V
There had been few things Igneel had worried about for Natsu before he'd left. He figured as he was raising him as a dragon, he shouldn't have many issues. Natsu was human, but if he were raised differently, he wouldn't have the same needs and wants as the human race.
He'd worried from time to time that Natsu might get lonely. It was in not only human, but dragon nature to surround one's self with company, but had tried to disregard it; Natsu seemed perfectly happy alone with him after all.
The other major worry had been that Natsu wouldn't develop healthy relationships, mainly rivalries, with others. Igneel looked back and smiled upon his days sparring with Metalicana. He'd developed a fierce sense of competition with the metal dragon and wished his son the same experience.
So it was another ray of light, and something that graced a slight smirk on Igneel's face when Natsu encountered the one called Gray. He felt his son's heart race and his adrenaline rush when he only laid eyes upon the child.
It was in Natsu's blood, and apparently Gray felt the same, as the two immediately upon interacting, tackled one another to the ground in a wrestling ball of flailing limbs.
Igneel knew how crucial it was for a mage to have others, mainly rivals, to base their growth upon and strive towards beating.
While he didn't particularly dislike Gray, he felt his own sense of pride when Natsu beat him. He ground his teeth when the fights were close. And most importantly, he felt Natsu grow from his interactions with Gray, in a way Igneel was positive he couldn't have taught his son himself.
I always had the headcanon that Igneel and Metalicana had a rivalry like Natsu and Gray, or Natsu and Gajeel. Dunno where it came from. ;D
Thanks for the amazing reviews! Also thanks for sharing some of your own headcanons regarding the dragons! I always love hearing how others interpret things. I especially loved Grank's idea; it was awesome. Headcanons are wonderful things. XD
~Foxtail-chan