Ch.7

The day of the ball was here. Natsu had kept to the closet bed, as did Happy. Mr. Heartfilia was back and had sent a servant to tell Lucy that he had managed to smooth things over with the Renfolds. Mrs. Spetto had picked out the biggest, poofiest, pinkest, sparkliest dress known to mankind for Lucy to wear all the ball, and on top of all of this, she wasn't allowed breakfast since she had to look thin in her dress that evening.

Though the day was off to a rotten start, Lucy wasn't in a terrible mood. Albeit, she wasn't in a great mood, but it wasn't terrible. She had thought a lot about what Natsu had said the day before. She had thought about just running away again, but knowing what she did now, she wouldn't be the reason he got kicked out of Fairy Tail. She had tried coming up with a plan. After all, at midnight, Natsu would have officially completed this job, so she could just go with him then. Technically, her father, nor the master of Fairy Tail could hold it against Natsu. But she didn't know Master Makarov, and she knew her father would use all of his money to shut down Fairy Tail if that was the case. She sighed and sank further into her bubble bath. At least she didn't have to wear that horrendous perfume today.

"Lucyyy!" Mrs. Spetto sang, poking her head into the bathroom, "Time to get out! The esthetician is here for your nails! As is the hair dresser! And a jewellery merchant incase you wanted anything new for tonight."

"Mrs. Spetto!" Lucy groaned. 'I can't believe girls actually want this life style. What a pain!' She thought as she pulled herself from the bubbles. She wrapped herself in a robe and exited the bathroom. Her bedroom had been turned into a salon it seemed. And Happy and Natsu were soaking it right up with the masseuse.

"Mmm…this is the life, eh Happy?"

"Aye, sir!"

Lucy smiled and shook her head at the two. Time to start her preparation.

It was 6 hours later. Natsu and Happy were hungry and therefore grumpy. Lucy looked like a porcelain doll. Her nails were shaped, buffed and painted, her face had been exfoliated and then a pound of make up thrown on, her hair was teased into large, cascading curls and pinned back with what seemed to be a million diamond hair pins.

All she needed was too put on the dress. However Mrs. Spetto couldn't find the corset to go under it.

"I don't understand! It was right here with the dress!" She sounded frazzled as she felt around under the bed. Natsu and Happy snickered in the corner. Lucy sent them a grateful look. She didn't know what fate beheld her corset, but frankly, she didn't care. It was constricting and she could never breathe, let alone eat when she had to wear it.

"Mrs. Spetto, l can wear the dress without the corset. It'll fit fine." The dress, it turned out, did fit fine. So fine, she really looked like a giant princess cupcake. She grumbled a bit as Mrs. Spetto did the buttons up at the back.

"Oh, Lucy! You're so beautiful!" Mrs. Spetto teared up, "If only your mother was here to see you looking so beautiful as you choose your future husband!" What was a genuine attempt to soften Lucy up a little, had the opposite effect.

"Mrs. Spetto, my mother would laugh me right out of the ball room and tell me to put on something reasonable because we'd be going shopping for shoes instead of husbands." Lucy angrily pointed out. With her shoulders set, she walked to the doorway and snapped at Natsu and Happy to follow.

"Ahem…Ladies and Gentlemen. Presenting the heiress to the Heartfilia Estate…Miss Lucy Heartfilia!" Was announced as Lucy descended the stairs. Natsu and Happy held back a little more than two steps.

The night wore on with Natsu and Happy playing small pranks on rich people and Lucy rejecting advances from any potential suitors. "Too snobby, too short, too rich, too tall…" She would say to her father every time she sent someone away. It was easy to see her father was getting angry. It was coming close to midnight when Mr. Heartfilia demanded she choose a suitor. If not one of them, then Archibald would be her husband weather she liked it or not.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" Lucy shouted banging a fork against her glass. The tinkling sound eventually made everyone turn around and look at her. "I have chosen my future husband!" everyone leaned forward. There was a hopeful look on many faces, which she kind of felt bad about. "Before I announce my choice, I just wanted to thank you all for being here to celebrate this moment with my father and I," she smiled, "I have put a lot of thought into my choice and I know my mother would agree with me." There was many smiles from around the room at the mention of Lucy's mom. "And now, I would like to announce, that my future husband will be someone I meet while I go to discover my true path in life. I hereby reject all offers and proposals made tonight, and renounce my claim to the Heartfilia fortune and estate. Thank you." She smiled and put down her glass. She had been expecting anger, fury, maybe even some shouting. Nothing could have prepared her for the several boys that stepped up with heated looks and glowing hands.

"You think you're all that Heartfilia?! I'll teach you a lesson! No one turns down a Jordystone!" One of them shouted. The rest nodded in agreement and shouted similar

Her father grabbed her roughly by the arms and shook her, "What do you think you're doing!?" He hissed, "After all the effort I have put in and work I have done, this is how you repay me?!"

"Father, I am not going follow your decisions about my life anymore! Let me go! You're hurting me!" If anything, her comment only made him angrier. He threw her back against the table and raised his hand.

"Lay one finger on her and I'll make you wish you were dead."

Lucy stared up at Natsu. His hands were on fire. He looked ready to kill. No wonder Happy hadn't let him share any of his magic with her. His fire was so hot she could feel it. It was terrifying.