Now reader we shall return to where we left off last time. Poor Juvia's stepmother had tried to have her killed but her servant Rogue couldn't find it in his heart to perform such an evil act so he let her live but she was forced to flee into the woods, running for what seemed to be an endless amount of time and when she finally reached some sort of shelter she passed out. She was found by three dwarves although they weren't exactly your typical dwarves. For one thing two of them were a lot taller and bigger and the third was just a child. Their names were Gajeel, Elfman, and Romeo. They were miners who originally mined jewels and gold for King Hector but after he disappeared Queen Minerva had them exiled because they were suspicious of her using witchcraft. Ever since then they had been living in the forest.
Gajeel was the leader. A tough and rather mean dwarf who had a nasty temper but deep down he had a heart of pure gold and a soft spot that he tried his best to keep hidden. Elfman was the strongest of them and often tried to be the most manly but if you want the truth he was actually the most sensitive out all three of them. Finally there was Romeo the youngest of them and probably the only sane man in the group. He was the one who found Juvia that night.
"Gajeel! Elfman! Come quick!" Romeo called when he saw her.
"What is it now Romeo?" Gajeel asked as he and Elfman responded to his call.
"My what a pretty young lady." Elfman said.
"Where the hell did she come from?" Gajeel asked.
"She just knocked on the door and passed out. Do you think she's dead?" Romeo asked.
"She's still breathing you idiot!"
"Look at her dress it's all torn up and she's got scratches on her legs. We should bring her inside."
"No way. Leave her out here."
"A real man wouldn't leave a lady in distress." Elfman protested.
"We don't know who this girl is. She could be a thief or a killer or a witch."
"Does she look like a witch to you?" Romeo said.
"She looks like an angel to me." Elfman said.
"You don't have to look like a witch to be one you know." Gajeel said.
"Come on Gajeel have a heart. We can't just leave her out here she'll freeze to death." Romeo said.
"Or the wolves will get her." Elfman added.
"No! I'm in charge here and I say that we forget we ever saw this girl and go to bed."
"You're such a jerk!" Romeo said going back inside.
"And you're not a real man either." Elfman said following after him.
Gajeel just gave Elfman a growl and went to close the door but stopped when he saw Juvia's body start to move. She was crying. Crying in her sleep while her entire body was shivering from the cold. Gajeel felt guilt tug at his iron heart when he watched the sleeping girl weep and shiver. After a few Huff's of hesitation he picked her up, carried her inside, and tucked her into his bed much to Romeo and Elfman's shock.
"Say one word and you'll both need an iron lung." He told them before going to sleep on the floor.
In the morning Rogue had returned to the castle to find Minerva waiting for him in her chambers.
"Well?" She said. "Is she dead?"
"The wolves tore her to pieces." He lied. "All that remained were scraps of cloth from her dress."
"What a relief." She said as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders much to Rogue's horror.
"Your majesty do you not feel any guilt or regret over what just transpired? An innocent maiden is dead by your order!"
"She wasn't innocent Rogue! She was a wicked girl who would've destroyed the kingdom if she had lived a moment longer! Now that she's dead my kingdom is safe. Now leave me, I must prepare to have lunch with the prince."
But for the first time in his entire life Natsu's mind wasn't on food. All he could think about was Lucy. He didn't even know who she was and yet she was constantly plaguing his thoughts.
"Is something wrong?" Minerva asked him. "You haven't touched your food."
"Sorry your majesty I was just lost in thought." Natsu said.
"You know you were quite the remarkable dancer at the ball last night."
"Thank you."
"And it pleases me so that you have come all this way to our kingdom."
"Well you should thank my brother, he arranged the whole thing."
"He'll get my regards. Speaking of your brother I hear that he wants you to marry is that correct?"
"Yes."
"That's good to hear." He placed her hand over his. "Prince Natsu we are both single adults and we are both around the same age."
"I don't think we're the same age." Natsu said pulling his hand away. "Aren't you forty something?"
"I'm twenty nine. Anyway I've recently become very lonely since the passing of my late husband King Hector and you need a wife so I think that it would be fitting if we were to marry."
"Uh...Um...Well I'm flattered but...I'm gonna have to say no. It's nothing personal your majesty but there's someone else."
"Who?"
"I don't know her name but I met her last night at the ball and she was so beautiful and sweet and-"
"You don't even know her name."
"Nevertheless I have decided to marry her. She left a gold shoe behind at the ball and whoever's foot fits it is the one I'm looking for."
"I see... Would you excuse me for a moment."
Minerva got up from her chair and went to her secret room where her magic mirror was. A hour later as Lucy was getting water from the well she was startled by the sudden appearance of her aunt.
"You sneaky little tart! Did you really think that I wouldn't find out?" She said.
"What...What are you talking about?" She stammered.
"I'm talking about your appearance at the ball last night."
Lucy gasped.
"So tell me dearie just what were you doing dancing with my prince?"
"Your prince?"
"Sneaking in and preying on a poor, unsuspecting young man. Such crimes call for inprisonment, maybe even excecution. But because we're family I'll be merciful just this once." She grabbed Lucy roughly by the chin. "I want you out of this castle. You're no longer allowed to work here. I don't care where you go or what you do stay away from my castle and stay away from my prince! Or you'll be reunited with your parents much sooner than you think!"
Lucy was very frightened by the look in Minerva's eyes. They were mixture of hatred and insanity. Something you see in the eyes of people starting to descend into madness. Minerva released Lucy and returned to the palace leaving the poor girl trembling. She couldn't believe what just happened. She knew her aunt never liked her but she never thought that her aunt would actually threaten her life or try to kill her. Scared and confused Lucy returned to the hazel tree that grew on mother's grave. What was she to do now? Where was she to go from here?
"What's wrong Lucy?" She heard Levy's voice ask.
"Queen Minerva has ordered me to leave the castle and if I return I shall die. But I don't know what to do now. I've worked as a scullery maid ever since I was a child. What else is there for me?"
"Lucy there's something you need to know about me." Levy said. "I'm your fairy godmother."
"You're my what?"
"Your fairy godmother. Years ago when your mother was pregnant with you she asked me to take care of you should anything happen to her and your father."
"If that's true then why didn't you come for me when my parents died?"
"Your aunt knew about me and she saw me as a threat to her power so she in prisoned me. For ten years I tried to find someway to contact you but where she keeps me limits my magic. At last I was able to channel my powers into this hazel tree but only for a limited amount of time."
"Is there anyway I can free you?"
"Your aunt has the key somewhere in her bedchambers. It's golden and as stars engraved on it. When you find it, hold it up to the sky and say magic key golden and sleek lead me to the fairy I seek. Then an astral line will appear in the sky, follow it and it will lead you to me. But don't loose that key, keep it with you always. Once I'm free I promise you'll never suffer again."
"But Levy if I go back to the castle and Minerva catches me she'll kill me."
"If it truly is much too risky then don't do it. If my freedom costs you your life then I would rather be in prisoned for all eternity but remember Lucy, it takes courage to change your life for the best."