Chapter Ten: A Royal Encounter
Recap: Lucy of FairyTail has set out to find Aquarius' missing key. Along the way she took an S-Class quest to help her in her search. So far she has found several clues and has been attacked by bandits working for a mysterious 'Rowena'. Though she tries trouble always seems to find her.
Lucy POV:
Oh was I happy to get out of there and see sunlight at last. I stretched and yawned as I wandered down one of Crocus' main streets accompanied by Aries who had been invited to spend the day with me. I couldn't help but think that days spent indoors with few windows will get to you after a while. I couldn't believe it had taken me over a week to get everything I needed. I knew if Pauz had been able to stick around after the first day things would have been faster but sadly for me work had called and we'd had to say goodbye. Slowly making our way back to the inn, we were just about to turn off the main thoroughfare when I spotted something interesting: a new magic shop. It must have only recently opened as the signs were still up announcing its presence.
"Aries, do you mind if we take a quick detour?"
Gesturing to the large brightly lit sign to the right of us I waited for her to look. The store looked new in design, full of colourful lights and with a magic wheel colours system changing the stores logo design constantly.
"Of course not Lucy-sama I'm sorry."
Wandering closer, I figured we might as well take a look as you never know when you will find something useful. Entering the store, I decided to start at the back and make our way slowly to the front counter. The shop was quite large with the counter to the left of the entrance and different magic sections running off towards the back of the store. Nothing seemed to be placed in a specific order though everything was grouped up into sections depending on type of magic. Not surprisingly I found myself enjoying the experience of showing Aries all the new and wondrous magic items that were for sale; it turned out some Aries had heard of, while others she hadn't ever seen before.
Some of things I saw brought up memories of my friends and guild mates. There were some magic swords and decks of magic cards; there were even several weird totem dolls that reminded me of Bickslow's babies. The worst though had to be when we came to the magic texts section and I saw at a glance several books on ancient languages and even one on script magic. I couldn't help but think that Levy would have loved this place. Pushing the thought straight back out of my mind to the depths of hell where it belonged, I quickly walked away and made my way resolutely to the front of the store instead before I could start crying. Refocusing I realised I hadn't seen the main reason why we came into the store. Walking up to the counter I waited as the clerk finished serving another customer before I spoke.
"Excuse me I'd like to enquire about any possible celestial gate keys you might have in stock."
After a few comments about their rarity and how there was not much call for them nowadays the clerk finally brought out a chest containing five silver keys. I couldn't help but admire the celestial keys on offer. If it was possible I would have purchase them all, even the duplicate copies I could see of Plue and Lyra. It was always a tug of war lately, on one hand the spirits would be safe with me but on the other I would be limiting a good mage's ability to find friends. Glancing at the clerk I just remembered something I was going to ask.
"By any chance you wouldn't happen to have any gold keys would you?"
Shaking his head the clerk gestured to the chest,
"Sorry miss that's all we have at the moment. I'm afraid I haven't seen a gold celestial key in years. As far as I know they're all contracted to other wizards."
Smiling to show I understood even if he was slightly wrong I made sure to finish my thought.
"If it's not too much trouble if any gold keys do come in could you contact the Fairy Tail guild and give me a chance to check them out before you sell them."
Nodding to show that he would I finally went back to looking at the silver keys. I immediately had a silent debate with my greedy self then couldn't help glance at Aries for her guidance.
"What do you think Aries? Who should I get? I really want to buy all of them but it's so frustrating. Ahh keys why must you tempt me?"
I knew I'd have to come to a compromise on how much of my savings I would allow myself to spend though what with the extra jewels I had gained from those thugs me and Pauz had captured there was a little leeway.
"I'm sorry Lucy-sama I don't know how to answer, I'm sorry."
Smiling to show I didn't blame Aries one bit I sighed as I forced my devil nature to shut up and let me think.
"O.k. Aries, how about this: one key per store, sounded sensible to you?"
Nodding to show she agreed I reached over and gave her a quick hug hoping to ease her worries. I knew it was a reasonable compromise; it enabled me to make new friends while also saving enough money for the journey. I quickly separated out the three keys that I didn't already own, closed my eyes and held my hand out over them. Without conscious thought or magical influence I dropped my hand and reached for a key. Opening my eyes I saw which new spirit would become part of the family: the stalking cat Lynx. Satisfied with the choice I turned to back to the clerk and got ready for the haggling.
"And how much is this little thing you lovely lovely man?"
Leaning on the counter and pushing my arms under my chest I gave the girls a good showing thankful that I was in a low cut t-shirt because of how stuffy the library was. Blinking and looking up under my lashes I bit my lip slightly as I gave a small smile (the things I do for a discount disgusts me sometimes). With his eyes practical glued to my breasts that were showing over the edge of my shirt I waited.
"Well miss seeing how you're such a fine young lady, how about I give it to you for let's say thirty thousand jewels and…"
Leaning closer to her the store clerk winked.
"…a kiss."
Trying hard not to grimace, I held in the urge to Lucy-kick the little toad. Quickly getting the required jewels out of my purse I put them on the counter then smiled as I leaned across the glass. Just as my lips were about to touch I jerked my head to the side and grazed his cheek instead.
"Thank you ever so much. Well take care now and don't forget to call if a gold key comes in. Bye bye."
Before he could react I spun and pushed Aries towards the exit. I was so focused on attaching my new key to the keyring and getting out of there as quickly as possible that I wasn't watching where I was going and bumped straight into the person walking past the door. Looking up as I started to apologise I found that I'd literally walked straight into Princess Hisui.
"Princess?"
"Lucy!"
I could tell that Hisui was just as shocked as I was about running into each other. I couldn't keep the grin from spreading across my face as I reached forward and hugged her. I was just so happy to see a friendly face.
"Oh my god Princess it is so good to see you again. How have you been?"
I couldn't help looking round for Coronal Arcadios, where you saw the Princess he was usually two steps behind. I was a little shocked not to see him or any royal guards for that matter. I was about to ask when she beat me to it.
"Lucy-san, do you mind if we go somewhere to talk. I could really do with some advice."
A look at her face showed me it was serious but before I could comment Aries spoke up.
"I'm sorry Lucy-sama but I need to go now I'm sorry goodbye Lucy-sama."
Waving goodbye I quickly turned and bid the Princess to follow me as I knew of a cute little café a street over from my inn. Once inside I had her sit down in seat by the window while I went up to the counter and ordered two strawberry milkshakes and two slices of chocolate cake. Carrying everything back over to the table it took me a second to realise that something was different about her. As I sat down it hit me that the Princess was dressed casually. She was missing her usual hair accessories and was in a plain blue dress that in no way declared her true status. As she looked up at me and smiled shyly in thanks it occurred to me that for some reason Princess Hisui was going incognito. Suddenly getting series I pushed my shake away and frowned at her.
"Hisui-chan what's this all about?"
I knew I was taking a risk with her name but I figured calling her Princess would be more inappropriate than misusing the honorifics. I was horrified when for some reason she started to tear up. Gesturing wildly in panic I grabbed the nearest napkin and thrust it at her. Taking it she wiped away the tears and smiled in thanks. I decided it would be best not to say anything else in case I set her off again so I waited as she got hold of herself. She took a deep breath settled down then started to explain.
"My father has decided that it is time that I get married."
Suddenly I was having very horrific flashbacks. Praying I was wrong I listened as she continued.
"He has requested that I attend the next royal ball and seek out a possible suitor. The anniversary of my uncle's marriage is coming up next month and so my father… he expects me to…"
Before she could start crying again I up out of my side of the booth and slid into her side and hugged her. I knew from experience what it felt like to have your choice in husband be dictated to you so I acted without thought. It took her a couple of minutes but finally she calmed down enough for me to speak and assume she heard me.
"Princess, Hisui-chan I know your father loves you very much. That's obvious every time the two of you are together. I don't really know what to tell you other than you have to talk to him. He's not the type of man that would force you to be unhappy. I'm sure he just wants what's best for you. Why don't you talk it out, I'm sure there's got to be some kind of compromise. Besides you never know you could get lucky and met the love of your life at the ball if not I'm sure your father would understand."
As I watched her reaction she took on a rosy hue and it suddenly hit me, the absence of Arcadios, the tears, the fear I could see in her eyes: she was already in love. Shocked speechless I finally realised why she would ask for my help. I was well known in high society for refusing to let my father arrange my marriage and as a Fairy Tail mage we were known to ignore the rules all the time.
"Hisui-chan would I be wrong in supposing you already have someone special?"
Blushing she stuttered as she answered.
"Lucy-san I… I can't tell father he wouldn't approve. He wants me to marry a prince not a a… There's no way he would ever let me and… I just, Lucy-san there's no hope, and now now Arcadios-kun won't even speak at me."
I tried to catch the smile before it made it to my face; she was so cute when she was flustered. As I sat there watching her alternate blushing and palling, a strange thought popped into my head. Though I was loth to admit it and tried my best to forget it I was considered a sort of hero by those that knew what happened in the final battle with Zeref. Some of the people that knew the truth just happened to be the King and the new Magic Council. As a speculative gleam entered my eye I grabbed my shake and starting drinking it to give me time to ponder.
"Lucy-san what am I going to do?"
I had just finished my drink and was starting on my slice of cake when the thought in the back of my mind solidified.
"Alright Hisui-chan here's how it's going to go. You go to your father and tell him that you love him very much and that like he asked, you have found yourself a suitor. That the 'Fairy Hero' Lucy Heartfilia thinks that it would be a successful match and that it would bring stability and a sense of unification to the kingdom. At this point if we're lucky he should be nodding along. Now if he is you say this 'Father I will do as you ask and marry my intended for the good of the people. Arcadios-kun will be here soon how do I look?' after that you're on your own with Arcadios, my advice there is not to give the man any wiggle room he kind of seems to be the type of guy that would sacrifice his happiness for the supposed greater good. If I thought it would work I'd say get him drunk and have him knock you up then he'd have to marry you."
Her gasp of outrage was most amusing as well as the fact her face went bright red in embarrassment. I guess I'd been hanging out with Cana too much lately.
"If that too extreme for you, you could always get him drunk and elope."
As I watched her face go back to normal I took the last bite of my cake: erm delicious. As Hisui got a thoughtful expression on her face I started to wonder, if I didn't know better I would say that my last suggestion had got her thinking. Shaking off the notion I had a thought that might cheer her up and get her mind off her problems.
"Hey Hisui-chan, fancy seeing me make a contract with my new spirit before I have to leave town?"
Looking at me for the first time since we'd bumped into each other with joy the princess didn't hesitate.
"Oh Lucy-san that would be wonderful, I always love meeting new spirits."
I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm as we both stood up and made our way outside. If there was one thing that could always be sure to cheer up a celestial mage, it was seeing a new spirit for the first time. Stretching once again into the sun I couldn't help but think that my little S-Class adventure had gotten off to such an interesting start. I couldn't wait to see what happened next.