A/N: Hey everyone! Here's my second last chapter for this story. OMG! This story is reaching its ending. Anyways before you guys go ahead and anxiously read this chapter, I want to thank you all for leaving me wonderful reviews. The support I've received so far was simply fantastic. Kudos^^
The Princess and the Dragon Slayer
Chapter 25
Still Lucy's POV
Everyone in the room stood still, shocked that the king or I mean my father came walking in agreeing to what Mystogan said.
"Father?" I couldn't help but questioned him back.
"Natsu Dragneel is it?" My father looked at Natsu which I believe he was asking for a confirmation on whether he gotten his name correct and after getting a nod back from Natsu, my father continued. "He won't be hanged. His death sentence has been removed." My father declared out loud.
Was I hearing right? Natsu's not going to die. I already could feel tears brimming at the corner of my eyes for I don't know how many times that day.
"Why father? Why so sudden?" My voice a bit softer than usual but I think my father managed to catch what I asked because he was walking up to me. He stopped when he was standing in front of me.
"Because I failed to see your happiness Lucy. I'm sorry." He pushed back the strands of my hair that were hanging loose behind my ear. "I'm so sorry for not hearing you out but after hearing Mystogan out and seeing that Natsu here has gone to such an extent to save the castle; I guess I can overlook this matter."
"Fa- Fa- Father, are you saying that I can marry him?" I was startling with my words as I couldn't contain my excitement any longer. My father smiled at me before giving me a nod. I immediately jumped into his arms and hugged him. I could tell my father was startled by my action since there were many eyes on us but soon, he caved in and hugged me back.
Time to head back to Natsu's POV
I stood there frozen as I looked at the scene before me. It's like all the tiredness that amounted from the fight, was washed away in an instant once I heard those words came out from the king's mouth. The king was not going to send me to my death. He noticed me and now even approved my relationship with Lucy. I didn't know how to describe this feeling. It was just simply amazing that finally, finally I'm being appreciated and accepted for who I am.
I didn't know I was staring into space that the king had to repeatedly call my name a few times.
"Natsu?"
"Oh sorry sir." I shook my head to get me out of my daze before bowing slightly. "I have to thank you for sparing my life and accepting my relationship with the princess sir."
"You're most welcome Natsu. If Layla-" The king paused for a while before continuing. "I mean if the queen was here, she would have approved your relationship with my daughter from the start." I raised my head and looked at the king eye to eye before giving him a nod with a smile.
After enjoying the mere moment of silence, the king turned away from me and started as he looked at the direction where the two dragon slayers laid.
"So these are the brats that intruded in my castle? What about the army of guards that were attacking at my castle entrance?"
"Sir, they were just illusion. I believe these two dragon slayers managed to create them as a distraction so they could sneak in the castle without any difficulty." Mystogan answered him as he went to lean his back against the wall. Funny, it was weird seeing his actual face as you know, he used to cover it up.
"Is that so?" The king took a long pause like he was in deep thought before suddenly raising his voice. "Guards! Take them to the dungeon. They should not be spared any mercy."
Both of the guards who followed the king by his side into this room were the one walking up to the two dragon slayers to I believe, bring them into custody. Sadly for them, I wasn't going to make it easy. Before they could proceed any further, I stood in front of where the two dragon slayers laid and blocked their way.
"Sir Natsu, please move out of the way." One of the guards requested but as stubborn as you all know I am, I didn't even move an inch and just continue to stand at my current spot firmly.
"Natsu?" I heard Lucy called out for me more like a question but I decided to ignore her as I waited for the king to speak to me instead. I heard stirring behind me which most probably indicated to me that the two dragon slayers were waking up from their short slumber.
"Natsu, can I know what are you trying to do?" The king looked at me bewildered before finally questioning me.
"Your majesty, I thank you deeply for not trying to send me to my deaths and especially accepting me into this royal family but I believe these two meant no harm as they were only trying to prove justice." The king just raised one of his eyebrows at me which I took that opportunity to explain myself further.
"You see sir, I understand their pain and suffering because I was once like them. They just wanted their freedom and I believe they were just sick and tired living in fear everyday so they decided once and for all to come here and teach you a lesson." I paused for a while so that I could turn around and look at them. Both of them were wide awake though they were still on the ground as they used their elbows for support. Looking at their expression, it was quite obvious they were surprised that I was standing up for them.
"I'm not agreeing on their part that this is right but the main reason that triggered all this was because you wanted us dragon slayers gone as you thought we were threat." Before I continued, I bowed down to the king in a 90 degree angle. "I'm sorry your majesty."
It was just silence before I heard the king smirked. "You know Natsu, I've never met anyone like you before." What? I just had to look up at the king and I saw a smile on his face as he crossed his arms. "Since you're going to be the next successor, I guess I can leave the final decision in your hands." The king said before turning around.
"Guards! Let's go. We need to clear up this place." The king ordered before walking out of the room. I couldn't believe what my ears just heard. I immediately bowed down again shouting a thank you before he was completely out of the area. Once that was done, I raised my head up so that I could finally look at Loki, Virgo, Capricorn and even Mystogan. Seeing the smiles spread across their faces was such a blissful moment but all of that was broken when I got tackled down.
"Natsu!" Lucy jumped hugged me causing us both to fall to the ground. Lucy was giving me many quick pecks around my face. I immediately grabbed her chin so that I could reach for her lips to give her one solid and long peck. We broke it once we heard shuffling near us. I looked up and was stunned to see the two dragon slayers that I beat up quite badly I must add, standing beside us.
"Natsu was it?" The blond dragon slayer, Sting was it his name, asked as he scratched the back of his head.
I gently pushed Lucy away from me so I could stand up and face them instead. Lucy held my left arm while she stood beside me as well.
"Yeah?" I replied back in question, wondering where this conversation was going to lead to.
"W-well you know after all that like I kind of beat the hell out of that goat man and also took down this castle pretty bad and also almost-"
"Let's not go there bro." I decided to cut him as he was obviously beating around the bush and I knew where this was leading so I didn't want this conversation to go there since I have a bad case of protectiveness. The black dragon slayer, I think his name was Rogue let out a deep sigh before he decided to speak this time.
"What Sting was trying to say, that both of us want to apologise for what harm we've done to the people in this castle and as well as the castle itself and that we also want to thank you for standing up for us." Rogue paused before he continued again. "It really meant so much to us that we do not have to live our life in fear anymore."
"No problem." I smiled at Rogue sincerely before I turned to face Sting. "Just don't touch what's mine and you'll be off the hook. Got that?" But for Sting, there was a hidden meaning behind my smile and I guess he could sense it since he backed away a little before nodding.
After everything has been settled and agreed upon, I decided it was time for the injured to get themselves taken care of so Virgo brought the two dragon slayers to the first aid room which it was the castle's hospital ward. I wasn't going to let them go off out there in that state since I was the one who damaged them ALOT. Loki brought Capricorn there as well with Mystogan following behind.
Lucy grabbed my hand thinking that we're going with them together but I decided that the rest could go first. I pulled Lucy back causing her to spin around until her face came face to face with my chest while my hands wrapped around her waist. She looked up and I could see her face was turning scarlet red.
"N-N-Natsu! What are you doing? We need to get you treated as well."
"But I miss you so much Lucy." I ended my declaration with a pout. In return, she giggled and I was glad to see that smile again on that beautiful face of hers.
I scooted down and gave her a surprised attack on her lips but immediately, she responded back the kiss and we enjoyed that innocent and sweet kiss that we both missed so much. We parted once we knew we needed air and I couldn't help but to stare into those beautiful brown eyes of hers.
I can't believe it. I'm going to be married to her.
A/N: And that's it for this chapter folks! How was it? Good? Not good? Hopefully it's great because I tried my best to make the near ending as great as it can be. Anyway the next chapter will be the last thus I will make it a long one. Tata folks! Oh yes, please leave a review before you go k? Thanks very much(: