OK, next chapter!

Anyway, DISCLAIMER! I do NOT own Fairy Tail! All those rights go to Master Hiro Mashima! I only own the plot! Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Natsu's POV

I tugged at the neck of my collar to ease the tightness. After a fight with dad and some of the slaves about the bath, they somehow managed to scrub me down, but of course not without me drenching the bathroom in the process. Then I was forced into a suit that was way too tight and put in the middle of two burley slaves escorting me to see this Heartfilia girl.

Can't she just wait? I thought to myself with a yawn. The walk to the parlor was very uncomfortable. I was supposed to have tea with the heiress to get to know her, but not without these two guys watching my every move.

They opened the doors to the parlor and I looked around. Again, everything was the same before I left. Small table in the middle, hutches around the room with little trinkets and glass statues within. There was a view of the flower garden from the terrace opposite of the door.

In the middle of the room were three chairs, two masculine one feminine around a dark wooden table. In the feminine of the three sat a young blonde girl wearing a knee length pink floral dress. Her blonde hair was pulled up in a half bun while the other half cascaded down her back in curls. Dark brown eyes stared back at me, filled with curiosity.

Gray's POV

One hour and thirty minutes to go.

I almost completed my post. Finishing early was always good. You can either help another out, which I always did, or you can head back to the cabin and wait for dinner, alone. I looked around and saw that quite a few others were almost done as well. I looked over to Wendy to see how she was doing. She wasn't quite as quick, but she was pulling through. I finished my last bit and headed over to help her.

"What the hell are you doing!?" One of the Authority cracked their whips to my ankle and tripping me to the ground. I swallowed my groan and looked up. It was Midnight.

"I finished my post," I muttered, not daring to look at him in the eyes. He looked over to see it was true. He turned back to me and glared daggers, but I just kept my head down and made my way to the little blue haired girl.

"Hey Wendy, need some help?" I asked.

She looked up, startled. "N-no Gray! That's not necessary. I can do it. I don't need your help all the time." She waved her hands in front of her. She looked nervous. "Please. Besides, some else looks like they want your help." She looked past me. I turned around and saw Lyon staring at us while working. He smirked as I made my way over to him.

"Hey," I said, returning the smirk. I started helping him.

"Hey," he replied back. We worked in silence, enjoying each other's presence.

Natsu's POV

I laughed out loud. This girl was really great, I realized.

I thought this would be an awkward afternoon, but she clearly proved me wrong. We've been sitting here for nearly a half hour talking about random crap and I enjoyed all of it. She was easy to talk to and really fun to tease.

"So how was life at school?" she asked. Unlike me, she attended Love and Lucky High School for Girls.

"Boring," I replied. "No one knows how to have fun. I do one joke on one teacher and they threaten to call my father."

"Well, what did you do?"

I grinned. "Decorated my teacher's room with toilet paper, tin foil and cotton snowmen. The best part was that some people actually helped out. Although they got expelled afterwards. I, on the other hand, went on probation just because of my dad. I really wish I had gotten expelled."

"Well that's not good. You have to be respectful of your elders. And your education is important."

"Not this one. He was so annoying." I leaned back in my chair and kept grinning, remembering his fat face darken into a tomato. Somehow he knew it was me, and sent me to the Dean's office. The others who helped me were already there. I had no idea how they found out, I just knew we were in some serious trouble. I have no regrets though. It was worth it.

I looked at her, breaking out of my thoughts. She gave me a worried look to which I frowned at.

"What?" I asked.

"You're not going to do anything to me, are you?" she asked hesitantly.

I sat up straight. "No!" I exclaimed. "Why would you think that?"

She smiled. "Just making sure." I smiled back at her. "Besides," she continued, "If you do, by any chance, do some sort of prank on me, I'll be sure to return the favor."

My smile grew. Now here's a girl who knows how to have fun. Getting pranked on without getting offended. I was about to ask her what kind of things she has done when the doors suddenly opened, revealing my father. He gave a polite bow.

"Miss Lucy, it is time for you to go. Your father's carriage is waiting outside." She nodded solemnly and rose. I stood up with her and headed for the door. I was about to escort her out when dad stopped me.

"Not you. You're going to come with me to the fields."

"Why?" I asked.

"Can't I spend time with my son?" He smiled warmly. I relaxed and smiled back. He led me to the back door that led to the Plantation grounds after sending a slave to escort Lucy to the front.

He led me to the sugarcane field where I watched the slaves go about their work. They only had an hour to go, but they looked exhausted. I pitied them. They've never had the privileges I've had, but they were treated nicely by my father, getting good meals, well-furnished cabins and only punished if they fall severely out of line. The behavior of the Authority was proof of that.

When we walked up to the edge of the field, all of them turned to us. Looks like they were assisting in each other's work. I saw a dark haired boy helping a white haired one. They stopped to stare as well.

"Get back to work!" one of the Authority yelled. Immediately, they did as they were told. I took a step forward to get a closer look, but dad held me back. I looked at him and he shook his head. Obediently, I stood back in place and just watched.

Lucy's POV

"Did you enjoy yourself, Miss Lucy," Levy asked. I nodded.

"It was lovely. He was very nice and very entertaining," I told her. I stepped down from the carriage to the dusty road. It was a quiet ride home.

"That's good. Shall I draw your bath?"

"Yes please." We traveled through the manor until we made it to my room. There, Levy quickly went to the bathroom. I walked over to my vanity, took down my hair and began brushing through the curls. A few moments later, I heard the bath water running. I turned around, seeing Levy coming out holding a book.

"While we wait for the tub to fill…" She held out the novel timidly. It was the Book of Fairy Tales. I smiled and nodded. I opened it to where we left off the day before and sat next to her, quietly teaching her how to read.

Gray's POV

They just stood there watching for the last hour. Lyon and I finished early and went about helping everyone else. We stayed quiet, looking up occasionally to see if they were still there. Just like always, the Authority stayed silent and didn't whip us for no reason. An hour of bliss was granted.

After that period passed, we were called to go back to our cabins. We walked silently off the fields, nearing the Masters. I looked up and stared straight in the eye of the young Master. I tried to remember his name, but it wouldn't come. Natso? Natatusu? I just knew the last name. Dragneel. His onyx eyes gazed at me with shameless curiosity. I smiled slightly and he grinned back.

"Good job to you all!" he yelled. Startled, we all gawked at him. No one spoke to the slaves except the Authority and other slaves. Master thumped him on the head, but smiled anyway.

"Indeed, good job everyone. I'm grateful for you all." We pointed our gazes on him now. Even the Authority looked surprised. It wasn't as genuine as the young Master but I could see the kindness shining in his eyes.

I kept walking and all the while I tried not to think about the fluttery feeling I had when the young Master smiled at me.

Yay finished! I know, I know, it's boring, but trust me, it will get better. I have plans. Mwahahahaha. Anyway. Comment, like. Anything I can do better just tell me. So, anyway, until next chapter! Scarlet out! Loves y'all!