*WARNING!* Please read my first fanfic "Dragon's Plight" before reading this one. It's a sort-of continuation, and I reference some things in the previous one. This is my pilot chapter, so I'm not sure when my next chapter will be up (just so you know). Anyway, I hope you enjoy the opening to my new story! Please remember to review!

Chapter 1

A mighty roar rang in the dark sky, shaking the ground with its ferocity. Natsu covered his ears. He had heard dragons roar hundreds of times, but this was different. It was too loud. It was painful. A screeching howl reverberated in night. Natsu looked up in time to see two dragons swoop down from above him. The sky exploded with fire and lightning. The shadows of two dragons circled each other. Blood poured down like rain. It pelted him, soaking his clothes in red dragon's blood.

"What the…?"

Natsu rubbed his eyes. Was he actually seeing this? Again a loud, earsplitting roar resounded. Natsu clamped his hands over his ears. The sound made his ears ring. A dark shadow swooped down, colliding into the two dragons. Natsu leaped back as the enormous black form crashed to the ground, the dragons beneath it. The shock of the impact sent him flying. Landing face down on the ground, the Dragon Slayer spun just in time to see a large black dragon head rise above the two corpses. Natsu's eyes widened. Chills crept up and down his spine at the sight of the black dragon, blue lines curving all along its body like a curse.

"Acnologia," he whispered, his whole body trembling.

The black Dragon turned its head, staring down at the human at its feet. Acnologia roared. The power behind its bellowing roar tore apart the ground. Trees uprooted and carved deep scars in the earth. Natsu stared up at the dragon, unsure of what to do. The last time he had seen it, Acnologia had nearly destroyed them all. If it hadn't been for the First Master, Mavis, they would all have been done for. The dragon fixed its beady eyes on him, eyes glowing like beacons in the darkness.

Dragon Slayer, a dark, rumbling voice growled.

Natsu froze.

Again the voice spoke, but it sounded as though it was inside his head. Dragon Slayer! Dragon Slayer! Dragon Slayer!

His eyes widened. It was like the voice was coming from the black dragon.

Why do you stare at me like that? Like you're staring at the face of demon. You don't know anything of a dragon's power…nor of your own. You couldn't possibly fathom how much I can do. Acnologia's lips curled back in a dragonish grin. Blood from the other dragons dripped from his fangs. Come closer. Let me show you. Let me show you…the wealth of power that lies within dragon's blood.

It felt as if his legs were moving on their own. Legs shaking, he walked slowly forward.

Yes. Yes! I can see it in those eyes—the desire for power. I can teach you.

Natsu could feel his dragon magic swelling inside him. The warmth spread from his center outward to his limbs. It made his whole body tingle. He could feel his body going through the physical changes that Dragon Force invoked. His skin cracked like scales, his fire turned golden. The slumbering Dragon Master magic awakened, like a beast roaring to life after slumbering for centuries. Natsu fell to his knees, hands pressed to his temples. It felt like his head was splitting! This feeling was different…wrong. It was unlike anything he'd felt. It was unnatural.

He screamed. His dragon fire intensified. It felt as if it was burning him—something that had never happened before. In the back of his mind something screamed out for him to run. But he couldn't turn back now. His chest tightened, as if a fiery arrow had shot straight through his heart and the flames were destroying him from the inside out. He threw his head back and screamed in agony, his eyes red—blind with fury and pain.

The black dragon laughed, a dark and rumbling laugh. It was filled with cruelty. That's right, Dragon Slayer! Let it consume you…the fire…the power…let the beast's blood take over! You'll gain unimaginable power! You will become like me.

It felt as if his bones were twisting into a whole new shape. He felt his jaw elongate and his limbs grow in size. A tail grew out from the end of his spine, curling around like a crooked sickle. Bony wings burst from his shoulder blades. Natsu screamed in agony. His mind was slipping. Pure animalistic bloodlust crept through him, stealing away his consciousness. Soon his screams became growls and then snarls.

The snap of a twig behind him startled him. Natsu rounded on the intruder. In his dragon-like form, he launched at them, jaws wide to snap their neck. A girl shrieked. His jaws closed on his victim. The taste of blood. Then everything turned red.

V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V* V*

Natsu sat bolt upright. Sweat drenched his clothes, perspiration pouring down his skin. He sat there panting, his whole body trembling. He stared at his shaking hands, wide-eyed. That had been the most realistic dream he'd ever had before. It felt so real. He could remember the way he felt when he bit down on the girl's neck. It had felt almost…exhilarating but frightening.

"Natsu?"

He jumped at the sound of Happy's voice. The blue cat was staring at him from the edge of the bed. His bright round eyes almost glowed in the moonlight.

"Are you okay?" Happy asked.

Wiping a hand down his face, he nodded. He wiped the sweat off his forehead. "I think so…" he muttered.

"What happened?"

"Just a bad dream."

"You've never had bad dreams like that before. What was it about?"

"Nothing…."

"C'mon! You can tell me. What was it?"

"I told you, it's nothing."

"Natsuuuuu come one! Tell me!"

"I SAID IT'S NOTHING!" he shouted.

Happy flinched. Natsu had never yelled at him like that before. Natsu blinked, realizing what he had just done. Shaking his head, he pulled at his pink hair in frustration.

"Sorry, Happy. I didn't mean to. It's just…well, it was really weird and…frightening. It's got me a little on edge, I guess."

The little Exceed stared at him skeptically. Finally he nodded. "Okay…." He sat down on the edge of the bed, paws dangling off the side. "You don't have to tell me…. I was just worried. You were shouting and thrashing and then your skin started to look like scales. You know…like when you use Dragon Force. But you were sleeping, so I got really worried…."

"You mean I was using my magic?"

Happy nodded.

That had never happened before. Not like this anyway. Sure, he had breathed fire and stuff in his sleep at times, but something like this had never happened before. Ever since he had mastered his Dragon Master magic, he had felt kind of strange. Natsu clenched his fist. He was still shaking. Maybe it was just a onetime thing. It had only been a few months since the whole incident with Tynan. He was probably still just worked up about it.

"You sure you're okay?" Happy asked.

"Yeah." Natsu grinned. "I'm fine. Promise. Why don't you go back to sleep? We're gonna be picking out a new job later."

"Aye, sir!" Happy hopped off the bed. "I can't wait to go on a job with Lucy! Goodnight, Natsu!"

"Yeah. Goodnight."

As soon as Happy was curled up in his little bed, fast asleep, Natsu opened the window. There was no way he'd be able to fall asleep again…not after that dream. But dawn was only a few hours off. Pushing thoughts of his nightmare aside, he focused on the upcoming job with Lucy. It had been ages since they had gone on one together. And he was looking forward to it. But in the back of his mind, he couldn't shake the dream. There was something about it that chilled him to the bone. Like there really was a part of him that could turn into that…that beast. A mindless, bloodthirsty monster.

Chapter 2 will be coming soon!