Hi again.

Being sick is normally one of two things:

1) I'm only a bit sick, but my inspiration's sapped or

2) I have so much inspiration...but I'm too sick to write it down DX

It's a bit of both today, surprisingly. Thankfully I had this pre-written, so all I had to do was edit... DX Hopefully I'll be able to actually get some writing done for my others stories today...

HUGE special thank you to WhiteAxolotl for being my only reviewer!

That's kind of depressing...DX Tell you what: first three people to review will get a sneak peek for next chapter OR some input on the outcome of the story OR maybe I'll even let you request a story ;) Only requirements are that the review needs to be at least 5 words long, and positive! Flames do not count, of course.

Anyways, enjoy the Nalu! Err, I mean, enjoy this chapter...XD


*Fear for the Future*

~Chapter 2: Fields of Red Grass~


Lucy groans loudly, closing another book gently. "Still nothing," she sighs in disbelief. To her left, Natsu scours a map inside of a book, a deep frown etched on his face. Lucy smiles to herself as she reaches for another book. 'I'm surprised that he is stayed concentrated for this long...he must be really determined to find Ronon...'

"Arrrrgh!" Natsu suddenly shouts, violently slamming the book shut. "THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THIS STUPID RED PLANT PLACE!"

"Fields of Red Grass," Lucy corrects him, "and I'm striking out too."

"There's gotta be somethin'," Natsu grumbles, reaching for another book. "Because I really need to bash that bastard's face in!" Shaking with anticipation, Natsu clenches his right hand into a fist.

"We'll find it," Lucy reassures him. "We have to..." Downcast, Lucy looks down at her lap. "We can't him get away with everything he's done."

"Yeah..." Natsu says softly. "I didn't lose that battle...but I didn't win either. I won't let him beat me again...not after the way he treated you, Lucy..." Lucy smiles fondly, adjusting her Wind Reader Glasses on her nose.

"I know you'll win, Natsu... As I've said before...I've believed in you ever since I joined the guild..."

"You really meant that?" Natsu turns to look at her. "I thought Minerva hit you in the head too hard..."

Lucy slaps him lightly on the shoulder, almost playfully. "No! Jerk!"

"Sorry," Natsu pouts. "I just...I don't know..."

"It's fine," Lucy smiles again, "I understand. And yes...I really did mean it..."

Natsu smiles, turning away slightly to look at the book on his lap. "Uh...Lucy?"

"Yes?" she replies, turning her head to look at him.

"Uh..." he stammers, looking uncharacteristically shy. "I...I don't understand this book...the words are confusing me." Frowning, Lucy takes the book from him and places it on her lap. To her surprise, the book is written in completely normal English. Yes, there were a few confusing words here and there, but it wasn't anything super challenging.

"What don't you understand about it?" Lucy asks.

"I don't read that well," Natsu mumbles. "And there's too many big words..." Lucy shakes her head, finding him absolutely adorable. Even thought they really needed to be getting a move on with the search, Lucy pulled off her Wind Reader Glasses and read the book aloud to Natsu, slowly teaching him what the words 'longitude', 'latitude', and 'equator' meant.

They were interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and a shout of, "Lu-chan!" Lucy pauses mid-sentence, looking up from the book just in time to see Levy come running towards her excitedly.

"Yo, Levy, what's up?" Natsu asks, seeing the girl's expression.

"Mira told me about the Fields of Red Grass," Levy says, "and I researched it. There's no such place..." Lucy's face falls, and Natsu looks completely pissed. "However!" Levy smiles, walking over to a shelf. "I think maybe it's a riddle."

"A riddle?" Lucy echos. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"Either that, or it's another, less common name of someplace," Levy continues, pulling a book down off the shelf. "And I think I have an idea."

"Really?!" Natsu grins.

"Alright, go Levy!" Lucy cheers.

Levy laughs, then begins reading out of the book in her hands, "Fiore has had many battles with Dark Guild, neighboring countries, and rebels before all over the country. Namely, there are a few battle sites that are well known. The first being the Forest of Glenn, where Fiore fought...never mind, that's not important. Hold on, I thought I saw it..."

Lucy and Natsu wait patiently for Levy to continue, suddenly feeling very hopeful about the situation.

"Aha!" Levy cries. "Found it! It says here that the battle with the most causalities of all of Fiore's known history was the battle at a plain three hours away from the town of Calswind. The plain had no name before the battle, but afterwords was nicknamed 'the Domain of the Dead', since so many people on these plains. A journal of a Fiore solider stated this: The battle has worn on for over a week now. We've lost so many troops...this Dark Guild is overbearing. In fact, there's been so much bloodshed that the fields are filled with red grass."

"Fields of Red Grass!" Lucy exclaims. "Levy, you're a genius! You found it!"

"Ew," Natsu looks disgusted. "Is the grass permanently stained?"

"I doubt it," Levy sighs as Lucy giggles at Natsu's stupidity.

"Levy, where is Calswind?" Lucy finally asks.

"It's maybe a two hour train ride to get there," Levy replies, grabbing a map. "And then you'll have to walk to the field." She looks at the duo worriedly. "Just be careful, okay? I really don't like the sound of this..."

Lucy places a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I'll be okay, Levy. I've got Natsu with me." A bit surprised, Natsu turns to look at the two girls.

"You're acting like you can't take care of yourself," he says. "You can hold your own, Luce."

Lucy smiles at Natsu, blushing slightly. "Well, yeah, but I...I always feel safer when you're with me..." Levy squeals, hiding her grin behind her hands. Very slowly she tiptoes out of the room, leaving Natsu and Lucy alone. Levy didn't want to intrude, especially since this moment seemed like absolute perfection.

"Uh...why's that?" Natsu asks, titling his head to the side slightly.

"Because...Because...you're strong," Lucy's blush darkens. Natsu shrugs, saying nothing as he turns to pick up the map.

"We should get going," he tells Lucy. "It's about time that we paid Ronon a little visit...and deliver him his well-deserved ass whoopin'."


I apologize for any OOC-ness...I felt like I made Natsu a bit off, but oh well. XD (Nalu for the win!)

Thanks for reading! A quick review would make me so happy, even if it's just "Really great job, I like it".


~ForeverDreamer12, signing out. :)