Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail is the intellectual property of Hiro Mashima, and I assert no claim to said intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this, nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.
A/N: OK. So, one thing of note: given that Gray is pretending to be Prince Lyon, names can be a bit confusing. Gray will obviously not think of himself as Lyon, and Natsu would not know him as Gray. Therefore, at this point in the story, just remember that Gray = Lyon = Gray. As always, please leave a review if you enjoy this story; it will help me grow as an author! I gain inspiration for the plot/dynamics of a story based on reader feedback, so your comment could actually affect the story itself! On to chapter 4. Enjoy!
Natsu's rage reverberated through the corridors of the east wing of the palace. After leaving his father's chambers, he had ordered the entire wing cleared and had stomped toward his chambers like a scolded child. The only soul to bear witness to his anger was Happy, as he floated overhead - safely out of range.
"Natsu…," Happy started.
"I don't want to hear it!" Natsu snapped, pacing from one wall to the next. He was starting to get a headache from his brow being scrunched.
"But…," Happy tried again.
"I can't stand him! That ice-brained idiot! And besides, I don't know why my father thinks it is necessary to depend on other nations to help win a war that we are capable of finishing ourselves," Natsu said, half to Happy, half to no one in particular.
"You don't have to like Prince Lyon. You just have to get along with him," said Happy. He floated down in front of Natsu's face, bringing a halt to the prince's anger-induced pacing.
"King Makarov is only trying to do what he thinks is best for everyone, Natsu," said Happy.
Natsu felt a muscle jump in his jaw, and his hands clenched into fists. Despite taking leave of his father over an hour ago, his nose still burned with the scent of death that had filled his father's chamber.
"At very least," Happy said, "do this for your father's sake."
Natsu breath hitched for a moment. He took a deep breath and exhaled. A sense of sadness began to replace his anger, and each breath made him feel like he was sinking into a pit.
"Happy…," Natsu sighed.
"Go find Prince Lyon. Tell him that I coordinately invite him to my chambers.
Happy held his mouth, trying not to laugh.
"You mean 'cordially'?"
"Whatever! You're better at all that fancy speak than I am. Just tell the idiot to come here! Tell the guards to allow the servants back in, as well as a minimal guard. Have a servant posted outside my door, should I need anything. No one else is to enter the wing."
"Aye, sir!" Happy chimed before flying out to complete his tasks.
Natsu sank down into an armchair near the dormant fireplace of his lavishly decorated chambers, letting the cushions absorb some of the tension in his body. He closed his eyes and waited.
###
The sound of knocking startled Natsu awake. The sound came again - more insistent this time - from the large oaken door of his chambers.
"Enter!" Natsu said, still attempting to get his bearings after his impromptu nap. From his chair, Natsu watched as Prince Lyon entered through the door. He was slightly impressed that Lyon had managed to open the heavy door without so much as a grunt - unlike his own soldiers.
"You asked to see me, Your Highness?" Lyon said, shutting the door behind him while keeping eye contact.
"Ugh. Drop the stupid titles. At least for now. I hate all those complicated things," Natsu said, putting a hand behind his neck to massage away the tension that had lodged itself there. Lyon's eyebrows moved up a fraction of an inch, but he merely replied, "As you wish."
"Have a seat," Natsu gestured to the armchair adjacent to his. Lyon crossed the room with fluid grace and sat down.
"Mind if I start a fire? The palace gets drafty at night," Natsu said, looking at the fireplace instead of Lyon.
"I'm an ice-user, not a snowman," Lyon joked.
Natsu smirked and spat fire on the logs without moving from his chair. A fire sprang up in the fireplace, the wood in the hearth catching instantly.
"Nathaniel, fetch us some wine," said Natsu.
He watched Lyon's face. To his credit, Lyon didn't look the slightest bit confused; it seemed he had noticed the servant slip in silently behind him as he entered.
"About today… I-"
"No," Lyon interrupted, "the apology is mine to make. I should not have provoked you."
Natsu felt his jaw go slightly slack, but quickly regained his carefully neutral composure.
"In any case," Natsu began, "the point of you being here is for our countries to come together against a common enemy. I honestly don't believe such cooperation is necessary, but it is my father's wish."
Natsu's attention turned back to the door as the servant entered with a tray in hand.
"Thank you, Nathaniel. You may leave it on the table and take the rest of the night off," said Natsu, turning his attention back to Lyon as the servant complied and left. Lyon stood.
"Allow me," he said, "it's the least I can do to make up for the trouble I've caused you and your father." He started toward the wine tray.
Natsu was glad Lyon's back was toward him, because he was sure his face showed his surprise this time; it was the first time he had actually seen the Ice Prince smile. He wasn't sure if he should be happy or worried about that fact.
"I'm sorry to see His Majesty's condition. It's a shame that his health would fail at the pinnacle of the Pergrande Empire's power," Lyon said, still pouring the wine. He turned and walked back, handing Natsu his glass before taking his seat again. Natsu's jaw clenched tight again.
"And what exactly does that mean?" he asked, trying to keep a growl of anger out of his voice.
"I meant no slight by those words," said Lyon, "merely that the timing is not likely to help his recovery."
Natsu remained silent, pinning Lyon down with a stare. Lyon sighed.
"Let us toast," he said, "to the lasting prosperity of our families and countries."
Natsu raised his glass, inclining it slightly with a soft grunt. He raised the glass to his lips and sighed. His nose was immediately assaulted with a foul stench, not quite like vinegar.
"Wait!" he yelled. Lyon froze and his eyes widened.
Natsu felt his stomach twist, and he threw his glass against the wall in a fit of rage. He glanced over to see Lyon still frozen, barely breathing.
"Damn that Nathaniel. He brought us some bad wine. I'd put your glass down unless you want to spend tomorrow on a pot."
Lyon's body visibly relaxed, his eyes wandering to the spot where Natsu's glass had shattered against the wall.
Natsu sighed.
"Sorry… I'm not in the greatest mood right now," said Natsu.
"It's fine," said Lyon, "I should get settled into my chambers for the night anyway. By your leave, of course."
Natsu merely grunted, averting his eyes from Lyon's gaze. He listened as Lyon made his way out before closing his eyes.
His plan to come to civil terms with Prince Lyon tonight had definitely not gone as planned. He was sure that Lyon thought he was not capable of anything but anger at this point. Honestly, he wasn't sure that was far from the truth these days. His father's illness and the fact that he would soon have to ascend to the throne as King were enough to make him insane. Of course, dealing with an unwanted political visitor only made matters worse.
He wasn't ready to be a king. He wasn't even sure that he wanted to be a king. The twisty-turny life of royalty and politics was too confusing. Why should he care about being polite even to people he didn't particularly like? Very little made sense to him these days. But still, if it made his father's last days easier, he would bear the irritation of Lyon's presence.
Natsu heard an owl hoot somewhere outside the window behind him. The blackness of the back of his eyes were a projector for his mind, and he saw an barn owl projected upon them. He watched as the barn owl turned blue, and morphed into Happy. Happy grew bigger, and his wings turned leathery. Where Happy once had been, a dragon now was.
Natsu opened his eyes.
"Ha! I got it," Natsu said to himself.
He'd show his father that he was serious about playing nice with his political visitor, and he'd get to blow off some steam at the same time!
Gray flung his coat off and collapsed onto his bed. He rolled over onto his back and stared at the red silk canopy overhead.
That was close. Way too close. He was glad Natsu was such an idiot, or things would have turned out very poorly. But how had Natsu smelled the poison? As far as he was aware, it didn't have a taste or odor that was detectable by humans.
In any case, he now had to figure out a new plan - and fast. By his appearance, Gray guessed that it wouldn't be long before Makarov died. That left him very little time to figure out a way to carry out his mission. Perhaps a decent night's sleep would give him some fresh ideas in the morning. He tossed his arm over his eyes and let sleep take him.
###
Gray woke the next morning to a gentle tapping on the door of his chambers. Still groggy from sleep, he padded over to the door and pulled it open. It was a young servant-girl.
"Your Highness, a message from His Highness" she said awkwardly and bowed, holding a piece of paper out for him take.
Gray took the paper and read the hastily-scrawled message:
Clipper hunting at noon. -N.
Hunting? Now there was an idea…
A/N: Stay tuned to see what both of our lovable characters have in store for each other! The next chapter is already planned out and should be up within a few days. Thanks for reading!