All through the night Lucy ran through the forest clutching the bag that carried her precious gowns close to her. It wasn't until many hours later that she finally stopped to rest. Her dress was torn and tattered from the branches and brambles that she would get caught on while she was running, her hair was in disarray from the night wind, her body was scraped and bruised from thorns and stones, and her hands, feet, and face were covered in dirt. She no longer looked like a princess but instead a dirty beggar girl. But she didn't care she was just grateful that she got away from her mad father. Tired and hurt from running so much she decided to lie down and sleep for a moment. In the morning she awoke to the sound of horses walking.

She looked up to see several men on horses looking down at her. The youngest of them had salmon colored hair and was so handsome. She felt ashamed and embarrassed letting such a handsome young man see her like this. She just wanted to crawl away and hide somewhere.

"What is that repulsive thing?" One of the other men asked.

"I don't know but I've never seen an animal so dirty and ugly!" Another man scoffed.

"It's a girl you idiots." The handsome younger man said. "And it looks like she needs some help. Young lady what is your name?"

Lucy found herself unable to answer at the moment.

"You don't have to be afraid no one here will harm you." He assured her.

"My name is Lucy."

"I am Prince Natsu ruler of this land. May I ask where you from?"

"Somewhere I can't ever go back to."

"Do you have a family?"

"Not anymore."

"Well Lucy you are welcome to stay in my castle if you would like. My cook has been asking for an assistant and we have plenty of extra bedroom in the servants quarters not to mention plenty of food to give. Would you be interested in working in the castle?"

"Yes please if it's not too much trouble."

"Sire you can't be serious. That filthy creature in the castle?" His comrades said.

"She is a human being trying to make her way in the world just as you and I are and I order you to cease referring to her like she's some poor dumb animal. Take her to the castle and have the cook give her food and a room."

"Yes your highness."

Lucy was amazed by how gentle and kind Prince Natsu was to her, his servants, and his people. It was so different from how her father was. She was taken back to the castle where she was given food, water, and a room the sleep in. The next day she began her job sweeping the floors for the cook Minerva. But she was a mean woman who was very cruel to Lucy because of her appearance.

"If I find so much as one speck of dirt on the floor I'll beat you too you bleed!" She would say those exact words to her every morning before sending her to sweep the floors.

Lucy despite being a princess she had learned how to sweep and scrub floors from the servants in her castle so she did a very good job at keeping the floors clean. She worked very hard and never complained however Minerva still treated her cruelly. A few days later the prince's father King Igneel decided to throw a ball in hopes that his son would find a wife.

The entire castle was overwhelmed with excitement as they prepared for the big event. Lucy swept and scrubbed the ballroom floor until it shined like freshly polished sliver. Like everyone else she wanted everything to be perfect for the ball. As she worked she began to remember the times when she used to attend royal balls. Back before she had lost her mother and before her father had succumbed to his madness. Things were so happy and cheerful back then. It broke her heart that she would never again be able to dance with her father or have her mother dress her and do her hair before the ball.

"What are you doing you lazy wretch?!" Minerva cried snapping Lucy out of her thoughts.

"Oh I apologize ma'am I must've dazed off. I was just thinking about how wonderful it would be to attend the ball."

"What! You dirty impudent slut!" Minerva hissed with venom and distaste in her voice. "You among all the fine lords and ladies with your filthy animal skin! A fine figure you'd cut!"

"It was a merely a thought."

"A thought that you better put out of your mind if you know what's good for you! Honestly what I have to put up with! Not only do I have to spend everyday slaving over a hot stove for the king and his brat but I had to have pity in my heart and give a job sweeping floors and all I've got in return is laziness and complaints!"

"Forgive me for upsetting you."

"Your sweet words won't always save you from my anger! Now get back to work you ungrateful girl before I throw you back in the gutter!"

Meanwhile Natsu was not at all excited about attending the ball. You see he didn't know how to dance and one of the most embarrassing things in the world was to be a prince who couldn't dance. The poor young man didn't want to humiliate himself in front of all those people.

"I don't want to attend this stupid ball Father!"

"But son I'm only doing it so you can find a wife." Igneel said.

"But I don't even want to get married yet! I swear Father when are you going to stop meddling in my personal life?"

"When you give me grandchildren."

"Oh Father not this again!" Natsu groaned.

"I'm getting old son and I don't want to be dead when you finally decide to start a family. Your cousin Gajeel has already given your uncle Metalicana two grandchildren in the same year."

"That's because they were twins Father."

"The point is my brother has two grandchildren and I have none. You know we wouldn't have to do this if you had just married Princess Lisanna like her parents and I had arranged for you two when you were children."

"Father we didn't want to marry each other because we saw each other more as brother and sister than husband and wife. Why can't you just let me decided when I'm ready to get married?"

"Again because I'm old son and I don't want to be dead when my first grandchild is born."

"Oh brother." He said face palming.

That night as Lucy sat alone in her room she began to debate on weather or not she should attend the ball or not. On one hand there was a good chance she might embarrass herself in front of all those nobles but on the other hand she had been working so hard and had been suffering so much without complaining once, she figured that she deserved at least one night of happiness.

Agreeing with her second thought she took off her animal skin coat, washed her hands, feet, and face, brushed her hair, and changed into one of her three gowns. She chose to wear the gown as golden as the sun. Once cleaned and properly dressed with hair neatly combed and styled, Lucy made her way to the ballroom following the music that played.