"-and we had to defeat these huge dragons! All the dragon slayers, well except that metal head, had to fight each dragon on their own. I was the one that sent them back to their time period, crashing the dragon I was fighting into the eclipse and destroying it." Natsu boasted with a huge smirk on his face. Lucy looked at him in awe. It was around two o'clock in the morning, with Natsu talking about the many adventures their guild had went on with Lucy. They were leaning against a balcony, watching for any intruders, when Lucy brought up the subject.
"I think I heard about that! Princess Hisui told me about it after it was all over. I didn't believe her at first, but when she said Fairy Tail was involved, I couldn't help but think it was true." The princess giggled. She was leaning over the railing and looked excitedly at Natsu who kept telling her stories of his adventures.
"By the way, did you watch the Grand Magic Games?" Natsu asked her curiously. Lucy nodded her head.
"I was rooting for Fairy Tail since the beginning. Everyone knows the cliche. The underdogs always come out as the victors in the end. And well, I've always admired Fairy Tail." Lucy smiled brightly. Natsu smirked at her and laughed.
"Of course, Fairy Tail is best guild of all. No one out there like us!" Natsu struck a pose, getting the girl to laugh uncontrollably. Natsu really liked the sound of her voice. More than he would care to admit.
"I really loved your tag team fight at the end. You and Laxus did a great job, my favorite fight by far," She laughed. "I especially loved it when you shoved Laxus in the mine cart. Watching him roll away was too funny, I couldn't stop laughing!" The blonde beamed. Natsu laughed along with her, it was pretty funny after all. Seeing Laxus get sick as it moved downwards was entertaining on its own.
"So my fights were your favorite huh?" Natsu asked slyly, leaning closer to her. Though her cheeks became a cherry red, she nodded.
"Of course, yours were most interesting. And it seemed you always had something inspiring to say. Especially that chariot round. I was even getting motion sick watching you." Lucy shook her head, remembering his pained face on the lacrima screens. Natsu seemed physically I'll at the memory.
"Yeah, I can't believe I decided to do that challenge. But hey, I got the points." Natsu shrugged. She leaned closer to him with a small smile.
"Well I thought it was brave. I don't know if I could face my weaknesses like that. I've always admired that in a person. And it seems that's what your guild is about. Getting stronger together and protecting your loved ones. Which is something I want to do." Lucy nodded in determination. Natsu's eyes became softer at her words. He wondered who she wanted to protect. Probably her father and Gajeel. He watched as she stared at her keys longingly.
"You really aren't like other princesses." He stated bluntly.
She hummed. "Yes, I suppose so. You know, I've been told that my whole life and it never gets old. I'm glad I don't fit the princess mold. What a boring person I would be." She beamed, looking up at him with closed eyes. His eyes widened briefly. He let a chuckle slip from his lips.
"Yeah, you would be." But Lucy ignored his words and looked forward. The sun was starting to rise. They really didn't get any sleep. Well, it wasn't like he regretted it. Talking to Lucy proved to be more fun than sleep anyway. The orange lighting set perfectly on her face, making her hair glow and her eyes sparkle.
"It's beautiful. Isn't it?" She turned to him. He shook away his odd thought and nodded, looking off into the horizon. "I've always watched the sun rise. But I've never actually appreciated like this before," she eyed him. "Maybe it's because I have company this time." She sighed wistfully. Natu frowned slightly at her words. What did she mean by that?
"Natsu!" A new voice shouted in a hushed tone. Natsu jumped and looked for anywhere to hide. But there wasn't anywhere. He froze pathetically as Gray came walking in. Gray noticed Natsu first and glared at him. "Where the hell were you. We were supposed to switch shifts hours ago. And what-" Gray saw Lucy. He gasped and watched her wave at him.
"Hello Gray." She snickered.
He nervously waved his hands back and forth. "I-I didn't mean to act so rude in your presence. I apologize!" Gray said as he bowed his head. Natsu eyed Lucy and watched with a grin as she puffed up her cheeks. She tried desperately to hold in her laughter.
"It's alright, Gray. I'm not mad," She busted out laughing. Gray lifted his head in confusion and furrowed his brows at her laughter. The poor boy didn't know whether to laugh with her or seem offended. He just rubbed the back of his head awkwardly and mumbled out a little apology. "I'm- I'm sorry, I just- oh wow- you're reaction was so funny! Okay...okay I'll stop now, Haha-" she laughed a little longer. Now Gray was just getting irritated.
"Yeah yeah...laugh it up."
"Oh I will!" Lucy smiled. Natsu's eyes lingered on her expression, his eyes softening. Gray looked over to him and noticed it. While the blonde laughed, Gray motioned his finger across his neck. Telling Natsu to cut it out. Natsu noticed this and raised an eyebrow. What the hell was Gray trying to tell him.
Gray rolled his eyes. "Princess, you should probably get some sleep. Erza wants to see Natsu anyway." Lucy wiped her tears away and looked between the two mages. She stood up striaght and nodded.
"Yes, I suppose you are right," she gently laid her hand on Natsu's elbow. "I had fun, we should do this again sometime." She whispered just low enough for him to hear. Lucy did that a lot after learning of his heightened hearing. Natsu gave her a huge smile and nodded. He watched her walk passed Gray, his mood becoming less happy after she left.
Both Gray and Natsu left the balcony and began walking back to the girl's room. "What the hell is your deal? Why were you with the princess?!" Gray then questioned. Natsu frowned at his tone. Why the hell was he so angry about it. It's not like he jeopardized anything.
"She bumbed into me while I was patrolling the halls. She told me she couldn't sleep so I offered to walk around with her to get her tired. I guess time slipped away from us." Natsu muttered, recalling their time together with a small blush. Gray saw this and resisted the urge to groan. He thought Natsu would be the one he could count on not to do this. He couldn't believe that dope was falling in love with the Princess of Magnolia. On second thought, he always was the one to want something totally out of his reach.
"Okay yeah, that wouldn't be a problem if you didn't totally fall for her. Come on Natsu, really? The princess, why not someone from our guild? Why not anyone but her?" Gray moaned, rubbing his temples.
"You don't know what the hell you're talking about. It's only been a couple months since meeting her, I didn't fall in love!" Natsu sputtered, his eyes wide. Did he really come off like that? Of course he didn't fall for the princess. That would be crazy. It would be crazy...shouldn't it?
"Yeah, like that look in your eyes when you look at her doesn't give it away. You know you can't have her right? She's a princess and she'll be betrothed soon." Gray scoffed, crossing his arms. The thought of Lucy with another man suddenly made his insides turn to fire. Why was he feeling so angry. Goddammit he couldn't have already fallen for her? It's only been two months for christ sake!
"Yeah I know that, which is why I haven't fallen for her. Who would fall for her anyway? She's loud and obnoxious, and is nothing like how a woman should act." Natsu argued with Gray.
The ice mage gave Natsu a blank look. "So like...your type?" He deadpanned. Natsu froze, his ears blazing. He was losing this battle quickly. And he was out of moves. "That's what I thought. Dammit Natsu, why did you have to love the one girl you couldn't get. And if the king finds out...oh Mavis have mercy on your soul." Gray said with a shake of his head.
"I'm not in love with her already! So drop it!" Natsu growled, his hands flaming. He stormed passed Gray and into the girl's room. Erza stood up and put her hands on her hips.
"Natsu, where were you? We were worried," Erza sighed. Levy and Wendy nodded their heads. Erza tilted her head slightly when she noticed his angry expression. "What's wrong, Natsu?" Gray slid next to Natsu and glared at him expectantly.
"Nothing-"
"He was hanging around princess Lucy all night." Gray told them. Levy gasped while Wendy blushed. But Erza just looked angry. Happy smiled slyly and put his paws over his mouth.
"You liiiiiike her!" Happy grinned.
"Why does everyone keep saying that? She was just curious about our adventures and I told her. And I don't remember a rule against hanging out with her." Natsu murmured angrily as he sat down on a bed. He didn't understand what the big stink was. All they did was talk. And it wasn't like he wasn't paying attention, he made sure to watch who came and left around the castle. Who else was wandering the halls.
"There isn't, but you can't get distracted. There are a lot of unsolved problems with this mission, I don't want anyone going around spouting things off. Especially to the princess and the king." Erza sighed.
"But we didn't talk about the mission at all. It was mostly about the guild. And I found some useful information," Natsu said. He hated to do this to Lucy, but he needed to tell his friends. And it could help them in the end. Everyone's attention turned to him. "Don't tell her I told you guys okay, she sworn me to secrecy but I think it's important to the mission."
"Spit it out, pyro." Gray scoffed.
"Lucy is a mage." He said simply. Gasps were heard by everyone. Erza clenched her fists.
"Are you absolutely sure?" She asked.
"Of course I am, she showed me her keys. She's a celestial wizard like Yukino. And get this, she has ten of the twelve zodiac. She told me that whenever Gajeel goes out, he looks for some of the keys." Natsu explained. Levy couldn't help the smile that came to her face. Not only was Lucy a bookworm, but a mage like herself.
"Things are starting to come together..." Erza murmured. "Remember Yukino telling us that Celestial magic is incredibly rare? Maybe the dark guilds somehow know of her magic?" The redhead suggested.
"And maybe that's why they're going to attack! Maybe they need her magic for something. Yukino also said celestial magic was quite useful, which is why she has to be on guard twenty four seven. And why she's joined to Rogue and Sting at the hip." Gray explained. Natsu frowned at the thought of Lucy being in danger.
"I think Lucy might be in trouble."