Hello my friends!

I'm so glad you guys are interested in this story, I've been wanting to write royalty fanfics surrounding Fairy Tail for a while but I just wasn't sure if people would want to read it. I'll be learning how to write this as I go, so please correct or suggest things as you see fit and I'll try to fix or incorporate as I go!

Thank you so much guys!

All my love,

BlackRose999

The Reluctant Royal

Chapter Two: A New Beginning, What kind of Man are you?

~ Lucy ~

She was greeted by a horde of people, lords, and ladies alike were crowded around the courtyard as she stepped out of her carriage. Silently thankful she'd discarded her traditionally modest Acalypha wardrobe for a more modern Magnolian wardrobe, she confidently held her head high and waited at the end of the walkway for the Royal Family to arrive, as was common practice.

Lucy wore a pale pink gown with sheer coverlet sleeves that pooled around her feet and gave the appearance of a cloaking train, embroidered into it were blue jays on pale green and gold branches with pink flowers. Her long blonde hair was pinned back with elegant white gold vines that were joined with diamond facets at the ends and wove itself around her hair, giving the appearance of an intricate hairstyle without needing one.

Her luggage was removed and sent to her new chamber, and suddenly three women were in front of her. One was a smiling platinum blonde woman with dark blue eyes in a red and white lace gown, sporting a floral necklace of diamonds and pink sapphires. She also had an odd ponytail on her forehead that kept a lock of hair to the left side of her face. The second woman bore shoulder-length blue-black hair with pecan eyes that seemed shy, she wore a red-brown vest with a jeweled collar over white shirtsleeves and black trousers, and over her feet were tall knee-length dark brown heeled boots. The third woman had a tall redhead in a black gown with jeweled embellishments and had almost black irises. A kindly smile on her face, the white-haired woman stepped forward, prompting her deep red gown to flutter around her feet.

"Princess Lucy, I presume?" She asked sweetly. Lucy smiled nervously, "Y-yes. May I ask who you are? I don't remember your name…" The woman laughed and shook her head. "You probably never heard it. My name is Mirajane, but everyone calls me Mira. I'm one of Princess Erza's ladies. It's wonderful to meet you." Lucy felt reassurance rush through her, and her tensed posture relaxed. "Thank you, Lady Mira. Who is the other Lady next to you?" "My name is Levy, and I'm not a lady. I'm a scholar, I'm being trained to be the next Royal Advisor to the King and Queen by Master Freed."

Lucy was incredibly shocked, in Acalypha only men were allowed the position of Royal Advisor, it seemed things were very different here in Magnolia. "R-Royal Advisor?" She parroted, disbelief on her face. "But… you're a woman!" Levy let out a gasp of mock surprise. "I am? For shame!" She turned to Mira and Erza, a false glare on her face. "You should have told me!" Erza chuckled, a deep, pleasant sound. "Go easy on her Levy, I've been researching Acalypha etiquette and she comes from a very cloistered and patriarchal society." Erza turned her attention back to Lucy, "Forgive her, she's a little bold."

Lucy smiled, "After all the polite backstabbing I've grown up with, a little bold honesty would be lovely." Levy smiled back at her, seeming to understand that they would be rather good friends sometime soon. Trumpets erupted, and the four women turned to see King Igneel and his entourage exit the castle. The king was dressed in black and gold, a symbol that he still mourned his late wife's death and that until he wore color again the rest of the royal family could not. He was handsome, Lucy decided. He had brilliant red hair and nearly black eyes, he seemed well-muscled and was rather tall. 'Erza must take after him.' Lucy thought, her attention completely on the king until a figure stepped out behind him.

The prince was a foot shorter than his sister and the king, and instead of a bright red hue, he bore rose-gold hair and the same pitch-dark eyes. He was dressed similarly to his father, but for some strange reason, he seemed to wear it better. They approached them and all four women sank into a deep curtsy as they neared them. Lucy then got a good look at the king. He was handsome, but death had aged him. He still looked youthful but his eyes had a look of broken despair in them, but she'd soon learn that while he mourned his wife, he still remembered how to smile and show humor. A closer look at Natsu showed strain and uncertainty, not the best greeting, but it was an arranged marriage and she couldn't find him at fault.

~ Igneel ~

"Lucy! It's wonderful to meet you, you're even lovelier than your portrait." Igneel said kindly, hoping not to scare her. The poor thing was in new territory with no knowledge of its rules. She was definitely beautiful, he decided absent-mindedly, and her eyes were warm and seemed scholarly, definitely hungry for new knowledge. He eyed his son out of his peripheral vision, watching him take in Lucy's voice and figure. He appeared intrigued, like something about her drew him in.

He was very pleased with this knowledge.

"Come," He said, catching Lucy's attention. "Let's go inside and out of the cool air." He offered his arm and lead the might-be-bride of his son into the palace. In doing so, he missed the look on his son's face.

~ Natsu ~

He couldn't stop staring at her, she was lovely, yes, but that's not what held him so tightly. She seemed nervous about royal life, and like him, disinterested. Something about her reminded him of a bird in a gilded cage, forbidden the ability to do what she was created for. As she walked in front of him she turned her head and looked at him, spearing him with those dark and soul-searching eyes of hers. He felt himself suck in a breath in surprise, and to his shock, he saw the same spear lance through her own eyes as they widened and then immediately looked away.

He watched her face flush slightly and her hand clench in a fist to collect herself before anyone saw her have such a reaction to him. He felt bad about that, and then when he realized they were saying something to each other he quickly tuned back into the conversation. "... is Queen Layla? I've not seen her in many years, since before Jude married her actually." He looked thoughtful. "I almost married her myself you know… Had she not fallen in love with Jude and married him in secret I would have proposed on the night of the Winter Solstice's Grand Ball." He smiled "All the kingdoms come together on each Solstice and form a Grand Ball meant to introduce matches from all countries, to forge alliances and unify kingdoms. Layla and I were excellent friends before I met Virillia…" His eyes saddened, and Natsu watched Lucy stop and lay a hand on his.

Something happened then, something between them happened and he watched his father brighten inside a little. 'One touch… One-touch and she took some of it away. What the hell is she?' Natsu wondered, awed and a little afraid of her. Then it clicked. 'Love?' He mused silently. 'Could she be an empath?'

~ Lucy ~

She felt her heart go out to the king, to see anyone in that much pain, no matter who they were to her, broke her a little. Friend, stranger, lover, child… It didn't matter. Nobody deserved the pain of losing their spouse or child so suddenly. Without knowing what she was doing, she reached out and clasped his hand in hers and tried to soothe him a little with some of her own inner hope of the future. She'd read somewhere that in times of sadness, human contact such as a hug could help ease the pain. To her surprise, he immediately brightened.

She didn't quite know what to make of this.

She smiled anyway and said softly "Shall we go inside?". He nodded and lead her into the palace. Her surprise was unable to be contained, the palace was a tad smaller than the one in Acalypha, but twice as grand. She forgot how wealthy a country Magnolia was. She pulled away from the king unknowingly, walking further into the room, she turned this way and that to take the entirety of the room in. The interior was a kaleidoscope of color and opulence, the entryway led into the throne room and featured a massive vaulted glass ceiling, bathing the throne in a ray of golden light. A stained glass sculpture of the king and the former queen stood on a fountain to her left in an alcove by the window, creating a bubble of incredible colors she couldn't imagine or name right now.

To her right was a similar fountain, but it was empty on top. The marblework of the palace was inlaid with gold, covered only by the red and gold rug that lead from the doors of the palace to the raised throne. 'The throne…' She was awestruck to see both of them were equally large and grand, both featuring golden inlaid elaborate mahogany woodwork to form six-foot-tall thrones. A single pillow sat on each seat, meant to make those seated upon them more comfortable. But the significance of the thrones made her unsure.

In Acalypha, the king's throne was much bigger and more elaborate than the queen's, meant to show that she was a figurehead with no real power. This throne room told a very different story. It meant the king and queen were equals, that they both held powers and say in ruling the country. This was to be her future, she could change things here. She could help bring more 'traditional' monarchies out of the dark ages and into the future, making queen's everywhere have an easier time being a queen, and then she'd give them a real voice. She longed to touch the throne, to feel the raised and lowered carved points and the smooth finish of the wood.

Suddenly being a possible queen here didn't seem so bad.

~ Natsu ~

He watched her discover the throne room, and a smile graced his lips. She took in the room like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time, her eyes flashing everywhere, desperate to see everything at the same time. He watched her discover the lights, the sculptures his mother had made, and then the intricate throne itself. He saw puzzlement and uncertainty, the blossoming of hope.

Without noticing the smug look on his father's face, he walked forward and said quietly "The sculptures were ordered by my mother as a wedding gift to father, she had them made to show that they could be bright even in the darkness of the moon… A beautiful sentiment. Don't you think?" She looked surprised at first, then smiled. "It is, I wonder if… If this works out… We could do something as beautiful as that."

He reached out and clasped her hand, gently holding it in his. "I'd like that…"