Fairy Tail: Pirates | A NaLu Fan Fiction | AU [ON HOLD]

Royal Captain

The entire crew was currently in holding cells as my father was sorting things out. I had been racking my brain for ways to get everyone out of this situation safely. I was pacing my room and wringing my hands nervously, and the clicking of my silver heels didn't help. I had changed into a pink gown that had been quickly prepared for me upon my arrival.

"Miss Lucy..." A tentative voice calls for me at the door and I whirl around to see one of the maids. "Your father has summoned you... He is waiting in the Great Hall." I nod and she hurries away. I pull up my skirt slightly as I nearly run through the corridors. When I get to the Great Hall I slow down and then walk through the door calmly. My father stood when I entered and he came over to me and grabbed me up in a large hug. So this is what it takes to earn your affection.

"I am so relieved you are safe. I will have those filthy commoners rot for keeping you from me," he shakes his head.

"No, the crew saved me! If not for them I would have died in the open sea..." I tell my father and his brow creases.

"They didn't bring you to me right away," he points out and I shake my head.

"Natsu and the others where hiding me from the traffickers. They couldn't return me without endangering me," I lie, though it was half true. If they had tried to bring me back the traffickers would have found out about us as soon as we landed because of the commotion we would have made. "They where bringing me back when you found us."

"Then why did you lie about your name," my father seemed to be growing agitated.

"I couldn't be too safe," I say quietly. My father sighed angrily and sat down again.

"And what is this business with that Natsu boy?" My face burned at the mention of it.

"He saved my life and...proved his loyalty to the crown. He is a strong leader and he is caring about his crew. I would be ignorant not to choose him," I tell my father firmly.

"Then we will hold a ball. Tonight," My father stands and starts to leave.

"Wait, what?!" I exclaim and my father doesn't look back at me as he answers me.

"I know his crew's true nature Lucy. I once had a troop of men kill their former captain. If you think he is such a great man you will prove it to me at the ball. If you don't, their fates are sealed," and with that my father leaves the room. I pick up my skirt again as I hurry to the holding cells. I race down the staircase to the lower levels of the castle until the guards to the door came into view.

"I need to see them," I panted, slightly out of breath from running down the stairs.

"I am afraid we can't allow you to be near such dangerous creatures Princess," one says blankly.

"They are people, and they sure as hell aren't dangerous! They saved my life, so I suggest you open this door before I force my way in!" I shout at them and they quickly move to unlock the door. When I storm in and they close it back I am met with the surprised looks of the crew who where all chained to the walls behind bars. I give them all a faint smile before taking a deep breath.

"I'll get you all out of here, okay? I promise. I have to attend a ball being thrown tonight, and Natsu has to come with me," I see his head lift to look at me. "My father knows who you are, and he wants me to prove that you are good people with Natsu at the ball. I don't know exactly how to pull it off...but I am certain we can," I tell them all.

"We trust you, Lucy." I look over at Erza who is giving me a gentle smile.

"You can do it Lu-chan!" Levy encourages me and I grin. Soon everyone was giving me words of support.

"Thank you guys... and Natsu," his eyes meet mine. "They will come get you to prepare you for the ball at any time.. we can talk about what to do when you get out of here." He nods and I turn towards the door. I knocked to let the guards know I was ready to leave and they opened the door. As I walked back up the stairs I tried figuring out exactly what my father wanted. How did he want me to show how good of a person he was? What did my father want to see?

• • •

I had a new dress laid out for me when I returned to my room. People were rushing around preparing for the last minute ball. My father was known for things like this though, so the attendance would still be high, seeing as he was the king and could put the whole kingdom to a halt if he felt it necessary.

I slid into the dress that had a tight fitting black top but the skirt was a pale blue and was made of layers of thin, lose veil like material. It shimmered when I moved and looked like the sun shinning on the ocean. A maid tried to insist on doing my hair but I refused her and did it myself. It was braided around my head and the rest fell naturally over my exposed shoulders.

"This style suits you," a familiar voice makes me turn to the door. My gaze fell upon Natsu, dressed in an official Royal Navy uniform, the ranks and patches marking every one of his accomplishments. My father must have had it put together for him, making me even more puzzled as to what my father was thinking. I smiled shyly and walked over to Natsu.

"It's strange to see you all dressed up," I reach up and straighten one of his pins.

"I prefer my usual attire, but this isn't the worst," he chuckled. He seemed to be relaxed but I could tell that he was on edge, ready to snap in a moments notice.

"Sorry about all this," I sigh softly and give him an apologetic smile.

"It's alright Lucy, we have been through worse situations," he assures me and pulls me into a quick hug. "So, how are we going to prove to your dad that I'm not the scum of the earth?"

I take a deep breath. "I think he wants to see how well we can play along. I'm sure he has something planned that will force us into an uncomfortable situation..." The thoughts come tumbling fourth as I realize that has to be what he had planned.

"That's my kind of challenge," Natsu grins before holding his arm out to me. "Now let's go show him what we're made of." I opened my door and took his arm.

"Aye, Captain," I grin as we head towards the sound of people and music. You shouldn't have messed with Fairy Tail, father.