Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 86 - Awakening

For the first time in either a very short or very long time, Natsu was able to hear himself think. But, damn it, he was still asleep! He knew he was, because he didn't see Happy anywhere, or the others. And he couldn't feel his magic.

He could only hear his thoughts, as well as the words of those around him. Natsu wanted to grumble or kick himself out of the dream, to get back up and get into the fight that he was sure to be going on, given the situation, but couldn't.

Well, at least he was...okay, not conscious, but aware. Erza and Gray would've told him to calm down and try to think the situation through.

Unconscious but aware. In a coma, then? Maybe.

He could hear everything going on around him. He heard Irene and Wendy talking near him, as well as Ms. Porlyusica, and earlier, he was able to hear Irene tell her stories about the dragons. About Igneel.

Damn, if he was awake, he could ask her everything he needed to know! She was definitely lying about not knowing where they were. If she were really some dragon queen, she had to know where the rest of the dragons were hiding out.

Her story made Natsu wonder what Igneel would look like if he were a human, too. Maybe he'd have red hair, like his scales, and a big old man belly. No, no, he'd definitely be jacked. Igneel was the strongest dragon in the world.

Natsu couldn't get a sense for anything else around him, though. He didn't know who else was around, nor where he was. He just knew the voices that were speaking over his resting body.

He was trapped in his mind, floating in a space that he couldn't even dream in.

And yet...

He couldn't shake the feeling that something else was with him. That there was another presence, one getting closer and closer, inside his own head. Natsu tried to search but couldn't find anything. He didn't want to tell Gray about this—that knucklehead would call Natsu empty-headed. Wrong. This was clearly not his mind but his...uh...

Soul?

Yeah, yeah, that. If it were his mind, he'd be able to take control of his body and wake up. His mind was connected to his different magic circuits, so he'd be able to sense his magic if he was up there.

The presence made itself more known, and it was strong. Natsu couldn't brace himself. He couldn't do anything but wait.

Come on, he thought out to the rest of the void. Hurry up and show your—

It has been some time, my boy.

At once, the void that Natsu could only perceive as dark sprang to life with a fire so bright and powerful that Natsu could truly feel it. The darkness shied away as the fire settled around Natsu, then came together to form a shape, a thing, a dragon.

Scales of burnt crimson, a snarling maw with the sharpest teeth, a long tail, horns, and amber eyes. A voice from a time so long ago, a voice that Natsu held as close to his heart as any.

"Dad?"

Natsu's voice could not break the silence nearly as well as Igneel's. His was so small by comparison.

You've been away for some time, Natsu. You must rejoin the fight.

"I've been away?"

Some smoke billowed from Igneel's mouth. You have many questions.

"What are you doing here?"

Where was his body? He wanted to run up and hug him. He found him! Igneel! He was right there!