Ok here's chapter 4: a tale of a black dragon

Everyone was rounded up by the fire and I make sure to sit next to Natsu who sits next to Wendy who sits next to Grandeeney who sits next to Igneel. I wonder if Grandeeney and Igneel are mates.

We all chat around the fire, having such a good time. We ran into Laxus and Lissana and had a nice talk with them. Everyone was so friendly. After a while of just talking, Igneel finally stood up and asked for everyone's attention.

"Hello, everyone!" He says in a loud tone, "First off, I would like to say how blessed we are with today's hunt!"

Everyone cheers.

"Without my trusty hunters, we would have never been able to catch such a meal. So, for that, I thank you. I would also like to introduce a new member to the tribe. Everyone, let's all give a warm welcome to miss Lucy Heartfilia and thank her for her sacrifice," He extends his hand out to me and everyone sets their sights on me, while cheering and clapping.

Natsu and I don't do anything. I was having mixed emotions about this welcoming.

'thank her for her sacrifice?' Is he talking about the fact that i'm not able to go home? That i'm being forced to stay here!? How ludicrous! I'm being held against my will and he thanks me for that?! I understand that it's to keep their secret and all, but I mean, come on! Do they realize the iniquity of all this?! I am not only "just not there", I am putting an entire kingdom at state-they are putting an entire kingdom at state for keeping me here! If i'm not there, all ties with Gray are cut, and no one will be heir to the throne.

My mother is dead, my father is dying and i'm not there! The kingdom is going to be destroyed and it will be all thanks to ME.

...If only I hadn't have been so selfish. If only I would have never ran away, I would've never came to this place. I would be walking down the aisle in a white gown and given the name Lucy Fullbuster. Empress of the Outer Icelands Kingdom.

Later on at dinner, I was silently eating the severed meat with bead and the one of the guardians was telling an interesting tale of him fighting off a giant monster. It was a guardian named Metalicana. He sure had a....colorful personality.

"That's Gajeel's dad," Natsu whispers in my ear as Metalicana tells his story.

"Really?" I whisper back, "I thought he reminded me of someone."

"Metalicana and Gajeel have never really got along," Wendy adds, "You see, he's never around, so him and Gajeel butt heads a lot."

"I see," I say, getting a glance at the male. Now that I take a closer look, they did look alike. Big and buff with piercings and spikes all over. The only difference was the hair. Gajeel had his down, Metalicana had his in a giant mohawk.

"And there I was," He roars in a raspy voice, "He had me cornered, and I had no where to run. My only options were to kill or be killed! So, I hit him hard with my signature Iron Dragon Roar! Boy, did that send him flying! But I wasn't over yet. I got him by the throat and sliced his head clean off with my Iron Dragon's Sword. I still have it's head hanging as a decoration in my hut."

"Creepy," Natsu mumbles, "Having a head in your hut hanging over your head while you're sleeping?"

"I bet it helps him sleep better at night," Laxus chuckles quietly. "Alright, you guys might think that's a great story and all, but you'll never believe the story i'm about to tell you." He stands up so the crowd focuses their attention on him.

"Laxus is a guardian?" I ask Natsu.

"He has a mate, remember? He's a guardian," Natsu replies.

That's right. He's mates with Lissana.

"YOU GO, BABE!" Lissana cheers.

"Go on, Laxus," Igneel says, "Which story do you have for us this evening?"

"This is the story of when I ran into The Black Dragon with the Blue Marks," Laxus says in a superior tone.

Everyone gasps.

"What?" I ask.

"No way, you big fat liar," Natsu growls.

"What? What is it?"

"Everyone knows that if you even look at The Black Dragon, you're automatically dead!" Sting says in a annoyed tone.

"It's true, Laxus. There's no way you would have ever survived such an encounter," Igneel adds. "Even I nearly died trying to challenge such a monster. You must've mistaken it for another stray."

"No," Laxus says seriously, "I saw him."

Everyone became quiet, so I decided to listen too.

"When I was off in the forest, I noticed I wasn't familiar with where I was. The trees were scratched to the center, branches sprawled out on the floor. As I continued my walk, I fell in a hole-or what looked to be a hole. When I took a closer look, I could see it was actually a footprint. I knew this wasn't any other footprint. It was his foot print. I carried on, and eventually came across a cliff. Below that cliff, I saw it. Him. That monster. My eyes were fixed on the beast as he tore apart a animal, devouring it. I decided to get a closer look, but would only find myself regretting my decision. I lost control of my footing, and tripped, I was able to catch myself, but not the pebbles that clicked as the tumbled down the rocks. It looked at me with it's white, beady eyes. I could feel them staring into my soul. It got up and roared, 'GO AWAY!'," Laxus imitated the roar, making everyone flinch, even me, "With every fiber of my being, I ran for my life. Looking back occasionally to see if the beast was still there. As I looked back, I saw him slowly clawing his way up the cliff, and his head emerging from the horizon. It spread it's feathery wings, and took flight. Leaving a gust of wind to push me, making me trip over my feet."

Everyone's wide eyes were on Laxus, waiting for what he was going to say next. As for me, I found myself nuzzling into Natsu, getting more and more scared. I remember My Father talking to his general about a beast that killed nearly half their men. The stories the soldiers told and scares they shared, always made me tremble. But they had a name for this Black Dragon- Acnologia.

"I tried desperately to back up on my feet, but only found myself tripping again and again. I finally covered my head, and prayed that somehow, I would live," He continued, "It flew over my head, and I still-till this day-could feel the cold shadow of the Black Dragon."

There's a pause before everyone begins to cheer.

I still remain huddled against Natsu, and he wraps a secure arm over my shoulders, sending me reassuring smile.