Ok, so this is going to be kind of a short chapter with around 2,400 words? A chapter to build up suspense, I guess. Well, I shall not speak/type/write any further until the author's note at the end! Well, enjoy!

Chapter 6: Plan X

Sunlight streamed through the gap between the curtains, Natsu grunted, turning over, in an attempt to fall back asleep. He was having a dream about fighting with Gray, but when he was about to declare his victory, he stirred. 'OH YEAH!' Natsu instantly shot up, remembering something important, then checking the time on his clock. 7.30am! He was suppose to go to the guild at 7.30 to tell Master about his plans. He hastily scribbled down a note for Happy, grabbed his backpack and left.

"Excuse me!" He said repeatedly, squeezing through the crowd that have gathered for a grocery sale. He reached guild, took a look outside, but Erza was not in sight. Natsu sat down on a nearby bench, leaning back, he crossed his arms, closed his eyes and waited for her to come.

"Natsu. I'm here. So now, can you tell me what's this all about?" The scarlet haired mage wore her usual armour and behind her was a whole wagon full of luggage, which was usually filled with clothes, food, med kits. But the scarlet mage was met with no answer in return, just the sensation of someone grabbing her hand and pulling her along with her items, through the guild's doors.

The guild was more rowdy than usual, Erza wasn't there so the other members wanted to have more fun before the disciplinarian arrives to stop them. But when the guild doors busted open, everyone stopped what they were doing and cranked their heads to face the entrance. One by one, their jaws dropped as they caught the sight of Natsu and Erza. Master, who was usually on the counter meditating, had his eyes wide open in shock. There, standing out in the open, was a grinning Natsu and a blushing Erza.

"Hello everyone!" Natsu greeted, waving while giving his toothy-est, brightest grin.

"Flame brain! What do you think you are doing?!" Gray shouted, breaking the silence. Though, Gray knew that they were a item quite sometime ago, he never expected Natsu to announce to the guild, like this.

"What do you mean, Ice cubes? Can't you see?" Natsu lifted up the hand that was interlocked with Erza's and waved it around, earning multiple gasps for the members.

"Isn't it obvious?!" Natsu was confused, he thought that by now, the members must at least knew what he was doing and what he was trying to tell them.

"Natsu's... Natsu's... a MAN!" Elfman stammered, tearing up.

"My kid is growing up... To date someone like Erza..." Master teared up at the thought, rushing forward to congratulate them. The guild started cheering, members starting to congratulate the new formed couple. Erza for once, felt shy, she shift behind Natsu.

"Anyways, Gramps, I just want to tell you that we are going on a trip!" Natsu declared.

"Wait! Natsu! I... I... thought it was a mission?" Erza stammered, stupefied. This all happened too quickly. The pinkette just turned around and gave her a small smile, making her feel better, then squeezed her hand.

"Very well, Natsu. If there's anything we'll contact you through lacrima. You two, have fun!" Master smiled and waved.

"Flame Brain! Remember to buy me souvenirs!"Gray grinned.

"Natsu! If you see any keys, get them for me!" Lucy shouted.

"Ok, Dessert and Luigi!"

"Name's Lucy! L-U-C-Y! LUCY!" Lucy corrected.

"Roger that, Luce!" A tick mark formed on Lucy's head, annoyed but decided against correcting him. It was just a waste of breath, Natsu still would call her Lugi, Luce or some nickname when they meet again.

"Uh, Gray, your clothes." Cana took a sip of beer from her barrel. Gray flailed his arms in the air, looking around the ground of his clothes but found none. Behind the notice board was a giggling Juvia. 'Gray-sama, looks so hot and cute looking for his clothes.' Juvia used one hand to stifle her giggles and the other to hold up Gray's clothes. It was obvious who took the clothes.

"Gray-sama here are your clothes!" Juvia skipped out of hiding.

"Oh thank god." Gray quickly put on his clothes, still oblivious about Juvia's actions.

"Well, guys, I think I better get going! It's getting late!" Natsu waved dragging his girlfriend and her cargo out. The train that he was taking was going to come in about 20 minutes time. He figured that he wanted to take a slow walk with Erza, than rush to the station.

"Natsu, can you explain what's going on?"

"Oh. Uh, you see, I just want, the both of us, to uh, spend some time together, alone?" Natsu tried to come up with an answer that would meet Erza's expectations.

"Where are we going?"

"To Honsenka Town..." Erza's eyes widened, surprised. Honsenka Town was a truly beautiful town and Erza had always wanted to go there. Natsu grinned, seeing Erza's expression. Priceless. The trip had not even started and Natsu's already loving it. What could go wrong? The station was packed, seemed like everyone had thought of going out to relax, luckily, Natsu had made preparations beforehand. Booking of their 2 way train tickets, their inn, their activities lined up. The man cut through the crowd with his girlfriend in tow, boarding their half-filled carriage. The people behind them, kept on pushing Erza, as if rushing them. Natsu noticed this, sent a sharp glare at the passengers behind, which seemed to scare them a little and the pushing stop. The two sat on their assigned seat. Natsu wasn't looking forward to this part. The part where the train moves and his motion sickness kicks in, but this part was inevitable. The train lurched forward as it began to move. Natsu felt dizzy, nauseous, but the comfort of Erza's lap took half of the nasty feeling away. Natsu closed his eyes, Erza's lap was so comfortable, he just wanted to sleep and forget about his motion sickness. And so he did.

It was night time when they finally reached Honsenka Town. Erza shook Natsu awake. Natsu opened one eye, and noticed that the train had stopped, before opening the other.

"We're here! We are here!" Natsu screamed in delight, having finally reached his destination and that the train had stop moving. Taking Erza's cargo in one hand and her hand in the other, he dragged them out of the train. Outside, the town was shining bright. Neon signs, street lights filled the place. Street entertainers were everywhere, food carts, street shops line the streets. After all, this was the festive season.

"Erza! Let's go to the inn first, then we can go and have a look around!" Natsu was already drooling. Erza nodded. And the two proceed to the inn. The outlook of the inn was really grand, it didn't even look like a inn, it looked like a hotel. She looked at it fascinated as Natsu grinned. Erza never got the chance to stay at places like this.

"Are you sure we are at the right place, Natsu?" Erza couldn't help but doubt if the male mage really had so much money to spend. This place looked costly.

"Yeah!" Natsu pumped his fists. This was all possible because of his savings. At first he had no idea what to do with the sum of money lying in his piggy bank, but now he had something to spend on. The interior was equally as amazing, the staff at the counter were impeccably dressed, there was bell boys walking around, carrying the luggage of customers. The two checked into their room which was one of the highest floors. Natsu had one of the bell boys carry Erza's items up to their room, while he preferred to carry his own, just in case. The room was stunning, even Natsu couldn't believe what he had paid for. There was a huge living room with a fire place and a television of at least 50 inches, a lounge where there were bean bags placed with a magazine rack, a bar, a spacious bathroom with a hot tub in it and last but not least there was a huge bedroom with a king sized bed, a fireplace and a study table. To top it off, you could see the beautiful town below through the huge window. Natsu and Erza eagerly explored the whole place, it was definitely worth the hefty sum of money. None of them had ever stayed in such a place so big. Natsu ran and jumped onto the huge bed, landing on his back, he bounced up a little before settling comfortably on the bed. He stretched, calling out for Erza who was still looking around the house.

"Erza! I'm hungry! Let's go already!" The pinkette shouted, getting up from the bed.

"Ok! I'm done looking around anyways!" The scarlet haired mage replied. Natsu dashed out of the room, only to see Erza, in her white blouse and blue skirt, the outfit that she usually wear when they were together.
"Looking nice as usual." Natsu complimented her, making Erza blush a little.

"Ok! Let's go already!" Natsu grabbed Erza's arm, dragging her out of their suite and out of the hotel into the bustling street of Honsenka Town. The smell of food wafted into Natsu's nose and he took a deep breath. Natsu made a dash for the fish and chicken while Erza went to look at a shop which was selling clothes and armour. Natsu was sipping his favourite soda in one hand and holding sticks of skewered meat on the other and he followed Erza's scent which led him into the clothes and armour store.

"Hey Erza!" Natsu shouted in the store, earning himself glares from the shoppers and making Erza, embarrassed.

"Sorry!" He blushed, apologising for his outburst.

"What are you doing here?" Erza asked, holding up a blouse.

"Look for you? What else would I be doing here, not as if I'm interested in shopping or anything..."

"Oh Yeah! I remember now! Gray wanted a souvenir! I got just the thing in mind." He let out a small smirk. "Oh yeah. By the way, I got these for you!" Natsu handed Erza some sticks of meat, before rushing to the other side of the store, the men's section. Sipping his drink, he went through racks and rack of shirt, trying to find one that was suitable for Gray. Something, that Gray would like. Maybe something related to his magic, or something funny. Then, he found just the thing. It was a shirt with a giant ice berg in the middle of it, surround with a very dark blue background. And the best part it, when you touch the ice berg, it was cold! Natsu quickly took the shirt off the rack, since Natsu and Gray's shirt size was the same, he did not need to worry about it being too big or too small, unless Gray got fatter in the week that he was away. That would certainly be amusing too see. Just beside that shirt was another one, this time with a fire in the middle and the shirt had a red background. He felt the same thing when he touched it, but instead it felt hot. But Natsu didn't mind since he was resistant to heat and Gray was resistant to the cold. He took the clothes to Erza, who was now at the armour department with a basket full of clothing , to ask for her opinion. Erza found the shirts intriguing and fun, she too had never seen something like that before. It was clear that Erza had no objections to Natsu buying them for himself and Gray.

"Do you want to pay up now at the cashier or...?" Natsu asked.

"Ok, the armours here are not very nice any ways, nothing interesting." The two headed to the counter where a middle aged lady was ready to check them out.

"Aren't... Aren't... you two... the Salamander and the Titania?!" The lady asked surprised. Seems like the two were well known mages throughout Fiore, mostly for destruction but also because of their raw power.

"Well, yes! We are!" Natsu replied, ruffling the hair at the back of his head, grinning.

"Oh my! It's a pleasure to meet you! May I asked why are you two here?" The lady chatted.

"Uh, we are, uh, kind of, uh, on a vacation?" Natsu struggled to come up with a reply.

"We are the rest of your team?"

"Oh! They are at the guild."

"Well, okay then, have a nice day!" Natsu paid the lady and took the bags, exiting the store.

"Natsu, it wasn't necessary for you to pay for my stuff too, you know..." Erza commented, taking out some money from her wallet.

"Nah, it's ok, take it as a present to you!" Natsu placed his hand over Erza's, stopping her from taking out the money. Erza blushed at the contact. Then, Natsu got hold of the very same hand and interlocked his fingers with hers.

"Come, let's go. The night is still young." Natsu smiled, gently tugging her hand, prompting her to follow him.

Meanwhile back at the store.

"Target confirm. The Titania is only with Salamander, or else it may be troublesome."

"Roger that." A husky voice spoke through the communication lacrima, hidden under the cashier counter.

"And by the way, the ritual should be done tonight. The chances of success is higher. But we need to figure out how to kidnap the girl without causing much of a commotion. Keep an eye on them."

"Affirmative and out." The lady grinned, it was finally going to happen.

In the streets of Honsenka Town

Lurking in the shadows in a dark alley, away from the main street, was a certain man. Tall, strong, muscular, anyways you can't make much more of his features, especially if he's creeping around in the dark. He slid a lacrima, into one of the pockets in his hooded cloak and gave off a smirk. Definitely an evil one. Why was he here? What was he doing? His purpose was unknown but he was definitely up to something, with that look on his face. His eyes were fixed onto a certain someone, a certain someone with red hair, a certain someone whose nickname was the Titania. The loud, crowded place they were at was somewhat a double edge. He could stay hidden, camouflage in the crowd. But it also provided a disturbance, he could not track their movements properly, sometimes, the crowd cut his prey off from his view. The unknown man, retreated back into the shadows, he was not too fond of such bright light, plus, he could probably formulate a better plan in a quiet environment.

Ok so I read some of you guys' reviews and I am going to reply some or actually a couple of them. :)

Silent Reader 6100: I couldn't agree better. There was like totally no story development there except for rolling around, Jellal saving Erza and that Natsu finally thought up a plan AT THE END. But I was quite pleased with this Chapter 332, the story plot moved a little and I was more interested on how the arc would end than actually the fighting part. xD Like if Natsu would question the dragons about Igneel, about Jellal and Erza. Well, thanks for telling me your opinion anyways! :)

fred872: Yep, I will correct the minor grammatical and word mix ups soon! Don't worry! Natsu, love expert, not so much. Fighting prodigy, yes. Haha!

I have done a lot of planning these days. I already have 3 fan fictions planned. About the series I was planning, it would most probably be 1 full fledge story and another would be a one shot. No promises, no guarantees. The other would be a fan fiction on its own, not in a series or anything. Again, no promises. Well, I would love to tell you more about what I'm planning on doing, but I may just reveal more than I should. So until next time! Have a nice day!