XIX

Natsu had been a member of Fairy Tail for a few years now. Every time that thought crossed Igneel's mind he had to shake his head in disbelief. It felt like just yesterday he was training alone in the great wilderness with Natsu… and yet at the same time it felt as if that was an eternity ago.

Throughout Natsu's time at Fairy Tail he'd grown immensely, and yet ultimately stayed the same. Igneel noted that Natsu wasn't as downtrodden as he used to be. Not long after his disappearance, when Natsu went off looking for him, just to return again without any leads at all, his son had turned a little bitter in the beginning. Of course, Erza and Lisanna had both stomped that right out of him and through making friends and comrades, Natsu was the same seemingly carefree and young-at-heart boy that Igneel had grown to love.

Natsu had also learned many rules and regulations, if you will, of how the world worked through his time at Fairy Tail. He knew how to read at least a little now, he knew bits and pieces of other academics as well, and he also knew how the world worked, that it was cruel and yet wonderful, and exactly how a mage was supposed to make it in life.

One of those issues that was constantly brought to his attention, was the fact that a mage could be "upgraded" and given the title of an S-Class Wizard. In all honesty the title wasn't anything that really appealed to Natsu; he thought it actually a little silly that just by title a mage could be considered stronger. However, what he did find appealing was the fact that those S-Class wizards could go on special quests, harder quests, quests that really proved what someone was made of. And because of those missions, seemingly held just out of his reach on the upper floor, almost dangling in front of his nose, tantalizing him, the subject of S-Class Wizards was a… touchy one for Natsu.

Touchy in an "I'm just as good as any S-Class Mage and I'll prove it to you" kind of way.

Igneel honestly didn't have a stance on the subject of S-Class wizards and whether or not Natsu should be one. He thought Makarov and other guild masters who gave out those titles knew what they were doing. They knew their members better than anyone, and with it, their strength, force of character, and whether or not they were really above and beyond the other wizards out there.

Yes, Natsu was strong, but the way Igneel saw it, even if he was powerful, he just wasn't ready for it yet. People like Erza and Laxus had been through many more life toils than Natsu had, had fought many more powerful enemies, and were all in all more mature and experienced than Natsu could ever hope to be at this point –although that Laxus did get a little on his nerves when he boasted.

And it was through one of the many boasts thrown Natsu's way by Laxus that Igneel felt the annoyance in Natsu's heart over those S-Class quests hit its peak.

The night Natsu snuck up into the upper level of Fairy Tail and snatched an off-limits S-Class quest was a conflicting one for Igneel. On one hand he wanted to shrug and watch how Natsu would handle something so tasking, and on the other, he wanted to bark at him to put it back and stop being such a foolhardy idiot. After all, if Makarov didn't think it was safe for Natsu to go out on such a mission… maybe it wasn't. Igneel had no idea what really warranted that "S" stamp, after all.

He chuckled to himself when Natsu asked Lucy to accompany him, only to be met by a few gasps and yells that it was an "S-Class quest and there was no way she was going with him and he should definitely put it back". She seemed to be the voice of reason in Natsu's life; not that he had listened to reason before, or would listen to it now.

Although, as Natsu hopped out her window, figuring he could go it alone with Happy while secretly dropping the request form in her room so she could read it, Igneel had a feeling she'd come along after all.

And as dusk turned to dawn, Natsu making his way down to the harbor to set off towards the island that this job took place upon, sure enough, she turned up. She looked like she wanted to scold herself for going, but the reward of a golden zodiac key was just too much for her to pass up.

And so, Igneel decided to push out whatever thoughts and worries he had in his own mind about Natsu's safety on this job, instead opting for the curious route, and trusting the excited and borderline cocky thoughts in his son's head about what an awesome job he was going to do, and that when he returned, Makarov would for sure make him an S-Class mage.

Igneel snorted. He'd be the judge of that. After all, he was sitting with the best seat there was, and he'd get to watch the entire thing play out through Natsu's eyes as he took on his first S-Class quest.

A small twinge of pride picked at him. Natsu… completing an S-Class quest… Huh, he sort of liked the sound of that.

I feel like Igneel would always be stuck between being proud/believing in Natsu, and worried/annoyed at Natsu's behavior, haha! XD
And thus begins the Galuna Island arc! This was personally a fave arc of mine so I'm happy to re-live/re-write it, tee hee!

Anyway, thank you so so much again for the lovely reviews! It really truly is fun to see what other headcanons people have for Igneel. :D

~Foxtail-chan