Hey there! As for the beginning, I want to sincerely thank all of you who read, favorite-ed, followed and reviewed to this story. You, as a writer, know how much it means for me. Here's the next chapter:

Fairy Tale world

Natsu stared at her with pure shock. Lucy?! That… princess was Lucy?

He must've had an eye problem if he actually saw Lucy… that way! Beautiful! More than beautiful…

…And he found himself still looking at her.

''Why are you staring there like an idiot? Hurry up!'' she 'shouted' in a whisper.

He swallowed his words and followed her in silence. The tunnel was dug into the walls of the castle, into hard stone. The light was too weak to see where you're going, but Lucy seemed to know where she was going.

''Left'' she suddenly said, but it was too late and he knocked the rock of the wall in front of him.

''W-Why are you so used to this place?''

''I figured it would come in handy if I explored a little. I have a good memory and I thought of using it… Despite you, who were dreaming the whole day about the princess you would get as a prize.''

He kept silent. How did she know?

''So why are you the princess, anyway?''

He tried to sound disgusted and mean as he usually did… but he still couldn't recover from the shock entirely. He wanted to feel it when he said she was ugly, but for some reason… he couldn't. Not now.

''I don't know.'' came her answer.

''Wait. So that means this is not a dream?''

She rolled her eyes.

''I'll explain later. I learned a lot of new things these two days.''

He was surprised of how prepared she was. For once in his life, he was grateful she was smarter than him.

''So how can you see anything without your glasses, nerd?'' he asked after a while.

She kept silent for another period of time.

''I don't know.''

They both didn't say anything for a couple of minutes.

''Watch your head.''

He opened his mouth to ask why, but when he saw her bend and then he didn't see anything anymore (feeling his forehead and nose in pain), he guessed. He tapped his face in the dark and said:

''Ah. My nose is bleeding.''

''That's because you're stupid. I told you to watch your head.''

''Yeah; and you made sure you would be a little too late.''

She smiled. After another pause of silence, she spoke.

''We're almost there.''

''Where?''

''Out, you rat!'' she replied while he could imagine her glare.

''Why?''

She stopped walking and turned around to face him in that heavy darkness.

''Don't you want to escape this place?''

''I absolutely don't want to escape. The king likes me and he is stupid, so he would do anything I say.''

''You really are stupid, aren't you?'' she said seriously. ''Natsu, if you are found out you aren't looking for the princess you will be killed.''

''Well I would've looked for the princess if she hadn't found me first.''

''Yeah. And they'll kill you if you don't marry me.''

Ah… She was right.

''You said we're close to the end?''

They continued walking and Natsu told her he had a horse prepared outside. They agreed she would wait while he took it and then- they ran away as fast as they could.

The daylight stroke them as sudden as Lucy opened the old, wooden door of the exit. They blinked until they got used to it and Natsu passed by her, being the first one to leave the tunnel. As the sun shone brightly, he caught a little moment to look at her.

She didn't have her glasses or makeup. Back in his world, she would always use makeup, but he noticed it suited her a lot more without. And without the glasses… it was a huge difference, anyway. Her hair was quitted feely, falling on her naked shoulders. He had to admit they were quite round. And her skin looked… so soft and… Hmm, but it didn't matter. That dress suited her amazingly well (especially at the top), but he barely allowed himself to confess she was acceptable.

''Wait here.'' he told her as he saw a troop of soldiers a few feet away, riding their horses toward the two of them. And he also wanted to get away from her disturbing image.

The knights looked surprised at the sight of him. Lucy had already returned on the other side of the tunnel's door.

''Mysterious Prince!'' they exclaimed.

Natsu cleared his throat while he could hear Lucy moan '' Laaaaammmeeee….'''from her hiding place. Luckily it was only him who heard her.

''Everybody thought you had already gone looking for the fugitive princess! W-We never saw you leave, you see…''

''It doesn't matter; you can see I am still here. Is my horse ready?''

''Y-Yes, sir, it's waiting in the royal stall.''

''Great. Can you tell them to prepare me one more horse?''

One of the soldiers that seemed a little smarter looked at him suspiciously and then asked:

''Why would you need two horses?''

''Uh… well, for the princess. For the time when I find her.''

''You two will be like… married by then. Why wouldn't a husband will to share a horse with his wife?''

Natsu looked at him quite pale.

''Y-You know what? You're right. Let's… let's just get the horse and…''

''Fooood! Foooooood!'' Lucy whispered.

''… and some food. Then I will-uh, shall- go and look for the princess. Alone. Y-yeah. Hm. Right…''

He heard Lucy slap her forehead.

''Then shall we go?'' a kindly smiling knight said.

He followed the group to the royal stall and was shown to his horse. He was amazed by such beauty. He wasn't really into stuff like this, but he had to admit- he felt good being treated like a king! The horse was white (duh) and looked capable.

Inside the tunnel, a ridiculous black hole as a hiding place for fugitive princesses, Lucy was forced to bare the pain of waiting for a long, horrible and sore hour. She was overwhelmed with boredom, but she patiently waited, cautious not to be noticed by people who were passing by. She swore she would kill Natsu when he returns. What was talking so long?!

She sighed thinking this would be a good opportunity to think the situation over a little. Where were they heading to? How were they going to survive in this world? And most of all, she wondered how they were going to get back to their own world.

Her last night had been a sleepless night. She couldn't sleep because she was planning in her mind of her escape. She somehow had managed to trick her lady-in-waiting after the breakfast and she looked for a way out of the castle. She secretly took part in the contest and overheard – being pretty surprised that Natsu actually managed to win- everything that happened.

The plan was simple. They had to get out of the kingdom and survive –until they found a way to leave this world. She yawned and closed her eyes resting her head on the hard rock. It was a nightmare that she was caught in this parallel world and the only one she knew was Natsu! She just had to enter it with the only person in her world she hated the most. And right now, she was obviously thinking for both of them. So, in other words, she was doing her all to save his butt.

With a long creak, somebody opened the tiny door of the tunnel. Lucy hit the roof. A plump, middle aged maid stopped moving in the moment she saw the princess a few inches away from herself. The two stared at each other with wide eyes until the second Lucy realized this was bad. She punched the maid in her fat tummy biting her lower lip and telling her telepathically how sorry she was. The woman fell on the ground and Lucy ran away, not before kicking the poor maid again. She had to find Natsu. Now! The woman screamed in her back alarming a few soldiers in guard.

''The Princess!'' she screamed.

The knights spotted Lucy and started running after her. She had to get out of there in that moment! She started thinking she was dead and she wouldn't make it. She will have to marry Natsu and they were both doomed!

Suddenly, a man on a white horse appeared out of nowhere (actually from the corner of the castle) and he was advancing towards her. For an instant, she saw him as her savior.

''Natsu!'' she screamed.

Natsu was indeed coming with speed in her way. But wait. He wasn't slowing down at all! The guards were dangerously close to her shouting one to another ''Catch her!''

Was Natsu crazy? Was he going to ride over her? It was her! When he was inches apart, everything happened in slow motion. She had the reflex to jump in one side, but at the same time, Natsu lowered his body and arm on her side and caught her by her waist like a pro just in time before the guards would reach her. She found herself squeezed by Natsu so she wouldn't fall. She was shocked of how much strength he must've had to grip her like that in full speed!

While the horse looked like it was flying, he helped her sit well on the horse at his back. She tracked her arms around his waist and held him tight. She couldn't believe she was doing this.

''I didn't know you could ride!'' she told him with strong voice so she could be heard over the noise around them.

''Neither did I!''

She widened her eyes wondering how they would survive. She obviously didn't trust him.

''So where are we going?''

She looked back. She widened her eyes even wider. A whole little army was following them.

''ANYWHERE! JUST GO FASTER!''

He also looked back, but she slapped his arm screaming to concentrate on the horse.

''Why are they following us?'' he screamed.

''They figured we don't want to get married! They want to kill us!''

''But-''

''FASTER!''

He gritted his teeth. How dare she use that tone with him? But this wasn't the time to argue.

For the both of their horror, the horse was slowing down.

''WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT FASTER MEANS?!''

''SHUT UP, YOU HAG! I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS STUPID HORSE!''

''MAKE IT GO FASTER!''

''HOW?!''

''HOW SHOULD I KNOW?! I THOUGHT YOU KNEW HOW TO RIDE A HORSE!''

Natsu was prepared to say 'But I obviously don't', but Lucy cut him off by asking him to hand her the rein. They miraculously (like they had years of experience) managed to change places and Lucy slapped the horse with the rein shouting something that sounded something like 'yeah' – things she learned from books. The horse… was slowly gaining speed. Lucy smiled victoriously while Natsu was so happy he squeezed her body harder while holding unto her. It was surprisingly soft and fluffy. She suddenly stopped smiling and blushed, screaming:

''Natsu, you bastard, watch where you're touching!''

Their happiness didn't last long when they realized they still didn't get rid of the knights. And they were now on open field. What were they going to do? What if the horse would get tired before they lost sight of them? She looked at the strong animal encouraging it with gentle whispers.

While she was worrying for their current situation, Natsu was going through some weird emotions. Excluding her annoying hair that kept getting in his face and mouth, she was imposing him odd feelings. He had never seen this brave and full of action side of her. He only knew the nerd, unpopular Lucy back in high school. He looked at her thinking of how different she could really be from what he knew. What had been those glasses hiding?

That was when he realized that even though he has known her since they were born, for 18 years… he knew nothing about her.

He lowered his head so it was resting on her shoulder. He felt her body flinch. He could now speak normally, without screaming, and she could hear him well.

''The way you kicked that woman was pretty cool.''

''You saw that?'' she spoke louder.

He grinned feeling uncomfortable of his unusual self. After a while of hesitation, she said:

''Was that a compliment?''

''Don't get used to it.'' his lips tickled her ear.

She was obviously feeling even more uncomfortable.

''Could you please move a little further? You're kind of annoying.''

His grin disappeared and he felt annoyed again. This was a little relieving. This was his usual self and he was a little scared of how he changed for a couple of moments. He decided to ignore her comment for this once and changed the subject:

''So how are we getting rid of these jackasses?''

She turned her head a little to his side, her sight not leaving the 'road'.

''Why are you depending on me?''

''I am not depending on you.''

''Then you decide what we do.''

He wanted to say something smart, but he didn't find the right words. She was probably right. Their lives were depending on her brain right now. He hated to admit it, but this wasn't the time for arguing – again.

''Ok, so maybe I am depending on you! Pleased? What do we do?''

She also didn't know.

''First apologize.''

''You want me to WHAT?!''

''Apologize. For what you've done and said to me. Apologize like you had to in my room.''

''Listen, you rascal, now's not the time to be figh-''

''You do realize you can be killed with just one word or move of mine, don't you?''

''How?''

''I can tell them you kidnapped me and everything I want just to get you on the bad side of the picture. And I can just push you off the horse, also.''

''You wouldn't dare…''

She smirked.

''Try me.''

It took a while. It took quite a huge while. However, he somehow managed to moan an ''I'm sorry…''

She smiled pleased.

''Aaaand I guess I also have to apologize. Please forgive me.'' she said also a little hardly, but it was easier for her. She took him by surprise. ''Now then; listen carefully because I am not going to repeat myself. We were transported in a world named Fairy Tale. It contains everything a fairy tale would contain. As you already saw, it looks much like the Middle Eve, but it's filled with magic.''

So that was why those peasants believed him his clothes were magical so easily.

''I have no idea how we can get out of this world but I know that even though we are here, no matter for how long, in our own world time doesn't move. It's like all this happens in one second.''

''How did you find out this?''

''I… am not exactly sure how, but… There was this old witch in my dream last night. Well, I didn't really sleep, so I had more like a vision. She said she knew we weren't from this world and she told me some other stuff. She said we have to go to her if we want to get out of here, but I have no idea where she might be.''

''No clues in her background?''

''I am not entirely sure what you mean, but no, no clues.''

Silence fell in.

''Wait.'' Natsu suddenly spoke. ''You said this world contains everything a fairy tale contains?''

''Yes. Everything.''

Natsu looked at the horse, and then grinned.

''Then how do we make this buddy here show us his wings?''

Lucy turned around to face him full of surprise. Her eyes were glowing and screaming ''You are a genius!''. For some reason, he felt even prouder. He suddenly flinched. It was odd to look in her eyes while she didn't have her glasses. They seemed like chocolate, deeper and more alive than they ever were. The sweat she had after the effort of running away from a castle only made them seem more shinny. He found himself starting in her eyes while the grin was softening into a smile. She also noticed this and gave him a what-in-the-world-is-wrong-with-you? glare. He immediately moved his eyes on the horse, a little flush of embarrassment making its way to his cheeks.

''So yeah, what do we do?''

Lucy decided to ignore what just happened and spaced out, trying to remember anything from her childhood that might help them out. From what she knew, in some countries, there were some fairy tales where the prince receives a skinny horse that asks the prince to feed him with embers. The prince feeds him, indeed, and the horse immediately turns into a wonderful Pegasus. So how did they feed this creature with embers?

She saw Natsu kicking him angrily. He must've stressed to find and answer more than she did.

''Hey! Stop that! It isn't going to listen to you if you-''

She was cut off by a beautiful pair of angel wings that came out of the white body in a rather gross and weird manner. She stared at them and moved her feet so the wings would fit.

Natsu smirked.

''What were you saying?''

The next moment, she kicked the horse like Natsu did and screamed ''Fly!''. She wasn't as powerful as he was, but even so, the horse could've reacted at least.

''Did you use a magical formula or anything?'' she screamed over the noises around.

Natsu replied kicking the horse again. But it still didn't move its wings.

''Come on! They're catching up with us!''

The next thing that came to Lucy's mind was soft words.

''Come on, horsie. Pretty please? Move your beautiful wings up and down, ok? Soft and slowly, come on…''

Natsu snorted and she rolled her eyes. She ignored him and patted the white short fur lovingly and, at the same time, desperately. They were both growing really impatient. The horse fluttered his wings, but only twice and Natsu and Lucy's happiness, as fast as it appeared, it vanished. That was all. Two flutters.

They groaned in unison and then flinched in surprise for the synchronicity. Lucy dragged herself slowly closer to the horse's head and caught his neck tight. She leaned her head lower and whispered gentle words of encouragement in his ear. For her surprise, the wings fluttered once more. She saw Natsu look back at the soldiers.

That moment she remembered this was Fairy Tale. If there was a Pegasus, why wouldn't it be a smart Pegasus? She gazed at the horse's head and then spoke awkwardly:

''C-Can you understand what I am saying?''

The horse didn't reply. It kept panting.

''I-If you do… Can you please fly us out of here? I'm begging you, we really need to get out of here fast.''

''LUCY, WATCH OUT!'' Natsu screamed.

At the last moment, she turned her head around to see and arrow fly inches away from her face. She held her breath.

''ARE THEY SERIOUSLY GOING TO KILL US?!''

''WELL DUH, THAT WAS THEIR PLAN, REMEMBER?''

''I THOUGHT THEY WERE ONLY AMING YOU!''

They didn't really know why they were still yelling like that, despite the hardship to have a normal conversation while there was so much noise from the running of the horse. Another arrow came in sight flying towards them and, this time, Natsu was inches apart from a quick death. Lucy let out a little shout as the arrow had almost stroke his shoulder. He quickly glared at her surprised she actually got scared he would die. He looked deep into her eyes; something was keeping him from looking away. Everything went on slow motion for him. Why were they so… beautiful, that's it! This was probably the first time he had ever seen them not annoyed, not angered, not sad, not teary and hateful. Was it worry this time that he saw?

The next second, he was still staring at them when it happened.

He saw her pupils widen and the chocolate-brown color sank in worry and despair. Her mouth opened to scream while her body turned around and her arms thrust towards him. He found himself pushed on one side. He managed to keep his balance, but Lucy didn't. And he didn't understand why. She fell off the horse and rolled away from his sight.

That was when he saw it. The arrow. The arrow had stroke her chest and she fell off the horse. The arrow that he was supposed to strike him, not her.

Everything had happened in one short second.

He stared at her, his eyes huge.

''LUUUUCCCYYYYY!''

He felt his heart race. That damn brat saved his life. Now what about hers?