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It was that time of the year again. The scorching heat of the blazing sun beaming down on the town of Magnolia. It wasn't that bad in the evening but during the day it was like a ghost town everyone stayed inside. Even members of Fairy Tail didn't take on many jobs over the summer. Well except for two mages, the residential fire and ice mage, Natsu and Gray. Even though Gray hated the heat he was determined to keep Natsu in cheerful mood whenever this day would finally show its ugly face. So, it wasn't much a shock for Lucy to not find the teenagers in the guild hall when she walked in.
She approached the team table and sat day noticing Happy. "Happy? I thought you would've been with Natsu and Gray?" she asked, confused. Happy shook his head a little "They didn't go on a mission today. Natsu actually plans on telling him something important today about Igneel, so I decided to let them have their moment." Happy explained before he started munching on his fish. "Something about Igneel, I wonder what it could be?" Erza wondered aloud.
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While on the way back towards Natsu's house in the forest of Magnolia, the dragon slayer was humming a small song. Gray couldn't make out any of the lyrics except for a few that mentioned rings of gold but that was it. "What song are you humming?" Gray asked curiously. "It's a song that Igneel used to sing all the time." Natsu answered. For a split-second Gray froze, he wasn't expecting an answer that had anything to do with Igneel.
Normally the dragon slayer would refuse to speak his name on this day. But now he was willingly answering Gray's questions about it. "Come on let's take a quick detour. I have something I want to tell you." Natsu said grabbing Gray's hand and leading him towards the river that holds a special place in their hearts. Once the two arrived Natsu sat down and took off his sandles before placing them in the water. He motioned for Gray to do the same thing and the ice mage did just that.
"So, what did you want to tell me?" Gray asked curiously. "I wanted to tell you a story about my adoptive mother." Natsu said looking down at the water. "You're adoptive mother? She raised you alongside Igneel?" Gray asked. Natsu gently smiles a little staring at the water before nodding. Gray got comfortable and looked over at Natsu "Whenever you are ready, I'll listen." he stated. Natsu nods a little before sighing. "Her name was Nimue and ironically enough she was a water dragon. She had the power to make any calm sea into the death trap. She could wash away any ship that she felt was a threat to her family. She was truly a force to be recon with. She kept me safe from all harm."
"She would even end up having to sometimes lecture Igneel if she thought he was being a bit too much at one time." Natsu said with a small laugh. Gray chuckled a little as he let Natsu continued his story. "I remember that whenever she was in her human form, she had long blue hair that would reach her hips. Igneel had dark red hair that went to about his shoulders, and he would always wear it up in a bun while she always had a braid." he explained recalling the styles that his adoptive parents used to show off.
"When Igneel had brought me home, he used to tell me how her eyes immediately lit up. Automatically he had known she adored me and would do anything she possibly could to protect me. They raised me together. They taught me everything that I know. While Igneel had me train to be a fire dragon slayer, Nimue would train me in defense, she also taught me how to read and write of course it was all in Draconic, but it was all her. Igneel would step in from time to time, but it was mostly her." Natsu paused for a moment to take a small breath before he continued with his story once more.
"At night she would tell me the stories of the famous dragons that have had to fight for their survival to keep their families safe. She told me about the legends behind the water dragon and Igneel taught me all about fire dragons. There was one day in particular that stands out among the rest of them."
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Igneel and Nimue had gotten into an argument on what were to happen if something where to happen and they needed to get me to safety. "I know you are the king of the fire dragons, but shouldn't your family come first!" Nimue shouted looking over at Igneel. "I would do anything to keep my family alive. Even if that meant I would have to sacrifice everything, it would be enough to know that you two would get away safely." Igneel responded calmly feeling her gaze on his back.
Nimue groaned in frustration "You are so stubborn! I don't want you to die! I want you to be beside us! I want you to stay beside me!" she cried before turning away from him stepping slight further into the cave. I remember Igneel looking at me then back a Nimue. He had known he got into trouble, but he also knew that my mother and I were his treasure and that's what kept him going.
Igneel had stepped forward gently grabbing her hand to turn her towards him.
"No scorching sun, nor freezing cold. Will stop me on my journey. If you promise me your heart and love." Igneel began, the familiar tune cause Nimue to turn towards him. It was their song after all the same song that brought them together in the first place.
"And love me for eternity. My dearest one, my darling dear. your mighty words astound me! But I've no need for mighty deeds. When I feel your arms around me!" she sang looking up at him.
"But I would bring you rings of gold! I'd even sing you poetry! And I would keep you from all harm! If you would stay beside me!" Igneel voice was deeper than her was, but they were like two pieces to a puzzle that fit perfectly together.
"I have no use for rings of gold! I care not for your poetry! I only want your hand to hold!" she said with a slightly teasing tone that caused Igneel to chuckle. "I only want you near me!"
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"I remember clapping along with the song and watching them dance around the den. They were truly happy together." Natsu said with a smile on his face, but it soon fell. Gray was confused for a second but decided to let Natsu finish before he asked any questions about it, figuring that the next part would explain the sudden change in his mood.
"Unfortunately, this story doesn't have a happy ending to it. Similar to human cultures, the dragons had certain rules that restricted them. One of those rules was that it was heavily looked down upon to have a mate that wasn't the same "type" of dragon. Also since there were dragons that didn't get along with humans, a few dragons used that as an excuse to attack. There was a day that Igneel had taken me to see the other dragon slayers, it was seen as extra training but as well as a playdate. I remember that Igneel left suddenly saying that I was going to stay with Metalicana and Gajeel for the night. It was until the following day that I overheard Igneel speaking with the other dragons that Nimue had been ambushed and was murdered. It was the only time that I saw Igneel truly look defeated, but he continued to raise me until we went through the Eclipse Gate." Natsu finished before glancing over at Gray.
"Even though her life was unfortunately cut short, she still sounded like she was amazing both human and dragon side." Gray reassured. Natsu smiled at him and looked up at the sky. "She really was. I wish you could have had the chance to properly meet both her and Igneel. They would have liked you a lot." Natsu said playfully nudging his shoulder. "So! Are these dragon cultures going to be a problem with a fire dragon slayer's mate being an ice mage." Gray said with a slightly teasing tone.
"No! Those rules are centuries old! Long gone by this point! Besides if my dad didn't follow the rules do you really think I'm going to!" Natsu laughed. Gray chuckled and followed Natsu's gaze to the sky. "I'm sure both Nimue and Igneel are proud of you and the mage that you have become. You truly are one of a kind." Gray said. "Literally actually! Especially with the whole E.N.D thing!" Natsu comments. Gray playfully shoved Natsu "You ruined it." he chuckled. Natsu laughed "I'm only joking princess." he said sticking his tongue out.
The two sat there until the sun started to set and it was time to head back home. "You know, I would keep you safe from all harm." Gray whispered. Natsu smiled a little at him before leaning on his shoulder. "As long as I have your hand."