Alright guys! Here's the next chapter of Parallels! We hope you enjoy it!

As usual, thanks to everyone who reviewed our last chapter!

The dragon took one look at her and threw his head back, roaring with laughter at the state of her rumpled form.

"Gods!" He shouted, arms wrapping around his chest and his heels digging into the sand. Shaking his head clear of the crunchy filaments, he dragged a hand over his face, tears streaming down his cheeks as he laughed hysterically at Lucy's predicament, "Look at that dumb face! I got you good! "

At once, Lucy's natural indignation flared to life over being called dumb. Excuse him? Where did he get off calling her that? He didn't even know her, and this idiot was giddy about scaring her?

This dragon was rude .

"Uhm, excuse me...?" Lucy stared at the man, who's pealing laughter only seemed to intensify in volume. He ignored her, clutching at his side and pointing at her with the other, a mouthful of sharp teeth open to suck in lungfuls of air.

Oh of all the...

"Hey!" Lucy shrieked at him, tempted to throw a handful of sand directly into his rude face, "It's not funny!"

The dragon's giggles tapered to a stop, but a wide grin still decorated his face. His chest heaved under his vest, the dingy scarf wrapped around his neck flowed with the movement and he braced both his hands in the soft ground.

His chin dropped down, disappearing into the bundled cloth around his throat while he pushed himself forward. For whatever reason, his injury didn't seem to bother him. Not like a giant wound to his side should at least.

"Oh but you are," He purred, his smile growing as each second passed, sharp teeth bared at her. Lucy felt a shiver suddenly run down her spine at the sight of those teeth, capable of tearing easily into soft flesh or cracking into bone.

What was most striking about him were his eyes though. They were dark, very, very dark. Such a deep shade, Lucy had no way of identifying what color this eyes were. But they burned, with a simmering hatred that glowed like smouldering coals. They seared into her, both predatory and hypnotizing.

"It's almost a bummer that I'm going to have to kill you now," He pouted at her, but the way his eyes glittered told Lucy he was not sorry at all.

"What?!" Lucy exclaimed, her shock at his nonchalant statement making her blurt the word aloud. She couldn't have heard that right. He was going to kill her? But why?

"Dunno." He shrugged, alerting her that she'd spoken that last part aloud, "Because I feel like it." He grinned at her, a bright sunny grin that really had no business being on her murderer's face.

All at once, Lucy went numb. She wasn't sure if it was shock, terror, or some combination but she just could not move. She could only stare at him in horror. He wanted to kill her, and he was smiling about it. What kind of sick monster did that?

She didn't want to die. She hadn't done anything to deserve to die. Maybe she wasn't the most important person around, but she liked her life and wanted to keep it! Still, she could not seem to get herself moving as he prowled closer. No matter how much her mind screamed it was like her body had completely shut down and there was no responding to it.

At least, it was that way until he was inside her personal bubble.

Then, out of nowhere, the moment he got close enough for her to feel his hot breath her survival instincts surged to life.

She reacted without thinking and in a move that was one in a million, never to be duplicated, she managed to lash out and land a ferocious kick directly over his injury.

He went flying, though not nearly far enough for her tastes, and dropped like a stone. That was more than enough to galvanize her into action and she bolted for her life for the second time in twenty-four hours.

She didn't bother with picking a direction, or planning anything out. She simply ran. As fast as she could. The more distance she had between herself and the dragon the better. If she was supremely lucky he might even give it up and let her go. Maybe.

She kind of doubted it though with the indignant, and pain filled, swearing she heard being roared behind her.

It spurred her on, but she couldn't help feeling a small sliver of satisfaction he hadn't liked her response to his comment. Served the jackass right.

Unfortunately, her lead was all too temporary as he quickly caught up to her. Which was just all kinds of unfair. How fast was he anyway?

She didn't have time to contemplate it though as he tackled her to the ground, a look of hate filled fury on his face, and raised a flame covered fist.

She instinctively screwed her eyes shut, and cringed, waiting for the pain to begin. But it never came.

Confused, she cautiously opened her eyes a crack when nothing happened, and found the dragon sitting there on top of her with a look of confusion on his face that would've been comical under any other circumstances.

"No!" He hissed, horror coloring his voice, as he bathed his fist in flame and tried to hit her only for it to suddenly snuff out the moment it got near her, "No! You're kidding me right?"

Lucy gawked a little as he abruptly sprang off her and proceeded to bash a coconut tree to smithereens. What was going on? She didn't understand. Not that it was anything new currently. Though she certainly wasn't going to complain.

"No! No, no, no, no, no!" He roared indignantly as he swung around at her, a dark look twisting his face, "Fire dragon roar!"

Lucy had just enough time to squeak in horror as the column of flame shot at her, but just like his fist, it moved around her in a sphere of protection. It wasn't even hot. She was somehow protected from it.

She had no idea how this could be, but she embraced the miracle with both arms and went limp with relief. He couldn't hurt her. He couldn't kill her. She was going to live.

Those thoughts spun around and around in her head as the adrenaline coursed out of her. They were all she cared about too. He could bash palm trees all day long if he wanted as long as he couldn't kill her.

Unfortunately, he didn't seem care about her desire to cling to any kind of relief as she suddenly found him directly in her face and glaring at her intently. Not that she expected anything different at this point.

"You bound me." He growled intently, "Release me."

Lucy blinked, "I what?" She asked in confusion.

"Don't play stupid!" He yelled, waving his arms in a way that was somehow both threatening and reminded her of a five year old having a temper tantrum, "I'm bound to you!"

Okay, she still wasn't sure what that meant in his context, but she could guess, and a smirk worked its way over her lips. He was bound to her? Like that subjugation thing Leo had talked about? Which, apparently among other things, meant he couldn't hurt her?

"No." She replied primly, enjoying the way his face registered shock at actually being told no, before morphing into the definite beginnings of a temper tantrum.

"Even if I knew how, which I don't," She continued, ignoring his growing temper, "I wouldn't. I'm not dumb enough to let a guy who just said he was going to kill me actually have the freedom to do it."

She got up and brushed herself off, her smirk every bit as sharp as his had been earlier. Was it petty she was enjoying crushing his hopes and thwarting him so much? Probably. Did that make it any less satisfying? Not even slightly.

There was a certain amount of satisfaction she felt at the way his eyes followed her, resentment hot in his eyes. In fact, feeling bold, she turned and blew a raspberry at him.

The dragon's eyes went wide at the sight of her ballsy courage, and his entire head exploded into flames. Lucy jolted at the sight of his head on fire, his arms crossing over his chest and his eyes narrowed into sharp points of fury.

"Argh!" He screamed, snapping his fangs furiously at her and stomping off down the beach, kicking a huge wave of sand into the air. Lucy watched his bare feet slam down into the sand, the heat from him coming off hot enough to harden the sand enough to make the surface look glassy.

He didn't seem to pay it any mind as suddenly the fight drained from him and he sat down heavily in the sand and hunched over his knees. The dragon drew them up to his chest, tan arms wrapping around his legs and chin resting on the top of them.

Now he was sulking?

The real question was if he was sulking because he was stuck to Lucy, or if he couldn't kill her. Her eyes rolled up to the sky, landing onto the tree he had all but demolished in his fit of temper. Catching sight of something familiar on the ground thanks to his fists beating against the tree, Lucy was unable to stop the smile from lighting her face.

Coconuts.

Perhaps he hadn't intended on helping her, but Lucy was not one to look away when she was in desperate need for something to drink. She had enough odds and ends in her purse. Not to mention there were plenty of rocks around to help her crack open the stubborn nut.

She gathered the ones fallen on the ground, stuffing another in her purse to save for later.

"Hey," She called out to the dragon. His pink head ducked even lower between broad shoulders, his chin turning just enough to give her a mean look before whipping back around.

Lucy thought she saw the patch of ocean he was glaring at begin to boil.

He continued to ignore her, even as Lucy walked up behind him. Still exercising some caution, since she didn't know the particular rules of the spell keeping him in check, she stopped just out of his arms reach. Not that she figured it would do her any good if he could attack her. He was both blinding fast and strong. Something he had proven in an instant.

"Excuse me?" She called out again.

The dragon muttered something uncomplimentary under his breath, but she was able to make out the word 'fat.'

There was a quote Lucy was fond of, 'Never poke a sleeping dragon in the eye, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.'

That was precisely what she was about to do.

Lucy hurtled one of her spare coconuts at the back of the dragon's rude head, making him yelp and rock forward. His head was hard enough to cause it to split in half right through the center, and Lucy had just enough time to marvel at her good luck before he was whipping around on her.

"What the hell you crazy human!" He spat out, his hands raising up to his head, fingers fisting in pink locks, "What did you just throw at me?"

Lucy walked over towards him and bent down, scooping up both halves of the coconut before they could be trampled or filled with sand from his new fit. She arched an eyebrow at him.

"Just a coconut, unfortunately I couldn't toss some manners at you," She muttered.

She held out one half of the coconut to him in a peace offering, his eyes slanted into sharp, distrustful slits before his greed got the best of him and he snatched it from her hands, crunching down it, hull and all.

Lucy tried not to gawk at the sight of the dragon, and she really should learn his name at some point, crunching down half a coconut hull. That was some fairly impressive jaw power. Which made her all the gladder that he couldn't direct it at her. She was definitely soft and squishy compared to him. Even in his current form.

She shook her head a little and decided applying herself to her half of the coconut was better than just gawping at him. So she quickly lifted her half of the coconut to her lips, pleased that so much liquid was still in it, and drank deeply.

After who knew how long without a drink of any kind it was the best tasting thing she'd ever had. She sighed softly in bliss and eagerly downed it all. She had a swiss army knife in her purse she could use to slice at the flesh.

It wasn't any kind of royal feast, but it still refreshed her, and gave her a bit of extra strength. Though she was fast running out of steam.

Between the messed up times and all the excitement she'd had since arriving she was wiped. But she knew better than to try and bed down without building herself at least a rudimentary nest. And preferably finding something else to eat with her coconuts.

She smiled at the surly looking dragon, who was still scowling at her, "That's better." She eyed him contemplatively for a moment, "So...what's your name?" She asked curiously.

The question startled him, "You want to know my name?" He asked incredulously, and his eyes narrowed distrustfully again, "Why?" He demanded.

Lucy sighed and shook her head, "Because I thought maybe it would be better than saying 'hey you' all the time?" She quipped and rolled her eyes, "But whatever. I'm going to see if I can find some more food or something. You can stay here and sulk if you want to."

If he was going to be rude she saw no reason why she couldn't give back as good as she got.

With any luck she would soon be on her way home and she could forget this nightmare ever took place.

With that thought in mind she turned and started moving inland. However, she didn't get very far, maybe a hundred yards, before she heard a startled yelp. She looked back over her shoulder and her jaw dropped at the sight of the dragon on the ground apparently being dragged along in her wake.

What. The. Hell?

There was no way that was right. She could not be seeing proof that he couldn't leave her vicinity.

But that was exactly what it was. No sooner had she thought that than he was on his feet, "What the hell's the big idea lady?" He snarled at her.

"How would I know?" She snapped back, her own temper finally fraying, "I didn't ask for your ass to be dragged along behind me you know! You know just as much as I do! Maybe even more since this stuff actually makes sense to you!"

It was getting frustrating. As soon as she thought she was being given a break, something slapped her right in the face to correct her of that misconception. This was a situation that was not bound to work well for either of them.

"I have no idea what's going on and suddenly I'm being told that a dragon, whose name I don't even know is my literal ball and chain," Lucy exclaimed, shrieking her frustration at him. The dragon pulled a grumpy face, his hands slamming down on his ears and he 'tsk'd at her. As if he had something better to do with his time.

Who even knew with dragons.

"Gods, you are so noisy have you even heard yourself talk?" The dragon complained, his lips pulled down in a grumpy frown. Lucy swore if she got her hands on another coconut, this one she was going to cram down his mouth whole.

"Fine, I don't usually tell my name to humans but since you're being so annoying about this whole thing, my name is Natsu," He scoffed, dark eyes fastening intently on her.

What.

The way he was looking at her told Lucy he was expecting something. Some form of reaction. Maybe shock and fear. In fact, he began to look a little disappointed when she wasn't trembling in terror.

"I'm Lucy?" She asked, voicing her name more as a question in response to his expectant look.

At her nonchalance, his jaw dropped open, his shoulders rolling down and his eyebrows climbing into his hairline. It was as if he couldn't even believe she had no idea who he was.

"Seriously, that's it?" He gestured towards her, looking deeply disappointed for some reason. Natsu waved his hands around and Lucy was reminded of a Vegas magician thanks to the wild motions he made.

"You don't know who I am? Really?" Natsu demanded, hands dropping down onto his hips, the one on his left side falling a little lower to avoid touching his injury, "What kinda rock have you been living under girlie?"

"Lucy," She immediately corrected, finding she didn't much care for the taste 'girlie' left behind in her mouth. Straightening up her shoulders as much as possible. Trying to look as imposing as possible when faced with a dragon was a daunting task, especially since he looked totally unfazed.

"And no I don't, I'm not exactly from around these parts," She insisted, "This isn't my world, I just sorta... fell through."

Natsu stared at the delicate, almost fragile, looking human before him in shock. Another world? This brainless looking bit of fluff was the one who had opened the gate?

There was no way.

The power surge from that gate had been enough to alert him halfway across his territory. How could a girl, who looked like she should be at home in a palace being waited on by servants, have done that?

And yet there was no denying how powerful that surge of magic had been. As evidenced by how quickly Hades and his goons had found her. There probably wasn't a single alarm she hadn't set off when she'd done that.

And he was bound to her. Wonderful.

At least he had an idea of how it had happened now. No doubt that gold light from her spell had been a bad attempt at going home. That much holy energy concentrated in place would've acted like a magnet for Hades' subjugation. Holy spells always gravitated towards greater concentrations of the same kind of magic. And anyone who could open a gate between worlds would be the equivalent of a bonfire next to a candle.

He was very carefully not going to think about how that 'candle' had been successfully subjugating him before her interference.

Not that he was going to be letting her know that. There was no telling what she would do with the knowledge. And he was already at enough of a disadvantage as it was. At this point he wasn't even sure if he would be left behind if she did go back to her world.

"Hmph. No wonder you don't know anything." He snorted derisively instead, crossing his arms as he thought about what to do.

The 'smart' thing would probably be to play nice and try to get her to loosen, if not break, the bond. Except he didn't want to play nice. He was pissed off over being bound, and annoyed he was stuck following this ignorant little girl everywhere.

Still, there was no reason he couldn't have some fun with it.

He turned a bright, toothy, grin on her that had her paling and taking a step back involuntarily, "But at least that explains a few things!" He told her cheerfully, enjoying her confusion over his apparent sudden change of mood.

"Explains what?" She asked, but he just cackled and stepped into her space, "Well, c'mon! I'm not gonna get any rest until you get whatever you wanted to do done right? So let's go!"

He grabbed her wrist, making sure it wasn't in a threatening way, and abruptly tore off, pulling her in his wake.

Natsu dragged the flimsy little mortal behind him, a wicked smile darkening his face as he pulled her along. She might have solidified the spell on him, but there were ways to get rid of it. Hades was the one who cast it, and if the crunchy little whelp fancied having himself a pet dragon, he would gladly give him the option of trying his hand again.

It taught Natsu just a touch of humility to realize perhaps he shouldn't play with his food. But just crushing slime like Hades wasn't as satisfying. Natsu had wanted to drag it out a little...

...Which was what landed him in this situation in the first place.

Lucy was a problem. But not an insurmountable one. He just had to figure out a good way to use her, before she realized how she could use him. Until then, he was going to hold his tongue on his identity.

He grinned with a ferocity that left him breathless. As annoying as it was, it had been a very long time since he had this much fun. His fingers crept up towards the ragged scarf looped around his neck, his heart fluttering in excitement.

This was an adventure, and at the very least it would be interesting. There was no doubt Natsu would have his work cut out for him to try and figure out a way to crush his new enemies, the celestial princess included, but whatever happened...

It was going to be exciting.

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