(QUICK UPDATE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FOLLOWING THIS STORY AS IT'S BEING POSTED)

I changed things up a bit. I was originally going to have Sting and Rogue be the bad guys in this, but I found a better idea, and one that might make the story line a little more interesting in further chapters. Sting and Rouge are now good; living with everyone, and Erik is taking the spot of villain)

The two gaze at one another for a while.

Nothing but the gentle fire lighting up their face.

"Thanks for giving me the chance to see them like this again."

Well, I mean, thanks for coming."

Locked in a alluring gaze, neither of them realized that their body's began steadily melting into one another.

It wasn't until the gentle whisper of Natsu's name, did either of them realize what their bodies were trying to do.

By this time their noses were already brushing against one another, as their hot breaths blew against slightly parted lips.

They were extremely close now, but neither dared to stop.

Just a little closer...

The space between their lips closed in.

Just then, an unexpected rustle shivered in a near by bush.

"Shit! Something is coming!" Natsu protectively dove into the blonde, wrapping his arm around her head as he tackled her to the ground.

"What?! Something is coming?" Lucy panicked. "What should we do?" The blonde tightly clutched the forearm of the man whom now hovered above her.

"Shh" Natsu hushed the blonde urgently as he hawk eyed the bushes behind them.

There was another loud rustle in the bushes before a young petite girl, with long dark blue hair stepped out.

Her worried brown eyes instantly lit up upon seeing the protective pink haired man.

"Ahh! I was right." She beamed in relief. "It was you're scent Natsu!"

Natsu flipped away from Lucy, and rose to his feet. "Wendy?"

Lucy slowly sat up.

Overjoyed to see Natsu, Wendy ran to him and tackled him into a tight hug. "I'm so happy you're okay!" She claimed. "We all were starting to get a little worried."

Wendy pulled away from Natsu, and he took a small breath in relief. "What in the world are you sneaking up on me for?"

Wendy blinked twice. "Heh? Did you not sense me coming?"

Natsu pressed his lips together, and rubbed the back of his head a bit sheepishly. "I don't know. My senses are..." the man swiftly glanced at Lucy, whom was rising to her feet. "...Slightly distracted.

Wendy's eyes skipped over to the blonde. "I thought I sensed someone with you. Hello, my name is Wendy."

Lucy smiled a bit awkwardly. "Hello Wendy. I'm Lucy."

The bluenette shared her smile, and bowed her head a little. "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Wendy's eyes hopped back over to Natsu. "Hey Natsu, can I talk to you in private for a sec."

Natsu blinked. "Uh Sure."

The two dragon kids walk a few feet from Lucy.

"What's up?" Natsu asked, knowing he was far enough from the princess.

"Can I just ask why you're traveling with... you know, someone who isn't one of us."

Natsu perked a little. "Oh, so you see, Lucy wants to meet Igneel."

Wendy's eyes widened a bit. "Really? Are you sure that's a good idea considering what happened?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, can you be sure you can trust Lucy? I mean do you remember what happened when Acnologia brought his best friend to our secret hideout?"

"That was forever ago! Besides, him and his friend were lying thieves, who only wanted to steal from us. Lucy isn't like that."

"The others probably won't take kindly to this with the recent events." Wendy informed.

"That's okay."

"You trust her?"

Natsu nodded. "I do."

Wendy pressed her lips together and glanced at Lucy patiently waiting where she was left.

"Alright. Then what are we waiting for?" Wendy smiled.

Natsu beamed brightly.

"Hey Lucy! We're leaving now" Natsu hollered over to the girl.

"Eh?" The princess blinked. "Okay! I'm coming!"

The three teenagers sauntered deep in a thick, plant infested, wooded forest.

"This is crazy." Lucy claimed, staggering through the dense forest. "I never would have known; let alone guessed, that such a wide forest was thriving here all this time."

"Not many people do." Wendy confessed stepping over a large tree stump. "One of the best assets about this hideout, is that even though this forest is technically in the center of the kingdoms, since the forest is so hard to walk through, none of the kingdoms dare attempt at coming through."

Just then Lucy tripped over a stretched out branch, causing Natsu, whom was walking behind her, to react quick and catch her.

"Oh! Are you alright Lucy?" Wendy turned around quickly.

"Yeah, I'm okay thanks." She answered. "If I'm to be honest though; even with the peace of mind knowing that the kingdom's won't venture in here, the sheer thickness of these wild plants must be troublesome for you guys to move around freely. I mean how does a dragon even fit through here?" Lucy stumbled back to her feet, giving Natsu a quick thank you nod.

"This isn't the hideout" Natsu spoke, lingering his hand around Lucy's waist for a few extra moments.

"What?" Lucy craned her head to the man. "It's not?"

"No, it's just the entrance." Wendy finished.

Natsu, Lucy, and Wendy exit the forest.

Standing on the fringes, the friends take a moment to view the broad, forest surrounded valley; where few dragons were flying around, and many children were playing freely.

"This is our hideout." Natsu beamed with a proud chest.

"Welcome to Ryū Valley Lucy." Wendy and Natsu exclaimed simultaneously.

Lucy's eyes sparkled as she observed the wide vicinity. "Woah. T-This can't be possible. This is your hideout? It's so open!"

"Pretty great isn't it?" Wendy asked.

"It's incredible!" Lucy's eyes drop down to the children in the distance. "Were all these children raised by dragons?"

Wendy's eyes fell on the kids. "No not all of them. There are only a certain few who are actually raised by a dragon." Wendy informed. "Most of the kids here either had their homes destroyed, lost both parents in the wars, or were simply born here."

Lucy turned her head to the young girl. "Born here...?"

Wendy nodded slowly, lifting her eyes, and pointing in the distance. "Just beyond that horizon, there is a small town built for the children who grew up here."

"Wow, so it's like your own small civilization here."

"Ahh!" Natsu chirped causing the girls to glance over at him.

The pinkette's eyes were sparkling with excitement. "Igneel!" Was all the man said before taking off into a full sprint towards a red dragon flying over the valley in the far distance.

"Hey! Natsu!" Lucy reached out her hand.

The busty blonde puffed her cheeks as she watched Natsu run further and further away.

"Jeez! What the hell! Just running off like that."

Wendy let out a stiff giggle. "That's Natsu for you."

"Yeah but leaving me behind..." She sulked under her breath.

"IGNEEL!" Natsu roared, running behind the flying dragon.

"Hm?" The large creature craned his head over his shoulder, at the same time he began lowering himself to the ground.

Natsu happily caught up to the dragon.

Breathing unsteadily he announced: "Hey! I'm home!"

The red dragon was still for a moment. But soon enough, he let his mouth curve into a smirk. "You surely took your time."

Natsu rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah well... I may of had a few minor set backs"

Igneel closed his eyes and gently lowered his head, nudging his son with it. "Welcome home Natsu."

Natsu blushed a little, then hugged the giant dragon's snout.

'Hm? What's that smell?' Igneel inhaled the unfamiliar scent that radiated from the boy.

'Is that the scent of...? It's so strong... smells close by.'

"Hey Dad," Natsu chirped, pulling away from the dragon. "I have to tell you something."

The dragon blinked slowly. Failing to hear Natsu's voice over his loud thoughts.

"Natsu, did you bring a girl here?" The fire dragon finally asked.

Natsu knitted his brows, and tilted his head. "What?"

"Oh, are you talking about Lucy?"

Natsu shrugged. "Well yeah I brought her along with me. But she's cool."

'This sweet scent mixes strongly with Natsu's... could this mean?"

"I figured you'd catch her scent right away." Natsu admitted. "With her being so smelly and all."

Igneel crossed his arms. "Smelly?"

"Yeah! Like she smells so strong that my nose just feels like it's in chains. Locked in her scent no matter where she is. So it's only natural you'd pick it up so quick. However If you're worried Lucy is a spy, or has some ancient magic power to control us in some way, she isn't and doesn't. I know it was risky for me to bring her here after everything, but she really wanted to meet you. And I can't explain it, but I trust her not to hurt you."

Igneel pressed his lips together, feeling his heart clutch. 'Is this the feeling people get when they realize their kids grow up too fast?'

"Anyway! Can we get off this topic. I told you I have news for you. And I don't think it's good."

Igneel suddenly became serious. "Go ahead and tell me."

Natsu's eyes lowered to his feet. "It's Erik"

"Hm? The dragon child that went missing? Have you found him? Is he injured?"

Natsu balled up his fists, and then bravely looked up to the curious dragon. "Far from it. He was helping the kingdom attack Skiadrum."

Igneel's eyes widened. "What?"

"When I confronted him, he attacked me without a second thought."

"A betrayal!?" Igneel roared with concern; especially for his dear dragon friend.

"When I did confront Erik, Skiadrum was able to get away; but there was something else..." Natsu mumbled.

Igneel felt a moment of relief in knowing Skiadrum escaped. But How bad was he injured. Where was he now?

"Tell me everything Natsu."

"It didn't make sense to me when Skiadrum was taking Erik's attacks like he'd already lost. When I stepped in and was fighting him myself... something... something felt off."

"What do you mean by off?"

"Well... it was almost like I temporarily lost all my abilities to fight with fire. I also felt a sense of draining, and heaviness. I think he possessed something that tampered with dragon magic."

"What?! That can't be..."

"It's only a guess. I wanted to come tell you this information right away, but the kingdom's army captured me and threw me into an enchanted cell. If it wasn't for Lucy, I'd probably still be there."

Igneel was silent. Anger raging inside as he tried to ponder the new, sensitive information carefully.

What could be the meaning of this?

Could someone have rediscovered the Yami and Seinaru?

"Hey Natsu!" Lucy's feminine voice echoed through the air, making the pinkett's heart leap.

Natsu spun around to face the direction of the voice.

"Lucy~" The boy's eyes lit up.

The pretty princess was running towards the dragon and the man, waving her arm in the air. "Wendy is going to introduced me to Gajeel, Sting, and Rogue! We're gonna sit around a bonfire, and talk! You should come!"

Natsu perked up for a moment, but was quick to dismiss the excitement.

When Lucy caught up with Natsu, her eyes turned huge; and she gawked speechlessly at the large crimson red dragon.

Igneel, not sure how to feel about the staring, shifted his eyes from left to right before landing them back on the blonde. "Hello young lady." He said a bit stiffly.

Natsu smiled. "Uhh, yeah. Lucy this is Igneel, Igneel-Lucy." He introduced.

Igneel cleared his throat. "Alright. Natsu why don't you go hang out with everyone. You just got home after all; and you have company."

"What?" Natsu recoiled his head a bit. "Wait, but Dad what about?" The pinkette trailed off.

"Dad?" Lucy mumbled, double-taking the two.

"It's okay Natsu. You need not worry about all that right now. Let me have time to think things over. For now, go have fun."

Silence overtook the family for a while.

"Fine." The pinkette finally nodded.

"I'll be off then. It was nice meeting you Lucy."

Lucy jumped a little. "Huh? Oh! Uh! Nice to meet you too sir!" She did a quick curtsy.

Without another word, Igneel spread his wings and took off to the skies; leaving behind a large gust of wind, that caused Natsu and Lucy to cover their eyes.

When the stirred up dust settled down, Lucy let out a sharp gasp, causing Natsu to jerk his head to her.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I was so close to a dragon! Why didn't I ask any of my questions!?" Lucy grabbed her head in frustration.

Natsu blinked twice, then let out a chain of chuckles.

Hearing the laughing beside her, Lucy dropped her hands back to her side and peered over at Natsu.

His laughter was something contagious, and it made the princess wanna giggle along with him.

So she did.

"Hey Natsu" Lucy initiated a conversation as the two waited for the others to show up.

"What's up?" He responded poking the fire with a stick, and using his finger to make the fire bigger.

"I'm just making conversation."

"Go on."

"If Igneel is the king of the dragons, and your his son... wouldn't that make you prince of the dragons?"

Natsu glanced at the girl, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Ehh, I suppose so. But I don't want to be labeled that. I'm Natsu. Plain and simple." He spoke.

Lucy blushed, feeling her heart squeeze.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Wendy arrived with Gajeel, Sting and Rogue."

"Ohh" Sting cooed. "My you're much prettier than I imagined in my head."

"Eh?" Lucy's face flushed.

Sting grabbed the princess by her hand, and gently placed a kiss on the back of it. "My name is Sting, but you can just call me the man of your dreams."

"Umm..."

"Sting, lay off her would ya." Natsu grumbled.

"I'm Rogue" The raven haired man introduced

"It's nice to meet you both." Lucy took her hand back.

Gajeel grunted and crossed his arms into his chest. "You all are acting too friendly. I still think this is a horrible idea."

"Come on Gajeel don't be such a downer, look how cute she is." Sting spoke.

Gajeel and Natsu rolled their eyes.

"It's not about how the girl looks, it's where she comes from. She could put us all in danger." Gajeel huffed.

Lucy turned her attention to the grumpy man.

"Please don't say rude things like that Gajeel." Wendy pleaded.

Gajeel snarled a bit. "Rude? How am I the one being rude? She is a stranger you just met! How can you be so trusting when you hardly know anything about her."

Lucy bit her lip, not liking that he was talking as if she wasn't right there. However she did her best to stay calm.

"I will happily tell you anything you want to know."

"That's not the point I'm trying to make blondie." Gajeel sighed. "Who's to say that you're not the person to start off friendly, getting us to trust you, just so you can stab us in the back."

"I wouldn't do that."

"Yeah, well that's what you're supposed to say. Where in the kingdoms do you even come from?"

Lucy blinked. "Well I come from the northern kingdom's palace."

"Palace? You live there?" Rouge questioned.

"Yes."

"Even more of a reason to be cautious, this isn't just some girl on he streets, she's a girl who lives in the palace, for all we know she could be a princess."

Lucy stayed suspiciously quiet.

"You aren't the princess are you?"

"Uhhh..." Lucy shrugged stiffly.

Everyone was quiet for a moment and then all at once everyone gasped.

"What!?" Wendy bugged. "You're the princess?!"

"What does it matter if I am, or I'm not?" Lucy felt self conscious under all of the eyes.

"You're highness." Rogue bowed.

"That makes you ten times more attractive." Sting commented.

"Why the hell didn't you tell us she was the princess?!" Gajeel barked at Natsu.

The pinkette shrugged. "Nobody asked, and it doesn't make a difference, princess or not, Lucy is just Lucy."

"Doesn't make a difference? Are you insane?! It makes all the difference in the world! In case you forgot; we're enemies!"

"Lucy is not our enemy." Natsu defended. "She would never do something to put us in danger."

"And aren't you just sayin that because you have feelings for her?" Gajeel interrogated.

Sting and Wendy glanced at Natsu.

"Ark! I DO NOT!" He denied, embarrassed.

The two men start a heated argument.

Lucy sighed lightly. "Listen." she began, bringing everyone to a silence.

"Gajeel, I understand your concern. Honestly, with everything that happened I can't blame you for being uneasy about me. But with that said, I truly mean no harm. I just want to find a way to end the war and finally bring peace to the nations. I, on my own, figured that talking to a dragon in person would help me get a better understanding of certain things I'm just unsure about. I have no clue what I am doing, but all I know is I don't want anyone else to die."

long moments of silence passed, and Gajeel finally gave in. "You get ONE chance from me." He growled

Lucy smiled. "Thank you."

"And I'll be keeping a close eye on you."

"I understand. I won't let you down!" Lucy said confidently.