The Dragon Father

Fight, Cry, Sleep

It was official; Natsu was Igneel's son. He picked a fight with everyone, except Acnologia. In the past thirty minutes, Natsu had fought Gray, Laxus, Gajeel, and was now attacking Gildarts. Gildarts easily punched him into a wall. Acnologia sighed, he refused to allow Natsu to grow into an arrogant flame head like his idiotic father that had almost been killed multiple times.

"I WILL WIN!" Natsu roared.

"Nope," Acnologia sighed. He grabbed Natsu by the scarf and dragged him out of the guild and into a field. Natsu struggled and kicked the entirety of the way...

"PUT ME DOWN UNCLE!" he cried.

Acnologia did just that, Natsu plunked down to the ground

"You want to fight someone?" he asked.

"... Yes," Natsu said crossing his arms, "I only fought Gray because he called me names! And Gajeel laughed and said I was stupid! I did want to fight Gildarts."

"So you want to fight someone," Acnologia sighed crossing his arms.

"Yes."

"Then fight me."

Natsu's eyes widened, "but... but-"

"Come one, fight me."

Natsu reluctantly got to his feet; he summoned a flame in his hand. Then he rushed forward, Acnologia dodged.

"You're too hotheaded; you have to think about your opponent sometimes," Acnologia scolded.

Natsu ran at Acnologia again, Acnologia moved to the side and hit Natsu into the ground.

"So running at me doesn't work, you should try something else," Acnologia sighed.

Natsu got to his feet and backed away, "FIRE DRAGON ROAR!" he yelled. Acnologia dodged the flames.

"That's more like it!" Acnologia laughed, "experiment with your ranges, change up your typical fighting style or else you get predictable."

Natsu attacked with his fists again through the flame, "FIRE DRAGON WING ATTACK!" Natsu yelled. Acnologia avoided the flames once more.

"Try combinations, the more hits you throw the more likely one of them is to hit their target," Acnologia recommended.

Natsu and Acnologia kept fighting, no matter how many times Natsu tried to hit Acnologia, Acnologia would simply move, or sidestep. Finally, as the sun began to set Natsu fell to his knees.

"I can't uncle, I can't beat you, and I can't even hit you" Natsu choked.

"Can't? Will you never reach that level?" asked Acnologia an image of Natsu defeating him flashing in his mind.

"No."

"Is that despair I hear?" asked Acnologia.

"No!" Natsu answered quickly.

"Natsu... get up and fight," Acnologia said softly.

"What's the point?" asked Natsu, "you'll always beat me."

"The point, the point! The point is that you can never get better if you pick battles and never finish them!"

Natsu looked up. Acnologia stood above him.

"You may pick your battles however you wish, but finish them, that is what matters; it doesn't matter if you picked a fight against a thousand foes, if you never finish them, what is the point in bragging? You say you can never beat me and I disagree, as long as you have faith in your ability and carry out every fight until the bitter end you will grow until you surpass me."