Crystal: I have been going through some tough times and haven't found the inspiration to type anything until today that I have been looking over through all my stories and I came up with a new NALU story. As of late I've been reading quite a few manga and romance ad I got inspired to base off this new story out of a combination of two manga I read.
Story name: Pandora's Box
Rating: 'M' for suggestive themes, future lemons, cursing, humor, etc.
Pairing(s): NALU, gruvia, gajeevy, jerza, and more
Summary: There was once an enchantress named Pandora who by the hand of a goddess was sealed into her heart in order to stop her destruction of humanity. In order to keep the seal strong every 400 years a female was born with the goddess's heart. Lucy unknowingly the reborn goddess is targeted by Zeref who seeks to control Pandora and is saved by Natsu, a teen who assures he is her husband
The goddess's heart
Long ago, billions of years into the past, lived an enchantress by the name of Pandora. Through the goddess of creation, Mavis, Pandora had been given life making her the first woman alive. Out of all of Mavis's creations, she adored Pandora the most and gave her an almost perfect existence. She had been blessed with extreme beauty, charm, intelligence, and so much more. She was capable of making any man fall in love with a simple look. She served almost as a punishment to men. And her greatest blessing had been to possess great magic power to control the stars by giving her twelve servants she called the Zodiac that she controlled at will.
But the Goddess Mavis had made a mistake. She had exposed Pandora to the human world in a time were war raged on. Pandora, after all, was still human and her heart faltered at seeing the forceful way humans obtained what they desired. She began to obtain negative feelings and a desire to possess more than what she had. She had forced the Zodiac servants to darken the skies to reduce hope in the men. She sent them to terrorize people who dared deny her of any gift she desired. She felt powerful and in control. She felt she deserves much more.
Vanity, lust, pride, anger, apathy, and more had begun to invade Pandora's being, and Mavis was filled with fear. Pandora began to enamor men with the only objective of seeing them fight over her to entertain her. Large wars broke out as she manipulated everyone around her if only to fufill her desire for power. Mavis had one day confronted her. Pandora had believed that Mavis was unaware of her true nature and denied any accusations made against her. Mavis was blinded by the love she had for Pandora that she ignored her deeds. But Pandora was just as cunning as she was intelligent. Soon her greatest ambition had become to one day overthrow Mavis and become herself a goddess that ruled the heaven and Earth.
One day as Mavis bathed, she was attacked by Pandora's twelve servants who using gold chains tried to supress her. Pandora was pleased with her loyal servants, but did not take into account one fact. Creations are only as strong as their creator wants them to be. Mavis easily broke the chains feeling betrayed. Having no other choice, Mavis punished the Zodiac servants by locking them into twelve gold keys and using them along with a powerful relic, a ruby stone,named Fairy Heart to seal Pandora into an eternal slumber inside her own heart. However Mavis could feel the heaviness of Pandora's negative emotions and feared the break of the seal. As precaution, Mavis created the female race to ease the men out of Pandora's enchantment before creating a vessel that she'd reincarnate into to keep the seal strong. They called the vessel Pandora's box.
If Pandora's box were to be forced open than the heart of the chosen maiden would release a plague that would kill everyone and a new era would begin with a new reincarnate goddess having the heart with the sealed Pandora. However, if the seal were to be opened with the twelve gold zodiac keys and Fairy Heart than Pandora would take over the chosen maiden's body as her own and her will and magic would belong to whoever broke the seal. Only the goddess's guardian, using their power could forever destroy Pandora and bring and end to the continued rebirth and destruction of humanity.
~~xXXx~~
"Lucy..." A voice whispered to her as if far away. A girl no older than 17 found herself floating in an empty blackness. Her ash blonde hair floated around her, her brown eyes tired and wanting to close. But a voice continued to call to her. It kept repeating her name desperately as if in panic or in need of help. It was an angelic voice urging her. "Lucy! Beware... Only you can end this...you must be the last maiden...only you", the voice urged desperately. A figure appeared before her, the one with the voice. A gorgeous woman with long wavy blonde locks and emerald eyes holding concern. "Who are you?" The blonde asked. "Our time is limited, my identity does not matter. Listen carefully, Lucy. Do not let them get the servants", she explained seriously.
"The servants? Them who? I don't understand", Lucy blinked completely bemused with comprehending what this strange woman was saying. "Don't let them... No... Don't let him have the zodiac servants, Lucy. It could be the end. Someone messed with the seal before you were born. She will escape if you do not find the goddess's guardian", the beautiful woman repeated as she began to fade. Lucy blinked confused and panic began to reach her. "Wait!" She yelled before she sat up awakening from her dream on her bed. A cold sweat was running down her face as she looked around her room to see it was daylight. "Lucy?" A soft voice spoke up as the door was opened.
"Momma Layla," she looked up at the woman who entered in a red gown with a concerned stare. "Are you okay, Lucy? I heard you thrashing in your sleep", Layla spoke softly as she sat next to her daughter that averted her gaze. If there was something she did not desire it was to worry her mother, but with the way her mother took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze told Lucy that everything would be okay. "I had a dream...or I'm not sure. It could have been a nightmare, but a woman came to me. Something about not letting a 'them' have the so called 'servants' and something about a seal and she was panicked and scared even and-" Lucy began to ramble.
"Lucy it was just a dream sweetheart. I'm sure all the fantasy books you read must have been slipping into your dreams. Now get dressed sweetie", Layla smiled, but Lucy could of sworn she saw something in flicker in her mother's eyes that was mysterious. As if she was hiding something from her. "Okay", Lucy said shaking the feeling of worry away as her mother clapped her hands smiling once more before exiting the room as two maids made their way to help her dress. Her name was Lady Lucy Heartfilia daughter of the Great Duke Jude Heartfilia an Duchess Layla Heartfilia. Today was Lucy's coming of age were every girl of nobility becomes of a marriageable age of 17. It is but a mere coincidence that the King Zeref has set up the traditional 400 year ball for all the maidens between the ages of 16 to 18 to attend today.
It is mandatory that all women fitting this description attend or it could mean execution. Lucy let herself be dressed in a fine pale pink gown with gold designs and light pink diamonds decorating the corset top. She sighed heavily. Despite her high social and economic status, she had no interest in lavish gifts or balls, but she had no choice in the matter. She suddenly glanced at her left hand. She had a strange birthmark in the shape of a heart surrounded by what seemed like a dragon's mouth. It was small but she had always wondered how such a mark could be formed almost perfectly. She was interrupted by one of the maids sliding a glove over her hand.
'I must be overthinking because of the dream', Lucy thought as she stepped in her heels and bid her maids good bye. She walked down the steps as needless thoughts seemed to consume her mind. She kept getting this bad feeling in the back of her mind pestering her. Like something terrible was about to take place. She saw her father and mother awaiting her as they urged her t proceed to their carriage towards the castle. "Now, Lucy, be on your best behavior tonight. Remember that you are a Heartfilia and must act like your title. "As you wish, father. Do not be concerned and let your mind be at ease", the blonde spoke with ease.
She knew exactly what her father wanted to hear. Her father smiled pleased with her proper response as the blonde glanced towards her mother who seemed to be in deep thought. Not wanting to question or unnerve her mother she herself retrieved a book she always kept below the carriage seat and began to read. But upon inspecting it, she realized it was not her book. It was a red leather bound book with gold thick letters for the title. "Pandora", she muttered. "Wha?!" Layla suddenly asked startled. "Uh... I said 'oh, Nora'. The character from my book", Lucy lied clearly shaken by her mother's outburst.
Layla looked a bit unsure, but returned to look out the window once more. Lucy quietly opened the book as she began to read about the powerful enchantress named Pandora. She was so engrossed in the book she didn't realize and hour later that the carriage came to a stop. Lucy had jus gotten to the part of a reincarnation of a great goddess every 400 years. "Lucy, leave the book. We've arrived, child", her father scolded her as she shut the book and left it under the seat again. As she stepped down a shiver crawled up her arm seeing the royal soldiers give her these strange glances. She couldn't comprehend it, but she could of sworn she saw lust in their gazes.
She walked faster behind her parens as many families had lined up to enter. They were mainly barons and earls and so Lucy's family was escorted to the front as her family was of a higher class of nobility than them. Upon entrance she found many of the ladies dancing with young men. But a silence took place as the young men averted their attention to Lucy leaving their partner's mid dance to approach her with the same glances as the soldiers from before. Her parents had wandered about leaving her alone. Not even saying a word some of them grasped her arm tightly and some tried to hold her waist. And it seemed that no one seemed aware of the harassment taking place. "Let go!" She demanded firmly as she tried pushing away. "I said let go!" She yelled managing to push past them and bumped harshly against someone.
The blonde huffed as she looked up. She paled considerably and judging by the gold crown on a handsome young man who looked no older than 21 with black hair and intense blood red eyes, she had just bumped into the king. Lucy curtsied immediately a gloved hand at her heart. "Your majesty! Please forgive me!" She almost squeaked if it wasn't for her quick speech reflexes kicking in. "Do not apologize. I was saw the whole ordeal take place. I believe Lady Lucy Heartfilia asked to be left alone. Do make haste to abide by her wishes", he responded so calmly, but his eyes showed such anger that she saw the noblemen pale and rush away.
"You're just the spitting image of Duchess Heartfilia. But please do honor this humble man with a dance", Zeref smiled with a bow as he stretched his hand out. Lucy blushed as everyone stared at her with amazement that the king himself had requested to dance with her. "It is a great honor", she responded taking his hand. He led her onto the floor as a beautiful melody began to play. "What do you think about this whole system, Lady Lucy?" Zeref suddenly asked her as they danced. "System, your majesty?" The blonde questioned. How strange for the king to be concerned with what she thought of anything. "This whole hierarchy. Isn't it quite meaningless? Even some nobles have higher rank than others, quite absurd", The king sighed looking around.
Lucy remained quiet very intrigued on the king's thoughts on the matter such as ranking. He looked at her and smiled almost sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you have you are very comfortable in your current rank", he stated almost as if losing interest in her. "On the contrary your highness, I completely agree with you. Social status means nothing to me. It is quite absurd as you say for I only have a title, but other than that I am just Lucy. An equal to anyone else. I have no interest in a life of luxury or balls such as these. I for one would much rather be at home reading", she responded almost angrily for the king's assumption that she was vain.
His eyes seemed to shine as curiosity and amusement shone through. "I admire and respect your honesty, Lady Lucy. You are very different and interesting, but I a not quite so liberal in the sense of being equal. Don't you think people are nothing but pawns waiting to be at my disposal as king? For I only see people trying to get on my good side. Offering their daughters to their young king and bearing gifts. People are pawns, Lady Lucy. I will use them as I see fit. The hierarchy is absurd in my opinion because in the end it is only I who truly have the power", he whispered as she flinched under his hold.
Lucy felt anger consume her, but she wasn't about to give him he benefit to anger her so he simply smiled, a gesture that clearly caught Zeref off guard. "How charming you are, your highness. It is almost amusing that you think of people that way. Let me remind you that this kingdom may be in your hands, but its people are not your toys. I for one am not a pawn in your games. I have a will and I have strength. I bare with such posh and opulence if only to ease my parent's minds of feeling embarrassment. But as I said before I'd rather not be part of anything that has to do with the crown. And as long as this world has hope, I won't succumb to anyone or anything", she finished by curtsying and giving a smile.
"Thank you for the dance, Lady Lucy", Zeref grinnd making a shiver run down her spine. She nodded stepping away to meet with her parents who seemed to be having lively conversation with the other nobles. Lucy had no friends and so she could do nothing but stand idle beside her parents. Soon the music was stopped as the king called for a soldier who presented a box to him. He retrieved a stone from inside, a ruby shaped like a heart with gold pieces encasing its sides. "Each maiden shall present themselves before me. What I hold is an ancient relic who will react to one of them. The one to make the relic react will be chosen as my bride", he announced.
If anything, the nobles were eager and excited as they urged the young women. "I don't like this", Layla muttered worriedly to Jude. Lucy was even surprised that her father seemed to find her mother's same sentiment. "I know, but Lucy mist abide by the king's wish. Go on, Lucy", Jude gently nudged her. One by one sighs of disappointment were heard by the rejected girls and the blonde had looked to see her parents position themselves at the front to see. It was finally Lucy's turn. Her heart was going miles fast as she seemed to feel her body shake. Zeref gave her a light smile. It seemed he didn't expect much, but he liked her.
Finding no reaction, Lucy almost sighed in relief before she felt her heart pulsate too harshly. Se felt she was running out of breath. Her eyes widened seeing the ruby glowing brightly and shaking in Zeref's hand. She was suddenly in a trance, her eyes dulling as she seemed to lose her sense of self, but she began to fight it as everyone was beginning to be filled with fear. "I've found you, reincarnate goddess, or should I say Pandora's box. To think that I was planning on wiping out humanity and sparing you and Pandora's box, but to find out that you two are one and the same is convenient. Come to me", he called out. "Wiping out humanity. That girl..Pandora's box?!" The nobles around began to panic and run, but Zeref blocked the doors with a barrier as he used black magic on people causing them to fall to slumber.
Lucy's body began to walk on its own, but she tried fighting against it once more as she fell to her knees feeling as if her heart was trying to rip. 'You are no match for me', a voice whispered in Lucy's head as she shook the pounding voice away. "Painful, isn't it? Don't fight it or you'll be in much more pain, Lady Lucy", Zeref grinned. "What..are you...doing to...me?" She gasped trying to breathe. "You shouldn't be concerned with that, Lady Lucy", Zeref began to walk towards her before a light flashed as someone yelled "Gate of the goat, I open thee, Capricorn!" As said figure resembling a goat man appeared in front of Lucy. Zeref's head whipped to the source of the voice. Lucy fell over heaving looking to see her mother run in front of her as well. "Now this is even more unexpected. Duchess Layla Heartfilia, the guardian of the zodiac servants. You have just about doomed your own daughter", Zeref grinned.
"You will not have my daughter! Capricorn, go!" Layla yelled as Capricorn ran forward with fist up. Lucy was so confused, shocked, scared and all she wanted was to find out what the hell was going on. Zeref summoned a book in his hand and let it on the floor to transform into a man with black locks tied in a pony tail. "Lord Zeref, I am honored to be summoned as on of the demons from your books", he spoke with admiration. "Mard Geer, get the girl at any cost", Zeref commanded as Mard Geer smiled and jumped forward easily kicking Capricorn out of the way until he disappeared in a glow of light. Layla reached to pull another key, but was kicked back as well with a terrible force. She tried crawling her way to Lucy unwilling to let anyone hurt her.
Mard Geer summoned large thorned vines that bound Layla as another wrapped itself around Lucy. He smirked pleased that he had fulfilled the wish of his master. "L-Lucy...no", Layla squeaked as tears poured down her face. "M-Mom", Lucy muttered weakly, but just before she was at Zeref's reach a breaking of glass was heard and the whole area was engulfed in fire. Mard Geer looked around to see that the blonde was nowhere in sight. Until he saw a blur move straight in front of him. A teen around 19 standing with a now unconcious Lucy in his arms. His pink hair was in a spiked style and his emerald eyes glared at the demon before him. "Natsu?" Zeref suddenly said startled.
The teen turned to Zeref with a grin. "You were close to obtaining her, but I won't be handing her over any time soon", Natsu chuckled. "Just get her far from here already!" Layla suddenly yelled. The pink head turned to Layla with hesitation. "Layla, what about you?" He asked. To leave her behind would make him a coward. "You know your duty! I'll be fine...just keep her safe", she smiled as she held back her tears. She manged to throw five keys through wiggling her hands to the vines despite the thorns cutting into her skin. He caught them with ease still not pleased with the idea of leaving her behind but after tightened his lips he nodded resigned. He jumped forward towards a window giving one final glance to Layla. "You will not escape!" Mard Geer yelled as he sent his vines towards them, but they were suddenly cut by the appearance of a man holding pairs of scissors. "Great job, Cancer", Layla grinned holding tightly onto Cancer's key as she saw Natsu safely exit with Lucy.
She felt relief as she breathed in heavily from exhustion. A shock suddenly went through her body as black magic seemed to be sucking the life out of her. She gave a cry of pain as Zeref had walked towards her anger evident in his face. "Stupid wench! You ruined everything, but at least you have the keys to open the seal. Give them to me", he muttered darkly. She chuckled despite the excruciating pain she was feeling. "I won't let you have them. Five are safe with Natsu and as for the rest", she paused as her body began to glow. The remaining seven keyes floated in front of them as with a sudden burst of speed they shot out in different directions. "No!" Zeref yelled as he saw the keys flash past his grasp. Layla slumped forward. 'It's all up to you, Natsu. Protect my Lucy', she thought to herself before exhaustion took over and she blacked out.
Crystal: Opinions? I don't know if I should continue this. I been trying to get my head to work. I have a terrible writer's block at the moment. Also I know grammar and structure, and maybe details will be terrible since I typed this on my phone at 3 am lol