I'm so sorry! I know, it's been like... a year? Well damn... I'm so, so, so terribly sorry!

But rejoice, this story is almost over! I think one or two chapters and we're done. Yeah, I know, not much has happened. But I mentioned before that not much will so... I guess even though I'm back from hiatus on this story, there's not much of an update. I feel so ashamed.

If there are any of you still reading this, please drop a review on this chapter and wait for the next one, which DEFINITELY will be coming soon! And no, I don't mean definitely soon as in next year. More like a week or two.

Chapter 4

"Are you alright, Natsu?" Eragon asked the next morning. He watched with concern as Natsu listlessly poked at his breakfast, but did not eat a single bite. "Has something happened?"

The boy let out a hollow laugh. "I guess you could say that."

"What happened? Are you hurt?" Eragon prepared to use a healing spell, but Natsu shook his head.

"No… I'm not hurt. I think… I'm in shock."

"Shock?"

The boy hesitated, then looked up with conflicted eyes. "Am I in love with Lucy?"

His surrogate uncle blinked. "Have you finally figured it out?"

"You knew?!" The plates and cutlery rattled as Natsu slammed his palms on the table, jumping to his feet.

Eragon let out a long-suffering sigh. "Natsu, nearly everyone here knows of your feelings for her. We all agreed not to say anything partly because you needed to come into this realization for yourself, and also because…" He shrugged and gave an apologetic smile. "It was amusing."

"It's not amusing to me!" Natsu clutched at his pink hair. "She'll hate me!"

"For what? Are you planning to tell her?" Judging from the way the boy immediately paled, Eragon guessed he wasn't. "Then what is there to be afraid of, save for unrequited love?"

"There's a lot to be scared of! Wh-What if I accidentally told her? Or… I don't know! There's just a lot!" He let out a groan. "I wish Mother didn't tell me…"

"I should've known you hadn't figured it out by yourself…" Eragon sighed. "Natsu, listen to me. Calm yourself."

"How?!"

"Breathe. You can do this. Breathe. Inhale for ten seconds and exhale for the same amount of time. Good, like that. Now do it over and over until you have sufficiently calmed down."

Once all the tension had left Natsu's shoulders, Eragon pushed a mug of water to him, which the boy drank till there were only a few drops left at the bottom. "Now, listen to me. I understand you are frightened, but there is not much to be afraid of. You and Lucy could still be friends if you are too afraid to tell her you love her. To you, the world may have changed, but on the outside, things aren't that much different."

"I—"

"Natsu, you are simply overthinking things. The sun rises in the east, the seasons continue to change, and you and Lucy are still friends. Nothing has changed, only your perception of her."

Natsu stared down at his trembling hands. Eragon watched him with concerned eyes and his mind reached out to Saphira's. What should I do?

There isn't anything to do. He must deal with this revelation by himself.

I hate seeing him like this. He looks so anguished.

It is the pain of growing up. He will overcome it, given time.

"Can you create a spell that would help me forget this? Forget everything you and Mother told me?" Natsu abruptly asked.

Panic briefly gripped Eragon's heart, but he willed himself to think. Voicing his words carefully, he said softly, "Even if I was able to reach into your mind and create a spell that would remove those particular memories, I would not do it, nor would I advise you to seek help from Yaela or the others. What you learn is a part of you, no matter how much you despise or fear it. How you learn to overcome and manage your feelings is a part of maturing."

Natsu looked so despairing that Eragon couldn't help but feel a stab of sympathy for his nephew. "Perhaps you would like to be relieved of your duties for a few days," he suggested gently. "Some of the Riders could take care of the hatchlings in your stead."

But Natsu shook his head. "No. My friends would know something is wrong. You said… nothing has changed. So that means I can… pretend like everything is normal."

Eragon nodded encouragingly and Natsu took deep, steadying breath. Then another. Then another. Eragon waited patiently, touching his mind to his nephew's to watch as his riotous thoughts slowly settled.

"Okay," Natsu finally said, although his voice was barely higher than a squeak. "I can do this."

Be brave, hatchling. Saphira blinked at him from where she watched them through the window. You have the soul of a dragon. Do not cower from your problems. Be strong and courageous and all will be well.

"Thank you, Saphira," Natsu croaked out. He cleared his throat. "I should… feed the hatchlings." He quickly stood and left.

Eragon and Saphira watched as he scampered away. We should do something to cheer him up. Not interfere, of course, but perhaps a gift?

What do you have in mind, little one?

Eragon frowned. I don't know… If it was anyone else, I'd give them jewels or gold. But this is Natsu, who wants for nothing but, well, you know what I mean.

The day he came to us is nearing. I believe it is only a fortnight from today.

His birthday! Of course! And it's his sixteenth.

During which you promised to present the Riders' eggs to him.

A Rider… A small bloom of happiness unfurled in Eragon's chest. We could make him a Rider!

That's only if one of the eggs choose him, Saphira pointed out.

I know. I wish there was some way—

You cannot, little one. Saphira's voice was gentle.

Eragon gave her a look. I know that.

In the meantime, we could always have a feast in his honor.

A party. Yes, that would be nice. I'll have to think about who to invite.

Invite them all, of course. All the dragons and Riders know who he is and his story. And if he should have become a Rider by then…

Even more cause for celebration. But if he hasn't?

Then he will still have the support of his family. It is all we can offer if he is rejected.

Rejected. Eragon winced at the thought. I hope, I pray, he is accepted.

He would make a fine Rider. I did not lie when I said there was the soul of a dragon in him. Few Riders and non-Riders have the fire to match up to us. Her eye twinkled at him. You and he are alike in this.

Eragon smiled, feeling warm from her words. Thank you, Saphira.

She hummed. We should prepare soon. A fortnight is not very long.

I'll inform Yaela and the others later today. In the meantime, we should inform the others of Natsu's celebration. I'm sure several would like to give him presents.

What will you give him?

He hesitated. I don't know… I've never been very good at gift-giving, as you know from the Blood Oath Celebration.

Your poem was a worthy present. You know this. Eragon glanced at his study, where Oromis' treasured present rested.

Would he like something similar? But no, Natsu doesn't have the patience for poetry. I recited part of the Lay of Umhoden to him once and he fell asleep! I don't have the means to make him a Rider's sword either…

Do not fret, little one. The answer will come to you.

He nodded and sat back. In the meantime, we should discuss with Umaroth and Cuaroc about the eggs that will be presented to him. I think we should start with the oldest ones first; the ones that have been kept in the Vault of Souls. There are 26 of those, plus the eggs that have been laid here… He calculated the total in his mind. 62 eggs! One of them is bound to choose him!

No not be hasty, Saphira warned. I do not wish to deprive Natsu of his chance, but neither do I want to be too optimistic, in case… She did not say it and Eragon didn't want to think about it, but there was wisdom in her words.

You're right. He sighed. But I will not lose hope.

Nor will I.

Natsu had been expecting it to be difficult and he was right; every time he even thought of Lucy, heat would flood his cheeks and his lips would twitch up into a grin. This happened so often that his friends inevitably noticed and badgered him about it.

"Wipe that idiotic smile from your face," Gray scolded, stepping back from his spar with Natsu. "What is wrong with you? You've been like this for days."

"He's positively moony," Erza said from where she was sitting in the grass reading a scroll borrowed from the library.

Natsu's face paled. Was he that obvious? His friends peered closely at him.

"Natsu? Moony? For whom?" Gray's eyes were wide with surprise.

"Isn't it obvious?" Gajeel grunted. Next to him, Panther Lily huffed out a laugh and smoke poured from his nostrils.

It didn't take long for them to reach the obvious conclusion.

"Lucy?!" Gray threw back his head and howled with laughter, though not with derision.

Natsu scowled and blushed. "Shut up!" He set down the borrowed sword he used in his spar with Gray and whirled around to stalk away. He did not get far, however. Four dragons— pale gold, sunset orange, dusky violet, and an exceptionally pale shade of periwinkle — were approaching and he knew who the dragons' Riders were.

He watched helplessly as Aiedail, Eridor, Sitri, and Byakko alighted on the edge of the cliff and their Riders dismounted. Lucy, Levy, and Mirajane and Lisanna— elven sisters— approached them. Lucy smiled as she saw Natsu and he could feel his face going an odd mix of pale and flushed. He twitched, wishing he could hide.

"Sit with me, Natsu," Erza commanded and he quickly dropped to her side with a murmured thanks.

"Are you well, Natsu?" Lisanna seemed concerned as she crouched before him and pressed a cool hand to his forehead. "Your face is strange."

He stuttered and scooted back. "I'm fine. Really," he said, seeing that Lucy looked displeased. "I'm alright. Just… nervous."

"I'll bet you are," Gray murmured and Erza discreetly flicked a pebble at his forehead. He swore as he reeled back from the blow and glared, but the she-elf was unmoved.

"Nervous? Why?" Lisanna sat down, making herself more comfortable.

"It's my, uh…" And now a different sort of panic flooded his chest and hollowed his stomach and he looked down. "It's my birthday soon."

The others looked at one another. Every single Rider and dragon— bonded and wild alike— knew of Natsu's story and of the promise Eragon made to him and everyone was hoping he would join the ranks of the Riders. But there was absolutely no guarantee that he would be chosen.

Gray cleared his throat and smoothed his beard. "Well, there's no use dwelling on it now." He hefted his war axe. "Best two out of three, Natsu?"

Grateful for a distraction, Natsu nodded and leapt to his feet. He hardly gave Gray notice before he'd seized the practice sword and thrown himself headfirst into battle. Gray, sensing the desperation in his actions, blocked the first thrust and retaliated with a ferocious swing of his axe. They wrestled back and forth, mindless to everything but the clash of their weapons and Natsu lost himself to it, letting all worries pour disappear from his mind until there was nothing but the movement of back and forth and thrust and parry and strike and block.