Magic Broomsticks.

The broomsticks are made only in Gedonelune from the special trees that grow there. They have a little magical properties on their own but in order to fly, you have to focus your magical energy into them. Then you'll be soaring! Of course, you need permission from the school to rent one. They're not available any other way.

The week passed by quickly from there; Lucy would attend classes, tutor Natsu in the evening, repeat. Along the way she was growing closer to both him and Happy and also her roommate, Mickey. Aside from a few minor mishaps—nothing as extreme as being shrunk one tenth her size again—things were going well. In fact, Natsu seemed to be actually remembering the incantations she taught him.

Now it was the weekend and technically, the tutoring lessons were done for the week. However, before they had parted ways the night before, Natsu had asked her to meet him in their usual spot the next morning. He had kept very cryptic as to the reason behind it but did promise it would be to her benefit. Lucy had really hoped that would be the case, though even if she didn't learn anything, it wasn't like she minded hanging out with them. Her weekend otherwise would likely be spent reading or unpacking what remained in her suitcase. So she agreed.

And that was how she found herself out in the courtyard early on Saturday morning. Natsu and Happy had yet to arrive so she had taken up a spot on a bench and pulled her jacket in tighter to herself. The weather was fair but the signs of the fast approaching fall were already showing in how cold it was in the mornings.

"Lucy!"

The blonde turned at the call and smiled when she saw Natsu running over with Happy in tow. "What's that?" She asked, pointing to the broomstick in his hand.

"Good morning to you too." Natsu said when he reached her side.

"Sorry, but I hope you don't expect me to clean anything with that." Lucy laughed though she wasn't entirely kidding. Knowing him, there was no telling just what he could have in store for her today.

"Silly Lucy," Happy said with a shake of his head, "doesn't even know a magical broomstick when she sees one."

"Excuse me?"

"We're not going to be cleaning with these." Natsu said, pushing the broom at her so she would have to take it. "We're gonna fly."

Lucy's brows came together. "Fly? You mean, flying broomsticks actually exist?"

"I'm surprised you don't know that." Natsu shrugged, absentmindly scratching the back of his head. Lucy looked from him to the broom. It seemed like any ordinary one, the only exception was the unique patterns in its wooden handle; a beautiful combination of star and swirl like shapes. She had always heard tales of wizards flying on broomsticks but never did she think that it was true. Magic was an endless wonder, she supposed.

"So how exactly is flying going to help me?" Lucy asked.

"Happy, you tell her." Natsu said, taking a seat beside her to retie his shoe. She tried not to pay attention to just how close to her he had actually sat down nor the fact that plenty of space on the bench for him to at least sit a little further away.

"In order to fly, you have to focus a certain amount of magic into the broom." The cat began to explain. "If you use too little, you'll stay on the ground. Too much magic and you'll lose control and go soaring into outer space. Natsu thinks this will help you get over your magical constipation."

Lucy turned red. "My what?!"

"That's what he calls it."

Insult about her magic block aside, she had to hand it to Natsu for coming up with such a good idea. "Well, I guess we can try it." She assented.

"That's the spirit!" Natsu said, hopping up from the bench and pulling her up with him. "Let's go into a more open area. You'll hit a tree if you try to fly around here."

"I don't really think that will be an issue, I'll just be happy if I can get even a few inches off the ground." Lucy said but followed after him and Happy anyway. They lead her to a wide clearing within the school grounds and stopped right in the middle. All around was a plush grass, so should she fall, she would land on something softer than cement.

"Where do I begin?" Lucy asked.

"Okay!" Natsu shouted, making her jump. He took the broom from her and held it vertically out in front of him. "What you gotta do is..uh." His voice trailed off, his brows turning down. He seemed to be thinking hard before he ultimately scoffed. "Just watch."

He stared directly at the broomstick, a serious expression on his face. Soon a soft light surrounded the broom and it began to float upward in his grasp. He let go and it hovered in the air for a few seconds before dropping onto the ground. "Just like when you're focusing energy into your wand, you need to do the same with the broomstick and regulate it." Happy said, while Natsu picked up the broom.

"I think I get it." Lucy nodded. "I'm just, really bad at getting my magic to actually come out. I'm not sure I can even get it to float like that."

"That's why we're using the broom, not a spell." Natsu said, handing her the broom. "With spells you give it one big burst but with brooms you gotta keep giving it magic to stay up."

"So you think I'll do better practicing a steady flow?" Lucy asked to which Natsu nodded. She was starting to make more sense of this exercise. An eagerness filled her at the thought of improving her magic output. "Alright, should I hold it out like you did?"

"No." Natsu said, stepping up beside her. "You gotta get on it like you're riding a bike." He showed her how to do it so she was straddling the broomstick, both hands held tightly to the handle in front of her.

"Now what?"

Natsu shrugged. "Just...focus, I guess? It's hard to explain, you have to just do it."

"Okay, here goes." Lucy said. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Focus. Focus. Focus. The word repeated in her mind and just like when using her wand, she concentrated her magic into the broomstick. As always, something was blocking the flow of her magic but a little of the magic managed to slip through and she felt the pull of the broom beneath her, lifting her upwards.

"She's actually flying!" Happy gasped.

"Am I?!" Lucy's eyes snapped open as soon as she heard that and just as soon as she did that, her feet landed back on the ground.

"Well, you were." Natsu said, humor in his voice.

Her determination didn't deter. "I'm going to try again."

"Keep your eyes open this time." Natsu told her.

Lucy nodded, and taking another long breath first, she focused her magic again. It was easier this attempt and she was floating a few inches already. So she tried again, and again. But try as she might, she couldn't manage to get any higher off the ground than that. That blockage was still there.

"I don't know what's wrong." Lucy frowned, floating back down.

"It's only your first time." Happy encouraged. Lucy smiled a little at that but she still felt disappointed.

There was a silence between the three until Natsu spoke up. "Try again." He said.

"Why?" Lucy questioned. She was tired and a little annoyed that she couldn't get this right. She knew it took time. It was taking Natsu time to learn the incantations. But it was discouraging failing so badly.

"Just do it." Natsu ordered and Lucy sighed but listened. She focused her magic for the dozenth time now and felt that lift but also felt something else.

"What are you doing?!" Lucy demanded, whipping her head back to look at Natsu. He had climbed onto the broom behind her and she felt a jolt in her heart with him being so close. His head was practically resting on her shoulder.

"We're gonna go for a ride." Natsu grinned. He reached one arm around her and took a hold of the handle. Almost instantly, the two of them and the broom skyrocketed straight upward. A scream escaped Lucy and if she hadn't been holding on so tightly, she was certain she would have fallen right off. The broom kept climbing and climbing into the air and the higher they went, the faster Lucy's heart raced. She wasn't sure if it was because Natsu had leaned even closer to her or it was a sudden onslaught of a fear of heights. She hoped it was the latter.

"How high are we gonna go?" Lucy asked when they were clear over the treeline and Happy was just a blue speck on the ground. It was an impressive sight but terrifying all the same.

"Don't look down, you'll get dizzy." Natsu told her, his voice close to her ear.

"O-ok." She mumbled back. She turned her eyes forward and the broom began to move in that direction. They picked up speed as they soared over the trees and lower academy buildings. The crisp morning air blew in her face but the exhilaration of flying and the heat at her back kept her warm. She was just grateful she had worn pants today instead of her skirt.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

She could feel Natsu shrug. "Wanna go to the lake?"

"Alright."

"I'll let you steer then, go right."

Nervousness spiked within her. "How do I do that?"

"Easy! You just lean a little—don't lean so far you fall off—and think of the direction you wanna go." Happy said.

"Ok—WAIT, Happy?!" Lucy's head whipped to her left to see the widely grinning cat soaring beside them. He had a pair of white wings sprouted from his back that had definitely NOT been there before.

Natsu snickered at her shocked reaction. "What, never seen a flying cat before?"

"No." Lucy replied, amused. "I didn't even know that familiars can cast magic. Unless, that was your doing."

"Nope, it's all Happy."

"I'm special like that." Happy laughed and flew ahead of them. "I'll lead you to the lake, Lucy!"

"Think you can handle steering?" Natsu asked her.

At least he asked this time. "Yeah." She said and followed Happy's instructions. She gingerly leaned to the right and they turned. From there they kept flying, her changing direction when needed. It was easier than she thought and soon all her nervousness slipped away.

"Having fun?" Natsu asked after some time, his voice right by her ear again.

His question made Lucy realize that she was smiling from ear to ear. Instead of answering, she just nodded. The lake had come into view and Lucy looked down to admire it. That's when she noticed that Natsu only had one hand on the broomstick. His other was resting on his knee.

"Hey, how come you're holding on with only one hand?" She asked.

"Huh?" Natsu hot breath came out on her neck and it made her tense and lose focus. The broom wobbled, threatening to tip but Natsu reached his other arm forward, grabbing onto the handle so it steadied.

"Careful." Natsu warned but when he looked back from the broom to her, he met her eyes. She stared right at him, his face mere centimeters from hers and both his arms wrapped at either side of her. He swallowed thickly and she blinked.

"Um." She fumbled for something to say, chewing on her bottom lip. The action brought his gaze to them and that's where things went all wrong.

Without any warning, the broomstick shot forward and then just as quickly, completely lost all power. Wind whistled past them as they plummeted and Lucy let go of the broom to wrap her arms tightly around Natsu's neck. She clung to him for dear life but knew that this was her end. She squinted her eyes shut. Yes, soon she would be joining her dear mama and papa in heaven.

But over the sound of her screaming Natsu's name, she heard his laughter. "Hope you can swim!"

With a large SPLOOSH! they landed in cool water.

And here is chapter 7! Thanks again for the reviews, follows, and favorites. I'm glad you guys are enjoying this fic.