Hey Guys! I have returned..Kind of. I Graduated, but i got to set up my college plans and apply to varous places etc. please be patient as i really hope to return to the world of Fanfiction! i have written the first 5 chapters of this story, it just kinda slapped me in the face when i was mixing cement. Lol ENJOY and as usual, leave a review and let me know what you think!

Blue skies.

They are so peaceful aren't they? The occasional white fluffy cloud dots its clear coating, like icing on a delicious cake. Gracious, humble mountains lay about the plains, relaxing by the luscious green forest boundary line. A gentle passive breeze sweeps across the hills and into the proud trees, carrying the songs of birds and other wildlife. The blades of grass swishing like a thousand swords as they began their battle chant, whistling into the breeze. The forest seemed to laugh as the leaves chuckled joyously in the wind, mocking the chant as it reached there boundary line. Their battle however was cut short when a cry was heard.

A high-pitched cry alerted the forces of nature of the presence of a young boy, barley an infant, resting on a rock under the suns stare. The little boy was wrapped in a white and yellow cloth, bunched around the baby. The little child cried and cried, screaming out to the world, begging for someone to answer its call.

There was a stir within the forest, a low chilling, a strange silence spread over the forest. The wind silenced, the cries of battle paused, and the hills stopped snoring. The trees began to creak and the leaves rustled, shaking in fear. A presence made itself known as the trees cracked to get out of its way. The trees parted and the creature stepped into the clearing or at least its head anyway. The presence was massive, its head was still in the shadows, but its golden eyes seemed to stare into world and soul without bias or restraint. The child stopped crying, taken aback by the creature's eyes. The child was lost in the stare of the creature, it seemed to…powerful. The naïve child couldn't help but giggle at the attention this being was giving him. The creature tilted its head to the side, curious as to the reaction of this boy. The creature stepped into him light.

A gigantic dragon appeared from the shadows, stunning the boy. Its body was covered with dark, red scales. It's lower body, specifically its stomach, and the inner portions of his long tail, and legs, was beige in color. The dragon also has noticeable scars on his stomach and neck, with the largest one, which is X-shaped, located around the center of its body. The dragons back has numerous black spikes, reaching down from the back to the end of his tail. The dragon had a triangular head with horns, a pair of large, round eyes with yellow sclera that glowed even in the light. It had a sharp horn pointing upwards just above its nose. The dragon also sports very sharp canine teeth, and has claws with long, sharp, red nails. Its large bony wings resemble a bat's, with rippled tips. It lay low in the clearing, observing the boy with unhidden curiosity. It spoke to the child in a deep, but warm voice.

"What is a newborn like you doing out here by yourself?"

'This is where that massive spike of magical power is? Is it the boy?'

The boy just giggled and outstretched his hands in a grabbing motion. The dragon obliged and came closer. The boy grabbed the dragon's horn and touched its scales, the child giggled in glee as he petted the dragon. The massive red dragon couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's antics. The dragon reached a clawed hand forward and scooped up the baby, bringing it closer for inspection. The child squealed in delight as it rose in the sky, the dragon just kept staring at the child, looking for any fear, but only found delight. The dragon watched the boy with its intimidating eyes and brought him closer, and watched in amusement as the boy leaned up against its scales and fell asleep to the dragon's natural warmth. The dragon's eyes sparkled with humor at this child. The dragon listened intently for anything around that would clue in the location of the boy's parents…..but found nothing, no trace, not even a wisp. The Dragon curled up into a ball in the large clearing, nearly filling the whole thing, the child at the center next to the dragons head.

The dragon watched the boy as he slept with that little baby grin on his face. the dragon made a decision right then, he would take this child. He would raise him to be the strongest he could be, under his tutelage and parentage.

"I, Igneel, Fire Dragon King, take this newborn child under my wing, until the boy can fight for his own at an acceptable level, I shall be his parent and watchful eye. The world will now his name, I give him the name of Natsu, Natsu Dragoneel."

The dragon Igneel chuckled to himself as he enclosed a wing over the pair, shading them from the heat of the unrelenting sun.

'This is going to be tiresome, irritating, and excruciatingly slow. But it won't be boring…mhmhmahaha. Maybe I can get Tharos to help me; her magic is strong, and will be a great help to the boy.' The pair slept in the clearing, peacefully in the wild, as if heaven itself had decided to include them in its dreamy folds.

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Time skip 10 years

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A young boy woke up within the mouth of a cave, overlooking the vast forests and lakes. The world was currently blanketed under a dense fog, like a curtain of cotton. The boy scanned his surroundings, looking for any signs of his dragon friends. He stood up and sniffed the air, trying to find any trace. To his disappointment, there wasn't one. The young boy stepped into the light of the rising sun to get a better view; it was kinda hard to miss two monstrous dragons. As the sunlight reached the cave, the boy was placed in clear view of the world.

The young boy is a lean, muscular young man of average height with a slightly tan skin tone, black eyes, spiky pink-colored hair, and has abnormal sharp canines. He had no shirt, which exposed his rather well defined muscles. He had a simple black sash as his belt as it held up his baggy white shorts with tattered edges. He had a white, scaly looking scarf lightly wound around his neck. The young boy shouted into the valley, disturbing the valley's passive tranquility.

"IGNEEL! THAROS! It's me Natsu! Where are you?!"

His echoes traveled around, trying to find its intended target. Only to find nothing, Nothing. Natsu started to panic. He charged down the slope with incredible speed, crashing through boulders and jumping gaps. He sprinted down the hill with the recklessness of a berserker. He ran screaming over and over,

"IGNEEL!"

"THAROS!"

He ran around the valley for three straight hours, trying to find them, or any trace of them.

Nothing.

The young boy collapsed tears evident in his obsidian-black eyes. "Why," he muttered tearfully, "where did you go? Mom, Dad... Why did you leave me?"

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3 years later

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A cold, thick mist had sauntered onto the quiet road, the fog's whispers and taunts jabbing playfully at the traveler walking alone on the secluded trail. The traveler looked nothing special, but nothing normal either. The traveler wore a single black cloak, tattered and frayed on the edges, which swirled about lazily at the traveler's movements. A few salmon-pink spikes of hair jutted out from under the hood, and a pair of wooden clogs clacked against the hardened ground as the traveler walked. The mist parted for the traveler as he walked, as if recognizing him as an ally. He walked off the trail a bit to a nearby cliff edge to examine the area below.

A sparkling city lay beneath, shimmering in the rising sun's light. The oceans clear, salty blue shone in newborn joy as the city sprouted activity and life. The traveler looked about the city, wondering if it would be worth it to stop. The traveler pondered it for a moment, before turning on his heal and heading down the trail, turning at a road sign proudly displaying its instructions.

Magnolia 5 Miles

The cloaked figure seemed to stare at the sign for a moment or two, before turning right toward Magnolia. The mist seemed to chastise him at his decision, but a hot blast of air exploded outward from the cloaked individual, scarring to fog into clearing. The traveler continued down the road. Little did this traveler know his little burst of magic had been clearly sensed by the master of a nearby guild…which could lead to trouble.

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Magnolia

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The young salmon-haired boy wandered the popular streets in his ragged and tattered black cloak, simple pack, and sandals. The boy's irritation was evident as the cobblestone steamed as he walked and his aura made people sweat as they walked by. He walked with half his face hidden, but you could see his jawline muscles flexing as he marshaled his anger. He walked down the roads, ignoring his surroundings; he couldn't really care. All that really mattered to the traveler was this place had no information regarding any immense magical pressure near or in Magnolia.

He was walking down the crowded streets when a seemingly innocent civilian walked past him and brushed his shoulder. And then in the blink of an eye, the stranger was tugging at the travelers pack, ripping it from the cloaked figures back, and then high-tailing it to the narrow alleys. The crowd yelled in annoyance and outrage, but soon stopped when they noticed the cloaked figure wasn't doing anything. The traveler whipped his hood back in frustration, not really caring if anyone recognized his face at this point, this town had no information anyway, and so why hide a place he was going to leave soon? The majority of the populace had been watching the traveler because of the mugging, but once he removed his hood, all they could do was look in surprise. The traveler was male; he had a handsome face, onyx-black eyes, salmon colored hair and abnormally large canines. He had lightly tanned skin, and a scaly looking white scarf woven tightly around his neck. But what was most surprising, was his apparent age. This traveler looked no older than thirteen years old and yet he had such a mature and powerful aura about him. A few of the surrounding younger ladies blushed, but quickly hid it as the other males looked about ready to start beating the crap out of the kid. The young traveler either didn't notice or didn't give a flying crap about it. He just stopped walking and looked down the alleyway the thief fled. The young boy seemed to be having an inner battle with himself when a few of the surrounding people noticed his appearance and connected the dots.

"Hey! It's "Salamander"! The wandering mage! You see his teeth and scaly-looking scarf! He has got to be!"

"No way bro! That's gotta be "Smoke"! You know the spikey pink hair, long black cloak with frayed edges, and not a part of any guilds! He is the guy that has been taking care of all those dark guilds on his travels. The traveler that keeps obliterating them and then giving the majority of the plunder they took from the nearby villages, and giving it back!"

"Maybe it's the same person! They both fit the description!"

"WHOA! You may be right!"

The young boy just facepalmed at the growing crowd's conversation. 'And that means I have to come up with a new moniker. For Fuck Sake! And I really liked those ones too.' The boy just looked back to the alleyway, tuning out the crowds voices of admiration, and listening to the thief's retreating footsteps as he ran through the echoing corridors. The boy grimaced in annoyance. He tried to pursue, but noticed the crowd had closed off his exit…actually they had closed off all of them. Salamander AKA Smoke started to realize he would have to resort to magic to leave without harming any of them.

'Why must the people continue to thwart my attempts at freedom.'

The Salamander then looked up at the onlookers, then in an instant, he combusted on the spot. A bright red and orange flame engulfed his body, the heat pushing the crowd back. And then to the audience's surprise, Salamander disappeared in a large column of smoke. The smoke just floated above the crowd, but not too high, and then rushed off in an impressive display speed. Like the exploding ash from a volcanic blast. The cloud of smoke pushed through the alleyways, searching for its quarry. The thief had apparently stopped to take a breather after running, and seeing no pursuit, he decided that he was in the clear.

What an idiot.

A cloud of smoke burst forward and entombed him in its searing hot and blinding darkness, and then it lifted. The thief widened his eyes in horror as he watched the smoke congregate into a small pillar, and then dissipated outwards, revealing the same person he had just mugged earlier. The figure walked forward with a serious look on his face, and the robber looked as if he was ready to piss himself, while chanting reprimands in his mind.

'You total moron! You had to steal from a mage and from Smoke no less! Did you want to die!'

Smoke approached him, till he was standing right in front of him. It was rather a comical sight. Seeing a grown adult cower in fear as a 13 year old boy stared up at him.

The boy stretched his hand forward, fist cocked; the bandit closed his eyes in fear and dread. 'He is going to hit me and I'm gonna die!' he mentally wailed. Then he felt it…and it stung, but it didn't hurt that bad. He opened his eyes in surprise to see the boy looking at him in anger, and disappointment. He had just flicked him in the forehead.

"Next time you try and steal, remember what happened today, don't make me come after you." The thief was wide-eyed in stupor.

"Y-y-you aren't going to kill me?" he stuttered out.

The young boy just stared at him, "of course not, I only kill if it's absolutely necessary. You present no major threat to the populace, nor would the penalty be worth the action."

The Thief's shoulders sagged in relief, but soon tensed as the boy grew a furious expression. "But don't think you are getting off with a single flick."

The thief's eyes widened in horror as a circle of smoke and flame began to encircle him. He pleaded with the younger boy to spare him, but his pleas went ignored. "You just stole my stuff, why would I? But don't worry; I won't end your pitiful life. I'll just make sure you remember not to fuck with other people, P.S. figure out some other way to survive." The thief's eyes widened in horror as the traveler's face transformed into a stone wall, devoid of emotion.

"Remember the fear, the sense of hopelessness, the pain, and remember my face. Think of this moment, should you choose to try again"

The circle of flames and smoke exploded in a series of hot air currents. Launching the poor bastard out of the alleyway, and out to sea. His total flight time was over 14 seconds long, and this boy made sure to laugh for the entire time, and longer. He quietly chuckled in laughter as he listened to the robber's girly screams.

"I bet he plays the tough guy act when he is in town too" he laughed silently.

"That was…handled, though I wouldn't agree with your methods, I would say the issue has been solved." An aged voice spoke from behind him.

The pink-haired youth didn't even look back, "Oh, look who finally decided to come out of the shadows. You know it's rude to follow a person around without introducing themselves."

"Says the boy not even turning to look at the person he is talking to." The voice retorted.

The boy just shrugged, and then turned around. "Fair enough, what do you want?"

The voice stepped out of the shadows, showing himself to the famed rogue mage, Salamander. He was an extremely short, elderly man. He had black eyes and looked to be growing bald with only the outer rims of his head containing white hair. He also has a thick white mustache. He had a black stamp of the FairyTail guild mark that covers his entire chest area. He was dressed in a casual manner, with attire consisting of a white shirt with a black FairyTail stamp in the middle under an orange hoodie. His attire was completed with matching orange shorts and an orange and blue striped jester hat.

Salamander would have laughed at his appearance if he didn't recognize him first.

"Oh, you must be Makarov Dreyar, 3rd master of FairyTail. You are also a Wizard Saint if I remember correctly. Just the type of person I wanted to speak to before I left."

Makarov raised an eyebrow, "oh, and what did you wish to speak about Mr.….."

"Salamander or Smoke will do, the public has already made the connection anyway. I don't tell anyone my real name, it is still clear of enemies, and I don't need those fuckers to connect any dots regarding it." Salamander/Smoke said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Yes," Makarov chuckled, "13 million jewel is quite the incentive isn't it?"

Salamander looked at him questioningly. "Do you plan on trying to cash me in? I can assure you that you aren't the first, nor will you be the last."

Makarov looked affronted, insulted even. "You would really believe that I would turn in a child for money!"

Salamander just gave him a hard look. "It's not the first…or the second…or the third…heck, it's not even been the….huh I lost count. Funny how that works, but it's been more than I would like, so forgive my skepticism."

Makarov looked shocked and…and genuinely angry. Salamander was watching the furious slide-show of emotions rage across the old man's face. 'Huh, looks like the rumors are true. He really does care about children, young or old.'

Meanwhile Makarov was having far less subdued thoughts. 'PEOPLE TRIED TO TURN HIM IN FOR MONEY!' he mentally roared. 'Sure, it's 13 million, but still. Here is a child, doing a public service for the community by defeating their oppressors, and they repay him by trying to turn him in for his BOUNTY! What the hell has this kid's life been like?!'

Makarov looked back at the boy in front of him. Salamander just watched him, reading his expressions to try and discern how difficult his life would get if tried to talk with this guild master.

"Let's talk back at the guild, and I promise no tricks. This is just a friendly meeting of two parties in a place where you can't be followed by the public. Is this suitable for you?" Makarov asked formally.

Salamander was first surprised by the respectful request, but he quickly switched to detective mode as he searched for any clues as to any lies or ulterior motives. Once the scan was complete, he nodded his head. "That would be agreeable, lead the way."

Makarov watched the boy scan for any traces of deceit and couldn't help but feel a tad bit hurt. 'He really doesn't trust anyone, I can't blame him for that, but it must be hard. Probably no family either, who would let their child do something like that? I will do what I can to give him a home, I refuse to allow a child to wander alone. I REFUSE.'

Makarov turned and led the way to FairyTail, the crowd started following and shooting off questions faster than shooting stars. Makarov was really starting to get annoyed at this, but then realized that was probably why Salamander wore such a dark and large cloak. Although, he would have to get rid of the cloak now, as it was now a recognizable trait of his other moniker "Smoke". Makarov lead him through the streets and stopped right in front of the guild doors, looking back at the civilians.

"This is the FairyTail guild property line. Crossing without permission is a crime and you will be punished accordingly."

The crowd booed loud at that and then continued their onslaught of questions.

"Are you joining FairyTail?!"

"Are you rich from defeating all those Dark Guilds?"

"What's it like to have such a large bounty? Did you know it was raised to 18 million jewels from your original 13? Apparently the Magic Council has decided that they want to talk with you!" That got the Salamanders attention, he turned to the voice that shouted it off, but couldn't get a lock on him as everyone else kept shouting off more questions. He eventually turned and followed a shocked Makarov into the guildhall.

'Now the Magic Council is after him! By Kami, how do they expect this kid to survive! Couldn't they have tried to get his attention any other way?' Makarov thought worriedly.

Salamander saw his worried expression, and felt a little spark of emotion enter his soul, 'wow, this old geezer actually cares. Who knew?' Makarov led the now 18 million jewel bounty into the guild's main hall, where everyone was on their toes. An armored girl with scarlet red hair walked forward, an annoyed but cautious look on her face.

"Master, why is there an exuberant crowd outside our guildhall? If I didn't know any better, I'd say one of us had become a celebrity."

A blue haired boy in only boxers called out from his seat on a table, "Yeah right Erza. They are always mad at us for destroying something or other, it never praise. My money is on the cloaked guy behind the master."

'A good guess, and the correct one.' Salamander thought.

The now named Erza looked back at the boy in boxers with a hard glare. "Are you telling me you destroyed more things during you last mission Gray." Her voice was so menacing Salamander was seriously debating running away.

The blue-haired stripper Gray looked about ready to soil himself as he replied in a hurried, panicked tone. "NOPE! Wasn't me!"

Erza was about to march over to him and kick Gray's ass when a light chuckle was heard. Everyone turned around to see the chuckle from the hooded figure behind the master.

"Wow Makarov, you really do run a daycare. If it wasn't for your esteemed title and respectable character, I'm sure the majority of the population would have labeled you as some kind of pedophile."

The guilds younger members looked confused at that statement, while a few of the older members looked shocked, and then had a hard time holding in their laughter as they saw their master get red in the face at the logical insinuation. Makarov looked ready to yell at the cloaked figure, but when he turned, he realized that Salamander had put his hood up again. He restrained his anger for a later date and began to walk forward through the guildhall. Salamander followed, although tense as if something was about to happen. This only made Makarov sadden, he truly is on guard at all times. Salamander was walking through the guildhall before he reached the bar at the back of the hall, Makarov had entered the bar and went into the back room.

"Do you have a bounty book by any chance?" he asked gruffly. The bartender looked a little surprised at the young voice that spoke out from behind the cloak. She reached under the counter and pulled out a small booklet, leather bound, but relatively new.

"Here," she said with a smile, "the Magic Council pushed these forward to every magical establishment this morning. Fully geared and everything they rushed them everywhere in less than 5 hours ago. I guess they really want to catch somebody." Salamander took the booklet and flipped through a few pages, as if to find a specific person. He stopped at a page and almost dropped the book in shock. He walked quickly over to Makarov, who noticed his shock and hurried back down the stairs to see the issue. Salamander showed him the booklet and Makarov's jaw hit the floor. The entry was at the front as the current "most wanted."

Moniker(s): The Traveler, Salamander, Smoke

Bounty: 22 million jewel

Offense/Reason for Capture: Magic Council business

Skill level: S-Rank or above

Abilities: Unconfirmed

Last known location: Road to Magnolia from Clover Town.

This person is highly skilled and is known that he has taken lives. Capture is needed Alive and in good condition.

Notice to Wizard Saints: Should you locate this person, apprehend immediately.

Makarov read the entry with a look of pure dread on his face. He knew whatever chance he had at the boy's trust was shot down the moment he read the last line. He looked up at the Salamander with a look of worry and complete sadness at this boy's obvious misfortune.

"Wow, they even know my first moniker; they really have kept tabs on me. They haven't connected me to my other two aliases though, so I guess they lost me a few times." Salamander said.

Salamander looked back at Makarov and saw his expression. "Well, it's been fun. But if this was pushed through 5 hours ago, I got a whole crowd of get ahead of. I thought that guy out there said it was raised to 18 million, I guess that was the last post. Oh well, want that 22 million jewel reward? I doubt I could say no the magic council for long and I wouldn't mind the reward going to you. I think it would be well spent patching up all the destroyed zones your daycare of brats keeps making."

Makarov just chuckled dryly. "You are their age, and yet you call them brats? Where is the logic in that?"

"You tend to grow up when the world wants your blood." Salamander said in a serious tone, no mirth in his voice.

Makarov looked at him in despair; it was obvious he was torn. "How about I go with you to the council? I can tell them you surrendered willingly and maybe we can get a reduced sentence."

Salamander just shook his head. "Nah its fine, I wouldn't want that kind of act smudging your esteemed character. Don't want to look like an actual pedophile, do ya?" Salamander said with a smirk.

Makarov just stared at him. Salamander handed the book back to the barmaid and said, "I'm sorry to ask, but could you please cross out the first entry of all your bounty books? That page will no longer be active."

The barmaid was completely blown away by what she just heard. She had heard the conversation between the two and couldn't believe that this boy was currently the "most wanted" in all of Fiore. She nodded her head shakily. Salamander nodded at her, and then lifted the cloak from his head, showing the world his face. He smiled at her sadly and said, "Thanks, it will save time."

Salamander then turned back to look at Makarov, who looked to be leaking tears of frustration.

"Grow up Makarov," Natsu said with an angry face, "people prosper, suffer, live and die. Age is just a number in the cruelty of this world. It's like a cold crystal, rigid in all its guidelines, and brittle hard to the point where tears merely drip off its surface. You should be happy, why the long face? If anything, you are getting a free 22 million jewel bounty, should keep your damages paid for a while eh?" he said with a non-committal shrug. "I have committed my fair share of wrong deeds, and I did them full well knowing of the punishment. I believed that the consequences would be worth the action, I still do. So dry your tears, they will be better spent on the next innocent soul you bring into your light."

Salamander began to walk back across the guildhall. All the guildmembers by now had a newly published bounty book in their hands, and they were staring at him with a look of awe. Salamander looked at Makarov once again with a bored expression.

"Hey Makarov, before I go, would you like to know my real name? I imagine now that I am going to be put in court, my name will become public knowledge. No point in hiding it anymore."

Makarov looked completely shocked at his, but then his tears came back. "Sure, my boy."

Natsu half-heartedly smiled at him, revealing his abnormally large canines, "My real name is Natsu," he said, "Natsu Dragneel". He showed a faint smile and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Tada! Chapter 1! i know it probably leaves a lot of questions, or not at all, but please be patient. i will publish the next chapter soon! i do want to hear back from you though, so dont hold back!

...but please be gentle ;)