A/N : AAAAAH only one chapter remains before the end! :'( How are you guys? :D I'm writing these lines on July the 28th, and OMG I just realized tomorrow (july 29th), the first chapter of my first fanfic (let me see you) is one year old! AAAAH, time fliiiiies! It's awfuuul! And I still haven't finished that first fanfic! xD I'm the worst.

Anyway, enjoy! once again, thank you thank you thank you, to everyone who sticks with me and this story :D

F/N : I just noticed we learn Natsu's age in this chapter -_- ... Will you ? :P

The Princess in Pants

Chapter 6

It's dangerous to fall in love
But I want to burn with you tonight
Hurt me

I ache for love, ache for us
Why don't you come
Don't you come a little closer

Passion is strong between two people who fell in love at first sight, and fairy tales love to relate this kind of relationship. But passion is just as strong and even more between two people who learned to love each other through time…and have to get separated just when they realize their feelings.

Natsu and Lucy were this kind of lovers. Their desperate hearts beated in sync as they kissed in that tower, lost deep in the forest, far away from their family and the rude world they lived in. They wanted to feel the other in a way they never did, before they would lose each other for ever…

Lucy still felt hurt about Natsu's secrecy, her father's blackmail, her broken dreams… She was still mad at Natsu for making her grow up, for opening her eyes and her mind…all that for nothing? Her confused feelings told her it would never be for nothing, but she felt this pain in her chest that wouldn't go away, even when she caressed Natsu's hair, and her arms, her neck, her face…

Natsu couldn't stop herself from stroking Lucy's perfect skin, kissing her neck and grinding on her, but inside she knew it would never help them when the time of Lucy's departure would come… She blamed herself for allowing the princess in her world, for falling in love with her and do nothing about it… But she couldn't regret everything that happened between them…

Natsu rolled on her back, putting Lucy on top on her. She rubbed her bottom, inciting Lucy to move herself on Natsu. The dizzy blonde pressed her chest against Natsu's, her hands trembling as they discovered new parts of Natsu's body. She never thought it would feel so good to be intimate with someone, and yet they had barely started.

Natsu moved her hands up, tracing Lucy's curves until one grasped her shoulder, and the other dived in her blonde hair. Natsu nuzzled her neck and stopped moving.

Lucy tried to wiggle and slip her hands hesitantly under her shirt, to touch her soft skin.

"Lucy…" Natsu whispered in a tone that made Lucy stop. "…we shouldn't go further…"

Lucy froze. What was wrong now?

"Why? You don't want me?" she asked in a harsh way as she freed herself from Natsu's arms.

"Of course I want you…but it's a mistake to do that whereas-"

"You did it with Cana." Lucy cut her off, crossing her arms under her chest.

"Because we were together at the time, and there was no prince coming to get her away from me."

"Why didn't you reject me when I kissed you then? Damn it!" Lucy exploded. "You're so indecisive! You kiss me for ten long minutes, then you stop me. You always do that! You got close to me, closer than I was to any of my girl friends, then when I finally share your feelings, you reject me."

"I had a good reason to reject you. You're going to leave enventually remember?!" Natsu shouted as she rose a bit, leaning on her hands behind her.

"Then you shouldn't have gotten so close to me! Why did you do that, if it was to reject me after, huh?"

"Stop yelling at me, it wasn't even clear to me what your feelings were! How could I guess you would…"

"Fall in love with you? Well at least you should have tried to think of the possibility!"

"To do what then?! Stop you from loving me?"

"Exactly!"

Natsu didn't answer. She just stared at her with hateful eyes…painful eyes. Lucy knew she should retract what she said, because she didn't mean it… But she was too furious to do it.

"Move." Natsu ordered. Lucy released her, and watched Natsu walk towards the window.

"What, you're leaving now? You know that's what cowards do?"

"You're calling me a coward?!"

Fire erupted from Natsu's fists as she yelled.

"Yes exactly! Maybe you're not a coward when it comes to fights and living on your own, but you're a coward with your feelings!"

"You. God. Just. Shut up!" Natsu punched the wall. It made the room tremble and frightened Lucy, even if she wouldn't admit it. "What do you want me to do exactly Lucy?! Say I love you? Well yes, I love you! You're happy? Now what?!"

Lucy didn't answer. She looked at Natsu's watery eyes. Pain came back, overcoming her anger.

"You're still going away in the end, whether I love you or not. I thought a while ago we could still be friends after your marriage, but it's not going to be possible, I can't see you with someone else now."

"We could run away." Lucy whispered. She already knew it wouldn't solve their fathers problem, but she wanted to say it.

"You know it's not possible…"

"Wow, you don't even want to try." Lucy said bitterly.

"Come on, it's not like-"

"Yes it is. You spent these six months figuring all this out by yourself, without even telling me, and you took a decision on your own. And of course you didn't miss to convince me I could have my happy ending the way I want it, nooo, you didn't miss that, you even insisted on it!"

"Don't change my words, I said you could have the happy ending you want, regarding the conditions you live in."

"Right, but if you had just shut your big mouth, I would have never believed I could be free someday!"

"Oh so you would have preferred to remain ignorant and stupid like the first day I met you?" Natsu spat.

"Yes! Ignorance is a bliss, right? If you hadn't told me your dragon story, none of this would happen today!"

"Or I should have showed you from the beginning who I am, and you would look at me like I'm a beast right now." Natsu grimaced.

"And no risk to fall in love with a beast, right?!" Lucy couldn't help to add with disdain… Anger is not often a good adviser.

"All right, there's nothing more to say." Natsu kicked the shutters open then jumped out the window. She didn't even take her clothes off, she tore them apart when she transformed.

Lucy ran to the window and yelled at the dragon that was already high in the sky.

"That's right, leave! You're good at it, and not indecisive at all! This is all your fault, you dumb beast!"

Lucy yelled profanities at Natsu until her figure faded, then she collapsed on the ground, hyperventilating and crying her eyes out. She leaned her forehead on her knees as she wrapped her arms protectively around herself.

She waited for Natsu all night long, but the princess in pants didn't come back.

Natsu was pissed. She knew Lucy was right about their situation. Well, mostly right at least. They both fell in love with each other because Natsu opened up too much and didn't tell the whole truth. She knew it. It happened that way because of her… Lucy dived in her love, and was ready to give up on everything for her and for her new dream, that were both intimately related. She had this silly strength in her, making her love with all her heart without thinking of consequences.

Natsu couldn't do that. She had been scared when she realized she loved Lucy much more than she ever loved Cana. She had tried to suppress the feeling, but it didn't work, and it was too late, she had already opened up too much without realizing her feelings. So she brushed it off, persuaded Lucy would never feel the same, denying the deep affection the blonde princess had given her wasn't only friendship. She wanted to love her in secret until she left. Then she would try to forget.

But it didn't happen that way. And now Natsu was flying away.

Flying away like that was cowardice. The annoying princess was right once again.

But listening to Lucy wishing she never fell in love with her, and calling her a beast, was too much to handle. That's why she flew away, fighting the cold wind like she was fighting her pain itself. Lucy was certainly angry and didn't mean these harsh words…but the problem would remain the same. If Lucy resisted her father, a war could result between their countries.

Natsu pricked up an ear as she heard something interesting from the magical forest nearby. It seemed like some water nymphs had been disturbed by an intruder lately…

Natsu slowed her pace to hear more.

When Lucy woke up the next morning, she felt like the time she had drunk too much wine with Gajeel and Sting. Her head was aching and spinning, and her stomach threatened her to empty itself if she moved. Her whole body hurt because she had slept on the floor, back leaning on the wall. Bad idea.

But Lucy didn't care. Her throat made a whiny sound when she understood Natsu still wasn't home… The argument of the night came back in her mind. She regretted the insults she threw at Natsu in the end, she didn't even mean them… How could she wish she never lived all her great adventures with her? How could she ever wish she never fell in love with her?

Lucy hope Natsu was aware that it was her anger and sadness talking… She mostly hoped the dragon princess would come back.

Lucy stood up in a difficult effort, groaning to herself. She opened the shutters and watched the beautiful landing the view offered her. She sighed as she thought that soon she would never get to watch the sun rise on the green magical forest again.

She wondered where Happy had gone. He had disappeared during the night, probably looking for Natsu. Or maybe he was playing with some birds right now, like the pigeon Lucy could see flying in the horizon…flying towards her, now that she paid attention.

Lucy frowned as the pigeon almost charged the tower. It was a messenger pigeon… She felt a pinch of anxiety fill her chest. What could the bird bring her? She hoped it wasn't Natsu announcing her she wouldn't come back…

The pigeon landed on the windowsill, cooing at Lucy. The princess gave some bread to the bird, who allowed her to take the letter attached to its neck. She unfolded the tight document frantically, trying not to tear it up in the process.

"It's from Mother!" Lucy exclaimed in surprise, then jolted when she realized the subject was important. She read the letter as fast as she could, her eyes barely understanding the words on the paper.

When she finished, she collapsed on a chair, trying to process everything she just read.

However she didn't get the time, as a loud explosion suddenly deafened her. Lucy ran to the window, and widened her eyes in shock at the terrible view she witnessed.

Far away from the tower, the forest was red and orange, smothered by the smoke of the raging fire eating the trees. Fire… It was too sudden and big to be a natural one…

Lucy's heart bumped against her ribs, her instinct told her it had to be her… She was in trouble.

The princess abandoned her letter on the floor, running down the stairs of the tower. The ink words glimmered under the fire light coloring the sky where hundreds of birds, fairies and other magical creatures flew away like it was the end of the world…

My dear Lucy,

I'm sending you this letter in fear that I will probably never see you again…

High-Garden Estate, the night before…

"My Queen, you shouldn't peek through the door, there's a risk to get cau-"

"Shhh, Virgo, I can't hear!" Layla shushed her maid angrily.

From the other side of the door, two kings looked like they were casually discussing around a table full of expensive treats.

"How is your son, Igneel?"

"Pretty fine, he's been travelling a lot these past few months. I heard that your daughter is happy too in her condition."

"Really, you heard?" Jude smiled. "It's funny, I heard that a lord of Fiore has been seen in Storybrooke, having a beer with a blonde lady and a boy."

"Odd rumors." Igneel only answered, scrutinizing Jude's face.

"Indeed. Just like the rumor that a pink haired witch kidnapped a blonde seasmtress that very day in the same city."

"Ah! The folks always love to believe they witness sensational things, don't they?" Igneel laughed cheerfully. Jude wanted to show he controlled everything, so be it. Igneel would just relax even more to annoy him.

"Maybe. So what brings you to endure that long trip all the way from Fiore? Not to send me your wife's regards, I presume?"

"Not even close. I have been informed that your daughter, Princess Lucy, refused her suitor Prince Dan Straight."

Jude cringed at these words. He waited a few seconds to soothe his face and regain his neutral appearance.

"I can see rumors fly faster than carrier pigeons. Indeed, my daughter has brought shame upon her family, and my commercial ennemies are rejoicing themselves from the ridicule. The whole alliance speaks of it. If only this imbecile prince had come to me first instead of crying to his father…"

"It's a real shame, and I give you all my sympathy for this regrettable event…" Igneel said with more heart than he needed to. "What do you intend do to?"

"What I had originally planned. I sent a new prince who was willing to succeed where Prince Dan failed. Lucy doesn't know her chance…" he pouted with disdain.

"What if she refuses again?"

Jude stared at Igneel suspiciously. He knew the king had met the two girls in secret, and he felt like he wouldn't enjoy what Igneel wanted to say.

"If she resists again, I will have no choice but to send her home and punish her. If she can't follow the fairy tale rules, I will marry her like commoners do, and she will be forever known as the stupidest princess who missed her fairy tale."

Igneel snorted. What a threat. But Far Far Away nobles took these rules very seriously. Maybe it would affect Lucy, but certainly not as much as being tied forever to a man she didn't love. If Natsu wasn't involved in this mess, Igneel wouldn't try to get opposed to Jude… But he couldn't let his dear daughter suffer from the consequence of the Heartfilia King's wrath.

"Has it occured to you that…maybe your daughter doesn't want this kind of fairy tale?"

"If that's the case, it is a shame for her. Because what a princess wants doesn't matter. She's my only heir, and has the responsibility to transmit our legacy. You should know that, Igneel. You only have one child after all. Without Prince Zeref there would be nobody on the throne after your death."

…of course his daughter, Natsu, the freak princess, didn't exist and didn't matter at all for the nobles, the kings, the alliance…and especially for Jude, unless it could serve his own interest.

The Dragneel King felt anger take him over for a second. He loved his daughter as much as his son. He wished he could have given her the life she deserved. He and his wife often regretted they had pretended her death. But it was too late to fix the mistake.

"I believe you have another heir actually. A male one. Max Alors?"

"He's not my direct heir, he's the son of my sister, and not even a prince. Where are you going with this, Igneel? Speak your mind frankly, please."

"I want to offer you a deal." Igneel said slowly, picking carefully his words. "You will renounce to your daughter's marriage and legacy, you will let her lead her life the way she wants, even disown her if you want to keep your honor safe. And in return, I offer you an exclusive commercial and territory alliance, allowing you to import and export and also extract products directly on my kingdom without paying high taxes. I'm also ready to reconsider my involvement with the Far Far Away Alliance, with the guarantee that my exchanges will always be more privileged with the High-Garden Estate."

Jude burst out in laughter, frightening the whole castle for one long minute. He hadn't laughed like this in ten years. Igneel waited patiently for the king to be serious again.

"You're always full of surprises…" Jude wiped a tear off his eye. "You are willing…to give away your kingdom independance…for a silly girl who's not even related to you? Pardon me, Igneel, but it looks highly suspicious. It is true that this partnership would benefit the both of us, and in the current state of your economy, Far Far Away could help you, am I right?"

"I honestly think Far Far Away would take more benefit from my cooperation than I would." Igneel answered proudly.

"Of course… But tell me Igneel… Do you really think it could compensate the loss of my offspring and the annihilation of the Heartfilia legacy? Because if I decide to go through with that deal, I will consider Lucy dead."

Layla froze behind the door. How could that happen? It was insane…

"Therefore, the High-Garden Estate would belong to the Alors family after my death, promoting my nephew from Count to King."

Igneel didn't answer. He never had the illusion that Jude would accept. But he had to try the deal, for Natsu's sake… He knew deep down that the two princesses in the tower wouldn't stop trying to be together as long as they lived. He had understood it at Storybrooke. Lucy had the same kind of strength and stubborness… A trait she shared with her father too.

"I hope you understand…" Jude pursued, folding his hands in a fascinating calm. "…that I cannot accept this deal, as tempting as it is economically speaking. And if Lucy, somehow…escapes before the prince or myself come to get her, I will have no other option but to blame the source of her distraction. The beast."

"A distraction?" Igneel raised his brows, faking he didn't understand. He was trying to calm his nerves and get time.

"Exactly. When she left six months ago, she had in mind what was expected of her, and she complied to it rather enthusiastically. The only cause of her change of mentality has to be the only companion she had during all this time. The companion who tricked her and persuaded her to remain captive."

"And what exactly do you intend to do after blaming the dragon?"

"What we always do of course…" Jude said with disturbingly calm face. "…slay it."

"You do realize the kingdom who provided the dragon would react to that violent action, I reckon?"

"…do you mean the Kingdom of Fiore would go at war against the Far Far Away Alliance for slaying a beast who kidnapped my daughter? I think the Alliance Council will be very interested in this information…"

Igneel was boiling inside. He hated this kind of negotiations… He was cornered… A war against the Alliance had to be prevented at all costs.

"A war won't be necessary, I doubt you will find the dragon. Magical creatures know pretty well how to hide from humans."

"You see, that's one of the reasons why beasts will never be the heroes. They don't face their destiny, unlike knights and princes."

A slap was all Igneel wanted right now. He wondered how he could ever be friend in his youth with such a narrow minded man.

"Therefore, there's only one solution to get my daughter back. If the dragon doesn't face my soldiers, and if you don't help me to find them…I'll have no choice but to expose her."

"I was sure you would threaten me with that."

"Clever man."

"May I remind you we made a deal 24 years ago? You were part of the nobles invited for my daughter's birth, and you witnessed her condition with your own eyes. I was nice enough to accept your uncertain deal, and I fulfilled it, I did my part. I lent you a tower and a dragon for Princess Lucy's quest. If you don't honor your part of the deal, you will be cursed, you know that."

"Nice try. We both know that once your part of the contract has been fulfilled the magical seal disappears and I don't have to keep my promise any longer. Because of this flaw, if I expose your daughter now, nothing bad will happen to me. I wouldn't say the same about you…"

Jude smirked. Igneel had been hoping he didn't know about this annoying flaw… But the bastard had foreseen the magical deal wouldn't last forever…

"So Igneel, what will you choose? Your daughter's sake? Or my daughter's foolishness?"

Lucy was running as fast as she could through the forest, in spite of the pain of her still wounded leg. She had no idea how far Natsu was, but she could already feel the smothering heat from the fire. She cursed at her night gown, it wasn't practical at all to run.

She called Mavis several times, but the fairy never came… That was worrying as well. The princess crossed the path of nymphs who were fleeing away from the fire, some vampire-bats and even a family of small ogres, who usually spent the winter in caves. None of them heard her when she asked what was happening. They were just terrified.

Lucy decided to climb a tree in order to see where to go, but it was way harder than she thought when Natsu wasn't there to help her.

Just as she was about to reach the first branch, a pop sound frightened her and made her fall on her bottom. She whimpered and squeezed her aching leg.

"Are you alright?" Mavis said as she helped the princess stand up.

"Yes, yes, Mavis! What's happening? I need to find Natsu! I need to tell her-"

"Natsu is the cause of the fire… I've been trying with other fairies and water nymphs to stop it, but her magic is very powerful. Come!"

Mavis grasped her hand, and teleported them…on a dragon's back. Lucy screamed as she almost lost balance and fell… The fire was everywhere underneath them. The dragon –who was probably Gajeel, considering the black scales – was flying high above the flames, but the smoke could still tickle her throat and make her cough.

"Gajeel, we need to bring Lucy to Natsu."

"Are you mad?! It's way too dangerous for a human, Natsu lost her mind!"

"But what happened?" Lucy asked desperately.

"She met another prince on his way to rescue you…" Mavis answered. "…she challenged him to slay her if he wanted to have you, and he took her very seriously…and this one is not like the previous prince…he has a whole troupe of humans with magical power with him, and he himself is pretty tough to beat, even for Natsu. That's why she lost control and set the forest on fire."

"The dumbass was too proud to call me or Sting to help her…" Gajeel grumbled. "Alright, I think I can pierce through the flames there, but ya hafta cover your nose Lucy."

"No need, let me help." Mavis snapped her fingers, and a sort of mask appeared on Lucy's face, helping her breathe clean air. "Now I need to go help the others. This fire is very dangerous."

She vanished in a pop sound again. As Gajeel waltzed between the murderous flames, Lucy couldn't help to blame herself for this event. If she hadn't argued with Natsu, none of this would happen…

Lucy wanted to save her from the prince, take her in her arms and apologize… But she needed to tell her first what her mother Queen Layla had told her in her letter…

"Please be safe Natsu…" she whispered.

A/N: Did you like Jude vs Igneel? :p How will this story unfold... I wonder (fufufu)

See you next time! :*

Lyrics : Sia, Fire meet gasoline