Took me a while to write this all out, but it's finally done!! No idea when the 4th chapter will be done... hopefully soon :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Lisanna's POV~

We were at the guild hall early in the morning, cleaning the place up from yesterday's disastrous fight. It wasn't really fair since we didn't get involved—well, maybe Mira did for a bit—and yet we were the ones who had to come early and clean everything up. I guess that's what happens when your sister is the barmaid. I opened the drawer and pulled out a washcloth, getting it a bit damp with water before wiping it across the table. Mira was behind the bar counter, organizing the dishes and rearranging the books on the shelves. Elfman was carrying the tables and benches back to their places, muttering about how unmanly everyone was for fighting and destroying the guild hall.

"Hey, Lisanna," Mira called, waving me over. "Did we ever get to finish all those cake orders yesterday?"

"I think we did," I said. "I remember baking them and leaving them on the rack for you to decorate. You did, didn't you?"

"Of course I did," she responded, staring at a paper in her hands. "But we might've missed one."

"We did?!" I grabbed the paper from her and read it quickly. "Oh no..."

We had missed a large order of a hundred cakes placed by...

"Erza?!"

I panicked. "We have to get started right away, Sis! Here, I'll start mixing the ingredients for the cake bases. Can you do the icing and decorations?"

She shut the cabinet door. "We're out of flour and sugar, Lis, and the stores don't open until nine. We won't be able to finish a hundred strawberry cakes before noon, even if we worked nonstop."

"The stores don't open until nine?! That's two hours from now!" I took a breath and calmed myself down, shuddering at the thought of facing Erza's wrath.

"This isn't fair," she said angrily, fiddling with her hands as she leaned over the bar counter. "It's not like I'm the only one responsible for all the chaos yesterday. If we're getting punished, then everyone else should be as well."

"Don't worry, Mira, they are."

~Erza's POV~

I walked down the stairs from the second floor of the guild hall, meeting Mira, Lisanna, and Elfman.

"Erza!" Lisanna squeaked. "What are you doing here so early in the morning?"

"It's like you said earlier," I ignored her, turning to Mira. "You did a good amount of damage to the hall yesterday, Mira. It's a miracle no one was seriously injured during the fight."

She scoffed, coming around the bar counter and crossing her arms. "I won't shy away from the truth. All that you just said was true, Erza. But I clearly remember that I was not the only one involved. Nearly everyone was. And you are most certainly not innocent as well. You attacked Natsu and Gray after they demolished your strawberry cake."

"Yes, I know," I sighed, sitting down on one of the bar stools. "It's a terrible habit of mine, but it's rather hard for me to control." I folded my arms across my chest, looking down at the ground and thinking for a moment. "One of Lucy's celestial spirits... the pink-haired one in the maid outfit... Virgo. She appeared in front of me last night and suggested that I punish everyone in the guild. We all need to learn to control ourselves. We've already rebuilt the guild four times; at this rate, I'm afraid Master won't be able to deal with our rowdiness anymore."

Mira sighed. "You're right. Master shouldn't have to worry about us now. He needs some peace and quiet to recover."

Elfman, finished with the tables, came over and slammed his fist onto the counter. "If everyone would just man up and take the fights outside, our Master would have a lot less to worry about! He's a real man! But even a man needs time to heal."

Lisanna nodded. "Better not let Evergreen hear you say that again, Big Brother," she laughed lightly. "She'll slap you every time you say the word 'man'."

Mira put a hand to her mouth to stifle the giggle escaping from her lips. I shook my head at their silliness. As ridiculous and immature as they seem, they're all my dear friends. "Which reminds me... I need to speak to you, all three of you. It's something important."

"What's up, Erza?" Mira asked, leaning forward attentively. "We're all ears."

"Well... actually, it's something that I heard while I was on a job."

~Wendy's POV~

I opened the guild doors and stepped in, Carla right behind me. "Good morning," I said to the group gathered around the bar counter.

"Wendy! You're early today," Mira said, coming over and greeting me warmly.

"I woke up early," I responded simply. "Although I'm still tired..."

"Is your bruise getting better?" Erza asked, walking over to me. "I heard you got knocked in the face by one of the tables yesterday during the quarrel."

I laughed and shrugged it off. "It's fine now. A small injury like mine is nothing to worry about." My eyes averted to the bar counter, where the four had gathered.

"What were you all doing, gathered around the counter this early in the morning?" Carla asked, taking the question I had in mind.

"It's nothing," Erza said sternly, "Anyways, I must go now. I remember ordering something from the bakery yesterday evening. I should pick it up now." She hurriedly brushed past Mira, whispered something to her and quickly left the guild.

"I thought all stores in Magnolia open at nine," I said, puzzled.

Mira laughed nervously. "Don't think about it too much. Erza's probably just rushing home to get something."

~Lisanna's POV~

Erza seemed to be in a big hurry after Wendy and Carla arrived. I heard her whisper, "We'll talk later," and then she was gone.

~Mirajane's POV~

Whatever news Erza was about to say, it was obvious that she didn't want Wendy to know. I wondered what it could be. Oh well, maybe it's just something on her mind. I'll talk to her later.

~Erza's POV~

I sighed and crossed my arms, letting my breathing go back to normal before sitting down in the shade of the tree. The sun had risen a while ago, although the early morning wind was still a bit chilly. I requipped into a large black coat and pulled it closer around me. Better, I thought.

I breathed in the crisp air and slowly wandered into my thoughts. I thought back to the conversation I had overheard during my last quest.

Flashback

"We can't do that!" a man at the next table yelled, slamming his hand down on the table. The other two people at the table glared at him. He lowered his voice as he sat back down. "Lady Kyoka will not be pleased."

"Everywhere you go, you just have to stir up a commotion, don't you," the second man sighed. "Besides, we must do everything we can, no matter the cost, so we can keep the Tower in order."

"Still, what are we supposed to do about that girl...? Lady Kyoka said the time to awaken her will be soon."

"You fool," he sighed. "Do not think of that being as anything other than a weapon. We must make the sacrifices necessary in order to complete this mission. Human emotions and morals are completely out of the question in this situation. Do not speak so carelessly about them again."

"What about the others, then? Which one do you think is the most likely to be chosen?"

"We have no need to meddle in those matters. Come, now. I have matters to attend to in the headquarters. Lord Jackal wanted me to speak to him about something. We must not lounge about any longer."

It was at that time where the third person, a boy about fourteen years old, with neatly trimmed sandy-brown hair, stood up and said quietly, "This is the stupidest conversation I've ever heard." He stalked out of the cafe, leaving his two comrades behind.

"Oh, that Arnold," the first man sighed.

"What a mood. Anyhow, let's go now. We have business to attend to."

End of Flashback

At the time, I hadn't recognized the names mentioned. Kyoka... and Jackal. Those two men hadn't mentioned anyone else, but it was possible. It certainly was something to look into.

It's possible... that they are somehow related to Tartaros.

~Wendy's POV~

"I wonder what all that was about," I whispered to Carla.

"I have no idea, child," she responded, turning away from me and sighing.

I turned to Mira. "Is there anything I can do for today? I don't have anything planned for the day, and I don't want to sit around all day."

She laughed nervously, wringing her hands and glancing at Lisanna before answering, "Actually... we really could use your help today, Wendy. You see, Erza is punishing everyone who was involved in the guild fight yesterday. And my punishment just so happens to complete an insanely large order of strawberry cakes for her by noon. It really would be a great help if you could lend us a hand, Wendy."

I nodded and smiled. "Of course! I'd be happy to help." There's nothing else to do, anyways.

"Well, we'll have to wait for the grocery shops to open before we can get the supplies for the cakes," Lisanna said. "Until then, let's rest a bit before the others come. Tea, anyone?"

"I'll have a cup, please," Carla said. She crossed her paws and her ears drooped a little. Her tail wavered back and forth as she was consumed by her thoughts.

Hesitantly, I reached out and petted her head gently. "Carla... are you still... um..."

"Still what?" Mira leaned forward on the counter. "I don't mean to pry, but... oh, all right, I'm prying. What happened?"

Carla groaned, disliking this new attention. Lisanna, who had poured the cup of tea for her, brought it over and joined her sister. "What's on your mind?"

"Last night, Wendy came home extremely late. She says that she fell asleep while stargazing with that fire wizard, Romeo--"

"Hold on, what?!" Mira turned on me, her blue eyes wide to the brim with excitement and newfound interest. "What were the two of you doing, hmm?" A sly smile began to spread across her face. There was no escape now.

"Her matchmaker soul is out and about now," Lisanna giggled. "I wish you the best of luck, Wendy. You're probably going to be with her for a while now."

Carla gasped and dropped her cup of tea on the counter, her eyes filling with fear and terror. Her nose twitched, her whiskers quivered, and her tail went still. "No... that's not it."

We quickly gathered around her, Elfman joining us. "Carla?" I asked, lightly shaking her. "What's... what's wrong?"

"I had a vision."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And it's not the same one as her previous one!! :D

If you like this so far, please add it to a reading list or your library or something like that, since I have no idea how my update schedule will be like. 

~Angel