a few days later, Natsu was at a rocky hill as he looks in amazement towards the kingdom of Crocus.

"that's Cocos, huh?!" said Natsu, misspelling the name of the kingdom.

"would it kill you to get the name, right?" said Bash as he is a few feet behind Natsu and sitting on a rock while smoking. "it's Crocus. The capital city of Fiore; Crocus."

After Natsu encounter with Bash; he had decided to follow the cowboy to his return to Crocus where he was promised a high possibility of finding info or rumors about his dragon father who might be sighted by someone who comes into the kingdom.

"let's go, Bash!" Natsu exclaimed as he started running down the hill. "the faster we get there! The faster we can get news on Igneel!"

"hey, it ain't that easy to hear rumor of a big dragon." Said Bash as he blows out some smoke before he sighs and follows Natsu. "the kid sure got high hopes."

The two arrived at Crocus as the front gate is opened and is secured by many soldier guards. There were many people of many varieties, and horse carriages going in and out of the city as it was just bustling.

At one side there is a line where people were getting checked by the guards.

"next" the guard called out as he let a couple of people pass through the gate before checking another person.

Natsu and Bash were in line as they were waiting for their turn to get checked before entering the kingdom.

"there's so many people!" said Natsu in seeing just how many were going in and out of the city that was filled with citizens. "with this many people! Someone bound to heard or seen Igneel!"

"yeah, but hold your horses." Bash stated while smoking as he placed a hand on Natsu and ruffles his hair a bit. "we got to go into some checks before we can go in. you go crazy to find your dragon dad out here; you won't be able to get in."

By the passing second, more and more people get checked in as it finally came the time for Natsu and Bash's check.

"next!" the guard called out before seeing Bash. "oh! Captain Dash! Welcome back!"

"yeah." Bash replied while handing a rolled-up scroll to the guard. "just got back and my mission at the southeast forest where there are bandits are dealt with. Mind doing me a favor and sent this to our general?"

"yes!" the guard saluted. "thank you for your work as always, captain Dash!"

"yeah." Bash replied before he looks down. "hey, Natsu. Let's go."

But to his surprise; Natsu isn't with him but rather he was already in the city and just roaming free.

"come back here, you brat!" Bash shouted as he went after Natsu. "don't you dare do trouble and get me into it!"

Bash ran off as the guards watch him while sweatdropping a bit.

Natsu ran off as he wowed in seeing the many buildings; the many sights, and the many people who are just roaming.

"someone has got to heard or seen Igneel here!" said Natsu as he started to go all around asking people he sees about his dragon dad.

Bash came running as he looks around for Natsu.

"where did that brat go to!?" said Bash as he looks around before he spotted Natsu bugging a couple who are having a meal together at a restaurant's second floor open balcony. "hey! Get down from there!"

Bash ran and jumped to grab Natsu before both fell to the ground together.

"ow…" Natsu grunted in pain before Bash slams a fist on his head. "ow!" the young boy looks at the cowboy. "what was that for?!"

"that was for making trouble so damn early in the day!" Bash exclaimed before he grabs Natsu and heads off. "god damnit, you're lucky that I'm a captain and have respect from the soldiers and guards!"

"hey! Where are we going!?" Natsu exclaimed as Bash is just heading off to who knows where.

"just shut up while we get to Mercurius palace!" said Bash as he walks in the street while getting some eyes watching. "for crying out loud, you've given me some trouble already!"

"Mercury palace?" said Natsu. "what's that place?"

"it's Mercurius!" Bash stated in correction. "you're a kid with no ideal background, if you plan to find your old man; go by the rules! You can't just go around asking people about a dragon, you'll just get laughed at for that and the way you are wearing! That's why you got to get some help from a friend of mine there. Legal things up with you."

"just who is this friend of yours?" Natsu asked.

"an old war buddy who just got a big promotion recently while I was on my mission." Bash replied while stopping his tracks. "here, you can see the castle now."

Natsu looks at Bash before the view at front as he soon wowed in seeing the castle which is the center of Crocus.

"this is Mercurius Castle." Said Bash.

Entering the Mercurius Castle, Bash walked in the hallway with Natsu who was given a white shirt to cover himself up.

"talk about big." Said Natsu in seeing his surroundings. "but Igneel is bigger than anything."

"right." Bash replied as he sighs before he looks at Natsu. "listen, kid. This is the royal palace; meaning that this place is the home for the King of Fiore. You do anything to offend him; you'll get dozens of soldiers, and bounty hunters going for your ass."

"what do you mean I'll offend him?" Natsu asked while folding his hands behind his head. "I just want to find Igneel and that's it."

"the way you just want to find him will offend the king." Bash told Natsu. "things here ain't like how you do things at the forest where you are from. There are rules and if you don't follow them; you'll get nothing but pain in return."

"then what am I supposed to do?" Natsu asked.

"just stay quiet and let me do the talking." Bash replied as he looks front and then turns towards a corner with Natsu following. "if I let you do all the talking, you'll get kicked right out of the castle."

Natsu hums before he just stays quiet and follows Bash who leads the young boy to a hallway that leads to a big door at the end that is guarded by 6 guards on each side.

The door soon opens as Bash and Natsu enters to find themselves into the castle's throne room where there were many guards positioned inside and guarding the throne where the king sat upon.

"your majesty." Bash spoke out as he came and kneeled to the throne. "Captain Bash Dash has returned from my mission to subdue bandits at the southeast forest."

"good job, Captain Dash." Said the king who is a small old man and wears the royal king attire. "as always, you've done your job very well."

The King's name is Toma .E. Fiore; the current king of Crocus and Fiore.

"he's small and old!" said Natsu before Bash grabs his head and slammed him to the floor. "ow!"

"please forgive this child, he's…" Bash spoke out while sweating a bit. "he's the child of a friend of mine who is under-educated. His name is Natsu Dragneel; he is a good child."

"I see." Toma replied before raising an eyebrow. "and why is this friend's child with you, Captain Dash?"

"my friend was no longer able to support his child and has left him in my care." Bash replied while pushing Natsu's head down harder on the floor while the young boy struggles. "I assure you that this child will not cause any harm."

"hmmm. Very well." Said Toma while nodding. "you've been doing a great service to my kingdom for a decade. I can assume that you wish to help with the child in some way?"

"yes" Bash nodded. "my friend wishes nothing but the best for his child, therefore I recommended for him to join the royal kingdom's elite magic squadron."

"are you certain?" Toma asked before he looks at Natsu who pushes Bash's hand off his head and get back up. "this child seems very young and very small to join the magic squadron."

"who are you calling small?!" Natsu exclaimed angrily before he burst into flames which surprised Toma and the guards in the area. "I'll burn your ass!"

"you little brat!" Bash shouted as he soon slams a fist on Natsu's head and made him fall face-first to the floor before he started bowing towards Toma multiple times. "I'm very sorry, your majesty! This child takes too much of his father's temper! I will educate him properly!"

Toma blinked his eyes a few times before he coughs to a fist a few times then adjust himself.

"y-yes….i can see that." Said Toma. "is this child's father a mage?"

"correct" Bash replied with a nod. "and just like his father, his son possesses his talent. I assure you that I will train and raise him into a soldier who will protect the kingdom."

Toma hums as he scratches his chin a few times.

"very well." Said Toma with a nod. "I shall inform some of my ministers to officiate the child as a citizen of Crocus. I hope to see great things from him in the future."

"yes. thank you very much, your Majesty." Said Bash before he got up and bowed. "please excuse us."

Bash then grabs Natsu and walks out of the throne room then left.

Toma sat on his throne as he smiled a bit.

"Natsu Dragneel, huh?" said Toma while scratching his chin a bit. "I wonder how Bash will train that young lad?"

At a corridor hallway, Bash let out a long sigh before he looks annoyed at Natsu.

"kid, you were pushing your damn luck with the king!" said Bash while placing his hands on his waist. "if it weren't for the fact that the king is a wise and nice person; you would've seen yourself get kicked right out of the castle!"

"I don't get the big deal on why you guys got to follow a short old man." Said Natsu while looking away with a bored look. "he was puny and small, I bet he isn't even strong."

"this little brat…" Bash gritted his teeth while his eyebrows twitched as he raised a shaking fist.

"talk about an unusual sight." A voice spoke as metallic footsteps were heard.

Bash and Natsu look to the side and sees a soldier coming by near the two.

"ah! Arcadios! Been a while!" Bash greeted the soldier as the two shake hands. "it's a bit late but congrats on getting that promotion of yours. I could tell that you worked hard for it."

"thanks," Arcadios replied with a smile before crossing his arms. "but you could've accepted it before me since you work way harder than i."

"nah, work like protecting the princess 24/7 ain't my style." Said Bash while waving a hand in front and then placed his hands on his waist. "that's more of your job. Mine is way nicer and the pay from my current rank is already nice."

"you were always the free wind type of guy." Said Arcadios with a sigh while shaking his head before he uncrosses his arms. "so? You finished your mission and reported to the castle. What brings you talking so loudly all by your own in the hallway?"

"hey, can't you see the kid beside me?" Bash asked while looking to the side and he sees a blinking outline of Natsu who was supposed to be right beside him, but he was gone which made the cowboy's eyes popped out. "he's not here!?"

"hey." Arcadios called out while pointing at the end of the hallway where there was a racket. "something is happening there."

Bash and Arcadios went to checked and the cowboy's jaw dropped as he saw Natsu running away from several chefs while carrying some meat and eating some sausages in his mouth.

"you little brat! I take my eyes off you just for a few seconds!" Bash shouted angrily as he chased after Natsu. "come back and give that meat back to the royal chefs! Come back here! You're going to get me demoted!"

Arcadios sighs while seeing Bash chase after Natsu as the soldier knight shakes his head.

"What did he bring upon himself this time?" said Arcadios while smiling a bit in seeing Bash apologizing to the angry chefs while already beaten up Natsu who has several steaming bulges on top of his head.

The time passes as the day became night. The sun was gone, and the moon was up with the stars littering the black sky.

We turn our attention to the street as there is Bash and Natsu who is walking down the street while passing by some citizens.

"where are we going this time, Bash?" Natsu asked while eating a roasted turkey's drumstick. "another person's spot so that I can get legalized before I can find Igneel?"

"we've done all that this morning." Bash told Natsu while hoisting his backpack that he carried over his left shoulder. "we just leave it for the King to handle the rest, right now it's time to get a good nap at my place."

"eeh? We ain't sleeping outside?" Natsu asked. "it's better to sleep outside where it's chilly."

"hey, I ain't a Fire Dragon Slayer mage like you. I'm a normal person who can get a cold if I sleep at someplace cold" Bash told Natsu with a sweatdrop. "besides, if you get caught sleeping out with no house. You'll be treated as a hobo."

"then where do you guys sleep?" Natsu asked as Bash pointed a finger to the side as the young boy followed and sees a closed candy store. "what's that?"

"my shop and my house." Bash told Natsu as the two arrived at the front door which the cowboy unlocks the lock and opened it. The door swings open as the young boy soon see lots of candy on display. "don't get any idea of eating any of the candy made here or you'll get a major toothache."

"what's candy?" Natsu asked. "is it like meat?"

"you really need to learn a lot about this world." Said Bash with a sweatdrop as he couldn't believe just how under-educated Natsu is.

In the closed candy store, Natsu laid on a small mattress laid on the floor as he laid on it and sighs with satisfaction.

"This thing feels better than a pile of leaves…" Natsu muttered out with a smile as he snuggles on the mattress.

"you really lived like a wild animal." Said Bash as he came in while wearing a white shirt, and black boxers on. The cowboy takes off his hat and placed it on a table nearby while lighting a cigar and start smoking. "I don't want to know how you deal with things after taking a dump."

"so Bash, what are we going to do tomorrow?" Natsu asked as he turns on the mattress to look at the cowboy who sat on his bed. "are we going to start finding leads on Igneel?"

"sorry, but you can't." Bash replied as he blows out some smoke to the side. "you'll start the training as the kingdom's mage. Therefore; you might have to start learning to be one."

"ehhh?! But I just want to find Igneel!" Natsu exclaimed. "this wasn't the deal!"

"I know" Bash replied as he took a whiff and then blows the smoke out from the side of his lips. "but you got to train and learn if you want to find your dragon dad. The only way is to follow the training at the castle, alright?"

"then how can I find Igneel if I'm too busy with this whole training at the castle!?" Natsu exclaimed.

"relax" Bash stated while taking off his cigar. "while you train at the kingdom, I'll start piling up any info that anybody got about your dragon. Just focus on getting smarter and stronger. Your dragon dad won't be proud if you remain as the stupid kid that you are."

"hey! Who are you calling stupid?!" Natsu exclaimed before Bash knocks his head. "ow!"

"you're stupid" Bash replied before he sighs and then put his cigar back into his lips then took a whiff as smoke soon came out of his nostrils. "just start learning and training while I get as much info I can get on your dragon dad, alright?"

Natsu grumbles a bit before he nodded.

"good." Bash stated as he put his cigar and put its fire out before he lies down on his bed. "get some sleep, the training for new recruits at the mage squadron starts early the next day."

"yeah" said Natsu with a nod before he laid down on his mattress. "night, Bash."

"night" Bash replied as he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

A few hours later, the loud snores came from Natsu while Bash was closing his ears with his pillows.

'I'm starting to rethink on whether this kid can be a knight mage or not.' Bash thought as his eyes were bloodshot red.

That's a wrap!

Bye bye