Chapter Text
To say the least, one Etherious Natsu Dragneel was surprised. Actually, no. That wouldn't be the proper wording.
He was absolutely frozen in shock.
There had to be some kind of mistake.
What kind of Princess would run in, outfit ripped up and something fierce in her eyes (something that made the pink haired boy shiver, from excitement or fear, he didn't really know) to save a chained up dragon demon from being executed.
Was this some sort of reverse Fairy Tale?
Whatever the case was, he hoped it wasn't a dream. If it was, he never wanted to wake up before his execution.
His rescuer (a princess no doubt, no one other than a certain family of royalty was blessed with the Celestial glow and scent of stardust and open air) was a buxom blonde who'd thrown a set of keys in his direction with a huff.
Of course, there had to be some sort of catch, he knew more than anyone that nothing was too good to be true.
Natsu smirked and cringed.
There it was.
“Not now…” He cursed under his breath and his breathing became heavy, but he caught the keys anyway.
Stupid lungs...
It was a good thing the princess was on look out for guards that she didn't notice.
Or maybe she did and just ignored it.
"Come on, we don't have all day now. Get those cuffs off and we're gone." Her dark brown eyes (he thought that they looked like rich, fertile earth) were demanding and flashed with that fierceness he'd sensed before.
He tilted his head in confusion, but smirked anyway.
"You of all people should know what I did!"
"Yeah, and that's why I'm letting you escape! Honestly, I'd congratulate you if we had the time!"
The demon could tell that she was lying, but he was never one to turn down a compliment.
So he quickly freed himself with the keys she gave him, and stretched a little.
"You must really hate the king..." Natsu laughed, and felt his newly-freed wrists. "So, where are we going?"
"You must have a safe place... I'm wanted throughout this entire Kingdom!" The blonde laughed. "If I wasn't, I could've just pardoned you!"
"True... Well, there's one place!"
"Let's get going then!"
"There no way I'm going to let you into my hoard without a treasure in return though..." Natsu flashed a greedy smile, and Lucy smiled.
"Well, I think you'd be surprised! You like gold, right?"
Natsu smirked. "Now you've got my attention."
"What would you say if I told you I had enough to feed almost the entire kingdom for a year?"
"I'd say that you're more than welcome to hand it over and then be allowed into my hoard."
The 'princess' smiled and tugged on his clawed hand.
"Then let's get going! They'll find us soon!"
He smirked in return. "Well, there's only one way to get out of this place."
He glanced towards the window before hefting the girl in his arms.
"Damn, you're heavy. Hope you ain't afraid of heights, princess."
The blonde glared at him and smacked his chest. The hit barely even stung.
But he felt pain anyway, and smirked, hoping that she wouldn't notice.
"Now, now, princess. Is that any way to treat the man who's helping you find refugee?"
He backed up a little before running towards the open window.
Before she could retort, he jumped out with a whoop. "Hold on tight!"
And with a flap of his draconic wings, they were off, flying away from the tower that had held him prisoner for so long.
'Tch, magic cures. There's no such thing, especially not in that place.' He smiled as his thoughts took on a happier note. 'At least I'm out now.'
"So, where's this hoard of yours anyway?"
"Where's the gold of yours?" Natsu smirked again.
"Obviously not in that tower! Up ahead there's a port town and then a forest to the north of it. That's where I left my horse and my traveling companion."
"Wait a second... I ain't letting another person into my hoard, princess! I-"
He immediately stopped talked when he saw her smirk too.
"Oh I think you won't mind. You see, I also rescued a friend of yours from across the kingdom."
"Wait...? Happy?!"
"Yup that's him!"
He let out a low whistle.
She must've been planning something like this for months, especially if she had rescued Happy to get to him. He had to give her some sort of points for that, especially with saving his friend.
She was either brave, stupid, or both for thinking she could trick a dragon demon of his caliber and age for safety.
He almost laughed. "You've got guts, girl. I'll give you that."
And he liked it.
Maybe he'd keep her around anyway. The promise of adventure and the puzzle the girl was, was just too tempting for him.
He'd take the bait. He always loved a good adventure.
Or, he used to.
Thanks to his condition travel was hard.
Even harder since his father passed…
But he'd never even mention it to her, she didn't need to know anyway.
“Like I needed to be rescued!” Natsu laughed.
Might as well start up some trouble with his escape.
She rolled her eyes at him.
"So, this hoard of yours is where again?"
"Now, why would I tell you where one of my best kept secrets lay?"
"Because I promised you gold, saved your life, and your friend from also being executed!"
He laughed. "And that's why I'm letting you in! I can't trust some random human, considering their nature..."
"Heh, Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to bring anyone else there, and also..."
She smirked again, making Natsu long for and adventure with her.
"I'm not human either."
He laughed. "You don't think I knew that? Your family has been blessed for generations, making you a little more than human, but nothing else. I can smell the blessing on you, however faint."
He paused and took a deep inhale. "But, there's something else too."
The girl huffed. "That's what I'm talking about! I was cursed by Zeref," She spat the mages name out as though it were a curse, and for good reason too.
"And that's why I'm running. This curse of his has 'tainted' me and made me unworthy of being a princess in the King's eyes." She sneered, trying to cover up the hurt and sadness she felt. "And that's why I sought you out. You have to get this curse off! You owe me!"
"Fine...!" He sighed. "I'll let you into my hoard for the gold and saving Happy. Saving my life doesn't really count because I would've just been transported back to Zeref instead of dying... But I can't do anymore unless you have my book so..." He shrugged, and the blonde smirked again, sending shivers down his spine.
"Why do you think he cursed me? I stole a few books on magic and yours just happened to be there..." She looked so satisfied, and it made Natsu sick. "And if you help me then I'll sweeten the deal. I'll give you your book so you can be free. How's that?"
He didn't even hesitate in his answer. "Deal. But, princess, if you want this curse off, we've gotta go about it my way, alright? I've gotta make sure I know exactly what I'm dealing with."
"Okay! And my name is Lucy!"
He rolled his eyes. Like her name would matter when he took the curse off and she left to become Queen.
Natsu sighed.
Maybe she wasn't worth keeping around after all.
She didn't even know anything about demons and their books!
He couldn't even touch it, much less ever ‘be free’...
Humans were creatures not to be trusted, a lesson he'd learned the hard way many years ago. And this one, despite her fancy title, would be like the rest of them.
"Whatever, Luigi."
He'd just have to watch and wait for her betrayal. Easy, right?
"It's Lucy!"
But, even with these thoughts, she still made him smile.
"Whatever..." He smirked and focused on flying.
"That's the port town you were talking about, right?"
"Yeah, just keep heading north..."
Natsu then stopped as he realised something. "You left my book alone?! The magic power from it would attract any wizard within five miles and I know Happy ain't gonna guard it very well!"
Lucy smiled. "Well it's a good thing I have it here with me, right?" She pulled it out from seemingly nowhere, and Natsu sighed a breath of relief and fear.
He thought she was lying at first.
"Okay, but you better not open it, or else we'll both be doomed."
The two landed, and Lucy nodded. "I won't, but may I ask what'll happen?"
"Let's just say, a mindless monster made for destruction can't help you reverse your curse..."
She sighed. "Alright. I definitely won't, and speaking of my curse... That's exactly what will happen to me if I don't reverse it within the next moon..."
He whistled once more. "Then we best get to it, huh? Let's get Happy and head out. Sooner we look at that curse, the better."
"Yeah..." Lucy held out her hand, which was covered in purple marks.
"Hey, when exactly did he curse ya?"
"A couple days ago... Why?"
"Never mind..."
He had to tread even more carefully now. A girl with a curse that had just set in spelled no good for him.
Who knew if the curse had already started taking control?
He frowned. "We're here."
Happy was fast asleep on the horse, and Natsu smiled.
He thought he'd never see him again...
The demon turned to Lucy.
She did seem nice...
But if she was cursed by Zeref himself then there was a chance that he could see everything she saw, and he definitely didn't want his 'creator' to find him.
As if she was reading his thoughts, Lucy spoke up. "Why don't you want Zeref to find you?"
What a coincidence.
"You're different than all of his other demons. They would and have followed him into the underworld, but you... History says that he didn't need you anymore, but if that were true you'd be dead. So why are you running away?"
"It's none of your business! And who says I can even die in the first place?!"
"Is that it? He didn't need you anymore so he banished you?"
"No! It's not...! And why should I even tell you?!"
Lucy smirked.
That wasn't a good sign.
"Remind me why I shouldn't open this book?!"
"Fine... The truth is that I hate his guts." He said so nonchalantly, and Lucy wasn't convinced, so he went on. "When he... Created me... Something went wrong... I had a mind of my own, so he fixed that with the book... But the thing is, that I'm still... Conscious... In a way... When the book is open. So one day I broke free and left. Never liked what he made me do, so I never looked back."
He sighed.
And that's when Igneel found him...
"I see..." Lucy looked up, sympathy in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
"Yes you did..."
She opened her mouth to protest, but he continued on, ignoring her.
"All humans are alike that way. They don't care for others feelings, they just pry till they get what they want. And once they get it, they leave. The only thing they leave behind are sugar coated words. You meant to pry because you just 'had to know', didn't you?" He laughed, his chuckle a dark, harsh thing.
"Doesn't matter what your answer is. I'll get the curse off you and then you'll give me my book and leave. That's all I want."
"I'm sorry..."
"If you were really sorry you wouldn't have asked in the first place... Now change of plans. I'm not taking you to my hoard so forget about the gold. I have a few safe houses around here somewhere..."
It was then that Happy woke up because of their argument. "NATSU!"
Innerly, the demon cringed. Now, she knew more about him. That was dangerous.
Now she knew the name Natsu. And that, wasn't good. Especially because she was human. And no human could keep their noses out of others buisness.
They ravaged and pillaged until they gathered all they want, the gluttonous fools. Then they left behind destroyed shells of their victims.
His dark thoughts were easily masked by the bright smile and open arms he had towards the exceed. Happy flew right into them, hugging the demon.
"Happy! I missed you!"
"Same here... I thought they were gonna kill you!"
"Have a little more faith!" Natsu laughed. "I wouldn't steal something just to never see it again! And you should know by now that I can't die!" He laughed again, and Lucy smiled at the two.
"So... I'm sorry for being curious, but what exactly did you steal?"
Now that was something he was more than happy to brag about, his treasure and how he got it.
"He stole the king's crown!"
"What!?! You stole my father's crown!?! How?!?!"
He smirked. "And good thief never tells their secrets."
"Again, I'd applaud you if we had time!" Lucy quickly got on her horse. "Which way, around this time guard usually patrol these areas..."
"Keep going straight!"
"Got it!"
Natsu and Happy flew ahead and Lucy had her horse follow, after making sure all her stuff was secure.
Soon, they arrived to what seemed like an empty clearing.
"What the- Did you trick me!?"
"Now why would I do that?!" Natsu laughed and cast a magic circle in the middle of the field. "Now cmon... We don't have all day!"
"Why are you just letting me in there?"
Lucy paused. "Don't you hate humans or something?"
"Yeah... But maybe I don't hate them enough to let one have the same fate as me... Plus you ain't exactly human..."
There'd be no point in mentioning old debts and promises. Especially to a human who knew nothing of him
And it'd be better to keep it that way too.