On the continent of Ishgar, deep within a vast and mountainous forest there was almost no signs of human life. Many miles from any human settlement the deeper parts of the forest were home to vicious beasts and monsters; and yet in one particular region there was very little life, most wildlife scared away by a single inhabitant. The quiet made the area very serene, if not a little unnerving.
"NNNAAAATTTTSSSUUU!!!!" The peace and quiet of the region was broken by what could only be described as a monstrous and rage filled roar that shook the very earth. The roar came from a single mountain located at the center of the wildlife absent region. At the base of the mountain was a massive cavern that housed a large red dragon.
This dragon was Igneel, The King of Fire Dragons. Standing taller than the tallest tree, with wings that stretched almost as long as his entire body, massive bone crushing teeth longer than a human arm, claws capable of crushing the largest of boulders, and large scars covering various portions of his body, Igneel portrayed the image of a fierce and powerful beast that could destroy an entire city if he so desired. "Look at what you did to me you damn brat!!" Or at least he used to.
"What do mean Igneel? You look you waaay better now!" Igneel' rage filled face was met by the innocent smile of a young boy, no older than five. The boy, average in size for his age, had bright pink hair, onyx eyes, and a smile that was so large that it practically split his face in two. This was Natsu, a child that Igneel had taken in several months ago.
His innocent response to Igneel' question only seemed to infuriate the dragon even more. "Look at what you did Natsu! I look ridiculous now!" Igneel empathized his point by pointing to his body, which was covered in crude paint drawings. 'This is the last time I bring him paint from a human village.' He thought quite irritated.
"Aw, come on Igneel you look way better. Now you can even blend into the cave wall, just like a ninja!" Natsu further empathized his point by making a ninja hand sign and going nin-nin.
Igneel could only sweat drop at his son's recent fascination with ninjas. Realizing something that Natsu had implied, Igneel poked his head into the massive cavern. The mere sight caused his jaw to drop in astonishment; paint and crude pictures covered the walls, most just appearing as squiggles and lines that only made sense to a five year old. Even the ceiling of the cave was covered in paint. 'How did he even get up there?' The red dragon pondered.
"Pretty cool, huh Igneel!" Natsu's high pitched voice broke through Igneel's thoughts, causing him to look towards the small child.
He sighed as he looked at his adopted son, 'Raising children is a lot harder than I thought.' He exasperatedly thought; all the while Natsu's smile never wavered.
Later that night
After cleaning up his own body and the walls of the caves, as well as explaining to Natsu why the whole world wasn't his canvas, the two had done some light training for Natsu and his Fire Dragon Slayer magic. Now they were lazing around the fire that Igneel had started in the clearing about a mile from the cave, getting ready to sleep off the humongous dinner that they shared.
Suddenly however Igneel's snout twitched as he picked up a familiar scent, but it was one that he hadn't smelt in over two hundred years, and he didn't part with the scents owner on the best of terms. Narrowing his eyes in the direction that he picked up the scent, he rose to he feet, causing Natsu (who was dozing on the dragon's nose) to fall to the ground. "Hey what was that for?!" The small child shouted in rage at his nap being interrupted.
"Natsu" Igneel's tone, more serious than Natsu had ever heard before, caused the boy to stop his tantrum and look towards the dragon. "Go back towards the cave right now, and don't come out until I tell you to, no matter what." Igneel ordered as the individual that he smelt came into view to his draconic eyes.
"But Igneel-"
"Now Natsu, I mean it!" The King of Fire Dragons bellowed. Causing the pink haired boy to start running for the cave that they called home.
Igneel kept his ears tuned into Natsu's footsteps, making sure that his son actually went to the cave like he said. All the while his eyes, black slitted pupils and yellow sclera, never wavering from the approaching being.
After several minutes the being, another dragon, landed in front of Igneel. The visitor's red scales were duller than Igneel's and possessed fewer scars; the membrane of their massive wings tattered and full of holes toward the end; the horn on the end their snout broken in half, leaving an elevated flat top at the tip of the snout. The new dragon looked similar to Igneel in many ways, but aside from those minor differences, the biggest was that this dragon just looked old and decrepit; clearly having lived for many centuries.
"Igneel, its good to see you." The old dragon spoke, breaking the awkward silence that had encompassed the two since he landed.
"It has been awhile, hasn't it, Father."
Natsu, having reached the entrance of the cave, peered out towards the clearing that he had left his father in. Confusion crossed his features as another dragon touched down in the clearing.
The dragon, from what he see, looked similar to Igneel, but appeared older than his adoptive father. Curiosity immediately filled his young mind as Natsu had never seen another dragon other than Igneel; in fact he had never met anyone other than Igneel. His father's reaction to the unexpected visitor also surprised him; never before had he seen Igneel react in such a manner. Igneel had shouted at him often, but never like that, and he had to admit that it did worry him a bit.
Filled with questions about what was happening Natsu just observed the two dragons, his vantage point giving him a small view of the two. He wondered what they could possibly be discussing and if they would fight each other. That last thought bringing an excited smile to his face as the image of two massive dragons throwing down caused his blood to start pumping from excitement. There was no doubt in his mind that if the two dragons did engage each other that Igneel would emerge victorious, but he still thought that it would be an amazing battle.
The elderly dragon didn't seem surprised by Igneel's relatively cold greeting. He just 'hmmmed' in response; thinking over how long it had truly been. "200 years, I believe." He stated after thinking it over.
In response to his father's attempt at small talk Igneel was rather blunt and curt, especially compared to his normal boisterous and talkative attitude. "Just about. Now what do you want?"
At first the old dragon kept silent, pondering what to say in order to ease the tension. "That boy that your trying to hide from me, is he a dragon slayer?"
His question however did not ease the tension as Igneel immediately stomped his front left foot hard enough to shake the earth; his wings flaring outwards as he roared in rage at his father "STAY AWAY FROM MY SON!!"
The outburst had the desired affect as his father backed away slightly, clearly startled by his son's sudden rage. He bowed his head to Igneel and apologized, trying to demonstrate that he didn't mean the question to come off in the way that it did. "I'm sorry my son, I didn't mean for-"
"For what?!"
"For the question to come out like that! Look I didn't here to fight Igneel!"
"Then why did you come here?!"
"I came because...!" The ancient dragon's reply had begun strong and agitated, but he found that he couldn't finish the sentence. He became quiet; a forlorn look crossing his face as he remembered his true purpose for this reunion with his son. Igneel however either didn't notice how uncomfortable his father became or he just didn't care, as he continued his questioning.
"Because WHAT?!"
"BECAUSE THE PARLIAMENT IS DEAD!!" The ancient dragon's shout stopped any retort that may have come from Igneel. He could only stare in shock at his father, never in his life imagining that this could happen.
"What?" Igneel's muttered question was so soft that even with a dragon's enhanced hearing his father had trouble hearing it. He couldn't help but let out a disheartened sigh in response to Igneel's question before he began to explain.
"The parliament met together three days ago in order to discuss the issues that dragons are now facing; mainly the fallout from the civil war, an official stance on our future with humans, and what to do about Acnologia. We had been discussing, heh, or more accurately arguing about solutions to our problems," he began with a small smile filled with mirth, "when suddenly one of the emissaries, I don't even remember who, shouted 'I smell him! Acnologia! He is here!'"
Igneel kept his eyes focused on his father's face, silently monitoring the various expressions. Beginning the story with a look of sorrow for the fallen comrades, many of whom were close friends; before it turned to one of mirth at the recollection of what was probably the last of the parliament's numerous petty arguments that always seemed to occur at the meetings, before his expression finally shifted to dread, as if he could still hear that horrifying warning even now. "What happened next?" It was a rather plain question, but the only one that Igneel could think to ask, given his own state of shock at the horrible news.
With an exhausted sigh the old dragon continued his story. "Most of the younger members took flight immediately, leaving the mountain to engage Acnologia, surely with the intent to avenge every dragon that fell to that monster's claws. Myself, the Dark Dragon King and the Forest Dragon Queen were the only ones that remained behind; too old and weak to fight someone as powerful as the that black dragon." He sighed again before continuing to the story. "The parliament was weak. Of the one hundred clan heads that are supposed to be present at these meeting only thirteen showed, including myself. The war and Acnologia had affected us more than we even realized.
The three of us continued to watch as Acnologia fought against ten members of the parliament. Despite how much pain it brings me to say this, it was truly a glorious battle; one the likes of which I have never seen before. The destruction to the landscape, the techniques, the sheer power exhibited; truly amazing. And yet," the elderly dragon's voice suddenly became strained as his face twisted in pain and his claws dug into the earth "and yet, Acnologia slowly began to overwhelm the clan heads. The Lightning Dragon King was the first to fall, followed by the Earth Dragon King, and then the Poison Dragon Queen, and so on, and so on."
By this point Igneel's father had broken out in tears, his fist smashing the earth and creating mild shockwaves each time he recalled another of his comrades dying. Feeling true sympathy for his parent Igneel moved to sit shoulder to shoulder with his father in an attempt to provide some form of comfort. With a sigh he closed his eyes in a moment of silence for the fallen Kings and Queens, as Igneel had known many of them from his own time in the Parliament. He considered many of them to be friends and allies and hearing of their loss upset him just as much as his father.
"When it became clear that Acnologia was gonna win, Ravekor and Gaianna insisted that I leave and come find you. I had tried to argue against them, but in the end they were right and I knew it.
We knew that you and a few other dragons began raising children and teaching them Dragon Slayer Magic. Ravekor and Gaianna understood that with so much of the Parliament destroyed and the strongest of the dragons having their souls weakened by that bastard, a new group of dragon slayers is our best bet to stop that monster before he destroys the entire world."
"And since I went into hiding you were the only one that could find me, so they stayed to stall for time. Is that about right?" Igneel concluded.
His father could only nod grimly in response to the question. Igneel sighed in response to his father's story. The situation was bad, horrible actually, but there wasn't much he could do about it. "The children aren't ready, their nowhere near ready. Natsu is only five years old and three of the other children are only newborns."
"Acnologia fought the Parliament of Dragons, even a weakened one can put up a good fight. He may have won, but he didn't emerge unharmed. He'll need time to lick his wounds, especially with the Poison Dragon Queen landing several blows. Unfortunately once he recovers he'll go looking for other dragons, you especially; your one of the very few dragons left that can stand a chance against him."
"Yes, but I have to admit I'm hesitant to engage him. The spell he used to weakened the dragon souls was powerful; and although I hate to admit it, I fear what he could do to ones soul in a close up fight. What's more since Acnologia is injured he will most likely go into hiding. It will take time before he shows his face, and with my soul being weakened I'll become weaker as time passes." Igneel and his father sat in silence, contemplating the situation. It was only broken when the father remembered about something that Igneel had previously said.
"So his name is Natsu." It wasn't meant to be question, but a statement, and yet the father's quiet and almost inquisitive tone caused Igneel to respond like it was.
"Yes. Natsu Dragneel is his name. He is my son, which I suppose makes him your grandson." Igneel didn't sound too thrilled on the concept, unsurprising given their estranged relationship. But he also knew that given the situation that they we facing he couldn't let the past interfere.
"Would you...would you like to meet him?" Igneel asked cautiously. He knew, of course, of his father's opinion on humans, it was the reason that they had become estranged.
The question had surprised his father, who finally rose his head and looked directly at him. He was shocked that his son would make the offer given their past. He was so surprised that he had trouble forming a response. "I...ye-...n-...if..if it's ok with you."
The Fire Dragon King smiled at his father's not very subtle attempt at being civil. 'At least he's trying'.
"Yes! Let's go find that son of mine, we'll see what kind of trouble he's gotten himself into while we were busy talking." Igneel spoke jovially as he got up and began moving towards the cave. The somber mood seemingly forgotten, even if it was only temporary.
His father could only give a small smile in response to Igneel's little joke as he began to follow his through the tree line.
Natsu's face erupted into a gigantic smile as he saw his father and the other dragon emerge for the woods. "IGNEEL!" He shouted, pure joy emanating in his voice as began to run down the hill in front of the cave's opening towards his father.
Igneel chuckled at his son's enthusiasm and moved just a tad faster to meet him at the base of the hill. Lowering his head so that he was closer to the ground he waited at the bottom of the hill. Upon reaching the the bottom Natsu ran forward and attempted to tackle the massive dragon's snout.
"Igneel! Your ok! When you yelled at me and the other dragon showed up I thought there was gonna be trouble. Are you guys gonna fight? Is the other dragon strong? You can still win though, I know you can! But it'll still be really cool though!"
Igneel just smiled down at Natsu as the child continued to ramble, asking questions and making exclamations without taking a breath or giving either of the two dragons a chance to respond.
Chuckling slightly Igneel decided to stop his son before his questions completely ran out of control. "Natsu," Igneel began softly "I would like you to meet someone."
The dragon's statement caused the young boy calm down and look up at their visitor.
"Natsu this is my father, your grandfather, Ziggy." With Igneel's introduction Natsu continued to stare up at Ziggy in seeming awe. Ziggy himself seemed uncomfortable with the situation; shuffling his front paws and rolling his shoulders in small attempts to make himself comfortable. He was never one for interacting with humans, let alone human childern.
Silence enveloped the trio for a few moments as Igneel decjded to stay queit, Ziggy waswas clearly struggling for words, and Natsu seemed to just be in awe by the fact that he had a grandparent.
Suddenly the boy's face practically split in two from his smile as he jumped forward and attached himself to the elders front leg. So surprised by the child's boldness Ziggy
actually jumped slightly in surprise. He looked down at Natsu and smiled slightly as the child greeted him so naturally that it was almost like it wasn't their first meeting.
" Hiya Grandpa!"