Chapter 1 Cekos the Mind Dragon

Deep in the jungle a small purple haired boy and his mother hiked along a dirt path. The boy's name was Marco Vern. He was only five years old and he wore a light gray hoodie and black pants both of which were heavily stained with dirt and grass. Laughing softly behind him was his mother Lilac Vern she had a similar shade of dark purple hair and wore an explorer vest and a backpack.

Despite there being a village only a few miles away the Vern family preferred the peace that the jungle brought. Today however they weren't going on their usual hike or search for food. Instead they were going to visit an old friend of Lilac's. "Are we there yet?" Marco asked excitedly.

Lilac laughed. "Just a bit further alright? Cekos' cave is just up ahead."

"I wish Cekos just lived in the woods with us..." Marco grumbled.

Lilac shook her head "Now don't you think that would be a little uncomfortable for him?"

Marco thought about it and laughed "Yeah I guess the forest just isn't big enough for him."

"I was talking more about all the animals he'd scare away with his snoring." said Lilac.

Little did the two know that Cekos was not in his cave. Instead he was attending a meeting with nine other dragons. In the very front was Igneel the Fire Dragon, other than him Metalicana the Iron Dragon, Grandeeny the Sky Dragon, Skectra the Soul Dragon, Toran the Earth Dragon, Aquadia the Water Dragon, Weisslogia the White dragon, Sahar the Sand Dragon, and Skiadrum the Shadow Dragon were present.

Cekos was an average sized Dragon with dark pink scales and he had a dark red pearl on the center of his forehead. "Are we sure this plan of his will work?" Cekos asked. "Combating Acnologia in the future seems absurd."

"I have my doubts as well." Skectra admitted. "I attempted to raise a Dragon Slayer in the past but Acnologia killed them before I could make much progress."

"I understand your concerns Skectra." Sahar said. "But this is precisely the reason why this plan can work. Dragon Slayers can slay Dragons. That's why Acnologia is so afraid of them."

"Toran snorted. "That black scaled bastard isn't afraid of em. He just wants to bathe in their blood."

"I say we go along with it." Metalicana suggested. "The way we are now fighting Acnologia would be impossible, so this may be our only chance."

"I'd rather not have to put humans in danger." Grandeeny sighed. "But I don't believe we have a choice anymore."

"I agree." Weisslogia said. "Igneel how long do we have until we leave for the future?"

"On July seventh in the year X377." Igneel answered.

"So we have about eight years to prepare." Aquadia mused.

"That should be plenty of time." Metalicana said gruffly. "I've had my eyes on a brat for a while now."

Skectra sighed. "I suppose I'll have to find another student as well. Hopefully Acnologia won't kill them as well."

"We'll I should get going." Cekos said. "I wish you luck."

Igneel nodded. "You as well."

As Cekos flew towards his cave Metalicana let out a loud snort. "What do you think the chances are that he doesn't even bother to train a Slayer?"

"Considering it's that lazy bum were talking about I'd say it's a high possibility." Toran answered.

"He may surprise you." Igneel said. "It may take him a while but Cekos always get the important things done."

"What ever you say." Sahar sighed. "In my opinion it's a miracle he shows up to these meetings at all."

When Marco and Lilac arrived at Cekos' cave they were surprised to find it was empty. "Aw come on..." Marco whined. "We walked all the way here and he's not even home."

"Hey cheer up." Lilac said. "He's probably just out hunting or something he should be home soon."

"Yeah I guess you're right." Marco sighed.

Lilac smiled as she saw an figure flying in the distance. "For example he could be flying towards us right now."

Marco looked behind him and his eyes lit up. He immediately ran outside to watch the dragon fly back home. When Cekos did finally land Marco immediately pulled him into a hug "Hi uncle Cekos!"

Cekos grunted. "I already told you I'm not your uncle. We aren't even close to related."

Marco had a big smile on his face. "Sorry about that I forgot."

Cekos eye twitched. "Kid you and I both know that's impossible. You have a photographic memory or did you forget that to?"

"Oh give him a break Cekos." Lilac laughed. "Besides I'm the one who told him to call you uncle."

Cekos sighed and rolled his eyes. "Of course, you would be the one to teach him that. You were the only person who didn't run away when we first met."

"You still haven't let that go huh?" Lilac commented.

"Of course, I haven't! I'm a dragon! I'm supposed to be scary dammit!" Cekos said childishly.

As Lilac and Cekos talked Marco climbed on Cekos' back as if it was a giant playground. "Be careful up there brat." Cekos warned. "I'm not going to catch you if you fall."

"Don't worry uncle Cekos!" Marco called. "I'll be fine!"

Cekos eye twitched while Lilac made herself comfortable. "So how was the meeting today?"

Cekos laid down. "How did you know I had one?"

"You only leave the cave to get food, there's an emergency, or you have a meeting to attend." Lilac answered. "You're not in a panic and you don't have any food with you, so you had to of had a meeting."

Cekos laughed. "You know me well. But yes, we did have a meeting." Cekos sighed "Apparently I need to start training a Dragon Slayer soon."

"Oh really? And why is that?" Lilac asked.

"Acnologia" was Cekos' answer and immediately Lilac's demeanor changed.

"Well keep us out of it." She said. "Neither me or Marco have a death wish."

"And what makes you think I was going to ask you?!" Cekos asked. "I deal with you enough as is! Why would I want to be around you full time?!"

Lilac laughed and shook her head. "Just don't bring my family into this fight alright."

"Trust me teaching your crazy family is the last thing I want to do." Cekos snorted.

Year X371

Seven Dragons stood in the clearing with their heads bowed. Igneel spoke up. "Skectra, Aquadia, and Sahar, they are the comrades we have lost in our latest battle against Acnologia."

Cekos' claw immediately went to rub the gen on his head which now sported a large crack.
"Damn bastard." Toran growled. "He just won't stop." Unlike the others who had only gained a few scars Toran was much more heavily injured from the fight. His once glorious and powerful tail had been ripped off of his body and his body was ridden with scars. Everyone knew that he wouldn't be able to survive until X377 in fact many of them weren't sure if he would still be alive by the end of the year.

Metalicana sighed. "This isn't the first setback we've had but it's definitely the worst. We've lost three of our friends in just two years. Are you absolutely sure we can't access the gate any earlier?"

Igneel shook his head. "We could try it but there's no guarantee that we'd end up when we wanted or that we'd even survive the ordeal."

"We'll just have to wait." Skiadrum said. "We can't take that sort of risk."

Igneel grunted. "Agreed"

When Cekos returned home he didn't have any better news. Lilac and Marco were sitting in his cave the former looking much paler than usual. "Hey uncle Cekos!" Marco said excitedly "Mom says I get to stay at your cave tonight isn't that awesome!"

Cekos looked at Lilac questioningly and she whispered in his ear. "It's just for tonight I need to see the doctor."

Cekos rolled his eyes. "I can see that, I might not be human, but I know what being sick is."

Lilac chuckled. "Don't worry I should be back by tomorrow morning."

"Well you better be." Cekos grumbled. "I'm not going to raise your kid for you."

Lilac waved him off. "Don't worry I'll be back soon I promise." She left the cave and started her walk towards the village, and that was the last time either of them had ever seen Lilac Vern.

Cekos wasn't sure of what to do with Marco. With the way things turned out he didn't have any time to search for a student. He didn't blame the kid for acting the way he did, the loss of Lilac was heavy on him as well, and as much as he wanted to fulfill Lilac's request he was finding it to become harder and harder to do so. With the threat of Acnologia on the horizon it's become nearly impossible to 'keep her family out of it.'
Cekos took a glance at Marco who continued to sit motionlessly in front of Lilac's tombstone. Cekos looked away, he was afraid that there was nothing he could do right now, ordinary people like him are forced to live in fear thanks to Acnologia. That was when he had an idea 'He may not be safe now but... what about in the future?'

Cekos considered his options before deciding to lay next to Marco at the grave. "You can't be sad forever kid." Marco didn't acknowledge him and continued to stare lifelessly at the tombstone. Cekos grunted. "Staring at that thing won't bring her back you know."

"Shut up." Marco croaked. "And leave me alone."

Cekos swept Marco up with his tail. "Sorry kid but I don't want to watch you mope any more." Marco glared at Cekos before turning back to face the grave. "Hey I know something that'll cheer you up. Do you want to learn magic?"

Marco gave Cekos a curious glance but ultimately he turned to face the grave again. "I don't want to learn any of your dumb magic." Marco said moodily.

'Damn brat.' Cekos thought. "Well that's to bad I wasn't giving you a choice."

"What?! You can't do that!" Marco objected.

"Just listen to your uncle alright." Cekos sighed.

Tears formed in Marco's eyes as he pulled the dragon into a giant hug. "Alright uncle Cekos!"

"Just for today though!" Cekos warned. "After this I'm just Cekos got it!"

"You got it uncle Cekos." Marco answered.

X373
"Mind Dragon Roar" "What do you think of that one uncle Cekos?" Marco asked excitedly.
"I think that you should stop calling me uncle." Cekos deadpanned. "Other than that, you've shown great improvement. At this rate I'll be able to teach you a new technique by the end of the week."

"All right!" Marco cheered.

"Yeah yeah you get to destroy the forest in a brand new way great for you." Cekos said sarcastically. Although he was actually very impressed, it was clear that Marco had been practicing. In just two years he had mastered three Dragon Slayer techniques. The "Mind Dragon Memory Fist", "Mind Dragon Shield", and now the "Mind Dragon Roar" granted from what he's heard Igneel's child had learnt the "Fire Dragon Roar" and the "Fire Dragon Iron Fist" and from what he's heard that child's an absolute dumb ass. So maybe the moves are just easier to learn than he thought.

"Alright what am I going to learn next?!" Marco asked. "How about Mind Dragon World Destroyer!"

"How about Mind Dragon shut the hell up." Cekos grumbled. "I'll tell you tomorrow."

"Oh come in uncle Cekos just tell me!" Marco pleaded.

"Fine! If it'll shut, you up." Cekos groaned. "The next spell you're going to learn is the "Mind Dragon Laser"

"A laser! Awesome!" Marco cheered. "Pew! Pew! Pew!" Marco ran into the forest pretending to fire lasers out of his fingers.

Cekos snorted and glanced at Lilac's gravestone. "He gets that from you you know." Cekos sighed. "Just four more years and then the Eclipse Gate will open. I can only hope that the future's more peaceful than the present."

X377 July 6th
Marco ran through the forest dodging waves of lasers. Marco now wore a dark purple hoodie that matched his short messy hair. "Hey come on uncle Cekos! Don't you think this is kind of unfair?"

Cekos roared at Marco who inhaled the blast. "Of course not!" Cekos answered. "You're the one who wanted to spar with me!"

"And I immediately regret that decision." Marco muttered.

"Come on Marco we've just started! Don't tell me you woke me up for this!" Cekos roared.

"I'd prefer it if you kept sleeping!" The teen shot back as he dodged another laser blast. Out of the corner of his eye Marco saw Cekos' cave and his face contorted into a huge smile. "Sweet salvation!" Marco made a mad dash for the cave but Cekos landed in front of him and blocked the entrance at the very last minute.

"Sorry kid, but I win again." Cekos snorted. "Better luck next time."

Marco sighed as he dusted himself off. "We both know that there won't be a next time. It's a miracle if I can wake you up at all so the chances that you'll be in the mood to spar again is a hundred to one."

"You know me well kid." Cekos smirked.

"I'd be hard not to uncle Cekos." Marco said smugly.

Cekos growled. "You've lived here for six years and you still haven't broken that habit."

"You say that like I've been trying to break it." Marco said.

"Whatever kid I'm going to go lay down." Cekos grunted. "Do what you want I don't care."

Marco followed Cekos inside the cave and climbed up onto his back. "I'm tired too." Marco said, "So I'm going to lay here."

Cekos laughed softly. "Whatever you say kid." 'Today's the day.' Cekos thought. 'At midnight tonight the Eclipse Gate will open and Marco will be sent into the future.' Cekos took a glance at the teen laying on his back 'At least the last day we have together can be like this.'

Midnight that night

Six dragons, Zeref, and Anna Heartfillia stood in front of the Eclipse gate. On each dragon's back was a child the fire Dragon Igneel had a salmon haired pre-teen wearing a white scarf. Metalicana brought a black-haired teen with metal studs on his arms and face.

Grandeeny the only female dragon present also brought the only female slayer. She had dark blue hair and couldn't be more than five years old. Weisslogia and Skiadrum also had young slayers bringing a six year old blond and a black haired five year old respectively.

Metalicana snorted. "I can't believe you actually took the time to train a slayer Cekos."

Cekos rolled his eyes. "To be fair I've known the kid ever since he was born. His mother wouldn't stop showing him off. So, I didn't exactly have to go looking for him."

"I thought we agreed we'd only train orphans." Weisslogia said.

"He is one." was Cekos' frigid reply. Immediately quieting both Dragons.

Meanwhile Zeref and Igneel were making sure everything would go smoothly. "Are you sure everything's set up correctly?" Igneel asked.

Zeref nodded. "Don't worry I've checked everything over a million times. Do you really think that I'd let Natsu go through anything that could be potentially fatal?"

Igneel snorted. "Black wizard my ass of it wasn't for that curse you'd never hurt a fly."

Suddenly with a flash of light the Eclipse gate opened and Zeref sighed. "I suppose I'll see you in the future."

"Well you'll see Natsu that's for sure." Igneel said gruffly as he and the other Dragons walked through the gate. Then almost as suddenly as it opened the gate snapped itself shut.

"Natsu..." Zeref whispered. "It looks like I'll have to wait a few years until you can finally kill me.