Hello! This is the newly revised version! I'm working on redoing some chapters a little more than others, as I have gotten some excellent advice from a reader who reviewed about it! Cheers Tellemicus! Edited version updated on June 26 2015.

(Natsu's POV/ Flashback)

Why dad?

Why did you have to go?
Why can't you just stay with me?

Natsu's father stood in front of the young boy, smiling without a care in the world.

"I'm going to go now Natsu! I can't wait to go on a bunch of adventures! I know you understand!" Natsu reached for his father's hand, his lips wobbling.
Don't go. Don't leave me alone.

"Oh yea I almost forgot!" The man in front of him reaches into his pack, and brings out a small cloth. Inside of it was a large ivory tooth, larger than his hand. "Take care of this! You're gonna need it one day! Be sure to clean it everyday, brush your teeth, and don't muck around! There should be bread and water at home!" A whistle whined for the attention of everyone at the station.

"That's my cue! See yea later bud!" He ruffled his fluffy hair quickly, and hopped onto the train. "Bye!"

Natsu watched the locomotive move, then ran after it, the window at which his father was it getting farther and farther out of his reach. He ran to the end of the departure area, and tripped onto his side. When he looked up, his father wasn't even waving. The pain swept in, starting with his knee, then the warmth of his father's hand turned into cold agony, and his eyes let out what it had bottled up. And he couldn't help but think how he hated trains.

(Igneel's POV)

That was the first and last memory of his father. He couldn't even picture his mothers face. And now the stupid dragon just had to go and remind him of it.

Natsu wasn't ever good at keeping his emotions in check, and settled for the grinding of his teeth.

Of course, even being highly intelligent, any fool could see a nerve had been struck. At least the boy's arrogance had been turned down a couple notches. But Igneel wouldn't pry, he didn't need to know this child's sob story, and Natsu wasn't going to say. Giving up the one private link of his life before he'd been tossed onto the streets?

He would rather die.

Igneel growled. His patience was growing thinner by the second. And if this human was unwilling to tell him, then he had other… less dignified ways to force the boy to speak.

But before Igneel was forced to play his more serious hand, for once, Natsu decided to play it smart. He would probably die anyway, but this dragon seemed to be the kind of person that would honor his promises. So Natsu simply stated

"I got it from my dad" And hung the necklace back around his neck.

Igneel wasn't nearly satisfied enough.

"How did he get it then!? How boy!" He bellowed. Natsu snapped.

"I don't know! I don't know okay! I can't even remember his face anymore!" Even Natsu was shocked. He hadn't meant to say that last bit. He looked toward the ground, berating his mouth for betraying him.

Igneel tilted his head, considering Natsu's answer. There was no sign of a lie. His eyes were clear, and there was no irregular change in his heartbeat. Looks like he'd spoken the truth.

"Alright. I believe you. You may leave," Natsu looked up sharply. What? "That's what I said," Igneel growled. "Don't make me repeat myself boy. Get out. Now"

Igneel raised a claw and pointed behind Natsu. Still in shock, Natsu forgot his politeness.

"What are you talking about," he retorted. "There's no way to—" his sentence was cut short as he realized there wasin fact, a way to get out. And it appeared out of nowhere as a door.

Natsu couldn't believe it. When had that gotten there? He was sure he had looked around when he had woken up. So how…?

"I wont repeat it"

Natsu kept on glancing from Igneel to the door, over and over again. Door, dragon. Door, dragon. Door, dragon, Door—

"Stop that!"Igneel punched the wall and the walls shook. Natsu jumped, spurred into action and ran outside, following the familiar footsteps back into the town.

(Natsu's POV)

"Hey, look who it is. It's the guy who keeps saying he'll find a dragon! I bet a lizard wouldn't even want to be afraid of you!" Tony, leader of Punks, a ragtag group of struggling homeless boys, jeered at Natsu with his cronies.

"Shut up Tony. I even talked to one today, so you can go eat your more dirt and maybe even find some on your own today" Natsu was actually quite an effective trash talker, it was like a side effect you got from growing up around here. After all, the strong eat the weak. Period. Showing weakness would just cause the hyenas to gather in a pack to hunt you down. Normally this would be enough for them to just lay off him, but today was different as Natsu was now claiming to have met a dragon.

"Oh ho! Tell us!" Others had taken notice. This was bad. Natsu attempted bluffing his way, shrugging.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to see how you would believe me like the gullible prick you are" Tony shook his head.

"Sorry about this Natsu," The others snickered "But I can tell your lying. After all, we've known each other for just, so, long" Natsu glared, and he stood stiffly. The important thing now was to be as threatening as possible without backing down.

"So you believe me?" He faked a grin. "I have a great idea! How about I take you into the forest and introduce you?" This caused the mob to look confused (The idiots), and glance at their leader. Would he call his 'bluff'? Or would he back off today? Tony cracked his knuckles and hopped down. Fortunately, the hyenas of the lower class worked the other way around too. Too many witnesses had seen the exchange; he needed to bite after barking so loud.

"Please, lead the way. Oh, and if you're lying…" He slid a finger across his neck, but Natsu was now happier than he'd been in a while. He couldn't wait to see the look on they're faces when they met a dragon for the first time.

(Tony's POV)

"So you were lying you little shit!" An age worn foot met his stomach, followed up by other kicks. The hyena's had found their prey.

"There isn't a dragon here after all! What a little needy little fuck! You think it's fun to walk all the way out here for nothing? Don't screw with me" A fat slob of saliva splat on Natsu's face. Laughter, laughter… those around him having fun as he was smashed into the mud. Not again…

"What? He's asleep already? That's no fun. Let's wake him up" He grabbed Natsu's vest, and slammed him against a tree. Tony courtesy held Natsu the sandbag up for others to take a whack at him.

"There's plenty to go around, don't push boys and girls!" Tony licked his lips. Aw he just loved to do what he wanted and smack a few heads into their place.

(Natsu's POV)

'Ugh… Great. How many ribs are broken this time?' Every breath told him the answer to that question, his body too weary to sit upright, settling for a lie down on his face. Stealing food was hard enough when he wasn't injured. He wouldn't die, he wasn't that weak. But the next few weeks of suffering were going to be a bitch. He'd have to ask for some favors… He shivered. No, not an option. Favors were like selling your soul to the devil around here, you might get something great at first, but Hell would always be waiting.

…Damnit all. If only he'd been stronger, he wouldn't have to put up with that cocky turd Tony.

"Or even if that stupid dragon had been here…"

"Oh please, don't blame me if you're just that weak. It was pathetic watching you" Natsu pushed to his limit and turned his head.

"Shut up. You're a dragon. What would you know about my life?" Igneel went strangely quiet.

"You have no idea. I wont bother explaining to something like you. I, unlike you, earned my strengths" Natsu growled low.

"Hey, you're a dragon or whatever. You inherit all your powers and stuff when your born right? Even if you had to practice shooting fire—" Igneel huffed a smoke ring, causing Natsu to cough violently.

"I've already said, you have no idea. I'm too old for this. Just shut up for a bit" When the smoke cleared and Natsu's spasms ceased, he got back at the dragon for the ashes.

"So you went through something really painful right? I bet that I could do it, because I've been through a hundred times worse than something as lucky as you have been!" Igneel laughed, and Natsu regretted his words simply because his ears were now ringing bells.

"You think so? I can say for sure if you even tried to do something even remotely similar, you'd die in the first week!" Natsu was on a roll. This was his chance to lower the dragon's guard and get more powerful at the same time!

"Well let's start immediately! A dragon always keeps his word!"

Igneel's claw raced down and Natsu closed his eyes. There was a change in the air. He tried to figure out what it was, and when he opened his eyes, he realized there was no sound. Just harsh, feral cold. At first he sat there, dumbfounded, his brain searching through all the possibilities. But the possibilities simply didn't fit, and slapped him in his face. There was no other conclusion: He was in the middle of a snowy mountain. The only colour he could see was white.

"Igneel! Where am I?"

"Look around! Where do you think?" The dragon's voice was clear inside his head, smelling of ashes and a warm fire. Natsu closed his eyes to cuddle a little closer to that warmth.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you" And Natsu snapped his eyes open. What was he doing? Falling asleep now would be the end.

"So what the hell am I doing in the middle of the icy mountains?"

"Stay alive for three months, and I'll show you how to stand on your own. Best of luck" And the voice was gone. Natsu reeled, the icy cold biting his poor flesh. What should he do? What could he do in this barren wasteland? How was he going to survive?

Survive. Just like back home. It was always surviving, never winning, or beating or dominating. Well that would change. Natsu grit his teeth, and checked which limbs would still listen. Surprisingly his left toes obeyed, and his legs would still go. So, trudging in knee height snow, and using what energy he still clung to knowing it would soon leave, dug a shallow burrow inside the snow, which would shield him from the brunt of the winds.

He didn't know how long, his sense of time of time blurred, and he gave a weak cough. He'd been losing his bearings rather recently hadn't he? With that melancholy phrase, he couldn't help but loosen up… which… Which led to him becoming more relaxed… and shutting his eyes… just for a little bit…

Ugh, my previous works make me shudder. Ew, all those errors and everything happened way too easily. Time for a huge makeover for every chapter!

Justin, Lover of anime, enemy of haters, and family to all my otaku brothers and sisters. Welcome to my world! XD