Hey! This is a really late update, and I apologize for that! But I'll update whenever I can due to freaking school . But I just hope you enjoy my recent update and you'll be expecting more soon earlier I promise :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail :(

Chapter 26:

Lucy peeked her head out of the curtain that closed the woman's changing room. She was certain that Erza had followed her all the way here, but then when she had turned around she noticed that the scarlet-haired mage was nowhere in sight.

"I wonder where Erza went Levy" Lucy said as she clutched the towel around herself tightly. She had remembered something Erza had said about hearing voices from down the hall, but she had really thought that when she went to go check it out it was the end of it.

Levy placed her hands on her hips as she peeked her head out of the curtain as well eyes staring down the hallway for the sight of a scarlet-haired mage, "She probably got side-tracked or something. I'm sure our Titania is all right."

"I know but I think we should just check up on her" Lucy said biting her bottom lip, "You know just to make sure she really isn't in any trouble."

Levy nodded her head in agreement as the two female mages stepped onto the cold wooden floor. She shivered since it was freezing unlike the steaming hot water they had just bathed in. She narrowed her eyes then to the celestial mage who began walking in front of her, tip-toeing at each step as if she didn't want to make a single creek.

"So Lu-chan, have you gotten over Sting yet?" Levy said with widened eyes as she looked at the celestial mage who just sighed in response. She somewhat felt like it was a bad idea to bring up even the name, but she just wanted to check if her best friend was alright.

"I don't now Levy-chan" Lucy said eyeing the wooden floors, "Once I think about it, everything that we practically do reminds me of him. I know it wasn't a long time that we had dated, but I just felt like so comfortable around him. Do you know what I mean?"

Levy nodded her head as she soon wrapped her arms around Lucy giving her a hug, "Oh Lu-chan, I really do hope that things work out for you. You deserve to be happy, and you know it. Whether it's Sting you're with in the end or even someone else, I'll always be supporting you!"

Lucy gleamed a smile at the script mage, "Thanks Levy-chan, means a lot! And I do hope that you already figure out on which dragon slayer you think is actually the best fit for you! I'm dying to know which one it is in the end, Rogue or Gajeel." She then winked at Levy whos face was completely flushed in a bright pink.

Levy then began to fake whistling as she began to think of something that would completely change the subject on what they were talking about. She really didn't feel like talking about her own love life at the moment since she had no idea what was going on with it anymore.

"So any ideas on where Erza could be?" Levy said as she looked around at the bright paintings hung up on the wall as if they were the most interesting thing ever.

Lucy then began to scratch her chin as she began to think of certain possibilities on where the requip mage would've disappeared to. She knew that whenever Erza saw her favorite sweet she would dash off to consume it. But in this case they weren't at a banquet or anything, so knowing Erza she'd be taking a walk around the springs.

Lucy let out a sigh of relief as she swatted the sweat off her forehead, "I think she's taking a walk around the spring's pathway. But I think we should go and catch up to her, you know to bring her to come take a soak with us!"

The celestial mage then grasped Levy's hand as she sprang out of the back door and towards the stone pathway.

-Erza's POV-

It is quite relaxing to take a nice walk of solitude and peace before I have to endure another week tomorrow at Fiore High. Sure things aren't as bad as it seems, but after the Sting incident things have quickly heated up more between Fairy Tail and Sabertooth.

I looked around at my surroundings at the bright colorful lanterns hung above me, to the warm steam coming off from the hot water. It was truly a nice thing to remember and I must remember myself to visit here again whenever I'm feeling stressed out.

I've also been wondering where Natsu and the others have run off too. The last time I've spotted them was when I had caught them in the act of hiding in Rogue's shadow, but it looks like they must be sneaking around again. I just hope that they don't create a whole destruction of things if any of the others spot them red-handed.

"Erza"

I turned my head around to see Lucy and Levy dashing towards me with smiles curled up onto their faces. Oh that's right, I had completely forgotten that I was initially following Lucy until I had gotten off track when I spotted the narrow stone pathway, and I couldn't help but just explore it.

"Hello Lucy, Levy." I said as I waved my hand with a smile implanted on my lips, "Looks like you've caught me, sorry that I hadn't told you that I had run off. I just couldn't help but just walk down this path. I guess the curiosity must've gotten to me."

"Oh it's fine Erza!" Lucy said waving her hands in front of her, "Actually, I thought we could accompany you on your little walk, and then we can go take a soak before heading back to the house."

"It's perfectly fine with me" I said nodding my head in agreement.

I then began to walk with the two trailing behind me as they began chattering about their love lives which made me go into deep thought. All this talk about their love lives made me somewhat lonely as you could say. Of course, there was a certain-blue haired mage that I truly must admit I cared for, but it has been sometime since the last time we've met. I wonder how Jellal has been doing he must be pretty busy now that he's taking down dark guilds all the time. I just hope that at least I'll get to see him soon since we have quite some catching up to do.

"Erza"

I then shook my head snapping out of my thoughts as I saw Lucy's hand waving side to side in front of me. She then gestured a thumb towards a large Sakura tree where voices could clearly be heard. I gritted my teeth hoping it wasn't Natsu or this time I wouldn't help them out.

"I'll check this out" I said as I re-quipped into my Heaven's Wheel Armor pointing all of my swords towards the Sakura tree as I began to walk around it as it soon revealed some familiar mages faces. I scrunched up my face as I let out a deep sigh. I wouldn't expect these two to be together without their close comrade by their side.

"Rogue, Gray. Just exactly what're you doing?" I said as I crossed my arms with a not too pleased expression on my face. Yes, I had let them go the first time without them receiving punishment, but I didn't recall not being at the nicest mood if I caught them again. Everything has consequences I must say.

"Well Natsu and Sting decided to head straight for the bathing room leaving me and Rogue to be on guard until it was our turn. But those idiots are taking too long." Gray said as he leaned against the tree with a fake smile curled onto his lips. He then looked to Rogue who had a complete nonchalant expression on unlike himself.

"I see" I said as I raised an eyebrow with my arms still crossed. I then began to hear the voices of none other than Natsu and Sting as it sounded like they were not too far away since footsteps were heard. I looked over to Lucy who was stiff as a board as I signaled Levy to take her back inside so it wouldn't be heart-whelming for the celestial mage.

But as I was about to turn around, two bodies slammed right towards me which caused me to ex-quip back into my towel. I widened my eyes in both anger and horror as I saw that Natsu and Sting were the ones that had crashed into me. Not only that, but their faces were somewhere they shouldn't have been… my chest.

At first a smile cracked onto my lips which didn't last long as it soon turned into a horrifying glare. Natsu and Sting then rose up as they began backing away step by step. I narrowed my eyes to the two of them whos expressions were full of fear as they were now clinging onto each other.

"W-We're sorry Erza!" Natsu said with a fake smile as he clung onto Sting, "It wasn't my fault anyways! It was the idiot's here who wanted us to hurry up!"

Sting then shot Natsu a glare before turning to me with another fake smile, "No Erza it was all him!"

But before the two could say another word, I had already kicked my foot with tremendous force as they soon were sent sailing above the hot springs roofs. I could hear the two even arguing up in the sky until a loud crash was heard in the front of the building which meant that they'd now stopped arguing since they had just crashed.

-Normal POV-

Natsu groaned as he rubbed the back of his head which was completely sore from being sailed high up in the sky. He then sat up to see that Sting was also rubbing his head, cursing silently under his breath. Of course, if you were in their situation you too would be cursing to the fact that a woman had just kicked you with an enormous amount of strength in her kick.

"Well now what're we going to do?" Sting asked as he raised an eyebrow, "Technically I don't think that the whole sneaking in thing is going to work again since we were caught by Erza. I still don't get why she had just kicked us out like that, I mean she saw us before-"

"I don't know about you but I'm heading back" Natsu said as he soon stood up with his arms crossed, "Its better if we don't mess around with Erza anymore tonight since it could result in our final extermination."

Sting nodded his head in agreement as he began to trail behind Natsu who had begun to walk. He shoved his hands into his pockets as he let out a sigh knowing that he never had the chance to see Lucy in the full nude. And just like any other man, Sting had his own needs and perverted-desires which would lead to disappointment if he didn't achieve it.

As he was about to take another step, a passerby shoved a letter right into his hands as if they knew him personally. He whipped his head around only to see a hood covering the person's head as they soon disappeared into the darkness of the woods on the side.

Sting raised an eyebrow at the crimson-red letter that was now held in his hand. He then noticed that writing was written all over as he raised the letter to his face to begin reading.

Sting,

You may not have met me personally, but I know that you're living in the house of Erza Scarlet for the time being due to the Magic Council's orders. I just wanted you to at least get the word out to Erza that I shall be enrolling into Fiore High for a current reason that would be better if kept unknown. It's been quite some time that I've seen you all last, so it shall be great to see your faces again. Oh yes, I must remind you that I will be stopping by later to unload everything for I am now staying at your household. And if you can, there's another letter that I threw into your hands. I would like you to bring that one to Erza the next chance you see her before I arrive tomorrow morning. I'm counting on you to do it before then. Well I shall end this now, I'll be seeing you all soon!

-Jellal Fernandes

Sting widened his eyes to the name signed onto the letter. To think he had just made physical contact with Jellal Fernandes; who used to be considered as one of the Ten Great Wizard Saints. A smirk curled onto his lips as an idea popped into mind. Since Jellal would be coming tomorrow that'd mean Erza would be kept busy and a distance away from Lucy. Which meant, that tomorrow would be the perfect time for him to spend some time with the celestial mage tomorrow at Fiore High.