Grand Magic Games, last day. Crime Sorcière, aware of what will happen with Eclipse and the dragons, are discussing about the best ways to prevent it and trying to understand Lucy's true motives.
.:: Disclaimer ::.
I don't own Fairy Tail or its characters. Hiro Mashima does. And even if I try to find out what will happen in the current arc, the theories I use in this story are only suppositions.
"So, if you think that Lucy is not who she appears to be, why didn't you stop her from meeting with the others? If she's an impostor, she may be dangerous."
Jellal looked into the distance. Meredy was probably right: if his theory about Lucy lying to him is true, the others could be in danger right now. But he was not worried, because they had Natsu. If future Lucy had used the real Lucy's appearance to hide her true motives, when they realize it, he won't let her get away with it.
"I am more worried about what she is hiding, actually. And she didn't seem evil, otherwise I wouldn't have let her go, so whatever the reason, I think it's safe to let her with them for now."
"If you say so..." Meredy said, not so sure about it. "But I can't believe we are just standing here, waiting, while there are chances everybody in this town dies. I already saw what one dragon could do to an entire island, and I'm telling you, if there are thousands of them, there's nothing we can do once they arrive in town."
"I understand your frustation" Ultear said. "But do you really believe we can do something right now? As you said, we're powerless, and I don't think people would leave if we tell them to. It's the Grand Magic Games, the last day, they want to know who is going to win, and three people – three fugitives like us – won't change anything right now. I understand" she repeated, seeing the look on Meredy's face. "I feel the same way. I don't want Gray and the others to die."
Meredy thought about Juvia. She was pretty sure that, if Juvia died, she would haunt her for the rest of her life for not telling her about the dragons, not warning her that she would die before she made out with her Gray-sama. And Meredy didn't need Juvia's creepy ghost to follow her everywhere she went. She sighed.
"Well, I still think this is ridiculous, we are the only ones to know, and we have known there is something fishy during those games for a long time, but still, we are totally useless. I trust Fairy Tail, they have Natsu and two other dragon slayers, and more than that, they have Erza, that monst..."
Jellal raised his head for the first time since the beginning of the conversation.
"That very powerful woman" Meredy quickly said. "As I said, I trust them but how can they do something if they don't even know what is going on?"
"I know. That's why I advised that Lucy to meet with Natsu and the others", Jellal answered. "And I will also do something myself."
"What will you do?" Ultear asked.
"Well..."
Two days ago
"From the future? And you're saying the town is going to be attacked by ten thousand dragons?"
Jellal couldn't believe his eyes. Lucy, the Lucy that, he was sure about it, was right now resting in the infirmary, was also before his eyes, telling her about events that hadn't even happened yet.
She nodded.
"And... What is going to happen to all of them?"
Lucy knew he wasn't refering to the dragons, nor was he talking about the people of Crocus. "Erza" was the name left unsaid, but she could almost hear it from his mouth. She lowered her head.
"It won't happen", he said, decidedly. "What is your plan, then?"
"I... I don't have one. I don't know what to do. Maybe I just came back because I wanted to live in a world where my friends are still alive, until it happens again. I don't know, I'm useless."
As always, she thought.
"Maybe it is really hopeless" she added, tears in her eyes.
"It isn't."
A voice, coming from within their hearts, just said that.
"Who's there?" Jellal said, preparing to fight. "Oh crap!"
He just remembered he had uncovered his head, which basically meant he had revealed his true identity to anyone who saw them.
"I am right here."
Jellal turned around. A beautiful woman – actually, she looked more like a little angel – was in front of him. She had long blond and wavy hair, deep green eyes, and two little wings coming out of her head. She was looking at him with a serious, yet peaceful expression.
"My name is Mavis. I am Fairy Tail's first master. And from the look on your face, you can see me, which pleases me, because it means that even if you don't have the crest of Fairy Tail on your skin, you bear it in your heart."
This was too much. First, a Lucy from a dreadful future, and now, a ghost from the past?
"What I don't understand, however, is why she doesn't seem to see me."
Mavis turned to face Lucy, who apparently could hear her, but didn't know where the voice came from. Her peaceful look had disappeared.
"I know you're not evil" she said. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to speak in your heart. But what happened in your future so that you ended up not being a member of Fairy Tail anymore?"
Lucy remained silent, and after a glance at Jellal to see where he was looking at, she turned to face the place where Mavis seemed to be standing, and uncovered her right arm.
"That was the price I had to pay to come back."
Jellal looked at her arm in shock, but Mavis didn't blink an eye.
"You gave up on your right hand to use Eclipse" Mavis said. It was not a question, more like a plain statement.
"That's where I had my Fairy Tail crest. I guess traveling to the past needed an important sacrifice" she added bitterly.
The three of them remained silent for a few seconds before Lucy suddenly raised her head.
"It doesn't matter anymore, now is not the time to think about it. Master Mavis, you said it wasn't hopeless, did you have something in mind?"
"I heard what you said earlier. I may have a plan. But you'll need to trust me. Both of you need to" she said turning to Jellal again. "Lucy, it will be difficult, but you mustn't meet with the others, at any cost. I don't know how that magic works, but if the future and the present Lucy meet, it may cause a serious disfunction in the space-time continuum."
"I understand."
She seemed sad but resigned.
"What do you mean?" Jellal asked.
They both looked at him.
"Isn't that the point here? Causing a disfunction in that space-time continuum? We need to change it, her being here has to change something! Lucy, don't act like you mustn't change anything because you're afraid of failing, you coming back here is what will save us!"
"I can't save them."
She smiled sadly.
"Anyway, I never meant to say that she won't do anything" Mavis said. "Even if it seems hopeless, there are people out there that can prevent that future from happening. Those who have the power. And I am not talking about magic, this time. Lucy, I need you to warn the King. He is the only one who can take measures. Please do so as quickly as possible."
Lucy nodded and started to leave.
"Wait" Jellal said and she turned around.
He glanced at Mavis.
"We may not meet again, so I need to tell you this right now: we don't know what might happen if you do so, but I still believe Natsu is our best chance, so if you feel the need to warn him, do it. Even if it means you have to reveal your identity."
Mavis didn't say anything, so Lucy nodded once again and left. As soon as she was out of sight, Jellal faced Mavis. They didn't talk but he knew what she was thinking: if he, who had never been a Fairy Tail member, belonged to the guild enough to be able to see Mavis's ghost, why Lucy, who should still be a member despite her cut hand, couldn't?
"You felt it too, didn't you, Jellal?"
"If you refer to the evil aura that follows her, I decided not to ask her about it. I still have doubts about her but we cannot take the risk to doubt her words."
"Now, I have something to ask you. You have to stay away from the arena, because if we fail and the dragons come, we will need help from outside."
"How can I help if I'm outside?"
"I don't expect you to help. You'll understand in time. Oh, and I almost forgot."
She walked to him and gave him a punch in the stomach.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"You shouldn't have lost against that Jura", she said, an evil smile on her face.
And she disappeared.
Hello guys ! It's been a long time since I last wrote a fanfiction, and I don't even know if I'll be able to finish this one because I don't know where I'm going... Believe me or not, it was supposed to be a fanfiction about a crackpairing at first ! But I still intend to include that crackpairing next, because I find it really cute, and it will be the first one about them so you'll be quite surprised, I guess ! And no, I won't tell you who that pairing is, maybe you'll find out next chapter...
Oh and about the title of the story, as I said I don't really know where I'm going so it's quite plain... It should be more like "Grand Magic Games' story" or "What I would like to happen in the very interesting current arc which mixes a lot of great characters" - this one may be a little too long - but I'll let it as it is, for now.
Anyway, tell me if you like that first chapter, it was quite long but I enjoyed writing it, so I hope you enjoyed reading it as well ^^
PS : Don't forget the reviews, onegai shimasu!