A/N: I'm sorry for the wait everyone ._. my summer has been busy and the heat has been knocking out our power constantly D: but here's the new chapter and for everyone who has been asking...Natsu is getting ready to appear.
Lucy could hardly believe a few months had passed since she had been here. It really didn't seem like that much time had passed for her until she sat on her bed, recollecting everything that happened. Igneel and she had happily welcomed in the New Year with the help of Virgo, but the New Year had also brought in a new set of princes. The princess was positive that they all had something in common, besides being mages; they were all a giant annoyance. Almost all of them had come out to be perverts in her eyes from the tiny old man, who could miraculously grow in size, to the man who used his type of magic that had to do with smoke. All of them had been huge turn offs for her.
She was really happy when Igneel had sent all of them away. The dragon had kept his word to her about not killing any of them, though she had feared his battle with the tiny old man whose name escaped her. He almost had Igneel down for the count when she had to go with her same plan she had used on Laxus. She would never be able to live down all the things she had done to save that dragon and her own personal love life. Sighing, she turned over on her back, grabbing at Leon.
There was one prince that had stuck out to her however. The prince's name had been Hibiki. Something about him, she wasn't sure why reminded her of a friend she once had back at the castle. For all she knew it could have been his hair since they both were orange head's, but she couldn't allow Igneel to hurt him in anyway. As much as the boy had come off as sweet, she always didn't want him to kill Igneel as well so the prince was eventually sent away. As she sat here thinking, she wondered had she done the correct decision? He had seemed like a decent prince after all. The only problem they had was…..Igneel.
Yes Princess?
Oh nothing, she sighed. She had been blocking him from her mind for a while now after the event. She hadn't wanted to cause the dragon to fret over her. I guess I thought out loud for a moment.
You've been acting very strange lately, Igneel replied. You're beginning to become even more of a weirdo than I thought.
I am not a weirdo! She stopped when she heard the dragon chuckling in her head and smiled. Leave it to the giant lizard to break my train of though.
I am not a lizard!
Are too…or are you just related to them?
There's no relation between dragons and lizards at all!
Lucy began to laugh at this only for Igneel to finally join in. It felt good to at least live a life with no problems to bother her. Igneel was becoming such good company now she really didn't care if a prince would show up to rescue her after. Suddenly she heard a rumble come from Igneel which caught her attention. She knew that rumble of his too well and prepared herself for their minds to merge, her arms still holding tightly onto Leon, she closed her eyes. When she opened them again she could see Igneel nose billowing with smoke. This wasn't like him at all. Normally the dragon would wait calmly for his opponent.
What's wrong Igneel?
It's a prince, he replied, annoyance easily detected in his voice. But his scent….it smells so familiar. I can't figure it out.
It isn't Laxus is it? Lucy asked in alarm.
No….I would never forget that stench. The dragon clenched his teeth together, gazing out as a figure appeared the bridge. His tail swished back and forth against the ground, stirring up dust. Lucy began to focus her sight on the man as he made his way across the bridge. As he came closer her eyes soon grew wide in alarm and she gasped. She did know this man! But, she didn't understand why he of all people would be here. At once, Igneel sensed her anxiety. What is it Princess?He demanded.
That boy…..it's….Lucy couldn't bring herself to say his name because she couldn't believe it was true. As he continued his way over everything began to add up and she began to be swept with a wave of terror. How could any of this be happening? He had the spiky strawberry blonde hair; the glasses to hide his black iris; and he even wore his black suit with a matching red tie. Loke….Why are you here?
Loke...Igneel echoed the name between them. He gazed at the prince as he was getting closer. Princess, what's wrong with him being here?
It's….nothing Igneel. We just grew up in the castle together. There was a brief moment of silence. Suddenly, Lucy felt her senses beginning to slip away from Igneel's. A feeling of panic began to overwhelm her. This had never happened before between them. Was it some kind of magic that was breaking their connection? Igneel!
Relax, Princess. I'm letting you go.
Lucy's eyes grew wide in shock. But why?
This boy is a friend of yours right? I wouldn't want to watch two of my nakama fight.
I never said anything like that!
You're emotions spoke clearly! Besides, you'd be nothing but a distraction for me.
Igneel! Lucy yelled as she found herself back in her room.Igneel! Answer me damn it! She raced over towards the balcony window, seeing that Loke had finally made his way in front of Igneel. She wasn't sure what ticked her off more. The fact Loke could show his face or that Igneel was blocking her out. Just don't do anything stupid you two. Letting out a sigh, she walked back to her bed. Despite what she thought, Igneel was right. She could never bring herself to watch the two of them.
I'm afraid this is where you'll have to stop.
Loke looked up into the eyes of the dragon. He chuckled, shifting his glasses into their correct position on his face before sticking his hands in his pockets. "Stop here?" he echoed. "But isn't this the castle that contains Princess Lucy Heartfilia?"
That it does, Igneel growled. But I'm afraid she doesn't wish to see you.
"Well, I'm afraid I can't just leave. You see, she's an old friend and I highly doubt she wouldn't want to see me, but if the only way for me to see her is to defeat you, then I guess we will have to go with that solution."
Igneel narrowed his eyes at the mage. Something was different about this man in particular; he just couldn't figure it out. He snorted in annoyance. Don't get so cocky! Fire Dragon's Roar! Igneel opened his mouth and released a brilliant stream of fire from his mouth. As it headed towards his opponent, it grew into the shape of a large fireball.
In response, Loke bent his right arm, while clutching the bicep that belonged to that arm, with his left hand and began to raise the other fist into the air. He then began to move both of his arms in a circular motion as a magic seal began to appear. "Regulus Blast!" he called as he placed both of his hands together and began sending a large beam of light towards the fiery stream. The two collided, causing the two attacks to stop and cause a small explosion. He smirked as he heard a growl of annoyance escape Igneel. "Now do you really want to continue this? I can easily match any of your dragon attacks."
I'm not going to let you get to the Princess so easily! Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade! Igneel opened his mouth to release a series of flames yet again. As they struck out at his enemy they began to take on the shape of a blade. This time the prince took his stance again, his body engulfing in a large amount of light before being released and shot at the flames, striking them down with ease and causing them to dismantle. Igneel stared at shock. No one has ever been able to wipe out an attack like that before.
"I told you," Loke sighed, standing back up again. "I can easily defeat you. Now just let me go to the Princess."
The dragon stubbornly shook his head. I cannot allow it. I can sense something isn't right with the Princess.
"Then it'd be in my best effort to see her."
Over my damn body! Igneel let out a growl before allowing his whole body to ignite into flame. At once, he flapped his wings and headed straight towards Loke. Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!
"This is getting ridiculous," Loke muttered. He stood his ground, waiting for the dragon to approach even closer before his fist began to be covered in a large mass of light. It then began to take on the shape of a large vertical elongated oval. "Regulus Punch!" He waited as Igneel's head was in just the right reach before punching the dragon upside the head. The blow landed swiftly, causing the dragon's attack to cancel and sent him flying backwards. Loke glared at the beast before him, glowering in annoyance before pushing up his glasses. Igneel wasn't moving and it looked like he had already made his win. "I told you to just let me go."
Looking around the boy spotted the entrance of the tower. Heading inside, he came across the nearby staircase that would led him up to the room of the princess he was looking for. A smile came to his face and began to make his way up only to stop in his tracks. Something wasn't. He could feel a heavy tension in the air and the humidity….it was as if it had gotten hotter.
Lightning Flame Dragon's Roar!
Before Loke could move, the large and destructive sparkling blast hit him full blow. A large amount of light lit up the area as it hit. Once the attack finished, the prince struggled back to his feet only to see Igneel flying towards him at a break necking speed and following him inside the tower. Loke gasped in astonishment. The dragon's wings were engulfed in flames, an attack Loke hadn't seen before. Taking on his stance from before, Loke held up his arm and called on an intense light to surround the area. This caused Igneel to stop in his tracks, blinding him for a few. Loke took this opportunity and began punching the dragon again. Igneel quickly recoiled, striking the man with a flaming claw. Loke flew back but caught himself as he landed, using his hand as support.
"I've had enough of this!" Loke snapped. He began taking his stance again as Igneel landed a few yards away. Light began gathering at the prince's palm and he suddenly rushed forward to punch the beast before him. "Regulus Impact!"
Lightning Flame Dragon's Brilliant Flame! Igneel growled, releasing a large crackling fireball from his mouth. It was a giant sparkling mixture of flame and lightning. As it collided with the prince's fist, the boy's attack became that of a lion's head. The forces created yet another explosion in their wakes. Igneel snorted in annoyance, panting from all his exertion. Taking on the lightning within him was power draining indeed. I never knew a human could have so much power.
"Everyone isn't what you expect them to be," Loke replied calmly.
I only know the feeling too well…
Loke blinked in confusion. What had the dragon come across before? "Just let me take the princess away from so she'll be happy and I promise no harm will come to you."
I cannot let that happen!
"Then you're foolish!"
The boy rushed forward yet again. He knew if he used the right attack he could finish this completely. However, the sight before him wasn't what he was expecting. Igneel was glowing with something he had never seen before but he could feel an eerie amount of power coming off of him. The dragon easily struck him away with a swipe of his claws, flying over to hold him down to the ground. The prince let out a gasp at how the dragon's speed had suddenly increased. He knew for sure the animal had been weaken on the verge of collapse. He struggled for a few as the dragon opened his mouth and a fireball began to form from it only to stop. Loke stared up in astonishment.
"Why did you stop?" Loke demanded.
The Princess wished for me to never kill, Igneel muttered. As much as I want to dispose of you there is something about you that I do not understand about you and the Princess.
"That's none of your concern."
Well I do know you hold something within her! The dragon snorted, blowing a plume of smoke from his nostrils. The prince let out a cough but the dragon paid it no attention. Listen to me and listen to me well. I'll give you two offers and you can only choose between one. It is for the sake of the Princess.
Loke glowered up at the animal as it held him captive before quickly looking away in annoyance. It was no use for him to struggle against it completely knowing that the animal could easily kill him by applying just a little more of its weight onto its paws and crush him easily. Glancing back up at the beast, his eyes widen at the emotion he could see within the dragon's very own. The burning passion of what seemed to be pleading captured him; never had he thought he saw a look coming from a dragon appear so…..human. "Very well, dragon," Loke sighed.