Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima-sensei! I only own the plot!

It took the train a day and a couple hours to reach the city in which the Magic Council was located in. The two woke up at the soft screech of the brakes and the noise from the other passengers and the people that were waiting to board onto the train. The knight opened her eyes slowly, her beautiful chocolate-brown eyes adjusting to the sunlight streaming in through a window that she and Gray had forgotten to close last night before they went to sleep. Stretching slowly and swiftly standing up, the mage went over to her companion, who was still sleeping.

She couldn't help but smile softly as she took in his appearance: he was sitting with his arms crossed, and his head was facing the side, his mouth slightly open, and his breathing was soft and even. His face bore a peaceful look to it; his eyebrows weren't bunched up together like he was glaring at the world. Almost, - hey, she almost! - regretting what she was supposed to do, she took him by the shoulders and gave him a small shake, causing him to whine in response.

"Gray, we have to get off the train. We're at the city."

"Nooo~! I don' wannaaaaaaa," he whined, his eyes still closed. "It's not 7:30 yet!"

"Gray, it's nearly 8:30."

"Just five more minnuu- Wait, it's almost 8:30, you say?!"

With that, he sat up instantly, his eyes flying open as he frantically looked around, whipping his head from side to side to take in his surroundings. Confusion flitted across his face for a moment before he realized where he was. "Oh, right! I'm on a mission with you, Erza! I seem to have forgotten..?" he chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly and refusing to meet her gaze.

The knight was confused on the ice wizard's behavior, to put it bluntly. Deciding to shrug it off, she walked over to the door of their compartment. "Gray, the train is leaving back to Magnolia in three minutes. I suggest you gather your belongings and meet me outside, on the platform." And, just like that, she walked out, closing the door softly behind her, leaving Gray all alone to gather up his things.

He let out a sigh of relief once she left, thinking,'Wow, that was a close one!' As he stood up and stretched, just as the knight had done prior, he gathered up his belongings, all the while with thoughts about his childhood crush and how it wasn't fair that he had been the one that was chosen to go on this mission. Sure, he couldn't bear the idea of Natsu or any other guild member taking his place (unless they were far more fitted at this than he was), but he just simply was too tired these days.

And, to be quite honest, missions seemed more like a chore rather than something that he was supposed to enjoy. Before he got bombarded with emergency requests and having to take a mission a day (sometimes even more!) to help the Fairy Tail guild with the sheer number of requests, he enjoyed them a lot. Sure, in the beginning when he was bombarded with missions, he also enjoyed them, but after a while, it just got...

Boring.

You know, it's like that feeling of having to do the same thing, over and over and over again every single day. Sure, the missions ranged from fixing a broken water pipe to slaying a beast to defeating a band of dark wizards/guilds, but it just simply wasn't enough. Honestly, though he was in Team Natsu (well, technically, he is in Team Natsu, however he'd always thought and preferred thought of himself/to be seen as a solo mage; without a team and independently cool), he absolutely loathed it when people requested specifically to have him and Natsu for a quest, just simply to see the two famous mages together.

I mean, what would be more fitting?

There's a powerful fire wizard in the same guild as a powerful ice wizard.

Of course people paired them up.

And all because of the elements that make up their magic, too.

Gray sighed as he slung his bag over his shoulder and swiftly walked out, a slightly sour expression on his face as he internally ranted his thoughts.

Sure, he had absolutely nothing against Natsu; he had saved the ice mage's life a couple of times and was his best friend, even if they both just simply wouldn't admit it. His expression turned into a rueful grin as he remembered all the mischief that he and Natsu had gotten into together, smiling at the rather fond memories, though he would never admit it out loud, as that would damage his pride beyond repair.

Stepping off the train and spotting Erza (via her red hair, armor, stern expression, and not to mention, the enormous cartload of luggage that she was carrying with her person) he pushed through the throng of people waiting for trains, loved ones, et cetera, and stopped by her. She didn't say anything, however arched an eyebrow at the time that it took him to exit the train.

Cocking her head and indicating him to follow her, she cleared a pathway in the sea of people, as they made way for her load of suitcases and other miscellaneous items, he quickly followed after her, often having to quicken his pace as people recognized him and the red-head, either by Erza's Fairy Tail symbol, proudly shining in the sunlight or their appearance.

As they left the train station unharmed (which surprised him greatly, as they had such a hard time moving in the building; they just simply could not shake off their fans. Of course he had nothing against them; it's just that they're so smothering at times. Maybe they were scared off because of Erza's intimidating aura/glare? Who knows? Some things are better left unanswered, he shuddered inwardly, imagining the red-head's ferocious glare) and made their way slowly up the hill that the Magic Council inhabited.

After a few hours of their long and tedious trek up the mountain, they finally arrived in front of the Magic Council.

Let the mission begin.

Hey guys! I'm so sorry for leaving every chapter as a cliffhanger! But I really have to work on my homework and, not to mention, my super sucky SAO story on Quotev. Sorry for ranting in this chapter, and as an apology, I'll definitely update more often and next chapter I'll not write only 1,000 words, but I'll write 2,000(not including the author's notes here)! See you next chapter!