Chapter 3

Context: When dragons lay their eggs all eggs of the land are grouped and set in a designated area while they hatch and mature during this time the only contact they have is with the other hatchlings, the dragons that hatch in the same group are called a litter.

A/N: Okay so this story has gotten pretty awesome support and that's really cool to see you guys enjoying the story so thanks for that hope I can deliver. So answer time: do they have human forms: most likely not with the way I have the story going it works out better without them. The rest of the FT crew: Yeah one way or another most of them will make an appearance or be referenced in someway. Okay so lastly I wasn't sure about making Erza a fire dragon or metal, in the end I decided fire because it was the only way I could really see her making a significant appearance and I couldn't see that making her a metal dragon, sorry for the long A/N hope you enjoy cheers! Disc: Don't own FT or its characters

When the three dragons near the royal grounds of the Firelands Lucille catches a presence that immediately causes her to tense, not belonging to a dragon but the very territory its self gave off an aura of power as if the land was destined to belong to royalty, Atlas Flame and Natsu weren't bothered in the slightest by the nature of the royal grounds seeing as the pair resided there, officially crossing into the royal grounds would have gone unnoticed by the fire dragons had it not been for the flexing of the golden dragons weakened muscles and the soft whimper of pain the action caused to tear from Lucille's throat. At realizing his passenger's discomfort Natsu emits a soft growl and nuzzles his head into hers that lays over his shoulder in an attempt to sooth the female while they continue their trek deeper into the royal territory.

Atlas takes it upon himself to locate the Fire King now that they have entered royal grounds and no dragon would willingly face Igneel's wrath so it should be safe to leave the younglings alone, seeing the duo wrapped in their own little world he decides to just take his leave unfurling his wings of pure fire and taking off not that the pair paid any mind towards the heavily heated windstorm that it caused.

Seeing as Lucille has somewhat calmed down Natsu begins walking once again but with no destination in mind his legs just seemed to develop a mind of their own, not that he noticed or would care if he had because at the current moment his attention is purely devoted to the beautiful creature on his back who has resumed her purring as she attempts to get further into his warmth as a shadow engulfs the pair. Natsu reluctantly tears his eyes away from Lucille to find what's obstructing the light from shining on his new treasure, he turns ready to growl only to find a rather large cave he recognizes as his den as his legs continue with their own agenda, the young fire dragon not caring enough to question good circumstances as he carries the female further into the den.

Once the warm sun rays left her back Lucille lifted her head to assess the situation, as her eyes adjust to the darkness she was able to make out the burnt rock walls of the cave, the knowledge of being in a cave causes the dragoness to tense at the thought of something blocking her from the open sky. Natsu at feeling her tense tightens his tail that is still intertwined with hers in a comforting gesture as he spits a fireball at what appears to be a fire pit to illuminate the room. The light reveals a rather spacious cavern, in the far back is what Lucille assumes is his hoard based on the brief glimmers of gold that reflects in the firelight, closer to the entrance is a pit large enough to fit Natsu and then some to which she knows not the uses and finally fairly close to the glimmers of gold is a pile of soft dirt with a dip in the center, 'that must be his nest'. As Natus trudges over towards the small dirt pile Lucille takes in the room, noticing small claw marks on the cave wall close to the ground along with a few fire patterns and poorly made dragons etched into the walls, her eyes are pried from the wall patterns as she begins to rotate as dirt is kicked into the air, once Natsu is done spinning the Dragoness as she comes to her senses she notices that the dirt nest has been expanded before she can think further she begins to descend into the mound at a steady pace as she slides from her perch on Natsu's back. Lucille whines when she is fully off of Natsu's back sorely missing her source of warmth.

Natsu freezes all movement at hearing the whine from the dragoness worried he aggravated her wounds as he snaps his gaze to identify the cause of the pained sound only to find a pout etched onto the face of the dragoness, the site causes the fire dragon to chuckle as he watches his new friend sulk, Lucille huffs at hearing the fire dragons amusement deciding to attempt to find warmth in his nest huddling in and laying her back against the dirt pit as she lays on her uninjured side curling along the edge. For Natsu the sight of the dragoness snuggling into his nest causes a proud growl to emerge from his chest as he moves to join the young dragoness in relaxing, circling the nest before softly laying down while being mindful of her injuries. The pair settles with Lucy curved in a crescent moon shape with Natsu mirroring her position with their tails still intertwined and his neck lying over hers while peaking over the edge of the nest to keep his eyes on the entrance. Luce's breathing evens out as her weight shifts to press further into Natsu's warm scales and he neck tucks deeper into his chest as she inhales his scent and lets out blissful exhales.

-Line Break-

Atlas Flame glides over the fire lands heading for his old friend not even needing his nose to know where his lazy king is currently residing, as the hellfire dragon gradually made his decent towards the lava pools within the royal grounds he spots a disruption in the pools waves his eyes immediately following it to the source to find the snout of a maroon dragon peeking out of the lava. 'Like father like son,' Atlas Flame muses as he lands on the edge of the pool closest to where the dragon that has been his friend since their days in the litter currently rested. "Oh, great Fire King may I have a moment of your time?" Came the overexaggerated spiel from Atlas as he rolls his eyes at 'the mighty Igneel' -he couldn't help but scoff at the nickname the Fire King gave himself as a hatchling that he still uses today- lay dormant resting peacefully in the lava only giving Atlas a grunt of acknowledgment. Seeing as Igneel has yet to move a grin spreads across the infernos face as he swipes his blazing paw across the lave fully submerging the kings head in the wave he caused and not a moment later in front of Atlas Flame stood a colossal dark red dragon with his horned snout aimed at the walking inferno as he glared at the hellfire dragon with his battle-scarred muzzle which didn't seem to faze him in the least. "Good your up, now come on let's go you need to see this." Atlas Flame states as he rises from his haunches turning his back on Igneel as the Fire King lets out a large sigh.

Igneel shook his head and turned back to his old friend his black eyes held a tired expression. "What did my brat break, fight or blow up that I need to fix… again," Igneel says in defeat more than agitation as the FIre King made his way out of the lava pools revealing his tan underbelly that matches the skin of his wings with his entire frame dripping in molten liquid as he shakes himself dry.

Atlas Flame no bothered by the flying molten fluid just continue walking away from the pool. "Oh you wouldn't believe me if I told you, it's just something you'll have to see for yourself." The way he put it intrigued Igneel, to say the least, his son has done some pretty stupid stuff so this must really be something to leave Atlas unable to explain.

"Alright then where are we going," At Igneel's question the massive inferno raises his head to the sky to find the scent. 'How can he smell without a nose?' Igneel finally questions after the many years of friendship between the two as Igneel hears Atlas Flame mutter 'of course he's there' as the Hellfire dragon unfurls his wings and takes off Igneel following right behind his longtime friend as they fly towards Natsu's den. As the duo near the den of the prince, Igneel picks up more than the scent of his son one he is very familiar with and the other he has a faint memory of that he can't bring forth. Igneels memory searching comes to a halt as the elder fire dragons land not too far off from a set of bickering youngling and the elder dragons begin their approach.

"-we know nothing about, she could be a danger to us all and your first move is to bring her to your den, honestly Natsu do you even think!" comes the agitated Roar of a blood red dragoness and a slightly darker underbelly one of the only dragons to have such well-blending scales definitely the only one known in the color red and also the only fire dragon besides Atlas and Igneel who is willing to deal with the prince's nonsense. Atlas Flame and Igneel took the girl in once they discovered no other dragon claimed her as their hatchling once the litter came of age to see their parents, most dragons couldn't fathom abandoning their hatchling and the thought alone would bring them to rage so the Fire King decided to take the youngling in, as a show of gratitude both elders deemed unnecessary she proclaimed herself Natsu's future advisor because 'someone had to make sure he stayed in line' which wasn't far from the truth and she happened to have a talent for the job so the duo allowed her to do as she wished, Usually, at hearing one of Erza's rants Natsu would be cowering and apologizing, so Igneel was at a loss for words when they came across his son openly growling at the pure red dragoness in a threatening manner, judging by Erza's face he isn't the only one who is surprised at Natsu's behavior. "Natsu are you even listening to me, she shouldn't even be here she needs to leave-" Erza's sentence is cut off when she has to pull back to avoid a snap at her throat from Natsu, seeing his son with such a feral look in his eyes and taking a violent move at his advisor Igneel rushes to step in.

"Natsu," The Fire King snaps at his son failing to contain his anger at seeing his son snapping at his friend since their time in the litter -much like himself and Atlas-. "What is going on here, why are you threatening your advisor?" Igneel demands rather than questions walking closer to stand over the younger dragon imposing his status as king which the Fire King is always reluctant to do. Igneel hears a faint whimper from Natsu's den then his son's growling intensifies as Natsu bares his teeth at his father in warning while taking a low crouch ready to strike but a large wall of flames comes to separate the two quick tempered royals.

"Okay~," States Atlas Flame from his spot between the three other fire dragons as he draws out the word. "I don't know why I expected this to go over any better but let's see if we can't clear things up a bit shall we." Atlas Flame says hoping to stop the pointless fighting of the group.

"But Sir Atlas he-" Erza is cut off when the Hellfire dragon looks in her direction.

"I know hatchling, let me try to explain then maybe we can get some answers." Atlas Flame says in a calm manner to his adoptive hatchling, when he receives a nod he continues. "Now hatchling why don't you come out so we can speak properly?" The elder dragons statement causes Natsu's growling to once again intensify as he steps around Atlas so he can block the entrance to his den. "Natsu none of us mean her any harm she can stay by you at all times I'm sure you'd both prefer that." Natsu looks over his shoulder into his den as if looking for an answer while Igneel turns to his friend a look of confusion clear on his face, his attention is brought back to Natsu when the boy begins heading into his den, Igneel opens his maw ready to voice his protest but a flaming tail hitting his flank tells him he should wait.

After a few moments of Natsu being in his den, as the trio are able to make out the silhouette of two dragons approaching Erza's lips pull back into a silent snarl at the scent of a foreign dragoness approaching, while Igneel's confusion just furthers as he watches the silhouettes exit the den and enter the light. "Layla?" The Fire King says shocking the entire group while causing Lucy to flinch back at the name tucking her head behind Natsu as she whimpers into his back while still leaning on him for support, the golden dragonesses whimpers cause the prince to resume his growl and cover the female with his wing as he glares at the offenders. Igneel shakes his head remembering his old friend passed over a century ago and turns his gaze back to the dragoness his son is shielding. Taking note that yes this dragoness bares a strong resemblance to his once great friend but the youngling before him has a slightly more colorful underbelly aside from that the pair could be twins with the same scales resembling perfect gold and the same emotional brown eyes it's almost comical. Only then does Igneel notice her poor state her marked size and the weak muscles and wings realizing the poor child has had quite the rough go of it. "Youngling what's your name?" Igneel asks the youngling only to receive a growl from his son as he attempts to shield her more, though Natsu's growling is quickly silenced by the golden dragoness nuzzling his neck before drawing her face away from the prince to face the king's direction with her head bowed.

"My names Lucille." The dragoness says so quite that the dragons barely hear her but they do.

Igneel nods at the girl. "Light, the name fits you young one," The Fire King calls as he takes a seat on his haunches the other two fire dragons following his lead as Natsu still shields the dragoness by his side. "Do you mind me asking where you're from and why you're here?" The dark red dragon asks hesitantly, seeing her flinch at the question Natsu prepares to growl but stops when she begins to speak her gaze never leaving the ground.

"I'm an astral dragon and I'm from their lands, why I'm here is well… complicated but to put it simply I guess because I don't wish to be there while I also just felt strangely drawn to this place and its warmth." The newly discovered astral dragon subconsciously leans into Natsu when finishing her sentence never raising her head from looking at the ground.

Igneel gazed at the girl with calculating eyes not doubting her words but knowing there's more. "Why did you flinch when I addressed you as Layla you seem young enough to not remember the previous astral queen. Much to the entire groups shock the golden dragon scoffs at the king's words making all eyes widen.

"As if I would forget my own mother," Lucille barked malice evident in her tone, Lucille takes a deep breath trying to calm herself down while the other dragons take in her statement.

"So your Layla's daughter, that explains the scent," Spoke Igneel being the first to gain his senses. "But that doesn't explain why you left, astral dragons have been matriarchal as long as I've been alive if you're Layla's daughter as you say that would make you the next to lead once you come of age unless you don't wish to lead." taking the glare from Lucille as an answer the Fire King confusion furthers not understanding the dragoness.

"Wait, old man" Natsu chimes in. "if Luce is supposed to be the leader when she's older than who's in charge now?" The prince asks curiously wanting to know about the girls home.

"Jude," Comes the reply from Lucy her voice held so much malice and spite it made the two elder fire dragons flinch at the memory of the girls' late mother the tone brought forth. "That monster wanted to barter me off to stay as king of the astral dragons, made some revolution about males being dominant, females are currently being subjugated so the males can have power, apparently being equal wasn't enough, power-hungry bastards." Lucille spits out, her voice never raising in volume but the malice never leaving, the astral dragon wasn't even addressing them really just thinking out loud not caring if they hear. All of the fire dragons were taken aback by this none more than the royals Igneel mentally berating himself for not realizing it on his own and Natsu growling his instincts ready to kill anyone who would try to subjugate his mate even her own father. Lucy's gaze snaps up to meet the eyes of the Fire King in her first display of courage that day. "I understand if you don't want an outsider in your territory Fire King and I will leave if you'd like but I will die before I let you send me back there." No longer leaning on Natsu Lucille strides away from his support and directly in front of Igneel raising her head to look at the elder dragon in the face with solid determination in her eyes that remind the king so much of her mothers.

Igneel pulls his mouth back into a dragons grin displaying his fangs before loud laughter erupts from the king and he's forced to break his stare with the astral dragon as his body shakes with laughter. All other dragons look at the king with different emotions, from the exasperation of his friend to borderline rage of his son and the astral heir. As Igneel regains his composure While wiping a comical tear from his eye with a curved claw he notices the displeased looks of his audience and quickly regains his composure as he focuses back on the young golden dragon. "I will not hand you over to Jude we never exactly saw eye to eye on anything and I imagine even if I did want to I'd have a large pink trouble making problem to deal with first." Ignoring his son's shout of 'It's not pink you fossil!' he continues addressing Lucy. "I also believe the council needs to know about the problems going on in the Astral Plains so that their proper queen has a home once again," Igneel says with excitement and a tinge of arrogance to his tone as he turns to look over his shoulder to the other fire dragons. "What do you think Atlas?"

Rolling his eyes at his old friend's eagerness for a fight but unable to suppress the smile and bit of eagerness in his own voice. "Already on my way to call the meeting." Atlas flame calls as he makes his way out of the group for room to take off.

As the massive blazing wings beat and lift the inferno off the ground Igneel turns back to the younger dragons, Natsu had come up to stand next to Lucy while she returned to leaning on him while Erza was on Natsu's left all of their eyes turned on Igneel. "Natsu I trust you can look after Lucy," hearing his son mumble damn right as the boy turns his gaze onto the dragoness using him as a crutch. "And Erza I trust you'll look after Natsu as per usual." This remark earning an 'of course your highness.' from the ever formal red dragoness a shout of indignation from his son and the small laughter from the astral dragoness. "There's nothing more we can do today so how about you hatchlings get some rest." No argument was posed with Natsu gently nudging Luce with his snout the duo went back towards his den to get the astral dragon some well-deserved rest.

As the young pair enter Natsu's den Igneel turns and begins to leave the vicinity with the scarlet dragoness hot on his heels, once they reach a far enough the duo won't pick up the younger one starts, "This is very troubling sir," The dark red dragon just nods in confirmation. "This puts stock in the rumors the council has been suspecting," The king once again nods but gives an audible grunt as well this time. "And with Lucille's story, she has no reason to lie this could lead to all-out war and if it's true that he is helping them the-" Erza is interrupted by the elders' abrupt input.

"I'm aware of what this could mean Erza and I'm glad you are as well," Igneel states in a firm tone but not unpleasantly. "and I know that with Lucille's words the worst case scenario just became far more likely than before, and if it is necessary we will destroy them both, I just hope it won't come to that." The king states to the young advisor confirming her suspicion and making her worry for the peace that has lasted until this point. "You should get some rest, It's been a long day," Igneel says with a sense finality to his tone as he watches the sun start to disappear over the horizon, at his words Erza bows to the king and head off towards her own den. Igneel takes one look opposite of the setting sun and sees the stars as they start to dot the horizon 'I'll protect our hatchlings, Layla rest well.' with one last glance at the stars, the king heads back towards his own den for the night.