This will be my 'Come back' story. I haven't been active on my fanfiction writing for years now. Though I'm happy that I have gotten a huge inspiration lately and I'll be sure to update frequently. My life outside of this is fairly busy, so if I'm late on an update, please be patient with me.

Disclaimer: I have no ownership over Fairy Tail and it's beautiful characters. It's Hiro Mashima's!

Warning: This story is not for the faint hearted. I will posting warnings on every chapter and what it may contain so if you have to skip a chapter, that'll be fine.

Please enjoy! R&R greatly welcomed! It'll help me write more.

The Mission You Take

"Could you guys knock it off already? You're giving me a headache!"

It was a typical day at the guild. The elder wizards were laughing with one another and enjoying their beers. Others ate lunch before heading off to a mission. Some took the day off to relax and enjoy company. Not to forget the most popular rivalry fight between a dragon slayer and an ice mage. Today, their fight was no different than any normal day.

Lucy sat at one of the closest tables to their fight. She didn't know why she always seemed to be near them when they broke out like this, but today, she just about had enough. As the two clashed fists into faces and the non-stop name-calling seemed to never end, she stood up with both of her hands slammed against the tabletop.

"Seriously! Shut up!"

That's when the two mages stopped to look at their blonde companion. Their faces were in a state of shock. Both couldn't comprehend what just had happened. Though, right in that moment of silence, a certain scarlet haired women appeared right behind Lucy without her noticing. Natsu was the first one to squeal like a girl. Gray shortly followed behind.

"We'll be quiet now! We promise! Right, Ice-princess?"

"Right, Flame-brain! Nice and quiet!"

"Thank heavens…"

Lucy finally sat down while she tried to rub out her now annoying migraine. Right as she did so, she noticed Erza was standing just above her. She smiled toward her now knowing why the boys reacted the way they did. Erza nodded and smiled back, but her main focus was on the two who were now acting overly happy to see each other.

"I have some matters of importance to speak to you two about. " She waved the two over so she could give them details in what she was talking about. Natsu was the first to dare to approach her, but he was absolutely curious in what she had to say. Gray just took his time, only to piss the dragon off, in which it worked.

Once the two gave them their full attentions, Erza handed them a mission flier. Natsu looked confused as he read over it. He soon handed it over to Gray so he could scan it over.

"So, a starter guild needs help? Guilds don't ask other guilds for help…" The dragon scratched his head as he tried figuring it all out.

"Idiot, because they are a starter guild, they would like for the senior to help them out. It's only generous to go and help them out!" Gray slapped the flier in Natsu's face. "Read a bit closer, they just need some training."

"Yes… and since you two showed amazing results in the Grand Magic Games, a lot of eyes are on you two. Take it with pride, Natsu. Be proud that you were able to impress a lot of people including other guild masters." Erza smiled as she wrapped both her arms around the two causing them to collide into her hard armor. "I'm just proud of both of you! When you guys get back, we should take a hot springs trip with the rest of the team!"

Both nodded in agreement as soon as Erza let them go. Natsu once again looked over the flier. Something was bothering him, but he didn't know what.

'Please helps us! We want a trainer for our new members!'

Some how, it didn't make any sense to him at all. Mostly everyone had his or her own mentor. Igneel trained him with magic that couldn't be taught from just anyone. How was he supposed to train anyone anything with the exception of strength training? Maybe that's all they needed. Gray on the other hand, was more suited for this mission since his magic was easier taught. Though, the request boldly asked for the both of them.

"When would you like to leave for this, Natsu?" Gray looked to the slayer breaking the other from his deep thought. The ice mage would have preferred to go on this one mission alone, but it looked like Erza wouldn't let him leave without the fire breather.

Natsu shook out of his thoughts and looked over to the raven. Once he took a few seconds to realize what the other male had just asked of him, he nodded and grinned widely. "I'll give you an hour! Race me to the train station! Last one there buys dinner!"

"Ha, from the one that's going to lose! I'm going to make you eat those words!" Gray said before racing home to pack.

"Like that's going to happen, Ice-Princess!" Natsu raced behind leaving a trail of dust.

Once the rivals were out of sight, Lucy sighed happily, her headache now almost gone. "Finally! A week of silence!" As she said this, Erza sat down with her a chuckled silently to herself.

"Yes, but you'll miss them no matter how annoying they may be. I know I do." The scarlet women sighed heavily as memories regained. "They have grown so much and have gotten so much stronger." Erza mentioned. After all, they were like her siblings she never had. Having to have watched over them throughout the years, she should be proud of them.

There was silence between them for a moment before Scarlet stood up while taking a hold of Lucy's arm.

"C'mon, let's go pick a mission for us to do while they are away!"

"B-b-but, I was going to use this chance to relax!"

"There's time for that when we come back, plus what about your rent?"

Lucy paused as her lips puckered into a pout. The armored mage was right. She should be working so she could have enough for rent this month. The blonde pulled her arm back and grumbled. "Fine… I'll go…"

"Don't worry, I promised the boys that we'll all go to the hot springs as soon as they get back. Mean while, we could get a mission out of the way to pass the time."

"Ok, then in that case, could I choose the mission?" Lucy only asked because she didn't want one that only Erza could do.

"Go ahead, but hurry, I would like to leave soon."

"Why can't I go with you, Natsu? I always go on missions with you no matter what!"

A certain exceed wasn't really liking the idea that he had to stay behind for this mission. Happy was actually very upset with Natsu because of this. He did everything with the small amount of power he had to try and convince that dragon slayer. Don't even think that he missed out an opportunity to bring fish into the bribing.

"I'm sorry, Happy. I can't bring you on this one because… well… I don't like this feeling in my gut."

"So… I can't go because your gut has feelings?" The tiny blue cat was so innocent and naïve. Then again, so was Natsu. They were walking to the train station to go meet up with Gray. Happy had refused to leave Natsu's side until they at least reached the station. Natsu broke down and let the exceed do as he pleased, but he still wouldn't let the little blue kitten come with him on this mission.

The two had stopped walking for a moment as Natsu took this moment to look down at his best friend. With Happy just at his feet, Natsu leant down to pick him up into his arms. Happy tilted his head in confusion as those emerald orbs stared into his with worry.

"You okay, Natsu?"

Natsu broke out of his deep concentration. For that long moment, he blinked continuously to try and get himself back to reality.

"Perfectly fine! Now let's race to the station! I almost forgot I have to beat that stripper to the train! I don't have enough jewels in my pocket to pay for his dinner!" Just like that, he took off with a sprint, Happy still in his arms.

Moments later, they found themselves at the station. The smell and noise around the duo definitely indicated where they were. Though for Natsu, this smell, the loud horns, it was all bad news for him and his stomach. For a moment he ground just thinking about the ride soon to come. To add to this horrific ride, there was no Erza to knock him out or Wendy to heal him on the way to their destination.

The slayer let Happy go as his hand rested upon his stomach in attempts to ease the now overwhelming pain that had gained only upon the thought of being on transportation. This was wonderful, so far, it looked to be that he had beaten the ice mage to the station, but he was already feeling too sick to care. Once he thought about his rival, Gray's scent appeared behind him.

"Tch, running a bit late, aren't we." Gray stated rather than questioned.

"Hey, you should be saying that to yourself!"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I was here ten minutes ago. I couldn't wait any longer, so I was sitting in that coffee shop behind me."

Natsu looked over Gray's shoulder as if he didn't believe him, but then again, he could smell the hits of caffeine mixed into his normal minty pine scent. The slayer's eyebrows narrowed in defeat. Looking back at the ice mage, his emerald eyes gleamed into those dark eyes begging and pleading.

"Could you still buy dinner? I don't have the jewels…" Natsu pouted as he hunched over in desperation.

"Should have known you wouldn't keep to your word. Fine, loser!" Gray huffed walking passed the dragon slayer. "C'mon, let's go before we miss the train." He looked behind him and noticed the blue exceed. "You coming too, Happy?"

"No… Natsu told me to stay home for this one… his guts are having feelings and apparently that's a bad thing."

"Yeah, I can see that." Gray had to chuckle to himself as he noticed Natsu's arms already wrapped around his stomach. "Hopefully we can keep his guts in one place for this trip." He waved softly to Happy.

"Happy, go see if you could stay with Wendy or Gajeel for a while until we get back, okay?" Natsu said while holding himself together and walking toward the torturous metal machine. The groans and grumbles were already starting to erupt from his inner core. "Damn transportation…" He whispered in horror to himself. Taking his first step onto the platform, he could feel the vomit rising. Looking behind him, he watched as the blue kitten waved 'Good-Bye' to the both of them. Natsu smiled, but immediately commenced the hunching over and gripping his stomach harshly.

"You're so pathetic." Gray hissed as he watched the pitiful display. Though, as much as Natsu was his rival, he was also his comrade. The raven let out an annoyed sigh and leant down to grab one of Natsu's arms so he could wrap it around his shoulder. Once they stood, Gray helped carry Natsu's dead weight to near by booth with completely empty seats. He let the dragon slayer's body lay across one side of the booth as he sat on the other side.

"Ice-Make: Ice Pack!" Gray rested the ice pack upon Natsu's forehead. "There… that should help."

Natsu was amazed the ice was helping. He never would have thought that Gray's magic of all things could have helped with his motion sickness. He sat upright while holding the ice pack in place.

"Wow, thanks! It's actually helping!" He was overly enthused by this small invention that Gray had made for him.

"Of course it helps, air head! Erza told me to do this for you so don't think I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart!" The raven huffed with his arms crossed. "So this mission, it has you on edge too?"

"You've noticed, too?"

"Yeah… too vague. I have a feeling Erza wanted us to go more than a simple task of helping a guild out…"

The train finished boarding their travelers. Soon after, a small announcement was made over the intercom, the typical safety rules and to 'have a nice trip' speech. To Natsu, it was a load of nonsense since it was never a nice trip for him. Then, the train started to move finally.

"How far are we traveling…?" Natsu was afraid to hear the answer.

"About five hours to a town called… Kealdread. Never heard of it… but according to the map that was given to us for this mission, it's in the direction this train is going." A small grumble could be heard from his rival. "Oh, try to enjoy the train ride for once! If you need more ice, I have more where that came from, okay?"

"Fine… but back on the mission…?" Natsu paused for a moment as he thought about what was going through his head earlier. "This feeling…"

"Yeah… I'm getting that feeling too." Gray didn't dare look behind him. "We're being watched…"