Author's Note: Hey again guys...I know I had posted earlier today. Surgery went well and I am relaxing at home with some heavy duty pain meds and bored out of my mind. And what does a person who is bored out of their mind do? They write a butt load! I was gonna wait until next week to post this, but to celebrate my surgery going pretty well and to appease my boredom today; it will be a double chapter day! I know, since when was the last time I ever done that? Well regardless I think you all will be happy with this chapter as much as I had making it. However, next week you will get the really awesome Ch 30 I made! So please continue to leave a review and lemme know your thoughts! I love to hear from you all and I love this journey we are on together!

Without anything further to say, the song for this chapter is "Daughter of the Moon" by Adriana Figueroa. I have used this song for other chapters in my other stories. It is just too pretty and fits Lucy so well in her uncertainty. Please give it a listen and enjoy reading the chapter while you do so. Oh and don't forget to review or pm me afterwards! I want to fangirl with you all in what you are about to read!

Heir of Beauty and Serenity

~Chapter Twenty-Nine~

Waiting for Natsu to arrive was like waiting for the first real day of summer; agonizingly slow and hopeful that it would arrive sooner than one expected. Lucy was finding living in the north quite different than any previous places she had ever been before. It was wet. It was cold. It was wet and cold. However, she found warmth of a different nature in this winter wonderland. The people here were caring and kind. They were also excessively loyal to the Fullbuster house with unyielding devotion. The heiress of the Heartfilia Kingdom was treated to the daily life of the ice palace under Juvia's care. Of course the Queen of Water could be overbearing the past few days. Word quickly had gotten out about the Lost Princess not feeling well and had fainted twice. Since then she was treated like a fragile doll by all those around her, save for Cana. Then it came time for the Celestial Princess to draw the line when Juvia wanted her to see a doctor one morning.

"Juvia, I appreciate the concern, but if I don't get out of this bed, I just might scream. Nothing bad has happened since I have arrived. All of you are over worrying for nothing." Lucy argued.

"Juvia is just worried about Lucy's health. Gray-sama is also and if Natsu gets word that you are still sick-"

"But I am not sick!" The princess argued.

'Liar' The inner voice of said princess spoke, as well thought, at the same time. She had begrudgingly called herself that word; but the others didn't have to know that.

"Juvia wants to make triple sure-"

"Juvia, I understand you mean well; I really do. But I have lived my whole life without seeing a doctor IF I had felt ill. I am telling you that I am my normal self. I don't feel faint and I don't have any other symptoms. I am not about to waste a doctor's precious time from helping others that are actually sick when I am not even sick myself. Now I am putting my foot down, please respect my wishes Queen Juvia." The woman left no room for argument for the Queen of Water to protest.

The gracious hostess's face portrayed a quiet sadness that the Princess of Stars almost regretted causing, "Juvia doesn't like it when you say it that way since we are friends. Friends look after each other."

"Friends also respect each other's wishes." The Celestial Princess countered.

"Respect mine first." The Queen was quick to corner the bedded woman.

"Fine, I will go to the doctor tomorrow. I want to get some training in first and I need to finish my contracts, as well as check on my other spirits. They are probably worried considering I haven't spoken to them in a while." The princess gave in.

"Very well! Tomorrow!" The water woman beamed from winning the discussion. Already Lucy could feel the headache coming on.

Why did she always find herself doing things she didn't want for other's happiness? 'Because their happiness becomes your own The quick wit voice replied. The Lost Princess could only frown at her inner dialogue. Even that wouldn't let up her personal dilemma.

"Something the matter Lucy?" The Queen asked.

"No...not really. If that is all Juvia, I really should get ready. Yukino is probably at the training grounds waiting on me." The Princess of Stars was suddenly on her feet and herding Juvia towards the door.

"Juvia gets the hint. Will Lucy be joining us for lunch? Storm has taking a liking to Lucy as of late." The Water Queen asked from the doorway. Lucy couldn't stop the fond expression rippling across her face. In just the short amount of time being in the kingdom of water and ice, she had found herself becoming quite attached to the small, mischievous little boy with blue eyes and dark hair. And it would seem that, he too, had grown a fondness for the golden haired princess in return.

"Tell him that I wouldn't miss it for anything." The Lost Princess grinned.

"I will be sure to tell him." Juvia smiled.

"See you both then."

"Also, tell me how you like your new wardrobe?" The water woman attempted to stall for a few moments longer.

"I like it just fine. Later Juvia." Lucy found herself rolling her eyes and closing the door. The whole reason the Queen of Water had come to visit in the first place was to drop off her new dressed that she had requested since there was nothing for her to properly wear. The golden haired beauty rested her back against the closed door as she refocused herself on the tasks before her. With little time to spare, she found herself a decent dress to change into after she quickly bathed herself. True, Juvia had come to drop off her new garments,, but quickly the conversation turned towards the Queen's concern for her health. The princess's thoughts turned to reflection as she continued to quickly ready herself. As far as anyone knew she was back to full health; but what she felt was whole other story.

Growing up in the mines left little to be desired beneficial wise. If one got sick they would simply disappear if they shown to be too ill. There were no doctors; you were just replaceable should you not get up to work. And the first, as well only, time she saw a doctor was back in that humiliation examination room during ripening day. Since then, well since recently, she has been somewhat seen. So far they say she was normal from what they could tell; that is, what Lucy had told them of her symptoms. It wasn't that she didn't trust anyone as it was more of denial. To deny what she was feeling was a lot easier than to admit she is sick. If she was sick, she would put everything on hold. She would burden her friends more than they already were. To be sick meant everything they had sacrificed and strived for would be for nothing. What terrified the Celestial Princess was what exactly could she be sick with to cause any of the symptoms she had been feeling recently. Could it be an incurable illness? A disease with no aid in sight? Was she poisoned or had she contacted something through her magic awakening? Her lack of education could only provide her with only so much information. The logical thing to do was come clean and inform an actual doctor. Too bad her denial outweighed reason.

The Lost Princess finished dressing and proceeded to head out with her pouch of keys and whip at her belt. Her reflections didn't cease as she pondered more on her own symptoms: headaches, fatigue, lightheadedness at times, always hungry-especially things weird like fire of all things, hunger then followed by bouts of feeling nauseous, dare she even utter the thought of weight gain, and let's not even mention her emotions being out of sorts. Just the other day she had to excuse herself to the restroom when a visiting Juvia, with her son Storm, had a touching moment in where he wrapped his arms around his mother's neck and told her that he loved her. The sensitive woman practically burst into tears the minute the restroom door closed behind her. Then on another occasion she had been listening to Happy prattle on about how amazing his relationship with Carla has been, and that she suddenly felt the urge to pick him up and shake him while yelling angrily at him for rubbing that in her face. She wasn't entirely sure what was wrong with her. It would seem the only thing she was certain of was that there was something not quite right in regards to her actions and emotions.

The Princess of Stars turned to enter the training grounds where Yukino was awaiting. She cleared her troubled mind only to focus on what she must do now. She had no time to be worried or to over think on things that would turn out to be nothing at all...probably. Lucy shook her head and focused her attention on approaching her fellow celestial mage. "Hey! Sorry I am a little late! Juvia just kept talking my ear off. You weren't waiting long?" Lucy offered an apologetic smile.

"Not really, Cana and I were catching up until just a few moments ago." The silver haired mage greeted by answering her friend's question.

"Oh? What about?" The Lost Princess looked slightly taken aback. She hadn't missed the dark look in Yukino's eyes before it had quickly vanished.

"This, that, and the other thing. Nothing really to worry about. So ready to begin your training again?" Yukino redirected the conversation as subtly as she could.

Lucy let the topic be changed with no intent to pursue a real answer out of Yukino. Even if she felt odd about the sudden change of topic, it was probably something she had no business prying about. Still, friends had the right to keep some things to themselves-she was no exception to that unspoken rule. "After I check in with my spirits and finish up my contracts." The golden haired beauty pulled out two of her keys from her pouch that belonged to Scorpio and Leo the Lion.

"Oh that reminds me, do you wish Libra and Pisces back?"

"No. I think they are in good hands until I absolutely need them." The maiden gently declined.

"Y-you trust me with them?" The celestial mage asked taken aback.

"More than anyone in the world-including myself. They are your precious friends and I know that their love for you is equal, if not more, than yours for them. I don't have the heart to separate such a lovely bond."

"Lucy..." Yukino's eyes filled up with unshed tears; touched by the princess's kindness. Lucy gave a wink and refocused her attention on Scorpio's key.

"Oh Spirit! Hear my call and pass through the gate! I summon thee Gate of the Scorpion! Scorpio!" The Princess of Stars' voice rang out in the training grounds. The familiar golden light and far off chime of a bell echoed over them.

"We're here baby!" The wild spirit called with his black and red colors of a humanoid creature with scorpion like qualities on his person. Lucy and Yukino could only stand there while looking on in awkwardness at this strange looking spirit. Lucy was beginning to consider that a strange theme was going on: the more keys that joined her key ring, the weirder the spirits were becoming.

"Um Scorpio, my name is-"

"Miss Lucy! I know who you are from my wild girlfriend! She talks about you all the time!" Scorpio winked.

"G-girlfriend?!" The perplexed Lost Princess's jaw hit the floor as she made the connection.

"N-no, no you don't mean-"

"Yeah Baby! Aquarius, my amazing girlfriend! Now we are really connected! Wild!" The enthusiastic spirit exclaimed.

"Oh...that will be great..." The headache that was currently pounding in the Celestial Princess's head was beginning to take on a painful pulsing from the dull ache before.

"So do you-"

"Hell yeah! Of course I'd be crazy to not be in a contract with Aquarius's holder! Sign me up Hot Mama!" Scorpio excitedly agreed. For the beauty of stars, this was the easiest, as well, smoothest contract she had ever conducted thus far. He would be available whenever she needed to call on him-save for any of the dates Aquarius and him were on. "Gotta go Baby! Gotta take my girl on our date today!" He stuck out his tongue and gave a wink while a golden light engulfed him. Yukino and Lucy waved him off completely; stunned from the past half hour conversing with him.

"Did we really just meet that crazy mermaid's boyfriend?" The silver haired mage asked quietly.

"And we will never breathe a word of it to her either. She might kill me. Her jealousy knows no bounds." Lucy gulped.

"Good call..." Yukino agreed.

"Well one more left and we can begin the training session." The Celestial Princess put away Scorpio's key in exchanged for Lion the Lion's. Before her fingers could even touch it, a golden light signaled the spirit entering this plane. Both friends jumped back in surprise by the unexpected visitor. It was the spirit from a few days ago; still dressed in his suit and wild mane of copper hair.

"Lucy, it certainly has been a long time coming." He had instantly went to her side with his arm slung around her shoulders and a gentle hand holding onto her own. This spirit was exceedingly handsome; so much so, that she found herself blushing slightly.

"L-Leo?"

"I much prefer Loke. May I call you Lucy, my princess?" The flirtatious Lion gently kissed the back of her hand tenderly. The Lost Princess felt faint, and it wasn't because of any of her symptoms this time. She was mostly use to Natsu's affections; that being openly flirted with by someone other than him was a new sensation.

"Y-yes, but how are you here? I haven't summoned you?" She asked confused.

"Simple, I am using my own magical energy. Being leader of the Zodiac means I have more magic and power than the others. Besides, I did not want you to waste your magic since it has been fluctuating quite oddly as of late." The golden haired beauty suddenly was snapped out of her love sick haze upon hearing his reasoning.

"My magic-"

"Lucy, what is he talking about?" Yukino had narrowed her gaze. Suddenly Loke removed himself from the princess and was holding onto the silver haired maiden similarly to Lucy only prior.

"Well hello beautiful." He purred, "Lucy hadn't mentioned she had brought along a friend quite as lovely as her."

Lucy suddenly found an annoyance tick off in her mind, 'That seedy Lion!' She inwardly growled. Yukino suddenly found herself blushing and completely caught off guard as she forgotten all that she heardwhile she stumbled over her words.

"Oi Loke! You want a contract or not?!" The heated celestial princess felt the anger bubble within her. She was mad at herself for even thinking what she was only moments ago. The Celestial Lion eyed her playfully, but there was a deeper emotion within those eyes of his.

"So eager to get down to business eh Lucy? Very well. I will enter into a contract with you." He smoothly spoke. Even though all this spirit wished to do was play, the royal heiress wanted to do now was to send him back as quickly as possible. After all, that is why she was here so she could get back to her training. Much like Scorpio's contract, Loke's took maybe half the time. There were no limitations and his availability could be at any time she had wished. And when he had emphasized 'anytime', he seductively drew out the word while never breaking eye contact. Instead of being flattered, the Princess of Stars felt just ill to her stomach; or maybe it was another symptom acting up again. Regardless, the Celestial Princess was able to power through it.

Loke had returned back to the spirit realm on the condition that they would catch up later in private. Lucy had pretended not to be under Yukino's watchful eye. She could practically feel the celestial partner burning a hole into her back by her stare. "Lucy, you sure you want to train today?" The silver haired maiden finally spoke. The princess was trying up her belt when she froze. Quickly, she finished tying and faced the scrutinizing leer from her training partner.

"Of course! Come on Yukino! I am itching for a real battle here!" The Princess of Stars used her sheer will power to pull off a convincing front. After two contracts, she had felt slightly winded. Her magic felt below half now, the headache was pounding, and not to mention the bile in her throat that was attempting to unload morning's breakfast if she wasn't too careful. Yukino eyed her unconvinced.

"Really? You know you are looking kinda pale Luce. Why not call-"

"No! Are you kidding me? I just got here Yukino! I haven't properly trained in weeks. Do you know how much Gajeel will kill me if he saw the pathetic condition that I am in now?" The heiress pleaded with her friend as she felt close to tears now.

'Damnit! Not again!' Lucy thought bitterly. She could feel her shame rising up through her emotions now. 'Really, getting all worked up because I can't train...' The royal heiress felt that the possibility not being able to train at this moment made her want to cry even more as her eyes watered.

"H-hey! Don't cry Luce! I was just concerned. Look, I am saying this so you can get some rest. I-well we all know you aren't at your best lately and under a lot of strain and stress."

"Then train with me! Stop using your kid gloves and let me focus on something!" Lucy lashed out with fresh tears. Her friend was by her side instantly.

"Hey, come on. Don't cry. No one is mad at you or anything. Seriously Lucy, it's Gajeel of all people. He is a hard ass on everyone. He'd want you to take care of yourself first."

"N-no, he wo-wouldn't. H-he'd tell me to su-suck it up!" The princess hiccupped. Her friend genuinely looked like she felt bad for debating what to do.

"Alright, alright! One tiny fight, but that is it alright? And you don't tell Cana."

"Why would Cana-"

"You want to spar or not?" The silver haired maiden interrupted. The weeping beauty gave a watery nod. "Good, now dry your tears and pick your key! Don't argue." The training partner spoke firmly.

Using the back of her sleeve, Lucy had wiped her face as she forced herself to calm back down. Yukino had summoned her spirit first while she positioned herself in a fighting stance. Aside her was Libra. Lucy withdrew Virgo's key. She was half way through summoning when everything became blurry and so far away. She swayed slightly and her head had a high pitched ring with the pounding from the headache.

"Lucy?! LUCY!" She could hear Yukino's yelling from far away.

"An-answer my ca-" Lucy's final words could be spoke before she returned to the world of darkness.

~Sometime Later~

Before Lucy returned to her current situation, she already played out this song and dance: she had fainted again. Except, this time, she knew there would be no talking her way out of it. Yukino was there and she saw everything leading up to another spell. Gods, when would she ever learn? There was no denying it any further; she was ill and just what she had there was but only one way to find out.

"I know you are awake Lucy." Came the cool tone of Cana's voice by her bedside. The Princess of Stars opened her eyes and peered at her dark haired friend, whom was at the table doing a reading with her infamous cards.

"...how long have you been here?" The princess asked carefully.

"A day. Your magic was almost gone. Lucy, you almost died." The fortune teller eyed her stupid friend sternly. Just hearing the sentence made the heiress's blood run cold.

"I...almost died?" She short circuited. Slowly she sat up against the pillows with a numb expression while she began to register what had just been said. "Cana I-"

"I know." The sultry woman cut her off and continued to shuffle through her cards.

"You know something has been bugging me for a while now. At first I thought you were being a bitch cause you were on your period or because you were too stressed on account of your whole Natsu and home situation. But lately, I've been doing readings on you and I keep getting the same cards for your future." The brunette casually flipped over the first card that showed lovers. Lucy peered over confused at Cana's explanation.

"I don't understand."

"I know you don't Lucy, and it's heartbreaking to see how you fell through the cracks. This world did you a disservice to you. But, if I have to be the one to tell you, then I am glad you hear it from a friend."

"Cana, you aren't making any sense..." The Lost Princess was completely confused to what her friend was attempting to tell her.

Cana simply ignored her confounded companion, "I believe you remember my basic fortune telling. This card represents your past. Which isn't a surprise that it contains the lovers; which we both know what that means." She then went and unveiled a second card that displayed four of wands on it. "In this position, there will be a surprise for you that is coming. This surprise will bring you great happiness."

"A surprise?" Lucy's puzzled state deepened, "Is it about Natsu?"

"That is what we will found out in the last two cards. You ready?" The fortune teller asked. Her hand hovered over them. The Lost Princess felt her heart racing. Something about all this didn't feel right. She felt terrified about what lied on the other side of those inconspicuous cards. "Lucy, it is time." Cana caught her eye and took notice of her friend's pale complexion with frightened eyes.

"...do it..." The celestial heiress whispered. The beautiful teller turned over the last two cards. The first being a woman entitled 'The Empress' paired with a card with a sun entitled 'The Sun'. Bewilderedness deepened across the Princess of Star's expression, "What does it...Cana I don't understand..." She trailed off.

"A healthy pregnancy is what it means Lucy. That is what the reading has been telling me for a few months now." Cana did not look away from her friend's appearance. If the royal heiress was pale before, it was nothing compared to now.

"...w-wait! Back up!"

"Lucy, I get the same reading every time I focus on you."

"Cana that reading is wrong! There is no way I'm p-pregnant!" The princess whispered the 'p-word' as if saying it aloud would curse her to be true.

"Can't be huh?" The smug woman sat back as she watched the poor girl freak herself out. "Do you even know what pregnant is?"

"O-of course I do! Keep your voice down!" The Celestial Princess hissed.

"What is it then?"

"W-when you have a b-baby!" The poor girl's pale complexion had suddenly taken a turn into a pinker shade.

"And how does one become pregnant?" Lucy felt her words die on her lips when confronted with the question. In truth, she had no idea how one got with child. She read stories of women, mostly fairy tales, of their bellies growing and by the next page had a child shown in her arms in the illustrations.

Cana's smugness quickly turned to dumbfounded, sympathetic shock, "Oh Lucy...no...you didn't...that fucking asshole!" She suddenly sat up with anger boiling within her.

"W-What?!" The naive heiress looked away ashamed and embarrassed by her lack of knowledge.

"That little shit! He didn't at least warn you or even use protection did he?!" The innocent mother could only blink at her friend's sudden explosion of anger as she returned it with only more confusion.

"What are you even talking about? Natsu doesn't need armor. He is a dragon." She attempted to defend the man she loved.

"A-armor? What the-Oh my gods! No Lucy, not armor! Did he tell you nothing? Seriously? Nothing?!" The enraged woman's anger only increased at what the princess was so naively revealing about the situation. She struggled to wrap her mind about this situation.

"Stop yelling about Natsu! He didn't do anything!" The young mother began to feel her own anger fueled by her uncertain conundrum of emotions welling up inside her, and hearing that her lover was being insulted without him here to defend himself made her that much livid.

"Oh trust me Luce, he certainly has done plenty; and by the sounds of it, he did it all. Hell, didn't he give you any information? Warn you about any of the risks?"

"Cana, I don't even know-"

"Sex! Did he warn you about sex or the consequences of it?!" The dark haired woman yelled.

The Princess of Star's expression then turned to a shade of scarlet as she felt her mind explode. The fortune teller sat back in her chair, rubbing her face from the sheer innocence of her inexperienced friend. "You have been having sex and you haven't even been warned or informed. I am going to castrate that boy." She growled.

"I don't know what that means, but you will do nothing to Natsu!" Lucy suddenly felt the feeling of being protective over her man overcome her, "If you harm even one part of him, I will use all my keys on you!" The flirt of a woman simply laughed dryly at the princess's poor attempt to instill any warning in her.

"That is before or after you pass out from the baby draining your magical energy?" She shot back.

"My magic is being drained?" The royal heiress asked worried.

"Yes Lucy. That baby has powerful, magical parents. Only makes sense if he or she has magic too. God, he is so dead when I see him." Cana scoffed.

"Stop it. No one is killing anyone." The celestial heiress warned evenly.

"Lucy, I think you fail to see the severity of the situation here; your having a baby, on the run from a psychopath, and Natsu put you in this position." The fortune teller seriously spoke. The golden haired mother-to-be couldn't meet her companions's knowing eye as she found herself withdrawing back into her coping mechanism: denial.

"C-Cana, could you stop j-joking! I am n-not that! Maybe it's-"

"Yeah, it's called 'you're pregnant'."

"Cana!"

"Deny it all you want, but when the results come back and I'm right, I am going to tell you that I told you so." The flirtatious woman folded her arms.

"Stop saying-results? What is that supposed to mean?" Lucy felt the cold fear of dread begin to overwhelm her.

"You fainted and your magic is depleting. You think Juvia wouldn't let the doctors take a look at you this time? I asked them to take some blood samples to check specifically for pregnancy." Cana coolly replied. For the first time since the Princess of the Heartfilia Kingdom had awoken, she noticed that her one arm had a bandage from where they had drawn blood earlier and she wasn't in her suite that she had been residing in-she was instead in a medical room.

"C-Cana-"

"Save it Lucy. You never were fooling anyone. We all had our suspicions. When we hear the results confirming, you need to be prepared for some options here."

"Options?" The Celestial Princess looked even more puzzled than before.

"Yeah, options. But I rather you hear that from the doctor. And Luce, no matter what you decide, we won't think any less of you for it."

"If Cana..." The un-expecting mother trailed off.

"Sure Luce, if. But I will be having a private discussion with Natsu when he visits. He knew better than to put you in a compromising position. For your sake, I hope you aren't pregnant." Lucy opened her mouth to protest when a knock at the door had interrupted them. They turned to the unexpected visitor which happened to be the doctor in question.

"Good to see you are awake Princess Lucy. How are you feeling?" The doctor asked after stepping in.

"...I'm fine..." The weary maiden found herself lying once more.

"That is really good to hear. Listen, there is a few things I wish to discuss with you. You have the option of our conversation being in private if you wish?" The doctor offered. Cana was already on her feet and heading towards the exit.

"I'll be out in the hall when you want me to come back in." She waved while closing the door behind her. The doctor sat in Cana's previous spot while shifting through the celestial heiress's medical chart.

"Well just a few things we really need to go over and afterwards I will need to perform a quick examination to make sure you are getting back to normal vital readings. So if you feel up to it, why don't we just dive in?" She asked. She looked towards the princess for confirmation. Numbly, the Celestial Princess slightly shook her head for the doctor to proceed.

"Very good. First I want to say congratulations. We got your blood results back and it appears you are pregnant. After our examination, I feel I will have a better idea of how far along you are..." The doctor continued to talk of magic levels, testing, options, and anything in her fancy chart. But to Lucy, it was all in one ear and out the other. Everything felt so far off as she concentrated on her own heartbeat and her breathing. Nothing felt real. It was one thing to hear the news from Cana and her cards. They were just cards and they could be a glimmer of hope of being false; although she was certain that she knew better because, after all, Cana always loved to boast that her readings were never wrong. But to hear the same news from a doctor with concrete evidence was something different.

Pregnant; what a foreign concept to her. So many conflicting emotions were over spilling from within herself. Her chest was suddenly tight, the headache was pounding, and her entire world felt upside down. And yet, the doctor continued to talk as if her life wasn't just shifted into another dimension. "O-oh no! I'm sorry. You must have a thousand things to ask." The doctor grabbed a box of nearby tissues as tears, Lucy wasn't aware of, were spilling down her cheeks. She made no move to take the tissues with her eyesight obscured through her watery vision. Feeling awkward, the doctor set the box of tissues on the bed nightstand since the upset woman wasn't being responsive. "You know I'll listen if you would just say something?" The doctor offered again.

"I...I need a moment..." Lucy could barely get the words out.

"Of course. Just summon me with this red button here and we can go over everything again more slowly next time. Take all the time you need to properly process this information." The doctor patted her arm and left. Once the crying mother felt the security of being alone, she pulled the pillow to her chest and buried her face in it. A sob wracked through her body. She felt so scared, so absolutely terrified and completely alone in this vulnerable moment. What was she to do now?

~Outside the Palace~

The scarlet haired warrior princess sneezed loudly on her horse as she and her pink haired counterpart traveled on horse to visit their friends in the Northern Kingdom. "I forgot how much I hate the cold." She groaned sniffling.

"I feel just fine. It's worth it if I get to see Luce." The Dragon Prince stayed focused on their task.

"Don't worry Erza, I'll get you nice and warm when we get situated." Jellal, whom was holding Erza on their horse, led the group of three to Gray's kingdom.

"Think Luce is gonna flip out when she realizes we arrived early?" Natsu grinned only widen. The moment Erza and him had wrapped up the last of the planning detail, the Prince of Dragons had taken an extra dose of anti-illness traveling medicine; then with Jellal and Erza had made their quick trip up north. But before either could respond to the prince's question, their horses stopped short with two angry women staring them down in their path.

"You have some nerve coming here."Cana roared with her eyes dead set on Natsu.

For some reason, the prince had the fire in him that about died out-something was definitely off. All he could think of in this moment was 'What now?'