A pack of dragons among the fairies

Chapter 1

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see when we'll be there, now shush."

Laxus nodded and followed his father into the creepy town. There were scary people everywhere, and he could feel their eyes on him at every crossroad. The whole city looked like a bad guy's lair.
The houses were old and dirty, and their broken windows didn't help them look any better. The villagers must be freezing during winter. The only kids he saw were running after a rat and soon started fighting each other for it.
The young boy didn't like this place at all. But he loved his father, and perhaps if he showed him he wasn't afraid, Ivan would start to love him too. He was a potent wizard of Fairy Tail, he shouldn't be scared of some creepy town.

His father was looking for something here and he took him with him for the mission! Finally! The blond kid knew his grandpa didn't want him on a mission yet, but his dad told him this one was meant for him and would make him worthy. Of what exactly, he didn't know. With a bit of luck, it would be his father's love!

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't see his dad had stopped in the middle of the street, and bumped into him. When the older wizard turned to him with a death glare, Laxus gulped and avoided his eyes. He better not make his dad angry right now. What if he just left him there?

"We're here. Now, for once, do not make me ashamed," the dark-haired wizard spat.

The child nodded, and followed his father into a big, old building. All the windows were broken just like those of the other houses. There was dust everywhere as if nobody had used this place for years. Ah, and there, next to the old bottles of alcohol, was another rat.

They arrived in front of a room with the door torn off its hinges, and his father smiled. Inside the room stood a sole man in what looked like a doctor's apron. Next to him waited an old medical bed, and the way the stranger looked at him made Laxus shiver. He had a scary smile, and when he moved toward him, Laxus backed away.

"What did I just say, Laxus?" Ivan said with a disapproving look.

"Sorry..." the boy whispered before reluctantly taking a step forward.

The other man chuckled at that. Throughout, he'd kept staring at the kid like he was some sort of lab rat. He suddenly turned over to the bed and grabbed something in his hands to observe it. Laxus let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding.

"I think that will do it. His body is small and he looks sick, but he should survive the experimentation." Finally said the stranger.

"He better, Raph, I didn't pay this lacrima a fortune for nothing. It better not be another failure of yours." Grumbled Ivan to the other wizard.

Before Laxus could understand what was going on, he found himself attached to the old bed. His father looked at him like his son's fear disgusted him. It hurt him, and sometimes Laxus wondered if any of his efforts would ever be enough for the man he loved and respected.

"Dad....?" His weak voice wavered. He didn't understand. What was going on?

With a heavy sigh, the stranger, Raph, his father had called him, approached him with a glowing yellow crystal.

"Okay kid, I'm going to start the process so I need you to stay still, okay? That's why we tied you to the bed so you don't move. If you don't move and I manage to complete the experiment, you'll have great magic."

Laxus bit his tongue before he could ask what would happen if he made a mistake. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. It wasn't like his father would allow him to leave this creepy place.
Instead, he tried in vain to stay still. He could feel his body shiver when Raph started whatever he was doing. At first, it was just a numb feeling, but suddenly pain shot through him. It was like his body was on fire, he could feel some new and unknown energy running through his veins.
It was too much. His vision was full of black dots and his sense of touch was practically non-existent. He could feel the energy trying to break free from his body. He tried to scream for his dad's help but he couldn't hear his voice anymore. In fact, he couldn't hear anything at all.
When he sensed the energy piercing through his face, right into one of his eyes, he finally blacked out.