Author's Note - Did you know that one year ago today, The Firelights of Summer ended? Mystogun was beaten, Jude was killed more or less, Lucy's memories returned and her and Natsu reunited. I honestly didn't plan on writing this chapter, but a few days before the anniversary of this great accomplishment, I saw it and thought, 'Hey, I actually want to tell some more stories.' Still, it's completed, so I decided on one bonus chapter for everybody who's stuck around.


"There was once a world like ours, except it was full of dragons. There were dragons that swam beneath the waves and dragons that ruled the skies. There were dragons that basked in volcanic lava like warm bathwater and dragons that slept peacefully in the coldest parts of the arctic. Dragons were made of steel, of clay, of water and of fire. Dragons were everywhere, but the bad thing was, so were humans.

"Well, the humans were afraid of the dragons. You see, dragons are like us people in that they think, speak, fall in love, have kids, and nurture and love them in turn, but humans didn't see that back then. All they saw were huge and scary beasts and thought that dragons needed to be taken away. They used magic to push back the dragons, and the dragons used magic to push back the humans; it was a scary battle that nobody would win for a very long time. Then, one hundred years later, the last remaining dragons were sealed in what was to become the king's castle here in Crocus: Igneel, Metalicana, Grandine, Weisslogia, and Skiadrum. There were other dragons that escaped, and with their special magic, they had human-like children, meant to blend in with the dragon-fearing populace, before being killed. Dragons live for a very very long time, but these dragons were treated horribly, and they had little time to have kids - pureblooded dragons - of their own before they themselves passed, their bones buried far far away.

"These five dragons had four children: Metalicana's son, the Iron Dragon Slayer, Gajeel Redfox; Grandine's daughter, the Sky Dragon Slayer, Wendy Marvel; Weisslogia's son, the Light Dragon Slayer, Sting Eucliffe; Skiadrum's son, the Shadow Dragon Slayer, Rogue Chenney; and Igneel's son, the Fire Dragon Slayer, Natsu Dragneel.

"The twin dragons, Sting and Rogue, weren't like the others. They were conceived earlier, and so Weisslogia and Skiadrum had time to implant them with draconic Lacrima before passing. These Lacrima enabled them better control of their magic than the others, and with it they forced the king of their time to release them and them only. Now, they seemed selfish, but they retained a clause; if the other three dragons ever suffered death under the kingdom, then they would return to deal the same punishment onto the king. With that in mind, the humans treated those poor three as horribly as possible, but they never pushed them to the brink of death. And so is the origin of Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy.

"Also, I know what you're wondering: How could the kingdom contain the dragons plus their kids? Dragons were able to use magic just as us, and one facet of that was Transformation Magic; with it, they could attain human form. This also worked to their disadvantage, as because they could use magic, they were restrained with anti-magic cuffs that forced them into human form and caused them great pain if they attempted to return to normal or even use magic. The dragons were trapped that way for varying times, but the one I know, Natsu, was there for the second-longest, one thousand and eight hundred years.

"One day, Natsu watched his fellow dragon, Wendy, reach puberty; she was in a lot of pain as her body attempted to reach full form while still shackled. He had an idea then: he'd use their half-scaled and pained appearance to trick the current King, Jude Heartfilia, into thinking that they were sick and convince him that there was a plant that could cure them, a plant that only he, Natsu could find, and the other option was death and consequently the Twin Dragons' rage. He was given an audience with the King featuring the leader of his royal guard, the Ice Mage Gray Fullbuster, and his daughter, the princess of Fiore...can you guess who she is?

"This was the first time I met Natsu, and I was ab-so-lute-ly shocked. In my mind, dragons were huge majestic beasts, but this man was...well, a man. He was no less human than you or I, and that amazed me. He made a halfway decent job trying to sway my father, and even I ended up arguing in his defense, but still, my father refused him, and as he was restrained by the guards his magic started going haywire, and so the anti-magic shackles activated. I was almost as physically hurt as he was; I can even describe to you the agony in his shouts, the sickening crunching as his skin folded into scales, fell away in bloody clumps, and then reformed skin to repeat the process. I was almost happy for him when he passed out, because his pain ended, but he had so many open wounds... I wasn't dumb to the fact that he was a danger to the kingdom, however, and I had Loke stand watch over him as I treated his injuries. That was the last I saw of him that morning.

"Later, when I was asleep, I dreamed of flying.

"He explained to me later that the dungeon holding them was invaded by a blue-haired man from an alternate world named Mystogun. He took Wendy, the smallest and most fragile of them, and knocked out Gajeel and stunned Natsu. Still, he gave chase, and he said that Mystogun's trail ended at my bedroom, which was where the guards found him. He grabbed me blindly, thinking he could use me as a human shield, and it was only when he was outside and could finally become a dragon that he realized I wasn't a guard. He didn't apologize, nor did he return me under the guise that the kingdom would instantly kill him if he even got within miles of the castle, and so our adventure began.

"...Hey guys! What's goin' on?"

"Daddy!"

"Hah, there's my little dragonette! What about you, my dragon princess?"

"Natsu you're so cheesy."

"Yeah, but you love my cheesiness, Luce. So, Natsumi, what's been happenin' while I was gone?"

"Mama was telling me a story! about dragons and her and you..."

"Oh, that's my favorite story too, although I think she really downplays me when she tells it..."

"Natsu, you're an idiot. ...Where's her brother?"

"Chiiro's with Fullbuster making ice sculptures or some other girly habit of his."

"Ugh, you two still have this stupid little rivalry going? Grow up, the both of you."

"I'm over eighteen hundred years old; I think I've had enough growing up. Anyway, how far did you get?"

"You kidnapped me...?"

"Right, right! C'mon, Natsumi, let's go for a walk; I finish Luce's story. ...Yeah, jeez, you can climb on my shoulders. Anyways, I didn't mean to take her, but you can bet this castle that I don't regret it! She was so rough around the edges even though she hadn't seen much outside of her oh-so-guarded castle, so talkative, so damn naggy...but most of all, so damn human. I hated humans so much because of what they'd done to me, to my kind, and she was no exception. Still, I had to keep her alive, if for nothing else than to give myself a better chance of living. She pissed me off more than a few times, though, and one of those times led to Fullbuster and my most favorite enemy, Mystogun, to find us.

"See, Mystogun was from this place called Edolas. It's like our world, but nobody there has unlimited magic, so he used these staves that could store it instead. They were ultra powerful though, and they nearly shot my ass down more times than I can count...!

"Language!"

"Whatever. I still had to protect her though, even as the royal guard itself came at me with all their magic, and by the time there was a reprieve, I was totally beat. What surprised me was that, after all that, Lucy went outta her way to save a damned dragon like me. Happy was there too, and he helped her get some herbs, she told me? Oi, Lucy, walk faster!"

"No fair! You got longer legs!"

"Haha! Well, like I was sayin', she helped me stay the night, and, er..."

"We fell asleep together, and he told me that it was the best sleep that he'd ever had in his life."

"Yeah, yeah, don't need quite that much detail, Luce..."

"Aw, he's turning pink as his hair! Isn't he so adorable, Mimi?"

"Yeah!"

"Ack, both of you...! She tided me over until we could reach Grandma Porlyly, and she helped fixed me up all the way, 'cept... That was one of the worst days of my life, because while I was practically dying inside, Gray was gettin' himself some of my Lucy. I... Well, your old man's not really proud of that day. I let my anger get the best of me, and 'cause of that I hurt Lucy... I'm still kickin' myself over that, and I'll be kickin' myself until I finally kick that ol' bucket. I blamed her for all the bad that's happened in my life and I hurt her and even threatened to k-k-"

"Natsu, do you want me to-"

"N-Nah, Luce, I'm fine, fine fine fine... Well, that was a bad chapter in my life, that's all I can tell ya. Anyway, things got worse from there as Mystogun showed up again, but this time Lucy protected me... I couldn't believe it! Why would she, after all I had done, do that for me? was all I could think. It made no sense, but then I realized: Lucy's just that nice of a person. She made me look like a helluva bastard in comparison, I'll tell ya that-"

"Natsu, language."

"Luce, swearing is healthy, anyway-"

"Natsu-"

"Okay, okay, fine. I took Luce over to Porlyusica and went lookin' for Gajeel, but mostly found the remains of Fullbuster. Still, we formed a reluctant partnership, and I went back to Porly's and found the place ransacked, Lucy and her gone. I could smell the stink of a Lightning Dragon Slayer in there, so I snatched Gray and we went lookin' for them. We found Happy first and foremost though, and he told me that Lucy was dead. ...All these years, and that pain is still here. Long story short, it was all a big trap, and Mystogun caught me. He chained me up and trapped me with Dark Magic, then he started doin' this big huge ritual with me and Lucy's Celestial Magic... He was pullin' E.N.D. from my body."

"E.N.D.? What's that, Mama?"

"It's a very bad book, sweetheart, that can make monsters."

"And my old man, Igneel, put it in me for safe keeping. Well, obviously, that plan went to all hell. ...Wait, Luce, ya hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"I dunno, but I don't like the sound of-"

"My King! There's trouble on the lower floors of the castle!"

"Huh? Here, Lucy, take her- Elfman, what's happening?"

"I don't know! It was some man - a real man, I'll tell you - and he used some magic to smash the doors down. Gray was knocked out, and your kid-"

"Natsu, wait! Don't run off like- Oh, jeez."

"Mama?"

"Natsumi, it's okay, don't cry... Open, Gate of the Lion, Loke."

"Lucy, what's going on?"

"I don't know, but it's bad. Here, take Natsumi to her room and keep watch over her."

"Yeah, I promise. Be safe though."

"Of course! Elfman, lead the way. ...What's the guy like?"

"Looks like a Fire Mage to me, but I can't be sure."

"Then just in case, let's lead them to the fountain in the entrance; that way, I can call Aquarius. Even if the Mage doesn't use fire, Aquarius'll knock 'em out for sure. ...Gray! Oh, Celestial Spirit King, this whole room is a wreck...! Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah, totally..."

"Your head is bleeding!"

"No problem. ...See? Just use a little ice and..."

"Gray? Gray! Where's Wendy?"

"She's downstairs. Most of the damage happened there."

"Damn it. Where's Natsu?"

"Where the action is. Wha-Lucy, wait for me!"

"I can't! I have to catch up with- ...Natsu! Why are you just standing there? ...Huh? Why are you shaking?"

"Something's off, Lucy. I can't really put my finger on it, but somethin' serious is goin' on in there... See, first of all, Freed barred the entire castle with protective runes since all that stuff with your old man - no offense - but this guy's just smashed them like rocks...see? You can see the broken runes still scorched into the marble. Then the castle doors weren't busted down or anything, just unlocked. And I've got this heavy chill goin' down my back that's telling me this guy ain't just a punk. ...Any casualties?"

"I didn't hear of any, and Wendy's at work healing the injured."

"Did they evacuate the servants and guards?"

"I heard so, yes."

"Then I don't gotta worry 'bout scorchin' anybody. I haven't been this fired up in a long time!"

"Natsu, what. About. Chiiro."

"His scent's with the intruder...whoever that is. I'll roast him alive if he messed with even one hair of Chiiro's."

"Yes, well, I'll get him first for even thinking of harming my little boy in the first place. Where is he."

"Downstairs, in the basement."

"You mean...?"

"Yeah, where it all went down two dozen years ago. You think there's a connection?"

"More likely than not. You lead the way."

"...The stairs."

"What about them?"

"Every time I walk down a step, it echoes, and I'm wearing sandals."

"What kind of magic would this guy have?"

"I've no damn idea. ...Holy crap. Lucy, get behind me."

"A-Alright. ...Aah! What was that noise?"

"Bones cracking."

"N-Natsu, our son..."

"Just stay behind me, Luce."

"Why?"

"Because when I see that guy, I don't want you to be in the way when I tear him limb from limb. ...It's too dark down here. He couldn't have taken out all the torches in this little bit of time."

"I can't see..."

"Don't worry, I can see perfectly. Nothing's there yet, no blood or...anything else. ...Okay, step carefully here. Now we're on the ground."

"The Dark Magic still remains here..."

"Yeah, I feel it too. ...Hey, who's there!? Don't think I didn't smell you tryin' to rush past me! Fire Dragon's Iron Fist! -Ack!"

"Natsu!"

"I just-I just punched myself in the face! I don't know how! Fire Dragon's Iron-ouch! I did it again!"

"Natsu, just make a fire so I can see... Yes, thank you. -Oh! You broke your nose!"

"Yeah, no duh! Aagh... How did he do that?"

"If you check Lost Magics, it'll be called Mirror Magic."

"There you are! Yeah, stay in the shadows like a coward, but you better give me my kid back!"

"Open, Gate of the Golden Bull! Tauros! -Oww! My magic zapped me!"

"Yes, that's the special little thing about Mirror Magic. It was more commonly called Reversal Magic because all original intent is reversed. You wanted to punch me, King? You punched yourself. The magic runes that were supposed to keep me out, they let me right in. Those powerful guards, also, were highly amusing as their great magic was easily turned on themselves and their precious castle. This little brat, even-"

"Chiiro!"

"-has some nice potential for fire, but he was close to burning away his eyebrows when he tried to use it."

"M-Mom! Daddy! Help!"

"LET GO OF CHIIRO YOU BAS-OUCH!"

"Go ahead, Salamander. I love good game of 'Stop Hitting Yourself.'"

"Yeah, well, I don't need magic to beat your-nuooh!? Ouch! What the hell? That door wasn't open a sec ago..."

"Remember, this entire room is full of magic, therefore I can reverse it as well. Don't take me for an idiot of your level, King Dragneel."

"Natsu, let me- Oof! Ow! My ankle!"

"Lucy! You little-!

"Now that I have you guys' undivided attention, I would like to make a few demands on behalf of my Guild, Anarcheist... Let's start at, say, one region of Fiore and work our way up from there. Oh! You almost got me there, Dragneel, but luckily that wall was there to stop you. Still, disobedience must be punished, so I'll just adjust my hand here and..."

"Ah! M-Mom...can't breath..."

"Listen, you rotten piece of crap, if you don't move your hand in five damn seconds from my kid's throat, I'll rip it off and eat it right in front of you."

"O~oh, so scared. Let's do a little quiz: what happens when you reverse the flow of etherion in a Mage's body? Let's find out on little Chiiro Dragneel."

"Chiiro! Open, Gate of the-ow! Gate of the-ouch!"

"Lucy, your hand is bleeding. Just stop!"

"You don't understand! Anybody...anybody! Aah! A mother will never stop trying to save her baby, even if she dies doing it...!"

"...!"

"Wow, this is sweet. I wish I had a camera. Chiiro, what do you thi-huh? Why are you making that fa-OUCH. He bit me!"

"Heh...he he... Look Luce, his dragon teeth came in."

"Mom! Dad! ...Mom, your hand..."

"It's fine. Your safe, that all that matters."

"Yeah, you're safe. Now, you wanna watch Dad kick some ass?"

"Yeah!"

"Oh, come on. You couldn't touch me. That kid? was just a fluke. Nothing's changed, and you still can't touch-"

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

"Agh! How did you break that wall? It's six feet of solid concrete!"

"Like Luce said...a parent's nothing to sneeze at. Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!"

"Aaargh!"

"Woo, he's knocked out. Chiiro, pay close attention, 'cause this right here's how a dragon feeds-"

"No, Natsu, that's enough."

"Waah, seriously?"

"I'll go call the guards to take him away. You...go call Gray to cool you off."

"Aww, you're such a buzzkill, Luce."

"...Mom, why do you and Daddy get along?"

"Why do you ask?"

"He's so gung-ho and 'fired up' and everything, and you're so calm and loving and he's love-phobic..."

"Well, let me ask you: Why do you and Natsumi get along?"

"Well, we're twins!"

"Yes, but you're different too, right? She likes reading stories and you like making your own; she likes seeing magic but you like preforming it..."

"Hm... You're right! It's because we still love each other!"

"And it's the same thing with me and your dad. He's a hothead, and he's a moron, but he's still and will always be the perfect match for me. If that wasn't the case, you two wouldn't be here."

"How did we get here 'nyway? Tsutsu knows but she won't tell me..."

"H-Hah, well, that's a story for another day. Come on, it's getting late and you've seen a lot. Let's get you to bed, alright?"

"Aw, man..."

"...Brother!"

"Hey, Tsutsu, you'll never believe this! H-Hey, you're huggin' me a little too tight..."

"I was scared! Uncle Loke said that you were in trouble, and I wanted to help so bad, but I can just heal, not fight..."

"Still, healing's plenty important! and so are you! Now, this is what happened-"

"You sure raised some good kids, Lucy."

"You too, Loke; raising them was a team effort, Natsu and I and all of our friends. Now, return."

"Yeah, see you later. And just so you know, if you ever get tired of dragon-breath, I have a permanent reservation for you in my schedule-"

"Yeah, yeah. ...Oh, Mimi, I still didn't finish our story. Now, where was I?"

"Daddy was captured!"

"Whaaat? That's boosh, Tsutsu. Dad's way too strong to ever get captured."

"Well, this time, he did, and Mystogun extracted E.N.D. from his body. In the process, I lost my life."

"Nooo, Mama!"

"No, don't cry, Mimi; I'm still here, and it's only because Daddy fought so hard to bring me back. He had stolen my heart long before that, but what he did that day sealed it. Then, eighteen years later, I was back, but I didn't know who I was. Natsu, he reminded me of who I was, of what I did, and of who I loved. I moved into his castle, and some weeks after that he proposed. Daddy was so nervous it was adorable."

"Okay, Mom, you're lying. Dad's never nervous."

"Oho, he was then, just ask Uncle Gray. And can you guess what happened six months later?"

"Us!"

"Yes, and you two were the best birthday present ever. Daddy almost passed out though, but he was still adorable."

"...Hey, Dads's back!"

"Daddy!"

"Whoa, don't mob me at once! Hey, Luce, did you finish the story? Oh, wait, your hand..."

"Natsu-no, Natsu, not Igneel's scarf."

"Yes, 'cause I don't have bandages. C'mon, it'll be fine."

"Oh...okay."

"Aww!"

"Hey, c'm'ere you too! Hey! Haha!"

"Group hug? Count me in too."

"Oi, Luce! Aargh!"

"Hahahah..."

End The Firelightf of Summer