Five years prior

Sitting tall in her chair, Levy watched silently as her predecessor, Queen Titania Erza addressed the people below. The moon above was round and bright, illuminating the faces of everyone below. As she spoke, the queen's scarlet hair fluttered in the warm breeze that came from the southeast.

Very seldom had Levy ever found anything so monotonous in her life.

"So as we approach the summer solstice, let us pray with all our hearts that we find the will and strength to end this war with the dragons once and for all. If that means eradicating them from this world, then so be it!" Titania's mature voice called out to the crowd with a note of finality as she thrust her fist to the stars above. She flared out her golden wings, and Levy wondered how she would ever be able to pull off such magnificent plumage when she was queen. The crowd erupted in cheers at her words, but Levy knew better. Those were the cheers of a people that had given up hope years ago, who were merely trying to get by with the threat of the dragons ever present.

As she turned to leave, Titania nodded to Levy, who rose from her seat to follow closely. They passed through the archway, and the royal guards pulled the large resin-glass doors shut behind them. The lights of the throne room greeted them inside, and Levy followed her predecessor to their places atop the dais. The scarlet queen took her seat on the ornate golden throne, while the bluenette sat on the silver one to the right.

After a moment of charged silence, Titania looked at the princess, leaning her head against her hand. "How did I do?"

With a smile, Levy turned to face her. "Would you like my honest opinion, or the one you'll be hearing from everyone else in the kingdom?"

"Your opinion," the older woman chuckled with a roll of her eyes.

"I think the people want to believe you," she began, immediately bringing the playful banter to a halt. "But I think they've lost their will to fight..."

"Funny, that's what I believe as well..." Erza frowned slightly. "I'm afraid that if we don't end this war soon, the people will wish for a new-"

The sound of people entering interrupted them before the queen could finish her sentence, one being the Royal Advisor, and the other her assistant. They strode forward, the young assistant carrying a pad that surely had notes from the speech written down.

"Your Majesties," she curtsied at the foot of the stairs, her silver wings spread wide behind her as a show of trust. After a moment she rose again, a bright smile on her beautiful face. "Queen Titania, you were wonderful tonight," she began, before going into a string of compliments. But the queen simply glanced at the princess, muted laughter in her eyes.

"Kagura," she cut off the advisor, who had begun to ramble. "Did you come to provide me with information or compliments? Because I've received enough of the latter for the day."

"Pardon me, my lady. I actually did come to inform you..." She paused to look at her board, before continuing hesitantly. "There's a message from General Clive in the briefing room. It's marked with his insignia, so we can't open it according to the law, as I'm sure you know. So I came to request your presence so you can open the missive."

Titania shifted in her seat, before standing. Her black armor glinted dangerously in the lacrima light, and her wings ruffled seemingly of their own accord as she descended the steps. Pausing at the bottom, she faced the princess. "Levy, you may retire for the night."

"But m'lady, I wish to-" she started defensively.

"Not this time," the queen shook her head. "I know what this report is about. I've been expecting it for three weeks now. I will not read it in the presence of any," she glanced at Kagura, who stood dutifully by her side. "And it will be burned to ash once I've read it through. This is a report of the highest importance, and I'm sorry, but not even you may bear witness to it."

Puffing out her cheeks in annoyance for a moment, Levy nodded. "I'll retire to my quarters then. Good night, Titania. Kagura." With that, she turned on her heel and made her way to the door to the private wing. An escort guard trailed some fifteen feet behind her, leaving enough space that she didn't feel crowded as she lost herself in her thoughts. In the short walk to her quarters, Levy thought of many possibilities for what could be in that missive. It could be a casualty report from the front lines, or intel on the dragons, or even a plan of attack. What was so important it needed to be burned?!

Arriving at her rooms, she absentmindedly thanked the guard, then entered and shut the door firmly behind her. Alone at last after another long day of sitting up straight and faking smiles, she carefully removed the tiara from her blue hair, placing it gently in its velvet lined chest and closing the lid. She then made her way to the wardrobe to shimmy out of the pale green dress she'd been stuffed into for the duration of the day. Picking out a pair of fitted canvas pants and a long red tunic, she fastened the back of the shirt, which dipped down like most clothes to accommodate her wings. She tugged on a pair of boots and checked her appearance in the mirror before realizing she still had makeup on. After washing it off, she was ready. She didn't do it often, only on nights like this when the moon was at its fullest, but she was prepared to go see her best friends from many years back.

Unlatching the door, she stepped onto the balcony outside her room and spread her wings wide. Stepping onto the hand railing, she closed her eyes and let gravity take over. Keeping her wings close enough to her body that they didn't get caught by the wind, she fell down, down, down to the last second when she snapped them open and narrowly escaped the ground now three feet below her. A toothy grin spread over her face as she ascended to glide over the royal gardens. The hedges in the center were planted and trimmed in the shape of the sigil of Fiore, surrounded by hundreds of flowers. The garden was always one of her favorite places to go and read during the midday hour. The trees would whisper to her with the breezes that would often come through, and she would sometimes spend her time inspecting the different plants and flowers. She had become very particular with the red camellias which grew in the northeast corner of the garden, and the kadupul that bloomed only by the light of the moon in the center of the garden. But right now, she different plans.

Soaring through the night sky, she spotted her destination in the now thick forest below. A soft glow permeated the foliage, marking one of the nearby Lunarion gatherings, which were only held once a month when the moon was fullest. Friends would gather from all over the region at the closest gathering and celebrate the night for all its beauty. As she flew, excitement grew in Levy's stomach at the thought of seeing her friends once more.

After a little while, she found herself descending through the trees headfirst, paying little attention to the leaves and branches that tried to snag her. The lights from below the ancient canopy were now visible and approaching quickly. Then, with a few pumps of her wings, she slowed to a stop and set down in the center of the clearing. Not many people noticed, with how loud and busy it already was. The shops on one end of the space were packed with fae from all over the area, and they cast a glow over the rest of the clearing. The light also came from the lanterns hanging throughout the lower branches of the canopy, and the lacrima floating below those. The clearing was full of fae, eager to spend the night with one another, especially when it was still so young.

Smile still on her face, Levy turned to make her way to the usual meeting spot at the bar, when she heard someone cry out.

"It's the princess!" Came a voice from her left. The noise in the clearing dimmed, as people looked over to see if it was true. There were more cries of surprise, before all talking ceased and everyone's eyes were on her. Slowly, the crowd seemed to rise up as the fae around her extended their wings. It was a sight she thought she'd never get used to. With another smile, she extended her own wings, lifting herself above the crowd.

"Hello everyone," she started, having every intention of keeping the speaking brief. "I hope you all enjoy the night, and I'm happy to spend mine in the company of you all." As people clapped and returned to their conversations, Levy let out the breath she had been holding, before gliding over to the bar where she already spotted her friends.

"Levy!" She heard the excited calls from the group as she set down near them. A pair of arms was almost immediately wrapped around her shoulders, followed by a squeal that could only belong to Lucy. Levy hugged the blonde back for a few moments before they let go. "How's royal life treating you?"

"Not terribly," Levy grinned. "Though I wish I didn't have to wear such fancy dresses all the time. They get so heavy!" The two laughed briefly before moving to where the others were seated.

The oh-so-familiar faces that greeted her warmed her heart. Behind the counter stood the ever-beautiful Mirajane Strauss, and seated to the far left were two of her closest friends, Jet and Droy. They each had a mug in hand, and a greasy-looking drumstick occupied Droy's other hand. On the other end of the bar was Lucy's boyfriend Natsu, a pink-haired fire nymph who was, as usual, arguing with Gray, an ice nymph. Their tails, pink and blue respectively, whipped back and forth as the two went at it over something surely trivial. On the other side of Gray was Juvia, a blue-haired water nymph who had an infatuation with the ice nymph beside her for whatever reason. And in the middle was little Wendy Marvell, her long dragonfly wings tucked against her back as she sat quietly near Mira.

"Welcome, princess," Mira called as she continued wiping off the mug in her hands. The sight of her once struck fear into Levy, but over time she had grown to love the dragoness. After betraying her people in the war and voluntarily having her wings clipped, Levy had no reason not to trust the woman. "Can I get you anything to drink tonight?"

"Nothing to drink, but I will take one of those chocolate pastries you guys have," Levy requested, taking a seat between Lucy and Wendy.

"One pastry coming up!" Mira nodded, before going about her business.

As Lucy went to try and break up the brawl between the two nymphs, Levy turned to the little girl beside her. "Hello Wendy, how are you?"

"I'm alright, how about you?" The young Sectian placed her elbow on the counter and put her chin in her hand with a smile.

"I'm alright as well, glad to be here with all of you again. I just came from a speech at the palace, so of course I couldn't wait to be away from all the clamor," she rolled her eyes and smiled. "How's Chelia? I thought she was going to be here?"

"She couldn't make it. Her greenhouse just got in a new shipment and she had to make sure everything got to the right places." Wendy gave a small sigh, looking a bit upset.

"Well cheer up, I'm sure she'll be able to make it next month," Levy patted the younger girl on the head lovingly.

"We really are lucky to have you as princess, Levy. I think you're going to make a magnificent queen someday." Wendy seemed to cheer up, her wings ruffling behind her.

"I'll certainly try my hardest to be one..." Levy's mouth went somewhat dry at the thought of being queen. So much responsibility would be placed on her shoulders, and even after all these years as princess, she still wasn't positive she would ever be ready for it.

"Yeah I'm sure you'll be a great queen, Levy," came a deeper voice from the other side of Wendy. Jet leaned onto the counter to peer around the younger girl with a grin that brought Levy out of her reverie.

"Jet! Droy! I haven't seen you two in three months!" She suddenly remembered she hadn't greeted the two men. They'd missed the last two gatherings due to sickness and prior engagements. But now that they finally made it to one, she couldn't help but nearly tackle them off their seats. She hugged Droy first, then moved to Jet, hesitating a moment before burying her face in his chest. Had she had her way and not been chosen as princess, Levy would have loved to settle down with him, maybe open her own bookshop. It could have been a peaceful, modest life. But instead, she was the heir to the throne, and at the moment she was forbidden from relationships with men. Maybe once she was queen...

"I've missed you, Lev..." he whispered into her hair. Levy could have stayed in his arms all night were it not for Mira returning with her food.

"One chocolate pastry for the little princess," the barmaid called jokingly.

Releasing Jet with a bittersweet smile, Levy returned to her seat to receive the food. As Lucy returned to sit next to her, they began talking about the plot of her latest novel. The night passed by in a flurry of laughter and loud voices, especially from the two nymphs who never seemed to run out of arguments. In all too little time, fae began to return to their homes, anticipating the approaching dawn. Saying her final farewells, Levy was on her way as well, sad to leave all her friends but knowing she had to be back at the palace soon.

As she flew, she tried her best to clear her mind. Thoughts of Jet were running around her mind, and she knew they would lead nowhere good. But it was so difficult to keep telling herself that. Looking to the horizon over the forest, she admired the streaks of pre-dawn light washing over the sky. It helped ever-so-slightly when she reminded herself that once she was queen, she'd be able to take a suitor and, hopefully, marry him. But that wouldn't happen until well into her rule, which was still so far away.

Several minutes passed before she returned to the palace. The early dawn spilled over the flowers of the garden, washing every one of them in a dusty pink that would only last for a few minutes. Setting down on her balcony, Levy sighed deeply, before stepping back into the confines of her chambers.

The large bed to her left called out to her, promising to clear her mind and ease the tension in her body. But as she stretched with a long yawn, she caught sight of her wings. More feathers than she cared to admit had gotten out of place during the night's festivities, and she huffed at the thought of having to preen after such a long night. Deciding it could wait until later, she climbed into her bed after kicking off her shoes, not even caring that she was still fully clothed.