Chapter Text
The image of her looking terrified of him keeps replaying in his head.
"What if she never looks at me like she used to ever again?" Natsu curses and punches his door . "I'm supposed to be protecting her too,"
Natsu pictures Lucy from when he first met her.
Her frown when he'd call her ugly to her face, her polite princess smile that she'd practiced, the pink flower she'd said looked like him, the dragons they let loose at-
"The Flower!" Natsu backtracks and slaps his own forehead.
That's the present Lucy left for him. Today's the anniversary of the day they became friends.
And he'd forgotten.
“Don’t forget about tonight” Lucy’s voice rings in his head. She wasn’t talking about the ball, she was talking about how every year they sit in the flower field and talk.
He was so thrown off by Sting that he forgot the most important day of his entire life. That’s why she was so upset.
She gave him a pink wildflower…
Natsu smirks at how thoughtful her gift was.
He needs to give her something in return. To find a flower as radiant as she is.
He runs out of his room without a second thought and runs headfirst into an arm.
Laxus had been guarding his quarters.
"Natsu-"
"Sir, I'm afraid you don't understand. Lucy had given me a gift but I lost it and that's why she was angry at me and didn't choose me for the first dance and I gotta give something back to her, I have to make it up to her somehow I can't bare the thought of her hating me,"
Natsu rambles and Laxus sighs.
"Your containment is for your own good," He pushes the boy back into his room. "Fortunately there are no other ways out of your room. No windows or passageways under the fireplace altar." Laxus says dully as Natsu raises his eyebrow at how weirdly specific that was. Laxus closes the door tightly.
The pink-haired-boy runs to the fireplace and feels around for anything oddly placed. He finds a wedged stone under the altar that looks moveable. He hears a click and the fireplace slowly shifts sideways into an empty palace hallway (Since everyone’s at the event). Natsu clicks the button again, letting the passageway close, and eagerly runs to the garden.
How did he not know about that button? Natsu shakes his head, who cares.
Laxus helped him…
Probably the last thing he expected from that knight.
But he’s grateful.
And he’s ready to make things right.
“No.” Natsu grimaces at the lackluster flowers in the stupid palace garden.
“No! None of these are good enough,” Natsu yells at the inanimate plants.
He runs his right hand through his messy pink hair.
“This is so fucking stupid,” He whispers.
What was he thinking? He’d just waltz into her room, hand her a flower, and all will be forgiven? She hates him. That look on her face… it wasn’t just disgust, it was fear.
The image of her looking terrified of him keeps replaying in his head.
He hurt her. And he despises himself for it.
She won’t want him as a knight anymore. He’s going to be banished and he’ll never get to live out his life at the round table… he’ll be a fugitive.
Fugitive or not, he doesn’t care.
As long as he can get Lucy to look at him again, he just wants her to smile.
Natsu scowls. He knows Sting is a pervert.
It just so happens that he’s a perverted prince and that makes it all the more difficult to get Lucy to stay away from him.
How is he supposed to help her?
The whole kingdom probably thinks he’s the worst right now.
Natsu closes his eyes in regret.
If only Sting were never here… then everything would be normal again.
The starry night sky taunts him as he sits in shame on the cobblestone floor next to a bed of peony’s.
Then a figure appears out of the corner of his eyes.
Crap, he’s not supposed to be out of his room, Natsu flinches and whips his head toward the dark shadow.
“Who’s there?” He stands up slowly.
“It’s me, Natsu.” A buttery voice says his name.
“Lucy!” his eyes widen, “Lucy.” He repeats with regret in his tone.
Every year since he came to the palace they’d sit in this garden stargaze, chitchat, and laugh. They’ve done that every year. He feels so stupid for forgetting. Now there won’t be any laughter. She’s angry with him… maybe she hates him.
Her dress sways as she walks toward him.
Lucy stops when she’s an inch away from his face and frowns.
“What. the. HELL was that Natsu?” She whispers.
Natsu knows she’s mad but can’t stop thinking about the distance between their faces.
He then blinks multiple times as if breaking out of a trance. Natsu looks at Lucy’s hand which has some white cloth wrapped around it.
He did that.
“I’m so sorry Lucy. I’m so sorry please forgive me,” Natsu says with sadness in his eyes.
He couldn’t live with himself if she didn’t.
“Lucy-“
“Natsu, I have to be married before I turn nineteen okay? And you’re just going to have to deal with that.” She says matter-of-factly.
“Lucy, it’s about Sting. He’s… I just don’t like his vibes,” The pink haired boy shrugs. He should tell her about the shower. And what Sting said about her… would she even believe him… would that hurt her more?
“If I couldn’t talk to every guy you ‘didn’t like the vibes of’ I’d forget how to speak,” she tilts her head a bit, “I can handle myself, you know?”
“I know that!” The desperation in Natsu’s tone wants Lucy to know that he’s never once doubted her, “I know that better than anybody… I just…”
He just wants to protect her.
That’s what the king has him here to do.
Natsu cares about her.
More than he cares about anyone else in the world.
Which is… totally normal because every knight feels that way about their princess.
His thoughts are silenced when Lucy wraps her arms around his torso.
The top of her head brushes against his face and he melts into the dandelion scent of her hair.
“Natsu, I’m upset with you… but I know you’d never hurt me on purpose,” Lucy pulls away and gives him a sad smile.
Natsu immediately misses her embrace… in a knightly way.
“Is the dance over?” Natsu asks.
“They rescheduled… because uhmm,”
Natsu looks at her hand with guilt.
Lucy looks at the ground and continues. “I’m sorry I was being so annoying earlier. I was just mad… and I should have told you I was going to choose another person for the first dance.” She apologizes in embarrassment.
There should be absolutely no reason for her to be apologizing right now.
“Don’t be sorry. I’m sorry I… uh… burnt your hand,” Natsu winces at that half-assed apology
But to his surprise the princess giggles.
“I guess we’re even,” She snorts.
Natsu can’t help but smirk at how ridiculous that remark is.
Then they both hear footsteps coming from the palace.
Shit, he has to go.
And suddenly he remembers why he was in the garden in the first place.
“Lucy. I dropped your gift before I could open it, on accident. And I’m gonna make it up to you okay?” Natsu says quickly with determination.
“You dropped it by accident?” She asks, then she smiles to herself, “Of course you did, you idiot.”
“Tomorrow, at Luna Lake,” Natsu whispers as he starts to back away from the possible threat, “meet me at sunset. I’ll have something great for you I promise.”
“I’ll be there,” She assures.
His chest swells when he hears her answer.
“Is somebody there?” A males voice booms, “A trespasser?!”
Lucy stands her ground as Natsu disappears into the bushes.
“Princess, what are you doing here?” The voice speaks again.
Natsu listens in on the other side of a hedge.
“Can I not walk amongst my own garden when I feel like it?” She sighs.
“I heard voices, it’s not safe. Let me escort you back to your quarters,” He offers.
“I often… talk to myself,” Lucy lies.
Natsu silently chuckles.
“Glad I caught you though,” The voice gets quieter.
“Oh? And why is that Sting?” Lucy asks playfully.
Natsu’s smile instantly falls when he hears the name of the mystery man.
“I was wondering if you’d do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner tomorrow night,” Sting inquires.
“I might be busy…”
Natsu peeks through the leaves and grimaces when he sees Sting’s hand on Lucy’s shoulder.
“Please! My father wants our kingdoms to be allies and… I wouldn’t mind getting to know you some more,” The blonde prince trails his hand to her chin.
Natsu grits his teeth and studies Lucy’s reaction carefully.
Is she uncomfortable?
The pink haired squire does his best in trying to convince himself that Lucy isn’t blushing.
“I really would love to but I have some business to attend to with my knight, could we do the night after?” Lucy explains.
“Surely you can’t mean that unhinged boy with the scarf? Has he not been banished yet?” Sting scowls.
“I know Natsu, he wouldn’t hurt anybody unless they genuinely deserve it,” Lucy defends.
“So what’s that on your hand?” Sting retaliates.
Lucy stays silent.
“Princess, I just don’t feel comfortable imagining you with somebody so dangerous.”
Lucy backs away and glares at the prince.
“I am my own person. Who let you have a say in how I spend my evening?” She flicks her hair over her shoulder and starts to stomp away.
“Princess! I’m sorry if you took offense to- Princess! Wait!” Sting calls after the angry woman.
Serves him right.
To Natsu’s dismay Lucy turns around as if giving Sting another chance.
The prince whispers something into her ear.
She blushes shyly and takes his hand.
As they walk away Natsu sets the bush ablaze by accident.
Natsu doesn’t know what it is about the guy that makes his blood boil.
He starts to run after them but feels a restriction by the back of his collar.
It’s a hand.
“Hey, punk, let go of- Lady Erzaaaaa what are you doing here?” Natsu shivers in terror when he sees her scarlet hair.
“Escorting you back to your room.”
Erza slams the door as if it’s a prison cell. Natsu can hear muffled reprimands toward Laxus for poor guard duty. But the squire couldn’t care less.
Now Lucy’s all alone with Sting and…
“Ugh!” The young squire dives face first into his bed, “Why is she so taken with him???” He complains into his pillow.
“Yea welcome back Natsu, I’ve literally been looking for you for like ever,” Happy yawns as if he just woke up from a nap.
Natsu ignores the cat and keeps griping.
“I mean sure, he’s a prince, that can easily make someone better looking. And his hair isn’t all messy and unkempt like mine. And his earring gives him a really cool look…” Natsu can’t stop listing reasons why Lucy would have a crush on Sting.
“And he’s taller than you,” Happy grinds salt into the fire wielder’s wounds.
“GOD!” Natsu yells and punches his headboard. Now there’s a hole. Great.
“What’s worse is he’s not the opposite of me. He has everything I have and more.” He sits there feeling sorry for himself.
“Natsu, why don’t you just let Lucy like…be with him or whatever?” Happy says lazily.
Natsu’s head shoots up, appalled that the exceed would even suggest that.
“He wants to see her naked!” Natsu reminds.
“Yea but like…” happy remarks, now chewing something, “what if she wants him to see her naked??”
Natsu’s face distorts into disgust and a blush covers his cheeks.
“Happy, that’s not funny. You wouldn’t understand just go away.” He shoos the cat.
“Natsu I-“
“Just go somewhere, okay? Leave me alone, Happy,” The squire sulks.
Lucy hates when he sulks.
She’d always be there to comfort him.
Natsu’s face gets warm.
She really is something.
His door opening interrupts his thoughts.
“Happy I thought I told you to-“
Natsu freezes when he sees the king of magnolia enter his room.
Oh god. Natsu’s going to be banned for harming his daughter. Or even worse, executed.
“Your majesty,” Natsu immediately stands up and bows.
“Dragneel… I heard what happened,”
“Sir. I deeply apologize.. I never meant for Lucy to get hurt. I Was trying to protect her from a potential threat it will never happen again ever.”
There’s a silence
“Natsu, I haven’t come to reprimand you, I’ve come to talk about your power.”
“My power?” Natsu’s ears perk up.
“Yes, your fire magic. As you know the other soldiers have magic bestowed upon them when they actually become a knight. But you’re a different case,” the King says while stroking his beard.
“How am I different?”
“I assume you’ve been having these fire fluctuations for a while but you haven’t told anyone?” The king asks.
“Yeah… I mean when I was super small I used to only be able to make as much as a candle could hold. Gildarts helped me control it. I hadn’t really thought much of it … doesn’t everyone have a little magic?” Natsu asks, confused
“This is not just ‘a little magic’ my boy. With the way your powers are growing, you may just be the most powerful person in this building.” Jude says with a stoic expression, “So I’m left with two options.”
Strongest in the building? Natsu wants to scoff.
Yeah right. Like he could ever beat Laxus in a fight.
“Options about what?” Natsu’s eyebrows arch, he can see where this is going.
“I can either- banish you because you’re a danger to my daughter and everyone around you… or-“
“Please I can’t get banished. I don’t know much about my own magic, I’m confused and I… I need to be here for Lucy. I can’t leave her.” Natsu begs the king.
He gets to his knees and bows his head.
“Please.” Natsu whispers.
A rush of fear surged through his body at the thought of being away from this castle …. Being away from his home.
Being away from his princess.
THE princess*
“As I was saying,” the king continues as Natsu pleads on the floor, “I could also hone your skills. Teach you to control your powers. As long as you make an agreement to let me use them whenever I need.”
The King pulls out a quill and parchment paper with the agreement all ready to sign.
So the king would like use him as a weapon?
He’s always wanted to be a knight but at what cost?
Is he really okay with someone having control of his fire?
Natsu thinks of the alternative option.
Never seeing Lucy again.
He’d frankly… do anything for her. So it’s really not that hard of a choice.
“I’ll sign it,” Natsu grabs the quill.
It’s not like the king is a bad person anyway? He makes good judgements so Natsu shouldn’t be worried.
He stands up slowly.
“I’m glad you signed. You made the right choice.” The king says as he starts leaving the room.
“Oh and if you hurt my daughter again… you won’t live to see the next day.”
The door slams shut.
A chill gets sent up Natsu’s spine.
“I would never hurt Lucy…” he mutters.
Natsu doesn’t really understand how that contract is any different from his knightly duty.
He is already going to pledge allegiance to the king… why does he need ink and paper to confirm that Jude can use his fire powers?
Who cares?
He has to make sure Lucy is safe. Right now, she’s with Sting doing god knows what.
‘What if she wants him to see her naked?’
That dumb cat’s words ring through his ears.
Lucy wouldn’t want that with Sting… would she?
Natsu walks up to the door and opens it. He has to find-
“Lucy?” The fire wielder refers to the girl standing outside her room with a smile plastered across her face.
God he loves that smile.
“Natsu! Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” She asks sweetly.
“I could ask you the same thing… did Sting drop you here?” He asks.
“Yes, he did.” She answers shyly.
Natsu frowns.
“Do you fancy him?” The pink-haired boy grimaces.
“No! Natsu, don't be silly!” She giggles.
“Have a nice night Luce.” He replies, his face stoic.
Lucy waves at him as she hums into her room.
He shuts the door behind him.
“Now she’s humming?” Natsu rolls his eyes.
He has to prepare for Lucy’s surprise tomorrow.. and it has to go perfectly so that she can ditch that Sting guy.
Natsu gets into his bed.
He gets to stay with Lucy now… that’s all that matters.