Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
Morning came, and with it, the time for the Fairy Tail wizards' audience with the Emperor Rizael of Elorien.
Lucy and Wendy awoke first, and went to fetch Gray and Juvia. Although, when Wendy peeked into their room, Juvia was sleeping contently with Gray. In the same bed, in fact. Wendy told Lucy that it was probably a better idea to leave them alone for a while. Especially as vigorous rustling noises began to be heard from inside.
Makarov and Erza met up with Lucy and Wendy outside Gray and Juvia's room.
"Where is Natsu?" Makarov asked.
"Wendy and I think he came to the room late last night, and woke up very early. So he must be wandering around the castle right now." Lucy said.
"That idiot! The Emperor will be most displeased at his lack of decorum! Master, we must find him before he destroys something!" Erza said.
Makarov closed his eyes and shook his head. "Wandering around this place will be more important for him than you know." he said gravely.
In the room with red walls, Natsu lay sleeping on the bed. Just then, the door opened, where a woman with long pink hair, and a face worn from sorrow yet somehow retained its kindness and beauty, stood. Standing in the doorway was the Empress of Elorien, Farienne III. her eyes open with a combination of surprise and disbelief. A boy with pink hair, just like the son she was robbed of so many years ago, was standing right in front of her! She reached out to his back, for her power similar to that of Memory Make, only she could also read and use the memories of others as well.
She reached into the recesses of this boy's mind, and saw his past. The cheerful little boy she once knew lived in this one. Her little flame had been fanned and was now a powerful blaze. For the first time in many years since the disappearance of her son, that she wept with tears of joy. She embraced her long-lost son in the folds of her flowing white and red dress laced with gold.
Meanwhile, Natsu dreamt. Or at least, he thought he was. Memories began flowing into him, but they weren't his. A woman's mind was connected with himself. He saw a little boy with black hair playing with the pink haired boy. They were laughing together, watched over by two adults who Natsu took to be their parents. They bore remarkable resemblances to the Emperor and Empress in the portrait, only younger and happier people.
"Papa, why are the people in other countries so scared of dragons? The dragons in Elorien are really friendly! They taught us magic, right?" the pink-haired boy.
"That's right. In our country, dragons taught us the ways of civilization and magic, and we owe it to them. In other countries, progress was slow. People feared dragons, because, long ago, a dragon called Acnologia laid waste to their lands. One day, you'll go to retrieve the Dragon's Heart, and become a real prince. Always remember what dragons have given us. Maybe one day, you'll meet a real dragon." the Emperor said.
"Why don't dragons live near us?" the little boy asked again.
"That's because they don't like being around people, right, Mama?" Sorian said.
"We like to say that. But there is a deeper reason than that. You'll understand when you're older." his mother said.
The memory shifted to the Empress putting her younger son to bed in his crib and bidding him good night, the memory from before. And then, it shifted again. The room was dark, illuminated only by the moonlight. The window was open, and the wind blew in through it. The woman was bent over the crib in tears, comforted by her husband.
"Our son has been spirited away, as foretold in the prophecy!" Farienne cried.
"Farienne, we shall find him. I promise you. No matter how long it takes, I will bring Natsu back to us." Rizael said soothingly.
The realization was shocking and Natsu was speechless. And then, the memory changed. Natsu was in the back of a cart, bound and gagged. A trio of wizards from Fiore had kidnapped him from his room in the Diamond Palace while he was asleep. They planned to hold him for ransom money from the Emperor and Empress.
Just then, the cart hit a bump in the road, and the cart fell off the path, into the river below a suspension bridge. Natsu blacked out before they made impact only hearing the water splashing and the dying shrieks of horses and the men.
When Natsu woke up, he was surprisingly unwounded; only a bruise and a few cuts. Natsu's red pajama shirt was torn beyond recognition, so he took it off. As his vision came back into focus, he was absolutely terrified. The three kidnappers were impaled by the rocks of the river, and the horses drowned somewhere along the way. Miraculously, he had survived. Then, he began to cry. For his parents, his brother, and more importantly, himself.
Now the memory was familiar. Natsu was wandering the fields of Fiore, looking for a town or someone to help him. He didn't know what to do. He then came upon a cave, which, for some reason, was filled with food, books, and other things. His heart soared with hope, not only for having found food and shelter, but also a place where someone might be living.
Natsu waited for hours, taking little bits of food every now and then. There was a torch in the cave, so he started a small fire to keep warm. As night fell, he fell asleep, dreaming of that which he hadn't remembered before: going back home to his family.
The next morning, Natsu was still alone, and began wandering around the nearby forest. He was fascinated by the colorful birds and small animals, and terrified of the Forest Vulcans that lurked around. He tried making a fishing pole, as he had seen people do in the books his father read to him. He found a worm, and started fishing. Natsu waited for three hours, until he got a bite. He pulled out a relatively large salmon, which was more than enough for him.
He didn't know how to cook the salmon, so he started walking back to the cave. Getting tired, he sat down on a rock, and set his salmon beside him. He stared up at the sky, seeing birds flying freely.
"I wanna go home... I wanna see Mama and Papa again..." Natsu said, almost about to cry.
When he got up off the rock, he noticed that his salmon had been stolen. He felt miserable, having worked very hard for that fish. He continued walking back to the cave, and upon arriving, it was nearly dusk. Natsu was hungry, and thought to himself that he was going to have piece of steak from the stores.
However, when he looked inside the cave, there was a gargantuan, crimson, scaly mass there. It was a dragon, and it was searching for something. Unlike most people, who would have fled, Natsu had been taught to revere dragons, and instead drew closer, calling for its attention.
"Um, Mr. Dragon, sir?" Natsu said tentatively.
The dragon's massive head turned around to see who was calling to it. The dragon's voice echoed in Natsu's mind.
"So you are the one who has gone through my stores, and left the stench of humans in my abode." he said in a deep, but calm voice. He wasn't angry.
"I was taken from my room, sir, and when I got the binds off of me, I was at the river." Natsu said.
"A human child, kidnapped? You are unlike most humans, boy. Most run in terror, but you do not fear me, do you? What is your name?" he said.
"My name is Natsu, the second prince of Elorien! Or at least, not yet. I have to pass the Trial first. But I have to go home, and I don't know how..." the little boy said.
"You interest me, Natsu... But I cannot return you home. I am unable to leave this land, for I have a duty to protect it." the dragon said.
"Then... can I stay with you until I can go home on my own?" Natsu asked.
"If that is what you wish. You are what I desire humans in this land could be: willing to co-exist with dragons, rather than fear them. By raising you as my own young dragon, perhaps people shall learn to do so. Know that being a dragon is hard, and you will have to work equally hard in order to aspire to your potential and beyond. I shall name you Natsu Dragneel, and you shall call me Igneel." he said.
"I didn't understand all of that, sir, but I'll do my best!" Natsu said with a grin.
And then the flashback ended. It would be a few months later when Natsu would fall on his head, causing him amnesia, particularly regarding his past in Elorien. Natsu forgot all about his family, and also lost his sensibilities as a nobleman, becoming hot-headed, rough, and unabashedly passionate in everything he did.
Note: I apologize if it sounds disconnected, but it is meant to flow between different points of view, and it's just a waste of space to make a mark every time it changes, and hopefully you get it by now. I'd also appreciate some more reviews, please! Thanks.