Hi again everyone! Thanks ever so much for any input you have given me, and for your continued support of this story! This chapter will have a bit more plot development so I hope you are excited! I hope for chapters to be getting a bit longer! But, I don't want to keep you too long so, please review and tell me what you think and follow and favorite if you like it! So, without further ado...

~naluhedgehogs

Natsu froze. "G-Granddaughter?" He studied the man, but he could see no resemblance to the Princess nor King Jude. The man noticed his puzzled expression. "Lady Layla, she was my daughter. A beautiful girl with so much magic power, it is no wonder Lucy was gifted as well. And now..." He broke off again, his rough accent totally gone. And as Natsu looked closer, the man himself seemed to slowly become different. His rough beard slowly smoothed and shortened, falling just past his chin. His build became slightly more muscular and he grew larger, and his piercing blue eyes mellowed to a soft brown, much like the princess's.

The man sat straighter. "Sorry for that." His voice was stronger. "A person, as old as myself, with my build.. It attracts attention. I have to be careful. But apparently it was not enough. They still found Lucy, coming to a small bookshop like this. I suppose the interior could've given it away, but few ever come here." He sighed. Looked Natsu in the eyes. "I know you, son. The Fire Dragon Slayer, Natsu Dragneel. I am correct, aren't I?" Natsu could only stare at him for a couple of seconds, then he hesitantly nodded. The old man chuckled. "Lucy has mentioned your guild before. Fairy Tail. She wished she could join, but her powers have been secret, and joining your guild.. She wouldn't exactly blend in." He smiled, but his eyes were sad. "You plan on rescuing her." It wasn't a question, but Natsu nodded.

The man looked at him, before standing. "Follow me."

The man led to a spiraling mahogany staircase that led downwards from the shop. It wasn't hidden, but the light fell cleverly in a way that shadowed the opening. Natsu trailed the stairs behind the man, and noticed how the stairwell, while shadowed from above, still held the mystical blue glow. "What about the bookstore sir...?" "Harlowe. My name is Harlowe." Natsu glanced at the man again, but he didn't look back. "Dont worry about that. Besides my granddaughter, you are the first visitor in months. You don't see many people reading these days." Beyond that, the two didn't speak.

The staircase led into a simple room, which, from the looks of it, it appeared to be Harlowe's residence. In this room too, there were shelves lined with books, but each seemed to be similar. "Spellbooks." Harlowe stated, not bothering to wait for a question. A large canopy bed sat off in a corner and the room was lit by the same bare bulb lights as the store above. On a desk sat a random array of knickknacks, along with a few writing quills and parchments of varying color, aligned neatly in trays. A large map of Fiore splayed halfway across the wall, with various pins stuck in it here and there, and on the ceiling, a beautiful painting of the many constellations spread proudly. Each of the stars seemed to have their own glow, and would twinkle sporadically.

Natsu turned from examining the room to notice Harlowe studying him. "What?" He shook his head. "Nevermind." Natsu's gaze followed him questioningly, but he stopped himself from speaking, which is notably very unlike him. Eventually, he gave in to the temptation.

"What are you looking for Harlowe?" The man shushed him, before grabbing a small book from one of the shelves. He motioned the dragon slayer over, before sitting on the bed. Not wanting to awkwardly sit beside the man, who, even though he was much older, appeared in many ways like Guildarts, at least stature-wise. Instead, he plopped down on the floor. Harlowe let out a laugh. "I won't bite you, son" Now that his cover was gone, Natsu noted he had a rather regal way of speech, and found it wouldn't surprise him if this man once did live a life of royalty. However, he refrained from joining him on the bed, and Harlowe didn't seem to mind.

He held out the book, which Natsu took very carefully. He could tell this was very important to the man, and, accident prone as he was, he didn't want to damage it. The book was worn, bound by thick string, with a weighty but thin leather cover, engraved with a crown bearing a star, along with initials too worn to read. "This book was presented to Layla's mother on the night of her coronation, as a gift from her father. Layla's mother, Queen Amanda of Fiore, was my wife." He paused, and Natsu, intrigued, kept quiet to let him continue.

"I met Amanda a year prior to her coronation, when she was 17. I too was a Mage of Fairy Tail, the only fire Mage they had at the time. I, was a Fire God Slayer."

Aaaaaaaannnndddd done! Now, I know, another chapter with a cliffhanger, you must hate me. But, a whole lot is to be revealed in the next chapter, about Lucy, about her grandfather, about... Well, I'm not going to spoil everything! ;) so, stay tuned! Follow for more updates, favorite if you enjoy, and please leave a review to let me know what you think! Thanks to all that have left me a review, I love reading them and I love the input. (Insert new outro here!)

For the love of magic I write for you

~naluhedgehogs