(A/N) This is a new story that I started writing a little while ago, so I'm now posting the first snippet as an intro. I've got quite a bit of it written already, and I have a solid plan concerning the general direction of things. If nothing comes up, I should be able to upload the first actual chapter sometime tomorrow.

As a side note... yeah, the two stories I currently have up will NOT be updated. It's been at least five years since I've touched either of them, and to be completely honest, I wouldn't be able to force myself to continue where my younger self left off. I'd like to think that some aspects of my writing have improved, so if I ever do feel so compelled as to continue where I left off, it would be as a rewrite of the original stories.

If you have any comments, inquiries, concerns, etc. that you feel should be responded to, please send me a DM. I accept any and all reviews with open arms and bated breath, but it is much easier to communicate both ways via direct messages.
Enough of that, though. Please enjoy, and let me know what you think.

xxxxxxx

Natsu was annoyed. Natsu was angry. Natsu was distraught, confused and sad.

Natsu felt betrayed.

Igneel was gone. There was no explanation to be had, no matter how much he wanted one, so he had to accept that all he knew for sure was the crushing fact that the one who took care of him, taught him, raised him, was no longer present as of two weeks ago.

As he aimlessly wandered the lively streets of another human town he came across, he kept his head low as he grumbled to himself. Whatever festivities were going on right now were ignored in favor of being stuck in his own little world.

It was probably for this reason that the boy didn't react as a gruff-looking man pushed him aside, then barreled straight into a street vendor's cart and at least four other people.

"Ouch…" he muttered, only realizing what happened once he hit the ground ass first. He shook his head, trying to erase the bad thoughts. He hated thinking too much.

It was with an indignant huff that he then realized what had just transpired; he was too agitated to let it go at the time. "STUPID —get back here!" Natsu shouted as he sprinted after his assailant. Being trained physically to be able to effectively use the lost magic known as Dragon Slayer Magic, it didn't take him long to catch up to the relatively ordinary man despite his age.

Natsu tackled the man to the ground and got on top of him. In the back of his mind, he knew that he was being unreasonable. He didn't know the guy, and it was probable that he didn't mean to do it. Hell, maybe he was just drunk and stumbling around, aimlessly and (more or less) harmlessly.

Natsu didn't care.

"Don't just go knocking people over, asshat!" the boy shouted. In his rage, however, he didn't pay attention to the man's stray limb that came around to bludgeon the side of his pink-covered head.

No longer being held down by the heated ball of uncalled-for rage, the assailant once again took off in a sprint.

"Piss off, brat! I don't have time for your bullshit," was the last thing a hazy-minded Natsu heard before the man disappeared.

"Urgh," Natsu pouted as he dusted himself off. Before he could walk away and forget about it though, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder holding him in place.

He turned around to see what appeared to be a police officer standing next to an ordinary-looking man with the plainest face he'd ever seen. In fact, the only distinguishing features he had were his glasses and tall, lanky frame. Both looked out of breath like they were either being chased or chasing someone themselves.

"Hey, young… man," wheezed the officer between breaths, "I see you've run into the repeat-offense thief that we've been tracking down for the past few days... Somehow, none of our sources have been able to properly flesh out what he looks like… You've had a bigger run-in with him than anyone else we'd asked yet, so would you mind helping us flesh out a facial composite?"

Natsu tilted his head in confusion. "Space-full… what? Anyway, sorry but I wasn't really paying attention to his face all that much."

"That's no problem. That's why they brought me along," chimed in the plain-looking man once he caught his breath, "You seemed pretty into it when you took down the suspect like that—by the way, that was quite dangerous, kid."

Natsu averted his eyes, but otherwise showed no sign of acknowledging the criticism.

"But as I was saying, it would make sense that you were too distracted to notice some things. Luckily, I use a magic called Mind Remap. I won't bore you with the details, but the gist is that anyone I use it on will have their unconscious and subconscious memories brought forward to their working memory. This includes memories that would otherwise be out of reach, like repressed memories or those that are magically removed. Pretty cool huh?" The mage struck a proud pose, propping his hands on his hips.

Natsu, of course, didn't understand most of what the man just said. "So like, you're magic will make me remember or something?"

The mage nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! It's actually a really cool and useful magic. In fact, what it does is immediately repair broken neuron pathways to the brain, and sometimes even make new ones! You see, when—

The policeman good-naturedly tapped him on the back of the head. "You're boring the kid with the details, Ricco."

The mage shot both Natsu and the officer sheepish glances, then coughed and looked away. "Sorry. So what do you say? I'm sure we can make it worth your while. Hungry?"

The two adults took the eager bobbing of the child's head as a yes.

As they made their way to what Natsu assumed to be a sort of police station, Natsu let his curiosity get the better of him.

"Hey tall guy," he called out to the mage, "aren't you a police officer or something? Why is the other guy the only one wearing policeman clothes?"

Ricco, the mage, looked confused for a moment. However, he quickly regained his smile. "You don't know what a guild wizard is, right?"

"Uhm, obviously I do. Do you know what a kilt wizard is?" bumbled Natsu trying (and failing miserably) to sound more informed than he really was. Fortunately, the wizard took his comment with good humour.

"Then I'll just explain it to my friend Mickey here. I'm sure he'd love to know." He gave the officer next to him a look that said play along. "You see Mickey," though he was addressing the officer, the pointed glances towards Natsu evidenced who he was really talking to, "a guild wizard is a wizard who's employed by a government-approved organization or group known as a guild. Basically, we take odd jobs and requests that would be made easier with the help of magic. So really anything from chores to taking out evil monsters."

Natsu's eyes lit up at the last bit.

"Guilds can offer a lot of different jobs, but some of them have specialties that make some wizards more likely to join than others. My guild is called Auris Owl. We're known for our mages that specialize in information gathering, so the police force and the military have us help out a lot when they deal with difficult investigations"

Natsu, however, had always been a simple and one-track-minded individual. "What about the monsters! You fight a lot too right?" In his excitement, he lit his hand on fire.

Ricco masked his surprise at finding out about Natsu's magic ability quite well. "Fire mage, huh? Someone like you would do well in a more competitive guild like Phantom Lord or Fairy Tail. I hear they both have powerful members with a tendency to take on all kinds of crazy quests. I would recommend Fairy Tail myself, though. Up-and-coming, young talent, all that."

"Fairy Tail, huh?" Natsu nodded comically, "I see! I see!"

Small talk being done, it wasn't long before the group made it to the local police department. The duo had Natsu take a seat in a small (but not unwelcoming) room, and the mage Ricco placed his index finger on the young boy's forehead.

"I'm tampering with your mind here, but this is super safe. I've done it countless times, and it's a simpler process than I made it seem earlier. Are you ready?"

Natsu shrugged his shoulders; Ricco took that as a go-ahead.

It should have been safe.

It should have been simple.

It was cast on humans countless times.

But Natsu hadn't been human for a long time… not that he knew that or anything.

The pink-haired boy's eyes glazed over, and multiple memories surfaced to the front of his mind. They were memories that should have never returned to him.

He had a family

Mom! Dad! Look what nii-chan made, isn't it awesome? You're so smart, nii-chan!

Now, now, Natsu. Zeref is busy right now but I'm sure he'll play with you later, okay?

M'kay!

He died

Run Natsu! Go find your brother!

Blood

Mom died.

Blood

Dad died.

Blood

NO! THE DRAGON—

He died.

Darkness

His brother did something… unspeakable

I did it… the demons made by the hand of dark magic have all lead to this moment. My greatest creation… Etherious Natsu Dragneel… You'll help me die, won't you Natsu?

He lived.

He was given to Igneel

Please, my friend. Raise him. Nurture him. Make him strong, so that one day he may…

…You were wrong to do this, Zeref.

Natsu is the only thing left on this earth I care about!

He will not remember you. He will not know you. To him, this conversation never happened. Do you understand this?

…Yes.

There were others

Aww, no fair Natsu-nii, how did you catch so many?

Hehe! Aren't I the best? Come, Wendy, Sting, Rogue, I'll teach you all how to fish like a pro!

Y'er a dumbass, pinky!

Piss off, bolt-brain!

Now, children. Calm down! Do you want me to read you all a story?

Oh! Yes please, Teacher Anna!

He knew nothing

This is it. The eclipse gate. The children will remember very little of what has transpired here.

Once they reach the other side, it may rest on their shoulders… to defeat Acnologia.

…

He snapped back to awareness.

It was… strange. Everything was strange. Nothing made sense anymore. It didn't feel fake, it simply felt like he remembered.

Like he remembered crucial, life-defining things about himself that he had no idea why he forgot to begin with.

"Hey kid you alright?"

He looked to see the wizard Ricco and officer Mickey staring at him worriedly.

The face of a thief was the last thing on his mind.

"…Sorry. Can't remember" Natsu nearly-whispered laconically as he pushed past the two adults and dashed out of the building as fast as possible.

"What's with the kid? That's never happened before… Right?" said Mickey as he scratched his chin.

Ricco slumped onto the chair previously occupied by their witness. "Not that I know of, no."

…

"We're back to where we started now, right?"

"Fucking hell."