Chapter 9

Lucy was quietly doing some sewing in the cellar when she heard the muffled screams. She bolted up the steps, thinking that someone was injured, only to find them screaming with joy, jumping up and down hugging each other. She frowned in confusion then she saw the open letter lying on the floor. She picked it up and saw the royal crest stamped on the wax seal. She pulled the thin piece of paper out and opened it.

King Igneel and Queen Grandine request the presence of every eligible maiden in the kingdom at the royal palace at 3 O'clock, to try on the glass slipper. The woman who the slipper fits will become his Highness Prince Natsu's bride.

King Igneel Dragneel

Queen Grandine Dragneel

The letter fell from Lucy's numb fingers. Her mind was flying at 100 miles a second. Glass…slipper…Glass slipper…Her glass slipper…The slipper that would only fit her…OH DEAR GOD. SHE WAS GOING TO BE NATSU'S BRIDE! THAT SLIPPER WOULD ONLY FIT HER! She barely managed not to start hyperventilating. Well…She would love to be Natsu's wife…And start a family with him…Her heart flew at the thought. Maybe this wasn't as horrible as she thought? Plus it was seriously romantic to go through hundreds of screaming girls just to get to her. But he knew who she was, her name and where she lived? So what was the point in this?

"I'm going to marry the prince!" Claudia screamed. "That slipper will obviously fit me since I'm the one who's going to be his bride." "No! It's going to fit me, since I'm the one who's going to marry him! It's destiny" Beatrice screeched. They started bickering. "Girls!" her stepmother snapped. She glared at them, hands on hips. "Now, you girls let me down last night when you failed to catch the prince's eye". "It wasn't our fault mother!" Beatrice wailed. "Yeah it was that stupid blonde tramp who stole him" Claudia growled. Lucy smirked slightly. "Well now is your last chance to seal the deal. DO NOT let me down girls." she snapped.

"Now let's get ready you need to look your best. Lucy! Get our dresses, now! Once your finished helping us get ready, occupy yourself, I don't care what you do. Since one of my beautiful girls will be marrying the prince, we'll be staying at the palace from now on. I'll send someone to look after the house, and we won't need you anymore, so go live on the streets or something I don't care" she snarled, before turning and marching up the stairs. Her stepsisters followed, sending smug grins at Lucy.

Lucy sighed. Of course stepmother, as compassionate as ever. She smiled to herself. Who knows? The prince's bride might be someone you'll never expect.

•••

Natsu made his way rather grumpily down the stairs. His mind was still on Lucy. Why did she run away? He'd have to wait until 2 O'clock to find out. "Natsu!" his mother cried ecstatically the moment he stepped in. she grabbed him by the shoulders and practically threw him into a chair. She sat in front of him, grinning. "Your father and I have something to tell you" she squeaked. Igneel lowered his newspaper to look at them. "What?" Natsu muttered gruffly. "Well, we couldn't help but notice how much you kept staring at that slipper". Natsu looked away, lifting a glass of water to his lips.

"And how upset you've been since last night. So we decided to find the girl and we're getting all the eligible maidens to come to the palace at 3 O'clock today, and however the slipper fits will be your bride". Natsu spat his water out all over the table. "YOU DID WHAT!" he roared, slamming his glass down. "Natsu, manners" his mother chided sharply. "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!" he screamed. "Because we know you like this girl and we want to find her" Igneel said calmly, folding his newspaper. "But that slipper could fit any number of women! How can we -"

Natsu stopped abruptly as he remembered what Lucy said last night; They were specially made in the spirit world, so they'll only fit me. Slowly he sat back down, thinking it over. "We know that, so you'll just have to pick the right one" Grandine said. "The proclamation has already been delivered to every household, so we can't go back now anyway". Looks like he doesn't have a choice… "Fine" Natsu said. Grandine grinned. "Fantastic".

•••

Natsu paced impatiently by the oak tree, waiting for Lucy to arrive. He wrung his sweating hands and pushed his hair back. He sighed and flopped down in the little hollow. Pacing wasn't going to do him any good. He was more nervous than he'd ever been in his life before. He had a very important question to ask Lucy…

His sharp sense of smell quickly picked up the intoxicating scent of Lucy. His head whipped up and he saw her making her way across the field towards him, smiling once she saw him. He grinned, leaped up and ran to her. He grabbed her face in his hands and pulled her into a kiss. Lucy gladly returned it, her arms creeping up to slip around his neck.

"Hey" Natsu said. "Hey" Lucy laughed smiling. Hands still intertwined they walked together to the tree. Natsu settled his back against the trunk, holding Lucy comfortably in his arms. He nuzzled her neck affectionately. Looks like she didn't hate him. Thank the Gods above. Lucy sighed in content, snuggling more firmly against Natsu's chest.

"So I guess I owe you an explanation" Lucy said. Natsu hummed, pulling her closer against him. "Well, I didn't actually have a dress for the ball, so Virgo, my spirit, brought me the dress as well as the slippers. There was some problem in the spirit world at the time so my dress would disappear at midnight. So…" "So you had to leave at midnight so you wouldn't be standing there in a dirty dress or" Natsu cleared his throat awkwardly "naked. Not that I would be complaining if that happened" he added with a cheekily – and slightly perverted - grin.

"Pervert!" Lucy laughed at him. "I would not have ended up naked. But…speaking of slippers…" she turned to look at him, eyebrow raised. "The every-woman-come-to the-palace-to-try-on-the-slipper-thing?" she questioned. "Wasn't my idea" Natsu replied. "My parents decided it was smart since they decided I didn't know who the mysterious-girl-at-the-ball was."

Lucy nodded. "Kind of stupid, really, since I already know who I'm going to marry" Natsu said. Lucy stiffened a little. Who was he going to marry? Natsu noticed her reaction, but he continued anyway. "I mean really". He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Only one person is perfect to be my wife. You know the perfect, unbelievable, beautiful girl who would wear glass slippers to a ball?"

Lucy didn't hear him for a moment she was so lost in thought. So romantic c…Going through every girl in the kingdom just for the one girl…What a lucky – WAIT. Lucy leapt up and turned to face Natsu. "Glass slippers…" she croaked. Natsu stood up in front of her, smiling. "Glass slippers" he repeated, taking her small hands in his. "You mean…me?" Lucy managed to squeak. Natsu caressed her cheek lovingly. "Who else?"

Natsu got down on one knee, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. He flipped the lid open, revealing a beautiful glittering diamond on a shining silver band. A diamond ring. Lucy clapped a shaking hand over her mouth as tears began to stream down her face. Natsu took her other trembling hand in his, stroking the top soothingly. Natsu cleared his throat.

"Lucy Heartfilia, you are the most amazing, incredible, beautiful, kind, stunning, generous, caring woman I've ever met in my life. In the short time that I've know you, you managed to make me fall completely head over heels in love with you. So, do you think you could put up with my idiocy, destructiveness and everything else for a lifetime longer, and marry me?"

Lucy didn't hesitate before nodding, tears still streaming down her face. "Yes" she whispered. "YES!" she yelled more loudly, lunging at Natsu. A huge grin split Natsu's face and he jumped up and caught her by the waist. He twirled her in the air, both of them laughing joyously. They slammed their lips together in a passionate kiss, hearts soaring. Natsu slipped the ring onto her finger during the kiss.

They broke apart. "I love you so much Luce" Natsu whispered. "I love you too" Lucy smiled. "I love you more" Natsu replied grinning. Lucy giggled. She looked down at the shimmering ring on her finger. "It's beautiful Natsu" she breathed. She kissed him softly. "Of course, my princess deserves the best" he replied. Lucy's eyes snapped wide. "Oh my God" Lucy breathed. "I'm going to be a princess" she squeaked. "Natsu, I can't be a princess, I-I'm not princess material! I'm a maid!"

"Lucy you're no more of a maid than I am" Natsu said. "I can't think of anyone that would make a better princess than you. And I'll be with you every step of the way. I promise". Lucy grinned at him. He tilted her chin up and kissed her. She leaned into the warmth and comfort of his embrace and she felt her worries just slip away. As long as Natsu was by her side, nothing could go wrong.

•••

Lucy knocked timidly on the wooden door. "Enter!" a sharp voice answered. Lucy slowly pushed the door open cautiously. "What?" he stepmother snapped as soon as she came in. "The carriage has arrived stepmother. And this came from the palace" she answered, holding out another white envelope with the royal crest stamped onto the wax seal. She stepmother snatched it out of her fingers and flicked it open, almost tearing it.

Her eyes flicked over the letter then she nodded and stuffed it into her pocket. She opened her large chest of drawers and pulled a slip of paper out of the first one, stuffing it into her pocket also. Lucy craned her neck but couldn't see what they were. She didn't know what the letter said either. "Come along girls" her stepmother said. Her stepsisters rose to their feet and plodded ungracefully out the door. Lucy followed them down the stairs.

"Lucy" her stepmother said as she opened the door. "Make us a snack for when we come back to collect our things, to bring them to the palace once we begin to live there. Leave it on the table and get out of here before we arrive. I don't want anyone to know we actually lived with filth like you. Go wherever the hell you what, die for all I care, but don't ever come near us again" she snarled before she whipped out the door. Her stepsisters sent disgusted glances at her before they pranced out after her. The carriage trundled of to the palace, for the trying on of the glass slipper.

Lucy sighed, and went down to the cellar. She's cocky isn't she? She'll be furious once she finds out… Lucy pulled her ring out of her pocket and slipped it back onto her finger. She smiled softly as it glittered in the sunlight. Lucy skipped down the stairs to the cellar. "Open! Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!" she yelled. The pink haired maid appeared before her. "You summoned me princess?" she asked. "Yes Virgo. Thanks so much again for last night but do you think you could bring me another dress please? And a bag for my things would be great as well." "Right away princess" she said as she disappeared.

Lucy smiled again. That will be true, in a few days… She quickly gathered her few possessions. Since her mother's dress was ruined, and she didn't want to bring her maids dresses with her – they were ripped and ragged anyways – so all she had was her photo, the book Natsu bought her and her diamond heart necklace. She wanted to keep her invitation to the ball too but she couldn't find it anywhere. She must have dropped it.

Virgo reappeared with a dress and a medium sized cloth pink drawstring bag. Lucy placed her photo book and necklace inside and then changed into her dress. It was light pink, ended just below the knees, had a white ribbon circling the waist, a pink bodice, straps holding it up on her shoulders, and the front displayed a bit of her ample chest. The material was light and floaty. Lucy tied her hair up in its usual side ponytail with a matching light pink ribbon, put on two pink shoes with small heels and slipped her glass slipper into a side pocket. It might come in useful.

Virgo held up the pink bag. "Summon me again once you're settled in at the palace, and I'll bring you it" she said. "Thanks Virgo" Lucy smiled. "You're welcome princess" Virgo said before she vanished. Lucy put her key back in the leather case with the others. (This dress has the hole-thingy too). She took a deep breath to calm her ecstatic racing heart. She exited the house and started making her way towards the castle.

•••

"What do you mean I can't go in?" Lucy exclaimed in outrage. The two palace guards in their neat red uniforms stared blankly at her as they didn't shift their metal spears from where they were crossed over the palace doors. "I'm sorry miss. But you must show your invitation before you can go in, to prove you were at the ball last night. You could be from another kingdom, trying to take over ours". "But that's ridiculous!" Lucy cried. "I'm obviously not from another kingdom I was at the ball last night! I just lost my invitation! And even if I wasn't at the ball, I'm still an eligible maiden! The letter said all eligible maidens were to attend!"

"I apologize miss, but a letter was sent out saying to bring your invitations". Lucy ground her teeth together. Damn it that's what that letter was about! It must have been the invitation that my stepmother took out of the drawer! "Well…Well…" Lucy cried. "Just go ask the prince! He'll let me in!" "I'm sorry miss but his highness is currently occupied" the guard replies stonily. Lucy huffed, turned on her heel and walked away. "If I was from another kingdom it would be pretty stupid to tell me that!" she yelled back at them over her shoulder.

Once she was out of sight, Lucy slipped around the side of the palace. She made her way along the side, keeping low and avoiding guards, looking for a way in. Her eyes caught sight of a window open to what looked like a basement. She hurried over and managed to squeeze in. She was inside a large kitchen. Lucy hurried out the door and looked left and right for guards. Seeing none she slipped out the door.

Lucy made her way along the corridor, searching for the ballroom, where she guessed the slipper-trying-on was happening. She turned a corner and walked straight into two guards. She stumbled back a little, and they turned to look at her in confusion. She offered them a bright smile and opened her mouth to ask where the ballroom was, when one of them yelled "Intruder! Get her!" Lucy didn't think twice and bolted past them,

She knew this just made her look more like an intruder, but she doubted they would listen to her if she tried to tell them, and they would probably just jail her right away. She had to find Natsu, so he could tell them to go away. She raced down a corridor, the two guards hot on her trail. She turned a corner…and met a dead end. She looked around franticly for a way out, but found none. She turned to run back but the two guards had already blocked her way. The advanced on her swords outstretched.

She held her hands up in surrender. "Please, I-" "No talking miss" one of them said. "Let's get her in a cell" the other one said. Lucy looked helplessly between the two then reached into her key case. "I'm sorry about this" she said. "Open! Gate of the Lion!" Loke!" "She's a mage!" one of them said before Loke knocked them unconscious. "Don't worry beautiful" he said, pushing his tinted glasses up. "Your prince has come to save you. But you have a different prince to do that for you now, don't you?" he said with a sad look.

"Sorry Loke!" Lucy said with an apologetic smile as she shrugged. "But don't you have a thing for Aries anyway?" she asked with a knowing smirk. Loke immediately went bright red. "I-I have no idea w-what you're talking a-about" he stuttered. "Right-" Lucy said before a loud shout of "Intruder! There she is!" cut her off. Her and Loke turned to see four armed guards making their way towards them. "Run!" Lucy yelled as her and Loke sprinted off.

They twisted and turned through corridors, until they came upon a stretch of railing. A fountain (I don't know why I put a fountain inside a castle but-) stood directly below them. Loke managed to skid to a stop, but Lucy went flying straight into his back, and they both toppled over the railings and straight into the fountain below. They landed with a huge splash, sending water sloshing all over the pristine floors.

Lucy coughed out water, and flicked her arms down. "My dress!" she wailed as water dripped off her nose, and every other part of her body. Loke took of his glassed and shook water off them. The guards rushed down the stairs after them. "Stay right there!" one of them yelled. "I'll just be leaving" Loke said as he disappeared with a puff. "COWARD!" Lucy screamed after him. The guards stopped before her, pointing their swords at her. She raised her arms in surrender.

•••

Natsu felt like if he had to look at another ugly foot again he would rip it off. I bet Lucy's feet are way prettier…Where the hell is she? Natsu almost groaned out loud as another twittering woman was brought before him. Blushing and squealing, she presented her HUGE – and I mean HUGE – foot before him. He sighed quietly, and tried the glass slipper. It barely fit on her toe. "I'm sorry" Natsu said as politely as he could. "But-But Your Highness!" she cried, attempting to fling herself at him before the guards caught her and escorted her out.

Natsu groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. This is ridiculous! I'm already engaged! Where on earth is Lucy! He heard some muffled shouting from the next room. His parents behind him frowned, and the three of them started towards the door. Natsu heard a muffled "Let me go!" just as Lucy's scent hit his nostrils. His eyes widened and he burst through the doors. And there was Lucy, with all the women who came to try on the slipper gaping at her, arms firmly held behind her back by a guard, surrounded by four other guards, missing her shoes, looking very pissed, and…dripping wet with water.

At first Natsu was terrified and wondering if she was ok, seeing that she was he was then confused, then he tried not to blush at how revealing the dress was clinging to her body like that, then her felt a low possessive growl ripple in his chest at the fact other men were looking at her, then he thought of how funny she looked completely soaked. Then he started laughing.

He immediately clapped a hand over his mouth but the laughs escaped anyway. A hundred confused gazes shifted his way. Lucy looked relieved at first then her relieved look turned into a glare at his laughter. She raised an eyebrow at him and huffed slightly. "May I ask what is so funny" she almost snapped at him. "Sorry" he said once he composed himself. "What on earth happened to you?"

"Your guards chased me into a fountain" she replied. "Why do you have a fountain inside a castle anyways?" Natsu shrugged, as rushed towards her. "Are you ok?" he asked, frowning in concern. "I'm fine" she replied. Natsu turned on the guards. "Why did you chase her into a fountain?" he asked slight anger evident in his voice. Well they did just chase his fiancé into a fountain.

"Well-Well we thought she was an intruder" one of the guards said nervously. Natsu frowned. "You can let her go" he said. They instantly released her. Lucy brought her wrists up in front of her and rubbed them. "You're dismissed" Natsu said sharply – still slightly pissed - and the guards turned and hurried out of the room. Natsu took Lucy's wrists gently in his hands and stroked them softly.

"LUCY!" a shrill voice called out. Everyone turned to see none other than Hilda Heartfilia marching towards Natsu and Lucy, a scowl on her ugly face and Lucy's two stepsister's right behind her. She probably would have hit Lucy across the face, but as she was approaching Natsu quickly slipped in front of Lucy, so she was partly hidden behind him. Hilda stopped in front of him, glaring daggers at Lucy, who gulped nervously and moved closer to Natsu.

"Is there a problem, Duchess Heartfilia?" Natsu asked coldly as he stood protectively in front of Lucy. He hadn't forgotten what this evil woman had done to her, and he was going to make damn well sure she never came near his Lucy again. "Your Highness" Hilda simpered sweetly, as Claudia and Beatrice fanned themselves and giggled, fluttering their eyelashes at Natsu and pushing their chests forward. Natsu almost screamed at them to go the hell away. He would like their ugly faces removed from his sight as quickly as possible.

"I'm so sorry about my stepdaughter" she said. "She tends to be an inappropriate, unmannerly little peasant sometimes. She can go completely out of line sometimes". Hilda laughed, glaring at Lucy. "I apologize for her behaviour. I'll take her off your hands". The audacity of that woman! How DARE she call his Luce a peasant! Natsu had trouble restraining himself. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"I assure you ma'am, your stepdaughter has done nothing wrong" he said rather calmly, considering his current state of mind. Hilda scowled then quickly smiled sweetly. "Well then, I'll take her home. She wasn't at the ball last night, and a lowly maid definitely has no business associating with someone as important as yourself" she said sweetly. Clever, you bitch. You think I don't know that. You're trying to turn me against her.

"I am aware of that Duchess. And as for the ball, if she wasn't there" Natsu beckoned his mother – who was holding the glass slipper – with two fingers. Her eyes flashed in realization, and she handed him the slipper. "Then this wouldn't happen" he finished as he set the glass slipper down in front of Lucy. He sent her a grin. She smiled back then lifted her foot and easily slid it into the beautiful slipper. It moulded against her foot, fitting perfectly. She pulled the second glass slipper out of her pocket and pulled it onto the other foot, it fitting just as perfectly as the first.

"Well, that settles that" Natsu said with a grin. "It appears you're stepdaughter is the new princess, Duchess" he said, slipping a strong arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Lucy leaned gladly into his warmth. She was still soaked to the skin after all. "But-But-" Beatrice spluttered. "That's not possible!" Claudia shrieked. Hilda just gaped blankly at the slippers on Lucy's feet. She whipped her head up. "NO! Your Highness can't you reconsider? You can't marry her!" she cried. Natsu opened his mouth to say yes he damn well could, he fully intended to, he wasn't about to marry anyone else, and they were already engaged, but Lucy beat him to it.

"I'm sorry stepmother" she said. "But we're already engaged". She held up her hand, the diamond ring glittering on her finger. Shocked gasps echoed through the room, and Natsu heard his parents splutter in surprise. He reminded himself to explain it to them later. He tightened his grip on Lucy's waist. Lucy lowered her hand and smiled up at him. He smiled back, and laid a soft kiss of her temple.

Hilda gaped at the ring in horror. Then she sent a fuming glare at Lucy. "You little BITCH!" she screeched. More shocked gasps echoed through the room. Natsu's pupils dilated in fury, and Lucy had to grab his arm and physically restrain him from knocking Hilda out. His growled in anger. "NEVER CALL LUCY THAT EVER AGAIN" he snarled at her. She ignored him, and continued glaring at Lucy.

"How could you!" she hissed. "And after I went through so much trouble killing your father -" she broke of and her eyes went wide once she realized what she just said. Silence filled the room. It felt like everything had turned to stone. She killed Lucy's father! Natsu turned to Lucy in horror. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was open. He pulled her closer to him. "Luce…" he whispered.

She…killed…Dad? Lucy felt like everything was moving in slow motion. "You…You killed my father?" she asked as she stood forward. Natsu stayed as close to her as he could. "You…YOU KILLED MY FATHER! HOW COULD YOU!" she screamed as tears began to flow down her face. "Lucy…" Natsu whispered. She turned around, gripped his shirt tightly in her hands and buried her head into his chest, sobbing. She needed Natsu's warmth and comfort right now.

Natsu hugged her tightly, stroking her hair. "It's ok…I'm here Luce" he murmured in her ear. Igneel stepped forward, hiding the two of them from view. Grandine quickly hurried over. She placed a gentle hand on Lucy's back, Natsu and her quickly brought Lucy into the other room, Natsu not letting her go for a second. "Guards" Igneel called sharply. Six of them hurried in. Igneel gestured at Hilda, Claudia and Beatrice. They quickly arrested them, two guards to each of them holding their arms tightly behind their backs.

"Duchess Heartfilia, you are under arrest for murder and treason. You are hereby stripped of your title and sentenced to a lifetime in prison. Take her away" he said to the guards. He looked at Claudia and Beatrice. "Take them and follow me" he said. "The prince's bride has been decided, you all may leave" he said to the crowd of women standing there. They hurried out the doors as fast as their legs could carry them, sensing the angry aura radiating from Igneel. Igneel turned and strode away after Hilda, the guards, Claudia and Beatrice following.

Meanwhile, Natsu and Lucy were inside a comfortable living room. Grandine had quickly left, knowing they needed some privacy. She would get to know her new daughter-in-law later. She quickly found a servant and asked them to prepare a bath in Natsu's room, and leave a dress and shoes on the bed. She would have to take Lucy shopping, and get some more furniture for her in Natsu's room. Then she went to go find her husband, so they could decide what to do with Lucy's stepsisters. She grinned a little to herself. She couldn't wait to plan the wedding.

Natsu carried Lucy bridal style to a soft sofa. He sat down and Lucy curled up on his lap, still sobbing on his chest. Natsu hugged her close, running his fingers through her hair, murmuring soothing things in her ear. Her sobbing ceased after a while, Natsu gently rocking her back and forth. He saw a piece of paper sitting on the table. Being careful not to move Lucy, he grabbed it and read –

Dress + bath in your room. Mom

He grinned. That was his mother, always prepared and on top of everything. He set it down again. Lucy sat up slowly on his lap. She rubbed her red eyes. "You ok sweetie?" Natsu asked gently, stroking her cheek. Lucy nodded. "I'm ok" she sniffed. "It just…it was a shock. I'll admit I considered that that's what happened but… I hoped I was wrong". "Don't worry. I'll make sure she pays for it" Natsu said.

Lucy smiled at him, and gave him a long loving kiss. "Thank you" she whispered against his lips. "Don't mention it" he said. Natsu stood up and reached out his hands. "Come on, we have a wedding to plan" he grinned. Lucy grinned back, took his hands and stood up to. He pulled her into a passionate kiss. "I love you Luce" he whispered. "I love you too" Lucy whispered back, smiling. Despite the discovery about her father's death, Lucy had never been happier in her life. She knew Natsu would always be there for her, and she couldn't wait for all the amazing things to come in their future. She had him now, and he had her. Neither of them could be happier.