"It's pretty quiet today… oh right, where's Natsu?" Makarov asked, sitting at the bar with a glass in hand.
"Him? He said something about a duel today," Wakaba replied.
"Honestly, those guys are always fighting. Makes you wonder what this guild will look like in the future," Wakaba added, puffing on his pipe.
"Fighting just means they acknowledge each other. Can't you see it written all over their faces? No need to worry so much," Makarov said calmly.
"We saw them on the way here—Natsu and Gray were fighting in the streets. A bunch of townspeople were watching," Ultear chimed in.
"Oh, First Master, Arlen, Ultear—you're here," Macao greeted them with a wave.
"Quite the sight, honestly. Every time you show up, you've got a whole crowd with you—Ur, Ultear, Erza, Kagura, Cana, the First… and now Mira, Lisanna, and Elfman too," Laxus remarked, leaning against the bar.
Arlen rolled his eyes and sat down beside him. "One juice, please. Thanks."
"Here you go—freshly made," the waitress said with a smile, placing the drink in front of him.
"Thank you," Arlen replied with a polite smile.
"Man, that charm of yours… careful, or Ultear and the others might start ignoring you," Laxus teased.
"…Since when did you become such a gossip?" Arlen shot him a look. "And shouldn't you be out on a job instead of hanging around here?"
Laxus burst out laughing—it was rare to see Arlen so eager to change the subject.
Just then—
BANG!
The guild doors flew open as Natsu stormed in, holding a large egg with blue patterns.
"Hey! Look! I found a huge egg!" he shouted excitedly, raising it above his head.
"That's a big egg…"
"What kind of egg is that?"
"No idea…"
The guild buzzed with curiosity as all eyes turned toward the egg.
"Where did you find it?" Makarov asked, leaning forward.
"In the eastern forest," Natsu answered.
"The eastern forest?" Makarov repeated, surprised.
"Wow, Natsu being thoughtful for once? Planning to share it with everyone? Though one egg won't be enough," Ultear teased with a mischievous smile.
Everyone stared at her in shock—it was the first time they'd seen this "dark" side of her.
But Arlen and the others? Completely unfazed.
"Don't joke around! This is a dragon egg! I'm going to hatch it!" Natsu hugged it protectively, glaring at Ultear as if she might cook it.
Ultear giggled, while Cana, Kagura, and Gray gathered around to inspect it.
"Natsu, how can you tell it's a dragon egg?" Kagura asked.
"Look! This pattern looks like a dragon claw—so it has to be a dragon egg! Maybe it's Igneel's child!" Natsu said confidently.
"…Really?" Cana tilted her head.
"Of course! Right, Arlen? This is a dragon egg, isn't it?" Natsu looked at him expectantly.
Seeing that hopeful expression, Arlen swallowed what he originally wanted to say and smiled.
"…Yeah."
"See! I told you!" Natsu grinned proudly. "Old man, hurry up and hatch it—I can't wait!"
"You idiot, what nonsense are you spouting?" Makarov scolded seriously. "No magic can violate life like that. Life is born from love, and only through love. No magic surpasses that."
"…Huh?" Natsu blinked, completely confused.
"…Well, that's normal. You're too young to understand," Makarov sighed.
"It's okay if you don't understand," Ur said gently, walking over and patting Natsu's head. "Since you found it, you can hatch it yourself."
"I get it! But… how? Should I use fire?" Natsu scratched his head.
Ur froze—then smack!
"Absolutely not! You'll burn it and it'll never hatch!"
That instantly scared Natsu stiff—he had definitely been thinking about doing that.
"I think… you can hatch it like a chick. Use your body warmth," Ur suggested. "It'll also help you calm down and understand life a bit better."
"I got it! Thanks, Ur!" Natsu bowed and ran off happily with the egg.
"…Do you think it's really a dragon egg?" Laxus nudged Arlen.
"Who knows?" Arlen shrugged. "Doesn't really matter. What matters is the memory it gives Natsu—that's something he'll treasure for a lifetime."
"…You really do talk like a philosopher," Laxus laughed, patting his back.
From then on, Natsu brought the egg to the guild every day, caring for it diligently—even ignoring fights with Gray.
Until one morning—
"Look! Look! It moved!" Natsu shouted excitedly, holding up the egg.
Crack—!
Everyone gathered around as the shell began to split. Cracks spread, pieces falling away.
The egg suddenly glowed blue and floated into the air—
Crack!
The shell shattered completely.
From the light emerged… a small blue creature with wings, wobbling in the air.
"…A cat?!" Macao and Wakaba exclaimed.
"But it has wings… is it a bird?" someone else wondered.
The little blue creature fluttered clumsily before landing on Natsu's head. Its wings disappeared, and it opened its big round eyes.
"Ahyi!"
"…So cute!!" xN
Everyone was instantly charmed—especially the girls.
"Natsu, give it a name!" Lisanna said with a smile.
"If it makes everyone this happy… then I'll call it Happy!" Natsu declared, holding it carefully.
"This is Happy—the dragon's child!"
"…In what way is that a dragon?" Mira deadpanned.
"…Eh, close enough," someone shrugged.
Nearby, Reedus quietly sketched the scene—though in his drawing, Happy was depicted as a massive blue dragon carrying Natsu.
And just like that—
Happy was born.
—------------------------------
Pat reon Advance Chapters: patreon.com/FicWarden