A/N: For this chapter, I just want you to know Natsu's past before he met Lucy. Just to know more about him.

Interlude: Tales of a Pyromaniac

"Alright children, I want you all to meet Natsu. Natsu, they will be your new playmates from now on. Be nice to them, okay?"

No. He didn't want to be nice to them.

Natsu timidly nodded, "Okay."

They hated him. He hated them. So why should he be nice to them?

"Good! Now that introductions are over, why don't you go play with them? I'll just be nearby so call me when you need help, alright? Remember, you must be nice, okay?"

4-year-old Natsu nodded again and wobbled over to the other kids, plastering his huge grin to appear friendly, just like the teacher had said.

"Hi! Can I play with you?!"

"No. Go away."

"You're weird. Why is your hair pink?"

"It looks like cotton candy."

He bit his lip and lowered his head, "I don't know either...b-but mommy says it's cute!"

"It's cute, but you don't look cute."

Natsu winced at the harsh words but fought back the tears, "C-can I play with you guys?"

"Nah. We already have enough."

"You should play with other kids instead."

Rejected. He was straightly rejected right from childhood. Even at such a young age, the society already hated him.

'Why bother even making friends when no one really wants you?' he gritted his teeth as he jealously stared at the kids having fun.

XXX

6 months later, he met Igneel.

"Natsu, we want you to meet your new dad, Igneel."

A now 5-year-old Natsu looked up and met eyes with a large, red-haired man, "Igneel?"

Igneel grinned, "Yep! My name's Igneel Dragneel and from now on, I'm going to be your new father!"

"...But why?"

The red-haired man raised a brow, "What do you mean 'why'?"

"Why would you choose me out of all the kids at the orphanage?"

Even though Natsu is physically 5, his brain is as smart as an elementary student. He already knows what would happen to children like him, and out of all the normal kids, why would this strange man pick a weirdo like him?

Igneel smirked, "Because you're unique! That's why?"

Natsu frowned, "I'm...unique?"

"Yep!"

"How so?"

XXX

Natsu was just 6 when he went overseas for the very first time.

Igneel, apparently, had a business trip at New York, but of course, he couldn't leave Natsu behind (the people at the daycare were already pissing their pants off after experiencing a day with the kid, thus, he was no longer allowed there), so he had to come with him.

"Remember, be nice, okay?"

Natsu nodded, remembering the words the teacher at the orphanage told him. 'Be nice.' he thought, 'Why do they always say that? Am I not nice enough?'

'Aren't they the bad ones?'

Nice, however, wasn't enough in the US. People there were very casual and comfy for some reason. They wouldn't bow to strangers, unlike he was taught, and they laughed at him when he tried to be nice.

That changed though, when he met another 6 year old named 'Wushi'.

'Wushi' had saliva problems when she was young. Her drool would unconsciously go down and she would mispronounce or 'slur' a few words. She speaks fluent English and Japanese though and that's something Natsu considered amazing for a 6 year old girl (even if she's disgusting sometimes).

But they just had to go f*cking back to Japan, leaving little 'Wushi' behind.

XXX

By the time Natsu entered elementary, nothing changed. He was still the target and a loner. Though he made one friend. His name is Zeref, but he was too creepy and emo so he ignored the kid and decided it was better to be by himself.

He was often teased for his pink hair, but nothing he couldn't handle.

Often, people would gang up on him and bully him, but since he was small (thank god for small bodies), he could easily escape them and run away.

'Maybe I should join football?' he thought as he began sprinting away from thugs.

Seriously, where the heck was Igneel when all of these happened?

XXX

Junior high was hell. He didn't know anybody and everyone kept looking at him like he just got out of a mental hospital (well, he was almost admitted to one but still, it was canceled, so that means he's still normal).

The bullying continued and he always went home with bruises and scratches everywhere.

"I fell..." was what he would always explain to Igneel when the man would angrily demand an explanation about it.

He was smart, however, earning high scores in exams and recitations. He thought that it would change everyone's view, but it didn't. Teachers would often praise him, but that's about it. He could almost feel their disgusted glare when he turns his back and leaves.

'F*cking backstabbers.' he gritted his teeth every time a person would glare at him.

XXX

High school, however, changed his life. He started smoking and doing bad things (unknown to Igneel, of course, who knows what that man will do if he finds out about it?), and somehow, the bullying decreased.

He was teased every day but nothing worse. Everybody was too afraid of him to even do it.

Natsu just wanted a peaceful, high school life, where he could graduate with ease, but no. NOOOOO. No way.

God just f*cking had it ruined for him, huh?

"You can see me?!"