To their horror, Natsu was in the process of launching Midori out of a giant slingshot. Berdea pulled his daughter from the slingshot while Igneel scolded Natsu.
"She said it was all right if we did it," Natsu protested. Berdea sighed.
(Midori, how many times do I have to tell you? Don't try to fly without me.) Natsu turned when he heard a strangled sound coming from Igneel.
"But I need to go fast!" she said.
(If you will excuse us, Igneel,) Berdea said, amused. (I need to take Midori skydiving before she kills herself.) Natsu's eyes widened.
"That's awesome!" he exclaimed. "Can we go too, Dad?" Igneel gently placed his son on his back in response.
Wind pushed Natsu's hair from his face. He loved flying with Igneel. To their left, Berdea and Midori were gliding. The green-haired girl rolled her shoulders, threw Natsu a grin, then slid off her father's back. Natsu peered over Igneel's shoulder in surprise.
(Hold on,) Igneel sang out as the two dragons tucked their wings to their sides and dived after Midori. They all shot to the earth like arrows, relishing the wind against them. (I'll catch you if you let go, Natsu,) he promised. Natsu dived after Midori.
"This is awesome!" he screamed.
"It's better when you're higher!" she screamed back. "It gets hard to breathe! Yo, copy me! Spread your arms and legs out when I say so!"
"Why?"
"It'll slow us down enough for them to catch us! Unless you want to be a rain drop! Now!" Berdea and Igneel suddenly appeared below them, spreading their wings to slow their descent.
"Your hair looks ridiculous," Midori laughed once they landed. The wind had forced it back out of his face. He ruffled it so it returned to normal.
"You're one to talk," he laughed. "Hey, Dad, when are we gonna meet again?"
(Sometime in the next few months,) he hummed.
(Come on, Midori,) Berdea said, crouching down low so she could climb up. (We need to be getting back.)
"Ok," she nodded, then hugged Natsu. "See you later, Pinky."
"You too, Plant-Face."
Natsu stood above the ocean with his eyes closed, allowing the memories to wash over him. The wind whipped his scarf into his face.
"Natsu!" Happy yelled. "What are you doing? Erza wants to go on a job, and you don't want to make her mad!" He turned and put on a smile for the Exceed.
"Nothing," he said. "Just thinking." Happy looked at him in suspicion.
"You never think… Who are you and what have you done with Natsu?" Natsu laughed and patted him on the head. Turning back to the ocean, he sighed. I miss you, Midori. I really miss you.
"What's that?" Natsu asked, now seven. Midori smiled and showed him the necklace. It was a silver dragon curled around an emerald, on a delicate silver chain.
"It's the only thing I have of my real parents," she explained. "You see, Berdea found me in the forest as a baby. Robbers had killed my parents, and Berdea kicked their sorry butts." Her green eyes were blazing. "He took me in and raised me. And now, he's teaching me awesome Dragon Slayer magic!"
"I've never heard of green fire dragons before," Natsu pondered.
"They're actually pretty rare," Midori agreed. "It's a genetic malfunction that makes them and their fire green. Berdea is the leader of the Green Fire, as they call themselves. But he is also subject to Igneel, since he's the Fire Dragon King."
"A genetic what-y-what?" Natsu stared at her in confusion. She tweaked his nose and laughed as he glared at her.
"A malfunction is when something that normally goes right goes wrong," she giggled. "You're ridiculous."
"I am not," Natsu muttered.
"You're kind of cute when you're being dumb," she said. Natsu turned bright red.
"W-We should p-probably be getting back," he stammered nervously.
"Probably," she agreed, oblivious to his discomfort.
Natsu frowned as he watched the sky. Berdea and Midori were almost a week late. True, they lived about seventy miles away, but a dragon was able to cross the distance in about three hours tops. What was taking so long?
"Igneel," he said hesitantly. The dragon sighed.
(Is this about Berdea being late?) he asked. Natsu nodded. (Don't worry about it. Berdea's well over five centuries; he's perfectly capable of taking care of himself.) Igneel started to settle down again, but then froze. (Natsu, do you smell that?) Natsu sniffed.
"No," he started, then paused. It was very, very faint, but - smoke… and burnt flesh. "Dad?" he questioned fearfully.
(Climb on my back right now,) Igneel ordered. When he was using that tone, Natsu had learned to obey him quickly with no questions asked. They had gone about half way when they saw the cause of the sickly sweet stench: a dragon's corpse. The Fire Dragon King landed in alarm. After inspecting the carcass, he growled, (Acnologia.)
"That's this dragon's name?" Natsu asked hopefully. He had heard enough of dragon conversations to know Acnologia's reputation. Igneel shook his head sadly.
(No, Acnologia is the one who committed this crime. This dragon… is Berdea.)
No! I like Berdea... Dang it, I just can't help killing people. Review please!