Soka was sitting on top of one of the tables in the guild. She held a plate with a slice of chocolate cake on it. She poked it with her fork before she took a bite. She loved her chocolate cake. She would eat it everyday (which she basically did) if her mother didn't tell Mira to restrict the amount of cake she consumes.

She watched as Natsu, Happy and Lucy entered the guild coming back from a mission.
"Ugh! I can't believe you let them keep the reward...!" Lucy complained as she sat down at a table followed by Natsu and Happy.
"It wasn't right Lucy. We didn't complete the job" Natsu tried to assure Lucy as he sat across from her.
Happy landed on Natsu's shoulder. "Lushi. Stop being greedy!"
"Shut up cat!" Lucy glared at the blue exceed on her partner's shoulder.

Soka smiled watching them. She wanted to go over to them and ask them about their mission. So she finished what was on her plate and headed over to the three.
"Hey Lucy, Nastu and Happy!" She smiled as she sat down next to Lucy. "How'd your mission go?"
"It was alright..." Lucy sighed and gave a feint smile.
"Natsu destroyed stuff again!" Happy whined.
"I went a little overboard..." Natsu sweat a bit rubbing the back of his head.
"Sounds like fun!" Soka smiled. "Are missions fun?" But before Natsu could answer, Erza walked up to them.
"No!" She exclaimed.
"Why not?" Soka questioned.
"I know what you're doing! You're trying to get them to take you on a mission!" Erza growled.
"Why can't I go on a mission!"
"Because!"
"Because why?!?"
"Because I am your mother and I said so! And that means NO MISSIONS!!!" Erza growled as she stormed off.
Soka sighed. "Awe... why is she so hard...?"
"It's ok Soka. She just wants to keep you safe." Lucy gave Soka a reassuring smile as she gave her a pat on her back.
"Well I'm not a kid anymore! I'm 17! I can handle myself!" Soka stood up and pulled out a piece of paper out from her pocket and placed it on the table.
"What's that?" Lucy asked.
"A mission. It's simple. All we have to do is defeat a group of bandits"
"We?" Lucy looked at Soka.
"You and me. We!" Soka grabbed Lucy and ran out of the guild towards the train station.

Soka sat down onto a seat of the train and looked out the window as Lucy sat opposite her.
"So, how much does the mission pay?" Lucy asked.
"200,000 jewel"
"That's a lot"
"100,000 for each of us" Soka looked at her as the train began to move.
Lucy summoned Plue and watched him wobble around on her lap. Plue had caught Soka's attention and she looked at him.
"Awe. He's so cute" Soka smiled.
"Do you want to hold him?" Lucy held him towards Soka.
"Sure." Soka took Plue from Lucy and watched as he wobbled around on her lap.
"Pun pun..." he happily cried. Soka and Lucy smiled.

It wasn't long after that the train arrived in the station.
"I guess we're here." Soka got off and hopped off the train followed by Lucy. "So, where do we go now?"
"The client's house" Lucy replies.
"Okay." Soka walked over to the house.

Minutes after talking with the client, the two girls headed over to the forest.
"So this is where the bandits have been seen?" Lucy looked around.
"Yeah. That's what the man said. Let's kick some bandit butt!" Soka grins and runs into the forest.
"Soka wait!" Lucy ran after her.
Lucy eventually caught up with Soka.
"Don't run off like that!" Lucy pulled her behind a bush after seeing movement in the distance.
"What are you doing?" Soka whispered but Lucy shushed her.
A group of bandits; unaware of their presence; walked out in front of the bush they were behind.
"Heheheh! We got the mother load now!" One of the bandits laughed.
"We'll be rich!" Another joined in.
"Do we attack now?" Soka asked whispering to Lucy.
"Yes. Now!" She summons Virgo who begins to dig holes taking out some bandits.
"Yes!" Soka jumps out re-equipping into heavens wheel armour and uses circle sword to knock out a large chunk of the bandits.
Lucy had joined in the battle by using her whip to beat the rest of the bandits.
After all the bandits had been defeated, after Virgo had tied them up and put them into the holes; a single bandit grabbed Lucy from behind holding a knife to her neck.
"Heheheh..." the bandit grinned.
"Lucy!" Soka growled at the bandit.
"Step any closer and the girl dies!"
Soka held her hand behind her back and began to summon a sword whithout making it obvious.
"Now leave. Before I kill your friend"
"Your logic is messed up"
"And how's that?"
"You said if I moved you would kill Lucy. But then you said if I didn't run you would kill her. Whatever I do, you will kill her"
"Hmm... maybe I should just kill her right now"
"You've messed with the wrong guild" she forces the sword right through his head killing him instantly.
Lucy fell from his grasp and ran to Soka. "You saved me!" She hugged her.
"You're my best friend. A guild mate. Family. You would do the same for me" Soka smiled and hugged back.

The two headed back to the train station.
"Oh No! We forgot the reward!" Soka exclaimed.
"Don't worry Soka. Loke got it." Lucy smiled as Loke appeared holding the reward.
"Princess" he smiled and handed Lucy the reward. Then he turned to Soka. "And what's your name gorgeous?" He took her hand and kissed it.
An anger sign appeared on Soka's head as she uppercut Loke, sending him flying into the sky. She turned to Lucy.
"Sorry Lucy" she apologized.
"It's ok Soka. You don't have to apologize" she gave a friendly smile. "Oh. Here's the reward." Lucy handed the reward over to Soka.
Soka split it in half and gave one half to Lucy, keeping the other half to herself.
Lucy smiled as she took her half. "This was your first mission wasn't it?"
"Yeah" Soka replied climbing aboard the train. "How could you tell?" She looked at Lucy as she followed her onto the train.
"You asked a lot of questions"
"Sorry"
"It's ok"
The train made its way back to Mongolia.

However, the journey was not over yet. As wat awaited the two at the guild would be much worse than the mission itself.

Erza paced around the guild.
"Where is she?" She growled.
When Erza was on edge, the guild was on edge.
Natsu cautiously walked over to Erza.
"What's wrong Erza?" He asked her.
"My daughter, Soka. She's not here! Where has she gone?" She growled at him.
"Just relax. She's probably fine" once Natsu said that, he knew he was in trouble.
"NEVER TELL ME TO RELAX!!!!" She roared sending him flying with a single blow.
Lucy and Soka walked through the guild doors seconds later.
"Oh no" Soka hid behind Lucy. Erza turned to the two.
"LUCY!!!" Erza walked up to her. "Step out of the way!"
Lucy began sweating and did as instructed. Leaving Soka wide open.
"How dare you disobey my direct orders!" Erza growled.
Soka gulped. "I'm sorry mom. But I'm not a child anymore! I did fine on the mission! I should be allowed to go on more!" She stared deep into her mother's eyes.
The tension between the two was so think you could probably cut it with a sword.
Minutes passed and finally Erza sighed then smiled.
"I guess you're right. I have been to tough on you. I'll let you go on missions" she pulled Soka and Lucy to her for a hug.
Soka hugged back but Lucy whined.
"Why am I in this?"
"Because you protected my daughter!"
"Okay..." Lucy sighed. It was better than being sent flying.

...........................