So I saw fanart of Natsu with long hair (like, Gajeel-length) and needed an excuse to write long-hair!Natsu. What better way than to force myself into an entire fic?

I understand that this chapter doesn't seem all that great, but it's the first chapter. I'll probably have to do some heavy editing, but I really needed to get a chapter up before I decided to scrap the idea of this story.

Two things before you begin: 1) I understand that Crocus is the capital city of Fiore, but in this story, it's Magnolia. 2) Bora came out as a nicer guy than what he really is in the show, but worry not, we'll get to hate on him later, if all goes well for this story.

I really don't know why this story is called Blackheart. Maybe I'll find a purpose for it later on? Who knows. But for now, enjoy some Princess!Lucy and Dragon!Natsu on me! Enjoy, and let me know what you think!


You hear many things that can strike fear within you throughout the course of your lifetime. Speculations of war or natural disasters. However, after so many times of a specific event being predicted, yet never happening, can make you believe it won't happen at all, or at least not in your lifetime. This state of mind allows you to carry on without fearing for the next day.

That is Lucy Heartfilia's state of mind.

As she walked through Magnolia clad in a black hooded cloak, she wanted to roll her eyes at the occasional citizen talking about the ever famous 'dragon awakening' rumor. She was taught at a young age to fear the awakening of a certain dragon that had wreaked havoc upon Fiore many years ago. The dragon had disappeared after many ruthless attacks, and many wonder if it had finally died. Others didn't think they were that lucky.

Since the attacks, there have been rumors every so many years of the awakening, but it would never happen. While there are still plenty of people who fear the awakening happening at any moment, many have learned to ignore these speculations and carry on with their life. After all, Dragneel hadn't attacked since a great ancestor of Lucy's ruling. Surely it wasn't about to happen in her lifetime. The idea made her laugh.

"Um… Your Majesty? Perhaps we should be returning to the palace soon… Your father might be looking for you," came a voice at her side. Lucy looked down at the short, white-haired boy that seemed to follow her wherever she went (not that she was complaining).

"Plue, stop worrying, it's all right. I'm sure he'll be fine not paying me any attention for a little while longer," Lucy said almost bitterly. The two reached the outskirts of Magnolia, on a cliffed edge overlooking the Calm Sea. The view was breathtaking.

"B-but it's almost time for dinner. His Highness will be expecting you," Plue said, shaking with worry. He didn't like to see the king mad, especially at Lucy.

"Okay, okay, fine. We can head back. Just stop worrying so much. I won't let Father yell at you," Lucy said with a smile, taking the boy's hand in her own and walking back towards the palace. As they passed through the busy marketplace, a bald man with a crazed look in his eyes suddenly jumped in front of them, grabbing Lucy's shoulders in a tight grip.

"He's coming!" he shouted at her. "There is nothing we can do to stop it! He's coming for us! Dragneel is awakening!"

"H-hey, back off!" Plue shouted, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword. However, before the boy could act, the man quickly ran to another innocent passerby and shouted similar words. Lucy sighed and walked quicker towards the palace.

"I can't believe some people. They really need to calm down about this whole awakening thing. It's not gonna happen," she said. When Plue didn't respond, she glanced down at him to see him with his eyes trained on the stoney path before them. "Wait a minute. Plue, you don't actually believe in this awakening crap, do you?"

"W-well…"

"Oh, come on! It's just another scare from the papers!"

"I mean… It's still possible."

"Yeah, maybe, but it won't happen for a while. We'll be long dead by the time that dragon even begins to stir," she said confidently.

"But how can you be so sure, Princess?" Plue asked worriedly. "It's been centuries since he attacked Fiore the first time. I think it's only a matter of time before…"

"Plue, listen to me," Lucy said as they snuck back into the castle, lowering her voice to a whisper. "You have nothing to worry about. Fiore is going to be just fine. Trust me."

"Of course, Princess," he said, and the two decided the subject was over. The two navigated their way to Lucy's room, where she took off the heavy cloak and shoved it into the back of her closet. She walked to a large bookcase and searched for a moment, her index finger trailing along the spines of several books before settling on one that was old and barely being held together. She carefully pulled it off the shelf and carried it to her bed, where she lay on her stomach and opened it, skimming through the pages.

"Princess, you say how ridiculous Dragneel's possible awakening is, and yet you cannot stop yourself from reading the records on him," Plue said with a sigh as he watched her.

"Oh, I'm sure Dragneel's going to wake someday - no doubt about it. I just don't believe that it will be in our lifetime. I just want to know what I'll be missing. Yeah, there may be destruction, but it'll be centuries from now. I mean, I just think that the whole story is kind of amazing - not the fires and horrors, of course, but dragons seem to be so rare. Nobody has seen them in so many years. If they were to show up again, I would see it as sort of a miracle."

"A miracle?" Plue asked, but before he could get an answer from her, there was a knock on the door and it opened to reveal Lucy's maid and friend, Michelle.

"Miss Lucy, I'm glad you've returned. Dinner is ready, and His Highness is waiting for you," she said with a soft smile. Lucy smiled at the girl and got off her bed, putting the book on her bedside table before smoothing out her dress.

"Thanks, Michelle! I'll walk there with you. Come on, Plue," she said, the three leaving her room. Plue turned down a different corridor, though, as he needed to return to his duties, and Michelle only went as far as the dining hall doors before bowing and taking her leave. Lucy sighed and straightened her shoulders, opening her door to prepare her for whatever conversation was to come.

"Lucy. You're late," the king said from where he sat at the end of the long table.

"I apologize, Father. I was distracted by a book I had been reading," she said, knowing that if he knew she was outside of the palace without proper escort, Plue would be in great danger. She took her seat at the table.

"Did Michelle not inform you of the time?" he asked coldly.

"Oh, no! No, she did. I just wasn't paying attention. She came around again when she realized I had not come out yet. It is my fault that I am late. I apologize."

"I expect you to manage your time better, then, Lucy. You are a princess, after all. If you cannot handle something as simple as a proper schedule, you will fail miserably as a queen."

Ouch.

"I apologize, father."

"Now that you have finally decided to come down," he said bitterly, "I have some matters I would like to discuss with you. Your eighteenth birthday has come and passed, and yet you still have not chosen a man to court." Lucy wanted to groan, but knew that it would only anger her father. "Now, your mother's wish was that you get at least until you were eighteen to make your own choice, but it seems you were unable to handle that, even after I have given you extra time. And so, it appears I must take it into my own hands. I have chosen several men from the list that attended your birthday ball, and have scheduled meetings with each of them. First, is Lord Bora of Crocus. He will be dining with us this evening."

"What?!" Lucy cried out, earning a sharp glare from her father. She ducked her head. "I apologize for my outburst, father, but I am hardly prepared for such a meeting." She tried to search her mind for any excuse that would hopefully convince her father to cancel the meeting, but she knew everything would be futile.

"It is not my fault you decided to have yourself dressed as such, and look at you, your hair is spilling from it's pins." Jude sighed, shaking his head. "It can't be helped. I can only hope that he looks past your appearance. This man would be very important to Fiore, so do try to keep his attention. Now, stand up so you can properly greet our guest."

"Yes, father," Lucy said quietly as she stood, clasping her hands in front of her. The doors to the dining hall opened and in walked a tall man with navy hair. His attire struck Lucy as somewhat strange, consisting of a white undershirt, red trousers, and an indigo cloak with golden trim. Jude smiled.

"Welcome, Lord Bora," he said, and Lucy gave a short curtsy in greeting. "Thank you for attending on such short notice."

"No, please, Your Highness, the pleasure is all mine," Bora said with a charming smile as he reached his seat. The three sat down. "Ah, Princess Lucy, those paintings certainly do you no justice. You are most certainly the most beautiful maiden in all of Fiore."

"You are too kind, Lord Bora. Thank you," Lucy said kindly.

"I regret being unable to share a dance with you at your birthday ball, my lady, but it appeared you were rather busy through the night, and your dance card was full. I was glad to have been able to have spoken with His Highness, as it led to me finally being able to meet you in person. It truly is an honor."

"I am sorry that we were unable to speak that night," Lucy said, feeling her father's watchful eye on her. "I will certainly have to take you up on an offer to dance once the opportunity arises."

"It would be a dream come true, my lady," Bora said with a charming smile. He was attractive, Lucy would admit, but she just didn't feel comfortable having such a matter being sprung upon her like this. Thankfully, she didn't need to speak to him directly for very long, as her father asked most of the questions.

Lucy learned that Lord Bora was twenty-seven and had inherited his lordship from his uncle, who had the same name. He claimed to have been too busy with his land and other business that comes along with his title to have even considered a wife, but things have settled down for the time being, and he can now begin looking. With how engaged her father seemed to be in the conversation, she could only assume that this man would end up being her husband if she had no say in it. She was just ready for all of this to be over.

"Well, my lady, I should be going now. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you," Bora said once the table had been cleared and the three stood at the palace entrance. He took her hand and placed his lips to her fingers. Lucy offered a small smile.

"Lord Bora, are you sure you must leave so soon? I am more than happy to have a room prepared for you," Jude said, and Bora smiled politely.

"Thank you kindly for the offer, Your Highness, but I truly must be going. I have been away from Crocus for quite some time and I am afraid there are some matters I must attend to." He turned back to Lucy. "I shall await with bated breath until the day our paths cross again, my lady."

"I do hope it will be soon," Lucy said politely with a small curtsy. Bora smiled and bowed to the two of them before being escorted out to an awaiting carriage that would bring him back to Crocus.

"I am surprised at his sincerity," Jude said as he saw the carriage pull away.

"How so, father?" Lucy asked. "Do you not think he was a man to be trusted?"

"Of course not, I trust him. I am just surprised he wishes to see you again after how much of a mess you appeared and acted throughout dinner." Lucy's eyes widened. She wasn't that bad, was she? Though, of course, her father had impossibly high standards.

"I apologize, father… When we meet again, I will be sure to look my absolute best."

"I expect it of you. So, are you considering him, then?" he said rather than asked. Lucy wanted to reply that she wasn't sure, but then she thought better of it. Not only would marriage to such an important man make her father incredibly pleased, but she wouldn't have to suffer through any other meetings with other men.

Bora did seem charming enough. Perhaps she could grow to feel for him.

It would be difficult, but it was still possible.

"Yes, father. I believe that Lord Bora would be a very suitable husband for me. He would be a wonderful king to Fiore," she said softly. Her father actually looked gleeful, his eyes brightening.

"I was hoping you would say that. It saves me the trouble of finding a second ranked man. Lord Bora is certainly the most eligible to one day be king of Fiore. I am pleased that you are finally starting to think politically. You truly are maturing." With that, her father left, heading towards his office. Lucy sighed, dropping her shoulders. She was glad that she had actually pleased her father for once, but she wished it wouldn't have to be like this.

With a drag to her step, Lucy walked back to her room, stripping herself of the constricting dress she had to wear and settled into her loose slip before falling onto her bed with an exhausted sigh, completely oblivious to the shadowy figure standing in the far corner of her room.

Lucy was just beginning to fall asleep when the atmosphere seemed to change. Her room suddenly felt much warmer, but before she could look to see if Michelle had perhaps started the fire without her knowing, a hand was pressed over her mouth. Her eyes widened and she made to scream.

"Now, now, my lady," a voice whispered into her ear, "it would be better for the both of us if you were to keep quiet. You might even make it out of here alive. Now, this is probably gonna be nasty, but you gotta drink it," he said, and before she knew what was happening, a thick liquid was being forced down her throat. He covered her mouth again as she tried to cough it up.

Lucy finally found it in herself to fight back, clawing at his hand and trying to shove at the man with everything she had as he dragged her from her bed, but he held her firm. Her room was dark, but in the reflection of her full-length mirror, she caught the silhouette of the man standing behind her. Where she expected to see short hair resembling Lord Bora's, she actually found wild, jagged hair that dropped down to the man's lower back. The man smiled, and it scared her to see that she could actually see his teeth, white as can be, in the reflection, two sharp canines glinting in the moonlight seeping through the window that he began to drag her to.

He held her effortlessly with one arm as he threw open the window the rest of the way and climbed onto the window sill. Lucy had become too stunned to scream now, even as she realized that his hand was no longer covering her mouth. She looked down and saw the long distance from her window to the ground and struggled to find her breath. Was this man going to throw her of the window? If he was planning to kill her, why this way?

"Up there! A man is in the princess's chambers!" one of the guards below yelled.

"He has the princess! He's going to jump!" another yelled.

The man holding her let out a growl-like laugh.

And he jumped.

She screamed.

She braced for impact, but it never came. Instead, she seemed to go… up?

Lucy opened her eyes and looked up. She still couldn't see the man's face very well, but movement behind him caught her attention. Were those wings?!

Suddenly, the man cursed, nearly dropping her, as arrows were shot at him, perhaps even hitting him. Lucy thought this was it. She would fall, and maybe she would survive, but this sudden nightmare would be over.

Instead, everything seemed to change. The hold on her body became less of a muscular arm and more of a giant, rough hand that wrapped around her entire body. She wasn't sure what he had given her earlier, but she slowly found herself slipping out of consciousness. Before she succumbed to it, though, she could have sworn she saw the head of a dragon.