Greetings to all! I am CelestialPrincess13 and I am so glad to get started on fanfiction. I have read off of this site for years now, and my friends finally convinced me to post some of my stories on here. Just to let you know ahead of time, I am mainly a Fairy Tail writer, so all my stories will be Fairy Tail. Anywho~~~ I hope that you enjoy my first story I post, The Princess and The Dragon. I can't wait to hear what you think!

The Princess and The Dragon

Chapter 1

This was barbaric, inhumane, and just cruel in every way. Yet, she said nothing as she watched the sword slash way to close to the dragon's throat, only to bounce off the scales on his shoulder. The roar that the dragon released rattled the stained windows, and raised the fine hairs on her body, all the while bringing tears to her eyes.

"Remember men! Whoever can bring death to this beast takes the Princesses hand in marriage!" Her father shouted above the roar, earning a glare from her before she directed her attention to the poor creature. In this situation because of her...because of her father's damn decree to wed her off to gain more land. She was sick and tired of it, but knew that if she voiced her thoughts, they would fall on deaf ears.

So, she could do nothing but watch for the moment, and pray that the dragon wasn't hurt severely. Because, she would find some way to release him, and to apologize for getting him into this, and ask him to deliver a message for all dragons to keep clear from her father's land for fear that he might capture another.

"The beast dies now!" A knight shouted, surging forward with a spear to the dragon's bare chest. She tensed and braced her hands on the armrest of her throne, knowing that if the hit landed it would be critical. All thanks to the shackles that was around the dragon's neck, wrists, and ankles. Keeping it in a half-human, half-dragon state.

"Die!" The knight shouted, only to cry out as the dragon spun, lashing his tail out and slinging the man to the side, where he crashed into a few others before collapsing to the ground. Releasing a sigh of relief, she relaxed and hung her head slightly, before raising her gaze and freezing as it connected with the onyx gaze of the dragon. Blinking, she frowned and sent him an apologetic look, hoping that he understood that she didn't want this for him, or for herself.

Only to straighten when he gave a one shoulder shrug, before bringing a scaled and clawed hand up to his mouth and yawned into it. Before turning back around and facing the rest of the knights, and giving a smirk as they surrounded him. It was something that she was beginning to pick up, that he didn't find any of these men a threat, and that this was nothing but a small workout for him. Even when he had gotten a scratch on his cheek, he had moved his head, and slammed a fist into the knight, denting his armor and sending him flying backwards.

It was almost like he was holding back from harming them, and merely trying to wear them out. He had even fussed over his red scaled wings, and salmon colored hair, rubbing off some dirt or just straightening the locks, as if he was becoming bored with all of it. Sitting back in her chair, she watched as the knights gathered around closer, their weapons pointed at the dragon, and bit her bottom lip before looking at her father's back. Swallowing her fear, she gave a heavy sigh and stood.

"Father, this is futile. None of these men could bring this great Dragon down, look how long it has been. They are worn out, and the dragon hasn't even broken a sweat. In fact, he even looks bored with it all." She stated, remaining still and keeping her father's gaze when he looked over his shoulder at her before giving a sigh and holding his hand up.

The knights stepped away, and the dragon in human form looked up at them. His eyebrow raising slightly in her direction before back to her father as he cleared his throat.

"You men are dismissed, and never step back into this castle. You're no knights of these lands. I'll send more notices out tomorrow. Slaves, take the dragon back down to the dungeons." Her father shouted, before turning away and walking out of the theater box they had been viewing this horrible event from.

Giving a sigh of relief, she quickly exited the other side, and quickly moved down to the room below, watching as the knights left the room and the servants slowly approached the dragon who was watching them patiently. Almost like he knew that they weren't a threat, and wasn't going to bother them as they approached.

"If you would please give me a moment with the dragon?" She stated, stepping into the room, and kept moving forward as all eyes moved to her in surprise. She wasn't surprised when the head butler stepped forward, his arms raised to stop her advance.

"Lady Lucy, please it isn't safe to get this close to the beast. Just..."

"I assure you if this Dragon..."

"Natsu." The dragon stated, causing all of them to stare at him, before she gave a small smile and nodded.

"If, Natsu, wished to harm any of us, he could have done so by now. He is a fire dragon after all, and the shackles only keep him from transforming into his true dragon form, not from using any magic that he may have. He could have incinerated all of those men if he so wished." She stated, moving around his outstretched hands and toward the dragon, who had tilted his head slightly to one side in curiosity.

"That...that doesn't mean that you should get close to him Lady Lucy! Y..Your father would be furious if he knew..."

"I assure you, my father will be furious either way. Because I had planned to follow you into the dungeons and release Natsu down there, but after some thinking, I think this would be better." She stated, pulling a dagger out from the folds of her gown. She watched as Natsu tensed, his gaze narrowing into slits at the weapon, but remained still as she stepped forward, the other servants keeping their distance.

"Lady Lucy!" An assistant whispered, and she gave a smile before gripping the blade of the dagger with her free hand and winced as it bit into her palm, drawing blood. Releasing the blade, she stepped forward, and brushed her wounded hand against the chains, hearing the gasps of the servants as the chains fell away and a red aura flared around Natsu, heating up the large space like an oven.

She watched as the aura settled, only to blink as he appeared still in his half dragon form. She was about to voice her misunderstanding, but stopped when he stepped into her space and captured her gaze. Her mouth went dry as she stared into his deep onyx colored gaze, finding no fear within her but...exhilaration!

"Thank you, Princess Lucy." He whispered, brushing a knuckle against her cheek and causing a blush to spread across her face.

"N..Not a problem, Natsu." She whispered, all the thoughts about telling him to warn the other dragons leaving her head as she kept his alluring gaze. Only to jump and look down as he gingerly took her wounded hand, she watched as he studied her cut palm for a moment.

"T..The chains were infused with my families magic. Only the blood of a Heartfilia member can unlock them. M..My father was wed into the name, so...so only I could...I thought to...I.." She stuttered, forcing her mouth closed as an amused smirk appeared on his lips as he met her gaze again. She swallowed the rest of her rambling, and blushed brighter as he raised her palm to his mouth, and pressed his lips around the wound. The gasp from the servants were nearly drowned out by the rushing in her ears as she felt his tongue brush gently over the slit, once, twice. A third time caused her to squeeze her eyes shut.

It wasn't painful, but with each swipe of his tongue over the cut, caused her magic to flare within her, as she fought to keep it contained as his magic circled around her, surrounding her with a warmth that was awakening the powers that she always held back.

It disappeared so suddenly that her mind was spinning slightly when she reopened her eyes, and looked up at him. A blush appearing on her face again when he smiled and released her hand, stepping closer to her. His smile became smaller though, when he leaned closer and whispered so only she could hear.

"I was not the only one captured within these walls, was I? You've been locked up here, with your only chance for freedom with marriage. But even then, you know that you'd just go from one cage to another." He whispered, and she felt an all too familiar pain flare within her chest as she tightened her hands into fists. His words were all too true, and that caused her tears to sting more than the blade of the dagger. A brush of his fingers against her hand caused her to raise her gaze, blinking as she saw a determined look within his.

"I can change that. If you want, we can both fly free of here. My clan will accept you, I promise. No ties needed. I just want to help you, as you helped me." He whispered, and she resisted the urge to take a step back. It sounded too good to be true! Could she possibly trust this man...this dragon well enough to save her from this prison of a life.

"What is the meaning of this! Lucy! Step away from that beast! Guards! Guards!" At her father's shout she looked over Natsu's shoulder, saw the advancing guards, and then back to him. He gaze was blocked, he wasn't going to force her to go if she didn't wish it. But...She did wish it! Swallowing her fear and doubt, she squared her shoulders and nodded her head.

That was all it took. She felt strong arms wrap around her waist, her front pressed firmly against his hard chest, his scales smooth beneath her fingers as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt his power flare, a warmth that she had never felt before settled around her, she saw movement from his wings, and then they were off the ground. The servants calling her name while her father looked on in shock. A glance up showed the stained ceiling window approaching fast, and she ducked her head into his shoulder, but felt her eyes snapping up when she heard the rush of a flame just seconds before feeling the heat. Watching in awe, she watched the column of fire shot upward and melt the glass away, leaving a more than big enough opening for them to fly through.

When they were through the opening, and a few hundred feet above the castle, Natsu stopped and hovered. Leaning back, she glanced around, and saw nothing but clouds and blue skies. It was breathtaking, and a sigh from the dragon holding her made her look at him. Blinking as she saw a boyish grin on his tan face, his eyes closed as he allowed the wind to brush against them before opening them and looking at her.

"Been some time since I stretched my wings like this. Thanks Princess Lucy." He stated, causing her to grimace slightly before she shook her head.

"Call me Lucy, please. Also, it's I who should be thanking you. I never thought I would get out of that castle." She whispered, giving a smile as he gave a hum and looked around.

"Guess we could call it even then! Now, to get back to my clan!" He stated, smiling at her before giving his wings a hard flap and angling them toward the mountains. Clutching to him tightly, she narrowed her eyes against the rush of the wind, and watched as the mountains grew closer at an alarming pace. What was usually a four day trip, seemed to only take seconds while flying, it was both frightening and amazing.

When they were over the mountains, Natsu stopped once more and looked around. Causing her to frown and glance up at him in concern. Was it possible that his clan had moved because of the danger her father had presented? Had he been deserted because of her?

"N..Natsu? Is everything alright?" She asked, listening as he gave a hum before focusing on her.

"Everything's fine. It's just that I've been taking so far from my home, I'm not entirely sure how to get back. I'm trying to pick up on my clan's magic, but it's so thin in this land." He muttered, causing her to blink and look around. He wasn't from here!? How far away from home was he because of her?

"Um...If I may ask? Where are you from?"

"Fiore." At the name of the nation across the sea, she tensed and stared at him in shock. Biting the inside of her cheek when he looked at her in concern before descending them into the mountains. When he found a clearing, he landed easily in the grass, and placed her on her feet before taking a step away.

"Lucy? How far away from home am I?" He asked, and she swallowed before giving a sigh and meeting his gaze.

"Natsu. You're not in Fiore, right now. You're in Alvarez. A nation across the sea from Fiore." She stated, watching as his eyes widen before he swayed and dropped to sit in the grass. Moving quickly, she dropped to kneel beside him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Natsu..I am so sorry. All of this is my fault. You're so far from home because my father thought it wise to wed me off to the strongest knight. What better way than for them to defeat a dragon, was his words. Ugh! Natsu I'm so..."

"Lucy, it's alright." He interrupted, causing her to stop and stare at him.

"What? But..You're so far from home.."

"But that doesn't mean that I can't get back. Just gonna have to get some food, possibly some fire to eat, and I'll be able to fly over the ocean no problem! You still wanna come, right?" He asked, giving her a boyish look that she doubted she could ever say no to.

"Of..Of course. But Natsu, the ocean is so large...Can a dragon still fly over all of it?" She asked, watching as he smiled and gave a nod.

"No problem at all. In fact, there is actually a land in the middle of the ocean that belongs solely to my clan. But, since you're with me, you should be able to see it as well. We can stop there if I become to tired. Now, lets find some shelter. You can stay there and start a fire, I'll go find some food, and then after we've eaten we can start." He stated, jumping back to his feet, and helping her up. Before she could ask anymore questions, his arms were around her waist again, and they were in the air.

Hope that everyone enjoyed! Also, just to let you know this will not be a Natsu x Lucy fanfic. However, I wont give away my favorite pairing just yet! Hope that you still enjoy!