A/N: Fairy Tail does not belong to me in any way, shape, or form. Thank you.
Lucy blinked at the sight of Sting, breathing hard and his hands on his knees. Lucky Lucy Heartfilia was back—it just so happened she had been modelling one of Alicia's old dresses, to plan out ideas for Cecilia's birthday party dress. There hadn't been any pins in it yet and they had only just started when the younger spotted the blond rider. "L-Lucy!"
"Sting? What're you doing here?" He straightened, taking up her hands and pulling her close. "S-sting, why're you—"
"I'm sorry, please, don't be mad at me!" She could feel Alicia's dark eyes on her and she offered the blond a strained smile.
"Why… are you apologizing?" Her fingers twitched in his hold, tempted to pull them away and run from him. She really didn't want Alicia's smoldering stare on her.
He bowed his head, fingers tightening around hers. Lucy glanced at Suzuno from the corner of her eye and her stepmother's face was blank. Lucy wasn't sure if that was good or bad, but seeing Alicia's face, she was going with bad. "I was too forward… Please don't hate me, Lucy…"
"For…ward?" There was a light cough the blonde recognized as Levy's and glanced over at the small bluenette. Levy mimed writing. "Oh. OH, your letter. Um, well, forward… I suppose I was… surprised? At how strongly you felt?" Suzuno raised a brow and Lucy belatedly realized her stepmother never saw the letter; Levy had personally pulled it from the stack to give it directly to Lucy. "S-Sting wrote me and I… responded," she clarified, voice flat. She would be in so much trouble. Later. "Sting, um…"
"You don't hate me?" He looked so pathetic she couldn't help the soft smile that came over her then.
"Well, no, I don't hate you. You're one of my oldest friends, after-all." Behind then, Levy pursed her lips and shook her head. Lucy blinked, tilting her head lightly, trying to figure out what her best friend was trying to tell her. Levy's eyes narrowed and she gave a curt nod. What did that mean? "Um… But if you could stop proposing… That'd be great." Levy's face lightened and she smiled. So, that was what Levy wanted her to say?
Sting looked crushed. "I knew it, you do hate me!" He let go of her hands and she quickly flexed her fingers. They all stared when he dropped to his knees before her. "Lucy, please!"
"W-what?"
"Sting, please, get up, dear," Suzuno hurried forward, fluttering around the man she so hoped would marry her daughter. He looked up, pleading at Lucy, for something she wasn't sure she knew or was willing to give. "Sting! Lucy, apologize!"
"I'm sorry?" Her stepmother's eyes narrowed to slits. "I don't hate you, Sting, but I… I don't feel the same way. I'm sorry. I suppose that's why I was so… hard? When I wrote you back." He raised his face and she was surprised at the tears in his eyes. "Why are you—"
"Sting, please, don't shed tears over her," Alicia begged, stepping forward and nudging Lucy aside. The blonde was happy to move, shifting back to stand with Cecilia, sending the cheerful brunette a questioning look. Cecilia's eyes were hooded and it occurred to Lucy that perhaps the teen was mad at her. Like everyone else seemed to be.
She wisely kept her mouth shut.
"I don't deserve your affections," until she spoke again, her voice soft. They all turned, looking at her in varying degrees of shock. "I don't have a dowry anymore, since Father passed. I don't know the ways of court, like you. I'm not graceful and elegant, like Alicia," the elder looked surprised at the flattery, "And… I don't think I'm fit for marriage."
Behind them, Levy's eyes narrowed sharply and it dawned on her: she would be hearing about this later. From her, Erza, Juvia, and no doubt Mira—despite not knowing how the seamstress would know. She offered a small smile and she might have imagined it, but she thought Suzuno's eyes softened in the slightest.
"Not fit for—? Don't say that, Lucy!" He rose to his feet quick enough, striding towards her and taking up her hands again, brows furrowed and a firm set to his shoulders. "You're perfect. And the only one I would ever think to take as my wife!"
Brilliant. Simply brilliant.
Suzuno's eyes darkened quick enough and she could see Alicia's hands curl to fists. This… this was not working. It just went and backfired on her.
"Do you think I care about your dowry? I could care less!" Ah, but if she had been born a commoner, he never would have even looked at her, but, as it stood, she was the daughter of a Duke. "I love you Lucy!"
"Lucy, do you love Sting as well?" Suzuno's voice was ice. She didn't dare look at her stepmother.
"I'm sorry, Sting. I don't return your feelings."
He was quiet, staring at her, eyes boring into her, as if looking at her heart. Apparently, he didn't like what he found there.
"It's Salamander, isn't it? What did he tell you about me? That bastard, he always gets in the way!" Her stepfamily gasped at his language and Lucy found herself raising a brow. Salamander. She's heard that before. "He was with you at Mira's, last time we were here, wasn't he? What did he tell you, Lucy? Whatever he said, I can assure you, it's not true!"
"What? 'Salamander'?" But when she had been at Mira's… "Oh, do you mean Natsu?" Sting's eyes flashed as she admitted her recognition. She didn't like the look in them now.
"Natsu…" He dropped her hands, taking hold of her shoulders instead. "Lucy, I'm begging you, please, reconsider! I can make you happy!" His fingers dug into her skin and she felt herself shifting in an attempt to release the pressure.
She looked over at Suzuno, pure panic then. The woman gazed back at her coldly. So. She was on her own then.
"Perhaps…" Cecilia's voice murmured then and both blonds looked over at her. "You should give our sister some time. To think over your offer. To think hard about you and her own feelings." Sting let go and gave a curt nod. Lucy held in the sigh of relief, restraining herself from reaching up to massage her shoulders.
"The ball then. The last day of the party." Lucy restrained herself from speaking out against his offer—he gave her a week. "I'll see you then, Lucy," and with trembling fingers, he raised her hand to his lips, eyes never straying from hers before he let go and strode out the door.
Silence reigned in the hall and Lucy watched as Levy scurried away, obviously not wanting to stick around.
The traitor…
"Explain yourself." Her stepmother's voice was hard. "Everything, Lucy. What did the Duke's nephew write you?" Alicia stood there fuming, fists tight at her sides, tears forming in her eyes. Lucy had a feeling she wouldn't be getting out of this unscathed.
"Why, Mother…? Why is it always her?!"
And so it began.
An hour later found Lucy stumbling into the kitchen, holding tight to her shoulder, bruises forming on the exposed flesh. Levy bit back her gasp as her best friend offered them a smile. "Don't worry, it's not too bad." Juvia and Erza stood back, the redhead's eyes narrowed on her while Juvia curled her hands to her chest. "Don't worry, they didn't hit me, Levy-chan," but that didn't stop the tears in the bluenette's eyes, nor stop them all from looking at the bruises forming nonetheless. "It seems," she laughed, "That Sting and Natsu know each other. Sting's even under the impression I don't want to marry him because of something Natsu said. Can you believe it?" She was still laughing, the mirth soon becoming hysterical as it progressed, the girl breaking down and holding onto herself tightly.
"Oh… Oh Lu-chan…" And the three swarmed her, holding onto her tightly and comforting her. She obviously didn't ask for the blond to fall madly in-love with her, and nor did she ask to apparently be the bane of Alicia's existence, but here she was.
She had no control over her fate, no matter how much she wished she did. Things just happened, things way out of her control.
Maybe marrying the man would finally set her free.
"Luce?" Her lips curled at the voice and she turned dark eyes on him. He blinked.
"You…" He backed away quickly but she followed, eyes furrowed in her anger, fists clenched at her side. "This. Is all. Your. Fault!" The many vendors along the road shot them amused looks, Romeo pulling at his dad's sleeve to point them out. The pinkette swallowed thickly, trying to look for someone to explain her wrath. No one looked like they were willing to come between the blonde's rage and him.
"W-what'd I do?!" She grabbed him by the collar, bringing him down to her level, glaring at him. He couldn't help the panic that took over him, or the fear that suddenly coursed through him at her fury. "L-Luce, I didn't—"
"Your little rivalry with Sting just got me into a lot of trouble, I hope you know!" She didn't notice the dumbfounded expression that passed over him. "Thanks to you, he's expecting me to marry him at the end of that idiot Prince's party! Give him my answer on whether or not I'll become Her Eminence, Duchess Eucliffe! All because he saw you at Mira's and thought you were trying to brainwash me or something!" Her grip tightened and he huffed out a short breath. Macao crossed his arms, raising a brow as he and Wakaba watched the scene quietly, the two shooting glances at each other. Other shop owners now ignored the teens, going about their business and no one else paid them any mind. Macao nudged his son.
"Go get her, will you, Romeo?" The boy ran towards her without a word, rocketing into her waist and knocking her forward a few steps.
The florists' eyes popped out of their heads.
Natsu had seen the boy running and had been prepared for the blonde to be pushed forward and to steady her, but he hadn't expected the boy to have enough power to knock her that far forward.
Their lips crashed together and it was a tense few seconds as he held her before they realized what had happened. The heiress promptly pulled away, hands clapping over her mouth as she looked anywhere but at him. He blushed, he could feel it, and rubbed at the back of his neck. But he couldn't look away from her.
"N-natsu…" He quickly brought his hands up—to defend himself—and Romeo peered around her at his idol. "You IDIOT! That was my—my first kiss!" Macao and Wakaba doubled over as she smacked him repeatedly, shrieking with one hand clasped over a cheek, eyes screwed shut.
The pinkette wrinkled his nose, but let her hit him all the same. "Lucy-nee, does this mean you're gonna marry Natsu-nii?" Romeo questioned her curiously, head tilted lightly. She froze and the teen blinked down at the child.
"Why'd you say that?" Her eyes were still so wide and it would have been comical if it was some other situation.
"Well, you were her first kiss! Was she yours'?" The blonde looked over at him, shyly now, and he was so thrown. First, she's mad at him about something Sting did, then she's upset at him for something the little boy did, and now she's shy? His father was right: women are scary.
He scratched at his cheek. "W-well… Yeah, I guess…"
"Aha! So you will!" Lucy whirled around, clapping her hands over Romeo's mouth and giving the child a scary grin.
"Romeo-kun, don't be silly. As if I would marry Natsu!" The teen looked somewhat offended. The child struggled, pushing her hands away.
"But, Lucy-nee! Mum and Dad got married, and Uncle Wakaba and Aunt Millgana, and Alzak and Bisca are engaged and even—"
"Now now, Romeo, that's just coincidence~!" But she hadn't noticed Lisanna creeping up behind them.
Romeo scowled. "It is true and you know it! Tell her, Dad!" He looked furiously over his father and the man eased out a smile, stepping out of his shop's doorway.
"Now Lucy, you know as well as I do that—" he flinched at the dark stare she sent him and looked over at Lisanna, who wore her sister's pleasant smile. He couldn't help the cold sweat that broke out then. Who did he fear more? Lucy or Mira? "W-well… It's tradition, after all!" he ended quickly.
"Dad!"
"Aw, come on, Macao!" He scowled back at his partner, who strode close, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, Lucy, you know the rules!"
"That's just a silly coincidence!"
The older men grinned, leaning in close and the blonde leaned back. Natsu steadied her, noting how she winced lightly when his hands touched her shoulders.
"Every girl—" Wakaba began and Lucy immediately regretted not Lucy Kicking the two when they had pulled in close.
"And every boy—" Macao added, looking over at Natsu, who raised a curious brow.
"—who share their first kiss in their eighteenth year are destined to marry~!" they sang together, arms linked together. They were just about to start dancing around the two when Lucy leveled them with a blank look.
"I'm seventeen."
Natsu raised a hand, sharing her blank look. "Same."
The two stopped, sending the other wary glances.
"Same difference~!" A female voice assured them. A shudder went through them and the florists began their comical dance around the two, singing about love and marriage and the future. Lisanna smiled at the newest couple, a smug look in her eyes. "Lucy, you should know better than anyone. After all, your parents were the same. And, as were the King and Queen."
"Lisanna, l-like I said, it's just a coincidence!" Lucy waved her off quickly. "That's all, nothing more, nothing less!"
"Lucy, you know better than that." Macao and Wakaba pushed the two close, urging them to share another kiss to seal their fate. Lucy shrieked and took off running. "Natsu, I suggest you go after her," was Lisanna's dry comment. The boy scowled at her.
Romeo tugged at his sleeve. "Aren't you going, Natsu-nii?"
"W-why should I?"
"You're gonna marry her, aren't you?" The boy looked at him with something in his eyes and Natsu shifted uncomfortably.
"We're just friends, Romeo," was his answer. Wakaba and Macao sighed loudly.
"So… She's gonna marry Sting then? She'll go far away then, huh Dad? Do you think she'll come back and visit?" Romeo looked up at his father sadly.
Something clicked into place and the pinkette turned on his heel, taking off after the blonde still running down the street. Lisanna grinned viciously. "Well, that went well."
"Lucy~!" And the teen was pulled sharply into Mira's shop, her shriek cut off abruptly. "Look!" She was spun around and the world turned for a long moment before her head focused. What stood before her was something she hadn't expected: ballgowns.
"Mira?" The seamstress was practically jumping in place, hands curled to her chest as she grinned widely.
"For you and the girls! I made you dresses!" Lucy turned away from the white haired woman, taking the few steps forward to gaze at the beautiful gowns standing before her. She recognized some as Alicia and Cecilia's old ones, others looked brand new. "I talked with Suzuno and offered her some jewels to take them off her hands. I figured, I could update them, enough that they wouldn't recognize them! Aren't they beautiful?" Lucy ran her fingers over the cool silks, smiling. "These are yours," and Mira motioned to the farthest group, two blue, one magenta, and one a pale pink. Lucy stepped close, reaching out to touch them.
"Mira… They're so beautiful…" The white haired seamstress was obviously impressed with herself. "Thank you… Mira, thank you so much, but…" Lucy looked over at her friend, tears in her eyes. Mira's smile slipped. "Suzuno's forbidden me to go. The whole thing with Sting… She doesn't want to upset Alicia anymore, and," Lucy looked back at the dresses, eyes stuck on the magenta one that looked so much like her mother's, "I think she's hoping she'll catch the eye of a high ranking noble, or even the Prince. I'll go on the last day…" Lucy swallowed thickly.
"Lucy?" Mira didn't like her sudden silence. "Lucy, what's going on? Tell me what's wrong," Mira stepped close, resting her hand on the blonde's arm.
"Depending on her mood, I'll be engaged to Sting by the end of the night." Mira could only stare. "Suzuno. I guess she figured the best way to deal with me… Is to marry me off. Alicia will get over it and marry someone else. If she decides she really wants Sting to marry Alicia…" Lucy tilted her head, offering her a smile. One Mira didn't like.
"If…?"
"I'm running away." And she said it so easily that Mira wondered what the alternative was, to make her consider such a thing. Lucy couldn't survive out in the world on her own, not with any family and only the clothes on her back.
"You'll do no such thing, Lucy Heartfilia," Mira's eyes were dark, her lip curling up in distaste. "And, even better, you're going to the party and I won't take no for an answer, get it?" Lucy couldn't help the shiver that found its way up her spine. "Why, I have some tricks up my sleeve. You and the girls are going and you'll have a good time and have fun and not worry about that woman, understand? Think of me…" Mira's dark aura dissipated as she thought about her plan, tapping at her chin. "Why, think of me as your fairy godmother~!"
"Mira, I can't—" the woman clapped a hand over her lips.
"You're going. You have no choice in the matter." Lucy pouted. "And, Gods above, you are not marrying Sting. I don't care if he proposes in-front of the entire palace, you aren't marrying him. But, if he does even think about it, I'll make sure he regrets it," a cruel smile slipped over her features and Lucy could do nothing but nod. "Great, so we're agreed~!"
"Y-you'll be there, Mira?" the woman hand withdrawn her hand, allowing Lucy to speak.
"Mm~! Lisanna too~! We'll all be there together and it'll be such fun!" Lucy offered her a strained smile, wondering(yet again) what she had gotten herself into this time. Mira was unpredictable and Lucy had no doubt the woman could become violent at a moment's notice.
"I… I'll really go? We all will?" Mira patted her head lightly.
"And you'll have fun. You'll see. You best get back now, before she gets angry." Lucy nodded and started towards the door. She paused, then rushed back, hugging Mira tightly.
"Thank you, Mira, for everything!" and she was gone, out the door, back towards her old home, hurrying to finish her shopping. Mira followed the blonde with her eyes, smirking when she saw Natsu trailing behind her, the boy apparently apologizing and trying to beg for forgiveness. There was a story there, and she grinned in the knowledge that she would know it within the next few hours.
Alright, so, next chapter will be the first day of the ball. I lied.
Though, all things considered, I didn't plan on this whole thing with Sting becoming such a big deal. I just kinda write and what happens… Happens. I can't remember the last time I actually planned out something and followed it. That never seems to work out.
Well, thank you all for reading, and I hope I live up to your expectations!
Until the next time, ciao~!