Hello, lovelies! here with a brand, spanking new story for all of my loyal followers! As I've announced in Big Happy Family, I've been thinking over this story for a while now and decided to put it into motion. Originally, I didn't plan on associating this with Fairy Tail, but then I figured, why not? And so, here it is! I hope you all like it!

Also, please don't think that I'm abandoning Big Happy Family. I'm just putting it on hiatus right now because I'm honestly running out of ideas for it, but I will be coming back to it whenever I have a clear idea and the time to actually do it. It is my very first story for this site and I love that it gave me this many followers with just a few crappy chapters. Thank you so much for that by the way!

So, without further ado, here is My Guiding Flame (title brought to you by DarkAngelDan98)

Chapter 1:

Hold on to me as we go

As we roll down this unfamiliar road

And although this wave is stringing us along

Just know you're not alone

'Cause I'm gonna make this place you're home

"Home"- Phillip Phillips

There was once a time, many years ago, when magic was a regular concept used by many and brought happiness to those who held such power. Mages built guilds where they could employ other mages with different powers and take requests to help better the world they lived in and earn money along the way. No one would bat an eyelash if magic was used in public. Magic stores were placed in every town and used by both mages and mortals.

Those times, however, has been long gone ever since a paranoid old king once heard a prophecy from an oracle that magic would be his undoing. In a panic, he had his soldiers expand beyond the kingdom to hunt down any and all mages and see to their extinction. Men, women, and children alike were separated from their families and brutally murdered right in front of them. This mass genocide brought great abhorrence towards the king and the people eventually revolted against the crown.

There had been no warning of a rebellion.

The king had been sleeping peacefully in his bed, finally able to relax after he had heard word that the last mage had been properly dealt with. However, he had woken up to a knife plunged in his chest. This alone did not kill him, instead he was brought to the center of the village and publically humiliated in front of his citizens before being beheaded.

This had gone down in history as the day the citizens of Fiore had murdered their king. Magic was no longer used, but the people learned to adapt without it.

Many years later, a new king rose to power. King Judas Heartfilia of Fiore brought much prosperity to his kingdom and treated his people with respect and great affection. His queen, Layla Heartfilia, was as kind as she was beautiful. It was only natural that they produced a lovely heir by the name of Lucy. Unfortunately, not long after delivery, Queen Layla passed away due to complications during birth. The King had become cold and distant afterwards, but still managed to run his kingdom to the best of his ability while the young princess was raised without a mother.

There had been no more talk of magic or mages or guilds in a long while.

But, that doesn't mean it no longer existed.

FTFTFTFTFTFT

"Igneel, I got the wood just like you-"

The young boy stopped dead in the center of the grassy field he had called home for some years, dropping the wood he had gathered to the forest floor. Where there was usually a large, red-scaled dragon awaiting his arrival was nothing but empty space.

"Igneel?" The boy looked around then became frantic. "Igneel?! S-stop messing around! This isn't funny."

He called out desperately, but no one came. He ran along the perimeter of the field, disbelieving that a creature so large could simply disappear so suddenly. There was no explanation as to why he was gone. He just…was.

Tears started streaming down the boy's face as he screamed until his voice grew hoarse. He crumpled down to the ground, landing roughly on his knees. His fingers dug into the ground as he sobbed wordlessly. He had never been left alone in so long. Why so suddenly?

As he prepared to get up and search more thoroughly, a large hand clamped over his mouth and he was picked up off the ground.

"Well, well, well." A strange voice sneered in his ear. "What do we have here? Are you lost, little boy?"

In response, the boy opened his mouth, revealing unnaturally sharp canines, and bit down on his attacker's hand. The man yelped in pain and through the child to the ground to cradle his bleeding hand to his chest.

"Why you little-"

The child took a deep breath before blowing out a billow of flames from his mouth. The man had the good sense to jump out of the way before looking at the child with a mixture of trepidation and wonder.

"What…?" The man stumbled. "But…that's impossible."

The child took in another breath, but was intercepted by a heavy net coming down on him and sending him flailing towards the forest floor. He huffed fire from his mouth in spurts and struggled with all of his might, but to no avail.

A second man appeared to assist the other off the ground and together they looked at the thrashing child in disbelief.

"He's…he's a mage." The first man said as he stood on his own two feet.

"It seems that way." The second one agreed. "But, I thought they were extinct. There's been no news of a mage in over a hundred years. This child has to be at least six-years-old."

Both men's eyes widened. "That means there must be more."

The second man went over to the child, pressing his boot against the boy's back in an attempt to get him to sit still.

"Where are your parents, boy?" He questioned without any further introduction.

Instead of answering his question, the boy screamed, "You better let me go right now! My dad will be back soon and then you're going to be sorry!"

"Is that so? Is he a mage like you?"

"He's a big fire dragon and he's going to tear your heads off as soon as he gets back so you'd better beat it!"

The man chuckled humorlessly. "There's no such things as dragons, kids. They've been extinct for hundreds of years."

"No, he's not! He's big and scary and he'll kill all of you!"

The man stomped his boot against the boy's head. "You've got quite the mouth on you, kid. A mouth like that could get you in an awful lot of trouble."

The boy thrashed wildly, spitting up dirt.

"What do we do with him?" The first man came up, steering clear of the child's line of fire. (pun not intended)

"I say we take him to the king."

"The king? What's he going to do with him?"

The other man shrugged. "Dunno. But, I reckon he'd want to hear about a fire-breathing mage in his kingdom, don't you think?"

FTFTFTFTFTFTFT

Natsu Dragneel may have been a fire mage, but that didn't mean he was particularly strong. At least, not yet. He had been trained in the art of fire magic by his father starting from a young age. He could be dense at times, but that didn't mean he was deluded enough to believe that a dragon could be biologically related to a human boy, but that didn't make Igneel any less Natsu's father. Natsu didn't know who his real parents were or what happened to them nor did he care. He's known Igneel for as long as he could remember and that was enough for him. He had no doubt that Igneel loved him as if he were his own son and Natsu's feelings were mutual.

This fact only made Natsu wonder even more as to why Igneel would suddenly disappear the way he did. If he was still here, Natsu wouldn't be riding in the back of a wheeled monster with a sick feeling in his gut, all while being held captive by two strange men that kept him entangled in this godforsaken net. This wouldn't be a problem if Natsu didn't feel as if everything he had eaten in the last 24 hours was about to make a second appearance.

As the men drove, Natsu was able to take in the scenes they passed. All of his life, he's known nothing but the meadow where he lived and the forest surrounding it. He's never seen another human being in the flesh before today. He's seen plenty in the books Igneel had brought back with him once he returned from places he'd never disclose to Natsu. No matter how much he learned about them, nothing could have prepared him for the sight of village people milling about, going about their day.

His eyes darted around with curiosity and mild fear. There was just so many of them! He wondered if all humans resided in large groups such as this. Dragons were normally solitary creatures unless it was mating season. This was all so new to him. Children around his age passed by, too caught up in their own fun to notice him staring after them.

Natsu jumped out of surprise when the cart came to an abrupt halt. His stomach settled a bit, for which he was grateful, but it didn't last long once his heightened senses allowed him to listen in on the men's conversation in the front.

"Halt, men!" An authoritative voice ordered. "State your purpose."

"We've brought something that should be brought to the king's attention right away, sir." Natsu recognized one of kidnapper's voice, but couldn't tell which.

"Oh? And what, exactly, would be so important that it would have call the king's attention from his normal duties?"

"We believe we have found a mage in the forest, sir."

There was a beat of silence.

"That is a serious accusation, gentlemen. Mages have been extinct for many years. What proof do you have?"

"Go ahead and look at him. He's in the back."

Natsu heard the footsteps as someone approached. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he prepared for the worst.

A man with bright red hair came into view, his eyes landing on the small boy with atypical pink hair and fire in his eyes. He stepped closer, nothing the way the boy seemed to draw more into himself as if preparing for a hit. The child bared his teeth, revealing his sharpened fangs once again.

The man stepped back in alarm.

"Well, I'll be damned." He breathed.

He took one last glance at the defensive child before going around to the front of the cart. He waved the men through without another word.

Natsu met the man's eyes once again as the cart passed through the gate. There was no malice in the red-headed man's eyes like the other men had. Only a touch of sadness.

Once they were through, Natsu was relieve to see less people around. Only these people were in heavy looking, shiny clothing and pointy sticks. He figured that if he kept quiet, he wouldn't receive the brunt end of those things.

The cart stopped once again and the men came around to drag Natsu out from the back.

This was a mistake.

Natsu's entire body became engulfed with flames, causing the men to drop him immediately and whine over their injured hands. The rope of the net fell away as it burned, allowing Natsu to jump out and immediately and start running in the direction of where he was sure his home was.

There was a lot of yelling coming from behind him, but Natsu didn't dare look back. If he kept running, he could make it home. Igneel would be there for sure this time. He had no doubt in his mind about that. Perhaps Igneel was already coming after him after he learned that he was missing. Then, he could burn this entire place to the ground for all Natsu cared. If he never came into direct contact with another human ever again, it'd be too soon.

He was too focused on what laid ahead of him, that he failed to realize what laid in the present. Or, in this case, what laid on the ground.

He tripped and landed face first on the dirt.

"Ow!" An indignant voice shouted.

Natsu raised himself on his hands and knees, brushing the dirt from his face. He whipped his head toward whatever had sent him sprawling, prepared to burn it to ashes.

What he didn't prepare for was the blonde headed girl in an expensive looking dress glaring right back at him with large, brown eyes. She wasn't anything like Igneel had shown him in the books. Her hair reminded him of the sun that greeted him each morning. Her eyes held such depth and flashed with what he assumed was anger for being stepped on. Her anger, unlike the other humans', held no threat to him. It looked like she was ready to give him a good talking to rather than a beating.

"That wasn't very nice!" The girl whined. "You should watch where you're going."

Her accusation struck something inside of Natsu

He stood up, matching her height. "Well, what kind of dummy lies in the middle of the road, huh?!"

"I didn't expect some weirdo to run me over!"

"Who are you calling a weirdo?! If anyone's the weirdo here it's you!"

"Why you…" The girl's cheeks flushed with rage.

Natsu found the sight pretty funny and began laughing, which infuriated the girl even further.

"You look like a tomato." He giggled incessantly, pointing at her face.

The girl growled and surprised Natsu by tackling him to the ground.

"It's not okay to laugh at people!" She shouted as they rolled about in the dirt.

"Well, don't make funny faces and maybe I wouldn't laugh!" Natsu argued.

The two's tussle was cut short by a hand grabbing Natsu by the back of his shirt and lifting him off of the girl.

"Is this ruffian bothering you, princess?" A new voice asked.

"Erza!" The girl exclaimed as she stood up. "Thank goodness you came! This boy stepped on me and called me a weirdo!"

"Is that so?"

"You started it!" Natsu shouted. "You attacked me first!"

"Is this true, Lucy?"

The girl, whose name Natsu learned was Lucy, had the nerve to blush. "Only because he was laughing at me!"

Natsu had just about enough of being grabbed by strangers. He struggled and kicked away, but got absolutely nowhere.

"Hey!" He turned towards his captor. "Let me go before I-"

He came face to face without another pair of brown eyes, these ones stonier and less expressive than Lucy's. Her hair matched that of the man he encountered earlier at the gate only it was much longer and tied back into a single braid. She couldn't be more than one or two years older than Natsu.

The girl leaned forward, invading Natsu's space. "Before you what?" She asked.

He didn't know what it was about this girl, but her tone sent shivers down his spine. These girls confused him. From what Igneel had read to him about females, they were supposed to be dainty and dignified. These girls were rough and scary and were not at all the sweet, demure, and mild creatures he's heard about.

"Let him go, Erza." Lucy interjected, coming to his defense. "I think he's had enough."

Erza nodded. "As you wish, princess." She released Natsu's shirt, allowing him to run out of her reach and duck behind Lucy.

"You don't have to be afraid of Erza." Lucy attempted to sooth him. She was both amused and surprised by his cowardice. "She's really very nice once you get to know her."

As Natsu looked back into the red-headed girl's eyes that were trained directly on him, he somehow doubted that.

"By the way," Lucy continued. "You didn't tell us your name."

"Oh, me? I'm-"

"You!" A familiar voice shouted. All three children jumped and looked up towards the men running towards them.

"Oh no…" Natsu whispered fearfully.

Lucy looked back at him. "Hm? Do you know those men?"

"Quick! You gotta hide me before-"

But, it was too late. The men stood over the children, panting from exertion.

"You!" One of them pointed to Natsu who remained behind Lucy. "Get over here now!"

Natsu shook his head.

The man scoffed. "Hiding behind a little girl, huh? You really think that's going to stop us?"

The men advanced threateningly. Erza grasped the handle of the wooden sword at her hip while Lucy stood her ground in front of the boy she had the sudden urge to protect. She didn't know who these men were, but she was certain that they were not friends of his.

"What do you think you are doing with my daughter?"

Everyone seemed to freeze at those words. The two men straightened and stepped away. Erza slipped her sword back into its holster and stood tall. Lucy held back a sigh and looked dejectedly down at the ground. Natsu, however, was confused by the sudden shift of mood.

"Y-your Highness!" The men gulped in unison.

Natsu looked up. Standing there, looking powerful and intimidating was a blonde men in clothing that looked even more expensive than Lucy's dress. There was no doubt in his mind who this person was. Igneel had told him many stories of people such as this.

He was the king.

He looked down at the young people in front of him, his face revealing nothing but discontent. His eyes ran over Natsu and narrowed momentarily before looking back up at the trembling men.

"Answer my question." He demanded once again.

"We-we're sorry, King Judas." One the men offered. "We didn't recognize her as your daughter."

King Judas looked towards his daughter once again, taking in her hampered appearance and her latest dress covered in filth from the streets. He wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"Lucy, come here."

Lucy did not hesitate to do as she was told. Though her head was down, Natsu could sense her sadness. But, for what reason, he did not know.

Lucy stopped once she reached her father's side.

"Lucy, can you tell me why you are covered in dirt?" He asked in an eerily quiet tone.

"I am sorry, father." Lucy replied. "I was only playing with my friends."

The king hummed and looked at Erza who stood with her back as straight as a line and her head held high.

"Ms. Scarlet." The King addressed her. Erza flinched slightly, but mostly kept her composure. "Isn't your father expecting you?"

"Yes, your Majesty." She answered quickly. She bowed and, without another word, she turned and marched off.

Lucy watched her go, longing for her to stay.

"And who might this be?" Natsu jumped once he realized that it was him the king was directing the questions towards.

"Um…" Natsu stumbled over what to say.

Thankfully, Lucy came to his rescue. "This is a new friend that I've made. He's from the village."

King Judas raised an eyebrow, knowing fully well when his only daughter was lying to him. Natsu, however stared at her as if she'd grown a second head. He had only just met her. What reason would she have to lie for him? Not that she was doing a very good job of it.

"That's not true, your Highness!" One of the men, who had kept quiet up until now, butt in. "We found him wondering in the forest alone. This might come as a shock, but we believe him to be…a mage."

King Judas' face did not change. "A mage? What would make you think such a thing?"

"He's a fire-breather, your Highness. He nearly burnt my face off before we finally caught him in that damned forest."

"A fire mage, huh." King Judas suddenly grinned, but it was no friendly. "Prove it to me."

"Certainly, your Majesty." One man grabbed Natsu by the arm, his fingers digging into his skin. "Do as you're told and show your power to the king, boy."

Natsu whimpered as the man's fingers dug even deeper.

"You're hurting him!" Lucy cried out, attempting to rush to Natsu's aid, but was halted by a firm hand on her shoulder.

The king nodded towards Natsu. "Go on."

As much as he didn't want to, Natsu found that he had little choice. He raised his available arm and, with a flick of the wrist, lit his entire hand on fire.

Lucy gasped, staring at the flames that had appeared out of nowhere. Natsu looked at her, watching as she gazed at his hand with nothing but sheer amazement.

King Judas' smile grew. "So, it's true."

"We wouldn't lie to you, your Majesty."

"I can see as much. Take him to my throne room. I will be with you presently."

The men nodded and began dragging Natsu behind them. Natsu found no use in fighting anymore. He could run, but he probably wouldn't get very far. He looked behind himself, seeing the girl already staring after him.

"Bye." He whispered.

Lucy raised her hand to wave.

"Lucy."

Lucy let her hand fall to her side. "Yes, father?"

"You are not to go anywhere near that boy again. Am I understood?"

Lucy hesitated before answering. "Yes, father."

"Good. See to it that you are bathed immediately. It's an embarrassment to look at you."

Lucy nodded and began heading back towards the castle, already dreading the scolding she was sure to receive from Aquarius for getting her new dress dirty.

Though she had promised that she would not go near Natsu again, she felt as if her life was already beginning to entangle itself with his in the strangest way possible.

And there it is, folks!

So, what do you think?

Do you like it? Do you love it? Do you want some more of it?

I really feel as if this could go somewhere so I really hope you guys like it!

Send me a review telling me what you think of it. ;)

Until next time, my loves! Kisses!