Chapter 1:
Cancer
'That's the movie I want.' Lucy thought as she reached for How to Train Your Dragon. Lucy, a 17-year-old teen, was at the Library picking a few books and movies to take home with her. When her hand landed the DVD, another hand land on top of hers. "Hey, do you mind? I was here first," Lucy said.
"A little, yes," said a teenage boy around Lucy's age, his name was Natsu Dragneel. 'Oh great, a girl, I'm never going to hear the end of this,' Natsu thought.
"Fine, take it," Lucy said as moved her hand away then she walked away. 'I don't have time to worry about picking a specific movie,' Lucy thought, 'I have get home and get ready for this weekend.'
Then Lucy checked out her movies and books and went out the Library doors.
"What's with you, hot head?" Gray said as walked up and stood next to Natsu who watched Lucy walk out.
"Nothing," Natsu replied then he went to check out the movie.
*LATER THAT DAY*
"Miss Lucy, your father would like to see you," Virgo said after entering Lucy's room.
"Alright," Lucy replied then she put her book down and followed Virgo to her father's office.
"Sir, I have brought miss Lucy just like you asked," Virgo said to Mr. Heartfilia.
"Good. Send her in," Mr. Heartfilia said then Lucy came in, "Lucy, I wanted to talk to about your birthday this weekend. I know that wanted a small party with just Levy, Ezra, Lisanna, and Mirajane but I have to change your plans. I decide that this weekend we will celebrate your birthday with a grand ball. I have sent an invite to all the families with high status like ours. The following families have said they are coming: the Dragneels, the Fullbusters, the Fernandes, the Conbolts, the Dreyars, the Eucliffes, and the Lates."
"Excuse me, Father, but will my friends be allowed to attend this party?" Lucy asked, sounding hopeful.
"Only the Strauss," Mr. Heartfilia replied.
"What, why?" Lucy asked.
"Because they have a son," Mr. Heartfilia replied.
'Oh my god, my father is going try to marry me off,' Lucy thought. "Father, are you trying to marry me off?" Lucy asked.
"Yes, I am, and I am giving you one chance to pick for yourself who it will be," Mr. Heartfilia said. "That will be at the ball this weekend. You will dance and you will choose. But if don't choose, I will choose for you. Or if you don't choose and one of the boys does love you and asks for your hand I will send you with them. You have finished high school and I'm getting old. And…"
Mr. Heartfilia started to cry. "Father, what is wrong?" Lucy asked.
"My beloved Daughter, I have stage four cancer," Mr. Heartfilia sobbed as he said, "The doctors tried to stop the cancer but it has grown to stage four. They don't know how long I will live."
"No," Lucy said. 'First my mother dies in a car crash when I was seven and my father has cancer. How is that fair?!' Lucy thought with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I want to see you happily married before I die. That's why I'm making an arranged marriage," Mr. Heartfilia said, "I hope you can live with that. I want to make sure that you get someone who will help you with the Heartfilia fortune. Please work with me on this Lucy. I'm sorry it has been this way but I want to see you begin a happy chapter."
"Alright, father, I'll do it," Lucy replied and the tears continue to run down her face and she ran to her father and hugged him.
"Thank you, Lucy," Mr. Heartfilia said as he hugged his crying daughter.