Chapter Text

Igneel took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Because Ignia…. was my greatest failure…"

…

"I was young, just earning my place as Fire Dragon King when Ignia was born. Besides, becoming King, Ignia was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. I loved him more than this whole world, I wanted to make it safer for him and teach him everything I know but then…the war started. Dragon slayers killing dragons, they killed a ton of us as well as my mate, Visenya…."

"I never knew you had a mate! I'm so sorry, Dad…"

"It's alright, Natsu, it was long ago. Anyway…after that day, everything changed."

…

100-year-old Igneel was glaring down at his son as he threw a weak Fire dragon punch. Igneel grunted disapprovingly. "You call that a punch! Harder! And better!"

"I'm trying my best, Father!" Ignia insisted. "Well, you are not trying hard enough! Do it again!" Ignia sighed before throwing a punch a second time but failed again. "Ignia, you need to be better than this! Do you want a dragon slayer to show up and kill you?!"

"NO!" Ignia exclaimed, his eyes full of fear. "Then you need to work harder! Find the fire within you and use it!"

…

"I was too hard on him. After I lost my mate, I just…changed. I was too strict on Ignia, much like Metalicana was on Gajeel but worse…I was not much of a father to Ignia, all we did everyday was train. I never allowed him to be a child…then I made the worst decision imaginable when Ignia turned 16."

…

"Where are we going, Father?" Ignia asked as he and Igneel flew side by side. "I'm taking you to one of the most powerful dragons I know. He used to be human but turned into a dragon."

They then landed on a hill to see a tall man with brown skin, blue eyes, and spiky blue hair waiting from them. He grinned. "Hello, Ignia. It's nice to meet you." Ignia looked confused then Igneel said, "Ignia, this is Acnologia. He's going to train you and take care of you from now on."

Ignia looked horrified. "WHAT?! You're getting rid of me?!" Igneel sighed. "I don't want to, but my teachings are just not getting through to you. Mabey Acnologia can teach you better than I. I need you to be stronger. I promise when you are ready, I will come back for you."

Ignia looked at Igneel sadly but before he could say anything, Igneel flew off.

…

"I didn't see Ignia for 200 years after that."

"Wait! You and Acnologia used to be friends?!"

"*Scoff* I wouldn't say that! Atlas Flame told me about him, and said he killed a lot of strong dragons who were destroying villages in the past! We were allies but, as you probably already guessed, he was just pretending to be my ally and he used Ignia to start the Dragon Kings festival!"

…

Igneel was having a nice peaceful day when suddenly, fire started pouring everywhere. Dragons were fleeing and screaming as Igneel went to see what was going on. He saw a young man with spike red hair, gold eyes, and a fire tattoo on his chest. "Who are you?! Another dragon slayer?!"

The young man chuckled. "You don't recognize me? Oh, right you have never seen me in my human form." Suddenly the young man turned into a red fire dragon and Igneel's eyes widened at what he saw. "I-IGNIA?!"

"Hello, Father. It's been a long time."

"Ignia, why are you doing this?! You are burning everything!" Ignia chuckled. "I am only following my destiny which is to burn everything." To make his point, Ignia threw the biggest fire ball Igneel has ever seen and threw it into the woods. "Ignia! Stop! Someone is going to get hurt!"

"That is the point!" A voice said and Igneel narrowed his eyes when Acnologia came into the mix. "Acnologia, what is this?! What are you doing?!"

"I am challenging your crown, Igneel Dragneel! I want to be the Dragon, King!" Igneel growled at him before looking at his son. "Ignia! You would betray your own father?!"

"Father?" Ignia scoffed. "Never once have you ever been a father to me?! You trained me to be strong but really, you were just trying to turn me into you, and I hate you for it! I hate what you turned me into but thanks to Acnologia, I am much stronger, stronger than even you! I am finally using my fire from within, like you always tought me, Igneel."

"Ignia, please, don't do this!" Igneel begged. "You're my son! You can't seriously trust him over me!" Ignia only glared at him. "I AM NOT YOUR SON! Not anymore! I will become even stronger and burn anyone weaker than me! I only came here today to tell you that, I'll leave the rest to Acnologia." Ignia then flew away. "Ignia, wait!"

Igneel tried to fly after him, but Acnologia pinned him down before he could. "Leave the boy alone! You have hurt him enough! Focus on me now!" The two then fought fiercely, normally Igneel would always stay focused on the battle but all he could think about was how he failed as a father which is probably why Acnologia won the title Dragon King that day.

…

"I was so angry that day. I was angry at Acnologia for turning my own son against me and…angry at myself for not being the father Ignia deserved."

"No wonder you never let go of your grudge against Acnologia. Not only did he steal your crown and everything…but your son as well." Igneel nodded. "Yes. Acnologia may have been the one who turned Ignia against me, but I was the one who pushed him there."

"You may have made mistakes, Dad but you only did it because you thought it was best for him…. Why were you so hard on him anyway?" Natsu asked and Igneel sighed. "After I lost Visenya, I feared I would lose Ignia too, so I tried to make him strong enough to survive this world…but I ended up losing him anyway."

Natsu frowned. "I'm really sorry, Dad. I know this was hard for you but I'm glad you told me."

"Did it help you put your mind at ease?" Igneel asked and Natsu thought for a moment before smiling. "Yeah! I think it did!"

"...So, what did Ignia say to you that almost broke you emotionally?" Igneel asked, and Natsu frowned a little. "He wanted me to join him. He said that it was my destiny to destroy and burn everything like the fire dragons before us. He also wanted me to fight him but said I was not strong enough yet because I was too dependent on my friends."

Igneel growled. "That brat! Natsu you must not believe what he says! You are a good boy and one of the strongest dragons I know! Being dependent on your friends does not make you weak!"

"...It got Lucy hurt, though." Natsu said softly and Igneel paused at this. "Ignia hurt her really bad! I tried to protect her, but I wasn't strong enough! I-I almost lost her, dad! I almost lost her before I could tell her that I loved her! Thank God, Wendy showed up in time!" Natsu exclaimed as tears fell from his eyes.

"Natsu, it was not your fault. Ignia is the only one to blame! Besides, Lucy may not seem like it but she's tough and resilient, she can survive anything." Igneel said confidently and Natsu sniffed before wiping his tears away with a smile. "I know. Thanks dad."

"I'm happy I could help, Natsu. Just know that you will never be like Ignia, Zeref, or the evil E.N.D. You are better than that, better than them, and…better than me and I could not be prouder then to call you, my son." Natsu grinned and blush slightly at that before looking serious. "So…what are we going to do about Ignia? He's still out there somewhere."

Igneel took a long, heavy sigh. "Let's cross that bridge when we get there, ok?" Natsu nodded in agreement before getting up. "Welp, I should probably head back home before Lucy starts worrying. See you tomorrow, Dad!"

Igneel smiled as he watched Natsu leave, the dark aura that was there before seemed much brighter now. Igneel was glad that he was able to help his son but looked up at the sky with a frown. He wished he could have helped Ignia too when he needed him, but he didn't, and he may never.

Still, Igneel hoped that his eldest son could be saved…