Lucy had always loved books. They had always been her best friends growing up, her only friends, really. Words on paper didn't mock or betray; didn't pretend to care about her either. They were just books. They had no expectations for her.

But they had given Lucy expectations for life.

After all, fairy tales couldn't be her favorite stories without giving her expectations for what her life could become - should become to allow her to be happy.

The one thing that Lucy was the most impatient about was meeting the love of her life. She was a princess - or at least the people who worked for her family had treated her like one - so her heart was bound to be won over by a brave and shining armor, a chivalrous man who would rescue her from her golden cage and give her hope for a happy future.

Lucy used to believe a knight in armor would sweep her off her feet. Until she turned seventeen and realized she could write her fairy tale. Her handsome knight would have to go find her among the wizards of Fairy Tail, among her friends, her new family.

And a knight did find her there, had saved her life on more than one occasion. Lucy had never expected her charming knight to be a gorgeous woman in armor, or that she could ever fall in love with a woman.

"Are you alright, Lucy?"

The blonde glanced over her shoulder to find Erza leaning against the door frame. She watched silently as she joined her on the balcony, away from the noise, from the ruckus their guildmates were causing.

"Mmh, I'm alright. Just thinking," she answered, truthful while still avoiding to express the whole truth.

"What about?"

Of course Erza would ask. Erza wore an armor and protected Lucy, but she still punched a hole right through her defenses without trying. Still, Lucy felt safe. erza was her knight in shining armor even if she didn't realize it.

"I used to think my life was like a fairy tale," Lucy started. She cast Erza a glance, but her friend was merely staring at her expectantly. "I thought a knight would take me away from my father and save me. That we would fall in love, have our own family," she drifted off, pensive, but she still noticed the faint blush on Erza's cheeks. Of course Erza's mind would wander and stray, reaching any sort of lewd thought it could latch onto.

"You saved yourself, Lucy."

She hummed and nodded at her friend's words. "And I found a family."

And a knight who wouldn't love her back.

"Wh- What about your knight?"

Lucy was almost surprised to hear the slight stutter, but if Erza's imagination was running again, it wasn't the least bit surprising.

"I gave up on that dream. My knight doesn't return my feelings."

It was more truth than Lucy was willing to admit, and her inability to look away from Erza in that moment would have undoubtedly betrayed her true feelings if the woman wasn't so oblivious at times.

"You can't!"

Lucy startled.

"You can't give up!"

Erza's voice was louder than before, and Lucy couldn't help but worry she had done something wrong. Her friend couldn't even meet her eyes.

"Any knight would be lucky to call you their princess, Lucy."

"Erza..."

The knight finally looked back at her, and Lucy felt her heart skip a beat. The heat in Erza's eyes, for a second, reminded her of the intensity of Natsu's flames. Her eyes held an unspoken promise. Or maybe Lucy was imagining it, too blinded by an obsession that had been with her since childhood.

Lucy smiled.

"I would be the lucky one," she said softly, her eyes finding the starry night sky that reigned over the city. But the brightest star shone right beside her.

Lucy blinked and looked back at Erza, who had transformed into an armor that Lucy had never seen before.

"I will be your knight!"

Erza's face was bright red, matching her scarlet hair, and her voice trembled, but Lucy could feel the truthfulness. Erza had been awkward with feelings for as long as Lucy had known her, but it had never seemed so charming.

"You have been since the day we met, Erza."