hello everyone!

;; new Gale story yet this one will be a bit different. It will have 2 endings.

- eventually in one chapter in the beginning i'll write something like "for sad ending keep reading; if not go to alternative ending chapter _"

hopefully all goes as planned and it works out perfectly!

and like always; thank you for reading! 3

Early morning as the sun rose, the sound of a crying infant countered the sound of the crowing rooster in the distance.

"She's finally here."

A soft feminine voice spoke ever so gently fighting back the tears while cradling the new bundle gently in her arms as if the gift in front of her were made of glass. The distinct crying was soothing in a way bringing a satisfying smile to the raven haired woman. The precious bundle had the brightest blue head of hair which the woman pushed out of her small rosy face. Her eyes she couldn't take off of the beauty she held. The moment couldn't have been more picturesque, the light cream color of the walls accented the brightness of the infant's hair making her more radiant than ever. Their prized daughter had finally arrived. The heir to the kingdom was named Levy Mcgarden. Even in her first few hours of life she knew, the brightness of her heart outshined even her hair.

In her early youth, Levy was raised in a very privileged household – her father was king of the land; the ultimate authority. A son he hoped for and the one thing he never would receive. Finally after years of trying, a daughter the king and queen did receive. Even though the bright bundle caused the pair much happiness, she still was no substitute for a son. From this, her father slowly grew cold towards her as she grew up. No love she felt. Only finding comfort in her secret books and in a particular "person" – person, to say the least.

Quickly the time flew by and the young girl of the garden bosomed into a future ruler but for now, she slowly grew into her young teenage years.

The privileged life didn't mean Levy was even one bit happy.

Lucy was the name of her best friend. Levy's blonde haired friend was actually her only friend aside from her mother in her early youth. The young girl was from an affluent family and therefore permitted to be in the presence of the princess. Not like the blunette cared about rank, she was just glad to friend someone to share her interests and to talk to. She would come around almost daily distracting the young princess of her tedious studies.

From a young age, the young blunette was engulfed in the books she was allowed. She had a closed mind, shut off in a narrow way of thinking. This way she was unfortunately raised. When she meet Lucy, she learned a whole different world. The endless adventures she would read were the one's she would wish for herself. Yet in her sheltered life, Levy was forced to spend hours upon hours learning pointless things such as royal history and etiquette – proper etiquette. The books the young blonde snuck over for her friend allowed Levy to get lost in fantasy worlds.

She knew too well that she was not allowed this literature but she still would beg her friend for these books that became too precious to her. What she would not admit was she'd love when her friend would come over, partially to have her best friend around and another part would be for the literature.

Levy, age 17– Even though her body remained petite, her mind and life experience was well beyond her years.

Levy was sitting in the middle of her room early on a Sunday morning surrounded by the ten books she recently finished in record breaking time. A smile grew on the young girl's face satisfied at her accomplishment. She ran her fingers over each book admiring the great qualities each one had that were able to transport her to a new place far away from her current predicament. While lost in her thoughts, the bracelet the young girl kept hidden higher up on her arm slid down to the desired position on her wrist. She looked around cautiously giving a double take to reassure herself no one else was present. She took a closer look at the delicate metal expertly welded together with a crescent moon charm, it was beautifully polished and in her opinion, better than all her expensive jewelry combined.

She lost herself for a moment smiling to her own thoughts thinking about whom had given her this prized memento. Before she knew it, a knock came from the door. Suddenly startled, the blunette barely had enough time to slide the bracelet further up her arm hiding it under her long sleeve.

"Levy!"

Lucy squealed while running into her best friend's room reaching the small girl and hugging her tightly.

"Glad you're finally here Lucy."

The blunette smiled while being crushed by the blonde's embrace.

After letting the young girl go, Lucy looked around at the mess of book piled up.

"Have you read them all already?!"

"Twice."

The young blunette replied with a smile as the blonde bent down, pushing some books aside allowing her space to sit in front of her friend.

From the corner of her eye, Lucy spotted a small leather bound book that was barely the size of a petite notebook. Picking it up she noticed it was title less.

"Did I bring this one? I don't remember this one?"

The blonde inquired.

Levy slightly panicked seeing the book in Lucy's possession. She took the small book from her friend's hands clasping it tightly and held it close to her chest embracing it as it were made of gold.

"No it's mine…my mother wrote me this one, she actually bound it herself..."

Levy's speech trailed off while she looked directly into her friend's eye yet looking past her.

Lucy noticed the tears being to well in the corner of her hazel eyes.

"I-I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked princess..."

The blonde bowed her head.

Levy laid her small hand on Lucy's shoulder giving her physical reassurance that she was fine.

"Please don't be so formal Lucy."

Levy panicked assuming she made her friend upset.

"But anyways, it's okay I promise."

Lucy looked up while Levy pushed the small tears wiping them on her sleeve.

"I'm sorry, I'm a bit over protective over it that's all. It's actually my favorite."

The blunette held the book tighter to her chest before holding it in front of her keeping a tight grip pressing her fingertips into the soft leather matching the indents of her mother's fingers.

She traced the outline of the book studying the careful stitching for a moment. A smile formed while thinking about the memories she made with her mother that were all contained in this small book that she treasured more than life itself.

Lost in her moment, Levy didn't notice Lucy paying close attention to each one of her intricate actions.

"It's actually about a young princess that falls in love with a man of a lower class."

Levy started to speak while unconsciously flipping through the pages and scanning her fingers over the words as if her fingertips could capture each word.

"Yet she still follows him to the ends of this earth and along the way has all these wonderful adventures."

She sighed.

"Honestly, I used to think the story was ridiculous. That's a bit hard for me to say. Now I crave it more than anything. I guess mom wanted more for me. All I have now is memories"

Xoxo

Levy – age 6;

"Levy."

The king marched into the young princess's room along with his wife on his arm. She detached herself at the sight Levy. Almost running towards her daughter, the queen embraced Levy taking her into her arms easily lifting the petite girl off of her feet.

"Put her down this instant."

The king bellowed out.

The older raven haired woman looked up at her spouse in confusion before looking at her precious daughter with caring eyes. She placed the young blunette back on the ground before tucking some loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"I'm not sure how you can dislike a child so much especially when she has your hair."

Her caring touch always brought a smile to the young girl.

The azure haired man scoffed.

"Just look at her, she has everything against her, female, small, and frail. Overall, she's not fit for this country."

Ignoring his words, Levy ran over to her father wrapping her small arms around his leg before looking up at him with her large hazel eyes. Those eyes were sweet enough to crack his icy heart just a bit for a split moment, he felt the strong love emanating from the young girl before him. –Yet it was not enough.

"Though I guess she'll have to do. Since you couldn't give me a son just like I wanted."

The large man crossed his arms kicking the young girl away with one quick shift of his leg. He took note of the petite girl sitting cross legged in front of him taking note of how she strikingly resembled his wife with the exception of her hair color, she took her beauty and would soon blossom into a woman as striking as her mother.

- This gave him a secondary thought.

"I think she'll serve well for acquiring Sir Makarov Dreyar's land in the west."

The evil smile he wore forced the young princess away and back into her mother's arms while he swiftly took his leave. The young blunette panicked at her father's rash words and tears began to well in the corner of her eyes.

"No no it's okay Levy."

Her mother embraced her tightly while wiping the tears from her bright hazel eyes.

"As long as I'm here, you'll never have to do anything you don't want to do."

A kiss on the forehead the older woman planted brining the natural sweet smile back on Levy's face.

"And that's basically the last nice memory of my mother."

Levy sighed while wiping away the few tears that rolled down her cheeks.

"Levy…I-I know how you feel Lev."

The blonde began while fidgeting with her fingers fighting back her own tears; Lucy lost her mother within a few months of Levy losing hers. The two became closer becoming their own female support system.

"Time will heal all wounds, well that's what I keep telling myself."

She spoke while handing the young princess a tissue.

"Don't worry though, soon, you'll be married off to the most eligible bachelor in all the land."

Lucy held her hands together staring at Levy with gleams in her eyes running the images of the perfect man who would sweep her off of her feet.

"Lucy…no."

The blunette lowered her head hiding her face in a book Lucy snuck in for Levy.

"I'm only kidding Levy! You know you're stuck with me until I find someone."

The blonde scooted next to Levy to nudge her and giggled making the blunette crack a smile.

Just as the conversation starting becoming light hearted with the girls enjoying a much needed laugh, a double knock on the door ruined the moment.

Levy lost track of time with Lucy's presence, looking at the clock, she knew exactly who it was.

xoxo

Ever since the first day she meet him, Capricorn's presence struck fear and happiness in the future ruler's heart. The double knock symbolized his arrival and the daily dance was to occur. Quickly, she forced the fantasy books under the couch hiding what Capricorn hated. Like a true gentleman, Capricorn waited for Levy to answer before entering the room.

"Come in."

Levy called out while she stumbled to her feet as did Lucy.

The door slowly creaked open as to assure everything was decent.

"My lady."

He placed one arm across his stomach before giving Levy a proper royal bow.

Capricorn - the older man of an extraordinary height with glistening white hair and always wearing a pressed suit, was in charge of primping the future ruler through strict discipline.

Once upright, he faced Lucy extending his gloved hand until she placed her hand in his. A quick bow to the young woman he gave her.

"Good morning Miss Lucy."

He gently spoke while facing the young blonde while she gave him a curtesy as a reply before waving adieu to Levy and quickly taking her leave closing the door behind her.

"Lady Levy, we should get started as soon as possible."

He walked over to the desk by the window she would spend hours studying on taking his authoritative stance next to it.

"We'll start off where we left off yesterday."

He spoke while towering over the petite girl as he walked by.

"Get your books and we'll begin."

His deep voice seemed to boom throughout her body suddenly while her heart sank. A beat of sweat ran down the young girl's forehead remembering her study books were forcibly kicked under the couch along with the other taboo books.

"Umm…"

Levy tried to deter for a moment.

Capricorn's face was one of confusion and angst for her to hurry.

"Please Lady Levy, quickly."

Levy nodded then walked over to the sofa bending down reaching under desperately trying to quickly and blindly sort through all the books contained underneath eventually pulling one out – the wrong one.

The one she pulled out was a fantasy book, one of many that Capricorn had forbidden stating she doesn't have time to waste living in those fantasy worlds. He had been given clear instructions to 'whip her into shape' from her father. Even though he may have appeared to be cold hearted as he nodded in disappointment while he laid his eyes on the cover he knew wasn't one of the ones he allowed her. The man had to admit that he had a soft spot for the young princess.

Her perseverance through the great pressure she had on her shoulders and her still very gentle soul, these were some of the characteristics that melted the icy heart of the older man and because of this, he could never even dream of laying a hand on the petite girl before him whom he'd treated with the upmost respect.

"Once more, I'll pretend I didn't see that."

He adverted his eyes from the book in her hands and onto the one on the floor that she was supposed to have instead. The older man switched the books and placed the forbidden book back under along with the others.

Levy watched as Capricorn placed the book back without destroying it like she imagined and sighed slightly in relief. He was truly an admiral man who became her male role model because her father lacked a warm presence in her life.

"Thank you."

Levy shyly spoke while taking the book he handed to her while walking towards her work station.

"No need my lady. Just open it to chapter four."

And the long day began again.

The moments she was left alone to study on her own, she'd spend looking outside the bay window wishing to run into the horizon. She would day dream about escaping her rusty castle shackles and into the forest eventually meeting up with the dragon that captured her thoughts. What a taboo it was to have.

Sighing under her breath, the blunette pulled the bracelet down from under her sleeve rubbing it between her fingers fiddling with the charm. The sun rose to its highest of the day shining brightly into the room giving the bracelet an angelic like glow. Levy smiled as she turned her wrist slowly allowing it to further glisten while she remembered the brightness in his eyes. The cold, sour, and apathetic look he always gave her even when satisfied, was not present that day. She could swear his dark scales turned light pink while he flung the bracelet at her.

Dragons were those of the most far-fetched fairy tales she was told. A made up creature created to strike fear in the hearts of young children. Yet in the past few months, she discovered they were all too real and of their disturbing origin.

A/N: a few notes to clear up; i might not remember but i don't think it ever specifies when Lucy's mother passed at what age she was so i just wrote it my way;;

also; it of course (unfortunately) theres no saying of Levy's past so i just made it up to fulfill the needs of this story.

Gajeel's "backstory" (a bit different from the manga but just like Levy, it fulfills the need of this story) will be the next chapter.