Natsu II

Natsu pretty quickly decided he didn't like Nelaryn. Whenever Natsu tried to talk to the elf, he was either ignored, or put down. It was especially frustrating, because he really wanted to find about what this place he was stuck in, and how to leave. The only thing Nelaryn was apparently willing to talk about was how amazing this kingdom was (Natsu had already forgotten what it was called), and how amazing the elves were; something Nelaryn kept stressing was that they were High Elves, not that it meant anything to Natsu. If nothing else, he and Happy were learning more about where they were.

Fortunately, they eventually got in a cart, and Natsu didn't have to worry about talking to him. But what was weird, was while he still fight sick, it actually wasn't as bad as it was in the past. Unlike previous times where he literally felt like he was dying, he more felt slightly queasy and off balance. He couldn't imagine the reason why.

They were currently going towards what Nelaryn said was the nearest city, though he had failed to name it. Looking up, Natsu could see white spires on the horizon.

"Is that the city?" Happy asked.

"What to do you think?" Nelaryn said sarcastically, "And while I don't really anticipate this as a problem, bare in mind, the people we've seen don't see many humans. Don't cause trouble."

"That's like asking Natsu not to eat," Happy said, with a giggle. Natsu just stayed still, wallowing in his discomfort. Soon, they came across a great white wall, which Natsu had to admit was impressive. The gates promptly opened, allowing Nelaryn's cart to make it through.

Natsu was all too glad to jump off the cart, and let out a relaxed breath. He then looked around to see the city, and was surprised by the sight of it. It was massive, with great white spires and paved roads. In the distance, there was one tower that was so tall, it seemed to dwarf the great Mercurius Castle in Crocus. However, the streets were almost completely empty, save for a few people briefly passing from one building to another. The streets were also dirty, and most of the buildings had their lights out.

"This place looks…," Natsu wasn't sure what the word was, since "gloomy" didn't seem to cover it.

"This city hasn't seen life in years," Nelaryn said grimly, as he got off his cart, and picked up one sack of grain, "But my grandfather told me that when he was a child, these streets were bathed in magical light and music."

"Wow, so what happened?" Happy asked, floating over Natsu's shoulder.

"How should I know?" Nelaryn said, "It was a couple thousand years ago." Natsu blinked, as he cocked his head in confusion.

"Wait, but you said that your grandfather was a kid back then."

"He was," Nelaryn said, as he walked down the street, Natsu and Happy following him.

"So how old are you?" the Dragon Slayer asked.

"Slightly more than 600 years old."

"EH!" Happy and Natsu said together. That was even older than Zeref.

"How old can you guys get?" Happy said.

"What does it matter?" Nelaryn answered bitterly, "What do long lives matter when they can't be replaced?" Natsu and Happy looked at each other, but neither said anything, as they followed Nelaryn to one particular building, where another elf was standing.

"Faltius!" The elf looked up, and smiled at the sight of the farmer.

"Nelaryn, good to….," he passed when he saw Natsu, "Why is there a human here?"

"Yo, I'm Natsu!" Natsu said with a grin, "And this is Happy."

"Aye!"

"He claims to have been sent here by a magic vortex," Nelaryn said, "I'm hoping to leave him here." Faltius scowled at the sight of Natsu and the Exceed.

"Humans," he said with a sneer, "We should go out back across the sea and conquer them all."

"If you have an army in your ovens, best bring them out then," Nelaryn said.

"Damn the Cadai for letting Ulthuan fall into such a state," Faltius hissed.

"Bite your tongue for such blasphemy!"

"They won't mind. They only listen to the traitors in Naggaroth and Athel Loren."

"Who're the Cadai?" Happy whispered.

"Dunno," Natsu answered, "But these guys really don't seem happy."

"And King Finubar wastes resources on those ridiculous voyages," Nelaryn grumbled, "When he could spend those resources building our infrastructure."

"What infrastructure is there to build," Faltius answered, "Maybe back in the old age there was something to build upon. At least when the dragons were here."

"Dragons?!" That made both elves jump back slightly in surprise. Natsu was looking straight at them, with an extremely interested look on his face.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You said there're dragons here, right?" Natsu asked, his eyes glowing in excitement. Nelaryn and Fatilius looked at Natsu and then each other with irritated, if not somewhat confused expressions.

"What does it matter to you?" Nelaryn asked.

"My dad's a dragon!" Natsu said proudly, thumping his chest. Yet again, the elves gave him bewildered looks.

"You humans have rather bizarre senses of humor," Nelaryn said.

"He's not joking," Happy said, "He really was raised by a dragon, named Igneel."

"I've heard some pretty bizarre stories in the centuries," Nelaryn said, folding his arms, "But this is certainly something exceptional."

"I ain't making it up!" Natsu said, "Where're the dragons?"

"I said they were here, they've long since withdrawn from the world," Faltius said, "At any rate, you could never find them, let alone wake them."

"Then I'll find them, and wake them up!" Natsu said, "Just tell me where they could be." At first the elves seemed reluctant, before an idea seemed to come to Faltius

"It might make him finally leave," he suggested to his friend.

"Well in that case," Nelaryn said with a grin, before pointing, "Go South, to the Dragonspine Mountains. If there are any dragons left, they will be there."

"Thanks!" Natsu said, before turning and running in the direction Nelaryn was pointing. As he ran, he could hear the elves laughing, but he didn't give a damn.

"You know they were just trying to get rid of you, right?" Happy asked, as he flew beside Natsu.

"I don't care!" Natsu said, "I gotta find these dragons!"

"What if you can't find them?"

"I will!" Natsu said firmly, grinning, "I can feel it my gut!" With that, he ran out of the city, and towards the South, to what Nelaryn called the "Dragonspine". He was going to find these dragons, that much he was sure of.

Note: So Natsu's going out to look for the dragons of Ulthuan. This will mark the beginning of some pretty severe changes for Ulthuan. For perspective, he was at the city of Summersong, in Ulthuan's southern regions. According to the maps, it is not far North of the Dragonspine Mountains.

That's not going to be the last we see of Nelaryn.

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