LATE UPDATE AGAIN I'M SO SORRY! I was struggling a bit with this chapter because after rereading it for inspiration and stuff, I realized this is turning out like my other story, where too many events are happening, and how some people would say "melodramatic" or some crap like that. I don't want to repeat that so I'm going to try and take things slower now. I'm still open to new ideas!
ALSO VOTING HAS ENDED. I KNOW THE WINNER BUT I SHALL NOT RELEASE IT BECAUSE THAT'S THE JOY OF BEING THE WRITER. MU-HA-HA. Although you can probably tell if you look at the results of the voting. But anyway!
Cobra: Say I've noticed I haven't really had any screentime lately, care to explain?
Evilash: To be honest, I completely forgot you were in my story xD It's been so long.
Cobra: Nice. *Sarcasm* EvilashOtaku17 does NOT own Fairy Tail, just the plot.
Enjoy~! (It took me 3 times to submit this chapter right. FF is just being stupid :P)
Faster. I gotta run faster. Why can't I escape him? Why is he trying to hurt me? What good am I to him anymore, now that I'm damaged? Scratched and scarred.
Fire. It engulfs the walls and floors, consuming everything in its path. How did this happen? Why can't I break free from this impending doom? What is it that I'm truly running from? The fire? Or . . .perhaps. . .him.
"Lucy!" His voice boomed and echoed through the halls, bounding off every object the sound could touch.
No. I can't go back. I won't go back to that constant reminder that I'm nothing but a tool. An object being sold off at an auction, to random strangers who only care about heirs and money.
Honestly, how many of these royals would actually stay if no fame or fortune came of it? Would they still visit her now that there's a possibility they might all leave? No one wants a scarred wife, so why try?
"Just leave me alone!" I scream back at whoever is chasing me. It could be father, only he'd talk to me in that tone of voice. "Go away! You don't need me anymore!"
"Lucy. . .!" The voice continued to shout.
"Stop it!"
"Lucy!"
"Lucy. . ."
"Lucy!"
"Wait up idiot!" A new voice shouted, stirring the blonde princess of her sleep. It's not like she wanted to remain in the nightmare anyway. Wait a second, was she just called an idiot?
Brown eyes opened to a blurry figure with dark hair and pale skin. Blinking once, twice, her vision became clear and Rogue's face of relief connected in her mind.
"Rogue? Why are you here? Where is 'here'?" Lucy's questions could wait, because sitting in front of her. . .was a shirtless hunk of prince.
"We're in the infirmary, do you not remember what happened?" He sat on the edge of her mattress, unaware of the red sprouting up Lucy's neck and face.
Memories flooded her head, and suddenly, the blonde princess was aware of the wrappings around her chest and neck, and the pain that followed. "Y-yeah, I remember." She averted her gaze towards the window, trying to hide her blushing face.
"Here," Rogue handed her a small bottle of purple liquid. "Miss Wendy said to drink this once you wake up, it'll ease your pain."
Lucy took it hesitantly, carefully analyzing the contents inside before twisting the cap off and chugging the substance in one go. The bitter taste burned her tongue and throat. Grimacing in disgust, she continued to down the disgusting remedy until there was none left.
"You get used to it." Rogue spoke after he finished his own.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Only a few hours," Rogue stands up and walks over to his own bed, plopping his body on the thick mattress. He was resting on his stomach, so it gave Lucy a clear vision on the bandages she now noticed, wrapped around his torso.
Guilt gnawed at her conscious. It was her fault, she wasn't being careful enough. She caused him to get hurt. He too, was scarred for life because of her carelessness.
"W-where am I?" A new voice squeaked through the quiet room. Both Rogue and Lucy turned their heads towards the now frightened blunette.
Lucy crawled from underneath the blankets, it hurt, but she could deal with it. She caused Rogue to suffer, she couldn't hold back because of her own pain. "You're at the castle's infirmary. Can you tell me what you remember?" Lucy slowly and carefully seated herself on the girl's bed.
Rogue handed the girl the same purple substance he gave Lucy. "I remember you and that prince were dancing, I only said you two were wonderful dancers, and she lashed out at me. I'm so sorry for any wounds I may have caused you both." The girl trembled and she looked like she wanted to cry.
With Lucy's quick thinking, she pulled the shaking girl into her arms, mumbling soothing words to her as she cried. "If anything it's my fault, I should have been more aware of my surroundings, I caused two people to get hurt under my watch."
"No Lucy-" Rogue started, but Lucy stopped him.
"Say what you will Rogue, nothing will convince me otherwise. It's my kingdom, my people, my actions. It's all because I wasn't strong enough to protect you all."
Inside Rogue gritted his teeth. He wanted to say that it was his fault, he saw the attacker and the girl before Lucy did, yet he did nothing. He wasn't able to stop Lucy before she did anything rash, and in the end, she was in more pain than before.
Rogue watched as Lucy continued to comfort the small girl, promising to himself he'd never let anything else hurt the blonde royal.
The next few days were . . .well, . . .tense and awkward. Arrangements were made for Katja to stay at the palace, while the witch who harmed her was sent far, far away. Banished from every returning to the Heartfilia Kingdom.
Lucy, Katja, and Rogue's wounds were healing up nicely, and soon they were well enough to leave the infirmary. Lucy remained guilty for everything, and blamed herself constantly.
But on this night, things were different. The whole palace was unusually quiet, not even the mice dared to escape their homes in search for food. Of course, no one really felt like doing anything, it was the day of the anniversary after all.
Dinner was silent, with the absence of a certain bubbly blonde to cheer them up. The said girl remained locked inside her room, refusing to eat or even get out of bed. Hidden under the safety of her blankets, she silently mourned her mother's death.
"That's it!" Erza roared after too much of the dead silence. "She's being over dramatic! This isn't the first time and it definitely won't be the last!"
"Where are you going?" Laxus questioned at the raging red head, who was currently stomping around the table towards the dining room doors.
"She hasn't eaten all day! I'll drag her here, and I'll force feed her if I have to!" Erza growled, slamming the doors open and trudging through.
"Momma! Momma! Look what I made!" A little girl around the age of five pranced through a large and blooming garden.
Flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors were scattered through the yard, showing off their eternal beauty. In this particular garden; however, sat a woman with long blonde locks and a shimmering white dress. A simple crown made of the finest jewels rested upon her head, glowing in the sunlight. Brown orbs gazed towards the little girl, a miniature copy of the older woman.
In the little girl's hands was a circular headset of flowers, pink and yellow, woven in and out so delicate and perfectly. "I made a tiara! It's for you Momma!"
The mother laughed softly. "It's beautiful Lucy," The older blonde reached up and removed the fancy crown from her head, replacing the flower tiara in it's place. "Thank you." The mother then placed the real crown on her daughter's head. It was still a little too big for her tiny head, and half of it was tilted slightly.
"Now we're both queens!" The little girl, Lucy, beamed the brightest smile ever in her life.
Lucy crawled into her mother's lap and rested against her chest. "Hey Momma?"
"Yes dear?"
"Will I ever be a great queen like you?" The little girl yawned, adjusting her head to see her mother's smiling face.
"You, Lucy Heartfilia, are the kindest, sweetest, most caring and loving girl in the world. If you keep believing that, you will be an even greater ruler than I one day." The mother then placed her lips upon the child's hair. "You just need a loving King to help guide the way as well, one who will love you with your dark side and trust you, protect you, and remain by your side forever. Can you promise Mommy that?"
"Yes. . .Momma. . ." The child fell asleep, unaware of the sadness in her mother's eyes.
"Lucy!" A ferocious voice screamed through the doors, banging on the wood with all their might. "Open the door this instant!"
Lucy grunted, shifting her body in the opposite direction of the door, pulling the covers over her ears. "Go away Erza!"
"What did you just say?!" Erza roared, the beast inside her releasing. The door broke open, an angry scarlette with her sword unsheathed stormed into the room, searching the area for a familiar blonde.
Once Erza spotted the lump on the bed, it was all over. Somehow in the next few seconds, the redhead managed to pin the princess down on the floor with her legs bent in different directions and her arms under the pressure of Erza's knees.
"Let go of me! Leave me alone!" Lucy struggled under the knight's grip.
"No! You've been locked in here all day, not eating anything or speaking to anyone! Did you even bathe today? I bet you didn't, maybe that's what I smell beside's the stench of depression!" Erza hissed.
"What's your problem? You've never cared about my isolation on the anniversary before today, why care now?!" Lucy screamed back at her.
"Because you have more people who care about you and who are worried about your wellbeing! Look at what you're doing to yourself! Did you even think for one second that your mother would be proud of this?!"
That one sentence seemed to snap Lucy from any negative thoughts about herself and the world. The guilt she felt when Rogue got hurt; the grief she felt after her mother had passed away; and the depression of the fact she could be nothing but an object sold off to the highest bidder.
Tears stung her eyes and a lump grew in her throat. She sobbed once to clear it, but the effort was futile. Her body trembled with anger and sadness towards herself for allowing her to be so weak.
The weight on her back lifted and she was wrapped up into a pair of warm and caring arms. She continued to cry, the tears overflowing down her pale face, dripping onto her nightgown.
"Come on, let's get you in the bath." Erza lifted the girl in her arms.
Soon the gigantic bathtub was filled with hot water, strawberry and vanilla scented bubbles, a blonde princess and a red haired knight.
"How pathetic can I get?" Lucy mumbled more to herself than Erza as the said warrior washed the princess' back.
"It's not you, so stop worrying about it. Your head'll burst if you keep over-thinking things." Erza lifted the girl's arms, continuing her scrubbing.
Erza was always able to calm her down. Why is that? Why, after all the redhead as gone through, is she always strong and collected? How can she keep moving forward into the future?
"I'm jealous," The princess mumbled. "you're so strong, and you're able to keep your emotions together. How do you do it? How do you keep smiling after the pain? I can barely get out of bed after 7 years. I'm so pathetic."
Erza blinked; once, twice. "It's not that you're not strong, because you are. You've just been strong for too long. That's why people cry. It's not a sign of weakness either. You smile everyday Lucy, so I don't see why you're talking negatively about yourself."
"It's my fault."
"What is?" Erza paused in the washing, setting the luffa down.
"It's my fault for everything!" Lucy's arm rose up and slammed down with a force that sent large pools of water splashing on the floor. "It's my fault mother died, it's my fault Rogue got hurt! I'm to blame for everything!"
Erza was silent, waiting for her lady to calm down. "Why?"
"What?" Lucy turned around, finally facing the knight in question.
"Why didn't you come talk to me!" Erza shouted. "If this is how you felt all these years why didn't you come to me for help!" Erza reached out and gripped Lucy's shoulders. "How in the hell is it your fault your mother died?!"
"Because I knew! I knew she wasn't feeling good. I knew she was sick and dying but I sat there and did nothing!"
"You were ten! How could a ten year old understand when the oldest and wisest healers couldn't! You wouldn't have been able to do anything even if you tried! It is NOT your fault!"
"Then what about Rogue?! I was stupid, careless, and I could have avoided any more injuries if I was paying attention! It's my fault Rogue had to save me! It's my fault Rogue got hurt!"
"Did you even think for one second that Rogue might feel differently? That he might not blame you for what happened? He was the one who protected you of his own choice, if he died it was because he wanted to in order to ensure your safety!"
"That doesn't make me feel better! I don't want people to die for me!"
"You are the future Queen of the Heartfilia Kingdom! People will die for you whether you like it or not!"
"It's not fair! Why should someone have to lose their life if all I'm good for is producing heirs!"
"Stop doubting yourself! This is not the princess we all know and love! Wake up Lucy!"
"I just. . ." Lucy choked on a sob, tears flowing down her face. "miss her so much. I don't want anymore people to die. I don't want to be left alone anymore."
The princess was once again held in the arms of her valiant knight.
This chapter has not been edited cause my computer is being stupid, so sorry for any mistakes. Also the girl, Katja, is an actual character from FT not an OC. If you watch the anime and have gotten passed the Key of the Starry Sky's Arc, it's the girl with the green Plue thingy. Google it or something if you're still confused.
Anyways, this chapter was a lot longer than the others too. Enjoy! Hopefully I can update sooner. VOTING HAS ENDED!
Please keep reviewing too! I LOVE THEM ALL!
-EO17