Chapter 5

A day passed and I couldn't take my mind off the Dragon's Choosing and Gray. I need to tell him now! Or else everything will be ruined! He might not propose to me! Agh! I don't even know if he is going to, but if he will he might cancel it wouldn't he??

"What's going on, Big sister?" Michelle asked, waving her hand in front of me as my parents waited for me to respond on the dining table. We were eating breakfast, mom's usual fried eggs.

"Uh..O-Oh!" I snapped out. "It's nothing. Just a bit...you know, tense." I replied.

"Ah, Tense about tomorrow, I see?" He said, laughing. "Well, you have nothing to worry about dear. I'm sure you'll get picked!" He laughed...that isn't making things any better, I suppose. Then I felt a reassuring squeeze on my hand as I saw my mother's calm eyes locked on mine, with a look saying: it'll all be fine

It calmed me down a bit, but the nervousness wasn't in the Dragon's choosing. I stood up and excused myself from the table, leaving them with worried looks on their faces. I sighed and summoned Virgo.

"What is your wish, princess?" She asked me.

"Please don't call me Princess..." I whined as I massaged my forehead, a hint that it's just a trouble.

"And why is that?" She asked with a curious expression. "I thought you liked me to call you that."

I shook my head. "It's a long story, and trust me. Being princess is the last thing that I want." I sat at the edge of my bed and grabbed a pen and a piece of paper. I wrote a letter and gave it to Virgo.

"Bring this to Gray's house. Quickly and quietly, okay?"

"Yes Princ---I mean, Lucy." She curtsied and left the room in a an extremely fast speed. I looked up at the ceiling and thought how much my life was so alike with the ceiling. Just blank, I guess, besides writing stories and publishing them to the local libraries, entertaining people with my magic and acting in different places, I never actually thought of anything else but go to those jobs to earn money.

Then the door suddenly flew open and a strong wind came crashing in. "The job is done, Lucy."
"Thanks." I replied and she faded away into thin air as she went back to the spirit world.

I went to the window, waiting for Gray to arrive so I can tell him. Knees shaking, I caught a glimpse of a darkened figure running from afar. In that instant, I knew it was Gray, so I prepared myself to whatever anger he throws at me.

He smiled, not knowing what he'll discover tonight...I put on a weak smile and opened the window, looking back at the door. Locked. Then jumping into his arms, as if his arms were designed for me, explaining how it was so fit and exact in catching me.

We decided not to go far and just climb up the tree house. The tree house me and Gray used to go when we were kids, but when Silver, Gray's father died. He became so busy that we didn't have time to go there anymore, but we could go to the river since it was near his house.

I sniffed up the old scent of wood and touched the rough texture of the floor, as if it would bring back all of the memories I had in this treehouse. He came up and faced me.

"So what was it you want?" He face me seriously, but it didn't seem so alarming. "You've been calling me to meet you three times a week now....." Then he realized the approach it had when he said that. "I-It's not that I don't want to meet you or anything!" He said waving his hands in front of me, a bit uncollected. If this was a usual meeting then I would've giggled at his unprepared state, but I'm getting nervous to the bone and I can feel the tears at the fear of possibly getting in a fight for all of this. Or maybe even worse.

"I....I....Gray, I....I-I'm....uhhm...Well...I.." I couldn't spit out any other word besides I and his name.

He placed both hands on my shoulders and leaned in a bit closer, looking worried and sincere for some reason. "You can tell me anything." He smiled. He's too nice! I can't....I just can't tell him....But...this is my last chance...I have to...!! Then the tears came running down.

"I'm sorry, Gray!!" I cried, leaning down his chest, still crying. "I...I entered the Dragon's Choosing!" I expected a frozen expression, like he was trying to process all of it, but he didn't do that.

"I tried to tell you, but.." I sniffed. "But I kinda chickened out a few times...that's why I called you one too many times this week...I'm really sooooorry!" I said, extremely sincere, coming from deep in my heart.

He chuckled in reply. I looked up in surprise. I stared at him, eyes teary from laughing. He looked at me and smiled. "What?" I asked and He chuckled again.

"Y-You're not mad...?" Then he grabbed my arm and pulled me in a hug, arms tightly wrapped around me.

"Of course I'm not." He whispered gently in my ear, his breath touching my skin. I squeezed him and stayed like that for a while. "The truth is..." He started. "I've already known it from the start. I was just waiting for you to tell me yourself." I pushed him away and started at his smiling face as I had a mixture of shocked, questioning and just plain surprised look stuck on my face.

"How did you know???" My tone risen a bit there, but I didn't care. I'm just.....Wow! I was all tense for that, and he already knew from the start?!?

"Jellal told me."

I was speechless for a moment. "You know, I was so scared of telling you! I thought you were going at me for not listening to you about joining it and-" Gray raised a hand in front of me, gesturing me to stop. And so I did.

"Wait, when did I tell you not to join?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well, that time you were in my room and said something like, 'I don't want you to join the D.C.' Something like that." I said, looking down at the floor.

"Oh...that...don't worry, Lucy." He smile and rested on my lap. "What's done is done, and I can't do anything about that, can I?" I could see he didn't want to, but his face isn't coinciding to what he says. The smile was still and calming. To other people, he might look okay because they don't know Gray as much as I do. Because inside, he's not.

I set his bangs aside and slowly rubbing his forehead with my thumb. "I'm really sorry."

"Don't be." He closed his eyes. His smile still not disappearing from his face. "We just have to be careful from now on."

"What do you mean?" He chuckled hysterically, not in a agitating kind of way, but in an informative kind. I guess the answer to my question is too obvious to even ask.

"Listen Lucy, I'm from Fairy Tail. The most known guild in Fioré. If they see my guild mark, I'm dead." He explained with sadness, but no hit of regret whatsoever found in his face.

"Oh...but what does that have to do with being careful?" I asked again and it seemed like another stupid little question.

"You're going to join the D.C. Either you win or loose, you won't be left alone by people anymore. You'd be famous and if I stay with you they might find out I'm from Fairy Tail."

"Oh..." Was the only thing I could say.

"But don't worry." He smiled. "My guild mark is on my chest so--"

"You better control that stripping habit of yours then." I said, raising an eyebrow. He scratched his head as he chuckled lightly.

"You're right." He smiled and sat up. "Well, let's go back. Let's not get ourselves into a risk we don't wanna be in." I nodded with a smile and followed him. He helped my climb up and threw me a flying kiss and ran back to his home. I giggled and jumped on my bed and thought. I'm not really going to be in the D.C. now am I? There are many cute girls out there for that behaved puppet of a prince, Natsu Dragneel. I know, I don't know much about him. Maybe he's a nice guy. I just don't know. I lied down on my bed, trying not to think about it.

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Then the next day came and everyone sat at the couch, gathering and my dad and Michelle was super excited---even if their not the ones being chosen---Mom stayed in the kitchen cooking some pop corn while the program wasn't starting yet.

"Oh I can't wait!" Michelle exclaimed, shaking in excitement in her place. "I just know you'll be chosen Lucy-neesan!" She was tingling inside. I turned to Dad....He was the same.

"Do you best Lucy!" He told me. Do best in what?? I'm just suppose to sit here and wait if I get in...hopefully not though... They're just too overly excited.

"Hey," I suddenly realized something. "Mom, why didn't you join the D.C. When you were young?"

"I was too young, dear. King Igneel was four years older than I am. It's okay, I wouldn't've met your father if I joined, now did I?" She smiled and took out the popcorn from the microwave. It made sense somehow, I turned to Dad and he smiled back at her.

"Good evening, Fiore!" Said Gildarts, the host of the show, wearing his usual coat, silver metal tag clinging to his dark clean coat. With his introduction, the music started to play in the background. (H.I.T.K: please start playing the video I inserted, that's background music for 'ya!) "I know you're all excited for today, and I am too! So Why don't we all welcome the Royal Dragon Family!" Gildarts clapped and turned to his left as the crowd followed.

"Gildarts is such an amazing wizard! Isn't he, Lucy?" Michelle told me. I just stiffly nodded, nervous to even speak. Then the whole family entered the stage, first was Dragon King Igneel, beside him was Grandine, who had her arm wrapped around Igneel's, her dress was long and frilly, matching her white silver hair and her beautiful fair skin. She shone like a diamond, like always. I just admire how diligent and calm she is right now. Oh, this show is live, obviously so any mistake happening here is so so cool! That's what I'm waiting for to be honest.

Then Natsu Dragneel appeared, with his suit crisp, and yet looked so bad ass. It kinda suited him. He wasn't nervous or frozen at the time. He was smiling, waving and laughing with the crowd, even fooling around with the staff of the show. Then the next one, and the last one that appeared was Natsu Dragneel's little sister, Wendy Marvel.

"Why is her last name Marvel?" Michelle asked me.

"Well, Princess Wendy wanted to use her mother's last name."

"Why?" She asked again.

"I don't know either."

"When you get in the palace, ask her that and tell me, pleeease!" Michelle pleaded. I giggled.

"I don't know if I'm even getting in there."

"Don't say that!" She then suddenly knocked on the wooden table. "Don't jinx it, Lucy!" The King sat at the highest seat there, beside it was the queen's, a little lower than the kings. And the two seats lower than the queen's at each side, beside the king and the other beside the king. Natsu sat beside the king and the princess beside the queen.

"Now, let's all give it up for the King of Fiore!!" He exclaimed, as the King stood from his seat and sits at the chair in front of Gildarts with the crowd clapping for the King.

"Good evening, You're Majesty." Gildarts greeted and the music and the clapping faded down until it was quiet.

"You too, Gildarts." The king replied.

"So, Your Highness, what do you have to say about the Dragon's Choosing?" The King, Igneel, adjusted his sitting and smiled as if he was happy to inform everybody of what he knows.

"Well, I am happy to say that I've seen a few of them and they are a beautiful group of girls indeed. And to the looks of it, a very confident batch." He held his chin high. It seems like he's the one picking the girls.

"Did your father give you a peek on the list of girls, Prince Natsu?" He turned to Natsu, tilting his head to the right to have a little bit of view on him.

"Nope. Not at all."

"Oh, so you want to see them like the rest of us here? Very patient." Gildarts complemented him.

"What? No! 'Ol pops here just doesn't want to show it to me." He smiled his usual cheeky smile and chuckled. "I've even tried snatching it from him, but it's just too well guarded, so I'll just have to wait and see."

Gildarts laughed is old man laugh and smiled at his silliness. Man, this guys is such a comedian! "What do you want to say to the girl who are about to be chosen, your Majesty?"

"What I want to say?" He thought about it for a moment and he pounded his hand on top of his palm, as if an idea popped immediately. "Girls, if you see a blue cat in your room, that's probably mine. So give him to me when you see him, alright?" He chuckled and Gildarts sighed.

"That's the prince for you..." He joked and the crowd laughed. This prince isn't so bad after all. It'd be awesome if he'd be my friend. Just a friend. The camera showed the reaction of the King and he was face palming at his son's un-princely attitude, but I could see a glimpse of his smile through his fingers. I guess he's just hiding his laughter from the crowd. "Can we get a message from you to your future wife?" He asked again.

He smiled a warm smile and faced the camera. The face that makes your heart stop and never let's you forget such a unique and unforgettable smile. "Future wife," he addressed generally but surely meant for the one. "I'm going to find you, no matter what. So wait for me, alright?" His eyes dazed straight at the camera and it feels as if he's looking at me directly.

N-No! Don't think about that Lucy! He has many girls he can pick other than you. Ugh, I rolled my eyes at him, just to stop my face from blushing.

"Well, I hope you do find her." He smiled and quickly turned happily to look at the camera. "But let's not prolong this any further! Here are the 35 selected women for the Dragon's Choosing!"

The screen flashed with a cute girl, fair skin, aquamarine hair with a lovely gentle smile. Her name is Levy Mcgarden, 16 years old. Oh, just one year lower than me. She's a D rank, magic is solid script. There was a little box at the lower right of the screen where we could see Natsu's reaction and he just looked at the screen like a little kid watching power rangers. Some of the girl's pictures flashed, and Natsu still stared at the screen, maybe thinking on some deep thoughts. The next was a white short haired girl, blue eyes and has this big happy smile.

Name: Lisanna Strauss
Rank: C
Magic: Take over magic.

Oh, a higher rank. The prince's reacting was still the same. Then another girl, looking like Lisanna Strauss with her hair short and white hair as well.

Name: Yukino Aguria
Rank: D
Magic: Celestial Magic (attaining two gold keys)

What?? There's a Celestial mage! And she has the two keys I don't have! That's so cool.
The king kind of focused his look on the picture, maybe someone familiar? I've noticed that some of the chosen girls were at D and higher, so it must mean that I'm obviously not going to get picked.

I laughed so hard by the time I saw the twin's picture popping up at the screen.

"They kinda look like Siegrain and Mystogan, don't you think?" Michelle asked me.

And I replied. "Yup they do. That's cool. Maybe those are their edolas versions."

"Lucy-neesan, Edolas is just a myth!"

"You never know." I smiled and tried to keep my cool and not burst into laughter. Prince Natsu's reaction was......He was covering his mouth and was trying to stop his laughter, just like what I'm doing. He faked a cough and stopped. Why was he laughing, I wonder? Is the make-up so stupid that I couldn't fix it.

Name: Siegrain Fernandez
Rank: E
Magic: Heavenly Body Magic

Name: Mystogan Fernandez
Rank: E
Magic: Heavenly Body Magic

Ah, finally there's an E. Wait, if theres an E....then I could be picked...No! No! Don't think about that...

Then at the thirty fifth, suddenly in a blink of an eye my picture flashed. I gasped and with me being so shocked, I couldn't see how the prince reacted.

Name: Lucy Heartfilia
Rank: E
Magic: Celestial Magic (attaining ten gold keys)

"Kyaaaah!" My sister shouted and then all of them started jumping with joy and shouting with glee with my name. Even my mother was smiling bigger than ever before.

I just stood there, jaw dropped at the sight.

"What do you have to say to what you've seen, You're Majesty?" Gildarts asked Natsu.

"I must say, they are a wonderful batch." He stated politely. "Let's see who lasts the longest." He said with his face fierce and excited.

"You're not nervous at all, are you?"

"Not at all." He replied confidently. Then Gildarts turned to Queen Grandine.

"Any advice for the princesses to come, my lady?" He asked the queen. The queen gave a gentle smile and nodded.

"This is one simple advice, but it is a very much important thing you should remember: Be yourself." The queen ended with a smile and elegant nod.

"What beautiful advice, Your Majesty!" Gildarts exclaimed. "Of course we all will be expecting to see the new batch of chosen women." He turned to the crowd and the music played again.

"That's all for tonight everyone! Have a wonderful evening and may the god of love shine down one of the chosen women!" Then the curtains of the stage came close together, ending the show with Fiore Capital's theme music. Tsuyouku Merry Go Round. (H.I.T.K: Just play the song in some other tab.)

Then Michelle turned the tv off and started jumping, skipping and twirling. "I can't believe it, Lucy-neesan!! You got chosen!! Omg!!!! This is so amazing!!!" She kept squealing like a little fangirl. I really didn't want to enter and get chosen, or rather, I didn't expect it at all, but even when I keep telling myself I don't want to, some part of me is celebrating deep inside and....I'm actually feeling excited for this! I smiled and laughed aloud.

"That's great, honey!" My mother came in for a victory hug. I smiled and hugged her back.

"Honestly, this is making me nervous, but yet happy." I giggled.

"You should be!" Michelle added. "I can't believe it! You're going to be a princess! And your gonna marry Prince Dragneel--"

"Wait what??" I exclaimed, pausing every action of excitement in the whole house. "I'm not--" I stopped myself because telling my whole family I didn't want to marry the prince even when I agreed to join might let them worry...so I'll keep it to myself.

"You're not?" Michelle asked with puppy dog eyes sparkling her whole face.

"I'm not....going to worry if I were you!" I exclaimed, but deep inside I was face palming myself for what I just did, causing all of them to squeal and be happy.

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Did you all like that? I'm sorry for updating so late it's just that my mom ruined a page of my manuscript and I got a bit of a tantrum, I mean, I worked so hard on that and she got it wet intentionally, but it's all fine now. I'm just hoping they'll accept it with the smudge on the face.....

Tell me what you thought about this chapter, alright? Thanks so much!