Chapter one: The Beast of the Ball
"Come in." Lucy called in response to the rap of knuckles on her bedroom door.
"Do you need assistance getting ready, princess?"
Glancing over her shoulder as she fastened a dangling diamond earring, the blonde smiled at her maidservant. "Yes, thank you, Virgo. If you don't mind I need someone to help lace my corset."
The maid nodded and then surveyed the room for the item. "Pardon me, princess, but have you selected what dress you'll be wearing this evening?"
Letting out a sigh, Lucy dropped her hands from securing her second earring, and shook her head. "No. To be honest, I don't even care anymore."
Moving to sit beside her mistress with a concerned crease in her brow, Virgo lightly placed her hand on Lucy's arm. "What's wrong, princess? You're usually so excited to get all dressed up for a ball."
Lucy gave the maid a weak smile. "I guess I'm just tired of pretending."
Worry settled into the maid's heart as she looked at the sadness that radiated heavily from her mistress, her friend's, eyes. In an attempt to cheer her up, Virgo gave her arm an encouraging squeeze and smiled brightly. "You'll have fun tonight, I know you will!" She stood up and darted to the wardrobe, sorting through the elegant gowns as she continued. "It is a special occasion, it's not every day you turn nineteen." Twirling to face the princess, arms overflowing with satin and silk, she raised an eyebrow. "Or meet a prince."
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Like he'll be any different from all the other men my father has tried to match me with."
Virgo laid the gown on the bed, briefly smoothing the fabric before searching and gathering all the necessary additional clothing. "Well you've never met with a prince before, the other suitors were merely lords or dukes, perhaps he'll be different. He does come from the Northern kingdom after all."
Lucy snorted lightly, halfheartedly experimenting with different ways to do her hair.
Virgo's reflection appeared in the mirror behind her, holding a basket of hair accessories. "Even if he is just as awful as the rest, tonight's ball will be splendid."
Lucy quirked an eyebrow. "Oh? Why?"
Virgo smiled and held up a delicate item. "It's a masquerade."
"The Duke and Duchess of Redul!" The announcer continued calling out titles and names as more guests arrived, his face remaining completely impassive as he did so, almost looking as if he was asleep.
Lucy couldn't blame him, as she peeked out from the doorway at the top of the stairs, watching the gigantic ballroom below steadily fill with people, she couldn't imagine having to bellow out each and every person who entered.
Turning back to the room she was waiting in, she fidgeted with the dangling crystal accents on her dress, fingers absentmindedly smoothing over the shimmering embroidery around her bodice that faded down into the flowing skirt.
She checked to make sure her hair and tiara were still secured, an uncomfortable twist in her gut as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
She really was a princess, glittering and sparkling with precious gems and fine fabric, every hair impeccably pinned up intricately with curls to accentuate her face.
She sneered at her reflection and quickly looked away.
Her thoughts were interrupted as trumpets suddenly began to blare, meaning the prince had finally arrived.
"His royal highness, the second prince of Frostfell, the kingdom to the north!"
Lucy peeked out once again, eyes searching for the prince.
She spotted her father first, tall and broad and stern, striding across the room to greet a slender man with dark hair.
Her eyebrows rose as her father and the prince bowed to each other and exchanged greetings, she was too far away to hear what they were saying, but while they conversed she examined the prince.
He held himself like a prince should, tall and straight, his hair was fairly long and styled back. He was dressed in the royal colors of Frostfell, black as treacherous as a winter storm, and the pale blue-silver of fresh snow.
From the distance and the dark mask he was wearing, she couldn't make much of his face, but it appeared that his looks were promising.
"Announcing her royal highness, the princess of Celestia, and heir to the throne, Lucy Heartfilia!"
With a sigh, Lucy straightened up, plastered a smile on her face, and stepped out onto the top of the staircase as music began to play.
The guests applauded as she gracefully floated down the staircase and approached her father and the prince.
"Father." She greeted, straining to keep the smile on her face. It made her heart ache to see the way he was looking at her. She knew he was thinking of her mother, and although she didn't excuse how he acted, she understood why he was the way he was. People dealt with grief in odd ways.
"Lucy...you certainly are the belle of the ball."
Her smile turned just the slightest bit genuine. Although these fleeting moments when she saw the man he used to be were nice, she almost wish they didn't happen, she'd gotten her hopes up far too many times.
"Prince Fullbuster, may I introduce my daughter, Lucy." Her father said, slipping back into strict king mode.
The prince turned to her, taking her hand and bowing low, he placed a gentle kiss against her gloved knuckles, eyes as dark and cool as black ice staring intensely into her own. "Your highness."
She curtseyed in response. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, prince Fullbuster."
He straightened up and released her hand, motioning to his left where a tall woman dressed in a burnt mahogany gown and delicate gold mask stood. Her dark hair hung sleek and straight, glittering eyes darker than the prince's locked on Lucy.
"May I introduce my stepsister, Ultear."
The two women bowed their heads to each other. "A pleasure."
Ultear smirked and placed her hand on the prince's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze as she said. "Mother couldn't very well let the baby of the family off on such a long and important journey without a chaperone. Especially since he might be meeting his future bride, and princess of Frostfell."
Lucy fought the anger that boiled up. No matter how many times it was brought up, she would never stand for being treated like property.
"Would you do me the honor of a dance?" The prince said suddenly, breaking the tense moment.
She blinked in surprise as he took her hand gently but firmly, and led her onto the dance floor.
Her hand came to rest automatically on his shoulder, his free hand lightly resting on her waist.
"I apologize for my sister, she can be a bit...tactless." He said as they moved across the dance floor, both having been taught so they could practically dance in their sleep.
"I'm quite used to such remarks, prince Fullbuster."
"Gray, please."
She nodded. "Gray. Being a princess you become accustomed to people talking as if you weren't even there."
He shrugged slightly. "That doesn't make it right."
"No, but that is the way it is."
They fell silent for a few moments, moving among the other dancers to the sway of the music.
"So," Lucy finally said. "It seems like we might end up betrothed...we might as well get to know each other a little."
She chanced a look up at his face, his brows were furrowed ever so slightly, eyes staring over the top of her head into thin air.
"I suppose so."
When he still remained silent after a few minutes, Lucy spoke up again. "So...is Ultear in line to inherit the throne?"
Gray scoffed. "Not at all. My older brother, Lyon is successor to the throne. Despite the fact that he's a Vastia and not a Fullbuster."
Lucy frowned. "Is he your step brother then?"
"Sort of, he was the son of my stepmother, Ur's late husband. He became Ur's son through marriage. When her husband died and she married my father, both he and Ultear, who was Ur's daughter from a teenage...accident, became my step-siblings. My father adopted them so Lyon, being the eldest son will inherit the throne."
Lucy shook her head slightly. "Well, that certainly is...complicated."
Gray smiled at that, and the sight did wonders for his cold, aloof countenance. "It is."
"It must be frustrating, having someone not related by blood come into the family and take your place of succession for the throne."
His lips formed a thin line as he lowered his eyebrows slightly and finally looked down at her, meeting her gaze. "I know what you're thinking, and no, I don't resent Lyon at all. It doesn't matter if we share the same blood or not, he is my family."
Lucy's heart ached longingly. Family, to have a bond like that with someone again...
"Besides," Gray continued, "it's not like I wanted to be king anyway, Lyon is far more suited to rule a kingdom."
Lucy blinked up at him in surprise. "But if we marry...you'll be a king anyway."
His eyes flickered to hers for the briefest of moments before resuming their steady gaze across the dance floor. "Very true."
The song ended and they bowed and curtseyed to each other, Gray taking her hand and placing another kiss against her gloved knuckles. "Let's just say princess, that maybe you aren't the only one who dislikes being treated like a bargaining chip."
With that, he straightened up, escorted her off the dance floor and returned to his elder sister's side. Courteously engaging some Lords in conversation.
Lucy clasped and unclasped her hands together, mind distracted as she wandered from one end of the ballroom to the other.
So Gray wasn't enthused about this arrangement either. The thought was equally comforting and disappointing. Out of all the men Lucy had talked with, he was the only one she even allowed herself to consider marrying.
"Princess Heartfilia! Don't you look positively scrumptious this evening!"
A chill slithered down her spine, shoulders growing rigid as she froze at the sound of that voice. Who would ever let a scoundrel like Duke Bora be invited?
Before she could plan an escape route, he had her cornered, dressed in a gaudy purple and gold suit, the matching mask just as hideous. Although it was perhaps an improvement on his actual face.
"Duke Bora," Lucy said, attempting to be as civil as possible as she tried to edge away. "I didn't know you were coming."
He smiled, a sight for more lecherous looking than he probably intended. "Ah well it seems my invitation got lost, but I knew I just had to come to such a...special occasion."
Lucy laughed in an attempt to fight the rising bile in her throat. "Oh, well you really shouldn't have gone to all that trouble..."
"Nonsense! It's no trouble at all. Indeed, to see such a sight as yourself, dressed in midnight blue and pale silver, glittering like starlight, why, I would travel to the ends of the world to behold a goddess such as yourself."
"You flatter me much too highly..." Lucy said, growing increasingly uncomfortable as she found her back pressed against the wall.
"Nay, I fail to capture the essence of your beauty in mere words! Alas there are none to describe such perfection."
She almost slapped him as his gaze lingered far too long on her cleavage.
"Yes, well, I should be going now..."
"What's your rush?" Bora purred, putting his hand against the wall to cut off her escape.
"I believe she granted me the pleasure of the next dance." A cool voice cut in before Lucy could speak up.
Her mind flooded with relief at the sight of Gray standing behind Bora, his shoulders stuff and head high, challenging Bora to defy him.
"Ah...well, I see." Bora coughed and backed away from Lucy. "Well then, perhaps the next dance will be all my pleasure." He snatched her hand and placed a quick kiss against it before disappearing into the crowd.
"Are you alright?"
Lucy wrinkled her nose and wiped her hand on her skirt even though it was gloved. "I'm fine, thank you."
"I saw that scumbag corner you and decided to intervene." He smirked slightly. "Although I have no doubt that you can defend yourself, I thought you might not want to get blood on your dress."
Lucy laughed at that, holding a hand over her mouth to stifle the giggles as she imagined braining Bora over the head with her high heels. "Hahaha! Oh dear...haha, yes, thank you for taking my dress into consideration. It would be a shame to waste such fine craftsmanship on him."
Gray chuckled and then scratched the back of his neck. "True. So...did you want to dance? I was on my way to the washroom when I saw you..."
Lucy laughed, motioning toward the door. "By all means, proceed, there will always be another dance."
He nodded and continued out of the room.
Lucy took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, already tired of the evening and wishing she could just go upstairs to her room, get out of this stifling dress and curl up on her bed with some parchment and quill to work on her stories. Or perhaps to read that old book she'd discovered hidden away in the library.
But unfortunately the night was still fairly young, and the party would likely last for a good five hours still.
Hoping to revive her dulled senses a bit, she slipped out onto one of the many balconies clinging to the walls of the palace.
The night air was cool and clear, a light breeze ruffling through her dress as she closed her eyes and inhaled the twilight, listening to a pair of nightingales trill at each other.
Oh to have wings to take you anywhere, to soar through the sky unhindered and unburdened by life's problems. To be free...oh how she wished to be free. Lucy thought wistfully.
"Look! A shooting star!"
The princess' gaze lifted skyward at the sound of the shout, watching the bright light streak across the sky, a tail of star dust glittering in it's wake.
She spent a few minutes staring up at the stars even after the comet had long past. Her mother had always loved the stars, she'd spent hours teaching young Lucy their names and constellations. It was bittersweet looking at them now, but oddly, still comforting, as if her mother was looking back down at her from the starry heavens.
With a sigh, Lucy turned and entered the ballroom once more. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she still hadn't had anything to eat.
She made her way over to where several long banquet tables were set up, heavily laden with only the finest food, all of her favorites.
Selecting a dainty strawberry pastry, she was about to bite into it when she spotted Bora, neck craning this way and that as his eyes roamed the crowd.
Oh no.
He was looking for her.
Squeaking as his gaze shifted toward her, she ducked down underneath the table, adjusting the tablecloth behind her so that she was completely concealed.
Letting out a sigh of relief, she turned inward and almost screamed.
"What the heck are you doing hiding underneath a table?"
She was so shocked that she could only stare open-mouthed. When she finally found her voice she spluttered indignantly. "I could ask you the same question!"
The person, a young man, shifted and adjusted the dark red mask covering most of his face, the only place not covered being his pointed chin, the hints of a sharp jawline disappearing underneath the edges of the mask.
Dark eyes glittered through the mask, gaze intense and curious. "I'm the guy who crashed your party, you're the one who threw it, you tell me which makes more sense." His eyes flickered to the pastry still in her hand. "You gonna eat that?"
"You-you what? How did you get in? There's no way you could've gotten through our security."
He snorted. "Dress up in some fancy clothes and a mask and walk in with a group of other guests, piece of cake. Speaking of..." He took a large bite of cake that he had nestled among a mountain of other food piled onto a platter.
Lucy blinked. "Why?"
His eyes flickered back up to hers. "Hmm?" He questioned, mouth full of cake.
"Why did you crash my party? And how did you know it was mine?"
He chuckled. "With an introduction like that it's kinda hard to miss. As for why I crashed..." He motioned to the food. "Best food around, never turn down a free meal."
Lucy crossed her arms. "You should leave...before I call security."
He cocked his head to the side slightly. "Nah you're not going to call security."
"What? Yes I will!"
He shook his head slightly. "You would've if you were going to by now. Besides, you're hiding for a reason, making a scene would only draw attention to yourself, attention it seems you want to avoid." He shrugged and took another bite of food. "Don't worry though, soon as I'm finished with this I'll be on my way, got a long way to go tonight."
Despite herself, Lucy felt drawn to the mysterious young man. She had no reason to trust him, but she felt like she could.
"Where are you going?"
He grinned at her poorly masked curiosity. "On an adventure."
Before she could ask him any more questions, she heard her father calling her.
With a frustrated and slightly distressed sound, she looked toward where his voice had come from, knowing if he didn't find her soon he'd call for a search. Something she definitely didn't want.
"Duty calls?"
Glancing back at the young man, Lucy let out a sigh. "Probably wants me to talk some more to my more-than-likely future fiancé..."
He nodded, but didn't say anything, merely giving her a lazy salute as he continued to stuff his face.
Lucy hesitated, then shook her head. "Be sure you move on soon...good luck on your adventure." She blurted, scrambling as inconspicuously out from underneath the table as she could, straightening her dress and smiling before turning back and diving into the party once more.
Holding her candle in front of her to illuminate the dim hallways, Lucy crept down the corridor toward the library, her bare feet padding quietly against the cool stone floor.
Wishing she'd grabbed her shawl, she shivered slightly as a draft swept down the corridor. There would be a blanket or two in the library she could curl up in once she made it there.
She froze at a sudden sound, head turning toward the staircase leading down to her right. That led down to the treasury and dungeons...what would someone be doing down there at this time of night?
Before she could decide what to do, a dark shape hurtled out of the staircase and crashed into her.
Her yell of surprise was cut off by a hand clamping over her mouth, eyes going wide as they met a pair of dark ones that looked all too familiar.
Gone was the fancy suit and red mask, now he was dressed in simple black clothes, hair no longer hidden tumbled freely into his eyes and down around his neck. Was it...pink?
A wide, toothy grin stretched above a sharp jawline, his slightly raspy voice low as he said. "Careful, princess, dangerous things lurk in the night."
His head snapped up at the sound of a guard's shout, a hiss escaping his lips as the sounds of pursuit grew closer.
Snatching the candle from where it had fallen, he snuffed it out with his fingers and then hauled Lucy to her feet, still holding a hand over her mouth as he whispered. "Stay quiet."
They stood motionless against the wall, going completely unnoticed by the couple of guards who hurried past.
Once the sounds of their footsteps could no longer be heard, he released his hold on her and flashed her another grin, displaying slightly pointed canines. "Whoo, that was a close one. Well, see ya."
"Wait!" Lucy grabbed his sleeve as he turned to go. "What in heavens name were you doing? Why did you really come here? Are you a thief? What is going on?"
He hesitated, gaze flickering over her head at the sound of more guards approaching before looking back down at her. "Listen, as much as I'd love to stay and answer all your questions, I'd rather not get caught. So you can either scream for the guards, or you can come with me."
She stared at him. "I- co- what? Are you insane! I don't even know you!"
He shrugged. "True, but that's twice now you've decided not to rat me out, which means you trust me, even if just a little. And something tells me you could use a good adventure. So what do you say?" He held out his hand, eyebrows raised questioningly.
A thousand thoughts raced through her head at once, heart pounding, body thrumming with adrenaline.
It was crazy, one hundred percent ridiculous and insane. She prided herself on her sensibility and good judgement and it was screaming a million reasons why this was a bad idea.
Before she knew it, she had taken his hand and nodded, unable to keep the smile off her face as he flashed that infectious grin at her again. And then they were running.
As she led him out of the castle through a side gate and they began to dash through the forest, still holding hands so they wouldn't lose each other in the dark, she laughed at the feeling of the wind streaming past her face, feet hardly seeming to touch the ground as she raced along.
She'd learned to fly at last.
"Ready for an adventure, princess?"
"Yes! More than anything!" She felt his grip tighten ever so slightly on her hand, the small action sending a thrill through her.
"Good!"
"Just call me Lucy, please, I never did like titles much."
He grinned. "Alright Lucy, my name's Natsu Dragneel."
She laughed again at the utter ridiculousness of the past twelve hours and squeezed his hand back. "It's nice to meet you, Natsu Dragneel."