"A dragon. Yes. I never knew my mother but my father's name was Igneel, King of Fire Dragons. Which I guess by human standards would make me a prince right?" Natsu chuckled nervously. The king looked up at the ceiling.

"Oh you can't be serious!" The king groaned. "You wait until I am dying to spring this on me? Do you want me to defenestrate you? I will get up out of this bed and throw you out of that window!" He said noncommittally. He sulked for a few minutes in silence while he thought about what was happening. He then glanced at Natsu in thought. "You said you'd protect my daughter with your life? And our kingdom?" The king asked stroking his beard.

"Of course, My King. I would never let this kingdom down while I still breathe. And more importantly, I could never let my best friend down." He replied looking at Lucy. The king mulled it over for a moment.

"Fine. But if we suddenly need a miracle out on the battlefield, I want you to be that miracle. Can you breathe fire?" He asked.

"Yes, My Lord! I can show you right here!" Natsu said excitedly. He took a deep breath before Lucy kicked him into the wall.

"You idiot! Don't try and roast the king!" Lucy shouted. Both Natsu and Jude looked at Lucy in surprise and then at each other.

"Maybe she should be the miracle, Your Highness?" Natsu suggested causing both men to laugh.

"Maybe you aren't so bad, dragon." The king mused. "I'm glad to have you with us, Natsu." They clasped each others' arms. "You watch after this young man, Lucy. Keep him out of trouble." He said with a wink.

"Yes, Father. You can count on me." Lucy replied with a sad smile. He grabbed her hand and held it before he began coughing violently.

"Father you need to get some rest now." Lucy pleaded with panic evident in her voice. Natsu rushed over to his bedside and knelt down.

"My King, please, you need to rest now." Natsu said calmly. Jude merely dismissed their words with a wave of his hand.

"My children, do not fret. My time is up. I have served this kingdom well, lead us into an age of prosperity, and most importantly, I have earned my daughter's forgiveness. My only regret is that my death will be the cause of a war. But I can rest assured that my council knows what needs to be done and will get us through the war." He comforted them, his voice growing raspy. He started coughing violently again and clutched his chest. Tears brimmed both Natsu's and Lucy's eyes as they knew the end was merely moments away for their king and Lucy's father.

"Do not mourn my death, my sweet child. I go to a better place. I will finally be with your mother again. Besides, this young man here will look after you. I love you Lucy. Don't you ever let that smile of yours fade." He smiled. "I love you too Father." Lucy replied hugging him. He semi-whispered to Natsu. "Don't you do anything ungentlemanly to my daughter or I will come back and haunt your scaly hide." His eyes narrowed at Natsu. Natsu began to sputter trying to come up with something to say. The king's laughter filled the room as he laughed at Natsu's reaction. Natsu, realizing it had been for a laugh, joined in on the laughter shortly followed by Lucy as well. Their laughter filled the room and the hallway for a short time before Jude's laughter faded and became more shallow until he let out a final raspy laugh and his hand fell from Lucy's and Natsu's grasp and he rejoined his wife above them. As his hands fell softly onto the bed beside him, tears streamed down Lucy's face and she buried her face in the sheets and wept softly. Natsu knelt beside her and wrapped an arm around her. She then buried her face in his neck and wrapped her arms around him weeping.

"Just let it all out Lucy. It'll be okay." He soothed rubbing her back. The funeral was observed by all of the Heartfilia Kingdom, her allies, and the non hostile kingdoms who were trade partners with her. People gathered from across Fiore to attend the funeral. The people said their prayers for their king and kingdom and sailed him on a grand ship out into the ocean. The archers, with tear-stained and hardened faces, fired a volley of blazing arrows setting the grand ship ablaze sending smoke into the dreary skies above. Natsu and Lucy stood on the shore watching the flames engulf the ship as a few unshed tears finally escaped Lucy's eyes and a solitary tear rolled down Natsu's cheek. A soldier with a horn climbed to the top of a nearby cliff and blew his horn followed by several other soldiers blowing their horns beside him and all along the top of the ridge. The army snapped to attention and saluted as the last of the ship was engulfed and began to sink. As Lucy stood there, cheeks stained by sadness, the pink haired blacksmith slowly wrapped his hand around hers which twitched at first before wrapping around his, both giving a reassuring squeeze to the other. The tears ceased to flow from Lucy's eyes as she wore a ghost of a smile and in this one small and simple act, Natsu had made Lucy feel like the future might not be so bad and foreboding after all.

To Be Continued