User blog comment:Omega natsu2/Episode 181: Fairy Tail vs. Executioners, Review./@comment-24277053-20140510030854/@comment-7418318-20140510091303

Maybe, but out of the entire group, he chose to protect her.

With Wendy already being banged up and being the youngest, most people's instincts would lead them to protect her, but Natsu chose to throw himself before Lucy - who was still completely unhurt at this point - instead.

Sure she might not have had her keys along, but that doesn't have any impact on her resilience.