Chapter 2:- How did it begin like this?

Natsu P.O.V.

It's been a week since I've been attending here and right now it's the first day of my second week at school. So many unexpected developments had occurred, which wasn't in my favour. Not at least one bit favourable to me.

First, I found out that miss red also takes the same train as I do, just my pretty useless luck. I had to stay a little longer to avoid any contact with her.

During the previous week of our first day, that damn gray boy wouldn't just leave me alone. Always challenging me to some petty contest he made up on a whim. I wanna burn him so badly but I'll have some restraint on myself.

And finally for some odd reason, I've been gaining a little popularity in class. This is kinda frightening for me, please Kami-sama, wherever you are don't let this go any further than that. I want a quiet life. I need the peace and quiet and I'll pay you any amount you want.

Currently we are in our lunch break and I'm just sitting peacefully on my seat while I stared outside the window, admiring the scenario in front of my eyes. The view looks great and the premises had a charming touch to it. Everything was not too colourful and not too bright in contrast, making it more beautiful. Honestly, I like the school. It's something like this I'll love to be in but too bad it's for heroes only.

Right this morning, we had our aptitude test and guess what, I failed miserably and it felt so good.

But the down side about it was gray had rubbed it on my face, bragging endlessly about his score. But one thing I took into account would be, since he believed to be better than me, which means, there's a 90% chance he'll quit bothering me. But even if he doesn't, chances are that he won't challenge me but rather make me a laughing stock which I'm cool with.

"Oi Natsu, I can't believe you got a straight zero in everything" gray came close by, a mocking smirk on his face. Don't worry bro, I'll wipe that off your face one day.

"Yeah, I'm pretty weak since I never bother using my powers away" I replied him. I hope that answer was good enough for him to let me be but I guess not.

"For someone bearing the name of the Dragneel, you sure are weak"

Well, I can't deny that. I'm not as powerful as my dad. Heck, I can't even imagine myself becoming as powerful as him. That's just too much even if I decided to become a hero.

"Yeah I guess so"

His smile dropped. Maybe he thought I would retort back but I'm not so childish to do that.

"Whatever"

He said and left. Score point to me. I don't want him around me more than five minutes. He's annoying.

Oh shit! I almost forgot I'll have to get my revenge on gildarts sensei for using me as bait last week to save himself and making an unreasonable bet out of me just for money. Revenge is definitely what I had in mind now.

3 Hours earlier...

Gildarts-sensei had summoned us to come by in front of the gym. I had a hunch that since it was something related to the gym it would have to do with our abilities.

We met up with him to find him waiting patiently for us. Well, that's surprising. Maybe he was threatened by someone, best guess miss ultesr to take his job seriously.

"Alright everyone. Like I said last week, I'll be getting a rough data on you guys so put in all you've got today"

"""Hai"""

Like hell I'm gonna stress myself with this stupid stuff. I'll just take it easy with myself and do the best I can not do.

Everyone did a little routine of stretching and warming up. I guess they are dead set in this kinda stuff.

"Alright, I'll be assessing your durability, magic level, physical strength and flexibility" our sensei said, holding onto a flat writing board with a long piece of white paper draped on it.

Like he said, we began shortly and I must say, I'm pretty impressed by their scores.

For durability, gildarts-sensei made us run on the large track the school had. Two thousand metres was the limit and testing our durability also meant our endurance as well. How well are we made up? How well can we endure the breaking of our body. Oh I'll tell you, Zero to me.

And so we went on your first test. Durability and Endurance. Surprisingly, it lastly for thirty minutes and miss red head had the highest distance covered; 1,600metres.

I could only make it up to a 100metres before dropping out. I gave in my best effort but it didn't work out for me. Yeah right.

Next we had our physical strength be put to the test. While I wondered but wasn't that run good enough to assess that too? But well I guess he had his reasons.

Well that ended quicker than I had expected. For my evaluation, out of ten I got only 1 point. Pretty neat right.

And for the final part, we were to shot one of our strongest attacks towards a metal panel that would assess our magical level. I got a little excited to see just how strong everyone was. I believed Gildarts-sensei said something about using the measurement of my father to evaluate us.

He was considered as earth mightiest hero and his measurement were taken as 74,789 magical strength level. I'll say this again and again but that's just unbelievable!

"Yo Natsu, come here" sensei called on me. I wonder what he wanted but seeing that small grin on his face made me a little skeptical about what he was gonna do next.

"What is it sensei?"

He grinned even wider, "Wanna make a bet?"

Oh for goodness sake, this is a school for professional gamblers now?!

"No, not really"

"Ah now, don't be like that" he said, "I'm sure you'll like the agreement that is attached to it"

I thought about it for a moment. If I was going to benefit anything then I guess I would make the most of it.

"Alright, what's the bet?"

His grin grew even wider. Creepy.

"Alright, here's the thing. In this bet, there are three people involved. You, erza and gray"

I gave in a skeptical look. On a second thought, I want out of this and not to have anything to do with you ever again.

"Listen kiddo, I'll bet on erza that she'll score more magic level points. So you are to decide if you are gonna bet on gray or yourself" he smiled even wider.

You sly bastard. That's your plan all along. You know that gray would definitely loose to erza, so it's up to me to win the bet. I'm pretty sure he wants me to show my powers to everyone. Damn him. The more I get to know him, the more I hate him. He's a weasel!

"Alright then, I'll bet on myself" I said "But what's the catch?"

I hope this sounds good. It suspicious why he would wanna make a bet with me of all people and I don't remember becoming buddy-buddy with him.

"Loser gets to hand over two thousand jewel everyday for the rest of the week!"

What?! Is this man insane?! Why would I hand over two thousand-...Oh! I get it. He's broke! I can't believe he spent all he had on that 'Sandra' and would use me as bait to get more money. Dude, you're making a big mistake. it's unwise of you to think you can outsmart me.

"Two thousand jewel. Alright I'm in"

I'll wipe off that grin off your face soon. I can't believe you're trying to make easy money off your student. I'll be pay back time, soon enough.

Erza got into a battle stance while facing the metal plate that was connected to a lacrima. I think that metal wasn't just an ordinary hunk of iron. Judging by it's look which attain a red colour, though it looks metallic but I think it's a magical item.

"Alright Erza, give it all you've got. I'm expecting great score from you"

Way to go sensei. Keeping raising her morale as much as you want. Poor girl, she didn't suspect what her teacher was up too behind her back while giving her false hope to make profit off her.

As for gray, let's be realistic people. There's no way he would beat erza in his current state. During the past week with them, just her physical strength alone proved her to be a tough opponent. I will say she should definitely be the strongest in our class. And yes, stronger than me and when I mean by me, I meant my lazy self.

"I'll try my best sensei" she said and activated her magic seal. "Requip!"

Her body glowed a blinding bright white light that vanished as soon as it came. I wonder what that was. To my surprise, her previous attire vanished and she was now wearing an angelic armour with metal wings. Wow.

"Circle sword" she said again. Five circling swords appeared out of thin air, floating mid air while in a circular disc formation. Everyone were in awe by her unique magic, even I was. I knew her mum from the social medias and television. I think her mum was an enchantress but seeing this was on a whole different level of epicness.

"Dance my blades!" she yelled out loud. Obeying her commands, those swords spun rapidly, almost too fast for the eyes to see and launched itself at the metal plate, creating a screeching sound as those two metals came in contact at a fast pace.

"Erza scarlet, 4000"

Now that's not something you see from kids these days. Maybe I was wrong to judge them so quickly. Maybe they were actually putting in all the effort they had. I was expecting something below 2000 but that's damn good.

"Oi, that's nuts!"

"She's unbelievable!"

""Go erza""

"She wasn't ranked first for nothing, that's for sure"

"She's as pretty as the flowing red. Oh paint me with your red, erza!"

"She's a real man!"

Fanboys and fan girls each spoke to their surprise. Well most of them did and how does she look like a 'real man'?. Oh playboy dude, what's with the stupid catchphrase. And I bet you, you'll definitely be painted in red, if you know what I mean.

"Alright, your turn Natsu" sensei said as I came over and took my stance. Hmm, I wonder why he still had that smirk on his face. Oh well.

Here I go! "Fire dragon..." I sucked my breath in, puffing out my chest as I charged my magic in wait.

"He's gonna do a breath attack!" I think that was Playboy speaking.

"Here it comes, the Dragneel dragon's breath!" you're well vast on our moves gray.

"...Roa-"

"Natsu your pants is down!"

I accidently halt most of the power behind my attacks at the sudden outburst that reached my ears. I quickly looked down to see my pants still attached to my waist and my lingering attack made its way to the metal plate and it made a ding sound.

"N-n-natsu d-dragneel..." Gildarts sensei was dying of laughter. F*ck it. He set me up. I knew he was up to no good but this was just too much. I can't believe he'll do that to me. That was a pretty good plan, but sly and cunning as he is, it's not the end of me yet.

I saw the disappointed looks on everyone's face. I knew they were expecting someone amazing with my breath spell but too bad your sensei ruined it for me. Gray looked disappointed the most. Well buddy, I'm not as powerful as you think.

Gildarts-sensei was still in laughter but he managed to call out my score, "...N-natsu...drag-dragneel...200"

Everyone made a poker face. Seriously what's with those looks now? Sensei, yours would be double. Look forward to it.

Flashback ends...

I sighed. What a day for me. Now, I'm the weakest member of the first year student, well that's good for me. I don't need that much attention but everyone would look down on me. I guess that's better than gaining popularity with expectations from your fans.

I haven't given him the money yet. I had something planned in mind but I need the timing for that which i think would be right about...now.

I got up from my seat and made my way out of the class room. I'm still not used to the school yet. Considering its size, it'll take me a whole year to know each routes leading to various places.

I walked out of the class section and made my way towards the staff section. Luckily for me I met Gildarts-sensei just four rooms away from the principal's office.

"Oi brat. You're here to pay your due right" he smirked as he came closer to me and stopped just few inches away from me.

"Mm, I guess so but first.." I said, stepping back a little away from him, "Why did you make such bet with me?" I wanted to be sure of his reason. Judging by his reason, I'll know whether to put my plan in motion or not.

I looked him in the eyes and he quickly averted his gaze, looking somewhere else. He tried getting words out of his mouth but couldn't find the right words.

"A-ah...well, y-you see..."

Hmm, I see what? Hurry up and spit it out already.

"Yeah?"

He continue to stutter incoherent words that not even I could make of. What I managed to grab was night, huge, Sandra...I think I solved the puzzle. So he's broke and wasted all his money during the nights on Sandra and he's in need of money to pay off his huge debt. I think that's it.

I deadpanned at him. Is he really a teacher of fairytail?

"What's with the face?"

"Oh nothing~" I sang out. It looked like he was a little suspicious of my switching attitude but brushed it off.

"Alright, pay up quickly" He stretched forth an arm to collect the money.

I grudgingly and sluggishly brought out only five hundred jewels and handed it over to him. He looked at his hand with a weird face before looking back at me.

"Where's the rest?"

"Oi sensei, I need to pay for my transport and I also need to eat too!"

He looked at me impassively with an unconcerned face. "Not my problem now pay up!"

"No way!"

Yes sensei. Take the bait. Come at me.

"Huh, what did you say?"

Oh boy. Now he looks intimidating to the eyes. I took one step back at a time to make up for each steps he took forward. A nervous drop of sweat ran down my cheek as I continued to walk backwards to protect myself.

"I said no way" I repeat my last words. He corned me to a wall and slowly brought his face close to mine.

"Oi brat. We made a deal so pay up. Besides you've got the rest of the week to compensate with the same amount" he smirked again.

"I'm not gonna pay the same amount everyday for the rest of the week. I'm just a student and not an employee at this school" I retorted back to him only to get back a scrowl on his face.

He yanked me by me collar and brought me close to him. Checkmate!

Gramps suddenly came out of his office with a bright smile on his face only to vanish at the display that was presented before him. I'm gonna spice things up.

"N-no gildarts-sensei please don't hurt me. I-i've already given you all the money I had!" I faked a frightful expression like I was cowering in fear of him. His expression became grievous when he saw the bewildered look on the principal's face. Like I told you folks, revenge is sweeter when it's double.

"G-gildarts..." gramps managed to outwit his shock but it was replaced by a dark menacing expression with an ominous aura twirling heavily around him. Scary. I shivered.

Gildarts sensei finally understood what was going on and paled.

"What are you doing to the boy?"

Wow, I've never heard a voice this stern in a while. Sensei became a sweating mess, his whole body shook in terror as gramps looked at him like a beast ready to devour his prey.

"I-i-no...I-its..."

"Gramps, he was trying to take all the money I had on me. I even begged him to spare me some change but he refused to let me keep not even one jewel on me" I wept sorrowfully and to my surprise, he bought it my lie as his face became that of a demon. It not totally a lie though.

"Gildarts!" he called in one breath. Leaving not even the slightest room for arguments.

"S-sir!"

"Come to office will you"

We gulped simultaneously. I couldn't even imagine what was gonna happen to him next. From under the door, I saw darkness crept out from those tiny space that couldn't be filled. That when i realised something.

He was going to hell.

"P-please Natsu, I'll give you anything you want. Just explain to him that this was all a misunderstanding!" he whispered.

Sensei became desperate for my help. Wow, just what was in store for him I wonder.

"No can do sensei. I told you I'll get back at you. And this is it" Now it's my turn to smirk. No one messes with the Dragneel and go scot free.

Later that night...

Damn. Today was hectic for me. I can't believe my plan worked against sensei. Though I feel bad for him but I also feel satisfied too. I guess I'm contented with settling my petty grudge against him.

I had taken my bath and cooked something for myself to eat. Now it's only 10:43pm and I'm beat. I guess I'll go to bed early.

I turned off the television and made my way to my room. I fell on my bed not bothering to cover myself and since I'm a fire wizard, the cold doesn't get to me, so yeah.

Normal P.O.V.

Natsu got up from the couch and made his way to his room. Tiredly opening his door without even bothering to close it, he laid tiredly on his bed with drowsy eyes and soon fell asleep.

Dream...

A man with red hair stood outside the verandah of a large tall building that closely looked like a modern mansion. Beside him was a young boy with pink hair.

"Yo Natsu, what do you think of papa?", the man turned to ask the little boy beside him. He was a lot taller and muscular. Toned body filled with scars he attained probably from battles.

"Papa?" puzzled the young Natsu as he tilted his head. He fell deep in thought but only to grin moments later as he got his answer.

"Papa is the best in the world! He's strong and so cool! I wish to be like you papa"

The older man gave a hearty laugh at the younger boy response.

"I know right!"

The boy eagerly nodded in agreement to the older man's word.

His smile dropped a little but still retained most of it. "One day papa will begone and it would be up to you to protect the city while I'm gone"

"Of course papa, I'll protect the city while you're gone until you come back"

It was definite that the little boy didn't quite get the meaning to what he was trying to say but laughed it off anyway.

"Don't worry son. Even if papa wouldn't be around anymore one day. I'll make sure take any threat down with me to keep you safe." he smiled even wider.

"I always see papa fighting the bad guys on TV and you're so cool!"

He laughed again, "I'm always cool. No one can defeat me" he proclaimed with a grin.

"Yeah!" his son replied enthusiastically also with a toothy grin plastered on his face.

The man's eyes softened as he looked at the happy expression his son made. He wanted to do more than just protecting him. He wanted to be there for him. To play with him, to laugh with him and even cry with him when the time comes but he knew he won't be there to witness all that.

"Come with me son" he walked into the house and made his way to the underground chambers of the building. His son, quietly followed behind him yet a puzzled look on his face.

He suddenly stopped to open a door that revealed a large training room, decorated with metals all around of it. They both walked into the room as the man turned to face the little boy.

"What do you think Natsu?" he spread out his arms in question of the entire room. The young boy looked round in amazement, taking everything into details.

"It's huge!" he replied, "I can't believe you built something like this"

He grinned, "This is where I usually come to train myself. I bought a lot of equipment just in case you'll need it in the future"

"Awesome!. What does this do?" Being a little kid means he had his curiosity to the max. He pressed a button on a wall and immediately a small round hole formed on the wall and shot out a small hardened ball at the older man but he caught it without even looking.

"So cool" the young boy awed in delight.

"Oi Natsu, listen to me will you" he sighed as he put away the ball.

"What's wrong dad?"

He looked at him seriously, devoid of his previous cheerful attitude, "Do you want to get stronger Natsu?"

"Hai"

He grinned again at his son's response. It was perfect how everything was going the way he wanted. or so it was.

"Alright Natsu, take this" a red magic seal appeared on his hands and it vanished as soon as it came and in his hands was a yellow lacrima shaped in form of lightning.

Natsu looked at it for a brief moment as his father presented it to him. Slowly, he brought out his hands and took it from the older man's hand.

"What's this papa?"

"That's a lightning lacrima. It properties is the affinity to lightning magic" he said. The young boy kept on looking at it like it was made of glass and crystal which almost fit that category.

"So why are you giving it to me?"

The man grinned even wider, "Wanna know something crazy son?"

He nodded eagerly.

"You're gonna have both fire and lightning magic. Super cool right!"

Natsu became hesitant to that idea. Sure that sounded cool but he liked his fire magic just the way it was. He had known to only use fire all his life, their previous generations only used fire magic to battle, now changing it to both fire and lightning seem odd to him.

"Um, why dad?"

Sensing how troubled the young boy was, he tried making up a pretty good reason for it. "Natsu, do you want to be stronger than me, stronger than any other generation of dragonslayers?"

Natsu thought about it. He balanced the thought of becoming the strongest ever and even becoming stronger than his dad was too good of a deal to pass by.

"Yes papa. I want to be stronger than papa. I want to be the greatest hero!"

"Good. That's the thing you need to do that"

Natsu looked at it and smiled. His path to becoming the strongest hero had already begun for him. He was going to use every opportunity he had to get even stronger and stronger. Surpass his limit and make a new name for himself in the future. His dad watched him with a smile as he experimented on the lacrima.

Line break..

Natsu found himself in a desolated area filled with nothing but pile of ruins from buildings. A ravage battle between two mighty powers ongoing that very moment sent shockwaves each time they clash. Of red and black destructive magical aura canceling out each other with every single attack.

He felt confused about everything. Why was he here? What was going on? Why were they fighting with this much destruction caused by mere two humans alone? Could he even consider them humans after witnessing the unimaginable scale of their magic?

'What's going on here?' he asked within him.

"Oi darky. I think it's time to end this"

'That voice...it's dad's voice!' he thought in slight horror. Trying to confirm what he just heard, he summon up the courage to walk up to him and confirm it himself.

"Dad..."

But sadly for him, he was just an astral being that couldn't be seen or heard by those two fighting. The one with a dark aura looked vague through and through. Nothing at it could be seen clearly. It was like a huge hunk of walking darkness.

"Yes Igneel, it is time for you to die" it said with so much confidence in it words.

Just earlier they were on equal footing and now it sounded confident enough to take down the mightiest of all hero. Natsu looked around at the destruction they've caused but it seems like they evacuated everyone before it began. He saw few vague humanoid beings littered on on the ground. They body seemed to be intact and unconscious but yet couldn't get a good look on their features.

"Igneel, I'll give you a chance to take your son and run away with me".

Natsu's eyes widened when he heard that. Was someone capable of making such threat against this father. Was it actuly possible that there existed someone mightier than him? That's absurd!

"Not on your life pal" igneel scrowled, "And you better say your final prayers you scum!"

The dark mist gave a sinister laughter filled with malice and chaos that made him feel sick to his very core as a human.

"No, you say your prayers"

"We'll see about that" igneel muttered. His eyes shot a blood crimson red colour. The deepest and vilest of any reddish colour that came in existence. His body release a godly amount of magic that could suffocate anyone in an instant.

"From red to crimson, from crimson to blood..." igneel began to enchant.

Natsu P.O.V...

It is happening now.

A faint ghostly voice from nowhere suddenly sounded in my ears. It sounded weird and faint but it was filled with pain and angst. It felt like hopelessness.

"From red to crimson, from crimson to blood i seek..." igneel began some sort of enchantment. His eyes were scary to me. It was blood red, no, more deeper than blood, more reddish than crimson.

He will give up his life to save.

I heard a different voice this time but it sounded femine. It spoke something that made me fall into fright. Give up his life. What does that mean?

"I burn by red but shine by the light..."

It is his turn to protect

It felt weak and disarray of its emotion. It lifeless voice managed to reach within my heart and struck a pang inside of me. It was filled with regrets.

"Drown in my flames to eternal light of torment to be devoured..."

The eighth generation ends here.

It felt like darkness before and darkness unforeseen. Darkness with solitude and death like it was an eternal abyss of darkness that grabbed my heart

"I resist the darkness and burn the abyss..."

Anew it shall begin.

I quiver from the voice as it spoke. It made me stood strong but I felt weak deep within me. It sounded hopeful but left me hopeless. It sounded reassuring but it blessed me with doom.

"I rebuke the darkness and destroy the old light of brightness..."

It always ends like this without sucess.

I felt without hope or brightness within me. Nothing seems to go right and it shall end in pains and suffering. The path I will walk will be paved with darkness and sorrow. Just like my father, I will suffer that same faith.

Maybe he will create a new miracle

I felt a burning sensation of hope within me. A small spark of hope within me. But it wasn't enough to illuminate and burn the darkness that invaded my heart. I was suffocating. I was bleeding within. I felt weak and ready to die, but I couldn't die.

"Through the part that begins a new, i create the ligjt of crimson red flames to vanquish darkness..."

And to the end of it all, comes our true victor. The crimson dragon of light and fire. Burn bright, brighter than tha light and hotter than the sun, natsu.

I felt my way became bright. It all began in a new light of hope and happiness. It burned brighter within me and glower stronger as I moved. I was filled with the power of the desire to keep going, pushing forward until the end. I am the beginning. Judgement is my glory.

"I blaze in the flames of hell and come in a new glory. I am the true crimson dragon of judgement...Infinity Dragon god!"

I wondered what all those meant. I tried thinking about it but couldn't come up with anything.

To my greatest horror and surprise igneel became a true crimson Dragon. My brain died out for a moment and I lost my voice in the process. I couldn't think of one word. I couldn't even remember how to breath. I couldn't even blink for a millisecond.

"ACNOLOGIA!" He gave a mighty roar that resonated heavily and destroyed my hearings for some seconds.

The black mist also turned into a vague dragon. But I saw a tiny blue streak of light in it body and the rest was covered in darkness.

"IGNEEL!" It roared and they both took off with a mighty flap of their wings and clashed into the skies parting the wind and clouds for a brief second.

Line break..

I came to a place that made my vision a blurry white colour. It was wholly white but blurry at the same time, it was like I was partially blind at that moment. My brain wasn't functioning anymore, so I just went faith the flow. I yelled out.

Nothing came out.

I tried saying something again.

"..." still nothing.

I don't understand anymore. I don't know what was happening. This is all just a bad dream to me. What has my dad got to do with all this? So many questions with little to no answer to give in return.

"Oh, he's here"

I had a voice said. I can hear but I can't speak a word.

"What handsome young man he is" this time, it was definitely a voice. I can tell that much.

"His hair looks weird but colourful" it sound a little muscular but still smooth. Maybe it's a young man.

"Leave him be. He can't see or speak to us so don't disturb him with such useless talk" it sounded more manly than the last. I had so many questions to ask them but I couldn't even say anything. I don't even know why I'm having such vision... or dream...or nightmare.

"Natsu, i know you have a lot to say but we can't answer that now. You need to unlock the first stage of the dragonslayer if you want to see us"

Unlock the first stage? The dragonslayer have a first stage that needed to be unlocked? Oh goodness.

"Yeah brat, right now you're so weak to see anything"

I'm considered weak in my current level? What the hell is going on?

"When you unlock the first stage going one, we will speak to you"

"For now, you have to go back"

Before I could even process another thought I woke up.

Normal P.O.V.

Natsu sucked on his breath as he woke up. Breathing heavily while drenched in sweat from his little revelation. It was very unsettling after everything he just saw.

His dad, the black mist. Those people. Those words he heard. He didn't have a clue as to what they meant and he definitely wanted to find out. But how?.

The only clue he got was to unlock the first stage of the dragon slayer which he also had no clue about.

Finish catching his breath with a calm heart, he left his room and went to his underground training room and began training.

'I was called a weakling!' he thought, slowly building up his rage.

He wouldn't classify himself as a weakling but seeing that he had been called that was confusing to him.

'What was that?'