Things were about to get nasty as Fairyndian warriors from the neighboring villages rowed their canoes towards the main village, with Makarov's grandson, Laxus Dreyar, leading the charge. Two Fairyndians, Alzack Connell and Max Alors, saw the warriors' canoes on top of a large fence.

"The warriors are here!" Alzack announced. The villagers crowded around the shore to greet the warriors who can help them fight the newcomers. Erza arrived and looked on with lingering concerns. She was worried that a full-blown war between the Fairyndians and the Fiore settlers is inevitable, and many would die unless a peaceful solution was found.

Makarov helped Laxus out of his canoe and greeted, "Welcome, Laxus. Fancy meeting you here, boy."

Laxus asked, "What seems to be the problem, Grandpa? Are the Phantowomecks striking again?"

Makarov shook his head, "No, we have a new enemy. They are strange beasts with bodies that shine like the sun, and they use magic different from ours."

Laxus confirmed, "Magic different from ours? Huh, this battle's gonna be tougher than I thought. We're gonna need to work extra hard if we're gonna take out those new punks with no sweat."

Makarov nodded, "Agreed, Grandson. Let us gather our brothers and prepare our strategy." He placed his arm around Laxus's shoulder and walked off.

Erza tried to blend in with the crowd to speak to Makarov, but Lucy caught her. She questioned, "Erza, are you crazy?! What were you doing with one of them?!"

"There you are!" a voice interrupted. Erza turned around to see Simon coming up to her.

"Simon," Erza said.

Simon placed his hand on Erza's shoulder, motioning to the assembled warriors. He said proudly, "Look at them. Now we have enough warriors to destroy those demons!"

Unfortunately, Erza wasn't buying that. She knew the Fiore settlers weren't as dangerous as they think they are; they only attacked the Fairyndians because the settlers thought they're planning to attack them.

Makarov and Laxus turned and faced the crowd. Makarov announced, "Now that we are joined by our brothers, we will defeat this enemy." After this, he dismissed the villagers, before he and his grandson left for the Chief's hut.

More worried than ever, Erza left Simon's side. Most likely, she would try to say something to her father involving the Fiore settlers. She joined Makarov and Laxus, "Father, I need to speak with you."

Makarov put up his hand, "Not now, my daughter. The council is gathering."

"Hey, is that your daughter?" Laxus asked, noticing Erza. "You go ahead and talk with her. I'll be at the hut if you need us." He then entered the hut.

Makarov nodded, "I understand, Laxus."

Erza said to Makarov, "Father, we don't have to fight them. There must be a better way to settle this."

Makarov replied, "Erza, sometimes our paths are chosen for us."

Erza tried to reason with her father, "But maybe we should try talking to them."

Makarov shook his head, "They do not want to talk."

Erza stopped him, "But if one of them did want to talk, you would listen to him, wouldn't you?"

Makarov started, "Erza…"

"Wouldn't you?!" Erza cried desperately. It looks like she didn't want her village to go to war with the settlers. Of course, Makarov wasn't all war and violence; he also listens to reason. Perhaps, if one of the settlers were to speak with him…

"Of course I would, child. But it's not that simple," Makarov said regretfully. "Nothing is simple anymore."

He entered the hut to join the council. Erza just stood there, fearing that the battle will start anytime. She was now determined more than ever to meet Sting later tonight and find a way to stop this madness.

At the woods, Sting continued walking back to the Sabertooth settlement, not knowing that Millianna was following him. As they walked, the female cat heard a snapping sound and saw Shô, tired, panting, and messed up with several twigs around his body. This indicated that the poor dog had been lost in the woods for so long.

"Losing health units… These woods… aren't like nothing I've ever seen…" Shô wheezed. Later, he saw Millianna. His tired state soon became angry upon seeing the one who got him into this mess. "YOU!" Millianna made a run for it, a wildly barking Shô chasing her.

During the chase, Millianna ran inside a small log, and Shô followed, but the two ended up getting themselves stuck in the process; Shô at the bottom and Millianna at the top.

"GET ME OUTTA HERE! GET ME OUT!" Shô screamed, moving around awkwardly.

"Well, it's not my fault you got us stuck, Doggy-Woggy!" Millianna snapped.

The cat and the dog began pulling, trying to get themselves free from the log. Shô then stood up, lifting the log. However, Millianna spotted a branch overhead and grabbed it, allowing her to get herself free from the log and safely land on Sting's shoulder.

Millianna smiled cheerfully, "Thanks, Mr. Grumpy Canine! You can keep the log as my token of friendship!" She waved, leaving the trapped dog behind.

As Millianna and Sting left, Shô was still trapped inside the log and fell on the ground. He yelled out, his frustrated voice echoing throughout the woods, "WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE, YOU'RE DEAD, YOU HEAR ME?! DEAD!"

At the Sabertooth settlement, there were men on patrol, keeping an eye out for any Fairyndians. Rogue, on the other hand, was doing his job very carefully. He didn't want to fail Governor Minerva again, like he did last time during the first Fairyndian conflict.

When he heard a snapping twig, Rogue turned around in the speed of lightning. "Shadow Dragon's—" Before he would cast the spell, he saw Sting, much to his surprise.

"Whoa!" Sting exclaimed. "Easy, Rogue. It's me."

"Whoops!" Millianna hid herself inside Sting's bag to avoid being seen by Rogue.

Rogue sighed in relief, "Oh, Sting. I could've killed you."

Sting chuckled, "With you aiming like that? Dream on!" He pointed to a direction to help Rogue set his aim, "The first thing you gotta do is to keep both eyes open when you cast your Dragon Slayer spells. That way, you'll see twice as well. That's a lesson I learned from Weisslogia." He patted Rogue on the back.

Rogue rubbed his chin, "That's strange. Skiadrum never told me that before."

Sting grinned, "He probably didn't. I might as well be the first to tell you."

"Sting!" a multitude of voices cried out. The young man in question turned to see Lector, Rufus, and Orga running to him. They were relieved to see their crewmate safe and sound.

"Sting!" Lector cried happily, flying with his wings and hugging Sting on the stomach. "Sting, where have you been?"

Sting rubbed his head nervously, "Well, Lector… Um… How should I explain this?"

Lector shook his head and smiled, "It doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're back with us. Next time, could you please bring me along? You can't fight Fairyndians without your best friend backing you up."

Sting smiled back, "Sure. Why would I forget about you?"

Rufus said, "We were so worried about you, Sting."

Orga nodded, "Yeah. Lector and I have been looking all over for you."

"EUCLIFFE!"

Not everyone was happy for Sting, as a furious Minerva emerged from her tent, followed by Yukino. "Where have you been?"

Sting greeted, "Oh, Milady. I figured you'd show up."

"I asked you a question, Eucliffe!" Minerva silenced him. "Where have you been? Where were you when those Fairyndians brazenly attacked the settlement out of nowhere?!"

Sting calmed her down, "Relax, Milady. I was just out, scouting the terrain."

Minerva's expression turned firm, as she nodded, "Excellent. I was hoping for that news. Then you must know the Fairyndians' whereabouts. We'll need that information for the upcoming battle."

Sting was alarmed. "What battle?"

Minerva declared, "We will eliminate those savages once and for all."

Sting protested, "No! You can't do that!" He raised a finger as a warning.

"Oh?" Minerva glared at Sting. "And why not?"

Sting explained, "Look, we don't have to fight them."

Rogue asked, surprised, "Sting, what's gotten into you?"

Lector pointed out, "You were eager to hunt down Fairyndians as much as we are. And all of a sudden, you were against that idea?"

Sting answered, "Long story short, I met one of them."

Rufus exclaimed, "You what?!"

Lector asked, shocked, "You, my best friend? You met a Fairyndian, of all people?"

Rogue asked in concern, "A savage?"

Sting denied, "They're not savages! They can help us. They know the land. They know how to navigate the rivers." Millianna handed him the corn out of the bag. He took it and showed it to everyone. "And look, it's food!"

Orga asked puzzled, "Uh, what's that?"

"Corn, duh," Sting rolled his eyes. "At least it's better than hardtack and gruel, that's for sure."

Lector pointed out, "I like gruel."

Orga added, "I like hardtack."

Yukino shook her head, "I don't like hardtack and gruel."

Minerva have had enough. "They don't want to feed us, you idiots!" she exclaimed. She grabbed the corn from Sting's hand and threw it to the ground, "They want to kill us! ALL of us! They've got our gold, and they'll do anything to keep it!"

Sting yelled, "But there is no gold!"

"No… gold?" Rufus asked in surprise. He and his fellow settlers signed up for this journey, only to spend days digging the ground for nothing?

Minerva smirked in amusement, "Oh, I see. I suppose your little Fairyndian friend told you this?"

"Yes," Sting answered.

"Lies! LIES! ALL OF IT!" Minerva exploded, refusing to believe Sting. "Murderous thieves! There's no room for their kind in civilized society."

Sting protested angrily, "But this is their land!"

"This is MY land!" Minerva snapped back. "I make the laws here. And I say anyone who so much looks at a Fairyndian without killing him on sight, will be tried for treason… and hanged!"

Minerva and Sting glared at each other. This was not going to end well.