Here it is! the first chapter of my first story, I had fun typing this up...sorry it's a little melancholy at first, the next chapter will be funny I promise! :3
Disclaimer: I don't own either Fairy Tail or any of it's characters.
Once upon a time...Dare I say it...
There lived a little tight-knit town in the middle of the woods, miles from any city or kingdom...
It was a thriving little town, made up of little brick houses and paved roads that were always filled with busy and bustling people.
The people that lived in the town were all working people...
Florists that would go out and pick flowers from the abundant meadows, Carpenters that were surrounded by the millions of trees that stood hundreds of feet tall, Bakers that had wheat fields and farms so they never ran out, But the most important of all..
The Hunters...
The forest around the little town was made up of thick trees that towered over the little houses, always protecting it...But endangering it as well...
You see there were animals of a magical nature in that forest...
Elves..Fairy's...Unicorns...Wolves...
Some like the elves and fairy's were peaceful and left the little town be..
But others were fearsome and endangered the lives of the villagers.
The Hunters were there to protect the people...But also to hunt for game...
This sounds a bit boring right?..I know...lets get to the fun part.
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-Natsu POV-
On a particular peaceful day, the soft breeze was blowing through the meadows.
I laid in the red Heliotrope, The breeze blowing the sweet smell of the flowers around me...
I was in my hunting uniform, black boots that went to my knees and laced all the way up the back, my long black cloak that covered my leather vest and black leather pants, with my black gloves with the finger holes cut out for easy weapon assess ...
My ears twitched as the sound of footsteps of someone trying to sneak up on me.
"What do you want Romeo?" I asked, and the footsteps stopped...
"How did you know it was me?...How did you know I was here!?" He called out from about 10 feet away..
"You stomped all over the Bluebells, your footsteps are too heavy, and you breath through your mouth" I replied as Romeo looked down at his feet and indeed saw that he has smothered the blue flowers...
"But, this uniform is too heavy!" he complained as he once again started to stomp towards me, "There is no way I can sneak up on deer! Or anything for that matter!"
I looked up, moving my hand to block the sun, there stood my little brother Romeo in the mandatory Hunting uniform. Like mine except it was brown, had a small red badge to show he was a beginner, and of course it was way smaller...
He had bright blue eyes and I had onix... he had raven black hair, where I had Pink hair...
"Well, get used to it... We leave tonight for your first mission. And you'll have to walk through 10 miles of forest, and I can't have you scaring away the animals" I replied as he sat down next to me in the bright red flowers.
"I know, I know everyone keeps telling me I need to improve..But it's my first hunt!"
I nodded not really listening "So what are you doing out here anyways?" I asked
He sighed "Dad told me to get used to my uniform, and he said if I could sneak up on you, then I'd be ready, but that's impossible!..He's always talking about his eldest son being the best hunter in the whole town!" Romeo sighed again
"Don't listen to what dad says ...I'm not the best" I replied sitting up and looking at the clouds swirling overhead...
"Yeah but, you did beat dad in sparring..." Romeo said trailing off as he stared at the blue-ish flowers near him...
"Hey, Natsu?" he asked as I turned to look at him
"What?" I question with a gruff tone
He pointed to a flower "What kind of flower is this?" he asked as I Gazed down at it
"That is a Lunaria or Money Plant," I said ...
"Oh...What about that one?" He asked pointing to a red and yellow flower
"That is a Marigold " I replied once again...
"How do you know about all these flowers?" Romeo asked ...I
was silent for a second ...
"Mom used to be a florist. She owned that flower shop connected to our house, You know that" I muttered as a certain melancholy had swept over me...
"Oh...mom" Romeo whispered
There was a moment of silence, and my eyes never left the sky, my attention lost in the swirling clouds above...
"Don't you think the flowers need to be watered?" jRomeo asked as I had pushed off the ground unto my feet
"They will be.." I replied as I started to walk off
"What do you mean?" Romeo asked standing up as well. I pulled up my hood and pointed to the sky just as the rain started to come down..
"You could have told me that it was going to rain!" he shouted as he ran after me...
I followed the carved out trail through the trees that surrounded the town, and soon we came to the giant wooden gate that was the entrance to the giant wooden wall around the little town for protection. Through the gate led paved roads. The gate was enormous, it was carved out of the tallest trees and was 20 feet tall, it had two guard posts on either side. I waved up at the guard and he shouted to open the gate. Only hunters were permitted through the gate, and with a loud creaking sound the gate slowly opened as I walked through, with Romeo at my heels...
We walked along the paved roads through town as the people were closing up their windows and covering their shops...
"Why does everyone close their windows like that when it rains?" Romeo asked quietly..
I tilted my head down to stare at him and then shifted my gaze back to the road "Because bad things happen to the rain" I replied.
Romeo looked around once more..."W-what kind of, bad things?" he whispered,
I stepped into a puddle with a little splash.."Creatures of the forest come out in the rain" I replied Romeo stayed silent for the rest of the walk home..
After a few more minutes of walking in the rain we came across a particular flower shop, it was a light blue with big swooping gold letters that said "Magical Flowers'". A little bell rang as I opened the door and walked in, Romeo following me. It was warm in the shop, and it always smelled sweet. The wooden floors were stained with dirt and water, but that gave the room character. Flowers were spread out all over the room, all organized neatly. I
I took off my wet cloak and hung it on a coat stand next to the door. I walked to the counter where the tables were set up with flower pots and vases. I inspected the flowers and plants throughout the store.
"Oh!, Natsu, I didn't know you came in" I turned to see my childhood best friend Lisanna, she wore a long white apron and yellow gloves, her white hair was pulled back with a red bandanna.
She smiled "I've been taking care of the shop while you were gone on your 'break' " she giggled with a smile
I nodded "Thanks "
she smiled again "did you see anything today? like ..any magical creatures?" she asked curiously
I shook my head "No, those are just legends Lissana" I replied sitting on the counter
"you look tired Natsu" she warily as she stepped closer
All I could do was nod as all my muscles were sore "Yeah the training has been tough..But it all pays off."
She smiled "If you say so."
it was quiet for a second before she asked " are you sure you haven't seen anything magical in the woods?"
I shook my head
"But what about the story's about the unicorns who ate grass in the meadows and that's why the flowers bloom all year round?" She crossed her arms over her chest.
I looked at her, my voice low "I haven't seen any unicorns yet " I said "And I don't think I ever will. Even if they did exist they're probably long gone now. "
she huffed "I don't think so, I still think monsters and things exist, I've read so many stories's about them!"
Romeo and I laughed
"Whats so funny!?" Lisanna muttered
"its exactly what you said! you've read so many 's all they are" I said,
she crossed her arms over her chest.."One-day ill prove it, I'll hike up to the mountains, where people say the monsters and magical creatures live."
I rolled my eyes "I'll go too!" Romeo said with a smile
Lisanna hugged him "it's nice to see at least one brother believes!" she stuck her tongue out at me...
"Thanks again for watching the shop," I said as I looked at all the flowers
"I'm happy to help. Thank you for letting me run the shop" Lisanna said
"Brother loves the flowers he knows all their names !" Romeo said with a smile,
Lisanna looked at him then to me "But I don't know why you don't do it. You love tending to the flowers! and you have a green thumb... All you have to do is tell your dad you don't want to be a hun-"
I furrowed my eyebrows as my gaze fixed on her face "Lisanna... you know exactly why I can't do that.."
"But you love the flowers!.. The only reason why your a hunter is because it's what your father wants! why don't you do what you want?...and your mother would have wanted you to do it!"
I stayed silent, My eyes moving to the window ..
"Natsu, I can talk to your dad I can help, I want you to be happy" she continued...
Romeo looked at Lisanna with a concerned face "Lisanna..." he whispered
"Natsu..." Lisanna hesitated "Ever since your mom died you've been doing what your dad wanted... You've changed..You haven't been the kind, funny, Natsu I used to know...You're all serious and stern because.. that's what your father wants..why don't you do what you want?" she asked
"What do you know?" I snapped...
Lisanna's mouth shut and she pressed her lips into a firm line as she clenched her hands into fists at her sides "I know that you have been interested in flowers and plants ever since I met you!..and I also know that ever since your mom died in that rock slide you've changed!"
I turned to face her..." You don't know anything..My mom didn't die in a rock slide..and it's my choice to be a hunter, so stay out of it" I said coldly.
she stayed silent as I walked past her "The daisy's need to be re-potted" muttered before I climbed the wooden stairs up to my room.
I closed the door behind me..
My room was average size, with a desk in the corner next to the window. My bed behind it along the wall and a closet across from that. The walls were painted blue and had maps of the forest pinned to them with small metal tacks ...
Slowly I trudged over and grabbed my backpack from the corner, checking the supplies in it and packed it full of the things that I would need for the next few days..
I glanced at the window to see the light coming in through the shutters. it was a hazy glow, a warm color. I estimated that it was about 7:00...
I made my bed and picked up my bag as I exited my room, petting my blue cat befroe closing the door behind me.
When I slowly made my way down the stairs I saw Romeo had already packed and was waiting in the shop.
Lisanna had left and it was quiet, te only sound was the soft trickle of the rain outside.
Romeo looked up "Oh!, I didn't hear you come down," He said I nodded
"Exactly" I replied, and he glared.
I sat on the counter "Did you pack everything you need?" I asked Romeo nodded and I smiled and ruffled his hair
"We'll be meeting dad at the gates in a little bit so be ready to lock up and leave," I said as I walked.
Romeo stood up straight "Yes sir!" he smiled and saluted,
It was still raining when we left. We were heading down the road, and after a few minutes I heard someone call out.
"Natsu! Yo! wait up!" I turned to see Gray and Gajeel running to catch up with me and Romeo,
Gajeel grunted a "Yo" as they both came to a halt.
They both doubled over catching their breath
"Man...Are you ...Deaf or..What?..We were...Running after you for the past..Two blocks flame brain!" Gray said out of breath.
I glared at him "Hey gray and gajeel, this is my first hunt!" Romeo pipped in
"Oh yeah.. I forgot it was his first hunt" Gajeel said as Gray looked confused. He looked at me, to gajeel, and then to Romeo a few times then said
"who's the runt?" pointing a thumb to Romeo
"He's my little brother idiot!" I replied hitting him across the head. Gajeel nodded.
"How was I supposed to know?!" Gray replied
"Uhh...I've met you a few times before," Romeo said looking at Gray...
Gray stared at him for a while..."Oh yeah...I knew that" playing it off as if he knew all along, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"tch" gajeel clicked his tongue
"Hey! what are you guys doing out here!?" a loud rambunctious voice echoed from behind us.
We all turned to see a red-haired girl stampeding towards us at full speed..
"E-erza!" We all said simultaneously.
She wore the same uniform as the rest of us, but she made some modifications with a full armored suit. She is the only girl that is a hunter, and she is very proud of it.
"You're all late! you were supposed to be at the gate ten minutes ago!" She glared at the four of us
"Its not my fault!" I said, "Gray made me late cause he's slow!" I pointed an accusing finger towards Gray
"Hey! don't blame me! It's your fault we were standing here talking about Rallow!" Gray shouted
"my name is Romeo" Romeo replied quietly
"Wait..That means your late to Erza!" I started crossing my arms over my chest
"I-it doesn't matter!" She hit me and gray on the heads
"Hey, I didn't do anything!" Gray shouted
"Just go!" she yelled. We all ran full speed towards the gate as Erza shouted the entire time...