This is my first Fairy Tail story. I've got another one, but it involves an original character that is Lucy's sister and I don't believe it's "mature" enough to be released on fanfic yet, so for now, here's one about Acnologia! I do hope I can portray him right, like an anti-hero who's seen the worst of humanity, but ultimately does, deep down, still retain enough in him to care, much unlike his canon self who only died the way he did against Natsu.
In the main timeline of a magical world where Fairies, Demons, Dragons, and Mages lived, the strongest creature in existence, Acnologia the Black Dragon of Apocalypse, was eventually defeated only by a technicality: His body and soul was split up due to the Space Between Time's power, leaving his dragon body to act out of instinct and thus foolable, which required the magic of nearly every wizard in Fiore to seal him. Meanwhile, his human soul had lost his left arm and was paralyzed when his body is being sealed.
It was only through those circumstances did Natsu Dragneel have the opportunity to finish him off without the chance to nullify the attack that combined the powers of all 7 Dragon Slayers fighting him. Only in his death did Acnologia find peace as he accepted defeat and acknowledged Natsu as worthy of being the Dragon King, and despite all he had done, his past was pitiable.
However, in this timeline, where Acnologia chose to not simply be restlessly unmoving but instead to think about his life and contemplate the choice of choosing another path, the "Dragon King" of Acnologia being replaced by the "Dragon Slayer" side of him that never once dimmed took him to a different path. Although he would not seek repentance, even the most broken of villains, as long as they still had humanity, possessed the chance to come back and find the light.
So it is done. Those dragon-like presences I sensed on the Island I believed I blew up have now vanished. Igneel is dead by my hand, and Grandeeney, Metalicana, Skiadrum, as well as Weisslogia perished the moment they left the bodies of their Dragon Slayers. Thus, the Dragons have truly ceased to exist. After years of searching for those five Dragons who escaped my wrath partially, now I have finally completed my life-long purpose. And- What now? In the depths of a black cavern, Acnologia the Dragon King contemplated what he should do next.
Should I just hunt down and kill those Dragon Slayers next? No, they're far too weak. I've finally done it. I've exterminated the world of Dragons, my reason for existence finally fulfilled, and yet... What is this feeling?Acnologia's usual stoic frown deepened as he looked at himself and his surroundings.Am I unsatisfied by the performance of the Fire Dragon King? Should I have descended down and killed those 4 Dragons instead of just leaving once Igneel was killed? No. I was never one to care about what kind of Dragon it was, only that all Dragons were to be exterminated.
As Acnologia affirmed to himself that he did not care how he did it as long as the Dragons were all exterminated, his thoughts suddenly turned towards memories of his past.I can perfectly remember my village, every single one of my family and friends, were burned and devoured by the Dragons who was supposed to protect us, but somehow I can't recall my own name. The name that I have now is but the name I took from the Dragon I once looked up to the most, and yet- I can't even recall the moment I slayed him, only that I did it in the most painful way possible.
Suddenly, a thought came over that softened Acnologia's expression somewhat.I can recall the moment a small girl was killed by the Dragons before my eyes, how it compelled me to assure her as she laid dying that I would exterminate all Dragons, yet I've spent centuries caring nothing for humans, even though I still remember the people I've lost. And-Acnologia exhaled deeply as his mind recalled times where he was still "Acnologia the Dragon Slayer".
Once upon a time, I remembered how I sought to protect humanity from Dragons, how I genuinely believed that by getting rid of them, there would be no more tragedies like the ones that happened because my village was betrayed by Dragons who initially seemed benevolent. Now that I think of it, when I try hard to recall it, I can remember fighting alongside other Dragon Slayers who shared the same goal, that of destroying Dragons for their treatment of humans as food or servants. But then-
Acnologia's scowl returned at the foul memories.Then I came across a village where some would even feed their own to Dragons for coexistence. I've watched as humans did many things in the name of the Dragons who oppressed them out of cowardice, and I remember feeling like it was meaningless to hold on to any ideals beyond simply seeing every single Dragon exterminated. I grew to resent humans, seeing them beneath me and unworthy of my protection-Suddenly, Acnologia paused as he remembered that girl who he couldn't save.
Am I actually feeling some empathy towards those humans, who could be just as terrible as the Dragons I resent? Did I not become the Dragon King, who humans fear as the Black Dragon of the Apocalypse- Ah... So that's why. I see now.Acnologia sat motionlessly as his face became ever deeper in thought.I didn't care that I would become a Dragon from overusing Dragon Slayer Magic. I believed it would be a small price to pay as long as all Dragons were exterminated, and afterwards, I intended to simply live as a recluse, refusing to have any contact with humans, and yet now-
For the first time in centuries, Acnologia did not feel the impulse to destroy or ignore, and it felt as though, with the fact that he had FINALLY exterminated the world of all Dragons, he could finally think straight, comprehending both the hazes of his feelings towards dragons and humans.Now, I've become the very same creature I seek to destroy, rarely shifting into the human that I was, even though it IS what I should consider to be my true form. Have I been too lost in my rage that I became just like the monsters I eradicated from this world? What- What was the point of declaring myself Dragon King, when I was the one who SLAYED the Dragons?
And then Acnologia recalled a certain someone's voice, a certain memory that caused him to chuckle in a rare solemn tone. The face felt emotionally painful for him to recall, but he could just make it out as a boisterous young man. It was when Acnologia reiterated that destroying the Dragons was the only path he could see living, and leaving the foolish, abhorrent humans who persecuted him for slaughtering dragons and uncaring of the destruction that came from it when THEY had done things worse than him. Was he a friend? An enemy? Acnologia didn't know, but he did remember the words spoken.
You know, Acnologia, we might have to get rough with some humans, but I believe that just like how they can be a bit nasty, they can be even more good than they are evil. They can love, they can show kindness, and they ultimately keep going no matter what, surviving and somehow usually managing to find happiness in most circumstances, rarely giving up. Maybe once all dragons are dead, you can choose another path that doesn't need you to be the Dragon Slayer?
Acnologia did not remember that man's name, somehow, but for the first time, his heart felt like he, indeed, could now pursue a different path with all the Dragons destroyed.I suppose the other path I could have traversed was the path of looking over humanity, choosing to see the best in them instead of simply holding them in contempt for their rejection of me and perhaps even making them see me as a protector, not a destroyer. The thought did came over me, at "that time", and yet I continued unleashing my power on dragons without caring for the destruction and barely considering the humans around me.
As Acnologia spoke those thoughts out-loud, he shook his head.Was I afraid of opening my heart up in that time, where monsters such as dragons existed and I couldn't even trust fellow humans to not betray me? Or was I afraid my own Dragon Slayer Magic would cause me to destroy more than what I intended and eventually distance any potential relationships when I became a Dragon? But now, there are no Dragons, so-
Acnologia stood up finally after a few moments of thinking.With all dragons gone from this world, perhaps this is to be my "next time". Perhaps it would be better for me to take a different path, one that does not need me to think as a destroyer. Perhaps not all hope was lost in humanity. I suppose now that my "life-purpose is gone", I should seek another way of life. Destroying the world is not going to do anything, but further leave me feeling this emptiness. And being the Dragon King? I now wonder why I ever accepted that mantle. I am not any ruler, ally, or god of Dragons, but their DESTROYER.
And so it was that "Acnologia the Dragon King" began to cease from existence as "Acnologia the Dragon Slayer" returned. After everything he had done, he would not be a traditional hero, of course, but that did not mean he was without ways of pursuing a better life. Soon, he would prove his merit to the world and change from being the destroyer to a savior, albeit in his own way...
Acnologia wandered through human towns, his muscular, menacing figure intimidating most people into silence. Civilizations had advanced so much within the centuries while he barely gave a damn. Few people would speak to him, and as Acnologia had no "Jewels" as to speak of (The world's monetary currency had clearly changed vastly compared to back when it was still through paper), he didn't bother to go to shops. Still, he had to admit he was intrigued and, even if apathetically, impressed by the development humanity had experienced since the age where Dragons ruled the world. To Acnologia's slight surprise, however, there were some people who seemed to genuinely want to befriend him.
A fair share of them were little kids who clearly had not experienced the harshness of the world, but the fact they were willing to ask him at all was something that intrigued the centuries-old Dragon Slayer. He treated them coolly, giving blunt answers to their questions without outright exposing who he was. They asked who was he? He told them he was a Dragon Slayer, and one who had killed Dragons before. What surprised him was that they seemed to be excited and awed by his words, as they asked for some tales where he fought Dragons.
At first, Acnologia abruptly chose to leave, even when some of the kids offered him Jewels in return for hearing his stories, but in time, he shared some of them, not holding back on the brutal and gory details. Once more, they surprised him by seeing him as some kind of a hero, for the tales he spoke about were him protecting humans from Dragons, back when he was in his "idealistic" phase. It brought back feelings that Acnologia had long forgotten, although only faintly. For a being like him, he could not possibly be easily swayed by just a few human kindness and empathy after all.
It was clear, as he could find it in himself to still feel the taste of the food, that he wasn't psychologically a dragon entirely, and he would try out some foods, finding them somewhat interesting but nothing too much. Compared to the foods of the time where he was "human", humanity had clearly developed much. There were also alternative forms of transportation, although Acnologia found that while motion sickness was originally a thing even for him, he eventually became immune to it as he familiarized himself with the feeling. Those new experiences slightly peaked Acnologia's intrigue and faint respect for humanity's developments.
And then there were some of the adults and elder figures who he met in the human cities. They reached out without him asking with surprising politeness, from questions of where he came from, to which Acnologia only had to respond with simply that he was not a resident of any human town, but when they asked him what his "dreams" were, Acnologia found he could not answer. The destruction of dragons was the closest thing he had to a "dream", and with that fulfilled, he didn't know what to aspire for.
Some of them made exciting claims about wanting to be great businessman, authors, and other professions that Acnologia wasn't too interested at. Someone like him wouldn't fit into social things such as that. Perhaps he could function as a doctor, since he retained access to his healing magic and his overwhelming power could allow him to super-charge his spells beyond what he was capable of as a human, but that was a prospect he looked down on to. However, it was those who said they wanted to be heroes that stirred something within Acnologia.
Heroism was a term Acnologia, even now, could still remember as associating with dragon slaying centuries ago. He once wanted to be a hero for the sake of it, to stop dragons from committing any more tragedies to humanity, but then he saw the worst of humanity, their willingness to abandon their own just for the sake of survival to dragons. The way those humans spoke, the way they romanticized heroes of old, it honestly caused Acnologia to feel bitter irony. He had been around where heroes were treated much more complexly than simply being respected.
As he travelled through one town after another, Acnologia felt that, despite everything, not all humans deserved to be unprotected from the many forces that could claim their lives. There existed those capable of "good", as much as the term seemed to have become distinct for him, and those with genuine heart as well as valor. Stingy people were unworthy of attention, of course, and Acnologia did not even dignify them with deaths, but people who seemed willing to be good just for the sake of it, he had to respect them for that.
A year passed, and now Acnologia stood before the Black Wizard Zeref. The man was basically the "strongest, most evil mage" in the history of the world, leaving aside Acnologia, who, even now, could not be said to be truly human. He could be said to be a hybrid between Dragons and Humans, neither one or the other.What do you want, Black Wizard?Acnologia spoke coldly. The man was definitely someone powerful enough to earn his respect, even if he still was not nearly capable of defeating or challenging him.
So you even restored your arm, huh?Zeref mused as Acnologia looked down on the left arm the Fire Dragon King had initially taken. He had, thanks to some humans showing him kindness, gotten his hands on some books that included modern advancements to healing magic, which he learned, if only to pass some time when he was not around the human towns. Thanks to that and his own overwhelming magical power, he eventually regrew the left arm entirely. I must say, your principles and motivations are extremely unclear. You could rule the world with your power, yet you do not. You can destroy anything, yet you hardly partake.
... And you are even more of that than I am, Black Wizard.Acnologia spoke curtly, not wanting to expose anything about his newfound desire for a path beyond destruction.Ruling over the world? What good is ruling it? I am the Slayer of Dragons, after all. Something like that is not what I am interested in. You have done many terrible creations, yet you yourself rarely actively impose your will in the world.
I've remained on the sidelines for so long because I couldn't decide, honestly. Do I side with humans to fight you, or do I side with you and fight the humans?Acnologia let out a mock scoff. They both knew the Black Wizard did not have the power to defeat him, let alone kill him, although Zeref's immortality meant even he would have a hard time truly ending his existence. But it turns out the question itself is flawed. Destroying both you and humans, that has been my mission all along.
At that, Acnologia frowned imperceptibly more, even as he kept his gaze hard and cold.Was the Black Wizard hinting he wished to exterminate humanity? But why? I'll soon be able to do it, make you fight seriously, so just you wait. Soon, the final battle between a dragon, an immortal, and a human would begin.And with that, the man was gone, disappearing in a burst of dark magic, leaving Acnologia to his thoughts.
What is the Black Wizard planning? Shall I interfere, and if so, for what...