Façade | Jerza

34 | Uncharted Territory and Unlikely Impostors

"It's been two days, and there hasn't been any progress made on Michelle's job request," Lucy sighed, slumping over a round table. "Instead, we've been dealing with the aftermath of the festival. Whose idea was it to have a grand celebration in the middle of an important mission?"

"I thought it could be a way to bring things back to normal," Wendy mumbled.

"You did good, kid," Gajeel said. "Don't listen to the blondie. She's the only one who didn't care to enjoy the events."

Natsu grunted at Gajeel's input. "Hey, you're one to talk!" he pointed to his bandaged arms. "You ruined the festivities by running away from Laxus!"

Lucy sighed. "Sorry, Wendy. I didn't mean it like that. It was fun, even Michelle enjoyed it as well. But now we have to get back to business and pick out teams to search for the clock pieces."

"I think Erza should pick the teams," Happy snorted.

Natsu gawked at him. "Erza is terrible at picking teams. Why does she always decide to put me with the pervert?"

Gray hardly spared a glance at him. "You seem very talkative. I wonder how much of this you would actually say to Erza's face."

"Gray, clothes." Lucy reminded.

"I'll say it to her face!" Natsu roared.

"Will you?" Mirajane inquired in a low voice. She had transformed into Erza, and as a result, Natsu jumped from his spot. The hairs on his back stood upon hearing the warrior's voice.

"E-Erza? There you are...I heard Jellal calling for you."

Mirajane transformed back to herself, causing Gray and Lucy to laugh.

Lucy grinned. "That was well-deserved. And the Jellal card doesn't always work."

"That's enough, Mira," Makarov said, waving his staff nonchalantly. "I think Natsu has been traumatized enough. If you all want to be on your way with the mission, then get going."

Lucy nodded. "Right, this expedition will require us to travel in groups. We were helpless against Zentopia's Legion Platoon last time. Now that we got a taste of their magic, let's assign groups strategically."

"Who would want to team up with Gray, anyway?" Natsu glanced at Juvia, who turned away. "See, nobody!"

Gray's eyes narrowed. "I don't recall anyone asking for your opinion!"

He looked back at Juvia, who remained a bit distant. Gray remembered their battle during Phantom Lord, which was awkward to say the very least. Her sudden refusal to battle him, the urge to cage him in hot water. Falling in love only because he had spared her.

He did not recognize this Juvia, now.

Cana laughed. "Well, Natsu, your biggest nightmare is about to become a reality. My cards will assign teams based on Erza's intuition."

"No," Natsu outright rejected. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"

Lucy waved him off. "Erza is a strategist. She might not be book smart, but she knows how to defeat her opponents. By analyzing the magic her enemies use, she can craft some pretty great counter-strategies. I say we do it, Cana!"

"Don't encourage her Luce! Hey Gramps, tell them to stop!"

Makarov, in turn, chuckled. "I like Cana's idea. I'd rather you all not get involved in this investigation in the first place, as we don't know what'll happen if all these clock pieces are gathered together. That being said, we cannot allow chaos to descend. So let's leave this for the cards to decide."