To Protect You

Chapter Seventeen: The beginning of all

-Years ago...-

"And so, the dragon swooped in. The princess looked up at him and smiled as she walked towards him, her hair flying back as he landed. Placing her head against his, she smiled, placing her hand on his scaly cheeks. "I'm glad your back"" Lucy stared at the picture in the book in her mothers lap, her brown eyes wide.

"Momma! Look! The Princess loves him!" Lucy said and Layla laughed, smiling down at her daughter, the innocent smile on her daughters face causing her heart to swell. "Mama!" Lucy said, looking up at her. "Are dragons real?"

Layla paused, looking to her daughter and pursed her lips, eyebrow furrowed. "Well..." Her eyes turned towards the door, thinking of her husband and sighing.

"Mama?" Lucy asked, tilting her head. Layla looked back to her daughter before picking her up into her arms. "Mama, you look sad."

Layla smiled and leaned back in her chair, Lucy's head resting against her chest. Running her fingers through her daughter's golden hair, Layla kissed Lucy's forehead.

"Yes, dear. They do." Layla finally said. Lucy looked up at her, eyes shining. "They are sometimes found in people. You know how Papa is sometimes mean and short tempered?" Layla asked and Lucy puffed out her cheeks, nodding. "Well, they always mean well. Dragons...Dragons are short tempered. They often act before they think and yet they are the best people."

"Why do princesses choose the princes then?" Lucy asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Because they are attracted to their looks." Layla said simply.

Lucy was silent for a while before she turned and wrapped her small arms around her mothers neck, causing the woman to make a sound of surprise. "Don't worry, Mama!" Lucy said, smiling. "I'll choose the dragon! He deserves love too!"

Layla smiled and hugged her daughter.

"You'll always be mine and Papa's princess though."

"Uhn!"

***

"I've done it!" Levy exclaimed as the door creaked open. Lucy looked up, her arms coming up to block her face from the gust of wind that escaped. Inside, she heard wailing, the sound of a horrified sob, causing her heart to swell.

"That's..." Gray started, eyes wide.

"Natsu!" Lucy exclaimed, pushing past her two friends and sprinting into the darkness beyond the door.

"L-Lu-chan!" Levy cried after her as Lucy disappeared from view.

"Natsu!" Lucy exclaimed again.

***
"GAH! WHAT IS THE POINT OF ALL OF THIS, DAD?" Natsu yelled at Igneel, glaring at his father as he threw the book in his hands to the ground. Igneel sighed, shaking his head.

"Well maybe if you didn't give up after two words, you'd understand." Igneel snapped, clearly irritated with the young dragon slayer. Natsu began fuming, throwing his hands in the air as smoke literally flew from his head. "Okay, okay. Let me read a chapter too you." Igneel sighed, his eyes squeezing shut in annoyance. Natsu stopped his tantrum, looking to his dad before plopping to the ground and huffing.

"I don't see the point in reading a cutesy book about princess. I'm a man, I shouldn't be reading this stuff." Natsu grumbled. "It's not like I'll ever meet a princess."

"You never know, son."

"I'll never marry a princess, dad." Natsu started, catching Igneel by surprise." I'm going to be strong, like you!"