The bright light of a morning sun shined upon Lucy's face. Ahh, she mused contentedly to herself that was a heavenly nights rest. She rubbed her eyes and sat up in her bed ready to face the day when suddenly she realized that she wasn't alone. Oh why does he keep breaking into my house? Lucy thought to herself. She could feel the heat rising in her face as she yelled somewhat flustered at her pink haired friend, "Wake up Natsu!" Natsu opened his eyes slowly letting out a yawn as he turned to her and smiled his usual toothy grin, "Oh hey Luce, what's up?" Lucy grabbed a book off of her bedside table and threw it at him in frustration, "You broke into my house Natsu! That's what's up!" Natsu dodged the book with ease and then regarded her carefully for a moment, then spoke cocking his head slightly to the side, "Yea, so what's your point?" Lucy immediately covered her face with her hand at his reply, "You're unbelievable Natsu. Only you could be so dense as to be nonchalant about breaking into someone's house." Natsu grinned once more and replied in a matter of fact tone, "You know if I didn't break in to your house all the time you would be worried!" Lucy let out a sigh, he was right after all, "So why are you here Natsu?" Natsu immediately jumped up and began to pull a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket, "I found a really cool job we could go on together and you weren't up when I came inside so I decided to wait but I ended up falling asleep." Natsu laughed and placed his hand on the back of his neck and began to scratch it almost out of embarrassment. Lucy reached her hand out for the mission slip, "Let me read it Natsu." He gave her the paper and she read:

Seeking Help from the Powerful Mages of Fairy Tail

In Mt Hakobe there is a group of bandits roaming around attacking our trade caravans and they are generally making life up in the mountains impossible for those of us who live there at the moment. We are seeking powerful mages to put a stop to these meddlesome bandits. Come to the settlement in the mountain and go to the local inn and request Night Stalker the innkeeper will direct you to me.

Reward: 250,000J

Lucy's face lit up, "250,000 jewel!" She squeaked excitedly and jumped out of bed to hug Natsu. Natsu smiled and replied sheepishly, "Well I know your rent is due soon and I figured this would help pay for it." Lucy blushed, Natsu being considerate? "Well Natsu I think it's very sweet that you would think of me for this mission." She couldn't resist giving him a playful punch in his arm. Natsu was clearly embarrassed at this point, "Yea don't sweat it Lucy." Hmmm she smells nice… Wait what? Why am I sniffing Lucy!? Natsu could feel the heat rising in face. He quickly grabbed her and removed himself from her embrace, "Come on Luce, get dressed, let's go to the guild hall and grab some lunch before we head out. I'm starving!" Lucy chuckled, same old Natsu.

The pair then set off to the guild hall to let everyone know they were leaving on a mission for a few days. As they were walking in silence Lucy couldn't help but look over to her partner. He really is so thoughtful and considerate, and he's thoughtful and considerate for me… The blonde mages face began to blush, maybe there is more to this after all? No Lucy told herself he is your friend, well, best friend really, but he's just looking out for you nothing more. Nonetheless she smiled at her partner, whatever his reasons she was lucky to have him as a friend. That much Lucy was sure of.

In the guild hall

Lucy sat with Happy at the counter eating her food. She looked back at Natsu and Gray and sighed, "Why do they always fight like this happy?" Happy shrugged, "I don't know Lucy. They never get along. You know that." Natsu and Gray had started fighting the moment she and Natsu had walked in the door.

"Bring it pyro!"

"You bring it ice princess!"

"What did you call me asshole!" Gray cried in outrage.

"You heard me dumbass!" Natsu jeered.

Gray took a stance and shouted, "Ice make lance!" A solid lance of ice sprang into existence and began to head straight for Natsu. Natsu smashed the lance with a flaming fist while yelling triumphantly, "Is that all you got!? Well in that case FIRE DRAGON RO…" Oh no, not in the guild hall… Lucy shuddered, Makarov would be furious if Natsu caught fire to the guild hall. As if Makarov had read her thoughts he looked towards Natsu and Gray and breather in sharply."NO LAUNCHING FIRE BALLS IN THE GUILD HALL NATSU!"Makarov screamed while a vein was throbbing in his forehead. These brats will be the death of me yet. Immediately Makarov extended his arms out and smashed both Gray and Natsu into the floor. Makarov huffed in apparent annoyance, "Take it outside brats." Natsu sat up rubbing his head and leered at gray, "You're lucky gramps saved your hide. I was going to toast you." Gray leaped back up and angrily shot back, "Oh yea flame brain! You wanna take this outside then? I'll whoop you any day and you know it!" Natsu, not one to back down from a challenge looked at gray and sighed, "I don't have time to waste on you right now, Lucy, Happy and I need to leave for a mission." "Aye Sir!" Happy Quipped. Gray, obviously angered by Natsu calling him a waste of time skulked away and grinded his teeth Waste of time am I? I'll make that fire-breathing idiot pay for that.

Natsu stomped over to Lucy and Happy. He asked, with arms crossed over his chest, "Are you almost done eating?" Lucy looked at Natsu perplexed, What was up with him? "Yes," She replied, "I am done eating now Natsu. Let's go then shall we?" Lucy motioned for the door.

Once outside and clear of the commotion of the guild hall Lucy regarded her partner and asked, "Why did you go picking a fight with him again?" Natsu grumbled at the thought, "He was the one that started it." His voice trailing off. "Natsu," Lucy replied shaking a finger at him, "You can't keep fighting with him all the time like that you know." Natsu, clearly annoyed with her gesture, snapped back, "I'm not a child Lucy, I'll fight who I want." Lucy sighed, men are so dense.

The pair walked in silence for a while until they reached the Magnolia train station. "Train leaving in fifteen minutes, all aboard!" The conductor yelled into the station.

"Lucy…" Natsu groaned, "Do we have to take the train?"

"Yes Natsu. I'm not walking all the way to Mt Hakobe like we did when we went to rescue Maccao. And besides Natsu, it's only a short trip to the Onibus station. We'll be there before you know it."

"But Luce, I hate trains the most… they are evil." Natsu said in a pleading voice. Lucy smiled at Natsu reassuringly, "It's ok Natsu. I'll make sure the evil train doesn't hurt you." Natsu laughed at that, "You're weird Lucy." Lucy chuckled, "You're my best friend, what does that make you?" Natsu stopped in his tracks and seriously considered the question for a moment, "You are still way weirder Lucy." Lucy blushed, "Am not!" Natsu began to laugh, "You sure are! Weirdo!" Lucy gave Natsu a solid punch to the arm and Natsu just laughed even more. Ugh! He drives me crazy! Lucy thought as they boarded the train. Happy snickered, "You two are in love!" Both Natsu and Lucy yelled back at him in unison, "We are not!" They both blushed when they realized they had yelled the same exact thing and Happy just laughed more at their embarrassment.

On the train

Natsu turned green the moment he stepped on to the metal death trap that every day folk call a train. The thought of just being inside it churned his stomach, and once it moved… he didn't even want to think. Lucy, noticing her partner's cheeks begin to swell up, thought to herself how funny, he can go toe to toe with enemies that are way stronger than himself and still come out victorious, however he is incapacitated while on a train. Lucy slightly chuckled at her realization.

"wuh..what are you laughing about Lucy…" Natsu looked at her curiously.

"Oh nothing Natsu, just thinking is all." Lucy sighed, "Natsu, it's just a train. Try to not get sick. Ok?" He looked at her and just silently shook his head which in turn made him even more nauseous. He clasped a hand quickly over his mouth and laid down in his seat.

Lucy began to look out the window and watch as the town of Magnolia slowly crept away into the distance. Happy interrupted the silence, "I feel sorry for Natsu. Any form of transportation just makes him as useless as a sack of rocks." Lucy stared at the Exceed for a moment before replying, "I think it's funny he gets motion sickness." Happy looked at her as if to say "are you serious?" Realizing the look she was getting Lucy elaborated, "I mean Happy, just think about it. Natsu never loses right?" Happy laughed, "Except to Erza, she's scary." Lucy smiled at Happy, "Yes she is scary. But what I was saying was Natsu never loses. He always wins and even if he is beaten to a pulp he'll get back up and keep fighting. However, when he's on a train, or anything other form of transportation for that matter, he is rendered helpless. I just think it's amusing that motion sickness is his weakness." Happy glanced towards Natsu and said to Lucy, "Yea, I suppose you are right."

Lucy looked up for a moment following Happy's gaze and saw that Natsu had actually fallen asleep. He really is so cute when he sleeps, he looks so peaceful… wait… what did I think? Did I just? Did I just say that Natsu was cute?... Well I mean, he is but… No Lucy. Stop that silly thinking. He is your best friend and nothing more. But he could be something more… Lucy quietly pondered a future with the dragon slayer. He is reliable for sure. However, would he be good with kids? Oh my I'm thinking of kids, I've really lost my mind. Well, if he weren't so destructive maybe, but I couldn't possibly be with someone that reveled so much in destruction. Aggravated at her own internal conflict Lucy pushed them off to the side. I've got better things to do than think about a future that will never even happen.

Happy looked at Lucy and saw her smiling to herself then frowning. I wonder what goes on in her head he thought to himself. Nah it's probably something dumb anyways. And she is totally weird. Smiling and then frowning repeatedly for herself. I should warn Natsu that she's crazy. Oh, but what's the point in that. He LIKES her after all. Even if they are both way too dumb to notice.

Shortly after arrival in Onibus

"Lucy….." Natsu whined, "I'm hungry."

"So why didn't you eat at the guild hall earlier?"

"It was that stupid ice freaks fault. He started fighting with me and I got too worked up to eat."

"And how is that my fault Natsu?"

Natsu replied glumly, "It's not your fault Lucy…"

"Exactly. But seeing as I'm in the mood for a snack why don't we stop and grab a bite to eat?"

"Alright! I know the perfect place Lucy! Let's go!" Natsu grabbed Lucy by the arm and took off with her. She nearly stumbled and fell but somehow managed to keep up with him. She heard the all too familiar "Aye Sir!" come from Happy and she was immediately reminded of when they first met. Things have changed so much since then. At least we aren't being chased by an army this time.

As the trio set out for a snack before heading towards the mountain an ominous meeting was taking place up in Mt Hakobe in an undisclosed location.

A deep voice rumbled with authority, "You put the job request in to Fairy Tail right?"

"Yes I did boss." Replied a squeakier voice.

"Good, very good Night Stalker. Fairy Tail will pay a huge ransom to get their mages back." The deep voice laughed maniacally.

"Indeed they will boss."

"This is almost too easy Night Stalker. You never cease to amaze me with your brilliant plans."

"Your praise is highly appreciated boss."

"Get up to that settlement and make sure you're ready for our guests' arrival. I wouldn't want to keep them waiting" The deep voice laughed again.

"Right away sir!"

With that dismissal Night Stalker left the room to carry out the bidding of his boss. This should be quite fun the runty man thought to himself. With that he disappeared into the night.

Author Notes:

This is the first time I've ever written anything like this and boy was i nervous to post it! If you would take the time to please review and let me know what I did good on and let me know what I could improve on! I am no english major either so please don't nit pick too hard on grammar. I think it should be readable! Thank you for your time!