CHAPTER 1: BROTHERS
"I apologize... but I think I misheard you." Erza said quickly "What's your name?"
He looked perplexed. Obviously she's going to react like that! He thought while thinking of what to do. Well... you have to go through with it now. "I'm Lion Dragneel..."
Erza's brain almost stopped working, her brain was going through so many possibilities... she was so focused that she didn't notice Lion trying to get her attention. "Hello... Ma'am? Are you okay?"
No response.
"This... is not going to plan..." Lion said picking up his things. "Maybe it'll be better if I just leave... "
Erza grabbed his hand. "Question, sir. Do you happen to know somebody called..." Erza put the pieces together. "Your looking for Natsu..."
That cleared up all suspicion. He was here... and this woman knew where. "Yes. I am. Do you happen to know where he is?"
"Uh..." Erza begun speaking before getting cut off.
"Sorry... I know it's hard to trust me... I don't particularly look like the nicest person..." He said referring to the whole combat outfit he had going on.
"No no. It's fine. Your a member of Fairy Tail. I trust you... It's just... I'm shocked. What are you to Natsu... His father?" Erza said looking up and pointing out Lion's age. "You look old enough... but he allways said it was a dragon... Igneel"
"And he's correct. Our father is Igneel." Lion replied.
"Our? that makes you his brother. But Natsu never talked about any relatives but his father." Erza was confused. She had never heard Natsu mention anything remotely resembling another human, let alone an older brother.
"Okay this might take a little... " Lion motioned for Erza to sit down. She followed suite and sat across from him. "Has Natsu ever talked about Igneel's love for humans?"
"If I I remeber correctly yes... he's mentioned it." Erza was examining his face... no wonder it looked familiar, he had Natsu's features. They were slightly different yes... harsher to a degree, more angular and experienced, he gave off the vibe that he's seen and done some serious shit. But everytime he smiled, even though it was only slightly, she could see Natsu. Bold and cheerful.
"Now why do you think a big bad dragon would develop love for humans?" Lion said raising an eyebrow.
"Well dragons are... well were know for being extremely intelligent..." Erza replied thoughtfully.
"Your on the right track... but what comes with Intelligence?"
Erza thought the question through. She wasn't much for philosophy but this answer she had to know... she was intrigued... she was...
Erza snapped her armoured fingers "Oh... I got it! He was intrigued... he was smart and smart beings long for knowledge..."
"Bingo..." Lion said sitting back. "Igneel wanted to learn about us... he was interested in how we worked. Well particularly why we fought, you see dragons hadn't had to need for an all out war between each other for centuries... they had learned it caused more harm than good..." Lion now pulled out a book from his bag. "This book here details Igneel's study of humans..."
Erza smiled trying to imagine a giant dragon hunched over a tiny book and using its massive talons to write science research. No... way.
"How do you propose said dragons... wrote?" Erza asked grabbing the book. With a black and red cover, the book seemed to be as thick as several bricks... weighed about the same too, with pages dense and handmade.
"With lacrima of course... I wrote this book... copied it after Igneel...disappeared" Lion's voice took a sad tone. "Has Natsu said anything about Igneel? any leads on where he is?"
"So you don't know where he is either? Is that why you have come over here?" Erza replied looking through the pages. What she saw was amazing... and terrifying. There were a dozen humans on here including Natsu being the last and Lion the first to be documented.
"So he knows nothing either? Strange... out of all of us... Igneel loved Natsu the most. I was sure he would have told him something." Lion took a longing stare out of a window.
"What happened to all of these people? Are they alive?" Erza said taking a particular liking to a swords woman who was written.
"I've lost track of some... some have died... there are about 6 of us alive... 2 missing... the rest, you get the picture" Lion replied.
"Christ... I'm sorry..." Erza replied, knowing what it's like to lose someone you love.
"Don't bother. They died a long time ago..."
Eventually Erza got so invested in their talking that she lost track of time... there was just so much to learn. She read and asked about anything she didn't understand. She read about a huge man named Ivan whose preferred weapon weapon was rocks, another man who could use flames to replicate other humans and lastly her favourite. The third oldest of the bunch, she was a woman named Ley, who wielded dual axes and could turn invisible. Erza noted that Ley was marked missing. She learned that all of the Dragon Slayers who originated from fire usually took on other elements, since it was by far the most flexible.
That explains Natsu's ability to add lightning to his arsenal.
"Hey, Lion... There are pages missing..." Erza said for what seemed to be the hundredth time. She had begun reading it from Natsu up the chain and now that she approached the firstborn... she saw only one page. It read:
Warning, speciment is extremely dangerous. To be kept under extreme surveillance.
"Why... would Igneel write this about you?" Erza asked showing the pages. "And where are the other pages?"
Lion looked up at the clock, it read 11:00 pm. "Shouldn't they be here by now?"
Erza looked up. "Ugh..." she got angry. "They're late...wait domt dodge the-"
The front door opened and Master Makarov walked in nonchalantly. "Erza! hello, child... and with who are you accompanied...by" His jaw hit the floor.
"Wassup graps.. been awhile." Lion said standing up. Erza only now noticed the size of him... not quite Laxus... but noticeably taller than Grey or Natsu.
"My child... How much you have changed..." Master Makarov appeared on the verge of tears as Lion kneeled to his level. "What brings you here... surely it isn't... Natsu?"
Erza was stunned. "Master you know him?"
"Of course I know him! I never forget one of my children!" Master Makarov turned back to Lion. "I thought you were in Morang... why are you here?"
"No Master... Morang was... a bloodbath. There was nothing I could do... you know my powers are limited to a certain degree of usefulness" Lion said chuckling.
"Oh... I understand. Well learn from the past and move on I say, now come. Tell me your reason for being here..." Makarov said pulling up a chair to the bar. "Gods does Guildarts know you are here?"
"No... I didn't want him to stress and come running back from his quest. Would be weird of Fairy Tail's ace came back randomly wouldn't it?" Lion sat next to him.
Only now did Erza spot Gajeel was accompanying Master Makarov. "Who's the weird dude in all black? A new member?"
"Like you can talk... and no, I feel he's been in the guild longer than me at least" Erza replied looking back at the book. The empty pages... the warning. Why is he dangerous?
"What? I've never seen him before..." Gajeel said before his nose twitched. "Wait a second... there's a dragon close..." He looked back at Lily who was inspecting Lion's bag. "No it's not from over there..."
"It's him..." Erza said looking back at Lily. "I wouldn't touch that... apparantly he keeps explosives in there."
"The weird dude? He's a Dragon Slayer?" Gajeel said inspecting him.
"Yes... and an old one... " Erza replied. "You, Natsu and Wendy need to talk to him... he says he met Metalicana and Grandeeney..."
"Are you serious? Theres no way..." Gajeel immediately begun marching towards the bar. "Hey, Blackie-"
Only to get pulled back by Erza. "Don't even think about it... trust me, he's not a guy you want to mess with Gajeel. For the past hour he's told me things I'm sure you understand much more... so try to stay on his good side."
"Tch..." Gajeel shrugged her off. "Fine... but only because I respect you and Master Makarov."
"Master I'm worried... there is some strange magic going on around Crocus lately. It was enough to catch the attention of a few dragons in Morang." Lion said looking around. "They told me theres an old ancient magic in play here, something that wasn't ment to be made."
That caught Erza's attention. She remembers the warning Jellal gave her earlier. He felt something was off, some strange magic.
"I'm guessing if your concerned then it must be urgent... we must evacuate the city..." Makarov turned to Erza. "Erza! go to the king-"
"No!" Lion stopped Makarov. "Master... It's time..."
Makarov appeared to consider this. "He's too young..."
"Remeber the deal we made?" Lion pushed Master Makarov. "When the time came you wouldn't stop me. You know I've already gave him too much time."
"But he's... I don't think Natsu is ready..." Makarov looked back at Erza and Gajeel, who were just listening intently.
"Master, what is he talking about?" Erza asked.
"Initiation... It's what he must do to become a fully fledged Dragon Slayer..." Makarov said looking down. "But I know Natsu can never do it..."
"What does he have to do?" Gajeel asked this time.
"Kill a dragon... " Lion said looking at Gajeel. "and from where I see it Master... This one is ready too."
Meanwhile with Natsu, Lucy and Happy. They were making their way back towards the Inn. Running due to being late...
"Ugh! Erza is gonna kill us!" Lucy said running behind Natsu.
Natsu on the other hand wasn't paying attention, he was just thinking of what Sting said.
Third Generations are superior to first, you can't even compare us.
You wished you were half as strong as us.
We killed our dragons!
Natsu could barely handle the anger he had in his body. He felt like he was about to explode... wich in his case is quite literal. I can't wait to kick his ass!
They slammed through the door at a full sprint. Natsu didn't know how but oke second he was on his feet and the next he was on the floor with red hair in his eyes.
"What the..."
"Natsu..." Oh god, he recognized that voice anywhere. "Your late..."
"Crap..." Natsu immediately backed away as Lucy was standing up. "Erza am so sorry, I didn't mean it I swear... don't kill me.."
Yeah how did you think that went?
"Ill go before he wakes... " Master Makarov said making his way out. "Come Gajeel, you can talk to Lion later..."
"But Master... "
"Gajeel... lets go"
Gajeel semmed torn apart, but eventually gave in...it could wait until tommorow.
"So long... cousin" Said Lion smilling just like salamander.
Gajeel stormed off, deciding to have none of it.
After they had all left only Lucy, Erza, unconcious Natsu and Lion remained.
"Erza... who is the weird dude at the bar...?" Lucy said to Erza 'discreetly'.
"I'm right here!" Lion said. "Well within earshot..."
...
Lucy paid it no mind. "Seriously who is it?"
Erza sighed. "To put it simply... hes Natsu's older brother."
Thanks for reading. Next chapter out soon. Please Review or PM me, I love feedback.