The snows storm seemed to follow after them, the icy winds biting into them as they reached the cities walls, winds howling behind them as the city watch rushed to shut the gates in their wake. The team slowly trudging through the snow onward toward the first Inn to their left. The Polar Paradise. The inns large three story structure dwarfed the small shops and market stalls that remained closed either side of it, the dark sky hailed with thunder and cracks of pure energy arcing across it. The early morning bite still in the air as they approached the large oak doors that gave way to the generous entrance hall inside. The group marching through, cold, wet, soaked in melting snow, despite all this, Gray being an ice wizard remained unaffected whilst the others shivered and shook from the freeze. Gray turned his gaze toward the fire place as the inn keeper hearing the entering of someone rushed out, blankets in one hand, his other held the handle of a large brass Vat, behind him a maid with two jug's of what Gray assumed where hot water. The Inn keeper hurriedly gesturing to the lounge as he handed each Wizard a warm blanket. Gray shaking his head as he follows after the rest. Looking upon the frigid mages, half a chuckle escapes him through a grin the site of Erza's unamused face, teeth chattering showing that this woman was not impervious to the cold winds of the far north, her whole body shaking, made the ice wizard forget the situation for a moment, taking a moment to laugh at the site. "Happy begins to ball himself in the blanket, sneezing as he does, Lucy and Natsu's frozen feet soaking up the warm water that filled the brass vat as the Inn keeper disappeared again for a few moments, returning with coffee and some bowls of soup. The adventurous group of hero's reduced to a frigid and sneezing display of sickness.

"What are you smirking at Gray, just because you are impervious to the cold, does not mean you have the right to laugh at those who aren't." She scowls deeply as Natsu, happy, and Lucy follow the gaze and action, a scowling battery of un amusement that just made Gray laugh even harder. Eventually recovering his form he looks upon the group as they eat their soup, Natsu not being one to even recognize the word *manners* slurped up the soup as loudly as possible, shovelling the odd piece of food into his mouth as he went. Lucy and Erza continued to shiver as they ate in a more dignified manner. Gray paced toward the nearest window that looked up at the fort, the sight dominating the town and building they stayed in.

"He's watching us, this creep is probably having a great time up there, watching us play his game..." his voice was agitated, glare angry, his eyes fixed on the tower that rose above the forts high outer walls.

"Stay calm Gray. There isn't anything we can do right now." Erza says as she continues to eat, the winds howling at the sides of the Inn. Gray sighing as he turned away, dark eyes turning to her for a moment, before huffing, walking off.

"Gray, Gray, GRAY!" Erza called but he just continued going, ignoring her. Erza bit her own lip, suppressing her anger. She struck a few locks of her crimson hair from her face, tired, half frozen, she was over the night and all to ready to rest.

"Erza? Everything okay?" The warrior was brought back to the couch as the blonde wizard tapped her on the armored shoulder, brown eyes set on Erza Lucy seemed a little worried.

"Erza, are you okay" she asked again, she seemed to be recovered from her freezing adventure, the blonde not wanting to tempt fate by touching Erza.

"It's just Gray, he's not normally like this, and when he is, he can be unpredictable and that's all we need right now, we have a list of monsters to deal with before we can turn our attention to this villain straight away. I fear without me here he would've just gone and got himself captured or killed already." she sighs as the warrior stands slowly.

"We all need sleep, I'll deal with Gray tomorrow, for now, you two need to focus on re energizing, I'll see you both in the morning." Erza nods as she makes her way toward her own room, sighing heavily she shakes her head.

"What am I going to do with you Gray. You need to learn to control your temper." she shook her head, pushing her door open, the warrior walking in to a dark room, strange she hadn't blown out the candle, maybe it had extinguished itself, she shrugged, too tired to care, so tired in fact, that her senses where impaired to the point where she didn't notice the other breath in the room. crashing into her bed, face hitting the pillows she sighs, eyes closing as she begins to drift off, before turning, realizing something was off.

"What the-" she never finished the sentence as a red robed figure darts forward, the small girl slamming a fist against Erza's nose as the redhead recoils, the sudden shimmer of light as ice crystals begin to for around Erza, the warrior recoiling from her attack she begins to realize what is happening.

"No, NO, NOO!" she calls out but the small figure slams its palm against her nose again, blood bursting from her nostrils, such strength and yet the girls figure was small, Erza began to feel the cold take her as ice crystals begin to imprison her, another figure steps from the darkness, a towering man plated in violet armor, helmet hiding his face from her.

"The show master sends his regards warrior Erza, he would like to inform you you will be staying with us in the fortress now, as the next act commences.

"The small girl continues, realizing she was the one as the ice magic continues to cocoon the drained wizard.

"You will be quite safe, but the show master is tired of all this going around, he wants to make the show more interesting, so we will see how well your friends do at the palace without you." the small girl in the red hood, familiar voice.

"N-no, you, the one who-" Erza's words where frozen, stopped as the ice finished cocooning the warrior. The large armored man picking up the frozen block from the bed, as the little red hooded girl produces a letter from her cloak, placing it on the bed. the writing scrawled on it read "To the heroes'."

"Let us leave." the girl spoke as she turned, flicking her red cloak a portal emerged before them, sparkling as white as a diamond, the two breaching it as they pass through, the Portal vanishing afterward.

The dark room glimmered brightly from the mirrors shining projection, the show master clapping his hands together. The figure sitting back in his chair.

"and now the real show begins, ladies and gentlemen, boy's and girl's take your seats, the next act is about to begin. he said, his cackling filling the room as the image of Erza's frozen form displays brightly within the mirror.

Note from the writer:

Sorry for the longer wait for this chapter, was experiencing writers block and I have been feeling unwell lately. Do not worry though I will be hopefully releasing at a more steady rate again soon, this past week has just been really hard on me. I want to thank those that have been supporting me and those that belive my work is worth the time to read, stay tuned and again, thank you all. :)