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Chapter 3. Anima is activated again

Meanwhile (in Edolas)…

Erza Knightwalker and Faust went out of the prison, leaving behind the unconscious guards.

"You should go back to the ball now, Erza," the man said, looking at her. "Nobody must know that you helped me… Go and don't lose Jellal from your sight! Did you understand? Meanwhile I will try to activate Anima again. If I don't succeed for some reason… Well, I have another plan of action."

"As you wish, your majesty," Erza answered. "I won't lose Jellal from my sight. You can count on me."

"Be patient, that's the most important thing. We will deal with him at the right moment," Faust added.

-ooo-

Just when Faust pronounced these words, the dance that seemed to be endless for Jellal came to its end finally. When the music stopped, he smiled.

"Thank goodness!" the blue-haired man said in his mind. As the court etiquette required, he made a deep bow before the lady and turned his steps towards his throne. Sitting on it, he closed his eyes for a second. Luckily, this time no one of the ladies asked him for a dance. He decided that it was a perfect chance for him to get out of the hall for a while.

Jellal stood up noiselessly and get out without anyone sees him. Approaching his room, he quickened his pace. When he finally entered his room and closed the door, he gave a sigh of relief and ran his fingers through his hair.

At last he was alone. At last he had some time to collect his thoughts.

He knew that from now on he should think only about his world but that was just impossible for him. Edolas was his birth world and his kingdom; he loved it, but he loved also Earth Land. He had spent so many years there, trying to protect it from his father's evil planes… He missed the missions, Wendy, and even the other Fairy Tail members.

"Who knows what is going on with them now," he said to himself. "Oh, only if I could see someone from Earth Land…"

The man opened the wardrobe and fixed his eyes at the Mystogan's costume. Despite not being a Fairy Tail member anymore, he had kept it. He passed his hand over the cloak and sighed.

Closing the wardrobe, he sat on the nearest chair and closed his eyes. He knew that he didn't have much time (he had to go back to the hall soon) but it was so pleasant for him to be alone.

How much time did he stay like that? It was impossible for him to say.

An unexpected feeling tore him away from his memories. It seemed to him that he felt a great amount of magical energy.

The blue-haired man jumped on his feet. "Anima!" That was the first thought that crossed his mind. But no, there was no way… The machine that produced Anima didn't work and it was in a locked room. He was sure about it because he had locked the door with his own hands. No one was allowed to enter that room. Who could have dared to ignore the king's order?

Then what could be the origin of this magical energy? Jellal opened the door of his room and looked outside; a pale light was illuminating the dark corridor. It was coming just from the forbidden room.

"It can't be! What is going on?" he thought and ran to that direction.

-ooo-

Laxus Dreyar stopped short. It was raining harder, the severe wind was making difficult for him to walk but it wasn't that what troubled him. He was feeling an enormous magical power. It was increasing with every passing second. The feeling was almost physical.

"What is it now?" he wondered.

He looked at the girl in his arms. Wendy and Charle were so tired that they had fallen asleep. Laxus kneeled and gently laid them on the ground, still covered with his coat. Then he rose on his feet and cast a glance around. The rain water was streaming down his face, making difficult for him to see.

He was ready to fight if necessary but there was nobody around. Then what was the origin of the magical power that he was feeling?

Meanwhile the wind was getting stronger and stronger. It seemed to Laxus that the clouds formed a giant tunnel that was emitting the magical energy.

"What on earth is going on?" he thought. At the same moment a bright radiance erupted from the tunnel and enveloped him.

-ooo-

Jellal was running as fast as he could. Approaching the forbidden room, he noticed that the light was getting brighter and brighter. The door was opened.

Entering inside, the illusion mage saw just what he was afraid of. The machine was working; it was emitting the magical power that he had felt.

Except for him, there was nobody in the room. The person who had activated Anima had obviously heard Jellal's steps and had gone.

Who could have entered the forbidden room? Well, it wasn't so important for the present.

"I will manage to find him later," Jellal said to himself. "Whoever it is, he will regret for breaking my orders. The most important thing now is to deactivate Anima immediately or…"

He wasn't finished his thought when he heard a sound of approaching steps and a well-known male voice that was calling him.

"Your majesty! Your majesty, where are you? Your guests are waiting for you! They sent me to search for you…" the voice said and at the same moment Edolas Laxus (1) entered the room.

"Don't get closer!" the blue-haired man yelled but it was too late. Before he could finish his words, a bright radiance erupted and enveloped both of them.

Jellal covered his eyes with his hand. He clenched his teeth, gathered all his will and forced himself to concentrate. It took him a supreme effort to suppress the Anima's power. The radiance faded bit by bit and the magical energy went out.

The illusion mage raised his head… and at the first moment he didn't believe his eyes.

Despite being suppressed almost immediately after its activation, Anima had managed to cause havoc. There was no doubt about it. The living evidence was standing in front of him.

Laxus Dreyar – yes, Laxus from Earth Land and none other – stared at him and his eyes sparkled with anger. Jellal remembered that glance very well. It promised nothing good.

Speechless, the king just watched the lightning mage.

A few minutes ago, when Jellal had wished to see someone from Earth Land, he had had no idea that his wish would be fulfilled so soon. And he definitely hadn't had Laxus Dreyar in his mind.

-ooo-

(1) In this story, EdoLaxus is a member of the Edolas Fairy Tail guild. That is why he is in the palace along with his guild mates.

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