A/N: A few quick warnings/musings/ stuff: This could get a bit messy at the end, so readers beware!
I have a bit of a soft spot for Flare. She's so cute!
Lastly, this chapter is a long one (with lotsa fluff) so settle down and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or Cinderella.
Gajeel stared on in shock, still clutching the slipper.
"What?" Gajeel gaped. Metallicana nodded sadly.
"Close your mouth, son." Gajeel gaped at his father, mouth opening and closing like a fishes'.
"How… how is that possible?" Gajeel snapped out of his shock, shaking his head.
"I-I think it's time you knew." Metallicana sat down on Gajeel's bed, suddenly looking more fatigued than the young prince had ever seen.
"Time I knew what?"
"How you came to be." the king sighed. His expression turned wistful. "Your mother… was a beautiful woman. Not only beautiful, but strong –willed and full of character. She… no, your grandfather arranged a ball to find a fiancée for me, because he hated the courtiers and their horrible daughters. He was a wise man."
Gajeel nodded, not willing to do much more.
"So he arranged a ball and it all went smoothly. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, they get married. But soon we found that your mother was barren. No matter how we tried, we never were able to have a child. And soon we grew desperate. The kingdom was whispering. We needed to produce an heir, to carry on the family line."
"We tried everything, from fertility charms to strange poisons, but nothing worked. Then, one day, your grandfather told us about an ancient power, one that might aid us. The family fairy."
"Fairy?" Gajeel looked confused. "How could a fairy help you?"
"Hush, boy!" Metallicana looked uneasy. "You do not speak ill of magical creatures! Fairies are the oldest and most powerful of the magical creatures, even more powerful than the dragons."
"We summoned the fairy successfully, and she was very generous. She said that she would grant our wish, but... she gave us a warning. She warned us about the strains of childbirth. I shrugged it off. How could someone so healthy and strong be weakened by the birth of a child? How could someone like her just… die?" Metallicana gazed away. "And that was my mistake. I was blinded by my joy. And soon my wife grew ill."
"During the pregnancy, she became weak. She wasted away. I thought she would get better, that it was just a passing phase. And still she grew weaker, sicker. And when she had you… sometimes people are not meant to have children. She died a few days later. She was too weak, the doctors said. Her body wasn't able to hold up under the strain of childbirth."
Gajeel stared. The shoe was cradled against his chest, and he set it down. "What does-how did you know that her shoe was made by magical beings? What does this have to do with Shrimp?"
"Before your mother died, the fairy came to offer her condolences. After she left, a mark appeared on your mother's forehead. A tattoo of a gold leaves appeared on her brow and her clothes changed into the finest silks and satins. No doubt that it was a product of the fairy. This shoe has the exact same mark. Right here." He reached for the shoe and poked the heel. Sure enough, there was a cluster of miniscule gold leaves right where Shrimp's tiny heel would be.
"I can tell that this was bewitched. It will only fit your, er, Shrimp." Metallicana handed the shoe back to Gajeel who took it carefully. He looked at it with awe.
"How do I find her?"
-o-o-o-
Levy looked out the tiny window in the attic. It was a nice day outside, with sunlight streaming down onto her bed. She could hear the birds chirping and feel a breeze wafting its way through her room. And it only made her feel gloomier.
The sunlight felt harsh against her face and the breeze felt unnaturally cold. The birds' twittering was getting on her nerves. She ground her face into her pillow, smothering it. After a while, she resurfaced, still feeling miserable.
She was still feeling bad about last night. For the whole night and morning she sat, musing miserably over every memory, recalling every detail. It was almost like that first night, painstakingly trying to recall every little thing, scrubbing the memory until it shined. But now she didn't polish them 'till they gleamed or add sparkles and flourishes. She analyzed them, scrutinized them, and, when they became too painful, put them away.
Why she did this, she didn't know.
Actually, she knew why.
Because she wanted to remember it all.
It was her most precious memory. One that, no matter how heartbreaking, was still dear to her.
So she went over them again.
And again.
And again.
-o-o-o-
"But-but, Your Highness!" a tiny courtier, his sleeping gown wrapped hastily around him, scurried by his side.
"What?" Gajeel ground out, clearly irritated.
"It- it's the wee hours of the morning! Surely- I mean, why is Your Highness going out so early in the morning?" he wrung his hands worriedly. Gajeel had stormed out of his room, getting ready to go find his shrimp. He ran into his man when he was rushing down the hall.
"I know that."
"Uh- Your Highness, at least wait until dawn! What could possibly be so urgent that you must go now?"
"That is of no importance to you." Gajeel growled, looking down on the man.
"Bu-" The courtier was silenced. "Very well, Your Highness."
Gajeel nodded, and strode on. The courtier vanished.
He prepared his horse, a great black stallion. After fitting his saddle, he grabbed his cloak and wrapped the slipper in his neck tie. He slipped it safely in his saddle bag, and set off.
He passed through town after town, rudely waking many but not finding his Shrimp.
After a while, he realized that the sun had risen. And yet, he didn't feel that tired.
So he knocked on more doors, awakening more and more until he came to a grand manor on the edge of the land. He trotted up the lane, taking in the grounds. By now it was about noon. He glanced around; nerves still thrumming.
He dismounted in front of the steps, tethering his horse to a finely pruned tree. He took the knocker and banged it against the door. Hard.
BOOM.
The sound shattered the silence.
After a few minutes, the door opened. Lady Angelica and her stepdaughters stood there, slightly disheveled but dressed in their finest visiting clothes. They immediately dropped down into curtsies, a planned action. No doubt they saw him there, and dressed to impress. Gajeel was not amused.
"Y-Your Highness!" Lady Angelica trilled, gasping dramatically. "What a pleasant surprise!"
Gajeel snorted. Yeah, right.
"Won't Your Highness please come in?" Lady Minerva asked, eyeing him carefully.
"No, thank you. I am here to see who fits this slipper. A young lady dropped this last night, and I wish to return it to her."
"Why, we would be delighted to!" Minerva simpered. She snatched the slipper from Gajeel, who glared at her distrustfully.
"We'll just try it on in here." Minerva cried, sweeping her mother and sisters into the house.
"Minerva! What are you doing?" Angel said sharply. Minerva eyed the slipper greedily.
"Mother, don't you see? He's the crown prince! He doesn't care who leaves their shoes lying around. He wants to know who the owner of the slipper is, because he wants to marry her. Why else would he go around, by himself, might I add, to look for a girl who left her shoe behind?" Minerva said, thrusting forward the offending item.
Angel beamed at her daughter. "Simply marvelous, Minerva, dear! Now, let's try on that slipper, shall we?" Minerva smiled but Flare looked nervous.
"But- what if he figures out?" she asked.
"He won't! Goodness, Flare, you shouldn't worry about such things!" Minerva twittered, extending her foot. "I'll try first."
Unfortunately, Minerva's pampered life had made her… larger than the average woman. To put it bluntly, she was fat. So when Angel tried to place the slipper on her foot, it wouldn't fit. Her toes were too big.
Minerva blinked and looked at her stepmother. "Mother, who shall I do?"
Angel grinned darkly. She hurried from the room, dashing into the kitchen. When she returned, Minerva gasped. She was holding a large, sharp knife.
"M-Mother? What are you doing?" Minerva cried, drawing away from her.
"Since that toe doesn't fit, why don't we cut it off?" Angel's grin turned malicious.
"But, Mother! How will I walk?" Minerva said. Her eyes were on the knife.
"When you are queen, there will be no need for walking. Silly girl!" Angel moved closer. "Now, let us get on with this, yes?"
There was a sickening fwump! and Minerva cried out. Angel quickly tied up her foot, still grinning. The toe was still on the white marble floor, blood staining the tiles.
"There, there. That wasn't so bad, was it?" Angel crooned. Flare looked on in shock, clutching her gown.
"Come, Flare. You must be there to congratulate your sister!" she beckoned to her younger daughter, who edged away in fear. "Come!" she barked.
"Y-Y-Yes, Mother…" Flare mumbled. The party shuffled towards the main entrance, Minerva limping.
"Prince Gajeel! Your mystery maiden is here!" Angel trilled, gesturing to Minerva.
"Hello, my P-Prince." Minerva whimpered. Gajeel frowned. She seemed to be in pain.
"Show me your feet, girl." he ordered. She held out her foot obediently, and he saw the slipper was becoming red-hot.
"P-Please take it off." she moaned. He reached for the shoe, and it instantly cooled. He realized her foot was wrapped. Did she have an injury?
"Wha-?" Gajeel muttered. Minerva quickly hid her foot under her skirts.
"Thank you, my Prince." she murmured, and backed away. Angel gritted her teeth.
"Please, let my other daughter try, Your Highness." Gajeel reluctantly agreed, and handed over the slipper.
The party went inside once more.
"Flare! Come here!" Angel snapped. Flare whimpered, but shuffled over. She tried the slipper on, but her heel wouldn't fit.
Angel picked up the cleaver.
"No! No, Mother, please, don't do this!" Flare begged, tears streaming down her face. "Please, please, Mother, NO!"
She screamed, but it was too late. Angel had chopped off her heel. Flare sobbed, clutching her foot and curling up on the floor.
Angel placed a handkerchief over the maimed body parts. She wrapped Flare's foot and shoved her outside.
Gajeel glared. Why did these girls look so miserable? The first one had an injury, the second one was crying.
"May I see your foot?" Gajeel asked. Again, her foot was wrapped, and he could see blood seeping through the fabric.
"Well, Your Highness? Is she your maiden?" Angel asked hopefully.
"No." Flare looked both relieved and disappointed. "Are there any other maidens in this house?" Gajeel asked.
"No, there are not! Good-by, young prince!" Angel ground out.
Flare, who was holding the slipper, exclaimed. "Blue-hair!"
Gajeel froze. Blue-hair? He turned.
"Blue- no, Levy!" Flare cried. "What about her?"
"Bring her down." Gajeel ordered.
The door burst open. Gajeel's jaw dropped. And she was there.
-o-o-o-
Levy stiffened. What was he doing here? She saw him pull up and tether his horse to Angel's favorite cherry tree. Now she was laying on her bed, shaking. She heard him bang the knocker against the door with a loud boom.
Why? She was shaking now, from fear or anger or sadness, she didn't know. But he was here!
And then, from her window, she saw him take her shoe out of his saddle-bag. She inhaled sharply, clutching her chest. So she cracked her window open to listen in.
"-r Highness! What a pleasant surprise!" she could hear Angel twittering around Gajeel and then they went inside to try on her shoe. She scurried down the hall, and heard that Angel, the sick woman, trying to cut off Minerva's toe. She succeeded, and Levy pressed a hand to her mouth in horror.
They came back inside. Apparently, Angel wanted Flare to try on the slipper, too. But before she could see the outcome (and what body part Flare would lose), a hand pressed over her mouth.
"Mmmphf!" she cried, flailing.
"Hush, Levy!" Mira whispered from behind her, removing her hand.
"Mira?!"
"Yes. We're here to help you." Mira smiled, and Levy saw Lucy and Lisanna behind her. Levy smiled. Then, a woman materialized in front of her. She had pink hair and looked older than, say, Mira or Lucy, yet she had an ageless aura. Levy gasped.
"You're the spice lady!" she exclaimed. (A/N: Remember waaay back in Chapter 2 when Levy was in the market and bought paprika from a pink-haired old lady who swatted her with her broom?)
"Shhh! Hush, child! Do you really want your… caretakers to know you're here?" the woman asked, sniffing.
"But- huh?" Levy tilted her head, confused. "I… don't understand."
"Mirajane! I thought you said she was sharp!" the woman grumbled, dusting off her robes. "Well, what are you waiting for? Introduce me!"
"A-ah, yes." Lucy took over. "Levy, this is Miss Porlyusica, current patron of Fiore. Porlyusica, this is Lady Levy, Lady Levy McGarden."
"I'm not a-" she began.
"Your father was a lord, yes?" Lucy asked kindly.
"Yes, but-"
"Then you are a lady." she said it with the finality of a judge, and Levy nodded slowly.
"How do you do?" Levy felt it was appropriate, so she curtsied and bowed her head respectfully.
"How do you do." Miss Porlyusica remained stock still and looked at her with a critical eye. "Yes, she will do. Now, let's hurry up! I hate humans." she added under her breath.
I will do? For what? Levy thought, bewildered, but suddenly Lisanna was guiding her into a spare bedroom.
"Now, we must hurry! We haven't got all day, you know." the goddess smiled and led Levy to the bed. "Let's get to work."
Within the space of a few seconds, Levy's too-small servant's gown was replaced with the enchanted gown from the night before, and the one slipper she kept was placed on her foot. Her hair was done up and a white silk ribbon held back any loose strands. Long, creamy white gloves adorned her hands and the filigree mask settled on her face.
"Come, Levy. We mustn't keep Gajeel waiting." Porlyusica nodded approvingly, then swept out of the room, Levy on her heels.
Within instants, they had walked to the main entrance, and she could hear Flare insisting that Levy come out, to try on the shoe. The marble felt cold under her bare foot. Her skirts rustled, and she smoothed out any non-existent wrinkles, heart pounding.
BANG! The heavy oak wood doors flew open with a flick of Porlyusica's wrist. The pink haired woman- no, goddess, stood tall, almost regally. She bowed low to Gajeel, and looked him in the eye.
"I introduce Lady Levy McGarden." It was all she said, yet, in that moment, every being was silent and still.
"Gajeel."
-o-o-o-
His heart stopped.
"Levy."
Slowly, but surely, she walked over to him.
"I am here to try on that slipper."
"Of course." He procured the item and bent low.
She slipped her foot in. It fit perfectly. He headed to the back of her head, and gently, gently, untied her mask. Her eyes were large and brown.
Gajeel was taller than she remembered, and his face was lined with studs. They seemed scary, yet… it made her want to reach up and touch them.
They both gave each other shy smiles.
"My Princess."
"My Prince."
"Let's go."
"Alright. Where to?"
"To the castle." Gajeel grinned, happy that she was here in his arms.
"To the castle, then." she grinned back, but she wobbled a bit. Her sleepless night was finally catching up to her. To her surprise, he flung her over her shoulder.
"Been 'bout time." He tossed her onto his horse, and she smiled. His way of showing affection, huh?
"And you said princes don't sweep maidens off their feet." She mumbled, clinging to him sleepily.
"Shaddup."
"He's grown." Porlyusica murmured. "It's been so fast. Look after him, Silvia."
And they rode off towards the castle.
A/N: So apparently Gajeel's mother's name is Silvia. Like silver…? (w) Man, I've got too much time on my hands…
Oh man, this is sooo long… almost 3K(!) words… Also, since fairies and goddesses are deemed 'unreal' different people call them by different names. Sorry about any confusion.
This is almost the end, so look out for one more chappie!
Thank you to AlexuPenguin, FairyTailLover2013, Jade, Lexie and the anime, BambooGreen, Maiokoe, Firefly in the Mist, hjbickel, MakeitHale, , nightmarerabbitalice, Fred and George Weasley Twins, and waterinacan for reviewing!
Okay, here's our shout-outs!
Hello, nightmarerabbitalice! I made Lucy and Lisanna be dead, because 1) I really wanted them to be goddesses/fairies, and 2) I'm not a NaLu or NaLi ffn writer, so I decided to be neutral. In my next story, I'm taking suggestions, so pitch your ships to me there!
Dear Fred and George Weasley Twins: Thank you for your kind (and very enthusiastic) review! I seriously like your stories, and I think everyone should get a shout-out once in a while. One of my favorite authors shout-outed me and I was freakin' out too, soooo… Here you go! Seriously. Write more.
Super Special Shout-Out goes to ,for having an awesome name.
That's all for now! Catch you later!
Miss Quiet Writer