Chapter four

-•-•-•-•-

Lucy didn't even try recalling the night, she had merely forgotten it as she always was willing to. Michelle asked her if she was alright but Lucy didn't respond. Because she was positive she wouldn't try to resort for something of that sort again should the need arise.

She skipped the next day of court purposely on the pretext of her buying materials for the shrine.

Not that Zeref could do much about it.

But if his brother's angry form was anything to go with, he certainly didn't appreciate the absence.

Zeref wondered about the relationship shared by his brother and the Priestess, albeit, not very common of its kind. The Priestess seemed to have met animals that she liked better than his brother and Natsu, on the other hand, would certainly find no pleasure better than breaking the Priestess.

And he was compelled to wonder.

Had they met a little differently in an alternate realm perhaps, they would get along better.

But in this life, they were sworn enemies who had daggers drawn at the other.

He had acknowledged although, the wit of the Priestess. Nobody could make Natsu Dragneel apologise let alone in open court.

His eyes went on the empty throne that was on his left side, adjacent to him but much lower when compared to his own.

What a peculiar woman indeed.

She reminded him of Mavis sometimes.

Lucy, on the other hand, was quiet far from the court and frequenting the markets to visit Yuri and his son who begged her pardon for embarrassing her the day before.

"It's alright," she said even if it quite was not.

"I owe you my son's life and my own, is there anything I could do to pay you back?" Yuri said, compassion reaching out to him. He had heard of what had occurred in the court because Makarov stole for him. He had lured his son into stealing, a crime he could not forgive himself for. Yet, it would seem that the Priestess had made him indebted to her but even he knew she wouldn't make any repayment of it.

"Perhaps, " Lucy said as curiosity had been seething in her mind. "Who is Mavis?"

Yuri stopped moving before looking at her. "Mavis Vermillion is a dear friend."

"The Palace Lady?"

He grimaced but nodded begrudged.

Lucy's sights fell upon the floor beneath them.

"She's trapped in the Eastern tower," she stated.

"I know."

"How?" She demanded.

"I used to work in the Palace long ago."

"Oh." Lucy said, "I see."

"Have you seen her?"

She shook her head negatively as Yuri collapsed back on the pillow.

"My Mavis came here to help only to be taken as some sort of prisoner at the end of it all. Do you think you could save her?"

Lucy swallowed hard, "Zeref is not half as territorial as his brother but he, he would certainly not let go of her, Yuri, your friend would probably be in the vicinity of the most outstanding Warriors Alvarez has seen."

Yuri's eyes closed in resentment, he sighed deeply as tears slipped out while he put an arm on his face, shielding it from the Priestess before she bowed her head in leave as she stood to her feet and walked to the exit of their house.

"So is it true what they say?"

Lucy turned around to look back at him.

"That you are to be High Duchess soon?"

The blonde's expression hardened at the mention of the title given to the wife of the Duke, brother of the Emperor. Was that what people were talking about now? Did they view has the future Duchess?

"No." She responded coldly.

"Funny because the rumours seem to have substance in them, Priestess." Yuri drew his attention to her hip. "Perhaps that's why you have that so close to you."

Lucy looked down at the purple vial strapped to her hip, it was a juice made of a fruit that prevented dehydration which Lucy had complained to Michelle about a few months ago. So exactly what was this man on about?

"What do you mean? This is meant for rejuvenating-"

Yuri snorted in derision. "I don't quite think so, Priestess."

Lucy raised a brow.

"I might hardly be a vendor but I recognise an Atocium potion when I see one, which makes me wonder how long can you get away from living in that Palace if you do not love him, my Priestess."

She looked at him with a strange look before walking out to her carriage and Yuri's words she couldn't forget as it echoed the in the chambers of her mind even when she reached the empty hallways, his words held meaning. How long would it be indeed before a more unpleasant situation was added into her life? Would she silently suffer then as well? Possibly.

Psychologically speaking it was easy to subjugate someone who was already subjugated.

The walls seemed to cave in on her, Lucy touched forehead as the fear rose in her blood, her air supply was cut off shortly as panic captured heart increasing its speed as she felt herself fall.

Fall right into the arms of the Devil himself.

The realisation struck her as she felt her hand holding unto Natsu's biceps, the drum of his heart against his chest, intimate things that should have been forgotten with the night before brimmed to the surface of her immediate memory. Lucy widened her eyes at the sensations a simple touch caused before she tore herself away from like she had been burnt.

Natsu inclined his head to her. "What on earth is wrong with you?"

"Do not," Lucy uttered, stepping back from him, "do not touch me."

He narrowed her eyes at him, stepping forward resulting in her taking a consequential step back and Lucy realised; she may never be able to escape him.

"Why?" Her voice came out as a shriek. "Why can't you let me go?"

"Because I don't wish to."

"Why?!"

Natsu looked at her knowing the answer was because he really couldn't. She was all he had, ever dreamed of even having, his only possession worth being his. "I. Do. Not. Wish. To."

"Even with the knowledge that you will never have me, truly?" She questioned, mortified that the answer would be the same as she had thought it to be.

"I do not care if it is true or not if it means that I will have you. You're mine to keep and hold and there is nothing you can do of it."

"Then you never shall." Lucy declared.

The look in Natsu's eyes darkened as his large hands reached out to her and she backed away immediately, retrieving her wrist to her chest.

"What a pity it is, I wonder how your father would have taken to the character you display presently."

That hit a nerve as Natsu emitted a low growl.

"Silence, woman."

"Oh, did I hurt your pride?" Lucy asked brows raised to disappear into her hairline.

"You know," she continued, "I used to think it could be attributed to your childhood but how could I dare forget?"

Lucy looked at him with a sardonic smile. "A beast wrapped in silk is a beast nonetheless."

Natsu let out a growl before pouncing on her, pressing his body against her flesh with the aim to suffocate her as his hand gripped her throat as the other bore down red angry marks on her arm while Lucy felt fear slip into her veins as she looked into his eyes, dark as the day he had burned down her village. She knew she had gone too far but no part of Lucy regretted the words that she declared.

It was the truth and God forbade it to be a sweet syrup.

He bent down and before Lucy knew she was thrown upon his shoulder.

"-Let me go!" She screamed as she thrashed about, stabbing his shoulder with her nails but Natsu didn't let her down while he marched to his lair.

"You cruel, cruel bastard! Let me go."

Natsu dropped her on his bed, his intentions ran clear with the dark dangerous chuckle.

Lucy violently revolted resisted every touch he laid upon her, she glared at him and screamed obscenities at him, kicking him before he subdued her with sheer brute strength. She left aggressive bite marks on his shoulders as she scratched against his chest. Tears flood her face in pink as he tore through her robes, keeping her in position to enforce his bidding on her.

When he had reduced her to be still like a slave, the room grew morbidly quiet.

Her eyes looked back at him in sheer defiance before a laugh broke through her throat, almost in pity. Natsu stared at her confused and confounded as her laugh instilled a chill in his own bones. What hell did she find so funny?

"You will get what you deserve." She promised darkly.

Natsu's jaw tightened as he stared at the woman who looked far from ruins, audaciously she stared at him with empty brown eyes.

"Fate and Time will betray you."

The Warrior simply left with a lasting glance upon her and about as soon as her left Michelle came rushing in.

"Priestess!" She called out, concern rich in her voice.

"Get me out of here, Michelle," Lucy begged.

"Yes, my Lady."

When they reached her quarters, Lucy fell on her bed exhausted and hurt. Chest heaving in pain that couldn't be contained in her heart and marks drowned on her skin as she tried to recall the oceans and the view of the sun creeping into the woods near where she was born, the loving smile of her mother aching as she felt her father's hand comb through her hair affectionately.

But nothing reached out to her. Nothing came to her rescue as pain gutted her down, snatching the breath away from her lungs.

"Shall I prepare a bath for you?" Michelle's voice came in like flowing rivers in summer.

"No." Lucy shook her head, knowing she had no energy to do so, "but you must answer something truthfully, Michelle."

"My Priestess?" The helper looked at her confused because what could matter above the state of her well-being at the moment.

"The vial that you make me drink every once a week for the purpose of rejuvenation, what does it contain?"

Michelle shivered as a rimy chill settled on her soul.

"My Priestess, whatever intentions I had were for your good-"

"-what does it contain, Michelle?" Lucy asked, fatigue reaching out to her as sweat glistened on her skin.

"The Atocium, Priestess."

Lucy swallowed a hard lump.

"And what does it do?"

"It's a type of birth control, my Priestess."

And any weariness Lucy had disappeared as her muddled brain took in the new information. "Birth control?" She repeated to be sure she had heard right.

Michelle broke down beside her as she fell to her knees next to her bed, holding Lucy's hand tight to her chest.

"Why would you do that, Michelle?" Lucy asked, trying to see logic among the quandary. She did understand that it was mostly because Michelle didn't want her pregnant with Natsu's child and she certainly didn't want to be either but the thought had never made a promising appearance in her mind to think about it.

Besides, Lucy was already taking birth control issued by the Palace.

And Michelle knew that, so just why this extra mile?

"My Priestess, being pregnant with a child gives the father complete right to the mother and child. In societal standards, it's seen as if you're already married and he only thing left is the formal celebration."

"I know that but you also know that I take birth control potions from the-"

"-Palace nurses?" Michelle drawled, rolling her eyes with emotion.

"Yes."

"Those potions are not even qualified to be birth control potions, my Priestess. They are weak as petals of a flower, my Lady."

Now Lucy felt a migraine coming onto her.

"I do not understand your meaning. Speak plainly."

Michelle sniffed before she composed herself.

"The potions the Palace nurses give you for birth control are influenced by the command of the Emperor. And at the beginning of this, I had a hunch that if Natsu Dragneel was hell-bent on making you stay here then there was only one way Emperor Zeref could fulfil the wish of his brother was-"

"-was getting me pregnant." Lucy completed, touching her forehead.

"So you would have been bound to his brother and the royal family by becoming a part of them." She said slowly as she watched the blonde trying to make sense of the mishap that was done on purpose.

"Why does Zeref agree to this? Doesn't he think that the royal blood mixing with a commoner's is despicable?"

"I don't think the King's word on this matter is significant to his brother. He's completely invested in you."

And Lucy for the umpteenth time asked, "why?"

She was so tired of asking the same question over and over again without a well-defined answer.

Michelle licked her lips, that was quite a thoughtful question.

"Because," she continued, "maybe you represent everything he never had the courage to be, my Priestess."

Lucy's head shot up to her though she repented the action as it made her feel an acute pain in her head, she really should be sleeping.

"Where did you get the herb from?"

"I searched for it, read books about it and made it after talking to a traditional doctor of the ways of brewing the potion."

The blonde, in her sick state, smiled at her.

"It requires a lot of bravery to do that, Michelle," she reached her hand out to touch Michelle's cheek tenderly, oh what a dear person she was to Lucy, in some life they must have been sisters and Lucy might have been lucky enough to have her as so.

"You went against the direct order of the Emperor so for that I thank you."

"I would do it again in a heartbeat, my Priestess," Michelle said, not missing a beat.

Lucy felt sleep edging onto her eyes. "You must not though, after all, I'm hardly your Priestess."

"Risking your life for me would be quite detrimental to your life interests." She whispered, letting her hand fall.

"My life interests, Lucy?" Michelle asked as a teardrop travelled down to her chin.

"I would do it again not because you're my Priestess," Michelle said as Lucy's consciousness blurred her vision. "But because you're my only friend." was the last thing she heard before falling asleep.

-•-

It was a week later that Zeref found his brother on the doorstep of his room and surprise was hardly the word that could describe his stark astonishment.

"You don't regularly visit me, brother." He said amused at the person before him. "Not that I condemn this one but it's interesting to know that your sights are attached to someone other than the Priestess."

"Are you chewing me out? If so, I can leave." Natsu crossed his arms.

"There, there," Zeref said, placatingly. "I didn't mean any harm."

Natsu rolled his eyes before his gaze fell on the goblet of wine his brother had in his hand.

"Are you allowed to drink with the illness you have?"

"My illness, brother, has been extinguished by that medicine from Fiore." Zeref frowned at taking medicine from the not so friendly kingdom but it was what it was, he couldn't help his sickness any other way. "So there's not much to be worried about."

He raised a brow but shrugged as Natsu sat down on the chair.

"What's wrong Natsu? You don't come to me unless there's something eating your mind up."

"Do I?" He asked, looking up at the ceiling casually.

"Yes, clearly. there's something."

Natsu took a deep breath as he studied the arches in his brother's room, it had been Igneel's earlier so it reminded him of home a fair bit sometimes.

"Are we beasts, Zeref?"

The King arched both his brow as he examined his brother's state to be pensive.

"By the definition of most, yes, that's what we would seem."

"Are we evil?"

"I do not know for the meaning of evil shifts from one person to another." Zeref replied, sitting back as he looked at him. "Is something wrong, brother?"

Instead, he received only silence as the wheels turned in Natsu's head and the Emperor wondered if he was thinking about Lucy. It was the only time he ever saw his eyes grow deep in thought, an oddity for a Warrior with a thirst for blood and nothing else. But somehow, Lucy had crossed that line, she had personified into something more intimate to her brother.

"I'm going to marry her."

And that almost caused Zeref to drop his goblet with wine spilling in red, yanking him out of his thought process.

"Beg pardon?"

"The Priestess, brother, she's mine to keep," Natsu said, nothing betraying his face; he was dead serious and Zeref feared that.

"I don't think you will find her consensual to such an arrangement brother." mused the Emperor.

"She'll do as I say, I'm sure."

"And what brings about that confidence may I ask?" Zeref could honestly see no way where the Priestess would willingly bind herself in wedlock with his brother, it didn't make much sense to him their relationship either way.

"I could always threaten to kill someone she loves, like that maidservant Michelle or something creative but she was brought on earth to be my equal, brother. Letting her go is nowhere in my plans."

"You are obsessed with her."

"I don't care what you call it." He growled.

"And what if she does? Slip away somehow?"

"She wouldn't."

"Natsu," Zeref said neutrally, "there have been many intelligent people presented in court, Lucy has somehow been the cleverest of them all, had she been any more, she would rival Mavis almost."

His brother raised his brow fairly at the mention of the trapped blonde.

"The only point is"Zere continued ignoring the expression on his brother's face. "She's braver than Mavis and much bolder, I wouldn't put myself in a position to think that she will be as obedient as a puppet."

"She won't" Natsu affirmed, "but I'll have to tie her down with marriage before anything proceeds."

"Then you could do it on the night of the Celestial event in the beginning of the next month," suggested the Emperor with great thought.

"The meteor shower?"

"An event that forces the Priestess to accept whatever one wishes for, its tradition she will have to accept your proposal no matter what happens."

Natsu hummed in agreement, "Fair enough-"

"-My King!" a voice outside called out and Natsu vaguely registered it as Invel's, he came in with a flush as worry imprinted on his face.

"There has been an invasion in the southern prong of Alvarez."

"Again?" Zeref asked before looking at Natsu who seemed to have forgotten a small detail, "I thought you restored order there already."

"Yes," Natsu grimaced, "but maintaining it seems to have been quite the task for the Duke."

"Quite," Invel repeated, "the Duke has been murdered, they have proclaimed sovereignty from the Alvarez Empire. Your orders, my King?"

Zeref heaved in a deep breath.

"Release the red smoke," He said looking at Invel before turning to his brother, "And Natsu, have your Warriors ready, the capture of the southern side must not be later than a month."

"As you wish, my King." Both of them bowed and exited.

And as bizarre as it would seem, none of them noticed the fourth listener whose presence seemed a secret from their sights.

-•-

Levy was packing.

She looked at all the books she had been taking care of for the past several months and she had loved every moment of it but there was a path deep within Levy that refused to stay within Alvarez anymore.

The place she was born and called home had no longer seemed like it now.

Levy wouldn't be able to live as a moral human being if she continued pretending as if there was nothing wrong within the Palace walls.

She had made friends here, Dimaria and Milliana had been wonderful companions to her boredom but their silence was stifling to her. Perhaps she would write to them or perhaps she wouldn't but there was one particular friend she doubted she could forget.

Priestess Lucy had made a lasting impression.

And perhaps, the main reason Levy felt it was apt to resign from her position was because of her own helplessness. The inability of helping her friend from the people she had looked up to almost all her life.

She closed her travel sack that had only essential commodities within it.

"I was not aware you were leaving."

"Priestess?" Levy asked surprised at the sight of the blonde.

"Hello, Levy." Lucy said a radiant smile though a weaker glow contaminated it.

"I am sorry, my Priestess." She said, shuffling her feet to receive her. "But I do not find a place for me within these Palace walls anymore."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, I'm afraid."

Lucy sat upon the chair. "Well, that's a pity indeed, you were quite a good company, I'm sure your presence will be missed. So when is it that you leave?"

"The commoner's carriage leaves at dusk tomorrow."

"That is soon." Lucy said, endowing her eyes upon a collection of scrolls, "and where do you travel to?"

"Perhaps Fiore, I've heard the people there are nice."

"You do know that Alvarez relations with Fiore aren't very well since the invasion right? Why Fiore?" Lucy raised a brow.

Levy smiled nervously. "A change of scenery really."

"Then make sure you do not reveal your name or where you're from."

"Yes, I shall make do with that." Levy said before thoughtfully adding, "I hope to migrate there for life."

"So you don't intend to return for a visit?" Lucy asked and the blunette shook her head in response.

"I see." The Priestess said before narrowing her eyes. "Levy, if it is not too much to ask for, I require a favour from you."

"Anything, Priestess," Levy said and she really had meant it. Feeling helpless wasn't an ideal state to the blunette, she despised not being of any help in preventing the fate that had befallen her. Not only was such a fate unfair, but it had also been placed on the person who hadn't done one thing to deserve it.

"Would you please take Michelle with you?"

At the voice of the strange request, Levy furrowed her brows.

"I could, it wouldn't be much effort. But why, my Priestess? If I may ask so?"

Lucy looked down at the floor as she contemplated the conversation she had heard just before entering the library. Lucy had a bit of work with the Emperor for the celestial event of the meteor showers that occurred once in 600 years, the night before the event, she would generally address each and every soldier of Vistarion to bless them with strength and courage.

Marry her, he said, over her dead body that would occur.

But Natsu was right, it was easy to force her into things, a fault that she had now recognized and refused to give way to

"I worry that she's not safe here."

Levy jerked her head up roughly at the woman before her.

"There's a danger to her life?"

"I reckon so, will you please take her?"

"I doubt she would leave your side, my Priestess."

"Not unless I order her to go with you but Levy, you must no reveal the purpose of your journey until you have reached, you will be given sufficient amount of gold and clothes to live a life in Fiore."

"Priestess," Levy asked dumbly so, "is there something wrong?"

"If it weren't already wrong from the beginning, levy."

The former Librarian looked at the woman before her and she almost retreated.

"So will you please do this for me, Levy?"

"Yes, my Priestess, I'll find an extra ticket and get the necessary arrangements."

"Thank you," Lucy said before looking up to Levy, "I hope your journey is well taken and so far as the stars can stretch, may they protect you with their light."

Levy bowed fully to the Priestess before she walked away and exited the library, Levy released a breath she didn't knew she was holding.

She felt an odd an unusual urge that something was coming.

She wasn't sure if it was good or bad but it was ubiquitous and would affect all those living in the Palace. Because Levy was certain, absolutely certain of what she had witnessed in Lucy just before she left.

There was a storm winding up in her eyes, a harbinger of mayhem that would shake the earth beneath the feet of every person within the Palace.

-•-

When the time came for Michelle to leave, Lucy smiled at her from her window. The helper wildly waved back having no knowledge that it was the last time she would ever see her Priestess again. Lucy had given a letter to Levy that was addressed to Michelle which would explain everything in detail but for now, a goodbye was enough for her.

She bit her lip as a bittersweet memory of friendship with Michelle throughout the years flashed by her.

"Priestess? We must go to the ceremony of sending off our soldiers." reminded one of her temporary helpers.

Lucy composed herself as she nodded, she had already worn her ceremonial robes and if Zeref even dared to call her forth to bless the soldiers, she would blatantly refuse. He didn't call onto her, Lucy wondered how long it would take for them to return as the Warriors, line by line disappeared from the Court and the session had been officially dismissed.

The blonde sighed as she somehow managed to escape the notice of her guards and maidservants, she needed some time alone as the mirrors caught her eye, reflecting pearly moonlit rays upon her.

She closed her eyes.

Some sort of peace but God forbid she even hoped for that.

"Hello, Lucy."

Alongside the pale moonlight which outlined his physique in a glow, Natsu leaned against the Palace wall as he regarded her in mixed fascination and something Lucy couldn't discern.

"What do you want?" She questioned. "Another of your sadistic fantasies of having sex in a place where anyone can walk in?"

"Getting lippy again are we?"

Natsu came closer as Lucy remained rooted to her place, she took a deep breath, preparing herself for what would come but found herself startled when he knelt to the ground before her. Her brows hauled themselves up as he brought forward her leg forward, he pushed her robes upwards as she stared at him, bewildered by his actions.

The Warrior draped a silver chain around her ankle.

"What the hell?" Lucy said, voicing out puzzlement at the jewellery before Natsu resumed to his original height, towering her with the softest look she had ever known. And it looked strange when it was upon him.

His hand touched the base of her neck, grazing his thumb over the space beneath her ear as a blanket of chills spread upon her heart.

"I could fall for you, you know."

Lucy kept silent.

"If I already haven't that is." Natsu pushed a tendril of her hair behind her hair and Lucy found it gravely disturbing that a man of his standing could be this charming if he tried.

"What do you want, Dragneel?"

He pulled her closer into an embrace, holding her like she was the only thing that kept him afloat in the face of rough seas yet it had tenderness embedded in ways she never knew existed in him. Natsu took in her scent before he dipped down to her neck, answering her question.

"In a word? You."

Lucy licked her lower lip before she closed her eyes.

"Why?"

"You could change me into a better man," Natsu said, lips touching the shell of her ear. "Wouldn't you want to try at least once, Lucy?"

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"I was lost."

"Even when you raped me?" She said, arching a nonchalant brow.

"I didn't mean to, Lucy." His hands combed through her hair silkily. "I would never want to hurt you."

She couldn't remember how long it was since she had come here since the fire, since the death of her parents and everything in between that boiled down to this very defining moment. Her history with Natsu Dragneel felt like she had outlived an entire dynasty.

Everything around them came tumbling down as he kissed her while she remained still, closing her eyes.

It was sweet and needy.

His tongue indulged in pressing against hers, massaging and coaxing it lightly, it melted some form of rationality within her. The heat climbing in was irresistible and Lucy wondered what would happen if she gave into it; become his.

No doubt he'd worship her and the ground she walked on. Protect her liked she was his life and perhaps she could even learn to - dare she utter it- love him.

Her head had even concocted a perfect alternate dream-like reality in which she could accept all his flaws unconditionally and then Lucy watched the mirrors of the hallway reflect light, just the way the waters had when the Fairy Sphere had come along.

And she knew like always did, the deception that fraught neath the surface of flesh and bone

She would be happy, no doubt she would; a fool's chance at joy.

Pity, really.

Because Lucy was no fool.

And this sorry attempt of trying to influence her had from the start been in the dumps. She knew him, she always did. And she knew what the face of a liar looked when he spoke words; exactly like a beast wrapped in silk.

Natsu pulled back from her almost content at the lack of resistance offered but it was covered by a mask of genuine hope; that he believed only Lucy could be his redemption.

She wondered though because Lucy could see the sparkling devilry in his eyes from kingdoms afar so just what made him so sure she wouldn't when he was this close?

"It's laughable," Lucy said before holding his arm as she let her fingers trail the scars on his arm. "How you can go from being a ruthless, vile criminal to a longing lover in a short span of time. I never knew you had the power to manipulate."

The hand in her hair tightened and he pulled away, the return of a sneer clear on his features as Lucy stared neutrally.

"I thought you'd bend if I spoke nicely, wrong on my part, wasn't I?" He asked, pushing her against the wall as Lucy laughed out loud, "Lucy Heartfilia, you were mine from the beginning of time and to your dying breath you will always return to me."

"No." Lucy simply said. "I have belonged to none but myself, I am the mistress of my soul and of that which will never belong to you."

Natsu let out a dry chuckle before loosening his grip over her, retrieving his hand back as he cupped her cheek with the roughness she knew he possessed.

"Only so long, Priestess."

He withdrew from her presence and continued turning to walk away before a bright smile upon Lucy's face attracted his attention, it was the kind she had given him when they first met before all that went down.

"You will see, my darling Warrior." She said as the glint of moonlight looked promising upon her.

"Fate and time will betray you."

Natsu's form hardened before growled at her and left her all alone in the corridor.

-•-

It was safe to say that Yuri Dreyar was taken aback when he was summoned to the Shrine of the Midnight Skies about a fortnight after the Alvarez soldiers had left for a battle.

He was brought forward in a carriage sent by Lucy which he gladly accepted because honestly, walking to a destination within the Palace walls would result in one reaching the place about several hours later.

"Priestess?" He called out after being let in by the maidservants and Lucy came out dressed in purple robes, she smiled at him in greeting.

"Hello, Yuri, my apologies if I intervened from your day's work." She said, a hint of sorry unspoken in the way she regarded him.

"No, absolutely not, Priestess. It's an honour to be summoned by you."

"Hardly," Lucy snorted, "but I would have come to you but we would not have any privacy, in my shrine, however, no one would dare to cross the threshold without my permission."

Yuri took in the statement as he pressed his lips together nervously. "You had something to tell me, Priestess?"

"I won't waste much of your time." She said, briefly. "I have found a way to save Mavis."

The latter statement made Yuri straighten his back inequivalence to a rod, "I beg your pardon."

"On the end of this week, there's the sighting of the Libran Scales, I'm sure you have heard of it." Lucy said, expecting him

"The meteor shower that brings great strength or misfortune?" He said, scrunching his nose as he wended his way through the information in his head; what did this have to do with Mavis?

"Depending on the rule of the present King that is especially since the Libran scales are taken as a substitute for justice given by the stars, the zodiac of Libra."

"It's called the tilt of the scales due to that reason as well," Lucy said. "It seeks to restore the balance of fate and time."

Yuri nodded at the piece of information which he committed to memory, he doubted he'd ever use it but then again who knew?

"But anyway, right before the night of this celestial event, I have to give an address to each and every soldier present on the Palace grounds a blessing, it's a small affair." She said, gesturing. "Takes about half an hour only but I reckon that would be enough a window for you to find the Easter tower's dungeons and move out of Vistarion, wouldn't it?"

Yuri juggled his brain winding through the particular details, technically it would be enough time to do so.

"Yes, yes, it would." He agreed before looking up at her, "but why would you go against the grain yourself?"

"Someone has to and it seems like I have my ends to meet as well," Lucy responded.

"But I will need to get into Palace for that." He pointed out the flaw that seemed to blare in his ears.

"Yes, the guards will let you come in because I have already informed them that you have a few pots that I had previously ordered."

"You seem to have thought this out," Yuri said, surprised and it caused her to giggle.

"When one is at a race for the survival of their life, you do what you can." She shrugged.

Yuri nodded at her, he knew what living like that meant.

"Now," Lucy said, clasping her hands together, "I can only help you until you get out of Palace walls, outside you're on your own. You have one chance at escaping Vistarion although I would suggest taking the rapid ships at Prembrain harbour to Fiore."

"I'll check the harbours out and any other suitable alternative."

"The moment Zeref knows, he'll do everything he can to get her back. Don't breathe until you've reached home. He has spies everywhere but I assume Mavis can take care of that if her reputation really precedes her."

"It does." Yuri said with a smile, "thank you so much, I could never find words-"

"-don't rejoice until you've met your sister, there's every chance this little plan might be a chance in hell."

"Still," The man said, "trying is sometimes enough. Especially for one with your social status."

Lucy's silence indicated that he should take his leave and as he did he heard her warning ring.

"Oh and Yuri?"

Yuri stopped.

"Do not ever return to Alvarez."

-•-

The night came with bitterness, cold air swirled in as moonlight began to enter in trickles.

The coldness into her bones as Mavis listened hard for footsteps, it had been eerily quiet on this particular night as the blonde reflected on her life. Mavis would always regret her decision to help Alvarez as a War Tactioner.

Ah, it was one of those nights.

Where tears would crawl her flesh until the morning light and beyond and all the warmth that would ever find her would be in her dreams where there were Yuri and Rita, the last time she had seen the latter was during her pregnancy, she could almost imagine the child having Yuri's hair and Rita's bright eyes.

A smile reached her face.

What happened next was so quick that Mavis hardly had time to blink.

It was an explosion and it blew away the bars in silence as the only sound heard was the steel bars stumbling down against carved stone.

"You know, I really should appreciate Precht on his alchemy abilities," a grin she knew too familiar smiled upon her. "These things are bloody amazing and so quiet."

It must have been a dream, there was no way Yuri Dreyar, her closest friend was standing in front of her within reaching distance.

Yuri pulled her into an embrace befitting of family, as he kissed her forehead.

"Holy God! Mavis, you know how to make your friends worry sick about you, don't you?"

This couldn't have been real.

But it felt so true.

No dream could actually bear this close likeness to Yuri, Mavis found herself hugging him close to her heart,a tingle of warmth that eradicated all the cold nights that had been spent in this cold, shallow prison.

"I missed you." She muffled against the fabrics of his shirt, tears wetting them instantly.

"I did too," her friend smiled dearly too. Years of agony bore down to this and Yuri couldn't wait to take her home but Lucy's words came as a reminder and he pulled away from her.

"But we need to leave, we don't have much time, I'll explain everything as we go but for now we need to get the hell out of here."

They reached outside and if Yuri had to be the right judge of it all then it would take about twenty minutes more for the guards to come back, five minutes for them to realise what has happened and another ten to mobilise into action. By that time frame, they would have long reached the ship and left shores.

"Yuri, stop," Mavis said softly before looking up to a low balcony, "can we spare five minutes?"

They could but it thoroughly depended on what it was for.

"What for?"

"That balcony, I just know, it's of Prince August." She said, her voice almost pleading.

Yuri stiffened at the name before his face screwed itself in dislike. "Mavis, you cannot be serious."

"He was snatched away from me on the day he was born, the very second," She begged, clasping his arm tightly. "Please, just once let me see my son."

Yuri gnashed his teeth. There was no assurance that there may not be protection for the Prince, they could easily get caught but he doubted very much that Mavis would ever forgive him if they got out of here. Especially, since they could never hope to return.

"Alright but five minutes is all and I'm coming with you." He bartered which she gladly took, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

He kept his dagger close as they climbed up the balcony, Yuri more than Mavis since her feet were hardly accustomed to climbing so soon. They treaded on light feet inside the room which had no soldiers nor maidservants. The Prince seemed quietly tucked in his bed as hushed snores confirmed he was asleep, there wasn't anyone in the room but Yuri wasn't sure for how long before he let Mavis in.

The shorter blonde stepped closer to the cot.

"My August." She cooed as her hand touched his cheeks gently. The child seemed in deep slumber but outwardly he leaned closer to his mother's touch.

Mavis gripped a hand close to her mouth to prevent her from crying out evidently as the sight stifled the air out of Yuri's lungs. He watched tears travel down Mavis' chin in raw, turgid emotion and at that moment, he wished he had murdered Zeref the chance he had got.

"My darling August." She whispered to him, a pang of envy that she couldn't watch him grow stabbed her heart. This bed of purity which was unharmed reflected her own self which she had possessed years ago. Oh, she had let him know even if the child was asleep.

"I love you with every light in my heart, you will be a good king, I know you will." She sputtered out, knees almost caving in due to unfairness of it all. "You will do what is right by his people, right by his morals, won't you my love?"

"Mavis." Yuri's voice came as a piercing reminder.

She removed the locket around her neck before putting it around the neck of the seemingly asleep child.

"Let this locket remind you of how deeply I love you in spite of your father's treachery." She kissed his forehead in affection as few tears slipped past, "I would never forgo one moment I spent with you in my womb. Never."

"Until we meet, I will pray for you, my love." She let her forehead touch her child's tenderly.

Mavis tore herself away from the child and looked at him for one last time before they strode to the balcony in haste as they slipped off, Yuri had taken a spare look behind to make sure that the guards weren't back yet but was startled to catch a glance of a tiny figure on the balcony.

"Goodbye, mother." it mouthed and Yuri's eyes grew wide.

When the mayhem in the Palace broke, Zeref was crestfallen. He demanded that all guards combine their forces to find her no matter the cost but Mavis and Yuri with his child were already at sea and within another hour, the rapid boats would finish crossing neutral territories into the waters of Fiore. But the Emperor would not stop, he gripped his hair and screamed in agony, barking orders about how she must be found, how she must be brought back to him, it took a severely advanced tranquiliser to put him to sleep.

Yet, in all the chaos no one had noticed the Priestess slipping out of Palace walls in the clothes of a commoner.

-•-

Lucy sat in the carriage meant for civilians, she had no robes of the royal, no brassard adorning her arm, no title upon her head.

And this was the truest she had felt in years.

She didn't know where she was going but it was going to be most likely in Ishgar, staying any longer in Alvarez would mean a death sentence to her. Perhaps, the kingdom of Stella? Who knew, the inevitability of it made it feel real, made her freedom feel real.

"And where do you hail from, madam?" The person sitting next to her said, she was an old lady and had been travelling to see her grandson.

Lucy smiled under her cloak. "A very distinct part of Eastern Vistarion."

"That so? I have never been to it, tell me, have you been to the Palace anytime?" She said, enlivened with wide eyes staring at Lucy.

The blonde thought about it before she replied, "only from the outside."

"Oh then, have you seen the Emperor or his brother?" The old biddy asked, excited to consolidate any information.

"No, I have not." Lucy smiled, patiently.

"Oh," the woman replied, disappointment dripping out of her voice.

"I have seen the Priestess of the Midnight Skies, can anyone in this carriage claim as such?" A man asserted proudly, drawing staggering gasps and jolted exclamations from everyone in the carriage as Lucy simply giggled lightly.

"Oh, and how does the Priestess seem? Is she beautiful-

"-is she lovely-"

-is she witty? Has she given her heart to any yet?"

The man, pleased with the attention he had, grinned with satisfaction as he nodded eagerly at their thrilling expressions.

"Yes, I met her only once when she was blessing the soldiers for a battle, my son was there. Upon my word, the Priestess seems like a Goddess who has graced us with her presence." He stated, proudly and Lucy simply rose brow wondering which Warrior's father was he.

"Oh, and I heard that all soldiers came back almost as if they were protected by an invisible shield." said another with exhilaration dancing in his eyes, it earned another display of shock.

"Ah, if only I could espy upon her once, I would die a happy woman." Another woman voiced out with wishful thinking playing on her eyes.

"Truly so." All of them agreed.

Lucy raised a brow, pity, really had she been listening to this conversation in any other means, she would've let them in on a glance. But she wasn't and that's how providence had intended it to be.

"Oh you could, tomorrow night, it is the night of the Libran Scales."

She turned her face to the little speck of air coming in from a small gap that had been made for ventilation. Lucy used it to see how fast they were going and it seemed like her plan had worked perfectly right.

Lucy knew that there was going to be an intense need for a distraction for her to escape the guards, they most likely wouldn't notice her absence until early hours of the morning when they would come to wake her up for the preparations and by then it would simply be too late.

Still, she found a cold wrapping around her heart and Lucy knew she would have to acknowledge it sooner or later before she started a new life somewhere nice.

Natsu and her relationship had been tumultuous, to say the least. He had disregarded her consent, had raped her, was quite literally her worst nightmare in corporeal form and she would admit it was pathetic to still care for him.

But then Lucy would care for a War criminal just as much.

She had now understood that the mercy of her heart can and will be used against her wishes so she must protect it. She felt a heaviness in her heart being unloaded as if she had been fighting a war and had just returned home. Though things would never be the same again, Lucy would finally have a chance at being happy.

One that did not involve giving fake smiles and pleasantries.

Distantly, she wondered if Yuri and Mavis had made it. Lucy had never met the latter but if August was anything to by, she knew the woman had a beautiful heart, her thoughts travelled to Michelle, she hoped her dear sister would fare well along with Levy.

The carriage momentarily stopped though she attributed it to some form of checking that was done at the borders but it seemed as if God still wished to take another trial of her will.

"Oh, would you look at them?" The old biddy said, delightedly.

"How marvellous they are, Aunt Zeralda!" Someone sitting beside her grinned. "Our beloved Warriors coming back from such a bloodbath."

Lucy breath hitched in her throat as the windows were open so the passengers could see their country's soldiers travelling on horses. Some of them waved back as the blonde slyly pulled her veil even closer under the cloak with only one question;

Was he there?

She raised her head to peep outside the window and a few Warriors seemed to be waving back at the carriage, she recognised a few of them like Ajeel and Jason with his brother Jeremy and then her heart stopped.

At the beginning of the group, he led his squad of Warriors.

"That is Natsu Dragneel." The old biddy pointed wildly at the man as Lucy nodded pliantly.

"Doesn't he look dashing?"

Lucy looked at him with a forlorn expression shadowing her eyes. "He does."

She watched him get off his horse, standing on the firm ground, tall and strong. Lucy could feel his presence as if it were wild embers from a crackling fire and she wondered if he felt the same. That sort of attachment had been imbued in both of them or at least her now it would seem.

She sat back properly on her seat as she waited for the passing of judgement.

As if based on some hidden ingraining, Natsu's eyes flickered over to the carriage with a raw urge to just go towards it, he left a lingering gaze upon it before nodding at the man responsible for the commoner's carriage in approval.

Lucy turned her head again to watch him and was surprised to see him looking at the carriage like it was asking him to do something.

For a moment, she wondered, would he stop her? Or better yet, would he find her? Would the entirety of the universe allow him to?

In a rush came the clouds stretching to hide moonlight that left the carriage and its surroundings in darkness, the light of the stars in rightful deceit led their lights to the Palace which now shone with bluffing rays of the moon.

On cue, Natsu narrowed his eyes at it before turning his face, commanding his Warriors to carry on as he continued riding the horse early into the city borders and Lucy simply knew it was for her.

He was in a hurry to go back to her while she escaped in this carriage.

It made Lucy laugh ironically at how twisted the situation had turned out to be. Her foretold predicament came true in its most veracious form and Lucy almost felt pity surge her heart.

Fate and time will betray you.

And they did indeed.

When they had reached the borders of Ishgar the old biddy turned to her cloaked companion only to find her seat empty.

"Oh, Aunt Zeralda, the girl left just now."

She frowned, she hadn't even got the mysterious girl's name, the one with blonde hair spilt across her shoulders and tint of defiance in the way she held herself. Quite like a Celestial Goddess and it was a funny thing that she felt the comparison match.

The old looked out, hoping to find her to establish contact after all they had travelled together.

But it had seemed as if the girl had vanished into thin air.

Wearing the most common threads of freedom.

Swept away by the waves of fate and time.

The End.

Phew! That was something. Y'all this was supposed to be a one-shot before the more sane side of me argue, Cale for god's sake you can't publish a one-shot with like 30k words and call it a short story, that's full-fledged novel.

So tell me, was it rushed? Was it expected? I'm literally at the edge of my seat, wanting to know how it feels. This story properly scarred me and I fear I might not be the same as I was when I began writing this. But then, that's the life of a writer, mate.

Now, the reason I had specifically requested your presence as an audience to this story was that it's one that gave me hope and I wished that I anyone felt the same, this story would someday give them hope. Hope to take a stand and protect their heart from mind-boggling manipulation, especially at that part where Natsu promises to change.

But we, because we're viewing this story from a third perspective, knew that it's not sincere.

Lucy knew, she just got lucky that way.

But if you or I were Lucy, I can bet my money that we'd probably give the person a second chance to redeem themselves.

When someone hurts us, it's a very common thing for our hearts to say- But everybody deserves a second chance and what most of us don't realise is the fact that while Everybody does deserve a second chance, they are by no means entitled to it.

Oh wow, that's a long Author's note but if you read it, I thank you for patience and effort to be here at this moment. Thank you for being here, I hope the ending pleased you and I doubt there's any scope for an epilogue but I guess wishful thinking maybe entertained once in a while.

ALSO GUYS STAY AT HOME. NOT GOOD TIMES. DO YOUR PART BY STAYING AT HOME.

Yeah, I should go.

Hope ya'all stay safe, ta ta.