"Uurrrrgh…" Lucy groaned, rubbing her head as she woke up. She sat up and immediately noticed the area around her. The sky was clear and the ground was misty but white and floofy. She scanned her surroundings to see if everyone was alright.
"Looks like you came through as well." Erza appeared standing behind her, spooking Lucy a little. Erza pulled out a hand and Lucy grabbed it, helping her up.
"Thanks, so did we make it?" Lucy asked. Erza then turned her gaze to the right as Lucy followed it. There they could see what appears to be a town up ahead, a bit a ways away.
"Despite our mishap, we were able to make it it seems."
"Ah, that's good, where's everyone else?"
"AAAAHHHH!" Screamed Natsu, who was slightly up ahead frantically looking all over. "HAPPY'S MISSING! WHERE ARE YOU BUDDY?!"
"Keep it down moron!" Gray scolded, he was standing by him with his shirt already off. "What if someone sees us?!"
"I imagine we've already made a big scene with that explosion." Jellal said, appearing as if he was struggling to move. Erza walked over to him and held him by his shoulder.
"You've exhausted yourself, get some rest." Erza said, Jellal smiled warmly back. Chelia then walked over nervously.
"Um, I don't see Carla anywhere…"
"Now that you mention it…" Lucy scanned the area again. "I don't see Gajeel, Sting and Rogue either…"
"It appears we've gotten separated." Jellal sighed "This may be bad, I should've expected something like this to happen." Natsu and Gray walked over joining the rest of the group.
"I think we can assume the others are at least together. Knowing them they're all probably ok." Gray reassured. Lucy then felt a large wind of coldness shiver through her body, she held her body tight trying to keep herself warm.
"H-hey g-guys? I-isn't it a l-little cold here?!" Lucy shivered, the rest of the group looked at her in confusion.
"What're you talking about? I'm not cold at all." Puzzled Natsu.
"Yeah, I think it's just you. You *are* dressing lightly." Gray replied, now his pants were missing.
"He says with no clothes on…" Lucy mumbled. "Well it's unbearable up here!"
"I guess it makes sense." Erza said "We are several feet in the air." Lucy then took out one of her celestial keys.
"Open, gate of the Maiden. Virgo!" Lucy summoned, a pink haired maid appeared. She was bowing towards Lucy.
"You called, princess?" She asked.
"I-I need s-s-some warm clo-oths please!" Lucy shivered violently.
"C-can I h-have some too?" Chelia asked, also shivering.
"Of course." Virgo bowed before a small dressing curtain appeared. "There's some warm clothes in here, feel free to change."
"Thank you Virgo!" Lucy thanked before running inside the curtains.
A couple minutes later both Lucy and Sheila were wearing fur coats, gloves and boots. "Ah, they're so warm!" Lucy hugged herself feeling the warmth.
"Does that mean pu-"
"Ok you can go now, thank you Virgo!" Lucy interrupted before force releasing Virgo back to the spirit world.
"We've wasted enough time." Gray impatiently says. "We better head towards that town, hopefully we'll come across the others there."
"Indeed." Jellal agreed. "We should hurry, who knows when someone will investigate this area." Everyone nodded in agreement as they made their way towards the town in the distance.
"C'mon guys, you gotta try this stuff!" Sting suggested, stuffing his face full of meat.
"...No thanks, I'm not hungry." Rogue declined.
The other group were sitting in the bar at a large table, them being Sting, Rogue, Gajeel, Happy and Carla. They were being watched by several other townsfolk. Sting was the only one eating so he could regain his energy.
"Uh, are you sure you guys are ok? You all crashed down pretty hard…" The waiter said.
"Oh yeah, just a flying accident. No biggie." Gajeel reassured. Carla, currently still in her human form, was pinching her nose in frustration.
"I can't believe these disguises are actually working…" She mumbled. She then shot her head up and yelled out "Okay, can you guys stop watching us please?!" Shortly after the townsfolk went their separate ways, leaving the group alone.
"Heh heh, infiltration successful…" Happy spoke quietly. "Although, I hope Natsu and the others are okay…"
"Salamander and the others are fine, a simple mishap like that won't cause any damage." Gajeel smirked.
"Well what is our course of action now?" Rogue asked. "We never were given a rundown on the plan."
"I thimk we smould-"
"Finish chewing first, Sting."
Sting swallowed his food before speaking "I think we should try to find the others first, hopefully they're not too far."
"Why don't we just bust in that big looking cast-" Carla ran up and covered Gajeel's mouth.
"Be quiet you idiot! We're in a public area!"
Gajeel shoved Carla away from his face before rolling his eyes.
"That is the best course of action." Rouge agreed. "Let's stop wasting time and head out." Sting left some cash on the table as everyone got out of their seats. Then suddenly the doors slammed opened, revealing a large muscular man. Everyone's attention imminently turned towards him.
"Argus! Welcome back!" The bartender greeted the large man. "The usual?"
"HA HA HA" Argus boomed "Of course! You know your food is always the best!" The bartender smiled as they went towards the back to start on his order.
"Yo, that large guy. Think he's important looking?" Sting whispered. "Maybe he might have some information."
"Let's worry about that later" Carla whispered back. "We don't have time to waste." The others start to make their way towards the door. As the door was opened…
"HOLD IT!" Argus yelled out. The others looked towards him, he was giving a suspicious look as he pointed at the table where they ate.
"Ya think you lot can walk out without paying?!"
"Uh, I did pay." Sting reassured "Look, I left some jewel on the table."
Argus then went to the table and picked up the cash. "This paper stuff? Sorry pal but this ain't cutting it." He proceeds to rip the jewel in half.
"H-hey! What're you doing?!" Sting yelled out.
"This is bad…" Rogue whispered "We're already suspected."
Argus then walks up and points at Sting's face close enough where he leans back a bit. "I'm gonna assume you folk aren't around here. Am I right?!"
Everyone in the room had their attention at the scene Argus was making. Gajeel and Rogue started to raise their fists, prepared to fight. Happy was sweating profusely.
Then Argus started to pat Stings back.
"HA HA HA" Argus laughs out. "Well if that's the case, I'll take care of the pay!" He gives a thumbs up.
"Wha-"
"And hey! How about a drink? I'd love to get to know you guys!"
The group stood there confused as no one knew what to make of the situation. Until Carla spoke up.
"We really appreciate your kindness, sir. But we are actually in a hurry for something."
"Hurry for what?" Argus asked "Come now! Don't be a stranger, HA HA HA."
"We should take his offer, best to be as unsuspecting as possible." Rogue whispered. Gajeel rolled his eyes. "Tch."
"We don't have the time! We need to find out where Wendy is!" Carla whispered back.
"Say, you guys here because of the exciting news right? Come! I'll tell you all about it!" Argus announced.
"On second thought, we could spare some time to listen." Carla whispered.
"Aye." Happy replied.
Natsu's group continued to journey their way towards the city ahead.
"Argh, no good. I can't track any one of them." Natsu complained.
"Then the others must be farther ahead." Erza clarified. She was still helping Jellal walk.
"They must've landed somewhere in town." Jellal speculated.
"If they did then we're already in a bad spot." Gray fretted. "Who knows what kind of scene they'd make."
"I hope they're ok." Lucy prayed. Natsu then looked at Lucy with his trademark smile.
"Happy and the others are most definitely fine! They're all strong, plus I know they'll find a way to get out of any mess!"
Lucy smiled back at Natsu, he's right. She had faith in them that they'll be alright.
"Guys, look!" Sheila pointed towards the sky where three figures were. It appears they were flying towards the group.
Everyone looked up as the three figures landed in front of the group.
"Hold it right there!" The large one, Balrus shouted as he stood forward showcasing his authority.
"Already? This is bad…" Jellal murmured.
"We were given a report of a large explosion in the sky, were you guys the cause of it?!"
"Hmph, you catch on quick." Gray complimented sarcastically before he went into a fighting stance.
"So you *were* huh?!" Balrus glared at the group as they started to prepare for battle.
"We're going to need some information about you-"
"Balrus…" a voice in the distance said. "It's alright, leave them be."
Natsu tensed up as his nose was twitching. His head darted towards the direction of the voice before he grunted "It's him."
Everyone looked in the direction Natsu was looking when they saw Hahlos landing in front of the group.
"I didn't think we would meet again, especially this soon." Hahlos greeted.
"You!" Erza glared.
"Hey! Slant eyes! Tell us where Wendy is!" Natsu threatened, his fists enveloped in flames.
"Fire in his hands?"
"What's going on?"
"Master Hahlos sir! Who are these people?!"
The soldiers and Balrus said.
Hahlos then looked at the angel disguises the group was wearing before he scrunched his eyes suspiciously.
"I didn't know you were angels.
"He actually fell for it!" Lucy sputtered in her head.
"Lower your stances, I'm not here to fight." Hahlos put up his hands. "I can only see nothing but a waste of time if we clash."
Natsu growled at him before Erza walked up and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Erza?" Natsu looked at Erza.
"So you already saw us coming then?" Erza asked.
"I mean you made quite a scene with that explosion. I would've been here earlier if I wasn't preoccupied with the Sky Maiden."
Erza gave Hahlos her signature intimidating look. "Wendy, is she ok? What do you need from her?"
"Do not worry about your friend, she is currently napping in the castle. She is not hurt. You can choose to believe me or not." Hahlos reassured. "As for what we need from her, she is going to help us with a serious problem." Erza was going to ask, then...
"Y-you! Give her back!" Sheila interrupted, running towards Hahlos. Lucy grabbed her hand as Sheila tried to get out of Lucy's grip.
"Sheila stop! Don't get near him!"
"But he's the one who took Wendy!"
"You will see her again in due time. She isn't our prisoner." Hahlos folded his arms behind his back.
"Wha-" Natsu went wide eyed.
"You serious?" Gray was the next to speak.
"You cannot see her right now, we cannot afford too much noise in the castle." Hahlos clarified "and we can't have her in town as she'll gain too much attention."
"You're telling us the truth right?" Sheila asked, giving puppy eyes.
"To prove I'm not lying." He walks over and puts what appears to be blue coins on Erza's hand. "This is our currency, you can use it at our inn."
Erza scanned the blue coins. "Coins? You don't use jewel huh…"
Hahlos then stepped back and gave the group a bow. "We humbly welcome you to our home, Exahelm. We are a peaceful country and I hope you enjoy your stay."
The group still looked at Hahlos with distrust, but it was for the best to accept his offer for now.
"Balrus, you and the soldiers head back to your quarters, I'll let Stark know what you've found." Hahlos ordered.
"Of course master Hahlos sir!" Balrus saluted "thank you kindly!" After that, they flew off towards town. Hahlos then looked back at the group with a smile.
"I'll let you go now. Apologies for before, I hope you can understand."
The group watched as Hahlos started to walk away, before he stopped for a moment. "Oh right, one last thing." He then turned his head back and he gave a threatening look. "Like I said, we are a peaceful country. If you do *anything* to threaten that peace. There will be, serious consequences." He then flew off, leaving the group stunned.
"Jeez, what's with him?" Lucy sighed as her entire body shivered from fear.
"Serious consequences…" Jellal pondered. "What does he mean…"
"Ah!" Sheila realized. "I'm sorry! I just realized we didn't ask what the problem was!"
Erza then clenched her fist holding the coins before sighing. "Let's not worry about that right now. We should find the inn and try to relocate with the others first."
Everyone gave agreeable grunts before they all continued towards town.