chapter five: three dragons on a train

"You know, I thought Natsu was bothersome when we went anywhere by transportation," Gray said.

Natsu glared at him. He was sitting with Sting and Rogue, who also glared at Gray.

"Gray, give them a break," Lucy said. She had Frosch in her lap, and Happy was sitting beside her. Lector was across from him beside Gray. "It's not their fault."

"Yeah, we'd give anything to not have motion sickness," Sting said.

"You guys will make it," Lucy said. "We'll be in Iris soon."

"My stomach sure hopes so," Natsu said. "It wants to leave my body."

"At least you aren't alone in being sick," Happy said, snickering.

"Shut up, cat!" Sting and Rogue said together.

"Don't tell Happy to shut up!" Natsu said angrily.

"Will all three of you shut up?" Lucy said.

"We're sorry," they said in unison.

"Anyways, look here. The train is coming to a stop. We must've reached Iris," Gray said.

"Finally!" Natsu yelled. He clamored over Sting and into the aisle.

"Watch where you're stepping!" Sting told him angrily.

Everyone else stood up and headed down the aisle of the train. Suddenly Natsu stopped, causing Sting to bump into him. "What's the big idea?"

"You mean you don't smell it?" Natsu asked him.

"I don't know how he couldn't," Rogue said.

"If there's one thing that I've learned, it's to never underestimate a dragon slayer's senses," Gray said.

"Wait, this isn't the best place for them to fight," Lucy said.

"What are you saying, Lucy, this is perfect!" Natsu said.

"But what if the train starts moving again?" Lucy asked.

"It won't," someone answered.

"What? What do you mean?" Lucy asked.

"I am from the dark guild Black Phoenix. I've come for Lucy Heartfilia."

"What?" she asked.

"If you want Lucy, you're going to have to go through us!" Natsu said.

"Come on Lucy, quick! Lector, Frosch, and I will get you somewhere safe!" Happy said. He pointed toward the open window, where Lector and Frosch were already waiting with their wings open.

"O-okay. Natsu, Gray, be careful! And don't wreck the train!" She called out to them. "Sting, Rogue, you guys too."

"Sorry, Lucy, no promises. After all, we are from Fairy Tail," Natsu said.

"Come on," Happy said. Lucy pushed herself out of the window and Lector and Frosch grabbed her. Happy soared up and grabbed ahold of her. "Be careful, Natsu."

"I will be. Can't make no promises for the train, though!"

The three Exceeds directed Lucy toward tree-covered hills, with Frosch leading them. "I'm worried about Rogue," he said.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Rogue, Sting, Natsu, and Gray can all handle their own against that guy," Lector told him.

"Make sure you guys stay near me in case we have to make a quick getaway," Lucy said. She pulled her backpack closer to her. "They're all fighting to make sure I'm safe."

"Lucy, you being safe is all that matters," Happy said.

"Yeah, of course it does! Sting and Rogue would never forgive themselves if you were injured," Lector said.

Lucy smiled at them. "Thanks you guys."

Suddenly the three Exceeds grabbed her. "Someone's here!" Happy cried out.

"They found us!" Lector said.

"Let's find somewhere else!" Lucy said. Happy led the way and carried her to a cave about a mile away from their stopped train.

"Can't…fly…anymore," Happy said before collapsing. Lector and Frosch joined him.

"You three rest for now. We should be safe here for awhile. But stay close to me," Lucy told them. She pulled her legs up to her and rested her head on her knees. "Natsu, Gray, Sting, Rogue, be careful please."

"Damn, why won't this guy go down?" Gray said. He wiped his mouth and stood back up.

Rogue was slouched over on the floor. Having taken a punch to his stomach, he was throwing up what he had eaten earlier. He looked on as Natsu, Sting and Gray fought on, and wondered if he could continue the fight as he was. Suddenly their foe disappeared.

"Where did he go?" Sting said.

"I don't know. But stay sharp," Natsu said.

"I'll take my leave for now. But the next time we appear, we will get Lucy Heartfilia," the man said.

"No you won't. Not if I have anything to say about it," Natsu said.

"We've already sent someone to try and get her. We know where she's hiding. She will be ours." He disappeared.

Sting turned around to look at Rogue. "You know what to do."

Rogue nodded and sunk into the shadows. He could find Lucy by her scent, and she wasn't that far away. He dodged from place to place and sprang up in the cave she was in, surprising her.

"Rogue!"

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Yeah, what about you guys?"

"He left. But he said that he sent someone after you."

"We dodged him and came here. But Happy, Lector, and Frosch are exhausted." She looked over at the tired Exceeds. Rogue walked over and picked up Frosch.

"You did good, Frosch. You too, Lector."

"Rogue," Frosch said. "Did you beat him?"

"Yeah we did."

"That's good."

"Finally, we found you guys!" Natsu said, appearing in the doorway. "Sting said that Rogue ahead of us to make sure Lucy was okay."

"Yeah. I used the shadows to get here, it took no time at all," Rogue said.

"Natsu!" Happy said. He flew to him weakly. "I hope you don't need me to get around."

"Sting, we did a good job of protecting Lucy!" Lector said proudly. "I'm just so tired."

"I'll get all three of you some fish when we get back to Iris," Lucy told them.

"Alright!" Lector said.

As they all started out of the cave, Gray looked ahead. "We're actually pretty close to town."

"Yeah, which means we're also close to our reward!" Natsu said.

Lucy looked back at where the stopped train was, and her mouth dropped in horror. The train was in flames, and smoke was rolling from its shell. "What happened to the train?"

"Well, that's what happens when you have three dragons on a train," Natsu said with a big grin.