Woo! Another update in the same day, I have tried to write more in chapters although my wrist aches... hopefully, this will satisfy you guys. This chapter is Natsu and Lucy's mission that they went on and next chapter will be the plan commencing.

Enjoy! ~ abnormally unique

Chapter three: Wait, these aren't bandits...

Lucy stared outside the window of the moving train, entranced a she watched landscape pass by rapidly. She wished that they would slow down to get a better view, fields full of creatures of different species. An idea flew in her mind, she could use this as a setting in her novel; the blonde needed an area abundant with life without any humans inhabiting the land and this was perfect.

A groan erupted her from her thoughts, her doe eyes stared towards the sickly green man. Pitiful moans of pain as he curled up pathetically with his arms cradling his stomach, she sweatdropped at the Salamander. He would have thought his weakness was transportation, too bad Wendy wasn't here to cast Troia.

They still had a few hours before they came to their destination, giving in to the grunts of agony she let out a sigh. ''Come here, Natsu.'' patting her lap, the pink-haired boy rather eagerly crawled to lay his head on her legs.

Her face warmed up when he seemed to stop his sounds of torture, his face content with the green tint dulling down significantly. Calm yourself, Lucy! He is just a boy who is handsome, childish and - no, stop it. Lucy mentally argued with herself, making a range of weird facial expressions that Happy would tease her for.

She didn't know why Happy didn't want to go on a job with them, he always follows Natsu unless instructed not too. Something must be going on, the Celestial mage then subconsciously began to thread her fingers through the sick boy's hair, flattening the spikes down until they popped back up.

Smiling softly when the Dragon Slayer fell asleep, she yawned. Her eyelids drooped down and unable to keep the wide, she accepted the darkness and allowed herself to sleep.

( Dream sequence )

As per usual, the guild was raucous as ever. Gray stripping uncontrollably, therefore making Juvia melt into a puddle of water. Elfman with his arm wrapped around his girlfriend, Evergreen as he shouted ''Melting is a man!'' earning him a playful slap from the girl under his arm.

She sat at the bar, sipping a strawberry milkshake. Intently listening to Lisanna's story on her latest mission with her older brother, she almost spat out in laughter although some dribbled down her chin. Wiping the liquid with her hand, she swallowed the remaining milkshake in her mouth.

''Really?'' Lucy cracked an amused smile, laughter bubbling in her chest.

''Yup, then Elfman tripped over!'' the duo bursted with laughter, attracting attention from members of the guild who heard their loud laughter. Subsiding to poorly contained giggles, Lucy wiped a tear from her eye.

''I wish I was there.'' she grinned, seeing it up close and personal would be better and funnier.

''Yeah, but you were with Natsu.. your anniversary is today, y'know?'' she nudged Lucy, winking. They've been dating for three years today and no one had seen Natsu all day, which saddens Lucy as thoughts of him forgetting their anniversary swirled in her mind.

''I think he forgot, Lis. He wasn't in our apartment or in his home.'' Lucy mumbled, eyes downcast until the white-haired girl tightly grasped her hands, a frown replacing her smile.

''Lucy Heartfilla, Natsu might be an idiot but he'll never forgot this day.'' the blonde swore that Lisanna looked behind her, a look of happiness and surprise mixed on her face. Smirking, she stared back in Lucy's eyes. ''Or should I say.. Lucy Dragneel.''

Pointing behind her, Lucy turned around only to see her boyfriend down on one knee, a ring in a velvet box. A sheepish grin etched on his face, using his free hand to run a hand through his hair.

''Uh, sorry for ditching you in the morning but... I just wanted to say that I love you and will you marry me?''

Shocked into silence, the guild anticipated her answer with eager looks until Lucy choked out.

''Y-Yes, yes I will!'' tears streamed down her face, Natsu stood back up and embraced her before chuckling in her ear.

''Why're you crying, you weirdo.'' slipping the ring on to her finger, the blonde gently placed a kiss on the Dragon Slayer's lips. Whoops from members of the guild followed soon after, expect Gajeel who gagged in disgust, earning a dirty look from his own girlfriend.

''I love you, Lucy... We will be departing at Eruca soon.'' Lucy looked a Natsu who spoke the words that confused her. Suddenly, her vision blurred as she screamed in terror, darkness once again surrounded her before light filtered her vision.

( Dream sequence over )

She awoke from her dream reluctantly, rubbing her eyes she noticed that the train slowed down at Eruca. Shoving Natsu from her lap, he woke up with a hiss. Leaping up, he glared at his best friend.

''Ugh! Why did'ya do that, Luce? I was having a good dream!'' he whined, pouting.

''We're in Eruca, time to go to the forest.'' Lucy rolled her eyes, walking off the train with Natsu on her heels.

''Aye!'' Natsu grinned before pausing, looking over to Lucy with a frown. ''Why didn't Happy come? He always loved going on missions...''

''I was wondering too,'' the blonde replied back. ''Maybe he's going through something personal or his trying to woo Carla again...''

''Ha! Can't wait for cute baby Exceeds!'' Natsu laughed, causing Lucy to moan in embarrassment. Does he know where babies come from? She was tempted to ask but decided against it, shaking her head she began to take a detour into the woods.

''O-Oi! Wait up, Luce!'' stumbling after her, he ran into the forest.

Lucy gaped in wonder when they traversed in the forest.

It thrived with wildlife, trees having a healthy shade of green with birds perching on the crooked branches comfortably, chirping their song which soothed her. Being in the boisterous guild of Fairy Tail, it was difficult to get a moment silence, especially when Natsu and Gray's daily brawl.

Discarding the thoughts of the landscape when travelling on the train, this was perfect. Abundant with wildlife, she could see occasional rabbits hopping. She also caught sight of a fawn munching on grass, although soon ran away much to Lucy's disappointment.

Natsu looked back at the Celestial mage, staring at her peaceful expression when she looked over to the vibrant bushes. She looked different... pretty.

Wait, what?

Natsu shook his head quickly, a look of horror on his face. He... just called his partner cute? Is it alright or is it against the rules or something? He needed to dispel these thoughts about her, heck! Even his dreams are based on him and Lucy and now he was with Lucy.

Alone with Lucy.

Lucy.

''It's beautiful...'' he heard her mumble in astonishment, making Natsu look over to her.

''Yeah, it is.'' he admitted, the forest was amazing. Although, the smell that seemed to be sake and smoke ruined the atmosphere until he realised that their mission was deal with a dark mage by the name of Cody.

They reached a cliff, overhanging the lower part of the forest. The stench had gotten stronger until heard a chuckle behind, stiffing up he spun around and growled.

''Is everything alright, Natsu?''

''So, these are the mages they sent?'' a gruff voice chuckled, taking a stand beside Natsu, Lucy cringed at the sight of the man.

Black hair donned in a messy ponytail with acne everywhere on his grimy face also he was very slender, a smirk showing his blackened teeth with spots of yellow on his canines. His eyes moved to the female behind the pink-haired boy, hi eyes looking up and down her figure

''Well, aren't you a cutie,'' he licked his lips causing Lucy to flinch in repulsion, ''I'll do you a deal, pinky. Give me the girl and I'll go.''

''I'm not going to sell out a friend, you bastard!'' Natsu growled, his fist devoured by orange flames.

''Lucy Kick!'' her combat boots attacked Cody, surprising Natsu who narrowly dodged the kick. The bandit successfully dodged, laughing before grinning sadistically.

''Pah, stupid girl! Vine prison!.'' extending a hand forward, a magic circle appeared.

Sprouting from the ground was vine with thorns, they slid up the leg of the blonde wizard, their thorns piercing her skin making her scream with pain. Tangled with her arms and legs, Lucy was immobilised with agony searing through her body.

''Lucy!'' Natsu roared, seeing the body trapped with the vines with blood slowly dripping from her arms and legs. With rage flooded his veins, he snarled at the smug dark mage. ''You're gonna pay for that!''

''Whatever you say, pinky! Earth punch!'' encasing his fist with the same texture as boulders, he dashed to the wizard.

''Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!'' their fist colided, although both remained unmoved until he grinned.

''Earth Uppercut!'' swiping upwards, the fist cracked his jaw sending him into the air.

While airborne, Natsu regained himself. ''Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" the brute force of flames sent Cody spiralling backwards until he finally managed his balance. Hissing in pain as the fire burnt his skin, a scowl was in place.

''Rock Fury!'' chucks of the ground rose up, surrounding the mage. When the Dragon Slayer fell back on the cliff the rocks were unleashed, travelling towards the fire-using mage.

''I'm all fired up!'' flames once again encased his fists, a grin with his fangs hanging out.

Cody laughed, crossing his arms as the onslaught of rocks spiralled towards Natsu.

''May the better one win.''

( Skipping scene since I can't do fight scenes right and you know who's gonna win anyway, sorry :c )

Natsu panted, his eyes glaring at the unconscious mage. Stumbling forward, he found Lucy.

The vines had retreated back into the ground, leaving cracks where they once sprouted. She took shallow breaths, her eyesight blurry as she took slow blinks. Finally focusing, she saw the worried face of her dragon.

''N-Natsu?''

"We did it, Luce!'' he forced a smile although instantly dropped when he saw the holes in her arm where the thorns once were, blood poured from them.

''Luce? Wake up, Luce!'' her eyelids felt heavy, the image of Natsu blurring out.

She could only recall being picked up from the ground and a whisper in her ear.

''I'll help you, Lucy. I swear.''