Chapter 2 edited

Notes: Sorry to all of you guys who were confused about the name change, the original just wasn't doing it for me. I'm horrible at coming up with names for books (leave that to the professionals) so I am open to any ideas you guys might have for this particular book title (I'm still not sure about the new one, even though it sounded like genius twelve o' clock at night).

As Natsu silently slunk into the shelter of the woods, Happy was flying with all his might towards Strawberry Street. After he had left the house, his feeling of dread for Natsu's wellbeing had only grown stronger. His worry was not misplaced, and he knew the time was pat due for Natsu to get some outside help. Finally, he reached the street of tall apartment buildings. The city was silent; nobody was out this early in the morning, save for a ferryman quietly poling his small boat down the river.

Happy flew up to Lucy's second story window and scratched his paw against the glass. Lucy had taken to locking her window in order to keep Natsu and Happy out, and needless to say, Natsu didn't appreciate it.

Happy scratched harder on the glass, emitting a horrible screeching peal that made him want to chop his own ears off. Still, Lucy did not hear. Happy started banging on the glass with his soft cushioned fists, trying desperately to wake her.

Suddenly, the pane popped loose and crashed to the floor, shattering into a million pieces on the stone. Happy peeked into the apartment, ready to bear Lucy's wrath, but none came. Happy hopped into the small apartment and quickly perused Lucy's entire house, only to find no one there.

Happy quickly climbed back up the window and took off over the street, flying towards the only other place that Lucy could be; to Fairy Tail.

FT

Natsu stared out across the lake, struggling to enjoy the peace and quiet of the environment around him. An old oak tree on the far bank had captured his attention, and he stared at it with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia.

It was becoming too hard to stay in the forest, to stay around Magnolia. Everything was beginning to remind him of those days, the ones he had spent with his father. Those days had been the happiest of his life, yet it was all taken so suddenly that he was left gasping for breath early every morning as he was forced to re-live every tiny detail of that time.

He remembered Igneel, teaching him how to fish for the very first time. It also happened to be his first swimming lesson.

Igneel said, "The biggest fish dwell on the bottom of the lake. If you can hold your breath long enough, and if you're quick enough, you can catch one and bring it back up."

"But I don't know how to swim," Natsu complained. "Besides, why do I need to learn how to catch fish if you can do it?"

"Well I could certainly catch a fish in half the time you could, but fishing is a valuable skill. You can use it to provide for a family one day."

Natsu blushed, his cheeks matching the same color as his hair. "I- I don't need one of those, I have you, Dad; I don't need anyone else as long as you're here."

The dragon chuckled, nudging Natsu towards the water. "But I will not always be here Natsu, so while I am, I will teach you all that I can to prepare you for the outside world."

And with that, he shoved Natsu into the water, which barely made a splash as his tiny body sunk under the surface. Natsu kicked with all his might to get to the surface, but he could not, so he figured the next sensible thing to do would be to simply sink to the bottom and catch a fish.

After some time, out of bounds of anything a normal human could possibly do, Natsu reached the bottom. He immediately spotted a large catfish lazing around among the mossy rocks. Natsu darted forward, and before the fish could even think to react, it was firmly in his grasp.

Natsu squeezed the fish tight, fearing it would slip from his grasp. The fishes eyes nearly bugged out of its head, Natsu's grip was so hard. Natsu paddled with one hand, holding the fish to his chest with the other. Finally, he broke the surface of the water, coughing and sputtering as he paddled towards the shore.

Igneel was still waiting on the bank, calm, despite the fact that Natsu had been under for nearly five minutes. Natsu held the large catfish up in his hand, proudly presenting it to his father. Igneel smiled and nodded his head at his son as he sat next to his huge talons.

"Very good Natsu, you learn quickly."

Natsu beamed, glad to hear his father's praise. "I thought I was going to drown on the last bit. My chest started to hurt and water got in my nose." As if to demonstrate, Natsu stuck his finger in his nose and jerked his head back, and tossed the fish over his head for extra effect.

Igneel laughed, a deep rolling sound akin to thunder echoed off the trees, and Natsu smiled even wider. If his father was happy, then he was happy.

"Do you know what the purpose of this lesson was, Natsu?" Igneel asked, earning a shrug from his young son. "As I said before, I will not always be around, and you must learn to take care of yourself. There will even come a day that you will wish to leave, and I will not stop you; but I will not leave you without even the most basic of knowledge."

Natsu pouted. "Then why won't you let me see any humans," he challenged, peering up at Igneel's lofty height. "I bet they know loads of stuff." Natsu smiled innocently, but Igneel saw right through his son's clever subject change. He was silent for a moment as he studied his son, contemplating the best way to approach this tender subject.

"Natsu," Igneel began, trying to explain to the boy in a way that he would understand. "I recall telling you once that Humans are very dangerous, and that you should not actively search for them like you do every time I leave you alone."

Natsu gasped, unable to believe that he had been caught. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled, avoiding eye contact as his father stared him down. Igneel huffed and lowered his head so that one, huge, solemn eye was staring into Natsu's small green ones.

"Natsu, listen to me when I tell you; humans are not safe. They destroy, murder, and don't care what anyone else thinks of them. Humans are heartless, and many would not hesitate at the thought of hurting you."

Natsu just stared at his scaly father, not really absorbing a single word that Igneel was saying. Igneel sighed and nudged Natsu softly with his snout, still staring the young boy in the eyes.

"Natsu… I don't want to lose you, so promise me you'll stop looking for humans while I'm gone. It makes me nervous knowing that while I'm gone you could be taken." Natsu nodded his head, and all Igneel could do was hope he would keep his promise.