YAAAAY! 100 Views for my first chapter already! THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE! I'M HERE BECAUSE OF YOU! (And my mom and dad)

I now have a cover image because of a very kind fan art artist. His name is jalonzo1610. He very kindly allowed me to use his image as my cover photo. But because I somehow can't upload the full image, (If someone know please tell me!) The cropped and cut version had to suffice. But please check out this link to see all his crazy good photos. Thanks a bunch Jalonzo!

art/Igneel-and-Natsu-168764256

Btw, I have a lot of Japanese-spelt-in-English words, so if you cant read one, try thinking Asian. And I should have the English translation afterward. So ya. Watch out for those.

While I'd love to claim credit for everything, trust me, my imagination is not sophisticated enough to have thought of this anime. I thought of a couple characters and ideas. That's all. Thanks.

(Igneel's POV)

That night, Igneel made absolute sure that in the morning, Natsu would be unable to go anywhere. When they had arrived back to his favourite sleeping tree, he wrapped the tip of his tail and threw him into the trees above.

Branches, vines and all sorts of strange plants caught Natsu before he could fall back to the ground, entangling him, refusing to let him go.

The dragon carefully placed himself, underneath the dangling boy so that his back spine spikes would be waiting for Natsu in the morning.

Igneel smirked. He couldn't wait till tomorrow. The training regime would start, and for once, he was looking forward to the next morning.

(Natsu's POV)

The man in the rain was waving goodbye. Natsu called again and again, running after him, trying to catch up, but the man was getting farther away by the second.

"OI! Mister! What was your name again?" But the man just kept on waving and smiling and fading into the distance.

"WAIT!"

Natsu eyes flung open, his arm out reaching for something. Realization struck, and he tried calming himself, his heart still beating. He closed his eyes and forced himself to lay still.

He was safe. He was back home, in his soft, mossy bed, with the furnace named Igneel right beside him. He reached for the comforting moss.

Eh?

Where was it?

Eyes still closed, he reached around, and… found nothing. So Natsu decided to open his eyes.

Uh oh.

Where was the floor?

Natsu looked around. 'How am I floating? Where am I? How did I—'

Panicked thoughts erupted into his head, taking priority over anything and everything else.

Then he saw the spikes, threatening to spear him full of holes.

Natsu was so scared he started to scream.

"OMYGODWHATTHEHELLIGNEELHELPME!" rambling on and on, but it didn't look like Igneel was awake.

'He wouldn't abandon me up here, would he? Nah, no way. He looked for me yesterday. And he'll help me now. Definitely'

But that didn't stop Natsu from screaming his lungs out crying SOS to anyone who could hear. But then, nobody could hear him.

(Igneel's POV)

Igneel could hear Natsu. And he couldn't breath. He was laughing far too hard. It was all he could do to keep still Natsu form realizing.

It was just too funny. His alarm clock had gone off, and he was having the time of his live. The sound of a disciplined child begging for help. He wouldn't fall to the floor. Probably.

It was early in the morning, and Igneel loved it. The sun was bright, warming his scales, and the child was getting what he deserved. Wonderful.

Igneel could no longer hold it in, and started laughing. He lifted his head to the sky, and bellowed his lungs out. The animals and birds were starting to think about moving. It seemed the devil had taken over the forest and was partying all day and night.

(Natsu's POV)

Natsu gaped. He couldn't believe it. IGNEEL HAD BEEN AWAKE!? Hanging on for dear life, the chance of falling to death so very close, and Igneel was just LAUGHING!?

The pink-headed boy could barely believe it. He was fuming. He would tear him apart, he would rip off Igneel's wings, then his wings, and those teeth would never grow back and—

A slight, sniggling sensation popped.

Natsu grabbed at his pants. Oh no, not now!

Igneel managed to stop laughing just to call out
"Oi boy! How are you holding up? Gotta go to the bathroom do ya? HAVE FUN GETTING DOWN!" And laughter took hold of Igneel again as he rolled over and over, pounding the ground and gasping for air.

Natsu wanted to kill Igneel right then and there. But there was no denial that he needed to get down. And to do that, he needed help.

And he needed it NOW.

So first, he tried threats.

"GET ME DOWN OR ILL KILL YOU!"

That just made Igneel burst in an even more intense burst of uncontrollable giggles.

Well that didn't work. Hmmm… OH!

"You couldn't even get me down if you wanted to!"

Igneel just whacked him back and forth with his tail. And the laughter continued.

The slight sensation increased in tension.

Desperate, Natsu finally bend his pride.

"WAKATAYO! I GET IT! I'm being punished. I deserve it! NOW LET ME DOWN!"

Igneel finally stopped laughing, but only to sit up and stare at Natsu, enjoying this change in attitude.

"Oh? Do you really?" The trap had been set. The bait had been placed.

Natsu eagerly nodded. Now the prey had been caught.

"So from now on, you'll listen to whatever I say, and do whatever I tell you. You will be my servant, disobeying my orders shall result in more, horrendous punishments like these…"

Igneel listed more and more conditions of Natsu's release, the whole time aware that Natsu REALLY had to go. And it took all Natsu's willpower not to yell at Igneel, because he knew it too.

The tension became an urgent need. Just a couple more seconds…

"AHHHH! MOHHHH! I agree! I AGREE! PLEASE, JUST LET ME GO TO THE WASHROOM!" The great hunter dragon chuckled. His plan had succeeded. Hunting and cooking prey was so much fun.

His claws flashed and the plants had been cut. Natsu fell, convinced he would die, but with a flick of a wing, Igneel propelling a pink haired human to a bush.

Natsu flipped twice, and rolled when he hit the ground to minimize the pain. Then he immediately go up unzipped his pants, and did his business.

Natsu sighed. Relief flushed through his system, and a sense of calm washed over him.

It was in these moments that Natsu thought

'Ah… life is good…'

(Igneel's POV)

Despite having somewhat cruel intentions in the beginning, he was still happy to see that he hadn't chosen wrong. This boy had an almost perfect grasp of balance, and could maneuver in the air not unlike a diving bird. He would do well with the physical part of his training.

Igneel nodded approvingly. Tomorrow would be the first day of his shedding. The day when he shed his off his old life, and would come out stronger.

That is, If he survived. But Igneel believed in him.

He needed to prepare for the ceremony. And that would require time. And lots of it. Good thing predators must plan ahead.

"Natsu"

The boy turned, still doing his business, a curious look on his face.

"Finish your business first" Igneel growled. Natsu turned back and tried to hurry up.

When he was finished, Natsu stood in front of Igneel, attention entirely focused on the dragon.

"Nani? What is it sir?"

An evil grin cropped from Igneel's mouth. Sir? Already? This would be fun.

"Today is the trial day. If you are able to properly receive my teachings, then you from today on, you will be taught how to learn how to learn to live" Natsu frowned.

"Learn how to learn how to live?" Igneel nodded.

"Your confusion is understandable. And I will tell you what it means when…" He glanced up. The trees covered most of the sky, but he thought he could see the sun just above them. Natsu leaned in. "When?"

"When I decide you are ready. Now go. Before the end of the day, you will go and collect the flower at the heart of the forest. It only blooms this time of year, and the path to the hill is treacherous. You could die. But succeed and will grow from it"

Natsu swallowed and nodded. But then something occurred to him.

"What's this flower called? What's it look like?"

"That's part of the test. Now go. Bring me the flower" And the dragon pointed behind Natsu.
The child saluted and ran off, excited for an adventure.

Igneel chuckled. He was so childish. Hopefully he made it back in one piece. But now, it was time to prepare for the boys return. And when he came back, he promised to have the grandest of celebrations possible.

(Natsu's POV)

He hadn't prepared anything except his regular backpack, but that was okay. Igneel would've said so if had actually needed anything.

Oh, he couldn't wait! There was no way he wouldn't get that flower! He would learn how to learn to live! Whatever the heck meant, but it sure sounded exciting!

So far he hadn't run into anything, and he was feeling invincible! Feeling ready to take on anything, he sped up, yelling in case any animal got in his way, under branches, and jumping over logs he kept getting faster, and faster, and fast—

WHAM!

The world spun and he couldn't control himself. Trying to keep himself upright, he tried to run even faster but—

WHAMO!

Then he fell to the floor, rubbing his head, swearing profusely.

"ITEH, ITEH! That hurts y'know!" He got up and gasped.

It was the man from last night. Natsu's eyes lit up.

"AH! It's you! How did you disappear like that last night? Where have you been?"

Natsu could now see the man more clearly. He was wearing a kind of robe, with golden edges, with a toga draped around him. He was wearing a necklace with a single jade stone, and had night black hair. His eyes were the same colour, and he was as thin as a scarecrow.

The man glanced around, as if scared of something sneaking up on him.

"Where's Igneel?"

Natsu tilted his head.

"Inaiyo. He's not here. Why?" Natsu smirked. "Does he scare you?"

The silence was answer enough.

"HONTO!? MAJIDEH!? No kidding?" Natsu threw back his head and laughed. "It's ok! You're my friend, so ill make sure Igneel wont hurt you. It's all right. Even if I wasn't there, I doubt he'd hurt you. He's a nice guy"

Still silence.

Natsu looked around, getting concerned. Where was he? How was he going to find his way to the middle of the forest?

He turned back to Zeref.

Do you know how to get to the center of the forest?

He nodded.

"Could you show me?"

Another nod.

Natsu grinned.

"Yogata… I was worried I would never find my way out. Arigatoune"

(Zeref's POV)

Someone said 'thank you' to me? Yume ka? Is this a dream?

The boy laughed

"Thanks a bunch! I gotta have something to call you. How about…"

Zeref tried to tell him his name

"Ano, my name is Z—"

CRACK

A bear broke an old log beneath it's paws. Zeref turned having sharper senses than Natsu, he heard the sound first.

Natsu was still ranting about a name for Zeref.

And an angry bear was right behind them.

Zeref spotted the den that lay destroyed beside the bear.

Oh dear.

They had accidently broke the bear's home. And this bear was an endangered species. A Rabbit-Bear. It was capable of great speeds, and could destroy boulders without trying.

"So your name is Z huh?" Funny name. But I'm mines not much better—"

"Natsu," Zeref said. Natsu turned.

"Nani?" And he finally noticed the bear. "OH MY GOD!"

"Please run that way. You'll find your flower there. I'll hold this bear off, but watch out. He has a mate and a child. The mate will retaliate and try to kill you. Please be careful"

Natsu expression hardened

"I can't just leave you like this. I'll help you. I'll be the bait or something"

But Zeref shook his head.

"No, the fact that you care for me is help enough. Thank you. Now go. I'll see again sometime"

Zeref breathed in, and flicked his wrists. At first nothing happened.

Then Natsu was blasted away, his body flung at the speed of sound into the forest.

Zeref let go a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. Natsu was out of harms way. But that magic in his only just awakened form had drained him, and not killing him while using the more dangerous kinds of magic, had been harder than he had anticipated. His whole body beaded with sweat. Too bad he didn't know any weaker spells.

Zeref took up a stance with his middle and index finger, pointing up with his right hand, and down with his left, palms facing sideways.

"You shall not pass this point. Natsu has trusted me, and I will not betray that trust"

He breathed in, and let loose a dark wave of aura.

The flower Shibusa is a Japanese word. I don't take credit for it.

Thanks a bunch for reading guys! I hope you enjoyed this! If you did, please check out my other story: Lucy Heartfillia: Joys Of Love, Sorrows of Loneliness

Please review and suggest what I can do for the next chapters and what I should fix.

Thanks again!

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