Chapter 2 - Strangers Meet

16 years later, Lucy grew up to be quite extraordinary. Her powers had grown even stronger. She always tried to keep it hidden and not let anyone notice. But they all knew how powerful she was. She made many new friends her best friend was a blue fairy named Levy Mac Garden. Everyday levy would fly over to the castle to meet Lucy . but oneday the fairy didn't come to meet the princess and Lucy's life was changed forever. As she was sitting in the garden awaiting levy's return, she heard a strange sound. Startled by the noise she heard, the princess ran and ran. But she wasn't running towards the castle, she was heading towards the sound that was coming from the forest on the outskirts of the kingdom. While running she heard the roar again and again. Her heartbeat quickened as she drew closer to the sound. She closed her eyes and was about to seal a barrier around her when she bumped into someone or something and they were both sent flying in the different paths they were coming from. with her eyes sealed shut she winced in pain as she tried to get up. When she finally did she felt a bump on her forehead. Looking around she noticed a boy staring at her with onyx eyes. Terrified, she begins to step back as he step forward towards her. His hand stretched out to touch the bump on her forehead. Lucy swats it away causing him to jump back almost falling over. Quickly she reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him up.

Lucy:" hey are you okay? Where did u come from?"

The boy didn't answer. He just stood there looking at her with piercing eyes. He wore a black coat and pants. She noticed a white scarf covered in white dragon scales draped around his neck. He looked like a prince. He was about her age or so she thought. She couldn't help but wonder, where did he come from. She tried speaking to him once more but he turned away. She kept walking forward towards him then stops.

Lucy:" okay I should go back now, I'm sorry for bumping into you, whoever you are…"

Turning around she begins to walk away. Just then the boy turns to her and spoke

" hey are you hurt?... I'm sorry I bumped into you."

Lucy turns to face him with a warm smile as she replied

Lucy:" no I'm sorry..."

They're both laughed loudly. Then the boy stepped forward with an outstretched hand an introduced himself.

" I'm Natsu . it's nice to meet you….miss…"

Chuckling the princess extends her hand to meet his

Lucy:" I'm Lucy. Thank you…its nice to meet you too Natsu."

She shook his hand and looked into his eyes. They were so dark, so fierce. She was distracted by the colour of his pink locks which were swaying in all different directions because of the wind that was blowing all through the forest. His hair covered his eyes only for a second and then shifted again as the wind bowed . She quickly noticed a bump on his head just like the one she had on hers.

Lucy:" hey there is a bump on your head too!... it's just like mine… see…"

He took his hand and placed it on the bump on his head.

Natsu:" huh…it seems fine to me…don't worry about it…I will be okay…ow!"

Still rubbing the bump on his forehead the boy looks at Lucy. He noticed she was wearing a green dress. Her eyes were hazel brown and her hair was so golden that it shun bright. She wore a heart necklace around her neck and a crown on her head. " is she is a princess…" he had to find out. Without another thought he asked.

Natsu:" are you a princess?"

Lucy:" yes I am…I'm princess Lucy…my kingdom is over there."

She let's go of his hand and points to the castle. Natsu was shocked he quickly stepped away creating distance between them. He then knelt before the princess and bowed his head. She looked down at him in surprise

Lucy:" what are you doing Natsu?"

Ignoring her question the boy quickly apologized.

Natsu:" I'm sorry princess Lucy, I bumped into you and you hurt you head. Please forgive me, it was my mistake. I didn't mean too…I swear…"

Lucy:" what are you talking about Natsu? I told you it's okay…now can we be friends?"

With a wide grin on his face Natsu gets up and jumps to his feet letting out a big roar. Lucy stepped away startled, thinking to herself," could he be the one who was making that noise earlier?" she decides to find out.

Lucy:" Natsu, were you the one who was roaring earlier?

Natsu:" yes I was practicing my dragon roar!"

Lucy:" dr- dragon roar?"

Natsu:" yes my dad was teaching me but he flew away."

She was confused and once again asks to confirm

Lucy:" he flew…how can he fly? Is he a wizard?"

Natsu:" yes he is a great wizard and oneday I will be a great wizard just like him…I have fire magic…see…"

Gasping Lucy steps away and looks at natsu's entire body engulfed in flames.

Lucy:" your on fire Natsu, does it hurt?"

Letting out a chuckle the boy steps away from her and yelled out.

Natsu:" fire dragon rrrrooooaaaarrrrr!"

Immediately, an entire part of the forest was cleared by his flames. He then looks at Lucy who stood amazed by what she just saw. It was unbelievable. She then decided to show him her magic. Looking at him the princess shut her eyes and disappeared. Natsu begins looking for her yelling her name out loud.

Natsu:" Lucy….Lucy…cy…where are you?"

He was beginning to get worried so he decided to head to the castle, just the a bright light appeared before him causing him to fall to the ground. all that could be heard was laughter. It was Lucy, she appeared out of thin air.

Lucy:" do u like my magic Natsu?"

Natsu:" that was amazing Luce…where did you learn to do that?"

Lucy:" my mom thought me…at least I think she did…I don't know how but I can do that a lot." Hey I have an idea…let's play a game…I will hid and you will try to find me okay…are you up for it Natsu?"

Clenching his fists together he answered with a wide grin spread across his face.

Natsu:" okay sure…I'm ready when you are."

He shuts his eyes as Lucy vanishes again.

Natsu:" okay…tell me are you ready Lucy."

Lucy:" I'm ready…"

All he could hear was her laughter all around him. He opens his eyes and begins searching for her. Using his dragon instinct he sniffed and picked up a vanilla and strawberry. He chuckled as he walks over to a huge sakura tree and begins to climb it. Finally stopping on the third branch, he sits and turns his head with a smile.

Natsu:" I found you Lucy…come on out…"

A bright light appears again ad there sat Lucy alongside Natsu laughing to her hearts content.

Lucy:" how did you find me?"

Whither a chuckle Natsu looks at a branch and plucks a leaf from it…twirling the leaf in his hand he looks at Lucy with an odd answer

Natsu:" I'm not telling…it's a secret…!"

Lucy gasps and jumps to her feet forgetting she was on a tree, she stomped her feet causing the branch to break and both her and Natsu fell on the ground. She quickly got up and looked at him noticing as he sat up he had a scratch on his neck. She rushed to his side and noticed blood running down his neck and chest. Not knowing what to do she tried her best to stop the bleeding using her wrap.

Lucy:" your hurt Natsu…your bleeding…!"

He touches the mark on his neck and sees blood on his fingers. He looks at Lucy, her brown hazel eyes were filled with tears. Seeing her like this he quickly jumps to his feet when she began to cry even more.

Natsu:" hey don't cry Luce.. I'm ok..!"

Lucy:" no, no-no your bleeding a lot and it's all my fault…"

Kneeling beside his friend he wipes here tears and smiles at her.

Natsu:" hey don't worry it will heal in no time!"

At that moment Lucy say quietly thinking. Then she pulls his hand clasping it in between hers with a huge smile

Lucy:" heal…that's it…I can heal you Natsu!

She dries her tears and looks at Natsu who was still confused by her odd behavior.

Natsu:" what do you mean heal me?

Lucy:" oh I'm sorry I should have told you earlier…I have the power to heal people so I can heal you too.

With a hesitant feeling Natsu agreed to let Lucy heal him.

Natsu:" okay I'm ready!"

Lucy:" okay close your eyes and stay still."

Natsu:" sure Luce."

He closes his eyes and Lucy begins covering his wonder with her glowing hands. Just then a sudden bright light appears surrounding the two friends. Lucy removes her hand and steps back. The light then begins to vanish and so does Lucy. The dragon slayer opens his eyes only to see sparkling dust falling all around him. Not noticing a heart shaped necklace entangled in his scarf. Unaware of what just occurred the boy sat there trying to make of why he was on the ground.

Natsu:" what am I doing here? I was supposed to be at home…mom might be worried about me…I need to hurry…"

He quickly gets up and heads through the forest to a kingdom which was located near the Phoenix mountains. With both of their memories erased the 15yr olds Went on with their lives not knowing about each other and the time they spent together. Natsu was on his way home and Lucy was sitting on a bench in the palace gardens. She was plucking the petals of a rose when Jude and Layla rushed towards her and embraced her tightly . she looks at their worried faces with a confuse expression.

Lucy:" mom, dad what's wrong… why do you both look so worried?

Holding her in their embrace, both parents sits next to her on the bench.

Layla:" Lucy where have you been?

Jude:" we were so worried…we looked everywhere for you.

Still confused the girl answers

Lucy:" mom, dad I was right here…I've been here for quite a while…I swear…!

Confused also, both parents looked at their daughter in shock.

Jude:" Lucy, Virgo came to the gardens three times and you weren't here…"

Layla:" even loke searched every inch of the kingdom and you were no where to be found…now tell us the truth…where were you?"

Clenching her fist and standing to her feet she begins to yell.

Lucy:" I was right here…why wont u believe me?"

Layla:" okay dear calm down we believe you."

Lucy:" you do?"

Jude:" of course we do my dear. we were just worried, that's all."

Lucy:" I'm sorry…I didn't mean to worry you."

Layla:" its okay angel…now tell me, are u hungry?"

Lucy:" yes I am alittle…

Jude:" well why don't you go inside and have the cook fix you something to eat my dear we will join you later. Your mother and I are going to the wizard council.

The princess was excited.

Lucy:" can I go with you… please mom?"

She asked didn't hoping they would say yes. But they declined her request.

Jude:" no my dear you cant go with us this time…you see there is a lot we need to discuss with the council, so you should stay here .we will be back soon."

Pouting the girl looks down and pretends to sob.

Lucy:" but I-I want to see Master Mavis…I haven't seen her in a long time."

Her parents look at her feeling sad also. They both hug her when she began crying for real. Wiping her tears her mother spoke softly to her

Layla:" Lucy dear…we will take you next time okay. Today we have to go alone…it is very important. Please don't be sad."

The princess dries her tears and looks at her parents.

Lucy:" I understand…but can I make a request please…?"

"what?", they both answered in unison.

Lucy:" can Virgo and like stay with me until you return?"

Layla:" oh of course…I was thinking to leave them behind with you also…I'll get their gate keys."

Layla walks inside to get the keys as Lucy and Jude followed her into the castle.

Meanwhile in the castle near the Phoenix Mountains, the young dragon slayer returned home to his mother who was worried about him. As he burst through the door, his mother Queen Zera hugged him and smothered him with kisses. She was also a wizard but her magic was different, she was a spell castor. She tried very much to not use her magic but had no idea that Natsu was practicing to use his. She was so elated that her son had come home, she didn't notice the dirt on his clothes. She just kept hugging him. He was the apple of her eye, her only child.

Zera:" where were you Natsu?"

The woman asks as she sat on a sofa along with her son at her side. The boy didn't answer, he just sat quietly twiddling his thumbs. Zera looked at his fingers, then his clothes, then his boot. There was dirt everywhere. She looked at the floor and saw his boot printed out in dirt. She was not angry, but she did ask again

Zera:" where were you today Natsu?"

Still no answer. The boy didn't utter a word." He jus sat on the sofa while his mother rambled on. She began to raise her voice hoping it would budge him to answer.

Zera:" Natsu I asked you a question…why wont you answer me?"

Natsu:" I'm sorry mom…I was just out walking and I fell on some dirt. But I'm okay now look… I'm home"