This is where the sadness starts. I must thank NecRomanticNightmare for inspiring me. What you did in ALL your fanfics? that really inspired me. *evil grin* You're welcome for these next few chapters! You'll hate me. I know that Eliza does since she knows what's going to happen. *maniacal laugh*

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Chapter 5: Getting Ready
Lucy's P.O.V.

"Ugh! Mira! Why do I have to get up?" I whined at my favorite maid, Mirajane Strauss. She has long, pure white hair with her bangs in a mini ponytail sticking straight up. She was wearing a red dress with pink lace border on her waist and neckline.

"Because it's a very big day!" Mira squealed.

"But why?" I asked again. Mira looked at me, probably wondering why I wasn't excited. I knew what today was. Today was my nineteenth birthday. The seven year anniversary of my mother died and Igneel disappeared. And, of course, a costume ball to find a husband for me.

Sure, I was excited that father couldn't rule anymore. But I was also sad. I wouldn't get to see Natsu everyday, not to mention Happy who I became a mother for. I didn't want to take his mother away like I had mine taken. It hurt. Probably more than it should, but Natsu would be lonely.

I hated to think about him being lonely. It made me feel weird inside and I don't like that feeling.

"Just get up," Mira giggled as she pushed me out of bed.

"Mira!" I yelled at her as I fell to cold floor in only one of Natsu's old shirts. Mira gave me a knowing smile as she saw what I was wearing. I blushed as I rushed to my closet. I have long since grown out of my hiking outfit my mom got me, but thankfully Natsu made me a new one. It fit perfectly. It was snug in all the right places. How Natsu knew my measurements perfectly, I don't know, but honestly I don't care.

"Hurry up!" Mira called from my room. "You only have till three to go outside. And we both know how much you love going outside." Mira winked as I walked out of my closet

"Oh my Mavis, Mira. You're so annoying!"

She just smiled.

Time skip! (Yay!)

I stopped by the meadow to see if I was meeting Natsu there or at our... his den. It kinda feels like it's ours. I wouldn't mind living there, actually. If I wasn't a princess, I could see myself running away and living with Natsu. Maybe even starting a family. But it all seams like a Fairy Tail (XD). I sighed. Well, in this fairy tail, everything's going to end up like any normal fairy tale.

'Good going Lucy, you got your hopes up for a future that can never happen,' I scolded myself. 'The princess falling in love with the dragon? That's crazy. I doubt Natsu even returns the feelings.' I looked longingly at Natsu, who was in the meadow fighting with Happy.

I thought I heard a bush rustle from behind me, but when I turned around nothing was there. Huh, must be imagining things.

As I got closer to where Natsu and Happy were I picked up some of their conversation.

"They taste better raw!" Happy was yelling.

"No, cooked!" Natsu screamed back.

"Raw!"
"Cooked!"
"RAW!!!"
"COOKED!!!"

"ENOUGH!" I finally butted in. "Natsu, that's no way to treat Happy! Happy, stop yelling at Natsu! Now, what were you two fighting about?"

"He cooked my fish!" Happy pointed at Natsu accusingly. I turned to Natsu.

"He never lets me cook any fish! He keeps them raw and never lets me have any!" I rubbed my forehead. These two could get on my nerves.

"Ugh! Will you both just forgive each other? Happy, you will give Natsu some fish to cook. Natsu, you will not cook Happy's fish. Now let's just drop the subject!"

"Sorry Luce/Lushy," they both said. I walked to our little hut and sat down.

Happy flew in and hugged me. "Happy birthday, Lushy!" He said.

"It's not very happy," I muttered.

"Why not?" Natsu, who had just walked in, sitting next to me, asked. Because he was part dragon, he had dragon hearing, so I wasn't suprised that he had heard me.

"Because today is the ball for me to choose my husband. Once I become queen I won't be able to see you guys everyday. I'll try and visit you guys every once in a while, I promise." Happy cried on my shoulder, begging me not to leave him alone with Natsu.

Natsu just stood there and I wondered what was going through his head.

Natsu's P.O.V. (really short)

"Because today is the ball for me to choose my husband..." I kinda stopped listening after she said that. I just starred at her. I couldn't stand the thought of her marrying someone other than me. I don't even know where that came from, but I knew, at that moment, I couldn't live without Lucy Heartfilia. I couldn't stand it if someone else touched her, if she forgot about me and told him things instead of me.

"When?" Was all I could ask.

"Tonight at the costume ball my father is hosting. Everyone who comes has to be royalty and wear a costume. I'm going as a butterfly," Luce responded. How could she be so optimistic about this?

"Oh..." was all I could say.

Time skip!

Lucy's P.O.V.

When I got back home I was instantly dragged to my room by Mira.

"Soooo," Mira said. "How was your time?"

"Fine," I responded.

"Oh? Just fine? Not absolutely positively wonderful?" Mira asked with a sly smile.

"No... why?" I looked at her suspiciously.

"Well, you did meet up with that forest boy..." Mira said innocently.

"What?!? How do you know about... I mean, what forest boy?"

Mira sighed. "How could I have been so oblivious? You went into the forest everyday, even on stormy days. Sometimes you even stayed out all night. Today I followed you and I saw you and that forest boy. So, what's his name?"

"You... you followed me?!? MIRA!" She was about to say something more when there was a knock at the door.

"Mira? Princess Heartfilia? Can I come in?" A sweet voice asked.

"Yeah," I called back.

Lisanna, Mirajane's little sister, walked in. Mira and Lisanna looked like they could be twins. They both have white hair, blue eyes and are about the same height. The only difference is their age and hair length. Lisanna is three years younger than Mira and, unlike Mira who has hip length hair, Lisanna wears hers in a pixie cut.

"Hello Princess Heartfilia. How are you today?" Lisanna asked putting my costume on my bed.

"I'm fine, and Lisanna? You don't have to call me princess."

"Okay, Heartfilia," Lisanna teased.

"How about we get you dressed?" Mira said looking at my costume.

*Look at picture at top. That's Lucy's outfit.

Once I was all dressed I heard a knock at my window. I looked over and was surprised to see a flying blue cat that was holding a bouquet of roses. Lisanna and Mirajane were even more suprised.

"Lushy! Let me in!" Happy called through the window. I hurried over and opened the window.

"Happy! What are you doing here?" I asked taking the flowers he gave me.

"Those are from me," Happy nodded towards the flowers. "And I wanted to warn you about Na-" he stopped when he saw the two white haired maids in the room. "Who are they?"

"Oh... um, Happy, this is Lisanna and Mirajane."

"You're a flying cat," Lisanna observed.

"Aye sir!" Happy replied.

"So, what were you saying?" I asked Happy.

"I can't talk about Natsu in front of them." He pointed to Mira and Lisanna.

"Lisanna, Mira, would you mind waiting outside please?" I asked. Mira nodded and pulled Lisanna out of the room.

"So, what about Natsu?"

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Hello! Hire are you liking it? What do you think Lucy and Happy are talking about? You'll just have to wait and see!

Love you guys!

~Melieraptor