Natsu hopped on his horse and chased after the girl. "Go Happy!" the horse, breathing heavily, galloped after the girl. The prince trusted his nose to follow the scent trail, but suddenly, he caught another scent.
Suddenly, he pulled Happy's reins, and got off, following his nose to a tree stump. He bent down. There was a hollow underneath made from roots, and below that was a little scared girl. It was the one who ran from the sleeping bag, he thought. She had darker blonde hair and wide blue eyes. she was wearing ratty clothing, and scrunched further in was a navy cloak. her face was dirty and smeared with earth and soot.
"Hey." He said calmly, reaching out. The girl flinched. "What are you doing down there?" she whimpered in response, tucking herself further into the corner. He pulled back.
"Are you one of the Golden Spirit's friends? What's your name?" she shook her head, next to tears.
Michelle, knowing her manners, answered the prince as best as she could. "I-I'm her sister. My name is Michelle" The voice was timid.
"There's no need to hide." He reassured her.
"I'm not listening to you!" there was a little more courage in the voice, "because sis says that you'll bring us to jail! Don't bring us to jail, Prince Dragneel. She's only looking out for me." his eyes softened for a quick moment.
"Really? So how did she become the Golden Spirit, Michelle?" he sat down, cross-legged in front of the stump.
"Well, S-Sis ran away from home, but s-she was young, so she couldn't get a job to get money for food. She wouldn't go to an adoption center, because she'd heard that they treat kids badly. S-so Spirit had to steal, and by the time she was o-old enough to get a job, she'd stolen so much food that she would be arrested if she went into the towns. It's not something Spirit does for fun, Prince, she only takes as much as we need." Michelle hiccupped trying not to cry and scream for her sister.
"S-She became the Golden Sprit because sometimes when she steals, her G-Golden keys—" she cut herself off, knowing that she was going to tell her sisters greatest secret to the person that was going to throw them in jail. She continued quickly, trying to erase her mistake.
"And whatever we don't eat we give back to the adoption center or poor kids cause—"
"What was that about Keys?" he asked, making Michelle wince.
"What about them?"
"You said keys."
"No I didn't." He rolled his eyes, but continued on.
"So your sister isn't really that bad?"
"Yes, Lord Dragneel, she's taken care of me in the only way she could. She doesn't deserve to be put in jail!"
He didn't know how to put it to her. He'd always been good with kids, but telling the little innocents bad news was not his favourite thing to do. "Well, Michelle, do you know how much she's stolen from people around here? It's gonna be me capturing her and placing into a nicer jail, or the soldiers catch her one day and get her head cut off."
Michelle got tears in her eyes. "No, no, no, no, no! Sissy's not gonna get caught by the stupid guard or anyone else! We'll always be there for each other." She pouted, and her eyes glittered with tears. "I can't let her be caught by a person who wants to throw her in jail. I don't like you!" Natsu winced.
"Okay Michelle, what about we go find your sister." He said. Michelle tucked herself deeper into the hole. He couldn't pull her out without hurting her, but he was too big to fit through the hole. "Michelle..!" he warned.
"No!"
"On the count of three, if you don't get up here, I will have to uproot this trunk and get you myself..!" he threatened lightly.
"One..! Two..! Thr—" he was pushed onto the ground, and Michelle scrambled to the top, accidently kicking the pink-haired prince eating dirt.
"Sorry Prince Dragneel!" she cried, looking behind her, catching up to Spirit. Lucy had been waiting to ambush the prince but when he didn't come for her she went to investigate and found him talking to a trapped Michelle.
"Happy!" Natsu cried, spitting out dirt. Suddenly, the blue horse reared in front of them, cutting off their exit. Lucy pulled Michelle to take another way, but the horse moved to block them. She turned around, but the Prince was already up.
She'd have to use it. Unclipping one of her Keys from her belt, she slashed it in the air. "Open, Gate of the Golden Bull, Taurus!" a humanoid cow, wearing panties with a huge axe strapped on his back appeared. Happy was momentarily scared back.
"Taurus, kick his ass!" she cried, running with Michelle. "I forgot to mention that he tried to kiss me! On the lips!" Spirit added, tugging the girl behind her.
"Mooooo! That is a criminal offense in my book, Prince!" The Bull took the axe and swung it wildly at the boy. It was only because Natsu was quick that he didn't get chopped to pieces.
"Hey, where did you come from!" he hopped over the blade. "And why am I being attacked by a panty-wearing cow?" Taurus attacked, so Natsu started up his Magic.
"If you're not getting out of my way, I'm gonna make you!" his hands lit on fire, much to Taurus's surprise, and Natsu retaliated. He swung under the blade, then jumped up and head-but the Bull in the stomach. Taurus faded with a final 'moo.'
"Okay, now to get that thief." He muttered. "Happy!" the horse galloped by, and Natsu swung on. "Max speed! Catch up with those girls!" This mission was certainly worth it, Natsu thought excitedly. These girls were tricky.
He didn't notice it then, but for some reason he wouldn't call them 'bandits.'
Happy easily caught up with the girls. "Come with me without struggling and I'll think about your punishment lighter." Michelle, startled, tripped and fell. Lucy cried out, turning back, but Natsu was faster. He scooped up Michelle in his arms. Happy waited patiently.
"Don't!" Lucy cried, reaching out then quickly pulling back. "Don't... don't do anything to her. It was me, all along. She didn't do anything. I'll go with you, just... let her go." She swallowed. Natsu let go of Michelle, and the terrified girl was pulled next to Lucy.
Natsu took her keys with his free hand, tossed them aside, and then barked, "Turn around." Lucy did as he said, because a struggling Michelle was still in his grip, and felt her hands being tied with rope. Natsu let go of the younger girl, and led Lucy to the horse.
"Wait!" Michelle ran up to them, crying. "I'm going with you too!" she grabbed onto Natsu's leg, wrapping her legs around his, clinging there. The prince looked down.
Lucy smiled tightly. "No, Michelle, you're going to stay here and live a free life. You're old enough to get a job now so you can get money. Don't steal like I did." She scolded her. "Let go of the prince's leg."
"No!" she refused.
"Let. go. Now!" Lucy roared. The girl closed her eyes, tears prickling at the corners, but shook her head. Lucy forced her hands out of Natsu's grip and bent down. She spoke in a softer tone. "Michelle, I'm going now. You have to let go." Lucy smiled, but it quivered. This might be the last time she saw her. Natsu stood there awkwardly.
Lucy smelled something metallic in the air. She clued in on it, seeing the spreading wet stain on Michelle's arm. "Oh my god! Michelle! You're bleeding...' Lucy looked at the alarming rate that the wet spot was spreading. Lucy nosed the cloth of her cloak back, where there was a large gash through her ratty shirt. On her shoulder blade, there was a large cut bleeding heavily. Spirit's eyes widened.
"Where'd you get this?" she demanded.
"In the tree truck, I climbed inside but something cut me." she sobbed.
Lucy pulled at the ropes the prince tied but she couldn't get free. She looked up desperately. "Prince, please let me help her! She's only a little girl, and she's hurt."
Natsu smiled slightly. "I'll bind up the wound, and if she comes with us, I can get Wendy to fix it." Lucy frowned.
"Who's Wendy?" the answer came to her. "Your sister, Princess Wendy? How's she going to help?"
Michelle's arms loosened around Natsu's legs from exhaustion and blood loss, and Lucy dived to soften Michelle hitting the ground. Spirit grunted, but to her surprise, the pink-haired prince picked her up in his arms. "Wendy's a Healing mage. A Sky Dragon Slayer. She'll be able to heal it." Natsu reached into Happy's satchel and got out the bandages. Expertly, he ripped off Michelle's right sleeve and wrapped the bandaged around the wound, snaking under her armpit and around her neck, as Lucy struggled to sit.
"But- but..!"
"She won't mind. She heals people all the time." Natsu chuckled. "Happy, can you take two-and-a-half passengers at Max Speed?" The horse snickered, and the prince patted his flank. "Thanks bud."
"Hop on." He told the female thief. He realized his mistake as Lucy gave a pointed glare at him. Natsu smiled sheepishly, and helped her up. He lifted Lucy off her feet, making her cry out in surprise, and popped her on the blue horse.
"So, what's your real name?" Natsu asked, swinging himself on the horse too, behind the Golden Spirit and Michelle. Lucy was in front, Michelle sandwiched between them, and Natsu in back.
Lucy decided to give up hiding it. "My real name is Lucy. It's Spirit to you. Only Michelle calls me Lucy."
Natsu recoiled at her snappiness, but called to Happy, "come on Happy! Max Speed to the castle!"
"Aye sir!" the horse cried, starting off slow, and then getting faster and faster. Natsu held onto the reins tightly.
Lucy realized the problem. "The horse talks!" as they rocketed off to the Dragneel Castle.