Treats don't always last.
Normal P.O.V
The sun twinkled through the towering branches thick with fresh, green leaves. The red fruit hung delightfully by a thread, swaying in the warm breeze. Its ruby wondrous skin glistening and the ripe fruit landed in front of two little feet.
"Yummy! Mummy, look what I found!" The little girl exclaims excitedly, her lemon hair cascading down her arching back as she bends down to grasp the teasing treat.
"Mummy?" The fair haired woman had disappeared from her spot where she was admiring a patch of wild thistles. The girl drops the apple from her tight grasp and it rolls in the dewy grass, forgotten.
"Mama?!" She calls, encasing her small pinkish lips with her hands to increase the volume. "Mama?" She speaks to herself quieter than before.
The realization and panic settles as she begins to manically call on her mother, her little red shoes clamber down the orchard path. Her head jolting to each side, searching through the wall of trees, stopping every few seconds to catch her breath and beckon. Her breathing ragged as she pushes through the bushy leaves, desperately calling.
It's dark, the path had long disappeared and trees circled the tiny, fragile body crouched on the woodland floor. Clouds blocked the rays of sunshine and the blonde hair arose on her arms. The summer breeze disappeared, replaced with a cool and chilly wind. The high branches shook resulting in a clutter of leaves tumbling down onto the little girl, she jumps. Her breathe hitches and her raven eyes scarily glance around.
"Mama!" She wails, tears rolling down her ashen cheeks. Her small shoulders shaking with the intensity of her cries, she repeats the said name over and over. Her loud yells growing quieter until her calls form a wishing whisper blowing away with the chilly breeze.
"Are you lost, little one?" A kind voice asks.
Natsu's P.O.V
How on earth do you deal with a crying, lost little girl?! I had found her shivering in the forest shadows on my way back home; I couldn't leave her there alone. Instead, I lead her back to mine and that leads us to know; the little girl crying at my dining room table.
I clear my throat awkwardly, "What's your name?"
She stops wailing for a moment, roughly drying her eyes and timidly stares up at me. I do the best I can and give her my wide toothy grin.
"E-Emily," She says and then starts nervously playing with her skirt.
"Emily? That's a pretty name," I try to ease the distress, "And what were you doing all alone in the Forest?"
Her mouth gapes open in another cry out for her 'mama' and a fresh lot of tears start rolling down her flushed cheeks. I start to panic and manically search around the empty house for a clue. No one and nothing helps me, I reach out for her head and lightly pat her sunshine hair.
Her crying and wails stop, I feel a slight shudder go down her back as she draws in some much needed breath.
"C-Can you help me, Mister?" Her dark blue eyes gaze up into my own.
"Sure! Call me, Natsu. Natsu Dragneel." I produce my hand up in front of her asking for a hand shake. Emily giggles at the gesture and firmly grabs my hand.
"I lost my, Mama..." She trails off, eyes cast down to her pink skirt.
"Don't worry!" I quickly step in, being careful to not start her crying. "I'll help you find her."
I flash my signature grin and she slightly tilts her head to the side.
"W-What?" I stutter embarrassed by the intense look she is giving me.
She roughly parts my lips and stretched my mouth wide open. I protest but it comes out in weird, inaudible grunts. A burst of laughter rockets out of Emily and she clutches her stomach in attempt to stop the abrupt giggles.
"What!" I whine, rolling my eyes as I do so.
"Y-You're funny!" She stammers between her laughs.
I repeat my questions, trudging round the house in search for a mirror or an explanation.
"Natsu" Emily calls excitedly and I crouch down to her level.
"Yes, Emily. Are you going to tell me why you're laughing or am I going to have to burn it outta' you?"
Her eyes show fright but with a blink it was replaced with amusement. "Burn?"
"Well of course, I am the Salamander!" I boast, peeping at Emily after posing like a proud statue. Her astounded face made me smile even wider than I have in years.
"I knew it!" She announces, standing on the chair, pointing a finger in my direction.
"Knew what?" I dumbly ask.
"You're a Dragon Slayer! I could tell from your pointed teeth! You know, my daddy is a dragon slayer!"
"Oh yeah?!"
"Yeah! He is an Ice Dragon Slayer and could beat your butt!" She titters.
An Ice Dragon Slayer? My eyes widen at the news, I'd never heard of an Ice Dragon slayer.
"Um...Natsu?" A flash of flesh waving in my face brings me back in front of Emily.
"We should get you home, Young lady!" I change the subject; she looks quizzical at the sudden outburst but nods her head anyway. "Where was the last place you saw your Mama?" I ask quietly, wary of the sensitive name.
"The Orchard," she looks up at me with hopeful eyes.
"The Orchard, huh? That's near the big white house, right?"
Her eyes blink rapidly as she grins, manically nodding before sputtering, "I-I live there!"
So she lived on his street, "Well, let's get you home!"
We shuffled our way down the lane; I glance over every so often checking on the happily skipping Emily. An Ice Dragon Slayer, so he's probably a Mage. He will be looking for jobs then and Fairy Tail is the only Guild close to him. Emily must be his and I do smell a slight sent of magic, so she must be a Mage. A bred Mage is normally very strong, especially if the other partner is a Mage. I take a huge whiff of the air and instantly get the scent of the mother. A sweet scent like vanilla and coconut but there's something else. Something familiar, I gently close my eyes and try to remember the smell. I search through every memory, every moment. Where have I smelt it before?
A sudden tug on my sleeve brought me back to our walk; I open my eyes to a very worried looking Emily. Before I ask what's wrong, her eyes dart forward. Blocking our way were five, hard looking men in battle stance. My jaw clenched as I recognized the thin, muscular man in the middle of the group. His eyes heavy, dropping to the side and his ear lobes stretched down to his shoulders. His face had been plastered onto a WANTED poster and he was meant to be my next job, I was meant to leave tomorrow.
"What do we have here?" He sniggers, the foul stench of old ale coming off every word and his raspy voice brought the WANTED poster to real.
"What do you want, Gaz?" I sneer, shielding Emily with my arm, bringing her behind my tense stance.
"Oh, I didn't know the oh-so-famous Salamander had a daughter! Pretty thing she is though doesn't follow in your magic value much, huh!" He leers at Emily, glaring to the right where Emily hid behind me making me bare my pointed canines.
"Answer me!" I shout through gritted teeth.
"Now, now... I just had one of my men lead me to you, rumour has it, you're looking for me." He raises his long eyebrow in question mockingly.
"Everyone is looking for you, Gaz. I just have the decency to deal with you." I leap forward towards him, grabbing a fistful of his cape and pulling him to eye level. His foot catches me in the chest area and I tumble forward still with his cape firmly in my grasp. We roll in the air, he shoots purple splotches in my direction and I successfully dodge a few before letting fire consume me, I roar a spiral of scorching flames at him. He lands on the ground and kicks himself upwards, bending round the column of blaze. I take my chance; I dart behind him using the stored lightning deep within and let my fist sore towards his gut. I watch as I catch him off guard, he topples over, gasping for air. I take my chance and pummel at his jarred body. Once he's unconscious, I quickly search for Emily. To my amazement, she had taken out three guys, all tangled and frozen in golden metal spears. Their mouths lay hung open in a mid-way scream and their bodies twisted in agony.
"Emily," I breathe as I take in the battle sculpture sparkling in the filtered sun. A guy springs out behind a tree, hurdling towards Emily's tired figure. Her deep blue eyes widen in fear and I start to sprint towards her. The lightning buzzes in the kicked-up dust as I bolt for the guy, shooting fire balls at him. He dodges and swerves but keeps running. Emily fumbles in her dress pockets but produces nothing in help. I skid in-between the two, facing the stumbling man. He tries to shoot metal like balls at me but I blow everything, including him, away with my Dragon's Roar. Sparks of lightning flicker with the falling dust; Emily's awe struck face yet again makes me shine my grin. To my surprise she also grins back.
"Are you ok?" I inquire hastily, examining her body for any cuts or grazes.
"I'm fine, just out of magic." She whispers, "Thank you, Natsu."
"I just did what I could," I pause, looking around the messy lane. "Do you see your house?" I point to the tall, white building popping up above the trees.
She nods, smiling.
"Ok, do you think you can make it back? I've got to take these to the local police." I cast my arm around the bodies, pausing at the gold metal rock. "Could you release the men, please?"
With a small chuckle, she fans out her fingers and the gold disappears; the bodies- still crumpled- dropping to the floor. "Thanks again, Natsu. Maybe, we'll meet again."
"Yeah, I hope so. Bye, Emily!" I wave before she sprints towards the house, disappearing behind a well kept rose bush.
I sigh and analyze all the men, I'm going to have to carry these criminals and I haven't even had lunch yet. My stomach grumbles with annoyance as I heave the WANTED men onto my back.
By the time I reached home it had turned dark, black thick as velvet had covered the Earth and the only sound is the high-pitched noise of Crickets. I click open the back door and step inside my cosy house. The fire had been on all day, so the living room seemed toasty enough for me to sleep. I shut the door with my foot and slipped my sandals off. I spread myself out comfortably on the couch, the leathery fabric cushioning my bruised and exhausted body. My head settles back into the soft pillow and I faintly hear the odd beer bottle fall to the floor, clinking with the others spread out as a lonely carpet. My heavy eyelids finally close and I let myself float away peacefully. Then I remembered the smell.
Ok, I know I'm late. I tried so hard, but work and seeing family got in the way. There's no excuse, so I'll just beg for forgiveness. I promised a longer chapter. To be honest, it is a tad bit longer but not much. This story is surprisingly hard to write and there's not much inspiration for me. Plus, two fanfictions both at the same time is tough. Please, review with your thoughts and if I should consider giving up. Thank you for your support and as always, I'm dreadfully sorry for any mistakes and the lateness.
-Glimmering TopHat