Bad news. School is restarting. Please read A/N at the bottom.
"What do we do with her?"
The Dragneel family was eating on their own, at the huge dining table in the second dining room. The girls and the Redfox's were in the first dining room, but today, the Dragneel family did not join them in an attempt to talk.
Natsu and Wendy picked at their plates, obviously bothered. The blue-haired girl was blinking frequently, trying to conceal tears but failing to keep them behind dry eyes. She was playing around with her salad miserably, blue bangs covering the top-half of her face. Natsu, on the opposite side of the table, was using a utensil.
Enough said.
"Attacking you is a criminal offense," Grandine pondered. She had noticed her children's downcast expressions, [she was most concerned about Natsu, actually using a fork,] but continued to speak. "But she is a little girl, it isn't like we can torture her."
"And there's also Spirit. She's still out there, and we know she certainly won't stand wherever she is and let her sister be killed." Igneel pondered.
"I vote we double the guards."
Natsu had spent the day with Meredy, who was nice enough. He was just tired from staring at the ceiling all night. Meredy didn't mind that he was lightly lagging and only laughed it off, calling it 'kinda cute'. If Natsu had been awake normally he would have replied, but, at that moment, his brain had decided it was the perfect moment to fall face-first to the floor, snoring away. It had taken a bucket of steaming hot water poured over him for the prince to wake up.
She still laughed it off. Natsu liked her, she was nice, and unnaturally bubbly, but it still didn't seem right.
Natsu poked at his barbeque chicken with his fork, listening intently to the conversation, anger rising like boiling water. He stood up abruptly.
"How do you talk like it's perfectly fine to kill a little girl!" Wendy and Natsu cried. They blinked and looked at each other owlishly, turning away quickly and sitting back in their seats.
"It's not right. You can't kill Michelle..." Wendy whimpered. "She's a nice girl who was just trying to protect someone she loved."
"That's right! Even if the Golden Spirit comes chasing after her again and again, it's wrong to kill a little girl." Natsu almost shouted. Unlike his sister, he wasn't afraid to throw his opinion out. He tried to keep his tone neutral, but was failing miserably.
The chair made a loud squeal as he stood up and left the room, the temperature rising considerably.
Natsu kicked the punching bag again when he heard the creaking sound of his door. He mentally sighed, knowing who it was. It happened every time.
"Come in, Wendy!" He barked, kicking the bag off its hook. His knuckles stung a little and his legs ached, but he wanted to feel the burn for being such a stupid idiot.
The sound of sniffling reached his ears. He blinked and spun around, locating his little sky-hair-coloured sister by the door, crying. He immediately stopped punching the bag and ran for her, sitting down on a bench and sitting her down on his lap. She was so tiny compared to him she fit.
"I don't want them to kill Michelle!" she bawled. "It's wrong to kill a little girl just for protecting someone she loved!" Natsu was surprised; usually Wendy came here after their parents had instructed her to check that the prince wasn't smashing Gray to the ground, usually to find Natsu beating the life out of a seven-hundred pound punching bag. Then, Natsu would leave, but today, Wendy was the one looking for reassurance.
"Michelle didn't want to fight; she had to, to protect Spirit!" Natsu pulled her closer, letting her sniffle and cry and snot into his vest. Wendy bawled until she ran out of tears to cry. Natsu hugged her closer.
"Look, we know that, and I won't let it happen. No matter what mom or dad says, I'm not letting them kill a little girl." The brother looked down at the bluenette, eyes sharp but caring and sincere. Wendy looked up, orbs wide and wet.
"O-oka— Okay!" she said it with more enthusiasm than the first time, getting off him and wiping away her tears quickly, trying to put on a strong face. Natsu grinned, showing off all his canines.
A few hours later, it was announced that Flare, the creepy redhead that called him 'Salmon', was supposed to hang out with him. Now that Natsu was having second thoughts, he caught the Crazy Alert from her and decided that he wasn't going to marry her, him having a great time or not.
Natsu was lying on his bed, in his room. It was late, and after his little floor-nap, he didn't feel tired. He found himself glancing at the clock and door, but shook his head, trying to dispel those thoughts.
Michelle wasn't coming.
She was captured, likely with five-or-so guards standing by her cell while she slept. He'd noticed the bags under her eyes and her balance wasn't quite right, signs that she wasn't getting much sleep or the chance to recuperate Magic, but now she got to sleep, at least.
Those guards better let her sleep. Natsu thought threateningly. He blinked, surprised at his protectiveness. His thoughts ran wild in his head.
Michelle and Lucy are bandits, he shouldn't be helping them! A prince shouldn't be helping break two thieves out of prison, it was wrong!
So why are you fighting with them?
He froze. He didn't know the answer to that. Suddenly, there was a knock on his door.
"Yes?" he asked, looking over. Grandine opened the door.
"May I come in?" Always ask a Dragon to go inside their territory before you cross it. Natsu was surprised because she rarely came up here, but stood up and let her in, pushing away the garbage that littered the floor.
Grandine sat on the bed, making the old thing creak. The sheets and mattress he'd had since he was nine, they hadn't changed and personally Natsu liked the old smell. Nothingless, they were probably getting too hole-y and moth-eaten so he had to change them soon.
"Wendy and you exited dinner abruptly." She started, letting the words sink in. Natsu swallowed, knowing where this was going.
"Your father and I find it very strange that, when we told you we were holding this competition for you to get married, you sat and, while you simply picked at your food, you didn't leave until after you were excused. Meanwhile, we talk about this girl, who attacked your father I might add, you stomp out of the room after saying your part.
"Wendy, I can understand, she was close to Michelle and she always had been a bit softer than you, but you, other than the fact of capturing her and her sister, have no attachments to her?"
Yes. "No. I don't. I just find it stupid, that even if Mi— the bandit attacked my dad, she did it because she was protecting someone she loved." Natsu told her. "What if the roles were reversed? What's the Dragneel code of honor? Protect what is dear to you with your life," he quoted loudly. "Isn't that exactly what she did? She knew that she could die doing that and yet she did it anyway? She get burned terribly, had probably got bruises from how tight the ropes tying her were, and still, she did it, knowing the consequences!" He was almost shouting at her by now, so he sat on the bed, looking away from her stubbornly.
"I suppose so." She got up and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her without another word. Natsu collapsed on the bed, holding his head and groaning.
Lucy stayed in her room the whole day, not even going downstairs to eat. The rumble in her stomach was loud, but not as loud as the silent cry for Michelle.
Did that even make sense? Lucy ignored the thought, turning back to her self-hating pity. Michelle was down there, alone and terrified... and it was her fault. She could have saved her, somehow.
Lucy's eyes grew wet, and she rolled over, pressing her face into her pillows in an attempt to not show her tears to the empty room.
Knock knock knock. "Luc—Lyra?" The girl looked up, recognizing the voice.
"Come in," she croaked. Lisanna opened the door with a metal platter of food.
"I didn't see you at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, so I brought some food up." she told her, smiling sadly. Lucy shook her head.
"I already ate." She lied. "I'm not hungry."
The Take-Over mage rolled her eyes, coming in and closing the door with her foot. "Right. Lucy, I know you haven't eaten. Nice try. You have to eat something eventually."
"And I'll go down when I'm hungry." She snapped, then added, "And don't call me Lucy right now." Her head thudded back into the mattress. Lucy was Michelle's name for her. No one else's.
"Okay... But still, you have to eat." Lisanna scolded. She held out a warm piece of buttered toast and just the smell of it made the bandit hungry. But she didn't want any food made by the Dragneel's.
She pushed it away. "I told you, I'm not hungry." Lisanna pulled away, looking downcast. Lucy frowned and picked herself up.
Suddenly she realized how rude she was acting to her best friend "Sorry," she muttered. "I'm acting like a jerk."
"It's not your fault. I don't blame you." Lisanna smiled, trying to make it bright. "We'll get her out."
"Hey, prisoner!" The loud sound of banging woke Michelle up. She got up on her hands and knees, looking up at the cruel guard at the bars.
"Food, eat." He practically threw the platter at her, making the metal plate screech and the little girl wince. She reached for it, but the chain worn around her wrist caught on something and she was violently pulled back. The guard snickered, not bothering to help. The other guards seemed unsure about the way he was treating her, but didn't speak up.
Michelle yanked the chain from the catch, making her burns hurt, but her fingers managed to skim the tray. She pulled it closer to her.
...It, [she didn't want to imagine the stuff they put in there,] was cold, and the guards forgot to put a utensil. Again.
The little girl ate the... mush, making a cup and eating with her left hand. Her whole right arm was unusable, bandaged up tightly from the burns.
Michelle had been healed, or at least with bandages and some Magic crap they put on her, but some were bad. The girl could only get up to go to the washroom with them.
Tap tap tap. Michelle looked up as a small blue-haired girl descended the stairs.
"Michelle!" the girl ran up to the bars, eying the state she was in. She was almost crying, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. She spun on the guards, suddenly angry.
"This is the way you treat my friend? Look at her! Get her some new clothes, her wounds are going to be infected! Look at her dirty she is too!" Wendy snapped, very unlike herself. She was nice and caring and gentle, unless you messed with her friends. "You haven't changed her bandages? At this rate, she's gonna get a fever and... what the hell is she eating?"
The cruel guard swallowed. "Mashed potatoes."
"Like hell! What type of potato makes a green colour like that? 'Kimme the keys." Wendy snapped. Finally, she calmed down, once the guards all rushed to get the things Wendy demanded, too shocked and scared to follow protocol.
She took the key and locked herself in with the smaller girl. "Hey." Wendy said softly, sitting across from Michelle, about a meter of space between them. The girl shrunk, pressing herself into the wall, even if it hurt.
"Can I check your injuries? I can heal them faster and I want to check if there's anything wrong with them. Wouldn't want them getting infected!" She said cheerily.
The younger girl hesitated. She wasn't sure if she should have trusted Wendy, but the kind twinkle in her eyes is what made her accept. "Yeah, sure." Michelle rasped.
Wendy frowned at her voice and asked, "Have they given you anything to drink?" Michelle shook her head. "I am going to kill those idiots." Wendy growled, wanting to use a stronger word, but not in front of the younger girl.
The bluenette took the casts and bandages off and checked the wounds. "I'm sorry for what dad did to you." She murmured, focusing on her work. Michelle blinked, pouting.
"It's not your fault..." She exhaled when a soft glow emitted from the Dragon Slayer's hands. That felt so good. Two of the four guards came down, carrying a basin of water, a cloth, some clothes, and some bandages.
"Unlock the door and leave them there, then leave. Tell no one to come down here." Wendy ordered, pointing at her feet. The guards let her out, put the objects in the cell, and left. The bluenette unlocked one of her cuffs, but not the other one.
"Sorry, I'm not allowed two." Michelle flicked her wrist, unable to rub it with her burnt hand.
"First, clean yourself off. Make sure there's no dirt on the wounds."
Twenty minutes later, Michelle was washed, so Wendy reapplied the bandages, making sure they were properly put on. The girl smiled, and Michelle got dressed. They were old, but cleaner than the last ones and definitely comfier. Wendy had to put the cuff back on, but this time gave her some room for blood flow. Michelle sighed.
"Thank you. So much." The smaller blonde beamed. The Dragon Slayer stood up and called for the guards.
"Unlock me and get her food. Proper food." the guard nodded, releasing Wendy from the cell, and soon came back with warm soup. The bluenette smiled watching Michelle practically devour it.
"Good?"
Michelle nodded. "good."
Gajeel Redfox was walking around the castle. That's how it all started.
Honestly, he was bored and there was nothing to do. His room was comfy and perfect for him to lounge around, but there was nothing to do but lounging. He just hoped he didn't run up with one of those annoying girls he was being forced to marry.
The Iron Dragon Slayer walked, noting that nothing of this castle was eatable. It was all stone walls, which was fine, in his opinion, he didn't care, but he couldn't pick up a random burnt metal torch and eat it like at home.
His nose caught onto two new scents, right around the corner. He growled, turning on his heel to go another way. Gajeel didn't want to have to talk. He was the silent type unless you bugged him. And even then, he would just punch your face in with a metal rod and call it a day.
The Dragon Slayer walked past a new hallway and suddenly stopped when he passed the door. It smelled like burning. His eyes narrowed and he peered at the red door, leading to... well, he didn't know what was behind there.
There was a small, muffled sound coming from entrance, so quiet even he could barely hear it. A woman walked around the corner and saw him inspecting the door. Her steps turned a fraction faster. Gajeel pulled back, not wanting to talk to the lady because females were so damned annoying.
"Hello, prince Gajeel." The man stiffened and turned around, not even putting on a smile for the lady. He scowled, showing off his fierce demeanor.
The woman seemed unfazed. "My name's Minerva. How do you fare?"
He growled. "Not bad." He rolled his eyes. Minerva scoffed, recognizing him as a stone-wall type of person, spinning around and turning back into the room. She slammed the door shut behind her.
For a second, he caught the burning smell again, and a little added fragrance. It was sweet. Gajeel didn't know what it was but shrugged, whatever, and continued walking.
IM SO BOREDDDD... If you want to talk PM meee... We have bad news. School is starting Friday, [ya, I know, lol, wut?] meaning updates will be a tad slower. But I'll be typing ASAP, so please don't drop this story! I am not going to change to updating, like, once a month! [I find that so weird. Certain people just leave their story hanging for a long time, which I very much dislike. That just makes readers dislike you. I always find time to write, whether it's the whole chappy or a sentence, to write. But, that's probably because I'm a kid [13,] and it's summer.
Ha, if I don't write your full account or accidently misspell it, just ignore it. me being a lazy butthole because I can't type a few extra letters when I write 2,000 words a day...
AnnieBlackheart: LOL NOT NICE! lol, jk, here's your update!
SnowDragonSlayerTasha: Ha, do you think I would kill Michelle? Yes, because I am a horrible author that likes to make you guys cry. *rolls eyes*
1FairyTailLover: I made your day! *le gasp* aww, that's so sweet! *jumps around like a maniac*
PrettyKitty: I cracked up on this review. I love your funny reviews. XD "WATCH YOUR BACK NATSU!" Yes, don't we all wish that Natsu would just kiss her senseless and they would both live happily ever after? [plus Michelle, can't forget about her!] Yes, but I am an evil author who makes you guys wait. I have plans for the NaLu, NEXT CHAPPY! look forward to it. *walks away laughing* "I am a TRO-ll, I am a TRO-ll!"
GoldenRoseTanya: I'm usually good at spelling [ha, I'm my own spellcheck. XD] but this was my first attempts at... onomati... omom... onomatepida... *frustration marks... throws away laptop, screams* lol, jk.
: I TOTALLY didn't get that... But, we do wish good luck on Natsu's journey to find true love!
LunarMistress: "ONIONS? I happen to have an onion." *starts chasing Mistress with a knife and an onion in hand*
BlossomsCherry: Thank ya'll. I know! I'm evillll... I decided to add a little help for our characters in the form of other characters! yay!