Sweet Lucy

''OUCH! I said it hurts!''

''And I told you to sit still!''

Lucy was carefully wiping the blood from Natsu's wounds. They were sitting by a river and, even though it was getting dark and they still didn't make the fire, she took her time to treat the poor body that saved her from having the same fate. She had taken pieces of cloth from his shirt –which was too torn to be useful anymore- and used them as bandages for his pretty deep wounds. And, even though she tried to be as gentle and careful as possible, her hands were trembling. She couldn't help it. The thought of what pain he must've born was killing her.

Then again, Natsu's muscles flexed and he gritted his teeth trying to support the pain more easily.

''Be more gentle!'' he moaned through his teeth.

''I'm trying! Just shut up and let me do what I can! Why don't you just throw yourself in the river to clean up and that's it! You'll be done without being forced to bare this, right?'' she replied frustrated.

''Well you know what? You're right! At least it wouldn't hurt like you do!''

Now, please understand the situation. The two are in a pretty tight mood right now. They are both frustrated, Lucy because of the pain he must bear and Natsu because of the pain he bears. Well, same thing. Plus, you didn't think Natsu would change his personality so easily, did you? He is still mean when he is like this, even though it's Lucy who he is mean to, now that he is aware of the fact he has feelings for her.

And thus, he suddenly rose up and walked toward the river. Lucy couldn't move; she was staring at him surprised. She hadn't been serious when she said what she said and, for a moment, she actually thought he was going to get into the river. But he only bended, took water in his cup-hands and washed his sweaty face. His hands were also dirty, so he washed the mud off, throwing Lucy a short look. She was also looking at him. He didn't know why, but he flushed.

''Sorry, Natsu. I'm going to be more careful, ok?'' she called out to him, thinking his look had been actually a glare.

He came back in her direction moaning an ''I'm fine'' and passed by her, stopping a few steps further and looking at the surroundings.

''So where are we camping? We kept running away all day. I'm beat and I'm starving.''

Lucy rose up and walked slowly towards him.

''Yeah, me too. But we're much too far away from any village or… even people.''

She also studied the horizon, hoping to spot anything else aside trees and mountains. There was only a castle in the distance, but it was too little and blurry to be called 'near'.

''We're in the middle of nowhere.''

''Great.'' Natsu said and sighed. ''Let's make a fire. It's getting cold.''

''Do you think there is any other season aside from summer in this world?''

''I don't think I care right now.''

''How mean! I just asked you a question.''

He didn't reply and started looking for wood through the infinite number of trees.

''Do you think I could find anything to eat in this forest?''

''First of all, I don't think this is a forest, and then, how should I know? Just mind your own business for a while, all right? I'm seriously not in the mood for your annoying questions.''

She frowned angrily.

''It's also your food, you know?''

He sighed deeply like telling her to shut up. After a little while, she asked silently:

''Do you want me to help you?''

''Lucy'' he desperately moaned looking at her ''Look, I already told you nicely I am not in the mood for you to talk to me right now, ok? Just help me if you want and shut up!''

She glared at him while he returned to his work of collecting wood. First of all, he didn't tell her nicely.

''Fine. You know what? If you're so desperate of being alone, I'll leave you alone.''

He couldn't guess what she really meant, but he was glad she just left. He was tired and angry and frustrated and he couldn't bear an optimistic or energetic person right now.

She left looking for little branches for her own fire. Well, she didn't really know how to build a fire. In the summer the camp for survival lessons Natsu and she wanted to go to, she had been ill. Thus, she didn't know how to survive in the wild well, but she was just going to copy Natsu.

She saw Natsu place all the wood in one circle of rocks. She collected the rocks as fast as possible and did like him. He started building a tinder nest. It also contained some dry grass so the fire would be caught easier. Now all he needed was to create sparks.

What followed was too complicated for Lucy to understand how he managed to do it. He seemed to have found –impossibly lucky!- a fireboard shaped like a normal, small girder and then he cut a v-shaped notch into it and made a small depression adjacent to it with a sharp rock. He took a strong stick and placed it into the depression and started spinning it through his palms. It took a while, but then, small sparks started jumping in the sides. He had placed the nest in front of the fireboard, so it soon caught sparks. And then, a small fire started burning the grass.

That was when Lucy saw another side of Natsu. The young man started taking care of the fire like it was a fragile creature that would die at the smallest touch. He almost burnt his hands trying to cover the small light and to protect it from the cold, but mild wind of the evening. When the fire got bigger, he started blowing easily to feed it and make it get even bigger.

When it was finally assured not to die, he rose up and started looking for more wood, bigger and with the ability to keep it lit up as long as possible.

Lucy looked at her own little nest. Yeah, it was definitely pathetic compared to what he had done. She would never be able light up a fire as well as he did. At a second thought, she decided it was better to just give up and maybe even give him her wood.

He was surprised seeing her do so, but he accepted it without a word. She then walked over to the river, washed her hands as well as she could and looked at the dark blue sky. A few spots of fluffy clouds were the only thing that disturbed the perfect color of it. She decided it was still quite bright and she could take advantage of the time left looking for something to eat. Anything, berries, mushrooms, even eatable roots! She was starving so much she thought she could eat her clothes!

She walked through the trees, looking carefully for something eatable. But it was useless. These weren't fruit-trees, they were just trees. But suddenly, she spotted a bird on a branch.

Her eyes widened and her pupils narrowed.

Her body froze.

Her saliva started filling her mouth.

Her animal instincts started waking up from the cage they had been locked all this time.

…

…The fire was now big enough to warm him up for good. Well, only one side of him, so he was faced the other side of the world from time to time. Just when he stopped imagining how he would be starving to death, he looked around and wondered where Lucy was. He hadn't seen her in a while.

''Hey Natsu.''

He flinched and turned around. Lucy was looking at him with expressionless eyes. Her golden face in the light of the fire was covered in blood. He was frightened by her appearance, but the blood was just freaking him out. What in the world happened? She was scratched on her arms that were also covered with blood. And then, he noticed two birds in her hands. That… -you probably guessed-… were all covered in blood.

''You think you can cook a bird?''

She threw him one of the dead things and looked around for a longer stick. He stared at her with shock.

She killed two birds. Lucy. Killed.

Well, whatever. They had food now, right?

After all the disgusting cleaning and throwing unnecessary organs, they were roasting the birds at the fire. Natsu looked at her once again. She was now back to normal, but seriously, she had scared the s*** out of him with that look on her face and all.

''I'll take care of your bird, you go wash yourself.''

She looked at him not feeling the need to reply. She handed him her stick and went to the river. It was dark, but after blinking a few times, her eyes got used. She made her way through the bushes and rocks and found a good place to place her clothes.

After a while, she was stepping slowly in the ice-cold water, covering her bare body with her trembling arms. She was filthy! She really needed this bath, but she thought she'd die if she completely entered the water.

Suddenly, Natsu heard a scream coming from the river. He looked in that direction and tried listening carefully. He only heard many splashes and a hard breathing.

''You ok?'' he screamed over to Lucy.

''It's cooooollddd…'' he managed to hear her squeal and he guessed she had jumped into the river.

He sighed. How will she dry herself? It would take a few hours at least and she would be fast asleep until then.

After a couple of minutes, Lucy returned by the fire trembling, wearing her wet clothes –dressing them while you are wet is no different from entering the water with them on- and longing for the chicken Natsu was holding for her. She took the stick and sat down on the grass in front of the fire. Her first bite had been so delicious and wonderful! Her second, the same. And so on, until she finished the meat. She felt like she could eat even more, but for now, she didn't have any choice left but to be pleased. Now that she ate, she started feeling sleepy. She looked at Natsu out of curiosity and having the intention to ask him how they were going to arrange a good place to sleep, but she couldn't say anything. She found him staring at her. He now looked exactly in her eyes, making her feel really uncomfortable.

''Yes?'' she asked, hoping she would make his look change direction.

But he didn't reply. She decided to ignore his stare as much as possible and looked, instead at the horse. It had eaten and drank long ago. He was probably sleeping right now, but she couldn't tell because it was just standing there, his rein attached to a tree, in the dark.

''Where do we sleep?'' she asked him, looking once again at him and observing how he wouldn't move his stare. But she immediately regretted she asked him this.

''Here'' he answered simply.

''Fine'' she answered as simply.

She looked around a little and then decided to sleep beside a tree nearby.

''Then goodnight.''

He didn't reply and she sat. In time, trying to find the best position to sleep in, trying not to feel the uncomfortable earth and trying not to feel the cold, she eventually fell asleep.

He was still looking at her when he decided to go to sleep as well. He put more wood of the fire and then sat somewhere beside it.

He knew she would eventually come to sit by the fire. She would be too cold. But for some reason, he wanted her to come. Just this time, he wasn't going to carry her to the fire. He didn't know why he was acting so strangely, but it seems that Lucy didn't know how dangerous it's to stay wet in front of a guy. Especially one who has feelings for you.

And, just as he predicted, he didn't even fall asleep yet when Lucy woke up because of the cold and came closer, by the fire. She thought he was sleeping. She was walking slowly and careful not to step on branches or dry leaves and to wake him up. The comforting noises of 'pop!' the fire was making were the only sounds that were heard in the night.

She sat slowly just on the side of the fire Natsu was. Over there was more grass and the place looked so fluffy and comfortable! She sat extremely careful, hoping Natsu wouldn't see her. It was quite embarrassing, so she hoped she would also wake up first in the morning so she wouldn't be seen at all. But just as she lowered her body, she suddenly saw Natsu catch her arm and pull her towards him. She ended up falling on his chest with a small 'Kyah!. He grinned and hugged her, hissing in her ear:

''What are you doing, Lucy?''

''I-I-I-I-I was c-cold!'' she blushed trying to escape his grip.

''And you wanted me to warm you up?''

He tightened his grip around her waist and she squealed.

''D-Don't be stupid! I w-wanted to sit by the fire!''

She struggled to get free. Why did he have to be so strong?!

''But you came at me, didn't you?'' he whispering, tickling her ear with his lips.

''Let me go!'' she screamed through her teeth, trying to breathe.

He laughed hardly and then released her. She shifted away from him, catching her breath.

''What is wrong with you?!''

He rose in his elbows, looking at her with an indifferent smile on his dirty face.

''Your hair is still wet, you better sit by the fire and dry or you'll get sick.''

She threw him another glare, then got closer to the fire, and, thus, closer to him. But she made sure he wouldn't reach her arms this time. But he was still insisting she would be close to him, so he caught her foot and dragged her to him again. She screamed a long ''Cut it out, willya?!'' and did her best to get away. He kept laughing and then surrounded her with his arms even tighter.

''Come on, why are you trying to get away from me?''

''Stop it! Let go of me!''

''No, you'll run away if I let you go.''

''So what?! What is wrong with you, Natsu? What happened to you? You've been acting so odd lately!''

His smiled suddenly vanished and he lightened his grip a little. She stopped struggling and looked directly in his eyes.

''What do you mean?''

''I don't know! You haven't insulted me almost at all since we entered this world and you… you've been actually nice to me, from time to time. You were angry at me when I did nothing, you were cold with me when I was being nice, you would help me and save me when I need… This isn't you, Natsu! What is wrong with you?!''

He lowered his look from her frowned face a moment only to grin and stare at her the next. He got his face closer to hers. Now they were only inches apart, but she widened the distance between them fast.

''I thought you would guess by now. You're smart, after all.''

She looked at him with surprise, curiosity and it was obvious she had no clue. That moment, the fire was playing with its light on her beautiful face and in her gorgeous eyes; and she was so adorable and lovely, he couldn't control himself.

His chest was slowly rising and lowering under his heavy breathing and his hard heartbeats. He took advantage of the moment she parted her lips to speak and caught her mouth in the long awaited, passionate kiss he had been so curious about. And the feeling was nothing he expected.

He had kissed hundreds of chicks in his school. But even so, he had never liked any of them; thus, none of the kisses were so great. But Lucy… he had feelings for her like he never did for any other. Her lips were all he was dreaming about at night and thinking about at day. Now, the time stopped for him; because he never imagined a kiss would feel so thrilling and sweet as it did now. He felt he was getting dizzy and his heard wouldn't slow down one bit.

But the magic was broken. Lucy pushed him with all her might. In reality, it only took her two seconds to realize what was happening and to step back from the dangerous situation she threw herself in. Her wide eyes and pale face in the light of the fire made her look like she was sick. He looked with surprise at her. But she was in shock right now. How? How in the world did he end up falling in love with her?

''Lucy…'' he whimpered sadly as he saw her get further and further from him. ''Lucy, Lucy, Lucy…! Come on, sweet Lucy! Why are you looking at me like I am an animal? Come on, don't run away from me!''

He looked so crushed and sad after this indirect rejection, you would have definitely pitied him if you were Lucy. But she didn't. We could easily say she was horrified.

This discovery definitely wasn't as she imagined it would be –happiness by the fact she is liked by someone, blushes and sweet talks, flowers and chocolate on Valentine's Day; this was exactly the opposite. She knew Natsu too well to imagine he would control himself, be it even her who he liked. In front of her eyes, all those moments when they had been alone passed and she seemed to just realize how stupid she had been. How could she risk sleeping beside the person who liked her? How could she risk appearing wet in front of the person who had feelings for her? How could she risk sitting beside the person who loves her?

And this wasn't all. It was Natsu. Natsu. She knew him too well to ever imagine he would fall in love with her.

It seems like she didn't know him well enough, then.

Picture your best friend whom you've known your entire life suddenly fall in love with you. This was pretty much the situation here. Except the best friend part. And this was also the way Lucy felt.

Natsu felt the hitch to rise up and chaise her. If not, he will probably lose her forever. But when he moved an inch, she immediately backed up, her eyes showing him just how freaked out she was. And this thing just crushed him. He felt the need to thrust his arm and drag her beside him with the power of his mind. He felt the need to keep her in his arms and never let her go. Now, he regretted ever kissing her. This only made him want even more of it.

''Lucy, please…'' he whimpered.

She rose up and ran away in the dark.

''Don't go…'' he whispered and let his head fall in his hands. What had he done? How could he be so stupid? If he hadn't told her, he could've kept her beside him for a little longer.

Oh, how he regretted not realizing what a lovely person she was up until now! And how could he not realize how beautiful she was? But thinking of these things only pained him even more.

Without even guessing where she could be, he let himself fall back beside the fire. It was hot, but not at all as hot as his heart had felt. Not at all how his lips had felt… But now he was cold, suffering by the thought he lost her.

''Since when?'' he head her voice. He rose up in a second and looked around. But he only saw the dark, she was nowhere to be found.

''Don't look for me… just… answer me… please.''

''Since when what?'' he said feeling hope fill his heart.

''Since when have you loved me?''

''I… don't know… the feeling formed in my heart so slowly, I never guessed I was going to fall in love. I think it might've started when we entered this world.''

''Why…?'' he heard her crushed whimper.

''I… I don't know… I don't know what made me like you…I guess it was… you…''

''But we've known ourselves for so many years… how comes you changed when we entered this world?''

''I think the one who changed is you…''

All this time, he was spinning in circles, trying to find her hideout. When he finally spotted the tree behind which she was, he was trying to be soundless while he approached her slowly.

''How could you say that?!''

''Or maybe you're right. Maybe I changed. But… in the end… it seems like I fell in love and that definitely changes someone…''

She started crying.

''Oh please don't say that. You've loved many other girls and I don't want to end up like them.''

''No, Lucy. Sweet, dear, poor Lucy. I've never loved any of them. Not the way I love you…''

He was now behind the tree she was hiding. She seemed to be crying with her face in her palms.

He circled the tree and hugged her.

''Why wouldn't you call me pig, nerd, monkey again?''

''You liked me calling you that way?''

''It's… it's just not like you… to call me… the way you do now…''

''But do you like it?''

She shook her head fast.

''It makes me feel weird.''

He hugged her tighter and he noticed she was trembling. Maybe his shirtless body was making her feel uncomfortable.

''Maybe just a little…'' she whispered.

He smiled softly and maybe he would've kissed her again if she wasn't so afraid.

''I'm sorry for scaring you. I promise I won't do anything weird again, all right? I won't kiss you if you don't like it.''

She calmed down a little, but she was still trembling. Her body was really hot, also. He frowned and touched her forehead with the back of his hand.

''You've got a fever.'' he announced worriedly.

She didn't reply; she just rested her head on his chest with her eyes closed.

''Does your head feel heavy?''

She nodded easily.

He swore frustrated. He shouldn't have sent her to the river.

''Come to the fire.''

He wanted to help her walk, but she refused his help. She was still feeling awkward after her discovery. She sat beside the flame that was easily fading. Natsu told her he is going to bring more wood, but she barely heard him. Her heavy head rested on the thin grass and her eyes closed.

She fell asleep; but she woke up when she felt a wet, cold cloth moving gently on her forehead. She couldn't open her eyes, but she fell back asleep, anyway.

The night that followed for her had been full of nightmares, shifting and sweating, but, deep inside her suffering mind, something was calming. It was the feeling of being taken care of; because Natsu kept wiping the sweat off her hot face and did his best to keep her warm and comfortable.

It was almost morning when his eyes were slowly closing. But suddenly, the sound of like twenty-thirty knights walking on a road nearby woke him up for good. He looked around and spotted the shapes of them all through the trees. Maybe it he shut the fire, they won't notice him. But he was just being stupid. He knew they already noticed them.

He thought fast what he could do not to draw much attention. He invented the following story: he and his cousin were travelling back home after being kidnapped. After all, it was true. They had stopped there for the night, but she got sick and they needed help. This way, if the knights were kind enough, they might even end up in a village in the care of a medic.

And he was right. The knights walked straight towards him. He tried not to look scared, but what if they got caught? He had to be executed!

''C-can I help you, sir?'' he addressed the leader of the bunch.

The man threw him a sinister glare and spat the following:

''Who're you? What are you doing here?''

''I… um… You see, me and my cousin are travelling and we stopped here for the night. ''

Shoot, I haven't thought of a name!, Natsu thought.

''What's wrong with her?'' he said disgustingly noticing Lucy's condition.

''She's ill, sir. She caught a cold, we don't have any medicine or spare cloth, and she is so fragile!''

The tall man looked at Lucy and motioned to his soldiers something. One of them came forth and took out his sword, preparing to hit the girl.

''W-What are you doing?!'' Natsu shouted frowning and thrusting is hand in front of Lucy and blocking the sword's way. The man stopped, waiting for the commander's orders.

''Ill women are no use. They only consume without bringing any use. Killing her would be easier for both of you.''

This dude is nuts!, Natsu thought.

''Sir, she will be healthy soon enough! And she won't be useless, trust me! She is very diligent and smart, she is very useful! So don't you think it would be a pity to just kill her like that?'' he smiled kindly. Maybe he'll manage to soften this man.

The man remained silent and looked once more at Lucy, this time with more interest. Suddenly, he spotted the horse nearby. Natsu noticed with worry how his eyes widen. He then frowned.

''Tell me… How did you get a hold of that horse?''

''I worked for it while I was on my way. I won it right and fair.''

The man suddenly seemed more and more interested in their hair.

''So you're saying the girl will be useful when she gets well?''

''Y-Yes…'' he answered not knowing what to do or say.

The man made a fast move with his hand to his subordinates and screamed:

''Take them!''

Natsu froze and his heart stopped.

''In the name of the Queen, I, Marcus Johnsgate, arrest you, the Mysterious Prince and take into custody the Princess of the Kingdom of Skeletons until the arrival of the King of the Kingdom of Skeletons in the Kingdom of Dragons, at the royal prison.''

While he was saying these, ten men walked towards Natsu, preparing to take him.

''You are to be executed at the King's order.''

When Natsu heard the word 'execution', he suddenly woke up. He rose up, preparing to fight for his life. One of the men jumped on Natsu, but the young man made a quick turn, kicking him in his face. He lost his balance and fell. All of them were surprised to find someone who knows how to fight. And with such odd skills! But they didn't allow being taken aback, so three more prepared their swords. With his martial arts, Natsu somehow managed to kick and make them back up quite a while until the whole little army jumped on him. Natsu dodged, as much as he could, the sharp blades and he fought with all his might. He resisted a lot, but soon, the commander got tired of waiting and, ordering one of the men to take Lucy, he himself made way through all those falling bodies towards Natsu. Without hesitating, he took out his sword and struck the young man in his stomach. Natsu moaned feeling the sudden pain spread through his body. He bended forth, desperately touching the blade that was now coming out of his stomach. His wide eyes started shaking. Everybody stopped fighting. The man's mouth filled with blood and then he collapsed on the ground. A lot of 'liquid' was coming out of the hole in his abs. His sight got dizzy, but he thought he was going to lose conscious, the man whose sword travelled through his body poured a potion on his wound and he felt the blood not coming out anymore. He managed to remain conscious, though the pain was almost unbearable.

''Sir… he…''

''No, he didn't die.'' the leader said fast, getting away and waving them to take Natsu and follow him. ''I gave him some of the healing potion. This was just to teach him a lesson not to mess with an armed person ever again.''

''Sir, where are we heading to?''

''The castle. The Bloody Queen is probably waiting.'' he answered with a deep voice.

Meanwhile, in Lollipop's little house:

''AH! Oh my, I forgot to give Natsu a sword!''

Well, this is it for now! I sincerely hope you enjoyed the chapter! Next time, Natsu and Lucy meet the Bloody Queen, who –I think you already figured- is none other than Erza! Don't miss it!

Plus, I'll give you a little preview, but not for the next chapter, for a few that will come a lot later, just to have you keep reading :P

''Lucy, I want you to know you're the most wonderful person I've ever met! I would really like to spend the rest of my life with you!'' the raven haired prince, Gray, said, looking in the charmed girl's eyes with love.

''Lucy! You don't love him! Wake up! He's just playing with your mind!'' Natsu shouted at the crying girl.

''Y… You're just jealous!'' she shouted back at him.

He gritted his teeth and kissed her; and she kissed him back.

''Please, think about it!'' he said more softly.

''I'm getting married, Natsu!'' she said with a deep voice dodging his eyes.

''The portal is closing, Natsu Draganeel.'' Lollipop told him with a soft smile on her lips.

''I'm not going…''

''What?''

''I'm not going without her!''