Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, believe it or not
Edited 9 March 2015
July 6, X777
An excited, now seven year old, ran through the castle squealing. Today was her birthday. A day where everyone in the Kingdom of Fiore rejoices. All the citizens loved the little girl Lucy, and her mother, Queen Layla. Even if the king was a total jerk to his people, the only reason the citizens didn't revolt was because of the princess. She was a sign of hope for the kingdom. Before her, King Jude was a tyrant, a criminal. The day Lucy was born, the king canceled all the executions, the tax taking, and the raids on innocent people in the royal village of Crocus. Things seemed to look up from there.
"Mommy! Guess what? It's my birthday! Wake up!" An excited Lucy yelled at her sleeping mother. Layla stirred. Rubbing her eyes, she looked up at Lucy affectionately.
"Really? Already?" Layla joked. Lucy giggled at her mother.
"Of course! I am turning seven today. Don't you remember?" She asked. Layla enveloped her in a hug.
"How could I forget? My bright, shining Lucky Lucy, happy birthday!" Layla handed her a small box wrapped with a pink bow from under her pillow. Lucy quickly took it from her mother and opened it. A set of keys laid inside.
Not just any keys though. They were her mother's gate keys. Three Zodiac keys to be exact. Cancer, Taurus, and Aquarius. Lucy jumped on Layla to give her a hug.
"This is the best present ever!" Lucy exclaimed. "Thank you momma. I swear I will love them and take care of them for you!"
"Good luck, Lucy." Layla laughed. Beside her, Jude woke up.
"What is this all about?" He asked in a harsh tone.
"It's my birthday daddy!" Lucy said. She was about to hug him when he jumped out of bed in a rushed manor.
"Yeah, yeah. But you still have your lessons. Now if you excuse me, I have an important meeting to attend to." With that, he grabbed his clothes and went toward his office. Layla's nostrils flared in annoyance. Could he not be a king just for one day?
Shaking the thought out of her head, Layla turned her attention to Lucy. "Go get dressed and we can go see your friend, ok?" Lucy smiled and jumped off the bed. Keys in hand she ran to her room.
Once she was in her room, Lucy got her maid to help her open her closet. The maid, Ms. Spetto, grabbed Lucy's birthday dress and helped her put it on.
"He is going to love it!" Lucy said.
"Who is going to love it, dear?" Ms. Spetto asked.
"Natsu will silly!"
Natsu. He was Lucy's (only human) friend that her and her mother stumbled upon in the woods. He had pink hair and green eyes. Natsu always wore a scaly white scarf and his red dragon t-shirt. He had a wonderful, but hyperactive personality that made people want to be around him.
But there was something more to Lucy's fascination with him. Every time they touched hands, hugged, or when he gave her piggyback rides, she would have a warm fuzzy feeling inside. It made her feel good. Like she could do anything in the whole world if he just smiled in her general direction. His smile would light up a room and make her young heart flutter. He was so kind and funny, it was hard not to love him.
"Done!" Ms. Spetto said.
Lucy looked at her reflection in the mirror. She wore a pink sundress the color of Natsu's spiky locks. It tied around the neck. Around the edges, was lace and little red-gold rhinestones scattered along the hem and the v-neck collar. On her feet were gold gladiator sandals. She twirled around, careful enough to where her hair didn't come out of place. Courtesy of Cancer, part of her long honey blonde hair was did up in a half-up-half-down fashion with little matching jewels in her braids. The rest of her hair was left straight and down.
"This is amazing! Thank you Ms. Spetto! Thank you Cancer!"
"No problem, ebi. Happy birthday." With that note, he disappeared.
"The pleasure is all mine Miss Lucy! You look so beautiful!" The maid cried out. Lucy placed a comforting hand on her back, giggling nervously. When the maid stopped crying, Lucy dashed off to her mother who was waiting for her.
Layla had on a shimmering gold dress that showed off her slender figure. Her sleeves almost dragged on the ground. Her hair was pulled up in a high bun with little sprigs hanging down. Usually she wore her crown, but not today.
"Momma, I am ready! But can we stop by the kitchen first? One of the maids made me a secret cake so I can celebrate with Natsu," the princess asked. Layla smiled, taking her hand.
Once in the kitchen, they grabbed the small cake, a few other things and put it in a basket. After making sure Lucy's keys were with her they left through the back door.
After a while of walking, sneaking, and running, they finally made it to their meeting spot. Lucy quickly ran to the mouth of the cave in which Natsu and his "Father" Igneel live in. The cave's entrance was partially blocked by huge boulders. Gold and precious gems lined the inside wall. On the bare places, scorch marks were present, most likely from Natsu's training. It was a fitting place for her friend and his father to live, seeing as Igneel was a fire dragon.
"Natsu! Igneel! Wake up." Lucy called. In a blink of an eye and a blur of pink, Natsu pounced on her with a playful grin on his face.
"Happy birthday, Luce!" He said cheerfully. Lucy giggled.
"Aye!" Said a small voice. The voice came from Happy, the exceed. He was blue with a small green bandana on his back. White wings jutted out of his back as he flew around. The two children found his egg in the middle of the woods a few months ago. Natsu thought he was a dragon. Oh how wrong he was. Happy was far from a fearsome dragon. He was a cute, happy little cat.
"Thanks you guys!" Lucy gushed.
"Happy birthday little one." Igneel said in his rough, scratchy voice. The small girl went and put a small kiss on his snout.
"Thank you Igneel." Lucy said. Igneel's chest rumbled in a could of a dragon like purr. She giggled.
"Lucy," her mother's voice said behind her. "Show Natsu what you got for your birthday before we eat." Lucy looked over to see her mother setting out the things they brought.
The little girl mumbled an "Oh!" And pulled out her keys. Natsu stated at them like the way he looked at books. "What is it?" He said.
"Those are gate keys you idiot!" Igneel hit him with his tail. "She only talks about them every time she sees you."
"Goddamn, old man! That hurt!" Natsu bellowed. "Sorry Luce, continue."
"Thank you. Mamma got them for me! There is Cancer, Aquarius, and Taurus, who are the Zodiacs. With Hologrium, and Plue, being the silver keys." She said proudly. Natsu and Happy stared at her with smiles on their faces.
"I bet my present is better!" The pink haired Dragon Slayer yelled. "Happy go get it!"
"Aye!"
Lucy was stunned. They got her a present? Did they know they didn't have to?
A minute later, Happy ran out with a black box that had a golden bow. She was about to take it when Natsu grabbed it and put it behind his back.
"You can have it when we get done eating," Lucy pouted. "Come on!" He pulled her by her hand to the blanket.
After eating, Natsu and Lucy went off to the woods. They always played in the woods in a certain spot around the place they found Happy. When the couple got there, Natsu pulled out the box and handed it to Lucy.
She quickly opened it to reveal a necklace. The necklace consisted of a thin gold chain with a red ruby heart hanging off of the chain. Inside the heart was a small gold flame that was flickering back and forth. Turning the pendant over on her palm, she gasped at the inscription.
Natsu & Lucy July 6, x777
"I love it! Thank you." Lucy hugged him. He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist. They broke up when Happy sighed.
"Well, that makes my gift look bad."
"Why?" The kids said.
"Because my gift is a fish." Happy replied. He pulled a wrapped fish from his bandana and presented it to her. She took it and kissed him on the nose. His fur changed a weird shade of pink. Lucy giggled.
"I love it. Thank you both very much. But you didn't have to," Lucy sighed smiling.
"But we wanted to Luce!" Natsu said. "And it wasn't just us. Igneel got you a present to. Lets go get it!" With that they ran back to their parents.
Layla and Igneel watched the two children and exceed wander off into the forest. They said nothing for a while before Igneel spoke.
"How far along are you on getting Lucy on the castle?"
The blonde thought on that for a moment. "All I have to do is go to the location. It's not to far from here actually. I just hope he doesn't find us there. A little girl like Lucy doesn't need to grow up in a castle with a man who only cares about her because she is his ticket to power."
Lately King Jude has been planning something. Something bad. For the past six months he had been talking to dukes, kings from neighboring countries and rich families about marrying Lucy off. All so "The kingdom can be preserved and remain powerful for years to come". Layla thought it wasn't fair. He had no right to do that to Lucy, to his own daughter. Recently, he had become more agitated at the littlest of things. One time, Lucy was laughing with a maid. Jude almost had the maid hung.
"I agree," said Igneel. "She needs freedom. We just can't tell Natsu."
"Why?" Layla asked. She knew the first person Lucy wold turn to for comfort was Natsu.
"Because he is emotionally attached to her now. If something bad happens to her, Natsu will go ballistic. For example, he would not be against bringing down everyone who stands in between him and Lucy. The way he is thinking right now, he would do anything to protect Lucy, you, Happy, and I. Mostly Lucy."
Layla blushed.
"You can also tell he is committed to Lucy by his present. It's a ruby heart necklace with a flame inside."
"How did he get that in there?" Layla asked, amazed.
"He used an ancient spell that produces golden flames that never burn out. Golden flames are protection flames. As long as it still burns, it will protect. For it to work, the spell caster has to think of the person, or object, they want to give the flame to. Once you connect the flame to the person or object, you have to connect it to something of your own. Natsu chose the scarf I gave him. Now his scarf acts like an indicator to tell if the flame holder is in danger." Igneel explained.
"That spell sounds complicated. Though I am very thankful for his protectiveness over my daughter. She might need it in the future." Said Layla.
A minute later, a blur of blonde, pink and blue appeared. Layla noticed that Lucy had the necklace Igneel described. It was beautiful. The small flame danced around in a rhythmic pattern. The gold and red created little spots of light on the pale colored blanket.
All too soon it was time for the princess and queen to leave. Before Lucy and Layla left, Igneel handed her a red dragon scaled pouch to hold her keys. She noticed, on the back, it had a strange design on it. The symbol looked like a fairy with... A tail? Lucy shook the thought off. She would do research later. She turned to Natsu to say goodbye.
Natsu wrapped his arm around her waist. Happy took the hug position on her neck. Layla giggled and smiled sadly at the scene before her. It was adorable, but she might never get to see such a scene again.
When Layla managed to get Lucy away from Natsu, they left for the castle. It didn't take them long to reach the back door. When they got in, Lucy ran up stairs to research the mark. While Lucy was researching, she could hear the angry yells from her father and mother.
"You are becoming a monster, Jude!" her mother screamed. "The man I fell in love with would never do such a thing to his only daughter!"
"I am only thinking of what is best for our kingdom, Layla. When Lucy is older, she will understand why I am doing this." Lucy flinched at the tone her father was using with her mother. It reminded the young girl of snake venom.
"What about letting her marry her true love? Don't you think that would make her more understanding? You and I both know she will not be as understanding as you want to think she will be."
"That is because you made her that way, Layla!" Jude yelled. "Finding your "true love" almost never happens. Who knows? Maybe Prince Hollis of Bosco is her true love."
Lucy dropped the book she had in her hands. Why did he bring that prince up? She had me him once before. He was two years her senior, like Natsu. Hollis was rude and pulled her hair every time she saw him.
"If you are implying what I think you are, Jude, so help me-!" Layla was cut off.
"As of a few hours ago when you two were god-knows where, I reached an agreement with the king of Bosco. On Lucy's eighteenth birthday, she is to be married to Prince Hollis. That is final."
In that moment, Lucy felt her world start to shatter.
"YOU IDIOT!" Lucy flinched as she heard a door slam. Seconds later her mother flung open her bedroom door.
"What's going on momma? Why were you and daddy yelling?" A scared and confused Lucy asked.
"Your father made a huge mistake. We are leaving. Pack a few books and other things fast. Don't worry about clothes, I took care of that for you." Layla said. Lucy hopped down from the chair she was sitting on and grabbed a few books. She put them in a book bag with her photo album of her and Natsu, Igneel, and her mother. Lucy grabbed her key pouch and put it on her new key belt.
Layla grabbed Lucy's hand and snuck out the back. On the way out, they accidentally ran into the place guards. They dashed around the corner, into the woods.
In Igneel's cave, Natsu's scarf started to glow red. Alarmed, Igneel nudged Natsu with his nose.
"Natsu, wake up! Something is wrong. Lucy is in trouble." Igneel panicked. Natsu sprung to his feet with Happy jumping ten feet in the air.
"What happened? Are Lucy and Layla ok? Sorry Happy!" Natsu panicked.
Igneel wanted to roll his eyes at him. But decided against it. He scooped him up and headed outside. In the distance, they heard heavy feet and the sound of panting. Over to the left, Lucy and her mother jumped out of the bushes. Natsu scrambled off the dragon to hug Lucy. She ran willingly into his arms. Natsu noticed she was shaking and she smelt like salt. She was crying. Something in him felt like it had shattered into pieces. He pulled away and looked her in the eyes.
"What happened?"
"I-I was in m-my room and," she sniffed. "momma and daddy were f-fighting," a whole new set of hysterics broke out. "D-daddy said I had to marry someone I don't even like! Momma and I ran out and n-now the guards are after us!" Lucy cried out. Happy landed on he shoulders and tried to comfort her. She pulled Natsu into another hug. He rubbed small circles on her back and cooed comforting words in her ear.
Behind them, Layla paced back and forth.
"How am I going to get Lucy to our hiding place in time?! The palace guards are right on our tails, and we can't make it!" She groaned in frustration. Igneel stared at the two children in the distance, thinking. How could they get out? Surely there was a way. Maybe if they-
Snap
His thought was cut short when palace troops marched through the foliage.
"Queen Layla! Princess Lucy! You are ordered to come back to the palace at once. King Jude's orders," One solider said.
Layla shook her head defiantly. "Never."
The guards charged at the women, but were flung back by a dragon's tail. Igneel roared at a few brave soldiers who came back for revenge. Natsu was guarding Lucy and Layla with Happy's help.
"Ha ha! He's just a kid. Take him in," One of the foot soldiers laughed,
Of course, they were wrong on that part. Natsu just smirked.
"FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!"
Instantly, a group of soldiers were taken out. He grinned proudly at his roar. "Teaches them not to underestimate me!" Natsu said.
The next group that came after Natsu got the same treatment. Unfortunately, some of the people were Mages. One of them nullified Natsu's magic, making him fall to the ground.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried. She bent down and pulled him up so she could hug him. Happy wrapped his tail around Natsu's neck. The same soldier hit Igneel with a powerful attack. He roared in agony as it hit his left flank.
"Layla! Take Lucy out of here!" He yelled. Tears formed in Lucy's eyes. She couldn't leave Natsu like this.
"Lucy! Lets go. Natsu will be fine! We need to go. NOW." Layla ordered. Nodding, Lucy got up.
"Goodbye Natsu. Come find us." She whispered. As she jogged toward her mother, she heard Natsu start to mumble.
"Happy, go with Lucy. Protect her for me. I will be coming soon. Then we can all go and be happy."
"Aye sir!" Tears brimmed Happy's eyes. He hugged Natsu then flew off to Lucy.
"Happy?" Layla asked. "Can you take Lucy to the hideout for me? Lucy and call her spirit, Cancer. He knows where it is. I love you both. Now go!" Layla said. Lucy hugged her mother for the last time. She kissed her hair.
"I am going to miss you so much."whispered Lucy.
"Open, Gate of the Crab! Cancer!"
"I will protect, ebi"
"Aye sir!"
With that, they went their separate ways.
"Lucy... Happy... Layla... Igneel..."