Inside of Natsu's soul, lies the great Fire Dragon King, Igneel. He was watching the whole demon fight through Natsu's eyes and…he saw Acnologia. 'This brings back memories.'

Natsu was fighting off the demons strong but right when he sensed Acnologia, his body froze in fear. Indeed, Natsu was nowhere near ready to fight Acnologia, Igneel will have to do it. He focuses his mind to contact the other dragons. 'Grandine, Metalicana, Weisslogia, Skiadrum…it's time.'

…

Outside,

Both Natsu and Gajeel suddenly felt a wave of pain go through their bodies. They both fell on their knees, unable to move. "W-What's happening?" Gajeel said, gritting his teeth.

"Are you guys, ok? What's wrong?" Levy asked, concerned. "I-I don't know…I can't move." Natsu answered.

"Do you think it has something to do with Acnologia?" Happy asked and Lucy nodded. "Probably, what else could it be? Are you going to be alright, Natsu?"

Before Natsu could answer he got hit with another wave of pain and grunted. "Natsu." Natsu's eyes widened when he heard the all too familiar voice. "I-Igneel?" He said while looking around.

"It has been far too long, my boy."

"Natsu? Who are you talking to?" Lucy asked but Natsu didn't answer as he continued to look around. "Igneel, where are you?!"

"Igneel? What the hell are you talking about Sala-" Gajeel was cut off by something and Levi looked at him concerned. "What is it?"

Gajeel's eyes widened. "M-Metalicana?" Levi looked confused. "Metalicana? Your Father?"

"AHHH!!!" Natsu suddenly screamed in pain and his whole body was glowing. "NATSU!!" Both Lucy and Happy yelled in worry.

"AHH!!!" Soon Gajeel was going through the same. "Gajeel!" Levi was about to head to his side, but Gajeel put his hand up to stop her. "S-Stay back, Levi! I-I don't know what t-this is!"

"What's happening?!" Juvia yelled.

A bright red light then came out of Natsu's chest. "I'm sorry son but I never did leave you…In fact, I've been closer than you ever would have guessed." The light then left and Igneel appeared in all his glory.

Natsu, Lucy, and Happy all looked at him with wide eyes. Natsu was in so much shock that he couldn't even speak. A green light then came out of Gajeel's chest, and a huge iron dragon appeared. He looked down at Gajeel who stood frozen in shock.

"You still have that vulgar look in your eyes."

Gajeel grunted. "Really?! That's what you say to me, after all this time, you bastard?!" Igneel smiled down at Natsu. "We will explain everything in time but right now we must fight Acnologia." He then looked at the iron dragon. "Metalicana, you know what to do!"

Metalicana nodded before taking flight. Gajeel got on his feet. "Hey! Where are you going?!"

"Just sit back and watch, punk!"

Igneel also began to take flight. "I must destroy Acnologia! You get the book of E.N.D!" He told Natsu before attacking Acnologia.

Tears were streaming down Natsu's face as Lucy looked at him with worry. So many emotions were going through his body, anger, sadness, happiness, relief. It was just too overwhelming. Natsu wiped his eyes. 7 years, he has looked for that lizard for 7 years only to find out that he has been inside him all along! He was right under his nose and didn't even tell him!

Natsu growled. 'No, he's going to give me an explanation and he's going to give me one now! I'm done waiting!' He then lit his feet on fire and took off to the sky. "Dad! We gotta talk now!"

Metalicana turned around to see Natsu flying to Igneel, his eyes filled with so much fire and anger. 'What a fool.' Metalicana thought then smiled a little. "He's Igneel's son for sure." He then continued on his way to the rest of the dragons.

Igneel looked to see Natsu coming toward him, he growled in annoyance. "Natsu! I told you, we'll talk later!" Natsu landed on his wing and glared at him. "Tell me now! Why did you disappear and leave me?! And if you were inside me this whole time, why didn't you say anything?!"

Igneel growled at his son's stubbornness. Acnologia saw this as a chance to attack but Igneel saw this coming and dodged. "Enough!" He yelled, getting frustrated. Natsu slipped off his wing, but Igneel was quick to grab him.

Gajeel watched the whole thing. 'Idiot almost got himself killed!' He glared up at Natsu. "Quit distracting him, moron!"

The two dragons continued to fight with Natsu still in Igneel's claws. Natsu gasped and covered his face as Acnologia used his breath attack. Igneel looked at his son worriedly but continued to fight. He used his fire dragon roar to hold Acnologia off for a while, he fell to the ground, but the roar had no effect on him.

Igneel looked down at Natsu sternly. "Son." Natsu looked at him. "You're a pest."

Natsu frowned. "You have a funny way of showing that you missed me!!!" Igneel glared hard at Natsu. "I told you, we'll talk about everything later!!"

Natsu immediately stopped his tantrum and stood silent, knowing better than to argue when his father gave him that look. "I have a job I need you to do." Natsu looked curious. "What kind of job?"

"I would like to officially hire you." Igneel said before showing Natsu the strange guy holding a book. "Over there. See that book?"

Natsu nodded.

"That's the book of E.N.D! I want you to steal it for me!" Natsu looked at him. "Why me?" Igneel smiled at him. "Because you're the only one who can, Natsu."

Natsu nodded and looked at the guy with determination. "Now, listen, you are not to destroy or read that book. Just take it, understand?"

"How much does it pay?" Natsu asked and Igneel looked at him with disbelief. "How dare you charge your father! This is important Natsu!"

Natsu glared at him. "Hey, I work in a guild now! I don't do these kinds of jobs for free! Father or not!" Igneel sighed. "Very well, for payment I'll tell you everything you wish to know."

Natsu looked at him seriously. "Is that a promise?" Igneel nodded and Natsu smirked. "Then it sounds like a deal to me!"

Igneel smirked back. "Now get that book!" He said before throwing Natsu towards the guy. "You better keep your promise! Don't even think about going anywhere!"

Igneel smiled. "I won't."

"You know I'm going to hold you to that!!" Natsu shouted before attacking the guy with the book.

Igneel hummed and turned back to his fight with Acnologia. "Igneel Dragneel, the Fire Dragon King, it's been 1200 years since you've lost the battle and lost everything to me!"

Igneel growled. "I've gained something much better than that!" Acnologia chuckled. "What? That boy who you call your son. He's a fool just like you are and just like you…he'll die by my hands."

Igneel's blood boiled. "You will not lay a hand on Natsu or any of the dragon slayers!" Acnologia only laughed. "Natsu? Isn't that the name you vowed to give if you ever had ano-

"SHUT UP!!" Igneel snapped. "I am going to take you down even if I have to go through hell to do it!"

"You couldn't defeat me back then, what makes you think you can defeat me now?!"

Igneel smiled. "Because…thanks to my son I learned a lot of things, thanks to him I now have the strength I need to finally put an end to you!"

Both the dragons then charged at each other. Igneel bit Acnologia on his leg while he bit Igneel's neck. The two separated and used their breaths attacks. "I wonder what he would say if he saw you like this. Defending these humans and attacking his teacher!" Acnologia said and Igneel growled as he kicked him. "Who?!"

Acnologia grinned, evilly. "You know who!" Igneel's eyes widened, and they screamed rage. "Do not dare speak of him!!"

"Oh? I'm surprised you remember him. I had thought you had long forgotten him ever since you exiled him from his home! He's been waiting for you to return, you know, so he could put an end to you!" Acnologia tried to provoke.

Igneel gritted his fangs. Acnologia flew towards him with his claws ready. "But I'll gladly do that for him myself!"

"Stay away from him, demon!" Metalicana shouted while pushing Acnologia back. "Metalicana?! You're supposed to be with the others!" Igneel yelled.

Metalicana grinned at him. "What and let you have all the fun? Besides, me and the others finished our job. Now, we're just helping you finish yours since you clearly need the help."

Igneel huffed. "I was doing just fine!" Metalicana rolled his eyes. "Sure, you were…He would have cut right through you if I didn't step in when I did!"

ROAR!!* The two dragons turned their heads to see their fellow dragons coming. They immediately went to Acnologia and attacked him. Igneel was irritated and annoyed by this. "Stop! This is not your fight!"

"Yes, it is! You're not the only one who lost everything to Acnologia!" Weisslogia said. "And you're our leader and family! When you fight, we fight with you!" Skiadrum added.

Grandine smiled at him. "Don't be a stubborn old fool, like you were back then. That is how you lost the fight last time."

Igneel looked at all of them with annoyance then sighed and smiled. "...Thank you, my friends." Igneel went to join them. "You can't take all of us, Acnologia!"

Acnologia looked at them nervously but then laughed evilly, making the other dragons confused. "Maybe I can't take all you dragons at once but I sure as hell can take out the dragon slayers at once!!" He shouted before aiming his breath attack at the children. All the dragon parents' eyes widened in horror.

"Natsu!!" Igneel yelled in horror. "Gajeel!!" Metalicana shouted. "Wendy!!" Grandine cried. "Sting!! Rogue!!" Weisslogia and Skiadrum yelled at once.

Natsu looked up and his eyes widened. "EVERYONE TAKE COVER!!!"

Gajeel quickly grabbed Wendy, Carla, and Levy while Natsu grabbed Lucy and Happy. Sting and Rogue grabbed Gray, and they all ducked down behind the broken building. Natsu stood up and stared at the attack that was coming their way.

Lucy looked at him worriedly. "Natsu! What are you doing?!"

The attack was coming closer and Natsu took a deep breath. "FIRE DRAGON…ROAR!!!" He shouted and used every drop of power he had left to send the attack back to Acnologia, his fireball similar to the one Igneel used on Acnologia earlier.

Natsu's attack shot Acnologia on the leg, making it fall off. The children cheered. "Good job, Natsu!" Wendy yelled. "Aw, yeah!" Happy clapped.

Weisslogia looked at Igneel. "You taught your boy well."

Igneel smiled.

"This is not over, Igneel! I'll be back and I'll kill you and your son!" Acnologia promised before retreating.

Igneel growled and was about to go after him, but Grandine blocked him. "Get out of my way, Grandine!" She shook her head and looked at him sternly. "No, I won't! You are almost out of magic power; you can't fight him right now! You'll get your chance Igneel, I promise you but right now…" She looked down at Natsu. "I think your son is waiting for you."

Igneel looked down to see Natsu staring up at him, his eyes filled with worry and impatience. Igneel sighed, knowing something went wrong and flew down, landing right in front of Natsu. The other dragons followed his lead.

"Mom!" Wendy shouted with joy and ran out to hug her mother. "Dad! Father!" Both Sting and Rogue yelled and ran to their dragons as well. Gajeel and Metalicana just glared at each other. "Oh, will you two just hug each other already!!" Levi yelled and pushed Gajeel into Metalicana, making the two blush.

Natsu just stared at Igneel, a sad aura coming off him which worried the father. The others sensed this. "Come, Wendy, let's give these two some privacy while we catch up." Wendy nodded. "Ok." She climbed on her mother's back with Carla before Grandine took off.

Rogue and Sting did the same. Metalican sighed. "Come on, punk." He said before wrapping his tail around Gajeel and (mistakenly) Levi. "Hey, wait! You can't fly with Le-!"

Metalicana ignored him and took flight as Levi screamed in fear. Gray stayed and watched, out of curiosity. Igneel looked back at his son and saw him put his head down. "Natsu?"

"Dad, I…I'm sorry but…I didn't get the book. Zeref came and took it before I could even get my hands on it." Natsu said truthfully. Igneel's eyes widened. "...Zeref?"

Natsu nodded. "Yeah, he just showed up out of nowhere. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for Natsu!" Gray yelled and the two looked at him. "It was my fault; I shouldn't have been arguing with you! I should have just destroyed that book then Zeref wouldn't have gotten his hands on it!"

"NO! You must never destroy that book! It cannot be destroyed, ever!" Igneel shouted, almost fearfully.

Natsu and Gray looked at him confused. "Why not? If that book doesn't get destroyed, then E.N.D will be released?" Gray said. "Yeah, what's the big deal if we destroy it?" Natsu asked.

Igneel hesitated. "You just can't destroy that book…if you do…something bad will happen, I'm not entirely sure what but just trust me, ok?"

Natsu sighed. "I'm still sorry…I should have been quicker." Happy flew on his shoulders. "Awe, don't beat yourself up Natsu."

Igneel nodded his head. "Your friend is right, Natsu. I know you did everything you could to get that book for me and because of that, I will still give you your payment."

Natsu smiled. "Really? You'll tell me everything, right? No more secrets."

"...No more secrets."

Natsu smiled wider at him but then frowned when he thought of something. "Gray, I have to talk to my dad about something important. Do you mind leaving us alone?"

Gray nodded. "Sure, I got…I got somewhere where I have to go anyway." He said sadly before leaving. Igneel then looked at Natsu. "What is it, Natsu?"

Natsu sighed. "I think it's time for me to get stronger, I have a feeling…that this is just the start of a deadly war. In order for me to beat Zeref and fight Acnologia I will have to get stronger so I'm going to train harder than I ever have before!" Natsu then looked at Igneel. "...Will you help me? Like you used to."

Igneel smiled. "Of course, I will. Just know that I won't be going easy on you." Natsu grinned. "Wouldn't want you to."

"So, when do we start?" Igneel asked and Natsu seemed a little sad for a moment. "We leave town today." He said which took Igneel by surprise and Nutsu looked at him with determination. "I want to start as soon as I can!"

Igneel nodded. "If that is what you want."

"But before we leave…" Natsu said as he got on Igneel's back. "There's something I have to do, first."

…

Outside Lucy's apartment,

Natsu opened Lucy's window and put a note on her bed. "Goodbye, Lucy." He said before closing the window. "Ok, I'm ready."

Igneel then took flight and started heading far west. "Are you sure you want to do this? She might be upset that you left her behind without saying goodbye in person."

"Aye." Happy agreed. Natsu frowned. "No, it's better if she doesn't come along, the guild needs her."

"I'm going to miss her, though." Happy said sadly and Natsu patted his head with a smile. "Aw, don't worry, buddy! It's only going to be a year; it will fly right by! When we come back, we'll be stronger and show Lucy and everyone our cool moves!"

Happy smiled. "Aye!"

Igneel chuckled at the two and Natsu suddenly frowned again. 'Why do I get the feeling…that when we come back…it won't be like how we left it.'