A/N: This is a drabble inspired by Rboz's "Victory" art on tumblr. If by any chance you still don't know her yet, go over her tumblr and see the amazing art and the rest of her works.

When I saw "Victory", I got a sad scene in my head that I just had to write it and voila, this drabble. Hope you'll like it.

**spoiler alert for chapter 414.

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima, the true breaker of hearts. This writer oddly finds fic inspirations whenever the man makes her cry.

The air smelled of blood and raw flesh. The rain of blood painted his skin red as he stood there, looking up. He opened his arms, welcoming the gore to wash over him, to drown him in red.

Red always reminded him of his father. Red flames, red scales and the red sunset skies of the days they spent together in bliss. Red was the color of Igneel.

He will never forget the day Igneel disappeared. It was the day the color red lost its meaning. But when he joined Fairy Tail, it gained a new meaning. He got himself a red guild mark, as red as Igneel's scales. Red meant that he would see Igneel again. It was his promise, his goal.

And now, once again, red gained a new meaning.

Red is now the blood from Igneel's side as he fell from the sky. A pool of red surrounded the great beast's body as he laid there, a large chunk of flesh missing on this body. When he looked at this, Natsu's vision saw only red.

In his anguish, he screamed out to the abominable dragon. His own raging flames launched him to the air and he flew to the dark dragon. He was a fireball, a red comet off to avenge his fallen father. His rage turned into power, his fires hotter than ever. It melted into Acnologia's thick hide, punching through his flesh. He couldn't see past his despair, couldn't see past the impending loneliness of getting left behind. Every punch to Acnologia was also a punch to his useless self.

He blamed himself. If only he got his hand on the book of END faster, Zeref wouldn't have disappeared with it. He could have gotten faster to Igneel. He could have helped his father fight the King of Dragons. So many things he could have done, but he was just too late.

He felt empty as he stood there before Acnologia's dying body, the dragon's blood painting Natsu in red. The dark dragon has finally fallen, its reign of terror over dragons and dragon slayers now over, but Natsu felt no elation out of it. There was no Igneel to be proud for him.

Soft, careful footsteps approached him. He immediately recognized it and the familiar scent that followed confirmed it. He turned around to see her.

"Lucy." He said as the tears finally flowed from his eyes. He hugged himself, clutching a hand over his guild mark as the pain intensified. Harsh sobs rocked his body, sadness and despair washing over him. Lucy ran quickly to him and pulled him to a tight embrace.

"Natsu." She said softly, tears now flowing on her cheeks as well.

"Igneel is gone." he said in between his sobs. His words brought more pain as he finally accepted what happened. "But I got revenge for him. I defeated Acnologia."

Lucy said nothing as she cried silently with him. She was familiar with loss and knew how soul-crushing it was that even the steadfast Natsu would never be immune to it.

"I defeated Acnologia, but he will never come back. He's gone, Lucy. Igneel left me again." He wailed soundlessly on her shoulder, his body shaking and quivering all over.

"I'm still here, Natsu. I'll be here for you." But Lucy knew she would never be enough to fill the hole Igneel left in Natsu's heart. Natsu will heal over time but would never be whole again.