A/N: My first ever story here on . I hope you guys give me reviews to improve my writing.

Dedicated to NeverInUrWildestDreams for her Renou story inspired me to write this.


Chapter 1

Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess. She was trapped in the tower by an evil queen who was jealous of her beauty. She was promised one day that her prince will come to save her. The princess waited alone in the tower. Until one day she decided to just kill the freaking queen and move on with her life. Her prince was eaten by some wild animals in the forest because he was so stupid. The waiting was so stupid. This whole story was so stupid. The end.

I have decided, long ago, this princess wouldn't be that stupid to just wait. I, Juvia Lockser, didn't need a man to be happy.

The sun has awakened. It begun to uncover the blanket of darkness that enveloped my kingdom as it always did. Its light revealed the marvel that was my home for centuries now, row by row. It shone upon the ocean that created the illusion of glittering diamonds on a plane of blue. The waters ended at the foot of East Magnolia where the tired merchant ships rested. The human houses built near the sea stood proud like little children lined in a row, they stared up the sun to welcome it.

The shopping district, where I spent most of my days, was still jumbled from yesterday's activity. There were the large stores owned by the wealthier merchants while outside the streets, lined in an aisle, were the humble ones. This part of the kingdom was the busiest during festivals, celebrations and even just in ordinary times when the sun began to hide and the apricot skyline fell before darkness engulfed the East.

The Borboun Street, in 1887, was a blank canvass of greenery scene. As years went by, I watched the void land developed into a high-class estate and houses of all sorts of glamour and extravagance were erected. It was the complete opposite of the dwelling near the sea.

Finally, the light had reached the doorstep of my castle. Its long and slender fingers pried open my windows to caress me. I felt it burn my leg. I hissed. I forgot to wear my sun ring. I bolted up and gathered myself near my bed's headboard where I was safely hidden from the burning star. I blindly searched for my red-stone and when I found it just beneath the pile of papers in drawer, slid it on my fingers. You thought that the vampires have lived for so long they could have evolved by now. No. The sun was still our enemy. It still hated our existence. It could still burn me down to ashes. But with this ring my kind could walk in the day. Like what I was about to do now. Walk in the day. I propped myself to stand and closed the distance between me and my veranda. The sun was grinning at me. It seemed like it was mocking me. He knows he could kill me in an instant. I waved my hands at it. You could not burn me with this thing on! Jewelries were really a girl's best friend.

I was more comfortable in the night like all vampires were but I learned to accept the existence of the light. They were not enemies; they needed each other. The dark needed the light to find its way home when it was lost while the light needed darkness to offset her blinding brilliance. Proper light could only be appreciated in the proper darkness. And wasn't it that when you light a candle, you cast a shadow? They were not enemies; they needed each other.

I inhaled the fresh morning scent. Today's a good day. I noticed a bird rest at the end of my veranda. I watched it peck on the brick. Its body was adorned by different shades of blue. Its long and shiny feathers felt like silk under my fingertips. I savored the aromatic smell of the red fluid flowing through its veins. I marveled at it for a second then the bird made a brief squeaking sound when I flicked it with my fingers. You see, when you're, how did the cool kids say it these days? Oh yeah, bummed out, even the loveliest of things got pretty annoying. Nothing seemed right. And to say that Juvia Lockser was angry was the understatement of the year. I was furious!

"HU-WHAT?!" I raised my voice at the King.

We were sitting on the long dining table. He wasn't surprised of my reaction. He knew I would receive the news like this. I stood up and smashed my hands on the table. The servants gathered at the side. The guards stood their grounds. They were assessing the situation. Was I a threat to the King? Heck, I was his daughter!

"Juvia, sit down and finish your food." The Queen sat at my father's left, opposite me. I turned my deadly stare at her but she didn't even budge.

"Is that agreement even still in-tact?" I questioned. I didn't think I can ever look at my favorite red flesh the same way as I used to. I just lost my appetite. Who wouldn't when your parents just dropped the 'You're getting married' bomb on you just like that? As if it was a casual topic between friends. Like saying, oh girl nice fangs. Or oh my gosh, I just broke a bone.

"It is what it is honey. The court has come to a conclusion. It is time and your mother and I agreed." Great! Now they just decided for me. I'm hundred and almost eighteen. I think I could make decisions on my own.

I tried to reason with them. I honestly believed my case was strong and I was pretty convincing. I even gestured my hands to put emphasis on the important keywords like twenty-first, century, engagement, absurd, who still does that. Okay the last one wasn't a word. But I got both my hands up while saying the entire phrase.

"This treaty has been there for many years, and for a reason. It's the only thing that keeps the harmony between humans and vampires." I looked at my mother. Her back still straightened up. She put a spoonful of the soup in her mouth, not caring about the world. Really, mother? While I was fighting for my life here?

"Oh honey, it's not that bad. I mean just look at me and your mother." They shared a smile that reached until the eyes. Usually, this would paint the same happiness on my face; a smile full of love that usually sent butterflies in my stomach, now I felt like crows were raiding my insides.

"The Imperial Court has already discussed this issue. The event would take place on the week of your hundred and eighteenth birthday. The victor and the engagement will be announced on your very special day." So I was supposed to be unhappy on my birthday? They're making me regret I was born.

I think you know what we were discussing here. It was the "Unity" Provision. When a member of the royal family was of age to marry, the imperial courts would host a gathering. Each high-ranked human clan should be invited to present their champions to participate in the said event. We called it the "Selection". The challenges would be handpicked by the queen. Yes, my mother – the Great Queen. I knew she was the culprit behind all of these!

When she was twenty years old, the queen participated in my father's Selection. She was the champion of the Scarlet family. It was an easy victory. She was born to rule the land, to rule East Magnolia and to reign sovereign in my father's heart. And yes, my mother was human but she chose to embrace what she was now. One of us – a vampire. Her humanity always got in the way. And now, it's in me. Other vampires could turn off their humanity. Feel no remorse. No pain. No happiness. Nothing at all. Because a part of me was still my mother, was human, I found it hard to completely shut it down. This would make me look weak in front of my other vampire peers. I detest it. But as I said, she was my mother and I love her. Just not her human side. And not now when she's forcing this whole marriage thing down my throat.

My legs couldn't support my weight anymore. I held the cut meat and what other substance I stuffed my stomach that threatened to come out. The whole world was spinning. Suddenly, it was hard to breath.

"Oh stop over-reacting." The queen read her mind. She abandoned her spoon on the side and looked at me for the first time since father broke the worst news, ever.

"Mother, Gajeel is older but you don't see her parents selling her out to the humans."

Mother's eye brows met. Her usual lovely face turned serious. If I knew better, going against the queen's wishes would be the death of me. If father's words were the law, hers were the author of those laws.

"Don't use that tone on me young lady. Besides, I already sent out the invitations. We are just waiting for the responses." And I just flailed my arms and whined like the mature hundred and eighteen year old that I wasn't.

She would be in-charge of this whole shenanigan. My mother, Victoria of the Scarlet Family got the entire kingdom to prepare for it. She was the queen after all.

"But father..."

It was mother's voice that interrupted me. I wasn't sure if she was wearing a mask or something because that's the only explanation how fast she could change her expression. She just went from love-crazed to totally deadly. A lump suddenly formed in my throat. I swallowed it, swallowed it hard. Her crystal blue eyes were staring straight at me. Shit. Shit just got real.

I had my mother's eyes. When she smiles, her eyes share the same happiness that spreads out to brighten days. Now, it's just plain scary. Scary while it only glared. I felt like a helpless rabbit losing in a staring contest with a big bad blue-eyed wolf. But I was Juvia Lockser and part of me was that wolf.

"Girls, that's enough." The King's voice was more taming rather than mad.

"I'm sorry honey, I'm afraid this is final. We have already informed the council. On the bright side, you still have a month or so to enjoy your days as a single woman." His eye brows danced on his last comment. Mother, who found it amusing just smiled. Was I the only one who found this seriously not funny?

"You better prepare yourself then. The date is drawing near."

Humans said, mothers know best. Well, I highly doubted it.

Gray walked straight towards his chair; clutching his backpack on his left shoulder while he let the other strap hang loose. He dropped it beside him as soon as he settled on his seat. He brushed his stubborn raven hair with his fingers. The room was quiet. He could count by his fingers the heads inside the classroom. He stared down the wide window on his left to confirm it. Only a few more heads were entering the school gate. He sighed. He woke up unusually early today.

"Oi Gray!" A man's voice pulled his attention back inside.

"Did you receive the invitation?" It was the annoying Dragneel – his pink-haired frenemy.

He pushed off Natsu's arms around his shoulders. He wouldn't let his day be ruined by this guy.

"Are you on your period?" He almost smacked him. Again, he wouldn't let this guy get into him.

"Doesn't your clan have some sort of a screening to make sure they don't send idiots like you for the Selection?" But he never said he wouldn't ruin his.

The pink-haired Dragneel just laughed his comment aside. He was the son of Ignus, the head of the Dragneel clan. Of course he would be the one to represent this old noble bloodline and he would replace his father in the Blue Blood Order. But not soon.

Natsu pushed his entire body backwards to let out a much louder and annoying laughter. He lost his balance and came falling down the floor, back first. Yeah. Really really not soon. Gray thought. Maybe in the furthest future even.

The iron gates of the academy fully opened. A kaleidoscope of colors came pouring in. A few students were standing in the doorway of their classroom. The teacher was always late and it annoyed Gray. The still halls were now jam-packed by discordant teenagers chattering about the news of, he guessed, the Selection, which was now common knowledge. They were probably debating who should be sent for the occasion from their respective clans. They had their own bets and he knew his name never came up. Orion Fullbuster. Now that name rolled off the tongues of every member of the Fullbuster clan. Son of Hendrix - the head of the family.

The chatters became loud talk, then just rumblings. The faceless students who blocked the entryway cleared enough space to let the Scarlet Queen pass through. They tailed her behind like a bunch of dogs. The others stood up and pooled around her. Erza Scarlet wasn't only the future ruler of the North, she was the Queen of Kindred Academy.

Erza was the school president. She kept everyone in line even the delinquent and entitled members of each clan. Ever since they were just new in the school, she was already taking in-charge and winning Knight Dreyar's Selection just solidified her social rank. She gave them a polite smile and walked towards the empty desk in front of Natsu.

"Good morning, your highness." Natsu's greeting were more of a friendly tease than a formal one.

"Shut up."

Even for Gray it was hard to believe that the three of them were friends since he could remember. In spite of coming from rival clans, they got along with Scarlet usually getting in between them if they fought. He had a crush on her. Just an itsy bitsy friendly crush. It never went further than that.

The piping nasal voice coming from his four-foot tall teacher settled everyone on their seats. She placed her things on the table, drew out a marker from her bag and began writing on the white board.

Gray hated History. Although his memory was keen and the subject came easy on him, he just hated it. What's the point of discussing things that were already in the past. Why didn't we just stop digging and just let it where it was supposed to stay, in the past? The Fullbuster might have issues but he was an obedient student. Before he began jotting down the lesson on the Renaissance, he knew what he was supposed to do. He made up his mind. After school he would do what no one ever dared to and that was to challenge Orion.

The sun was still high when Gray arrived in the front of his town's gymnasium. He knew Orion would be there to train and his father would watch closely. Although his heart was pounding loud and hard he still forced his feet inside. He walked towards the training arena. It was a wide, sandy open space. He jumped over the banister and stepped inside the battle ground. At that moment Orion had his left hand on some guy's throat. The smaller of the two had his entire body crashed against the sandy hard ground by the other. Hendrix lifted his head away from the two men wrestling and started studying Gray.

"C'mon in, boy!" He waved at him.

Orion abandoned his sparring partner and stood, tall and proud. He cracked his knuckles as the youngest of the three moved closer to where the other two were. This was not the day to be nervous. Gray reprimanded himself.

"Here to watch the training?"

Gray shook his head. He was not one who beats around the bush so he told the Baron the reason he came. The Head's eyes widened. As wide has his son's when he heard what the boy had to say but they both recovered quickly. Hendrix left out a quick laugh. Then followed Orion.

"Does your father even know you're here?" Gray didn't plan to tell his father until he secured the slot for the Selection.

"I believe the rules state that all members of the clan may participate in the Selection." Gray tried to look both respected and respectful.

"Yes. Strong members." It earned a mocking from Orion and the other men present. Even the guy pinned against the floor earlier laughed weakly.

"I, at least, want to see if I am qualified." The raven-haired boy didn't lose his cool. There was something about how he carried himself around these lions who did nothing but look down on him. And as they saw the seriousness in Gray's voice and posture, they stopped laughing.

"And I am telling you now, you are not." It was Orion's turn to bully. He pushed the latter's shoulder to intimidate him but it had no effect on Gray at all. If it did, it only encouraged the younger Fullbuster.

"I have the right."

Orion was taller than Gray so he had to look up to meet his browbeating stare but the latter didn't even budge. He wouldn't back down.

"Okay then. If you can beat my son in a hand to hand combat then I will send you for the Selection." The Baron was so sure of himself. He was so sure of his son. Orion would beat up Gray without breaking a sweat. He only gave the boy this chance to teach him a lesson. Know your place.

The Baron's henchmen gathered around them in a circle. Gray was standing opposite Orion. They sized up each other before Hendrix called for the bell. The first punch threw Gray flying. It didn't help him make his point because the spectators guffawed on his lost. Run while you can. The taller Fullbuster didn't even wait for the other to recover. He grabbed his shirt and threw in another punch. One more landed on his stomach. It just kept coming.

Orion was far from over. He gave the badly beaten boy some time to recuperate. Gray crouched with both his hands on his lap. His head was pounding hard from the pain. He wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth with his left hand.

"Give up now." Although the Baron obviously rooted for his own son, he was concerned with Gray. He was, after all, family.

Gray had other plans and none of that included to surrender. He pushed himself back up and steadied himself. He walked like a drunken man trying hard to walk a straight line.

"Go easy on the poor guy."

He heard a man shout. His opponent had a proud grin on his face. Oh how we wanted so bad to break that smile. He clenched his fists in front of him.

Okay, here I'll give you the chance. Orion had a big and buff body fit for a King – a barbaric King. His jaw was well-defined and his face was hard. He offered Gray his left cheek.

"Here hit me." He tapped his left cheek to play with Gray.

"C'mon now! Don't be such a..." before Orion could even finish his sentence he felt like thunder stroke his jaw. He felt all the hatred and the determination behind that one punch. He was taken-aback. Everybody was. His opponent have seen better days and in his present condition, where Gray got the energy to throw that punch was beyond him.

Orion was enraged. He couldn't let this low-life embarrass him especially in front of his father. He'd make that little boy pay. This lowlife he referred to took advantage of the bulkier Fullbuster's shocked state and landed him more punches. He waited for the right moment before he put on his finishing touch. With his right foot ready, Gray gathered all his remaining energy for the kick. He jumped off the ground and delivered the final blow in the air. The older one fell on the ground with a loud thump, face first.

This little act of bravery took a toll on the younger Fullbuster but it would take more than a kick to make Orion stay on the ground. It took the latter some time but he was up on both feet in less than a minute. That didn't deter Gray's spirit. Even almost drained of energy, he found the strength he believed would bring him victory - his deceased mother, his ridiculed father, his ousted brother. He wasn't doing this for himself but for his family; to bring back the honor.

The Baron was surprised but he expected it. An unwavering determination was one of the Fullbuster's renowned strengths. The boy's eyes reminded him of his younger sister's own pair. The same look when she was so determined to get back at him when he used to bully her. Even when she was younger and comparably smaller and weaker than him, she stood her ground; like her own son.

Hendrix smiled at the memory of his sister. He gave the boy his word. He would surely honor it.