My chest tightened as I watched Natsu step into the crowded ballroom first. He looked back at me and gave me a smile as he held his arm out for me to take. I quickly slid my arm around his and mentally began going over the plan we had devised as we walked. It was a simple plan really, keep a low profile and act as everyone else would. I looked around the room and spotted my father whom wore an expression that was stone cold.

"So much for a warm welcome," I mutter and Natsu looks at me and then in the direction of my eyes, seeing my father who was currently with his mistress.

"He's tense, and I didn't expect anything better of him," Natsu looks at me and I find myself nodding in agreement as we walk to a side of the room to talk.

"My father isn't known for his graces," I tell Natsu sheepishly, twisting my finger in the fabric of my silky blue dress.

"You almost can't even tell that you're kin. You are just so different from him," we stop moving. 

My eyes slide back to the crowd and I smile slightly. "I've heard I'm just like my mother, and I guess that's part of the reason my father still clings to me. He'd be losing Layla all over again," I felt a sigh building up in my chest, attempting to relieve myself of the heavy emotions welling up there.

"I have a feeling that no matter how tonight goes he's going to order us to be sentenced to life. I'd be given the death penalty as Captain," you could hear the mixture of pain and anger in his words. My chest ached more at the thought of Natsu dying and the others in the crew being punished even after they saved my life more than one time.

"You know I won't let that happen," I say quickly. Natsu looks at me and breaks into a smile.

"Of course not, because we also have plan b." I look at him confused.

"Plan...b?"

Natsu leans close to my ear and whispers "Bust em' and book it," he pulls back. "You get the keys to unlock us and we can do the rest."

"That sounds risky..." I bite my lip.

"Everything we do is risky, that's part of our lifestyle," Natsu reminds me and I slowly nod.

"Yeah I guess. We are in a corner anyway, we don't have many other options..." I look at my father again who seemed busy with his breathtakingly beautiful mistress. "And I absolutely can not stand to be in this damn prison anymore," I grumble. Then I look at Natsu with a tense half-smile and reach up to straighten his shirt. He catches my wrist before he slides his hand to be holding mine and he brings it to his lips, planting a gentle kiss on the top of my knuckle.

"Then my princess, I shall be your prince and rescue you from this arguably cushy tower," Natsu chuckles and I roll my eyes.

"I am afraid I must refuse," I say with a slight laugh and Natsu looks at me with a feigned hurt expression.

"Why would you refuse such an offer?" He counters.

"Well... personally I prefer pirates over princes," I bite my lip and laugh.

"Heartfilia, what if I told you I was secretly the Captain of one of the best pirate ships to ever sail these waters?" He smirks and I gasp.

"Then I would think about your offer. I can't just trust you blindly after all," I raise my eyebrow. The low music that had been playing grows louder and couples drift to the open dance floor. Natsu looks at me with amusement in his eyes.

"Why don't I prove my trustworthiness...with a dance?" He asks and I knew he was talking about my father and not the teasing banter we were tossing back and fourth.

"Lead the way... Captain." We made our way out to the open floor to join the numerous other couples. We quickly fell into step with the lovely music and we laughed as we teased one another. When the music turned slow we settled down and I hesitantly rested my cheek on his shoulder, moving in gentle tandem with him.

"Thank you," I murmur.

"For what?" Natsu responds in a low voice.

"Everything," is all I tell him before I fall silent again. He doesn't reply and I look up only to lock eyes with my father. Pure fiery rage seemed to burn there, like he was witnessing a betrayal. Well, I suppose in a sense, he is.

"I...I feel like retiring," I tell Natsu in a soft voice, seeing that we had spent two hours dancing. I wanted to escape my father's glaring sight.

"I'll accompany you," Natsu says but I shake my head.

"Thank you," I kiss his cheek, "but I should do this part alone," I give him a reassuring smile before turning and making my way out of the ballroom. I hurry to my room and as soon as the door closes behind me I start rummaging through my drawers. I had a chance to grab my precious items, and now was the best time. With the looks we where receiving...there is no doubt in my mind... "Father will kill Natsu."

I choke on the words. My lungs force me to draw a shaky breath before I finally find what I had been searching for. I grasp the cold metal of the ring and set the jingling item on my dresser. Then I took off the blue, shimmering dress, holding it for a moment. I set it aside and pulled the small silver crown from my hair, setting it beside the ring.

I rummage through my clothes and find an older white, sleeveless dress. I ripped the seam between the chest and skirt, creating a shirt. I pulled it over my head after tying the lose strands of string. Then I found a red skirt and cut the fabric to shorten the article of clothing. I spent an hour hemming it before pulling it on. I grabbed the ring of keys and a belt, attaching the ring to a loop on the belt.

I tightened the belt at my hip and then used a long bit of fabric from the skirt and tied it around my head, holding my hair back from my face. I found a pair of black boots and quickly pulled them on before looking around my room one last time. I ran my thumb over the crown and sighed.

"I hope I never return to this place," I mumble to myself before leaving my room. But... There will still be a part of me that misses this cage of stone, as I plan to never return to the place that was at one time...my home.

・ ・ ・ ・ ❊ ・ ・ ・ ・

Hello lovelies! My are things getting interesting! And this isn't even the half of it, haha. I hope this short introduction to the action was satisfying. I will do my best to update again within the week.

If you got this far in the authors note, leave a comment simply saying: "aye sir! <3" and I'll reply ;3

I've had a bit of a tough time getting myself on track but here I am and I'm ready to go! Tell me what you think, I read all my comments~!

SHOUT OUT TO sempiternalhiraeth  FOR THE NEW COVER <3

Thanks so very much for reading!

~Kels-chan [ fluff queen ]