I held the full basket of laundry at my side as I went out onto the street; rounding the corner to the alley way where my laundry lines where. I would lower the lines, clip the clothes on and then raise them back up to dry in the heat of the summer evening sunlight. I completed the effortless task before grabbing the basket up once more from its place at my feet. I rounded the corner to the streets to head back inside when I ran into someone and stumbled backwards. I let out a puff of air in annoyance as I straightened myself out.

"Watch where you're going, I can't believe a commoner like you ran into me..." My head snapped up to meet a tall frame with distinctive spiky pink hair that screamed Dragneel, the royal family. My eyes blazed and I grabbed his shirt collar out of rage, not concerned about his guards standing nearby.

"And I can't believe someone so vain got in my way. Go back to playing your game of royalty at the castle." He looked at me shell shocked for a moment before recovering and smirking. He placed his hand under my chin and tilted my head up, but I pulled it away from his hand, glaring at him. I released his collar and stepped back but he grabbed my wrist.

"You do realize you're going to pay for disrespecting me, right?" He whispers dangerously in my ear. I shove off of him and whirl around to grab my basket which had fallen to the ground in our collision.

"Leave me alone you arrogant bastard," I mutter to myself before I storm inside my house, pulling my hair from its ties and yanking the bandana off my head before I slam the door. I was unaware the Dragneel outside my house had watched me, amused, before continuing on his path with a plan formulating in his head. A plan that would make the calm life I lived collapse into a chaotic mess.

- - - * • * - - -

"Levy, I swear he is the most arrogant person to walk the planet!" I fume to my best friend, recently on break from her job at, you guessed it, the castle that housed the Dragneels.

"Lu, maybe he was just having a bad day? He might not have even meant what he said," Levy sighed. I look at her like she had grown a second head.

"He's a Dragneel, of course he's meant it!" I snap and Levy gives me an apologetic look.

"Lucy you can't presume to know what—" I cut her off.

"Of course I can! He's just like the dragons, the damn people that k-killed..." My words catch as I struggle against a few stray tears. Levy pulls me into a gentle hug and she smooths my hair as I hug her small frame back tightly before frustratedly wiping at my eyes.

"Just forget about him okay? You probably won't ever have to deal with him again, right?" She murmured to me soothingly. I prayed she was right, but considering his words to me earlier today I would be lucky to get by unscathed. I bit my lip and pulled away from my blue haired friend. She gave me one last sympathetic look before walking towards the door.

"I have to go back to work soon and I haven't gotten to visit Gajeel. I will see you later Lucy, whenever that is," she flashed me a smile. I gave her a small wave and an uneven smile of my own before she disappeared out the door, into the darkening streets.

I closed the door behind her before heading to my room. I was tired after a long day of working at the shop with Mirajane, and I was ready to fall asleep earlier than usual. I set out my nightgown and prepared a bath before turning off the lights around the house. I made my way back into my room and right as I began to undress there was a knock at my door. I sighed and straightened myself out before rushing towards the door. I opened it and my stomach dropped.

"It's time to pay up, Lucy Heartfilia." An all too familiar Dragneel stood before me, whilst two guards stood rather stiffly right behind him. I frown and lean on my doorframe.

I sigh my response, "What do you want?"

"You're coming with me, to the palace, you're about to be my princess. At least temporarily that is," He explains and my jaw drops slightly. I look at him like he was crazy, that was ludicrous. Me, a temporary princess? No way in hell!

"What kind of payment is this?!" I exclaim and straighten myself out, my hands balling into fists. What did he take me for, a damsel he could simply whisk away to play pretend for a while?

"It's more like punishment for a girl who despises the royal family," He grabbed my arm and pulled me forward, right into his chest. "If you don't do this properly you can expect trouble for your little blue haired friend, understood?" His voice was sharp and low, intimidating to just about everyone. How did he even know that about me? About Levy?

"Don't you dare touch Levy! You leave her out of this you heartless ba--" my words are silenced by his finger. His eyes gleamed as they met mine.

"I'll do what I want, now let's go. I'll explain everything in detail along the way." He let go of me and the guards grabbed me instead.

I shook them off, grumbling about being able to walk myself. They closed up my house and I immediately wished I could have at least properly taken care of it before leaving. I had taken off my mother's necklace... I sigh softly but stare ahead. I wouldn't want such a precious item to be tainted by the royal grounds anyway. I was pushed into a carriage across from Natsu who sat alone while I was smashed between two different guards.

"So Lucy, here's how this will go. You are going to pretend to be my princess for a while, just long enough to get everyone off my ass about getting a girl-" I cut him off with a short laugh. He glares at me but keeps talking. "Until then you will do as I say. You can't leave the castle until this is done and you may have no contact with anyone but the servants and guards I assign you, and the royal family of course." By now my blood was boiling but I gave a small nod. I was doing this for Levy, I wasn't about to put her at risk.

"Anything else?" My words where simple but acidic, conveying my complete distaste. Natsu smirked and leaned back, looking comfortable.

"Yes, actually, you're now my princess so you best act like it around others," His mischievous grin sent shivers racing down my spine as it made my skin crawl. What all did that entail? How long would this last? What will Mira do with me gone..?!

My head snapped up. "Mira..." I bring my hand to my lips as worry crosses my face in thought of my boss, alone in her business.

"Don't you worry about that. As soon as you're announced as a princess everyone will know where you've gone. Oh, and before I forget, when anyone asks..." He leans forward slightly. "We met outside of town, you were being attacked and I heroically saved you," He smirks and I roll my eyes.

"Whatever "Prince Charming", just know that the only reason I'm doing this is to protect Levy. Otherwise I'd have already impaled you with something," I snarl at him and the guards push me back.

"How did you know about her anyway? About.. me?" I glare at him accusatorially.

He smirks and shakes his head. "That unfortunately, miss Heartfilia, is need to know. And you don't need to know."

We pull into the castle at that moment and Natsu gets out first before the guards who then help me down. With a flick of his hand, Natsu dismisses them and they make their way for the gate. Right as I'm about to turn for the entrance Natsu pulls me close. One of his arms pins me to his body and the other hand held my cheek, angling my head to be looking up at him for the second time today.

"I'd be careful what you say and do from now on Lucy. Things can get dangerous if you're careless with your mouth and actions," Then he lets go and keeps walking as if nothing happened. I am frozen for only a second before I stomp after him. He looks back at me with an amused smile before he holds his arm out to me. I raise my eyebrow suspiciously and he sighs. "Take hold of my arm. From here on out you're a princess, so make me believe it." I hesitantly hold onto his arm and I swallow nervously. The doors open as I'm pulled inside and Natsu grins before looking at me while I soaked in the lavish surroundings.

"Welcome to the royal palace, pretend Princess Lucy," Natsu's warm breath tickled my ear and I stiffened.

"I can't wait to leave," I mumble and I hear a chuckle from the pinkette beside me.

"Who knows, maybe you'll end up yearning to stay by my side," his voice was teasing but I scowl.

"There's no way in hell I'd ever do that," my response was curt and provoked another laugh from the prince. I was guided down a hallway to a room with an ornately decorated door.

"This will be your room," Natsu states as he pushes the door open.

"Ah, correction, it's my prison," I sigh and Natsu just shoves me inside.

"My room is the next door over, I'll be by early in the morning to get you ready to meet everyone. Be on your best behavior now." The door closes and I walk slowly to the window, unlatching it to push it open. I sank down onto the sill and stared out across the dark horizon, blankly counting the blinking stars.

"Mama, it seems the dragons can't manage to leave us alone can they?" I whisper my words to the brightest star. I could hear her gentle response, feel her soft caresses as she held me tightly, resting her chin on my head. I can imagine what she would say in response.

"It just means you where meant to set a change in motion my dear. Not all things are as they appear, so give everyone a chance to prove themselves."

I laugh softly at the thought. Me giving a Dragneel, a cocky, arrogant and cruel dragon a chance to prove themselves? I guess I had no choice at this point, so I might as well give him a chance to show me that he wasn't like his ancestors. Even his father, the great Igneel, had once had a bad streak. Though the story goes his queen, whoever she was, managed to convince him to be a good and gentle ruler before her disappearance and presumed death. I got off the sill as I made my decision to trust the Prince and give him a chance to prove me wrong.

"You better not make me regret this, Natsu."

• • •