Onward! To Hell! Part I

"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you right. You said what now?" Sirzechs, baffled by what he thought he heard, dropped his current activities to make sure his attention didn't deviate. It wasn't too long ago when he heard a knock on his door and allowed both Natsu and Azazel to come into his office. The battle with Vali and Katerea's forces was over and done with as the United Factions group technically pulled a win because Vali and one of his comrades abruptly left the scene. Now one of the people who helped fight that man has come into his quarters making him question his sanity.

"I said," Natsu cleared his throat, standing tall to make his voice project more, "I need you to take me to Hell." Natsu paraphrased his earlier sentence to which Sirzechs rightly laughed aloud at the absurdity.

"Hahaha! Oh Natsu, buddy, I can't believe you came all this way just to tell me this joke! I mean, this pile of papers bored me to death until you came. Ah, I am glad I heard that joke." Sirzechs chuckled the last bit before fixing his suit, "So, is there anything else you need?"

"Really, Sirzechs? I don't think this boy is joking. Look at him," Azazel pointed out, "His body is as stiff as a tree stump cause he's so nervous to ask you this."

And he was right, Natsu was looking a bit nervous. He wasn't sure whether or not Sirzechs would agree with his terms and he knew the absurdity of the question threw him off so the awkwardness he was feeling was sort of justified. Plus, he didn't want to tell anyone, but he was kind of questioning why he was doing this again.

'Oh yeah, my damn lizard-brained dad.' Natsu thought sourly.

"Hmm," Sirzechs hummed, very unamused by this situation, "Natsu… you're my friend and I hope you know that, and because of that fact, you must surely know that I will not agree to let you get there."

"I know Zechs, but you gotta understand, I need this. I-"

"You want to get stronger right? You want to grow as a person and be able to protect what you want to protect… right?" He finished Natsu's statement for him before, sulking his head, "Why exactly, Natsu, do you want to go… tell me the truth."

Natsu looked back and forth at his partner Happy and Sirzechs' stern face, and when he got a nod from his blue friend he spoke, "I don't think you know about this, Zechs, but if I don't go there to get stronger, then I won't be able to get home."

"What? I don't understand?" Sirzechs asked intrigued.

"Long story short, I plan to get home when my friends back at Fairy Tail can find a way to do so. And to make it easier for them, I need to get stronger so they can sense my signature energy better." Natsu vaguely explained, unsure of how well he did it, "Hey Happy, does that sound right?"

"Yeah, pretty spot on." Happy answered, already hearing this information by telepathy from Igneel.

"I...I see. You plan to go home soon, don't you?" Sirzechs sighed solemnly before fixing his composure.

"Yeah, I do. But are you alright Zechs?" Natsu asked slightly concerned.

"Of course I'm okay," He replied quickly, sitting up in his chair. He then began to think long and hard about what he was about to do, factoring in all the variables and actions of other elements in a quick decisive estimate of how this would all go.

And he regretted it.

"Listen up, Gremory. My son needs this and if you plan to stop us, I will personally find help myself." Igneel decided he had enough of the stalling and protruded into the man's head to speed up the process, "I like you Gremory for you have helped us in our time of need and desperation, opening your home and resources to us, but I can not allow you to be a hindrance and impede my Natsu's progression. There are things you don't know about that are going on and this is the only chance you have to take a proactive move and do something about it. Now choose."

Igneel's word made Sirzechs feel a cold sweat go down his neck as he cupped his hand over his mouth.

"Okay… I will help you Natsu, and so will Azazel, but on some conditions." Sirzechs' deadly tone made Natsu salute immediately and agree.

"Yes sir, Sirzechs, sir!" Natsu yelled as Happy giggled a bit at his play of words, "What are are your conditions?" He questioned going back to his normal stance.

"First, you will see criminals that have been tried and guilted for there sins. They have been sent to Hell because death would not have been a good enough punishment and only eternal suffering would accomplish that. I do not want you conversing with these people nor do I want you helping them escape because they "seemed nice". They are there for a reason and they won't get a pardon. " Sirzechs said holding up one of his fingers.

"Second," Azazel butted in, "There are different levels of Hell for the prisoners' ranking. The lowest level has the fewest but strongest people there, so be careful. Also, we allow them to roam free as it doesn't affect anything because even if they die, they're resurrected back not too long after. And because of that, they treat homicide as a sport and that also ties in with the last one."

"The last one deals with you not dying, Natsu. Because they get resurrected, if a living person dies there, they're trapped in Hell just like the others and if that happens, they'll be no way to bring you back." Sirzechs spoke this time with deep concern laced in his voice.

"Don't ya worry Zechs, I won't die- I don't really have an option. If I do, Princess would come down there just to kill me again." Natsu joked lightly as Sirzechs and even Azazel laughed.

"Very true, my friend. But as of right now, we need to get you ready for take off." He replied with a smile.

Location In Natsu's room:

Natsu was currently packing up all of his needed supplies with Happy hovering over his shoulder with his pure white wings. Currently, there was a comfortable silence in the room as they mentally prepared for their journey.

That's right, both of them.

"Natsu, you sure you want me to come along? I may drag you down and get you killed! Plus I'm not resistant to fire like you are." Happy questioned his partner's mindset and slightly panicked for their safety.

"Did you already forget what you said to me? Weren't you always going to be by my side, buddy? Plus there's no way that you can drag me down, without you it's just "The Adventures of Natsu", and not "The Adventures of Natsu and Happy the Great", right?" Natsu didn't look up from his bag and continued to speak while packing.

"Aye Sir! You're right Natsu, you really are nothing without me!" Happy chimed feeling much better.

"Okay, I think that took it a bit too far." Natsu chuckled.

"Oh yeah, then what about me being fireproof, that's still an issue."

"Well, I've already talked to Grayfia about that and remember how she made my clothes fireproof? Apparently, she can do the same for animals too, so you're all good buddy." Natsu said happily, turning towards his friend as Happy flew into a hug.

"So, what exactly are you packing?" Happy asked, ending the hug.

"Oh, well, just the really good stuff. Extra clothes, toothbrush and paste, pillows and… that's it." Natsu answered seeing a pouting Happy, "What's wrong?"

"You forgot the most important thing Natsu." Happy said, crossing his tiny arms.

"And what's that?" He asked sarcastically.

"Fish! I thought you knew me better than that!" Happy yelled feeling annoyed by his partner's neglecting to attention.

"Oh yeah, that's right. But how am I supposed to put fish in this bag." Natsu pondered, ignorant of Happy's new abilities.

"Aye! During my training, Grayfia taught me how to put stuff in a pocket dimension like Erza!" Happy cheered happily.

"No freakin' way! Teach me too, teach me too!" Natsu jumped up and around like an elementary schooler realizing Happy's new magic.

"No, Natsu. It's a trade secret." Happy waved his paw around, dodging Natsu's attempts to catch him.

"Hmm, bummer." Natsu was now the one pouting like a child holding out the bag he just packed, "Then could you, ya know, poof it?"

"Aye, sir!" Happy took the bag and in a flash of light, it was gone as he got heard Natsu comment "Cool" at the end, "Well, I'm going to go to the chef's kitchen to steal- I-I mean, ask for more fish. I'll see you later Natsu!" Happy flew away out the doors waving to his partner.

"Yeah, see ya in a bit." Natsu did the same and stared at the door a little while until he shook his head and sat abruptly on the floor, crossing his legs and closing his eyes in meditation.

'So, Igneel, what exactly do you have planned for me when I get there?' Natsu asked his father.

"Well, first off, I want you to increase your fire retardant nature because when you get stronger, your flames might overtake you." Igneel answered truthfully.

"No way, why would that ever happen?" Natsu asked again, curious about this revelation.

"Think of your magic as an animal. You have to tame it for it to listen to your bidding, right? So what happens when that animal realizes that its master is too weak?" Igneel's vague explanation hit Natsu hard with realization as he never thought of magic in that kind of way. That explains why he always has spasms when he ingested all those outside forces to give him power-ups; his own magic was turning against him.

"Is that also why no one can withstand Stage Three Dragon Force?"

"Yes, the magic in that form is too unstable to be used for long periods of time. That's why you must never abuse it. It's also the sole cause for humans using Dragonslayer Magic to turn into Dragons." Igneel added.

"Woah, this is just... something." Natsu commented, unsure of how to feel about all this information being put out.

"But don't worry about right now son. I doubt that would happen to you. You're too strong to let that happen. Now, there is a second reason why I want you to go, and it's obvious to you as well." His father continued with his speech while Natsu mentally agreed.

"Yeah, I need to work on my second stage, right? Man, it's so freakin' cool to use but… every time I do I feel like I haven't really bonded with my fire. Does that make sense?" Natsu stated, not sure if he explained that right.

"It does make sense my son. Your fire is just another part of you and as of right now, you've treated it as if it's a tool when it's not. Your magic- your fire, it's your heart and soul. It's what makes you, you. Don't think of it as a means to fight but as a way to express yourself because it's just an extension of you." Igneel dropped a bombshell of information on Natsu as he knew he had a long way to go before he would ever become as strong as his father.

"Then… how do I bond with my fire? It's not like it's a person or something." Natsu, already knowing the answer, asked regardless of the outcome.

"How the hell should I know. It's your fire dumbass. Even though I'm in your body it doesn't mean I can talk to magic myself." Yup, he knew it.

"Natsu, may I come in?" Grayfia knocked on the door despite its current open status.

"Yeah, you can." Natsu sat up from meditation and turned his attention to the gorgeous woman walking towards him.

"I wanted to talk to you for a while before you go. We haven't had time to do so." Grayfia said releasing her hands from their previous cupped position.

"Oh, you're right, I'm sorry about that. But why now, won't you be seeing me off?" Natsu asked, sitting back on his bed.

"I will not be available at that time. Sirzechs gave me a separate job to do, so this is the only time." Grayfia said, still stoic through it all. But to be honest, she really did care for Natsu like family over the time that he has been here. In fact, her time spent in the castle-like house was always brightened by this boy.

"Oh man, I was hoping to at least say goodbye to you too, Grayfia." Natsu sighed slightly, until he patted the space next him, signaling her to come. As she did so Natsu asked another question, "Hey, Grayfia, you and Sirzechs… you guys are together right?"

"Yes, indeed, he is my husband. We also have a child already." She answered sitting down next to the boy.

"No way! Really!?" Natsu screamed in shock. Grayfia doesn't look like she had any children at all, "Can I-"

"No, you can not fight him Natsu." Grayfia smiled faintly, looking at the shot down Natsu.

"How did you know?" He asked looking up at her.

"You make it too easy sometimes. Plus, by your standards, he's still a kid." Grayfia stated, looking straight at Natsu.

"But he has to be, like, super ridiculously strong right? I mean, he is your son." Natsu asked passionately, stars glowing in his eyes.

"Truthfully, he is considered very strong but I still won't allow that fight to happen," Grayfia said holding her ground while seeing Natsu physical give up on his pursuit, although, his comment did make her feel better as unbeknownst to him, Natsu indirectly complimented her.

"Alright, got it," Natsu said leaning back slightly on the bed, "So, Grayfia, why exactly do you like me? I mean, the first time we meant I kept butchering your name."

This question caught her off guard as she didn't know how to answer, "Why do I like you? That's a good question. If I had to take a guess, I think it's because of the cheerful atmosphere you bring with you. My husband, Sirzechs-sama, hasn't been this playful and open in a while. Also, despite you being a foreigner, you acted like family the moment you got here by taking care of Rias-sama and everyone else."

"Hmm… I never thought of it like that. It's just how I usually act around people." Natsu started to scratch his hair at Grayfia's answer.

"Going on with that: why are you attracted to me Natsu?" She asked turning to him. She saw him stiffen and sit up from his laid-back position as he cupped his hands together and had his head down.

"Well, to be painfully honest… having you around… I just have this feeling of belonging, ya know? Like, you're the only real motherly figure I've ever had in my life. This missing part of my family has been confusing me for years, but… now I know it's you, Grayfia." Natsu clutched his heart and looked towards Grayfia as he surprisingly had tears brimming in his eyes with his lips quivering. Never has she seen him this vulnerable and emotional, actually crying in front of her. She then did what she knew had to happen.

Grayfia hugged him, bringing him close and tight.

This action slightly startled Natsu before he accepted the invitation and began to cry into her shoulder.

"Grayfia… I don't want to leave…" Natsu whispered, not realizing the words he uttered.

"It's going to be okay Natsu, don't cry. I believe in you and so do the others. Listen, I need you to come back, and when you do, I want you to show me how strong you've gotten." Grayfia pulled away and stared him dead in the eye, her face still being shallow of emotion yet her passionate eyes said it all, "Do you understand?"

"Yeah, yes ma'am!" Natsu sniffled, sitting up straight and tall before smiling brightly, "When I come back, I promise to be ten times- no, TWENTY TIMES stronger than I am now." He wiped his tears while Grayfia stood up with him and showed a genuine smile.

"I hope so…" She said under her breath.

"Master Natsu-sama,s Sirzechs-sama requests your presence as soon as you are ready. Angel Happy-sama(Yeah, Happy chose that name) is already with them ready to go." One of the maids walked in and spoke of the news, informing them of what's to come.

"I guess it's time to go." Natsu replied, stating the obvious.

"Yes, let's go. I still have to fireproof Happy-sama."

Location On Royal Train Station, A Few Minutes Later:

After the maid Sirzechs sent to call for Natsu was finished with the report, he walked with Grayfia to the destination Sirzechs had set beforehand, which he didn't have a clue where it was. Natsu was very lucky to have Grayfia with him at that moment or else he would have been lost for days in the maze they call a house. Once they had gotten there, it happened to be a gigantic station with one long train going along the middle. But the most interesting part was the fact that it had no tracks underneath the vehicle, nor did it have wheels.

Natsu tried to hold in his disgust as he reasoned Sirzechs might have another option for him, similarly to another transporter. Grayfia however, went straight to business and started to make Happy fireproof, and it didn't take long either because, for a test, Natsu blew fire on Happy's whole body without a single singe mark. Once the awesomeness of the situation died down, Grayfia ended up leaving immediately but not before giving Natsu a bittersweet look before leaving for her job.

"Okay Natsu, are you ready?" Sirzechs called out towards Natsu who in turn gave a thumbs up. Azazel and the Gremory parents were also present to see him off.

"Listen, Natsu, I want you to be safe. Don't go doing any reckless stuff. Understand?" Zoticus Gremory announced loudly from his spot which was slightly farther away from the rest. His wife Venelana apparently didn't have any words to say but instead hugged him tightly around his waist. Natsu hugged back and prolonged the loving contact until she whispered something his ear.

"I'll have a surprise for you when you make it back, okay Natsu-kun." She said before letting go of him and walking towards her husband as Natsu just nodded at her words.

It wasn't long until they also left for they had business to attend being heads of the Gremory clan. At this moment, Sirzechs headed towards him and put a hand on his shoulder. He led Natsu to where the train was whilst gaining an unexpected reaction from the pink haired man.

"Wait, you actually want me on that thing?" Natsu abruptly halted his movements while he pointed to the trackless train.

"Well, yes, it's the only way to get there. Is there something wrong with the transportation?" Sirzechs asked while Azazel grinned wanting to hear about this new development.

"Aye, Natsu didn't tell you? He's allergic to any vehicle." Happy answered for him.

"I'm not allergic Happy, more like… I have a very deep detest for anything that's metal and moves." Natsu corrected his partner, coming up with a better phrase to explain his problem.

"I still, don't get it." Sirzechs said baffled, looking at the boy as if he had a third eye.

"He's saying he has motion sickness, right?" Azazel grinned seeing Natsu grimace at the news, "It must be because of his heightened senses. You should really try to get rid of that silly weakness."

"You don't think I've tried! I trained for years trying to get rid of that stupid side effect but it seems like my body refuses to accept that it's a natural thing." Natsu explained angrily before taking a few breaths to calm himself down.

"I'm sorry to hear this Natsu, but this is really the only way. You'll just have to endure it for the rest of the journey," Sirzechs smiled realizing how quickly his resolve was gathered, watching him try and regain his spunk, "Let's go, follow me."

Location on the Train(with Natsu suffering):

It wasn't even a second till he got on the train and Natsu bawled on the floor like a pill bug. Happy was the only one not affected by his actions and went on his way to find a comfortable seat to sit on. Sirzechs helped Natsu off the floor and walked him over to the same corridor that Happy was in.

The train had already started moving for a while now and everyone in the compartment was silent because of the dread they felt for even letting Natsu attempt his dastardly stunt. Azazel took out a book to read for the time being while Sirzechs tried to keep Natsu from puking over the exotic velvet material. He managed to get Natsu sitting upright in his chair and during the same time Natsu put a hand over his mouth to stop his lunch from coming back up. Sirzechs sat in wait, watching the colorful scenery that passed by the window contemplating when to tell him the rest of the deadly matters concerning his trip to Hell.

It wasn't long until Sirzechs realized his mistake when stalling for time as it would be more fruitful for Natsu to have the knowledge now to plan for the future. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for the reality that Natsu was actually leaving and spoke his true intentions.

"Hey, Natsu, there's still a lot of stuff that I withheld from you before in my office." He stated, turning towards his friend, seeing the blue cat now lying down on Natsu's head.

"What's up Zechs? Is it really important?" Natsu questioned, using all his willpower to not regurgitate as he spoke.

"Well, there are a few facts that were left out that unfortunately have the same level of importance as the others from before," He explained solemnly with Natsu nodding, recognizing the significance of the information, "I must stress how important all of these are, Natsu, as they can influence your time spent there and how well you survive. The one that concerns me the most is the time-warping effect Hell has on its residents. The time in there is longer relative to the time in the three Factions. It's for the purpose of having the prisoners experience their punishment for longer periods of time. But, the more time you spend there, the distortion increases exponentially to the point where one day here is ten years in there."

"Then how am I supposed to avoid something like that?" Natsu laid his head back in pain, continuing to listen to Sirzechs.

"Aye, that sounds ludicrous." Happy commented, listening in on the conversation.

"I did the estimates and found that the longest period of time you can spend there is three months which equates to one month here," Sirzechs then handed over a black wristband and watched as Natsu put it on, "This will inform you of the time you spent there, and once you see that it reached zero, you will need to meet the person who will hopefully get you out of there. That's also where my next concern is."

"Wait, so there's a person who can get in and out of Hell? I thought it was only a one way trip for most people?" Natsu managed to fix his neck in a position that suited the conversation with Sirzechs and squinted his eyes with confusion written on his face.

"Well, that's the thing. The person I will speak to is best to be described as the warden of Hell. His name is Draven… Draven Demogorgon. So to speak, he rules Hell like a king and has a kingdom located in the middle of it filled with his people. I will have to ask him to send you back safely, and if not, I'll bring you back myself."

"Are you afraid of this guy Zechs?" Natsu asked curiously.

"Afraid isn't the word I'd use Natsu; I am not fearful of Draven himself, but the actions he's done as the current ruler of Hell, and although he is a reasonable guy, he's not completely right in the head." Sirzechs sighed at the end knowing what question would come next.

"What do you mean?"

"For starters, he killed a quarter of people in Hell because he had a bad dream, Natsu. And by that I mean they didn't respawn like they're supposed to. He basically wiped them from existence." Sirzechs said intensely.

"What the literal hell are you talking about? You can't just erase someone from existence." Natsu ignorantly replied.

"Sadly you can. There are two ways of doing so: one, is having enough Magic Power to even destroy their soul before it can get judged, and second, is to possess the Magic Ability to control them… and Draven has the latter. I've fought against him before and it ended in a draw but from personal experience, his magic is the most painfully devastating one I've come across. When using it against living beings, all it does is chip away at your soul until you are no longer able to fight, but against the dead, he can do what he wants with them even completely eradicating their souls. Another thing is the fact that he can infuse his Soul Magic with other elements to make it even more devastating." Sirzechs looked dead serious about the topic they were on and stared at the seat in front of him and tapped his foot as an attempt to calm himself down.

"Damn, this guy is no joke then. I guess I should stay away from him now, huh…" Natsu asked, phrasing it more as a statement.

"If it wasn't obvious, then yes, please stay away from him. He should just teleport you back here once your time is up with no funny business, " Sirzechs turned to face Natsu again then raised his hand to show three fingers standing up, "Now, here's the third one."

"You've gotta be kiddin' me- there's more?" Natsu asked rhetorically, exasperated at how much information was coming at him.

"Don't whine, you're the one who wanted this," Sirzechs retorted, "Anyway, the last one has to deal with the guards of Hell's grounds; though, I should say guard dogs instead. They're giant three-headed beasts with fur darker than black and teeth able to shred through metal like paper. I know you're weren't there for the entire fight with Kokabiel but in the beginning, he summoned a few to fight for him but luckily they were defeated with the help of Xenovia and the others. But I must warn you, those animals are far stronger in their natural environment, plus they hunt in packs, ranging from three to five."

"Really, is that all? If that's the case then you shouldn't worry Zechs, those dogs won't hurt me." Natsu proudly stated, trying to act tough despite his weak and nauseous appearance.

"I appreciate your optimism, Natsu, but please be sure to take these threats seriously on your endeavor," Sirzechs said, sounding as though he was pleading with the man.

"Aye, I'll make sure Natsu doesn't get himself killed, as per usual." Happy replied getting Natsu slightly annoyed with his comebacks.

"I swear Happy, one of these days I'll get you back with a witty comment of my own." Natsu grumbled, crossing his arms as it seemed his own anger distracted him from his motion sickness.

"Hahaha, aye Natsu, whatever you say." The flying cat chuckled as it ascended to the air and gliding around Natsu's head.

"Anyway," Natsu started, ignoring his partner's incompetence, "How will we know whether or not we're in Hell?"

"I'll tell you when we get there, young Slayer," Azazel butted in, walking slowly towards them, "And you should get up immediately, I have something to show you."

Pondering on what he would face when following Azazel, Natsu whistled for Happy to come and continued to walk with the Fallen Angel. As they walked through the multiple corridors the train had in its body, Natsu finally noticed that they were going towards the head of the train, and still, he wondered why Azazel would take him somewhere on the train instead of telling him straight out. But all these intricate thoughts were overwhelmed by how much he was suffering on the train as he journeyed through at a speed slower than the average man.

"Ah, we're here." Azazel grinned madly, putting his hands on his waist.

"What is it that you wanted to show us? And where exactly is 'here'" Happy asked this time as his partner was currently incapacitated.

"Well, there are a few things I want to start with. First, Hell doesn't have a dock to stop in. Second, we are in the engine head of the train," Azazel then slid the door open and displayed a dark cloudy atmosphere as the wind gusted in the cart and smelled of ash, "Third, we finally made it to Hell." His smiled increased tenfold when he took Natsu by the collar and threw him off the train with his final words being…

"Fucking Shit Azazel!" Natsu yelled falling downward to his decent for the ground. All Happy could do is stare flabbergasted at what just happened. Did Azazel literally throw Natsu off the train to plummet towards Hell? How high were they? How the heck was the train moving in the air without tracks!? All these questions Happy had swirly in his head; all these questions that will never be answered…

"So, aren't you going to save your friend. He's still falling you know." Azazel said, not bothering to look at Happy and stared straight outside. That's when common sense kicked in and Happy sprouted his wings again but not before slapping Azazel with his tail.

"You're such a creepy psycho." Happy deadpanned before chasing for his falling friend.

"Yeah yeah, I know. Anywho," Azazel proceeded to close the door and coughed a little from the ash in the air around him. Slowly but surely he walked back to where Sirzechs was residing and sat down to continue reading his books. Said man got up and walked to where he was sitting to question him about the whereabouts of the boy and cat.

"So, what did you want to show them? Also, are we in Hell yet because we should drop them off before we fly over the territory." Sirzechs asked Azazel, staring him down while he closed his book.

"Well, I just wanted to show them where they would be departing us on our train trip. And we've actually been in Hell a while now, we're going to exit in a few minutes as well." Azazel answered, waiting to see Sirzechs' reaction once realization kicked in.

"Wait, what are you…" Sirzechs raised his hand as if he was about to finish but dark lines came over his face while his hair started to shadow his eyes, "Are you crazy, Azazel!? You kick them from the sky! You know as well as I do that we could have gone lower!"

All he could do was smile back in response, "Oopsy." He said mockingly.

"I swear, I really wonder why I hang out with you so much."