Chapter 3: Fuel

Romeo awoke from his sleep to find himself alone. He felt surprisingly well compared to the state he was before he had slept. He stretched his muscles as he slowly drifted up. He still felt pain on his arm and ribs, but bearable. He gently planted his feet on the ground and quickly stood up expecting a reaction from his body. He almost felt rejuvenated. The poorly lit cave prevented him from inspecting his wounds. It was generous for Prometheus to let him stay; there is no point in burdening him any longer.

He opened the makeshift door and almost was blinded by the light outside. It was already day, he must of slept through the whole night. Trees filled the scenery and a path way leading forward. This place is well hidden he thought as he walked through the path. Prometheus was nowhere to be seen. It was rude leaving without showing gratitude. The pathway was his best bet on finding him or at least the way out. He heard a faint sound in the distance followed by crash and a sound of fire burning.

The road led him to an open area in time to see another eruption of fire. Prometheus was in the middle of the fire waving what seems like a staff controlling it. The fire arched and spread in his command taking shape, a technique that Romeo has witnessed before. The wave of flames crashed down.

"No way…" Prometheus turned around, his attention caught by Romeo's loose remark.

"You're awake. I see your condition improved" His tone stayed the same as last night stoic and blunt, the shadow of his hood still covered his face, so it was impossible to know his mood.

"Was that fire dragonslayer magic?" Prometheus posture changed. "It was right. Fire Dragon's wing attack"

"So, you have witnessed this magic before" he didn't act surprised. Romeo remembered when he was saved it was the same type of fire.

"Are you a fire dragonslayer"

"No I am not. I cannot use magic like you, but I work with it"

Prometheus demeanor became more relaxed and pointed his finger at his staff. "This staff contains a fire dragon lacrima. The user is capable of controlling the magic within, the fire of the long extinguished dragons and with it normal fire."

Taking a closer look the head of the staff resembled and carved dragon head with two red lacrima as eyes. Fire dragon lacrima the same as Laxus' lightning dragon lacrima.

He continued "I work with fire magic, creating flames far exceeding its natural proprieties. I am able to create flames of great destruction and power. Flames that are able to never burn out, make sounds resembling a hymn, and heal wounds. What do you think caused your condition to improve so rapidly?"

Romeo has heard of those types of fire magic. Totomaru said it was a long forgotten art that disappeared during the uprising of Zeref and only high leveled mages were able to use it. Even Totomaru isn't capable of making them and he's weaker than Natsu. This guy can make Fire dragonslyer magic and different variations as well.

"Don't know why I'm telling you this, I guess am getting senile" he smirked

"Uh, Prometheus-san" Romeo mumbled. "You're able to make different types of fire magic using your staff right."

Prometheus only nodded in confirmation.

"Then can you teach someone how to make it."

"If a person can use fire magic, I can."

"I can use fire magic." He excitedly replied.

"I know. I saw it when you were fighting those apes."

Romeo's eyes widen "You were watching!"

"Your fire is too weak to harm them, didn't even faze them"

"And you didn't do anything"

"I did save you. You should be grateful I did that much" Romeo squeezed his fist in anger and annoyance. Prometheus just watched and let the Vulcans beat him to the ground, and he's suppose to be grateful.

"The point is I can use fire magic so, you can teach me how to create new fires right."

"Why would you want to learn that?"

"I want to become stronger."

Prometheus leaned on his staff unamused in his response. "Everybody wants to become powerful. Everything we do is a distorted way to gain power or satisfy our insatiable wants, the question is why. Why do you want to become stronger."

Romeo was unsure on how to reply to his question but he gave the best response he could think of.

"I want to protect my friends." It wasn't a lie. He does want protect Wendy and the others from harm.

"Is that it" Prometheus regained his pose still unamused. "You are a member of Fairy Tail correct; the strongest guild in all of Fiore. Your friends don't need your protection. There's no reason for you to become stronger now. You're a child, strength and experience will come naturally as you age."

It's true he didn't need to become stronger, but it doesn't mean he wants to. He was tired of people calling a child.

Romeo stumbled on his words trying to find something to say. "But someone my age is stronger…"

"So you want to become stronger to beat your competition"

"It's not like that!"

"Then what is"

Romeo didn't know what to say, he wants to become stronger to impress a girl, he wants to be acutely useful in the guild. Both answers left a bitter feeling. All he knew is he wants to become stronger.

"You will grow up strong and pave the way for the younger generation, like your elders will do for you. If you have no real reason then there is no reason to train you."

"I don't need your help I'll get stronger on my own." He reacted in frustration.

"That is the reason you came on your mission alone. And failed, because you want to be stronger"

"I haven't failed yet I can still…." A memory just popped back into his head. The reason he was out here in the first place. "Primordial flame…." A realization just hit. The alias Primordial Flame must be referring to a fire mage; a fire mage living in this forest. The man he was looking for is right in front of him.

"Primordial Flame was it. What will you do when you find this Primordial Flame?" Crap, he knows. Prometheus started to walk towards him, a frown shaping his face. Romeo took a step back stunned in the situation he got himself into.

"Use your pathetic fire on him?" Romeo tried to regain himself standing his ground. Prometheus wasn't a real fire mage there's a chance he could beat him.

"try to kill him?" Romeo glared back at Prometheus only to lose his resolve watching the old mage's hostile demeanor. He was unsure what he was feeling. An enormous aura surrounded Prometheus. Romeo felt fear he had never experienced before. He began to sweat and tremble as Prometheus walked closer.

"I wonder what he would do to a brat challenging him." Prometheus is now in front of him, staring him down. Romeo was small compared to him he would have to look up to stare at him eye to eye, something he couldn't do. He was nothing compared to him. The small mage tried to move as Prometheus lifted his hand. Romeo could only shut his eyes, waiting for his fate. He felt firm weight on his head moving his hair back and forth.

"Relax, I saved you didn't I" Prometheus still frowning walked passed him. Romeo opened his eyes trying to recollect himself. He was completely helpless. Not strong enough to even put up a fight. Prometheus could have killed him if he wanted to. There was no excuse now. He failed his mission.

Prometheus watched the disheveled mage and gave a deeper frown. He pointed forward with his staff making sure it was in Romeo's eye sight which startled him a bit. "There's a road down that pathway for traveling merchants. It avoids the forest and leads to magnolia."

Romeo nodded in confirmation. He felt defeated ignoring the fact he was a criminal. All he wanted to do now is go home. Prometheus continued to watch him and started to the walk the opposite pathway.

"A fire burns in everyone. It links the fire in all of us. It's up to you how hot it gets."

Prometheus words were left unheard. Romeo walked into the forest, the trees covering his leave.

It was evening at Magnolia. Romeo stumbled through streets still reflecting at his failure of a journey. He always had the urge to become stronger but never the incentive. He felt empty wanting something but he could never figure out what. Since he was child there was something always missing.

"Romeo!" He turned around to see a pink headed mage racing towards him with a few other familiar mages. Romeo was glad to see him. There were points where he thought he wasn't able to see him ever again. He needed some cheering up.

"Hey, Nat-" He was cut off by Natsu's fist connecting to his head.

"Ow! What was that for?" he massaged his head.

"Where were you!"

"Where was I, I was uh…" Romeo had completely forgotten he was gone for a day. He had no excuse premade.

"We were looking everywhere for you" exhaled Lucy as she finally cached up followed by Gray, Happy hovering over them.

"We've been worried sick about you"

"Where did you get those wounds?"

"I'm sorry ..." Romeo lowered his head in shame. Natsu, Gray and Lucy backed away as a shadow loomed over Romeo.

"Sorry is not going to cut it" Romeo turned around in surprise.

"E-Erza-san!" She was visibly furious looking like she was about to murder someone. Natsu and Gray hugged each other on instinct.

"Tell me where you were now and no lies."

He could have confessed to her about everything that happened like a sane human being but something told not to give the entire truth. If he told them they might go after Prometheus, and he did save him.

"I was on a mission and I got beat up pretty bad by some Vulcans."

"We asked Mirajane if any of the job postings were missing, she said none were taken. Are you lying to me."

"No, no it was a bounty mixed in with the jobs; it was some con artist who escaped prison."

"You know we don't take jobs like that."

"I know… sorry" it was the only thing he could say.

Erza continued to stare down at him with her arms crossed determining if it was a lie or not.

"Come on Erza give him some slack, he just wanted to go on an adventure." Natsu courageously claimed.

Erza glared back at him which caused him to return to Gray's embrace. Erza studied Romeo's bandages.

"You've been hurt, how bad is it?"

"Oh, its fine I feel better."

"Have Wendy take a look at it; afterwards we will have to decide your punishment." Romeo didn't know which was more terrifying, confronting Wendy or Erza's punishment.

"I'm going to call the search off, Natsu, Gray, Lucy take him to Macao I think he would want a word with him." Search? He didn't know they would acutely search for him.

"Aye" the three said simultaneously. Erza headed towards the guild. Romeo couldn't help to feel guilty. A whole search party was out looking for him and leaving in the middle of the night like that. His dad must be completely stressed out. Romeo is unsure he could take anymore.

"Wendy what are you doing why aren't you checking on Romeo?" asked Lucy.

Wendy? Romeo stared in the back of the group. Surely enough Wendy was there hidden by the rest of the group with Charle on side. She was there the whole time and listened to Romeo's story about how he was beaten by Vulcans. She stepped forward giving him a polite nod. Romeo was unprepared to talk. He didn't know what to say. How come we haven't talk in seven years? Do you hate me?

The rest of the group wasn't paying attention because of a fight between Gray and Natsu. Arguing on how Gray was feeling up on Natsu too much. Wendy began inspecting Romeo wounds. Romeo tries to hide his flushed face as she touches him. Charle flying over head glaring at him or it was possible that's how she normally looks, he could never tell.

"That's strange" Wendy whispered to herself

"What is it?"

"You don't have any wounds." She unwrapped the bandages from Romeo's right arm, the same arm that was fractured. It was completely healed.

"I guess It wasn't so bad." He tried playing it off.

"Guess not"

His first conversation with Wendy in seven years and it's about how he went on a mission and haves bandages for no reason. Wendy looked concerned which means she doesn't necessarily hates him but doesn't mean he cares for him either.

"Okay, I'm done" Wendy called out to the rest of the group. She scurried away before had a chance to talk to her. It probably means she hates him after all.

Natsu and the group were walking towards Romeo's house; Wendy in the back away from them. He noticed Charle flying over her still with her disapproving look on her face.

"Charle doesn't like you" said a blue cat in front of him.

"What do you mean?"

"She always gets angry when you're around" Happy added.

Romeo tried turning his head acting like he's stretching his neck to look at Wendy. She was walking slowly and frowning like she was thinking about something. She must have been dragged into the search and tired. Maybe that's why Charle was so angry. Surely enough Charle intercepted his vision. He turned back embarrassed he was caught. He felt an empty feeling in his gut. The same feeling he had always since seven years ago…

Sorry for the late update. Had alot work for college. I also changed the chapter name to next.

Next Chapter: Ignition