Erza was not at all surprised by how Lucy looked when she saw her again after so many years. She had matured to look exactly how the new queen had expected her to look. An enchanting, perfumed, and sparkling young lady with a dowry of gold and diamonds but the gold was on her head and the diamonds were in her mouth, her perfect blond hair and perfect teeth which formed a perfect smile. She was like a ray of sunshine in a sky of stormy clouds.

"Hello Erza." Lucy said, intimidated. Her older sister now appeared so proud, regal, and strong. She was the spitting image of her mother but her father's stance and manner.

"Traditionally." Erza said. "Now that I am queen, everyone must refer to me as your majesty."

Fear crossed Lucy's features when she heard this. She had always been afraid of what Erza would be like once she finally left that tower. Terrified that the years of isolation and misery had turned her cold and cruel like their father.

"But for my little sister, I'll make an exception." She smiled warmly.

Relief washed all over Lucy and she practically sprinted toward the throne, throwing her arms around the new queen who met her with a warm embrace. Many things had changed about the two sisters, but not their relationship. Erza still loved her as much as she did when they were younger.

"I've missed you so much Erza." She said. "This castle just wasn't the same without you."

"And I you." Erza said. "Knowing that I would see you again one day was among the very few things that kept me sane."

"How sentimental." Mard Geer said, acting as if he had a heart that could be touched.

"Away from me." Erza said told him.

"Yes your majesty." He said bowing.

"Away." She repeated when he didn't move.

"Yes your majesty."

"Away,"

"Yes-"

"Ah-way."

Mard quickly exited the throne room.

"Personally Lucy, I was always concerned about him being in charge of your upbringing." Erza said. "After all, he is no different from Father."

"Well there is one difference. At least he pays attention to me. Father liked to pretend that I didn't even exist." Lucy replied.

"Well in regards to a person like Mard, I'd rather be ignored."

"So you really are the queen now." Lucy said taking a good long look at Erza's garments and the crown she wore. "You look the part, and you definitely act the part. But why wear such dull and drab colors?"

"Because I do not deserve to wear brightly colored gowns of silk and satin yet. I have done nothing to deserve that luxury. Until I have atoned for our father's sins, I shall be humble. I will speak humbly, dress humbly, eat humbly, and live humbly."

"Live humbly? Does that mean your moving out of the castle?"

"I considered it but then I remembered, that would leave that snake Mard in charge of the household. So no. I shall remain in the castle, but I shall not hold any grand galas or balls or celebrations until England's glory is restored. I owe it to my people."

"No one is blaming you for what our father did."

"No but it is my responsibility to set things right. It's what my mother would have done if our father had passed before she did."

"So things will be changing around here?"

"Naturally."

"Then I guess that means I won't have to stay cooped up here anymore, right? I can finally leave the castle? Have some real freedom?"

"Not quite." Erza said. "Now Lucy I have no intention of keeping you prisoner here like our so-called father did to us. But I cannot simply just let you go out there and do as you please."

"Why not? I'm old enough."

"But not mature enough. You're naive and rebellious which is a troublesome mix for a young woman. It would be dangerous to just let you leave without some form of protection."

"Protection?"

"Someone to guide you through the city streets and protect you from the ramble. Now I know you've always to attend one of those fairs, why? I don't know. Personally I find them rather irritating, but I shall grant you permission to attend."

"You will?" Lucy asked hopefully.

"Yes. Provided that the bodyguard I arranged is at your side the entire time."

"Oh no, not a bodyguard." Lucy whined. "Erza you know what the palace guards are like. They won't give me a moment's peace out there. They'll constantly bother me with questions about what I need and they'll frighten away anyone who comes near. I'll have a terrible time."

"Oh I have a feeling that you're going to like this one. I picked him out especially for you."

"You picked him out? Who is he?"

"An old friend of yours." She grinned. "Farmer Dragneel's son. He's returned from military training and I thought he'd make a fine protector for you."

Lucy did not know what to say, because she had not expected to see Natsu Dragneel ever again after he left for training. She had expected once he became a trained soldier, he would have gone off to fight in a war and eventually die on the battle field. She had wept many times the day he had left and for one year, she prayed night after night that one day he would come back. Now at long last her prayers had been answered.

The throne room doors were then opened and in walked the young man in uniform. When she saw him, Lucy remained perfectly composed appearance wise, but on the inside she was quite taken with how handsome the years had made him.

"Your majesty." He said bowing before Erza.

"You're late." She said.

"My apologies, my lady. But I became a little lost on the journey. I hope I didn't miss much."

"No. Not much. Only my entire coronation." She said. "But nevertheless, you are here now and that's all that matters."

With her permission, Natsu took Erza by the hand and kissed it.

"Of course I don't think any introductions are needed for whom you shall be watching over today." She said gesturing toward Lucy.

Natsu almost lost himself when his eyes fell upon her. She had always been pretty and he knew she would be once he saw her again but, he was still greatly surprised and awed. She was tall and amply formed, and showed as much as possible of her magnificent person. She wore heavy earrings of garnet-stones, with which were mixed among those whimsical gems called "The Crown Jewels." Her upper dress was of crimson muslin, embroidered all over with gold. A large diamond brooch closed her chemise, and she wore what seemed like a cuirass of rubies, some uncut, but polished, and precious stones were sewn all over the body of her dress. Her arms, elbows, shoulders, chin, and nostrils, with the top of her eyelids, the lobes of her ears, the palms of her hands, the tips of her fingers, were tinted with a glowing and provoking touch of colour. Above all, she wore an expression of implacable determination to be beautiful.

"Hello again Princess." Natsu swallowed his shyness, recovered his boldness, and kissed her hand just as he had done with her older sister.

Lucy blushed upon hearing her old nickname.

"Hello again Natsu." She smiled at him.

"How are you?"

"I'm very well. I've officially become a grand duchess."

"So I've heard. But I still think that you're technically a princess."

"I see that you finally grew. I guess all that worrying you did about being short forever was all for naught."

Natsu blushed a little.

"Didn't I tell you? You could be fifteen and still have a growth spurt." She chuckled.

"I see that you still think that you know everything." He smirked.

"I don't think I know everything. I just think that I know more than you. I normally did when we were kids."

"Well I'm not a little boy anymore. I'm a grown man and I've learned a lot about the world."

"Then maybe you can teach me something for once." She said. "Like how much fun you can have at a fair."

"What do you mean? I told you all there is to know about a fair years ago."

"Yes but you've never actually taught me about it first hand. But you will today."

He looked over at Erza.

"You mean you're actually going to let her go to the fair?" He asked.

"As long as you're there to protect her then yes." Erza said.

"Oh I will!" Natsu said trying to contain his excitement. "Believe me, I will. I won't let her out of my sight for even a moment. I swear!"

"I'm holding you to that." Erza's tone suddenly turned very cold and stern, her eyes steely giving off a bone-chilling gaze. "Because if anything happens to her at this fair today, if so much as one blond hair is harmed on her head, it'll be off with yours! Do you understand?"

Natsu gulped and nodded.

"Yes your majesty."

"And Captain Dragneel." She added. "I've heard about your reputation with the ladies. My sister will be leaving here a virgin and I expect her to return here a virgin. If not, then it won't be your head that gets cut off."

Natsu's face was instantly drained of all color.

"Erza!" Lucy cried. "You're embarrassing me!"

"Forgive me Lucy." Erza said. "I just want to make sure that this young fellow knows what I expect of someone trusted with my sister's safety and well-being."

"I know it your majesty." Natsu said trying to stop his body was trembling. "Don't worry. You can count on me."

"I sincerely hope so. Have her returned the castle before dark and not a moment longer."

"Yes your majesty."

She turned to smile at Lucy.

"I have a wonderful time at the fair. Enjoy yourself but please, don't get into any trouble."

"Oh sister." Lucy scoffed. "What kind of trouble could I possibly get into?"

"With the kind of wild streak you have, anything is possible."

At long last, Erza dismissed them and poor Natsu was shaking the whole time he walked down the castle hall.

"Your sister scares me Lucy." He said.

"I know." She replied. "She scares everyone. Even Mard."

"What happened to that guy anyway? Is he still around?"

"Yes. He's been promoted to court judge of parliament now."

"What a shame. I had hoped he was dead."

"Natsu!" She scolded.

"What? You know he never likes me. He always called me farm boy and said that my place would always be with the pigs. Yeah he'd know all about pigs, wouldn't he? Since he's probably related to them."

"Natsu please. Don't start that again. Not today."

"Alright, alright." He complied. "You're right. Today is a happy day and we're going to have lots of fun. I've been wanting to take you to a fair forever."

"I know and I can hardly wait another moment."

"Then enough waiting! Let's just go!"

And away they went.