The Fix

Chapter 1

Book Findings

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. This is based off the Anime Series not the Manga Series. No copyright intended. I do own the story line, because I made that all up with my brain.

I don't know how this happened or why but something needs to be done to make this stop before something really bad happens. Natsu is holding a harmless villager up by his shirt, slamming him into the wall of the cafe. Today started out like any normal day in the lovely town of Magnolia. I woke up, did my usual morning routine, got dressed and headed for the guild. Everything was totally fine up until this moment. Erza, Levy, Gray and Juvia were with us as we all decided to do some walking around the market. There are some new shops in town that we wanted to check out, it was supposed to be just a girls day but Natsu wanted to tag along with me.

Gray ended up following after, given there was nothing else to do, per Gray's excuse. Of course Natsu just had to spend most of the day dragging me and running around, I'm surprised my arm didn't rip out from its socket. All of us decided to sit at this particular cafe called, Granny's Cafe and Bake Shop, a sweet older lady owns the place, to sit and relax after walking around all day. Anyway, there we were, all peacefully hanging out until I had to get up and use the restroom. I got back to see this… Natsu just slammed the guy that was sitting behind us, to the wall of this once nice little cafe.

"Natsu! What the hell are you doing?!" I yelled at him.

Natsu tightened his grip on the guy's throat, I swear I could smell the faint scent of burning flesh.

"Teaching this prick a lesson." He growls out.

I look over at the girls and Gray, hoping they would give some kind of explanation.

"Don't look at me, Lucy. I think Natsu's actions are good. If he didn't do something, I would have." Gray said, holding hands up in surrender.

"How am I supposed to know that?! Will someone please tell me why Natsu is about to literally roast that guy alive!" I said, freaking out.

I put my hands on my hips and pouted, getting annoyed with every second that passes without someone explaining the situation to me.

"Well you see Lucy, that guy over there was making some crude comments towards you when you got up to use the restroom." Juvia explained.

I blinked and lost my posture, "Is that it? Some creep was hitting on me? "

"More or less, he and his buddies were saying what they were going to do to you if given the chance." Erza piped up, sheathing her sword.

I scuffed, "Disgusting. But that doesn't explain well… that." I said gesturing to Natsu.

"I agree LuLu, he really needs to stop before he destroys this place or worse ends up killing that guy." Levy added.

I nodded and my eyes widened to what she was referring to. The guy in Natsu's death grip looked like he was going to keel over any second, he may be a creep but he doesn't deserve to die, I need to act fast. I ran over to Natsu, tugging on his arm to let go, he just looked at me angry and confused.

"Stop it Natsu!"

"Why?! Why should I let this creep go? You don't know what he was going to do to you!" Natsu yelled.

"So what! " I yelled back, throwing my arms in the air irritated and confused myself.

The confusion alone was enough for Natsu to lose his grip and look at me dumbfounded, enough time for the guy to scramble and run away.

"So what?! So what! Are you kidding me?! Do you not care?!" Natsu yelled confused and walked over to me.

I crossed my arms over my chest, getting a little uncomfortable about how close Natsu is to me. Especially looking down at me with that pissed off look on his face.

"Not really. Some guys are like that, you learn to ignore it after a while." I said with a shrug.

"But Luce-"

That's it! Something in me snapped, I don't know why but it just did. This whole situation is confusing.

"What?! Guys have hit on me and said way worse than whatever the hell that one creep said about me, even in front of you and you never got like this before! What is your deal today?!"

"I just didn't want that creep to try anything! I don't know why you're so mad about it, you should be thanking me!"

"I know how to take care of myself, Natsu!"

"I never said you didn't! I just solved what could have turned out bad for you, you've never let me handle situations like this for you!"

"And you wonder why that is." I said gesturing to the hole through the poor cafe, cinder and ash everywhere littering the streets.

His shoulders slackened and his facial expression changed to one of understanding and knowing that I am right. He looks at the mess he made and sighed. I sighed also, letting go of my anger and irritation. I grabbed his hand and sighed once more.

"Don't get me wrong, I appreciate you defending my honor like that. But Natsu, you went way too far, you could have killed that man. Do you understand?"

Natsu pouted and sighed, "Who cares? That guy was past the borderline of creepy perv."

I giggled a little and ran my hand through his still soft pink locks, my hand resting on his cheek so he looked me in the eye.

"True but I wouldn't want that for you. You're too much of a good man to get that low. Besides your soul is too pure to be tainted by some perv picking the wrong girl to drool over."

I smiled and rolled my eyes because honestly this whole situation was ridiculous, endearing but ridiculous. He looked up at me and gulped as our stare intensified. Was that blush creeping its way up to Natsu' cheeks? Realizing that it was, made my own heart skip a beat. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. I play-hit his arm to clear up the awkward air between us and giggled.

"But seriously Natsu, why did you do that? You've heard and seen guys hit on me all the time before, it's never seemed to faze you. So why now?"

His smile started to fade as he got lost in thought, growing concerned I wanted to know more. But before I could say anything Gray and the girls caught up to us.

"Now that that's over, do you still want to go to the bookstore? Erza paid the owner of the cafe to get her wall fixed. We're all set to move on. You ready to go Lu?"

"Y-Yeah, right behind you." I told her, giving one last look at Natsu, I let Levy drag me away in the direction of the bookstore.

Whatever the hell that was back there, Natsu needs to have a talk with me as soon as he figures his shit out. He has never in all the time that I've known him as my best friend had he gotten bothered by other guys checking me out in that way. That stuff never used to faze him so why does it now all of a sudden? Is it what I'm thinking...does Natsu have a crush on me? Wait a crush, on me? Don't be silly Lucy, there is no way that Natsu could ever have romantic feelings for me. To him all I ever will be is his best friend, there's no relationship other than being a friend, us being a thing would never happen. Yeah, that's right, not in a million years. If that's the case, then why am I feeling upset about it? Ugh, get ahold of yourself. Lucy. I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

"Hey, are you okay Lu?" Levy asks, looking at me concerned.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm totally fine Lev."

She quirks her lips in thought, "Mmhmm, this wouldn't have anything to do with a certain hothead would it?"

"W-what?!O-of course not!" I protested, caught off guard a little by her accusation.

Erza giggled next to me, on my right, "You sure about that Lucy? You sure are blushing."

I pouted and play-hit Erza on her arm and puffed out my cheeks in annoyance, "Am not!"

Juvia poked my cheeks, "Ooo I think you are right girls. Love rival is no more, she's all hot and bothered by Natsu."

Erza laughed, "How fitting since he is a fire dragon slayer."

"Quit it!" I yelled in protest as the girls all joined in their laughter, teasing me.

"What's going on here, girls?" Gray asks, coming up to us from behind Juvia.

Upon Gray's closeness to her, she immediately stops laughing and straightens up, blushing madly.

"Now who's the one all hot and bothered." I tease back giggling.

"Did we miss something?" Natsu asks confused, sharing equal confused glances between himself and Gray.

That just made her blush more, the girls and I giggled even more, holding our stomachs because of how much we were laughing. Erza holds a hand up in surrender and calms her giggles, Levy and I having a little more trouble because every time we think we are done laughing we share a look and uproar in a fit of laughter again.

"Girls, get a hold of yourselves. If you want to get into the bookstore, I suggest we go now before it's closed." Erza instructs.

Levy and I took each other's forearms and took deep breaths to calm down, once we were okay, we entered the building. Immediately getting hit by the old stale smell of books, a smell that calms my entire being. It smells like home, Levy and I take in a big whiff of the heavenly scent and we both took off in a direction to go look at books.

"You two are so weird." Gray said, shaking his head at us.

Levy and I giggled, "Of course we wouldn't expect a non-reader to understand the comforting smell of books." Levy replied.

"Ooo Gray-sama, look they have a romance section. Let's go!" Juvia said excited and dragged Gray along before he could protest.

Everyone else spanned out as I browsed the far one in the back right of the store, where all the older books are held. My fingertips trailing the old leather binding until one book caught my eye. The binding was dark brown leather with a serpent-like creature etched into the side, peaking my interest I took the book off the shelf. I run my fingertips across the cover, following the design and the longer I look at it, I start to realize that it is a book about dragons. Interestingly, I open the book to the front page and a passage is written within it.

Dear Reader,

Choosing this book will either be a blessing or a curse, it all depends on your perspective. In this encyclopaedia you will find out everything you need to know about dragons and their successors known as the Dragon Slayers. You will learn everything from eating habits, habitats, familial ties, magik and all the reasons behind these ways of living. As you divulge deeper into this text, I suggest you heed this warning. Not everything you find will be enlightening, beware the Dragon Season as it can be very dangerous to whomever the Dragon or Dragon Slayer choose as a mate. Dragons are a very territorial species, and as such anything that the Dragon views as a threat will be extinguished. This trait has been passed down to the Dragon Slayers, such as many others. You have been warned.

The First

I.B.

I.B? Who is I.B? And what is this person the first of? Dragon Slayers? Hmm...well whomever founded this book clearly intended to warn it's readers. I flipped through the old pages delicately, then closed it, looking it all over. It obviously is a very old book, maybe centuries old given with the warning it holds. I wonder what could be so bad about this thing called the Dragon Season. I'm even more curious because whatever I learn in this book, it's tied to Natsu. I look over the book to try and find a price tag and come up with nothing. Strange. I almost didn't notice Levy walking up to me, trying to get my attention.

"Earth to Lu! Are you all done yet or what?" Levy asks with a smile, waving her arms in the air.

I shook my head to get out of my thoughts and giggled a bit at her antics. "Yeah, I'm coming."

I sigh and start walking away from the aisle, towards the girl as we wait in line to check out.

Gray greets me with a smile, "Oh boy, looks like Lucy found a book. We won't be seeing her in the next month."

I play-hit his arm, "Whatever."

I say and stick my tongue out at him, he smirks back at me, I roll my eyes and giggle. That's just how we are fighting like brother and sister, but if I didn't know any better our usual banter is starting to irritate Natsu. His annoyed expression catches my eye, I raise an eyebrow confused but shake my head and ignore it. Maybe I'm just seeing things, we all stand in line, Levy is ahead of me and an elderly lady is at the cash register chatting away with the clerk. Levy signed and looked back at me.

"Don't you just love standing in line for hours on end." She says sarcastically.

I giggle, "Oh you bet Lev it's the best."

We shared smiles and she spoke first, "So what book are you getting Lu?"

"Oh it's just an encyclopedia about Dragons. It looks intriguing, I just had to get it."

"I see. Did a certain pink haired idiot help that decision?" Erza whispered from behind me, teasing.

"W-what no!" I whispered but ended up shouting it instead.

A few bystanders turned their heads in our direction, just to be nosey, I shrunk back a little in embarrassment. Once they turned back around I sighed and took the girls aside.

"I really wish you two would stop bugging me about Natsu. That crush has crashed and burned a long time ago. We're just friends, that's all we'll ever be. I know that now."

Levy and Erza's smiles fell, looking a tad bit guilty. They shared looks and sighed.

"We're sorry Lucy." Erza said putting her hand on my shoulder, comforting.

Gray walked over to us, "Hey, we're just gonna wait outside for you two. Decided not to get anything today."

Levy and I nodded and said okay, the bell on the door chimed once more when the others made their way out. Shortly after, Levy was called by the clerk to check out.

"Miss, I can help you now?" He called.

The clerk is a young man who looks to be about our age in his early 20's, honestly he looks like Gray in the muscle and build part except his eyes are hazel and has spiky black hair and two earrings on his right ear. I'm not gonna lie, this guy is pretty attractive, he's not horrible to look at, that's for sure. I bite my bottom lip feeling a bit nervous as I was next to go up to the register. The name tag read, Xavier.

"Oh a curious adventurer eh? This is a good one." He said to Levy as he bagged up her book.

She giggled, "Perhaps."

"There's nothing wrong with that. Have a great day miss Levy, was it? "

She nodded and moved aside for me to check out next. Xavier smiles upon seeing me, more like smirk as I set the huge book on the counter.

"Um hi, I'd like to buy this book but I noticed there wasn't a price tag on it. Was it misplaced or something?" I asked.

Xavier looked the book over with a curious brow, frowning at noticing the same thing that I did, no price tag on it.

"Hmm...that's strange. This has never happened before. Tell you what, since there is no price tag you can have it for free." He said with a smile, handing it to me.

My jaw dropped a little, "Are you serious? An ancient book like this, that's probably rare and you're just going to give it to me... for free?"

My eyebrows raised in disbelief as I looked at him, he shrugged with a smirk. "Well, yeah."

I giggled a bit and smirked, "Alright, I'll bite. What's the catch?"

He smirked back, "How about a date."

"A date, really. Do you ask out all the girls you give free books away to?" I teased.

"Only the pretty ones." He answered back with equal sarcasm.

I giggled, "That was smooth." I teased.

"Well, what do you say miss…"

"Lucy. My name is Lucy Heartfilia."

His grin widened upon hearing my name, "Ah the princess of the Heartfilia fortune turned to Fairy Tail celestial mage. Looks like it is my lucky day."

I rolled my eyes, "Heiress no more, just Lucy."

He nodded agreeing, "Just Lucy, I like it. My name is Xavier Kazow. So how about it? I'll pick you up at 8."

I shook my head giggling, "Looks like you're not giving me much of a choice here. Alright, 8 o'clock it is."

He smiled, genuinely this time, "Great, it's a date. I'll catch you later, Just Lucy."

"Yeah, see you around Xavier." I smile and make my way over to the door to leave, then remember something and turn back around.

"How will you know where to go to pick me up?"

He chuckled, "Your emblem ditz."

I giggled sheepishly and blushed, "Oh right, well, um I've gotta get going."

"Yeah, looks like your friends are getting bored waiting for you." He said with a smirk.

"Oh they'll be fine. Anyways, see ya."

With that I left the store to meet up with the others, unable to help the smile and blush covering my cheeks.

"Oooh, Lucy is blushing. What happened?" Juvia teased, noticing me first.

I giggled, "Oh nothing."

"That's not nothing. I know that blush anywhere, spill it." Levy insisted.

I shook my head, "Nope."

"C'mon Lucy, just tell us. We won't judge, will we girls?" Erza said, looking about the group.

I sighed, "Fine, fine. Your girl Lucy here has got herself a date tonight."

The girls squealed in excitement, Gray rolled his eyes and smirked and Natsu, well he didn't look quite as happy as the rest. I wonder why that is, he seems to be in a mood today. Well whatever it is, I'll talk to him later about it.

"Oh my goodness with who?" Levy asks.

"That guy working there."

"Wow, how classy. A dude just picks up random chicks at the place he works at, be careful Lucy. Guy sounds shady." Gray warned, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

I pouted and puffed my cheeks out, always playing the part of protective brother.

"I'll be fine Gray, it's just one little date. It's not like I'm going to marry the guy."

"But it would be so nice if you did, think of all the cute babies you could have with him. A sexy guy like him would definitely make some cute babies." Juvia gushed, going in her normal overboard state.

I shake my head at her antics, "Wow Juvia, never thought I'd hear you call another guy sexy other than Gray. Does this mean you don't liiiiike him anymore."

Juvia's jaw dropped, "Oh my gosh what did I just say! I take it back, I take it back! I'm so sorry Gray-sama. There is no man alive sexier than you."

We all laughed at Juvia's reactions and Gray looked a little nervous, not knowing what to say or how to react. He just kind of patted her back, telling her it's okay, she just fainted at the mere touch of him. We all erupted in laughter, after a while Gray picked up the unconscious Juvia and we all walked back to the guild. The whole time walking to the guild, Natsu was eerily silent. Very rarely in the time that I have known him has been so… so quiet. Something is definitely up, sometimes when he does get like this, it's hard to even get a word out of him. I look down at the huge book in my arms, hoping that something in here will give me answers or clues to why he is acting like this.