"Natsu-"

"Why? Why do you want to stay in Fairy Tail, Luce? Is Laxus Dreyar threatening you? You don't like battles. But he dragged you into his family affairs, and ordered you to battle. Why do you help him obediently? Can't you see he is using you?"

Yeah, she knows. His Highness Laxus does admit that he is using her since the beginning.

"Because I like him."

"What?"

"I said I like Laxus Dreyar. I'm sorry, Natsu. I know you want to help me, but I chose to stay here... in Fairy Tail... in this manor... because I'm willing... because of Laxus Dreyar."

"No. Luce.. You're lying."

It isn't a lie. She likes Laxus Dreyar very much.

"I'm such a fool who regrets everyday of how I failed to protect you, yet you're enjoying your life here," the guy who she considered one of her best friends gave her a painful laugh.

"Do you think Laxus will forgive you when he found out that you are a fake?"

His Highness knows of the truth since the beginning.

"Don't forget who you are, Lucy. Besides, a nobility like him won't love a servant girl like you."

What Natsu says is true, but every single word is too harsh to her... like a dagger piercing her heart.

Tears...

"You're right. I'm not someone he will like. I'm not worth him. I'm not a noble princess."

Inferiority... Status differences...

"I just want to stay beside him while hiding my feelings."

Since when does she fall for His Highness, against all odds?

"Thank you for reminding me, Natsu. I won't say goodbye. Please go."

Broken friendship.. is it the cost for what she has done?

• • • • •

"You know Blondie, don't take his words so seriously."

"You heard my confession. So why do you act like nothing happened?"

He remains silent...

And at that moment, she knows his answer... that he can't return her feelings. She is just his teammate, his subordinate.

"Romantic feelings are forbidden here, Blondie." Little does she know, he hides his true feelings for a reason... He cares for her more than anything.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, Please don't mind me." A broken heart, how long does it take to heal?

Love from a fake relationship... romance in the Kingdom crisis... Will it be ended in a satisfied way?

• • • • •

New enemies...

"Where is Zoldeo?"

"He got the real Princess. Stupid King Eucliffe doesn't know that we have a spy in the palace."

"Good. Soon we will get the celestial power to awaken the ancient demons."

• • • • • • • • • •

New Threat...

"Your Royal Highness, Lucelia-sama is kidnapped."

"WHAT!"

• • •

"Rogue, Gajeel. Depart the palace immediately to rescue Lucelia. Kill everyone who kidnapped the Princess."

• • • • •

The past...

"My spirits, please protect my child." A woman with blond hair hugged a baby girl before handing her daughter to her subordinate. "Protect Lucy at any cost. The world will be in chaos if they get her magic."

• • • • •

The present...

"Open the gate of the snake chamber! Ophiuchus."

• • • • •

"Sting, people in the cave are dead. I think it's a spell cast by Lucelia's snake spirit. But we don't see her anywhere."

"Yes, we can't sense her scent, too. All we could sense is dusk, blood, and poisons."

"Sis, where are you?" He whispered worriedly.

Mystery from the past that will change the present...

• • • • •

"We should go to Fairy Tail based on the past experience. Only dark guilds from that Kingdom dared to mess with us."

To the rescue...

• • • • •

"This chick is hot. Come on girl. Let me accompany you in bed."

"White dragon's roar."

A fateful encounter...

"Hey, are you okay?"

Love at first sight...

The moment he stares into her brown eyes, he feels butterflies in his stomach. These beautiful yet fearful eyes seems familiar to him. He gets captivated by her beauty,Her cute face and her short light blue hair...

His desire to protect her... He doesn't want to see that fearful look on her face again.

She nods softly to her savior.

"What's your name?" He asks gently.

But she doesn't answer back.

"Look like she can't talk." When his best friend comments, he can't help but feels pity for her.

She sits down, picks up a stick, spells her name on the sand with her left hand. YUKINO

"YUKINO... what a beautiful name. I'm Sting, and they're my friends, Rogue, Natsu, and Gajeel. We are from Northfall City... from Sabertooth. Nice to meet you."

A white lie which he doesn't mean to lie.

She just smiles, a meaningful smile that only herself knows the answer.

• • • • •

"Sting, stop it."

"Stop what?"

"What Rogue means is you should kill your feelings before it harms you."

"Sting, listen to me. You're not an ordinary guy. You should stop hanging out with Yukino-san."

"Can't I fall in love?" He questions back with annoyance.

"Rogue is right. Your father won't agree your relationship with Snowgirl."

He looks at his friends who are looking at him worriedly. He smiles painfully, "You know guys, it's too late."

Because he has fallen for her.

• • • • • • • • • •

Another tragedy in a peaceful demon clan...

"KILL EVERY DEMON."

Painful screams... and extreme agony...

"Run. Minerva. Run. Protect this book. Don't let the spirit of E.N.D escape from the seal. I'm sorry, child, Mom has to leave you like this. Sorry. I love you, Mina. Go!" Then the queen of the demon clan pushed her daughter into a space timeline to escape. A smile of relief crept into her lips.

Every mother wants the best for their children, even if they have to sacrifice their life for their children's survival.

xxxxx

Engaging in battles...

Falling in love...

Facing numerous hardships and challenges...

Will the fairies and tigers discover their true loves and get happy endings that they deserve?


SECRETS AND LIES; LOVE AGAINST ALL ODDS (PART-2)