Greige ran as fast as his legs could carry him yet from his point of view he wasn't going fast enough. He was in a panic, a panic of fear and guilt. He did it again. He caused another bad thing to happen. He didn't mean to but he allowed himself to get angry with the mayor and he knew very well what happened when he got angry. He should have known better. The poor boy was in such a haste to get help that he ended up, thoughtlessly running into the middle of traffic. 

"Whoa! Hey! Stop!" Gren had just stepped out of the diner when he saw him. He dropped his drink, grabbed the boy, and carried him out of the street before any harm could befall him. As soon as he feet were on the ground again Greige tried to run off but Gren sensing trouble held him in his place. "Hold it! Hold it! You almost bought yourself a one way ticket to heaven back there! What's wrong with you?"

"Help! Help! Help!" He could only say frantically.

"Now calm down." Gren told him. "Panicking is not going to help anyone. Take a deep breath and tell me what's the matter?"

Greige took a deep breath, let it out, and started to explain everything.

"Nakku, Nasha, and Mayor Heartfilia fell down the mine shaft and they're trapped. There's no way out and Nakku says they might not be able to breathe down there."

"Okay then." He said calmly. "I just saw Elkis in the diner. You go in there and tell her what happened while I get the police and the firemen."

"You're really going to help them right?" Greige said, terrified that the man would refuse.

"Of course I will. I'm a detective it's my job."

"But you don't like them. Well I don't know how you feel about Nasha but I know you don't like Nakku or the mayor."

"Greige police, firemen, doctors, and detectives help people even if they don't like them. That's they're job. Besides I have a soft spot for kids so there's no way I'm going to allow a little girl like Nasha to be trapped down there."

"Just don't let anything happen to them okay?"

"I won't. Now go get Elkis and do whatever it is she tells you. This is one of those moments where it is vital that you do exactly what the adults tell you and if you don't there will be terrible consequences. Understand?"

"I understand."

"Good."

Gren went to get help and Greige hurried into the diner. As soon as he told Elkis what happened the woman thought she would have a panic attack. In fact she dropped the pot of fresh coffee she had made when she heard these news but Mrs. Marvell, having been a mother and now grandmother chose not charge her for it or fire her.

"Oh my God." Elkis said. "I have to get down there. Mrs. Marvell I know I have to work late but please-"

"Say no more." Her employer said. "Just go."

"Thank you."

"I'm coming too." Greige said.

"No. I want you safe and out of the way. Juvina." The school teacher was sitting out a table, she had been reading as she waited on her food before Greige came in with the frightening news. "Can you please watch him for me?"

"Of course." She said.

"Don't let him out of your sight and call me if anything happens." 

"I will."

"But Elkis-" Greige protested.

"Greige you are a child and this will be dangerous. If you come you could end up falling in too and I do not want that. Promise me you will not run off or leave Miss Lockser until I get back. Promise me!"

"I promise."

"Thank you."

Elkis ran out of the diner and over to the mine. It wasn't long before a large number of people were heading in the same direction as her. Meanwhile at the bottom of the mine, Lusha had finally started to wake from her fall.

"Are you alright?" Nakku asked upon hearing her groan.

"My head hurts. I think I hit it on something." She said. She tried to look for Nakku but she couldn't see him. She couldn't see anything, it was too dark. "What's going on? Where am I? Why is it so dark?"

"Now don't freak out but we fell down the mine shaft. The entrance collapsed and now we're trapped."

"Trapped?" She said in voice that was much different from the annoyed or arrogant one she normally spoke in. "We're trapped? As in we can't get out?"

"Yes but Greige is still up there and he's gone for help."

"No. No. No I can't be trapped." He heard the sound of her heals click as she stood up. "I won't be trapped. I refuse."

"Lusha calm down."

"No!" She started to frantically search for a way out and he heard her fists banging on something. She was hyperventilating too. "No! Not again! Please God not again! Let me out! Let me out!"

"Lusha are you feeling alright?"

It was as if she had forgotten where she was or who she was with. Like she was somewhere else entirely.

"Let me out! Please! You can't leave me here! Not again! I promise I'll be good! I promise! Just don't leave me here!"

She sounded so different. She didn't sound like the mean and manipulative bully she normally was. In that moment she sounded like a scared child. Relying on his hearing alone, Nakku stood up, reached out, and managed to grab her wrists.

"Lusha you have to stop and calm down."

"Let go of me! Let me out! You can't keep me here! Oh please! You just can't!"

"Lusha no one is trying to keep you here! Get a grip!" Nakku shook her a little. It wasn't hard enough to hurt her but it was enough to bring her to her senses. "Lusha I know you never liked me but for once in your life you have to listen to me or we may end up dying. We are trapped down here but we will not be here long. Help will come. We will get out of here but you need to stop panicking and hyperventilating like this. I don't know how much air we have but we need to conserve it. Especially with Nasha down here."

"She's down here too?"

"Yes and she's still unconscious. But when she wakes up she's going to be just as afraid as we are but she's a child and we're adults. She'll look to us for support and assurance. We can't freak out. We have to act as if everything will be fine and it will be. That makes sense right?"

She went quiet for a moment and when she spoke again he was surprised by what she said.

"You're right." She said her voice more calm. "I mustn't lose my head."

"We need a distraction until help comes and I know just the one. Greige threw a flashlight down here and I'm going to try to find it. Nasha is cold so can you keep her warm?" 

He took off his jacket and handed it to Lusha.  They both got back on the ground, Nakku felt around for anything that resembled a flashlight, and Lusha felt around for Nasha's body. She found her, wrapped her into Nakku's jacket, and moved her into her lap. 

"Oh the poor thing, her little body is like ice." Lusha said. "She's even trembling."

"Funny you actually sound concerned."

"That's because I am concerned you half wit. Do you honestly believe that I'm a heartless monster who doesn't even care if a child freezes to death?"

"Well..." 

"Ugh! How dare you!"

"I'm kidding." He chuckled. "I know you wouldn't let child die if you could prevent it. You're not that heartless."

"I'm not heartless at all."

"That's up for debate."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know what it means. Come on, you know how everyone in this town feels about you. They're afraid of you."

"I am not evil."

"I never said you were but I will say that you are mean, manipulative, and a bit of a control freak."

"If you've been running around telling people that then I guess it's no wonder people are afraid of me."

"They're not afraid of you because of what's been said about you. They're afraid of you because of what you've done. Think about it, whenever you don't get your way you do something terrible. You use your position to bully people and you wonder why people are afraid of you?"

"What I do to them, they bring on themselves."

"And that! That right there! That is your biggest problem!"

"What?"

"You never take responsibility for your actions. It's always someone else's fault, it's never yours. But here's a fact about life Madame Mayor, if a lot of people don't like you eighty percent of the time it's your fault."

"Eighty percent?"

"Well there are those occasions where someone is disliked by a large number people because they're different and people can't help but make of judgments on that person without at least getting to know them first and that happens quite often so that's why I estimate it to eighty percent."

"And how do you know I'm not being judged by people? How do you know that their fear of me isn't because they made assumption about me without getting to know me?"

"Because you've never given anyone a chance to know you. Do you remember when we first met? You came into my garage because you wanted me to check the motor of your. I was polite and friendly, and when I didn't find anything wrong with your motor I didn't charge you. But what did you do? You threw insults at me the whole time I was working and you talked to me like I was an idiot. You act mean and intimadating to everyone you meet and when you do that, what are people supposed to think about you? I swear it's like you have it in your head that everyone in this town did something wrong to you."

"Maybe everyone in this town did do something wrong to me. Did you ever consider that?"

"How could that even be possible? Half the people in this town don't even know you aside from your title. What gives you the idea that everybody here is against you?"

If it had not be so dark down there, Nakku would have seen the hate flare up in her brown eyes which stared at him in a furious way. Enraged by Nakku's obliviousness to her feelings and way of thinking. For a moment, thinking that he knew exactly why she felt like this and was playing dumb but soon she remembered that he really didn't have a single inkling of why she was angry at everyone. 

"You really know nothing of what I'm talking about." She said.

"No. Not really but I know that you hate everybody in this town, that much is clear. What I don't get is why?"

"It doesn't matter. If I told you, you wouldn't understand. The point is my hatred toward these people, toward you, is not unwarranted."

"If it's warranted then why does no one including myself have any idea why you hate everyone so much? If everybody in this town did something to you. If I did something to you, wouldn't I know what I did? Wouldn't they know? You're not being fair here. You say you have a reason but  no one knows what it is and you won't tell them what it is. So how exactly are your feelings justified here?"

"Forget it." She scoffed. "Just forget the whole thing. I hate everyone and everyone hates me, I can live with that."

"Well not everyone hates you. I don't hate you."

"What?"

"I don't hate you."

"Shut up."

"It's true. I really don't hate you."

"And why is that?"

"Well it's not necessarily easy for a man to hate a woman who looks the way you do, if you get my drift."

"If I could see you I would smack you for that remark."

"I'm kidding again. Where's your sense of humor?"

"I don't do humor."

"I guess that explains why you never smile." He chuckled. "But seriously though I don't hate you at all. In fact I like you. I don't know why I do, Elkis says I have no reason to and she's not wrong because you do treat me like crap but I can't help but like you. Miss Lockser doesn't hate you either, she pities you."

"Pity? That's worse than hatred."

"Sometimes."

"Why would she even pity me? She's just a sniveling school teacher who's lucky if she's able to make minimum wage."

"She also happens to be adored by many children and even some adults. Does anyone adore you?  She has friends, Elkis has friends, I have friends. Do you have any friends?"

She went quiet again and didn't speak which answered both of Nakku's questions.

"You know I think the reason why you have such a hard time being nice, making friends, and having a positive image is because you don't really consider anyone else's feelings except your own. I'm not saying how you feel doesn't matter but it's not all about you, you know. You're not the only one with wants and problems. And I'm a firm believer that people who are like that always end up alone and unhappy." 

 He didn't want to hurt her feelings but sometimes you have to do that to get someone to see reason. Also if one good thing could come from this conversation, it distracted Lusha from how scared she was at the moment.

...

The next morning Porlyusica, Wendy, and Lucy went into the village get some things. They didn't talk much because Porlyusica and Lucy weren't sure what to say to each other regarding what they discussed last night about Natsu. Wendy had no idea what was going on and none of the adults would tell her but she knew something was wrong. Problem was though, people hardly ever listen to children.

Suddenly they caught sight of the villagers gathering around for something. In the center of the crowd some men had constructed two dummies out of straw and a burlap sack, dressing them both in regal garments that had become worn and tossed away. One dummy was made to resemble a man and the other a woman. They pinned up both the dummies.

"Step right up!" One of the men called. "Try your luck! Don't be shy folks! Try to hit King Xavier and Princess Lucy in the heart!"

Lucy went pale with horror.

"That..." She said stepping forward. "That's the princess."

"The princess of darkness." The man corrected. "And her father the evil king. Wanna try to get an arrow in the heart of any of them?"

"No." She replied in disgust. "That's not right."

"Well it is fixed. You can't really hit either of them in the heart. Because neither one of them have one."

The crowd laughed at his joke.

"How can you do this? Xavier is your king and Lucy is your princess. You should respect and honor them."

"Respect and honor a murderous tyrant and his she devil of a daughter?" He scoffed like it was a joke. "Are you new here lady?"

"Yes she is."  Porlyusica said gently taking Lucy by the arm. "And neither one of us will witness this vulgar display so if you'll excuse us."

She pulled Lucy away from the crowd and urged her to keep walking.

"Granny what are they doing?" Wendy asked the old woman.

"Something disgusting that I don't want you to see. Let's go." She said. "I find displays like that vile and not meant for children's eyes. Though I can't entirely blame them for feeling like they do."

"You can't?" Lucy said surprised. "You don't think they're wrong for this?"

"I think it's appalling for anyone to find humor in the death or pain of anyone but they're feelings aren't unjustified." 

"Unjustified? How they are not unjustified?"

"You're new so you don't know what the monarchy is like here. It's terrible. King Xavier is a monster and his daughter well...His daughter is close to becoming just like him."

"How can you make a judgement like that?"

"Because I know what she's done. She's been very cruel to the people of this kingdom."

"But you don't know her. None of these people know her. They don't know what she's been through. She's probably had a hard life."

"So that makes it alright for her to hurt other people? Does she think that no one else has ever suffered or been hurt? Does she have it in her mind that everyone aside from her has lived a completely happy and trouble free life? If she does then she is sadly mistaken. There have been hundreds of people who have suffered great tragedy and injustice in this world but they don't  inflict their pain on others. I can understand why someone would choose to hurt others because of the pain that they've suffered but I can't condone it. I lost a husband and a son and I've never hurt anyone because of that. Pain is not an excuse to be cruel."

Lucy didn't say another word for the rest of the day. Not even when they went back to the house. She pondered what Porlyusica had said and what she had seen those peasants do. Did they really hate and fear her that much? Was Gray right about them never loving her? And was  Porlyusica right about her recent actions being unjustified? She might have been able to finally see reason that day but tragically it was not to be for at dusk horse shoes were heard coming to the house and on the steed sat Natsu. 

His horse stopped and he secured the reigns.  Porlyusica stepped out of the house to greet him.

"Good evening ma'am." He said respectfully. "Sorry I'm late but I lost my compass so I had trouble getting here. How are you?"

"I am fine." She answered calmly but firmly. 

"Is something wrong? Where's Wendy?"

"Inside. I wanted to discuss something with you before I told her you were here."

"What is it?"

"Natsu you would never lie to me right?"

"Of course not."

"So you'll answer me truthfully if I ask you something?"

"Yes. What's going on?"

"Wendy met a young woman in the village yesterday, she brought her home and we let her stay the night."

"Did she turn out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing?" He joked. "Do I have to cut open another stomach?"

"No. She's human and she told me something about you that I find unsettling."

"What did she say?"

"She said that you raped her."

"What?"

"Now I don't believe that you would do something like that but as a protective grandmother you know I have to ask, is it true?"

"No."

"Are you sure? Is it possible that you slept with her and misunderstood something?"

"Porlyusica I've only gone to bed with one woman in my life, it was a year and half ago and I promise you I had her consent when it happened."

"What about when you would get drunk?"

"I've never actually been that drunk."

"Will you at least talk to her please? Just confirm that she's wrong. I do believe something happened but she must have the wrong man."

"Send her out."

Porlyusica called for Lucy. She stepped outside, Natsu greeted her with a polite and kind smile but suddenly his face turned concerned, worried, and fearful. 

"Lusha is this the man who raped you?" Porlyusica asked Lucy.

She looked at Natsu straight in the eyes and answered: "Yes. Yes it was him. He did it!"

"Dear you must be confused." The old woman protested.

"Porlyusica." He said calmly but she could hear guilt in his voice. "Go back inside."

"Why?"

"Just do it. Please."

"No wait a minute, what's going on here?"

"Trust me you don't-"

"Natsu!" Wendy cheered as she ran out of the house to hug him. "You're here! I'm so glad!"

"Hey little red." He said trying not to come off as uneasy to her as he returned the hug. "Listen I can't talk right now. I need you and your grandmother to go inside for a moment."

"But you just got here and you promised that you'd teach me how to ride a horse as soon as you arrived."

That's what did it. Seeing Natsu be hugged in a loving way by that little girl and then seeing him return that hug, the two of them looking at each other with adoration and love. It made Lucy snap. Without warning she lunged at him with a knife she had concealed from the kitchen and aimed to stab him anywhere though for some reason she kept missing. Natsu pushed Wendy to Porlyusica.

"Inside! Now!" He ordered.

The old woman and her granddaughter quickly did what he said. Natsu and Lucy fought for the knife and he managed to overpower her to the ground, forcing her to release the blade. 

"Stop it Lucy!" He demanded. "Stop it now!"

She looked at him, with hate and surprise. Surprised that he recognized her through her disguise. 

"Yes I know it's you. I knew it was you the minute you stepped out of the house."

"How?" She said when she could bring herself to speak.

"No amount of illusion magic can hide your scent. Not from me that is. One whiff and I knew exactly who you really were. I also know that whenever I'm around you become a ticking time bomb so that's why I told Porlyusica and Wendy to go back in the house."

"How noble of you!" She spat sarcastically. 

"Were you going to hurt them? To get to me?"

"No. I wasn't. I wasn't going to do anything to them."

"Except lie and deceive them right?" He said looking hurt. "You told them I raped you? Is that what you call what we had two and half years ago? Rape?"

"It might as well have been rape. In the end you violated my body in an unforgivable manner."

"I know and I won't object to you telling people about that because it's the truth. But you know very well that I didn't force you into anything. We were both willing. Why would you lie about that?!"

"To tarnish your good name! To get the people to see for what you really are!"

"So you did lie?" 

They turned to see Porlyusica and Wendy standing in the doorway of the house. They had not heard the whole conversation but Porlyusica had heard just enough to feel angry and betrayed.

"You lied and you did it because you wanted us to hate someone who was our friend?" Porlyusica said. "How could you do something like that?"

"What do you mean Granny?" Wendy asked. "What's going on?"

"Wendy from now on I want you to stay away from that woman."

"Why?"

" I will explain it to you later but she did a bad thing."

"Don't tell her that!" Lusha cried.

"I will because it is the truth!" The old woman cried angrily. "I don't know you but your actions prove to me that you're a person who tells lies just to hurt people and I don't want my granddaughter around someone like that. You stay away from us! Stay away from Wendy!"

Her words and glares hurt Lucy deeply. She got up off the ground and gave Natsu her own glare. 

"Why must you always destroy anything good in my life?"

She ran off with tears in her eyes. Natsu wanted to follow her and talk to her but what would he say? He was forbidden to speak the words that he knew would eliminate all the darkness in her heart and that in itself made him suffer a pain and sorrow that she would never know.