Author's Introduction: So good news everyone! I am back with a brand new story for you all to enjoy! So let's get down to the hiatus and how this writing thing works shall we? There is no easy way to say this but...life happened? I graduated, landed my dream job, moved, going to move again, work has been CRAZY and dangerous working with...well difficult children that have been ordered by the State to be taken care of...so as you can imagine I have been busy. BUT I have been writing...just when I spent over 6 months on a 18 chapter book only to realize it was crap and I never finished the plotline...kinda wanted to cry. But then I went back to the one I was going to post and finished the plotline for it!
So here is the deal; I am currently still writing this one out but I will do my best to post a chapter a week as I write...the is the best I can do for the moment. So sorry I haven't updated or posted sooner but as I said life happened. So without any further interruption; please go ahead and give this one a shot!
I firstly want to dedicate this to the brilliant man who helped me to create this plot and have been working with me to help me nail down the Natsu I want to portray in this. For now, I will call him my Natsu because he know who he is and I owe him a HUGE THANK YOU for sticking with me through this and helping me to create this magic I am gonna try to weave!
Secondly the song for this story is entitled "Heart" by Thomas Bergerson. It is one of my favorite songs and beautiful to look at the stars with. I felt the melody captures the essence of the chapter and hope that this gets you excited for what is about to come. Please leave a review and let me know what you think! And it is so good to be back finally! I really did miss writing and reading your comments!
End of an Empire
~Chapter One~
Screams were heard in the darkness of night; although a reddish glow and smoldering black smoke rose to the heavens that engulfed the fragile light of the stars. The ground shook from the pounding of horses and the night aflame with fire of dragons roared into the smoky abyss. A small kingdom breathing its last dying breaking like a man tied to a burning stake. Citizens of the capital were running for their lives as many were burned alive; fed to the flying dragons, or round up by those who were attacking. The forest protecting the capital and separating the rulers burned to ash and the ones who had the most to fear from being killed were trapped inside the palace that was once the crown jewel of the long staking profitable Heartfilia kingdom.
A small girl no older than the age of seven with golden hair and large, fearful amber eyes cried out for her Mother in her nursery. She clutched her blanket securely under her chin while she trembled in her bedding. Clearly she could see the red flames and black smoke out her window beside her bed. The pane of the same window shook from the dragon's roar as it raged its terrible attack on her home. The small child covered her ears with shaking hands and tears continue to fall down her pale cheeks. She cried even louder for her Mother in hopeful attempt to summon her sooner. The poor thing trembled with fear as she was sudden awoken into chaos.
"Lucy!" came her mother's shout from the hall outside the door.
"Momma!" the small child known as Lucy Heartfilia cried out with more hope at hearing that familiar voice. Hearing her child's desperate plea, Layla Heartfilia yanked the nursery door opened and rushed inside quickly. She scanned the room and settled her gaze on her frightened daughter from her bed. Lucy outstretched her tiny arms towards her savior. In a few long strides, Layla securely wrapped Lucy in her arms. Lucy clung tightly to her mother and took in the comforting scent as she was wrapped up in the protective embrace.
"M-Momma I'm scared!" Lucy's tiny voice quivered.
"I-I know sweetheart, but you are safe now. Momma has you now. But I need you to be extra quiet alright?" Layla's voice was laced with panic, but she managed to hold firm looking into her child's alarmed face. Hearing her mother's sound protection, Lucy gave a tiny nod to show she understood. Layla broke into a warm smile and planted a kiss on the child's temple, "Good girl, now you hold on." Layla cradled her gripping daughter and made her way out of the nursery to the running of servants out in the halls. With frantic eyes, she searched for the safest path to try and escape.
Lucy buried her face in her mother's shoulder as the pair made their way through the confusion. The child squeezed her eyes closed in attempt to block out the screams and the whirlwind of death around her. She had been asleep in the safety of her bedding when the attack had initially happened. Layla ran down as many safe passages as she could to safeguard their lives. The kingdom was going to fall and if they were to make it out with their lives, Layla would have to escape and escape quickly. Layla searched for her husband; ruler of the Heartfilia kingdom-Jude. The pair had been separated due to needing to find the Princess and to stop the attacks on their palace. Now that Lucy was safe and secure in her mother's embrace, Layla needed to be reunited with her husband before they all escaped to safety.
As Layla ran with her frightened child in her arms along one of the hallways, she suddenly found herself frozen in mid-run. Layla had caught sight out of one of the windows in the hall of her husband, along with is personal guard, out in the court yard fighting one of the dragons with his sword in hand. The dragon and the enemy were surrounding him as he fought with all he had. Layla turned her gaze down to her beautiful daughter in her arms who was looking back at her with anxiety clearly in her face. Layla studied her child's perfect small face and with her mind set she warmly smiled. Layla hugged Lucy close and kissed her cheek.
"Momma?" Lucy's tiny voice asked uneasily.
"My Lucy, you are a Heartfilia. The Princess of our sovereign nation. Above all, you are loved by your Papa and me. You are our wish, our beautiful star, and in order to make sure you do not let your shine die out in this night; you and I must part." Layla smiled bittersweet with her own tears prickling her eyes and threatening to fall down her own cheeks. Sadness and fear gripped the child as she clung to her own Mother close.
"N-no! You can't leave me! Momma don't leave me!" little Lucy cried in desperation.
"I am so sorry my small star, but in this world I will leave with your Father to ensure your future." Layla kissed Lucy's tear streaked cheek once more. Lucy trembled even more so at the sudden parting as her mother was going to say goodbye to her for the last time. Before Layla gave another second to second guess her final decision, she reached a hand out at to a passing servant-one she knew to well as being loyal to the family for many years. The servant stopped bewildered, but recognizing her queen; she dared not to refuse a request from the beloved ruler.
"Please, will you take her? I am ensuring you with the future of our empire." Layla pleaded. Without so much as a hesitation, the servant nodded and the princess was placed in her waiting arms. Layla kissed Lucy's temple for the final time.
"Remember my star, always be kind and never give up on happy endings. Papa and I love you so much. You will be happy one day. I promise." Layla said her final words and then rushed off to join her husband-be it in this life and the next. Lucy could only reach out with sobbing tears for her mother's retreating form.
The servant, an elderly woman that used to prepare the kitchen meals for the royal family for years, quickly ducked with the crying child to a room familiar to the servants that resided in the palace. "M-Momma..." Lucy whimpered.
"Hush now child. I need you to do as you are told. If I am to obey your Mother's last request and to safeguard your life; I will need to disguise you. Now quickly child, no more fuss. Please put these on." the woman shifted through servant clothing to disguise the little princess and pass her off as one of her own. Lucy sniffled as she quietly cried while shedding her royal bed clothes and put on the servants garb. The elderly woman found a cloak and fastened it around the small one's frame.
"No matter what, you must stay hidden under this cloak and by my side. Should someone recognize you, I cannot promise we will survive. Do you understand my child?" the woman spoke firmly, but with great concern. Naturally, Lucy nodded as the hood shielded her pretty face and she found herself back in this woman's arms. The commotion continued to rage outside the palace and many ran down the endless labyrinth of hallways in a panic that followed in the wake of the attacks. Many looted, tried to escape, or hide-but the results were all the same; the invaders were rounding up those found or were escaping. And despite the best efforts of the elderly woman, little Lucy and her were caught up in the inevitable. Rounded up with the others that went from servants to slaves, they were gathered in a gaggle of people and brought before their new rulers.
A dragon sneered down at the trembling members of the Heartfilia kingdom. Lucy buried her face behind the leg of the woman as she kept a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Look at your pitiful kingdom!" the dragon's laugh boomed over the atmosphere and echoed like a loud speaker for all to hear."You have tried to deny the House of Dragons resources and now you all will pay the price of defying the clearly superior race!" the dragon leered down at the people and in bounded chains, King Jude and Queen Layla were thrown on their knees before this dragon. The dragon grinned sadistically at the two ruler that glared up at him.
"Look at your incompetent rulers! Know that they are solely responsible for the downfall and destruction of your lands. They are the countable ones that have damned you to your new lives. Look upon them now and curse them for destroying your homes!" the dragon laughed. The rounded people dared not to cry out or say a word; but could only look on helplessly at their rulers that glared up at the dragon without a trace of fear on their anguished faces. Lucy focused on the bravery of her parents and saw them holding their hands together. The dragon glared at those surrounding them now.
"Watch now as I show you what happens should you ever go against the House of Dragons!" the dragon roared and without mercy, burned the royal pair alive. Lucy could only watch as her parents burned to ash-still holding the other's hand and their agonizing screams being swallowed by the laughter of the dragon.