A/N: Episode 265.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER EIGHTY: THAT'S THE POWER TO LIVE

Makarov still stood in front of Lumen Histoire with his eyes closed. "The dragons saved us. I didn't have the courage. The courage to use Lumen Histoire..." Makarov stated.

"That's fine." Mavis's voice was soon heard. "That means it wasn't yet time..."

After the battle was finally over, Metallicana, Grandeeney, Weisslogia, Skiadrum, Lockhardt, and Atlas Flame gathered in front of Fairy Tail and the Dragon Slayers.

"Grandeeney..."

"Everyone's courage and Igneel repulsed Acnologia." Grandeeney said.

"Dragons are our allies... I got such a feeling of superiority right now." Jet exclaimed.

"Yeah, right?" Droy agreed.

"But I heard there were thousands of Faces..." Romeo muttered.

"The dragons destroyed all of them?" Macao questioned.

"Incredible!" Wakaba added.

Gajeel stared at Metallicana, who stared back. "This is Metallicana?" Lily asked.

"Gajeel..." Levy muttered.

"As always, you've got that nasty look in your eye." Metallicana commented.

"Shut up!" Gajeel shouted in irritation.

Sebastian stood in front of Atlas Flame with Orion and Raden. He glanced over to where smoke was emitting from the ground before turning his gaze back to his dragon father. "Atlas."

"Hm?"

"Will Natsu be okay?" Sebastian questioned.

"It'll take time for him to heal." Atlas Flame responded.

"Why didn't you help Igneel?"

"He told me not to in his final moments." Atlas Flame replied, confusing Sebastian. "He sent me a telepathic message right before his death to not intervene."

Sebastian sighed. "You're Jade's guildmate, correct?" Lockhardt spoke up as Sebastian glanced at the Gemstone Dragon. "I noticed she's not around. So could you relay a message to her?"

"Of course." Sebastian accepted.

"Tell her I'm proud of how much she's grown. And that she's turned into a fine Dragon Slayer." Lockhardt said as Sebastian nodded.

Sting and Rogue stared up at their dragon fathers. "Weisslogia... I killed you..." Sting claimed.

"And I saw you die before my eyes too, Skiadrum." Rogue added.

"Human memories can be falsified in any number of ways." Weisslogia said.

"Although Igneel was against it... At the time, we intended to give you Dragon Slayers the memory and achievement of slaying a dragon." Skiadrum stated.

"That being said, saying we died isn't too far from the truth." Weisslogia added, grabbing Sting's attention.

"We are already dead." Lockhardt announced.

"Long ago, Acnologia's Dragon Slayer Magic ripped out our souls. So inside your bodies were objectives. 'Protecting against turning into a dragon,' 'defeating Acnologia,' and extending our own lives." Grandeeney explained.

"What?!" Wendy spoke in confusion.

"Once we left your bodies, we became unable to return there. Today we showed you our power for the first and last time. And we want you to understand why we couldn't show ourselves until now." Skiadrum continued.

"Not even Igneel could defeat Acnologia. But... even Igneel only had the last of his power left before dying." Metallicana added.

"Humans, please do not allow the majesty of the Fire Dragon King to be tarnished." Atlas Flame said.

"There is no dragon braver, nor one who loved humans more, than Igneel." Lockhardt finished as Natsu was in tears.

"Dad... You promised me... You said you wouldn't go anywhere. Don't go back on your word! I..." Natsu started to say, wiping his face. "I've looked for you all these years. I finally learned how to write. I learned how to use Magic more, too. I've made lots of friends. And I'm working, too. I... I... I wanna talk to you more! Igneel!"

Natsu continued sobbing as Happy watched from afar with tears also flowing from his eyes.

"We have not told you everything that should be said, but the time has come. The time to part ways." Grandeeney said.

"No..." Wendy mumbled.

"I am sure you will encounter many more hardships in the days to come, but I have confidence that all of you will get through them." Grandeeney told Wendy.

"Don't go, Grandeeney! Don't leave me!" Wendy begged.

Gajeel placed his hand on her head. "Let's see them off with our heads held high." He told her as Wendy hiccuped.

Grandeeney raised her wings in the air as her and the other dragons began to take flight. "Humans, memories of war and hating one another are things of the far past. On this day, we were able to work together hand in hand." Grandeeney said.

"The Age of Dragons has reached an ending of sorts." Weisslogia claimed.

"From here on out, human power shall create the future." Skiadrum continued.

"400 years ago, the Magna Carta, a pact between humans and dragons, was formed, and in accordance with that... we dragons will continue to watch over humanity!" Atlas Flame finished as a bright pink beam shot up in the sky. "For eternity..."

"Grandeeney!" Wendy cried out.

"I love you, Wendy!" Grandeeney exclaimed as she began to fade away and Porlyusica watched.

"You've got that nasty look in your eye." Metallicana told Gajeel once more as he faded away.

"Those are your last words?!" Gajeel shouted in irritation. "Dammit..."

Sebastian waved his hand in the air. "Farewell, Atlas." He bids farewell. Atlas Flame stares down at him before fading away as Lockhardt soon followed.

"Thank you, Weisslogia." Sting thanked.

"Skiadrum..." Rogue mumbled.

Weisslogia and Skiadrum stared at them as they faded away. Makarov watched from afar. The pink beam finally vanished.

Pink orbs soon surrounded Igneel as he faded away as well.

"Igneel..." Natsu muttered.

"Don't cry, Natsu."

Natsu continued sobbing. "Come on. What do you do in times of sadness? I told you that, remember?" Igneel's voice said.

"I know." Natsu said.

"Then try it. Get on your feet."

Natsu then stood up. "I'll always be with you. Even now, from now on, all the way down the line. Show me how you've grown, of the way you live..." Igneel said.

Tears fell from Natsu's eyes. "Okay. I'm gonna keep livin'! I'm gonna get stronger! I'm gonna beat Acnologia!" He declared to the sky.

"That's right. Speak of the future. That is the power to live."

Before heading back to Black Sun, Sebastian had decided to visit Natsu while Orion and Raden stood a few feet away. Sebastian watched from the door frame as Natsu and Happy packed.

"Quite the cozy place you've got."

Natsu turned around at the sound of Sebastian's voice. "Oh, hey Sebastian." Natsu greeted in a monotone voice, making Sebastian frown.

"You, Orion, and Raden heading back to Black Sun?" Happy asked.

"Yeah." Sebastian replied as he hesitates for a split second. "Hey, cousin..."

"Hm?"

Sebastian leaned on the door frame with his arms crossed. "I may not know what you're going through. But, um, if you need anything... and I do mean anything... You can always come find me. Okay?"

Natsu stops packing and finally turns to look at Sebastian. "I know. And thanks. I appreciate it." He answered.

Sebastian sends him a soft smile before taking his leave, rejoining Orion and Raden.

"Ready to go?" Orion asked.

"Yeah."

Orion hesitated as him, Raden, and Sebastian left Natsu and Happy's house. "Say, Seb?" He spoke up.

"What is it?"

"Are you going to be okay?"

Sebastian stops and stays silent for a moment before finally turning around to look at his best friend. "I will be eventually." He responded before continuing on as Orion and Raden glanced at one another before following him.

By nightfall, Sebastian, Orion, and Raden finally returned to Black Sun.

"Sebastian-nii, Orion-san, Raden! You're back!" Aster greeted.

"Yeah. Sorry it took us so long." Sebastian replied.

"How was the clean-up here?" Orion questioned.

"It went surprisingly smooth. Though, I'm sure our town wasn't half as bad as Magnolia was." Massorao answered, making both Sebastian and Orion frown.

"Oh, that's right. Jade." Sebastian spoke up, getting Jade's attention. "I met your dragon mother, Lockhardt."

Jade widened her eyes. "You did?"

Sebastian nodded. "Atlas, Metallicana, Weisslogia, Skiadrum, and Grandeeney were there, too." He said. "Before she departed, Lockhardt wanted me to tell you that she's proud of how much you've grown. And that you've turned into a fine Dragon Slayer."

Jade stays silent before tears streamed down her face. Sebastian embraces her tightly and allows her to cry into his chest.

Meanwhile, Zeref was sitting in a room, glancing out of the window.

"Try to surpass me, Natsu. That is... Etherious... Natsu... Dragneel." Zeref spoke.

The Book of END was placed on the table, shining in the moonlight.

A/N: Finally the Tartaros Arc has reached its conclusion! Like with God Pegasus, I'll be doing a 'Throughout the Year' chapter where Wendy and Carla join Black Sun. Since she met Aster instead of Sherria.

Also, I MIGHT write the 100 Year Quest Arc for this fanfic unlike my other two SYOC stories as I do have an idea of how I can place this guild in that Arc.

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.