Lucy's POV
I believe this situation has countless outcomes that I should contemplate. But why can't I? Oh right, I was assigned the role of Yanderica. I was the princess in this play. That wouldn't matter much, but my prince is no prince. Erza was to play my lover in the play. Frederick. What could possibly go wrong? I faint from embarrassment. The kiss we share on the stage turns out to be a disappointment. I get into it and she doesn't and that gives me away. If it gives me away she could be disgusted. Or this could be what gives me a chance.
Elegance took place in her as we rehearsed. She sparkled! She had the elegance only a book character written by a romanticizing writer could create. So let me describe…
Act 2, Scene 5 is where this magic took place. We approach the climax.
I dangle a few feet off the ground, helpless and needing a hero like every damsel in distress does need. Frederick has found where his love does dwell. The first of the men of Siegheart is Julius. It is the first test of Frederick's love and ability.
Erza took for a bit of showmanship, her sword given a twirl at her hip with a nimble wrist before she lunged again at Gray. "I will not leave without my love!" Erza hissed as she blocked a hit, twisting her sword and pushing Gray back. This was all a practiced dance to her. She knew the way to move and yet she showed struggle. That was just her character that struggled.
"Ah! But here you struggle at the first step!" Gray kicked her back and swung his sword. "She will be ours to keep! Her father's kingdom will belong to me and my monster!"
Erza exaggerated her breath, though it wouldn't be a surprised if her breath did turn to panting due to her chest bound during this dress rehearsal. "I…will not leave without her. Either we both get out or I die trying to give her freedom." She looked up from the floor, for she acted slumped. Her weight rested on the sword she had. It was a rapier with a blue blade and a golden handle. I saw her profile, the sharp features, and her eyes glinted with power and dedication. The character suited her, for she was a true knight in shining armor.
"I suppose it will be the latter." Gray walked over to her and raised his sword. The clear blade whizzed through the air only to be stopped before it got a hit in. Erza had blocked, her blade turned so the edge hit Gray's sword, slicing the ice and shattering it.
"Not now. I will not die here! Not when my princess awaits me so far from here." Erza gave an exaggerated swing, missing Gray but he goes down with a cry. It looked real to the audience.
"You'll s-see that you should go back…if you get a brain before you're killed by that monster!" He fell to the ground and lights went down.
It goes to her fighting Natsu in a dragon costume. She ducks flames and eventually gets a hit through the back of the dragon. The dragon was Seigheart. Natsu complained that not all dragons were evil plotters.
Erza scaled up to a ledge to take the risking leap to hook the rope I dangled from, her weight triggering the pulley to move down until we were on the ground. "My princess…"She breathed and cut me loose.
"Oh, Frederick, thank heavens you found me!" I hug to her. It was nice to have a hug from Erza without her armor. She felt soft and warm. Her skin smelled like vanilla and was warm. Her gloves were smooth velvet and brushed my neck.
"You're safe now, Yanderick." She grabbed my chin and tipped my head up. "Safe to be my queen now."
"Prince Frederick…If this was a ploy to become the king—"
"I didn't you save you to get the throne; I saved you for love. I love you, Yanderica. I wish for you to be mine. I will be loyal to you if you take my proposal."
"But I-"
"Need another reason? Do I have to prove it that I want you to mine and mine alone?" Erza's voice was smooth and she fell into her character all too naturally. The way she looked at me so adoringly made me blush. "Take this to heart and know you're the only woman with my love." She grabbed my chin, tipping my head up. Even in heels, I was shorter than her. I had always been shorter.
She was going to kiss me; it was something written in that we had never really done while rehearsing, but now it was a dry run of what we would perform for the public. I had been looking forward to it. I hoped that this would be what could bring Erza back to her full memory; bring my knight back to me. It would be a real kiss…but we were cut off. "No kiss!" Labian shouted.
"What!?" I screech, breaking character.
"Lucy…"Erza stepped back, shocked by my outburst. "You alright?"
"Hmph!" I huffed and looked aside. "If we've never kissed before the performance, it'll be awkward."
"I'm preserving the passion and shock for the performance. It's their first kiss ever. Better is that you two have not kissed each other." That is not the case, though! At least not for me, I have already had the butterflies of a first kiss. Now, what feelings I had were the anticipation of a reuniting one.
"I'm fine with waiting until our performance tomorrow night." Erza looked down at me. "It will add to the moment. Okay?" She grins. "I mean we've worked so hard. Let's give it our all!"
"Okay…"I smile weakly.
Erza's POV
The night of opening night came upon us quickly. Before I knew it we were dressing to go on stage. Lucy was already in place but I still was slipping into the layered outfit I had.
"You nervous about the kiss?" Gray asks as he buttons up his jacket.
My fingers fumbled as I tried to button my jacket. "O-oh…the kiss?" I squeak out.
"I mean, it's obvious you've never been kissed." He makes a face at his outfit as he looks in the mirror.
"What would you know!? I've been kissed before!" I cut a glare at him.
"With who?" He looks at me. He shrinks once he sees my expression.
"Not your damn business." I punch his arm.
He cringes in pain. "Ah! Fine." He steps out.
I nervously run my fingers through my hair, pulling it back before trying it in a black ribbon. I stare in the mirror. "I am going to kiss Lucy." I blink and sink down onto a stool. "Oh my god…why is my heart racing?" My breath feels quick. "I'll feel her lips against mine…holy crap!" I rest my weight on the vanity. "But the only other kiss I've gotten was over a decade ago. She'll hate the way I kiss." I pause. "Why does it matter!? W-why am I so worried about kissing Lucy? It's Lucy." I grin slightly. "It's Lucy…"
I hear someone tapping at the door. "It's time to get into places!" Labian called.
"Okay!" I sigh. I slip my scabbard into my belt and go to my place. You're going to kiss Lucy… My mind whispered. My blood goes cold and I feel clammy.
I step out onto the stage. I have a line…wait, what's my line? I am blanking out! My legs tremble.
I hear whispers from backstage. "She forgot her lines!" I hear people murmuring in the crowd. They want to see this entire performance. They want to see the kiss. A kiss between Lucy and I!
The show was a disaster from there.
"I can't believe I got stage fright!" I lament.
"It was a disaster!" Cana chuckled.
"Lucy said you did so well during rehearsals," Mira pointed out. "What happened?"
"W-well…we were supposed to kiss for the first time during the opening night." I blush and gulp from the drink Mira placed in front of me. I ignore the burning, just happy the alcohol allows my head to stop buzzing.
"You were afraid to kiss her?" Mira giggled. "Oh Erza, you're hopeless!"
"Have you even kissed anyone?" Cana poured into my glass from her barrel of liquor.
"Once…but I was six years old and it was a little peck," I confess. I gulp down my second drink.
"Woo! Little Erza was getting it." Cana slaps my back. I cut a glare at her.
"What was the girl's name?" Mira smiles at me.
"Don't remember," I hiccup. I slam my cup on the bar. "I should've kissed Lucy!"
"She's already reached where she taps out," Cana mused.
"I'm gonna kiss her!" I get up. "I failed to do it on stage, I'm gonna do it now. I gotta prove it to myself and to my adoring fans."
"Maybe you should wait until you're sober," Mira told me.
"Silence peasant!" I stumble out. "A princess waits."
Lucy's POV
Dear mom,
I guess this last job was not the worst the team has faced. Yet, I feel humiliated and angered. The entire thing was a disaster. We ended up destroying the theater. Erza had also forgotten her lines. That led to her failing to kiss me. I was looking forward to that kiss.
I tap my pen against the paper. A slam against my door stopped my train of thought.
"Coming!" I call and quickly get up. I open the door just to have Erza push my back in. Her cheeks were flushed but her eyes gleamed with determination and…rage? Oh god, what was going to happen?
"Lucy, I fucked this up." She hugged me close. I could smell cheap booze on her breath.
"What do you mean? And you're drunk, Erza…" I try to get out of her grip, but she, of course, is too strong for me to overpower.
"I got nervous and ruined the show!" She slurred. She pushed me to my bed. Oh god, what is she planning?
"Don't punish yourself over that. A lot of things went wrong," I reassure, hoping that'll call her off. I start to sit up.
"We didn't kiss!" She pushes me back onto the bed and gets on top of me.
"Eh? It…it doesn't matter." I try to push her off.
"You wanted to kiss," she pointed out.
"What!?" I blush and look around for help. Now would be the perfect time for Natsu to break in. "I didn't! I mean…I didn't dread it, but I wasn't looking forward to it! No! I mean, we're friends and not lovers."
"Still, I feel bad. My princess didn't get a kiss." She leans over my face and her eyes gaze at my lips. She's really going to do it!
"Your…princess…."I look away bashfully.
"Yes, for I'm a knight," she growled, almost sounding angry. She gripped my chin and her eyes were locked onto mine, freezing me in place.
"You're drunk…it isn't right if you kiss me," I warn.
"This is the only way I have the bravery to kiss you." She was afraid to kiss me? Titania herself was afraid of a little kiss? Well, I was blinded by anticipation. I would be afraid too if I hadn't had the memories that she had lost. She then paused. "Will this be your first kiss?"
"No." I shake my head. "Just do it."
"Who am I to reject a princess?" She leans down close. I scrunch up my nose at the smell of alcohol on her breath. I have a feeling Mira and Cana had to with Erza's current state.
My eyes flutter closed as I hear her breath slightly catch as she is about to kiss me.
Suddenly I felt her weight rest on me entirely. "Ow! Erza!" I push her off and see her eyes were closed. She curls up on the bed. "She fell asleep!" I huff and sit back. I sigh and cover her up with the comforter. "Maybe...it's best." I lean down and kiss her brow. "Goodnight, Zaza." I crawl into bed with her, basking in her body heat and attempting to get past the alcohol on her breath to smell the sweat and steely smell of her skin.
I couldn't pass up writing for this part of the series. It was the episode that made me ship them, after all. Putting a yuri couple into a fairy tale structure is my life-blood.
-He Fell for Fiction