This is a short NaLu fic set in a fantasy au, in which Natsu is more like an actual dragon and Lucy is a princess. Should be 2 parts. Might end up being part of a larger story eventually.

I don't own the characters of Fairy Tail. Unfortunately. Even if they're a bit OOC.

Reviews welcome. This isn't really drafted and it's mostly trash, I just really love this idea.

Can I Cut in? - Part 1

"Can I cut in?"

The princess started slightly as she looked up at the new figure, asking to dance with her. She didn't even give her current dancing partner a chance to respond before she was stepping back, disengaging herself from his grip, in order to allow the newcomer to take over. The original suitor bowed stiffly at them, trying to hide a scowl, before spinning on his heel and walking off, muttering something about being interrupted. Princess Lucy didn't care. He'd been boring and fake; clearly only trying to court her because she was the princess of Fiore. She didn't even know who he was. She hated masquerade balls. You couldn't tell who was who, and therefore couldn't tell who you had to avoid. And her beautiful, golden mask was hindering her eyesight slightly. Eugh.

Lucy's attention was suddenly brought back to the present as the new apparent suitor gently took her hand in his, placing his other on her waist, and took the lead. She looked up at him to see an intricate red and gold mask over his tanned face, pointed in the centre and sweeping up at the sides. Overall, it gave the impression of a horned dragon. She allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of her mouth before feigning annoyance.

"And what the hell are you doing here?"

"Aw, you recognised me?"

"I would recognise your voice and face anywhere, even under a mask. Now, answer the question. And how the hell did you even get in?"

"I thought it would be fun! Plus, the food is great. And I snuck in. It wasn't hard to find fancy clothes."

"Can take the boy out of the forest…"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. I'm surprised you remember how to dance."

"'Course. You taught me. Plus I watched a couple of balls and stuff. Stealthily. Never got caught. Well, except for that one time…"

"Yes, yes. I'm impressed by your ability to use stealth." She sighed. Might as well just run with it. Her best friend, who she'd met in the nearby forest during one of her childhood escapades (one of her many attempts at running away), had snuck in to join her on her last day of freedom. He knew, as well as she, that tonight her father, the king, would pick out her husband. It was a nightmare. Finally, she smiled.

"I'm glad you're here. Let's just enjoy it." The boy smiled in response, before focusing on the dancing (it was still sort of hard for him).

After a few minutes, someone clearly got sick of the newcomer monopolising the princess' time and approached them. "Excuse me, may I cut in?"

Lucy responded first. "No, you may not. Go away." Away from her father's sight and hearing, she refused to even pretend to be polite.

Her friend chuckled at the stunned look on the man's face. "You heard the lady." He said, gleefully. "Off you go!" As the failed interruption walked away dejectedly, they promptly refocused their attention on each other and the dance.

Lucy let out a small sigh as they danced. "I wish I could come with you."

The masked boy quirked an eyebrow. "If you came with me you'd be missing out on all your luxuries, Princess. Lots of dirt, few hot showers. No servants, no cooks, no tailors. It'd be dangerous and chaotic and-"

"But it would have you." She cut him off. "It's always more fun when I'm with you. We'd have adventures and every day would be new and exciting. There would be people who'd love me. Besides, I'm sure you wouldn't let me go completely without my luxuries." She smiled in glee at the thought. She didn't care about comforts and servants. This life she currently lived was her own personal hell.

He pulled her closer; his face hovering scant inches from hers. She just gazed back at him as they allowed themselves to get lost in each others eyes.

The pair were so caught up in each other that they didn't notice as other party-goers started to stop and stare. Their beatifically synchronised and gracefully complex steps were mesmerising to watch. It caused a few women to swoon at the perfectly matched duo, while causing men to grumble at the fact that clearly someone was connecting with their romantic target. Unfortunately, it also caught the notice of the king's advisor, who promptly informed the king that 'some unknown' was dancing with his daughter; and holding her slightly tighter than propriety allowed. And that his daughter was refusing all other attempts.

They didn't notice as King Jude pushed his way through the crowd to scowl at the sight before signalling the musicians to stop playing.

They nearly didn't notice that the music had stopped playing, but the boy with the dragon mask was paying just enough attention, helped by unnatural hearing. He brought the dance to a halt, grinning at his partner, who was panting slightly from the intense dance. They broke apart from each other to turn and look at the king. Lucy moved to the side, knowing well that her father was going to address the boy rather than her. But Lucy managed to whisper one last thing to the boy, for only him to hear; "Take me away from here…"

"Well, boy. It seems my daughter has taken an interest in you. Remove your mask so I may know who you are."

The king sounded polite, but Lucy knew better. He was aggravated.

The unknown (to everyone except Lucy) boy whipped off his mask and gave a ridiculous sweeping bow. It was clunky and Lucy detected sarcasm in the motion, but it was correct in form. Unfortunately, and more importantly, it was shallow, marking himself equal to the ruler in front of him. It was a significant, if unintended, insult, and everyone knew it. His eyes, near black yet flecked with gold, sparkled as he grinned at the king.

There were gasps and murmurs from the crowd. The removal of the mask had revealed pastel-pink hair. Unusually coloured hair wasn't unheard of, but it normally signalled the presence of magic users. Lucy knew that the town healer had bright pink hair, and her apprentice had blue hair, for example. The murmurs became louder as everyone suddenly realised nobody knew who this boy was.

"I'm Prince Natsu. Nice to meet you!"

Lucy nearly snorted. She supposed in all technicality, he was a prince, but it wasn't a title she'd ever heard him use. Her father's face showed the hint of a scowl. She was nearly impressed that Natsu could get his usually stony face to show any emotion at all. Granted, she was probably the only one that could see it. No, actually, she bet Natsu could see. He was sharp in his observations.

The king spoke again. "A prince? Who is your father? Where are you from? I don't believe I recognise you from anywhere."

"Oh, I don't think you've met my father. We're from further west. Past the Woodsea. Though our people are a bit spread out across the continent." Natsu was immensely enjoying playing the prince. He watched as the king's eyebrow twitched. He was getting on the monarch's nerves, and he loved it.

"Spread out? I suppose you're some sort of self-styled 'gypsy prince'. This game is over boy. Leave now."

"No, I am not, sir. And no, I don't plan on leaving yet."

It seemed the crowd couldn't decide between stunned silence or loud exclamations at this boy's blatant rudeness.

The king's eyes narrowed. "You're on thin ice, boy. I can't decide whether you're brave or stupid, though I'm leaning towards the latter. Are you aware who you're addressing? I am King Jude, ruler of Fiore, and you are in my castle, dancing with my daughter. I am ordering you to leave or I will have you thrown in the dungeons."

Natsu merely smirked. "You can order me all you want. I'm not one of your subjects. I'm not stupid, by the way, I know exactly where I am and who you are. I will leave when I want and Lucy's coming with me."

Lucy nearly lost her battle to keep her face passive, feeling a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. This was the best thing she'd heard all day. Natsu turned his attention on her, his face softening.

"Lucy… Are you sure?"

She nearly squealed, but her upbringing allowed her to keep it contained. "Natsu… I'm certain." All that needed to be said had been said before. This was merely a final confirmation.

Suddenly Natsu's face changed. Fear and then anger flashed across it a split second before she felt a rough grip on her upper arm, tugging her backwards. Her father had grabbed her arm, pulling her away from her friend. She winced as his fingers dug into her arm; it would leave bruises, she knew. This wasn't new to her.

"You. I'll deal with you, later." The king growled at her menacingly. "Guards! Take him away!"

Palace guards, who had been slowly surrounding the rosy-haired boy, stood to attention and began to step forward.

A loud sound that was like a cross between a roar and a growl stopped them in their tracks.

Natsu's lips had curled back into a fearsome snarl, revealing his elongated canines. Another low growl rumbled deep in his chest as he stared down both the guards and the king who had hurt the woman he prized above all else. This was the brave girl who hadn't been afraid of him when they'd met in the forest many years ago. The first person to not run away. She'd played with him and he'd taught her about the forest - how to find her way, how to eat from the land - and she'd taught him how to talk properly and how to dance and, most importantly, how to make friends. She'd treated him like a real person, and now this old idiot was hurting her. Natsu was wavering on the edge of losing control of his anger. He addressed King Jude through gritted teeth.

"Let her go, old man."

"You will address me with respect, and you will leave, or you with both suffer more than you can imagine." He dug his fingers harder into his daughter's arm, punctuating his threat. She let out a small yelp of pain.