Let's have a moment of silence for the people in Paris...I pray for them and you're safety also. Be safe, everyone.
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"Hey, Natsu..." Princess started. I was carrying her, again, bridal style as always.
"Yeah?"
"Drop me," that came out of nowhere. If it was the past, I would have no problem dropping her like before, but now I'm different. I'm more hesitant.
"Why?"
"Because I want to forget all of this," she answered. I stopped flying forward and stood upright, my wings still flapping in midair. She looked away, trying to hide her tears from me. I turned her head to face me, and wiped the tears off her face.
"That's not gonna help, Princess."
"Let us help you. You can still change your mind, Princess Lucia. Join us, join the south," Gray heard us again and decided to join in. He stood in front of me and the princess, arms crossed, and clothes stripped off, as always.
"I can't..." she trailed off. Somehow, I understand why she is saying no. She's worried about her subjects and, knowing her mother, worried about her father too.
Then I realized why she truly wanted to fall. The last time I did that to her, she was scared—of course—but there was a hint of excitement and freedom in her eyes. Maybe that's why... "Decision-making time!" Gray and Princess looked at me with a confused look on their faces. It was probably because I said it in a happy tone... "Still wanna fall? We have time. I think we can spare a few minutes, yeah?" I'm going to test this. Does she want to die, or does she want to feel free again?
"Natsu! What are you doing?! Do you want her killed?" That seemed to get Gray's attention. Fortunately, I am smart in my own way.
"That's her decision. She wants me to drop her? Fine. I'll drop her."
"Please, Natsu. I know I'm not suppose to ask you favors, but I really need this," Princess finally spoke. All I needed was her permission, and I would do it. Time to test.
If she falls straight down, I'll catch her. If she falls freely, I'll join her. "Ready?"
"Yes."
My hands slipped off her ragged dress, causing her to slowly fall away from my grasp. Gray went to catch her. I held him back in time. He looked at me, then realized what I was doing. I followed her down.
"Whatever you do, Natsu, don't let her touch the ground."
I nodded and went after her, tucking my wings in, and falling right behind her. The ground. That's where the problems lie, where the fears are, and where limitations exist. It's where war is happening at this moment, and where dystopians lie. The ground is hard, stiff, and rough. It hurts people, it scrapes knees, it causes pain. Right now, Princess Lucia is facing the ground, falling towards it. She is facing those problems, fighting the pain, and experiencing the fun of the sky. That's what it means to be a dragon. To know the feeling of freedom higher than your claws, and the limitations below your wings. That's what I want her to experience.
Everyone needs to know this feeling. The feeling of finally conquering something other than fear.
