After learning of the Tranquil Mind guild, Fairy Tail was warned of doom known as the Master Puppet. They're only chance to prevent that puppet from being revived was to find this last magic jewel known called a spirit orb. At the moment, Makarov asked for Natsu and his team to come into his office.

"Gramps, did you come up with a plan for that Tranquil Mind guild?" Natsu asked.

"Not yet, but Levy and a few others are doing what they can to gather information on the guild." Makarov said. "For now, we must focus on finding that last spirit orb before they do."

"In order to make sure they can't revive the Master Puppet, correct?" Wendy asked.

"Yes. Also, I have a little job for you." Makarov said. "A fire has erupted in a nearby village to the east from Magnolia. People have also claimed to see a few walking puppets there."

"It sounds like the Tranquil Mind guild is behind this so they can try to find the last spirit orb." Erza said.

"Those jerks. They're really asking for it." Natsu said.

"Worry about saving the villagers first." Lucy said.

"I really don't get what you see in him." Gray said.

"Lucy's right. The safety of the villagers comes first." Makarov said. "After you save them, then you can go beat up the Tranquil Mind guild all you want."

"Understood. Let's go you guys." Erza said and all of them agreed.

…

The Village

The team made it all the way to the village and everything was on fire. Erza and the others scouted through the entire town for anyone that needed help.

"Wow! They really brought it to this place." Erza said. Gray and Lucy ran up to her.

"Erza, we were able to evacuate everyone." Gray said. Natsu and Lucy came down with Happy and Carla.

"There isn't anyone left." Happy said.

"It looks like all the townsfolk were able to make it out." Carla said.

"Excellent work, everyone. There's only one thing left to do." Erza said as she stepped forward and stared at the other side of the archway. "Come on out. Don't even bother trying to run or hide." They all looked ahead and saw a group of masked people coming out from hiding.

"Who are they?" Lucy asked.

"Bandits." Erza said.

"I thought the Tranquil Mind guild was behind this." Happy said.

"Something seems strange." Carla said.

"Wendy and Natsu, you take Happy and Carla and scout out for more of them." Erza said. "Gray and Lucy, you're with me."

"Let's do this." Natsu said as Happy and Carla grabbed him and Wendy and started flying.

"Here we go! Requip!" Erza said and changed into her Heaven's Wheel armor. She flew right through the archway and attacked the bandits with Gray and Lucy following her. "Circle Sword!" Erza shot a bunch of swords in the shape of a circle and knocked them down.

"Your mine, pretty lady." A fellow bandit said as a few went for Lucy.

"Don't bet on it." Lucy said as she used her Star Dress and turned into her Taurus Form and the outfit caused all of them to have hearts in their eyes. "Earth Wave!" She struck the ground with her whip and caused the whole ground to rupture with the bandits being taken out.

"They're dropping like dominos." Gray said as he blast one with ice. He saw a couple more went in for another attack. "Ice-Make: Saucer!" Gray made an ice saucer and shot it towards them and knocked them down. Natsu and Wendy scouted from the air and spotted another group in a different part of the village.

"There they are!" Wendy said.

"Time for Plan T: Take them by storm." Natsu said.

"Aye sir!" Happy said as they dived right down.

"Why do they always have to go for straight up fighting?" Carla said.

"We might as well join them." Wendy said as the two of them followed them. They flew right down at the bandits and Natsu sock a couple of them.

"These guys are nothing, but pushovers." Natsu said.

"Aye!" Happy said.

"What's with these guys?"

"Look at the marks they have. They're from Fairy Tail."

"We can't take these guys in a real fight!"

"Run!" All of the ones that were still standing tried to make a run for it, but Wendy and Carla flew in.

"Sky Dragon Wing Attack!" Wendy shot out a gust of wind that slammed into some of the bandits.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" Natsu slammed a fiery fist against another one and knocked him out. That took care of the last one in the area. "This isn't much fun. These guys are too easy."

"Still, Erza isn't going to like it if we just let these guys escape." Happy said and Natsu knew he had a point.

"You're right. Let's go find if there are any more." Natsu said and all of them started flying again. Erza's group just about finished with their bandits, but a few of them jumped over a wall and made a run for it.

"Get back here!" Gray ordered.

"You're not getting away." Lucy said as they both went after them. The bandits kept running, but a bunch of swords cut off their escape route and they saw Erza land down behind them.

"There's nowhere left to run." Erza said.

"If we can't ring, we'll just fight." One of the bandits said.

"Fire/Sky Dragon Talon!" Two bandits were kicked down by Natsu and Wendy with kicks of wind and fire. There was only one bandit left and all of them had him cornered.

"What is this? Who are all of you?" The bandit asked as he was acting scared.

"We're from Fairy Tail." Natsu said.

"Why have you attacked this village?" Lucy asked.

"Why do you care?" The bandit said.

"We're actually here to figure that out." Gray said.

"You wouldn't be connected to a guild called Tranquil Mind, would you?" Erza asked and it seemed like she was on to something by the way the bandit flinched.

"How did you know?" The bandit asked.

"So you guys ARE connected. Fess up already!" Natsu demanded. The bandit thought he was trapped, but he saw an opening and made a run for it. "Hold it!"

"You just don't know when to quit." Lucy said as they both went after him. The bandit rounded a corner with Natsu and Lucy close behind him and it looked like a dead end.

"There's nowhere left to run." Natsu said. They thought they had him, but they saw a blast of water come out from nowhere and hit the both of them with them being knocked off their feet. "That came out of nowhere. Lucy!" He went right over to her and helped her up. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, but what was that?" Lucy said. They both looked and saw a man in a cloak. That was just about when the others showed up.

"This is no time to be just standing around." Gray said.

"Gray, look." Happy said. All of them looked ahead and saw the same man.

"What is this? Who is that?" Wendy asked.

"I'm willing to be that he's with the Tranquil Mind guild." Carla said.

"Identify yourself. Why are you here?" Erza demanded.

"There was suppose to be a spirit orb in this village, but all my efforts were for nothing." The mystery man said. "You were warned to stay out of the way. Heed that warning." That was all he said before he had a blaze of fire appear around him and he vanished.

"He's gone!" Happy said.

"The bandit's gone too." Gray said.

"Erza, there's something that's bothering me." Wendy said. "The Tranquil Mind guild used puppets to attack before. So why did they use bandits for this one?"

"Good point." Erza said as she was thinking the same thing. "We better report this to Master Makarov. First, there's an all you can eat buffet with Natsu's name on it." She said as she was referring to the fire.

"Sweet!" Natsu said as he got to feeding.

…

The Guildhall

As soon as the flames were put out and all the citizens were safe, the team headed straight back to the guildhall. When they did, they headed straight for Makarov's office and were talking to him about what they've witnessed.

"A group of bandits? That is rather strange." Makarov said.

"Here's what I think of the situation." Erza said. "They are low on guild members and have already fought other enemies before now and have lost some of those puppets they've used."

"So to make up for their losses, they've teamed up with these bandits while they get some firepower back." Makarov said. "Well done. We can use this information. If we're dealing with actual humans, we can form a plan. For now, be on alert if I need you again."

"Lame." Natsu complained. He would much rather go in and fight all of them right now.

"Is there something you like to say?" Erza said as she was giving him one of her famous glares and broke that fighting spirit of his instantly.

"No! Sorry! Natsu said.

"Let's go, Natsu." Lucy said as she grabbed a hold of him and started walking away. They might have succeeded in saving an entire village, but if the Tranquil Mind guild was willing to go that far, what else are they willing to try?

Next Time: Capture the Bandits