The tall spires of the Imperial palace of Alagesia came into view. Natsu could not help the soft smile that slowly spread over his lips.
He was home.
Entering the kingdom of Alagesia had been far more uneventful than he had expected. The dragons of his land were wary of him, as he had known they would be, but none seemed to harbor deep resentment for what he had been revealed to be during the war. Beside him, Happy maintained a cheerful, comfortable banter with the rest of the dragon warriors in his retinue. Thanks to his faithful friend, Natsu had been given all the time he had needed with his own thoughts to adjust to the task of returning home.
All too soon they reached the palace gates.
"Sire. Your parents and the rest of the dragon assembly are awaiting you in the main conference hall. If you would follow me…"
The dragon squire bowed low after delivering his message to the Dragon Prince. Natsu sighed, exchanging a glance with Happy before dispersing the rest of his small regiment.
"Lead us to them."
Happy and Natsu followed the dragon squire as he led them down the familiar hallways of his childhood home - a place which now felt alien to him, after the many years he had spent away. At last they were ushered into a large conference hall, where groups of dragons were milling about, snacking on mid-day treats and conversing in low, comfortable tones about daily business and interesting tidbits. It all looked so homely and quaint… the Natsu felt distinctly out of place. A soft touch on his shoulder jerked him out of his morbid reverie.
"Mother…"
Natsu gazed down at the dragoness he was proud to call his parent. With a soft smile he leaned down, encasing her in a warm hug, not trusting himself to speak. She understood. She embraced him back just as fiercely, tears threatening the edges of her own eyes as she whispered the words she had longed to say for so long.
"Welcome home, son."
Natsu released her gently, drawing back to glance about them. His father and sister stood nearby, identical warm, welcoming smiles on their faces - although his sire bore an additional mischievous twinkle in his eye. Natsu smiled back at both of them, looking down at his beloved mother once more, guilt causing a lump to form in his throat.
"I-I should have come sooner…"
"W-we would've." Happy interjected softly, his paw pressed protectively on Natsu's bicep as he floated by his dragon companion's side. "I-It was just that we wanted to make sure…"
"Hush, now, both of you. You came when you were ready. That is the most I can ask for, my dears."
Grandine beamed at both of them, washing away any remnants of guilt the pair might have had.
Igneel snorted, interrupting the soft reunion with his own two cents. "Hmph. You may be forgiving, Grandine, but I still think this little imp should've dragged his sorry hide back home waayyy sooner."
Natsu grinned back, a retort ready on his lips.
"No one asked your opinion, you old fire farter!"
"What happened to all that respect you showed me during the war, boy?"
"Huh. You got way too used to that, father - it's high time I remedied that. Not to mention I must re-establish my title as Master Prankster…"
"Oye! That was my title, fire brat!"
"Now, now, are you two fighting already?" The sweet yet oddly menacing voice floated over to the rowdy fire dragon father-son duo - prompting both males to jerk away from each other with identical panicked expressions.
"Ah, little Mira, there you are…"
"M-Mira! What're you doing here?…"
Mira beamed at Natsu, clapping her hands in glee.
"Ohhh, don't you know yet? Oh, may I tell him Grandine?!"
Grandine smiled, a little surprised by the elven Queen's fervor.
"Err… I don't see why not…"
"We're holding a welcome home ball for you, Natsu!" Mira squealed, bobbing in place in her excitement. "Exactly two days from today…"
Natsu grimaced.
"Err… That's really not necessary…"
"Nonsense! Plus it would be an excellent time for you to meet some perfectly lovely dragonesses…"
Natsu internally groaned. That was what he had been afraid of.
"No."
"Oh?" Mira continued unfazed. "Well, no matter, there will be lots of other magical females there, you'll have plenty of opportunities to…"
Natsu could feel his quick temper rise to the surface.
"NO."
"Oh, why didn't you tell me you were into males, dear Natsu?"
"NOOO, dammit Mira! You know that's not what I meant!"
Mira frowned, finally reigning in her exuberance.
"But Natsu, wouldn't you like to find your bonded?"
Natsu sighed, closing his eyes as he willed the anger in his system down. A few deep breaths later, he opened his eyes, forcing a pleasant smile on his face as he turned and bowed formally to the elven Queen.
"I'm honored that you are so excited about my welcome home ball, and for your sake, I hope you will find it a pleasant night."
With those un-Natsu like words, the fire dragon made his hasty escape, his stunned family watching him and his familiar leave post-haste.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gray squirmed in the plush chair, glancing around the room as he let out yet another disgruntled huff.
It had been an hour since his cousin had left him at the entrance to the chamber he was now settled in, and there had been no sign of anyone approaching him after that. He had peeked out of the door numerous times, only to find a deserted corridor with not a soul in sight. There was only one other door within the chamber, and in his boredom he had tried that too - only to find it locked.
Gray sighed, thumping his head against the high back of the chair he sat in as his thoughts once again drifted to her.
Juvia.
For some reason, Lyon's cryptic words had caused a spasm of fear to ripple through him on behalf of the beautiful mermaid. He knew she had some close connection with Pergrande - she had always been vague on the details - and Gray now dreaded what could have happened to her. Had she heard something she shouldn't have? Meddled in an affair she was not supposed to and got caught? Had some despicable courtier caused her harm? If she had poked her head in where she was not supposed to, it most probably would have been to acquire information Gray had requested of her - so in a way if something had happened to her, it was undoubtedly his fault…
Gray shuddered, praying to every God he knew that she was alright. He couldn't imagine his life without her. Over the course of their correspondence, he had seen a different side of Juvia - warm, funny, tender and considerate - all while being so sharp and intelligent. He had often leaned on her for advice in many of his hardest decisions. He had felt a pang of guilt when he had consulted her about his intention to offer Lucy his hand, knowing just how deeply she felt about him. He had been awed by her response - not only had she supported his decision, she had encouraged him. The underlying, deep affection she bore for him was evident in every line of her return epistle - she always put him and his desires first. Since the day he had received that letter, it had occupied a place of honor in his breast pocket. In truth, Gray felt unworthy to be loved by one such as her. Her quirks were adorable, her person as entrancing as any hot-blooded male could desire, and her heart as pure as the snow that blanketed his nation year round. She deserved better than he.
Lucy on the other hand…
As lovely as the young human maiden would have undoubtedly grown to be, he already felt a cooling of that youthly ardor he had harbored for her. The fact that she had not bothered to pass on information of her well-being to him or any of their other magical friends upset him far more than he let on - he was not as easily forgiving as his flame-wielding dragon friend. Not to mention the fact that she had not attempted to contact him once during his month in Pergrande - despite the fact that she, as a noble woman, would certainly have known of his stay in the capital. Gray sighed, rising from his seat to pace the room once more. He reached the stained glass, sealed window, staring at the patterns unseeingly as once again lost himself in his confusing thoughts. The Prince of Icegard was so absorbed in his reflections, that the usually keen and alert man did not notice the locked door in the chamber click open, and a feminine figure gracefully slip in.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Prince Gray."
Gray froze in place. That voice…
He whirled around, his gaze instantly falling on the gorgeous, regally-attired young woman, with a delicate crown balanced atop her lustrous golden locks. Her eyes shone with kind affection and joy as she regarded him, although an underlying fire within their depths slightly unnerved Gray. Her lips were twisted in a smirk as she opened them to address him.
"Once you are quite finished gawking, shall we get down to business, your majesty?"
Gray burst into a loud bout of laughter.
Lucy watched him, a bemused expression on her face, as he let out all the stress, tension and worry that had been holding him captive for the past month. At last, she let out a rather impatient huff, glaring at him as she crossed her arms across her buxom chest.
"Are you done?"
Gray subdued his mirth to low chuckles as he shot the golden-haired beauty an impish grin.
"Almost…"
Lucy could not help the upward quirk of her lips as she sighed in resignation.
"I don't understand why you men react this way to the news that I am the Princess. That iron idiot Gajeel laughed for three minutes straight…"
Gray smiled fondly down at the young woman. It had been years - he had forgotten just how mesmerizing she was in her own way. Akin to a ray of sunshine, she shone with warmth… and her entire aura suggested that she arose from intense fiery origins. An involuntary shudder passed through him as he noted, once again, the fire that burned beneath her cool facade. Unbidden, his cousin's warning of beings far shrewder and more despicable than him arose to mind…
But this was Lucy, it was ridiculous of him to think of her in the same vein as those horrendous courtiers his cousin had probably been referring to.
Wasn't it?
"I guess it's just hard to envision you in the role, Lucy, although the rumors now make perfect sense." Gray began, attempting to mimic his suave, teasing manner of old to ease his own discomfort. "Only you could combine the grace of a royal with the petulance of a child…"
Lucy laughed, the sound charming and sweet. Gray relaxed a little, his own answering grin sincere. Lucy looked up at him, an apologetic smile on her face.
"I'm sorry for making you wait for a month to meet. There was just so much to do…"
"Nay, say no more. I understand."
Her smile widened. "I hope you made good use of the time? Became well acquainted with the nobles? Made a few allies?"
"Err… does Loke count?"
The deadpan look she gave him provoked Gray into another bout of good-natured chortling.
"Oh Gray." She sighed as his mirth subsided once more. "I can see you are a warrior Prince more than an able administrator…"
"Hey!"
"But that can be remedied." She frowned at a sheet of parchment she had picked up from a table nearby, her words more to herself than to him. "Although we shall have to start very soon. Heaven knows we won't have much time for such niceties afterwards."
"Err… Lucy? I don't follow."
Lucy looked up, her keen, piercing gaze arresting Gray's, and throwing him into a tumult of emotions - not all pleasant.
"Gray, would you like to know why I called you here?"
The Prince of Icegard nodded, not trusting himself to speak under the influence of the ominous feeling that had settled in his gut.
"It has been too long since the isolation of your kingdom from its southern roots. It is high time that we, as the next generation of rulers, remedied this grave situation."
Lucy paused, tossing the parchment she had been perusing casually to the side as she made her way to the divan pushed up against the wall of the small chamber. She flopped onto the cushiony seat, reclining in a fully relaxed pose, and giving Gray a full view of her voluptuous figure. A view he would have enjoyed, had he not been transfixed by the chilling and ruthless look in her eyes.
"After much thought and research, I have decided that the best way to integrate Icegard back into the Pergrande Kingdom's fold would be to form an alliance."
Gray frowned.
"Oh?"
"Be my King-consort, Gray."
Gray noted with a shiver down his spine how she had not worded the sentence as a request.
"I-I am honored by your request, Lucy." Gray grit out, the feeling of dread in his gut intensifying. "But I'd only feel comfortable taking such a monumental decision after talking to Juvia first… Where is she, by the by?"
"Hmmm… You consent to this union then? Perfect. We have much to do. The wedding will take place in a week's time, and I must make the announcement in court tomorrow. Not to mention you will have to begin administrative training this very evening…"
Lucy rose from the couch, heading to the entrance of the chamber where she was halted by a firm grip on her forearm.
"W-what? I-I didn't agree… Nevermind - Lucy, you haven't answered my question about Juvia. Where is she? Why haven't I heard from her?"
Lucy looked away from him, her interest suddenly absorbed by a speck of dirt on the rug beneath their feet.
"I do not know." She finally spoke, her tone surprisingly cold. "But surely you have spies apart from her who can get you the information you need?"
Gray growled, his grip on the maiden tightening.
"Juvia was not a spy. She is my friend! Our friend, Lucy!"
Lucy looked up at this, her gaze locking with Gray's and conveying a rage so ferocious that the raven-haired Prince released his hold on her to take an involuntary step back.
"Really?" She hissed, her eyes blazing with fury. "A friend whom you used to obtain insider information about the Pergrande courts? Do not fool yourself. You used her."
Gray paled as he felt a blanket of horror envelope him.
"N-no. It's not like that…"
"I would like you to forget about her, Gray. She was a distraction."
Gray felt the blood in his veins freeze over.
"Wait. Why did you say 'was'?"
Lucy continued callously, ignoring his words. "Never mind. We have more important things to discuss such as the combining of our two kingdoms, and the welfare of our citizens…"
"Juvia is more important to me than any of that." Gray rejoined quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lucy whirled about, leveling a scathing look at the raven-haired mage.
"Then you are more of a fool than I thought. As a ruler, do you not understand that it is your kingdom first, before your heart? You cannot afford to fall in love, Gray…"
Gray grit his teeth as his temper rose.
"That is not true. What use would I be as a ruler if I could not even experience so pure and transforming an emotion as love? I'd become a heartless tyrant… Such as you seem determined to become…"
Lucy let out a low growl, stalking nearer to stand toe to toe with her old friend.
"Careful, Prince Gray." She hissed. "Your infatuation for that mermaid has blinded you to reality."
"No, Lucy. What I felt for you was an infatuation." The words flowed easily from his lips, as the truth within his heart that he had long denied, finally unburdened itself. "And now that I see who you truly are - all I can feel is pity. My heart is hers. It always has been, and always will be. I'm sorry Lucy, but our wedding will never happen."
Lucy stared at him, her gaze blank and her face expressionless. Gray felt a pang of sadness as he gazed upon her. He did not love her, but he still cared for her - no matter how twisted and despicable she seemed to have become. She would always be his friend, after all.
He was startled by the cold, mocking titter she suddenly let out, a cruel smirk twisting her lovely features.
"You really are a fool, dear Gray. What a pity. I had hoped for at least a little more challenge… But to admit your true feelings straight to my face? What an amateur move! You have given me the key to controlling you…"
Gray grunted as a pair of strong hands suddenly grabbed his wrists and forced them together, a tell-tale click letting him know his hands had been chained. With a growl, Gray merely amped up his ice magic… only to find absolutely nothing happening.
"W-what is this?" He gasped, struggling against his bonds.
"Magic-cancelling chains. Effective, are they not? I've found them quite handy when dealing with human mages…"
"Release me, Lucy! Or else…" Gray leveled a fierce glare at the young Princess that many a battle-hardened warrior had recoiled from. Lucy merely regarded him with a bored expression.
"No. We are going to be wed - whether you will it or not." Lucy responded, her voice even and emotionless. She nodded discreetly to the guard now standing behind Gray.
"Over my dead body…"
Lucy's eyes narrowed menacingly.
"No, Gray. If anything, it would be over Juvia's dead body."
Gray paused in his attempts, his fury reaching a peak as Lucy's cruel words filtered through his scattered thoughts.
"What did you say?"
"You're beloved is dying, Gray." Lucy continued mercilessly. "Your great 'love' is all for naught. If you behave, I will keep her alive for as long as I can and will let you see her from time to time."
"YOU BITCH! WHERE IS SHE?!"
The chains around his wrists tightened, as the burly guard holding him yanked him farther away from Lucy, towards the entrance of the room. Another two guards quickly walked in, assisting the first as he struggled to move the furious royal out of the chamber.
"Ah, ah, ah! Behave, Gray. Remember - it is entirely in your hands whether she survives… or perishes."
With another cruel smirk, the Princess of Pergrande turned her back on the heart-broken Prince of Icegard as he was dragged away, hurling insults and death-threats amidst his heart-wrenching sobs.