So... I just checked up on this story and I'm glad there's a review. Thanks Ash Lite -former EST for the review because of it I decided to post this chapter.

Anyway please be kind and review.

Previously:

"So back to my question, how far is this statue?" Natsu asked again

"Well, the statue is said to be a myth. But if there is any truth to the stories, it should be found near the mountain" Jellal said as he searched for something inside his bag. "Aha! Found it"

Chapter 3

"A map?" Gajeel asked

"Two maps" Gray observed

"Might as well come prepared" Jellal unfolded them "A recent one, while this" he held up a brown piece of paper "is the oldest record I found". The guys huddled together.

"Looks like nothing changed over the years" Gray noted

"How long are those two maps apart?" Gajeel asked

"That one" Jellal indicating the map Gray was holding "was done about seven years ago. And this one is... woah! 200 years ago"

"Seriously?!" Natsu shouted "Even old man Makarov isn't that old... is he?" he asked amazed that such a thing could be older than the old man.

"Of course not, idiot" Gajeel said "If he did live 200 years ago, he shouldn't be alive now, would he?" Before Natsu could retort with an answer, Gray snapped at them.

"Enough with the talking" the raven haired teen said and turned his attention to Jellal and the two maps. "So? How far?"

"Well, if we search the entire mountain side, it'll take us forever" the bluenette stated and the three agreed "So we look for the spring"

"How? It's suppose to be underground, right?" Natsu asked

"By looking for a river or a stream at least" Jellal said "If the spring has enough force to flow out of something that's said to be that big, then there should be another way for the water to reach the surface" Jellal looked quite smug after he said that.

"But there isn't a river or stream here" Gray pointed at the map he was holding

"There you go we're just wasting our time" Gajeel said scowling

"Yes, there isn't one on that map" Jellal answered Gray's unsaid question with an unsaid answer, as though Gajeel didn't say anything, Natsu had a confuse look on his face, looking back and forth between Gray and Jellal not following their conversation. Jellal knew Gray understood what he was saying but in order for a certain idiot to understand, he had to explain.

"In the older map there is a river. That's the big difference between the two" the bluenette said as the others looked at the old map. Indeed there was river going through the forest in the old map.

"I don't get it" Natsu scratched the back of his head "How could a river just vanish?"

"Well they are four centuries apart. Anything could've happened" Gajeel said

"Wait, before that, how in Earthland did you get your hands on this map? I understand the other one, but this old one must be an antique. It should be in a museum or something" Gray suddenly asked. The other two realized what the raven haired teen meant; no ordinary person could acquire something like this. The three stared at their friend with the face tattoo.

"I... have my ways" Jellal simply said. The three remained quiet.

"You stole it?!" they screamed.

Jellal just turned around and resumed walking "Now for whatever reason would I do that" he said with a chuckle, though that did little to ease his friends. They gave each other suspicious looks and followed the blue haired man.

"So, how do we find this river that'll lead us to the statue?" Gray asked holding on to the new map while Jellal held on the old one.

"As Gajeel said, 200 years is a long time, anything could've happened. If the river did 'vanish', as Natsu put it, the most logical explanation is that the river dried up. Even so, there should be evidence to where the water used to flow." Jellal answered.

"Like the Grand Canyon?" Natsu asked

"Exactly, though probably not as grand, at least a deep ditch or canal" Jallal said

"And if it didn't dry up then an earth quake would be the next guess" Gajeel gave his opinion, surprisingly he wasn't complaining anymore.

"Right" the bluenette said glad that they were using their heads for once.

"Enough with the geology quiz!" Natsu's head was hurting from thinking too much. The pinkette then took the other map out of Gray's hands.

"Hey!" Gray irritated at the teen's behavior "I'm surprised you knew it was geology"

"Are you insulting me?! Ice Bastard"

"What if I am? Flame Head!"

"Shut up! Both of you!" Jellal yelled grabbing the map from Natsu. So much for using their heads. Gajeel snickered. "And what are you laughing at?" the bluenette glared at the delinquent looking guy daring him to make another sound. Gajeel just shrugged his shoulders and looked away.

"Now" Jellal folded the old map and tucked it inside his jacket brought out a highlighter and drew a line across the other map.

"What are you doing?" Gray asked

"Marking where the river's supposed to be. I don't want to damage the other one. You did say it's an antique, did you not?" Jellal said "I've memorized the old one anyway" he added.

"You've memorized it?" Natsu asked awestruck "Even the weird writing?" he saw the strange squiggly lines, he thought were words on the yellow paper, it was practically alien to him.

"It was just an earlier version of the language we use today"

"Are you sure it's alright to mark this?" Gajeel wondered taking the map from Jellal, looking at the red line which supposedly marks the river. He doubt the people, where Jellal got the map, would be happy if they returned it with a red line written on it. There are very few maps of the forest, it wasn't a tourist spot.

"Yes, they said I could have it" Jellal snatched the piece of paper from Gajeel and started walking again. The guys shook their heads and stared following him. And deeper into the forest they went.

About 1,000 words... I decided dividing the chapters for every 500-700 words, more or less, but this chapter wouldn't look right if I did that. I debated whether I would end it here or throw in the suppose to be next chapter, as you can see I chose the former. So expect a short chapter next time.