Whaz up ladies, gents and other! I'm gonna give Natsu another memory to relive, hopefully it'll clear up some things for anyone who's doin' the stupid thing an' startin' the series at this chapter. The dream scenes're to also build emotional atmosphere. If I'm overdoin' it, underdoin' it, or ye just want more action than the emotional bullshit I'm givin' ye, leave a constructive review after readin' this chapter. I don't own Fairy Tail, if I did...It'd be like what I'm writin', which I think would be badass but no point in speculatin' on what coulda been.

Thoughts or emphasis

Draconic thoughts or emphasis (Dragon Slayers, true Dragon Slayers, view everythin' from a draconic outlook and see their draconic voice as their real one)

'Paraphrasin'

"Normal speech"

"Draconic speech"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Come on, guys, it's not that much farther!" The voice of a beautiful, blonde woman could be heard over the chirping of birds and the breeze in the trees. She was a sight to behold: soft brown eyes that could melt the hearts of even the coldest men and women, long corn-blonde hair, her bust was large and all natural and her figure was a perfect hourglass. If those who watched her were to guess, they'd say she had a Double-F cup. Her attire was simple and yet elegant on her. She wore a white tanktop, an orange jumpsuit tied at the waist to give off the illusion that it was just a pair of baggy orange pants, she had a plaid button-up shirt tied into a knot at her chest, and on her back was a backpack full of survival gear and on her hip were two golden keys and three silver keys.

This beauty-among-the-beasts-of-men was named Layla, Layla Heartfilia.(Anyone catch the play on words for a movie title and a game references) Unknown to her entourage and herself, there were seven pairs of eyes watching them. Two pairs of these eyes were cautious of these strangers while the other five were searching for something, two somethings to be exact.

"Easy for you...to say...Lady Heartfilia...You're a mage! While the rest of us mortals have to work to get where we want to go..." The men's complaining made her pout cutely, and that's when the mercenaries attacked. Out of the trees dropped five men, each carrying a short sword and shield, "We're looking for the dragon, where is it?!" Layla and her entourage were surrounded on all sides, leaving them with nowhere to run and with the way the mercs held their weapons it was clear they knew how to use them.

"What are you talking about? Dragons went extinct hundreds of years ago, how would we have a dragon?!" Layla's question made one of the mercenary's eyes widen, "DAMN IT, JOHN! NOW WE'VE GOTTA KILL THEM TOO!" Before they could make truth out of those words, a pair loud roars pierced the once silent forest. A four year-old, pink haired boy with a dragon scale muffler wrapped around his neck and a fire dragon flew into the valley with hatred in their eyes.

"LET US SHOW THESE FOOLISH HUMANS WHAT IT MEANS TO CHALLENGE A DRAGON AND HIS SON!" The deep voice of the dragon shook the group of merchants with Layla, while she herself was confused when the salmon-headed boy leaped off his back and landed behind the mercenaries with anger in his slitted eyes, "RIGHT IGNEEL! LET'S DO THIS, DAD! Fire Dragon's...ROAR!"

(Cue: My Chemical Romance-Na Na Na. Short musical accompaniment) A fountain of fire was shot from his agape mouth, burning two of the attackers to crisps while the other three were flattened by the dragon's body, (Uncue)"Foolish humans, thinking they can destroy a magic they've not even begun to understand without repercussions occurring...It sickens me!" A nod was given by the shirtless boy with a muffler, "Yeah, but somebody's gotta kill 'em or they'll kill others who're even more innocent than the rest of us."

"Does not a human's soul understand that there be more than themselves?" The boy looked to the dragon, "Does a wise dragon know that men are but arrogant children, yet to grow?" Looking between the two philosophical 'hermits', the merchants had question marks flying around their heads and swirls of dizziness in their eyes.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING KID, DON'T YOU KNOW THAT DRAGONS ARE DANGEROUS?!" Natsu looked to the man who yelled and glared, shutting him up and growling deeply, "I'm not that old, but I'd at least expect that even children can trust their parents!" And the faces of those besides the 'hermits' hit the ground with their entire bodies paled beyond belief.

"...Did I say something wrong, dad?" The dragon gave what seemed to be a shrug, consisting of moving its head down and up slightly instead of its shoulders, "I am but a humble dragon trying to raise a boy, I know not what is considered wrong when it applies to humans. I have no prior knowledge of what humans view as right or wrong, and I do believe that I have told you not to call me that." Nodding, the boy said, "I know, but calling you by name isn't as simple as saying 'dad', so I've taken to calling you as such."

"Who are you, kid? Why are you talking so casually to a monster?!" Layla facepalmed and the boy rammed him in the stomach with a fiery aura of pointy-horned dragon around him, "Don't call the one who raised me since I was an infant, a monster. Or I'll show you what it means to be a monster!"

"Enough Natsu. They are but feeble minded fools, who've yet to see beyond their own folly. Let them be, let them wallow in confusion and self pity until they are ready to learn..." The now named Natsu glared at the man in the fetal position at his feet, anger burning in his slitted eyes, "But he-" "Enough, Natsu. He is but a victim of humanity's folly and arrogance, let him be."

Natsu breathed out a puff of fire, a growl leaving his voice in the process, "Who are you, kid?" He turned to the only woman in the group, boredom now occupying his eyes, "Quid Pro Quo: Who wants to know?!" His use of intelligent language and then transferring to an nonintellectual manner caught Layla completely off guard, "Layla, Layla Heartfilia. And you would be?"

He seemed very untrusting of her, not surprising since he'd been raised in the wilderness, "Well, Layla Layla Heartfilia," The way he said this and the smirk of pride in his belief of being clever wasn't lost to the now slightly irate woman, "I am named Natsu Dragneel. The 'monster', as your soon-to-be-burned-coworker wrongly accused, is named-"

"I can introduce myself, son. Forgive my son's brash attitude and violent ways, he holds family above all else and will lash out thoughtlessly when someone insults family. My name is Igneel, I am known as Igneel the Salamander or the Fire Dragon King by my brethren and sistren." Igneel directed his attention to his foster son, "Natsu, apologize to the man you have incapacitated, we are in the presence of nobility and must act accordingly."

Natsu growled at the unconscious man, but he relented after a moment, "I'm sorry...for your stupidity!" He was then thwacked in the head lightly by the end of Igneel's tail, "Behave, son. When in the presence of nobility we must act appropriately and with dignity. Now, Miss Heartfilia, what are you doing in this valley?"

It took a moment before Layla answered, scratching the back of her head sheepishly, "We got lost and we were looking for anyone who might give us directions to the town of Magnolia, would you happen to know where it is?" Igneel looked to the clouds thoughtfully, he'd not been to any human settlements recently so he knew the ones he'd been to by name, "I know the general direction to Magnolia, and you have traveled the wrong way. It is a month's journey to the east, you came here from the north and were trekking southward. Natsu and I will guide you there, but we will not leave the forest. When we reach the edge of the forest, you are to rely on yourselves!" He said this while leaning his head down and sideways to look at Layla directly in the eye. (Reptiles' eyes are on the sides of their heads, so I'm applyin' that same logic to dragons)

She nodded and extended her hand, expecting Igneel to do something similar. What she got were tilted heads of confusion and odd looks from the duo who saved them, "What do you wish to achieve by extending your hand? There are no messenger birds or any magical messengers nearby..." Scratching the back of her bun-haired head, she smiled softly, "Nevermind shaking hands, let's go!"

Timeskip, two weeks and five days

The men who'd accompanied Layla were less than thrilled about a dragon taking care of a human child, and even less enthused about having said dragon lead them through the forest. Layla was right now conversing with a very curious Natsu again, trying to explain what is customary among normal humans, "It's always polite and proper to offer a lady you help when you see her having trouble with something. Any other questions?"

She and Natsu had hit it off after the first day on their trek, both very curious about the other's lifestyle and how they saw the world. So these games of twenty questions weren't unheard of among the group at the moment, "What makes someone a lady? It sounds like it's either a sickness," A vein began to pulse on Layla's forehead, "A serious defect or deformity," This list was making the lady of the group very pissy, as was obvious to the others, "A lack of strength in oneself, and or a severe weakness within the body. So, what or which is it?"

Layla's eyes were covered by her bangs, her grin was strained and crooked, and she emitted an aura that promised pain. When she looked into his eyes, he made no move to run or fight, "It's none of those things, Bratty-child-with-the-cheeks!" To emphasize her point, she pinched and pulled his left cheek, making him act like he was going to eat her hand.

"And I'm a lady! Being a lady means a woman of refinement and of perfect form." Natsu looked at her blankly for a moment, creeping Layla out to no end while Igneel chuckled deeply. "So," Natsu said cautiously, "Your hourglass figure, pretty hair and almost unnaturally-large bust-Ouch!" Having had enough of his instigating, one of the men hit him over the head, "Stop insulting Lady Heartfilia!" Before Natsu could retort, the woman they were talking about stepped in, "I can defend myself, my friend. And besides, he meant no harm by what he's said, right?!" She said the last bit with a crooked grin on her face, trying to intimidate the boy.

"Sure, whatever Layla-Layla. I still don't get it, but I'll figure it out later on, so no rush to figure it out..." He raised his arms to rest them behind his head and smiled cheekily at her, trying to get a rise out of someone. What he got was, "You're going to be a great influence on my daughter if something happens to me!" That, made Natsu trip and land on his face while Igneel stopped dead in his tracks and looked somewhat pale before laying down with the words the, "Our journey has come to its end, now be off before I change my mind and eat you!"

The merchants scurried off in terror, while Layla followed after them as soon as she said, "Keep an eye out for a girl who looks like the spitting image of me! Bye now, and don't be strangers!" It would be a few days before Natsu and Igneel came to the conclusion that she was serious, and several more years before Natsu did as he was requested...

Dreamscape change, rainy day in Magnolia

(Cue: Thousand Foot Crutch-War of Change) The sun was rising, with rain still poring down. Staring down into the sea from a ridge of stone, sat a depressed Natsu Dragneel, now seven years old and an outcast among Fairy Tail. He had awoken one day to find Igneel nowhere to be found, ironically. Here he was: an outcast among friends and family, confused, lost as to what to do, and first and foremost, lonely in the crowd. How's that for ironic and contradictory, heh. For what good it does me...Where are you, Igneel? Why'd you have to disappear on me like that?! Did I do something wrong? Did I cause you too much trouble? Why?!

(Uncue music.)Before he could go deeper into these self-deprecating thoughts, an angelic voice entranced him and his thoughts, "If you stay out in the rain like this you'll catch a cold, silly! Hehehehe!" Turning slowly, eyes wide in anticipation, and heart pounding out of his chest, he looked behind him to see a beautiful girl who was about his age. Her hair was metallically white, making him think she had a silver cap on, and he was getting lost in her deep, blue eyes.

(Cue: My Darkest Days-Still Worth Fighting For ) Before he or she could blink, Natsu leapt at her with the intent to stop this unknown and unsettling feeling within himself. That's when her eyes narrowed in realization, her normal-enough-looking-eyes slitted in a split second. The look in his eyes was reciprocated by this strange girl, and when he got close enough to claw at her with his elongated nails...She slashed at him with her own claw-like nails, leaving a mark across his face, stunning him enough for him to land on his face.

The sound of whistling awoke him from his daydream, "Are you okay, Dragon Boy?" He jerked, flipped and landed on his feet away from her, "What the heck is it about you that smells so good, yet so wrong? Who are you?!" She stared at him with a slight blush dusting her cheeks when it registered what he had asked, "Lisanna Strauss, at your service! Now, about why my scent is so 'wrong, but good'...Well, you're going to have to beat me if you wanna find out!"

Natsu glared at Lisanna, trying to figure out what it was about this girl that drove him batshit crazy, "Fire Dragon's...ROAR!" He placed his hands together in front of his puffy-cheeked mouth and exhaled a stream of fire, making Lisanna jump above him and call out something-he-only-heard-the-last-part-of, "...CLAW!" Her hands were now claws that she used to attempt at severing Natsu's head from his shoulders.

Bending at the knees and lowering himself towards the ground enough that he could feel the puddle beneath(Behind-ish?) him. Lisanna's icy paw passed by his face by a mere centimeter and when she looked down to him in surprise, a lightning flash hit right next to them. The immediate dust cloud that resulted cleared and revealed an older Natsu running at an equally older Lisanna returning the gesture while a man with burnt-orange/ light brown hair and armor overseeing their spar in the exact same spot.

Lisanna jumped into the air, her body glowing, and landed on the ground with cat like qualities accommodating her beautiful figure. Natsu draconically 'purred' at her, when he turned to glare at the man watching them, "Don't get any ideas, Gildarts!" The man nodded with a nervous smile and his hands up in a disarmed fashion, he may have been stronger than Natsu but he knew that his student was stubborn enough to fight for what he loved, "Don't worry, Natsu, she's all yours and I'm not looking to remarry. My bed may be able to accommodate many women,"

Natsu snarled in warning, making Gildarts sweat and hurry what he was saying, "But my heart can only occupy one lady..." He stared at the noon sun through the tree tops in thoughts. Returning to the fight, Natsu was shocked to see Lisanna right in front of him as she leapt over his now backwards-bent body. She smiled at him as she passed his face and pecked him on the lips once, stopping him from resisting her hold on his body as they rolled down to a point where she was straddling him.

"I win, mreow!" She held on feline paw in the air triumphantly, before Natsu took both of her large paws in his hands tenderly, "No...Tis I who has won the greatest battle..." Her face portrayed her confusion, he was whispering to her in a way she'd never heard before, all she knew was that it was making her blush at the look in his eyes. "And," She whispered back as she lowered her face to hear him clearer, "what, exactly, would that battle be, meow?"

Natsu held her hands tighter, hesitance in his eyes as he said the words, "The war to win the heart of the most beautiful creature in all of creation and the way I won is something that no one, no one, is allowed to tattle!" Lisanna's eyes widened in amazement at the honesty in his words, her blush had reached to her legs by now(hint hint), and that's when she understood what he was asking.

Her eyes began to tear up, making him look at her in worry and fear of rejection, when she enveloped him in her arms and whispered to him in a choking voice, "Yes...No one will know how you won me, my heart, my claws, my wings, my eyes, my heart or my love. That is a secret that you, and only you...huh huh, may know!" Before he could respond, she grabbed his head in her large paws and smashed her lips against his, passion and fulfillment entering her once uncertain heart. Natsu was briefly shocked, before he returned the kiss and wrapped an arm around her waist and one around her back to keep her close.

Gildarts hadn't been able to decipher what he was saying through lip-reading and couldn't hear a thing, but he could tell that he wasn't need or wanted in this situation. Seeing the young couple in this state reminded him of his wife and himself in their youth, when he saw something he had never even imagined was possible. Natsu was suddenly surrounded by flames that formed a cloak of sorts on his body. Lisanna and Natsu stood up, still embracing each other, the wings of Natsu's cloak spread outward and the tail wagged a few times before wrapping around the youngest Strauss sibling from her legs up.

Natsu's cloak had a dragon head that covered the top of his head like a hood, making him think he was seeing royalty of some sort. Then Lisanna was covered by a cloak of white and blue. Her cloak was similar to her boyfriend's, but it differed in its own ways. The wings were bat-like with hooked claws at the joints, the tail and the body were scaly, but that's where the similarities ended. The 'hood' was a lion-ish creature with teeth that stuck up from the bottom jaw and stuck down from the top jaw; a split vein-covered, shield-like ornamentation graced its brow to the back of the head, and its cheeks had white hair that reached about the top of its throat. It had long white hair behind the shield-like ornamentation, the hair was at the tip of the tail as well, and the backs of the wings had stripes. The cloak left Lisanna's face, chest, stomach and thighs alone just like Natsu's.

The two of them stared into each other's eyes one last time so they never forgot the way this moment was. Before the sun could set, the cloaks vanished and everything became dark. Fairy Tail's lights were off and the moon was full, and as the door opened the atmosphere said so much. Natsu and Happy looked around expectantly, not seeing the one they wished to see, they turned to a crying Mirajane and Elfmann, "What's wrong, Auntie DeMira?"

Mirajane looked to Happy, tears falling on her broken left arm's cast, "Lis-Lisanna's dead...We-We were helping Elfmann conquer the Beast a-and..." She broke down, letting the unwounded Elfmann pick up as Natsu growled at him to explain, "I-I overestimated its strength and held faith in local fables that it was...mindless. But-huh huh-it wanted me to think that and...it-it..." Natsu grabbed him by the throat and held him above the ground, a testament to his strength, "'It' what?!"

Mirajane resumed, "It threw her into a gorge...a-a-a-and I went after her. She wasn't worried about herself, she wanted me to check on Elf...when I came back after I did-! She was gone...If we had her body, we could give her a proper burial, but-!" Her tears came back tenfold. Natsu's eyes were wide, tears fighting to fall, as he let Elfmann back to the ground. He took a step back from them, shaking his head, when he took off into the night. The fiery, dragon-cloak returned one last time, but it was made of black flames. It flapped its wings and he was off into the night sky to the one place he held sacred when it came to his mate.

She can't be dead! She can't be! His cloak disappeared and he fell to the ground, landing with a heavy thud, before he got up and ran the rest of the way to the only place he and Lisanna kept secret from everyone else: The hut they incubated Happy's egg in. Getting there in a fit of rage, he roared to the heavens and let black fire leave his throat, "rrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" His tear guts were working overtime, until water didn't leave his eyes, but blood flooded his tear glands and filled his eyes to the point of spilling onto his cheeks.

Skin on his arms, legs and back was replaced with scales. Black eyes glowed blood red and his body was engulfed in a black inferno, all reason leaving his eyes and soul as he roared vengeance to the world. That roar drew the attention of a still injured Mirajane, Makarov, Mystogan and Laxus out of the guild and into the night. Natsu, seeing this place as holy, ran towards the closest civilized settlement to destroy everything that wasn't natural: Magnolia.

Reaching there, he charged down to the unsuspecting town with his body alight in the black flames when he was rammed by a scale-covered Laxus, "WAKE UP, NATSU!" "RRAAWWH!" He shot blast after blast at the one who'd dare interrupt his grieving. Suddenly he was grabbed and brought into the sky by a teary-eyed, Satan-Soul Takeover Mage by the title of Fairy Tail's Demon. A man wrapped up in a cloak, a bandanna, scarf and high-hipped pants was in front of him, held aloft by a floating-on-electrical-currents Laxus Dreyar, with a staff readied to strike Natsu awake.

Roaring recommenced, renewed vigor given as these mortal fools interfered with his vengeful destruction. Natsu struggled out of Mira's arms, diving to the ground head first and readied a devastating attack for the town below. Master of Fairy Tail, Makarov Dreyar, leaped into the air as a giant and batted Natsu into a tall building. Natsu began to destroy the building and attacked everyone in sight, everyone except for those who carried the scents of families and children. His destructive actions made the 'rescue team' see what he was actually after.

"He's not after Fairy Tail, or Elfmann for killing Lisanna...He's after Magnolia as a target to destroy those who he thinks gave her the mission!" Mystogan's words were heard, he was a normally silent man, and they hit home as Natsu burned five houses to smoldering ashes. Suddenly, light broke through Natsu's eyelids.(Uncue music)

Waking world, camp near Phantom Lord

(Cue: Laura Shigihara-Cube Land. Fits the moment and I really like the tune) Natsu opened his eyes slowly, feeling the weight of a certain, blue cat on his chest. His eyes displayed his disappointment that it wasn't who he had hoped it was. He, by no means, was disappointed that it was his son, but he wanted so desperately to see his mate with his entire being. "Natsu. Natsu, wake up."

"Shh. I'm all too awake, Daughter of Layla!" He held a venomous tone in his voice as he rolled over, holding Happy in his arms to let him remain at rest. Lucy was hurt. The way he spoke to her just then was...disgusted! Like he wanted her dead, "What did I do?!" "Shhh! Happy's sleeping..." His fatherly side shown, he returned to laying down while staring at the campfire. The moon was high in the sky still, letting Natsu know that he hadn't been asleep very long. Lisanna, my love, you'd be disgusted with what I've become. I've killed so many innocent in a night, destroyed so many lives, hurt so many hearts, and corrupted innocent, little Happy...How can I keep going on, looking for you, if I can't be the man you asked to marry as a child?!

Tears fell from his cheeks and soft sobs left his vocal cords. Lucy picked up on this, "What happened to her? Your mate, I mean. You wouldn't stop calling out to her in your sleep. I know you must miss this Lisanna-chick but-" Natsu hissed at her to be silent, "She wasn't just some chick, Daughter of Layla! She was-is-my life, my world, and Happy's mother, she isn't just some chick! And as for what happened...that's none of your business or concern!"

His growl made Lucy stop whatever words would leave her mouth. She felt his his words and the power they carried. The power to kill without batting an eye, the power to raze towns-villages, the power to raise a beautiful little kitten into a fine, young cat and the power to make her life miserable if he so chose to. Her eyes now had tears in them. She had thought that he was warming up to her, but it was obvious she was wrong, "If you don't want me around, just say it!"

(Uncue music)She made to run out of camp when a harness made of flames wrapped around her torso and brought her back to sit next to his still laid down form. He rolled over to look at her, Happy still curled up into a ball in the crook of his arm, and growled, "If I didn't want you around, I'd have said so, Daughter of Layla. Please...forgive me for my harshness. It's the nightmares I keep having again..."

Now that she got a better look at his half-shadowed face as he sat up with the fire to his side, the bags under his eyes were much more defined to her, "What are they about? How long have you been having them? Have you done anything to help? Is there anything I can do-Mm!" Natsu's hand was over her mouth, not to listen to the surrounding area but to give her voice and his ears a rest.

"One thing at a time, Daughter of Layla. What they're about is...very personal, an' I'd prefer it if you just let it be that way and drop it there. At least until I think you're trustworthy enough to know what I see in my dreams..." Lucy pouted at him, hoping that he'd open up to her at least a little bit, "Okay..." "I've," He said like he was answering her questions in order, catching her off guard, "had them for two years straight now. Sleeping peacefully is near impossible for me, as each time my eyes close," Natsu closed his eyes in thought and demonstration.

"I see, and can only see, all the faces of those I've hurt. Of those who's homes I've destroyed. Of those who's lives I've ruined..." He glanced very briefly at Happy. "I've," He continued, "tried everything in my power to help my sleep return to normal. Results are...'less that satisfactory'. And no, there isn't anything you can do to silence my inner demons. I hardly know you, the only real connection you've to me is your dearly-departed mother, and I don't intend to delude myself into thinking that I can repent everything I've done by just getting close to a stranger."

"So, what was your mate like? Maybe I've come across her when I was on my own." Natsu looked at her blankly for a moment, before the sound of Erza humming a tune passed through the air and he began to hit his head against a rock. Th words, 'Useless, empty skull', were heard and Erza came from out of nowhere with a freshly baked loaf of bread in hand. (Europe-like settin' of canon, European foodstyle. True brad, bakery bread is solid and not made of basically air If ye did somethin' stupid like I did, and decided that bread works 'great' as a pillow durin' your childhood, ye'd know that storebrand bread is basically smooshed-together marshmallows made of loosely packed wheat particles and crumbs)

When Natsu sensed the danger, he slowly turned around and was literally pummeled with a loaf of bread. Lucy had to cover her eyes once or twice, but when the Titania was finished Natsu was able to regain his safety. (Take into account that Happy's still sleepin' in Natsu's arms and ye wonder how he hasn't died of oversleepin') "She's the most beautiful creature I've ever laid eyes on...Eyes that would make sapphires cry jealously, hair the color and intensity of the most painful quicksilver, curves that could kill if possible, skin so soft and delicate I had to touch her like she was made of the weakest of glass while still firm, and her legs mad infinity look like a jog!"

He smiled at the fire, practically seeing his beloved mate in the dancing flames, while Lucy and a slightly interested Erza listened, "She could calm my rage, my hatred and help me see reason. When she and I fought, I could never lift a claw to fight her seriously, but I loved her too much to go easy on her. Her soft voice was like angel's silk, her kind heart could hold the world inside itself, her wonderful willingness to heal what has been hurt and determination to save lives was what led her to do whatever it took, no matter what the task was..." His toothy grin faltered suddenly, "That's what led to her disappearance."

Standing up, after laying Happy down on his cot, Natsu stepped out of the firelight to glare into the darkness surrounding their camp like it was alive. And as if to prove him right, the darkness seemed to move of its own accord, "Her desire to save lives and love for her family let the Beast hurt her! Even as she lay on the ground, beaten and nearing death, she wanted the Demon to check on Elfmann instead of taking care of herself...She disappeared after the Demon did so! And ever since...I've searched and searched! She hasn't made a peep, a squawk, a purr, a-!"

He stopped abruptly and looked behind him with narrowed, slitted eyes that were directed towards the waking prisoners they'd captured. Natsu growled deeply, launched himself into the air, and landed a heavy punch on the large man with tears flowing down his cheeks from his bandaged eyes, "What're you crying about?! You may be prisoners, but that doesn't give you the right to be sniveling pieces of-?!"

"But Monsieur, the youngest Strauss died because her brother was weak, she isn't lost she's-MMPH!" Natsu had his fist on fire and holding the French man above the ground by his face, "Finish that sentence, I DARE YOU!" His eyes were full of the desire to kill, he wasn't going to hold back if he was antagonized, he would torture his opponent to free himself of this pain. "W-W-Wee, Monsieur...I meant no disrespect, but I saw the man with a scar kill her in the guise of the Beast..." Those words made Natsu's eyes widen. While the flames started to diminish, the man began to struggle to escape his bonds, when Natsu's fiery grip returned twentyfold. The sounds of pained screams were attempted but the fiery hand was holding the bottom half of the Frenchman's face, so screaming was impossible.

When the sounds of cracking was heard, Natsu's eyes started to glow red and blood began to pool in his eyes. An evil, toothy smile adorned the Dragon Slayer's face, "I'm not usually one to kill pathetic scum, but I think..." A forked tongue left Natsu's mouth and wagged around amusedly at the green haired man's choked, quivers of pain, "That I should indulge in the taste of bloodshed at least once during this guildwar, right?!" Water suddenly hit Natsu's arm, knocking his captive away from his grip, creating a steamcover for the inching-away-mage.

"Ah, the Rain Mage, I smell the scent of Wasted Space-Bora on you! Hahahaha! Were you two-Huh?!" Sand engulfed his arms and legs, stopping him from moving around altogether. Happy had begun to wake up, but not to the warmth of his father but the 'cold' of Lucy's bosom. Lucy had gotten some distant away from Natsu, going behind the Phantom Lord mages for protection. She was in no way friends with them, but they were clearly strong if Natsu was going at them with the desire to kill.

The four Phantom Lord mages saw how scared she was of Natsu and made eye contact with her briefly, nodding as they saw that the cat in her arms was about to cry and that meant he was young. (They're messed up, not evil. There's a child near the conflict, they'll stop what they're doin' to save it and will protect it with their lives) Water left one of the bound mage's places and revealed that the woman with blue hair was made of it, "Juvia will not let this evil man hurt the innocent! Prepare for a fight, Evil Man!"

Her determined glare made Natsu cackle like a madman, holding his head in one hand like he'd been told the funniest joke in all of Creation, "Oh, really, Ex of Bora?! HAHAHAHAHA! I've given three S-Class Mages and a Guild Master a three-day long hard time. And if I'm evil, than every Guild Master and whatever they've done make up the very being of Hell. Everything I've done is to find my beloved mate, my father, and to protect my family! Now tell me I'm evil, when I see an entire guild standing in the way of my path!" His words made her glare falter, seeing that he had a point: Every Guild Master had a past and every past had a dark side.

The man with bandages wrapped around his head to cover his eyes had tears running down his eyes, but the intensity was more than before and he had a quivering bottom lip, "It's so sorrowful to hear the plight of a single father with a part-time mother! I shall put him out of his misery so that no one else may feel this sadness!" Wind circled him and he was unbound, "Oh-hohohohohoho-you've no idea who I am, do you?! I am Salamander, named and mated to the Blizzard Leopard, the Frozen Wyvern, Youngest of the Takeover Siblings, Mother of Happy Dragneel: Lisanna Strauss Dragneel! I am the Son of the Fire Dragon King, the mighty Igneel and I am the one who will destroy all those who dare hurt my family! Die IN THE HELLFIRE THAT IS OF MY RAGE!"

He broke the sand from his arms and legs, his body covered by black sparks. Before he could make a hostile move, he was surrounded by Erza, Gray, and the four Phantom Lord mages, "Wake up, Natsu! This isn't you, you're not a murderer, you're a guardian! SNAP OUT OF IT!" Natsu's cackling resumed, madder than ever and his black sparks began to become small flames, "I am who I am, Son of Silver. I have-HAHAHAHAHAHA-always been violent, dangerous and a threat to many. It is only now that I take up this mantle to restore my kind and find my mate! I will not let any harm what is mine, and I will destroy any who dare try..."

A pair of black-fire wings spread from his back and the rest of his body was covered by flaming dragon-like features. His eyes were all red and blood made up his tears, but it was obvious he was holding back. Gray took his shirt off, gathering water particles and freezing them in midair, while standing next to the now-blushing Rain Mage. Erza Requiped into her Heaven's Wheel Armor, twenty swords floating around her body. The man with black and white hair stood up and created a platform of rainbow-colored flames under his feet to keep him aloft in the air. The man with bandages around his eyes unwrapped the cloth, revealing his eyes-with-cross-shaped-pupils and creating a twister around his body.

The French man held his head for a second, before throwing his hands out from his body and shook them, making rocks begin to float around him. Lucy, although at a safe-ish distance from the battle, opened the gates of Cancer, Virgo and a seriously-pissed-looking Taurus. "I see what's going on, no time to flirt now..." Taurus's serious demeanor let the other two Celestial Spirits see how big a deal this was. Like the bull, they too could feel the magic energy in a being, and Natsu was exuding so much power that if unchecked, he could destroy an island on his own.

(Cue: Daughtry-It's Not Over) "I shall do what I can, Princess!" "We'll keep you and the kitten safe, Baby!" Cancer and Virgo's stern eyes met, speaking wordlessly between each other, before nodding and preparing their respective attacks. Natsu roared to the heavens, creating an impressive display of black fire in the setting-moonlit sky. And the fight started, "Ice Devil's...RAGE!" A beam of snow, ice and cold air exited Gray's mouth and went straight for Natsu, but black markings suddenly curled up his neck and face, making him grunt in pain as he continued to shoot the beam.

"Water Slicer!" Rain began to fall on them before it stopped and the water turned into wave of scythe-like blades. "Blumenblatt!" Erza's battlecry made all of her swords charge for Natsu. The magenta-'x'-eyed man called out, "Zetsu!" Small explosions occurred around Natsu and tossed him around. Cold, blue flames zeroed in on the pyrovore, cooling his cloak down and diminishing the size of it. The blue fire came from the floating pyrokinetic mage above them. "Roche Concerto!" Rocks of all shapes and sizes were flung at Natsu, bruising and breaking his body.

Virgo spun and went underground before grabbing Natsu's ankles and dragging him down to his neck in the ground. The cloak began to grow in intensity, before Cancer cut it up with his magical scissors. Taurus came in and hit the Dragon Slayer in the head with the flat of his giant axe. Natsu was out like a light, frozen stiff, soaking wet, cut up, bruised, buried, and sleep deprived. The sun rose on the horizon, and the group of mages was too tired to fight each other as they'd used more magic energy than was necessary to take him down.

A lightning storm a few miles away, a strange creature was kicking and dancing. It had a horn at the center of its forehead and a horn at the bridge of its snout. The creature resembled a horse the size of an elephant, but it had a scaly hide. A mane of white hair stood on end, wrapped around its shoulders, going up the back of its neck, travelling down its spine and its lower jaw had this hair hanging like a beard. There were tufts of the hair at its feet, which were three-toed, reptilian claws instead of the hoofs that its form would imply it had. Bright, electric blue eyes were its source of sight and its ears twitched like it heard something odd. It turned, revealing the black, smoke and lightning-like markings that adorned its body from its neck to its sides.

It finished turning and roared to the sky with an agape mouth of sharp teeth. Looking to nothing in particular(Y'all readers), it charged and shot a bolt of lightning from its snarling maw...

XXXXXXXXXXXX

That's a wrap ladies, gents and other! Sorry if the fight disappointed ye, but I couldn't get it right every time I tried to scratch it down, so I opted for the best I could write it. The main focus'f this chapter was to open some doors on what drives Natsu's self depressant thoughts that Lisanna would be disgusted with what he's done. I felt kinda weird writin' this chapter and it shows, so I'm sorry if this chapter sucked. As always: R&R, no flamin' my ass, constructive criticism, and SEE YE-GOOD NIGHT!