The Dragon King

Domus Flau Gorge

Much time has passed since everyone heard of the incident in the Sun Giant Graveyard, and Igneel had a fatherly heart-to-heart with Natsu over his actions. The next day after that, Igneel prepared to make his annual trip to the Crocus Plains for the following day. Thanks to Lady Hisui, a kind and beautiful mountain lioness, Igneel and his dragons were given permission to host its 100th-anniversary party of the Crocus Plains, celebrating the peace between the Dragons and animals in the land. The Crocus Plains' best sights are the Mercurius Mountain, and Domus Flau Gorge, the largest mountain and canyon in the Dragon Lands.

While the dragons continued supervising the festivities, Acnologia and Natsu were making their way down into the gorge. Earlier this morning, Acnologia convinced Grandeeney to let him take Natsu for a walk, promising to meet up later when it was time to return to Dragon Rock. They walked a good way until they reached the bottom of the gorge, where the sun didn't shine as bright and a cooling shadow covered the canyon. Finally, Acnologia took his nephew to stay on a rock underneath a small tree.

"Now you wait here," Acnologia instructed. "Your father has a marvellous surprise for you."

"Oooh. What is it?" Natsu asked eagerly.

Acnologia smirked at this, "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?"

"If you tell me, I'll still act surprised," Natsu replied slyly.

Acnologia chuckled naughtily, "Ho ho ho. You are such a naughty boy."

"Come on, Uncle." Natsu pleaded. "Please?"

"No-no-no-no-no-no-no." Acnologia shook his head. "This is just for you and your daddy. You know, a sort of... father-son... thing." Natsu looked slightly resentful at Acnologia's dismissive attitude but shrugged it off. "Well, I'd better go get him."

Natsu jumped up to join him. "I'll go with you!"

"No!" Acnologia said quickly. Realising how abrupt he had been, he laughed "Heh heh heh," and said in a normal tone, "No. Just stay on this rock. You wouldn't want to end up in another mess as you did with the hyenas..."

"You know about that?" Natsu asked surprised.

"Natsu, everyone knows that," Acnologia stated.

"Really?" Natsu asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Oh, yes." Acnologia nodded. "Lucky Daddy was there to save you, eh?" Then he placed an arm around Natsu, "Oh... and just between us, you might want to work on that little roar of yours. Hmm?"

"Oh...Ok," Natsu said, feeling self-conscious. Satisfied, Acnologia turned to leave, until Natsu called out, "Hey, Uncle Acnologia, will I like the surprise?"

Acnologia paused and looked over his shoulder at Natsu with a smirk, "Natsu, it's to die for." Feeling more excited than ever, Natsu sat on the rock and began waiting patiently for his father, while Acnologia walked away with an evil grin on his face.

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High above the cliffs where Natsu was waiting, a large herd of wyverns stood around, contently grazing. On the far side of the field, Kyoka, Jackal, and Franmalth were hiding under a rock arch. "Shut up," Kyoka tells Jackal as his stomach growled loudly.

"I can't help it," Jackal complained. "I'm so hungry... (Jumping up) I gotta have a wyvern!"

"Stay put," Kyoka ordered.

"Well... Can't I just pick off one of the little sick ones?" Jackal asked.

"No!" Kyoka commanded. "We wait for the signal from Acnologia."

All three of the hyenas looked up and saw Acnologia appearing above a nearby cliff, signalling that it was time. "There he is," Kyoka confirmed, then turned to Jackal and Franmalth with a smirk on her face, "Let's go."