Annie: Hey, everyone. This is a rewriting version of chapter six. Hey, Just2protect!

Just2protect: Nani, Ani? (What, Annie?)

Annie: What do you think so far of the story?

Just2protect: It's great.

Annie: Great. Enjoy. ^-^

Natsu woke up feeling warmer than he had in a long time. It wasn't uncomfortable but it was enough to make him sweat a little. He tried moving a little to relieve the heat but something heavy was draped over his waist.
Blearily, Natsu blinked awake and looked around, taking in what he noticed. He was in Laxus' guest room, in his pajamas. But the last thing he remembered…Natsu let out a tiny gasp. He'd fallen asleep on Laxus' back on the way home. He squirmed in bed, trying to roll over to see Laxus and maybe wake him up, but the arm on his waist kept him securely in place.

"Laxus, wake up. Your arm is crushing me!" Natsu complained, trying to wake up the older teen. Laxus grunted.

"Nmm. Not now. Sleeping."

"Laxus, get off!" Natsu groaned, pushing his feet against Laxus' legs. Behind him, Laxus' eyes opened and he smirked before rolling over so Natsu really was being crushed under his weight but he made sure Natsu could still breathe before setting his head down on the pillows again and pretending to be asleep again.

"Laxus!"

"Mmm. Comfy," the blonde groaned as Natsu squirmed to escape.

"Get off! I'm not a pillow!"

"Point." Laxus said as he got off the boy. Natsu instantly leapt from the bed and darted to the door, using it as a shield.

"What are you doing?" Laxus asked.

"Keeping away from you before you crush me again!" Natsu yelled. Laxus threw his head back and laughed.

"It's not funny! You really could've crushed me!"

"I don't weigh that much you little brat." Laxus teased as he got out of bed and stretched. The teen mussed Natsu's hair as he passed, headed to his own room.

"Get dressed and we'll finish the rocking horse after breakfast. Then we can drop it off at the client's house before heading to the Guild, okay?" Natsu nodded and before he even realized it, he was hopping on his toes, waiting for Laxus to come down the stairs to the little work-space they'd set up in the basement. The floor was covered in a blue tarp that now was covered in bits of cut off wood, wood dust and cans of paint and wood stain as well as brushes resting in a bucket of dark-colored water off to the side. In the middle of the tarp rested a beautiful rocking horse, not yet painted but stained a beautiful caramel color.

"Come on Laxus, hurry up!" Natsu called as the blonde made his way down the stairs.

"I'm coming, I'm coming, I swear." Laxus replied as he jumped the last few steps and took a seat on the tarp. Natsu pulled some of the cans up to the teen and watched excitedly as the elder opened them. The smell made both Dragon Slayers pause for a moment before they began their task. Natsu was responsible for painting the horse's front while Laxus painted the back and seat.

"Do you think the kid will like it?" Natsu asked as he painted the inside of the small opening meant to be the mouth red. Laxus shrugged as he painted on a red saddle before looking up at Natsu.

"I bet they will. And if they don't it's not our fault."

"It would be a shame." Natsu commented as he set down the red paintbrush and switched to blue for the eyes.

"Yea, for them." Laxus chuckled as he moved to work on the tail, painting it black.

"Because trust me. One day, Gray, Freed, you and I are going to be famous."

"How so?" Laxus smirked.

"Well, you know about the Ten Wizard Saints, right?" Natsu nodded.

"And about the Ishgar Four?" Natsu nodded again.

"Uncle Atlas told me once."

"Well, we're going to be more powerful than all of them put together." Natsu shot the teen a look.

"Now you're exaggerating." Natsu said, rolling his eyes.

"They say each generation is stronger than the one before." Laxus said. Natsu's hand stilled and he put the paintbrush down, his mind remembering what Atlas had said about the thing that Igneel had been afraid of, that had killed Natsumi. Laxus noticed how Natsu had suddenly gone quiet and ceased his own painting.

"You okay bud?"

"Huh?" Natsu said, snapping out of his thoughts.

"Yea, I'm fine."

"You sure?" Laxus pressed, setting his brush off to the side. Natsu shrugged, picking at some drying paint on his fingers.

"I never told you about the day my dad left, did I?" the boy asked. Laxus sat up straight and shook his head.

"No. I figured one day I might hear about it. Is today that day?" Natsu nodded.

"Apparently, there was this…I don't know what…but Dad was afraid of it…because before he had me, he had a daughter named Natsumi. Whatever my dad was afraid of, it killed her when she was a baby. I don't know where Dad went…All I know is that he was there when I went to bed but gone when I woke up. When Uncle Atlas said he left…I don't know why, but I was angry and scared and upset and I somehow ended up thinking Uncle Atlas killed Dad to take the title of King of the Fire Dragons." Laxus' eyes widened as he listened.

"You thought Atlas killed Igneel?" Natsu nodded.

"If we really do become strong enough to be Wizard Saints…do you think we could take down whatever it is that scared my dad?" Natsu felt something sting his eyes and turned away from Laxus, refusing to rub at his teary eyes. The teen sighed and moved over to Natsu, pulling the boy into a gentle hug.

"We're not going to become strong enough to be Wizard Saints, we're gonna be strong enough to beat them," Laxus said. Fast as the lightning he commanded, Laxus' hand shot down and began tickling Natsu's stomach. The pink-haired boy burst into laughter, holding onto Laxus' arm as laughed and gasped for air, the teen smirking almost sadistically at the boy struggling to escape his tickle attack.

"Okay! Okay! I give! You win!" Natsu cried, tears from laughing beginning to form in his eyes. Laxus chuckled and sat the boy up in his lap again.

"That's better. Now let's finish this thing."

Four hours later...

Natsu peeked out from behind the bush he and Laxus had ducked into once they'd dropped off the toy on the front step of the client's house and knocked. Sometimes having Dragon Slayer-heightened senses came in handy as both boys had been able to hear the client's wife get up, poke fun at her pregnant belly and aching back and slowly make her way to the door, giving them plenty of time to run and hide behind a bush near the road. After a few moments, the woman stepped out, both arms wrapped around her bulging belly as she looked around. She was a tiny, skinny little thing, the exact opposite of her husband by physical standards. She wore a pale shawl around her shoulders and a blue nightgown underneath. Her hands flew to her mouth when she saw the rocking horse on the front step with a note on the seat that simply said, "Congratulations!" The woman placed one of her hands on the underside of her belly again and gently rubbed the top with the other before looking around again and staring right at the bush Laxus and Natsu were hiding in. Natsu held his breath for a second before the woman bent down awkwardly and pulled the horse into the house. She looked back at the bush and mouthed a thank you before shutting the door. Natsu smiled as Laxus let out a breath and sagged into the bush a little.

"Well…that was almost scary." He said, putting a hand on his chest.

"I mean, the last time I ran and hid like that, I was a little kid and Gramps was about to get on my backside about getting into the alcohol." Natsu shot Laxus a look. The teen put up his hands.

"I swear! I only took a sip! The crap tasted dang disgusting, so I haven't had any since!" Natsu began laughing and Laxus smiled before he stood up and brushed some twigs and leaves from his shirt and hair.

"Well then, ready to head to the Guild?"

"Yep!" Natsu cheered. Laxus picked the boy up and set him on his shoulders. Natsu clung to Laxus' head like a lifeline and the two burst into laughter as they made their way to the Guild Hall. Just as they neared the doors, Laxus noticed a little boy with blue-black hair dressed in dark, almost ratty clothing, holding a few small wooden dolls in his arm standing right outside the door.

"Trying to go in?" Laxus asked and the boy whirled around, red eyes wide.

"I know you!" Natsu called, pointing at the boy.

"You're the boy I saw at the Fantasia Parade, right?" The boy nodded before he scowled.

"I'm fifteen!" He snapped. Laxus looked the teen over again. He couldn't have been much bigger than Natsu perched on his shoulders. But this kid was almost his and Freed's age? Taking in the teen's clothes and the scent of garbage off him again, Laxus reasoned he was probably living off the streets and didn't eat as much as he should, which would reason for his small stature.

"Well. I'm Laxus and this flame-brain on my shoulders is Natsu. What's your name?"

"Bickslow." The teen said, running his thumb on one of the dolls in his arms.

"Alright then Bickslow. Why don't we get inside and you can talk to the Master about joining, alright?" Laxus said as he pushed the door open. Almost immediately, the blonde teen caught sight of Freed and Gray seated at their usual table, Freed with a massive book in hand and Gray without his shirt and pants…again. Laxus looked behind him as the door shut. Bickslow had followed him inside but had his back pressed against the door, ready to bolt if the need arose.

"Welcome to Fairy Tail Bicks, you're gonna love it here." Natsu said as he and Laxus went to their table with Bickslow following them with a blush from the nickname that Natsu had gave him making his dolls shake in quiet laughter. It only took about a week for Bickslow to make himself comfortable at the table with Freed, Gray, Natsu and Laxus. Apparently, he was a Seith Wizard, meaning he could control souls. The five that were constantly with him inhabited the tiny wooden dolls he'd come in with and were named Pappa, Pippi, Puppu, Peppe, and Poppo. And after only a week of hearty meals from the Guild, Bickslow was already shooting up in height and muscular build. Another new member to join was the brown-haired girl Laxus had run into on the same night, apparently named Evergreen, who could use Fairy Magic and turn people to stone with her eyes. It didn't take Laxus long to figure these kids were the ones the rumors from earlier had been talking about and was quick to have Evergreen join them at the table too, especially saying that she and Erza almost got into a brawl within the first five minutes of meeting each other. Natsu couldn't stop himself from constantly asking the two newcomers questions about their powers and how they work. It worked to get the two additions to be more open with him. Laxus figured it must just be one of the many talents of Natsu Dragneel, getting people to like him. Gramps came up to the table right in the middle of Natsu popping more questions on Bickslow. Laxus noticed how solemn his grandfather looked as he neared.

"What's up Gramps?" Laxus asked, catching everyone's attention.

"I got some news from Porlyusica last night." The Master said grimly.

"Who?" Natsu asked.

"Lady Porlyusica is an old friend of Master Makarov's and used to be a member of Fairy Tail," Freed explained.

"She's also the one we usually turn to when our wizards have been gravely injured."

"Did something happen?" Laxus asked. Makarov nodded.

"Ivan came back last night. Apparently Atlas was badly injured during their mission." Natsu shot to his feet.

"What?" Laxus put a hand on the boy's shoulder and stood up slowly.

"What about Macao? If they got back last night…" Makarov bowed his head and shook it once. The blonde's eyes widened and the table went silent for a moment.

"So…what about Uncle Atlas, how is he doing?" Natsu asked softly.

"He's in bad shape, but not as bad as he was. When he first arrived, Porlyusica was nearly afraid he wouldn't make it through the night. But apparently, even in human form, Atlas's dragon abilities to heal rapidly are functioning."

"I gotta see him then." Natsu said. Laxus nodded.

"What about Dad?" Laxus asked. "He didn't come home last night."

"He hasn't left Atlas' side." Laxus nodded and tapped Natsu's shoulder before heading for the door.

"Freed, you keep those three out of trouble, you hear me? I should be back later." Freed nodded and returned to his book. Natsu looked back at his friends as he and Laxus left. Grey smiled supportively, Evergreen waved and Bickslow whispered something to one of his dolls and the tiny object shot through the air and hugged Natsu's cheek before taking a seat on the boy's shoulder. Natsu appreciated the gesture but as he and Laxus continued down the road, something Makarov had said kept bothering the pink-haired boy. Or rather, his lack of saying something. The Master had said nothing of Ivan being injured. But this mission had ended with Macao's death and Atlas' being injured. Natsu felt his stomach churn a little as a shudder raced down his spine.

"You okay bud?" Laxus asked. Natsu nodded, somewhat nervous about what he was going to see once he got to Porlyusica's house. Laxus put a hand on Natsu's head and mussed his hair.

"It's okay. I'm sure everything will be alright." Natsu nodded. Laxus' worry grew when Natsu neither reprimanded him for mussing his hair nor moved to fix said hair as it stood up oddly on his head. Not knowing what to say, Laxus stuffed his hands into his pockets.

Annie: That's the rewriting chapter of chapter six. I added a couple of things here and there to make it a little bit better.

Just2protect: I can't wait for chapter seven.

Both: Ja Ne.