In the Eye of the Beholder
Naluween 2018 10-30 Day 6 Monster
Not really Halloweeney but I went with it lol, and sorry not sorry but the ending is totally cheesy!
‘Monster…’ That’s what her father had called her when she reached the age of maturity and her true nature had been revealed. It was her dead mother’s fault, Jude ranted, five centuries past and a mingling of Draco bloodline with a human now ruined the Heartfillia name. His prestige would never hold if such past sins came to light and so he’d thrown her out. Stripped of all but her first name, Lucy had nowhere to go, no way to fend or feed herself, and a meager amount of possessions that fit in a backpack… She was totally alone in the world.
And this is how she lived for a few months, taking shelter in a small cave, and hiding away from the world. Lucy would only venture out to find food or bathe in a nearby pond but interaction with other people was avoided at all costs. She didn’t think she could stand the jeering comments, to be teased and taunted as the freak she had been told she was, who she thought she had become.
One day at the edge of a pond, she stared into its reflective surface and found the image of a stranger looking back. Lucy frowned and ran the pads of her finger tips along her cheek, tracing the edges of the shimmering yellow scales that marred her face. They move upwards, flinching when they hit the solid bony horns peeking through her blonde hair in a curled-back fashion. A few tear drops strike the surface, rippling the water as her eyes glaze over. Claws for nails and talons for toes, she couldn’t even wear shoes anymore, just ugly slide sandals.
The scales covered over half of her body. They cupped her cheeks running into her hairline, ran down her neck and shoulders to the tops of her bosoms, then continue down along her sides leaving her torso bare. From that point it curves back over her hips, v’ing below her navel and reaching almost to her womanly parts, though in this section the scales are much smaller and thinner, finally traveling the length of her thighs and ending just above the knees. From finger tips to forearms, and the tops of her feet were covered in varying thicknesses.
She felt as ugly as her father had called her. No longer the feminine wile, she had once been. Why’d it have to be her generation that was punished with this affliction? Lucy scrapes her sharp nails against the scales on her forearms, gritting her teeth, but no matter how hard she digs, she cannot break through the tough shell. A small shrill of frustration gathering in her throat, this couldn’t be the life she was supposed to lead! She had so many suitors before the transformation and now...
Lucy sighs and hangs her head, ‘no one’s gonna want me.’
There was an unfamiliar scent in the air that Natsu couldn’t recognize, but it was strange that it smelled… almost human. He could count the number of times on one hand that he’d come across the unique smell, but it had been a while and he thought he knew of all the others. Apparently not, and so he had tracked it to the crystalline pond, curious as to who or what was generating it.
But the closer he got, the faint scent became more and more defined. It was female, for that he was certain, and most likely un-mated since he could detect no male scents beside his own. What was an unknown and un-mated female doing in the middle of the woods alone?
As he breaks through the tree line, Natsu can see a glistening figure at the edge of the water that knocks the wind right out of him…
After finishing her bath, Lucy gathers her belongings ready to leave when some noises in the nearby woods catch her attention. She turns to see a figure standing only a few feet from her. How had the person snuck up without her noticing! In a panic she survey’s the open area and aside from diving back into the water there was no way for her to hide. She cringes, backing away, “W-who are you? What do you want?”
But all Natsu could do was stare at the cowering woman. He was too stunned, too taken aback by his discovery of this young Draco, who was not only just like him, but she was, “beautiful…” In the fading daylight, her yellow scales shone like golden honey, her big, warm brown eyes were frightened but bright and striking, and her waist length hair cascaded down her back in waves like the ripples upon a winded lake. “Wow, you are so… beautiful!”
Maybe she needed to dig the wax out of her ears. Lucy had been so spooked by the stranger, that she hadn’t taken a good look at him but now, with neither side making any sudden movements, she could, and he was just like her! Taking in his full stature, this male’s scales were red but they along with other features mirrored her own! And he was a good-looking guy, albeit a monster like her. But, was this a good thing or bad thing? Apprehension creeps over her, if this guy attacked or tried to kidnap her, judging on their size in comparison, she’d have no chance.
Again, she takes a step back, “but, what do you want with me?”
“Where have you been all my life!”
“Excuse me?” Lucy is knocked back by his response. “I don’t even know who you are.”
“How could I have not known of your existence! Whoa, I can’t believe I found a female hybrid and you’d be so fucking gorgeous!”
“But…. I’m a monster,” turning away, for this guy was clearly out of his mind or blind as a bat! “You’re mistaking me sir, maybe you need your eyes checked.”
Now it was his turn to be confused. “Who called you a monster? We are definitely not monsters.”
“That’s what my father called me. I’m ugly now,” gesturing to her body, “who would want a woman with scales and horns!”
“How about a guy with scales and horns?” Lucy whips back around with her mouth gaping. “Look I don’t care what your father told you, but we are not ugly, I happen to think I’m pretty fucking handsome,” he grins, “and you are by far the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever laid eyes upon human or otherwise.”
Tears begin to roll down her cheeks, whether or not this man was delusional was still to be decided but his words felt absolutely genuine.
“Oh, hey, hey now!” he rushes over and embraces her, “I didn’t mean to make you cry!”
Lucy doesn’t pull away, “Do… Do you really mean it?” Lifting her head to look in his eyes, “you really think I’m beautiful?”
“Yeah,” his wide smile is warm and infectious, “I really do.”
“What’s your name sir?”
“Natsu Dragneel.”
“I’m Lucy.”
“Any last name?”
“No, it was taken away...”
“That’s okay, I think you’ll have a better one in the future.”
