The floating island shaking and the impact making the fire explode and surround his body.

Everyone immediately turned their attention to him in shock as they could sense that there was not as much anger in Natsu's expression. But rather, they were surprised to sense a commanding sort of aura mixed into his aura. Everyone, except the Tenrou Team, realizing that he was giving the same aura that Lucy would have whenever a situation was getting out of hand or whenever she demanded respect on her name. It was definitely a rare sight.

"Are you guys done your yapping?" Natsu asked in a low tone, sending shivers down some of the mages' and the knights' backs. "We may have time here, but a few minutes is all those two bastards need to destroy another city."

"But Natsu, you heard what Igneel said!" Wendy cried. "Lucy said-"

"IF LUCE THINKS WE'RE GOING BACK TO KILL HER, THEN SHE BETTER THINK AGAIN!" He yelled, cutting the bluenette off. "The only reason we're going back is to save her! Once that happens, we'll save the world!"

"Natsu, we all know how you feel and-"

"WILL YOU ALL CUT THE CRAP!?" He interrupted again, slapping Igneel's hand away from his shoulder. "Listen up! I'm going to remind all of you this once! LUCE. IS. A. FAIRY. TAIL. MAGE! And Fairy Tail mages do not give up! We have time to prepare and come up with a strategy! We're going to beat those bastards and free Lucy of their hold! And that's that, you hear!?"

Makarov watched his child in pride, nodding in agreement with Natsu's words. As the fire died down, Makarov went in front of the crowd and stood up straight as he projected his voice. "Natsu is right! As a member of Fairy Tail member, we do not leave not a single member of our family behind! When we go back, we go back to bring back our own!"

The dragons all looked down at the fire dragon slayer who stood in front of everyone else with a determined look in his eyes. Natsu looked more like a dragon than any of them ever did and it was obvious to them that there was no backing down on his decision. "If there is one person who can save her, it'd be him." They all thought.

"Aye sir!" Everyone else cried, pumping their fists in the air.

Hekima raised his head as he looked to the skies, staring at the clouds following the soft breeze in the air. A smile of pride forming on his face. "I have lived a long life that has yet to end..." He began to say, drawing the humans' attention to him. "And I see now, I have no need for doubt when in your presence... Natsu Dragneel..."

"Huh?" Natsu asked.

"When I first met with our empress, Igneel introduced Lucy to me as his son's partner and equal." Hekima explained, Natsu's eyes widening slightly as he looked at Igneel at the corner of his eye. "She told me many things about you... that if there was anyone to trust in a crisis, it would undoubtedly be you. Now I see why."

"Luce... she said that about me?"

The dragons just smiled fondly as Natsu stood still in disbelief from the revelation of the blonde's praise, remembering her words back when they were still at the bottom of the arena after defeating Sting and Rogue. "Luce said that she's always believed in me... ever since she first joined the guild." He thought, his resolve and determination decided. "I will bring her back."

Hekima then spread out his wings as Mirai, Kumiko, Isla, Lunaria and Raiden following suit. "It seems you have found your answer about what to do next." Kumiko said as they flew back to their respective islands. "You are welcome to train here and build up your strength for the upcoming battle."

"You can most definitely trust us to bring Lucy home." Erza promised with her right hand against her chest where her heart lay. "After all, she is a part of your nakama as much as she is part of ours."

Kumiko nodded with a soft smile, turning away as she headed back to her own island. "I have no doubt in my body that you shall fix what has been done." She said. "Please... bring her back to us."

Natsu looked back at his nakama behind him and smirked with certainty, Igneel looking at him in absolute pride. Even in dire times does the fire dragon slayer not lose hope. He had just seen his future daughter die in his future self's arms and then witnessed his best friend lose control over herself. It was just amazing how regardless of all that, Natsu refused to give up. He believed in another way. A way in which Lucy will be able to come home to everyone alive.

But at the same time, Igneel could not shake the uncertainty in his heart. He knew the other dragons felt it as well; the feeling of bad omen or the sense of terrible destruction coming their way. Battling Lucy in her dragon form, against her own will, was something none of the dragons had thought of ever happening. In the back of their heads, Igneel and the dragons knew, there was no way for anyone to come out of this alive unless Igneel used Dragon's Redemption. It just... wasn't possible against Lucy.

Everybody began to head into the castle with Kai, Takeo and Akira guiding them to their rooms. They would have to share since there were just way more people there rather than just Fairy Tail, but that was to be expected. Igneel nodded towards Grandeeney, Metalicana, Weisslogia, Skiadrum, Ava, Celeste and Arhad, the seven dragons returning the nod before taking flight and going off to their respective islands as well. Knowing that they would come back to the castle to think of a strategy.

The Fire Dragon King was about to follow suit but was stopped when he felt a hand place itself on one of his legs. When Igneel looked down, Natsu was next to his body with his eyes hidden beneath his bangs. Having a feeling on what he was thinking, the red dragon turned into his human form. Natsu's hand now around his upper arm, his eyes refusing to meet his own. Igneel sighed and took Natsu's hand away from his arm, causing the dragon slayer to clench his fists.

"You won't do it... will you?" Natsu's voice choked out, the fear and anxiety leaking through his lips.

Igneel regrettably didn't answer as Natsu gnashed his teeth together, not liking the silence. Neither of them knew they could not guarantee that Dragon's Redemption would or wouldn't be used, whether per Lucy's wishes or not. It was just too much of a risk to gamble their victory without the option. As much as Natsu refused to believe he and everyone else was just no match for Lucy, he didn't want to admit that using Dragon's Redemption was the only way to stop Lucy from doing something she didn't want.

"As much as I don't want to, Natsu... you know we cannot get rid of the option." Igneel finally replied, Natsu's head raising up so that his narrowed eyes were visible. His eyes burning with resolve. The dragon slayer nodded in defeat, a sigh escaping his lips before he turned towards his dragon parent. There was no going back once the words came out of his mouth.

"Then if that's how it's going to be... I don't want you to be the one to do it, Dad." Natsu said as Igneel turned to make eye contact with his son. "If Luce's blood has to be on anyone's hands... let it be mine."

Igneel's eyes widened at Natsu's words, the dragon not believing what he had just heard. Dragon's Redemption was a Dragon Slayer Art that Lucy created... and only a dragon king or queen could generate enough power to cast the spell. Nashi had Future's Lucy's magic within her, thus she had enough magic power in her small body to cast the spell. But that was not the case with Natsu. The pink headed fairy was just a regular dragon slayer. A normal human being! He would die just by casting the spell.

"Natsu, do you even understand what you are saying?"

The dragon slayer nodded, his resolve not wavering, his decision made. Natsu's eyes burned through Igneel's fragmented soul. There was no sign of any other motive to his words besides saving Lucy. And knowing the fact that Natsu and Lucy were indeed mates, the Fire Dragon King could not deny that this was definitely Natsu's dragon instincts yearning to go save the Dragon Empress. To bring her not only bring her back to the guild and the dragons... but to him as well.

"I... made a promise to my future self. You heard it, didn't you?" Natsu began to say. "I promised him... that I wouldn't let Luce die, that I would be the one dying first before she ever does. That's why I have to be the one to cast the spell."

"Natsu no. Lucy gave me this task, so I must be the one to fulfill her wishes."

"IT HAS TO BE ME!" Natsu cried, causing Igneel to take a step back and gasp as tears began to fall down his son's face. "I have to be the one to do it... Please Dad... you gotta understand... please..."

Igneel stood still, paralyzed. He didn't know what to do. After watching over Natsu from within the boy's own body for so many years, seeing him grow stronger with each and every passing day, Igneel did not want Natsu's life to end so early. From the moment the Fire Dragon King took Natsu under his care, Natsu became his beloved son and he knew from the moment he saw him that Natsu would become someone so strong he could overcome any obstacle... and that thought only strengthened upon seeing Future Natsu.

Everyone else seemed to believe in him, whether it's because they are underestimating the dangers of using Dragon's Redemption or not is beyond him, so Igneel couldn't help but think he had no other choice but to trust his son once more. Natsu had been in plenty of dangerous situations before, some even life threatening, yet Igneel held enough trust and faith in his son to believe that Natsu would prevail in the end. If he had no such faith and trust, he would've left Natsu's body a long time ago.

With that in mind, Igneel sighed and looked at Natsu with a surrendering smile. The red headed man placing his hand on the dragon slayer's head and ruffling his hair, confusing the boy. "You just... don't know when to quit, do you?" He asked, Natsu's expression forming into a smirk as he brought his fist in front of his face.

"I was taught to never give up on my friends and that's exactly what I'm going to do!"

Igneel nodded as he transformed into his dragon form and gestured for Natsu to climb aboard his back. "Alright then... I will teach you the spell." Igneel replied as he flew Natsu towards his floating island. "But you must not use it unless it's absolutely necessary, understand?"

"Of course, Dad." Natsu said in a matter-of-factly tone. "If we can't bring Luce back using our own power... then we're gonna have no choice but to use it, right?"

"Its not as simple as that, Natsu." Igneel said, shaking his head. "I don't want either you or Lucy to die... but if you cast the spell without enough magic power... both, you and Lucy, will die."