" Natsu Dragneel , you got the spelling wrong again ! Do it again ," my father scolded me . I was five years old , and I was still learning how to spell . Well , I'm a slow learner anyways . I whined , " Dad ~ Give me a break , will'ya ? I'm tired from all of this , Igneel . " He smacked my head and said ," Don't call me by my name , you brat ! " He sat on the chair and scratched his head . He said ," Alright , take a break . Go play outside . " My mother walked over to him and gave him a cup of water . She said with care ," Careful not to go out too far , dear . The witches might capture you . " She smiled at me , so I grinned at her and nodded my head . As I walked to the back door , I heard my father say ," Don't scare him like that , Elise . " I opened the back door and went out . I don't see witches often , but I'm sure they won't come here to kill people . I lived faraway from the village , so I wasn't scared to go deep in the woods . I walked deeper and deeper into the woods . After a while , I reached my favourite place . It had a river , stones surrounding it like people had decorated it like that ages ago . The birds would always chirp when I go there . It was my hiding spot as well as my relaxation spot .

I lied on the grass , putting both of my hands behind my head , using them as a pillow . I looked at the ever beautiful sky . Just then , I heard a growl . I opened my eyes and stood up . It was a tiger . Shit , I thought . I had learnt how to use a sword , but I hadn't learnt how to fight with it . My dad was a general in the army , he said that learning how to use a sword and fight with it would help me someday . I looked around me and picked up a branch that was thick . I stood in my fighting stance and took the first step . I ran forward and swung it on it . I hit it , but it made me fall backwards on the ground instead . The tiger growled again , but this time , it growled louder and with the intention of killing . It walked closer to me . I gulped and closed my eyes shut .

" Evanesco . "

It was a girl's voice . I heard a thump , like something had fallen on the floor . I opened my eyes . The tiger was now on the ground , whimpering . I sat up and looked at my left . A blonde haired girl was standing there , looking at me . She looked almost the same age as me . She was a beauty . She wore a rose golden dress with laces at the end of it . It was quite a long dress , almost like a wedding dress . She was so beautiful , my heart raced and I blushed . She walked over to me and asked ," Are you okay ? " She checked my body to see if there were any wounds . Then , I remembered the tiger . I frowned and said ," Y-you .. did this ? " She looked at me with innocent eyes and said , " Yeah ..? I did . I'm a witch . " She smiled at me and I blushed harder . My face was hot . I asked ," Are you just gonna let it die like this ?! " She scoffed at me and said ," Die ? No , my spell was to tighten its heart , that's why it was whimpering . Basically , it's to paralyse it's body . Don't worry , it won't kill the poor animal . The animal will only die if I say 'Dedisco'. " I blinked at her a few times , confused .

She stood up and kneeled down beside the tiger . She stroked its body a few times and whispered ," Novo . " The pained expression on the tiger slowly became a peaceful one . She smiled to herself , like it was the first time her spell had worked . The tiger opened its eyes and stood up slowly . She stopped stroking it and said ," You are a beautiful tiger , aren't you ? You should learn to appreciate humans , and not killing them . Go , my dear . " She stood up . I couldn't believe what I saw . THE TIGER BOWED TO HER ! I said ," T-that .. it actually bowed to you ? " She looked at me strangely and asked ," Why not ? After all , I'm the one who saved it's life . Do you think I actually forced it to bow to me ? " I smiled at her and said ," I think it was awesome ! " She looked away . Her ears were red . Was she blushing ? I thought . She looked at me and cleared her throat . She said ," So , what's your name ? I'm Lucy . "

" I'm Natsu .. " I replied .

" So , what's a boy like you doing here deep in the woods ?"

" This is my favourite spot of all times , I come here occasionally . "

" Really ?! I like this place too ! " She smiled brightly at me .

" Yeah . " She was smiling so brightly , it could've been brighter than the sun .

" You know- "

She'd suddenly stopped talking and her facial expression changed . It was like something she'd hated had come into her sight . Her face darkened . She stood up and walked away . I shouted for her name and asked why she was leaving .

Humans are coming . I have to go . Let's meet here again at three , Natsu .

A voice was in my head . It was hers , Lucy's voice . I told her in my mind , Okay , Lucy . See you . Even thought I don't know whether it would reach her . I smiled in her direction . Just then , I heard a sound in the bush . I looked behind me . " There you are , " oozed a voice . It was dad's . He appeared out of the shadows with mom behind him . Mom asked ," Why did you go so deep in the woods ? " She put her hands on my face and pushed it side to side , making sure I wasn't hurt anywhere . I told her that I wasn't hurt , internally and externally . She sighed with relieve and smiled at me .

After that day , Lucy and I had met up every day for two months . Since I had gone out everyday , Dad asked me why . I replied ," Dad , I met this girl and I really like her ! " I grinned at dad . He said ," Alright , but make sure she's not a witch . " I froze . Why? Is there a problem with Lucy being a witch ? I thought . I said ," Why not ? You know , ever since I met her , I don't think witches are evil anymore ! When we first met , she helped- " Igneel banged the table and stood up . He was furious . He said ," So she is one , then ?! From today onwards , you are not going to meet her every again ! "

Then , one day , an accident happened . A tragic accident . My mother had been killed . The news had been too sudden , my dad broke down . He had been crying for the past few days . I'd hated that mom wasn't here anymore , I really hated it . I walked to my favourite place and made a cone made out of stones . I carved mom's name on the biggest stone and put it on the front . I prayed that she would rest in peace in heaven .

" .. Natsu ..? "

I looked behind me and saw Lucy . I said ," Lucy ..! " I went to hug her . She asked ," What's wrong ? You suddenly stopped coming here .. Did something happen ? " We walked to the little grave I had created for mom . She asked me ," E..lise ..? Who is this ? " I replied ," My mother , she was killed .. a few days ago . " She had a sad expression . She said ," I'm sorry to hear that .. " I forced smile and said ," Nah . " She asked ," If you don't mind .. you wanna share how you feel ..? " I nodded my head and started to describe about mom . I took a glance at her after a while . I realized that she was pale , and that her expression was surprise mixed with fear . I said ," Lu..cy ..? You okay ? " I reached out my hands to touch her face . But before it could touch her , I was pulled back . " Don't get close to her ! " I said ," Dad..? " He glared at her with anger in his eyes . He said ," She .. was the one that killed your mother !" I couldn't believe what he said . From what I'd seen of Lucy , she wasn't the type to kill someone without a reason . I wanted to argue back but Lucy had said something I couldn't believe .

" That's right , Natsu . I killed your mother . "