My Pink Puppy (Book 1)

Chapter 16 - Muddy

"Natsu stop wiggling" I said as I held the muddy pink puppy down in the bath and scrubbed his back with shampoo. He whined and kept squirming under my grip. Let me explain how Natsu got so muddy that not a speck of his pink fur could be spotted. The guild decided to have a picnic in the park to celebrate Master's birthday and while I wasn't looking, Natsu decided to roll around in a muddy puddle. To make things worst he shook some of the mud onto Master. Luckily Master had a good laugh about it... and he was drunk.

"You always cause trouble for me" I lightly sigh and Natsu stopped wiggling. He whipped his head around to look up at me and whined with an apologetic looked in his eyes. I knew he must've thought I meant it in a bad way. "I didn't mean that in a bad way Natsu" I said and stroked his head. He looked down and whined sadly. I sighed, I hate seeing Natsu upset.

I picked up his sopping wet body and cuddled him to my chest. My shirt was wet now but I didn't care. "If you didn't give me trouble then some of the best and most hilarious moments in my life wouldn't exist" I said and he seemed to perk up. "Besides, I wouldn't have joined Fairy Tail without your trouble" I added and he tilted his head in confusion. "Don't worry your little head about it" I joked with a smile and ruffled his fur. He looked happier as he licked my cheek. I gave him light squeeze of a hug before putting him back in the water to continue cleaning the mud off him.

Suddenly a bubble floated upwards from the suds and Natsu's eyes followed the bubble. I saw his tail wagging excitedly. He tried to bite it and accidentally splashed me with water. Now I was soaked from head to toe. "Having trouble cleaning Flame Brain?" I heard a voice behind me and I turned to see Gray leaning on the doorway. "He seems to love wiggling around" I giggled.

"How about I take over while you dry yourself off?" he offered as he stepped forward. Natsu growled which wasn't very threatening with his drenched fur. "I think it would be better if I finished washing him. Wouldn't want you to drown him" I joked. "Only if he annoys me" he chuckled, "go on, I'll take over" he said as he kneeled beside me next to the bath. "Alright" I said and stood up. Natsu whined and stood on his back legs, leaning on the bath's edge like he was begging me not to leave. "Don't worry Natsu, Gray won't really drown you" I said and patted him before leaving the bathroom.

"Is Natsu all clean?" Erza asked as I closed the door. She was sipping a cup of tea at my table and I noticed Happy was taking a nap on my couch. "No but Gray's taking over for me" I replied and then suddenly I heard whining, barking, splashing and Gray shouting at Natsu. "Sounds like they're having fun" she said, "yeah..." I replied worried about the boys. I headed to my cabinet for a towel and a change of clothes.

By the time I changed into some dry clothes, the bathroom door slammed opened and there stood a grumpy soaked Gray. I heard Natsu happily bark before he ran out of the bathroom towards me, all clean and dry. Not a speck of mud could be found on his lovely pink fur. I picked him up and held him up to inspect him. "Look how clean you are Natsu" I said with a smile. He barked happily in response. "Thanks Gray" I said while pulling Natsu to my chest. "Yeah don't mention it" he grumbled before stripping down to his boxers.

I grew angry and 'Lucy Kicked' him. "What have I told you about stripping in my house!" I shouted before looking away. "Ow, sorry Erza 2.0" he replied and I whipped my head around to glare at him. "What was that?" I said in a threatening tone. "I mean sorry L-Lucy" he stuttered in fear. I huffed before sitting down on my bed and placing Natsu on my lap. "What's going on?" Happy tiredly asked as he rubbed his eye. He probably woke up from all the commotion. "It's nothing Happy, go back to sleep" I said. "Aye" he said before collapsing and falling back asleep.

"I think we should go on a job" Erza spoke up. "I'm up for that" Gray replied. "Me too, my rent and food money have been running low recently" I said. "Then it's settled, we will pick out a job from the request board tomorrow" Erza said. The comfortable silence was broken by Happy muttering "fishies" in his sleep.

The next morning, we walked up to the request board and begun searching the board for a good job to go on. "We should pick a big reward" Gray said as we looked. "Team Natsu" Gramps called from the bar. We walked over to him, "a special request has come in for your team" he said as he handed Erza the request sheet. "What does it say?" Happy asked. "We need to defeat a monster, East of here in Velese Forest" she replied. "Can we come with you?" Wendy asked with Carla in her arms. "You might need the extra help" she added. "Sure you two can come" I said and then I thought this job might be too dangerous to bring Natsu on.

"What about Natsu? We can't bring him on a dangerous job" I said and Natsu whined at me from my arms. It was like he was saying 'no, take me with you please.' "Oh bring him along Lucy. I'm sure he'll follow you anyway" Mira said. "I agree. I'm sure he can help you in some way" Gramps agreed. "Alright he can come" I gave in and Natsu's face brightened up. He rushed to my face and licked me repeatedly. I giggled, "Natsu stop that, no need to exaggerate" I said and everyone laughed. "Good luck on your job" Gramps said and we thanked him before heading to the train station. I wonder what kind of monster we will have to face.