Our Fated Betrothal

Chapter 3: The First Encounter of Two Royals

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Year X782

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~ Spooky Forest, Fiore ~

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Huff huff huff

If there is a human now, there could probably hear the sound of heavy breathing resounding in the forest background. As if the ghost was grasping for air. Unfortunately, it belongs to the green-haired girl running alone through the bushes, vines in this spooky forest. Once in a while, she would stumble over the wild vines, tree trunks or even her own tiny feet's. But those legs always get back on track, running for dear life away from her pursuers.

Her appearance was very messy, with dirty dirt covered all over her face and her torn up light yellow coloured dress. Her dress was supposed to be multiple layers, long and flowing, but she has to rid of it when earlier it got stuck in the bushes and was torn terribly. The once fabulous dress now looked like a simple one-piece dress with a length past her knee.

Long gone her tiara that once adorned her head. Her long green hair flow freely on her back—no more ponytail. Once in a while, she keeps glancing back and forth, sighting for her pursuers. It was dark all along, the rustling in the bushes, the howling of the wind making her shiver with fear.

Her throat was burning, and her heartbeat was beating rapidly, trying to catch up with her breathing. Her temples are also throbbing with the injuries from her stumbling earlier upon the tree vines. She choked on her tears, thinking about what's going on earlier. She wants to know what happens to her father and her mother so bad, but she can't turn back around; if not, their help for her escape will be in vain.

'Are they safe?', she thought, praying for their safety.

They were on their way back from the visit to the country of Seven. The trip from the land of Seven to the palace in Crocus was supposed to take only four days. But, it took longer than usual, for they have to make a few short stops along the way for her because she isn't used to riding a carriage. It was also the first time she was ever going out of the palace and also from Fiore.

All were fun and rainbow until they were attacked by a bandit group while crossing the spooky forest. His father, the King, and Arcadios were left behind, fighting the bandits while she escapes with her mother, the Queen. But they weren't lucky enough, for there are few bandits who manage to follow them. For her safety, her mother chooses to separate from her by head off the other way around to tail off their pursuers while she runs off to the safe house in the hunting village.

"Hisui, listen. We need to separate here. Please run that way. You keep going until you reach the village. There's a safe house with the royal emblem in the hunting village. You have to stay there and wait for us. If some strangers ever ask your identity, don't tell them. You might put yourself in danger. Promise me, dear?. Don't worry about me, I'll be okay. Do stay safe and protect yourself. I love you, dear."

Her mother words keep repeating in his mind. She can't forget her mother hug and kisses on her head, and the warmth was still there, envelope her through the cold and dark night. She mustered all strength to her feet to carry her along the early looking forest. No matter what happens, she has to get to the safe house.

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The green hair princess staggered in the darkness with her barefoot, barely able to step forward. She has been running all night long without rest, and finally, she arrived at the village. She was eyeing her surrounding, searching for the safe house with the royal emblem. To no avail, she found nothing.

Her eyes bewildered, her throat feels dry and taste like blood. Her own heart thumping faster feels like it will burst from her chest, sweat starting to form on her temples with her nervous breakdown. She could hear her gasping breathing in the silence. Everything feels strange to her, and the world keeps spinning as if laughing at her misery. All she could conclude was that she was lost. She wasn't supposed to be here, yeah, definitely not. This place isn't the hunting village.

"Oh my, father and mother must've been waiting for me.", she whispered, thinking about her parent.

She has to keep going but then she almost stumbling forward after a few step. She holds herself dearly to the wall, realising that she got no more energy to move. She slides down the wall, hugging her knees to herself and finally broke down in tears with her mixed feelings.

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Her sleep was then interrupted by a voice and poking to her face. Allowing her consciousness to slide back into focus, Hisui opens her eyes blearily and blinked her eyes multiple times. She shocked to see two stranger in front of her.

One guy was crunching in front of her, eyeing her back with his sharp squinty eyes, wearing all-black attire with a sleeveless shirt showing his build muscle. The other guy leaned against the wall in front of her, wearing the same clothing as the first guy. But this guy looks slimmer and bore indifferent looks, checking his left fingers nail while the other arms were wrapped to himself, seemed uninterested with her.

"Hey, kid, what you were doing sleeping here, huh?" the muscle man asked.

He stares at the shabby clothes girl, full of dirt and dry blood plastered on her left head, thinking, 'Beggar? Slave? Orphan maybe?'.

Hisui eyeing both guys back and forth. She doesn't know them at all. She realised that they were alone in this barely lighted narrow alleyway, far from the main roadway. She didn't recognise it last night because all roads looked the same in the dark. Now, she couldn't help but feel scared of these strangers.

The muscle guy pokes on Hisui's head.

"Hey kid, I'm talking to you. Are you deaf? Where's your old man? Answer me, now!" he barked at the little girl. Still, Hisui keeps silent, neither answering his questions.

The muscle man snickered at his new prey, feeling his blood boiling. He grabbed a fistful of the girl's green hair with his left hand, bringing the girl closer while lifting her face by the chin with his right-hand index finger.

He stared down at the girl's face. Again he asked in accusation, "You're a runaway slave, right? That's why you're here. Alone and dirty, looking like some slum."

Hisui stared back at the muscle guy. "N-no, I'm not", she replied, slapping the guy right hand and tried to free her hair from his other hand.

The muscle guy face looks twisted, and his mouth spread from a smirk to a grin. In seconds, he slumped her back to the wall. He grabs her hair tighter, "What a feisty little girl we got here. Guess what? I think you're a slave from this day onwards".

With that, he gives a hearty laugh that making her stomach chunks.

"N-No...I'm n-not", Hisui whispered.

'I'm this kingdom's princess. I'm not a slave. I'm a princess...', she answered in her mind. She feels hopeless without her father, her mother and her guards' presence.

"I-I said I'm not! Let me go!" she screamed and spat on the man's face.

Instantly, the muscle man stopped laughing. "How dare you vulgar being spit on me!", he barked lifting his right hand...

Hisui shut her eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

"Stop. You'll ruin the girl's face. With that face of her, we could sell her as our first-class goods. Master would be happy too", suggest the other guy chuckling lightly while still eyeing his nails.

"Hmm. I like your idea, brother. Let's go, kid!" the muscle guy stand up and drag her by the head.

"No! Please, let me go! You're hurting me. Let me go!!!", she keep trashing at her captor, kicking her leg and arms at him. As a final resort, she grabbed the man's hand that still clutching on her hair and bite as hard as she could. The guy's unexpected of her action, scream hard and letting go of her.

Hisui hurriedly takes her chance, running towards the main road. She grabbed the first person she can hold tightly, asking for help. But the older man brushed her off nervously, saying he's sorry. She turned to the next person, that was a lady, but she holds her hands and left her too. The others choose to ignore her instead, continuing their task like she didn't exist in the first place. Tears were streaming down her face. She can't believe that no one willing to help her.

"Help! Help me! Please, help me!" she pleaded to the crowds, looking at their eyes desperately.

"Hey, pretty girl. No one will help you", said the voice in whispered behind her.

Hisui turned around fast, swinging her hands. She gasped, looking at its owner, who was the brother of the muscle guy.

The said man holds up his arms in defence while letting out a soft chuckle. His face darkens, but Hisui could feel him glaring dagger at her.

"You know what? They'll only turn blind eyes on you. Look at yourself. Who are you to ask for their time? You aren't worth it, pretty face", he said in between laugher before added with his straight face, "This is the kind of world we live in. The world where everyone tagged everything with prices, humanity was useless, and the worthless was priceless".

Hisui can't help but shuddered at his remarks, staring blankly at him with her eyes wide open from the shocking revelation. Her hands couldn't stop shaking, her legs feel weak, and her minds keep fighting between the knowledge of the natural world she learned and the reality of his words.

"N-No, that n-not true!", she whispered shaking every uncertainty she feels. If there is none, then she will save herself. As her mother said, she needs to protect herself. With this new determination, she eyes looking for an escape.

But before Hisui could find one, she was grabbed by the arm and was fling to a shoulder. She trashed her legs and lunch punches at her captors' back for release. Her captor was none other than the muscle guy.

"Ahh, let me go! I hate you!" she screamed, "Help! Someone helps me!" and crying with tears flooding her eyes, asking for help. But, the people's just adverted their eyes, ignoring her pitiful pleaded for help.

"Stop it. You aren't worth it", the muscle man stated.

"Please! P-Please! Help me!" she shouted louder, her voice getting hoarser. Her captor ignored her cried, carrying her back to the dark alley.

"S-someone, p-please save m-me..." her voice cracked with the uncountable plead she has screamed.

'No one will help you. You aren't worth it

'No, it can't be. There must be someone who will, right?' Hisui questioned herself. She doesn't want to believe otherwise. She doesn't want to think that man words.

She can feel that her body is slowly shutting down, dragging her back to the unconscious land. The fatigue, tiredness and despair from last night came bombarding her mind adding to her current nightmare. She was overwhelmed with her rapidly beating heartbeats. This feeling of hopelessness is unbearable for her, a ten-year-old girl who lives in a big castle, protected by many and never going through a hard life.

She could sense her uneven breathing. Slowly closing her eyes, she whispered, "S-Some...one p-please..." for the last time before her world turned into complete darkness.

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~ Clover Town, Fiore ~

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"Happy! Where are you?" screamed a teen boy with spiky salmon coloured hair, searching for his blue flying cat named, Happy.

He was wearing a black sleeveless shirt, layer with a sleeveless red, white-trimmed waistcoat left open in front. His pant was also black and coating with the same red, white-trimmed cloak around his waist that reached his knees, held by a leather brown belt. His neck was adorned with a white, scale patterned scarf even though it was currently in summer.

He looked at his left and right, sniffed the crowds for his cat smells while fanning his front black sleeveless shirt. The weather was a bit hot even though it still in the morning.

"Natsu, why you kept sniffing others? Are you a pervert?" said the voice snickering at him.

Natsu stopped in his act, his face darkened. He turns around, walked towards Happy and bump his fist to the cat head.

"I was looking for you, idiot! Where did you run off to?" he asked the blue cat.

Happy stares back at his partner's and cried out loud, "Natsu, you meanie! Why you hit me? You promised that we were gonna having fish for breakfast, but then you ended up sleeping, not waking up at all! That's why I left you...to get this fish...", he showed up a few fish that he bought to Natsu.

"I thought you were tired because of the mission and just wanted to help you with breakfast. But then, you...", with that, Happy cried harder.

Natsu look bewildered with Happy sudden outburst. It's because he rarely showed his emotions except for happiness. Well, that's why he was named Happy in the first place. Now, he felt sorry for him. He knew that Happy care for him.

"Hey, buddy", he crunched down, took Happy in his arms, hugging him, "I'm sorry. It's my fault. It just...you made me worried. You weren't there went I woke up. Hey, look at me. Don't cry". He rubbed the cat back, giving him comfort.

"I'm sorry for hitting you and for forgetting our breakfast plan", he added, but the cat shows no hint of stopping his cries.'

"Ehm, do you know that fish taste horrible if we're sad?", he tried to pinch the cat interest.

Happy stopped crying. Holding his tears, "Really? I don't want to eat horrible taste fish", he asked, staring at Natsu.

Natsu grinned back at the cat, "Yup. Now, let's go find a good place to eat". He patted the cat head, taking the cat left hand in his before standing up.

"Aye!" Happy replied with his usual remarks.

"Help!"

"Help me!"

"Please, help me!"

Natsu froze at his place, hearing the cries of the unknown voice. He searches his surroundings, and none needed help.

'But I heard it loud and clear. Was it just my imagination?' Natsu questioned himself.

"Natsu, what's wrong?" Happy asks curiously, noticing Natsu's sudden change of demeanour.

"I don't know. I thought I heard someone asking for help. It a girl's voice...", he replied still eyeing the area. He tried to focus his hearing on the voice again.

"Help!"

"Someone help me!"

"Happy, look like we have to skip our breakfast plan. There's someone we need to save and some bastard to be beaten", letting go of Happy hand, and he pumped his fists. "Let's go, partner!" he stated with a grin.

"Aye!" Happy replied, spreading his wing and grabbed Natsu before they soared together to the sky.

"Natsu, where's she at?" he asks when they were up above the blue sky.

Natsu closed his eyes, concentrating his hearing and sniffed the air again. After a second, he opened them, his expression hardened. "Over there! Eastward of this town's", showing toward the far end of the town.

"We have to hurry. I can barely hear her voice. There's this smell of blood too, even though just faintly."

Upon reaching the place, Natsu saw two men way older than him walking behind the alleyway with an unconscious girl slumped on one of the man shoulders. The man holding the girl was very muscular while the other was slimmer, slightly build.

"Happy, once I have the girl, take care of her. Kay, drop me, now!" he commanded.

Instantly, Happy let him go knowing he could handle the landing. He leans forward, diving as fast as he can. 'I will save you, he promised, engulfing his right hand with flames.

Fire dragon iron fist!

Natsu charged downward, releasing his flame. It as if a meteor crashing down the earth.

The muscle man eyes widened in surprise with the new attack. He barely had time to jump out of the way. The flame ended up hurting his right shoulder, disintegrated his clothes by the shoulder, throwing him far back to the wall. The green-haired girl slipped from his grabs, thrown into the air.

Seeing his chance, Natsu quickly jumped back from the ground, catching her by the waist, bringing her close to his body before landing feet away from her captors.

Natsu then cast a firewall in front of him, splitting them with the girl's captors before quickly check the unconscious green-haired girl.

"Thank god she's still breathing", he sighs a relief before scanning her for any injuries like the dried up wound on her left head besides a few other light damage and bruises on her arms and legs. Happy then came, taking her from his arms and flew away for safety.

Natsu face darkened, seeing the girl's in that condition making his heart bleached. He cursed her captors, whom he can guess was the slave traders. There been lots of cases where some kids or teenagers like him got kidnapped and sold as slaves. He swears that he was going to make them paid. With that, the firewall came down, and he lunches forward.

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'It's warm'. Hisui peers her eyes a bit.

'Ahh, there's a fire. No wonder it is hot. But why? Where did it come from? Wait, why's that boy on fire too? Ahh, this must be hell... and I'm dying?', she thought before back into her unconscious world. But, it wasn't long before she was interrupted.

"Natsu, hurry! she's waking up!"

"Yeah yeah. Ohh, I hope she doesn't freak out."

Hisui heard them. She opened her eyes and blinked them a few times until it could focus again. There crunching in front of her was a blue cat and a pink-haired boy older than her, wearing a scale pattern scarf? 'In the middle of summer?', she looked confused. Both set pair of eyes watch her, studying her every movement.

Suddenly, it feels like Deja vu to her. Having woke up twice in a day and being watched at both moments sending herself shivering. In seconds she hurried away from them, wrapping her arms protectively against her knees while her jade eyes were wildly searching for an escape route.

"Woah, easy there. You're safe now. The bad guys are all gone", said Natsu trying to assure the scared girl when he noticed her reflects.

He tried to reach out for her, but his actions made her try to scoot away further. Natsu exchange look with Happy.

'This is bad!' he thought. This girl was in trauma. At the same time, he couldn't handle the girl well. Urgh. He couldn't help but curse this turn event.

"Natsu, maybe you should try to talk to her first. Have you introduced yourself? She looks petrified of us", said Happy in a whisper.

Natsu raised his eyebrow, giving Happy a questioning look. His right hand unconsciously rubbed behind his neck. Happy nodded his head, trying to convince him. "Kay, I'll give it a try", he replied.

Natsu eyes the green-haired girl in front of him. He let out a long sighed covering his nervousness. He could feel the girl sharp stares on him even though half of her face were covered by her long hairs.

His lips curved upward, giving a soft smile while he added awkwardly, "Erm, hello" with a wave of his right hand.

"Listen, we save you just now. It's alright. You don't have to be so on guard. By the way, I'm Natsu", he grinned and continued, "Natsu Dragneel. Ohh, this is Happy, my cat. We're a wizard of Fairy Tail, and we're here to help you. So... what's your name?"

Hearing his name, Hisui instantly looked up, staring with her wide eyes at the boy in front.

'Natsu?... Natsu Dragneel?... Fairy Tail?. No, it can't be.' she gasped in shock.

"He's here in Fiore... In the guild called Fairy Tail... his identity should stay hidden... Natsu D. Alvarez"

'No! It can't be him. Why did I run into him? This boy can't be him. They have a different name, but...', she lost in her trains of thoughts without realising that she had started crying and unconsciously nibbling on her right-hand nails while rocking her body back and forth.

Blood drains from both Natsu and Happy face seeing the horrid girl condition. She kept mumbling about Natsu name and also denying it like a mantra.

Natsu acts fast by holding the girl right hand to prevent her from kept bitten. But, his action causes the girl to scream and kick him while her left hand kept hitting his chest. Without any other choice, Natsu brought Hisui into his arms, holding her tied to his chest. She tried to trashed in his arms but to no avail on getting off.

"Hey, it's alright. It's alright", Natsu keeps on repeating. His left hand was holding her head while his right hands rubbed softly on her back, trying to calm her down. After some time, she stops trashing and holding him back, crying harder. Her sad cries were resounding in these back alleys. Even Happy, too, was crying along.

Hisui sniffed in his arms. She couldn't believe her current predicament. In the arms of her possibly fiancé yet also her worst enemy? Destiny must be trolling on them.

Still, she has to make sure something. Natsu Dragneel and Natsu D. Alvarez was indeed the same person? With that thought in mind, she utter it out loud.

"W-where your b-brother? T-the b-black-haired man?" she asked in between the hiccup. She tried to look up, studying his reaction.

Natsu peeks down, giving her a questioning look. 'Brother? But I didn't have any brother. Black haired? Who? No one in the guild matches her description, though, except... that guy... Igneel friend...', Natsu stiffened with sudden realisation.

"I-I don't know what you were talking about. I don't have any brother, though", he replied back

'He lied', Hisui accused. There's something he's hiding, and she was sure of it. He is the Prince of Alvarez. She feels scared but at the same time was relieved it was him, the one who is saving her even though she hates him.

Yeah, indeed, she hates him since they were betrothed two years ago. This whole situation is making her confused, falling in the arms of her worse enemy. The boy who made her father crumbled. The boy who made her mother misery. Also, the boy who made her life turn into collateral. She should hate him. But, right now, she can't cause he the only one who's willing to save her.

Hisui grabbed harder on Natsu front T-shirt. "T-Thank y-you. Thank y-you for saving the h-hopeless me. I t-thought there will be n-no one..." she choked on her tears couldn't finish what she wanted to say.

Natsu look stunned for a moment before composing himself. He rubbed her head and replied, "It's alright. Thanks for not giving up. You're safe now", he grinned and chuckled in nervous, couldn't believe he just said that. Even Happy snickered at his comments.

Seeing the girl finally calming down, Natsu let go of his hold. He used the tiny space to open his vast and put it on Hisui with Happy help. Happy stares at him in bewildered when he also wrapped his scarf on Hisui's neck. He can feel Happy's eyes on him but just rubbed it off. This girl needs it more than him.

He did tried to get up but Hisui kept on holding onto him.

"D-don't leave me. Please, let me go with you." she said. Unconsciously, clinging for her dear life onto Natsu shirt.

"Don't worry. We're here for you." he replied. He wasn't expecting this situation at all. Awkward? Absolutely. He got no choice but to lift her up in his arms.

"Natsu, what you are going to do with her?" asked Happy while following on Natsu.

"I guess we can't help it. We have to take her back to the Fairy Tail. She will be safe there with all of us. Come on, let's go." Natsu decided, walking on toward the train station. He will tolerate the ride this time around for the girl needed a medical care as soon as possible.

"Aye, sir!"

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To be continued...

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Author's Note

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Hi fellas!
This isn't the best version of their first encounter. Yeah. Among all the drafts, I choose this one. Whatever, I like it tho. Keke
Till I uploading again XD