Chapter 1: When Will My Life Begin?

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Lucy's POV

"1...2...3..."

I could hear scurrying around the room and a swish of wings. Granted, I didn't have my eyes open. That's kinda the point of hide and seek.

"4...5...6..."

There! I definitely heard the window open and close ever so slightly...I've got you now Happy!!

"7...8, 9, 10!" I exclaimed, rushing towards the window in full excitement. Happy could never hide from me properly, even if his blue fur could blend into most of my paintings.

"GOTCHA!" I shouted, bursting open the window. Yet, he wasn't there. Sighing in disappointment, I turned to leave in defeat, but then...

A flick of a blue tail.

I smirked. "Well, I guess Happy isn't hiding here..." I sighed in my most convincing defeated voice ever.

The blue tail sagged into view, just low enough so I could grab him. Gathering my hair till I met the end, I sent it swishing to the tail, where it caught hold. Not holding back, I pulled.

A loud screech came from the small blue cat as it came tumbling into the tower. I couldn't contain my laughter anymore and burst into a fit of giggles. Happy gave me a non-menacing glare.

"You could have been gentler you know..." He mumbled, brushing the dirt off his fur.

Ignoring his statement, I brushed off my sleeves in a 'dignified' sort of way. "That's 22 for me. How 'bout 23/45?"

Happy rolled his eyes, mumbling something about fish. I placed my hands on my hips. Maybe I could have been a bit gentler, but he didn't have to have this negative attitude.

"Well, what do you wanna do?" I asked, my hands still placed on my hips. Happy's eyes lit up like stars, almost in a mischievous way.

Uh-oh. Not this again.

Happy sprouted his wings and dove towards the window. I ran towards it and saw him doing circles in the air. "Why not play outside?" Happy asked cheerfully.

I sighed. "Yeah...I don't think so. I like it in here and so do you." Happy stopped circling and glared at me.

"As if! Staring at the same walls since birth isn't exactly my idea of fun..." He gave another glare to the tower. I giggled at his sarcasm.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad..." I sang, skipping further into the tower, the sour looking blue cat following close behind.

7 AM, the usual morning lineup:

Happy began to groan. "Oh please don't tell me we're breaking into song this early in the morning!"

Start on the chores and sweep 'til the floor's all clean
Polish and wax, do laundry, and mop and shine up
Sweep again, and by then it's like 7:15.

And so I'll read a book
Or maybe two or three
I'll add a few new paintings to my gallery
I'll play guitar and knit
And cook and basically
Just wonder when will my life begin?

Then after lunch it's puzzles and darts and baking
Paper mache, a bit of ballet and chess
Pottery and ventriloquy, candle making
Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb,
Sew a dress!

And I'll reread the books
If I have time to spare
I'll paint the walls some more,
I'm sure there's room somewhere.
And then I'll brush and brush,
and brush and brush my hair
Stuck in the same place I've always been.

And I'll keep wonderin' and wonderin'
And wonderin' and wonderin'
When will my life begin?

"Are we done yet?" Happy moaned, covering his ears. I simply ignored him and finished the last of my song, walking towards the one and only window.

Tomorrow night,
Lights will appear
Just like they do on my birthday each year.
What is it like
Out there where they glow?
Now that I'm older,
Mother might just
Let me go ...

I sighed. Maybe, just maybe.

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Natsu's POV

Early morning. The time when fog and mist started to slowly gather away. The time where the small birds started to sing sweet melodies to one another. The time when the sun's rays begin to shine, reflecting off the castle roof.

Which is exactly where the Fernandez brothers and I slid down, as it had easy access to the throne room. Honestly, who puts an open window right above the crown? Don't they think about security?

I inwardly scolded myself. Don't get worked up with the details. Just get the crown, then you can get as far away from these two weirdo siblings.

I glanced at my partners. Sure, they weren't bulky like most men, but their appearances still were intimidating, with their blue hair and identical red eye tattoos. Segrain's was covered with his eye patch, but Jellal's was in full view. I'm not even sure those are tattoos...

Stop it! If they catch you staring, there's gonna be a lot of explaining to do!. I ducked my head and immediately ran to one of the castle's pole that overlooked the majority of the kingdom.

"Wow! I could get used to a view like this..." I exclaimed, still holding on to the pole. The view was quite breathtaking. You could see everything...and I mean EVERYTHING!

"Salamander! Come on!" Jellal hissed. He had already finished cutting open the roof window and secured the rope for the trip down.

"Wait!" I took a deep breath, catching the faint smell of salt. The ocean. "Yep I'm used to it...guys, I wanna castle." I flashed the world a toothy grin.

"If we do the job, then you can buy a castle of your own." A hand caught the collar of my shirt, dragging me to the hole. Next thing I knew, I was already being lowered with the rope attached to me.

Jellal's brother, Segrain, lowered me inch by inch. The crown seemed to shine with the same intenseness as the stars, almost as if it was glowing.

Just a few more inches...just a few more...come on come on...

Gotcha!

Suddenly, a guard sneezed. "Ugg, hay fever?" I asked, slightly amused. The crown spun around my hand a little as I spoke. The guard turned and nodded towards me before returning to his post. I laughed inwardly as I was speedily yanked up towards my partners.

As soon as I was up, we bolted. My sense of amusement increased as I heard the guard's frantic shouts of "wait" being echoed into the morning.

Before we knew it, Jellal, Segrain, and I were speeding down the bridge that connected the kingdom to the forest.

"Can't you picture me in a castle of my own? Cause I certainly can!" I exclaimed, imagining all of my riches being piled at my feet. Oh that crown could grant me so much...

"Of all the things we seen and it's only 8 in the morning! Gentlemen, this is a big day!"

A very big day.

NaLu- Tangled StyleWhere stories live. Discover now