"Mira-nee, I'm so tired!" Lisanna complained, trudging down the hill while she fanned herself with her hand. Mira only smiled and giggled at her sister's words. Elfman then hoisted Lisanna up onto his shoudler. This reacted a scream from the white haired mage, but she then sighed from the pressure off her knees. "Thanks a bunch Elfman!" Lisanna cried.

"Carrying your sister is man!" Elfamn shouted, running down the mountain and passed the scorcer weekly model. The wind blew in the white haired mage's face, but Mira only giggled and watched her sister scream. How she really missed their family outings. She started to run too, wanting to catch up with her little siblings. They needed to focus on the mission, and something told her, they forgot about it.

"You guys, wait up!"

...

Wendy trudged behind Erza and Kana with Charle in her arms. She was incredibly tired and uncomfortably full from their picnic. Unfortunately, during then, they were attacked by men in horse like costumes. Ruining Erza's first picnic as they started to eat the food and take their spot on the blankets. This of course angering Erza into beating them into oblivion.

And if she was being completely honest, she was really missing Lucy and Natsu. They were like parents to her and being this apart from them was making her feel distressed. She guessed she had Charle, Erza, and Kana to distract her, but it was still disappointing. She hadn't gotten a lot of time with them after the Tenrou Island incident so she was looking forward to be working with them. Only to be paired up with different people.

She was jealous of Romeo who was immediately picked to go with them. Maybe Erza just wanted her on her team, but if Wendy was going to be honest, she would rather be with her mother and father. She sighed and pet Charle soothingly, smiling slightly when they came across a dirt trail. Which meant they were all the more closer to the library. Erza heard her sigh for the fourth time and turned to the blue haired maiden. Wendy piped up and smiled dismissively.

"Is something bothering you, Wendy?"

Squeaking out of pure surprise from the question, she shook her head feverishly. "Of course not, Erza-san! I'm just full is all." Stopping, the red head bent one knee down to look at Wendy straight on. Wendy felt sweat prick the sides of her head as Erza stared at her intensely. Even gaining attention from the drunkard sipping on her flask. Charle looked up at the dragon slayer from her view point and frowned worryingly.

"I promise you can tell me anything." Feeling tears gather in the corners of her eyes, she nodded. Wiping the lone tear that trailed down her cheek, she exhaled a shaky breath. She looked down passed her white cat and at her feet. Should she really tell Erza her thoughts? She certainly didn't want to offend the requip mage.

"I just really miss Lucy and Natsu." Surprising the older woman, Erza's eyes widened. She blinked a couple times. Contemplating Wendy's emotional words.

"I see. You see them as your family, no?" Wendy nodded. "I can see why you're so attached to other dragon slayers. Are you also missing Gajeel and Laxus?"

"W-Well I see them more as my brothers. Natsu and Lucy are more like my mom and dad. They've protected me like i was their child and they've worried and scolded me. I guess I'm just sad I don't have that kind of structure right now."

"How so?" Asked Kana.

"Well, I know I can handle myself and that you three can help protect me, but it's a lot different when it comes from mom and dad. I feel more comfortable when they're around to protect me," tears started to flow. "S-So that's why I'm sad they aren't here!" Erza frowned sadly and embraced Wendy slowly. The slayer didn't know why she was suddenly so sad. Was it because she kept these feeling suppressed while things were drifting her and her parents away? She was doubtful and scared, only Natsu and Lucy could make her feel completely safe.

"We'll get back to Lucy and Natsu soon. I promise you that, but for now, we will protect you just like they do," Erza let go and pat her head softly. "Is that okay?" Wendy laughed quietly and nodded, hugging her exceed closer. She trusted that Erza was telling the truth. That it wouldn't take too long until they would get back to her family. She felt a smile grace her lips, her happy attitude returning at full force.

They then came to a fork in the road. "What does the map say?" Kana asked tiredly. Erza furrowed her brows.

"It has directions, but they are vague. I think we should just rely on the road signs for now." Folding up the paper, she stuffed it in her luggage wagon. Kana then stood and went up to the road sign pointing left, but it was upside down. She planted a hand on her hip.

"Well this looks odd." She said with a scoff.

"I'll say," Charle interjected. "What was the reason for doing such a thing? A prank?"

"A poor executed one. Someone could go the wrong way and get seriously hurt." Erza and Charle nodded in agreement with her. Wendy blinked up st the sign with innocence, choosing not to speak about the subject. She would just follow orders from Erza like she always has.

"We should just follow the signs direction and see what happens. Be prepared if we are suddenly ambushed." Everyone grunted and followed the scarlet haired woman. Charle looked behind her shoulder at the sign and sighed.

"What could propel a person to do such an act. What are they trying to accomplish?" The cat asked skeptically.

...

Natsu felt a vein pop from his head as Dan relayed his wedding ideas with Michelle, the woman that should be on Natsu's side. An idea came to him suddenly, grinning mischievously, he stocked up to the oblivious romantic. Natsu then snatched the small Lucy from Dan's side and held her close to his chest. Noticing this, Dan predictably got angry and fought for the small blonde to be back by his side. Natsu was less than willing to give her back, choosing to blow a fire attack to the shield wielder.

That's when Dan froze. A brownish green gas filled his entire suit, leaking out even. He sniffed the air, "Oh wow now that's a stench that'll ruin the mood." Under him, Romeo snickered. He held his hand up under the man's armor with a grin.

"Oh gross! Romeo is that you?" The shielded Lucy gagged. Though she was covered by Natsu's hand, she could smell the smell leak through his fingers. She felt nauseous as the stench reached into her nose and wouldn't go away. The fire mage ruined the back of his head. He honestly didn't know what else to do at that point.

"Sorry guys! It's the only thing I could think of that might have a chance at working." Natsu covered his nose with his other hand and felt like fainting. He seriously hadn't smelled something that nasty in a while. Oh Mavis, how the hell do you learn that kind of fire in the first place. Stepping back, he accidentally tripped and threw Lucy up into the air.

Though he hadn't even noticed, both Romeo and Dan had. "My beloved!" Dan screamed.

"I got you Lucy!" Romeo yelled, extending his purple flames to help Lucy. She squeaked and held her bottom as the flames singed her clothes. Happy caught her just in time, having her sigh with relief. Why was it always her ass that got the brunt of her injuries? Dan growled and held up a fist while simultaneously airing out his suit.

"Get back here with my future wife, cat!" He shot his green attacks at the both of them, hitting Lucy and Happy at the same time. Lucy smiled brightly when she was turned back into normal size. She stood up at full height and laughed maniacally. She was done being the nice guy, she was going to battle that hopeless romantic. Hopefully getting him to stop his pointless moves towards her.

But that was going to have to wait. Feeling a shadow loom over her, she looked straight up to see a Happy ten times her own size. It was almost like she was small again, except he was abnormally large this time. The cat looked around in surprise, obviously freaking out over the whole ordeal. Taking a step, he destroyed part of the hidden Cathedral with his right ear.

"Oh no!" His booming voice stated. It still had a high pitched undertone, but it was freakishly low for a cat. Natsu comically cried as he ran from the giant blue paw heading straight towards him. All the air left his body once that once soft delicate paw, crushed him. Squeaking from lack of air, he pounded on Happy's foot.

"I feel like you're doing this on purpose."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean too!" Happy let up from Natsu's body and stepped back, his tail slamming into more of the large area. Coco's eyes widened. They were only supposed to take the piece, not destroy the entire place! It was still sacred and important for a alot of people. At this rate, they'll be nothing left!

"Turn him back to normal, Dan! This place will collapse on us if he keeps that up!" Pointing to the large cat, she called out to her partner. Happy flapped his wings, a large gust of wind blowing everyone over. Flying around in distress, Happy cried.

"Make me small again!" Dan finally snapped out of his daze. Pointing his spear to the cat, he blasted an attack that shrunk the exceed to regular size. Happy slowly fell from his spot in the sky, into Lucy's hands. He immediately fell asleep from the ordeal. Lucy realizing that must of took so much out of the smal creature.

Just as Lucy was going to beat up Dan, she was pulled along by Michelle. It seems they were going to make an escape again. She was irritated, but she guessed it was the best plan they had for the time being. Happy and Romeo were looking exhausted and Lucy just got her normal body back. The brown haired man slammed down in front of them.

"You won't get away!"

"Good, cause I ain't running," Natsu grinned. "Guys, keep going. I'll keep this loser distracted!" Lucy looked behind her with a frown. She really wanted a go at him. But she thought about the situation for moment, the rest of the group needed her. Only she had the book and actually knew where to go to get the clock piece.

"Coco! Go after them!" Dan called.

"Right!" Coco responded. With incredible speed, she zoomed passed Natsu and Dan and made her way to the rest of Natsu's group.

"Just make sure he doesn't step on you!" Happy snickered playfully as he woke up. The salmon haired man turned to glare at the blue cat.

"The only one who stepped on me was you!" Watching them disappear in the distance, the salamander turned back to Dan with a snarl. "I'm here to settle the score with you once and for all! You're just plain gettin' on my nerves!"

"You won't stand in my way!" Dan declared. "I am the only one to win Lucy pie's heart, but first, I need that clock piece. You're sorely mistaken if you think that you'll get both of what I want." The man laughed. Natsu clenched his fist.

"In your dreams!"