Cana was chilling at the bar as always, although saying 'chill' would add insult to injury. Magnolia, as well as a rather part large of Fiore for that matter, was hit by a massive warm front for a few days. The heat waves outside ran through the trees like a river, and it felt like an intense summer's day that never ended, even through the thick of night.

The brunette sat her elbow against the bar top. "Uhhhh." She groaned. "This heat is killing me!"

Mira, as she passed by, didn't seem as affected as she was attending her job; although she did have a few beads of sweat barely noticeable on her forehead. "The guild's thinking the same thing. This heat wave is pretty intense. I don't remember the record being this high last year at all."

Makarov walked by the bar, looking around and seeing how the guild was so hot that the prospect of a fight would make them feel enflamed. The heat wave had its perks after all since the guild seemed calm. He also took notice that Team Natsu was absent, supposedly out on another job to get out of the guild.

"Hmm." He perched himself onto a bar stool and took a mug of beer to his side. After a sip, he slid the newspaper he had in hand a few stools down, stopping in front of Cana.

"What?" She opened her eyes and saw the newspaper in front. It seemed loose and floppy, but she blamed the heat for that."

"Read it. There's something you have to see." Makarov informed, his tone quiet, but serious.

Cana did as suggested and took her time in reading the head article. Her eyes immediately darted to the picture, and when she saw it, her eyes widened. She sat up and looked down at the picture: A large council room with all of the ambassadors present, including Velvea. In the middle of the council room was Grander's body, and Velvea seemed strong as she used Grander as evidence for Bosco's low schemes.

"No way…" Cana began to read the article, mumbling incoherently as she read every word. She read how the meeting was at a stalemate until Velvea turned the tide to their favor by presenting Grander's body as evidence, proof that they were smuggling slaves. With a strong lead, Bosco was left diplomatically defeated in the end, and so they had to construct and new constitution with slavery abolishment.

The brunette's face lightened up as all's well it ends well. After everything that had happened last week in Solidaster, it'd be a crime if slavery kept on going. With that behind her, she took a long pause and took in a huge barrel of booze.

Makarov stared at her as she sighed after finishing. "I see that you recounted Solidaster. Good."

"Yep. That sure brought back some memories." Cana rested her chin on her hands. "Now I can drink in peace."

Makarov stared forward, heavily contemplative. "I also remember…that the one who saved you before was present."

One week ago

Makarov sipped from his mug as he seemed content. All was fair in the guild, although it was a little quiet with Natsu gone, leaving Gray to just pluck a job. However, Lucy had decided to get a job of her own, yet it didn't matter in the end because they got back way earlier than Natsu's group did.

"Man, just how long do they intend on making us wait?" Gray wondered, looking over his shoulder and facing the entrance. "I forgot the last time I saw their faces."

Lucy wore a light blue tank top as the temperature seemed rather high today. "Yeah, it's been almost five days. I hope nothing has happened to them."

Gray turned back to her nonchalantly, his naked upper body not surprising her in the slightest since the blonde was so used to Gray's stripping habit. "Let's not forget that there's gonna be a heat wave coming soon."

Lucy sweatdropped. "It's hot enough as it already is."

Makarov opened his eyes and looked to the door. He and everyone else saw the doors open with a kick, revealing Natsu, Happy, Erza, and Cana all with victorious smiles.

"We're home!" Natsu shouted.

"Aye sir, did you miss us?" Happy exclaimed.

"Well speak of the devil." Gray said. "About time you showed up."

Erza led the group away and off to the bar, where they met with the Master. The four presented themselves in front of Makarov, looking at him with grins. To Makarov's surprise, he saw the few scratches and bruises still present from their recent battles. He didn't treat it as a major ordeal, but it was rare for something as primitive as the levels of scratches and cuts to be present.

"You seem to have taken quite the toll on yourselves during the mission I see." He said, scrutinizing them.

Natsu smiled as he put his hands behind his head. "Yeah, well, nothing we couldn't handle."

"Natsu." Erza's tone made him grow stiff. She stood right behind him. "I trust you know that fact is really false."

Natsu sulked forward. "Yes."

"Is that so?" Makarov questioned. "So you're saying that you barely held on?"

Erza closed her eyes at the remembrance of the savage beast that was Grander. "Unfortunately." She admitted. "That mission tested our will and our strategy. Grander was, in reality, someone who was beyond our caliber."

"You won't believe this! He actually had more Magic than you! He wiped away half of that city with a swipe of his arms!" Happy exclaimed.

Makarov's eyes widened a little from shock. "What?"

"It's true." Erza admitted. "What Happy told is what we've witnessed. His Magic Power was beyond comprehension. We were uncertain as to how powerful Bosco's forces were. This certainly puts us in a tight spot knowing other countries have mages who have such a caliber."

Makarov closed his eyes. "And yet in the end he was defeated and taken in by my children."

Cana looked away. "…no." She confessed. "The truth is…Grander was killed."

Makarov was left in revelation again. "What?!" He was appalled by the fact his children killed, but yet he had to hear the rest.

Cana continued. "In truth, we weren't the ones who did it. It was the same guy who saved me from awhile ago. Craig Crius." She remained silent for a minute to let the revelation sink in as Makarov looked startled. She took her seat at the bar and sighed. "And was he one nasty piece of work. Let me tell ya, he was all torn to ribbons but he didn't fall." She turned her attention elsewhere, finished relishing in the past. "Mira, can I get a nice big barrel with my name on it?"

"Coming!" Mira called out.

Erza continued from there. "So this Craig persona, he seemed to have an immense level of skill and experience in battle. And he left the culprit dead on the scene in front of our eyes." Of course Erza's mind flashed back to the scowling demeanor Craig gave out as they left, backhanding Fairy Tail. If she were honest with herself, she was grateful to him for saving their lives, but she wouldn't trust him per se with his abomination of character.

Makarov closed his eyes, taking a long silence. "…I see. That man has once again earned my gratitude for saving the lives of my children. And though he had his reasons, let's take solace that a great threat has been lifted from us, for good."

Erza turned her attention elsewhere when a chair flew pass her, hitting the wall. She looked behind to see Natsu and Gray having their little scuffle again, with the other clashing like a couple of barbarians. The redhead sighed and walked on over to settle the scuffle…for now at least.

Cana got her barrel and gulped it down, all while Master Makarov stared off into space, pondering to this particular person.

Makarov closed his eyes, bringing himself back to the present. "I'm still rather suspicious of this Craig Crius you speak of. Grander's Magic Power was beyond measure according to sources, but to have been defeated like that, it's almost miraculous."

Cana sat herself at ease, putting her chin on her hands again. "Well it doesn't matter anymore. He up and left again." She glanced over to him. "My guess, he hates being around others. I for one think he's got some kind of anger management that'll take a miracle to fix."

"You hate him, yet you talk of him to that extent." Makarov countered, catching the brunette off guard.

Cana turned away in spite. "Whatever! Cranky's never gonna lighten up so easily. I hope he chokes on his dinner." She then sipped from yet another barrel for a minute. Makarov turned ahead and sipped his mug with a light snicker. Though he was a little ponderous of Craig, he'll have the matter ignored since the odds of hearing word of him again won't be anytime soon.

Cana sat the barrel down and scooted up from her seat. "That's it, this heat's making me want to keel over. I'm getting a job so I don't dry up in this death trap." She turned to look away and headed off towards the Request Board.

Makarov looked at her with scrutiny. "Be careful."

"Gotcha covered." Cana replied in a grumble and a wave. She made way over and reached the board. She ignored Nab standing there as always and looked with hands to her hips. Normally she wouldn't have gone on a job as often because she has a lot of money from the last few jobs, but this heat wave was making her want to just scream and find somewhere to cool off.

She scrutinized the board. One job was a series of bank heists, one was an escort, one was a mere deliver that didn't pay much; Cana's expression twisted into annoyance until she found one that seemed rather suitable. She plucked it and read the description.

It was mainly describing a series of sights along a dam that was a reservoir to a small town at the base of a mountain. The job asked for someone to investigate and apprehend any threats through being discrete, and thus paid 500,000 Jewel.

'Sounds like a gamble.' She thought. 'Something with a reward such as that has gotta be something big, still…' Cana stared just a little longer and made up her mind. She'll take it. She turned back towards the bar and showed Mira the request, and the barmaid made sure to take note that the job was taken.

"Be careful Cana, you know what happened the last couple of jobs." Mira reminded her.

Cana didn't find the conversation enlightening and instead turned away. "I know, but I'll be in and out. I swear." Mira wasn't so sure as she watched Cana walk off, and she watched the brunette walk out.

She put a hand to her cheek. "They always say that, but then they stick around the destroy half the world."

"And drive me to an early grave." Makarov added underneath his breath.

The peaceful serenity of the woods, nice shade cooling one off. The dew from the morning evaporated early, and yet it didn't seem to bother a certain someone as much as he thought. Somewhere in Fiore's lush green mountains, napping soundly with his eyes shut, their lied someone who is always…unpleasant to any and all shapes and forms.

Craig was sleeping, taking a small nap after climbing a rugged cliff yesterday. To say he was more than aggravated from the climb was an understatement, but it wasn't like he had anywhere to go anyway. He was just wandering aimlessly, as he always has been.

He adjusted his neck so his chin was out. Feeling the rather moist ground, he eyes slowly opened and his eyes glanced up and around to see what was going on. Fortunately it was nothing, and a low growl escaped his mouth as he found himself a little hungry.

"Mmmm, five more minutes…then something gets in my teeth…" He found himself dozing back off, and before he knew it he was seeing black and silence.

*huff…huff*

His eyes slowly opened again, finding himself to have woken up a few minutes later by something that no one wished to have seen. Craig's face twisted as his sharp teeth showed. Seeing what woken him, up he growled.

"Alright pal…" With one leg, he got it to his side and jolted up lazily yet on guard. His teeth still showed as his sea blue eyes showed his trademark annoyance. "I'm gonna make you learn the hard way, don't mess with my naps!" His face grew more vicious as he stared down the beast.

It was a large bear, and it did not look nice one bit. It was tall to say the least.

The bear roared down at its prey, showing its large teeth and claws. In response, Craig only glared at the animal, showing that he was gonna be in control, that he was a wild animal himself, and that he wasn't gonna let the bear mess with him.

The bear felt the threat that was Craig and prepared to put him into his stomach. However, the bear's assault was instead halted by Craig when he snarled up and attacked. The beast that was Craig pounced onto the bear and went straight for the jaws. He used his two arms and clamped the mouth shut as the bear fell onto its back. Craig's animal strength let him clamp on and roll about.

As he was wrestling the oversized bear to the ground, he actually began to drag it as he shoved the monster. Eventually with one big push, he slammed the bear into a tree, making it fall over along with the bear. Both crashed with a thud, yet Craig growled as his predator-like gaze never left.

He watched the bear get back up to its feet and roar on all fours. The gigantic creature stomped and ran ahead after Craig.

Craig balled a fist as he looked like a monster as he glared harshly. "Choke on this!" With one big punch, he swung his arm like a battering ram and socked the bear right into the open mouth, making it falter as a few of its teeth fell out.

The monstrous bear got its footing back and roared at Craig, but Craig wasn't scared in the slightest…it was the opposite. The bear was helpless and annoyed as Craig lunged and got it in a chokehold by the fat neck and hauled himself onto its back. He used all of his muscle and got the bear onto its feet and stumbling back. Craig then let out a grunt as he made the bear fall onto its back.

As the bear feel, Craig let go and landed on the ground first. He got his feet underneath and hands up as he caught the bear, but barely. Using the momentum and strain he had accumulated, he growled and tilted his body, hurling the bear and it thudded against the fallen tree.

Craig growled as he reached back. "There are two reasons you're going down." He said.

The bear roared at Craig as it got back up and looked weary and spiteful. It charged after him.

"One: This trail is meant as a nature trail, and I've heard a rumor or two there's a savage bear that threatens travelers."

The roared kept charging closing in quickly.

"And two…you pissed me off when I was napping!" Craig aimed the tip at the bear and jabbed ahead.

Silence feel as birds flapped away from the canopies into the open skies.

A pair of footsteps was seen walking through the nature trail not too long afterwards. The footsteps were soft as they traveled in the dirt trail. The footsteps belonged to Cana Alberona, and she was making way to her client and location.

She put her hands over her head. "Oh geez, even in this forest the heat is annoying. I think I've been sweating all day." She progressed on and made it to a certain part of the dirt and swerved trail, where she saw something on her right that caught her attention.

She saw what appeared to have been a fallen tree, and also what also seemed to have been dry red sprinkled on the bark and green plants nearby. It wasn't a lot, but the image caught her attention.

"What happened here…?"

Keeping a wary eye, she ventured onwards towards her client, continuing walking through the woods. She went on ahead a few more miles before the trail's right showed open space rather than thick branches and trees. Cana turned and saw something that was surprising.

There was a lush mountain with valleys spreading out as far as the eye could see. She noticed the rather large structure in one valley, but her attention drew down to where the folks were. A town was seen spread out at the bade, and it seemed decently populated from her high viewpoint.

"This has gotta be the place." She took out the flyer again from her purse and scrutinized it. "Luss Citta Valle…" She looked back at the town and down. She didn't think the description was off, and so she shrugged. "Alright, let's get rollin'!"

…

Craig trudged through the forest as he finished wiping off his sword, getting the last bits of red off by dragging the blade through the grass and dirt a bit before sheathing it. "Wild animals my foot. Where the hell am I going anyway?"

He noticed that as he traveled past some branches, he was on the side of a lush green cliff, and saw the beautiful scenery all around. He spectated left and right, seeing the valley and lush mountains full of life.

He grinned just a little. "Haven't seen something like this in awhile…"

His musings were cut short when he took notice of the large fortress-like appeal in one of the high valleys. To him, it seemed off, and something seemed a little conspicuous of said structure. As a man of witty action, he kept a sharp gaze as he slowly walked in silence through the foliage and lush trees, remaining cautious of all surroundings.

Cana walked down the trail, soon leading to the town she spotted earlier. The brunette took a sip of yet another booze bottle and eyed the locations as she went along.

The town was slightly humid, but it seemed lively. Children were playing close to their homes while people walked in and out of the market district. What the brunette could understand was that all of the homes and buildings seemed to have been comprised of waterproof material, and buckets and pots full of water were hanging out by porches being used for miscellaneous purposes.

"This place sure knows how to package their water." Cana figured. "They preparing for a drought or something?"

She walked pass some kids playing with squirt guns and saw them being as lively as can be. A small grin got on her face as she walked along, and she disregarding her hiking sandals getting wet in the many puddles she went through.

Looking into a puddle, it showed her reflection, as it showed the sky as well. It was blue, but clouds were all over the place, and she smelled rain. It was peculiar, but she could understand there being rain with the geography involved.

She soon came to the building and address, where said building was a medium-sized white building, with two barrels of water hanging out on either side of the porch. She made way up the stairs to the solid door and knocked.

A minute later, the door opened, revealing a tall man with brown hair. He seemed to be in his fifties and had a green vest over his gray t-shirt. He had gray cargo tans to boot, and the boot part also extended to the ones he was wearing. He had glasses on and had a moustache and small beard. It wasn't professional. But seemed appropriate with what the town's accustomed to.

"May I help you?" He asked.

Cana reached into her purse and showed him the flyer. "Yes, are you familiar with this job request?"

The man leaned in, his eyes widening. "Ah, so you have taken up the job request. Welcome to Luss Citta Valle!" He stepped aside to allow entrance. "Please, let us make way inside. It's supposed to rain soon."

Cana made way inside, where they proceeded to his spacious oak office. Sure enough he was right, as five minutes later it began to drizzle.

He reached out his open window and pulled in a glass of water he had sitting out. He presented the glass to Cana. "Fresh water?"

"Uh…thanks?" Cana awkwardly accepted the cup of rain water and took a small sip. Though a little on the warm side, it did have quite a nice taste when running down her throat.

The client sat in his chair behind his desk across from Cana. "Once again, I welcome you to Luss Citta Valle, and for taking up the job request. Allow myself to start. I am John Valor, and I'm the mayor's right-hand man."

"Nice to meet ya." Cana introduced. "Cana Alberona, but why didn't the mayor show?"

John closed his eyes. "He's currently attending another business meeting, so he leaves me in charge more often." He did a small chuckle. "Actually, you find yourself fortunate, because Hanz can be moody more often than what you'd imagine."

Cana rolled her eyes. "I know what that's like." From past experience with Craig, she could relate.

"At any rate, allow me to elaborate." John insisted. "Where do I start…? Maybe there." As the drizzle and splashing could be heard outside the open window, he cleared his throat. "As you may or may not be aware of, this part of geography in Fiore has rich forests and mountains. Our town is located at the base of a valley, where mountains are all around. So, when clouds come through this region, they always rain before crossing over the high points. Our town is known for its water distribution this way."

"I see, so you act as a basin and collect water on a daily basis." Cana looked out the window, watching the rain fall. "I guess that makes sense."

John put his fingers together and closed his eyes. "Tunnels run through the mountains to allow shipment of our fresh water supply in and out. Although recently, there's been some suspicious activity."

"Suspicious?" Cana parroted.

John's eyes opened. "Yes. Tell me, are you aware of that large structure when you arrived?"

Cana thought back when she was on the trail, and she did recall of a large metallic fortress among one of the valleys. She wasn't thinking this was good in any case.

"Yes." She answered.

"What that really is…is a dam." John explained. "That dam holds back a great reservoir of water. If the dam were to break, it would run down the valley, flooding everything. This town would be fifty feet underwater."

Cana's gaze grew uneasy by the serious tone he was making. That would compensate the pay. It was a high risk job with lives at stake.

John continued. "There have been some reports or sightings of suspicious activity along the dam, and nobody dares to go up there. If this suspicious group tends to use this dam to their advantage, then we may be in trouble. We only use that dam as a backup reservoir, so it's not like having people in the mountains up there." His eyes gazed at Cana with seriousness. "What you need to do is be extremely cautious. You can't have them notice you, because they may know that we've sent help. You have to find out what they're doing up at the dam and put a stop to them. You'll be fully compensated for your achievement."

Cana looked out the window again, watching the rain fall. She thought as to the small children playing awhile back and then digressed to how if she failed, everything will become a lake sort of speak. She looked back at John and stood up.

"I'll take care of it." She said. "I won't let you down. You have my word."

John smiled. "We're gracious to you. Thank you." He watched Cana go, but then something struck him as odd. Before Cana reached the door handle, he spoke again. "By any chance, did you happen to have taken the trail here?"

Cana turned around to look at him. "Yeah, why?"

"How strange. Normally people avoid that trail at all costs. It's a rare occurrence for someone to come out without so much as a scar."

"What are you talking about?" Cana asked, feeling left out.

"That trail is primarily known as a hazard because there's animals that aren't welcoming, particularly talking about a large bear that is a threat to humans. It attacks whenever the chance arises. I'm surprised that it left you alone."

Cana turned her body towards him. "That's odd. I never saw a large bear when I came across the trail."

John crossed his arms. "How odd…well I guess never mind then."

"Okay." Cana opened up and closed the door behind her.

John looked out the window, watching another glass become half gull as the drizzle kept pouring.

Cana stretched her arms over her head and looked to one of the upper valleys, where the dam was located. As it drizzled, she didn't seem to mind as she stared and quietly ventured on ahead and off towards the mountains full of lush, green plants.

Up in the mountains, a crane lowered a large orange lacrima that was the size of a ten-foot girder. "Lower…lower…right there!" Men directed the crane as the rain poured. They all were rather shady and unprofessional looking, but the bigger issue was that they were having construction plans done.

The crane's claw opened up, and another lacrima dropped into the dam. The lacrima sank into the cool water and landed at the bottom, where the bottom was laced with more of its kind.

"Keep it moving! We still have several more to go!" A worker shouted.

A sudden rowdy footstep made the men turn around. "What's the holdup?! I expect the last of those lacrima dumped by today! What is wrong with you sloths?!"

The voice belonged to a man in his forties. He was tall, and slightly on the slim side. His suit was black with blue buttons, and his dress pants were black. He also had black hair slicked back. His brown eyes showed a fierce demeanor.

"You all better get those things dumped, or I'll dump you in with them!" He retorted.

"On it, boss!" A frightened worker shouted. Hurrying his pace, he and the other workers moved the levers on the crane faster, picking up yet another heavy lacrima.

The boss went on over and scrutinized the water. The dam was huge, perhaps a hundred feet tall. The more he looked at it, the more he seemed to have gotten irritated. "I'm fed up with this lush valley town. This geography itself is ridiculous. I'm gonna fix the biggest mistake my grandfather made by making this settlement to begin with."

As his anger grew, so did the energy he had. His body rattled with a raging aura that made the workers so scared that they quickened further; so much, that they almost fell over from tripping.

"He could've picked a sunnier place. He could've picked a place less likely to get rain almost every day. I don't care if it's sunny a majority of the day with very weak drizzle. How are people so happy with how it's small rain quickly then and there? Are they ever sick of rain?"

He turned away, looking down at the flowing damp currents. He couldn't even see his own reflection as the drizzling finally stopped. He was too caught up in his rowdy musings. The heat was getting to him as well as he began sweating, furthering his temper.

With one swipe of his arm, the workers all cowered in fear as a large wave raged. The man groaned as he calmed himself.

"…I guess rain and water do have their perks…" He smirked. "For me that is."

Cana was sweating like crazy. Her skin felt all sticky as leaves and small insects were on her. She just wanted a shower, but the drizzle already came and went, and the clouds showed the sun peeping through the sky, slightly aimed west.

"Damn humidity's gonna kill me." She groaned. "I gotta get there quicker or else I'm gonna melt. Damn heat wave…"

She just murmured on until she headed further up the green mountain. The fresh mud and wet grass made her legs and sandals get filthy with the mud all over. While she didn't mind getting dirty, it's the agony of trudging on while being humid that made her grow agitated.

She eventually reached a point high up in the mountain, where it overlooked the dam and the water it held behind. She was climbing a slope and she soon made it to the top. She panted as sweat poured down her face.

"Next time I'm taking a job where it's nice and cool." She groaned. Cana took a few steps forward and grew stiff when there was something up ahead. It didn't look familiar, so she became extremely quiet. She ducked behind a tree and made sure not to make a sound as she peered over her shoulder. She looked out and saw a shady guy in a suit overlooking the area.

She turned away and was left to strategize. There was a good chance that the enemy was overlooking the entire mountain range. She slowly began to proceed, but she snapped on a twig and she cringed. The guy ahead turned his head back as he heard the noise. Growing suspicious, he slowly began to proceed back to where Cana was hiding.

Cana looked away, sweat continuing down her face as she pulled out a card, ready to attack.

She heard a sudden whack and heard a fallen body. Her eyes widened when she glanced over, seeing that the man had fallen to the muddy ground. To her shock, it wasn't her doing. If it wasn't her, then what happened?

Her eyes trailed up, seeing who the culprit was that knocked the guy's lights out. Her surprises never stopped mounting.

It was Craig.

"You…have got to be pulling my freakin leg!" The brunette exclaimed, showing herself from the tree trunk.

Craig turned towards her, his sweaty body looking exhausted from the humidity. "You've gotta be kidding me."

Cana walked on up, her face showing irritation. "Well look who we have here. Mr. I-hate-everything." She scowled with hands to her hips. "I see you haven't changed, Cranky!"

Craig rolled his eyes and turned away. "Bad day to you too, Brownie. I could belittle you all day long, but this freakin heat wins."

Cana crossed her arms. "This cruddy heat wave is gonna melt me."

"I hope it does." Craig commented. "Should've brought solar panels to make you into toast."

"Oh, so what? You can feed me to the birds? Yeah, well I taste like booze, you jerk." She snickered with a wrinkled brow. "Anyways, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Same as you, got curious on the whim." He turned and began walking towards the cliff, where he brushed a few plants aside and Cana followed him, but kept her distance. The two soon saw the huge cliffs and lush slopes of the mountains, but what they really saw was below, where a huge river was blocked by a thick dam.

"While I was passing through here, I noticed this hunk of junk." He knelt down so as not to be spotted as easily, and Cana followed his example. "Turns out this wasn't much junk as I thought it was."

"Yeah. This 'junk' is a dam." Cana stated bluntly.

Craig turned towards her with a brow raised. "I have eyes, Einstein. Why do you think I spotted that going on?"

Cana looked to where he motioned his head and saw something on the side of the dam. There were a lot of cranes and people who were moving stuff around. The size was rather small, but there was a lot of material.

Cana's eyes widened a little. "John was right, there is something fishy going on here."

"Even I have the brains to know that this isn't right." Craig turned towards Cana and vice versa. "Okay, so here's the plan." He pointed to her. "You just stand there, and try to look pretty for once, while I go and put those barbarians in their place."

Cana shook her head as she chuckled at Craig's humor, but not in a good way. Knowing how he operated as a lone wolf, it was clear he was gonna take them all down himself. Still, what he said just made her grow a vein as she feigned humor.

"Oh, some plan. And while I try and 'be pretty for once'." She mocked. "You can go and show them who the true barbarian is. What a show, Cranky." Her eyes squinted and clapped with hardy exasperation. "Here's a better idea. How about you take you and your repulsive defacer of decency that you call a face and go in the opposite direction, while I go and do my job."

She sounded more demanding than usual, but that was her tone for his demeanor in return.

Craig gave a twisted. "And let you get that thing you call a pretty face turned inside out? How about no. Brownie, I saved your bacon how many times now? If not for me, then-!"

"Release!" Craig was caught out of his snarking retort when he heard the men all pull the lever of the crane and the claw dropped yet another orange lacrima into the water. Immediately Craig silence as he and Cana both looked at the crane and the lacrima entirely, and Craig stared with an uneasy dread.

"Oh no." He muttered.

Cana turned towards him. "What?"

Craig balled his fists. "This has gotten very bad. How did they get that many lacrima? With that supply…" His glance turned downwards towards the town, and his gaze grew heavy in dread.

"Hey, Cranky, I'm talking to you! Spill it!" Cana demanded. "What do you know?"

Craig turned towards Cana. "I don't know how, but down there, those lacrima, they aren't any kind of lacrima…those are Dynamite Lacrima."

Cana's eyes widened. "Dynamite Lacrima?" She questioned in disbelief.

"Yeah. I've seen them quite a few times before. They're far more potent than Explosive Lacrima, and they're not easy to mine. To have such a grand quantity, that has to be a black market's doing." His eyes narrowed as he easily pieced it together.

"Cranky, where are you going with this?" Cana asked.

Craig turned towards her with his sharp teeth showing. "Is that booze seriously killing that many of your brain cells? Must I spell it out for what's left of your head?" He pointed at the dam. "Think about it, Brownie, with that many Dynamite Lacrima placed right behind that dam…"

He rolled his wrist as a gesture for Cana to finish up the rest. The brunette turned back towards the scene far away and looked at the lacrima and then to the dam and vice versa. It took a few seconds, but it finally clicked.

Cana gasped as her eyes were filled with horror. "Oh no."

"Yeah." Craig nodded, growing silent. "They're gonna blow up the dam." His eyes trailed down the valley. "And when the current starts going…"

Cana's fists clenched and her body shuddered as she looked at the valley heading down to the town once more. She stared for a few minutes and then looked back at Craig.

"Okay." She said, taking a serious tone. "Craig, as much as I hate doing this, and you, we'll have to…work together."

Craig stared in silence at her. It wasn't much, but his mind flashed back to that little girl he met years ago. He still couldn't tell if it was a coincidence or not, but hearing Cana's name made him simmer down enough to cooperate.

"As much as I hate it too, I agree…Cana." He growled the last part.

Cana smirked. "Look who's getting all soft."

"Milk it any further, and I'll make you filthier than what the mud can do, Brownie." He scowled.

Cana snickered and frowned when she looked down at the construction. "Okay, so we have an actual plan this time?"

Craig looked at the lush forests down below that seemed to go on forever. His eyes narrowed as something sparked. "Yeah…"

The boss sat in his chair, overlooking the construction with a mild half grin. The sight of the lacrima dropping was making him all excited. He was waiting for this for such a long time. For as long as he could remember, he hated Luss Citta Valle and how it's sunny and then rainy. He wanted normal weather for a change, and he was gonna have his way if it was the last thing he did.

A worker came up to him. "The estimated time should be four hours, sir."

"Very well." He stated. "After two weeks, the wait will be worth it."

"Yes, I'm sure it will."

The boss stood up and overlooked Luss Citta Valle. "Since this place loves water so much, let's give it what it wants!"

The worker began walking away. "Yes…Hanz."

How was it? It was something I thought would be short and shall extend to next chapter, and I'm sorry for the wait. It wasn't easy of thinking up an idea, but I hope it suffices. Comments, opinions, anything you liked or find appealing?

I'll make Craig and Cana bond a little while being snarky, so expect more of that next time! Till then!