CHAPTER 2

*Laxus' POV*

Laxus Dreyar was having a bad day, first, because his team went on to solo missions, preparing for the upcoming exams. Another, is the guild being too loud early in the morning. Giving him a really bad headache, the noise was unbearably too loud for him and with the enhanced hearing it was worst. Sighing in annoyance, he brought his left hand to massage his temples, somehow trying to calm himself.

He was seated at a couch in the second floor trying to relax, but with the ruckus they are making, it'll be impossible. Sighing, he brought his sound pod to his ears, "at least my music is better than their pitiful arguments", he thought to himself. Maxing the volume so he could only focus on the music and not the rowdy environment.

A smile form on his lips, as he successfully block most of the unwanted noise. Engrossing himself in his 'relaxing state' he brought both of his hands to his head as a pillow, while raising both his feet to the coffee table. And soon he found peace.

Though that peaceful moment only lasted a few minutes as he heard a faint voice of his grandfather calling him to his office. Standing up, a scowl on his face he stretch a little, so much for relaxing, now what does the old man need from me? I hope it's not paper works... he shuddered at the thought of doing stacks of paper work.

"Well, better get there to know what's up..." he said to himself, as he made his way to his grandfather's office. Not bothering to knock, he quickly enters, slamming the door behind him, though that didn't seem to get his grandpa's attention, since he was still busy looking at the folders in front of him, oblivious to the presence in front of him. Sighing, he made his way to one of the seats near the table and silently settled himself, which on the weird part startled his grandfather's focus.

Looking up from the folder he was holding then returning his gaze back, the master says, "Laxus, my boy, I need you to do something for me." his eyes still on the folder in his hand.

With a scowl, he asked. "What do you need this time old man?" clearly irritated he has work to do again.

The tiny master, brought down the folder in his grasp, and looks at his grandson, face serious, it must be important if he's giving off that kind of look, "I want you to form a temporary team for three months" the master started, "your team would consist of three other mages, whom I'm reconsidering for the exams, I want you to know their potentials as well as how capable are they as a mage." the master said, face still serious

Out of instinct, he suddenly stood up, eyes wide upon hearing the request, "bu-but..." he stammered and was cut off as his grandpa held out one of his hand to silent him.

"No buts, clearly your team is out on their own, doing solo. And this teaming up would only be temporary, you're the only one I can trust in this since the other s-class mages are already busy, and seeing you're the only one blundering around I'll assign you to this, now, I'm hoping that you won't fail me my boy? And also, you are not to speak about the real reason of the team up, if they asked about it, say that it is my orders, that should be enough to make them agree." coughing a little, to clear his throat "now I want you to take them on any missions, and I hope it would be some missions with dissimilar situations , where they could initially show you their full asset thus you could evaluate them better, now for your team, here are their folders and I'm hoping you can inform them this day since I expect you to take a mission soon. That'll be all" the master said, ending the conversation.

With an annoyed sigh, he went out of the office to look for his "new" team. Opening the folders, clearly it was records on his new team, as he looked on the opened file he got the names, "Wendy Marvell, Lucy Heartfilia and Gajeel Redfox" with their pictures. I'll be teaming up with a girl, an idiot and a kid? Seriously... What is he thinking sighing again for the nth time, he tries to sniff the air looking for the scent of the little dragon slayer. Soon as he found it, his gaze drifted to the source and he found her sitting at the bar talking with her cat.

He quickly made his way to the bar, reaching it he calls for the little girl's name, he saw her turn around slightly and was a little shock to see him. He settled beside the girl waiting to compose herself.

It didn't take long for Wendy to snap back and when she does she quickly greeted him, "hello Laxus-san, how can I help you?" the girl asked politely, though it was a little hesitant.

Patting the girl on the head to reassure her, he smiled at her, and was answered back with a bright smile from the girl. "Wendy," he started, "gramps want us to be on an experiment team for a while," he says, "and there are other two members joining us, so what do you say?" he ask

Wendy smiled at him again, "I'll join!" she said cheerfully.

Now that was easy, smiling at the young girl he says, "Now we need to find the other two, do you know where Gajeel is?"

The young girl nodded and pointed to the darkest corner of the guild, he follows the girl's hand, and saw the man they've been talking about stuffing his face with metal with his cat lily eating kiwis, of course, why didn't I think of that". Standing up, he made his way to Gajeel, his gaze on the man.

He reach the table and seated himself in front of the other man, and Wendy right next to him. Before he could start, the said man interrupted him. "What do ya want? I'm busy here" his voice gruff, and a scowl formed on his face.

Sighing yet again for another time, damn, why do I keep doing that, he looked at the man in front, "the master wants us to make an experiment team for a while." he said, his voice a little irritated.

"Not interested" he neglected, returning his attention on his plate.

Another long sigh came from his lips, "swear, why I do that". Now annoyed with his new mannerism and the man in front of him, he tried to take deep breath to calm himself. Until he felt a small hand poking him on his right, he shifted his gaze to the girl besides him, his eyebrows raise as if asking her if there's a problem.

The girl only giggled, then looked at Gajeel trying to gain his attention, though the man seems to pay her no care, curious on what the girl was about to do, Laxus lets the girl handle the situation clearly interested on how she'll persuade him.

Wendy once again tried gaining his attention by coughing, and that seems to do the trick, as the man stares at her, clearly wondering what she needs. Wendy started, "Gajeel-kun, don't you want to join us?" her voice sounded little and her face has the most adorable puppy look on, not that Laxus would ever say that, with tear threatening to fall on her eyes. Laxus was taken aback on how the little girl could put an act, smirking deviously, the girl has moves, wonder whom she learned those he thought to himself.

Somehow, the gruff man felt a little guilty, sighing in defeat, he nods, indicating he's joining the team. Earning a happy cheer from Wendy, and a smirk from Laxus.

"Now we only need to find the last member," he announce them, "Lucy Heartfilia, but obviously she's not here." he stated

Wendy suddenly raised her hand and said, "I know where nee-san is!" she cheered happily, knowing that her nee-san is going to take part of the team.

Laxus stares at Wendy for a short while then nods, "lead the way then, kid" he says to Wendy.

The little girl quickly stood up from her seat, and ran off to the guild door, with Laxus and Gajeel not far behind.

*Few moments later*

And the trio continued on their conquest in finding the last member, with the little Wendy leading the way, and the two older slayers slouching not far behind, sighs, I'm too old for this, he narrates in his mind, bored on how this trip was taking long, somehow along the way, the little dragon slayer stop running and started skipping instead. Guess she got tired. changing his focus to the area around them, he notice that they are exiting the town, there were only a few houses, some street lights and the marbled pathway they are taking, are what left from this part of town, as they neared the visible forest, what is Blondie doing in that place... Has she been going here every day? Come to think of it, I barely see her stay at the guild lately... still walking, he engulf himself at his thought about a certain celestial mage.

*Lucy's POV*

"achoo!" I think I'm going to catch a cold, she thought to herself

"Focus Lucy-sama, don't break your concentration..." Capricorn said sternly

"hai!" I replied, focusing once again on my meditation.

*back to Laxus POV*

Sighing, this walk is taking long I look at the other man beside me, wondering what he is thinking.

*Gajeel's pov*

this walks taking too long, and I'm gettin' hungry, I looked around me, and notice the metal streetlights on the side of the path, I kept looking at it intently, they look delicious, and smells good, mix irons, wonder what they tastes like, I think they'll flavor great... No! Gajeel, get a hold of yourself, you got dignity, don't go running around biting the street lamps... Focus, focus, focus... But... they look really good, I turned my head quickly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, checking if there was saliva dripping. When I was sure there was none, I recompose myself before fixing my eyes somewhere else.

*Laxus' pov*

That was weird, I thought as I stopped inspecting the other man, wonder what was he thinking about, shrugging at his own question, he increases his speed a little as they entered the forest.

They walked for a few more minutes until we saw a clearing ahead, from this point, I could sense the magical aura on the clearing, somehow it felt familiar and warm, shaking my thoughts out, we reach the clearing, and there we saw Blondie, sitting in the middle, legs crossed with her arms on both sides of her knees, a golden light surrounds her, flowing like waves of ocean, with hundreds of tiny golden spheres, the size of a marble, rotating around her, it almost look like small fairies flying around her, I couldn't help but be impressed at her, I never even knew such kind of meditation method exist.

I kept staring at her, still fascinated at what I'm seeing, "guess this team up wouldn't be so bad." I thought, looking forward on working with them, to see their magic and of course, spending time with a certain blond mage, i can't help but smirk at the idea that Blondie is stuck with us for a month, I guess gramps does know how to pick well for the exams. Focusing again, i looked around the place, 'til I noticed a goat in butler uniform heading towards our ways.

"Hello Capricorn-san!" the young girl beside me greeted.

"Hello Wendy-san, do you need something from Lucy-sama?" the goat replied back, nodding to both me and Gajeel in greeting. Both of us just grunted in response

"Yes we do!" she beamed, "we need to discuss to her about something, will she take long?"

"no she won't, she should be done in a few." the goat said, as if that was the signal, the small sphere around her started exploding, making a popping sound in the process, then golden dust started falling from the destroyed spheres, making the scene more amazing than how it already is. We waited a few more minutes, waiting for Blondie to finish, and as she did, she turns her gaze at us, and smiled brightly, so she knows we were here? How come? She was meditating wasn't she? pushing away my curiosity, we headed to her glad this would be over soon.

AN: thanks to those who reviewed, I appreciated it. Favorite, Follow and Review