Chapter 6

*Levy*

The overhead bell jingled as she stepped through the door of the clothes shop.

"Hello! Welcome to Juvia's- Levy!" Juiva called out. She was hidden behind a mountain of fabric in her arms, but she immediately dropped it when she saw her friend standing in the shop.

The two girls ran at each other, arms wide and waiting.

"Oh Levy!" Juvia crashed into the smaller woman. "Juvia is so sorry she didn't come to visit you lately! Will all of this chaos with the upcoming ball, Juvia had been swamped with orders! She has to make outfits for the towns people AND the royals!"

Levy giggled at her friend's rambling, "Juvia relax. You know that I will always be here to help you out,"

"And Juvia is very grateful for that," she assured her. "Juvia is also grateful that there are only three royals that she has to make clothes for," she walked back over to the mound of fabric she dropped earlier as she talked.

"Three?" Levy inquired. She too bent down to help her friend clean up the mess.

"Yes three," Juvia confirmed, "King Metalicanna, Prince Gajeel, and Princess Wendy,"

"Oh I had forgotten about the princess," Levy felt stupid for not remembering her. Wendy, even at her young age, was known all throughout the kingdoms as the kindest princess there ever was. Levy had never met her, but she sounded like a total sweet heart.

"It's alright," Juvia giggled, "With the way you work, Juvia wouldn't be surprised if you had forgotten that there was even a king!"

"Ha, yeah,"

The two girls finished cleaning up the dropped fabric, and went to go chat in the back sewing room.

"So what brings you here?" Juvia asked as she handed Levy a cup of tea. "You hardly ever come by the shop,"

"Yes well," Levy took a sip of the tea, "Unfortunately, I came to give you more work. Lady Minerva and her daughters need dresses for the ball, and you're the best seamstress in the kingdom,"

Juvia laughed merrily, "Juvia is very grateful that you think so highly of her. But..." she took a sip of her tea and looked at Levy suspiciously, "You said that only said your step-siblings needed gowns. Does that mean you have your own outfit?"

Levy looked sadly down at the carpet, "No, I don't. I'm not going to the ball,"

"What?!" Juvia exclaimed, bringing her cup down with a thud, "What do you mean you aren't coming?"

"Well, after the whole ordeal with the invitations, Lady Minerva forbade it," Levy mumbled dejectedly.

Juvia's face flushed an angry red as she spoke in a dangerous voice, "Yes. Gavin told Juvia about that,"

"Juvia, please," Levy shook her head, "Getting angry about it isn't going to do anything. Besides," her tone was bitter now, "I've been through worse,"

"What more could they have possibly done to you?"

"Remember the day we met? At the graveyard?" Levy asked.

Juvia nodded her head slowly.

"That day, I had asked to see my father's grave. Lady Minerva got mad and called him a traitor to the family for dying. Then she forced me to sleep in the graveyard that night. I wasn't allowed to return home until dawn the next day,"

"What? Why didn't you say anything to Juvia? She would have helped you!"

"I had only just met you! I couldn't impose on you like that!" Levy countered.

It looked like Juvia was about to say more on the subject, but the light jingle of the doorbell interrupted her. "Juvia will be right back," She stood and returned to the front of the shop.

Levy could hear faint voices from the other side of the wall, and then something unexpected happened.

"Miss Levy is here?" A small voice asked from behind the door.

"What the..." The woman murmured.

Soon after, the door swung open and revealed Juvia. "Levy, someone wants to meet you,"

"Meet me?" She echoed, not understanding why anyone would want to meet her.

"Yes," Juvia nodded her head and smiled fondly, "It's a friend of Juvia's. Gavin is here as well,"

Gavin's here too? The butterflies in her stomach perked up at the thought of seeing her large friend. Levy stood and adjusted her burlap headband. "Ok, coming,"

Juvia held the door open for Levy to walk by. As she entered the room, Gavin's hulking figure greeted her eyes first.

"Hey there Short Stuff," He flashed her her favorite crooked grin and gave a little wave.

Levy rolled her eyes but smiled, "Hello Gavin,"

"Are you Miss Levy?" A new voice spoke up. Levy turned and she met the big brown eyes of the little girl that stood next to Gavin.

"Yes I am. Are you the one who wanted to meet me?" Levy asked.

The little girl's face split into the most adorable smile Levy had ever seen. Then again, the girl was probably the most adorable thing she had ever seen. Her long deep blue hair was tied back in to pigtails, revealing her bright brown eyes that gleamed cheerfully at Levy. She was dressed in a knee-length blue dress that was about same the color as Levy's hair.

"Juvia has told me so much about you!" the girl gushed, "She said you're super sweet and helpful and really pretty! You really are pretty!" she grinned.

Levy laughed kindly at her. In all honesty, she was surprised that she could see past the rags she was wearing and dirt covering her face.

"Thank you so much!" Levy thanked her. "So, you know my name, but I have yet to know yours,"

"Oh! My apologies! I'm Wendy!" she grinned.

Wendy? Something about that name rang a faint bell. Where had she heard it before? The cogs in her brain turned, trying to remember, until something clicked. "Wendy? As in, the Princess?"

"That's me!" she beamed. Suddenly her expression turned to that of suspicion. "But you can't tell anyone that I'm here. I might get in trouble," she whispered into Levy's ear, but still loud enough for everyone else to hear her.

Levy chuckled then whispered back, "Don't worry. It's our little secret,"

"Heh, yeah," Gavin spoke up, "She ain't gonna be the one that gets the woopin'. I'm the one that'll be gettin' in trouble,"

"Why's that?" Levy asked.

"'Cuz I'm the one that brought 'er here. She got bored so I snuck 'er out," He ruffled Wendy's hair and she giggled.

Levy thought it was extremely sweet that Gavin would help out the little princess like that, but something about the situation didn't sit right with Levy. "You aren't allowed to leave the castle?" she asked, confused.

"Well no. I'm allowed to leave, but I have to have an escort from the royal guard to come with me," Wendy explained.

"Yeah," Gavin agreed, "Hangin' out with the cook ain't exactly top'a the line protection,"

"Hmm, I guess you have a point," Levy mumbled.

"Now, other than wanting to meet Miss Levy," Juvia started, "What brings you here Princess?"

"Well," Wendy shifted in her feet and stared down at the floor somewhat guiltily. "I was just wondering if I could help you make my dress," she murmured.

"Of course!" Juvia exclaimed, "Juvia would love to have your help!"

"Really?" Wendy looked up at the seamstress with hope in her eyes.

"Yes, really. Come on! You and Juvia have a lot of work to do," Juvia grabbed Wendy's hand and pulled her into the back room to start on the gown.

"She's such a sweet girl," Levy smiled fondly at the door.

"Yeah, she really is," Gavin agreed.

There was something that Levy didn't notice through their short exchange however:

Gavin wasn't staring at the door.

AN: Hey hey! So this chapter is slightly longer than the last one, but sadly, it's just filler nonsense. Why are all of my longer chapters fillers? Uggers. I was going to add a little more to this chapter, but it was dragging on too long, so I think I'm going to put the rest in as a summery in the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed!

Later Taters!

~Icy

(Also I am on a roll today! I busted out like three chapters and I am so proud of myself! Woo hoo!)