Chapter 9
SOOO sorry guys, yes I know I haven't updated in foreevveeerr and I really don't have any excuses except that I'm really lazy.
Just watched Tangled and decided that it is the best Disney romance ever. Flynn and Rapunzel are my OTP. Is that sad that I'm in high school and still watch Disney movies?
Here's chapter 9.
Lucy's POV
I stare up at my closet, feeling daunted. Formal? What's that even supposed to mean? Should I go with a long skirt or a short skirt? Should I wear my hair up or down? And how much Jewelry should I wear?
I sink onto the bed, thoroughly befuddled. At the palace, I always had stylists to tell me what to wear for every event. Now I actually have to make all the decisions.
"Hey Lucy! Are you ready yet?" A voice asks, and I turn to see Natsu leaning against the doorframe.
I sigh, lying back on the quilt. "Not at all. I have absolutely no clue what to wear to this thing!"
He shrugs. "Just wear a dress. Isn't that what girls usually wear for everything?"
I look at my friend. He's wearing a tux, which looks strange in place of his usual open vest. He looks pretty uncomfortable, but it's for our friends, so we all want to make it extra special.
"What kind of dress? Ugh, you have it so easy and you don't even know!"
"Okay, well, people will be here soon. Hurry up." He calls over his shoulder, walking down the hall.
"I know, I know." I groan and stand up. Tonight, everyone from Fairy Tail is coming. When Levy and Gajeel announced their engagement, Mira, Lisanna, and I all planned a party to celebrate the occasion. It's the biggest cause for celebration since Mira and Laxus got married a year ago, or so I'm told.
Finally, I throw on a flame-colored gown that tapers at the waist and then flows down to my ankles. Like everything else in my closet, it belonged to Natsu's sister at one time. I pin my hair up into a bun, letting a few strands hang loose. Facing the mirror, I take a deep breath. One more thing.
I reach into a drawer and pull out the necklace I found a few months before, when I first arrived here. It glistens in the candlelight, the wings of the little glass fairy shimmering. I put it on, appreciating the light weight of the necklace just below my collarbone.
Okay. It's time.
I step out of my room hesitantly, very aware of my heeled shoes tapping against the cold stone floor. This is it.
I make my way through the corridors, which are all alight with the fading sunlight and flickering candles. It opens out onto the grand staircase, to a picture perfect ballroom that could rival those at my father's palaces.
I smile, watching MiraJane and her brother arrange buffet tables while Lisanna bustles about placing trays of pastries and snacks on said tables. Happy is helping Carla and Wendy wax the entire ballroom, which has never looked better.
Natsu walks up behind me. "Lucy! Finally, it's about time. Geez, why do girls always take so long getting ready?"
"We have reputations to keep up. You men don't." I laugh, turning to face him.
Natsu's expression changes immediately. He stares, not saying anything, like he's forgotten how to speak.
I let out small, nervous laugh. "Umm, Natsu?"
He looks at me like I've come from another planet, but after a few moments he shakes himself, and is back to normal, but not looking at me. His cheeks have flushed a little bit. "You look nice."
It sounds weird to hear it coming from his mouth. All my life I've been doted on by servants and nobles trying to flatter me, but coming from Natsu…
"So do you. Wow, Natsu. In that tux, you almost look like a prince." I laugh and nudge his shoulder playfully.
He chuckles a little bit, resting his elbows on the railing. Despite his nonchalant demeanor, something flashes in the back of his eyes, like he's remembering something painful. He turns away. "I'm going to go check on the food."
He leaves me standing there, a little bit bewildered. I shake it off, thinking I imagined the anguish hidden deep in his eyes. "Lisanna! Need any help?"
As I throw myself into preparing for the celebration, I watch Natsu from across the room. What is he not telling me? There was something there.
Finally, the party guests arrive, and the festivities are set in motion.
"Levy! Congratulations! I'm so happy for both of you." I say as I pull away from our hug. "You look great together."
"Thanks, Lu-chan. It was really nice of you and Natsu to host this." She says. She looks gorgeous in a yellow strapless dress that enhances her small figure. Gajeel stands not too far away in his suit and tie, talking to other Fairy Tail members.
"It's no problem. The place needed a party." I smile, looking around the room. With this many people, it comes alive.
Levy grins. "I'll bet you're the master of parties, being a princess and all."
"Well, I don't know about that."
Music starts up from across the room. Levy looks startled, glancing around in confusion. "Where's that music coming from?"
"A lacrima. Natsu had one in his storage."
"You are a party wizard! That's great, Lucy!"
"Ahem, ladies?" Gajeel steps into the conversation before I can humbly deny the statement. "Mind if I steal Levy for a dance?"
I giggle. "She's all yours!"
I watch them swirl out onto the ballroom floor, the first couple to start the dance. They look adorable together. I wish I had such a simple relationship; meet, fall in love, get married. No betrothals, no arranged marriages.
I can't help sighing a little.
"Lucy! There you are." Mira comes toward me with Cana close behind. "Are you gonna go dance with Natsu?"
I cough. "What? No, why would you think that?"
They share a conspiratory look.
"Stop kidding yourself, Lucy. He likes you, it's obvious." Cana says a little too loudly.
"N-no, you've really got the wrong idea." I stammer. That idea seems impossible.
Mira smiles. "Uh-huh. You like him. He likes you. You'll have such beautiful little fire-breathing children!"
"Mira, really?" Cana reprimands.
"Look, there's not a chance. Logistically. Imagine it, a dragon and a princess? It couldn't happen!" I say, though the words don't seem very convincing.
"Well, not just any dragon," Mira says slyly.
"Mira!" Cana says in warning.
"Natsu's father was Igneel, the King of the Dragons. They had a mighty empire, until the Great Dragon Purge, when the King used tricks and traps to wipe out dragonkind. So really, Natsu is the only surviving heir to the Dragneel dynasty." Mira says, dropping her voice to a whisper.
"Wait, Natsu is a prince?!" I say, forgetting to keep my voice down. Cana groans, puts a hand over her eyes, and walks away.
Mira covers my mouth quickly. "Shh! The only people that know are Gray, Erza, Me, and my siblings."
"Oh." I say, staring at the pink haired man from across the room. "I didn't think…what am I saying, I can't believe I didn't realize. He lives in a palace for goodness sake."
Mira smiles, like always. Laxus comes toward us to ask his wife for a dance.
"Go ask him! He's a good dancer." She says with a wink. Her belly is pretty swollen by now, the baby is due in a few months. I'm glad she found happiness.
I watch from the sidelines as couples take to the floor. I breathe a sigh of contentment, and realize that I've finally found a family in Fairy Tail. I look around the room, at all of their smiling faces, and I know that if it came down to it, I would give anything for these people who I've only known a few months.
I've been to many balls in my lifetime. Hundreds, in fact. But I've never once enjoyed myself before tonight. Even just watching people dance makes me happy.
A familiar someone clears his throat behind me. "Sitting on the sidelines, are we?"
I smile to myself, knowing he can't see because he's behind me. "I'm not a good dancer."
"Yeah, and I don't breathe fire." He scoffs.
"No, really." I say, facing him.
"Seventeen years spent in a castle and you can't dance? Oh, the horror. A shame to her country." He clutches his chest in mock dismay, eyes glinting playfully.
"Ha-ha. You do a pretty good impression of my tutor." I groan, rolling my eyes.
He grabs my hand. "C'mon, princess. You can't fool me. Let's see if you can keep up."
"W-wait, Natsu!" I protest as he pulls me onto the floor, sweeping into the rhythm of the music.
My hands and feet perform the steps without me even thinking about it. It's so habitual that it's almost like breathing.
Natsu and I, surprisingly, are in perfect sync. It's quite a peppy dance, full of swirls and spins that leave me breathless at the end. As the last stanza comes to a close, I look at Natsu with new eyes.
"You can dance." I say, sweating a little.
He's just as winded, but grinning from ear to ear. "I could say the same about you. Not too bad for a princess."
I laugh, fanning myself with one hand. It's a stupid girly habit I picked up as a pre-teen. "You wish you could dance as well as me."
He shrugs. "One more song?"
"Why not, it is a ball, right?" I say.
As the music starts up, he holds up a hand. "I've got a better idea."
I pull the door shut behind me, laughing. "This is your better idea?"
We're on the balcony attached to the ballroom, which is pretty expansive. You could host a dinner party here, and we can still hear the music drifting out from the ballroom.
"Why not? I bet you've never ditched a ball in your life." He grins, that irritating yet somehow endearing grin of his.
"You speak like you've had experience." I look around, and on an impulse, kick off my heels, stowing them in a plant. I wiggle my bare toes on the smooth stone. "Better."
Natsu stares in amazement, then throws his head back and laughs aloud. "Well, why not."
He pulls off his shoes and chucks them off of the balcony.
"Natsu! You'll have a hard time getting them back, you know that?" I say.
"Who cares? They're just shoes." He shrugs.
"What a noble you'd make." I laugh, picturing him barefoot in front of courtiers and ambassadors.
"A great one. Allow me to demonstrate." He clears his throat, looking suddenly serious, and bowing perfectly. "My Lady, Princess Lucy, I beg that you forgive my barefooted state, but nevertheless, might you do me the honor of a dance?"
I giggle, curtseying. "You flatter me, noble sir. It would be my pleasure."
He stands up straight, stifling a laugh. I place my hand on his shoulder, and he places his hand on my waist, grasping my free hand with his own. It's a slow dance, relaxed and uncomplicated. We sway back and forth across the balcony, the stars as our audience.
"So tell me, my lady, do you always prefer to dance barefooted?" He asks, adding in a horrendous Bosconian accent.
"Why, of course. In my country, a lady is expected to remove her shoes before entering a ballroom. We even have servants to hold our shoes for us. The ballroom is given a full sanitation before and after every ball." I say, acting as pompous as possible. I decide to take it a step further. "And of course, the men must always wear yellow and green striped socks to show their loyalty to Fiore."
"Is that so? And why is that?" He asks.
"Isn't it obvious? Because they're the king's favorite colors." I say.
"Ahh, silly me." Natsu grimaces at the mention of the king. "It wouldn't be my first choice."
"Well then, it's a good thing we don't actually wear green and yellow socks at balls." I reassure him.
He smiles down at me. I feel a slight blush creep over my cheeks. In the moonlight, his hair turns silver, like something out of a fairy tale.
The music changes again, to some fast-paced salsa song. Instead of picking up the dance, Natsu stops, staring at me intently.
I look at him, puzzled. "Natsu?"
His arm is still around my waist, even though we're no longer dancing. He's still staring at me. "You just—um, look….different."
An eyebrow shoots up right away. "Different? What's that supposed to mean?!"
He lets go of me, rubbing the back of his neck. "I dunno, just…different. It's a good different."
Bewildered, I shake my head. Why does it matter to me so much what he thinks?
Before I can reply, the balcony doors open. "There you are. I was wondering where you'd be."
"Erza?" I exclaim.
The red-head woman looks stunning in a dark blue party dress, a drastic change from the armor I'd seen her in last time. I almost didn't recognize her.
"I just came to congratulate Levy and Gajeel on their engagement. But I thought I'd check in on the two of you while I was here." She states, not bothering to ask what we're doing on the balcony.
"Oh, yeah, that's right." Natsu stammers. "Everything's going pretty well here, I guess."
Erza nods. "I just spoke with Porlyusica."
Natsu and I exchange a wary glance.
"Porlyusica? What did she say?" I ask.
"She just wanted me to remind you to be careful. It's only been two months or so; you've got a long time to wait before you can really go anywhere." She replies.
"Oh." I say softly, remembering with a start the promise I made. A slight blush creeps over my cheeks. I'd forgotten. "I'm going to go back in, get to know everyone."
I walk away without looking at Natsu, but I can't get him out of my head. He's a prince. A dragon prince. And if it weren't for me and my family, he would still have his crown.
"Lucy! There you are, I was wondering where you'd gone." Cana comes over with a glass of wine, which I guess isn't her first.
As she starts to talk about how great the food is, I start to space out. What was it back there…Natsu looked at me almost like…
"Lucy? Earth to Lucy? Hellloo?" Cana waves her hand in front of my face.
I shake my head. "Sorry, I was distracted. What was that?"
Snap out of it, Lucy! What is wrong with me? I think to myself. I resolve not to think about him again for the night.
No POV
Erza watched Lucy leave, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. The pair had definitely grown close, she had seen it in the comfortable way they stood next to each other.
"Natsu…How many times have you changed?" She asked.
Natsu looked out into the night. "Not once. Not since I kidnapped her."
She examined his expression. "Not once, you say? Doesn't it usually happen every few weeks?"
He let out a breath. "Yeah. I don't know what's happening."
"Well be sure that when you do transform, the princess is well out of the way. You know you can't control it." She warned.
"Do you think I haven't already thought of that?" He replied, suddenly agitated. "I worry about it all the time. I'll transform, I'll forget myself, I'll end up hurting Lucy."
"You never hurt us."
"But you were tough. You and Gray had already seen what a dragon could do; that's why you knew to stay out of the way." He said.
"Lucy's tough. In a different way. She's a survivor if I've ever seen one."
"Maybe you're right. But Lucy isn't a wizard." Natsu ran a hand through his hair.
They were silent for a few moments. "Natsu?"
"Hmm?"
"You're in love with her, aren't you?" She said.
"Wh-what? No! Why would I be in love with Lucy?" Natsu laughed nervously.
"Stop kidding yourself, Natsu." She turned away, shouting over her shoulder.
She shut the doors behind her, leaving him alone.
He looked after her for several seconds. "Maybe you're right."
There you have it, chapter 9. Have a great life and don't do stupid things like get within fifty feet of a forty foot whale in a kayak like I did the other day. It was cool.
Yeah, okay love you guys. Bye. Next chapter hopefully soon but I couldn't help starting a new Fairy Tail story called "Vengeance" which I haven't posted yet because I don't want it to get in the way of finishing this, but I am super excited about it, so look out for it sometime maybe this summer!
Kay bye now.