The first time I saw her, I knew that she was mine. She was the one made for me, and I for her. I still remember that first day, the day she saved my life. And as I remember that day, I think back to all of the great adventures we shared together, the laughing, the crying, and even the perils.
The King has just given me an impossible task, one that I fear is not completable. But I know that the best future depends on me doing the impossible. And so I will, for her. Because I would do anything for her, even if it means travel the world and back. He gave me a small crest with the Heartfilia name on it, and I knew from there, that he was giving me a chance. And for her, I'd take it...
"STOP! GET BACK HERE!"
I'm running for my life. I run and run, but it hurts my feet. I've been running for so long. This watermelon has to weigh a million pounds because it's so freaking heavy! But I need it, because if I don't have this watermelon, I don't have anything to eat tonight. All because my stupid father left me alone. He didn't even say goodbye! He's such a jerk! I don't know how to survive on my own!
So here I am, stealing a watermelon from a stand. It was a stupid idea, but people usually called me stupid. I'm not stupid! I know a lot of things! I could kick your ass if you said I didn't! It's my first "crime" but I don't see why they care I stole one watermelon! What about all the other watermelons? If nobody is there, someone could have taken them all! All because I stole one lousy watermelon!
My feet really ache right now. Stupid Igneel! Stupid Igneel! Why did you leave? Was I not good enough? I'll show you who can survive on their own Igneel! I'll show you! I'll get away with this watermelon. Even if it means I reveal my magic! Nobody is going to stop me now!
They're starting to catch up to me, and I have no idea what I'm doing, I'm just running. I look up and see a bright castle. It looked absolutely beautiful at this time of evening. I wish I lived there! Then I wouldn't have to deal with these stupid vendors chasing me because I took one watermelon. I bet their whole stands have just been robbed, and I'm gonna get in trouble for having one stupid watermelon!
But I won't! I refuse to get in trouble, because Igneel probably wants me to! I bet he's thinking that I couldn't last on my own! Well I'll show you, Mr. Tough Guy! I can easily last on my own. I don't need no nothin' to survive, just myself! And I will!
I smile with an evil glint in my eyes... Yes, I'll get away with this watermelon! I know I will! And as soon as I do, I'm going to start my own adventure! One on the road. Maybe, I could find a talking cat on the way. That'd be freaking awesome! A cat companion! I'd have a friend to travel with, and we'd be together all the time going on adventures. It'd be the super best adventure ever!
I don't really hear their footsteps anymore. Did I get away? I look up to check see my surroundings, and I got really scared in an instant! All I can see is brick, which means... OUCH! I just ran into a brick wall! I'm glad Igneel isn't here. He'd probably say something about me being an idiot for running into a wall. I try to get up, but my head just hurts so much! It's like a bomb went off in there! But bombs are tasty... so maybe it's more like a... um.. hmm. Never mind.
I lie back on the pavement, and my watermelon is held close. I've got ya, buddy. My own dinner. It isn't a big piece of meat, but it's something! And something I got myself too! From those greedy merchants!
...who happen to just be standing above me. Stupid merchants! Stupid Igneel! Stupid watermelon! Why did this happen to me? Did they have to make such a big fuss over this stupid watermelon? I didn't do anything! It's just a damn watermelon!
"Kid, whaddya doing stealing watermelons? Where's your parents?" One of the stupid older guys says to me.
"I don't have a mama, and my stupid dad left me. Stupid dragon." I answer. I sit up and cross my arms. I'm seriously annoyed right now.
"So? That doesn't explain why you stole my watermelon!" The stupid guy says to me.
"I need to eat something, you idiot! Do you want me to starve?" I say to that idiot angrily. I'm not giving this guy my watermelon, not in a million years!
"Stop it right there!" I hear from outside the circle of older guys who were trying to take my only food away. I swear I just heard the most beautiful voice.
"I said stop!" I heard that voice again. Is my mind playing with me? But I've never heard that voice before! It sounds so perfect, so well balanced, so calming and peaceful. But also, so cute.
"Huh, what!? Princess!" One of the stupid guys says, as they all face something out of view.
"What are you doing to that poor boy?" I heard her say from behind this wall of older guys. Can't I see? I really want to know what's going on!
"He stole a um... watermelon from me." One says to whoever he's talking to. I get up and try to crawl around them, hoping to catch a glimpse of who it is who's saving me.
"He was merely grabbing me a watermelon that I asked for." This voice says again.
"Oh, my apologizes, my princess. We did not know. Forgive us." They say, to someone I still can't see! Finally, they move their big fat selves out of the way and I can see who my savior is. And it did really shock me, what I saw.
I see a small girl in front me, she has to be no older than me. She's a little shorter than me, but not much and has beautiful blonde hair. I could stare into her brown eyes all day long, and I probably would if I could. She has an amazing smile that makes me want to run up to her and hug her. She is my savior after all, so I can hug her.
I quickly stumble to my feet, and run as fast I can. I ignore the pain in my legs and I grab the girl in a hug. I whisper a small, "Thank you", and hold her close to me. She's really made it easier for me. At least now I can return here, after my long adventures.
"What's your name, pinky?" She says to me. I don't know why I'm being called pinky, but it doesn't sound cool at all. Not like my super awesome name, Natsu Dragneel!
"It's Natsu Dragneel! And why are you calling me pinky?" I ask her curiously. I'm seriously confused! Why am I pinky!
"Your hair silly! And I'm Lucy, nice to meet you." She says, giving me that bright smile that makes me feel all warm inside.
"Well, Natsu Dragneel is a lot cooler than pinky! Nobody calls me pinky, because they know I'm tough stuff!" I say proudly. I have a reputation to live up to!
"Then maybe... Pinky just has to be my nickname for you then." She says, giving me more playful smile. I see what she's doing, and I might put up with it... maybe.
"But it's Natsu! Or Salamander! Or Dragneel! Or Son of Igneel! Not Pinky!" I say, listing my names. Or at least my favorites. I get called a lot, especially by Igneel's weird dragon buddies. I didn't understand them or their stupid dragon names.
"You're pinky to me then." She says. I sigh, showing that I agree to what she's saying. She did save my life, so I do owe her one. I guess a harmless nickname wouldn't be so bad.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Why'd you save me?" I ask her, wondering what her reasons were. We started walking on this path with an extremely beautiful garden, and a majestic house. I'd love to live here! There are all kinds of flowers in many different colors. There are a few fountains on each side and some well trimmed hedges. Playing hide-and-seek games in here would be awesome! For now, I'm stuck to the small path that went straight down the middle, but soon enough I'll explore this place.
"Better question, why did you steal that watermelon? Don't you know that thievery is a severe crime?" She asks me. Of course I know! I'm not stupid.
"Yeah, well it was the only thing I could do! I was hungry!" I say defensively.
"What about your parents? Aren't they there for that?" She asks me. My parents were... well... I never really knew them. But that's not true, because Igneel is my father. Even if he was a jerk and ran away, he's still dad.
"I don't remember my real parents. But my dad is a jerk! He's a freakin' dragon and he left me! Just left me! Like a week ago! I ran out of food at home and I don't know what to do!" I say angrily.
"Your dad is a dragon? Wow, that's really cool!" She says. She smiles at me and I can't help but smile back.
"Yeah he was cool. But then he ran out and left me!" I say.
"Well, I'm sure you'll meet your father again soon. For now, come with me. I'll keep you from having to steal again." She says to me. I look up and see a massive doorway. It was awesome! Igneel could of have fit through this door!
"Woah!" I say.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool, isn't it? Alright, well follow me. We'll get that watermelon sliced up and eaten, okay?" She says.
"You'd do that, for me? I mean really, that's so awesome Lucy!" I say happily. I never really planned on getting past the stealing part of the watermelon.
"Of course, pinky. You seem like a nice person, so I'll do you this favor." She says. She leads me down a large hallway in this fancy place. This place is huge, it's like a castle! I look at the art on the walls, which though it did confuse me, made me happy. There were dragons painted on them, and it looked like they were honoring the dragons! Dragons are awesome!
We walk into some double doors, and on the other side is a big kitchen. It's the size of my house! Everything in this room is white, too! The walls, the ceiling, the floors, and even some of the cabinets! I can't believe it! She walks me over to the farthest back counter, and calls out.
"Miss Virgo, can you please help me?" She says loudly. A few seconds later, a woman walked in, with pink hair and came over towards Lucy and I.
"Yes, Lucy dear? What do you need? There's no need for the 'Miss' either." She says to Lucy.
"Well, you're like thousands and millions of years old so I should call you 'Miss'. I need you to slice this watermelon up for me and my friend." Lucy says, pointing to me.
"How's she that old but look so young?" I ask, seriously confused.
"She's a celestial spirit. She was one of mama's but now she just serves the castle until I'm old enough to use her key." Lucy says as Virgo slices up the watermelon.
"Your watermelon, Lucy." Virgo says, before bowing and walking away.
"You don't need to bow!" Lucy yells.
Lucy turns to me and she grabs the sliced up watermelon. She signals me to follow her and we go out into the garden. We sit down at one of the tables and begin to eat the watermelon. It's pretty late in the day, so the sun is pretty low in the sky. The orange sky and the green gardens look pretty cool together.
"So pinky, where'd you get your pink hair from?" She asks me.
"I don't know. Probably my real parents but I don't remember them so I don't know." I say.
"Okay well...um.. why did you steal the watermelon here? You know you wouldn't be welcomed back if you stole it?" She asks me.
"Well, I didn't plan on coming back. I wanna adventure! See the world, you know, travel throughout this big kingdom! It's so cool to think of all the places I haven't been to! I wanna see it all!" I say happily.
"That sounds lovely. I always wanted to leave home, myself, but I couldn't bring myself to run away. It sounds silly, but I want to explore too." She says. She wants to explore, just like me? We could be traveling companions!
"Lucy, you know, we could be traveling companions! We'd explore together! How'd that sound?" I say happily. I would love to have someone to explore with!
"Yeah, it'd be fun. But..." She says, and she looks sad. I don't get it, why wouldn't she want to?
"But what?" I ask.
"But... my father wouldn't approve. He doesn't think I should leave this place." She says.
"Well, I we would come back to your father right? So there's no need to worry, is there?" I ask her.
"I don't know. I'll think about it. But you can stay here as long as you'd like. Until, you know... leave on your journey." She says to me.
"You mean it? You're saving me and letting me stay in your house? That's really nice of you to do, Lucy! You're the best!" I say happily.
I see her smile again, and she says, "Oh well, it's not much. We have plenty of extra rooms here, and I couldn't stand for someone like you to live out all alone with nothing."
"Well think about adventuring with me! We could have so many fun adventures together, and it'd be just so awesome!" I offer her. I want a traveling companion pretty badly. Now that I think about it, I'd get pretty lonely if I went on my own.
"I will, and would you like me to show you to a guest room?" She asks me.
"Awesome Lucy! Hey since your house is so freakin' big, can I have a room in one of those big tower thingies?" I ask her. It would help me find Igneel quicker if I could see further out from a higher height. Plus, looking down on the town would be so awesome.
"Sure. My dad usually puts the bedrooms up in the higher towers anyways. I don't like all the stair climbing but if you insist." She says.
"I don't need no stairs! I can fly! Because I'm a dragon!" I say proudly.
Lucy giggled, which confused me, but I just went with it. She grabs my hand and we enter her house again. We walk up the really long and boring staircase up to the rooms. When I open the door to the room she pointed at, I immediately run to the window.
It's the greatest view that I've ever seen! I could see the whole town from up here! Wow! This place must be a really awesome place to live! I could skydive out of this window every morning!
"Do you like this place?" She asks me.
"This place is awesome! Look at that amazing view!" I say, pointing to the window.
"Well, I chose it because it's right across the hall from mine, so we can spend time together." She says sheepishly.
"Really? You'd spend time with me? All of the other kids I knew were scared of me. You're my first actual friend, Lucy!" I say happily.
"Why would they hate you Natsu? Are they afraid of your pink hair?" She asks me, giggling at her own joke.
"No... they're afraid of this." I say, lighting my entire body on fire. Lucy looks at me in shock, and I wonder if it was too soon to show her. But then I see her smile and I smile too. I guess she really is different from the rest.
"That's so cool Natsu! What kind of magic is that?" She asks me.
"It's Fire Dragon Slayer Magic. Igneel taught it to me. I can set myself on fire, and it's really cool and all. Igneel says I take on the forms of a dragon, so that means I am a dragon!" I say proudly.
"Woah! That's really cool Natsu! I've learned about of a lot of different magics, but that's the first I've heard of Dragon Slayer Magic. You have to show me sometime, okay?" She says.
"Alright, whenever you want. I'm not busy doing anything ever so if you ever want to learn about my super awesome magic just ask." I offer.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. One more thing, we have to convince my father to let you stay. But that shouldn't be too bad, should it?" She asks.
"I hope not, I don't really want to go back to the streets." I say.
"Don't worry, I won't let you Natsu." She says.
"Hey Lucy?" I ask.
"Yeah?" She says.
"Thank you." I say before smiling brightly at her. She smiles back, and I know that I've found my first true friend.
