The Broken | FairyTail fanfiction

Chapter 1 - Just Children

(This is first part is down to my friend, Maisie, for basically giving me the founding point for the beginning of the story)
Years ago, in the mystical and magical land of Fiore, five young, abandoned children stumbled upon their future trainers, the creatures that they would dedicate the rest of their lives to. Dragons.
First, young, redish-headed, Ace was discovered by a fire dragon named Igneel who was accompanied by a small, pink haired boy called Natsu Dragneel. Little did Igneel know, Ace wasn't going to become a fire dragon slayer like he'd expected, but more on that topic later.
Later, a light blue haired, red eyed, girl named Alice was stumbled upon by an apocalypse wizard who was called Acnologia. He ended up becoming her trainer. Alice was abused by her parents as a child and as punishment, she murdered them. People who used to know her said that something snapped inside Alice, making her the boogeyman for most children.
Next, Kayio Rina, who had blue hair similar to Alice's and blue eyes, was found and taught by a Water Dragon called Splashima. Similar to Alice, Kayio reveals no emotion or feeling and is isolated from most of the world due to abuse and pain that left her with many scars, wounds and bruises.
Meanwhile, Koia Fallser was discovered by a dragon who went by the name of Insania, who taught her Eclipse Magic. Koia's past is unknown for now, but all we know is that, people used to describe her as a grim reaper, the murder of the moon.
Whereas, the final child, Ayako Ikeda, continued wandering the forest on the outskirts of Magnolia City, alone.
The children had all experienced some kind of monstrous or dark past that haunted their daily lives and burdened them no matter what they did.

Alice's POV

As I strode, slightly wobbly, around a forest, twigs snapping under my feet. Snap, snap, snap. I liked that sound. It was comforting in its own way. I was searching for something edible, but had had no luck so far.
My stomach grumbled but I paid it no attention.
I was looking at the moss covered ground and suddenly a branch hit me in the face. I pushed it out of my face and saw a clearing with a large, dark, rocky cave in the centre. I staggered to the cave and collapsed onto my knees the second that I felt the solid floor beneath my feet.
Through my heavy breathing and occasional gasps, I heard large footsteps. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. That wasn't a noise that I liked to listen to. I lifted my head to see feet. I raised my head some more and saw the face of a man with light, grey hair and blue tribal markings and his face.
"Are you alright?" the strange looking man asked me. I blink back at him, unemotionally. "I'm guessing that's a no. Very well". The man sat down and handed me a slice of cooked meat.
"I want it raw" I said, my voice cold and heartless.
"You can't be serious" the man exclaims, shock and surprise on his face. His eyes are wide and he just stares at me in awe.
"Oh... but I am" I reply, my voice showing no emotion. He takes back the cooked meat and replaces it with raw meat that I eat whole. I eat like a wolf, hungrily and reckless.
When I've finished eating my raw meat, the strange man begins to talk again.
"Anyways, would you like to become my apprentice?" he asks. I consider this question for a moment and then narrow my eyes and smile slightly.
"Do I have a choice? It looks like you are going to kill me if I don't" I say, cunningly.
"You're right. You don't have a choice".
I can feel many of my wounds begin to heal.
"I wouldn't mind it at all. I have nothing better to do. I just kill people for a living" I explain, emotionlessly.
"You know, I'm starting to to take a liking to your personality" compliments the man, who I now know as Acnologia. I smiled a little bit but corrected myself and focused my attention on my stifled conversation with Acnologia.

Ace's POV

"Igneel!! Have Natsu and I got a lesson today?" I asked my fire dragon, Igneel, excitedly and eagerly.
"No. Natsu, Ace, go and hunt for food. I'll be waiting here for you" Igneel replied, pointing one of his mighty claws in the direction of the dark forest. I sighed, but we did as Igneel told us to. We knew that Igneel's punishments were things that came quickly and cruelly.
I couldn't be sure how long Natsu and I wandered around that deep forest, but all that we found were some foot prints that we couldn't identify, even though we gave ourselves the titles of the best trackers and investigators in all of Fiore. We returned to the cave empty handed and incredibly upset and disappointed with ourselves.
"It's okay, boys. I've got something and you both tried your best" Igneel comforted, as we pouted and fiddled with our fingers.
"Sorry we failed, Igneel" Natsu and I chorused, hanging our heads, shame flooding over us. Then we remembered that Igneel had food anyway. "Hey Igneel, can we have some food?" we perked up and scrabbled towards him.