Location: The Dark Cold Cave in the Desert
Date: April 18, 2030
(Natsu's pov)
"I have to become one!"
My Dad started into my eyes and laughed, a dark sinister laugh.
"You?! A HERO?! Don't make me laugh!", he began to pull himself up from the cold hard ground.
My eyes tracked all of his movements.
"So I'm guessing you want to know the truth?"
"What truth?!"
"The truth…...about me"
"What of it?! Nothing you say is going to change my mind! I've already made up my mind! I'm going to kill you and end all this!"
"SHUT UP AND LISTEN!"
"Nevermind…..why should you listen…..when I can show you", he whispered as he started at his right hand.
"Show me? What do you mean by that-
He dashed right in front of me and placed his hand on my forehead. He moved so quickly that I didn't have any time to react.
"FLASHBACK!", he yelled out making his hand glow a bright white.
The light was blinding I couldn't see anything. It felt like I was being sucked into the white void.
'What's?!...Happening?!'
I couldn't see anything anymore, I couldn't even feel anything anymore. I felt weightless and empty.
'What is this?!'
…
Location: Magnolia
Date: May 26, 2025
(Igneel's pov)
"Happy Birthday Natsu!", everyone yelled out at the pink haired boy who was standing in front of his gigantic vanilla cake.
His smile couldn't get any wider, it was already at its max.
This was the thing I lived for. Seeing my son smile like this made me feel proud to be his Father.
I'm really glad he came into my life.
"Natsu face the camera! I want to get a picture of you!", I yelled out as I aimed the camera at him.
"No Dad no pictures!", he yelled out as he giggled and tried to hide his face.
"C'mon Natsu don't be like that!"
"Fine! But only if you take it with me"
"Deal! Hey Grandine can you take a picture of me with the Birthday Boy?"
"What about me? I don't get a picture with him?", she pouted her cute little pout that always made my heart melt.
"Of course you do! But it's first come first serve! So….", I handed her the camera and stood next to my pride and joy.
'Wow! He's already as tall as me!'
"Say cheese!", my beautiful wife yelled out as she aimed the camera at us.
I smiled and ruffled Natsu's hair making him groan.
"Hey-
FLASH
"That one didn't count! Dad messed up my hair!"
"What?! No I didn't!", I stuck my tongue out at him making him do the same.
"You're mean!", he pouted
"Did I hurt your feelings?"
"Maybe!", he averted his gaze from me.
"Then maybe this can cheer you up", I tossed a neatly wrapped thin box at him.
"What is it?", he asked as he examined the outside of the box.
"Open it"
He gave me one last questioning look before he started to tug at the wrapper outside of the box.
I waited patiently as he started to pull off the shiny purple bow that was on top of it.
Once he opened the box he pulled out the white scaly scarf that was inside of it.
"A scarf?"
"Happy Birthday Son!", I hugged him tightly making him gasp for air.
"Thanks Dad!", he mumbled in my chest as he hugged back.
"You're welcome-
RING RING
My cellphone began to vibrate in my jean pocket shattering the moment we were having.
"Sorry! I'll be right back! While I'm gone enjoy your party! Have fun! You're only thirteen once", I ruffled his hair and stepped outside into the cold chilly air.
I pulled my cellphone next to my ear and answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Igneel Dragneel?"
"Who's asking?"
"Don't play games with me I know it's you"
"What do you want?"
"My money! What else would I want?!"
"I don't have it!"
"You're two months late Dragneel! If you don't get my money soon then we're going to have to get your family involved!"
"Don't you come near my family!", I growled
"Well if you don't get the money we'll have to get them involved"
"..."
"Tsk! Fine I'll get your money"
"Good boy!"
"But once I give it to you, you better promise to leave Me and my family alone forever!"
"Understood, just don't mess this up"
"Whatever"
CLICK
I ended the call and went to my contacts.
'If anyone can help me get the money, it ought to be him'
RING RING
"Metalicana?"
"Yes?"
"Let's talk about that job offer you offered me?"
…
"Are you sure about this?", Metalicana asked me as he handed me the white application.
"I'm not sure but I need the money so….."
He handed me a pen and watched me sign the application that would change my future forever.
"Now you just need to mail it and see if they accept you"
"Alright, I'll mail it tomorrow, thanks again man!", I patted his back as I started to head towards the door.
"No problem but are you really sure?"
I turned my gaze at him and sighed.
"I don't have a choice. I have to do this"
"But what about your family?"
"I'm doing this for them, I really need this money!"
"If that's what you want but you should probably tell them about this"
"I will don't worry, it's going to be hard but….I will"
"See you later Metalicana!", I waved at him and exited the door. With the application that would cause me so much trouble in the future.
…
Date: June 16, 2025
(Natsu's pov)
"See ya later Natsu!"
"Bye!", I waved back at my friends as I dashed out of the school courtyard and into the busy streets of Magnolia.
'I have to hurry! Dad said he had something important to tell me!'
Dark clouds started to form over the sky. They quickly replaced the warm sunny atmosphere with a dark and gloomy one.
'Oh no! Now I have to hurry! Before I get soaked from the rain!'
I sprinted with all of my might to my house making it in under ten minutes.
'Good thing I live close to the school. If I had lived any further I would've been getting soaked by now'
Raindrops started to drip down from the dark sky but luckily I was already home.
I inserted my home key inside of the doorknob and twisted it unlocking my warm home to me.
"Dad! Mom! I'm home!"
I stepped inside the quiet household and threw my backpack on the floor.
"Dad? Mom?"
I was greeted with silence. The only thing I could hear was the rain landing roughly on the ground and on the windows.
"Where are you guys?"
'Did they go somewhere?", I shrugged and made my way upstairs.
'The sounds the rain's giving off sounds like somebody is crying'
I stopped in front of my Mom's room and leaned closer to the door.
'Wait a minute! That's not rain! Someone is crying in there!'
I swung the door open revealing my defenseless sobbing Mother on the floor.
"Mom?", I whispered making her face me.
Her eyes were bright red and full of tears.
"Oh Sniff Natsu I didn't know you were home already Sniff"
She wiped her face with her sleeve and started at the ground.
I plopped down next to her and embraced her into a hug.
"Mom? What's wrong? Why are you crying?", I whispered as I stroke her back.
She trembled in my arms as she hid her face into my chest.
"I…..I"
She took my right hand and placed a wadded up piece of paper into my hand.
"What's this?"
"...R-Read it"
I loosened the hug and opened up the wadded up piece of paper.
'Dad's handwriting!'
Dear Natsu and Grandine,
Thirteen years ago when Natsu was being born. I took a gigantic loan from a loan shark so I could pay the medical bills that were piling up. I know I haven't told you guys this before, but it was because I didn't want you two to get involved. I still have to pay the loan shark back. The only problem is I don't have that kind of money so I've found a solution. I'm joining Magnolia's Army to earn the money. So please respect my decision, I don't want you guys to worry about me. I'll be fine I promise. I'll be back in no time. You won't even notice that I was gone. Still I'm really sorry that you guys had to find out this way. I didn't have the courage to tell you guys face to face so please forgive me. I know that I'm a coward for doing this, but I just hope you guys can forgive me.
I love the both of you with all my heart. You two are my pride and joy, so I promise I will make it back alive. Even if I have to climb twenty gigantic mountains, I will come back no matter what. We will be a family again in no time, so don't worry.
I love you both so much.
Love,
Igneel/Dad/Natsu's Best Friend
"DAD!"