I really liked writing the parts for Igneel, trying to match his dragon personality with the snippets that Mashima先生 has already written. And I'm glad you all enjoyed the little time jump plot twist-thing. But I actually had it planned since chapter 12 ;) I wonder how many of you picked up the hint? I hope you continue to enjoy it! And please remember to review!

Chapter 25

Mavis led them through the forest outside of Oak Town. After the four of them had eaten a brief dinner, they all set off on foot. The sun was starting to go down as they walked. Galvin trudged along behind them, while Natsu and Happy kept them all going at a quick pace. Natsu marched through the underbrush, his spirits high. They walked for quite a while, going deeper and deeper into the forest. Galvin shivered. Being so far away from the towns and so deep into the thick woods made him feel nervous.

"Mavis-san," Galvin asked hesitantly. "I know you said Igneel-sama was friendly, but are you sure it's safe out here?"

Mavis smiled. "Of course not."

Galvin's face turned pale.

"There are wild animals everywhere, so of course it's not safe. And you have to remember that Igneel is a dragon," she said as she led them through the forest. "Just because he's friendly doesn't mean he won't attack you. You just have to trust him."

"Igneel 's strong!" Natsu said, his eyes bright with excitement. "He was never tame, so just don't make him angry." He grinned at Galvin.

"Natsu-san…you're not making me feel better at all."

Natsu laughed. "My bad, my bad."

"You're really happy today, Natsu," Happy said, flying up and landing on his shoulder.

"Course I am! I haven't seen Igneel in years!" Flames engulfed his hand. "I can't wait to show him how much stronger I've gotten!"

"Just don't burn down the forest please," Mavis said with a smile.

"Sorry, I'm just getting all fired up! I can't help it!"

A loud rumble shook the ground. Glavin gulped, huddling closer to the short young woman. Though he was taller than Mavis, he still felt as if he could hide behind her. A light feeling rose up in Natsu's chest and it felt like his stomach was doing flip-flops. Natsu raced ahead of Mavis. Things were starting to look familiar. The surrounding forest reminded him of the forest he and Igneel had lived in before the dragon had disappeared. Another loud rumble followed by a low growl emanated out from beyond the trees.

"Natsu-san, don't rush ahead—" Galvin pleaded.

"I know this place!" Natsu's face brightened. He pulled aside a low-hanging branch. "Igneel!"

A plume of fire filled the clearing, igniting some of the branches. The flames engulfed Natsu. Galvin's eyes widened.

"Natsu-san!"

The fire slowly started to recede. Natsu grabbed at the flames, shoving them into his mouth. Once they finally disappeared, he sighed with contentment. He could see the large opening of a cave, partially hidden by the thick underbrush and trees.

"Thanks for the meal." He wiped his hand across his mouth.

"Good day," Mavis said, stepping out from around Natsu. "It's been a long time."

A mighty roar erupted from the mouth of the cave. The inside suddenly lit up with flames and fire spewed from the entrance. Natsu took a deep breath and cupped his hands around his mouth, "Fire Dragon's Roar!" Flames poured from his mouth and collided with the dragon fire. The flames swirled together to combine a large fireball. But soon it evaporated into smoke. Mavis stood beside Natsu, unharmed. She had used magic to protect herself and Galvin from the flames. Galvin cowered behind her.

"It's been a while, Igneel," she said with a smile. "You're as energetic as ever, I see."

A loud rumbled echoed from the cave. "You've brought strangers with you," Igneel's deep voice growled. A large red-scaled dragon's head snaked out from the mouth of the cave. He had a few scars on his face and a small sharp horn that stuck up from his nose. Flames leaked from the dragon's mouth, his large yellow eyes glowing like lamps. His lips curled back in a sort of dragon-like smile, revealing his long sharp fangs. "And one of them uses dragon fire."

"Igneel!" Natsu shouted happily.

Leaning his large head closer, Igneel stared down at Natsu. "You even know my name. Who are you, child?"

Natsu's eyes widened and an empty feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. He had searched for so long, and now Igneel didn't even know who he was. He gulped, holding back tears of frustration. "You don't remember? It's me, Natsu! I've been looking for you for years!"

Mavis rested her hand on his shoulder. "Remember, Natsu. This is not your time. Everything you remember has not happened yet." She gazed up at the mighty dragon. "I apologize, Igneel. This child has been caught up in time magic and came to us from the future."

Galvin was shaking. "Mavis-san…."

Igneel narrowed his great yellow eyes. "That scarf you're wearing," he said, his deep voice filling the clearing. "It's made with dragon magic. Where did you get it?"

Natsu clutched the muffler that he always wore. He fist shook, trying to keep himself calm. "You did," he finally said. "Where I came from, you gave it to me. And then you disappeared." He looked him right in the eyes.

Igneel stared down at him silently, thinking over Natsu's words. The quiet that lingered felt heavy. Natsu could almost feel Galvin shaking behind Mavis. Finally Igneel pulled his head back, his lips curling back in a toothy grin. A deep rumble that almost sounded like a growl emanated from his throat, like a laugh.

"Natsu was it?" he said. "I believe you. To think that in the future I might take in a human child…but I can sense the dragon spirit in you." Igneel turned his gaze to Mavis. "I'm sure you sensed his potential as well. Is that why you brought him?"

Mavis merely smiled. "He told me how desperately he had been searching for you. I couldn't turn down the earnest desires of such an honest young man."

Igneel threw his head back with a mighty roaring laugh, fire exploding from his mouth. "I wonder how your mind works, Mavis. It has always been a mystery to me." He turned to Natsu. "Come. Let us have a talk."

Natsu could feel his spirits rising. "Igneel…."

"Until next time, then?" Mavis asked.

Grinning, Igneel chuckled. "I feel that it may be sooner than expected." He withdrew into the cave, leaving nothing but silence in his wake.

Natsu glanced back at Mavis and Galvin. "Thanks for your help." He waved as he headed into the cave. "See ya!"

The entrance of the cave was dark as Natsu walked in, Happy at his side. But the deeper he went, the brighter the cave became. Igneel's cave had been brightly lit by dragon fire, the flames glowing brightly in what appeared to be a crude hearth. The cave was just as Natsu remembered from his childhood. Igneel had old books collected in one corner of the cave, and the rocky nest covered with straw in the other. Natsu's face brightened at the sight, his eyes glowing in the firelight. A smile stretched across his face.

"It looks the same as I remember," he muttered.

"I never imagined a dragon cave would look like this," Happy whispered.

Igneel lay down on the straw covered nest. He stared at Natsu with his large unblinking eyes. "Come here, Natsu."

Obediently Natsu walked over to the great red dragon and sat down on the straw.

"Now tell me," Igneel began. "I want to know your story."

"That's a long one, right Natsu?"

Igneel shifted his gaze to the blue cat. "I almost forgot about you." He took a deep breath. "I smell magic in you. But I have never seen a creature quite like you."

"Aye! That's because I'm an Exceed! I'm not from this world originally."

Natsu laughed. "Happy's right. It is going to be a long story." He sighed. "But here goes."

Natsu told him everything he knew. He told him how Igneel had raised him since he was very small, as far back as Natsu could remember. He told him how he had taught him Dragon Slayer magic and how to read, and then how he had disappeared one day. Natsu told him about Fairy Tail and all the friends he had made and his nakama—his family. Everything he had done since Igneel had disappeared, his jobs, his adventures as a Fairy Tail mage. Natsu told him about Happy hatching from an egg, about how his good friend Lisanna had died, and about Lucy. His heart thumped faster as he told Igneel about the team they had made and all the adventures they had together. Their adventure in Edolas was a long one, and then he told him about the S-Class Exam and everything that happened on Tenrou Island. When he got to the part about Zeref and Tynan, he hesitated. Everything about the two Black Mages confused him. Natsu hung his head, ashamed that he wasn't strong enough to protect his friends.

"I don't know what I should do…" he admitted. "If only I was stronger! None of this would have happened. And that shadow guy—Tynan. He hurt my nakama…everyone at Fairy Tail." He clenched his fist angrily. "I'll never forgive him!"

"Hmm." Igneel stared at him thoughtfully, his expression softer than before. "You've gone through much. You truly have the resilience of a dragon."

Natsu grinned. It gave him a sense of pride to hear Igneel tell him he was like a dragon.

"The Shadow magic user of which you speak exists now," Igneel continued. "Here he is known as 'Dark Lord Tynan.' He and Black Mage Zeref have brought devastation and darkness to every corner of Earthland. I don't know what sort of magic he wields to bring him such power, but the Black Mages and their dark magic must be stopped." He growled.

Natsu fell silent. Everything Lucy had told him when she read those books in Tynan's library made no sense to him. But now he wished he knew what they meant. It sounded as if he was reliving the events she had talked about. And the staff Tynan had been looking for—The Demon Emperor's Scepter—it had to be a key to the mystery. Why else would it be so important?

Folding his arms, Natsu grumbled. "There's something about that staff he had. Lucy called it the Demon Emperor's Scepter, but I don't know what it does…."

"Aye!" Happy said. "She said it was one of the 7 Dark Treasures."

"The 7 Dark Treasures," Igneel thought aloud. "I have heard of such objects."

"I saw Tynan use it. He was controlling Lucy and made her summon that old guy."

"The Stellar Spirit King!" Happy chimed in.

"Yeah, yeah! That guy! And then the black stone at the end of the staff sucked him into it or something…I don't really know what happened."

"By the power of the heavens." Igneel sighed. "That is very powerful magic."

Natsu ruffled his hair in frustration. "I'm so confused! I don't know what to do!"

"Yes. But it seems that you are lost in more ways than one."

"Huh?" He looked up at the dragon. "What do you mean?"

"The way you speak tells me that you're changing." He lowered his large head. "You are confused in more ways than one. I can see it—the changes you feel deep in your chest."

Natsu held his hand over his chest, mulling over his father's words. "In my chest…. Now that you mention it, I've been feeling really strange lately. When I was little, you told me that a dragon's body changes when he matures. And that I'd want a companion or something…what did you mean?"

Igneel's lips curled back, a rumbling chuckle emanating from his throat. "So it's started, has it?"

"But I don't get it!" Natsu stood up quickly, his eyebrows drawing together in frustration. "I have tons of nakama—I've got everyone in Fairy Tail! I'm not lonely, so why does my chest feel so weird?! What's happening to me?!"

"Think, Natsu. Think back to when these feelings first began. Who were you with? What was it you were feeling then?"

He fell silent, thinking back to the first time he had the weird feelings. "I was at the guild. With Happy, Erza, and Gray and…Lucy."

Igneel reached out and gently touched Natsu's chest with a sharp red talon. "Remember those feelings, Natsu. You will know the answer if you look deep down."

"Tch." He folded his arms and looked away. "I always hated your philosophical answers."

Igneel laughed. "It is a matter that will have to wait for another time. Right now what you seek is strength—power to protect those you hold dear. Am I correct?"

"Yeah!" Natsu's eyes lit up. "Is there any new dragon magic I can learn?"

"Tell me, Natsu. Have you heard of the Dragon Masters?"

"Mavis mentioned them," Happy said.

"Yeah," Natsu muttered. "But I don't really know anything about them."

"A shame I did not teach you last time." Igneel grinned. "Dragon Slayer magic originated from the magic of Dragon Masters. But it is a hereditary magic, passed down from one generation to the next. Dragon Masters were said to have once been dragons themselves, but it was so long ago that no one remembers them now, much less their magic. Their magic was equivalent to that of dragons and thus feared by many. But their numbers slowly dwindled."

"Why?"

"For a number of reasons. To keep the 'dragon' bloodline pure, many only mated with other Dragon Masters. But for those who mated with humans, the magic bloodline slowly thinned over the generations until there was nothing left. And as such they have been forgotten by history. Very little remains to remind us of them."

Happy looked up at Natsu. "I never heard of them until we came here."

"Yeah…" he muttered. "Me too."

Lifting his head, Igneel smiled down at them. "Then let me teach you a thing or two about the magic of the Dragon Masters."

Chapter 26 will be up on Monday!