"Ugh..I don't feel so good..." Natsu said, with a hand over his mouth and his face green with nausea. "Oh yes...I almost forgot..." Lucy said while reaching for her bag on the rack above them. 'Transportation always has this effect on him...' She thought. 'Good thing o thought ahead this time... I did not appreciate being covered in puke the last time...'

"Here...Have these..." Lucy said, handing the bottle of pills to Natsu. He somehow got one out and popped it in his mouth, without any questions. Erza had a look at the bottle. "Motion sickness pills" she read out loud. "Good thinking, Lucy." She said. "Yeah thanks for that... I'm feeling a bit better..." Natsu said. "You'll be all right after a while. Give it some time." Lucy said. He nodded and sat upright.

"So where are we going?" Gray asked, now that they were settled. "In a forest...That's what the location says...and a deep one at that" Erza said. "Wow...this just keeps getting more and more weird" Lucy said.

Meanwhile, Natsu picked up a familiar scent; but she wasn't supposed to be here. 'Oh well...whatever...' he thought. 'She might be having a mission of her own.'

"Yeah I know." Erza said. "But better us than anyone else taking this mission. Lucy sighed and looked out of the window...this sure was one weird job.

"The forest is denser than I imagined it to be" Gray said. Lucy and Erza nodded. "What's the matter, droopy eyes? You scared of some forest?" Natsu asked Gray, looking for a fight. "Well I'm definitely not as scared as you, flame brain" Gray shot back. "Huh? What'd you say, ice princess?"

"And you're saying that we have to go even deeper?" Lucy asked, ignoring their bickering. "Yes. That's what it said in the request" Erza said and started walking further into the forest. Natsu had sensed her presence again, but he shrugged it off since he was used to it. After all she always went wherever he went.
"Who the hell lives in a place like this?! Are you sure this is okay?" Lucy asked. "Nah don't worry Luce. I'll protect you if anything happens" Natsu said, giving her his usual grin. "Aye!" said Happy. "Well it's not like I doubt you guys but we don't know what kind of mission awaits us" Lucy said, nervous.
They arrived at their destination but found that there was no one around; not even a hut. It was a small clearing with trees surrounding it. The branches covered the space above the clearing and some Sun rays were able to penetrate them. Even with it, you could see the clear sky on that beautiful day.
'This is odd... 'Thought Erza. In an instant, all the three of them got ready in their fight stances. "Reequip! " Erza said. "Huh? What's wrong? " asked Lucy. "We're surrounded" said Natsu "You better call someone out too" Lucy nodded. She got out a key and summoned Taurus. This time, even he refrained from praising Lucy's looks. "Happy!" Natsu said. "Aye " replied Happy, bringing out his wings and getting ready to carry Natsu if needed.
"Huh... Should've known that you guys'll be able to sense us.. " said a man who had just emerged out from behind a tree.
"This is a convenient place for an ambush" Erza said. The man stared at her, puzzled. ! "You aren't going to ask who I am?" he asked, not expecting to have this kind of conversation with them. "Nah it doesn't matter... We are going to kick your ass anyways..." Natsu said.
"Huh!" The man smirked. "Quite confident brats we have here, people". He said, addressing the people hidden behind the trees.
'But why haven't they attacked us yet?' Lucy thought. 'If this is an ambush, we shouldn't even know what this guy looks like, much less have a conversation with him. '
"Ah... Lucy Heartfilia... I know exactly what you're thinking..." the man said. "We haven't attacked you yet because it doesn't matter if you know what we look like or our names... Cause I assure you... You won't be getting out of this in one piece... "
"we'll see about that" Erza said, getting her sword ready as the others too, took their familiar fighting stances.
The man sighed and closing his eyes, said "well okay then... If you really are that impatient..." He opened his eyes, with a fierce look in them "then let's get this over with". The change in the man was fearsome, completely different from his personality from before. He had an aura that of a wild beast surrounding him and the four of them were taken a back from the sudden change.
Taking advantage of their hesitation, the man yelled, "Now!" as the men hidden behind the trees emerged and aimed their attacks at the five of them.