(This chapter has been edited and revised)

(I added a bit more to the chapter at the end)

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"Lucy!" A boy with blonde hair called out to me.

The sun shone in the sky and brightened up the garden. The trees glistened in the sunlight and the flowers blew with the wind.

I looked up from my place in the garden and smiled up as the boy ran towards me. His gorgeous blue eyes glistened in the sunlight and my heart fluttered at the sight.

"Sting!" I got up and ran towards him right into his open arms.

Our bodies embraced as if we were perfect for each other and we laughed when we both landed on the ground. The hard impact causing us to fall onto each other.

"I missed you," He told me once we both sat up beside one another.

"Me too," I said, grinning up at him, "I'm surprised you came so late in the afternoon. Usually you come earlier in the morning."

"Father finally let me come visit you today for a few hours. He's talking with the king about some important business." He told me and played with a lock of my blonde curls.

"Hey, Sting?" I said, when we both lay on the grass. The sun shone in my eyes as I looked up, so I glanced at him.

"Yes, Lulu?"

My face blushed at his nickname for me. "Do you promise that we'll always be together?"

"Of course." He turned his face towards me and kissed my forehead. "I won't leave you, I promise..."

Just as I was about to speak, the boy's image faded and I found myself in my Father's study. My eyes widened at the sight in front of me.

A man with gold locks was grinning down at me, a dagger in my father's chest. His once blue eyes that lighted up with the room with their beauty, were dark. Hatred filling them as he looked at me.

"Father!"

"Your pathetic!" He said coming towards me, a craziness filling his eyes. I screamed as his dagger filled with my father's blood came towards my neck.

***

"No!"

"Princess! Wake up!" A male's says, waking me up from my nightmare. I'm shaking and muttering: "Father no..." My eyes flutter, but I can barely open them.

I groan and open my eyes, finding myself against a tree. How did I get here?

The sun was shining, signaling that it was morning. Looking up, I notice a pair of green onyx eyes looking worriedly into my brown ones.

"Natsu?"

"Are you alright, Princess? It seemed like you were having a nightmare of some sort."

"Y-Yes, it was nothing..." I sit up and rub my head, "I-I'm alright..." Looking around, I notice something, "Where's Happy?"

"He went to explore the nearby river for fish," Natsu answers and knits his eyebrows, "Are you sure you're aright?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

Lier! Your not okay at all!

He raises his eyebrows and crosses his arms, "Are you positive? Because I don't seem to believe you."

I guess I have no choice but to tell him.

I couldn't help it, tears welled up in my eyes, "No, Natsu. I'm not alright...everything I've known in all my life is gone..." I placed my hands on my face and started to cry softly. "My father, my home, my life!"

"Your life didn't end, Princess. Maybe just the life you knew but your alive and that's what matters."

"But it doesn't matter! Maybe it would have been better if I would have died," I sobbed. Natsu didn't say anything so I continued, "I wish I was killed like Father instead of running away like this! I deserved to die!"

Natsu's face became stern, "Don't say that princess, don't even think about it. If someone deserves to die, it's Sting. Not you."

"But you heard him!" I wailed, "My people hate me!" I lifted my head and looked him in the eyes, "Like he said! I'm a spoiled and rich brat who doesn't deserve to live," Sniffling, I began to tug on my hair with my hands. "Everything's that's happened, it's my fault!"

No, Princess," He scooted closer to me, "All that's happened was not because of you. Your father sheltered you and made you think like you do for a reason. Don't go hard on yourself."

"I shouldn't even be called a Princess..." I whispered, refusing to listen.

"Princess.."

"Don't call me that! I'm not the Princess anymore!"

"No, because to me, you are the Princess. So stop being stubborn."

"I said, don't call me that!"

"Well too bad," He smirked slightly, "I will call you whatever I like...Princess."

"Stop it!"

I turned away from him and crossed my arms. Pulling myself up, I began to stalk off towards the stream, not caring what Natsu will think.

"I'm going for a walk by myself! Don't follow me!"

"Tch...you really make it hard to protect you, don't you Princess?"

Suddenly my arm was grabbed and I was pulled towards Natsu's chest.

"Unhand me!" I hit his chest with my fists and tried to wiggle free.

"No..."

"I said-!"

"I don't care what you said," Grabbing my chin with his fingers, Natsu made me look at him. "You can feel sorry for yourself all you want or cry all you want. But don't you dare start giving up," He said firmly, his dark eyes looking deeply into mine. "Got that, Princess?"

"Yes..." I whispered, my lips trembling.

"Good." Lifting my chin up, he said, "It's alright to cry Princess. But that's it." Enveloping me in his warm arms, he whispered in my ear. "Cry it all out...I'm here..."

Tears welled in my eyes and I sobbed against his chest. The feelings inside me from yesterday's event bubbling to the surface. I didn't care how I looked at the moment, all I cared about was sobbing until my throat was dry.

"What's wrong with Lushie?" Happy asks, signaling his return.

"Just a little shaken," Natsu replies, "She'll be okay."

Natsu's arms tightened around me as I continued my sniffling. From all the years I've known him, I never knew he could be this sweet and gentle. But being in his arms made me feel safe and secured, so I closed my eyes until my sobs finally quieted down.

"Don't ever feel bad about who you are, Princess," He murmured against my neck, "Because no matter what happens, I believe in you."

"Okay..." I mumbled my head still against his chest, "Arigatō...Natsu..."

On the night of my eighteenth birthday, I lost almost everything...my father, my home, my people, and the first man I loved. But it wasn't the end. Soon, I will experience a new adventure, one that will help me find out who I will really become. And most of all...meet the people who will become my family.

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I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Sorry that's a little short but don't worry, next one will be a more longer!

Thanks for reading and see you all later! Hope your all doing well and stay safe!

✌️❤️😁

Date published March 23, 2020
Republished March 26, 2020
Word count: 1220