A/N: Yay for NaLu stories! This is two-shot, so get get too excited. Please R&R emphasis on the review part! Check out my other stories! Love you guys!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

Natsu wasn't much into masquerade balls. We wasn't much for balls in general. He was perfectly happy to stay in the castle and train with his cousins, or roam the grounds, or even roam the castle, which he wasn't completely acquainted with yet.

So one can imagine his displeasure when his uncle told him it was mandatory for him to go. In all fairness, his cousins had to go too, but still. And his uncle was the King, so… Yeah, he kinda had to go. Even the Queen, who was usually sympathetic, was agreeing with her husband.

"I don't want to go to some ball! They're stuffy and annoying." This was the fourth time Natsu had been complaining to his cousins. Gajeel, who was his age, looked like he wanted to beat him up. Even Wendy, who was a few years younger and much more kind, looked slightly miffed.

"Come on, Natsu, it shouldn't be that bad." Wendy said for the fourth time, but it was apparently going over Natsu's thick head.

"Oh, shut up, Pyro, no one cares about a whiny little brat who doesn't wanna go to a stinkin party."

"What'd you say metal face?"

"What'd you call me, salamander?"

"Guys!" Wendy raised her voice. "If you're going to fight, do it in the training room, and get some actual training. Natsu, if you want to complain that badly, go complain to Erza."

Natsu blanched. Erza was the captain of the royal guard, and even though she was a woman, no one thought that didn't deserve the position. She was also the prince's training officer.

"S-she'd kill me…"

"Serves you right."

"Gajeel!" Wendy said in a threatening voice. Gajeel complied. How ever much he hated his pink-haired cousin, he always listened to his sister. And don't let the cute thing fool you. Wendy was adorable, but very fierce when given the chance.

"I'm going to Grandma Porly's." And with that, she turned swiftly, making her white dress swing with the momentum.

"Good luck to the man that marries her."

"No ones marrying my sister! Not under my watch!" Gajeel landed a punch on Natsu's cheek, which then sent the two into an all out brawl. Lord above help those two.

This was an outrage. A complete outrage! Not only did he have to go to a ball, he had to wear stuffy clothes. The ones he wore everyday weren't "classy" enough for the King. He made Natsu go to a tailor. A stiff man they called Freed. He had long green hair, and he was very placid when fitting the pink haired boy. Eventually, he had a new outfit, and it was comfortable, but still stiff.

"One few hours, Natsu. You only have to survive for that long." Wendy was trying to comfort her cousin, who was currently fuming in his room. Wendy was sitting on his bed, and Natsu was pacing.

"But Wendy!" He complained, "It's so uniform! So-"

"Not you?" Wendy interrupted. Natsu nodded vigorously.

"Yes! Exactly!" Wendy chuckled slightly and shook her head. "I mean, you get to wear a dress, at least that's flow-y!"

"Excuse me! Chelia and I spent hours trying to pick the perfect dress and mask for me. Not to mention the heels…" Wendy put her head in her hands. "I can hardly walk in them."

"Chelia?"

"My maid, Natsu."

"Oh, right." Natsu still wasn't accustomed to life here. He had his own valet, but he never asked anything of him.

"But really. Don't fret too much. It will all be over soon."

"Yeah, I hope so Wendy."

Natsu needed to clear his head. He where he always went. The training room. He was flashing a sword back and forth, parry and strike.

"Yo, Pyro!" Natsu stopped, sweat sticking to his brow. He looked up. Usually, anyone who dare address royals in such a casual manner would be put in the stocks. But Gray was Natsu's best friend. They were as close as brothers, despite the fact they never do anything but fight with each other.

"Hey, Ice Princess."

"What are ya training for?"

"Nothing in particular."

"Shouldn't you be helping preparations for the ball?"

"Yeah, but why spend more time doing something I hate?"

Gray shrugged and pulled off his shirt. He picked up a sword.

"Well, might as well do something useful, Pyro." Gray grinned.

Natsu copied his grin. "You're on, Ice Princess!"

"Natsu! Gajeel! Natsu where are you?" Wendy was searching frantically for her cousins, they only had a ten, twenty minutes before they were to be presented to the crowd anxiously waiting to see them. Everyone had arrived an hour ago, and the number of people was almost overwhelming. Now she just had to find the two boys. She tried the training room, Natsu's room, Gajeel's room, even the Guards Quarters.

Wendy sighed. "Where could those two be?" She muttered.

"You talkin bout me, sis?" Wendy gasped and pivoted. Her brother was standing behind her, donned in his outfit, black over coat with a white sash and lots of gold medals and buttons, black pants and shoes.

"Gajeel! You look great!" He shrugged. His long black hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, a complete difference from his usual unruly style.

"Where's your dress?" Wendy looked at her self. She was in her usual green day dress. She nearly screamed.

"I have to go change!" She screeched. She stopped a passing footman. "Tell my maid, Chelia, to get my dress ready. Now please!" The footman ran in the direction of Wendy's room. "Gajeel, I need you to find Natsu. Quickly!" She walked briskly to her room, reminding herself that princesses do not run. But once she turned the corner, she ran anyway.

"There you are, Natsu. Wendy's been looking everywhere for you." Gajeel found him fairly quickly in the gardens in the courtyard.

Natsu said nothing.

"Come on, man, we have to go."

"I.."

Gajeel sighed, knowing what he had to do. Natsu was already changed into an outfit almost exactly like his, but a deep maroon red color with a dark blue sash.

"Nothing will happen."

"I know."

"It wasn't your fault."

"I know." Natsu crouched down and touched a rose gently. "Roses were her favorite." He stood back up and faced his slightly taller cousin, a look of defiance gracing his face. "Let's go."

"The King and Queen of Fiore, Metalicana and Grandeeney." The pair stepped out, hand in hand, and sat in the two center most chairs on a raised platform in the end of the Grand Ballroom. Everyone bowed.

" Prince Gajeel Redfox." He came out, and stood at his father's right hand, looking rather dashing in his princely getup. Everyone bowed.

"Princess Wendy Marvell." The girl stepped out, and stood at her mother's left side. She was wearing a long white sleeveless dress with many ruffles clearly indicating the layers of the dress. A red bow was situated at her waistline, and a the bottom of her white dress was littered with red spots that looked like rose petals. She had elbow length white gloves on. Her long hair was put into a braided bun of sorts, and it rested calmly atop her head. She smiled sweetly. Everyone bowed.

"Lord Natsu Dragneel." Natsu walked up and stood next to Gajeel, a little behind him, looking very regal. Murmurs spread through the crowd. Natsu tried not to let his body deflate, but it showed enough.

A single blonde the crowd bowed. Natsu was surprised. He couldn't see her face, she was already wearing her mask. One by one, everyone else followed her lead.

Metalicana stood up. "Please, everyone, enjoy whatever we have to offer." He gestured to the orchestra, who began to play. Everyone began mingling, some putting on masks they hadn't previously been wearing. The blonde disappeared into the crowd.

He felt a slight pressure on his shoulder. Gajeel had placed his hand there. His cousin held out a mask.

"I knew you'd forget." Natsu smiled.

"Thanks, Gajeel."

The mask was a maroon color, similar to his overcoat. It was a simple shape, but the entire thing looked like scales. When he moved it, the scales shimmered.

"Mine's similar. I asked the townsman to make two, and one in this color." Gajeel pulled on his mask. It was face-fitting, and still scaly looking, but it was silver and looked almost like metal. It shimmered too.

"Thanks, Metal Head!"

"No problem, Fire Brain." Gajeel walked away, down to the the dance floor, and disappeared. Natsu put on his mask. He saw Wendy walk up to him.

"Go. Have fun, Natsu. Don't think about anything else." Natsu smiled.

"Thanks, Wendy." Wendy smiled her dazzling smile and donned her mask. It was extravagant. The base was white and glittery, but on the right side, light red, white and black feathers shot up from the side. It was amazing.

"Let's go, Natsu." She laughed and took his hand and dragged him on the floor.

A/N: Part Two coming out really soon! Stay tuned! Please Please PLEASE review! Check out my other stories!

~Marshy Mar Mar!