I honestly don't know what goes on in this mind of mine sometimes but this plot bunny attacked me last night and would not leave me alone until I wrote it down. Now, it's incredibly Cinderella-y mainly because I was listening to Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella when all these scenes started popping in my head. I apologize for being pretty cheesy like that XD Essentially, it is kind of a crossover drabble.

Disclaimer: I really, really don't own Fairy Tail. Nor do I own any form of Cinderella. I do own the opinion that Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella is the best Cinderella. Second only to Sondheim's Into the Woods Cinderella. Yeah. I'm a theatre nerd I know.

Pairings: Natsu/Lucy

Timeline: Alternative Universe/Crossover with Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella

Rating: K

Dedication: Inspired by The Sweetest Sounds from Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella

The Sweetest Sounds

Natsu Dragneel absolutely despised being cooped up inside all day long, despite was his parents thought. It was a constant game he played with the guards to see how fast he could avoid them and get away into the village below his home. It normally didn't take long; the castle guards weren't very bright. The pink haired teen followed the cobblestone road that led right into the market. The voices of the villagers rose high in the air. The smells of fresh bread, of flowers, of fresh fruits and vegetables filled the young prince's nose like nothing else could. The dirt from the carriages blew up by him but he paid no mind. Before being adopted by the Royal family, Natsu spent all his time on the streets of the village. Sometimes he still felt more at home here than in the vast, stuffy castle. This is why he would shed the fancy clothes and robes for some old clothing he took from one of the servants and sneak into the crowded village.

"Excuse me, young man!" a voice called after him as he passed one of the carts.

"Vegetables for sale!" hollered another one.

"Might I interest you in some flowers for the handsome man?" a female flower vender waved over.

Natsu simply smiled and continued walking. He placed his hands behind his head and continued down the street. The colorful venders were still shouting and the people were bustling all around him. Natsu realized it was a matter of time before his mother found out he was missing, yet again, causing him to be in trouble, yet again, but it was worth it to be free under the clear blue skies. He supposed he shouldn't complain. Both he and the girl who had become his younger sister were adopted by the great King Igneel and Queen Grandine all of whom he loved and was grateful for. It was just so boring sometimes. The teenager let out a content yawn when something caught the corner of his eye.

Curled up in a nearby alleyway was a small blue animal. Natsu couldn't tell but it kind of looked like a cat. With soft footsteps he walked over to where the animal resided. Despite the loud noise of the market, the little thing wasn't moving from its spot. The prince crouched down from a short distance and stretched out his hand to make the now quite obvious cat was okay. The cat should have run off at the touch of his hand but instead the dark blue animal simple mewed and yawned.

"Hey, little guy," Natsu scratched the top of the very friendly cat's head. The animal purred as it nuzzled its head into his hand causing the boy to chuckle. "Why don't you come home with me, my sister would love a pet."

The cat's ears perked up as its body stiffened.

Natsu knew that feeling. "You like living on the streets, huh? Can't say I blame you sometimes but it's not all bad. What do you say?" He felt kind of like an idiot asking a cat for its opinion but the cat did seem pretty smart. Well, smart for a cat.

The animal sat back on its haunches, almost as if it was contemplating an answer. Or Natsu just thought he could be going completely insane. Without a word the cat dove into the busy street.

"Hey!" the pink haired teen called after it as the cat nearly got squished by a carriage. Rather than seeing it get killed Natsu decided to chase after the cat. He kept his eyes on the blue cat even as the crowd got thicker. There was just something in his body that told him to keep going and he really didn't need an excuse to run through the streets just like any normal kid would. Ahead of him he could see the cat perched on the edge of the fountain in the middle of the square. Its eyes watched him as he got closer. Natsu smirked to himself despite feeling a little out of breath as he reached the less crowded area and the cat. He took one last running step into the open area and felt his own body colliding with another person. It took the young man a moment as he skidded to a stop that there was someone on the ground in front of him and it was his fault.

"I'm so sorry," was out of his mouth before the situation became even clear. He glanced over at the fountain. The cat was gone. There were all kinds of bags and boxes were all around him as his eyes found the girl he knocked over. She looked a little confused herself as she looked up at Natsu. "Let me help you," he fumbled in a very un-princely manner as he crouched to the ground and attempted to pick up the fallen bags.

"No, please, it's okay," came her voice causing his eyes to meet hers.

Natsu took in the sight before him. He had just run over one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen and he had seen a lot, thanks to visiting debutantes and his mother's insistence that he see every single one. This girl was just so simple with her blond hair, her large brown eyes, and her plain dress but there was something about her. Natsu barely even noticed when she began to pick up her bags. "Really, I am sorry," he jumped to help her once more.

"Really, it's okay," her voice sounded amused as she piled the boxes and bags into her arms before he could grab anymore than the one he already had in his hands. She gently lifted herself to her feet, careful not to drop a thing. "It was my fault, I should have been more careful."

Natsu slowly stood up still holding the one package in his hand. "I was actually the one who ran into you, you know."

She poked her head from over a box. "Could I have my box, please, so I can be on my way." Her eyes looked anxious but Natsu didn't want her to leave. He felt at ease being with someone his age for once. It helped that she was beautiful as well.

"Why don't you give me some of those, I can help you carry them home. I have nothing else to do," Natsu reached out to take something from her but she immediately backed away from him.

"My box, please?"

Quite clearly the girl did not want to anything to do with him, not that he blamed her. He probably wouldn't like the person that ran into him. "Not until you tell me your name so I can properly apologize," he grinned at her, crossing his arms to try a new tactic to get the stranger to stay.

The blond eyed him carefully but the twitch of her lips into a slight smile gave her away. "Okay," she answered slowly. "Go ahead and try."

Natsu felt his stomach jump some when she agreed. "I wonder where even to begin," he contemplated aloud his brow furrowing some in concentration.

The brown eyed girl kept her eyes on him from over her bags.

"Well, you are going to have to put all that stuff down so I can estimate better," Natsu told her with a nod.

She hesitated for a moment again, like she was unsure if this was really a good idea, but still slowly lowered her packages to the ground.

"Much better," the pink haired prince noted with a grin. He slowly stepped towards her, like he did with the cat, afraid that she would run but the girl stood her ground, her own arms now crossed across her chest, which Natsu couldn't help but note was very plentiful. "The blond hair makes me want to say Molly?" he voiced his first guess still approaching her.

"No," the girl shook her head.

"Yeah, I didn't think so either," Natsu began to walk around her, taking in all angles while the girl's eyes never left his face. "Maybe something a bit more elegant? Like Andreanna?"

She winced.

"Yeah, you don't look like the elegant type."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean!" she snapped, her hands ending up on her hips in anger.

Natsu laughed as he faced her again. He wasn't expecting that sudden change but he most definitely like it. "Fiery as well. Maybe Kate?"

The girl was still glaring at him.

"Okay," he knew this was impossible from all the names in the world but the longer she would stay the better he felt. He did need a new way to go about this though. "Let me see your hands."

The blond just started at him, her hands still firmly on her hips.

"Come on," Natsu extended one of his hands to her, a warm smile on his face as he bent down to place the box next to his feet.

She slowly placed her hand in his; seeming like she wanted to play along more.

The pink haired boy took his other hand and ran his finger tips over her soft skin. His dark eyes were focused on her hand but he could feel her eyes on him. He examined her hand closely with both his own hand and his eyes. After a few seconds, he noticed something rather peculiar. "I found your secret," Natsu grinned over at her.

"Oh really now," she drawled, a smile on her own face.

He held up one of her fingers. "You are a writer. I'd recognize the ink stains and calluses anywhere. My mom writes too."

The girl was quite obviously taken back as she blinked at him. "Well, y-yeah," she sputtered, her resistance to him dropping altogether.

"Maybe an author's name then?" Natsu didn't let go of her hand. "Mary? Eleanor? Christina? Emily? Anything?"

She was still staring at him in slight awe. "You have quite the knowledge of female writers."

"My mom made me read them," Natsu rolled his eyes playfully. "I take it none of those are it?"

The girl shook her head but this time she was genuinely smiling. "Maybe I should be asking who you are instead."

"That wasn't the deal," he had noticed some stray hairs had fallen into her face. He took his hand and brushed them back behind her ear. "Luceilia," he muttered slightly as it came into his head. He wasn't quite sure where it came from but he wasn't sure where any of this meeting was coming from to begin with.

The girl gasped so slightly that Natsu almost missed it. Her brown eyes were wide as he let his hand trail across her chin and fall back to his side. "Close enough," she smiled kindly before taking her hand back and picking up the box Natsu had almost forgotten he placed on the ground. She added it to her pile as she gathered it all back into her arms.

The prince just watched her knowing there was nothing more he could do to make her stay. "It was nice meeting you, 'Luceilia'," he bowed slightly.

The blond giggled and returned his bow with as much of a curtsy she could mange with all her packages. "I return the sentiments, good sir," and with that she turned to leave.

Lucy Heartfilia absolutely despised leaving her home. She couldn't abide being forced outside in the crowded market by her family; she much preferred being alone in her room with her own stories and books. Yet, as Lucy walked across the square, packages in hand, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe coming outside every now and then wasn't so bad. She turned her head back just enough for her eyes to see the mysterious pink haired man getting lost in the market crowd. Lucy couldn't help but stare after him. She was never really spoken to outside her own family, and let alone by boys. They always came calling for her sisters, never her. They were always fake anyway, and only wanted to be with her sisters for the money. This man though, he didn't even know who she was. He was kind to her just because she was herself. Well, and because he ran into her. With a silly grin ever she couldn't hide, Lucy continued back to the store she had left.

"Lucy!" a voice called out causing the blond to turn her head quickly. Standing outside a nearby store were two girls dressed in elegant clothing, both with grins and matching white hair. "I'm so glad we found you," the younger one continued. "Mother would have been furious if she found you missing like that."

Lucy couldn't help but grimace at her stepsister's implication; her stepmother was not the kindest lady in the world. Not even close. After her own mother died, her father, head of the Heartfilia household, had remarried a woman he might love but one Lucy sure didn't.

"We would have covered for you, of course, but one can only do so much with her," the oldest rolled her eyes.

"Oh, Lucy! You don't have to carry those. Let me take some."

"Of course, so silly of mother to make you carry them. Hand me some too."

Lucy did feel lucky for her siblings through; they treated her like she was really their sister. The young woman was about to tell them that she was fine when the shop door slammed shut.

"Mirajane, Lisanna, leave Lucy alone," a stern voice called, drawing the three girls' attentions. Mrs. Angeline Heartfilia brushed by them without even stopping to acknowledge a single one of her children. "Come along, we have more shops to visit. Girls, come up here and walk with your mother."

The two sisters muttered their apologies to Lucy and begrudgingly took their places on either side of their mom. Lucy really didn't mind, it's not like she wasn't used to being the errand girl. As long as her stepmother didn't bother her at home, she was fine. The wind blew warmly around them as Angeline talked aimlessly to Mira and Lisanna about the benefits of a good man and royalty and the same old same old Lucy had to hear without actually ever being addressed; unless it was to be asked to get more tea. As she looked around the shopping areas, trying to let her mind take her away from reality, she swore she saw a flash of pink out of the corner of her eye in a nearby alleyway. She felt her heart start to race as she whipped her head around. No one was there, only a small blue cat sat there watching her with golden eyes. Lucy shook her head foolishly to herself. A man she didn't even know and would never know again. She couldn't help but grin. Yes, maybe going out wasn't that bad after all.

There was no way I could ever make Mira and Lisanna evil stepsisters. So they are nice XD Anywho, this was pretty much a blatant crossover. Which I am cool with. I almost made Lucy the Princess and have Natsu be the Cinderella character but I don't know, I just wanted to mix it up I guess. Sorry if they are out of character! I mean, it's an AU so Natsu was raised completely different then he is in Fairy Tail, thus having a bit more elegance. I would also like to mention the personification of Igneel and Grandine. Kaori-chan2 did it in the story "Honey, Honey" and I loved it. So that is what inspired me to do it here and I wanted to credit the inspiration ^^ I'm not sure if anyone else has gone that route but they are the only one I have ever seen to do it.

If anyone liked this world and crossover idea, I totally have some more planned out lol If not this can be left as a cheesy one shot drabble. So let me know what you think!

~Lyssa