notes: AJFDLHJKDHFADHKJFD sorry for the wait, folks.

.

.

.

(all of the world is made of faith,
and trust,
and pixie dust)

/though i haven't seen you

.

.

2

It takes me by surprise.

Like a single, gloomy cloud on a bright and sunny day.

And just like the clouds, the royal family drifts in to pay a visit to our little town of Magnolia. There is a party at my mansion, courtesy of Papa.

The prince attends.

He is the prince.

His name is Natsu.

I can't forget even if I want to, because he told me to remember, on that fateful day in fall.

And remember I did.

Papa urges me to greet him. (I had planned to, anyway.)

I had planned to, and yet the more I look at him, shining and sparkling and more radiant than ever, the harder it becomes to approach him.

"So you turned out to be the prince of Fiore," I finally manage to squeak.

He swivels around, lips curling up blissfully.

He's smiling at me.

I remember it.

(Though he has gotten older, face slimmer, features heavier and more defined.)

I still want to smile like him.

Then, it takes me a moment for realization to dawn on me. The lack of recognition in those same darkdark eyes. Nothing reflects back to me.

I feel my face fall.

"Do I... know you?"

He sounds uncertain.

I decide not to answer. Maybe because I'm not quite ready to accept that he has forgotten me.

"Um, I think Porlyusica called for me..."

I turn to leave, long dress flowing.

I am taken by surprise for the second time today, when he catches my elbow and spins me around.

"Wait―don't go yet."

My feet root themselves to the floor, and I internally panic. My expression, however, retains composure.

Endless black eyes stare at me hard, scrutinizing, analyzing, searching for answers.

I'm not sure he will find them.

"You seem really familiar. Somehow. I don't know."

"I'm simply just Jude and Layla Heartfilia's daughter. Nothing more, your highness."

His nose scrunches up.

"Just call me Natsu, thanks."

He sure gives enough orders to be a prince.

"Yes, sir."

"So. I hear Magnolia's pretty amazing this time of year. Tell me, what is there to see?"

I purse my lips, tight and nervous, because he said tell me.

"Magnolia's rainbow sakura is definitely something you shouldn't miss. But I'm sure you can see it―"

"Rainbow sakura? Seriously?"

Natsu wears an expression of absolute excitement and glee.

I nod, slowly.

And then, there is a mischievous glint in his charcoal eyes when he says,

"Show me."

.

.

I take him to my special spot.

Where the wind stops blowing, the flowers are dancing, and the skies are grinning.

I lead him through the tall, free grass, by the hand, fingers gently tangled.

His hand is very warm.

We arrive, and he's grinning and beaming so brightly.

Brighter than the sun.

I swallow the urge to shield my eyes, but I don't let go of his hand.

It wasn't an order.

I just don't want to.

Natsu suddenly looks at me, smiling so hard that even I can't help but return it.

I want to smile like that.

I don't have time to ruminate―what is that meaning behind his smile?―before he holds me tighter, and we're running and flying and laughing through the fields.

I look at him. He looks at me.

We share identical grins.

Finally, will I be able to smile like him?

It takes one look, reflected in the mirror of our eyes, and we both understand. There are hardships and pains and sadsad pasts. But for now, none of that matters.

For now, we just need to live.

It is spring, I am eighteen, but I feel like I'm seven.

I am jumping and dancing with the prince in the fields, and I cannot believe this is real.

And then we both fall over, right underneath the beautiful sakura trees, breathless and exhausted and sore in the legs.

I watch the rainbow leaves drift downward, chaotic and graceful at the very same time.

"The spring fairies are hard at work," I muse without really thinking.

I see him stir in the corner of my eye.

"Fairies?" He asks.

I nod. He leans in to listen, elbow propping his head up.

"Mama told me a long time ago. There are fairies―teeny tiny little fairies―that change the seasons."

Natsu glances around.

"You can't see them. But they're there."

"Have you seen one before?"

I shake my head, heavy with regret.

"No, but I want to. I've wanted to since I was young. When Mana first told me."

"I wonder, do fairies have tails?" He heaves a breathy sigh.

"Maybe."

We lie in silence, listening to the rustling of the trees above.

"So, where are the summer fairies?" Natsu finally says, wind blowing through his dusty pink hair.

"What do you mean? It's spring..."

His gaze darkens, and the sparkle is gone.

"Haven't you noticed? There hasn't been a summer in over eleven years."

And then I understand. And I am also shrouded in the darkness of reality.

"I remember, Mama once told me before she died, that the summer spirit is missing. And the fairies can't work without the spirit there to guide them."

"Is there a spring spirit too?"

I stare into his eyes, blackblack eyes. He is completely serious.

"Yup. He's here right now, with the spring fairies."

Natsu follows my gaze skyward.

"What's his name?"

I shake my head.

"I don't know. No one knows."

He laughs, a deep, resonating sound that rumbles beside me.

"Tell me, is your name... Lucy?"

Eyes wide, I struggle to give a shaky nod.

Has he...?

"I knew it!" He cheers.

"How did you...?"

"That was the only name that I remembered so clearly, but it was missing a face."

He sits up suddenly, brightbright expression back on his face.

"Hey, Lucy," he grins at me.

"Hey, Natsu."

"Let's go on an adventure, you and I."

I blink.

And blink.

And blink again.

"To where?"

"To find the summer spirit, of course!"

I pause, because it wasn't an order, a demand, but an invitation.

I smile at him like he smiles at me.

"Okay."

.

.

(are you still there?)

.

.

notes: more characters introduced next chapter. AREN'T YOU EXCITED!? OF COURSE YOU ARE.