I know it's disappointingly short and I'm so sorry I'm a week overdue! I've been having some serious writing block... T^T I'll try to push through it though. Please review to let me know what you think!

Chapter 11

There was a noticeable change in Lucy. It seemed that just seeing that Natsu was alive gave her hope. There was a light in her eyes that Ryuu hadn't seen since his father's disappearance. She was silent the whole train ride home. They had remained in the Waa Forest, trying their best to track Natsu, but it had been a futile effort and they eventually gave up the search. Wendy had managed to track him for a few miles before he disappeared into an oncoming rain storm. She and Charle had returned to them drenched and dejected. The rest of the trip home was silent.

But Ryuu couldn't shake the way his father had reacted when they found him. He was like a wild animal. And his eyes…it was like Natsu had gone blind—like he was finding his way purely on smell and instinct alone. But when Natsu had noticed Lucy, a glimmer of recognition shone through his wild and animalistic exterior. He even spoke her name, despite his voice being raspy from lack of use.

Kibou snaked up his arm and curled around Ryuu's neck. The little dragon cooed softly and nuzzled his cheek. Ryuu smiled, scratching the wyvern's chin gently.

"How'd you know where to find him, huh?" he whispered.

Ryuu glanced up at the others. They were taking an overnight train back to Magnolia and they all were taking the chance to catch some sleep. No one had even noticed that he was talking to the little dragon. But it really was strange. It had been Kibou that had pointed out Sabertooth on the map. If they hadn't have gone to visit Sabertooth, they would have never picked up the lead that led them to the Waas Forest. And after arriving, it was Kibou that had guided Ryuu in the right direction. Maybe there was something more to the little dragon than there seemed. It was like he knew exactly where Natsu would be.

"How did you know?"

Kibou merely blinked up at him

"C'mon. Can't you tell me? How can we find my dad?"

Not yet, a small voice rang in his mind.

Ryuu blinked. He looked around, half expecting to see someone there. After all, he only knew of one person who could speak telepathically and that was Warren. And that was definitely not Warren's voice. He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're losing it, Ryuu."

What you heard was no trick, the voice said again.

He stiffened. "The hell…? Who's…."

Me, of course.

He looked around again.

Right here! I'm right here!

He glanced down at the dragon.

The baby wyvern's lips curled back in a dragonish grin. It really is me. Promise!

He blinked, unsure if he really was losing his mind. "You…you can talk?"

Only a little. The wyvern looked away sheepishly. I'm still just a hatchling.

"Sooooo you'll be able to talk when you get older? Like Grandpa Igneel?"

Kibou bobbed its head up and down as if it were nodding. Someday. But I'm still too little.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"

Ssh! Kibou squeaked nervously. You'll wake everyone up!

Ryuu glanced around at the others. Happy shifted his position on Myrna's lap. "Mnn…Natsu…" he mumbled in his sleep.

"So how did you know where to find my dad?" Ryuu whispered.

I met Natsu after I hatched and I was separated from my mama. He raised me until I was strong enough to fly.

"My dad…raised you?" The little dragon nodded. Ryuu sank back in his seat. "So he's been doing alright all these years…."

But his mind has been slipping. At first he talked a lot about his family, though he spoke sporadically…like pieces of his memory were missing. But slowly it deteriorated until he hardly spoke at all. The dragon looked down at his tail sadly. He always sounded so lonely and sad. I wanted to help, so I left to find you. But then I got lost in that horrible town….

"Oshibana Town?"

But then you found me! So I decided to go with you.

"Do you know what's happening to my dad?"

Kibou nodded slowly. The Dragon Magic is slowly corroding him. Once a Dragon Slayer turns, he may never be able to become human again. The magic will slowly eat away at his humanity until there is nothing left but a heartless husk in a dragon's form.

Ryuu's heart sank. "Oh my God…." He sat silent for a while before daring to ask anymore. He gulped past the lump forming in his throat. "Is…is there a way to stop it?"

I think there was an ancient magic to reverse it, but I don't know what it is. Even Dragon hatchlings may be wise, but we do not have all the answers. I have not yet learned all the ancient Dragon ways.

"Maybe there's something written in one of mom's old books…or in Fairy Tail's library. Maybe I can ask the Third Master. He was one of the wisest."

There is not much more I can tell you.

"Do you know how much longer we have before it's…" he swallowed hard, "…before it's too late for my dad?"

I fear that at this rate it will only be a few months before there is nothing left.

"Then I guess we have no time to lose."

Chapter 12 will be up soon!