Chapter 1:

She's a Runaway

Lucy POV:

"Stop her," I heard a guard yell as I ran down the street. I wore a pink dress that I had cut to knee-length about an hour and 40 minutes ago, because I needed to run and the length of this stupid heavy dress was slowing me down.

"Princess Heartfilia, stop," the head guard, Luke, shouted. He had brown spiky hair and blue eyes.

"I'm sorry, Luke, I can't stand the idea of marrying him when I'm suppose to marry someone else!" I replied, with tears in my eyes, then I turned down the next street as I looked for my cousin, Levy.

"Lucy," I heard a familiar female voice call out to me. I stopped and saw my dear friend, and cousin, Levy along side her scary looking husband Gajeel in an alley way.

"Levy, Gajeel," I cried out, as I ran toward them. I hugged Levy, happy to see her again, as we ducked into an alley way.

"Lucy, my friends, the pirate crew I told you about have to leave port soon," Levy whispered and I nodded.

"You came back to town just in time," I told her as the guards ran past the alley way that we were hiding in, "My father has set me up with a new marriage to the Prince of the Straight kingdom, he thinks that Natsu has disappeared forever. Just because Wendy doesn't know where he is doesn't mean he is gone for good!"

"I know," Levy replied, "And about Natsu, I found him."

"You did?" I gasped as the last of the guards ran past the alley way.

"Yeah, but he won't return to his kingdom anytime soon," Levy responded.

"Why," I asked while Levy went to make sure the coast is clear.

"You'll understand once we get to the ship," Levy replied then we walked out of the alley and headed toward the port.

Natsu POV:

I was relaxing when my Communications Lacrima started to glow and my little sister appeared on the screen. "Natsu," Wendy said with sadness, "I've got some news involving Lucy Heartfilia."

I quick sat up and looked at the lacrima and asked, "Whats wrong with Lucy?"

"Her father, Jude Heartfilia, he has set up a new engagement for her," Wendy said, "And it's with Dan Straight."

"Damn it," I shouted and I slammed my hands on the desk.

"Well, if you would returned home like I had begged you to," Wendy responded as she glared at me, "Then Lucy wouldn't be in a new engagement. Oh and about an hour ago, I got news that Lucy has run away from castle."

"SHE WHAT," I yelled as I slammed back into my chair.

"Oh, you know Lucy," Wendy said, now smiling, "When she doesn't want something to happen, she'll do anything to stop it from happening even if that means she has to run away. Remember when she tried to run away to see you after her mother's death, because you were the only one who could cheer her up. Luke, the head guard, caught her before she got to you though, and she did everything she could to get away from him."

"Yeah, Lucy can be stubborn," I replied as I looked at the black wig in the corner. 'And to think I was planning on staying in the Heartfilia port for a little longer, so I could give Lucy a present during her birthday party tomorrow,' I thought and I sighed then looked back at the lacrima.

"Natsu, what do you plan on doing, now?" Wendy asked, "I mean, she could be looking for an escape, and you could be her escape."

"I don't know about that Wendy," I replied, "I mean... I promised you that I would find our parents before anything else, and helping Lucy might delay things."

"I know, but you know that you and Lucy are in love with each other," Wendy said, "Even though your engagement was arranged, you two still fell in love."

"I know," I replied, "But there are also some things that are more important than love."

"Natsu, you know mom and dad would disagree," Wendy said.

"Yeah, well neither of us are of age to rule the kingdom," I responded. Wendy glared at me with a look that said "you're-almost-old-enough" but I ignored it, "And since they didn't find their bodies on the ship, that must mean that they're still alive."

"I know, that's why you became a pirate, so you look for them," Wendy said with a sigh, "Along with our cousin Gajeel, and our top guards Gray Fullbuster, Erza Scarlet, Jellal Fernandes, and Elfman Strauss. Plus you have Mirajane Strauss as the cook and her sister Lisanna Strauss who helps cook. Then there is Juvia, who is your navigator. Plus you have Jet and Droy who are the hands on deck. And they're the only people to know that you're prince Natsu of the Dragon Kingdom"

"Yeah, we also have Levy now," I replied and Wendy gave me a puzzled look, "Gajeel snuck her on board."

"Wait, isn't Levy Lucy's cousin," Wendy said, "When did she get on board?"

"Nine months ago," I replied, "Juvia found her in the the map room's closet, reading a book. When she was brought to my quarters, she told me that she knew everything."

"Wow, who knew Gajeel would miss Levy that much," Wendy spoke.

"I miss Lucy a lot, but you don't see me sneaking her a board," I replied.

"Well yeah, thats true," Wendy responded, "But I'm sure you would, if you had the chance."

"No, well, maybe, agg… I don't know," I answered with a groan, then I someone knocked on the door.

"Caption Ratsu," Laxus spoke.

"Gotta go Wendy," I said, then the lacrima went dark and ran over to get my wig on."Come in!"

Laxus walked in and said, "Gajeel and Levy have just returned, and they brought a runaway."

"Yeah? What do they look like," I asked as I went back to my set.

"She's a girl with blond hair and brown eyes," Laxus replied, causing me to jump out of my chair and run past Laxus, with one name coming to mind, 'Lucy!'