Hey, I did a really quick update! The reason? This is a really short chapter! I was looking at how many words each of my chapters have, and I find it funny how it slowly grew to over 2,500, then suddenly dropped to 1,700. Do I just want to get this chapter out of the way? Probably.
Good news, though! The next chapter is exciting!! At least to me, when I was imagining it going on. It's really hard to put pictures into words, especially when you're having trouble figuring out which words to use to make it sound epic. *cough*thatwouldbeme*cough*
Without further ado, here's chapter 7!!
Disclaimer: If I don't own either Happy or Plue, then I don't own either Fairy Tail or Rave Master.
It was the morning after and Haru and his friends were back at Fairy Tail Guild after a much needed rest. Lucy had told them they would be helping to look through their archives for even the smallest of clues on how to get them home. Makarov had then since traveled to Era for more information, although a little sneakily, but it would take a while before he gets there and even start. He didn't want to cause too much suspicion with the Magic Council if they seem him walking about in their library. He was already in enough trouble as it is. Levi was then put in charge of the research and was eager to flip through some books.
"Alright! Let's get started!" she exclaimed, poking her nose into a book. Within a few minutes, she placed it beside her and grabbed a new one.
"Woah! That was really fast!" Haru said, looking at his measly page number 5. "Is this your magic?"
"My magic is called Solid Script, but that has nothing to do with this. I'm just pretty good with books," she replied, flipping through the pages.
The ever vigilant Jet and Droy were standing behind her, eyeing the male newcomers. They were also eyeing the girls, but were snapped out of their trances by Levi.
"Can you also help? Use some Wind Reading Glasses if it'll be quicker." She handed both a book while continuing her own. The two boys sighed and got to work.
Nearly two hours had passed and they weren't getting anywhere. Levi alone had finished over 100 books while everyone else had only finished 20 between them all. Natsu and Happy had gotten bored, so they left to go train. Erza said that she had something important to do, so she left. Gray unconsciously stripped himself while reading, so he had to run back to wherever he stays to get clothes. Everyone besides Levi sighed. They really weren't getting anywhere.
"I need a break," Elie said, putting down her book. She rubbed her eyes and said, "Levi, I don't understand how you can just go through books like that. Really, it's magic!"
"This is the most reading I've done in one sitting," Haru yawned. The most reading I've done at any time, at least, he thought to himself. He then got up and asked, "Where's the bathroom?"
Droy pointed somewhere. "Down that hallway. Even though there are a bunch of doors, you'll be able to tell which one is the bathroom."
"It's not like I need magic to open it or anything, right?" Haru laughed, but walked that way anyway. As he neared the end of the hallway, he saw that one of the doors was slightly open. Curiosity got the better of him when he heard voices inside. He tip-toed to the door and peeked inside, seeing Mirajane and what looked like a glowing crystal ball. Is that magic? Looks more like fortune telling to me, Haru commented in his head. He saw her talking to it and could see the figure of Makarov in the ball. I guess it's some sort of communicator.
"Have Levi and the others found anything?" the master questioned.
Mirajane shook her head. "It's been a few hours, but there hasn't been any information."
"I see. The same goes for me. I've been looking through the restricted section of Era's archives, but I've found nothing about time or space magic."
"This is terrible. If we don't find a way to send them home soon…" Mirajane trailed off, worried. "What'll we do?"
"We're not just going to let them try to fend for themselves. We'll take them in," Makarov said. He paused and sighed afterward. "I still don't know the consequences of keeping them here, away from their time, but we'll deal with it."
The sound of breaking glass made Makarov turn around. Mirajane asked what was wrong, but he didn't answer immediately. There was a little movement to the side of the crystal on Makarov's side, but it quickly disappeared.
"Mira-chan, something's in Era…" he managed to say before his lachryma shattered, cutting off their connection.
Mirajane gave a start of surprise. Haru could tell that she was trying to stay calm. He realized that it would be bad, and incredibly awkward, if he was caught eavesdropping, so he backed away and went back to the group. He completely forgot about his full bladder.
Levi was still reading while everyone else was lying around in boredom. Elie perked up when she saw Haru approach, however.
"Haru, what's wrong? Did you not find the bathroom?"
The Rave Master inwardly debated with himself on whether he should tell them what he heard. Perhaps Mirajane will tell the whole of Fairy Tail later. He tugged at his hair in frustration.
Musica interrupted him, realizing something was bothering his friend. "Haru? Did something happen?"
Mirajane then came out from the same hallway. Her expression was in shock and she hardly noticed Levi walk up to her.
"Mira-san, are you alright? Did you talk with Master?" she asked. "You look like you've seen a Shade!"
"Is something happening at Era?" Gray came up, fully clothed this time.
Mirajane nodded and said, "Master was telling me how his research was going when there was a crash on his side. Right after that, our connection broke."
"You shouldn't worry so much. It's the master we're talking about," Jet waved the unease away. "I'm sure it's nothing so serious and he already solved the problem."
"I don't know if I can agree with you," the white-haired woman said. She gave them a worried glance. "I have a feeling that this is more than we imagine."
The group became apprehensive at her words. Mirajane wasn't one to say unnecessary things like that. Her feelings are bound to be true. Perhaps it was because she was an S-Class mage that she has an innate sense of danger. Haru and his group suddenly couldn't concentrate on finding a way home anymore, only what was happening now. Haru walked to the front of the guild, saying that he needed to take a walk. Plue followed close behind him.
As Haru walked to the ocean side to clear his head, he heard someone grunting. He saw that pink-haired boy on the beach, fighting imaginary enemies. Happy was nearby eating a fish. Haru only stared as Natsu continued to punch and kick. He couldn't help but think it was Let who was training. Happy noticed them and called them over.
"Hi guys! Did you want some fish, too?"
Natsu stopped and also greeted them. "Did you find a way back to where you came from?"
Haru shook his head in defeat as he and Plue neared them. "We read through about one hundred and twenty books, but found nothing. Can no one do time or space magic?"
"Well, there are certainly spells out there that could do that," Happy informed, "but they're extremely difficult and forbidden. I bet only the Ten Great Holy Mages could perform them."
Haru stroked his chin in thought. "This is harder than I imagined."
"No duh. You're trying to go through dimensions," Natsu stated. "It's not like any book will have the answer. You can't just learn magic from a book. That's stupid."
"Can't hurt to try, right?" Haru shrugged.
"Sure, if you've got the time to be a bookworm like Levi or Lucy," the Fire Dragon Slayer added. "Seriously, what's so great about some random scribbles on a piece of paper? That's not as exciting as fighting monsters."
Haru laughed. "That's true! But still, what else can we do here except try to look through really old books? They're bound to have the answer, right?"
"Era should have stuff on that. Master is there now, isn't he?" Happy asked. "I'm sure he'll find something."
Haru didn't want to tell them that something was going on in Era. After hearing Mirajane and Makarov's conversation, he wasn't so sure about what he should do now, especially since this isn't his world to be partaking in. He ate his own words however when he heard someone call their names.
Haru, Natsu, Happy, and Plue looked back at the Guild and saw Elie standing in front of the beach. "Guys! Come inside quickly! It's an emergency!!"
Natsu and Happy didn't waste any time in getting back to the guild. Haru ran after them with Elie and Plue in tow. He felt that he didn't need to ask her what was wrong since he already has a feeling that it concerned the shattering crystal. Once they were inside, the two saw that the Fairy Tail members were crowded around Mirajane. She was holding a crumpled letter in her hand.
"What's going on?" Haru asked once he found his group. "Did we find a way home?"
"Not even close," Let replied.
"Apparently, something's going down at their Magic Council place. Era, I think it was called," Musica informed. "Judging by all of their reactions to that letter, it's safe to say that this is serious."
Haru turned to Elie. "What did it say?"
"The message wasn't very long. It had a moving picture of Makarov-san and he looked kind of panicked. He told everyone that all of the dark guilds are attacking Era all at once!" Elie's voice began wavering when she tried finishing the summary of the letter's contents. "So then, he told us to evacuate all of Magnolia Town and get as far away from here as possible. The dark guilds are planning something so destructive that he's informing the other guilds in the other cities. He doesn't know when this thing will happen, but we have to start moving now!"
Haru looked at the girl in disbelief. He figured that something bad was happening, but this? This kind of scenario never even crossed his mind. His worries were completed when Natsu yelled out over the chatter.
"What?! They're going to destroy Fairy Tail?!"
"Not just Fairy Tail," Erza added. Her face was grave. "They plan on destroying the entire country."
What did I tell you? Short chapter, right? But oh look! Another cliffhanger! I bet all you Fairy Tail stalkers know what I'm talking about in that last paragraph. I promise that someone is going to be heroic in the next chapter. I wonder who it may be?
Thanks for all of the hits and to my wonderful readers! Remember, reviews are highly appreciated!
~Yukihane~