(Natsu,) Igneel rumbled. (Be polite.) Five-year old Natsu Dragneel peered out from behind his foster father at the green dragon in front of him.

(It's alright, Igneel,) the male dragon, Berdea, chuckled. (Midori is shy around other dragons as well.) He bent down to inspect Natsu. (Hello, Hatchling,) he said. (Midori! Come and say hello.) To Natsu's surprise, a girl about his age came out from behind Berdea's leg and shyly said hello. Midori's a good name for her, he decided. She had vibrant green hair and eyes. She was actually quite pretty. Now, go and play for a while.

"Aw, can't we stay?" Natsu complained.

(If you want to,) Berdea said with amusement. (But Igneel and I will be discussing boring dragon politics. Are you sure you want to stay?) Both children scampered off. Igneel chuckled.

(How did you know Natsu's weakness?) he asked. Berdea gave the dragon approximation of a shrug.

(I didn't. Midori told me on the flight over here that if she had to listen to another second of politics, she would jump off. I knew that it would get rid of her, at least.) Both dragons laughed before settling down to business.

This is so awkward, Natsu thought. Midori was sitting on a rock in the middle of a creek while Natsu tried to catch fish with his bare hands.

"So, uh, what kind of magic do you use?" he asked, trying to keep a slippery salmon in his hands.

"That won't work," she observed. "You need a spear or something. And I use Dragon Slayer magic, of course."

"Well, I don't have a spear or something, now do I? What kind of Dragon Slayer magic?"

"Then don't fish, idiot. I use Fire Dragon Slayer magic, which, I might add, is more powerful than yours." Natsu glared at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he shouted. "I can take you down any day of the week!"

"Prove it," she snapped back, standing. Natsu lit his hands on fire, taking comfort in the red flames. Midori covered her hands in green fire, then paused. "Wait a second. So my dad's a fire dragon, and your dad's a fire dragon, right?"

"Yeah," he said slowly, then realized what she was getting at. "That makes us practically siblings!"

"My thoughts exactly," Midori grinned with a nod. "So why are we fighting?"

"Uh… I think it's because you called me an idiot."

"Not without due reason."

"Oh yeah? Plant face."

"Pinky."

"Flame Brain."

"That doesn't make any sense. You're a Flame Brain too."

"Who cares!" They butted heads and glared at each other, then fell to the ground laughing.

"Ok," Midori finally gasped, wiping away tears. "We should… Yo, Pinky. I got an idea." Natsu gave her an odd look.

"What kind of idea?" he asked. Midori grinned.

"The best kind."

Berdea paused. I have a bad feeling for some reason. (We should probably check on the hatchlings,) he said. Igneel gave an unprofessional yawn.

(They shouldn't be able to get into that much trouble,) he reasoned. (Natsu's a fairly responsible boy… usually… sometimes...) He sighed. (You're right; we should go check on them.)