Well, it's been awhile since I've actually uploaded anything onto Fanfiction. I sincerely apologize for my absence as a writer. Though I promise you that I was writing! They just weren't things that I could upload onto fanfiction cuz... well... they would have to be fan fics... Most of what I've been writing lately has been comepletely original work so I'll probably end up uploading it on deviantart...
Well anyway, now that the ranting is done, I'd like to welcome you to my first Fairy Tail fanfiction! I'm really not sure how it will turn out, but I don't plan any pairings or romance... for some reason I have issues with anything romance... Going on... Enjoy!

Disclaimer: If I owned Fairy Tail would I really be writing about it on Fanfiction? The only characters that belong to me are the OCs that will come in later... I don't want to give anything away.

Heart of Flame
Chapter One

The large beast that stood before them looked menacing in itself. Its lips were peeled back revealing large fangs. It was crouched into a defensive position and ready to strike at any moment. The only thing was, it wasn't facing them. It instead stood in front of them toward their adversary.

A breath caught in Natsu's throat making more of a sputtering sound that a gasp, "I… Igneel?"

Charle awoke with a start. The white cat franticly looked around and realized that she had been sleeping on Wendy's lap. Natsu was dangling off of his train seat into the aisle. Happy was asleep on the seat next to Wendy. Lucy, with a quite irritated look on her face, kept her attention to the scenery that they passed as the train continued on. Charle looked up at Wendy as she began to stroke her snow-colored fur.

A slightly worried expression hinted at her features as the Dragon Slayer spoke, "You okay?"

The white cat didn't reply right away, "Oh, yeah… I'm fine, don't worry about me."

Wendy didn't look convinced, but she sensed that her partner didn't wish to speak of the matter, so she changed the subject. "Aren't you excited Charle?"

"Excited for what?"

"This mission!"

"What makes this mission any more special than the others that we've gone on since joining Fairy Tail?"

Wendy looked slightly offended before she began answering Charle, "Well, first of all, we're going on this mission with Lucy and Natsu. Secondly, this mission seems to involve what could be dragons Charle!"

Charle nodded as her gaze and thoughts slowly drifted from Wendy. 'What about my dream?' The cat thought to herself, 'I've never had a vision in a dream before. Could this one be…?' Charle looked over to her pink-haired friend sprawled over the seat next to Lucy. 'If so… then what about Natsu? Was that really-'

Charle's thoughts were interrupted as the train came to a screeching halt. Lucy immediately stood up and grabbed a firm hold of Natsu, guiding him as he stumbled trying to find the nearest exit. Wendy picked up Charle and a drowsy Happy into her arms before following Lucy off of the train.

Natsu seemed to recover from his severe motion sickness as soon as they got on the path to their destination. The location that the mission flyer (whatever they call those things) entailed was far more remote than the nearest train would take them. The fiery, pink-haired Dragon Slayer seemed to have a particular skip to his step that he didn't usually carry. Lucy wasn't far behind Natsu with Happy at her side.

"Hey Lucy~" Happy tugged at the Stellar mage's pants, "why didn't Gray or Erza come along with us?"

Lucy put a hand up to her chin as she tried to remember the events that took place earlier that day. "Um, I think that Erza went on a mission with Gray and Garjeel. Why do you ask Happy? Aren't you glad that Charle is here with us?"

"Aye~!" The little blue cat gave a joyful leap as the group continued their trek.

Lucy noted the awkward silence that suddenly plagued the group. Usually in cases such as this, Natsu would start up and unnecessary argument with Gray that would result in Erza having to break up the quarreling. Natsu seemed to be quite distant as he walked ahead of everyone else. He was constantly pausing to peer up at the sky like he was looking for something. Lucy looked back at the young girl that was chatting with Charle not far behind.

"Hey Wendy," Lucy called.

Wendy looked up and hurried over to her. "What is it, Lucy?"

"Do you sense anything strange?" Lucy thought that she might as well ask. If Natsu was sensing something off, then Wendy should be sensing the same thing… theoretically of course.

Wendy tilted her head in slight confusion, "No, I don't sense anything. Why, is there something wrong?"

"No, no… Don't worry about it. I was just curious seeing how Natsu is acting kind of strange."

Wendy looked ahead at the Dragon Slayer. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I can't see why he would be acting like this…" Wendy tapered off. "Unless it had something to do with the mention of dragons in the mission report."

Lucy's eyes brightened, "That's it Wendy!"

Natsu turned around and looked at the two girls before giving them the "shush" motion. His gaze was averted by the sound of roaring in the distance followed by a deep rumbling of the ground.

"What was that?"

A look a excitement lightened up Natsu's features, but both Lucy and Wendy were allowed a small glimpse before he began sprinting toward the source of commotion.

"Natsu! Wait!" Lucy called.

Lucy's jaw fell open as she watched Wendy dart past her. "Hurry up Lucy!" she called back. "Natsu's going to leave us behind!"

All Lucy could do was sigh before she hightailed it in the direction of her friends.

By nightfall, Lucy was able to catch up with her two companions. Wendy was able to talk Natsu into camping for the night and waiting for Lucy. She thoroughly thanked the wind slayer for her consideration. As the three accompanied by the two cats sat around the fire, a strange silence descended on them. Lucy couldn't help but surrender to the feeling of foreboding that crept around her in the silence of the night. Wendy had fallen asleep long ago with both Charle and Happy snuggled up against her. Lucy was staring into the flames of the fire that burned away at thick branches with an occasional pop.

Lucy looked over at Natsu who was sitting on a rock not far from the fire, but far enough for him to seem alone. His chin was resting upon his knees that were pulled up to his chest. His eyes were fixated on the flames; their reflection flickered in his glassy eyes. Lucy quietly walked over to Natsu and sat next to him on the large boulder he was sitting on. "What's bothering you, Natsu?"

"Hmm?" Natsu looked up at Lucy.

"You've been acting weird all day."

Natsu looked back down at the fire with a blank expression on his face. "I don't really know…"

"What do you mean 'you don't know'?" Lucy asked. "You seem so into yourself."

Natsu's gaze refused to meet hers as he continued their one-sided conversation, "

I guess… I've just been having this strange feeling all day…"

"A strange feeling? Like what?"

Natsu growled at Lucy's constant prodding, "I don't know. I just kind of feel like I've done all of this before… Kind of like… what's the word-"

"Déjà vu?"

"Yeah, that's it… Déjà vu…"

Don't worry! I don't plan to go all romance on you guys! Now that I think about it, this story may be slow for the first few chapters... Anyway R&R! Comments are an authors fuel! The more I get the more inclined I am to come out with faster updates!