Disclaimer: I don't own fairy tail or any of the fairy tail characters.

Ugh. I'm taking summer biology, so I get two hours of homework. Every Day. So now I have an excuse if I don't update quickly. But I promise it won't be more than two weeks.

Okay, so I will be writing in first person from here on. writing in third person can get boring after a while.

Let me know what you think!

Lucy's POV

"Hello? Hellooo!" A high pitched, childish voice calls through the darkness. "Hey, girl! Are you okay?"

I groan, exhausted. My eyelids feel glued together, but slowly, I manage to pry them open. Blinking to clear my vision, I find myself staring into the face of a blue, winged...cat?!

I must be hallucinating. Cats can't be blue. They can't fly, either. "Wha...What?"

"Good! You're awake! I thought you were dead. You don't look very good." The cat hovers over my head, happily gulping down a fish. "My name's happy. I'm a cat, obviously. I live here. Oh! Are you hungry? You must be. I'd be starving if I were you. Want a fish? They're really good."

The cat perches on the foot of the bed, staring at me expectantly. I try to process everything, but my brain is swirling with thoughts and images. It doesn't help that the cat talks seventy miles per hour.

A cat is talking to me. I think, leaning my head back against the pillow and closing my eyes. Yep, I definitely hit my head.

"Hey, girl! Don't go back to sleep again! Don't you want food?" The voice persists.

Right now, all I want to do is go to sleep and never wake up. My bones feel like jelly, my head feels like it's going to fall off. Scrapes and bruises cover my arms and legs.

What...what happened? I think.

Pain blossoms from the small of my back, and from my ribcage. Puzzled, I reach a hand behind me, feeling the dried blood and ragged flesh...

The knife. The soldiers. Blood, everywhere. Flames. The dragon. The thorns.

"Are you scared, princess? Because no one is going to hear your scream...the king only said he wanted you back alive."

I bolt upright. The movement causes the wound under my ribs to break open, spewing fresh blood. I cry out, clutching a hand to my side.

The cat flys to my shoulder. "Take it easy, girl! Don't hurt yourself!"

I double over in the bed, panting. "Where...am...I...?!"

"Oh, wow! That looks like it hurts! Don't worry, though. We'll take you to see Porlyusica! She'll make you better. How did you hurt yourself? If I were you, I'd stay away from sharp objects."

I grit my teeth. This cat...thing...talks too much. "Where am I?"

The cat flys up to do circles over the bed."You're in a castle."

For a moment, I feel fear thudding in my chest. I'm back home? Then, I realize that I've never seen this room before. Could I have been taken hostage by a neighboring kingdom?

"Where?" I gasp, finding it hard to breathe.

"We're in the town of Thorpe. Natsu brought you in last night. You were hurt really bad."

"Natsu? Who's that?"

The cat, I think he said his name was happy, laughs. "Natsu is the dragon that lives here." Seeing the look on my face, he bursts out into more giggles. "Don't worry, he's only a dragon for half of the time. "

I close my eyes again. A fog has entered my mind, making everything fuzzy and distant. "You're...a talking...flying...cat..."

"Aye!"

"A dragon...a dragon..." I shake my head to clear my thoughts. An obnoxious buzzing sound fills my brain, as if a bee crawled into my head while I was asleep. Everything is a jumbled mess. "A dragon...rescued me...But that's impossible..."

"Nope! Natsu transforms into a dragon every now and then, but he can't control it, so he usually stays away from the towns during the day. You'll meet him in a bit, he'll be back any minute now." The cat explains, as if spontaneously transforming into a fire-breathing beast is normal. "But why did he rescue you while he was a dragon?"

I barely register half of what he says, but I find the strength to sit up. I groan in pain when my wounds open wider, They need medical attention, and soon.

I'm still wearing the same ripped, white dress. Well, not really white anymore. By now, it is stained with blood, mud, and ash. My stomach growls loudly. I look down at it, confused, and then it hits me.

I'm starving.

"Food?" I ask, not wanting to bother with full sentences.

The cat perks up at the mention of the word, and his tail swishes cheerfully. "I'll be right back!"

Natsu's POV

"That'll be fifteen jewels, please." The lady at the counter hands me a burlpap sack, giving my oddly colored hair a strange glance.

I dig around in my pockets for a few moments, handing her the money. I wince as dull pain shoots through my bad shoulder. Man, what was I up to last week?

I take the bag, swinging it over my shoulder. "Thanks. Keep the change."

The little bell rings as I push open the heavy oak door, stepping into the blinding sun.

My shoulder complains again. I scowl, wishing I could remember how on earth I had managed to get myself hurt. Everytime I wake up after transforming back into a human, I can never remember what I did as a dragon. It kinda sucks.

The sun beats down on my shoulders. I could easily call a carriage, I am rich, after all. But a train whizzes by, whipping my spiky salmon hair, and I feel sick.

Shouldering my pack, I keep walking. In the distance, casting a long shadow over the valley, is the Dragneel estate. The Dragneel family was once a very esteemed one, and Igneel, my father, was a powerful baron. That is, until he dissapeared. I, his son, was left with the money, the castle, and a lonely life.

I kick a pebble down the long dirt road. It falls to the ground again with a clatter.

During the Great Dragon Purge, when I was seven, my younger sister and father never came home. They were probably taken by the soldiers and executed.

My stomach growls loudly, reminding me that I probably haven't eaten anything decent in a week. My dragon form rarely concerns himself with food.

I'm now at the edge of the town, standing at the giant steps of the mansion. Without hesitation, I climb the stairwell and push open the double doors. "Happy! I'm home!"

I expect a little blue ball of fur to come flying at me, but instead I get no reply. "Happy?"

Puzzled, I walk inside, dropping my satchel on the floor. The entry hall is a cavernous, elaborately decorated room. The Dragneel family emblem hangs from the ceiling. The head of a dragon, surrounded by flames, on a brilliant red background.

"Where is that cat? He's always somewhere around here." I say outloud, loosening my scarf. It was a present from my father, the week before he dissapeared.

I frown. I can smell food cooking somewhere. Is happy actually making something?

"Happy? Are you...cooking?" I asked, leaning against the counter.

The cat looks up from the stove, startled, then flies straight into me, doing his best to give me a hug. "NATSU! You're back!"

"Yeah. Miss me? I brought you something." I reply with a grin.

The cat looks up expectantly. "What is it?"

Chuckling, I pull out a paper wrapped package. "Here you go. Fresh from the market."

Smelling his favorite food, the cat pounces on the package.

I smile. I always bring back a fresh salmon each time I leave, and Happy has never caught on.

I open the doors to the pantry, rummaging throught the contents. I decide on a package of beef jerky.

"Happy? Is there a reason why you're making tomato soup?" I ask, looking over my shoulder. "Last I checked, you hate that stuff."

When Happy doesn't reply, I turn around, ripping a piece of jerky off with my teeth.

The cat's gone. I roll my eyes, sighing. "Where'd he go?"

I step out into the hallway, leaving the jerky on the wooden table. The long stone corridor stretches off in both directions, occasional patches of sunlight drifting in through windows. Torches line the walls, but they haven't been used for years. I haven't really had any need for them.

My footsteps echo off of the cold stone walls, the only sound in this whole castle. I rarely ever use most of it.

The east wing is where my parents once lived, so I hate going there. The west wing is just full of a bunch of extra rooms, old paintings, and long-forgotten passages. Happy and I spend most of our time in the south wing and the courtyard, overlooking the valley. We've got a kitchen, a mess hall, a rec room, even a hot tub.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar smell wafts through the air. My instincts immediatly put me on alert; I don't recognize the scent. Narrowing my eyes, I take a deep breath of air.

Lilac and vanilla. And...something else. I don't know what it is.

Someone is in my castle.

I follow the scent trail, which isn't hard because dragons have a very good sense of smell. It leads me deeper into the south wing, towards the living quarters.

The smell grows stronger near my doorway, and for a moment I think there is someone in my room. But when I open the door, the scent gets weaker. I can't help sighing in relief when I realize that it's coming from the room directly across from mine.

Slowly, carefully, I push open the door, ready to take on the intruder.

What I am met with, however, is completly different.

The first thing that pops into my mind is even more unexpected.

Is she a goddess? She's beautiful.

The girl lying on the bed is covered in bruises, her blond hair matted and dirty. She's asleep, maybe eighteen, but how did she end up here? I step into the little room, never taking my eyes off of the sleeping figure.

"Happy?" I call quietly, careful not to wake the girl.

I guess he must've been nearby, because the flying cat rockets through the door five seconds later. "Natsu? Oh! She's asleep. Wow, she sleeps a lot."

I stare at the cat, completly lost. Why is there a strange girl sleeping in my castle? And how did she get so beat up?

"Happy, who is that? Why is she here?" I sit down on the edge of the bed.

The cat just shrugs. "I don't know. You brought her in last night."

I groan. "When I was a dragon?"

He nods. "Yep. You just dropped her off on the steps, and flew away."

"Oh my gosh...So I kidnapped her?"

"Kidnapped? Kidnapped who?" A voice croaks.

Happy and I spin around. The girl's eyes are wide open, and she's propped herself up on two elbows. Fear is shown clearly in both of her brown eyes.

She looks right at me, a mix of defiance and terror. "Who are you?"

Lucy's POV

The dream is pleasant. Gentle music drifts through the ballroom, and I watch couples dancing in the open courtyard.I'm leaning up against the banister on the balcony, overlooking the guests.

"You should join them." A voice tells me. "You are the guest of honor, after all."

I smile, hearing the sound of my mother's kind voice. I don't want to lose the moment.

"They look perfectly happy without me." I tell her, seeing two young people take the floor.

"Oh, Lucy, my dear. You are a princess. They need to see you." She puts her elegant hand on my shoulder. "It's your birthday. This is for you."

"I know, mother." I fold my hands behind my back. I'm a princess. I'm a princess. All I've ever known.

"Dear, try to lighten up. Just one night, and then we can do whatever you like." She smiles warmly. "You know, when I was your age, I would sneak sleeping potions into the bonbons for entertainment."

I laugh, savoring the memory. "Is that a suggestion?"

She gives me a wink. "Just try not to have too much fun. Your father wouldn't stand for that."

I giggle, covering my mouth to appear more ladylike. "No, we can't have that, can we?"

Another voice enters the dream."..brought her in last night..."

I cock my head, wondering where the voices are coming from. "..I was a dragon?"

One of the voices is one I've heard before, I'm sure of it. High pitched and childish. Why does it make me think of wings and blue fur?

"...Dropped her...flew away..."

I can feel the dream world fading as reality starts to wash over me again. I cling to the memory with all my might, trying to stay with my mother.

"...I kidnapped her..."

Wait, what? My mind snaps awake. Who's been kidnapped? I feel fear well in my chest. Kidnapped?

I open my eyes, panicked. Before I can stop them, my lips form words. "Kidnapped? Kidnapped who?"

Both the figures in the room look at me abruptly. What if they're going to ransom me off?

"Who are you?" I gasp, wincing at the sudden pain. I make eye contact with the newcomer, seeing that he's just as surprised as me.

He opens his mouth, closes it, and opens again, but no words come out. He looks so flustered; it's hard to think of him as a kidnapper. Nevertheless, I grip the blankets fiercely, wary of the young man sitting on the bed.

"Hey! You're awake! Finally. You've been asleep for hours!" Happy says, completly oblivious to the tension in the air.

"Who are you?" I ask again. "Why am I here? If you want a ransom, forget it. My father doesn't care about me."

It's a bluff. If this man tells my father I'm here, he'll get a massive reward-and I get taken back to the Capitol to await my punishment.

He sighs in exasperation, running a hand through his hair. I give him my best glare as he sits back down.

"Okay, calm down, no one's been kidnapped. We're not holding you for ransom. Actually, I don't even know what's going on." He says quietly, looking more concerned than anything. "I'm Natsu Dragneel. I live here with Happy."

Natsu? Didn't Happy mention him earlier

"You're Natsu? Aren't you supposed to be a dragon?" I ask, curiosity outweighing fear.

Natsu's head snaps up, but the seething glare in his eyes isn't directed towards me. "Happy! You told her?"

The cat instantly dove under the blankets. "Oops.." A small voice whimpers from under th covers.

"That stupid cat..." He mutters, looking at me with an unreadable expression. "Please, you can't tell anyone. I don't want any trouble."

"I know." I say, remembering the law my father passed regarding dragons and half-breeds. Can I trust him? Do I tell him the truth?

"What happened? How did you get here?" He asks.

"You mean you don't know?" I wrap the blankets closer around me.

He shakes his head. "I can't remember anything."

I shut my eyes. "I was running from some men. A dragon...I guess that was you, wasn't it? You came, burnt everyone to a crisp, grabbed me...and, well, here I am."

"You were runnning from who?"

I bite my lip. Do I tell him? "Just...some people who were after me. It doesn't matter."

Years ago, after my mother died, my father issued a new decree, stating that all dragons be hunted down and killed. I can still remember seeing the men and women, all half-dragons, lined up and slaughtered in the courtyard. From that day forward, my father was never the same man. I assumed all the dragons had been killed, but I guess Natsu avoided the soldiers.

"Okay, fair enough. We all have our secrets." He shrugs. "What's your name? We can't keep calling you 'girl' all the time."

"I...I'm Lucy." I say. What I don't tell him is that I am Lucy Hearfilia, second in line to the throne of Fiore.

"Just Lucy? Alright. Well, Lucy, we'd better get going if we're going to make it to Porlyusica by nightfall." He grins, extending a hand to help me up.

"Huh? What? Why? Who's Porlyusica?"

He laughs again, showing off pointed canines. "Someone's gotta patch you up! Besides, if you're gonna stay here, you can't lie around in bed all day."

"Stay..here? But I-"

"Come on. It's not like you have anywhere else to go!" He says, helping me up. I try not to whimper when my ribs start to spout more blood.

Despite my protests, Natsu puts my arm over his shoulders, careful to avoid touching any broken bones.

I try to stand on my own, but I just can't do it. Reluctantly, I allow Natsu to take most of my weight.

Can I trust him? I don't know. But I'm willing to try. Because we're both against the law. Because the King has declared war against us. And when we're fighting for our lives, we need allies.

And no matter what, I won't let my father win.

Okay, this took longer than I thought. Summer school sucks. Two hours of homework every night? Fun stuff. A whole week of high school Biology crammed into one day? Sounds great!

So there is absolutely no way I can update during the school week until August. I promise I will devote my weekends to updating.

So what did you think? I hope nobody's confused. Just to clarify in case you didn't catch it, Natsu can't remember what he did while he was in dragon form. Dragons are outlawed, so the king will be pretty angry when he hears about this dragon that stole his daughter...watch out, Natsu!

I couldn't help adding a tiny bit of Nalu towards the end. No self control. I know there are a ton of different versions of what Lucy smells like, so I just picked my favorite Febreeze scent, Lilac and vanilla. Actually, I think it was Lavender and Vanilla...Oh well.

(I know, I know. I'm a geek.)