Lucy could only stare unabashedly. (It didn't help that she could speak, either).

Could all of Magnolia—well, this fairy-tale version of Magnolia—even contain Natsu and his wild antics? (After all, the Magnolia back home barely could…)

Dipping and weaving into every corner and alley, he had pulled her along like a tiny toddler recklessly dragging his balloon across plain sky. "I'll help you break your curse! We can go to my guild—where my family is! But first…"

Restaurants? Check. Half-fascinated and half-disgusted, Lucy watched as he devoured plate after plate…and left without paying the bill. Several times. At multiple places.

How hadn't Natsu gotten arrested yet?

Shops? Check. Just as she was eyeing a small, leather notepad (finally! She would be able to communicate!), she and Natsu were unceremoniously tossed out of the shop.

"Whoops!" He grinned sheepishly. "I might have…knocked a few things over."

She sighed, exasperated.

And yet, the sighs did not abate. Somehow, Natsu had managed to get her—a law-abiding citizen—kicked out of a dozen more shops? She only wrangled a hideous, hot-pink notebook last minute at the last store, anticipating a loud crash and an embarrassed "oops!" before it even happened.

At one point, Lucy couldn't help but notice that her tour of Magnolia had taken a turn towards the unsavory.

Are we supposed to be here? She scribbled furiously.

Natsu shrugged, unconcerned.

Lecherous leers, strange men in trench-coats swiftly exchanging cash…tall, busty women grinning with too many teeth…

Red-light district? Check.

At one point, a group of gaggling girls flocked to a cloaked man who was bellowing about how he was the great Salamander—Lucy felt her feet turn instinctively towards him…

Lucy cocked her head. She knew this storyline—no, not just knew. She had lived it. Gross. Bora?

At this point, Natsu finally seemed to recognize what had happened. He frowned.

"He's the Salamander?"

Lucy looked at him curiously. Who is the Salamander? She wrote carefully, feigning innocence. Perhaps this was her chance to make Natsu remember?

But at the same time…one wrong step, and she could alter this story—transform it into something monstrous, something deadly. Just because she thought she knew her fairy tales in the past—and this story wasn't no mere childhood retelling; this story was somehow hers—

Natsu didn't answer, his eyes flickering with some unrecognizable emotion.

Remembrance?

"He's no one." He finally said.

Ah, not quite the restoration of memories she had hoped for. A blatant lie, but Lucy disappointedly accepted it.

For now.

If love was knowing each and every inch, every tiny aspect of one thing—then Natsu loved Magnolia. He loved its bustling streets, its petite shops—he loved how there was several cobblestones missing right in front of Kardia Cathedral (it wasn't his fault or anything…okay, it might have been), or how the smell of freshly baked cake wafted through the air in front of Magnolia's bakery…

Today, however—he didn't feel like he knew Magnolia at all.

That cloaked man who called himself Salamander…the sudden appearance of sloppy posters proclaiming: "Missing: One Mage named Macao"—a gigantic mansion, replete with signs declaring it the property of one Duke Everlue…

It was all so new, yet all so strangely…familiar? There was something tugging at the fringes of his memory, a wisp of a thought that he wanted so terribly to tie down…

What was it?

And these peculiar occurrences just so happened to align with the mysterious appearance of one strange, beautiful (did he even want to admit that to himself? That he found her beautiful?) girl.

He was finally beginning to understand why that dumb, spacey look occasionally graced Gajeel's face when Levy walked into the room (or truthfully, the ever-present dopey look on Levy's face…was it permanent or something? But Gajeel was so ugly). If there was something out there—a god or a dragon or a ghost—then please, please don't let her see him staring all slack-jawed and Gajeel-like.

Why couldn't he pull his eyes away from her exasperation (yet it was never cruel, or embarrassed, or mocking—it was weirdly…fond? She was weird), or her excitement in the shops, or that slightly sad smile that appeared every once in a while? He took it all in—the tiny twitch of her lips as she studied the shops around her, the way her feet almost seemed to know exactly where to go in Magnolia, the strange intensity in her eyes when she saw those missing posters, or Everlue's mansion…

And why exactly hadn't he taken her directly to his guild?

If he wanted to admit it…well, he intended to! But then hunger struck, and he just had to go to a restaurant to refuel. And the entire time, she kept looking at him all funny, as if she was torn between laughing and crying—and he knew with peculiar certainty that he would much, much rather see the former than the latter. And she had perked up the moment they had passed this shop—some weird, ancient bookstore that he had never really visited before…

He barely knew this girl, but his feet already took him to the front entrance of the store.

And he weirdly wanted this complete stranger to love Magnolia the same way he did. To see every bit of his city—his home.

And…and…he just wasn't sure, okay?

Stupid brain. Stupid eyes. Stupid, stupid, stupid—

"There's something you should know before we go inside."

There was an unexpected gravity in his voice, one that made Lucy tense slightly. They had finally arrived outside the gates of Fairy Tail (she could have sworn she had traversed through every square inch of Magnolia? Why was there such a gigantic detour on the way here?), and she had to fight hard to halt the tide of nostalgia threatening to overtake her. It was just so achingly familiar, from the vibrant flag to the faintly lopsided gate…

"I'm not…exactly who I seem."

What? Her pen hesitated slightly before continuing. Are you Magnolia's #1 public enemy?

Honestly, that would make sense, considering his blatant criminal activity. Who dines and dashes? Who on earth doesn't pay back the store after damaging valuable property?

He snickered at that. "Something like that."

Lucy frowned. Who exactly was Natsu in this story? It couldn't be…that he was just himself? Fire-mage, Salamander…all the names he had picked up throughout his adventures…Prince, perhaps? King? He had only added to his collection of identities throughout these strange fairy tales, from the Fairy Godmother to the Huntsman to even a princess. (That one was…still disturbing). And if this tale was the Little Mermaid, that would naturally mean…

A prince?

Either way, his identity never really mattered to her—he was always Natsu, and she was always Lucy—and in the end, wasn't that all that they needed? Even if he couldn't remember—even if he had no memory…

Was she too hopeful? Would three days be enough to fulfill Hades' request? (It wasn't like she had a choice…she needed to make Natsu fall in love with her!)

And more concerningly, Zeref's warning… You must succeed with all costs in fulfilling the last story. I do not know which one will be your final task, or when it will occur—but you will know. Your heart will know when it is time.

The Little Mermaid was indeed this story—she knew it with resigned certainty. This would be the final tale that would send Natsu and her back home.

And home…she missed home. It was a cruel taunt to give her a glimpse of her beloved Magnolia, of her precious guild…

All thoughts flew out the window when the gates swung wide open.

"Natsu!" A boy, no more than fourteen, screeched. "Everyone, he's back!"

If this boy's voice was a pebble tumbling down a cliff, then the clamor that followed was an entire avalanche.

"The Salamander!" Okay, Lucy already knew that one…

"Your Highness!" Interesting…

"Our prince has returned!" So, he's royalty?

"Catch any good fish at sea?" And a fisherman? Lucy was confused.

"Ooh, a girl! Natsu brought back a girl!"

"Silence!" The chatter instantly stopped. The crowd parted.

Long, matted hair—a tattered cloak…Lucy peered into the tangle of guild members, trying to make out more details to identify this newcomer.

Gildarts strolled out, his face furious.

"So the bastard prince returns." Bastard? Prince? Was Natsu…illegitimate?

Natsu winced. "Um, hi?"

"The life of piracy didn't suit you?" What? Natsu was a pirate? A pirate prince? A bastard pirate prince? A criminal prince? What?

Natsu chose not to reply—probably because Gildarts was bellowing in his face. Lucy shrank back.

Gildarts only then tore his eyes away from Natsu, noticing her sudden movement. His face did not soften.

"A girl!" His voice boomed.

Natsu still hadn't said anything, his face sheepish. There was not the slightest flurry of movement, not a single whisper…everyone waited with bated breath (including Lucy). Why was Gildarts mad at Natsu? Why did the crowd not interfere? Why did everyone look like this sudden outburst of rage was…expected?

Why wasn't Gildarts saying anything more? Why was everyone looking at her?

What on earth was going on?

"Natsu, my boy…" Gildarts stepped closer…and closer…and thumped Natsu painfully on the back.

"Good job! You really know how to pick 'em!"

Instantly, the crowd was lively once more—laughter rang throughout the halls, while eager hands grabbed both Lucy and Natsu and swept them inside. The gates closed with a bang.

Lucy wanted to die. She glanced at Natsu, trying to catch a glimpse of his expression—

Oh. He looked like he wanted to die too. Good.

Pirate? Pirate prince? Pirate illegitimate prince? Criminal? She wanted to shout at the top of her lungs—curse Hades for rendering her mute.

Do you ever think—just this once—one of the stories would go the way she expected?

AN: I can't believe how many years have passed by! After my first year at college (and the end of Fairy Tail), I was suddenly struck by how much I missed writing (and Fairy Tail). But before I start writing in earnest, I wanted to finish this story first-I owe this story that much, at least. Thank you all for your patience-I hope you are all just as excited/nostalgic as I am!

Update: New Tumblr = Writing/Graphic Design = Follow the rest of my writing journey!

Upcoming Preview: Chapter 36: Three Days, Chapter 37: The End?, Chapter 38: Epilogue.