Chapter 15

A tall and slender man, his long dark hair tied in a ponytail behind his head approached Liana. He was a good-looking and handsome youth, garbed in a long white flowing robe, with cryptic tattoos adorning his white skin. He gazed at Natsu's lonely figure seated a distance away, his back turned. He had his doubts.

"Are you sure it's him? He looks… very ordinary."

Liana looked at Natsu herself, and then turned to face her brother. She smiled confidently.

"I am sure. Don't let his looks deceive you. He is one of the greatest mages of my world. I am sure it's him. All… all that's left…"

Her smile flew away, and was replaced by a look of anxiety. "All that's left is for me to tell him his destiny. I would need to proceed cautiously. It's important that he realises how important this is. And he will. I have faith in him and his abilities."

The former man, Liana's older brother, a god himself called Five, looked back at Natsu. Liana had never been wrong before. He hoped that she was correct this time as well. Looking at Natsu didn't score Five's confidence. Natsu looked like an ordinary human. A very ordinary human. It was true that he had defeated Zeref single handedly. That must alone count for his strength in combat. But… his destiny required more than just raw strength. The balance of the entire world was at stake here. And according to the goddess One, his younger sister, Natsu was the key. Her champion.

He shook his head.

"Acnologia is the World Eater. He is formidable. Who knows why he has still restricted himself to the world that you have created, when he could have crossed the gap and wreaked havoc on other worlds in existence as well. Mine… for example. Are you really sure that this… Natsu… is the key? It's not just your creations that are at stake here."

Liana stared at her older brother, narrowing her eyes. She had a look of ferocity in her eyes.

"Are you sure you'd want to question Ankhseram's will?"

Five was caught by surprise at that question. He realised that's what he was doing. Questioning Ankhseram's will. Something that he wouldn't even dream of doing even in secret.

"No… I…" he mumbled. "I-I didn't mean that. I didn't mean to question Ankhseram. It's just…"

He sighed. "I… I just hope that you're correct. I am worried. That's all. Who you choose will decide the fate of your world. As well as mine. And the fates of the worlds of the rest of our brothers and sisters. Everyone is… everyone is counting on him."

Liana smiled again. She giggled and approached her brother. She placed her hand atop his shoulder. "Don't worry. I am sure that Natsu will be able to do it. I have chosen him for a reason. Your world will be safe from Acnologia. Tell our siblings that their worlds will be safe too. Natsu can do it. I am sure."

Five gulped, and then nodded. He may not trust this champion that his sister had brought along with her, but he trusted his sister. She would do no wrong.

"Okay. I'll tell everyone. Father and mother are waiting. So are our siblings. So is… so is grandmother. Take all the time you need with him. But make sure he understands how important this is."

Liana nodded, and then turned around. She took a deep breath, and then slowly started to walk to Natsu. The time for the great revelation was upon him. And… her. How would he react to it? How would he take it? She didn't know. All she knew was that Ankhseram was watching her, wherever he was. And she needed to make him proud.

"Natsu?" Liana asked softly.

Natsu jolted, broken from his thoughts. He turned his head around and looked at Liana with deep confusion and bewilderment in his eyes. Liana understood his predicament. He had just finished journeying through his past. That was meant to cause him some turmoil. His past… was a dark place. Something she couldn't even imagine living through. But he had made it past it. He was healthy and well on the other side. That alone was a reason for celebration.

She smiled at him, the brightest that she could manage. He needed that.

"Are you alright? How… how do you feel?"

Natsu fidgeted nervously, and looked forward again. He pulled his knees closer to his chest, and breathed out deeply. He shivered.

"A bit cold… I… I am fine though."

Liana watched his sullen figure from the back, and her face contorted to reflect sadness and empathy. She could never even imagine what he was going through. With a past as dark and twisted as his, merely knowing about it was surely disturbing. But to experience it all first hand… She almost felt grieved and guilty for having him go through it. But… it was necessary.

She slowly walked up and sat down beside him. Silence hung in the air between the two. Not a word was spoken for a moment. Liana gazed at Natsu's side profile, while Natsu gazed off into the distance in the white blank world. Some winds spelled their surroundings, meeting their bodies with a gentle force. Natsu's hair danced in that wind, but that was the only motion he exhibited.

Liana slowly started speaking. "What… what do you recall most vividly from your past, now that you know about it?"

Natsu didn't respond for a while. Was he thinking up an answer to her question? Did he even hear her question? She wasn't sure.

Just when Liana thought that he had ignored her and that she must find another way to get at him, he replied.

"I… I remember being in my mother's arms. It was… warm and comfortable. Gentle. Loving. She smelled of Lavender. For a moment I really thought that she had finally accepted me. I don't know what it's like to have a mother. But at that moment, I knew. But… that was all a ruse. She… still wanted to kill me at the end. And she did."

Liana stared at the man beside her, her heart churning painfully. It was sad that he should remember that particular detail from his past, only to have that completely broken at the end. Natsu was an orphan as far as he could remember. To know that he had longed for a motherly caress in such a manner was heartbreaking. And in the end, he never found it after all.

Liana hid her face away and wiped her eyes. She couldn't believe they had started to fill up. Maybe she really had deeply engraved herself in Natsu's life. And how would she not? Natsu was special to her.

She slowly approached his hand and held it gently. She pulsed a gentle warm energy through her hand onto Natsu's body. A healing power. For both the body and the soul. And she knew Natsu needed that at the moment. She was a goddess of healing and creation. If she couldn't provide Natsu with some respite in his dark moments, what else would her powers be useful for? At that moment, she wanted Natsu to know that she was with him, right to the end. Right until the finishing line. She would hold his hand all the way. And she would never let even a measly little thing harm him. Natsu was under a goddess's protection now. That had to count for something.

"Do… do you remember Mavis? Her undefeatable sisterly love for you? Her warm hugs? Her soft and gentle care? Her undertering protective embraces that felt like they could protect you from anything? Do you remember Zeref? His brotherly affection that was second to none? His strong arms that could destroy the entire world to care for you and protect you? Do… do you remember how heartbroken and destroyed both of them were when… when they failed to protect you? You may feel like you weren't loved or cared for because of your mother. But… you were. You were loved. You were cared for. By two of the most beautiful and gentle people I have ever known. I… I know your past wasn't a bright or happy place. But… you must do your best to pick out the few pleasant and happy moments from it. You must do well to preserve them in your heart. Forget what is undesirable, and move ahead. Right… Natsu?"

Natsu slowly smiled. He shook his head. "Mavis… and Zeref. They… loved me… right? They cared for me. They tried their best to provide me with the love and affection that I was missing. My past… wasn't as dark as I had thought. I have known true love. I have known care. I have known affection. I have known what adoration felt like. And… I loved Mavis and Zeref back just as much, right?"

Liana smiled. She brought Natsu's hand to her lips and gently kissed it. "You loved them, Natsu. Much more than you can ever think of. When your father was unavailable to you, Zeref became your father. When your mother wouldn't care for you, Mavis took up that responsibility. It was beautiful. I had never known that humans… my own creations… could be capable of such pure and unhindered love. It makes me proud. It must make Ankhseram proud too. Humans are capable of so much more than what Ankhseram and I had created them for. It is… a beautiful and inspiring ordeal to witness."

"Liana. It's time."

Liana heard Five's voice behind her. She turned her head and looked at him. He stood a few feet behind her and Natsu, and behind him stood Liana's other siblings, all looking at her and Natsu curiously. Liana nodded.

She looked back at Natsu. "Natsu… you haven't met my family… have you?"

Natsu gawked at her. Liana's family. One's family. A goddess's family. All gods and goddesses. Some of the strongest celestial beings of his world, and that of the universe. Responsible for creation and birth of the world as he knew it. He wasn't sure if he was ready to see them. Liana was one of a kind, he knew that. She was kind and loving, caring and benevolent. She was a human first and a goddess second. But… What of her family? Was he ready to meet gods and goddesses of the highest tiers yet? He hadn't even thought that he would need to.

"I… I don't think I am ready yet."

Liana shook her head. "You are. Come on. They won't bite. I would like to see them dare while I am here."

She stood up, and pulled Natsu off his feet. She led him forward, through groups of some people who all bowed down to Liana as she walked. Natsu looked at these people. These were the attendants from her household, just like that one young woman who had brought him that Etheria fruit that he had needed to eat to journey through his past. These weren't her family. So… where… Who were they?

Soon, Liana led him to two women standing at a distance. Natsu got a good look at them. They were twins, that was for sure. They were both a bit shorter than Liana, with two pigtails on either side of their heads. They looked… beautiful. But not as beautiful as Liana.

"Natsu." Liana pulled him close to her, and sent her arm around his, holding him next to her. "Meet my two sisters. Their names are Two and Three."

She looked at Natsu, embarrassed a little. "Yes… we are all named after numbers. I am One, remember? It's… a bit weird."

"It's not weird!" One of the twins called.

"Yep. Not weird at all." The other resounded.

The two stood on either side of Natsu, and started to study him closely. Liana stepped back, and looking at the confusion on Natsu's face, giggled softly.

Natsu couldn't speak. It was as if he was being inspected. He wouldn't have minded it much were it humans doing that to him. But these two… were goddesses. Was it normal for goddesses to behave in this carefree manner?

"Yep. He is as handsome as I had thought."

"Yep. Sis sure knows how to choose her champions. Well, I mean… her champion. You are the first one ever."

They both stepped away from Natsu. Then they gave him a stern look.

"You puny human! Bow before us already!"

Natsu gasped. He had completely forgotten that he was meeting gods right now. He quickly bowed down, bringing as much of his sincerity and devotion into that bow as possible.

The twins looked at each other, dumbfounded. "H-Hey… stand straight. We were just kidding. You… you don't have to actually bow to us. We are friends, right, Two?"

"Y-yes, Three… stand straight, human. That's an order!"

Liana stared at her sisters, getting an angry look on her face. "Two… Three… I told you. No mischief here. Apologise right now!"

The two stepped back slowly, looking at the dreaded angry look on the face of Liana. It was clear that Liana's rage was something these two wholeheartedly feared.

They ran away.

"I am sorry! Don't be mad, Liana!"

"Yeah. Sorry. I apologise!"

Liana sighed. She pulled Natsu to stand up straight.

"I am sorry, Natsu. These two are very mischievous. They won't listen to me, no matter how much I try. They are still young. So I hope you'll forgive them. They will get an earful from me later."

Natsu stood up straight. Was… was he really meeting gods right now? Those two… they felt like normal humans to him. Were all these gods in their human forms just like Liana was. And… Why was Natsu meeting all of them? What was the big deal?

A tall man approached Natsu. He had a serious look on his face. Natsu immediately knew that he was related to Liana and the twins. He looked handsome. A graceful and unique beauty, just like Liana. He also looked younger than Liana. Was he Liana's younger brother?

"It's a pleasure, Natsu Dragneel. Call me Four." The man said, bowing to Natsu slightly.

Natsu felt flustered. Four… that means he was Liana's sibling. Older than Two and Three. He definitely had a solemn and graceful attitude to himself, befitting a god.

Natsu slowly bowed down. "It's… it's an honour."

That was the best he could manage. What else could he say to a god?

Four shook his head, and bowed deeper. "You flatter me for sure, Natsu-sama. The honour is all mine. You have slain Zeref Dragneel, your brother. A task I myself would have found difficult, despite my status as a god of creation, just like onee-sama here. Zeref was a formidable opponent. You have my utmost respect for defeating him in combat."

Liana smiled, and caressed Four's head lovingly. She looked at Natsu.

"This is my younger brother, Four. He is a great warrior, and respects others that he deems worthy of being called great warriors themselves. He was very excited to meet you, Natsu."

Four stood straight and regarded Natsu respectfully. "You are the son of the great Igneel. That alone gives you a great honour in my eyes. But… you have proven yourself as well. I must ask you to be my sparring partner sometime. I would be greatly honoured."

Natsu gawked at the man. Or… the god. Sparring with a god? He would surely get his teeth kicked in. But he nodded respectfully.

"I… I would be honoured, sir."

Four smiled, and bowed once again, moving out of the way.

Natsu looked at Liana. Was… was that all? Was Liana the oldest sibling? Or… was there someone he yet had to meet?

Five slowly made his way before Natsu, gathering his full attention. Natsu looked at the tall young man that stood before him. He was a handsome and strikingly good-looking man. Winds slowly caressed his long hair, and fitted him with an even more graceful look than that already framing him. Natsu felt breathless and speechless before this last person. He could immediately gather that this one was the oldest sibling. And… the strongest yet. Each of the siblings he had met yet had a bright and powerful energy surrounding them. But this one… this one was the strongest by far, Natsu knew.

Five kept gazing at Natsu as he extended his hand out to him.

Natsu looked down at his hand, and realised that he was supposed to shake it. He did so, but fumbled and quickly let go. Natsu felt immediately nervous around this last guy. That was the kind of energy that this man exuded.

"Five. The oldest amongst the five that you have yet met. It's a pleasure."

Natsu didn't speak. He couldn't. What does he say to this man?

Five breathed out, almost letting out a sigh. "I hope you understand the privilege you've been given here. Not everyday that a human like yourself gets to meet us. Liana has put her faith in you, so will I. But know that my faith is fickle. It will yet fall should you not live up to our standards. You have yet to prove yourself. I hope you won't fail the trust that my dear sister has placed on you."

Natsu quickly found himself bowing to Five. He didn't even hear most of what this man was saying to him. He was too nervous and intimidated.

Liana held Natsu's arm comfortingly, knowing that he was uncomfortable around her older brother. She wanted to comfort him, and let him know that there was nothing to fear.

Five looked at Liana. "Have you told him yet?"

Liana sighed, and shook her head. "Not yet."

"Time is of essence, Liana. Please. Get to it."

He turned around and walked away. The rest of his siblings and the attendants walked behind him, and soon vanished into the thick white fog in the far reaches of that world.

Natsu still kept his head down. He slowly was able to gather what that man was saying to him. It was true. He was just a lowly human. Why was he brought here into this world of celestial giants? What was expected of him? What was this talk about Liana having placed her faith in him? What did he have to do? He suddenly felt exposed and burdened now.

Liana gently placed her hand over his back, to let him know that he could stop bowing now. When he rose up and looked at her, she gave him a sad and apologetic look.

"Natsu… please don't mind what Five says. He… he is the oldest one amongst us. He has responsibilities to uphold. He has to look after us all. That may sometimes bring him out as a bit stern and egoistical. But… he is just as good hearted as the rest of us. I am sorry you had to hear his harsh words. Forgive me."

Natsu looked at her, confused. "So… what have you placed your faith in me for? Your sisters said that I was chosen as your champion. What… what is that about?"

Liana fidgeted nervously and turned around, as if she didn't have the strength to keep facing Natsu. Something was brewing in her heart that was difficult for her to get out. She looked like she was in a battle. What did she want to tell him? What was she hiding from him?

"So you remember how Ankhseram… my husband… died?" She asked.

Natsu slowly nodded. "Ac… Acnologia… your son… killed him."

Liana sighed uncomfortably and looked down at her feet. This was a difficult part for her to get out. She had been dreading this moment for a long time. But it had to be done.

"I… I think I know the reason why you're so different, Natsu. Why you were born with magic to non-mage people. Why… why Ankhseram rejected only your offerings at his temple. Why you were and are the only one in the world that could get Ankhseram's blessings. That arm made out of his candle wax that had never been bestowed upon any other human in the world. That was a blessing of his that none in the world were blessed with. I know why you were the only human in the world that deserved it. You knew how to use it properly. I… I know why your life has been so fateful. Your death at the hands of your mother… your magic prowess… your second death when you killed Zeref. Your destiny is different from the others around you. I am sure you have realised that by now. You are different. You are special."

Natsu nodded. He had wondered why it all happened many times. Why was he born with magic? Why did Ankhseram reject his offering at the temple, but yet blessed him with that arm to kill Zeref with? Why was Natsu so different? As Liana put it, why was he… so special?

Liana continued. Her voice shook. She was talking about something she had never talked about before.

"When… Ankhseram died… I was there. He… died in my arms. He died looking at my face. He died on my lap. I was inconsolable. I was upset. I… I thought that I would never see him ever again. I thought that there was no more point in keeping the world going after he left. I almost destroyed all of it with my grief and tears. But… on that day… thousands of millenia ago, when Ankhseram died in my arms… he said something to me."

She paused for a while. "He said… that one day, one fateful day, on a different island, in a different time period, with a different look and name… in the same world that he himself had created with me… he will be born again. To finish Acnologia once and for all. He will be born with fire magic, and finish Acnologia's blight upon the world. To slay what he had created. To slay the World Eater. To save all the realms from his unending appetite."

She turned around and faced Natsu. She looked at him up and down, as if she was proud of what she was looking at. She slowly approached him and held both his hands, and clasped them between the two of them.

"He told me the truth. Here he is. You, Natsu."