Prologue

Natsu could not believe. He refused to believe it. But that didn't change the fact that it was true; Fairy Tail had been disbanded.

In Natsu's life, there had only ever been two places he could've gone for comfort: Igneel (who was now dead), and Fairy Tail (which was now gone). Of course, Natsu knew better than probably anyone that Fairy Tail was more than just a physical guild, it was a thing in one's heart. Normally, Natsu would've been able to live with that, but then he had watched, as everyone easily left….

(Flashback)

"What's your plan, Lu?" Levy asked Lucy with a smile. She, Lucy, Erza, and Wendy were all heading back to their respective dwellings, to start the job search. Everyone was acting pretty positive about the whole thing.

"I was thinking about going to Sorcerer's Weekly, maybe I can find work there," Lucy answered, "What about you?"

"Oh, I don't know," Levy answered, "Gajeel…" She abruptly silenced herself, turning red with embarrassment, after realizing what she just said. Lucy just giggled at that.

"What about you, Erza?" she asked to the red head next to her.

"I'm going to Mermaid Heel," Erza answered.

"Really?" Lucy asked, cocking her head, "I thought you'd join Crime Sorcière. Especially with him being there." Erza flushed red as well, before clearing her throat.

"Mermaid Heel is a legal guild, with constant job requests," she explained, "I can get steady work there, and be with Millianna. It'll feel nice to stay with her again after so long. Kagura will also be there, and I can't let down my 'little sister'." She said that last part with a twinkle in her eye. All eyes then fell to Wendy, who looked away.

"Well," she said, "I was actually going to talk to Lamia Scale, and see if they'd let me join."

"I'm sure they'll let you join," Lucy said, "You're pretty tough!"

"I don't know about that," Wendy said, wringing her hands, shyly.

"Don't sell yourself short," Carla said from her position in Wendy's arms.

"Do you know where anyone else is going?" Levy asked.

"Not really," Lucy said, "But I'm sure we'll remain in touch."

"I wonder what Natsu will do," Wendy said. Everyone did have to admit they were slightly worried about Natsu. They all knew that he was one of the people who the guild was most important too.

"Well, he'll be fine," Erza said, "It may take a while, but Natsu will learn to adapt. Fairy Tail's gone, we have to move on."

"Yeah, you're right," Lucy as the friends walked on, "But we'll always be together."

What they weren't aware of, was Natsu on the roof, as he listened. They were all leaving. Leaving Fairy Tail, leaving him. Natsu clenched his fists, as he jumped into the air, opened his fire wings, and flapped North, into the mountains.

(End Flashback)

And there Natsu was, sitting in a cave, his head hung, as the events sunk into him. He was angry, but not like he was angry in the past. This anger was primal, and fierce, almost like a fire. And for Natsu, that rage was justified.

At that moment, Natsu was still reeling from the death of his father, who he had to watch get horrendously ripped apart, and then blasted into oblivion by the Black Dragon, Acnologia. He had lost his father, and he could do nothing to help. However, at the time, he had Fairy Tail to go to for solace, a family he could seek comfort with. And just like that, it was ripped out from under him. The others just walked away, like Natsu was supposed to just move on. But he could not move on just like that. They had other places to go, things they knew to do. Natsu had none of that. All he had was his magic, and his comrades, and one of those was just lost.

"Igneel was wrong,"a familiar voice called, as the cave fell apart around Natsu.

(in Natsu's inner world)

"Smaug," Natsu said, as he saw the massive, snake-like dragon loom over him. He was standing in the midst of massive volcanic region, which represented the deepest portions of his being. But the volcanoes were fiercer. They were exploding angrily, and the magma bubbled and burst.

"All due respect to Igneel's passing," Smaug said.

"Don't bullshit me," was all Natsu said.

"Fine," Smaug growled, "But it doesn't matter. Igneel was wrong. He said those people would be your anchors. They would forever be with you, and keep you from the darkness. And now they abandon you so readily."

"They had their reasons," Natsu said, as he tried to hold onto hope.

"Which gives them reason to abandon their home?"Smaug responded, "To abandon you, while you experience pain like you've never felt before?" Natsu grabbed onto his head. They had all left him alone, and they did it with so little question, so little doubt.

"No, I can't accept that!" he said.

"I only desire what is the best for us," Smaug answered, "Acnologia killed our father. He must be punished."

"I will punish him!" Natsu yelled, "I'll turn him to ash!"

"Yes, you will!" Smaug said, "But how will you accomplish that as is? You're weak!"

"I'm not weak!" Natsu yelled.

"Then tell me why you've never been able to do anything against Acnologia!"Smaug roared, "Tell me why Mard Geer was only barely defeated!" Natsu let out a roar, as he tried to breath fire at Smaug, only for it to barely come out as a puff.

"You have rejected the fire for all this time," Smaug said, "As you have rejected your true nature. That is why you are weak. Those humans have done nothing but to hold you down. And for all that, they casted you aside like you were disposable, as was their home." Natsu looked into the smoke, and saw images of the members of Fairy Tail, before each one faded away, one by one. He had rejected Smaug for a long time, so as to protect all of them from him. But now…

"I'm alone," Natsu said softly, as he fell to his knees, "Igneel is gone, Fairy Tail is gone. I've lost everything."

"Yes, all else has left you, but you still have one thing," Smaug said, as he approached Natsu, "You still have your vengeance." Natsu then saw an image of Acnologia, as he ripped Igneel clean in half, before blowing him to pieces. Natsu's rage built as he watched. The fire surrounding him flared up as well.

"Acnologia," Natsu growled. Suddenly, at this moment, everything else vanished from his thoughts. Only one thing was present: destroy Acnologia.

"He…. will…," Natsu said slowly, "burn."

"As will all your enemies!" Smaug roared, "You need no one else! Your own power, is your greatest ally! Everyone else is a hinderance!" His chest then flared up.

"Now tell me, do you accept the fire?" Natsu turned to face his dragon counterpart.

"I accept the fire." He spoke those words with more conviction that almost anything else he said, with a few exceptions.

"So be it." With that, Smaug let out his fire. Natsu held up his arms, as he let the dragon's fire surround him.

(in the real world)

Natsu rose to his feet, as his fire cloaked his body.

"As of now, I serve myself, and myself alone!" he loudly proclaimed, "I don't need anyone, anymore! With my own two claws, I will rip Acnologia's throat open, and claim for me, the title of Dragon King! And all those who stand in the way of my vengeance will be turned to ash!" With that, the fire flared up, as it completely consumed Natsu. Within the fire, scales grew along Natsu's body, horns grew out of his head, and his fingers turned to claws. His clothes then fell from him in tatters.

"Now, what are you?" Smaug's voice echoed.

"I AM… FIRE!" Natsu roared, "I AM… DEATH!"

The roar of a dragon echoed across the mountains.

Note: I should explain myself. This was originally conceived as one of the two ways EOTFD could have gone, before I decided otherwise. But I really, really, REALLY wanted to do this idea, and wanted to do it. Obviously I couldn't go back and redo EOTFD, so I figured that this scenario takes place pretty much as canon progressed, only Natsu with Dragon's Eye. He is not in a relationship with Lucy in this version either. Also, Natsu didn't leave to go train, he stayed long enough to hear the word of Fairy Tail's disbandment, and he was understandably enraged. Enough so to allow "Smaug" to make a move. Also, I am aware how OOC this is for Natsu, but that's the point. I wanted to write an honest to goodness, "Dark Natsu" story, not like EOTBD, where Natsu is brought to the light slowly, but a story where Natsu is acting legitimately malicious (though maybe not necessarily evil at this point). Also, I acknowledge the fact that some of the other members may also be OOC in acting so cheerful, but I though it necessary for the benefit of the story (I also thought that Lucy may have been more positive, since Natsu was still with her), though there's another thing about that I won't yet reveal. Lastly, I also acknowledge Natsu's hypocrisy, with him getting angry about them leaving, while he himself just left on his own, and that Happy is still with him, but I will address that soon.

I hope you all liked this.

It would probably be best to explain Smaug (this shouldn't spoil EOTFD, but if you're still worried, don't read this part). You've been warned.

Smaug isn't a separate being existing inside Natsu, nor is he END. Smaug is a manifestation of Natsu's magic power, having always existed within him; in a sense, they are one and the same. The being Smaug, exists as a part of Natsu's subconscious, as a representation of what Natsu could be if he gave into his despair and rage, which he just did.