They arrived at the town many hours later, and Levy waved goodbye to the Pegasus that had flown them across Fantasia. But Gajeel was walking with a limp, "Hell, I'm sore!"

     Levy stuck her tongue out at him, then turned to observe her surroundings.

     The air was cold, but they were sheltered from any icy breeze that might've been blowing along by the thick pine trees that surrounded them. The cloudy sky above seemed to promise snow, and the ground beneath them was cold and covered with dead pine needles.

     "Shrimp, do a scout and check above these trees to see how far away we are from the town," Gajeel ordered, stretching in an attempt to relax his stiff muscles, "Ow...I sat still for too long!"

     "And I flew for too long," Levy muttered, but knew he wouldn't care, so she just zipped up through the tree branches into a gray sky.

     Gajeel scowled, leaning against a tree while he waited. Then he saw a piece of paper tacked to the next tree over, and he pulled it off to examine it. It read "Wanted: all unicorns, fairies, sorcerers, witches, succubi, and magical creatures of all kind. Wanted for extinction. Signed by Joseph Conrei and Julio Gracielle."

     He stared at it, confused. Wanted for extinction? He knew Joseph Conrei was the king of Rauberia, and this Julio Gracielle guy was getting suspicious. But if succubi were wanted for extinction, then Levy would be in trouble.

     But...then she'd have to leave since she was in trouble, and he couldn't just quit the job. He gritted his teeth, then shoved the poster deep into his pocket. If she saw it, she'd leave. And as annoying as she could be, he didn't want her to leave for some reason. She was his only friend.

     'Not that you treat her like one' a voice in his head said knowledgeably, but he decided not to worry about it, so he just called up, "Oi shrimp! What's takin' so long?"

     Levy zoomed down, "East. But my wings hurt," she landed on the ground in front of him, switching to human form, then glanced away mumbling, "Not that you care."

     Gajeel frowned, then ruffled her hair, "You can rest on my shoulder if you want." he muttered.

     "Really?" her eyes brightened.

    "Yeah, you look exhausted," he turned away with a snort.

     Levy was surprised. Usually, he never even glanced twice at her when she was tired. Then she smiled, "Thanks, Gajeel," she morphed into succubi form and landed on his shoulder.

     He rolled his eyes, "But only for a bit. Then you have to suck it up and deal with it."

     "Okay," Levy sighed. There it was. That was what she was used to. But Gajeel pulled out a compass, "Okay, east it is! That way," he pointed to their left, "Let's go."

     As they walked (or Gajeel walked, really), Levy let out a long sigh, rubbing her eyes. She was tired, and really hungry. That long fly had worn her out. Not that she'd say anything to Gajeel about it.

     It wasn't always this way: Levy used to share all her problems with Gajeel and vice versa, and they'd help each other. But that had changed too. Neither of them were sure if the other would be annoyed if they asked for help.

     Levy sighed, yawning sleepily. Never mind sleep, she told herself. She could just sleep that night or on the way back.

     Gajeel reached the foot of the town surrounding the castle and looked around, "According to my mission slip, we're right beside where we need to be."

     "That's fortunate," Levy shrugged.

     "Hey,uh, shrimp...could you stay human this whole trip?" Gajeel asked hesitantly, not wanting her to be hunted by the people capturing magical creatures.

     "Why?" she frowned.

     "Oh...so you don't get squished between anythin'. Busy town and such." Gajeel scowled, "Don't ask questions."

     Levy sighed wearily, knowing there was no use in arguing, "Yes, Gajeel." She hopped off his shoulder, turning human at the same time. She remembered Jet and Droy, her friends, and sighed again, "Aw...why couldn't I have been Jet or Droy's succubi?"

     Gajeel scowled, looking away, "What's so good about them?" he asked bitterly.

     "They're nice to me, care about my well being, and actually help me when I'm hurt or tired!" Levy said heatedly at his tone.

     "You like them cause they pamper you."

     "No, I like them because they're good friends!" Levy corrected, "They're really nice to me. If they were here now, they'd let me rest in succubi form, just sleeping until my wings weren't sore!"

     "Well, I told you to be in human form, so you're gonna stay in human form," Gajeel growled, continuing to trudge across the streets.

     "But I'm hungry," Levy muttered.

     "You ate this mornin'."

     "I eat three meals a day, Gajeel, I'm not an animal! And it's evening, I have every right to be hungry!"

     "But your complainin' is annoying." Gajeel rolled his eyes, "So suck it up, shrimp."

     "I hate you," she snapped, turning her back on him, "I'm just going to go back home, and— "

     She broke off into a gasp as Gajeel smoothly pulled her onto his back, growling, "You wanna rest? Well, fine I'll carry you. But you're stayin' human."

     Levy's face went red as he walked with her on his back, piggy back style. "G-Gajeel-?!"

     "Shut it."

     Levy found herself relaxing and getting sleepier. "Shouldn't we find ourselves an inn or something? It took us all day to get here, and I know you're just as hungry as I am."

     Gajeel sighed, "Fine, shrimp."

     Levy blinked. Had she heard right? Was he seriously listening to her? And was there a catch?

     "Well, I'll look around a bit, get our bearing of this place, then head back to a tavern or something."

     "Um, I said inn."

     "Taverns have food. And like you said we're both hungry, so we oughta go to a taveren and get food," Gajeel grumbled, still carrying her on his back.

     Levy sighed, resting her chin on his shoulder and making him stiffen slightly, "Why do you have to make everything so difficult?"

     "Just shut up and enjoy the ride. It ain't happenin'again any time soon." he promised.