Haloha, everyone! Hope you're doing great! Chapter 3's finally here! It's still following the general pace of SilverWrath's fanfiction, next chapter might a bit more original. Have fun reading! Leave a review if you'd like; they're much appreciated!


Chapter 3 : Team Natsu Goes on a Job!

"I can't believe all of you guys forgot about me! You just left me in the guild!" Natsu pouted, annoyance clear in his voice. "Seriously, you guys… that's just messed up." He continued, stomping his feet as he led the group towards the train station, taking a path where they could stop by Lucy's apartment. Hearing him like this, Wendy felt tears welling up in her eyes. The idea of Natsu hating her was something she absolutely did not want. What if he starts hating me?

She had been repeatedly apologizing to Natsu for forgetting about him and leaving him behind. She was incredibly disappointed at herself. She had been saying "I'm sorry" for the tenth time or so since she and Natsu left the guild. Her face hurt from all the crying, becoming puffy with her eyes appearing red. She softly cried "I'm sorry" one more time.

"Stop blaming yourself, child." Carla said.

Natsu looked over his shoulder, noticing Wendy's puffy face. He slowed down his pace to match hers, walking side-by-side with her.

"Ah, come on, Wendy…" He said softly and gently put his arm around her. "Please don't cry. You have nothing to blame yourself for." Natsu reassured her.

Feeling the warmth of his hand, Wendy nuzzled against it.

"What are you sorry for? You came back to get me, and you even healed me, didn't you?" Natsu cheerfully said and grinned at her. Wendy could only nod, her crying slowly coming to a halt.

"A smile suits you better." Using his free hand, Natsu pushed his lips upward into a smile with his index finger and thumb. "Come on now, let me see that smile." Natsu gave her the brightest smile he could give.

Wendy couldn't help but giggle at his goofy smile. She wiped some of her tears and pushed her lips into a smile with her two hands, returning it to Natsu.

"There! That's the Wendy I know and love!" Natsu gently patted her head, spreading warmth over her body.

Wendy's heart stopped a bit upon hearing that. She knew he meant it as family, but it still sent blood rushing to her cheeks. She was unable to stop smiling. Their interaction received a curious glance from Carla and Erza.

"T-thank you, Natsu." She finished wiping the rest of her tears, calming herself down.

"Besides, if there's someone here to blame, it's her!" Much to Wendy's disappointment, Natsu removed his hand from her head, and pointed at Erza, glaring at her back.

"Hey now, I didn't hit you that hard." Erza replied, still looking forward.

"Yeah, right. You definitely didn't." Gray muttered sarcastically under his breath, rubbing his head. He was also an unfortunate victim of Erza.

"Did you say something, Gray?" Erza turned towards Gray, smiling dangerously.

"N-no, I didn't say anything." Gray quickly turned his head the other way, not wanting to face her wrath.

"Besides, Natsu, you should have known we would be in a hurry. If you don't want to be left behind again, don't fall asleep next time." Erza said it as if it didn't concern her.

"I wouldn't have been sleeping if you didn't slam my face into the ground!" Natsu scoffed at her, crossing his arms.

"You do realize there's a difference between getting knocked out and sleeping, right?" Gray said with a smirk, trying to provoke Natsu.

"Why, you little…" Natsu was about to confront Gray, but Wendy tugged his sleeve.

"H-hey guys, why don't we talk about something else?" Wendy asked timidly, hoping to diffuse the tension between the rivals. She didn't want Natsu and Gray to fight again.

Natsu took a deep breath and sighed, taking a few steps back returning to Wendy's pace which made her smile a bit.

"Of course, Wendy." Erza replied brightly. "Let us talk about something interesting, don't we? I've got a topic in mind."

"Well, what's up?" Gray asked.

"I assume you all know what's going to happen next week in Magnolia." Erza asked to the group, directing her gaze at Wendy and Carla.

"Oh, right it's that time of the year, huh?" Gray's eyes widened in realization, placing his fist on his palm.

"Oh, yeah, it is!" Natsu put his hands behind his head.

Wendy seemed to be lost in the conversation. What's going to happen next week?

Erza directed her gaze at Wendy, asking what she was thinking. "Do you know what's going to happen next week, Wendy?"

Wendy put a hand on her chin. Next week? There's nothing that really comes to mind. "I don't really know, Erza. What is it?" Wendy asked.

"This would be Wendy and Carla's first time, wouldn't it?" Gray added.

Erza smiled. "Indeed. The Harvest Festival will be coming up soon."

"The Harvest Festival? I hear it's one of the biggest events in Magnolia, alongside the Fantasia Parade." Carla said.

"Seems like you're well informed. It's going to be your first time joining in the event." Erza said.

"Sounds like it'll be a lot of fun!" Wendy exclaimed.

"You bet'cha it is, Wendy! I'm always looking forward to the Harvest Festival!" Natsu grinned.

"There's something I'd like to say to all of you regarding this, but you must keep it a secret. I believe I can trust you on that?" Erza asked with an authoritative tone, targeting her eyes at Natsu and Gray.

"A-Aye, sir!" Natsu and Gray reflexively said in unison.

"You can count on us!" Wendy answered for herself and Carla, pumping her fist to her chest.

"Very good. So, listen closely." Erza lowered her voice and walked closer with the group so only they could hear.

"Master Makarov and I had been discussing what new events we could incorporate into this year's festival. One particular event we were planning for the Harvest Festival is a sort of dance party."

"A d-dance party? What kind of event is this? People are just dancing or something?" Gray asked, reminiscing when he had that dance battle with Cancer. That's a memory I want buried where no one else can find it. His face heated up a bit.

"In a way, yes. As the name suggests, there will be dancing involved. And it's going to involve couples!" Erza said excitedly.

"C-couples?" Now it was Wendy's face that was heating up.

"Yes. You know… boys and girls holding hands, dancing the night away. Have you ever read any romance manga where the prince asks for the fair hand of the princess to dance together, under the moonlight?" Erza's eyes sparkled. "That's the direction we're planning to take."

"Sounds… really romantic, huh." Gray added.

"It will be a special occasion that allows people to strengthen their bonds. In one way or another." Erza continued. "Of course, nothing's set it stone yet, but it's something to look forward to."

"I guess… if we have someone in mind." Gray looked off into the distance, thinking of a certain water wizard.

"Why, I'm sure you do, Gray." Erza patted him on the back quite strongly. "Juvia would be more than willing to dance with you."

"J-Juvia?! N-no, there's no way…" Gray's eyes darted around, his cheeks heavily blushing. He brought his hand to cover his embarrassment. As much as he wanted to deny it, Juvia has been on his mind.

"How about you, Natsu? Do you have someone in mind?" Erza turned her attention to him with expectant eyes.

Wendy gazed at Natsu intently. What was he going to say? She was anxiously twiddling her fingers. Every second of waiting felt quite longer than usual.

Natsu thought deeply (he actually didn't), then looked upwards. "Eh, not really. I don't really… dance. It seems complicated."

Wendy felt relieved and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Oh, is that so? It's not as bad as you think." Erza was taken aback by his response, thinking he would mention a certain celestial wizard. "Well, no matter, it's something to think about." Erza returned to leading the group.

Wendy was in her own little world. When Erza mentioned 'couples', an idea hit her almost immediately. Her eyes widened at the thought. I could ask Natsu to go with me to the Harvest Festival! And maybe… we could dance together… if he doesn't mind…I hope. Her head was filled with fantasies about her and Natsu. She couldn't stop herself from smiling and giggling.

"What are you laughing about, child?" Carla noticed her giggling by herself, sending her a questioning look.

"A-ah, it's nothing, Carla. Don't mind me…" Wendy waved her hand, trying to keep herself calm. But it's so exciting!

Wendy glanced at Natsu, and she felt her cheeks heating up. A lot. If… I'm going to ask him to go with me, I think now is as good as ever. Wendy steeled herself and clenched her fists, but that couldn't calm down the heat in her cheeks. Alright, Wendy, you can do it! She turned to Natsu, just about to ask him when-

"Hey, you guys! Sorry I'm late!" A familiar voice interrupted Wendy's train of thought. "I thought you guys had already left me!" She was running towards the group. Behind her was the flying cat, Happy.

"There they are." Erza smiled at them.

"It's about time you showed up, Lucy. You slept in late or something?" Gray waved and asked.

"Aye! I had to bang on the window so many times!" Happy answered in her stead.

"Ahaha…" Feeling embarrassed, Lucy scratched her cheek. The pair finally joined up with the group and continued walking towards the train station. She rested her eyes on Natsu.

Natsu grinned at her. "I was starting to think you didn't really care about the ren-" Lucy interrupted him, dragging him by his arm away from the group. They got curious glances from the group, especially Wendy.

"Hey, Natsu… I got drunk last night, didn't I? Happy told me. I can't remember anything that happened after the party." Lucy whispered to his ear.

"Ah, yeah… you really did…" Natsu whispered back.

"Did I… do or say anything weird…?" Lucy asked, shielding her mouth with her hand.

"Well… " Memories from last night flooded to Natsu's mind. She got drunk, and I had to give her a piggyback. "Don't worry about it, nothing happened." Natsu turned his eyes away from hers, uncertainty in his voice.

Lucy, not feeling convinced, brought his face closer and pulled his face to hers by his cheek. "Liar. Something did happen. Please tell me it wasn't anything embarrassing."

"It's not! It's just… you asked to me give you a piggyback, so I did and brought you back to your apartment."

Lucy blushed a bit. "I-I see…. Guess it could have been worse, haha…" Lucy scratched her neck in embarrassment.

Wendy was pouting at them, feeling slightly dejected that Natsu was taken from her. What could they be possibly talking about there? They were talking too quiet for her dragon slayer hearing to pick up anything. Erza noticed Wendy's expression and called out to the pair.

"Are both of you done quarrelling? We need to get a move on. The train's going to depart soon." Erza cut in.

Lucy quickly dragged Natsu back to the group by his scarf. "Yes, yes, we're done!"

"Lucy, please take care of how much you drink. I know last night was your big night of happiness but have some self-restraint." Erza advised.

"Y-yes, Erza!" Lucy replied hastily. It was partially Cana's fault.

Erza chuckled a bit. "Well, it was a wonderful party last night. I can't blame you." Erza happily slapped Lucy on the back.

Lucy groaned a bit from the slap. She really doesn't judge her strength, huh.

Natsu swung his arm around Lucy's shoulders. "Haha! Well, now that you're here, our team is at full power!" He exclaimed, pumping his hand up for a high-five.

Lucy's cheeks warmed up a bit, and she smiled brightly. "Hell yeah it is! Let's go, team!" Lucy accepted his high-five. They both laughed together.

"Aye, sir!" Happy landed on Natsu's head.

The atmosphere surrounding these two was energetic, giving a morale boost to Erza, Gray and Carla as they watched their interaction. All but Wendy.

Wendy's smile faded away, being replaced with a frown clawing at the edges of her face. All the fantasies she was having in her head slowly came crashing down one by one. They're so close. Wendy's heart started tightening at the sight of these two, as if chains were constricting them. She knew this feeling all too well. Jealousy. Why did I think I even have a chance? She thought she could keep avoiding the fact Natsu and Lucy were so close. She couldn't convince herself this time. Natsu and Lucy were best friends. They had known each other way before Wendy joined Fairy Tail. Her fellow guildmates had been saying they might end up falling in love with each other one day. At one point in time, she did believe that. When she joined Fairy Tail, she believed they would make a lovely and adorable couple. I was rooting for them. But that all changed when she herself fell for the pink-haired dragon slayer. Over time, her feelings grew for him, slowly becoming even more attached to him. The thought of them ending up together inflicted a sharp pain in her chest. I… don't want that. Both Natsu and Lucy are precious friends she holds dear in her heart. She wouldn't want to see either of them get hurt. But the idea of Natsu loving Lucy and giving her his full attention… I hate it. I don't want that to happen. Is it okay for me to want Natsu all to myself? She asked herself that question. Jealousy has never eaten her heart out like this before. For a moment, she asked herself… Does it make me a terrible person to hope that Natsu falls for me, and rejects Lucy? She instantly regretted thinking that. As much as she wanted to deny it, there was a part of her that secretly wanted that to happen. Her realization turned her mood sour. She felt like the worst person in the world. Unaware, Wendy was falling further and further away from the group, as if a wall had been erected between them. Her head depressed down, and her body squirmed uncomfortably.

"Wendy?"

Wendy was in her own world, only this time it was depressing. Why am I thinking like this? It's not like me…

"Wendy, you alright?"

She felt dejected, knowing she never had any chance to invite Natsu to the Harvest Festival. Why would Natsu accept me? I'm sure he would love to go with Lucy… Wendy looked down at the ground, thinking how foolish and stupid she has been. Why would Natsu choose to spend his time with me than her?

"Hey, Wendy? Is something wrong?"

Lucy is so much prettier… her chest is so much bigger than mine. Natsu would choose her. Wendy unconsciously covered her chest.

"Weeeeendy, are you there?"

Wendy sighed. I can't believe I got my hopes up… and for what? I should have known better.

"Alright, that's it!" A voice blocked off her negative thoughts. Wendy felt herself suddenly lifted off the ground, warmth enveloping her body soon after. This odd sensation brought her senses back to reality.

"H-hey!" Wendy gasped. "W-w-what's going on?!" She looked over to see what was happening.

"You've finally said something!" Natsu flashed his signature smile.

Natsu was carrying her with both his arms. She was sitting on his arm as support, leaning into him with her arms wrapped around his neck. As soon as she realized what was happening…

"N-N-Natsu!" She stuttered, shock in her voice. "W-what are you…w-why are you…" Her face was burning up, unable to finish her sentences. Natsu simply smiled at her.

"I noticed you were falling way behind the group." Natsu motioned his head and pointed forward. She looked in the direction he pointed. True enough, Wendy had fallen way behind when she was lost in her own mind. "I was worried about you, so I came back to get you." Natsu said laughing.

"You… were worried about me?" She asked softly. The thought was sometimes so foreign to Wendy.

"Of course!" Natsu beamed.

"Y-you didn't… have to do that." She said softly. "I would have eventually caught up to you either way… I don't want to bother you." Wendy said dejectedly. She didn't intend for her words to come out that depressing. Natsu simply shook his head.

"That's never going to happen." Natsu said smiling. "There's no way you would ever be a bother. To me, or anyone else." Natsu quickened his pace to catch up with the group. Wendy could see them now. "You're a part of this team, and I would never want that to change." Natsu gazed at her eyes. "We need you just as much as we need Erza and… Gray. " Natsu admitted, a hint of shyness in his voice. Wendy couldn't help but giggle. He gave her a look that stated Don't let him know that. "Besides," Natsu grinned, "I want you here, you're way too fun to leave behind."

Wendy's cheeks rose up in heat, her ears dyed a bit of red. Wendy felt her heart and mind melting away, just hearing him saying that. All her negative and self-deprecating thoughts were blown away in a single instant. Honestly, she was too stunned to even say anything. There was one idea that appeared in her flustered mind. Before her brain even had a chance to register that thought, that thought had already escaped her mouth.

"H-hey, Natsu?" She asked shyly.

"What's up?" He replied.

"Would you mind if I… stayed like this a little longer? At least… until we get to the train? I'm…pretty tired." As that thought left her mouth, she instantly regretted it and her body tensed up. What am I saying? She unconsciously tightened her arms around Natsu.

"Of course." He flashed his signature smile. "Stay right here. I'll carry you all the way to the station. Take it easy, alright?"

Wendy was powerless in his arms. She couldn't hold back her own smile from spreading across her face. She relaxed her body and nestled in his warmth. "T-thank you, Natsu." She said happily. It felt like her heartbeat was accelerating every moment.

"No problem." Natsu said softly as they finally caught up with the others. The other members gave them curious glances as they arrived. Erza was rather amused, simply nodding at them. Happy wanted to comment but was shut down by Carla stuffing fish into his mouth from who-knows-where. Lucy and Gray simply smiled.

Wendy couldn't care less what others were thinking. She was content.


On the train….

..

.

The team of wizards were now boarding the train, onwards to their mission destination. In a compartment, Wendy was sitting with Lucy and Gray on one side, while Erza was sitting with Natsu on the side opposite of them. Happy sat on Lucy's lap, while Carla on Wendy's. Wendy looked out the window as the horizons rushed past her. She was still in a cheerful daze from being in Natsu's arms as he carried her. Deep inside, she secretly wished she could have come up with some sort of excuse to stay in his arms, but…

"W-wendy…blurgh…" Natsu was physically unable to hold himself up. He was preventing his breakfast from leaving his body. He was lying towards the window as support. His motion sickness has been kicked into high gear after the train started to move. He forced what little energy he had in his gaze on to Wendy, hoping he would catch his signal to cast Troia, a magic spell that temporarily cures motion sickness. Wendy suffered from motion sickness as well, but it isn't as severe as Natsu's. To her, there's just some slight discomfort in her stomach that comes and goes. This may be due to her being the Sky Dragon Slayer with an affinity for healing magic. She doesn't need to cast Troia on herself because she had been building resistance towards her motion sickness. Wendy felt sad seeing Natsu like this. She wanted to cast her Troia spell on him, but there was an intimidating obstacle in the way.

"U-um… Erza?" She asked timidly, facing the scarlet-haired woman. "Could I treat Natsu's motion sickness?"

Erza was reading the job flyer, momentarily forgetting about Natsu's motion sickness. She put the flyer down and turned to Natsu. She shook her head at Wendy. "No, don't waste your Troia spell on him. We could do well without his noisy outbursts while we head to the destination." Erza said simply. "Let's enjoy the peaceful train ride and not let Natsu ruin it."

Wendy looked dejected. "I-I see… but…" She looked over at Natsu sitting across from her. His face has turned literally green, trying to hold himself from throwing up.

Erza simply nodded. "Allow me to do this." With a swift and precise movement, Erza slammed her fist into Natsu's stomach, knocking him out unconscious. She gently brought Natsu's head to her lap, lying him down. "Now, he won't be bothered by it." Wendy and Carla flinched at Erza's sudden action. It seems Happy, Lucy, and Gray were used to seeing this.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine." Erza smiled as she caressed his hair gently. Wendy wasn't sure what to feel. It's great that Natsu's not having to deal with his motion sickness, but to be on Erza's lap… she wished she could switch places with her. She held back her frown, not wanting to raise suspicions.

"So, Erza. Could you tell us what kind of job we'll be taking?" Lucy asked.

"Ah, yes. We haven't had the opportunity to discuss it." Erza cleared her throat.

"We're heading to a place known as the Tropical Forests of Nightglades. Nightglades for short."

Lucy's eyes widened at the name. "What kind of crazy place you're taking us to this time?"

"Contrary to the name, Nightglades is a surprisingly beautiful forest with an abundance of waterfalls. It's considered a popular tourist destination for sightseeing." Erza continued.

"Nightglades… does it have something to do with nighttime?" Carla asked.

"You are indeed right. Supposedly, the waterfalls of Nightglades look different when its nighttime. I do not know what changes about it, but I hear it's a vastly different experience from daytime."

"Waterfalls that change depending on the time of day? Pretty mysterious." Gray added.

"Huh," Lucy put a hand on her chin, "what will we be doing in a place like that?"

"Since a few months ago," Erza crossed her arms, taking on a more serious tone, "there have been multiple guilds that attempted this job. Hundreds of wizards have tried to take on this job but ultimately failed. Some even never returned from the forest."

Chills were sent down Lucy's and Wendy's spines. "Multiple guilds? Hundreds? What kind of job is this?" Lucy asked.

"It's a monster subjugation job, isn't it?" Gray answered to which Erza nodded.

"I guess there's a lot of monsters to deal with, huh? How tough are these monsters? Even for a hundred wizards…" Lucy added.

"No. There's apparently just one monster." Erza corrected her.

"Huh?" Everyone except Natsu responded in unison.

"J-just one?" Carla asked, a bit shaken.

"How the… " Gray ruffled his hair.

"That's crazy!" Happy exclaimed.

"Yes. This is the so-called Whisperer of the Waterfalls. Locals have been saying that this Whisperer has been terrorizing the forests, kidnapping unfortunate victims and killing them. It is also said this Whisperer has been dragging sole victims to the waterfalls, drowning them as well." Erza explained.

"H-hey…" Gray asked with concern, resting his face on his hand. "Are you sure we're dealing with a monster here? For all we know, it could also be a powerful wizard."

"We can't deny that possibility." Carla added. "This 'monster' is too calculating. It could even be something worse."

"Is there anything on this… Whisperer of the Waterfalls monster?" Gray asked.

"Hmmm…" Erza thought deeply. "It's not really known how this monster fights or looks like. With that said, we'll need to exercise caution. We can't act recklessly."

"Why did you choose this mission, Erza… " Lucy asked nervously.

"Don't worry, Lucy. We've been through much worse. I'm sure we're more than capable enough to take on this job." Erza began caressing Natsu's hair, gaining curious glances from both Lucy and Wendy. "Natsu here would get 'fired up' for this kind of mission."

"Aye! He'd probably burn the whole forest, though…" Happy said, scratching his head.

"You better keep him in check, tomcat. The last thing we need is collateral damages." Carla huffed.

"Ahahah…" Happy laughed awkwardly. That's impossible for Natsu.

"I hope the reward is worth all this…" Lucy crossed her arms.

"Why don't you see for yourself?" Erza smiled and handed the job flyer to Lucy.

Lucy took the job flyer and scanned it. Her eyes widened in shock. "W-wow, is this for real?! I won't have to worry about rent for a while!"

"Still, the fact the reward is that high must mean this isn't going to be a walk in the park." Gray said.

The conversation slowly shifted into the topic of the reward, which Wendy didn't take an interest in. Her attention was drawn to Natsu's sleeping face. He looks so peaceful and cute. She smiled. "Just wait a little longer, Natsu." She said softly as she turned to the moving scenery outside her window. "We will be there in no time." She rested her head on the glass window. Her mind then wandered to the Harvest Festival. Should I ask Natsu to go with me? After this morning, she felt much more confident in asking him. Still, I wonder if Lucy wants to ask him too. There was the possibility Natsu would go with Lucy instead of herself. But honestly, there really was nothing she could do to prevent that from happening. Wendy sighed and slowly closed her eyes, eventually dozing off.


A few hours later….

..

.

The train was approaching its destination. The passengers started getting ready to exit the train.

"Wendy? It's time to get up." A hushed voice said. Wendy has been sleeping for quite a while. She slowly opened her eyes. "Wake up, child. We're almost arriving at our stop." Wendy slowly regained her consciousness and recognized the voice belonged to Carla.

"Thanks, Carla." Wendy yawned and stretched out her hands. She looked out the glass window and was surprised at the view appearing before her.

"Woah, what is that thing?" Wendy pushed her face against the glass, awestruck.

"One of Darkglade's gigantic waterfalls. I'm surprised myself too." Erza answered, smiling at Wendy's reaction.

As Erza had explained earlier, Nightglades was known to have numerous waterfalls. What the group didn't know was these waterfalls could reach incredible heights.

"That looks massive." Gray added, rubbing his eyes. It seems he just woke up too.

"I wonder if there's a lot of fishies swimming there?" Happy said, his mouth watering a bit.

"Is fish really all you can think of?" Carla asked, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Wow, I'm really excited to check this place out!" Lucy exclaimed. This could serve as materials for my next novel!

"Aye!" Happy followed.

The train slowly came to a halt, signalling it had reached its stop. The passengers were now exiting the train one by one.

"It seems we're already here. Don't forget your belongings, everyone." Erza carried Natsu over her shoulder. Everyone else stood up from their seats.

"Um… shouldn't we wake him up?" Lucy asked, concerned for Natsu.

"Don't worry. He'll wake up very soon." Patting Natsu's back, Erza led the group to the train's exit.

The group, having exited the train, were now standing in front of a huge wooden entrance surrounded by lush greenery. A sign at the top of the entrance read…

Welcome to Nightglades.