A/N: Hey, everybody! Hope the weekend is treating you well... I had mad inspiration tonight so here's a second short chapter to push the story along, and eek! We're almost to the end! :'( But no worries! Things are going to go fast from here (provided I get my butt in gear and update...) Okay, addressing a couple of reviews 1) I don't think you guys know just how much you brighten my day with your positive feedback. It is literally giving me the strength and encouragement I need to keep writing right now. 2) I always totally welcome translations of my stories, and I think it's really cool and awesome that there are people out there that can do that! Just be sure to put my name on it, too, okay? 3) In response to Spiritual-Sister - I can totally dig your message. One of my absolute favorite passages is 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." And I try to always put those three elements in my writing. This is a place of faith, hope, and love for my characters, and - I hope - for my readers as well. Now then, you came to read a story, didn't you?

Present

Balling up her fist, Lucy drove it into the wooden nightstand next to her, making a loud smack that resonated through the quiet room.

"Princess!" Wendy cried out, the blanket fluttering from where it was resting over a unconscious and bandaged Natsu in her bed.

"It's not fair!" Lucy cried out, her breathing going ragged as she stared at his bruised face. "Why should he be the one to fight for my future? That should be in my hands!"

Lucy angrily wiped away tears from her eyes once more. Across the hall, Mirajane was tending to Sting, who was also in rough shape. Lucy hated him for what he did to Natsu, but Gray informed her that he was honorable and would accept his defeat. So Lucy allowed him to stay and be healed until the time came when he could leave. Sting would heal. So would Natsu, Wendy had said. Still. He looked so fragile.

"Princess Lucy, we all took this role willingly," Wendy consoled her, glowing gently. "Especially Natsu. He was excited for the chance to prove himself."

Lucy sniffed. "Stupid dragon," she muttered.

The blanket was quiet for a moment. "He cares so much about you," she said finally. "Anyone can see it. I think even if it wasn't his duty… he would do this for you, Princess."

"That's just what I'm afraid of," she whispered, suddenly blushing as she remembered his words. He had said that he loved her. What was that supposed to mean? Was he confused from the blood loss? Did he mean that he loved her like a sibling? Or did he… could he possibly mean that he loved her loved her?

She loved him. By Mavis, she couldn't deny it anymore. Picturing a life without him was a bleak practice. Picturing every marrying the man who killed him… she shuddered so violently that she was afraid she would cry again. But… no. This wasn't sadness. It wasn't fear.

It was anger. It was fury.

How could her father do this to her? Doom her to be stuck here with the dragon that she loved watching man after man face him and almost kill him for the chance to take her away? She was caught in a hopeless situation.

"Luce?" a voice breathed.

Her head snapped up at the sound of Natsu's voice, her eyes brimming now with tears of joy as she saw his tired onyx eyes meet hers. "Natsu."

"Stop crying, you dork," he breathed.

"Stop almost dying then," she laughed as a couple of tears escaped.

He reached up, wiping them away gently with his thumb. "Don't tell me you gave up on me that easy?"

She shook her head vehemently. "Never."

"Sting?"

"Recovering," she said. "He'll need a few days even with Wendy's help. You did a number on him."

"Yeah, well he started it," Natsu grunted, trying to sit up.

"Stay down," she ordered him. "You need rest."

"No, Luce," he said, grabbing her wrist seriously. "I have to tell you something."

Her heart sped up as she wondered what he would say. Something about his last words before he passed out?

"It's your father," he said, his onyx eyes pained. "Lucy… he died in combat a few days ago. That's why Sting is here. Whoever takes your hand will be the new king of Heartfilia."

Her heart sank. A part of her knew that she should be sadder at her father's passing, and she was sad. With him gone, she was an orphan. She had no one in the world… except Natsu. And it was her father's orders who kept her from him.

"Natsu," she said slowly. "Do you remember what you told me before you passed out?"

His whole face flushed red, and he knew the answer. "Luce…"

"I love you, too," she said quickly, looking down. Her eyes flicked up to his immediately, trying to read something there. Instead, all she saw was shock.

Her body moved almost without her permission, and suddenly her torso was pressed against his, and her hand was locked behind his head, pressing their lips together. His were slightly chapped, but they were warm, and they waited only a second into her kiss before dominating her own. Suddenly, his hands here on either side of her face, crushing their lips together as her face turned, her whole body melting into a puddle as his warmth radiated through her body, leaving her gasping for breath when he finally released her, his eyes dazed. She noticed that his breathing was also labored.

"Luce…" he repeated, trying to get his breathing under control. "You shouldn't have done that," he said finally.

She sat back, her mouth dropping open. "What?"

His face flushed red, and his jaw clenched. "Because I can't have you. It doesn't matter if I love you or not. Your father's orders were clear. Your life belongs to whoever can defeat me. The dragon never gets the princess in the end. He's only a beast that stands in the way."

The silent room was filled with the sudden sound of a slap as her hand connected with his cheek. He looked up at her in shock as she turned away from him.

"Don't you dare say that in front of me ever again. It's everyone else who stands in the way," she said, running from the room.

"You're an idiot," Gray informed Natsu.

"Hey!" the dragon complained. "I can shatter you!"

"Go for it, Flame Brain," the mirror snorted. "Then who's going to tell you that three suitors are approaching now?"

"Three?" he repeated, feeling his heart sink in his chest.

Though the fight was yesterday and Wendy had been healing him to the best of her ability, he still felt like his body was made of lead. Lucy hasn't stopped by his room since yesterday. He could still feel her kiss on his lips.

It had awakened something in him dangerous. Before, to protect Lucy was for her father and for her kingdom and for her. But now, to protect Lucy would be to protect himself and his own selfish need to have her by his side. Because kissing her made him realize something he had long denied to himself: they belonged together. They always had.

"Look," Gray sighed. "I'm not your biggest fan," he admitted. "I always had a soft spot for the princess. She was like my little sister… but she clearly loves you. And you love her. Everyone in this castle can see it except the batty old Master. So why did you deny her?"

Natsu clenched his jaw. "It's not that simple. When Igneel placed me here, he knew that I would take my job to completion. But the king needed a more complete guarantee. So Igneel cast a spell on this place."

"What sort of spell, Natsu?" Lisanna, the vanity asked.

Natsu sighed, now realizing that all of the enchanted objects in Lucy's room were listening. "I had to uphold my end of the bargain and fight until a man strong enough came along to defeat me. If I gave up or ran away or decided not to fight… all of your lives would be sacrificed."

There was silence in the room for a long moment.

"You mean," the mirror said finally. "If you don't do your job… we all die?"

Natsu nodded grimly. "If, however, I do go through with it, and Lucy get's a betrothed… you will all be released from the spell into human form. That's always been the deal."

"You mean…" Virgo fairly whispered. "We'll be human again?"

"Yeah," Natsu said. "I… I shouldn't have fallen in love with her. That complicates things. Because now… we may all be here forever. But Lucy and I can never be together if it comes at the cost of your lives. It's an impossible situation."

Thunder boomed outside and it began pouring down rain as dead silence took over the sick room once more, each of the players contemplating the severity and hopelessness of the situation that had been placed in.

"So then it's possible?" she asked Levy.

The book swayed uneasily in the air. "Technically? I suppose. But, Princess-"

"Thank you!" Lucy said, bounding from the library before the book could say anything else.

It had been two days since she kissed Natsu. Two days since he'd almost died. Two days since she'd become Queen of Heartfilia. And in that time, Lucy had read. She hadn't slept or ate or rested, simply read everything she could about the order her father gave and the spell Igneel cast to ensure it came true.

She found a solution. She found the loophole that would save them all. At least… she hoped that she did.

She burst into her room where Natsu was standing, walking across the room gingerly. When he saw her, his eyes went wide, and he lurched towards her. "Luce-"

"Stop right there," she said, holding up her hand. "Natsu Dragneel, I challenge you to combat for the hand of Lucy of Heartfilia."