There was a kid who hides within the shadows in order to survive every day because every second counted. The kid lived in the darkest parts of Magnolia. The kid was a ten-year-old girl. Every day, she was beaten, stealing, fighting, and—of course—hiding. She taught herself everything that she needed to survive by instinct. Rage and distrust flared within her cold, crystallized blue orbs.
Who knew that five years later that she would have an encounter that changed the rest of her life?
She is now fifteen years of age and is still doing what she did since she learned how to speak. Her clothes were still the same—ragged, ripped, worn out, and dirty. Her only weapon: her firsts. She's best known for hand-to-hand combat. She had earned the title of the "Merciless Thieving Bandit." Her appearance? Still the same—dark locks of naturally curly hair that went to just below her ears, a mole under her left eye, still the same cold, crystallized blue orbs, and an above average build. Her mind? Still the same, really—only filled with negativity, dark enough to blind someone without light. Her heart? Yup, still the same—with no door.
Looking around, the teenager saw a pink-haired guy walking with a pile of cash in his hands. That should last me about a week or two, she thought. Swiftly, she made her way behind him. Casually, she walked beside and took the money before he could chase after her. When she reached the corner, she ran until she met the nearest alley to hide in. Slowing down her breathing, she could hear the guy screaming at her to give back his money.
"OI! GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY! I WAS GOING TO BUY SOMETHING TO EAT WITH THAT!"
All this money for one meal? What is this guy, a millionaire?
Then, everything became quiet. The guy didn't scream at her anymore. "Found you." The girl jumped at the sudden touch on her shoulder. She looked up to see the victim of her crime smiling down at her. She got up to run, but he grabbed her hand, holding her back.
"LET GO!" she hollered. "LET—" she cut herself off as she heard her stomach growl.
"Are you hungry?" he said, letting go of her hand.
"NO! Of course not!" Her stomach growled again, and she flushed from embarrassment.
"See? You are hungry!" He grabbed her hand again and dragged her with him as she kept telling him to let her go along the way. She tried to break away a few times, but he was just too strong for her. They entered a place with people laughing, smiling, and talking as far as the eye could see. The poor girl was still trying to break free of his grip and shouting, which drew attention to them.
"Oi, Natsu! You're back?"
Natsu grunted a reply. "Mirajane, can you please get this girl here something to eat?"
"Sure."
Natsu then plopped her into a nearby chair and said, "Stay." It was like he was treating her as a pet. "Oh, and before I forget, hand me back my money."
"Tch! Like I would!"
"Give it back!" He reached for it, but she moved it farther away from him.
"Mine!"
"It's mine. I worked for it!" Natsu held a tight grip on her wrist with one hand, making her wince, and took the money with the other. Just when she reached out for it, he put it in his pocket and ruffled her hair. Confused, she looked at him. Natsu gave her a huge grin and laughed a bit. "Want to join our guild?"
The girl was silent for a while. That is, until she said, "What the hell is that?"
"A guild? Um...it's like...a...uh...ah! It's like a family."
"Absurd! I don't need a family. I'm good just the way I am—alone."
Natsu's eyes became serious, and he said sternly, "The way you live says another." Mirajane interrupted the tension by placing the food in front of the strange girl.
"Eat up!" The girl was about to refuse, but her stomach growled again, so she gave in to the temptation that was in front of her. Natsu sat down next to her after he got his share of food from Mirajane.
"Thank you for the food!" Natsu cheerily said. On the other hand, the rude female stayed silent even after finishing her meal. Natsu let it go, however, because he knew how she grew up. "So, what's your name?"
"I don't have one."
"EH?!" Everyone in the room went quiet and paid attention to them. "HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE A NAME?!"
"I've lived in slums alone since birth. Do you really think someone would name me?"
"That's true," he mumbled as he rubbed his chin. When he was out of thought, he exclaimed, "How about 'Erin'? It sounds pretty, right?"
"Humph, I don't need a name to sound pretty." Natsu ruffled her hair with a little more force than last time.
"Idiot! If you don't have a name, it's like you're a package with no label; a story without a title; a maid with no one to serve; fire without heat; ice without cold; voice without sound; light without warmth!" The fifteen-year-old stayed silent. "Besides, 'Erin' sounds really nice! How can you not like it?!" he said in a very childish voice as he pouted.
"I'll take it."
"Huh?" He looked up at her.
"I said, 'I'll take it.' The name, I mean." Natsu put her in a headlock and gave her a noogie.
"You cute little...! Haha!"
From that day onward, the nameless fawn became a beautiful, young girl with the matching name of Erin. But, one thing still remains: her smile is still dead.
It might take a while for me to update any chapters—this goes to all my stories and fanfictions—because I am studying and reading manga, and there are also days where I don't feel like writing anything or with no ideas, so bear with me. And I do realize that this chapter was a drag with many words but little action and interesting stuff that I usually write. (It's most likely because it's in third person.) Until next time, my fellow readers~^^ I haven't said that in a while. Lol. I do not own Fairy Tail. I do not own anything but my OC and my story/stories.