Chapter 2: The First Time Since...
3RD POV:
"Natsu, Come we have to get going!" Feugoleon called from the other side of the door. A few days have passed since the bomb dropped and Natsu had remained relatively quiet about the situation. It was an uncanny thing to say when referring to the small redhead who always seemed to find something or another to talk about.
Over the last few days, it became clear that Natsu despised the idea of attending the academy. Fuegoleon wasn't sure if she was just being stubborn or if it was something else. There was a moment when a tailor came to do some final fitting for the uniform, Natsu did well, only because she was too mad to jump around and cause chaos. Once more Fuegeolon and Adallai were reminded of one very crucial fact. While the young girl seemed more mature than most her age she was above all else...a child. A child who throws tantrums when they dislike something or don't get their way. A child who, to give credit where credit is due, has ambitions that do not include going to an academy.
It wouldn't have been so bad if Natsu's idol and Fuegoleon's sister stayed in the capital, but that would never be an option. Mereoloena left the very next day, who knows, maybe she foresaw this type of thing happening and did not want any part in it.
In all honesty, Fuegoleon didn't find it too surprising considering how reluctant Natsu was when she first started her studies. She hated it up until she started getting used to Darius, even then she still had very little interest in her studies.
"Natsu!" Fuegoleon called again. He didn't see her during breakfast and according to Rella, she ate in her room instead.
"I'm right here." A voice piped up from behind him. Sure enough, Natsu wasn't in her room. "Where were you?" He asked, he was sure she would still be sulking in her room but she seemed much less grumpy, albeit still visibly irritated. Today was this year's Magic Knights exam. He had long since promised Natsu that she could watch if she behaved and didn't cause any trouble.
"I wanted to see Tashta." She said shyly, fiddling with the hem of her gloves. Tashta, one of the newest cubs in the pride, the little one was a quick favorite of Natsu's. The little lion cub was energetic and troublesome. more so than the other lions that had been raised on the grounds. He and Natsu were like kindred spirits and he could always lighten her mood.
"Alright, but we must be off, we're going to be late at this rate." He tried his best to usher her, it didn't take much, however. This was something she's been looking forward to for a long while.
"I can still go?" Natsu asked shocked, not minding being pushed. She half expected that with the way she had been grumbling around he would not have taken her. "Yes, how about we call a truce with the academic situation? You have been begging-"
"I didn't beg!" Natsu protested, her face flush.
"Oh you did, you also pleaded." Fuegeoleon went along with it, he's not sure when it happened, but his daughter had become quite prideful. He was curious if he accidentally pushed that trait onto her. It wasn't bad, but it made him realize just how impressionable she was. "I distinctly remember you saying, 'Dad I have to go. I have to.' see? Begging." He chuckled, making sure to have his voice sound as pitiful as possible, which was hard with how deep it was.
"I didn't say it like that," Natsu mumbled. Even being so much taller than her, Fuegoleon could see her blush spread to her ears. She was almost as red as the markings around her eyes.
"You did."
"Did not!"
.
.
