The Dragon Father

E.N.Dragneel

(Many Years Ago)

"Zewef!" Little Natsu laughed toddling after Zeref.

"Come on almost there," Zeref coaxed holding out his hands.

"Zewef," Natsu laughed falling into Zeref's arms.

Sometimes it was hard for Zeref to remember that Natsu was a demon. Zeref looked down at the little child laughing in his arms, then he looked up to a nearby stump where the book of E.N.D laid unopened. The grass beneath Zeref's knees wilted.

"Natsu, go play," Zeref said quickly standing up.

"Pway," Natsu laughed toddling over to a patch of wildflower.

Zeref ran into the forest before allowing the curse to kill the surrounding area. He breathed heavily hoping that the curse didn't spread to where Natsu was playing. He returned and smiled when he saw Natsu was still surrounded by green. If he pretended everything was normal... if he pretended he was normal then everything would be alright.

"Zewef!" Natsu laughed toddling towards Zeref, he fell in the grass. It didn't dissuade the little child; he picked himself up and finished the journey.

"Come on, let's go, I don't know who saw that," Zeref said mostly to himself picking up Natsu.

"ZEREF!" a dragon roared distantly

Zeref looked to the sky his eyes burning red.

"New game, let's play some hide and seek," Zeref said having Natsu crawl in a hollowed log. "Stay quiet," Zeref coaxed.

"Shhhhh," Natsu laughed.

The wind around Zeref picked up as a grand red dragon landed in the clearing. Igneel snarled and proceeded carefully.

"So the king of the fire dragons dares to visit the black wizard," Zeref threatened.

"I've been hunting you for weeks, you and the demon you are with," Igneel growled smoke billowing out of his nostrils.

"I have no demon with me," Zeref answered calmly.

"Then what is the book that lies behind me?"

Zeref stiffened, he had forgotten about the book like a complete idiot.

"If you touch it, I will kill you," Zeref threatened completely intent on following through with that action.

"That's a strong threat, when have you ever cared about your demons?" Igneel asked.

"Zewef!" Natsu giggled from the log.

Zeref wished he could die. He truly wanted to kill himself now.

"What was that?" Igneel asked looking towards the log.

"Zewef?" Natsu asked his voice turning to a whine.

"Dammit," Zeref breathed rubbing his forehead.

Natsu crawled out of the log and looked at Zeref, "Zewef," he laughed toddling towards the dark mage.

"Hide and seek Natsu, hide and seek," Zeref hissed.

"Pwetty," Natsu said in awe looking at Igneel.

"Who is that Zeref?" Igneel asked.

"Natsu, get back in the log," Zeref hissed.

"Zewef!" Natsu laughed hugging Zeref's legs.

"Natsu Dragneel go hide," Zeref hissed trying to sound threatening.

"Zewef," Natsu said ignoring Zeref's remark and hugging Zeref's legs tighter, the kid never did listen to him.

"Natsu Dragneel," Igneel said pondering the name. He looked back towards the book, "Etherious Natsu Dragneel."

'He's figured it out,' Zeref thought, panicking.

"The child is the demon," Igneel supposed.

Zeref reached down and tried to push Natsu behind him. Natsu was a difficult child; instead, he ran around Zeref and ran to Igneel.

Zeref found himself praying to the cruel fates that Natsu be somehow spared. 

"Pwetty," Natsu said looking up at Igneel.

"What does this mean Zeref?" Igneel asked.

"Natsu... is my younger brother. He died years ago, I merely made a re-creation of him... as a side effect he is my strongest demon," Zeref answered truthfully knowing a wrong word could kill his younger brother.

Igneel looked at Zeref, "So he is not human?"

"No."

Igneel looked down at the child who was now playing with sticks at his claws, he looked back at Zeref.

(Present Time)

Zeref smiled from his throne thinking to his younger brother now fighting his demons, "Well, I do hope you'll survive... Natsu," he breathed, "But then again... I'm almost certain you will."