Disclaimer: The characters and places all belong to the creator/author of Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima.
The following fanfiction is rated M due because of some scenes of violence, mild language, and some mature content (which happens in later chapters).
Chapter One: "Ever Heard of the Fairy Tail Bar?"
Natsu Dragneel was sweating away, the heat was becoming unbearable even for him. His muscles were crying out in protest as he continued to hammer the scarlet metal. His dark brown eyes were losing focus, and he was breathing quite heavily. "Natsu, once you finish the blade, I suggest you take a break." Ordered Igneel, the blacksmith in the Magnolia City. Igneel was a muscular man, he had sharp golden eyes, and had long auburn red hair tied in a ponytail.
"You sure, Igneel sir? I can help you with the repairing Mr. Ackerman's scythe afterwards."
"I appreciate to see young people work hard, it's a good quality to have, but with you it's an exception. You work until your bones crack. You need to rest." Igneel viewed Natsu as his son, and couldn't help worrying over him. It only felt like yesterday but it was fifteen years ago, he found tiny Natsu lost in the forest alone. He was crying because his village was raided and in result his house got burned down, and he got separated from his family. Igneel couldn't ignore a lost child, so he took him in. After that, Igneel located the village Natsu once lived, and tried looking for clues to track down his family, but in the end it looked like as though Natsu was the sole survivor. "What do you think?" Natsu asked holding up the finished piece.
"Excellent. You're improving every day, now off you go." Igneel said ruffling Natsu's pink hair.
"All right, I'm leaving. I'll see you later, bye." Natsu said grabbing his shirt and giving Igneel his signature childish grin before heading out.
Standing outside the entrance of the blacksmiths, Natsu gave a satisfied sigh when he felt a breeze. He had to sit down for a few minutes, just until his body was ready to move again. He pondered on what he could do. He was the type of person who couldn't sit still for more than four seconds, he constantly had to do something or else he becomes fidgety and irritated. When he found no inspiration by observing the crowds, he decided to head for the Fairy Tail Bar. Even though he never fancied the taste of alcohol, he always enjoyed the company because they were like another family to him. Besides there was always something to do.
He really outdid himself this time, Igneel thought while he looked over the blade carefully. There was no flaw he could find. He taught Natsu at a very young age, even as a child he had a high tolerance of the heat than ordinary folks. The heat fazed most people who enter the blacksmiths to collect their fixed tools. Igneel remembered the few times when an adult would faint from the heat. Natsu was different. Igneel remembered the first time when Natsu was in the blacksmiths, it was only a few weeks after he found him.
(Igneel's memory fifteen years ago.)
"Natsu! What on earth are you doing here?" Igneel asked utterly shocked.
"Hi Igneel! Is this where you work?" A five year old Natsu asked excitedly looking at everything in the shop.
"Yes this is the blacksmiths, and please don't touch…. I told you not to touch anything!"
"Woah! This is awesome, did you make this?" Natsu asked fascinated by the green tinted blade which was quickly taken away.
"Yes I did make this." Igneel said putting all the sharp objects on a higher shelf.
"May I watch you work, I promise not to be in the way."
"Why don't you play with your friends… it's a beautiful day, it would be a shame to waste it in here."
"I don't have that many friends… besides Lisanna and her brother and sister are busy, and they shooed me away."
"What about Gray or Erza?" Igneel asked knowing for well the response.
"There's no way I'm playing with stripper boy or a scary monster! Besides, my days are never wasted when I'm with you." Igneel was touched on how quickly Natsu grown attached to him, and he had to admit it was hard to say no whenever Natsu gave his childish grin.
"All right, you win, but! You have to be as far away from me as possible, and you're only here to watch, don't interfere, and if the heat becomes too much, you'll leave." Natsu's eyes became wide out of excitement. Natsu did behave himself as he sat on a barrel on a far corner away from the furnace, and he welcomed customers entering into the building. Igneel checked every now and then to make sure Natsu was doing all right in the heat, and surprisingly Natsu didn't seemed fazed at all. He stayed with Igneel the entire time.
"So how was your first day there?" Igneel asked Natsu while they were walking home.
"Fantastic, I wish I can become a blacksmiths too."
"How would you like to become my apprentice?"
"What's that?"
"An apprentice is somebody who will help at the shop, learn the techniques, and perhaps one day become a skilled blacksmiths. Basically you will become my student." Natsu all of a sudden gave Igneel a big hug and then climbed onto his back.
"Of course! Teach me everything you know!" Igneel smiled, and as he continued to walk home, Natsu was slowly dropping off to sleep.
(Back to the present day)
On his way to the Fairy Tail Bar, Natsu reluctantly decided to take a detour to the plaza. The Magnolia City's plaza was a beautiful place with an enormous fountain, with a flower design engraved on the stone. Decorated around the plaza were lamps, and when they were lit at night time, it was absolutely stunning. Three years ago, he avoided the place, three years ago all those happy memories he cherished at the plaza became painful, three years ago…. He lost someone he truly cared for. The news shocked him then, and he still couldn't believe it now.
"What are you doing? Get away from me!" A female voice cried out not too far away. Natsu looked and saw two guards trying to drag a young lady from the plaza. "You need to come with us this instance!" Commanded a guard.
"Please Miss, do not make a scene and come with us quietly." The other guard said quietly.
"No, please I beg of you don't force me to go back to that place!" Natsu's senses came back once he saw the distressed look on the girl's face.
"Stop it! You're hurting her!"
"This doesn't concern you lad, she's coming with us!"
"On what grounds? Did she do something illegal?"
"No, but…" Not letting the guard finish his sentence, in an impulse Natsu punched the guard, kicked the other, grabbed the girl's hand and ran away quickly. He led the girl up an alleyway and hid behind a pile of crates.
Huffing and puffing, Natsu had to rest, he exceeded his physical limit, and now he was paying for it. His body was refusing him to move. "I… think… We…. Lost…. Them…." Natsu said in between breaths.
"Are you all right?" Asked the girl in a concerned voice. "Do you need a doctor?"
"Don't… worry… about… me. The name's Natsu." He said in between breaths.
"Natsu… thank you for helping me. I'm Lucy."
"Lucy, are you from here? I've never seen you before." Working at the blacksmiths gave Natsu an opportunity to see the majority of the population, and he was sure he never saw Lucy before. He would've remembered her big chocolate brown round eyes, her long silky golden hair, and she smelled like vanilla which was a distinctive scent. The women in Magnolia City favoured the flowery scented perfumes.
"I do live in Magnolia, but it's my first time being in the city. I grew up in a very sheltered life."
"You mean, all this time you never set foot into the city?" Lucy shook her head. "Well, welcome to Magnolia City! Although I suppose those two guards were the welcome party." Natsu and Lucy laughed. "If you want, I can show you around." Natsu said getting up slowly, while putting his hand out for Lucy to take.
"Ok." Lucy said taking Natsu's hand.
Natsu didn't understand the feeling he had while being with Lucy. Although they were strangers who just met, he felt a connection with her. He was mesmerized by her facial expressions as she learnt more about the city. Her soft chocolate eyes grew rounder and rounder in utter amazement. She even astounded him by the vast knowledge she had on the city, just by the books she read at home. "I spent most of my life studying and reading books."
"Doesn't sound like an interesting life."
"No… it wasn't." Lucy was staring at the ground.
"Here come with me, I have one last place to show you." Natsu said knowing the perfect place for Lucy to make new friends and to bring a little excitement in her life. "Ever heard of the Fairy Tail Bar?"