She took a deep breath, her hands clutched to the beautiful blue gown that her sweet fairy godmother had fitted for her; it clinging to her skin, perfect like a glove.

There was nothing in this moment she could think of, other than stepping through those doors and being able to stand in a room full of so many others, to see their smiling faces and the fact that she could just simply sit stand in the presence of so many without having to clean up or do exactly as her stepmother asked.

Because that was just it, she wasn't a little blonde girl who was lying in the cinders; no.

Tonight, she was a princess. A princess that would make her wonderful mother Layla, so very proud.

And why?

Because for once in so long, Lucy was happy.

She took a stuttered breath, her glass slippers cold on her feet as she finally gathered the strength to push down on the door handle of the ballroom; it creaking beneath her fingertips as it swung open.

A breeze blew against her petticoat and her fringe tickled her cheeks; the rest of her blonde locks entangled in an impossibly amazing braid of a bun; topped off with her mother's most precious ribbon.

It didn't take long for her to step forward, her gown a dazzling beauty, till she finally realised that everyone at the bottom of the staircase was staring at her. Every single one, their eyes trained on the girl like she was some sort of art piece.

But there was only one face she felt her eyes drawn to, a boy standing with wide eyes on the mahogany banister ahead of her; his pink hair messy flattened by a crown that sat gently on his head.

His clothes were elegant, having the odd force both realise it suited him but understand that he didn't feel that way. Sometimes it was hard to tell a persons emotion, but it seemed that this male spoke with expression and she knew right there that what he wore on his face was simple awe.

Not that she was completely leaving it down to her own looks, but her godmother had really done a stunning job; Lucy's twinkling dress left the to be definitely the most sparkling character at the ball. Alongside that, it seemed that she had brought herself fashionably late, the people looking at her had a brooding feel.

Nevertheless, the boy finally pulled his dark eyes away from her, muttering something to a dark hair boy beside him before dashing off behind the curtains of the banister.

Lucy glanced around, admittedly nervous, but for some reason nothing could shake of the good mood she had formulated. After all, she was now a part of her own miracle.

Though she had to admit, she was more than surprised when she noticed the pink haired boy separate the crowds of people that had formed around her.
His eyes stuck on her like he was afraid that if he took them away, she would disappear into the crowd, his hand extending forward to her until she came to a large realisation that this boy was in fact the prince.

A gentle blush flooded her cheeks, watching as the boy gradually smiled.

"Can I ask you to dance?" He said, his voice warm as he waited for her to accept. The eyes everywhere were on her, she could feel a mixture of envy, admiration, aspiration.

She didn't dare take another look at her audience, but simply reached out to put her own hand into the boy's.

"It would be my pleasure." Lucy whispered, her smile mimicking as she kept her head down, stepping towards the boy so that they were in a position to dance.

She could feel his hand rest on her back, though he didn't clutch to her waist or lower his hand too much.

His other hand still held hers and he stepped forward to lead the dance. She couldn't help but feel the warmth in his hands, his stature was strong and she rested her free hand on his arm, her dress already curling around as they began to move.

Admittedly, the pink prince seemed to be a bad dancer, his steps clumsy. But Lucy knew this dance, and she tried her best to help him; stepping forward, diagonal and repeating.

His eyes fell to their feet once before he looked back at her.

"That was quite a big entry."

His tone was amused, as they continued to step across the tiled floor.

"Everyone's staring at you…" Lucy whispered, not realising that the two of them had moved closer to one another as they continued to waltz in a performing manner.

"It's not me they're staring at."

He laughed, suddenly lowering his hand to Lucy's waist to clutch her closer, and she admitted she was surprised as he lifted her all too gracefully, his sturdy hand safe and warm on her back.

She landed gently back on the ground, her eyes wide as they continued to move. His tan skin beckoned to her, and she realised how well his stature was. It was understandable that people would love a prince, but she had a feeling this boy would still have popularity even if her was not of royalty for his appearance was something fresh.

He was toned, you could tell just from how he stood, and her eyes caught sight of a scar on his neck, so it was obvious that he had been up to some sort of mischief or fights.

Though there was something about the way he looked at her that made her feel like he was all she needed, it gave Lucy her own kind of strength that she did not realise she had. And it was something she wished to keep on feeling.
It wasn't long until others started to pile onto the the dance floor, making it crowded but that was alright, she knew she would be fine.

There was something in the boy's face teased at her and he pulled her away, tugging her through the crowd as her eyes ran along beautiful women and handsome men, all dancing with one another and now unfocused of the prince and his new mysterious dancer.

Because that's what she was, mysterious.

A nobody and at that moment she didn't care. Because the prince saw her, and led her, and then for some reason, it felt okay to be a nobody.

Out through doorways she hadn't seen, the pink prince led her away from the people; his grip careful, until they finally were outside in the moonlit garden.

"Prince…" Lucy began, looking nervous all of a sudden. Had he really just taken her away from the party to talk with her? It was his ball after all, wasn't he supposed to stay there?

"Natsu." He replied, letting her hand go to face her.

"What?"

"Natsu. That's my name." The prince told her, his teeth baring as he smiled at her.

"Natsu."

She smiled, letting the name dance on her lips. It was unusual, she knew what it meant in Japanese from books she had read. It was different. Prince Natsu. It had a rather nice ring to it.

"That's it." He laughed, "Now what's your name?"

"Why?" She asked, swiftly ignoring his question.

Though it was not because she didn't want him to know, she simply had her own questions.

"Sorry?"

"Why did you pick me to dance with?"

He laughed at her question. "Did you not like that I did?"

"No I just… I'm not a princess… Isn't this ball… Isn't a prince supposed to dance with a princess?"

His smile was still so wide, as he pulled his gloves off his hands.

"Not every princess wears a crown." Natsu spoke, her eyes watching his expression every second as her own lit up into a fiery blush.

"Oh." Was all she said, her heart fluttery as she stood opposite Natsu.

"So… your name?" Natsu piped up again, apparently really wanting to know who she was.

"Ah," She began,

"My name is L-"

Though she was forced to hush when suddenly she heard a loud clang. And another.

Another.

The stroke of midnight.

It was perhaps the last time she would see this prince and all his kind expressions.

"I- I have to go-" She said, stepping back, her tone suddenly urgent. Natsu's own expression turned concerned, his eyes wide that he had somehow scared her off.

"What- why-"

"I can't explain-"

Grabbing the hem of her blue petticoat, she stepped back in her glass slippers; running back the way they had come.

"Thank you though, Natsu. This was… a beautiful night."

She smiled, it sad as she began to run.

All good things came to an end.

Apparently this encounter was one of them.

Dashing back inside, she had to squeeze through people, not taking a glance back to see whether or not the boy had followed.

She wouldn't have been able to focus anyway, the tears welling up in her eyes, both from happiness of what small time she had gotten here, another from the fact that it didn't last long enough.

If she could, she would stay all night, learn about Natsu, about this place.

Enjoy it all.

But she had to get home before she was caught, before the magic ran out and she became a nobody for everyone including the prince.

Finally she had gotten out the front, the staircase she had taken so long to ascend took much shorter to run down; her steps wobbly as she lost balance, her glass slipped falling of her foot. But somehow it became easier to run and she didn't take another look back, leaving it there.

This was goodbye.

"Natsu…"