Meanwhile Natsu and his faithful feline steed Happy had trudged through the forest all afternoon in search of pork to satisfy the dragon boy's craving. The search lasted for many hours but Natsu was a patient hunter and at a long last, when evening fell his nose picked up the scent of a wild boar. He spotted the creature digging for truffles at a nearby tree, so preoccupied with his greedy hunger for truffles that he did not sense the presence of Natsu or Happy. Natsu licked his chops at the sight of the fat and plump swine. His mouth watered, his eyes became fixated on it, and he quietly proceeded to stalk toward it as a predator will often do to it's chosen prey.

He was just about to strike when suddenly the sound of horses galloping down a dirt road startled the boar into running away and costing Natsu his long desired meal. He cursed under his breath and turned a hateful glare to the source of what had scared off his dinner. It was a horse drawn carriage. One of the finest that had ever been seen. White and gilded, pulled by regal stallions with a sharply dressed gentleman gripping their gilded reigns. Natsu quickly hid himself amongst the trees as to not alarm the traveler but the horses had sensed his presence and started to become quite fearful.

"Whoa boys! Whoa!" The gentleman said. He quickly stopped the carriage and went to calm the two horses so they would not buck or break loose.

"Is something wrong Elfman?" Asked a voice from inside the carriage.

The carriage door was then opened and stepping out of it was the most magnificent creature Natsu had ever beheld. Her blonde hair was that of spun gold which could shame a thousand suns, her doe eyes so full of curiosity, her skin like a rich wine, and her mouth as sweet and enticing as ripe cherries. She was dressed in a refined garment and carried herself with such elegance. Truly she was a marvelous sight.

"Nothing to be concerned about my lady." The gentleman called Elfman said to her. "Something just spooked the horses. They probably sense the storm coming."

She looked up to the sky which was starting to become thick with grey clouds. Natsu could tell that the clouds made her feel very unsettled.

We best hurry back to Dragnof." Elfman said. "The last thing we want is to get caught in a thunder storm."

He helped her back into the carriage and after easing the nerves of the horses, he steered them to continue down the dirt road. However Natsu's interest was now greatly peeked so he climbed himself on to Happy's back and had him stealthy follow after them.

A few moments later a dreadful storm broke out. Thunder clapped, lighting struck, rain was pouring down like the heavens were hurting. Each time the thunder was heard the horses would become spooked again and then a bolt of lightning struck the carriage's wheel, breaking it and causing the coach to fall over.

"Your majesty!" The gentleman cried as he frantically rushed to the carriage.

"Majesty?" Natsu thought. Ah, so this woman was a princess. Of course it couldn't have been more obvious, who else but a princess could have such beauty. However she was no ordinary princess.

She was Princess Lucy of the kingdom of Dragnof. A very social and philosophical kingdom, one who's queen had long ago died which resulted in it's king spending all his time focusing on how to expand his kingdom instead of tending to his lonely daughter. So she would often pass the time by taking carriage rides to visit various villages and towns to amuse herself.

"Are you alright?" Elfman asked her.

"I'm fine." The blonde replied. "But what's happened?"

"The wheel is broken and it appears that it cannot be fixed."

"What are we going to do?"

"Fear not, I know a village just a few miles from here. I shall go there and seek help."

"Shall I accompany you?"

"It would be much safer for you to stay here. For this village is located on low ground and there could be possible flooding on the way."

Elfman then drew a dagger from his pocket and handed it to the princess.

"Use this to defend yourself should anything try to harm you." He told her and as soon as she nodded he lept on to one of the horses and rode off in search of help.

Lucy sat their in her carriage, completely alone and frightened by the storm. Well actually she wasn't completely alone, she only thought that she was but she would very soon realize that wasn't the case.

"Hello." She heard a voice call out to her.

"Who is there?" She asked gripping the dagger. "I warn you! Don't come near me or you'll be sorry."

"My apologies, your majesty. I mean you no harm. But I saw your carriage crash and I overheard that your servant had gone for help but I thought that you be very afraid if you were left here alone."

She looked out the coach window and searched for whoever owned the voice. But all she saw was darkness and rain.

"Who are you sir?" She asked. "Show yourself."

But Natsu dare not. He thought that she was far too beautiful and that he was far too ugly to be seen by her. It would have broken his heart if she were to treat him as an ugly animal. So he hid from her.

"Pray, do not ask me to show myself to you."

"Why ever not good sir?"

"I cannot say but please do not insist. You will regret it I assure you."

"What is it that you want?"

"I merely wanted to stay here and keep you calm until help arrives. I give you my word that I will not touch you and I will protect from any beasts or bandits that may do you harm."

She liked the sound of his voice. She was certain that he was a young man.

"Are you not cold sitting out in the rain?" She asked. "Would you like to come into my carriage and get dry? I do not mind."

"No. It would be best that I stayed out here. Where you cannot see me."

"How am to be less afraid if I cannot even see you?"

"Eyes are not the only senses that can provide you with comfort and security."

To prove his point he brought forth his wooden flute and proceeded to play his music which was bitter and sweet all at once. It began like hello

and ended like goodbye. And as if by magic it over came the sounds of thunder and rain which caused the princess's fears to slowly vanish.

"You play divinely sir." She said.

"Thank you your majesty. A compliment from you is a great honor. This flute and it's music are literally the only divine things I can bring to this world. Nothing else about me is as pleasing."

"Well I wouldn't say that humble sir." She giggled.

Such a gentle voice and such lovely music, Lucy was led to believe that this man must've been very handsome and dashing. Oh how she wished that she could see him. For the lot of the evening, he continued to use his voice to lift her spirits and keep her comforted until she could return home. He told her humorous stories and riddles, he told her of how he could catch a fish with his bear hands better than anyone, and he told her of how beautiful the rain could be if she really looked at it the right way. She told him about her castle and her father and how alone she had been since her mother had passed on. And the more she talks with him, the more she wants to see his face.

"Will you ever allow me to look upon you?" She asked. "Or at least tell me your name?"

"Maybe someday. Although I doubt that our paths will ever cross twice. I would not hope for such."

"Tell me, are you from Dragnof?"

"I have no home to speak of fair lady. I am a wanderer. I wander to where my needs are located and I do not leave until my needs can no longer be provided in that place." He explained to her.

"I would very much like to speak with you again sir. I must confess, I have not conversed with anyone in a way that I found to be enjoyable in so long."

"I'm afraid that will most likely not happen. In fact tomorrow when dawn breaks, I believe that I must be going to a marsh that is very far from here. So I'm certain that we will never converse again."

"But I enjoy your company so. I do not want this to be the only time we meet. Tell me where I can find you?"

Before he could even think about what answer to give her, he heard the sound of horses galloping again and realized that Elfman had returned with help. He could not let himself be seen by them for they would cry out and that would cause the princess to see just how hideous he really was.

"Farewell dear princess." He said before jumping back on to Happy and hurrying away. "I wish you nothing but happiness and good fortune."

"Wait!" She called. "Wait! Oh do please come back sir!"

But he did not return however he did look back once to make sure that she was safely attended to. Upon seeing Elfman and some of the local villagers help her into a wagon they had brought, he continued onward with his heart now hanging heavily. He longed to return to her, he had not known her long but he had learned enough about Lucy to understand that she was a very lonely girl. A lonely girl in desperate of a good friend. Someone that she could talk to and confide in whenever she was feeling especially troubled. He would have given anything in the world to be that friend. But what if she would not accept him as a suitable friend and companion? What if she would only scream and curse at him like so many others had done so before her? He could not bear that rejection. Not from one so sweet and radiant.

He directed Happy to a large, hollow tree which the two of them climbed into to use as shelter from the rain that night. As they were getting settled in, his companion looked at him with eyes that seemed to ask,

"Why did you not introduce yourself to her?"

"Oh Happy." Natsu sighed as if he could read the blue cat's thoughts. "It has been so long since I have met someone who has not reacted in fear or alarm. So long since I have spoken with someone who did not voice disdain and contempt for me. That conversation I shared with the princess was brief but it was one of the happiest moments of my life because she didn't talk to me like I was a monster. I couldn't introduce myself to her because if I had then the happiest moment of my life would have quickly become the saddest. She is better off not knowing what I really look like and I am better off only seeing her once."

That's what he said. That's what he had told himself. That's what he tried to convince himself to believe. Yet that night he fell asleep only thinking of the princess and subconsciously praying that one day they would meet again very soon. Unaware that his prayer would be not only be answered, but that seeing her again would lead to him facing his greatest fear and doing what it took to become a true man in God's eyes.