Author's notes - hey guys! I really need to stop looking up AUs because this is really getting out of hand. But, when I looked at this ship, I was like "I have to do this!" It was too perfect not to do it. So, here we are. Let me know what y'all think about this one!
The bell chimed and Levy couldn't have been more excited. She waited for this moment all day, and even paced back and forth across the length of her room, stopping occasionally to make sure her was still presentable.
Her small figure was covered in orange material in the form of a dress. The dress was fitted to her waist, where it then blossomed out into a huge ball gown. White gloves covered her hands and forearms, a pearl necklace resting against her throat. Her signature blue hair was pulled partially back with a black headband, completing her look for the evening.
With one final once over in the mirror, Levy gathered up her skirt and walked to the door, pushing it open and making her way down the hall. Two guards awaited her at the door, guns propped on their shoulders, faces entirely expressionless.
Levy held her hands in front of her, fidgeting with her slender fingers.
"Finally," she heard her father's voice, "it is my honor to introduce you all to my daughter, the beautiful, Princess Levy!"
The guards pushed open the doors, exposing Levy to the rest of the room. A million thoughts rushed into Levy's brain and she tried to stay calm.
With a deep breath, she smiled, gathering her skirt once again and descending the stairs. People clapped and cheered, the sound echoing throughout the large ballroom. Levy scanned the room nervously.
She knew that there was going to be a few hundred people at the castle today, but that still didn't make her feel any less overwhelmed upon entering the room. People were clapping and cheering loudly, making the noises echo through the large ballroom.
Through all the faces, Levy searched for a few in particular. She let go of the breath she'd been holding when she found two of them smiling at her as she descended the stairs.
Jet and Droy were her best friends ever since she could remember. Their parents were good friends, so they often spent a lot of time together. As Levy approached them, smiles lit up their features.
"You look beautiful as always, Levy." Droy's black hair was spiked up in that weird and unusual way it always was. He reached for her hand, raising it to his lips. He was dressed up in his formal wear, the strange wear of a prince, though he seemed to wear it with much comfort.
Jet, on the other hand, did not. He and Droy wore almost the same thing, a formal looking white tunic with gold straps and accents, white leggings with a holster for their swords. His orange hair was spiked up messily, just like it usually was. Jet also took her hand and kissed it. "I agree, Droy."
She giggled, thanking them both before taking her attention away from her friends and continuing the path down towards her father. She scanned the room for anyone else she knew, sighing when she found another familiar face.
Lucy was Levy's maid, who helped her with basically anything and everything. She picked out her clothes, helped her get dressed (because there was no way that she would be able to lace up her dresses on her own). She even became close friends with Lucy, trusting her with secrets (well, what secrets she could make give the circumstances).
Lucy gave her a huge smile as she continued down the path. Surrounding the thrones that belonged to herself and her father was guards, all of them familiar faces. Erza, with her long scarlet hair, was the head guard, also the strongest.
To her left was Gray, her first in command. His shaggy black hair covered most of his face and he wore a cold expression most of the time, but that look didn't fool Levy anymore. He was actually a nice guy, as was most of the guards.
Beside him was a woman with hair similar to her own. Her expression was the same as his, except when she looked at him. Juvia was the newest guard assigned to Levy, and she was always a little strange to Levy, but the two became friends when Juvia was on "watch duty" one night. Erza, Juvia, Lucy and Levy all became friends, seeing as they constantly saw each other and were the only "fun" girls in the castle.
On Erza's right was Natsu, a pink haired, hot headed, quick tempered person that Levy came to know well. These were the guards that were always on her floor, making sure that she was safe. They quickly all became friends, sharing laughs and memories that Levy never thought she'd make.
She stopped in front of her father, curtsying before him. "Father."
"Levy." The man smiled at her. She walked up the remaining stairs, casting a smile at the guards she called friends, and sat down in her throne.
Then, her father addressed the crowd. "Let the ball commence!"
Cheers filled the room and everyone moved about the room, dancing and drinking and laughing. Levy's father smiled at her and she returned it, watching men take women out to the dance floor and spinning then around in elaborate circles.
"Excuse me, princess," a voice called Levy's attention, "but may I have this dance?"
The young man had brown hair cut short, stormy gray eyes and a nervous smile on his face. He held his hand upturned to her, waiting to lead her out.
"You may." She said, shooting the man a smile. Levy placed her hand in his and followed him out onto the floor. He turned to face her, raising his hand and taking hers with it, his other hand resting on her waist. She placed her small hand on his shoulder and he began to spin her around the floor, making small talk with her.
Once the orchestra stopped playing, the young man returned Levy to her seat. Just as soon as she sat down, another young man came up and asked to dance. She, of course, said yes and went back into the dance floor.
Song after song she had more and more men come up and ask to dance with her. She was exhausted and slightly dizzy from being spun around, not to mention the pain in her chest (from being groped by some pervert who had to be escorted out by Gray and Erza).
She was hair about to go up the stairs to her throne for the umpteenth time that night when she felt something tugging on her skirt. Levy turned around, seeing a boy with a face full of freckles and bright blue eyes staring back up at her.
"Pwincess Lebby?" The boy asked, his face framed by shaggy black hair.
"Yes?" She asked, squatting down in front of him.
"Will you dance with me?"
"Why I would love to dance with you." She smiled and took the boy's hand, letting him eagerly pull her into the crowd of people.
Dancing with the little boy, whose name she found out was Romeo, was uncomfortable. Though Levy herself was on the short side, he was much smaller than her, and she was bent awkwardly to reach him.
"Scram, little boy." A masculine voice said from Levy's side. She straightened, keeping her hand wrapped around Romeo's.
"Excuse me?" She faced the man and nearly cringed.
He hadn't shaved in quite a while and his teeth were a nasty shade of yellow. His hair was untamed and dark, but his clothes looked much better than his features.
"A child has no means of dancing with the princess. You need a man to dance with."
"Are you asking me to dance?" She challenged, putting her unoccupied hand on her hip.
"No, I am telling you." He reached for her but she took a step back from his grasp.
"Romeo, go find your dad, okay? We'll dance later."
The boy nodded and released her hand, running off the floor.
She turned back to the man, hands on her hips. "Now listen here, mister. That was terribly rude and you should behave better than that."
He stepped into her personal space, pushing his face closer to hers. "If I wanted to be scolded, I would've went back home to my momma."
Levy backed up until she ran into something. "Is there something wrong here?"
Levy sighed at Gray's voice.
"No, I was just wanting to admire her beautiful eyes." The man said. "I've never seen a pair of eyes quite like hers."
"You're making Levy uncomfortable." Erza's voice followed. "Please back up before we force you to."
"But I want a dance with the princess."
"Sorry, pal." Droy's voice came from Levy's right and soon his hand was enveloping hers. "She owes me a dance and this happens to be my favorite song."
"Maybe another time?" Levy called over her shoulder to the man who was still fuming.
Droy laughed and pulled Levy into position, holding her close to his body. Droy had a familiar air to him and always made Levy feel comfortable. "That guy is gonna get his ass kicked by Erza."
She smacked his shoulder and elicited another laugh from him. "You better watch that mouth before Erza comes over here and beats you senseless."
"Oh yeah, I'm not supposed to use such foul language in the presence of her royal highness." Droy teased. "If only daddy dearest knew that the princess herself had the mouth of a sailor."
"Shut it Droy!" She smacked him again, making him laugh harder.
The duo danced on, talking about the outrageously dressed people they say, the people they danced with.
"She licked your shoulder?"
"Yes! Took me by surprise. Then she insisted on taking me home with her!"
Levy laughed hard, throwing her head back as she did so.
"Excuse me, might I interrupt?" A young man interrupted them. He had blond hair and brown eyes, a cocky smirk on his face.
Levy stopped dancing and faced the man, though Droy kept her hand in his.
"You are Princess Levy, am I correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Ah, good. I would like a dance with you. Any possible wife of mine needs to know how to dance properly."
"Wife?" Levy questioned, shooting Droy a strange look.
The man smiled. "Yes, the King sent out an invitation to all eligible bachelors to take his daughter's hand in marriage. Were you not aware of this?"
Levy's heart began to race. Marriage? She was only seventeen, she couldn't possibly be getting married! What on earth was her father thinking?
"Levy?" Droy's voice called her back from her thoughts, his hand on her lower back.
"Can we get out of here?" She whispered to him. He nodded, bidding farewell to the stranger and heading for the exit.
"Droy!" Jet was running after them, hand on the hilt of his sword to keep it from bouncing around on his hip. "Where are you going?"
"Anywhere but here." Levy sniffled. Since when had she been crying?
Jet took her other hand. "Then we'll go together."
It was a miracle that they managed to sneak out of the castle. Lucy saw them leaving, but Droy told her that they were going out to the garden for some fresh air, as Levy wasn't feeling well. The trio made it outside and Levy took them to the "hidden" entrance to the castle that Erza had told Levy about.
"In case we ever tell you to run," Erza had said. "That's the only time you can use that exit."
Of course, Levy never had used it before. With the combination of Erza, Gray, Juvia and Natsu always patrolling her floor, she was always well guarded and never felt like anything could get to her. Lucy was constantly stopping by her room to gossip or just tell stories so she never felt alone. Even though they were there for the sole purpose to protect her, she felt comfortable around them, like they were all family.
With Droy and Jet, they brought on a different sense of being safe and comfortable. They were her best friends, a breath of fresh air, something she could enjoy without all the formalities of being a princess.
"I can't believe he'd do that." Levy muttered.
"You say something Levy?" Jet asked, running to catch up to her.
"Was he trying to send me away with some man?" Levy was quickly fading into a panicked state.
"Levy, he doesn't want to send you away." Droy stopped walking, grasping onto her wrist.
"He's trying to find someone to marry me!" She yelled, tearing her hand from his grasp. "He never had the decency to tell me, or even ask!"
"Levy," Jet tried, but was interrupted.
"No! I'm tired of him always deciding what to do. I won't stand for it any longer."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I'm not going back to the castle."
"Levy!" Both boys exclaimed simultaneously.
"I won't stand for being his doll anymore." She hiked up her skirt and stomped off. "And I'm never going back."
"We're coming too Levy!" Droy's hand enveloped hers and have her a warming smile.
"Maybe, if we get caught, you won't get in so much trouble since you aren't wandering the streets alone!" Jet said, smiling.
Droy reached behind Levy to punch Jet's arm, eliciting a yelp from the young man. "We aren't getting caught, imbecile. Don't say that!"
The trio fell into a comfortable silence, walking down the street. Suddenly, Jet's voice filled the night air. "Look how pretty the stars look from here!"
Levy and Droy looked up, both of them astounded. "The stars look nothing like this on the balcony."
"Or in your garden." Droy smiled over at Levy, who was still gazing up at the stars.
"You know, I'm glad I could share this moment with you two." Levy smiled back at Droy, but the smile faded as she looked for Jet. "Jet?" She asked, confused as to why he wasn't there.
Droy's grip on her hand tightened as they heard a loud crash. Then, a groan came from somewhere behind them. They turned, finding Jet laying in a crumpled heap behind them.
"Jet!" Levy ran towards him, but Droy stopped her.
"Levy, stay back." Droy walked to his fallen friend. "My god, what happened to you?"
Another groan came from Jet and he looked up, his eyes finding Levy's. She gasped, taking in his current state. His face was swollen and blood covered, his eyes looking glassy. His arms shook as he tried to push himself to his feet.
"Who did that?" Levy whispered to no one, her heart racing. Jet was known to be a decent fighter, she could imagine anyone being able to beat him.
Droy let out a startled cry and Levy turned, seeing her best friend being lifted and tossed into nearby crates. She let out a small squeak and covered her mouth with her hands.
Droy's attacker, whom she also assumed attacked Jet, was extremely tall and muscular. Black hair cascaded down his back and swung with his movement. He stalked over to Droy and picked him up by the shirt, slamming him into the stone wall behind him.
The attacker reared back his fist and launched it into motion, connecting it with Droy's jaw. The loud crunching sound made Levy wince and yelp again. Over and over, the man drove punch after punch into her best friend, not caring that she was watching.
Levy could take no more.
She ran forward, grabbing the man's arm and held on tightly. "You're going to kill him!"
That very arm thrusted backwards, connecting with Levy's cheek. The blow sent Levy harshly to the ground with a cry of pain. "Stay back." The man practically growled at her.
The man went back to his attack on Droy, ignoring the prince's feeble attempts to get him to stop his assault. After a few more hits, Droy slumped against the wall and his attacker let go, dropping him in a heap in the pile of broken crates.
Jet had yet to move, and Levy almost feared he was dead.
Slowly, the man turned to face Levy. She gasped, tears springing forth in her eyes. The man stared at her with almost glowing red eyes, his face full of metal studs. They lined his eyebrows and nose, and he gave her a smirk as he approached her.
Oh no.
Lord Jose. His head lackey. The one who had attacked her. She launched into a flashback of that night, how he'd easily captures her, carved a dark symbol into her flesh and left her hanging from a tree by iron shackles tight around her wrists.
Levy began scooting backwards, letting go of sobs as she tried to get away from him. He caught up to her in two long strides and reached for her, grabbing her by the front of the dress.
She screamed as he hoisted her into the air, tossing her onto his shoulder. His hand rested on the back of her thigh as he turned and carried her back the direction she came with her best friends.
"What are you going to do to me?"
The man chuckled, sending a shiver down her spine.
"What about my friends?"
"Sorry shrimp." His voice was gruffy when he spoke. "I had ordered to bring back the princess, no one else."
Levy gulped, her sobs the only thing filling the night air other than the rustling of clothes.