Natsu woke up in a soft, cozy bed. Just like from before, he had no idea what tale he was in this time.
"Son, it is time for you to wake up. The Ball is today, and you must look your best to find a wife." Called a voice from behind the door.
Ball?
"Alright, I'm comin'." Natsu said, putting his face in his hands. He groaned, thinking about Lucy, and where she could possibly be. Maybe She'll be at the ball...
Lucy ran around the house, doing laundry, scrubbing the floors, and doing the dishes. After that, she helped the ugly step-sisters with their hair and makeup, listening to their fake promises that she would be allowed at the Ball. She knew better than to believe them; this story was her favorite.
"Cinderella! That hurts!" cried out Pearl, slapping Lucy's hands away. She had been so lost in thought about Natsu, she didn't notice that she was pulling too hard on Pearl's hair.
"Sorry." Lucy said, letting Pearl finish her own hair.
"Just get out of my sight!"
Lucy did as she was told, heading up the creaky spiral staircase to her room. If she was correct, there should be a dress in the room made by the mice. Swinging the door open, Lucy gasped in awe; the dress was beautiful! It was a beautiful pink with darker pink bows. The mice danced around it as Lucy thanked them, putting the dress on. It fit like a glove.
Running down the stairs to catch the carriage, Pearl stopping her in front of the door.
"Where did you get that?" She exclaimed, eyeing the dress suspiciously.
Before Lucy could answer, both sisters began to pull at the ribbons, then the fabric of the dress, tearing it to shreds.
"Girls, girls." The step-mother gently cooed, smiling with pleasure dancing in her eyes. "We wouldn't want to be late for the ball, would we now?" The girls snickered, following their mother out the door, swinging their hips from side to side.
Lucy sat there for a minute, waiting for the carriage to pull away. When it finally did, Lucy ran out the back door to the bench, collapsing on her knees. She began to cry fake tears, hoping the fairy godmother would think she wasn't faking. After what seemed like hours, Lucy began to feel hopeless; her tears weren't genuine enough.
"Open, gate of the Maiden! Virgo!" Lucy called out into the night. However, nothing happened. The book wouldn't let her use her magic, which made her momentarily panic. Trying to calm down, Lucy sat on the bench, thinking. She could always go through the closet of her step-sisters. There had to be something in there that would fit.
Jumping up, Lucy ran into the house and into the trashed room. There were clothes and beads everywhere, the cat playing with some. Lucy ran over to the closet, flinging dresses everywhere. After about ten minutes, she came across a beautiful pink dress. It went to her ankles and had a slit up to her right thigh. It sparkled immensely with every swish. It showed off her curves, showing off a bit of cleavage. She grabbed some white gloves and threw her hair up into an up-do.
Grabbing a pearl necklace, Lucy ran out the door and to the stables where the old horse stood, eyeing her from its dark stall.
"Here, boy. Don't be afraid." Lucy threw a blanket and saddle over him, then climbed on top of him. Before having the chance to even sit, the horse took off in the direction of the castle. Lucy yelped, grabbing the horses' mane. She closed her eyes so it didn't feel like the wind was glass slicing her eyes.
The horse came to an abrupt stop, almost flinging Lucy off of him. Opening her eyes, she saw a beautiful castle in front of her, men and woman in beautiful outfits entered the large doors.
Tying the horse up in the nearby stables, Lucy thanked it and ran up the many steps to the castle doors. By the time she made it to the top, she was breathing heavily, earning strange glances from the guards. After she caught her breath, she entered the ballroom, keeping an eye out for her fictional family and Natsu.
When she saw the tuft of pink in a mob of girls, Lucy was overwhelmed with jealousy, but didn't know why. Just seeing all of those girl around him... ticked her off. Before she marched over, the group of girls scattered, swatting the air in front of their noses. Natsu! You did not!
Two girls stayed behind, still flirting with him. It was her step-sisters! Lucy was about to go scout them out from behind a pillar when she noticed everyone around her staring at her. This brought confidence into Lucy, and she walked straight up to Natsu.
"Oi, Luce!" He smiled his breath-taking smile, turning away from the shocked girls.
"Your Highness." Lucy did a courtsey, earning a confused look from Natsu. "I'm just playing my part, Natsu." Lucy said.
"Oh, right." Natsu began to blush, looking at Lucy's dress.
"Natsu, do you want to dan- Natsu!" He ran over to the buffet table, stuffing his face with chicken and mashed potatoes, not paying attention to the stares people gave him.
"What in the hell are you wearing?!" Anastasia came over, looking like she was about to commit a murder.
"I didn't have a dress, so I borrowed one." Lucy turned to go after Natsu, that is, until her step-mother came over to her.
"Cinderella, leave at once!"
"Why? I was invited, just like you guys were. I have every right to be here."
"No, you don't!" Pearl almost yelled, getting strange looks from everyone around her. This isn't the story I know... Lucy thought, wondering what to do.
Step-mother took her by her arm, her fingers digging into the muscle of Lucy's arm. Pain bloomed in that spot, telling Lucy that there would be a bruise there in the morning. They were on their way to the door, when Lucy lost one of her heels. They weren't glass, but she didn't have a fairy godmother. She left it for Natsu to find.
"Get off of me!" Lucy shouted, trying to rip her arm away, but it was no was thrown into the carriage, and her step-mother got in after her, leaving the sisters at the Ball. Step-mother faced Lucy with an evil grin plastered on her face. Lucy shivered, backing into the corner of the carriage, terrified to know what would happen to her next.
Natsu looked up from the buffet, only to find Lucy gone. Natsu wandered away from the buffet, almost tripping over something.
"What the...?" Natsu stared down at the shoe; it looked familiar. His mind flashed back to Lucy, and he realized that this was hers.
Natsu picked up the black heel, turning it over in his hands. Ball, two ugly girls hitting on him, the lost shoe, the beautiful shoe, and Luce being gone by midnight. This was...
"Your Highness!" Natsu audibly sighed, wanting to punch the two girls in the face. He didn't have time for them.
The two girls came bouncing up to him, trying to show off their curves.
"What?" Natsu asked, annoyed.
"Well, now that the pest is gone, we can finally talk!" said the black-haired one. Is that a mole on her lip?
"What pest?" Natsu asked, eyebrow arched.
"Just our stupid step-sister." Said the red-haired one. Ew, is that food in her teeth?
"Where is she?" Natsu asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Probably on her way home. That dress was mine by the way." Said the red-haired one. Go clean your gross teeth!
"Ladies, let's go to your home." Natsu said, determined to get Luce back.
The girls turned as red as beets, looking like they were about to faint.
"Y-yes, your Highness." They stuttered at the same time, giggling.
They got in the carriage, and all Natsu could think about was getting to Luce.
"Your Highness, we are pleased that you chose us, but you must only have one." Said the black-haired one again. Is that mole getting bigger, or am I crazy?
"Oh, I have one in mind, all right." Natsu smirked at the thought of Lucy, but the girls didn't know that she was his true target.
They stopped in front of the house. Only one light was on, and it was quiet; too quiet.
Natsu jumped out of the carriage, bursting into the house. The light was on upstairs, which was probably where Lucy was. He ran up the steps, coming to a single door. He turned the knob, but the door wouldn't budge. So, he swung his shoulder into it, breaking it in half. Nothing could ever prepare him for what he was about to see.
Lucy lay in a heap on the floor, blood streaming from her mouth.
"Luce!" Natsu screamed, running to her side. The dress was torn up, and her gloves were gone.
"Natsu..." She groaned, trying to sit up.
"Luce, be careful. What happened?"
"Step... Mother..." She mumbled.
"Don't worry, Luce, I'll get you outta here."
Natsu stood up, carrying Lucy bridal-style, careful not to hurt her. He would make sure something bad happened to the step-mother. But for now, Lucy was his main priority.
Natsu dashed out to where the carriage was, but didn't see any sign of it. Shit...
So, he began to run to the castle, Lucy snuggled against his chest. Her body was so warm...
After what seemed like hours, Natsu burst through the castle doors. Everybody had gone home at this point in time, so he didn't have to worry about making a scene.
"Son! What is the meaning of this?" The King asked, dumbfounded.
Luce pushed herself from Natsu, which he was entirely against, but he let her anyways.
"Your Royal Highness." Lucy bowed, then her face turned beet red. Her dress was torn, and she looked like a mess.
"What happened to you, child?" The King bent down to examine Lucy, who was completely embarrassed.
"I had fallen down the castle steps, and your son helped me, bringing me back in here." She lied. Luce, what're you doing?
"I see." The King stood back up, pulling Natsu a few yards away from Lucy, so she couldn't hear what was happening next.
"Is she the one?"
"Huh?"
"Is she the one you choose to marry?"
"HUH?!" Natsu shouted. Marry?!
"Well, that was the entire point of the ball." The King rolled his eyes.
"I-I mean. Yeah." Natsu stuttered. His face felt hot, and the King laughed, motioning for Lucy to join them.
"My future daughter-in-law. Let's get you cleaned up, shall we?"
Natsu and Lucy waved to the crowd of people from the carriage, blowing kisses.
"Natsu, thank you."
"For what?"
"Finding me. Again." Lucy smiled. Her stomach felt fluttery and warm, just like Natsu's.
"Of course, Luce. That's what friends do."
Lucy felt her heart sink to her stomach. Friends, huh? I guess that's all he'll ever see me as..
Lucy was suddenly blinded by the golden light once again, the cast into darkness, wondering what this sadness was.
Hi guys! I know, weird chapter, huh? As you can tell, I like to try to add in some parts of my own. Sorry if you don't like it, but my intention was never to follow the stories exactly. This chapter kind of sucked, but I wanted to get Cinderella out of the way as soon as I could. There will be romance soon, trust me! Natsu just has to realize what he's feeling, considering how dense he is.
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~StarCrusader~