blazingpyro606, Perhaps in some obscure way maybe, but they aren't related in any 'family' way. That was the case earlier and it became the reason for the re-write. Thank you!

Footster26, Thank you for your kind words and I'm glad you're enjoy it.

FT Lover, Yep! There's more to come and thank you for reviewing.

Thank you for supporting my story!

Previously...

"What happened?" I said as bravely as I could, but my voice wavered.

"I-I!... P-Protect-ting thi-is littl-le oneeee!" She said as she turned slightly to reveal a little red Exceed, she smiled and passed out. I leaned in and tried to listen for a heartbeat but it was almost impossible to hear with all the noise around me. I listened!... And listened, for what seemed like an eternity and then I heard it... It was very faint but it was there! She was alive!... But just barely!

Chapter 6

Natsu's POV

While I held Lucy, only one thought ran through my mind... A promise I made to protect her and my heart sank as I realized how miserably I failed at that one, simple little task.

"Damn-it!... What's the use of all this power, if I can't even protect one person?" I roared to the heavens as I wiped my tear covered eyes. My eyes shot open when I saw my blood covered hands and I realized I was an idiot like everyone said.

"WENDY!" I roared!... A roar so loud that glass shatter, even the dragon next to us stepped back and cringed.

I looked up just as the dragon leaned it's face in till it was just a few feet from myself and Lucy. I could tell that it was still crying... It shook as if it was ready to explode, I could also tell that it was concerned and very scared.

It felt like time was slowing down as I heard a gasp from Lucy. Her breathing became sporadic as she coughed uncontrollably and then it happened, my worst nightmare was staring me smack-dead in the face... Lucy went limp! I leaned in closer and listened for her heart, one that I'd heard so many times through out the past few years, but there was nothing, just silence.

"LUCY!" I screamed as I gently shook her, but the only movement was her lifeless limbs that hung to her side... There was no response... No smile!... Nothing, just empty brown eyes staring back up at me! "Luce! Please don't leave me!" I whispered as I pulled her tightly into my chest. As my arms embraced her my hand grazed the object that was stuck in her back. My anger got the better of me and I ripped it from her back and threw it against the charred guild behind me.

I closed my eyes and rested my head on her shoulder as I cried. The thought of loosing someone else close to me, was more than I could bare!... First it was Igneel and now Lucy!... Two family members, who were precious to me, now gone! I felt my sorrow turning to anger as my heart beat louder and louder until it caused my ears to ring and then it happened... It was a thump, a faint noise at first almost unrecognizable but it was there. A second later another thump, but a much stronger one this time... And then another, and another until it was a steady beat!

The lifeless body that I was holding just moments ago, now gasped for air and coughed as she tried to fill her lungs once more. My eyes shot open and that's when I realized we were both surrounded in a ball of flames. It was a very warm feeling and I knew that this was fire magic, Dragon's Fire to be more precise. I looked up and saw where the flames were coming from, the dragon that had protected Lucy was now breathing fire down upon us and she appeared to be quickly running out of magic. The Dragon twisted and strained as it dug as deep as it could to keep it's magic flowing but it abruptly stopped as she gasped for air... The strain on her face was evident as she collapsed just feet from me.

"Quickly Natsu! Use dragon force and release your flames!... Pour your magic into Lucy!" The dragon tearfully said.

"But that will kill her!" I growled.

"NO!... Please just do it!.. I'll explain later!" She said in a soft voice as she stood back up. "Please! Trust me!... I would never hurt her!"

"That felt like Igneel's flames, are you the dragon he told me about?" The dragon's lip curled up as if to smile and nodded 'yes'. I smiled back at her and with a deep breath I relaxed my body and released my magic... "Dragon Force!" I growled. Scales appeared all over my body as it burst into flames. A moment later my flames grew brighter and hotter as they enveloped not only me but Lucy, who was now slowly starting to stir. She opened her eyes and looked up at me and smiled...

"I-I see you met my Mother!" She laughed but quickly stopped as she coughed once again.

"HUH!... Mother?" I was confused. None of this made any sense. Here I am releasing vast amounts fire magic and Lucy wasn't showing any signs of being burned, as a matter of fact she seemed to be growing stronger with each passing moment. "I'm confused Luce!" Natsu said as he leaned back and stared into Lucy's beautiful brown, I mean green, "What!... Red eyes!"

Minutes had passed and I could feel the drain on my magic. Normally I would be able to hold this form for a lot longer but now I felt the strain as Lucy seemed to be absorbing my magic at an alarming rate... And I was about to collapse!

"Please Natsu, just a little bit more!" The Dragon begged. I knew I was at my limit but I had to dig even deeper and find that last morsel of magic that was resting deep within me. I could feel Lucy getting stronger every minute and that itself gave me the extra encouragement to push past my limits for that one last burst of magic. I released the last of my magic and Lucy smiled up at me, while I smiled back at her... Everything went dark!

Flashback...

I was alone as I stared into the dark void. Ahead was a light that was shining through a four-paned glass window. I walked towards it and looked out and smiled as I saw Igneel and I were standing on a battlefield. 'I remember this' I thought as I watched from behind the window... This was the day that Igneel died, left me!

Igneel was laying on the ground, struggling to breath after his defeat by Acnologia. With tears streaming down both of our eyes we both knew that this was the last time we would see each other! I told him how much I loved him and I thanked him for giving me a home and a future. he told me how how proud he was of me and I remember vowing to turn Acnologia to dust. Just as he was disappearing I felt his spirit enter me for a brief moment and that's when I knew what I had to do.

"Natsu! I have very little time so please forgive me but I need you to pay close attention to what I have to say as this is very important!" Igneel smiled as he looked down at his son. 'This must be very confusing for the boy!' Igneel thought as Natsu looked back at him and smiled as he nodded his understanding.

"I want to tell you a secret and you must promise to tell no one!... Absolutely no one must know!... Can you keep this promise?" I asked a rather confused Natsu.

"I promise! I'll keep your secret!" Natsu said as he watched his father, his mentor slowly start to disappear as small specks of red broke off his body and started to fly up into the darkness.

"Natsu!... I'm very proud of you, you've become such a powerful and kindhearted dragon, I wish I could be there to watch you grow up and find your mate... But I'm afraid I'm out of time! I have a favor to ask of you!" I paused as Natsu said, 'He'd do anything for me!' Thank you my boy! Please go out and find my mentor!... Latasia the Fire Dragon! She's the first of our kind and in some strange way she is the mother of all fire users, Dragons and Mages alike!" I laughed at the confused look on his face. "The Wind Dragon Sora placed a spell on her and she's been in hibernation for four-hundred years now. We hid her to protect her from Acnologia, who craved her power!" I paused again as I felt the last of my life-force slowly slip away.

"Acnologia had become too powerful and couldn't be stopped... Her name is Latasia and she's special! She's able to use others magics besides fire magic, but not only that, she's the true Fire Dragon Queen and now she's the last living Dragon!... Please protect her!... We hid her beneath the volcano that you and I trained at once... She's hidden behind a barrier that none may pass! Please find herrrr!" I said as the last of my spirit left the mortal world.

Normal POV

'That was the last time I saw Igneel,' I thought as I slowly opened my eyes. I blinked a few times while my eyes adjusted to the light and when I saw where I was, I smiled as Igneel's grin came to mind. We were on a large black dragon headed for a familiar volcano.

"Sleepyhead!... You're finally awake!" Lucy smiled down as she held my head tightly against her lap.

Yea!... Done! That took a bit to get right. I hope you liked it!

Next update Friday...

See you then!