So as strange and unorthodox as it was, Natsu was raised in a brothel by prostitutes. However he wasn't exposed to anything that a boy his age shouldn't see and Erza and her friends came to adore him. He worked hard with keeping their rooms and brothel clean, he respected all the women in the brothel though there were moments when he couldn't resist going through their underwear and that usually resulted in Erza giving him a good lump on the head or a spanken on the behind. But that aside he was a good and hard working young boy.

When Erza had saved up enough money she sent Natsu to school. At first he didn't want to go, believing that he didn't need to learn to read or write or do arithmetic but Erza was determined that Natsu would have a good education and a better future than what she had. Now Natsu was illiterate so before sending him off she decided to teach him how to read and write so he wouldn't be embarrassed in front of the other students. Once he had learned how to read and write properly she sent him off to school. For the first few days he was a difficult and stubborn student who refused to learn but Erza was able to straighten him out.

Ten years went by. As Natsu grew into adulthood he became very interested in the laws of Fiore and it wouldn't be long before he would learn of Judge Zeref Dragneel. He was the head of Fiore's law serving as judge, jury, and executioner. In the beginning he was a fine officer of the law but over the years he had become corrupted. First it was in prisoning people over harmless misdemeanors and then it was locking up anyone who was accused of a crime regardless of whether there was evidence or not.

Natsu first encountered the judge when he was fifteen years old and he was on his way back from his school when he spotted him about to arrest a miller for not paying his taxes.

"Have mercy my lord!" The miller begged at Zeref's feet.

"You have put off paying your taxes for far too long Miller."

"You must understand, I needed that money to pay for my son's operation. I give you my word that I'll work off every piece that I owe."

"Your empty promises mean nothing to me. Take him away."

"No please! You can't! My family will starve without me!"

But they put the poor man in shackles and dragged him away.

"What are you doing?" Natsu asked the judge.

"Step aside boy this is none of your concern."

"Why did you arrest that man? He did nothing wrong."

"He refused to pay his taxes."

"He didn't refuse. He said that he was going to pay them and prison was never the penalty for unpaid taxes."

"Well times have changed. It's time that these peasants learned to respect the law. Not get out of my way."

He got on his horse and rode off.

"I don't understand Erza." Natsu told her when he came home later that day. "How could they arrest that man like that? And for what? Running a little late on taxes?"

"I'm afraid that's how Judge Dragneel has been running Fiore for the past three years. He started out as a very just man who kept Fiore safe but then one day he just went crazy. Enforcing these ridiculous laws and arresting people for unfair and unjust reasons."

"Does the queen know about this? Surely she wouldn't allow his methods."

"No. Of course not but I've been trying to inform her of Zeref's corrupt justice system for years but Zeref's men make absouletly sure that no one gets close enough to tell her."

"Still we can't just sit back and do nothing. We should fight back."

"I agree with you but going up against a corrupted judge isn't something you can just dive head first into."

As Natsu watched as more innocent people were locked away in jail he wanted to fight back. When he reached age twenty-three he had become a law student bound and determined to somehow put a stop to this judge's cruel reign by reporting his actions to her majesty Queen Hisui of Fiore and proving them.

But we'll get back to him later. Now I must introduce you to a woman. A certain woman. Lucy Heartfilia, daughter and only child of wealthy merchant Jude Heartfilia. When she was a child her father had shipped her off to a very strict boarding school so she could have the finest education and learn to be a proper lady. She had now returned to Fiore an enchanting, perfumed, and sparkling young woman with hair as yellow and beautiful as sunshine. She was also a very bright and intelligent woman who had been looking forward to returning to Fiore and putting the knowledge she learned in school to good use.

Unfortunately her father had already arranged for her to marry Captain Loke Leonhart. The Queen's captain of the guards and a well respected aristocrat. Jude had always wanted to be apart of the high society and he saw his daughter as his ticket into that group.

"But Father what if Captain Leonhart and I don't like each other?" She asked him as they rode together in their carriage.

"In time you will learn to love each other as your mother and I did when we were married."

"But Father I'm not even sure if I want to get married now. I mean I just got back from school, there's so much I want to do."

"And you shall do whatever you please my dear, after the wedding."

"But I was thinking-"

"Thinking? Not your strongest suit my darling. It's my job to think for you."

"Father why on Earth did you send me to that school if you have no intention of letting me used what I learned?"

"I never said that. You'll be able to use your talents as long as it is done under my approval. Now remember you must greet your fiance respectfully, smile at him, wile and beguile him. Remember he is one of the most important aristocrats in all of Fiore."

"Yes Father."

Lucy glanced out the window of her carriage and watched the peasants of the town. Most of them were working and trying to make a living but some of them were homeless and desperately searching for any kind of money or food. When the carriage stopped and they stepped out a crippled man walked up to them and said.

"Please good sir could you spare a piece of copper for a man who has not eaten in three days?"

"Lazy old fool! If you hunger so badly why not work for what you need?" Jude scoffed.

"Alas good sir I am a cripple so no one will give me work. Please sir I only ask for one copper piece."

"Out of my way! I do not give money to beggars!"

Jude then left taking his daughter with him.

"Father surely you could have given him a copper piece or maybe a few pieces of silver." Lucy said. "We have more money than we know what to do with. Why not be charitable?"

"Lucy I do not believe charity should be waisted on those who will not work."

"But Father he's a cripple. He can't work, it's not his fault."

"Lucy you inherited many traits from your dear mother that I admire but two of them I despise because they are useless and that is sympathy and charity for others."

"Father how is that useless? And how can you say such things about Mother? Had she seen that poor man she would not have dared left him without giving him something."

"Yes and it was behavior like that which resulted in your mother's demise. Tell me do you wish to die young as she did?"

"No Father."

"Then stop feeling sorry for these worthless and lazy peasants and focus on what you can do for yourself."

"Yes Father." She sighed.

"Now Lucy you know I don't say these things to be cruel. I only want what's best for you. Remember I promised your mother on her deathbed that I would do whatever it took to ensure that you would have a happy and fullfilling life and I intend to keep that promise."

"I know Father. I know."

Lucy's mother, Layla Heartfilia had been a very charitable woman. She went out of her way to help the poor and needy however she could. To many of the people of Fiore she was a saint. But then came that dreadful winter when she spent many days outside feeding and clothing the poor while also tending to those who had become ill. Jude had begged his wife to come inside, telling her that it was not healthy for her to be out in the cold for so long but her big heart would not allow her to abandon the poor people begging for help. She had saved many lives that winter but she had died of pneumonia.

Poor, wretched Jude blamed his wife's death on her charity toward the poor and regarded both with contempt. He only cared for wealth and status, being wealthy and rising above all others. Nevertheless there was one ray of softness in his hardened heart and that softness was his daughter Lucy who secretly wanted to continue her late mother's good deeds. Unlike her father she knew that no one was to blame for her mother's demise especially not the poor people who Layla had helped. But for now she would try to appease her father and meet this young captain who she was to wed.

Captain Loke was a very handsome and dashing young man dressed sharply in golden armor. He greeted Jude and Lucy respectfully.

"So you're my wife to be." Loke said taking Lucy's hand and kissing it. "I must say your father did not exaggerate in the least when he told me that you were a fair one."

"Yes and the rumors I hear about you being a charming flatterer weren't exaggerated also." Lucy said blushing.

"Oh believe me Miss Heartfilia, when I give a woman a compliment it is always sincere. So tell Me. Heartfilia when are we to be wed?"

"I shall make the arrangements this evening." Jude said. "In the meantime why don't the two of you take a stroll through town. Get to know each other better."

"Yes Father." Lucy said as she allowed her fiance to escort her outside.