Red Asters & Purple Gladioli

Chapter 3

'The train to Crocus has arrived, all passengers please get on board, 'a woman's smooth voice echoes through the terminal.

'C'mon Natsu, this is our train, I got the tickets!' Lucy says, jogging up to the Fire Dragon Slayer, who's starting to look a little sick.
'I am not getting on that death trap, can't we just walk? Happy can even fly us to Crocus, 'Natsu says looking at Lucy hopefully, while slowly backing away.

'I paid good money for these tickets and you are not gonna waste that, also Crocus is four hours away. I will not walk that much and Happy can't carry both of us, he'll probably start complaining about how heavy and fat I am, halfway!' Lucy yells in Natsu's ears, while angrily dragging him up the stairs and into an empty carriage.

'Okay, okay, geez Luce. Ya know you didn't have to scream in my ears. They're sensitive.' Natsu whines, rubbing his ears.

Happy just snickers at the sight of the two and sits down in the seat opposite the two of them, falling asleep immediately while dreaming of Charle accepting his fish, 'You know tom cat, you're not so bad,' dream Charle says in her poised manner.

'Awww Charle, anything for you!' Happy mutters.

Lucy and Natsu glance at each other before looking at Happy and burst into raucous laughter.
'He'll never stop trying to get her,' Lucy struggles to wheeze out.
'Go get her, Bud!' Yells Natsu still chuckling at his partner's attempts to get the white exceed.

The train suddenly moves and Natsu slumps on his seat groaning and trying not to puke his guts out. His face becoming sweaty and green, cheeks puffing out to resemble an extremely sick chipmunk. Lucy just lets out a sympathetic sigh and pulls Natsu's head onto her lap, running her fingers through his hair, lost in her thoughts as Natsu drops off into uneasy slumber.

'Another mission, I really hope this goes well. I don't know why but there's this feeling of restlessness. Something's going to happen today. I just hope it's good.' Lucy thinks, feeling a bit anxious. A hard knot forming in her gut.

Glancing down, she smiles relieved at Natsu, 'He looks so peaceful,' she absently observes and continues to card her hands through his salmon hair.
'So soft,' she marvels, always taken aback by how it's not sharp like she originally thought it would be.

'I wonder who Natsu's soulmate is. He's never mentioned them before, and I've never seen him spend any time with them. He's always at the guild or my house. I wonder why? Maybe they don't get along?' She contemplates tentatively.

'Maybe he hasn't found his soulmate yet, just like me... Nah, Natsu's too good for that. With those looks and that personality, people must be throwing themselves at him!'

'So why do I feel so upset at the thought of Natsu having a soulmate. Could I... like him? No way! He's just a friend, my best friend. Plus he's as dense as a rock!' She dismisses, shaking her head to dislodge the rather persistent thought.

'But his denseness is just one more thing that makes him the amazing person he is,' Lucy ponders absent-minded, before stiffening and letting out a groan. Glancing down at Natsu, she gives a small smile at his adorable sleeping expression and lightly cups his cheek.

'I think I'm falling for him hard. No, I might have already. Now I just feel stupid that I didn't realize it earlier,' She shakes her head exasperatedly. 'I guess it makes sense though, with all the blushing and that dream about him. And how my heart beats a tiny bit faster every time he grins at me, or hugs me, and how he cares so much and is so loyal and always protects me without thinking I'm weak, and how I actually secretly like it when I wake up to his warmth every morning...' Her thoughts ramble on.

'But what about my Soulmate? The person I've been waiting for all my life. Could I give them up for my best friend?'

The answer comes unhesitatingly, 'Without a doubt I would choose Natsu. Always and Forever' She realizes, the strength of her feelings scaring her a little. Although it doesn't come as a surprise.

'Perhaps I've always liked him. But I was so blind-sided by finding my soulmate, that I never thought much of my interactions with Natsu. Never even considered that my bashful reactions to his touch – and only his – could mean anything. I ignored my constantly pounding heart, the blood rushing to my cheeks in his presence, the uncalled jealousy when he showered others with his attention to be an indication of deeper feelings. 

No. I refused to accept that I could have fallen for someone other than my soulmate. Someone as precious to me as Natsu.'

'But it's always been you, Natsu Dragneel. I would gladly give up the search for my soulmate, if it means that I will get a chance to be with you.' Lucy finally feels free having admitted the truth to herself; she won't let her search hold her back from loving Natsu.

'Yet I have this tiny hope, that you just might be my Soulmate. Wouldn't that be perfect.' Despite this huge revelation, she dozes off easily in the comforting presence of her Dragon. Sweetly dreaming of staying together for many more adventures to come.