Laxus got out of his grandfather's office, holding the flyer of the SS-class job. After he did that, he could feel a mix of scents at the second floor, including the one he was ready to look for. He followed them and found Erza, Natsu and Lucy (the others should be downstairs waiting for them) in front of the board with the S-class jobs. He could already hear Natsu and Lucy arguing about which job to pick.

"Are you crazy?!" Lucy asked. "No way we are going to pick that one!"

"Why not?!" Natsu asked. "It's the one that is most exciting! Not to mention the one that involves a lot of fighting..."

"Precisely my point" Lucy replied. "S-class jobs are already hard as they are. We're not going to pick one based on your desire to fight the biggest threat."

"But the others sound too boring" Natsu replied. "Let Laxus and his team take them."

"Let Laxus and his team take what?" Laxus asked, as he approached.

"Uh, Laxus..." Erza said. "Sorry, about this... Apparently someone can't grasp that he is not the one here that gets to choose a job. Don't worry, we'll already leaving."

"Yeah, but first we're going to pick the best job here" Natsu said, using his boasting voice. "Told ya we would pick first. And we're going to get the one with the giant monster and you can get the scraps."

"Natsu!" Lucy admonished.

"If you want, you can get all those" Laxus replied. "I already have a job the old man gave to me."

"Uh, I bet it's some lame job, like serving as bodyguard..." Natsu told to Lucy, in his cocky attitude.

"Well, if you consider a SS-class job lame... then I think you're right" Laxus told, showing up the flyer to the three of them and expressing a smile that served to taunt Natsu.

All three of them reacted with great surprise, but Natsu was the most shocked, shouting:

"What?!"

"A SS-class job..." Erza said. "I have to admit that I myself feel a little envious of you, Laxus. Only experienced S-class wizards go on those jobs. But then again, after Gildarts, you are the most experienced S-class wizard of our guild..."

"Hey, this is not fair!" Natsu shouted. "Why would gramps give that job to you and not me?! I am much better..."

Before he could finish, Lucy gave him a smack on the head and said:

"He didn't give it to you because you're not a S-class wizard, remember? And he didn't give it to Erza because Laxus is more experienced. Seriously, can't your brain be faster than that big mouth of yours for once?"

Turning then to Laxus, Lucy smiled and told:

"I'm happy for you, Laxus. Knowing you, I bet you're going to finish it in no time."

That praise from Lucy was received without expectation by Laxus, who couldn't help but make a slight blush that passed almost undetected. Erza noticed it and couldn't help but make a slight smile. Clearing his throat as a way to react, Laxus said, as he scratched the back of his head:

"Thanks, Lucy... And it's good that you think that... because you're going to see it for yourself. You're coming with me."

That statement caught Lucy off-guard, asking:

"What?! Me... coming... with you...? In a... SS-class job?"

"You're taking Lucy?!" Natsu asked. "Did using lightning too many times fried your brain? She's in our team, remember?"

"Yeah, I know that... but this is not for debate" Laxus said.

"It's not for debate?" Lucy repeated. "And my opinion doesn't count?"

Erza was also surprised by that. Why would Laxus take Lucy on a SS-class job? Could it be that he would use that job to talk to her about his feelings? No, that couldn't be, as Laxus would never compromise a job to solve a personal issue. Not to mention she still knew about his uncertainty regarding his feelings. There could be only an explanation for that.

"Let me guess... the master was the one to take that decision?" Erza asked.

"Actually, the old man doesn't have the power of choice, here, either" Laxus replied. "This job requires a celestial wizard and, I don't know if you haven't notice, blondie, you're the only one Fairy Tail has."

"But..." Lucy started.

"And this job is too much important to refuse" Laxus added. "The old man was very clear about that."

"But..." Lucy continued to say.

It was then that she felt a hand landing on her shoulder. Lucy turned and saw Erza who was giving her one of her encouraging smiles.

"You don't need to feel so nervous" she said Lucy. "This will be a great experience for you. Not to mention that you will be with Laxus."

"I know, but..." Lucy started.

"Hey, if you don't want to go, then I..." Natsu started.

But he didn't finish, as Erza gave him a smack on the head that caused Natsu to fall on the ground semi-conscious.

"This job is not for you" Erza replied to him, before turning to Lucy. "I know that you're about to go outside of your comfort zone, with a job that is not like the ones you have taken and without us. But I am certain everything will be alright."

"Even so..." Lucy said.

Laxus could only guess what was going on in Lucy's mind. After all, it was not just about going on a potentially dangerous job, but also coming with him. He clearly wasn't planning this, but there was no way around. He needed a celestial wizard to do that job...

"You would get two million jewels with this job" Laxus told.

That statement clearly caught Lucy's attention. Laxus knew that she used to struggle a little with her rent... and most of that was because of the destruction that her team normally caused during their jobs. He decided to use that to convince Lucy to come and, even if that didn't work, he still had another way to convince her.

"Two million?" Lucy asked. "Wow... that would give me a big break in my financial problems..."

"Two million..." Erza said. "Assuming you are splitting the reward in half... that would make this job four million worthy... A little low for a dangerous job..."

"Yeah, but the old man said that part of the reward is meant for Fairy Tail itself" Laxus replied, seeing that was his chance to cast the last argument that would convince Lucy to come with him. "He didn't give much detail... as usual... but it must be something important. But if princess here doesn't want to help to make our guild stronger... I guess I can handle the job by myself."

He turned his back and started advancing and moving away. Meanwhile, Lucy heard what Laxus had said. Even if the job could be dangerous, the fact is she couldn't help but be curious about it... The reward was something that caught her attention. Sure, two million would solve a lot of financial issues... not to mention that she would be able to keep some for the publication of her novel. But the part that resonated the most in her was the mysterious reward that would go to the guild itself. Despite it was unknown what it was, clearly it could only be something amazing. And having in consideration the enemies and problems Fairy Tail had faced, every advantage the guild could have would be welcome.

But then she also remembered about what Laxus said that about the job specifically requiring a celestial wizard. Could it be that this was about some spirit causing trouble? But... wouldn't that mean that a celestial wizard could potentially be the cause? All that made her remember of celestial wizards like Everlue, Karen and Angel that hold no regard for their spirits and would use them for their selfish motives. If there was a spirit that was being abused the same way, Lucy felt it was her duty to try to free them.

However, when thinking she would have to be alone with Laxus during the duration of that job, Lucy would get nervous. Laxus was already intimidating by himself, but then there was all their history together and the confusing feelings she had for him. Would she be able to handle all that, while trying to handle a job that could become the hardest she had already faced?

"I know that accepting that job may be hard for you" Erza said to Lucy, as if guessing what she was thinking. "But no one ever said that the path of a wizard is easy."

"The job... is at a level that I never faced..." Lucy said.

"And yet you already faced two of the members of the Balam Alliance and saved the entire kingdom of Fiore from dragons" Erza said. "And let's not forget your actions on Edolas. You are the most talented celestial wizard I know. With Laxus by your side, I have no doubt that you will succeed in this job. Not to mention that you may solve your issues..."

"Issues?" a voice repeated, with that being Natsuo had just recovered and was getting up. "What issues?"

Rolling her eyes, Erza replied to him:

"Nothing of your interest."

And she gave him another smack that made him get semi-conscious again. After that, she continued:

"You don't have to worry, Lucy. You got this. And you don't have to worry about us either. We will be fine. Just go... and make our guild proud."

Despite the uncertainty she was feeling, Lucy felt Erza's words filling her with the courage she needed. Taking a deep breath, she started advancing to follow Laxus.

"That's the Lucy I know..." Erza admired with a smile.

"Oh, my head is spinning..." Natsu said, as he started to get up.

"Come on, Natsu" Erza said as she picked a job on the S-class board. "We have a job to do."

Remembering why they were there, Natsu quickly got up on his feet and exclaimed:

"Right! Time to pick a job..."

"Already done" Erza said, as she started to advance towards the stairs. "Try to keep up."

Natsu turned to the board and saw which job Erza took, saying:

"Hey, but that is the most boring one!"

"What did you say?" Erza asked, using her intimidating voice.

"Nothing!" Natsu hasted to say, as he got very stiff, like he used to whenever he got scared of Erza authoritarian voice.

"Good..." Erza replied, as she continued walking.

"Oh man... I really wanted to try that one..." Natsu sighed, as he followed her, while making a final look to the job he wanted to take.

Laxus descended from the second floor, as the Thunder Legion came to him.

"So... what did the master wanted?" Evergreen asked.

"I hope there's not any problem" Bickslow said.

"Not problem! Not problem!" the dolls repeated.

"Don't worry, there's no problem..." Laxus replied. "He just wanted to give me a special job."

"Well, in that case, we are ready to go" Fried said, as Evergreen and Bickslow nodded behind him.

There was a pause and then Laxus said:

"Sorry, guys, but this job is meant for two people... including me."

"Well... obviously that person can only be someone with the power and grace of a fairy..." Evergreen said, proudly.

"Yeah... if he has to face a bunch of pervert men..." Bickslow replied. "No offense, Ever, but I am the one with the strongest firepower in this three-men team."

"Firepower! Firepower!" His dolls repeated.

"What did you and your freaky dolls just say?!" Evergreen exclaimed, annoyingly.

"Guys, guys, let's calm down" Fried said, as he placed himself between his two teammates. "There is no reason to fight. We have to trust Laxus will make the right choice of which one of us to choose. However... if we are to consider the best choice, my Enchantments are far more useful."

"What?!" both Evergreen and Bickslow exclaimed.

As they continued to argue, Laxus just sighed, as the Thunder Legion wasn't even giving him the chance to tell them that neither of them would come with him. It was then that a voice called him:

"Laxus!"

He turned and he saw Lucy coming to him from the second floor. Once she arrived to his side (and after catching up her breath), she said:

"Okay, I will go with you on the job."

That statement caused the ones listening to that to gasp in surprise, especially the Thunder Legion who exclaimed:

"What?!"

"Hey, what is that you are saying about going with Laxus on a job?" Fried asked.

"Yeah, blondie, you already have a team, remember?" Bickslow added.

"A team that is right here..." Gray said, as him, Wendy, Carla and Happy approached. "What is all this, Lucy?"

"Well... you see..." Lucy started.

"Oh, I get it..." Happy said, as he approached Lucy and made his mischievious look. "These two are... in looooove..."

Lucy reacted to that, but giving a strong punch on Happy, throwing him against the floor, and shouted, while blushing:

"If it is to say something dumb, then try to keep that cat mouth shut!"

"I don't know... they do look good together..." Mirajane said, with a smile.

"Please, Mira, don't start it..." Lisanna said, in a whisper. "Have you forgotten about... that?"

"About what?" Elfman asked his little sister.

"Nothing that concerns you" she replied to him.

"Lucy is coming with me because my job requires a celestial wizard" Laxus replied.

"But, if that is the case, shouldn't that job be given to our team, instead?" Wendy asked.

"That sounds a more logical decision..." Carla commented.

"Their job is a SS-class" Erza said, as everyone saw her returning with Natsu who had a pouted look. "And was given specifically to Laxus by the master."

"And it is totally unfair..." Natsu continued to grunt. "I could totally do that job even faster than Laxus..."

The revelation that Laxus had been given an SS-class job surprised many people, even more that Lucy would team up with him.

Laxus, who had already enough of that, especially because he already had Lucy accepting to come with him, just turned to her and told her:

"Meet me at the train station in an hour. Try not to be late."

Having said that, he headed towards the exit of the guild hall, with the Thunder Legion going after him.

"Laxus, wait!" Fried said, as he went after his leader, followed by Evergreen and Bickslow.

"Okay, this was... something" Gray commented. "I feel like I am missing something here."

"Yeah... you're missing the point Laxus will have a lot more fun than we will..." Natsu sulked.

"Stop with the whining, Natsu" Erza told him. "We may not have a SS-class job, but we have a S-class one, so you better be glad I accepted to do one with you guys."

She said the last time using her pierce look that caused Natsu to put his best behavior and replied:

"Yes, mam!"

"So, let's get going" Erza said. "Go get your things and meet me on the train station. And yes, Natsu, I said train station."

Erza then turned to Lucy and gave her a comforting smile that filled her with more confidence for what was coming. As they left so each could prepare themselves for their respective jobs, Makarov was standing at the second floor watching them go.

"I wish you good luck, my children" he said, referring to Lucy and Laxus. "I can only hope you are ready for this challenge..."