To E. Rebellion- Yes I do agree about the age gap, although I would assume it is pretty common in societies like the one in this fanfiction. But at the same time, Lucy is much older (mentally) than Natsu. And honestly, I wouldn't expect her to love anyone else other than the "real" Natsu, but we'll see how their in this world relationship progresses. :) Thanks for reviewing!

:Rebirth - Chapter 10

I looked down at the royal purple gown I was wearing. The lush silk fabric embraced my skin.

"Isn't this too much...?" I smiled awkwardly, looking at Virgo.

Virgo shook her head. "You are going to meet the emperor. Nothing is 'too much' for this occasion."

I sighed. My second trip outside of the palace had also ended abruptly and I was sent back here.

After a few days of proper etiquette training, the maids dressed me up in this gown and prepared me for my trip to the empire. I still wasn't sure why.

Now standing next to Jellal once again, I asked him as we boarded the carriage. "Why am I going to see the emperor...?"

Jellal shook his head. I guess he didn't know either.

After many hours of riding the carriage, we stopped at an inn.

I smiled and walked inside. The man at the counter regarded me with a weird expression. "You are a noble...?" He questioned, looking at my dress.

"She is with me," Jellal walked in behind me, keeping close to me.

"A-ah... Prince Jellal," the man bowed. Jellal was well known across the kingdom because of his accomplishments and the fact that he is the crown prince. Back at the plantation, no one recognized Sting. But here, Jellal...

Jellal looked distracted and dismissed the man. "2 rooms."

The man looked skeptical. "You are renting a separate room for this... female? You're not staying in one room?"

I gave him a hard glare. Did he think Jellal would be the type to...?

"She is my sister," Jellal said harshly.

"My apologies, your highness..." the man mumbled.

The night ended in a dreamless sleep.

We were back on the carriage again. I resisted the urge to ask Jellal more, but I gave in.

"So... Brother, what happened to Erik?"

Their duel was cut off because Erik was female, but also because we were called back to the castle.

"In the royal prison," Jellal replied.

"Oh..." I frowned. There is probably nothing I could do for the red haired knight at the moment...

Arriving at the capital of the empire, I cautiously stepped inside the huge building.

Beyond this door is where the emperor is...

I need to be mindful of what I say. One wrong thing and I could put my whole country in danger...

"Luciana Heartfilia." A voice said.

My eyes widened. The emperor was before me, dressed in all black. He was undeniably good looking, his raven hair framing him face.

"Your Highness..." I curtsied.

"Please, call me Zeref," he replied kindly.

"Oh, I couldn't possibly," I said politely.

"There is no need for formalities here," he smiled at me, and handed me a small box.

What is this...?

I looked at him, confused.

"This is the missing piece," Zeref replied. "The 13th key."

"You're giving this to me? Why?"

"It is of no value to me..."

I stepped outside the building, a little dumbfounded. That was it...?

I walked towards Jellal, who was waiting for me patiently, looking at the designs on the palace walls.

He looked up and saw me walking towards him.

"Lucy," he smiled. "How was it?"

I shook my head, saying, "I'll tell you about it later. I don't want anyone to overhear us."

Arriving at a prestigious hotel near the palace where we were expected to stay the night for, Jellal and I walked up to the front desk.

"Prince Jellal and princess Luciana, your rooms are on floor 28 and floor 11, respectively."

Jellal escorted me to my floor.

"Do I get the whole floor to myself?" I asked.

He nodded in response. "I'm surprised, myself. Usually the lower the floor, the less extravagance it provides..."

Jellal left me alone afterwards.

I breathed in the fresh air billowing through the open windows. The hotel room wasn't bad. "Bad" would be a huge understatement.

I guess the emperor can't afford to mistreat his guests.

A knock resounded at the door, and I rushed over to answer it.

Did Jellal forget something...?

An unknown servant stood outside.

She bowed quickly. "Princess Luciana, someone would like to talk to you..."

"Oh, okay," I replied. The servant stepped aside, and behind her, a noble-looking girl stepped forward.

"Hello, Luciana," the girl said, brushing her soft, silvery white hair behind her ear."A pleasure meet you."

"Hello..." I said. "May I ask your name?"

"Of course," she replied. "I am the crown princess, Lisanna."

The crown princess... Lisanna? I've read and heard about her multiple times. She is the only female that I know of with magic power...

"I've heard about you many times," I said, smiling. "It is an honor to meet you in person."

"I feel the same," she replied politely. "You are quite the prodigy as well."

I held the smile on my face. "What brings you here, crown princess?"

Lisanna's smile faltered a bit. "I'll be frank," she confessed. "I want to be on good terms with you, partially because as females with some political power, I want nothing to come between us. And... Also because we may end up as family members as well."

Family members...? What does she mean?

"I'm not sure if you've been informed, but I confessed to your fiance weeks ago..."

Lisanna... is the emperor's daughter, the crown princess, and the only female that possesses magic.

In a world like this, she couldn't possibly be refused. Natsu's household, famous for their unrivaled flame magic, would definitely not pass up this offer to climb up in social status.

Lisanna probably knows this, too...

"...So I would like us to get along, so we don't end up fighting over him... Surely he could take you as a second wife, since status-wise, you are..."

Even if the world is like this like this... and although the Natsu here doesn't belong to me...

I don't want that to happen.

I won't let it happen.

I want Natsu to want only me...

Natsu's POV

"Why are we coming here again?" Rogue complained, dragging his feet on the marble floor.

I didn't reply. I didn't want to say that the only reason I came here was because a certain someone was also going to be here.

"It's your fiancee, isn't it? You want to see her ever since you found out she is coming to the empire, and since the Magic Academy is nearby, you decided to pay her a visit!"

I shook my head over and over. "You don't get it."

Rogue shrugged. "I think I understand pretty well. I mean, I see what I see."

"I didn't know I'd run into you here!" A familiar voice said behind us.

I turned around, seeing Lisanna's smile as she gestured to the stairs. "Princess Luciana is on the 11th floor, if you are looking for her."

Rogue shrugged. "He's not here to see her."

I shot him a glare.

Yes, I am, Rogue. You know perfectly well how I feel. Why are you doing this now?

Lisanna looked surprised. "Did you request an audience with His Majesty?"

"No," I responded. "I'm merely here to finish some business matters."

Rogue gave me a look that said, What business matters?

Sometimes I feel like Rogue is denser than I am.

"Is that so?" Lisanna replied, stepping forwards towards us. "Have you thought about what I've said?"

"I've already told you this. I do not like you, so I would like to decline your request," I said.

"Even so, the emperor likes you, and so do I. The choice isn't yours."

"That won't be happening," I said, turning away.

Walking into our assigned hotel room, I dropped my stuff to the ground and glared at Rogue again.

"Natsu, you're so weird. Why would you refuse the crown princess's request?!"

I wonder, myself...

I've always devoted myself to becoming the best at what I do, which is fighting and magic.

I don't really want to marry anyone... That's why I've rejected Lisanna over and over.

But why am I okay with Luciana?

Maybe because she is my fiancee?

I don't understand my feelings.

(Small time skip)

Erza's POV

I've been locked up and thrown into jail. This is the way the kingdom treats its talented women, huh?

It's been days... and no one has even brought me food.

I survived on the small bits of jerky and water I've hidden in my clothes.

No one even bothered to search me after taking my weapons away.

I guess they don't think I pose as much of a threat...

Curse royalty...

The reason I ran away from home was also because...

I sighed.

I walked back to the cottage after sword practice, prepared to surprise father with the boars I've slain to distribute to the villagers. Upon entering the house, I saw my father slouched over at the dinner table, drinking.

"What are you doing?" I rushed over, taking the bottle he was holding. He hasn't been like this since the day mother passed away...

"Erza... You'd do anything for this village, right?" He asked this sudden question.

I nodded. "Yes, I've known this place my whole life."

"I... Well... You are going to marry the prince of this kingdom. We have to do this, so the kingdom won't attack our village. You understand how important this is, right?"

"Father... The kingdom wouldn't attack us, we are their prime source of stone and coal..."

"They could take this village for themselves! To prove our loyalty, the village council has decided to send a young and beautiful maiden to marry the prince. Of course, she wouldn't be the queen because of status... but as one of his wives, then..." Father rambled on and on.

"I am hardly beautiful.." I said. "And I think you've been drinking too much. You're not thinking straight."

"I am perfectly fine! We are sending you because of your unique red hair. You won't ever need to wield a sword any longer, you will be safe in the palace," he said.

"I can't give up on that, father..."

And now... Here I am, at the center of the kingdom that I wanted to run away from.

How ironic...

As soon as the letter my village sent the kingdom reaches the king's hands... my life is over.

I have to find some way to get rid of this red hair of mine.

"Are you there...?" A soft voice whispered.

I stood up and walked over to the bars. Standing outside was the blue haired boy that "defeated" me at the arena.

"What do you want?" I asked, suspiciously.

Ever since arriving in this prison, I've been humiliated by the guards, mocking me for my attempt at becoming a knight as a female.

"I... um..." He said, a bit awkwardly. "I brought you some food."

"Are you planning on poisoning me?" I asked bluntly.

"No, no," he said quickly. "I just feel the need to bring you some food, since I've lost to you back then."

At least he admits his defeat. Had I hidden my identity a little longer, I would have became the champion and a knight for the kingdom.

I took the food he was offering and sat back down.

If I was going to die anyway, I might as well live my life the way I wanted to before then.

"I'm bored, talk to me." I said.

The boy looked surprised. I guess a girl has never ordered him to do anything before.

"Well? Who are you?" I questioned.

"I'm an apprentice in training," he replied. "To become a knight."

"Aren't you already? You won the duel."

Thanks to my gender, I wanted to add.

"...Yeah. I wanted to say sorry. I may have brought you food because my pride has been hurt from almost getting defeated by a female, but I realize that as swordsmen, I want to learn more from you."

I raised my eyebrow. "...Learn from a female, you say?"

He nodded. "But I suppose I'm already doing that every day," he said with a small smile.

I was going to say something snarky again, but faltered.

His smile was genuine.

"You must really love someone a lot, huh?" I inquired.

"..Huh? No I'm not married or anything, not that kind of love," he said, blushing. His eyes met mine.

Were all people like this in the kingdom?

He was quite odd.

"It's my sister," he finally said. "She's taught me a lot of things actually. And I know she is trying to hide it, but she excels in all her studies. She is much more... talented than I am.. If she were male, then..."

"No," I said. "She is fine as she is. If she were a male, then you would no longer have your precious sister, right?"

"You're right... Just like how I would never wish that upon you, either..."

The hidden meaning in those words..

You are fine as you are... Erza..

Instead of changing myself, getting rid of my red hair, pretending to be male to become a knight...

I should prove my own worth.

I allowed my heart to be locked up, just like my body is in this jail cell.

All this time, I could have just trusted in my training and sword...

I could have trusted in myself.

I guess not all people who live in the kingdom are bad.

Not the person standing outside the cell, at least...

Not him...

-End of Chapter 10-

Author's Note: I'll probably edit this chapter later. It was written in a rush, sorry!