Chapter 21

Fake Memories

"It's almost Fantasia, when many people gather from other towns to celebrate this festival," Carla muttered to herself. She stared down to a paper full of writing and instructions in the darkness of the woods.

"Sorry Fairy Tail," she grit her teeth in pain and closed her watery eyes. "But this is for Wendy's sake!"

A light beamed in the forest. Only to be surrounded by darkness.

~Fairy Tail~~~

After the competitive card game, Natsu accepted Lucy's offer and decided to move into her apartment.

He brought his hammock and then followed Lucy to her apartment. To his surprise, Ultear was her next door neighbor.

"Good night," they said to Ultear as they left into Lucy's dormitory.

As soon as Natsu stepped into the room, he felt uneasy and a dizzying headache seemed to strike him. It felt like the time when he first stepped into Fairy Tail. He almost lost balance when some voices entered his head.

It was like any other time familiar voices striked through his mind but it was as powerful as the first time. He hoped he wasn't going to faint like the first time.

"But now… I'm glad that I joined this guild," Lucy's voice said. "Cause Fairy Tail is… *sound of door opening* ...THE BEST!" she screamed that last bit in surprise.

"Welcome home," Gray's voice said.

"Welcome!" that was Happy's voice.

"You have a nice room," Erza's voice said.

"Yo," this time it was his own voice.

"DON'T GANG UP ON ME!" Lucy's voice screamed.

"Seeing how Phantom came to this town," Erza's voice started. "It's possible that they got all of our addresses."

"Eh?"

"I don't think it'll happen, but they might attack us when we're alone," Gray's voice said.

"That's why Mira said we should stay in a group for a while…" said Happy's voice.

"R-really!?" Lucy's voice had an uneasy tone.

"Everyone's having a sleepover today," Happy's voice said.

"You're of marriageable age… I wouldn't feel right of only Natsu and Gray spent the night," Erza's voice said. "That's why I decided to join."

"So Natsu and Gray staying over was a given?" Lucy's voice said.

"Just as a pastime!" Natsu's voice snarled.

"Puun," it sounded like that celestial spirit that looked like a snowman.

"Woah! Plue! What is that you're eating? Gimme some," his own voice was ecstatic.

"I'm going to hit the sack, so pipe down," Gray's voice said in a tired tone.

"Erza loooooook, I found some kinky underwear," Happy's voice announced.

"A-Amazing… you wear things like this..?" Erza's voice sounded shocked.

"You're really making yourself at home, aren't you?" Lucy sounded like she sighed.

"Either way, guys… You smell sweaty. Since we'll be sleeping in the same room, I suggest you take a shower," Erza's voice said.

"No way, I don't feel like it," his own voice said.

"I'm too sleepy," Gray's voice said.

"I guess there's no other way," Erza's voice said. "We can shower together, like in the old days…"

"WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU GUYS HAVE!?" Lucy's voice shouted.

Natsu found himself tightly clutching his forehead when the voices stopped.

"Natsu? Are you okay? You look pale and you're sweating a lot…" Lucy said, she went over to Natsu to check his temperature but he slapped her a way.

"Ah!" Lucy winced.

Realizing what he did, Natsu quickly apologized. "Um… I'm fine. I just need to sleep." He laid down on to Lucy's bed automatically.

"Eh? But that's my bed!" Lucy shouted but Natsu made no response. She decided to just take a shower and sleep on one of her comfortable chairs.

Natsu sighed. He thought he was used to these strange dizzy spells. But most of these strange dreams usually happened when he was sleeping. This time he was awake, like the first time.

And the dream… from the sound of it, the voices were talking about Phantom Lord and staying over the night to stay from caution. But in reality, they already defeated Phantom Lord. It never happened, but it felt so nostalgic, like all the other strange dreams. And now he knew something was up with these strange dreams ever since he told one of these dreams to Gray. Like how did Gray know the color and name of Happy when Natsu never gave those two details. Gray didn't seem to know the answer either, like he didn't even know what he was saying.

Maybe if he told this story to Lucy, then she would have a similar reaction…

No, not now. He was too tired and Lucy needed to get prepared for the Miss Fairy Tail contest. There was always tomorrow… For now, Natsu would call these strange dreams... fake memories.

Now that he made up a name for something as bizarre as his strange dreams, he hoped he wouldn't mix up what happened in the fake memories with his real memories.

~The next day~~~

It was a new day… and the weather wasn't nice. It was very windy and it felt like a storm was coming. It could rain hard any moment now.

Natsu walked out of Lucy's apartment. Since Lucy was participating the the Miss Fairy Tail Contest, she left early. So Natsu was left alone to walk to Fairy Tail by himself, or at least that's what he planned.

He spotted a familiar shade of blue hair a walking crowd.

"Hey! Jellal!" he yelled.

Said person turned his head to the one who called him. "Natsu?"

"What are you doing?" Natsu asked as he caught up to Jellal.

"I'm going to watch the Miss Fairy Tail contest. Are you coming too?"

"Yeah. Speaking of Fairy Tail, are you part of the guild?"

"Oh, no. I'm not a member of your guild. Ultear enrolled me as a client for Fairy Tail. I am supposedly under their protection from whoever is trying to capture me."

"So that's why you always stick around the guild. Does that mean the Council still doesn't know that you were the mastermind of the Tower of Heaven and Etherion operation?"

"No, it seems like Ultear perfectly covered up everything even when the culprit should've been obvious."

"Haha, she is a master at covering everything up," Natsu smiled, well except for covering up her mark from Fairy Tail that day. He noticed how the guild was getting even louder than usual. "Oh, it's going to begin soon, we should hurry."

Natsu and Jellal rushed into the building and chose a seat next to Gray.

"Alcohol please!" Natsu called.

Gray crossed his arms, "Aren't you a little too young to be drinking?"

"Yes. But since a certain new member said the fastest way to turn back into an adult was to act like an adult, I'm going to drink!"

"Okay… And it looks like the contest is about to start."

"People of Magnolia Town! And people from other towns! And those who especially came from the underworld, don't forget to go back to your graves when it's over! Okay?!" The announcer began. "For what you have all been waiting for! The Fairy Tail Beauties will perform on this stage! Let the contest begin!"

The people roared with cheers. Some started betting on who would win. Since he felt a nerve racking stare, Gray betted on Juvia. Natsu betted on Erza, surely the Titania would force everyone to vote for her.

"The announcer will be me, the sand magician, Max Alrose!"

"That guy, for him to take this responsibility…" Gray whispered to Natsu. "Hey! Are you even paying attention?"

Natsu dazedly looked up. "Sorry, I slept late after the card game… And since I'm in the form of a child, I can't stop myself from taking a nap… zzz," he lied, he was just feeling the symptoms of another fake memory coming.

Gray sweat-dropped. "I thought you were supposed to act like an adult?"

"Eh...zzz…"

"MAY I INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR FIRST CONTESTANT! MISS CANA ALBERONA!"

"YAHOO!"

"SECOND CONTESTANT! JUVIA LOCKSER!"

"YEAAAAH!"

"This is for you Gray-sama!" Juvia blew a kiss to Gray.

"Uh...huh? Well, do your best Juvia!" Gray had question marks popping out from his head.

"AW GRAY-SAMA! I WILL DO MY BEST!"

As each contestant was called, Natsu felt something amiss. He snapped out of his drowsiness and turned alert.

Noticing Natsu's change in behavior, Gray asked, "What's wrong?"

"I have a bad feeling…"

"Seriously? I thought you couldn't feel any presences of magic in this form, but I can't really doubt your senses…"

Natsu frowned. "You're right, I can't feel any magical presences. Which means this bad feeling is probably a stomach ache." He slumped down on his chair and continued to slumber.

Gray sighed.

"NOW FOR OUR FOURTH CONTESTANT! THE STRONGEST WOMAN IN FAIRY TAIL, ERZA SCARLET!"

"WOOO She's soo cool!"

Jellal's nose bled when he saw Erza requip into the gothic loli outfit. Elfman cheered, "My big sis' is better!" This in turn made Erza throw a sword at Elfman.

"I'm sorry!"

"FIFTH CONTESTANT, THE FAIRY, CUTE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE, LEVY MCGARDEN!"

"WOW!"

Gajeel rolled his eyes.

"SIXTH CONTESTANT, SEXY COWGIRL, BISCA MOULIN!"

"SUPER CUTE!"

"SEVENTH CONTESTANT! SUPER ROOKIE… GIVE IT UP FOR! LUCY H-"

"No! Don't say my last name!" Lucy pushed herself past the curtains to stop Max. "Hehe… Well… I'll dance with my spirits-"

"Number Eight."

"Number Eight? Are you talking about me?" Ultear's head popped through the curtains to peek at the audience.

"Wait, I haven't even started yet…" Lucy muttered.

"If you talk about fairy, then it's me. If you talk about beauty, then it's me. That's right, it's all ME," a new contestant came up with a fan held out in front of her face. "The champion will definitely be me, Evergreen! It's boring, so we'll end the beauty contest here!"

"WHAAT!?"

"Evergreen?" Gray exclaimed.

"She came back?" Elfman wondered.

"Quit playing around! This beauty contest concerns my living!" Lucy yelled.

"No, you should keep doing this so I don't have to do this at all," Ultear hissed.

"Lucy! Ultear! Don't look into her eyes!" Gray shouted. But it was too late. One glance at Evergreens eyes and Lucy was turned into cold stone. Ultear was no exception either.

"THIS IS TERRIBLE! EVERYBODY RUN!" Max yelled into the microphone which hurt many people's ears. Many of the townspeople fled from the building. Most of the Fairy Tail mages stayed.

"What are you doing Evergreen? Are you trying to ruin the festival?!"

"Doesn't a festival have a main show?" Evergreen smiled, she rose the curtains to show all the other contestants had turned to stone.

"You fool! Turn them back to normal!" Makarov shouted with a quite angry face.

Suddenly, lightning struck the stage to everyone's surprise. "Oi, Fairy Tail idiots… The real festival begins now!" On the stage appeared three men, with Evergreen standing beside them.

"Laxus!" Makarov exclaimed.

"Freed and Bickslow!" Gray grit his teeth.

"The Raijinshuu, Laxus and his bodyguards!"

"Why don't we play a game…" Laxus devilishly grinned. "Old Geezer?"

"Don't do something stupid. We have to get ready for fantasia! Turn them back to normal NOW!"

"Fantasia is late at night. If we hurry, people might get to see it." Laxus bolted out of the building with the Raijinshuu before Makarov could stop them.

"STOP!"

The lightning bolted back next to Lucy.

"I'll take these girls as hostages. I'll destroy them one by one if you break the rules… Like I said, this is the main show."

"There are things that can't be taken as a joke Laxus!" Makarov seethed in anger.

"Of course I'm serious," Laxus smirked.

"It's just a game, to find out who is the strongest here, in Fairy Tail," Freed and Bickslow said.

"The rules are simple, the last survivor wins!"

"If you want to free these lovely ladies, you'll have to defeat us first," Evergreen explained.

"There's four of us, and about a hundred of you… Aaah! We're at a total disadvantage! Gyahahahaha!" Bickslow teased.

"The time limit is three hours. If you cannot defeat us before the time is up, then these girls… will be reduced to sand."

"What!"

"Are you serious?!"

"Y… you can't go that far…!"

Evergreen continued, "The battlefield covers the whole of Magnolia. The moment you find one of us, the battle begins."

"DON'T YOU SCREW WITH ME!" Makarov roared as he transformed into a giant.

"I told you to calm down, didn't I? Let's enjoy this little bit of entertainment." In a bright flash, the four of them were gone.

"LET THE BATTLE OF FAIRY TAIL… BEGIN!"

"NGHHHHH I'VE GOT TO SAVE BIG SIS AND THE OTHERS! DAMN THOSE ASSHOLES!" Elfman yelled.

At that, everyone rushed out the building in fury, anger, and desperation.

"DAMN HIM! I'LL PUT HIM IN HIS PLACE! THAT DAMN BRAT!" Makarov bellowed as he rushed oth the guild… at least he tried to get out of the guild. But he ran into an invisible wall at the entrance.

Gray noticed the master slam into nothing as he was running by. "What are you playing at, old man?"

"What?" I can't go any further! There is an invisible wall!"

"What's wrong with you, at a time like this? I'm not feeling any invisible wall!" Gray shouted as he tried to pull Makarov to the other side. They stopped when they noticed writing in the air.

"Is this… Freed's enchantment?"

"Enchantment?"

"It's a form of Barrier magic placed upon a location, designed to trap those who stray within it's borders. Those who stray within the enchantment are placed under certain 'rules'... and without following them, escape is impossible."

The writing read: Rule: Those above the age 80, and stone statues, may not pass.

"What the hell's with this magic? It's like some kid saying "Because I said so" and it's actually working!" Gray said in shock. "So what? Because of this magic, you won't get out of here?"

"The enchantment's rules are absolute!"

Gray frowned. "Well, I guess we'll just have to give it our best shot," and he dashed off.

"Gray!"

Makarov put his head down. "Is there anybody who can actually defeat him…?" He noticed someone hiding behind a wall. "Reedus?"

The large man cowardly hid. "Yes?"

"Oh good! Could you ask Porlyusica if she has a cure for purification magic for me?"

"Yes! I can handle that!"

"Uggghhhhh…." Makarov and Reedus were surprised by the sudden noise, they thought there was nobody else left.

"Natsu?" Makarov asked.

"Yes… I'm still alive… I just drank too much alcohol…" he groaned.

Makarov crossed his arms. Natsu could defeat Laxus, if he was in his normal form. This one is… useless.

"Could you go with Reedus to get medicine from Porlyusica?"

"No," Natsu quickly answered. "I'm too drunk. Plus, I don't… think I can get past that invisible wall…"

Makarov's face was quickly froze. "You're over 80!? I won't believe this!"

"Hey, respect your elders," Natsu smirked.

Makarov picked Natsu up.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Throwing you to the other side."

"What?" No reaction was quick enough, Makarov pitched Natsu to the other side of the invisible wall… and it worked. Natsu gaped, quickly realizing what happened, "No this can't be possible…"

"Ha! Brat! Trying to lie to me about your age!" the old man laughed.

"Wait, this shouldn't be happening…" Natsu whispered to himself. Maybe it was this age reversing spell. But even then, Igneel should still be inside him and over age 400! Unless this age reversing spell affected Igneel too. Natsu put his hands to his head and internally screamed, "THAT WOULD MAKE NO SENSE WHATSOEVER!"

"I'm still drunk and useless!" Natsu argued as he went back into the building and laid down onto a table.

"Ah… that's right… Okay Reedus, I think you should go now."

"R-right…" He sprinted out of the building.

Makarov put his hand on his chin. "Is there really no one else who can defeat Laxus..?"

Suddenly, more runes appeared on the invisible wall.

*Click*

Battle of Fairy Tail progress report… Jet vs Droy vs Alzack

"What's this?" Makarov yelled. "Why are they fighting each other?"

Winner: Alzack. Jet and Droy are no longer able to fight. Fairy Tail members remaining: 81

More runes of battles kept appearing. It looked like someone was hacking the wall and inserting a lot of words and adding clicking noises.

"Stop this!" Makarov screamed, "Just stop it, you fools!"

Makarov stared down to the floor. "At this rate, everyone who was petrified will end up as dust, and they'll never be coming back…"

"Ah, come on- even Laxus wouldn't do that," Natsu mumbled. "He can be an ass sometimes but he's still a member of our guild, isn't he?"

"What?" Makarov went over to Natsu in surprise. "What did you say?"

"This is just a… battle festival…" Natsu mumbled in his sleep.

"You're sleep talking that Laxus wouldn't go too far? That he's a comrade?"

"… fake memory…" Natsu slept talked.

"Fake memory? What's this boy spouting?" Makarov said to himself. He looked at the invisible wall.

*Click*

Fairy Tail members remaining: 42

"Already half our members have been knocked out?"

Evergreen vs Elfman, Victor: Evergreen

*Click*

Combatants Remaining: 41

"Laxus…" Makarov grit his teeth. He was cornered.

Freed vs Reedus, Victor: Freed. Combatants Remaining: 40

Makarov was speechless, their chance to get Porlyusica to save the girls was gone. Fairy Tail was going to lose.

"How're are you feeling, old man?"

Makarov turned around to find his grandson behind him. Natsu woke up too to find the visitor. "Laxus?" he rubbed his eyes.

"Laxus… Damn you…" Makarov snarled.

"Your allies… no you usually just call them brats, don't you. Well, how does it feel, watching those brats of your pound on another into the ground? It's a shame, with Natsu and Erza both out of the picture, I guess there's nobody out there with the power to stand up to the Raijinshuu..."

"..."

"Do you surrender?"

"Nghh…"

"There's still Gray…" Natsu yawned.

"Gray? Hahah, so you've got high hopes for that loser, huh?"

"I wouldn't underestimate Gray if I were you, Laxus."

They all looked to the runes.

*Click*

Gray vs Bickslow, Gray is no longer able to fight. Remaining Combatants: 28

Makarov was shaking nervously to the results.

"HAHAHAHAHA! What did I tell you, huh?" Laxus laughed.

Natsu broke Laxus' laughter. "Well, that was to be expected."

"Wha-" Makarov and Laxus looked confused at Natsu.

"Bickslow trapped Gray into runes that wouldn't let him be able to use magic. Then Bickslow attacked Gray when he was defenseless. I'm kind of disappointed in that Ice Princess that he couldn't handle any more… but this is all just a game," Natsu's eyes glared at Laxus Natsu tried to stand up, but he fell down immediately. "Damn it, I'm still drunk."

"How do you know this?" Laxus shouted.

Makarov got the idea from Laxus' reaction that Natsu was correct on how Gray was defeated.

"Fake memories is what I call this ability of mine. They're like dreams of the past that never happened and dreams of the future that always happen but in an alternative way from the dream. And right now, I had a dream that at the end of this Battle of Fairy Tail thing, no matter how or what happens, YOU lose, (hopefully)," Natsu pouted. Wait- did he just tell them his secret that he only just figured out last night? Man, he was so drunk.

"You're joking. So you have some kind of premonition ability?"

"No, this is hardly a prediction of another time period. They never happen exactly as foretold. I just use this ability to get information. Like I know your father put a lightning dragon slayer magic lacrima in your body. I know you were weak when you were young. And I know that deep inside your damn heart that you don't think of anyone of us as enemies."

"I don't believe you," Laxus growled.

"DAMN YOU DON'T!" Natsu suddenly got into a drunken fury and slammed his tiny hands to the table. He was tired of everything right now, so if he could bring this battle to an end quick, he would. "I DARE YOU TO USE FAIRY LAW!"

Makarov coughed, "ARE YOU INSANE!? Wait, how do you even know of this magic?"

"Do I seriously have to explain it again?" Natsu sighed. But in all honesty, he first heard of Fairy Law from Purehito.

Laxus stepped forward and put his hands together.

"Laxus, no! Natsu, stop enraging him!" Makarov screeched. He had used his voice so much, that he started sounding dry.

The two ignored the old man.

"I'm not afraid of you," Natsu spat and held his fists up. "You're just a Laxus."

"I'm just a Laxus?" Laxus' eyes widened, it looked like he was going to go out of control.

"Don't just say he's just a Laxus, YOU IDIOT!" Makarov shouted.

"Haha…" Laxus laughed. "This is one of the first time someone just referred to me as just Laxus rather than my old man's grandson…"

Natsu was about to spout some more, but Makarov covered the fire dragon's mouth in time.

"Fine, I'll give you my judgement."

"Bring it on!"

"Shut up, Natsu!" Makarov cried. He couldn't really stop Laxus since the Laxus that was right in front of them was a psychic projection.

"I'll show you my Fairy Law."

I'm starting to get skeptical releasing chapters. I mean, I've just had too much fun writing that I may have gotten too ahead of myself and I may have written something that probably makes no sense. What I'm aiming for is a surprise, not confusion... So yeah, I've tried revising chapters like crazy. I guess I'm just unsure of my revising/explaining abilities. Plus, I don't want too many things happening at once. Should I doubt my writing? I guess the right answer should be no, but the human mind is complex so I'll always have this uneasy -but excited- feeling when I release a chapter... Okay, enough of my blabbering, I already know this is the only way to move forward with this story. Like the fish would say, "Just keep swimming."

Arc's moving fast. By the way... if you happen to be a kid who's actually reading up to this chapter -which I highly doubt would ever happen... Don't drink. It's bad for you. XD

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. :P