The Tale of Tales

Chapter 29

Natsu began teaching Lucy sword fighting as soon as possible but she wasn't a fast learner. According to Natsu she didn't move quick enough and wasn't keeping balance with her fighting.

"This is impossible." Lucy said in frustration.

"It's difficult but not impossible." He told her.

"You make it look so easy."

"That's because I have it mastered. Over the years I've learned to fight better than any knight and I've developed the superior senses of a bloodhound."

Just then he tensed up.

"What is it?" Lucy asked.

"Someone's coming." Natsu listened carefully. "Let's see judging by the sound of their footsteps I'd they're human and they're carrying a sword with a blade of silver, a cross bow, and silver tipped arrows."

"How could you possibly know that just by hearing their footsteps?"

"It's a gift. Whoever this person is they sound dangerous so you go hide. I'll take care of them."

Lucy hid behind a tree while Natsu waited for the person to cone closer. Once he heard the footsteps come nearby he jumped on to the person to attack. Lucy didn't see anything however she did hear Natsu screaming and crying out in pain. Concerned, she came out from her hiding spot and went to help him only to find him beaten to a pulp and hog tied with a young woman in a red shawl standing victorious on top of him.

"So thought that you could rob me did you?" She said. "You bandits don't stand a chance against someone like me."

"My goodness! Natsu are you okay?" Lucy gasped.

The poor man was too dizzy and delirious from the many bumps on his head to respond.

"Are you a bandit as well?" The woman asked preparing to attack her.

"No! No! No! You don't understand! We're not bandits! We're just travellers!"

"Then why did this idiot attack me?"

"He thought that you were a thug or something. Please understand, we were previously attacked by trolls."

"I see."

"Hey Lucy I didn't know you had a twin sister." Natsu slurred. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Is he going to be alright?" Lucy asked the woman.

"He'll regain his senses in about ten to twenty minutes. Now then who are you people?"

"I'm Lucy and the man you just clobbered was Prince Natsu of Alvarez."

"He's a prince?" Erza looked at him skeptically. "He certainly doesn't look the part of Prince Charming."

"Well looks can be decieving."

"You've got that right. When I first saw him I was sure he was some drunk thug from the local pub."

"So um you know who we are but who are you?"

"I'm Erza. I live in the Magnolia village that resides in this forest."

"I've read about that village but isn't it in the other direction?"

"I'm looking for the pub because I want to drill those drunkards for information."

"Information on what?"

"A certain mirror."

"You mean the mirror with the evil spirit trapped inside?"

"How do you know about that?"