The fire breathers were always Natsu's favorite act to witness at the fair. This was because he had always been fascinated with fire breathing creatures of lore known as dragons. When he was very little, he liked very much to pretend that he was a dragon soaring high above the sky and creating massive flames just by releasing a breath.Of course he knew dragons were real but at such young age, he assumed that men who breathed fire at the fair were the closest things he get to seeing dragons.
The boy laughed and marveled the entire time he watched those incredible men apparently swallow lit matches and then produce fire from their mouths. Some especially talented ones juggled as they did this and others even did this while walking on a high wire. And through it all not one person was burned nor did the flames spread to anything or anyone. It was truly astonishing how these men could pull off such a spectacle without causing any damage.
"I want to learn how do that Father!" Natsu said.
"Well why don't we just focus on teaching you how to read first son?" Igneel told him. "Why would you even want to do a crazy and dangerous thing like that anyway?"
"Because then I'll be like the dragons in the stories that you and Mother read to me."
"Well my boy breathing fire doesn't exactly make you a dragon. For one thing dragons are reptiles, you're a mammal. You have hair and soft flesh for skin not scales. You walk on two legs instead of four, you'll never grow to be the massive size that a dragon is, and you don't have a tail or wings."
"Then I'll be a dragon in human skin."
Igneel smiled at the boy's innocence.
"Besides, knowing how to breathe fire will be an excellent weapon."
"Weapon? Weapon for what?"
"For when I become a solider of the court. When I grow up I won't to fight and protect the people of London from injustice."
"My, my, quite a career goal you've chosen for yourself."
"Do you think it'll actually happen one day Father? That I can really become a solider?"
"I believe you can do anything that you sent your mind to."
"Can we go eat something now? I'm starving."
"Alright. I'm feeling a little peckish myself anyway. Let's go get some of those chestnuts."
Igneel took Natsu over to the stand where bags of roasted, tasty chestnuts were being sold to anyone who had a craving for them and the money to buy them. Igneel purchased two bags, one for himself and one for his son. These chestnuts in particular had been roasted and seasoned with butter and spices, giving them such a warm and sumptuous falvor.
"Are they good?" Igneel asked Natsu.
"The best chestnuts ever!" He declared, popping another nut into his mouth.
"Mr. Dragneel!"
A man in the crowd called out to the farmer. His age was somewhere between late twenties and early thirties, he was very muscular, and had a red beard. His name was Gildarts, he was once the servant of a very wealthy lord but then his employer died and the man's house, money, and staff was seized by the king and given to an officer of the royal court. That's who Gildarts served now and his new employer paid him very little. Which was especially sad for he was a widower with a young daughter. He was also a neighbor of Igneel and a good friend.
"Gildarts how nice to see you." Igneel greeted him with a smile. "Where is that pretty little girl of yours? Surely she wouldn't want to miss a fair."
"She's home sick with a nasty sore throat. Caught form being outside too long. I was wondering if you could give me the recipe for that tonic you once brewed up. The one that cured my strep throat last year?"
"Certainly. Now for starters one of the key ingredients is vinegar. When heated and mixed with apple juice, it can soothe a person's throat very much. But there are a few herbs that you should throw in there as well-"
As Igneel became distracted giving the recipe to Gildarts, Natsu's mind and his legs started to wander about. He observed the different kinds of people that were in attendance of the fair. Most of them were couples and like Gray, he was at that age where he thought love was gross and didn't understand the appeal.
He then spotted a group of ladies making their way through the fair. They were dressed in garments of silk and velvet, with jewels and other rich adornments. He recognized the smallest one as the queen's stepdaughter and she had a very sad look on her face.
"Why is she so sad?" He wondered. "She's at the fair. The most fun place in London."
Without thinking, Natsu approached her.
"Hello." He called out.
The women with the girl were her ladies in-waiting and the lot of them were not pleased with the sight of a dirty peasant boy coming so close.
"Go away you filthy urchin!" One snapped at him.
"How dare you come near the Grand Duchess!" Another snarled.
"Get out of here before we call the royal guards!" Threatened a third one.
But the fourth lady was more compassionate.
"Don't speak to him that way." She said calmly but firmly. "He is only a child, he meant no harm."
She then looked at Natsu and suddenly became alarmed.
"Oh you terrible women." She scolded. "Do you not know who this boy is? He is Igneel's son. His father happens to be a dear friend of the queen. He and his family must always be welcomed and shown courtesy. Hello again Natsu."
"Hello again Lady Victoria. Would you like a chestnut?"
"No thank you. Having a wonderful time at the fair?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Much thank you. Will you thank her majesty for me? Father says I wouldn't have made it if she didn't have her physician take care of me."
"Of course."
He then turned his attention to Lucy. She was shyly hiding behind Lady Victoria.
"Hi, I'm Natsu."
"Lucy." She said bashfully.
"Would you like a chestnut?"
"May I Lady Victoria?" She asked the woman responsible for her.
"I don't see why not."
Natsu offered her his bag and she took a few nuts. She smiled a little at the taste.
"You looked so sad before." Natsu said. "What's wrong?"
"I miss my big sister. She's gone away and I won't see her again for a very long time."
"Oh I'm sorry. But there's nothing like a fair to cheer you up."
"The duchess is not attending this filthy and foll hardy fair." One of the other ladies spoke up.
"What she means is." Victoria said more gently. "Her father, his majesty the king would much prefer that she focus on her studies. We're just passing through here to escort her to temple for her lessons."
"Your father is the king?" Natsu asked Lucy who nodded. "Then that means you're a princess."
"No I am a duchess."
"But I thought princesses were the daughters of kings."
"No they are the daughters of kings and queens. The king is my father but the queen is not my mother. Therefore I cannot be a princess. But my sister is one."
"How come? Don't you have the same parents?"
"I'm afraid that's a conversation for another day Natsu." Victoria said. "Lucy needs to get to her lessons now."
"Does she really have to go? Can't she come to the fair with me? We'll have so much fun."
"Oh can I Victoria? Can I please? I know all those books by heart." Lucy pleaded.
"I'm very sorry my lady but your father has ordered us to escort you to the temple and we must obey him."
"Then can she come over to my house tomorrow and play?" Natsu asked. "The farm is really fun. I can show her all her animals and we can ride horses and help Father in the garden-"
"Absolutely not!" The first lady snapped. "I don't think you realize this boy, but a duchess does not perform labor nor does she associate with nasty little farm boys or their simple-minded fathers!"
"Don't you ever insult my father!" Natsu immediately took a handful of mud and flung it into her face. She screamed and struck the boy.
"Gretchen! Stop that at once!" Victoria cried out.
"What's going on here?!" Igneel asked, finally locating Natsu and then becoming enraged wehn he saw him getting beaten. "Get away from my son!"
Victoria jerked Gretchen off of Natsu while his father picked him up into his arms.
"You need to control that brat of yours!" Gretchen said.
"Shut your mouth you hag!" Igneel practically roared. "If you were a man I'd break your neck for what you've just done! Don't you ever touch my boy again!"
"Please Igneel, don't make scene." Victoria said. "Rest assured I'll speak to queen about this and Gretchen will be reprimanded. I give you my word, she'll never lay so much as one finger on him again."
Lucy and her ladies in waiting left after that. Luckily Gretchen didn't have enough muscle to do any real damage to Natsu. He only sustained just the one bruise on his arm. After making sure he was okay, Igneel gently but firmly scolded his son for wandering off and for provoking a member of the court.
"I'm sorry I wandered away Father but that witch insulted you!" Natsu argued.
"I don't care! People in the court are powerful and dangerous. You are to never anger them if the situation doesn't call for it. You could lose your head for doing such a foolish thing, and that would break your mother's heart and destroy my sanity. I am never to hear of an incident like this again. Do you hear me?"
"Yes Father. Are we going to leave fair early now?"
Igneel sighed.
"No. But I'm keeping a better eye on you the rest of the time we're here." He said taking him by the hand. "Now let's go play a few games while we wait for the big show. I hear it's supposed to be really good."
"What kind of show is it? More fire breathers?"
"No, it's a puppet show."
"What's that?"
"It's when people use funny little toys to tell a story. I use to see them on the street a lot when I was your age."
"Are they fun?"
"Lots of fun. You'll love it."
"Father."
"Yes son?"
"Lucy told me that she's the king's daughter but she's not a princess because her mother isn't the queen. But her sister is a princess for some reason. Why?"
"Well it's because although Lucy and Princess Erza have the same father, they don't have the same mother. Erza's mother is the queen but Lucy's mother was a commoner like us."
"What?" Natsu said looking confused. "How can they not have the same mother?"
"The king had Lucy with another woman. That's how."
"But you always told me couples had to get married before they had kids. Did the king marry that other woman?"
"Natsu I think we'll wait a few years before I explain that very complicated matter to you."
"Lucy also mentioned her sister going away. Where is she going?"
"She's not exactly going away. She's still at the castle, she'll just be staying in one place of the castle for a very long time."
"Why?"
Igneel suddenly looked very serious, and took a moment to make sure no one was close enough to hear him. Then he whispered.
"Natsu I'm only telling you this so you never do anything like you did with that woman, and you're not to repeat what I say to anyone else. Not without my permission. Understand?"
"I understand."
"Now Listen very carefully to me. The king is a very cruel man. One with no love in his heart only hate. He doesn't even have any love to give to his wife and children. That's why that rebellion happened. But it failed and he killed so many innocent people for it."
"Why is he like that Father?"
"I don't know. I really don't know. Especially considering what God gave him. A glorious kingdom, decent subjects, a devoted wife, and two beautiful daughters, yet he's only happy when he's hurting other people. May the lord protect us from men like him." He hugged his son close.
"I love you Father."
"I love too. Let's get off this subject now. It's a little depressing. We're here to have fun remember?"
Natsu nodded and they didn't speak of it again for the entire day.