Here you go. Enjoy.

Chapter 2

Natsu POV

As I walked through the forest with this blonde beauty slung somewhat carelessly on my shoulder, I couldn't help but take in her alluring sent of vanilla and cherry blossoms. Igneel why does this girl know you? Does she have to do with your disappearance?! While unanswered questions flooded my mind, I suddenly felt dizzy and had to lean against a tree for support. Using all of that magic power had finally taken its toll. I was exhausted. I definitely underestimated this girl, she posses insane power. I decided to find a place to camp out for the night since no doubt she'll be just as tired as me when she wakes. I set her down and leaned her back against a tree. I gazed at her porcelain face and saw how calm and blissful she looked. As if on cue she slowly started to stir awake. When her eyes finally opened we both looked each other eye to eye, dark onyx to chocolate brown. And then the next thing I knew I was flying into a tree destroying it and rolling across the ground.

Lucy POV

When I opened my eyes it took a minute for me to adjust to the lighting, it was dusk if I had to guess. Then I see these strong, mesmerizing, onyx orbs staring into mine. And I remembered what happened the kingdom, the intruder, and the fight. That's right I lost. But that must mean that those onyx orbs belong to the intruder, or should I say my kidnapper. In a split second with all my strength I had left I sent him soring. I shakily stood up, using the tree to balance myself. I am in so much pain. My limbs throbbed and my head was pounding, but I put on a bold face. When he got I got into a fighting position.

"Why did you take me? Why didn't you just kill me? What did you do to my kingdom?" I said the thought of him putting my entire home up in flames scared me.

"Stop asking so many questions that's literally all you've done. Right now I'm asking the questions, but to answer your last one I didn't do anything with you kingdom."

"Thank the Heavens." I sighed in relief.

"First what's your name?" He asked and slowly approached me. I stood strong, or at least made a valiant effort to, and said, "My name is Lucy Michelle Heartfilia I am the Queen of Crocus the kingdom of flowers." I said.

"Your queen?! But your so…young! Wait, how old are you?!" I sweat dropped at this he had a pretty childish reaction, but I couldn't help but find it cute. I mentally slapped myself for that. How could you think something like that? He is the ENEMY.

"I'm 17 years old." I said and lowered my defenses, starting to feel a little more relaxed.

"17, huh? Well that's only a year younger than me." He said with a toothy smile. "But on a more serious note, how do you know Igneel?" And just like that his smile fell and was replaced by a stern face. He was now right in front of me.

"What makes you think I know him." I said.

"I saw your face when I mentioned his name before we fought." He replied still just as serious.

"What face?" Deny, deny, deny. I thought and mentally smirked.

"I'm not stupid. Tell me what you know about him, now."

"I don't know anything about some big dragon." I said.

He smirked, "I never said Igneel was a dragon."

Shit. "So what if I know him that doesn't mean I'm going to tell you." It was then he started getting physical. He pushed me up against the tree and I winced, I was still sore. He got dangerously close.

"Listen up girl, you are my prisoner and I have been searching for him for 7 long years and all I want is to ask him why he left me and you are the first lead I've had in a long time, so you will tell me where he is, got it!" he said. This side of him frightened me.

"What was he to you, if I may ask?" I asked. I really didn't want to anger him anymore than I already had and I could tell Igneel really means something to him.

"He was my father, well, adopted father. He taught me dragon slaying magic and gave me a home and a happy childhood. But he left me 7 years ago and I still don't know why." He said with a sad smile.

I looked at him for a while and then sighed. "Is there a place where I can freshen up around here? I'm absolutely filthy and when I explain how I know Igneel I'd prefer to be clean." And just like that his face lit up with joy.

"I'm pretty sure there's a lake around here, a little ways west if I'm right. I'll take you there!" He said with a smile.

"Thank you, Natsu." I said.

Natsu POV

It's been an hour since I left her at the lake. I made dinner and I really didn't know when she would be done so I went to look for her. When I reached the lake I didn't see her at first. What if she tricked me and escaped! With that thought in my mind I felt like an idiot, but then I saw her emerge from under the water. Her skin smooth and glossy from the water. She didn't see me because she continued to wash herself. She's so beautiful, like a…goddess. I couldn't bring myself to take my eyes off of her. This is wrong I need to go, what's with me why can't I move?! I stepped back and incidentally crushed a twig. It cracked and she quickly covered her body and turned to my direction.

"Who's there?" She said. Thanks to my quick reflexes I managed to get behind a tree.

"Must've been an animal." She said to herself. That was close. I said and hurried back.

In a few minutes she joined me, looking refreshed.

"Hello." She said.

"Are you hungry I made some food." I offered her a bowl of stew. And she gladly accepted it.

"Thank you. Sooooo I'm guessing you want to hear my story now?" She asked.

"Please I really need to find him." I pleaded.

"Okay, It happened 7 years ago, I was 10 and I wasn't doing so well with my training that day, because it was her birthday…"

xxFlashbackxx

It was a lovely, warm spring evening and in the training ground of the castle stood a sad girl being lectured by an uptight man.

"Young lady if you can not master a simple attack such as that than you are not strong enough to be queen." He scolded.

"Mommy says it's not the power of a person that makes them strong, but how they treat others and how big their heart is." The little girl says.

"First of all Princess Lucy, you must have proper grammar you are royalty so say what mommy used to say, since she is dead-"

"SHE'S NOT DEAD!" Lucy yelled cutting the man off.

"Miss Lucy that is not how a young lady acts, it is time to stop being a child and become a suitable queen for you kingdom and to come to terms with you mother's death!" he hollered back.

"No! Mommy is just up helping to protect the stars with the king of the spirits, that's where all the queens go!" She yelled and ran away. Where? Not even she knew.

***3 hours later***

Lucy found herself on top of a grassy mountain on a rock crying. Suddenly she heard whirling winds above her, looking up she saw a massive beast, a dragon! It landed on the mountain just feet away from her. She nervously stepped away and the dragon looked at her.

"Hello there, young one." He said, his voice calm and kind. "What brings a little girl like you all the way out here?" She just stared wide-eyed at the magnificent creature in front of her.

"I…Um…Well." She couldn't seem to speak she was so shocked.

"AHAHAHAHA, oh dear child there's no need to be so frightened. How old are you?" He asked.

"I'm 10 years old sir." She answered timidly

"My name is Igneel, child, what is yours?" he asked still so kind and happy. This calmed Lucy down.

"My name is Lucy Heartfilia, I am the Queen of Crocus, well, Queen in training." She said.

"A Queen. Well, well where are my manners." The dragon said and bowed, "Your Majesty." Lucy giggled and curtsied. "May ask why you are up here." Lucy's smile wavered and slowly became a frown.

"I ran away, because they keep saying she's dead, but she isn't, she isn't really dead!" She then started to cry.

"Who's not really dead?" Igneel asked with concern.

"My Mommy, the real queen. She had to go up to help protect the stars. That's where all the queens go, with the king of the spirits." Lucy said, still sniffling.

"I see and who is trying to tell you that she's dead?"

"That mean old fart that's training me in the magic arts. He keeps telling me that I'm foolish and that I need to grow up."

"Well if you ask me that 'old fart' needs to have some fun once in a while."

"Yeah…"Lucy stilled looked pretty sad. Igneel looked at her with empathy and crouched down his massive head next to her petit body.

"Why do all the queens go up to protect the stars?" he asked.

"Because the stars are where the queens get their power to protect the kingdom and a lot of people want that power. So since the stars give that power to us the queens decide you protect them in return." She explained, somewhat mesmerized by her own words, "But no one believes me when I tell them that they always say the same thing, 'Oh really, that's nice,' or 'That's nice, whatever you want to believe.'" She said.

"I see…Well Lucy, do you believe in those words?" he asked.

"Of course I do! Its what my mommy always said and she was the greatest queen." She said with absolute certainty.

"So you only believe in it because it is what your mother said, or you believe in it yourself." Lucy thought for a moment.

"I believe in it because the stars are nice enough give us their power so we should do something nice in return by protecting them. And I think that's what my mommy thought too so that's why she's up there now." She said.

" Good, than why should what anyone else says matter to you or waver the way you think and view your mother. Keep thinking the way you do Lucy and never lose faith in three things: 1. The people who believe in you. 2. Your mother. 3. And yourself child." He said instantly making her feel better. The girl jumped on his snout hugging him.

"Thank you, Igneel." She said shedding new tears of happiness from her eyes.

Igneel went over to a large boulder. "Watch this Lucy." With one blow he smashed the rock into a million pieces. He picked up a piece that was, dirty brown with what seemed like red, fiery swirls. He put it in his hand and made a fist, putting it up to his mouth and looking up. And in seconds, fire spewed out. Lucy was aw-struck. When he was done, he opened his claw for Lucy to see a beautiful heart necklace, that was silver and shiny.

"For you." He gave her the necklace.

"Its so beautiful, thank you Igneel, I'll never take it off." She gleamed.

"That is good child I'm glad you like it. I afraid that this is goodbye though, I'm heading to a place called Anguis Saltus. I am very glad I met you your majesty." And just like that Igneel took off flying away.

"Goodbye Igneel! I'll never forget you!" she yelled after him.

xxEnd Flashbackxx

Lucy finished her story and showed Natsu the heart necklace.

"He headed north. I can only assume that's where Anguis Saltus is."

"Thank you." He said and suddenly hugged her. She patted him on the back and smiled.

"I hope you know that since you've already kidnapped my that I'm going with you." She smirked.

"Wait-What?! But-" He said now looking at her in the eye.

"No 'buts'" He smiled at her and it only grew as he held out his hand and scratched the back of is head.

"Than I guess this means we're partners." Lucy smiled and took his hand.

"Partners."

Just so you know Anguis Saltus is Dragon Mountain in Latin. Thanks for reading!