A trip later

"Welcome to Fairy Tail!" Happy introduced, pointing to his guild like it was a prize. To Lucy, that wasn't even close to what she saw it as. It was a dream come true and she could hardly wait!

The castle like guild was intimidating to all but its inhabitants with its pillars and stone walls. The banner hanging from its top was a mark that everyone took with them, reminding them of this safe haven.

Lucy excitedly reached for the door, but Natsu beat her to it, kicking it open and yelling "We made it back alive!"

"Hey everyone!" Happy greeted, flying in behind Natsu. His wings were out and he flapped excitedly inside as shouts of welcome and greetings echoed back.

Naruto walked in next, letting out a sigh of relief. He was home.

Lucy gave the other blonde a sideways glance. He hadn't said much on the journey here, letting his brother do all the talking. He looked familiar...

"Hey Natsu, heard about the damage you caused in Hargeon Town-" The guild member was interrupted by said Dragon Slayer kicking him off his chair and onto the floor with a crash.

"The Salamander we found was a fake! Why'd you lie to me like that?" He angrily growled.

"That's not my problem! I was just passing along a rumor." The man shouted back, standing up to confront the enraged Natsu.

"A rumor! You sent us on a train for a rumor!"

"Hey, I don't think he meant-" Happy tried the chastise, but was thrown across a table like a pinball knocking over drinks.

"Wanna fight?"

"Show him what's what Natsu!" Naruto cheered, and left his brother to go say hi to other guild members.

The older Dragon slayer seemed to ignore his brother and charge at the unfortunate man.

Then all chaos broke loose, the previously subdued atmosphere turned into an all out brawl. Chairs were thrown, tables turned, and guild members tearing at each other.

The young Dragon slayer wanted to get in on the action to, but he had other matters to attend to besides getting an ear yanked from gramps. So, as and good spectator, he cheered.

"So you're back. Fight me Natsu! Let's settle things once and for all!" Gray challenged. Clouds of debris hid most of the action, save a few choice punches and power moves from a few of the wizards.

"You stripped again." Cana pointed out to the half naked Gray. It was true, the dark headed boy was in nothing but his boxers.

"I don't have time for that!" He shouted back, then continued his advance on the pink haired slayer.

"This is why I don't date any of the guys around here, they're all idiots!" She complained, then proceeded to down a whole barrel of sake.

Lucy took a moment to process what she was seeing. Her mind worked out that everyone was insane. She suddenly felt like gathering funds for all the straight jackets the mental house would need.

She voiced her thoughts when Mirajane walked up behind her. "Are you new here?" She asked in a sweet voice.

"You're Mira! Wow it's so nice to meet you! You're all over the Sorcerer Weekly." Lucy shouted, her excitement renewed. "Shouldn't we do something about..?" She gestured to the havoc.

"They're always like this around here, I'd just leave it alone. And besides-" but before she could finish her explanation, she was barreled over by a large man and squashed under him like a white haired rag doll. "it's kinda fun, don't ya think?" She insisted, before falling unconscious.

"Don't die Mira!" Lucy panicked.

"Give those back!"

Natsu ran past the celestial Mage laughing, holding Grey's underpants above his head like a flag the Ice Mage followed close behind, more annoyed than embarrassed by his current nude state.

Lucy blushed and screamed at the sight of him. She was about to walk away when he turned to her "Excuse me miss, can I borrow your underpants?" He inquired.

Lucy was mortified. She grabbed the closest thing to her and prepared to swing it, but a head appeared in her line of fire, so she halted.

"I got you." Naruto appeared, unsuccessfully hiding the shorts he handed the blue haired teen.

"Thanks, Knucklehead." Grey mumbled, before putting them on and resuming his charge on his rival.

"Hey! I thought you were on my side!" Natsu protested, punching Naruto out of the picture and confronting the now (slightly) covered Gray. "What gives? Are you turning my own Brother against me, Stripper?!"

"My question would be more along the lines of why he had spare shorts with him." A member of the guild remarked, before he was tackled by a revived Elfman.

"Naruto, you never told me you had a stripping problem too!" Happy accused, swerving to avoid a chair.

Naruto didn't bother getting off the ground, his head holding a round bulge where his older brother hit him."This is what I get for trying to be helpful. Perhaps I should just burn the place down." He mused, and crossed his arms in a pouting/pondering gesture.

Lucy grabbed the downed Naruto and held him in front of her like a shield. "You are all crazy!" She shouted, and dragged him away as Natsu and Gray started a shouting match with Happy cheering them on.

"You wanted to be a part of it, right?" Naruto reminded her. He was used to being pushed around, and he mostly let them, but being a shield was new. He didn't want to make her feel unwanted by abandoning her though; besides, with his recent encounters, angering a woman gave him goose bumps.

"Nobody warned me about this!" Lucy screeched in his ear.

Naruto smiled at that, but noticed a change in the atmosphere immediately. There were no longer goofy smiles and half hearted attacks between Natsu and Grey. It was now to a point where things would get real serious, real fast. It seemed that all the groups were adopting this mood as well, which just made him want in on it even more! He made due by punching the air.

Lucy, on the other hand, didn't notice the shift and continued to cower behind the shorter boy, shrieking to him about things he already knew about his 'crazy' friends.

When she finally let go of him and screamed at Mira to get up, the moment he felt coming arrived.

Cana stood up and brought out one of her power cards. "Cut it out already." She threatened and the card glowed green.

"Oh yeah, Says who?" Grey answered in a cool voice. The room's temp dropped a few degrees.

Loke, a dirty blonde lady killer, chuckled. "You guys are so annoying," He muttered

"I'm fired up now," Natsu chuckled and brought it back to room temperature.

The white haired beast of a man, Elfman, bellowed his own challenge and layered his arm in a grey rock, giving him a beast-like look.

"Finally, things get interesting!" Naruto exclaimed, and stretched his arms, warming up.

"Aye!" Happy chirped.

The dam was going to break and the floods of a serious brawl were going to flood the hall, when another made himself known. Before anyone made their move, a shadow loomed over them like a dark cloud.

"Will you fools stop bickering like children?!" A deep voice growled.

"He's huge!" Lucy squeaked.

Water broke, but it wasn't a dam.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were still here, master." Mira welcomed cheerfully.

Lucy gawked "That's the master!"

Everyone scattered under the giant's gaze. He was shadowed and only his outline could be distinguished, but from what Lucy could tell, he was massive and powerful.

Natsu's laughter broke the silence. "Man, you guys are a bunch of babies!" He alone stood before the guild master, supposedly in victory. "Looks like I won-" His gloating was stopped by a huge foot coming down on him.

Naruto whined from the side lines and Lucy looked over at him. It must be hard for him to see his brother defeated so easily. She fleetingly thought. What Lucy saw next disproved this theory, however.

Naruto was struggling to get out of Gray's hold around him, whining "I want a turn to fight Gramps!"

"He'll squash you like a bug! Shut up about it." Grey growled back and tightened his hold.

"Does a death wish run in their family?" Lucy deadpanned.

"Only in Fairy Tail." Cana answered.

The shadow looked away from Natsu and settled on Lucy.

"Looks like we have a new recruit." He growled. Wind picked up in the hot/cold room and the shadow threw his head back. The shadowed giant came at Lucy and she could feel her end nearing.

She closed her eyes tight and waited for death, but it never came.

She sneaked a peak and gasped in surprise.

Makarov, the grey haired and mustached guild master waved a greeting, "Nice to meet ya." He said pleasantly, like just a few moment ago didn't happen. He was wearing a funny hat that made his giant form look like it had horns.

"He's tiny!" She said dumbstruck. "He's really in charge here?"

Mira walked up to her side with an amused smile,"Of course he is. Allow me to introduce our Guild master, Makarov."

Said master nodded at Lucy before turning around and leaping an incredible distance into the air and onto the second floor balcony. He looked down with a parental stare that made everyone in the room squirm.

Naruto yawned, startling the quiet room. He received questioning glances from the people closest to him, but they dared not move.

"Hey, Gramps! This isn't as fun as fighting..." The bold blonde complained. Gray let him go.

Makarov narrowed his eyes and a scowl formed, "And I'll bet fighting is nearly as fun as breaking EVERYTHING! Look at this!" He held up a stack of papers with official looking stamps and lettering. "This is a lot of paperwork! The magic council has sent me complaints about property damages and replacement request. Some even had houses leveled and burned to the ground!"

"What cha lookin at me for!" Natsu protested as all eyes fell on him.

"Natsu! Remember that time we burned the crazy Jackie's-" Naruto excitedly commented, before getting tackled by his brother in an attempt to shut him up.

"However," Makarov now had the full attention of his children. He paused in his speech only briefly to send Naruto flying out of his brother's tackle and through a window with the flick of his finger.

Lucy saw Naruto fly and was reminded that the short, goofy man was really the monster they saw earlier. She stiffened and weeped a little as the master continued his speech.

XXXX

Naruto landed on the street with a sounding smack. A normal boy's skull would have cracked open from the impact, but this one had a thick head. He peeled himself off the pavement slowly, still getting out of his stupor.

Gramps hit him all the time but he was always surprised by the old man's speed.

For an old geezer he's fast. Naruto mused as he dusted himself off. A cold wind blew against his arms as the fact he was outside hit him. People, he realized, weren't quite used to seeing a boy flying into the streets and standing up without a scratch.

They gaped at him, then ran away.

That's weird... He thought. He tilted his head in confusion and fixed his eyes on a small boy who looked back at him with wide eyes and a scream threatening to come out of his gaping mouth. His mother was knocked out of her own shock and she scooped the child up. With a final wary look Naruto's way, she took off running with the other pedestrians.

Concerned citizens, understandable. Confused? To be expected. Terrified? Unnerving.

Naruto looked around him, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary... Just a regular street by the canal and cobblestone buildings.

He scratched his head and shrugged. With a final questioning glance the people's way, he turned back toward the guild.

He started walking.

*tick tick tick*

"Gramps is losing his edge, I'm only two blocks away." He mused out loud, "Normally, I'm halfway across town. But now I am within sight of the Guild."

A couple ran screaming from him.

"Then again it's not like he all out punched me. It was more of a flick." He demonstrated the action to a near by man, but he ran screaming. "Ok, what's your problem?"

Naruto rounded on the newest person to flee and grabbed them by their shirt. The small man squealed and resisted for a moment, but realized that it was of no use.

"Please don't eat me!" He squeaked.

Naruto was taken aback by this comment. "Do I look like a cannibal to you?" He demanded. He came within inches of the other man's face.

"Uh... N-n-o no."

"What are you so afraid of? Is there something on my face?" He said the last part to himself and reached up to feel his cheek, when scales met his touch.

Naruto burst out laughing and dropped the confused man.

"So you're n-n-ot not going to eat me?" He said incredulously, quickly getting to his feet.

The boy shook his head as his laughter died down. "I must look like a monster, sorry. I finally get it now. This is part of my magic and I thought I had better control over it."

Still uncertain, the short man studied Naruto more closely. He looked like a monster, with red earthy scales covering his body and a tail coming out his backside. His head alone, which resembled a Raptor's, would have sent him screaming. But as he looked closer he realized the arms were long and shaped like a human's, but the sharp claw like fingers made them look deadly. The clothes and white scarf that also remained on his body also told him that what this creature was telling him could be true.

"Who are you then?" He asked.

Naruto scratched the back of his head "They call me Firefly, but you can call me Naruto."

"Firefly eh? That sounds familiar... Anyway, thank you for not eating me. I will do my best to quell this uproar, but please get your magic under control!" And with a final glance the man wandered away.

Naruto looked around the deserted streets and felt sheepish. This has never happened to him before; he was usually in full control of his transformations. It was a part of his fighting style, one he had been perfecting for his whole life.

He hadn't done Armor of the Fire Dragon for a while.Not since... The rush of memories hit home like a cannonball. He didn't feel like facing anyone right now... He wouldn't do much good in this state anyway.

He ducked into a nearby alleyway, hoping to avoid any more screaming people and headed home slowly.

"Mira! Mira Jane!"

This knocked her out of her stupor. She blinked a few times as a short man stormed up to her, looking upset and shocked.

"There is a wizard terrorizing the streets! I swear... If I find out it's one of your Fairy Tail I will report it straight to the Magic Council." He puffed out his chest and waited for her response.

"I'm sorry, I don't think anyone from here would knowingly scare civilians. Would you mind describing him or her?" She smiled politely and listened to his description about a red monster, but she was really only half paying attention.

Most of her thoughts went out to Lucy and Natsu, who just set off to hunt down Macao.

She didn't like seeing Natsu like that, with a dark aura and angry demeanor.

Mira knew he had mixed feeling about Igneel, both he and Naruto did, that's why nobody asked them questions about it. She hoped they talked to each other though. With all they've lost-

"... Then he let the guy go. I can guarantee that the monster of a wizard was just out to scare people." The unnamed civilian ended his speech and put his hands on his hips.

Mira thought for a moment, Red-Brown scales, claws, a tail... I only know one Mage that can do that. She looked at the man with a new intensity. He had all of her focus now.

"Where was the last place you saw him?" She demanded.

"The alley by the market."

"Thank you. Now... About the magic council..."

She narrowed her eyes dangerously.

XXXX

"Naruto! Hey, you out here?" Gray called. He listened for a 'What?' Or an excited 'Hey Gray!' But he didn't hear anything. This worried him. Natsu and Naruto had great senses. They could hear an insult on the other side of town and come running, hearing their name shouldn't be that hard.

"Why are we even looking for him? The kid can take care of himself. He's S class." Elfman complained.

A group of people went screaming by them.

Gray and Elfman had been sent out by Mira to see if Naruto was Ok. 'Just a feeling' she had explained, but the cringing man in the corner had to have something to do with it Gray figured.

"Mira asked us to. Do you really need more than that?"

"Guess not." Elfman allowed. They walked on in silence, looking down streets and alleys. "Maybe the old man wanted to tell him his speech in person, since Naruto ditched."

"He was sent out a window." The blue haired teen pointed out. "Let's just find him."

"I still don't see why this is a big deal a real man would-" What he was about to say was interrupted by something darting from one street shadow to another.

Gray took his hands out of his pockets, clenching them into fists.

"That looked like-" Elfman asked.

"Gray? Elfman?" A gravelly voice croaked.

Naruto, scales and all, came out of the dark alleyway to their left. He looked frustrated, probably due to the screaming people who insisted on running away from him.

"There you are, we've been looking all over for you." Gray snapped, relaxing.

"Why?" He looked at them in mild surprise.

"Mira sent us. Why are you scaring everyone?" He demanded.

Naruto paled, "Is she mad?"

"Well... There was a cowering man in the corner." Elfman supplied.

The scaled boy cringed, "It's not my fault! Gramps is the one who threw me out!"

"That doesn't mean you had to scare people! They aren't used to creatures that look like you wandering around our town, Knucklehead!" Elfman chastised.

"Don't scold me I didn't change on purpose... And I can't make it stop. Master must have hit me harder than I thought." Naruto became serious, fixing his surprisingly blue human eyes with Gray's.

"I see." Gray mumbled, "We'll worry about the why later. Elfman, how do you stop your take over magic?"

"As simple as it sounds, I just will it to stop. Have you tried that?"

"It isn't exactly take over. Red…" He paused. "He said I used a different kind of Magic..."

"Dragon Slayer Magic, right?" Elfman crossed his bulky arms.

Naruto shook his reptilian head. "The way he said it back then makes me think he meant something else. I don't know what, though."

"Then how do we... fix you?" Gray asked. He was getting serious now as well.

"I know a way, but I'll have to get out of town."

Gray and Elfman nodded.

"Ok, I've got this part." The white haired man announced, then moved toward Naruto. He grabbed his tail and pulled him off his feet.

"What the heck, Man? I can walk by myself!" The Dragon Slayer kicked at the white haired man, but he held his firm grip on the boy's tail.

"Quite squirmin'! People are scared of a walking monster right? Well if they see a beaten one, they might just cheer me on!" Elfman grinned, "Might even give me a medal…"

"I didn't peg you for the publicity type." Gray observed as they began their trek out of town.

"He is Mira's sister." Naruto added from the ground, accepting his humiliation.

"It's not like that!"

"Of course not." Gray snarkily said, earning a shove from the take- over mage.

"Can we hurry up? These scales are itchy!"

"Don't order us around, we're the ones helping you!" Grey knocked him over his head with a satisfying thump.

Meanwhile

His world was always changing. Different smells, different sounds, changing faces.

Sometimes he was a cat. What a small cat he was, so agile, so light. He could find people with ease... And pounce.

Othertimes he was a beast. What a clever beast he could be. As stealthy as he was as a cat, as a beast none could find him. If he made no sound and crept up on his prey, they couldn't know he was there.

Oh how he loved being a beast.

Voices. He hears voices now. What is it they want? Is the beast to hunt? To watch?

He hated watching. To be so close to something and be unable to catch it. How he longed to sink his beast teeth into those around him...

The voices say it again. They want the cat.

Red looked up at his captors, a snarl threatening to break loose into a growl.

A man with white hair and sharp face smiled down at him, his pointed eyes showing nothing but contempt.

"You say this thing can't be seen?" He said doubtfully, "Looks like a kid magnet."

"Erigor, do you not believe me? Have I ever lied to you?" A silky voice responded.

Red couldn't see the other face, but he knew that voice. She was his true captor.

For years he had heard that voice, it ordered him completely. It dictated when he served and when he stopped. The white haired man could never guess it, but he wasn't being sold to him. On the contrary, he was to be the man Erigor's Executioner.

That was the only thing that kept him going. He was going to kill this man when he felt like it. Maybe after Erigor's plan, perhaps before.

Red, no, Beast would hunt tonight. And tomorrow.

Always hunting.

XXXX

"So, what do you think caused you to become… that?" Gray asked as Naruto led the way through trees and underbrush. They were just outside of Magnolia, but far enough away that the populace wasn't an issue.

"Don't know. I've always been able to do it… but usually I'm beating someone up. It comes in handy in a pinch, but IT'S ITCHY." Naruto answered. He scratched at his arms again, but couldn't scratch hard enough.

"What's your big idea to stop it?" The ice mage scoffed.

"I'm going to waste all of my magic power. To do that, I need to be in my clearing."

Gray raised an eyebrow, "Oh, I get it now. You want to stop the flow of energy from going to your Fire dragon Armor and if you don't have any it can't support it." He paused to ruffle Naruto's head scales. "I'm impressed, there's actually a brain between your ear holes."

Naruto nodded, thought about what Gray said, then pushed the older boy in retaliation.

"I'm not an idiot!"

Gray smirked back, then stopped.

"What?" Naruto said, surprised by Gray's sudden halt.

"I'm going to go and drag Elfman back to the guild and go out on a job. You've got this under control, right?"

The blonde boy paused. Gray saw a look on his face. Was it disappointment? But as soon as it appeared, it disappeared and he turned.

"It's about time you left, I told you I could handle it. See ya!" Naruto announced, then started walking again.

Gray sighed at the un mannered boy, "You're welcome!" He shouted, knowing that that was all the thanks he would get and turned back toward Magnolia. But... What was up with that?

Naruto made the last few minutes of hiking without trouble. He stepped out of a line of trees and into a grassy break. Rocks jutted out of random intervals in the medium sized space that Naruto and Red had used for target practice, before he was old enough to use people as targets that is...

Naruto sighed and sat down. He closed his eyes and tried once more to clear his mind like he normally did to stop his magic, but the scales, tail, and claws stubbornly remained.

"Alright then, Fire Dragon Roar!" He shouted, and jumped to his feet. Taking a deep breath, he spotted a rock a ways from him and let loose a brilliant jet of blue crackling fire that hit the intended spot with a crash.

He continued in that fashion for what felt like hours, blowing up rocks and trees. Eventually he got bored.

Might as well make the most out of his situation and actually train a bit.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist" Orange flames enveloped his fist and he rammed it into the ground.

"Fire Dragon Roar!"

"Secret Art: Fire Dragon's Brilliant flame!" Nothing really happened with this one, he just wanted to see if he could do it. He still couldn't.

"Fire Make: Fire Sword!" He held out his hand as his blue flame swirled around in his palm and condensed, then expanded outward into the shape of a katana. With Red's help, he had combined what he gathered from Gray's Ice Make magic and his own.

It took a lot of concentration and a bit of time, but he had finally gotten the hang of it.

He dispelled the sword and stood panting, looking at his hands. That must have been enough to-

They were still covered in red- brown scales.

He looked at the sun to try and gauge how long he had been out there. It was almost sun set now and around morning when he started.

Damn his energy reserves.

Naruto growled, "Fire Make Dual Fire Sword!" He went to gather energy in both palms, when it backfired. It should have worked, but some creature must have been making too much noise because in that moment of distraction, the condensed spheres solidified and launched themselves into each other, making a mini explosion. The energy dispersed quickly, but it left a slightly singed Naruto behind and a mini crater.

"Aww, man." He coughed dirt out of his mouth, "Well… it was cool a least…"

He looked to the point of the disturbance, but nothing was there. He was about to shrug it off, climb out of his newly made hole, and continue his magic wasting when-

'Knew it. Beast knew this one would be here. Triggered it Beast did… yes.' Naruto froze. The voice in his head, he wasn't imagining it, right?

It's laugh echoed in his mind and he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It disappeared just as quickly, but he felt a presence. '... Beast knows this one. Why does he know a crocodile? Tough to bite, fun to catch!' It laughed again, it was so loud it made his ears ring. It was hard to think straight...

Naruto felt something bud into his side, knocking him down. He grunted in surprise, but before he could get to his feet the being ran into him again, too fast for him so see clearly.

"Where are you?" Naruto yelled, looking around. If someone wanted a fight... He saw movement again. Wasting no time he sent a blast of blue fire to that spot, but it had already moved.

He went to stand, but was hit yet again. Deciding that hitting the ground usually hurt, he spun his arms under him to catch himself and slowed to a crouch.

'It speaks? Animals don't speak...' The attacks stopped and Naruto jumped to his feet and onto a rock. He scanned his crater filled area until he saw another flash of red- orange before being knocked over once more. He crashed into the muddy ground and the wind was knocked out of him, rolling to his side he attempted to get up, but he felt something pin his back down and press his nose into the dirt.

'Beast knows now. This is no animal. This is a boy. Yes, this boy needs to get stronger… Beast must not kill this boy.' The pressure vanished when Naruto heated up his body. If he couldn't see the creature, he would burn it when it attacked.

Footsteps came closer to Naruto and he felt something nudge his shoulder.

Naruto stayed still. There was another? Bring it.

It nudged his shoulder again and he used the opportunity to reach behind him and grab… a leg.

"Wha?" Natsu said, surprised he found himself being tugged to the ground. He had been directed here by Elfman, who for some reason had a medal. He had found that strange, but decided to not think much of it. But this was even stranger.

Naruto let out an "Oomf!" As his older brother landed on top of him.

"What was that for?" Natsu said, regaining his senses and digging his elbow into Naruto's shoulder.

Naruto pushed him off and jumped to his feet, looking around frantically. What Natsu saw next turned the strangeness factor up by a lot.

"Where are you?" Naruto bellowed. The laughter came back to his head, making him grunt, "What's so funny?" He hissed.

"Hey, are you ok?" Natsu asked, slowly getting to his own feet. He looked at the dirt covered blonde with mild concern.

Naruto turned to his brother, "Watch out, some kinda beast is here!" He stepped a few feet back until he covered the older and taller boy behind an outstretched arm.

"Beast? Where?" Natsu asked, looking around.

No one and nothing was there.

"Can't you hear it?" Naruto shouted, it was loud in his head. He narrowed his eyes, "It almost sounds like-"

"I don't hear anything." Natsu said slowly, putting a hand on the younger boy's shoulder. "There's no one-"

There, Naruto saw it. Another flash. "Look out!" He cried, and pushed Natsu out of the way. It went past him and for a moment, Naruto could have sworn he saw the outline of a wolf, when it disappeared in another flash.

"Hey!" Natsu shouted. Naruto had shoved him in the dirt! Again! If this was another one of his pranks... But when Natsu looked at his face expecting to see a goofy grin, he saw nothing but focus. Naruto was scanning the crater filled clearing with a furrowed brow and a grimace.

This was no joke.

"Stop hiding and face me!" Naruto growled and leaped to another flash. He wasn't avoiding it again, it was time to slow this thing down. His fist made contact with fur as boy and Beast rammed into each other.

The force was enough to crush a regular person, but Naruto was a Dragon Slayer and this was no ordinary creature.

In mid air, Beast couldn't run. It was something Naruto noted in the back of his mind. Somewhere beneath the shock that soured his thoughts.

"Impossible..." He whispered. Time seemed to slow and all his senses zoned in on a single point. A point of sleepless nights and tears and an overwhelming sense of betrayal.

It was Red. A rugged, bloodied, and demonic fox that was almost unrecognizable, but Naruto knew. Deep down he recognized him. Though Red's eyes were now glowing red with bloodlust and his teeth and claws tainted, he knew.

The impact broke the intense moment and the force sent the two flying in opposite directions. Naruto by Natsu and Red by the trees.

Before Naruto could regain his footing, a blast of sound assaulted his ears. As if Erza was digging her sharpest swords into his head and twisting them.

"Red!" He grunted, and forgot about looking strong. He could barely process anything but the screaming from this thing, but somehow he caught what the beast said.

'Hehehe, Beast will see you again, boy…. No… Naruto Uzumaki. Yes, will see you again, Uzumaki' .

"Uzumaki...? Gaah! Red! What are you-" Naruto fell to his knee, hands over his ears. Red was doing this. He was covering something... Some other voice was trying to shout to him... But it was coming out as a scream. A sound that enveloped his mind and made everything else fade into background.

All that he was was gone. Naruto was vaguely aware of falling to the ground, but it seemed unimportant. All that mattered was that screaming. How does he stop it?

Why was Red attacking him?

... What is Uzumaki?

All he could do was put his hands over his ears and wait.

Natsu didn't know what to do. One minute Naruto was screaming about a beast and shoving him everywhere then the next he looked to be in pain.

His brother… in pain. Now Natsu was really worried. He rushed to Naruto's side and tried to pull the younger's hands away from his ears… but to no avail. Blood seeped out from between the boy's clenched fingers.

"Naruto! What's wrong?" Natsu screamed, "Why are you bleeding? Dammit… Help! Somebody help!" Realizing that this was beyond his capabilities he scooped him up and rushed back toward town and his Guild. "Everything's going to be alright." He promised.

"Screaming… stop screaming Red." Naruto suddenly gasped, and his eyes fluttered open.

"Naruto, hang on." Natsu said, still running full force to town.

The glazed blue eyes looked at the pink haired boy for a moment, then shook his head. "No, I've go to… Find him. He was here, Natsu. He was here."

"Who? Come on, buddy. You're not making sense. No one was there but you."

The blonde shook his head weakly and struggled to get out of the vise grip. "Red. Red was there. He looked… looked…" But whatever he was going to say was lost as he lost consciousness.

XXXX

'Books books books, flimsy little books. Better for kindling than anything else! Beast likes fire...' The Beast hummed happily to himself as he ran circles around a library, looking from one end to the other. Why was the beast here of all places? He wasn't sent here by the women nor Egregor, so why was he here?

The fox paused his pacing. He studied the building closer. Perhaps the Cat would know why, yes…

The air fizzed as the Beast disappeared and a smaller creature took his place. It was a cat much like Happy. It's head was bigger than it's body and it's little arms and legs looked too small to touch it's ears.

It's orangish- red fur was matted and unkempt, but Red's face was definitely cat like.

"So, Beast, stumped are you?" He snickered, his tail lashed back and forth expectantly. "A book you say? Hmmm…" He let himself into the coliseum library.

"This place is nice… too nice. " He decided as he continued to look along the seemingly endless expanse of shelves lined with books. "I think Beast shall have to do something about this tidiness." He purred out loud.

When he said that, he felt the familiar tug at his consciousness that meant Beast wanted out.

"Not yet, not yet." He whispered. His relationship with Beast was simple: Beast did the grunt work and Red did the thinking. That was how they had operated for as long as he could remember. But this time was different. This was something Beast wanted... Something he thought he needed. While Red was puzzled by the change in behavior, he went with it. It was just how things were.

After a little more searching, he spotted the book. Grinning in victory, he pulled it off the bookshelf with his stubby arms and looked at the cover. Before he could read it, however, Beast could wait no longer. Dropping the book Red felt Beast's patience run out.

"Out. Beast.. Must! 'Come out.' The short cat screamed, then felt the blast of pure energy that was inside of him. Doubling over he let the stronger force take control and succumbed to the after thoughts of his shared consciousness.

Beast peered down at the book titled 'Orange Hope' and picked it up in his black outlined mouth.

'Book, yes this is the book. Must not burn this book... No... But the others' He smiled, 'Others can burn'

XXXX

"... he probably got too carried away with training again. You know how he is. How many times have you found him passed out cold?" A voice said close to Naruto. It was Mira's.

"Maybe, but it was different this time. He was screaming about Red and how… how Red was attacking him." His brother's voice. Yeah, that was definitely Natsu. Were they talking about him?

"Red? I thought he let his imaginary friend go a long time ago." Mira gasped.

Natsu didn't respond verbally, but Naruto heard him move around.

There was a long pause before Mira got up. "Well, I have some chores to finish up. You can stay here tonight and I'll check on him in the morning."

Natsu stood up to, "I'll help with the chores." He said quickly, "I think I need to talk to Gramps quick."

Naruto forced his eyes to stay closed as they left the room. When he was sure he was alone, he opened them.

He was in the infirmary. Great.

They thought he was insane. That's great too.

No, a better word was perfect. His life was perfect right now.

His own brother...

No. That didn't matter at this moment, all that he needed to think about was Red. How he was attacking him and laughing like he was insane. But more importantly, somewhere.

And needed him.

XXXX

Hey Guys! Sorry about the wait, but between the time the first chapter was out and now I lost some fingers in a mowing accident. So… yeah. But, I am getting the hang of this typing thing again and I hope to get another chapter out within the next couple months. As for pairings, I am still open to just about anything though I am leaning toward a Naruto/Wendy.

-CombustingGorilla

Next Time on Naruto Dragneel

Naruto knows that Red's still here and… evil? Does Natsu remember the old fox? Also, what's with the burning Library? Will this lead to a whole new set of problems? Find out on Naruto Dragneel