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I dedicate this chapter to The_NaLu_Lover who I remember, was the first to ask me about me having any plans to write a NaLu fanfiction XD. Well, there ya go!
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"So what do you plan on doing today?" Mari asked, serving the Fairy Tail mages their breakfast. As soon as the plates touched the table, Natsu and Happy began scarfing down their food with such urgency as if they'd been starved for weeks.

"Calm down you two. You're gonna choke if you don't."

"It's clearly no use, child. They might as well be deaf when they are eating."

"We were thinking about exploring the town for a bit." Gray said. "That festival is just round the corner too, right?"

"Oh yeah!" Mari exclaimed, clapping her hands. "It's tomorrow night. It's this town's pride, you can say. The Midsummer's festival. That reminds me..."

"Yo Lucy!" Natsu greeted, gulping down a particularly large piece of toast. Everyone's attention then shifted to the blonde waitress, who had just happened to have had come out of the staff kitchen.

"Morning Natsu." She greeted back, a bit tiredly. That's when she noticed Erza looking at her, the former's eyes conveying a mixture of confusion and sadness.

Those eyes sought out for answers. Answers that she couldn't give. So she did the only thing she could. She looked away.

"What?!"

It was as if she was jerked awake from a deep slumber. And now that she was awake, did she fully realise the effect of her answer.

'Oh no! Now I've done it!'

Lucy let out a forced laugh, her nervousness getting the best of her.

"I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Don't get so serious!"

"Lucy." Erza deadpanned, however the blonde mage would look everywhere but her. "You can-"

"Oh would you look at the time!?" She exclaimed suddenly, looking down to her wrist that held no wrist watch. "Now, I don't know about you, but I've got to work tomorrow! So night night it is for me!"

And with that, she had dashed downstairs, painfully aware that Erza had been calling out her name. But she did not stop. She cannot stop.

"-cy?! Lucy?! LUCY?!"

"H-Huh?"

She broke out of her trance, almost jumping out of her skin. She looked over to Mari, finding a set of concerned faces staring right back at her.

"You okay dear?"

"Y-Yeah. Just a bit sleepy, I guess."

"No dozing off during work. Also I've got a job for you."

"You got that." Lucy chuckled. "What is it?"

"Why don't you become a guide for these mages today? Show them around town?"

"What? But they wouldn't need a guide! It's just a small town after all!"

"Erza and Natsu beg to differ though." Mari chuckled. "I would've told someone else to go but I need their help with the festival's preparations. Besides, I think they'll like you more."

She knew about Erza, but Natsu's reason to want her with them was one thing that she didn't understand. She glanced at the scarlet haired mage, who had been observing her all along. Erza passed her a small smile, clearly conveying her intentions.

'We're going to continue our unfinished conversation.'

Lucy pouted and looked away, sauntering back in the kitchen. From a distance, she could hear Mari calling out to her, and she sighed in response, already knowing that she had lost this battle with the Titania.

"I expect you to be ready in 15 minutes!"

•••

"Y'know, Natsu had been whining about that kick since yesterday."

"So I've been told." Lucy sighed, smiling a bit.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side. From how he reacted, it would've been very painful." Gray chuckled.

"Or maybe he was too much of a baby to handle it." She joked back.

"I'm right here y'know." Natsu mumbled, pouting while he just walked behind them.

Erza had obviously been trying to corner Lucy, so she stuck to Wendy. But the sky maiden had questions of her own so she switched to Gray. Thankfully, he hadn't been too intrusive. Yet.

They all had been walking along, Erza with a gloomy aura around, still passing pointed looks to Lucy, while Wendy chatted animatedly with the exceeds and Lucy and Gray did the same. However, Natsu, for some reason, looked upset, strutting along with a pout.

"Natsu-san, what's wrong? You look a bit mad."

"Huh? Oh nothing Wendy! I just don't feel so good."

"Do you want me to heal you?"

"I don't think it'll work in this case." He sighed, glancing over to Gray and Lucy. Wendy followed his gaze, and found herself smiling, finally realising what it was all about.

Her magic sure wouldn't work in this case.

"Okay everyone!" Lucy announced. "This is the town complex. We can split here and explore on our own. Then we can meet here back in about 3 hours?"

"Yeah..3 hours sound good." Wendy agreed.

"Okay then, we can split up now."

"Hey Lu-"

"I call dibs on her!" Erza exclaimed, putting her arm around the blonde mage.

After all, finally the moment had arrived that she had been waiting for, and the moment Lucy had been dreading.

"Hey no fair!" Natsu shouted, annoyed that he was cut off. "Then I'll come too!"

"Absolutely not!" Erza declared. "We are going to have a girl's talk and you're not required."

"Don't you have enough of that back at the guild?" Gray asked, Natsu nodding along in agreement

"Do you have a problem with that?" Erza asked in a demonic voice, her expression turning scary. They both visibly gulped.

"N-No ma'am!"

"Good!" She exclaimed, returning back to normal. "It's settled then!"

She pushed a reluctant Lucy along, a bit gleeful that she'll finally be getting her answers when they both stopped.

"Lucy!"

They both turned around along with the others, only to find a stout, balding man, running towards them like a maniac. The paper in his hand flutter violently from the wind, threatening to rip apart at any given second.

The man stopped short, just in front of her, wheezing heavily.

"Mr. Izah?" Lucy exclaimed. "What's wrong? Why are you here?"

"I-" he started out, only to end up heavily wheezing again.

"You should sit down for a bit. And here have some water." Wendy offered.

He thanked her, taking a seat by the edge of the water fountain, gulping down the water.

"Thank you, sweet girl."

However, his smile disappeared soon after and he looked back at Lucy with panic.

"Please Lucy!" He exclaimed. "You've got to help me!"

•••
Okay so:

*Takes deep breath*

If this doesn't scream 'Gruvia is canon' I don't know what will!! Omg I'm so happy 😭😭

He was trying to scare off the guys hitting on Lucy..

...

Do I detect jealousy?
Hmmmm?😏

IF THAT DOESN'T SCREAM THAT NATSU HAS FEELINGS FOR HER IDK WHAT WILL UGGHH JUST KISS ALREADY!!

anyway! New chapter! Hope y'all liked it!

Can we get Ephemeral to 500 reads? I think we can! Let's make that happen! :)

Until then!
Belle🌸
🔥❤🔑