Her eyes quickly fluttered open, though she wasn't entirely sure as to whether or not they were actually open for she couldn't see any difference in lighting from the inside of her eyelids to the pitch black darkness of the room she was in. She wasn't even sure where she was, or how she got there. All she could remember was…

A headache pushed through, forcing her eyes to shut tightly from the pain. She couldn't exactly remember anything. Just how long had she been there? How did she get there in the first pl… Natsu. Natsu Dragneel. The name seemed to ring a bell in her head. A face was quick to follow: onyx coloured eyes, soft pink truffles of hair, and a grin that could spread from ear to ear. She could slightly picture him talking to her. A memory perhaps. He spoke, but she couldn't hear. She worked on reading his lips, not an easy thing for her to do.

Lucy. That was her name. Lucy Heartfilia.

She and Natsu had agreed on a mission. It all started like that She could now slightly remember who she was, what had happened.

Natsu smiled at her, holding her one hand excitedly and showing her the mission sheet. A small excitement found its way up her cheeks just from the small touch, but she wasn't about to let it show. The blonde mage, also known as Lucy, didn't know exactly how she felt about going on a mission of this sort without the help of Gray or Erza. Sure, Natsu was strong, but she knew that she just wasn't.

"All we have to do is take down this dark guild! Easy enough, right?" Natsu gleamed.

Lucy, however, still wasn't sure if she really wanted to do this without the two missing teammates. She frowned, pulling her hand back quickly in protest. "I don't know, Natsu. Won't it be hard with just the two of us?"

Natsu's smile widened, though she wasn't sure if that was really possible. "Of course it'll be hard! But that's what'll make it fun!"

She pushed her hand through her bangs, silently considering her options. If she went along, she'd get to spend time with the pink-haired fire Dragon Slayer mage whom she liked so much. But at the same time, she had the strangest of feelings that things wouldn't go as well as planned. Still, she knew Natsu would do anything in his power to protect her. Erza and Gray wouldn't be there in case something bad did happen, though.

Her heart leaned towards going. No matter how dangerous it was, she so wanted to spend time with Natsu. They might not have actually been a couple, but she knew she had feelings for the oblivious boy. She opened her mouth to speak, but Natsu cut her off with a stern look. He said, "Look, even if you decide not to go, I'm going."

Lucy frowned for a second before giving him a quick smile. "I'll go then!"

Natsu beamed with joy again. "Great! I'll go tell Mira we'll take the job! Be ready by twelve to leave!"

Lucy let out a slight sigh. She couldn't exactly believe that she and Natsu were actually on a mission alone together. Plus, she had only an hour so early in the morning to pack! She smiled, however. Perhaps they could spend some time together afterwards.

Lucy sighed to herself. She knew something bad would happen. Why did she had to agree? Why couldn't see have just said no to Natsu?

Natsu...

Her thoughts trailed. Where was that obnoxious boy? Why hadn't he come for her? He must have noticed that she was missing by now… right?

Lucy couldn't help but smile at the Dragon Slayer who was laying his head on her hap. He was never well when it came to transportation, getting sick very easily. But since they were on a train, his only other option for comfort was the window. Lucy, however, didn't mind. She was already enjoying being able to lay her hand in his soft hair to comfort him.

She knew she had feelings for him, for when he was around, she felt safer. She liked, as well, how bright he could make even the darkest of rooms feel. She enjoyed his enthusiasm, his excitement, even the scary looks he could make when angry. She loved how caring he was when it came to guild members; when it came to friends.

But he was destructive, something unstable, and maybe a little cocky at times. These attributes didn't push her away though, only making her want him more. But she knew he didn't like her that way. They were just friends; teammates. And that was all they'd ever be. Besides, Natsu was oblivious to her feelings as a turtle is to a rabbit, though she figured that was a poor comparison.

It didn't matter how much she tried to show her feelings, he never seemed to notice. And to be frank, she had all but given up. Lucy looked down at the boy who had his face towards her stomach.

He was looking up at her with his beautiful onyx eyes, studying her face. Lucy had to try her best to hide her blush as she passed him down a soft smile, rubbed his head ever so slightly. He wore a straight face, no sign of any emotion. The boy just stared up at her blandly.

The small jerking of the cart signified that the train had reached its destination, followed by the loud whistle sounding. Lucy helped Natsu to his feet and led him off the train. It was only then that the girl noticed that a certain blue Exceed wasn't there. When she was certain that Natsu felt better, she questioned him. "Where's Happy?"

Natsu looked timidly at her. "He didn't want to come along. Then he told me to tell you for him, 'You're welcome.' I don't understand why though. Why would he say that, Luce?"

Shock hid Lucy for a second, but she pushed it back quickly. Happy had always known that Lucy held feelings for Natsu, but he never said anything about it. Sure, he'd sometimes tease Lucy about it, but never more than that, as far as she knew.

"It's nothing." She laughed slightly, walking happily away.

She heard a small noise come from the Dragon Slayer as he tried to catch up with her. "Why did he mean by it?"

Lucy pressed on with the same answer no matter how many times he asked. They soon came upon a smallish black castle. Dead plants and trees surrounded it. It was easy to tell that at some point, the grounds surrounding the place were once an amazing garden with a great amount of love, but now? Now it was eerie. Almost as if noting would ever live there again. Almost as if everything was purposely destroyed.

Seeing this, Lucy felt her voice trail slowly off. "I said... it was... nothing..."

Natsu saw this scenery as well and Lucy could swear she saw him gulp. Only when a crow loudly passed did he break out of his daze. His vigor was quick to return. He grabbed her hand and pulled through the front gate.

He laughed soundly. "Where are all the mages?"

"Don't be so loud!" Lucy hissed at him, almost twice as loud.

A loud noise came from the building as mage's of all shape and sizes came out. Natsu patted Lucy on the back enthusiastically. "Alright! Good job! You got their attention, Luce!"

Lucy moaned in regret as Natsu ran towards the Dark Guild members, spewing fire all willy-nilly. She knew she had to do something, summon someone. Her first though was Aquarius, but then she remembered that that day was one of the days requested not to be called on. Virgo would have to do for now.

And so she called out Virgo. Males of the Dark Guild fawned tirelessly at the two girls. Virgo asked right off the bat, "Is it time to be punished?"

Lucy smiled. "Take them all down, Virgo!"

Virgo nodded and Lucy pulled out her whip. They attacked together, taking down one enemy at a time, but at a steady pace.

By the time they finished, Lucy was bruised and slightly cut. Virgo was already back in the spirit world and she felt that she was slightly too tired to do much. She looked over to see how Natsu was doing, but only to her demise.

He was... losing...

"Impossible…" she muttered to herself. Natsu of Fairy Tail, Salamander, Fire mage… Natsu Dragneel the Dragon Slayer, son of the Dragon Igneel. That very Natsu was losing, and she couldn't do anything about it. In fact, he was against some sort of water mage, a fairly strong one. The water mage didn't even look tired in any way, nor did he have a single bruise of any kind.

Lucy gasped in horror as Natsu was flung back by her. She couldn't provide him with fire, she had nothing for it, and as far as she could see, there wasn't anything to really explode. She thought to herself, 'Actually, when I was fighting, the only mages I met were either ice or water. Nothing other than that…'

She ran to his side and grabbed his hand. "Natsu! Natsu, are you okay?"

Hatred poured through his eyes the minute they opened. Still she could see the friendship buried deep within as his eyes hit her own. He smiled. "L-Lucy… -You should go to s-safety."

"Not without you!" she yelled, tears already starting to form.

Even so, a larger smiled appeared on his face. "It's okay. I've got this guy under con-control!"

A tear fell from her eye and onto his cheek, forcing a sterner look onto his face. She shook her head at him. "No!"

"Luce…" he started. "I'll be fine. I don't want you to get hurt!"

"What about yourself?" she cried hysterically. "You're covered in cuts and bruises!"

"I'm fine!" he said. "I'll come to you when I'm done with this guy."

He reached up and wiped at a tear that was rolling down her cheek with his thumb. Then, he gave her a soft smile to make her feel better. "I promise I'll come to you."

She shook her head faster, though she knew that she had already lost this battle when he stood up on his own with much more confidence. He wiped the blood from his mouth and pushed her away. She took a few steps back. "Promise me that you'll be fine!"

"Lucy…"

"Promise!"

He let out a small sigh. "I… promise."

She smiled and behind the nearest large rock to hide. Lucy hid where she could still see Natsu, just in case. She was worried, though she knew she didn't have to be. Natsu promised that he'd come for her, come back fine.

Flames poured around the surrounding area, but where easily put out with water. Lucy now found herself enticed by the fight, watching every move carefully yet intensely. She was so concentrated that she never heard the footsteps behind her. Never once until a pair of hands wrapped around her mouth and waist.

Panic kicked in as she tried her best to protest. She could feel a cloth in front of her face, but ignored it as she bit into the hand and kicked with all her might. She just needed to call for him. He'd come for her. "N-Natsu!"

The scream echoed loudly. She knew he had heart it as the hands flew around again. This time, the cloth made it over her nose and slowly she felt more and more sleepy. The Dragon Slayer, with his excellent hearing, turned around quickly to see this. She could swear that he was yelling something, but she wasn't entirely sure what, even her hearing was started to fade. She tried to read his lips, giggling to herself in confusion. 'Pasta? That's what he yelled? What an odd thing to yell!'

Her eyes had just began to close when she saw a final blow his Natsu in his distraction. His head banged off the ground and she could swear she saw a little blood.

Blackness…

Tears flowed down Lucy's masked face. He hadn't screamed pasta, but rather her name. He was calling for her. He intended to come for her, but was stopped and hit. She had caused him to get hit! She had caused the blood!

Lucy shut her eyes quickly and tightly when footsteps were heard and a door opened. She managed to make out the sound of two pairs of feet.

"Blondie here will fetch us enough money." said a low, musky voice.

A boot pushed her over. Another voice, whom she believed to belong to the boot, sounded. This one was higher and just a tad bit more irritating. "What about her friend? What happened to him?"

The first voice spoke after a small chuckle. "Don't worry. He's dead. Illyon took care of him."

The two voices laughed together and walked slowly away.

Tears started to run wild now.

Natsu… was dead?

'Natsu can't be dead!' she thought to herself, shock running down her face. 'He can't be! He promised that he'd come for me!'

Hello. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. There are still so many things I want to do with this. Gosh. So many ideas.

um... well, in all actuality, this story has a fairly simple idea planned out. I have so much I want to do though!

I started working on this while waiting for Jesse to finish his chapter for our other story, The Everlasting Love of Distraught. But then he finished and told me to get writing. But I wanted to finish this first. So here it is... all done while I'm still behind on the other one. Plus I gotta pull two essays out of my ass by Monday. Then gotta edit my novel AND THEN get started on two more essays. In the meantime, Jesse'll be expecting me to write. This shouldn't be too hard.

Anyways, like I said, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please do review. I appreciate comments like crazy. I've made it my ritual to check to see if there are any new comments every morning before school and every night before bed. And if you don't mind, hit that cute little favourite button, and/or the follow button. I really appreciate that as well.

Um... I don't own Fairy Tail. And if I did? There'd be a LOT of depression. :U