Enticing aromas hung in the air and the sounds of horns and drums were vibrating in everyone's heads. Festive games and shops selling tasty treats or little trinkets were being set up all around. Wild dancing could be seen everywhere you look on the street. Yes, nothing like a fair to get someone in a bright and cheerful mood. Unless of course you happen to be Judge Mard Geer.

He hated these type of events and he hated that he had to always attend them to ensure that things wouldn't get out of hand. Add that to the very long list of reasons for why he wanted to be king. So he wouldn't have to constantly keep the peace at these type of functions where he was forced to be around what he considered to be "The parasites of London."

But to Lucy it was all a dream come true. New sights, new sounds, new colors, new music, and new people. A surprise around every corner. It was as if London had been turned upside down today. A beggar could be a king and a king could be a clown. Dross could be gold and weeds could be a bouquet. Pomp and circumstance was just thrown away, and everything was turned topsy-turvy.

"So what do you think?" Natsu asked her. "Very different from what goes on in the castle, huh?"

"Yes it is." She smiled. "And I love it!"

"You do?"

"Yes! Everyone here can just act crazy and there's nothing wrong with that! No wonder you always loved coming here so much!"

"Yep." He said. "When I was a boy, I had two sanctuaries. The church and this place."

"A funny location for sanctuary but I have no complaints." She giggled.

"Oh and I hope you don't mind but I've invited someone to come along with us. For extra protection."

"Natsu not you too." She complained. "I don't need two bodyguards. I'm not even that important. Technically Erza would need more protection than me. She's the queen."

"Yeah but she's a queen who can hold her own, and as for your second bodyguard, I'm sorry but he insisted on being here. He wouldn't dream of missing an opportunity to attend the fair with you."

"Huh?"

Natsu then whistled and that huge cat of his came running toward them. Lucy's face instantly lit up when she saw him.

"Happy!" She bent down and threw her arms around his big, furry, neck, letting him nuzzle and purr up against her. "Oh it's so good to see you. How's the sweetest, smartest, cutest kitty-cat in the whole world?"

He licked her cheek.

"I still can't believe how big cats like you can get. I mean look at you, you're almost the size of a lion."

"He definitely has the appetite of one." Natsu said. "You know he can eat a whole pound of fish in just ten seconds."

"And you can eat a whole pound roast beef in five seconds." Happy thought. "So who's the bigger glutton?"

"Well come on." Natsu said. "Days like these are short so we better make the most of it. Let's go play some games."

"Alright. What kind of games do they have?"

"Oh lots. There's the ring toss, balloon darts, knock-down, and my personal favorite the test of strength."

"You mean that one where you have to ring the bell with a hammer?"

"Uh-huh."

"Didn't you break your arm the last time you tried that?"

Happy snickered, Natsu looked embarrassed.

"I was twelve. I hadn't developed muscles yet. But I'll get it this time."

"Just don't hurt yourself, please."

The next hour was spent with them playing one game after another and chowing down on festive treats. It was very fun but the best part would be when the fair would start putting on shows.

"Come one! Come all!"

Everyone's attention was caught by an eccentric-looking yet charming man who stood at the center of a stage in the square. The crowds flocked toward the stage and took their seats, with Natsu, Lucy, and Mard being sat in the balcony.

"Mard what are you doing here?" Lucy asked him. "I thought you hated the fair."

"I do but I am a public official. I have to be here." He said looking completely revolted by the sight of a man who was lame that was seated down below them. "Let it be known that I detest the theater."

"Oh hush you old stick in the mud." Natsu said. "You never know, this show might change your life."

"Forgive me, but just who the hell are you supposed to be?"

"Mard this is my old friend Natsu." Lucy said. "You remember him, don't you? He's Igneel's son."

"Oh...Him." Mard said looking even more revolted. "Hello farm boy."

Natsu but his tongue to help him keep his temper under control.

"Shh!" Lucy hushed. "It's starting."

"Hello ladies and gentlemen, I am Jellal and I welcome to you all to this place where miracles happen every hour." The man announced to the crowd. "Here at this fair, those who are cursed with afflictions, not considered useless or undesired! Here they are given the opportunity to present their remarkable gifts and talents! To show the world that though they have a burden, they still have a purpose! Behold!"

With the snap of his fingers, beggars, cripples, and outcasts appeared on stage dressed in an amazing array of funny topsy-turvy costumes and performing impressive tricks, such as juggling, tight-rope walking, and fire-breathing. Natsu and Lucy thought that it was the most incredible show ever. Seeing a cripple juggle, an old beggar walk upon a tight rope with ease, and a moor release massive flames from his mouth, it was astonishing. Truly magnificent.

"And now ladies and gentlemen allow me to present the most beautiful woman in England, a maiden who cannot see yet can move with perfect grace, my dear little sister, Juvia!"

Jellal threw some powder into the air and it exploded into a puff of colored smoke. Mysterious music floated and when the air cleared, a woman stood poised before the cheering crowd. Whether she was a human being, or a fairy, or an angel was more than they could decide for a moment but they could not look away from her. She was calm, fair, beautiful, formidable in her serenity and sweetness. She danced and moved as delicately as a feather in the wind as she played her tambourine.

"Wow! She's amazing!" Lucy said. "But there's no way she's blind. A blind person couldn't possibly dance so well."

"No she's blind!" Mard spat. "I've seen that girl before! Walking around the streets like a dim fool! Getting in everyone else's way! Disturbing the peace!"

"What is the matter with you?" Lucy asked. "She can't help it if she's blind."

"People like her don't belong here! She's different! I mean just look at her Natsu!" He snarled. "Look at that disgusting display!"

"Yes sir!" Natsu said, gazing at the dancer in an awe-struck manner, which earned him a jealous glare from Lucy.

She was a petite thing dressed in a garment varying shades of purple and had silver ribbons adorning her hair, she was not very tall but she had a curvaceous figure. Seventeen years old, a white-rose fair beauty with sapphire blue eyes and hair to match, and she sang with a voice which was light, deep, indescribable. All who listened thought that they heard the hymn of an angel or the song of a bird. She danced, she turned, she whirled rapidly about on an old Persian rug, spread negligently under her feet, and each time that her radiant face passed before you, as she whirled, her innocent blue eyes darted a flash of light at you.

All around her, all glances were riveted, all mouths open. The men could not take their eyes off of her. But there's only one man who's eye she wanted to catch. A man who's heart always thumped wildly when he watched her, and who, since meeting her at age eight, could have never imagined anything more beautiful. And who could not help feeling very jealous and agitated when other men would stare and whistle at her with lechery.

When she finished her dance the crowd cheered, clapped, and tossed coins into her tambourine as she held it out to them.

"Yes, yes, a real beauty isn't she?" Jellal said returning to the stage. "And I bet a lot of you single fellows would love to have her for a wife."

Every single man in that crowd except for Mard and Natsu shouted in excited.

"Unfortunately gentlemen this beauty is already spoken for. By a beast. The strongest and most agile beast in the world. With a face cursed by the devil to be so horried that he cannot bear to even show it."

On cue, a man came flipping down from above, landing on his feet perfectly. A strong, slender, and finely-built eighteen year old with raven black hair, serious dark eyes, and a mask upon the lower regions of his face. Something about him commanded suspense and intensity. Like a wolf who had just laid eyes on his prey and was slowly taking his time to decide when to pounce. It struck the crowd silent.

But then he suddenly became as gentle as a lamb when the woman reached a hand out to him. He knelt down, accepted her hand, and placed his head under it. A gesture to show that he was her constant support. Next he pulled her close, picked her up, and really surprised the audience by leaping high up and pulling them on to the top of the stage, grabbing a rope, and soaring above the entire audience. They applauded him enthusiastically.

"He is a beast!" Jellal declared. "But one who can glide better than any acrobat in a circus!"

The cheers grew louder and more coins were thrown on to the stage.

"Hey see if you can catch this." Natsu threw three shillings up to them.

"Heads up Juvia." The masked man whispered to her. "Three good ones coming our way."

The blind girl quickly held out her hands and caught the three coins of silver.

"Thank you!" She called out.

The show concluded with the man doing another back-flip and once again landing on the stage flawlessly and without dropping the woman in his arms.

"That was incredible!" Lucy clapped. "I wonder how they learn to do all those things?"

"It's a great mystery." Natsu said. "Unless you're like me, who regularly visits these performers and will sometimes be allowed to have a little hint about their tricks."

"You know these people?" Lucy asked.

"Not all of them. I don't know the guy with blue hair or Beauty and the Beast over there, but that juggler and tight rope walker have both been good friends of mine for years. When the juggler, his name is Weisslogia, first lost all use of his left leg, Father and I assisted him with his work and made sure that he never felt useless or gave into depression. And according to the tight rope walker, his name is Skiadrum, I was the first friend he ever made when he first moved to London. I also used to play with both of their sons, Sting and Rogue, when we were kids."

"How nice. I'd like to meet them."

"I'd like to introduce you to all of them but Sting is on his honeymoon right now and Rogue is away, study at the university. But they should come by to visit their fathers any day now. I'll introduce you then."

"I look forward to it."

Oh how Lucy wished that this fair could go on forever. How she wished that the sun would never set, cause if it didn't then she wouldn't have to go back to that cold and lonely palace. But such desires cannot be, and at sunset, Natsu escorted the duchess home just as he had told the queen he would.

"I had a wonderful time." She said when they stopped at the castle gate.

"Me too." Natsu said. "Being in the military makes you really miss days like these."

"I hope we can do it again one day."

"Maybe." He kissed her hand again. "Goodnight Lucy."

"Goodnight Natsu."

And the two reluctantly parted ways for the evening. Lucy re-entered the castle and Natsu watched her figure until she was out of sight, his eyes full of sorrow and longing.

"I can't let myself do this again Happy." He sighed, petting his cat on the head. "It'll only hurt us both in the end."

The cat only gave his master a sympathetic look and joined him on the walk home.