Okay, so these are stories that I've thought of but won't do anything with until I've completed my others. This one is set when Natsu and Gray are about 5 or 6.

-The Dryad Girl-

"Really?"

"You've never heard of her?"

"She's the girl who tamed the Dryads of Druas."

Natsu looks over. Macao and Wakaba are talking to Gray, normally he would tune out but it sounded interesting. He walks over.

"What are you talking about?" The three men look up.

"Well," begins Macao, taking a large drink from his cup. "We were passing through the town of Druas and what did we see?"

"The Dryad Girl!" Exclaims Wakaba. Natsu rolls his eyes.

"Are you gonna tell me what you are talking about or do I have to beat you up to get the answers?"

Macao waves his hand dismissively. "I'm getting there."

Natsu sits beside the man and waits.

"The town of Druas was once plagued by Dryads right?" Natsu and Gray nod. "Well, there was a legend, anyone who could dance with the Dryads could tame the Dryads."

"Why dance?" Interrupts Gray.

"Shut up ice freak! I wanna hear the rest of the story!"

"You wanna go?"

Erza hits them on the head. "Sh! I want to listen too." She places herself between the two boys effectively silencing them.

"Dryads live to dance. That's what they are. They are tree spirits and they come out to dance, but if you dance with them and are a terrible dancer…" He draws a finger across his neck. "Anyway, people were too afraid to hold balls and galas. The Dryad had very high standards. The people never danced nor sung, that's another thing Dryads love. Music." He nods and takes a long draught from his mug. By now several other people had gathered at his feet or crowded the bench, eager to hear his tale. "So! Being deprived of music, song and dance, the Dryads took revenge. They stole shiny things, destroyed crops and things. Killed pets and laid them across doorsteps, spread blood on windows, kidnapped children, stripped them bare and left them in the forest to find their way home. Many people were called to get rid of the Dryads. Guild were called forth, mages lost their lives in attempts to placate the beasts."

"Nothing could be done." Wakaba picks up where Macao left off. "However, a few months ago one of the most wealthy families were passing through. They had with them a little girl, her real mother passed away during childbirth. When the girl was two her father had married again, but the girl despised her new mother. The lady was beautiful, but cruelly so. She had a sharp angular face and rarely smiled. They were warned of the threat that the Dryads posed, especially to small children. However, the little girl loved nothing more than singing and dancing and her 'mother' encouraged it. One night, she was restless in her sleep, her father took her outside for a breath of air. The Dryads pounced, capturing the little girl and hurting the father. As the Dryads sliced the father's skin they sung a song. After a few moments the girl recognised the song and sung along. The Dryads, mesmerised by her voice, stopped their massacre and listened. When the song ended the girl was offered a deal, in exchange for her father's life and the lives and livelihood of the whole village, the little girl would spend the rest of her life with the Dryads. Singing and dancing with them for an eternity, for once you eat the food of a Dryad, you are immortal. The girl, having a heart of gold, agreed. Unable to take the heartbreak her parents fled that same night. The father died shortly after from his wounds."

There is total silence in the guild now, you could hear a snowflake fall. Children surrounded the two men, people stopped talking, frozen mid-action.

"As you know, Wakaba and I had a job not too far from Druas. To get home we decided to pass though and see if the city was a beautiful as they say." Wakaba takes a drink and looks at Macao who continues.

"It was nearing noon and people were gathered near the edge of the forest. We pushed our way through to see what was going on. Closest to the trees was a row of boys all around your age. At noon exactly a small girl appeared from the shadows." Wakaba and Macao sigh. "She was beautiful, only five, six at the most and one look captivated everyone who had eyes. Her hair was long and unkempt, yet is suited her. Leaves and twigs were stuck in those golden strands. I swear it looked as though her hair was pure gold! Her skin as pale as porcelain, she looked like if she were to fall, she would shatter into a thousand pieces. Her lips were a rosy red and behind them were the whitest teeth I've ever seen on a child. And her eyes, were a gorgeous shade of brown, it was impossible to look away, but if you didn't you would be sure to drown in those eyes. She was wearing a white dress, torn and frayed at the edges one sleeve longer than the other and she was holding a small yellow flower. Behind her, Dryads emerged. They were interesting enough but nothing could hold a candle to this kid. She practically glowed. Then, when you thought she couldn't become anymore glorious, she opened her mouth and sung. Her voice was sweet and high and pure.

High is the moon tonight

Hiding its guiding light

High

Then she began dancing in quick, small graceful circles.

Heaven and earth do sleep

Still in the dark so deep

I will the darkness sweep

After this the Dryads began dancing again. The wind blew back the girls hair. I've never seen anything more alive.

I will the moon to flight

I will the heavens bright

I will the earth delight

Open your eyes with me

See paradise with me

Awake and arise with me

I am the dawn, I'm the new day begun

I bring you the morning, I bring you the sun

I hold back the night and I open the skies

I give light to the world, I give sight to your eyes

From the first of all time, until time is undone

Forever and ever and ever and ever

And I am the dawn and the sky and the sun

I am one with the One, and I am the dawn

I am the sky and the dawn and the sun

I am the sky and the new day begun

I am the sky and the dawn and the sun

After she sang, the boys were pressed forwards by mothers the girl stilled. Observing each one. Then she sang a six note tune. The flower in her hand wilted and she left, taking the Dryads with her. When she left, the life of the people and forest went with her. Everything turned cold." Macao shivers. "Later a lady told us she appeared regularly. Sometimes holding a flower, sometimes not. When she had a flower, she was looking for a friend, one to later become her lover and free her from her spell. Other times she came into the city square with one or two young Dryads and they would put on a little show for the town. Sometimes the girl would receive gifts, but she rejected them all."

"What is the spell?" Erza inquires. The younger children, especially the boys perk up and listen intently.

"They say the one who dances with the Dryads has never been loved. To break it she must love and be loved in return."

"Just like Beauty and the Beast!" Squeaks Levy.

Wakaba frowns slightly. "But apparently that's only half of the spell. No-one knows about the rest. However, it is known that the girl only befriends those who are strong and brave, so they can help her."
"That's sad!" Exclaims Natsu. Until now he had been totally frozen. Everyone looks at him. "She just wants a friend!"

"That's the way curses work Flame-Brain." Says Gray, rolling his eyes.

"I DON'T CARE!" He screams. "I'M GONNA DO IT!"

"Do what?" Asks Lisanna. Natsu grins wickedly and clenches his hand into a fist.

"I'ma get big and strong! Then I can save her and be her friend!" With those word he ran out of the guild with determined eyes.

Hate? Like? Love? Review! If you like this one feel free to check out my other stories!