prompt forty two: Opportunities

rate: T for Teens and Up

Forty two out of one hundred.

Continuation of queen Lucy and dragon Natsu. This shall have another part coming soon… so put away those pitch forks and knives. I clearly have a patience issue and i should not be updating every single day because my children will become spoiled but mama loves you all so bon appétit

"Pressure is nothing more than the shadow of great opportunity." —Michael Johnson

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Lucy paced in her chambers, mind racing a million miles per hour while her heart has yet to slow down.

The dragon laughed. And not only did he laugh, he spoke.

This entire time, she thought he was mute or dragons just simply could not speak. Maybe they had a weird mind talking thing but she did not think this dragon would speak to her much less laugh at her.

She was sure to have made a fool out of herself in front of him. He probably thought all sorts of things about her and the Celestial kingdom if their queen was this wonky.

After their little chat in his cell, Lucy did what she thought was best.

She ran away.

She didn't even reply or even take another look back as she scrambled to rush out of there all flustered. The knights were all in a panic seeing her run back up, cheeks flushed, and a wild look on her face. She quickly dismissed them before she had run off, heart racing and mind rushing.

She was fucked. Royally, shamelessly fucked.

It didn't help that he agreed to the terms and now with the dragon on board with this crazy idea of mating, what was she supposed to do? How was she supposed to do this? She's read books and been told what was to happen between a man and woman. She has yet to experience such a situation but it was pretty simple and straightforward from what it seems.

But with a dragon? What would they look like… down there? Would there be scales? Would it be burning hot? Would he shoot lava instead of sperm?

No, there is no way. Then he wouldn't agree to have sex with her if he would be producing elements that she would not be able to harbor.

What was wrong with her?! How could she think this way? She hasn't even spoken to him about the situation or even her advisor who would surely jump to the moon once he found out the dragon had agreed. Regardless if it was consensual or not, she was sure he would have encouraged it nonetheless.

The queen groaned as she tugged on her golden locks, messing up the beautiful hairstyle her maids have done for her this morning. But they were already messed up from the heat she was bathing in not that long ago and from the wild, crazy events that had just been happening right after the next.

The queen could only flop on her bed, a low groan spilling out of her lips.

Why did it have to be this way?

She knew she shouldn't be doing this but there were a lot of things she shouldn't be doing but end up doing. Sneaking out had been a ritual for her for the last two months and she would be damned if she let this dragon think he had scared her away because he finally spoke. Besides, she had a lot to talk with him about and she knew it wouldn't be easy with all those knights and ears lingering around.

Her advisor was… ecstatic. He wept in front of her like a baby and she gawked at him in horror and mild confusion. He urgently advised her to get to it and tried to drag her downstairs almost immediately but she had screeched about needing to do work and allowing the dragon to process what had happened.

Thankfully he had understood her reasoning and asked her to let them know what must they prepare for this great task.

It was a little bit odd how excited the kingdom was for the queen to partake in sexual relations with a dragon.

Maybe they were all hoping she would burn or pass during the process since nobody knew what would be to come when it came to mating with dragons.

With the heat fanning over her body like a splash of water, Lucy trekked down the cobblestone stairs with a pinched look on her face. Her brows were furrowed and she had been chewing on her bottom lip as she had no idea what was to come afterwards. Maybe hopefully he had forgotten about the entire thing? Or possibly save her the embarrassment by going mute once more?

Oh but the way his voice echoed deep inside of her body and how she felt it down to the pits of her stomach made her squirm.

It was just a voice! Why was she being so weird about a goddamn voice?

Such deep vibrations and soothing sounds. The way she could hear his low growls and chuckle echo in her mind along with his sultry voice.

I would be happy to accept your invitation to this feast.

A shiver ran up her spine and she had no idea why considering she was down in the dungeon where the temperature had been nothing but unforgiving since they had captured the beast.

She had gotten used to prancing around with no shoes and just in her nightgown. It felt like a hot summer day when she was down here with him and even though she feels the heat rising and falling on occasion, she had gotten very comfortable and used to the heat. Her body continued to get slick and sticky with her sweat but it was nothing that she was having to whine about anymore. It was almost comforting in a way and maybe that was the heat talking but she honestly did not mind it like some others did.

Coming down the hall and rounding the corner to the one cell she knew all too well, Lucy swallowed hard and clutched onto the torch with her might. Her knees felt weak but she had to remind herself that she is a queen and a queen must not show any fear or weaknesses in front of an enemy.

But… he isn't an enemy… is he?

She trusted him to some degree considering they had been spending every night together with her chatting his ear off. She thought of him as an acquaintance since she did enjoy his company and he allowed her to come and rant about her days. He gave her what not a lot of people did and that was company. Someone who wouldn't judge her or reprimand her for her silly thoughts.

Her papa used to say she had the craziest imagination.

She would agree because how could a princess like herself run off to experience adventure?

His dark golden eyes were on her as soon as she had stepped into view and she knew that he already knew she had come before she had appeared. His eyes were always on hers when she came but this time, it only made her clutch the torch closer to her chest and gulp.

"H—hello," her voice wobbled slightly, salvia being swallowed down. She entered the cell and placed her torch on the wall before coming over to stand in front of him, his head tilted up to blink at her while she chewed on her bottom lip.

She looked nervous with the way she tapped her foot and nervously looked around. She opened her mouth a few times to speak but every time she would try, nothing would come out and she would just clamp her mouth shut and start to pace.

Seemed like the dragon was back to being mute as he stayed silent and watched her pace.

"I do not understand why it took you this long to speak." She suddenly blurted out, turning to look at him as he raised a brow. "I know I told you before that if you do not wish to speak you do not have to but for the longest time I believed you were mute or dragons did not speak out loud but in their minds."

The way the corner of his lips twitched and tugged upwards made her stare at him in awe.

"And suddenly you are showing more expressions than ever. You—you are smiling and laughing and speaking in full sentences…" she muttered, curling her hand under her chin as she squinted at the darkness. "And to think I did not believe you could understand the English tongue or even speak."

"No basket today?"

This caught her off guard as she whipped her head over to look at him, eyes wide and frozen in her spot. Her jaw had dropped slightly as she stared at the expecting dragon, his eyebrow raised as his lips curled into a smirk.

"I beg your pardon?" She spoke after a moment of silence and she was trying to process what was going on.

"No basket today." He repeated, the words coming out as a statement rather than a question now.

She blinked stupidly as she remembered what a goddamn basket was and she felt herself blushing from embarrassment. Was it possible to drop dead from it?

"Oh, my apologies sir dragon, I must have forgotten about it since I was in such a hurry! I shall get some—"

"Natsu."

"Ehh?" She stopped in her tracks as she was mid-step towards the door to grab some food for her beast. Her head swiveled to turn over her shoulder and stare at him, the said man leaned comfortably against the wall.

"My name," he said again and she felt frozen in her spot as his eyes pinned against hers. "Natsu. Natsu Dragneel."

She could feel her mouth rounding out into an 'o' as she didn't know where her voice had gone off to. She simply swallowed and nodded, sweat starting to drip down her forehead and she was unsure if the heat had spiked once more or if it was just her overheating in emotions.

"Right." She nodded firmly. "Natsu…" His name felt foreign on her tongue, the syllables rolling off easily. "Well, it is nice to finally put a name to a face. It is my honor, sir Dragneel." She dipped down to a little curtsy.

"No need for the formalities, your majesty." He held a lazy smirk, giving her a mischievous nod. "Just Natsu is fine."

She nodded her head as a response and the silence had returned once more. Instead of it being comforting like it usually was, it made her feel very aware of how thick the air was and how awkward it felt to be in a room with him.

"So," she fiddled with her thumbs, squirming in her spot. "I… um, well we, or…" She was stumbling over words again and she wondered if it was the dizzying heat that made her feel as if her tongue had grown two sizes. "I have come to speak about… this mornings, um, events."

"You mean the part where you were rambling about getting split in half by a dragon's penis?"

Her entire face was flaming up and she swore he was raising the temperature. She knew she probably had the look of horror crossing her face and she tried her best to be the queen she was but for some reason this dragon was poking her in all her hidden spots. Nobody has spoken so brazenly in front of her and thinking he was just a mute man for nearly two months then throwing all sorts of things at her now made her head want to explode.

"H—how brazen of you! Speaking to a queen in such a manner!"

"I am just repeating what you said earlier, your majesty," he tilted his head to the side, a playful smile on his face. "Is that not what you said?"

She was sputtering and feeling too warm for her own good. It was dizzying to be in a room with such a man who spoke so freely and shamelessly. She crossed her arms across her chest and turned her head away, huffing out while a small pout came to her lips.

"You are incorrigible."

"And you are insatiable."

Her heart was racing in her chest and she felt her belly pool with warmth. She had no idea what she was feeling as she felt squirmish and out of breath. She pressed her hand to her reddened cheek while using her other hand to fan herself.

"Why, I have never experienced such a man of your kind," she murmured, glaring at the wall. "Suddenly now you have found your voice, all you are spewing is nonsense."

"My kind are simple creatures who are capable of more things than spewing nonsense." He grinned wickedly at her and she had to stop herself from gawking at him. "You shall know soon enough when we are partaking in your mating rituals."

Lucy dropped to her knees right in front of him and he didn't so much as bat an eye. He raised a brow at her as she gave him such a wide eyed look, her brows furrowing and her lips parting.

"I must know," she turned to look behind her as if she was expecting someone to be there. "What… What sort of mating rituals do dragons have?"

He gave her a flat look, an eyebrow raised as she chewed on her bottom lip in anxiety.

"I… I must be honest with you," she lowered her gaze to stare down at her hands that rest on her lap, fingers nervously twiddling. "I do not know much about… that." She swallowed thickly, heart pounding obnoxiously against her ribcage. "I have read books and been told what was to happen during…" she cleared her throat, cheeks darkening. "During intercourse. There is not much to what the people of the Celestial kingdom do in order to mate but I am somewhat aware that dragons may have certain… qualities?"

The way he snorted had her feeling more flustered and she could feel his smothering gaze on her but she refused to look him in the eye while she spoke about this. She was a virgin for god sakes and a queen at that! How is she supposed to freely speak about something so… lewd and dirty.

"Dragons do not have certain qualities when it comes to mating," he spoke, emphasizing the term she used to describe his kind. "But there are some things you must know about our kind."

She lifted her head up at that, wide brown eyes clashing with his as she fisted her hands into the skirt of her nightgown.

"Please, enlighten me sir—Natsu."

A low growl of approval rumbled from his chest and she felt the tips of her ears burn at the intense gaze he held on her.

"While there are myths and legends about dragons and mythical creatures, we really are not complicated beings like the scripts say. Yes, dragons are fierce, fire breathing beasts who can live in volcanoes and soar in the sky but they do not speak about how gentle dragons can be or how dedicated they are."

"Dedicated? Dedicated to what?"

"Dedicated to their treasures and possessions. Once a dragon is in possession of anything or anyone they are fierce protectors and would do anything to keep said possession."

Lucy nodded as she absorbed this new information in, filing them away to add to their collection of books and information.

"As for mating… dragons are to mate with whomever they please, it is only when they are claimed then they are to be their mate for life."

For life?

Lucy felt as if all the blood drained from her face and she was staring at this dragon as if he announced he would be burning her kingdom down the the ground.

She would have to mate with him for life?

"Your majesty," his deep voice shook her very core, forcing her to come back from her jumbled thoughts. "Do not fret, I said when they are claimed. That does not mean I shall claim you during our mating ritual," he purred at her and she was sputtering out again. "All you require is an heir, no?"

"Y—yes," she gulped, looking up at him with her bottom lip wobbling. "The councilmen are threatening to take away my title if I do not produce an heir in two years time."

His eyebrow shot up to his hairline at this. "And these councilmen can strip away the queen's title just as they please?"

"It is under special circumstance which is why they can threaten such a process," she turned her head back down, a frown replacing her lips as she thought of everything that had been happening the last couple months. "I… came into my title rather early. My parents, the late king and queen, passed when I was only a child. My coronation was the youngest in Celestial history. I was only eighteen years of age when I had taken the queen's title and while I was certainly young to be taking the crown, the kingdom had not had a king or queen in nearly ten years."

He was quiet while he listened to her story but she felt as if he was merely trying to take in her history rather than going mute.

"And my coronation was about three years ago so now that I have spent the last three years without any promise of an heir nor a king for that matter, the councilmen are growing anxious with the knowledge that I am growing older and have no prospect. They are worried about the future of the kingdom because I.. I am the last of the royal bloodline in this kingdom. The citizens are worried, my staff are worried, and I… I am worried."

With her hands tangled on her lap and unable to stay still, she allowed Natsu to take in the new information as needed. She didn't have to share such a story with him considering he wasn't a Celestial citizen nor was he someone they considered an ally but she felt as if she could somewhat trust this man.

After all, he hadn't done anything to show her he wasn't trustworthy but he also had been chained up to a wall for nearly two months.

"Why are you so worried?"

"Because if I fail to deliver an heir and help this kingdom thrive for future generations then I am a failure as a queen! I do not deserve to be in such power if I cannot do something as simple as producing an heir!"

"While producing an heir sounds simple enough, it truly is not. You have mentioned your kingdom's history with birthing and mating, yes?" She nodded in response and he continued. "While it may not be hard to find someone with magical abilities to help with the process, you did mention that they would have to be of equal power or greater, yes?"

Lucy was stunned to see how much this dragon had really listened in when she was babbling. It made her feel a little bit better knowing he truly was listening to her instead of ignoring her and thinking she was a bother. She didn't even care to ask if it was okay that she was coming into his cell every night and talking his ear off. But then again, she did bring him food and treats so maybe that was the reason why he must have let her.

Taking her silence as an answer, he continued to speak. "Taking into account that you are the queen of this kingdom, your magic is surely not a weak one. I can feel the power you weld and to feel such a powerful force, you probably do not have many options to help you with your conquest."

"Y—you can feel my power?"

"Certainly," he smirked, leaning his head back against the wall. "I have been feeding off of it for the last few months."

Lucy gasped as she watched him run his tongue over his teeth and the wicked grin that stretched across his face made her eyes widened. She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned back, scowling at him.

"How dare you feed off my power! Even with those magical chains on you can still manipulate your energy?!"

"It simply helps me recover," He let out a huff of air through his nose. "Nothing but a dip of my tongue to keep me warm and healthy, your majesty."

Her entire body felt like it was burning with flames licking at her sticky skin. A shiver rushed down her spine and she hugged herself closer. She glared at him, wondering if he was speaking the truth or simply trying to ruffle her feathers. The way he was snickering made her think the latter and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"You are surely joking."

He shrugged his shoulders and the metal chains clanked loudly against the wall. "Does it matter if I am or not?"

"No, but…" she let out a sigh, her shoulder slumping. "Natsu," she said softly, worry rushing through her. "You are aware you do not have to agree to this. I have kept you as a prisoner for months and have yet to figure out what is to be done with you. You refused to speak till today and even so, I caught word you are still mute when it comes to everyone else."

He was silent as he watched her speak, listening to her soft spoken words.

"I want to apologize and let you know my regrets on how you have been treated. I only wanted to ensure you were safe and could recover peacefully but we still do not know anything about your species since you refused to speak."

"I have been enjoying my stay, actually." He said which made her look up at him with furrowed brows. "I get fed nice, hearty meals three times a day, four if you consider the ones you sneak down for me," he grinned at her flustered expression. "And I have had the pleasure of having the company of the queen keep my nights interesting with her many tales and complaints."

She blinked stupidly at him, eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar. She didn't know if he was being honest or not but she felt as if his words were sincere.

It warmed her in a way and she could only muster up a small smile as a response.

"But there are also a couple more things you must know before we move forward," his voice dipped low and it made her straighten her back and give him her undivided attention. "While dragons are able to mate any time of the year, the window of actually being able to produce their seed is a short amount of time. If dragons were to be able to reproduce at any time, dragons would have never gone extinct and may as well have overpopulated the earth by now."

His low chuckle did weird things to her body and she couldn't understand why her boldly tingled so delightfully.

"Dragons go in heat in the middle of the year. This is when their instincts and senses are intensified ten fold and are able to release their seed. For a month straight, all they do is hide away in their nest and mate. Nine out of ten times, the dragoness usually is with child by the next month."

Lucy was fascinated with the tales he told her. She's always been one to love hearing stories and finding out new information. Knowing about an extinct kind and having it all come from a dragon himself was making her body vibrate with excitement.

"There has never been any record of a dragon and human being together… is it possible?"

"If it was just a mere human with no magical powers, I believe it may be a bit… straining." He flashed her his teeth, a grin stretching across. "But with someone of your stamina and magical strength, I believe you may be able to survive."

"May be able to survive?" She echoed in disbelief, giving him a wide eyed look that had him chuckling. "Are you saying there is a possibility I may not?"

"Like I mentioned earlier, with your magical power that courses through your body, you may be able to withstand the strength of a dragon. But I must warn you… a dragon in heat is not something you should take lightly. We are not only fierce and wild in nature, we are also fierce and wild in bed."

Lucy felt her hands shaking at the sound of him being able to snap her in half. A dragon has incredible strength and she knew even in a human form he would be as strong. Would he be so strong and unable to hold himself back that he could accidentally harm her? She is protected by the stars and she was sure she would be able to withstand such a treatment if it was in her own kingdom. But knowing how strong Natsu could be, it worried her.

"I assure you, your majesty, I won't harm you."

"How can you be so sure? Have you been with another human before?" She snapped her eyes to him, giving him a slight glare which had him chuckling.

"Certainly not but I do not think I would have such trouble refraining from breaking you if we were in the process of mating." He grinned wolfishly and she was flushing at his words.

Taking in a deep breath, Lucy closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down. She could feel the sweat dripping down her neck and drenching her once again.

When she opened her eyes again, she looked straight into his eyes with a determined look on her face. "Once you are able to produce an heir for me, I shall release you. As rare it is to stumble upon a dragon in many centuries, you are doing the Celestial Kingdom a great deed by helping the queen."

He hummed as if he was responding, a pleased look on his face.

"But if you are to take back your word and so by any means break your promise, I shall hunt you down and make sure your stay is not as enjoyable as it was this time."

The way his black orbs flashed with emotion had her wondering what was going through his head. He seemed relaxed and rather eager to listen to her and speak of his heritage.

"You majesty," he rumbled, heat increasing around them slowly. "A dragon never goes back on their promises… and I promise I shall help you produce an heir. A mighty strong one at that." His tongue darted out to swipe at his bottom lip and her eyes focused on the appendage dragging across. "I am at your mercy and in your hands."

"So is this your way of committing to the plan?"

A lazy smirk spread across his lips and the way he was looking at her had her heart racing. The heat was rising and the darkened look he was giving her made her straighten and a shiver to rush down, nipples perking at the attention. He growled lowly and it made her want to whimper and move closer to him but she willed herself to stay still.

"In a month's time I should be going into heat. We shall revisit this then and I shall show you what it means to lay with a dragon."

Lucy couldn't sleep that night. All these words and thoughts were bouncing around her head and she felt so hot even though she's already bathed and been out of the cell. Would she feel hotter than this after she laid with a dragon? Would he make her feel this hot or hotter?

She really couldn't believe she agreed to lay with him, nonetheless he agreed to lay with her.

She could only wish upon the stars to help her achieve her goal. Help protect her during these times. Help her become the queen the kingdom had been needing.

If only she could stop the unwanted thoughts and doubts swirling inside of her brain.

Because she could only think of the worst.

She had one month to prepare.

One month till she was to lay with a dragon.

X

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tbc