User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 415: And It Shall Become Your Will To Live, Review./@comment-4449950-20150110235458

Okay, I am very happy. Was shocked a chapter came out though - kinda woke up and it's all "surprise bitch, I'm here". Anyways:

The Dragon Spirit thing was AMAZING for me, and I tip my hat to Mashima for somehow managing to wrap up (from what I can see at least) every loose end about the Dragons:
 * When Grandeeney talked to Igneel AGES AGO and was all "Lol, Natsu gunna die mate" and Igneel cracked it, no wonder he did. Grandeeney was essentially saying "haha, you picked a lousy cryo-body and you're gunna die if your human is stupid, or be forced to leave early. Look at the one I raised nicely, holding my body well >:3"
 * Sting and Rogue's parent's "death" - glad that even got a mention. Heck, that's something other authors would likely forget, but Mashima remembered to bring it to the forefront.
 * Igneel's slow loss. SO HAPPY. Holy hell. Makes so much sense now. He pins Acno and then Acno suddenly gets up. Tbh, I wouldn't be surprised if Acno knew all along and purposely stayed down for a little bit just to wait things out. Then as soon as Ingeel started mentioning how to defeat him to Natsu and co. he went "ah fuck, time to move" and took it back up to the sky. VERY strong reasoning for the entire last fight - I love it now. It also explains Igneel's fail of an all-out attack: "ah shit, I've only got so long... fuck, I'll just go for it".
 * As you said, having the Dragons gone is a good thing. They are far too strong to have around as allies, so them disappearing in this way is both nice and needed. Plus, I do believe it closes off the arc nicely. A bittersweet farewell, but a warning: "We were NOT meant to appear yet, more will come and you will be alone. Prepare!" So brilliant.
 * On this note, LOOK AT WHAT TARTARUS ACHIEVED. I mean, fuck, yeah, Face didn't go off, but look at where we end: Zeref has E.N.D., we know Acno is still out there and that he's capable, and the Dragon allies that were saving themselves for Zeref and Acno had to emerge - that is what Tartarus did... they lost our protags their greatest weapon. Hell, the did well iidssm.

I just... arg... thank you Mashima. I know we give him shit - hell, I give him shit all the time - but it was like Wrath and I were saying in chat that one time, you have to give him props for how he can tie things together. I believe he is rather good at that and if FT was a series that was written like Western novels where it's all written at once and looked over and not one chapter at a time and changed on the fly, FT could be a truly magnificent series to behold. As it is, it does suffer some (and because of Erza fights - but I won't go there and ruin this happy feeling) but ultimately there is love and effort here, so thank you Mashima.

Just as extras, yeah, I thought Deeney looked more lady-like up close too XD Porlyw/e also smiling was another nice addition. Porly will definitely be there for Wendy in Deeney's place. Gajeel and Metalicanna was great too, and just the general vibe of the chapter. Even Natsu's dad's death. I loved it compared to Gray's dad's death - even the message. Silver's was all "Gray, Tartarus killed me. I was trying to get them, so I pass on to you the power to fight them. Go slaughter." whereas Igneel's was "Don't cry - stand up and grasp the future you want to take. Remember my words of encouragement and not my death." How much better of a message is that? Thank you Igneel. You get +48 dad points.

Lastly, I need to mention Lumen. Am still in a love/hate with it due to it being introduced but not used, but I guess it's been hinted at just as Zeref and Acno were hinted at: the sort of "watch out, this'll be back with a bang!" kinda thing, so I am excited :3

Also excited to see where we go from here. I just hope that Jellal and Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe and such get some more focus in the next arc. Jellal for obvious reasons because I still don't get the point of his whole role in this arc, and Laxus and co. because I feel they were cheated out of a moment to shine. Seriously, I think they were only taken out so that Mashima wouldn't have to find something to do with them, and that kinda irks me. Hopefully they shine soon, because they deserve to.

All in all though, A+ for this chapter all the damn way. Seriously, it cleared up a lot, lifted my thoughts of previous plot points out of the mud because it actually explained them, and lifted my overall feeling of this arc, because yes, the Dragons appeared like a Deus ex Mashima and saved everyone, but they weren't meant to, they now are gone and by fuck something is waiting to come stomp them that the Dragons were meant to help with but now can't.

And that, that has me excited >:)