Disclaimer: I never owned Fairy Tail or the characters...

5 Birds… 1 Stone

The next day…

Natsu walked toward the guild, his mind is still preoccupied with the previous event that occurred yesterday.

'This mission is more like a challenge, a bet you can say…'

Mission? More like a ridiculous trap to punish me…

'You win this, you get to eat free food, you fail, you get to meet THAT…'

HAH! Definitely a trap to punish me…

'Don't worry, I promise to do what you want if you win, that is, if YOU win…'

Oh, I'll definitely win.

Natsu reached the guild, shaking his head to clear his mind before entering.

As usual, the guild is full of chattering people, beer mugs served in each table, some are even arguing with each other. Natsu sat at the bar counter, the right part of the counter that has been destroyed by yesterday's brawl with Gray was already fixed. A mug filled with flames was placed in front of him by a smiling Mirajane before a blue cat hugged him in the face.

"Natsu, Mirajane said that you were called up to master's office yesterday when I was gone, what did he doooo…" Happy was relieved to find his friend unharmed by the master that tears start to fall from his cat eyes.

Natsu smiled at Happy as he release him off his face then gently pat the cat's head as he reassured him, "don't worry Happy, nothing really happen there, he just lectured me 'tis all."

"Natsu?" Mirajane said curiosity was written in her face, "did your conversation with the master turned out well?"

'Promise me that what we have discussed in here shall stay between us, don't tell anyone in the guild!'

Master's words were again replayed in Natsu's mind as he looked at Mirajane then to Happy.

Should I tell her and Happy? No, master also specifically said that I can't tell it to Happy, and Mirajane might tell anyone about it, and then it'll be the end for me. Natsu imagined everyone planning with themselves on what will they do to make him somehow lose the bet.

"Hey Natsu, are you alright?" Mirajane raise her hand in front of the fire mage's face as she saw him dazing off.

"Huh? Oh, sorry about that Mirajane, what are you talking about again?"

Mirajane's curiosity was now replaced by a look of concern in her face, "Natsu, what did you and the master do in his office? Did he do something that he shouldn't do to you?"

"Now, now Mira-chan, I didn't do anything to him, so please don't think anything that will ruin me."

Mirajane shoot the master, who was sitting at the end of the counter, an accusing glare while the master just looked at her innocently.

"Gramps is right Mirajane, we just had a 'little' discussion about something." Natsu also looked at Makarov, who raised an eyebrow in question of his 'little' word, shrugged at him then proceed to drink his fire drink.

Mirajane just looked at Natsu then to the master, and then back again, shrugging, "alright, if you say so Natsu, I just hope master didn't threaten you to do something you don't want."

Natsu then choke at this which cause Mirajane to look at him questionably.

*Ahem* "Oh, don't worry about it, there's no worrying here, hahaha."

Mirajane, sensing that Natsu is acting weird, decided not to press him further and just gave Natsu an understanding smile, while Happy was happily eating his fish and not minding anything beside that. Silence came after that; the only sound that was heard was Happy's eating and the guild member's laughter.

"Good morning Lucy, how are you today?"

"Lucy! You're here, want some fish?"

The tension was finally broken as the blond celestial mage greeted back at Mirajane and patted Happy's head then sat at the stool next to Natsu.

"Yo, Lucy..." Is all Natsu said and smiled at her.

"Hmph!" Lucy turned her head to the side.

"C'mon Lucy, don't be like that, look, I'm really sorry about yesterday."

"Hmph… "

"If you want, I'll just buy another one of that book, so tell me, who's the author and what title is it?"

Lucy turned her head to look at Natsu.

"Natsu, that book was the last one to be sold, if there's another copy of that book, it'll have to take month's to find it."

Natsu was shocked hearing this, "oh, is that so? Darn Luce, I'm sorry, I really do."

Lucy look at Natsu's eyes, she saw the sincerity in them as well as sadness, why is he sad? It's not like it's important to him anyway so why? She can't stand looking at him like this, he can be an annoying idiot sometimes and she can handle that side of him but this… she doesn't know what to do.

"I-It's okay Natsu, I know that you didn't intent to destroy it, I mean, it's just spilled tea and I can still read it even though it's now covered with brown spots and all that, anyway as long as you didn't burn it, it's fine, so stop making that face." Lucy said smiling at him.

Natsu smiled seeing that his friend isn't mad at him anymore and forgave him.

"Thanks Lucy, you're the best!"

Lucy rolled her eyes, still smiling, "but of course, I'm the best there is!"

"What! Lucy is the best? What about meee?" whine Happy who is actually listening to them.

They both laugh at this.

"You guys made up already? Geez, I thought I can watch Natsu being whipped or hanged by now…"

Oh no, why him...why now...? Natsu silently groaned as Gray appeared behind them.

"Heh, I thought the master was roasting you yesterday, we can actually hear you screaming your head off from inside, but seeing you here, it must be something else?" Gray grinned as he waited for Natsu to start ranting.

*sigh* "Gray… do you even realize that you're not wearing any clothes?" Natsu said without looking at him followed by an "AYE" of Happy, of all people – why is it had to be him? Damn! Is his luck draining away?

"What are you talking about flame freak - *looks down* - ah crap! How the hell did that happen?" Gray grabs a pair of clothes as he realizes his not wearing any clothes again, he silently reminded himself to glue his clothes in his body.

"Anyway Natsu, let's finish our fight yesterday, or do you admit that the last punch you received from me decides who wins?"

Natsu caught himself from slamming his head on the counter, instead, he look at the master who was eavesdropping on them. The master looked at Natsu and both of them communicated with their eyes.

'Are you gonna do it?'

'Like hell I would!'

'But this is your chance to get back at him.'

'Which is also a chance for you to declare that I lost the bet right?'

'Exactly as you said, so, you gonna do it?'

"HEY, HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA SIT THERE? ARE YOU THAT SCARED TO FIGHT ME BACK, ASH FACE?" Gray interrupted their silent interaction.

"Gray, you better not fight Natsu in front of me if you know what's good for you!" Lucy glared at Gray making him shiver.

"Aye, Lucy is scary when she's angry, just like Erza..." Agreed by Happy.

"Uh, o-okay sure thing Lucy *ahem* HEY NATSU C'MON!."

Natsu contemplated the idea of beating Gray right there and now, but he also hesitates since that means he'll lose to master, which also means goodbye to food and hello to THAT. SCREW THIS! Why is this so complicated?

All too suddenly, he had an idea…

If I can find a way to get back at Gray without beating him up, as well as search for a job that doesn't involve in me destroying anything for a week, then I will win, not only that, I have my food, goodbye THAT and helooo master in a sheep suit. Hah! That's more like killing 1…2…3…4 - 5 birds with one stone.

Natsu inwardly rejoice as another idea popped to his mind.

LET'S DO THIS THING!

End of Chapter 3

Finally, it is done, I read this over and over and over again until I get it right so this is the result...I hope you like this you guys 'coz I put a lot of brain power for this to be produce...

And I'm sorry animecatlover I don't know what THAT really is... but I'll just pretend that I know it okay? hehe... anyway, they shown it in the manga and anime but they actually didn't specify what THAT really is soooo, sorry if I can't tell you anything... Thanks for reviewing...