Accidental Love - Nalu

>> Chapter 1 - Accidental Love - Battle In The Willows<<

"LUCY GET DOWN!!" Exclaimed the raging salamander as he courageously pushed his comrade aside, evading incoming orbs of crimson light.

"WHAT THE-" Lucy cried out, tumbling to the forest floor. Still trying to regain her bearings, she jolted upwards after hearing several explosions around her.

"Natsu! Are you..." Speechless, Lucy's bronze eyes found themselves glaring up at him as he shadowed over her body with an infuriated look in his eyes. Natsu's entire body was enveloped by roaring flames and scarlet embers. Clenching his fists, he stood over Lucy, shielding her from the impact of the explosions. Astonished by his valiance, Lucy's azure eyes welled up with tears. She could clearly see Natsu's bruises and cuts from the shear force of the explosion.

"NATSU! YOU'RE HURT," she yelled "YOU NEED TO GET AWAY FROM HERE!" Natsu stared down at her, enraged. This flooded Lucy's mind with unease.

"I would never leave you like this. If I have to die just to protect you, I WOULD!" Natsu proclaimed as sparks flew off his body.

Sniggering, a gang of cut-throats emerged from into the clearing of the willow forest. With thunder beaming in their ears, the two wizards exchanged reassuring glances. CRASH! A dazzling lightning bolt struck the ground, just metres away from Lucy.

"Hey boss! The spell worked! It actually worked for once!" A dishevelled bandit announced. Slapping him around the head, the decrepit leader stepped forward, smirking.

"Natsu Dragneel," he grinned maliciously over at the salamander who was helping Lucy back on her feet "we finally meet. I've been waiting for 13 tedious years to finally battle with a wizard of your level."

Natsu growled, blocking Lucy from view.

"Do you really want to challenge a dragon slayer? It's not a good idea." Natsu chuckled as flames appeared around his burly arms.

Lucy suddenly cried out as one of the bandits grabbed her from behind and raised a steel dagger to his throat. Spinning around, Natsu's fury intensified.

"LET HER GO BEFORE I TURN YOU TO ASH!!" He bellowed. Struggling in the bandit's bitter grasp, Lucy's eyes widened.

"NATSU LOOK OUT!" She screamed as the bandit threw her to the floor to shut her up. Before Natsu could react, he was floored by the leader and pinned down on the dusty ground.

Through blurred vision, Natsu helplessly watched in horror as two of the outlaws circled around Lucy, kicking her repeatedly in the stomach.

Suddenly, yet another radiant lightning bolt struck one of the willow trees closest to Natsu, setting it alight. Hesitantly, one of the bandits spoke up.

"Um...Boss? Was a pretentious forest fire included in the plan?" Still overpowering Natsu, the Leader glanced up at his gulping follower and rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"OF COURSE NOT YOU HALF-WIT! KEEP YOUR EYES ON THAT CELESTRIAL WIZARD WOULD YA?"

Still striving to break free, Lucy attempted to reach for her keys.

"Oh! What do we have here?" Hissed one of the outlaws, "celestial magic eh?" The nefarious bandit snatched the golden keys from Lucy's key pouch.

"HEY!!" Lucy yelled, struggling even more.

"I don't think so," mocked the leader, a devilish smirk on his visage "such a petty excuse for a wizard won't get in our way." Cackling, the Leader heartlessly kicked Lucy in the abdomen, causing her to cry out in agony.

Not realising the huge mistake he had just made, the Leader only smirked in shear delight. THWACK! He came tumbling down to the forest floor beside Lucy, as a rage ridden dragon slayer towered over his motionless carcass.