The Tail of the Twin Dragons

1

"The king sends his regards to you my lord," the woman stated walking forward. Natsu tensed and the boy whimpered sensing his father's fear. "But... he also demands tribute."

"He can take the land then," Natsu growled, there was a hint of fear in it.

"No, the Dragon King is satisfied with your ruling as Lord, he believes that you are a worthy dragon to remain free. But... he requires recruits for our country, and he demands your son as your tribute." The woman's face was shadowed dangerously, her hands concealed in the claw like armor flexed excitedly.

Natsu stiffened and for a moment his gaze drifted to his son who cowered behind him.

"My son," Natsu repeated slowly.

"Yes," the woman smiled raising a hand and reaching to shake Natsu's hand, "If you hand him over peacefully I give you the word of the Dragon King that you, your mate, your territory, and all of your future heirs will not need to fear him. He is a kind king to those who obey him... But..." her green eyes danced with excitement, "If you resist, they I have jurisdiction to bring you, your mate, and your son to the capital."

Natsu's eyes widened and he breathed in sharply. The boy whimpered again as the woman looked down at him. Her eyes burned with a hunger that made the boy very scared.

"Daddy," the boy whimpered, "Daddy what do they want?"

Natsu's face was shadowed and he put his hand on the boy's head.

"Sting," Natsu said slowly.

They boy looked up at his father.

"Run to your mother." Natsu growled.

The woman tensed and then suddenly she was engulfed by flames.

"ATTACK!" the woman screamed from the fire.

The soldiers streamed forward, Natsu roared a dragon's roar and knocked them aside. A soldier grabbed the red haired woman who had escaped the fire and was trembling on the ground.

"General-" the soldier began.

"GET THE BOY!" the woman yelled looking at the blonde haired boy who stood terrified watching his father fight.

The boy looked around just as a soldier went to grab him. He put his hands up and cried out. Then there was a flash of fire and the soldier collapsed at the boys feet. The boy looked back and saw that his father's mouth was smoking. He looked to his son as he pinned down another soldier.

"STING!" he cried, "RUN!"

The boy awoke from his trance and ran away, into the woods, towards the mountains. Behind him he heard a dragon's roar.

The boy rushed out of the tree line and ran into the meadow, there he tripped and fell into the grass. A shadow overtook him and he cried as a figure appeared in front of him, the boy hadn't been able to sense him until he had suddenly appeared there.

"Hello little one," the soldier laughed.

"HAPPY ATTACK!" someone yelled, the soldier grunted and fell to the ground, felled by a cat's paw. The blue cat with white wings landed and helped the boy up.

"Happy!" the boy cried trying to stop himself from crying, "They're fighting daddy!"

"Come on!" Happy cried grabbing Sting's shirt and lifting him into the air as the soldier grunted and got to his feet dazed and confused.

"BUT DADDY!" Sting screamed.

Happy looked back in fear as a soldier jumped higher then any man should, he raised a sword and aimed for Happy's wings.

There was a fearsome roar and the soldier was hit by a figure of fire.

"NATSU!" Happy laughed.

"DADDY!" Sting cried.

Natsu looked up. Red scaled were forming on his arms, cheeks, chest, and neck. His trusty white scarf flapped in the wind.

"Happy, get Sting and Lucy out of here," Natsu ordered.

"But what about you!?" Happy cried.

Natsu growled and wiped the blood off his lip. "Go Happy."

"DADDY!" Sting cried reaching out for him.

There was a roar and out of the forest ran the battalion of soldiers, all trained to kill dragons.

"Happy!" Natsu ordered harshly.

"But-" Happy began.

"GO!" Natsu roared.

Happy shook but turned and began to fly away. He flew faster and faster tears streaming from his face. In his paws Sting struggled.

"DAD!" he cried.

The soldiers were almost upon his father.

"DADDY!" Sting screamed.

Natsu roared and lunged the soldiers, he was changing from man to dragon. "YOU BASTARDS AREN'T TOUCHING MY FAMILY!!"

That was the day I lost my father... It wasn't the first time I'd lose something, but it's the time that I can't seem to remember clearly...