Do Not Own Fairy Tail:
Summary: Igneel knows that he is going to die long before he decides to leave Natsu. He decides to prepare Natsu for the battles ahead by giving him a gift, one that will help him grow strong and protect his future family and friends. Note: Do not know how pairings will go, Natsu will not be an idiot
Elemental Slayer
Our tale takes place in a world quite like our own and yet so very different. Earthland, a place filled with magic. It is found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace, for most, magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, magic is an art, and they have devoted their lives to its practice. These are the mages. Banded together into magical guilds they apply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born... a guide that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name... isFairy Tail.
However, we are not quite there yet. First we must start broader, in the small Kingdom of Fiore, peaceful nation of around 17 million people. But our story begins away from any of those people, marketplaces, or homes. Our story begins far away from them where the only things around are pine trees, wild animals, and, of course, a boy and his dragon.
Fiore, X774
In a forest far away from civilization, a peculiar event was taking place. A large, red dragon was speaking with a child who was no more than ten years old. The dragon had red outer scales with an underbelly covered in yellow scale. He was a beast obviously built for battle as seen by the large claws on his hands and the two scars that were on his face. One scar was cross shaped on the right side of his snout while the other was vertically across his eye. He had a pair of large red and yellow wings with similar appendages near the back of his jaw. This was the dragon Igneel, king of the fire dragons.
With Igneel was a small child who had angular eyes black as obsidian and sparkling with emotion. He was, at first glance, an average child but if you look closer then you would see the striking, salmon colored hair, sharp canines, and incredibly lean body. Many would think the boy is crazy for arguing with a dragon but this was just an everday occurance for the young lad. This young boy may be unimpressive now but, few knew that young Natsu Dragneel was destined for great things.
"Dad! Calm down, it was just a little joke!" the boy whined.
"It's not about the prank, boy! It's your attitude in general. Listen, I didn't want to talk to you about this yet but it seems that I have no choice." The dragon sighed.
"What do you mean?" the boy questioned.
"Listen, Natsu. I am dying-" the dragon started.
"WHAT?!" The boy exclaimed "I know you're mad but that's so wrong to joke about that to get back at-"
"SILENCE!" the dragon roared. Then he sighed and looked the boy directly in the eye. At that moment the boy's world crumbled away as he realized the only father he'd ever known was telling the truth. His dark eyes started to water before he began crying. Igneel brought the boy closer to him and curled his massive, reptilian body around him knowing that nothing could be said to soothe the boy's pain. After an hour the dragon looked down and noticed that the child had cried himself to sleep.
"It cannot be helped…" the dragon thought as he closed his eyes to sleep, "After all, I am the only person that the boy has ever known. It's only going to get worse after I tell him all that I need to tell him before I die. However the sooner he knows of it, the sooner he will accept it and the sooner he will be able to use that information and grow strong."
The following morning, Natsu woke up to a rush of memories. Knowing that he father was dying made him want to start crying again. However, he knew that was just the cowardly way out.
'This all started because of my immature attitude,' he thought, 'I have to be strong, both for him and for myself.'
After that, Natsu got up to hunt for breakfast for Igneel and himself. Afterwards Igneel walked over to Natsu to renew the discussion they were having yesterday.
"Listen Natsu." Igneel said, "Do not interrupt me until I finish speaking. Once I am done with my story then you are free to ask your questions as needed." Seeing Natsu nod, he began his story.
"400 Years ago, Dragons were the kings and queens, the rulers of this world. During this time, some dragons, such as myself, wanted to live alongside humans and cooperate with them. However, others believed we should dominate humans because we were more powerful than they were. The result of this conflict became known throughout history as the Dragon Civil War. During this conflict, the dragons that supported the humans took some human children as apprentices. This resulted in what is now known as dragon slayer magic. This was broken up into three different categories, 1st Generation slayers who were taught directly by dragons, 2nd Generation slayers that were infused with dragon lacrimas, and 3rd Generation slayers that were a combination of the two previous generations. However this plan backfired as dragon slayers began to kill both dragons that were against humans and ones that supported them. One in particular was known as Acnologia, who, after killing numerous dragons became a dragon and declared himself the dragon king." Igneel paused before continuing, "Around this time, a mage was coming to power. His name was Zeref. You see, Zeref and his brother were from a small town that hated magic. When Zeref was ten and his brother was two, his parents, along with the villagers, kicked them out and exiled them from the village. He then proceeded to Maldea, also known as the City of Magic. However, all was not well. Zeref's two year old brother caught an unknown disease while traveling to Maldea. This caused Zeref to throw himself into magic in order to discover a way to save his baby brother. But it was all for naught, his brother died 18 months later at the age of four. Stricken with grief, Zeref used magic to preserve the body of his brother and began researching a way to bring him back to life. This research led to unforetold events beginning with zeref being kicked out of the Maldean Magic Academy. After that, a god known as Ankhersam, the ruler of life and death, cursed Zeref. However, at first Zeref didn't care as his research brought him back his baby brother. However, the curse, known as the curse of contradiction, made it so that the more Zeref loved, the more he would destroy. It made him go from the loving brother to the monster known as the Black Wizard Zeref, creator of the Etherious and the R system. These Etherious demons, named for the ethernano which make up their being, ravaged the land. Cultists came up in Zeref's name worshipping him as a god and committing despicable acts like slavery and genocide. In the end Zeref wanted to die, so he took his most powerful demon, his own baby brother, whom he referred to as E.N.D and gave him to a dragon who he then sent into the future 400 years. This would let the boy have a fun life and eventually give a way to kill Zeref and the previously mentioned Acnologia."
"So since you are telling me all of this, I can assume that the dragon in this story is you. Following that since you are teaching me, I must be this E.N.D which I'm guessing is an acronym for Etherious Natsu Dragneel. That would make me a demon and the brother to the most hated man in history." Natsu stated with a serious look on his face. Igneel was astonished at his son, who at such a young age could think so logically. The sound of his son's voice woke him up.
"Why tell me this?"
"Because your training has just become much tougher." Igneel replied as he walked back in the cave with and came out with a box. He sat the box down and opened it. What was inside but rows of crystals, perfectly round and shining.
"These are lacrima, more specifically dragon lacrima." Igneel explained, " I asked each of the dragons that came back with me to put some of their power into these. I also gave one to each of them for their own dragon slayers. The next step will be for you to fuse these with your magical core, this will allow you to be able to use Shadow, Sky, Light, Iron, Cavern, Purgatory, Hellfire, Sea Serpent, and Gale dragon slaying elements. Four of these are from a wizard saint who is a second generation dragon slayer. The rest are from the dragons themselves. You also better get used to reading because I can't teach those elements to you. Finally, I give you one from myself which will allow the use of stronger techniques."
"How long do you have to train me before you die?" Natsu asked, ready to prove himself to his father.
"We shall have three years. And we start now because you have a lot to learn boy." Igneel said, charging up his magic for emphasis.
"I'm all fired up." Natsu responded with a smirk, which quickly fell as Igneel shoved the first lacrima into his son's stomach. This caused the boy to scream in agony while the lacrima fused with his core, expanding and empowering it. This process continued until all of the lacrima were implanted into young Natsu Dragneel. From there, and for the next three years, he spent his days training in different dragon slayer arts, figuring them out for himself or reading notes that Zeref had written for the dragons, and nights listening to Igneel lecture or on the occasion where they could go somewhere close to a town, reading everything he could. He did this until finally the day came.
As Natsu awoke, he went out to hunt for his and Igneel's breakfast like he had done every morning for years. He came back and started cooking, expecting the dragon to come out like always. However, it was not meant to be. Natsu, noticing the dragon not coming out, decided to go wake him up.
"Igneel get up before I eat your breakfast!" he shouted. But the dragon would not wake up. "Igneel! Dad! Dad!" he shouted now physically trying to wake him up but it was no use. Igneel, the great fire dragon king, after having ruled for centuries, was gone. Natsu then began to cry, mourning the loss of the only father he had ever had. After an hour he looked and noticed a note carved into the wall of the cave. It was Igneel's final message:
To Natsu Dragneel, Son of Igneel, King of the Fire Dragons,
As I write this, I know it is my time to go, young dragon. We both knew that this day would come but that does not make it any easier on either of us. I know it is unfair for me to leave you alone in this world but fear not, because I will be giving you my final words in the hope that you will grow to have a wonderful life.
To start, I want you to know that these years with you have been the finest years of my life and that I would not trade them for anything. Watching you grow into a fine young man has made me sure that not only do you have the qualities of a good King but the qualities of an even better man. I know that you will find happiness in this world.
Next, some advice. The First is to make friends and find a new family that you can grow to love and protect. Enjoy life and do not let the dark times ruin it. Remember my boy, stop and smell the roses. Life can be a lot of fun, if you let it. Next, watch what you do and say around women, they are not as thick headed as we are and it will save you trouble in the long run. Finally, always remember to follow your heart.
At the back of the cave are my final gifts for you. The first is a scarf made from my own scales, so that you may always bring a piece of me with you wherever you go. The next are empty dragon lacrimas to help you. If you find new dragon slayers have them put magic into these and then transplant them into your core just like before. Also, try not to show all your powers at once, best to leave some surprises. Finally, I leave a blade crafted from my own fang for you to use if you so choose.
For my last instructions, find Fairy Tail. They will accept you there.
I wish I could give you more than what I have. I wish I could be there to see you fight your battles, to see your future mate or mates, to watch your children and grandchildren grow. Sadly, I cannot be there but I will always be watching over you. I know that you have the power to go through this life. Never forget that you are a true dragon slayer, and you should take pride in that accomplishment. No matter what happens, I, Igneel will always be proud of you.
Igneel
As Natsu wept over the final words of his father and after grabbing the gifts of his father, he used his cavern dragon slayer magic to open a pit to put igneel in ready to say his final words.
"Honestly Father I don't know what to say. What does one say at the funeral of the one who gave them life and everything they have? I will only say this, thank you for everything you have done for me Igneel. I will make you proud. I know you wouldn't want to be in a hole forever so in your honor you should go out as you came in. Inferno Dragon's Roar!" Natsu watched as his father's body burnt away. He stayed there until it was done, then used his magic to close the pit, blow the ash out of the cave, and erect a tombstone.
" I guess the next step is to find this Fairy Tail place." He said as he proceeded to walk off to the closest town in order to locate a map and set out on the path to his future.
