Hope you guys enjoy chapter 10! Don't forget to review when you finish reading!

Chapter 10

It took them several days for them to reach the Waas Forest by carriage. The enormous trees loomed into view. It was an ancient forest, one of the oldest in Fiore. Ryuu fidgeted with anticipation. As the carriage pulled up to the edge of the forest, he threw open the door and leaped out. He took a deep breath. The air was heavy with moisture and magic. It would make sense why Natsu had taken refuge in this ancient forest—magic permeated the very roots of this place. The others climbed out of the carriage behind him.

"The air here feels heavy," Wendy said. "It has a strange smell."

"Figures that idiot would come here," Charle said, arms folded. "This is a very old place."

Wendy nodded. "It's heavy with magic."

"Do you really think he's here?" Myrna asked.

"Only one way to find out," Ryuu said.

Gray reached into his bag and pulled out five small lacryma. "Here," he said, handing each of them a crystal. "It will be faster if we split up. If something happens or if you find Natsu, call everyone else with these communication lacryma."

They all nodded in agreement.

"Charle and I search the south side," Wendy said.

Gray nodded. "And Myrna and I will take the north."

"Happy, why don't you go with my mom? You guys can search the west part of the forest," Ryuu said.

"Aye, sir!"

"But what about you?" Lucy said worriedly.

"You can't go by yourself, Ryuu-sama!" Myrna insisted.

"I've got Kibou with me!" he said, pointing to the dragon on his shoulder. "I'll be fine. Now let's go! We're losing time!"

"Aye!" Happy said.

They all broke up into their groups and headed off in different directions. Wendy and Charle went south, Gray and Myrna headed north, Happy and Lucy took the west side of the forest, and Ryuu ventured into the eastern part with Kibou perched on his shoulder. He climbed over large mossy roots and pushed his way through the thick underbrush for hours. He stopped occasionally to sniff the air. His nose wasn't as sensitive as his father's was, but it was still better than most. But all he could smell was damp earth and the residual ancient magic. He couldn't catch a whiff his father at all. But as he clambered over a particularly large root, Kibou's tail tightened around his neck. Ryuu coughed.

"What's wrong with you, Kibou?!"

The wyvern made a soft whining noise and flapped his wings while keeping his tail wrapped around Ryuu's neck. It was as if he was trying to lead him somewhere.

"Is there something that way?"

He followed in the direction Kibou had been trying to fly. Twigs snapped beneath his shoes as he made his way deeper into the forest. But as he kept going, he noticed fresh tracks. There were branches and twigs bent and broken, as if a large animal had recently passed through the area. Kibou grew more and more restless the deeper they went. Ryuu's chest tightened with apprehension. He wasn't sure what he would find at the end of the trail, and judging by the size of the damage, he wasn't sure he wanted to find out. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and pulled aside a low hanging branch. They had entered a small clearing. The mouth of a small cave, half covered with vines and branches, stood at the other end. The clearing, however, seemed to have been made by some large animal, most of the branches broken and the foliage pressed flat against the ground. Kibou chirped loudly, flapping his wings excitedly.

"What the…?"

A loud roar echoed from the mouth of the cave. Ryuu clamped his hands over his ears. Suddenly a plume of fire spilled from the cave. Ryuu fell back in surprise. He blocked most of the flames with his magic while the rest dissipated around him. Kibou kept making excited noises as a deep rumbling came from the cave. From the dark opening, an arm appeared. It was covered in red scales. The sharp talons cut into the rock, slicing the edges with jagged ruts. Ryuu's heart thudded painfully in his chest. He held his breath as he waited for the rest of the creature to emerge. Slowly a figure appeared—a disfigured yet vaguely familiar figure. It was a man…or what was left of one. Half of his face was covered with red scales and his teeth were sharp like fangs. One arm was scaly, resembling that of a dragon, while the other was a human's. He was wearing little more than tattered rags for pants. Ryuu recognized the spiky pink hair. And if it hadn't have been for the fading red Fairy Tail emblem on his non-dragon-like shoulder, Ryuu might never have recognized him.

A deep growl rumbled in Natsu's throat. He crouched low to the ground, like an animal, and sniffed the air. His once bright black eyes were completely white. His head swayed back and forth as he sniffed, as if he was blind. Slowly Ryuu reached into his pocket and pulled out the lacryma. Natsu caught Ryuu's scent. He barred his fangs and growled.

Kibou launched off of Ryuu's shoulder, flapping madly inches away from Natsu's face. The baby growled and snarled. Natsu growled back. While his father was distracted, Ryuu activated the lacryma.

"You guys?" he said slowly. "I think you're gonna wanna see this."

"We'll be right there!" Happy said.

"Ryuu-san! What was that loud roar?" Wendy asked.

"Come see for yourself."

Kibou and Natsu were sniffing each other. His father seemed to have calmed down. Whatever the baby dragon had done, it looked as if the hostility had vanished. Ryuu slowly stood up. Natsu's head snapped toward his son, but he didn't move. It was like he was trying to decide if the boy was a threat.

"Dad?"

Natsu didn't respond.

"Dad, it's me."

Natsu inched away from him as Ryuu came closer. There was a rustling in the bushes off to the right, the sound of which startled Natsu. Wendy and Charle emerged from the underbrush. Wendy gasped when she saw him.

"Natsu-san?!"

"Heavens…" Charle breathed. "I never imagined that he would be so…."

"Wild?" Ryuu finished for her.

Wendy started forward tentatively. "Natsu-san, it's me, Wendy."

"I don't know if he recognizes us," Ryuu said sadly.

But as he spoke, Natsu moved closer to the boy. He sniffed at the air around him. Wendy gestured to Ryuu.

"Hold out your hand for him," she whispered.

Ryuu obeyed and held out his hand, palm up. Natsu sniffed at it curiously, the cold tip of his nose brushing across Ryuu's fingers. A spark leapt into Natsu's eyes and he came closer. He slowly reached out and ran his fingers over the scale pattern scarf tied around Ryuu's waist. As he was investigating Ryuu, Lucy and Happy stumbled out of the bushes to the right. Lucy covered her mouth, eyes wide with shock when she saw him.

"Natsu!" Happy cried excitedly.

He made a rush for the Dragon Slayer, but Natsu ducked instinctively. Happy slammed into a nearby tree, groaning as he toppled to the ground. Charle rolled her eyes. Natsu cocked his head and stared at Lucy. As if in a trance, he approached her and sat back on his heels. Tears rolled down Lucy's cheeks as Natsu stared at her. Wendy hurried closer and held out her hands at arm length. She started to chant a spell under her breath as Lucy and Natsu gazed at each other. Slowly, with his right hand, Natsu reached up and gently brushed aside one of her tears.

"Lu…." He seemed to struggle with his words, as if he had never spoken a word before in his life. "…Lu…Lu..cy…."

She started to cry. "Yes. Yes, Natsu, it's me."

Gray burst through the thick underbrush, Myrna right behind him. But as soon as the Dragon Slayer laid eyes on him, something inside him snapped. The docile demeanor disappeared instantly. He crouched low and roared with all his might. They all covered their ears. Natsu stumbled back, hands clamped on his head as he screamed and roared in agony.

"Natsu?!" Lucy cried, worried.

He growled, snarling at anything that came close. Suddenly tail grew out from the end of his spine, curling around like a crooked sickle. Bony bat-like wings burst from his shoulder blades and his limbs started to grow. The rest of his tanned skin was soon covered in thick red scales with pink markings running from his head down his neck. His nose and mouth lengthened into a powerful muzzle full of razor sharp teeth. And before them stood an enormous dragon. He roared again, this time the sound was loud enough to deafen them. With one swing of his thick tail, he knocked them all of their feet.

Gray leaped to his feet and slammed his fist against his palm. "Ice Make: Lance!"

A javelin of ice crystalized before him and shot toward the dragon. It struck Natsu in the shoulder, eliciting a ferocious roar of pain. Flames spewed from the dragon's mouth. Myrna rushed forward and moved her arms in a wide sweeping motion. A wall of water materialized in front of them, producing a thick cloud of mist as the fire dissolved.

"Wait!" Lucy cried, her voice cracking with emotion. Tears streamed down her face. "Don't hurt him! Don't hurt Natsu!"

Wendy chanted a spell to aid them all. Magic circles appeared around her. "Deus Corona! Ile Armor!" A glow surrounded each of them as the spell took effect.

"Sorry, Lucy," Gray said, slamming his fist against his hand once again. "But we need to stop him before we can help him!"

Lucy leaped in front of them and threw her arms open protectively. "I WON'T LET YOU HURT HIM!" she screamed.

The dragon opened its mouth and roared, a plume of fire hurling straight for all of them.

"Mom!"

Ryuu rushed in front of her and inhaled deeply, sucking the flames into his mouth. He had never quite gotten the hang of eating fire like his father. He coughed harshly and fell to his knees. Lucy sank to her knees beside him, hugging him protectively. Natsu seemed to pause. With a few flaps of his powerful wings, he broke through the canopy and soared high into the air. Branches fell down around them. They were alone. Ryuu coughed harder, glancing up at the opening through which his father had disappeared. He slammed his fist against the ground.

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

Lucy covered her face as she sobbed. "Oh Natsu…my baby…. Natsu, he's…." She moaned in agony as she cried. They had lost him again. And heaven only knows when they would ever find him again, if they ever found him again.

Chapter 11 will be up on Monday!