Hi everyone! I decided to repost the first chapter of my story. Some of the scenes rewritten and others were deleted. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Enjoy!
(BTW, 'belle-mère' means 'stepmother' in french.)
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima. I only came up with the plot (and some of the characters that I invented for the story).
The Fairest Of Them All
Chapter one
We all know the story of Snow White and the seven dwarfs. We know how the story goes. The Queen is jealous of the Princess and tries to kill her off, but her plans are thwarted when the Princess is revived by True Love's Kiss. And then the story ends.
But did it really end happily ever after?
There are so many unanswered questions. Did the Princess really marry the Prince? What happened to the huntsman and the dwarfs?
Here's the real story...of Snow White.
Lucy didn't want to go to the wedding. In fact, she really really didn't want to go. But no matter how much she screamed or cried, she was always ignored.
You're probably wondering who Lucy is. You may know her as Snow White.
Now why is she called Snow White? It is not true that she was born on the first day of winter snow. In fact, she was born in July. And it is not true that she had lips as red as blood, skin as white as snow, and hair as black as ebony wood. She had blonde hair, chocolate brown eyes and fair skin.
Angrily glaring at the guard who was by her side, she continued to stomp towards the castle's ballroom. Truth be told, it wasn't the guard's fault that she had been forced to attend the ceremony. According to her father, it was her duty as his daughter and as the Princess of the kingdom of Stella. Nevertheless, it felt more like the guard was escorting her as a prisoner, rather than there for her protection.
Even though he had never asked her if she wanted a stepmother.
From what she had heard from the servants, her new mother, as her father liked to say, was named Daphne and she was from the land of Isvan.
Lucy didn't often throw tantrums, but she had definitely had a fit when her father, King Jude Heartfilia, had announced that he was remarrying.
Pushing the massive doors open with more force than was necessary, the young Princess walked down the aisle sprinkled in rose petals. She sat in the front row while the guard retreated to the back of the room.
Even though she didn't approve of the marriage, she had to admit that whoever planned the wedding had done an amazing job. The ballroom had been transformed with white and gold decorations. Toma E. Fiore, the ruler of the kingdom of Fiore, was officiating the wedding and he stood on the dais, behind an altar covered in pink roses. Lucy's father was standing next to him.
When he realized she was there and tried to meet her gaze, she quickly turned and began to examine the massive doors at the far back of the room.
When they were opened by two guards, the King of Fiore said, in his odd Fioren accent, "All rise for the bride, the future queen of the kingdom of Stella, Daphne Ramirez."
Everyone in the room stood from their seats and watched the back of the room.
Someone stood at the beginning of the aisle.
Daphne walked with confidence, the skirt of her dress flowing behind her as she glided toward the altar. Her beautiful gown looked like it had been sewn by the best seamstress in the land, with gold beads running down the length of the bodice and the full skirt. Even with a gold veil covering most of her face, Lucy could tell that she was a gorgeous woman, already in her late twenties.
Daphne walked onto the dais and paused at Jude's side.
"You may be seated."
As the rustling slowly died down, Toma E. Fiore began the ceremony. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Jude Heartfilia and Daphne Ramirez..."
Quickly losing interest in the ceremony, Lucy chose to look out the window instead.
Lively chatter filled the room in celebration of the King's new wife. A certain Princess sat in her own little corner, pouting and glaring at the people dancing in the centre of the ballroom.
"Lucy!"
Lifting her head to look at the person who had called her name, she found her father and Daphne making their way towards her.
Rolling her eyes, she stood up and gave the King and Queen a polite curtsy. "Bon soir, Papa" she turned and looked at Daphne. "Bon soir, Belle-mère."
The Queen gave her a forced smile, "You must be Lucy! Your father has told me so much about you."
"C'est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance. It's a pleasure to meet you. You're very pretty."
Tossing a long strand of black hair over her shoulder, Daphne gave Lucy a genuine smile at the compliment.
"Gracias cariño. You have such nice blond hair. It looks like spun gold."
"You're too kind, Belle-mère," Lucy said.
It was then that the king decided to speak up. "I have to go greet some of the guests," he said, giving his wife a kiss on the cheek. "Don't stay up too late, Lucy."
"Oui, Papa."
The minute Jude left, the two royals' smiles instantly dropped and they stood there giving each other murderous glares.
Finally, it was Daphne who ended the silence. "I don't expect us to become great friends, since you obviously dislike me. Believe me, the feeling is mutual. However, I suggest that you stay out of my way. Your father decided to marry me, so no matter how much lies you tell him about me, he won't change his mind."
Chocolate eyes narrowed. "Despite what you may think, Belle-mère, the king doesn't listen to me. He barely even knows that he has a daughter. Although, I am a bit curious. Why is a fairly good looking young woman like you, marrying a rude old man like my father? Is it because of his title? Or do you plan to kill him and take over the kingdom?"
"I do not have the slightest intention of killing him. I married Jude because I am happy with him and we love each other. A twelve-year-old brat like you could never understand."
"Well then, if you'll excuse me, Belle-mère, it's getting late. I'm going to return to my quarters now."
The queen simply huffed and turned away from her. Taking that as her invitation to leave, Lucy quickly scrambled out the doors, sprinting back to her room and jumping onto her bed with a plop!
Even though they had just met, she already knew that she was going to hate Daphne.
Five years later...
"Rise and shine, Mademoiselle Lucy! You have a big day ahead of you."
Adjusting to the harsh light that had invaded the room, the Princess gave her lady-in-waiting a fake scowl.
"It's too early for you to be smiling, Rose. How can you be so optimistic in the morning?"
"It's not early at all! And, like I said, Mademoiselle Lucy, you're going to be very busy today."
Groaning, Lucy swatted at her best friend. She had never been a morning person. Growing impatient, the lady's maid began to forcefully pull the princess out of bed.
Finally giving in and throwing herself out of bed, the blonde made her way towards the coffee table in the corner of her room.
Rose brought her a tray with her usual breakfast. As the Princess ate, her lady-in-waiting shuffled towards her closet. "Now then, what would you like to wear today, Miss Lucy?"
"Um, maybe the cream coloured dress?"
"The floor length one?" Nodding, Lucy took a sip of her coffee.
Grabbing the dress that had been requested along with a pair of kitten heels in the same colour, the lady's maid placed everything near the vanity. She tucked her violet hair back into her bonnet.
After helping the Princess into her dress, Rose made her take a seat in a chair in front of her mirror. The lady-in-waiting took a strand of her hair and started braiding it, making light conversation with the blonde instead of working in silence.
"How are your magic lessons going?"
"They're fine. But I liked it better when Mama taught me magic. She always made it seem more fun."
"I remember how she was always kind to all the servants. Maman used to gush about how nice Madame Heartfilia was that one time she'd accidentally ruined one of her silk dresses."
Smiling softly, Lucy fingered her celestial keys. "I really miss her." She whispered, more to herself than to her friend.
Rose started brushing out her hair. Aside from the braid that twisted around the Princess' head like a crown, the rest of her long blond locks cascaded down her back.
Trying to lighten the mood, the lady-in-waiting decided to avoid the topic of the late Queen. "You're turning seventeen next week," she said, starting on Lucy's makeup. "Is the King planning anything special?"
"I doubt it. We've never been very close. I would be surprised if he remembered my birthday at all."
"Ne t'inquiète pas! Don't worry! If he really did forget, then we'll just celebrate alone! We could have the cooks bake you a cake!"
"Yes! And we could invite all the others as well. It would be the best birthday ever!"
Smiling at her childhood friend, Rose suddenly remembered something and gasped, "Oh! I almost forgot! The King wanted to see you in his study as soon as you woke up."
"Really? What for?"
"Do you honestly think that he would tell me? You'd better go right now."
Slipping on her heels, Lucy began to make her way to the door. "Merci, Rose!"
"It was my pleasure Mademoiselle Lucy. Now leave before your father sends someone to get you."
Taking her keys from the vanity, the Princess opened the door and greeted the guard standing outside. "Bonjour, Sir Osanos. How are you today?" Her only answer was a slight nod as the guard continued to stare at the wall.
Sighing, Lucy began to make her way to her father's study with Sir Osanos following at a respectful distance behind her.
"Regarde Papa! I made you a rice ball!" Smiling proudly at her father, Lucy held up her masterpiece.
"Not now Lucy. I'm working. You should continue with your lessons."
"But look at it Papa! I added a smiley face!" Pushing the rice ball towards her father more insistently than before, she looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes. Her chocolate brown irises were filled with pride.
Growing impatient with his daughter, Jude gritted his teeth. "Lucy, I'm working. Please go play somewhere else."
"But-"
"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE! I AM TRYING TO WORK!" Slapping the rice ball out of the six-year-old's hands, he pushed her out of the room and slammed the door in her face.
Sniffling, Lucy began to walk back to her bedroom. "But i-it's m-my birthday today..."
When they got there, Osanos stood off to the side as the princess knocked on the door.
"Entrez," her father said.
Lucy opened the door and leaned against the doorway.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Close the door please."
Doing as she was told, she walked over to where her father was sitting at his desk.
"Lucy," the king said, taking off his reading glasses, "The Duke of Everlue lost his wife a few years ago, but he has finally decided to remarry. I have arranged for you to be his bride. You leave in two months."
Taking a deep breath, Lucy gave her father a piercing glare.
"No."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said no! I don't want to marry the Duke of Everlue. I don't want to marry anyone right now! I'm happy here in the palace!"
"This is non-negotiable, Lucy! You are to marry him! You owe it to me and your mother. You need to fulfill your obligation to the kingdom."
"Maman died seven years ago! I never said anything when you decided to marry that horrible woman, but how could you do that to Mama? Didn't you have any feelings for her? How could you just replace her like that? You were probably happy when she got sick! You never loved her and you most certainly never cared for me!"
Bursting with anger, Jude banged his fist against his wooden desk. "That is enough! Lucy Heartfilia, you willget married and that is final! Even if I have to drag you out of this castle myself!"
She was about to open her mouth to argue some more, when she paused. Looking back up at him again, she had a pained look on her face and said, "Fine. I will m-marry the Duke of Everlue."
Her father, calmed at her words, said "I'm glad that you finally see things my way. You are very kind to be doing this for me Lucy."
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm marrying him because I would rather be anywhere else than stuck in this cage!"
Swiping at her tears, she dashed out the door, slamming it shut behind her. The wooden door vibrated against it's frame violently. She could hear her father's angry curses echoing from the other side of the door.
She bolted down the hallway, desperate to get out of the castle. She needed time to think, and there was only one place for that.
The garden was her sanctuary. It was where she could be alone with her thoughts. It didn't matter that it was pouring outside. She just couldn't stand to be inside that stuffy place anymore. Hugging her legs to her chest, she curled up into a ball and bawled.
The more reasonable side of her thought that it would be a good idea to go back inside before she caught a cold. Her dress was already drenched from the rain, the cold piercing her bones. But she couldn't move. Or rather, she didn't bother to move.
Hugging her celestial keys tightly in front of her chest, she sought what little comfort she could. These were the last reminders of her mother.
The first chapter is done. Finally! Please comment or review to let me know what you thought of this! I would really appreciate it. Again, thank you for taking the time to read this!