Sorry for the wait guys, but here's the next chapter. Enjoy.

They considered themselves lucky.

Lucky in the fact that they escaped with their lives.

When they had landed in a town two day's flight away from Clover Town, they heard people whispering how dragon riders were grounded on orders of Fiore's government and it was strange that they arrived while the order was in effect. They stayed there for a week, waiting for any word about what happened to Clover Town.

Just like any country, word traveled slowly to the outer towns. Eventually, after another three days of waiting, they heard that Clover Town had been spared from the Black Dragon because they were saved by the Red Dragon and his rider. There was no word about whether or not both dragons left, or one remained.

Days went by, and there was no change. Lucy found it harder and harder to be in Natsu's presence and she took to exploring the town. Natsu had barely spoken two words to Lucy since then. He mainly communicated to Valdas and left her to figure her own things out. She and Aiu wandered the town on a day to day basis, it was getting to the point that people were recognizing her and giving her a friendly greeting instead of the silent and curious stare from before.

Natsu and Lucy had no money, and what they got in food was from what Natsu could hunt. The dragons were left to their own devices since their appetites were so much ravenous than their riders.

The nightly campfires were the worst. Natsu barely even looked at her, and while that gave her plenty of opportunities to observe him all she wanted, she missed the way they talked like they were friends from the beginning. The banter, the small amount of bickering, the stories? None of that was happening and it left the fire feeling cold despite the incredible heat it provided. She had known the man for two days, and already it was hard to even to try and sit with him. So many things had gone wrong during that one night, the night she had finally gotten pertinent information, and it left her terrified of what the king of Pergrande could accomplish. His glare was forever imprinted in her mind, angry and blazing. It was the look of an angry dragon.

It was the first week of them escaping and nothing had come after them. Nothing had changed between them.

Lucy let out a heavy sigh, staring at her dinner. Roasted rabbit. The same thing that they have been having every night. She was sick of rabbit. Glancing at Natsu, she found him tearing into his. He stared into the fire, his gaze never wavering, and the spark that was there before was gone. His gaze was dead.

Acnologia rushed back to Pergrande. Something had to be done about the Dragneels. Multiple times they have gotten in his way. The Dragneel boy was constantly moving and always clashed with him when they happened to find another royal rider.

And Igneel. Igneel was the biggest thorn in his side.

Igneel had most of the council under his thumb, making it considerably harder to get what he wanted. Acnologia simply wanted magic to be a part of their society and teaching his citizens capable of harnessing magic would benefit their country greatly.

Then why had he left Igneel and his damned dragon alive?

My lord, please, they simply do not understand our situation…Ankhseram whispered. It felt that each day his connection with her was growing weaker. They needed to find another rider willing to perform the black magic to keep them together. Or his beloved dragon would be lost to him forever…

Acnologia landed heavily in the palace courtyard. Attendants and councilors swarmed him, asking the reason for his sudden departure a mere three days ago. He shifted down to his human form, a form that he no longer felt comfortable in. He was too confined and his skin felt tight with the magical pressure it took to hide Ankhseram within his original body.

An attendant handed him a cloak, and he grunted his thanks as he threw it about his shouldered, hiding his nakedness until he could return to he could return to his quarters.

"My king, have you returned bearing news?" A blonde man asked. He stood a polite distance away, dressed in a dark outfit, gold piping lining his coat. His hairstyle was ridiculous as always, but the man refused to style it any other way, always muttering about it being his image.

God Serena was a character, and it still surprised Acnologia that the man was still his most trusted advisor, considering their first meeting resulted in the scar that crossed the bridge of his nose and marred his beautiful face.

At least, that's what Serena calls it.

Right.

"The Dragneels got to the girl before us…again," he growled. He dug his nails into his palms and stormed into the palace.

It was a grand thing, grander than most of what in the country, not that he wanted it to be. For all he cared, it could be a shack in the middle of one of their deserts. Yet he was stuck with this insane structure as a home, passed on to him against his will. He had the Dragneels to thank for that, much like the rest of all his troubles.

"Fucking Dragneels…" he muttered bitterly, growling in the back of his throat.

Serena cast a glance at him, waiting for more to be said before he spoke. "My lord, I would suggest bathing before meeting with the council."

Acnologia glared at him. "The council with gather now."

"Yes, sir." Serena bowed and walked off.

Once he was gone, Acnologia let out a rage-filled roar, smashing his fist against one of the pillars. "Damn them to vraga!"

He pulled his hand away from the pillar, cracks lacing its way above and below where he had struck. Debris and blood littered his knuckles. Dragon scales didn't protect him when he was human. The king of Pergrande forged his way to the throne room, taking the pair of pants offered from one of the maids along the way.

None of the castle attendants dared to get into his way, his blood red gaze searing into anything into his path. His strides were long and powerful, the cloak he had flapping behind him. He reached the council room before the council.

Acnologia refused to stop until he reached his throne, a large black and over glorified chair. A seat that he never wanted. A position he never cared for. The chair itself sat upon a raised dais, giving a view over everyone's head, not that Acnologia needed the added height. He stood well over six feet tall, the average man in Pergrande barely made it to five foot and nine inches. Acnologia was an imposing figure, corded muscle lining every inch of his body, magic thrumming through his blood and glowing in his ink-markings. His magic shone as a bright blue, it lit up his face and poured down his arms.

Moments after he had sat in himself in his entitled place, council members began to trickle into the room, each genuflecting themselves at the foot of his dais. Serena ushered in the last and Acnologia growled to gather their attention.

"We need to increase our efforts in finding the Royals. I will not stand for this opportunity being lost on us." As of right now, fewer than ten have been found, and of those found, only four have agreed to follow Acnologia's plan.

The eldest council member, a man named Jose, rose to his feet to speak. "My lord, we are stretched very thin in our resources, and we cannot allow-"

The king narrowed his eyes, Ankhseram's heat blazing behind them. "We can and we will. Rework the finances, raise the taxes if we have to. Do not rob the people, this is not their mission."

The woman next to Jose, Minerva, rose and spoke, "If I may, my lord, shall we send the other Royals to search? They have learned what they can and we are searching for a far more advanced teacher…"

His gaze snapped to her and she visibly shuddered under his intense stare. "Find the man named Makarov and his grandson. They shall be their new teachers."

They were suggesting options that he had already considered, but he couldn't risk losing any of the Royals he had gathered searching for the possible others. Especially the youngest.

"My lord," Serena interjected. "Might I suggest a hunter? I know of a particular one."

Acnologia inclined his head, allowing for his advisor to continue.

"I propose that we summon Wahl Icht and his Hounds."

A man by the name of Metalicana, one of Igneel's men, surged to his feet, objecting. "You want to send the Hounds after them? That's asking for a massacre! If we are to have any-"

"Silence, fool!" Acnologia shouted over the man's blubbering. This meeting was taking much longer than he intended. "Send for the Hounds, God. Minerva, refinance anything you can find, make cuts wherever, just make sure that the Dreyars are able to be paid, and paid well. Jose, you will aid her."

Minerva and Jose both nodded and knelt as one. Metalicana remained standing, seething.

"My lord, this is a fool's folly and I refuse to stand by it any longer."

Said king raised his brow. "Are you telling me that you wish to step down from your post as part of this council, Sir Metalicana?"

Metalicana paled, but remained firm, retorting, "How much longer must you search for a Royal that is capable? The ones we have found are barely qualified. You need someone directly from a royal line."

"I am more than fully aware, Sir, but this is not your decision to make."

"My lord, this is ruining our nation! You must give up this fox hunt!"

Acnologia rose from his throne, glowering and walking down to the outspoken council member, but that did not stop the man from speaking.

"The people fear that you turning into a tyrant instead of a lawful king-"

The king of Pergrande stood nose to nose with the councilman. "I do not care about being a lawful king," he snarled. "I never wanted to be king."

Metalicana sputtered and tried to retract his words, but Acnologia continued to speak over him.

"Meeting adjourned. God Serena, with me."

He stepped around the sniveling man and swept out of the room, Serena on his heels.

Acnologia settled onto the bench, shucking off the cloak and letting it drop to the floor behind him. His muscles screamed at him for release, flying for hours on ends for a week had left them sore. The king tied his hair up into a high ponytail, anything to relieve his neck of the thick layer of hair.

He was back in his personal quarters, in the bath area. Ankhseram was whispering in his ear, giving him strength. His body was breaking down, and even now, her voice was fainter than this morning.

"Is she speaking with you, my lord?" Warm oiled fingers slid their way over his shoulders and he couldn't stop the sigh that escaped him.

"Serena, how many times must I tell you to not call me 'my lord' while we are in my private quarters?"

"Ah," the fingers dug into his tense and gnarled neck muscles. "I apologize, Acnologia, it has become a force of habit as of late."

"It's…fine." Serena worked a particularly large knot as Acnologia lolled his head to the side.

As Serena worked on his tired body, Acnologia lost himself to his thoughts. The girl that he saw the night before…there was no mistaking her. She was Anna's child, or grandchild at this point; his magic seal had elongated his life, despite the pain, to match Ankhseram's. For many, it appeared that he hadn't aged for the past two decades.

But the girl. The golden blonde hair, the large brown eyes - even the fearful expression the girl stared at him with had given him pause. It would have gone much smoother if it were not for the Dragneels meddling where they did not belong. Atlas Flame and himself almost crushed the girl when he crash landed on the inn. At that point, he had roared with frustration and anger before Ankhseram pointed out that they were fleeing in the woods. Atlas was dazed and struggling to breathe, a lung collapsed perhaps, and it had given Acnolgia plenty of time to find and confront his find.

"Sh-shit…" he cursed. Serena found another knot to knead out.

Moments later, he was being urged to lay on his stomach while his advisor and close friend worked his way down his back.

"Acno, you must lay off on the flying…your body cannot handle it much longer."

Acnologia huffed at the warning. "I will when a Royal is found that can help strengthen the magic seal."

Serena's hands paused. On Acnologia's back was a glowing circle, the same color as Ankhseram's swirls. It pulsed with each heartbeat and radiated out from his back and down his arms and legs, and up his neck to touch the edges of his face. The ink-markings on his limbs were the same swirls as Ankhseram's, but the circle was etched into his skin via different language, one much older than any of the countries on Ishgar presently. It told of how Ankhersam was sealed within his body, how her magic was imbued with his, how they were now one mind and body. It had worked for nearly twenty years, and no one was the wiser until the circle started to crack. That unfortunate day ended the lives of the knights he was surrounded with because his body had exploded in Ankhseram's form faster than he could control. They were crushed underfoot, buildings were damaged by wings and tail alike. A burst of magic blew the destruction he created into a much larger area, toppling homes and displacing a multitude of families.

He clenched his fists and stiffened under Serena's ministrations involuntarily, thinking of the apology he had to give to the capital after everything had calmed down and he regained his original body. Feeling it was his duty, Acnologia chose to be open about what he had done to himself and his dragon. Many were disgusted that their king had partaken in black magic, few sympathized with his situation. It hadn't been common knowledge that Ankhseram had fallen terminally ill.

Serena's hands paused, sensing his aggravation. "Acno…"

"M' apologies…" he grunted and forced himself to relax.

Ankhseram's illness was only curable by infusing her body with her rider's. Or so the witch had told him. He was desperate enough to take her word for it and went through the ritual to bind Ankhseram to himself.

"My-Acnologia, I cannot help you if you keep letting your emotions get the best of you. What is troubling you?" Serena still had his hands upon his back, but there was no pressure and they trailed the circle lazily.

Acnologia sighed, pushing himself into a sitting position so he can look into Serena's yellow eyes. The king's gaze was tired, and Serena was the only person to ever see the leader of such a grand nation look so beaten.

"Ankhseram is not improving," Acnologia began, his voice thick with grief. "Her voice grows quieter by the day, sometimes the hour. I fear that she will leave me before I have the chance to repair the seal."

Serena matched his gaze, equally depressed. The advisor knew that for the longest time in Acnologia's life that the dragon had been his only friend. Even after becoming king and reorganizing the country for the better, Acnologia had remained alone. Igneel Dragneel had seen to that. Both Igneel and Acnologia were in line to assume the throne, and Igneel being the eldest of the two was destined to take it. Both men were charismatic and passionate about Pergrande and its future. Yet Igneel walked away for unknown reasons and left Acnologia with a country to restructure alone. It took all of Acnologia's power to eradicate the corruption within the court and council. Everyone had their own agendas, the country's wellbeing falling behind.

He reached out and cupped Acnologia's face and leaned forward so that their foreheads were touching. "We will find the Royal we need. Ankhseram will remain with us through you," he said sincerely.

Acnologia visibly relaxed under his touch and his words. Serena straightened, pleased with the reaction he received, and reached for a clean set of clothes for his king to change into. "I'll meet you in the lounge, we can discuss more about what you saw there."

Acnologia watched him turn on his heel and walk out.

Serena sat Acnologia facing away from the fire. Night had fallen shortly after the council meeting had ended and the air was cool enough to cause anyone to shiver. The fire's warmth continued to unlock Acnologia's tired muscles. Serena stood across from him, mixing cream and sugar into his coffee. As he sat back and relaxed, the girl from the night before leaped to the forefront of his mind. She kept morphing from Anna back to herself. The resemblance was uncanny and there was no doubt in his mind that Anna had given birth to a child after she abandoned her throne as well.

Acnologia soured, all his life he had been abandoned. Igneel, his brother had left the throne for him. Anna, his love, and his queen took her light from the castle as soon as she found the magic seal on his back. Ankhseram, her illness threatened to take her away but Acnologia was done losing. Hence why he had the seal, hence why Anna had left him.

Anna had been a stout believer of Zeruan and Aiuen, always telling him to look into white magic to save Ankhseram. Unfortunately, every white mage he had sought out told him the same thing: she couldn't be saved. Every single one, all the same message.

He dragged a hand down his face, exasperated. He was tired of the searching and tired of ruling a country that no longer wanted him on the throne, but with no heir, he could no step down. The Dragneel house was no longer an option despite their close ties with the royal family.

"Tell me what is on your mind, my king," Serena asked, offering his coffee to him.

Acnologia took the steaming cup and looked into it. So many things were on his mind but which one should he even begin with?

His silence lasted until Serena took a seat across from him. "Acno, tell me of what you found. Let your tongue be loose around me."

He flicked eyes up to his advisor, his friend and took a deep breath. "The girl, she is of the Heartfilia line."

God Serena's eyes widened. "Are you sure? Anna has been…"

"I know that she has been dead for years, Serena, but yes, the girl is a Heartfilia." He sipped at his drink.

Serena sat back and gaped at his king. "But we have no records of Anna ever having children."

Acnologia smirked. "She was with child before she left the kingdom."

She told him before she saw the seal on his back. The betrayal in her eyes made him regret going through with it, but he had no choice. How could he be the king of the Dragon Kingdom Pergrande when he had no dragon? That was the last night he saw her, and the week after that, the seal cracked. Now years later, with magic still leaking from the circle, he was close to finding someone to reseal it and add the time-lock he needed. The previous witch didn't write that into the seal and now it was degrading and falling apart.

"Serena, I need a favor."

"Anything."

The king of Pergrande locked eyes with his advisor. "I need you to send the Hounds to track the Heartfilia's first. Then send them to the Dragneel manor. I want every single piece of information they can find on the Heartfilias."

"Understood."

Atlas could have been in better condition for flying, but they had no other choice in the matter.

The Fiore government swarmed Clover Town and they were forced to leave before being arrested for being unregistered citizens in their country and for causing so much destruction.

Igneel, I must land…my wing…

"Land in the next town, it is where we need to be." Igneel leaned forward to pat his dragon's neck. It was a rough flight. Atlas' right wing was badly sprained and need of a well-deserved rest.

Are we…?

"Yes."

Atlas shuddered with pain. It was a stretch to even make it to the next town. His breathing was labored and each wing beat was a struggle. They have to land before they make it to Era.

A flash of blue-silver passed in front of him, gold following close behind.

Igneel, I-

"Don't worry, we don't have to anymore, Atlas."

It was in the second week of them staying, that Lucy finally had enough of Natsu giving her the silent treatment. She didn't even know what made him like this and why he was taking it out on her.

"Natsu?" She only got a noncommittal noise from him.

Huffing, she stood up and walked around the fire.

"Natsu, what is going on?" she demanded, worry eating its way through her voice despite wanting to sound angry, standing before him.

His eyes glittered in the firelight, but they held none of the spark and mischief. Natsu simply stared up at her, his mouth forming a tight line. At this point she would give away some of her aiuen to see his cocky grin again, the same one she wanted to smack off his face most of the time.

"Why won't you talk to me? Did I do something wrong? Was it because of that ni-"

He cut her off, holding a hand up.

"It has nothing to do with you-"

"That's a load of crap and you know it."

"-and I just need time."

Lucy narrowed her eyes at him and Natsu watched as the molten gold in her eyes hardened with hurt. He was treating her unfairly, but it seemed like everything that had happened was too much of a coincidence to be luck. Her bugging him to tell her everything, him telling her about Igneel, and then Acnologia, and having both of them collide in Clover was something out of a nightmare. He didn't even want to broach the subject of the Blue Pegasus Inn be demolished that night and no one but them being survivors.

"Why more time?"

"Lucy, I-"

"No, Natsu. We have been here for weeks, and you have barely spoken two words to me since, and that's outside of you talking to Valdas. This is ridiculous!" Aiu sat next to her feet, looking up at the two of them, concern in his yellow eyes.

Natsu clenched his jaw, biting back his retort. Lucy was vibrating with unbridled rage before him, her words cut into him mercilessly.

"You can sulk all you want but you brought this upon yourself. We could have been out of there before Acnologia had even arrived if you had gotten over yourself. That damn ego of yours is what got us into this situation in the first place-and I don't know what it is, but for whatever reason, you are stuck with me for the foreseeable future. I can't do anything but wander on my own two feet because some giant black dragon squashed my horse! And I don't even have money for buy new clothes, Natsu! My shirt is in ruins from that damn building collapsing on top of me."

She went on and on about how the whole situation was his fault and he stood there and took it. She was right. There was no way of getting around that. Natsu had procrastinated and let his ego get in the way of what he had to do.

"I don't know what you want me to do? I'm scared, Natsu, scared. I'm worried that every night, you will be gone the next time I return from the town because I have somehow hurt you. I don't even know what I did? How? How could I have even done anything? Aiu is barely three weeks old, a hatchling! Are you ever going to talk to me again? What can I do to make this better? Why are you being silent?"

Natsu closed his eyes, trying in vain to block out her questions. It was his vow to protect her from his problematic king, and here he sat, sulking like a child dropped off at day-care because he couldn't stay with his father. He had a duty to fulfill, one that he had placed on his shoulders already. He, of all people, should be able to handle this. It was just as his teacher had told him, he rushed into things too fast. Lucy was a prime example of this.

He couldn't sit here any longer.

"What do you want?"

Lucy blinked, her frown deepening. "What do I want?" she asked slowly.

Natsu met her glare and waved a hand for her to go on. His words were curt, but there was nothing she could do to change that. She just ranted at him without holding back anything.

She chewed on her lip. Natsu felt certain about what she wanted, and his response was ready.

What did she even want at this point? There were so many things…for Natsu to speak with her, like the friends they were. More than anything, she wanted her friend back, but it wasn't as if he was left back at Blue Pegasus, crushed under the inn. He was still here, she still had a chance. But what else? Did she want to go home? To finally understand why she was in this situation in the first place? She looked down at Aiu, meeting his warm gaze. He was her family now, her dad disowning her and leaving her to her own devices. She had only made it one town over before everything began to blur together. Aiu was all that she had left, and she didn't even understand why she was gifted with him at the ceremony a month ago. Now was her chance.

"I want to find out about my family."

"We can head to-wait what? Your family?" That was not what he was expecting. No matter what he thought about her, Lucy always proved to turn a different direction.

"Yes, my family."

We still have to head back to the manor, Igneel will have the answers she needs, Valdas commented.

Natsu turned and looked at his dragon. He had forgotten she was even there for a moment, the black dragon had been quiet all day, finally sick of his moping. She had told him time and time again that they needed to do something instead of sitting here. They had no money and the area was becoming sparse from the concentrated hunting the dragons were doing. He was getting tired of being told he messed up. He knew that already, but did they have to keep beating it into him?

Lucy was waiting for his response, arms crossed to retain her body heat. Her clothes were dirty and her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. Even is such ragged attire, she was beautiful…

Natsu.

Dammit, Valdas.

"R-right, your family. We will have to head to the Dragneel Manor."

Welp, there you have it, the next installment. Again sorry for the really long wait, school is kicking my ass and I'm trying really hard to find time to write. Hopefully, the long chapter was worth the wait.

To the Reviewers: TheFangirlingFanboy, Nechochwen, TigerArrowgirl, Guest 1, AshnMarley, Juliastes, AnonymousStalkerFriend, PitbullColin, 3.14159265SlicesOfPi (nice name btw xD), xTernel (hi anna xD), and lucyheartfilialover360

Thank you so much for reviewing and the same goes for all of you who fav'd and followed!

See you next time,
Mogi