Hi there, it's been a while, hasn't it? I'm writing with a little sadness, because you see, this might be farewell. With you readers and with 'Attention, this is war!'. Lately I've been remembering all kinds of scenes from this story, and I gotta say it's being nostalgic for me. Wiping away a tear, I present you the last chapter of a fairy tale I like to call my own, featuring Hiro Mashima's brilliant characters, Natsu Dragneel (with the copy-slightly-changed-paste version of mine, Natsu Fremont), Lucy Heartfilia (with the copy-slightly-changed-paste version of mine, Lucy Sketchnik), Erza Scarlet, Gray Fullbuster (with his copy-very-changed-paste version of mine as the legendary Prince with a frozen heart), and the other characters with smaller contribution: Jude Heartfilia, Laila Heartfilia, Igneel Dragneel, Cana Alberona, Macao Conbolt, Romeo Conbolt (yesss, I might've forgotten one or two, but you will forgive me). I want to thank you all for sticking with me all this time, especially through the last arc (not the small one with the dwarfs, the one with Gray). I know it has been boring, but that was my intention from the very beginning.

Without further ado, which is a little too late, I now present you:

The Present

It is a compulsory law, that a boy at Natsu Dragneel's age of 19- no, sorry, 18 years old, is in the need for power and fame. But it also is a compulsory law, that in the –very possible, of course- situation of journeying through time and space into another world, a boy at Natsu Dragneel's age will suffer a complete change of perspective and personality and won't be in the need for power and fame anymore. In most of the cases.

Natsu was shifting nervously in front of house he once had thought he would never see again. The golden tag naming the Heartfilia family was hung above the door a few steps away from him and he couldn't wait to watch it opening. He hadn't had any sleep the previous night. Considering the sleepover had happened in a Friday, the weekend passed and now, it was Monday. He couldn't believe he had resisted so many hours without seeing her or without hearing her voice. It had even crossed her mind to call her right that moment, in the middle of the night, but with a little bit of reasoning, he had given up.

Now, he wasn't nervous because he was about so see her, but because the weight he was carrying of his shoulder was the weight of his bag, filled with books and notebooks that had belonged to his previous life. School was back in his daily routine and he wasn't that positive he could get used to this. He breathed in deeply and watched wide eyed the playful rays of the sun pouring through the apple trees and on the ground.

The memory of Jane and her little house in the Red Town, where the apple trees' smell had been so alluring… but they couldn't compare with the smell of home. A bright smile bloomed on his lips. Yes, he was definitely so happy to be back. Even though it all seemed like a dream… It seemed like it was one of the best dreams of his, to be finally back home. The calm wind blowing in his face, the sound of the singing birds, the smell of the grass, it was all unmistakable. This was home!

He grinned enthusiastically. His wide eyes scanned the surroundings, absorbing the well known view of the two houses, the mountains in the horizon, the thin, neat path towards the road where he had watched hundreds, thousands of times the bus come.

It all happened to suddenly.

But why did it happen in the first place? The image of the raven haired witch met in a mysterious manner. Lollipop was obviously the answer to that question.

She had told him the only way to exit Fairy Tale world was through her portals. Had that been a lie? Or, could have there been a hidden secret that said, when the two from Earth die, they return to their own space and time? His eyes sparkled playfully. That sly witch… she has always had an ace in her sleeve. And to think that after so many dangerous moments when they had feared death, in the end it would've been a faster way of escaping. Frustrating, but it made him laugh. He was so happy!

He thought about the witch and decided he was going to miss her. She had, indeed, been the most painful pain the ass, but… if she hadn't done what she had done, Natsu wouldn't have found out what the most important thing in his life was.

And that moment, the most important thing of his came out through the opening door. Her long hair flew in the morning air over her beautiful face, giving her trouble and making her shut her eyes. Natsu laughed at the funny, adorable scene. Lucy raised her long eyelashes and after fixing her hair, she threw him the most innocent look ever. His heart skipped a beat and he now found himself sweating nervously under that intense orbit of chocolate. She looked at his big figure and she was filled with happiness and pride to have such a wonderful boyfriend.

Yeah, you read that right. Her first boyfriend.

Her mouth widened and she began laughing sweetly.

''Good morning!''

And she did what she would have never, ever, ever done a few days ago in the same world. She threw away her bag and sprinted towards him. She landed with a 'puff' in his big, warm hug. Her lungs filled with the scent of him and it made her exalted.

''Guess what!'' she chuckled.

''What?'' he whispered with his face buried at her neck.

''I just remembered how six months ago I used to need glasses.''

He opened his eyes and pushed her away gently. He looked at her surprised. She laughed.

''I can see perfectly. I don't need them anymore.''

He started laughing: ''That's amazing!'' He hugged her and started spinning around, both of them laughing like crazy.

''Stop!'' she giggled. ''Come on, we'll miss the buss on our first day.''

He put her down panting lightly and looking at her with shinning eyes.

''I don't care, Lu. I want to be with you forever.''

She blushed when his lips pressed against hers hardly. Suddenly, as if it was her first time, everything seemed to stop around her. Inside her, the most wonderful feeling called love exploded in a billion colors, spreading warm and cold shivers, making her feel like she ruled the world. Her new gravity was Natsu, with his soft, good smelling pink hair of his, with his protective, muscular hug of his, and with his hot, smiling lips, that belonged to her and to her alone.

They parted and she breathed in trying to calm the beatings of her heart. That had been the most amazing feeling she remembered. It had been their first kiss in this world. Thinking about this, she let out a sweet giggle. Natsu looked at her with love and they kissed again.

Inside the two houses, two mothers were sitting secretively at the windows, blushing and smiling amazed. They watched as such a strong love between the two couldn't be more obvious. How could such a miracle happen?

The honk of the bus woke them up from their dream land.

There it was, the dirty old car where the kids are pushing each other to the windows, where the silence never found its existence, where time passed the slowest. But surprisingly, riding the bus for the two seemed so fun today!

They never noticed the odd stares from the teenager who knew the two neighbors, now riding side by side, guzzling each other with their looks. And even if they had, they wouldn't have cared.

They talked about how none of their wounds still marked their bodies while the other physical changes had remained, as promised from Lollipop. They also talked about these new changes and how they had noticed their parents' reactions. Of course, it all seemed like they had been like that from the very beginning. Six months of seeing each other almost every single day mattered a lot. And so, they reached the point of starting to complement each other for the good looks in the school uniforms.

''It's the first time you're wearing yours, isn't it?'' Lucy smiled kindly.

''Let's talk about something else.'' Natsu also smiled kindly.

And so, they changed again the topic.

The school gates now stood before them, large and mighty as if it was their first day of high school. Well, it was like that for Lucy only. Natsu was just grinning like crazy.

''I can't wait.''

''Why?!'' she asked scared, taking a step back. The students were passing beside them, entering the yard.

''You kidding me?!'' he laughed. ''I'm going to see my friends after such a long time!''

''O-oh… right…'' she said lowering her head sadly. This didn't fail to reach his attention and he smiled.

''Come on, Lu, cheer up. It's going to be alright. You can make friends now!''

''What makes you say that?'' she asked doubtfully.

He threw her a short surprised look and then simply stared at her.

''Are you kidding me?'' he grabbed her shoulders and looked into her chocolate eyes.

''Are you seriously scared?''

''I… don't have faith in myself…'' she whispered.

Natsu lifted her chin gently.

''Lucy Heartfilia, you've been killed and revived, you've tricked the most feared person in a whole kingdom, you've killed a dragon and you even were a Queen for a little while. You participated in a war! And you're telling me you don't have faith in yourself?''

She looked up in his eyes with a little hope.

''You're scared of what? A bunch of mean girls?''

He smiled at her and she smiled back. She nodded slowly.

''Yeah. I guess you're right…'' she paused. ''Let's go, shall we?''

A blond girl ran a hand through her hair and sighed with boredom. She exited her classroom and watched lazily the students coming from the opposite direction she was going. She measured a hot guy from head to toe and grinned slyly when their eyes met. She pulled forth her showing chest and then their eye-contact broke when she continued her walk, her hips swinging from one side to another. Her blue eyes charged boldly into the distance when sight of pink caught her attention. Ah. She smirked, the well known salmon hair along with the fresh memories of the kiss from the previous day sending hot shivers through her body. She double checked her facial expression in the screen of the newest mobile phone on the market. She then stepped forward with full confidence.

But suddenly, something unexpected met her attention. Natsu was talking to a blond girl. She narrowed her eyes and shock and realization hit her hard: wasn't that Lucy Heartfilia, from her class? She read on Natsu's lips the words that shocked her: ''Don't worry. I'll be there to protect you.''. She widened her eyes as she saw him grin and then lower and kiss her.

The kiss was so plain and simple and, at the same time, you could definitely read such a sweet love in it that it blew up into a horrible feeling of jealousy inside her. It was so innocent and humble and something that she'd never had.

The shock and disappointment twirled her on her heel and made her walk away feeling infuriated. She met with her friends and told them a joke: a rumor said that Natsu Dragneel was having a relationship with the ugliest nerd in the school.

And this was only the beginning of what to follow.

The bell rang and Natsu parted with Lucy for the first class.

It began alright, but when both of them realized they had forgotten everything they knew, it continued as a game of tag where they were the teachers' bait. During the entire class, Elion, the most popular girl in class, if not is school, was glaring doubtfully at Lucy. She threw a questioning look at the blonde that had spread that ridiculous rumor about that nerd having a relationship with the most popular guy in school. She thought for a moment. Pulling out her notebook fast, she then ripped the corner of a page and started scribbling something on it.

She bended forth and tapped the shoulder of the guy in front of her desk. He looked at her and then read what was written. He widened his eyes and then held in an amused laughter. He did the same thing as Eliot for the same person until the whole class beside Lucy knew what was written on the piece of paper. They all looked weirdly at Lucy.

Meanwhile, in Natsu's classroom, the form master brought in a shy, short girl with blue hair and a pair of glasses hiding nervous eyes dedicated to the floor's landscape.

''Class, this is a little sudden, but today we have a new student.'' the woman smiled to the girl. ''Why don't you introduce yourself, sweetie?''

''H-Hello, my name is Levy McGarden. C-Call me Levy.''

She looked shyly at the teenagers and realized only two or three were actually looking at her, the rest playing and talking with each other. She saddened. Such a bad start she had.

''Do you have any questions for Levy, class?'' the form master called out tapping her pen on the desk repeatedly. As the noise slightly cleared out, a few hands raised and Levy answered silently. After that, she was asked to take a seat in the desk at the back of the classroom. She walked with small, fast steps, luckily escaping a trip when Gray stretched his legs ''tiredly". She sat and held her bag tightly. The guy sitting in the desk in front of hers spun around in his chair and looked at her with a happy grin. She noticed his amazingly good looks and especially his pink hair.

''Yo!'' Natsu greeted to which she responded blushing madly. ''You seem nice, do you want to be my girlfriend's friend?''

She raised her eyes at him surprised. It wasn't exactly what she was expecting from a guy that could've been very well an amazingly popular guy. Before she could say anything, a few heads shot towards the two of them with surprised expressions.

''Did you just say girlfriend? You've got a girlfriend?''

Natsu turned his attention to them and told them to shut up, but from the happy expression on his face, the answer was already obvious.

Lucy frowned and scratched the back of her head for the fourth time that morning. What in the world was that itchy feeling like she was being glared at? She turned her head around and looked through the teenagers behind her, but they all seemed to be looking at the walls or out the windows. Some of them were also whistling sheepishly. She decided to ignore it and try catching up with the amazingly boring classes. How had she been able to actually like these things in the past?! All she could think about while hearing of the revolution of literature in who-knows-what-year were the green fields in the Kingdom of Dragons and the clear ice in the Kingdom of Frozen Roses. But what made her heart race with adrenaline was the image of herself sprinting down the plains or swimming in the cold waters or jumping off a cliff into a lake, all beside the love of her heart. And here, she smiled remembering the scent of his hair, the warmth of his chest, the sound of his voice and… the taste of his lips… And she found herself blushing and squealing lightly.

Eliot looked at her shocked. The look on Lucy's face was the one of a girl in love. So were the rumors, indeed, true? Was she really the girlfriend of her crush? Of Natsu, the hothead of the school, the one that had all the girls at his feet when wanted? Why would he aim for a nerd?

The bell rang and Eliot didn't wait another moment to spoil her curiosity.

She rose up and approached Lucy. Her right hand tapped softly the desk getting Lucy's attention. Meanwhile, the teacher was leaving the classroom. When the door closed, silence fell in. They had all read the note. They were all prepared for attack.

Lucy's eyes lifted slowly and set upon the beautiful girl's features. She closed the remaining books and notebooks and asked:

''Hello Eliot.'' She smiled and all the memories of how she had been influenced by this girl in the past gathered up in her mind. Suddenly, her features seemed a little plain in her eyes. But wait, what had she admired Eliot in the past for? She had nothing special but too much make up and a much too big décolletage. ''It's been a while, hasn't it?''

''Why,'' Eliot replied coldly ''it's only been a weekend, love.'' She then smiled sweetly and such fake kindness sickened Lucy. ''Have you missed me over two days?''

''Definitely not!'' Lucy laughed thinking about those six months in Fairy Tale. But a moment later, she was shocked herself of what she had said. Well, she hadn't meant to be rude or anything, honesty had just overwhelmed her. This thought made her smile.

Eliot along with the rest of the class stared at her surprised. The girl decided to ignore that sign of unfaithfulness she had seen in her eyes.

The guys in the basketball team rose high and tall and lifted their chins. Their tough arms crossed at their chests as they slowly circled the classroom and reached the door. They let their backs fall softly on the wall. Lucy caught the move with the sharp corner of her eye. She knew they were guarding so that nobody could enter and especially exit the room.

But she simply sat her hands on her laps and pretended not to notice or care. In truth, she only cared a little, assuming she could find no reason for this sudden pick-up.

''Love, I'd like to have a little chit-chat with you, is that alright?'' Eliot smiled so sweetly.

''Of course, if it won't take too long.''

''Oh? Are you in a hurry, scratching cat?'' the girl twitched her smile. Was it her imagination or has Lucy gotten bolder?

''Yes, I have to visit somebody.'' Lucy smiled telling the truth. Just the thought of Natsu brought joy to her heart.

''Great. Then I'll make it short for you.''

Lucy watched surprised as Eliot's smile faded away and instead she was glaring at her. The other girls had gathered in front of her desk cross-armed.

''Do you know Natsu?''

Lucy returned her attention from the girls back to Eliot. She looked at her innocently and slightly surprised.

''Natsu? Of course I do, he's my…''

But then she suddenly stopped. Realization hit her and she frowned. So this was it. This was the reason they looked like they were picking up on her.

The entire class waited with their breaths held at what she had been about to say. They all knew the word.

''Your what?'' the girl asked surprised and angered.

''… my neighbor.'' Lucy answered cautiously.

A couple of girls at the back of the classroom sighed with relief.

''Your neighbor?'' Eliot asked with her thin eyebrows lifted.

''Yes, he's my neighbor. We've known each other for a couple of years now.''

''Like, how many?'' a guy asked with a smirk. No way the person he admired most in the school would know such a nerd. The girl had to be lying.

''Like, eighteen.'' Lucy answered with a sarcastic tone. These people were getting on her nerves.

They all gasped and Lucy watched Eliot's face turn pale.

''And what's your relationship with him?''

Lucy looked at her sharply. The popularity returned a glare and at the same time she was shocked of the defying piercing eyes she had in front of her.

''Why do you ask?'' Lucy asked in a quiet tone.

''Because I want to know!'' Eliot suddenly yelled and everybody but Lucy froze. They had never seen the sweet girl lose her patience like that. Noticing the fact that she was standing beside a possibility to lose her popularity, Eliot sighed and retreated a few steps, burying her angry eyes in her palm.

''Ah, look what you're doing to me. It's not even noon and I'm already getting pissed off.''

Lucy looked at her and her eyebrows lifted at the same time with a smile. She couldn't control her face react to the amusement she was feeling that moment. She couldn't believe she was witnessing such a situation. She had never been able to imagine such a situation. The realization of a natural emotion Eliot must've been feeling that moment amused her out of word.

''Don't tell me…'' she began smiling widely with a pair of glittering eyes.

The reaction of the teenagers was one: surprise, no, shock!

Eliot watched her and her entire body started trembling with rage when she saw how happy Lucy looked.

''You're jealous of me!''

It then felt like the winter of the North Pole moved into the class. The girl standing in front of Lucy froze a shocked stare towards her and she felt like she couldn't move. As her face at first was white, it slowly began to turn red.

''…what…?''

''I'm right, am I not?'' Lucy asked and suddenly burst out laughing. The sun shone through the window and sparkled on her happy face.

On the contrary, the faces of the rest of the kids were all wide mouths and eyes. Some even backed up preventing a horrible burst from Eliot.

You could literally watch as her fists were shaking and her eyes widen with hate and anger.

She gritted her teeth and tried to calm down.

''What do you just say?'' she said quietly. ''I dare you to say it again.''

Lucy held in a giggle and said:

''It's alright Eliot, I don't want to anger you even more. Let's not ruin that pretty make up of yours, ok?'' she smiled and then returned her attention to the notebooks.

''I am NOT jealous on anybody, love.'' Eliot hit the desk as hard as she could and forced a smile. Lucy flinched at the sound and looked again at her.

''Now answer my question.'' she continued coldly. ''We're all…'' she said as she spun her glare throughout the students looking at them ''… curious of your answer.''

''Why do I have to answer it?'' Lucy asked a little rudely.

''Because I say so.'' Eliot threw lightning from under the long eyelashes.

''Well nobody is forcing me to say anything. And I don't want to.''

''Why? Is there something you would rather hide?'' Eliot gritted her teeth.

''Yo, you deaf, bit*h?'' a guy yelled angrily. ''She told you to answer the damn question.''

Lucy looked at him coldly. She inspected him from head to toe.

''You're Jason, right?'' she asked silently. She grimaced at the figure of him. ''Dang, I can't believe I used to like you.''

He twitched surprised at both her words and her glare. The rest of them all felt the same.

She returned her attention in a sick way to Eliot.

''Sweetie, I also have a question for you.''

'I used to be a queen', Lucy thought. 'I used to be in charge of a Kingdom, even if it only lasted for a little. Who is this girl to talk to me like that?'

What followed was that Lucy suddenly rose up from her seat, slowly, creating tension. She straightened her back for the first in her life while being in front of popular girls. She threw her eyelashes up and opened her eyes. She set them on that expression that she felt she despised. Her face inches apart from Eliot's, their bodies slightly touched. The shock of everybody was to realize Lucy was much taller that the other girl. They watched as the blonde was literally looking down at the popular girl. But what isn't right in that previous sentence is that suddenly, the word 'popular' didn't fit Eliot anymore. If you came in and looked at the two, all you saw was a beautiful lady, a queen standing in front of a manikin made in China. This was the reality.

And the reality hit them all, in its whole greatness and beauty.

''Since when have you been this short?'' Lucy said quietly and calmly.

Eliot hesitated one moment and then couldn't take the pressure of her presence anymore and backed up. The silence was deep. Lucy thanked her shortly and then made used of the space made to walk away.

''Now if you'll excuse me.'' she walked proudly with straight back and secure steps. The effect this had on the teenagers suddenly made then change their opinion of the 'nerd' Lucy Heartfilia. Nerd? What a joke! If this wasn't a true lady, then what was one?

And why was she so beautiful? Has she always been like this? The girls looked at her shyly and with respect and admiration. The guys made her way looked after her when she exited the classroom. Only Eliot and her bunch of 'popular' girls could not accept the idea that they had been defeated in their own game.

''Wait!''

But Lucy kept going. Eliot suddenly lost her entire patience and ran after her yelling: ''I told you to WAIT!'' she caught up and jabbed her nails into Lucy's shoulder.

The blonde widened her eyes and a little light twitched inside her eyes. This does it.

She gripped the waist of the thin hand that had hurt her and then the arm with her other hand. She bended forth and her legs parted. What followed was an Eliot being thrown over the shoulder of a Lucy and an Eliot screaming with pain and crying.

The teenagers came running out of the classroom and only saw the ending of the scene with the girl laying on the ground and crying and Lucy glaring down at her.

''What the-''

''OMG!'' some guys yelled while grinning like crazy. '' The bit*h from C got it good from somebody!''

''What?!'' the rumors started to spread. The other spectators from the hallway were looking wide eyed at the two.

''Eliot!'' the girls all ran out to help her.

''Eliot!'' Lucy yelled above all sounds. Everybody turned their attention at her amazed. ''I will answer your question!''

The girl had her mascara spread over her wet cheeks and she looked pathetically up at Lucy.

''Natsu Dragneel is my boyfriend.'' The words sounded loud and clear through the hall and everybody was talking enthusiastically.

''And nobody can do anything about it!''

All eyes were pinned on her severe expression, and she was looking so cool and mighty that they all started asking each other who was she and why hadn't them known her until then.

''My dogs, that chick rocks!'' the guys beat each other on their backs happily. ''Did you see how she threw her over her shoulder?''

''I only know one other person who can perfectly perform that move.'' a raven haired guy muttered looking at her shocked. The other boys greeted him.

''Gray! You saw it?''

''And that's…'' Gray continued.

A pink haired guy showed up from the crowd. He gathered attention because he was laughing, looking like he was having the time of his life.

Lucy looked at Eliot once again and suddenly, she widened her eyes and backed up.

''Ah!'' she exclaimed shocked, looking at her own hands.

The pink haired guy whom everybody knew as Natsu Dragneel stepped forth and screamed:

''That's my girl!''

The expressions of the ones present changed again to shock. The watched as Natsu hugs Lucy from the back and the girl's eyes starts tearing. He kept laughing and she turned around and faced him with a crying expression.

''Natsu! What have I done?! I hit a person on my first day!''

Natsu laughed harder holding his stomach.

''WHAT?!'' all students screamed. ''She's Natsu's girlfriend?!''

Eliot looked at them with huge eyes.

''So… it's true? Lucy Heartfilia, the invisible nerd is together with Natsu Dragneel?'' she asked softly, with shock. The blonde who had started the entire commotion with the rumor hugger her tighter not moving her eyes away from the weird couple: him laughing, her sobbing.

''No, Eliot.'' She said a little scared. ''I wouldn't say that she's exactly invisible.''

And looking at her, she was suddenly surrounded by the whole school and, most importantly, by the crush of every girl on the planet. The hottest guy that was, out of the blue, hotter than ever when they all knew he was unforgivably taken.

''Let's just stay away from her for the time being.'' another girl said softly. ''I don't like the change in her.''

They carried the wounded girl to the nurse's office and the girl who had been named famous disappeared without anybody noticing. All attention was on Lucy and Natsu, the newest and weirdest couple.

After the break was over, everything fortunately came back to normal for Lucy. She wasn't used to suddenly being popular and she didn't like it either. Natsu had told her that she'd have to get used to it eventually because being his girlfriend was not something that could pass unnoticed.

However, it only lasted for a couple of months. The students all saw that these two didn't have any desire of being popular; more than that, they didn't care. They were just two lovebirds that you could always see talking to each other, fighting with each other, laughing with each other. They weren't they type of couple that everybody would be jealous on, but still they had something that anybody would want to have. They had that love that was so pure and simple and that, at the same time, was so generous.

Watching them walk while holding hands and smiling at each other made you want to do the same. It was charming just to see them. And much to all the girls' disappointment, Natsu never broke up with Lucy during high school. Soon, this fact also began disappointing the boys.

About their friends, Natsu was saddened to be left by many of his friends when they realized he wasn't the guy who would bring them popularity anymore. The ones that remained beside him were Gray (to whom Natsu would glare to from time to time remembering that this same face belonged to a despicable enemy of his –to whom he secretly wished the best-), Gajeel (who had a crush on the new student and Lucy's best friend Levy), Jellal (a weird guy that despite looking handsome, had no interest in girls except for the red haired one), Leo and others not that close.

Lucy began being approached by many girls who pretended they wanted to be her friends, but she knew it was all fake. The only one she truly trusted and cared for was Levy, the new student that was presented to her by Natsu. How lucky of her. Now the approaching of the guys is not to be mentioned. At first, most of those guys ended up in the hospital because of Natsu (who had learned not to let anybody get near Lucy from the experience with Fairy Tale Gray), but after many, many begging from Lucy, he entrusted her to get rid of them herself.

…

And then…

Time passed.

Days, weeks, months flew by them, until…. Years flew by.

~May, Five years after the Fairy Tale experience~

Lucy looked outside the round window of the plane as it was closing up the remaining meters from the wheels and the ground. She smiled nervously to see her home town again.

The airport was crowded as usual. Many people in their suits or in their holiday clothes were walking in every direction while above all noise, a robotic woman voice was announcing the flights. Lucy stepped away from the crowd she came along with, her heels stepping fast on the cement. She was easily dragging a huge suitcase behind her.

Reaching the taxi parking lot, she randomly chose one and after placing the suitcase in the trunk, she entered and sat in the back seat. She sighed and dusted her tight, elegant skirt and the black blouse in which she was extremely warm in that hot day of May.

She couldn't concentrate on anything that moment. She felt extremely nervous. She was finally back home after studying abroad for so long.

Looking outside the window, it felt like she never left. But so many things had happened while she was gone.

She could easily see herself from five year ago. A bright, lively teenager living a live like no one other. It was her little secret that she was six months older than the calendar showed. The memory of those experiences that had changed her life brought a smile to her face. It all seemed like a dream and, if there hadn't been the assurance of it being real, sometimes she would've said those adventures had never happened. But…

One special memory saddened her smile. The teenager her wouldn't have been complete if there hadn't been a special someone beside her to made her feel unbroken.

Natsu Dragneel.

Her first love and her first boyfriend.

When was the last time they had seen each other? Four, five years ago?

She closed her eyes and placed her head on the window shaken by the not straight road.

At the shade of an apple tree, she saw herself in the arms of a pink haired man, those soft lips of his pressing against hers softly, those sweet and tender words of love being whispered in her ear like a tickle to her heart.

Lucy sighed. Neither of them had ever said anything about it, but it didn't take words to realize that they had broken up.

No, it wasn't like they had fought. They used to always fight, but that hadn't been the reason for falling apart. Even after they had found out about their parents promising them to each other in a silly way, nothing had stopped the parting.

The life had simply carried them in different directions. Lucy studied at a prestigious university and Natsu became a famous actor. She had heard he didn't even need a stunt to do his amazingly hard moves, like falling from a thirty-meter tall cliff into a waterfall. She herself had become a world-famous swimmer, but she only swam in her free time. She was a busy student.

But no longer.

Now, she was back home. She couldn't wait to see her parents and the other relatives, who were all waiting for her return.

The taxi temporarily parked and told Lucy they had arrived. She paid, thanked and exited. She didn't need help to lift the heavy suitcase, so she soon stood on the path in front of her home. She raised her look upon the house.

A wide and nervous grin spread through her beautiful face and she filled her lungs with air. She stepped forth hesitatingly and then the front door opened. Her mother, looking older but ten times happier than she remembered her, came out through the door being followed by her father. Lucy dropped the suitcase to the ground and no matter how much she had practiced before not to burst out crying, she covered her mouth and tears came out of her eyes.

The three hugged each other overwhelmed with happiness and suddenly, four, six, eight different relatives came out of the house in greet to Lucy. After many moments of happiness, admiration and congratulations, they entered the room and the young woman was surprised by a welcoming party. The living room was decorated with childish confetti and a big sign was hung to the ceiling saying: 'Welcome home, Lucy!'.

They took out a delicious smelling meal, Lucy's favorite food. They started chatting happily. It was all charming and Lucy couldn't wipe off her smile. But even so, why was it that she continued feeling empty inside? Hadn't it been the homesickness? She was home now!

And as if her question was screamed out loud, the answer entered the house the following moment.

Everybody looked surprised to see the door open fast and brutally.

A tall man entered panting heavily while taking off his hat.

Lucy opened her eyes widely. The lacks of pink hair falling out of the black hat each stabbed a knife in her heart. Those sparkling eyes opening and revealing a pair of the deepest onyx rings she had ever known widely looked at the people inside the room. She was frozen. All she knew that moment was that those soft lips were parted, allowing his wide chest to fill in with air, the same air she was breathing, the same air her lungs were feeding on.

''Did I make it in time?'' he panted.

And them, the most wanted man of the year watched as the girl of his dreams drops her plate and doesn't even flinch when the pottery breaks in pieces.

Their eyes are glued to each other.

Suddenly, there is no one else in the room beside the two of them.

He smiles widely and she is able to swear his eyes are filled with tears. Their hearts race at the same time, on the same wave of feelings.

Ah…

Why does it hurt so much to see each other?

It feels like all those moments of missing each other for five years are gathered up in one moment time.

He closed the door not breaking the eye contact.

''Natsu…?'' her voice broke silently and she realized she was crying.

He huffed filled with a mix of emotions.

''W… what are you doing here…?''

''Why? Can't I be beside the one that I love?''

''B-but…'' her eyes filled with tears once again. ''…I thought that we…''

He stepped forward and she rose up slowly. Natsu looked at her and realized she was much more beautiful than he could ever remember her.

''I thought that you…''

''Oh, I missed you so much…''he whispered with a painfully sad face. She almost wanted to slap him to emphasize that he had no idea how she had missed him.

''But…''

Now they were only two steps from each other and Lucy wanted to throw herself in his arms, when he suddenly lowered his body and placed a knee on the ground. This moved surprised her and she stared down at him taking a step back.

''I came back to see if you had grown any more so I could finally take you as my wife.''

She widened her eyes and her heart started booming in her chest. The shock made her try several times to say something, but she couldn't. She kept staring into his eyes and she couldn't believe she had heard what she had heard. She thought it was a joke, so she played along:

''A-And?'' she forced a smile. ''How do you like what you see…?''

She found herself grinning. She couldn't understand anything anymore. Why was she so happy? She now tried deleting the smile, but couldn't. Natsu grinned the widest grin ever seen. He took her hand and covered it in kisses. He wasn't getting enough of her.

''Lucy Heartfilia.'' He spoke with love. ''First of all, I'm sorry for ever leaving your side. It took the hell of time to figure out it had been the biggest mistake of my life.''

She let out a laugh in between her tears.

''I never found my peace and happiness until… now… Until I saw you again.''

He kissed her hand again.

''And I thought a lot about it and… It's not enough that I have to be in the same world as you…''

She looked into his eyes and knew they were both thinking about Fairy Tale, even if the rest of the family was confused.

''… But no matter how much I struggle…'' he suddenly burst out into tears and laughter. ''I just have to be by your side.''

As much as she wanted to throw herself in his arms, she covered her mouth and kept the deep moment. She didn't know how much her knees could hold her anymore; her entire body was shaking.

''Lucy… Will you make me the happiest man in both Fairy Tale and on Earth… and be my wife?''

Silence filled in the room. Everybody had been expecting for her to throw herself at his chest, scream a huge 'yes' and for them to kiss, but now they all realized she was having trouble speaking. She was shaking so hard and kept opening her mouth to say something, but her neck was too dry.

Natsu looked at her and she looked back at him. She watched as his expression suddenly changes and he is covered in fear. The thought of him being rejected by her crossed his mind for the first time and the unbearable fear was overwhelming him. Lucy wanted to hurry up and speak, but couldn't. She looked down at his scared face and couldn't keep a giggle from escaping her mouth. He looked so much like a child, no matter the age and fame!

''Aw of course, you dummy!'' she laughed and cried at the same time.

Natsu's face brightened ten times stronger than the sun. He started laughing.

''Of course I'll marry you. Oh, I love you so much!''

They hugged each other and then, after so much time when two souls struggled in the world not finding their peace, they found each other again. He stole another kiss from her sweet lips and he couldn't get enough of it.

And on such a happy day like this, thousands of fans from all over the world were crying desperately for Natsu Dragneel who had quit his job declaring that a much bigger prize was waiting for him at home and no prize in the Cannes Film Festival could compete with it. Natsu never regretted it. He had to admit, Lucy was his life and he couldn't devote it to anything else.

The two of them married three months later and at the wedding, an unexpected guest arrived, making them happy, but at the same time ruining the mood with her usual dirty jokes and spells. Lollipop made her appearance in the human world looking as crazy as ever. At first Natsu and Lucy had had a quarrel if to actually allow her to come or not, but they knew she would be there anyway.

But her sudden appearance hadn't been completely out of place.

On the evening after the wedding, Natsu appeared in front of Lucy with a wide grin on his face.

''Hey Lu, guess where we're going for our honeymoon!''

Aaaand, you're probably guessed. It was out of the witches' law, but Lollipop secretly gave them a new necklace that had inexhaustible teleporting magic.

On the green fields of the Kingdom of Dragons that had become part of the Kingdom of Skeletons over the millenniums, a newlywed couple was staring at the blue skies, spinning a memory that had happened once upon a time, in a far away land.

And so, Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia, two hateful neighbors who had declared war to each other, decided to eventually tie their lives together so that nothing, no spell, no story, could ever break their bond. That bond was not created by the witches, nor my the world called Fairy Tale, but by love.

Thank you for reading 'Attention, this is war!'

~4ever-a-fairy

Hey there! Want to find out what happened to the characters of 'Attention, this is war!'?

If so, I will make a short chapter about that. For now, I wish you farewell and thank you again for reading!

I really hope you liked this story!

~Bye bye!