Natsu the grand runesmith

chapter one,

In the deepest parts of Fiore's Forrest, a young boy could be seen watching the water from the stream wash past him in a rapid motion. He looked down to his small arms bound in cloths, the intense burning he felt on his arms were all but a memory. His father had said he wouldn't feel much pain after the rune settled and activated. Undoing the bandage on his left hand he saw the burned flesh that was slowly changing back to how it was before. He ignored the sound of his father's steps and pretended to not notice the gigantic shadow that laid across him.

"My son...I told you not to worry about it too much." A mighty voice said as Natsu switched from the rune to looking up to see his father's massive maw looming over him.

"I can't do noth'n right." The boy said as he started to draw in the sand. The dragon hummed a little bit before resting it's massive head by the child.

"I will admit that I have never heard of a human's magic rejecting its self, don't fret my boy. We'll..." Igneel paused when he saw the boy's sketch flicker to life in a green hum before flickering back to the image. An idea was starting to figure it's way into the dragon king's mind. Willing a small spurt of fire, he sent the little ball of flame down towards the boy before it flew in front of him. Natsu looked up from his art in the sand to see a floating ball of flame.

"Remember the last time you tried making me eat that? You said I was lucky my tongue hadn't burned off." He said dismissively before it changed shape. He looked at the strange symbol for a moment before Igneel spoke. "This is the draconic rune for power." He said as it the flame shifted to another symbol. "This is the one for heat." he paused to watch Natsu copy the second rune.

"This is the one for heat." he paused to watch Natsu copy the second rune before it ignited in flames. Natsu looked wide-eyed as he watched the small flame. He looked up at his father for in explanation. "Draconic runes were used by men in the dark ages to display power among tribes. They were taught by an elder dragon who spent his entire life listing all the forms of primal magics and forged them into words of power. The men who used the runes were called Dragkin forgers. They eventually became masters at the craft and some could even rival dragons." He paused his tale to see Natsu's eyes wide with fascination.

"The dragons feared the dragkin forgers and hunted them down before destroying them, a man named Norak, a king and the strongest of the forgers made an ancient tome and stored all he knew so the art of draconic forging could live on. When the dragons found him, they fought with him before the runesmith was brought down and his tome was torn and scattered across Norak's kingdom. Natsu I'm telling you this because I believe that if you were to train you could become a dragkin forger. Even if you can't become a dragon slayer I believe you could become stronger than you ever thought possible." The dragon finished his story as he watched Natsu jump up and down before he rose his mighty head and slammed his foot down causing the boy to fall and birds to fly from the surrounding trees.

"This isn't some spell Natsu. This will require everything you have to give. Each rune can have a catastrophic failure should you make a mistake. You will not have the boosted endurance of a dragon slayer, one wrong mistake, and a rune could disrupt or worse, it could kill you. This isn't something you can back out of. Once you agree to this it can't be undone. Do you understand?" Igneel asked the pink haired boy. Natsu furrowed his brow before giving Igneel a look of confirmation. Igneel closed his eyes as the flame in front of Natsu began to expand before a book dropped at the feet of the boy. Natsu looked at the cover as a single symbol was seen on the leather cover. Natsu's hand ran over it before the symbol flashed red and before his eyes and his mind began to watch as several images burned into his mind. Blinking again, he turned the heavy cover to see several notes and explanations to the various symbols that appeared to be written in red ink.

"Do you see anything?" His father asked as he watched the boy inspect the blank pages. Igneel got his answer when the boy looked up at him in confusion.

"Can you not see it?"

'that damn bastard, to think it would be still in place.' "Dragon's are unable to see it, my boy. It was a precaution set by Norak." Igneel explained before resuming his laying down possession. Natsu turned the book over to see that it seemed the book was torn from the back. "We'll learn from this and then I'll fetch the other pieces when I think you're ready. Now," He paused before the ground was cleared of grass from a flash of fire. "You're going to write down everything you read and tell me what it says. Now began."

Several months had passed for the runesmith as he traveled across the land in search for the remaining tome sets. When he explained to his father that he would be leaving he was worried that Igneel would stop him. So he was surprised when he was gifted with two sets of the tome, a scarf to remember him by, and a special gauntlet that had clawed finger tips and an engraving tool that sat above the hand and slid down past his fingers. Igneel told him that the gauntlet was made from a special metal that would never fail him, that it was the strongest metal in the world. It's gray cover made it look so dark that Natsu was sure it was made of volcanic glass judging by how smooth it was. The only downside to it was that he was unable to use it because it didn't fit his arm.

Natsu kept the gauntlet slung over his back as he walked down the road he was traveling down for a rather long time. He was currently looking over his own person notes over the runes he had made after he found the symbol that allowed him to hid its contents from everyone. If there was one thing that reading the Codex taught him was that these runes were far too dangerous to ever fall from his grasp. Igneel made sure he knew that. As he walked down the path he noticed a horse driven carriage coming down the path causing him to sigh as he moved off the road to let the carriage pass. The damn things had been going in the same direction for three days and Natsu figured that they were going somewhere so they were bound to lead to something. The carriage slowly passed him before it slowed and pulled over and the door opened to reveal an elderly man who was stood around six five and had broad shoulders. The man seemed to be dressed formally as he looked at Natsu. Natsu held the Codex closer and watched the elderly man.

"Oi boy, you heading to Minalcos?" The man asked as he watched the boy shuffle his feet. Seeing the gauntlet on the boy's back widened. "A runesmith eh? Haven't seen one of those in a while. You in a guild?" The old man asked. Natsu shook his head. The man seemed pleased with his answer before taking his hat off to made a short bow. "My name is Milson Hur and I am blacksmith by trade. Today I'm opening a new shop in Minalcos and am in need of an assistant. Would you care to learn my trade?" The man asked as he watched Natsu shift his bag before answering.

"What does me being a runesmith have to do with anything?" Natsu questioned as he eyed Milson. "Because if you become a blacksmith with your knowledge of runes you could become one of the best." The old man answered while taking a rag from his vest and began coughing into it.

"What's in it for you?" the pink haired boy asked as he watched the old man recover from his coughing fit. The old man straightened his back and held out the white handkerchief to show a deep red had stained the soft fabric. "I've spent my entire life as a blacksmith, My wife died after giving birth to my son and he followed his mother six years later and I hid from that for years in my work. I never got around to picking up an apprentice and now my time is running out. The doctor says I have around seven or ten years left to my name. And it'll be a damn shame if my style of art were to die with me so, what say you Mr. runesmith?" the man asked as he watched Natsu's eyes look left from right. He really didn't have time to learn about blacksmithing. He had to find the rest of the Codex.

"How long would it take?" The boy asked causing the man to chuckle.

"A lot longer than ten years, but I bet I could teach you a thing or two in five years. How's that sound?" the man asked as Natsu slowly nodded his head. Milson smiled before offering the boy his head in partnership.

"Nice to meet you Mr..."

"Natsu, Natsu Dragneel."

I told you it wasn't a big deal!" a pink haired boy yelled as he slammed his hammer into the broken steel. It was almost two months after Natsu agreed to shadow the blacksmith. It did come to a surprise that Milson Hur was one of the greatest blacksmiths in Fiore. He was called a walking legend by the customers that entered the shop. The mayor even had a celebration for the blacksmith when he arrived. Natsu had quietly followed Milson around as he spoke to several officials. After that night he learned that his teacher was easily annoyed by nobles. He said that they had a stick shoved so far up their asses that he was surprised their eyes hadn't been poked out. After giving Natsu a room in the back of the shop the night after the party he went about teaching Natsu the basics of the anvil. Natsu was a surprisingly fast learner which both impressed and surprised Milson. After the weekend of their arrival, Milson had placed Natsu behind the counter to take orders when he found out that Natsu couldn't read. This, of course, didn't go over well with Milson. He had told the boy that he find him a suitable teacher as no apprentice of his would be a simpleton.

"And I told you that you didn't have a say in it...and I told you even blows otherwise the metal warps." He said as Natsu momentarily forgot about his anger and rose the dagger from the anvil.

"Huh, you know I thought I could hit the left side too-Wait! Don't change the subject you old fart!" Natsu roared before taking the infernal apron off and sat down in the corner of the master forge.

"There's nothing to talk about the boy. Your tutor should be here sometime today. You should consider yourself lucky, I sent the request to a mage guild so you'd better learn fast." Milson ordered as he picked up a fresh piece of iron. "Besides, it'll help you once you finish your book." He said before delivering a massive blow to the glowing piece of metal. Natsu flipped through the Codex momentarily while his mentor's words stuck in. His father had told him something along those lines. 'After the Codex was finished.' He never thought of what would happen after the Codex was recombined. The sound of the front door opening caused him to put the Codex into his pack and walk to the front of the shop. "If it's your tutor, I'd suggest you be nice. Their getting paid for an entire month." Natsu groaned as he opened the door between the forge and shopfront. As he opened the door blue hair whipped around as the small person retracted their hand from an armor set made by Milson the week after they arrived. Natsu observed the small girl as she looked on nervously at him. The small girl dressed in a yellow dress with a red backpack strapped around her shoulders filled to the brim with books. Her frightened brown eyes looked at Natsu as shifted her sandal-clad feet. Natsu sighed before opening his mouth.

"You the tutor?" He asked watched her straighten her back before replying.

"Y-Yes." She stumbled on her words causing Natsu to role his eyes. 'And this person is supposed to teach me.' Natsu walked to the door to the forge in front so that fresh air could help him keep a clear head. "Well, let's get this going." Natsu sighed before clearing a table of parts and setting himself down in the chair. His eyes were closed as he heard the chair opposite of him being moved before opened his eyes to see the small girl looking at him.

"M-My name is Levy, it's nice to meet you..." Levy spoke while stretching her hand out waiting for Natsu to take shake it. Natsu looked at her hand before he spoke. "Natsu." Came to his curt reply. Levy retracted her hand before coughing into it and pulled a book from her bag and began to explain the contents and the lesson plan. Natsu did as he was told as he watched the Blue haired mouse of a girl do her work. She seemed to relax into the role as the first hour passed as Natsu learned the alphabet known by them. Natsu found it was quite easy when he learned the symbols and began to spill from the books pages. Natsu, though begrudgingly, asked the blue haired girl for help and accepted her advice when she gave it. Though he hated being taught like a child he had to admit, the girl was a genius from what he gathered from her. They spent another hour together before she said she would return the following week on the same day. Natsu showed her to the door before he watched the small tuft of blue become hidden in the mass of people in the afternoon. Natsu returned to the back where Milson was still hammering away at the piece of steel.

"So?" He paused before hearing Natsu's huff and went back to striking the blade. Natsu watched the aged man for a moment before retiring to the room above the forge that the blacksmith had given him. The bed was a constant mess and the desk below the window was covered in several of Natsu's notes. Pulling up a chair, he dipped the quill into the fresh ink before writing the first rune of many. Natsu continued writing across the page until he paused before the next set of runes. Taking the quill, he took a small amount of ink and began to write. 'Fir'...He stopped as he attempted to remember the last letter. Clicking his tongue he finished the word and just as he guessed, the words lit on fire before the rest of the paper began to catch. The fire was far weaker then what would have come from a draconic rune. Still, this should help Natsu in the future-

'Fir'...He stopped as he attempted to remember the last letter. Clicking his tongue he finished the word and just as he guessed, the words lit on fire before the rest of the paper began to catch. The fire was far weaker then what would have come from a draconic rune. Still, this should help Natsu in the future-

"Shit!" Natsu cursed when he noticed the flames had started to spread on the desk. Natsu quickly gathered the compromised papers before opening the window and tossing the ash-to-be out of the window. Natsu began fanning the smoke out of the room when something...strange happened. Quicker the rune smith could react to, a blur slammed into him causing him to grunt and roll across the floor. Natsu shook his head and looked to his assailant and felt his anger rise. The child that jumped through his window seemed to be the same age as him. Natsu was about to speak when shouting brought him from the child and out onto the street. Right below Natsu, three large thugs crowded around the street below. One of them noticed Natsu.

"He kid! Did you see a child come through here?" Natsu was about to rat out the child when he felt a pointed blade poke his back.

"Say anything about me and I'll hurt you." Came a hushed voice behind him.

"Quick! Make something up!" The voice quickly whispered while applying pressure to the blade.

"Yeah! Some crazy person jumped off the roof and took off that way!" Natsu yelled before watching the thugs take off the street in the direction he pointed in. Natsu's eyes wondered to his desk and saw his salvation. Dipping his finger into a spot of ink, finished an incomplete 'light' rune. As fast as he could, he turned on his attacker as the piece of paper flashed to life causing the other child to cry out before falling away from Natsu and dropped the knife. Natsu quickly picked up the knife and pointed it towards the child.

"Not so tough now are ya-" Natsu stopped his taunts when he eyed his attacker. The child was thin, not like Natsu who was well built for his age but was almost sickly thin. The child's short green hair clung to their face that was covered in dirt. They were dressed in an almost baggy purple shirt, gray shorts, and rags wrapped around their feet acting as shoes. The child dropped it's hands from its eyes to show deep pools of purple looked that Natsu with fear-stricken eyes. Natsu watched as their shoulders shook as the child feared what his next move would be. Natsu saw a cut stretch from her elbow and down her arm until it ended at her wrist. The crimson liquid dropped from the child's hand and formed a small puddle on the floor. Natsu lowered the knife before turning to his desk and grabbed his quill before quickly scribbling down a rune for healing. Turning to his attacker, he motioned for the child to come closer only to be answered by locked eyes. Natsu sighed before tossing the knife in front of the child who rolled across the floor and sprung up at Natsu. She opened her mouth to threaten the pink haired child only for Natsu to cut her off.

"Oh no~ I've been caught~ Now let me see your arm before you get blood all over the floor." His voice leaked with sarcasm which made the green haired child to squint their eyes. Slowly, the child rose their hand which Natsu slowly placed the rune over the injured arm. The child released a sigh of relief as the child quickly covered their reaction before looking questioningly at the soft green glow. "It'll heal the cut. Speaking of cuts, could you put the knife down?" Natsu asked and felt a sigh of relief come from his lips as the child lowered the blade. "Thanks, got a name?" Natsu asked while turning to his desk to find something to hold the paper in place.

"...The name's Bisca and I'm the best thief in Minalcos!" The small girl bragged as though it was something to be proud of. Natsu finally found two bands and secured the first one below her elbow. "Master thief huh? Could've fooled me with the cut and squad of goons on your heels." Natsu laughed as he fixed the other band above her wrist. Bisca growled at the comment but chose to ask the boy something instead.

"So are you in a guild or something?" The green haired girl asked. "Nope, I'm a Runesmith and a blacksmith in training." "I'm going to grab you something to eat. Don't break anything." Natsu said before standing up and leaving the girl alone. She sat on her spot on the floor before Natsu opened the door and pulled a piece of bread from the loaf he brought and tossed it at her. He watched as she quickly ate the piece of bread before he decided she'd like the rest of the loaf. After returning to his seat, he watched as she ate before she released a burp before rising and stretched.

"Well thanks for the grub Pinkie, I better get going." She said before Natsu rose a hand.

"It's already dark, it would be for the best if you stayed here." He said causing the green haired girl's brow to rise. "You can take my bed for tonight, I'll be working late so go ahead and clock out." He said before quickly turning back to the desk. "That's only if you want to, that is." He said while trying his best to cool the heat on his cheeks. Bisca rolled her eyes at the offer and walked to the window and prepared to vault over before she looked back at the pinket at the desk. Slowly, she turned away from the window and walked up to the bed. She resisted the urge to jump into the soft fabric as she ran a hand across the bed and slowly claimed into it.

"You come near me and you'll be sorry." She threatened only for Natsu torise his hand and did a little wave, dismissing the girl's words. Natsu waited until he heard the soft breaths even out before slowly rising from the chair and sneaked out of the room. Walking down the stairs, he walked into the forge where he found Milson finishing the last order for the night. "Hey old man!" Natsu called out as Milson turned to the boy. "Hm?"

Bisca felt her eyes flutter open as she rose from the soft bed and released an oh so pleasant yawn. The last time she had slept on a bed had to be back at the orphanage. Noticing the piece of paper on her wrist, she slowly peeled away the paper and released a small gasp as she ran a finger across the now flawless skin. She looked for Natsu only to find him missing. Rising from the bed she made her way over to window when a rough cough stopped her in her tracks. Turning her head towards the door, she saw an elderly man with his arms crossed across his chest.

"My apprentice tells me you need a steady line of work." The man said as looked over the girl. There was no doubt about it. This was the thief that had been plaguing the market up the street. "I'll be short, I need someone to watch the front of the store and I'd rather not have something turn up missing. Should something like that happen, I'd have to inform the guards that I found their thief. So what do you say?" The old man asked as Bisca looked at his hand and back to the window. There's no way he would be able to catch her if she bolted but...an image of the pink haired boy crossed her mind before she took a step towards the man.

"I'll stick around 'till I have enough to leave town, deal?" She said with confidence. Milson laughed before sticking his hand out.

"Pleasure to be working with you."

AU: Here's a new story. Review if you feel like it. First few chapters will be short.

And as always, Have a good one!

-Justaguy35