Without any new information about Tranquil Mind or their actions, everything has been going normal. Natsu and Happy were on their way to the guild.

"So Happy, what are you in the mood for to eat?" Natsu asked.

"Fish, of course." Happy said. Both of them were on their way when they saw Gajeel and Levy with Panther Lily coming out. "Gajeel, Levy, Lily! Are you all heading out for a job?"

"Yeah. Apparently Jet and Droy ran into some trouble." Levy said.

"So we need to bust them out." Gajeel said.

"It's always wise to help a comrade in need." Panther Lily said.

"Boy, those guys really are a handful." Natsu said as he was about to continue to the guild.

"Hold on, Natsu. Master is looking for you. I think he has something planned for you." Levy said.

"What?! What does he know?" Natsu said as he was acting nervous.

"I…don't know what you're talking." Levy said.

"Come on. Let's just get it over with." Happy said and Natsu didn't seem thrilled. The three of them just left things at that and went on ahead. Natsu and Happy went straight for Makarov's office.

"Look, Gramps…." Natsu was about to address his problem, but he saw Erza standing there as well.

"About time, Natsu." Erza said.

"Erza? What's going on?" Natsu said.

"I have another job for you Natsu and Erza is here to help. This involves Tranquil Mind." Makarov said.

"Now we're talking!" Natsu said as they got his full attention. "So what's going on?

"We were able to get some information out of the bandit chief you captured the other day." Makarov said. "Apparently, he and his men were on their way to a forest area south from here. They thought they might have found a spirit orb there."

"What?! So the spirit orb has already been taken?!" Natsu said.

"No. Just as they were about to begin their search, they thought we already found the orb and fell into our trap." Makarov said.

"So if they were searching in the right spot…" Erza stated.

"…the spirit orb must still be there." Happy finished.

"If that's the case, we better find it fast." Makarov said.

"Absolutely. We can't let them get their hands on the orb." Makarov said. "I've already asked for a little help from Sabertooth. Work with the two members from Sabertooth and find that orb."

"You got it. Let's go, Erza!" Natsu said.

"Right." Erza agreed.

…

The Forest

Erza and Natsu headed south to the forest to find the spirit orb. They headed for a meeting area to join with the two wizards from Sabertooth.

"This is the area where we're suppose to meet the Sabertooth wizards." Erza said. Natsu had a look around, but didn't see anyone anywhere.

"There's no one here." Natsu said.

"Did we get the meeting time wrong?" Happy asked.

"That can't be it." Erza said. They tried to wonder where their partners are suppose to be, but they heard someone walk up behind them. They both turned around and saw it was Sting.

"Sting! So you're one of the guys we're working with." Natsu said.

"Yeah." Sting said, but something seemed strange. He didn't sound like his energetic usual self.

"Thanks for coming to help us. These guys from Tranquil Mind are a little tricky." Natsu said.

"No problem. Let's get searching for the orb" Sting said. Natsu was a little annoyed because Sting sounded like he was just moping around.

"What's the matter with you?" Natsu asked. That was just about when Erza thought something was wrong.

"Hold on. Where's the other member of your guild?" Erza said. "And where's Lector? Aren't you two usually together?"

"He'll join us in a little bit." Sting said. "Let's just start searching for the orb."

"What about the other member of your guild?" Erza said. "Did you think I was talking about Lector? You should know what I was really talking about if you're the real thing."

"What are you talking about?" Happy asked. Sting jumped up and tried a roundhouse kick, but Natsu and Erza jumped back and avoided his attack.

"What are you doing, man?" Natsu asked.

"The real Sting is tough, but this one is obviously a fake." Erza said.

"A fake? That can't be right. He has Sting's scent." Natsu said.

"We'll talk later. Here he comes." Erza said. The fake Sting went right in for an attack and went after Natsu. Natsu tried to hit him, but he jumped over Natsu and kicked him in the back. Natsu turned around to face him, but was met with a kick to the jaw.

"Fake or not, this guy is tough. Are you sure he's not the real Sting?" Natsu said.

"Certain." Erza said as she pulled out dual swords. She charged right at the imposter, but he grabbed ahold of both her arms and stopped her attack. That didn't stop Erza as she banged her head against him and gave him a strong kick that pushed him down.

"Go, Erza!" Happy cheered, but the fake got up like it was nothing. "Oh man. Natsu was right. This guy is pretty tough."

"Natsu, don't get discouraged. Haven't you noticed? He isn't using any of his Dragon Slayer Magic." Erza said.

"Yeah! Since he's really a fake, I don't need to hold back." Natsu said as he had flames burning around his fists. "Fire Dragon Wing Attack." Natsu unleashed a whirlwind of fire, but the fake Sting was able to dodge each of the fire.

"Flight Armor!" Erza requipped her armor and struck the fake. She used the increase of her speed and hit him multiple times.

"I've got him!" Natsu said as he reached out and grabbed a hold of his chest. "Fire Dragon Grip Strike!" He unleashed an explosion of fire that knocked the enemy down. Erza requipped into her original armor and the fake was knocked down.

"I guess that's that." Happy said, but he was wrong as the fake stood back on his feet. "No way! He can keep getting up?"

"I know the real sting is tough, but this is getting nuts." Natsu said.

"He just doesn't know when to quit." Erza said.

"Let's see your true identity already." Natsu said as he was fed up with the façade. Just then, a blast of white light came from behind them and blasted through the fake. The blast revealed to be one of Tranquil Mind's puppets under the effects of Transformation Magic and was wearing Sting's vest. They looked behind them and saw the real Sting with Lector.

"This is my true identity." Sting said.

"How's it going?" Lector said as Sting walked over and got his vest.

"Sting! Wait, you're the real thing this time, right?" Natsu said.

"Of course it's me. Is all that fire ruining your eyesight?" Sting said.

"Yep. That's the real him alright." Happy said.

"Hi!" They looked to see Rogue and Frosch came as well.

"Sorry we're late." Rogue said. "We were on our way here when we were intercepted by Tranquil Mind's puppets."

"That's when the fake met up with us." Erza said. "If we have been searching with him, he might have slowed us down. If we also would have found the orb first, he could have snatched it from us. That must have been the angle they were playing."

"Still…I never would have thought he was a fake." Natsu said. "He sounded so normal and he had Sting's scent."

"Didn't Rogue tell you? They have a transmitter that allows them to project someone's voice." Sting said.

"Yeah and besides, there's only one Sting." Lector said.

"They must have known Natsu could tell he was a fake by scent so they took Sting's vest to have Natsu believe he was real." Erza said. "Either way, he didn't ACT normal at all."

"Yeah, Natsu. I can't believe you almost fell for it." Happy said.

"You almost fell for it too!" Natsu said with rage. While they were arguing, Rogue felt a gust of wind blow by and had a faint scent on it.

"What's wrong, Rogue?" Frosch asked.

"That gust of wind. It had a small scent of dirt on it like something was being dug up." Rogue said.

"The bandits or Tranquil Mind! It must be an excavation team searching for the orb." Erza said.

"We better hurry. They might have already found it." Lector said.

"Let's go!" Sting said as they all started running to get to the orb before it was too late. All of them were on their way when a squad of those bandits appeared.

"This is going to be a drag." Rogue complained.

"Don't make me laugh. I can't break through anything!" Natsu said.

"Let's put that to the test!" Sting said as all of them attacked. Sting jumped up and kicked a few of them down.

"Purgatory Armor!" Erza requipped her armor again. She swung her spiked mace and unleash a powerful force that knocked some of them down. Rogue used his shadow form and moved from one bandit to the next and knocked each one of them down.

"Out of our way!" Natsu shouted as he unleashed a powerful blast of fire that knocked them down.

"Hey!" Lector called out as he and the others used Aera. "I think we might have them with orb. They're just ahead."

"Hurry!" Rogue said as they tried to catch up. A little further ahead was another group of bandits, but the team was able to catch up to them.

"Hold it!" Erza said as she tossed a sword in front of them to stop the bandits.

"Whoa! Is that it?!" Happy said as they was one of the bandits holding a blue orb the size of a beach ball.

"They actually got it!" Natsu said. The bandits continue to make a run for it instead of fighting.

"We better track them down before they get too far." Sting said as they were about to keep going, but another set of bandits came in their way.

"Darn it. Get out of our way!" Natsu said.

"We don't have time for this." Erza said. "Natsu, you're with me. Sting and Rogue, you go after the orb."

"These bandits

"Got it!" Sting said. He and Rogue jumped over the bandits and continued on foot. They were about to go after the two, but Erza pulled out her fire sword and used the fire to stop them.

"You're not going anywhere." Erza said.

"Lector and Frosch, you go too. Even I can fight these guys." Happy said.

"Oh man. They must be pushovers if even Happy can fight them." Lector said.

"I think so too." Frosch said as they followed their friends.

"Ready or not, here we come." Natsu said and in almost no time, Erza and Natsu was able to beat the last of the bandits. "That's that. Let's go join the others."

"No. I don't think there's much left for us to do." Erza said. "I'm confident they won't let us down."

…

The Guild

With there being nothing else they can do, Erza and Natsu headed back to the guild and informed Makarov of everything that has happened.

"I see. So you couldn't stop them from getting away with the orb." Makarov said.

"But Sting and Rogue are tracking them down." Natsu said.

"I'm willing to bet the bandits will hide out until they can meet up with Tranquil Mind." Erza said. "If that's true, we can sneak into their base and steal it."

"I see." Makarov said. "Be ready for when Sabertooth contacts us. We can't afford to lose that orb to Tranquil Mind." One shot left and it all comes down to getting that orb.

Next Time: Invade the Fort

AN: Seriously, just one person leave just one review. Is that too much to ask for?