Chapter 19

His white scarf fluttered in the winds. He stood at the edge of the desert plateau, overlooking the battlefield. The winds were hot and corroding, and the sun glared bright and high in the sky. An uneasy silence hung in the air, a silence that could drown the loudest noise. The sting of the greatest battle ever, the harshest war ever was suspended in the air. A battle that was unreasonable, and intended to crush everyone that was involved. Evil or not.

A battle that… Natsu needed to prevent. A war that shouldn't be fought so that the innocent on either side don't die for no reason.

So that… she wouldn't be harmed.

A man dressed in heavy robes approached Natsu's back. His face was dark—black, almost as if a shadow rolled into robes. Death hadn't been in the mortal world much. Even when mortals died, they came to him, not the other way around. So he was extremely curious to see every sight that he possibly could.

"Both sides are ready." Death said. "Numbering in multiples of thousands. Should you not stop this, there will be many dead. I will feast for years to come."

Natsu smiled. He turned his head half around. "Your feast will have to wait. I intend on preventing this war. No matter what."

Death sighed. "I knew you would say that. It is now apparent that I will have to wait for nature to claim these people. Slowly…"

Natsu had a plan. He faced Death. "Ignite a fire between the two forces. One that they cannot cross. Then… I will do the rest."

Death smiled morbidly. "Be it so. Your wishes are my command, afterall. I live to serve you."

Natsu nodded. "Good. Prepare yourself."

Death got on his knees and then vanished into a swirl of flames.

Natsu looked ahead again, at the planned ground for the battle. He could sense Erza's energy nearby. She was alive and well. And he intended to keep her that way.

"Just a few more minutes, Erza. Then, I'll get to see you again. And you… me."

Banners hung high in the air. Consisting of the insignia of the guild alliance. They weren't different guilds now. They were all one. In life… and death. In victory and defeat. In pleasure, and pain. The war was here. A merciless herald of pain and death, a behemoth of a beast crumpling hope and resolve under its infinite feet. Ankhseram was the god of war and destruction. Was he sitting in the heavens, dictating this war? Was he moving the chess pieces forward and backward, cackling and sneering in an undefeated feeling of control and manipulation? Who had he decided would win the war?

Erza stood at the edge, her hands folded and a stern look on her face. The dragon army was waiting behind the mountains somewhere. Growling, jeering, cackling. Planning on slaughtering every human that they came across. Burning the world down should no one dare to deter them from their paths. And Erza planned on doing so. To stop complete annihilation and damnation. She needed to fight this war for the world. For humanity and for Magna Carta. For Igneel. For… Natsu.

Gray approached Erza and stood beside her.

"The dragons seem ready. The scouts have reported that Acnologia himself isn't here, but his dragons number in thousands behind the closest mountain. Are… we ready?"

Erza's hair fluttered in the winds. She grabbed them and tied them behind her head. She looked at Gray.

"We have no other choice, Gray. Ready or not, we must face the dragons. But… I am ready. Natsu would be."

Gray's smile softened. She was still lingering in the memories of her late lover. As was he swimming in the remembrance of his great friend. She was correct. Natsu would be ready. The mere thought of dragons doing whatever they liked, harming scores of innocents and destroying the world would have sent shivers of fire and determination in his being. Would he have been here, he would be the first one to fling himself to the frontline, laying down his life without a care. That's who Natsu was.

Gray extended his arm to Erza.

"For Natsu."

Erza's eyes widened. She then smiled, and grabbed his arm, as he did hers.

"For Natsu."

An earth shaking roar was heard from across the battlefield. The skies thundered at that roar, and the stars shook. Erza and Gray, and everyone else looked forward.

"There they are." Gray mumbled.

Across the vast desert, at the top of a large plateau, they saw a dragon slowly perching itself upon the rocks. At a distance, it looked like a dark blur, with light itself bending around its figure. Soon, more dragons came up behind him, all having varied shapes and colours. Almost 200 dragon tribes had come, with more on the way—numbering in tens of thousands.

Erza clenched her fists. The moment was finally here. She looked at the dragons slowly shifting across the battlefield, their wings flapping and their tails swirling. They seemed to be awaiting orders… from someone.

The legendary reptilian beasts, said to carry the power to end the world itself. Being able to see only one in one's lifetime was supposedly an experience that few could say that they had lived through. To see that many as the numbers that perched on the mountain across the battlefield. It was a sign that the end times had come. The final days of society and the world… the final days of humanity. The legendary heralds of death and destruction were here, marching on their claws and talons, shaking the ground beneath them. So this was what the end times looked like…

There was silence in the air. Laxus cloaked himself in dragon slayer lightning, and started to charge his dragon force. Erik perched atop his giant cobra that hissed at the dragons at a distance. Sting, Rogue, Gajeel and Wendy took the frontline, charging up their dragon forces. Natsu had taught them the intricacies of this art, and it was their duty to take his teachings to heart right now. He wasn't here, but before he had left he had given them the necessary ammunition to stake the favour in their balance somewhat. Maybe… somewhere, he knew this time would come. When he himself wouldn't be here to watch over his friends. That they would have to carry forward the torch of Dragon force in his absence someday. That day was here.

The fighters from the guild alliance started to hear the clouds growl. They all looked up at the skies, and saw what appeared to be three or four bolts of dark flames cometting through the skies. These comets cut through the clouds, roaring and cackling in the air. They were miles away up in the skies, but the great heat that they released was felt all across the battlefield.

"What… what is that?" Gray narrowed his eyes.

"Are those more dragons?" Laxus said, activating his dragon force. It looked like the comets were heading their way.

Sting, Rogue, Wendy, Gajeel and Erik all turned on their dragon forces. This looked like the beginning of the assault. It looked like the Dragons had made their move first.

"BE ON YOUR GUARD!"

Sting yelled.

Every dragon slayer that stood behind charged up their imperfect dragon force and released it.

Erza looked around and found herself gasping. The energy in that area was immense. What she saw behind her took her breath away. All the dragon slayers—all thousands of them, were in their dragon forces. It was a breathtaking sight. At that moment, she truly realised the great power that dragon slayers held within. It was truly enough to level the world should they all work together. Maybe she should prepare herself as well.

A bright flash covered her body, and she was in her purgatory armour. Her strongest armour. She was fighting this war for Natsu. There was no way she could lag behind.

The guild alliance stood together. Their breaths were one. Their hearts beat as one. They were ready on that day to fight together and die together. As long as they had each other, there was no reason to fear. As long as Natsu watched over them, they had no reason to fear.

The comets entered the earth's atmosphere, and started searing through the air. A bright flash covered the skies, enough to cause everyone to look away. The air heated up, and an ugly and intense feeling coiled around their hearts.

The comets, however, changed their tracks at the last moment, and instead of falling atop the guild alliance soldiers, fell directly onto the battlefield. The place where the war was supposed to be fought was covered in an immense explosion.

The ground shook and rattled, and the complete shockwaves of the explosions reached the guild alliance soldiers. They were thrown back off their feet, clinging to the ground to keep themselves from being swept away. Dust, rocks, stones and sand flew at them with an intense force causing them to shut their eyes. The debris drilled into their skin, stinging and cutting, and these shockwaves lasted for a good half a minute. When they were gone, there was silence.

The dragon slayers rose to their feet and looked around. Were they… dead? Was that it? Had the dragons completely annihilated them in one fell swoop? Was it over?

Could Erza finally see Natsu now?

When they got their bearings back to them, they realised that they still stood at the same place. The place of the battle. They were okay. Unscathed. The comets hadn't hit them. They had rather… hit the battlefield. Where the war was supposed to be fought.

When Erza shook her head and looked forward… she gasped.

The battlefield was covered by giant bright flames. Red… crimson… scarlet. Just like her hair. The heat and the power they ejected coursed through the area, as if a giant storm was approaching. The ground… the floor… the rocks and sand… were on fire.

"What is happening?" Gray asked no one.

"Those flames…" Sting narrowed his eyes. "They aren't normal… They are burning through the ground. No fire can do that…"

Jura clenched his teeth. "Someone doesn't want us to fight this battle."

"That would be me."

They all looked to their right… and found a man in heavy robes standing there. He wore a mask over his face, and no part of his skin showed. He stood next to Erza.

As he approached her, she stood back and brought her giant sword between the two.

"Stay back."

She couldn't sense life from this man. This man didn't have a life force. It was as if..

He was dead. Could this be a trick by the dragons? Was this man one of them? One of Acnologia's commanders? Or… Acnologia himself?

Death stopped and cackled. "Don't fret. I am friendly. He would skin me alive should I harm any of you. I have just come here to guard you against the dragons. If they are able to cross my line of fire, that is. If they do, I will make sure they start dropping like flies. Be sure of that."

Erza lowered her sword. He had started that fire? Who… who was he? And… who would skin him alive should he hurt her? Why was he protecting them? Could he really kill those dragons just like that?

Before she could attack the man given his unclear allegiance in this war, he fished inside his robes and brought out something. Something…that caught Erza's immediate attention.

It was a white scarf, with dragon scales merging together to form its structure. She had… seen that before. She had touched it before.

Death approached and extended that scarf to Erza.

Erza dropped her sword to the ground. She approached her hands to touch that scarf. As much as she wanted to touch it, she was also afraid. That scarf… it's smooth and soft texture… its gleaming brightness lighting up the darkest corners of her heart and mind…

That was Natsu's scarf.

Does that mean this man standing before her… was he…?

Her eyes watered as she looked at him.

Death stepped back. "I am not him. But… he's here. Take care of that scarf. And he… he will take care of the rest."

Natsu stepped out from the flames. As the dust settled, he saw Acnologia standing before him. His large tattooed body covered in the clouds of dust, his face reflecting a morose rage at the sudden unknown intervention to his war. He could sense that something otherworldly was up. These flames that had suddenly erupted before them… they weren't normal flames. Acnologia knew that should any of his dragons even touch that, they would be reduced to ashes within a minute. The power that was halting the battle could destroy his forces within seconds. The only reason it hadn't done so was because… it wanted to prevent this battle. To stop it from ever conceiving. For what reason?

As the dust died down, several people stepped up behind Acnologia, staring down at Natsu. Natsu dispersed his gaze at them, and recognised them to be Acnologia's dragons in their human forms. They were diverse in how they looked… They stood in groups, clearly representing the various tribes they had come from. Some were tall, some big, some slender and some short. Some young and some old. Some dark skinned while some fair. Dragons from all over the world had gathered here. The air was filled with an enormous magical aura that would have been enough to suffocate Natsu to death had he not been who he was. Had he not been Ankhseram.

A woman with short green hair and green tattoos over her almost bare body snuggled close to Acnologia. She stared at Natsu.

"The spawn of Igneel. What are you doing here?"

She laughed. "Don't tell me you have come to stop this battle. Silly child… Magna Carta is long gone, just like Igneel. Hasn't it, dearest?"

She looked at Acnologia and fiddled with his locks. Acnologia kept glaring at Natsu and didn't pay any attention to her.

Natsu glared back at them, then shut his eyes. He slowly raised his hand to his chest and felt his heart. It beat with… anxiety. Anticipation. Grief. Longing. Pain. He was watching Magna Carta being shattered before his eyes. The peace and trust between humankind and dragonkind shattered and crushed before his very senses. All that Igneel lived for, all that he died for… gone. Almost gone. But… his heart beat with courage too. With virtue and strength. With resolve and determination. Igneel had given him that heartbeat. Igneel had given him life and courage. Igneel may not have been Natsu's parent, but… he birthed Natsu all the same.

He opened his eyes.

"Igneel isn't gone." He said. "That's untrue. This dust around us. The sand beneath our feet, the winds caressing our beings, the sky over our heads, the ground under us, the rain, the breeze, the mountains and the valleys. Igneel lives… lives through these. He may not be here physically, but he is with us in spirit. In emotions. He… he is the light that chases away the darkness in our hearts. He is the brightness that extinguishes the fear in our minds. He is the shore that we all step on after a long journey on the infinite seas. He is the bridge over the void. He… he is with us. He watches us. And what you do now… what I do now… what we do now… he will see all of it."

The dragons stared at Natsu, some exchanging glances. They could feel the skies over their heads, they could feel the breeze touching their skin, they could feel the sand that their bare feet stood on. They could… they could feel Igneel watching them. Igneel the merciful. The righteous. The brave. The courageous. Someone who would have given his life away for each of those that stood there. The King of Dragons.

An old dragon, with white eyes like the moon and bare muscular chest stepped up, but didn't cross Acnologia's position. Igneel's presence felt around him may have given him some courage, but Acnologia's fear ran rampant before him.

"What is your name, boy? Who are you?"

Natsu looked at him. He was a leader of one of the dragon tribes that Acnologia had conquered. There were many such leaders gathered here, all now ruled by fear and power.

Natsu replied.

"Natsu Dragneel. Igneel raised me from an infant. Taught me dragon slaying. Whatever I am today, I am because of his care and love."

The old man nodded. The fear within him shifted some. Maybe… Maybe Igneel was still here. Maybe… he could chase away Acnologia, like he always did. Maybe he could keep them safe. Maybe there was still hope.

"I remember Igneel." The old man proceeded. "He loved and protected us like no one else. When he was our king, we felt… safe. Sound. Secure. His light guided us, his breaths cleared obstacles from our paths, and his heart was big enough to encompass us all. His teachings are still with me. He taught us care and compassion towards the lesser beings. Towards animals, towards plants… towards humans. He believed that humans were capable of greatness the likes of which had never seen before. He raised the first dragon slayers 800 years ago. He showed us that through guidance and care and love, humans could grow and achieve greatness. That all they needed to realise their bright and infinite potentials was a guiding hand. A light in the darkness. Courage in a world full of fear and fright. Love… in a world ruled by grief and hatred."

Natsu smiled. "Yes. That sounds like Igneel. Do you… do you still believe in his teachings?"

The man faltered. He looked at Acnologia, and then turned his head around to look at his fellow dragons. Natsu could sense the fear and doubt in their breaths and beings. Fear and doubt that he had to battle. That was his true fight here.

He faced Natsu again. "Pardon my honesty. Humans are… ailing. They are weak and violent, killing each other over the smallest ordeals. They are selfish and greedy, ruled by sins and vices. Darkness and ignorance and chaos. They are struggling in this world, painfully and desperately. They slay, steal, murder, thieve, shed blood and harm without a second thought. Why would we protect them, when they themselves would end their reign soon enough? What is to be gained by prolonging their suffering and pain? What is to be gained by trying to save a sinking ship? Tell me that, Natsu Dragneel."

Natsu stood silent for a while. All eyes were on him. The dragons, the woman who stood next to Acnologia, smiling slyly, and Acnologia himself, digging daggers into Natsu's soul.

Natsu gulped, clenched and unclenched his fists, and smiled. His life until now… hasn't been ideal. But he had learnt from it. He had grown.

He smiled sadly. "I was the dreaded Etherious. For 500 years, I slayed and killed and harmed people mercilessly. There wasn't a single bit of empathy and compassion in me. A single shred of light and warmth. Of love and care. I was ruled by darkness and evil. By greed, power and animalistic authority. I killed and crushed thousands and millions under my feet, orphaned children, widowed wives, killed mothers, fathers, infants alike. I was the epitome of darkness and evil. One would think that there was no way out for me. Never would be. I was so deep inside a void that coming out wasn't ever an option. But… that was wrong. I did come out. I somehow left my old life behind. I was born anew. I was a different person. A different man. Do you know how that happened?"

The dragons eyed and heard him closely. The old man standing behind Acnologia shook his head.

Natsu took in a deep breath and smiled wider. His eyes glistened, and even slightly flowed.

"It happened because of Igneel." Natsu said. "Igneel sealed me within myself… and I became an infant with the evil locked deep within me. Igneel knew my capacity for violence and destruction. He knew that sealed within that little newborn was the greatest evil known to mankind. And evil that could end the world should it ever escape. Igneel at that time… was faced with a decision. He could kill me. End Etherious once and for all. Destroy me forever. Free the world from the monster that swore to swallow everything up and leave nothing behind. Save the world once and for all…"

He took a deep breath. "Or… He could protect me. He could teach me light. He could teach me love for others, care for others, compassion and understanding for the weak. He could teach me how to fight for justice and virtue. To fight for what was right, no matter how tough it was. To protect and preserve others and to live for others. He had faith in me—who was the greatest evil of all time. If it wasn't for his love and affection, I… I would be lost to the stars. I would have never been standing here, talking of peace. I would be gone. Forever. He gave me a chance. A chance to prove myself. A chance to protect those that I had harmed, to preserve and defend for a change. I was able to find friends and family, find love and happiness because Igneel trusted in me, no matter how dark of a menace I was. That was because Igneel knew that to humans, there is more than greed, power, selfishness and tendency to harm others. There is love, brightness, care and affection. There is a tendency to protect and lay down their lives for another. There is brightness. There is a strong and unhindered and unfaltering sense of justice in them. He gave me a chance… just like I am asking you all to do right now."

Natsu pointed behind him. "Those human soldiers behind me that were ready to fight you… they know that they can never truly fight off so many dragons. Ever. They know that the side they are on will lose. That they will be erased from existence. Their lives… their heartbeats… their dreams and aspirations… all mixed in the dirt and the winds. That today, they would cease to exist. Yet, they tried. They gathered all the forces that they could, and they stood defiantly and courageously and selflessly before you. Do you know why they are fighting? They are fighting for the sake of others. For the sake of this world. For its beauty, its glory, for its purity. To protect those that can't protect themselves. To fight for those that can't fight themselves. To protect this world. To preserve a future. And from what I know of them… they will die standing on that hill. They will die in each other's arms, glad that they were able to fight together. To fight for the light. To fight for justice and purity. To fight for love. To fight for… Igneel."

The old man's eyes widened. He looked behind himself and at the other dragons. They all exchanged glances… and thought about Igneel for a while.

Igneel's lessons… they still swirled in their minds. Igneel was a friend. A teacher. A protector. A parent. Someone who always strived towards the light, and would have never given in to the darkness that consumed them right now. He would fight that darkness, life and limb, and in the end, he would come out victorious. That's who Igneel was. And that's who he wanted others to be.

The old man hung his head. "I understand. I understand that we have been blinded by darkness and power. Had been for too long. I understand that now, I will change my ways. We all will. Igneel would want it. He is watching us. Hoping that we make the right choice. And the right choice is that… we retreat. That we end this war. That we reenact Magna Carta and always follow its sacred ideals and principles. We live by Magna Carta. And we die by it."

The woman who stood next to Acnologia looked at the old man, anger and lividity clear on her fair gaunt face. She turned around and clenched her fists, a dark green dragon energy surrounding her slender and curvaceous body.

"You bastard…" she growled. "Do you even know the consequences of leaving the battlefield? Acnologia will come back and tear your body limb from limb. Just like he did Igneel. Igneel is gone. Your protector is gone. Who will save you now?"

The old man stood defiant. He wasn't scared of Acnologia and this woman anymore. He was beyond fear and intimidation. He was with Igneel. Everyone was.

In Igneel's world, there was no place for darkness. No place for fear and evil. No place for fright and concern. As long as they stood on the right path, no one could harm them. They knew this. They understood this. They had learnt this lesson now.

"We will retreat." The old man said. "There is nothing you can do now that will change our minds. We have strayed from Igneel's path far enough. Now… we flock back to it. Under Igneel's protection… you can't harm us. Neither can Acnologia."

The woman growled as her dragon scales started to creep over her face, dark green and ugly. She turned around and faced Natsu. On her scaly face was bloodlust.

"You fucker… you did this. You have destroyed our plans. I will gnaw on your ugly face and bones for an eternity to come…"

She dashed at Natsu, ready to swing her claws at him, but someone grabbed her arm. Awoken from her rage and lividity, she looked up at the masked face of the heavily robed stranger that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

In that stranger's eyes… she saw her death. She saw her destruction. Her doom. Her wrist that he had grabbed burnt with a searing intensity. Whatever this man was… whoever he was… he was beyond death and time. Beyond restrictions.

She growled at him, fear clear in her eyes.

Death smiled, and growled back… with a horrible intensity and dreaded ferocity that immediately put her in her place.

She knelt down before him, defeated and downed. She gasped for breaths and her dragon scales disappeared. The aggression that had suddenly staked her heart went back into its place. She had never faced such defeat. She was vile, cruel and undefeated. Only Acnologia could tame her. But this man… this cloaked figure… who was he?

Death released her hand and stood before Natsu, like a guard. "Anyone else foolish enough to try and attack him? Be ready to be crushed."

The dragons standing behind Acnologia stepped further backwards. Whoever hadn't learnt their lesson through Natsu's words… learnt it now. They knew that now… the only way was backwards. Where they had come from. The war was over. The war was finished before it even began. All because of… this pink haired man. This peacekeeper. This herald of peace and law and order. This son of Igneel.

They all looked at Natsu… his quiet and peacefully defiant figure standing a distance away. In his grey eyes, his bright skin, his pink fluttering locks and his well built figure… They saw Igneel. They saw their merciful ruler. Their teacher. Their friend. Someone who was absent… but not lost. He was always here. Always watching them. Always standing by them. Always there to help, protect and preserve. He will protect them against Acnologia now… through his son. Through Natsu.

Slowly but surely, the dragons hung their heads and started to pace backwards into the dust. Their lessons learnt and their minds and hearts beating and functioning as one… they left. Magna Carta was back in effect. Its sanctity protected. Its sacred fire still burning. It's power still reigning supreme. Igneel… wherever he was… was smiling upon them.

The dragons disappeared into the dust and the sands. And soon they were gone. Natsu and Death stood facing Acnologia. And the woman lay unconscious by Death's side.

Acnologia slowly approached Death. The two fearsome beasts faced each other. They were the same. Born of darkness and death. Born of chaos and disarray. For them, only animalism and dominance mattered. To shred their enemies in the field of battle, and to bathe in their red and thick blood. That started and ended their days.

Death smiled malignantly at Acnologia. "He is staring me down. Does he think I will back off? Give me the word… and I'll bring you his head."

Natsu stared at Acnologia all the same. "No. This is my fight. I must be the one to defeat him. That is my duty. Return to the heavens. Your work here is done."

Death gnashed his teeth as he grinned at Acnologia. He slowly stepped backwards and then vanished into a burst of black flames.

All that remained now… were Natsu and Acnologia.

Acnologia finally broke his silence. "Father… I can sense you. You're back."

Natsu felt confused for a while. Father?

He then suddenly remembered who he was. And who Acnologia was. Natsu was Ankhseram. And Acnologia… was his son.

The two fighters glared at each other and the winds and dust danced around them. The fight that had started in the heavens will now conclude on earth. A fight or order against chaos. A fight of justice against fear and fright. A battle of mercy against violence. A battle of two fearsome dragons.

They both dashed at each other.