Minnaa! I'm so sorry for the late update! TT_TT I got a writer block and another interruption with my lappy..

anyway, thanks a lot for ur review! I like and love it soso much! XD

I was about to update it yesterday, but.. err.. nevermind.. X3

and I know if I don't update it now I'll feel bad to a certain 'Hoshi-onna' and to all of ya! ^^

so here you go chappy 11! *yattaaa!*

hope you like it! ^0^

Chapter 11

For a Head Quarter, Lucy thought it would be something like office, with a training field. But she guessed wrong.

MGHQ was huge. Much huger than the field Natsu saw when the bodyguard competition thingy. Lucy looked around. She could feel cold breeze from the outside, so the guards closed the door behind her.

"So, where's my father?" the guard motioned her to step into a wooden door. The room was dark and cold. But she could hear a weird noise. Heard like a grumble, or grunts, or.

Roar.

The lights on. Lucy took everything in her mind. She wasn't in a room. She's in somewhere seemed like a cage.

Correction. A GIANT CAGE.

Lucy felt like an ant in a jewelry box. "Father?" she tried. But she heard no response.

"Hey! Where am I? Let me out of here!" she twisted the door knob. "Anyone! Help me! Let me out of here!" she screamed when the door wouldn't budge.

"FATHER! ANYONE! IT'S AN ORDER! LET ME OUT OF HERE!" she shouted louder. Lucy reached for her keys, but she remembered that she left it in the drawers. Then she heard it again. Lucy looked at the circular… place?

Ah! She didn't even know what this place is. It's huge, circular, cold, the ceilings were wires in a weird shape, it's gray, and had three doors.

They weren't any usual door, they made of iron, and there was a log to lock each of the doors. Lucy took a deep breath. What will she do know? She really was afraid. She twisted the door knob again but the door won't open. What was his father up to? Why did he send someone to bring her here? And why here?

That sounds were heard again. Slowly, the log lifted up. Something pounded the iron door, seemed excited to get out. Unfortunately Lucy didn't excite to find what were in there at all. In seconds, the doors blasted open. And Lucy's back glued to the wall behind her. There, three dragons were popping out of each door. And if it's not scary enough, Lucy never seen these dragons before. They seemed excited, yet exhausted. Seemed like they were beaten up. Their colors were odd. Two blacks with blue dots, one white with purple strips.

Lucy gulped. "Father?" she called to no one.

"Wha? MGHQ?" the old lady nodded to the worried boy in front of her. "Why the hell did they take her there?"

"Sorry, Natsu-kun. I have no idea."

"Oh! Have you heard? There are new dragons in that 'haunted house'!" suddenly an old man followed their conversations. Natsu was getting furious now. Was there something he didn't know?

"What dragons?"

"Well, there are three dragons actually. They're huge like my house!" everyone except Natsu sweat dropped. "Wait, where did they take those dragons from?" The old man shrugged his shoulders.

"Where else? Dragon Hill of course," he said made Natsu's heart pounded.

'You mean, this whole time, those dragons attack them because they thought Lucy was a threat for Natsu so they mainly attacked her?'

"Crap!" Scales started to show on his cheek. Everyone turned to him.

"CRAP!" Everyone backed away in amazement as their friend turned to his mighty dragon form. He spread his wings and flew.

"Wait flame head! Where are you going?"

"Save my Princess!" The gang sighed while watching his figure disappeared between the clouds. "Let's follow him gu-" Erza's words cut when a blue barrier blocked the way ahead.

"What the?"

"No one's allowed to pass this way. King's ordered." A bunch of royal army stepped in. "Huh? Then what about Natsu, huh? And Lu-chan? They're our friends!" Levy yelled at them. Jellal took a deep breath.

"OI NATSU! GET BACK HERE!" he yelled.

"Oi dude, what the hell?" Gajeel said covering his ears. Jellal sighed. "If I'm not mistaken," he paused, turning his head to the armies. "This is some kind of trap."

"OPEN THE DOOR!" Tears dropped on the ground beneath Lucy. She ran across the cage, dodging the slimes and lightning that sprouted from the dragons' mouth.

"FATHER! ANYONE PLEASE!" she screamed louder. She didn't know what to do. One second those dragons were ahead her and the next thing she knew they started to attack her like she was a breakfast! Lucy shielded her vision with her palms. "Anyone… Please.." she whispered.

Lucy gasped when she felt a sticky thing on her face, licking her face like she was a candy. Without seeing Lucy knew it was the dragon's tongue. The blonde Princess could feel the drool from its tongue dropped on her shoulder, and that tongue forced her palms away from her face. Lucy sobbed, those purple strips that dragon owned made her dizzy. And its sharp fangs and teeth, Lucy could see herself been torn between those teeth. This dragon could swallow her in one gulp for sure.

Natsu said dragons could be men's best friend.

Natsu said dragons could be her friends.

Natsu said dragons would be her friends if she wanted to be their friend too.

Natsu said she would like them somehow.

Natsu said he would never let them hurt her. Then what about these dragons? Was she going to be their meal?

The dragons roared, and Lucy could feel her feet couldn't support her anymore. Lucy squeaked on her spot. Carefully took a breath, Lucy's breath hitched when the white dragon charged. Was she going to die?

No!

He'll be there. She knew it!

.

.

"NATSU!"

"FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST!"

Lucy gasped. Smokes surrounded the whole cage. While the Princess remained still on her butt, her feet couldn't hold any longer. She couldn't see anything. The only thing she saw was a big red dragon, and she heard some spells casted from his mouth. She also heard some roars, screams, and winches from the other three dragons.

Lucy slanted her eyes when the sounds subsided. Next thing she ears was log lifted and door closed. The smokes cleared, dared herself to stand up. All she could see was a big red dragon shrunk to its human form. Lucy's eyes started to water again. Her lips quivered up, slightly pouting.

Natsu panted, turned his head across the cage where he could see a pouting and crying Princess. He sighed in relief. Lucy's tears tensed him for a while before both of them ran and embraced each other tightly.

"Lucy.." he said and nuzzled to hair. "What the hell are you doing in this haunted house?" Lucy pulled away but made no move to pull her hand off his neck. "How should I know? I never knew what kind of place is this." She said, her face showed annoyed and scared expressions.

"But you promised me you won't get yourself into trouble."

"Yes, but like I said, I never know that this place is so… so like this." Natsu sighed and ruffled her hair.

"Furthermore, my father was the one who sent those guards and brought me here." she continued.

"Your father?"

"Yes, I don't know what is it but-"realization hit her like a rocket. Lucy gasped. "Oh no." she whispered.

"What is it Luce?" said Princess grabbed his hand. "We need to get you out of here!"

"What?"

"Come on Nats-" the door opened, and claps were heard. Lucy bit her lip, watching her father clapped with a satisfied smirk on his face. Natsu pulled Lucy back to his arms.

"Very impressive," he started, eyes never leaved Lucy's. Dozens of armies stepped into the cage, surrounded the pair. Lucy clutched Natsu's hand. Right now she really needed a fairy god mother.

"Arrest that Dragneel boy."

There, The King said calmly like it was a common thing. Lucy gasped. "No!" she shouted, hugging Natsu tightly. Natsu held her close. But then a sound of clinging chain was heard. And in a second Natsu found himself staring at a pair of hand cuffs on both his wrists. And a guard pulled Lucy by her hands. Lucy squirmed, made him turned to his bodyguard mode that ready to slice those bastards who touched her.

Natsu lit his hands on fire, but instead of it, a struck of lightning hit him. "AAARGH!" he shouted.

"NATSU!" Lucy shouted, tried to break free. Natsu fell to his knees, feeling a throbbing pain from his wrists that flowed until his back. He coughed painfully.

"NO! NATSUU!" his lovely Princess kept shouting his name over and over again. And the cursed hand cuffs didn't stop him to go over her and punched the guard. But more painful struck him again, made him fell in front of her.

"Natsu?" she whispered shakily. Natsu panted, held her hand in his. Her eyes watered and she cupped his cheek. But their moments ruined once again when Lucy got dragged away from him. She turned but to see Judo gripped her wrist tightly.

"And for you," he said in a warning tone, "we need a little talk." He dragged her inside.

"LUCY!" Natsu's voice echoed in her ears, but Lucy had no power to object her father.

Lucy fell to the cold tiled floor.

"Father, let him go! Please-" Lucy stopped at the expression on the blond haired man's face. It showed pure anger, disappointment, but most of all, hatred.

"I never thought you would do this, Lucy." Lucy's fist clenched. "Father, he didn't do anything wrong." She pleaded.

"Yes he did! And you did it too! You didn't tell me he is a Dragneel!"

"So what if he's a Dragneel? Is it wrong if I wanted to be his friend?" Lucy gulped her sob.

"You know the very reason why I don't want a Dragneel in my castle! And if it wasn't enough you saw what I just see right there, right? He is a dragon!"

"SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?" she screamed.

"A DRAGON IS WHAT WE SHOULD ELIMINATE!"

"NO! WHO SAID WE SOULD KILL THEM? NOBODY! IT'S JUST YOU!"

"THEY KILLED A LOT OF US!"

"Couldn't you see that we killed most of them too?" her voice softened. "If we kept killing them then it means we're the real murdered? The real monster?"

"Young lady, you know that the real monster will come at any moment later, right?"

"They're not monsters! They were just trying to defend themselves!" now she completely lost her mind.

"What do you mean by that?"

"There's a volcano, their nest! And there's something big-"

"Nest?" he gripped her shoulder. "What nest?" Lucy gulped, realizing what she just said. She mentally slapped herself for not thinking before.

"Why didn't you tell me before? Lucy! This is a serious problem!"

"But I-"

"How did you get in there? Do you even know how important is this?"

"Father! Wait up-"

"With this we can kill those dragons in an instant! And we can- Oh this is great!" he laughed evilly.

"Tell me where it is, tell me where this nest is!" he shook her shoulder. Lucy's eyes widened. No! He'll get killed if that dragon queen found him and his army. "No!" She shouted, pulled away from Judo's grasp. "You can't go there!" No matter how cruel he was, this man is her father, and she won't lose him too! And her nightmare last night, Lucy won't let it happen!

"LUCY! TELL ME NOW!"

"NO! YOU CAN'T GO THERE!"

"LUCY!" said Princess put her hands to both sides of her head. "NO!"

"LUCY HEARTFILIA! TELL ME WERE IS IT!"

"NO! IT WASN'T ME WHO GOT THERE! ONLY DRAGONS CAN FIND THAT PLACE!" Lucy gasped realizing what words that came out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Opening her eyes she saw her father made same face. Then he smile that demon king smile.

"No! No father! You really don't understand!" she tried to stop him from getting outside. But he didn't budge.

"Father! I'm promise I'll do anything but please don't hurt Natsu!" tears and dirt stick on her face. Her father turned to her once again.

"Natsu Natsu Natsu. Is that all you've been thinking? What about him actually?" Judo stared at her eyes and hid mind's clicked.

"Oh no.." he whispered, yet Lucy clearly heard it.

"You… are in love with him?" Lucy gaped. "I.. " she couldn't finish. "I'll take that as a yes," he said, walking away. Lucy snapped her head. "Father! Please!" she grabbed his hand.

"Could you… COULD PLEASE AT LEAST LISTEN TO ME?" she screeched. Judo stopped in his track and snatched her hands away. Lucy's frown deeper when her father turned to her with those cold eyes.

"Why would I want to listen to someone who caused my wife's death?"

BA-THUMP

"Wanna hear the truth Lucy? Yes. You are the reason behind you mommy's death." There. He said that, ignoring the formalities. Lucy fell to her knees right when Judo closed the door behind him. Various memories played in her mind.

Little Lucy picked the purple petunia outside the castle. She could hear shouts and screams from the other side of the gate, but she never got what those armies and her father were doing. She only heard something like 'Kill those dragons' and so. Silently she wondered how a dragon looked like. But as a little Princess, her mother and father never allowed her to go outside. But she never cared, as long as her Mama was there.

Little Lucy never thought that a big dragon followed her movements. And in a second it jumped and approached her. She stared at it with her curious brown eyes.

"LUCY!" she heard her mom called her and she turned to the Queen happily.

"Mama! Look at this big guy! He-"

"Get out of there sweetheart!"

"Mama?"

"Open the gate of the Goat! Capricorn!" a bright glow appeared and a goat man bowed to her. "Capricorn! Take Lucy inside!"

"But Layla-sama!"

"Don't worry. I'll distract that dragon! Keep her safe!" he nodded. Lucy raised a brow. Dragon? She turned to the creature and her mom back and forth. Capricorn picked her small figure up. "Come on Lucy-sama, we should go back inside." Lucy struggle in his hold. "Mama!" she called the bigger figure of her.

"Sweetheart, listen, I have a business here so you and Capricorn should go back inside, okay?" Lucy grabbed her hand and grinned widely. "I'm not going without you, Mama." The roar was heard. "Go inside!" Layla screamed.

"Mama!" she struggled and managed to get out of Capricorn's grip. "Mama!" she called again and ran to her. Her mother that was busy distracted that dragon looked back to her. She could see a pair of adults approached them and shouted her Mama's name.

"No! Igneel! Grandine! Just protect the others!" Lucy heard the pair protested and stuffs, but she kept running to her mom. Layla noticed her.

"Lucy! Don't come near he-" Lucy stopped in her track. Felt like a slow motion, Lucy saw the black dragon raised its claw and threw her mother to the nearest tree. Few drops of blood strained her cheeks when Layla went pass through her. The young could only freeze. Slowly, she turned her head back and gasped.

"Mama?" she crawled to her mom that drenched in blood.

"Lucy-sama! Layla-sama!"

"No! Layla!"

"Mommy?" said Queen smiled at her and wiped her cheek that strained with her blood. "It's going to be okay sweetie," she smiled. Lucy felt dizzy because of the crimson liquid surrounded her mom. She felt her hands on her cheek went limp.

"I love you Lucky Lucy." Everything went black.

Natsu saw Judo walked out. His face showed an unbearable sadness like he just regretted something. Where's Lucy? Natsu smelt tears from inside. His mind's boiled.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?" Judo glanced at him and his cold expression returned. "None of your business, Dragneel."

"LUCY! LUCE!"

Meanwhile, inside, the blank face still glued to Lucy's feature. Tears kept flowing on her cheek and chin. "LUCY!" Natsu's voice woke her up from her painful memories. "Natsu.." she whispered. No. she had already lost her mom. Now she wouldn't lose Natsu and her father. Lucy wiped her tears and dragged her feet outside.

"Father! Wait!" Judo flinched at her voice. Lucy ran pass him and hugged Natsu tightly. "No. Please don't do anything to him. Please.." she pleaded and looked to the guards. But those ghosts only followed the King's order.

"Bring the Princess back to the castle." Judo pulled her hand and stared at Natsu.

"And bring him to 'that' prison."

"NO! NATSU!" Natsu and Lucy held each other's hands, not wanting to let go. "Uurgh! LUCY!" he clutched her hands tight. But the hand cuffs drained his power, and slowly his grip loosened. But it's not like Natsu to give in like that. He gripped her hands tightly, and so did her.

THUD

Lucy's eyes widened once again. She felt the grasp by her father released, and he pulled that damn sword out of the socket. And in a motion Natsu's grip loosened, his hands went limp, and his body fell all four to the ground.

The Blondie looked up to see Judo whacked Natsu's head with the back of the sword, right behind his neck. She heard a low "Luu-cy," before the boy in front of her fell into unconsciousness.

Right there, Lucy swore she went deaf, because she couldn't hear anything beside her father's command. And a minute after she found herself in the carriage, the guards brought her back to the castle. Without Natsu.

The city of Magnolia was dead silent that time, when the royal carriage rode pass through the barrier and they ear small sobs from inside. Princess Lucy's friends yelled her name and struggled under the armies' grasp, but it was no use. Levy and Lisanna cried loudly, while Gajeel and Gray sat on at the ground, exhausted because the army drained their magic power when they kicked their ass.

Porlyusica and Makarov rushed to the Princess. And the pink haired tutor got a hug as an answer. But the hug didn't last long, two guards pulled her to her room and locked it while Makarov shouted at them.

Inside Lucy's bedroom, piles of tissues spread everywhere. Her locket hung loosely on her neck but it lost its glow. Mrs. Spetto covered her ears when she heard Lucy screamed and cried again and again. She really wanted to come there and embrace their beloved Princess but the guards locked it with special key that no one but themselves could open it. Lucy kept crying, the pang in her heart was too big, her head felt dizzy, her mind swirled, and all she could see was Natsu's face. Lucy unhooked the clip of her locket and look and the star and moon shaped thingy.

"Natsu.. Please be safe." She whispered, bringing the locket to her chest.

"I love you…" she pecked it. Unaware that her remained unconscious bodyguard's hand twitched at her confession. "Luce.."

It felt like an eternity after Lucy heard sounds of key on the door. Lucy got up and sat on her bed, waiting someone to open it.

The door's opened, three people wearing hooded on their maid outfits walked in and approached her.

"What now? Are you going to bring me to the dragons nest this time? To be their meal?" she asked bluntly. They giggled, made Lucy sure that they were girls. Well what kind of boy wore maid outfits? Lucy raised a brow, but then she gasped when they removed their hooded, showing purple, brown, and green hairs proudly.

"Yo Princess," the brunette said, tackling Lucy into a hug.

"Cana? Bisca and Laki too?" she asked surprised. Laki nodded."The guards won't let Erza and the others get here, as for us, we never got into the castle before so they didn't recognize us," she said proudly.

"Well Lucy, we need to get out of here. Erza was so furious when she heard what the King did. Lisanna and Levy won't stop crying too." Bisca said. Cana nodded.

"Mm! the army drained Gray and Gajeel's magic too. We need to hurry!" Lucy lowered her head. "Sorry," she whispered, gaining the attention from the rest.

"Hey Princess it's okay. It's not your fault," the purple head patted her blonde one. "Yes it is. If I didn't call Natsu he won't get arrested. And the others won't get hurt." Her eyes watered again. Cana's forehead twitched. "Lucy, sometimes you could be so stupid for such an intelligent Princess." Laki and Bisca sweat dropped at her words.

"Wha?" Lucy's mouth gaped. Cana sat beside her. "He risked his life, well his identities to protect you! You can't just go mourning over nothing! Stand up and let's fight!"

"Cana's right. We have to help him!" Lucy bit her lip. "But what if my father did something to him?"

"No, I'm pretty sure e won't hurt or kill him. King needs Natsu to bring him to the nest. Now, do you know anything about this nest?" Bisca asked. Lucy thought for a moment before stating, "all I know is there's something big there, a giant dragon. And I'm so sure that none of those armies will be able to handle It." The three 'maid' nodded.

"Then let's get out of here and tell Erza and the others!" Lucy raised a brow. "How? I don't even know how three of you managed to get here without the guards noticing." They smirked and grabbed Lucy's wrist. "Leave that to us."

Cana looked at the both sides and whistled to the girls behind her. "All clear, let's go!" Laki grabbed Lucy's and Bisca's hand. Lucy clutched her keys tightly; she wouldn't risk leaving her keys behind anymore. "So you guys pretended to be the maids and rushed to my bedroom while the guards were eating?" Bisca sighed. "Come on Lucy, don't make it sounds like we're robbers or kidnappers or so," they kept running. Lucy smiled. "Thank guys," Bisca, Laki and Cana smiled and nodded.

"Hey! You three there! Where are you taking the Princess to?" They froze. Three guards stood in front of them. "We're taking her to the.. um.. Library! She said she wanted to read some books" the guards raised their brow. "Do you think we will buy that?" Lucy felt her sweats poured on her forehead.

"Hiks." They turned to the certain purple head again. Laki fell to her knees and hugged one of the guard's legs.

"You're right! We're not even maids! We're just girls without occupation!" she cried. Lucy sweat dropped. Really?

"We were out of money and we had family to take care of. So two days ago we kneeled in front of the King and ask for a job, but he refused! Right sister?" she turned to still shocked Cana and Bisca.

"Huwee! She's right! That's why we blackmailed him and say we'll tell the whole Magnolia about how he treated her daughter." Cana hugged Laki dramatically.

"Yes, and finally he gave us a secret job to bring the Hot Blondie here to MGHQ because he wanted to have a little chat again with her." Bisca wiped her tears. But then she cried again. "I know! We're so horrible right? But we had no other choice!" she cried and leaned to the guard's shoulder. The guards changed glances.

"We felt so bad for you girls, but we cannot let women enter MGHQ, it's too dangerous. At least we had to follow you." The 'sisters' froze again. Lucy face palmed.

"ARE YOU UNDERESTIMATING US?" Here she goes again. Lucy watched Laki adjusted her glasses and glared to the guards.

"Listen up boys, we've been training with bunch of dragons since you guys still sucking your binky! We cured ourselves and we never asked for someone's help for treating our injuries! We had to fight with the cold weather to search for food, and yet we had to survive by eating nasty fishes even thousands of cockroaches!" Lucy wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Do you think we could not survive in a stupid haunted house?" the guards stared at her in shock. Even her 'sisters' dropped their jaw in amazement. The Olietta girl sighed.

"Do you see this foot? See?" she pulled her feet upward. The guards nodded quickly, waiting the next part of the story impatiently. Laki smirked proudly.

"This foot has been kicking and killing about ten dragons or so, "she whispered. The boys gulped. "And it had made some men suffered and not able to have off springs." She laughed devilishly.

"How?" one of the guard asked without think any further. "By this," she kicked the guard on his groin.

"OOPFH!" He fell backward winched in pain and cursed loudly. His friends helped him to sit up. Lucy, Bisca and Cana stifled a laugh.

"Well, if there's no more question," she grabbed Lucy's hand again. "Please excuse us boys," the girls walked away.

"Pfft, I never thought you're such an actress, Laki." Cana said laughing her skirts off. Laki waved her hand, "did I become too dramatic?" she asked innocently. Lucy laughed, at a moment forgot about the weight on her shoulder. "Yes, but that was so brilliant!" she clapped her hands.

"Oops, come on girls, I'm afraid Erza waited too long," they snapped back to realities and Bisca's words. The four girls ran to their life.

"Lu-chaaaaan!" Levy hugged her best friend tightly. Lucy returned the hug and cried again. "I'm so sorry I made you all worry." She whispered softly. The other's eyes softened. "It's okay Lucy,"' Lisanna patted her back. "So what now? I can't let my father force Natsu to bring him and the armies to the nest."

Erza tapped her chin, "Do you in any possibilities know how to get to the nest?" Lucy shook her head. "When we got there accidentally I closed my eyes all the time, I was too scared, sorry," she lowered her head once again. "Just great huh? Now what are gonna do?" Juvia nudged Gray's rib. The black haired boy looked at her quizzically and Juvia pointed to Lucy. Gray smiled smugly, "sorry Lucy, I didn't mean to," Lucy just smiled at him.

"So how do we get there?" Mira asked. "Only dragons and everyone with their blood can find the place-" Lucy's eyes widened, so did the rest. An image of a girl with long blue hair popped in their mind. Jellal smirked.

"So? What are we waiting for? Let's go to the Dragneels!"

Allriiiight! there you go! XD mugii.. At first I thought this story will end in about 10 chappies.. I never expect it'll become longer.. OoO

sorry guys.. I guess I can't reply ur last review.. I always in a rush now.. ToT please forgive me.. *bad Nachii.. bad Nachii*

but I'm promise I'll reply ur review for this chappie! so pwetty pwease leave a revieeww! XD it will make me cry in happiness! ^^

see you later! x9

-Nachii-