The walk to the guild was a peaceful silence, and brisk indeed. They were standing in front of the guild doors in no time, already hearing the rowdy group inside. Sting felt eyes looking at him and snapped his head to the right. "What?" He asked gently to the pinkette who was staring at him.

Natsu smirked, "Nothing, just wondering what people are gonna say about you wearing my scarf.". Sting reached to his neck and felt the scaled item, he had forgotten he was wearing it. He figured that the scent of Natsu was coming from... well... Natsu.

"Ye-yeah... that'll be interesting," He said quietly. 'I should've worn something else...' He realized, but it was already too late.

"Who cares, not like it matters," Natsu said casually before taking a step forward. "Cmon lets go, I want to go on a job today!" He declared cheerfully.

Sting quickly perked up, "Okay!". He followed behind, "But make sure it's a fun job, I don't want to go on another stupid delivery job. That was so boring...!".

Natsu nodded, "Can't believe Rogue and Lucy roped us into that one...". He quickly recalled the mission, it was titled 'marche des minéraux' or 'Walk the minerals'. It had been three days of torture of walking a wagon filled with precious metals down from the mountains and to a rich ocean estate... for a measly one million jewel. Split amongst Wendy, Carla, Happy, Frosch, Natsu, Lucy, Sting, Erza, Gray, Juvia, and Cana oddly enough, it was hardly enough to be worth much for all that effort. Especially when they had to wait for Cana to drag her sleigh of alcohol around.

They entered the guildhall only to find it in its usual messy and disserade state. Rogue was missing from the scene, most likely having opted to restock the guilds kitchen of anything it was lacking. While he didn't wish, it at least he said he doesn't, to work in the kitchen he would always help out when possible. Usually his excuse was because Natsu and Sting would wake up hours after he had arrived.

"Hey Mira!" Natsu called as he approached the bar.

"Good eveni- err, morning Natsu. Have you had breakfast?" She asked politely.

Natsu nodded, "Yeah, but can I have a water?" He asked.

"Sure thing." She turned to the blond quickly approaching behind him. "And for you Sting?" She asked, smiling brighter than usual, much to Natsu's discomfort.

"Oh, just a... a glass of milk would be nice," He answered. A 'glass of milk' was always one of a few items Sting would order in the morning. He refused Coffees and teas and always went with the more childish things like lemonade, and milk. Usually preferring whiter substances since he enjoyed the taste.

"A milk day, I see. I'll be right back then." She said cheerfully before turning around and making her way towards the kitchen.

Sting sat down next to Natsu, "What was that about?" He asked without turning to face him, he sounded concerned. Even though they both knew Mira was a bit of a loony, she looked a little more insane then usual, smiling the way she had a minute ago.

Natsu grinned, "No idea,". But if he had to guess, it was thanks to his clothing.

Sting put his chin in his palm and lazily sat there, waiting for anything interesting to happen. Luckily he didn't have to wait long. "Heya guys," Lucy said as she walked over and sat on Natsu's other side as Sting was on the end.

"Hey/Hiya" They responded happily. They watched Lucy's facial expression change as she looked between the two before finally catching on to one subtle, but large, difference.

She turned her head slightly, "Why are you wearing Natsu's scarf, Sting?" She asked the other blond.

Mira, right on cue, returned in time to hear the question that was on her own mind be asked. "Yeah, why are you wearing it, Sting" She asked, partially, knowingly. While she had expected him to wear something to cover the fresh mark on his neck, Natsu's scarf was not a hypothesized item. And, it rekindled other imagined scenarios in her mind.

Sting had to stifle a chuckle as he saw Natsu's face pale out of the corner of his eye. Most likely from nervousness for something, not really, trivial. 'Well what'd he expect, I told him I shouldn't. I should've just worn one of Rogues hideo- Umm... masterpieces!'.

He smiled at the two, ridiculously curious, girls. "Natsu scratched up my neck during training, and there are a few bruises too. So gotta keep it covered since it's sunny out," He lied... unless of course, 'sunny' meant a nosy guild full of even nosier members.

"Natsu!" Lucy glared at the pinkette. "Why'd you do something like that?" She asked concerned, but also with a slight dark aura.

Natsu gulped, 'Did edolas lucy somehow sneak into earthland... I don't remember her being this scary before!'.

Sting waves it off, "When your training with claws and teeth there are always gonna be a few accidents," he said vividly hoping the celestial spirit mage might catch on to what he meant.

Almost immediately her face lit up, "You did it, for real this time!?" She asked excitedly.

Sting nodded triumphantly. "Yep!"

Lucy pulled out her 'on the go' writing journal and then leaned forward and snatched a pen from behind the counter. "So, for my book, can you tell me what you looked like? I'm having trouble with ideas and it's getting sorta bland..." she trailed off her explanation and proceeded to stare at Sting.

He opened his mouth to speak but Natsu spoke first. He stared straight into Lucy's eyes while explaining his appearance, "Imagine a cute lil fluffy cloud, and add in a little bit of teeth, and a few claws and that's Sting!" He said in a silly childlike voice. He turned to Sting, "Right?" He asked teasingly.

Sting huffed and pouted but nodded, "Guess so..." he grumbled. Lucy scribbled this all onto some random page, already covered in other jiberish. How she'll find it again, that's a secret only she probably knows.

"Thanks!" She closed and put away the booklet.

"So Luce, me and Sting are going on a job, wanna come?" Natsu asked, starting up another conversation as he took another sip of his water.

Lucy grinned hap... wait no... greedily. "Of course! Rents due next week so I'll need money asap,".

Sting smiled, "Great, I'll go find a job then. Find some others to come along, maybe?". He downed the glass of milk in one go before standing up.

"Alright!" Natsu replied happily. He turned back to Lucy after a moment, not realizing he had remained staring at Sting as he walked towards the request board. "So... what have you been up to?" He asked, trying to sound casual.

She turned from where she had been looking at the specials menu behind the counter, "Not much, a few odd jobs around town mostly. Erza has been working on that crazy plot of hers and Gray's been reclusive, as usual, so I can't go on any big jobs." She replied with a hint of disappointment.

Natsu chuckled, "You could, it's not like your being forced not to,". He gave a toothy grin trying to give her some courage.

She shook her head almost immediately, "I don't like going on solo jobs like that. Too risky, even if the pay is nice...".

"Whatever, but remember what you always say 'I'm never alone with my spirits!'." Natsu shrugged, "Anyway its your call, who do you want to invite along?"

Lucy rubbed her chin in thought, "hmm, definitely not Cana, she's being held prisoner by Erza and Rogue... count those two out too... Wendy's out with Shadowgear..." She continued to list down people who couldn't go, so Natsu began to doze off with his head on the counter. His eyes drifted away from the blond before him and settled on another across the room.

He watched as he walked back and forth in front of the board looking at different requests that caught his eye. He couldn't help but think he was adorable... 'when did I start thinking he was adorable again...?' He asked himself. 'It was before he was sick... maybe just a couple weeks after he moved in?'.

He questioned his own thoughts and theories to where these warm feelings came from. 'Definitely after the games, he was a total ass then...' He added to the growing requirements list for when. 'But definitely before that last sparring match he had with Rogue...'. Suddenly it clicked, 'Two weeks after they moved in! On that mission!'.

*Flashback*

Natsu, Sting, and Rogue were all rolling in pain from their motion sickness as they rode the train. "I can't *groan* believe you tal- *uhh* -ked us into th- *errr* is..." Sting groaned.

"Well sorr- *grrr* -y that we go thr- *eeh* -ough groceries th- *uhhh* -ree times as fast..." Natsu panted out through the waves of pain and nausea.

"Aye! Going from feeding two mouths to six is a lot, especially when three of them are dragon slayers!" Happy said from his seat next to the window, coloring with the other exceeds.

Why might you ask? Because Frosch is a little artist, and the Exceeds were rather bored of watching their partners groan and roll in pain for hours on end. "How much longer is this train ride anyway?" Lector asked after another long groan of pain from Natsu filled the train car.

"Fro wonders too!" The green feline said without looking up from their drawing. If you're curious, the master piece of thy Frosch was an original work of... a frog on a rainbow.

Almost as if on cue, the PA system started up. "Hello passengers, we will be arriving at Sabredent station in fifteen minutes, please make sure to collect all personal items before you get off the train. Thank you,", they heard a click signifying that it had been shut off.

"Only fifteen minutes, isn't that great Sting!" Lector exclaimed.

"Only fifteen min- *grrr* -utes till more hell..." He groaned. Ah yes, that's right, the city Sabredent is home to the illustrious Sabertooth guild, the fourth strongest guild in Fiore. It was, in fact, named after the Sabertooth guild. Before the guild set up shop the town was nothing more than an unnamed village in the mountains, but thanks to their presence more and more people flocked into the area forming the beautiful town. Almost all cities that have a powerful guild in them grow exponentially, thanks to the lower risk of crime and dark guilds in the area. Someone stole your fruit cart? Hire a mage to track it down right after the incident occured.

"Hopefully we don't bump into anyone from Sabertooth..." Happy said, almost reading Sting's mind. He grunted in agreement.

"That would suck..." Natsu's cheeks puffed out with another wave of motion sickness.

"Yes, it would," Rogue turned another shade of green. The Dragon slayers remained silent for the rest of the train ride while the cat's continued drawing.

"We are now pulling into the station, please prepare to unboard the train." The PA announcer, well, announced.

"Time to get up, you three," Happy said as he stood up and grabbed his bag. The three groaned in argument. "You want to ride to the next station you say?"

"No!" Sting and Natsu yelled desperately as they withered around. Rogue scoffed, but said nothing otherwise.

Happy hopped down into the center of the group, "Then get ready to drag yourselves off of this-"

"Death trap!" Natsu whined loudly, interrupting Happy.

"What he said..." Sting whispered as he grew paler.

"Oh come on Sting, you'll feel better once you get off," Lector patted his head.

"Fro thinks so too!" The green exceed shouted as it jumped up and down on Rogues belly.

"Frosch your killing him..." Lector facepalmed and sighed. Once the train stopped the Exceeds managed to coax the group to crawl and drag themselves off the vehicle.

"We're walking home..." Natsu stated breathlessly. Laying down on the train platform.

"No way, that'll take way too long," Happy argued, putting his foot down and stomping their hopes.

"Pleas-" He was prepared to beg.

"No, now come on, we have to go and talk to the client," Happy summoned his wings and flew above Natsu.

"Anything to get out of this town," Sting grumbled under his breath as he stood up on wobbly legs. "So where is this client anyway?" He asked no one in particular.

"The flier said to go to the bakery on Main Street," Rogue answered as he got up and brushed his clothing off.

"Aye! And remember not to do anything... stupid," The cats chuckled.

"What's that supposed to mean!" Natsu put on a face of fake hurt.

"Nothin," He grinned at his own vague response.

The group began to walk towards where Rogue and Lector recalled Main Street was, while Sting and Natsu were both clueless and looking around in surprise. "I expected this city to be much more... I don't know... barren?" Natsu broke the quiet silence that fell over them.

"Yeah, I expected it to be a ghost town..." Sting watched as a lady bought flowers from a street vendor.

Rogue snickered in front of them, "What, Why? It's not like losing the grand magic games would suddenly make this town vanish,"

Sting and Natsu thought for a moment, but came up blank. "Happy, does that count as something stupid?" Lector taunted the two.

Happy smirked, "Maybe..." he looked at them with an evil look in his eyes. "...but maybe not," He grinned and laughed playfully as he stared up at them. Suddenly his eyes snapped behind the two and he went silent .

The two took notice of this and turned around quickly without a word. "Huh, what is it Happy?" Lector asked, concerned because of the sudden change in behavior and position.

"I thought I saw someone familiar... like I saw them before," He responded without moving his head.

"Maybe someone you saw at the games? Lots of people here go to watch them," Rogue looked at the blue exceed, not much in terms of concern showing on his face. He picked up Frosch who was standing next to him just in case.

"Fro thinks so too..." They said, not cheerfully like usual.

"Aye..." Happy mumbled as he turned around. "Let's keep going shall we? I want to make it home by tonight!"

"Alright..." Rogue looked from the cat to the other dragon slayers. "come on you two!" He called.

Sting and Natsu both turned around quickly, "Yeah! I want to do something fun when we get back!" Natsu grinned cheerfully and childishly.

"Like what?" Lector asked the pinkette.

"Eat!" Sting responded for him.

Natsu nodded, "Yep!".

"Of course..." Rogue sighed. They were walking for another few minutes before they reached Main Street. "Which bakery Happy?" He asked.

"The one with the client!" He said while holding onto the flier.

"No I mean... which one," He asked again.

"The one with the client! I just said that," Happy answered again.

Rogue facepalmed and spoke through his palm, "What's the name of the bakery...".

"Probably the one that's open," Happy grinned and pointed to the only bakery that had a little 'open' sign flashing in front.

"You're useless," Rogue grunted.

"No, I'm a cat!" Happy replied before throwing the job request at him.

Lector, Sting, and Natsu watched with amusement at the two arguing. They began to follow the two, three if you include Frosch in Rogue's arms, to the bakery Happy had pointed out. "Hey, isn't that Sting and Rogue from Sabertooth?" A bystander pointed out.

"Your right, that is! I haven't seen them around since the games... I wonder what they're doing with that pink one," Another commented. It seems not everyone knows of their banishment and expulsion.

"Hey look at their guild marks..." One whispered.

"Oh my! They've joined another guild?" An old lady said in surprise.

"Seems so... gonna miss seeing them around if they did," Another man, possibly the woman's husband as he was also old, said solemnly.

Natsu smirked, "Seems like news has yet to spread,".

"Aye..." Happy agreed, but sounded a bit concerned. Maybe about how they might react to all the stares and comments. Sure they've verbally expressed their dislike of their old guild when asked about it, but it's another thing when it's people talking about them on the streets. Magnolia was more... informed... about the new members so there wasn't much gossiping, but that isn't true for everywhere.

Jason from sorcerer weekly had interviewed them with the guild after the games so it should only be a couple of days, maybe a week, until everyone hears about it. They had to skip out on any details, as according to their ex-masters letter. They figured it would be best not to say 'Sabertooth's master was an ass who kicked us out for losing', as that is a publicity argument just waiting to happen.

Sting shrugged. "Guess not," He said simply, he didn't exactly feel like talking when so many people were staring at them. They reached the building and entered to find it scary empty. Not only of people, but baked goods.

Natsu cried out, almost as if in pain as he looked along the empty racks and glass showcases . "Where's the bread!? The cookies!? The cakes!?" His nose twitched as he tried to sniff out any of the pastries.

"Aye!" Happy screeched, a few octaves higher then he usually spoke at.

Before any more comments could be made about the state of the business an old man popped up behind the counter. His face showed he was greatly saddened, and surprised at the same time, he cleared his throat before greeting them. "Welcome, but I'm very sorry to te-" He stopped himself when he saw their guild marks on their shoulders, his face switched from the previous expression to one of enthusiasm and excitement. "Oh! You're the wizards from FairyTail!" He walked around the countertop, and now they could see he was basically the same height as Makarov. Maybe a few inches taller.

"Yes, that would be us," Rogue stated plainly, not seeing why he should ask about the situation of the shop. Wasn't his business, at least he thought.

But Natsu and Sting had another idea. "Where's all the food!" They yelled out in sync, giving each other momentary glances out of surprise.

The old man chuckled, "That's why you were hired,". He smiled before continuing, "all imports of the ingredients we need have been... interrupted..." he trailed off into thought.

"What kind of interruption?" Lector asked.

The man snapped back to reality, "Oh, sorry.". He rubbed the back of his neck before continuing, "There's some bandits running rampant targeting merchants and traders, mostly those traveling with flour, sugar, and other ingredients. I want you to deal with them, and as mentioned on the flier I also want some help with staffing. I sent all my employees to our sister bakery in the next town over, so they can pay their bills. Sadly it'll take them a couple of days to get news and return,". He explained.

"So just take out the bandits, then help you by... baking?" Rogue asked, a little amused that both of his talents would be required for the completion of this quest.

"Righteo" He nodded, "They should have a few carts full of ingredients so don't worry about that. I've already talked with the merchants and as long as they get there other items, they'll be more than happy to give us the ingredients,"