An 8-year-old Natsu yawned in his sleep. He subconsciously grabbed his scarf and cuddled it. He was sleeping inside a cave, with no one in sight. He opened his eyes for a bit.

'Igneel?' He thought, not seeing him anywhere. Natsu just closed his eyes again. 'He probably went hunting-'

Sniff sniff.

His eyes shot open.

Sniff sniff.

That's strange...

Sniff sniff.

This was certainly his cave. He remembered the structure and design for the home he lived in for the past 4 years.

Sniff sniff.

He could still feel his magic, so he knew for sure he hadn't dreamt the last 4 years.

Sniff sniff.

He had just spared with Igneel yesterday, so he knows for a fact he isn't fake.

Sniff sniff.

So with all of this in mind, why can't he get his scent?

When Igneel left early for hunting, his smell would still linger. Quite strongly actually. And this is his territory, so his scent is all around this place. In fact, he should still be able to smell him.

So why was he not even getting a whiff?

He quickly dashed to the entrance to get a better look around. The sun graced his figure as the birds chirped around him. But he didn't care. The wind would ever so softly breeze around him, but he didn't care. The grass would tickle his bare feet, and he still didn't care. No. There was something far more important than those things.

His father was missing.

"IGNEEEEEL!" He dashed around the forest. Looking between any tree, hoping to catch a glimpse of his father.

"Igneel?!" He shouted again.

"Igneel!?" He climbed to the top of the tree, scoping his surrounding. No luck.

"Igneel?!" He checked inside a log.

"Igneel?!" He checked under a boulder.

"Igneel?!" He yelled inside a dark cave.

"Igneel?!" He popped out of a bird's nest.

Natsu eventually collapsed to his knees. Each location he checked, he would just end up dirtier and more exhausted. He was covered in scrapes and wounds and all kinds. of other things. His breathing was ragged and the very little clothing that covered him was shredded. He searched until the sunset and the skies darkened as if the gods were setting the mood. He couldn't move anymore, he ran out of stamina and adrenaline.

He pushed himself for one more futile effort, hoping he would answer.

"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!"

Thunder was his answer.

He curled himself into a ball as the rain washed away his dirt. He stayed, sitting in that position for what felt like hours. No pain he ever received came close to this feeling. A feeling of loss. Were the days he spent with him truly meaningless that he just decided to leave? Did he not want to continue living with him? Was he truly that much of a nuisance?

He buried his head into his knees.

He didn't want to think about it.

So he continued to sit there. The sky grew darker and the rain grew harsher. He let the droplets hit him. He just sat and waited. Waiting for something, anything. He didn't know how long he waited. He just heard the soft taps of footsteps getting closer.

And the face of a kind old man, outstretching his hand.


"And this," Master Makarov gestured. "is my guild. The number one guild in all of Fiore." He smiled with pride. "Fairy Tail."

Little Natsu stared in wonder at the building. It was absolutely huge! Makarov smiled at his reaction. They strolled up to the doors and prepared to enter the doors that Natsu would learn to call home.

He inhaled.

Here we go.

With one mighty swing, he threw open the door and-HOLY MOLY THAT'S A CHAIR!

He narrowly avoided getting stabbed with the furniture. What he saw before him is well...what's the word?

Chaos?

Destruction?

Demolition?

Pandemonium?

Well, whatever you want to call it. Those are the few things normal people see when they take a look inside the Fairy Tail guild. People of different sizes were all punching each other in the face. Chairs, tables, bottles, and people were flying everywhere, the guild. halls were turning to dust, and Makarov started to cry, complaining about the money loss that went in to repair the guild.

This was a rowdy, loudmouth, rambunctious bunch. This guild maybe not be what he wanted.

But it was what he needed.

As sappy as that is.


So the new guildmates were weird. Well, the ones in my age group at least.

First, there was Cana. She seemed genuinely nice, but she kept on ordering lemonade. She said something about practice for the future? I don't know man. This was my first interaction with a female. I'm pretty sure they're all weird like that.

Second, Gray. He's a really despicable guy. He's a HUGE pervert. Always stripping and blaming it on his master. Seriously, what kind of master strips their pupils? So on top of being despicable, he's also a liar. He likes making fun of me and being despicable, he likes to pick fights with me and being despicable, he likes to strip and be despicable, he's ugly and despicable.

Did I mention that he was despicable?

Third, Erza. Geez, that name gives me the shivers. She's the strongest mage in our age group and she likes to send me 5 feet into the wall. She's very bossy. She keeps telling people what to do and beats me up for doing something wrong.

Fourth, Laxus. The guy is a giant prick. How the heck is he related to Gramps again? Like seriously, they're nothing alike.

Fifth, Laki. We haven't really spoken much, but the way she eyes torture techniques...unnerves me.

And finally, Levy. She's the weirdest of the bunch, always sticking her heads into books. She. likes learning languages that I can't read. She also uses a bunch of bug words, and is shy. Like really shy. She prefers to be by herself most of the time. She blushes whenever the perv strips, she is terrified of Laxus, and she is the main person that Cana teases.

She may be weird, but gosh darn it! She's the one I like the most! She doesn't beat me up, pick fights with me, strip, tease me, avoid me, she's literally the nicest person in the guild! She's my new favorite person!

I slammed my head on the table. Igneel would've loved it here. My eyes trailed towards the job board.

People would have noticed him right?

Natsu tracked his way towards a mountain. He just got a simple monster-eliminating quest. He dragged his feet towards a cave and sighed.

What was the point?

Sure he put on a brave face at the guild. But if Igneel truly saw him as a son, why would he leave? Did he not want him anymore? The moment he actually finds him, would he wish he was gone?

Was there a point in searching for him?

He sighed again.

Was he really his son?

He tried to keep his thoughts away, he really did, but those questions were the only thing on his mind when he trudged into the cave.

The monsters were small fry. One small punch and they were out. But they held no emotion. I couldn't find the thrill of the fight, the blood rushing through my veins, nothing. Just an empty feeling inside me. There was no point in this job, was there?

Igneel wouldn't be here, and he doubt he would wait for him. He eventually got to an open area inside the mountain. He set down his backpack and started to rest. Not that he was physically exhausted, more of a mental kind.

Was he not a good son?

Did he not reach his expectations?

Was he truly that insignificant, that he-

A powerful blow to my side stopped his train of thought.

Natsu was sent skidding across the ground. He shakily pushed himself up and glared at his foe.

A 6'03" Minotaur waved a giant steel ax around. Dark brown fur with gleaming hooves. Two horns, and a golden ring for the nose. Minotaurs were tough, brutal, savage, A class monsters. Only a very skilled mage can go after them.

Natsu gritted his teeth.

Damn it!

He charged at the Minotaur, his fist raised. He sent the punch, only for the Minotaur to sidestep and kick him away with his hoof. Natsu's body was sent flying a good portion away from the beast. He clutched the side the minotaur hit him and coughed a bit of blood. The minotaur advanced towards him. He stabbed the ground near Natsu and lifted him by his head. His entire hand covered his face.

Natsu tried in vain to push the hand off, making the Minotaur slam him onto the ground. Once Natsu stopped moving, he threw the boy across the room.

"Gah!" Natsu bounced against the hard rocky floor. He curled around himself and spat out more blood. His forehead was bleeding, the Minotaur's kick broke his ribs, and he was fairly sure that he was unable to walk.

Was this where he dies?

Is he going to die here?

On the day of just joining the guild?

A new chance of having a family suddenly gone?

.

.

.

I guess that's it huh?

Honestly, he didn't think he would go out like this. Maybe protecting a town from a giant monster Sacrificing his life for the planets safety? A kid can dream ya know.

But to lose it to a walking hamburger is insulting. Ah, he can complain all he wants when he dies. It's probably better this way anyway.

Igneel didn't want him. He left him alone. He only briefly interacted with the guild, so it's not like he's really close with them. It would probably save the old man some trouble anyways. So he doesn't have to watch over a failure like me. Natsu stopped shivering as he accepted his fate.

Goodbye world, it was nice knowing you.

The Minotaur slowly advanced his way towards him. Man, what would Igneel say in a time like this? Probably something like, 'Don't you dare tarnish the name Igneel! You have a legacy to unfold, so stand up! Get up!'

"Get up..."

"Get up..."

"Get up!"

"Get up!" A giant red dragon said. "Is this really the best you can do?" He looked towards the beaten and laid down form of his adoptive son.

"Shut...up...you...geezer!" Natsu replied in-between pants. "How can you expect me to break that huge boulder!" The boulder he was pointing at was 11 feet tall with multiple dents on it. Igneel scoffed at that.

"Are you sure you're my son?" He questioned, only to get Natsu's cry of 'Hey!' Igneel sighed and laid down next to him. "My son wouldn't lose to a rock," The dragon adopted a teasing look. "The great Natsu Dragneel, bested by a rock!" He taunted.

"F*CK YOU!"

"THE F*CK YOU SAY TO ME!?"

"I SAID F*CK YOU!"

"THAT'S IT!" Igneel slammed his foot down as he stood on his hind legs. "COME AT ME YOU LITTLE MONKEY!

"IT'S BETTER THAN HAVING LIZARD BREATH YA BUTT!

"I HAVE EXCELLENT BREATHE YOU B*TCH!"

"NOBODY CARES!"

"SHUT THE F*CK UP!"

"YOU SHUT THE F*CK UP!"

"I SAID IT FIRST, SO YOU HAVE TO SHUT THE F*CK UP FIRST!"

"F*CK!"

"THAT'S NOT SHUTTING THE F*CK UP!"

"I DON'T GIVE A F*CK!"

The father-son duo growled at each other before they started brawling. A comically huge dust cloud emerged as limbs would appear once in a while. It ended with Natsu being pinned underneath Igneel's giant claw. He kept on struggling before giving up to exhaustion.

"I know you can do better," Igneel stated. "You're my son after all."

"'My son' my *ss, you're heavy!" Natsu tried to push the claw off him. Didn't work.

"I know you can do better than this," Igneel said simply. "I didn't raise you to be a weakling."

"I CAN HEAR YOU!"

Igneel sighed at his antics. "I know that someday, you will do great things," He said. "I also know that we can't be..." Igneel shook his head. "The point is, that I can't always fight your battles. You need to grow on your own. You are the son of the great Fire Dragon King Igneel, you can't afford to be weak. You would have to fight a lot of people, so you need to grow. You need a reason to fight." Igneel looked him straight into his eyes.

"What is your dream?"

.

.

.

What am I doing?

Giving up so easily, what kind of son am I? Igneel probably had a good reason to leave, and here I am talking about suicide. What am I, your average teenager?!

He was Natsu Mother F*ck*ng Dragneel Dammit! This is not where he would die!

Fall Out Boy - Phoenix

Put on your war paint

Natsu's fingers twitched.

You are a brick tied to me that's dragging me down

The Minotaur stopped walking when Natsu stood up.

Strike a match and I'll burn you to the ground

Natsu turned his head towards him and growled.

We are the jack-o-lanterns in July setting fire to the sky

Natsu clenched his fist.

Here, here comes this rising tide, so come on

Put on your war paint

Natsu charged at the beast.

Cross walks and crossed hearts and hope-to-die

Silver clouds with grey linings

Natsu was fast, but the Minotaur already sent a punch his way, hitting him dead on the cheek.

So we can take the world back from a heart attack

The blow caused Natsu's body to spin.

One maniac at a time we will take it back

You know time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start

So dance alone to the beat of your heart

Using the blow to his advantage, Natsu used the force of it to send a kick to its head.

Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?

The Minotaur cried out in anger and pain at the sudden attack that it let go of its axe.

I'm gonna change you like a remix

Recovering quickly, Natsu bolted towards it.

Then I'll raise you like a phoenix

He did a hook punch.

Wearing our vintage misery

He did it again with the opposite hand.

No, I think it looked a little better on me

He head butted it by grabbing it's horns and pulling it to his head, breaking his horns in the process.

I'm gonna change you like a remix

He flipped the horns.

Then I'll raise you like a phoenix

He used them as daggers and thrust them into the Minotaur's knees, making it bellow in pain.

Bring home the boys and scrap scrap metal the tanks

Natsu jumped to safety as the Minotaur tried in vain to remove the horns stuck inside it.

Get hitched, make a career out of robbing banks

The Minotaur temporarily ignored the pain in its knees to try and crush Natsu.

His words however, made him freeze.

Because the world is just a teller and we are wearing black masks

"6 o'clock," He spat out some blood. "When you get up, your right foot pivots towards 6 o'clock. When you attack, you like to swing your axe and rush in with your horns. When you defend, you implant your hooves to the ground."

"You broke our spirit, " says the note we pass

"Your heart beats at an average of 1 beat per second, maybe that's why you guys are always mad?" He grinned. The minotaur was frozen and looking at him in disbelief. "Scared?"

So we can take the world back from a heart attack

"I've already studied you movements, I know exactly what you're going to do next." His eyes became slits and his teeth and nails sharpened.

One maniac at a time we will take it back

You know time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start

So dance alone to the beat of your heart

He grinned like a cat cornering a mouse. "You can't win against me!"

Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?

The Minotaur blinked once and Natsu was already in-front of him.

I'm gonna change you like a remix

Punch to its stomach. Wow did it fly far.

Then I'll raise you like a phoenix

The Minotaur created a crater when it crashed.

Wearing our vintage misery

Seeing its axe, the minotaur grabbed it and swung it at Natsu.

No, I think it looked a little better on me

Only for him to bite down on it. Yes, bite down on it.

I'm gonna change you like a remix

He crunched it, and it shattered like glass. He jumped above the Minotaur.

"That's a nice arm you got there," He commentated. "Mind if I break it!"

Then I'll raise you like a phoenix

He grabbed the bicep and tricep and twisted it in opposite directions. Hearing the snap, he kicked the two legged bovine away.

Put on your war paint

The minotaur coughed and glared at its opponent.

The war is won, before it's begun

Release the doves, surrender love

The war is won, before it's begun

This wasn't a child.

Release the doves, surrender love

The war is won, before it's begun

This wasn't a weakling mage he would fight every so often.

Release the doves, surrender love

This was...

The war is won, before it's begun (Wave the white flag!)

This was...

Release the doves, surrender love (Wave the white flag!)

...a dragon.

Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?

Natsu sent a flurry of punches as the Minotaur's body was flying.

I'm gonna change you like a remix

Grabbed it by the throat, he ran faster than the eye can track along the floor and caves, all while dragging the Minotaur by the throat!

Then I'll raise you like a phoenix

It ran up the wall, all the way to the middle of the ceiling. He then proceeded to throw it down to the floor, like a meteor entering. the Earth's atmosphere. The impact itself shook the room and cause the Minotaur to bounce off the floor.

But Natsu wasn't done.

Wearing our vintage misery

He landed right on the Minotaur's stomach and ripped out the golden ring from its nose. Blood sprayed all over the 8, may I remind you, 8, year old's body.

No, I think it looked a little better on me

"Something my dad told me before," He snapped the ring into two. Pushing the Minotaur into the ground more, the horns were securely lodged into the ground. He. used the broken ring to clamp his wrists, trapping the Minotaur into an x-position.

I'm gonna change you like a remix

He grinned like a maniac. "That cow insides taste great when fried," He raised his right fist above its stomach.

"Let's test that theory, shall we?"

Then I'll raise you like a phoenix

With a mighty yell, he thrust his right fist straight into the monsters abdomen.

Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?

Fire burst out of the Minotaur's nostrils and ears as his belly inflated with an orange and yellow glow.

I'm gonna change you like a remix

It screamed in pain, but that only seemed to make Natsu happier as he dug his fist deeper and increased the flames intensity.

Then I'll raise you like a phoenix

The Minotaur's eyes eventually melted away as his screams died out.

Put on your war paint

Natsu removed his fist and sighed satisfactory. Seeing a piece of burnt meat in his hand, he tossed it into his mouth.

He chewed it a few times. Swallowed. Burped.

"Needs some salt."

He looked around at the destroyed arena before shrugging. It wasn't THAT destroyed.

No harm no foul! That's what Igneel always said!

Natsu smiled before pointing at the hole he made on the ceiling when fighting the Minotaur.

"Igneel!" He called out.

"I don't know where you are, but I don't care. It doesn't matter where you are, I will find you! And I'm going to get stronger too! Strong enough to beat you and drag your scaly butt all the way back to Fairy Tail!" He gave a cheerful grin.

"That is my dream!"