WooOOooOOoo

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Lucy's feet were still a little throbbing as she followed Natsu into the castle.

She was intimidated by the sheer size of it, and was a little hesitant when Natsu strolled in through the large front doors like it was nothing.

Not at all used to any of the fanciness, she stepped inside, and immediately the softness of a velvet carpet greeted her almost soleless shoes.

Lucy was astonished as she stumbled blindly behind Natsu, soaking in every detail. The white marble walls were gleaming and almost reflective, and in ever hall they passed she could see a crystal chandelier. Giant mirrors trimmed with real gold were hung up proudly every few feet on the walls, and Lucy felt self conscious when she saw her dirt covered ragged self.

Hastily, she stare into one of the mirrors and tried to wipe off the dirt. Instead, it only smudged it more.

"C'mon, Luce. We should go see metal head. The guy's a total pain in the ass but he's good at what he does." Natsu spoke, walking up behind her.

Lucy tore her eyes away from the mirror and swallowed, looking at her fiancé. "Okay," she agreed in a tiny voice.

Frowning, Natsu stared at her. "What's wrong?"

Lucy shrugged half-heartedly. "Let's just go, Natsu."

Deciding not to push it, Natsu started to walk.

Lucy fell into his steps behind him, her arms held stiffly at her sides. She almost yelped when something warm and calloused wrapped around her hand.

She glanced down, surprised and embarrassed to see Natsu's own hand wrapped around hers.

"You don't have to be ashamed of who you are." Natsu muttered. "I know that you think you're not going to be approved, but even if they don't, that doesn't matter." He turned his head to her and tipped his chin up slightly. He flashed her a boyish grin that showed his abnormal sharp canines. "After all, we're friends, right Luce?"

Lucy stared, and her heart warmed with his sweet words. For once, a soft blush rose to her cheeks, not one of anger or embarrassment, but just... emotion."Yeah." She whispered quietly.

"Don't frown, Luce." Natsu scowled lightly as he pulled her down another hallway. "It's better when you smile."

Lucy felt her cheeks flush even more, and an uncomfortable feeling rose in her chest. "Stupid." Was all she could muster as he stopped at the door at the end of the hall.

He opened it with his free hand, not letting go of hers once. She didn't mind.

Lucy's eyes roamed around the room. It was incredibly large, bigger than her kitchen and living room combined. A massive bed with ruffled sheets and thrown pillows was at the right, and a huge tv in front of it. Several game consoles were littered around, and she could see both a computer and laptop at a wooden desk.

She concluded that it was Natsu's room.

"Where is it?" He muttered to himself, dragging her over to a set of drawers. He opened the small sliding cabinets and checked in each one, carelessly euining the neat folds of his incredibly expensive looking clothes.

Lucy wondered why Natsu would wear something like his vest and sandals when he had something so much more nice to wear.

"What are you looking for?" Lucy asked as he slammed the door and opened the next one.

"Just... Looking..." He answered vaguely, and Lucy huffed.

"Aha!" He yelled in triumph as he fished somethinh from under a red robe and lifted it above his head. It was a white scarf that was frayed at the end, a beautiful scale pattern etched across the fabric.

"Why do you need that?" Lucy asked, tipping her head slightly to the right. "It's the middle of summer!"

Natsu shrugged and wrapped it around his neck. Lucy took notice of how natural is looked sitting there. "I just always wear it. Now c'mon, we gotta go talk to Gajeel and then my old man."

Lucy squeaked and her eyes widened as Natsu pulled her. "Y-You mean, King Igneel?"

Natsu looked at her strangely. "Duh."

Lucy blushed. "But... He's the king!" She whispered shyly.

Her hand limply held on to his larger one as they headed down a hallway and then Natsu opened a door. It revealed to be a staircase, and he stepped down once, pulling along the blond with him.

"So?" Natsu's brows furrowed in confusion.

Lucy scowled. "He might not like me."

"Who cares what that bastard thinks," Natsu snorted. "We've been over this, Luce. I don't care if no one else likes you. I do, and that's all that matters."

Lucy stared at his pink head with awe as they reached the bottom of the stairs and Natsu pushed another door. She ignored the blast of heat and only had eyes for the prince.

She snapped out of it as the sound of clanging filled the air and ringed in her head.

"Oi!" Natsu yelled, tugging Lucy along with him. Only then did she start to feel uncomfortable in the very high and stuffy heat, and was astonished when Natsu didn't seem at all bothered with the temperature.

The clanging stopped, and Lucy's eyes widened as she saw who was exactly making the noise. A tall, very very tall raven haired man scowled at them. He had piercings all over his body, and he actually had them for eyebrows! Wild and tangled hair flowed down his back and to his waist, and the worst part? He wasn't wearing a shirt. Rock hard and chiseled muscles were gleaming with sweat, and Lucy reddened in embarrassment before she adverted her gaze somewhere else.

"Put on a shirt, you bastard," Natsu snapped. He didn't exactly feel that comfortable for some reason with Lucy's face all red like that after she saw Gajeel.

Gajeel scoffed and crossed his arms. "Shut the fuck up, Salamander," he snarled. "What do you want?"

Natsu's eye twitched. "I need a ring."

Gajeel blinked at him. "A ring?"

"That's what I said, asshole."

"Why?"

"Because. I'm gettin' married," Natsu said nonchalantly.

"To Bunny Girl over there?" Gajeel tipped his head toward Lucy.

A tic mark grew on her head and she glared at him, but was too intimidated to actually say anything.

"Yeah! Luce, meet Gajeel, our blacksmith." Natsu beamed cheerfully.

"Wonderful to meet you," Lucy muttered.

Gajeel ignored her and turned back to the large anvil, where he had previously been making a new sword for Erza. "Gihi. Finally got a woman, Natsu? Took ya long enough. Never thought you even knew about the opposite gender with that thick head of yours."

"Shut the fuck up and make an engagement ring," Natsu snapped.

"Fine," Gajeel growled. "Customization?"

"Gold, pearls and diamonds." Natsu started.

"Ring size?"

"Not sure."

Gajeel's hand shot out, and Lucy yelped as he grabbed her wrist and examined her left hand with a sharp eye. He let go of her and turned to Natsu a little.

"Anything else, your majesty?" He asked mockingly.

"Yeah. How about shoving that sword up your ass."

"Sorry, I'm not gay, so not interested." Gajeel shrugged and turned back to the sword.

Natsu's jaw dropped while Lucy stifled her laughter.

"Luce, let's go before this guy's stupidity infects you," Natsu fumed, dragging the blond back to the entrance.

"OI - " Gajeel's roar of protest was the last thing they heard as Natsu slammed the door closed and stomped up the stairs.

Lucy giggled underneath her hand, finding humor in his anger.

"Where are we going now, Natsu?" Lucy asked as they were back above ground once more.

Having calmed down, Natsu shot Lucy an easy going grin. "My old man, of course!"

Lucy's previous smile broke away as her face paled.

"O-Oh..."

Weakly protesting, Lucy was pulled by Natsu to King Igneel's office.

As they stood outside the door, Lucy gulped nervously, and shifted fromt foot to foot.

Would she make a good first impression?

How would he react?

What if he rejected her?

Then that meant she couldn't marry Natsu, and could lose both the farm and Wendy!

As these thoughts flew around her mind in a dizzy way, Natsu for once showed slight respect for his father as he knocked on the door twice.

"Enter."

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Aaand, we leave it off there!

The way - sixteen reviews last chapter? SIXTEEN?

Guys, I'm dying of happiness.

Please review, and the next chapter will be out in two days as always!

LOVE YOU ALL~~~