Konnichiwa, minna! Hisashiburi! I am so so sorry I didn't update last weekend, but I had a lot of work, and for those of you who read my tag book, you'd know the story, but I'm not going to go into details here cause you guys just wanna read the story right? Just a warning though, I probably won't update next week either because I have to prepare for an extremely rough two days of important exams. Actually they're just mock exams for the real exam at the end of the year, but we're still graded and I want to be able to do good on it. Also, for those of you who do not read my tag book, GO WATCH NAGI NO ASUKARA!!! IT'S AMAZING!!! I just rewatched it, and it was just so beautiful and satisfying, I would never get sick of watching it, and the characters are so likable and there's a lot of very good character development, and their world is amazing, it's just, I can't express it in words.  Go watch it. And without further ado, here is chapter 22!

Lucy walked hesitantly into the throne room. She curtsied respectfully while saying, "Your Majesty."

"Lucy," he nodded towards her.

It was amazing. He treated her as if she weren't even his own flesh and blood, as if she were just an annoying pest that he had to put up with all the time because she was still somewhat of value to him. Well, maybe that was how he thought of her.

"Virgo told me that His Highness wanted to see me?" she said, phrasing it as a question and straightening into perfect princess pose while folding her hands lightly in front of her.

"Yes, I wanted to inform you that the Prince of the Kingdom of Celestial, Loke Lion, will be remaining at the castle with us for around a week, and we are to hold a ball for him the night of his arrival. I would like you to entertain him, and show him around."

"I understand. If you don't mind me asking, Your Majesty, is this a diplomatic visit?"

"Of sorts, yes, but you needn't concern yourself with that," he stated coldly.

Lucy flinched, but said, "Of course, Your Majesty. And when, may I ask, is he arriving?"

"In four days time, and to prepare for the ball you will have only dance lessons in the evening. The rest of your classes will be canceled for these four days, as well as during Prince Loke's stay. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You are dismissed," he said with a wave of his hand.

Lucy curtsied, hiding the grimace on her face, then turned and left the throne room. As soon as the golden doors closed behind her, she slumped against them. Why does he have to be so...so... cold? Why does he always have to look down on me? Her hands were in fists by her sides, and her eyes were shadowed by her bangs. After a couple seconds, she took a deep, calming breath, and relaxed her hands. She straightened and started walking back to the dining hall rigidly. She shouldn't have expected anything more from him. Even if he was her father.

When she arrived back in the dining hall, her guards were waiting for her with grave faces.

"Lucy-" Erza started.

"I'm fine, Erza, really," Lucy said, faking a smile.

They all looked at her sadly, and Cana came over and hugged her. Lucy hugged her back, and cleared her throat.

"Well, a prince is coming to stay here in four days," Lucy said. "And I only have dance classes in the evening until he gets here, so all my other classes are canceled."

"Lucy, do you want to talk about it?" Gray asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Maybe later, you guys," Lucy said, not wanting to talk about it at the moment.

"Let's go into town then, since you don't have classes, huh?" Cana asked, slinging an arm around Lucy's shoulder.

"Ok!" Lucy said, pleased by the idea.

"That's a great idea, Cana!" Erza exclaimed. "And while we're there, we can visit the new cake shop that just opened up!"

Lucy giggled at Erza and had an idea.

"Why don't we ask Levy and Juvia to join us?"

"Really?" Gray piped up.

"Yes," Lucy giggled.

"Ooh, you guys gonna get dirty, Gray? What if you two get lost and start to have sex in an alleyway? Kukukuku..." Cana chuckled darkly.

Erza, Lucy, and Gray flushed at the thought, and Gray even started stripping unconsciously.

"G-Gray! Put some clothes on!" Lucy yelped.

"I-" But Gray wasn't even granted the time to finish before Erza pulled out her sword and started clubbing him with the hilt.

"You-filthy-pervert! Go-die-in-a-hole!" Erza yelled, punctuating each word with a hit.

"E-Erza, that's quite enough. We need to keep him alive for Juvia! You wouldn't want to kill Juvia's boyfriend would you?" Lucy said, getting in between the two.

"Fine, I'm calm, I'm calm," Erza said, sheathing her sword.

Lucy sighed in relief, but Erza turned around unsheathing her sword again.

"Just one more! That stripper deserves it!"

"Erza! No!" Lucy yelled, getting in between them once more.

"Tch, fine," Erza said, sheathing her sword once more. "Consider yourself lucky, Gray."

"H-Hai," said an almost knocked out Gray as he cowered behind Lucy.

"Okay, now that everyone is calmed down, let's go get ready, shall we?" Lucy said.

"Gray, you and Cana will go get Juvia, and Erza and I will go get Levy,"

"What? But Cana will be making dirty jokes about me and Juvia the whole time!" Gray protested.

"Would you rather I left you with Erza?" Lucy asked him, raising an eyebrow at him.

He blanched.

"Let's go, Cana!" Gray said as he limped out of the dining room.

Lucy rolled her eyes and Cana exited the dining room with a hand raised above her head waving without looking back.

"Come on, Erza. Let's go get Levy!" Lucy declared, hooking her arm with Erza's.

"Cake!" Erza cheered, walking with her.

Lucy giggled and tugged her along.

They were laughing and talking the whole way to the library, Erza was mostly talking about all the different types of cake she would eat in town and what Lucy should try while there. Once they arrived in front of the library, both a giggling mess, the door opened without them having to do anything. Levy peeked her head out and stared curiously at the two with an amused smile on her face.

"What's up with you two?" she asked.

"Cake," they said simultaneously.

They looked at each other and burst out laughing again.

"What's so funny about cake?" Levy asked.

"Who knows?" They both said.

"Did Cana finally get you guys drunk?" she asked, folding her arms under her chest.

"No," Lucy breathed out. "I just needed to laugh is all."

Levy looked at her queerly, but Erza mouthed something that Lucy wasn't able to see and Levy nodded.

"So, what's up, Lu-chan? Don't you have classes right now?" Levy asked.

"Nope! To prepare for the arrival of the Prince of Celestial, I only have dance classes and they're only in the evening!" Lucy said excitedly. "Which means I have the whole morning off!"

"The prince of Celestial is coming?! You mean Loke Lion?!" Levy asked incredulously.

"Yeah, what about him?" Lucy asked, confused.

"You'd better be careful, Lu-chan. That Prince Loke is supposed to be a real lady's man, and he flirts really well. You'd best keep your guard up when he comes over," Levy cautioned her.

"What? He can't be that good right?" Lucy was shocked by this news.

"I'm serious, Lu-chan. He's really famous for that. I wonder why your dad is having him come here?" Levy mused, hand on her chin.

"He said it was sort of diplomatic..." Lucy trailed off.

"I bet he's counting on Loke's flirting skills to make you fall for him!" Levy said, smacking her fist into her palm.

"What?!"

"I wouldn't put it past that bastard," Erza growled.

Lucy thought about it. Would he? Would he really? But she already knew the answer to that, she just didn't want to believe her father would use her as his political pawn. Yes, he would.

She smiled sadly.

"Yes, he would."

"I will cut him into little pieces, freeze him, unfreeze him, and kill him again!! Does that sound good to you, Lucy?" Erza threated with a dark aura around her.

"E-Erza, he's still my father. No matter how shallow he is," she said the last part quietly.

"I guess..." Erza muttered, turning away.

"Don't worry, Lu-chan. I'm sure you won't be fooled by Loke, especially now that you know," Levy said, trying to cheer her up.

"Mm, he's not gonna make me fall for him!" Lucy said determinedly.

"That's the spirit, Lucy," Erza praised, hugging her.

"E-Erza, c-can't breathe!" Lucy wheezed.

"Sorry," Erza apologized finally letting her go.

Lucy put a hand to her throat, taking deep breaths in and out, in and out.

"Anyways, Levy-chan," Lucy said once she had regained her breath. "We came up here to ask you if you want to come into town with us for a bit."

Levy's eyes sparkled.

"I would love too! You know an antique bookstore just opened up in town, but I've been so busy I haven't been able to go check it out. Let's go together, Lu-chan!!" Levy exclaimed hopping up and down.

"Really?! Antiques?!" Lucy asked, getting excited now.

"Yes!" Levy squealed.

They grabbed each other's hands and started jumping up and down in a circle squealing.

"A new cake shop just opened up so let me get in on this!" Erza said, ripping the two apart and then bringing them back together with her included.

All three of them started squealing and jumping around in a circle. Just then two guards walked down the hallway, and the three girls froze. They looked at the two guards like three deer caught in headlights. Lucy cleared her throat and said in her royal voice, "Carry on."

They bowed in respect although still looking quite confused and kept walking. As soon as they were out of earshot, they started jumping and squealing again, until a maid passed by.

"We should probably go now," Levy suggested.

All three of them agreed and left the library hand in hand. 

Author's note: So, that was a funny little chapter, ne? I swear, Erza might actually kill Gray at some point. But anyway, next chapter, or is it the chapter after it? Anyway, in one of those chapters, we are finally going to meet who you've all been waiting for, Gajeel!! Yay! Ooh, and Loke's gonna make an entrance at some point? I wonder how that's gonna go. So, I'm not actually going to interview anybody this time, but I promise you guys that next time I will. Also, should I add Master Makarov in the story? If so, who should he be? Give me your feedback in the comments please, and vote. Also, I almost forgot, I MADE IT TO 100 FOLLOWERS, PEOPLE!!!! WOOP WOOP!!! AND 787 READS!!! HOW GREAT IS THAT!!! I'm glad to know people are actually reading and enjoying my story. I probably should have said this at the beginning, but I forgot so... whatevs. Till the next time my weirdos!! Sayonara!