In an Alternate Timeline
Fiore X792
A deep rumble vibrated through the dark clouds. Suddenly, a shadow tore through the darkness, The Black Dragon Acnologia. His wings cleaved through the storm, clearing the clouds with his descent. The skies above Fiore burned red as Acnologia descended like an apocalypse. His deafening roar shook the very Earthland.
Below him, seven figures stood amidst the ruins, battered and bleeding as a result of the war with Alvarez. Yet they remained standing strong. The seven dragon slayers united for the last stand.
"Wendy!" Laxus called out as he charged forward.
"I'm on it!" Wendy cried, her pink hair and eyes glowing brightly. She placed her arms together as she cast her spell, her voice trembling with desperation.
"Heal!" Followed quickly by "Enchant: Dues Eques" A surge of wind washed over the team, closing their wounds and increasing their physical capabilities.
"Stay on him!" Laxus shouted, suddenly energized, lightning sparking wildly across his shoulders. "If we lose focus for even a second, we're dead!"
"Lightning Dragon's Roaring Thunder!" He punched towards Acnologia's face
"Like I didn't know that!" Gajeel barked, taking advantage of the brief moment to attack. He inhaled sharply. "Iron Shadow Dragon's Roar!"
The attack smashed into Acnologia's wing joint, shattering scales. A snarl shook the sky.
From above, Sting and Rogue dove in together, releasing a large amount of white light and shadows from their fists. The forces combined, creating a massive attack. "Holy Shadow Dragon's Flash Fang!"
Their strike carved into Acnologia's side, sending shards of dragon scale scattering like meteors.
"Not enough!" Sting seethed through his teeth. "He's so strong!"
A deep voice growled behind them.
"Outta the way."
Natsu Dragneel stepped forward, flames bursting from every inch of his body. His scarf was burned and tattered, his eyes no longer human. One glowed crimson, the other black; his face was twisted with savagery.
"Natsu…" Wendy gasped. "Your body!"
"I don't care!" he snapped, voice distorted by the demonic growl beneath it. "We have to stop him here."
"Fire Dragon King's Demolition fist!" Natsu launched forward, landing a heavy blow at Acnologia's chest, forcing him backwards.
Acnologia roared in anger and charged forward towards Natsu.
"How dare you!" He roared, pushing everyone around him away and charged towards Natsu. He swung his claw down, sending it crashing towards Natsu.
Natsu launched himself towards Acnologia's claw as it came crashing down towards him.
Flames roared outward, forming wings on his back in an equal clash with Acnologia's claw. His voice boomed through the inferno:
"Fire Dragon King's Purgatory!" Natsu's entire body ignited, setting everything around him ablaze, consuming Acnologia within it.
Laxus flew up behind him, lightning surging. "Everyone now!"
He inhaled.. "Lightning Dragon's Roar!"
"Sky Dragon's Roar!"
"Poison Dragon's Roar!"
"White Dragon's Roar!"
"Shadow Dragon's Roar!"
"Iron Shadow Dragon's Roar!"
The six attacks merged together, forming a unison raid formed of the six dragon slayer roars.
Acnologia screamed a sound that tore the clouds apart. His body cracked, his scales melting under Natsu's Flames while taking the combined force of their ultimate attack.
For a moment… it looked like they might actually win.
However,
The magic circle beneath Natsu's feet shattered. Flames turned red. His body began to turn black. Wendy reached out in horror, tears streaking down her face. "Natsu! Stop! You'll die!"
He looked back at them with that same reckless grin.
He clenched his fists, the last of his power roaring outward.
Natsu condensed his entire being into a final attack. He burned away his life for one final attack. His entire right arm turned into red flames as he charged towards Acnologia's chest.
"Fire Dragon King's Iron Fist!" Natsu smiled as his skin cracked, the fissures glowing like lava.
A massive force began tearing through Acnologia's chest, ripping through his heart until a gaping hole emerged.
"No… NO!!!" Acnologia roared for a final maneuver. He encased Natsu and himself and exploded outward. The light blinded, forcing everyone to look away.
When the dust settled, Acnologia remained standing in his human form. His entire body was pitch black and it looked as though a single breeze would turn him into ashes. However, so was Natsu, who was on the ground, with a smile on his face.
Wendy rushed over and fell to her knees trying to heal Natsu. Her tears fell freely sizzling on Natsu's body. The others stood in silence, every heartbeat echoing with grief and disbelief.
Unknowing to them, a fading ember drifted upward, scattering into the sky.
—
The once lively walls of Fairy Tail were scorched, cracked, and brokens. Gray Fullbuster pushed the broken doors open, limping in towards the guild hall.. His breath was laborious, he clutched his left arm as he entered. He stared ahead and saw a young man sitting at the end of the hall.
The black mage Zeref.
Black robes. Still eyes. Waiting.
"Gray, Natsu's best friend" He said calmly. Gray just stared at him.
"Your parents were killed by Deliora, the demon I created. Defeating this monster took your master's life. You must despise me right?"
"I am surprised you know quite a lot about the people you are not interested in." Gray retorted.
"As they say, know thy enemy." Zeref replied.
"Lucy Heartfilia, the descendant of my friend Anna. A cheerful, positive person who's had a great impact on Natsu's upbringing. Happy, Natsu's partner. They all share a very strong bond and trust each other. Erza… Wendy… Gajeel.. I know every major opponent of mine."
"What are you really aiming for?" Gray asked.
"I want Mavis's magic and you want to protect her. Isn't that enough of a reason for us to fight?" Zeref smiled
"You already have a vast army and the power of immortality. What do you need her for?"
"To defeat Acnologia." Zeref replied solemnly. "If that were my goal, would you lend me a hand."
Gray just smirked. "Sorry, but it looks like Natsu's already beat you to it. He's already headed towards him."
"And you think Natsu can beat him alone." Zeref scoffed.
"Who said anything about him going alone? Our friends will be with him, and that will give him all the strength he needs." Gray smiled. "I don't know what your goals are, and I don't care. I trust Natsu and all my Fairy Tail family. They will stop your army and Acnologia. The only thing I can do now is make sure to stop you here for good."
"Hmm, it doesn't matter what trick you have up your sleeve. I am immortal, no one can kill. And even if you do manage to do it. Natsu will…
"Yeah, I know." Gray interrupted.
"So you know Natsu is E.N.D."
"Natsu… is Natsu. I wanted to blame someone for the deaths of my parents and Ur… And that "someone" was END. But now I know that it's Natsu… I care more about those who are still alive. I don't care what they are. They are my friends. That's why I have to defeat you here and now." Gray's magic flared, ice spread around, freezing the surroundings. The mist began spreading towards Zeref.
"Don't you understand? If I die, Natsu…" Zeref remained calm.
"There is a way to defeat you without killing you." Gray outstretched his arms, crossing them.
"Iced Shell."
"This Magic… In exchange for someone's life." Zeref stood up, staring incredulously at Gray.
"I know that this life doesn't belong only to me. I can't die too easily. For everyone's sake. Gray took a breath, channeling a second force into his spell.
Zeref was stunned. "This magic power… Lost Attribute?!"
"That's right… no one has to remember me. I'll erase my existence from my friends' memories. I'll turn my life, and memories into magic. LOST ICED SHELL!!!!"
"Where could you have possibly learned the Lost Aspect?" Zeref asked, stunned.
"Infiltrating one of your cults had its uses. Applying the lost aspect multiplies your magic several hundred times over."
"But the cost is the user's whole existence!" Zeref exclaimed.
"Yeah. I know. This way, no one will remember me and no one will be sad over this!"
There have been enough tears. Gray said softly. The ice spread outward, lowering the temperature to staggering degrees. It slowly encased over Zeref.
"My Body!!" Zeref struggled, trying to free himself.
"It ends now, Zeref!!" Gray shouted.
"You're playing with your life, your very existence. But this magic only imprisons your opponent. IT WON'T KILL ME!"
"If I kill you, Natsu will die, so I am going to lock you up for all eternity!" Gray closed his eyes, his body slowly turning into ice.
"Nothing is eternal! The ice will melt someday! I will be reborn!"
"But until that time, there will be some peace, right? That's a win for Fairy Tail." Gray's body turned entirely into ice, his entire existence used to seal Zeref. 'Juvia, Natsu, Lucy, Erza…. Everyone…' Gray's body was now entirely made of ice, slowly cracking. He had a smile on his face.
Just then, Lucy, Happy, and Mavis came rushing into the room.
"What… happened!" Mavis looked around. The entire hall was frozen with Zeref at the center. His body was fully encased in ice. In front of his body was an ice statue.
"This is Iced Shell. Did that young man use it? He seems familiar, but who?" She clutched her head, trying to remember.
Tears were flowing down Happy's face as looked at the ice statue. "Why am I crying…" He said as he wiped his eyes.
"I don't know…Was he the one who fought Zeref?" Lucy was similarly saddened as she looked at the smiling Ice Statue.
Unknowing to them, a small blue snowflake ascended into the sky.