Drinks

"To those we lost!" Cups of beer flew into the sky, as the dragons which have taken on human form cheered, before downing the strong alcohol. I was drinking with Levi, a sad smile on my face remembering those we lost along the way.

"You should try and move on, friend. Elsa wouldn't want you drowning in pain," I said, seeing how Levi remained single. Even I moved on, although I felt uneasy that Irene might be alive. If she was alive, how could I deal with all of this?

"I'm done with love... everything I love, it's cruelly taken away from me. Once I get my hands on Acnologia, I will make that bastard pay." Levi said, to which I nodded lightly, thanks for feeding off my magical power for so many years, they were above the likes of even Acnologia.

"I believe there is a long line of people who wish to kill him," I said looking at all the dragons in human form, a sign that their strength at least rivals Ancologia.

"Shouldn't you send some of us out to find that bastard?" Levi asked to which I shook my head almost instantly.

"Let's not act on revenge, the time to get Acnologia would come. Let's make sure our city is strong before we do anything that could lead to the death of our people. Only 3,200 dragons stand today, let's not lower that number. I wish that we all stay on this island until our numbers reach 5,000. but I don't want you all to feel like this is your prison." I said softly, to which Levi sighed seeing how everyone was secretly listening in on us. Dragons had sharp hearing, how could they ignore their king who was talking about their hated enemy?

"We also need to form allies with the nearby empires. We don't need pointless wars when we might have to stand against the gods soon." I said lightly while looking at the little dragons trying to sneak into the party hall. 

"We will train, have fun, and live. Forget trying to bring peace to the world, Let Dragon City become heaven on earth, free from the darkness!" I cheered, to which the dragon joined me before we all downed the drinks...

{First Pov}

Elsewhere, Erza sat in the back of a carriage. She wasn't alone as she sat with Lucy, Gray, Natsu, Happy, and the two new members of Fairy Tail. Wendy and Carla wanted to join Fairy Tail, although she was awkward around Erza and Natsu seeing who they were related to, and what that said person did to her guild... but she knew those two were nothing like that said person.

Erza's eyes were currently looking at the path they had come from, she had thrown the Scarlet Sword away. Yet she felt a connection with it, she felt like at any moment she could call the sword to her side.

Gray looked at Erza and back to Natsu, he had wanted to slaughter all demons, yet to find that two of his allies were related to that demonic red monster he saw on top of that dragon. He was horrified, that demon's many eyes nearly made him go insane... he was horrified. 

"Natsu... how are you alive?" Erza suddenly spoke, causing everyone to look towards Natsu. They all saw how Natsu died... well, all but Gray who didn't join them. They looked at Natsu, wanting him to explain.

"I don't know... as far as I could remember, I was taken in as a kid by Igneel. But that doesn't matter... I will beat that bastard up." Natsu said in rage remembering what happened, how dare that bastard make Erza cry. He had promised himself to ensure she would never cry, sure he was conflicted seeing Jellal, but at the end of the day, Erza was hurt. He saw Erza as an elder sister, everyone in Fairy Tail was a family. Erza was like that big elder sister who had kept them in line.

"I need to go to a library. We need information if we need to combat him," Erza said lightly, closing her eyes as she remembered back the image of Irene holding her hand out toward her father. Before remembering the scene of her mother enduring that torture... it made her sad.

Where was her mother? How was she in her mother's womb 400 years ago, yet was born 19 years ago? What did her mother do to get her father away from that hatred that had swallowed him?

She could feel her father did love her, she could also feel he was pushing her away, scared he would lose her. She pitty her father, and she could see he was broken, he was on the edge of shattering and was holding himself together. 

She was scared, if her father was that cruel in the state he was in, what would he be like when he was swallowed with hatred for the world that took everything from him?

She knew she wasn't his match, she knew that very well. Not even the Fairy Tail guild master was his match, if someone like that went crazy and wanted to destroy the world... then it wasn't going to be hard.

"Hey!" The two twins Gemi and Mini suddenly appeared and transformed into Lucy, who was stunned as she didn't make a contract with the two just yet.

"You want information on the Scarlet King? We had transformed into him long ago when he was known as the Scarlet Knight." Gemini explained stunning everyone there.

"back then, the Scarlet Knight was one of the main reasons we won the battle between dragons and humanity. Back then, there was no such thing as Dragon Slayer Magic. Your father had unique magic, his armor had absorbed the blood of dragons, and god slayers, adding his Phoenix Slayer magic, he had to stand on the front line to buy your mother time to create Dragon Slayer magic." She said lightly, everyone paying deep attention to every word she said.

"8 days, of battles back to back. Your father wasn't allowed to rest much, I heard he pushed his body and mind to levels they should have never reached. He should have died on just the 5th day. But he was super loyal to your mother, the thought that was pushing him on through everything was her image. He said she had the purest soul he had ever seen, he believed someone like her could change this world. Your father's goal has always been to make a difference, he wanted to make sure no one else can feel the same pain he felt losing his family." She said to which Erza was about to speak, but Gemini continued, 

"I'm not saying that for you to feel pity for him... I'm saying that to say he is dangerous. When I transform into others, I can even recall their thoughts and memories. He never had the energy or care to shield his mind from me, so I understand the type of person he is... He always blamed himself. Natsu, when you died along with your parents. He blamed himself for being so weak as to not protect you. When allies died on the battlefield, he blamed himself for being so weak as to not be able to protect them." She said while looking straight at Erza.

"The color of his flames is the best means that shows his mind. When he saw the death of Natsu, they turned black..." Gemini knew a lot, she went on to explain how the Scarlet King first got his black flames, to the Scarlet King seeking inner peace, to the Scarlet King joining the war with dragons where he carried everyone before he bought Irene enough time so she could join the war.

"The last I heard of your father, he had moved to save Igneel who had 4 Dragon Kings attacking him. Igneel soon joined the battle, before he was killed by Acnologia." She said stunning Natsu who was enraged by Gemini's words.

"Igneel is not dead," Natsu yelled, he was emotional hearing his father was gone. But Gemini ignored him, as she couldn't talk about the matter around Igneel's death in too much detail.

"Your father isn't a demon, his hatred is what turned him into that. Like how Ancologia turned into a dragon after bathing in their blood. Your father went a step further, bathing in the blood of humans and dragons. Turn that flame back to golden, and you saved your father. You can't kill him, even the gods have failed to do so. The best you can do is pull him away from the darkness... but that would be hard since deep down, your father is a coward." Gemini said while slowly disappearing.

"What is he scared of?" Erza asked seeing how Gemini couldn't stay in this world anymore.

"He is scared of losing you, so he pushed you away, scared to get too close to you. Killing Jellal might have been a way to push you away, to make you unable to form a bond with him, which would make it easier for him. A cowardly move, he is unsure if he can handle seeing you leave after returning into his life. That would truly push him over the edge." Gemini said and she hit the point.

If Erza Dragneel never finding Ryu, the next time the world would see him... he would have been swallowed by his hatred completely. But Erza Dragneel gave his humanity something to hold onto, he wasn't alone... and for that reason, he was unwilling to see any dragon die. If one died, it meant a piece of his humanity would go with it. If more dragons are born, it means something more to hold onto.

Erza Scarlet and Natsu had to stay far away, if Erza Scarlet were to die... he would snap, the same for Natsu. So the two had to stay away, love was a double-edged sword, and it had done enough damage to him. He was scared to endure that pain again, and by scared I mean horrified. Just the thought of it hurt deeply... So yeah, he couldn't be the father or brother the two wanted... For his sake and the sake of everyone else. He wouldn't be able to control his demonic side anymore.