The Dragon's Hatred [NaLu]

Prologue

Suicide and Coronation

Natsu's hands shook as he sat in his room. There was a crowd waiting for him in the throne room, he knew that, but he had no idea if he was going to be able to face them. His people. He exhaled thickly through his nose, and his gaze flicked to the thick door of his room.

"Natsu," His best friend, the one who kept him through everything, walked through the door with a frown on her face. "It's time. You can't hide in here forever."

His face fell into his palms. "I can't go out there, Erza."

Erza sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I understand, Natsu, I really do, but you are to be king. Now, it's not about you. It's about those people out there, waiting for you to take your proper place on that throne!" She scolded before taking Natsu's arm and dragging him off of the couch he had been sitting on.

Natsu knew Erza was right. He knew he could no longer be the selfish teenager he was just a few days ago because his father died. His father, the king, killed himself a week ago, leaving Natsu to blindly take the throne.

He knew the day would come when his father could no longer handle the position of king. After his mother's death and sister's disappearance, King Igneel's life fell into the gutter. The only thing he managed to handle was drinking and sleeping. Then, finally, he snapped. He only left a note that read: Natsu, take the throne.

Selfish bastard, Natsu thought before immediately regretting it. He couldn't think ill of his father, he was a pitiful man who killed himself. That was the least selfish thing someone could do-- suicide.

Erza and Natsu rounded the corner to face the crowd of his people. They cheered, screaming his name, as he made his way to the large, black throne. The chair was made of onyx, polished to perfection so that it glinted powerfully underneath the yellow lights of candles. The back of the throne was incredibly long, so long that no one would be able to reach the top of it-- a giant, maybe, but no one in the Dragneel Kingdom. Iron chains wrapped around the throne, giving it the dangerous aura all the Dragneel's craved.

"Long live the king!" The citizens began to chant as Natsu kneeled to the Head Guard who held the crown.

He set the heavy crown atop Natsu's head when the citizens repeated the phrase. They continued to chant "Long live the king!" until Natsu stood up. He faced his citizens, clenching his fists to hide the fact that they were shaking.

He held up a palm, and the crowd quieted. "I am your king! I will reign powerfully and strongly! Justly!"

The citizens cheered for their new king as he turned sharply and walked off. Guards began to guide the people back into town, out of the castle.

Erza crossed her arms. "See? Everything went smoothly."

Natsu let out a breath, rubbing his face. "Yes... everything went smoothly."

"It'll all be fine, Natsu." Erza urged, patting his back.

They both knew it was a lie, though. Natsu was much too young, too naive of the true world to be able to rule properly without someone to guide him. They both knew that nothing would run smoothly with King Igneel gone. They both knew something bad was brewing and it was starting with Natsu's coronation.