After good night's sleep the group ate breakfast in the hotel reception before discussing their plans to travel home.

'We've just had an update from the Magic Council who are now advising against all but essential travel within Fiore. From what we know the Virus is still contained within Onibus Town, but the magic council are taking precautions to prevent this from spreading to further regions. All train stations and other travel have been suspended further to more information.'

The restaurant went quiet, a heavy silence weighed on those following the announcement from the hotel lacrima.

'No way… all of Fiore now? How big is this thing?' Lucy pushed her cereal away from her, seemingly losing her appetite.

'Does that mean we have to stay in Clover Town now until we get told otherwise?' Wendy looked concerned as the surrounding tables starting to climb to their feet, heading towards the reception area, asking what they presumed were the same questions they had.

'We'll ask at reception after the crowd dies down. For now, let's enjoy our breakfast, we can always walk back to Magnolia if needed. I'm sure the magic council know what they are doing.' Erza swallowed another mouthful of strawberry shortcake after her statement.

'Isn't a bit early for cake…' Carla couldn't hide the quizzical look on her face at Erza's plate in front of her.

Gray and Juvia approached the front desk of the hotel. Noticing the rather shaken and exhausted receptionist in front of them.

'Excuse me miss, I'm sure you've had a lot of questions already about this, but do you have any information about what is happening?' Juvia's soft spoken manner seemed to be a relief to the young woman.

'I'm sorry miss, we don't have any information yet about the news bulletin. Perhaps if you went to the train station yourselves, they may have been given more information. I believe that is what a number of the other guests were discussing.'

'Thank you.' Juvia gave a soft smile to the woman and bowed her head to her before turning to Gray beside her.

'Juvia is happy to go to the train station by herself if you and the others would like to contact the guild.' Juvia shuffled nervously in front of Gray, hands clasped and fidgeting on the spot.

It was all to clear to Gray that she in fact wanted him to come with her. She was cute like that.

'No, we'll both go. The others can handle calling Mira themselves whilst we double check. Besides I need a break from flame-brain.'

He could tell his decision to go with her excited the bluenette in front of him. She wasn't very good as hiding the way she felt about the ice mage. Her eyes practically bulged from her head.

'Yes Gray-Sama!'

'Remind me why we are doing this again?' Natsu and Lucy stood inside a magic shop browsing through the goods on the shelves ahead of them.

'Yukino told me that she found one of her gate keys here in Clover Town. I thought I may get lucky and find another one!'

'But Lucy haven't all the zodiac keys been found? There's a good fish shop near here!' Happy floated around the window of the shop gazing longingly.

'He has a point Luce; besides I still think we should be finding out more about this Virus. Lisanna and Laki are still stuck in Onibus.'

Lucy nodded in acknowledgement at the fire mage ahead of here. 'I'm worried about them too, but you heard Erza, we can't do anything that may make the Master or the Magic Council angry at us. We don't know what this thing is yet, we need to do more research. I've asked Crux to investigate it for us. Whilst we wait, I thought we'd do some shopping! I hope I can find another Nikora! Plue would have someone to play with!'

Natsu and Happy exchanged a look between them at the excited blonde in front of them. 'Where did Erza and Wendy go anyway?'

'Erza wanted to pick up some strawberry cake for the journey home. In case we must walk. We should get some fish too!' Happy had started pulling at Lucy's skirt to change her attention to the fish shop opposite.

'Erza-San, don't you think we should be investigating this Virus more? I'm sure there are ways of getting into Onibus Town from here? Maybe we could help some people and find Lisanna and Laki.' Wendy walked alongside the scarlet haired mage as she eyed the cakes in front of her.

Erza turned to the young mage and Carla with a serious expression. 'I understand your concerns, Wendy. I wish we could do something, but I feel the situation is a lot more serious than we may know.'

'What do you mean? Do you know something more than us?' Carla folded her arms at the mage.

'The Master called me and Mira into his office after his first announcement. The Magic Council are being very secretive about the situation. It was actually the Master who suggested we accompany Juvia here to find out more information.'

Both Wendy and Carla looked at one another in disbelief. 'But Erza-San, if Master knows we are here why are we being so secretive with the others?'

Erza sighed, relaxing herself as she faced towards the two. 'If Natsu and Gray knew that Master was concerned then there would be no stopping them from entering Onibus Town and potentially making the situation worse. We don't know what this Virus is, but its harmful to both magic users and non-magic users. We can't do anything that may cause harm to the citizens of Onibus. Besides if we were to enter Onibus Town, we also would be isolated.'

Both Wendy and Carla were silent, their expressions communicating their acceptance.

'Now let's get some cake, it may be a long walk back to Magnolia.'

Juvia and Gray headed back towards the hotel side by side. Their findings were as they expected. All the train stations in Fiore had been closed but with little information as to why.

Juvia and Gray had assisted the staff in trying to calm the crowds of unhappy customers before retiring to the hotel to update their guildmates.

'Juvia is sorry, it seems Gray-Sama, and the others are going to have to walk back with Juvia to Magnolia.'

Gray raised an eyebrow at the young woman beside him. She was always so negative on herself, apologising and presuming this to be her fault.

'Why are you apologising? If we hadn't joined you, you would have had to travel back to Magnolia by yourself. Isn't it better this way?'

Juvia admired Gray in his positivity, smiling silently to handsome ice mage beside her.

They updated the rest of the group when they arrived back at the hotel. They had been able to keep their rooms for another night before travelling back in the morning.