First thing in the morning the group hurried down to the train station to catch a train ride to Oak Town, they would travel to Stormhold from there. The group consisted of Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Gray, Erza, Wendy, Carla, Juvia, Gajeel, and Panther Lily. Not the usual team but this was an unknown location with unknown dangers so to bring extra help would probably be very smart. Especially considering that Gajeel and Juvia were more familiar with Oak Town although neither one of them have ever heard of Stormhold.
"So you guys don't know anything about this place?" Gray asked the former residents of Oak Town as they all waited at the train station.
"No." Juvia answered.
"Never heard of it." Gajeel said. "Come to think of it I didn't think anything lived up in those mountains. Except maybe some goats."
"Well at least we'll get to explore some place new." Wendy said optimistically. "I bet it'll be really exciting."
"Judging by the message pleading for help and implying that this is a place held hostage, I highly doubt it." Carla said.
"Erza the message ever mention exactly what this place needs saving from?" Lucy asked.
"No." Erza replied. "All it had written was a cry for help and a promise of a reward."
"Really? What kind of reward?"
"It didn't say."
"You know heroism is it's own reward." Panther Lily said.
"Yes but heroism is not going to pay my rent."
"I don't like this." Gray said. "I don't like the idea of us going to some place that we've never even heard of and know nothing about. We don't really know what we're going against."
"So?" Natsu said. "If we can take down Acnologia then we can take down anything."
"Still I wish this ambassador guy had been more specific. Why couldn't he write down what the heck is going on up there?"
"Maybe there was no time." Juvia suggested ."Maybe the ambassador was desperate. He definitely sounded desperate in the message."
"I guess but I have a bad feeling about all this." Gray continued.
"Don't worry Dear." Juvia said gently taking his hand. "If anything happens I'll protect you."
As soon as she said that Gray jerked away from her.
"Juvia would you mind not touching me so much when we're in public? It makes me uncomfortable."
"Oh...Alright. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. We better get on board. The train will be moving soon."
He went up to the cart rather quickly with Juvia following behind in a slow manner. The others just stared at them in confusion.
"What was that all about?" Gajeel asked. "I thought ice boy was over getting freaked out over Juvia's feelings."
"He was." Erza said. "At least I thought he was. Natsu do you know anything about this?"
"No. Like he'd ever talk to me about his love life." He answered. "But maybe I could get him to spill a few bits of information."
"I just hope you don't blow of few bits while we're on the train." Lucy said.
"Worry not I have come prepared for that." Erza said pulled out a glass bottle that contained some liquid.
"What's that? Natsu asked.
"It's a sleeping potion Porlyusica gave me. I want all dragon slayers on this trip to take a swallow of this as soon we get on the train. The effects should wear off by the time we arrive in Oak Town."
"I'm not taking that. What if I don't wake up?"
"Porlyusica has assured me that the effects are temporary."
"Well how much does she know?"
"Natsu I am not going to deal with anyone throwing up on this trip so you can either let the potion put you to sleep or I'll put you to sleep. Take your pick."
Gajeel and Wendy drank the potion but Natsu had to be knocked out so in the end all dragon slayers were unconscious during the train ride and felt no motion sickness. Upon arriving in Oak Town they asked the residents if they knew anything about Stormhold or how do get there but just like the mages, no one in Oak Town had ever heard of Stormhold. By the time they had finished asking around it had become late and the group decided to spend the night at an inn then head up the mountains in the morning.
"Lousy Erza." Natsu complained to Gray and Happy in their room that evening. "My head is going to be sore for a week."
"Here buddy have some of my fish." Happy offered. "It'll make you feel better."
"You should have just drank the potion." Gray replied.
"I don't trust potions. You never know if they're actually going to work or do something crazy." Natsu said.
"Then don't complain when Erza lops you on the head."
"Hey speaking of crazy what's was going on with you earlier?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well before we got on the train you started to act a little weird when Juvia tried to hold your hand. I know you're not big on PDA but you've never jerked away from her like that before. Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Did Juvia do something to you?"
"Did she eat your fish?" Happy suggested.
"No. She didn't do anything." Gray answered. "This trip just makes me a little anxious that's all. The lack of information about this place has me really unnerved. It has nothing to do with Juvia."
"In that case you might wanna talk to Juvia before you turn in. Lucy told me that she's a little worried she might have might have ticked you off or something. Why don't you set her straight before she gets really upset and floods the entire town?"
"Okay I'll go talk to her. She's in the next room down the hall right?"
"Yeah. She's bunking with Lucy tonight."
"Great. I'll go over there right now." He said opening the door.
"Uh Gray?"
"Yes?"
"Clothes."
The ice wizard jumped when he realized that he was in his boxers. He slammed the door, put on a shirt and pants, then walked over to the next room down the hall. He knocked on the door and it was answered by Lucy.
"Sorry to bother you Lucy but is Juvia here? I need to talk to her."
"She went outside to get some air." She replied. "She'll be back in a minute."
"That's okay. I'll go find her. Goodnight Lucy."
"Goodnight Gray."