Acnologia woke up to the smell of smoke. That was never a good sign.

"I told you it wouldn't work!" Erik's voice rang out through the house.

"How was I supposed to know it would blow up!?" Laxus retorted.

Acnologia flew out of bed and ran into the kitchen where Erik and Laxus were angrily arguing over the toaster oven that was now charred and burnt.

"What is going on?" Acnologia growled rubbing his tired eyes.

"Laxus thought it would be a good idea if he-" Erik began.

"Erik thought it would work!" Laxus interjected pointing to Erik.

"No, I didn't!"

"You did!"

"There's no way that could've worked, you can't power up a toaster oven with lightning!"

"You were the one who suggested it!"

"As a JOKE!"

Acnologia moaned as the two argued and looked around for a coffee cup.

"It's been a while since I've seen you three," Makarov smiled as the dragon slayers entered the guild.

"Hey Gramps," Laxus greeted.

"We've been out training," Erik said crossing his arms looking rather prideful.

"Hey! Kila can I get a waffle?" Laxus asked running over to the bar.

"A waffle?" Kila asked uncertainly.

"Laxus fried our toaster over," Erik explained.

Kila nodded slowly and grabbed a packet of frozen micro-wave waffles. "Give me a sec."

She left and Laxus turned to Erik, "Do you have to tell everyone?"

"You cost me my breakfast... everyone will know," Erik said seriously.

Acnologia looked down at Makarov helplessly, "Help me," he sighed.

"They're all yours," Makarov chuckled.

For the past three months, the dragon slayers had gone out and trained. Laxus had grown in magic capability and was almost on par with Erik who, Acnologia expected, wanted Laxus to be his equal. Acnologia was also proud to say that Serena had taken a liking to the new hatchings. The interaction of a young drake and two young male hatchlings fighting for attention from the same alpha had caused Acnologia a few heart attacks but by the end of it all, they seemed to be friends.

Other then Serena there had been a few moments of discourse that had cost Acnologia a few slivers of sanity but other than that Laxus had settled into his new way of life easily. The worst thing that happened so far was Cubellios trying to eat Laxus when he stepped on her by accident... Erik was no help in that situation, he was too busy laughing.

By lunch, the toaster oven incident seemed to have been forgotten. The two boys had decided that it would be a good idea to go prank Macao and Wakaba. This left a very ticked of Macao and a soaked Wakaba. However no one stayed mad at those two long and before Acnologia had any say in the matter, they had run into the forest and left him to clean up their mess.

"I say Acnologia, you certainly have become a father figure," Makarov smiled. His hair had gone gray and he looked even shorter now. Acnologia sighed and hit his head on the bar counter.

"They are going to drive me mad," he growled.

"No, a better word is soft."

"Ah, shut up you old Geezer," he laughed.

"I'm a geezer, geez Acnologia, you're over four hundred years old!"

They talked for a while and discussed major guild problems. All the while there was a twinge in Acnologia's gut, the kind that made him feel anxious. The sun began to set and Acnologia wondered where the boys had gone.

Laxus and Erik were fine at that moment. They had enjoyed a long day of mayhem and fun with some training in the forest. They walked alone down the familiar streets. Both laughed and talked about the guild and Acnologia. 

Then Erik looked around in a nervous way. Cubellios picked up on her master's apprehension and flicked her forked tongue multiple times trying to sense for the danger.

"What's wrong?" Laxus asked tensing.

"Nothing," Erik said shaking his head and turning right down a road.

"That leads to the park Erik," Laxus pointed out.

"Let's walk in the park and then go home," Erik offered darkly.

"Who are you avoiding?" Laxus asked crossing his arms.

"I don't avoid people," Erik growled.

"I'm not moving until you tell me what's going on," Laxus said standing firm.

"Then I'll make you move," Erik snarled turning around and looking at Laxus.

Laxus clenching his jaw and met Erik's gaze, "I'd like to see you try."

Cubellios hissed and Erik gritted his teeth, "Come on Laxus just... just trust me will you!"

"Not until I know why."

"It's your dad," Erik spat angrily, he looked down at the road his eyes burning with fury, "he's in the city."

"Why would that even matter?" Laxus asked.

"I don't trust him."

"Well, I don't either," Laxus laughed, "but we're dragon slayers, we can take him if we even run into him."

"Let's just go around," Erik said hiding the plea in his voice.

"No way, if my dad tries to pull something I'll turn him into our toaster oven," Laxus smiled.

Erik did not smile and Cubellios flicked her tongue nervously.

"Come on," Laxus grinned walking down the street.

"L-Laxus!" Erik cried out in vain running after the lightning dragon slayer.

"Laxus!" a harsh voice called. Erik froze, Laxus did not.

Ivan ran out from a road looking quite disheveled. His hair looked like a rat had made a home in it, his clothes were covered in filth and his breath smelled of alcohol.

Laxus stopped and looked at his father.

"Laxus," Ivan smiled looking almost relieved. He stumbled forward as if he wanted to embrace his child. Erik regained his sanity and rushed forward pushing Laxus back and snarling at Ivan in a dragon-like manner. Cubellios bared her fangs as well.

"It's fine Erik," Laxus gritted taking a firm grip of Erik's shoulder.

"But-" Erik began, then he heard Laxus's internal plea and slowly backed away.

"What do you want?" Laxus asked trying to sound mature, but a measly ten-year-old boy doesn't sound too threatening.

"I've been trying to find you," Ivan stammered.

"Why?" Laxus asked.

"Laxus, I know I am a poor father and a weak man but I needed you to know something, I've spent weeks pondering it."

"I don't care," Laxus gritted.

"Laxus," Ivan cried, there was something in the way that he said Laxus's name that made Laxus look up at him in pity but it made Erik sneer. "Laxus the guild is my life, and you my son are my family. I cannot atone for my sins against you if no one gives me a chance to redeem myself. Talk to your grandfather, I know you can convince him to let me re-enter the guild. I will work, I will gain jewel and repay all my debts, then I will make it all up to you Laxus. You are strong now, I don't blame myself for that, but I do blame myself for the pain caused to you before it." Each sentence Ivan said was meaningful and Laxus seemed to become more and more child-like as his father spoke. Ivan then fell to his knees. "Please Laxus, let us be a family," Ivan pleaded while on his knees.

Erik was listening to Laxus's thoughts, he didn't like how Laxus was tempted to leave. He didn't want his new brother to leave. He was however far too busy listening to Laxus to hear Ivan's thoughts.

Ivan reached out a hand and Laxus wanted to take it. Erik looked to Ivan's hands and realized that he was holding it awkwardly. Then he listened to Ivan's thoughts just as Laxus smiled softly and reached out for  Ivan's hand.

'May Acnologia suffer as I have' Ivan thought grimly. 

"Laxus!" Erik cried running towards Laxus. A large magic circle appeared just as Erik slammed into Laxus. Laxus fell in the dirt however Erik was partially hit with the blast.

Back at the guild, Acnologia sat bolt upright before running out the door.

 Laxus's ears were ringing from the sound of the dark explosion and his eyes stung from the dust in the air. The thoughts swirled through his mind but there was only one thing that truly concerned him; Erik.

Laxus stumbled to his feet and looked around frantically. Six feet away lying on the street was a familiar young boy.

"ERIK!" Laxus cried stumbling over to the boy. He turned him over and found that he wouldn't respond no matter how many times he called his name. Laxus was overcome with blame and guilt, he wept and cried for help as he held Erik. The city melted away in blurry lines as the tears continued to fall.

Laxus was so overcome with sorrow that he didn't hear Acnologia calling his name. He hardly felt the strong hands that moved him away from Erik and pick the unconscious boy up. He wept as all children his age should, then a familiar strong hand took his hand and pulled him down the street.

Acnologia ran to the forest with Erik curled in one arm, Laxus's hand in his hand and Cubellios wrapped around his arm. Erik had thrown his snake friend aside before saving Laxus and so she too was unscathed.

They ran through the forest taking the route Acnologia knew too well. He threw the door to Porlyusica's house open awakening the old mage.

"You ruffians think you can just burst in here! Typical Humans!" Porlyusica yelled. In a few minutes, Erik was on her kitchen table while Laxus sat on her couch shaking.

"Thank whatever god you believe in," Porlyusica said at last after applying herbs and rubs to Erik's side and bandaging his left arm and leg.

"He'll be alright?" Acnologia asked.

"Yes, the spell hit him on his left side, thankfully it wasn't straightforward or else he would have died," Porlyusica nodded. She looked to Acnologia with a look of anger, "how did this child get in this predicament?"

Acnologia looked at her and met her eyes with similar anger. "From what I gather," he growled looking down to Erik, "it was Ivan."

Acnologia reached out and ran his fingers through Erik's messy maroon hair.

"It's my fault," Laxus sobbed from the couch.

Acnologia rushed over in a swift movement and had his hands on Laxus's shoulders.

"This is not your fault," he said firmly looking into Laxus's eyes.

"Yes it is!" he wailed rubbing his eyes and wiping the snot from his nose. "He said that we would be a family again! I should've listened! Erik was right!"

Laxus continued to sob and Porlyusica watched as the most fearsome mage in earthland coddled the young child reassuring him and holding him until her grandson fell asleep in the dragon slayer's arm.

Acnologia took Laxus and lay him on the couch, he looked out the window at the starry sky, but his eyes were dark and threatening.

"Can I leave them in your watch?" Acnologia asked.

Porlyusica sighed, "you will no matter what I say... What are you going to do?"

"As Ivan's mother, you won't like it. As a decent person, you should rejoice," Acnologia snarled leaving.

Ivan had fled Magnolia as fast as he could. He knew it was a matter of time until Acnologia caught up to him but still he smiled to himself. He had wanted to get the poison dragon slayer in the first place, but he had known that the child would never trust him enough to get close. Laxus on the other hand still had that innocent mind of a child, as much as Ivan had regretted it, he had known that killing that child ... killing Laxus would have been the only way to make Acnologia suffer.

Now he cackled to himself thinking of how Laxus was fine and the poison dragon slayer was now on deaths doorstep.

There was a terrifying roar and Ivan smiled, 'speaking of death's doorstep' he thought.

A large black being descended out of the night cutting into the trees and ripping up the ground. Ivan was trapped but there was no point in fleeing, he knew he would never get away from the wrath of Acnologia. The dragon snarled and batted Ivan into a tree. When Ivan got to his feet Acnologia was now a man standing before him.

"You." Acnologia snarled inhumanely.

"Me," Ivan chuckled.

Acnologia ran up and grabbed Ivan by his throat pushing him against the tree.

"Why," he snarled, "what pushed you to this point!"

Ivan chuckled, "is he dead, your dragon slayer?"

Acnologia's grip tightened, "not yet," he growled, "what made you do it?"

"Why do you care?" Ivan wheezed as the hand around his throat tightened.

Acnologia snarled and leaned in, "because I don't understand what you could possibly gain from your son's death."

"Would you have suffered had he died?" Ivan laughed weakly.

Acnologia snarled and threw Ivan into another tree. Ivan pushed himself to his knees accepting that he was about to die.

"All of this. The suffering, the anger, everything is always for me," Acnologia growled, "Why?" He thought of Laxus and something burned in his heart, "Laxus's pain, you did it all just to hurt me." He looked down at Ivan, "WHY!" he yelled.

"Because my father loves you, just as he loves Laxus," Ivan smiled cruelly, "he loves you more then he will ever love me, his own son. You are strong and sturdy, and noble, and I am nothing but scum to Makarov," Ivan said with hatred.

Acnologia growled, "there's a special place in hell for people like you."

"Then, do it," Ivan laughed, "kill me."

Acnologia snarled and clenched his fists. "You don't deserve to die," he snarled. Then he drew in his breath as Ivan smiled and closed his eyes.

"Apocalypse dragon..." Acnologia began.

"Do it, almighty king," Ivan smiled.

"DRAINING CALL!" Acnologia roared unleashing a blue power surge similar to his roar.

He would have gone full force; he would have happily killed Ivan. However, he saw Laxus... he saw Laxus's innocence and knew that it was not his place to kill such a monster... it wasn't the dragon's king's job to decide justice. The dragon king was cruel, unforgiving... Acnologia had murdered thousands and here sat a man who had committed only a fraction of the sins Acnologia's soul was stained with. Still, he had hurt Acnologia's hatchlings... there was no salvation for him.

 But, Acnologia had thought of a better punishment for a man like Ivan. The man cared only for power, therefore, only one fate would serve him. He used a punishment that would be much worse than death at least for someone like Ivan. As the bright blue light died down Ivan found himself very much alive.

"Is that all you have?" Ivan laughed nervously.

Acnologia turned and walked away.

Ivan lifted his hand thinking that he may be able to take on Acnologia. Nothing happened. No magic came at his command, Ivan couldn't even cast simple spells.

"What did you do!" Ivan cried trying to get to his feet.

"I separated your magic from your body. You have no more magic, or magic capability," Acnologia hissed walking away.

"Why! You can't do this! What am I supposed to do without magic!"

Acnologia stopped and turned, "learn to live, or die, I don't really care, in fact, I would almost prefer the latter.."

Erik groggily opened his eyes and saw the blurry outline of a blonde-haired boy right above him.

"Laxus?" he rasped.

"Erik!" Laxus laughed loudly hurting Erik's sensitive ears. Erik sat up from the bed that he had laid on and Laxus hugged him.

"Are you okay?" Erik asked.

"I'm fine," Laxus laughed burning his face in Erik's shoulder.

"We're all alright," a deep voice sighed and Erik looked up his eyesight clearing. Acnologia stood there his face serious but his eyes sparkling in happiness.

"Acnologia," Erik said seriously trying to focus, "Ivan-"

"He won't bother us anymore," Acnologia answered.

Laxus didn't seem shocked, but Erik was.

"Come on, the whole guild's been worried," Laxus said running towards Porlyusica's door. Cubellios slithered up Erik's arm and perched by his shoulder hissing happily.

"Thank you, Miss," Erik said getting out of bed and bowing to Porlyusica, he then ran after Laxus.

"They never rest," Acnologia sighed.

"I still don't know what brought you out of all people to look after two wild ones like that," Porlyusica breathed.

"It's what a dragon king should do I suppose," Acnologia chuckled beginning to walk out the door, "I think it's what it means to be a true dragon," he finished looking back at Porlyusica.

He left closing the door and Porlyusica sighed, "fool," she muttered. But she smiled as she said it.