~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't need help. I'm fully capable of protecting myself. I have the power but being the heir to a fortune that I'm in charge and even got adopted for producing an heir for. My step-father insists I'm a delicate little flower; he couldn't be farther from the truth. I was living on my own on the streets after my dragon, Kahea, went missing in the year x777 when I was 11. I was then forced into the Fiores Home for Girls when I was 16 and that same year I was adopted by Mr. Himmel the current mastermind of the largest construction agency in all of Fiore. That leads us to a year later, I'm about to be betrothed to some old geezer and there's a whole ball going on just for it. To protect me he hired a group of mages to protect me but I'm used to this now. I'm just hoping it wasn't those weirdos from Blue Pegasus, they were to….. Close.

I was snapped back to attention by my maid; Ingrid yanks the strings of my corset. "Ugh! I hate corsets!" She just giggles behind her hand. "Which dress would you like to wear miss?" I turn around to see her holding up two dresses. One was a peachy color and was silky and was plain. The other was a deep red color and was flowy and had a black sash around the middle. I look at both of them. I put my hand to my chin stroking my imaginary beard."That one." I point to the red one. She smiles as she carefully sets the peach one down. Once she has the buttons undone she holds it out so I can get in. She expertly buttons the back of the dress. I sit down on the edge of my bed, resting my feet before the ball knowing I would have to stand the whole time. "Here's your shoes miss." I look down to see my old worn down black converse. Me and made a deal that I had to act lady like during these type of events and wear the correct clothing but I can wear shorts, converse, and a tank under it all. It's not much but it connects me to my real self so I don't become like those stiff, spoiled people. I put my shoes on, tucking the laces into the tongue of the shoe so they won't fall out. Now for my least favorite part, hair. I sit down in front of my vanity, I watch as Ingrid walks behind me holding a brush. My unruly silver hair was a rats nest making brushing it nearly impossible, yet Ingrid manages to do it with minimal pain and hair lose. She was in the middle of putting my hair up in an intricate braid bun when there was a knock at the door. "Yes?" I knew it would be a maid since they were the only ones that visited me. The door creeks open, "The master wants to see you immediately." It was probably something else he wanted to surprise me with last minute. I mean I only heard about the ball this morning! It was now dusk out; the ball would start in about an hour. I nodded "Thank you. Tell him I'm almost ready and will be there soon." He was always in his study so I didn't have to ask. "Yes miss." She quietly shut the door. I look at the mirror again noticing Ingrid has finished the bun. "Thank you." I smile at her in the mirror. She smiles back. "My pleasure miss." I stand up straightening my dress and head towards the study. Once I was standing in front of the door I stood there for a minute knowing I would have to put my act up again as soon as I walked in. I sucked in a deep breath and knocked. I heard a muffled "Come in," I slowly turned the knob and straightened my back. I walked in noticing there were four teens around my age and a blue flying cat. I walked so I was standing next to my step-father. "Navya, these are the mages I've hired to protect you." My step-father fake smiled at me. I nodded at the mages and curtsied. "Thank you for coming on such a short notice. I was afraid I would have to delay the ball!" Himmel stated while slightly leaned over since that's the most he could do. He was rather large and old. He stood up. "I must go, guest have started to arrive." He nodded and left. Once I couldn't hear his footsteps anymore I sat down in his chair relaxing. "We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Erza Scarlett, and this is Lucy, Natsu, and Gray." She stated pointing at each person. "Pleasure to meet you." I smiled. "Don't forget about me!" the blue cat yelled out. Wait the cat just talked! I stared dumbly at him. "Oh and that is Happy." I smiled at him trying hard not to grab him and hug him to death. "So congrats on the engagement." I look at Lucy "Ya I'm just so excited to be given to some pervy old geezer just so I can have an heir to a company I wasn't even born into!" they all looked taken back by my outburst. "Oh so he didn't tell you guys that he adopted me just for this day and he couldn't care less about me?" I scoffed of course he wouldn't. "You don't want to be here?" I glanced at Gray. "of course not. I've got to go to the party, you might want to come to." I got up and started shuffling to the door. As I passed the stunned group a hand shot out and grabbed my arm. I looked to see it was Natsu grinning foolishly. "We'll rescue you!" I stared at him for a moment. "Eeehhhhhh? Seriously?" they all nodded. I was finally going to be free again! And it was all thanks to them.