Natsu's eyes fluttered open. Warm sunlight trickled through the window, spilling over the warm fuzzy ball at his feet. He let a long sigh and smiled. Refreshed and relaxed, a good way to wake up in the morning. something warm and smooth brushed against his skin. Electricity zapped through his whole body and nerves. Dark onyx eyes fell next to him. Soft murmurs from the under the pink sheets shocked him. Long blond hair spread over the pillow in soft messy curls. He gave a light-hearted laugh twirling one golden strand around his finger, then letting it uncoil again. Her delicate sleeping face was so calming. It relaxed every muscle in his body. His whole body melting where he was at one glance.
Suddenly, she stirred. Turning around to face the dragon slayer, still asleep. She snuggled up against his warm body. Shocked, Natsu tried to back up. The stellar mage just edged closer. "She must be attracted to my heat." The pink-haired boy deduced.
"That must be it." A little squeaky voice chirped. The fire mage almost jumped out his skin. A blue cat hovered just above the sleeping celestial wizard.
"Happy!" Natsu exclaimed, trying not to look suspicious. The cat just gave him a lazy glance.
"What?" The cat shrugged. Completely oblivious. The dragon slayer sighed in relief. The two both watched the blond girl for a few minutes in silence. "She's quite relaxing when she's asleep. Less fearsome than when she's awake. If you didn't know her you'd even go to the lengths of saying she looks innocent." The exceed mused.
"Yeh, true." The boy laughed lightly.
Once again Lucy stirred, scaring both boys. Their bodies stiffened watching with anticipation. Deep brown orbs revealed from heavy eyelids. A few moments of silence as Lucy watched them blankly. Then it hit her. She suddenly, recognized Natsu and Happy and them in her bed.
"Kyaa!" She screamed leaping from the bed. "Natsu! Happy!" She wailed.
"Mornin' Luce!" Natsu innocently greeted her, as if nothing happened. Except his hands shook, from being caught watching her sleep red handed. Happy continued on as if it was like nothing was wrong. The dragon slayer took after the cats lead. intentional lead or not.
"Gosh you two, you scared the hell out of me." The girl sighed. Weakly, she dropped to her knees with her head in her palms. "Don't do that to me..." Ignored completely. The two just leapt onto the windowsill.
"Come on Luce, don't we have a picnic to get to?" The dragon slayer laughed, leaping from the window ledge. Disappearing with the cat. The strong breeze brushed in through the window. Then the dragon slayer's words hit her. Those deep brown eyes exploded in shock. Quickly, she glanced at her watch. They were late! Or more like she was late. In haste, Lucy dressed, did her hair and dressed; white shorts, blue tank top and sneakers. She slipped the cake into a basket before leaving. Locking the door. She chased after the two boys halfway up the street by now. They all headed to the guild.
"You guys are late..." Gray grumbled as they approached the outside of the guild. Erza, Gray, Wendy and Carla all waiting impatiently.
"Sorry!" Lucy apologized.
"Well it doesn't matter now, let's go." The requip mage smiled, jumping into a carriage front. Baskets of food were filled up in the back. There was just enough room to fill everyone in.
"Fancy flyin' Happs?" Natsu shakily smiled.
"Sorry Natsu it's too far for me to fly." The cat smiled sympathetically.
Gray and Erza sat in the front of the carriage, driving. Wendy, Carla, Happy and Lucy were talking about trivial subjects. Whilst the poor fire dragon slayer lay on the stellar mages lap. subconsciously, she ran her fingers through his soft rough pink hair. The pink hair boy was calm and sleeping on her lap.
"I wish I could of been of some help for Natsu," Wendy sadly gazed at the fire mage.
"It's his fault he built up a troia resistance. He used it too much." Carla scoffed.
"Poor Natsu..." Happy whined.
"He seems calm with you." Wendy pointed out, smiling gently at Natsu.
"Huh?" the celestial wizard perked up, attentively. Her deep brown eyes glance down curiously.
It was true. He had that usual cute sleeping face. "I suppose." She replied lost in her sight.
"They liiiike each other." Happy whispered to Wendy, nudging her with his small elbow. The air dragon slayer laughed in agreement, watching the smitten Lucy.
Eventually, they arrived at Magnolia woods edge. Erza and Gray parked the carriage near the calmest edge of the woods and everyone unloaded. Natsu woke up as cheery and pink-cheeked as usual. He always did seem fine the second he got off a moving vehicle. Lucy carried her cake. They traveled through the woods buzzing with excitement. This would be the first time for Lucy, Wendy and Carla to come here. They were anxious. Jumping off the trees anxious. The other 3 just let them be, they found it quiet amusing actually. "Look were here!" Natsu yelled from behind. The stellar mage and blue haired girl leapt into action glancing around everywhere.
"Where? Where?" They both chanted.
"Just kidding." He bluffed, in absolute tear-shedding laughter. Earning him two scowls from up ahead.
"No, were actually here. Look." Erza interrupted. Silence fell over the group as they all exploded out onto the cliff side. Complete dumbfounded. Luce was defiantly one for have an eye for beautiful views. This fit the bill perfectly.
"Wow." she gasped.
"It's beautiful!" Wendy cheered in glee. The others were already setting out the picnic. The requip mage draped a deep red blanket over a patch of grass in the shade of a stray tree. The tree was a lush green and strong. A magnificent specimen. Thick roots, entwined itself into the edge of the cliff side. Bare roots exposed. The stellar mage gave it one last glance before sitting down with the rest of the team.
"Do you like it?" Erza questioned setting down a tray of egg rolls. Lucy almost jaw-dropped at the overly obvious question she gave.
"Yes!" Luce exclaimed. "It's absolutely magnificent." Big brown eyes watched the scenery almost nostalgically now.
"Good, im glad you do." Erza smiled.
As the day drew on, they had been there for a couple of hours. However, it wasn't over yet. Instead of peacefully eating. They were now in a massive food fight. They must have filled their stomachs. Flaming cocktail sausages zoomed past the celestial wizards face. Panic, she stumbled backwards falling. Landing with a thump, against the tree. Sorely, she rubbed the back of her head. Her full weight had hit it.
"Natsu!" She scowled the boy.
"Sorry Luce." He waved her off sending a charcoled chicken wings which was missing a bite at Erza. The requip mage just return it with a handful of furious grapes, pelting towards the dragon slayer.
"Are you okay?" Happy flew over, trying to avoid the fight himself.
"Yeh, I'm fine Happy." She smiled, removing her hand from her throbbing head. The blue cat cheered everyone from the side lines. "Want to make a bet on who will win?" He jeered elbowing her softly. The celestial wizard scanned the participants. Gray, Erza, Natsu - the obvious- and Wendy -not so obvious- with Carla on the sidelines sticking near enough but far enough out the way not to get hit with frozen or flamed foods.
"Erza will defiantly win for sure."
"Damn i was gonna pick Erza." The cat moaned, clicking his tongue.
"Happy! You're suppose to be betting on me! I will defiantly win this." Natsu growled, ducking under a frozen apple.
"Sorry Natsu." Happy whined. Whiskers brushed against Lucy's cheek. "I bet on Gray then." He whispered in her ear with a cheeky smile. They shook hands and paws.
"Deal." They both chimed, sitting back to watch the fight.
About mid way they were starting to run out of food, but that didn't stop them. They would continue this food fight until it turned into throwing trees. Lucy's eyes watched the disappearing amount of food. A few trays left, couple of sandwiches and a basket. A basket! the celestial wizards cake. The cake she spent all night making. She had to get to it before they could. Keeping near the edge of the cliff she snuck around the edge to fetch her cake. Everyone was covered in food. Stinking of a buffet.
The stellar mage made it to the cake, picking it up with a deep sigh of relief.
One flaming and one frozen piece of cheese cake came flying towards her. In one swift motion she ducked and rolled. Her grip slipped from the cake and it slid further away. Right to the nose of the cliff. She gasped. relieved to have missed the attack, but now worried about the cake. It looked safe enough. Her cake will not get destroyed. Protecting your work from damage was always a number 1 rule in the kitchen. And she was not going to break that rule.
Shakily, she took a cautious step forward. Safe. Then she took another. Safe. Then a few more. All safe. Before she knew it she was standing right at the tip of the cliff. With sturdy rock beneath her. Relief flooded over her as she once again picked up the cake.
As her body straightened, a small rumbled erupted beneath her feet. Her heart stopped and her body froze. The only thing that moved was Lucy's eyes. They searched around and caught a glance at the dragon slayer.
His eyes suddenly found themselves drawn away from the fight. They found Lucy. She stood on the cliff edge holding her cake. He smiled. Only for a second. He registered all the fright in her deep chocolate eyes. Then it hit him. A waved of aching ran through him. His smile dropped. All his muscles froze and his heart stopped. Seconds passed by as if minutes, staring deeply into her tear-pricked brown orbs.
The rock beneath her feet gave way. She fell.
"Lucy!" He screamed at the top of his voice.