NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Legacies
A week had passed since the battle with Phantom Lord. The ruins of the guildhall had been repaired, and Fairy Tail had returned to its usual chaotic, vibrant atmosphere. But amidst the noise, a sense of calm had settled over the Dragon Slayers. After the battle, they all found themselves in a rare moment of quiet — each reflecting on their pasts, their dragons, and the paths that had led them here.
Natsu, Shiro, Seiran, and Izuna found themselves sitting together in the guildhall, away from the bustling crowds. The air was calm, the fire crackling in the hearth nearby as they settled down. Gray, Cana, Elfman, and Erza had all left the scene, giving them some time to talk. The group had fought side by side, but this time, the conversation was different. It was personal.
Natsu's Reflection
Natsu leaned back in his chair, looking at the ceiling. He could still feel the heat of the battle with Gajeel, the rush of fighting someone who didn't back down. But as the days passed, his thoughts drifted to Igneel, his adoptive father and the dragon who had raised him.
"I've never really had a chance to talk about it," Natsu said quietly, breaking the silence. "But I've always wondered what it was like for Igneel, you know? Being the one who taught me everything, yet never being able to show me the full extent of his power… He was always there, but in the end, he was gone too soon."
The group listened intently, their expressions softening. Seiran, who usually kept to herself, softened her gaze as she looked at Natsu. He wasn't just the fiery, reckless member of Fairy Tail. Beneath the layers of fire and bravado, he was a person who had suffered, who had lost.
"I don't think we'll ever understand what our dragons went through," Natsu continued, his voice growing quieter. "But I'm grateful for everything Igneel gave me. He taught me how to fight, how to protect the people I care about… and that's what keeps me going."
Shiro nodded thoughtfully, his blue eyes distant. "I know what you mean. My dragon, Suigetsu, was different. He never gave me many answers, but he pushed me harder than I could've imagined. He didn't show much emotion… but in his own way, I think he wanted me to be strong, to master the art of Water Dragon Slayer Magic." Shiro paused, his expression turning reflective. "For a long time, I didn't understand why he was so distant. But now, I realize, it wasn't about teaching me everything. It was about me finding my own way to grow."
Seiran looked at Shiro for a moment, a slight frown on her face. Her experiences with her own dragon were far from easy, but they had shaped her in a way that words couldn't fully express.
Seiran's Silence
Seiran's voice broke the silence, but it was quieter than usual. "I never got a chance to thank mine… for the lessons she taught me." Her words seemed weighed down by an emotional burden. "My dragon, Mei… She was like a storm. Fierce, unstoppable… I was always trying to keep up with her, to prove I could be as strong. But in the end, I was never really able to understand her fully. There were times when she… left me behind, but in the silence, I had to learn to trust myself."
Her hands were clenched at her sides, but her expression remained steady. "Mei was always ahead of me… always in the shadows of my own ambition. But I think… in her own way, she was trying to teach me something. She wanted me to push beyond my limits, to be the person I am now. The strong, fierce warrior who could carry on her legacy."
Izuna, who had been listening closely, leaned forward slightly. He could tell there was a deep ache in Seiran's voice, one that she rarely let show.
"The dragons were more than just our mentors," Izuna said quietly. "They were reflections of ourselves, our weaknesses, our strengths and our parents. They shaped who we are now, even if we didn't fully understand them. Mine, Ryota, was quiet. Calm. But the one thing I always remember is that he never doubted my ability. Even when I did."
Izuna's words hung in the air for a moment, and a rare vulnerability flickered in his eyes. "I always thought that my dragon would come back one day… that he'd come to see the person I've become. But… that never happened. It left a hole inside me, and for a long time, I was angry. Angry at him. Angry at myself. But as time went on… I understood. He gave me what I needed to survive. To be the person I am. I don't need his approval anymore."
Natsu smiled softly at Izuna. "Sounds like you figured things out."
Shiro's Thoughts
Shiro shifted his weight slightly, running a hand through his messy, dark hair. "I don't think my dragon ever really wanted me to be like him. Suigetsu was a powerful, almost aloof creature. He was a being of the water, moving freely like the tides. I think he wanted me to be like that, to adapt, to master what was in front of me, not just what he could teach me."
He paused, looking down at his hands. "Mastering Water Dragon Slayer Magic wasn't easy. Mira helped me realize that I had to look beyond the basics. I couldn't just replicate what Suigetsu did. I had to become something new, something more. That's when I realized the only way forward was to understand not just the magic… but the philosophy behind it. It's why I've spent the past few years trying to broaden my skills. I want to honor Suigetsu, but also forge my own path."
Seiran glanced at Shiro, a spark of understanding in her eyes. "It's a painful process," she said quietly. "But it's worth it in the end. Our dragons were more than just teachers. They were tests. They wanted us to be stronger, but in their own way, they were preparing us for something bigger."
Izuna nodded in agreement. "Their absence forces us to step up. To become stronger. To carry their will."
Natsu looked around at the group, a smile tugging at his lips. "Maybe… maybe that's what it's all about. They taught us to be strong, but more than that, they taught us to never give up. To keep pushing forward, no matter what."
He stood up suddenly, his energy contagious. "We all have our dragons' spirits inside us, right? We carry that power, that fire, that strength. And that's why we'll never fall. We'll always fight for each other."
For a few moments, they all sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The weight of their dragons' influence was heavy, but so was the realization that they carried them forward, no matter what. Their dragons had shaped them, but now, it was their turn to shape their own futures.
Izuna stood up first, his expression calm as ever. "We have a future to build, one that would make them proud."
Shiro smirked slightly, his eyes lightening. "The Fire Dragon Slayer sure knows how to bring people together."
Seiran's lips curved upward slightly, the tension in her body easing. "You all really are something else."
Natsu grinned at all of them. "We'll keep fighting. Together. For them, for us, for Fairy Tail."
Each of them had been more than just Dragon Slayers. They were kings and queens of their respective elements. Natsu, the King of Fire, embodying the indomitable spirit of Igneel. Shiro, the King of Water, who had learned to bend the tides of battle through mastery of his craft. Seiran, the Queen of Ice, whose strength and fierce will were as unyielding as the winter storms. Izuna, the King of Darkness, whose silent resolve and control over shadows defined his path. Their dragons were the monarchs of their elements before them, each ruling over fire, water, ice, and darkness with unmatched power and wisdom.
They weren't simply products of their dragons, but sovereigns of their powers, destined to forge their own legacies.
With that, they all stood together, feeling the weight of their pasts but walking forward with the strength of their dragons' memories. No matter where the path led, they knew one thing was certain: they were no longer just Dragon Slayers. They were the embodiment of the power, lessons, and legacies their dragons had left them. And they would carry it proudly.
To Be Continued…