The Golden Exceed

Chapter 15 - Mini Hammock

When Gray came back from buying the ingredients, he occasionally helped Lucy cook Omurice. "This looks delicious Lucy" Erza said as the plates were being dished out. "Thanks Erza and thank you Gray for helping out" Lucy said, "anytime Lucy" Gray replied. "Hmph, I could've helped out" Natsu said pouting. Lucy giggled thinking he looked cute. "You would've burned the food" Gray retorted. "I wouldn't burn it!" Natsu argued, "yes you would!" Gray countered.

"SHUT UP AND EAT!" Erza shouted, "yes mam!" Natsu and Gray said quickly. They both quickly chowed down the food. After a few bites of their Omurice they slowed down savouring the taste. "Wow you're cooking is amazing Lucy!" Gray complimented, "thanks Gray" Lucy said, feeling proud of herself. Natsu gave Gray a glare which Gray gladly returned. Everyone could see sparks flying between them.

After dinner, Lucy washed the dishes. "Would you like some help Lucy?" Erza asked, "thanks Erza but I'm alright" Lucy replied. "If you're sure" Erza replied as she walked away. After washing the dishes, they had a lively chat before working out sleeping arrangements.

"Since there is five of us and one couch and one hammock" Erza stated. "Lucy and Happy can take the hammock while I take the couch" Erza continued. "Where are we supposed to sleep!" Natsu and Gray exclaimed. "On the floor" Erza answered, Natsu and Gray's jaw dropped. "That's not fair!" Natsu and Gray exclaimed in unison. "Luckily, I stopped by my house on my way back from picking up the ingredients," Gray said as he walked over to a bag in the corner that he brought. He pulled out bedding and laid it on the floor.

"I'm not sharing a bed with you" Natsu said disgusted. "I never said I was going to share" Gray retorted, "then where do I sleep?!" Natsu exclaimed. "I've got an idea" Lucy said, she flew around the house collecting two sheets, rope and a small pillow. "What are you going to do with those Lucy?" Happy asked, "watch" Lucy replied.

She tied one end of the rope to the roof's wooden beam and tied the other end to another wooden beam. Tying the corners of one of the sheets to the rope she made a mini hammock. She placed the small pillow and the other sheet in the hammock as her bedding.

"Clever" Gray complimented with his arms crossed. "Now Natsu and Happy can share the big hammock, Erza can take the couch and Gray can take the floor" Lucy said. "We can always rely on you for good ideas" Erza said. They all went to bed without any complains and Lucy wondered what was familiar about that one line from the prophecy. She shrugged it off and went to sleep.

The next morning, Lucy woke up and noticed everyone else was still asleep. She wondered what she could do till the others wake up. She noticed Natsu's board with all their previous jobs and decided to have a look. Lucy flew out of her hammock and hovered in front of the board. She felt nostalgic as she looked through the different requests they completed until she saw one in particular.

"I GOT IT!" Lucy exclaimed which made Natsu wake up in a panic and fall out of his hammock with Happy. Luckily, Happy flew before hitting the floor. "Ow..." Natsu said grumpily with his chin on the floor and his butt in the air.

Erza and Gray woke up from Lucy sudden shout but more gracefully than Natsu did. "Ha nice fall" Gray snickered at Natsu. "Shut up! You would've done the same thing if you were sleeping on a hammock" Natsu argued as he stood up. "No I wouldn't, I'm not as ungraceful as you" Gray countered.

Before their argument could escalate Erza spoke up, "did you figure something out Lucy?" she asked. "I figured out that line!" Lucy replied happily, "what is it?" Happy asked. "First we need to go to the guild" Lucy said flying towards the front door.

Lucy, Natsu, Gray, Erza and Happy ran to the guild. When they entered the guild, "Levy!" Lucy called out, "what's up Lu?" Levy replied. "I figured out one of the lines" Lucy said happily, "did you?!" Levy said happily as she took out the paper with the prophecy on it. Lucy pointed to the line 'Travel North to where ice is as hard as rock,' "I think that's referring to Hakobe Ice. Natsu, Happy and I did a job to collect Hakobe Ice which can't be destroyed. The only way to collect it was to use a magic pen" Lucy explained.

"You're right Lu! Mt. Hakobe is in the Northern part of Fiore" Levy said. "Good job Lucy" Master Makarov said as he walked up to the group. "I want you, Natsu, Gray, Happy and Erza to find this key and any clues on the location of the lock" he continued. "Yes Master" Erza said, "do you think we will need the magic pen that can cut Hakobe Ice?" Gray asked. "We might need it so it would be best to have one" Erza said, "but where do we buy one?" Lucy asked.

"There is only one magic shop in Crocus that sells magic pens" Master Makarov said. "We better stop there first to buy a magic pen before going to Mt. Hakobe" Lucy said. "I agree and we should buy anything we may need" Erza said. "Do we need to take a train?" Natsu asked almost looking sick just from the thought. "We have to Natsu, it's the quickest way there" Lucy said.

"We'll have a quick breakfast here at the guild and then we better prepare to leave for Crocus" Erza said. Lucy, Natsu, Gray, Erza and Happy ordered food from Mira and sat down at one of the tables. Soon Mira arrived with their food and Natsu and Happy ate their food like there was no tomorrow. Gray looked disgusted at Natsu as food flew. Once everyone was done with their breakfast, they left the guild to pack for the trip.