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'' A surprise?'' Lucy and Natsu asked in unison.

Gray nodded happily. He opened his mouth to speak, when he suddenly noticed Lucy's clothing. He widened his eyes and looked at her beautiful long feet. Natsu also looked at her and also widened his eyes. The white shirt was way too long for her, but it was only covering a little of her feet. Natsu's eyes remained glued to them while Gray was trying as much possible to look away. Lucy frowned and looked at the shirt she was wearing.

''What? Is there something wrong with me?''

''T-That a shirt for men, Lucy.'' Gray explained.

''Yeah I know. You got a problem with that?''

She put her hands that were covered with the way-too-long sleeves on her hips and looked at him challengingly.

A maid burst out laughing, but immediately cleared her throat and pretended to be doing something else. The blonde didn't seem to understand the real problem.

''A-Anyway.'' Gray also cleared his throat. ''I've arranged to hold a special event for my birthday party, which will be in over a week. However, that event is today. And I'd like you two to attend it along with the rest of the guests.''

''Guests?'' Lucy asked.

''Event?'' Natsu asked looking at her like it was obvious Gray first had to explain himself on this matter.

''A ball.''

Natsu's expression completely changed from boredom to extreme boredom and 'You're kidding, right?' eyes. Lucy, on the other hand, smiled pleasantly surprised.

''And the guests are the people from the Kingdom of Frozen Roses. Anybody can come with the condition of wearing proper clothes for a royal party, which I will donate from my own collection.''

Lucy gasped happily.

''Gray, that's so sweet!'' she praised him. ''The wealthy together with peasants! A day when everybody's the same! That's so kind of you!''

''If you ask me, you should keep your money and do something intelligent with them.'' Natsu moaned looking away.

''Well I don't remember him asking you!'' Lucy teased him. Why did he always have to ruin the good mood?

''Whatever.'' Natsu sighed.

''Oh, that's right, Gray.'' Lucy remembered. ''I wanted to ask you. Yesterday night a girl accidentally bumped into my room. She had brown hair and she was really beautiful. Who was she?''

Gray looked at her surprised.

''Brown hair? Probably one of my maids.''

''No, she was dressed like she was pretty rich.''

''Well so did you with that blue dress, didn't you?''

Lucy blushed embarrassed and frowned.

''Y-Yes, but I'm telling you she wasn't at all a servant.''

''I don't know, Lucy, maybe it was just your imagination. You were tired last night, you probably dreamt her. Don't trouble yourself with nonsense.''

He wasn't showing much interest and that irritated her a little. She sighed and tried to ignore everything as told. Natsu, on the other hand, looked at her with curiosity. He knew Lucy too well to just think it had been her imagination. He narrowed his eyed and then looked at Gray.

Was he hiding something?

Because, the raven haired young man always treated anything with seriousness and he was suddenly ignoring this?

Lucy and Gray started talking about what he had wanted to talk to her the previous night. He told her he wanted to show her a couple of dresses to choose from for the ball. Also other stuff that Natsu couldn't keep up with. He got further without them noticing him and left the room. He started walking through the halls in silence and with his reflexes sharp. The ship was pretty quiet. There was almost nobody on the halls. Maybe they had already left the ship since they had arrived in the docks.

He met with a maid that bowed and then checked the color of his hair without a word. Natsu stopped walking in front of her and saw her narrow her eyes almost unnoticeably. He started getting suspicious of her weird behavior.

''Can I help you, sir?'' she asked as Natsu kept staring in her eyes with suspicion.

''No, thank you. I was just looking around.''

''You don't need to do that sir.'' She said, but when she realized it was dangerous what she had said, she added fast: ''Alone. You don't need to look around alone. The master can take you to visit if you want.''

Natsu narrowed his eyes even more. He figured Gray must've told them something about him. First, she had checked the color of his hair and then told him he is not allowed to wander around.

''I understand. Did Master tell you not to let me take walks in his ship?''

She didn't know what to say. But Natsu knew what to do to make her speak. He studied her slim and young body slowly, from top to toe, making sure she was aware of that. He could see how she was getting uncomfortable under his gaze. He then took a light step towards her and she straightened her back. He was intimidating her. He touched her chin softly making her look in his eyes. His face was cold, but he could see how her cheeks were flushing. He parted his lips and started breathing on his mouth softly. He could almost feel the strong beatings of her heart. He was more than intimidating her.

''Tell me.''

His touch was sending cold shivers through her body.

''M-Master wanted to make sure you won't be alone on this little ship and asked me to tell you if I see alone that he is willing to take you himself on a tour.''

Tch. Gray was training his servants well. He had to act better than that. The second ace in his sleeve.

He looked at her lips and wetted his own. His face approached her slowly. The maid was already blushing madly. Her breathing was heavier and he knew he had managed to turn her on.

''I saw last night a pretty brown haired girl. Who was she?'' he whispered.

The woman widened her eyes slightly and flinched. He couldn't miss that one and that made him grin on the inside. She knew something. He took another step forward and she took a step backwards. He made another one and so did she. She found herself being glued to the wall. Natsu gently placed his hand on it, above the girl's shoulder.

''I don't know.'' She answered starting to panic. She knew she couldn't play in any longer. He had caught her in his trawl like a fish.

He had to use his third ace.

He suddenly froze in the air before kissing her and got further. She looked at him surprised. He also retrieved his hands and breathed deeply. He looked away disappointed. But she was a little disappointed, too.

''Too bad.'' He said loudly and took a step further.

She started shifting uncomfortably. She hesitated, looking down at her feet. Natsu started walking away.

What was wrong with her? She should have been happy that he left her alone and not tried squeezing the answers out of her. But was it that bad if she told him? She didn't even know why the master wanted to hide it. It was a normal thing, everybody had one those days. And plus… she didn't want to disappoint the handsome guest the master had. She liked the way he looked in her eyes.

''Wait!'' she thrust her hand in the air.

Natsu smiled and stopped walking. The girl was still hesitating. He slowly turned around and looked at her with a bored expression that was sure would hurt her.

''T-The master asked me not to let you wander the halls because he didn't want you to see some people. I don't know why.''

Natsu showed her he was listening and he slowly approached her again.

''People?'' he asked softly and hot.

She swallowed the feeling of desire he was awakening in her and continued:

''L-Like that girl! That girl who you saw last night.''

''Why? Who is she?''

''She is master's girlfriend.'' She smiled as Natsu was now talking friendly to her.

Natsu felt his heart skip a beat and he widened his eyes a second, the shock hitting him like a mass of rocks. He immediately acted cool and only surprised a little. He smiled kindly.

''Oh? I didn't know Gray had a girlfriend! Good for him.''

He approached her face slowly with a sweet smile.

''Thank you.'' he whispered, his hot breath hitting her senses with strength. She closed her eyes as he was approaching her.

Natsu used to do this all the time. Playing with girls as he wanted. Just before touching her lips, he stopped as Lucy's face suddenly popped before his closed eyes. He moved a little to the right and kissed the girl's cheek. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times surprised.

A door could be heard opening and the two, who were still a few inches apart, looked at the person who had exited a room and froze in the hallway looking at them. Natsu's eyes widened and so did Lucy's.

The sight of the two either about to kiss, either just after kissing suddenly struck her heart like an arrow. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't. She stared with shock and pain exactly in Natsu's eyes. The boy suddenly straightened his back getting his face further from the confused maid's. He started walking fast towards Lucy while whispering her name. She lowered her face and bit her lower lip feeling how her eyes were starting to water.

''L-Lucy, look, it's not what it seems.''

He caught her shoulders and shook her gently desperately trying to nail the truth in her head. He couldn't look in her eyes because she had her eyes shut tightly. Her body was trembling.

''Listen! I heard what you said about tha-''

''What is not what is seems, Natsu?'' she interrupted him looking at him with teary and painful eyes, but with a mild smile on her lips. She tried to sound neutral. He looked back in her eyes with shock. Was she pretending she didn't see anything?

''There is nothing that 'seems' about you. Everything is just obvious about you.'' her smile crushed and her voice started trembling hardly. ''This is who you are.'' she added in a whisper.

She suddenly snatched from his grip and hurried back in the room where she had been with Gray a moment ago.

Natsu couldn't move a couple of seconds. But when he did, he turned around and glared at the maid. The girl flinched and understood she was sent away. She rushed in the opposite direction of his.

Gray looked surprised as to why Lucy came back only after a couple of seconds. She had slammed the door, so something must've been wrong. He saw her shoulders were shaking, but he couldn't read her face as it was low, her hair blocking the sight.

''Lucy? Is everything alright?'' he asked worriedly hurrying over to her. He lowered his body in order to look in her eyes. She was trying to swallow her tears.

''Are you alright?''

He knew the answer. Does she look like she's alright?

She sighed shakily and then gave him a smile while wiping her tears away.

''I'm fine.''

But another round of tears clouded her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore and buried her face in her palms. Gray hugged her hesitatingly. He stroked her head lovingly and gently.

She had been right. She knew one day something like this would happen, but deep inside she had wished that day would never come. Deep inside, she had wished she was wrong.

But now it was all proven to her that Natsu didn't love her anymore. He was already chasing other girls because he saw she wasn't so easy to get. She couldn't give him what he wanted and so, he was giving up on her.

And it hurt so much… She took her hands off her face and hugged Gray back, this time burying her face in his shirt. He was so comfortable. And why not? Why not feel comfortable in the arms of somebody else when Natsu did the exact same thing?

''You know what?'' she said retrieving her face and looking at him through hic-cups ad sobs. ''I've changed my mind. I want to go to the ball with you.''

He looked at her surprised, but still worried.

''Did Natsu not want to go with you?''

She hadn't even asked him. She smiled sadly.

''No.''

He hugged her tighter and smiled.

''Then I'm happy you accepted my invitation.''

She closed her eyes to stop her tears. She remembered how the previous night she had had to choose between the two. She hadn't chosen anybody because she couldn't make up her mind. But now she was sure who she will choose. Natsu had brought this to himself. And it was a final decision.

I choose Gray.

After a half an hour, they had all exited the ship. They weren't talking to each another. Gray and Lucy felt too awkward to talk to one another and none of them wanted to talk to Natsu. The pinkette, on the other hand, was crushed after what had happened, but he was able to get a grip of himself and wait for the proper moment to talk to Lucy in particular. He needed to clear the misunderstanding. Until then, he wasn't going to say a word. Gray took them to his palace.

When Lucy saw the grandness and beauty of it and the whole court, she couldn't help but cheer up. Even Natsu had widened his eyes and whispered a word of admiration.

The principal color was blue. The entire court was sinking in roses made of ice. The paths through the main garden (whose only flower was the rose, in each color possible) were made entirely of marble that was sparkling in the light of the sun. On their sides there were blue rocks and even thought they were painted, they were making the sight so much more beautiful. When the path was ending, the flowers started showing off with their incredible gorgeousness. The palace was grand and its structure was rich. From the distance it looked like a miniature ice castle. Everything looked like it was made of ice.

A never-melting ice.

Gray was watching their reaction with pride and happiness. But he wasn't saying anything. He only kept looking at Lucy's dear face.

But meanwhile, Natsu was looking at his face. He knew the raven haired guy was hiding something. Maybe a bunch of things. And he wanted to find out what these things were. He couldn't help but dislike him when he met him as a commoner, but now that he had found out he was actually a prince, he disliked him even more. He hated him.

He suddenly remembered the word for hate in German. Hassen. He smiled and tasted the deliciousness and sweetness of the sound of it. He muttered it without realizing and Gray heard him. for the first time that day, he spoke to Natsu with a smile.

''Oh, you know Firethan, Natsu? Hassen. Hate, if I'm correct.''

Natsu looked at him a little surprised.

''Firethan?'' Lucy asked also surprised.

''Yes. The language that is spoken in the Kingdom of Fire. The people from the north are true Firethan speakers.''

''But that's German.'' Lucy confronted him with a frown.

''Ger- how?'' he rose an eyebrow.

''There's no Germany in this world, Lucy.'' Natsu reminded her gloomily. She gave him a painful short look and then ignored him. He looked away crushed. Gray exchanged a look from one to another wondering just what exactly had happened between them and…

… What they had meant by 'this world'.

''What's this Germany you're talking about?''

''It's a country, stupid. But it's from another world.'' Natsu answered.

Gray rose both his eyebrows.

''What do you mean?''

Natsu was glad there was finally a topic where he could feel superior in conversation with Gray. And he was also glad that it was something that only he and Lucy could know and that fact automatically excluded Gray. It was a pretty victorious feeling.

He pretended to be bored.

''Well, you see, we're not from this world. Me and Lucy.''

We, he said. That word hurt Lucy and it made her want to change the topic to something that wouldn't concentrate her and Natsu.

''What is he talking about?'' Gray asked Lucy confused. Lucy looked away sadly. Natsu smirked and waited for the girl to tell him about how she and he, they,knew something only they knew and not Gray.

''I don't know either. Let's just go.'' she answered softly her eyes being sad and absent. She and Gray started going further while Natsu stared at her with wide eyes and opened mouth. He was literally shocked.

And there was no word that could serve as an explanation to his reaction.

Lucy sadly admired the rest of the little tour and then they entered the palace through the main gate. The inside was just as spectacular as the outside.

Some people had already arrived at the palace for the ball. They were all waiting in a special room, chatting happily about the events that were to happen that evening. The servants had delivered them the proper royal clothes for the party. They had been prepared also with instructions about table manners and others. The prince and the two guests watched with their own eyes the transformation of a peasant. He was the father of a young lively girl that had wished to come there with all she'd got. He was washed, shaved, dressed up and taught proper manners. At the end, you couldn't tell he was a peasant anymore. He looked as elegant and mighty as a king. His daughter turned out as beautiful as a princess wit royal blood. Lucy admired her joyfully and so did Gray. Natsu watched attentively especially Gray's reaction. He had studied the girl from top to toe without anybody noticing except for the pink haired teenager. He then had let the corners of his mouth raise pleased with what he'd seen. Natsu felt the need to jump on him and kill him with his own hands. His suspicions were slowly turning out to be true.

This prince charming was a womanizer.

He wanted to tell Lucy so badly, because he knew she was being dragged in his little love-and-care act. He knew he would make her fall in love with him at some point and then probably just dump her.

He was suddenly struck by an even more horrible idea. Maybe he would keep her. Along with his other girlfriend.

Who knows? Maybe he even had more than one.

While Gray started talking to one of his butlers about the status of all the work and the news that had gathered since he had left, Natsu took advantage of his absence and approached Lucy.

''Lu.'' he called her silently. She ignored him. ''I have to talk to you.''

''There's nothing you have to tell me that I don't know of.'' She replied coldly and he laughed silently lacking happiness.

''Oh yes there are a couple of things. But I need to speak to you in particular. Please.''

She didn't reply. Her eyes rolled over to Gray. He was still talking to his butler. Maybe he won't notice if they leave a few minutes in another room. But she knew it would hurt her whatever he had to tell her, so she wasn't so sure about it.

''Is it important?'' she asked silently looking away.

''Yeah. Very. More than you can imagine.''

She looked at him a little curious. He was serious.

''But I can't tell you here. I don't trust anybody in this castle and I don't want anybody to hear me.'' he whispered to her.

''So this was it.'' She said. ''It's just you disliking Gray. And on top of all, you think it's so important! I never thought you were so selfish.''

''No!'' he hissed desperate. ''It's just-''

He approached her ear even more.

''Look I can't tell you here. Please! Just hear me out and then I will let you decide on your own what's best for you.''

She looked at him suspiciously.

''You promise you will leave me alone if I accept?''

''I promise.''

She sighed and hoped this wouldn't turn out as something that would hurt her. She disappeared along with him outside the palace and outside the court. Lucy was almost too sure he wanted to just run away and force her to come with him. But she was surprised to see him stop a pretty considerable distance from the ice gates that separated the court from the rest of the city, waiting for her. They sat behind a cottage and near a forest entirely made of ice that wasn't cold at all, actually.

''What is it?'' she asked him without interest.

''Listen to me carefully. First of all, what you saw today was all a misunderstanding.''

She gritted her teeth irritated.

''Don't tell me you dragged me all the way here to excuse yourself from what you've done.''

''No! Listen to me! This morning you told Gray you saw a girl brown hair enter your room, correctly?''

''Where're you getting at?''

''I took your words seriously and I left to… let's say investigate a little. Then I met with this maid on the hallway.''

He was so aware of the fact that it all sounded exactly as an excuse. It was amazingly frustrating to tell the truth and not be believed.

''She told me I'm not allowed to wander alone.''

''And let me guess; she offered her services as a guide and you accepted.'' Lucy said sarcastically.

''NO! For goodness' sake, woman! Listen to me! I asked her if that was what Gray told her to tell me if she sees me explore his ship and she at first started making up excuses and I could tell she was hiding something!'' he exasperatedly told her. ''I then asked her about the girl you saw last night. I was in that position only because that way I made her speak!''

''So you're telling me you, a womanizer, seduced a pretty maid to make her speak. And you didn't intend to be with her at all.''

He flinched at the way she called him. A womanizer? Was he really a womanizer? Was he just as Gray was? Maybe she was right and he was just as Gray, but his jealousy made him see the other one as the devil. But no! He had to tell her the truth!

''Lucy, I'm begging you to believe me! I'm telling you the truth! Yes, I seduced her if you like to call it that way! Anyway. I found out who that girl was.''

This was the first time Lucy actually showed a little interest.

''She's Gray's girlfriend.'' He said with concern written all over his face. The blonde looked at him with wide eyes.

She couldn't believe him. She searched inside his eyes for the truth, but she couldn't find anything.

''Natsu.'' she spoke hurt and desperate with wide eyes. ''What has happened to you?''

He flinched with shock. He couldn't believe it. She didn't trust him.

''Do you hate Gray that much? Do you hate him to the point of making up this kind of story? If you're sorry to have been with a girl with me as a witness, you could just say it. I forgive you. But why go as far as to invent such an excuse?''

She touched his cheek with tenderness, but she was treating him like he was crazy. He looked at her with big, hurt, shocked eyes.

''It's ok. It's not my business who you're kissing with. I understand if you feel the need for a girl. But please. Just stop lying to me. It hurts me.''

He desperately caught her shoulders.

''Lucy! I'm telling you the truth! This guy's a bastard! You will end up hurt by him!''

''Like you hurt me?'' she said struggling not to burst out crying.

He looked at her shocked.

''I didn't kiss her, Lucy. I swear to all gods, I didn't kiss her on the lips. Only on her cheek. And now I regret it like I've killed someone.''

''You don't have to swear. And there's only one God.''

''Then you believe me?'' he frowned. She turned his back him.

''I'm sorry Natsu. It's just nonsense.'' She laughed. ''You? Not to kiss such a pretty girl as her?''

''Was she pretty? I didn't notice.''

She widened her eyes slightly. He sounded sincere.

Suddenly they could head a giggle coming from inside the cottage. They froze. Somebody might've heard their little conversation. Again, a girl giggled and then said:

''Oh, Natsu! Stop it!''

They looked at each other and paled. In a second, they forgot everything about what they had talked about. They jumped at once as if they had practiced it for a week and glued their ears on the wall.

''-and then I took his hat and had the intention to kiss him.'' a boy's voice could be heard. ''When I saw he was actually a man, my stomach was turned upside down and there were shivers that kept tickling me like this!''

The girl started laughing hysterically and begging him to stop.

''Natsu! I'm serious! Stop!'' she suddenly told him like an order.

He laughed and said sweetly:

''As you wish, oh, sweet angel fallen down from heaven-''

''Don't! Don't say my name!''

''- Lucy Sketchnik.'' he continued speaking.

Lucy and Natsu had their mouths wide opened.

''Oh, Natsu Fremont, you are the devil coming from the hottest corner of hell.''

''Great, a forbidden love between an anger and a demon.''

''Not a demon. The devil. You're as hot as the devil.''

He chuckled and a pause of silence followed telling Lucy and Natsu they were making out.

The two nodded to each other and circled the cottage and reached the door. Lucy's trembling hand knocked at the door lightly.

They heard the two from the inside shift and whisper until Fairy Tale Natsu opened the door.

Lucy stared at him with shock and so did he.

He was looking exactly as Natsu. No difference. The young man then raised his look to the other version of himself with even more shock.

''A-Are you Natsu Fremont?'' Natsu asked.

Lucy popped out from under his arm with a curious look on her face:

''What, what? Who is it, dear?''

She looked at Lucy and then at Natsu and then at her own Natsu and then back at Lucy.

She exchanged a look with Natsu Fremont and the two suddenly started laughing like crazy.

''What is the meaning of this?'' she asked the two. ''Who are you and why do you look like us?''

Natsu and Lucy were surprised at their reaction. They were more shocked than the other two when they were the ones that already knew about the versions from Fairy Tale.

''I-It's a long explanation.'' Natsu Dragneel said. ''We're from another world.''

''Oh?'' Lucy Sketchnik asked. She looked at Lucy Hearfillia with a sweet smile. ''Allow me.''

She touched the other girl's ear and put her hair away, looking at the no-heart-sigh.

''Huh. Well whaddaya know, Natsu. Lollipop was right.'' she smiled at her lover.

The guy grinned back.

''Y-You guys know Lollipop?'' Natsu and Lucy asked enthusiastically in unison.

''Sure we do. She's a friend.''

''A very good friend.'' Natsu Fremont completed her. He had a strong German accent. Excuse me, a Firethan accent.

He looked at Lucy H. and smiled.

''It's so weird. You guys look identical. But your voices are a little different.''

''I agree.'' Natsu D. said also looking at the two. Their voices were also different.

Lucy S. suddenly grinned and grabbed the other Lucy by her hand and looked in her eyes.

''Imagine how many people we can trick like this!''

Lucy retrieved herself and raised her hands in defense.

''S-Sorry, we aren't here to play.''

Lucy S. looked disappointed.

''Aw~ that's no fun!''

''Sweetie, just leave them be. If they don't know how to have fun it's not like we must force them.'' He blinked at Natsu.

''Gosh, I've never even imagined you that way.'' Lucy commented at the Fairy Tale Lucy.

''Huh? You knew about me?''

''HECK! I've been confused for you hundreds of times already! Oh and by the way, your father is following you two and wants to execute Natsu.''

''Yeah, buddies, watch out. I almost got killed.''

The couple looked at each other surprised.

''Why? What did we, or you do?''

''Well…'' Natsu looked at Lucy. The girl saddened remembering all those adventures they had had together. She missed being loved by him. ''I won the Princess Hunt and-''

''SO HE STILL DID IT!'' Lucy exploded with anger. ''That old geezer still organized that stupid contest when I told him not to!''

''A-Anyway. I won it and so I had to marry the princess.''

''So you two are married?'' Natsu Fremont asked with glittering eyes. ''See, baby, I told you we're looking so good married!''

Lucy and Natsu blushed.

''No, we didn't get married. On the contrary.''

Fairy Tale Natsu and Lucy looked disappointed.

''At that time we were hating each other. So in order not to get married, we ran away. While we were running away, a stupid knight hit Lucy with an arrow and she died. They accused me for murdering her and ever since then we've been fugitives.''

''Wait, you died?'' Lucy asked Lucy.

''Yeah, but Lollipop… resurrected me.''

''Aw, that witch is so sweet!'' Lucy exclaimed.

''NO!'' Natsu D. screamed. ''Because of that stupid witch we're now trapped in this ridiculous world! All we want is to get back!''

The couple saddened at his words. They understood they were in pain.

Lucy Heartfillia was looking away sadly.

''I don't think this world's that bad.'' she whispered innocently.

Natsu moaned overly annoyed.

''That's because of Gray, isn't it?! That stupid bastard is washing your brain! And now you're falling in love with him, aren't you?!'' he screamed at her making her blush and bit her lower lip crushed under sadness.

''I don't know what to believe anymore, Natsu! Gray's feelings are pretty clear for me while yours aren't!''

''Then believe me!''

He put his hands on her shoulders.

''I'm telling you the truth.'' He said gently.

''No, you're lying! How could I believe such a big liar like you?! You're always lying! At school, in your family, even here!'' she screamed back at him.

The Fairy Tale versions looked at them with wide eyes.

''Wait… You're… You're not together?'' Lucy S. asked.

''No! Isn't it obvious?'' Lucy screamed at the girl. She knew she could burst out crying any moment. Her heart was crushed.

''I'd never be together with a jerk like him!'' she screamed not being able to control herself. She had thought she was fine with what Natsu had done and that it shouldn't concern her, but it seems like it hurt her too much and now she was bursting.

Natsu shook her brutally.

''Why am I such a jerk?'' he yelled. ''What have I done to you?''

She bit her lip and the tears started coming out. She opened her mouth and screamed at him to unhand her. He ignored her and yelled again:

''Tell me! What have I done to make you suffer so much, huh?!''

Natsu Fremont and Lucy Sketchnik looked at each one of them with shock. Lucy started crying badly.

''Why were you with that girl if you pretend not to have done anything?''

''I already told you why! And why did that hurt you so much, anyway?''

She shut her eyes closed and decided in a moment to tell him about her feelings.

''B-But I thought you loved me. You used to tell me that all the time, but suddenly you've stopped.''

His eyes widened with surprise.

''That's it?''

She buried her crying face in her palms.

''That's it?'' he asked with a sad smile. ''You think I don't love you anymore? It hurt you that much?''

She didn't reply nor make any sound. Her shoulders were shaking brutally and her whole body was trembling. She wished the earth would open in a whole and eat her alive. She was embarrassed and regretted telling him anything.

He surrounded her body with his arms and caught her at his chest.

''I love you, Lucy.'' he said gently but with pain.

The girl didn't say anything for a while. The other Lucy and Natsu looked at each other smiling sadly. The problem wasn't that the two weren't together. It was that their feelings weren't secure yet.

''I don't believe you.'' Lucy suddenly said softly shocking the other three.

She pushed him away and after looking for the last time at each one of them, she left running towards the palace and through the lonely ice forest. Natsu looked at her figure disappearing through the trees and felt his heart squeezing under the grip of pain.

''I didn't know it meant so much for a girl being loved by a boy.'' he muttered spacing out.

''That's because she likes you back, buddy.'' the other Natsu told him with a comforting smile. He put his hand on his shoulders making it a weird sight for Lucy.

''I agree.'' she said.

Natsu didn't react. He already knew that much, but couldn't be sure.

''If only we hadn't gotten in this situation, I think it would've been easier to clear things out.''

The two couldn't entirely understand him, but they didn't say anything.

Natsu Dragneel sighed and looked at the couple smiling and trying to make it seem like he was better than they thought.

''So… you're together. I wouldn't have guessed. I only heard a few words about Natsu Fremont, but I never imagined you would be together with Lucy Sketchnik.''

''Yeah.'' The two looked at each other with love. ''We met a few years ago. We fell in love and decided to run away together.''

Natsu looked surprised.

''Wait. So you're now hiding from your parents?''

''Not hiding. We call it travelling. Like a honey moon.''

''Then why not get married?''

''It's a lot more complicated than you think. Our parents would have never agreed to such a thing. We're not direct enemies, but the Kingdom of Skeletons is an ally to the Kingdom of Dragons, which is in war with the north Kingdom of Fire. We're lucky we've managed not to get caught until now.''

''I see.'' Natsu said. He looked at his Fairy Tale version. ''You know, you shouldn't be fighting against the Bloody Queen. She's a nice person now.''

Natsu F. widened his eyes.

''So the rumors were true! They say two people from another world came and changed the queen! Well it wasn't my choice to fight her! She attacked our kingdom out of the blue and my dad has been hating her ever since. I did nothing.''

Lucy frowned and teased him:

''That's because you're a lazy and irresponsible prince!''

Her lover grinned.

''Yeah, I'm what you call a spoiled prince. And I'm proud of that.''

Lucy's face softened and smiled.

''But I still love you~!'' she purred.

''I love you more~!''

''I love you most~!''

She placed her arms on him shoulders circling his neck with her long beautiful fingers and they started kissing passionately as the French know best.

Natsu looked away slightly embarrassed and sad. When the two finished their business, they returned their attention to him, ashamed to have forgotten about his presence.

''Sorry about that.'' Natsu said rubbing the back of his head.

''Natsu?'' Lucy started speaking when she was surprised to see both the boys turn their head her direction.

''Whoa! Your names are the same, too?'' she asked with wide eyes.

''Sure. I'm Natsu and the one that left was Lucy.''

''Also Fremont and Sketchnik?''

''No, it's Dragneel and Heartfillia.''

''Whoa, they sure sound cool!'' Natsu exclaimed.

''Y-You think? But anyway, Lucy, which one were you talking to?''

''Well my Natsu, but now I want to ask you something.'' the girl grinned. ''You said 'if things weren't the way they are maybe it would be easier to clear things out'. What did you mean?''

''Huh?'' Natsu asked confused.

The other Natsu explained:

''Well what did you mean by 'if things weren't the way they are'? How are things right now?''

Natsu laughed shortly.

''I don't know what I meant, but I was probably thinking about Gray.''

''Gray?''

''Yeah, the stupid bastard that rules this kingdom.'' The two were confused. ''You know, the prince?''

They widened their eyes.

''Oh, the Prince? Yeah, sure. We didn't know his name was Gray. So what about him?''

Natsu hesitated.

''Lucy's falling in love with him.''

It sounded dramatic just the way he wanted it to sound, but the two didn't have any special reaction. They blinked.

''Yeah? So what about it? All the girl are falling in love with him.''

''Well not me!'' Lucy screamed proud.

''Ok then, sweetie, all the girls who don't have a boyfriend.''

''No, even those who do.'' Lucy said seriously. ''The Prince has broken many relationships. But Dragneel, the only thing you have to do is just go to another kingdom. Lucy will forget about him like they all do and she'll fall in love with you and you end up together. Happy ending.''

Natsu smirked sadly and looked into the girl's brown eyes. These eyes were strange to him. His Lucy's eyes were more beautiful.

''It's not as easy as you think. We can't leave so easily. Lucy is stuck in this kingdom.''

''Why's that? Just drag her after you. She will understand later it's for her own good. Because it's not like she'll accomplish anything staying here, the prince won't notice her so easily.'' Lucy said as if it was obvious.

Natsu started laughing.

''That's the problem, silly. The Prince had fallen in love with her first.''

This time, the couple's eyes widened with shock and fear. They couldn't say anything. Natsu looked at them confused; was it that shocking for somebody to fall in love with Lucy? She was very pretty, why would it be such a surprise?

The two looked at each other.

''Oh dear…'' Lucy exclaimed with worry to Natsu D.

''Buddy. Listen to me, even if the girl wants or not, you must take her away from him by any means possible, you hear me?''

Natsu caught the earthling's shoulders strongly and looked into his eyes.

''What? Why are you saying this? Is it that bad him falling in love with her?''

The couple looked at each other once again, saying: ''You don't know the legend, don't you?''

''What legend?''

''No, how could you? Only a few people in this world know it. It's about a prince.'' Natsu said.

''They say this prince's heart was made entirely of ice.'' Lucy continued. ''No flame on this earth could melt his heart. He was young and handsome. Ever since a tender age, he became bored of the world. He killed his parents in order to rule his kingdom. He wanted complete control so that his wishes would become orders. But what was the cruelest thing about him was his way of playing around with girls. He especially liked the young beautiful ones whom she would call at him whenever he wanted. He was breaking many hearts but he couldn't care or feel any regret since his own heart was made of ice.''

''Time passed and the girls began coming at him by their own will since his beauty and attraction power was unbearable for them. He had never been in any war with anyone because the other kingdoms feared his power; they knew too well how one night he had slept with the daughter of a king that hated him and the girl ended up killing herself after he told her he didn't love her anymore because of her father. The king never even dared to step on his land ever since because he had other daughters, too, and he didn't want to lose them. Once, he fell in love with a very beautiful girl and decided to marry her. After a few days he got bored of her again and killed her. Her blood drew his interest and he found himself being fond of it. He started liking making the girls suffer and watching them bleed. He got insane.''

''He married eleven girls after that one and killed them one after another.''

Natsu looked at them surprised and a little disgusted after he had heard the legend. The two stared back at him with worry. A pause filled with heavy silence and tension followed, making Natsu's heart beat faster. Somehow, he already knew what they were going to say next.

''Me and Lucy think the prince in none other than this Gray.''

Natsu stared at them with wide eyes. His hands were trembling and his heart was beating like crazy. He grinned trying to look amused and to deny their words. But his voice was shaking.

''What makes you think that? I mean, it's only a legend, right? It's not like Gray's going to do something like that. He's way too gentle and patient with Lucy to be the same person.''

The two looked at each other worried.

''Well… it's true that it's an old legend. It could have been written before he was even born.''

''Exactly! Maybe it's true, but who knows? It couldn't have happened hundreds of years ago!''

''Yeah, you're right.'' Natsu laughed.

''Sorry to have worried you like that.'' Lucy said giggling.

Natsu smiled reassuringly. It was good to know something like that couldn't possibly happen.

''They even said the thirteenth wife would have to suffer the most, but he never got married the thirteenth time.''

''That must be because he died long ago.'' Natsu finished his lover's idea with a smile.

That's right. He must've been long dead. And also, the legends were only a tiny bit true, it wasn't like something like that could be real. I mean, who's ever seen a guy with a heart made of ice? And also, if he had had so many women, they why didn't he have woken up with some illness? It was obviously just a bluff!

But then…

Why was his heart still beating so fast?

.

.

.

That evening, Gray saw how sad Lucy was and decided to take her on a walk through the garden to cheer her up. It was a beautiful sunset and maybe the wonderful view would draw her attention for a while. They started walking slowly through the beautiful roses and talking silently. He tried to smile as much as possible and maybe he could make her do the same.

''How did you like the tea this evening?'' he asked her gently.

''It was very good.'' she replied smiling sadly at his kindness. She appreciated his tries to get her in a good mood. ''It was very sweet and aromatic.''

Just like Natsu's touch and kisses, something whispered in the back of her heart.

''I thought so too.'' he said softly. It was nice and silent and he liked the atmosphere despite his sadness at Lucy's sadness.

He spotted a bush of red frozen roses. He immediately remembered how she had told him she loved red roses most.

He hurried his steps and took a between his fingers. Lucy approached him with curiosity. He smiled at her and then she watched even more surprised and amazed how the clear ice started melting gently at the prince's touch.

''You're a mage?'' she asked with wide eyes. He laughed lightly.

''No, let's just say in know a couple of tricks. This ice is made by me, also, so it's easy.''

The beautiful flower's petals moved as if they were stretching after a long deep sleep. Lucy whispered softly ''How beautiful…'' and touched with affection the tender plant. Gray looked at her charmed by her sweetness and beauty.

''Here; I'm giving it to you.'' he told her lovingly with a kind and soft voice.

She looked into his deep dark eyes and blushed. He was so beautiful and charming. You could say he was perfect.

He touched the back of her hand and pushed it gently towards the plant's thin stalk. It was covered with little thorns, but she didn't notice. She took the rose between her fingers with a soft smile on her lips. Gray was still holding her hand.

His eyes sparkled the glimpse of a second and he moved awfully sudden, totally taking the girl by surprise. He had squeezed his hands and so, hers, having her palm be pierced by every single thorn.

''Ouch!'' she whimpered surprised and in pain.

She opened her hand fast while Gray muttered silently ''my bad.''. The blood flushed out the little holes and soon her palm was painted red.

Gray stared at the red liquid with no expression except for the extremely cold eyes. His lips parted and he felt his mouth dry as if he was thirsty.

And he was still touching her white hand careless at her pain as if his heart was made of ice.