Princess Lucy Heartfilia is leaving. But not because she wants to. Her father made a deal with the cruel Empire called Alvarez and now she is getting married just so her father can have a little more spending money. Will she survive? Or can she escape in time to avoid the inevitable fate she will have if she stays?

DEDICATION: LeafyxThiefy cause she has helped me tremendously with forming my idea for how I want this story to be and it wouldn't have been posted at all if she wasn't here and I'm just very grateful to have her so yeah. This is for you. (This is safe for you to read even if you haven't finished the manga yet lol. *I mean, it's okay for now but finish it soon)

And yes I realize I'm incredibly stupid and a horrible author because even if I did promise another chapter of Changing her Mind, I just never got around to it and probably never will for the next few years or whatever bUT I WILL AT SOME POINT IN MY LIFE WRITE A NEW CHAPTER FOR CHM SO DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE AS OF YET OKAY! Anyways, now that that's done with, ON WITH THE STORY

Everything was a blur. The way Lucy walked back to her room after she had her talk with the King. The days that followed when she mindlessly woke up in the morning and continued the day. When she ate. The packing of her things the last few days she spent in the only home she had ever known. A few times Lucy just sat down somewhere and stared into her hands, trying to think of what was going on in her life at the moment.

Where was her mother when Lucy needed her? Oh, that's right. She was dead.

Ever since Lucy got the knews her father had married her off without her consent, Lucy had become bitter about a lot of things. Even her favorite milkshake seemed to make her bitter about life.

And that just wasn't right.

Lucy's best friend, Levy, had tried to make her feel better, but it didn't work. Lucy just felt like her life had become a cliche. Just like in a book she read. And at the end of the day, Lucy was going to fall in love with her partner in the arranged marriage and he's going to be so helplessly in love with her and they were all going to live happily ever after...

But let's face it. That probably wasn't going to happen. At least, not to Lucy.

Her whole life, everything had started to feel like a romantic cliche in the beginning, only to end in tragedy. Like her family life. Her happiness died along with her mother. Her father didn't love her anymore. But she couldn't exactly say the feeling wasn't mutual.

Because it kind of was.

After all the mistreatment she went through because of him, Lucy couldn't muster any feelings at all towards him anymore. Especially after his latest stunt.

Half of the time, Lucy wanted to scream and yell and rant and tear everything apart, but the other half Lucy just wanted to sit down and cry.

Honestly, the only good things in her life were her best friend and reading. Lucy wasn't allowed to talk to anyone unless it was to Levy or to give orders. And books just took her to better places. I know it seems like you've heard this all before but it's true. Completely and utterly true.

Lucy felt pathetic.

She knew she had to do something. The reputation of the man she was marrying and everything surrounding him was cruel and heartless. No way could she let herself fall into the hands of some monster like an obedient little lap-dog. She would sooner kill herself.

But Lucy had to have a plan.

Lucy wanted to be an author, so if her father planned to write her story for her, well, Lucy would just have to rewrite it behind his back.

"Watch your step, princess," A guard told Lucy as he helped her into the carriage that was taking Lucy to her so-called 'beloved'.

It made Lucy want to puke.

Her skirts billowed around her as she walked up the small ladder and onto a cushiony seat in the carriage. Levy followed closely behind her.

Before anyone could close the door, a servant ran towards them calling Lucy's name.

"Yes? What is it?" Lucy questioned politely as the serving girl caught her breath. She thrust a blue box into Lucy's hands.

"It was your mother's. She would have wanted you to keep it." She said, wringing her hands. She glanced up at Lucy's surprised eyes and smiled nervously. "Along with a small gift that most of us pitched in to buy for you. To remember us by." A miniscule blush covered the girl's face. Lucy had started to tear up as she covered her mouth with her hand.

Lucy clutched the box closely and yelled out a thanks to the girl as the guard shoved her away and slammed the doors on Lucy's life.

Lucy fell back on her seat with a faint thump and let out a shuddering breathe. Today was just so emotionally exhausting.

Unconsciously, Lucy held onto the small glittering blue box tightly. Levy glanced at her tightly coiled hands and gave Lucy a soft smile.

"Aren't you going to open that?" She questioned with a small gesture to the box. Lucy glanced down.

"I-I think I want to wait a while. Until we're far enough," Lucy smiled gently and turned her head to the window. Levy said nothing.

So, when Lucy was jolted awake a few hours later by the carriage riding over gravelly roads, she turned to the box.. It was still siiting there. Tightly clenched in her hands. Her hands were shaking as she reached for the lid. And slowly, Lucy opened the box.

When she saw what was inside, Lucy was at a loss. Should she be happy? Disappointed? She didn't know. Because all she found in the box was a golden key ring with one golden key attached to it. There was a key that wasn't attached and it was silver. Lucy assumed that one was given to her by the staff back home. But what did they open? A door back home? One she could never open again? She didn't know what to think.

She had to admit it though. Everything in the box was prettily engraved. Even the ring. There was an etched vine that seem to be wrapped itself around the ring, leading to the clasp. The clasp was heart-shaped, with the letters LH entwined together. Lucy traced the surface lightly with her finger.

Levy was craning her neck to see what Lucy had found in her box. Before she could, Lucy snapped it back shut.

"We're leaving. Now." And with that, Lucy started to frantically search around her. She grapped a knapsack and put her box, a large bag of money and some food in it. After Lucy seemed satisfied, she started crawling over Levy to get to the door.

At the same time, Levy's brain was having a hard time trying to process all of this. She barely managed to reach out and grasp Lucy's skirt.

"Wait, what?" Was all Levy could manage to croak out. Lucy paused and turned to face Levy. Which was a little hard to do because of the cramped space and all.

"Levy, I can't get married. Not to a guy like that. Not in this way. I just can't. You don't have to come with me. Say I-I knocked you out or something. But please do not try and stop me," Lucy explained quickly. Levy looked at this Lucy. The Lucy who was frantic and desperate to run away from a life of misery. Levy's eyes filled with tears.

"Of- Of course I'm coming with you!" And together, Lucy and Levy pushed open the carriage door and jumped out.

MEANWHILE

"Master, when is Natsu going to come back? He's been gone forever!" A girl with white hair asked. Master rolled his eyes. She was so in love with that idiot. Everyone knew it. And everyone felt bad because they knew it wouldn't work out. First of all, Natsu has never even looked at her that way before and probably never will and second, she wasn't his type.

"He'll come back when he comes back. He's on a mission, not an errand for groceries." The master knew it was a little harsh, but come on! That girl had been nonstop bothering him about Natsu for months now! It was getting a little ridiculous, to be honest.

"He wouldn't hang out with you anyways! He promised he would help me train and show me some cool moves!" A little boy named Romeo piped up, glaring at Lisanna. Another reason everyone knew Lisanna and Natsu wouldn't work out was Romeo. He hated Lisanna. No, not in general. Just for Natsu. Lisanna and Romeo got along the rest of the time. Though, to be honest, nowadays it seems Romeo doesn't want any woman around Natsu. He nearly back-talked to Erza the other day!

Someone needed to talk to that kid.

Lisanna was about to retort when someone else broke into the conversation.

"What's so great about him anyways? I could totally beat him up if I wanted to," A big, brooding man said this. One of the woman at the bar scoffed.

"Oh puh-lease Gajeel! You know you would be the one in the healing center within the minute!" Gajeel glared at her and turned his head in a huff. Everyone began laughing. But that laughing was quickly halted.

By two girls crashing through their front doors and falling to the ground, dirtied and exhausted.