Chapter Text
A/N: Main pairing- Gruvia and Nalu. Minor pairing- Jerza and Gale.
In a far away land, there was a kingdom of Ice ruled by the Fullbusters for generations, currently being ruled by King Silver Fullbuster and his only queen Mika Fullbuster.
Kingdom of Ice were neighbours to the Kingdom of Celestial which was ruled by the Heartfilias for generations, currently ruled by King Jude and his queen Layla Heartfilia.
Another neighbour was the Kingdom of Scarlet Blossom which was ruled by the Beleserions for generations, ruled by their widowed Queen Irene Belserion.
These three kingdoms were allies and the rulers shared a great bond both with respect to their business and political endeavors and personally, all three of them were good friends whom they have known from childhood.
These three kingdoms are forced to be reckoned with as they were prosperous and had an army of strong men and strategists who would predict the outcome of war which was always positive to them.
And that's why, other kingdoms feared this ally and would usually avoid war against them.
It had been 20 years since the current rulers ascended the throne. But now time has come to make way for future rulers to take charge.
"So Lucy, Is uncle finally convinced?" Erza Fernandez, daughter of Queen Irene Beleserion who married the commander general of her army, Jellal Fernandez with the blessing of her mother, asked the Heartfilia princess.
"Papa is almost convinced that Natsu would make a good husband and future king. I'm really grateful to Gray and Juvia if it weren't for them this wouldn't have been possible." Lucy smiled genuinely and fondly remembered Juvia's words from two years ago.
"Lucy-san, I will wait till yours and Natsu-San's love issues get sorted out until then let Gray-sama continue being your fiance."
"Yeah! I'm sure both of them would be happy to hear this good news. Come let's go to Kingdom of Ice to share this news to your Natsu and Gray." Erza exclaimed happily.
"What? You are coming with us?" Levy Redfox, Lucy's personal maid and her best friend asked the Belserion princess.
"Yes!! It's been a while since I saw them especially…" Erza stopped as soon as her mother entered the guest room.
"Good Afternoon, your highness" Levy bowed down in respect.
"Hello Aunty" Lucy stood up and bowed down.
"Hello mother, is something the matter?" Erza asked.
"Good afternoon girls, did I interrupt your talks. Oh anyways!! Lucy dear, congratulations finally your dad has agreed for your marriage with that pinky boy.
And you know what, just now, I received his call and he informed me of this happy news.
So as soon as your return to your kingdom, wedding preparations will commence. Congratulations dear." Irene hugged Lucy and patted her back.
"I can't believe papa agreed wholeheartedly. When I left our palace two days back, he said he would think about it but he didn't give consent yet but I knew he would eventually. But I never thought this would happen this soon." Lucy said with a smile which she couldn't contain.
"He and Layla wanted to surprise you, that's why they didn't tell you when you left. Okay girls, enjoy your stay and once again, congratulations Lucy dear." Irene added and left the guest room.
The girls squealed in delight and had their group hug. "Finally, ten years of a struggling love life has come to a happy end. Now, Lucy will become Lucy Dragneel." Levy exclaimed and congratulated her friends.
Lucy, Erza and Gray were childhood friends who did their schooling together in Kingdom of Celestial in their prestigious academy "Fairy Tail" which was run by a wise old man, Makarov Dreyar who taught them every lesson pertaining to changing life and kingdom.
He mainly taught them about family and it doesn't require blood to form bonds with someone. And everyone should be treated equally.
Even though, Jude and Irene dismissed that kind of knowledge and thoughts and were ready to stop the schooling.
It was Silver and Mika who convinced their friends and said that the old man was doing a perfect job of raising the future rulers in the correct path which the others reluctantly agreed to at the end.
Fairy Tail academy is the place where everyone students were seen in the same light.
That academy is the place where Lucy met Levy McGarden, Gajeel Redfox and Jellal Fernandez and also Natsu for the first time.
Jellal, Levy, Gajeel and Natsu Dragneel, were the orphan residents of Celestial Kingdom. Natsu's personality was something Lucy hadn't ever come across.
He was always hyper, excited, funny and a very friendly person. He quickly gelled up with her group except Gray, as their personality was totally opposite.
But with the course of time, even they became best of friends. Natsu shared a sisterly bond with Erza which even she felt the same. But the bond he shared with Lucy was totally different, from best friends they became lovers.
At age of 17, Natsu confessed his feelings which he had bottled up since he first met Lucy and to his surprise, even Lucy felt the same and accepted his love wholeheartedly.
Since then, they have remained together and were ready to face any struggle in their path until they had King Jude and Queen Layla's approval.
But what came as a struggle in their path was a wedding proposal to Lucy from Kingdom of Ice from Gray's father to Lucy's father which the later agreed and wanted it to happen as soon as their children graduated from the academy.
When Lucy confronted Gray along with Natsu and other friends, all Gray said was he wasn't aware of this arrangement nor was he informed about this prior.
"See Lucy, I'm not heartless to snatch you away from Natsu. I know how much you guys love each other.
Natsu, don't you remember how I encouraged you to confess your feelings to her and encouraged you to not give damn about inferiority complex. Now you both are accusing me?"
Lucy still remembered how their accusations had hurt him which led him to not talk to any of them for a week.
But after a week, when Lucy and Natsu apologised to him which he accepted and finally revealed a thing which he had been hiding for a long time,
"I'm in love with someone which I can't disclose now. But don't worry Lucy, I will call off this wedding. We still have a year left before we graduate. So be cool and I support you both."
"Lucy…..Lucy…." Levy was shaking her best friend. That's when Lucy regained her composure and smiled sheepishly at them.
"Don't go drifting away in your dreams. Now you have a huge responsibility of apologising to Gray's parents officially.
I'm sure uncle must have informed them already about the wedding getting called off.
But I think you should personally go and meet them. What do you say?" Erza asked as she poured the tea into her cup.
"Even I feel the same. Tomorrow morning let's leave to the Kingdom of Ice." Lucy added.
MEANWHILE
"So these six years of engagement comes to an unsatisfactory end, huh!! That's what you are trying to say Jude." Silver sounded harshly.
"Honey, please cool down. Don't sound this harsh to our friend." Mika tried to console her husband.
"Okay! Fine, now at least you tried to inform me that's cool. Don't worry, I'm not angry at Lucy-chan for not marrying my son.
I see her as my daughter and at the end of the day, it's her decision as she's the one who's going to lead that life.
Fine!! Don't worry we will surely come for the ceremony and if you know any alliance for my son, do inform me.
He's soon going to be 24 and still unmarried, by this age, I already had him. Okay bye." Silver kept the lacrima away and sighed.
"Honey!! I don't think we need to search for another alliance. I feel Gray is already seeing someone but I don't know who it is." Mika said as she sat next to her husband.
"Who could be that? I should have listened to him when he said at first that he was not interested in marrying Lucy-chan.
But I believed that he was okay with it as he agreed to marry her.
But should have known that was not when he made trivial excuses to postpone the wedding.
Now look, he's the one now who is in the losing end. Whoever that girl is I'm ready to get him married off if he wholeheartedly loves her." Silver said as he hugged his wife to make himself feel at ease.
"What if she's an ordinary person, someone without any background as such?" Mika questioned him.
"I don't believe in this high status crap. I'm not telling this because of Lucy-chan. The reason I felt she would be a good bride for Gray is because we have known her since her birth.
But Gray nor Lucy-chan felt that for one another. Now that's why, she chose Natsu who makes her happy and smiles in the way she wants.
If even our Gray has someone like that I will also choose the same path which Jude and Layla has chosen for their daughter.
Dear, go speak to him and know the answer. And before that send those letters to the mail guard." Silver pointed at the table.
After breaking from the hug, Mika went near the table and took the letters. She checked them and took one out of it.
"We wrote letters to her every month for the past one and half years but she didn't even bother to write us back. Is she alright? Did we make a mistake by sending her to Bosco on her accord?" Mika asked out of concern.
Silver could clearly see worries wash over her face. "I'm sure Juvia-chan's alright. Because my heart says so. Don't worry, I have a hunch that we might meet her soon."
Gray, who was passing by his parent's bedroom, had heard all the things the couple had spoken about.
Once he reached his room where he saw Natsu Dragneel, his main bodyguard laying around eating a packet of chips. Gray groaned and scolded him, "Idiot, what are you doing littering my bed?"
"Ice-princess!! Why are you shouting? Geez, I was just eating chips."
Natsu yelled back and now both had their head smacked against each other and began to brawl by pulling each other's hairs.
Even if Gray was practical Natsu's boss, both were being friendly because they considered each other as their best friend.
It was Gray's idea to appoint Natsu as his main bodyguard after graduation so that Natsu could learn the life of royalty and prepare for his future life.
"Flame-brain, you could have told me that your wedding got fixed." Gray said and gave him another punch.
"Wow!! Wait who told you that? Luce told me yesterday that her dad has almost agreed but not yet still. But now you are saying something different. Is it true?" Natsu asked out of surprise which eyes sparkling and a big goofy smile on his face.
Seeing him Gray smiled and nodded in agreement, "Yes, your soon-to-be father-in -law has agreed. Looks like Lucy will inform you soon now." He smirked.
Natsu looked at Gray and hugged him which startled the former, "Thank you Gray. If it weren't for yours and Juvia's help, it wouldn't have been possible. Thanks man. Me and Luce are really grateful for your help. And sorry because of us you couldn't be with your…."
Before Natsu could finish, she stopped seeing the Queen mother and King. He soon broke the hug and bowed down to greet them..
"Good Afternoon, your highness."
"Mom, Dad... what do you want?" Gray asked as he folded his arms.
"So dear, it was your doing that now Jude has accepted your friend to wed his daughter, huh?" Mika asked as she raised her eyebrow.
"What are you talking about? I don't know anything?" Gray laughed sheepishly and tried to change the topic.
"Oh we heard your friend's speech, my son. What did you do to convince Jude?" Silver asked as he sat down on the couch opposite to the bed with his wife.
Natsu, who was about to leave the room, was stopped by Silver and told him to stay.
"Firstly, I made Natsu as my bodyguard which you agreed after seeing his talents and skill.
Secondly, I taught him some manners regarding the royal life which he's still learning.
Thirdly, I sent him to Lucy's dad for a year when someone sent a threatening letter to uncle Jude stating that Lucy would be kidnapped which was sent by Erza by the way.
Finally, I didn't call off this wedding for these six years since if we called off then Lucy's dad would have brought another alliance.
So that's why, every now and then, I made excuses to get married without breaking down the engagement while Lucy tried from her side to convince her dad about Natsu and their love for one another which she succeeded at the end."
Gray at last revealed the whole plan to his parents and looked at them expecting a bunch of scolding but was shocked to see his parents smiling and especially his mom tearing up.
Gray soon went near her and hugged her, "Mom, I'm sorry if I made a mistake. I thought I was helping my friends this way.
I know I shouldn't have led you guys on this matter. I'm extremely sorry for making you guys disappointed."
Mika patted her son's back, "Dear, you are truly a gentleman. I'm proud that we have raised a son who is helpful and makes sure that even others are also happy. Don't apologise."
"So Gray, are you seeing someone? If yes, then share it with us. We will get you married to your dream girl." Silver asked for which Gray remained silent.
"And what was that you guys were talking about Juvia's help?" Mika asked the boys whose face became pale as soon as the queen uttered her name.
To be continued.....