The Early Years
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail
So, I know, earlier than a month but my reason is because next weekend, when I would have posted this, I won't be in states and I have no idea what the internet connection will be like where I am going so I figured best to post it now.
Longer chapter ahead! Enjoy!
Two Years Later
"Papa, where do you go when you work?" Zeref asks as he and Natsu play in the large living area. Igneel looks up from the book he is reading, relishing the brief break he has in his days. He had managed over these last two years to get the Marvell, Fernandes, and Toxidea family back into the main coalition. Metalicanna was being stupidly stubborn but at least he was willing to talk to him, unlike Weisslogia or Skiadrum.
"A lot of places, why?" Igneel says. He didn't want to overwhelm Zeref.
"Is that why you not home?" Zeref asks.
"I try to be, but yes." Igneel answers. Natsu toddles over to his father. He started walking very early and soon after mastered running and climbing stairs.
"Yes son?" Igneel says as Natsu grips his leg.
"I help papa." Natsu says, flashing a big grin with only a few teeth. He had noticed Natsu inherited something else from his family. The extra-long canine teeth. Zeref did not inherit these, but Natsu did. Igneel chuckles at his son.
"You're still too little son, but thanks." Igneel laughs.
"No little." Natsu pouts. Igneel chuckles at his stubborn little boy. Unlike Zeref who was a very calm child, preferred reading and being read to, Natsu was a very physically active child. Natsu had started walking at six months old, after seeing Gray toddling around, Natsu had gotten angry enough to stand up and walk. Now at age two, Natsu could run and climb stairs with no issues, no stumbling even. Now is when he seemed more interested in listening to stories and reading, like his brother. Zeref, who was almost five, would read what he could to Natsu, who would listen intently.
"Papa?" Natsu says.
"Hmm?" Igneel replies, breaking from his memories of the boys.
"When big boy to help?" Natsu asks.
"Well, when you're five you get to start learning about what I do, if you want to." Igneel says, his eyes flicking to Zeref.
"You too." He says with a smile. Zeref smiles, unaware of what that means.
"I want help papa." Natsu says.
"I know my boy, I know." Igneel laughs as he pulls the small child close to him.
2 weeks later
"So, now that you know, what do you say?" Igneel says. He had just explained things to Zeref, since he was now five. Zeref was quiet for a moment, thinking the extreme amount of information over before he looked up to him, his eyes watery.
"I don't want to be the head of that, but I still want to help keep the family safe and keep Natsu safe. Please don't be mad!" Zeref cries out. Igneel smiles knowingly.
"I'm not mad, I could never be mad. I kind of knew you wouldn't want to be the head later on. You'll still have to learn about it though. How do you want to help?" Igneel asks as Zeref wipes his tears.
"I want to be a…. legal helper person. A person who knows the rules so that I can help baby brother Natsu get out of trouble." Zeref says.
"The family attorney huh? I can see that." Igneel chuckles. Zeref was always good at getting his way with things, not from his parents, but everyone else. He knew how to twist things around to work for him, whereas Natsu, though he was young, was a bit too much like his father and very brash. Yes, Zeref becoming the attorney for mafia would be a great idea.
"So, a lawyer. I could see that working out, and your brother would like the help I know. You will still have to learn to fight and weapon play, but your mother and I will hire a tutor so you can start learning about law." Igneel says, watching Zeref as his emotions show ever presently, ranging from joy, to fear, to devoted anticipation.
"You'll be sparring with Laxus, Jellal and Erik until the others are older." Igneel reminds, watching as slight fear envelopes his sons face. Smiling, Igneel claps a hand on his son's shoulder.
"You start training tomorrow." Igneel says. Zeref gulps nervously.
3 years later
"It's not fair! Why does he get to start the special stuff and I don't?" Natsu complained. It was February 13th; Gray had just been informed of what his family really was and was more than happy to take the mantel when his father retired.
"Because I'm five, baby Natsu." Gray teases. Natsu glares at Gray, seething as much a four and half year old could.
"Your birthdays in like five months kiddo, chill." Laxus laughs. He was just shy of ten, but he already knew the hierarchy, accepted it and carried on. A pout adorned Natsu's face as Gray, and the others left before an idea popped into his head. He turned his eyes to his older brother and smiled sweetly.
"Big brother…" Natsu starts.
"Whatever it is you want me to do, the answer is no." Zeref says. Natsu only starts things like that when he wants something.
"You and the others spar right?" Natsu asks innocently as he approaches his brother.
"Yes, frequently. Why?" Zeref asks.
"Teach me." Natsu says.
"What part of the answer is no did you not understand?" Zeref asks, looking at his little brother and seeing the dead set determination in his eyes. And the gleam of mischief.
"All of it." Natsu smiles deviously.
"No." Zeref says firmly.
"We can make it a secret." Natsu says.
"No." Zeref repeats.
"Not even mom will know." Natsu adds.
"No." Zeref repeats again.
"It can be on the days when dad is gone for an extra-long time." Natsu chants.
"N. O." Zeref says again. A small smirk plays on Natsu's lips before he throws himself to the ground and wails, loudly and excessively, drawing the attention of their parents.
"Natsu, what's wrong?" Zanelia asks.
"Now I won't have anyone to play with!" Natsu shouts distraught. Zeref lets out a quiet groan. He knows exactly what he's doing.
"You'll have your brother. And it's only five months sweety." Their mother chides to calm her upset baby.
"But Zeref says he won't play with me! He never has time!" Natsu cries. Their parents shoot him a look before their mother looks at their father pointedly.
"Instead of five days with me, he can do four, have one free day, and the other days he's with the boys for their private lessons." Igneel says before Zanelia even utters a word.
"What day do you want sweety?" Zanelia asks Zeref. His gaze falls to his little brother, who's putting on a marvelous show of crying, and, remembering he said the day their father is gone the longest for was usually Saturday he relented.
"Saturday." Zeref says calmly. Igneel smiles.
"Yeah, Saturday is my long day. Why didn't you say so kiddo?" Igneel asks.
I don't mind, but Natsu can play people like a fiddle when he wants to. Zeref thinks.
"I didn't want to disappoint you." Zeref says with a small whimper. He can also play people just as well and so he figures if this is how it's going to go, make it count. Zeref catches a small flash of a smirk on Natsu's face before he continues his act.
"You could never disappoint me Zeref. Take a day to spend with your brother and have fun, you're still a kid after all." Igneel laughs before Zanelia kisses both boys' heads, wipes Natsu's tears and with the boys looking much happier the parents depart, happy to have helped their boys. They wait a couple of minutes before Zeref turns to his triumphantly smiling little bother, who's eyes hold an arrogant smugness that he inherited from their father.
"You can be such a brat." Zeref snickers.
"I know. So, this Saturday, you're gonna start teaching me or what?" Natsu demands, crossing his arms and staring his brother down.
"Well duh. But be ready, I won't hold back, even if you are my baby brother." Zeref chuckles.
"I won't either." Natsu says, smirking.
4 months later
"Break!" Zeref shouts. It was weird for him. Over these last four months that he's been secretly teaching Natsu how to spar, he's found that Natsu is a fast learner. Really fast. Mastered the basics in two lessons and now, within that time frame they had been learning, he was on par with him. Zeref could barely block his oncoming attacks fast enough and could only seldom land a hit. It wasn't that he was holding back, true to his word, he went all out. Natsu was just fast and agile and being smaller than him helped a lot as well. After taking a few moments to catch their breath they were right back to it, unaware that their mother and father had caught them.
"What are you doing?" Igneel says causing both boys to freeze.
"Dad, you're home early!" Zeref says nervously.
"That's not an answer Zeref." Igneel says.
"We're playing a game." Natsu says cheerfully.
"Oh? What game?" Igneel inquires, not really believing him since he knew those fighting stances and techniques.
"A game I made up." Natsu says sheepishly.
"Are you lying to me son?" Igneel says. Both boys are quiet for a moment before a small snort escapes their mother. They all look at her, curious.
"I can't believe he conned us for four months! Oh my god, he's so your child!" Zanelia laughed. Zeref held his breath and Natsu looked at his parents confused as his father gave a half-irritated scowl at his wife.
"It's not funny. This gives him a huge advantage when he actually starts sparring, if he's good at it." Igneel states.
"Believe me dad, he punches like a truck and a bull." Zeref says without thinking before he claps his hand over his mouth, catching matching glares from both his father and his brother.
"What did you say?" Igneel says.
"Way to blab big bro." Natsu growls out. Igneel turns his gaze to his young son.
"So, you admit it then." Igneel says.
"Yup." Natsu says shamelessly. Zanelia is barely containing her giggles at this point and Zeref holds his breath as his father strides towards them and crouches down in front of Natsu, blazing eyes that are a myriad of emotions.
"Why?" Igneel asks.
"Because it's not fair. I like learning to fight. It's not fair that I can't go fight with the others just cause I'm not five. I fight better than Zeref." Natsu says. Igneel looks at Zeref, who nods in confirmation.
"Ok, prove it. Every now and then I have your brother hit me as hard as he can, if he can push me, he learns new stuff. If you can move me with your hardest punch, I'll allow you start learning a month early and tell you everything about our family. If not, then this stops until you are five and then I will tell you. But your lessons will be delayed two months passed your birthday. Fair enough?" Igneel says as his young son scowls at the last part before he sets his jaw and nods, staring down his father.
"Good, now lay it on me kiddo." Igneel says. Without even an ounce of hesitation, Natsu throws a punch so hard it knocks his father back a solid two feet, causing him to stumble back before flopping on his back. The pain from the punch radiates in his jaw before he props himself up to openly gawk at his young son.
"How long have you been teaching him?" Igneel asks Zeref.
"Since the first Saturday after Gray's birthday." Zeref says. Igneel stares at his young child before a wide grin takes over his face.
"Fair is fair. Give me a couple days to explain to the others this situation and then reveal some stuff to you about our family. You weren't kidding Zeref; he hits like an ox." Igneel laughs as a wide smile breaks out on Natsu's face. Zeref smiles but is wondering how Natsu will take the news about their family business.
3 days later
Natsu walks into his father's office, nervous and excited to understand more about his family. Zeref had never mentioned anything about their family, though he did try to get that out of him. Sitting in the chair across from his father's desk, he waits for his father to collect himself.
"Do you know what business we run Natsu?" Igneel asks.
"We own and run all the restaurants and hotels in the country dad, you told me this." Natsu says.
"That's a front, but a good one." Igneel says.
"What's a front?" Natsu asks.
"Let me start from the beginning. This nation's second king is the reason we are what we are. You see son, he was very greedy and wanted everything nice the world had to offer, food, money, women, all of it for himself. When people refused to give him everything, he would just take it from them. If a farmer was doing well, he would demand almost all their food. If a business did good, higher taxes, if a man's wife was beautiful, he would kidnap her." Igneel says.
"Jerk." Natsu says.
"Very much. So, one day, nine families decided enough was enough and rallied people who felt the same to rise up against the king. Food supply carts were ransacked and redistributed, taxes were moved around or completely falsified, girls and women were rescued and sheltered away from the king. Soon enough, weapon smiths were supplying the common man with advanced weaponry, enough to topple any of the kings' men with little effort. As time went by and the kings' forces were taken down, the families elected a leader of their group and became and organized group of people, a second government if you will, to control the greedy king and his disciples." Igneel says, watching as Natsu's eyes grow wide with fascination, he nods his head for his father to continue. Igneel smiles.
"The king, having had a lot of wives had numerous children. He sent out his eldest son, the crown prince, to fight the leader of this organization. The prince boasted he was the best swordsman and fighter. The other man smirked and with three attacks toppled the king's son but offered him his life if he should yield. The prince said he would never yield. The man looked to the king, a smirk on his face as he said 'Long live the Fiore line of fools and gluttons' before he snapped the prince's neck, and then slit his throat. The king and his concubine were scared while the other eight family leaders laughed wickedly. The victor stood, covered in the blood of the prince and calmly walked to the royals and declared that should they continue this foolishness that more of his bastards would die." Igneel says.
"Cool! Brutal!" Natsu snickers. Igneel smirks.
"The king did not heed his warning and continued to send in his best fighters, including his sons, and each one was killed. Until only his youngest son was left. He still sent him to fight but the man, the leader did not fight a child, no, he sent in his own son, who willingly went to fight. The son of the leader beat the last prince, but instead of killing him he made him sign a deal, leaders' son to leader's son. The last prince signed it without reading it, but that would be his problem, not the other boys. They had won and when the king asked what they demanded the leader laughed and showed him the document." Igneel chuckles as he pulls out a very old piece of parchment. Natsu's eyes go wide.
"We, the Nine Headed Beast Organization of citizens demand that the king be stripped of all powers over our food, our property, our families and our freedoms. Should we make our own source of power, he cannot have it. Any businesses we make, he cannot control. He will have his title alone, but he will be a puppet and nothing more. Signed, Inglet Dragneel, Nail Redfox, Nathan Fernandez, Slate Fullbuster, Cobra Toxidea, Vale Marvell, Max Dreyar, Thorn Eucliffe, Shade Cheney." Igneel read as Natsu's mouth hung open.
"You see son, our ancestors started an organization, a mafia, the Fiore Mafia. The head family of this group is the Dragneel family. I am the fifth leader of this, my father messed it up, but I've been fixing it. What I want to know son, is this, do you want to learn how to do what I do?" Igneel asks.
"Yes." Natsu says without even an ounce of hesitation.
"You know what this means?" Igneel says.
"Kind of." Natsu says.
"It means you may have to do some bad things to people, but you also have to know how to talk to people. You'll have to earn people back unless I manage to get them all back. You have to know how to fight with fists, knives, guns and all kinds of weaponry. You also have to know how to be a leader and keep a level head." Igneel explains.
"Ok. So, what are we waiting for?" Natsu asks. Igneel smiles.
"Not much son, not much at all." Igneel chuckles, ruffling Natsu's hair as he does.
2 Years Later
"Oh, so now the Redfox family wants to talk. What the fuck Metalicana?" Igneel booms over the phone.
"Oh, shut up Igneel. I was exploring some other options and keeping an eye on the twins and their brats." Metalicana growls back.
"Brats? Weisslogia and his wife had a baby?" Igneel says.
"As did Skiadrum and his wife. Both boys, born about three hours apart. But that's not the point of this call. I have a proposition for you." Metalicana chuckles.
"I'm listening." Igneel says.
"You want the Redfox family back correct?" Metalicanna chuckles.
"No shit." Igneel snarls.
"Then I have a request." Metalicana smirks.
3 Days Later
"So, what exactly is going on?" Natsu asks.
"An old associate who was well, the second in command family, has contacted me. Said that if he is to rejoin our group then he wants to see what the future leader can do. His son, Gajeel, is a couple years older than you and Gray." Igneel says.
"But the Fullbuster family is the second in command family." Natsu says.
"Currently, yes. But it wasn't like that from the beginning. Our family, the Dragneel family, has been the head. Our second in command, our general per se, was until recently, the Redfox, followed by the Fullbuster family. When everyone split because of my father being a greedy bastard, the Fullbuster was the first family I got back, so they were the second in command, with the caveat that if and when the Redfox family returned, they would take back the post. But Metalicanna is being particular." Igneel says as they enter the building. It was the building where they trained at, so it was deemed appropriate for what Metalicanna was requesting.
"How so?" Natsu asks.
"He wants you and Gray, the heads son and seconds son, to spar his son. If you lose, the family may not rejoin, if you win, they will." Igneel sighs. A smirk pulls at Natsu's mouth.
"Oh, is that it." Natsu chuckles when they enter the main sparring area. Natsu sees Silver and Gray along with two other people. The man was as tall as his father, with black hair, red eyes, and several piercings, his skin was tan, and he has several scars adorning his face and arms. The young boy could pass as a clone but with less piercings and scars, and his skin was a little lighter, but not much.
"Thought ya had two boys Igneel." The older man says.
"I do, but Zeref has decided on a different path to help the family business whereas Natsu has decided to follow my path directly. Show some respect Metalicanna." Igneel growls.
"Sending a couple runts to take on my boy, this'll be a massacre." Metalicanna chuckles as the boy smirks wickedly.
"Watch it Redfox." Igneel snarls.
"Talk is cheap, action will tell." Another voice calls out. The men look to the door and see Makarov and his grandson Laxus.
"Of course, old man, you're right. Alright, get them ready for a beat down." Metalicanna chuckles with Gajeel snickering. Metalicanna looks down at Natsu and is startled but the fiery look in the young seven-year old's eyes as a smirk plays on his mouth before he walks off to get ready. The boys change into proper sparring clothes, all three boys going without shirts and squaring up.
"Only rule is no kill shots and no breaking bones, otherwise all is fair." Makarov says as he watches the boys. He knew that when Natsu and Gray had a common goal, they could work well together, but he also knew that Natsu usually liked to let someone believe they had the upper hand before coming back full force. Given that Natsu knew the stakes of this fight, he would probably have Gray take the brunt of the fight before getting serious.
"Begin." Makarov says and like a dart Gajeel lunges, going for Natsu right off the bat who looks unsurprised and blocks the onslaught of punches while Gray launches a kick that knocks Gajeel off kilter and gives Natsu a chance to break away and get some distance, his eyes unwavering and Gray unleashing his onslaught. After a few moments of Gray and Gajeel sparring, Gajeel throws a hard punch to Gray's gut, causing him to hunch over giving Gajeel a chance to kick Gray in the side and across the room. He waits to see if Gray gets up as he struggles to catch his breath. Just as Gray starts to move, Gajeel is struck in the shoulder, causing him to fly. Catching himself, he barely has a chance to block a punch. His arm throbs and trembles as he holds off the punch only to receive a kick to the chest causing him to slide back several feet. He looks up at Natsu, stunned.
"C'mon, that the best you can do?" Natsu snickers, his breathing even and eyes fierce. A smirk twists Gajeel's mouth.
"Not even brat." Gajeel chuckles as he charges. The two unleash a series of hard punches and kicks on each other. Gajeel went to kick Natsu in the chest, but Natsu back flips, lands on his hands, twists and sweeps his feet out from under him before landing on his feet again and pins Gajeel down and throws a punch, stopping it from hitting his face. Both boys are panting hard, covered in bruises and bleeding.
"Give up or I'll actually knock you out." Natsu says.
"Prove it." Gajeel says, as he prepares to get Natsu off of him, next thing he knows, Natsu pulls his arm far enough back and punches him hard. Gajeel lies there, unconscious as Natsu gets off him and stands. Making sure to keep eyes on Gajeel, Natsu walks to Gray and offers his hand to the slightly older boy.
"That's gonna hurt." Gray wheezes.
"Dude, don't. I think I took a worse beating than you." Natsu growls.
"You're not really human so…" Gray teases as Natsu rolls his eyes. Gajeel twitches awake, his eyes flying open, but his vision is swimming, and the room is spinning.
"Well, damn. A deal is a deal." Metalicanna chuckles.
"No offense Silver, but you know what this means." Igneel says.
"No offense, he beat Gray fairly." Silver says.
"Your boy fights like a demon." Metalicanna chuckles.
"He may well be one by the time he hits puberty." Igneel laughs. Gajeel sits up holding his aching head and looks at Natsu with a mix of anger, awe and respect. Natsu walks over to him and offers his hand.
"I look forward to working with you Gajeel Redfox." Natsu smiles.
"I look forward to working for you Natsu Dragneel." Gajeel chuckles, gripping Natsu's arm and pulling himself up.
"So, what, seven down, two to go." Metalicanna says.
"Yeah, and those two are gonna be the hardest to get back." Igneel sighs in annoyance.
"Perhaps for you, but maybe your boy can get the next gen on board." Metalicanna chuckles.
"Perhaps. I can only hope." Igneel says as he looks at the whole group. The next generation, save for young Wendy, was there. His phone rang and he lets out an annoyed sigh before he sees the ID.
"Weisslogia?" Igneel says.
"I want to meet up, as does Skiadrum, in one year. How many have you gotten back Dragneel?" Weisslogia says.
"Seven. Why?" Igneel says.
"Huh, so you did get Redfox back, pity. I'll show you my project. You'll see how badly you fucked up." Weisslogia snarls before hanging up.
"He's still pissed at me because of my idiot father." Igneel snarls.
"Oh, let the brat be mad, he's just pissed cause I told him and Skiadrum to kick rocks because I refuse to work with Jiemma, Jose, and that bastard Mard Geer." Metalicanna says.
"What? Those three work with fucking Ivan, and they hate the nine heads, what the hell are those morons thinking?" Igneel says.
"Simple really, they're not." Silver sighs. Igneel pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Those dumbasses." Igneel snarls.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Until next time, please R&R!